Morning sunlight drenched the campus in soft gold as Class 1-C returned from the test zone. Their uniforms were torn, bodies sore, and faces streaked with dirt. Yet there was something more pressing than exhaustion in their eyes—anticipation. The results of the survival test loomed over them.
In the main training hall, Instructor Mei was waiting in her trademark cold posture. Her sharp gaze cut through the air like a blade, silencing even the most restless whisper. Behind her loomed a gigantic screen displaying glowing numbers—each team's total points tallied and ranked.
Lian felt his stomach twist as the board flickered alive. His danger sense wasn't warning him of battle anymore, but of the sting of judgment. Zhang Wei crossed his arms, stoic but tense. Mei Ling bit her lip, clearly nervous, while Daiki hummed low, trying to calm the buzzing in his chest.
Mei's voice carried, crisp and merciless:
The jungle trial has concluded. Each team was marked on points from machines destroyed, strategy employed, and courage shown against fellow students. Some of you did yourselves proud. Some of you disappointed me."
The room strained. Lian exhaled slowly, forcing himself to meet her gaze.
Mei tapped on the screen. "Highest score… Rui's team."
The board sprang to life with Team 2 – 352 points.
Rui's mouth curled in his usual half-smirk. Shen Qiu smacked his shoulder proudly, Tao Lin let out a grin, and even quiet Kira Hong looked satisfied. Rui bowed his head slightly, but his eyes flicked toward Lian and Xia Yun, the challenge in them unmistakable.
"Second place," Mei continued, "Xia Yun's team."
Team 3 – 301 points.
Xia snorted, brushing her black hair back. "Not bad for illusions and insects," she murmured to Nara Kei, who smiled mischievously back. Zhou Ping was fist-pumping the air, and Guo Fen was preening over her insect swarm box.
"Third place." Mei paused dramatically, her eyes scanning the class. " A tie between Lian's team and Chen Hao's team."
Team 1 – 267 points.
Team 4 – 267 points.
Lian blinked. "Draw?" he muttered to himself.
Zhang Wei sighed. "So much effort, and Rui still scored higher than us."
"Hey, a draw isn't so bad," Daiki laughed nervously, scratching at the back of his neck.
Mei Ling nodded, though her lips were tight. Her vines trembled slightly at her fingertips, betraying her frustration.
Across the room, Chen Hao erupted into laughter, his iron-hard hands slamming Luo Yan's back. "Draw or not, we stood our ground. That's what counts!"
But the celebration died when Mei raised her hand. The final line of scores appeared on the screen.
Team 5 – 89 points.
The room fell silent. Team 5—four students who'd mostly avoided fighting, hiding more than they fought. Their names barely remembered because they'd barely made a mark.
Instructor Mei's voice became stern. "Team 5, You lacked courage. You avoided confrontation, didn't display skill, and did nothing worthy of Class 1-C. From this day forward, you are expelled from this class."
Gasps resounded through the hall.
One of the students from Team 5 stammered, "W-Wait, we did attempt to survive—"
"Survival by not trying is cowardice," Mei cut him off. "Heroism takes more than hiding.".
The students slumped, defeated, as staff escorted them out. Their departure left an empty silence heavier than any battle. Sixteen remained.
Rui broke the quiet first, his tone low but sharp. "The weak fall. The strong rise. That's how it should be."
Xia Yun shot him a glare. "Don't act like you're untouchable. We'll surpass you."
Lian said nothing, but his fists clenched. Rui had secured the first place, but there was something in the manner he spoke that ignited a fire in Lian's heart. He would not be overshadowed forever.
The tension by midday had morphed into a strange mix of relief and fatigue. The class was given the afternoon to relax, and the dorms buzzed with activity.
Some students sprawled in the common room, chatting or laughing about the battles. Chen Hao boasted loudly, acting out his iron punches. Luo Yan rolled her eyes but smirked at his antics. Han Bo lounged with smoke curling lazily from his lips, while Fei Min ribbited his laughter at Daiki's nervous humming.
Xia Yun's team huddled around the windows, Zhou Ping extinguishing sparks from his fingertips as Guo Fen's insects danced across her hand. Nara Kei leaned against the wall, observing in silence.
Lian was on the couch with his team, Mei Ling dressing a gash on her arm. "We could've done better," she complained.
"We will," Lian said. "Next time, Rui won't get ahead of us so easily."
Zhang Wei grunted. "Words are empty if we don't train more."
Daiki sighed, though a weak smile tugged at his lips. "Guess relaxation won't last long with you guys."
That was when Rui entered the room, Shen Qiu following beside him. The conversation mellowed as his presence lingered like static in the air. Rui gazed at Lian, eyes sharp.
"You fought well," Rui said. "But in the end, you couldn't best me. Don't forget that."
Lian's eyes narrowed. "Enjoy first place for the time being. You won't be keeping it long."
The air warmed up. Sparks of electricity barely crackled between Rui and Xia Yun across the room, her lightning Qi reacting to her mood. Mei Ling caught Lian's arm in a gentle grip, as if to warn him against charging forward.
Chen soon picked up on the atmosphere and clapped his iron hands together with a booming laugh. "Hey, come on everyone! We just survived a jungle full of the worst killer robots. Can't we enjoy one quiet afternoon?"
Shen Qiu laughed, relieving some of the tension. "He's right. For now, let's eat before another battle is ignited."
Gradually, the tension eased, though the rivalries were far from extinguished. Rui's smirk, Xia's narrowed gaze, and Lian's clenched jaw promised future clashes.
Later that evening, as the sun dipped low, Lian sat outside the dorms, webbing a small strand between two poles. He let his body swing gently, eyes watching the sky turn red. His chest tightened with determination.
Rui might have come first, Xia might have come second, but he was not about to let himself be lost in their shadows. Not now. Not ever.
Zhang Wei appeared from behind them with a little strange smile. "Still thinking about it?"
"Yeah."
Zhang Wei leaned on the railing. "Good. Means you're ready. Next time, you'll be stronger. We all will."
Lian nodded, the fire in his eyes blazing as fiercely as the sinking sun.