Graduation Assessment

Dawn broke, casting a sliver of light across the hallowed palace. Day chased away the gloom and chill of night, but it couldn't dispel the sinister atmosphere that lingered.

Aiden's eyes snapped open, his body curled behind the stage curtains, gripping a combat knife tightly.

"You know you've scared them. Now, surviving until six o'clock is their goal. They're all waiting for the bell to ring," a familiar sultry voice reached Aiden, barely audible but clear enough. A girl about five feet seven inches tall was huddled on the iron beams above the exhibition hall.

"Didn't I tell you to hide? Or do you want to boost your graduation score even more?" Aiden asked in a deep voice.

"Oh, that's not a good idea. I don't need to see it to know what you've been through to get here," Natasha retorted, pouting.

"Then keep your distance."

"Oh, that's not a good idea either," Natasha snorted. "You still haven't told me why."

"Why what?" Aiden frowned.

"Why you spared me and saved my life over and over," Natasha pressed, "You know, if I don't get the answers now, I might never have another chance. Who knows where you'll end up dead—some alley or ditch."

Natasha's daring proximity indicated both a desire for answers and confidence in Aiden's weakened state. Although she believed Aiden wouldn't harm her, she remained vigilant and ready.

"You look a lot like my bedmate tomorrow. The kind that costs five hundred rubles a time," Aiden scanned Natasha. He had been pestered by her questions before threatening her. Aiden didn't know how to respond; he didn't have the habit of spoiling plots.

Moreover, Aiden's mood was foul. He wasn't sure if the original world had a "Black Widow Graduation Assessment," but now he was part of it. He feared his actions might alter the future, especially if the fate of the Black Widow, who played a crucial role, changed. That would be detrimental to Aiden's future prospects.

Foreknowledge and familiarity with the plot were Aiden's greatest assets. Now, he was unsure of what the future held. All he could do was ensure Natasha's survival.

"Feeling thirsty? You need to replenish your energy, right?" Natasha was adept at negotiating, offering an appealing proposition to Aiden.

She pulled out a piece of bubble gum and waved it in the air. Aiden was speechless. Indeed, with the Super Soldier Serum, he should have had abundant stamina, but after a day of intense combat and evasion, his energy was depleted, his lips pale and dry.

"It's delicious, watermelon-flavored," Natasha said with a smile, her own appearance equally battered but her lips still rosy and enticing.

"Throw it here," Aiden finally spoke after a long silence, motioning with his head.

"You haven't answered my question yet," Natasha replied, looking down at Aiden with a smile.

"You haven't given me the trade item," Aiden shrugged, wincing as pain shot through his left arm, which Natasha had nearly severed. The Black Widow spiders knew precisely where to strike. His left arm was riddled with wounds and in poor condition without proper treatment.

After pondering, Natasha asked, "Promise?"

"Promise," Aiden affirmed with a nod.

Natasha fished out a piece of gum and playfully flipped it before tossing it to Aiden, instructing, "Open up."

Aiden unwrapped the gum and tossed it back to her.

Natasha paused, then with a hint of dissatisfaction, bit off a large chunk of the gum before tossing the remaining piece back to Aiden.

Aiden watched Natasha chew unabashedly and relaxed, popping the small piece into his mouth before leaning back against the curtain and closing his eyes.

Natasha stared in silence.

"I thought you had faith, soldier," Natasha murmured through gritted teeth.

"Shut up," Aiden shot her a cold glance, "Or I'll make good on my promise to your corpse, and she'll hear the answer you're looking for."

"You really think I can't handle you? You could barely lift your arm just now," Natasha suddenly pulled out a gun, aiming it down at Aiden from her high vantage point.

Aiden muttered a resigned "n," rolling off the stage and out of Natasha's line of sight.

An hour later, at six o'clock, the bell tolled like a beacon of hope, offering the promise of life to everyone within the building.

Yet, strangely, no one emerged from the palace. This continued until 7:20 AM, a full hour and twenty minutes later, with the palace doors remaining shut and still.

"Did they all die in there?" The officer sipped his coffee, hopping off the military vehicle. He'd spent the past 24 hours watching the surveillance footage with other officers, and everything had unfolded as expected. Aside from the initial intense combat, it was rare to see any movement on the cameras—a testament to the assassins' superior concealment skills. Stretching, the officer felt irritated after playing "blind" for a day.

"Let's go in and check." With a wave of his hand, the officer sent a wave of soldiers toward the palace doors.

Unexpectedly, a gunshot rang out from inside, causing the advancing soldiers to tense up and prepare for battle.

The doors suddenly swung open, revealing a blood-soaked, ragged young man stumbling out.

Aiden squinted against the harsh sunlight, feeling alive again. Behind him, the palace was stained red with blood, while ahead lay a clear sky and crisp autumn air.

"Why the delay?" The officer asked, relieved to see Aiden.

Aiden, reverting to his usual stoic demeanor despite his dire state, replied, "I was held up at the door by a target. Took a while to deal with."

"Ding!

Mission Completed: Graduation Assessment.

Reward: 1 Light Orb."

Aiden paused, taken aback. Was this the Light Orb he'd long sought?

As Aiden was led away, the scene behind him came into view. The once-elegant school had been turned into a hellish landscape, leaving even battle-hardened soldiers speechless. And that was just the first-floor hall—no one knew what horrors awaited on the second and third floors, in classrooms, restrooms, storage areas, and bedrooms.

"Take them away," the officer commanded, ordering the remaining soldiers to search and rescue the students.

"Damn monster," a soldier muttered, disgusted by the stench of blood and the sight of dismembered bodies, the once-white walls now filthy. The horror here was beyond words. Blaming Aiden seemed natural, though the initial infighting among the proud children had caused most of the carnage.

In the distance, the silent man with the metal arm watched Aiden being loaded into the military vehicle, his eyes cold and unyielding. He watched until the vehicle vanished from sight, his expression unnervingly stoic.

As time passed, two surviving girls finally appeared—one carried out by soldiers, the other walking on her own, not needing assistance. Her red hair, now blood-red and dripping, contrasted with her expressionless face, much like Aiden's.

"It's unexpected to have someone last until the end with me. Natalia Kournikova, is it?" Natasha mused internally, her steps unsteady as she was pushed forward by soldiers, glancing at the girl being helped into the vehicle.

Natasha watched Natalia, who in turn looked toward Aiden being surrounded and helped onto another vehicle. A complex emotion flickered through Natalia's gray eyes before she regained her composure.

In a day's time, only three people emerged from the inferno, all expressionless and silent. It seemed all emotion had been buried in the palace behind them, deep in their memories.