The sun began to dip below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple. The last of the placement battles concluded, and the fifty students of the Apex Class gathered one last time on the main training field, exhausted but buzzing with adrenaline.
Professor Kaelen stood before them, his expression as unreadable as ever.
"The first evaluation is complete," he stated, his voice carrying across the field. The holographic leaderboard beside him flickered, displaying the final, updated rankings. "Look at them. Memorize them. Your position is not secure. It is a prize to be fought for every single day. Tomorrow, we begin tactical drills. Be prepared. Dismissed."
With that, he turned and strode away. The students immediately surged towards the board. Ryuga's eyes found his name instantly. He was still Rank 2, his Rank Points (RP) increased after his win. But right above him, Valerius's name sat comfortably at Rank 1, the point gap between them just as wide as before. Isabella had dropped to Rank 4, her loss to Ryuga costing her dearly.
The message was clear: at the top, every single battle mattered.
Ryuga met Elara on the path that wound through the campus gardens, past fragrant Champa trees, on the way back to the dorms. She looked tired but was beaming.
"Man, what a day! I'm totally wiped!" she said, stretching her arms above her head. "Did you see Valerius's battle up close? He's like some kind of battling robot!"
"Yeah... he's efficient," Ryuga replied, his voice quieter than usual.
Elara seemed to notice his subdued mood. She nudged him with her shoulder. "Hey, don't let it get to you, Ryu. Your style is way cooler! Taking a hit to land the winning blow like that? That's the stuff of legends! It was so gutsy!"
A small smile returned to Ryuga's face. "Thanks, Elara. But 'gutsy' doesn't always win."
"Maybe not," she conceded, "but it's a lot more fun to watch! Now come on, I'm starving. I heard the cafeteria has Pecha Berry Samosas tonight!"
Later, back in the tense silence of Room 7, Ryuga watched his roommate. Valerius wasn't studying data tonight. He sat on the edge of his bed, his Bagon in his lap, meticulously cleaning each of his partner's scales with a soft cloth. The fierce Dragon-type was completely calm, letting out low, happy rumbles. It was a rare, quiet moment that showed a side of Valerius that was disciplined and focused even in moments of care.
They didn't speak. As Ryuga walked to his own side of the room, a silent acknowledgment passed between them—the respect of two predators sharing a territory.
Ryuga lay on his bed, Dratini curled up on his chest, fast asleep. He opened the Apex System, the blue light of the interface reflecting in his determined eyes. He replayed Valerius's battle against Ren in his mind, analyzing every flawless movement.
He left no openings, Ryuga thought, his own victory feeling hollow in comparison. Not a single one. My reckless gambit worked on Isabella because she wasn't expecting it. Valerius would have seen it coming a mile away and punished me for it. I can't win against him with just surprise tactics. I need more... I need untouchable speed and overwhelming power.
He navigated to the [MISSIONS] tab. The Main Quest to surpass Valerius seemed to mock him. He needed a more immediate goal. A new thought struck him, and he explored the system's interface, finding a feature he hadn't noticed before: [Set New Training Goal].
A plan began to form in his mind, sharp and clear.
[New User-Created Mission: Operation Speed-Blitz]
Objective: Increase Dratini's base speed and reaction time by 20% within one week.
Self-Assigned Reward: 100 AP.
He confirmed the mission, and it appeared in his [NORMAL] quest log, a tangible goal.
The academy has specialized speed training facilities, he planned. And the forests on the edge of campus are full of fast, wild Pokémon. Our real training starts tomorrow. At sunrise.
He looked down at his sleeping partner, the symbol of his family's legacy and his own future. A new fire burned in his eyes, chasing away the shadows of doubt. The shock of seeing Valerius's power had settled into a cold, hard resolve.
"He's perfect," Ryuga whispered into the quiet room, gently stroking Dratini's head. "So we'll just have to be better. Faster. Stronger. And a hell of a lot more unpredictable."