The audience went completely silent.

Darius’s face flushed with humiliation and anger.

"What did you—"

"If I went all out," Rey stated with absolute certainty, meeting Darius’s gaze with gray eyes that carried weight transcending his apparent age and experience, "the fight would have lasted only a few seconds."

The training hall erupted with murmurs as Rey’s declaration hung in the air.

"Only a few seconds..."

"Did he really just say that?"

"Against Darius? That’s impossible."

The instructor raised his hand, divine light flaring to restore order.

"Enough. Next pairing—Lyria versus Marcus. Take your positions."

The sparring sessions continued, but Rey noticed the atmosphere had shifted.

Students who’d been hostile now regarded him with wary respect. Those who’d been welcoming showed increased interest mixed with curiosity about his true capabilities.

And Sephyr’s red eyes tracked his every movement with attention that transcended simple mentorship.

Rey positioned himself at the training hall’s edge where he could observe subsequent matches while appearing to rest from his own exertion. His enhanced perception analyzed each combat exchange with precision that his Eru persona wouldn’t display openly.

Lyria fought with competent Spirit Art healing applications adapted for combat—Sequence #6 techniques that accelerated her opponent’s fatigue while sustaining her own stamina. Effective strategy that demonstrated understanding of endurance warfare principles.

’She’d lose to coordinated burst assault,’ Rey calculated. ’Her defensive capabilities rely on outlasting opponents rather than withstanding concentrated attacks. Vulnerable to enemies who can end fights quickly.’

Marcus countered with Soul Art disruption techniques that targeted consciousness directly—sophisticated approach suggesting he’d studied psychological warfare applications.

But his execution lacked refinement that came from actual combat experience rather than theoretical instruction.

’Predictable patterns,’ Rey assessed. ’He telegraphs his Soul Art activations through unnecessary mystical signature fluctuations. Anyone with enhanced perception would anticipate his attacks seconds before they manifested.’

The matches proceeded with Rey cataloguing each student’s capabilities, weaknesses, and tactical preferences. Information that might prove valuable if circumstances required manipulating Academy social dynamics or identifying potential allies versus threats.

Then Sephyr’s turn arrived.

The instructor called her name with tone carrying respect that exceeded what he’d shown other students.

"Sephyr versus Instructor Kellian’s advanced group. Since you’re approaching Angel ascension evaluation, standard individual sparring would be inadequate assessment.

You’ll face three opponents simultaneously—all Paladin-ranks with High Sequence capabilities."

The audience’s attention sharpened immediately. This wasn’t a normal training exercise—this was a demonstration of why Sephyr was considered the Academy’s most promising candidate.

Three students stepped forward, their mystical signatures operating at scales that exceeded what Darius had displayed. These were elite practitioners who’d spent years refining their Arts to approach the threshold where Angel ascension became possible.

Sephyr moved to the designated combat area with grace suggesting complete confidence.

No visible tension, no apparent concern about facing overwhelming numerical disadvantage.

The instructor signaled combat start.

All three opponents attacked simultaneously, their coordination demonstrating extensive practice working as a unit.

"Order Art, Dominion Technique, Sequence #3: Reality Binding!"

"Soul Art, Supremacy Technique, Sequence #3: Consciousness Disruption!"

"Spirit Art, Inferno Technique, Sequence #3: Heaven’s Flame!"

Three High Sequence techniques launched in perfect synchronization, their combined assault creating a synergistic effect that would overwhelm normal defenses through sheer coordinated power.

Sephyr didn’t attempt to dodge or defend.

"Spirit Art, Purification Technique, Sequence #2: Divine Radiance!"

Golden light erupted from her position with intensity that made Rey’s enhanced perception ache from proximity. The technique operated at scales exceeding what students should access—power amplified by partial divine blessing that marked her proximity to Angel ascension.

The three attacking techniques dissolved upon contact with her radiance, purified at fundamental levels before they could achieve their intended effects.

Her opponents staggered, their carefully coordinated assault negated through a single counter that demonstrated categorical superiority.

But Sephyr didn’t stop with defense.

"Spirit Art, Tempest Technique, Sequence #2: Heaven’s Wrath!"

"Order Art, Structure Technique, Sequence #3: Divine Geometry!"

"Soul Art, Dominion Technique, Sequence #3: Consciousness Command!"

She launched three simultaneous techniques across different Arts, her mastery allowing her to maintain perfect control over each one despite the mystical complexity involved.

Lightning descended from nowhere, striking the first opponent with precision that bypassed his defensive enchantments. Geometric patterns materialized around the second, constraining his movement through imposed order that his counter-techniques couldn’t overcome. And consciousness-targeting assault disabled the third’s ability to maintain focus sufficient for technique execution.

Within fifteen seconds, all three opponents were defeated.

Not injured—the training hall’s protective enchantments prevented that—but completely overwhelmed by demonstration of capabilities operating at qualitatively superior levels.

The audience sat in stunned silence.

Rey observed with cold calculation while his Eru persona maintained appropriate awe.

’She’s strong,’ he assessed objectively. ’High Sequence #2 capabilities across multiple Arts. Enhanced by partial divine blessing that amplifies her techniques beyond normal parameters. Tactical awareness suggesting genuine combat experience rather than just training.’

’If I fought her at my current revealed capability, I’d lose convincingly. She operates at scales that Gold-rank classification with Mid-Sequence techniques can’t match.’

’But at my true power—’

Rey smiled.

He suppressed that line of thinking.

Speculation about hypothetical confrontation served no purpose except satisfying curiosity.

His objective was infiltration and intelligence gathering, not establishing combat superiority over his assigned mentor.

’Besides, perhaps fueling my ambition and competitiveness is what the higher-ups want to see. If I keep maintaining the status quo like this, I won’t have a good excuse to show my capabilities. So... should I throw them a bone or two?’

At this point, the instructor’s voice carried genuine approval.

"Excellent demonstration, Sephyr. Your progression continues to exceed projections. At this rate, Angel ascension evaluation will be mere formality."

Sephyr bowed respectfully, her golden hair catching divine light as she returned to the audience area. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Her red eyes found Rey’s gray ones, holding his gaze for a moment that suggested she was reassessing her initial evaluation of his capabilities.

He smiled at this.

’I guess I will...’

The remaining sparring sessions seemed anticlimactic after Sephyr’s overwhelming display. Even skilled practitioners couldn’t match the spectacle of watching someone operate at levels approaching Angel-tier.

Finally, the instructor dismissed them.

"Good work today. Your performances will be evaluated and incorporated into progress assessments. Dismissed."