The forest was quiet for only a moment before movement rippled through the undergrowth. Monsters stirred, some barely visible, their shapes betraying them only through faint heat signatures. Lily's eyes glimmered as she activated her Heat Spatial Magic, revealing every living being nearby.
"Two coming from the west!" she called out, pointing sharply.
Kairo's crimson eyes followed her direction. With a slight gesture, bone spears erupted from the ground, striking the goblins mid-step. Riven moved in perfect sync, his sword finishing the kills efficiently.
"Keep tracking. Don't let anything sneak past," Kairo instructed quietly.
Lily's confidence grew with each alert. The heat signatures allowed her to notice even the smallest threats hiding behind trees or underbrush. Her fire flared sporadically, short and controlled, providing distraction rather than devastation.
From the shadows, a pack of Grade 3 wolves lunged, snarling and snapping. Lily's heat magic glowed, highlighting their positions and weak points.
"Front, left flank!" she shouted. Her flames erupted in small arcs, drawing the wolves' attention. Kairo's spears moved in perfect precision, pinning the wolves, while Riven's blade struck with deadly accuracy.
The trio moved as one. Lily's spatial magic compensated for her lack of raw power, giving Kairo and Riven the edge. Every strike was coordinated; every movement anticipated.
After the last wolf fell, the scoreboard reflected their growing strength: Eclipse Faction – 612 kills. The Ice Faction still led, but the gap was closing fast.
Riven exhaled, wiping sweat from his brow. "Not bad for a trio. You're getting the hang of it, Lily."
Lily let out a shaky laugh, relief and excitement mixing. "I… I think I can do this. I just… needed to know I wasn't useless."
Kairo's crimson eyes met hers briefly. "Control matters more than raw power. Timing and precision—this is survival."
For the first time, Lily felt she truly belonged. Her Heat Spatial Magic had a purpose. With Kairo's bone techniques and Riven's swordsmanship, the trio proved that even the underdogs could challenge the academy's elite.