---
Twenty minutes before the official start of the martial arts assessment, the mayor of Emerald City stepped forward, commanding the attention of the entire stadium. The atmosphere buzzed with anticipation as he prepared to address the gathering.
"Ladies and gentlemen, prodigies from across our province, welcome to the annual martial arts assessment!" the mayor began, his voice booming across the vast arena. "Before we commence, allow me to explain the rules for this year's event."
He paused, clearing his throat, ensuring every word that followed carried the weight of authority. The crowd leaned in, hanging on to his every word.
"In this assessment, each academy will form a five-member team. While individual strength is certainly important, true mastery in combat often depends on the ability to work as a cohesive unit. This is why teamwork will play a crucial role in determining your final score."
The mayor's gaze swept over the assembled students, emphasizing the gravity of his next words. "This martial arts assessment is designed to be fair and transparent. The challenges ahead are not merely tests of strength, but of strategy, resilience, and unity."
As he finished speaking, four tokens materialized in the air, hovering above the stadium. They glowed with an ethereal light before transforming into four distinct dimensional dungeons, each marked by a different color: blue, yellow, purple, and red. The sight was mesmerizing, the light from the tokens casting a surreal glow over the crowd.
The mayor gestured toward the dungeons. "These tokens represent the four Mystic Realms you will face in this assessment. Each realm varies in difficulty, and your final score will be multiplied based on the realm you choose."
He pointed to the first token. "Blue represents the simplest of challenges. Completing this realm will multiply your score by 1." His hand moved to the next. "Yellow signifies a medium-level challenge, where your final score will be multiplied by 2." The purple token was next. "The purple realm is more difficult; if you succeed here, your score will be tripled." Finally, his hand hovered over the red token, and the air grew tense. "And red… Red represents the Nightmare Realm, the most perilous of all. Surviving this challenge will multiply your score by 4, but be warned, the dangers within are severe."
The mayor's voice grew somber. "The Nightmare Realm is not for the faint of heart. It is akin to the most difficult levels in a game—'Nightmare' by name and by nature. Only the bravest—or perhaps the most foolhardy—will choose this path."
After a few more minutes of explanations, detailing tips and strategies to help the candidates succeed, the mayor concluded, "You have five minutes to make your final preparations before the assessment begins. Good luck to you all."
With those final words, the stadium erupted into a flurry of activity. The students scrambled to regroup and ready themselves for the challenge ahead. Gabriel quickly found his four assigned teammates—Jane Doe, an agile assassin; Elton Rock, a precise archer; Garreth Wade, a skilled magician; and Zhao Kong, a formidable shielder. It was a well-balanced team, each member bringing a unique set of skills to the table.
As Gabriel looked at his team, a sense of confidence washed over him. The group had a near-perfect setup, often referred to as the "Five Star Formation"—a balanced combination of a healer or support, long-range damage, a tanker, burst damage, and a scout or ripper. Such a formation was ideal for adapting to various combat scenarios, ensuring they could adjust their tactics as needed. However, Gabriel knew this level of synergy was rare, especially in the early stages of their training. While pure healers weren't as essential at their current level, having a well-rounded support like himself, who could also hold his own in combat, was invaluable.
---
Two formations dominated the strategies of seasoned teams: the "Five Star Formation" and the "Pure Formation." The Five Star Formation was renowned for its balance and adaptability, allowing teams to survive most threats by adjusting their tactics on the fly. Each member played a crucial role, and the formation could shift to counter whatever dangers lay ahead. However, due to the early stages of their development, finding such balanced teams was almost impossible, as many students hadn't yet fully defined their roles.
The Pure Formation, on the other hand, was the epitome of specialization. Teams using this formation were composed entirely of members with the same class or elemental affinity. For instance, a group of all ice-element users could combine their abilities to unleash devastating attacks far greater than the sum of their parts. This approach, while powerful, required flawless coordination and a deep understanding of each other's strengths and weaknesses.
Gabriel's team, with its balanced composition, was closer to the Five Star Formation, giving them flexibility in the upcoming trials. The team knew they had a solid chance, especially with Gabriel's strategic mind leading them.
---
As they huddled together, discussing last-minute strategies, a burly figure approached them, interrupting their conversation. Gabriel recognized the young man instantly—Cho Wei, a notorious student from Artic Haze University in Emerald City, known for his arrogance and raw power.
"So, you're Gabriel Heart, the top student of Green Leaf Academy?" Cho Wei's voice dripped with condescension, his eyes narrowing as he scrutinized Gabriel.
Gabriel remained calm, his gaze steady as he met Cho Wei's challenging stare. "That's right," he replied evenly. "How can I help you?"
Cho Wei's lips curled into a sly smile as he extended a hand toward Gabriel, but the gesture was anything but friendly. "It's rare for a support class like yours to achieve top ranking in their academy. I guess your opponents were pretty weak, huh? Must be nice to win by luck."
Gabriel's teammates bristled at the insult, their expressions darkening. Gareth was the first to step forward, unable to hold back his anger. "Who do you think you're talking to? Watch your mouth, or you might regret it!"
Cho Wei sneered, his arrogance palpable. "Oh? And whose hands do you think I'll end up in? Yours?" His tone was mocking, dismissive.
Seeing the confrontation escalating, Gabriel raised a hand, signaling his teammates to stand down. He stepped closer to Cho Wei, ignoring the hand still extended toward him, and looked the larger boy straight in the eyes. "Advance your class yet?" he asked, his voice cool and measured.
Without waiting for a response, Gabriel activated his [Conqueror's Haki]. The air around him seemed to thicken with an almost tangible pressure, a force that pressed down on Cho Wei like an invisible weight. Gabriel controlled the intensity, ensuring it was just strong enough to assert dominance without causing anyone to faint.
Cho Wei, despite his imposing stature, began to feel small under the weight of Gabriel's presence. The world seemed to tilt, and suddenly Gabriel appeared taller, more formidable. Breathing became difficult as Cho Wei struggled to maintain his composure, his confidence evaporating under the pressure.
Gabriel's voice cut through the tension, cold and unyielding. "Is that supposed to impress me?"
Cho Wei opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. The pressure from Gabriel's Haki grew, and he felt his knees begin to tremble. The confident smirk that had been on his face moments ago was nowhere to be seen.
Gareth and the others watched with wide eyes, barely able to contain their amazement. "Big Bro Gab, you've changed your class?" Gareth asked, his voice filled with a mix of admiration and disbelief.
The corners of Cho Wei's mouth twitched in frustration, realizing he had severely underestimated Gabriel.
"Of course," Gabriel replied, his tone casual, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
His teammates exchanged stunned looks. "Then… which class did you advance to?" Gareth asked, the excitement in his voice barely contained.
Gabriel simply smiled, raising a finger to his lips in a playful gesture. "Shhh! That's a secret," he said, his voice light yet laced with confidence. With that, he signaled to his team to follow him, leaving Cho Wei standing there, still reeling from the encounter.
As they walked away, Gabriel could feel the lingering tension in the air, but he didn't look back. Cho Wei might have been silenced for now, but Gabriel knew the real challenge was yet to come.
---
Minutes later, Gabriel and his teammates approached the assessment representative. Before them lay a table with four sets of tokens, each set matching the color of the Mystic Realm they represented. As team leader, Gabriel's choice would determine the fate of his entire group.
Without hesitation, Gabriel reached out and grabbed a token with a deep red hue. He tossed the remaining red tokens to his teammates, his expression unreadable.
As they caught the tokens and saw the color, a wave of unease washed over them. "Nightmare Mystic Realm…" The words echoed in their minds like a death knell.
Sweat began to form on their brows as the gravity of Gabriel's choice sank in. The Nightmare Mystic Realm was infamous for its difficulty. The monsters within ranged from 5-star to 10-star Bronze ranks, with the possibility of encountering Silver-ranked beasts. Even with the secret protection of invigilators, the risks were terrifyingly real.
But Gabriel gave them no time to second-guess. He activated his token, and without a word, leaped into the dungeon that emitted a foreboding red light.
The audience watched in stunned silence as the portal closed behind him, the red glow fading away. Then, as the realization hit, a collective gasp filled the stadium.
"He chose the Nightmare Mystic Realm!" someone exclaimed, the shock evident in their voice.
Murmurs spread through the crowd like wildfire. "Is he insane? Does he have a death wish?"
"In that realm, even the weakest monsters are formidable… and there's no guarantee of survival, even with invigilators on standby."
---
High above the stadium, in a secluded corner of the rostrum, Principal Dahlmer of Green Leaf Academy observed the proceedings with a calm, measured gaze. A soft chuckle escaped his lips as he watched Gabriel's bold decision. "As expected," he murmured to himself.
If anyone could see him, they would be shocked at his serene demeanor. Despite the deadly choice his student had made, Dahlmer remained composed, his face betraying no hint of concern. He took a sip of his tea, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Child, it doesn't matter if your score is high or low. Your life is what's most important," he whispered, more to himself than to anyone else.
---
In the stands, Gabriel's parents, Harold and Helena, were frozen in shock. Their faces mirrored the fear and disbelief of the other spectators.
"Could it be that Cho Wei provoked him into choosing the Nightmare Mystic Realm?" Harold's voice trembled with worry, his mind racing with possibilities.
Helena clutched Harold's arm, her face pale with anxiety. "What if he did? What if Gabriel acted on impulse?"
Their concerns were etched into every line of their faces, their hearts heavy with dread.
But before they could spiral further into fear, Celene's voice broke through, calm but firm. "Dad, Mom, don't worry. Little Gab isn't an impulsive person." She tried to reassure them, though her own heart was clenched with tension. She knew her brother well—he wouldn't have made such a choice without careful consideration.
Even as she spoke, Celene couldn't shake the knot of fear tightening in her chest. Gabriel was strong, of that she had no doubt, but the Nightmare Realm was a different beast entirely. She could only hope that her brother's confidence was well-founded, and that his decision would lead him not to disaster, but to triumph.