The next morning, Tim got up to see Thai lifting a dumbbell, muscles rippling with every single rep. "Good morning, Thai," Tim said, his voice still heavy with sleep.But Thai ignored it, too fixed on his workout. Instead, it was Bryce, who was as good as awake too, answering: "Morning, Tim. So, what's on the schedule today?"Tim stretched a little and looked over at the timetable on the wall. "Looks like today is off. Just relax and—"The continuation of their discussion was cut short as the loudspeaker abruptly crackled to life. "All new recruits to advance to the stat center immediately.""What a day for a nice rest, huh?" Tim muttered across to Bryce, who appeared as surprised by the announcement as he was.Minutes later they walked to the stat center to find Mr. Thompson waiting for them. He looked stern. "Lucky for you today you'll be assigned to your first test. A level 1 Virex army has been unleashed in downtown Gallon."Tim's heart skipped a beat. It was an area he was famili
As Tim turned, he saw Tess walking with Brandon and her laughter echoing down the corridor. With the vision, his heart hurtled to his stomach as he recalled how big a gap was between the two worlds: one black and white, and the other colored—contrasting."Tess, fancy seeing you here," Tim said, forcing a smile despite the knot in his stomach.Tess smirked, her eyes dancing with mirth. "Oh, Tim, what are you doing here? Can't afford a proper education, so you thought you'd sneak in as a janitor?" she goaded, cutting through the air like daggers.The nearby recruits chuckled nervously for support, unsure how to react to the exchange.Tim held himself in check, but his fists bunched up at his sides. "Just enjoying my time, Tess. How's your new relationship with Brandon going?" he responded, now his voice laced with resentment.Tess's smirk broadened as she turned her eyes to Brandon. The guy just stood there, looking so smug. "Much better than being stuck with a poor loser like you," she
The car eased gently through the imposing gates of Vanguard Academy, the massive V symbol that hovered overhead. Tim's heart raced between excitement and nervousness as they entered the grounds. The presence of guards all over the campus dropped a cold shiver down his spine, surely cementing the impact of this new chapter in his life.As the car slowed to a halt, Tim looked out upon the vast and picturesque campus, resplendent with lavish edifices and effervescing with life of every kind; indeed, it was almost too much to take in—too much for one man who, for most of his life, had hardly entertained the thought that he would be doing what he was.The driver alighted first and opened the door for Tim; he followed, alighting tentatively and looking around in wonder. An aura of reverence fell stiffly over him, realizing the greatness of the opportunity at hand. "Mr. Tim, we've prepared some clothes for you," the driver indicated, pointing to a smooth traveling bag next to the young man
The cheer of the crowd was just turned to shocked silence as Tim stumbled back, his eyes going wide at the gore that lay before his eyes. The metallic tang of blood and the sight of Sakaar's lifeless form sent a spine-shivering sensation down his body.The voice of the announcer cut clear through all the confusion and named Tim the new champion. But jubilation wasn't his—only a heavy sense of premonition and disbelief.Tim watched in silence as Sakaar's body was carried away, feeling incipient unease in the pit of his stomach. The sight of the lifeless form reminded him of the brutal reality of the fight he had just gone through. As soon as the security team had completely disappeared from view, a nagging feeling persisted that something wasn't quite right about all this.Before he could ponder further, one of the security guards came up to him, saying that Mr. Will wanted to see him upstairs. Tim followed closely behind the guard, his heart racing with anticipation and nervousness.T
Tim stepped inside the blacked arena and his heart thumped with expectation. The air smelled foetidly of sweat and booze, and voices in cheer and ridicule bellowed at the walls. He made his way through the dense throng of people, his eyes wide with marvel and trepidation.As he inched his way forward, he could see touts waving fistfuls of cash and people flushed, red with excitement. He felt a feeling of uneasiness overcome him. Was this possible for these people when the city lay in ruins, its people suffering?Suddenly, the thoughts were broken into by the sight of some injured fighters being taken away—bodies all battered and bruised. Tim felt a churning in his stomach with fear. Was he up for this?He walked towards a man standing at the corner, his voice shaking. "Excuse me, please, sir. Can you tell me where the registration for the fight is located?"This man came up to Tim, looked him in the face with a sneer, and brazenly asked, "What's a scrawny kid like you doing here? This
Blobs of thick, dark blood from the Virex coated across the ground as the ambulance whizzed on ahead. Standing a little distance away, Tim surveyed with weight in his heart grieved yet unbelievable at the destruction before his eyes.The scene was chaotic: emergency responders rushed to care for the wounded and clear away the rubble of what once had been. Ambulance crews were on their toes, loading citizens' smacked-up bodies onto stretchers, whisking them away to safety.The whole process done, a team of experts donned in protective gear moved in to deal with the massive body of the Virex. They were careful, methodical, and precise, carrying heavy machinery and specialized equipment to wrestle with their arduous task of disposing of the monstrous remains.His eyes fell once more into the area his mother had been buried under. With all the shouting, he threw himself forward, pushing his way to frantic scraping, trembling hands in a frenzied search. The boulders were weighty, but he di
Tim's heart pounded. "Please, sir, I've worked hard. I love Tess. I'm doing everything I can to provide for her."Tess's mother stepped forward, her voice icy. "You're a cleaner, Tim. Nothing more. You have no future with our daughter.""Leave now," Tess's father ordered, his voice booming. "Or we'll call the authorities."The door slammed shut in Tim's face, leaving him standing alone in the dark. The sting of rejection was sharp and immediate. He turned and began the long walk home, his mind swirling with thoughts. Tess, the girl he had loved for years, was now beyond his reach. All the money he had saved and paid over the months felt like it had vanished into thin air. As he walked through the city, the streets grew increasingly shabby and dilapidated. Tim's neighborhood was known for its low rent, but also for the constant threat of Virex attacks. The government did little to protect the poor areas, and residents were left to fend for themselves.He finally reached his apartment,
Tim knelt on the grimy floor of the ground toilet, scrubbing the stained tiles with a worn brush. The stench was overwhelming, but he was used to it by now. His hands moved methodically, his mind drifting to thoughts of a different life.Suddenly, the door burst open, and a gang of young men poured in, their bodies slick with sweat. They were the new recruits of the Vanguard Academy, fresh from their training. Tim paused, watching them with a mixture of envy and admiration. These men were on their way to becoming soldiers, trained to battle the fearsome creatures known as the Virex."Man, that was brutal," one of the recruits said, wiping his forehead with the back of his hand. "I thought I'd never make it through that obstacle course.""Yeah, but we're still here," another chimed in, a grin spreading across his face. "Just a few more weeks, and we'll be full-fledged soldiers."Tim listened to their banter, his heart aching with longing. He had always dreamed of joining the Vanguard A