We waited for Sophia to arrive, standing near the training ground as the sun began to dip lower in the sky. A light breeze moved the dust beneath our feet. Yuri stood a little distance away, speaking with two instructors, his expression unreadable.
Then, two figures approached.
I recognized them immediately, two of the strongest fighters in the program. They had sharp eyes, cold expressions, and the kind of presence that made others step aside when they walked past.
One of them, a tall guy with short black hair, crossed his arms and smirked. "So, you're Roy," he said, his tone edged with something that wasn't quite respect. "We've heard a lot about you."
The other, a leaner guy with long brown hair, tilted his head slightly. "Yeah. They say you're strong," he added. "We just want to see the difference of strength between us, if you don't mind."
I didn't react. I wasn't interested.
"No," I said simply. "I don't have time for that right n—"
Before I could finish, the black-haired one lunged forward, throwing a punch straight at my face.
I moved my head slightly, letting the fist brush past my cheek. His eyes widened, surprised I dodged so easily, I jumped back.
I exhaled, calm. They're making a mistake, but they didn't stop.
They moved in sync, fast and precise. I barely had time to blink before the brown-hair one came from the side, aiming a kick at my ribs. I twisted, stepping back just enough to avoid it. Then the black-haired one followed with a sharp strike toward my throat.
I ducked.
They pressed forward, attacking from both sides, their movements trained, ruthless. But their aggression meant nothing to me.
As long as I stay relaxed, nothing will happen.
That thought settled in my mind like a stone in calm water.
I didn't rush. I didn't panic. I simply moved. I have done this before thousands of times.
As I moved, my eyes flickered toward Yuri for a brief moment. He was standing still, his hands gripping the arms of the two instructors beside him. They looked tense, ready to step in, but Yuri held them back. He's not stopping this… He wants to see how I handle it. His expression was unreadable, but I could feel it, he was watching me closely, studying my every move.
Their punches and kicks cut through the air, but I wasn't there when they landed. I stepped past them like I was walking through falling leaves. Every attack they threw, I dodged. Every sudden movement, I saw before it happened.
The frustration in their faces grew.
Then—one of them changed the game.
The brown-haired one slipped back, his hand going to his side. In a blink, he drew a knife and lunged.
My body reacted before my mind fully processed it.
I dodged, twisting away, but not fast enough. The blade grazed my arm, leaving a thin line of red on my sleeve. It was uncomfortable.
Then I took a step back, I froze.
The air around us shifted.
They had crossed a line.
I exhaled slowly and steadied my stance. This needs to end. Now.
I moved forward, faster than before. My footwork changed. They attacked again, but this time, I wasn't just dodging, I was countering. I parried their strikes with quick, effortless blocks. The moment one of them lunged again, I caught his wrist, twisting it sharply. The knife slipped from his grasp, clattering to the ground. At the same time, I drove a powerful kick into the other's stomach, forcing him backward with a sharp gasp.
Without thinking, I spun and smashed my fist into the first one's jaw. He barely had time to react before my kick sent him flying.
They staggered back to their feet, but I wasn't done. My body moved on its own, faster, sharper. I didn't hold back.
Then, suddenly. Hands gripped me. Andrew and Yuri.
"Hold up, kid."
Yuri's voice cut through the tension.
The instructors moved in instantly, grabbing the two fighters. Andrew didn't say anything—he just stood there, watching me with that same knowing look.
Yuri placed a firm hand on my shoulder. "You can't kill them." His voice was calm.
I narrowed my eyes. "I wasn't going to."
He held my gaze for a second longer before smirking slightly. "Sure."
One of the instructors, a big, shouldered man with a sharp gaze and a deep, commanding voice, stepped forward. His uniform was crisp, his posture rigid.
"This is a serious offense," he said, his tone carrying through the training grounds, and many people around us were looking. "Using a real knife against your comrades is unacceptable. There are rules, and you just crossed a line." His eyes locked onto the two fighters, unreadable but firm. "You'll face consequences for this. Both of you, with me. NOW! We're going straight to the leader's office."
The two men hesitated for a split second, stealing quick glances at each other. But under the instructor's glare, they had no choice. Without another word, they followed.
Sophia arrived just as the tension settled, her sharp eyes scanning the scene. She frowned slightly, her voice calm but curious.
"What's happening here? There's a big commotion from you both."
Andrew chuckled, crossing his arms. "It's just another normal day for Roy." His tone was light, but there was amusement in his eyes as he glanced at me, who remained as unreadable as ever.
Then Andrew turned back to Sophia, his expression shifting to something more focused. "So, are you ready?"
Before she could answer, Yuri clapped his hands once, his voice cutting through the air. "Alright, that's enough distractions. You two... Get to the arena."
Without hesitation, Andrew and Sophia nodded, stepping forward toward the training ground. I, silent as ever, simply walked over to the side, taking a seat to watch.