Welcome Combat, or Welcome Trouble?

The morning bell rang with a soft chime, but it may as well have been a war horn.

Andrew adjusted his academy coat, now creased after being slept in. "Ready for the grand welcome?"

Mario strapped on his boots. "Welcome combat, you mean."

"That's what they call it here, right? A friendly introduction battle?" Andrew asked with a smirk. "In my old academy, that usually meant being ambushed behind the dining hall."

Mario stretched. "I heard this academy ranks everyone by combat potential and social presence."

Andrew blinked. "Wait… so popularity is tracked?"

"Apparently, yeah. You don't just fight—you have to look good doing it."

"I was born for this," Andrew grinned, flicking his hair back with dramatic flair.

They stepped into the vast central arena. The structure was made from white enchanted stone with glowing blue runes. Floating seats hovered midair with dozens of students watching. The arena floor shimmered, forming terrain variations: craters, stone walls, grassy ridges.

Opposite them stood a duo: a short, muscled boy wielding twin daggers and a tall girl in sleek magical armor with glowing gauntlets.

An instructor stood between the two pairs.

"You'll be evaluated based on performance, strategy, and teamwork," she said. "Don't die."

Mario gulped. "Reassuring."

Andrew cracked his neck. "Showtime."

The signal flare shot upward. Battle began.

Immediately, the girl launched a flurry of wind punches that tore through the terrain. Andrew shouted, "Mario, left flank!"

"I'm on it!" Mario dashed, using Andrew's previous positioning as cover.

Andrew dodged the wind attacks, timing each sidestep like a practiced dancer. The dagger guy came in fast, but Andrew disarmed him with a twist and planted him face-first in the dirt.

Mario, meanwhile, was struggling with the wind girl's agility. "She's too fast!"

Andrew yelled from the side, "Use her attack pattern—she rotates three punches and always uses a kick after the fourth."

Mario blinked. "How the hell do you notice that in ten seconds?"

Andrew smirked. "Strategist's eye."

Following Andrew's advice, Mario baited the rotation and tackled the girl right after the kick, pinning her.

Victory.

Silence. Then applause.

Students from the crowd began murmuring.

"They actually won."

"Are they really transfers?"

"Did you see the taller one? He predicted her attacks!"

Later, the instructor handed them their passes. "You're assigned to Combat Dorm G, Room 608. Squad Alpha Trials start in three days. Until then, enjoy your… attention."

And attention they got.

As they walked through campus, girls whispered and waved. Some asked for autographs, others offered to "show them around."

Andrew leaned over. "Told you. Harem route unlocked."

Mario groaned. "No. Death route unlocked. Don't you feel it? Like someone's watching us?"

"Don't ruin the moment."

In their room, Andrew was already flipping through the orientation packet. "Looks like we're the only foreign students here. What if we pretend we're from a fallen Dacian empire, crossed through worlds?"

Mario rolled his eyes. "Andrew, we're Romanian exchange students who got isekai'd. Stick to one story."

"You mean the truck story?"

"Yes! The truck that hit us. Or do you want me to start telling people we came here through a demonic washing machine?"

"Honestly?" Andrew paused. "Kinda sounds cooler."

They burst out laughing.

But as they turned out the lights, a chill ran through Mario.

"Do you think… they'll find us?"

"Who?" Andrew asked.

"You know who."

Andrew was silent. "They always do."