Morning light crept through the tall academy windows, casting long shadows over the polished floors of Solstice's underground sparring hall. The squad had barely slept, driven by the growing pressure of the World Ascension Tournament. Every hour counted now.
Kael stood in the center of the sparring ring, shirt damp with sweat, his arms wrapped in light Will-resistant tape. His breathing was slow, controlled—until Ryuu's blade came streaking toward him.
CLANG!
Kael deflected it with his gauntlet, the force sparking a brief shockwave.
"You're getting predictable," Kael muttered, twisting away and aiming a blow for Ryuu's shoulder.
Ryuu ducked, retaliating with a sweeping kick. "And you still hesitate when someone rushes you."
From the sidelines, Kaede observed silently. "Good. Push each other harder."
Tetsu leaned against the wall beside Eri, watching intently. "You think Kael's got a shot at solo entry for the first round?"
Eri shrugged, tweaking a small monitor that scanned Will signatures. "If he keeps bottling that crazy power, sure. But he's still holding back."
"Maybe he needs motivation." Tetsu smirked, then glanced at her. "So… when this tournament's over, how about a celebration? Just us. Ramen? Fireworks?"
Eri gave him a look. "Tetsu, if you flirt in the middle of every Will scan, I'll short-circuit your gloves next time."
He grinned. "So that's a maybe?"
"Focus," she snapped, cheeks slightly red.
Meanwhile, Hana and Kael faced off in the next match.
Hana darted in with fluid movements, her speed boosted by a sleek band Eri had fitted to her boots. Kael blocked her strikes, but each clash made him stumble slightly.
"You're faster," Kael noted.
"I have to be," Hana replied. "You're strong enough to crack the ground."
Kael hesitated again—just a beat—long enough for Hana to feint left, then land a soft strike to his ribs. It wasn't hard, but enough to make him step back.
"You still can't hit me seriously," she said softly, brushing hair from her face. "You're holding back again."
Kael's expression darkened. "Because I don't want to lose control. Not with you around."
Hana stepped closer. "Then learn to control it. Not bury it."
The moment froze between them—charged, intense.
Kaede broke the silence. "Alright, that's enough. Squad Four, break for cooldown. We're testing arena simulations this afternoon."
As the others left the ring, Kael remained still, staring at his gloved hands.
"I won't fail again," he whispered. "Not at the tournament. Not with them."
Outside, clouds gathered. The storm of competition was nearing.
And Squad Four would face it—together.