Corpse Sea, Blindspot, Sector 15.
Heavy scarlet rain poured past the grated metal windows. The wind was constantly howling, as well as some other things, just out of sight.
C-21 was silently watching the rain fall in his white? Hardly. Stained bed because of age and filth, listening to the talking and whispers of the other subjects around him, he didn't like to join in these conversations just listened to them.
They have been raised here in Blindspot alongside him, either raised from birth or "adopted", children taken from families with preferable genetics when they were really young, C-21 was the latter.
"I'm scared of the physical examination today, I heard it will be a little different this time... I hope I don't end up going into D class"
C-14 said, his face pale, C-8 moved closer to pat his back and comfort him.
"Don't you worry, even if someone does get in, they still have a chance to go back up. You should start worrying once you are in F class. The people in that class get used as "Practice Dummies" in training."
C-21 liked to listen to these conversations, it helped him pass the time, making him less bored and kept the dread away. Besides, sometimes the info he picks up is actually useful, like what behaviors and attitudes some of the researchers liked in this god forsaken place.
C-21 slowly closed his eyes to rest.
-
After a little while a loud voice could be heard.
"All C Class gather in line for entry into the gymnasium for the physical examination!"
As soon as everyone heard it they all got out of bed and rushed to get in one orderly single file line. There were forty-seven of them, some began pushing each other out of the way, others just resigned themselves to be last, like C-21.
He had already got tired of trying since he was on the smaller size, barely reaching 6 feet while everyone else towered over him, the average size was 6 '2 and the tallest C-5 being 6' 6, so there was no point fighting for a spot in the front.
He slowly got out of bed rubbing his eyes, being careful not to knock over his trinket stash and got near the back of the line.
The researcher in charge of the test this time, Dr. Clarisse really hated him, a jagged triangular scar cut across her face. Her curly ginger hair framed it, softened by the white coat she wore, that a researcher would wear except that it had a red symbol of closed eye with three lashes where her heart would be.
It didn't matter if he was in the back or the front, or if he got stronger she would notice him and beat him. Clarisse favored physically gifted and tall subjects and since he was on the thinner, smaller side, Clarisse made sure he paid for it.
"C-11 good job, C-5 you look like you improved, keep it up and you might make it to B class." she said looking up at a light brown skinned boy.
Clarisse slowly made her way down the line looking over them before she stopped at C-21, he looked up at her watching her expression with his pinkish eyes. She looked very calm.
Today she looked....almost content? Maybe something good happened?Maybe he wouldn't be beat?
Clarisse looked down at him slowly saying "C-21… last time you scraped by in sixth, don't expect that kind of luck again. Still—" she paused, a faint smirk pulling at the corner of her mouth, "—I'll be generous, I won't cripple you today, consider it your one advantage." She said kindly, as if this was an unimaginable kindness.
Shit!
C-21 cursed inwardly.
She's happy because she thinks she won't see him again, doesn't that mean that the trial this time will be very hard to scrape by?
Clarisse continued down the line to the end quickly, occasionally stopping to chat with the subjects, many of whom had grimaces on their faces after.
Soon the line of subjects made their way down a metallic hall, crimson hued light filtered through some grates.
C-21 had read many books about the outside world even with limited access to any knowledge, Blindspot rarely allowed free time and would normally deter learning or thinking of the outside,
but from what C-21 understood his sector was a bit unique, it encouraged intellectual development unlike other sectors.
So C-21 understood why the light was crimson and why rain was blood red, it was because they were smack dab in the middle of a place called the Corpse Sea, an area that turned into this after something called the Penta-Continent War, a huge war that caused millions deaths and caused two entire kingdoms get wiped off the map.
Many Monsters were born because of the huge amount of deaths and Life Genes contaminated all the surrounding sources of water causing the water to turn blood like and rain to be affected as well covering the sky with crimson clouds.
C-21 hasn't seen a Monster yet, but he knew a bit about them, like how they formed after a living organism really, really! Didn't want to die, and that Monsters could be classified into four main classes of life level, Slime, Ogre, Demon and Dragon as well as three sub classes, Minor, Medium, Greater.
Of course there are differences in strength between each level but the main difference is their level of intelligence, an Ogre class Monster being capable of slaughtering all C class in seconds.
-
Soon C-21 and others arrived at a smooth metallic gate, it had the symbol of Blindspot on it, and seemed so thick that it wouldn't get a dent even under the assault of one hundred men.
The gate's slowly opened into a giant chamber, there were viewing platforms on the sides and the walls seemed to be stained with something red...blood?
There were many bodies strewn across the floor, some had been intact except for a few clearly fatal gashes while others were less intact with the worst being completely dismembered, their bodies unrecognizable.
Hiss
This wasn't the normal gymnasium, this was a battle chamber, what's with the blood and bodies ,we- were they going to make them fight to the death for this exam?!
C-21's thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a powerful loud voice
"HOHoHO!"
A shockwave followed, sending him—and many others—flying into the floor with a sickening crack and splurge.
Thump and crack
C-21 reacted quickly and covered his head, he glanced at the others, they were not as lucky, their heads cracked open on the hard metal floor gasping as their eyes grew dim.
The hell! What just happened twelve guys died just like that, was that done by a person?!
C-21 struggled hard to stand up and looked forward slowly making his way forward with an ache throughout his entire body as well as a wobble in his step, as he saw where that sudden blow came from he couldn't help but freeze in confusion and sudden fear as his instincts were telling him that at any instant he could die.
An old man!?
In front of him he saw a shriveled scrawny old man, his bald head could be seen meanwhile his body was covered in a black robe, both of his arms amputated, he looked as if he could barely walk, even so the old man had a fierce and a crazy look in his eyes.
Wherever his gaze passed and whoever it landed on that person would tense up and freeze, not daring to move as if food was on a platter waiting to be eaten, his gaze slowly falling on him.
"A smart one,good...but knowledge and reaction does not guarantee survival in battle, it only helps!"
His gaze now moved to all of them.
"I want you to kill each other, the last three will live."
All the C class were dumbfounded, standing still, the old man's words registering in their minds.
Kill?
One of the C Class stepped forward, his legs trembling so badly the chattering and shaking could be heard. His hands hovered awkwardly at his sides, fingers twitching as if unsure whether he should do this.
"E-Excuse me, sir… but that isn't fair. The previous rounds were more fair, in my opini—"
The word never finished.
A deafening crack split throughout the room.
In a fraction of second, something inconceivable happened, none of them moved. Then something warm and wet sprayed across the line, chunks of flesh slapped against uniforms. A severed piece of bone skidded across the floor and tapped against someone's boot, while the rest hit the wall with loud cracking sounds.
The C Class who had spoken was simply… gone.
C-21's eyes widened in shock, his mind lagged behind what he was seeing. His gaze dragged upward, slow, disjointed, trying to piece it together.
The old man stood where he hadn't been before.
Scrawny, both arms gone at the shoulders. Spine slightly bent like it might snap under its own weight.
And yet
He was already lowering his leg.
The motion had been so fast C-21 hadn't seen it. Not even a blur, just the aftermath. The body—no, what used to be a body, was scattered in a wide arc behind him as well as on him.
A single kick.
C-21 gulped, shivering in fear.
Poor guy, now only thirty-four remain.
Someone in the line gagged, another quietly shifted a step back in fear.
The old man's head tilted slightly, milky eyes drifting across the remaining C Class, a wide grin slowly settling on his face.
"Does anyone else....have something to say? If not then get to it, Hohoho!"
C-21 came back to his senses first, quickly dispersed from the line trying to get as far away as possible, he wasn't confident to take anyone on, following C-21 the rest did as well but instead of running away they lunged at the person nearest to them, after all all the ones left after the initial laugh of the old man killed off the weaklings, only prideful strong were left.
C-21 hid at one of the corners of the room, no one seemed to come after him, probably thinking that he would be easy to kill once the rest were finished off.
C-21 thought that himself as well.