Difference

The lieutenant watched Ebina and Yuuki closely. "It's your turn, ladies. Don't forget that if you need, there are wooden weapons available."

Once again, none of the fighters rushed to fetch a weapon.

Ebina stood on one side, not very confident, while on the other stood Yuuki, cold and unflinching. Unlike Alliong, Yuuki's body was ready to pounce like a cheetah.

"Let's go!"

As the starting signal was given, a surreal scene unfolded! Huge wings, spanning 3 meters, sprouted from Ebina's back, tearing her clothes and leaving those who reacted slowly stunned by her sudden disappearance.

Before anyone could even locate Ebina, a sound of rupture followed by a heavy impact resonated.

Yuuki found herself half kneeling, her left arm dangling, broken in all directions.

"I see... Yesterday, during the selection, she inherited an ability that allows her to move almost instantly by activating a muscle. Who would have guessed that her stigma would grant her wings and powerful muscles on her shoulder blades?" analyzed Yuuki as she rose, her face contorted in slight pain.

"What reaction speed!" exclaimed Ebina, shocked to have seen Yuuki jump back at the last moment to absorb the majority of the impact.

Just when Rin thought Ebina had a chance of winning, he saw her suddenly frozen, standing like a statue, her face panicked, her eyes seeking help.

Clap! Clap!

"Very well executed, both of you, but Yuuki took the lead," declared Lieutenant Jin, applauding with a smile.

A white serpent, about 30 centimeters long and very slender, gradually coiled around Ebina's neck, becoming more visible.

Ebina then remembered that after the impact, she felt something move from her shoulder to her neck, but she thought it was just the shock.

Yuuki called back the serpent, which slithered into her sleeve before she went to see Shaana for treatment.

"A physical stigma of a sub-type mutation granting the ability to fly isn't so common, but it's a really lucky draw," commented Shin, usually silent, surprising Ebina.

A girl in a black and red dress with shoulder-length black hair lay on the ground, as if asleep, but without lifting her head. "How did a snake beat a bird? I don't quite understand, isn't it usually the other way around?"

Everyone remained silent, no one daring to respond to Hayashi, fearing her persistence.

Rin started to sweat profusely as he saw Shen Yi return from the room with a wooden katana. He inwardly exclaimed, "Wasn't he supposed to be the strongest? Why is he the only one taking a weapon!!??"

He rose with difficulty and dragged his body to the armory.

Once inside, he found a multitude of weapons of all kinds. "I need something small but effective."

After two minutes of searching, he finally found what he was looking for, sporting a wide smile as he grabbed a set of small knives with rounded tips.

Upon his exit, he noticed all eyes were on him, while Shen Yi waited on the field.

"Sorry for the wait, I didn't know what to choose, ahaha," apologized Rin as he trotted to his spot, 20 meters away from Shen Yi.

"Let's go!"

Once the race started, Rin rushed towards Shen Yi and threw a throwing a wood knife to the side, which arched towards Shen Yi's flank.

"Multiple projectiles are tough on my mana and brain, but it's enough for a two-pronged attack."

As he felt confident in his plan, he saw a magnificent blue flame begin to dance on Shen Yi's katana, before exploding in size, reaching at least 1.50 meters high.

The surrounding air cooled and became dry.

Rin, far from being discouraged but becoming more wary, activated his mana sense, and his eyes turned sky blue.

"It's impossible..." he murmured as he prepared to strike, noticing that his connection with the knife had frozen upon contact with the flame, while it continued its trajectory aimlessly.

Seeing that the dagger was no longer a threat, Shen Yi swung his katana sharply towards Rin's head, producing a characteristic rustle due to the speed of the blade. Rin, thanks to his flawless vision, dodged all of Shen Yi's strikes.

From time to time, knives were thrown, but they continued their trajectory without following Shen Yi, after getting too close to the flame.

In a quasi-choreographed ballet, Shen Yi attacked and Rin dodged narrowly each time, but the situation became increasingly perilous, and Rin gradually understood why.

"Even without direct contact, my joints are becoming stiff!" observed Rin, apprehensively watching the blue flame without stopping moving.

"Shen Yi is not a training partner, so finish him as soon as you can instead of playing," ordered Lieutenant Jin. Rin didn't understand the words, but his eyes understood the meaning for him. Shen Yi began to change his striking style, targeting vital parts more effectively, while Rin's mana sense only allowed him to observe, unable to dodge or predict the movements.

The inevitable happened quickly.

"AHHH!" The wooden katana lodged in Rin's ribs, depriving him of any combat ability. Intense pain seized him, followed by a fleeting icy coldness.

"Well, that was the unpleasant part of today," declared Lieutenant Jin as Rin received treatment from Shaana.

"When Rin is back on his feet, he and Shen Yi will take turns choosing someone among you to form two teams of five! No one has the right to advise or speak during the selection!"