The late morning sun filtered through the clouds in golden shafts, its warm light dancing along the grassy expanse of Crimson Academy's wide athletic field. Dozens of students from Room A ran in tight formations, sweat gleaming on their brows and soaking into their crimson tracksuits. Their feet thundered rhythmically against the earth, forming a steady beat that echoed through the surrounding hills like the pulse of war drums.
Above them, the sky stretched endlessly, the clouds drifting lazily in stark contrast to the grueling exercise below. No essence flared. No aura surged. Just raw muscle, willpower, and the stubborn clatter of sneakers pounding unyielding turf.
Every student wore a dull gray belt artifact around their waist—a suppressor of power, designed to seal their essence cores and reduce them to little more than ordinary athletes. To many, it felt like a suffocating weight, cutting off the very force that defined them. For others, it was a rude awakening—how weak their bodies truly were without the essence they'd come to rely on.
Instructor Dame stood tall at the sidelines, his arms folded behind his back, his voice sharp as blades as it boomed across the field.
"Pick yourselves up and continue running you fresh vegetables" Instructor Dame shouted his voice empowered by essence making it as loud as when a mic is used.
"In the next one week we are going to thoroughly break the limits of your natural body. Every time you train this way till you are drained, when essence returns your base strength would be more than double what it was" he said as he noticed Denwen leading the pack by a large distance and didn't even show any sign of giving out, Roy following right behind.
"He has always been like that, quite the different specimen I must say" Agrona said with a smile of content.
"Awakening would normally improve the body of a person and even without use of essence or mana, they are still as strong as five unawakened, this only increases the more one breakthrough but he runs as though he is already a rank 2" Dame commented.
"Don't forget the fact that he is outpacing a proper rank 2 out there" Zara mentioned in a very dull voice compared to her previously lively voice causing Dame to turn back and look at her.
"Zara, I see you, and how you still bear grudge against those responsible for your lover's death. As warriors, relationships and emotions should be completely severed so we can remain cool headed to make proper decisions at all times. Else you might end up even causing more harm than good" he said coldly his gaze falling on Roy.
"You…" Zara filled with rage was about to lash out when Agrona's voice came in between.
"Dame, Zara please not out here, for the sake of the children at least" she said looking at the two of them.
"Dame, we all know how you loath relationships and emotions but please allow those who are mourning, mourn in peace" she said.
"Tch, I said what I said, I don't want to have to be schooling little children and schooling instructors as well" he said as he walked out towards the students:
"Alright everyone gather around" he shouted as Zara's eyes burned with rage.
"The piece of shit…" Zara said as Agrona placed a calm hand on her shoulder "Yet he wonders why he is so lonely" she said calming down.
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The students collapsed to the ground breathing heavily as finally their torture was over.
"Instructor Dame is definitely out for our blood" Kara said as she laid on her back her limbs spread wide.
"At this rate we won't even make it to the exam" Logan said practically lying on the back of Jay motionless.
"Now you definitely regret your promotion" Jay teased causing Logan to use his elbow to hit him.
"Ouch come on" Jay cried out in pain.
"Did you guys see Roy and Denwen, I am surprised those piece of shits still have the strength to stand" Briggs cursed sitting beside Nero and Kelvin who were more focused on catching their breathe than petty gossip.
Dame seeing this approached them with his hands behind his back
"That was a great session wasn't it" he said with a smile causing the students to groan this just made him smile as though he felt joy in their pain.
"Alright the last to get up and get in line would go another 10 laps" he said and just as quickly each of the students jolted up with energy straight from the abyss.
"Now that's more like it" he said a briefcase materializing from his spatial ring unto his hand as he opened it revealing twenty balls.
"Next, we are going to work on synergy and teamwork, a number would appear from one to twenty on your belts, you would look for you partner with the same number, both of you would take a ball and activate it with your essence. The person who activates the ball is the castle, the other person is the defender, the goal is simple, prevent the ball from hitting the castle three times before it is destroyed. Those who are successful can leave, but those who fail" he paused as he let his voice linger.
"Just know that you don't want to fail, trust me" he said as he snapped his finger, the belts coming to life as numbers began to shuffle for a while before it settled.
"Quite and interesting game don't you thing" Roy said to Denwen who stood beside him.
"Let me guess both of you would love to be on the same team" Kara said as a smirk appeared on her lips "Well that's just too sad" she said as they checked their belt.
"Well, I guess I am with number 5" Roy said scanning the field until his eyes came to lock unto Nero.
"Just great" he said turning to Denwen "Who did you…Oh no" he said seeing Denwen locking gaze with Angus with their numbers reading 15.