The forest opened, and the roar shook the clearing. It didn't just echo, the sound pressed outward, like the sound itself had weight.

Yudo and Ryukai immediately lowered their stances. Neither of them spoke or looked away.

The Beast that roared was somewhere just ahead. The ground trembled beneath their feet with every distant impact. Dust drifted from branches overhead. Even the trees around them seemed to vibrate from whatever was happening ahead.

Each step forward made branches snap somewhere ahead. Something massive was stomping through the clearing.

Ryukai lowered his voice. “I could be wrong… but that thing definitely isn’t normal.”

Yudo raised his hand. “Stay quiet.”

His eyes didn’t stop moving, constantly scanning the area, reading everything. The pressure in the air had changed. This wasn’t just a fight. It was domination. 

The battlefield finally came into full view. Both of them stopped. A massive Corrupted Beast stood at the center of the clearing. It resembled a lion, but far larger than any lion Yudo had ever seen. Its body was covered in red skin, like something inside was trying to break out. Glowing veins pulsed beneath the surface. Each pulse sent faint heat into the air. Jagged, bone-like spikes protruded along its spine. Its mane wasn’t fur. It looked like hardened bone fragments layered over each other like armor. The scent of blood and Corruption drifted across the clearing.

Ryukai narrowed his eyes. “…Yeah. That’s definitely not normal.”

Several smaller cubs prowled beneath the creature. Their bodies twitched unnaturally. Corrupted Energy leaked from them in unstable bursts. They weren’t moving like animals. They seemed as if they were being controlled.

Yudo’s gaze shifted. And then he saw it. Unlike most Corrupted Beasts, the jewel wasn’t embedded in the neck. It sat in the center of the lion’s forehead. Pulsing faster than the veins in its body.

His eyes widened slightly. Elaina. 

She floated calmly above the monster. Unfazed by the chaos below. Her white hair blew effortlessly in the air around her. Golden energy gathered around her hands.

Below her stood several other applicants. They were forming a defensive circle. Behind them lay a group of injured students. Some were unconscious. 

Others clutched their wounds, barely conscious. 

Trying to stay awake. 

Trying not to die.

The scent of blood lingered heavily in the air. 

Yudo’s expression shifted slightly.

The fighters had their hands tied. They weren’t just fighting. They were protecting, trying to hold the line, but losing ground.

Yudo noticed a familiar figure among them.

The wind user from earlier. Wind whipped around his body, scattering dirt and leaves. But it wasn’t enough. Not against this.

Ryukai leaned forward slightly. “We’ve gotta help them.”

Yudo nodded once. “The cubs are being controlled by that big one.”

Ryukai followed his gaze. “So we kill the big one first.”

“Seems like it.”

The cubs suddenly moved all at once, charging toward the other applicants. Their claws tore through the dirt as they sprinted forward.

“Hey Elaina!” someone shouted. “They’re coming!”

Yudo’s eyes flicked toward the voice. Lillie…

Elaina didn’t panic. She didn’t rush any of her attacks. She simply lowered her hand, causing the air to shift as the gravity slammed downward.

The cubs were crushed into the ground instantly. Unable to free their bodies from the pressure. The ground cracked beneath them. A burst of dust shot into the air. Silence followed for half a second.

The Corrupted lion roared in anger at the sight of its cubs being hurt. Its eyes locked onto Elaina. Its massive body launched upward toward her. The speed wasn’t normal for something of that size.

“Elaina, watch out!”

“Water Convergence: Water Prison!” Ryukai thrust his hand forward. Water surged from the ground into the air. Water circled rapidly around the beast. It spiraled upward in a violent current, wrapping around the lion mid-air. A sphere formed instantly, trapping the Corrupted Beast inside.

The lion struggled in the bubble. Ryukai could only trap it in the prison for so long.

Yudo noticed Ryukai struggling. He moved without hesitation. Dead Man’s Intuition surged through him. His body shifted, lowering his stance.

Ryukai noticed Yudo preparing an attack. He opened the bubble, leaving the head wide open.

“Dead Man’s Intuition: Undying Blow!”

He struck directly at the lion’s head.

BOOM.

The force echoed across the clearing. But the head didn’t break. The Corrupted mane absorbed the blow.

Yudo’s eyes narrowed. Tch.

The lion roared inside the sphere and tore through it. Water exploded outward. The sphere shattered.

Ryukai staggered back slightly. “Damn… I thought that plan would work again.”

Yudo stepped back, resetting his stance. “It’s too strong for just us.”

“Correct.” Elaina descended, landing beside them. Her golden eyes glowed faintly.

The others turned toward them. All at once.

“We’ll need the strength of all six of us.”

Yudo and Ryukai spoke at the same time. “Six?”

Lillie walked up to them. “I’m Lillie!”

She pointed to another applicant. “That’s Renki.”

Storm energy crackled around the boy’s arms. Lightning flickered between his fingers. Wind spiraled around him like a storm contained in human form.

“His Trait is Storm.” She pointed toward another. “That is Virsen.”

The boy stood still with a blade resting at his side. He hadn’t moved. But the pressure around him was undeniable.

“The prince of this kingdom.” She motioned to the girl beside him. “And that’s my friend, Elaina.”

Elaina gave a slight nod. No hesitation in her eyes.

Yudo exhaled slightly. “I doubt we can just stand here talking forever.”

The Corrupted lion rose again. Its body cracked as it moved. The jewel on its forehead pulsed violently. Corrupted Energy surged outward. Stronger than before. The pressure washed over the clearing like a wave.

“So tell us what we need to do.” 

Elaina turned toward Virsen. “Virsen is our path to victory.”

The lion roared again. The ground shattered beneath it. Chunks of dirt and stone exploded into the air.

“You four tell us what you need,” Yudo said.

Blue energy gathered around his body. Yudo stepped forward, lowered his stance, and centered his weight.

“If Virsen is our way to victory…” His fists clenched. “…then I’ll hold it off until you’re ready.”

The Corrupted lion lunged.

“Dead Man’s Bulwark!”

Bone erupted from the ground, layering over itself again and again. Pieces of ground were thrown into the air as layers of bone forced their way upward. A massive skeletal shield formed in front of him.

The Corrupted Beast collided with it.

BOOM!

The impact shook the entire clearing. Cracks on the ground spread beneath Yudo’s feet. The shield groaned under pressure as the lion pushed forward. Its claws dug into the bone. Its weight pressed down like a collapsing mountain.

Yudo gritted his teeth. His arms trembled. He slowly slid on the ground. The ground beneath him began to sink. Dirt shifted beneath his boots as he fought to maintain his footing.

He could feel the difference in power. But he didn’t move and he wouldn’t allow the lion to break through.

“Move!” Ryukai shouted from behind.

“Not yet!” Yudo pushed forward.

Just enough to hold it back and buy more time. The skeletal shield cracked. Sharp snapping sounds echoed through the clearing. Lines spread across it.

Yudo’s eyes sharpened. He knew. He couldn’t hold it forever. But that didn’t matter. Because he didn’t need to. He just needed to buy some time.

Because if he couldn’t…

They’d all be in trouble.