<h4>Chapter 96: Are You Ready To Bleed</h4>


    Thebat training was held in Lunaris training hall. The hall itself was huge and the walls were racks of weapons, des of all shapes, staffs, shields, and other tools ofbat. Each of them were well polished and gleaming under the fluorescent lights. The air in the room had a faint metallic tang, likely from the sweat and steel that had seen countless training sessions before.


    "Are we going to war or what?" Violet couldn’t help but ask as she nced around the room. This curriculum had not even been an option back at her old school, but Lunaris never stops surprising her.


    She and L stood together amidst the crowd of other students who also were curious like her.


    "So, do you know what we’re in for?" she asked her human encyclopedia aka L.


    But even L shook her head. "This is my first time too. But from what I’ve heard, the ss is intense. There is lots of physical training and little breaks. People say it’s brutal, but somehow, they still seem excited about it."


    "Hmmm?" Violet tilted her head, surprised. "Excited? Are they insane?"


    Before L could respond, the doors to the hall burst open, and a heavy silence nketed the room. Thebat teacher, a towering werewolf with a grizzled beard and piercing green eyes, entered the hall.


    His mere presence alone was intimidating, and Violet felt her stomach twist with unease. There would be no mercy with this man, that much was clear.


    But he wasn’t alone.


    Behind him, the Cardinal Alphas followed, their mere presence enough to part the crowd like the Red Sea. Theirmanding auras made the already tense atmosphere even heavier. Violet’s gaze flicked to Elsie on the far side of the hall, noting how her sharp eyes were fixed on the Alphas, particrly Asher.


    Before Violet could process the moment, the teacher’s voice thundered through the hall, making her jump. "Drop! Give me twenty push-ups right now!"


    Confused murmurs broke out among the students. "What?" someone whispered, but the instructor roared, "MAKE THAT THIRTY!"


    The students scrambled toply, dropping to the floor, groaning as they pushed against the polished ground. Violet’s arms shook with effort, and just when she thought it couldn’t get worse, the man’s emotionless voice rang out again. "Thirty-five."


    A collective cry of protest rose, but it was silenced by his nextmand. "Forty!"


    Comints only made it worse, they all realized. Violet pressed her lips together, determined not to make a sound.


    It was even reliving when she noticed they were not alone and cardinal alphas were participating. But while most students struggled, the Alphas performed the push-ups without effort.


    Her eyes were especially drawn to Griffin, his biceps flexing with each push-up, the sheer strength and control mesmerizing her. It was, without a doubt, the sexiest thing she’d ever seen.


    Griffin’s eyes met hers mid-push-up, and he winked, a sly smile tugging at his lips. Violet felt her face heat up as she realized she had been staring. Unfortunately, her distraction cost her as her hand slipped on a bead of sweat, and she copsed to the floor.


    Laughter erupted around her, echoing through the hall.


    "I got it on camera!" a girl eximed, but her triumph was short-lived. The teacher stormed toward her, snatched the phone from her hand, and hurled it against the wall. The crack of shattering ss silenced the room.


    "DO YOU THINK MY CLASS IS A JOKE?!" he roared, spit flying as he loomed over the girl.


    But the student could not answer, shocked by what just happened.


    "STOP MOPING AND ANSWER ME! YES OR NO!"


    "N-no, sir," she repeated, her voice trembling.


    "SO WHY WERE YOU JOKING AROUND IN MY CLASS?"


    "It won’t happen again, sir," she whispered, her head bowed, tears threatening to spill.


    "GOOD FOR YOU!" He spun around to face the rest of the ss. "UP ON YOUR FEET NOW!"


    The number of push ups wasn’t even met yet but no one dared toin. Exhausted but terrified, the students obeyed without hesitation. Violet nearly felt sorry for the girl—nearly. She had learned quickly that pity wouldn’t get anyone through this ss.


    My name is Mkai," he announced, his steely gaze sweeping over the group, "but you will address me as Commander. Is that understood?"


    "Yes, sir!" the ss responded in unison.


    "DID I HEAR THAT RIGHT?"


    "Yes—no! Commander!" the students corrected themselves hastily, their voices a confused cacophony.


    For once, Mkai didn’t shout. He paced the room, his piercing eyes studying each student like a hawk. When his gazended on Violet, it lingered. Her heart pounded as she recalled the earlier scene. His expression was unreadable, but she felt judged all the same.


    Violet swallowed hard. Great. First impression ruined.


    The room settled into an uneasy silence as Commander Mkai stood tall before the gathered students.


    "Wee to Combat Skills & Defense Training," he began. "Today, you will learn what it means to endure. To fight. To survive. If you think this is just another ss, you’re wrong. This is the only ss that will save your life when you’re cornered and outnumbered. If you’re not ready to bleed, you don’t belong here."


    A heavy pause followed his words, his statement sinking into the minds of every student present.


    Mkai continued. "For the benefit of the new students, we’ll begin with the basics. I will go over the drills and help you adjust to your new reality. Make no mistake, this reality is not optional. It’s not something you can opt out of because you feel like it. This is life or death."


    He folded his muscr arms across his chest and added, "Before we begin, are there any questions?"


    The room remained silent, the students exchanging uneasy nces. No one dared to raise their hand, not wanting to draw themander’s attention, or wrath. Violet shifted awkwardly on her feet, thankful that the spotlight wasn’t on her.


    Just as Mkai’s patience seemed to waver and he was about to move on, a hand shot up from the back of the room.


    All heads turned as Dion asked with genuine curiosity, "You said, ’when we’re surrounded and outnumbered.’ But we’re just students here. Why would we ever be in that situation,mander?"


    The question hung in the air, and for a moment, Violet thought Mkai might explode. Instead, he fixed Dion with a cold, calcting stare that could have frozen fire.


    "You’re already a target," Mkai said, his voice firm but menacing. "Every single one of you, by virtue of being a student at Lunaris Academy, has a bullseye on your back. There are people, humans and werewolves alike, who despise the alliance this academy represents. They would see it destroyed. And that’s not even mentioning the rogues, hunters, and other supernatural creatures out there who would dly take your lives."