Warfare Augmented Intelligent Frame Unit

Chapter 59 - Testudo Formation

Chapter 59 - Testudo Formation

As we descended the wide, metallic stairs leading into the arena, the roar of the crowd echoed off the high domed ceiling, filling the air with palpable tension. My gaze fell on our final opponents for this Licensure Examination Tournament. 

Even from a distance, Michelle Gehabich stood out like a beacon. Her slight smile radiated calm confidence, her golden eyes locking onto mine as if she could see through every layer of resolve I'd built. Long, wavy silver hair cascaded behind her, catching the arena lights with an almost ethereal shimmer, bouncing in rhythm with her steps.

Trailing a few paces behind her was her partner, Aurelio Monsieur. His towering frame loomed with an aura of stoic indifference, his chiseled features locked in a stony, impenetrable expression. Where Michelle's energy was graceful and magnetic, Aurelio's presence was cold and intimidating, like the sharp edge of a blade held just out of reach.

"Oh! What's this?" Emcee Miles leaned forward on his desk, his voice crackling through the arena speakers. "Is that who I think it is? Yes, it's Michelle Gehabich! The Number 1 Dean's Lister of the Third Years! With her flawless academic record since her first year and her partner Aurelio Monsieur—both S-tier students—it's no wonder they're seen as the ultimate pair! Let's not forget, they claimed the first and second spots in the written examinations! Although it's curious why they waited until their third year at Orbital Tech to take this exam, one thing is clear: they are certified champions in the making, baby!"

"But hold on!" Emcee Dianca's voice chimed in, cutting through the buzz. "Let's not underestimate their opponents! Representing the first years, we have another Dean's Lister, Myrrh Alicent, the daughter of the legendary heroine Mirana Alicent! She's not just riding on her family name—Myrrh has consistently aced every exam so far, and her partner, Zaft Callahan, is no slouch either!"

"Oh, you mean that guy?" Miles' tone shifted to one of mockery, his sharp words slicing through the excitement. "The one standing next to the daughter of the heroine? Are you sure he's not just coasting on her legacy? I mean, look at him—he's got 'low-level hoodlum' written all over him, baby!"

My fists clenched instinctively at the insult, my eyebrows twitching as I fought to keep my composure. Who does this guy think he is? It took everything not to shoot back some choice words of my own. Before I could even react, Dianca leapt to my defense.

"Hey, hey! Let's give credit where it's due! That so-called 'hoodlum' standing beside the daughter of a legend actually placed Fourth in the written exam—and as a first year, no less!"

"Shut up!" Emcee Miles snapped, his voice echoing through the arena, eliciting a wave of laughter and gasps from the audience. "Don't joke on me, Dianca baby! For real?"

"It's true!" Emcee Dianca shot back, her tone fiery with conviction.

The back-and-forth between the two emcees, raw and unfiltered, seemed almost designed to stir the crowd further. Their open biases spilled through their live mics, broadcasting their vulgar thoughts for everyone to hear. Yet, the palpable tension they fueled only heightened the stakes, setting the perfect stage for this fifth and final battle.

I shifted my focus to Michelle and Aurelio. Michelle's lips curled into a faint, almost mechanical smile, her golden eyes holding an unreadable expression. It wasn't joy or excitement—just a subtle acknowledgment of the moment. Aurelio, in stark contrast, remained statuesque, his icy glare piercing through the noise as though the world beyond this fight didn't matter.

"May the best examinees win," Michelle said softly, her gaze fixed on me. Her voice was calm and poised, but there was a sharp edge beneath her words.

"Yeah," I replied with a nod, forcing a grin that felt lighter than the heaviness pounding in my chest. My heart raced—not from the idea of a cute senior addressing me directly, but from the electrifying anticipation of the battle that was about to begin.