Dahlia cupped her hands around her mouth and shouted toward the battlefield.

"HEY! You two! Do you need some help or what?!"

Clara staggered back after barely blocking another heavy strike.

She wiped blood from her mouth and shot Dahlia a glare.

"No need!" she yelled back. "I can handle this!"

On the other side, Eliza slid across the ground, boots digging deep lines into the dirt as she stopped herself.

She straightened slowly and shook her head.

"…We can handle this."

Clara laughed hoarsely, even as her legs trembled.

"Yeah. After we awaken, these beasts will be easy. Easy peasy."

Dahlia raised an eyebrow. "That confident, huh?"

She didn't move closer. Instead, she reached into her storage ring.

"Good," she said. "But I wasn't talking about helping with my power."

Both Clara and Eliza frowned at the same time.

Dahlia pulled out two familiar red bottles and held them up.

"These."

The moment they saw the liquid inside, both of them stiffened.

"…Ah," Clara muttered. "That thing."

Eliza's lips pressed into a thin line. "…Master's new potions made by Mersha."

They remembered all too well.

Every supplement Garion gave tasted horrible.

But the effects?

Ridiculous.

And this one… this was made by their junior sister. The so-called genius.

Clara swallowed. "Didn't Master say this one boosts physical fitness for a few hours?"

Dahlia nodded. "Yeah. That's what he said."

Clara clicked her tongue. "Damn it."

Another roar shook the forest.

The horned demonic ape slammed its fists into the ground, cracking it again.

The black-scaled wolf growled low, slowly circling Eliza.

Clara took a deep breath and shouted, "Then give it to me!"

Eliza nodded without hesitation. "…Same."

Dahlia smirked. "Good choice."

She flicked her wrist and threw both bottles.

Clara and Eliza caught them easily, one in each hand.

They both looked down at the red liquid swirling inside.

"…This looks worse than usual," Clara said.

Eliza nodded. "…Much worse."

The beasts roared again and moved closer.

Clara gritted her teeth. "No more thinking."

She pulled the cork out.

Eliza did the same.

They drank.

The moment the liquid hit their tongues...

"GHH!!"

Clara's eyes went wide. "WHY IS IT THIS SPICY?!"

Eliza choked, coughing hard. "…It burns!"

The heat rushed down their throats, spreading through their chests, their arms, and their legs.

But in the next moment...

Their veins popped and muscles tightened.

Their breathing grew heavy as their bodies reacted instantly.

Clara dropped the empty bottle and clenched her fists. "…Okay."

She laughed, breath shaking. "Okay, I feel it."

Eliza rolled her shoulders, eyes sharp now. "…My body feels… lighter. Stronger."

Dahlia crossed her arms, satisfied. "Good. That means it's working."

Clara cracked her neck, staring straight at the horned ape.

"Alright, ugly," she muttered. "Round two."

The ape roared and charged again, its heavy steps shaking the ground.

Instead of backing away, Clara stepped forward.

At the same time, Eliza lowered her stance.

Her breathing slowed, her eyes fixed on the black-scaled wolf.

"…Come."

But just as both of them were about to move...

Something felt wrong.

Clara suddenly stiffened. "Wait."

Her brows knit together. "…Don't tell me."

A faint glow spread across their body.

Then suddenly, violet mana began to leak out from her skin, curling around her arms and shoulders.

Clara's eyes widened. "Oh. You've got to be kidding me."

On the other side, Eliza also stopped.

Pale gray mana flowed out, wrapping around her body like mist.

Eliza looked down at her hands, fingers trembling slightly.

"…So this is it."

The two demonic beasts slowed, confused by the sudden change.

Behind them, Dahlia's lips curled into a wide grin.

"Congratulations," she said loudly. "Both of you are awakening."

Clara turned her head back just enough to glare at her.

"WHY NOW?!"

She gestured wildly at the empty bottle on the ground.

"We just drank that nasty red potion! You're telling me this couldn't happen earlier?!"

Eliza nodded, her face tightening as the mana grew thicker around her.

"…The timing is terrible."

Dahlia laughed, clearly enjoying this.

"Hey, maybe it's because of the potion."

She shrugged.

"It reinforced your bodies just enough to push you over the line."

Clara groaned. "So I suffered for a maybe?"

"…Likely," Dahlia replied cheerfully.

The violet and gray fog grew denser, wrapping tighter around Clara and Eliza.

Clara clenched her fists as the pressure spiked.

"…Ah. Yeah. Here it comes."

Eliza sucked in a sharp breath, trying to calm down.

Dahlia took a step back, hands behind her head.

"Alright, brace yourselves. The pain is real."

In the next moment, both Clara and Eliza were completely covered as the glowing energy formed thick cocoons around their bodies.

Then...

"SON OF A... THIS HURTS SO BAD!!" Clara screamed.

Even Eliza, usually silent, couldn't hold it in."…Ngh!"

The sound echoed through the forest.

The juniors stared in shock.

"E-Even Senior Sister Eliza is screaming…"

"I've… I've never heard her raise her voice before…"

"Is it… Is it even worth it?"

Dahlia turned around at once, her expression sharp.

"Worth it?" she repeated. "Of course it is."

She crossed her arms and looked at them one by one.

"Have you already forgotten our motto?"

She raised her chin slightly.

"No pain, no gain."

The juniors flinched.

Dahlia pointed back toward the battlefield.

"Didn't you see what happened earlier? After I awakened, I beat a third-realm demonic beast easily."

She snorted.

"So don't ever say it's not worth it."

Meanwhile, the two demonic beasts moved.

The horned ape let out a low, mocking roar.

The black-scaled wolf's lips pulled back, teeth flashing.

They could sense it.

The humans were vulnerable.

Both beasts charged at the glowing cocoons.

"THEY'RE ATTACKING!" someone shouted.

Dahlia's lips curved into a confident grin.

"Well then," she said calmly, stepping back, "looks like it's time."

She raised her voice toward the cocoons.

"You two! Congratulations!"

The ape's fist slammed down.

The wolf lunged.

Dahlia laughed lightly.

"You're our shields now."

From inside the cocoon, Clara's furious voice burst out.

"GODDAMMIT!!!"

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