The grand combat hall buzzed with excitement and tension as students from all four card classes gathered, standing in formation under the watchful eyes of their respective homeroom teachers. The vast space, resembling an arena, was illuminated by the soft glow of magical formations lining the walls. Today was different from their usual lessons—it was the first official combat session of Evigheden Academy.
Professor Veyne, clad in his pristine white coat, stood among the other teachers, his sharp eyes concealed behind his mask. The cold and strict Spade Class teacher stood with arms crossed, her sharp gaze sweeping over her students like a hawk. The Diamond Class teacher, dressed as extravagantly as ever, looked as if he were about to host a royal banquet rather than oversee a combat session. Meanwhile, the Club Class teacher, looking as lazy as always, stood with a hand in his pocket, appearing as though he might fall asleep at any moment.
Then, four massive puppets stepped into the hall.
Towering and human-sized, each puppet was engraved with intricate runes, glowing faintly with magical energy. Their eyes gleamed eerily, as if aware of their surroundings despite being mere constructs.
A murmur spread among the students.
"These are…"
"High-tier combat puppets?"
"This early into the term?"
Yuna, standing among her Heart Class classmates, observed the puppets. Her curiosity was piqued.
In her previous life, she had never seen lifelike puppets before. Their movements were eerily smooth, resembling something closer to cyborgs than mere constructs. The glowing runes, the intricate craftsmanship, and the way their metallic limbs moved with an uncanny precision fascinated her.
'It's like something out of science fiction...'
She tilted her head slightly, examining the way the light reflected off their metal bodies. It wasn't just that they moved like sentient beings—it was the level of detail. The puppet's artificial muscles shifted realistically beneath their enchanted armor, and even their fingers twitched with controlled precision.
It was... fascinating.
She wanted to see what they were capable of.
Professor Veyne's voice rang through the hall, his tone steady and authoritative.
"Your task is simple. Work together with your card class to take down the puppet assigned to you. Once you defeat it, you will advance to your next combat lesson."
Some students exchanged glances, while others cracked their knuckles in excitement.
A student from the Club Class raised a hand. "Wait, isn't this kind of unfair? Our class has way more students than the Heart Class. Wouldn't that make it easier for us?"
His words drew attention to the Heart Class, who stood together without reacting much to the discussion. Their small numbers had already been noticed, and now eyes discreetly studied them once again.
The Club Class teacher yawned, stretching lazily before replying, "Life's not fair. Get used to it."
Some students grumbled at his response, while others chuckled.
The Diamond Class teacher took a step forward, his ornate cape fluttering dramatically as he addressed the students. "Now, to make things more… engaging, there will be a point system."
Interest immediately spiked.
"Points?"
"What do we get?"
The teacher smirked, clearly enjoying the attention. "Each class will earn points upon defeating their puppet. The first class to defeat theirs will receive the most."
A small board appeared behind him, listing the rewards:
• 1st Place: 100 Points
• 2nd Place: 70 Points
• 3rd Place: 50 Points
• 4th Place: 10 Points
A competitive spark ignited in the students' eyes.
This wasn't just about combat training—it was a test of which class was the strongest.
The atmosphere shifted as the realization set in. Glances were thrown toward the Heart Class, the smallest group. Some pitied them, others were intrigued, and a few simply dismissed them as easy last-place contenders.
Yuna, standing comfortably among her classmates, could already sense the hidden anticipation in the air.
"So it's a competition now?"
Celeste grinned beside her, clearly entertained. "Ooh, this is gonna be fun."
From the Spade Class, Enyo, the red-haired, claymore-wielding representative, cracked her knuckles, an eager smile stretching across her face. "Perfect. Let's see how fast we can win."
The students shifted their stances, preparing for battle.
The puppets' eyes burned brighter.
And with that, the first combat trial of Evigheden Academy began.
.....
The moment the battle began, the Spade Class launched their attack.
Unlike the other classes, who hesitated to strategize, the Spade Class moved with practiced efficiency. Enyo, their class representative, took the lead, her fiery red curls bouncing as she lifted her massive claymore with ease. Her red eyes gleamed with intensity, her posture exuding the confidence of a seasoned warrior.
"Formation! Mages, provide ranged support! The rest of you—engage in pairs and keep moving! Don't let it focus on a single target!"
Her sharp, authoritative voice rang across the combat hall, and her classmates responded immediately.
The Spade Class was built for battle. More than half of the students were warriors and swordmasters, while the rest were combat mages. Those who weren't mages wielded mana in another form—aura. It wrapped around their bodies like living fire, enhancing their strength, speed, and reflexes.
As they charged, their weapons flared with mana.
A greatsword user struck first, his blade wreathed in blue aura, slashing at the puppet's metal torso. A loud clang echoed across the hall, but the puppet barely flinched. A spear wielder followed up, his weapon crackling with condensed mana, aiming for the puppet's core.
The puppet tilted its head, dodging effortlessly before countering—its metallic fist slamming into the spear wielder's side and sending him skidding across the floor.
Despite this, Enyo remained calm.
She lifted her claymore, turning it so that the sharp edge grazed her bare forearm.
A thin line of blood welled up from the cut.
And then—it moved.
The blood did not fall.
Instead, it glowed a deep crimson, pulsing with life. As if guided by an unseen force, it curled into the air, forming intricate symbols that burned into existence—runes made from her very lifeblood.
A sudden surge of power erupted from her body.
"Enhance."
Her voice was low but commanding.
The moment she spoke, the blood runes expanded, their glow intensifying as they wrapped around her claymore like a living entity. The massive blade, already formidable, hummed with newfound power.
Then—
She moved.
With one powerful swing, her rune-empowered claymore crashed down on the puppet's shoulder.
A deep gouge was carved into the metal.
It was the first true damage dealt.
The Spade Class roared in triumph, their spirits reigniting.
Taking advantage of the moment, the warriors pressed forward, their attacks sharper, their movements more coordinated. The combat mages rained spells from a distance, their magic weaving through the battlefield with precision.
But the puppet was not so easily defeated.
Its core pulsed, runes on its metallic body flaring to life. With an inhuman twist of its torso, it retaliated—its arm shot out like a whip, knocking aside three students in a single motion.
Even Enyo, with her enhanced strength, was forced back, her claymore vibrating in her grip from the sheer force of impact.
At the edge of the combat hall, Yuna stood quietly, arms crossed, watching the fight unfold.
Her expression remained neutral, but internally—
'Whoa… That was cool.'
She had never learned to fight and had no desire to. It looked tiring. The thought of training, swinging a sword, or dodging attacks? Absolutely not.
But that didn't mean she couldn't appreciate the skill of others.
Watching the Spade Class move, seeing the fluidity of their attacks, and how Enyo used her own blood to enhance her weapon—Yuna felt an unfamiliar urge to silently fangirl.
'That was a perfect slash. That guy's footwork is amazing. And blood runes? That's so unfairly cool.'
If she had popcorn, she might have started snacking while watching.
Beside her, Austin stood silently, watching the fight with complete disinterest.
Unlike her, he didn't even seem remotely impressed.
Yuna didn't acknowledge it, but she knew—he wasn't watching the battle at all.
He was watching her.
She exhaled softly and shook her head slightly before returning to her mental commentary.
'Oh, they're losing now. That's a shame.'
It was expected.
The High-Tier Combat Puppet was simply too much for fledgling students. Even though the Spade Class was strong, they weren't that strong yet. Not to mention, not all spade students adhere to Enyo command, like the one standing beside her.
As more students fell back, panting, the other card classes—Diamond, Club, and Heart—watched closely, waiting for their turn to step forward.