The basement portal shook and after a second, the students appeared, arriving from the daily mission.
“Have you finished your mission yet?” asked Aeko, who was waiting for them.
“Yes, this was our last daily mission,” Clémentine replied as the leader of the group.
“Do you want to rest, or are we leaving now?” asked Aeko curiously.
Clémentine looked at her group.
They hadn’t mentioned to her where they would head, but like yesterday, the group thought they would go to a place to train like in the army.
After seeing the nods from her group, Clémentine commented. “Let’s go now. The last mission was simple.”
Even though they trained hard-facing Akira’s team, they were still doing daily missions.
They found the daily missions ‘relaxing’ because of the difference in training and, compared to the daily missions, it was certainly less burdensome.
The group entered the portal that Aeko created and arrived in the room.
“Are they leaving already?” Akira asked, who was in the room and watching as the group nodded she stated. “I wish you guys the best of luck... When you leave, me and Shao Ya will be there for you.”
Shao Ya, who was present, gave a strange look, but with a kind smile, nodded.
“I would like to accompany you from now on, but Akira is afraid,” Shao Ya commented with a small laugh, like an older sister teasing her little sister.
“I’m not afraid...” Akira muttered but remained silent with no intention of moving.
Clémentine didn’t understand what they were talking about, and couldn’t get the idea no matter how hard she tried, even though Akira’s tone was very kind.
They looked at each other with their group, but no one knew anything, even Andrés, who could sometimes figure things out since he was close to Liam.
“Come on, we need to get there early,” Aeko said, urging the students to follow her.
The group followed her and after pulling a van out of the garage at the front of the building; they started moving through the city.
The streets of the city today were different, as they seemed to prepare for a big party and through the center of the city where they passed, they could see the other preparations.
Decorations of all kinds, some stages were available and businesses were selling traditional African masks or other types of typical African cultural items.
Tomorrow was ‘Monday, July 27’ and the day on which the Zerzura City Foundation Anniversary would be celebrated and the preparations for the party were already showing.
It was certainly going to be a massive event throughout Zerzura City tomorrow.
But Clémentine was not observing her surroundings, instead, she looked at Aeko and asked. “Can you tell us where we’re going?”
Her question carried her curiosity, but also that faint feeling that it wouldn’t be pleasant... After all, Akira, who despite her attitude was very trustworthy, seemed slightly different before.
Just as Shao Ya said, as if she was afraid.
“To the temple of the Church of Time and Space, but as for what they are going to do there... I don’t know,” Aeko replied, and looking in the rearview mirror, she gave a smile and added. “Aurora asked me to take them because Liam has work to do and all I know, it has something to do with Alice.”
Despite receiving a bit of information, the quintet looked at each other with more questions than answers.
“Never mind, we’ll see what it’s about,” Érica said in a carefree tone as she watched the streets.
Moving forward in the van, it took them some time to reach the Temple of the Church of Time and Space.
With dozens of steps to reach the entrance of the temple, its tall white pillars were impressive.
An ancient work of architecture in a modern city.
Following Aeko, the group entered the temple, but as soon as they entered, they were met by a priest.
“You are Alice’s group?” the priest asked calmly.
Aeko nodded.
“Well, from now on I’ll be in charge of leading them,” commented the priest, and after Aeko nodded, the priest added. “Please come with me.”
The group, sensing the solemn atmosphere, glanced at Aeko and followed the priest.
As soon as they entered, they found a large hall where ceremonies were held and where believers could come to pray.
There was no symbol or figure of worship, as the Church of Time and Space was not organized even in Terra Nova.
Ceremonies were not so complex and were not solemn, but it was a way for humans to show gratitude to the God of Time and Space.
Although it had a hierarchical organization with a Supreme Pontiff, Cardinals, Archbishops, and Bishops, in reality, its organization in rituals or ceremonies was not so strict.
Walking through the corridors of the temple, they noticed the marble sculptures and paintings that decorated the corridors.
The priest slowly hurried their steps, and they entered a corridor as they continued walking.
No one knew when, but in a moment, they felt as if they were in another place.
Clémentine watched the priest and continued walking, but her heart slowly beat faster.
The hallway grew darker, and the sculptures felt strange.
“Are we close?” Clémentine asked in a calm tone, but her voice trembled for an instant.
“Yes... We’ll be there in a moment...” replied the priest without looking back.
The voice sounded normal, but Clémentine stopped, feeling a shiver that made all her hair stand on end.
She looked at her companions and noticed that everyone was tense.
Nicole was looking around cautiously, and Érica was gathering her magical energy.
As for Andrés, he had been checking his holographic watch and sending messages, but his expression let it be seen that he felt the same way, too.
“Don’t you want to come? Never mind, I’ll go alone...” said the priest and started walking back.
The darkness thickened to where all the surrounding lights were turned off and all traces of light were completely gone.
The terrifying darkness that let them see nothing made the group’s expressions change, and Andrés took out a drone to illuminate the darkness.
“Where are we?” Nicole asked with a hint of fear.
Their surroundings were empty, and they were no longer in the hallway but were in a completely dark area.
The drone was illuminating the surroundings, but no matter how hard they tried, the surrounding darkness seemed like an abyss, looking to swallow them up.
Clémentine signaled her group to suit up in their combat suits while she also did the same.
Then they stared into the darkness, trying to understand what was happening.
Was it an attack, a test, or just a prank?
Clémentine felt that something was wrong, but her body was trembling slightly as if she felt in danger.
Footsteps were heard in the absurd darkness and everyone raised their weapons to point in the direction where the sound was coming from.
Their bodies reacted involuntarily because of their training.
Footsteps echoed closer and slowly they could notice a figure that quickly revealed itself.
Wearing a black dress that seemed to blend in with her surroundings and a nonchalant look, they encountered a black-haired beauty.
They met Alice.
“That’s a relief...” a murmur echoed.
Clémentine didn’t know who it came from.
Was it Érica’s, Leslie’s, or Nicole’s?
No, maybe it was hers and she hadn’t noticed.
“Is this a test?” Clémentine asked, trying to act calm.
“No, this is an actual situation...” Alice said, and in just an instant, she shot a spear at Nicole, who was close to her.
Nicole bent her body, and the black spear cut her cheek.
Clémentine, who could see the cut, noticed how the blood spurted, and her heart pounded.
If Nicole had not dodged it, she would have died...
That thought came like a bolt of lightning and struck her mind, shaking instantly.
“What are you doing!” shouted Andrés, deploying his drones, creating a dense barrier between them.
The situation had unsettled him.
Clémentine quickly stood up as her heart was pounding at the fear she had felt.
Dozens of thoughts ran through her mind, but Clémentine walked over to Nicole, who was on the ground, and asked. “Are you okay?”
Nicole touched her cheek and looked at the red blood trickling down her fingers to her palm.
Clémentine swallowed as she saw the wound that seemed to spread all over Nicole’s cheek.
“Are you sure you two must talk to each other?” Alice asked with a smile.
A charming smile that, to the group, was terrifying.
From her back extended ten arms that waved like tentacles of a hellish demon.
Step by step, she approached the group, watching them closely.
Their fear and trembling, all their terror... She was enjoying it.
“Don’t come any closer or...”
“Or what?” Alice asked, interrupting Andrés as her black arms pointed in his direction.
No one answered her question.
They had no way to answer... They didn’t know how to react to this situation.
They were trembling with fear and their minds were thinking of dozens of situations that were slowly being thrown out the window by their own rationality.
Was it a test? If it was, then it was a test of death.
Alice, without giving them time to think, she moved.
Her arms pushed her body, and she pushed forward at a high speed to the group that was protected by a barrier.
The arms penetrated the barrier, creating a gap, and another arm came through it, attacking them.
Clémentine reacted by creating a psionic barrier, however, the arms transformed into spears and penetrated her barrier, cutting her shoulder.
“Ughh...”
Intense pain spread through her body and Clémentine let out a moan of pain as she recoiled using ‘telekinesis’.
Andrés’ barrier was broken as a black arm struck Nicole and sent her slamming into the barrier, breaking it.
As for Erica and Leslie, the latter activated her barrier to protect her partner, but Liam wasn’t close enough and a black arm grabbed his head and his feet left the ground when Alice picked him up.
“Is this all they can do?” Alice asked with a small smile on her face.
Dozens of questions came to Clémentine’s mind, but she only got one answer.
It’s a monster... A monster that is about to murder them.
*Crack*
“UGahh...”
As if adding confirmation to her answer, a sound of crunching bones came at the same time as Andrés’ groan of pain.
Clementine looked at her shoulder where her blood was coming out and thought she saw part of her bone, but in the end, without giving herself time to heal, she used her ‘telekinesis’ to control and push her body towards Alice.
“It’s an enemy attack!” she shouted with all her might, trying to draw all the courage she could.
They had so many questions, but they couldn’t expect answers... Since, once dead, they wouldn’t be able to get them.
Alice... No, that monster was attacking, intending to kill them all.
*Bang*
Leslie’s shotgun blast resounded, and she severely wounded the black arm that Andrés was holding.
“[Ice Shock]” Érica exclaimed, pointing her wand directly at Alice.
Clémentine’s heart clenched, but since that wasn’t a direct damage spell inside, she breathed a sigh of relief.
The shock-wave spread towards Alice and she had to use her black arms to cover herself as her black arms froze slightly.
Clémentine reacted, and using her ability, pulled Andrés backwards, making him escape.
Nicole, who had gotten up, caught him.
“Are you okay?” Nicole asked hurriedly.
Andrés wiped his mouth and the entire group could notice a large amount of blood, even staining his clothes.
“What the...”
“Ughh...”
Before Nicole could finish the question, Alice waved her arms like tentacles and struck Leslie’s barrier, again and again getting her to groan as one blow sent her flying.
Another tentacle transformed into a sharp blade and slit Érica’s throat.
The group could see the blood spurting viciously, and Clémentine reacted quickly, drawing Érica to her side.
*BOOM*
A drone from Andrés fired a sonic wave that sent Alice flying away.
Clémentine held Érica and watched the blood drain from her neck as her partner covered her wound.
She was afraid... too afraid.
Her body was shaking, and her mind was going blank.
Andrés sent a healing drone that cast a healing spell, reducing the wound, but still to Clémentine, that wound seemed too frightening.
“I... I... I... I’m fine...” Érica muttered in a pained, shaky voice.
They both looked at each other for a moment and could feel each other’s fear.
Fear of death that was approaching disguised as a beauty, a friend, and companion.
All their previous attacks were in defense, and even though they were close, no one had attacked directly.
The group knew... They couldn’t go on like this.
“This is fun...” Alice commented with an amused smile.
That tone that enjoyed their suffering and fear made the whole group shiver, feeling cold.
The students gave each other a look and sensed the fear of the other party, but also saw the decision.
Decisions are made in an instant... And that instant they chose to continue living.
*Bang*
*Bang!*
*Bang!*
Leslie began firing her pistols directly at Alice.
She was no longer attacking the black arms, now she was attacking with the resolve to kill.
The students put aside the dozens of questions and now they were acting, seeking to survive against this ‘monster’.
The black arms covered Alice, and those arms swallowed the bullets.
Andrés deployed his laser drones, and they coalesced to create a powerful shot.
“[Ice Spear]” Érica chanted, sending out her best attack.
This particular spear was very thick and seemed very hard, but it only pierced a little through the black cocoon Alice had been hiding in.
However, Nicole moved and grabbed the spear with her gloves and thrust it even deeper before retreating to dodge the protrusions that turned into small tentacles that sought to trap her.
Without hesitation, Clementine, using her powers, created a force that pressed the ice spear to the bottom, creating a hole that pierced the cocoon.
*BOOM!
The next instant, a powerful reddish laser beam charred the black tentacles and pierced the cocoon.
The tentacles became immobile and did not regenerate.
“Did we... did we kill her?” Nicole asked in a trembling voice.
Her first question made them fill with hope to drive away that fear that gnawed at their souls, and her second question brought unknown fear and doubt.
Was ‘it’ Alice?
If it was, then... Why did she attack them?
Before they could sigh in relief, the black mass that made up the cocoon descended and receded into the darkness, leaving nobody behind.
“That was fun, but no. You guys didn’t make it.” Alice declared as she used her arms to soar through the sky looking like a spider with dozens of arms.
She had a typical bag of chips in her hand and looked as if she was indulging herself while watching a good show.
“Doubt kills and you guys took too long doubting,” Alice announced and after eating a chip, she gave a smile and declared. “Now you must die...”
At her statement, she charged as if she were a spider, and the last thing Clémentine could see was a black arm trapping her.
******
Alice ate her chips as she watched through the screen as Clémentine, Érica, Nicole, Leslie, and Andrés woke up.
The students’ eyes were filled with fear, but Akira and Shao Ya were present to calm them down.
Revealing to them that their wounds that they thought were huge were only simple cuts.
Nicole’s wound on her cheek was a small superficial cut. Érica’s neck wound was the same, only dropping a few drops of blood on her clothes and, not to mention Clémentine’s wound, it was just a simple and small cut.
The situation stunned them and incredulous, but even though they looked completely frightened, they gritted their teeth to calm their tears and fears.
“Oh, that’s unexpected...” Alice muttered, eating some chips with a smile and seeing that Cardinal Brousseau was looking at her, she explained. “Akira was in tears the first time she went through this test.”
The test was simple.
Using the training room of the church that paladins and priests used to temper their spirit and strengthen their faith, the students went through a cruel situation.
That training room was centered to empower fears and fears, making a small wound become a mortal wound.
The pain of a needle pricking a finger would become a cruel and terrifying pain.
It disoriented and confused, allowing to create a perfect scenario to make the students not to doubt.
To make them not hesitate if they had to kill to survive, whether that person was a stranger or their classmate who suddenly sought to murder them.
It was excessive, but for Alice, it was effective and functional.
She etched fear into the memory of those students, so that if fate ever confronted them with a similar situation, they would not hesitate.
Akira performed this test alone and cried after suffering it.
Perhaps now, since they were in groups, the fear and dread were reduced.
“I hope Akira and Shao Ya can avoid future trauma...” Cardinal Brousseau murmured, holding back her rude comments for Alice’s training.
Alice could see those emotions plainly, but she didn’t care and ate some paws.
“They will. Akira has been through this and knows how to get through it. Adding Shao Ya’s ‘motherly’ support. There will be no major consequences to fear me for a few days... Or maybe for a few years if it gets worse,” Alice commented in an indifferent tone.
Her analysis came from the fact that she hadn’t gone that far overboard and had acted with restraint.
She had allowed them time to think enough about the situation to allow her to come to the conclusion, forcing them at certain times to direct them to the path she sought.
That training room where paladins tempered their souls and strengthened their faith could also become a weapon to ‘break’ people.
The mental effects of the training room heightened fears, however, she was the one who played with them by manipulating them at will.
As the one who did it, she knew the state of her victims.
“And... You don’t mind?” Cardinal Brousseau asked in a strange tone.
Alice could understand the strangeness of her tone, but as she was in a good mood, she just gave a glance and left the room.
Cardinal Brousseau’s question was directed at whether she didn’t mind being feared for a few days, months, or maybe years.
No... That was the answer.
Of course, because if she spoke now, some reasons that would make the Cardinal look at her strangely would come out, she kept quiet.
Eating her chips, she headed to the parking lot and walked into the black car Santiago was driving.
“Thanks for coming to get me,” Alice said as she started eating chips.
Santiago just felt silently.
She didn’t like to drive, and she didn’t know how either, so she always asked for a driver or took a cab, but today Santiago had offered to be her driver.
It was either that or go with Akira and the others, who were probably going shopping to calm down from the ‘hellish’ training.
Alice was immersed in her chips and, without realizing it after a few bags, she arrived at the building.
“Aurora, let me know she’s waiting for you on the top floor,” Oscar informed as Alice entered the building.
Alice nodded, and creating a portal, she walked into it, reaching the top floor.
“Welcome!” Aurora exclaimed as Alice stepped out of the portal.
Aurora, with a soft smile, walked over to her, and took her chips, exchanging her for another bag of filled chips. Then, as if she was an old lady, took her to the dining room table and served her some plates of food.
Alice looked at the food and then at her friend.
“Eat... Eat, don’t worry about me,” Aurora commented with a warm and loving smile.
Alice looked at her seriously and got up from her chair, approaching her friend’s face to look at her carefully.
She could see that something was going on, and it was all too obvious.
Alice embarrassed Aurora at the closeness, but she held her gaze, narrowing her eyes.
“What’s wrong?” Alice asked with a serious tone.
The food looked delicious, and she was hungry, but that didn’t mean she was going to let herself go for it.
It was clear that this meal was a way to improve her mood, basically wanting to bribe her.
“Well...” Aurora murmured and, glancing sideways at her, she reported. “I sold you...”
The basement portal shook and after a second, the students appeared, arriving from the daily mission.
“Have you finished your mission yet?” asked Aeko, who was waiting for them.
“Yes, this was our last daily mission,” Clémentine replied as the leader of the group.
“Do you want to rest, or are we leaving now?” asked Aeko curiously.
Clémentine looked at her group.
They hadn’t mentioned to her where they would head, but like yesterday, the group thought they would go to a place to train like in the army.
After seeing the nods from her group, Clémentine commented. “Let’s go now. The last mission was simple.”
Even though they trained hard-facing Akira’s team, they were still doing daily missions.
They found the daily missions ‘relaxing’ because of the difference in training and, compared to the daily missions, it was certainly less burdensome.
The group entered the portal that Aeko created and arrived in the room.
“Are they leaving already?” Akira asked, who was in the room and watching as the group nodded she stated. “I wish you guys the best of luck... When you leave, me and Shao Ya will be there for you.”
Shao Ya, who was present, gave a strange look, but with a kind smile, nodded.
“I would like to accompany you from now on, but Akira is afraid,” Shao Ya commented with a small laugh, like an older sister teasing her little sister.
“I’m not afraid...” Akira muttered but remained silent with no intention of moving.
Clémentine didn’t understand what they were talking about, and couldn’t get the idea no matter how hard she tried, even though Akira’s tone was very kind.
They looked at each other with their group, but no one knew anything, even Andrés, who could sometimes figure things out since he was close to Liam.
“Come on, we need to get there early,” Aeko said, urging the students to follow her.
The group followed her and after pulling a van out of the garage at the front of the building; they started moving through the city.
The streets of the city today were different, as they seemed to prepare for a big party and through the center of the city where they passed, they could see the other preparations.
Decorations of all kinds, some stages were available and businesses were selling traditional African masks or other types of typical African cultural items.
Tomorrow was ‘Monday, July 27’ and the day on which the Zerzura City Foundation Anniversary would be celebrated and the preparations for the party were already showing.
It was certainly going to be a massive event throughout Zerzura City tomorrow.
But Clémentine was not observing her surroundings, instead, she looked at Aeko and asked. “Can you tell us where we’re going?”
Her question carried her curiosity, but also that faint feeling that it wouldn’t be pleasant... After all, Akira, who despite her attitude was very trustworthy, seemed slightly different before.
Just as Shao Ya said, as if she was afraid.
“To the temple of the Church of Time and Space, but as for what they are going to do there... I don’t know,” Aeko replied, and looking in the rearview mirror, she gave a smile and added. “Aurora asked me to take them because Liam has work to do and all I know, it has something to do with Alice.”
Despite receiving a bit of information, the quintet looked at each other with more questions than answers.
“Never mind, we’ll see what it’s about,” Érica said in a carefree tone as she watched the streets.
Moving forward in the van, it took them some time to reach the Temple of the Church of Time and Space.
With dozens of steps to reach the entrance of the temple, its tall white pillars were impressive.
An ancient work of architecture in a modern city.
Following Aeko, the group entered the temple, but as soon as they entered, they were met by a priest.
“You are Alice’s group?” the priest asked calmly.
Aeko nodded.
“Well, from now on I’ll be in charge of leading them,” commented the priest, and after Aeko nodded, the priest added. “Please come with me.”
The group, sensing the solemn atmosphere, glanced at Aeko and followed the priest.
As soon as they entered, they found a large hall where ceremonies were held and where believers could come to pray.
There was no symbol or figure of worship, as the Church of Time and Space was not organized even in Terra Nova.
Ceremonies were not so complex and were not solemn, but it was a way for humans to show gratitude to the God of Time and Space.
Although it had a hierarchical organization with a Supreme Pontiff, Cardinals, Archbishops, and Bishops, in reality, its organization in rituals or ceremonies was not so strict.
Walking through the corridors of the temple, they noticed the marble sculptures and paintings that decorated the corridors.
The priest slowly hurried their steps, and they entered a corridor as they continued walking.
No one knew when, but in a moment, they felt as if they were in another place.
Clémentine watched the priest and continued walking, but her heart slowly beat faster.
The hallway grew darker, and the sculptures felt strange.
“Are we close?” Clémentine asked in a calm tone, but her voice trembled for an instant.
“Yes... We’ll be there in a moment...” replied the priest without looking back.
The voice sounded normal, but Clémentine stopped, feeling a shiver that made all her hair stand on end.
She looked at her companions and noticed that everyone was tense.
Nicole was looking around cautiously, and Érica was gathering her magical energy.
As for Andrés, he had been checking his holographic watch and sending messages, but his expression let it be seen that he felt the same way, too.
“Don’t you want to come? Never mind, I’ll go alone...” said the priest and started walking back.
The darkness thickened to where all the surrounding lights were turned off and all traces of light were completely gone.
The terrifying darkness that let them see nothing made the group’s expressions change, and Andrés took out a drone to illuminate the darkness.
“Where are we?” Nicole asked with a hint of fear.
Their surroundings were empty, and they were no longer in the hallway but were in a completely dark area.
The drone was illuminating the surroundings, but no matter how hard they tried, the surrounding darkness seemed like an abyss, looking to swallow them up.
Clémentine signaled her group to suit up in their combat suits while she also did the same.
Then they stared into the darkness, trying to understand what was happening.
Was it an attack, a test, or just a prank?
Clémentine felt that something was wrong, but her body was trembling slightly as if she felt in danger.
Footsteps were heard in the absurd darkness and everyone raised their weapons to point in the direction where the sound was coming from.
Their bodies reacted involuntarily because of their training.
Footsteps echoed closer and slowly they could notice a figure that quickly revealed itself.
Wearing a black dress that seemed to blend in with her surroundings and a nonchalant look, they encountered a black-haired beauty.
They met Alice.
“That’s a relief...” a murmur echoed.
Clémentine didn’t know who it came from.
Was it Érica’s, Leslie’s, or Nicole’s?
No, maybe it was hers and she hadn’t noticed.
“Is this a test?” Clémentine asked, trying to act calm.
“No, this is an actual situation...” Alice said, and in just an instant, she shot a spear at Nicole, who was close to her.
Nicole bent her body, and the black spear cut her cheek.
Clémentine, who could see the cut, noticed how the blood spurted, and her heart pounded.
If Nicole had not dodged it, she would have died...
That thought came like a bolt of lightning and struck her mind, shaking instantly.
“What are you doing!” shouted Andrés, deploying his drones, creating a dense barrier between them.
The situation had unsettled him.
Clémentine quickly stood up as her heart was pounding at the fear she had felt.
Dozens of thoughts ran through her mind, but Clémentine walked over to Nicole, who was on the ground, and asked. “Are you okay?”
Nicole touched her cheek and looked at the red blood trickling down her fingers to her palm.
Clémentine swallowed as she saw the wound that seemed to spread all over Nicole’s cheek.
“Are you sure you two must talk to each other?” Alice asked with a smile.
A charming smile that, to the group, was terrifying.
From her back extended ten arms that waved like tentacles of a hellish demon.
Step by step, she approached the group, watching them closely.
Their fear and trembling, all their terror... She was enjoying it.
“Don’t come any closer or...”
“Or what?” Alice asked, interrupting Andrés as her black arms pointed in his direction.
No one answered her question.
They had no way to answer... They didn’t know how to react to this situation.
They were trembling with fear and their minds were thinking of dozens of situations that were slowly being thrown out the window by their own rationality.
Was it a test? If it was, then it was a test of death.
Alice, without giving them time to think, she moved.
Her arms pushed her body, and she pushed forward at a high speed to the group that was protected by a barrier.
The arms penetrated the barrier, creating a gap, and another arm came through it, attacking them.
Clémentine reacted by creating a psionic barrier, however, the arms transformed into spears and penetrated her barrier, cutting her shoulder.
“Ughh...”
Intense pain spread through her body and Clémentine let out a moan of pain as she recoiled using ‘telekinesis’.
Andrés’ barrier was broken as a black arm struck Nicole and sent her slamming into the barrier, breaking it.
As for Erica and Leslie, the latter activated her barrier to protect her partner, but Liam wasn’t close enough and a black arm grabbed his head and his feet left the ground when Alice picked him up.
“Is this all they can do?” Alice asked with a small smile on her face.
Dozens of questions came to Clémentine’s mind, but she only got one answer.
It’s a monster... A monster that is about to murder them.
*Crack*
“UGahh...”
As if adding confirmation to her answer, a sound of crunching bones came at the same time as Andrés’ groan of pain.
Clementine looked at her shoulder where her blood was coming out and thought she saw part of her bone, but in the end, without giving herself time to heal, she used her ‘telekinesis’ to control and push her body towards Alice.
“It’s an enemy attack!” she shouted with all her might, trying to draw all the courage she could.
They had so many questions, but they couldn’t expect answers... Since, once dead, they wouldn’t be able to get them.
Alice... No, that monster was attacking, intending to kill them all.
*Bang*
Leslie’s shotgun blast resounded, and she severely wounded the black arm that Andrés was holding.
“[Ice Shock]” Érica exclaimed, pointing her wand directly at Alice.
Clémentine’s heart clenched, but since that wasn’t a direct damage spell inside, she breathed a sigh of relief.
The shock-wave spread towards Alice and she had to use her black arms to cover herself as her black arms froze slightly.
Clémentine reacted, and using her ability, pulled Andrés backwards, making him escape.
Nicole, who had gotten up, caught him.
“Are you okay?” Nicole asked hurriedly.
Andrés wiped his mouth and the entire group could notice a large amount of blood, even staining his clothes.
“What the...”
“Ughh...”
Before Nicole could finish the question, Alice waved her arms like tentacles and struck Leslie’s barrier, again and again getting her to groan as one blow sent her flying.
Another tentacle transformed into a sharp blade and slit Érica’s throat.
The group could see the blood spurting viciously, and Clémentine reacted quickly, drawing Érica to her side.
*BOOM*
A drone from Andrés fired a sonic wave that sent Alice flying away.
Clémentine held Érica and watched the blood drain from her neck as her partner covered her wound.
She was afraid... too afraid.
Her body was shaking, and her mind was going blank.
Andrés sent a healing drone that cast a healing spell, reducing the wound, but still to Clémentine, that wound seemed too frightening.
“I... I... I... I’m fine...” Érica muttered in a pained, shaky voice.
They both looked at each other for a moment and could feel each other’s fear.
Fear of death that was approaching disguised as a beauty, a friend, and companion.
All their previous attacks were in defense, and even though they were close, no one had attacked directly.
The group knew... They couldn’t go on like this.
“This is fun...” Alice commented with an amused smile.
That tone that enjoyed their suffering and fear made the whole group shiver, feeling cold.
The students gave each other a look and sensed the fear of the other party, but also saw the decision.
Decisions are made in an instant... And that instant they chose to continue living.
*Bang*
*Bang!*
*Bang!*
Leslie began firing her pistols directly at Alice.
She was no longer attacking the black arms, now she was attacking with the resolve to kill.
The students put aside the dozens of questions and now they were acting, seeking to survive against this ‘monster’.
The black arms covered Alice, and those arms swallowed the bullets.
Andrés deployed his laser drones, and they coalesced to create a powerful shot.
“[Ice Spear]” Érica chanted, sending out her best attack.
This particular spear was very thick and seemed very hard, but it only pierced a little through the black cocoon Alice had been hiding in.
However, Nicole moved and grabbed the spear with her gloves and thrust it even deeper before retreating to dodge the protrusions that turned into small tentacles that sought to trap her.
Without hesitation, Clementine, using her powers, created a force that pressed the ice spear to the bottom, creating a hole that pierced the cocoon.
*BOOM!
The next instant, a powerful reddish laser beam charred the black tentacles and pierced the cocoon.
The tentacles became immobile and did not regenerate.
“Did we... did we kill her?” Nicole asked in a trembling voice.
Her first question made them fill with hope to drive away that fear that gnawed at their souls, and her second question brought unknown fear and doubt.
Was ‘it’ Alice?
If it was, then... Why did she attack them?
Before they could sigh in relief, the black mass that made up the cocoon descended and receded into the darkness, leaving nobody behind.
“That was fun, but no. You guys didn’t make it.” Alice declared as she used her arms to soar through the sky looking like a spider with dozens of arms.
She had a typical bag of chips in her hand and looked as if she was indulging herself while watching a good show.
“Doubt kills and you guys took too long doubting,” Alice announced and after eating a chip, she gave a smile and declared. “Now you must die...”
At her statement, she charged as if she were a spider, and the last thing Clémentine could see was a black arm trapping her.
******
Alice ate her chips as she watched through the screen as Clémentine, Érica, Nicole, Leslie, and Andrés woke up.
The students’ eyes were filled with fear, but Akira and Shao Ya were present to calm them down.
Revealing to them that their wounds that they thought were huge were only simple cuts.
Nicole’s wound on her cheek was a small superficial cut. Érica’s neck wound was the same, only dropping a few drops of blood on her clothes and, not to mention Clémentine’s wound, it was just a simple and small cut.
The situation stunned them and incredulous, but even though they looked completely frightened, they gritted their teeth to calm their tears and fears.
“Oh, that’s unexpected...” Alice muttered, eating some chips with a smile and seeing that Cardinal Brousseau was looking at her, she explained. “Akira was in tears the first time she went through this test.”
The test was simple.
Using the training room of the church that paladins and priests used to temper their spirit and strengthen their faith, the students went through a cruel situation.
That training room was centered to empower fears and fears, making a small wound become a mortal wound.
The pain of a needle pricking a finger would become a cruel and terrifying pain.
It disoriented and confused, allowing to create a perfect scenario to make the students not to doubt.
To make them not hesitate if they had to kill to survive, whether that person was a stranger or their classmate who suddenly sought to murder them.
It was excessive, but for Alice, it was effective and functional.
She etched fear into the memory of those students, so that if fate ever confronted them with a similar situation, they would not hesitate.
Akira performed this test alone and cried after suffering it.
Perhaps now, since they were in groups, the fear and dread were reduced.
“I hope Akira and Shao Ya can avoid future trauma...” Cardinal Brousseau murmured, holding back her rude comments for Alice’s training.
Alice could see those emotions plainly, but she didn’t care and ate some paws.
“They will. Akira has been through this and knows how to get through it. Adding Shao Ya’s ‘motherly’ support. There will be no major consequences to fear me for a few days... Or maybe for a few years if it gets worse,” Alice commented in an indifferent tone.
Her analysis came from the fact that she hadn’t gone that far overboard and had acted with restraint.
She had allowed them time to think enough about the situation to allow her to come to the conclusion, forcing them at certain times to direct them to the path she sought.
That training room where paladins tempered their souls and strengthened their faith could also become a weapon to ‘break’ people.
The mental effects of the training room heightened fears, however, she was the one who played with them by manipulating them at will.
As the one who did it, she knew the state of her victims.
“And... You don’t mind?” Cardinal Brousseau asked in a strange tone.
Alice could understand the strangeness of her tone, but as she was in a good mood, she just gave a glance and left the room.
Cardinal Brousseau’s question was directed at whether she didn’t mind being feared for a few days, months, or maybe years.
No... That was the answer.
Of course, because if she spoke now, some reasons that would make the Cardinal look at her strangely would come out, she kept quiet.
Eating her chips, she headed to the parking lot and walked into the black car Santiago was driving.
“Thanks for coming to get me,” Alice said as she started eating chips.
Santiago just felt silently.
She didn’t like to drive, and she didn’t know how either, so she always asked for a driver or took a cab, but today Santiago had offered to be her driver.
It was either that or go with Akira and the others, who were probably going shopping to calm down from the ‘hellish’ training.
Alice was immersed in her chips and, without realizing it after a few bags, she arrived at the building.
“Aurora, let me know she’s waiting for you on the top floor,” Oscar informed as Alice entered the building.
Alice nodded, and creating a portal, she walked into it, reaching the top floor.
“Welcome!” Aurora exclaimed as Alice stepped out of the portal.
Aurora, with a soft smile, walked over to her, and took her chips, exchanging her for another bag of filled chips. Then, as if she was an old lady, took her to the dining room table and served her some plates of food.
Alice looked at the food and then at her friend.
“Eat... Eat, don’t worry about me,” Aurora commented with a warm and loving smile.
Alice looked at her seriously and got up from her chair, approaching her friend’s face to look at her carefully.
She could see that something was going on, and it was all too obvious.
Alice embarrassed Aurora at the closeness, but she held her gaze, narrowing her eyes.
“What’s wrong?” Alice asked with a serious tone.
The food looked delicious, and she was hungry, but that didn’t mean she was going to let herself go for it.
It was clear that this meal was a way to improve her mood, basically wanting to bribe her.
“Well...” Aurora murmured and, glancing sideways at her, she reported. “I sold you...”
