Together They Stand, Amidst the Glow

The team members prepared to face their coach, sitting patiently as they awaited their turn.

Oliver stood with trembling hands, buzzing with anticipation for his duel. *"I must break through this fortress if I want to pass the Legion's trial,"* he thought, watching the last group leave the battlefield—their bodies dotted with faint bruises.

"At least he's not in a foul mood," Alex muttered apprehensively, eyeing their coach's imposing figure.

"Enough chatter! Move out!" the coach barked. "We don't have all day!"

He grabbed a training sword, his third one already shattered. But Oliver and Alex didn't let him settle—they ambushed him in unison.

"Good… I see you brats are learning," the coach blocked Oliver's strike while hurling a punch toward Max. "...But you're still too slow!"

His fist collided with Arda's shield as **a stray arrow struck his shoulder**, throwing him off balance. Seizing the opening, Oliver lunged.

"Nice shot!" Cammy grinned, thrusting her spear toward the coach's chest. "Got him!"

But Ava froze mid-motion, her bowstring half-drawn. Her eyes widened in horror. "What kind of monster *is* this?!"

In a blink, her friends were sprawled on the ground, groaning. With a feral roar, the coach halted four students' charges in a blur of inhuman speed. Another heartbeat—Ava crumpled under a merciless blow.

"This isn't over!" Oliver growled through gritted teeth, staggering upright alongside his battered comrades.

The coach smirked, raising his cracked sword. "Persistent, aren't you? Fine. Let's end this"

---

The coach rested his sword on his shoulder, studying his students with **a flicker of respect** beneath his stern gaze.

"Honestly… I must commend your courage. Your teamwork was **precise and fierce**, though a bit rudimentary."

**His tone sharpened as he pointed at each member:**

"Cammy! **Don't overcommit.** Use your spear's reach to cover your allies!"

"Max! **Speed alone won't save you—think!**"

"Arda! **Dig your heels deeper!**"

"And Oliver… **You need to hit harder.**"

He raised his cracked sword, its edge glinting. **"Now… let's end this properly!**"

But Oliver trembled, **his fiery hair mirroring his rage**. *"Damn it! We didn't even make him sweat!"*

**Max lunged first**, a wild roar tearing from his throat. Oliver followed, **so close he saw his own reflection in the coach's unflinching eyes**—a boy against a titan.

**In the split-second the coach blocked Max's strike**, Oliver swung at his ankle with a bone-crunching blow! **Ava's arrow whistled past**, Cammy's spear thrust at his throat, and Arda's shield **slammed forward like a battering ram**…

**For a heartbeat**, the coach staggered—**his calm mask shattered**.

But then…

**Max froze.**

A treacherous thought flashed: *"His composure broke… **because he's letting us win!**"*

That single doubt **ripped through their unity**. Cammy overextended, Oliver's footing faltered, Arda's shield dipped—

**The coach's sword swept up in a silver arc.**

And **like puppets with cut strings**, they fell.

"Damn it! This pain... it's unbearable. I'm still too weak. **Weakness... it truly hurts.**"

These were Oliver's last thoughts.

But just before he slipped into unconsciousness, **he saw something strange**: a **faint aura** surrounding the coach's body.

**It was barely visible**, almost **surreal**, like a **mirage on a scorching day**.

But Oliver **felt it**.

**He saw it**.

And in that moment, **he realized something**:

*"This aura... it might open a new world. **A vast world, truly.**"*

And that was his first interaction with the mysterious energy known as Aura.