Chapter 28: Chapter 28: Tactical Combat Class
The morning after the Advanced Beast Theory lecture, Skygate Academy felt noticeably different.
Word about the synchronization test had spread across the campus faster than anyone expected. Students who had not attended the class were already discussing it in training yards, dormitories, and dining halls.
Most of the conversations had one topic in common.
Aether.
However, while the academy buzzed with rumors, Aether himself walked calmly through the wide stone pathway leading toward another building.
This ti, he was heading toward a place very different from the lecture halls.
The Tactical Combat Arena.
Unlike the ranking tournant arena, this place was used for controlled training exercises supervised by elite instructors. Only high-ranking students were allowed to participate in these sessions.
Beside Aether walked Liora, carrying a training tablet issued by the academy.
"You’re becoming popular again," she said.
Aether replied without much interest.
"That usually ans sothing inconvenient is about to happen."
Liora smirked.
"That’s probably true."
The Fire Pup trotted beside them, flas flickering softly as students they passed moved slightly aside.
Ever since the ranking battles, people were beginning to understand that the small beast was far more dangerous than it looked.
When they reached the arena entrance, they noticed sothing unusual.
Several instructors were standing outside.
And not just ordinary instructors.
These were combat specialists.
Liora raised an eyebrow.
"Looks like today’s class is serious."
Aether nodded slightly.
"That’s good."
---
Inside the Tactical Combat Arena, dozens of students had already gathered.
Unlike previous classes, the arena had been divided into multiple battlefield zones, each designed to simulate different combat environnts:
?? Forest terrain
?? Rocky battlefield
?? Ruined structures
?? Narrow corridors
?? Open plains
Large energy barriers surrounded each zone.
At the center of the arena stood a tall instructor wearing dark armor with the academy insignia on his shoulder.
This was Instructor Dren.
One of the most feared combat trainers in Skygate Academy.
He spoke without wasting ti.
"Today’s training is about tactical combat."
His voice echoed across the arena.
"Most of you rely too much on brute force."
Several students looked slightly embarrassed.
Dren continued.
"In real battles, intelligence matters more than power."
He activated the central crystal panel, and the battlefield zones lit up with glowing patterns.
"You will fight in rotating environnts."
Students imdiately beca interested.
This kind of training rarely happened.
Dren explained further.
"You will face opponents with different beast abilities and terrain advantages."
He paused.
"If you can adapt, you survive."
"If you can’t..."
His expression remained calm.
"You lose."
---
Aether observed the arena carefully.
The design was impressive.
Each battlefield zone forced tars to adjust their strategies.
Exactly the kind of training he preferred.
Liora leaned slightly closer.
"This is going to be fun."
Aether replied quietly,
"Fun isn’t the goal."
She laughed.
"That’s why you’re strange."
---
The first set of matches began.
Students were assigned randomly to battlefield zones.
So battles were quick.
Others were chaotic.
The terrain made a huge difference.
In the forest zone, beasts with stealth abilities dominated.
In the rocky battlefield, defensive beasts perford better.
anwhile, Aether continued observing carefully.
He wasn’t called yet.
But he noticed sothing important.
The instructors weren’t just watching performance.
They were studying decision-making speed.
And that ant sothing.
This training wasn’t only about combat.
It was also a test.
---
After several matches, Instructor Dren finally called out:
"Aether."
Several students imdiately turned toward him.
But then Dren added another na.
"Kael."
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
Students from different factions started whispering.
"So it’s happening already."
"Iron Dominion vs Skygate."
Liora crossed her arms.
"This is going to be interesting."
Aether stepped into the arena calmly.
Across from him, Kael walked forward with a confident smile.
Behind Kael appeared his beast.
A large creature covered in dark tallic scales.
A **Steelfang Panther**.
Fast.
Aggressive.
And extrely dangerous in close combat.
Kael spoke first.
"I was hoping they’d pair us."
Aether replied calmly,
"You seem confident."
Kael shrugged.
"I usually win."
Instructor Dren raised his hand.
"Battlefield: Ruined Structures Zone."
The terrain shifted instantly.
Broken walls rose from the ground.
Collapsed buildings ford narrow pathways and blind spots.
Perfect for ambush tactics.
Aether looked around.
Interesting battlefield.
Kael smiled.
"You’re in my territory now."
Aether said nothing.
But the Fire Pup’s flas flickered slightly.
Instructor Dren lowered his hand.
"Begin."
---
The Steelfang Panther moved first.
It vanished into the ruins almost instantly.
Fast.
Extrely fast.
Students in the stands reacted.
"That speed!"
But Aether didn’t chase.
Instead, he began walking slowly.
Observing the battlefield.
Liora, watching from the stands, narrowed her eyes.
"He’s already analyzing the terrain."
anwhile, Kael’s voice echoed from sowhere in the ruins.
"You’re not going to find
that easily."
Suddenly—
A shadow moved.
The Steelfang Panther attacked from above, claws shining like blades.
But at that exact mont—
Aether spoke calmly.
"Behind pillar three."
The Fire Pup released a burst of fla.
The panther was forced to retreat mid-air.
Students gasped.
"How did he know?"
Kael landed smoothly on another structure.
His eyes narrowed.
"So you’re not just guessing."
Aether replied,
"No."
---
The battle had just begun.
And already, both sides were testing each other.
Kael disappeared again into the ruins.
This ti using the shadows between broken walls.
The Steelfang Panther moved silently.
But Aether didn’t rush.
Instead, he said quietly,
"We control the battlefield."
The Fire Pup’s flas spread slightly across the ground.
Not attacking.
But marking the terrain.
Creating zones of awareness.
Students watching began realizing what was happening.
"He’s turning the battlefield into a detection grid."
Kael noticed it too.
And for the first ti—
His smile faded slightly.
Because this fight was not going to be simple.
---
High above the arena, Instructor Dren crossed his arms.
"This is exactly the kind of fight I wanted to see."
Another instructor nearby nodded.
"Two strategists."
Below them, the ruins battlefield had turned into a quiet hunting ground.
But no one yet knew—
That, this just beginning of the battle.
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