The Secret Realm Command Center was abuzz as everyone focused on the ongoing battle.
"Here they come, the three young geniuses battling the final boss. This has got to be the highlight of the trial, right?"
"Old Deng, do you think they can win?"
"I think it'll be tough. That's an Earth Element Beast, not just some Shrimp Soldiers and Crab Generals!"
"Shrimp Soldiers and Crab Generals… Old Deng, to be fair, the ones from the sea realm are Master Star Beasts."
"Oh, this!"
"But you're right; it's difficult. The combat power of the Earth Element Beast ranks highly among Elite Star Beasts, even if it's up against two specially recruited students and one even more freakishly talented…"
With Xiao Yong absent, Wang Haiping was confined to chatting with Yang Jun.
"Yang Jun, what's your take? Which side will win?"
Yang Jun was relatively young and had only been teaching for a few years. He had never been this close to the big shot from the Guangchuan Education Bureau. He cleared his throat nervously and replied:
"Director Wang, I would guess… the Earth Element Beast has the upper hand?
Dealing with a wild Earth Element Beast usually requires Star Card Masters who are one or two ranks higher.
Although Su Yuan and his team are highly talented, the difference in power compared to the beast is still quite pronounced."
Wang Haiping nodded slightly, finding Yang Jun's analysis sound and reasonable.
*No matter how gifted a high school student might be, they're still just students, at the budding stage of their growth.*
*It's only after entering the academy, where platforms and horizons are broader, that young talents truly progress in leaps and bounds.*
Wang Haiping stared at the screen showing the three students and the beast, his gaze ultimately settling on Su Yuan's face, muttering, "Still, maybe this time there'll be an unexpected outcome."
Yang Jun was startled: "You mean…?"
Wang Haiping laughed heartily: "Since you're betting that the Earth Element Beast will win, I'll bet on these young kids to pull it off!"
…
In the secret realm's center, Su Yuan and the others had already clashed with the Earth Element Beast.
The two attackers advanced, one to the left and the other to the right.
The Earth Element Beast showed no mercy, flashing with dark light as two waves of Elemental Magnetism Pressure hurtled toward them.
Su Yuan resorted to a familiar tactic, using all his speed with Wind Walking to dodge, and then continued closing in.
However, Fang Kun lacked the speed of Su Yuan. He was instantly engulfed in the gray-black light, and his entire body, including his internal organs, abruptly felt several times heavier. He couldn't take even a single step!
Still, Fang Kun was Fang Kun. With the ninth rank of a Star Apprentice and C-class strength qualification, he didn't collapse straight to the ground like the previous two individuals Su Yuan had encountered. Instead, he stood firm, his body taut and trembling.
"He must have a backup plan…" Su Yuan glanced at Fang Kun, noticing his entirely rigid and unmoving figure.
*Geniuses aren't reckless. If they dare to face an Earth Element Beast head-on, they must have some method to counteract the Elemental Magnetism Pressure.*
Sure enough, jet-black streams of smoke-like energy began rising from Fang Kun's body and quickly spread to envelop him entirely!
"Urgh!!"
Fang Kun roared, his voice human yet resonating like a tiger's growl that struck deep into the soul.
His muscles bulged, his height increased by twenty centimeters in mere seconds, bursting through his shirt entirely!
The swirling black energy condensed into his bare left chest—or rather, where his heart was—and transformed into a ferocious tiger emblem with its jaws wide open!
Blue Soul Skill: Hu Ben's Heart!
Upon activating his Soul Skill, Fang Kun's aura surged dramatically. He raised his left foot slowly, stepping forward with such force that the ground trembled slightly. Step by step, he accelerated until eventually completely breaking free from the Elemental Magnetism Pressure!
"What astonishing strength!"
Su Yuan was slightly shocked by Fang Kun's ability to counter the Elemental Magnetism Pressure in such a manner.
*There was no doubt Fang Kun employed some kind of strength-enhancing skill, making his already impressive power even more terrifying. This is the hallmark of a Star Card Master specializing in strength!*
Su Yuan was the first to approach the Earth Element Beast. The beast swung its forepaw directly in his direction.
With Transformation Realm Wind Walk activated, Su Yuan possessed far greater agility and speed than the Earth Element Beast. Wind swirled beneath his feet as he dodged to the beast's flank, striking three quick blows in a flash.
Yet the strikes left only three shallow cuts on the Earth Element Beast's flesh, barely breaking the surface.
Su Yuan squinted slightly: "It's ridiculously tough…"
Earlier, Fang Kun's single strike had produced a foot-long wound, causing Su Yuan to slightly misjudge.
"It seems Fang Kun's blade must be a white Star Device, and that swing was undoubtedly a skill at Great Success or higher for enhancing attack power." Su Yuan thought quickly, analyzing Fang Kun's details through comparison.
If Fang Kun could hear Su Yuan's inner thoughts, he'd surely be surprised. After all, his weapon was indeed a white Star Device, and "Black Tiger Strong Strike" truly was an attack-enhancing skill.
A well-executed Black Tiger Strong Strike at Great Success, combined with a white Star Device, could take down a defensive-type ninth-rank Star Beast in one blow!
The Earth Element Beast's tail whipped toward Su Yuan, forcing him to retreat swiftly.
Finding his slashes ineffective, Su Yuan decisively sheathed his blade. Flames coiled around his right index finger, forming the full power of Steel Flame Finger at Perfect Level.
The Earth Element Beast turned to face Su Yuan, who advanced instead of retreating, rushing to its side. His fiery Steel Flame Finger pierced the muscular base of its neck!
The sensation was akin to striking steel. Even at Perfect Level, Steel Flame Finger barely penetrated halfway through!
The Earth Element Beast writhed in pain, raising its forelimb to strike at Su Yuan forcefully.
Su Yuan had intentionally moved close to ensure the Steel Flame Finger hit its neck, but now Wind Walking couldn't create enough distance.
But he had planned for this.
Hardened Iron Armor!
With a sharp exclamation, Su Yuan raised his left arm, which instantly turned a metallic gray-black shade as sturdy as iron.
"Clang!"
The Beast's blow collided with Su Yuan's metalized arm, sending shockwaves through his body and forcing him several steps back.
Su Yuan inspected his arm briefly: "Not bad, just a minor injury. Transformation Realm Hardened Iron Armor, combined with C-class strength and defense, can still endure a few hits. But even the Beast's neck defense is this strong; it's going to be tricky…"
*He had risked using Steel Flame Finger to gauge the Earth Element Beast's resilience and confirm the depth of its toughness.*
*After all, with D-class defensive qualification, the Earth Element Beast far surpassed the Green Flame White Wolf, another Bronze Elite Star Beast, by an entire level!*
*And the results were as expected. Even among its potential weak points, the Beast's seemingly vulnerable neck was shockingly durable.*
"Although I have that one ultimate move, I can only use it once. I need to ensure it's a critical strike to take the Beast down instantly. For now, I should focus on weakening it as much as possible.
But we can't afford to prolong this battle. If we drag things out, the three of us will exhaust our star power first. I'll have to push the pace!"
*Though these thoughts raced through Su Yuan's mind, only seconds had elapsed in the actual battle.*
The Earth Element Beast struck Su Yuan aside. Still furious, it became increasingly agitated, sensing true danger from that earlier strike!
With a feral roar, its entire body surged with star power, dark light flashing repeatedly!
This time, the Elemental Magnetism Pressure felt… different!
"Not good!"
*Su Yuan's heart tensed. He pushed Wind Walking to its limits, sidestepping swiftly.* Yet in the next moment, he felt his breath catch, his whole body constricted as if encased in dense metal, enduring gravity far beyond anything prior. He was entirely immobilized.
But the Earth Element Beast didn't stop there. It stomped its hoof fiercely, splitting the ground below. A crack streaked outward, suffused with dark light, tearing toward Su Yuan and extending far into the distance.
Su Yuan glanced downward, noticing the enormous fissure brimming with horrifying energy, sending chills down his spine.