Ren swallowed hard and walked forward until he reached the center of the chamber, where glowing runes circled the floor. He stopped within their dim light.
Oblivion kept tapping her nails against the table, then glanced at Omega. "Well… what do you think?"
Omega exhaled and leaned back on his seat, resting his head on his fingers, elbow on the armrest.
"Hmmm… I'm a little disappointed."
Oblivion let out a short laugh.
"I know, right? So underwhelming. What is she even thinking?"
On the right, Order finally spoke.
"Well… one can never tell what goes on in that girl's head."
Omega tilted his head.
"She turned down the Eurus clan's request to take Fusion as her trial shadow, and she refused Comet from the Luna clan. Those two were more promising initiates, but she rejected them both. We all thought she wouldn't take anyone at all. Then she brings in this… kid? Someone not even from a clan."
"Maybe she has a thing against clans?" Oblivion said, flinging her hand lazily.
"Well… you may be right. She's not from a clan herself," Omega replied.
Order looked to Omega. "Still, she's a top ten shaper. I expected something better. This?"
Her gaze fell back on Ren. "Well… he doesn't look like much."
Ren, who had been standing there listening to them talk ever since he arrived, was now growing annoyed. He did not need anyone to tell him it would be a very bad idea to speak up. But…
'He doesn't look like much? What the hell does that mean? I get that I'm lean, but… seriously? Why does everyone in this division have to be such scumbags? Are they not even going to talk to me? Or are they just going to debate my worth in front of me without asking anything?'
He glanced at Order, who was now watching him quietly. Behind the mask, her expression was unreadable. Meanwhile, Omega and Oblivion continued talking to themselves.
'Will they kill me if I interrupt? Aika would speak up if she were in my shoes. She's my mentor. Maybe it's time I take a page from her book. Being reckless like her sometimes… should be fine, right?'
He inhaled deeply and raised a finger.
'I'm probably going to regret this.'
"Uhm… excuse me."
The room suddenly grew silent. Everyone's eyes turned to him, and even through the mask, Ren could feel their gaze boring into him. Any other person might have folded under the pressure, but Ren did not because…
'Whew… thank the heavens for my affliction.'
He cleared his throat.
"Pardon me for interrupting, but… I was invited here for my induction. The map led me here, so I think I'm in the right place. I'd really appreciate it if we went ahead with the induction rather than debating if I'm good enough without even giving me a chance to prove myself."
For a long moment, silence hung heavy over the chamber.
Then Oblivion let out a low laugh.
"Not bad, kid. You've got guts."
She flicked a glance at Omega.
"Maybe we judged too quickly? That's… definitely something Silence would do."
Omega's head tilted slightly, his masked face unreadable, but his voice was calm, measured, and cutting.
"Hmph. Confidence or recklessness, I can't tell yet."
Order, who had remained quiet while the other two spoke, tilted her head, her gaze fixed on Ren.
"Hmmm…"
Then she leaned forward slightly.
"Tell me, boy. Do you truly believe yourself worthy of becoming Silence's trial shadow?"
Ren was quiet for a moment, then spoke in a firm voice.
"I don't just believe I'm worthy… I know that I am."
Silence settled across the chamber once again.
Then Omega leaned forward, speaking in a serious, measured tone.
"What is… your moniker, Trial Shadow?"
Ren hesitated for a moment. He had spent a long time thinking about this, about his identity and that one word that would embody everything he was. Now, finally asked, he spoke firmly.
"I will be known as… Abyss."
After a moment of silence, Order spoke.
"You wanted a chance to prove yourself, Abyss. Very well. We will begin your evaluation."
Ren frowned.
'Evaluation? Huh… I thought it would just be an induction. Aika didn't say anything about an evaluation, and from what I know, there's usually no evaluation before becoming a trial shadow…'
Just then, Ren saw Omega tap a crimson orb embedded in the armrest of his throne. Immediately, the runes circling the floor around Ren began to glow. Before he could process what was happening, the chamber dissolved into light and he suddenly found himself somewhere unfamiliar.
The harsh sting of sunlight struck his eyes, forcing him to squint. A roar of sound followed, filled with laughter, cheering, and clapping. It was deafening. He cracked one eye open and looked around, his vision swimming before it settled. Then both eyes went wide in disbelief and shock.
He was standing in the middle of an arena filled with people. Some wore masks, others showed their bare faces, but all were cheering wildly.
Then a desperate shout cut through the noise. Ren whipped his head toward the sound. A few meters ahead in the ring, a man in a blue half mask different from his own was sprawled on the floor, one hand raised as he begged.
"Hey! Hey! Please let me go! I quit! You win, please!"
Towering over the man was a Minotaur at least three meters tall, gripping a massive axe in one hand. Its booming voice echoed across the arena.
"What do you mean you quit? This is a match to the death."
It immediately brought the axe down on the man, severing his head clean from the center.
'What the hell… what the hell… what the HELL!'
Ren stumbled back, his heart pounding in his chest, but then it stilled, returning to its natural calm. Though his mind kept racing, he had no idea what was happening or where he was, other than that he had been thrown into an arena without warning.
A booming male voice suddenly echoed from the podium that overlooked the arena.
"Ladies and gentlemen, and just like the thirteen matches before this, Taurus the Raging Bull wins again!"
The Minotaur roared in triumph, pounding a massive fist against its chest as the crowd erupted into cheers. The ground seemed to shake with their cries.
Then, just as the noise began to settle, the same voice spoke again.
"Uh… good news, people."
The arena fell into silence, thousands of eyes shifting toward the podium.
"I have just received word that a trial shadow from the Division of Execution and Sanction has requested to challenge Taurus the Raging Bull. He claims he is confident in his ability to defeat him in a match to the death."
Ren's eyes widened.
'Wait… Division of Execution and Sanction? Trial shadow? Wait a minute… is that me?'
Just then, Taurus the Raging Bull turned toward him, eyes glinting with murder and excitement.
'Shit! I think it's me!'
Ren spun toward the podium, shouting at the top of his lungs:
"When did I make that claim, huh? I didn't do nothing like that!"
But even as his voice carried across the arena, the Minotaur spoke.
"A trial shadow? Yes… finally a real competition!"
It began walking toward him with heavy, deliberate steps.
"I've had enough of all these amateur initiates. If I kill one of you trial shadows, now that will be a real trophy for my collection."
Ren staggered back as it approached, his pulse quickening. Then a blinding spotlight locked onto him. The voice from the podium boomed once more.
"Everyone, let us welcome onto the stage, the new trial shadow… Abyss!"
The crowd erupted in thunderous cheers, the sound crashing over him from every direction. Ren stared around the arena with wide, frantic eyes, wondering what kind of bizarre nightmare he had been thrown into.