2025-01-12 10:50:08“Whit whee whoe whoe whoe whit whee,” Miko whistled as he washed in the shower.
“Hahh,” he exhaled softly as he washed his face, finally turning off the shower. He sat down on a bench, looking around at lockers before fixing his gaze on the large mirror before him. “After the encounter with the abyss,” he shivered. “Think I might have mirror-phobia,” he said as he giggled. ** Soon after, he stepped out of the school bathroom. “Well, now that I’ve officially got no place to return to, I guess the school is now home,” he said as he looked around. “Hiyahh!“ “Hiyuh!” “Wind spike!!!” “Fire ball!” “Looks like the school is busy today, not everyone went back home,” Miko wandered through the quiet halls of the training arena late at night. As he approached the large doors of the practice room, faint sounds of combat echoed from within—fire crackling, wind slicing, and bright light beaming. He hesitated before pushing the door open slightly, peering inside. Akiya stood in the center of the room, flames swirling around her like a living entity. She launched a series of fireballs at a moving target, each one hitting dead center. Her precision was flawless, and the fire burned with an intensity that seemed almost untamed. To her right, Liam moved with ease, a sharp gust of wind following every flick of his wrist. He used the wind to lift targets into the air, slamming them down with a force that made the ground shake. His normally lazy demeanor was gone, replaced with focus and control. In the corner, Anna was surrounded by floating orbs of water, each one shimmering like liquid light. She manipulated them with grace, sending them to heal invisible wounds on a training dummy. Her expression was calm but intense, and the water moved as if it understood her emotions. Miko’s breath caught in his throat. They were incredible. Watching them train, he realized just how far behind he was. He wasn’t just the weakest link—he was the reason they had never advanced in the clan games. “You gonna stand there all night or actually say something?” Akiya’s voice cut through his thoughts, startling him. She had stopped mid-move, the flames around her extinguishing as she turned toward him. “I—uh…” Miko stepped inside awkwardly, scratching the back of his head. “I didn’t mean to interrupt. I was just passing by.” Liam smirked, brushing his wind-blown hair from his face. “Sure, you were. Come to spy on us, huh?” “No!” Miko said quickly, shaking his head. “I just… couldn’t sleep.” “You sleep in school? Since when did we have dorms?” Akiya laughed. Anna approached quietly, her soft footsteps barely audible. “You can join us, you know,” she said gently, her tone lacking the mockery of the others. “We were about to wrap up anyway.” Before Miko could decline, Akiya clapped her hands together. “Perfect timing! We were just about to grab something to eat. You coming?” Miko hesitated. He didn’t feel like he belonged, not after seeing how skilled they were. “I don’t want to bother you guys…” “Oh, stop being dramatic,” Liam said, rolling his eyes. “We’re getting snacks, not planning a battle strategy. Let’s go.” Akiya grabbed Miko by the arm and started dragging him toward the cafeteria. “Come on. You can’t say no to late-night snacks.” The group settled at a corner table in the dimly lit cafeteria, the atmosphere much more relaxed now. Akiya had piled her tray high with food, while Liam leaned back in his chair, lazily sipping a drink. Anna sat quietly, her hands folded in her lap, a cup of tea in front of her. “So, Miko,” Liam started, a teasing grin on his face, “what did you think of our little training session?” Miko fidgeted with his drink, avoiding their eyes. “You’re all… amazing,” he admitted quietly. “Damn right we are,” Akiya said, grinning. “I mean, we have to be if we want to stand a chance in the clan games.” “You’ve all been carrying the team,” Miko said, his voice barely above a whisper. “I’m the reason we’ve never advanced, aren’t I?” The table fell silent for a moment. Even Liam’s usual smirk faded as he exchanged a glance with the others. Anna was the first to speak. “That’s not true, Miko,” she said softly. “Yes, it is,” Miko said, looking up at her. “I was chosen because of my connection to Elena, wasn’t I? That’s the only reason I’m here.” Akiya sighed, crossing her arms. “Look, I won’t sugarcoat it. Yeah, you were picked because of her. But that doesn’t mean you’re useless. You just… haven’t figured out your potential yet.” Liam nodded, surprising Miko. “She’s right. You’re not the first person to start at the bottom. You just need to work harder to catch up.” Miko’s shoulders slumped. “Easier said than done.” Anna’s quiet voice broke through the tension. “We’ve all struggled, Miko. You’re not alone in that.” He looked at her, curious. “You? But you’re amazing. I saw you out there. You’re perfect.” Anna shook her head, a distant look in her eyes. “Far from it.” She hesitated, her fingers tightening around her cup. “Do you know why I still choose to fight after getting a power such as healing?” Miko shook his head, the others leaning in slightly as if they hadn’t heard this story before either. Anna took a deep breath. “When I was a child, a portal to the Abyss opened in my neighborhood. It came out of nowhere, swallowing the entire street. Wraiths poured out, attacking everyone.” Her voice wavered, but she continued. “I was just a kid. I couldn’t do anything. I watched my friends, my neighbors… everyone I cared about die.” The table was silent, the weight of her words sinking in. “I survived because I hid,” Anna said, her voice trembling. “But hiding meant I couldn’t help them. I couldn’t save anyone. When the portal finally closed, I swore I would never let that happen again. I’d carry their hopes and dreams, and I’d destroy every last wraith I came across.” Miko stared at her, stunned. He had never imagined someone as calm and composed as Anna carrying such a heavy burden. “I’m sorry,” he said softly. She shook her head, offering a small, sad smile. “Don’t be. It’s why I’m here. Why I fight. We all have our reasons, Miko. You just need to find yours.” Akiya nodded, her usual fiery demeanor tempered by the serious tone. “She’s right. Everyone starts somewhere. The question is, are you gonna sit around feeling sorry for yourself, or are you gonna do something about it?” Liam smirked, leaning back in his chair. “I mean, the clan games are coming up. Perfect opportunity to prove yourself, don’t you think?” Miko looked around the table, their faces filled with encouragement. For the first time, he felt like maybe, just maybe, he could belong here. “I’ll try,” he said finally, his voice steady. “I’ll work harder.” Akiya grinned, clapping him on the back. “That’s the spirit!” Liam raised his drink in a mock toast. “Here’s to not embarrassing us this year.” Anna smiled softly. “We’ll help you, Miko. You’re not alone.” As the group laughed and joked, the weight on Miko’s shoulders felt a little lighter. He wasn’t there yet, but for the first time, he believed he could be.
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Liam had claimed a corner table—the one with the slightly wobbly leg that he insisted gave the space "character." A half-eaten slice of cheesecake sat before him, more decoration than actual dessert. A spoon balanced precariously on the bridge of his nose, defying gravity with the same casual ease that he seemed to approach most of life."I'm telling you," he announced to his teammates, the spoon wobbling with each word, "this is a legitimate stress-management technique."Akiya rolled her eyes, flames dancing between her fingers—a nervous habit she'd never quite managed to control. "Balancing cutlery is your idea of stress management?""Some people meditate," Liam replied, not breaking his concentration. "I balance spoons."Across the table, Anna hunched over a stack of research papers, her dark hair falling forward to create a curtain between her and the world. Mumbled calculations escaped her lips—something about artifact resonance and magical frequency patterns."Did you say someth
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Time seemed to slow as Miko faced his impossible choice. The wraith loomed over him, obsidian face mere inches away, reflecting his own distorted image back at him."Your decision time has expired," the wraith said, its voice laced with cruel amusement. "The relic. Now."Miko didn't move."Very well," the wraith's form seemed to expand, darkening the tunnel further. "Then you leave me no choice but to demonstrate the consequences of defiance." It gestured toward Akiya who was still struggling to her feet. "Perhaps I'll start with the fire girl. Her flames were... delicious.""No!" Anna tried to throw up another barrier, but her magic fizzled weakly, her reserves nearly depleted."How touching," the wraith mocked. "Such loyalty. Such devotion. Completely wasted, of course." It turned back to Miko. "Final opportunity, boy. Surrender the relic, or watch your friends suffer before they die."The tension in the tunnel was suffocating. Keisha clutched the relic container to her chest, her k
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Miko didn't answer, but he had a feeling Keisha Stormweaver wasn't someone who gave up easily once her curiosity was aroused.The relic pulsed in its container, its blue light seemingly synchronized with Miko's heartbeat for just a moment before returning to its own rhythm. Whatever connection existed between them, Miko knew instinctively that it was only beginning.Someone had brought this team together specifically to find this relic. And he was increasingly certain that someone was playing a much longer game than any of them realized.Then suddenly,"That's the third time we've passed that support beam," Liam said, coming to a stop. His usual lazy demeanor had given way to sharp alertness, eyes darting between familiar markings on the tunnel wall. "The one with the red mining symbol, this is the third time we’ve passed it.""That's the third time we've passed that support beam," Liam said, coming to a stop. His usual lazy demeanor had given way to sharp alertness, eyes darting bet
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The guardian was now moving agitatedly around the clearing's perimeter, its wooden body creaking with tension. The forest itself seemed to respond to its distress—the not-sunlight dimming, the plants curling inward, the glowing insects scattering.Keisha made a quick decision, pulling a specially lined container from her pack. "This should contain it temporarily." She lifted the relic carefully, and as it left the pedestal, several things happened simultaneously.The forest darkened completely, plunging them into momentary blackness before Akiya's fire provided light. The guardian let out a sound like splintering wood and collapsed to the ground, its body suddenly lifeless. And from the direction they had entered, came a chittering noise that raised the hair on the back of their necks."Move!" Miko ordered as fire erupted around his hands. "Back to the entrance, now!"They ran, Keisha clutching the containment box, Akiya lighting their way with controlled flames. The forest that had s
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The branches parted slowly, deliberately. Squad Seven formed a defensive line instinctively—Miko and Keisha at the center, Akiya and Liam flanking, Anna providing barrier support from behind, with Trent and Devra protected in the rear, their detection equipment humming with activity.First came the sound—a clicking unlike any natural creature. Then movement—smooth, yet somehow mechanical. Finally, the figure emerged fully into the dappled not-quite-sunlight.It stood roughly the height of a tall human, but the resemblance ended there. Its body appeared to be made of interlocking wooden segments, like armor crafted from living trees. Where a face should have been, there was only a smooth wooden mask with intricate carvings instead of features. Tiny plants grew from crevices in its form, and glowing insects similar to those in the forest drifted lazily around it."Holy shit," Akiya whispered, flames dancing nervously between her fingers.The creature tilted its empty and featureless hea
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“They said we should all gather suddenly,” “Yeah let’s go,”Voices could be heard along the hall.The hall hummed but Coordinator Hayes stood at the center platform, his weathered face impassive as he surveyed the assembled teams. The morning's confrontation in the cafeteria seemed distant now as the reality of tomorrow's mission settled over everyone."Attention," Hayes called, his voice cutting through the chatter without needing to shout. "Final briefing for tomorrow's dungeon operation."The lights dimmed as a three-dimensional projection materialized, showing a complex network of tunnels and chambers carved into a mountainside."The Redstone Mining Complex," Hayes explained, "abandoned fifty-three years ago following an Abyssal breach. While the breach itself was contained, residual corruption remains throughout the facility."The projection highlighted different sections in color-coded threat levels – red for severe, yellow for moderate, green for minimal."As previously announ
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Suddenly, someone stepped up. With a plate on his shirt written, coordinator Hayes. Coordinator Hayes stood at the center, his weathered face betraying nothing of his thoughts as teams filed in."Punctuality," he noted as the last recruits took their places. "A promising start."The lights dimmed, and a three-dimensional projection of the mining complex materialized before them, rotating slowly to reveal its multiple levels."This facility," Hayes began, "was once the Redstone Mining Operation, abandoned fifty-three years ago following an Abyssal breach. The breach itself was contained and sealed by AAU response teams, but not before corruption spread throughout the complex."The projection highlighted sections in different colors – red for high corruption, yellow for moderate, green for minimal."As previously stated, Class A will investigate the deepest level." The lowest section glowed bright red. "Class B the middle chambers." The central area pulsed yellow with patches of red. "
