Raze stepped into different sections of the forest, the atmosphere changing immediately. The trees here were older, thicker, their trunks scarred with claw marks that suggested territory disputes between apex predators. The undergrowth was trampled flat in places, paths worn by creatures large enough to simply push through obstacles rather than navigate around them.

The ambient mana felt heavier too, pressure that made his cultivation respond instinctively. Master rank beasts claimed this territory, threats that would challenge most delegates seriously.

Bephe sensed the change as well, the prehistoric predator's demeanor shifting from enthusiastic to focused. His muscles coiled with readiness, tail low and still rather than wagging. The playfulness that had marked earlier encounters was gone, replaced by recognition that genuine danger lurked ahead.

A growl rumbled through the forest, a deep bass note that vibrated through the ground. Something massive was approaching, bulk suggested by the way trees swayed as it moved past them.

The beast emerged from between ancient trunks, easily three times Bephe's current size. It resembled a bear crossed with something reptilian, scaled hide covering muscles that bunched with obvious power. Master Low rank cultivation radiated from it, eyes gleaming with intelligence that marked it as territorial apex rather than simple predator.

It spotted them immediately, territorial instinct apparently overriding any survival calculation about facing unknown threats.

The charge was explosive, Master rank speed carrying tons of muscle and fury across the distance in heartbeats.

Raze's hand tightened on his katana, Combat Reflex showing him attack vectors and optimal responses. This wasn't an Expert rank beast he could end with a single strike. This required actual effort, sustained engagement against an opponent that could genuinely threaten him if he made mistakes.

Bephe met the charge head-on, expanding to match the beast's size as he collided with it. The impact sounded like thunder, both creatures skidding backward from the force of collision. Then they were grappling, prehistoric fury against Master rank power in a contest of pure physical dominance.

Raze moved, Scarlet Leap carrying him to the beast's flank while it was engaged with Bephe. His katana flashed toward exposed ribs, mana enhanced edge seeking the gaps between scales.

The strike landed but didn't penetrate deeply, Master rank durability far exceeding what Expert beasts could withstand. The creature roared, twisting with speed that belied its bulk to swipe at Raze with claws that could disembowel him.

Void Step activated, displacing him clear of the attack before those claws could connect. He reappeared five meters away, already repositioning for another strike.

The battle was genuine now, requiring coordination and precision rather than overwhelming advantage. Bephe kept the beast's attention while Raze targeted vulnerable points, systematic dismantling that chipped away at their opponent's durability through accumulated damage.

Minutes passed before the Master rank beast finally collapsed, blood loss and internal injuries overwhelming its constitution. The kill had required actual effort, genuine expenditure of resources and focus.

Raze checked his bracelet: 1,073 points. Master Low kills were worth 150 points each, substantial increase over Expert rank rewards.

"This changes things," he said to Bephe, who'd shrunk back to calf size while panting heavily. "We can't just blitz through Master rank encounters. These require actual tactics."

The prehistoric predator rumbled agreement, clearly recognizing the increased challenge.

More movement announced additional threats. Three more Master rank beasts emerged from the forest, drawn by the sounds of combat. They moved with coordination that suggested pack hunters rather than solitary apex predators.

Raze settled into a ready stance, katana held in guard position while his cultivation surged through meridians.

‐‐‐

Aurora Weiss stood in the frozen wasteland she'd been hunting through for the past hour, surrounded by corpses of Master rank beasts that had made the mistake of challenging her. Ice coated everything within fifty meters of her position, the ground cracked from rapid temperature changes that would have killed lesser cultivators through environmental exposure alone.

Her white hair whipped in the wind she'd unconsciously created, ice blue eyes tracking the next pack of threats approaching her position. They were massive wolves, each one radiating Master Mid rank cultivation, moving with coordination that marked them as experienced pack hunters.

She didn't wait for them to reach her.

Ice erupted from the frozen ground in a forest of crystalline spears, each one sharp enough to pierce Master rank hide and cold enough to freeze blood instantly. The lead wolf tried to dodge but found itself impaled through the chest, body temperature dropping so rapidly that it was dead before it could process the pain.

The others scattered, recognizing genuine threat when they saw it.

Aurora's hands moved in complex patterns, authority responding to her will with precision that years of royal training had refined. Walls of ice formed to channel the wolves into killing zones. Projectiles of compressed frost launched like artillery, each one exploding on impact to coat targets in a flash freeze that locked muscles and stopped hearts.

The battle lasted less than three minutes. Seven Master Mid rank beasts lay frozen solid, their bodies already beginning to crack from the extreme cold that had invaded every cell.

Her bracelet was updated: 1,847 points.

She'd been hunting systematically, clearing territory after territory while her point total climbed steadily. The frozen wasteland was a perfect environment for her authority, every attack amplified by the ambient cold that her ice manipulation could weaponize.

More beasts appeared on the horizon, drawn by the disturbance or perhaps defending deeper territories. Aurora smiled, expression carrying anticipation rather than concern.

Silverpeak's Ice Princess had earned that title through devastating combat displays that left opponents wondering if they'd fought cultivator or living blizzard. She intended to demonstrate exactly why that reputation existed, why her kingdom's frozen warriors were counted among humanity's elite despite their relatively small population.

Ice gathered around her hands, temperature dropping until the air itself began to crystallize.

The wolves charged, and Aurora met them with winter's fury made manifest.

‐‐‐

Blossom Karnstein moved through the cavern system like a storm given human form, lightning crackling around her body in constant display of barely restrained power. Her dark hair seemed to float in the electrical field she generated, violet eyes tracking targets with predatory focus that marked genuine combat specialist rather than academic mage.

The spider colony had been impressive initially, dozens of Master rank arachnids defending their territory with coordination and venom that would have killed most delegates. The cavern walls still bore scorch marks from her initial assault, electrical burns that spoke to the devastation she'd unleashed.

Now she stood in a chamber absolutely filled with spider corpses, the smell of burned chitin thick enough to taste. Her bracelet read 1,523 points, accumulated through systematic extermination that had cleared three separate colony sections.

Movement in the darkness announced her actual target. The Queen Spider emerged from depths, massive beyond reason with Master Peak cultivation radiating from a chitinous body that gleamed with natural armor. Eight eyes focused on Blossom with intelligence that suggested genuine awareness rather than simple instinct.

"There you are," Blossom said, voice carrying excitement that would have concerned anyone familiar with her combat tendencies. "I was wondering when the boss would show up."

The Queen struck with speed that belied her bulk, leg stabbing forward like a spear to impale this intruder who'd slaughtered her children.

Lightning erupted from Blossom's palm in concentrated lance, blue white electricity that moved faster than the eye could follow. The impact point on the Queen's leg exploded, chitin vaporizing under heat that exceeded what biological materials could withstand.

The Queen screamed, a sound that echoed through the cavern system and probably carried to other sections of the pocket dimension. She pulled back, reassessing this threat that had just demonstrated capability to seriously injure her.

Blossom didn't give her time to think. Electrical current spread across the cavern floor, following moisture and minerals to create a web of deadly voltage. Secondary strikes launched from her hands in rapid succession, each one targeting joints and gaps in the Queen's natural armor.

The battle was intense, Master Peak durability letting the Queen survive attacks that would have killed lesser beasts instantly. She countered with venom spray and webbing, trying to immobilize or poison this human who wielded lightning like extension of her own body.

But Blossom's control was extraordinary, electricity responding to her will with precision that spoke to genuine authority over the element. She dodged, repositioned, struck from unexpected angles while maintaining constant pressure that gave the Queen no opportunity to mount sustained counterattack.

Five minutes of brutal combat ended with the Queen Spider collapsing, nervous system fried beyond any hope of recovery. Master Peak cultivation hadn't been enough against someone who understood exactly how to weaponize electricity against biological targets.

Bracelet update: 1,873 points.

Blossom grinned, satisfaction clear despite the exhaustion starting to creep into her muscles. That had been a genuine challenge, a fight that required everything she'd learned through years of training under Cindral's combat mages.

She'd come to Elmbridge Academy to prove that Cindral wasn't just about alchemy and trade, that their kingdom produced warriors capable of standing alongside any nation's finest. This examination was a perfect opportunity for that demonstration.

Lightning crackled around her fingers as she moved toward the cavern exit, seeking new territories and stronger challenges.

‐‐‐

Seraphine Lumis fought with grace that bordered on artistic, light manipulation creating displays that were simultaneously beautiful and devastating. The cathedral section she'd claimed as hunting ground was now filled with crumbling gargoyle corpses, stone bodies reduced to rubble through sustained assault from someone who understood exactly how light could be weaponized.

Her bracelet read 1,691 points, accumulated through systematic clearing that had eliminated dozens of Master rank stone elementals. The golden illumination filtering through ancient windows seemed to respond to her presence, brightening wherever she moved as if recognizing kindred spirit.

Now she faced the Cathedral Guardian, a massive construct that towered three stories tall with Master Peak cultivation emanating from a stone body carved with runes that suggested ancient craftsmanship. It moved with surprising grace despite its bulk, clearly designed as ultimate defender rather than simple territorial beast.

"You're magnificent," Seraphine said honestly, appreciating the artistry even as she prepared to destroy it. "But I need those points."

The Guardian attacked with fists that could level buildings, stone limbs moving with speed that belied their mass.

Seraphine's response was immediate. Light gathered around her body in a defensive shell, radiance compressed to near-solid density that deflected the Guardian's strike. The impact still sent her skidding backward, Master Peak strength exceeding what her barrier could fully negate, but she remained uninjured.

Her counterattack came in the form of dozens of light lances, solidified radiance that punched into the Guardian's stone body like armor piercing rounds. Each one left a glowing crater, heat from concentrated light beginning to destabilize the stone's molecular structure.

The Guardian roared, a sound that shook the entire cathedral. Runes on its body flared to life, clearly some form of enhancement or defensive measure built into its construction.

Seraphine adapted immediately. Instead of direct strikes, she created a network of light beams that crisscrossed the space between them. The Guardian charged forward and found itself caught in a laser web, each beam burning into stone wherever contact occurred.

The battle became a war of attrition, Seraphine's sustained assault gradually overwhelming the Guardian's durability despite its Master Peak rank. Her understanding of light manipulation let her attack from multiple angles simultaneously, creating crossfire that prevented effective defense.

Ten minutes of brutal combat ended with the Guardian collapsing, a stone body so riddled with burning holes that structural integrity finally failed. The massive construct crumbled, Master Peak cultivation extinguishing as whatever magic animated it dispersed.

Bracelet update: 2,041 points.

Seraphine breathed heavily, the sustained assault having drained her mana reserves significantly. But satisfaction filled her despite exhaustion. She'd just solo killed a Master Peak boss through superior technique and tactical thinking, proof that Valtor's magical traditions produced results worthy of their reputation.

Light gathered around her hands as she moved toward the cathedral exit, seeking a rest area where she could recover before continuing her hunt.

‐‐‐

Headmaster Sariah watched the leaderboard update, numbers shifting as exceptional performers continued separating themselves from the pack:

1. Gareth Valorian - 2,247 points

2. Seraphine Lumis - 2,041 points

3. Blossom Karnstein - 1,873 points

4. Aurora Weiss - 1,847 points

5. Raze Dragonheart - 1,523 points

6. Kira Steelheart - 1,402 points

7. Lucien Astoria - 1,289 points

8. Fedora Westia - 1,156 points

9. Ellen Nightingale - 1,098 points

10. Darius Crawford - 987 points

"Three new names in the top ten," Dean Laurent observed with clear approval. "Seraphine Lumis from Valtor, Blossom Karnstein from Cindral, and Aurora Weiss from Silverpeak. All of them demonstrating exceptional capability."

"All three just killed Master Peak bosses," Dean Winters added, reviewing their combat footage. "Solo kills, no assistance, pure individual capability. That's remarkable for delegates their age."

"The Weiss girl's ice authority is particularly impressive," Dean Cortez noted. "Her control rivals some of our advanced students. Silverpeak's royal training clearly produces results."

"And Blossom Karnstein's lightning manipulation shows genuine mastery," Dean Laurent continued. "Cindral doesn't usually send combat specialists, but she's proving they can when needed."

Sariah's attention remained on Raze's position, watching him battle multiple Master rank beasts simultaneously. He'd dropped from second to fifth as the three exceptional female delegates had overtaken him through their boss kills, but his steady accumulation suggested he'd climb again soon.

"The Dragonheart boy is still advancing efficiently despite facing coordinated Master rank packs," she observed. "His tactical thinking is excellent. He's not chasing individual glory through boss fights but systematically clearing territory for consistent point gain."

The Deans nodded, recognizing a different but equally valid approach. Some delegates focused on high value targets for massive point gains. Others preferred consistent accumulation through volume killing. Both strategies had merit depending on capability and circumstances.

"One hour remains," Sariah announced. "Let's see how far they can push themselves in the final stretch."

The screens continued displaying hundreds of individual battles, humanity's exceptional prospects proving exactly why they'd been selected for Elmbridge Academy.

This was indeed an interesting year.

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