The letter arrived one crisp winter morning, as I sat down to eat breakfast. I reached into my pantry, pulling out a box of cereal as I looked the envelope over. It was addressed to 'Dennis F. Soldier', which was my name.
I set the letter down to pour my cereal. I've received mail on multiple occasions, so I wasn't particularly eager to pry open the paper which divided me from its contents. Nevertheless, I was curious. Who sent the letter? Why? What does it say? The questions could wait, which is exactly what they did.
As I sat down to eat my milky brand breakfast, I reached out and opened the letter. Inside the printing was very neat, hand-written it appeared to be. I felt a shiver of anticipation run through my spine. Rarely did I receive a hand-written letter. Clearly, this was important.
Flattening the letter so that it'd be easier to read, I ran my eyes over it, absorbing every word.
It was an invitation, specifically from a man referring to himself as Rocco Trask. He was inviting all the most skilled huntsmen and huntresses in all of Remnant. Apparently I was among a select few people whom were qualified for this. It was a test, he said, to see who truly was the strongest in the world.
I'd only won one Hunter's Tournament, how is being noticed because of one win is beyond me. But either way, the appreciation certainly was flattering.
"Well?" I asked, "What's the plan? Go with it?"
"Hmm" Floyd wondered aloud.
"Oh come on Floyd!" I called out, "Use that head of yours!"
"I don't know," Floyd said, "I mean, how did this Rocco person know my address?"
"What does it matter?" I asked, "All the more reason to go. Clearly he wants us there badly"
"And if it's a trap?" Floyd asked.
"Then we kill 'em!" I replied, "Simple!"
"...Alright, let's give it a try" Floyd finally decided.
"Where does it say we need to go again?" I asked, looking down at the letter for the second time this morning. "Right here in Atlas eh? Sounds good to me"
I finished my cereal quickly, eager to face the trials that would soon be presented to me.
I found the address that very same day, having brought nothing but Serpent's Stinger, my weapon. The letter told me not to bring anything but my weapon, and that the trials would start when everyone arrived.
I stopped at the door of a short cube-shaped building on the corner of the block. Tapping on the door, it was soon opened by a man with pale grey short hair, tan skin, and glasses. His cat-like eyes were yellow, which caused me to wonder if he was a Faunus of some kind. He wore a simple dark grey long-sleeved shirt and baggy faded blue jeans covered in tears and holes. He seemed quite tired and slouched as he looked me over.
"Oh," He started, "you're here. Come on inside"
I followed him in eagerly, wondering if I was the first person here but knowing it deep down.
He led me into the first room: it was square-shaped with an open doorway on either far wall. We walked through the doorway on the right, entering yet another square room with the exact same layout as the last one, only with the doorways behind us. The man waddled to the far corner of the room and got down on his knees,
What's going on? I wondered.
Seems suspicious, perhaps we should leave, Floyd suggested.
Are you kidding me? I asked, Aren't you even a wee bit curious?
I'm just saying that it's probably not-
I cut him off, Don't be such a pansy, Floyd!
Floyd sighed, Fine, but don't blame me if you get yourself killed
Not everything is incredibly dangerous, Floyd, quit overreacting.
The man lifted a trapdoor out from the floor, one that was almost invisible. I hadn't even seen it.
"Right down here." The man said, crawling aside to let me through, "There's a ladder"
Right below the last rung was a room, yet another square-shaped one. In the far corner was a heavy door.
"Sorry about the inconvenience," the man told me, "the whole area is underground, and we need some protection, for our safety and for yours of course"
Seems shifty, we should probably leave, Floyd said.
"It's no problem" I replied, ignoring him.
The grey-haired man strode towards the far door, me in tow. Sliding a small key into a small keyhole, the man cracked open the massive steel door and entered. Floyd convinced me to enter cautiously, so I did.
"What is this this place?" Floyd asked.
The room was a large curved path, with a fenced in balcony on the right side and a long screen stretching across the left wall. Underneath the screen is a silver control panel, wrapping all the way around the wall. It's covered in buttons, knobs, and switches. Three men sat in ragged black office chairs, sliding about and pressing an assortment of buttons.
"How's it coming?" The grey-haired man asked another man who was swiveling about in his chair.
"Still working on it," he replied, "I think we're close though"
The guide looked over the code flying across the screen, then leaned over and tapped a few buttons.
"Try that" he suggested, straightening but refusing to tear his eyes from the screen.
"Sounds good" the man said, continuing off of whatever he had typed.
He pointed a long skinny finger at the screen for a moment, then nodded, "Good." He said, "Once you finish that up, go take a nap and get something to eat"
"Thank you sir" the man said, continuing to type, not even looking up at him.
He pat his shoulder, "Doing good" he said, moving along, looking over the rest of the screen, occasionally nodding.
All the while I followed him, not sure what was going on.
As we reached the end of the room he turned around, "Oh," he said, looking at me as if for the first time, "your still here"
"You haven't told me to go anywhere" Floyd pointed out.
"Very true Mr. Soldier." He said, waving a long finger at me, as if he was drunk, "Come, I'll introduce you to the rest of the candidates"
He walked around me lazily, slouching over and curving his arms back by his sides.
I followed, confused.
"I'm Rocco Trask by the way." He said as we walked, "It's a pleasure to meet you"
"Is everyone here already?" I asked, almost ignoring what he'd just said.
"Mostly." He replied, "We're waiting for two others after you"
"How many did you call?" I asked
"Just five." He replied, "You're the third to arrive thus far"
We arrived at a door next to the one we'd entered through and Rocco pulled it open, revealing an elevator on the other side.
"Like I said, it's all underground" Rocco said.
Like is said, shifty. Floyd said, Look at this rickety old elevator. Should we really-
I cut him off, Shut it, Floyd, its fine, I said.
Rocco walked in, the elevator shaking as he entered. For a moment I questioned it, and Floyd tried to take advantage of that. I quickly shut him up and headed inside, shaking uneasily as I did so.
Rocco closed the door and pressed a button. Slowly we began to descend further below the surface of Remnant.
"So why did you call us here?" Floyd asked, "Other than to test our abilities"
"You mean what are my ulterior motives?" He asked, snickering, "I'll tell you once everyone arrives. For now I'll just tell you that it's a test"
"What're you testing exactly?" Floyd persisted, despite knowing full-well that Rocco would not reveal anymore.
"I'll tell you once everyone arrives." He replied, as I suspected, "As I just said"
"Why are you hiding it?" Floyd asked.
"I'm not hiding anything Mr. Soldier," He replied, "Honestly, it's just way easier to explain it once instead of five separate times"
Yeah Floyd, don't be such a spazz, I thought.
Better safe than sorry, Floyd said, after which he was silent.
The elevator gave one final jolt as it stopped on the lowermost floor. Rocco reached out and pushed the door open. Stepping aside, he let me out first.
The room before me was dim, with candles dotting the brown stone floor and small cliffs lining the rocky walls. The whole room was just a cave, with a tall ceiling and multiple old chains hanging from it. The floor was completely smooth, but the walls weren't so much. Overall, the room was very empty, save for the candles.
I stepped through the open doorway, off the elevator and into the cave. As I stopped to marvel at the sight, Rocco slid past me and kept walking. Following after him, I realized that at the end of the long room was a tall, dark opening, reaching almost halfway up the wall to the ceiling.
"Just through here is where everyone else is waiting" Rocco told me as we neared the dark hole in the wall.
Reaching the passageway we walked through it, taking only one turn, which would explain why nothing but darkness could be seen from the front.
The darkness opened up quickly into another room, one with a massive electrical light dangling from the ceiling. It cast a glow over the center of the cavern, where I could see two people seated on rocks, staring at the ground, occasionally moving their lips. They looked up as we approached.
"How're you doing here?" Rocco asked the two.
One nodded, "Fine, I guess" He replied.
"I'm not particularly enjoying myself, but it's clear that you don't really care" The other, a woman, replied.
Rocco stopped, allowing me to walk towards them.
"This is Hawksbill." Rocco said, gesturing to the man. "And this is Maud. Make yourself at home, as best you can, and hope that everyone else arrives quickly"
At that he turned and slunk back into the darkness.
I turned to the two others before me. Hawksbill had a slim build and lightly tanned skin. His hair was almost black, but still brown and long, spiking out around the back of his head. He wore a black skin-tight sleeveless shirt that only covered the upper half of his body. Overtop he wore a faded and torn jean vest, and on his legs similar jean pants, only they were tighter and only went to his knees. He wore a black fingerless gauntlet with four colored dials along it; red, green, yellow, and white, over his forearm and palm. I assumed it had to do with whatever dust was inside. His weapon was attached across his back. It appeared to be a simple, smooth, silver bow staff.
Maud, on the other hand, was more muscular and darker skinned. She was covered from head to toe in chain mail armor, including a hood. It almost appeared to just be a robe of silver chains. Hanging from her shoulders to her waist were belts covered in small black metal hammers with spiked backs. She held onto the handle of her weapon, which appeared to be one of her hammers, only much bigger. It was upside down, and she leaned a bit on it.
Glancing down at myself, I felt much less prepared. I wore my black square-framed glasses over my grey eyes. My dark green hair was unbrushed and spiked out all over the back. I had quite pale skin as well. I wore a dark green pullover hoodie with a dark grey interior, and a black vest covered in pockets overtop. On my lower body I wore black cargo pants covered in empty pockets. My weapon, Serpent's Stinger, was a long katana with a small shotgun barrel at the tip. The blade was divided into sections which split apart and allowed the blade to extend.
"What do they call you?" Hawksbill asked me.
"Dennis Soldier" I replied.
"Hawksbill Stars" he said, holding out his hand. I reached out and shook it.
He seems decent. Well-mannered at the least, Floyd thought.
I looked over at Maud. "Maud Freeze" she said simply.
Her not so much, Floyd thought.
"Just two more it seems" Hawksbill said, sitting back down. Maud followed suit. Looking around, I found a rock and sat down.
"So what's your weapon there?" Hawksbill asked.
Don't tell him, we want to win remember? Floyd told me.
We're not going to be fighting him. I pointed out, Most likely at least. We're competing against him, it won't hurt. Chances are he'll tell us what his weapon is all about afterwards.
"This is Serpent's Stinger" I replied, drawing the long katana blade.
Hawksbill held out his hand, "May I?" He asked.
No. Floyd replied.
"I'd rather you didn't." I replied, sheathing the blade, "This is a competition, after all"
"It's not like we're fighting each other or anything." Maud said, "Or at least, not likely. That'd be stupid. Probably just some Grimm or something. Last man standing wins"
"I don't know." Hawksbill suggested, looking around, "This place is pretty elaborate. I think there's more than meets the eye"
Maud adjusted herself slightly, "Maybe" She replied. Her voice let on that she agreed with him, but wasn't willing to admit it.
There was a brief silence.
"So," Hawksbill started, continuing with his attempt at conversation, "Whereabouts are you from?" He asked me.
"Here." I replied. "Atlas"
"Were you raised anywhere else?" He asked, sounding somewhat dissatisfied with my answer.
"Were you always this nosy?" Floyd asked.
"Oh, sorry." Hawksbill apologized, "Touchy subject?"
"I'm not here to make friends." Floyd replied, "I'm here to compete. Sentimentality will lead to weakness, and I can't have anything slowing me down"
Hawksbill raised his eyebrows, smiling with surprise, "Wow, okay." He said, laughing a little, "Got to admit, I did not expect that"
"Oh snap" Maud said quietly in the background.
"Oh, sorry about Floyd." I said, catching myself, "He's a little dramatic. No, I was raised here in Atlas. Went to Island and Continent Academy"
"Floyd?" Hawksbill asked, "Who's that?" He glanced behind me, assumingly not seeing anyone before returning his gaze to me.
"He's my dad." I replied, "Sometimes he gives me advice. He's a little skeptical though"
"Oh" Hawksbill replied, seeming to realize.
"So where is he?" Maud asked, "I don't see anyone else"
"He's dead." I replied, "But he communicates with me telepathically or something. It's kind of confusing"
Why are you telling them so much? Floyd demanded.
Why do you care? I asked.
"So you're crazy or something?" Maud asked.
Hawksbill gave her a look of disapproval, but soon turned back to me, curious as well.
Who do these people think they are? Floyd asked, pushing his way from my brain to my mouth.
"Who do you think you are?" He asked. "Butting into my personal life and mocking me like that!"
Get out of here Floyd! I'm fine! I told him.
It's your funeral, He replied.
"Sorry, that was Floyd again." I said, "No, it's my father. I'm quite certain of that"
"Humph" Maud grunted, sounding neither satisfied nor angry with my answer.
I heard footsteps and turned, but couldn't see anything in the darkness. Soon two figures appeared in the light, a woman and Rocco.
"This is Aero everyone." He said, then turned to each of us, introducing us to her, "Maud, Hawksbill and Dennis"
Aero was a tall thin woman with long pale blue hair and pale skin. She had large pale purple eyes and freckles covering her face. A pair of small rounded rectangular glasses rested on her nose. She wore a blue and pale blue striped long-sleeved shirt, where the sleeves only went past her elbows, as if the shirt was too small, and a white open button-up shirt over top with no sleeves. The white shirt had two breast pockets; one on each side. She wore pale blue skinny jeans and white sneakers. Her attire was rather casual, as if she didn't expect anything in particular to happen today. I couldn't even see a weapon on her, and wondered if she actually knew what she was getting into.
Her hands were clasped together as she looked over us.
"Make yourself at home, as best you can" Rocco said before leaving.
"Thank you" She said to him, turning back to us. "Hello, I'm Aero Simms"
"Dennis Soldier" I said.
"I'm Hawksbill Star" Hawksbill said, standing and reaching out to shake her hand. She blushed and shied back, staring at his hand awkwardly. He pulled it back shortly afterwards.
"Maud Freeze" Maud said, staying where she was, seated on her rock.
Hawksbill sat back down, and Aero stayed standing. No one questioned it; clearly she was sensitive about what she touched.
"Just one more then" Hawksbill stated.
"Thanks Captain Obvious" Maud said.
He didn't make a comment.
"So whereabouts are you from Aero?" He asked the newcomer.
"Here in Atlas." She replied, "Born and raised right here"
Hawksbill nodded, seeming to approve of her answer.
What was so wrong with ours? Huh? I wondered. Why didn't he approve of our answer but did hers?
'Cause you were much less happy about it, Floyd pointed out.
You mean you weren't too happy about it, I corrected him.
Whatever, he said.
"I don't see any weapon on you." Maud said, craning her neck to look at her back, "Hey, watchya got there?"
She blushed again, looking nervous suddenly and reaching back to cover her rear end.
"What?" Maud asked, "I wasn't checking you out, you know. You're not even my type. I saw a weapon there"
Maud's gay? Ha! I laughed mentally.
"Oh," Aero withdrew her hands from her body, "I'd rather not show you. It is a competition after all"
Clearly someone knows what they're doing, Floyd thought, smart girl.
"Fair enough." Hawksbill said, "Dennis here said the same thing"
Aero glanced over at me. I looked over out of the corner of my eye. Immediately her eyes shot in another direction.
Sensitive eh? I thought.
Suddenly I heard heavy footsteps. All our eyes turned. Another? Already? Floyd thought.
Rocco appeared shortly after in the light, followed by another tall man.
"This is Cerberus, everyone." He said, gesturing to the large man behind him. "Cerberus, this is Maud, Hawksbill, Dennis, and Aero"
We all just stared at him, and he stared down at us. He had lightly tanned skin and a heavy, rectangular chin. His eyes were narrow and colored crimson, and his hair was the same color. It was slicked back with lots of product that made it appear shiny, and reached down past his neck. He wore a black muscle shirt over his large, muscular body and black jeans on his legs. Over his shirt he wore a thick black coat with deep violet stripes running down it. On his wrists were leather brown gauntlets that appeared to be made from fabric, with straps tying around it and hanging off in various places. He had similar boots, only the bottoms were thicker and more solid looking. He didn't appear to have a weapon in any obvious places on him.
"We'll be starting shortly." Rocco said, "Come with me" He started walking past us, into the darkness. We all got up and followed.
"Hey, Rocky," Maud started, "I can't see"
"None of you can." He replied, "I can though, just follow my voice"
"Your voice won't tell us where the rocks and holes are in the ground" Maud muttered.
"You'll live" was all he said.
I heard her muttering under her breath a bit more, but nothing understandable.
"Stop here" Rocco said. I heard something tapping, and then an illuminated doorway opened up. I reached up to shield my eyes from the sudden burst of light, but quickly recovered. Before me now was a jagged tunnel of rocks, stalagmites and stalactites, and small electric lights dotted sparsely along the ceiling.
"The trials will be on the other side." Rocco said, "After you, Hawksbill"
Hawksbill nodded to him, stepping through. Maud followed, then me, then Aero, and Cerberus was last.
Suddenly the door slammed shut behind us. We spun around, seeing a smooth wall before us. Cerberus turned back around, facing us again. "No turning back now" He said.
"Wonder what that was all about" Hawksbill said.
"Are you stupid?" Maud asked, "This is the trial. Clearly we have to keep moving"
"Seems logical" Floyd said.
"Then what're we waiting for?" Hawksbill asked, "Let's get a move on!"