The training arena fell silent once again after all the duels had ended. Every squad member stood surrounding the field, waiting for the final decision.
Shion stepped forward, a faint smile on her face.
"If I were to judge the first duel, the winner would be… the Captain," she said, pointing at Emi. "She managed to withstand my shots, and that's no easy feat."
Emi smiled shyly, a hint of pride showing. "Hehe… thank you."
Feeth stepped forward next, his gaze fixed on Nova.
"Even as an Assassin, I feel like… Nova had the upper hand in that duel. His strategy, his magic… it was all incredibly challenging."
Nova gave a slight bow. "Thank you, Feeth. I learned a lot from you as well."
Rei looked at Nora with deep respect.
"For the third match… Nora, you're far stronger than I expected. Your speed, your power—everything was flawless. So the winner is… Nora."
Nora gave a small smile, holding back her excitement while maintaining her composure.
Arou turned to Airi, who stood firmly with Crimson Resolve in hand.
"And the final duel… Airi, you've improved tremendously. I can see you growing stronger… perhaps one day surpassing all swordsmen. So the winner is… Arou," Airi said with a calm, respectful smile.
Arou smiled and bowed slightly. "Thank you, Airi. This means we can still learn from each other."
The squad members exchanged glances. They all realized something—victory wasn't just about winning or losing, but about growth, respect, and teamwork.
"So… here are the final results," Feeth said, looking at everyone. "First match: Captain. Second: Nova. Third: Nora. Fourth: Arou."
Light laughter filled the air as relief washed over them, along with a renewed sense of energy after the exhausting yet meaningful training.
---
The training ground fell quiet again, but the tension remained. Phase two was about to begin.
Arou stepped forward, glancing at Airi beside him.
"Thank you, Airi," he said sincerely.
Airi's eyes softened, a faint smile forming.
"I only said the truth. You've truly grown stronger."
Arou nodded before turning to the others.
"Alright, phase two begins. Get ready."
The squad took their positions. Emi faced Nova, while Nora locked her focus onto Arou. The atmosphere grew tense—this was their chance to prove themselves.
The first duel of phase two: Emi vs Nova.
---
The arena buzzed with tension.
Emi gripped her sword and shield firmly. "Ready, Nova?"
Nova smirked slightly. "Always. I want to see how strong you've become."
The duel began.
Emi charged forward, combining sword strikes with shield techniques. Nova countered with magic, forming an ether barrier around himself. Each clash sent flashes of light across the arena.
Nova launched small fire orbs toward Emi. She dodged swiftly.
"Not fast enough, Nova!" she shouted, pressing forward.
Nova attempted to slow her movements with magic, but Emi broke through with sheer physical strength and defense. The clash of steel echoed loudly.
Feeth raised an eyebrow. "Emi's gotten stronger… and Nova's magic is getting more dangerous."
At the end, both stopped, breathing heavily.
"Impressive… your physical ability exceeded my expectations," Nova admitted.
Emi smiled. "Your magic almost overwhelmed me. That was a balanced fight."
The squad quietly cheered.
---
Next duel: Nora vs Arou.
The moment it began, the intensity skyrocketed.
Arou advanced with his Obsidian Blades, striking with precision. Nora countered with raw strength and speed—her punches and kicks echoed like explosions.
"Your strength… is beyond what I expected," Arou said, adjusting his stance.
Nora pressed forward relentlessly.
Their movements became blurs, clashing again and again.
Finally, both stopped, breathing heavily.
"You've gotten stronger, Arou," Nora said.
"And so have you," he replied.
---
After the duels, results were announced:
"First duel… Emi wins," Nova declared.
"Second duel… Arou wins," Nora added.
The tension melted into laughter and light conversation.
---
After a one-hour break, the final phase began.
Arou stepped forward, wielding two swords—one red like fire, the other blue like water.
Across from him stood Emi.
"I didn't expect to fight you… Captain," Arou said awkwardly.
Emi smiled. "Neither did I. Let's give it our best."
The duel began.
Arou attacked with flowing, dual-blade strikes—fire and water moving in perfect harmony. Emi defended skillfully, but the relentless assault pushed her back.
"Your attacks… are incredibly precise," Emi said.
"And your defense is nearly impenetrable," Arou replied.
Their clash lit up the arena.
Then—
The final strike.
Arou broke through her defense.
Emi fell.
Silence.
Then she raised her hand. "I surrender… the winner is you."
Cheers erupted.
Arou bowed. "Thank you for the duel."
---
The team gathered, filled with admiration.
"You've grown strong," Nova said.
"You deserve that win," Nora added.
Even Airi, watching from afar, smiled warmly.
Arou looked at her. "I'll keep getting stronger… for all of you."
Airi smiled back. "You've truly changed."
Emi, still catching her breath, said softly, "I'm proud of you."
The team stood together, bound tighter than before.
This wasn't just about victory.
It was about growth, trust, and preparing for something far greater ahead.