Lumian, Asael, and Eva arrived at the massive training gym, where the instructors in charge of teaching them how to fight were already waiting.
Since it was the first day, Lumian had to undergo general skill and competency tests.
After the evaluations, the trainees were divided into groups: Novice, Advanced, or Expert—along with their preferred weapon type.
Some were even assigned a personal tutor or temporary supervisor.
"Alright, everyone form two lines. You will take turns striking this machine," the instructor announced, pointing to a special measuring device. After each hit, the machine would display the sleeper's physical strength.
Lumian noticed that most sleepers scored between ten and eighteen points.
Soon, it was Eva's turn. Lumian paid close attention.
The girl approached the machine and, without any preparation, delivered a crushing blow.
The numbers flickered rapidly before the machine settled on the final result:
"18 points."
For some reason, Lumian felt a little disappointed.
Next was Asael.
He stepped up to the machine, placed his fist on the worn cloth pad, and struck with all his strength. The device trembled, struggling to register the shock. After several seconds, it stopped.
"Twenty-one."
The sleepers stared, jaws hanging open at his incredible strength. Instructor Roca smiled.
Finally, Lumian's turn came. He was the last.
He hesitated—should he activate his Aspect or not?
In the end, he chose not to.
He struck the machine. The blow echoed through the room. After a moment, the result appeared.
"Thirteen."
Lumian frowned. Lower than he expected. Disappointment settled heavily in his chest, and although he wanted to cry, his defect crushed the emotion. He forced an indifferent expression and returned to the group.
"Not bad," Roca said. "Now we'll move on to combat evaluation. I need two volunteers."
Asael stepped forward immediately.
Another sleeper soon followed, and both climbed onto the platform.
Roca's voice rang out:
"The rules are simple: make your opponent's back touch the ground, or throw them out of the ring. Use any skills or techniques you deem appropriate."
Lumian sat on the floor, feigning interest as the fight began.
The tall sleeper charged at Asael without hesitation. His muscles bulged as he rushed forward like a runaway train, launching a powerful punch.
Asael glanced at the oncoming fist, shifted his body, grabbed the man's wrist, and threw him cleanly out of the ring, sending him crashing onto the wooden gym floor.
Roca observed with clear interest.
For the next few minutes, a one-sided massacre unfolded. One by one, sleepers fell before Asael.
Lumian crossed his arms. When he had activated his Aspect the day before and caught Asael's scent, he noticed how strong it was—comparable to the Awakened from his nightmare. Perhaps even stronger.
If he had to classify it, Asael's presence matched the second elite group of Awakened he had once eliminated. As for combat technique, Lumian didn't know enough to make a professional judgment.
Out of the fifty sleepers, only two remained standing: Lumian—still seated—and Eva.
Asael had defeated forty-seven opponents in just thirty minutes.
Eva stepped onto the ring.
Asael smiled.
"I won't hold back just because we're classmates."
"I don't expect you to," Eva replied.
The humiliated sleepers watched, hopeful that Eva might put up a real fight.
In an instant, Eva moved. Her body shot forward with explosive force, launching a devastating kick. Asael raised his forearm, redirecting the impact.
He countered with a punch to her stomach.
Eva gasped as the air escaped her lungs. She skidded across the platform, stopping near the edge.
Asael didn't give her a moment to recover.
Before her feet fully touched the edge, he was already there, advancing with the calm certainty of someone who knew exactly how to finish a fight.
Eva clenched her teeth and lunged at him again, unleashing a flurry of rapid, fluid strikes—some too fast for the other sleepers to even see.
But Asael was a monster.
He blocked, parried, or redirected every hit with surgical precision.
Eva attempted a spinning kick, aiming for his head. Asael ducked under it and pushed her torso, leaving her guard wide open.
Eva staggered back, her breathing uneven.
Asael didn't smile. He simply ended it.
When Eva launched a final desperate attack, he caught her wrist, pulled, turned, and used her own momentum to lift her off the ground.
The throw was clean, decisive, humiliating.
Eva landed outside the ring on her back, the impact echoing sharply across the gym.
Silence held for a full second.
Asael straightened, barely winded, while the sleepers stared with fear, respect, and shock.
"Good attempt," Asael said, without mockery.
Eva gritted her teeth and stood.
"It was a good fight," she admitted.
Lumian had watched the entire duel and noticed two things: Asael was strong, Eva was strong… and neither had used their Aspect abilities.
Lumian stood, deciding to test himself against Asael's overwhelming strength.
As he stepped into the ring, he passed Eva on her way down.
He stopped in front of Asael, who stared directly at him.
"I hope you don't disappoint me," Asael said.
"Well… prepare to be disappointed," Lumian replied. He was realistic—he knew he had no chance of winning, not yet.
Instructor Roca, acting as referee, nodded. The sleepers who had just witnessed the fight with the second-strongest student looked on with shock and curiosity. What would the third-strongest achieve?
Roca raised his hand.
"Begin."
The fight lasted three seconds.
Asael moved first, charging forward with that uncanny speed.
Lumian tried to dodge, twisting his torso, and barely avoided the first strike—
But Asael was already behind him.
A knee struck Lumian's ribs, blowing the air from his lungs. Before he could recover, Asael grabbed his arm, twisted it with flawless technique, and used Lumian's own momentum to lift and slam him.
The impact echoed like thunder.
Lumian hit the ground on his back, dazed.
Asael didn't attack further; he simply stepped back.
"Three seconds," Asael said—no pride, just fact.
Lumian inhaled shakily and forced himself to stand.
"Yeah… You're really strong."
Asael offered a hand. After a moment of hesitation, Lumian took it and got to his feet.
Around them, the sleepers whispered in awe and fear. Asael had defeated forty-nine opponents in a row.
With that, combat training ended. Bruised, exhausted, and with their pride wounded, they headed to the locker rooms.
While changing, Lumian reflected on his brief fight with Asael. Even with his passive Tough Skin, the strike still hurt.
After dressing, Lumian left the room, allowing Asael to deal with the attention of students drawn to his overwhelming strength.
Lumian went to the cafeteria. He filled his tray with tasteless food and ate silently.
Once finished, he returned to his dorm.
The moment his body touched the bed, he fell asleep instantly.