Level Zero

The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows over the towering iron gates of Argent Academy. The academy was more than just a school; it was an institution where only the exceptional thrived, and the weak were weeded out. Its white marble walls gleamed with an unsettling purity, hiding the blood and tears of those who had fallen trying to climb its treacherous hierarchy. The first day of exams loomed, and hundreds of students were scattered around the academy's courtyard, their voices a mixture of anxious chatter and hushed whispers. Every student knew the drill: your prowess, your intellect, and your very survival would be tested. Beyond the mundane curriculum of most schools, Argent Academy offered an unforgiving crucible of combat trials, psychological games, and written tests—all of which could lead to one’s demise. At the far corner of the courtyard, a group of students from Class 10-E gathered in a loose circle. They were the weakest rank, relegated to E-class—a death sentence to most. Among them was Rai Katsuro, a quiet, unassuming figure leaning against the cold stone wall. His sharp black eyes surveyed the scene around him, observing but never engaging. Despite his unremarkable appearance, there was something unnerving about Rai. His presence was paradoxical: forgettable, yet palpable. Maiya Nishimura, a fellow student, shot him a glance, her face twisted with uncertainty. She had heard rumors about him—that he was brilliant beyond comprehension, yet showed no ambition. To her, it didn’t make sense. "Rai, do you ever get nervous?" she asked, trying to mask her own anxiety. Her hands trembled slightly as she clutched the academy handbook, worn and creased from excessive use. Without turning from his gaze from the bustling crowd, Rai answered, his voice cold an detached. "Nervousness is irrelevant. Whether you win or lose, the outcome is the same." Maiya frowned, confused. "The same?" Rai finally turned to her, his eyes void of any warmth. "We all end up at the bottom. Some just fall faster than others." Before Maiya could respond, a loud, bone-chilling gong echoed through the courtyard. The exams were about to begin. [The First Trial: The Labyrinth of Shadows] The students filed into the grand Colosseum, where their first test awaited. Argent Academy spared no time on pleasantries; survival was their only concern. The head instructor, Daichi Ishikawa, stood on an elevated platform, his silver hair and sharp features giving him an air of authority that commanded instant respect. He wore the insignia of Class 1-A, the elite of the elite, a reminder to everyone that he had survived this gauntlet long ago. "Welcome, students," Daichi’s voice boomed across the Colosseum, "to your first exam. Today, you will face the Labyrinth of Shadows. Only the strong will emerge. Those who fail, well…" He smirked, allowing the ominous silence to fill in the gap. The walls around the students began to shift and crumble, revealing a sprawling labyrinth beneath the ground, shrouded in darkness. The objective was simple: escape within the time limit. However, the labyrinth was filled with traps—both mental and physical—and shadow creatures that thrived on fear. Maiya shuddered, clutching her amulet for protection. "This is insane," she whispered to Rai, who remained unfazed. "We’ll die in there." "Not all of us," Rai replied, his voice as calm as ever. As the gates to the labyrinth opened, students poured in. Some sprinted ahead, desperate to prove their worth. Others, like Maiya, hesitated, caught between the fear of failure and the fear of death. Rai moved with deliberate slowness, slipping into the shadows of the entrance. As the darkness enveloped him, his expression remained unchanged, his mind already calculating the best route. He wasn’t interested in being the first to emerge, but he had no intention of dying either. [Inside the Labyrinth] The air inside the labyrinth was thick with tension. The only sounds were the distant screams of students falling victim to traps or being devoured by shadow creatures. Flickering torches lined the stone walls, casting eerie shadows that danced across the floor, making it difficult to discern illusion from reality. "Rai!" Maiya's voice broke through the silence, her footsteps hurried as she caught up to him. She was breathing heavily, her eyes wide with fear. "Do you have a plan?" Rai stopped and regarded her coldly. "Don’t get in my way." Maiya’s face flushed with anger and fear. "I just—" Suddenly, the ground beneath them shifted, and a hidden spike trap sprang from the floor. Without hesitation, Rai grabbed Maiya by the wrist and pulled her out of harm’s way. She stumbled, falling against his chest, her breath catching. "You...you saved me," she stammered, her heart pounding. Rai let go of her wrist, his expression unreadable. "I saved myself. You were just in the way." They continued through the maze in silence, Maiya trailing behind Rai, unsure whether to thank him or fear him. As they ventured deeper, the labyrinth began to twist, reality itself warping. The walls pulsed with a strange energy, and the air grew thick with a sense of impending dread. Without warning, a shadow creature emerged from the darkness, its amorphous form shifting and undulating, eyes glowing a deep crimson. It lunged at them with a feral scream. Maiya froze, fear rooting her in place. Rai, however, moved with unnatural speed. With a single fluid motion, he drew a concealed blade from his sleeve, slicing through the creature before it could land a blow. The shadow disintegrated into wisps of smoke, vanishing into the ether. Maiya stared in awe. "How did you…?" Rai sheathed his blade, his expression as stoic as ever. "Keep moving." [End of Chapter 1] As they neared the exit of the labyrinth, Rai's mind was elsewhere. He had navigated the trial with ease, but his eyes flickered to a dark corridor, one that seemed to beckon him with something more sinister. Beyond the simple trials of strength and intellect, there was something deeper at play in Argent Academy—something hidden in the shadows of Level Zero. For now, he would remain in the background, content to watch as the others scrambled for power. But soon enough, the academy's secrets would demand his attention. And when they did, Rai Katsuro would be ready to claim what was his—without anyone ever seeing him coming.