Arcane Academy: The Divine Extraction Legacy Chapter 1223: Final Transformation!

The students' strategy proved to be rather solid. Yet, Eryn's branches lifted upward, while his roots began to stir. He intercepted Amaya's claws, diverted Vin's plunge along with the wind blade, sloped the terrain under Brannic, and seized the mole right as it emerged. Once again, the boulder collided with his trunk, but it was merely shoved away.

"Coordination has improved... Yet it remains insufficient." Eryn remarked.

Still, he sensed that these students were holding back. From the look in their eyes, he could see they were biding their time for something. It felt like they'd been probing him up to this point.

'They've probably never battled a Treant before and aren't fully committed yet,' Eryn pondered, thinking about pushing them to greater effort...

Before long, he intensified his attacks, with branches whipping out quicker and more forcefully...

Amaya hissed. "We must push harder... I believe this approach will succeed!"

Vin nodded. "The mole can draw the roots' focus. The boulder will provide elevation."

Brannic grinned. "Then let's ascend."

The mole dug in once more, clawing at the roots and compelling Eryn to shift his attention below. On this occasion, though, the mole appeared to have mustered extra power...

Moreover, the boulder maneuvered into place, firm and steadfast.

He attempted to displace it, but it refused to budge... Since it caused no harm, Eryn chose to allow the boulder to remain there. Clearly, they had something schemed...

Sure enough, Amaya's Lynx shape bounded onto the rock, launching herself even higher from that vantage. Vin soared down, seizing the airspace over her!

Then, while Eryn concentrated on those two, Brannic rushed ahead, his claws digging into the boulder's edge as he propelled it onward with raw power.

In unison, they unleashed their assault.

Bang!

Amaya's claws tore through a branch, Vin's fangs clamped near Eryn's shoulder, Brannic's blow compelled the treant to lean, the mole slashed at the roots underneath, and the boulder smashed into the trunk under Brannic's drive.

For the initial time, Eryn needed to prioritize shielding himself. This marked the first instance where all five struck simultaneously.

The onlookers inhaled sharply, yet Eryn's leaves fluttered, entertained by their tactic.

"Much improved. You're starting to function as a true team."

Next, he once more hoisted the mole with care, steered the boulder's momentum, intercepted Amaya in mid-air, warped Vin's descent, and deflected Brannic's lunge.

Naturally, executing it proved far from simple... On this round, those three students had somehow compelled him to expend additional Arcane Energy.

Should his master Sreas observe this, he would undoubtedly chuckle at how a group of 12- or 13-year-olds had pushed him to such lengths.

"Hmm... If you're weary already, we can conclude this..." He offered at last.

Amaya breathed heavily but denied with a shake of her head. Her Morpher State endured for 20 minutes. Vin and Brannic shared the same limit. The remaining two, however, might need to withdraw shortly.

"We can keep going." She responded.

She lunged anew, syncing her attack with Vin's swoop. Brannic secured the boulder, shoving it into position as the mole tunneled below, bursting up precisely timed to rake the roots. Admittedly, it was a repeated tactic, but that was acceptable!

These three possessed a scheme, and repeating the maneuver would pave the way for their ultimate strike!

What's more, their actions synchronized perfectly this time. Amaya slashed while Vin occupied the branches, Brannic drove the boulder ahead, and the mole severed yet another root segment!

Eryn's bark splintered faintly amid the unified barrage.

"You've created a vulnerability. Well done... But if that's your full extent, don't feel let down. You've performed admirably." Eryn stated.

His roots then erupted, elevating the boulder, channeling Amaya's jump into a harmless trajectory, altering Vin's path, and softening Brannic's grip. He set the mole down gently for the final time...

"Vulnerabilities aren't gateways," he declared. "They're opportunities. You decide if you step through. You've done splendidly." Eryn concluded, convinced the session was over.

***

Amaya stayed quiet as Eryn's branches descended, his roots embedding back into the arena's ground.

The man's emerald eyes softened a bit, the luminescence waning as he assumed the training had wrapped up.

"That was a strong effort," Eryn commented.

Murmurs rose from the crowd, with some offering light applause and others discussing the collaboration they'd observed.

Yet Amaya's silver gaze sparked with fiercer intent. Vin's wings tucked in, but his scales shimmered subtly. Brannic's claws tensed, his bear shape quivering as if restraining a surge...

This was the instant they'd anticipated.

Eryn had eased up. His defenses lowered.

Amaya murmured softly. "Now."

Vin nodded. "We have no alternative."

Brannic grinned. "Time to reveal it."

Their forms wavered, fur and plumage melting into mist. Gasps echoed through the crowd as the three talents triggered an unforeseen shift.

Shadowy lines crept over Amaya's flesh, her lynx shape folding into a slender human-like silhouette with horns arching rearward from her forehead.

Her claws extended into jet-black talons, her eyes shifting to scarlet. She had transformed into a Demon Huntress!

Vin's wings quivered as his plumes darkened and scales extended over his torso. He assumed a human-like stance too, but now featured a serpent tail forking into twins, his features sharpening into a pointed mask. His eyes gleamed violet, marking his change into a Winged Serpent Demon!

Brannic bellowed, his bear shape crumbling into a massive human-like fiend. His bulk expanded, his hide turned shadowy, and protrusions burst from his shoulders. His claws morphed into enormous bony gloves!

Within mere moments, he had evolved into a Demon Juggernaut!

Without hesitation, the trio launched their assault, shattering numerous treant branches and roots! The blitz unfolded in a flash!

Silence gripped the arena.

"Demons..." a voice whispered in dread.

"Impossible... they've acquired Demon Blood?" another uttered in shock.

Professor Paterson's gaze sharpened, yet he refrained from stepping in. He understood the reality: Transformation Artists viewed every shape as a mere instrument. Even demons, shunned and dreaded, served as just another template to emulate. No malice, no loyalty... For them, it boiled down to skill alone.

Eryn's treant eyes expanded in surprise as he assembled a barrier from his surviving branches...

"So... you've selected this route."

Amaya answered with a grin... "We aim to discover our limits facing the Asura's disciple."