Isaac sprinted through the dense forest, his blade of blood gleaming as he struck down anyone who crossed his path. The shadows of trees stretched like ominous fingers, but he pushed forward with relentless determination. However, his rampage came to a halt when he encountered an unusual figure standing amidst a circle of unconscious students.

The stranger was unscathed, his posture relaxed as if he hadn't broken a sweat. Around him, the fallen students were incapacitated but not eliminated, each carefully spared from permanent injury. His curly cyan hair caught the faint moonlight, and his piercing yellow eyes seemed to radiate an unsettling calm. A collar wrapped snugly around his neck displayed his heart rate, unnervingly steady. He wore a plain white button-up shirt, his appearance deceptively modest compared to his surroundings. In his hands, he held a long staff, cylindrical and unadorned, as though it had once been a spear with its blade removed.

But what drew Isaac’s attention most was the tattoo on the stranger’s arm, two interlocked swords, unmistakable in its meaning.

As Isaac charged, his demonic eye—the Tactician’s Eye, an ability that specialized in reading opponents’ movements, focused intently on the man. Yet when he swung his sword, the stranger dodged effortlessly, his movements smooth and precise, like a leaf dancing on the wind.

“What a nuisance,” the man muttered, sighing audibly. “I was only here to clean up the side characters, and now I’ve bumped into a main character. How troublesome.”

Before Isaac could react, the man blurred into motion. In an instant, the remaining students were struck in precise locations, each one collapsing unconscious, officially eliminated from the trial. Isaac’s demonic eye strained to follow the movements, but they were faster than anything it could perceive, an almost surreal display of speed and precision.

Isaac's grip on his blade tightened. “Who are you?” he growled, his voice low and threatening.

The stranger smiled, leaning casually on his staff. “Deon,” he said simply, his tone lighthearted yet eerily cold. “I’m just passing through. No need to make this more complicated than it has to be.”

“That tattoo,” Isaac said, his voice sharper. “You’re one of the Martial Arts Kings?”

“Congratulations,” Deon replied mockingly, giving a small clap. “You figured it out. Though I’d prefer if we didn’t turn this into a big production. How about we go our separate ways?”

Isaac’s response was swift and uncompromising. He slashed his wrist, summoning a barrage of blood blades that tore through the air toward Deon, their edges gleaming with lethal intent. Yet Deon moved effortlessly, weaving between the attacks as though he could see their trajectory before they even formed.

When the blood settled, Deon stood untouched, his collar’s heart rate display remaining unnervingly calm. “Impressive,” he mused, his smile widening. “That little barrage? It could’ve killed me a total of twelve times.” He laughed, twirling his staff as though he were entertaining himself rather than fighting for survival.

Isaac’s eyes narrowed, frustration creeping into his expression. Deon’s playful demeanor, coupled with his overwhelming skill, only made the encounter more infuriating.

“How is one of the Martial Kings here? Aren’t these supposed to be students?” Fraser asked, his voice filled with disbelief as he watched the screen. The image of Deon effortlessly dispatching his opponents played out before them. “Hey, Leo, you’re one of the Martial Kings. Got any insight about the others?”

Professor Jupiter, also known as the Fist King, leaned forward in his chair, his sharp eyes fixed on the display. "I've crossed paths with the Greatsword Monarch before," he said, his voice calm but tinged with gravity. "She mentioned, quite casually, that she killed the previous Sword Master and Spear Lord out of sheer boredom. If this kid has the mark of the Spear Lord, then for some reason, the God of Combat deemed him worthy to inherit the title."

Fraser frowned, tapping his fingers on the desk. “So he’s officially the new Spear Lord? But why make such a rushed decision? Is this kid really on par with the rest of you?”

Jupiter leaned back, stroking his chin thoughtfully. “The Sword Master position still hasn’t been filled yet,” he noted. “The contenders are likely Noah Fafnir or Inari of the Crows. But understand this, the God of Combat doesn’t choose apostles lightly. If Deon was chosen, it’s because he earned it.”

Fraser’s gaze didn’t waver from the screen. “Interesting. Tell me, Mr. Fist King, how do you stack up against the other Martial Kings?”

Jupiter smirked faintly, his expression both confident and reflective. “The Greatsword Monarch? Easily the strongest of us. I couldn’t defeat her. Her combat style is… overwhelming, relentless. She doesn’t fight like a human being; it’s like battling a natural disaster.” His tone darkened slightly, as though recalling a painful memory.

He continued, “I’ve fought and beaten the previous Sword Master and Spear Lord, but that doesn’t mean much now. The Bow Saint? Never met her personally, but word is she serves in the Emperor’s royal guard. From what I hear, she’s untouchable at long range.”

Fraser raised an eyebrow. “What about the Axe Tyrant?”

Jupiter let out a small chuckle. “I’ve fought him. That ended in a draw. He’s as durable as a fortress and hits like an avalanche. Tough to find a weakness there.”

“And the Shield Sovereign?” Fraser pressed.

A shadow of curiosity passed over Jupiter’s face. “The Shield Sovereign is a mystery, even to me. They’re an utter recluse, supposedly part of the royal guard like the Bow Saint, but almost no one’s seen them in action. If rumors are true, they’re a master of defensive techniques, capable of holding off armies alone.”

Fraser folded his arms, the gears in his mind turning. “So Deon, the new Spear Lord, is being tossed into this hierarchy. Yet here he is, tearing through students like it’s child’s play.”

“Tell me,” Fraser began, his eyes still glued to the screen, “who do you believe will take the mantle of Sword Master?”

Jupiter leaned back in his chair, his expression calm but confident. “Noah Fafnir. I’ve personally trained him, and the Greatsword Monarch herself has taken an interest in him. That alone speaks volumes.”

Fraser arched an eyebrow. “The Monarch? She rarely takes interest in anyone who isn’t already extraordinary.”

Jupiter nodded. “Exactly. If Noah can survive her test, he’ll be more than worthy of the title.”

Their conversation was interrupted by the rising intensity on the screen. The clash between Isaac and Deon had reached a fever pitch.

Isaac stood firm, his eyes glowing crimson as he activated the Tactician’s Eye. His blood manipulation surged to life, red tendrils twisting around him like vipers, each one a weapon poised to strike.

Deon, in stark contrast, remained unnervingly calm. His yellow eyes gleamed with amusement, and his cyan curls bobbed slightly as he tilted his head. His staff rested casually in one hand, its metallic surface reflecting the moonlight filtering through the trees.

Isaac made the first move, slashing his wrist to summon a barrage of bladed blood shards. They screamed through the air, sharp enough to cut through steel.

Deon dodged effortlessly. Each shard missed by a hair’s breadth, as though he anticipated every move before it happened. His feet barely seemed to touch the ground as he weaved through the deadly rain of blood, his movements fluid and graceful.

“Impressive,” Deon said, his voice light and teasing. “That little attack could’ve killed me… oh, about fifteen times. But here I am, still breathing.”

Isaac gritted his teeth, frustration building. He manipulated the blood midair, redirecting the shards to strike again from all angles. At the same time, he conjured a crimson whip, lashing out with blistering speed.

Deon’s smile widened. He ducked, spun, and leaped, avoiding the whip with almost playful ease. His staff moved like a blur, deflecting the redirected shards with precise, casual taps.

Isaac’s eyes narrowed. “Stop dodging, coward!”

“Oh, but dodging is so much fun,” Deon replied, grinning. He lunged forward suddenly, closing the distance between them in an instant. Before Isaac could react, Deon’s staff flicked out, aiming for his wrist. Isaac barely managed to block with a shield of hardened blood.

Deon’s strike connected with the shield, and the impact sent Isaac skidding back. Deon didn’t press the attack; instead, he leaned on his staff and yawned dramatically.

“You’re persistent,” Deon said, inspecting his nails. “But persistence alone won’t win this fight. Tell me, Isaac, do you ever get tired of trying so hard?”

Isaac’s anger boiled over. He slammed his palms together, creating a massive blood spear that crackled with energy. With a roar, he hurled it at Deon, the ground shaking from the force.

Deon’s expression finally shifted, a flicker of genuine interest crossing his face. “Oh, that’s new.”

He twisted his body, narrowly avoiding the spear. The weapon grazed his collar, leaving a small scorch mark on the fabric. Deon clicked his tongue in mock disappointment.

“So close,” he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Isaac didn’t let up. He summoned a tidal wave of blood, crashing it down toward Deon. The red liquid roared like a beast, its edges shimmering with deadly intent.

Deon sighed. “Alright, this is getting messy.”

With a single leap, he vaulted over the wave, his staff spinning like a propeller. He landed lightly on a tree branch, his posture relaxed as though he hadn’t just evaded a fatal attack.

From his perch, Deon called down, “You’re strong, Isaac. I’ll give you that. But this fight? It’s a waste of my time.”

“Running away already?” Isaac snarled, his voice filled with venom.

Deon shrugged. “Not running, just… leaving. You’re the main character of this little story, Isaac. So it would be waste for you to be defeated now.”

Isaac’s blood tendrils lashed out, aiming to drag Deon down. But with a flick of his wrist, Deon’s staff deflected them effortlessly.

“Let’s call it a draw,” Deon said with a wink. “See you around, maybe.”

In an instant, he vanished into the trees, his movements so quick they seemed almost supernatural. Isaac’s blood manipulation receded, and he clenched his fists, frustration seething through him.

Back in the observation room, Fraser leaned back, rubbing his temples. “That Deon kid… he’s something else.”

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Jupiter nodded, his expression serious. “He didn’t even fight at full strength. That was child’s play for him.”

Fraser frowned. “If that is the new Spear Lord, I shudder to think what the Greatsword Monarch or the other Martial Kings could do at full power.”

Jupiter didn’t reply, but the grim set of his jaw said enough.

“Damn bastard, I’ll get him next time,” Isaac muttered, frustration etched across his face.

“Relax, hothead,” Karma said, strolling into view with a casual wave. Kenji followed close behind, his expression unreadable but curious.

Isaac glanced at them and smirked. “Oh good, you’re here. Looks like you found someone useful for the raid.”

“Indeed,” Karma replied smoothly, gesturing to Kenji. “Our new friend here will make an excellent tank. That just leaves us in need of an assassin, assuming you’re fine playing the healer role.”

Isaac raised an eyebrow. “Healer? You’ve seen how I fight. Do I look like a healer to you?”

Kenji chuckled, his gaze drifting over Isaac’s build. “Honestly, you give off berserker vibes more than anything.”

Karma grinned, stepping between them. “He’s versatile. One of those rare people who can handle multiple roles. For this little adventure, I’ll be playing the ranger.”

“Yeah, right,” Isaac snorted. “You just want to stay out of harm’s way while we do all the heavy lifting.”

“You’re not wrong,” Karma admitted with a sly grin. “But did you have to say that in front of our new friend here? You’re making me sound bad.”

Kenji smirked. “You don’t need help with that.”

Isaac jabbed a finger at Karma. “He should know right away that you’re a slippery snake.”

“So mean,” Karma sighed dramatically, clutching his chest. “Do you see what I have to deal with, Kenji? The abuse!”

Kenji shook his head, amused. “We should probably get moving. I still think it’s insane you want to take on the Sentinel.”

“My dear Isaac is a very ambitious man,” Karma said with mock reverence, slinging an arm over Isaac’s shoulder.

Isaac rolled his eyes but didn’t shrug him off. “Ambitious or not, I don’t plan on losing today. Let’s go.”

The three of them moved deeper into the forest, weaving between trees and brushing past low-hanging branches as they searched for the last member of their party.

Meanwhile, in another part of the forest, June and Mars faced off against a formidable opponent.

Their adversary stood confidently, a smirk playing across his lips. His neatly combed blue hair shimmered under the dappled moonlight, two horns curling from his head like a crown. His sclerae were pitch black, the contrast making his vivid purple irises all the more striking. A partially unbuttoned white shirt exposed his chest, a detail that only added to his arrogant demeanor. A black cloak draped over his shoulders, its edges swaying with each of his movements. On his hands, sleek black-metal gauntlets gleamed ominously, their craftsmanship exquisite.

“You’re wasting your time,” the man taunted, cracking his knuckles. His voice was smooth, with an undertone of disdain. “Neither of you stands a chance against me. But I do love a good warm-up.”

“This guy is so annoying,” June muttered, her phoenix wings unfurling behind her in a flare of fiery light. Flames licked the edges of her feathers, casting flickering shadows across the forest floor.

Mars rolled his eyes, summoning a broadsword made from dark energy. It shimmered ominously in his grip, its edges pulsating with shadowy power. “I agree. Honestly, why waste time fighting us? We’d all be better off teaming up to take down the Sentinel.”

Xander smirked, cracking his knuckles. His black-metal gauntlets gleamed under the moonlight, their menacing aura matched only by his confident swagger. “Oh, I plan to take down the Sentinel, but I don’t need you losers slowing me down. Let’s face it—you’re not even worthy to stand in my shadow.”

Mars’s grip tightened. “Cocky prick.”

Without warning, Xander charged forward, his speed shocking. He closed the distance in a blink, aiming a devastating punch at Mars. The impact sent shockwaves rippling through the air, but Mars managed to block with a hastily conjured shield of dark energy. Even so, the force sent him skidding backward, boots digging into the dirt.

June leaped into action, spreading her wings wide. Flaming feathers shot from her wings like arrows, streaking through the air toward Xander. He twisted effortlessly, dodging them with fluid grace. One feather singed his shirt, but he brushed it off with an amused chuckle.

“Cute trick,” Xander taunted, stepping into Mars’s range again. This time, his fists blurred as he unleashed a flurry of punches. Mars deflected some with a pair of dark energy daggers, but several blows slipped through, slamming into his torso. Mars grunted, stumbling backward.

June soared overhead, raining down more fiery feathers. She shouted, “Mars, move!”

Mars dove to the side as June unleashed a barrage of flames, blanketing the area around Xander in an inferno. For a moment, the forest crackled with heat, the air shimmering from the intensity.

When the flames subsided, Xander stood at the center of the scorched earth, unscathed. His cloak smoldered, but his cocky grin remained intact. “You’ll have to do better than that, little bird.”

June snarled, swooping down for a direct attack. She slashed at him with a flaming blade conjured from her wings, but Xander caught her wrist mid-swing. His grip was like iron. With a smirk, he swung her around and hurled her toward Mars.

Mars caught her with a grunt, the impact nearly knocking him over. “You okay?”

“Peachy,” June groaned, pulling herself to her feet. Her wings flared as she focused, a soothing golden light flowing from her hands to heal Mars’s injuries.

“Enough playing around,” Mars growled, summoning a massive greatsword of dark energy. “Time to turn up the heat.”

Mars lunged at Xander, swinging the weapon with all his strength. The ground cracked beneath his feet as the blade came down, but Xander sidestepped at the last second, the sword cleaving into the earth. Xander retaliated with a heavy punch to Mars’s gut, sending him flying into a nearby tree.

June took the opportunity to unleash another volley of flaming feathers, this time aiming directly for Xander’s gauntlets. The metal heated up, forcing him to shake his hands as smoke rose from the scorched material.

“You’re persistent, I’ll give you that,” Xander admitted, flexing his fingers. “But persistence doesn’t equal strength.”

As Xander prepared to strike again, Mars materialized behind him, a spear of shadowy energy in hand. With a feral shout, Mars thrust the spear toward Xander’s back. Xander twisted just in time, grabbing the shaft of the weapon and snapping it in two.

Mars’s eyes widened as Xander casually shattered his spear, the dark energy dissipating into harmless wisps. Without hesitation, Xander spun on his heel, driving an elbow toward Mars’s ribs. Mars barely managed to summon a thin barrier of shadow between them, but the impact still sent him staggering back.

“Your tricks are getting old,” Xander taunted, his grin widening. “Come on, entertain me!”

June, still airborne, decided to shift tactics. She conjured a brilliant orb of flame in her palms, compressing it until it burned white-hot. With a sharp cry, she hurled it at Xander. The fireball exploded on impact, engulfing him in a roaring inferno.

“Got him!” she shouted triumphantly.

The flames cleared to reveal Xander, his gauntlets glowing faintly from the heat. He brushed a speck of soot off his shoulder, completely unharmed. “Not bad. But now it’s my turn.”

Xander launched himself at June with inhuman speed, leaping high into the air. She barely had time to react before his fist was inches from her face. Twisting mid-flight, she deflected the blow with a wing, the force sending her spinning through the air. She regained control and countered by slashing at him with flaming talons, but Xander blocked the attack with his forearm and delivered a punishing kick to her stomach. The blow sent her crashing into the ground, her wings flickering as she tried to catch her breath.

Mars seized the opportunity, reappearing behind Xander with twin blades of dark energy. He swung both in a cross slash aimed at Xander’s back. Xander, as if sensing the attack, ducked low and drove his fist into Mars’s midsection. The hit was devastating, forcing Mars to collapse to one knee as he gasped for air.

“You both fight like amateurs,” Xander said, his tone dripping with mockery. “How did you even make it this far?”

June staggered to her feet, fury blazing in her eyes. Her wings flared to life once more, the flames brighter and hotter than before. “We’re not done yet!” she snarled, launching herself toward Xander with a speed that left scorch marks on the ground.

Xander sidestepped her initial attack, but she twisted in midair, slashing at him with a flaming whip that extended from her wings. This time, he raised his gauntlets to block, the flames licking at his armor and forcing him back a step.

“Finally, some spirit!” Xander said, a hint of excitement creeping into his voice.

Mars, now back on his feet, summoned a massive hammer of dark energy. He charged at Xander, coordinating his attack with June. Xander dodged the first swing of the hammer but was forced to jump as June swept the ground with a wave of fire.

The duo pressed their advantage, their movements synchronizing despite their exhaustion. June’s flames boxed Xander in, forcing him to stay grounded while Mars swung relentlessly with his dark hammer. For a moment, it seemed as though they had him cornered.

But Xander’s grin only grew wider. “You’re starting to get it. Good. Let’s take it up a notch.”

With a burst of speed, Xander ducked under Mars’s hammer, grabbed the shaft, and yanked it to the side, pulling Mars off balance. He pivoted and drove a knee into Mars’s stomach, sending him sprawling.

June dove in from above, aiming a fiery dive kick at Xander. He raised an arm to block, but the impact forced him to slide back, his boots digging into the dirt. She followed up with a flurry of strikes, each blow accompanied by a burst of flame. Xander dodged and parried, his movements almost lazy in their precision.

“You’re fast,” he admitted, his grin never fading. “But not fast enough.”

In a blur, Xander grabbed one of her wings and spun, using her momentum against her. He hurled her into a nearby tree, the impact shaking the branches. She groaned, slumping to the ground as embers fell around her.

Mars, battered but still standing, growled and raised his hammer again. “I’m not done yet!” He charged forward, his weapon glowing with dark energy.

Xander turned to face him, his eyes alight with amusement. “Good. Neither am I.”

The clash had reached a fever pitch, the ground scarred with burns and shadows, the air crackling with the residual energy of their abilities. Mars staggered back, gripping his dark hammer as his knees threatened to buckle. June, battered but defiant, forced herself upright, her wings dimly flickering as flames struggled to reignite.

Xander stood at the center, his gauntlets gleaming and his smirk undeterred despite the scorch marks on his body. "Is that all you've got?" he taunted, rolling his shoulders as if warming up for another round. "Pathetic."

Before anyone could respond, a deafening crack split the air, followed by a blinding flash of light. A jagged bolt of lightning descended from the heavens, striking Xander squarely. The sheer force of the impact sent Mars flying backward and rattled June where she stood. The forest trembled under the power of the strike, leaves and branches raining down as smoke rose from the charred earth where Xander had stood.

As the smoke cleared, Xander emerged, visibly affected for the first time. His gauntlets sparked erratically, and he clutched his side, blood dripping from a gash. His grin faltered but didn’t vanish entirely. “Finally, something interesting,” he muttered, wiping the blood from his lip.

A new figure emerged from the shadows, perched on a high tree branch like a predator surveying its prey. Lyra’s silver hair shimmered in the fading light, her piercing yellow eyes narrowing as she surveyed the battlefield. Sparks danced along her fingertips, and the static in the air grew thicker with every passing moment.

“Well, well,” she said, her voice laced with a venomous amusement. “What a mess we have here.”

Xander tilted his head, his grin returning despite his injuries. “Come to play hero? Or are you just here to stroke your ego?”

Lyra hopped down gracefully from the branch, landing between Mars and June, who were both too stunned to react. “Oh, I’m not here to save anyone,” she said, cracking her knuckles as arcs of electricity surged around her fists. “I’m in a terrible mood, and you just happen to be in the wrong place at the right time.”

Mars groaned, forcing himself upright with the help of his shattered hammer. “Another one?” he muttered, wiping blood from his lip. “Great. Just what we needed.”

June, her flames slowly reigniting, shot him a glare. “Stay back, Mars. Let’s see what she does first.”

Xander chuckled, despite the faint limp in his step. “You’re bold, but do you think you can take me? I’ve been wiping the floor with these two, and you—”

Before he could finish, Lyra disappeared in a blur of motion, reappearing an instant later right in front of him. Her fist, crackling with pure lightning, connected with his jaw in a thunderous impact that echoed through the forest. Xander was sent hurtling backward, crashing through two trees before coming to a stop against a boulder.

Lyra dusted off her hands, a satisfied smirk on her face. “Oops. Did I hit too hard? My bad.”

Mars and June exchanged a glance, their exhaustion momentarily forgotten as they watched Lyra stride toward Xander with a predatory confidence. The air around her shimmered with static, and the ground beneath her feet sizzled with residual energy.

Xander groaned, pulling himself from the wreckage of the boulder. His grin was gone, replaced with a grimace of pain and irritation. “You’re gonna regret that,” he growled, “Let’s see if you’re still smiling after I—”

Lyra raised a hand, and a bolt of lightning struck him again mid-sentence, cutting him off as his body convulsed. She tilted her head, her smirk growing wider. “What was that? I couldn’t hear you over the sound of my lightning.”

The battle was far from over, but the balance of power had shifted dramatically. For the first time, Xander looked genuinely wary as Lyra prepared to unleash another storm of devastating attacks. Mars and June stood at the ready, unsure whether Lyra was an ally or just another storm they’d have to weather.