Chapter 34: The Tiger Unleashed
Synoh staggered, blood dripping from his side, his breath growing shallow.
More footsteps rustled from the jungle trees. Shadows moved. Dozens of students now turned their attention to him—some hesitating, others advancing.
"Damn…" Synoh muttered under his breath. "They really stabbed where it hurts, huh…"
Fel's voice echoed in his mind.
"You fool. Use my magic. Slow the bleeding—unless you plan to die here."
Synoh gritted his teeth, knelt, and slammed his hand onto the ground.
Dark energy surged from his palm, crawling over his wound like black veins. The bleeding slowed. The pain dulled. His eyes sharpened again.
"One more round."
He stood up.
The crowd of attackers lunged—and Synoh danced through them.
Shadow Dance: Scatter Step.
He blurred forward, weaving and slicing, cloak flickering like smoke in the wind. His sword moved like a whisper, guided by Fel's instincts.
---
Elsewhere, the tide was turning against Yuta.
Edward, Mina, and their gang had managed to surround him, dodging his goblin units and pressing forward with solid coordination.
"Come on, Yuta," Edward said. "You're strong, but you're not a team."
Mina raised her bow, flames dancing across her arrow.
"Sorry, but we need to win too."
Yuta was panting. He cracked a grin.
"Tch. I really wanted to show this to Synoh after the fight, but… guess it's showtime."
He whistled—and the earth shook.
From the brush leapt a massive figure—a sleek, powerful Blade Tiger with glowing fangs and silver stripes. The B-rank monster let out a roar, swiping with claws that split the air.
"RRAAAGGHHH!!"
The gang stumbled back. The tiger charged, slicing the ground and hurling wind pressure as it lunged. One of Edward's teammates barely raised a shield in time, getting thrown by the impact.
---
From the crowd—
Kel and Mel gasped.
"Master Yuta tamed that?!"
"The stripes—it's a real Blade Tiger!"
Their parents exchanged stunned glances. "That's not a pet… that's a weapon."
---
Lux landed beside Yuta, light glowing in his palm.
"You could've warned me you brought a damn tiger," he smirked.
"I said it was a surprise," Yuta laughed, wiping his forehead.
Edward raised a wall of stone, stopping the Blade Tiger's next strike. Mina leapt onto the wall and let loose a volley of Fire Arrows, streaking toward Lux.
Lux twirled his blade.
"Light Barrage!"
The sky lit up—fire met light, blasting mid-air with a dazzling crack.
Mina covered her eyes.
Edward stood firm.
"You think we're the same as before?" Edward shouted.
"We've trained. We've fought. We've grown!"
Lux grinned.
"Good. That's what I wanted to see."
---
And elsewhere, Synoh still stood alone, a trail of unconscious opponents behind him. His cloak was torn, his ribs aching—but his eyes burned with unshaken resolve.
Only a few were left standing.
The battle was entering its final phase.