Vaen lunged at Toma without hesitation, every movement sharp and measured. He knew one wrong step could send him tumbling down the steep stone staircase. His fists flew in a rapid flurry, the air cracking with each punch — but Toma slipped past every strike, his body moving with effortless precision. It looked less like a street brawl and more like a tightly wound boxing match, each of them darting in and out of range, searching for an opening.

  The stairs were narrow. Both knew that a single solid kick could decide the fight.

  Standing a few steps higher, Vaen saw his chance first. He swung his leg low, aiming to sweep Toma’s feet out from under him.

  Toma reacted instantly — he jumped, both feet leaving the ground, then twisted in midair. Using the force of his leap, he drove both heels into Vaen’s chest, sending the blond boy flying backward down the stairs.

  For a brief second, Toma thought the fight was over.

  He was wrong.

  Vaen hit the waterbed hard. But instead of sinking—he bounced. The surface threw him back like a living trampoline.

  Toma barely had time to react before Vaen’s rebound sent him flying too. The two of them bounced uncontrollably, slamming against the shifting surface like kids on an inflatable castle, swinging wildly but barely landing a hit.

  When the motion finally slowed, they both found their footing on the unsteady, sinking surface. The fight picked up again — heavier, grittier, every breath laced with adrenaline.

  “Why are you even doing this?” Toma’s voice cut through the sound of their scuffling. “What’s the point? Your class can’t win anyway — Arlen and Arvian from my team have already advanced!”

  Vaen’s jaw tightened as he caught his breath. “You’re right,” he spat, his tone bitter. “I’m sorry those two got through. But if I take you down here, I won’t have to deal with you later. All three of you act like you’re better than everyone just because you went on a real mission. You’re the academy’s golden stars — especially you and that red-haired friend of yours!”

  Toma’s expression hardened, his voice dropping cold. “Sorry to break it to you, but you’ve got it all wrong. You ever stop to think that during that mission, we were risking our lives? We almost died trying to save others. I’m not bragging, but no one else could’ve survived that mission. You’re just jealous, man.”

  “What did you say!?” Vaen exploded, his voice shaking with fury. “Shut up!”

  He charged, launching a desperate storm of punches, each one sloppier than the last. Toma weaved through them with calm precision, his eyes locked on Vaen’s trembling form.

  “Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!” Vaen’s voice cracked, his frustration spilling out with every missed hit.

  “Whoa, whoa, whoa—” Toma smirked, ducking under another swing. “Looks like I hit a nerve. But tell me—” his voice dripped with mockery, eyes gleaming under the moonlight “—what are you really jealous of, Vaen? Is there something else behind all that anger?”

  Vaen’s face twisted, rage burning behind his eyes as the tension between them reached its breaking point.

  ***

  Vaen’s expression contorted with pure fury as his voice tore through the heavy air. “You don’t know anything!”

  Toma tilted his head, grinning like he’d just uncovered a secret. “Oh, so I hit the mark again, huh?” His smirk widened, playful and cutting. “Wait—let me guess, there’s a girl involved, isn’t there?”

  The instant those words left his mouth, Vaen’s face flushed crimson. Seeing that reaction, Toma couldn’t help but burst out laughing. “Man, don’t ever play poker! Your face gives everything away! But seriously, I don’t even have a girlfriend, so what kind of girl problem could make you this mad at me?”

  “That’s exactly it!” Vaen’s voice cracked with rage. “You get every girl without even trying, while I— I’ve worked hard all year to become popular, to be someone cool! I trained like crazy so people would notice me, and I finally got together with a beautiful girl—she was even a second-year! Because of that, I became even more popular. But guess what happened after you and your red-haired friend showed up and became the academy’s new stars?”

  Toma crossed his arms, his expression calm, almost bored. “Hmm, I don’t know. What?”

  “Like every other girl at the academy, my girlfriend immediately fell in love with you and that red-haired friend of yours!” Vaen’s voice cracked again, anger and humiliation mixing together. “She broke up with me because she fell for you! And do you know what the worst part of it all is?”

  “Not yet. What?” Toma replied evenly, his tone almost detached.

  “The worst part,” Vaen growled, his fists trembling, “is that when she went to confess her feelings to you, you just rejected her like it was nothing—like it was something you did every single day!”

  “Sorry, but it was kind of an everyday thing for me and Arlen,” Toma said casually, shrugging with the faintest smirk. “Honestly, I don’t even remember which girl was your girlfriend.”

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  “You shameless bastard!” Vaen roared, his voice echoing across the pyramid’s chamber.

  “Wait, you’ve got it all wrong!” Toma shot back quickly, his tone sharper now. “It’s the opposite! I can’t just start dating a girl I don’t even know—that’s absurd to me!”

  “I don’t care!” Vaen shouted, his voice thick with bitterness. “My girlfriend hasn’t even spoken to me since then—she knows she can’t measure up to you!”

  “Sorry,” Toma replied coolly, eyes steady and unbothered. “But that’s not my problem anymore.”

  And with that, the air between them snapped back into violence. Vaen lunged again, fury burning in his eyes, and the fight reignited.

  Meanwhile, Lyrien had already finished off her own opponent and was making her way toward the pyramid. The moment she stepped inside, the air was thick with tension — the sound of fists striking flesh and feet slamming against stone echoed through the chamber.

  She froze as her eyes landed on them: Toma and Vaen, locked in a fierce, relentless battle.

  “Lyrien, stay back and don’t move until I say so!” Toma shouted without taking his eyes off his opponent. “I still have to finish things with this guy!”

  Before she could even respond, Toma launched himself into the air, twisting with perfect precision — his leg cutting through the air in a powerful head-level kick aimed straight at Vaen. But Vaen reacted fast, raising his arms just in time to block the strike. The impact made him stumble, but he held his ground.

  As soon as Toma landed, Vaen countered with a low sweeping kick, trying to knock his legs out from under him. Toma backflipped gracefully, avoiding the attack by inches.

  “I see you’re good,” Toma said with a smirk, straightening his stance. “But when it comes to fighting, no one’s better than me.”

  “The fight’s not over yet, and I’m not afraid of your acrobatic tricks!” Vaen snapped, lunging forward.

  Toma swung a punch, but Vaen slipped sideways, his movements sharp and fluid, then retaliated with a quick kick straight into Toma’s stomach.

  “Ah—damn, that hurt!” Toma grunted, clutching his midsection.

  The sound of pain only fueled Vaen’s confidence. He pressed forward, launching a furious combo of attacks. But Toma wasn’t done yet — he flipped backward into the air again, twisting mid-spin, and brought his leg down in a brutal kick that struck Vaen clean across the head.

  The blow made Vaen stagger, dizzy and off-balance. Before he could recover, Toma spun again and delivered another sharp strike to his temple.

  Still, Vaen refused to go down. Gathering what remained of his strength, he sprinted forward, rage and adrenaline pushing him beyond exhaustion. Instead of flailing wildly, though, he suddenly shifted into a controlled leap and slammed both feet into Toma’s chest.

  The impact sent Toma stumbling backward. “Damn it, same spot again — dirty move!” he groaned.

  “Don’t underestimate me, Toma Sorien!!!” Vaen roared, his voice echoing through the chamber.

  Then he unleashed everything he had — a storm of punches, every strike sharp and deliberate. Left jabs, right hooks, a whirlwind of motion.

  “Damn, this guy’s actually strong!” Toma muttered under his breath, blocking what he could and parrying the rest. “I need to pull myself together!”

  He shoved Vaen backward to create some distance, gasping for air, his chest heaving. Sweat dripped from his jaw. Then, without warning, he charged again — a final burst of speed that made the air ripple around him.

  Vaen braced himself, expecting a direct punch, but Toma suddenly changed direction — he pushed off the unstable waterbed beneath them, using it like a springboard. In one breathtaking move, he vaulted over Vaen’s head, twisting midair, and landed a crushing kick from behind that sent Vaen crashing face-first into the water’s surface.

  But Vaen refused to stay down. He forced himself to stand, dazed but still burning with determination. Toma didn’t give him the chance to recover — a hard kick to the stomach, a sharp left hook to the head, and then his signature spinning kick that sent Vaen collapsing to one knee.

  “Lyrien, go! Head upstairs! I’ll buy us some time!” Toma shouted over his shoulder.

  “Okay!” Lyrien called back, sprinting toward the staircase that led upward.

  Toma stood there, panting, watching as Vaen barely clung to consciousness. His opponent’s body was battered, but his spirit refused to break.

  Damn it… he’s stronger than me, Vaen thought, his vision blurring. I can’t beat him in close combat — he’s too skilled, too professional! If only I could use my mental powers… but no. I won’t give him the satisfaction of seeing me give up!

  Fueled by pure willpower, Vaen lunged forward again. The two clashed once more, their movements almost too fast to follow — fists, elbows, knees, all blurring into one violent rhythm.

  Then, with a sudden burst of speed, Vaen threw a lightning-fast kick aimed at Toma’s head.

  But Toma was ready this time. He crossed his forearms just in time, blocking the blow with a solid, echoing guard.

  Meanwhile, Lyrien had finally reached the very top of the staircase — the peak of the pyramid. Before her stood the exit door, shimmering faintly in the desert light.

  She paused, catching her breath. Did I really make it up here this easily? she thought, still half in disbelief. I owe it all to Toma… But he’s still down there fighting. I have to help him somehow! What’s the best thing I can do right now?

  Then, suddenly, an idea flashed through her mind. Her eyes lit up.

  “Toma! Listen to me and move toward my voice!” she shouted from above, her voice echoing through the pyramid’s hollow chamber.

  Down below, Toma immediately heard her. Without even stopping to think, he adjusted his stance and began moving exactly in the direction her voice came from.

  At that precise moment, Lyrien acted. She leapt from the very top of the pyramid with all her strength. Her body cut through the air like an arrow, and when she hit the massive waterbed below, the impact sent a tremendous ripple through the surface — a rebound so strong it launched Toma upward like a catapult.

  He soared high, his body twisting midair, and with one powerful motion he grabbed onto the edge of the staircase and hauled himself up. In seconds, he was standing at the very summit beside the exit.

  Down below, Vaen had recovered and immediately started sprinting toward Lyrien, fury in his eyes. His intent was clear — he meant to attack her before she could escape.

  “Lyrien, jump up! I’ll catch you!” Toma shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos.

  Trusting him completely, Lyrien started bouncing on the waterbed, higher and higher, using each rebound to propel herself closer to him — like she was on a massive trampoline. Vaen was closing in fast, reaching out to grab her just as she made one last, desperate leap.

  Toma bent forward, arm outstretched. His hand shot down just in time, fingers locking around her wrist. The sudden weight pulled him forward, but he gritted his teeth and pulled her up with all his strength until she was safely beside him.

  For a moment, they just stood there, breathing hard. Then Toma gently placed his hands on her shoulders, his expression softening.

  “Are you okay?” he asked quietly.

  “Y-yeah, I’m fine!” Lyrien stammered, her cheeks flushed pink.

  Seeing her blush, Toma felt his own face heat up. He quickly pulled his hands back, pretending to focus on the door ahead of them.

  “Then let’s go,” he said firmly.

  Together, they turned toward the massive stone door. Toma placed both hands against it and pushed with everything he had. The door creaked, then slowly swung open — and brilliant sunlight poured in.

  With that single step forward, they finally escaped the desert.