The mission ended, but the field was still a mess. Broken drones, scorched debris, and shattered barriers littered the area. We were lucky to escape with the artifact.
Marcus sank to a nearby wall, his hands trembling slightly. "I… overdid it."
I knelt beside him. "Overdid it? You basically punched Kael's wall to dust. That was insane."
He gave a weak laugh, rubbing his arms. "That's the problem. Every time I push too far… I feel it everywhere. Shared Pain doesn't just protect me—it makes me pay for every hit I take, multiplied. If I overuse Overheal…" His voice trailed off.
I nodded slowly, understanding the stakes more clearly now. Marcus wasn't just a healer; he was a fighter whose power came with a cost, one that could leave him vulnerable if mismanaged.
Back at the academy, the mission report caused quite a stir.
"Marcus Lee… Overheal? In the field?" whispered one student.
"Did you see that? He destroyed Kael's barrier! How is a healer capable of that?" another said.
Even the instructors were murmuring. Liora's performance was scrutinized too, though she maintained her cold smirk, clearly annoyed by the surprise.
Later, in the dormitory, Marcus and I analyzed the battle.
"I need to control Overheal better," he muttered. "If I push too hard next time, I could collapse… or worse."
I leaned back. "You were incredible. But yeah, your body can only take so much. You're like… a ticking time bomb."
He frowned. "I hope it's enough. Liora won't make the same mistakes twice."
That thought lingered. Liora's father, Professor Cyrus Vex, had likely seen the mission feed. Marcus's mind wandered to his father. Could Vex know something about him too?
________________
Professor Vex POV....
Later that night, in a dimly lit office filled with mechanical blueprints and glowing holo-screens, Professor Vex observed the mission playback.
"Interesting," he murmured, adjusting his glasses. "Marcus Lee… his abilities mirror your father's work more than I expected. If trained correctly, he could surpass even the originals."
He swiveled toward a hidden file labeled: "Subject Lee: Hybrid Support/Defender/Offense Analysis".
"Keep an eye on him, Liora. He might prove… useful."
The subtle implication was clear: Professor Vex knew more than anyone suspected about Marcus and his father, and the Buddy System might not just be training—it was a test.
_____________________
Kent's POV
Meanwhile, I had been thinking about my own limits. During the mission, I'd barely controlled my attacks, dodging and smashing debris without realizing how much damage I could truly unleash.
A small thought echoed in my mind:
If I push a little harder… if I unleash just a bit more…
I shook it off. Not yet. Not until Marcus could handle it. But a spark of curiosity—and danger—had begun to stir inside me.
The night was quiet, but the academy was restless.
Liora sat in her room, examining schematics of her drones. Kael cleaned his armor silently.
"The healer was stronger than expected," Liora muttered.
"He hid something," Kael replied.
And somewhere deep inside the shadows of the academy, Professor Vex's eyes glowed with calculation.
This game is far from over.