Code Collector

Huff. Puff.

Allen fell to the ground after seven long grueling hours of tests. The healers were able to recover his energy and his physical state, but not his brain energy. He was drained mentally in short.

"Congratulations," Jax said with a smile. He checked the last box in his clipboard before bowing. "You have completed all the tests. You may now return to your unit and wait for the last round. Thank you for your cooperation."

Allen bowed at Jax in gratefulness. The man was unlike his brother or his uncle. While Jake and Jack shared the similar traits of being wild and outspoken, Jax was different. He was calm and proper, only speaking the right words without saying any unnecessary words.

The man returned the place into the testing hall from the green grass fields. Allen was still amazed by that ability but he was too shy to ask if it was a Code or just technology in the building.

After he had rested for a couple of minutes, he left the testing hall to see his friends waiting for him. He smiled at them while they returned the smile.

"Did you pass the test?" Jeremy asked. 

Allen was baffled for a moment. He turned around to see the door of the hall and then towards his friends. "I didn't get to know my result. They didn't say it. They only checked the clipboard every after test."

"Check the clipboard?" Gwen pursed her lips. "I could swear that they should tell you the result of your test. I asked one of the Hunters here and they would reveal your score after."

Allen only shrugged. "I don't care. I have a plan in mind anyway."

"Right," Gwen said slowly. "But are you really going to stick with your plan? You know being D rank is hard, right?"

"I will create a legend," Allen smirked. "And show them that not all people under them are weak."

–

For the remainder of his stay, Allen wasn't allowed to exit the camp nor return to Haven. He was allowed to go to places inside the camp in Paradise, but not outside. It was a rule so that the Hunters who are yet to get their ranks would be present when their ranks are revealed.

But Allen was a boy who couldn't just roam around and do nothing. The instincts of the Snake that was imbedded in his body was always kicking in, making him feel adrenaline rush at random times.

His friends knew about this so they tend to help him relieve the pressure by going to the gym. They were staying in a luxurious building, and there was a private gym available for them.

Allen stood in the middle of the gym's hallway and was taking a deep breath when Gwen appeared beside him. The woman wears a wide grin as she whipped her sword at the boy.

"Gotcha!" Gwen cheered. Right when she slashed her sword, Allen vanished from her sights. She landed on the ground, looking around only to feel a spike of pressure behind her. "What the–"

"Reverse kill," Allen chuckled. He used the pommel of his Twilight Dagger and slammed it right on Gwen's stomach. The woman's eyes widened in shock afte receiving the heavy blow.

She couldn't believe it and she couldn't recover in time for Allen to damage her once more. The boy raised his sword and slammed the pommel on her shoulder, throwing her to the side where she was about to clash with a wall.

Zoom.

Gary appeared right before Gwen's body hit the wall. The man caught the woman in a split second, making them both groan with the impact.

"Allen, you didn't need to be so harsh," Jeremy said. "You could've injured her badly."

"She can heal herself," Allen said with a smile. "She's a good healer after all."

Jeremy shook his head and smiled. "Well then, let's see if I can keep up with you too."

The man twirled his Emerald Spear on his hands. The crystal weapon glowed under the bright florescent light of the gym's hall. It was a beautiful weapon, worthy of all the praises it can get.

"It seems like I have to match you," Allen grinned, summoning the diamond sword. They have the same calibre of weapons, but the only way to determine the stronger one was through battle.

"Hiya!" Allen yelled and dashed first. He leaped up to swing his sword but Jeremy replied with a smirk and a step to the side. Allen crashed his sword on the floor, creating a huge crater on it. He wasn't going in full strength but he was already able to do this much.

"A weapon with this much damage isn't to be messed with, huh?" Allen chuckled and swung his sword again, Jeremy still dodging it all. "Why do you keep on running? Face me, Jeremy. You have to fight me."

"I'm just warming up," Jeremy said with a smirk. He held his spear with both his hands to block the sword that Allen swung from above him. He was raising his hands as they trembled from the force of Allen's attack. "You really are strong."

They clashed their weapons with each other, perfectly synching with the moment as they continued to create sparks with their blades. They were weilding weapons that were equal to the Primordial Beast Code in their world, meaning that they have so much potential.

"You know," Allen said. "If we die today and meet in the next life, would I still be your friend?"

"Of course," Jeremy said with a grin. "I'll always be your friend, in this life and the next."

"Good," Allen smiled then suddenly vanished. He reappeared behind Jeremy and was about to do the same thing he did to Gwen. He retreated his sword and pointed the pommel on Jeremy's back. "Because I'm going to do this–"

Allen was a second away from hitting Jeremy when they heard strings being played. The instrument was not a guitar, but it still uses strings as its main source of sound.

"What is that?" Gary asked as he carried Gwen towards Allen and Jeremy. "This sound feels odd and creepy."

"Stand back," Allen said. "There's something wrong about this music."

The string istrument continued to play with a mellow but slightly peculiar sound. The group of friends were looking at each other in worry, thinking that someone was going to attack them.

"The orange leaves fell as the temperature drops below zero," a beautiful female voice sang. "As the cold winds blow and the trees fell asleep, you came to me."

The voice seemed to be singing with the string instrument. She was beautifully speaking the words, describing a scene as the gym hall's surroundings became disoriented.

"What is happening?" Gwen asked. "Why did it suddenly become cold?"

"A beautiful forest filled with gorgeous trees," the woman sang. "I was in the middle of it."

The space around them slowly became more and more distorted. Allen didn't want to panick, but he was gettint scared. Never has he seen something like this before.

"My feet was drenched in water as the lake overflowed all night long."

Water started leaking out of the floor and the scenery became clearer. They were in the middle of a forest, the trees had white trunks and brown to orange leaves. The ground was filled with water and the air was heavily covered with mist.

"Who are you and what is this?" Allen asked, but nobody answered. "Hello?"

Out of nowhere, an arrow was shot in their direction. Allen's reflexes made him move and his instincts made him slash his sword forward, blocking the arrow before it could hurt them.

"What in the hell is that?" Jeremy gasped. "An arrow. But we're in a private gym. Who could attack us?"

More arrows started to shoot towards them, so the three of them formed a triangle around Gwen and blocked the arrows. After each arrow was blocked, it would fall to the ground and get swallowed by the clear water to the soil and vanish.

Allen was still thinking who could be behind this but he was in a cornered thought. He had nobody in mind.

After the second round of arrows was finished, the group had the time to breath.

"Finally," Allen groaned. "Now what?"

The strings played again and the woman continued with her song, "The rain that was heavy, it was accompanied with blood."

"Don't tell me it's gonna rain blood!" Jeremy grunted. "I hate blood."

The woman finished and the guitar had ended, but the three didn't lower their guard. Gwen recovered from the damage she took from Allen and was now restoring her friends' energy. She was also providing them buff so she could at least help them.

A slow clapping sounded from nearby. Allen looked at who it was and saw a woman in a Japanese traditional clothing. "Congratulations." The woman smiled. "You have passed the third and final test. You may now know your ranks based on the email that has been sent to your phones."