The time was half over in the first round of combat training.
Inside Ring One, Delphine still stood calmly, untouched. Around her, the remnants of the training bots sparked faint lightning. Two of her teammates had been knocked out earlier because of their overzealous charges which was punished by the bots' coordinated strikes. But the others had likely survived thanks to her dominance. Most were able to endure because of the way Delphine fought so many bots by herself.
Delphine hadn't spoken a word to any of her teammates. She hadn't even looked back. There had been no coordination.
And yet, she held the ring like a sovereign storm.
Saurai's eyes drifted to the other rings. The simulated combat session was approaching its final moments, and the results were becoming clear.
Across the arena, students lay groaning or slumped. Some were carried off on light stretchers by medical assistants. Even Kevin's ring, where things seemed more measured, had seen five students knocked out.
More striking were Rings Three and Ten, where every single cadet had been eliminated.
The arena buzzed with a low hum of tension and cheers, groans, scattered laughter, and murmured frustrations echoed off the gym's high walls.
Saurai folded his arms and silently absorbed it all.
So… not everyone here is a fighter.
But he knew better than to underestimate anyone because many hadn't brought their equipment since it was not allowed, they can only use weapon which was they just choose and some relied on robots or specialized tools to fight so Others required different settings to showcase their talents.
That was important.
This was a school full of elites, but not all of them were combat elites.
Even on a ship like Artemis-5, which trained the best, not everyone could shine in raw combat. Some faltered. Some were overwhelmed. Some had potential, but no control.
And some, like Delphine, were simply on another plane.
"Combat trial - Phase One complete."
The announcement boomed across the arena.
Bruce, the dark-haired, dependable teacher from Class 1-B stood on an elevated platform near the center. His calm voice reverberated with authority.
"All students from group One, return to your class formation."
The cadets filed out of their rings. While some limping, some laughing, others silent and pale.
Saurai watched their faces. Some were glum with defeat, others quietly proud. A few looked anxious. Those were the ones who knew they'd performed poorly. This wasn't just about pride but Points mattered too.
Those knocked out early would likely lose points. Survivors gained them. And those who excelled? They'd rise on the merit ladder.
Saurai wasn't sure yet what points were used for more things but judging by the nervous looks some cadets gave the display board, it was more serious than just some simple lunch money.
Then the lights dimmed slightly.
A massive holographic screen shimmered to life above the arena. Brilliant and cold-blue, it displayed scrolling names and tallies.
MERIT RANKING – PHASE ONE COMBAT TRIAL
Saurai's eyes scanned the glowing display as names and ranks locked into place.
---
1. Delphine Ray – 140 Points
Bot Eliminations: 70 Points
Bot Hit points: 20 Points
Survival Bonus: 50 Points
Efficiency Multiplier Applied
Saurai whistled under his breath. Seven bots, and she hadn't even looked tired. That efficiency multiplier… it had to be something only the top-tier fighters received.
4. Kevin Welser – 80 Points
Surprisingly, he wasn't in second rank. Two others had scored 95 and 92 names unfamiliar to Saurai and they were ranked second and third.
He squinted.
"Shia Mendez" from Class 1-F, and "Gregor Talin" from Class 1-D.
He didn't remember watching them closely. That was a lesson too.
Not all strength came with flashy moves. Some people were ghosts in the crowd.
Saurai searched for Andy's name and he found it in the 50s. He smirked. Andy had only eliminated one bot and hadn't survived till the end.
He didn't look for his own name. That would come later.
"Group Two—prepare for combat."
Bruce's voice sounded again, and cadets stepped forward.
This time, Bryn and Coral were among them but each in different rings.
Saurai perked up.
He was curious to see how they'd do.
---
Bryn's Ring – Ring Four
The platform shimmered as the bots entered. Ten mechanical forms strode in, red eyes locking onto the new targets.
Bryn stretched his arms, rolled his shoulders, and tightened his grip on his metallic warhammer. It wasn't sleek like Kevin's spear, or elegant like Delphine's sword.
It was a chunk of a weapon.
When the countdown ended, Bryn didn't hesitate. With a war cry that echoed faintly, he slammed the hammer into the first bot that got too close.
CLANG!
The bot staggered back, its side dented like a crumpled can. But it wasn't destroyed.
Saurai leaned forward slightly.
Bryn's strength wasn't lacking for a fourteen-year-old boy. But the bots' surface seemed harder than Saurai expected. Delphine had made it look easy.
Bryn swung hard. Every blow had might, but not always efficiency. Sometimes, the bots absorbed his attacks without shutting down. Sometimes they tumbled back only to get back up seconds later.
Still Bryn was no coward.
He fought fiercely. He protected others in his ring when needed. He drew aggro. He took hits and swung back harder. Bryn was looked like as if he was a small hill. He took multiple hit but he didn't got out of the ring nor he got injured much. Saurai thought maybe defense is his powers, maybe he should ask him when he get a time.
He looked like a bruiser out of a storybook. Not much elegant. Not very fast.
But dependable.
---
Coral's Ring – Ring Eight
Saurai shifted his gaze.
Coral moved with grace and timing but not the kind that came from power. She wielded a slender rapier, using light thrusts to target joints and sensors.
She didn't seem to have any superpower either or atleast she didn't use it so far.
Her defense was good. Her reading of the battlefield was decent.
And there was no hesitation in her strikes and also No fear. But there was a kind of restraint. As if she was still learning to believe in her weapon or herself.
Saurai noticed that She'll survive till the end. That much was certain. And she connected many strikes on bots, even if she didn't disable any bots on her own.
Saurai watched her carefully and admiration flickering in his mind. Not for her talent, but for her steadiness.
Then he looked again at Bryn's ring.
After many hits, Bryn finally knocked out one bot on his own. He beamed with pride, then he moved to the next target and With help from the teammates, he managed to knock out another before the time limit hit. From his expression it was clear that he is happy with his results.
---
Ten minutes passed. The fights were over.
Both Bryn and Coral walked off their rings, they were breathing heavily but smiling.
They had made it through.
Saurai met them near the ring, holding out a bottle each.
"Not bad," he said.
Bryn wiped his forehead. "You saw me smash that one bot into the floor?"
"Yeah," Saurai smiled, handing him the water. "It got back up, though."
"Don't ruin it," Bryn groaned.
Coral chuckled, hair damp with sweat. "I got lucky. One of my teammates took out most of them. But I didn't fall."
"Survival is its own reward," Saurai replied.
They turned to the screen.
Bryn placed in the 30s, Coral somewhere around the 50s.
Not bad.
It was decent, considering Bryn had knocked out one bot on his own, and helped with another. Coral didn't knock out any bots, but she landed many strikes and held her ground.
---
Then the top of the screen blinked again.
PHASE ONE MERIT HOLDERS – COMBAT TRIAL
1. Delphine Ray – 140
2. Shia Mendez – 95
3. Gregor Talin – 92
4. Marvin - 90
5. Marya daris - 89
6. Kevin Welser – 80
...
34. Bryn Dalle – 72
...
53. Coral Dalle – 65
Saurai made a mental note to remember the top five.
---
As the students regrouped, Bruce's voice rang out once more.
"This concludes the second group's combat training assessment. Points have been recorded. Your rankings will influence your opportunities and responsibilities. Learn from your performance and from others. Now, let's begin with the third group."
His eyes swept across the crowd meaningfully.
Saurai was in the third group.
He lingered at the edge of the ring platforms, mind churning.
Now, he was glad he wasn't in the first group. He had gathered enough data about how to act in the ring.
And more than that he had learned from others.
Delphine had shown him what true power looked like.Kevin reminded him that control was a weapon.Bryn and Coral had taught him that grit and survival had value, even without flashy powers.Andy had shown him why carelessness could cost you.
He didn't know how he'd perform in the ring. But now, he had multiple plans in his mind.
And a reason to try.