Day 249, 08:00 - October 12, 2030

  Phweeeeeeeeeeeee-eck!

  Rhino smacked Hawk’s head for blowing the whistle too long, “Hey!” Hawk sulked, rubbing his sore head.

  “That was too long.” Rhino gruffly glared.

  Hawk rolled his eyes as he looked at the two cadets in front of him, “Anyway, first things first, what do you think is the most important thing for an awakener to use their powers?”

  Jiho raised his hands as Hawk sighed, “Didn’t I say not to do that? I feel old when you do!”

  Jiho slowly lowered his hand and replied, “…Oh, I thought you meant only in private?”

  Hawk was going to retort when he was given the death stare by Rhino before coughing, “Yes that’s right. Anyway, what’s your answer?”

  Jiho replied, “Imagery?”

  “Good answer but it isn’t.” Hawk nodded.

  “Stamina.” Seohwa interjected.

  “That’s correct, 8-33!” Hawk clapped, “It is stamina. As much as I hate to admit it, our powers have their limits and that is our stamina. When we run out of stamina, we can’t use our powers. And I don’t just mean physical stamina but also mental stamina!”

  Jiho was clearly confused but Seohwa understood it based on her experience from fighting with the Grey Leader’s group, trying to escape. She felt her energy at that time was at rock bottom but could only continue because she still had the determination and hope to escape.

  Rhino huffed, placing his steel-like hands on his hips, “It’s ok if you don’t get it right now. You two will be sparring until you can’t. Hawk and I will watch over you so go all out.”

  Seohwa and Jiho glanced at each other worriedly before they entered the small arena about 50 metres in diameter.

  Hawk flew up with his wings and raised his hand, “Ready?” He glanced at the two of them getting into battle stance and blew the whistle.

  Jiho surrounded himself in lightning as he dashed forward. He was fast, using his lightning to increase his speed. It’s as if he augmented his body.

  Seohwa stayed still, closing her eyes and just before she got hit, she dodged briefly and wind blasted Jiho’s gut.

  “Oof! That’s gonna hurt. Hahah—!” Hawk was laughing until Rhino glared at him, “…Sorry.”

  Seohwa squinted her eyes as Jiho merely went a few steps backwards. She clicked her tongue, realising her attack was too weak.

  Jiho groaned from the blast as he smirked, watching her in a battle stance. He then saw her run towards him as he retreated back.

  She’s slow…

  Rumble!

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  An earth pillar quickly shot up from the right with a flick of her wrist, hitting him on the side.

  “AACK!” Jiho groaned, taking the impact using his lightning.

  “Just as I thought.” Rhino muttered.

  Hawk eyed him, “Thought what?”

  Rhino explained, “8-33 already familiarised herself with her powers, probably from the fight with the first gen. She probably realised using two or more attributes at the same time only uses more stamina quicker, so she is only using one attribute at a time.”

  Hawk hummed, “Is that so? But I don’t think it’s just that.”

  Rhino turned towards him realising, “You mean, when she was training during solitary confinement?”

  “Yep. I took a quick look at her cell when she came out. There were multiple training logs on the bed. Including ones on how to use her powers efficiently. She is one smart cookie.”

  “Smarter than you.” Rhino scoffed.

  Back to the spar, Jiho was panting heavily, hands on his knees. Seohwa was merely sweating, but still had some energy left. Seohwa reminded, “You can give up, you know?”

  “No way!” Jiho straightened his back before resuming a battle stance, “My turn.”

  Jiho seemed to have learnt something as he observed her. He heard she was a tri-awakener, but so far, she has been only using wind and earth only. Moreover, she wasn’t using them at the same time. Jiho chuckled, his eyes wide open as he licked his lips hungrily.

  Can’t do much about that. I’m probably going to lose this but…

  It wouldn’t be like me if I don’t try something out!

  Jiho relaxed his shoulders as he gathered his lightning to specific areas of his body. His feet and his fists.

  “Oh?” Rhino was impressed that Jiho learnt to efficiently distribute his lightning.

  Seohwa noticed this as well as she warily looked at him.

  …He’s coming!

  Before she noticed, Jiho’s fist was right on her face as she blasted a wind gust from her side to help her dodge. But his feet were ready to strike her as she used the earth to cover her body and soften the blow. She flew metres away as she waved her hands and the earth rose up to soften her landing.

  Phew.

  Seohwa breathed out, as she stood atop the pillar she made. She saw Jiho from below smiling with his thumbs up.

  She then noticed Jiho fall backwards as his lightning dispersed. Seohwa yelled worriedly, “Jiho!” She came down and used the wind to soften his landing.

  “I lost.” Jiho laughed as he felt his entire body aching.

  “You did really well for your first spar.” Seohwa complimented as she helped him up.

  Jiho was flabbergasted, “Wasn’t it your first too?”

  “…I had prior experience.” Seohwa admitted.

  “When?”

  “When I tried to escape with Jisoo—!” She paused briefly, “…8-21.” Seohwa wrapped his arm around her shoulders as they headed down the arena.

  Clap. Clap. Clap.

  They saw Rhino and Hawk applauding as Rhino chuckled, “We’ve got some quick learners here!”

  Hawk took a look at Jiho and asked with a teasing smirk, “You get it now?”

  “A little, yeah. If I focused on just my feet and arms, I would have lasted longer.” Jiho replied weakly.

  “Look at you go, Mr Genius… if you tried to escape now, I’m pretty sure you could if it weren’t for the little thing on your neck.” Hawk smiled.

  Rhino then interjected, “There isn’t anything wrong with spreading things out evenly… It honestly depends on your battle style. When you spread it out evenly, you were focusing on too many parts to neither defend or attack. When you began focusing on your fists and feet, you increased your speed and your fists increased in attack power, making use of the naturally destructive power of lightning.”

  Hawk sighed, “Look, I get we’re mentors, but do you honestly think this little houdini will listen to all that after being completely exhausted in his first spar?”

  Rhino opened his mouth to retort before nodding, “Apologies, cadet 8-10.”

  “No, I got it! Thank you.” Jiho chuckled.

  Seohwa, who stayed silent, waited for her turn of feedback when all she got was…

  “Keep it up.”

  “Want to have some chocolate?” Rhino went into his pockets to get some.

  She sighed, a bit drained. She felt she wasted energy by anticipating some form of feedback from them.

  After a few minutes of joking around, Rhino dismissed them to rest at the infirmary.

  Hawk crossed his arms and faced Rhino, “…You’re brooding.”

  “…I am not.” Rhino huffed as he held his chin, “Just thinking how fast those two will grow if they keep this up. They might grow too powerful before the other cadets come.”

  “That’s brooding, alright.” Hawk chuckled, “But I get what you mean. You worry about friction between them, right? Those two will be ok. I have no worries about 8-10. And, 8-33 isn’t that averse to teamwork as far as I can see.”

  Rhino hummed before incredulously nodding, “I see your point…” Rhino then remembered, “Ah right, I forgot to tell you. 7-11 is expected to awaken in 2 weeks. Ox told me to tell you to get ready.”

  Hawk lowered his head and sighed, “Seriously? Wasn’t she supposed to awaken in a month?”

  Rhino shrugged, “I heard Dr 7 increased the amplification dosage for Gen7. 7-11 became the sole survivor.”

  Hawk groaned, “These… shitty scientists…”

  “He’s being disposed of as we speak. Dr 8 is now watching over 7-11.”

  Hawk glanced up at the grey ceiling, “…It’s gonna be chaos soon.”