The first-year Class One students were already sparring on the training ground. Ostia’s gaze swept over them, shaking her head with a soft sigh.

“These students… they’ve never truly been tested by monsters.”

Most also lacked the courage to challenge stronger opponents.

Wherever she looked, pairs of evenly matched students exchanged blows—clearly holding back.

Even the top-ranked girl sat alone atop the giant beast-type Familiar she had summoned, lost in thought. No one dared approach her.

Ostia had seen how other classes operated. Some teachers, aiming to boost rankings, had set strict competition rules the night before—all to snatch more spots from her Class One.

Thinking how some in her own class showed not a shred of crisis awareness, Ostia’s brow furrowed.

“These youngsters… never faced real hardship. I’ll have to thrash them all someday.”

Just then, her eyes drifted—and locked onto two girls locked in combat.

One had green hair in twin tails, wearing a flowing, battle-impractical dress. The other, golden-haired, wore loose, practical training gear.

To any observer, the green-haired girl should’ve been losing. But Ostia knew: this was Loko, ranked second in the entrance exam, versus Shilufei, ninth.

Yet Loko—the expected victor—was struggling slightly against Shilufei’s assault.

She barely dodged a swift strike, staring at Shilufei adjusting her stance, eyes wide with shock.

Seven ranks separated them. Six students.

And now *she* was being pressured?

“Loko, you don’t need to hold back—just go all out,” Shilufei said, brow slightly furrowed, voice tinged with displeasure.

Loko inwardly protested. She *wasn’t* holding back! Why was Shilufei—supposedly weaker at this point in the original story—pushing her this hard?

Was this protagonist aura? Truly terrifying.

Shilufei watched Loko slowly close her eyes. A barely perceptible smile tugged at her lips.

Ostia wasn’t the only observer.

Teresa, seated atop her summoned giant beast-type Familiar, kept her gaze fixed solely on Loko—the one purely on defense.

“Even if it’s for my sake… you didn’t have to look this disheveled,” Teresa murmured. Only when Loko closed her eyes did her icy expression soften slightly.

“Going all out now?” Ostia murmured, a trace of confusion on her face.

Her student files held no details on family abilities. She couldn’t fathom why Loko would willingly close her eyes mid-fight.

On the battlefield, that meant surrendering the most vital sense.

An act of extreme contempt.

And Loko wasn’t even in control.

Ostia’s interest sharpened.

“Is this girl about to use a special ability?”

Nearby sparring students glanced over. Seeing Loko’s change, most lost interest.

*This* was it? A major upset on day one?

Shilufei froze slightly as Loko’s eyes closed. Memories from her past life surged.

Right—Loko was getting serious.

The Loko family’s gift: extreme sensitivity to temperature shifts. Loko, a prodigy, could detect the faint heat ripple of a blade slicing air.

A perfect counter to Shilufei’s power.

Manipulating ambient elements—gathering or dispersing them—altered temperatures, betraying every move.

And Shilufei, conserving strength and hiding her noble bloodline’s ability, had abandoned using it entirely.

Eyes shut, Loko sensed every thermal shift within a hundred meters.

Even Shilufei’s fervent, pounding heartbeat was locked on.

“I’m serious now, Shilufei.”

Loko raised her longsword and charged.

No hesitation. Every strike sharp, precise—as if reading Shilufei’s next move, effortlessly dodging every feint.

Ostia’s gaze warmed with genuine curiosity.

“This ability… enhancing other senses?”

Teresa’s focus shifted from Loko to Shilufei.

“Loko says you have potential. Show me, Shilufei.”

…

After several more exchanges, Shilufei was breathless.

Her raw strength wasn’t enough. Past-life combat experience had barely pressured Loko earlier—but now, with Loko unleashed, she had no counter.

Worse, her own ability was still nascent: only crude elemental reinforcement, not precise concentration for maximum impact.

Shilufei swung. Loko dodged lightly—but the hair tie on one side snapped. Her bound hair tumbled down her back.

Loko’s blade halted gently against Shilufei’s chest.

She opened her eyes. Calm. Composed.

“I lose,” Shilufei conceded, graceful and without resentment.

Loko withdrew her sword, fingers brushing her loose hair.

“You owe me a new hair tie,” she said with a smile.

Nearby, Teresa’s expression softened into quiet satisfaction.

“If she’s this skilled *without* her ability… yes, she has potential.”

“But…”

Recalling the severed hair tie, a flicker of displeasure crossed Teresa’s face.

“This fool… still so careless with herself.”

Didn’t she know? If she got hurt, it wouldn’t be just her family who’d ache.