Class had just started when Mark took his usual seat. Grace—his little sister—slid into the desk beside him, smiling softly.

“Morning,” she said.

“Morning,” Mark replied.

Grace hesitated, then leaned closer. “What happened to Brandon? Do you know where he is?”

Mark didn’t sugarcoat it. “Spike basically destroyed his brain.”

Grace froze, eyes widening, her whole body going stiff. “What…?”

Mark didn’t react. He didn’t flinch. He didn’t even blink.

She swallowed. “Mark… are you still mad at me for not telling you I was alive?”

He looked straight at her. “I never felt anything. Anger, happiness, sadness. I felt nothing.”

Grace’s heart sank. Iris did this to him… it’s still affecting him, she thought.

Trying to shift the mood, she asked, “So… how are things with Ariel?”

“I fixed things with her,” Mark answered. “She doesn’t hate me anymore.”

“So you’re friends again?”

“She’s my girlfriend now.”

Grace’s eyes lit up. “Awwww, that’s cute! So you won’t die alone.”

Mark stared at her blankly. “I will never… understand that figure of speech.”

Grace laughed under her breath. Then her tone grew serious. “What’s your goal now that the spy has been dealt with?”

“I will destroy Iris forever.”

Grace nearly choked. “Are you crazy? You’ll be facing the strongest, fastest, and smartest villains in the world.”

“Does it look like I’m afraid?” Mark said calmly.

Before she could answer, the classroom door opened. A tall man with sharp glasses and a stiff posture walked in.

“Good morning, students. I am Dr. Daniel, your new instructor.” His voice echoed with authority. “Starting today, Fortress Academy will implement a new learning system: Hero Sim.”

The room buzzed.

“In this program,” Dr. Daniel continued, “you will be sent to a simulated city located in another dimension. Everything is fake—buildings, civilians, villains—but the experiences and danger feel real. Upon entry, each of you will receive a wristband that tracks hero points. Saving lives, stopping crimes, neutralizing threats… all of these add to your score.”

He paused.

“If your points fall below the minimum expectation—” he looked around the class “—you will be expelled.”

The room went silent.

“This is Fortress. The hardest hero school in the world. Heroes must adapt, survive, and excel. If you cannot do that here, you are not cut out to be heroes.”

With that, he left the room.

Ariel sat at her desk, nerves written all over her face. Mark walked over and placed a calm hand on her shoulder.

“You’ll be fine,” he said. “I’m right here.”

She nodded, letting out a shaky breath.

Later, after school ended, Mark walked Grace to her dorm. The night air was quiet.

“Mark,” Grace said, “will Ariel really help you take down Iris?”

“Ariel at full strength could actually stand a chance against me,” he replied. “People think she’s just fast, but she’s smart. Skilled.”

Grace blinked. “Would you lose to her?”

Mark paused. “I would—”

“What?!” she gasped.

“—win,” he finished without emotion.

Grace frowned. “Why did you pause dramatically like that?!”

Mark shrugged. “Why not?”

She smacked his arm lightly. He didn’t react. But she smiled anyway.