Day 263, 13:00.

  Phweee!

  Rhino blew the whistle, “Ok cadets. Since we have two newbies, we’ll have the newbies spar first. 4-17, 5-03, you’re up.”

  Taeseok raised his hand.

  “Yes, 4-17?”

  “…I don’t want to spar with Pretty Hands…Men don’t fight women.”

  Especially one who can cook for me…

  !!!

  Again, Taeseok said something everyone was shocked by. But to him, Hwayeon became a valuable asset who could feed him.

  Hwayeon’s ears turned a shade of pink as Yerin nudged Seohwa aggressively and giggled. Jiho looked at Taeseok with respect. Too bad Hawk wasn’t there because if he was, he would have smirked so widely that he found another person to tease.

  Rhino didn’t know what to say before sighing, “Then will you be sparring cadet 8-10, since he’s the only boy here?”

  “No, I don’t want to spar with someone weaker than me.”

  Jiho was about to respond when he was stopped by Seohwa.

  Rhino frowned, “Then who?”

  “You sir.” Taeseok replied curtly.

  Rhino froze before chuckling, “I like it. Very well.”

  Jiho eyed Seohwa, “So? Who do you think will win?”

  Seohwa hummed, “If what Taeseok-oppa said about him in lunch is true, then there is a chance he might win.”

  “So you’re not certain who will win this fight?”

  “No. I know Sir Rhino is experienced but I guess, you could say, a fight also factors in compatibility of attributes. Sir Rhino knows this yet he still accepts when his Steel body is incompatible to Taeseok’s.”

  “Hyung probably knew this when he asked us earlier about Sir Rhino’s awakened power.”

  “Yes, but I still think Sir Rhino will win for three reasons.” Seohwa pondered.

  “Why?” Jiho raised his brows.

  “For one, his experience. Two, we’ve never seen him use his powers before.”

  “And three?”

  “…His pride as a mentor.”

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  Back in the arena, Rhino turned his arm and legs into steel while Taeseok cracked his neck.

  “You may begin, 4-17.” Rhino stayed still.

  Taeseok shrugged his arms up and yawned, “Let’s just relax, ok sir? It’s just a spar…” Then, Rhino began to feel his body lighten as he floated up in the air.

  “Not bad.” Rhino stayed afloat, “So what now, 4-17?”

  Taeseok hummed as he flicked his fingers towards him. Rhino’s body was pulled towards him with incredible speed. Taeseok clenched his fists as he punched Rhino’s face. Rhino flew back a couple steps and landed roughly in the arena causing a large dust explosion.

  Taeseok winced as he shook his knuckles from pain. Rhino smirked knowingly amidst the dust, “What’s the matter, 4-17?”

  Taeseok grumbled, “That’s unfair, sir...”

  Jiho squinted his eyes but could only see their shadow figures among the dust, “I can’t see anything.”

  Seohwa used her earth ability to detect what was happening as she commented, “Sir Rhino just transformed into a full steel body before he got punched.”

  “…Woah.”

  “He probably planned this to lower Taeseok-oppa’s guard.” Seohwa complimented, “As expected of him.”

  When the dust cleared, all the cadets saw Rhino’s full body of steel. When Rhino talked, his mouth metallically clacked, “So? What now?”

  Taeseok grumbled as he pondered.

  I thought I could take it easy after hearing his awakening power was at a disadvantage against me…

  Taeseok then answered, “Can I get a weapon first?”

  Rhino raised his brows, “Go ahead.”

  Taeseok went down the arena as he looked down at Jiho who was as tall as his chest, “Jiho-ah~ can you show me where the long, big weapons are?”

  Jiho nodded, “Sure!”

  Jiho led him to the weapon storage which was an 80 square metres rectangle. and pointed to the section with the bigger weapons which were the guns.

  Taeseok shook his head, “Not that… big swords.”

  Jiho tilted his head, “Ah then it’s on the left.”

  Taeseok patted Jiho’s small head, “Thaanks~”

  Jiho watched him pick up a greatsword before they headed out.

  Taeseok then went into a battle stance with his new weapon, “I’m ready.”

  “A greatsword?” Rhino hummed contemplatively.

  Taeseok used his powers again and lifted Rhino off the ground.

  Rhino chuckled, “You know this trick won’t work right?”

  “...” Taeseok used his finger to pull Rhino towards him again. Rhino was heading to him at incredible speed and when he was almost near him, Taeseok swung his greatsword.

  Rhino was about to block it but when he took a closer look, it was a steel greatsword, not an iron one! Rhino quickly concentrated his steel to his arms and blocked it, causing sparks. However, because of this, Rhino sacrificed covering his face and legs with steel.

  Jiho asked Seohwa, “Why did Rhino suddenly block Hyung's attack just then?”

  Yerin scoffed, “This is why you’re a buffoon.”

  “Seriously, what’s up with you?!!” Jiho glared at Yerin.

  Hwayeon chuckled as she patted the both of them, “Now, now… don’t fight.”

  “It’s velocity.” Seohwa replied.

  “Velocity?” Jiho tilted his head at Seohwa.

  She kindly explained, “Taeseok evened the playing field by choosing a steel greatsword rather than the iron greatswords in the storage. Then, there was the fact that Rhino was heading towards him at incredible speed. Moreover, Taeseok timed his swing perfectly. It could’ve been dangerous for Rhino, possibly even losing a limb or two, if he didn’t concentrate the amount of steel in his arms.”

  “There’s quite a lot of thought into it.” Jiho glanced back to the arena.

  “…Well, it’s also probably because Taeseok-oppa is lazy and didn’t want to move from his spot. Everything about it: from his movements, to his breathing, to his application was efficient.” Seohwa commented.

  “…Somehow, that also makes sense.” Jiho nodded.

  Seohwa continued to watch the spar as she remembered the other gravity user she fought with, Grey Leader, the one that oppresses and wondered why Taeseok doesn’t do that?

  Taeseok was still using gravity zero on Rhino but Rhino used his steel feet to attach himself to the ground while they sparred. Eventually, Taeseok fell backwards from hands-on combat against the experienced Rhino.

  Taeseok glanced up and sighed, “I lost.”

  “It was a good duel.” Rhino lifted him up.

  Taeseok walked down with Rhino as everyone applauded.

  Seohwa gave a towel to Taeseok which he gratefully accepted to wipe off his sweat. She then asked, “Why didn’t you oppress him down the floor? It would have been easier to crush him.”

  Taeseok glanced at Seohwa and replied, “…It takes too much effort… I would have to mentally focus entirely on crushing him down. And if I did, I wouldn’t be able to see anything else on the battlefield otherwise.”

  He paused and grumbled, “And seeing his strict personality, I can tell he would do everything he can to stand up again. Sometimes, increasing the gravity on a target won’t work and it puts me at a disadvantage instead.”

  Seohwa then realised why she was able to hit the Grey Leader so easily thanks to his explanation. “Thank you!”

  Taeseok tilted his head, confused, “…no problem?”

  Phweee!

  Rhino blew the whistle as everyone lined up. He then glanced at Hwayeon, “Now then, cadet 5-03. I’ll have you spar with cadet 7-11 today.”

  Both Yerin and Hwayeong replied, “Yes, sir!”