At dawn, Alfred arrived with the five students of class zero. Entering early meant fewer competitors.

"Remember," Alfred said coldly, "during the rebellion period, you'll encounter not only soul beasts, but people. Your only objective is survival. Anyone who fails the final exam will be punished."

Raziel Phoenix raised a hand. "Teacher, what's the punishment?"

Alfred glanced at him. "Your vacation will be canceled."

Raziel Phoenix's eyes widened in horror. A month-long vacation was sacred.

The others exchanged nervous looks. Even Lily frowned slightly. Only Ray remained calm.

"Move."

After handing over their entry cards, they were led into a familiar room. West Ocean Academy's influence and its relationship with the Spirit Tower had earned them special treatment. This room allowed Alfred to observe them directly.

"The rebellion platform is far more dangerous than usual," the staff member reminded them. "You're experienced now, so I won't repeat myself. If you're in danger, hit the exit button immediately."

One by one, they entered their metal pods.

The lids closed. Light faded. Scans began.

Five cards were inserted into the console, and a large red button was pressed.

Moments later, the world shifted.

*

They opened their eyes to a boundless forest.

It looked just like before. Verdant plants, fresh air, endless trees. Nothing seemed out of place.

But this time, they stood together.

"Formation," Ray ordered.

He stepped forward as the vanguard. Volt took position behind him, facing the rear. Barbara and Raziel Phoenix guarded the flanks, while Lily stood calmly in the center.

A soft green glow spread outward. Lily had already activated the wind element, lightening their bodies and sharpening their movements.

Ray raised his right hand. Two strands of Silverfalls Vine shot out as a yellow soul ring rose beneath his feet. The vines swept through the shrubs ahead, clearing a path.

"First objective: survive one hour," Ray said steadily. "Second: hunt soul beasts. Stay alert."

Four more strands of Silverfalls Vine extended, lightly wrapping around the waists of his teammates, linking them together.

Barbara released his martial soul. A small black eagle soared into the sky, sharing its vision with him and granting the team an aerial perspective.

Class zero had entered the rebellion spirit ascension platform.

And this time, they were ready.

They didn't hesitate for even a second. The moment they arrived, all five of them released their martial souls.

*

Inside the Spirit Tower's monitoring room.

The staff member glanced at the screen, then turned toward Alfred with a smile. "These kids are impressive. Teacher, your teaching methods are truly remarkable."

Alfred gave a restrained nod. "Let's see how they perform first."

Despite his usual icy composure, a trace of satisfaction stirred in his heart as he watched the figures moving through the forest.

A phrase that had existed for over twenty thousand years surfaced in his mind:

Central Academy only accepts monsters, not ordinary people.

No matter the era, Central had never betrayed that creed. It was carved into the bones of every Central student, shaping both pride and resolve.

How far will these brats go?

To become a monster, talent alone was not enough. One also needed iron will and relentless perseverance. From what Alfred had seen, all five possessed talent.

Lily stood at the pinnacle. Her martial soul had no clear records in either Central Academy or the Spirit Tower's archives. Five elements under her control, seamless switching, and even fusion between them. Her soul skill merely enhanced efficiency, yet she could already unleash complex elemental combinations. In her case, additional soul skills almost felt redundant.

Even more astonishing was her spiritual power. Reaching the Spirit Connection realm at such a young age was unprecedented. At her current pace, reaching the Spirit Sea realm before graduation was not impossible. If that happened, the entire Soul Master world would be shaken.

Raziel Phoenix followed closely behind. Twin martial souls were rare in any era, and though his were artificial, they were still an extraordinary gift. Given time, no one could say how far he might go.

Barbara and Volt were comparatively ordinary. The Shadow Phantasm Eagle and Bone Dragon King were not peak martial souls, but their compatibility was excellent. If their soul fusion skill ever reached perfection, their combat power would rival top-tier geniuses. Whether they could reach that level, however, would depend entirely on time and effort.

Then there was Ray.

Alfred had chosen him as captain not because of raw talent, but because of something rarer. Tenacity.

A so-called trash martial soul had never broken his spirit. He advanced step by step, never rushing, never giving up. His innate divine strength allowed him to compensate for his shortcomings at lower ranks, and his mutated martial soul with the Golden Dragon Claw carried terrifying potential.

Among the five, Ray might already be the strongest, though it was still too early to conclude. If his martial soul continued to mutate, he could one day stand shoulder to shoulder with Lily.

More importantly, Ray had the temperament of a leader. Calm, steady, and willing to shoulder responsibility. He naturally protected those around him.

And then there was forging.

The Thousand Refined hammers had already proven that Ray possessed top-tier talent as a blacksmith. While mecha-related professions dominated the modern age, high-rank blacksmiths were among the rarest talents on the continent. Battle armor, no matter how brilliant its design, depended on materials. Blacksmithing was the foundation.

Alfred sincerely hoped Ray would walk far down this path.

If he had to choose one student to enter his own organization in the future, Ray would be the most suitable.

As for Lily… Alfred couldn't fully grasp her. Too many secrets surrounded her. She would need close observation.

***

Inside the forest, Ray guided his team forward, Silverfalls Vine vines parting the dense foliage and opening a narrow path.

This was their final exam. Survival came first. Everything else was secondary.

"Rear and flanks are clear. No soul beasts detected," Barbara reported.

Ray nodded. A Heavy Silver Hammer flashed into his left hand. His right hand remained free, ready to transform at any moment.

A low growl suddenly rolled through the forest.

A massive shadow leapt out from the undergrowth.

It was a giant ape, roughly human-sized, its ash-black fur carrying a faintly fishy stench. Crimson eyes locked onto them, filled with ferocity.

Ray recognized it instantly.

A hundred-year Ironarm Ape.

Fast, powerful, and possessing arms as hard as steel. Its most dangerous trait was its intimidation skill, Threaten. Against those with weak spiritual power, it could shatter fighting spirit instantly.

The correct response was simple.

Strike first.

Whoosh!

Ray hurled his hammer in a wide arc, charging forward at the same time. Golden scales crawled up his right arm as his bloodline power surged. A strand of Silverfalls Vine slithered across the ground, wrapping tightly around the ape's legs.

Raziel Phoenix moved the instant Ray did. He sprinted forward, sticking close. Ray grabbed the vine around Raziel Phoenix's waist and flung him upward.

Raziel Phoenix flipped gracefully over the ape's head, Light Dragon Dagger flashing as he stabbed toward the back of its skull, a known weak point for humanoid soul beasts.

At the same moment, two small fireballs streaked through the air, faint green light swirling within them. Accelerated by wind, they shot forward like arrows. A flash of silver light followed, briefly obstructing the ape's vision.

Ray, Raziel Phoenix, and Lily moved as one.

Their coordination was frighteningly precise.

Meanwhile, Barbara and Volt stayed back-to-back, scanning the surroundings. Their incomplete fusion skill remained a trump card, meant for emergencies. Their task was simple: ensure no other soul beasts interfered.

The Ironarm Ape barely had time to react. It lowered its head, smashing the fireballs apart with its hardened skull, sparks bursting outward. At the same time, it swung an arm to meet the incoming hammer.

Bang!

The Heavy Silver Hammer was knocked backward, but the ape staggered as well. Over five hundred kilograms of force had slammed into it head-on.

Even with arms of steel, that blow was far from easy to withstand.

Ray was the last to reach the Ironarm Ape, yet instead of charging straight in, he abruptly halted. He raised the Heavy Silver Hammer he had just retrieved as a yellow soul ring rose beneath his feet.

In the next instant, strands of Silverfalls Vine surged upward like living vines, crawling over the ape's limbs and torso. They tightened layer by layer, binding it completely. Even with its terrifying strength, the hundred-year Ironarm Ape was unable to tear itself free.

A flash of cold light bloomed behind its head.

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