Sweat dripped from her chin, splashing onto the scorching metal floor.
The pressure at the highest setting far exceeded expectations.
Veliona's voice surfaced again, this time without its teasing edge, carrying a hint of impatience instead.
"Hey! Are you still going to tough it out? You can barely breathe. Let me take over!"
Seele stared fixedly at the red dot ahead, her voice weak but firm.
"No... I haven't lost yet... I can do this..."
Veliona's tone was cold and hard, carrying a warning.
"Huh? If you wreck yourself, I have to hurt along with you. Do you get that?"
No one answered.
The girl was immersed in muscle memory and instinctive reactions.
Even with her legs trembling and her vision blurring, her movements remained precise and lethal.
"Playing mute, are we?"
Veliona snorted.
"Fine. Let's see what you've got."
She stopped pressing and simply watched in silence.
She watched that frail figure cut down the enormous steel giants, one after another.
When the last mech crashed to the ground, the system notification sounded.
Training complete.
Bronya hurried forward and offered her a dry towel.
"Well done, Seele."
That praise was like a stone dropped into still water.
Veliona's sarcastic drawl immediately rang out.
"Wow~ How deeply moving."
"Wonderful~ Our little Seele is simply invincible."
Her drawn-out words were filled with sourness and awkward resentment.
Seele's hand froze in midair, still holding the towel.
Her expression turned somewhat blank, and she blinked helplessly.
Bronya keenly noticed something amiss, and her expression changed abruptly.
She reached for the girl's forehead, her voice tense.
"Seele? What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"
"I'm just... a little dizzy."
Seele's voice was barely audible, and her fingertips unconsciously tightened around the hem of her clothes.
Bronya frowned slightly, her gaze settling on that bloodless face.