Inside the quiet room, Yan Zhuo sat cross-legged, eyes closed, calmly meditating. Streams of cosmic energy slowly circulated around his body, pulsing steadily as he focused on strengthening his core.
"You're doing really well, Yan Zhuo," Astra Omnion said proudly, rubbing his chin while looking down at him.
Suddenly, Yue Xiya's eyes snapped open.
She turned her head sharply toward Astra's soul form, her expression instantly alert.
"Who are you?" she asked, her voice tense.
Astra froze for a second.
"Who am I… huh…" He scratched his head awkwardly. "I'm a dragon."
Yue Xiya's eyes widened.
In a flash, she stepped in front of Yan Zhuo protectively, releasing a faint wave of cosmic energy.
"A dragon?" she asked seriously.
Astra waved his hands frantically.
"I mean—no! Not that dragon—listen—my name is Astra Omnion!" he said quickly, trying to calm the situation.
She frowned.
"But you just said you're a dragon."
Astra sighed and nodded.
"I am a dragon… but I'm also Astra Omnion. That's my name. I'm a dragon named Astra Omnion."
Yue Xiya stared at him, clearly confused, her cosmic energy flaring slightly.
"You're really trying to confuse me on purpose, aren't you?" she said coldly.
Before the tension could rise further, Yan Zhuo stood up and gently placed his hand on her shoulder.
"You're finally awake," he said with a warm smile.
She turned to him, then pointed behind her.
"He's a dragon."
Yan Zhuo looked forward.
There was no one there.
"…Who's a dragon?" he asked, then looked back at her.
Yue Xiya turned again—nothing.
"He was just here," she muttered before slowly sitting down on the sofa.
Yan Zhuo sat beside her, smiling softly.
"Maybe you were dreaming. How are you feeling now?"
She hesitated, then smiled faintly.
"I feel fine… and I'm sure we'll finish this battle much faster now."
Her eyes burned with determination.
Inside the ring domain, Astra Omnion let out a heavy sigh.
"That was close…" he muttered, rolling his eyes.
Soon, Yan Zhuo and Yue Xiya stepped back onto the battlefield. Across from them stood their opponents—a powerful tag team radiating intense pressure.
"This won't be an easy fight," Yan Zhuo said quietly as they walked forward together.
The teacher stepped into the center of the arena.
"This is the final battle of the Battle Season. It will decide who advances to A-Class. On one side—Yue Xiya and Yan Zhuo Fujimaro. On the other—San and her partner, Zian Jao. Begin!"
The teacher stepped back.
San immediately released her cosmic energy. The temperature around the battlefield rose sharply, waves of heat distorting the air.
"It's getting hot…" Yan Zhuo muttered, fanning himself.
Astra Omnion smirked from the ring domain.
"That's her advantage."
Zian slammed his foot into the ground as a massive soul beast manifested behind him—a giant ox radiating brutal strength.
"Whoa… he has a soul beast?" Yan Zhuo said, shocked.
The students and teachers erupted with excitement.
"Stay alert, kiddo," Yue Xiya said calmly.
She vanished.
In the next instant, she appeared in front of Zian and smashed her leg into his chest, dragging him backward across the ground.
"You're strong," Zian said as he straightened himself, "but not strong enough to defeat me."
He teleported behind her, gathering his full cosmic energy into a kick.
Astra Omnion scowled.
"I really hate men who attack girls from behind."
Before the kick landed, Yue Xiya vanished again—reappearing in front of Zian mid-air—and kicked him square in the skull with full force.
"You might be strong," she said coldly, "but you're not fast."
Zian crashed into the battlefield, coughing as he struggled to stand. His ox soul beast rushed to defend him, but the barrier cracked.
"…Interesting," Zian muttered arrogantly. "You broke my ox defense."
On the other side, Yan Zhuo and San clashed endlessly—punches and kicks colliding at terrifying speed.
"Our physical strength is almost equal," San said, landing a heavy blow.
"It feels like this fight will never end," Yan Zhuo replied, breathing hard.
Astra Omnion spoke calmly.
"That's normal. You're both burning massive cosmic energy. The one whose stamina runs out first loses. That's the cruel truth of physical combat."
Yan Zhuo glanced at San, noticing her heavy breathing.
"Then she won't last much longer."
Astra shook his head.
"Don't decide yet. She's evenly distributing her cosmic energy throughout her body. Even divided, she's matching you perfectly. That's impressive."
Yan Zhuo clenched his fist.
"Then I'll do the opposite."
Astra's eyes widened.
"That's dangerous. If you miss, you'll lose instantly—and your body might not handle that much energy in one spot."
Yan Zhuo smiled and walked forward.
"Let's see my limits."
San rushed him, unleashing a storm of punches. Yan Zhuo countered each one.
"You think you can beat me that easily?" he said.
Their speed shocked everyone.
"How are they even seeing each other's attacks?" one teacher whispered.
The crowd roared.
"That's the moment," Yan Zhuo muttered.
He aimed a punch at San's stomach—missed.
Astra gasped.
"He failed—!"
San smirked.
"Looks like your plan didn't—"
Before she finished, Yan Zhuo twisted, channeling all his remaining cosmic energy into his leg.
"This was my plan too."
He slammed his leg into her back, launching her out of the battlefield.
"Ouch—!" San cried as she fell.
Yan Zhuo collapsed, clutching his leg.
"Did my bone break?!"
Astra stared flatly.
"Relax. Your muscles burned. They'll heal in a few days."
Yan Zhuo sighed in relief.
"Oh… I've never broken a bone before, so I panicked."
Astra shook his head.
"Humans…"
He looked toward Yue Xiya.
"Go help her. You still can."
Yan Zhuo joined her side.
"Having fun?" he asked.
She smiled. Vanished. Reappeared behind Zian and smashed him toward Yan Zhuo.
"Care to join the fun, kiddo?"
Yan Zhuo clenched his fist and punched Zian straight in the face, shattering the ox defense and knocking out several teeth.
Zian flew into the corner, unconscious.
"…Interesting," Yan Zhuo muttered.
"You're getting stronger," Yue Xiya said warmly.
Astra sighed.
"Giving a sword to a baby… he doesn't even know how to use his soul beast."
The teacher stepped forward.
"San is out of bounds. Zian Jao can no longer fight. The winners are Yue Xiya and Yan Zhuo. They advance to A-Class at Ren Senior Academy."
Yan Zhuo jumped up and hugged Yue Xiya tightly.
"We did it!"
She patted his head, smiling.
"Yes. We did."
Later, in the classroom, Yue Xiya smiled brightly.
"We're leaving tomorrow with the others. I'm so excited!"
Yan Zhuo nodded, then asked suddenly,
"How old are you?"
"Sixteen. Why?"
He laughed awkwardly.
"Nothing… you're just really strong. And taller than me."
She smiled gently.
"You're almost at my shoulder. That's enough."
Yan Zhuo clenched his fist, determination blazing.
"One day, I'll be taller… stronger… and I'll protect you."
She blushed and looked away.
"You really are a kiddo."
She walked out, still red.
Yan Zhuo sighed.
"Did I say something wrong?"
Astra chuckled softly.
"You're kind… but you said something that hit her heart directly."
Yan Zhuo blinked.
"Hit… did I hurt her?"
Astra closed his eyes.
"You really will always be a kiddo."