CHAPTER THIRTEEN - RESCUE SIMULATION 002
909 Words
The flames surged wildly through the room.
Curtains ignited.
Wooden beams caught fire.
The smoke thickened.
The rescue dummy disappeared behind the flames.
"No!"
Olivia desperately tried pulling the fire back.
It only grew stronger.
"I'm sorry..."
"I'm sorry!"
The alarms blared.
MISSION FAILURE.
Automatic barriers descended, sealing off the burning room.
The instructors rushed inside, extinguishing the magical flames.
Olivia stumbled out coughing.
Ash covered her uniform.
Her hands trembled.
The arena remained completely silent.
Professor Kael stared at her.
"You failed."
She lowered her head.
"...Yes, sir."
"You didn't lose because your fire was weak."
He stepped closer.
"You lost because you panicked."
She couldn't meet his eyes.
Around her, whispers began.
"It's happening again."
"She can't control it."
"She's dangerous."
Olivia felt every word like a knife.
Becca immediately walked over and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"Don't listen to them."
But Olivia barely heard her.
All she could think about was one thing.
What if they're right?
*OMAR*
Professor Kael's eyes swept across the class.
"Omar."
The murmurs began immediately.
"The Student Captain."
"This should be easy."
Omar walked calmly toward the entrance. He didn't stretch or prepare. He simply took one deep breath.
The whistle blew.
He stepped inside.
The building groaned violently as another support beam snapped.
Dust clouded his vision.
Then...
"Help!"
A rescue dummy was trapped beneath a massive concrete pillar.
Without hesitation, Omar crouched and placed both hands beneath the pillar.
Muscles tightened.
Veins bulged across his forearms.
With a roar, he lifted the enormous slab just high enough to slide the dummy free.
Instead of leaving immediately, Omar carefully lowered the concrete back into place.
He refused to let the building collapse further.
As he headed for the exit, another explosion echoed from the upper floor.
A second dummy.
The staircase had collapsed.
Most students would've turned back.
Omar didn't.
He punched straight through a cracked wall, creating a new path.
Minutes later, he emerged carrying one dummy over each shoulder.
The arena erupted in applause.
Professor Kael nodded.
"Power is most valuable when it protects."
Then he added,
"But remember, Omar... even the strongest person cannot save everyone alone."
Omar looked at the rescued dummies before replying quietly,
"Then I'll become strong enough that no one has to face danger alone."
The class fell silent.
*MIA*
"Mia."
She smirked as she stepped forward.
"This should be fun."
The whistle sounded.
She entered the building gracefully, barely breaking a sweat.
A burning corridor blocked her path.
She raised one elegant hand.
Ice spread across the walls like frost creeping over glass.
Within seconds, the raging flames were extinguished.
The room became safe enough to enter.
She found the first dummy quickly.
As she escorted it toward the exit, a collapsing ceiling threatened to crush them.
She froze the falling debris in midair, creating an icy bridge beneath it.
The students gasped.
She crossed safely.
Then...
She heard another cry.
Without hesitation, she sprinted deeper inside.
Moments later, she returned carrying the second dummy.
Not a single scratch marked either victim.
The crowd applauded.
Mia smiled proudly.
Professor Kael crossed his arms.
"Very impressive."
She grinned.
"I know."
The class laughed.
Then his expression became serious.
"But halfway through the rescue..."
"You looked toward the observation deck."
Mia frowned.
"So?"
"You were checking whether people were watching."
Silence.
"A hero who seeks applause..."
"...may one day choose glory over lives."
Mia's smile faded.
For the first time...
She had no witty response.
*OWEN*
"Owen."
The arena became unusually quiet.
He adjusted his glasses before walking toward the entrance.
Some students whispered.
"Let's see how the genius embarrasses himself this time."
Owen ignored them.
He stepped inside.
Instead of rushing, he observed.
His eyes darted across the room.
"Support beam fractured..."
"Left corridor unstable..."
"Roof collapse in approximately... twenty-two seconds."
Invisible telekinetic force lifted chunks of rubble out of his path.
He reached the first dummy.
Instead of carrying it, he gently levitated it beside him.
The students watched in amazement.
He rescued the first dummy without a problem.
Then he heard the second cry.
The only path was completely blocked.
He closed his eyes.
Every loose object in the room began floating.
Broken beams...
Bricks...
Steel pipes...
One by one he controlled them to move out of his way.
Owen was trembling in fear but he forced himself to calm down
"I can do this!"
"All I have to do is stay calm, cool, collected and calculative "
And then.....
It happened!
- Writer
