The forest air was humid and heavy, as though the canopy above held back not just sunlight but breath itself. Leaves rustled gently under the feet of the Shrek Seven Devils as they crept across the mossy underbrush with one moving from tree to tree. They are readying for the fight.
At the front of the group, Dai Mubai raised a hand sharply, halting everyone in place. His golden eyes narrowed as his ears picked up the slithering noise again. It was faint—barely audible—but the sound of scales dragging over damp earth could not be mistaken.
"There," he whispered, pointing toward a gap in the ferns ahead.
A soft hiss echoed in the distance, followed by the glint of emerald and crimson. The Phoenix Tail Crest Serpent emerged into view.
It was... Magnificent.
It's long body glistened with lustrous green scales patterned like tiny armor plates. At the base of its slender tail, vibrant crimson plumes flared like a blossoming phoenix's tail—each feather-like scale shimmering with a sheen that betrayed the powerful nutrients stored within. Its golden eyes stared back at them with chilling focus, and its body coiled in a sinuous loop. On the top of its head lay blood red crystal core.
Oscar gulped audibly. "That's it. It's is there."
The Phoenix Tail Crest Serpent move with quite speed moving around the place and around there seemingly provoking the slowpoke of his predator.
"It's fast," Tang San murmured, activating Purple Demon Eye. "Very fast."
Zhao Wuji, standing some distance behind the group, gave a quiet nod. "This is your chance. Work together. I'll step in only if necessary."
The team spread out swiftly, each member moving into position with the practiced ease of combat familiarity.
Dai Mubai's muscles surged as he activated his first soul ring. A roar burst from his chest as he entered White Tiger Body Enhancement, his figure expanding, muscle tone increasing, and sharp claws forming over his hands. Golden light shimmered over his skin.
"We'll go with a pincer formation," he ordered, already sprinting to the right to flank the serpent. While Kamen Rider Garren shoot around the serpent as a deterrent to make sure that it will be hesitating to escape at the place where the bullet fall down.
"Understood," Tang San replied. He snapped his wrists, blue silver grass shooting out and winding through trees for anchoring support. "Xiao Wu, cover left."
"I'm on it!" Xiao Wu's red eyes gleamed as she followed Dai Mubai's motion on the opposite side, graceful and light as a leaf in the wind.
At the rear, Li Wei stood with Diendriver already gripped tightly in his right hand. The glowing blue of his Kamen Rider Diend armor shimmered faintly in the dim forest light. His voice rang out clearly:
[BuffRide: Faiz!]
He slid the card face-up into the Diendriver's side slot with a metallic click. Sparks danced along the side of the weapon.
He aimed at Zhu Zhuqing. "Go."
A radiant ring of red circuits formed at the barrel's end as he pulled the trigger, launching the card as a glowing bolt. It struck Zhu Zhuqing squarely on the back—and dissolved into crimson light that wrapped around her limbs.
"It will increase your speed and precision," Li Wei reported.
Zhu Zhuqing's body surged forward in a blur. The buff allowed her to accelerate to a near invisible pace as she activated Hell Rush Stab, aiming for the serpent's side.
But the Phoenix Tail Crest Serpent didn't become a thousand-year-old beast by being slow-witted.
With a snap of its coiled body, it launched backward—avoiding the claw strike by a hair's breadth. Its tail lashed out in response, sweeping toward Xiao Wu.
"Waist Bow!"
Xiao Wu didn't dodge. Instead, she timed her footwork perfectly, spinning with the attack. Using the serpent's force, she flipped upward and caught its midsection, twisting midair into a brilliant arc before slamming the beast down with all her strength.
The serpent let out a pained hiss—but it was already moving again, coiling back and darting through the trees like a green arrow.
"It's trying to escape!" Ning Rongrong cried out, her Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda glowing in her hand.
Her voice was urgent as she called out her first boost. "Strength boost! Mubai!"
A wave of light shot toward Dai Mubai, empowering him further. He clenched his claws tightly.
"I won't let you run!"
He activated his second soul skill, White Tiger Light Wave, roaring as a searing beam of white energy burst from his mouth. It struck the serpent dead-on—causing it to falter for a breath.
That breath was all Tang San needed.
He struck both palms forward. "Second soul skill—Parasite!"
Blue Silver Grass burst out again, but this time, seed-pods launched along the vines and latched onto the serpent's scales. The parasite seeds embedded themselves deep, pulsing with faint green light.
But the serpent's tail shimmered unnaturally. Its crest began to glow—the stored nutrients flooding its bloodstream.
"Speed boost incoming!" Tang San shouted.
Too late.
The serpent shot forward, its speed doubling. It blurred across the clearing and vanished into the undergrowth.
Oscar, who had been hiding in reserve, staggered out and quickly throw a sausage to everyone.
"I, your father, have a big sausage!" His voice echoed as his Recovery Sausage began to replenish the exhausted team members.
Ma Hongjun, already panting, clenched his fists. "I'm not letting this lizard slip away!"
"Bathing Fire Phoenix!" His body became engulfed in flames, blazing like a bonfire. His second ring lit up, and the fiery aura surged around him as he prepared his final strike.
"Phoenix Fire Wire!"
A blazing line of fire roared forward, cutting through brush and trees, striking the serpent's tail and halting it once more.
Then came the opening.
[BuffRide: Build!]
Li Wei called.
Another card locked into the Diendriver. He spun the slot once, then fired toward Ma Hongjun. The card struck, surrounding Fatty in an aura of twin-toned blue and red energy. His flames roared brighter.
"Fusion buff applied! Strike now!" Li Wei shouted.
Zhu Zhuqing reappeared at Ma Hongjun's side, her eyes sharp. "Let's do it."
Tang San wrapped vines around the serpent's lower body.
Dai Mubai activated his third soul skill—White Tiger Vajra Transformation. His figure grew more immense and intimidating, golden light shining like a halo around him. With a roar, he barreled through trees, heading straight for the entangled beast.
Xiao Wu used Charm, momentarily locking the serpent's movement. It froze in place—golden eyes dazed.
"Now!" Dai Mubai roared.
Zhu Zhuqing attacked with Hell Hundred Claw, Ma Hongjun launched another Phoenix Fire Wire, and Tang San tightened his vines. Dai Mubai's claws gleamed as he slashed downward in a crushing strike.
With an ear-splitting hiss, the Phoenix Tail Crest Serpent thrashed violently, tearing out of the vines—but its motions were sluggish.
Its speed-enhanced crest shimmered once more. With one last desperate lunge, it darted toward the trees.
"It's escaping!" Oscar cried.
A deep voice echoed from behind them like a falling boulder.
"That's enough."
Zhao Wuji stepped forward. Golden rings erupted beneath his feet. In one step, he crossed the battlefield. His aura exploded outward—intimidating, vast, and thunderous. He raised a single palm.
"Gravity Suppression."
The surrounding air thickened instantly, pressing down on the fleeing serpent. Its body slammed into the dirt, squirming as though pinned by a mountain.
Zhao Wuji stepped forward, his gaze calm.
"You almost had it," he said to the students. "Now… let's make it yours."
He held the beast in place with practiced control.
Oscar stepped forward, breathing hard.
His gaze met the serpent's. His spirit power surged.
A life for a life.
As the Phoenix Tail Crest Serpent let out a low hiss, Oscar's hands trembled—but he stood firm.
This would be his.