The training arena felt larger than expected.
Not because of its size—
But because of the pressure filling the space.
Christy stood among the Elite Class A students, her gaze steady yet thoughtful as she observed the surroundings.
"…This place is different from the forest, because every movement here is being watched and evaluated," she said quietly. "There is no room for mistakes when every action directly affects our position."
An instructor stood at the center.
"…Today's evaluation will test your combat coordination, adaptability, and decision-making under pressure," he announced. "You will fight in teams, and your performance will determine your initial class rankings."
Christy exhaled slowly.
"…So this is not just about individual strength, but about how well we function together," she murmured. "That means trust and communication will be just as important as raw ability."
Her eyes shifted—
Toward Luxe.
Standing calmly.
Unshaken.
"…He looks exactly the same as always, completely composed even under pressure," she thought. "It's as if nothing here can disturb his focus or confidence."
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
"…And somehow, that makes me feel more at ease, even in a situation like this."
The instructor raised his hand.
"…Teams will remain the same as your previous mission," he said. "Prepare yourselves, because the difficulty will be significantly higher than before."
Christy stepped closer to Luxe.
"…It seems we will be working together again, and this time under direct observation," she said softly. "We should coordinate carefully before the exam begins."
Luxe nodded slightly.
"…Agreed," he replied. "This time, we focus on efficiency and coordination rather than testing individual limits."
Kael stood beside them, relaxed.
"…So we're actually taking this seriously instead of treating it like another warm-up exercise," he said. "That's good, because I prefer situations where the outcome actually matters."
Christy glanced at him briefly.
"…Then you should also focus on coordination, because acting independently will disrupt the team's overall performance," she said. "This is not a situation where individual actions will be enough."
Kael smiled faintly.
"…I understand," he replied. "But sometimes independent actions create the openings that teams need."
Christy frowned slightly.
"…Only if those actions are predictable and controlled, otherwise they create risk instead of opportunity," she said. "We cannot afford unnecessary risks in an evaluated environment."
Luxe raised his hand slightly.
"…Enough," he said calmly. "We don't need to agree completely, but we need to understand each other's roles clearly."
Christy nodded.
"…Then assign roles," she said. "Clarity will reduce hesitation during combat."
Luxe looked at both of them.
"…I will take the front and control the pace of the fight," he said. "Christy, you focus on observation and support, while Kael handles opportunistic strikes."
Kael chuckled softly.
"…So I'm the one who finishes what you start," he said. "That works for me."
Christy nodded.
"…Then I will monitor enemy movements and identify weak points for both of you," she said. "We should be able to maintain control if we execute properly."
Luxe gave a faint nod.
"…Good," he said. "Then we move as one unit."
The ground trembled.
Multiple constructs emerged—
Stronger than before.
Faster.
"…This level is already higher than the forest mission," Christy said immediately. "We need to stay focused, because they are designed to overwhelm us through coordination."
Luxe stepped forward.
"…Then we break their coordination first," he said.
The constructs rushed forward.
Luxe moved instantly.
"Volt Acceleration."
Slash.
One construct—
Down.
"…Their movements are synchronized, but their reaction delay increases slightly after each attack," Christy said quickly. "If we disrupt the rhythm, they will lose coordination."
Luxe nodded.
"…Understood," he said.
He moved again—
Faster.
"Thunder Lance."
CRACK—!!
Two constructs—
Staggered.
"…Now," Christy said.
Kael vanished.
Silent.
Then—
Slash.
A precise strike—
Two constructs—
Destroyed.
"…Efficient," Kael said. "That's exactly how I prefer to fight."
Christy exhaled slightly.
"…Good coordination," she said. "If we maintain this pace, we can finish without unnecessary strain."
The remaining constructs adapted.
Faster.
More aggressive.
"…They're adjusting to our pattern," Christy said. "We need to change our approach before they fully adapt."
Luxe stepped forward.
"…Then we increase speed and pressure simultaneously," he said. "Do not give them time to stabilize."
Lightning surged.
"Chain Lightning Burst."
BOOM—!!
Multiple impacts—
Constructs destabilized.
"…Opening created," Luxe said.
Kael moved instantly—
Slash.
Another—
Destroyed.
Christy followed—
"…Final one on the right, its movement is slower due to internal damage," she said. "Targeting it now will end the sequence quickly."
Luxe nodded.
"Flash Step."
Slash.
Silence.
The constructs collapsed.
The instructor observed from above.
"…Excellent coordination," he said. "Your team maintained control from start to finish without unnecessary risk."
Christy exhaled slowly.
"…That went better than expected," she said. "We adapted quickly and maintained balance throughout the fight."
She glanced at Luxe.
"…He didn't just lead, he controlled the entire flow again," she thought. "Even when things changed, he never lost composure."
A faint warmth spread in her chest.
"…Why does that make me feel… safe?"
Kael stood quietly.
"…You're both efficient, but predictable if someone studies your coordination long enough," he said. "If I were your opponent, I would target your communication first."
Christy frowned slightly.
"…Then we improve that as well," she said. "Weaknesses are meant to be corrected, not ignored."
Kael smiled faintly.
"…Good answer," he said.
Christy looked at Luxe again.
"…You always seem to know what to do without hesitation," she said softly. "Doesn't that ever become exhausting?"
Luxe looked at her.
"…Not if the decisions are already clear," he replied. "Hesitation comes from uncertainty, and I try to eliminate that as much as possible."
Christy smiled gently.
"…Then I'll try to reduce that uncertainty as well," she said. "So you don't have to carry everything alone."
Luxe paused briefly.
Then—
"…Thank you," he said quietly.
Christy's heart skipped slightly.
"…Why does something so simple feel so important when he says it like that?" she thought.
From a distance—
Kael watched silently.
"…Interesting," he muttered quietly. "That connection is forming faster than expected."
For a brief moment—
Dark energy flickered around his fingers.
Then disappeared.
"…Still not the right time," he whispered. "But soon."
Christy looked toward the sky.
"…This academy is more than just a place for growth," she thought. "It's where everything begins to change."
Her gaze shifted—
Toward Luxe.
"…And somehow, I feel like my path is becoming connected to his more deeply with every step."
The arena fell silent.
But beneath that silence—
Something greater was beginning to form.