The students moved toward the arena with firm steps, adopting strategic positions while the sun shone on them. Aku continued in the stand, evaluating the disposition, gestures, and coordination of each group, anticipating how members could interact with each other, and how individual decisions could change the course of the confrontation about to begin.

The arena was ready, the tension palpable, groups in position, and simulated monsters prepared. Combat was about to begin.

The sun fell hard on the outdoor Roman coliseum, reflecting golden flashes on the sand that rose in small clouds each time students moved. The air was charged with anticipation; the tension could almost be touched while the two groups faced each other in the arena, ready to test their coordination and combat abilities under Anastasia von Astrea’ s intense gaze.

Group A advanced first, Cedric leading with firm steps, adjusting his right glove and looking at his companions to ensure everyone was synchronized. Delia remained close, evaluating each of Cedric’ s gestures and each movement of Fiona and Gideon.

Elric, with his severe expression, observed the rivals, calculating trajectories and times. Fiona, for her part, moved with ease, almost as if playing, pointing at positions and anticipating enemies’ reactions. Gideon, muscular and defiant, maintained defensive posture, prepared to intervene wherever needed.

Before them, Group B also positioned themselves, Helena at the front, her cold and penetrating gaze scanning her opponents. Isaac adjusted his balance, measuring distances and reaction times, while Juna positioned herself to the right, ready to move rapidly and cover blind angles.

Kiran, calculating each possible movement of his rivals, maintained rigid but prepared posture, and Liora, with elegant steps, remained near the center, ready to intervene with surgical precision.

Anastasia remained on the sidelines, arms crossed, evaluating each detail. Her presence emanated authority, and any error would be immediately evident to her.

With a gesture from the instructor, the arena filled with simulated enemies: medium sized mechanical beasts with gray metallic skin and bright red eyes, agile movements and rapid attacks.

Their claws cut the air with precision, and their mechanical tails could bring down anyone unprepared. The start signal was a slight finger snap, and the arena erupted in movement.

Cedric was the first to advance, raising his short sword and moving rapidly, attacking one of the beasts while Fiona moved behind another, launching precise attacks with short daggers and generating pressure on rivals. Delia supported with terrain control spells, creating blue energy barriers that deflected charges and forced enemies to redistribute. Gideon intervened whenever a creature approached too close, blocking attacks and generating openings for his companions.

Elric remained attentive to the rival group’s movements, ready to counterattack if the opportunity presented itself.

For their part, Group B reacted rapidly. Helena moved with millimetric precision, anticipating attacks and blocking the most dangerous ones, while Isaac launched concentrated energy projectiles that impacted the beasts’ armor.

Juna performed evasive maneuvers to attract enemies’ attention and allow Liora to position her attacks, coordinating each movement with Kiran, who adjusted his defense and counterattack to maintain the protection line.

Combat escalated rapidly. The mechanical beasts attacked in coordinated waves, and both groups had to constantly adapt.

Cedric and Fiona managed to bring down two creatures, while Delia maintained defense against three others.

Gideon blocked and counterattacked, but one of the beasts managed to dodge his blow and momentarily bring down Cedric. Helena took advantage of the opening to move her group, forcing Cedric to retreat and reorganize his position.

The arena filled with dust raised by students’ and beasts’ movements. Blows resonated forcefully, each attack and defense generating energy sparks and raised sand. Fiona managed to connect a precise blow, but one of the mechanical creatures trapped her with its claws, forcing her to retreat.

Delia used a defensive spell to free space, but Gideon, in a risky movement, was brought down by another beast’ s mechanical tail.

Group B took advantage of the openings: Liora launched a concentrated attack that brought down a beast, while Helena simultaneously blocked another attack directed at Kiran. Isaac and Juna coordinated to keep creatures away from the front line, but pressure began affecting their coordination.

Cedric tried to recover control, launching more aggressive attacks, but fatigue became evident. The beasts began predicting attack patterns, adapting to the initial strategy.

Delia pointed at openings, but exhaustion reduced execution speed. Gideon, now standing, tried maintaining the offensive, but it was already harder to sustain the perfect coordination combat required.

Meanwhile, Group B began noticing the advantage. Helena adjusted her companions’ positions, Isaac performed combined attacks with Juna and Liora, who synchronized movements to concentrate force on one of the creatures.

Kiran took advantage of any Group A error to force individual confrontations, weakening general defense.

Finally, a precise combination of coordinated attacks from Helena, Isaac, and Liora brought down one of the larger mechanical beasts sustaining Group A’s offensive.

Cedric tried to intervene, but the creature was eliminated before he could act. Fiona and Delia were forced to retreat, while Gideon blocked with effort, but it was no longer enough to sustain the line. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

The remaining beasts moved rapidly, attacking simultaneously from various angles. Cedric received a direct blow to the shoulder, Fiona was brought down again, and Delia barely managed to remain standing. Gideon, overwhelmed, fell after a combined onslaught from two creatures. Arena control was lost for Group A.

Silence was cut when the last creature maintaining Cedric and Delia was brought down by Helena and Liora with a coordinated blow, leaving the five students exhausted and defeated.

Their breathing was heavy, their bodies showed evident signs of fatigue and pain, and the arena was marked by combat’ s frantic movements.

Anastasia moved to the center, evaluating the scene with penetrating gaze.

"Well, Group B, you maintained coordination in an acceptable manner, but not perfect," she said. "You learned to adapt under pressure and managed to maintain strategy despite interruptions. Group A, although showing initiative and individual talent, failed to maintain synchronization and execution under pressure. That’ s the difference between a competent team and one that still needs practice."

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