The air shifted as the next creature emerged: a Grade Three, smaller than the previous brute but far quicker, its scaled body glinting under torchlight and eyes burning with unnatural intelligence. It moved with predatory grace, claws scraping the marble with a hiss that drew gasps from the assembled nobles.
Igron's grin widened, teeth flashing. "Now this is more like it." He stepped forward, illusions flaring around him like a storm of shadows, duplicating his movements in dizzying arcs. The creature lunged, claws slashing toward the illusionary Igrons, each strike narrowly missing the real boy.
Kairo remained calm, crimson eyes analyzing every movement. His bones twisted upward from the ground, forming sharp pillars, jagged cages, and defensive barriers. Unlike before, he didn't merely block — he predicted the creature's attacks, shifting the bone structures dynamically to control its space.
The Grade Three twisted and leapt, agile and clever, managing to slice through one of Igron's illusions. Sparks flew as its claws hit stone, but Kairo's defensive pillars absorbed the impact. Igron's eyes gleamed with excitement, reading Kairo's constructs like an extension of his own body.
"Keep it distracted!" Igron called, weaving through illusions to land precise strikes. Each slash chipped armor, drew blood, and forced the creature to adapt to two opponents moving in perfect harmony.
The nobles' whispers grew, a mixture of disbelief and fear.
"Even their children shouldn't be able to take down Grade Threes," one whispered, voice tinged with incredulity.
"Look at how coordinated they are… it's unnatural," another muttered, eyes wide.
The Grade Three roared, swinging wildly, claws digging deep into the marble, sending shards flying. Igron dodged gracefully, springing off the ground as Kairo thrust a massive bone spike through the creature's leg, pinning it briefly. The synergy between them was flawless — distraction, control, offense — a dance that left the spectators uneasy.
The Hound, standing to the side, nodded almost imperceptibly. He had expected raw power, but the subtle understanding between the two boys went beyond what he thought possible.
Finally, after a series of perfectly timed maneuvers, Igron leapt high, illusions flickering around him, and drove his blade into the creature's chest. Kairo's bone pillars tightened, crushing its limbs and torso in a final, precise grip. With a final, guttural roar, the Grade Three collapsed, dissipating into a cloud of residual mana.
Silence fell. The courtyard was littered with shattered stone, cracked pillars, and scorched marks from mana sparks. Even the attendants who had witnessed countless trials were frozen in disbelief.
A few nobles stepped back, murmuring in alarm.
"Impossible… no child, not even from the greatest houses, can handle Grade Threes like that," one said, shaking his head.
"And they didn't even seem to struggle…" another added, lips pale.
Lady Eryndor, however, remained calm, a cold smile curling her lips. She had seen everything she wanted: raw strength, speed, strategy, and above all, the uncanny coordination between two seemingly ordinary children.
She folded her hands and leaned slightly forward, eyes glinting like steel.
"Interesting… very interesting," she murmured. "The Upper Middle Realm has indeed underestimated the Eryndor heirs. Let's see how they handle the next challenge."
Kairo and Igron exchanged brief glances, neither smiling, both ready. They were only warming up.