When I next awake I’m lying down on a hard surface. It’s too dark for me to see anything, but from the noises around me I can tell I’m with the people from the caravan. Some are screaming profanities while others sob their hearts out.

As I listen closely I can also hear a strange squelching sound. It doesn’t sound too far away from us. I choose to ignore the noises and focus on finding out where I am. It’s a dark environment and slightly damp. The humidity is also high here similar to an enclosed space. I’m also with the mercenaries. There’s only one place I can be in… the troll’s nest.

“We’re all doomed! Doomed! Doomed! Doomed!”

Various voices repeat the man’s words spreading despair to the other captives. I don’t blame him. Trolls are known to eat human flesh. The only reason we’re still alive is because we’re probably just a food supply for the trolls. The revelation nearly causes me to lose hope. It’s only when I realize that I came here from my mental space that I calm down a bit. If I die here I probably won’t die in real life right?

Heavy footsteps abruptly appear announcing the arrival of a troll. The captives all go silent as if to hide themselves from the malice of the troll. I feel the movement of the captives since we are all so tightly packed. One of the captives suddenly begins to yell as they are taken by the troll. The swift sound of something cracking followed by silence terrifies the captives. None of them dare to scream out though.

I resolve myself to escape this place and save these captives. Someone has to do it. I’ll dedicate one hundred percent of my mind towards finding a way out of here!

Every few days or so another person is taken. We originally had 30 people, but now we’re down to seventeen. I don’t know how long it will take before we’re all eaten. I had gotten used to the companionship of one of the merchant’s daughters before she was taken away just yesterday.

She told me stories about the various kingdoms in this world. Tales of heroes and damsels in distress. She seemed the most optimistic in this situation. The look in her eyes as she was taken away only served to further solidify my determination to leave this place and save the captives.

The trolls finally arrive once again. They’ve been taking us more frequently. Around one person a day by now. My eyes have adjusted to the darkness by now so I can see their ugly appearances in full.

The troll reaches towards the group of captives and grabs me. Yes. Just according to plan. As I’m pulled along by the troll I make sure to observe my surroundings. Every possible escape route. Every method I can think of to get out of here.

As we go deeper into the tunnels I hear the squelching sound grow louder. I can also faintly hear the sounds of the trolls grunting. The noises reach their peak when I pass by a room filled with trolls. They seem to be moving with quite the vigor in the room. As I look closer I notice under the trolls are… the woman of the caravan?!

My blood runs cold. No it can’t be. My mind tries to think of any other reason. Any possible reason for why the trolls put themselves and the girls in the same room, but I can’t think of anything other than that. As I take one last look inside the room, I can see the blank face of the merchant’s daughter as she lets the troll consume her. I can do nothing, but silently weep for the women.

The troll takes me deeper and deeper until we finally arrive in a chamber. As I step inside I notice something sharp poke the bottoms of my feet. When I look down I see countless bones strewn about. They nearly cover the floor. My stomach lurches as I realize how many have been killed down in this accursed cave.

A platform made of stone lies in the center of the chamber. Various trolls stand around it. The largest troll I saw from before stands at the end opposite to me. On the platform lies the captives I saw from before. Many of them have broken limbs and are missing chunks of flesh from their bodies. The earliest ones taken have already died while the most recent still scream in anguish.

I realize it’s now or never. I bring forth all the strength I have in my body and kick the shin of the troll. It barely damages it, but causes enough pain for it to release me from its grasp. I bolt out of the room listening to the cacophony of roars echoing from it.

I’ve got to escape! As long as I escape I can get help for the captives here. I push my legs to their limits as I run down the long tunnels of the cave. Every footstep and every grunt alerts me to the presence of trolls. I manage to hide and dodge from my pursuers for an extensive amount of time, but it’s taking a toll on my stamina. I don’t know how long I can keep this up.

I’ve finally reached a dead-end as the trolls converge to my position. This is really it huh? I wish I could do more, but my legs already gave out a long time ago. Heh. If Ellen saw me like this she would probably say I’m being a wimp. I wonder how Mom’s doing back at home. Ah. I forgot to send her some money back. Maybe I’ll do that when I get back home.

One of the trolls stands above me. It lifts up its club before swinging down with the full might of its strength. I can only watch resigned to my fate.

I feel calm. Abnormally calm. I would expect myself to feel slightly regretful, yet all I do is stare blankly at the oncoming club. Suddenly a face pops up in my mind. The words they said ring through my head. My body heats up in agitation. All my feelings bubble inside me until they're released through my shout.

“I WANT TO LIVE!”

For some reason my body moves on its own. My arm moves to grab the club. I can’t stop it for even a second and my arm snaps in half. It’s just enough though as the club hits the wall right next to my head.

I jump up and bite the nose of the troll. It thrashes about and throws punches at my vulnerable self. I pay no mind to my injuries even as I feel one of my ribs pierce my lungs.

The other trolls stand shocked at my ferocious display. Amidst them the troll leader suddenly roars. The rest of the trolls lose their confusion and charge towards me. At the same time, the troll throws me off of its face ripping off part of its nose in the process. Green blood splatters the ground. Clumps of flesh cling to my teeth.

The surrounding trolls come ever closer to me. I really have no strength this time. I laugh at the approaching trolls. I couldn’t have survived this time. I guess my luck just ran out. I close my eyes awaiting my fate.

“You really survived this long kid?” I open my eyes to see the giant beast from before laying down not too far from me. It’s tongue pops out of its mouth from time to time. It lazily eyes my figure as it draws circles on the ground.

“Most would have given up from the mental stress alone.”

“Wh- Wha- What just happened? What did you do to me? Was that a dream? How long was I out for?”

“Calm down bud. Give me some time to answer before you ask anymore. First of all that was not a dream, but a memory. It’s the memory fragment of a young mercenary and the time right before his death. I tweaked some of the memory though to give you a better experience.”

“Secondly, you’ve been living that life for about a week, but a day has passed outside. Time works differently in a mental space as you know, but it is even further dilated when one goes deeper into a mental space.”

“Last of all, this was supposed to make you stronger.”

“How did that make me stronger? All it taught me was that I’m not strong enough. I couldn’t save those captives and in the end I couldn’t save myself.”

“Stop beating yourself up about that. Those people are already long dead. You don’t have to worry about that. And don’t question me boy. When I say you’re stronger, then you’re definitely stronger!”

“I just have one last question.”

“Since you’ve entertained me this long, sure I’ll give you the right to ask me one last thing.”

“Ok. Why did you make me stronger. Was it because of Bronya?”

“Eh? I just felt bored since I’ve been stuck here for god knows how long. Also. Who the hell’s Bronya?”

“She’s the person who-“ I quickly stop myself. How could Gene God not know Bronya if she was the one who sent me here? His reaction didn’t seem fake. Does he truly not know Bronya?

“Erm. Mr. Gene God. Do you know why I was sent here?”

“Weren’t you just some unlucky whelp who landed in my abode? Did you come here on purpose? Looks like you’re trying to steal my techniques.” Gene God snorts. He gets up from his position and puts his head down in front of me. His snake head intimidatingly glares at me. I feel like he’s about to swallow me whole.

Before anything further happens I am suddenly pulled out of my mental space by something. As I open my eyes I see Phoebe dressed in her male clothes trying to wake me up.

While getting up I notice something hard lying underneath me. I check to see what’s under me and find a familiar looking crystal. Isn’t this the Experience Fragment? But that was in my mental space!

“Cayden! Cayden! They’re announcing the top rankings of the candidates this year!” She points to the screen placed in the center of our room. On display is a podium with principal Bishop standing on it.

“Hello young students! I would like to congratulate you all for reaching this far and becoming the pride of your generation by allowing Bloody Springs to take all of you in as budding talents of the federation. I would like to inform you all that in the top ten rankings for the trials, five have already been taken due to meritorious actions done during the trials.”

“I will now announce the names on the rankings. In the top spot is Philip!” An image of Phil is presented on a screen above the principal. The crowd cheers upon seeing his image. A majority of the crowd chants the name Sword Dominator nearly drowning the stage with noise.

The principal goes down the list of candidates. On it is Shay and Phoebe who I already know. Malin of the duo is up there too, but I don’t see the other guy with her. The earth-user from before is named Cordin. Surprisingly Connor got up there! How did he work his way into the top rankings?

The next one is this guy named Ekelbahn. I’ll call him Ekel for short. He seems to be part of a church from the attire he wears. His appearance seems pleasant on the surface, but for some reason I feel like he’s an untrustworthy guy.

After that is a girl named Saffron. She looks like a troll herself! Her face is all scrunched up and dented like it was hit with a pot. Her nose looks bent out of shape. There’s even a scar running across her cheek. I feel pressured just looking at her.

The image that next appears on the screen nearly causes me to jump up in shock. It’s the head of a crocodile! Large jaws. Jagged teeth. A long, narrow snout. Sleek scales covering its skin. It’s quite intimidating. The rest of the candidates also seem shocked by the image displayed on the screen.

“This candidate is a bit of a special one. Do take mind to not have a negative opinion about him though. He’s part of the rare Molded Hybrid population. Bloody Springs accepts all who wish to fight for the federation! Let’s all give applause to Pako!” The crowd gives a half-hearted response to the principal’s words.

“The final candidate is the crown prince of the Blood Forged Dominion. He’s a special ambassador between them and our Diamond Truth Federation. His talents in battle are known throughout both lands, but what he is truly gifted in is his administration capabilities. Give it up for Chrysaor!”

I can’t help but feel something’s wrong. “Hey Phoebe. Why is the principal acting like a door-to-door salesman?”

“This presentation isn’t just for the candidates. The World Rangers are watching this too.” Her words give me the biggest shock of today.

“World Rangers are watching this?”

“Of course. How else are they going to pick who to teach? It’s not like the folktales where an expert can find a student just by looking at them. They’ve probably checked the backgrounds and information about the top candidates already.”

“That is all I have to announce today. Your belongings are being moved to your new dorms currently. ID cards will be handed out later as well. I just have one thing to say to all of you.” The principal’s eyes shine brilliantly. His figure looks the same, but it seems as if he’s grown into a giant. A smile more befitting of a maniac is plastered over his face.

“Welcome to Bloody Springs. The land of the strong!”

The hall is enveloped in silence before many hands begin to clap. People holler and whistle. The applause reaches all the way to my room. I can’t help but grin at the sounds of them cheering. The students of Bloody Springs have finally made their entrance!