Through the hallways, a group of students walked together, their shoes clicking against the polished marble floor. They chatted among themselves, seemingly unaware of the numerous glances directed their way by the other students.
It wasn't every day that one got to see a group of exceptionally talented and gorgeous-looking individuals walking together.
"By the way... what do you think about Noah? Don't tell me you actually believe he's changed?" Emma asked.
"We can't say that for certain yet. But he's definitely behaving better than he used to," Leonard replied, walking beside her.
"Well, I think he seems kind... I mean, not when he's fighting. But when he's talking, he does give off the impression of being a good person," Lyria said, looking slightly confused.
"Oh, Lyria! You're just too kind. That's why you always assume everyone is a good person. But unfortunately, that's not how the world works." Emma shook her head, trying to explain some basic common sense to her friend. You're beautiful, after all. I bet that's the only reason he spoke so politely to you! There's no other explanation."
"Tch! As far as I know, he's never been particularly polite to anyone his age. No matter how beautiful they are," Kaelan clicked his tongue, sharing what he knew. He then continued, "Besides, why are we even talking about him? There's nothing particularly special about that guy."
His tone carried a hint of irritation.
Damien, who was walking in the middle of the group, simply smiled at his reaction.
"I have to admit... He's handsome. Almost too handsome," Arisha remarked indifferently, her expression as calm as ever.
However, her words left everyone stunned.
Arisha Willow, the girl who usually acted like an ice queen and had little interest in noblemen, had actually admitted that Noah was handsome.
That was certainly unexpected.
"Well, that's something new..."
"Oh! Oh my goodness! Arisha, don't tell me you've developed a crush on Noah! Or is this a case of love at first sight?" Emma exclaimed, looking utterly horrified.
Arisha turned towards her.
"The fuc—cough! I mean, what are you even talking about? Me? Having a crush on Noah? That's impossible. I only said it because he's genuinely handsome. Nothing more."
She turned her face away, continuing to walk with an annoyed expression.
"Okay, let's drop the subject. There's no point in discussing this any further," Damien finally interrupted, attempting to change the topic.
"Then what should we talk about?" Lyria asked, tilting her head cutely.
"...You know we're going to have a VR battle against another class next week, right? It's not an exam, but more of a practical session where we'll get to fight as a team and learn how to coordinate with one another."
"Yeah... But we'll only find out the exact date of the battle on Monday," Emma replied, rubbing her chin thoughtfully as she considered how they might approach the upcoming fight.
"That battle is going to be fun!" Leonard exclaimed with a wide grin.
"You think so? Well, I'm actually looking forward to it myself," Damien admitted, clearly excited about the upcoming class battle.
"Team battles are always messy," Kaelan remarked, crossing his arms over his chest. "Most people have no idea how to fight in formation. They just rush forward like idiots without thinking."
Leonard grinned. "That's because most people think they're the main character."
Emma nodded in agreement.
"Team battles aren't just about individual strength. Positioning, timing, support, defense... Everything matters. One person's mistake can affect the entire team. And when it's an entire class fighting against another class, things will be even more complicated. We'll have to coordinate with nearly a hundred students."
Lyria looked slightly worried.
"I've never participated in a proper team battle before... What if I mess something up?"
"You won't," Damien reassured her calmly. "Team battles are all about coordination. And even if you make a mistake, your teammates will be there to cover for you."
Emma pointed at Damien.
"Exactly! That's what makes group battles so exciting."
Arisha, who had remained quiet for a while, finally spoke.
"VR battles are also quite different from real combat. People tend to take greater risks because they know they won't actually die."
Leonard smirked.
"Which makes it even more fun."
Emma rolled her eyes.
"You just want to fight strong opponents."
"Of course," Leonard replied without the slightest hesitation. "What's wrong with that?"
Kaelan laughed arrogantly.
"You're probably going to charge straight into the enemy formation and get surrounded. I can already picture it."
Leonard glared at him.
"I'm not that stupid!"
"You are," Emma and Kaelan said simultaneously.
Lyria giggled softly.
Damien simply shook his head with a smile, watching their usual bickering.
The evening gradually settled over Novaris City, painting the sky in beautiful shades of orange and purple. The bustling streets remained crowded with people, illuminated by countless lights and filled with the constant sounds of traffic and conversation.
However, far away from the city's main roads, tucked into one of its forgotten corners, lay a narrow alleyway that rarely saw any visitors.
The alley was dark, damp, and eerily silent. Water dripped from broken pipes, while piles of garbage bags sat scattered against the grimy walls. The only source of light was an old streetlamp near the entrance, its flickering glow barely illuminating the surroundings.
Suddenly, heavy footsteps echoed through the silence.
A man came stumbling into the alley, running desperately as though his life depended on it. His steps were unsteady, and he nearly collapsed several times, but he forced himself to keep moving.
"Haa... Haa... Haa..."
His breathing was ragged and uneven.
His clothes were torn, and his body was covered in blood and wounds. A deep gash stretched across his shoulder, soaking his sleeve in blood. His face had turned deathly pale, while sweat mixed with the blood dripping from his chin.
He frantically glanced over his shoulder before looking around the alley. With trembling hands, he pulled out his mobile device.
It was a communication device issued to the academy's staff.
"No signal...?!" he muttered, staring at the screen in disbelief. "Why isn't there any signal?!"
Someone was hunting him down.
And now, even his communication device had stopped working.
He had no idea why anyone would want to kill him.
He wasn't a fighter, nor was he someone important. He was merely an ordinary academy employee, working in the cleaning department.
Yet, somehow, he had found himself in a situation where his very life was at stake.
He repeatedly tapped the screen, desperately attempting to contact the academy or reach the emergency services.
But the same message kept appearing.
NO NETWORK.
His expression grew increasingly desperate.
Even the emergency signal transmitter attached to his belt had stopped functioning.
"T-This is impossible..." he whispered, his voice trembling with fear.
His eyes widened as a horrifying possibility crossed his mind.
"S-Signal jammers...?"