Kenneth's next opponent was an energetic second-year named Callie. Quick and springy, Callie dodged Kenneth's strikes with ease, blocking her powerful blows with precision.
Kenneth had to admit that Callie was a worthy adversary with considerable potential as a fighter. However, her cautious nature held her back; she only struck when she was absolutely certain the hit would land. Much of the match was spent with Callie weaving through Kenneth's attacks, avoiding direct confrontation.
It was clear to Kenneth that Callie was a long-range fighter, much like Wei Chen. While it was hard to adapt fighting styles when one was accustomed to a particular way of fighting, this limitation could be a significant drawback. As a Fighter, one must be ready for any situation, which is why special forces were trained in various combat styles. Although Callie's approach worked well in the first round against another long-range fighter, it wouldn't suffice against Kenneth.
Determined to end the fight quickly, Kenneth decided to close the distance. The best way to do that? Charge forward.
Kenneth unleashed double the speed she had used in her fight against Colin, catching Callie off guard. As Callie prepared to block a strike, Kenneth feigned the attack with her left leg and followed up with a powerful side kick to Callie's gut using her right leg. The force of the strike sent Callie reeling, saliva escaping her mouth from the impact.
Clutching her stomach, Callie looked up at Kenneth, who was poised to deliver another blow. In a quick response, Callie ducked and rolled to the side, landing on her feet with her opposite leg extended. Using her uninjured hand to balance, she brainstormed a way to escape this predicament.
She refused to end up like Colin. This was her first time in the screening, and she aimed to reach at least the third round before elimination. Aware of her own limitations as a fighter, especially as a long-range specialist, Callie felt the weight of her cautious approach.
Regretting not heeding her friends' advice to diversify her techniques, she acknowledged her fear of losing. Still, she focused on controlling her breathing, feeling the nausea fade as she regained her composure.
As she assumed a new fighting stance, Callie relaxed her body, allowing the energy around her to shift. Kenneth recognized the change and mirrored it, taking deep breaths. Her once lucid eyes turned glassy, signaling her focus had shifted. No longer viewing Callie as just an opponent, she saw her as an enemy to be defeated.
Noticing the shift in Kenneth's demeanor, Callie instinctively stepped back, keeping a safe distance. But in an instant, Kenneth lunged, striking left and right with blinding speed. The onlookers felt the energy shift and watched with bated breath, uncertain of the outcome.
Lucien's gaze never wavered from the battleground as he carefully observed Kenneth's movements, committing them to memory. Meanwhile, Eiden sat at the edge of his seat, his interest in Kenneth intensifying with each passing second.
The room was filled with the sound of powerful blows as Kenneth increased her speed, making it increasingly difficult for Callie to block while counterattacking.
This girl is a monster, Callie thought, each hit landing more painfully than the last. She struggled to catch her breath as the relentless assault continued.
The students watched in disbelief as Callie began to be pushed back, unaware of her gradual retreat. Her focus was solely on avoiding Kenneth's punishing blows. It was only until it was too late that she realized that she was slowly being pushed back.
As Kenneth got closer and closer to Callie, she made the decisive decision to end the fight now since she still needed the energy for the next round. Hitting her with a roundhouse kick, Callie was knocked out as Kenneth emerged victorious.
*
The second round concluded, leaving only thirty of the eighty contestants standing. These rounds were designed not just to test the participants, but also to eliminate them through attrition. Despite only two rounds completed, the weariness began to settle in as time passed.
Each match lasted a mere five minutes, but the strength of their opponents demanded considerable energy to overcome. This tactic, devised by Alcione, aimed to assess the students' stamina and endurance. If they thought the challenges were tough now, they were in for an even greater struggle in the rounds ahead.
Ehioze announced the final fifteen-minute break of the day, prompting a collective sigh of relief from the students as they finally had a chance to ease their sore, tense muscles. They dispersed to catch some fresh air and hydrate. Kenneth remained behind, slumping into a chair to catch her breath.
"I underestimated how difficult this would be. Kenneth 1.0's body isn't going to hold up much longer," she muttered to herself.
There was a stark contrast in power and strength between Feras and Empaths, rooted in their genetic differences. Empaths weren't built for prolonged, intense battles; their strength lay in mental resilience. Most of their training focused on this aspect. While some Empaths trained physically, it was not expected of them, unlike Feras, who naturally possessed greater muscle density and speed. Feras recovered more quickly and fatigued less easily than other races.
Kenneth realized that her ability to endure thus far was largely due to her small percentage of Fera blood. However, she knew relying on that wouldn't be sustainable. Continuing to fight this way could lead to severe injury. All she could do was sit back and practice the mental exercises she remembered from Kenneth 1.0's training—methods known to recharge both mind and body. She needed to concentrate, still her thoughts, and focus on the green and yellow dots that appeared before her: energy nodes that alleviated mental strain. Just as she began to concentrate, the waiting room door swung open.
Alicia and Natalia entered, surprised to find Kenneth with her eyes closed.
Sensing their presence, Kenneth's instincts kicked in, and her eyes flew open. She quickly assessed the two newcomers, noting the blue-haired girl who was studying her intently.
"Sorry to interrupt," Alicia said, her tone apologetic, though her eyes suggested otherwise.
"I wanted to speak with you before the next round begins."
"Your match against Colin and Callie was fascinating. I can't believe you're a first-year, and now that I see you up close, it appears you're not even a Fera," she added with a smile.
Natalia's eyes widened at this revelation. "She's not?!" she exclaimed.
Kenneth, on high alert, replied cautiously, "...What's it to you?"
Alicia's smile widened. "Oh, no need to be so guarded, sweetie. I was just making an innocent observation. You piqued my interest."
Kenneth frowned, uncertain of Alicia's motives. Noticing her confusion, Alicia continued, "I just wanted to wish you luck in the next round. Since I'm keeping an eye on you, I wouldn't want you to lose just yet."
Kenneth's frown deepened. "I have no intention of losing," she replied flatly.
A glint of excitement flashed in Alicia's eyes before it faded. "Good, that's what I like to hear. Come on, Natalia, let's leave Ms. Greywater to her meditation." With that, she turned to leave.
Natalia shot Kenneth a wary glance before following Alicia out.
Kenneth sat in stunned silence. She sensed Alicia's curiosity but couldn't tell if it was merely that or something more. Though their interaction unsettled her, she decided to set it aside for now—she had more pressing challenges ahead.
"Alright everyone, gather around. It's time for the next round, and this one will be intense," Alcione announced.
Whispers filled the training hall as students speculated about what was to come.
"This will be the flash elimination round. You'll fight in the ring, and only the twenty who remain standing will advance to the next stage. Once you hear the buzzer, you can begin."
The participants' eyes widened in shock; they hadn't expected this.
"Did he just say an all-out brawl? Like, a free-for-all?" a girl exclaimed.
Chaos erupted in the room, but Alcione didn't allow time for anyone to prepare. The space morphed into a large ring, and the countdown had already started. As he returned to the platform, he felt the scrutinizing gazes of his fellow members.
"Don't look at me like that; it was our captain's call to change things up at the last minute," he shot back.
The others turned to Lucien, whose gaze was fixed on the panicked participants below.
"What gives, captain?" Claudette asked, bewildered.
"War waits for no one. Anything can go wrong at a moment's notice, and it's crucial for the participants to be ready," he explained.
"Seeing how they handle unexpected situations is vital. They won't always have the luxury of fighting a single opponent," he added bluntly.
In that moment, the members shared a singular thought about their captain: "This guy is nuts."
Natalia scanned the room, noticing a crowd of students in a frenzy, all on high alert.
"Is he for real?!" she exclaimed.
"Hush, Natalia. Focus. You could be attacked at any moment," a voice reminded her. No sooner had she heard it than a brave contender lunged at her, only for her to evade effortlessly.
"So they're serious," she mumbled, glancing at the platform where the Ventures observed.
"Well, if it's a show they want, I'll give it to them," she declared, launching into an assault against anyone who dared approach.
Alicia, watching from the sidelines, smiled briefly before her expression turned cold as an opponent approached her. That poor soul would soon regret their decision; a moment later, they lay unconscious on the floor.