---
The hallways of the Battalion Vanguard Academy were quiet. The simulation lights had dimmed, and the air had a heavy, charged stillness. Unit 06 had just finished their last training session, their bodies aching but their minds buzzing. Leo had dismissed them early—a rare act that left questions hanging in the air.
What none of them said out loud was what echoed in their hearts:
Tomorrow was the Freshers' Tournament.
---
Inspector's Lounge – Later That Evening
The metal doors of the inspector's lounge hissed open. Leo walked in, academic pad in hand, eyes sharp, face unreadable. He barely took three steps in before a slow clap echoed across the room.
"Well, well… if it isn't the babysitter of underdogs," said Travis, leaning against the window, his smirk as sharp as the shine on his boots.
Leo didn't react. He walked to the table and placed the academic pad down, its glow displaying the names of Unit 06 and their soul stats.
"Storm Hammer. Shadow Slash. Perfect Shot. Frost Arrow. Wind Dance. Scorch Fang. They're ready."
Travis scoffed. "Ready to lose."
Leo didn't blink. "Your unit might be strong, Travis, but strength without discipline is just noise. Unit 01's been lucky. That won't carry them tomorrow."
"Lucky?" Travis straightened. "My boys are monsters. They don't need flashy names. They don't name their attacks—they end fights."
Leo's voice lowered. "Michael's nearly broken two teammates with his rage. That's not strength. That's recklessness. And recklessness is predictable."
Travis stepped closer. "This isn't about predictability. This is about impact. Tomorrow, the crowd will scream for Unit 01. You think heart and friendship will protect them in a real battle?"
Leo stared him down. "I don't train soldiers to fight for the crowd. I train them to survive."
The silence that followed was brittle. One more word would snap it.
As Leo turned to leave, Travis muttered, "Hope they're ready to lose in front of the entire academy."
Leo paused at the door and glanced over his shoulder. "They're more than ready. I just hope your unit is ready for what it means when strength meets soul."
The door hissed shut, leaving Travis alone with his scowl.
---
Unit 06 Dormitory – Nightfall
The dorms were quiet. Moonlight spilled through the large glass windows, casting soft silver shadows on the walls.
Despite exhaustion, no one could sleep.
In the common room, Kayden, still dressed in sweatpants and no shirt, tossed a pillow onto the couch and flopped down. "Tomorrow's going to be hell."
Zane leaned against the window, eyes narrowed. "Let them come. I'm not losing to those Unit 01 goons."
Henry, brushing his teeth with a lazily floating brush, spoke through foam. "As long as nobody drops another vampire simulation on us mid-fight, I'm good."
They laughed, the sound breaking the tension just enough.
Devin sat with a tablet in his lap, analyzing battle patterns. "You guys feel it too, right? That pressure in your chest. Like everything we've done… has been leading to this."
Kira, leaning back with a cold drink in her hand, nodded. "Yeah. I'm not afraid of them. But I'm afraid of failing us."
The room grew quiet again.
Elliot sat apart, his katana across his knees, shadow energy quietly pulsing beneath his fingers. "We're not alone. We've been through worse. We survived simulations, vampires, bone-breaking training. Tomorrow's just another trial."
Kayden gave a small grin. "You're starting to sound like Leo."
Henry snorted. "Leo would've already said something like, 'Sharpen your souls or die in the dust.'"
That got a burst of laughter.
They all looked at one another, something unspoken passing between them.
This wasn't just a team anymore. This was a family.
"Let's give them a reason to remember our names," Zane said, gripping his pendant.
"And our skills," Devin added.
"And our faces," Henry grinned.
"And let's survive," Elliot finished, softly.
Silence fell again—but this time, it was calm. Unified.
Tomorrow was the battlefield.
But tonight… they rested together.
---