The corrupted lion slammed into the skeletal shield again.

  BOOM.

  Cracks spread across the bone barrier as the impact forced Oscar backward across the dirt.

  Oscar gritted his teeth.

  I’ve barely practiced this technique…

  The beast roared in frustration.

  Its massive claws tore into the shield, bone fragments splintering across the clearing.

  Dead Man’s Bulwark was holding—

  But barely.

  Behind him, the others were already moving.

  “Elaina, give me ten seconds!” Vega shouted.

  “You’ll get five!” she replied.

  Elaina soared over the lion.

  Golden energy erupted around her body as she raised her hand.

  Gravity multiplied around the beast.

  The massive creature sank deeper into the ground as invisible pressure crushed downward.

  But the beast fought back.

  With a thunderous roar, it pushed against the force.

  The earth cracked beneath its claws.

  Elaina clenched her teeth.

  She couldn’t increase the pressure any further.

  If she did…

  Oscar would be crushed too.

  “Alexander, you’re up.”

  Alexander stepped forward.

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  Storm energy exploded from his core.

  Electricity spiraled violently around his arm.

  “Storm Core: Thunder’s Wrath!”

  He thrust his arm downward.

  A massive bolt of lightning tore from the sky and slammed directly into the lion’s back.

  CRACK.

  Electricity spread across the monster’s body, burning through corrupted flesh.

  The lion roared wildly.

  Still—

  It pushed forward.

  Oscar felt the pressure increase as the beast slammed against the shield again.

  CRASH.

  The skeletal barrier shattered.

  Bone fragments scattered across the clearing.

  “No rush or anything!” Oscar shouted.

  Aster stepped beside him.

  “Water Convergence: Coral Reef!”

  Jagged coral erupted from the ground, reinforcing the shattered barrier and forming a second defensive wall.

  The lion crashed into it again.

  But Aster was already at his limit.

  He had never used Coral Reef twice in a single day.

  For the first time since they had met—

  Aster’s core began to destabilize.

  Vega stepped forward.

  His expression was completely calm.

  Energy gathered around his blade.

  The air itself vibrated as power condensed around him.

  Oscar felt the pressure even from across the clearing.

  That core…

  It was the core of a champion.

  “Elaina!” Vega called.

  “Now!”

  “Oscar, Aster—move!”

  Oscar grabbed Aster and jumped back.

  Elaina amplified the gravity again.

  The lion was crushed into the ground, forced onto its stomach.

  The corrupted jewel on its forehead pulsed violently.

  “We’re clear, Vega!” Elaina shouted.

  “Finish it!”

  Vega inhaled slowly.

  “Champion: Conqueror’s Cleave.”

  In a single motion—

  He dashed forward.

  The ground shattered beneath his feet.

  The lion tried to rise.

  But it was too late.

  Vega’s blade flashed.

  One strike.

  Silence filled the clearing.

  For a moment—

  Nothing happened.

  Then the corrupted jewel shattered.

  The lion’s body split cleanly in two.

  Its massive corpse collapsed into the dirt.

  The forest fell silent.

  Oscar slowly lowered his hands.

  Aster exhaled deeply as his core stabilized again.

  Oscar glanced toward Vega.

  “…That boy is terrifying.”

  Aster nodded.

  “Damn right he is.”

  The exam forest had grown quiet again.

  But something about the entire situation felt wrong.

  Because that monster…

  Should never have been inside the exam forest.