Smoke filled the air. Shadows danced as masked enemies moved in fast—blades gleaming under red emergency lights.
Teaha and Lara moved like they'd trained together for years. Back-to-back, sharp and seamless. Lara flung two darts—Teaha caught one midair, flipped, and struck an enemy behind him.
"You're showing off again," Lara smirked.
"You like it," he grinned back.
Meanwhile, Kevin had Mira's wrist. "Stay close! You're not as fast as me!"
"I'm not your sidekick!" Mira snapped, yanking free—only to trip on a wire.
Kevin caught her just in time.
"Not a sidekick," he whispered, smirking. "More like a magnet for danger."
Mira pushed his face away. "Dream on, muscle boy."
Bihoo and Nisa stood out.
They didn't speak.
They didn't need to.
He moved left—she covered his right. When a masked fighter leapt for Nisa's blind spot, Bihoo moved like a storm, striking in one clean blow.
"Thanks," she muttered under breath.
"Don't mention it."
Then—FLASH!
A bright light burst from the ceiling. Everyone froze.
> "Team Unit 9 — Evaluation Complete."
The smoke cleared. The masked fighters bowed and disappeared like mist.
Silence.
Then the commander's voice came through the intercom.
> "Impressive. Some… more than others."
> "Teaha and Lara —synchronized combat: A-rank."
> "Kevin and Mira —unexpected coordination, still messy: B+."
Kevin raised a brow. "We're not messy. We're chaotic good."
Mira rolled her eyes, hiding a smile.
> "Bihoo Sarail and Nisa Solen…"
Everyone turned.
> "…Flawless strategy, but emotional disconnect. Watch each other better. Grade: A-."
Nisa blinked. Emotional disconnect?
Bihoo looked away. "They're wrong."
She didn't answer.
As they left the training zone, Kevin nudged Mira.
"Hey… why are you blushing? Did you fall for me mid-fight?"
Mira kicked his leg. "You wish."
Lara laughed, wrapping her arm around Teaha's.
"You all better rest. Morning drills won't care if you almost died tonight."
Nisa glanced over her shoulder once—just once—to see Bihoo standing there, hands in pockets, watching the stars.
To be continued…