The sun had climbed higher into the sky by the time Jack Mercer clapped his hands and called everyone to the field. The two new arrivals—Shinryu High and Daikyo Academy—had barely settled into their rooms before Jack announced that it was time to test their mettle.
"Why wait?" Jack declared, his grin as sharp as the challenge in his tone. "Let's see what you've got. Shinryu, Daikyo—your squads are already warmed up from the trip, right? Time for a practice match."
Takuma Itsuki, captain of Shinryu High, nodded with his characteristic composure. "We're ready. It'll be a good opportunity to acclimate."
Kenshiro Arata, Daikyo's brash leader, let out a booming laugh. "Hell yeah, we're ready! I hope you guys can keep up!" He pointed directly at Takuma. "Don't think your precision is gonna outmatch power today, buddy."
