The squad was tense. Even with Instructor Tamsin in control, that didn't stop the nerves from creeping in.
Then came his voice, sharp and commanding.
"S-Cadets, engage!"
The air shifted, like something unseen had snapped into place.
That name? He came up with it on the spot. Didn't matter. It worked.
Silver threads pulsed from Tamsin's palm, and in the blink of an eye, the four Cadets — Kev, Dane, Mira, and Elisa — began to move.
But not of their own will.
"Whoa. This feels really weird," Kev muttered under his breath.
They were still conscious, fully aware, in fact. Trapped in their own bodies, yet not powerless. They could speak. They could feel every step, every twitch of muscle, every pulse of energy moving through them.
The Feral Crawler in front of them shrieked. Its claws scraped the earth as it lunged.
Tamsin directed Kev first. "Focus, Kev. This is how you maximize your Force."
Kev's legs locked into a strong stance. His skin hardened, arms and legs only, taking on the look and weight of stone. That was his current limit. But it was enough.
Tamsin dropped him low, then drove his fist into the ground.
A short stone wall erupted beneath him just in time. The Crawler slammed into it with a bone-jarring crack and stumbled back.
"What?! I can use a stone wall, too?" Kev's eyes widened, impressed.
"Rock is your shield," Tamsin called out. "But also your hammer. As long as you connect with the earth, it becomes part of you."
Then he turned to Dane. "You're next."
"I'm ready, Instructor!"
A small spark flickered between Dane's fingers as his Force came alive. Tamsin kept it simple. A steady flame that curled around his palms like a torch.
"Don't throw it yet," he said calmly. "You won't get burned. That's the nature of your Force."
He guided Dane's arms downward, letting the flame spread across his forearms. It was controlled, not chaotic.
Dane blinked. He'd never used his power this way. All his training had been fireballs and bursts. This? This was something new.
"This is... new," he muttered, watching the flames hug his skin without pain.
Then, with a burst of speed, Tamsin launched Dane toward the beast's flank. A punch followed, coated in fire, not explosive, but hot enough to leave a charred streak across the Crawler's side.
"Control the burn," Tamsin said. "Level 1 fire rarely kills. It weakens."
He hadn't moved them all at once for a reason. This was a lesson in synergy, too, not just raw force.
He turned to Mira. "You're up."
Mira nodded, though her throat tightened. What if he messed up? What if she messed up? But there wasn't time for doubt. She took a breath.
Her stance shifted with her hands loose at her sides, posture squared. Then Tamsin drew in a deep inhale through her lungs and made her scream.
A sharp burst of focused sound shot from her mouth, slicing through the air. The Crawler reeled, its ears twitching from the sudden pressure.
Again. Another blast. Then another. Each aimed with precision — head, joints, chest.
"Sound travels faster than claws," Tamsin said, calm as ever. "And your aim is sharper than most."
Mira was stunned. She had always tried to overpower her opponents with one loud attack. She never thought to use her Force like a scalpel.
Then came Elisa.
"Elisa, your turn. Watch carefully," Tamsin said.
She gave a small nod, lips tight.
Her arms lifted, guided by Tamsin's will. Fingers opened like she was tugging at invisible strings.
A rock floated.
Then another.
Then two more.
Tamsin made her flick her wrist. The flick was gentle, almost casual.
The rocks zipped toward the Crawler's face, not hard enough to do real damage, but enough to disorient. Then a thick branch lifted from the ground and spun low, clipping the Crawler's legs and staggering it.
"Telekinesis is a unique Force," Tamsin said. "Master the weight. Not the speed."
The Crawler roared, stumbling, but it wasn't done.
Claws out, it lunged forward again.
Tamsin didn't flinch. "Alright. Now, all of you. Together."
The squad braced, unsure of what to expect. Tamsin moved everyone at the same time.
Kev moved first, raising another stone wall. This time, in front of Elisa, one of their strongest attackers. A shield. A signal.
Then Mira and Dane struck simultaneously, sound and fire crashing in from opposite sides.
As the Crawler spun in confusion, Tamsin guided Elisa's power to pin its foot to the ground with a burst of psychic force.
The beast froze.
And then came the finisher.
Kev charged in, fists of stone smashing into its chest.
Dane hit from behind, a blazing elbow searing flesh.
Mira let out a final sonic burst right into the Crawler's skull.
And Elisa — calm and sharp — dragged a heavy stone high above the creature's head, then dropped it like a hammer.
CRACK!
The Crawler collapsed.
Silent. Still.
Kael let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. "What did we just watch?"
"I want to become his disciple," Dane said immediately.
Mira scoffed. "He'll choose me first."
Even Elisa didn't speak, but she felt it, deep down. If there was anyone who could help her understand the limits of her Force… it was Tamsin.
Tamsin stepped back. The silver threads flickered once, then vanished.
All four Cadets gasped, their bodies trembling—not from pain, but from the sheer rush of it all.
"That," Tamsin said, brushing off his coat, "is what your Forces look like when controlled properly."
No one spoke.
They were still processing what had just happened.
Raith might've been the standout so far, but today, it was clear:
They were growing stronger, too.
Suddenly, the sky shimmered.
Without warning, a portal split the air open above the Fore Field, swirling purple light distorting the clouds. Then, one by one, bodies dropped through.
Raith.
Cael.
Demitri.
Vanna.
Liara.
And falling slowly from the air, landing as gracefully as if she weighed nothing, was Ivara.
The rest hit the ground in various degrees of "not prepared."
"Ow," Demitri groaned, rubbing his back. "Is this how the portal works?"
Raith staggered to his feet, already brushing dirt off his black training suit.
Kev, Dane, Mira, and Elisa blinked in disbelief.
"Raith?" Mira said, her voice rising.
"What happened?" Dane asked, and he was worried.
Tamsin didn't look surprised. He turned toward the group, hands casually behind his back.
Ivara moved with barely a sound. She straightened, eyes narrowing.
"Tamsin," she said coldly. "What are you doing here?"
He gave a practiced, almost bored smile. "The Chief Warden asked me to lead this squad to join yours."
Her eyebrow twitched. "Ah. So that old man finally realized what a mistake it was to ignore my requests."
Tamsin stayed silent.
She scanned the S-ranked Cadets standing behind him. "So he's trying to make it up to me by giving me them."
Tamsin scratched his cheek, trying to look unbothered. "Well… maybe?"
A snort came from the side.
Cael crossed his arms, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Wow. The legendary S-ranked Cadets. What are you doing here? Isn't this place a little… beneath you?"
Kev blinked. "Who the heck is this guy?" He turned to Raith, pointing at Cael like he'd just stepped in something gross. "Seriously, how do you stand being in the same squad as him?"
Raith opened his mouth, but Kev wasn't done.
"Forget it. Just join us instead," Kev said, voice rising with excitement. He looked at Dane, Mira, and Elisa, then back at Raith. "We make our own squad. Right here. I bet Instructor Tamsin can talk to the Chief Warden for us. Besides, he's crazy strong."
Silence.
Dead silence.
Then Ivara's head turned — slowly — toward Kev.
"Oh?" she said, her tone almost amused. "You think this Instructor here is really strong? Is he stronger than me?"
Kev blinked, confused by the sudden chill in her voice. "I mean… yeah?"
Her lips curled into something that might have been a smile.
Then she released it.
Her aura.
Invisible, yet crushing.
It poured out like a flood, sweeping across the field in a wave of raw power. Kev's breath caught in his throat. Mira dropped to one knee. Elisa gasped. Even Dane staggered back, his fire snuffing out.
Every Cadet present trembled. Every instinct screamed for them to run away quickly.
And still, she hadn't moved.
Tamsin's eye twitched. "Ivara—"
She didn't look at him.
Her gaze was locked on Kev, who was now shaking under the pressure.
"Still think he's the strongest?" she asked, voice like cold iron.
Tamsin quickly stepped forward, both hands raised. "Forgive him, Ivara. He… he doesn't know anything about you."
The aura vanished.
Just like that.
The weight lifted, and the Cadets dropped to their knees, gasping for air.
Ivara exhaled slowly and looked away, adjusting her gloves as if nothing had happened.
Raith stepped forward, finally, awkward but genuine. "Kev, look… We'll talk, alright? Let's not do this here."
But the tension still lingered.
On one side, the pride and raw talent of the S-ranked.
On the other hand, the hardened survivors of C-707—and the Warden who could crush them with a glance.
And between them stood Instructor Tamsin, still smiling, still trying to pretend everything was under control.
Author's Note:
You can read all available chapters on Patreon.
Just search for my name: C.N. Baihaqi.