High up in the sky, nearly six to eight hundred meters above the forest canopy, the wind howled past like a living thing.

"Hohohohoho! These freshers are fukin' monsters!" Andrew laughed loudly, his voice nearly drowned out by the rush of air. "They're rivaling Juniors—what the hell?! Is that even possible?"

He lounged casually atop a Skyrend Eagle, its wingspan nearly double the size of the eagle that had earlier ferried Leo and Lily into the forest. Each powerful flap sent turbulent currents rippling through the clouds.

[Junior – 3rd Term Students]

Andrew's perpetually narrowed eyes glimmered faintly with magic as he gazed down at the battlefield below.

"Sometimes I think this [Thousand Mile Eyes] talent is better for gathering information than making me look like a villain," he muttered with a chuckle, watching Leo and Leon exchange blisteringly fast blows. Each collision sent shockwaves rippling through the trees beneath them.

"Oh ho?" His grin widened, teeth flashing. "Combat techniques from the lost era? I struck another fuckin' gold! This info will sell for at least 50,000 AC—not a single credit less."

His expression twisted into something bordering on manic delight.

After all, he was the one who had subtly sold information to both Leo and Leon—nudging them into the same area, steering events just enough to spark a confrontation. With their absurd trial points, it was inevitable. He simply wanted to see who truly stood at the top.

"Kekeke… looks like this Leo guy has more brute strength, while Leon's got sharper technique," he mused, rubbing his chin. "What to do, what to do… fuck! They're way too evenly matched."

His glowing gaze slid deeper into the forest.

"This girl… Lily, right?" His eyebrows rose in genuine surprise. "She's got skills too. Third place is basically locked. Damn… never thought a beautiful girl could actually fight. The ones I know are just bitches." He snorted. "This Leo guy really struck gold."

Below, Lily danced between snapping pincers and crackling mana, her commands to beasts and her own skills hammering the Magic Scorpion despite its clear advantage over her beasts.

"Hmm… that Lion and Scorpion must be Leon's," Andrew muttered thoughtfully. "And that Panther and Wolf—oh? Another one… what's that? A Dryad?"

His grin sharpened.

"Still, Leon's beasts hold the upper hand in raw power. Alright—betting on Leon for Fresher Competition Day!"

Just then—

A gaze locked onto him.

"Shit—did I get spotted?" Andrew hissed.

The next instant, mana surged violently.

A ranged attack streaked toward the sky.

"Elgo! We got what we wanted—let's dip!" Andrew barked.

The Skyrend Eagle screeched, banked sharply, and shot off toward the academy like a black bolt against the clouds.

---

Leon, who had just turned back toward Leo, suddenly felt a prickle crawl up his spine.

He snapped his head upward, eyes narrowing.

[Magic Stinger]!

He raised both arms as an intricate magic circle flared into existence. From its center, a massive, drill-like projection of a scorpion's stinger tore through the air and launched skyward.

"You've got too much time to distract yourself!" Leo snarled.

But the moment he shifted his focus—

Leo was already there.

Leon's eyes widened as Leo rocketed toward him, both legs raised.

A flying kick.

Leon grit his teeth and crossed his arms. "Damn you—!"

BAM!

The impact thundered through his body, hurling him backward like a ragdoll. He crashed through branches and skidded across the ground.

Before he could recover, Leo was on him again—closing the distance at lightning speed, he hoisted his fist for a punch, and launched it to meet Leo.

At the last second—

A dagger materialized in Leo's hand.

Leon's pupils shrank.

Too late.

The blade flashed.

The arm meant to punch was sliced open from the outside, a clean red line tearing straight from wrist to shoulder.

Pfft!

Blood burst out in a violent spray.

Leon staggered back several meters, breath hitching.

Now one arm was broken and the other torn open.

Clenching his jaw and suppressing the screaming pain, he glared at Leo.

"Now I get it," Leon growled. "This is how you beat me in the trial rankings. You don't hesitate to use dirty methods."

"A win's a win, my friend," Leo replied casually, a smirk playing on his lips as he balanced the dagger's hilt on a finger.

"Gotta use the gift my girl gave me, right?"

ROOOOOOAAAARRR!

A thunderous roar split the battlefield.

Leo's head snapped toward the sound.

Lily clutched her head, face pale as her spirits flickered violently. The Treant wavered, its form cracking under relentless scorpion attacks, barely holding together. The Scorpion itself sagged low, movements sluggish from Lily's continuous assault.

Only one beast stood tall.

The Lion.

Though injured to a great degree. It still stood proud.

The most domineering presence on the battlefield. It alone shifted the balance.

If things continued like this, the Lion would crush them all—and Leo would go broke if his beasts were forced back to the temple.

Seeing this, Leon laughed hoarsely.

"What are you going to do now?" he mocked, tightening the bandages around his arm. Blood seeped through the cloth, though the flow slowed. "Even if you win here, you'll go broke."

"Now?" Leo replied, his smirk deepening. "Now I use my trump card."

Leon's eyes widened.

Shit.

If he's got Pseudo 4-star strength… then he must have a beast—

He hastily wrapped himself in layer upon layer of aura, accelerating the bandaging as best he could.

So much gold, and he can't even afford a healing potion? Leo thought, momentarily baffled—but he didn't hesitate.

"Howl!" Leo shouted. "Show him what real might looks like!"

HHHOOOOOOOONNNNNNGGGGGGG!

The roar carried crushing weight.

Leon felt pressure slam down on him as a colossal shadow swallowed the forest.

What he saw next froze his blood solid.

The beasts below halted mid-battle.

Even Leo stared in disbelief.

"Did… did Howl grow this much in such a short time?!" he exclaimed, stunned.

THRUUUUMMMMM!

A massive form floated above the forest vegetation.

Leo and Leon watched as the Colossus hovered above the forest, its trait fully manifesting--

Controlled Weight Flow:

It redistributes its immense mass through spiritual resonance, allowing it to move without crushing vegetation if it so wills. The same resonance softens and disperses impact across its entire body.

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