He felt something was wrong with everything.
Questions kept appearing inside Raia's brain. 'If they already saw it coming, then why didn't they say anything to the public? Plus, if it's happening all around the world, how did they know that the people here have True Origins, even though some of them don't even know what those are yet? Something's off here.'
Mistress Fate continued explaining technical details about the base. The learning area, practical exam zones, food facilities, the barracks, training fields, and the hunting grounds. Raia still managed to find a gap in those explanations. One thing stood out... there was no facility for outside communication.
Raia grew more suspicious. He felt this military base might not be as safe as it claimed to be.
After that thought, Mistress Fate moved on to the topic of punishments. "Before I forget, many students failed to get here on time. As the announcement said, everyone who couldn't comply will be punished. Now... let's see the faces of these people."
After she said that, a huge black screen appeared behind her and the people accompanying her. The screen lit up, displaying the faces and names of the students.
Raia scanned the list and found his own name and face at the last column. Right beside his was Arman's. Raia's eyes widened as he turned to look at his friend.
"You didn't enter?" Raia asked, looking annoyed.
"Well, I couldn't just come here and leave you to be targeted by that lunatic Elliot. So, I'm sorry, okay?" Arman explained.
Raia just facepalmed and continued listening to Mistress Fate.
"Because you failed to follow the requirements, you'll undergo punishment. But don't worry, it won't be too harsh." Mistress Fate glanced to the side and nodded.
Military soldiers entered the dome and climbed the stairs toward the seated students. They grabbed those being punished, ignoring their protests.
It was no use. The soldiers simply lifted them up. Fifty students, including Raia and Arman, were taken from their seats. Raia and Arman, however, went down peacefully.
When they reached the platform, the General Raia had met earlier glanced at him. His gaze carried a warning. Raia didn't trust the General, but the stare made it clear... something wasn't right. Raia and the others stood on a metal platform. Above them, the remaining students stared down with smug curiosity.
Those with Raia felt embarrassed, wanting to dig a hole and vanish.
Raia observed them. They all looked weak and scrawny.
Before he could analyze further, the platform lowered about ten feet. The side walls rose up, caging them in. A large cage-like door was visible, thick iron bars with small gaps in between.
Raia glared at it. He felt something gazing back.
"For your punishment, you will face a creature," Mistress Fate announced, clapping. "This is a wild beast from the Asian countries. A Mutated Wild Boar. If you kill it, you'll earn benefits. I wish you luck, T-Users!"
Raia and the others turned pale with fear as the gate opened.
A large, brown creature appeared. It's almost as big as a Rhinoceros!
It stood on four stump-like legs. Its round body was covered in brown fur with black stripes. Huge tusks jutted from each side of its mouth. Serrated teeth glinted, and red, saliva-dripping eyes locked onto Raia.
"Stand back!" Raia warned. The students shrieked in terror and scattered. They looked like helpless children running for their lives, except some them are literally teenagers!
The Boar suddenly charged fast, like an incoming car. Raia crouched, planning to subdue it with brute strength.
As it neared, the Boar lowered its head, aiming its four-foot tusks forward.
Seeing this, Raia aborted his plan and jumped high to dodge. The Boar missed him, confused by Raia's sudden disappearance.
The other students and Arman crouched quietly, trying not to attract attention. But the Boar, with its sharp senses, turned toward them. It had detected them.
They panicked and fled.
One girl with purple hair was running, trying to escape the terrifying existence, but she had tripped and fell. The Boar saw her and she became an easy target.
It charged again.
She wanted to scream but she couldn't. Terror silenced her. She looked pitiful as she plead for someone to rescue her. She scrambled to escape, but her body wouldn't move fast enough. The Boar was three meters away when its path suddenly shifted.
Raia had kicked it hard, diverting its course. The Boar failed to kill the girl.
He grabbed the girl by the waist and leapt. As he looked at her, he noticed something unique. She has purple hair and faint purple stripes on her skin.
He didn't question it. And focused on escaping the Wild Boar. He handed her to Arman. "Keep her safe. And stay out of the fight."
Arman nodded and ran with her. But the Boar tried to pursue them again.
Raia watched. The Boar still looked fine even after the powerful kick. That didn't discourage him. Raia then remembered something from earlier that made him looked at his body... there is no blue light covering his body anymore. It had disappeared when he woke up earlier.
That gave him an idea. With Arman's power, it would power him up enough to kill the Boar.
"I need Arman's power," he muttered, scanning for his friend. He spotted Arman and the others ducked behind cover.
Raia smiled. 'Smart move.' He was impressed by their idea.
The Boar saw him again and charged. Raia stood firm, squinting, focusing. The crowd of students on the bleachers. They were enjoying it too much like they're just watching an incredible show. They watched with growing excitement. When the Boar was meters away, Raia charged too.
Everyone thought they'd collide but Raia raised his hand and caught the tusks.
Using the Boar's momentum, he redirected its tusks downward. The metal platform cracked as the tusks embedded deep into it.
Raia was stunned. "Those tusks can tear through metal... If I'd miscalculated..." He shivered but pushed the thought aside.
He punched the Boar but it felt like punching a boulder!
"Its skin is way too thick!" Raia realized. Still, his earlier kick had worked. That confused him. He kept attacking, but it barely moved. Frustrated, he ran to Arman. "Arman! Buff me, now!"
"I... I don't know how!" Arman panicked.
"WHAT?!" Raia shouted.
"Dude! I just learned it! I don't even know how to control it yet!"
Raia facepalmed. This wasn't what he needed.
Then they heard a loud roar. The Boar had broken free and was charging Raia from behind.
When Arman saw it, his heart raced. 'Raia's going to die.' He thought
Desperate to help, Arman's hands began glowing blue. Without thinking, he grabbed Raia's shoulder.
Blue light once again surrounded him.
The tusks hit Raia but didn't pierce. Instead, the force flung both of them across the platform. They face-planted, groaning from the impact.
Arman winced from his abrasions but looked for Raia.
Raia was already standing and Arman exhaled in relief. He'd saved him. Raia checked himself and saw no damage. He was was once again impressed by his friend's power!
The Boar charged again.
Raia then felt the energy surging through his body. He felt that he could take on anything!
He calmed himself and brought his index and middle fingers together on his right hand, channeling all of his energy.
The Boar approached. When it's two meters away from him, everything slowed.
Raia moved his body as fast as he could. The crowd thought it was a race of who'd strike first?
But Raia surprised them. He grabbed the tusks and used them to vault into a handstand on its head.
The Boar stopped, stunned.
Now wide open, Raia brought his fingers together again. With a final burst, he struck.
His fingers pierced through the Boar's skull like a bullet strike.
In just one blow, the boar was instanty killed.