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The hum of the simulation chamber faded into silence, the tension from the last few days slowly lifting from their shoulders. The group of Unit 06 stood there, each of them breathing heavily, sweat trickling down their faces. The weariness from the battle was still evident, but there was a strange satisfaction in their exhaustion. They had done it. They had survived.
Elliot was still shaking off the lingering shadow energy, his fingers slightly twitching. He couldn't help but smile. He'd finally awakened his soul skill—Shadow Slash. It had been a struggle, but the fight had pushed him, just like it had pushed each of them.
Henry was the first to speak, a wide grin on his face. "Well, that was something.it felt like we were gonna die.But hey, we made it through!"
Zane chuckled, wiping his brow. "We pushed ourselves hard. But we did it. I'm proud of us."
Kira, always more reserved, nodded. She adjusted her laces, her expression focused. "The fight was intense, but we learned. A lot."
Devin, still catching his breath, smirked. "I barely remember how I ended up fighting those mechanical beasts. But I guess it worked out."
They were all catching their breath when Leo, standing tall in the doorway of the chamber, cleared his throat. His presence was always commanding, his sharp gaze locking onto each member of Unit 06 as they turned their attention to him.
"Not bad. Not bad at all," Leo said, his voice calm but authoritative. He didn't offer praise lightly. "You've each awakened your soul skills. But don't get comfortable. It's only the beginning."
The air shifted, the mood growing tense once more. Despite his relatively positive tone, Leo's words always carried weight.
"I'm impressed with your progress. But it's not enough," Leo continued, his eyes scanning the group. "You need to polish your skills. Perfect them. The release time, the control, the execution—it needs to be faster, more precise. You've got the potential, but you have to make it seamless. Don't let hesitation or overthinking slow you down. You have two days. Two days to sharpen everything you've learned and reduce the release time."
A chill ran through the group at the mention of the deadline. Two days? They had barely processed the simulation and now they had to perfect their skills in less than 48 hours. The Freshers Tournament was fast approaching.
"Two days…" Devin muttered, disbelief in his voice. "I didn't realize how much time we spent in there."
Leo nodded, confirming the realization. "In the simulation, time doesn't pass like it does in the real world. You experienced the training as though it was hours, but it was three days. You've trained hard, but you need to bring it all together quickly. The tournament's in two days. If you can't execute your skills effectively by then, you'll fall behind. And that's not an option."
The words settled heavily on the group. The pressure of the tournament hung over them, but it wasn't overwhelming. It was a challenge, and they'd faced plenty before.
"Take this time to rest," Leo added, his tone softening just slightly. "You've earned it. But don't let your guard down. When you return, we're going to work on perfecting your control and releasing your skills faster. You need to be ready for anything."
Henry, always the first to lighten the mood, grinned widely. "Alright, alright, we'll get to work. But for now, I'm taking a nap. Maybe I'll dream of better simulations next time, no more deserts."
The others chuckled, the tension easing just a bit. Leo let out a soft sigh, though his eyes never left them.
"I'm serious. Polish those skills. I don't need to see hesitation or wasted energy. You've already awakened your soul skills, now it's time to make them second nature. Control your energy. Use it without thinking. That's the level you need to reach."
As Leo spoke, his eyes seemed to bore into each of them, as if willing them to understand the gravity of his words. He wasn't here to hand them victory. They had to earn it themselves.
"We'll be ready," Zane said, his voice full of quiet confidence. "You don't have to worry about us. We'll polish it, just like you said."
Leo gave a subtle nod, acknowledging their determination.
"Good. You'll need that confidence. Rest up. Tomorrow, we get to work."
With that, Leo turned and walked away, leaving the group to digest everything he'd said.
The room was quiet for a moment, before Henry broke the silence again. "So… two days until the Freshers Tournament. That's plenty of time, right?"
Kayden stretched and sighed. "I hope so. Time's flying by faster than we realize."
Kira adjusted her bow on her back, her expression more serious now. "We need to focus. It's not just about surviving. We need to be at our best. This is our chance to prove what we're capable of."
Elliot nodded quietly, already feeling the weight of Leo's words. He'd awakened his soul skill—Shadow Slash—but now it was about honing it. Perfecting it. Getting the timing right. He had no room for hesitation.
The next two days would be critical, but for now, they had a brief moment to breathe, to rest. The calm before the storm.
The tournament was only two days away.
And they would be ready.
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