The academy grounds trembled as twelve lights shot into the sky — the Wings of Eternity had just stepped into the Shadow Realm, a space between dreams and battlefields.
> Voice of the Elders (echoing):
"A team that does not understand each other's soul… will perish before the real war begins."
Suddenly, they were all scattered into paired zones. Yuexin found herself falling into a glowing field of memory dust — beside her, Linyin landed softly.
> Yuexin: "Linyin? Where's everyone else?"
Linyin: (calm as always) "A test. Probably illusion-based. Stay focused."
As they moved, whispering voices mocked Yuexin's past:
> "You were never enough."
"Why couldn't you be stronger?"
"You're just a burden."
Linyin looked over, his voice gentle but serious.
> Linyin: "You don't need to carry that anymore. Let's cut through this together."
Meanwhile…
In a realm of floating swords and blue fire, Haoran faced endless incoming attacks, dodging effortlessly — but beside him, Lianhua was dancing through the chaos with elegance and light steps.
> Lianhua: "You're too forceful."
Haoran: "I protect. That's what I do."
Lianhua: "Then protect like the wind, not a storm."
Their dynamic slowly began to balance: power and grace, building true harmony.
Each pair faced illusions, fake enemies, and even emotional fragments from their past. But instead of fighting to kill, they learned to work together, unlocking team-based techniques and spiritual resonance.
By the end of the day, they all returned, sweaty, shaken, and quiet — but something had shifted.
They were stronger, closer, and for the first time… they felt like a real unit.
End of Episode 19 (continue)