The descent was sudden.
The transport nosedived into cloud cover, sharp enough to make ordinary people vomit. But Malric didn't flinch. He watched the altimeter drop—30,000… 20,000… 5,000…
Then—
The ocean split open.
Not metaphorically. A pair of colossal hexagonal plates rotated beneath the surface like shifting tectonic gates. They opened a spiral trench in the sea itself, revealing a docking bay inside a hollowed mountain wrapped in kinetic shielding and artificial atmosphere.
The plane dipped inside the opening like a bullet entering a barrel.
Then—blackout.
Lights gone. Noise gone. Gravity disrupted.
For two seconds, everything… ceased.
> Quantum Deceleration Complete.
> Welcome to Lambda Base.
When the lights returned, Malric's harness clicked open.
He stood.
The hatch slid open with a hiss of vapor. Cold air rushed in. His boots hit solid steel.
He was inside.
---
The landing platform was suspended hundreds of feet above a hollow chasm—a massive cavern laced with glowing conduits, hangars, research spires, vertical living quarters, and angular walkways that spiraled like strands of DNA.
The base thrummed with life.
And yet—everything felt muted. Controlled. Military.
A young woman with a buzzcut and bright orange jumpsuit stood at the entrance. She held a tablet and didn't smile.
"Malric Grimholt?" she asked, bored. "Provisional."
He nodded once.
"Follow me. Don't talk. Don't touch anything."
---
They walked past several figures in different-colored suits. Teenagers. Some laughing, some sparring in kinetic chambers, others sitting silently in high-tech pods, watching flickering screens.
Malric noticed details.
> One had silver claws for fingers.
One floated without moving.
One glowed with internal blue flame.
The girl leading him finally stopped at a vault-like elevator.
"Training Hall Zeta. This is where you prove yourself. Your Spec is on file. The arena will respond accordingly. Try not to die."
She hit a panel.
> Elevator Level Zeta – Access Confirmed.
As the doors closed, Malric asked, "Name?"
She blinked, surprised.
"…Cadet Elana Stray," she muttered. "Second-year Zero."
He nodded.
Then the elevator dropped.
And Sector Zero's proving ground waited.