Asher lay on the ground, catching his breath as Bran and Mika rushed over. Bran quickly knelt down beside Asher, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You alright, Ash?" he asked, concern in his voice.
"I'm fine," Asher replied, his voice hoarse. "Just… tired."
Mika, standing nearby, glanced between Asher and Logan, who was about to walk away. She quickly turned toward Logan, trying to thank him. "Hey, Logan! Thanks for helping Asher!"
Logan, who was already making his way toward his tent, paused for a brief moment but didn't turn to face them. "I have no business with either of you," he said coldly. "I only helped because it was necessary."
Mika's brow furrowed at his dismissive tone, and her frustration got the best of her. "Do you think you're so high and mighty that you can't even accept a simple 'thank you'?" she shot back, stepping forward with her hands on her hips.
Logan sighed, turning his head slightly. "Believe what you want. But don't expect me to care," he said flatly before walking past her, his expression unchanged.
Mika stood there, speechless for a moment, watching as Logan disappeared into the shadows of the camp. "Unbelievable," she muttered under her breath, shaking her head. "He might be handsome, but his arrogance is off the charts."
Bran chuckled softly, though his focus remained on Asher. "I told you, Mika, the guy's a mystery. Arrogant as hell, too."
Asher, still winded, managed a weak smile. "He helped, at least."
Mika rolled her eyes before heading back toward her tent. "Doesn't make him any less of a jerk," she grumbled.
Meanwhile, Captain Kael, still standing at the edge of the camp, watched the interaction with a thoughtful expression. As the students settled back into their routines, he couldn't shake the odd feeling that lingered after the battle with the Kaiju. His gut told him something wasn't right.
That particular type of Kaiju—the D-type—was supposed to be extinct. Not only that, but they were known to hunt in packs. Seeing one alone, especially in a place like this, was unheard of. It was as if the Kaiju had been placed there intentionally, as though it was hunting something—or someone.
Kael narrowed his eyes, the gears in his mind turning as he considered the possibilities. This exam was meant to test the students' skills and resilience, but no one had expected an encounter of this magnitude.
Without wasting another moment, Kael activated his communication device. "Liora," he called, his voice steady.
Liora, his vice-captain, answered almost immediately. "Captain, what is it?"
"I need you to analyze a sample from a Kaiju," Kael said, his tone sharp and direct. "It's a D-type, supposedly extinct. Something about this doesn't sit right."
"Understood," Liora replied. "Send it over, and I'll get on it immediately."
Kael crouched near the remains of the monster, carefully extracting a sample of its blood and scales. His expression grew darker as he sent the sample to Liora back at the exam center. Whatever this was, it went beyond the usual dangers of the trials. Something bigger was at play, and he intended to find out what.
As he stood, Kael cast one last glance at the camp, watching as the students tried to settle back into a semblance of normalcy. He knew they were strong—especially Asher and Logan—but this exam might test them in ways they weren't prepared for.
"Keep an eye on them," Kael muttered to himself. "Things are about to get interesting."
With a smirk, he vanished into the night, leaving behind the camp that was slowly drifting into an uneasy sleep. The real trial had only just begun.