CHAPTER 48: THE STANCE TRAIL

"This is why angels and devils should never be together in the first place!" Jasmine spat, her voice sharp and trembling with furious energy.

From across the training ground, Punch— the ever-clumsy, ever-sarcastic member of the devil’s cult shifted, a slow smirk spreading across his face. His tone was lazy, almost deliberately irritating.

"Oh? And here I thought you liked a bit of chaos in your life," he said, shrugging as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "Why so serious, Jazzyboy? Scared of a little banter?"

Jasmine’s jaw tightened, her nostrils flaring. "Keep talking, and I’ll make sure you’re the next one to get burnt" she warned, stepping closer, the space between them taut with tension. Her fists were clenched at her sides, each knuckle white under the morning sunlight.

Punch leaned forward, tilting his head, letting his grin stretch wider. "Oh? And what makes you think I’d take that seriously? You always do that little stomp-and-shout thing. Everyone knows your type..."

Jasmine’s patience snapped like brittle glass. "I said keep your mouth shut! Big boy" she hissed, stepping up, her eyes blazing. "I’m not asking. I’m telling you now— next word out of you and you’re going to regret it!"

Before Punch could respond, a commanding voice sliced through the air like steel.

"Enough."

Heads turned. The chatter of the students faded into uneasy silence.

Principal Darren had arrived, moving steadily toward them. Camila wasn’t with him, Only his imposing presence alone commanded respect. His gaze swept over the two, noting the tension, the energy in their stances, the way every muscle in Jasmine’s body screamed readiness.

"Perhaps it’s time we take a more... structured approach," Darren said calmly, his voice holding that familiar authority that demanded attention. "A Stance Trial. A proper test to warm up before combat training."

The announcement landed like a shockwave. Jasmine’s fists relaxed just slightly, though her eyes never left Punch. Punch, on the other hand, tilted his head back with a slow laugh, cracking his knuckles with a sharp, deliberate sound. "A trial, huh? Just what I was waiting for. About time someone made this interesting," he said, flexing his hands, the sound echoing through the open training ground like bone against stone.

Jasmine’s lips curled into a tight, challenging smile. "Try me," she said simply. No need for more words— the dare hung in the air, electric and visible.

Darren’s eyes flicked between the two. "This is not about pride, nor is it about insult," he said, though the corners of his lips betrayed the faintest hint of amusement. "It is a test of skill, focus, and composure. Treat it as such. The others will observe. But interference is forbidden."

Punch leaned casually against the nearest training post, still smirking. "Focus and composure, huh? Guess it’s time to see if Jazzyboy lives up to the talk." He flexed his fingers, rolling his shoulders, and let out a low chuckle. "I was going to take it easy, but... maybe I won’t. Maybe it’s time for a real crushing."

Jasmine’s expression hardened. "Try me..." she repeated, voice cold and flat. Every eye in the vicinity was already on them, students gathering naturally to witness the challenge.

Darren raised a hand. "Enough chatter. Take your positions. And remember, control is key. Do not let anger dictate your actions."

The tension between Jasmine and Punch stretched taut. Even the ambient sounds the whispering wind, the distant calls of birds felt as if they were holding their breath, waiting.

Punch’s grin widened, teeth flashing. "Oh, I’m ready," he said, stepping back slightly, cracking his knuckles again, one by one, the sound sharp and deliberate. "It’s about time someone actually gave me a real challenge. Let’s see what you’ve got."

Jasmine’s lips pressed into a thin line. She shifted into her stance, feet grounding into the dirt, eyes trained on him. "Let’s son grown men like boys...the old fashioned way..." she said, almost a whisper with an evil smirk on her face, but heavy with promise.

A crowd had formed around them. Some students murmured in anticipation, others held their breath. This wasn’t just a fight— they could sense the stakes, the way every movement would count, the test not only of skill but for the books. A man vs a Woman .

Punch cracked his neck, letting it snap loudly. "You’re going to regret challenging me."

Jasmine’s response was a flick of her hand— barely a gesture, but it carried the tension of a coiled spring. "We’ll see about that," she said.

Darren stepped back, hands behind his back, watching closely. He didn’t intervene; this trial was about observation, and discipline would be measured not just in technique, but in restraint and adaptability.

The morning sun bore down on them, casting long shadows across the training ground. Dust from the dirt floor swirled slightly in the breeze. Punch flexed his fingers once more, muscles taut. He was the picture of chaotic readiness, the kind that only someone who thrived on unpredictability could master.

Jasmine’s gaze didn’t waver. Every muscle in her body was a wire of precision. She didn’t speak again; words weren’t necessary. The dare had been issued. And the stage was about to be set.

Darren finally exhaled softly, as if releasing tension he hadn’t realized he was holding.

"The trial begins with a coin toss," Darren continued, drawing a small silver coin from his pocket and letting it glint in the morning light. "The winner of the toss will have the privilege of choosing the location for the engagement. The location is imaginary but will be made real to your senses through hallucinatory magic since we’re currently not in the academy"

Then, he gazed at both parties.

CHIMMM....

The coin flipped high into the air, spinning like a small silver sun, catching the early morning light. All eyes followed it as it tumbled, each student holding their breath.

Jasmine crossed her arms, jaw tight, glaring at Punch with a mixture of irritation and anticipation, while he stares right back at her delivering the same energy.

The coin landed with a sharp clink on the stone ground. Punch grinned, flashing a toothy smile as he bent down to retrieve it. "Looks like luck favors me today," he said, his voice dripping with false bravado.

Jasmine’s eyes narrowed. "Lucky for you, maybe. But smart? Not a chance."

Punch laughed, cracking his knuckles with exaggerated theatrics. "♪ I-gEt-tO-ChO-Ose ♪" He sang mockingly as he beats his chest to annoy her even more.

Darren stepped forward, hands clasped behind his back, his expression calm but sharp. "Yes," he said, voice carrying quietly across the circle of students. "Punch will choose the location. Safety precautions are still in effect."

Punch’s grin widened as he scanned the group, his chest puffed with pride. "Perfect. I choose...’A LONE DESERT’. "

A collective gasp swept through the devil’s group. Even the usual clumsy chatter fell silent. The thought of a barren, featureless landscape made their stomachs twist. Punch, however, was practically vibrating with excitement, bouncing on his heels as if the idea alone were a reward.

Jasmine’s lips pressed into a thin line. "A desert?" she muttered, almost to herself, but loud enough for everyone near her to hear. "Seriously? This gonna be fun..." She cracked a buckle, like some evil genius who already got something despicable in mind.

Her friend’s, immediately— settles down in the background with concern written all over their faces.

Last they checked, Jasmine had no major power outburst that would be of advantage, especially going off with someone as huge and strong as Punch... that Scared the shit out of them.

JASMINE was just Smarter and Extra creative, coming up with ideas and stuff... that was the only gift they could think of, ’But I guess she has to think her way out of this one’ They thought to their selves, as they stare in anticipation. Soda still whipping her head around staring deep at the direction Valkyrie had run to earlier.

However, Darren didn’t flinch. Instead, he exhaled softly, a small plume of air that carried more weight than any words. "Very well," he said, lifting his hands slightly.

"I will create the environment. Hallucination magic is active. Remember, the illusion is as real to your senses as it would be to the body, but no one will be physically harmed."

A wave of tension rolled across the clearing. Darren extended his palms forward, and the air around them began to shimmer and warp. The edges of the clearing blurred, colors bending unnaturally. A low hum of magic vibrated through the ground, almost like the earth itself was holding its breath.

Sand appeared first, spilling over the stone floor in rippling waves that didn’t touch the students but seemed real enough for the mind to register. The heat rose in a visible shimmer, distorting the air like molten glass. Punch’s grin widened, practically glowing with glee at the sight of the barren landscape he had conjured.

Jasmine’s eyes scanned the illusion, her stance tightening. The desert was vast, stretching endlessly, nothing in sight but golden sand under a scorching sun. The sky above shimmered with heatwaves that rippled like invisible water, and the distant horizon seemed to shift and sway, taunting anyone who dared look too long.

Darren’s voice cut through the heat, calm and precise. "The environment is in place. Feel it. Sense it. Engage your mind as you would in real combat" He Paused.

"...BEGIN."