Dahlia's team moved through the forest, stepping over broken roots and tall grass.

Behind her, Clara whistled cheerfully while Eliza drifted along silently like a ghost.

Dahlia stopped and stretched her a

"Alright, girls," she said, glancing at Clara and Eliza.

"The boys already awakened their [Unique Physiques]… and they won't shut up about it."

Clara snorted, twirling her fingers.

"Yeah, Rynar and Rynor flexing nonstop is getting on my nerves."

Eliza nodded slowly, voice soft. "They… brag too much."

Dahlia puffed her cheeks. "Exactly! So we're using this chance to awaken ours too."

She looked at her clenched hand.

"I can feel it... almost all my cells have already turned into perfect mana-core cells. I'm this close!"

She pinched her fingers together.

Clara grinned wide. "Same here. My whole body is buzzing. Feels like my mana is trying to break out."

Eliza raised her hand slightly. "I… feel light. Like my bones are humming."

Dahlia's eyes sparkled. "That's it. That means we're nearly there."

Then...

RRRROOOOOARRR!!

Three second-realm demonic beasts stormed out from the trees.

A wolf with bone plates, a boar with red eyes, and a giant lizard with poisonous fangs.

The junior disciples behind them screamed and stumbled back.

Dahlia cracked her knuckles.

"Oh good," she said with a bright, dangerous smile. "Perfect timing."

Clara stretched her arms casually.

"Let's show these beasts how stressed we've been thanks to the twins flaunting their stupid unique physiques."

Eliza closed her eyes, taking a slow breath.

Dahlia pointed forward dramatically.

"Girls. Let's vent."

The massive wolf-like demonic beast lunged straight at Dahlia.

Dahlia loosened her shoulders with two quick rolls.

"I got the mutt."

She lowered her stance. Mana surged through her legs, tightening her muscles like coiled springs.

The wolf jumped and Dahlia stepped in.

Her fist shot upward into its jaw with a clean, tight uppercut, her whole body twisting to add power.

CRACK!

The wolf's head snapped back, its body flipping midair.

Dahlia shook her hand lightly. "Huh. Harder than I thought."

Another beast, the boar with red eyes, stomped toward Clara.

Clara smirked and tapped her own cheek. "Come on, piggy. I need to vent too."

Mana wrapped around Clara's legs as she dashed in.

The boar charged, tusks ready to tear anything in its path.

Clara slid under its head, planting both palms on the ground.

She pushed herself up and flipped, slamming both heels into the boar's chin.

THUD!

The beast staggered back, squealing.

Clara grinned. "Ha! Stress reduced by two percent!"

The third beast, a giant lizard, locked eyes on Eliza. Its tongue flicked, venom dripping from its teeth.

Eliza didn't move.

She simply raised her hands slightly, palms open.

The lizard lunged.

Eliza stepped sideways, not fast or even flashy, but perfectly timed.

Her body barely brushed past its scales.

As it passed her, she placed a sharp palm strike to the side of its neck.

PAK!

The lizard stumbled, confused. It turned back toward her, slower now.

Eliza lowered her hands again.

"…One more," she whispered.

Behind her, Clara shouted, "ELIZA, YOU COOL, SCARY NINJA!"

Dahlia blocked another swipe from the wolf, her forearms hard as stone thanks to mana flowing through her muscles.

"That's it!" she yelled. "Push more! Strengthen your body with mana! Don't hold back!"

Clara smashed her elbow into the boar's ribs, cracking them with a loud crunch.

Eliza stepped in and struck the lizard's jaw with another clean, precise blow.

The beast collapsed with a thud.

Dahlia grabbed the wolf's leg, spun, and tossed it over her shoulder.

It crashed into the ground, groaning.

The juniors behind them watched with wide eyes.

"These three are monsters…"

"No wonder they're the senior disciples…"

The three beasts that rushed them earlier lay motionless on the ground.

Clara exhaled loudly. "Alright! That felt good."

Eliza brushed dirt off her sleeve, calm as always. "…Warm-up complete."

But then...

ROOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAARRR!!

A roar far louder than before ripped through the jungle.

The juniors instantly froze.

Clara's smile vanished. "Uh oh."

Eliza's eyes tightened. "…Strong."

The ground cracked open as something massive crawled out from between the trees.

It was a lizard with scales that glowed blood red. Black smoke rolled from its nostrils.

And on its back, two leathery wings unfolded, dust blasting away.

Dahlia's whole body stiffened. "Wait. Don't tell me..."

The aura hit them like a storm.

Clara's knees bent. "Third… realm…"

Eliza stepped back a half-step. "Heavy… power…"

Dahlia gritted her teeth. "A third realm drake?! How is that fair?!"

The juniors panicked instantly.

"A-A THIRD REALM?!"

"We'll die! We'll seriously die!!"

"RETREAT! RETREAT!!"

Dahlia snapped into command mode.

"JUNIOR DISCIPLES, BACK!! MOVE!! NOW!!"

She pointed furiously toward a safer area.

"Inner disciples! Protect them! Don't let any of them get hit!"

The inner disciples rushed forward, forming a wall in front of the juniors.

Clara cracked her neck left and right. "Well… looks like this is our chance."

Eliza exhaled slowly, calm but tense. "…Strong opponent. Good for awakening."

Dahlia stepped between them, planting her foot firmly into the ground.

"Nobody panic. You two..."

She pointed at Clara, then Eliza.

"We're beating this thing. And maybe... this is the push we need to awaken our [Unique Physiques]."

Clara flicked her wrist, her playful smirk returning. "Alright, big lizard. Prepare to be stress relief number two."

Eliza's voice stayed soft. "…I'll do my best."

Dahlia raised her fists, mana flowing through every muscle.

"Good. Because if we don't go all out…"

She stared at the drake as it roared again, wings shaking the trees.

"…we're dead."

The drake stomped forward, claws digging deep into the earth.

Dahlia's eyes sharpened.

"Girls... Mana to the max."

They nodded.

Clara inhaled sharply.

Eliza focused her stance.

Dahlia leaned forward, ready to sprint, and then shouted...

"LET'S GO!!"

And the three charged straight at the third realm drake.

The juniors watched with wide, shaking eyes as their three senior sisters ran toward a monster that could crush them all.

It felt like the beginning of something huge.

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