Renjiro’s boots crunched along the gravel path as he returned to the Academy grounds, feeling a surge of energy despite the intense training week with Captain Rei. Every step brought him closer to the upcoming trials, and though his muscles ached, his mind was sharper than ever. The Academy loomed ahead, its towering walls casting long shadows, and with each passing moment, a mix of anticipation and calm determination settled over him.
As he neared the training circle, he spotted his squad gathered. Goro noticed him first, breaking into a wide grin as he jogged over. "Renjiro! You survived!" he laughed, giving Renjiro a solid clap on the back. “So? How was it? Did Rei try to break you?”
Renjiro chuckled, rubbing his shoulder. “He did, but I learned a lot. Let’s just say I know a thing or two now about balance and endurance.”
Emi joined them, her eyes bright with curiosity. "Rei’s known for pushing recruits to their limits. Did it help with your Lumina control?"
“It did,” Renjiro replied, a quiet confidence in his tone. “Feels like I’m finally getting the hang of it.”
Yumeru, leaning against a post with arms crossed, raised an eyebrow, her gaze assessing. “Good,” she said. “We’re going to need every advantage.”
Before they could continue, a deep, resonant bell echoed across the grounds, drawing every recruit’s attention. The assembly area quickly filled as squads gathered in front of the central platform, where Commander Thalor stood waiting, his gaze stern and unyielding.
When the murmurs died down, Thalor’s voice carried over the crowd, sharp and direct. “Recruits, tomorrow, the trials begin. Only the strongest, the fastest, and the most disciplined will advance.”
A wave of tension rippled through the crowd. Renjiro exchanged glances with his squad, the seriousness of Thalor’s tone sinking in.
“There are eighty of you today,” Thalor continued. “By the end of the first trial, only twelve will remain.”
A hush fell over the assembly, and a few gasps of disbelief could be heard as the recruits processed the reality. Twelve out of eighty meant that the odds were slim, and the stakes were high. Renjiro felt a renewed focus settle over him, his determination solidifying.
Thalor’s gaze swept over the crowd. “The first trial will test your mastery of Phalyx control. You will guide your Phalyx through an obstacle course—one filled with pitfalls, sharp turns, and aerial challenges. Only the twelve fastest to complete the course will move on.”
The crowd buzzed with murmurs of excitement and apprehension. Renjiro’s pulse quickened at the thought of the challenge. He’d trained with the Phalyx and he knew he could handle the course—but he would have to be faster, sharper, and more focused than ever.
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“And for those twelve who advance,” Thalor continued, his voice hardening, “the second trial will be a battle royale. You will be pitted against each other, with full permission to use your Lumina abilities. Only two will emerge victorious.”
The murmurs grew louder, and anxious glances were exchanged. A battle royale meant open combat—every recruit for themselves. It was no longer just a test of skill, but one of survival and resilience.
Thalor’s gaze swept over the crowd, letting the weight of his words sink in. “For the final two, there will be one last trial. A duel. The last recruit standing will have proven themselves as one of the strongest in this Academy.”
The recruits shifted their faces a mix of excitement and dread. Renjiro felt his squad members tighten their fists beside him, each of them realizing the gravity of what lay ahead.
From the sidelines, Vaelis, one of the senior instructors, watched the assembly with keen eyes. She leaned toward Rei, who stood nearby. "You’ve got an interest in this one," she remarked, nodding slightly toward Renjiro. "He’s come a long way. But one week of special training doesn’t make him ready for these trials.”
Rei’s gaze stayed focused on Renjiro, his expression unreadable. “It doesn’t,” he replied evenly. “But he’s proven he has resilience. We’ll see if he can turn that into skill.”
Vaelis crossed her arms, a hint of a smirk on her face. “Heart’s good for getting you this far. But skill—that’s what keeps you alive.”
As Thalor dismissed the assembly, the crowd began to disperse, each squad gathering in their clusters to prepare. Renjiro’s squad walked together toward the edge of the grounds, their faces set with determination.
But before they could get far, a familiar voice rang out, cutting through the crowd. “Hope that ‘special training’ wasn’t just a waste of time, Renjiro.”
Renjiro turned to find Kairro watching him, arms crossed, his tone dripping with condescension. “A week with Rei doesn’t make you ready for these trials.”
Renjiro met Kairro’s gaze, unflinching. “You’ll find out soon enough what it did for me.”
For a brief second, Kairro’s smirk wavered, his eyes narrowing. “One week doesn’t make a warrior,” he sneered, his voice low but cutting. “When you’re face to face with real skill, don’t count on heart to save you.”
Renjiro held his gaze, his expression steady. “I’ll take my chances.”
They locked eyes for a long moment, the unspoken tension crackling between them. Then, without another word, they turned and walked away, each filled with a fierce determination for the trials to come.
Back in the squad quarters, Renjiro, Goro, Emi, and Yumeru gathered, the weight of Thalor’s words still fresh in their minds.
Goro broke the silence, slamming his fist into his palm with renewed resolve. “Twelve out of eighty? We’re making that cut. Doesn’t matter who we’re up against—Squad Sky is moving forward.”
Emi nodded, her usual shyness replaced by fierce determination. “We’ve trained too hard to back down now. We give it everything we’ve got.”
Renjiro looked around at his squad, feeling a swell of pride and gratitude. “We stay strong, together, as long as we can,” he said, his voice firm. “But remember—when it’s down to the last, we might be each other’s opponents.”
Yumeru, her gaze steady, nodded. “We do what we have to. That’s the way of this place.”
As the night settled over the Academy, the squad lay in their bunks, each lost in their thoughts, their minds sharp with the knowledge of the battles that lay ahead. The Phalyx race was only the beginning. Soon, they’d face the true test of their skill, resilience, and loyalty.
In the quiet darkness, Renjiro closed his eyes, his mind clear and focused. For the first time, he felt no hesitation, no fear. Only a steely resolve. He was ready.
Tomorrow, the trials would begin—and he was prepared to face them head-on.