The training ground stood still.
Too still.
Students lined up in formation, weapons drawn, mana flickering weakly around their bodies.
At the front—
The teacher watched.
Unmoving.
Unreadable.
Aeris stepped slightly forward, frost gathering around her fingers.
The air around her sharpened instantly.
Cold.
Unstable.
The teacher's gaze shifted.
"…Too soon."
He lifted a single finger.
A pulse of invisible pressure spread—
And landed directly on Aeris.
Her eyes widened.
The frost shattered instantly.
Her body dropped to one knee.
"…What…?"
"Your output is restricted," the teacher said calmly.
"Late F-rank. Maintain control… or you'll break before the battle begins."
Aeris clenched her fists.
Frustration burned in her eyes—
But she forced herself to stand.
"Today," the teacher continued,
"you fight as a unit."
A pause.
Then—
"Begin."
Mana erupted.
"NOW!!" Ray shouted.
Wind surged outward—
Boosting movement, sharpening reflexes.
"Don't fall behind!!"
Flames roared to life—
A wave of fire surged forward.
Lightning cracked—
Striking through the center of the forming shadows.
Rex charged head-on—
Muscles swelling, veins bulging.
"COME ON!!"
Kai moved with him—
Silent.
Focused.
Blade low.
Eyes locked forward.
For a moment—
It worked.
Their combined attack swallowed the battlefield.
Flame, wind, lightning—
All crashing into the emerging figures.
Then—
Something stepped out.
Unharmed.
A claw emerged first.
Large.
Cracked.
Glowing faintly red.
Then the rest followed.
Rift Maulers
Twisted, wolf-like monsters—
Larger than bears.
Bodies layered in hardened, fractured flesh.
Glowing red lines pulsing beneath their skin.
Jaws stretched too wide.
Teeth like broken blades.
Limbs long—
Unnatural—
Built to tear.
"…No way…" someone whispered.
The teacher's eyes narrowed slightly.
Then—
He turned.
And began walking away.
No warning.
No explanation.
"Survive."
That single word—
Broke something.
"W-what do we do?!" a student shouted.
"Hold formation!" Ray snapped—but even his voice shook.
The first Mauler moved.
It vanished.
CRASH!!
A student was sent flying.
The formation shattered instantly.
"STAY TOGETHER—!!" Rex roared—
Too late.
Claws tore through the ground.
Students scattered.
Panic spread like fire.
One Mauler grabbed a student—
Lifted him—
And slammed him down hard.
The sound echoed.
Heavy.
Final.
Silence followed for half a second—
Then—
Something broke.
"I… I can't…"
A student dropped their weapon.
Hands shaking uncontrollably.
Another stepped back—
Again—
And again—
Until their legs gave out.
Some collapsed.
Some froze completely.
Some lost control entirely—
Their minds overwhelmed by fear.
"GET UP!!" Ray shouted, grabbing one.
"You stay down—you die!!"
No response.
Empty eyes.
Gone.
Kai felt it too.
The pressure.
The fear creeping in.
But he crushed it.
"Rex—!"
"Already moving!!"
Rex roared—
"TYRANT MODE!!"
His body surged with power as he charged forward.
Kai followed—
Veins darkening slightly.
"Blood Enhancement."
"NOW!!" Ray roared—
Wind spiraling violently around him.
They attacked together.
Rex slammed into a Mauler—
Holding it in place.
Barely.
Kai slipped behind it—
Striking with everything he had—
SLASH!!
The blade cut deeper this time.
"Again!!" Ray shouted—
Wind pressure slamming the creature off balance—
For a moment—
They had it.
Then—
Another Mauler appeared.
Fast.
Silent.
SLASH!!
Rex was thrown aside.
Kai barely dodged—
But not completely.
A deep gash tore across his side.
He staggered.
Blood dripping.
"…Damn it…"
Behind them—
Aeris watched.
Her hands trembled.
Her breathing uneven.
Her power—
Limited.
But her eyes shifted—
To the fallen.
"…If they get hit again…"
Her expression hardened.
"I'll protect them."
She stepped forward.
Alone.
"Ice Mirror."
A wall of ice formed—
Thin—
Unstable—
A Mauler lunged—
CRASH!!
The barrier cracked instantly.
Aeris flinched—
But didn't move.
"Not… moving…"
Her other hand rose—
"Ice Spikes."
Sharp shards formed—
Launching forward—
Slowing the creature.
Her body shook.
Blood at her lips.
Legs unstable.
But she stood.
Across the battlefield—
Kai narrowed his eyes.
"…Something's wrong."
The Maulers weren't random anymore.
They were moving—
Together.
Forming a loose circle.
At the center—
One stepped forward.
Larger.
Brighter cracks.
Heavier presence.
"…A leader…" Rex muttered.
The Variant Rift Mauler tilted its head—
Then vanished.
"DOWN—!!" Kai shouted—
Too late.
It appeared before a fallen student—
Claw already descending—
Kai moved.
The ground cracked beneath him—
And—
CLANG!!
He blocked it.
The impact shook the field.
Kai stood there—
Body trembling.
Blood dripping.
Arm shaking—
But he didn't move.
"…You're not touching them."
For a moment—
Everything stilled.
Then—
The pressure increased.
Kai's arm trembled harder.
"Move, Kai!!" Ray shouted—
Kai didn't.
Instead—
His grip tightened.
Veins darkened further.
His eyes—
Flashed red.
"Rex—NOW!!"
Rex slammed into the Variant—
Ray followed with wind pressure—
"End it!!"
Kai struck with everything—
SLASH!!
It cut deep.
The Variant staggered.
Hope flickered—
Then—
It smiled.
And the red cracks across its body—
Spread.
A shockwave exploded outward—
Throwing them back.
Kai hit the ground hard.
Everything blurred.
"…Tch…"
The other Maulers moved again—
Faster.
Sharper.
As if they had been waiting.
Aeris felt it—
Her barrier cracking faster.
"I can't hold this…"
She looked back—
At the helpless students—
Then forward.
"…Then I'll stop it myself."
She stepped out.
Alone.
Ice gathering again—
Stronger than before.
Across the field—
Kai slowly pushed himself up.
His body screamed.
But something else answered.
Something cold.
"…Then we don't fight like this."
He stood.
His eyes lifted—
Glowing.
Deep red.
The air shifted.
Even the Variant—
Paused.
In the distance—
The teacher stopped walking.
For the first time—
His expression changed.
"…So it begins."
Kai raised his blade.
"…Try me."
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