"Team 6 will be led by Cadet number 6, and his teammates are Cadet 641, Cadet 683, Cadet 771, and Cadet 772."

Jyorta stood at the front, opposite the assembly, forming a row with Dalna Doppler and the other four students. Making a file behind them were their respective team members, four per each. They stood silently, for Madam Mary was still forming the groups. Only after that would they be permitted to socialise with their team members and plan accordingly.

Standing left to him was Laekha Walta, the student that ranked seventh. The place left to her was left vacant, for that was Laila's. As she wasn't present in the academy now, her spot was left empty while a team hadn't been assigned to her. The line continued after that.

It took an hour, at the end of which Madam Mary finished forming the teams, looking at the long line at the front, "Alright, all 175 teams have been formed. Two teams have 6 people while the rest have five members each. Get sorted with your team members, and prepare. That's all you will be doing today. You can head to wherever you want to train, but only as a team."

Saying her piece, Madam Mary vanished from the scene. The students began to disperse, getting to know their team members as they moved in groups. Most planned to head to the White Building to talk and prepare first.

Jyorta saw the figures of Ashten, Haesha, and Esina head towards the White Building with their respective teams. He then saw George glance at Dalna Doppler, seeing her stand in the same spot as before while gazing at her team members. Curious, Jyorta too focused on her actions.

"I don't know the extent of your capabilities. Let's test it out first." Dalna Doppler raised her hand forward, widening her footing as she entered into a stance, "All of you, come at me. Try to touch my hand."

Her team members consisted of three boys and one girl. They looked at each other, hesitating, unwilling to step up first and be made an embarrassment of. Noticing their thoughts based on their actions, Dalna Doppler craned strength in her legs, making a short movement to the front, the speed scaring the team members, "I told you to come at me. If you hesitate any longer, then I might retaliate."

Seeing her aggressive stance, the four students were startled before they threw themselves at her. Dalna Doppler didn't retaliate. All she did was dodge them in such a manner their attacks hit each other. She didn't even touch them once.

One of the boys stomped on the ground and sent a high kick, watching Dalna Doppler stand right outside the range of his attack, as if she had predicted it first. To hit her, he leaned forward, losing balance in the process as the—his teammate—girl's attack landed on his raised leg.

The boy that had boasted at the start to his friends was lying on the ground now, facing the sky with a blank expression. He had started with a straight right, but Dalna Doppler had moved back but was still within his reach if he moved his hand.

So, to reach her, he turned the direction of his hand mid-attack, curving in the air that leaned his weight to his side. He then saw Dalna Doppler move further to the side. As his eyes followed her, his head turned accordingly to keep her figure in sight. This shifted the weight of his head further to his side, collapsing his balance and caused him to fall.

The boy fell with a thud, feeling embarrassed at his action as he gazed at the sky with a blank stare. He tried to show off but ended up making an embarrassment of himself. 'I wanted to use this chance to touch her hand.'

He then saw another student fall to the ground in a manner not less embarrassing to his, feeling somewhat better now that he wasn't alone. The two stared at the faces of each, realising the shattered intentions both had concocted.

The remaining two that were standing looked at each other, planning through eye contact. The girl rushed straight at Dalna Doppler while the boy approached her, planning to catch her when she moved. They didn't wish to rush into each other when Dalna Doppler evaded.

Noticing their plan, Dalna Doppler smiled, moving a step towards the girl, startling her. As the girl leaned closer to grab her, she bent backward, curved to the side as her legs gracefully let go of the ground. It was like a ring looping around a pole, Dalna Doppler evaded the girl's rush in close quarters without any difficulties.

Her failed lunge caused the girl to tumble to the ground. The only one standing now was the boy who had planned to catch her from behind, now staring with a blank gaze as the distance between him and Dalna Doppler had widened beyond his reach.

Unwilling to give up at this point, the boy rushed straight at her, pausing upon every step to rein in his balance. He then saw Dalna Doppler stomp the ground between his legs, seeing her smirk as she sent a fist straight at his face.

In his hurry, the boy bent backward to avoid the fist, watching the fist turn into a chop. He bent backward further until he lost his balance and fell flat on the ground, staring at Dalna Doppler's hand that paused mid-way. Indignant about his loss, the boy kicked with his leg, seeing it kick the air.

He then noticed Dalna Doppler having lifted one leg prior to his attack, as if she had expected his actions before he moved. Seeing her stance, the boy grunted, resting his back on the grass, "I give up."

"I got an idea of the fighting styles of all your four," Dalna Doppler motioned for them to get up, speaking slowly, "As Madam Mary has announced, I, Dalna Doppler, am the leader of our Team 1. Do introduce yourselves."

Her four team members introduced themselves as they began to head toward the White Building, preparing to plan their fighting style as a team before heading into practical practice. All this time, Jyorta, George, and their respective teams were watching her actions.

Once she began to walk away, George turned around to gaze at his team members, "Well, shall we do the same?"

"We give up!" He was met with a collective response from the disinterested team. George's eyelids twitched, 'Well, this won't be easy.'

The military academy took into account the strength, talent, and character of every student while coming up with the teams. They planned to ensure the overall strength of every team remained the same. As they were at the top of their Batch, having the greatest determination to grow strong while already possessing strength beyond their peers, their teammates were on the opposite side of the spectrum to make up for the advantage.

They were those that were the worst of the Batch and were hand-picked to ensure they would hinder the top scorers, in both ability and character. George turned around, motioning his team to follow him to the White Building as his eyes glimmered with a cunning gaze.

Standing behind Jyorta were three girls and a boy, staring at his figure. The boy had a downcast gaze, lacking the slightest drive to better himself. He was a bundle of negative emotions, lacking any confidence in himself.

'This is a pain, I would just drag him down. It would be better if I give up and sit this one out.' The boy thought, sitting on the grass with a gaze of disinterest. When he saw Dalna Doppler test her teammates, he didn't even understand her motive behind the action, 'Why did she fight and embarrass them? Did she want to feel good about her power?'

The three girls on the other hand gazed at Jyorta with lovestruck expressions, muttering with each other under their breaths, "Kyaa! He's so handsome."

"Look at his side view. His eyes are so focused."

"Ahh, I want to cuddle him."

"Maybe we can; we are in his team. So we…"

"Oh my, we can ask him for help and use the opportunity to…"

"Kyaaa! Don't make me imagine it. It's too much!"

"Hehe, and then we can…eh? What is this?" One of the girls shouted in shock, shaking the other two. The three seemed to be friends or at least acquaintances that were close enough to engage in chatter.

But suddenly, they saw Jyorta's expression turn dazed as he began to walk forward, like he was sleepwalking. Suddenly, a hole appeared underneath him, causing him to fall through. The gruntle of a Frenzy Beast resounded as a wall of spikes emerged from around the hole that clamped at the centre before retreating into the ground.

"What? What was that?" The girl that noticed first screamed in fright, turning around to look at the ground bereft of people, except for their team.

"This is within Marble City. How can a Frenzy Beast appear here?" The boy shouted in fright, scrambling to stand up as he hollered, "Save us!"

Thunderous sounds flashed in the air as they saw the sunlight be dyed with a dull shade of yellow. They saw the figure of their principal fighting in the air with a Frenzy Beast, ripping it apart as she speared through it.

"Help us! Madam principal!" The boy screamed at the top of his lungs, becoming happy once Madam Mary noticed his presence. Before the three girls could shout for help too, their hearts lurched as they heard Madam Mary's ignited shout that seemed like the last vestiges of a powerhouse, "Cadets, I told you to run. What are you doing here? Head towards the 6th Ring. All the outer Rings have been breached."

"What?"

"How?"

"When did that happen?" The four students were confused as they gazed at the ground, seeing the grass wilt away while the ground underneath started to crack.

---------------------------

If you wish to stay in touch with me and all my works, follow me on Instagram @overlord_venus

---------------------------