First Student...

She paced in front of them, her tone growing sharper. "Unawakened beasts are dangerous, but with proper technique, you should be able to defeat one without trouble. If you can't, you've already failed. It's the equivalent of a human being unable to handle a goat. If you're careful and apply what you've learned, the worst you'll get are scratches."

Ethan's eyes narrowed as he processed her words. He'd seen footage of these beasts before but had never encountered one in real life. The memories he had inherited told him that his life had been confined to labyrinth cities, never venturing into the untamed wilds. To him, this would be a first.

Seraphine's voice pulled him back to the present. "Let's begin. Ryker Steelborn, step forward."Ryker Steelborn walked to the front, his steps confident. He was a muscular young man with short-cropped black hair and sharp, hazel eyes. His academy uniform looked almost strained against his broad frame. He carried himself with the air of someone who knew his strength and wasn't afraid to flaunt it.

Ryker smirked, crossing his arms as he faced the instructor. "I learned the Iron Grip Grappling Technique."

The class murmured approvingly. Grappling techniques were known for their effectiveness in controlling larger, stronger opponents.

Seraphine nodded, signaling to one of the attendants. "Prepare the arena."

The broad-shouldered attendant moved to a control panel, pressing a series of glowing runes. A heavy door slid open, and a massive mountain gorilla lumbered into the enclosure.

The beast was enormous, standing nearly eight feet tall, its dark fur matted and its muscles rippling with raw power. It let out a low growl, baring sharp teeth as it scanned its surroundings.

Ryker stepped into the arena without hesitation. The door slammed shut behind him, locking him in with the beast.

As heavy door slammed shut behind Ryker, the sound echoing through the enclosed arena. The tension in the air was palpable as the massive mountain gorilla lumbered into the center of the floor.

Its muscles rippled beneath its dark fur, and its small, intelligent eyes locked onto Ryker with primal hostility.

The beast bared its sharp teeth, letting out a guttural snarl that reverberated through the arena. It thumped its chest, the powerful sound sending a shiver through even the most composed onlookers.

Ryker stood his ground, his confident grin unwavering. He adjusted his stance, spreading his legs shoulder-width apart and bending his knees slightly. His arms were loose but ready, the hallmark of someone who had trained in grappling for years.

The gorilla roared and charged, the ground trembling beneath its massive weight. Its speed was astonishing for a creature of its size, closing the distance in seconds.

Ryker didn't flinch. At the last moment, he pivoted on his heel, sidestepping the beast's outstretched arms with practiced ease. The gorilla skidded to a halt, whipping around with surprising agility, but Ryker was already moving.

He lunged forward, ducking beneath a wild swing from the beast's massive arm. His hands shot out, grabbing the gorilla's wrist and forearm. With a grunt of effort, he shifted his weight and twisted, pulling the gorilla off-balance.

The gorilla roared in frustration, planting its feet to resist, but Ryker was faster. He slid behind the beast, locking its arm in a firm hold. With a quick adjustment, he brought his leg around, hooking it behind the gorilla's knee and forcing it down.

The beast struggled, its raw strength making the ground beneath them shake. Ryker gritted his teeth, adjusting his grip to keep the arm immobilized.

"Stay down, big guy," he muttered, his voice calm but strained.

The gorilla wasn't about to go quietly. With a deafening roar, it bucked its body, using its immense strength to push itself back up despite Ryker's hold. Ryker's eyes widened as the beast twisted its torso, breaking free from the grapple.

The gorilla lashed out with its free arm, a powerful backhand that forced Ryker to roll away to avoid a direct hit. The force of the swing sent a cloud of dirt into the air, and the impact left a shallow crater in the ground where Ryker had stood moments before.

Ryker got to his feet quickly, brushing dust off his uniform. "Alright," he said, a hint of excitement creeping into his voice. "You've got some fight in you."

The gorilla charged again, its movements more calculated this time. It swiped at Ryker with its massive hands, each swing coming closer to hitting its mark. Ryker ducked and weaved, his footwork keeping him just out of reach.

The beast reared up, slamming both fists into the ground in a display of dominance. The impact sent a shockwave through the arena, momentarily throwing Ryker off-balance. The gorilla seized the opportunity, lunging forward and wrapping its massive hands around Ryker's torso.

A collective gasp came from the audience as the gorilla lifted Ryker off the ground, its grip like a vice. The beast roared, squeezing with bone-crushing force.

Ryker's face twisted in pain, but he didn't panic. With a grunt of effort, he shifted his arms, wedging them between his body and the gorilla's grip. Using his elbows, he applied pressure to the beast's wrists, forcing its hands to loosen slightly.

Then, with a sudden twist of his hips, Ryker slipped free, landing in a crouch. Before the gorilla could recover, he surged forward, grabbing the beast's leg and sweeping it out from under it.

The gorilla crashed to the ground with a thunderous impact, sending up another cloud of dust.

Ryker wasted no time. He climbed onto the gorilla's back, locking his arms around its thick neck in a chokehold. The beast thrashed violently, trying to throw him off, but Ryker held firm, his legs wrapped tightly around its torso.

"Not so tough now, huh?" he muttered, tightening his grip.

The gorilla's roars grew weaker as it began to tire, its massive hands clawing at the air in desperation. Ryker adjusted his hold, ensuring the beast couldn't break free.