Morning didn't arrive gently. It shattered in..A loud bell rang through the air.
Sharp, and relentless. Newton's eyes snapped open. Samuel jolted upright beside him. The sound didn't stop. It echoed through the walls. Through their heads. Through everything.
Then, the blue screen appeared again.
SYSTEM NOTIFICATION.
ALL STUDENTS SHOULD BE AT THE ARENA IMMEDIATELY.
The message lingered. Then faded. Newton swung his legs off the bed. Samuel was already on his feet.
No words. They didn't need any. Whatever level two was, it had started.
The bell didn't stop. It rang again. And again: sharp. Metallic, and urgent.
Newton's eyes snapped open. For a second, he didn't move. His body stayed still, but his mind was already awake, already calculating. The sound wasn't just a wake-up call. It carried weight. Something about it pressed against his chest. Beside him, Samuel groaned and turned over.
Then the blue glow flickered faintly across the room.
SYSTEM NOTIFICATION.
The words faded as quickly as they appeared. Newton sat up.
Samuel followed, slower this time. "This doesn't feel like training," he muttered, rubbing his eyes.
Newton didn't answer. He was already on his feet. The door outside slid open almost at the same moment. Footsteps flooded the corridor. Fast. Urgent. No one dragging their feet.
Newton stepped toward the door and pulled it open. Students rushed past. All of them dressed. Fully prepared. No hesitation. No confusion.
Their movements were sharp, almost mechanical. Samuel leaned against the doorframe, blinking. "Why are they dressed like that already?"
Newton didn't respond. He just watched. Every single one of them wore the same black attire. Tight. Fitted. Built for speed. Built for killing.
A few of them glanced toward Newton and Samuel. Just a glance. Then they kept moving. No one stopped. No one spoke.
Newton shut the door quietly..Then he turned..The wardrobe stood at the corner of the room. He walked to it and pulled it open.
Black..That was all he saw. Rows of identical outfits. Clean. Folded. Waiting.
Samuel exhaled. "So this is how it is now."
Newton picked one. He didn't rush. He slipped into the attire piece by piece. Tightening every strap. Adjusting every edge. His fingers moved with quiet precision.
Samuel, on the other hand, struggled. "This thing, where does this even go?" he snapped, holding one of the straps awkwardly.
Newton glanced at him. Then shook his head slightly. "We don't have time." Samuel tried again. Failed again.
"Forget it, just."
Newton stepped in. "Stand still."
Samuel froze.
Newton's hands moved quickly. Efficient. He pulled the straps into place, tightened them, adjusted the shoulder guard, and fixed the waist wrap.
Samuel let out a breath. "You've done this before?" Newton didn't answer. He stepped back. Then reached for his sword.
The blade slid smoothly into place across his back. Samuel grabbed his own and did the same. For a brief second, they both stood there.
Ready.
Then, they ran. The corridor felt tighter now. The air was heavier.
The sound of footsteps echoed louder..When they reached the arena, It was already full.
Completely. Rows of students stood in formation.
Still, and silent.
Every single one of them dressed in black. Even the masters.
Newton slowed his steps. Samuel did the same..They walked into the crowd, blending in. No one spoke. Not even a whisper.
Then, a figure stepped forward.
Slow, and deliberate.
His face wasn't covered. Newton's eyes narrowed slightly. "There," someone whispered faintly behind them. "That's him."
Samuel tilted his head just enough. "Who?" "The supreme master." The words settled heavily. Newton watched him closely..The man didn't rush.
Every step carried authority, and control. He stopped at the center. Then lifted his gaze.
"Ninjas." The single word echoed across the arena. Not loud. But it carried. It reached everyone.
"We are gathered here right now to witness judgement on those who have disobeyed the system."
A shift, subtle, but real.
Newton felt it. The air changed. Samuel's jaw tightened slightly. The supreme master turned his head.
"Bring in the traitors."
For a moment, nothing happened..Then the crowd parted. Like water. Two figures were dragged forward.
Chains clinked against the ground. Rough. And uneven.
Newton's eyes followed them. A boy, and a girl.
Their feet dragged, their bodies were weak..The chains around their wrists and ankles rattled with every step.
The murmurs began. Low, and uneasy. "They are lovers!"
"What did they do?"
No one had an answer. They were dragged to the front. Then forced down. Their knees hit the hard floor.
The impact echoed faintly. The chains tightened. The girl shook. Her shoulders trembled uncontrollably.
Tears streamed down her face, but no sound came out. The boy lifted his head slowly. His breathing was uneven.
But his eyes, his eyes were steady. The supreme master looked down at them. "You are charged with gross disobedience to the system order."
Silence swallowed the arena. "What do you have to say about that?" The girl tried to speak. Her lips moved. Nothing came out. Her voice was gone. The boy inhaled slowly. Then spoke.
"The system ordered me to kill the only woman I have ever loved."
A ripple passed through the crowd. He swallowed. "I cannot obey that command."
The words didn't shake. Not once. The supreme master's expression didn't change.
But his jaw tightened. Just slightly. "The rule is clear." His voice remained calm.
Measured.
"The system is supreme. Disobedience to its order attracts death."
The girl broke..A quiet sob escaped her. The boy closed his eyes. For a second, just a second.
Then he opened them again. Clear, and certain. "I would rather die."
He paused.
His voice softened. "then live with the guilt of killing the woman I love."
Silence followed. It was heavy, and thick..It pressed against every chest in the arena..The supreme master nodded once.
Slow.
"I respect your will."
A pause.
Then. "You will both die." The words landed like a blade. Clean, and final.
The girl collapsed forward slightly..The chains pulled tight. The boy didn't move. The supreme master turned. His gaze swept across the students. "Who would take the honour?"
No one moved. Not a single step..Newton felt it again. That shift.
Fear, but not loud. Not visible.
But it was there. Everywhere.
Then, movement..From the right..A group stepped forward.
Gregory, and his boys. Among them was Maxwell.
Their hands rose. Calm, and willing.
The crowd reacted instantly. Gasps, and whispers.
Disbelief. Samuel's fingers tightened slightly at his side. Newton didn't look at him. He was watching Maxwell.
The supreme master observed them. Then pointed. "You."
Maxwell stepped forward. A smile curled across his lips. Not wide. Not forced. Just natural.
Like this meant nothing. He reached for his sword. The metal slid free. The sound cut through the silence. The boy on the ground lifted his head.
Slowly.
His eyes found Maxwell. Then, he laughed.
Dry, and broken. "Do you think your fate is different from mine?"
The words hung in the air. Maxwell didn't stop. He didn't react. "You will die," the boy continued.
His voice grew louder, and stronger. "You all will die just as we are about to." A ripple of discomfort moved through the crowd.
No one spoke. No one stopped him.."They will never let you go!" Now he was shouting..The chains rattled as he struggled slightly. "We are all experiments!"
The words cracked through the arena. "They will kill all of us!" For a moment, everything stood still.
Even Maxwell paused. Just for a breath.
Then, he moved. Fast, clean..His sword flashed. The boy's head dropped.
The sound was dull, and heavy. It hit the ground and rolled slightly..A gasp tore through the arena. Before it could settle, Maxwell swung again.
The girl didn't even lift her head. Her body went still as the blade cut through..Her head followed.
Silence stresses. Total, and absolute..No one breathed..No one moved. Samuel's chest rose slowly. Then fell.
Newton didn't blink. He just stared. At the bodies. At the blood. At Maxwell. The smile never left his face.
He turned slightly. As if nothing had happened. As if this was routine. Samuel shifted beside Newton. Just enough for their shoulders to brush.
They didn't speak. But the look passed between them.
Clear, heavy, and unavoidable.
And for the first time, Newton understood. Not in theory. Not in guess. But fully, and completely.
They weren't students. They weren't trainees. They weren't even soldiers. They were tools.
Controlled, observed, and used. Slaves to the system.