The murmur of students mixed with gasps and raised dust. Cedric, Delia, Fiona, Gideon, and Elric slowly moved toward the arena’s edges, recovering their breath while Anastasia kept her gaze fixed on them, pointing out errors they needed to correct. Helena, Isaac, Juna, Kiran, and Liora remained in their positions, breathing calmly, evaluating the partial victory and lessons obtained.

Aku, from the stand, observed each movement, each gesture, and each exploited opening. His mind analyzed tactics, anticipated movements, and evaluated errors he himself could avoid in real combat.

Bīng Xuě smiled, enjoying the coordination and strategy unfolding before them, while Gerald adjusted his glasses and took mental notes on how the groups had handled pressure and simultaneous attacks.

Anastasia withdrew to a side, making clear the evaluation had ended and it was time for everyone to reflect on what had happened.

The arena remained calm, but the atmosphere still charged with combat’ s energy and the learning they had just experienced. Dust slowly settled, while the lesson on teamwork was engraved in each student, visible in their postures, breathing, and analytical gaze.

The defeated group withdrew with firm steps, aware of their errors, while the winning group remained evaluating their performance, understanding that coordination and adaptability would be key in future tests.

The class had demonstrated the importance of joint work, precise observation, and the capacity to improvise under pressure, lessons each student would carry to the following challenges.

The artificial sun fell high over the Roman coliseum, the air charged with golden dust and sweat. The murmur of students mixed with the crunch of sand under participant’ s steps while Anastasia von Astrea called the next five students, among whom was Gerald.

Gerald advanced with somewhat uncertain steps, constantly adjusting his glasses as if they needed recalibrating before the intense light.

His staff hung from his right hand, and despite his slightly hunched posture, there was an air of unusual concentration in him. His group companions looked at him, evaluating his capabilities, but Gerald didn’ t seem intimidated. His mind already worked on patterns, on possible tactics and contingencies.

"Well, this will be your turn," Anastasia announced, her voice clear and firm. "Professor Morgana has lent her creatures for this class. Stay alert and use your abilities wisely."

Immediately, shadows emerged at the arena’s edges, undulating and turning until several beasts emerged with a mechanical and organic crash.

These were monsters of different forms: chimeras with torn wings and tails ending in spikes, quadrupedal creatures covered in thorns that advanced dragging metallic claws, and smaller, agile and venomous beings that moved with lateral speed, seeking gaps in the five students’ formation.

Tension was palpable in the air. Gerald adjusted his glasses, looking at each creature, evaluating their relative strength and mobility.

"Stay alert," Anastasia said before retreating to her observation position, crossing her arms. "Begin when ready."

Gerald raised his staff, and with a precise gesture, traced a series of symbols in the air.

From his drawings emerged small beings: goblins of different classes, each specialized in a different role.

Some carried swords and shields, others bows and tiny crossbows, and a pair of miniature trolls, strong and resistant, appeared at the group’s back. The arena filled with a green and gray aura, an invocation spectacle that shone with sunlight.

"Goblins, forward!" Gerald ordered, pointing with the staff toward the first chimera. "Hold the lines and concentrate attacks on the left wing."

His creatures dispersed with precision. Goblins with swords blocked and slowed the small monsters, while archers shot precise arrows, interrupting chimeras’ movements.

Trolls brought down larger creatures with controlled charges, and each invocation responded to his orders with surprising speed. Gerald walked laterally, adjusting his position and giving continuous instructions, his mind functioning as a control center.

"Left, position two! Fire on the central chimera!" whisper of strategic commands while his goblins launched projectiles and small fireballs created with his magic. "Stay together, don’ t disperse."

The other four group members reacted perfectly. One of them, called Marlon, used a pair of daggers and moved among smaller creatures, eliminating vulnerable targets and opening way for goblins.

Lyria, with her concentrated light spear, advanced and neutralized more robust enemies, while Kenji, a boy with fluid and agile movements, protected the flanks. Coordination between Gerald and his companions was almost perfect; each movement seemed anticipated and each order executed rapidly.

Morgana’ s chimeras tried regrouping and attacking more aggressively, but Gerald constantly adjusted his invocations’ formations.

Trolls brought down enemies approaching too close, while shield goblins blocked strategic attacks, and archers shot from protected positions. Gerald’ s strategy centered on divide and conquer: each monster was evaluated and attacked according to its threat, keeping the group safe and in control of the arena.

"Now, focus on the center!" Gerald ordered, pointing with the staff. "Use fire brambles, let the others cover the flanks."

With a skillful movement, fire goblins launched precise bursts that trapped two chimeras, reducing their mobility and causing smaller creatures to fall under archers’ and Lyria’ s combined pressure.

Each of Gerald’ s actions was a thread in a control net, coordinating his companions, invocations, and evaluating each change in creatures’ disposition.

The arena soon filled with dust and smoke from fire effects and weapon clashes, but Gerald maintained calm, adjusting and reassigning resources in real time.

His mind functioned as a dynamic chess board, and his invocations responded to each indication without hesitation. Monsters began showing signs of confusion; the combined pressure of coordinated attacks and strategic movements prevented them from reacting effectively.

Marlon and Lyria ensured no enemy broke the formation, while Kenji covered gaps and ensured communication among invocations. Gerald advanced slightly, visualizing the next movement, preparing the next phase of his offensive.

His absolute control over the battlefield left other participants observing with astonishment; Gerald’s coordination capacity and tactical vision was evident.

"Concentration on the right! All trolls there! Eliminate the largest chimera first!" he ordered, and his creatures launched with surgical precision, bringing down the most threatening chimera and forcing the rest to retreat.

Combat continued with controlled intensity. Each monster fell before Gerald’ s precise strategy and the group’s coordinated execution.

No attack was wasted, no creature ignored, each movement calculated to maximize efficiency. Little by little, monsters fell, eliminated one by one by the combination of physical attacks, magic and fire, while Gerald adjusted his invocations’ position and gave specific orders to each group member.

Finally, the last chimera collapsed, its movements reduced to a tremor before falling to the purple sand floor.

The arena fell silent, only the sound of wind and dust raised by combat persisted. Gerald breathed heavily, adjusting his glasses while his companions approached, proud and satisfied by victory.

Anastasia approached with firm steps, evaluating the group’s execution. Her gaze swept each detail, from coordination to attack efficiency and communication among members.

"Excellent work, Gerald," she finally said, with a voice mixing authority and recognition. "You’ve proven to be a born strategist. The way you coordinated your invocations and your team exceeded my expectations. Very few students manage to maintain such complete control over a combat situation of this magnitude."

Gerald blushed slightly, surprised by the direct praise, and could barely murmur:

"Th-thank you, professor..."

"It’s not just a matter of power," Anastasia continued. "It’s your capacity for planning, foresight, and leadership that made the difference. Today you demonstrated that a well directed team can overcome even a superior number of opponents and unpredictable threats."

The rest of the coliseum’ s students murmured with respect and some admiration. Gerald lowered his head, adjusting his glasses again, unable to hide the pride the compliment caused him, but also maintaining the humility characterizing his leadership style.

"Now, withdraw your invocations and reorganize," Anastasia said, her firm voice marking the exercise’s end. "Remember this combat and what you learned. Gerald, take note of your strong points and what can be improved for the next class."

The group began withdrawing slowly, while Gerald remained close, evaluating his invocations’ movements until they disappeared in a light flash.

The arena was cleared, and the instructor nodded briefly before walking to a side, indicating the session had concluded.

While Gerald walked with his companions out of the coliseum, his staff rested at his side, and he adjusted his glasses with a contained smile, satisfied by the demonstration of his abilities and Anastasia’s recognition.

It had been a perfect combat, an exercise showing not only his invocations’ strength, but his tactical mind’s precision and his leadership capacity.

The sun continued descending, bathing the arena with a warmer tone, and students, exhausted but motivated, headed toward the coliseum’s edges to rest, leaving behind the lesson Gerald had just consolidated with mastery, a demonstration no one in class would soon forget.

***

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