The forest was a chaotic battleground. Rival teams whispered nervously, having witnessed Sho and Liyana's earlier feats. Sho Ardenthal and Liyana moved with precision, eyes scanning for both golden sticks and elite opponents.
"This way," Sho whispered, spotting a glimmering stick half-hidden under thick vines. Liyana nodded, twirling her blade effortlessly.
---
System Reward — Domination Pulse Upgrade
As Sho focused, his system chimed loudly:
> SYSTEM UPDATE
Reward Unlocked: Domination Pulse Upgrade
Radius: 10 meters
Duration: 20 seconds (affects all living beings within radius)
Mana Cost: Moderate
Description: Allows precise control over all living beings within radius. Timing and concentration are key.
Sho grinned. Perfect. This will let me control the battlefield… strategically, of course.
---
Liyana's Stare
Liyana's crimson eyes lingered on him, unblinking, her gaze intense yet soft. The forest's chaos seemed to fade around them for a split second.
> Sho: "Uh… what are you staring at?"
Liyana: blushing lightly "You know… you should take responsibility for the words you spoke earlier, right?"
Sho's heart skipped a beat. Shocked, he nodded immediately. "Of course…"
Liyana's smile widened, warm and mischievous, eyes still fixed on him. Even here, amidst the battle, she had his full attention.
---
Epic Combat Begins
No time to linger. From the treeline, three elite rival teams converged, blocking Sho and Liyana's path to the remaining golden sticks.
Sho activated Blink strategically, appearing behind opponents and landing precise strikes.
Domination Pulse surged through the area — the air shimmered as multiple enemies staggered and moved involuntarily under his control.
Sho combined swordplay with magic, swinging blades ignited with elemental mana, while launching bursts of fire, lightning, and ice.
Liyana, still "holding back" for the crowd, dodged effortlessly, her movements graceful and teasing. Yet when necessary, she unleashed sudden bursts of fire and lightning, forcing enemies into submission.
The forest quaked as Rurik's hammer smashed into a tree only to have Sho blink behind him, redirecting the swing into a harmless boulder.
Kael and Lyra tried to flank them, but Liyana's agile counters and Sho's Domination Pulse kept them in check.
Serina's illusions faded under Sho's precision, each target now pinned or manipulated within his control radius.
---
Domination Pulse Mastery
Sho expanded the Domination Pulse to 10 meters, controlling enemy movement for 20 seconds, giving them openings to snatch golden sticks and reposition strategically.
Rivals struggled to resist the influence.
Even elite students couldn't fully predict their moves, creating chaos in enemy formations.
Sho carefully balanced mana consumption, ensuring he could keep Domination Pulse active without exhausting himself.
---
Liyana's Moment of Playful Strength
Amid the chaos, Liyana paused briefly, her blade slicing through the air in a dazzling display of speed. She intercepted a magical projectile mid-flight, casually tossing it aside.
Sho glanced at her, impressed: "You're… showing off again, aren't you?"
Liyana smirked, still staring at him from the corner of her eyes. "Maybe. But someone has to keep this battle fun."
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Golden Stick Victory
Sho blinked to snatch a hidden golden stick while Liyana simultaneously intercepted two more. The elite teams were thrown off, scrambling to recover.
> Sho whispered to Liyana: "We're almost at ten sticks. Ready for the last push?"
Liyana tilted her head, playful yet deadly: "Always."
Together, their teamwork was flawless. Sho manipulated enemies with Domination Pulse, Blink created openings, and Liyana's swift attacks dismantled opposition, clearing the path to victory.
---
Aftermath — Recognition
As the last golden sticks were collected, the forest erupted with whispers. Teachers and observers, including Saint Alisa, Princess Arisa, and Professor Chroma, looked on in awe.
> "That duo… unstoppable."
"He's mastered using Domination Pulse already, and she's so strongly fast! "
Sho exhaled, exhausted but elated. Liyana nudged him gently, still staring at him. "Not bad… for a human," she teased, her smile warm.
Sho grinned back, feeling a rare sense of triumph and closeness with her. "Next time… I might need you."
Liyana's crimson eyes glimmered, playful yet affectionate. "We'll see, Sho. We'll see."