In the dim and spacious hall, Hades stood on the second-tier podium, the cold and faint white light casting a reflective sheen on his helmet.
He lowered his gaze, looking down at the densely packed crowd in the hall below.
Behind him, shrouded in shadows, the Primarch stood with his arms crossed. The toxic fumes from the censer slowly sank, as he silently awaited Hades' address.
Originally, Mortarion had intended only a single round of selection, but Hades had chosen to add an additional layer of screening.
Mortarion held the report submitted by Hades and pondered for a moment.
"Very well."
At last, Mortarion put down the report and spoke slowly.
Following Hades' proposal, a temporary selection facility was erected.
It was a crude structure, vast in area, spread across the barren lands of Barbarus.
Inside, each room accommodated fifty individuals, equipped with basic sanitation facilities. However, those inside would not have direct access to water.
A specialized water supply system was in place, dispensing a limited amount of water at set intervals—once every hour.
Each room was also fitted with a lighting system, but it provided only the bare minimum illumination.
Beyond that, the rooms were completely barren—no furniture, nothing at all.
And such rooms filled the entire temporary structure.
Hades observed the recruits with an expressionless face. In the first trial, they had already proven their resilience.
But that was not enough.
He needed those who could endure the most extreme conditions, who would hold the line until the very end.
The time had come.
Hades raised the death knell in his hand and struck it down heavily.
BZZZZT—
A deep, resonant sound rippled through the hall in waves. The slight murmur of the crowd instantly fell into absolute silence.
The boys below were filled with fear, tension, and curiosity as they fixed their gaze upon Hades.
A servo-skull extended from just above Hades' left shoulder, its cold gaze sweeping across the assembly.
"I am the overseer of the second trial—Hades of the Death Guard," Hades announced, his introduction brief and direct.
"First, I sincerely congratulate you all for passing the first trial. You have proven yourselves to be resilient."
"Of course, I imagine you have already realized that the criteria for passing the first trial were not as publicly stated."
"Likewise, the standards for passing the second trial will also remain undisclosed."
Hades paused, his eyes scanning the varying expressions on the boys' faces—some bewildered, others unsurprised.
"But I can offer you a few hints."
He fell silent again, ensuring that every child's full attention was locked onto him before he continued.
"You are human."
This was Hades' first statement.
"If you pass the trial, you will become Death Guard. You will fight together for the sake of humanity."
"You must be resilient."
"Both inside and out."
The recruits strained their heads, ears pricked, desperately trying to glean any useful information from Hades' words.
Like a school of starving fish, their mouths hung open, waiting for Hades to throw them more scraps of information.
But Hades said no more.
"Now, begin your second trial."
<+>
Antaeus walked in silence among the crowd.
On his wrist, a bracelet flickered with the number 0077. He had heard that these bracelets were used to monitor their physical condition.
They had been numbered, divided into different groups, and then escorted by the towering Death Guard into their designated rooms.
The room was dim, prompting Antaeus to instinctively widen his eyes.
It was a vast and empty space, with a cement floor and a simple toilet situated in one corner.
In the center of the room lay a pile of something. Under the faint glow of the weak lighting, Antaeus recognized it—it was a pile of food.
Around the food pile, a dozen small knives were neatly arranged in a circle. The sharp blades gleamed coldly in the dim light, all pointed directly at the food.
Antaeus swallowed instinctively.
Drip... drip...
A faint sound of water echoed through the room.
Focusing his gaze, he spotted a thin pipe emerging from the wall in another corner, releasing droplets of water one by one.
The Death Guard who had led them into the room signaled for them to stand against the wall. They were to remain in place until the indicator light turned on.
When the first light flashed, the trial would begin. When the second light flashed, the trial would end.
Antaeus fixed his eyes on the food pile and the knives. A creeping sense of unease began to form in his mind.
The others seemed to realize the same thing. As the Death Guard arranged them against the wall, the children began shoving and jostling, trying to get closer to the food.
A minor commotion arose, but the Death Guard did nothing to intervene.
Antaeus swallowed again. The tension of the crowd pulled him into action—he, too, tried to inch closer to the food. Perhaps because the others knew he was one of the only two who had climbed to the mountaintop, no one dared to push him. He managed to secure a central position without resistance.
Once the children were in place, the Death Guard turned and left without a word.
Screeeech—clang—
The iron door shut behind them, sealing them off from the outside world.
Antaeus focused his gaze—then he saw it.
He saw it.
And in that moment, his unease and dread surged to their peak.
There was a rectangular hatch built into the iron door.
The size and height of the hatch were just right—just right for someone to be passed through while lying down.
But whoever was passed through… would most likely not be alive.
"Hey!"
A low voice hissed near his ear. Antaeus whipped around to see Io's face.
"We're in the same group—all four of us."
Io gave him a quick wink.
"And the other two?"
Antaeus scanned the crowd but couldn't spot them near the center.
"I told Lerna to take Bast to the water source."
Io whispered close to his ear, ensuring no one else overheard.
"Let's team up. I think I know what's going on."
Antaeus turned his head slightly, his eyes darkening as he stared at the food pile.
"We going for the knives?"
Io nodded.
"I think I have an idea of what that overseer wants us to do."
"But I need to count that pile of food first to confirm my guess."
"Either way, grabbing the knives is the right move."
Io clapped a hand on Antaeus' shoulder.
"Help me keep them in check."
"Me?"
Antaeus stared at him in disbelief, but Io's light blue eyes were sharp and unwavering.
"We all know you climbed the mountaintop. That status will be useful."
"While people still fear or respect you, use it as much as you can."
Io spoke quickly and quietly. Antaeus wanted to argue, but he sensed the indicator light was about to flash.
In the end, he only gave Io a complicated look—then he prepared to sprint.
<+>
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