While the situation on the field was heating up, the atmosphere in the arena was also thick with tension, choking their necks as they watched the test, which acted as a simulation of a war on the monitor screen.
One by one, white lights appeared in the arena and transformed into the cadets. Their faces were tense, with furrowed eyes, clearly frustrated with the results.
In the spectator seats, some seniors looked down, their mouths wide because the sight evoked memories that were still fresh in their minds.
However, on the flip side, those memories made some seniors' expressions dim, wrapped in the shadow of guilt for not being able to see their comrades in arms who lost in the expedition outside the wall.
In one of the spectators' seats, Luna sighed in relief while patting her medium chest. She lifted her gaze to witness the monitor as the camera was fixed on the red-haired girl who survived until the late game.
'Rika, you did good.'
From the floating monitor, in its lower corner, was the status of the remaining cadet, which displayed a number: 5.
Hours had gone by, but not a single senior or instructor sitting in the top seats, encased inside synthetic glass, had left the place.
Everyone was focused on the newest generation, which contained several great talents, including one anomaly monster with Mutation Potential Level 9.
"Aw, Luna, I think, I understand why you adore that Rika girl so much."
From the side, a silly laugh entered her ears, coming from one of her friends in the same generation.
The handsome girl's name is Chloe. She was the same as Luna, as one who was born with privilege, yet chose to stand on the front line, unlike most of them.
"Yeah, she is a sweet and a hardworking girl."
Luna nodded; her detached expression softened, revealing a rare affection directed at someone.
That fact prompted others around her to gulp. Some seniors, especially the males who fancy her, gripped their chests as they felt the hot pounding that ignited a blush on their cheeks.
Chloe scoffed at their attitudes from the side. She threw her gaze at the monitor and squinted, watching a particular monitor that shows two boys battling each other in the forest.
'Is that!?'
Her eyes widened, and her hand unconsciously patted Luna's shoulder, who shifted her gaze to Chloe.
"Luna, look, isn't that your protégé too?"
Luna glanced, and for a moment, her blue iris flickered as she saw the figure of the gray-haired boy fighting.
'Cain.'
The fight felt one-sided due to the aggressiveness of the blue-haired boy. However, the flow of the battle reversed when Cain began to show his ability.
Cain calmly entertained his enemy with fluid movements, flowing like water without pause.
Not only Luna, but Chloe and the seniors who witnessed the fight stopped breathing when Cain spun and launched his attack in one sharp motion.
The atmosphere in the senior tribune fell silent. Their eyes widened, especially the seniors from the Kenjutsu division, as they saw their junior's fighting style, which resembled that of a veteran.
A few seconds later, the atmosphere erupted as the seniors from Kenjutsu stood up from their seats and erupted in cheers.
The commotion drew the attention of the crowd, who watched the match playback on the monitor above.
"Whoa, he sure has some good moves for a novice, right Luna?"
Chloe asked, waiting for Luna to give her a word or two. But when she did not hear an answer, Chloe glanced to the side. Her eyes immediately widened, seeing the woman who was nicknamed the 'Winter Lady' smiling.
'W-Whoa, never expected that coming.'
She shrugged her shoulders, then shifted her attention downward. From the arena, a tall boy emerged from the light. He scratched his head and looked toward Chloe while clasping both his hands in apology.
'You did great, foolish brother.'
The blue-haired girl cast her smirk, which made the boy flinch, knowing of his sister's teasing antics. Chloe raised her gaze and saw the survival test that had entered its final stage.
***
Meanwhile, from the top of a hill in the distance, a girl crouched down. Her red eyes squinted to see the distance.
"So you guys finally met, huh."
Rika let out a long sigh and pulled the legs of her sniper rifle, placing it close to the edge of the cliff.
The moment she wanted to press her cheek against the stock, a strong wind came, blowing dust that blocked her view and made her shift her gaze to another direction.
However, at that very moment, her eyes caught a surviving male cadet. He was crawling before stopping to point the muzzle of his rifle towards Abel.
"Do you think I'll let you get in the way of Abel?"
Rika raised her rifle and shifted her position exactly parallel to the opponent. She leaned her cheek against the rifle stock, taking a deep breath as she focused.
Her eyes were wide open, staring at the scope that was targeted at the head.
"Goodbye!"
The sound of an explosion echoed, accompanied by the pungent smell of sulfur. Rika grinned as she saw the intruder disappear.
"That's done."
She exhaled the air from her lungs, unable to contain the giggles that immediately escaped from her lips.
"Fufu, I broke my own promise."
Rika turned, swallowing to moisten her parched throat.
"Go Abel."
She cheered softly, looking at the back of the blonde boy who always stood in front of her like a strong wall protecting her fragile heart.
…
Cain's tense expression slowly loosened. Yet the grip on his katana tightened when he saw Abel's gentle expression looking toward the hill in the distance.
'Is it Rika?'
He asked himself. His black eyes narrowed, trying to see the red-haired figure from a range of hundreds of meters.
The gray-haired boy shook his head, then looked toward Abel, who was smiling.
'I swear these two are like a married couple, supporting and trusting each other even in this situation.'
"Cain, you know. I'm actually…"
"Okay, spare me your small talk."
Abel, who had not had the chance to vent his emotions, stiffened. His hand gripped the sword hilt tightly, unknowingly.
Cain responded by snapping his left thumb to push the katana out of the scabbard. He drew the blade, which shimmered in a silver glint, and prepared his middle stance.
He exhaled softly, letting all the tension blow away from his exhausted body.
The air seemed to stop as the two boys stared at each other with weapons in hand. Abel raised his sword close to his chest, then also prepared his stance.
A few seconds passed, and as a strong wind came, lifting shards of dust with the crisp smell of sand covering the battlefield, Abel moved.
Abel's body charged into the smoke, swinging his sword sideways with all his might.
On the other hand, Cain took a step back and raised his hands over his head to perform a vertical swing that aimed at Abel's skull.
But Abel reacted quickly by rotating his wrist to deflect Cain's attack. He moved closer from the left direction while pulling his sword parallel to his face, then stabbed.
Cain shifted his legs, dodging Abel's strike, and began to lower his katana, trying to wait for a counter opportunity.
However, one thing he missed was Abel's physical ability in using the sword.
"Haaap!"
Abel, who saw the opportunity, tightened the grip on his hilt. He turned into a fierce storm that rained attacks on Cain.
Swoosh!
Every time the sword was swung, the air howled and sent a shockwave that whistled through the perimeters, singing a rhythm of death.
A flurry of silver flashes came from every direction. Vertical, diagonal, and side, Abel utilized his explosiveness in every movement that sent a tingling sensation down to Cain's spine.
Although Abel looked dominant in this fight, he picked the wrong opponent.
'I can't believe Abel was this strong, but.'
Cain jumped to the side, shifting his upper body, then took one step back to avoid all attacks with precision.
His black eyes followed every trajectory of Abel's sword. And when the vertical swing came down like a hammer of judgment, Cain moved.
With minimal movement, he lowered his center of gravity and swung his katana, which hit the side of Abel's sword.
Clang!
Spark flew in the air as Abel was thrown back. His stance collapsed, making him an easy target.
"Wha!?"
Abel gasped; both his pupils shrank because he had never thought of being defeated in the contest of strength.
"My turn now!"
Cain's voice was cold, reflecting his katana sword that was ready to seize his fifteenth victory.