The murmurs hadn't settled yet.
Kyung-min rolled her shoulders, looking completely unfazed despite the fight she'd just pulled off. Do-yun was still lying on his back a few feet away, muttering something about how his ribs were probably shattered.
Jin scanned the recruits. They weren't just watching anymore, they were studying.
Before, these fights had been just another obstacle to overcome. Now, they were something more. A chance to understand what made someone strong. What made someone win.
Jin let the silence stretch. Then, "Next fight."
A pause. No one moved at first, and then, Yujin stepped forward.
She moved with the same energy she always had, fast, eager, like she'd been waiting for this moment. Like a predator that had finally found a target.
Jin wasn't surprised. Yujin lived for fights. Raw talent, aggression, sharp reflexes, an instinctive read on movement that most people had to train for years to develop naturally.
She cracked her knuckles. "I'll go."
