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Chapter 3: Beginning of the Purge!!!
After a long day of training, Kai and Ellis collapsed onto their beds like two stiff wooden logs.
Sleep crept in quickly—deep and peaceful—as if they had been swallowed by a rare kind of comfort that only complete exhaustion could offer.
Neither of them felt time pass until a loud, annoying voice tore through the walls of their slumber:
"All TRAINEES! WAKE UP IMMEDIATELY!"
"REPEAT! All TRAINEES! WAKE UP IMMEDIATELY!"
"The training schedule has been changed by order of the Central Command!"
The building shook slightly with the megaphone's scream. Kai shot up, half-asleep, his hair a mess. Ellis groaned and shoved his head under the blanket.
"Starting today, the official preparation for the upcoming tournament begins. Registration is still optional, but training is now mandatory for everyone. Two additional hours each day—no exceptions."
A short silence followed, then soft groans came from a few tired beds.
But the next words hit the hardest:
"I know…"
"This is the first decision of its kind… due to the low ranking of our Emirate."
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In a world divided into thirty-two Emirates, ranks are not granted—they are taken.
Each Emirate has a global ranking that constantly shifts and determines its status and level of support.
That ranking is based on two main factors:
1. The percentage of Talents it produces—those who can control Neva and change the tide of battle.
2. Its contribution to exploring New Earth—whether by slaying beasts beyond the walls or achieving discoveries that help humanity survive or return to former glory.
The higher the Emirate's rank, the more support it receives from the two highest authorities: the Human Preservation Council (HPC) or the Military Command—sometimes both.
This support isn't just food and training—it includes what matters most: protection, intel, location priority in crises.
As for the lowest-ranked Emirates? They're left alone to prove their worth… or fade into oblivion.
The Emirate of Dilonia – The Ruins – currently ranks 23rd.
Out of thirty-two.
That alone is enough to ignite the fire in the hearts of the dreamers left within it.
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"Now I'll introduce the co—"
"No need. I'll introduce myself."
The words of the instructor responsible for the children were cut off by a calm yet sharp voice.
Everyone instinctively turned to the source of the voice and saw a strange-looking man standing at the edge of the training arena, clapping slowly with a confident smile.
He was tall, dressed in pure white shirt and black trousers that bore black tears and charred marks—souvenirs from a battle just fought. His white hair fell over his forehead, and his pale gray eyes shimmered with an unsettling gleam—as if he wasn't seeing humans, but tools for some future project.
"My name is Nir. I've been newly appointed as the commander of Sector 9."
"Forgive my appearance! I was just playing with some angry kittens."
He walked forward with calm steps, his right hand lifting slightly, releasing strands of dark Neva like mist. They swirled around his fingers before vanishing, leaving behind a chilling silence.
"I'm not here to observe or protect. I'm here to extract."
The silence was so heavy, even the children's breathing became audible.
"As you know, Dilonia is scraping the bottom of the Emirates ranking… and that displeases those at the top."
"Although I couldn't care less about rankings and all that nonsense," he sighed.
"Still, since no one expects anything useful from this filthy sector… they sent me."
He smiled again. It wasn't warm—it was the kind of smile one might wear while toying with a broken object.
"Which of you is talented?… Don't raise your hands. Real talent doesn't need permission to show itself."
He stopped in the center of the arena and his voice echoed confidently:
"If you're not talented, I'll force you to become so. And if you are… then prepare yourself. You will not remain the same."
The silence that followed his words was suffocating, as if the very air had frozen.
No one spoke.
But in the corner, a small boy with wide eyes and messy hair was watching the man intently.
Kai didn't know why—but something inside him… rebelled.
(Who is this guy? He's not normal at all… it's like he's searching for something in us?)
Kai was breathing rapidly, as if he had seen a ghost.
Beside him, Ellis whispered without taking his eyes off Nir:
"Did you see how he wrapped his hand in Neva? He's not like any user we've ever seen… This guy is dangerous."
Then, more nervously:
"And… isn't Neva supposed to be sky blue? Then why is his energy black… like—like a demon?"
Kai didn't answer. He had already felt it.
But it wasn't the sense of danger that unsettled him most… it was something deeper.
A heavy, creeping feeling… that this meeting would change everything.
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Nir, having noticed the children's stares, tilted his head slightly and said calmly:
"You don't trust me… That's good. Trust must be earned, not given."
He then turned lightly and raised his hand toward one of the steel arena walls, tapping it gently—barely brushing it with his fingertips.
But what happened next was anything but gentle.
The wall exploded in a burst of black sparks, molten metal flying in all directions—until a sudden energy field surrounded the area, absorbing it all.
The children gasped. Some stepped back.
But Kai… didn't move.
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"You have five minutes," Nir said.
"Anyone who doesn't show me something impressive—or prove they have potential I can work with—will be eliminated… immediately."
Then he added, waving his hand like tossing something invisible into the air:
"Welcome to The Purge."
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[A few days earlier – Outside the Emirate Walls]
Far from the noise and lights…
Night had blanketed the desolate lands in the northern hemisphere.
Beasts roared, and the ground trembled beneath their steps, as if preparing to devour anyone foolish enough to approach.
In the midst of this darkness…
There were no lights.
No reinforcements.
No support units.
Just one man.
Nir stood tall, his shirt torn to shreds, his arms coated in a glowing black layer, shadowy threads of pure darkness rising from him.
His eyes did not shine—they sank into a void so deep it seemed nothing in the world deserved his attention… except battle.
A massive, three-headed beast approached, roaring, charging.
Nir smiled.
"You're late…"
He said it calmly.
Then vanished.
In a single instant, only the sound remained:
"Fwip!"
He appeared behind the beast, hand buried in its back, pulling out its beating heart—and a glowing crystal.
The body collapsed.
The earth went silent.
But the shadows around him began to move…
Other monsters had been watching.
Maybe they were afraid.
Maybe they hesitated.
"Come on…"
Nir said, pulling off his shredded coat,
"Darkness is hungry tonight."
The beasts charged.
"The Black Moon…" Nir whispered, facing the incoming horde.
The sky filled with screams.
Then… everything vanished in a wave of blackness.
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[The Next Morning – Inside a Meeting Room at Central Emirate Command]
Nir stood before a group of military officials.
"The numbers are dropping fast, Falks."
One of them said while flipping through reports of the military-controlled Emirates.
"We're seriously considering a full restructuring of our youth development program—especially in certain sectors. They're dead weight, nothing more."
Nir didn't reply at first.
He stared at the wall for a few seconds, then asked:
"…Sector 9?"
"Quick as ever," Falks smirked.
"Yes. No talents. No scalable systems. No future."
"In the last three years, it's shown poor results in both the Citadel Clash and the Corecall test."
He angrily slammed the reports onto the wall.
Then, interlocking his fingers and staring seriously:
"To be honest with you, Nir… I'm thinking of shutting down that sector—along with the Black Silk and Storm Studies facilities."
"I've avoided this decision because of you. The Black Hunter. I hoped another genius like you might show up somewhere."
"But… I've had enough!"
Nir remained silent.
"We're starting this plan next month. It's already received the support of both the High Commander and the HPC."
"Sorry for what's goi—"
"What are you talking about?"
Nir interrupted, eyes wide.
"Huh?…"
The official was stunned.
Then Nir smiled…
A strange smile—devoid of emotion.
"You really think I care about that kind of thing? Honestly, is this why you interrupted my field missions?"
"So… you don't ca—"
"Of course not. I only care about what excites me… and the weak are never exciting."
"Do as you please."
The Hunter turned to leave.
But before he could take his last step, another official slammed the table.
"Ah, he speaks."
Falks looked up with a smirk and fiery eyes.
As if… this was exactly what he had been waiting for.
"Arrogant brat—you've always been like that."
"I've always hated you… and now you're just pouring fuel on the fire."
"I guess I have no choice… Since it's you who spoke…"
"I'll go there myself."
Everyone looked at him in shock.
"Huh?! What do you mean?"
"But you work independently. You have no role in internal management."
He turned his back and walked out.
Before he stepped through the door, he said:
"Nothing stops me from acting on impulse… if it means flipping the system."
"Besides… that person is the one asking for this."
He walked slowly—but this time, his voice was quieter… and far more threatening:
"I said, do as you please… but remember—"
"If any of you touches Sector 9 before I'm done with it… I'll consider that a declaration of war."
Silence fell over the room.
Then he added, turning his back without waiting for a reply:
"And war… is not something you want to wage against me."
A smile crept onto his face—half threat, half mockery.
"You're still the same, Nir…"
muttered one of the officials, looking away from him.
But Nir didn't stop. He slowly turned, raising an eyebrow as if he'd just heard something mildly interesting.
"And you… still love that disappointed father tone."
He replied coldly, then added:
"But don't worry. I'll make Sector 9 rise… or burn while trying."
Then he left the room, leaving behind a heavy silence.
"What a damn headache…"
grumbled one of the officials, clenching his teeth in frustration.
"What's so funny, Commander Vertz?"
he asked sharply, noticing the man's grin.
With a sincere smile,
the thick-mustached commander replied:
"I'm just glad he hasn't changed."
—
Outside the meeting room, the wind played with the edge of Nir's glossy black coat.
It was one of the rare moments where Nir's elegant clothes were actually clean.
He stopped for a moment and gazed at the gray sky, then whispered—as if speaking to someone far away:
"Sector 9… Let's see—do its ashes still hide a spark that hasn't gone out?"
Then he walked away, leaving behind a charged air and an uncertain fate awaiting the young ones of the Wrecked Emirate.
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{Present Day}
Exterior view – Sunrise over the Wrecked Emirate (Dilonia)
The fog was slowly fading, revealing crumbling gray buildings and high walls enclosing the emirate like an open grave.
A few hours after the arrival of their new commander…
While the children were beginning their "new mandatory training" in the yard,
Kai was still standing in place, staring at the spot where Nir had stood.
A strange sensation ran through his body…
As if something within his heart had awakened for the first time.
The Purge…?
What did he mean by that? Kai whispered to himself.
But the answer, as he would later discover,
would not be simple…
And it would not come without a price.
End Of Chapter Three