The battle was over.
The air still carried the scent of burned poison and dust, but the arena was silent now — only the sound of two exhausted breaths echoing faintly in the vast room.
Vex and Dex lay where they had fallen, barely conscious. Their hands trembled from fatigue; their bodies were bruised, their clothes stained with sweat and dust. Jack stood in the middle of the arena, his wolves gone, the magic circles fading into the floor.
He sighed softly. Not out of disappointment — out of reflection.
Then, with a simple wave of his hand, green vines sprouted from the cracks of the floor, smooth and strong. They curled around the two trainees gently, lifting them with care.
> "You two did well," Jack murmured. "You've earned rest."
The vines shifted, settling the two on Jack's back, their weight light to him but meaningful all the same. He walked slowly down the long corridor leading out of the training hall, each step echoing against the metal and stone walls.
The hall was dim, lined with glowing crystals that pulsed like soft hearts. Jack's shadow stretched long behind him.
As he walked, he spoke quietly — not to anyone in particular, just to himself.
> "A year… a whole year with them," he said under his breath. "With my ancestors. With the beasts. I thought I'd lost myself back then… but they showed me what it meant to understand life."
His eyes dimmed slightly, the green fading to a calm gold.
> "Strength without purpose is nothing. Power without control destroys what it touches. I used to think I had to fight the world… but now I see—"
He looked back at the two resting on his shoulders.
> "—sometimes, you just have to help others find the strength you once needed."
The walk was long, but peaceful. The air in the dorm wing was warmer, calmer — the tension of battle gone. When Jack reached the new dorm building, he pushed open the door quietly.
Inside, the rooms glowed with soft light, each one fresh and clean, meant for the newly ranked.
He placed Vex into one bed, the vines lowering him gently. Then Dex into the next room, covering him with the light blanket that adjusted its warmth automatically. Both of them stirred faintly in their sleep, comforted by the quiet hum of the dorm systems.
Jack lingered at the door for a moment, watching them rest.
A small smile touched his lips.
Then he walked to his own room — the one reserved for a rank 7.
When he opened the door, warm light spilled out. The bed was large, the blanket thick and soft, and the air smelled faintly of mountain flowers — a luxury he hadn't felt in months.
He sat down on the edge, staring at his hands. Scars still glowed faintly beneath the skin, traces of the symbols that tied him to his ancestors.
> "Another day," he whispered. "Another step forward."
He laid back. The warmth of the blanket spread across him, heavier and gentler than anything he'd felt in a long time. The noise of the world drifted away, and his eyes slowly closed.
For the first time since his return, Jack slept without tension — his mind quiet, his heart steady, his purpose clear.
The first light of dawn slid through the dorm window, painting soft gold across Jack's bed. The warmth pressed against his face, and his eyes flickered open. For a long moment, he lay still — listening.
There it was.
Voices. Faint, but alive.
Dex's voice, clumsy but focused. Vex's tone, sharper, muttering words between breaths.
Jack slowly sat up, running a hand through his hair. The air in the dorm felt different — charged, motivated. He got up, his bare feet silent on the cold floor, and made his way down the short hall.
He stopped at the first door — Dex's room.
Jack pressed his hand to the panel; it slid open with a soft hiss.
Inside, Dex was surrounded by chaos — the good kind.
Tables covered in half-built gadgets, scraps of metal, wires, and holographic screens filled the space. A tablet hovered beside him, scrolling through weapon designs: drones, rifles, gadgets, and more.
Jack leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed.
> "You were up all morning, weren't you?"
Dex jumped, nearly dropping a drone core. "Huh—?! Oh! Uh—yeah. I, uh… kinda lost track of time."
Jack chuckled. "Lost track, huh? Or just found something you finally care about?"
Dex rubbed the back of his neck, smiling sheepishly. "Maybe both. You were right… I never thought I could actually make stuff that works. Look at this—"
He held up a small, palm-sized drone. It buzzed weakly before sputtering out smoke. "Okay… it almost works."
Jack walked over, crouched down beside the workbench, and looked around the mess. "This is more progress than most people make in a month. You've got the potential, Dex — but remember, your creations are only as good as the mind behind them. You've got to understand them, not just build them."
Dex nodded, his eyes bright but tired. "Yeah… I'll get there. I just… didn't wanna waste the chance you gave me, you know?"
Jack gave a small smile, then patted Dex's shoulder. "You're not wasting anything. Keep learning — but next time, sleep at least a little."
He turned and stepped out, the door sliding shut softly behind him.
Next was Vex's room.
The air hit Jack instantly — sharp, chemical, almost acidic. He pushed the door open, and a faint green mist shimmered near the walls.
Inside, Vex sat cross-legged on the floor, his eyes glowing faintly as his veins pulsed different colors — blue, purple, orange, green — switching rapidly. He was concentrating hard, hands glowing as he exhaled small bursts of venom energy into glass vials lined before him.
> "Numbing… burning… paralysis…" Vex muttered. "Hallucination… regeneration…"
Jack raised an eyebrow. "You were up all morning too, huh?"
Vex startled slightly, the mist flickering. "Oh—Jack. Uh, yeah… I wanted to see how fast I could switch between venoms without losing focus. I think I broke my record."
Jack smiled faintly, stepping inside. "Looks like you did. But tell me, what did you learn from it?"
Vex looked down for a moment, then replied, "That I still don't have full control. Every time I push too fast, the venoms start mixing. It's dangerous. But I'm getting closer… I can feel it."
Jack nodded, impressed. "That's good. Don't rush it — control comes from patience, not pressure. You've already come a long way since yesterday."
Vex exhaled, relaxing a little. "Thanks… I just don't want to let you down."
Jack looked at him for a moment, then smiled softly. "You won't. I didn't choose you two by accident — I chose you because I saw what you could become."
He turned toward the door again.
> "Get some food. Then meet me in the training room. Today, we start the next step."
The door shut behind him with a quiet hiss.
As Jack walked down the hall, he felt something new in his chest — a calm, steady pride. Not the pride of a fighter… but of a teacher watching seedlings take root.
> "Maybe this is what they meant," he murmured. "The real strength isn't just power… it's helping others find their own."
The dorm lights brightened fully, and another day of training began.