The roar shook the forest.

  Oscar and Aster moved carefully through the trees toward the sound of the battle.

  The ground trembled beneath their feet with every distant impact.

  Branches snapped somewhere ahead.

  Something massive was tearing through the clearing.

  Aster lowered his voice.

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

  Oscar raised a hand.

  “Stay quiet.”

  The trees finally opened into a large clearing.

  Both of them stopped.

  A massive corrupted beast stood at the center.

  It resembled a lion.

  But far larger than any lion Oscar had ever seen.

  Its body was covered in cracked red skin with glowing veins pulsing beneath the surface like molten lava. 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.

  Aster narrowed his eyes.

  “…Yeah. That’s definitely not normal.”

  Several smaller cubs prowled beneath the creature, their bodies twitching with corrupted energy.

  Unlike most corrupted beasts, the jewel wasn’t embedded in the neck.

  It sat in the center of the lion’s forehead, glowing violently.

  Oscar’s eyes widened.

  Elaina.

  She floated calmly above the monster, her white hair drifting in the air around her. Golden energy gathered around her hands, illuminating the battlefield.

  Below her stood several other applicants.

  They were forming a defensive circle.

  Behind them lay a group of injured students.

  Some were motionless.

  Dead.

  Others clutched their wounds, barely conscious.

  The fighters had their hands tied.

  They had to hold the line while protecting the wounded.

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  Oscar noticed a familiar figure among them.

  The wind user from earlier.

  His core swirled around him like a violent storm.

  Aster leaned forward slightly.

  “We’ve gotta help them.”

  Oscar nodded.

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

  Aster followed his gaze.

  “So we kill the big one first.”

  “Seems like it.”

  The cubs suddenly charged toward the three fighters on the ground.

  “Hey Elaina!” someone shouted.

  “They’re coming!”

  Oscar glanced at the girl who called out.

  Lillie.

  Elaina didn’t move.

  She simply lowered her hand.

  The air around the cubs suddenly warped.

  Gravity slammed downward.

  The cubs were crushed into the ground instantly, their bodies slamming into the dirt with bone-shattering force.

  The corrupted lion roared in fury.

  Its massive body launched into the air toward Elaina.

  “Elaina, watch out!”

  “Water Convergence: Water Prison!”

  Aster thrust his hand forward.

  Water burst from the surrounding air and ground, spiraling upward and trapping the lion in a sphere of violently spinning water.

  The beast struggled mid-air.

  Oscar moved instantly.

  Dead Man’s Intuition surged through him.

  The skeletal figure flickered behind his body before merging into him.

  “Dead Man’s Intuition: Undying Blow!”

  Oscar’s strike slammed directly into the beast’s head.

  But the lion’s bone mane absorbed the impact like armor.

  The monster roared and tore itself free from the Water Prison, sending waves of water crashing across the clearing.

  Aster grimaced.

  “Damn… I thought that plan would work again.”

  Oscar stepped back.

  “It’s too strong for just us.”

  Elaina descended from the air and landed beside them, her golden eyes glowing faintly.

  “Correct.”

  The others glanced toward Oscar and Aster.

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

  Oscar and Aster spoke at the same time.

  “Six?”

  Elaina gestured toward the others.

  “That’s Alexander,” she said.

  Storm energy crackled around the boy’s arms as wind swirled violently around his body.

  “His core is storm.”

  She pointed toward another.

  “This is Vega.”

  The boy stood calmly with a blade resting at his side.

  Even without attacking, the pressure from his core was immense.

  “The prince of this kingdom.”

  She motioned to the girl beside him.

  “And that’s my friend, Lillie.”

  Lillie gave them a quick nod while preparing another attack.

  Oscar sighed.

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

  The corrupted lion slowly rose again.

  Its jewel pulsed violently as corrupted energy spread across its body.

  “So tell us what we need to do.”

  Elaina turned toward Vega.

  “Vega is our path to victory.”

  The lion roared again.

  Then it charged.

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

  Blue energy began gathering around his body.

  Oscar stepped forward and lowered his stance.

  “If Vega 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 earth in front of Oscar.

  The skeletal structure expanded and reinforced itself, forming a massive shield.

  The beast slammed into it.

  BOOM.

  The entire clearing shook.

  Cracks spread across the ground beneath Oscar’s feet.

  He gritted his teeth as the monster continued pushing forward.

  Oscar knew he couldn’t hold it forever.

  But his determination pushed him forward.

  Now…

  It was only a matter of time.