Veil of Sparks

Kael's breath caught as the shimmering Thread barrier flickered faintly around him, its light dimming with each passing second. The faint hum of energy that had shielded him felt like a fragile lifeline, one that was about to snap.

The hunter was close now, its metallic footsteps heavy against the uneven forest floor. Kael's fingers twitched around the hilt of his dagger, his Spark crackling faintly in response to his rising panic.

He crouched low, his body pressed tightly against the gnarled roots of the tree that housed the fading Thread Seal. If the hunter saw him before the barrier faded, he might have a chance to slip away unseen.

If not…

Kael's thoughts trailed off as the hunter's glowing red eyes cut through the shadows, scanning the area with slow, deliberate movements.

The construct was larger than Kael had anticipated, its hulking frame covered in dark, jagged plating that seemed to absorb the faint light of the forest. Its arms ended in serrated claws, glowing faintly with Thread energy, and its head tilted slightly as it analyzed its surroundings.

Kael froze, his chest tight as he watched the hunter step closer. Its gaze passed over the barrier, and for a moment, Kael thought it might move on.

But then it stopped.

The hunter's head snapped toward the barrier, its movements sharp and unnervingly precise. A low hum emanated from its core as it raised one clawed arm, the glow intensifying.

Kael's stomach twisted.

It can see the barrier.

The construct stepped forward, its claws slashing through the air with alarming speed. The impact against the barrier sent a ripple of energy across its surface, and Kael felt the shock reverberate through his body.

Move, now!

Kael darted out of the barrier just as it shattered, the remnants of Thread energy dispersing into the air. The hunter's claws struck the ground where he'd been crouching moments before, sending a spray of dirt and debris into the air.

He didn't look back.

Kael sprinted through the forest, his boots crunching against the mossy ground as he dodged low-hanging branches and tangled roots. His lungs burned, and his pulse thundered in his ears, but he kept moving, the sound of the hunter's pursuit driving him forward.

The forest seemed alive with noise now, the once oppressive silence shattered by the heavy thudding of the hunter's footsteps and the faint echoes of other recruits battling their own demons.

Kael weaved through the shadows, his mind racing as he tried to piece together a plan.

The terrain shifted suddenly, the ground sloping upward into a dense thicket of trees. Kael's movements slowed as he scrambled over the uneven terrain, his Spark flickering faintly with each step.

The hunter was still behind him, its relentless pursuit sending tremors through the earth. But Kael's focus narrowed as he reached the top of the rise, his eyes locking onto a faint glow in the distance.

The extraction point.

A wave of relief washed over him, but it was quickly tempered by the realization of just how far away it was. The path ahead was a mess of jagged rocks, shallow pits, and thick underbrush, all of it designed to trip up anyone who dared to move too quickly.

Kael gritted his teeth, forcing his legs to keep moving.

The faint hum of another Thread Seal caught his attention as he rounded a corner, its glow pulsing faintly against the base of a fallen tree.

Kael hesitated for only a moment before darting toward it, his Spark crackling as he pressed his palm against the rune. The energy surged beneath his hand, and for a brief moment, a second barrier flickered to life around him.

Kael slumped against the tree, his chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath.

The barrier wouldn't hold for long—it was weaker than the last one, its light already dimming at the edges. But it gave him a chance to think.

The hunter's footsteps grew louder, its relentless approach sending vibrations through the ground. Kael clenched his jaw, his thoughts racing as he tried to anticipate its movements.

The relic fragment's energy hummed faintly in his chest, sharper now, more present. Kael focused on the sensation, letting the Spark flow through him as he prepared for the barrier to fail.

When the hunter emerged from the shadows, Kael was ready.

The construct moved with unsettling precision, its claws slicing through the air as it scanned for him. Kael crouched low, his eyes fixed on the jagged rocks just beyond the barrier's edge.

He waited, his heart pounding, as the hunter stepped closer.

The moment the barrier flickered out, Kael sprang into action. He darted to the side, his Spark flaring as he struck one of the rocks with a sharp burst of lightning. The energy cracked through the stone, sending fragments flying into the air.

The hunter hesitated, its glowing eyes shifting toward the sudden burst of light.

Kael used the distraction to sprint toward the next patch of cover, his movements swift and deliberate. The terrain was uneven, but he pushed through, his muscles burning as he closed the distance to the extraction point.

The glow of the extraction point grew brighter, its light cutting through the shadows like a beacon. Kael could hear the faint hum of energy surrounding it, the sound both familiar and alien in the oppressive atmosphere of the forest.

His relief was short-lived.

The hunter roared, its claws slamming into the ground with enough force to send Kael sprawling. He landed hard, the impact jarring his entire body as his dagger clattered out of his grasp.

Kael's vision blurred as he scrambled to his feet, his hands searching frantically for his weapon.

The hunter loomed over him, its red eyes glowing brighter as it raised one clawed arm to strike.

Kael's Spark flared instinctively, a wild surge of energy crackling through his body. He raised his hand, the lightning arcing outward in a desperate strike.

The bolt struck the hunter square in the chest, its glow flickering as it staggered back.

Kael didn't wait. He grabbed his dagger, his movements frantic as he sprinted toward the extraction point. The sound of the hunter's pursuit faded as he crossed the threshold of light, the energy enveloping him in a blinding glow.

When the light faded, Kael found himself standing in a circular chamber, the oppressive weight of the trial lifted.

His chest heaved as he sank to his knees, the dagger still clutched tightly in his hand.

"Participant 217: Pass," the voice announced, calm and detached.

Kael let out a shaky breath, his body trembling as the tension drained from him.

Four trials down.