The sun was just beginning to rise over Stronghold Academy, casting long shadows across the training grounds as Benji's students gathered once more. The air was cool, crisp with the anticipation of the next phase of the trials.John stretched his arms, his fiery aura flickering lightly as he turned to the others. "So what's the deal with today? More individual stuff?"Benji stood in front of them, his usual calm demeanor now coupled with a sharper edge of seriousness. "Today, it's all about teamwork. You'll need to rely on each other to get through the next trial."Alex frowned, his arms crossed. "Teamwork, huh? That means I'll have to depend on you guys."John gave him a playful shove. "Don't worry, Alex. Just don't trip over yourself, and we'll be fine."Anne shot them both a look. "Let's take this seriously, alright? The tournament won't just be about individual skill. We'll need to work together if we want to get anywhere."Gordon, his arms folded over his chest, smirked. "Sounds like a good chance to show you all why I should be in charge."Benji cleared his throat, cutting through the banter. "Listen up. In these trials, you won't succeed by sheer power alone. It's going to take trust, communication, and strategy. If you don't work as a team, you won't make it. It's that simple."The gravity of his words hung in the air as the students exchanged glances, the playful banter quickly fading.Benji gestured toward the wide-open training field where several intricate setups had been arranged. There were high platforms, hanging ropes, shifting pillars, and shimmering energy barriers, all designed to test their ability to work together in complex situations."The task is simple," Benji continued, "navigate these obstacles, defeat the challenges, and make it to the center. But you'll only get through by combining your strengths.""Sounds like fun," John muttered under his breath, rolling his shoulders. "Let's get this over with."Benji gave him a pointed look. "Remember, it's not just about brute force. Every section will test something different—some will require physical strength, others will need speed, precision, or energy manipulation. Be ready for anything."The group stepped up to the starting line, the tension between them growing as they prepared for the trial ahead."Alright, go!" Benji called out, signaling the start of the trial.Immediately, the team darted toward the first obstacle—a series of towering walls that stood in their path. The walls were slick with some kind of energy coating, making it impossible to climb without using powers. Anne, quick on her feet, was the first to reach the wall, scanning it for a way up."This is easy for me," she called over her shoulder. With a leap, she twisted in mid-air, using her agility to grab the edge of the wall, but as she pulled herself up, a pulse of energy sent her tumbling back down."Looks like it's not going to let you pass that easily," John said with a grin."Alright, smart guy," Anne replied, dusting herself off. "How do you suggest we get over?"John cracked his knuckles. "We burn through.""Seriously?" Gordon said, stepping up. "You think brute force is always the answer?"John raised an eyebrow. "You got a better idea?"Gordon, his energy crackling in his hands, stepped forward, his focus sharp. "The wall's lined with energy. Let me neutralize it first."Alex nodded, understanding the plan. "Once Gordon gets rid of the energy, I can give you all a boost up.""Alright, do it," Anne said, stepping back to give Gordon space.Gordon focused, his hands crackling with energy as he pressed them against the wall. The energy coating reacted, sparking violently at first, but slowly, it began to flicker and die down under his control. The wall's surface became less volatile, allowing them to finally touch it without being repelled."Done," Gordon said with a smirk, stepping back. "You're welcome."Without missing a beat, Alex crouched down and cupped his hands. "Let's go."Anne was the first to use Alex's boost, and with a quick jump, she was over the wall. John followed, his fiery energy giving him an extra push as he soared over. Alex leapt up himself, his natural strength making the climb easy, while Gordon, the last to go, used his energy to propel himself to the top.As they landed on the other side, they were greeted by the next obstacle—a narrow bridge lined with shifting energy barriers that blocked their path.Anne squinted, watching as the barriers moved unpredictably, flickering with pulses of light. "We'll need to time this right."John nodded. "We'll have to cross one by one. I'll go first."He darted forward, dodging the first few barriers with ease, his flame powers allowing him to move with speed and agility. But halfway across, the barriers shifted more rapidly, and he found himself forced to leap back."These things are reacting to movement!" John called back. "We're going to have to slow it down somehow."Alex stepped forward, studying the barriers. "Maybe if we stagger our movements, it'll give us a better chance to slip through. They won't be able to target all of us at once."Anne nodded. "Good thinking. John, you go first, but only halfway. Alex, follow right behind him. I'll go after, and Gordon, you bring up the rear. If the barriers get too aggressive, try to disrupt them with your energy."The plan worked. As John dashed forward again, the barriers lit up, but with Alex right behind him, they couldn't focus on just one target. The rest of the team moved swiftly, dodging and weaving through the barriers, their coordination allowing them to cross the bridge without being overwhelmed.They landed on the final platform, where the last challenge awaited—a massive energy barrier that blocked the path to the center of the arena."This one's on you, Gordon," John said, his flames flickering at his fingertips. "You've got the best shot at disrupting that thing."Gordon stepped up, his confidence returning. "Stand back. I've got this."He focused, his energy crackling as he reached out toward the barrier. It resisted at first, pulsing with raw power, but Gordon pressed harder, forcing his energy to synchronize with the barrier's frequency. Slowly, the barrier began to waver, flickering as it weakened."Almost... there..." Gordon gritted his teeth, the strain evident as he poured more of his energy into the task.Finally, with one last push, the barrier shattered, dissolving into nothingness.The glow of satisfaction hadn't yet faded from the faces of John, Anne, Alex, and Gordon as they made their way off the field. The thrill of completing the trial as a unit settled in, the sense of accomplishment palpable. They'd worked together, trusted each other, and triumphed over the obstacle course.But Benji remained silent, a rare seriousness crossing his usually calm face. Something lingered in the air—something unfinished.As they walked back, Gordon stretched, a cocky grin on his face. "See? Told you we'd pass. It's in the bag."John snorted. "Yeah, you almost passed out trying to shatter that barrier.""Almost," Gordon retorted, a smug grin tugging at the corner of his lips. "But I didn't, did I?"Alex chuckled, patting Gordon on the back. "You did good, man."Anne was about to make a comment when Benji cleared his throat. His voice cut through the camaraderie like a sharp edge. "Don't get too comfortable just yet."They all turned, sensing something had shifted in their mentor's tone. Benji's eyes were locked on a figure approaching across the training grounds.It was Chris, walking with a slow, deliberate stride, his arms folded over his chest. Behind him, his team—Unit 3—trailed with a confident swagger.Victor's fiery energy crackled faintly around him, Maxwell practically bouncing with anticipation, Lila calm but focused, and Isabel with a look of sharp determination in her eyes. There was a palpable intensity radiating from them."Looks like Unit 92's not done yet," Chris said with a smirk, stopping just short of Benji's group. His voice was all challenge, his words carrying an unmistakable weight.John's jaw tightened. "What are you doing here, Chris?"Benji's eyes narrowed slightly. "They're here for the same reason we are."Chris tilted his head, amusement playing across his features. "You didn't think your unit would just get to walk away, did you? The final test isn't about beating some obstacles—it's about facing another team."John's eyes widened, realizing the implications. "Wait, you mean—"Benji nodded, his gaze never leaving Chris'. "The final trial is a team-versus-team match.""Team versus team?" Alex echoed, the weight of it sinking in."You've all passed the teamwork trial," Benji continued, his tone measured. "But the final test will be against Unit 3. There's no escaping this one. It's happening now."Chris grinned wickedly. "Ready for a real fight? Or did those little obstacles tire you out?"Gordon's eyes lit up with competitive fire. "Bring it on. We'll show you who's ready."Anne and Alex exchanged a quick glance, both of them tensing at the challenge, but there was a flicker of doubt. John clenched his fists, fire already crackling at his fingertips. He couldn't afford to back down, not now—not with Chris' cocky smirk daring him to fail.Benji's voice cut through the growing tension. "You'll be fighting on neutral ground. The field's already set up. First team to incapacitate or disarm the other wins."Chris raised an eyebrow, a mock look of concern on his face. "Don't worry, Unit 92—we won't go too hard on you. After all, you're the... new kids.""Save the trash talk," John growled, stepping forward, his fists still crackling with energy. "We'll see who's still standing by the end."Chris merely smirked, turning on his heel and leading his team toward the field, his voice floating back over his shoulder. "See you on the battlefield."As Unit 92 watched their rivals leave, the atmosphere thickened with tension. The stakes were suddenly much higher than they'd realized. This wasn't just about teamwork anymore—it was about proving themselves against Chris and his experienced unit.Benji placed a hand on John's shoulder, his voice low but firm. "Stay sharp. This isn't about individual strength anymore. You've come this far as a team—don't let them shake your focus."John nodded, his jaw tight with determination. "We've got this."Alex cracked his knuckles, feeling the pressure build. "Yeah, let's show them what we're made of.""Just don't get overconfident," Anne warned, her eyes narrowing toward the distant figures of Unit 3. "They've been at this longer than we have. We need a plan."Gordon's usual bravado seemed to fade as he considered the reality of facing Victor head-on. His grip on his energy faltered for a moment, but he quickly steeled himself. "We're not losing to them. No way."Benji stepped back, his arms crossed as he watched his team prepare themselves. His expression remained neutral, but there was a flicker of concern in his eyes. They'd made it through the trials, but Unit 3 wasn't just another obstacle—they were a finely-tuned, battle-hardened team. And Chris wasn't someone to be underestimated.As Unit 92 approached the battlefield, the tension was palpable. The ground had been transformed into an arena, lit by the evening sun casting long shadows across the field. Energy barriers flickered at the edges, containing the match in a space that felt too small for what was about to happen.Chris stood with his team at the opposite end, arms crossed, a confident smirk still plastered on his face. His team was ready, eyes locked on Unit 92, waiting for the match to begin.Benji stood at the edge of the arena, his eyes narrowing as he spoke quietly to his team one last time. "This is it. You've trained for this moment. You've learned to rely on each other. Trust your instincts, trust each other, and stay focused."John glanced over at Chris, his fists clenched at his sides. "We're not losing this."As the two teams faced off, the energy in the air seemed to thrum with anticipation. The trial was no longer about passing tests—it was about proving who was stronger, faster, and smarter.A loud buzzer echoed through the field.The match had begun.And with a deafening roar, the battlefield exploded into action, both teams surging forward in a blur of energy and raw power.