Everyone began coughing as dust and smoke filled the air.
Jung narrowed his eyes.
"How… how is this possible?"
A familiar voice echoed through the haze.
"Well, well… you three."
The smoke cleared. The waiter stood there, completely unharmed.
His gaze lingered on Kon for a brief second.
A faint smile crossed his face.
"And who is this new guest?" he asked calmly.
Tai's eyes widened.
"Didn't you die?!"
The waiter laughed softly.
"No, young man. I didn't die. You could even say… you missed me."
He lifted his hands. Three clay spheres formed instantly, spinning slowly.
"Let me show you the true art of clay."
He hurled them in different directions.
BOOM—!
Explosions shattered the ground.
Tai ran. Kon ran beside him—
—but Kon was thrown back, crashing hard.
"Kon!" Tai shouted, rushing to him.
"Are you okay?!"
Kon clenched his teeth.
"Just… a little injured. I'll be fine."
Jung stepped forward, eyes locked on the enemy.
"Everyone—don't look away. Keep your eyes on him!"
The waiter chuckled.
"Well, well… this time, no more tricks."
Clay surged over his arm, shaping itself into a massive, glowing orb, molded perfectly around his hand.
He raised it slowly.
"Let's end this."
The clay detonated—
—blasting the battlefield apart.
Jung spread his stance.
"I'll create a barrier—!"
A wall of magic formed in front of them.
But—
CRACK.
The barrier shattered instantly.
"This power—!" Jung gasped.
The explosion swallowed everything.
Silence.
Then… chaos.
The battlefield was torn apart.
Everyone had been thrown to different locations.
Jung crashed hard into the ground, rolling across shattered stone. Blood ran down his forehead.
Kacey groaned and slowly opened her eyes.
"Jung… are you okay?"
Jung forced himself to sit up, wiping blood from his face.
"I'm… still alive."
Elsewhere—
Tai and Kon were slammed into the side of a distant mountain wall. Rocks crumbled around them.
Tai groaned, pushing himself up.
"That blast was insane…"
He turned quickly.
"Kon—are you alright?!"
Kon steadied himself against the stone, breathing heavily.
"I'm fine… somehow."
The explosion had been far stronger than before.
The team was scattered.
The enemy was still standing.
And the test had just turne
tightened his grip on his sword, breathing heavily.
"I don't know if I can win… or even survive," he admitted.
"But I still have my sword."
He looked at Kon.
"And you have yours. We can do this. Just believe in one thing—
that you're brave. That's enough."
Kon hesitated… then nodded.
"Yeah. I believe."
The two of them moved forward slowly, blades ready.
Elsewhere, Jung clenched his teeth, staring at the destruction around him.
"He's far stronger than I expected…"
His hands trembled.
"I have no choice left."
Kacey turned to him, alarmed.
"What do you mean? What are you going to do?"
Jung took a deep breath.
"There's one thing my father warned me about.
He said to summon it only when it's truly necessary.
Otherwise… never."
Kacey swallowed.
"What kind of beast?"
Jung's eyes hardened.
"A very powerful beast…
one that belongs to the Wizard Wong family."
Jung took a step forward, blood still dripping from his arm.
"This is it…"
He raised his hand.
"Here, I summon my—"
The ground began to shake.
"Bulgasari."
A massive shadow rose from the ground.
The creature emerged slowly — its body covered in dark, scale-like patterns, claws digging into the earth.
A deep roar echoed through the forest.
Everyone froze.
The beast had appeared
The ground shook violently.
Tai looked up from a distance.
"What's that?!"
Kon narrowed his eyes.
"Maybe Jung did something. We should go—quickly."
Tai nodded.
"Yeah, you're right. Let's move."
Scene shifts.
Jung stood firmly, facing the enemy.
"Let's see… are you ready?"
The waiter laughed softly.
"Well, well… look what we have here."
"A beast, huh?"
He tilted his head, studying it.
"If I'm not wrong… that's an ancient mythological creature."
The waiter laughed.
"A very good ancient dog… maybe. Now tell me—what will you do with it?"
Jung answered calmly,
"I'll end this battle as quickly as I can. After this, I'll have no mana left… but that's fine."
He pointed at the waiter.
"You're a threat to me and my team. I'll take you down—right now."
Kacey thought to herself, Wow… he's really protective of us.
Jung turned to her.
"Kacey, you should leave. This battle will be very destructive. I'm not fully trained with this beast yet, so I can't guarantee your safety."
At that moment—
Bulgasari charged.
Jung followed, and the beast kicked the waiter hard, sending him flying.
The waiter laughed even as he was pushed back.
"Wow… that's impressive, huh?"
Tai and Kon finally reached Kacey.
Kaecey whispered,
"We shouldn't interfere. He summoned a beast."
Tai looked at Bulgasari in shock.
"A beast… damn.that bastard is even more powerful than I expected."
Jung shouted,
"You're going to die right now!"
The waiter smirked.
"I like your energy… but I also like that you try."
Jung called out,
"Bulgasari, use your power!"
The beast roared, summoning a spiral of fire and spirit walls. Dozens of glowing, blade-like objects rose into the air, swirling around the waiter. They struck in perfect unison.
The waiter screamed,
"What—!"
A massive explosion followed. When the smoke cleared, half of the waiter's body had been vaporized, leaving him partially gone, burning and defeated.
Jung panted heavily,
"This… this drained so much mana…"
The waiter's half-damaged face twisted into a grin.
"Well, well," he said, his voice raspy but amused.
"Seems I underestimated you."
Jung's eyes widened in shock, realizing that even half-destroyed, the waiter was still a serious threat.
Jung raised his hand. "Here… I summon the spirits!"
From the ground, countless ethereal figures rose, swirling around him, eyes glowing with power. The spirits surged forward as the waiter hurled his massive clay spheres at them.
Jung dodged with precision, letting the spirits intercept and consume the explosive clay balls, leaving the waiter wide-eyed.
"What… impossible!" he shouted, stepping back.
The waiter launched another attack, faster this time, but Jung anticipated it. Using his spirit techniques, he struck back, forcing the waiter to crash into the ground with a violent impact.
They clashed repeatedly, attacks and counterattacks echoing across the landscape. Every strike sent shockwaves through the island, dust and debris flying everywhere.
Finally, the waiter gritted his teeth. "Time to end this… I'll explode myself!"
Jung's eyes narrowed. "Not if I have a say!"
He formed a spirit sword, its blade blazing with energy, and lunged. The sword struck perfectly, slicing through the waiter's form.
"What…?" the waiter gasped as his body was cut cleanly in two, fragments of clay and energy scattering. Smoke began to rise from his wounds as he struggled.
Jung lowered his blade. "That was his normal stage… now he's bleeding."
The waiter's body smoldered, smoke curling around him. With a final, shuddering motion, he collapsed into a colossal heap, defeated—but leaving an ominous aura lingering in the air.
The barrier shattered under the sheer force of the explosion. Dust and debris filled the air as Kacey and Tai stumbled forward, trying to regain their footing.
Kon rushed toward Kacey, concern written on his face. "Are you okay?"
Kacey blinked through the dust. "I'm fine… thanks to you."
Tai shook off the debris, sword in hand. "We can't stop now. We have to move!"
Meanwhile, Jung lay on the ground, exhausted and bleeding, his breathing heavy. His eyes fluttered open, and a faint smile crossed his lips. "That… was close," he muttered, though his voice was strained.
Kon glanced back at Jung. "We can't leave him here."
Tai nodded, determination blazing in his eyes. "We'll cover him. Together, we can finish this."
The three of them regrouped, the battlefield around them a chaotic mess of smoke, shattered clay, and the lingering energy of the fight.
Out of nowhere—
Something struck Kon's right leg.
"AHH—!" Kon cried out as he collapsed to the ground.
Tai spun around.
"Who was that?!"
He rushed to Kon's side.
"Kon, are you okay?!"
Kon clenched his teeth, gripping his leg. Blood was flowing fast.
"Ahh… it hurts…"
Tai's face tightened.
"It's badly damaged…"
Kacey knelt beside them, panicked.
"This is serious—we need to treat it!"
At that moment, Jung stirred and slowly sat up.
"We should move," he said coldly.
"If we want to get selected, we can't stop now."
Tai stared at him in disbelief.
"Are you serious?! Look at us—we're not even in good condition after that battle!"
He pointed at Kon, then Jung.
"He's injured. You're injured. How are we supposed to continue like this?"
Jung's eyes hardened.
"Don't worry about him. Leave him here. We'll move on."
Tai froze.
"Are you out of your mind?! Leave Kon here?!"
He clenched his fists.
"If we leave him… he'll die."
Jung clenched his jaw.
"We have no option."
Tai looked at Kon, then back at Jung.
"…Fine."
Kon exhaled weakly.
"It's okay. You can leave me here."
Tai snapped immediately.
"No. You're coming with us."
Before anyone could react, Tai crouched down and lifted Kon onto his back.
"Tai—are you sure?" Kon asked.
Tai adjusted his grip.
"Yeah. I'm fine."
He shot Jung a sharp look.
"If that bastard doesn't care, then I will."
No one replied.
They started moving.
Jung walked ahead in silence.
After a moment, Tai spoke again, glancing sideways.
"Hey—Kacey. I noticed something."
Kacey looked up.
"…What?"
"Why didn't you use your power back there?"
She hesitated.
"Oh… I just can't use it. That's why."
Tai sighed dramatically.
"Great. Guess I'm the one saving everyone now."
Jung stopped walking.
"If you keep doing things like this, we won't make it out of here."
Tai turned around slowly—
his face twisted into that wild, irritated, half-crazy expression, eyes wide, mouth sharp like he was holding back a scream.
He laughed lightly.
"Hey—what's with that reaction?"
Tai suddenly stopped.
"…Hey. Kon."
Kon lifted his head slightly from Tai's back.
"What is it?"
Tai's eyes narrowed.
"Tell me something."
He slowly turned his head.
"Did you notice anything weird?"
Jung paused ahead.
"…What do you mean?"
Tai ignored him, scanning the rocks and trees.
"Someone's been following us. Since earlier."
Kon blinked.
"…Following us?"
Tai pointed sharply.
"There."
Behind a stone, something small twitched.
Kon squinted.
"Where?"
Tai stepped forward, finger stretched out, face twisted into pure unhinged suspicion, mouth wide as he shouted—
"HEY. YOU."
A tiny crab froze, half-hidden behind the rock.
Tai leaned closer.
"I saw you."
The crab slowly tried to retreat into its shell.
Tai snapped louder.
"DON'T PRETEND."
"I saw you get out of your shell."
Silence.
The crab stopped moving.
Tai's eye twitched.
"…Get. Out."
Tai crossed his arms.
"You shouldn't hide."
The small crab slowly crawled out from behind the stone.
Kacey's eyes lit up instantly.
"Awww— it's adorable!"
She crouched down, smiling.
The crab suddenly blushed, then reached into its shell and pulled out a sealed letter, holding it up toward Kacey.
Tai blinked.
"…Ladies first?"
Jung sighed.
"Of course."
Kacey carefully took the letter and opened it.
Her expression changed.
"Um…"
She cleared her throat and read aloud:
'Congratulations.
You have passed the Second Stage.
Teleportation to the Opponent Stage will begin immediately.'
Tai froze.
"…What?"
Before anyone could react—
The ground vanished.
"WAIT—" Tai shouted.
All four of them were pulled downward, falling as the scenery shattered into light.
Kacey screamed.
Everyone hit the ground hard.
"Ouch—!" Tai groaned. "At least warn us next time—"
He stopped.
"…Huh? No one's here?"
A few steps away, Kon was lying on the ground.
Tai rushed to him.
"Are you okay, Kon?"
Kon smiled gently.
"I'm okay."
Jung pushed himself up, scanning the area.
Kacey looked around nervously.
"Where… is this place?"
A voice echoed through the air.
"This is the Arena of Opponents.
You will face your real enemies here—randomly chosen.
Good luck."
Tai spun around.
"Who said that?!"
High above, hidden in the shadows—
Sachan watched.
And smiled.
The view opened wide.
Dense jungles stretched endlessly.
Rivers cut through the land like silver blades.
Multiple terrains—multiple battlefields.
Kon adjusted his glasses.
"This place… it's perfect for forests and ambushes. I think it's made of many arenas combined."
Jung nodded.
"Then stay alert. If we lower our guard, we lose."
Tai stayed silent, looking around.
"This place…" he muttered.
"It reminds me of my old monk place. It was like this."
Kon glanced at him.
"He was close to you?"
Tai smiled softly.
"Very close. Old man Laung Pho… he saved me when I was young."
A brief flashback—
A small Tai, injured.
A kind old monk reaching out his hand.
"You'll be fine, child."
The memory faded.
Kon spoke quietly.
"I can feel it… when someone has a bond like that."
Tai looked at him.
"Yeah. And Kon—many people will care about you too. You're not alone."
Kon hesitated.
"You really think so?"
Tai grinned, full of energy.
"Yeah. Just remember—never give up on your goals. That's who you are."
Jung cut in.
"We don't have time. There are risks everywhere here."
Suddenly—
A scream.
Everyone froze.
They turned.
A man was being devoured—ripped apart by a living blade.
Blood sprayed the ground.
Jung's eyes widened.
"…No way."
His voice dropped.
"Could it be… him?"
Kon said, "No doubt… it's him."
Jung's eyes widened.
"So it's Akhos."
Akhos laughed madly.
"Ahhh… my blade… it's hungry.
Hungry for blood.
I need more… more blood."
He laughed again—twisted, insane—
as the blade devoured his own hand.
Suddenly, another voice echoed.
"Hm… well, well.
It seems we're being watched."
Everyone froze.
Jung's expression hardened.
"What…?"
Akhos tilted his head, amused.
"Interesting.
Who could they be?"
The man beside him—Dabil—slowly raised his finger,
pointing directly toward the grass,
to the exact place where Jung and the others were hiding.
Jung's breath caught.
"How did they—"
Before he could finish—
Akhos vanished.
A heartbeat later—
"Well… hello."
His voice came from behind them.
Akhos suddenly kicked Kon in the chest.
Kon was sent flying—
his body crashing into a tree before falling hard to the ground.
"Kon!" Tai shouted.
Tai glared at Akhos.
"You bastard—!"
Before Tai could move—
Akhos kicked Tai straight in the face, sending him rolling across the ground.
Akhos sighed, bored.
"Pathetic… boring."
He slowly lifted his blade.
"I think I'll take you down first."
Akhos stepped closer to Jung,
the edge of his blade stopping right in front of Jung's face.
"Because you look like the leader of this team."
Jung clenched his teeth.
Damn it…
I have no mana left.
I can barely even escape…
How am I supposed to beat him…?
Akhos smiled slowly.
"My blade is very hungry for your flesh."
The sword screamed, a sharp, distorted cry echoing through the air.
"See?" Akhos continued, tilting his head.
"It wants to taste you."
Jung clenched his teeth.
"Is that so?" he said calmly. "Then I'd like you to try."
Suddenly, Jung turned and ran, pushing his body beyond its limit, creating distance between them.
I have to run, he thought. If I stay, I die.
—
Out of nowhere, Dabil teleported behind Kacey.
She gasped in shock, lost her balance, and fell to the ground, crawling backward in panic.
Dabil didn't even look at her.
"Don't worry, girl," he said coldly.
"I'm not here to kill you."
He glanced away, completely uninterested.
"If anything, I only collect corpses.
And you don't look like one."
—
The scene shifted back to Jung and Akhos.
Jung's breathing was heavy.
If I want to survive… I have no choice, he thought.
Akhos laughed softly.
"Killing without torment is boring," he said.
"So I'll be generous."
He raised his blade slightly and smiled wider.
"I'll give you the first move."
"Ahh… that hit was hard," he muttered.
"That bastard…"
He staggered forward—and then froze.
Kon was lying on the ground, collapsed.
"Hey!" Tai rushed to him. "Wake up—are you okay, Kon? Damn it… that guy."
Kon slowly opened his eyes, forcing a weak smile.
"I was careless," he said quietly.
"I wasn't prepared for a real battle… I'm sorry."
Tai clenched his fist.
"We're both injured. Don't blame yourself."
Kon turned his head slightly.
"Where… is Jung?"
They both looked up.
In the distance, Jung and Akhos were still fighting.
Tai's eyes widened.
"Damn…" Tai whispered.
"That blade-eater is way stronger than I expected."
He tightened his grip on his sword.
"I'm not letting this end like this."
Tai started running toward them.
Jung struggled, barely holding his stance.
How am I supposed to attack him…? he thought.
Suddenly—
A loud voice echoed across the battlefield.
"HEY—BLADE EATER!"
Everyone froze.
"If you dare fight someone," the voice shouted,
"THEN FIGHT ME!"
Akhos slowly turned his head.
His eyes locked onto the newcomer.
"…Oh?"
It was Tai.
Tai tightened his grip on his sword.
"Let's do this."
Jung's eyes widened.
"You fool—get out of here! You don't know who he is. He'll kill you!"
Tai didn't look back.
"It doesn't matter," he said firmly.
"I'm challenging him no matter what."
He took a step forward.
"I never want to say that I'm weak. I'll become stronger."
Then, with a sharp glance at Jung—
"Mark my words… I'll surpass you too."
Jung shoved his own face in frustration and muttered,
"What is he even saying…?"
Akhos chuckled.
"Well, well. If you want to do it—then try."
His blade suddenly grew longer.
Tai dodged the first strike.
Then—another slash.
"Ahhh!"
The blade cut into Tai's shoulder, blood spilling.
Akhos smiled.
"Interesting."
Jung clenched his teeth.
"This… this is the time!"
Jung rushed forward and attacked Akhos—
—but Akhos dodged easily.
Suddenly, Jung shouted:
"Just one time… magic! Just one!"
Out of nowhere, spirits appeared, rushing toward Akhos, trying to devour him.
Akhos leaped back, avoiding them.
"Well, well," he said calmly.
"I like that. What kind of power is this?"
Jung stared in shock.
"What…? Still these spirits—?!"
The spirits attacked again.
Akhos dodged once more.
At that moment, Tai charged in and slashed at him.
Akhos laughed.
"You guys are full of fun."
He jumped onto a tree branch effortlessly.
Akhos raised his blade.
"Obrano… eat the flesh."
The blade opened its mouth wide, grotesque and alive—
—and swallowed the spirits whole.
Akhos looked down at them, amused.
"Well, well… that was quite fun."
Akhos tilted his head, eyes locked onto Tai.
"But right now," he said coldly,
"I have to finish this brat first."
A cruel smile spread across his face.
"You're getting too cocky."
Tai wiped the blood from his mouth and smirked.
"Let's see."
In an instant—
Akhos kicked him.
Tai was sent flying, crashing hard into the ground.
Akhos stepped forward slowly.
"I'll kill you here," he said calmly.
"My blade—Obrano—will have fun after killing you, kid."
Tai struggled to move, kneeling on the ground.
Blood dripped from his nose.
Akhos raised his blade.
"Now… die."
The blade's mouth opened wide, rushing forward—
—but suddenly—
"TAI!"
Kon pushed Tai away at the last moment.
The blade changed its target.
Obrano swallowed Kon instead.
Silence.
Akhos froze.
"…Ah."smiles
"Wrong one."
Akhos let out a low breath, almost bored.
"But still… it doesn't matter," he said calmly.
"Even though I'm sorry my blade couldn't eat you, Tai—"
A faint smile crossed his lips.
"—don't worry."
Tai didn't respond.
He didn't move.
His eyes were wide, frozen, staring at the place where Kon had been.
The world around him felt distant.
Muted.
His breath trembled.
"…Kon."
Tai whispered again,
"…Kon."
Akhos tilted his head, amused.
"Is he really that close to you?"
"Weaklings always cling to weakling things, huh?"
Tai slowly raised his head.
"You bastard…"
Suddenly—
An immense surge of mana erupted from Tai's body.
The ground trembled.
Jung's eyes widened in shock.
"What is this…?
That's way too much mana!"
Dabil narrowed his eyes.
"That kid…"
"He's not ordinary at all. I'm sensing an overwhelming amount of mana."
Kacey stepped back, panicking.
"What's happening…?"
Tai took a step forward.
"You're going to pay."
His voice changed—deeper, colder.
His eyes turned blue, glowing.
A dragon-shaped aura began to form from his face, its outline roaring silently into the air.
Curved markings appeared across Tai's face, glowing with blue light.
A violent blue aura burst outward.
Even Akhos staggered back, shocked.
"What… what even is this?"
Akhos quickly regained his stance, grinning.
"But that won't be enough."
He raised his blade.
"Obrano—finish—"
Before he could complete the command—
BOOM.
Tai's blue dragon aura punched Akhos at blinding speed.
Akhos' eyes widened.
"What—?!"
His body was sent flying—
—crashing hard into a tree far behind him.
Silence followed.
Tai let out a roar so loud it tore through the air.
The ground shook violently, trees cracking as a massive blast of mana erupted outward.
Akhos laughed, excitement flashing in his eyes.
"Oh? So you wanna play, huh?"
"Let's go."
Mana surged around Akhos as dark armor formed over his body, piece by piece, wrapping him completely.
Tai didn't answer.
Akhos raised his blade and sneered.
"Obrano…"
"Have the flesh of my word—devour his meat."
The sword screamed.
A violent clash exploded between them—
—light and mana colliding.
In that instant, Tai's arm was cut nearly in half.
Blood splashed.
But—
Before it could even hit the ground—
The wound regenerated, flesh reforming instantly, wrapped in glowing blue energy.
Akhos' smile vanished.
"What…?"
"What even are you?"
Tai stepped forward.
He gripped his sword.
Suddenly—
Water began to surge from multiple directions.
From the ground.
From the air.
From shattered rivers and moisture in the atmosphere itself.
Massive streams twisted together—
—forming dragon-shaped currents of water, roaring as they took shape.
Not one.
Not two.
Many water dragons, coiling through the battlefield, their glowing eyes locked onto Akhos.
Their forms were just like that—
—fluid bodies, sharp fangs, glowing eyes, roaring made of water itself.
The air trembled.
The battlefield was no longer land.
It was Tai's domain.
Akhos staggered back, his eyes wide.
"What… what is this kid?" he snarled. "A water user? No—this isn't normal water. He's mastered it… and it's attacking from everywhere!"
A massive water explosion erupted beneath his feet.
The ground shook violently, trees cracking as waves of pressure tore through the arena.
From high above, on a broken tree branch—
Kon watched silently.
"Well, well…" he murmured, a faint smile forming despite the blood on his lips.
"So he finally awakened."
His eyes reflected the raging blue aura below.
"Blue Dragon—Azure."
"…Quite impressive, I have to say."
The water dragons roared as they circled the battlefield, and for the first time
Black screen