The rise of the unorthodox

The match was finally over, and I was utterly drained. The crowd, however, was still roaring, their energy as vibrant as if the battle had only just begun. My showdown with Amanda Doll had pushed me to my limits. Though my body felt like it could collapse, I stood tall, letting the cheers wash over me.

Before I could catch my breath, my team came rushing toward me.

"Wow, Beatrix, you're so amazing!" Delight grinned, her blue eyes sparkling as she practically bounced over to me.

I managed a tired smile and shrugged. "I guess I just put my mind to it and pulled something off."

In the back of my head, Bernia's voice stirred, dripping with its usual sharpness. "Foolish one, dost thou forget so quickly? This triumph is mine, not thine. The toil, the cunning—all mine own."

I ignored her, my exhaustion outweighing her complaints.

Daniel approached next, his excitement evident as he gave me a firm pat on the back, his whip hanging loosely at his side. "Great work out there, Beatrix! Thanks for gaining us those points. You've really got the crowd on our side now!"

I nodded, feeling the weight of the match settle even more now that it was over. "Glad I could help."

Devin stood a few feet away, arms folded as usual, his sharp eyes watching me closely. He wasn't one to celebrate openly like the others, but his presence was steady, and his gaze pierced through me as if he could see the truth behind my performance.

Finally, he stepped forward, his voice cutting through the noise around us. "Mind explaining what exactly happened out there?"

I sighed, shaking my head and looking away. "It's a long story… Let's just forget about it. Isn't your match next?"

Devin's lips twitched slightly, though whether it was a smirk or something else, I couldn't tell. "Yeah, it is," he said, his voice calm but firm. "Let's get going."

In the observation box filled with army officials, the air buzzed with tension and excitement. Officers leaned over one another, talking animatedly, their voices mingling into a chaotic symphony of opinions.

A broad-shouldered officer with a stern face spoke up, his booming voice cutting through the noise. "These first years are something special. The girl with the kinetic ability and the way the one with the hair pulled through at the end—truly extraordinary."

Sergeant Fredin, a grizzled veteran with sharp eyes, nodded thoughtfully. "Remarkable, indeed. If they keep this up, they'll have a real shot at making it into the General Army Contest."

The room hummed with agreement as other officers voiced their thoughts.

On the far side of the room, however, two officers stood apart, grinning like children. Kallias and Kalliah, known for their eccentricity, were practically vibrating with excitement.

Kallias, tall and wiry with sharp features, clapped his hands together. "Didn't we tell you? We told you she was one of a kind. Absolutely brilliant!"

Kalliah, shorter but equally animated, nodded fervently. "Oh, indeed! She's got something rare, a spark like no other. Did you see how she fought? Incredible!"

The other officers groaned.

"Will you two ever tone it down?" one muttered, shaking his head. "We're trying to have a professional discussion here."

Kalliah ignored the remark, leaning toward her brother. In a softer voice, she murmured, "Brother, dost thou not agree? She bears more potential than we first believed."

Kallias tilted his head, a rare seriousness flickering in his expression. "Aye, sister. That she does."

Meanwhile, Devin had been called for his match.

The lush green biome was alive with the chatter of the crowd, their cheers reaching a fever pitch as Devin and Nathaniel stepped into the arena. Sunlight filtered through the thick canopy above, casting dynamic shadows across the battlefield.

Devin stood confidently, his sleek black body suit tailored to perfection, highlighting his toned build and his status. His gauntlets gleamed under the light, their intricate carvings of roaring lions glowing faintly. The gemstones embedded in their eyes pulsed like they had a life of their own.

Nathaniel, in contrast, exuded calm. His black body suit bore the insignia of Squad Snow—an elite group notorious for producing some of the academy's strongest fighters. His mallet rested lightly against his shoulder, its runes glowing faintly green. Though he stood with ease, his serene demeanor hinted at a quiet strength.

The announcer's voice boomed across the field.

"Ladies and gentlemen, prepare yourselves! Devin of Squad Black versus Nathaniel Green of the infamous Squad Snow! Will brute force triumph over nature's grace? LET THE MATCH… BEGIN!"

Devin cracked his neck and smirked, letting the crowd's energy fuel him. "Snow Squad, huh? Quite the reputation you've got. Though I have to wonder… are you all bark and no bite?"

Nathaniel tilted his head, his calm gaze unshaken. "Reputations are meaningless. It is one's actions that prove their worth."

Devin chuckled, raising his gauntleted hands. "Oh, don't worry. You're about to see plenty of action."

Nathaniel's grip on his mallet tightened. "Very well, then. Let's begin."

Without warning, the ground beneath Devin's feet rumbled. Roots and vines burst forth, twisting and reaching toward him like living chains. Devin leaped back, his arm and leg suddenly glowing with an iridescent golden light. The energy radiating from him seemed to hum with power, enhancing his speed as he dodged the onslaught.

"You'll have to do better than that," Devin said, grinning as he pointed his hand at Nathaniel. "Flash Bang."

A glowing golden orb shot from his fingers, streaking toward Nathaniel. The orb exploded mid-air, releasing a blinding light that lit up the entire arena. Nathaniel stumbled, shielding his eyes as the light disoriented him.

Devin didn't waste a second. He surged forward, closing the gap with astonishing speed, and swung a golden punch at Nathaniel's side.

But just as the blow was about to land, Nathaniel whispered, "Verdant Bastion."

The ground erupted between them, forming a thick wall of vines that absorbed the impact. Devin's punch left a glowing crater in the greenery, but it held long enough for Nathaniel to step back and regain his footing.

Nathaniel lowered his mallet and gave a small nod. "Impressive. You fight with ferocity and precision. But do you even understand what you're facing?"

Devin raised an eyebrow. "Enlighten me."

Nathaniel smiled faintly. "My ability is called Verdant Manipulation. I wield nature itself, commanding the plants and earth to my will. But it doesn't end there."

He spun his mallet once and slammed it into the ground. The runes flared brighter. "Allow me to introduce you to Blooming Retribution."

From beneath Devin's feet, flowers began to sprout—but these weren't ordinary blossoms. Their petals glowed with green light before exploding in a flurry of energy bursts. Devin barely managed to leap away, the shockwaves rattling the ground around him.

"That all you've got?" Devin called out, though his grin was tighter now. He clenched his fists, the lions on his gauntlets roaring to life as golden energy swirled around them.

Nathaniel's serene expression didn't waver. "Not even close."

Devin surged forward, his golden glow intensifying as his amplified strength allowed him to shatter vines and roots with ease. His speed turned him into a blur, closing the distance in an instant. He feinted left, then swung a right hook infused with energy.

Nathaniel sidestepped at the last second, raising his mallet to parry. The collision sent a shockwave through the air, pushing both fighters back. Nathaniel planted his mallet into the ground to steady himself, his voice calm but resolute.

"Thorned Ascent."

Massive, thorn-covered vines shot up around him, forming a protective spiral. Devin sneered, his gauntlets glowing brighter. "You think a few plants are gonna stop me?"

Devin aimed his hand like a gun again. "Flash Bang."

The golden orb streaked toward Nathaniel's barrier, but this time, the vines absorbed the explosion, the energy dissipating harmlessly.

Nathaniel emerged from his barricade, his mallet glowing now with the same green energy. "You're strong, but strength isn't everything. Let me show you why Squad Snow is feared."

Devin growled, frustration flickering across his face. "Bring it on, Snowflake!"

Nathaniel leaped into the air, spinning his mallet. "Nature's Wrath!"

The mallet struck the ground with a thunderous crack, and the battlefield exploded into chaos. Trees erupted from the soil, their branches swinging like massive arms. Devin darted through the chaos, dodging and weaving, but the sheer scale of the attack forced him to stay on the defensive.

"You're making this fun," Devin said, his smirk returning as he raised his glowing hand. "But playtime's over."

The air around him shimmered as he activated his sub-ability. "Chomp."

A swirling golden portal appeared in the middle of the battlefield, pulling vines, branches, and even shards of earth into its void. Nathaniel grimaced, his movements slowing as the portal's blinding effect began to take hold.

For a moment, Nathaniel faltered, his calm mask slipping as he clutched his head in pain.

But then he raised his mallet one last time. "Evergreen Resurgence."

The ground beneath him pulsed, and a wave of vibrant green energy spread outward, revitalizing the biome and neutralizing the portal. The crowd gasped as Nathaniel stood tall, his body surrounded by a radiant aura of emerald light.

Devin, his golden energy still blazing, clenched his fists, his eyes narrowing. "Not bad," he muttered.

Nathaniel nodded, his voice steady. "It seems neither of us will yield easily."