The courtyard had changed.
Not physically—
But atmospherically.
Where discipline once stood…
Now stood intent.
Students formed a wide circle.
Dust settled.
Wind slowed.
Even the light felt sharper.
Jin Sakamoto stepped forward, hands behind his back.
"No powers."
A pause.
"Martial arts only."
A ripple went through the crowd.
Some frowned.
Some smirked.
Some—
Like Arios—
Smiled.
"Begin."
Two figures stepped forward.
Rai — lean, sharp eyes, fingers twitching with restrained electricity.
Damrei — relaxed posture, smirk on his face, fingers already positioned to snap.
They circled.
Slow.
Measured.
Rai moved first.
A blur—
His footwork exploded forward, low stance, palm strike aimed at Damrei's ribs.
Damrei twisted—
Barely.
The strike grazed him.
Snap.
A sharp sound cut the air.
Not loud—
But dense.
A micro-explosion burst between them.
Rai slid back instantly, feet dragging across the ground.
"REC…" Damrei muttered.
Rapid Exothermic Decomposition
Not magic.
Not energy.
Just—
Perfectly timed kinetic ignition.
Rai exhaled.
Then vanished again.
This time—
He didn't strike.
He flowed.
Footwork weaving left and right, unpredictable, lightning-fast even without actual lightning.
Damrei snapped again.
Snap.
Explosion.
Rai slipped past it.
A strike—
Clean.
Direct.
Palm to the chest.
Damrei staggered back—
But smiled.
"Got you moving now."
They clashed again—
Faster.
Sharper.
Explosions bursting like controlled fireworks.
Footwork colliding with precision timing.
Impact after impact—
Until—
"Enough."
Jin's voice cut through.
Both stopped instantly.
Breathing steady.
Eyes locked.
"Good," Jin said.
"Next."
Fights broke out across the field.
Each one—
Different.
Each one—
Real.
A grappler slammed his opponent using pure leverage.
A speed-type student overwhelmed another with relentless jabs.
A defensive fighter absorbed blow after blow—
Then countered with a single decisive strike.
No powers.
No shortcuts.
Just—
Skill.
At the edge of the field—
They gathered.
Borus leaned against a pillar, arms crossed, watching with sharp interest.
Lex stood beside him, eyes narrowed, analyzing movements.
Cecil sat calmly on the low wall, posture relaxed but gaze focused.
Destiny crouched slightly, chin resting on her hand, already predicting outcomes.
Veldama leaned back, one leg crossed, faint smile playing on her lips.
And—
Lysera stood quietly among them.
Hair shifting slightly in the breeze.
Crimson eyes—
Observing everything.
"Not bad," Borus muttered.
"Still rough," Lex added.
"They're learning," Cecil said calmly.
Lysera didn't speak.
But her eyes—
Were locked on the field.
Another match ended.
Silence followed briefly.
Then—
A presence stepped forward.
Tall.
Balanced.
Still.
Zefair.
A martial artist.
Pure.
Refined.
No wasted motion.
No unnecessary energy.
He didn't speak.
He simply—
Looked.
At Arios.
Jin's gaze shifted.
"…You."
Arios stepped forward.
Wooden sword still in hand—
But he let it fall to the ground.
Thud.
He rolled his shoulders slightly.
Then stepped into stance.
At that exact moment—
Ding.
Quest Triggered.
Defeat Zefair using pure martial arts.
Restrictions: No weapons. No abilities.
Failure Condition: System Punishment (Instant Zone).
Reward: Adaptive Combat Enhancement + Stat Growth
Arios smiled.
"…Perfect."
The air shifted.
Zefair stepped forward once.
Then stopped.
Silence.
No one moved.
The watching group adjusted positions—
Borus now slightly upright.
Lex leaning forward.
Destiny's eyes narrowing.
Cecil still calm.
Veldama smirking.
Lysera—
Watching closely.
Arios and Zefair stood across from each other.
No aura.
No power.
No noise.
Just—
Two fighters.
A breeze passed between them.
Zefair exhaled slowly.
Lowered his center of gravity.
Hands relaxed.
Eyes sharp.
Arios mirrored him.
His stance—
Unrefined.
But natural.
Adaptive.
Seconds stretched.
No one dared interrupt.
Jin watched silently.
Because this—
Was different.
Not a spar.
A test.
The ground beneath them felt heavier.
The air tighter.
And then—
Zefair moved.