Marius stood tall, his dark cloak a stark contrast against the crimson horizon, his voice clear and steady, carrying a friendly but firm tone. "I have one more question," Onilia called out, her hand raised, her voice calm but curious.
Marius nodded, his expression patient. "Go ahead, Onilia."
"Can we fight multiple opponents?" she asked, her sapphire eyes flicking briefly to Zane, as if checking on him.
Marius shook his head. "No, you cannot. If there are no more questions, you have one hour to choose your opponents. Those who agree to fight should pair up. This will be hand-to-hand combat—no weapons allowed. Now, begin the selection."
Onilia turned to Zane, her voice low and warm, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Zane, you don't have to worry. I'll choose you." She stepped closer, her presence steady, like she was ready to shield him from the chaos of the duels.
Zane met her gaze, his sharp eyes softening for a moment. "Onilia, I know you don't like hearing no, but I'm sorry—I have to pass," he said, his tone gentle but firm. "You and I both know you'd go easy on me to make me look good. Besides, I've already got someone in mind."
Onilia's face fell, her lips pursing into a pout. She huffed, her boots scuffing the cracked earth as she stormed off. The crowd watched, some stifling laughs, others whispering. Before Zane could take a step, a lanky trainee with a scowl marched up, his fists clenched. "Fight me, loser," he spat, his voice dripping with challenge.
Zane didn't even glance at him, his eyes fixed on a small group across the plain. He walked past the trainee, his steps calm and deliberate, leaving the guy fuming. The trainee's face reddened, his hand twitching as if to grab Zane, but before he could act, Zane's voice cut through the murmurs, clear and bold. "I challenge you to a duel, Nenis."
The plain fell silent, the red-tinted sky seeming to deepen as every eye turned to Zane. Challenging an Apex-ranked trainee—Nenis, no less, Onilia's rival and practically his enemy—was unheard of for a Nay like him. A trainee nearby blinked, his mouth half-open. "I knew he was nuts, but there's gotta be a limit to crazy," he muttered, his voice a mix of awe and disbelief.
Nenis turned slowly, her two uncovered eyes narrowing, her expression a mix of annoyance and curiosity. "What's the meaning of this, Zane?" she asked, her voice sharp but measured. "What are you hoping to accomplish?"
Zane shrugged, his posture relaxed, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Nothing much. I just picked you, that's all."
Nenis's brows furrowed deeper, studying him like a puzzle she couldn't crack. She knew Zane always had a reason, some clever angle. "Then I'm afraid I have to decline," she said, her voice cool. "I've already chosen Drex."
Drex, standing nearby, smirked and stepped forward. "She said no, so buzz off, loser," he said, his voice loud and smug, drawing chuckles from a few trainees.
Instructor Marius watched in silence, his arms crossed, his eyes flicking between Zane and Nenis. 'What's he playing at?' he thought. 'Onilia's a guaranteed fifty points, safe and easy, but he picks Nenis, who might not only give him zero but crush him? It's impossible to figure this kid out.'
Zane turned to walk away, his boots crunching softly on the cracked earth. Then he paused, glancing back at Nenis, his voice casual but pointed. "Onilia's always saying you're her only real rival here. As her… well, let's call me her friend, I figured I'd see what's so special about you. Guess there's not much to see after all." He shrugged again, his words light but sharp, like a well-aimed dart.
Nenis froze, her eyes flashing with something fierce. 'Sorry, Onilia, for using you like this,' Zane thought, his faint smile hidden. He'd played his card perfectly—rivals like Nenis lived for acknowledgment, especially from someone tied to their competition. He hadn't picked Onilia because he didn't want an easy fifty points; his five hundred from the first test were enough. What he needed was a real test, a chance to measure his skills against someone who wouldn't hold back.
"Hold on, weakling," Nenis called out, her voice sharp but steady, her brows still furrowed. "I accept your challenge."
The plain erupted in whispers, trainees exchanging wide-eyed looks. "Am I seeing things?" one said, his voice high with shock. "Nenis is actually fighting the weakling? For once, we'll see that guy get crushed!"
Nolem, Oxin, and Kael watched in silence, their confidence unshaken but their eyes narrowing, intrigued by the unexpected matchup. Onilia, standing a short distance away, turned back, her pout replaced by a mix of worry and curiosity. Zane stood calm, his mind sharp. 'Let's see what I can do,' he thought.
'Of all the people you could've picked, why an Apex? And why Nenis?' Onilia thought.
Instructor Marius stood at the center, his dark cloak settling against the crimson horizon, his voice clear and warm, carrying over the plain. "With everyone paired up, we'll begin the test," he announced, his hands clasped behind his back. "All trainees, move to the rear to clear the field. Those ready to fight, step forward."
Five pairs moved forward, their boots crunching on the cracked earth, their shadows stretching long under the red sky. Onilia was among them, her posture steady, her sapphire eyes calm but focused. The first pair stepped into the open space—a Primordial-ranked girl with quick, fluid movements and a Supreme Alpha boy, his stance broad and confident, a rank just below Primordial but above Alpha. The crowd of trainees parted, creating a wide circle, their whispers buzzing with anticipation.
Marius raised a hand, his tone even but encouraging. "If you're both ready, you may begin."
The boy charged forward, his fists a blur as he unleashed a barrage of punches, his movements fueled by raw power. The girl danced around him, her steps light and precise, dodging each blow with ease, her eyes sharp as she read his every move. They traded strikes, the boy's strength crashing against her agility, dust rising from the cracked earth with each impact. After a flurry of blows, the girl landed a swift kick to his side, sending him stumbling. She pinned him with a quick grapple, her victory clear. Breathing heavily, she offered a small nod and awarded him twenty points, her voice soft but firm. The crowd murmured, some impressed, others already plotting their own strategies.
Next up was Onilia, facing a trainee with ashen skin and a partially mechanical body—his arms and legs gleamed with sleek, metallic plating, and his blue eyes glowed faintly, like they could pierce through steel. He was Ascendant-ranked, just below Apex, his movements deliberate, his confidence radiating. Onilia stood unbothered, her posture relaxed but ready, her sapphire eyes locked on her opponent.
A trainee near Zane leaned over, his voice low but carrying over the crowd. "I'm telling you, she's just as crazy as her boyfriend Zane," he whispered, his eyes wide. "She's the only Apex who picked a tough opponent. Most of them went for easy wins."
Another trainee snorted, crossing his arms. "Yeah, those two are cut from the same cloth. Zane picks Nenis, and Onilia picks an Ascendant? They're either crazy or up to something."