The students' concerns remained fixed on the two massive guardian-like beasts towering before them. As the battle wore on, the creatures began tapping deeper into their water-based powers, making it increasingly difficult for the transfer students to get in any real offense.

Circular water portals spun into existence in the air, hovering just half a meter from the beasts' bodies. They weren't just defensive barriers; they doubled as lethal weapons. From them, jets of pressurized water blasted out like spears. Each strike was as powerful as a middle-stage warrior's Qi-infused blow.

There was no room for error now. This wasn't a test anymore, it was a real fight.

Dame, relying on his hard-body technique, was pushed back hard by one of the sudden blasts. Despite his physical resilience, even he was beginning to feel the strain.

The attacks were fast, blindingly so. Liam had no choice but to rely on both his sword and his system to slash through the high-pressure strikes, barely keeping up.

Damn it, Liam thought, ducking under a jet before slashing upward to counter. At this rate, I'm going to have to use the other weapon. But if I do… can I make it look like magic? Would it even be enough to finish one of them in a single hit?

His eyes flicked to Dame.

Maybe if we work together… If I can slice off the head, that part probably won't regenerate, right?

He missed the system link-up they used to have. The natural synchronicity between their powers had been incredibly useful during team fights. Now, without that connection, everything felt just a step out of rhythm.

On the opposite side, Beatrix was lining up her attacks carefully. Her blood powers were precise, but this opponent wasn't giving her many opportunities.

Using a basic, but deadly, technique, blood began to swirl around her wrist, forming a thin ring before launching outward with her strike. Each droplet, no larger than a raindrop, carried an explosive property that expanded violently on impact. It wasn't exactly an explosion, but the force it delivered was enough to shatter defenses.

When her attacks landed, the swirling water shields would break momentarily, but she couldn't fire quickly enough to fully break through before they reformed.

As another stream of water roared toward them, Safa jumped forward. Her spear spun with grace and power, deflecting the attack cleanly before she landed beside Beatrix.

"It looks like the boys are struggling just as much," Safa said, a soft smile on her lips. "So don't be too hard on yourself. But I think… I've got a plan that'll end this. Are you willing to go along with it?"

Beatrix nodded. "You've got my trust."

While the others fought, the students watching from a safe distance kept their eyes wide open. Despite the danger, none of the transfer students seemed genuinely threatened. It was more like a high-stakes performance, and the others were trying to learn all they could.

Meanwhile, further back near the edge of the forest, Bronto stood still, his eyes narrowed.

He had just electrocuted one of the small beasts that had leapt out from the nearby brush. Now, two more emerged, tiny but twitching with agitation.

Bronto tilted his head, amused.

"What is this?" he muttered. "Did I just fry your kid or something? Now mama and papa are coming for revenge?"

He cracked his knuckles and smirked.

"Too bad. You're next."

Electricity danced along his fingertips before he flicked out two bolts of lightning. They hit the small beasts squarely, sending them tumbling to the ground, twitching and lifeless.

He grinned with satisfaction, until he heard it.

A sound, wet, deep, and gurgling. The bushes were shaking again. But it wasn't just one bush this time.

A whole trail of them.

, ––

Back at the main contest, Safa was already in motion.

Unlike the others, her strategy wasn't to wear the beasts down, it was to end the fight outright.

She sprinted forward. Beatrix, recognizing the signal, followed closely behind. As they reached the towering creature, Safa raised her spear.

A brilliant white light exploded from the tip, radiating across the entire clearing. It lit up everything, blinding both the beast and the watching students. No one could see what was happening behind the curtain of divine light.

That was the point.

Beatrix drew her sword. With one hand, she launched her blood powers to shatter the beast's water shields one by one.

Then, kicking off the ground, she surged forward with Qi-boosted strength, slamming her sword into the creature's chest.

Her blade pierced through.

There was a crack, subtle, but audible. She had struck something critical.

Inside the beast's watery form, a core had shattered.

The towering creature, once fused even with the top of the waterfall, began to unravel. The water collapsed downward like a crashing wave, its body dissolving into formless liquid.

As the light from Safa's spear faded, Beatrix stood empty-handed.

Her sword was gone, absorbed, shattered, or simply used up. The only thing left was the collapsed form of the beast on the ground.

Thanks to Safa's God Eyes, Beatrix thought, she could see the core, the true source of its regeneration and magic. None of us would've figured that out without her.

And while she blinded everyone… I got to use my powers freely.

, ,

Across the field, Liam and Dame had noticed the girls' success.

"Wasn't that cheating?" Liam muttered, watching the last of the water beast collapse. "I thought we agreed not to use our other strengths."

But Dame wasn't about to fall behind.

With a roar, he pushed forward, electrifying his hardened body and charging through the beast's defenses like a battering ram. He slammed into it, pinning it up against the cliff wall.

Liam didn't hesitate. He saw the beast's reaction and where the damage had been focused. His system rapidly calculated the core's location based on the feedback.

With a sharp leap, Liam sliced through his own beast with a single clean strike.

The monster twitched, and then collapsed into a pile of sloshing water.

Landing softly, the two stood still for a moment, breathing heavy.

They had won, but neither of them looked thrilled.

That thing was tough, Dame thought, eyeing the fading puddles. If I'd been alone… even using my full strength… I might not have made it. This dimension is no joke.

When Liam and Dame jogged back toward Safa and Beatrix, they noticed that the two weren't looking at them. Their attention was elsewhere.

Eyes wide. Faces tense.

"The students," Safa said, her voice cutting the air.

All of them turned at once.

****

****

For updates for MWS and future works, please follow me on my social media below.

Instagram: Jksmanga

Patreon*: jksmanga