The atmosphere in the dining hall was strangely quiet. Leo and Ray sat in their seats, but their minds were somewhere else entirely—stuck on Skye's story. They had finally understood that Skye was not just a cold and distant girl… she was someone who carried a terrifying level of strength and darkness inside her.
The two glanced at each other, silently sharing the same thought.
We need to be careful around her.
Just then, the sound of footsteps echoed through the hall. Everyone looked up. Skye and Maya had returned after bathing. Maya looked fresh and relaxed, casually pulling out a chair and sitting down, while Skye calmly took her seat without saying a word, her usual unreadable expression on her face.
Everyone began eating… but complete silence remained at the table. Only the faint sounds of spoons and plates could be heard.
Maya took a bite, then looked around in confusion.
"What happened to all of you? Why is nobody talking?"
Steven looked at Leo and Ray's stiff expressions, then turned toward Skye while trying not to laugh.
"I just told them a few stories about your childhood."
Skye slowly placed her spoon down. Her eyes locked onto Steven.
"What stories?"
Steven smiled mischievously.
"The cute ones."
For the first time, Skye's expression shifted slightly. She picked her spoon back up and said in a cold voice,
"Why don't you stop telling everyone things about me?"
Steven laughed and slid another dish toward her.
"You need to eat more."
Skye answered in a normal tone.
"I didn't get food this good over there."
That single sentence made the table fall silent again.
Steven quickly changed the subject.
"And you two?" he asked, looking at Leo and Ray. "What's your plan now?"
Leo instantly straightened up.
"N-Nothing…"
Steven took another bite and casually said,
"From tomorrow, wake up early."
Ray immediately protested.
"But why me?"
Steven looked at him. His smile was gone.
"Wake up. I don't repeat myself."
Ray instantly went quiet.
After dinner, everyone stood up. Ray had been watching Skye the whole time. Finally, he walked toward her.
"Skye… will you spar with me?"
Everyone's eyes turned toward him.
Skye answered without wasting even a second.
"Fine."
Steven raised a hand to stop them.
"Not alone. You're strong, Ray… but you won't last against a Vice Captain by yourself."
Then he looked at Leo.
"You go too."
Leo looked at Ray in surprise.
"Me too?"
Steven smiled.
"Yes. Even together, it'll probably be difficult."
Everyone moved to the private training ground inside the house. It was huge—marble floors, steel walls, and bright lights overhead. Clearly, this was no ordinary practice room.
Leo and Ray stood on one side. Skye stood alone on the other.
There wasn't even the slightest tension on her face. It looked like this was nothing more than a warm-up to her.
Ray activated his fire aura. Flames spiraled around his fists. Leo unsheathed his katana and lowered himself into stance.
The two gave each other a signal… then charged forward at full speed.
At that moment, Skye pulled out both of her guns.
Leo and Ray instinctively stopped.
Skye let out a small sigh.
"Relax."
She removed the magazines and let the bullets fall to the floor.
"They're empty."
Then she spun the guns in her hands.
"Come."
Ray attacked first. His flaming fist shot toward her face, the heat making the air shimmer.
But Skye sidestepped effortlessly. His punch missed. She grabbed his wrist and used his own momentum to slam him into the ground.
Boom!
The floor cracked beneath him.
Ray was just starting to rise when Skye kicked him in the chest, sending him sliding backward.
"Slow."
By then, Leo was already there. His katana flashed from the left.
Skye blocked the blade with the grip of her gun. Sparks flew. Leo immediately followed with a second slash… then a third… then a fourth.
Skye blocked every strike with the smallest possible movements.
Then suddenly, she drove her elbow into Leo's shoulder. His balance broke. In the same instant, she punched him in the stomach. Leo staggered backward.
Ray got back to his feet. This time, flames roared even harder around his body.
"Double attack!" he shouted.
Leo rushed from the front while Ray attacked from the side.
Ray unleashed a wave of fire. Leo sprinted through its cover.
Skye jumped straight through the flames. While spinning in midair, she kicked Ray across the face. The moment she landed, she grabbed Leo's katana and redirected it into the wall.
The blade sank deep into steel.
Leo's eyes widened.
Skye tapped his forehead… then punched him square in the face. Leo crashed backward.
"Better coordination," she said. "Zero damage."
Ray's anger exploded. Flames mixed with crackling lightning around him.
"I'm getting serious now!"
He dashed forward with dangerous speed, throwing a storm of punches.
Skye dodged the first three. Blocked the fourth. Then slipped under the fifth and smashed the butt of her gun into his ribs.
Crack!
Ray's breath stopped.
She followed with an uppercut that launched him into the air before he crashed down hard.
By then, Leo had unleashed his aura completely. red energy wrapped around his katana.
He closed his eyes… inhaled… then moved so fast he seemed to vanish.
A diagonal slash tore through the air.
Skye barely dodged. A strand of her hair was cut.
Everyone watching froze in shock.
Skye raised an eyebrow.
"Now we're talking."
Leo swung again. Then again. Aura waves rippled across the ground.
This time, Skye became serious. She crossed both guns and trapped the blade… drove a knee into Leo's stomach… then spun and smashed a backfist into his jaw.
Leo staggered but didn't fall.
Ray came from behind in a burst of lightning.
Without even turning, Skye sensed him. She ducked low, his strike missed, and she swept his legs out from under him. Ray spun and crashed down.
Both boys rose again, breathing hard, bruises covering their bodies.
"Again!" Ray shouted.
They charged together at full power.
Skye finally released her aura.
The entire ground grew heavy with pressure.
In one second, she was in front of Leo. Ten brutal strikes landed across his chest and face before a final kick sent him flying.
The next second, she was in front of Ray. Gun grip to the ribs. Elbow to the neck. Punch to the stomach. Ray folded instantly.
Both of them collapsed to the ground, barely able to move.
Skye stood there perfectly straight. Her breathing hadn't changed at all. Even her hair barely moved.
"You two aren't weak," she said calmly. "You're just raw."
She looked at Leo.
"Learn control."
Then at Ray.
"Reduce your anger."
She turned and began walking away.
she stopped and spoke one last time.
"And don't be late tomorrow morning."
Steven burst into laughter. Maya smiled too.
Lying on the ground , Leo and Ray looked at each other.
Both of them said the same word.
"Monster…"