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I'm writing it to help others not make the same mistake that I did in writing it off early on. It took a bit to really start showing its strengths, but man does it have some.

Story: 7/10
The story is fairly generic in the early bits, but that's pretty much as far is it goes negatively. It starts flowing very naturally once the exposition and world building kick in. Broadly looking in on it, the plot could be seen as repetitive, but thoughtful planning and creative use of what we already know keeps it interesting. I believe that the story is on the verge of launching ... into its meat at the time I'm writing this, and this area will likely improve.

Art: 9/10
The author's style is relatively simple, but definitely not lazy. It conveys as much detail as the author wants in each panel while focusing a lot on clearly displaying movement and action. Initially it can be a bit weak, but I've noticed more and more interesting panels as it goes on. Not much to say here, just generally positive.

Characters: 10
This is where this manga really shines.
Main characters: Osamu and Yuma make a good contrast as a genuinely below-average fighter relying on efforts and wits next to a natural ace. It's incredibly satisfying to see them grow and progress together against more powerful threats. Chika and Jin are also fun to have around, with some great moments and interactions.

Side cast: there's a steady stream of new characters being introduced, and despite the fact that they're almost always chill people without crazy designs, they're great to have. The characters interact, grow, and have personalities and quirks that make interactions in and out of the ring as entertaining as any neighbor fight. On top of that, each squad has distinct and impactful strategies, despite all having access to a similar gear pool, which the author uses to the fullest.

Enjoyment: 9/10
This was a great read. Although the author took a bit to introduce the world and abilities, once he had them down, he didn't resort to special reveals, new abilities, etc. We know what tools they generally have access too, and it's up to the author how they're employed. Additionally, the use of the trion body system (dummy body that replaces a character's until it takes lethal damage) means that characters usually don't have to worry about dying. This prevents the classic shounen slugfests, and lets the author focus more on tactics and team-play leading up to a single, critical strike.

Overall: 9/10
Very well thought-out and fun read. In a way, I'd compare it to Hunter x Hunter in the strong planning and strategy on top of smart characters.