《Warcraft Online》


 Prologue

    Bang Bang


    The loud banging from his upstairs neighbours stirs the young man on the king-sized bed.


    ¡®Again¡­¡¯


    He sighed tiredly as he lazily stretched out of bed.


    ¡®Thankfully, they have been progressively quieter since one of their kids died. Hopefully, the rest of them will kick the bucket soon, if that apartment has a reputation of so many people dying in it, then it will be hard for the landlord to rent it out for a while. I should be able to get a consistent night''s sleep for a good few months,¡¯ He prays in his heart, with his fingers crossed.


    ***


    It was a quiet night, one like many others ¡ª if only a little colder.


    The moonlight shone above a small park in which a male silhouette was walking through.


    He was wearing a long black winter coat with a fur hood. The man looked quite tall, easily 6¡¯0. He had black hair styled in a middle parting, with even darker obsidian eyes.


    As he walked out of a tree¡¯s shade ¡ª the moonlight allowed for a clearer view of his features.


    He was a young man, no more than 19 years old. He held a solemn expression almost listless, his eyes wandering to the starry night sky for a moment before turning his attention forward to the upcoming bench.


    Taking a seat on the bench, he gazes at the lake that reflected the starry sky. On the other side of the lake, was a large white tree, upon one of its branches, was a pair of black boots tied onto the branch by the shoe laces.


    He leans back on the bench, closing his eyes and enjoying the quiet coldness of the night.


    Step Step


    The young man hears the sound of approaching footsteps, he opens his eyes to see an old man taking a seat next to him.


    The old man had a full beard and a muscular stature that reflected a small part of the vigour he possessed in his prime.


    In his hand was a strange item that looked like a rope with a small metal clip.


    ¡°You look troubled, kid,¡± The old man said, he had a rough voice with a deep Texas accent ¡ª a calm smile on his face as he pulled out a cigar from his pocket.


    The old man was met with silence for a good while before the young man sighed.


    ¡°Give me some wisdom, old man. I really think I need it right about now,¡±


    The old man chuckles at his words, ¡°Oh, I¡¯m not all that wise. But I¡¯m certainly old,¡±


    There was a comfortable silence on the bench, both men appreciating the calmness of the night.


    ¡°Are you lost?¡± The old man asks.


    ¡°Giovanni National Park,¡± The young man answers with a deadpan expression, to which the old man responds with a smile.


    ¡°You know that¡¯s not what I meant.¡± He responds, giving a deep look to the young man.


    ¡°I feel¡­Off¡­Like I''m running out of time. For what exactly, I''m not even sure.,¡±


    The old man stays silent at the young mans words, for a few moments.


    ¡°What¡¯s your name, kid?¡±


    The young man was getting slightly irritated at continuously being called kid, but he understood that most old people would see someone under 30 and think of them as a kid.


    ¡°Kyle,¡± The young man, now known as Kyle, finally responds.


    ¡°Listen, Kyle. I¡¯m going to tell you something that may seem to be the complete opposite of what you have been told, your entire life. But let me tell you something else¡ªIt¡¯s the truth.


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to have it all together, ya¡¯ ain¡¯t gotta¡¯ have it all figured out,¡±


    Kyle turns to the old man with a deadpan expression.


    ¡°The hell kind of advice is that?¡±


    The old man smiles in amusement as if he expected this kind of response.


    ¡°Young men, like you ¡ª are told by society these days that you gotta¡¯ have everything figured out by the time you¡¯re in your mid-twenties. Graduate, have a degree, be married, and have a decent well-paying job. And have it all together.


    ¡°And these movies and social media don¡¯t help with that kind of mindset. You see the perfect lives of these people who don¡¯t go through the everyday struggles that you do,¡±


    Kyle stays silent as the old man takes a puff of his cigar.


    ¡°You see these movies, what are they? Not even two hours long. And you watch as this guy goes from a goofed-up teenager to someone that is just perfectly at peace. They get the job, they put the childhood bully in their place, they get the girl of their dreams and roll the credits. The rest of their lives are up to our imagination,¡±


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    ¡°¡¯ Comparison is the theft of joy¡¯, right?¡± Kyle mutters an old quote, the old man¡¯s words reminding him of it.


    The old man continues as if he didn¡¯t hear Kyle¡¯s muttering.


    ¡°Of course, when you get out of the cinema, and you go back home to your ordinary life. You turn on the TV and watch the news. You see those same actors, getting into all these lawsuits and divorces and drama. And you realise, that was all it was. Fiction.¡±


    The old man takes another puff of his cigar.


    ¡°A pine tree, grows and matures quickly. An oak tree, grows and matures very very slow. But which one lasts longer? And which one is stronger? Which one shelters more life?


    ¡°Which one, when it''s all said and done, which one is more valuable ¡ª for the lumber?¡±


    ¡°I don-an oak tree, I guess...?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s right, Kyle,¡±


    The old man pats Kyle on the shoulder.


    ¡°People don¡¯t go out and say, ¡®I¡¯m ¡®bout to go and splurge on some pine furniture.¡¯ No, they want oak furniture.¡±


    The old man takes another puff, as he points at the tree that Kyle mentally dubbed ¡®The Shoe Tree.¡¯


    ¡°You see that tree over there. That was where I met my late wife, Martha.¡± The old man says, with a nostalgic smile as he reminisces about that day ¡ª so many years ago.


    ¡°It¡¯s a funny story actually. I was trying to get her attention, while also trying to act like I weren¡¯t staring at her ¡ª so I acted like I was doing something important at that tree, and I accidentally ended up tying my shoes on a branch. I don¡¯t know what I did or how I tied the knot, ¡®cause for the life of me I couldn¡¯t untie it without cutting apart the laces.


    ¡°Eventually, after making a fool of myself. Martha came up to me and tried to help, but neither of us could get the damn things down,¡±


    He chuckles with mirth, but the deep sadness in his eyes could not be hidden.


    ¡°Anyway, she gave me a ride home. And the rest is history, we were married for 50 years,¡± The old man smiles as he finishes his story, a gleam could be seen in his eyes. As if he was reliving 50 years of happiness.


    There was a comfortable silence for a few minutes. Eventually, the old man turned to Kyle with a serious expression.


    ¡°A smooth sea never made a tough sailor. You will encounter a lot of troubles in your life, Kyle. I won¡¯t lie and say that they won¡¯t break you ¡ª ¡®cause they will. But if you can build yourself back up, then you will have lived a life to be proud of,¡±


    The old man stands up after he finishes speaking, he begins to walk away before stopping as Kyle asks him one final question.


    ¡°What is your name, old man?¡±


    The old man smiles at the question, twirling the object in his fingers ¡ª only then does Kyle realise that it is a dog leash.


    However, he doesn¡¯t see a dog anywhere.


    ¡°The names Darryl. It was nice talking to ya¡¯, Kyle.


    ¡°And always remember, your worth is what you make it,¡± Darryl says, taking his leave.


    ¡®Not wise, my ass,¡¯ Kyle thought with a scoff.


    ***


    Kyle ended his night with a long, aimless drive through the rain, the steady pulse of club music filling the silence. The neon lights of the city blurred against the windshield, distorted by the downpour, yet he barely registered them.


    When he finally stepped into his apartment, he sighed deeply, hanging his coat with slow, deliberate movements


    He walks over to the balcony, gazing at the night city view. The city stretched out before him, its endless glow stirring a feeling that he couldn¡¯t quite explain.


    Taking a seat on the outdoor lounge chair, while turning on soft jazz music ¡ª he leans back. The mix of the music and the rain creates a melody that touches a specific part of his soul.


    ¡®I like to sit out here sometimes. I have a habit of mixing memories with music, so when I listen to music ¡ª the memory associated with it plays in my mind like a movie,¡¯ Kyle narrates in his mind ¡ª he is not sure to who. Perhaps his future self who will revisit this memory, on a night just like this.


    Kyle basks in the nostalgic feeling, as he sits on the balcony for hours ¡ª his eyes closed in a serene expression.

 Good Morning

    The stench of blood and torn flesh hung thick in the air, mingling with the deafening roars of battle. Screams of agony, the clash of steel, the dull thuds of bodies hitting the ground¡ªit was chaos.


    The battlefield stretched endlessly, a grotesque sea of corpses and shattered weapons. Overhead, the fractured remains of the moon rained down upon what was once Earth, painting the sky with streaks of fire and destruction.


    Then, as if the apocalypse itself had opened its maw, black portals began to rupture across the battlefield.


    Horrific creatures manifest from them, unrelenting and absolute.


    Corpses littered the ground, blood pooled to just below the knees ¡ª making it significantly harder to fight.


    Still, the soldiers persevered. Some driven by ambition, some by duty, some with no choice but to be here, and others¡­ others who sought nothing but the thrill of carnage.


    But their reasons meant nothing.


    A portal unlike the others tore open, its size alone swallowing the battlefield in shadow. A single, armoured foot stepped through¡ªblack steel, etched with ancient scars of war.


    Then came the figure.


    Clad in abyssal armour, its form pulsed with a crimson glow as if veins of molten fury ran beneath the surface. In one hand, it gripped a massive, zweihander, its edges permanently stained with the blood of countless victims.


    The creature barely acknowledged the soldiers before it. With a single, effortless wave of its sword


    SPLATTER!


    The front lines were erased. Not cut down, not slain¡ªerased. Only four men remained, drenched in the blood of their fallen comrades.


    With a tacit understanding, the four heroes nod at each other¡ª


    Unlike the heroes expected, the demonic figure did not wait for them to prepare themselves.


    BOOOM!


    Before they could even move, the battlefield detonated. In an instant, three of them were reduced to dust, their bodies never even registering pain before being obliterated.


    The large black figure grins madly, eyes red with uncontrollable fury as it stands in the centre of the crater it made with a mere stomp of its metal foot.


    The last remaining soldier barely turned his head in time¡ª


    SHING!


    A black blade roared past him, missing his neck by a hair''s breadth. But he wasn''t fast enough.


    CRACK! WHOOSH!


    A boot crashed into his ribs, with the force of a truck. The sound of bones shattering reached the ears of the violent figure as the soldier''s body was launched skyward like a ragdoll.


    The demon was already grinning.


    Eyes ablaze with bloodlust, it bent its knees and shot into the air like a jet, closing the distance in an instant.


    "RAAAAAAAAAGHHHHHH!!!"


    BOOOOOOM!!


    The sword came down like divine judgment. The earth beneath them screamed as a crater swallowed the soldier.


    Dust and debris settled in the eerie silence. With a single motion, the demon wave away the smoke, revealing the lifeless body of the hero¡ªpinned, broken and defeated.


    Before the soldier''s dimming eyes, a screen flickered to life.


    A single phrase appeared, glowing ominously.


    [GAME OVER]


    ***


    In room number #1, Glory Academy Year 1 Dormitory.


    Beep Beep


    Beep Beep


    The sickening sound of an alarm fills the room, ordinarily, this would annoy the teen who is currently walking out of the Game-Pod. However, the sound of a hearty laugh drowned out the sound of the alarm momentarily.


    "Nothing like starting the day by bullying some noobs," He mutters with a satisfied smile.


    Bam!


    The young man smacks the alarm away with a sharp slap that seems to come out of nowhere.


    "Eve, what is my schedule for today?"


    He asks his A.I. while gazing lovingly at his new Game-Pod.


    The Game-Pod is the symbol of humanity''s greatest technology, in his not-so-humble opinion.


    FDVR: Full-Dive Virtual Reality.


    In the year 2180, humanity launched an expedition to investigate a mysterious anomaly in deep space. For five years, there was nothing but radio silence. Then, in 2185, a single survivor returned.


    The details of the expedition were classified¡ªthe public never learned what truly happened. Yet, less than a week later, an announcement shook the world: Warcraft Online.


    At first glance, it seemed like just another game. But two things were peculiar:


    1. It wasn''t created by a gaming company¡ªit was launched by the world government itself.


    2. Its technology was far beyond anything humanity had ever seen.


    By this time, Virtual Reality had already reached its perceived peak. Even before Warcraft Online, VR was advanced enough to grant real-world qualifications¡ªmedical students could earn genuine licenses through VR-based training, and pilots could become fully certified without ever stepping into a real cockpit.


    But Full-Dive Virtual Reality (FDVR)¡ªa completely immersive experience indistinguishable from reality¡ªhad remained a fantasy. No company had ever cracked the code.


    So when Warcraft Online debuted with perfect, 100% realism, people began to question it''s origins.


    -Alien Tech?


    -A secret government experiment?


    Theories ran wild on the internet. Yet, in the end, it didn''t matter.


    The moment Warcraft Online Launched, it rendered every other game obsolete.


    Other titles became nothing more than training grounds¡ªstepping stones for those waiting to turn sixteen, the minimum age required to enter Warcraft Online.


    But it wasn''t just the game market that was affected.


    For the average civilian, entering Warcraft Online is the most exciting moment of their life. If you were to ask 100 people on the street what their lifelong dream is, 99 of them would say, "To become a great player in Warcraft Online."


    Unfortunately, for many, that dream will never become a reality.


    Becoming a great player in Warcraft Online is far easier said than done ¡ª as there is an equally high risk to reward.


    However, the path to success is much more attainable for those who attend one of the prestigious Player Training Academies.


    Glory Academy is one such institution¡ªan elite school dedicated to training aspiring players. For students at this renowned academy, entering Warcraft Online on New Year''s Day isn''t just encouraged; it''s mandatory.


    The young man is cut from his musings by the voice of his A.I.


    [Schedule for Thursday 31st December 2224]


    [Current Time: 8: 05 am]


    [9:00 am¡ª10:30 pm, History with Mr Reidir]


    [10:45 pm¡ª1:30 pm, Combat Arena with Mavena]


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    [2:30¡ª¡­..]


    [¡­]


    His A.I. continued ¡ª but he was no longer listening, a message icon appeared on the black bracelet on his wrist.


    He opened the message to see the username of the players he just killed spamming him with repeated angry messages.


    A ''gentle'' smile crept up his face, his eyes filled with ''kindness'' as he replied swiftly.


    -L bro.


    -Stay mad.


    He clicks send with a hearty chuckle ¡ª the rage-filled messages continued, to which his smile got even more ''gentle''.


    ''Yes. Keep seething. This is what I live for,''


    His attention is brought back to Eve, as he finally registers her previous words.


    "Did you say arena? Also, who is Mavena?"


    He was excited at the prospect of combat class, but he was confused about who this new Combat Instructor was.


    Eve decided that the young man''s first question was rhetorical, so she elected to answer the second question, providing details on the new Combat Instructor.


    [Mavena {Surname Unregistered}, Age: 54, Height: 6''5, Weight: {Unregistered}, Background: Unknown, however ¡ª speculation suggests that she may be a retired military official.]


    "Hmm," The young man hums in acknowledgement while walking into the kitchen ¡ª he takes out a box of cereal, a bowl and a carton of milk.


    "Captain Crisp, the breakfast of the gods¡­" He mutters while putting the milk first ¡ª because he is a lunatic, then the cereal, and finally putting the bowl in the microwave ¡ª to achieve nothing but getting the bowl hot.


    ***


    Finishing his breakfast while in the bath, he feels a vibration on his wrist ¡ª he looks to find a calling icon on his black bracelet.


    He rolls his eyes with a tired sigh ¡ª answering the call on his connector.


    The male voice comes through the black bracelet.


    "Giuseppe, where are you? You should be here by now," The voice speaks. The young man, now known as Giuseppe ¡ª could almost imagine his friend''s deadpan expression by his tone.


    "Listen, Marcus, you must appreciate the silence of this fine morning. And not ruin it by the ramblings of Mr Reidir," Giuseppe responds while spinning his connector carelessly around his finger, a carefree smile on his face.


    "You were playing DMO, weren''t you?" Marcus asks.


    Giuseppe walks out of the bath while responding.


    "Echo, actually," He says while drying himself off.


    "Echo? You hardly play that game after getting max level,"


    "I know, right? Some morons challenged me and now they''re mad ''cause'' they got destroyed." He says with a hearty chuckle while admiring himself in the mirror.


    A handsome face stared back at him with a proud smirk.


    Giuseppe is a tall young man (around 6''2) with pale skin, deep obsidian eyes and long messy black hair that was currently wet from his bath. He has distinctly handsome features and a strangely shredded physique ¡ª considering he only started training recently.


    He quickly dries himself off, brushing his teeth while Marcus talks through his bracelet.


    "Anyway, you should at least get here before arena. We gotta'' be as prepped as possible before tomorrow," Marcus says firmly.


    "Why?" Giuseppe cluelessly asks.


    "Are you serious? It''s new year tomorrow, we are entering Warcraft Online. You know, the whole fuckin'' reason we are at this school?"


    Giuseppe raises his head from the sink.


    "Was that tomorrow?" He mutters, briefly checking the date.


    He taps his connector, and a holographic screen appears before his eyes.


    [Thursday 31st December 2224 10:24 am]


    "Hmm¡­" He hums in acknowledgement, before refocusing on the voice.


    "I''m ready." He says unwaveringly, slicking back his messy black hair¡ªhis obsidian black eyes stare into his reflection on the mirror with a sharp gleam.


    "I have been waiting for this day for ages." He adds with a large grin on his face, showing his sharp teeth.


    "¡­" Marcus stays silent, his thoughts unclear.


    "Anyway, I''m almost ready. I will be on time for arena. So prepare to get your ass handed to you."


    "Delude yourself for all I care," Marcus says while ending the call, not allowing Giuseppe to make a comeback.


    "Tsk...Dick," He mutters while putting his messy hair into a rough man bun ¡ª held together by a long silver pin.


    ***


    After getting ready, Giuseppe steps out of the bathroom, running a hand through his hair as he walks past the hallway mirror. He stops for a moment, flashing himself a proud smirk.


    Dressed in loose white bottoms and a snug black long-sleeve¡ªits sleeves rolled up to reveal his toned forearms¡ªhe exudes effortless confidence. Slipping on his black sliders and adjusting his white bucket hat, he catches another glimpse of himself as he heads for the door.


    "Fuck, I look like a damn kitchen floor," he chuckles to himself.


    With a soft click, the door automatically locks behind him as he steps into the spacious halls of the Year 1 male dormitory. The usual morning chatter is absent¡ªmost students are already in class, leaving the corridors strangely quiet.


    Glory Academy''s campus is massive, practically the size of a small city. Despite having spent almost a year here, Giuseppe still finds himself lost more frequently than he''d like.


    Upon exiting the dormitory building, Giuseppe was surprised to see not as many people in class as he expected.


    The academy was bustling with festivities and decorations. All students and staff were heavily anticipating tomorrow.


    Giuseppe quickly checks the time again.


    [10:31 am]


    He narrows his eyes thoughtfully.


    ''Not as much time as I''d like, but no way I''m missing the only class I actually enjoy,''


    A grin spreads across his face as he quickens his pace.


    "Especially with this new teacher¡­"


    With a spark of excitement in his step, he strides toward the campus bullet train station.


    ***


    Marcus sighed as he sat on a park bench.


    Marcus stands at a similar height to Giuseppe, his dark skin contrasting sharply with his deep golden eyes. He has intricately styled dreadlocks which are mostly swept back, catching the shining light of the sun and giving off a radiant golden hue.


    His athletic, muscular build speaks of both power and agility, the kind of physique that''s honed for speed and strength. A pair of sleek, round golden sunglasses rest on his face, subtly hiding his luminous eyes.


    His attire consists of a simple grey sweatshirt and black sweatpants, clearly prepared for the upcoming training session.


    Marcus''s overall aesthetic could be considered handsome.


    As he sat, his attention was drawn to a large tree nearby. It wasn''t the size that caught his eye, but the pair of black boots tied to one of its branches.


    "Was that always there...?" Marcus muttered to himself.


    "I don''t fuckin'' know, bro," a voice came from behind him.


    Marcus jumped in surprise. "Holy shit! You scared me."


    Giuseppe appeared, smirking, as he casually rested his arms on the back of the bench.


    ________________________________________


    Author Note


    :)

 Good Morning (2)

    Earlier that morning.


    05:27 am


    Room number #3, Glory Academy Year 1 Dormitory.


    *Swish* *Swish*


    A young man could be seen swinging a training sword¡ªhis eyes closed in concentration, going through multiple motions as if emulating a fight in his mind.


    *Swish* *Swish*


    Beads of sweat trickled down his face, but no matter what move he did¡ªthe grinning figure in his mind dismantled all of his moves masterfully with his bare hands.


    An overhead slash resulted in a jab to the throat before he could complete the attack.


    Blocking was pretty much useless since the opponent was using his bare hands¡ªhe would just grab the sword and yank it out of his hands.


    ''And with that asshole''s shitty personality, he would just break it apart and beat me up with the hilt..'' The young man thought with a grimace, the mental image was so realistic, it seemed like a memory.


    A diagonal slash would result in his opponent slapping the side of the blade away, leaving him open to attack.


    A stab? Well, at least he could complete the attack, but it would just be dodged, once again leaving him open.


    ''Unless¡­''


    As a new strategy popped into his mind, he changed his stance¡ªhis left foot forward, his right foot back, his left hand raised and open and his right hand holding the sword parallel to his head.


    A stabbing posture that allowed for recovery in case his attack failed.


    And just as he expected, as he lunged forward with a stab, his attack was easily dodged.


    However, as the figure attempted to land a kick to his abdomen¡ªthe attack was swiped away by his open left hand, allowing him to dash back.


    ''Finally!'' The young man thought in excitement. Although his attack was unsuccessful, this was the first time he had not been defeated instantly after his first attack.


    He opened his eyes, dismissing his imaginary fighter.


    He put down the training sword, drying off his sweat with a towel as he walked into his kitchen, running a cup under the tap.


    His white bracelet vibrates as he gets an incoming call. The young man looks down at the phone symbol on one of the beads of his connector.


    He sighed¡ªalready having an idea of who the incoming caller was.


    A deeper grimace than the one in his fight emerged on his face, he eventually relented with a sigh and answered the call after calming his expression.


    "Are you ready, Arthur?" The cold voice of his father comes through the line, although it was phrased like a question of concern¡ªthe tone he asked it in left no room for doubt.


    "¡­Yeah," Arthur responds, different to his determined self while training¡ªhis clear blue eyes clouded over in uncertainty.


    "Speak clearly," His father responds with a firm edge in his voice, although he didn''t shout¡ªArthur could almost hear the clenching of his father''s jaw through his voice.


    "Yes, Patriarch," Arthur responds, his determined self returning.


    The call ended without even a goodbye, not an ounce of parental love could be felt from that conversation, but Arthur was long since used to that.


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    He clenched the table in frustration, cracks could be seen forming on the counter.


    ***


    After completing his usual morning routine, Arthur looked at himself in the mirror.


    To others, what they would see was a heroic figure, though not as tall as Giuseppe or Marcus¡ªhis compact and lean figure told of his immense capability.


    His long white hair was tied into a ponytail, with sharp red highlights. His clear blue eyes were reminiscent of the summer sky.


    He is wearing an old-style three-piece black suit with red floral patterns and rose gold cufflinks. Arthur adjusts his tie and hair to look presentable, he takes out some face moisturiser for good measure.


    "Learn to live and love the lie, right?" He mutters to himself while slapping his cheeks.


    However, to him. The only thing he saw in the mirror was a scared little boy in the clutches of a family that didn''t care for him.


    The sight alone caused a clench in his jaw, and his eyes narrowed in frustration.


    ''Calm. Calm. Calm¡­'' He repeats in his mind like a mantra.


    Walking out of his room, Arthur takes a glance at the time.


    [07:38 am]


    He hears a click from a neighbouring door, without even looking¡ªArthur already knew who it was.


    "Hey, Tandav. Do you know what classes we''ll be doing today?" He asks the teen walking out of the room.


    Tandav is a minuscule amount taller than Arthur (around 6''0 tall), with tanned bronze skin, dark blue eyes and long wavy auburn hair that looks like it is straight from a hair advertisement.


    He has a thin but lean build, like a professional swimmer. Wearing a light grey long-sleeve shirt and beige khakis.


    Easily, one could tell that many would consider him attractive.


    Tandav looked at Arthur up and down with a scrutinising gaze, he eventually deadpanned at Arthur after realising what he was wearing.


    "¡­We have arena, you know¡­" Tandav says after a long pause.


    Arthur was silent, but he looked like the soul left his body.


    "Why? Just why?" That question seemed to come from the deepest parts of his very soul.


    "Come on, man. You should know by now how this school works. How do you think someone like Giuseppe was able to be ranked 1, huh? It sure as hell ain''t for his academic ranking, that guy has the worst grades I have ever seen. I mean, seriously. You have to try to be that stupid," Tandav says with a chuckle.


    Arthur looked defeated as he realised how na?ve he had been.


    Glory Academy only worked under one principle: Might makes right.


    All other rules and regulations were secondary to that.


    "But still, I at least thought that since it''s the day before D-Day, we wouldn''t really have to do any kind of strenuous activity.


    "Argh, whatever. I can''t be bothered to change clothes anyway, so I guess I will just have to fight in this," Arthur relents with a sigh.


    "Suit yourself, then. Anyway, let''s go get Daniel. he should be in the library, as usual."

 Blood on The Snow

    Frozen mountains, deep In the dead of night. Snow falls on my shoulders in thick, suffocating waves. The wind howls like a living thing. My father stumbles through the blizzard, holding my small frame tightly in his arms.


    Dozens of howls in the distance, I hear.


    My father ran, fast, desperate.


    I can feel the hammering of his heartbeat beneath his ribs, his ragged breath, and the way his grip tightened with every agonizing step.


    The snow was deep, and the climb steep. His boots crunched and skidded on frozen rocks, but he didn''t stop. He couldn''t.


    I clung to him, my arms wrapped around his neck, my face buried against his shoulder. He was warm. So warm¡­


    But that hellish night was anything but.


    We were being hunted.


    Hunted like animals.


    The wolves'' howls could be heard in the distance, my father''s steps became more frantic.


    He stroked my long hair in a comforting way, he could sense my growing panic and despite his own, he tried to calm me down.


    "It will be alright, Evelynne," He says, in that kind voice of his¡ªyet it was strained this time.


    It was a lie.


    *Growl*


    That sound was all it took for the fear to take my heart in its clutches.


    It was too close, my father lurched forward, nearly falling. His arms tightened around me.


    "Don''t look, Evelynne!"


    I obeyed, all I could see was the darkness of my own eyelids.


    But that gave way for my other senses to create a new scene in my mind.


    The sound of crunching, my father''s pained grunts that he tried to suppress, the vibrations in the snow as his body fell to the floor with a thud.


    My father was dying.


    And I knew, yet¡ªI did nothing.


    I obeyed my father, I kept my eyes closed.


    "Evel-¡­You mus-¡­-member¡­"


    I could hear the faint whispers of my father, as the wolves tore into his flesh.


    "The Red Cloud,"


    Those were the last words I ever heard from him.


    *Step* *Step*


    I heard the sound of boots in the snow coming closer. The wolves finally stop tearing into my father.


    "I think you should run, little girl," I could hear the grin in the woman''s voice.


    I opened my eyes, and when I had¡ªI wished I kept them shut.


    I saw my father, but he looked nothing like he did.


    The snow around his body was dark, stained deep red. His coat was torn open, the fabric shredded, his flesh carved away by gnashing teeth. His arms were outstretched, fingers stiff, half-buried in the snow.


    His face¡ª


    I sucked in a sharp breath. The cold air stung my lungs, sharp as a knife, but not as a sharp as the sight before me.


    My father''s face was barely his. The wolves had shredded it, taken it to pieces, left hollow places where there should have been warmth. His eyes¡ªthose eyes that always looked at her softly¡ªwere gone. Empty sockets stared at the sky, frozen tears of blood ran down his face. The wind howled through them like a whisper, a ghost of his last breath.


    My stomach twisted. I wanted to look away, but I couldn''t.


    Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    I took a shuddering step forward. My boot crunched against the ice, the sound felt too loud, too real. No matter how much I wanted it to be fake, a lie, an illusion.


    I knelt beside him, snowflakes landed on his ruined face. My fingers hovered over his chest, for a second¡ªa foolish, fleeting second¡ªI imagine I could still feel warmth there. That if I pressed hard enough, I would find a heartbeat beneath it all.


    But there was nothing.


    Just silence. Just stillness.


    My throat tightened. The world blurred.


    I looked at the woman, the wolves that killed my father fell into her shadow.


    I burned her face into my mind.


    The woman seemed to like the look on my face, perhaps it amused her.


    But it didn''t matter, her life was over. I knew that the moment I saw her again, I would kill her.


    I didn''t know how long it would take, I didn''t even know whether or not it would happen in this lifetime.


    I would end her. Her life, her lineage, her history. Her name would be forgotten forever.


    Everything about her, everyone she cared about, everyone she ever even interacted with.


    Whether she fought, ran, screamed, or begged, it wouldn''t change anything.


    And so, the words flowed out of my mouth easily.


    "I will kill you,"


    She smiled, but it didn''t matter.


    I ran. I didn''t look back, I ran to the top of the mountain.


    I knew that the woman wasn''t chasing me, but I knew that my body would give out if I let it know that. So I ran as if death was on my shoulder.


    My legs burned, every muscle screaming, but I forced myself forward. The snow dragged at my ankles, slowing me down, but I didn''t stop. I couldn''t.


    I reached the top of the mountain and¡ª


    ***


    *Gasp*


    Evelynne woke up with a gasp, her back and face drenched in sweat, she let out a shuddering breath that she hadn''t known she was holding. Her chest heaved, her fingers bawling into fists at the sheets.


    The dream gradually faded from her mind, she slowly forgot what her nightmare was even about.


    But her heartbeat remembered, she struggled to calm her beating heart.


    She took deep breaths and exhaled, exercises that she found online that helped with panic attacks.


    Gradually, she was able to calm herself.


    *Beep* *Beep*


    The sound of her connector allowed for the perfect distraction for her mind. She took the silver and gold bracelet from her bedside table, putting it on her wrist and allowing the holographic screens to fill her view.


    She looked at the massive amounts of notifications she received from all of her calendar apps. The ones she downloaded all for just one single day. And that day was tomorrow. She couldn''t afford to have another nightmare like that tomorrow.


    In a way, Evelynne was slightly thankful that it happened today and not tomorrow.


    Dismissing the notifications, she allowed herself to get up from bed.


    Today was final preparations, tomorrow was the real deal.


    ______________


    A/N :)

 The Library

    Marcus and Giuseppe sit on a bench.


    Or at least, one of them could be considered to be sitting.


    Giuseppe was sitting in quite possibly the strangest position.


    His back was resting on where one was supposed to sit, and his legs were dangling off the backrest of the bench.


    A ridiculous amount of holographic screens were sprawled out randomly in front of him, all upside down like him.


    Somehow, Giuseppe was able to navigate through the numerous tabs masterfully.


    Marcus looked at him like he was a lunatic¡ªmuch like the surrounding students, but they both ignored them.


    "I don''t understand how the fuck you know where everything is with that many tabs. You must have over 100, I can''t navigate through more than ten.


    "If your memory was this good, why the hell are your grades so shit?" Marcus asks, with an incredulous look on his face.


    "It''s less about memory and more about familiarity. Besides, these are perfectly organized, I couldn''t mix them up even if I tried," Giuseppe responded, while scrolling through multiple screens.


    ''That''s supposed to be organized?'' Marcus was about to speak, but decides it''s not worth the effort.


    "Anywa-Ooh¡­" Giuseppe was about to say something, but then paused as he read something on one of his screens. He then broke into a fit of chuckles, which then turned into full blown laughter.


    "What''s so funny?" Marcus raised a brow in confusion.


    "Haha! You remember that creepy priest you told me about? Turns out he was a ''beta-tester'' if you know what I mean. He just got arrested,"


    "No fucking way! Let me see," Giuseppe sends him the link to the article, when Marcus reads it his mouth turns into a wide ''O''


    "I KNEW THAT FUCKER WAS A NONCE!" Marcus screamed out, before joining Giuseppe in a fit of laughter.


    They both earned weird looks, but neither of them cared.


    "What is happening?" Arthur asks Tandav, who could not answer.


    "I have no clue," He responded.


    Marcus turns to the two of them with a look that says, ''when did you two get here?''


    Giuseppe looks at the two of them, but then notices that something or rather, someone is missing.


    "Where is my Danny boy?" He asks with a raised eyebrow.


    ""No clue,"" The two respond simultaneously.


    "Did you look in the library?" Marcus asks.


    "That was literally the first place we looked," Tandav responds with a shrug of his shoulders.


    Giuseppe rolls off the bench and stands up, dusting himself off.


    "Well then, let''s go," He says while marching in the direction that the two came from.


    "Where are we going?" Tandav asks with a raised brow.


    "To the library! Onwards!" Giuseppe responded with an order.


    "But we jus-" Arthur was about to interject but a look from Marcus stopped him.


    ''There is no point, trust me,''


    ''We literally just looked there, why don''t we just call Daniel?''


    ''It won''t matter what we say, if Giuseppe wants to go to the library¡ªhe will. Even if he knows Dan isn''t there,''


    ''But why? He doesn''t even read? Actually, do you think he even knows how to read?''


    ''I don''t even know, man,''


    ''I will message Dan discreetly while we are on our way there,''


    ''Good idea,''


    ''Agreed,''


    The three communicate telepathically with just their eyes and hand movements, while Giuseppe continues his stride to the library.


    "Onwards, men! There is fuckery to be done!" He shouts, oblivious to the conversation behind him.


    ***


    A beautiful young woman sat lazily on her desk in the main library.


    She had long, curly blonde hair, vibrant emerald green eyes that were half-lidded in tiredness, and round glasses that gave her a scholarly air.


    She wore a thick, oversized wool blanket as a coat hiding her outfit.


    Her name is Evangelina Joule, and she holds the prestigious position of student assistant librarian at Glory Academy.


    A student''s first year at Glory Academy is spent learning all about Warcraft Online¡ªranks, quests, stat grades, skills, etc. Students also prepare their bodies with specialised training, such as physical conditioning, combat practice, and the like.


    However, on January 1st, New Year''s Day, first-year students immediately become second-years and are permitted to join Warcraft Online''s tutorial ground. This is where all of their training will be applied and tested.


    As a third-year student, Evangelina is considered a prodigy even among prodigies, having already reached Low D-Rank. However, that strength would only become relevant in the real world upon reaching A-Rank.


    Despite that, she has been under an intense amount of stress recently.


    That stress had a name.


    Giuseppe Castellano


    The menace among the first-years, an animal in human clothing. He has many titles and an equal amount of animosity for him among the students and staff alike.


    For some odd reason that no sane human mind could comprehend, poor Evangelina had been a target for Giuseppe''s bullying since the moment he entered this school.


    And so, when the library doors swung open and that accursed voice entered her ears.


    She hid.


    She ducked under her desk with a speed that even the principal would find astonishing.


    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    "Dannnyyyyy~!!!! Where the fuck are you?! You better not make me late!" His voice turned from welcoming and friendly to angered with a swiftness that only a bipolar lunatic like him could muster.


    Evangelina saw a large shadow perch over her desk, one that she prayed was her older sister Samantha, the newly appointed Senior Librarian.


    Unbeknownst to her, Samantha was hiding in her study. She ducked under her desk even faster than Evangelina after she heard Giuseppe''s shout.


    "Hey AJ~, you wouldn''t happen to have seen Danny would ya~?" Giuseppe''s upside-down smiling face could be seen as he looked under the blonde third-year''s desk, with psychopathic precision.


    AJ, a bizarre nickname that Giuseppe gave Evangelina since the moment he first saw her.


    For some reason, he seemed to think her name was not Evangelina Joule, but Ava Joe.


    Despite her attempts to correct him, her pleas were ignored. It even seemed to convince him further that her name was really Ava Joe. And that she was hiding her identity from him for some reason.


    "N-no, sir! I haven''t seen him!" Evangelina responded frantically, her face drenched in sweat.


    ''Please leave me alone!'' She internally cried out.


    The rest of Giuseppe''s group finally entered the library from the large silver doors.


    It was only at this time Giuseppe finally took a good look around the library.


    The Grand Library of Glory Academy.


    It was a vast, cathedral-like structure of steel, glass and marble. It stood as the ultimate repository of knowledge for human history. Gone are the towering bookshelves of ancient times¡ªreplaced instead by holographic archives, suspended data scrolls, and crystalline Data Chip repositories.


    The central chamber is an immense, circular space where rows of sleek, metallic podiums rise from the ground, each housing thousands of Data Chips¡ªtiny, shimmering cubes capable of storing entire libraries'' worth of information.


    At a mere touch, they project holographic texts, interactive 3D models and recorded lectures by famous historians and experts.


    Multiple levitating platforms called navigators float around the library in an orderly manner.


    The ceiling, a massive dome, constantly shifting, reflecting star maps, historical timelines, or real-time data streams from Warcraft Online.


    Giuseppe looked a little amazed by the sight.


    The teasing voice of Marcus enters his ears.


    "What''s wrong, you look like you have never been here before,"


    "Give him a break, does he look like he knows how to read," Tandav interjects, coming to his ''defence.''


    "OI! Of course, I have never been here before, I have never had a reason to! Besides¡­" Giuseppe says annoyedly, trailing off at the end of his sentence.


    ''This is the first time that Patch-brain has ever been late and it''s the day before D-day..,'' He thinks, his mind wandering for the reasons the most studious one among them would be late.


    "You do realise we can''t hear your internal monologue, right?" Arthur deadpans at Giuseppe.


    "I''m here," Daniel''s calm voice could be heard as he stood on one of the many navigators.


    The group looks up at the nerd.


    Daniel is the shortest of the group, standing at around 5''9. His short, light brown hair is slightly tousled, framing a pair of dark green eyes that hold a quiet intelligence behind large, round black glasses. His scrawny frame, clad in a baggy dark blue long-sleeve shirt and well-fitted black trousers, only adds to his bookish appearance.


    The loose fabric drapes over his narrow shoulders, giving him a slightly frail yet studious look, as if he belongs more among stacks of research than in this chaotic group of obvious fighters.


    But none of them seem to care about that as they welcome him as if he were just like them.


    Giuseppe turns robotically towards ''AJ'', like a doll from a horror movie.


    "Did you lie to me, AJ? I think I distinctly remember you saying something about ma'' Danny boy not bein'' here, hmmmm~?" Giuseppe says with an exaggerated accent, getting all up in Evangelina''s face, flaring his nostrils.


    "I-i-I¡­" Her mind reeled, she couldn''t come up with an answer that would pacify Giuseppe, not that there was one.


    "She didn''t see me come in. When I arrived, she wasn''t even here," Daniel says, saving Evangelina.


    "Since we found Daniel, we should hurry up and get going. We are already late," Marcus adds.


    "Hmm¡­You''re right," Giuseppe relents with a sigh.


    In Evangelina''s vision, pairs of wings sprout from the backs of her saviours.


    ''Are they angels?''


    The group leaves soon after, striding out of the library with vigour.


    Evangelina leans back into her chair, releasing a breath she didn''t know she was holding and finally allowing her beating heart to calm itself.


    Samantha''s blonde head pops out of her office after the group is sufficiently far away, her face is drenched in sweat equal to her younger sister''s.


    Evangelina looked in horror at her older sister, who is a powerful High C-Rank player, who can even tap into The Human Force for 3 seconds¡ªequally as scared as her of a mere first-year.


    ''How dare you call yourself a senior!'' She cried out internally.

 The New Combat Instructor

    The group leisurely walk across the campus, students step aside fearfully while taking quick glances at them, but not daring to look a certain one in the eye.


    "I still cannot believe you are actually wearing that bucket hat in the middle of winter," Arthur says with an incredulous face.


    "These beautiful things are meant for all seasons, alright," Giuseppe responds as if it was obvious.


    "Leave it be, Art. You know he is code-locked into wearing those things. He is the type of guy to wear beach shorts in a snowstorm if he felt like it. Besides, I don''t really think you have room to talk," Tandav says with a small smile, while looking Arthur up and down with visible mockery in his eyes.


    "Are you tryna fight?" Arthur narrows his eyes at Tandav.


    "Did you two hear about the new combat instructor?" Daniel interjects, changing the subject.


    "Nope,"


    "Nah,"


    "I haven''t,"


    "I have,"


    The rest deny it, Daniel releases a mental sigh of relief that he has successfully averted another fight. But the fact that Giuseppe, of all people, had heard of the new instructor shocked him.


    "Well, I don''t know her name, but apparently she used to be some kind of war veteran. I overheard Mr Grey and Ms Killian talking about it earlier," Daniel says in an interested tone.


    Marcus''s eyes widened for a brief moment at Daniel''s words, an optimistic look appeared in his eyes before going back to normal. Giuseppe glances at Marcus silently before deciding to pretend he hadn''t noticed anything.


    "Eve said her name is Mavana or something like that," Giuseppe says.


    "I see¡­" Marcus says, the fleeting optimism in his eyes diminishing slightly at Giuseppe''s words.


    "We should get going," Tandav suggests as he clicks on his watch and a hologram appears.


    [11: 05 am]


    "Looks like we are already late," Arthur says, Giuseppe glares at the entire group at that, immediately blaming everyone but himself for this.


    Beep Beep


    To their surprise, a school-wide announcement was made at that moment, a notification was delivered to every student''s connector.


    [Announcement: All classes for students of Year 1 have been cancelled by Combat Instructor Mavena. Combat Class has been changed to 11:15 am to 5:30 pm. Students of Year 1 are urged to join Instructor Mavena at The Combat Arena, as soon as possible.]


    A wide smile threatened to tug at Giuseppe''s lips.


    ''I like her already,''


    ***


    The Combat Arena of Glory Academy is a colossal, high-tech battleground, designed to test the limits of its students in both physical and strategic warfare. A seamless fusion of advanced simulation technology and brutal real-world conditions, the arena can alter its terrain at will, shifting between scorching deserts, frozen wastelands, dense forests or even low-gravity environments like the moon¡ªall at the push of a button. This technology is powered by the Simulation Core underneath the arena.


    The main battleground is an expansive, circular arena with a floor made of adaptive nano-alloy plating, capable of reconstructing itself into obstacles, trenches or towering structures. Suspended high above, holographic screens project live battle data, tracking combatants'' vitals, techniques, and tactical efficiency.


    If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    Referee drones hover around the field, ensuring that every duel remains within academy regulations.


    The spectator stands wrap around the arena in large rows, capable of holding thousands of students, instructors, and elite guests. VIP observation rooms are lined with reinforced glass and analysis equipment allowing for accurate data readings.


    In one of these VIP observation rooms, the newly appointed combat instructor, Mavena can be seen talking to her assistant.


    Mavena strides into the room with an imposing presence. Tall and powerfully built, she carries herself with the confidence of a warrior who has seen countless battles. Her dark ebony skin, scarred yet smooth, contrasted sharply with her long, wild, curly white hair flowing down her back, streaked with faint silver strands.


    She wore a dark, form-fitting combat ensemble, designed for both mobility and protection. She wears a black, cropped top with off-the-shoulder sleeves, reminiscent of compressed sleeves, exposing her toned midriff. The outfit is completed with tight black pants adorned with golden accents and thigh-high slits.


    Despite her rather simple uniform, her fit, athletic physique is impossible to hide. Her sharp, cold green eyes shone like a viper, sweeping across the room, assessing everything with a single glance.


    From the observatory podium, she can see the tens of Year 1 students sitting in the spectator stands. But she easily notices that a certain few are missing.


    It just so happens that those missing few are the noteworthy students she was explicitly told to keep an eye on.


    "Where are they?" Mavena asks her assistant. Her voice, melodious and graceful, held an underlying edge that left no room for questioning.


    Linda, her assistant, was a petite woman at 5''3, dressed in a neatly pressed black suit, giving her the look of a civil servant. Her long, reddish-pink hair flowed past her shoulders, contrasting with the soft yellow eyes hidden behind sleek silver glasses.


    Without even needing to question who the people she was referring to were, Linda answered.


    "They were last seen making a commotion in the grand library at 11:00 am, I will track their connectors now,"


    A mass of holographic screens appeared before her eyes, she navigated through them with swiftness that almost rivalled that of Giuseppe¡ªbefore long, she enlarged one of them and placed it in front of the eyes of Mavena.


    She gazed silently at the live-feed image of Marcus Vathen, Arthur Rain, Tandav Soman, Daniel Gonzales, and finally Giuseppe Castellano.


    The video showed the five of them walking leisurely towards the arena, which they would reach in only a few minutes.


    At that moment, Giuseppe looked directly at the drone sending the live-feed to Mavena and Linda.


    He grinned widely, his eyes turning to crescents. A smile full of malice.


    The sight of that smile caused a reaction out of Mavena, a smile that mirrored his own threatened to tug at her lips.


    It was as if the two had already reached a tacit understanding without even meeting each other.


    They were cut from the same damned piece of hell.


    ____________


    A/N :)

 The Combat Arena

    Linda''s back was drenched in sweat from the aura coming off the two of them.


    She couldn''t fathom why the two acted that way, least of all Giuseppe, considering he shouldn''t even be able to see Mavena.


    "Bring up the file on those two at the front," Mavena ordered.


    "Right away," Linda responded, two holographic screens emerged.


    [Marcus Vathen]


    -Student ID: 0508914681570476


    -Combat Ranking: #2


    -Academic Ranking: #3


    [Giuseppe Castellano]


    -Student ID: 0418041809567148


    -Combat Ranking: #1


    -Academic Ranking: Unranked


    "Haha¡­" Mavena chuckles, her hand covering her face in a futile attempt to silence her laughter.


    Linda raises a brow in confusion.


    ***


    "What the fuck are you grinning about, psycho?" Arthur questions Giuseppe as they walk towards the Arena.


    "Nothin''~," Giuseppe replies with a playful lilt.


    Giuseppe snaps his head toward a pair of smiling students, their fingers intertwined¡ªa young couple in love, perhaps?


    Regardless, their moment is cut short as Giuseppe ruins it for no reason.


    "He''s cheating on you."


    He turns to a cheerful young woman absorbed in her phone.


    "Your parents don''t love you."


    His gaze shifts to a gleeful young man.


    "Ay, ay, ay, who the fuck told you you could be happy, huh?"


    Marcus and the others were long accustomed to Giuseppe''s habit of spreading misery to others, it was like the only way for him to be happy was to make other people sad.


    Once Giuseppe completed his morning routine of harassing a few students for no reason, the group finally arrives at the colossal Combat Arena¡ªat least the size of a few stadiums.


    The group takes a seat with the rest of the students at the spectator area. Sitting on the back row, the group waits for the instructor.


    Eventually, after a few minutes. A tall middle-aged woman with long curly white hair arrives.


    Marcus looks slightly disappointed when he sees who it is¡ªor rather, who it isn''t.


    Giuseppe, once again, gives a side glance at Marcus, but pretends not to notice anything¡ªinstead refocusing on Mavena.


    She carries a large European longsword strapped to her waist, its hilt was black with gold accents, much like her outfit.


    Her posture is confident yet relaxed, exuding the aura of an experienced warrior.


    Marcus glances at Giuseppe, already knowing what he was about to do.


    ''I know that look all too well¡­''


    "A viper..." Giuseppe mutters, his black eyes grow a shade darker¡ªlocked on the new instructor. But he sees more than just a woman¡ªa massive, emerald-scaled serpent coils around her, watching with cold, unblinking eyes.


    This was her Fighting Spirit, the raw manifestation of her soul and individuality.


    Marcus and the others hear Giuseppe''s whisper but pay it no mind. They''ve grown used to his cryptic remarks whenever he meets someone new.


    After all, it was the same when he met them.


    When he first saw Marcus, he called him a panther.


    Tandav, a sphinx.


    Arthur, a lion.


    This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    Daniel, a fox.


    None but Marcus knew what he meant by it, but what they did know was he was never wrong when it came to matters of combat.


    And in the end, it was Giuseppe who brought them all together, so they didn''t bother questioning it.


    Mavena steps onto the arena floor with the deliberate grace of a seasoned warrior. Her piercing gaze sweeps across the gathered students, sharp as the edge of her blade. She stands still for a moment, letting the weight of her presence settle over them like an approaching storm. The murmurs in the crowd die down.


    Then, she speaks.


    "Welcome to my arena. Your proving ground,"


    Her voice is deep and steady, carrying across the massive arena without effort.


    "Some of you think you''re strong. Some of you think you''re smart. A few you of might even think you''re untouchable. Let me be very clear¡ªnone of that matters here,"


    She paces slowly, her steps echoing against the floor.


    "In this arena, strength is not a number on a screen. Intelligence isn''t just a tool to get good grades. Here, you will bleed. You will fall. Some of you will break. But those of you who endure¡­" She stops, placing a hand on the hilt of her longsword. "You might just graduate from your current ''Bitch-status,''"


    She smiles as she unsheathes the blade with a slow, deliberate motion. The black-and-gold hilt gleams under the arena lights, the steel whispering as it leaves its scabbard.


    "Now then¡­" A faint smirk tugs at the corner of her lips. "Who wants to show me what they''re made of?"


    ***


    "Whoo~, she sure has the mouth of a sailor," Arthur releases a whistle of amazement.


    "How did someone like that get hired?" Daniel says perplexedly.


    "I don''t even care. I like her, so she is staying even if I have to beat up the principle himself," Giuseppe says with a wide grin.


    "Yeah, I think you forgot what happened when you tried that before. You came back battered and beaten," Marcus corrects him.


    "Maybe he got beat so bad, he got permanent brain damage?" Tandav adds, his tone suggesting he was seriously considering it.


    "Yeah,"


    "Maybe,"


    "Sounds about right,"


    The rest of the group agrees a vein threatens to pop on Giuseppe''s face¡ªbut before he can lash out, a firm voice silences the students'' chatter.


    "Silence!" Mavena shouts, power evident in her voice.


    "Listen up." Mavena''s voice cuts through the air like a blade. "When I call your names, two of you will step into this arena¡ªand you will fight,"


    She lets the words hang for a moment, her gaze sweeping over the students like a predator sizing up prey.


    "I don''t want hesitation. I don''t want excuses. I want to see skill, power, and will," Her grip tightens on her sword. "If what I see doesn''t impress me¡ªif you waste my time¡ªyou''re out. No second chances. No mercy,"


    She steps forward, eyes gleaming with cold amusement. "So when I call your name¡­ pray you''re ready,"


    "Tandav Soman, Athur Rain¡ªstep forward," She orders, her voice sharp and commanding. She lifts her sword, the tip pointing directly at them.


    _________________


    A/N: :)

 The Combat Arena (2)

    Tandav and Arthur step into the sparring arena, the air between them charged with unspoken rivalry.


    As the two steps into the arena, the battlefield changes, the Simulation Core already recognises the data in their connectors.


    A pulse of light ripples across the battlefield. The hard metal floor beneath their feet flickers¡ªbefore dissolving entirely.


    A scorching desert materialises around them.


    Arthur rolls his shoulders, his grip tightening as he reaches for a training sword from the weapon rack, the cold steel vibrating with familiarity in his hand.


    Opposite him, Tandav smirked, effortlessly plucking two long daggers from his own rack and twirling them between his fingers like an artist would a brush.


    In the stands, students murmur, some whispering bets, others watching with anticipation.


    "What''s the score?" Arthur asks as he brandishes his sword.


    "200 wins and 135 losses, in my favour," Tandav replies with a smirk.


    "Bullshit," Arthur scoffs, frowning.


    "You both are at 0-0! Somehow, you both lost every round. Ever," Giuseppe shouts from the stands with a grin, glad to spread misinformation.


    "Don''t listen to him. The score is 182-182¡ªyou two are completely tied!" Marcus corrects him.


    "How did you remember that?" Giuseppe turns to him, raising a brow. He looks at Marcus as if he is an alien.


    "Because I''m not a goldfish like you," Marcus shrugs, his tone smug enough to be provoking.


    "Tsk. Dickhead,"


    Tandav and Arthur stretch their bodies, readying themselves for the spar.


    "This is it, your final spar of the year. Hold nothing back¡ªbecause trust me, after this, you won''t have as much free time anymore..." Mavena strokes the flames of their fighting spirits, not that it was needed.


    In Giuseppe''s vision, the image of a lion and a sphinx face each other, muscles coiled, eyes burning with ancient rivalry.


    "Begin!" Mavena shouts.


    Arthur wastes no time. The moment Mavena signals the start, he surges forward, sword raised high. His muscles tense, his breath steady. His blade comes down like a guillotine, aiming straight for Tandav''s head.


    Tandav reacts in an instant, crossing his two daggers in an X to catch the strike. The force of the impact sends a violent tremor through his arms. Arthur is stronger¡ªhis sheer weight pressing down, forcing Tandav''s knees to a bend.


    Sparks fly as steel grinds against steel, the sound echoing through the arena.


    Arthur grits his teeth and pushes harder, his knuckles white around the hilt. Tandav''s feet slid back against the sand, his boots digging trenches into the ground. Sweat beads on his forehead, his muscles trembling under pressure.


    He can''t win in terms of raw strength¡ªbut he doesn''t need to.


    He shifts his stance, twisting his body at an angle. In one swift motion, he sacrifices his left dagger, letting Arthur''s sword slip past his guard. The moment it veers off-course, Tandav moves like a shadow.


    Arthur''s balance wavers for half a second. Half a second is all Tandav needs.


    Arthur attempts to recover, but Tandav pivots, flipping his remaining dagger into a reverse grip. His now free hand snaps up¡ªpressing against the butt of the hilt to drive his attack with brutal force


    Tandav''s attack aims straight for Arthur''s neck.


    But Arthur isn''t done.


    At the very last moment, he drops his weight, dashing backwards, transforming his stance into the one he practised against the shadow figure in his room this morning.


    Tandav is shocked by Arthur''s stabbing stance, but he has no time to react.


    Arthur''s blade stops just before Tandav''s throat.


    The fight is over.


    "¡­"


    "¡­"


    "..Since when did you learn to do that?" Tandav exhales with a slight glare, yet accepts his loss.


    "Who knows?" Arthur says with amusement as he smiles like a Cheshire cat.


    "The fight is over! Winner¡ªArthur Rain!" Mavena steps forward as she announces.


    The two walk out of the arena, their bodies aching with, their minds still replaying every move.


    Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    They sit back into their seats at the spectator stands, ignoring the cheers and murmurs rippling through the crowd.


    Without wasting any time, Mavena continues with the duels.


    "Daniel Gonzales, Sasha Graves¡ªstep forward,"


    Daniel stands up, a firm look in his bespectacled eyes as he walks towards the arena.


    "You better not lost to some no-name, Danny boy," Giuseppe says to Daniel''s passing figure.


    To the surprise of none, Daniel ignores him.


    "She isn''t just some no-name. She is ranked 8 in our year," Marcus clarifies, his arms crossed as he stares at the arena.


    "That right? Should be easy enough for him then, since he is rank 5" Giuseppe says, with an unimpressed tone.


    "Err, Daniel isn''t ranked 5, didn''t you know?" Tandav interjects.


    "WHAT?!" Giuseppe was shocked and outraged.


    "He has never been ranked 5. Though, he was ranked 6. Which is probably what you are thinking about. He''s rank 9 now, his rank got pushed down by Rachel, Maya and obviously Sasha¡ªwho he is going to be fighting now," Marcus says, clearly the most knowledgeable about this topic.


    "Who the fuck are they?" Giuseppe, cluelessly responds.


    Marcus simply sighs and mentally gives up on Giuseppe.


    "Whatever man. It doesn''t even matter. No matter how much they try¡ªthey will never reach us,"


    Giuseppe grins at Marcus''s words.


    "That''s what I''m talking abou-"


    Giuseppe''s words get caught in his throat as his attention turns to Daniel''s opponent, who is also making her way to the arena.


    She is a petite young woman with short brown hair and piercing blue eyes. She''s dressed in blue jeans, a plain white shirt, and a black hat¡ªcasual, unassuming, almost forgettable.


    His brows furrow. That''s the new number five?


    "Really?" He scoffs, unimpressed.


    Giuseppe''s gaze sharpens as he scrutinizes her, his eyes darkening slightly. And then¡ªhe sees it.


    Or rather, he doesn''t


    His jaw clenches. His teeth grind together. His hands curl into fists.


    "Fucking bitch¡­" he mutters under his breath, his glare cold and cutting.


    There was nothing. No fire. No presence. Not a single ounce of fighting spirit.


    Nothing like what he had seen in the others.


    Seeing his reaction, the others also narrow their eyes, they have seen this reaction in him before.


    Though, never this intense.


    "How did someone like that get to become rank 5?" Arthur mutters.


    Regardless, the group decides to forget about it, since the fight was about to begin anyway.


    As the two fighters step into the arena, the scenery changes once more.


    The Simulation Core activates, seamlessly reconstructing the battlefield. In an instant, the sterile training grounds are replaced by a sprawling forest landscape¡ªtowering trees stretch towards the sky, their thick canopies casting shadows below.


    Dense bushes and vibrant green grass cover the terrain, rustling gently with an artificial breeze.


    The scent of earth and foliage fills the air, the sounds of distant birds and rustling leaves adding to the illusion.


    "Hey, Sasha," Daniels speaks suddenly, his hair covering his eyes, only showing the shadow of his glasses.


    "Yes?"


    "How about we make this an official duel, eh?" Daniel asks with an uncharacteristic smirk as he takes off his glasses and slicks his hair back.


    At his seemingly simple question, silence crashes over the arena. Shock ripples through the crowd¡ªeven Giuseppe, usually unfazed, raises a brow. Mavena''s expression hardens, but she says nothing.


    An official duel.


    The weight of those words is suffocatingly heavy. Unlike a regular spar, an official duel carries absolute authority, bound by the ironclad laws of humanity itself. Once declared and accepted, no one¡ªno instructor, no student, no outside force¡ªcan interfere until a winner is determined. Even if it means one of them doesn''t walk away.


    ''This is why I like you, Danny boy. You just never fail to surprise me,'' Giuseppe grins as he gazes at the arena.


    ___________


    A/N: