A hand appeared in Alpha's field of vision. He grabbed it, allowing the strength behind it to pull him upright. It was Gamma. Alpha patted the concrete dust from his uniform, his mind already spiraling through a dozen simulations of the beatdown Delta had just delivered. He was cataloging every error, every wasted movement, until the world around him began to blur into the background. "Alpha. Stay with us." Lambda's voice, calm yet commanding, snapped him back to the present. Delta had stepped aside, leaving the group under the watchful eye of the senior operators. "We've got a lot on our plate," Lambda continued, tucking a stray hair behind her ear. "I know you've all mastered the basics of murder, but it's time to level up. A true assassin needs more than just combat. I am here to ensure you become Nexus's finest operators. Follow your schedules. Take your personal training seriously. And most importantly watch each other's backs. In this place, that's the only currency that matters." Her gaze sharpened, drifting toward the corner where Omega sat on a stool, silent and observant. Lambda's finger then flicked toward Gamma. "Now... let's see what it takes to make you break. Gamma, Omega give us a show. Use everything. Every skill, every scrap of 'Will' at your disposal. Show me what you are." Lambda gave the signal. Gamma's red eyes flashed with a glint of predatory excitement. He didn't hesitate. Gamma dashed across the floor, his fists clenched like iron hammers. Omega met him with a terrifying fluidity. She didn't block; she directed. Her palm caught his fist, guiding the momentum away as she buried a counter-punch deep into his gut. She followed with a flurry of strikes a rhythmic, devastating assault that ended with a blow so powerful it sent Gamma crashing into the reinforced wall. Debris rained down. Omega didn't wait for the dust to settle. She leaped into the haze, another punch aimed to shatter his skull. A whistle of wind cut through the room. A gentle but firm burst of energy erupted from the impact point, sending a cloud of pulverized concrete everywhere. When it cleared, Omega was wiping dust from her shoulder, a small, dark smile playing on her lips. Behind her, a jagged hole marked where her fist had connected with the wall. Gamma was already balancing himself, shaking off the daze. He saw her smile and knew the play was over. This was a war. He took a fighting stance, his breathing heavy and rhythmic. Omega closed her left eye, tilting her head with a predatory click of her neck. When her eye snapped open, it burned with a new, cold determination. She launched herself into the air, her body swinging like a scythe. Gamma raised both arms, bracing for the impact. Her kick connected with his guard with the sound of a sledgehammer hitting an anvil. Gamma groaned, his feet skidding back, but he grabbed her leg mid-air and hurled her against the far wall. Omega hit the ground but rose instantly, wiping a smear of blood from her lower lip. A mist of unnatural cold began to emanate from her skin. Her heart rate surged, audible in the quiet room thump-thump, thump-thump. She pounced. Her fists were clenched so hard her knuckles turned white. As she aimed for his ribs, another burst of energy rippled through the air. Gamma moved like the wind, his body flowing around her strikes, countering with surgical precision. Omega grabbed his fist, yanked him forward, and delivered a spinning kick straight to his jaw. Before he could recover, she followed up with a knee to the face and a final, crushing kick to his spine. She stood tall, her right leg now armored in a heavy, jagged guard of permafrost ice. Gamma struggled to his feet, limping, spitting a mouthful of crimson onto the floor. But he wouldn't break. His determination acted as a catalyst. Suddenly, an angelic, golden glow washed over his open wounds, stitching the flesh back together. His red hair began to flow with streaks of liquid gold. A quiet warmth settled into his expression. He raised his hand, flicking a single finger. A concentrated ray of pure energy shrieked toward Omega. She reacted instinctively, raising her hands to summon a massive column of ice. The beam slammed into it, melting through layers of frozen shield in seconds. The explosion of steam and light blinded everyone. When the dust finally cleared, Gamma was slumped on the ground, unconscious. Opposite him, Omega's body was tensed, vibrating with shock. Blood began to pour from her nose and mouth the internal pressure of the ice and the energy blast too much for her organs to handle. She collapsed forward, hitting the ground with a dull thud. The battle was over. No victor emerged. The training field was a ruin of shattered ice and scorched concrete. "Medics!" Lambda barked. Stretchers were rushed in. As the two cadets were hauled toward the emergency ward, the remaining squad members stood in a heavy, terrified silence. The message was clear: Their "Will" was a gift from the gods, but their bodies were still made of clay. They were reaching their pressure points.
