Clara wiped the blood off her knuckles and stretched her arms lazily.

"Man," she said with a grin, "second realm beasts aren't that scary anymore, huh?"

Eliza stood beside her, breathing steady, eyes calm. "…They're slower than before."

The corpse of a second realm demonic beast collapsed behind them with a heavy thud.

A junior nearby stared in disbelief.

"Senior Sisters… you killed it so easily…"

Clara waved her hand. "That's what training does to you. Suffer enough, and everything starts looking manageable."

Eliza nodded slightly. "…And your body learns."

Clara kicked another fallen beast aside and laughed. "See? If that's all Demon Gate Island has, this hunt's gonna be..."

CRACK!

The ground trembled.

Clara's smile froze.

"…Huh?"

The forest went quiet for half a second.

Then...

BOOM!

Two massive figures pushed through the trees.

One was a horned demonic ape, its arms thick like pillars, eyes glowing with deep red light.

The other was a black-scaled wolf, twice the size of the earlier beasts, its breath coming out in hot bursts.

Both of them radiated pressure that crushed down on everyone present.

The juniors reacted instantly.

They stumbled backward, some almost tripping over roots.

"T-Two of them?!"

"W-What kind of joke is this?!"

"I can't breathe…"

A few outer disciples grabbed their weapons tighter, hands shaking.

"And… and that pressure…"

"Third realm… they're both third realm!"

Fear spread through the group like a wave.

Clara and Eliza stiffened at the same time.

Clara clicked her tongue, her grin gone completely. "…Damn it."

Eliza's fingers tightened, her breathing slowing as her eyes narrowed. "…This is bad."

Clara glanced sideways. "This isn't 'a bit of pressure' anymore."

"…No," Eliza replied quietly. "This is deadly."

Behind them, Dahlia stood relaxed, arms crossed, eyes bright instead of worried.

She smiled and raised her voice. "HEY! YOU TWO!"

Clara shot her a look. "Now is not the time to smile!"

Dahlia laughed. "What? You wanted pressure, didn't you?"

Eliza frowned. "…Those are third realm beasts."

Dahlia nodded easily. "Exactly."

Clara sucked in a breath. "You're insane."

Dahlia's smirk widened. "Maybe. But I'm also experienced."

She pointed at herself with her thumb.

"Remember earlier? I awakened my [Unique Physique] after the three of us fought that third-realm demonic drake."

Clara paused. "…Yeah."

Eliza's brows knit together slightly. "…You nearly screamed your lungs out."

Dahlia waved that off. "Details."

She straightened a bit, her tone turning serious for once.

"The pressure matters. Fighting something that can kill you forces your body to react."

She looked at both of them one by one. "Two beasts. Two of you. Each take one."

Clara's eye twitched. "You say that like it's easy."

"I didn't say easy," Dahlia replied. "I said effective."

The demonic ape roared again, stomping forward and cracking the ground beneath its feet.

The black-scaled wolf let out a low growl, its eyes locked on Eliza.

Eliza adjusted her stance, jaw tight. "…One on one will make it easier to awaken."

Dahlia nodded. "Exactly. Your bodies are already close. This is just the final push."

Clara laughed dryly. "Or the final push into a grave."

Dahlia leaned forward slightly. "Clara."

Clara looked back.

"You didn't come all the way here just to stop at 'almost,' did you?"

Clara went quiet.

Then she clicked her tongue and rolled her shoulders. "…Damn it."

She glanced at the horned ape. "Fine. I'll take the ugly one."

Eliza took a slow breath, eyes steady. "…I'll handle the wolf."

The juniors behind them swallowed nervously.

Dahlia stepped back, finally uncrossing her arms. "Good."

She raised her voice again.

"Remember... Don't hold back. Break yourselves if you have to."

Clara snorted. "That's terrible advice."

Dahlia grinned. "Worked for me."

The demonic ape roared and charged.

The black-scaled wolf lunged at the same time.

Clara cracked her knuckles, eyes sharp. "Alright."

Eliza lowered her body, muscles tense. "…Let's end this."

---

The fight exploded the moment both beasts moved.

Clara rushed in first and slid to the side of the horned ape.

Her hands glowed faintly as she struck with reinforced blows, aiming for joints and weak points of the ape.

But when she slammed her fist into its side, there was nothing.

"…What?" Clara's eyes widened.

The ape then swung its arm casually.

Clara barely crossed her arms in time.

BOOM!

She was sent flying, crashing through several trees before rolling across the dirt.

She coughed hard, pain shooting through her ribs.

"Okay," she groaned, pushing herself up. "That… hit way harder than expected."

The ape roared and charged again, not giving her time to breathe.

---

On the other side, Eliza faced the black-scaled wolf.

She moved quietly, circling, her steps light as she avoided its snapping jaws.

She struck its leg with a precise kick, mana reinforcing her muscles.

The wolf barely flinched.

Its tail whipped around and smashed into her side.

Eliza was thrown onto the ground, sliding several meters before stopping.

She winced, one hand pressing against her side.

"…So fast," she muttered, forcing herself up.

The wolf didn't wait. It lunged again, claws tearing through the air.

Eliza blocked with her forearm.

Pain exploded through her arm, and she was knocked back again.

---

Clara staggered to her feet just in time to avoid being crushed under the ape's foot.

She rolled, dirt coating her clothes, and barely stood before another punch sent her tumbling.

She spat blood onto the ground and laughed weakly.

"Wow… this thing doesn't even care about my attacks."

The ape slammed both fists down.

Clara crossed her arms again, but this time she screamed as the impact crushed her into the dirt.

Eliza wasn't doing any better.

The wolf slammed her into a tree, the trunk cracking behind her.

She dropped to one knee, breathing heavily, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth.

"…I'm… too slow," she said quietly.

The wolf growled, stepping closer.

Behind them, the juniors were pale.

"They're losing…"

"Senior Sisters are getting beaten…"

Dahlia turned toward them, her expression calm.

"Don't worry too much," she said, waving a hand lightly. "This is exactly what they need."

The juniors stared at her in disbelief.

"T-This is necessary…?"

Dahlia nodded. "They have to awaken their own [Unique Physique]. Without pressure like this, it won't happen."

She looked back toward the battlefield, a faint smile tugging at her lips.

"So relax," she added. "And enjoy the show."

The ground shook again as another heavy blow landed.

Dahlia's smile widened just a little.

"…Though," she muttered to herself, fingers flexing, "I might need to step in if this drags on too long."

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