Commander Olivia smirked slightly. "This one fights like she's in live combat."
Madam Wolke wrote her score without hesitation. "Efficient. Very."
Her scores never dipped below 85.
And just like that, Stephanie stayed at the top of the leaderboard.
Every other student eyed her warily.
Some of them quietly prayed they wouldn't draw her name in the next round.
Even online, the tension was clear.
@MartialArtsMom: If I see my child's name next to Stephanie's, I'm pulling them out.
@NicholasFanHere: Can anyone even match her?
@SpilledTeaOnLive: In year three? Doubt it!
In the middle of it all, Stephanie stood calm. Her uniform didn't have a wrinkle, her ponytail didn't shift.
She wasn't tired.
She wasn't impressed by her opponents.
And she definitely wasn't done.
The energy in the arena shifted again when the announcer called out the next name:
"Student Nicholas."
Unlike his twin sister, Nicholas didn't walk onto the stage like it belonged to him.
