THIRD PERSON'S POV
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"Nora, delete it. You're not thinking straight."
Sarah tried to take her phone, but Nora stepped back, anger twisting across her face.
"What? You think I can't handle Ivy too?"
"Nora—"
"Well I can! I'm going to defeat her and prove all of you wrong."
The others exchanged worried glances.
"Nora, let's be tactical about this... Ivy has been training in combat since she was little while you..."
James trailed off suggestively.
Nora's frown deepened.
"So what? Sarah started training before you did, yet you can easily beat her, right? So why should my case be different?"
Sarah rubbed her temples, already feeling a headache forming.
But before she could respond, they all received a notification.
Someone had finally replied.
Ivy_da_Vinci <>
Nora reread the simple response over and over again.
And with every second, her anger only grew worse until her entire body trembled.
Without another word, she stormed out, tracking Ivy's location through her phone.
Sarah and the others hurried after her, each trying to calm her down, but Nora ignored them completely.
As she walked through campus, students stared and pointed.
Some secretly took pictures.
Others immediately posted them online.
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Nora finally arrived at the training field.
Team 5 was sprawled lazily across the grass like absolutely nothing had happened.
Her gaze locked onto Ivy's calm expression, fists clenched so tightly her nails dug painfully into her palms.
Then she walked forward.
Ivy glanced up calmly, but before Nora could speak—
"No."
Ivy said firmly before returning to scrolling through her phone.
"What...?"
"I'm not fighting you. I don't accept your challenge."
"Why?"
Nora stared at her, embarrassment, hurt, and anger battling visibly across her face.
Ivy lazily popped bubble gum into her mouth.
"Because I don't want to."
"But you've been accepting other matches. Accept mine."
Students slowly began gathering around them, immediately drawn in by the tension.
George sighed softly.
"Nora, this isn't—"
"This doesn't concern you."
George froze but decided not to interfere.
Donald yawned lazily while running his fingers through his hair.
"Kid, you're not thinking straight. You've been—"
"This doesn't concern you either."
Nora pointed directly at Ivy.
"Stand up and fight me. Unless you're scared I'll actually prove everyone wrong."
A taunting smile spread across her face.
Ivy raised an amused eyebrow.
"Bruh... did this girl just cut me off too?"
Donald muttered in disbelief while pointing at himself.
"Me? The one supporting her? The hell?"
He frowned slightly, but everyone ignored him, their attention fixed on the sisters.
Ivy chuckled quietly before standing up.
"Okay then. When?"
"Now."
The response came almost desperately.
Ivy nodded lightly.
Team 5 silently moved aside, giving them space.
More students gathered around while some immediately started placing bets.
"What's the point of betting? We already know who's winning."
Nora gritted her teeth as the comments spread through the crowd.
The moment Ivy tied her hair up, Nora attacked.
At first glance, her movements were precise and tactical, like she was carefully suppressing something.
Both sisters were holding back.
"Look, Ivy hasn't even lifted a hand."
"Yeah. She's only dodging."
"Honestly, Nora isn't bad. Ivy is just too experienced."
"Maybe Ivy's pitying her."
Some students immediately burst into laughter.
Nora clenched her teeth harder, desperately trying to ignore the comments.
Until she noticed the distant look in Ivy's eyes.
She wasn't even concentrating.
Nora stopped moving entirely.
Ivy smiled lightly before reaching out to smooth down Nora's messy hair.
"Great job, sis. You're improving—"
"Don't touch me! I don't need your pity!"
The crowd gradually quieted, sensing the tension shift.
But Ivy's smile barely changed.
"You know I don't pity people."
"Then fight me properly! I can beat you if I want to! You're not that special, you hear me?! You're not!"
Nora lunged again.
Stronger.
Faster.
But now her attacks carried more anger than precision.
Ivy raised her hands slightly in a placating gesture while smoothly dodging.
"Nora, what's gotten into you?"
"Stop pitying me! Why do I always have to be second compared to you?!"
Ivy narrowly dodged another strike aimed directly at her chest.
A flicker of worry crossed her face.
Team 5 immediately tensed.
"Doesn't she know her sister's a patient? What the hell is wrong with her?"
Donald muttered irritably.
Nearby students overheard him and gasped.
"So Ivy's sick and still this strong?"
"Nora's actually pitiful."
"Yeah. Even a sick person is making her look weak."
Ivy's head snapped toward the students.
They instantly shut up.
But the distraction cost her.
Nora's next hit landed.
Hard.
Precise.
Directly against Ivy's chest.
Ivy stumbled back in visible shock and pain.
She forced herself upright despite the familiar ache spreading rapidly through her body.
Too rapidly.
Her face quickly turned pale.
Sweat soaked through her shirt.
The crowd immediately started murmuring.
"Was the hit really that strong?"
"Did we underestimate Nora?"
The whispers seemed to encourage Nora as she prepared to attack again—
But Albert suddenly rushed forward and grabbed her arm, pulling her back forcefully.
"Let me go! I'm not done! LET GO! She's not that special! She's just an abandoned—"
Albert instantly clamped a hand over her mouth and dragged her backward.
Gradually, the crowd dispersed now that the spectacle was over.
But rumors had already begun spreading.
Either Nora was stronger than expected...
Or Ivy had been holding back the entire time.
Sarah's team hesitated, conflicted between following Nora and staying behind for Ivy.
But seeing George and the others already surrounding Ivy, they finally left after Albert and Nora.
George stared at Ivy carefully.
She was trying to look fine, but her growing pallor betrayed her completely.
"Ivy... are you okay?"
Ivy waved him off weakly.
"I'm fine..."
The words barely came out as a whisper before she took an unstable step forward.
Nathan immediately caught her before she collapsed.
"Ivy!"
Donald reacted a second later but quickly moved to her side while the others crowded around.
Only Zoe remained standing furthest away.
"Bag... medicine..."
Fiona immediately grabbed Ivy's bag and started searching frantically.
Albert returned just in time.
"What's wrong—"
His gaze landed on Ivy's pale face, then on Fiona desperately searching through the backpack.
His expression darkened instantly.
Without hesitation, he opened his own bag and pulled out a fresh syringe along with a small vial.
After injecting the medicine, Ivy finally lost consciousness.
But her complexion slowly began stabilizing.
George's eyes immediately shifted toward Albert.
"Has this happened before?"
Albert hesitated briefly.
Then nodded.
"Yes. But it's been a very long time."
Nobody asked further questions.
Zoe rolled her eyes before silently opening a portal back to the apartment.