The cafeteria was a mess. Chairs were overturned. Trays lay scattered, food smeared across the floor. Blue and red lights blinked and pulsed everywhere. The noise — screams, shouts, and scuffling feet — made Arman’s head spin for a moment.He crouched low, feeling Ievon stir inside his mind.“Stay calm. Observe first. Move second,” Ievon said.Arman nodded. His eyes scanned the room. He could see rookies frozen in fear, some huddled under tables, some circling each other like predators. The rules were brutal, but clear. One wrong strike, one mistake, and a badge could flip — or worse, eliminate someone.He moved first, low and silent, weaving between tables and overturned chairs. His Jeet Kune Do training kicked in automatically. Every step was smooth, every motion deliberate. His CQC skills helped him avoid collisions without touching anyone unnecessarily.A red badge rookie lunged at a blue, fists swinging wildly. Arman darted in, sliding under the swing. He grabbed the attacker’s a

The cafeteria was eerily quiet now. The chaos had reached a climax, and Arman crouched behind a toppled table, chest heaving, sweat streaming down his face. The last red badge rookie had lunged at someone across the room, but the strike was deflected by a quick dodge. For a moment, it seemed as if the chaos might never end.Then, slowly, the lights flickered. The deep reds and bright blues of the badges dimmed. The fluorescent glow that had pulsed across the cafeteria for what felt like hours began to fade.Arman exhaled, letting his body relax just slightly. The pulse of Void energy in the room died down, leaving a tense silence. Around him, rookies cautiously peeked from behind overturned chairs and tables. Some had badges flickering weakly; others had changed colors permanently. A few were gone — eliminated.“Status?” Ievon asked calmly.Arman scanned the room. “Most of the rookies are still standing. Several eliminated. A few switched.”He nodded to himself. Every move, every dodg

Instructor Lira left the classroom, and as soon as the door closed, everyone let out a breath they had been holding.Kenny leaned back in his chair and stretched. “Damn… she’s intense. I kinda like it.”Arman smirked. “You would.”They were talking quietly when the classroom door suddenly slammed open so hard that half the class jumped.Three boys walked in.The one in the middle stood out instantly — green spiky hair, sharp eyes, a smirk that screamed trouble.The other two flanked him like bodyguards. They looked like twins, almost identical, except one had black hair and the other had brown. Both were tall, muscular, and walked with heavy steps.The class went silent.Nobody said anything.The green-haired boy scanned the room slowly… like he owned it.Then he spotted someone at the back.A small boy.Thin arms. Small frame. Weak posture. Big round glasses. His uniform looked slightly oversized.He sat alone near the window, holding a notebook to his chest like a shield.Arman look

The training ground was loud with footsteps and breath.Dust rose constantly as students moved, sparred, fell, and got back up again. Shouts echoed across the field, mixed with the dull thud of fists hitting arms, elbows crashing into guards, and shoes scraping against sand.Some rookies were already panting.Some had bruises forming.Some were still trying to understand how their bodies moved.Arman stood still for a moment.His eyes were locked on Kenny.Kenny rolled his shoulders, cracked his neck, and grinned like he was enjoying himself a little too much.“Alright, rival,” he said. “Let’s see what you learned.”Arman didn’t answer.He shifted his stance slightly. Left foot forward. Weight light. Hands relaxed.Then—He suddenly sprinted forward.Fast.Direct.No wasted movement.Kenny reacted instantly. His arms came up, elbows tight, reading Arman’s shoulder movement.Arman’s right fist shot forward.Kenny moved to block——but the punch stopped halfway.A fake.Before Kenny’s br