Hol looked over at Luo Wei. She stood—helplessly.

"No need to thank us. Siria is helpful and hospitable.

Whoever collapses out here today, we wouldn't just stand by."

"Time's running low. Why don't we finish the match first—talk after?"

At the word "match," Fubinne instantly tensed. "Alright, alright—we'll talk after it's over!"

From entry till now they'd earned barely any points; who knew how far behind the other academies they were. It was past time to hunt.

The Pengjato squad hurried off north, deeper into the mountains.

"Where to next?" Hol asked.

Luo Wei pinched her nose. "Wash the pot first. Then we head east."

"There's still a spoonful of medicinal paste," Hol said, regretful. "Really not going to eat it?"

"I am." Medicine was medicine.

She drew a long breath, took out her silver spoon, scooped a blob of the black paste, shut her eyes, and swallowed.

Bitter, sour, astringent—an indescribably weird assault. Her tongue prickled, went numb; her stomach burned like open flame.

This was a healing potion? She wouldn't believe it even under torture.

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She opened her eyes—and saw the spoon's silver bowl turned black. Silence.

Did this potion have hydrogen sulfide in it?

Hol had already carried the pot to the river; the stench drifted away with him. The forest air finally stopped feeling suffocating.

Axina slipped ghostlike out of the brush, face full of disgust. "You actually drank something that foul."

Expression blank, Luo Wei didn't feel like talking.

After a while Hol came back with a clean pot, and the five set out east.

In the map in Luo Wei's head, northern beasts were closest—but with Pengjato Academy heading north, they'd just be picking leftovers.

East worked too: dense forest, downstream stretch. Larger magic beasts usually favored the lower reaches—good for farming points.

After a stretch, sharp-nosed Gladys halted. "Magic beast—down there!"

She pointed to the riverbank below the slope.

"Go—let's take a look," Luo Wei said at once.

They descended into the ravine and immediately spotted several yellow-brown magic beasts pacing in circles on the bank.

"Sharp-Eared Hyena. Small magic beast. Easy kill." Gladys drew her sword, ready to charge.

"Wait." Luo Wei stopped her. "Something's off."

Three Sharp-Eared Hyenas stumbled like drunks, tongues lolling, spinning after their own tails nonstop.

Hyenas had excellent hearing—prey noises five kilometers away weren't a problem. Yet here the team stood practically beside them—and they still hadn't noticed. Not normal.

"They're so dumb," Gladys said.

"Feels like poisoning," Hol said after watching, raising his magic wand. "Let me test them."

"Earth Bind!"

Thick earthen ropes manifested and cinched the hyenas tight. They didn't resist—just happily pawed at the air, looking even more foolish.

The five looked at one another.

So brainless it felt awkward to strike.

Hol sighed, shifted his wand to his left hand, and drew his iron pot with his right. "Wait. I'll give them a quick end."

Soon several crisp clang-clang blows rang along the riverbank.

The other four watched Hol batter the Sharp-Eared Hyenas' heads open, then drag the three fluffy tails back toward them.

Three points in the bag. They felt dazed—like a dream.

Seriously—were magic beasts always this easy?

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