Arla (a little nervous):
Can I really win this match…? Hmmm… are my gear and weapons good enough? What do you think, Sara?
Sara (acting all-knowing):
Ha… looks fine to me. Besides, aren't knights all about using brute strength? Why bother with fancy weapons?
Arla, hearing that, got annoyed — her face blank, voice dripping with sarcasm.
Haha, right… your knowledge is amazing, Sara. Of course, knights don't need weapons, huh? Even don't need weapons??Haha.
After that, Arla focused her mana, summoning the equipment she thought was most fitting — especially her Golden Round Shield, the one and only memento she still had from her late husband, who was also once an adventurer.
Sara (shocked):
Whaaat?! How are you carrying all that heavy gear?? And wait—your armor, your weapon, your shield… they're all made from real materials, not mana constructs! Just imagining how heavy that must be makes me tired already!
Arla didn't reply. She simply continued putting on her armor and walked straight into the arena.
Sara just stood there, mouth open, until her opponent had to call her out.
Arena View
The massive circular training field was divided into four arenas by glowing blue energy pillars at each corner.
The morning air, once fresh and calm, was now filled with tension, sweat, and swirling dust.
In a tall observation room overlooking the four arenas, four figures sat on high seats, their eyes sharp as hawks watching their prey.
"Hey, you! Sara, right? It's me—your opponent, Fera! Get over here!"
Sara (startled):
Oh! Right, sorry—I'm coming!
Once everyone was in position, the host began to speak.
Host:
Alright, looks like everyone's ready now!
Let's welcome the Squad Leaders who'll be observing those of you with potential today!
They are the legendary leaders:
Kiran, Leader of Squad Ignis — with fiery eyes and a scar on his cheek, searching for those who burn with unending passion.
Silas, Leader of Umbra — cloaked in shadow, moving silently, seeking strategic and efficient assassins.
Valeria, Leader of Aegis — standing tall with light armor, looking for true defenders with unbreakable resolve.
Rea, Leader of the Golden Squad — relaxed in posture, but her eyes radiate power; she seeks raw instinct and untamed strength.
Today is the day of judgment.
Eight contenders.
Four battles.
Only the best will advance.
ARENA 1: ASE vs GEKU
Ase (surprised):
Wow… didn't expect to face someone from the North. If I remember right, your region's full of mana but terrible at close combat, haha.
Geku (angry):
You bastard—take that back!!! FIREBALL BARRAGE!!!
Ase (calmly):
Haha… looks like I was right. You Northerners only know how to spam spells until your mana's gone. You don't even know which one's the real me.
Geku (realizing too late):
H-how… how are you still alive???
Ase (grinning):
Of course I am. I just used a basic technique that anyone can learn — the Clone Spell.
Geku (frustrated):
But—how can you cast spells that fast?! Don't tell me… you're from the South?!
Ase (disappointed):
Ugh, seriously? Do I look like I'm from the South?
With these clothes and this weapon? I'm clearly from the West!
Now it's my turn — TAKE THIS!!! THUNDER HAMMER STRIKE!!!
Geku stumbled backward — but it was all part of Ase's plan.
The "Ase" who had been talking this whole time was only a clone.
Ase (smirking):
CHECKMATE!!! (SWING!)
Geku (falling, dazed):
No way… it's too soon to lose… but my body… (faints)
Host (excited):
AND THAT'S IT!!! ASE WINS—A CLEAN VICTORY!!!
From above, Kiran nodded slowly.
"This girl, Ase… outstanding mana control and creative technique. I didn't expect that from someone of the West."
ARENA 2: FERA vs SARA
This battle was almost invisible to the naked eye.
Fera, with steel claws on her fingers, lunged with high-speed strikes, leaving deep cuts on the ground.
But every time her attack nearly hit, Sara vanished into the shadows.
"Stop running and face me!" Fera growled.
A whisper brushed past her ear.
"A true hunter doesn't need to shout," Sara murmured.
Fera spun around, claws slashing through empty air—then pain seared her thigh. A deep cut.
Sara stood behind her, dagger gleaming with a drop of blood.
Fera roared in frustration, swinging wildly. Her attacks lost focus.
From the observation deck, Silas narrowed his eyes.
"Sara… her movements are like the night wind. Silent. Lethal. She's letting Fera wear herself out. Just as an Umbra should."
ARENA 3: KOTE vs ARLA
This was the most contrasting fight.
Kote, huge and muscular, his iron fists forged in the Western forges, struck with earth-shaking blows that made the arena tremble.
But Arla, the Knight, stood firm — unmoving like a mountain.
In her hand, a massive golden shield glowed faintly.
Every one of Kote's punches crashed against it and disappeared in muffled thunder.
"COME ON! JUST STAND THERE THEN! ARE YOU EVEN GONNA FIGHT BACK?!" shouted Kote, frustrated.
From behind the shield, Arla replied calmly:
"A fortress doesn't need to attack to win. It only needs to stand… until the enemy breaks."
She stepped forward — slowly, steadily.
Her shield never faltered.
Kote's breathing grew heavier. His punches weakened.
Arla (shouting):
THIS IS IT!!! COUNTER ATTACK!!! SWINGGGGG!!!
Sara (from her arena, cheering):
Whoa—Arla! You're amazing!!! I'm seriously proud to have a friend like you!!!
Valeria smiled.
"Perfect. Her technique—Bastion Sanctum. Unshakable. She truly understands what it means to be a shield."
ARENA 4: LEA vs ZAZA
This arena was pure chaos.
Zaza hurled small spheres that exploded into electric nets, sleep gas, and even ice traps.
Lea, agile and fearless, dodged, flipped, and smashed each trap using her energy staff — extending and retracting it mid-battle.
"Don't play around, Zaza!" Lea shouted, slicing an electric net in half.
"This isn't playing—it's art!" Zaza replied, tossing three smoke bombs at once.
They moved like cat and mouse — but both were brilliant, fast, and unpredictable.
Rea laughed loudly.
"Look at them! Lea's fighting instinct is insane! And Zaza—so creative with her gadgets!
Both of them… have the blood of the Golden Squad!"
Back in Arena 2, Fera had collapsed — the medics rushed in. Sara stood calmly, victorious.
In Arena 1, Geku was trapped inside a metal cage — defeated.
In Arena 3, Kote fell to his knees, exhausted, while Arla stood tall, barely sweating as her shield faded away.
In Arena 4, Lea gently tapped Zaza's chest with her staff, knocking her down softly.
"Sorry, Zaza," Lea whispered.
A booming voice echoed across all four arenas — Kiran's voice.
"Enough! The matches are over! We've seen all we need to see!"
The host, slightly confused but trying to stay professional, blinked.
"Eh? W-wait… okay then! (just stay calm, stay calm…)"
Inside, he chuckled nervously.
"Well, as long as I don't get scolded later, hehe."
The four Squad Leaders stood up.
Kiran raised his hand:
"Ase! Your creativity and control are remarkable. Join Ignis!"
Ase grinned, relieved.
Silas spoke quietly, but clearly:
"Sara. Your efficiency and composure are what we seek. Welcome to Umbra."
Sara nodded slightly — and vanished.
Valeria pointed toward Arena 3:
"Arla. Your defense is the foundation any team needs. Aegis welcomes you."
Arla pressed her fist to her chest — a knight's salute.
Rea smiled widely toward Arena 4:
"Lea! Zaza! That was a spectacular fight! You both have the hearts of true warriors. I'll take you both into Golden Squad!"
Lea and Zaza, who had been bracing for disappointment, looked at each other in disbelief — then cheered joyfully.
Meanwhile, Geku, Fera, and Kote could only look down at the ground, their hearts heavy.
They knew their chance to join the elite squads was gone.
That day, the strong — and the most fitting — had risen.
And for the Squad Leaders, they had just found new gems… warriors who would raise their squads' names to even greater heights.