As Divider was led down the metallic hallways of the Omega 1 facility, her heart began to race. She followed Zizer Esca closely, the imposing figure of her former teacher now an entirely different person. Ruby could feel the weight of the challenge ahead, and every step she took further into the heart of the base made it clear: this wasn't Beacon anymore.

They stopped in front of a large door marked Virtual Training Room, the space where Ruby would face the first phase of her initiation. Zizer turned to her, her eyes cold and focused, her presence commanding respect as always.

"Your initiation has three phases," Zizer began, her voice stern and unyielding. "The first is to see how well you do in combat. This isn't Beacon Academy—here, it's different."

Ruby could feel the tension in the air as Zizer continued. "You'll have to be more tactical. Relying on your semblance won't help you here. In Omega 1, we don't combine our two lives—your life as Ruby Rose and your life as Divider are separate. So, think carefully. Use everything around you to survive."

Ruby felt a weight settle in her chest at Zizer's words. No semblance? No Crescent Rose? This was far from what she was used to. Her semblance had always been a huge part of her fighting style, allowing her to move with superhuman speed and strike quickly. But now, she'd have to rely on something else—her instincts, her tactics, and her surroundings.

Zizer stepped aside, the door to the virtual training room sliding open with a hiss. Inside, Ruby could see an expansive chamber, far larger than it seemed from the outside. Holographic projectors lined the walls and ceiling, casting the room in a soft blue light. The walls shimmered as the system booted up, and soon the space would be filled with whatever combat scenario Omega 1 had in store for her.

"You'll be facing multiple scenarios," Zizer explained, her tone steady. "The environment will change, as will the enemies. You won't know what's coming. You'll have limited equipment—nothing advanced, just what any operative would carry into the field. Your objective is simple: survive."

Ruby took a deep breath, her thoughts racing. This is it. Her first real test as a member of Omega 1.

"I understand," she said, her voice steady despite the nerves.

Zizer gave her a long look, her gaze unreadable. "Good. Then step inside, and let's see what you've got."

Ruby walked forward, her boots clicking against the metal floor as she crossed the threshold into the virtual training room. The door slid shut behind her, sealing her inside the large chamber. Almost immediately, the room's holographic systems activated, and the space around her transformed.

The sterile walls of the training room melted away, replaced by a dense, fog-covered forest. Ruby blinked, adjusting to the new environment. The trees were tall and imposing, the ground uneven and filled with thick roots that could easily trip her up. The air was cold, her breath visible as she exhaled. It was so real, almost indistinguishable from an actual forest.

"Remember," Zizer's voice echoed through the room, "use everything around you. You're not just fighting—this is survival."

Ruby scanned her surroundings, her mind already working. She didn't have her semblance or Crescent Rose, but she wasn't helpless. Her tactical gear was light, but she had a standard-issue sidearm and a combat knife strapped to her thigh. She would have to rely on those—and her wits.

The forest was eerily silent, but Ruby knew that wouldn't last long. She crouched low, moving slowly as she began to navigate through the holographic terrain. Her eyes darted from side to side, searching for anything she could use to her advantage. A fallen tree here, a patch of dense underbrush there—anything that could provide cover or a tactical position.

Suddenly, a rustling noise to her right.

Ruby froze, her heart pounding. She could feel her training kicking in, her body tense and ready. Slowly, she pulled out her sidearm, holding it close as she crouched behind a thick tree trunk. The rustling grew louder, and through the fog, she could just make out the shadowy figures moving toward her.

The first enemies appeared—humanoid, but clearly not human. Their holographic forms were twisted, distorted, moving with an unnatural grace. They were armed, too, carrying rifles and moving in a tight formation.

Ruby's mind raced. She couldn't charge in recklessly like she might have with her semblance. She had to think tactically. She waited, her breath steady, watching as the enemies moved closer. When they were just a few feet away, she fired.

Her first shot hit one of them in the chest, dropping it instantly. The others reacted quickly, raising their rifles and returning fire, but Ruby had already moved, darting behind another tree for cover. Bullets peppered the ground where she had just been standing.

She needed to be smarter. The environment around her was her biggest advantage. She weaved between the trees, using the dense forest to stay out of sight, picking off the enemies one by one. Every move was calculated—fire, retreat, reposition. She had to be quick, but not reckless.

The virtual training room's forest setting began to shift as she fought, the terrain becoming more complex—rocks, cliffs, and even a river appearing as the scenario changed. Ruby adapted, using the new landscape to her advantage.

It wasn't long before the final enemy fell, and the forest faded away, replaced once again by the sterile walls of the training room. Ruby stood there, breathing heavily, her muscles aching from the intense combat.

Zizer's voice cut through the silence. "Good. But that was only phase one. There's more to come. Prepare yourself, Divider."

Ruby nodded, ready for whatever came next. She had passed the first test.

Divider followed Zizer Esca down another long corridor, her mind still buzzing from the first phase of her initiation. Her muscles ached from the combat, but there was no time to rest. She knew the second phase would test her in an entirely different way.

They stopped in front of a new door, and as it slid open, Ruby found herself staring at a space that looked nothing like the high-tech facility she'd just come from. Inside was a sprawling mansion, its interior filled with dark wooden furniture, intricate tapestries, and dim lighting that gave the place an eerie, unsettling feel. It was a stark contrast to the forest environment she had just fought through, and Ruby felt her senses sharpen immediately.

"This is the second phase," Zizer said, standing beside her, her tall figure casting a long shadow into the room. "You'll be simulating an infiltration mission here. Your task is not to fight, but to investigate."

Ruby frowned slightly, already feeling the shift in mindset she would need. In the first phase, it was all about combat, but now she would have to rely on stealth, observation, and her instincts.

"You'll need to use all of your senses," Zizer continued, her voice as calm and commanding as ever. "The threat could be anything—human, monster, anomalous, or even alien. It may not be immediately obvious. It could be an object, a person, or several things working together. You'll have to discover the danger on your own."

Ruby nodded, her eyes scanning the dimly lit hallway beyond the door. The mansion was large and filled with shadows, its halls twisting and turning in ways that made her feel slightly disoriented. The whole place had a strange, unsettling energy, like it was hiding something sinister just below the surface.

"This isn't about fighting," Zizer emphasized. "It's about secrecy. You'll need to investigate, to observe carefully, and to realize what the danger is. Once you identify the threat, the simulation will end. But be warned—if you're discovered or if you make the wrong move, the scenario could turn dangerous."

Ruby swallowed hard, understanding the weight of the task ahead of her. This wasn't like anything she'd done before. She'd faced monsters and fought powerful enemies, but this was about subtlety—about being clever and perceptive in a world where one wrong step could spell disaster.

"Good luck," Zizer said, her voice firm but with a hint of expectation. She gave Ruby a final nod before stepping aside, allowing her to enter the simulation.

Ruby stepped forward into the mansion, the door quietly closing behind her. Immediately, the atmosphere changed. The air inside felt thick, almost oppressive, and the soft sound of creaking floorboards echoed through the halls as if the mansion itself was alive.

Her eyes darted around the space, taking in the fine details—dust-covered furniture, old paintings hanging crooked on the walls, and dim candlelight flickering in sconces along the hallway. The house felt abandoned, but there was something off about it. Ruby's instincts told her she wasn't alone.

She started walking quietly, her footsteps barely audible as she moved through the grand hallway. Her training from Beacon had taught her how to fight, but Omega 1 demanded more—here, stealth and observation would be her greatest weapons.

Ruby turned a corner and entered a large sitting room. The air felt colder here, and a large, ornate mirror caught her attention. She paused, watching her own reflection for a moment, but something about the way the room was arranged felt... wrong. The furniture was too perfect, too staged. She moved closer to the mirror and squinted, noticing small, faint scratches on the glass, almost like claw marks.

She felt a chill run down her spine. Is this it? she wondered. Is the mirror the threat?

But then, as she turned to leave the room, she caught sight of a figure in the corner of her eye. She froze, her heart skipping a beat. A tall, shadowy figure stood near the fireplace, its back turned to her. The figure was silent, unmoving, as if it hadn't noticed her yet.

Ruby crouched low behind a nearby armchair, keeping her eyes fixed on the figure. She couldn't tell if it was human or something else—it didn't move like a person, its posture too rigid, its outline too distorted by the flickering shadows. Her mind raced. Is that the threat? Or is it something else?

The figure slowly turned its head, as if sensing her presence, and Ruby held her breath. She couldn't afford to be spotted, not yet. She needed more information. Carefully, she backed out of the room, her eyes never leaving the strange figure until she was safely out of sight.

As she continued through the mansion, the unsettling feeling only grew stronger. Every room seemed to have its own secret—small, subtle details that hinted at something darker lurking beneath the surface. A strange, ancient book left open on a desk in the study. A faint, unnatural humming sound coming from behind a closed door in the kitchen. Ruby's senses were on high alert, her mind working overtime to piece together the puzzle.

Eventually, she found herself in the mansion's basement, a dark, damp place filled with old crates and covered furniture. The air down here was heavier, and Ruby could feel the tension building. Something was definitely wrong in this place.

Her eyes landed on an old chest in the corner of the room. It looked ordinary at first, but as she approached it, she noticed something strange—a faint, glowing aura seeping out from the edges of the chest. Ruby crouched down, her heart pounding. Could this be it? The object?

She carefully opened the chest, and inside, she found a small, ornate box covered in strange runes. The glowing aura was stronger now, pulsing with an otherworldly energy. Ruby's instincts screamed at her that this was the threat. Whatever was inside the box, it wasn't of this world.

She reached out and touched the box, her fingers brushing against the cool surface. The moment she did, the simulation ended. The mansion faded away, replaced by the sterile walls of the Omega 1 facility.

Zizer's voice echoed through the room. "Well done, Divider. You identified the threat."

Ruby stood up, her breath coming in short bursts. The simulation had felt so real, so tense, but she'd done it. She had completed the second phase.

Zizer entered the room, her expression one of approval. "You're learning quickly. But there's still one more phase to go. Prepare yourself."

Ruby nodded, her body still tense from the experience. She had passed the second test.

Divider followed Zizer Esca into a simple, unassuming room. After the intense combat and infiltration scenarios, this space seemed almost out of place in the high-tech Omega 1 facility. The room was small, with plain white walls, a square table in the center, and two chairs. A coffee machine hummed quietly in the corner, filling the air with the faint smell of brewed coffee. It was a stark contrast to the grueling tests she'd just undergone.

Zizer walked in behind her, her tall, commanding presence still filling the space with a sense of authority. She gestured for Ruby to sit down at the table, and Ruby complied, her body still slightly tense from the previous phases.

"The third phase," Zizer began, her voice calm but serious, "is not physical or analytical. It's psychological."

Ruby looked across the table, trying to steel herself for what was coming. Psychological tests could be just as taxing as combat, especially in a place like Omega 1, where every question could have deeper implications. Zizer sat down across from her, her sharp eyes focused entirely on Ruby.

"I'm going to ask you ten questions," Zizer continued, folding her hands on the table in front of her. "They can be about anything—your past, your thoughts, your fears, your beliefs. You'll have to answer honestly."

Ruby felt her heart rate pick up slightly. It sounded simple, but she knew it wouldn't be. Omega 1 didn't deal in simplicity. Every word, every answer could be a test of who she was, her readiness for the role, and her loyalty to the mission.

"Are you ready?" Zizer asked, her gaze unwavering.

Ruby swallowed, took a deep breath, and nodded. "I'm ready."

Zizer studied her for a moment before beginning the test. The first question came almost immediately, delivered in Zizer's calm, authoritative tone.

Question 1:

"What do you fear most, Divider? And why?"

Ruby hesitated for a second, considering her answer. Fear had always been a complicated thing for her. She wasn't afraid of the Grimm or the battles she faced—those were challenges she had been trained to handle. But deep down, she knew there was something else.

"I... I fear failing the people I care about," Ruby finally said, her voice steady. "My friends, my team... I'm scared that one day, I won't be able to protect them when they need me most."

Zizer gave no visible reaction to the answer, simply nodding and moving on to the next question.

Question 2:

"If it came down to it, would you sacrifice one life to save a hundred? Why or why not?"

This question hit harder. Ruby thought of her time at Beacon, of all the lives she had sworn to protect. She had always believed that every life was precious, but Omega 1 was forcing her to confront more difficult realities.

"I would," Ruby said after a moment. "It wouldn't be easy, and I wouldn't want to, but if it meant saving a hundred lives... I'd do it. Sometimes, there's no perfect solution."

Zizer's gaze remained steady, evaluating her response carefully before asking the next question.

Question 3:

"What does loyalty mean to you?"

Ruby didn't have to think long about this one. Loyalty had always been central to her beliefs. "Loyalty means standing by the people you care about, no matter what. It means being there when they need you, even if it's hard. But it also means being honest with them, even when the truth is difficult."

Zizer nodded, as if expecting the answer. The next question came swiftly.

Question 4:

"Would you betray someone you love if it meant preventing a greater catastrophe?"

Ruby's breath caught in her throat. That was a scenario she had never wanted to imagine. Could she betray her team—her friends—if the stakes were high enough?

Her voice was quieter when she answered. "If it was the only way... I'd do it. But it would tear me apart."

Zizer's expression was unreadable, and she quickly moved on to the next question.

Question 5:

"What do you believe is humanity's greatest flaw?"

Ruby blinked. That was a heavy question, but one she had thought about before. "I think it's our tendency to divide ourselves. We let fear, hatred, and misunderstandings get in the way of working together. We forget that we're stronger when we unite."

There was no approval or disapproval in Zizer's face as she took in the answer. The sixth question came soon after.

Question 6:

"If you had the power to change one thing about the world, what would it be?"

Ruby thought about that for a moment. The world was full of things she wished were different—so many injustices, so much pain. "I would make it so people understood each other better. Most of the problems we face come from fear of what we don't understand. If we could change that, we could solve a lot of things."

Zizer continued, her questions becoming more intense.

Question 7:

"Do you believe some lives are worth more than others?"

Ruby shook her head almost immediately. "No. Every life matters. No one is worth more than anyone else, no matter who they are."

Zizer's face remained impassive as she noted Ruby's answer. She leaned forward slightly for the next question, her voice carrying more weight.

Question 8:

"What would you do if you found out that Omega 1 wasn't as righteous as you believed?"

This one was a test of loyalty—Ruby knew that instantly. But the question forced her to consider the darker side of the organization she had just joined.

"I'd want to know the truth," Ruby said firmly. "I believe in doing what's right. If Omega 1 isn't what I thought, I'd need to understand why. But I'd still do what I could to protect people, even if it meant questioning the organization."

Zizer's eyes flickered with interest for just a moment before she continued.

Question 9:

"If you had to choose between saving Remnant or saving your team, what would you choose?"

Ruby's heart clenched at the thought. She couldn't imagine losing her team—but the weight of saving all of Remnant... it was overwhelming.

"I'd save Remnant," Ruby said softly. "But it would be the hardest thing I'd ever do."

Zizer watched her closely, letting the gravity of that answer settle. Then, she asked the final question.

Question 10:

"Who are you really, Divider? And why do you fight?"

Ruby took a deep breath. This was the core of everything—who she was, what she stood for.

"I'm Ruby Rose," she said, her voice filled with determination. "I'm a Huntress. I fight because I want to make the world a better place. Not just for me, but for everyone—for the people who can't fight for themselves. That's who I've always been, and that's why I'll keep fighting, no matter what."

Zizer remained silent for a moment, taking in Ruby's final answer. Then, she slowly stood up, her gaze softening just slightly.

"Well done, Divider," Zizer said, her voice still firm but with a hint of respect. "You've completed the third phase."

Ruby exhaled, relief washing over her. She had passed all three phases. But deep down, she knew that this was just the beginning of her journey with Omega 1.