Class 1-A Training Grounds – Combat Assessment
The wide training hall gleamed under bright mana lamps, its reinforced walls faintly humming with protective enchantments. Students lined the perimeter, the air buzzing with excitement and nervous chatter.
Professor Irene Colt stood in the center, arms folded. Her shoulder-length black hair framed her sharp, beautiful face, and her gray eyes scanned the class like a predator choosing prey.
"As your homeroom teacher," she said, voice calm yet carrying a weight that silenced the room, "I need to see what I'm working with. Everyone will fight me. Don't hold back—because I won't."
That was all the warning they got.
---
First Matches – The Warmup
The first few students rushed in—brave, but sloppy. A spear-user lunged, only for Irene to sidestep and tap his chest, sending him skidding across the floor. A mage tried a flurry of ice shards, but Irene's hand flicked, and a sudden shockwave shattered the spell midair.
"Too predictable," she said, her tone almost bored.
---
Marcus Corvax
When Marcus stepped forward, shadows coiled around him like living smoke. His eyes gleamed faintly crimson as spears of darkness shot toward Irene.
She actually moved this time, weaving between the strikes before summoning a burst of mana that dispersed the shadows. Marcus grit his teeth and leapt forward, blade in hand. She blocked with her bare forearm, twisting his wrist and sending him to the floor.
"Better," she said, allowing him to walk back with some dignity.
---
Ruby Drazmere
Ruby's duel was pure muscle and precision. She dashed in, her mana-forged halberd a blur of steel and sparks. Each swing shook the air, the floor cracking beneath her strikes.
Irene deflected every blow like swatting flies. But when Ruby spun, driving her weapon down with full force, Irene actually smirked before stepping aside and sweeping Ruby's legs from under her.
"You'd kill most opponents with that. Unfortunately, I'm not most opponents."
---
Kaelith Vaelthorne
Kaelith's fight was sharp, calculated—his dual blades flashing with mana as he pressed forward. Their clash was like a storm of steel, Irene's movements as fluid as water against his rapid strikes.
She ended it with a sudden burst of mana pressure that forced Kaelith to stumble. One hand on his shoulder, she pushed him back.
"You think too much in battle," she told him. "Let instinct work."
---
Aria Irelith
Aria stepped up, red hair blazing under the lights, sacred flame curling around her like a halo.
When she attacked, the heat washed over the whole class, and some students shielded their faces. Fireballs, flame spears, even a wave of burning mana—Aria threw them all.
Irene danced through it, letting the fire scorch the floor but never touch her. With a final flick, she snuffed the flame around Aria like blowing out a candle.
"Good pressure," she said. "But your mana flow is uneven."
---
Lucas Dragonborne
Lucas's turn was pure energy—laughter even as he lunged. His punches boomed like cannons, shockwaves rippling the air. At one point, he actually forced Irene to take a step back.
"Interesting," she murmured, catching his fist and twisting him to the ground with a thud. Lucas just grinned from the floor.
---
Sylphie Harper
Golden-haired Sylphie moved with elegance, green eyes sharp. Her wind magic was precise, each blade of air cutting dangerously close.
Irene deflected the first two, then simply walked through the rest, appearing in front of Sylphie before she could react. A gentle push, and Sylphie was on her back, blinking in shock.
---
Eren Crost
Eren stepped in with a deep breath, his staff glowing. He summoned barriers, illusions, and traps—defensive genius in motion.
Irene broke through each with methodical precision, cornering him until he raised his hands in surrender.
"Smart," she said. "But you'll need teeth, not just armor."
---
One by One, They Fell
The rest of the class tried and failed. Every student—forty in all—ended on the floor, panting or groaning. And then Irene's gaze fell on the last one.
---
Nex Calder
The Fight Begins
Nex stepped into the center ring.
Black academy uniform crisp, headphones hanging loosely around his neck, his steps were unhurried.
Irene gave a small, challenging smile.
' Show me what you can do."
Nex simply nodded.
The moment the signal rang, Irene vanished in a blur of speed — her sword flashing down.
Nex's hand moved barely an inch, and her strike stopped mid-air.
Not because he blocked it — but because the blade slowed, as if pushing through heavy water.
Gasps rose from the stands.
"What—" Ruby leaned forward.
Marcus narrowed his eyes.
Lucas grinned wider. "Told you."
Aria's lips curled into a smile. "Interesting…"
---
Pushing the Limit
Irene stepped back, eyes sharp.
"You can control force… and speed. Impressive."
She lunged again, this time faster, her strikes chaining like lightning. Nex's fingers twitched — each attack slowed or diverted just enough to miss him by inches.
Then, he stepped forward, palm out, and a sudden invisible push blasted Irene back a few meters.
The crowd erupted.
Sylphie's eyes widened. "He masked it… looks like telekinesis, but it's like some kind of superior form.
Kaelith's expression hardened. "It's definitely interesting whatever it is".
---
The Final Exchange
Irene's smile widened, almost predatory.
"Not bad. But let's see how you handle this."
Her sword lit with pure mana, cutting the air in a deadly arc. Nex stepped into it, twisting his fingers — the sword's path bent, missing his head by a hair.
He crouched low, gathered every ounce of his power within ten meters, and unleashed it in one sharp burst — a concentrated wave of force that cracked the ground under his feet and sent Irene skidding back.
For the first time, she stopped, lowering her weapon.
"Enough."
Her gaze swept over him with quiet approval.
"You're strong. And clever. That's a dangerous combination."
---
The main cast kept staring as Nex walked back to the stands, calm as ever.
Lucas let out a low whistle. "Man, you just made half the class rethink their rankings."
Ruby crossed her arms, but her smirk betrayed her interest.
Aria's eyes sparkled with challenge. "I'll be next to beat you."
Marcus simply said, "Not bad."
Sylphie' was awestrucked as she whispered, "Incredible…"
Kaelith remained silent, but his gaze told a different story — this fight had lit a spark of rivalry in him.