Prelude to Paired Evaluation III

The class schedule had been tweaked. Theory classes were cut down in favor of practical training, a clear sign of how seriously the academy took the paired evaluation. Unlike the previous two evaluations, this one wasn't about individual performance. It was about teamwork. Or, in some cases, the glaring lack of it.

"Your opponents for this evaluation will be six-star beasts," Nero announced, his voice carrying the same casual tone one might use when discussing the lunch menu.

That sentence alone was enough to send a ripple of unease through the class.

Six-star beasts.

Not the kind of opponent you could brute force unless you had numbers on your side—and the right numbers at that. Even the Abyssal Tide Serpent I had helped evolve was only on the lower end of the six-star spectrum, and it had still required multiple adventurers, Rachel, and myself working together just to buy time.

These would be stronger.

Rachel raised a hand, her expression unreadable but her tone firm. "Isn't that a little much?"

I agreed with her. If Nero had told us we'd be fighting five-star beasts, that would've been a difficult but reasonable challenge. But six-star? Even if Lucifer was paired with someone else, there wasn't a single duo in Class A capable of taking one down outright.

"The point isn't to win," Nero said, as if he had anticipated the concern. "It's to be effective. The biggest issue noted during the VR mock war wasn't individual skill but synergy—or, more accurately, the complete lack of it. This evaluation is designed to address that. You won't be graded on victory but on how well you function as a team."

That made sense. It also meant failure was an inevitability. 

A fair number of students still looked uneasy, but at least they weren't arguing anymore.

"Now then," Nero continued, tapping on his wristband to activate the randomized matchups. "First up—Rachel Creighton and Cecilia Slatemark."

The moment the names were spoken, an entirely different kind of tension filled the room.

Rachel, to her credit, didn't react outwardly. She simply sighed through her nose and stood up.

Cecilia, on the other hand, let out a delighted hum as she stretched. "Oh, this is going to be fun."

Rachel shot her a sidelong glance. "You don't even like me."

"Exactly," Cecilia said, flashing a grin that was pure mischief. "Which means I get to make this painful for you."

Before Rachel could retort, Nero cut in. "You'll be facing a Glacial Hydra. Keep in mind that your only goal is to demonstrate effective teamwork. Anything less than that, and I'll consider it a failure."

Rachel exhaled, schooling her expression into something neutral. She knew there was no arguing this. The only option was to get it over with.

Cecilia? She just smiled like a cat about to toy with a particularly annoying bird.

The battle arena was a simulated one, a massive training ground that could shift terrains to accommodate different opponents. As Nero activated the settings, the environment changed—snow-covered ground stretching in all directions, jagged ice formations forming a natural maze. 

And then the beast arrived.

The Glacial Hydra.

It towered over them, a massive serpentine body covered in ice-encrusted scales, three heads swaying in eerie synchronization. Its breath clouded the air, freezing mist rolling across the battlefield in slow, creeping waves.

Rachel and Cecilia both moved at the same time.

That was the problem.

Rachel darted to the side, activating her Gift. Golden wings of light burst into existence behind her, amplifying her speed as she conjured barriers to block the incoming frost breath. She immediately began firing controlled light spells, aiming for the hydra's eyes to blind it.

At the exact same moment, Cecilia raised a hand, a wicked smirk on her lips. The very air around her turned crimson, the sheer density of her mana warping the space as she wove together an intricate spell.

Which was when Rachel's attack collided with it.

The result was instant.

The carefully crafted weave of Cecilia's spell shattered mid-cast, the backlash sending a violent ripple of mana outward. Rachel barely managed to stabilize herself mid-air, wings flickering under the unexpected feedback.

Cecilia stumbled slightly before catching herself. Then, she turned to Rachel with an unimpressed look.

"Are you stupid?" she asked flatly. "Don't get in my way."

Rachel bristled. "Maybe if you actually communicated instead of assuming you can do whatever you want—"

"Ah, so now I need to communicate?" Cecilia laughed, a sharp, amused sound. "Should I also hold your hand and ask if you're okay every five minutes, Your Highness?"

Rachel clenched her jaw. "Just focus."

"On what?" Cecilia shot back. "Helping you fumble your way through this?"

Meanwhile, the Glacial Hydra watched.

Then, as if realizing its opponents were too busy arguing to notice, it attacked.

The ground erupted in a jagged explosion of ice, forcing both girls to break apart as massive frozen spears burst from the ground. The hydra lunged, one head releasing a breath of freezing wind while another snapped its jaws toward Rachel.

Rachel barely dodged, twisting mid-air, her wings propelling her upward. She conjured a golden barrier just in time to block the frost breath, but the impact sent her skidding back.

Cecilia, on the other hand, retaliated with a fiery explosion that melted a section of the frozen ground—but also caused another shockwave that nearly knocked Rachel off balance.

"You're reckless," Rachel snapped.

"And you're predictable," Cecilia shot back.

The hydra, once again, took advantage of their momentary distraction.

A massive tail swung, the sheer force behind it enough to collapse one of the ice formations. Rachel managed to shield herself in time, but Cecilia had to teleport several meters back to avoid the full brunt of it.

Nero sighed loudly from the observation platform, rubbing his temples.

Rachel and Cecilia, despite both being incredibly talented in their own right, were proving to be the worst possible combination.

It wasn't even a matter of skill. Their abilities should have complemented each other—Rachel's precision and control balancing out Cecilia's sheer overwhelming power.

But they refused to cooperate.

Rachel prioritized efficiency. Cecilia thrived in chaos.

Rachel planned her movements carefully. Cecilia improvised and adapted in the moment.

Rachel was structured. Cecilia was unpredictable.

Their magic clashed as much as their personalities, leading to a battle that was not only ineffective but actively hindering them.

And the Glacial Hydra?

It was having an excellent time.

Rachel's light magic didn't mix well with Cecilia's crimson energy. Each time they tried to combine attacks, the spells interfered, disrupting their coordination. Their movements weren't synchronized, leaving glaring openings that the hydra exploited without hesitation.

Another burst of frost swept across the battlefield, forcing them both back again.

Rachel grit her teeth. "We need to—"

"Figure it out? Yeah, maybe if you actually kept up," Cecilia cut in, flipping her hair as she lazily dodged another incoming strike. "I swear, if I wanted to fight solo, I'd at least pick a better opponent."

Rachel's eye twitched.

From the platform, Nero let out a long-suffering sigh. 

"Alright, that's enough," he announced, his tone firm. "Stand down."

The hydra immediately froze—literally. A pulse of mana from Nero rendered the beast immobile, locking it in place before it could continue taking advantage of the disaster unfolding before it.

Rachel and Cecilia both turned toward the professor, breaths slightly uneven from exertion.

Nero looked at them for a long moment.

Then he pinched the bridge of his nose. "I have seen bad teamwork before, but this? This is actively painful to watch."

Cecilia smirked. "Was it entertaining, though?"

Nero didn't even dignify that with an answer.

Instead, he turned to Rachel. "You're methodical, but you're inflexible when things don't go as planned."

Then, to Cecilia. "And you… well, you don't play well with others."

Cecilia shrugged. "Not my fault others can't keep up."

"Your grade for this evaluation is currently a failing one," Nero stated flatly.

Rachel's mouth pressed into a thin line. Cecilia raised an eyebrow, mildly interested but otherwise unconcerned.

"You'll be required to redo this evaluation later," Nero continued, "and if your teamwork isn't significantly better, expect to see a permanent drop in your rank."

That, at least, wiped the smirk off Cecilia's face.

Rachel exhaled, adjusting her posture. "Understood, professor."

Cecilia rolled her eyes. "Sure, sure."

As they walked off the field, Rachel shot a glance at Cecilia. "Next time," she said, voice cool, "try not to act like you're the only one here."

Cecilia grinned. "Next time, try not to get in my way."

It was going to be a long semester.