Entering the portal, the students were immediately confronted by a group of D-tier Tiger beasts. Their sharp claws and fangs glinted in the dim light as they lunged forward.
The students barely managed to dodge as the tigers pounced.
"I've got this, guys!" John shouted, determination burning in his eyes.
"Echo Eye—Phantom Rush!" he yelled.
Suddenly, a swarm of ghastly afterimage clones burst from John, moving with near-impossible timing. They attacked the beasts from multiple angles, striking down two of the six tigers almost instantly.
Vorten added his own pressure, forcing two more beasts to stagger and weaken, before crushing them with a massive boulder. Though battered, the creatures were still alive, snarling viciously.
The remaining tigers retaliated with synchronized slashes, their claws flashing through the air. But John activated Echo Eye again, creating more afterimage clones. The beasts swung at them, only to slice harmlessly through the ghostly images.
Seizing the moment of confusion, John summoned a spell from his growing arsenal. "Violent Water Shock!" he shouted.
A torrent of water surged forth, infused with magical energy, engulfing all the remaining beasts. Flames erupted from his elemental control, consuming them completely. When the spell ended, John's energy was completely drained. He fainted, collapsing mid-air.
Levine reacted instantly, catching him before he could hit the ground.
"That… was intense," Levine muttered, staring at the scorched remains of the beasts. "This mission is… way more serious than I thought."
Breathing heavily, the students rushed to find shelter. They discovered a small wooden shack nearby and huddled inside, waiting for the night to pass.
Outside, the forest was alive with distant growls, a reminder that the danger wasn't over—and that their training had only just begun.