The arena was silent as everyone awaited Saki's battle. When her name was called, she rose gracefully, almost disinterested, as if she were heading to complete a simple task, not stepping into a fight. With steady steps, Saki walked to the center of the arena, her hair flowing gently as if the wind itself followed her.

  Ren, still catching his breath from his intense fight against the Guardian, watched closely. He knew of Saki's skill, but what he was witnessing now went far beyond his expectations.

  Saki's opponent was a [Heavy Armored Guardian], the same adversary he had faced. The Guardian charged forward, wielding a massive hammer, aiming to crush her with brute force. However, Saki, with a calm expression, closed her eyes for a brief moment, as if simply waiting for the right move.

  With a subtle wave of her hand, she summoned a powerful gust of wind that pushed the Guardian back, causing him to lose his footing…!

  Before the Guardian could recover, Saki made another simple hand gesture, and the wind around her intensified, forming a whirlwind that launched the Guardian into the air and sent him crashing to the ground several meters away, defeated in an instant.

  Ren watched in disbelief. He knew Saki was strong, but what she had just shown was overwhelming. She wasn't even out of breath, nor did she break a sweat, as if the entire battle had been nothing more than a formality.

  ?●¤●?

  In Akane's dormitory, as she watched the ranking test on TV...

  Akane was comfortably reclined in a luxurious armchair, a cup of hot tea in her hands. Her gaze was fixed on the screen, where Saki's battle was unfolding. She observed with a calm expression, through her eyes gleamed with subtle interest.

  "Impressive. Saki Minami," she thought as she watched the Guardian's crushing defeat. "A potential Rank A, without a doubt."

  A faint smile appeared on Akane's lips, satisfied with the display of power. However, her thoughts were briefly interrupted by another presence in her mind: Yurei. The eccentric girl, with her unpredictable power and peculiar behavior.

  "Perhaps a future Rank S... if she learns to control her impulses."

  Akane's smile widened slightly, amused by the idea of Yurei following such a psychopathic line of reasoning.

  However, her thoughts quickly shifted to Yuki, though she dismissed them almost immediately.

  "Yuki Amagiri... Nothing impressive. Just cute, perhaps."

  Akane took a sip of her tea, clearly unimpressed with Yuki's apparent fragility.

  "She has nothing to offer besides her looks."

  This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  ?●¤●?

  Saki left the arena with lazy steps, light and disinterested, as if she had merely completed a formality. As she passed by Yurei, she noticed something peculiar: a happy, almost manic smile on the girl's lips. The gleam in Yurei's eyes was hard to ignore — it was clear she was already eager for her turn.

  Saki blinked at her before sighing softly, as if feeling sorry for the Guardian who would have to face her.

  "Good luck to him," Saki thought, continuing her leisurely walk, fully aware that her victory had already been more than enough to impress.

  Meanwhile, in the arena, the crowd buzzed with anticipation for the next match. With a firm gesture, the instructor announced:

  "Number 13: Yurei Kuroyama!"

  The crowd fell silent instantly. Even the most experienced observers leaned forward, curious. Saki had already left her mark, but everyone knew that Yurei’s performance would be something incomparable. After all, everyone knew who the Prodigy Psychopath was.

  Yurei stepped into the arena with an unsettling calm, her steps slow and deliberate, as if she were going for a casual stroll rather than entering a battle. Her eyes glowed with a terrifying intensity, and unlike Saki, her presence felt otherworldly, making the air around her seem heavier.

  As soon as she reached the center of the arena, the Heavy Armored Guardian charged forward with a roar, wielding his massive hammer. The audience watched in silence, waiting to see what Yurei would do.

  And then, the magic happened.

  With an almost imperceptible movement of her fingers, Yurei unleashed a wave of pure destructive energy. The Nexis around her intensified, sending the Guardian flying through the air with brutal force, as if he had been caught in a raging storm. He remained suspended for a moment before crashing to the ground, utterly defeated, without even having the chance to fight back...

  The impact was so quick, so violent, that no one had time to process what had just happened. The crowd erupted in whispers and applause, many spectators with wide eyes, still struggling to comprehend what they had just witnessed.

  ?●¤●?

  From her luxurious armchair, Akane couldn't help but smirk with a hint of arrogance.

  "Yurei... truly an interesting piece," she thought as she watched the spectacle.

  "...Such a problem child."

  Her smile widened as she pondered. Yurei was indeed a force to be reckoned with, but her uncontrolled potential could be both a blessing and a threat. Learning to harness that power would be crucial if Yurei was to become more than just a girl with overwhelming strength.

  The thought of taming Yurei's wild nature lingered in Akane's mind. With the right guidance, Yurei could become a true nightmare on the battlefield. But until then, a bit more discipline would be necessary.

  ?●¤●?

  After the tension of the ranking test, Ren felt instant relief as he stepped into the bathroom.

  He quickly stripped off his uniform — that tight, uncomfortable piece that always squeezed her hips and thighs. With a deep sigh, he finally removed the shorts and the rest of his clothes, feeling free at last.

  The weight of the outfit lifted from his body, and as Ren stepped into the shower, a soothing sense of comfort washed over him.

  The hot water began to flow, enveloping Ren in a soft mist that soothed his tense muscles. He closed his eyes as the water cascaded over his skin, each droplet seeming to wash away the exhaustion of the day. Running her hands over her face, he gently scrubbed his body, feeling the heat melt away any lingering tension. The steam around her created a comforting atmosphere, as if the water itself was softly caressing his worries.

  As he rinsed off, Ren reflected on the day — the ranking test and how, even though it hadn't been easy, he had managed to perform reasonably well. His results weren’t outstanding, but he hadn't failed either. For now, that was enough.

  Finishing his shower, Ren wrapped himself in a soft towel and stepped out of the bathroom with his damp hair clinging to his shoulders.

  With light steps, Ren made his way to dorm room and prepared for rest. He swapped the towel for a comfortable pajama set, simple yet cozy, making him feel at home. Sitting on the edge of the bed, his bare feet touched the cold floor. Ren closed his eyes for a moment, letting the fatigue of the day fade away, before finally lying down.

  As sleep began to take over, Ren’s thoughts drifted back to that moment in the courtyard when he spoke briefly with Saki about the test results and their final rankings. Ren had received a D, while Saki was ranked C+. Passing by a group of girls who were still gossiping, they heard that Yurei had scored a B+. The news surprised him a bit, but Ren didn’t dwell on it.

  Right now, rest was all that mattered.

  In her own room, Saki was also winding down. After a long shower, she lay on her bed, staring blankly at the ceiling with an empty mind.

  The quiet dormitory, interrupted only by the soft sound of their breathing, brought a peaceful stillness that surrounded them both.

  As their thoughts slowly faded, Ren and Saki finally drifted into sleep, surrendering to the comfort of rest.