Astraeus’s combat hall was enormous.

  Far larger than ordinary training rooms.

  The floor was made of modular tiles designed to absorb impacts, the walls were reinforced, and near the ceiling, a series of observation drones floated silently like mechanical vultures.

  Ren Aster lingered slightly behind as he entered with the rest of his class.

  His gaze swept across the room.

  Central ring.

  Warm-up zones.

  Analysis sensors.

  Everything here breathed one thing:

  natural selection.

  His stomach tightened slightly.

  Today…

  …this was going to be bad.

  Very bad.

  The instructor’s voice cracked through the room.

  “Form pairs.”

  He was a broad-shouldered man with a cold gaze, arms crossed behind his back.

  “Controlled combat. I want to see your real level.”

  A ripple ran through the group.

  Some students were already smiling.

  Others stretched casually.

  The Awakened, meanwhile…

  …looked almost bored.

  Ren felt sweat form in his palms.

  Pairs…

  Bad.

  Very bad.

  The students began grouping up.

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  Naturally.

  Quickly.

  Without hesitation.

  And as always…

  Ren was left alone.

  The seconds passed.

  One.

  Two.

  Three.

  The looks started.

  Then the murmurs.

  — He doesn’t have anyone with him…

  — Figures…

  — Who’d want to waste their time…

  Ren stared at the floor.

  His face remained neutral.

  But his jaw was tight.

  Very tight.

  The instructor finally looked up from his tablet.

  His eyes fell on Ren.

  “Aster.”

  Ren’s heart lurched violently.

  “You’ll be with…”

  The man scanned the room.

  Then stopped.

  A thin smile briefly crossed his face.

  “Kellan Dross.”

  A small silence spread through the room.

  Then—

  Muffled laughter.

  Ren felt his stomach drop.

  Kellan…

  Bad draw.

  Very bad.

  A boy was already stepping forward from the other side of the ring.

  Tall.

  Athletic.

  Relaxed but confident posture.

  The kind of presence that clearly said:

  not an amateur.

  Kellan stopped a few meters from Ren and looked him up and down.

  Slowly.

  Openly.

  Then he sighed.

  “Seriously…”

  His voice was loud enough for the nearby students to hear.

  “Teach, you sure? I’m gonna break him.”

  A few laughs followed.

  The instructor didn’t react.

  “Controlled combat.”

  Kellan shrugged.

  “Yeah, yeah…”

  Then his eyes returned to Ren.

  Colder now.

  “Try to last more than ten seconds, okay?”

  Ren’s heart was pounding too fast.

  But his feet still moved.

  He stepped onto the ring.

  The floor vibrated faintly beneath his shoes.

  The drones drifted closer.

  Silent.

  Watching.

  [High stress situation detected.]

  The system window pulsed softly.

  Ren inhaled slowly.

  Calm…

  Observe…

  Like last time.

  Like during the tests.

  But his body was already too tense.

  The instructor’s voice fell sharply.

  “Begin.”

  Kellan moved instantly.

  Too fast.

  Always too fast.

  His foot slid.

  His shoulder turned.

  A simple strike.

  Clean.

  Ren tried to follow.

  His body reacted—

  But late.

  Always.

  The impact grazed his guard and shoved him back two steps.

  Murmurs spread through the room.

  — Already over…

  — He can’t keep up…

  Ren’s heart raced wildly.

  Too fast…

  Kellan walked forward casually.

  Almost relaxed.

  “You see? Didn’t even need—”

  He attacked again.

  This time—

  Something inside Ren tightened.

  That sensation.

  Ancient.

  Instinctive.

  His foot pivoted slightly.

  His torso followed.

  The strike passed a few centimeters from his cheek.

  A real dodge.

  Clean.

  Silent.

  A brief silence fell.

  Kellan blinked.

  “…Huh?”

  Even the instructor raised his head slightly.

  But Ren—

  Ren was already trembling.

  His vision pulsed.

  [Passive Echo — minor activation.]

  [Compatibility: 1.6%]

  Damn…

  The migraine was rising.

  But he stayed standing.

  Still.

  Facing Kellan.

  His opponent’s eyes had narrowed slightly now.

  Less mocking.

  More attentive.

  “…Okay.”

  His stance shifted.

  Subtly.

  But dangerously.

  “So you’ve got a little bite after all.”

  Ren’s heart tightened.

  Bad…

  Very bad.

  Because now—

  Kellan was about to get serious.

  And somewhere, from the observation walkway…

  A certain cold-eyed prodigy was still watching the ring.

  Without blinking.

  Without looking away.

  For the first time…

  …Ren Aster had officially entered her field of attention.

  [Subject observed by third party: minor interest detected.]

  The system recorded it.

  Calmly.

  Coldly.

  As always.