They didn't rush him.
That alone told Jin everything.
Han Yue rolled her shoulders once, water mist rising around her like breath in cold air. Shen Lian exhaled slowly, shadows loosening at his feet, no longer twitchy or impatient.
They were switching gears—fighting properly now.
"Corner him," Han Yue said. No anger. Just intent.
Shen Lian nodded.
Jin shifted his stance, eyes sharp.
[ Sensory Enhancement ]
The world widened.
Every step, every breath, every fluctuation of mana hit his awareness at once.
Han Yue moved first.
[ Flow Compression ]
Water wrapped around her arms and legs, dense and controlled, each step hitting harder than the last. She closed the distance fast, palm striking toward Jin's chest.
Jin parried, the impact rattling up his arm. The pressure was heavier now—she wasn't holding back anymore.
Shen Lian slipped in immediately.
[ Shadow Stitch ]
Thin strands of shadow lashed out, not to cut, but to bind. Jin twisted, tearing free of one, but another caught his wrist just long enough for Han Yue's knee to crash into his ribs.
He slid back, boots skidding.
"Tch," Jin muttered.
The crowd leaned forward.
"Wait—he's getting pushed back."
"They finally got the rhythm."
Jin inhaled and stamped down.
[ Static Pulse ]
Electricity rippled outward, disrupting the water and shredding two of the shadow threads. Han Yue blocked with crossed arms, sliding back a step. Shen Lian vanished before the pulse reached him.
Too slow to chase.
Too fast to ignore.
Shen Lian reappeared at Jin's flank.
[ Umbra Step ]
A shadow-solid kick slammed into Jin's side. He turned with it, reducing the damage, but Han Yue was already there.
[ Tidal Break ]
Water surged from below, lifting Jin off his feet and smashing him back down hard.
The platform cracked.
A collective gasp rippled through the stands.
"Did you see that?"
"He can't keep taking hits like that."
Jin rolled to his knees, breath heavier now. His shoulder burned. His ribs ached.
They didn't give him time.
Shen Lian raised his hand, fingers curling.
[ Shadow Cage ]
Dark panels rose around Jin in a half-dome, closing fast. At the same time, Han Yue slammed both palms forward.
[ Crushing Current ]
Water pressure flooded the cage, compressing inward from all sides.
This wasn't coordination anymore.
This was execution.
From the stands, someone shouted, "That's it! He's done!"
Even the teachers tensed.
Inside the cage, Jin braced, electricity flickering weakly as it was smothered by pressure and darkness. His boots dug grooves into the floor as he fought to stay upright.
For a moment—
Just a moment—
It looked like too much.
Han Yue stepped closer, eyes narrowed. "Finish it."
Shen Lian clenched his fist.
[ Shadow Guillotine ]
The cage collapsed inward.
Water and shadow struck together.
The impact drowned the platform.
Silence followed.
"…They got him," someone whispered.
Han Yue exhaled, lowering her arms. Shen Lian relaxed slightly, shoulders dropping.
Then—
Crack.
Not from the arena.
From inside the pressure.
Lightning snapped inward, violent and compressed, ripping through water and shadow alike.
[ Cataclysm Overdrive ]
The cage exploded outward.
Electricity tore through the arena, water flashing to steam as shadow disintegrated mid-form. Han Yue was thrown back hard, skidding across the platform. Shen Lian barely managed to leap away, coat torn, eyes wide.
Jin stood at the center.
Lightning crawled across his body, mana roaring unchecked now, gaze sharp and steady.
The stands erupted.
"What—what was that?"
"Another unique skill?!"
"No way?"
Teachers rose to their feet.
Lu Shen's expression finally changed.
Not surprise.
Shock.
What the hell is that skill?
Two unique skills… does he really have two?
I underestimated him.
I need to take him seriously.
Lu Shen thought.
Jin rolled his neck once, electricity crackling as he looked at them both.
"…Now," he said calmly, "I can stop holding back."
The noise from the audience only grew louder.
Because everyone could feel it now.
This fight had just crossed the line.
Han Yue staggered to a stop first.
Steam rolled off her arms. Her eyes were wide—not with pain, but with something closer to disbelief.
Shen Lian landed a few steps away, boots scraping. His breathing was uneven now. He didn't bother hiding it.
For a second, neither of them moved.
The thought hit them at the same time.
What if… he actually beats us?
Han Yue clenched her jaw.
If she lost here—lost like this—people wouldn't forget it. First Academy's prodigy, crushed in front of everyone. Her school. Her name.
Shen Lian's fingers twitched.
Second Academy wasn't supposed to fall behind. Not to someone they'd written off as "lucky."
His eyes hardened.
"This isn't acceptable," he said quietly.
Han Yue laughed once, sharp and angry. "Don't even say it."
Lightning cracked softly around Jin as he watched them. He didn't interrupt. Didn't taunt.
That somehow made it worse.
Han Yue dropped into a stance, water spiraling violently now, unstable but powerful.
"I don't care what you are," she snapped. "You're not walking over us."
Shen Lian stepped up beside her, shadows boiling at his feet instead of flowing cleanly.
"Together," he said. "All of it."
They moved at the same time.
No setup. No pacing.
Everything.
[ Tidal Surge ]
Water roared forward in a crushing wave, tearing chunks from the platform. Shen Lian vanished straight into it.
[ Shadow Merge ]
His presence disappeared completely.
The crowd erupted.
"They're going all in!"
"That's desperation!"
Jin exhaled slowly.
[ Sensory Enhancement ]
He felt it—the distortion in the wave, the hollow where Shen Lian hid, the overload in Han Yue's mana.
Too much force.
Too little control.
Jin stepped into the wave instead of away from it.
Electricity screamed outward, splitting the water down the middle as he advanced.
[ Lightning Claw — Left ]
Lightning condensed around his hand, sharp and curved, tearing through pressure like it wasn't there.
Han Yue's eyes widened. "What—"
Shen Lian struck from behind.
[ Shadow Rend ]
A blade of darkness aimed straight for Jin's neck.
Jin twisted just enough.
[ Lightning Claw — Right ]
He caught the shadow mid-form.
The lightning detonated through it, ripping Shen Lian out of concealment and slamming him forward.
Both of them were exposed.
For the first time—
They hesitated.
Jin didn't.
He crossed the distance in a blink, lightning roaring.
One claw struck Han Yue square in the chest, blasting her backward, water exploding into mist.
The other slammed into Shen Lian's shoulder, discharging point-blank.
The impact shook the arena.
Han Yue hit the ground hard, skidding until she stopped, completely still.
Shen Lian collapsed a second later, shadows unraveling as he rolled onto his back.
Silence crashed down.
Then—
The stands exploded.
"He beat them!"
"Both of them!"
"no way!"
Teachers stood frozen.
Jin let the lightning fade, breathing steady again. He didn't look at the fallen pair for long.
Instead, he turned.
Lu Shen was still at the edge of the arena, arms crossed, expression unreadable—until Jin met his eyes.
Then Lu Shen smiled faintly.
"…Well," he said, amused and serious all at once, "I didn't expect this."
The barrier hummed softly around them.
And everyone understood.
The real fight hadn't even started yet.