Bamba's voice cut through the rising noise in the dome.
"You may use your elemental powers."
That changed everything.
Some of the Vanguards straightened up at once, while others tensed. Elemental use wasn't always allowed in sparring matches, especially not when there was a clear difference in rank.
Maria's opponent froze for a second. He hadn't even begun to attack because of the disparity in their ranks. Now, Bamba had made the sparring harder.
"You're serious?" he said, turning toward Bamba. "She's a Four-Star. I'm still at Three."
Bamba didn't even blink. "Then quickly rank up."
A few chuckles rippled through the ranks, but they died fast. The look Bamba gave was enough to remind everyone that he wasn't joking.
After Bamba said those words, the entire atmosphere of the dome shifted.
It was no longer a training space.
The moment elemental powers were allowed, the training ground turned into something else, chaotic, alive, unpredictable.
