Peach's expression changed dramatically.
"Fall back, now!"
The team immediately retreated, putting distance between themselves and the mountain foot.
Over a hundred Mermaid monsters charged down from the mountaintop, completely blocking the path up.
"Someone deliberately lured those Mermaid monsters over."
Morintis saw a person running ahead of the monster horde; he was the one who had attracted them.
This person's attire was different from theirs—not from Xiajing Academy, nor from the Divine Dragon Empire.
Peach saw it too.
"It's someone from the Sakura Nation."
"This person is probably their unique class, the Onmyoji."
The person's clothes were embroidered with cherry blossom patterns.
Morintis hadn't heard of the Onmyoji class.
Isla Ning said gravely, "I've heard that class is rather underhanded."
Peach said, "Indeed, they are full of dirty tricks."
The Onmyoji took out two talismans and threw them out, left and right.
The talismans exploded in mid-air, and two huge, spectral figures instantly appeared.
The figures immediately charged down from the sky towards the mountain foot.
Just like the Skeleton Warriors, they attracted all the monsters from the ponds at the mountain foot.
The retreating students from Latent Dragon College were quickly surrounded by monsters.
They frantically released skills, trying to break out.
There were simply too many monsters; most couldn't escape.
Seeing they couldn't break through, one by one, white light enveloped them as they teleported away.
The Mission Stone everyone received before entering the island also functioned as a Teleportation Stone.
It could be used to escape from danger here.
But once teleported away, the trial mission would end in failure.
Isla Ning said, "That's the Onmyoji's Shikigami skill.
It's said they can summon ancient spirits."
Jade asked quietly, "Why is he doing this?"
Peach said, "He wants to stop us from going up the mountain."
Now, the mountain foot was packed with monsters, at least over 200 in total.
Plus the monsters on the mountain path, another 100 or so.
Over 300 monsters completely blocked the path up the mountain.
Clearing them would take at least several hours.
The Onmyoji sat on his Shikigami, floating in the air, laughing heartily.
"You just stay there!
The dungeon belongs to our great Sakura Nation!"
After saying that, the Shikigami carried him away, disappearing in an instant.
"Despicable."
"The Onmyoji is a Legendary-tier class.
Looks like Sakura Nation invested heavily this time."
"By the time we clear these monsters, it'll be too late."
"And our teams are already in disarray; many have withdrawn from the trial."
"That part is okay. We can reform teams once we reach the dungeon area."
"The problem now is how to get up there."
"Maybe someone should sacrifice themselves to pull these monsters away."
"Come on, you think we're Level 40, second-tier classes?
Do you know how dangerous pulling aggro is?"
"This isn't just ten or twenty monsters; it's hundreds!"
"Let a Summoner do it."
"You think Summoners are omnipotent?
They can handle a few, but hundreds?
You're joking." Peach looked at Morintis.
"Can you do it?"
Morintis nodded.
A Skeleton Warrior was already running over.
"Huh? A skeleton? An undead summon."
"Whose summon is that?"
"What's it doing?"
"It's going to pull aggro!
It's so fast!"
The appearance of the Skeleton Warrior immediately attracted the attention of the monster horde.
A large number of Mermaid monsters shrieked and chased after the Skeleton Warrior.
Instantly, about a third of the surrounding Mermaid monsters were gone.
Peach sighed.
"A shame, there are still so many left."
Clatter, clatter.
Another Skeleton Warrior ran over.
"Two?"
Peach's eyes lit up; she hadn't expected Morintis to have a second Skeleton Warrior.
There was hope.
The second Skeleton Warrior did the same, pulling away another batch of monsters.
The mountain foot was basically cleared; now only the monsters on the mountain path remained.
Even with those still there, clearing them would be much faster than before.
"Great job!"
"Well done, brother!"
"This brother is awesome!
I'll buy you a drink after the trial!"
"I'll carry you in dungeons later!"
Everyone praised Morintis.
Isla Ning smiled brightly, seeming happier about Morintis being praised than if she were praised herself.
Only Ethan's face was ashen, as if he had eaten something disgusting.
Then, a third skeleton appeared.
"He actually has a third one!"
"We're set this time!"
Everyone cheered excitedly.
"Prepare to ascend the mountain," Morintis said softly.
Peach was already prepared.
"Get ready."
The third skeleton charged up and pulled the group of monsters from the mountain path down.
Seizing the opportunity, Peach quickly charged up the mountain.
Seeing this, the other teams immediately followed.
Truthfully, Morintis didn't need to go through all this trouble.
He could have instantly cleared these monsters with Corpse Explosion.
It was solely because of Ethan's presence.
Morintis didn't want this guy to benefit.
They were currently in a party.
Using Corpse Explosion would mean the experience would be split evenly.
Why should he?
After being repeatedly provoked, even with Morintis's good temper, he wasn't that foolish.
If this were elsewhere, Ethan would probably already be dead without a whole corpse.
Everyone swiftly ran up the mountain.
The several-hundred-meter high mountain was scaled in just a few minutes.
They saw the dungeon entrance.
On the other side of the mountaintop, another group of people arrived at the same time.
"Enter the dungeon!
Don't let them get ahead!"
The people from Latent Dragon College shouted.
Peach also quickly charged towards the dungeon entrance.
"Huh?"
"How did they get up here?"
"Could it be they can fly too?"
The Onmyoji from earlier, sitting on his Shikigami and hovering in the void, looked perplexed.
He had clearly blocked the path with so many monsters.
Clearing them should have taken at least several hours.
By then, the Sakura Nation teams would have long finished the dungeon and left.
He hadn't expected Latent Dragon College to reach the mountaintop so quickly, exceeding his expectations.
Both sides charged onto the mountaintop, glanced at each other, and then simultaneously rushed towards the dungeon entrance.
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Sharp arrows exploded in the air, falling like rain.
"Careful!
It's the Archer's Arrow Rain skill!"
An Archer from the Sakura Nation suddenly attacked, unleashing the skill.
Mages raised shields.
Knights activated protective skills.
Two Skeletons appeared in front of Morintis, shielding him and Isla Ning.
"They dare to attack?
Beat them up!"
"Hit them hard!
Don't hold back on my account!"
The Archers and Mages on the Latent Dragon College side also unleashed their skills.
For a moment, arrows flew and spells exploded everywhere...
Although they were only around Level 20, the skills were quite dazzling.
Healers stood at the back, constantly healing, while Supports quickly replenished buffs.
Pillars of healing light shot into the sky.
Knights joined the fray, clashing and attacking each other.
This encounter happened without any prior preparation; there was no formation to speak of.
The scene became extremely chaotic.
The strength of both sides was quite similar; neither could gain a decisive advantage.
In Morintis's view, the Divine Dragon Empire side should have been stronger.
Those from Latent Dragon College were elites among Professionals.
Their skills and equipment were all excellent.
The participants from Sakura Nation were clearly elites too, but they still fell short compared to the Divine Dragon Empire.
The only problem was that the earlier monster-pulling by the Onmyoji had disrupted the Divine Dragon Empire's teams, significantly reducing their combat power.
This led to a stalemate in the battle, with the outcome uncertain.
Both sides fought fiercely, neither able to secure sole access to the dungeon.
Mages exhausted their mental power and began drinking Mana Potions.
The skills of Archers and Knights entered cooldown.
The fighting from both sides became less intense than before.
Gradually, they pulled back, entering a ceasefire.
Morintis never once made a move.
His skills were too powerful.
He was afraid that if his Skeleton Warriors went up and took a single swing, the opponent might die.
Then, following up with Corpse Explosion, probably few on the other side would survive.
Peach had said competition between the two sides had a long history, but it rarely led to loss of life.
Despite the fierce-looking battle, in the end, only minor injuries were sustained.
Moreover, with the Healers' treatment, the injuries healed quickly, not life-threatening.
The first skirmish ended in a draw.
Both sides remained wary of each other, neither daring to let their guard down.
The dungeon was right before them.
The Mermaid's Tear was an item both sides were determined to obtain.
"Our teams are too disorganized; we need to reform."
"If we can just reform our teams, we can definitely overpower them."
Many people had left at the mountain foot, causing disarray within the teams, putting them at a disadvantage in the fight.
"We lack a ranged DPS here.
Mage or Archer, either is fine.
One person, level no higher than 22."
"We need a Healer here.
Any Healer below Level 21."
"Need a Mage. Anyone below Level 23 works."
Many teams lacked DPS, followed by Healers.
When surrounded by monsters earlier, many Mages had withdrawn from the trial.
There were also level requirements.
Entering the Mermaid's Tear Dungeon also required the average party level not to exceed 20.
Ethan suddenly spoke.
"Captain, I want to join another team."
"Why?"
Peach was slightly surprised; she hadn't expected Ethan to say this.
Ethan pointed at Morintis.
"Either he goes, or I go."
Not only was Peach surprised, but Daniel and Jade also showed astonishment.
They hadn't expected Ethan to use this as a threat.
And he chose now, of all times, right at the dungeon entrance.
Daniel said sternly, "Ethan, you're going too far."
Jade also said, "Yeah, if it weren't for Morintis luring the monsters away, we wouldn't even be up here."
Ethan didn't care.
"That's his business, I don't care.
My point stands: either he goes, or I go."
Isla Ning sneered, "Ethan, you really are a dog."
Ethan ignored Isla Ning.
"Captain, your choice."