Dawn broke with the shrill cry of Alpha's alarm. He rolled out of bed, rubbed his eyes, and moved through his routine on instinct wash, stretch, tighten his wraps, steady his breathing. By the time he stepped into the academy halls, his mind was already sharpening. Today mattered. The classroom was filled when Alpha arrived. Rows of cadets sat in silence. He took a seat beside Omega. A ripple passed through the shadows at the front of the room. A woman stepped forward, her form emerging as if cut from darkness itself. "Attention." Every cadet snapped upright. "I am Exarch Nyxra," she said calmly. "Your Dialect and Infiltration Master." Her silver eyes swept the room. "In battle, strength is meaningless if you cannot blend in." A screen lit up behind her. Languages. Accents. Facial expressions. "All of you will learn how to lie with your voice," Nyxra continued. "How to breathe like locals. Speak like locals. Think like locals." She pointed at Alpha. "You. Say this." A phrase appeared in Mandarin. Alpha hesitated, then repeated it. His tone was stiff. Wrong. Nyxra flicked her finger. A sound pulse struck his desk. "Again. Softer. Confidence hides fear." He tried again. Better. She nodded. Omega smirked. "Not bad" "Don't start," Alpha muttered. Nyxra turned toward Omega. "And you. Japanese dialect." Omega spoke smoothly, flawlessly. Nyxra's eyes narrowed slightly. "Impressive." The class stretched on for hours. By the time the bell rang, Alpha's head was spinning with accents and codes. Later, Theta gathered in the weapons lab. Gamma and Zeta joined Alpha halfway down the corridor. "You ready?" Gamma asked. "Depends," Alpha replied. "Ready for what?" They entered the chamber. Lambda stood at the center. Technicians moved around them. "Into the capsules," Lambda ordered. They obeyed. Cold glass slid shut. A technician approached each of them, fixing a chip behind their ears. "Uniform sync," he growled. "Think it. Wear it." Moments later, black liquid spread from their skin. It hardened into combat suits. Theta's emblem formed on their chests. They stepped out. Weapons rose from pedestals. Swords. Bows. Staffs. Blades. "Customized for your Will," the technician said. "Figure the rest out yourselves." Lambda turned. "Simulation begins." A holographic city formed around them. Lambda pointed. "Target located in that building." A photo appeared. "Hostiles present. Unknown number." Her gaze locked onto Alpha. "You're in command." Omega frowned. "Lambda" "I'm capable," Alpha said quickly. Omega crossed her arms. "He's still learning. This isn't" "Enough," Lambda interrupted. "Leadership is earned through failure." Omega clenched her fists. "…Understood." Lambda vanished. Silence fell. Alpha exhaled slowly. "Alright," he began. "We move left. Avoid open streets. Weapons first. Wills only if needed." He looked at Gamma and Zeta. "High ground. Cover us." They nodded. "Beta, Omega you're with me." They activated their suits. The mission began. Gamma and Zeta vanished upward. Alpha, Beta, and Omega advanced. "Contacts. Left," Gamma whispered through comms. Five guards emerged. Beta slid forward, sweeping one down. Omega froze two mid-step. Alpha hurled his blade pinning another to the wall. They moved. Fast. Clean. Then Alpha spotted the building. "We rush," he said. Omega grabbed his arm. "That's reckless." "We'll lose momentum if we wait." "Alpha" He charged. The room exploded with movement. Guards dropped from above. Alpha was slammed to the floor. Pain burst across his face. An ice hand crashed down, pulverizing the attacker. The wall collapsed. Dust filled the air. "Compromised," Omega snapped. "Fall back no, push forward!" She pulled Alpha up. "Gamma, Zeta, cover us!" Arrows streaked through smoke. They sprinted. "Get down!" Gamma screamed. Alpha shoved the others aside a massive fist smashing through the street. A giant stood before them. A girl perched on its shoulder. Alpha rose from rubble, blood streaking his chest. "Omega, Beta go." "What?" Omega protested. "I'll hold them." "No" "Go!" They ran. The girl leapt. Twin sickles formed in her hands. Alpha blocked. The giant slammed down. The ground shattered. Zeta's hammer crashed from above. Light engulfed the giant. "Target her!" Alpha shouted. He dashed forward. Cut the chains. Punched her gut. Kneed her face Zeta launching her skyward Gamma's arrows pinning her to a wall, golden chains wrapping her limbs. She stopped moving. A body crashed through a window. Shadows dragging it back, Omega and Beta emerging. Target secured. Clap - Clap. Someone applauded. The giant shrank into a white-haired boy. The girl straightened the chains shattering. Lambda appeared. "Meet Camp Omicron." She gestured. "Mach. Flux. Impulse." A girl appearing behind gamma a dagger to his throat. Omega exhaled. "So it was a test." The Omicron commander chuckled. "Fun one." Lambda's gaze hardened. "now let's talk about what happened huh" Alpha stared at his team. Sweaty. Bruised. Exhausted. Still standing. He still had a long way to go