"we all walk a written path...FATE"

Some of the Chosen were stirring.

Confusion carved deep lines on their faces.

But Karze?

He stayed seated, steady as stone.

Evae's head rested on his shoulder—soft, fragile.

His eyes locked on the truck's steel door.

Not yet.

A chill crawled beneath his skin.

Something was out there.

Closer. Faster.

It wasn't here to welcome them.

But what kind of monster would dare come to the Academy... unless—

His thoughts fractured as Evae stirred, blinking sleep from her eyes.

Karze turned, eyes lighting up, a warm smile breaking through the dark.

"Morning, sleepyhead."

She yawned, rubbed tired eyes, still heavy but alive.

"Huh... morning? How do you know it's morning?"

He shrugged, casual, as if it were the simplest thing in the world.

"I don't know. Just... what people say after someone wakes up, right?"

She shrugged back, a tired smile.

"Guess so..."

Around them, the others shifted—standing, alert, eyes glued to the armored door like it was the gate to hell.

The truck held its breath.

Every second stretched thin.

The door cracked open.

Just a shove away from bursting wide.

But no one dared move.

Instinct pinned them in place.

Out there… something waited.

Its presence slithered in, whispering death to every nerve.

Step outside, and they'd all die.

"Karze… what's happening?"

Evae's voice was soft, trembling with worry.

He turned to her, smile still calm, steady.

"Nothing really. Think of it as... an entrance exam."

"Entrance exam?!"

Her eyes widened, confusion cracking her voice.

Karze's gut tightened.

He knew the truth.

Pyrax Academy wasn't a school.

It was a crucible.

A trap designed to weed out the weak.

They were the prey.

The rats in a cage full of hungry cats.

He stood slowly.

Evae rose with him.

"Hold onto something," he said, voice low.

She scanned the truck, found a spot on the wall and grabbed it.

Karze's fingers slipped into the jagged seams of the metal plating.

His lips curled into a smirk.

A spark of wild excitement lit his eyes.

He was about to break the rules.

"Hey," he said, "what's the craziest ride you've ever been on?"

She blinked.

"Um... ride? Crazy?"

"Yeah."

"Karze... I've never been on a crazy ride."

He chuckled, remembering.

"Oh... that's right. Me neither."

His gaze snapped back to the door.

Predator locked onto prey.

The threat was seconds away.

"Shouldn't we warn the others?"

Her voice was tight with fear.

"What if something happens?"

Karze paused.

He weighed it.

Then before he could answer—

A shout cut through the tension.

"EVERYONE, HOLD ON TO SOMETHING! NOW!"

Karze grinned, bitter and amused.

"Guess there's someone smarter than the rest."

Panic exploded.

No one questioned the warning.

Hands scrambled for the cold steel walls.

Claws of desperation gripped every surface.

The truck trembled violently—like the earth itself had cracked beneath them.

Not an earthquake.

Footsteps.

Massive.

Thunderous.

Charging.

They were trapped.

Sitting ducks in a shooting gallery.

Closer. Louder.

Death was coming.

Hearts hammered.

Souls shattered.

And then—

SMASH.

The truck slammed as if hit by a freight train.

Metal screamed.

Darkness swallowed them whole.

Screams tore through the night—agonized, broken.

Flesh ripped.

Bones shattered.

The cleanser had arrived.

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