The hallways were very quiet after the trial.
Lucien walked with heavy steps, trailing behind the other recruits as they returned from the battlefield. The sun was already slowly setting, leaving behind only a bruised-orange sky and shadows that seemed to cling too tightly to the ground. His body, injured, felt heavier than it should have. Each step echoed like failure.
Waiting for them near the compound entrance were Rylen, Jason, and Emiluna.
"Lucien!" Jason yelled through the hallway, jogging forward. His dark-brown eyes flickered with concern. "You made the top five, man! That's incredible, im proud bro!"
Lucien didn't look or stop walking.
Emiluna stepped closer, her long pink hair dancing in the evening breeze. "You did more than anyone would´ve expected," she said softly. "You fought Kagetsu to the brink. Even he thinks of you highly."
Lucien's fists clenched.
Rylen, quiet until now, walked beside him. "Don't ignore them. Their your family now. You fought like hell Lucien. I saw every second. What you did out there—no one else could've done."
"I still lost," Lucien muttered. "Again like always."
He didn't look back as he climbed the stairs to the dormitory floor, his back hurting, his jaw sore, and a bitter taste still lingering in his mouth. He didn't want to use regeneration. He wanted to feel his loss.
The others watched him go in silence.
Lucien shut the door to his room and went onto the bed. The mattress creaked under his weight, and for a long time, he just stared at the ceiling thinking. The adrenaline had long since drained from his body, leaving only exhaustion and a hollow throb in his chest.
He didn't cry. Lucien his eyes were drier than a desert
Didn't rage.
Didn't speak.
He simply turned his back to the world and let the darkness take him.
The Final Week:
The next morning arrived too quickly for lucien. A pale sun rose above the skyline, casting long shadows over the training compound. The mood had changed. The Battle Royale trial was finally over. The final week had begun.
Only five remained in week 4.
Rylen stood in the central hall of the compound, facing the five remaining recruits—Kagetsu, Ayumu, Lisa, Kisuke, and Lucien. Each of them sat silently, bruised and exhausted, yet still standing.
"All right," Rylen began, folding his arms over eachother. "This is it. The final step for you as recruits."
Lucien blinked slowly. He had barely slept last night. The sting of yesterday's defeat still clung to him.
"The five of you have made it to the end of the month" Rylen continued, his voice sharp but steady. "But passing the Trial doesn't mean you're in the Nightguard Corps as of yet. That decision belongs to the Higher Ups."
A hush settled over the room.
Jason and Emiluna watched from the sides, silent observers now.
"The Higher Ups are the real leaders and founders of the Nightguard Corps," Rylen went on. "They don't show their faces. Not even to us captains. When we enter the judgment chamber, they're always behind a veil—three voices, no names, no faces."
Lisa's brows furrowed slightly. Kisuke adjusted in his seat.
"They'll each evaluate your performance and potential. If any of them says no, your career ends here as a Nightguard corps recruit. If they all say yes—you choose your division. But even then, they have to approve your choice. Remember: each division can only take one recruit."
Rylen gestured to a projection screen. It shimmered to life, displaying five emblems.
"Let me break down what you're choosing between."
He pointed to the first.
Division 1 – Vanguard Core
The tip of the spear. Combat specialists trained to face the highest-level monsters there are. They operate on the front lines of the corps and are often the first deployed when a big outbreak begins. Their mortality rate is the highest as you should expect. Their strength? Unmatched.
Rylen's voice turned grave. "If you want to be the strongest, you go here. But don't expect to live a long and happy life."
Division 2 – Tactical Suppression: Focused on support and coordination for the first. These operatives neutralize threats using precision, strategy, and speed. They often work in squads of four and rely heavily on communication and skill synergy.
"Ayumu," Rylen said, "you'd fit right in here."
Division 3 – Intelligence & Stealth Operations: The shadows behind every mission that we as the nightguard corps face. Specialists in infiltration, reconnaissance, assassination of relative big monsters. If Division 1 breaks the wall down, Division 3 sneaks around it and disables the alarm.
Lucien glanced at Lisa, who was expressionless, as always.
Division 4 – Engineering & Containment: This unit handles monster tech, containment protocols, and gear optimization. Without them, the other divisions wouldn't last a hour. Not the flashiest, but vital to operations.They also fight the smaller monster when a big outbreak occurs.
Rylen nodded toward Kisuke, who grinned with pride.
Division 5 –Recon & Recovery: The backbone of the Corps' survival. Medics, healers, support operatives. They stabilize the wounded, cleanse monster infection, preserve life in the heat of battle and fight smaller and lower level monsters.
He paused, his gaze lingering on Lucien.
"This division is the least respected by outsiders and in the Nightguard Corps itself. But without them, we'd all be dead. Every single one of us."
Silence settled in the room.
Rylen gave a tired sigh. "Tomorrow morning, we go to the judgment chamber. All captains will attend there. Only the captains and the recruits. The final decision is made there."
He stepped back, giving them one last look. "Get some rest. You guys deserve it."
The Judgment day:
The next day dawned cold and gray with rain.
The five recruits stood in ceremonial black suits, badges removed, weapons stripped. This was not a battlefield. It was the chamber of judgment.
They were led down a long, narrow hallway—stone walls lined with torches, despite the advanced technology of the compound. It felt ancient. Sacred.
At the end was a vast, circular, dark room. The walls were lined with flags of the five divisions. At the center stood a platform—five glowing circles, one for each recruit.
And above them… a towering black curtain. Behind it, three figures sat on elevated thrones. Their silhouettes were faint, their features obscured by magical interference and shadow.
They spoke with modulated voices—one deep and thunderous, one cold, soft and feminine, and one smooth and neutral.
"Begin selection."
Kagetsu Fushikado
The first to step forward today.
He raised his head, eyes gleaming with quiet pride. "I, Kagetsu Fushikado, request permission to join the first division."
The chamber fell silent.
Then—
"Approved." said the thunderous voice.
"Approved." said the cold and soft one.
"Approved." said the last without any emotion.
A chime rang out. Captain Karu Arakizawa gave a slight nod. Kagetsu stepped aside.
Ayumu Jagagiri
She walked up, calm and focused.
"I request the second division," she said simply.
Again, silence.
"Approved.""Approved.""Approved."
Another chime. Another step forward. Ayumu joined Kagetsu. They smiled at eachother.
Lisa Hijemaja
Her eyes were unreadable as always.
"I choose the third"
"Approved.""Approved.""Approved."
Lisa didn't flinch at the chime. She walked past without a word and joined the other 2 recruits.
Kisuke Naeme
He stepped forward, hands behind his back. Smiling.
"Division 4."
A brief pause.
"Approved.""Approved.""Approved."
He grinned, giving a bow before moving into line.
Four out of five.
All went smoothly as expected.
Until—
Lucien
He stepped onto the circle. His heart pounded. Sweat lined his brow.
"I… I request the fifth division."
The air shifted.
A pause.
A long one.
Then—"Denied.""Denied.""Denied."
No chime.
No approval.
Just silence in the room.
Lucien's breath caught.
Behind him, even the captains shifted uncomfortably.
Kagetsu stared in disbelief at Lucien. Ayumu frowned. Kisuke tilted his head. Lisa blinked even once.
Lucien turned slowly toward the curtain. He opened his mouth—but nothing came out of it.
He had been rejected.
Not from Division 1.
Not from 3.
From Division 5.
From the weakest division there is.
From the only one no one ever wanted to be a part of.
The Higher Ups had spoken.
The silence pressed down like a stone slab.
And then—
"That is all," the deep voice said.
"This judgment is final."
The curtain faded into darkness.
Lucien stood frozen in place, the only one still on the circle.
All eyes were on him.
Confused.
Stunned.
Silent.