Character Profiles 1. Sloth - Power: 0 - Guard: 0 - Magic Power: 0 - Magic Guard: 0 - Speed: 0 - Skill: Ancient deity with child-like behavior. - Appearance: Wears an oversized robe, a cute crown. - Traits: Adorable, sleepy, easily frustrated with strong guards. 2. Anakin Skywalker / Lord Vader - Power: 30 - Guard: 12 - Magic Power: 31 - Magic Guard: 12 - Speed: 15 - Skill: Master of the Dark Side, skilled in lightsaber combat. - Appearance: Unburnt, menacing aura. - Traits: Ruthless, strategic, extremely powerful. 3. Aria - Power: 40 - Guard: 10 - Magic Power: 0 - Magic Guard: 30 - Speed: 20 - Skill: Can transform into a bear-sized wolf, expert at observation. - Appearance: Long white hair, yellow eyes, wolf ears, and tail. - Traits: Independent, values life, reserved nature. 4. Mako - Power: 25 - Guard: 15 - Magic Power: 10 - Magic Guard: 5 - Speed: 30 - Skill: Fast and stealthy, trained in guerrilla combat. - Appearance: Athletic with camouflage attire. - Traits: Quick thinker, prefers teamwork, cunning. 5. Rhea - Power: 35 - Guard: 20 - Magic Power: 25 - Magic Guard: 15 - Speed: 10 - Skill: Skilled elemental magic user. - Appearance: Long dark hair, glowing blue eyes. - Traits: Compassionate, enjoys strategy, believes in justice. 6. Sirus - Power: 20 - Guard: 25 - Magic Power: 20 - Magic Guard: 20 - Speed: 15 - Skill: Defensive magic expert and heavy-hitter. - Appearance: Robust with a bald head and tattoos of runes. - Traits: Protective, aggressive when provoked, loyal to allies. --- The Awakening The six individuals woke up to an overwhelming light that pierced through their eyelids, like needles of sunlight. The dizziness that clouded their minds gave way to the oppressive atmosphere of the brightly lit cell they found themselves in. Their recollections were hazy; lingering memories of a sharp prick in their arms and threaded whispers of promises and power circled their mind. "Where… where are we?" Mako asked, scrambling to his feet with a swift motion. His heart raced, propelled by adrenaline. "We need to figure that out," Rhea replied, pushing her dark hair behind her shoulders and eyeing the chamber's high walls. "Anyone else feel like that last drink knocked them out?" Mako’s brow furrowed. “I don’t remember drinking anything! I just… I was somewhere else.” “Serum…” Anakin, or Vader as he preferred, spoke coldly, his deep voice resonating through his command presence. “We’ve all been injected with something. Whatever it is, it's designed to enhance or manipulate us.” “Great, that sounds promising,” Aria muttered, just as the giant door of the cell opened with an ominous hiss. They turned simultaneously, eyes wide and trained on the entryway. Slowly, silhouetted figures materialized against the blinding light, their outlines becoming sharper. They were armored guards, stern and imposing. Behind them came a voice—a smooth, modulated tone echoing within the walls. “Welcome to the Testing Grounds. You’ve all been chosen to fight. Consider this an opportunity to evolve.” Sloth, clad in his oversized robe, stared at the guards in frustration. “Hey, I was napping! Do you mind? Find someone else to duke it out with!” “Sleepy little god,” one guard muttered, causing Sloth's cute crown to tilt precariously. “Stay out of this, or you’ll be punished.” “Punished?” the childish deity shrieked. “Nobody punishes me! I’ll make you vanish!” A smirk spread across Vader’s face, hearing the threat from the most unassuming of the group. He was already calculating the odds. “Since we’re all here, let’s strategize. Strength didn’t bring us here by chance.” Sirus cleared his throat, drawing their attention. “We need to work together, if only for now. But I don't trust anyone,” he said, narrowing his eyes. “Not even you, Vader. You’ve killed your own kind.” Aria intervened, her wolf ears twitching. “Let’s not waste time. The sooner we understand the environment, the better our chances of survival. We need to test our capabilities against this artificially harsh gravity.” As if in sync, the ground beneath them began to shake, then lurched uncomfortably as the gravity intensified, forcing them all to their knees. “What the—!” Mako gasped, gripping the floor. “It’s dangerous,” Rhea shouted over the sound of metal creaking. “Some of us… well, we might not make it if we don’t learn to adapt!” Their time ran out rapidly when the guards signaled for them to move to the center of the cell. A large platform rose from the ground, radiating an eerie glow while they struggled to stand upright. “Fight or face the consequences,” the voice commanded. The Clash Sloth sat down defiantly. “I’m not fighting! I’m napping! You can’t make me!” he protested, but shortly after, an energy blast knocked him backward. “I thought you wanted to take a nap!” Rhea shouted, as she sent waves of elemental energy cascading through the air, each arc shimmering with electric blue. Anakin moved fluidly, lighting up with the dark rage of the Force and drawing his lightsaber. With a hiss, the blade ignited, casting a dark shadow across the group. “Enough. I will not lose today.” “Then let’s make this a worthy test, shall we?” Aria yelled, her wolf form exploding into being. She transformed instantly, towering over her human shape, fur bristling with energy. Mako, using the chaos to his advantage, darted around under the cover of gravity's weight, finding higher ground and swiftly pulling out traps he’d hidden. “This is a team effort!” he shouted, surprising Sloth as he turned towards them with narrowed eyes. “Get your head in the game!” Vader lunged forward, cutting through his obstacles with ruthless precision but also managing to deflect bolts of energy sent by Rhea. “Your tricks won’t work on me!” he bellowed, channeling the force with every strike. But Aria wasn't deterred. She jumped and tackled him mid-air, using her amplified strength to ground him. “We’re trying to survive! Focus!” As the fight wore on, gravity seemed to fade momentarily for Aria as she began to harness her abilities, her eyes glowing fiercely. The energy regained its intensity; she wrestled Sloth temporarily, then turned her attention to Mako, who was setting traps beneath Vader. “Vader!” Rhea’s voice cut through. “Stay alert!” “I'm always alert!” he shot back, dodging another of her elemental attacks. Suddenly, he felt the earth beneath him quake as Sloth’s fury grew. The tiny deity took a deep breath and channeled a dark energy that would alarm even the strongest of their group. The last remnants of their human pasts were all but stripped from them as they dealt with their primal instincts. One by one, they fell. It was brutal; they each fought fiercely, transforming into the embodiment of their skills and strengths until the final two stood alone: Aria, and an exhausted but bloodied Anakin. The Final Stand Their breaths came in labored gasps as the tension hung in the air. Aria’s fur gleamed in the unnatural light while Vader’s aura was suffused with heat and rage. “You’ve fought well.” Anakin’s words dripped with an admiration that soon turned dangerous. “But you know how this ends.” “Maybe, but I won’t go down without a fight!” Aria growled defiantly, her sword flickering with energy as she prepared for the final engagement. She sprinted towards him, her instincts and agility working in overdrive. The clash was chaotic; two powers converged violently in the center of the chamber, illuminating the faces of fallen warriors watching from the ground. Their strikes danced, the sword against the lightsaber, each clear commanding move echoing their desperation to survive. “Enough!” Anakin growled as he pushed against her, using his mastery of the Dark Side. With a powerful swing, he aimed a menacing strike directly at Aria, who nearly fell back but maneuvered just in time. But Aria felt her power waning, exhaustion creeping in. She staggered as he advanced, the ground beneath them trembling as the gravity amplified again for the final seconds of the duel. A surge of ferocious energy erupted from within. The blinding glow broke free from their battle aura, wrapping around her and giving her strength. “It’s time to end this!” she shouted, lunging with her sword glowing brilliantly. The Final Decision With a final clash, the bright light enveloped both combatants until it exploded outward, forcing everyone in the vicinity to shield their eyes. When the settling dust cleared, only Aria stood above the debris. Panting, she looked at the fallen warrior with a mix of relief and sorrow. “You fought bravely,” she whispered, unsure if Anakin could hear. “Testing Complete. You May Now Go To The Next Testing Chamber.” The robotic voice echoed through the now quiet chamber as a passage opened before her. Aria approached the doorway, taking a moment to glance back one last time. In the silence of her victory, she understood that the real trial awaited. The serum had opened doors to evolution, and the next battle loomed. With weary determination, she stepped through the exit.