Emotion Hunter: System Awakening.

[Riven's POV]

The first thing that hit me about Facility 7 wasn't the imposing concrete walls or the guard towers....it was how normal it tried to look. Like as if someone had taken a prison and slapped a fresh coat of paint on it, maybe added some motivational posters about "Excellence Through Discipline."

*Yeah, right. * Riven thought to him.

"This place gives me the creeps," Marcus muttered as we approached the main gate. His enhanced senses were probably picking up things I couldn't even imagine.

"Everything about this situation gives me the creeps," I replied, checking my phone one more time. Still no messages from Maya or Jake. it's been a day since they'd been "invited" for interviews, and now there's complete radio silence.

The gate guard barely glanced at our IDs before waving us through.

We were expected, after all.

The central courtyard was buzzing with activity. About twenty other people our age stood in loose groups, all wearing the same standard-issue gray training uniforms we'd been given. Some looked confident, chatting casually about their abilities. Others seemed as lost as we felt.

"Hey, new meat," someone called out. A tall guy with spiky black hair and a cocky grin approached us. "Let me guess.... you guys got caught doing something stupid and ended up here?"

"Something like that," I said carefully.

"The Name's Joseph. Have been here three weeks already." He gestured to the other trainees. "Word of advice? Don't get too attached to anyone. They love shuffling people around; they're always separating partnerships."

Marcus and I exchanged a look. That sounded ominous.

"Why would they do that?" Marcus asked.

Joseph's grin faded slightly. "Guild loyalty comes first they said. Personal bonds come second. They want to make sure you'll follow orders even if it means leaving your buddy behind."

*Fantastic. *

Before I could respond, a sharp whistle cut through the chatter. Everyone immediately fell silent and turned toward the main building.

A woman in a full sleeveless Hunter gear, strode out, her presence commanded instant attention. She was maybe thirty, with short red hair and scars visible on her arms. Her system aura felt like standing near a live electrical wire.

"Attention, Training Unit 7," she announced, her voice carrying easily across the courtyard. "I'm Commander Torres, your lead instructor. For those of you who think this is some kind of summer camp with monsters, let me correct that misconception right now."

She began pacing in front of us like a drill sergeant. "You are here because your abilities represent either an asset or a threat to Guild operations. Our job is to determine which category you fall into."

*Definitely not summer camp then. *  Riven couldn't help but have such fleeting thoughts.

"The traditional Hunter training takes six months of classroom instruction followed by supervised field exercises. Congratulations...you get to skip the boring part." Torres stopped pacing and smiled, but it wasn't a friendly expression. "We believe in practical application. You'll learn by doing, or you'll learn by dying."

A few nervous laughs echoed through the group.

Torres's smile disappeared.

"That wasn't a joke. The mortality rate for unregistered system users is sixty-three percent within their first year. The mortality rate for Guild-trained Hunters is twelve percent. Simple math tells you which group you want to belong to."

She gestured to the building behind her. "Facility 7 specializes in unusual abilities and challenging personalities. You're here because you don't fit the standard Hunter profile. Maybe your system is rare. Maybe you've been operating independently too long. Maybe the Guild just doesn't trust you yet."

*All of the above, in our case. *

"Your training will consist of controlled Veil scenarios, combat exercises, and evaluation sessions. You will be monitored constantly. Your performance will determine your future assignments...or lack thereof."

A girl near the front raised her hand tentatively. "What happens if we fail evaluation?"

Torres's expression didn't change. "You don't want to find out?"

The threat hung in the air like smoke.

I felt my emotion looting system responding to the stress in the courtyard, offering to take away the fear everyone was feeling. But something felt different...muted, like there was interference.

"You'll also notice your abilities feel... restricted," Torres continued, as if reading my thoughts. "The facility is equipped with system dampeners. Enough to limit your power output but not completely suppress it. Consider it training wheels."

*Training wheels that could get us killed if we relied on our usual tactics...this might not be good*

"You'll be assigned mentors...experienced Hunters who will guide your development and evaluate your progress. These partnerships are not negotiable. Your mentor's word is absolute during training scenarios...but first, let's start with the newcomers. "

She pulled out a tablet and began reading names. "Duke, ...you'll be working with Hunter Cross. Chen, Marcus...you're assigned to Hunter Valdez."

My stomach dropped. They were splitting us up, just like Joseph had warned.

Marcus caught my eye and shook his head slightly. We'd known this might happen, but it still stung.

Two Hunters stepped forward from the building entrance. Cross was a lean man in his thirties with prematurely gray hair and calculating eyes. Valdez looked younger but moved with the fluid grace of someone who'd seen serious combat.

"Cross here specializes in psychological warfare and system manipulation," Torres announced. "Valdez is our enhancement specialist. They'll be evaluating how well you adapt to Guild protocols."

Cross approached me with an expression that suggested I was an interesting specimen under a microscope. "Mr. Duke. I've read your file.... Emotion looting is a fascinating ability."

*Yeah, fascinating enough to get me locked up here. *

"We'll be working together closely over the next few weeks," he continued. "I'm particularly interested in understanding the psychological mechanisms behind your power."

Before I could respond, alarms began blaring throughout the facility. Red lights flashed along the walls, and I felt a familiar chill in the air.

"Well," Torres said, checking her watch like she'd been expecting this. "Looks like your first practical exercise is starting early."

The temperature dropped noticeably, and shadows began stretching in unnatural directions.

A Gray Veil was forming right here in the training facility.

*They can create Veils on command...? What kind of technology did the Guild have? *

"Scenario parameters are simple," Torres announced over the alarms. "Survive the next hour. Work with your assigned mentors. Demonstrate your abilities under Guild protocols."

The Veil fully materialized in the center of the courtyard, its dark surface rippling like disturbed water.

Familiar growling sounds echoed from within.

"What about equipment?" someone called out.

Torres tossed a duffle bag onto the ground. "Its basic weapons only. No system enhancements. No personal gear. You adapt with what we give you."

Cross handed me a simple combat knife.... nothing like my Resonance Blade, which they'd confiscated during registration. "Ready to see how well you perform without your emotional crutches, Mr. Duke?"

The first goblins began pouring out of the Veil, their red eyes gleaming with hunger. But something was wrong with them...they moved with more coordination than usual, like they were being directed.

"These aren't wild goblins," I realized aloud.

Cross nodded approvingly. "Very good. These are Guild-bred variants, enhanced for training purposes. They're smarter, stronger, and more aggressive than anything you've faced."

*Of course they are. *