After a few minutes of rest, a loud voice blared over the intercom. "That concludes the first round of the tournament. Would all remaining contestants please meet in the center of the arena for an important update?"
Now treating another patient, Abby looked at Damien and said, "You're good to go. Just be careful not to do anything reckless."
Damien's lip curled upwards as he replied, "Of course. Thank you, Mrs. Abby. You saved me once again."
Standing up, Damien expected a jolt of pain in his legs. However, to his surprise, his body felt lighter and better than ever. She really is an amazing healer. Giving her one last glance, he waved and turned toward the clinic's exit, momentarily blinded by the arena's bright lights.
As he stepped back into the arena, the place felt different. The empty bleachers loomed above him like silent, unblinking eyes. The air was thick with the residue of the crowd's excitement, the scent of sweat and anticipation still hanging in the air. Now littered with scuff marks, the blue mats felt cold and empty without the crowd's roar. Most of the spectators had cleared out, leaving only the captains and the lieutenants behind. Looking around, he spotted the group of deviants standing in the middle of the blue mats. He recognized a lot of them, including Luka and Summer. A wave of relief washed over Damien. He expected Luka to win, but he doubted Summer, even though he knew she was strong in her own right. Either way, he was glad she won her fight.
Among the group, Damien also recognized a pair of identical twins—Colin and Cass Lennox. The Lennox twins were known for their precision and brutal tactics, the quiet types who kept to themselves but always posed a dangerous threat in any battle. Their dark eyes scanned the group, unreadable, but Damien knew better than to underestimate them. They were as sharp as their reputations.
He also saw Julius and Daeron, and the sight of them made his blood boil. But it also brought him a sense of satisfaction. He wanted to be the one to take down Julius, and he was pretty sure Luka felt the same way about Daeron. He glanced at Luka, who was giving Daeron a death stare.
Noticing his gaze, Luka locked eyes with Damien, and his expression instantly softened, turning into the familiar, affectionate Luka Damien knew. Damien had learned that Luka was only loving toward those he cared about, but to everyone else, he was a complete maniac. That contrast only made Damien appreciate his friendship with Luka all the more.
Damien finally joined the group of deviants just as Commander Jones and the captains stepped forward onto a podium above them.
"Great job on your victories, cadets," Commander Jones' voice boomed through the gym.
Every cadet felt a sense of pride from his words, but before they could savor the moment, he continued. "With round one over, I'm sure you're all eager to see who you'll be fighting in the next round. However, I'm here to inform you that there will be no next round."
What?! Damien was shocked. He wasn't the only one—everyone around him had confused looks on their faces. He wanted to ask why, but before he could, Jones continued. "Captain Wade of the First Division will fill you in on the rest."
Commander Jones stepped down, and a tall, light-skinned man with dreadlocks that reached past his ears made his way to the podium. He wore a black cloak, the color of his squad.
Murmurs rippled through the crowd of deviants. "That's him, the strongest captain." "He's so cool."
Damien couldn't help but agree. Captain Wade was a badass. The stories of what the captain of the first squad had accomplished sounded like something out of a fairy tale. He was someone who deserved the respect of everyone around him. However, Damien didn't let that distract him.
His gaze flickered from face to face, each expression mirroring the same uncertainty. As Captain Wade stepped onto the podium, the murmurs quieted, replaced by an eerie silence. Everyone knew who he was, and the weight of his presence commanded attention. Damien couldn't help but swallow hard. This wasn't going to be just another announcement.
Captain Wade gave a soft cough to interrupt the silence, then spoke. "As you all know, the tournament is for the captains to observe your skills and make selections based on what we see."
This was obvious information to Damien, but it felt like Wade needed to go over it anyway.
"As of yesterday, thanks to the captain of the 6th squad, we've decided to change things up. Starting in a week, all of you will be placed on an island where you will fight monsters."
What?! Damien's heart skipped a beat. He had prepared his whole life to fight monsters on the islands, but this was a massive leap he hadn't expected. Fear gripped him as he thought back to his nightmare and how he was destined to die at the' hands of monsters.
Shaking off the negative thoughts, he tried to focus on Captain Wade again. "This may come as a shock to all of you, but rest assured, we've taken proper precautions to keep you safe while on the island."
"We've already conquered the island, and the monsters placed there are ranked from level one to level two. While these monsters are strong, I'm sure the academy has prepared you enough to deal with them, and if they haven't, we will have a team monitoring you at all times."
Proper precautions, my ass. Damien knew no amount of precautions could guarantee survival on an island, but at least they were trying.
"In the week leading up to the trial, you will form a team of three with two other deviants standing next to you. Use this time to prepare for the island trial. More details will be given on the day of ... Thank you for your time."
With that, Captain Wade stepped down from the podium and left the arena, followed by the other captains.
As the captain's words sank in, Damien's thoughts raced. Monsters. He had always known the day would come, but hearing it from the captain's mouth made it real. It was one thing to prepare for a fight—it was another to know you would be fighting for your life on an island surrounded by creatures that did not care if you lived or died. His stomach churned at the thought, but he shoved it aside. He had to be ready. No one else would fight this battle for him.