A torrent-like beam of fire slowly melted through the tungsten wall. Molten metal spread across the floor while scattered fragments blasted outward, striking the surrounding walls and ceiling. The room's sprinkler system suddenly activated. The wall, now split into two halves, collapsed onto the ground as a massive plume of steam erupted. The doors slid open.
A slim, tall woman in a suit stood in the doorway.
"I have compiled the performance statistics of the academy's top students, sir."
"Thank you, Malana."
A large, dark-blue scaled wing lifted. From beneath it, a well-dressed, dark-haired man stepped forward. He opened an umbrella and walked toward her. Reaching the doorway, he carefully wiped his shoes with a handkerchief.
"Exceptional work, as always, sir," she said, observing what remained of the destroyed wall.
Behind him, the dragon flapped its wings, shaking off excess water. The man tilted the umbrella to shield both of them from the spray.
"I still can't tell whether he does that out of spite or simple instinct. May I?"
He accepted the tablet and began scrolling through the list of names and boosts.
"Interesting…" One particular name caught his attention. "And he's still a junior?"
"I believe so," she replied, wiping stray droplets from her glasses.
A sudden gust of wind ripped the umbrella from his hand and hurled it past the entrance.
"Aether, behave."
The reptilian creature grinned before dissolving into thin air.
"Let's take a walk."
The doors sealed shut behind them. Malana retrieved the umbrella as they proceeded down the corridor.
"The games will be largely team-based, as you already know. However, the selection process is where things become intriguing."
She swiped through the tablet.
"Students with the highest potential will be assigned as captains. They will then draft their own teams."
A ranking list of the academy's strongest boost users filled the display.
"So, we're looking at twelve teams?"
"Yes, sir. And you will captain one of them."
"That sounds exhausting."
They continued across the academy grounds, passing numerous students engaged in intense training. The facility resembled a military installation more than a school. A large noticeboard ticked steadily in the background, reinforcing the gravity of the upcoming event.
"We are quite the anomaly among our fellow students."
"Indeed. Our boosts require minimal physical strain. Let's observe some of these candidates while we're already out."
"Yes, sir."
They approached one of the training simulators. Inside, a young woman sat cross-legged in deep meditation. A dark shadow began forming beneath her, spreading across the room like spilled ink. Her lips moved in silent chanting, though the thick glass prevented any sound from escaping.
Training dummies charged toward her from every direction, batons raised.
Crunch.
A colossal mouth materialised from the darkness and swallowed the attackers whole in a single motion.
"And she is the only other summoner-class user?"
"Yes. Her summon appears unique. We have yet to see its full manifestation, and it seems to require incantations."
They turned away from the simulator.
"So, she'll be the other captain?"
"Affirmative."
"Let's evaluate the remaining captain candidates."
He scrolled through the tablet, searching for their next subject.
A thunderous impact echoed throughout the academy.
Mark was relentlessly hammering against a thick titanium barrier inside his training chamber. The centre of the slab had already buckled inward. His gloves were torn and heavily bruised.
Another devastating blow shook the surrounding area. The wall crumpled inward completely. Mark wiped sweat from his forehead and signalled for another barrier to be installed.
"The son of Valiant. A formidable adversary. Honestly, I hope I never have to face his team," the man remarked with a faint smile.
Malana stood beside him, silently analysing Mark's performance.
"He is indeed formidable, sir. However, with the right team composition, we may still stand a chance."
"Team composition, you say? We don't even know who we'll be paired with. Since selections are open, we could easily end up on opposing sides of the arena."
They continued their tour, observing potential captains and gathering strategic information.
After an extensive and informative inspection, they compiled everything they could regarding the selected candidates. Aluber gestured toward a nearby bench, and they both sat down.
"Five out of the twelve captains will present significant challenges… and that doesn't even account for the teams they'll assemble." His hands trembled slightly. "Yet, for reasons I can't explain… I feel excited."
Malana gently clasped his hand.
"And I will be right beside you."
---
The crowd roared as fireworks exploded high above the stadium. The battle dome was filled beyond capacity for the first time in academy history. The arena floor was occupied by vibrant performers twisting and spinning in perfect synchronisation with the music.
From the centre stage, two breathtaking women with radiant butterfly wings soared upward. Mia and her partner flew toward opposite ends of the stadium, forming a massive heart shape as glittering scales cascaded throughout the dome.
The camera shifted away from the dazzling performance and focused on the VIP balcony. Oken stepped forward and waved to the audience.
"Welcome, everyone, to the Academy—"
The television screen abruptly went dark.
"Why would you turn it off?" Asura glared at Jack.
"They kicked us out of the battle dome for this?" Jack scoffed, tossing the remote across the couch. "Well, sorry for your 'temporary' inconvenience, but we—and the kid—want to watch. Right, kid?"
Ulim nodded eagerly.
The screen flickered back to life.
"—I would like to thank all of you for attending or tuning in to this prestigious event," Oken continued.
Behind the stage curtains, academy students prepared for what could become the defining moment of their lives.
Mark sat alone on a bench, leaning forward and whispering to himself.
"Target the speedster first… remember the speedster…"
A woman entered the preparation room.
"Alright, captains. You're up in five minutes."