An old man stepped onto the high platform, moving with a slow, deliberate grace. He gently took the microphone from Tachi's hand and spoke in a voice that was both deep and surprisingly warm.
"Welcome, warriors. My heart swells with pride as I look upon a generation as formidable as this one."
Below the stage, the crowd erupted into a thunderous roar. Shinji, however, stood frozen. The more he looked at the old man, the more the pieces clicked into place. This was the same hunched-over man he had stopped to help in the corridor earlier.
Seeing Shinji's jaw drop, Ragna leaned in and whispered:
"That is Supreme Commander Odin. He is the absolute authority here in Heavenfield."
Shinji felt his knees go weak. He had casually struck up a conversation with the most powerful man in the world as if he were just a lost grandfather.
As if on cue, massive heavy doors along the dome's perimeter ground open. Elite Heavenfield soldiers marched in, their presence alone enough to silence the room. Floating just above the palm of each soldier's hand was a small, pulsing violet stone that cast a faint, eerie glow.
Odin's voice boomed once more:
"Each team will be granted one of these stones. Your mission is simple: protect it until sunset tomorrow. Defend it against the coming demonic onslaught."
The word "demon" sent a shockwave through the crowd. Murmurs turned into a frantic buzz of excitement and fear.
"Demons? Does that mean… we're actually going to the surface?"
"Are we really leaving the city?"
Odin handed the microphone back to Tachi and exited the stage in silence. The elite soldiers moved through the ranks, handing out the violet stones. In Shinji's team, Lio stepped forward to take the responsibility of carrying it.
From his vantage point, Tachi's voice rang out with sharp authority:
"Candidates! For this phase of the trial, you have been granted special clearance to leave the gates of Heavenfield."
The dome exploded in a chorus of gasps. Shinji remained bewildered until Ragna let out a weary sigh of explanation.
"To leave Heavenfield normally requires the unanimous consent of all three Grand Commanders and Odin himself. It's easier to catch a star than it is to get permission to see the sun."
Shinji's eyes widened. This wasn't just a test; it was a rare, life-altering opportunity.
Lio tapped Shinji on the shoulder and handed him a thick, leather-bound book. Opening it, Shinji realized it was a demon encyclopedia—a field guide for the creatures they were about to face. He scanned the pages quickly:
Low-Level Demons: Brainless creatures acting on pure instinct.
Common: Humanoid, hairless, with razor-sharp teeth and strength far beyond an average man.
Stalkers (Flyers): Bird-like creatures with massive wings and lethal talons.
Behemoths (Giants): Massive versions of common demons, standing between ten to fifty meters tall.
Sentient Demons: Capable of speech and complex thought. They kill for sport and often rule over territories with their own subordinates.
High-Level Demons: The elite generals of Kronos. Each possesses power equal to, or greater than, a Grand Commander. Their true numbers and identities remain a mystery.
The Pinnacle: The Demon King, Kronos.
Shinji swallowed hard, a cold sweat breaking out on his forehead as he read about the horrors of the surface. Sensing his fear, Ragna placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
"Don't let the book get in your head, Shinji. For this exam, only the Common types will be released."
Tachi's voice echoed one last time:
"Preparation time is over. Proceed to the forward gate for deployment!"
A massive bulkhead at the far end of the dome groaned open. Elite guards stood by racks of gleaming weaponry. Shinji's group joined the line of candidates to choose their steel. Shinji picked a simple, sturdy longsword. Lio opted for a compact, jagged dagger. Ragna, however, walked past the racks without taking anything at all.
Leaving the vibrant dome behind, they entered a long, windowless steel corridor. Led by a squad of elite guards, the candidates marched in silence. The rhythmic clack-clack of boots on metal created a heavy, suffocating atmosphere.
At the very end of the tunnel stood a gargantuan stone door. A soldier stepped forward, inserted a parchment key into a small slot, and the ground began to vibrate.
Slowly, the door ground open to reveal a massive staircase spiraling upward. At the top of the stairs, a horizontal hatch leading to the world above began to retract. For the first time in his memory, Shinji saw it—real, unfiltered sunlight pouring down from the sky, bathing the cold underground in a warm, golden glow.