More than half an hour had passed since all the students spread out through the forest to search for their targets.
Each Guild had begun planning their own strategies again.
The Black Dragons Guild focused on spreading out quickly. They divided their members into three groups: Magnus led the first group, Prince Lucien and Princess Elise led the second, and Heji commanded the third.
The Gray Phoenix Guild, led by Dao Daishin, preferred a quiet approach. Most of their members were skilled in Aura Detection, so they concentrated heavily on that.
Members of the Gray Phoenix Guild positioned themselves high on tree branches, stationed in elevated spots. No matter where you looked in the forest, there was always someone from their Guild keeping watch.
If any unusual movement was detected, they would immediately report it to Dao's main group, who would then move in to investigate.
Dao knew that their plan still had a low chance of success. The teachers they were hunting wouldn't recklessly scatter their presence. They were far more experienced at hiding. Still, it was better to be prepared for any possibility.
On the Scarlet Fox Guild's side—they were neither particularly fast nor too noticeable.
Similar to the Black Dragons, they spread out in groups of three. Because of this, they were now the Guild covering the widest area of the forest.
The White Hunters Guild used a similar tactic. They also split into groups of three, so Sai, Loan, and Eris remained together. The three friends simply couldn't be separated no matter what happened.
Not long after, in the stillness of the forest—
The three suddenly heard screams not far away.
"What was that?" Loan immediately turned toward the direction of the sound, alert.
"Based on where the screams came from, they might be our groupmates," Eris said, and Sai was the first to run toward the noise. The other two had no choice but to follow.
They sprinted through the forest, tracking the screams, and gasped when they arrived to find Desmond standing with his hands in his pockets. In front of him were three students from the same group as Sai.
"Help! Let us go!"
"The rope's too tight!"
"I can't move!"
The three students were suspended in the air, their bodies completely bound—including their fingers—hanging five meters above the ground.
Desmond looked at the three newcomers without surprise, his eyes fixed on them as he turned around.
"What do we do?" Loan whispered, bracing himself.
Sai swallowed hard. He didn't expect to feel this nervous, thrown into a battle so suddenly. Should he run? Fight? What should he do? He wasn't prepared for anything like this.
"Tsk. On my signal, cut the ropes—then run," Sai whispered, exhaling.
Loan and Eris nodded. Desmond still hadn't moved, patiently waiting to see what the students would attempt.
"Now!" Sai shouted. Loan and Eris dashed to opposite sides to confuse Desmond.
Sai used the distraction to close in within a meter of the teacher, reaching with his right hand toward the badge tied at Desmond's waist.
Desmond didn't expect Sai to be braver than he looked. The boy's speed made it clear how determined he was to win despite the doubts and uncertainty.
Loan and Eris circled behind Desmond, surprised by Sai's bold move.
Sai's fingers were just an inch away from the badge—
but Desmond vanished like lightning, leaving Sai grasping nothing but air.
Loan and Eris didn't even realize what happened until, almost simultaneously, they were struck at the back of their necks. When Sai saw Desmond again, the teacher was already holding both of his unconscious friends by their collars.
Sai's eyes widened. He couldn't move or speak. Everything happened too fast. He didn't even know who Desmond hit first. But did that matter?
What mattered was this:
He couldn't match their speed.
How were they supposed to fight teachers this powerful?
Sai clenched his fists, refusing to look away from the teacher.