Alex sat in his chair, waiting for his name to be called.
Did I do the right thing?
He glanced around the hall, his fingers nervously tapping against his thighs.
"Alex xavier!"
His name echoed through the hall
"I'm here! I'm here!"
Alwx sprang to his feet and hurried down the hallway, almost stumbling in his haste.
Suddenly, he crossed paths with familiar face.
He froze.
"Daniella?"
The girl stopped in her tracks and turned around. Her eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at Alex, who stood before her looking perfectly fine
"Alex? You're alright?" She exclaimed. "I thought you would have to go into a coma or something."
Alex chuckled,scratching the back of his head.
"Well, I'm fine."
"What are you doing here?" Daniella asked, her curiosity evident.
Alex almost answered, but his name echoed through the hallway once more.
"Alex xavier!"
Looks like I have to go," he said hurriedly. "Hope we get to catch up later."
"Yeah sure. I'd like that," Daniella replied with a smile
Alex gave her a quick nod before rushing off.
_ _ _
"I'm sorry for keeping you waiting. I—"
Alex stopped abruptly.
"Commander Lucy?"
The woman seated before him raised her eyes, a faint smile forming on her lips.
"We meet again, Alex xavier."
She gestured toward the chair opposite her.
"Take a seat. Let's begin."
Alex swallowed nervously and sat down.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Lucy broke the silence.
"Your father was a great soldier m. He served this agency with honor." She paused, studying his expression. But tell me, why do you want to join the Elite squad?"
Alex straightened in his seat.
"I want to become strong. I want to protect the weak, and most importantly…" His hands curled into fists. "I want to kill those damn demons."
Lucy observed him quietly, noticing the determination burning in his eyes.
Yet, she still had her doubts.
"Even if you're just an ordinary civilian?"
The question caught Alex off guard.
For a brief moment, he struggled to find his words.
"I…I'll give it my best," he stammered.
He lowered his head, staring at his trembling hands.
"I'm not ready to sit back and watch people die anymore."
His voice grew heavier.
"You don't truly understand death until it comes knocking on your door…or until you loose someone you love."
A tear slipped down his cheek.
Alex clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned pale.
Lucy remained silent.
She could see the pain behind his words, bust she could say nothing.
After a few second, she leaned back in her chair.
"You may leave. Thank you for your time."
Alex blinked.
That was it?
He stared at her, struggling to understand what had just happened.
"But…is that all? I…I thought—"
"Thank you, Alex," Lucy interrupted calmly. You may leave."
Alex slowly rose his seat, his heart sinking.
He had no idea whether he had passed or failed with a heavy sigh, he stepped out of the room.
_ _ _
The hallway was filled with anxious applicants waiting for the results.
Alex sat down, his mind clouded with uncertainty.
Did I say something wrong?
He replayed his conversation with Commander Lucy over and over again searching for any sign that might tell him how he had performed.
But there was nothing.
He let out a frustrated sigh.
"Hey."
Alex looked up.
Daniella stood before him, watching him with a concerned expression.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah. I'm fine," he muttered, looking away.
She raised an eyebrow.
"Really? Because you don't look fine."
Before he could respond,she sat beside him.
"Come on. Don't look so gloomy. I'm sure you'll be fine."
Alex forced a faint smile.
For some reason, her presence brought him a sense of calm.
His racing heart gradually settled,and the tension in his hands and legs finally eased.
For the firts time since leaving Lucy's office, he felt like he could breathe again.
Suddenly, the doors at the far end of the hallway swung open.
A man in black uniform stepped inside, holding a clipboard.
The conversation died down almost immediately.
"Attention, everyone!"
The applicants turned toward him.
"These are the names of those who have been selected to advance to the next stage of the Elite squad training program."
A waveof nervous anticipation swept through the hall.
"Out of the two hundred applicants, only eighty have been selected."
Alex's heart skipped a beat.
Eighty out of two hundred?
The man began reading the names.
One after another, applicants rose from their seats, some cheering while others struggled to contain their excitement.
Then—-
"Daniella Rossi."
Daniella's eyes widened.
"That's me!"
She jumped to her feet, her face lighting up with joy.
Alex forced a smile.
"Congratulations," he whispered.
"Thank you!" She replied, beaming.
But as the list continued, Alex's smile gradually faded.
More names were called.
Yet, his name never came.
His chest tightened.
So…I didn't make it?
He lowered his head, fighting back tears threatening to spill from his eyes.
Just when he was about to give up hope the man spoke again.
"And finally…"
He glanced down at the clipboard.
"Alex xavier."
Alex froze.
For a moment, he thought he had misheard.
"Alex Xavier, " the man repeated.
"Congratulations. You have been selected."
Alex's head snapped up.
"W-what?"
Daniella turned toward him, her face breaking into wide grin.
"Alex! You made it!"
He stared at her in disbelief.
Then, as the realization finally sank in, a huge smile spread across his face.
"I…I made it?"
Before Daniella could respond, she threw her arms around him.
Alex hugged her back, his heart overflowing with relief and excitement.
He had made it.
He was a step closer to becoming a member of the Elite squad.
But before the celebrations could continue, another voice rang through the hall.
"Thank you, Agent Arkins."
Everyone turned toward the entrance.
Commander Lucy stepped into the room, her expression composed and authoritative.
"You have all heard your names.
Congratulations to those who have been selected."
She paused, allowing her words to sink in.
"You are the future of this agency. The next generation of soldiers who will stand against the demons threatening our world."
Her gaze swept across eighty candidates.
"You will be escorted to your rooms, where you will rest and receive your uniforms. Your training begins tomorrow."
A burst of cheers erupted throughout the hall.
Some candidates jumped to their feet, while others exchanged excited handshakes and hugs.
Alex and Daniella exchanged another excited glance.
"We actually made it!"
Daniella exclaimed.
Alex laughed.
"Yeah. We did!"
For a moment, all his worries seemed to disappear.
But deep down, Alex knew what this opportunity meant.
As an ordinary civilian, his chances of being accepted into the Elite squad's training program had been only thirty percent.
Yet, against all odds, he made it through.
Tomorrow, his real journey would begin.
_ _ _
Silence.
The only sound that filled the dormitory was the occasional snoring of the exhausted candidates.
Everyone was fast asleep, unaware of what awaited them
Suddenly—
WEE-OO! WEE-OO! WEE-OO!
A deafening siren erupted across the agency.
The candidates jolted awake, their eyes wide with confusion as the alarm reverberated through the entire facility.
"What the hell is that sound?" One of them groaned, covering his ears.
Before anyone could figure out what was happening, the dormitory door burst open.
An agent stepped inside, wearing a wide grin.
"Rise and shine, ladies! It's time for training!"
"Are you kidding me?" another candidate muttered, rubbing his sleepy eyes. "It's six in the morning!"
The agent chuckled.
"Well, evil doesn't sleep. Now get off your pretty butts and let's hit the ground running!"
A few candidates exchanged exhausted glances.
"My name is Agent Felix, by the way, if you're interested," he added with a smirk. "Now, move!"
Without another word, the candidates scrambled out of their beds and followed him.
_ _ _
Agent Felix led the candidates to an enormous open field within the agency.
The morning air was cool, and a gentle breeze swept across the grass.
Daniella stared at the vast field before them.
"Wow. When he said 'hit the the ground running', he really meant actual running ".
Alex chuckled.
Felix turned around to face them, his hands resting on his hips.
"Alright, candidates. I'm gonna need all of you to run around this field three times."
A wave of disbelief swept through the group.
"Three times?" Someone blurted out.
"Uh, no offense, sir," a candidate said, raising his hand. "But this field is huge. Are we training, or are you trying to get us killed before the actual fight?"
Felix raised an eyebrow.
"And what's your name?"
"Benjamin, sir."
"Well, Benjamin," Felix began, stepping closer, "on the real battlefield, there'll be a lot of running. And trust me, no one's gonna pick you up if you can't run."
Benjamin fell silent.
Felix blew his whistle
"MOVE!"
The candidates immediately took off.
Finally, after what felt like an enternity, candidates completed their third lap.
Some collapsed onto the grass,while others bent over with their hands on their knees, desperately trying to catch their breath.
A few looked like they were seconds away from fainting.
Felix stood before them, looking completely unfazed.
"Well, you guys were shit out there."
The candidates stared at him in disbelief.
"But don't worry," he continued with a wicked grin. "You'll be doing this everyday until your training ends."
A collective groan erupted from the group.
Those words sent chills down their spines.
"Now, go take a shower and head to the training room. You all stink".
"WHAT?" Benjamin exclaimed, his eyes widening. "I thought this was training!"
Felix turned toward him.
"You know, for a soldier, you are really lazy".
Benjamin opened his mouth to respond but quickly shut it.
Felix simply laughed.
"Now move!"
_ _ _
Alex stepped into the training room and froze.
His eyes widened as he took in the sight before him.
Rows of weapons lined the walls. Advanced machines hummed in the background, while several virtual training fields occupied the far end of the enormous facility.
There were guns of different sizes, swords, combat equipment, and devices Alex had never seen before.
It was far bigger on the inside than it appeared from the outside.
"Impressive, right?" Daniella said, stepping beside him.
"Yeah…really impressive," Alex replied, still staring at the equipment.
"Alright, ladies and gentlemen!"
Felix's voice echoed through the room.
"Guess what? I'll be the one training you. Surprise!"
A few candidates groaned.
"If you fail here, your staying here is depends on the remaining two test," Felix said.
Alex's expression changed.
So I can still loose everything?
He swallowed nervously.
Felix continued.
"We'll be starting with weapons training. We're going to find out how good you are with your chosen weapons" Felix said. "You channel your battle energy into the weapon to increase it's damage."
The candidates immediately began moving around the room, examining the available equipment.
Some picked shotsguns, while others chose smaller firearms.
Alex wandered through the rows of weapons, unsure of what to choose.
He had never received formal weapons training.
What am I supposed to use ?
His eyes suddenly caught sight of something unusual.
A plasma sword.
It's sleek metallic frame glimmered beneath the lights, and a faint blue glow ran along its blade.
Alex stepped closer, captivated.
He reached for the hilt.
The weapon felt surprisingly comfortable in his hands.
"Since everyone has chosen a weapon," Felix announced, "let's begin!"
_ _ _
"Next up… Alex Xavier!"
A scientist called his name.
Alex took a deep breath and stepped into the virtual Simulation Room.
The enormous chamber was surrounded by advanced machinery and glowing screens.
His heart raced as he entered the designated area.
Why am I so nervous?
He glanced at the observation window, where Felix and several scientists stood watching.
"Ready?" Felix asked through the communication system.
Alex tightened his grip on the plasma sword.
"Ready".
"Begin".
The room suddenly transformed.
The wall disappeared, replaced by the ruins of a destroyed city.
Buildings stood broken and shattered, while thick clouds of smoke darkened the sky.
Then—
A low growl echoed through the streets.
Alex turned around.
His eyes widened.
Demons.
Several monstrous creatures emerged from the shadows, their twisted bodies amd glowing eyes fixed on him.
Before he could react, they charged.
"Shit!"
Alex swung his sword, but the demon dodged the attack and slammed its fist into gis chest
BOOM!
He was sent flying across the streets.
His back crashed against a concrete wall.
"ARGH!"
Pain shot through his body.
For a moment, he struggled to catch his breath.
What the hell?
He had known the simulation would be difficult, but he hadn't expected it to feel this real.
Everyblow sent waves of pain through his body.
Before he could recover, another demon charged toward him.
Alex raised his sword, but the creature struck him before he could defend himself.
He was hurled through the side of a virtual building, crashing into a pile of debris.
The impact left him gasping.
Damn it…
His fingers trembled as he tried to push himself up.
Why can't I fight?
The demon approached, its claws scraping against the ground.
I've come this far…
Alex clenched his teeth.
I'm not going to fail now.
The creature lunged.
Alex barely managed to roll out of the way.
He scrambled to his feet, gripping the plasma sword with both hands.
His breathing was ragged.
His body ached.
But something inside hin refused to give up.
I'm not ready to give up.
His expression changed.
The fear in his eyes slowly gave way for anger a d determination.
Suddenly—
Alarms blared across the observation room.
The scientists stared at their screens in disbelief.
"What's happening?" One of them exclaimed.
"Energy readings are rising rapidly!"
"That's impossible. Where is all that energy coming from?"
Inside the simulation, a strange aura began to surround Alex.
The ground beneath his feet trembled.
His body blurred.
Before the demons could react, Alex vanished from their sight.
In the next instant—
One demon fell.
Then another after another.
Alex moved with astonishing speed, disappearing a d appearing between the creatures.
With every moment, another demon was struck down.
Within seconds, the entire battlefield was littered with defeated enemies.
Felix stared at thr screen, his mouth slightly open.
"What the hell…?"
_ _ _
Alex stepped out of the V.S.R, breathing heavily.
His entire body felt drained.
Everyone stared at him in disbelief.
"Alright! That's enough for today."
He looked around the room.
"You're all dismissed."
The candidates began filling out.
Alex barely had the strength to move.
Daniella hurried over.
"Alex!"
She grabbed his arm, helping him steady himself.
"Are you kay?"
"Yeah… just tired".
She guided him towards the dormitory.
_ _ _
For a while, neither of them spoke.
Then Daniella broke the silence.
"Well, that was cool. How did you do that?"
Alex glanced at her.
"Uh… I… I don't know. It just kinda happened".
She tilted her head.
"Well, I thought it was sick."
Alex chuckled weakly.
"Thanks".
_ _ _
Alex was fast asleep when a loud voice suddenly jolted him awake.
"Alex! Alex!"
He sprang up in surprise.
Daniella stood beside his bed, breathing heavily.
"Come on! We have to go!"
Alex blinked sleepily.
"Just put your uniform on and come!"
She tossed a uniform toward him.
Alex caught it, staring at the unfamiliar outfit.
"What's going on?"
"There's no time! Hurry!"
Still confused, he quickly changed into the uniform.
He stepped out of the dormitory.
The hallway was in choas.
Agents rushed past one another, carrying weapons amd equipment.
The alarm blared throughout the facility.
Alex's eyes widened.
What's happening?
He followed Daniella through the corridor until they reached the war room.
The moment he stepped inside, he froze.
The room was filled with agents, both new and old.
Large screen displayed maps and surveillance footage, while several officers discussed something urgently
Alex exchanged a confused glance with Daniella.
Before either of them could ask a question, Assistant commander Lucy stepped forward.
"Attention, everyone!"
The room fell silent.
Lucy glanced at the new recruits.
"I'm sorry to put you out there so soon, but we've encountered an unusual situation."
She paused.
"A demon has been sighted at Harasson's corp".
A murmur spread through the room.
Alex's heart skipped a beat.
A demon?
Felix stepped forward, his expression unusually serious.
"I thought demons didn't come out during the day".
Lucy turned toward him.
"So did I".
She glanced at the agents gathered before her.
"Gear up. Get into the trucks. We're moving out".
The room erupted into action.
Agents grabbed their weapons and rushed toward the exits.
Alex stood frozen for a moment, staring at the screens.
His first real mission.
It was happening far sooner than he had expected.
And for the first time, he was about to face a demon outside a simulation.