MIGHT AS WELL BE OP

When Anthony opened his eyes again, he found himself back in his previous location.

But something had shifted.

A heavy, metallic scent of blood assaulted his senses, so potent it felt as if he could taste it in the air.

The floor had been transformed, now a grotesque canvas, painted in a myriad of bloodstains pooling together.

Screams rent the air like the sharpest of blades, a symphony of anguish that echoed through the space.

The acrid stench of burnt flesh hung on the breeze, suffocating the atmosphere.

Scattered across the ground, bodies lay in twisted positions, limbs severed, and parts of their forms missing altogether.

Some of the recruits had already lost consciousness, unable to withstand the unbearable pain any longer the moment they arrived.

The heavy sound of panting filled the air, as chests rose and fell with frantic urgency, struggling to draw in the precious air their exhausted bodies craved.

Chaos clung to every one of them.

Anthony observed it all with a detached, almost clinical gaze.

There were others who, like him, stood tall amidst the turmoil.

But their bodies bore the marks of battle, numerous injuries marring their forms, their breathing labored, strained.

He was the only one who seemed untouched, unscathed by the torment that surrounded them.

He was the only one who remained unbothered, as if the chaos itself had no claim on him.

'We didn't have the same curse after all'

Anthony mused inwardly, his ears filled with the agonized screams of the recruits.

The healers sprang into action the moment the recruits materialized, their movements swift and practiced.

Healing energy radiated outward, flooding the air with a soothing, restorative aura.

Water essence coalesced, forming delicate cocoons that encased the suffering recruits, offering a reprieve from their pain.

The torment dulled, the relentless agony easing away.

Limbs regrew, bones snapped back into alignment with an unsettling precision.

Muscles were knit together, veins and arteries seamlessly realigned, the body mending as though it were never broken.

Even teeth that had been shattered regrew, pristine and whole.

Exhaustion vanished in an instant, stamina surging back into their weary limbs.

Vitality flooded through their veins, revitalizing them, restoring them to their prime.

A healer approached Anthony, offering to tend to his injuries.

However, Anthony simply declined, his tone unbothered.

There was no need for healing, he had neither been injured nor even touched during the battle.

The healer nodded in understanding, offering no further insistence, and moved on to attend to other recruits.

The only thing that remained beyond their reach was the recovery of mana, a task the recruits would have to undertake on their own.

Yet, this concern was almost negligible, as their mana had been drawn from D+ rank reserves to begin with, sufficient but not infinite.

Soothing spells were cast over those whose minds were fraying, gently calming the recruits.

These spells acted as a balm for their mental turmoil, preventing them from succumbing to despair, thus ensuring they wouldn't spiral into further decline.

Anthony continued to observe in silence.

The once staggering number of recruits had diminished, leaving only two thousand standing.

'Did they die?'

The thought flickered briefly through Anthony's mind, but he dismissed it just as quickly, he simply didn't care enough to dwell on it.

Once the healers had completed their work, they departed without a word, their silence punctuating the finality of their task.

Even those who had lost consciousness earlier regained their awareness, revived by the remarkable power of the healing spells.

Then, with a serene grace, Corporal Daniel floated into view, standing before the recruits.

"Congratulations to all of you"

Corporal Daniel's voice rang out casually as he looked down upon the recruits.

"You've all passed the first trial. Anyone you don't see here has been eliminated"

His words were a stark reminder of the harsh reality they had endured.

'So, those of us still standing were teleported when the time ended, and the others… they either destroyed their restriction bracelets or perished'

Anthony thought, absorbing Corporal Daniel's announcement.

"But don't get too excited"

Daniel continued, his tone remaining nonchalant.

"The next and final test is just around the corner. Until you succeed in that, you're no more than a step away from the door"

The weight of his words hung in the air.

"The next trial will be held tomorrow. You'll be informed when the time arrives. For now, you may remove the restrictions on your bracelets"

As Corporal Daniel's words settled over the recruits, a collective flicker of movement stirred through the crowd.

Hands reached instinctively to the bracelets, and the oppressive weight of the restrictions evaporated.

Power surged back into their bodies.

The force that had suppressed their mana vanished, and their reserves flooded through them, invigorating their very beings.

Some clenched their fists, feeling the rush of newfound physical strength.

Waves of power rippled across the field, palpable and electric, as the recruits embraced the return of their abilities.

Smiles blossomed on their faces, radiant and filled with pride.

This was the strength they had fought for, the power they had struggled and bled to attain.

And they relished every bit of it.

Anthony observed quietly as the curses that had been placed upon him vanished in an instant, lifting the weight that had clung to him.

"You may return to your rooms now"

Corporal Daniel announced, his voice still carrying that same casual tone.

With those words, the corporal simply took to the air, his figure quickly disappearing into the distance.

'Why does it feel like this guy is always trying to avoid being asked any questions?'

Anthony thought, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips as he watched Daniel soar away.

Shaking his head, Anthony turned and made his way toward the building.

However, instead of heading to his room, he veered toward the cafeteria.

He wasn't alone in his decision.

A sizable number of recruits had gathered there as well.

The recruits gathered in the cafeteria, but it was clear that eating wasn't their primary focus.

The air was thick with tension as they discussed their grueling experiences during the trial.

"Damn. The military really threw us into the Abyss with the first test"

One of them muttered, his voice tinged with frustration.

"I didn't see that coming. I knew we were going to fight something, but a demon right at the beginning? And an endless wave of them, at that?"

Another added, shaking their head in disbelief.

"Is that what you're worried about?"

A third voice chimed in, more cynical.

"I'm dreading whatever deathtrap they're going to throw at us tomorrow"

"Do you think they'll curse us again?"

Someone asked, their tone laced with a hint of fear.

"I suddenly lost ten percent of my reaction speed at the tenth minute mark. Nearly died because of it"

Another recruit remarked, looking visibly shaken by the close call.

Anthony sat silently in the corner, sipping from a drink he had taken from the fridge.

He didn't offer any words of comfort or response.

Instead, he observed the recruits around him as they vented their frustrations and anxieties.

He could feel their eyes on him.

Some of them were no doubt curious, perhaps even intimidated by his calm demeanor.

Yet he made no effort to engage with them.

He had no interest in speaking, and less in forming connections.

Friends were not a priority.

_______________

Colonel Vazeryth sat comfortably in his office, a satisfied grin playing across his face.

He had been watching the battle between Anthony and the demon unfold.

The test had been deliberate, he had chosen to release an S+ rank demon with spatial affinity to see how Anthony would fare.

It wasn't a decision made lightly, but it was one he had made on his own.

His curiosity had driven him to push Anthony to the limit.

And Anthony had risen to the challenge.

The Colonel knew that even if Anthony had been defeated by the peak S rank demon, Anthony had already done the impossible by completing the original trial before it even ended.

And that, in itself, was extremely impressive.

'I'm curious to see how tomorrow's trial will go'

Vazeryth smiled.

'It's relatively easier, in a way… but there's still plenty of potential for surprises'

The dragon closed his eyes, letting his thoughts drift.