Thora lowered her voice. "Where's Tristan?" All eight soldiers looked at one another, then all shook their heads. Just then, Tristan walked in from outside the training field. When he stopped in front of Thora, his expression was conflicted and faintly wounded. Thora frowned, her tone sharp. "Why are you late?" Tristan was never late. Whenever she gave an order, he was always the first to act—and the fastest to finish. He said nothing. His lips pressed into a tight line. In just a few days, he had grown a rough shadow of stubble. He couldn't exactly tell her he'd spent the entire night fighting in an underground ring and missed her message.And the fact that his commander was a woman—he still wasn't handling it well. When Tristan stayed silent, Thora's frown deepened. "Get back in line." "Yes, ma'am!" He barked and moved into formation. But everyone could feel it; something was off with Tristan. Not a little off. Very off. Ashton glanced at him and swallowed hard. It had been a week since Tristan beat him up, but Ashton still felt sore. Tristan looked back at him just then, eyes sharp enough to cut. If looks could throw blades, Ashton would be done for. Shirley stuck out her tongue playfully. Her eyes sparkled with mischief. She enjoyed watching this. Hugo arrived just then. He saw the team already lined up, receiving Thora's briefing, and a smile spread across his face. Without realizing it, Wolffang had grown into a real unit. His decision back then had been right. Thora's choice had been right too. When they first joined Wolffang, every soldier's rank and past achievements were wiped clean. They could only rise again by completing secret missions for the empire, earning merit by task level. After two years, Thora, the commander, had climbed all the way to major general. Tristan and Shirley, thanks to their outstanding performance, had become majors. Harvey, Ashton, and the others now held ranks ranging from second lieutenant to captain. Any one of them could command immediate respect just by walking down the street. But inside Wolffang, they were just soldiers whose job was to obey orders, run missions, and carry out every command Thora gave. Once the roll call ended, Thora dismissed the team and headed to the base office. Hugo was already there waiting for her. Wolffang's absolute commander was Thora, so Hugo rarely showed up in front of the team to lecture or interfere with anything. She knocked lightly on the door. "Come in," Hugo said with a smile. Thora stepped inside and saluted. Hugo stood up and returned the salute. When the formalities were done, he patted her shoulder with real relief and let out a long breath. "You're back. How were the last two years out there?" Thora answered straight and serious, "Pretty good." Seeing her strict expression, Hugo realized he shouldn't ask casual questions. Small talk had never been Thora's thing. "You and your team did an excellent job. The Lycan King is very pleased and praised Wolffang many times." "I'm grateful for Lycan King," Thora replied with a small nod. After a short chat, Hugo sat down and waved his hand. "Sit down. No need to stand." Thora obeyed without complaint. She sat on the wooden chair and placed her cap neatly beside her. "Good thing you and your team made it back in time," Hugo said. "Otherwise, I would've had to request an order to drag you back." Then he cut to the point. "In one month, the Blue Star Military Academy starts its entrance exams." Thora listened carefully. "I told you about this two years ago," Hugo continued. "What do you think now?" Thora smiled gently. "I'm very interested." She liked places where the strongest gathered. Blue Star Military Academy was exactly her kind of battlefield. Hugo finally relaxed at her answer.He leaned forward and spoke with weight in his voice. "This will be your next mission." Hugo picked up the tablet on the desk and tapped it. A floating screen lit up in the air, showing information about the Blue Star Military Academy. Thora's eyes locked onto it instantly. "Blue Star Military Academy is the top military school in the Chaules region," Hugo explained. "It was built 200 years ago by several major empires and has grown into an independent institution. It gathers the best military resources and top research teams. Its goal is to train future elite warriors. It's basically the talent hub for the entire werewolf world." He paused, then added, "They hold exams once a year, but the elimination rate is extremely high. Only a few students get in. For years, not a single person from our empire has passed." "And there's only one requirement: you must be between 18 and 25 years old. Other than that, nothing." "No other requirements?" Thora's expression changed. "That's right," Hugo said. "Most students are werewolves, but to gather the best talent, they accept every race, and they don't care about your background or history. If you pass and graduate, every empire will fight to recruit you. "That means you might meet fugitives, killers, or powerful fighters from other races." Thora frowned slightly. "So getting into the academy is far more than just an exam," Hugo warned. "It could turn into a life-and-death battle. "And the school's first rule is this: all training and tests involve real danger. You are responsible for your own life."