Zane stood at the edge of the training field, hands in his coat pockets, eyes calmly observing.
The mana pressure blanketed the arena like an invisible ocean. Every movement felt heavy, as if the students were fighting while submerged in deep water. Mana flowed sluggishly, resisting precise control, forcing everyone to rely on instinct rather than technique.
His gaze shifted.
Ron and Lia.
They were already in motion.
Just bodies reinforced with mana.
Ron stepped in first, fists tight, shoulders squared. He threw a straight punch, mana surging through his arm—not sharp, not refined, but dense and forceful.
Lia slipped to the side at the last moment.
Her movement was cleaner, lighter. Even under pressure, her footwork was sharp. She countered with a quick elbow aimed at Ron's ribs, her mana flowing smoothly despite the strain.
Ron blocked—barely.
