Nova stood in front of Liana, clenching her fist, suppressed anger burning in her eyes.
— "I'll get revenge for your betrayal last time."
Liana replied with cold calm:
— "I didn't betray you… you just underestimated me."
Nova began attacking in a straightforward manner, while Liana dodged the blows with ease—only fueling Nova's rage. Finally, Nova decided to use her ability. She dashed forward, passed straight through Liana's body, and appeared behind her, saying:
— "It's over."
She intended to grab her and choke her, but… at the very moment Nova was forced to deactivate her power to become tangible again, Liana struck without hesitation. She grabbed Nova's arm, slammed her to the ground with a precise move, mounted her, and then tore the earring from her ear.
She said mockingly:
— "So… how were you saying you'd defeat me? Right?"
Nova screamed angrily as she tried to get up:
— "Get off me! You took my earring! That's not fair!"
Before things could escalate, Chris shouted loudly:
— "Enough! Both of you—stand up. Now."
The two girls stood. Liana was angry, but she returned the earring to Nova and said:
— "Why all this anger? It's just training."
Nova shouted:
— "Because you cheated!"
Chris turned to her with severe sternness:
— "Silence. This is combat… and in real conditions, it could get you killed. Everything that happens in a fight is allowed. Liana didn't cheat. If you're weak, don't use your failure as an excuse to blame others."
Nova fell silent and lowered her head.
Chris's Surprises and Ability Analysis
Chris turned to Liana with a faint smile:
— "I didn't expect all this from you. Well done! You're the strongest among them now, and because of that, you'll receive special training."
Then he asked:
— "But I have two questions. What martial arts do you practice?"
She answered:
— "Jujitsu and judo."
He asked:
— "What about boxing?"
Her eyes widened in surprise:
— "How did you know?"
— "From your reaction."
She nodded:
— "Yes… I trained in boxing a little."
Chris smiled:
— "Your reaction wasn't just good… it was excellent. But tell me—how did you dodge all those attacks so precisely?"
She replied:
— "I don't know… I just felt where the strike would come from."
Chris chuckled softly:
— "I'll tell you why. It's true that you hear everyone's thoughts all the time, but you don't just hear them… you understand them. You perceive every movement around you. That's a dangerous talent."
He continued:
— "Because of that heightened sensitivity, you were able to predict the attacks. You already have all the fundamentals. You just need to refine your power."
Liana's face turned red with embarrassment:
— "Alright…"
Chris said:
— "I have one last question to test you. Does Nova's ability have a weakness?"
She answered instantly:
— "Yes. Even though her power makes her intangible, to attack she has to become tangible for a single moment. That's the only moment she can be defeated."
Chris smiled:
— "Excellent."
Nova had understood everything and felt discouraged… but Chris spoke to her seriously:
— "If you refine your skill… you'll become unbeatable."
For the first time, Nova smiled.
Dividing the Training
Chris said firmly:
— "Now… I know exactly what to do. Nova, I'll train you personally."
Jamal shouted:
— "What about me?!"
Chris smiled mischievously:
— "You? Someone else will train you."
Jamal asked:
— "Who?"
Chris answered confidently:
— "Liana."
Both of them shouted at the same time:
— "What?!"
Chris said:
— "It'll be excellent training for both of you. Liana, you'll learn to read the movements of a single attacker. And you, Jamal, will learn to dodge her strikes one by one."
Jamal protested:
— "That's impossible with my body!"
Chris gave him a sharp look:
— "Make the impossible possible. Did you forget what happened in the last fight?"
Jamal lowered his head:
— "No…"
Chris continued:
— "And when you're done… you'll attack Liana."
Jamal replied nervously:
— "Okay…"
Chris added:
— "But not with this body."
Jamal raised an eyebrow:
— "What do you me—"
Chris snapped his fingers.
Suddenly, Jamal reverted to his original form… short, chubby, and weak.
He looked at himself in shock, then at Nova and Liana, who burst into laughter.
Jamal said in despair:
— "I want to die… 🥲"
Chris shouted:
— "Training starts now!"
Jamal took a step back in fear, but Liana grabbed him by the arm and said with a frightening smile:
— "Come on, hero… we don't have time."
She dragged him away, while Chris stood facing Nova.
— "Your training will be different. I'll attack you from all directions, and I don't want you to move."
She was shocked:
— "How?"
— "Like this. Activate your power the instant you feel me touch you—but only in the area I touch."
— "That means I have to activate my ability in a fraction of a second!"
— "Exactly. Use your senses well, and you'll even be able to dodge bullets."
She asked:
— "Why not use my ability on my whole body?"
Chris replied:
— "Because that would drain your energy extremely fast… especially if you're facing multiple enemies."
Nova said firmly:
— "I'm ready."
— "Then let's begin."
After Four Hours
After four full hours… Chris returned to the Golden Room. He found Rayan training intensely, shirtless, sweat filling the place.
Chris said:
— "Did you finish all the exercises I told you about?"
— "Yes."
— "Good… well done. We'll meet tonight to continue training."
Rayan returned to reality… to find Nova and Jamal in terrible condition, while Liana was drenched in sweat but still standing firm.
He asked:
— "What happened here?"
Liana replied:
— "Training… nothing more."
Jamal panted:
— "Finally, the four hours are over… it was hell!"
Nova had passed out from exhaustion.
Rayan said:
— "Jamal, carry Nova. Let's go home. Liana… please order dinner."
She asked:
— "What do you want?"
Jamal said:
— "A burger sandwich!"
Nova suddenly woke up:
— "Noodles…"
Rayan said firmly:
— "No. Chris ordered a healthy diet. We want vegetables and protein."
Liana replied:
— "Alright."
Everyone returned home, ate dinner, and then went to sleep.
Two Months Later
Everyone was sitting in a strange place, completely changed. They had become stronger, faster, and tougher.
Jamal looked around and said:
— "Where did Rayan go? That idiot is always late…"
Liana said:
— "Here he comes."
Rayan entered… but not as they knew him. He was taller, his muscles clearly defined and powerful, and his steps confident, carrying a new kind of strength.
He said seriously:
— "Tomorrow… we infiltrate the place."
He sat among them and said:
— "Are you ready to discuss the plan?"
— "Yes!"