The Girl Who Laughed at Lightning

          The DDS arena stretched out like a polished stone circle under a bright, indifferent sun. A gentle hum ran along the barrier walls surrounding it, faint but steady a perfect cage for the simulation the instructors promised.
“Students,” one staff member called, voice cheerful, almost too cheerful, “the monsters you’ll face today are completely fake. No need to worry!”.

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“Split into your groups and take your positions,” another instructor added, gesturing toward the arena. Students scrambled, whispering nervously as they fanned out. I slung my bag over my shoulder and walked calmly toward a convenient vantage point, ignoring the murmurs. I sent my friends to join Eliah since I know he's a strong person.
As for me... I checked my System if it will start or not. "System?", I said as the familiar soft blue glow flickered and died again.
“What the?!” I jabbed at the invisible interface. Nothing. No messages, no icons, nothing. Of course. Just great...

Then, suddenly, the System flickered back to life. A jagged blue window appeared before my eyes, glitching with sparks and warped text:
> [Recommend class: Healer]
I stared. Healer?!

 I rolled my eyes so hard I was almost dizzy. “Like hell I’m a healer,” I muttered, voice echoing in the empty arena. “I’m a damn fighter!”

The screen sputtered and glitched again, struggling to process my defiance. Blue sparks danced across the air like tiny fireworks. I shook my head, irritated. Perfect. It just died on me again.
And then the alarm blared. Red lights flashed across the arena, and a booming voice announced:
“Warning! Dimensional breach detected! Corrupted entities entering! Lockdown engaged! All students, evacuate immediately!”
Students screamed and scattered, scrambling for cover. Panic spread like wildfire. Most had no idea what was coming. Me? I just cracked my knuckles, a grin spreading across my face, "Good. Finally, some real action"..

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           From the flickering shadows at the far edge of the arena, three forms appeared. Black, hulking, with eyes glowing red like molten coals. Corrupted Beasts. Not the fake monsters we were promised. Real, alive, and hungry.
I didn’t hesitate. My fists tingled with anticipation, bare hands crackling with faint sparks of lightning and shadows coiling around my arms.
“Be my test subjects for the first fight, will ya!” I shouted, stepping forward.
The first beast lunged, claws extended. I dodged instinctively, spinning and smashing my fist into its chest. Nothing fancy just raw, desperate survival instinct. It screeched, staggering backward, and I laughed, wild and unrestrained.
The second beast jumped, jaws snapping. I ducked, rolled, and countered with a spinning elbow, sparks of lightning arcing across its blackened hide. My laughter rang out, echoing across the arena. This wasn’t heroism. This was survival..

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Three more Corrupted Beasts emerged from the shadowed rift, larger than the first, their glowing eyes fixed on the students fleeing in panic.
I felt it then. The raw energy surging inside my fists. Darkness pooling at my feet, lightning crackling along my arms. My body moved on instinct, faster and wilder than I knew it could.
"Oh...! This is… fun!!", each strike sent bolts of dark lightning arcing across the monsters, shadows twisting and curling along their forms. I twirled, ducked, punched, and kicked like a cyclone of chaos. Every hit, every dodge, made my grin wider.
The hulking beasts faltered, snarling at the sudden surge of power.
“Come on! Is that all you’ve got?” I taunted, spinning in the air and slamming both fists down on the nearest creature. Sparks and shadows exploded in all directions, illuminating the arena in blue-black chaos..

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From the far side of the arena, movement caught my eye. Evan. Blue hair that shone like flowing water, eyes deep as the sea. He moved with a calm, deliberate grace, weaving water and wind magic around him, protecting fleeing students with serene precision. His elegant, flowing attacks contrasted sharply with my raw chaos.
And then, three more massive Corrupted Beasts burst from the rift, hulking and twisted, their red eyes glimmering with malice. They cornered Evan and several students under his protection.
I didn’t hesitate. My fists sparked with lightning and darkness, my grin widening as I surged forward. Every strike, every dodge, every hit was instinct at first but soon, the full surge of my power erupted. Shadows and lightning danced along my limbs like a living storm, each punch sending arcs of energy across the hulking beasts.
Landing with a flourish, I crouched, eyes scanning the arena, exhilaration pumping through me.
“You good, Mr. Popular?” I shouted toward Evan, smirking as sparks danced across my arms. The chaos of monsters, alarms, and fleeing students raged around us, but I could feel it the thrill, the raw, untamed power awakening inside me.
Evan glanced toward me, his eyes wide wiyh confusion and shock even in the middle of battle, "What the... Iris...?!"

To be continue~