Kie swung his sword with lightning speed, intercepting the spinning razor disk hurtling toward his head. The blade deflected it, sending the projectile vanishing from sight. But the shocking realization that it had been one of their own swords froze him in place. His eyes darted frantically, scanning the field with a mix of confusion and alarm.

  Amidst the chaos, Tee hurled two more swords, one each toward Miko and Zod, forcing them to stagger and pause mid-assault. Kie’s eyes widened in disbelief. “What the hell is she thinking?” he muttered under his breath, incredulity lacing his tone.

  Zod, oblivious to Tee’s strategy, spun around, scanning for the source of the near-fatal swords. “Hey! Look out!” he shouted, narrowly dodging a blade that had zipped past his temple.

  That fool! Tee seethed inwardly, frustration bubbling at Zod’s unwitting interference. Meanwhile, Miko deftly evaded the incoming barrage, and Kie and Zod managed to skirt the falling blades by mere inches.

  The opponent, nimble and relentless, dodged several of the swords, though a few tore through his spiked whips, the heavy impact rattling him and leaving visible damage. The combined assault had made a tangible mark.

  Then, a radiant light pulsed from the quicksand, casting an ethereal glow across the battlefield. Tee and the others tore their gaze from the opponent, captivated by the mesmerizing spectacle of glowing symbols hovering above the treacherous sand.

  A sinking dread gripped Tee as she noticed the logs beneath their feet shifting, tilting toward the quicksand below. The ground was giving way.

  “Get off this field now!” Zod’s urgent cry cut through the chaos. Miko wasted no time, leaping toward safer ground. Tee hesitated, her mind racing. Could they all safely drop from such a height? Who would be there to catch them? And if there were no branches below…

  Reluctantly, Tee sprinted toward the edge of the field. Kie, however, stayed behind. The torrent of swords had ended, and the destruction of the opponent’s six spiked whips had opened a rare opportunity. Seizing it, Kie lunged, tackling the adversary. The two bodies hurtled together toward the treacherous quicksand, a collision of strength and skill.

  The remaining cadets were too late to escape the collapsing log field. The sinking logs vanished beneath them, leaving them momentarily disoriented and panicked. But instead of plunging into the expected quagmire, their feet landed on solid ground. Confusion rippled through the group, their minds racing to comprehend the sudden shift.

  Suddenly, a male voice rang out in pain, jolting Tee, Miko, Zod, and Saeda from their daze. Their gazes snapped toward the source, finding Kie locked in a tense wrestling match with the opponent, who seemed far older and stronger than he had anticipated.

  “Pray, I beseech thee, unhand me,” the man pleaded, his voice a mixture of surrender and awe. “Thou hast triumphed over me.”

  Kie released his grip, collapsing onto his back, chest heaving from the exertion. The others approached cautiously, keeping their distance as the opponent stood. With a fluid motion, he pulled back his hood, revealing a shockingly vibrant crown of light blue hair. Gasps escaped their lips, their astonishment evident.

  “Are we supposed to kill him?” Tee asked, eyes narrowing.

  They all looked at her, brows furrowed in silent incredulity.

  “I was just kidding,” she quickly added, a sheepish tone undercutting her bravado.

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  “A Vergant,” Zod blurted, recognition flashing across his face at the striking hair and aura.

  Kie slowly propped himself up, keeping his gaze fixed on the opponent’s peculiar visage.

  “Thou hath passed this obstacle,” the man proclaimed, his tone laced with both acknowledgment and warning. “Alas, another awaits.”

  A subtle motion beneath his mantle drew their attention. In the blink of an eye, he vanished, employing teleportation with such precision it left a ripple of disbelief in their minds.

  “He teleported,” Tee remarked, crossing her arms tightly, her voice steady despite the lingering adrenaline.

  “Auch!” Zod yelped, clutching his temple as he refocused on the present. His eyes landed on the ancient scroll sprawled on the ground before him, curiosity piqued.

  “More strange objects falling from the sky?” he muttered with a bemused chuckle. “Am I haunted today, or what?”

  Miko streaked forward like a fleeting comet, nimble and precise, snatching the scroll and unfurling it carefully. Her eyes skimmed the contents, absorbing the intricate symbols and markings.

  “It’s a progress chart,” Kie declared before Miko could speak, positioning himself behind her to study the parchment. “Seven more levels of trials remain.”

  The others gathered around, their attention fixed on the seven shaded circles and the solitary outline that punctuated the scroll. Though the symbols’ meaning eluded most, Kie’s confident interpretation silenced any dissent. The revelation carried undeniable logic.

  As Tee lingered, she felt the gentle warmth of Kie’s breath brush against her left ear, accompanied by a quiet, conspiratorial whisper. “Another point earned for defeating our adversary,” he murmured. Surprisingly, he bore no ill will for the sword she had nearly sent his way.

  He understood—she had intended only to warn them of the falling blades, sparing him in the process.

  “Five points to me,” Tee announced, her gaze fixed elsewhere, deliberately avoiding his eyes.

  Kie’s brow arched in bewilderment. “What? How?”

  "If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have had the chance to subdue our opponent," Tee interjected, her explanation cut short as a verdant vortex spiraled into existence before them.

  The faint sting on Zod's arm drew his attention from the tempestuous portal. He wrenched a black spike from his flesh. "Could these be poisonous?" he muttered, wincing.

  "We’ll find out later," Kie said firmly, his gaze fixed on the swirling vortex. "For now, another trial awaits." With resolute determination, he strode forward, his mind focused solely on the challenge ahead.

  Miko folded the scroll with practiced care, tucking it deep into her pouch, safeguarding its ancient wisdom.

  Tee pulled a painkiller patch from her own supplies and pressed it onto Zod's exposed arm. "Don’t go dying on us," she said, her tone a blend of genuine concern and playful teasing.

  For a moment, Zod froze at her words, but seeing the others advance into the vortex ignited a surge of urgency. He scrambled forward, following their lead.

  Passing through the vortex, he was swallowed by a darkness that devoured all light once the swirling portal vanished. In the oppressive gloom, Saeda’s round face glowed pale, illuminated faintly by the meager light of a match she had struck. Silhouettes of the others began to emerge nearby, drawn toward the fragile flame.

  A sudden gust snuffed out the match, plunging them into near-total darkness. A collective gasp escaped the group.

  Then, a new beacon pierced the gloom: a vibrant green glow stick clutched by Saeda, casting an eerie radiance over her features.

  One by one, the others activated their own glow sticks. Blue, purple, red, and yellow luminescence cut through the darkness, dispersing shadows as they spread out, trying to make sense of their surroundings.

  Though the lights offered some clarity, the chamber remained vast and empty, stretching endlessly with no walls or discernible objects.

  "How odd," Saeda murmured, her voice echoing faintly through the void. "There’s no breeze here—so how did my match go out?" Her tone sharpened with suspicion. "Zod, did you do that?"

  "No," Zod replied instantly, his voice steady.

  Tee opened her mouth to deny involvement, but before she could speak, the ground beneath them trembled. Their glow sticks slipped from their grasp, clattering to the floor, and for a heartbeat, their silhouettes disappeared into the encroaching darkness.