Dave stood calmly as the four rushed at him, the sound of Tang San's Blue Silver Grass lashing forward splitting the air.
"Kamisato Art: Marobashi."
With a soft blur of motion, Dave stepped into a low stance—and then launched forward in a flurry of five rapid strikes. His Azure Blade sang, slashing in elegant arcs. The first two strikes deflected Xiao Wu's airborne assault mid-spin. The next intercepted Zhu Zhuqing's claw swipe cleanly. The fourth strike swept Tang San's vines to the side, while the final thrust—an iai-style dash—forced them all back in one elegant, flowing movement.
It was swordsmanship that combined beauty and ruthlessness. Controlled yet overwhelming.
Dave landed, crouched low. "Now let's begin properly."
He straightened slowly.
"Kamisato Art: Kyouka."
In a heartbeat, his figure blurred again and left behind a flickering water clone. The moment Xiao Wu blinked behind it to aim her Waist Bow, the illusion exploded in a burst of pressurized hydro-force, knocking her slightly off her step. A glimmering aura now enveloped Dave—he had entered the Takimeguri Kanka state.
In that mode, his entire fighting rhythm changed.
The air buzzed.
Dave flickered forward, no longer relying on spirit ring power—but using his Shunsuiken style, where each normal attack became an AoE hydro-infused strike, trailing afterimages of glowing water.
Each step was an attack.
Every flicker of movement brought slashes so quick they couldn't be traced—yet gentle enough not to wound. Tang San's next wave of Blue Silver Grass was shredded mid-air by overlapping wave arcs. Zhu Zhuqing tried to flank, but each time she entered close range, a wave blade deflected her path like water bending steel.
With each hit, a glowing lotus ripple pulsed briefly around Dave's feet—Namisen stacks.
By the fourth strike, his sword glowed with enhanced power from maxed-out Namisen, his rhythm near unmatchable.
Tang San attempted to regain control, shouting, "Bind him now!" as three vines came from different angles.
But Dave, still in Takimeguri Kanka, twisted to the side.
"Mine Wo Matoishi Kiyotaki—watch closely."
He summoned another water illusion with a backstep—baiting the vines again—and as they struck, it exploded, dispersing them harmlessly.
As he emerged again, faster than before, he launched his next ability.
"Kamisato Art: Suiyuu."
He raised his hand.
Above them, the air shimmered and then blades of water rained down in a perfect square arena-sized formation. Every few seconds, a Bloomwater Blade fell precisely toward where the opponent moved—lightly striking, disrupting movement, and soaking the area in rich spiritual energy.
From within the field, Dave's Normal Attacks surged in power—the effect of the field's buff amplifying his base speed and attack flow further.
Tang San barely had time to think before a backhanded wave-strike gently tapped his forehead.
"Dead again," Dave said casually.
Zhu Zhuqing tried to reposition—only for a falling Bloomwater Blade to stop her steps. Dave appeared beside her next, tapping her on the shoulder.
"Down."
Xiao Wu gritted her teeth and leapt with full force for a surprise kick.
Dave parried it midair with a reversed sword grip and spun her harmlessly away.
And Ning Rongrong?
She stood wide-eyed as Dave's final illusion shimmered past her like a breeze, splashing gently at her feet as a warning.
Seconds passed.
The field faded. The Bloomwater Blades ceased.
Dave's stance loosened as Kyouka ended, Namisen stacks fading with it.
He exhaled slowly and turned to the four.
"All of that—without a single spirit ring," he said, wiping his blade clean as it shimmered and retracted into spirit energy.
The four looked exhausted—but utterly humbled.
Dave smiled faintly.
"Don't worry, you all passed. It's just that if you had managed to defeat me, then you would've been placed directly into the Monster Division. But for now, you'll all need to start from the Inner Sect."
He glanced over each of them and continued, "Only after proving yourselves and rising through the ranks will you be able to enter the Monster Division."
The four looked at one another, slightly disappointed but still proud of having come this far.
"That's all for the test today," Dave said casually. "The academy will continue to recruit for one week. After that, we'll be heading to the Main Base in Tian Dou City."
He then nodded toward Meilin.
Meilin stepped forward gracefully. A faint glow surrounded her as she summoned her Martial Spirit—Moon Radiance Emerald Lily—which bloomed in her palm with soft green petals glowing faintly.
"First Spirit Skill: Emerald Light," she said gently.
A deep green light spread across the area, coating them in a healing glow. Minor internal injuries, bruises, and muscle fatigue faded as the soothing energy settled into their bodies.
"Thank you, Senior sister," the four said almost in unison, their voices filled with gratitude.
Though Ning Rongrong looked at Meilin, then shifted her gaze toward Dave, her expression thoughtful.
They all look like nobles… no—something beyond even that, she thought. Their presence, their power, even their composure…
She didn't voice it, but the feeling lingered. Meilin's soft nod and the way she naturally stood beside Dave—no hesitation, no formality—only deepened that impression. It wasn't just strength. It was a sense of position. Authority.
As Meilin stepped back beside Dave, calm and composed, the scene was enough to spark more curiosity in Rongrong's mind than answers.
Tang San stood still, watching the retreating figures of Dave and Meilin.
His hands clenched unconsciously.
'My master was right… Shrek Academy really is a good academy,' he thought, determination burning in his eyes.
But little did he know—if Yu Xiaogang ever dared to step foot here now, he might just cough up a mouthful of blood on the spot. Seeing Flender and Liu Erlong not only together but happily married—and even with a child—would likely be a spiritual crit right to the soul.
And to make it worse? Dave seemed to be one of the main reasons behind all of it.
Poor "Grandmaster." One could only imagine what kind of face he'd make—twisted with disbelief, ego shattered—when he finally saw what had become of the "Shrek" he once believed was his domain.
Tang San, oblivious to the storm that would come with his teacher's appearance, simply turned away and followed the others.
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