It began with a single word, spoken through crystal domes across the arena district.
"Synchronize".
The voice rang out, flat and powerful, laced with magic. It struck the bones as much as the ears. Moments later, the chosen participants' names flashed in golden light across the sky-dome.
Kairo saw his name… second in a list of five.
His stomach sank.
His teammates?
*Caelion Drywynn – Noble of the Flamebound Court.
*Selise Hartmoor – Airborne-class archer, Skyreach Alliance.
*Renvil Sorros – Hollow Law disciple.
*Kairo Vale – No affiliation.
*Mara Thorn – Ironblood Dominion, sword combatant.
A system prompt flared.
[TEAM TRIAL: FORGE IN STRIFE]
You will be deployed into a dynamic battlefield with evolving objectives.
Victory Condition: Complete three team objectives within 1 hour.
Penalty: Team will be dissolved if member conflict exceeds threshold.
All points and advancement will be lost upon disqualification.
["The strong do not rule alone. They lead."]
Kairo vanished in a pulse of silver light.
When he reappeared, the world was ash and ruins. Cracked stone streets split by lava fissures, shattered buildings suspended midair by arcane anchors.
It was a simulation of a war-torn city; a trial field based on the Obsidian Veil-Scorched Rift Conflict.
Before he could even breathe, voices exploded nearby.
"He's on our team?!"
"That's him. The slumborn muscle freak".
"I won't follow his lead. I don't care what his combat record says".
Kairo turned slowly.
The others were already assembled.
Caelion stood at the center; tall, flame-touched robes glowing faintly, his expression the very definition of disdain.
To his left, Selise Hartmoor floated six inches off the ground, wrapped in gossamer air threads.
Renvil stood in silence, hood drawn, gaze cold.
Mara Thorne, stocky and grim, crossed her arms but said nothing.
Kairo stepped forward, feeling the weight of five stares.
Caelion's voice dripped with arrogance. "Let's be clear. You don't speak unless spoken to, you don't act unless ordered".
Kairo paused. 'Show restraint… show restraint…'
But then, he raised an eyebrow. "I didn't know you outranked me".
"I don't," Caelin said smoothly, "but I was born better".
A tense silence followed.
But just as it felt like the team would clash even before they got their first objective, a system flare erupted in the sky above.
DING!
~----~
[Objective 1: Reactivate the Bastion Node – Coordinates: Sector Delta-3]
Node Activation requires all five team members present.
Enemy Constructs incoming in 3 minutes.
~----~
Selise clicked her tongue. "Perfect. Coordination under pressure. Just what I wanted… with this team".
No one moved.
Kairo sighed inwardly.
This wasn't a team, it was a trap.
While the others bickered about who would lead, Kairo turned away and began moving toward Delta-3.
Mara noticed. "Where are you going?'
He didn't stop. "To complete the objective".
Caelion snapped. "Do not turn your back on…"
"I'm not turning my back," Kairo said without turning. "I'm moving forward. You can either come or get left behind".
Silence.
Then Mara shrugged. "He's not wrong".
One by one, they followed.
They reached the Bastion Node just as the sky opened in a rain of molten steel. Constructs descended from above; floating, spear-armed sentries with auto-target enchantments.
Kairo activated Muscle Lock across his shoulders and forearms, planting his feet.
Selise shouted, "Stay out of my line of fire!"
He didn't respond. He launched straight into the thick of the swarm.
A spear grazed his arm; he twisted with it, grabbing the shaft mid-thrust and snapping it over his knee.
He roared, lifted the construct by its leg, and swung it like a hammer into another midair.
[Muscle Index: 3.1%]
Pain Tolerance: +1% (Temporary)
Renvil chanted quietly behind them, casting Pact Zones to tether enemies to the ground. Selise picked them off from the air. Caelion rained flaming sigils.
For a moment, they worked as a unit.
The constructs fell one by one.
And when the final one burst in a flash of purple sparks…
DING!
~----~
[Objective 1 Complete]
Synchronization Bonus Achieved (+5% Team Point Boost)
~----~
As the sky cleared, Caelin turned on Kairo.
"You don't just charge into formation. You wait for coordination".
Kairo wiped blood from his lip. "You were still arguing. The enemies weren't".
Mara snorted.
Selise floated down. "He's brash, but effective".
Caelion narrowed his eyes. "He's a blunt weapon. This academy isn't meant for those".
Kairo stepped forward, chest rising and falling.
"You're right," he said softly. "I'm not a weapon".
He tapped his own temple.
"I'm the one holding it".
At that moment, the system flared again.
~----~
[Objective 2: Escort a civilian illusion to Safe Zone. Route will be revealed as you move.]
~----~
A glowing child-like figure appeared between them, scared and translucent.
Mara frowned. "Can't fly it. Too visible".
They began to move, formation loose.
But halfway through, a bolt of fire narrowly missed Kairo's head.
He turned.
Caelion.
The noble shrugged, smile sharp. "Oops".
Selise watched, frozen.
Mara moved a step closer to Kairo.
"You're trying to disqualify me," Kairo said, voice calm.
"You're a stain on this exam. You weren't meant to get this far".
Another blast came.
This time, Kairo caught it.
Literally.
He activated Muscle Lock on both hands, compressed every fiber, and caught the firebolt mid-air.
His hands steamed, palms burning, but he didn't flinch.
Renvil spoke quietly.
"If you sabotage the objective, all of us gets removed".
Caelion smirked. "Unless he retaliates. Then it's his strike".
Selise said nothing.
Kairo looked around; he could see the lines drawn. But then, he stepped back. "No," he said.
"No more tricks. You want me gone? Then beat me in the rankings".
He turned his back.
The child illusion walked beside him.
Mara fell in beside them. "Takes guts to hold back".
Kairo's jaw clenched. "No. it takes discipline".
A few minutes later, they reached the Safe Zone.
DING!
~----~
[Objective 2 Complete]
Penalty Count: 0
Synchronization Level: +6%
~----~
…
~----~
[Objective 3: Survive wave assault at Nexus Gate Ruins for 10 minutes.]
Reinforcements: None.
Penalty for fleeing: Disqualification.
~----~
The battlefield shifted.
Golems, traps, mana storm zones. It was a true test of synergy.
Caelin still sneered, but said nothing.
They fought.
They bled.
And in the end, they stood.
All five.
Barely.
DING!
~----~
[Team Trial Complete – Advancement Earned]
Ranking: Group 4th Overall
Special Note: Kairo Vale – Highest Damage Mitigation & Kinetic Impact Value.
…
New Skill Trait: [Muscle Control: Adaptive Efficiency – Passive]
>Grants +5% energy efficiency on repeated movement types.
~----~
Kairo stared at the message, then at the nobles around him.
They still didn't accept him.
But they didn't dismiss him, either.
And for now? That was enough.