The academy halls buzzed with energy as students enjoyed their break, grabbing food, chatting in groups, or catching up on rest before their next classes. But Elias wasn't interested in any of that.
He had officially joined the Cobra Brigade.
That alone had set him apart from many of his peers. The Cobra Brigade was one of the strongest in the academy, known for producing elite Hunters.
Joining wasn't easy, and Elias had already seen how seriously they took things. It wasn't just about strength — it was about discipline, execution, and results.
And now, he had to prove he belonged.
He made his way to the Cobra Brigade's training hall, a private space separate from the usual academy grounds.
Unlike other brigade rooms, this one wasn't welcoming. It was a war room, a place for strategy and battle.
Maps of dungeons covered the walls, various weapons lined the racks, and training dummies stood in the corners.
Elias stepped inside and immediately spotted her.
Zara.
The same blue-haired girl who had wielded lightning during the first time he had entered this room.
She sat in one of the chairs at the center of the room, arms resting lazily on the armrests, legs crossed as if she owned the place.
There was an undeniable confidence about her, the kind that made it clear she was someone important within the brigade.
She lifted her gaze as he entered, and a small smirk curved her lips.
"Right on time," she said, motioning to the chair across from her. "Sit."
Elias did as she said, shutting the door behind him before settling into the seat.
Zara studied him for a moment, her sharp, electric-blue eyes assessing him like a predator sizing up its prey.
"So," she finally said. "How do you like being part of the Cobra Brigade?"
Elias exhaled. "It's intense, but I expected that."
She nodded approvingly. "Good answer. Some recruits join thinking it'll be all glory and bragging rights. But we don't have time for dead weight."
He leaned forward slightly. "I'm not dead weight."
Her smirk widened. "I know. That's why you're still here."
Elias didn't miss the underlying message in her words.
The Cobra Brigade didn't coddle anyone. If he couldn't keep up, they wouldn't hesitate to cast him aside.
Zara leaned back, running a hand through her blue hair. "The academy's structured to make sure you get stronger. The classes, the training, all of it is useful. But there's something you should know…"
She leaned forward, lowering her voice slightly.
"The instructors don't actually care how you train. They only care about results."
Elias frowned. "What do you mean?"
Zara tapped the table between them. "You could attend every single class, listen to every lecture, practice every stance — but if you don't prove you're improving, it means nothing. That's why top students train beyond the academy schedule. The ones who actually succeed use every break, every free period, every chance they get to push themselves further."
Elias had already sensed this in the way the instructors acted. They drilled the students hard but didn't hold their hands.
They provided knowledge but wouldn't spoon-feed success.
"That's why," Zara continued, "I'll be training you myself."
Elias blinked, caught off guard. "Wait. You?"
She smirked. "Who else? You think we just throw new recruits into the deep end and hope for the best?"
"…Yes?"
She chuckled. "Some brigades do. But we don't waste talent. And you? You have potential."
Elias crossed his arms. "You sound awfully confident about that."
Zara leaned forward, electricity crackling faintly around her fingertips. "That's because I know talent when I see it. And I saw what you did during the Awakening test."
Elias stiffened slightly.
"You held back, didn't you?"
His eyes narrowed. "What makes you think that?"
She tilted her head. "Because I know the difference between someone who's struggling and someone who's hiding their true power. And you, Elias, are the latter."
He exhaled slowly. He had been careful not to reveal too much during the Awakening test, but Zara had seen through him anyway.
"I won't ask why you're holding back," she continued. "That's your business. But if you keep doing that, you'll fall behind."
Elias remained silent. The academy was ruthless, and those who couldn't keep up wouldn't just be left behind — they would be forgotten.
Zara stood, walking around the table until she was beside his chair.
"So here's the deal," she said. "Whenever we have breaks, free periods, or even after school — I'll be training you."
Elias looked up at her, skeptical. "Just like that?"
She shrugged. "Just like that."
"Why?"
Her smirk returned. "Because I like turning rough gems into weapons." She paused before adding, "And because I hate wasted potential."
Elias considered her words carefully.
He had already decided that he wouldn't settle for mediocrity. If he wanted to survive — to rise — he couldn't just rely on standard training.
After a moment, he nodded. "Alright. I'll take you up on that offer."
Zara's grin widened. "Good. Then we start today, after classes."
Elias exhaled. "You really don't waste time, do you?"
She chuckled. "Results matter, Elias. The faster you learn that, the better."
The conversation shifted after that. Zara explained that she wasn't just any member of the Cobra Brigade — she was one of its top-ranked fighters.
She told him about the power structure within the brigade, the different members, and what he needed to know to survive in their ranks.
By the time their break ended, Elias had learned more in twenty minutes than he had in hours of sitting in class.
#####
The sun had begun its slow descent, casting long shadows across the academy's vast training field.
The air still carried the residual warmth of the day, though the cooling breeze whispered promises of the approaching night.
Classes had ended, but Elias wasn't heading back to his dorm to rest like most students.
Instead, he stood on the open field, facing Zara — the lightning-wielding young woman who had effortlessly seen through his act.
She was dressed in the academy's standard uniform, though hers clung to her lean, toned figure, accentuating the strength in her lithe frame.
Unlike most students who kept their uniforms pristine, hers bore a few scorch marks — likely from her own lightning magic.
Without a word, Zara reached into her pocket and flicked a silver coin toward the man overseeing the training field. He caught it with practiced ease, inspected it briefly, then nodded.
"All yours," he muttered, pocketing the coin before strolling away without a second glance.
Elias raised an eyebrow. "You bribed him?"
Zara smirked. "I paid him to leave us alone." She took a step forward, rolling her shoulders. "I don't need some random guy interrupting when I'm teaching you how to survive."
Her fingers crackled with blue lightning, the sparks dancing across her skin like living serpents.
"Monsters won't wait for you to be ready," she said. "They won't hesitate, won't give you time to adjust. They'll attack. And if you hesitate…"
She raised her hand. A sudden bolt of lightning arced from her fingertips, slamming into the ground just inches away from his feet.
The shockwave sent dust flying, and a faint burning smell filled the air.