The next day, I woke up feeling fresh and excited.
I'd finally checked one thing off my long list of goals before I could start grinding levels.
Now, all that was left were… a defensive skill, a movement skill, learning how to actually use a staff, learning a staff-based ability, figuring out the Apex Body passive and experimenting with the purple Essence.
I stared at the ceiling and let out a long sigh.
"If I finish all this, I'm giving myself a promotion."
Today was the first day I would be part of the regular training sessions with the rest of Unit 02.
I rushed through my morning routine like a man on a mission—showered, changed, brushed, all in record time.
By seven in the morning, I stood in front of the mirror, dressed in my uniform, making sure I looked decent enough.
Before heading out, I picked up my phone to check for messages. There was one from North, a reply to the food picture I had sent her last night.
"Copycat. You're boring."
I blinked at the screen.
"Boring? Me?" I said out loud, half laughing. I figured she was just teasing and moved on.
I left my room and walked over to Steve's. When I knocked, the door opened almost instantly. That caught me off guard.
He looked wide awake and ready for battle, sword in hand.
I frowned.
"How?" I asked, already knowing it was too early for Steve to be this alive.
He sighed and ran a hand through his hair.
"It's Vice Commander June. Training starts at seven-thirty. If you're even a second late, she'll beat you in front of everyone."
"Seriously? I didn't think she was that type. She always seemed pretty chill to me."
Steve stepped out, closing the door behind him.
"Chill? Bro, she's the opposite of chill. That woman's crazy."
"Ohh, now that I think about it... isn't it weird how everyone around us is a little crazy?" I said, glancing at Steve as we walked.
Steve nodded without hesitation.
"Yes. You're the craziest person I know. Then there's June, obviously. My parents have their moments. And don't even get me started on your grandmother."
I gave him a look but let it slide. Arguing would only prove his point.
"Right. So, what's the plan for today's training session?" I asked, changing the subject before he added more names to that list.
Steve stretched his arms behind his head.
"No idea. But I know one thing, we'll probably crawl back to our rooms by the end of it. June's sessions are brutal. And since this is your first time joining the main group, she might make an example out of you."
"Great. Nothing like public humiliation to start the day," I muttered.
In about fifteen minutes, Steve and I reached the open ground in front of the combat wing where everyone was supposed to gather before the day officially began.
The place was already half full. I scanned the crowd, spotting familiar faces here and there, then my eyes landed on King.
I nudged Steve with my elbow and subtly pointed in his direction. Then I told him what I'd done to King the other night.
Steve gave King a long, unreadable look. When I explained what I had done, his eyes narrowed.
"Somehow this feels wrong," he said quietly.
I nodded.
"Yeah, I know what you mean. I actually felt kind of bad afterward. But if I had to do it again… I would. No hesitation. What about you?"
Steve kept his eyes on King, then shrugged.
"I guess I would too. I mean, yeah, it's bullying, but if the plan actually works and he ends up capturing us... he's definitely going to make us regret it."
I chuckled at that.
He was right. If King ever got his hands on us, we'd be in serious trouble. And knowing what I'd heard about the Holt family… our ending wouldn't just be bad. It'd be legendary in the worst way.
I looked at Steve.
"So why don't you do it this time? You're my best friend, you should get in on the bullying too."
Steve raised an eyebrow.
"What about the rules?"
I chuckled and shook my head.
"Rules are for the weak. And we're not weak right now, brother."
Steve let out a sigh, adjusted the strap on his sword, and stepped forward without saying a word.
He walked through the crowd, passing several soldiers on his way toward King. I followed right behind him, hands in my pockets, curious how this would play out.
As we got closer, King's group noticed us. One by one, they turned around to face us, eyes sharp, muscles tensing just slightly. They weren't scared, not yet but they were definitely alert.
I smiled and waved at King like we were best buddies. His eyes narrowed the second he saw me, then flicked to Steve standing beside me. The tension started rising already.
Steve stopped in front of King and looked him dead in the eyes.
"You still haven't apologized to me."
I blinked.
'Apologized? For what?'
King seemed just as confused. His eyebrows furrowed as he spoke.
"Apologize?" he asked, looking around like maybe he missed something.
Steve nodded, completely serious.
"Yeah. We're part of the same unit. And you left me behind during the checkpoint mission. You used me. You don't think I deserve an apology for that?"
I scratched my chin as I watched them.
'Oh wow. Bro's setting up a whole story here. Respect. I need to start doing that too, build-up is everything.'
Around us, murmurs started to rise. More people stopped what they were doing and turned to watch. This was about to get interesting.
King glanced around, trying to save face.
"The situation demanded it," he said quickly. "There was nothing else I could've done."
Steve stayed silent for a few seconds, just staring.
Then he gave a small nod.
"If you say so… but I still think I need an apology."
Then, without warning, he stepped in and swung his sheathed sword straight into King's stomach.
The sound of impact echoed like a drum. King bent forward, choking on a gasp, and stumbled back, clutching his gut.
Before anyone could react, Steve spun and slammed the middle of the sheathed blade into King's cheek.
The slap-like crack rang out across the place. King flew back and skidded along the floor, knocked out of the fight in one hit.
Steve took a deep breath, bent his knees slightly and vanished in a blur.
I tracked him with my eyes. First stop: Michael. The sword came down in a brutal overhead arc, slamming into Michael's shoulder and forcing him to his knees with a groan.
Then Steve moved again. Fast. Precise. His sword never left the sheath, but he swung it like a club, smacking King's remaining friends one by one. Each of them dropped within seconds, groaning and squirming on the ground.
The crowd was silent.
Steve walked forward slowly, step by step, until he stood over King. The guy was still on the ground, a bright red mark across his cheek from earlier.
Steve tapped King's cheek lightly with the side of his sword and said in a cold voice.
"You see, this situation demanded that I smack you around. There was nothing else I could do."
I grinned.
'Nice. That was a clean finish.'
I almost clapped.
But before I could say anything, a familiar voice rang out, calm, strong, and terrifying.
"Is that so, Steve?"
I froze. My head whipped around.
In the blink of an eye, Vice Commander June was standing between Steve and King.
One second she wasn't there, the next she was. I didn't even see her move.
Steve tried to recover.
"Uhhh… Vice Commander—"