"That's enough," I call out, as Lyra's crystalline arm blade barely misses Sera's shoulder. "Reset positions."

  The training room in Central Arena's preparation zone has become our second home over the past week. The walls are scorched from Sera's flames, dented from my telekinetic strikes, and occasionally still glittering with crystal fragments shed from Lyra's transformations.

  Lyra steps back, her arm morphing from a wicked blade back to normal human appearance. Even after a week of training, the sight is still unsettling, the fluid way her flesh ripples and restructures itself, more like living clay than biological tissue.

  "Sorry," she says, brushing silver hair from her face. "I'm still getting used to the timing."

  Sera extinguishes the flames dancing between her fingers, rolling her shoulders to release tension. "Better than yesterday. At least you didn't actually stab me this time."

  "Your coordination is improving," I acknowledge, moving to the center of the room. "But you're still thinking too much before each transformation. In a real fight, you won't have time to plan every move."

  Lyra nods enthusiastically. "I know! It's just so different fighting as part of a team instead of solo. When I took my ranking assessment, I just turned my whole body into weapons and charged at everything."

  "Which would get us all killed in a coordinated fight," Sera points out dryly.

  Desta stands at the edge of the training area, eyes occasionally flickering with code patterns as she analyzes our performance. "Tactical integration shows 47% improvement from initial baseline. Suboptimal, but progressing at acceptable rate."

  "In normal human speak: we're getting better, but we're not great yet," Sera translates with a smirk.

  I study our newest member with a critical eye. Lyra has improved rapidly over the past week, her natural enthusiasm matched by a genuine willingness to learn. Her shapeshifting abilities make her incredibly versatile, she can form weapons, shields, even specialized tools depending on the situation. More importantly, her healing factor makes her nearly impossible to put down permanently.

  "One more run," I decide. "This time, I want to see faster transitions between offense and defense. Lyra, when I call for shield wall, I need it immediately, not three seconds later."

  Lyra straightens, her posture shifting to something almost military. "Understood! Shield wall on command, no delay."

  We take our positions in the standard formation we've been practicing. I anchor the front with my telekinesis, Sera provides ranged support with her elemental attacks, Desta covers our technological vulnerabilities, and Lyra serves as our adaptable tank, shifting between defense and offense as needed.

  The training program activates, projecting holographic enemies that still deliver a painful shock if they make contact. C-rank difficulty, challenging enough to make us work, but not overwhelming. Perfect for integration training with a new member.

  "Begin," I command, and immediately the room fills with simulated combat.

  The holographic enemies rush our position, humanoid figures wielding energy weapons and basic enhancement capabilities. I grab two telekinetically and slam them together while Sera engulfs another group in flames. Desta picks off targets with precise shots from her energy pistol, her upgraded quantum computer enhancing her targeting calculations.

  "Flanking right!" Sera calls out, spotting a group trying to circle us.

  "Lyra, shield wall right!" I command.

  This time, her response is instant. Her right arm expands and flattens into a massive crystalline shield that covers both her and Sera from incoming fire. No hesitation, no overthinking, just instant execution.

  "Good!" I acknowledge, using telekinesis to hurl debris at the flanking enemies. "Now offense, center mass!"

  Lyra's left arm transforms into a serrated blade while she maintains the shield with her right. She charges forward, the blade cleaving through holographic enemies with surprising precision. Her movements are more fluid now, the transformations happening mid-stride instead of requiring her to stop and concentrate.

  The simulation escalates, introducing a larger threat, a heavily armored juggernaut that shrugs off Sera's flames and Desta's energy bolts.

  "Target the joints!" I call out, focusing my telekinesis on the creature's knees to slow its advance.

  Sera immediately adjusts, sending concentrated beams of heat at the exposed connections in the armor. Desta's shots become more calculated, targeting the same weak points with methodical precision.

  Lyra reacts without being prompted, dropping her shield form as the threat pattern changes. Both arms transform into piercing spikes as she darts forward, exploiting the openings we've created in the juggernaut's defenses.

  The holographic enemy shatters into pixels as Lyra drives both spikes through its visualization core, ending the simulation.

  "Now that's more like it," I say, genuinely impressed. "You're starting to think like a team member instead of a solo fighter."

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  Lyra beams with pride, her arms returning to normal. "It's starting to feel natural! The rhythm of how we all work together, I mean."

  "Engagement effectiveness improved by 22% compared to previous iteration," Desta confirms, holstering her energy pistol. "Lethal decision execution particularly efficient."

  "The scary robot lady is right," Sera grins, slinging an arm around Lyra's shoulders. "You're getting the hang of this."

  I deactivate the training program, satisfied with our progress. A week ago, Lyra was a liability, too focused on showing off her shapeshifting abilities to function effectively in coordinated combat. Now she's beginning to understand her role, adaptable support that can shift between tank and damage dealer as the situation demands.

  "Tactical integration approaching acceptable parameters for Labyrinth expedition," Desta observes, her eyes briefly flickering with code.

  "In normal human speak: we might be ready for a real challenge," Sera translates, though I notice she's become more comfortable with Desta's clinical speech patterns over time.

  "I think she's right," I agree, considering our options. "It's time to put our training to the test. The Labyrinth should give us a good measure of how we function as a team under actual pressure."

  Lyra's expression brightens with excitement. "The Labyrinth? Really? I'm so excited to go again! I've only been through it once for my ranking assessment!"

  Well, we've all only been through it once, but probably better not to point that out right now.

  "Don't get too excited," I caution. "The Labyrinth isn't just about combat. It's about adaptation, problem-solving, and teamwork. All the things we've been practicing."

  "Plus," Sera adds with a smirk, "Gary's looking for something specific this time. Aren't you?"

  I nod, thinking about our conversation with Zix'ilit yesterday. "The second component for the Crown of Mental Superiority is in a zone called the Quantum Nexus. It typically unlocks after five successful Labyrinth runs, but according to Zix we can only do one Labyrinth run per arena cycle, so it would take us way too long to reach five runs the regular way.”

  “What else can we do then?” Sera asks.

  “Thankfully there is a special key we can use to get access to it early, something called a Nexus Override Module."

  "And this module is in the Labyrinth?" Lyra asks, her silver hair catching the light as she tilts her head curiously.

  "Supposedly. Zix says it's only found in side paths of C-rank difficulty or higher runs." I look at each team member in turn, assessing their readiness. "Which means we'll need to set the Labyrinth to least at C-rank difficulty for our run."

  "Wait," Sera interjects, "we can set the difficulty? I thought the Labyrinth just got harder the deeper you went."

  "That's only for your first run," I explain. "After that, you can choose your base difficulty. Higher difficulties mean tougher enemies, but better rewards."

  Desta's eyes flicker with code patterns. "Query: success probability assessment for C-rank configuration with current team parameters?"

  "In normal human speak: can we handle it?" Sera translates.

  I consider this carefully. "Theoretically a team of four C-ranks should be able to complete a C-rank difficulty run."

  "So it should be easy then! Since we got you we us!" Sera says, grinning at me.

  Lyra bounces on her toes, barely containing her excitement. "When do we go? I'm ready now!"

  "Tomorrow," I decide. "Let's get a full night's rest first. The Labyrinth takes everything you've got, physically and mentally."

  As the team disperses to prepare, I find myself thinking about how quickly everything has changed. A month ago, Team Exodus was struggling to find its identity after Ember and Eli left. Now we have Sera with her restored elemental abilities, Desta with her upgraded quantum computer, and Lyra with her shapeshifting versatility.

  We're becoming something new, not the team I originally envisioned, but perhaps the team we need to be.

  ---

  "Are you absolutely certain you want to do this now?" Zix'ilit asks, his frill rippling with nervous colors as we prepare to enter the Labyrinth the next morning. "C-rank difficulty sounds easy, but side paths are typically one grade higher in difficulty! And boss monsters are even stronger! If you lose then you wasted your run! You can only challenge the Labyrinth once per arena cycle, you know!"

  “Yeah, yeah, I know all that.” I wave him off, starting to get annoyed by all of Zix’s nagging.

  Lyra looks between us curiously. "Is this a problem? Should we wait?"

  "No, we proceed as planned," I reply. "With our team we should be able to handle the side paths even if they’re higher difficulty. Zix, tell us more about the key we need, this Nexus Override Module, where exactly would we find it?"

  "Most commonly spawns in B-rank difficulty side path that branches from C-rank main path!" Zix'ilit explains, his frill expanding with excitement. "You'll need to find hidden entrance approximately 60% through main path sequence! Not guaranteed spawn, but high probability!"

  Great. Another "might be there, might not" situation.

  "What happens if we set the difficulty to C-rank but find ourselves unable to handle it?" Lyra asks, voicing the concern none of us wanted to acknowledge.

  "Emergency extraction available at any time!" Zix'ilit assures us. "But using it forfeits all resources acquired during run! And counts as your cycle attempt!"

  "So we either succeed or waste our chance completely," Sera summarizes.

  I look at each team member, assessing not just their abilities but their resolve. "Last chance to back out. Once we're in, we're committed."

  Desta's eyes flicker briefly with code. "Statistical analysis indicates acceptable risk-reward ratio given current team capabilities."

  Sera flexes her fingers, small flames dancing between them. "I've been stuck doing maintenance for months. I'll take my chances with the Labyrinth."

  Lyra straightens, her typically perfect features set with determination. "I joined Team Exodus for exactly this kind of challenge. I'm ready."

  I nod, satisfied with their responses. "Then we go with the original plan. C-rank difficulty, focus on finding that side path, and stay together no matter what."

  Zix'ilit bounces excitedly as he activates the entrance portal. "Difficulty configuration set! C-rank parameters established! Good hunting, Team Exodus!"

  The portal shimmers before us, a swirling vortex of energy that will transport us to the Labyrinth's entrance. Unlike my first visit, when I went alone into the unknown, this time I have a team at my back, for better or worse.

  "Remember your training," I tell them as we approach the portal. "Stay in formation, communicate clearly, and adapt to whatever the Labyrinth throws at us."

  Together, we step through the shimmering entrance, leaving the relative safety of Central Arena behind.

  Gary’s growth from about 2 weeks worth of nightly meditation and optimizations of the powerups from the serum and telekinesis breakthrough.

  CHARACTER PROFILE

  Gary (PROTAGONIST) Final stats before transfer to Central Arena

  STR: 90(+10) - B rank strength

  SPD: 110(+14) - A- rank speed and reflexes

  RES: 80(+11) - B rank damage resistance and recovery

  CTL: 152(+15) - A rank telekinetic power, and control (A rank with gauntlets)

  AWR: 104(+9) - A- rank perception

  Primary: Advanced Telekinesis (Molecular manipulation, Neural Architecture Modification)

  Secondary: Physical Enhancement