It was the next day.
Riven had joined Luka during his late-night mana training, though he had at least gotten a few hours of sleep. He wasn't exhausted, but he definitely looked a little groggy.
"Guess I still need sleep…" Luka yawned, stretching.
Harkel had told them to meet outside today. He didn't explain why, but none of them questioned it. They just went along with it.
—
They stood out on the academy campus, sunlight pouring over the open field.
Every now and then, the boys couldn't help but glance up at the sun.
When Riven looked at Luka, he couldn't help but find it funny.
A vampire.
A mythical being that was supposed to show no emotion… whose biggest weakness was the sun.
And yet here Luka was.
Standing in it.
Admiring it.
"Something funny?" Jordan asked.
"Huh? Oh—nothing. Just an inside joke," Riven replied.
The six of them stopped in the middle of the field.
"Okay," Harkel clapped his hands once. "Here's what we're doing today. We're going to get to know each other."
The group looked confused.
Harkel sighed.
"You guys can already use mana in your hands and form a number. It's crooked, but it's something. Now you need to learn how to use your mana while doing something else. The easiest way to start… is talking."
He pointed between them.
"You know each other, but you don't know me or Leo. So you'll talk to us. But as your leader, I need to understand you the most."
He paused.
"So we're doing one-on-ones. The rest of you will do three-on-ones. We switch every hour. Luka—you're first."
Luka shrugged and followed him.
—
Riven, Leo, Jordan, and Joey sat cross-legged on the ground, each raising an index finger and channeling mana into it.
Not far away, Luka sat across from Harkel, copying the same position.
"Wait," Harkel said.
His shadow bubbled.
The Ironshade rose from it and moved to sit between both groups.
Luka frowned.
He had a bad feeling about this.
Harkel raised his finger.
Luka did the same.
A red "1" formed in Luka's hand—clean, stable.
Harkel noticed immediately.
"…You've been practicing," he said.
"A little," Luka replied.
"A little?" Harkel thought. "That's not a little. He's been at this all night… and even then, this level of control is insane."
Luka's control was nearly equal to his—and Harkel had been training for a year.
"So what—"
Luka stopped mid-sentence.
His mana flickered.
For a split second.
That was all it took.
The Ironshade appeared behind him and drove a fist into his back.
Boom.
Luka was sent flying across the grass.
"What the hell?!" he yelled, clutching his nose.
The others flinched. Their mana dimmed slightly.
The Ironshade turned toward them.
Something about it…
It felt like it was smiling.
"That," Harkel said calmly, "is the point of this lesson. You need to keep your mana steady. One thing that disrupts mana… is emotion. If you can't control your emotions, your mana will collapse—or worse, you'll lose control completely."
He looked at Luka.
"Sit."
Luka walked back, annoyed, and sat down again. He raised his finger, red mana flowing again—more unstable this time.
"Okay," Luka said. "Then tell me something."
Harkel raised a brow.
"How does it feel?" Luka continued. "To have everything handed to you? Money, fame… a mother… a father…"
The last words hit.
Harkel's mana flickered.
The Ironshade moved instantly.
A punch slammed into Harkel's side, sending him back.
He skidded across the ground, blood slipping from his mouth.
But he caught himself.
Stood back up.
Walked forward.
And sat down again.
"…You know," Harkel said, wiping his mouth, "the point of this isn't to bait each other into getting hit. It's to understand each other. What we like. How we think. How we live."
Luka went quiet.
His mana steadied.
The Ironshade moved again.
This time—
Luka caught the punch.
"Yeah, yeah. Give it a break," he muttered, pushing it away before resetting his position.
Harkel smiled.
"Good. First question. The group—how do you feel about them?"
Luka didn't hesitate.
"Riven's an ass. Jordan's a rulebook. Joey's soft."
"Don't do that," Harkel said. "If we're going to be a team, I need your real answer."
Luka looked down.
For a moment.
Then back up.
"…I love them," he said quietly.
"Woah—" Harkel started.
"Not like that!" Luka snapped, throwing a small patch of grass at him.
Both of them froze.
The Ironshade stood over them.
"…Heh."
"…Heh."
They laughed nervously.
Punch.
Both of them got hit at the same time.
—
"They seem like they're having fun," Leo sighed.
"So… where were we?" Riven asked.
"Your parents," Joey said, leaning forward.
"Oh. Right," Leo said. "Me and my dad were both warriors for the pack. If I'm being honest… they never loved each other. They just got together to try and create a strong warrior."
He paused.
"I don't even think they loved us."
"Wait… us?" Riven asked.
"Yes. Us."
A voice cut in.
All of them turned.
A tall, dark-skinned girl stood there, her curly hair tied up.
Leo's mana softened instantly.
"…Tessa," he said quietly.
Before he could say anything else—
A punch slammed into his face.
He was sent backward.
The Ironshade had moved.
Harkel stood in front of Tessa now.
"Is there something we can help you with?" he asked calmly.
Riven, Jordan, and Joey all pulled their mana back, the pressure lifting from their bodies.
"She just wanted to see the competition," another voice said.
A girl with smooth blue hair stepped forward, four others behind her, all wearing smug expressions.
Harkel's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Of course. Maddie."
"Maddie?" Jordan asked.
"My cousin," Harkel replied. "From my fifth aunt."
Leo stood, ignoring the tension.
"Tessa… you're here?"
She nodded.
"I did this for you," she said. "I sold myself to the Voss Clan so I wouldn't have to go through—"
Leo grabbed her by the front of her shirt.
"I didn't ask you to do that," he said. "You think I couldn't protect you?"
Tessa's expression hardened.
"That's exactly why I'm here," she said coldly. "I'll participate in the game. And I'll eliminate you."
She shoved him back.
"Maybe then you'll understand. I don't need anyone. Not even you… brother."
She walked back to Maddie's side.
"I can't wait to see you next week, Harkel," Maddie said with a smile.
"And I can't wait to punch that smug look off your face," Riven snapped, stepping forward.
Joey grabbed him quickly.
"Riven—they're girls—"
"I don't care," Riven shot back. "You basically threatened us. I'll make sure you don't do it again."
He pointed at Tessa.
"And you. You think eliminating us proves you don't need anyone? If we eliminate you, doesn't that prove the opposite?"
"Oh really?" she smiled, tilting her head. "Let's see then… who'll be out first, us or you?"
"You're on!" Luka shot back without hesitation.
"Man… really? Fighting a bunch of little girls?"
The voice cut through the tension, making everyone turn.
"Kyle," both Maddie and Harkel said at the same time.
A boy with long, wild hair stood there, hands tucked in his pockets, a lazy grin on his face.
"Man, to think Harkel—the son of the great Shen—would have a team challenge like this," Kyle said, shaking his head. "I thought better of you. What would your—"
"Finish that sentence. I dare you."
Harkel's voice dropped, cold and sharp. His shadow bubbled at his feet as Ironshade began to rise.
Kyle's grin widened.
"Oh?" he said, snapping his fingers as his own Ironshade formed behind him. "What would your dad say?"
Harkel moved.
So did Kyle.
At the same time, fur began to spread along Tessa's arms as she prepared to lunge forward.
The air tensed—
Then a small object dropped between them.
Click.
A soft white glow expanded outward.
Everyone froze.
From within the light, a boy stepped forward—smooth blue hair falling to his shoulders, his presence alone forcing the air to grow heavy.
"Axle…"
Harkel, Maddie, and Kyle all spoke at once, a hint of fear in their voices.
"Enough," Axle said calmly, his gaze sweeping across them.
No one moved.
"Take your people. Return to your dorms. Do not come out for the rest of the day," he continued. "If you do… there will be consequences."
He turned, already walking away as if the matter was settled.
Then—
Crack.
The sound echoed sharply.
Everyone turned.
Tessa stood there, her fist still extended—Riven's head snapping slightly to the side from the impact.
Blood.
Jordan's eyes widened. "Riven—!"
Before he could move, a sudden burst of air pressure surged forward, slamming into Tessa and knocking her back hard.
She barely managed to catch herself before—
Axle was in front of her.
His hand shot out, gripping her by the collar and lifting her slightly off the ground.
"You dare act in my presence… without my permission?" his voice was quiet, but heavy. "Let's make this simple."
"No!" Leo stepped forward, panic flashing across his face.
"I don't need your saving!" Tessa snapped, struggling against Axle's grip. "Damn it—!"
"There's no point."
Riven's voice cut through everything.
All eyes turned to him.
His arm hung at an unnatural angle, clearly broken.
"…And why's that?" Axle asked, glancing at him.
A faint light green aura began to gather around Riven's arm.
Slowly—
It moved.
The bone shifted back into place with a soft snap, the swelling fading as the skin repaired itself.
"See?" Riven said, rolling his shoulder slightly. "No point in breaking it. I don't want her to have an excuse."
Silence.
"…I guess so," Axle muttered.
He released Tessa, letting her drop before turning away again.
"You've got five minutes," he called over his shoulder.
"Shit—come on!" Maddie grabbed Tessa's arm, already pulling her back toward the girls' dorm.
"Same, let's go," Harkel said quickly. "Leo, move!"
Leo hesitated for a split second, looking at his sister—
Then turned and ran with the others.
—
They rushed into the boys' dorm building, not stopping until they were inside the elevator.
Harkel slammed the button for their floor.
Just as the doors were closing—
A hand shot in.
Kyle slipped inside.
The space went silent instantly.
Everyone stared at him.
Kyle scratched the back of his head, tapping his foot lightly as the elevator began to move.
"…So… nice weather we're having?" he said awkwardly.
"If you want to keep your teeth," Harkel said flatly, "I suggest you stay quiet."
Kyle shut his mouth immediately.
The ride felt longer than it actually was.
Ding.
The elevator doors opened to Kyle's floor.
He stepped out quickly, clearly relieved.
"Well… guess this is goodbye," he said, forcing a grin. "Can't wait to see you on the battlefi—"
Splash.
A red liquid smacked across his face.
Kyle froze.
"…It got in my mouth, you—"
He stopped mid-sentence.
His expression twisted.
"…What the hell—"
His stomach turned instantly.
Behind him, the elevator doors slid shut.
Inside—
Luka stood there with a wide grin on his face.