As Captain Joshua exited the room, silence settled among the rookies. They exchanged glances, unsure of what to say or do next.

After a few moments—

"So, before choosing a leader for our team, shouldn't we give ourselves a name first?"

The one to break the silence was the black-haired Red Talent, Yuan. His handsome face and spring-like smile made his words feel light, even soothing.

From time to time, his gaze shifted toward Raizel, making Raizel feel a bit uneasy, though he couldn't quite put his finger on why.

"That's true. We should establish an identity first," Cecilia agreed, arms crossed as her eyes briefly flicked toward Yuan with a hint of newfound interest.

Raizel and the others nodded in agreement. It felt like the right first step in building their team bond.

"Alright then," Yuan continued, his tone casual but steady. "Anyone who wants to suggest a name, go ahead. Once we have a few options, we'll hold a small vote to pick the best one. Sound good?"

"Yes," the group responded with small, approving nods.

"I'll go first," Yuan said, raising a hand with a grin. "How about... Crimson Vow? It represents our determination, and the 'crimson' could stand for the trials we'll face."

"Hmm, sounds edgy," Britney muttered, twirling a strand of her brown hair. "I vote for something more elegant. Maybe Starlight Waves. It has a nice ring, and we're the 'new light' of this branch, right?"

"Too soft," grumbled a bulky guy named Garret. "We need something badass like Iron Fang Unit. You don't scare off enemies with Waves and stars."

Cecilia rolled her eyes. "What are we, wolves? I suggest Valiance Squad. It's simple, but it reflects both courage and unity."

Navarna leaned against a wall. "Tsk.. You're all trying too hard. How about just Black Nine? There are nine of us—excluding Raizel, who's obviously the mystery tenth. Fits the vibe."

Raizel seemed exasperated. "How am I the mysterious one again?"

"Of course, you are," Navarna smirked wickedly. "You were a Green Talent at first, yet here you are—standing among us. What's more mysterious than that?"

"Ohh, heavens…" Yuan uttered, clearly shocked. "You were a green talent? I didn't know. Just how did you make it here, Raizel?"

The others turned toward him with curious and stunned expressions.

Then Maestro, the other red talent, seated with one leg elegantly crossed, smiled with intrigue. "Well then, why don't you suggest a name, Raizel?"

A few others joined in. "Yes, let's hear it, Raizel."

Raizel glanced briefly at Maestro and sighed. "Very well. But don't blame me if your ears don't like it."

He paused for a moment, then said, "I'd like to name us: Forgotten Heroes. In remembrance of those great warriors who were lost to time, erased from history even though they gave everything for it. It just came to mind."

"Forgotten Heroes..." Cecilia echoed softly, her eyes lighting up. "That's a meaningful name. I approve."

A few others murmured in agreement.

Delilah, ever sharp, chimed in again, "Still, Nova Stride sounds way cooler. We're fresh, we're bursting onto the scene."

Garret snorted. "Yeah, sounds like something from a shampoo commercial."

Delilah narrowed her eyes. "Say that again and you'll be polishing our aircraft's landing gear by your own hand."

"Oh, so spicy!" someone chuckled from the back.

"Alright, alright!" Yuan laughed, clapping his hands. "Voting time! One vote per person!"

After a quick round of raised hands and subtle debates, the tally was clear—Forgotten Heroes had won by a solid margin.

Raizel blinked, surprised.

"Well," Yuan said with a grin, "Looks like the green talent just named our squad."

The group chuckled, the earlier tension softened by laughter and acceptance.

"So, now that's settled… who's going to be the leader?" Navarna asked thoughtfully, her arms crossed.

Raizel, Maestro, Yuan, Cecilia, Garrett, and Navarna exchanged glances, the air growing thick with a subtle tension as if a competitive atmosphere was brewing.

Meanwhile, the others—Nina, Delilah, Britney, and Petra—didn't seem too eager. They kept to themselves, watching how things would unfold.

Raizel, after a brief pause and some quiet thought, made up his mind. He didn't want to be bound by the responsibilities that came with leadership. It would only slow him down.

He casually raised his hand and said,

"I'm not interested. You guys can decide among yourselves. Besides, a true leader isn't chosen in a room, it's on the battlefield where they reveal themselves."

The room fell quiet for a moment, some eyes widening at his words. He was right.

A true leader can only be found in real battles.

Yuan nodded with a smile. "Spoken like a lone wolf."

Maestro leaned back in his seat. "Well, that makes things easier. One less contender."

Cecilia tilted her head, her gaze lingering on Raizel thoughtfully.

"So then," Navarna continued, "Who wants it badly enough?"

The five remaining contenders raised their hands. Everyone except Raizel and the four who'd already opted out wanted the leadership position.

Perhaps the role came with certain perks—status, influence, or authority—but Raizel didn't care. That wasn't what he was after.

Still, when it was time to vote, he cast his vote for Cecilia. She was the only one he was somewhat familiar with.

Noticing that, Navarna snorted, a subtle trace of jealousy flickering in her eyes.

After another round of voting, the results were in: Maestro.

That's right—it wasn't Cecilia who won.

The majority had voted for Maestro. Maybe it was his composed demeanor, or maybe the girls were just swayed by his effortlessly handsome looks and quiet confidence.

Cecilia didn't seem disappointed, nor did the others. After all, as Raizel had said—a real leader reveals themselves on the battlefield. And the others seemed to believe that too.

After settling the leadership, they began discussing their specific roles within the team.

Among the ten of them, there were Healers, Tanks, Snipers, Elemental Mages, and Frontline Aggressors.

But one thing was clear—they all had magic.

Except for one: Raizel.

He hadn't revealed it yet, but unlike the rest, he was an Anti-Magus. A rare anomaly in a world where magic reigned supreme.

Even so, he chose his role without hesitation—Frontline Aggressor.

It was the most dangerous, the most brutal… and the one that suited him best.

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