The sun had barely risen when Professor Sam led the team of four down a long corridor lined with holy symbols and shimmering runes. The air carried the scent of old steel and incense, a sign they were nearing the place where theory ended and combat began.

  Nathan trailed slightly behind the group, his mind elsewhere as they walked.

  “This weapon of mine…” he thought, staring at the pistol holstered at his side. “Especially the gun. Everyone else got a weapon that reflects their personality. Bryan got a guitar that fits him. He’s loud, flashy, chaotic but weirdly charming. Lucy got a knight’s sword—pure, noble, responsible. Rose? She got gauntlets and boots. Pure aggression and grit. But me? I think the sword makes sense I want to protect people. But the gun… What does that even represent?”

  “NATHAN!” Bryan’s voice cut through his thoughts like a whip crack.

  “Huh? What happened?” Nathan blinked, looking up.

  “Dude! I’ve been calling your name forever!” Bryan huffed, clearly annoyed.

  “Sorry,” Nathan muttered. “Just… lost in thought.”

  Bryan clapped him on the back. “Well, get found, buddy. We’re almost at the training grounds. Time to lock in.”

  “Yeah, yeah…”

  The group of four strolled onward, their steps echoing as they moved deeper into the academy. Along the way, they showed off their newly acquired weapons, exchanging compliments and commentary with childlike wonder.

  “That blade of yours is damn bright,” Bryan said to Lucy, shielding his eyes.

  “I call it Solstice,” she replied proudly, holding the shining golden weapon with both hands. “It chose me. I won’t let it down.”

  Rose admired the weight of her gauntlets. “These things feel like they could punch through a truck. Perfect.”

  “And mine?” Bryan strummed his guitar lightly, releasing a small pulse of energy that hummed through the air. “Let’s just say… demon heads are gonna roll with style.”

  Nathan chuckled, gently tapping his sword’s hilt and spinning the pistol once on his finger.

  Finally, they stepped through the archway into the training grounds.

  It was a colossal domed chamber with black marble floors, reinforced steel walls lined with glowing blue sigils, and rows of stands surrounding a large open arena. Massive pillars circled the edges, each topped with a humming crystal that pulsed faintly—projectors for the upcoming simulations. A control room stood behind reinforced glass, overlooking the entire arena like a command post.

  Professor Sam walked to the center, turning to address them.

  “This,” he announced, “is where we test your mettle.”

  He gestured toward the center of the battlefield where a strange, well-like device glowed.

  “These ultra-realistic holograms are built using the essence data from actual demons specifically C-rank class. You’ll face simulations that mimic real battle scenarios. Don’t worry they can’t kill you. But they can hurt.”

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  Nathan raised a hand. “Professor, what exactly are the demon ranks?”

  Sam grinned. He loved this part.

  “Well… here’s your crash course:

  D-Rank demons can be exorcised with holy water alone. They’re weak, more nuisance than threat—but let them linger, and they can evolve.

  C-Rank demons, like the ones you’ll fight, are newborns in demon terms. Think grotesque bugs with sharp teeth and more speed than sense. Still lethal.

  B-Rank demons? They start to resemble beasts. They’re smart enough to kill a hunter who’s not paying attention. Usually, you’ll need experience to face one alone.

  A-Rank demons have developed consciousness. They talk. They adapt. If you hear a demon speak, it means you’re in deep trouble. We send squads of four veterans to deal with those.

  Then there’s… Disaster-Class.”

  Sam’s voice dropped a notch. The class leaned in.

  “So far, there’s only been one: Sukuna. It took twenty human sacrifices to summon him. Eight feet tall, four eyes, four arms, four legs and a mouth on each limb. The records of that mission are horrifying. He slaughtered over a hundred demon hunters around the world before tiring out. Your director—yes, Rose’s father—was the one who landed the killing blow.”

  Silence. No one breathed.

  “And with that inspiring tale,” Sam clapped his hands, “let’s begin!”

  “Lucy. You’re first.”

  A circle of light formed in the center, and from it emerged a horrific spider-like creature, twice the size of a man. It had eight twitching legs and then eight more. Two heads twitched in erratic, jerking motions, fangs dripping venom.

  Lucy trembled, but took a deep breath. “I can do this.”

  She charged forward, sword drawn. The spider screeched and lunged, its legs moving with uncanny speed. It slammed her back, pinning her down.

  “Lucy!” Rose shouted.

  But then—light. The sword in Lucy’s hand began to glow with a brilliance that bathed the arena.

  Professor Sam didn’t flinch. “Your weapons will never let you die,” he said calmly. “In your most desperate moment, they awaken. We call it… the Trance.”

  Lucy’s eyes flared. She let out a cry and swung.

  The holy blade cleaved through the spider’s legs like butter. The beast shrieked, trying to retreat but Lucy wasn’t done. She swung again, unleashing a shockwave of golden energy. It struck the demon head-on, slicing clean through one of its heads.

  With rage and panic fueling her, she delivered a flurry of strikes until nothing remained but glowing fragments.

  She collapsed to her knees, trembling.

  Professor Sam rushed in. “Good job, kid. You played the hand you were dealt and won.”

  She was led to the sidelines and handed a bottle of water.

  “Bryan, you’re up.”

  Bryan swaggered into the arena. “Alright Lucy, let me show you how it’s done.”

  Same spider spawned.

  Bryan strummed a chord. A surge of electricity leapt from his guitar, stunning the creature. He played a riff, each note sending pulses of electric current that kept the spider locked in place.

  With flair, he ended the tune, flipped his guitar into scythe form, and casually walked up to the stunned spider.

  One clean slice.

  Both heads dropped.

  Sam raised an eyebrow. “Impressive. But don’t let arrogance get you killed. Cool doesn’t count for much if you’re dead.”

  “I killed it, didn’t I?” Bryan grumbled, sulking to the sideline.

  “Rose. Your turn.”

  Rose stepped forward in silence.

  Same demon. The spider emerged—but this time, it hesitated. Sensing her stance guard up, fists clenched it was wary.

  They circled. Then the spider attacked first.

  Rose moved like lightning boosted by her boots. She dodged, twisted mid-air, and delivered a brutal hook to one head. It exploded.

  The spider reeled, slamming all its limbs down in a panic. Rose darted in with an uppercut that shattered its second skull, then spun with a follow-up kick that reduced its body to ash.

  The class was silent.

  “Holy shit” Bryan muttered.

  Professor Sam just nodded. “I’d expect nothing less from the director’s daughter. Perfection.”

  Finally, Nathan stepped forward.

  The spider spawned.

  He didn’t flinch. Instead, he chuckled.

  In a swift motion, he threw his sword—letting it ricochet across the arena. It bounced unpredictably, slashing through the spider’s legs as it moved, trapping the creature in a spiral of danger.

  Then, Nathan drew his gun.

  Time slowed in his eyes.

  He pulled the trigger—once.

  The bullet struck the spinning sword’s hilt mid-bounce, launching it like a missile. It soared through the air, slicing clean through the spider’s two heads in one elegant spin.

  Silence again.

  Sam just stared. “Unbelievably excellent. Nathan, you’ve demonstrated something important: your weapons are indestructible unless your soul breaks. You fought with precision, calm… and creativity.”

  The class erupted in cheers.

  “Dude!” Bryan said. “How the hell did you see where the sword would go?”

  Nathan shrugged, holstering his pistol. “I didn’t. I just… trusted it would do its thing.”

  Lucy chuckled. “Maybe you should try shooting my sword next time.”

  Nathan laughed. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

  Rose crossed her arms and smiled faintly. “With all of us here… I think we’ve got a shot at being the best team in the world.”

  Sam stepped in.

  “Based on what I’ve seen, I’m assigning roles.

  Bryan—you’re support. Keep enemies disoriented and staggered with your music.

  Lucy—you’re his backup. Use your sword’s light for mid-range damage and cover.

  Rose—you’re our frontliner. Keep the enemy engaged.

  Nathan—you’ll be our flanker. Get behind the enemy. Distract, harass, kill, strike from where they least expect.”

  The class nodded, motivated.

  “I’ll keep pushing you,” Sam added. “Eventually, we’ll tackle real C-rank missions. Maybe even B—under my supervision.”

  Nathan raised a hand. “Wait, what about Demon Biology? Or… Demonaties?”

  Sam blinked. “What the hell is a ‘Demonaties’?”

  Nathan turned his gaze slowly to Bryan who was already holding back laughter, his face red.

  “…Forget it” Nathan muttered, facepalming.

  The class burst into laughter. Even Professor Sam cracked a grin.

  And for the first time since arriving, Nathan didn’t feel like the new kid anymore.