The trial area assigned to Thalor City was a vast circular region, with the city itself positioned at the centre like a hub. Because of that, the Heaven and Earth Phenomenon was visible to only about thirty per cent of the total candidates scattered across the forest. Even then, it went largely unnoticed—most candidates were too low-levelled to sense such things, let alone recognise them.

When Leo spotted the phenomenon, others who were in range saw it as well. But many, just like him, had no idea what they were looking at. Even if knowledge about such events was considered common, those living on the outskirts or near borders rarely encountered phenomena like this. Nor did they have people around them to explain it or spread stories about it.

So the moment the golden flare burst through the sky, the first to move without hesitation were the inner and core city youths—candidates raised in information, resources, and privilege. Naturally, others who didn't understand a thing—including Leo—still rushed forward purely out of curiosity and instinct.

And they weren't the only ones.

All throughout the location's region, beasts were converging as well.

"Shyra, faster!" Leo urged, leaning forward as he guided her to cut through the dense forest in long, ground-shaking strides.

Shyra's massive frame—four meters tall and seven meters long—tore through smaller trees and bushes like they were paper. Despite her size, her feline agility allowed her to weave around larger obstacles with predator-like grace. As they sprinted, Leo noticed more and more beasts racing alongside or darting through the underbrush toward the same golden beam.

That alone confirmed it—this was worth their time.

Of course, Leo didn't let those beasts go to waste. With Niri's help and their enhanced [Vine Estrangement] skill, they snared any creature that came too close. Thick vines burst forth, latching onto beasts, draining their vitality in seconds before crushing their bodies. Leo simply tapped his metal plate against the corpses to collect them, quickly storing beast cores, the occasional mana crystal, and soul crystals into his Spiritual Space before moving on.

This time, however, they were making even better use of Shyra's massive body.

Earlier, Niri had gathered a bundle of sturdy vine sprouts. Using her wood-affinity trait, she nurtured them until they thickened, then wrapped them around Shyra's abdomen like a living harness. When Leo or Niri activated [Vine Estrangement], the skill-generated vines would sprout directly from the wrapped vines and slither along Shyra's sides, giving them reach and stability—not hindering her movement in the slightest. It lets them harvest kills while still rushing forward at full speed.

Chimes kept echoing in Leo's mind that he put aside for a while.

Ding!

• Stalker Viperling (Intermediate 1-star) [Ordinary Bloodline] Killed → 4 XP

• Mudhorn Boarlet (High 1-star) [Ordinary Bloodline] Killed → 50 XP

• Shade-fur Lynx Cub (Peak 1-star) [Mortal Bloodline] Killed → 200 XP

• Barkhide Gnawer (Low 1-star) [Ordinary Bloodline] Killed → 2 XP

• Thorn-jaw Mite (Intermediate 1-star) [Mortal Bloodline] Killed → 4 XP

• Ember-Plume Chick (High 1-star) [Ordinary Bloodline] Killed → 50 XP

• Graveltooth Serpent (Low 1-star) [Mortal Bloodline] Killed → 2 XP

• Crackclaw Wargling (Low 2-star) [Mortal Bloodline] Killed → 1000 XP

• Spinegrove Apelet (Low 1-star) [Ordinary Bloodline] Killed → 2 XP

• Iron-Shell Crabkin (Intermediate 1-star) [Mortal Bloodline] Killed → 4 XP

A harvest.

That was Leo's first thought as the notifications stacked up.

Initially, Shyra's oppressive aura had scared most beasts into hiding. But now—with the strange pull of the golden light in the distance—beasts were abandoning their territorial instincts and rushing straight toward it like zealots, completely ignoring Shyra's presence.

And that suited Leo perfectly.

More beasts meant more experience. More trial points.

He grinned as Shyra bulldozed through another wall of trees.

This was turning into a jackpot.

---

"Master Dale, watch out!" a white-haired girl shouted, sprinting forward with icy mist spiralling around her clenched fist.

BAAAM!

The ground erupted in just 10 meters in front of her. Dirt and shattered rocks blasted outward in a gritty spray. Through the dust-cloud, a figure was hurled back and slammed into a tree with a dull, splintering crunch, leaving a wide dent in the trunk.

"Arghh…" Dale groaned, pushing himself up on shaky arms as he tried to steady his wobbling stance. Beside him, a few collapsed beasts could be seen that were unresponsive, supposedly unconscious, as the breathing was still evident.

As the haze settled, their enemy emerged—towering, heavy, and terrifyingly sturdy.

A nearly six-meter-tall humanoid construct stepped forward, its entire body the colour and texture of light coloured stone. A white, luminous orb was embedded in its chest, pulsing faint, veiny strands of light across its entire rocky surface. Every pulse sent a ripple of strange, whitish radiation crawling through its stone plates. Its head wasn't really a head at all—just a smooth, circular boulder with no eyes, nose, or mouth. Featureless.

Dale looked like he had been dragged through a battlefield. His black-and-red outfit was torn in several places, and his breath came sharp and ragged. It was clear he had been fighting this golem for a long while now.

Suddenly—

A blazing fireball smashed into the golem, flames roaring as they wrapped around its massive torso. The inferno danced violently, heat distorting the air… but the effect was almost nonexistent.

The golem didn't slow or flinch.Didn't even acknowledge the attack.

It continued advancing toward Dale with heavy, earth-shaking steps—its judgment already made. To it, Dale was the greatest threat, the target that needed to die first.

"Enra, rest! Or else you'll collapse!" Dale snapped, his voice hoarse yet commanding.

The red-haired girl who had cast the flames flinched at his shout. Her condition was clearly worse than she tried to show. Despite no visible wounds, her face was ghost-pale, lips bloodless, as though something had drained her vitality straight from her veins. The hand she had raised to summon another fireball trembled uncontrollably.

The moment Dale barked the command, her knees buckled—and she would have toppled forward if not for the other white-haired girl, who darted in to catch her. The newcomer, identical to the first white-haired girl, wasn't in great shape herself. Her complexion was only slightly better, but still pale with exhaustion.

She pressed her palm against Enra's forehead.

[Mana Transfer]

A soft, glowing thread of energy flowed between them. The supporting girl's complexion turned visibly worse, her strength draining away, while Enra's colour slowly returned. Within seconds, both girls were left in nearly the same weakened condition—but at least neither was on the verge of passing out anymore.

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