The clang of training weapons echoed off the reinforced walls of the Academy's underground training chamber. Daron grunted as he slid back across the polished floor, his boots leaving streaks of rubber behind him. Across from him, Reyna lowered her sword slightly, her stance still tight, her eyes burning with focus.
Even with Daron's size and thick-plated gear, she had pushed him back several feet with nothing but raw force and precision. He exhaled, shaking out his shield arm.
"Okay," he said, chuckling through gritted teeth. "I admit it. You hit harder than you look."
Reyna didn't smile. Her sword tip stayed pointed in his direction. "Again."
Before they clashed once more, Lucas's voice echoed through the hall. "Enough!"
He stepped between them, hands raised, his system humming softly in the back of his mind. His Overdrive Strength flared, muscles tightening under his academy uniform. The presence he exuded, even for a moment, shifted the air in the room. Both Daron and Reyna froze instinctively.
[New Trait Gained: Calm Amidst Chaos – Slightly reduces fear when facing multiple opponents.]
Lucas blinked at the prompt as it disappeared. He exhaled slowly, and the tension in the room drained with it. But how did it come to this?
...
Earlier that day, the students had gathered in Room B-112 once again. Instructor Vale stood in front of the class, arms crossed and expression unreadable.
"You lot are going to be part of a simulated dungeon run," she announced, voice crisp. "No monsters, no risk of death—but everything else will be real. Limited rations, environmental hazards, traps. The goal is teamwork, navigation, and efficiency. You'll be in squads of four."
The room buzzed with murmurs. Some students looked excited. Others, terrified.
Vale continued without pause. "These are your squads. Don't ask to switch. Don't complain."
She tapped on her tablet, and names appeared on the screen behind her. Lucas scanned the list quickly.
Squad Four: Lucas Hollow, Daron, Reyna, and a student named Mira Tesh.
Lucas raised an eyebrow. So they were officially working together now.
"You'll have one week to prepare," Vale said. "Train, learn each other's strengths, and figure out how not to get each other killed."
The bell rang soon after, and students began to file out, many already whispering about their teams.
At lunch, Lucas and Daron sat at their usual table in the mess hall. Daron was halfway through his tray, mountains of eggs and meat, when Reyna approached, her expression unreadable as always.
She stood silently beside the table until Lucas gestured. "Want to sit?"
She nodded once and sat across from them.
Daron blinked, then smirked. "Wow. The Ice Queen herself, gracing us with her presence."
Reyna's eyes narrowed. "What did you just call me?"
Lucas elbowed Daron subtly, but it was too late.
"Just saying, we've been classmates for a week and you've barely said ten words to anyone. You always act like you're too good to talk."
Reyna stood slowly, her voice low. "Care to back that up in the training hall?"
Daron's grin didn't fade. "Gladly."
Lucas sighed, already standing. "Let's not—"
"No," Reyna said, eyes still locked on Daron. "This needs to happen."
...
Now, back in the training hall, Lucas stepped away from the two, letting the tension fade naturally. Reyna lowered her sword, eyes flicking toward Lucas before she sheathed it.
Daron rolled his shoulders and picked up his shield. "Didn't mean to get under your skin. That rank 7 blood of yours really packs a punch."
She turned toward the door. "Don't bring my family into it."
Lucas watched her go, thoughtful.
Once the door shut behind her, Daron groaned and dropped onto one of the benches. "Okay, yeah. I might've poked the hornet's nest on that one."
"A bit," Lucas said.
Daron glanced up. "Still. She's strong. I see why she's on our team. You think we can work together without killing each other?"
Lucas nodded. "We'll have to."
He glanced down at his system interface, quietly summoning it.
[Upgrade Points: 1]
[Traits: Minor Recovery Boost, Calm Amidst Chaos]
[Skills: Overdrive Strength
][Combat Path Active]
He scrolled to the Combat Path. Several nodes glowed faintly, one of which hinted at something new—Squad Synergy. It wasn't unlocked yet, but Lucas had a feeling his path would involve more than just fighting alone.
After training, they returned to the dorms. Lucas remained silent, thinking about the flash of vulnerability in Reyna's eyes when Daron mentioned her family. There was more to her story, and if they were going to survive the simulation, they'd all need to understand each other better.
He collapsed into his bed and stared at the ceiling, the faint hum of his system lulling him to sleep. His journey was still just beginning, but already, it was clear that power wasn't the only thing that mattered.
... In the classroom the next morning
Vale gave a final nod, satisfied that the skirmish was over. "Let that be a lesson. Power without restraint is just chaos. Control it, or it will control you."
She dismissed them for the evening, and the students began to scatter. Lucas, Daron, and Reyna lingered behind. The tension between them still lingered in the air, not quite gone, but dulled by mutual exhaustion.
Reyna exhaled, wiping her brow. "Guess I got carried away. Sorry, Daron."
He chuckled, rubbing his bruised side. "You hit like a truck. I deserved that. Shouldn't have joked about your dad."
Lucas raised an eyebrow. "So now we're apologizing?"
"Shut it," both of them said in unison, before laughing. It was strained, but genuine.
They walked back toward the dorms together. The moon hung high over the Academy, casting silver light across the training fields. The hum of magical barriers and distant echoes of steel-on-steel reminded them where they were. Not just students, but future Delvers.
Lucas trailed behind for a moment, checking his system again.
[New Quest Available – Squad Synergy]
[Objective: Complete the dungeon simulation with your squad without losing a member.] [Reward: Hidden Trait]
He smiled slightly.
Whatever came next, they'd face it together.