HSBA Delta Branch: Where Paths Cross Again - CHAPTER 12

[HSBA Delta Training Camp Branch — Main Training Grounds | 9:13 A.M.]

The countdown ended.

The atmosphere shifted instantly.

No speeches.

No warnings.

No dramatic announcements.

Only action.

Across the enormous training grounds—

Dozens of instructors immediately moved into position.

Large secured equipment cases were opened simultaneously.

CLICK.

Inside—

Rows upon rows of black HSBA biometric blindfolds rested neatly in organized compartments.

Each one equipped with pulse sensors.

Fear-response monitors.

Neural stress trackers.

Biometric verification systems.

And once activated—

Unauthorized removal would trigger immediate ocular pain responses through the safety lock system.

A reminder every trainee already knew.

Nobody dared remove one without permission.

“Begin distribution.”

Instructor Faye’s voice echoed across the grounds.

Immediately—

The assigned instructors moved.

Instructor William.

Instructor Khione.

Instructor Zeirah.

Instructor Hajime.

Instructor Renesmee.

Instructor Deia.

Instructor Hazel.

Instructor Abigail.

Instructor Maeve.

Instructor Sharmaine.

And dozens more.

One by one—

Blindfolds were handed out.

“Both hands.”

“Confirm trainee identification.”

“Stand still.”

“Do not activate until instructed.”

The trainees obeyed immediately.

The tension only grew.

Nearby—

Instructor Morixette supervised one line while Instructor Vanessa assisted.

Instructor Karylle fastened another trainee’s blindfold carefully.

Instructor Lauren checked sensor alignment.

Instructor Maureen verified activation readings.

Instructor Shayne monitored biometric synchronization.

Instructor Zhandrieu handled final verification.

Everything proceeded smoothly.

Then—

“Blindfolds on.”

THUMP.

One hundred thirty-seven trainees immediately obeyed.

Black fabric covered their eyes.

Darkness.

Total darkness.

One after another—

The instructors stepped forward and secured the straps properly.

CLICK.

Sensor lights glowed blue briefly.

Then stabilized.

Pulse readings appeared on nearby monitoring tablets.

Fear indexes.

Stress responses.

Heart rates.

All visible.

All recorded.

Across the grounds—

The remaining trainees stood motionless beneath their blindfolds.

Waiting.

Listening.

Breathing.

Unknown to them—

Several figures were already being quietly removed.

Instructor Yanzhi frowned beneath her blindfold.

“…Huh?”

A hand gently touched her shoulder.

“Follow me.”

She blinked.

“…Now?”

No answer.

Only a calm voice.

“Follow.”

Nearby—

Instructor Flint was receiving identical instructions.

Then Instructor Justin.

All three still wearing trainee uniforms.

All three equally confused.

Because as far as they knew—

They were still supposed to maintain their cover.

Continue blending in.

Continue acting like trainees.

Yet now—

They were being pulled away.

Quietly.

Without explanation.

Without announcement.

Without anyone noticing.

And because every other trainee was blindfolded—

Nobody saw them leave.

Not one person.

A short distance away—

The exact same thing happened.

Trainee Ysabelle.

Trainee Laurie.

Trainee Ashley.

Trainee Mirco.

All received identical instructions.

“Come with us.”

Trainee Laurie immediately froze.

“…Wait.”

Trainee Ashley looked confused.

“…What?”

Trainee Mirco frowned.

“…Are we in trouble?”

Only Trainee Ysabelle remained silent.

Her suspicion from earlier immediately returned.

The simulation.

Three days ago.

The chamber.

The blindfold.

The rescue.

The words.

“You all passed.”

Her pulse increased slightly.

Not from fear.

From realization.

Still—

Even she didn’t know why they were being removed now.

Without explanation.

Without warning.

Without participating in today’s evaluation.

The four followed.

Disappearing quietly.

Unseen.

Unknown.

Pulled completely out of the Day Zero process.

Only a handful of instructors noticed.

Instructor Morixette.

Instructor Vanessa.

Instructor Karylle.

Instructor Zhandrieu.

Instructor Lauren.

Instructor Maureen.

Instructor Shayne.

All spotted it from different angles.

All immediately looked confused.

“…Did they just remove Trainee Ysabelle?”

“…And Trainee Laurie.”

“…Trainee Ashley too.”

“…Also Trainee Mirco.”

“…Wait.”

Instructor Karylle blinked.

“…Was that Trainee Flint?”

Instructor Vanessa frowned.

“…Trainee Justin too.”

“…And Trainee Yanzhi.”

The seven exchanged looks.

Confused.

Concerned.

Suspicious.

Yet none of them understood what they had witnessed.

Because unlike the others—

They weren’t members of the Masters of the Committee.

They didn’t possess the information necessary to understand.

And before anyone could question it—

BZZZZZT.

A massive buzzer echoed throughout the entire branch.

The signal.

Day Zero Test had officially begun.

Every thought vanished immediately.

Work came first.

Questions later.

One Hour Later

The training grounds looked completely different.

Chaos.

Controlled chaos.

The Day Zero Test was living up to its reputation.

“MEDIC!”

A shout erupted from one station.

Two instructors immediately rushed forward.

A trainee had collapsed.

Nearby—

Another trainee suddenly dropped to both knees.

Vomiting.

Completely overwhelmed.

“Medical team!”

Instructor Hazel arrived first.

Instructor Abigail immediately followed.

The trainee was carefully removed.

Not dragged.

Not forced.

Carefully carried away.

Professional.

Safe.

Respectful.

Elsewhere—

Another trainee raised a trembling hand.

“…I quit.”

The words barely left his mouth.

An instructor immediately approached.

No judgment.

No criticism.

Only acknowledgment.

The trainee was escorted away.

Another elimination.

Then another.

And another.

The hours became brutal.

The Day Zero Test continued mercilessly.

Fear spikes rose.

Pulse rates skyrocketed.

Stress indicators flashed red.

The biometric monitoring systems recorded everything.

Across observation screens—

The numbers became increasingly alarming.

Instructor Mark stared at one display.

“…We’ve already lost almost half.”

Nobody disagreed.

Because it was true.

The numbers were brutal.

Very brutal.

Observation Platform

Instructor Faye frowned.

Something suddenly felt wrong.

Not with the test.

Not with the trainees.

Something else.

Her eyes scanned the grounds.

Then paused.

“…Azhette.”

Instructor Azhette looked over.

“…What?”

“…Where’s Instructor Sapphire?”

A brief silence.

Then realization.

Instructor Azhette immediately looked around.

Instructor Sapphire wasn’t present.

Neither was Instructor Britney.

Nor Instructor Skyrish.

Nor Instructor Amethyst.

Nor Instructor Bailey.

Nor Instructor Raphael.

Nor Instructor Nexcialine.

A pause.

Then another realization.

“…Instructor Ravielle.”

Instructor Faye’s expression tightened.

“…She’s gone too.”

The two immediately scanned the grounds again.

Nothing.

No sign of any of them.

Instructor Mark overheard.

Then calmly spoke.

“…They’re probably helping Instructor Ravielle.”

Instructor Landrieu nodded.

“…Makes sense.”

Instructor Faye looked uncertain.

Instructor Landrieu continued.

“She arrived this morning.”

“First day.”

“First Team.”

“They’re probably touring her around the branch.”

Instructor Mark nodded.

“…Exactly.”

“Instructor Britney’s group knows every corner of this camp.”

“And Instructor Ravielle is new.”

The explanation sounded reasonable.

Very reasonable.

Slowly—

Instructor Faye relaxed.

Instructor Azhette too.

Because honestly—

The alternative was absurd.

There was simply no way Instructor Sapphire would disappear during Day Zero Test.

Not today.

Not when she effectively managed most of HSBA Delta Branch operations.

And there was no way Instructor Britney and the others would abandon their assigned trainees either.

Eventually—

The explanation became accepted.

Temporarily.

Several Hours Later

The Day Zero Test finally approached its conclusion.

The numbers were devastating.

Out of one hundred thirty-seven active candidates—

Only thirty remained standing.

Thirty.

The final survivors.

The final successful candidates.

The rest had failed.

Withdrawn.

Collapsed.

Or voluntarily quit.

Medical teams remained busy.

Evaluation teams remained busy.

Documentation teams remained busy.

The entire branch worked nonstop.

Yet despite all of that—

A single question slowly spread among the instructors.

“…Where’s Instructor Sapphire?”

“…Still haven’t seen Instructor Britney.”

“…Instructor Raphael either.”

“…Or Instructor Bailey.”

“…Or Instructor Nexcialine.”

“…Or Instructor Ravielle.”

The concern steadily grew.

Because now—

The absence had become impossible to ignore.

The eight were nowhere.

Not at medical stations.

Not at observation towers.

Not at evaluation zones.

Not anywhere.

And yet—

Nobody could leave to search.

The Day Zero Test still required supervision.

Paperwork still required completion.

Medical clearances still required approval.

Graduation recommendations still required processing.

Everything demanded immediate attention.

Late Afternoon

The final results were compiled.

Thirty successful candidates.

Plus—

Instructor Yanzhi.

Instructor Flint.

Instructor Justin.

Instructor-in-Training Ysabelle.

Instructor-in-Training Laurie.

Instructor-in-Training Ashley.

Instructor-in-Training Mirco.

Thirty-seven total.

The official graduating count.

Yet even while processing the results—

The mystery remained.

Instructor Jonathan reviewed documents.

Instructor Monique finalized reports.

Instructor Syndie signed evaluations.

Instructor Arch Jude organized rankings.

Instructor Landrieu handled clearances.

Instructor Mark verified records.

Instructor Azhette completed endorsements.

Instructor Faye supervised everything.

Yet every few minutes—

Someone glanced toward the entrance.

Expecting eight familiar figures.

They never appeared.

As evening slowly approached—

The paperwork continued.

The injured trainees continued receiving treatment.

The successful candidates continued processing.

The failed candidates continued exit procedures.

The entire branch remained occupied.

And still—

Instructor Britney.

Instructor Sapphire.

Instructor Skyrish.

Instructor Amethyst.

Instructor Bailey.

Instructor Raphael.

Instructor Nexcialine.

And Instructor Ravielle.

Were nowhere to be found.

No reports.

No updates.

No messages.

Nothing.

Which left the eight main instructors with a growing sense of unease.

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