Mira and I walked toward the center of the field.
The ground beneath our feet felt colder here, the air heavier, as if the dome itself was holding its breath. Thousands of eyes tracked our every step.
I glanced at Mira and smiled at her—warm, steady, the kind meant to anchor someone when everything else felt like it was closing in.
"Mira," I said softly. "You ready? Nervous?"
She shook her head, her fingers curling slightly as she walked beside me.
"As long as I'm with you… I won't be scared."
"That's good," I replied. "Then let's show them what we can do."
On the sidelines waiting, the black-haired boy let out a long sigh as he watched us step forward.
"I still can't believe it," he muttered. "A double SSS-tier genius throwing everything away to bond with an F-tier War Maiden. What a waste. His future's basically over."
His blonde partner nodded. "I agree. Kairos only has himself to blame. He offended Asa—and worse, her father. Commander Woods doesn't forget."
"Lower your voices," the red-haired girl hissed. "You want to get flagged for interference?"
Down by the command platform, Asa leaned closer to her father.
"Father," she asked quietly, eyes glittering, "how exactly are you planning to deal with Kairos?"
Commander Woods didn't look away from the field. "Oh, don't worry."
A slow, cruel smile crept across his face.
"The Chthari he's facing has been injected with a Berserker Strain."
Asa stiffened. "…What?"
"That's right," Woods said calmly. "Once the trial begins, it'll go berserk—unleashing power close to a Level-Three Chthari."
Asa's lips parted, then curled into a delighted grin. "Near Level-Three combat strength…?"
She laughed softly.
"Oh my. This is perfect. Kairos and that girl are finished."
"Anyone who crosses me," Woods said, chuckling, "doesn't walk away alive."
Asa laughed with him.
"The trial begins," Dean Shin announced.
The massive gate at the far end of the arena opened.
A Night Ravager emerged.
But this one was wrong.
Its four-legged frame had swollen with unnatural mass. Matte-black chitin split apart in places, glowing veins pulsing beneath the surface where the serum burned through its body. It stood taller—heavier—its movements violent and unrestrained.
Each step gouged deep scars into the field, poison sizzling where its claws struck. The silent, stalking predator it should have been was gone.
In its place, there was raw destruction.
Two massive claws hung forward like executioner's blades, twitching constantly, unable to restrain themselves. Its eyes burned brighter—unfocused, feral—locking onto movement rather than prey.
It didn't stalk.
It charged.
Red mist bled from its body as it roared.
The black-haired boy's face went pale. "…Something's off about that Level-Two Ravager."
"I feel it too," his blonde partner whispered.
Dean Shin shot to his feet. "That Chthari has mutated!" he shouted. "It's gone berserk!"
"Berserk?" the black-haired boy swallowed. "A berserk Level-Two can unleash terrifying power."
The blonde girl clenched her fists. "This is beyond what students can handle. They need to stop the trial—now. Kairos and Mira could be killed."
"But school rules state," the red-haired girl said grimly,
"That if the trial is interrupted for any reason… it counts as a failure."
Laughter rang out from the command platform.
"Hahaha! Here it comes!" Asa shouted. "Kairos—prepare for your end!"
"So what if you're an SSS prodigy?" Commander Woods sneered. "You'll still die by my hand."
The Night Ravager roared again, lowering its head, muscles bulging as it prepared to charge.
Mira stood beside me, her breath quickening.
"Kairos…" she whispered. "What do we do? It's berserk!"
I studied the monster calmly.
"It's about the same level as the Dreadmaw I fought yesterday. It is much weaker than the Dreadmaw."
Mira waited for me to answer.
"With Red Ash, this will be easy."
I placed a hand over hers.
"Relax. We've got this."
She swallowed—then nodded.
"And besides," I added lightly, "You're an even stronger SSS-tier Valkyrie than Aylin."
Her eyes widened—then burned with resolve.
"Mira," I said, voice firm, "Prepare to initiate the link."
"Right!" she replied, excitement cutting through the fear.
Blue and red energy surged around us.
Fire erupted.
From the flames, Red Ash descended—wings flaring wide before snapping shut as it landed heavily on the field.
The ground trembled.
Its eyes glowed crimson.
Red Ash lifted into the air briefly, wings beating once, twice—then dropped back down, claws digging into the earth.
Across the field, the Night Ravager snarled.
The two stared at each other.
Predator.
And executioner.
Dean Shin staggered back, eyes wide.
"…That's—" he whispered. "That's the Red Ash Valkyrie."
His voice rose in disbelief.
"Mira Hart is an SSS-tier War Maiden?!"
Shock rippled through the entire dome.
Silence followed, waiting to see what happened.