The room was dead silent, save for the relentless banging on the door. Each thud echoed like a war drum, shaking the frame and crawling up their spines.
Everyone's eyes locked on the door. Whatever was behind it, it wasn't human. And it wanted in.
The handsome boy took a step forward. Calm, composed, every movement dripping with confidence. The wind girl followed close behind, her gaze sharp.
"Don't…"
Marcus muttered, halting them in their tracks.
The boy turned slightly, voice cool and smooth.
"Why? What's behind that door?"
Marcus swallowed hard. His eyes flicked toward Kai, then back at the boy.
"I… if my calculations are right, then it's… it's another candidate."
"Huh, another candidate? Then why stop us?"
The wind girl asked, eyes narrowing from Marcus to his twin.
Marcus hesitated. Then he opened his mouth—but his brother beat him to it, slapping him on the back.
"Aw, are you scared, Marky? Something spook ya?"
The twin grinned like a devil, eyes dancing.
"Shut up," Marcus muttered. "If you'd seen what I saw in that room, you'd piss yourself."
Too late.
The grin widened.
"Oh my god! that's what it is, isn't it? I knew something smelled weird, but now that you mention it…"He pointed.
"The wet patch. You did piss yourself!"
He burst into laughter, doubling over.
The others tried to hold it in, but a few snickers slipped out. Even Kai smirked.
Marcus looked down. Horror dawned on his face as he noticed it for the first time. His face turned beet red. He dropped into a crouch, hands clumsily trying to cover the shame.
His brother wheezed with laughter.
"Marky had an accident!"
Kai was starting to understand what Marcus meant about his brother. And honestly he already started hating the guy.
The handsome boy resumed walking toward the door, calm as ever, like none of this mattered to him.
"Wait!" Marcus called out, voice cracking under pressure. "I'm telling you, he's going to be a problem for all of us!"
His thoughts spun in chaos. That man wasn't just dangerous. There was something off about him.
The way he stood there, calm in the face of carnage, like he'd been living in death's shadow his whole life.
The goblin corpses hadn't just been killed, they were mangled. Torn apart. Ripped limb from limb like toys.
And those eyes…
He'd never forget them.
The boy stopped again, slowly turning back with a raised brow.
"What are you suggesting? We just leave a candidate to die?"
"Die? Him?" Marcus scoffed, shaking his head. "I watched him rip a goblin in half with his bare hands. He stood on a pile of corpses like it was nothing. And his eyes... they weren't human. That man's already gone."
The handsome boy looked unconvinced, lips tight. Around the room, the rest of the group began to tune in.
Some sat huddled in corners, exhausted and dazed, just grateful to still be breathing. The stronger ones stood tense, quietly exchanging glances.
Something heavy hung in the air.
A decision was coming.
First, the wind girl stepped to one side of the door, calm and focused. In front of her, the fire girl mirrored her stance, both with arms raised, ready to strike.
The musket girl clicked her tongue in irritation and took the center position, barrel leveled at the door, finger resting on the trigger.
"Bunch of deadweights," she muttered, shaking her head. "Wasting real candidates' chances by just standing around. Tch."
Behind the handsome boy stood the shackle boy, the girl glued to him, and the Absolute Ruin guy, brave enough but not braver like those in front.
Bam. Bam. Bam.
The pounding on the door continued, each strike heavier than the last. Whatever was behind it, it wanted to be inside so bad.
The handsome boy turned his head, eyes landing on Kai. He glanced briefly at the weapons slung on him—Kurozakura, and the spear stolen from Grub.
Kai didn't move.
The boy shook his head, disappointment plain on his face, then turned back and resumed walking toward the door.
Marcus lowered his head, jaw clenched. He knew then this was a lost cause. No words would stop them now.
He looked to Kai for backup but Kai wasn't paying him any mind. His eyes were locked on the back of the handsome boy, glaring like he'd swallowed something sour.
The boy reached the door and stopped. His fingers brushed the wooden latch, pulling it aside.
Just then, the pounding on the door ceased.
Silence.
Then—
SHRIEEEEEEEEEK!
A howl ripped through the wood, inhuman, guttural, and sharp enough to pierce bone. The weaker candidates huddled in the corner began to shake.
The handsome boy narrowed his eyes.
"Goblins."
The wind girl nodded in agreement.
The fire girl stepped forward, tense.
"Open the door! We need to help him."
Without another word, the handsome boy yanked the double doors open.
Everyone braced for a fight.
But what met them wasn't chaos. It wasn't a desperate kid under attack.
It was him.
Just like Marcus said.
A towering figure, back facing them, covered in blood and muscle. And in his hands were a goblin, ripped clean in two like a ragdoll.
No screams. No panic.
Only slaughter.