CLIMAX OF THE RESCUE TRIALS

"We need to move," Fuji barked.

"Talia, are you okay?" Mikasa asked gently, glancing at her trembling teammate.

Talia straightened her posture and forced a smile. "Yes… yes, I am. (I won't let it happen again. I'm stronger now.) Let's go."

"Class E is already ahead with one rescue. We can't afford to waste time. Nobody wander off, understood?" Fuji ordered firmly.

"Yeah, of course," Mikasa replied.

"Got it!" Talia shouted, determination blazing in her voice.

"Alright—let's go."

They rushed toward the signal Mikasa had sensed. Soon, the ruins opened into the shell of an old hotel. A massive pillar had collapsed across its entrance, and behind it, a boy was trapped inside.

"…Huh?" the boy whispered, voice trembling with fear.

"Don't worry—we'll get you out!" Fuji boomed. His deep, confident voice filled the hall like thunder, and the boy's eyes widened, his fear easing just slightly.

Fuji unsheathed his crimson blade. "Step back! I'll cut the pillar!"

"No—don't!" Mikasa's spirit eyes glowed bright blue.

Fuji froze, blade poised midair. "What's the problem?"

"The pillar's holding several rods in place. If you cut it, they'll snap loose and impale him." Mikasa's tone was calm, but her hands shook at her sides.

Talia crossed her arms, lips pursed. "Then what? We can't just leave him in there."

"I can melt the rods in place," Talia said, her voice steadier than before.

"You'll need at least twenty-eight hundred degrees of heat to do that," Mikasa said quickly, almost to herself.

Talia smirked. "You could've just said 'do your best' instead of giving me the exact number, you know?"

"S-sorry," Mikasa stammered, cheeks pink.

"No need." Wings of blazing fire burst from Talia's back. "I've been training. My flames can reach that range. This time, they'll save someone."

She flew toward the rods, her hands burning brighter. Blue fire flickered across her fingers, so hot the air warped around her.

"The flames… they're climbing even higher," Mikasa whispered, her eyes glowing brighter.

"She's almost at twenty-four hundred degrees already. Incredible…"

Fuji grinned. "Guess I've got a strong team to lead."

With painstaking control, Talia pressed her flames to the fractured metal. One by one, the rods softened and fused into place. Sweat trickled down her brow, but her smile widened.

"I… I did it. I've gotten stronger."

"I'm done!" she shouted down to the others.

"Good job!" Fuji called back proudly. "Mikasa, can I go ahead now?"

"Me? You're… asking me?" Mikasa's eyes widened in surprise.

"Of course. We're a team. You're our brains. Talia and I will handle the heavy lifting—just keep guiding us."

A faint blush touched Mikasa's cheeks, and for the first time, her lips curved into a small smile. "…Alright. You can go ahead."

"Perfect!" Fuji roared, swinging his blade in a clean, powerful arc. The pillar split neatly and toppled away from the boy, crashing harmlessly onto the ground.

The child stumbled out, tears glistening in his eyes. "Th-thank you!"

"Talia!" Fuji shouted. "Get him to the entrance!"

"On it!"

The boy clung tightly as Talia's fiery wings lifted them into the smoky air. She landed softly by the entrance, setting him down.

"Thank you, miss," he whispered before his form shimmered and vanished—the system registering his rescue.

"Cloud Nine has rescued a civilian!" Miss Clarissa's voice rang through the dome, echoing with approval.

Meanwhile, Iron Vow was already moving toward their next target.

"It looks like they've caught up," Tachibana muttered, watching Cloud Nine in the distance.

"Don't worry," Kaito said calmly, eyes fixed ahead. "We're already heading toward the next civilian."

They reached a collapsed poolside, flames raging around it like a fiery cage. Inside, a woman thrashed in the water, her terrified voice cutting through the roar of fire.

"Help! Please—help me!"

Ryo clenched his fists. "What do we do?"

Kaito's gaze sharpened. "This is within our abilities. But we have to be careful."

Tachibana frowned. "Careful how?"

"The flames won't stop us from crossing," Kaito explained, pointing at the inferno, "but she won't survive going through them. I can create a spherical shield around her—but only for two seconds. That's all we'll have."

"How fast do I need to move?" Ryo asked immediately.

Kaito calculated quickly, eyes narrowing. "It's about five meters across. At her weight—around sixty-three kilos—you'll need to move at least three-point-six kilometers per hour. Any slower, and the shield will drop too soon."

Ryo cracked his knuckles, confidence blazing in his eyes. "I can do it."

Kaito smiled. "Then go."

Ryo sprinted, vanishing into the flames. A flash of pain twisted across his face as fire licked his leg, but he pushed through, reaching the terrified woman.

"Are you alright?" Kaito called.

"I'm fine!" Ryo shouted back. "We're getting you out of here!"

The woman's sobs steadied into hope. "Please hurry…"

Kaito's voice rang clear through the smoke. "Ready?"

"Yes!"

In a heartbeat, Kaito's shield snapped into place around the woman. Ryo exploded forward, flames bending in his wake. In a blur, they were back on safe ground, the woman unharmed.

"Good job, Ryo. Get her to the entrance."

"Got it!" Ryo disappeared again, reappearing at the gate. Moments later, Miss Clarissa's voice echoed:

"Iron Vow has saved a civilian!"

For the next two hours, both teams raced through the ruins, saving victim after victim. Each pushed themselves to the limit, neither side backing down. By the end, both had rescued six civilians each. Only one remained.

"Where's the last one?" Talia asked, scanning desperately.

Mikasa's eyes glowed with spirit light as she searched. Her face was pale with strain.

"Don't speak," Fuji warned quietly. "She needs to focus."

Talia scowled. "I know, but—"

"I… I found them," Mikasa finally whispered.

"Where?" Talia asked, leaning forward, her voice taut with urgency.

"At the east edge of the city… on top of a skyscraper. It's so high, I almost missed it."

The three looked east. A tower loomed above the ruins, impossibly tall.

"No way…" Talia breathed.

"Unbelievable," Fuji added, staring in awe.

"That's it," Mikasa confirmed.

Talia's fiery wings erupted to life. "Then what are we waiting for?" She launched herself into the air.

"You're supposed to follow my lead!" Fuji shouted after her.

"Not if you're too slow!" she called back with a grin.

With a metallic clang, Fuji spread his steel wings and took off. Mikasa followed, her aura-wings shimmering in the smoky sky.

By the twentieth floor, Talia faltered, panting. "I… can't fly any higher."

"Same here," Fuji admitted. He swung his blade, slicing clean through a pane of glass. They slipped inside as the building groaned ominously, swaying under its own broken weight.

"We have to be fast," Mikasa urged, her voice tight.

They climbed toward the rooftop. At the top, Iron Vow was already there, standing beside a woman paralyzed by fear.

"This is our rescue," Tachibana declared coldly.

"We'll see about that," Fuji shot back, eyes narrowing.

Ryo blurred forward, striking at Fuji with blinding speed. But Fuji blocked, steel shrieking against steel. The impact rattled the building, sending tremors through the air.

The skyscraper groaned violently, chunks of concrete tearing free. Cloud Nine stumbled as the floor beneath them collapsed. Wings spread wide, they caught themselves midair, but falling debris forced them back. They could only watch helplessly as Iron Vow shielded the woman.

Moments later, the building crumbled, collapsing in a deafening roar. Dust and rubble swallowed the sky.

Then, from the smoke, Iron Vow emerged unscathed—still protecting the woman.

"Iron Vow has saved the final civilian!" Miss Clarissa's voice declared.

Fuji's eyes widened. "But… how?!"

Kaito stepped forward, calm as ever. "The building dropped us near the eastern entrance. She landed with us—safe. The system counted her as rescued."

The woman's figure flickered and vanished. The test was over.

The battlefield melted away, and both classes returned to the viewing area. Students swarmed Cloud Nine, offering congratulations despite their loss.

"Nice work," Jackson said with a grin.

"Th-thanks," Mikasa murmured, cheeks flushed.

"Of course," Talia replied quickly, forcing confidence into her tone.

"We did our best," Fuji added with a small nod.

Miss Clarissa's voice rang through the arena. "Well done, both teams. You showed skill and adaptability throughout this test. Cloud Nine earned 520 points. Iron Vow earned 608 points—making them the winners."

Class E erupted in cheers, Iron Vow basking in victory. Ryo smirked, locking eyes with me, as if daring me to acknowledge his triumph. I turned away. Not worth it.

"Points were deducted for wasted time and for the collapse at the end. Next time, improve. Are you listening?" Clarissa's voice cut sharp.

"Yes, ma'am!" both classes shouted in unison.

Fuji hung his head. "Sorry we couldn't win."

"Don't worry," Sakura said softly. "You did your best."

Clarissa stepped forward, her tone shifting. "The next trial begins now: the Speed Race."

The Speed Race, huh?

I already know exactly who to pick.

Author’s Note:

Thank you for reading this chapter! This rescue trial was intense.Cloud Nine gave it their all, but Iron Vow showed why they’re such tough rivals. Don’t worry though, our team has only just begun to grow, and the next trial will really test their limits.

I’d love to hear what you thought about the teamwork, the strategies, and of course, the clash at the skyscraper. Which team are you rooting for so far—Cloud Nine or Iron Vow? Drop a comment and let me know!

And as always, support mean the world to me—they help keep this story going strong.

Next up: The Speed Race! Stay tuned, because things are about to get even more exciting!