Warrior Training System

James stood nearby, clutching his bloodied shoulder where a deep wound bled freely, his face pale but his voice steady as he asked Cassandra, "Who are you?"

Cassandra, breathing heavily from her earlier fight, glanced at him but didn't stop moving. Shaking her head, she replied, "I don't have time." Her tone was clipped, focused entirely on the battle ahead. As she spoke, her sharp senses picked up on something that made her heart skip—a shift in Cassian's presence. His energy was waning, but his killing intent was rising, growing so oppressive it made her feel as though the air itself was suffocating.

Her silver domain flared to life around her, a radiant aura of gleaming light that made her appear almost otherworldly. Without hesitation, she charged toward where Cassian was locked in a brutal fight. As she neared, the sight before her made her blood boil.

Cassian was barely holding his own. His arms hung at odd angles, clearly broken, and his face was twisted, bruised and battered from repeated blows. Yet his eyes still burned with defiance, and his relentless attacks had left Evans visibly frustrated. Evans, on the other hand, looked as if his patience had finally snapped. His staff moved with brutal precision, each swing and strike aimed to crush Cassian entirely.

"Stop it!" Cassandra's voice rang out, sharp and commanding, cutting through the chaos like a blade. Both Cassian and Evans turned to look at her, their gazes locking onto her glowing form.

Cassian staggered back, using the brief pause to create some distance, but Evans barely spared him a glance. His focus was now entirely on Cassandra, his expression shifting from anger to shock as he realized she was charging straight toward him.

Before Evans could react, Cassandra hurled her spear with a force that made the very air tremble. The weapon tore through the battlefield like a silver comet, the sheer velocity causing the ground beneath its path to crack and split. Dust and debris were thrown into the air as the spear hurtled toward Evans with unrelenting speed.

Everyone still on the battlefield watched the spear's trajectory with wide eyes, their expressions a mix of shock and awe. The sheer power behind the throw was a stark reminder of the strength possessed by a Circle Warrior—especially one of such high caliber.

Evans's eyes widened in sheer disbelief. For the first time, fear flickered across his face as he instinctively raised his staff to block the incoming attack. The spear, glowing with an intense silver light, struck the staff with devastating power.

The staff, which hadn't even shown a scratch from blocking Cassian's relentless sword strikes, shattered the instant the spear made contact. Evans' eyes widened in utter disbelief, his shock turning to horror as the spear continued its unstoppable path. It pierced through his chest effortlessly, leaving behind a massive, smoldering hole the size of a human head, smoke rising from the charred edges of the wound.

A sickening burning smell filled the air as Evans's body staggered, his face frozen in shock and pain. The light in his eyes faded as he collapsed to the ground, lifeless. The spear, now embedded deep into the ground behind him, pulsed with an otherworldly glow, as if it had consumed the very essence of its target.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Cassian, still struggling to stay upright, looked at Cassandra with a mixture of gratitude and awe.

Cassian chuckled weakly, brushing off some dirt from his torn sleeve as he stopped a few steps away from Cassandra. "I appreciate the concern, Detective, but I—"

Cassandra cut him off with a sharp smile, one that didn't quite reach her eyes. Instead, her closed eyes and the vein twitching on her temple sent a clear signal of restrained annoyance. "My little sister was quite worried about you for some reason," she said, her voice sugary sweet but laced with an edge sharp enough to cut steel.

Cassian froze mid-step, his smirk faltering as a bead of sweat rolled down his temple. "Oh, um... that's, uh... really kind of her?" he stammered, instinctively taking a small step back.

Cassandra's forced smile widened, and her hands rested on her hips as she tilted her head slightly. "Yes, kind enough that she insisted I come here to make sure you weren't getting yourself killed. Do you have any idea how annoying that was?"

Cassian gulped, his usual cockiness slipping away. "Well, I mean... you know me, I'm a tough guy. No need for anyone to worry—"

"She cried," Cassandra interrupted, her smile dropping for just a moment as her closed eyes twitched. "Do you know how often my sister cries over anyone, Cassian?"

He blinked, completely caught off guard. "Uh... never?"

"Exactly!" Cassandra snapped, her smile snapping back into place, now unnervingly bright. "And yet here I am, running through chaos, dodging fireballs and clones, all because you made her cry. So, Cassian, do tell—what exactly did you do to make my sweet, innocent sister worry so much?"

Cassian laughed nervously, scratching the back of his neck. "I mean, uh, she probably just misinterpreted something I said. You know how people can overthink—"

"Overthink?" Cassandra's voice dropped to a dangerous whisper, her eyes still closed as her aura flared just enough to make him feel the weight of her presence.

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Cassian held up his hands defensively, the blood draining from his face. "Okay, okay! I'll talk to her, apologize if I need to! No need to go all scary big sister on me."

Cassandra's smile finally softened, and she opened her eyes, though they still carried a warning. "Good. Because if I find out you upset her again..." She leaned in slightly, her silver domain flickering faintly around her. "You'll be the one crying next time. Got it?"

Cassian nodded rapidly, his cocky grin completely replaced by a sheepish expression. "Crystal clear."

"Good," Cassandra said, straightening up and turning away, her expression neutral once more. "Now let's focus on getting out of here alive, shall we?"

Cassian nodded, a faint smile tugging at his lips despite the tense situation. He couldn't help but feel a small spark of warmth at the thought of Lumine worrying about him. After all, she was his official girlfriend, and knowing she cared enough to send her sister—even if Cassandra had clearly come here for other reason—made him oddly happy.

Sure, Cassandra's arrival wasn't exactly by Lumine's request, but the fact that she was here at all gave him a strange sense of reassurance.

Enveloped in Cassandra's shimmering silver domain, Cassian found himself whisked away from the battlefield in a blur of speed. The dense jungle around them became a smear of greens and browns as Cassandra moved with a purpose, her movements swift and unrelenting. It was clear she wasn't taking any chances, determined to get as far away as possible before reinforcements arrived to aid their opponents.

Cassian felt the calming influence of her domain wash over him, his broken bones shifting back into place and his torn flesh healing at an astonishing rate. A low groan of relief escaped him, though the strange, uncomfortable sensation of being healed, which never failed to make him shiver every time it happened.

Turning his head slightly toward Cassandra, he asked with a mix of curiosity and lingering exhaustion, "How did you find out I was in such a fucked-up position?"

Cassandra's silver domain flickered momentarily as she spoke, her voice carrying a tinge of frustration. "I didn't know you were sent here. The order came from above to check on you because, surprise, surprise, you didn't send us any information for an entire month."

Cassian tilted his head, curiosity flashing in his eyes as he asked, "What about these kids' parents? Didn't they raise hell with the academy? I mean, we're talking noble kids here—some of them even royalty from their kingdoms. I doubt they'd sit quietly while their precious heirs are stuck in a death trap for this long."

Cassandra's lips curved into a dry, humorless smile. "They did. Letters, messengers, even threats. The academy's higher-ups spun some nonsense about extended evaluations being part of a special curriculum for elite students. Apparently, they even sent fabricated progress reports to keep the parents pacified."

Cassian snorted. "Special curriculum, my ass. More like special death sentences. And the parents bought that?"

"They did... but they were already getting pretty pent up," Cassandra said with a wide grin, glancing at Cassian. "I just happened to come looking for you a bit earlier. By now, they've probably sent their own people here."

Cassian couldn't help but grin back, a mix of amusement and satisfaction playing on his face. "Oh, the academy really fucked up. After seeing how their kids were treated here? Those powerful families are going to flatten the place."

Cassandra chuckled, her tone laced with mock sympathy. "I almost feel bad for the academy's board. Almost. They have no idea what kind of storm is heading their way."

Cassian smirked, shaking his head. "Serves them right. I was actually planning to ask my 'parents' to do the same."

"Your parents?" Cassandra shot him a confused look over her shoulder.

Catching her confusion—clearly, she was thinking of his real parents, who were long dead—Cassian chuckled. "No, not them. I meant the ones I'm pretending to be the son of, to infiltrate these exams."

Realization dawned on Cassandra's face, followed by a raised brow. "Oh, right. Your fake family. Guess they'd be more than willing to stir up some trouble for the academy, huh?"

He considered asking Lady Katherine to lend a hand with the situation. Just the thought of her brought a sudden, heated sensation coursing through him, causing his smile to widen. The anticipation of seeing her again now lingered in his mind,