On the other side of the battlefield, Raziel Phoenix and Ares were locked in a fierce exchange.

Facing Raziel Phoenix's relentless pressure, Ares's first soul ring lit up.

His body suddenly blurred, turning illusory. One shadow became two, two became many. A cluster of phantoms appeared around him, revolving and overlapping until it became nearly impossible to tell which was real.

Green Shadow Clones.

This was the first soul skill of the Green Shadow Snake martial soul.

Because Ares's spirit soul and martial soul were perfectly compatible, the soul skills he gained were stronger than those of ordinary Soul Masters. These clones weren't simple illusions—they looked nearly identical to the real body and exuded a faint, deceptive presence.

Quietly, one "Ares" extended a foot, winding it toward Raziel Phoenix's leg.

Could Raziel Phoenix distinguish the real body from the fakes?

No.

But that didn't matter.

Alfred had taught him long ago: if you can't analyze your opponent's ability, then crush it with your own strength.

Raziel Phoenix's first soul ring flared.

A dazzling golden blade tore through the air.

I don't care how many clones you have. One strike is enough.

After reaching rank twenty, Raziel Phoenix's soul power had undergone a qualitative change. The might of his Light Dragon Blade surged dramatically.

The golden arc slashed out like a crescent moon, ripping through the air with a piercing shriek.

Ares's heart jolted. He yanked his leg back and leapt away in haste.

But illusions were still illusions.

As he retreated, the clones followed in perfect synchronization—and in that instant, the real body was exposed.

Raziel Phoenix stomped hard, spinning as he raised his Light Dragon Blade and charged straight at Ares.

The Green Shadow Clones rushed forward to block him, but they possessed only ten percent of Ares's strength. One after another, they shattered under the blade's sweep.

Raziel Phoenix tore straight through the soul skill.

The students of class one were stunned.

Ares… was being suppressed head-on? His clones were being crushed so brutally?

Only Lara saw the root of the problem.

Raziel Phoenix's martial soul was abnormal. It looked like a dagger, but it was far sharper and carried an innate draconic pressure. That pressure suppressed Ares instinctively, preventing him from fully displaying his strength.

Meanwhile, thick blue vines burst from the ground, wrapping around Volt's legs and torso.

At the same time, a pair of heavy metal hammers appeared in Ray's hands.

Thousand Refined Heavy Silver Hammers.

This time, he could not hold back.

From their earlier clash, Ray had already sensed it—Volt's martial soul was related to his bones.

Then so be it.

If I can forge uncommon metals… why can't I smash your bones too?

"Hou!"

Enraged by being pushed back, Volt roared. His first soul ring lit up, and a grotesque transformation overtook his body.

His right arm swelled explosively. The bones beneath his skin expanded, his five fingers fusing into four thick, pitch-black digits. The entire arm radiated savage power.

Ignoring the restraining Silverfalls Vine, Volt charged straight at Ray like a rampaging beast.

The clash between strength and strength was about to begin.

Although a thick blue vine had already coiled tightly around Volt's body, an uncanny scene unfolded in the very next instant.

The vines loosened—then slipped free on their own.

Volt's body turned hazy, as if it were no longer fully real.

At some point, his second soul ring had begun to glow brilliantly beneath his feet.

He had activated his second soul skill in perfect succession with the first.

A faint smile appeared on Barbara's lips when he saw this.

Even if it's him… defeating Volt won't be easy.

This was because Volt's martial soul was no ordinary darkness attribute.

It was a top-tier martial soul.

The Bone Dragon King.

In every aspect, Volt's martial soul surpassed Ares's.

First soul skill: Bone Dragon Claw.

Second soul skill: Bone Soul Transformation.

Bone Soul Transformation allowed Volt to render a portion of his body incorporeal. For a brief moment, that part would be immune to all physical attacks. With his current cultivation, he could only make about a quarter of his body intangible—but under his precise control, that quarter happened to be exactly where the Silverfalls Vine was binding him.

Despite his rage, Volt's mind remained cold and sharp.

Before the battle, Barbara had warned them repeatedly not to underestimate class five. A class that could defeat three others consecutively was no accident. Their strategy had been clear from the start: Ares would occupy one opponent, Volt would overwhelm the remaining two, and Barbara would finish everything cleanly.

After all, their ambitions did not stop at first grade.

Barbara was their true core, and his strength was meant to stay hidden.

Now, freed from the vines, Volt's enormous Bone Dragon Claw loomed before Ray, its blackened digits spreading wide as they reached to seize him.

Poisonous darkness rolled off the claw in thick waves.

This single claw amplified Volt's bones to ten times their original toughness and multiplied his physical strength by five. As his cultivation increased, the amplification would only grow more terrifying. If he ever reached seven rings and formed a martial soul true body, he would be able to transform fully into the Bone Dragon King itself.

Even Barbara's martial soul paled slightly in comparison.

Lara had once said that among the three, if they all reached the rank of Soul Sage one day, Volt would be the strongest.

At two rings, even with only one claw manifested, Volt was confident. Even against a three-ring Soul Elder, he believed he could fight head-on.

"Ray, be careful!" Lily flashed forward, peeling herself away from Ray's back as light burst from her body.

"It's fine," Ray replied calmly. "You have me."

Something strange ignited within his eyes, growing brighter by the heartbeat. He raised his right arm.

He didn't dodge.

He didn't block.

He didn't even use Silverfalls Vine.

The hammer in his right hand vanished.

Golden light flickered deep within his pupils.

Ray clenched his fist and punched straight toward the center of the Bone Dragon Claw.

At that instant, Lily heard a rapid series of popping sounds erupt from Ray's body—like joints unlocking, like shackles breaking. An overwhelming aura burst forth, vanishing almost as soon as it appeared.

Only two people on the stage reacted to it.

Raziel Phoenix, who was in the middle of pursuing Ares, suddenly felt his limbs go heavy. A primal fear surged up from the depths of his soul, causing his movements to falter and his soul power to tremble.

The other was Volt.

Ray hadn't directed that aura at Raziel Phoenix, yet the pressure Volt felt was vastly greater.

In that fleeting moment, Volt no longer saw a human before him.

He saw a ferocious, ancient beast.

The power rooted deep in his bloodline betrayed him. His strength turned into trembling. His claw slowed, refusing to obey.

Then Ray's hand closed around one of the Bone Dragon Claw's fingers.

With a violent twist and a surge of unimaginable force—

He threw him.

How… how is this possible?!

Volt flew through the air like a launched projectile.

For a heartbeat, the entire arena fell silent.

Students on stage. Teachers in the stands. Every pair of eyes was frozen in disbelief.

Aaron had already been moving, ready to intervene and stop Volt's attack, afraid that Ray would be seriously injured.

But reality twisted violently in front of him.

The Bone Dragon Claw slowed for no discernible reason—and then its owner was hurled away.

Only Lily, standing closest to Ray, saw it clearly.

For a split second, Ray's hand had shone with pure gold.

Her eyes went unfocused.

That aura… that power…

It resembles…

Shock rippled through her gaze.

Everyone else was asking the same question: How can this be?

But Lily's how was very different from theirs.

Bang!

Volt crashed into the ground in the distance, tumbling into a heap. The moment he left Ray's vicinity, the dread gripping his heart vanished, leaving him gasping and confused.

Ares was the luckiest of them all.

He hadn't even managed to activate his second soul skill when Raziel Phoenix closed in, but for some unknown reason, Raziel Phoenix slowed. Seizing the opening, Ares retreated explosively toward Barbara.

Ray clenched his fist, joy blazing across his face.

There really is a chance!

Without hesitation, he hurled the hammer in his left hand straight at Barbara. A strand of Silverfalls Vine was tied to the handle, trailing silently behind it.

The hammer screamed through the air.

In the blink of an eye, it was already in front of Barbara.

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