The weight of Instructor Elric's words settled over the students as they filed out of the Recon Wing A. The usual boisterous chatter was subdued, replaced by more thoughtful conversations.

"He's… intense," Rowan murmured, adjusting the strap of his satchel.

Seria chuckled, a playful glint in her eyes. "You were certainly quick to point out those ambush points. All that time spent reading military history holo-novels finally paying off?" Her tone was teasing.

A grin tugged at the corner of Rowan's lips. "Hey, a scout needs to know their history! You never know when that knowledge might come in handy."

Lyra offered a small smile, her gaze thoughtful. "Both of you were efficient. Identifying potential threats is a crucial first step."

"Now, food," Aston declared, a welcome distraction from the intense mental exercise. "I'm starving." Gray meowed in approval.

"The cafeteria near the dorms is probably the closest," Seria suggested.

The group made their way towards the residential sector of the campus. The architecture shifted from more functional to more ornate. They passed training grounds where students were practicing various combat forms with their spirit beasts, the air filled with sounds of clashing metal, elemental bursts, and the roars and cries of different creatures.

Students in various uniforms and training attire filled the cafeteria, some engrossed in conversations, others quietly eating. The aroma of various dishes, a mix of familiar and exotic scents filled the air.

They found an empty table and settled down. Aston grabbed a tray and headed towards the food counters, followed by the others.

As they ate, the conversation drifted from the morning's classes to more general topics. Rowan recounted a clumsy mishap during one of the earlier physical drills, earning amused groans from Seria. Lyra spoke briefly about some of the unique flora she had observed in the forest during SAD-101, her quiet enthusiasm evident. Aston found himself more comfortable engaging with the group than he had initially expected.

The topic shifted again, to speculation about the afternoon's Tactical Field Drills. "Instructor Rotation… could mean anyone," Rowan said with a hint of apprehension. "Some of the instructors are… less forgiving than others."

A collective shudder ran through the group. The scouting instructors they encountered, while highly skilled, had distinct and often… intense… teaching styles.

As they finished their lunch, a chime from a nearby bell signaled the approaching start of their next class.

"Tactical Field Drills," Rowan sighed, pushing back his empty tray. "Let's see which delightful individual we have today."

They made their way towards the expansive outdoor training grounds. The area was a diverse landscape of simulated environments—rocky outcrops, dense woodland, open fields, and even a section designed to mimic urban ruins. Group of students, accompanied by their spirit beasts, were already engaged in various exercises under the watchful eyes of instructors.

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As the group approached the designated assembly point for Tactical Field Drills, they saw a figure standing with an air of impatient energy. The instructor was different from the calm Elric Dane, the stern Ilyen Vey, or the mysterious Oscar Valen. He was lean and wiry, with a shock of fiery red hair and eyes that darted around with restless intensity. He wore practical, reinforced leather armor and had several pieces of tactical gear strapped to his belt. A large, scaled creature with razor-sharp claws paced restlessly at his side.

"Alright, maggots!" the instructor barked, his voice loud and energetic. "Welcome to Tactical Field Drills! Today, we're going to learn about rapid deployment and coordinated assault. Forget your fancy long-range scopes and your sneaky bird-watching. This is about getting in, hitting hard, and getting out before the enemy knows what bit them!"

He grinned, a flash of sharp teeth. "My name is Theron Vance. And this magnificent beast beside me is Inferno. Now, let's see if you've got any fire in your bellies!"

Data flashed into Aston's vision when he saw the creature.

—

[Spirit Beast: Crimson Fury Drake]

[Type: Draconic]

[Attribute: Fire]

[Genus: Ignilacerta]

[Rank: Lapis Core]

[Potential: Lapis Core]

[Description: A smaller, highly aggressive subspecies of fire drakes, instantly recognizable by its vibrant crimson scales and black stripes that constantly radiate intense heat. Renowned for its explosive bursts of speed and potent fire-based attacks, the Crimson Fury Drake is a formidable offensive spirit beast favored for shock assaults and overwhelming enemy formations.]

[Skills:]

[Tail Sweep: Executes a rapid, sweeping attack with its tail.]

[Inferno Blast: Unleashes a concentrated sphere of superheated flames that explodes upon impact, leaving behind a patch of burning ground.]

[Scorching Dive: Plummets from the air with incredible speed, its claws and teeth wreathed in fire, delivering a devastating aerial attack.]

[Rapid Fire: Channels its inner draconic power to unleash a series of rapid fire blasts in quick succession.]

[Combustion Aura: Intensifies its heat aura, causing nearby flammable materials to ignite and inflicting continuous burning damage to close-range opponents.]

[Passive Skills:]

[Drakeblood Resilience: The Crimson Fury Drake, with its bloodline, has higher-than-average resistance to elemental attacks and spirit energy fluctuations. It naturally heals minor spiritual fractures faster.]

[Heat Shroud: Its scales constantly emit a powerful heat aura, increasing stamina consumption of nearby enemies.]

[Innate Skills:]

[Speed Burst: Possesses the ability to unleash short bursts of incredible speed, allowing for rapid charges, evasive maneuvers, and closing distances quickly.]

[Air Supremacy: Exhibits exceptional agility and maneuverability in the air, granting it an advantage in aerial combat and pursuit.]

[Crimson Fury Eruption: Upon receiving massive damage, the Crimson Fury Drake can unleash a cataclysmic eruption of pure fire energy from its body, devastating a wide area and leaving behind a field of intense heat and lingering flames.]

[Core Skills:]

[Cataclysmic Descent: The Crimson Fury drake channels all its fire energy into a high-speed, controlled dive. As it plummets, its body becomes encased in a vortex of swirling flames, resembling a falling meteor. Upon impact, it unleashes a concentrated explosion that creates a deep crater and ignites a localized firestorm.]

—

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