The next day, Form 2 students gathered in the training grounds for the annual Battle Royale. Students clashed, powers flashing and fists striking in a chaotic storm. Everyone fought fiercely, but Mark Velocida kept to himself, observing, analyzing, and dodging without truly engaging.

Heather approached him, her eyes glinting with amusement. “Why so serious, Mark?” she teased.

Mark’s blue eyes met hers. “Are you bored?” he asked calmly.

Without warning, Heather launched a flurry of attacks. Mark dodged with precise movements, each strike of her fists a blur. She followed up with a barrage of rapid punches, forcing him to move faster than ever. He barely avoided her blows, each step calculated.

Then she landed a powerful kick, sending him skidding back. Their battle escalated, each strike a test of skill and will. Mark held his own, but in terms of raw strength, Heather was superior. A final blow sent him crashing to the ground, unconscious.

Suddenly, sparks of electricity flickered around him. Heather froze.

“What… is happening?” she whispered.

Mark’s pupils shifted from blue to green. His posture straightened. His aura changed. This was no longer Mark.

“Heather… it’s been a while, huh? Spike,” she said.

Spike let out a low laugh. “I don’t know who the hell you are,” he replied, voice cold, unfamiliar. Lightning crackled around him, strong enough to stun Heather.

Spike’s attacks rained down with terrifying speed and force, each strike demonstrating raw power. Heather struggled under the assault, overwhelmed for the first time in a long while.

Then, as suddenly as it began, Spike’s control faltered. Mark’s consciousness returned. His body slumped, pretending to faint, hiding the truth of his power.

The rest of the battle continued without him. Ariel seized the moment, her speed and precision giving her the victory in the Battle Royale.

Later, as the students regrouped, Brandon Silver approached Mark.

“So… when are you going to just do it?” Mark asked, his tone steady.

“Do what?” Brandon replied, a smirk on his face.

“Kill us,” Mark said bluntly. “I know you want to kill all the Iris survivors. So what’s stopping you?”

Brandon laughed softly. “It will all happen… in due time.”

As they spoke, Max and Garth saw an opportunity to strike at Mark. But before they could reach him, Light and Risa intervened. Risa’s speed and strength clashed with Garth, keeping him at bay, while Light battled Max.

Then Grace joined them, her gravity powers amplifying the team’s advantage. Together, Light, Risa, and Grace overpowered Max and Garth, taking them down decisively.

Mark remained on the sidelines, feigning weakness, letting the chaos unfold around him. He had shown glimpses of his true power, but the game was far from over.