Finally, school had ended for the year, and every 16-year-old was looking forward to leaving school and joining the military, though not all of them were happy about it. Some dreaded the fact that they wouldn't have time to enjoy themselves, and Finn was part of those students. Finn was not your average 16-year-old. He wasn't interested in vain things like fame and beauty. He wasn't what one would call handsome; he was just a plain-looking boy with slight eastern features, which manifested in his eyes and physique. All he wanted was to make enough money, retire, have kids, and grow old with his wife and grandchildren. His wish was simple, but it wasn't easy to accomplish, as the world was in a state of unrest.
A dimensional fracture that occurred three decades ago brought in creatures from another world. At first, they weren't noticed, as the fracture was small and only small creatures could come through them. Though they were hostile, scientists dismissed them as a new species, as they had some features of normal animals. Some had a combination of two or more animals and were therefore dismissed as hybrids.
By the time scientists discovered the fracture, it was already too late, as higher-ranked creatures were already passing through as the fracture became bigger. Emergency defenses were set up by every nation in the world, and a resistance was made. Smaller countries merged together to increase their chances of survival, but the resistance was short-lived, as more higher-ranked creatures shattered their defenses, rendering them useless. The third-world countries were the hardest hit, devastated to the point of no return. The advanced countries fared better, but it wasn't going to last. About 40% of the world's population was killed within six months as the creatures appeared in swarms.
It was not until the countries on continents began to unite that they had a resistance. Though weak, it was something. The unification started with the Americas, then Africa. Asia was the last to be unified, as a dictator of a certain country refused to join forces and even started a war against neighboring countries. He was eventually assassinated, and Asia became unified.
The military defenses held up for about a year and a half until an abomination appeared in the unified Africa and devastated the northern region. Then the same began to happen in other continents until a woman, who was at the time 19 years of age, had a mutation that gave her supernatural abilities. She singlehandedly defended the northern part of America, bringing peace to the region.
After her emergence, others appeared. Though not as powerful as her, they were sufficient in number—about 50,000 others. With them, there was a stand, and hope was alive. With that new hope, humanity hung on to it.
The mutations were studied, and it was discovered that every human on earth had a gene that was locked away, giving them extraordinary powers. It was called the Alpha Gene. Scientists found a way to unlock the genes in every human. The drug was integrated into everything they ate and drank, and in at most three months, their powers were revealed. Though it took some time to get used to their new powers, they adapted quickly out of necessity.
The mandate was passed that all 16-year-olds be sent to the military for two years so that, once they were 18, they would serve in the military, to form them into the soldiers that would help put humanity on the front foot of the war. And tomorrow was the D-day.
As he got home, his mother was asleep on the couch facing the TV. Putting a blanket over her, he went up to his room and packed his belongings into a single bag as requested by the army. He couldn't help but wonder what awaited him at the military. He didn't dwell much on it, though, as he knew as long as he followed the rules, he would achieve his aim of the simple life. He had been preparing for it for about two years, during which he worked on his stamina, flexibility, strength, and speed. He also wondered what his power would be. Not wanting to dwell on it, he got into bed and slept off, knowing all would work out as it was supposed to.
---
"Finn!! They're here! Get down here quickly."
Finn's middle-aged mother, who was wearing a cooking apron, called him down from his room with a slightly anxious voice. Finn didn't need his mom to wake him up; he had already gotten up about two hours before, and he was all set.
Coming down from his room, which led directly to the dining area, were two men in black suits and dark sunglasses, which was bizarre as they were indoors. The intense military aura emanating from them was enough to pressure him, but Finn was strong-willed.
Without looking in his mom's direction, one of them spoke.
"Finn Talen, you are hereby officially summoned to serve the mandatory two-year service for all 16-year-olds as mandated by the Coalition of Nations. Do you accept or decline this mandate?"
Finn was a little surprised, as the soldier said it all in one single breath.
"Yes, I accept," he replied in a calm manner.
He couldn't just deny, as he had heard stories of others who were taken away never to be heard from again after declining. He couldn't deny—his mother was already heartbroken enough as it is. Having her only child go to the same place his dad went to for five years and hasn't been heard from since was too much of an emotional strain for her, but it was out of her control.
The soldiers both placed their right hand on his shoulder, and a faint glow followed.
"Candidate number 2564 of the Americas, prepare for transport," both said in unison.
Finn looked at his mother, whose eyes were full of tears running down her tired face. She walked towards him and held his hands, giving him a metal box, saying a few words to him.
"Do your best, my sweet boy," she said with a croaky voice due to her sobs.
She stepped back, pointing at his palms as she whispered something in a determined voice.
"Only open it after you've been ranked."
The words sounded foreign to Finn, as his mother wasn't the type to be secretive, but he shrugged it off as motherly love. After all greetings had been exchanged, the faint glow intensified, and Finn and the soldiers vanished from the dining area.
His mother stood there a while, then wiped her face.
"I just hope he gets to meet him," she said with a faint smile on her face as she resumed her housework.
---
Finn and the soldiers reappeared in what seemed to be a large auditorium filled with kids his age, all chatting away, making friends and the like. Looking around, there wasn't anyone he recognized. He figured this would happen, as the Coalition mixed different nations together to get the best out of them. Competing with other people of different thought patterns, mindsets, skill sets, and builds would bring out the best of the best soldiers.
"Hey, what should I do n—" Finn was trying to ask for further instructions, but he found no sign of the soldiers that brought him there.
Walking around scanning for a seat, he sat down where there were the least people to avoid interactions. He had sat down for quite some time when a girl who looked like the main character of a Xuxia novel sat down next to him. She was a stunning Oriental beauty with long, flowing, silky jet-black hair and eastern features much like Finn's, but she wasn't mixed. Her presence turned heads, many of which were boys who were in awe of her beauty.
'Now why on earth would you sit next to me of all people?'
Finn knew this move had earned him a few enemies, but it wasn't all bad... or so he thought.
She turned to face him, and with a smile, said,
"Hello, my name is Jasmine. What's yours?"
Many eyes filled up with anger, but Finn wasn't bothered, as he wasn't at all interested in her. To be polite, he answered her, matching her vibe.
"Nice to meet you, Jasmine. My name is Finn."
This moved many hearts to anger, but that was quickly cut short as on the stage of the auditorium was a tall woman about 6'2" feet tall with bust features threatening to remove the buttons. Blonde hair with a cold expression. Her clothes adorned with military honours. She was about to speak when someone from the crowd whistled sultrily. Her eyes, as sharp as a hawk, pinpointed the unfortunate individual, and for a split second, it appeared as though she moved to the side and moved back. The boy was laying there unconscious, and every single person in the hall was instilled with fear.
"As of now, in this hall, there are a thousand cadets who are here to be of service to the world. The Coalition has set the requirements low this year. But luckily, I am here." She paused as a devilish smirk crept its way up her face.
"First, we must separate the wheat from the chaff... in other words, find the trash among the lot of you. In order to do that, you need to first discover your mark—something like this."
She revealed a lightning ring surrounding her ankles.
"This mark tells us what kind of power you'll possess and how best we can use you. Now, on to the fun part..."
She snapped her fingers, and the entire auditorium began to move, the floors exposing their underside, which was pure metal. Mechanical groans echoed through the air as massive steel panels rose from the ground, partitioning the enormous hall into dozens of separate rooms. Each room was sealed off completely, cutting off visibility and sound from the others.
A mechanical voice boomed through the walls:
"All cadets have now been assigned to their designated trial rooms. Await further instructions."
Finn's heart skipped a beat, as he wasn't expecting this in the slightest. The floor beneath him shifted. He was guided into Room 17—one of the many combat chambers formed from the transformation. The door behind him slid shut with a resounding clang, sealing him in with another cadet.
He quickly scanned the room—it was bare, and no advantageous position was visible.
They had been separated.
Finn exhaled sharply. He wasn't sure whether to be relieved or disappointed. He had at first thought that the military would organize some sort of crazy free-for-all battle or a survival-of-the-fittest selection process on a mountain somewhere, as it was part of the reasons he worked on his stamina. But it was all okay, as this was much better.
In the center of the room, his opponent stood silently—eyes darting, body tense. The unfamiliar face looked just as uncertain as he felt.
Back on the now-segmented stage above the combat chambers, the commanding officer stood motionless. Then, just as she turned to leave, she halted. With her back still facing the roomed cadets, she raised one gloved hand.
Her voice cut through the intercom like a blade:
"Trial One... Begins... Beat your opponent or be removed."
She walked off without another word.
The silence that followed was thick—almost suffocating.
Then—
The auditorium exploded into chaos.