The students crowded around the leaderboard, murmuring excitedly as they spotted the top names.
All eyes were on Selina, who had taken the number one spot, and questions buzzed in the air.
"Who's Selina Sim?" one student whispered to their friend.
"What section is she in? Haven't seen her before,"
"I think she's one of the group who broke the record for the last stage," one of the student realized who she was.
"How did she even do that with a Luminara? a support base Data Beast."
Though the entire top 10 drew attention, the intrigue around Selina as the top scorer was palpable.
The atmosphere was filled with admiration, and for some, envy.
Kris, noticing the murmurs, couldn't help but smile quietly to himself.
His friends were still staring in awe at their positions on the board.
The murmuring faded as Principal Geo stepped forward, his booming voice cutting through the chatter.
"Students, it's time to prepare for the next stage of your assessment," he announced, lifting his hand in a practiced motion.
"The Defense Proficiency Test." As he spoke, the capsule-like devices in front of each student suddenly shifted and expanded, revealing arms and legs, transforming into sturdy, robotic droids.
Geo's eyes scanned the room as he addressed them.
"In this stage, you'll be tasked with defending against offensive droids for five full minutes. Focus, strategize, and remember—this is not just a test of strength, but of adaptability and endurance. Are you all ready?"
A wave of excitement swept through the students as they prepared themselves.
Kris glanced down at Pyro Cub, who was lounging beside him, casually licking its paws as though unbothered by the challenge ahead.
Kris leaned down and grinned, whispering, "Five minutes, Pyro. Think you're up for it?"
Pyro Cub stopped licking its paw and looked up at Kris, eyes sparkling with anticipation.
With a determined little growl, it seemed to nod, ready for the next challenge.
Kris chuckled, the adrenaline building as he straightened up, eyes fixed on the droid across from him.
This was going to be an intense five minutes.
As Principal Geo's announcement echoes across the arena, students brace themselves for the incoming waves, all eyes on the challenge.
The Auditorium feeling like a battle zone pulsed with action as the students braced for the Defensive Proficiency part of the final stage.
Droids lurched forward, targeting each Data Beast with unyielding precision, while the students and their beasts responded with strategies of their own.
Selina's eyes were locked on Luminara as the butterfly-like Data Beast fluttered gracefully, the Radiant Shield that was from the light manipulation ability shimmering around it.
Her brows furrowed in worry as the shield began to weaken.
"Luminara, hang in there," she murmured, a hint of anxiety creeping into her voice.
Just then, Luminara executed a sudden Light Speed to dodge upcoming attack, teleporting across the field in blinding flashes that disoriented the droid.
Selina sighed with relief, though her face tightened as she saw Luminara's energy dipping.
Recalling Kris's words, she called, "Luminara, Wind Dance!"
Luminara instantly shifted, feeling out the droid's movements as if anticipating its next strike, its maneuvers guided by the airflow.
Nearby, Bolt Ape crouched low, sparks crackling along its limbs.
"Static Leap!" Necho commanded, and with a burst of energy, Bolt Ape evaded the droid's incoming strike in an electric surge.
Each leap was backed by the steady Charging Beat of its own rhythm, fueling its movements.
Necho's grin widened as Bolt Ape seemed to dance around each hit with ease, its movements gaining a confident rhythm with every dodge.
He chuckled to himself.
"Just keep dodging, Bolt," he muttered, his tone full of competitive spirit.
Belle's fierce gaze was fixed on her Data Beast, Tide Hound, as it matched each droid attack with aggressive precision.
"Tidy, Tail Splash! Intercept it!" she yelled, her voice filled with fiery determination.
Tide Hound swung its powerful tail in sweeping arcs, crashing into each of the droid's strikes with forceful splashes of water that repelled the blows.
Belle's fists clenched with each successful block, her intense energy flowing into her Data Beast as they worked in unison.
"We got this, Tidy!" she cheered, her voice echoing with relentless support.
At the edge of the field, Thursday had taken a decidedly different approach, leaning into a stealthy defense.
"Stay low, Terra Mantis, Earth Camouflage," he whispered with a grin.
Terra Mantis vanished, blending seamlessly with the ground as it evaded detection.
Each time the droid drew too close, Terra Mantis used Ground Shift, repositioning without revealing itself.
Thursday chuckled, clearly enjoying his slippery strategy.
"It's like hide and seek with style!" he muttered, his light-hearted demeanor a contrast to the intensity around him.
Kris watched his friends with a calm, almost paternal pride, observing how each adapted his defensive strategies to fit their unique styles.
"They're doing well," he murmured, nodding approvingly at each technique.
His eyes fell on Pyro, who was nimbly dodging attacks from the droid without relying on any abilities.
"Just keep it up, Pyro. No need to show off just yet," he said with a smirk.
Kris took a breath, steadying himself they need to conserve their strength.
Watching the droids intensify their attacks, he braced himself, knowing that five minutes might feel like an eternity for everyone.
The atmosphere in the auditorium was electric, tension crackling in the air as the countdown ticked down to the final minute.
The droids, sensing the end was near, unleashed a new wave of aggression, adapting their strategies to counter the students' defenses.
Selina felt her heart race as she watched Luminara struggling to maintain its Wind Dance.
The once fluid movement was fading, and the butterfly-like Data Beast was growing tired from the relentless barrage of attacks.
"Luminara, hold on! You can do this! Endure!" Selina urged, her voice trembling with both worry and determination.
She clasped her hands together, hoping her encouragement would bolster Luminara's resolve.
Nearby, Necho observed Bolt Ape as it leapt and dodged, but he could see fatigue setting in.
The electrical bursts were slower now.
"Come on, Bolt! We can't give up!" he shouted.
Then, recalling Kris's advice, he commanded,
"Use Electro Howl!" A vibrant shockwave erupted from Bolt Ape stunning the offensive droid, buying it precious moments to catch its breath.
"Now, Thunder Fist!" Necho added, pointing as Bolt Ape unleashed a powerful punch, knocking the droid back a few feet.
Necho felt a spark of hope as he saw Bolt Ape gain a bit of energy from the distance created.
On the other side, Belle was in full force.
"Tidy, let's switch it up! Tidal Surge—hide in the water!" she shouted, her voice fierce yet reassuring.
Tide Hound unleashed a torrent of water that encased it, creating a defensive barrier that hindered the droid's advance.
Belle's encouragement fueled Tide Hound's resolve, even as the droid's tactics shifted.
Thursday, however, was faced with a new challenge.
The droid had detected Terra Mantis's hiding spot, landing a hit that sent it crashing down at Thursday's feet.
"No, Terra! Get up! Don't give up!" he cried, sadness etched across his face.
Terra Mantis responded to Thursday's encouragement, managing to stand and brace itself for another assault.
With determination shining in his eyes, Thursday commanded, "Blade Strike to intercept!"
As Terra Mantis moved with newfound energy, it slashed at the droid's attacks, deflecting them away.
"Now, Pebble Assault!" Thursday added, creating a barrier of stones to shield against incoming projectiles.
Kris remained calm amidst the chaos, observing his friends and their Data Beasts with concern but he trust their skills.
He noticed his Pyro cub getting overwhelmed and gestured, "Release Defensive Blaze!"
As Pyro erupted in flames, he followed up with Flame Pounce, not to attack the droid but to reposition and to evade the onslaught.
As the timer ticked down to the final seconds, Kris glanced at the countdown, noting the single digits flickering ominously.
The droids intensified their attacks, a last-ditch effort to overwhelm the students before the test concluded.
When the countdown finally reached zero, the droids froze mid-attack, folding their limbs as if their task was complete.
A wave of relief washed over the students, some cheering while others felt a pang of disappointment as they reflected on their performance.
Selina's shoulders relaxed, and she rushed to Luminara.
"We did it!" she exclaimed, relief flooding through her.
The auditorium buzzed with energy as the surviving students reveled in their endurance, while those who had struggled and failed watched on, feeling a mix of demotivation and envy for their peers.