“Little leopard, we finally meet,” Bissai called, her voice steady yet teasing. “How about a fair fight? Winner takes the loser for lunch. What do you say?”

“Roar!” The leopard’s response echoed through the trees, a warning and a challenge all at once. It began walking toward her, calm, deliberate… and then, in an instant, it sprang forward with the speed of a striking viper, claws manifesting strength in deadly arcs.

Swoosh!

In this world, awakened animals and beasts could channel their inner strength flow, a raw power that surged from birth. Yet even such power had its limits, constrained by the creature’s realm and training. Bissai, relying on her awareness—the heightened sense that allowed her to read patterns in motion—dodged each strike, flowing like water around the leopard’s fury.

“My… oh my, little kitty, you nearly killed me!” she exclaimed, narrowly avoiding a swipe. “You should’ve come at me with everything! Do you really think this play-acting will be enough to take me down?”

The leopard’s claws slashed again, waves of strength radiating outward in precise arcs. Bissai danced back, reading the rhythm, anticipating the trajectory. But the predator was clever—it adapted, combining raw claw strikes with sudden bursts of movement.

Swoosh!

This time, the leopard charged, sending a shockwave of claw manifestation toward her, its body moving at impossible speed. Bissai twisted, but a glancing blow tore her hand. Blood ran down her arm, a stark reminder of her mortal vulnerability.

Scratch.

“Damn,” she muttered through gritted teeth. “Almost lost my hand. Need to pay more attention… his attacks are dangerous, unpredictable.” Thanks to my awareness level, I was able to prevent a catastrophe.

The battle raged. The leopard used its physique and agility to keep Bissai on the defensive, varying its strikes, leaping, feinting. Still, even as she bled, Bissai began to detect patterns—tiny tells in the leopard’s movements that revealed the rhythm beneath the chaos.

Swoosh—Scratch—Splotch.

“Little kitty,” the leopard growled, “I admit you’re strong… very strong. But strength alone won’t be enough to defeat me.”

Bissai glanced at the sun. Time was slipping. “I need to finish this soon, or I’ll be late for the exams. Can’t afford to waste energy recovering after this fight. I’ll have to go berserk. I’ll crush you with brute force!”

The clash escalated. Bissai dodged and parried, weaving between strikes, but a heavy wave of claw energy tore into her torso. Pain flared, but she pressed on, retaliating with precise counters.

Swoosh—Scratch—Splotch.

Even after being shredded by the leopard’s claw wave attack, she did not fall.

Instead she rose up q immediately despite trembling.

“I am really bathing myself in my own blood. Yeah, I like it. That’s what they call a life-and-death fight—the winner lives on and the loser dies.”

“Ha ha ha ha!” She laughed, then took her stance, when suddenly she realized the trajectory of the wave claw attack was about to tear her apart—and the leopard was waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

As the pattern became more visible, the leopard leapt toward her, tearing her back with his claws.

Swoosh—Splotch.

She lost focus, and the incoming claw wave sliced through her hand ligament as she attempted to block it.

Splotch.

Even in this perilous situation, cornered and bleeding, Bissai rejoiced, sensing a lightness in her senses—a possibility of breakthrough within reach. All she needed was to familiarize herself with this feeling while fighting.

Suddenly, the leopard launched a coordinated assault: a claw wave ahead, a silent leap behind. Bissai saw it—her awareness piercing the veil of chaos. She twisted midair, letting the wave pass while striking twelve consecutive blows from the leopard’s lower abdomen to upper chest, ending with a crushing kick to the jaw.

Swoosh—Tchap—Doom.

Her kick sent the leopard flying.

“I could see it. I saw his attack pattern. Is that the stage of awareness?”

The power behind Bissai’s kick was enough to send the leopard crushing beneath rocks.

Still, it wasn’t enough to knock him out. The leopard rose, his eyes shining as he activated his true physique.

With a roar, the leopard transformed, muscles bulging, aura flaring, fangs bared. It leapt atop her, claws digging into her chest, fangs pressing against her shoulder.

“What… have I been fighting him in his base form?”

Roar.

Through his roar, the leopard tried to convey to Bissai that he never intended to kill her, only to chase her away. Now, since she wanted to die so badly, he had no choice but to activate his fighting form. Before she knew it, the leopard was atop her, fangs sinking into her shoulder and claws pinning her chest.

“Ah… so this is the form he holds back for…” Bissai spoke, then fell unconscious.

It so happened that Bissai lived in a nearby village arround this forest with her father Patrick But she ussualy informed him whenever she ventured into the forest for hunting. And sometimes not.

“Bissai… this girl has done it again. I don’t know how careless she can be. Doesn’t she know it’s dangerous to go out of the village alone?”

This time arround she didn't informed him at all. And her father Patrick notice it her abscent only after he entered their home.

Then after he emerged from his house. Which was along the street and he began searching left and right incase she could be near by. He saw Tiez as he approached.

“Eh ho, Patrick! It’s been a while.” Tiez greeted him

“Stop the jokes. We see each other every day.” a sarcastic response from Patrick

“Really? That surprised me.” suprised Tiez asked

“Anyhow, Tiez, are things alright? Everyone is anxious about your disappearance every day at a certain time. What have you been doing during these two years?”

“Am very fine.... Shouldn’t we celebrate instead? I heard your daughter is going to participate in the Azurh Academy entrance exam.” Tiez redirected the conversation.

Patrick’s expression darkened. The he thought Here he is changing the subject as always. Anyhow, as long as he is healthy, I don't mind.

“Why make such a face? You should be happy instead, since it’s a popular school.” exclaimed Tiez.

“I am happy.” Patrick responded.

“By the way, where is she?” then Tiez to see Bissai.

“You know her very well, always going crazy.” a reminder from Patrick.

“You should be very careful, since she has been chosen as a candidate for the Azurh. Many people may attempt to kidnap her to get her admission token.” Tiez warned Patrick, instructing him to carefully take care of his daughter.

“You’re right, but I trust her.”Patrick assured Tiez.

Then on the other side. In a town 1000 of mile away. Preparation for the entrance exams are going on.

At the academy. Madam Metti Wetti spoke on the phone.

“Allo, yeah… Ah, no. I’m preparing for the academy entrance exams. Don’t forget, I am in charge of the elimination part of the test.”

Then after she dropped the call she opened the conference room door and saw a multitude of people.

“It’s the same every year. People will come here—if not for a recommendation for the exam, then to offer bribes so their children can skip the exam. And It’s not entirely impossible, but it only qualifies them to attend the normal magic section, which has no privileges.”

Then she paused and looked at the person standing on the poduim.

“It happens that I arrived just as Professor Aldient was about to give a speech. His speech always goes: the entrance exam recommendation grants permission to attend the entrance exam selection test, which comprises the elimination test and the admission test. Only those admitted can take the real exam.”

The she turn back an thought. I don’t have time to listen to that. Since I don't have privileged like the real examiners. This gives them the right to select promising students as disciples. "I need to work harder." She muttered.

Then on her way back she muttered as she walked "Damn what a privilege. Just because of their status as real examiners, they can select promising students as their disciples.”

It may seem unfair, but the title of real examiners is given to those who have reached the realm of the king. 

In the conference hall, atop the podium, Professor Aldient stood as he delivered his speech. “Everyone listen up, listen up! You all know the elimination part of the exam is tomorrow. How many quotas should we allocate for those who will fail the exam?”

Professor Aldient, in today’s meeting, discussed the quota allocation for admitted and non-admitted students and the terms on which these quotas would be distributed.