Silence settled after Lucian stepped back into line, the mana smell of ruptured drones still hanging heavy in the cold morning air.
Athena didn't say anything. She only flicked her eyes to the next name on her tablet.
"Silas. Step forward."
The big boy grinned, stretching his shoulders back until his joints cracked. His uniform blazer was open, showing thick forearms wrapped in mana compression bands. He stomped once onto the dirt, shaking out his legs before rolling his neck.
"Been waiting for this," he said under his breath, voice like gravel grinding in a barrel.
The drones reactivated, six of them aligning again as their rune cores pulsed blue-white.
Athena gave a simple nod.
"Begin."
Silas didn't waste a moment. He launched forward with a short burst, his boots digging trenches into the dirt as he slammed his fist straight into the first drone's chest.
Crack—
The alloy bent inward like aluminum foil. The rune flickered and shut down immediately.
