Moments later, at the Elven Race's training grounds.
This place stood in stark contrast to the sweat-drenched, steel-scented training halls of the human world.
The ground, repeatedly hammered by countless heavy stomps and magical bombardments, had been compressed into a density rivaling granite.
Surrounding the arena, ancient trees served as living targets, their self-healing runes flickering with a rhythmic, breath-like glow.
Floating overhead were several crystalline energy crystals, providing an inexhaustible power source for the mages.
Karula stood at the center of the grounds, hands on her hips, radiating the aura of a demon drill sergeant who would drive her recruits to their breaking points.
"Listen up!" she barked. "I'm not at liberty to teach you the rigid, standardized magic of Raya Lucaria Academy."
"But my original creation, 'Karula's Magic-Martial Arts,' has no such restrictions. Whether you learn it depends entirely on your own capabilities!"
Before her words had even finished echoing, her patience ran out. Her gaze snapped to Lin Qingyue.
"A spear-wielding priest? Excellent! Just the kind of unconventional approach I like!"
She extended a finger, and a stream of intensely condensed light, carrying information, shot directly into Lin Qingyue's forehead.
[Sunlight Spear: Condenses the Power of Holy Light into a javelin imbued with intense thermal energy. The spear deals devastating piercing damage upon impact and detonates in a massive area-of-effect explosion.]
Lin Qingyue closed her eyes for only a moment.
When she reopened them, a short spear forged from pure light hovered above her palm.
The spear emitted a high-pitched hum, its terrifying heat distorting the air around it and even scorching the ground beneath her feet a faint yellow.
"Not bad!"
Karula uttered just two words before immediately turning to her next target—Su Wan.
She scrutinized Su Wan from head to toe with a critical gaze, then shook her head dismissively.
"A classic glass cannon with no close-combat survival skills. Pathetic! You'd be too easy to target! People like you are the first to die on the battlefield!"
Before Su Wan's proud ego could muster a retort, four streams of complex information were forcibly injected into her mind.
[Karula's Greatsword, Karula's Piercing Thrust, Karula's Swift Glintblade: Condenses pure Magic Power into corporeal greatswords or swift glintblades for devastating slashes or thrusts.]
The final technique was a method to temporarily enhance one's physical body with Magic Power.
Su Wan's body froze.
Who am I? Where am I?
An Elemental Mage born of noble lineage, renowned for my refined demeanor and pursuit of ultimate magical artistry, why am I learning this barbaric skill fit only for a brute?!
Her inner self protested vehemently, every elegant spell model recoiling from this crude aesthetic.
Yet, under the rules of the "Echo of the Heart's Abyss," her deepest yearning for greater power—her desire to grow stronger and better protect Lin Xiyue—was amplified infinitely.
A voice whispered seductively: Can elegance fend off a monster's claws? Can it truly safeguard those you cherish?
Reason still screamed in protest.
But her body, with unyielding honesty, had already raised her hand.
A tiny figure in her mind clamored wildly: Just try it! This is far more exciting than what those old fogies back home taught us!
Hum!
A semi-transparent greatsword, woven from ice-blue Magic Power, slowly materialized before her.
Visible frost Runes flowed along the blade, radiating a bone-chilling cold that could freeze the very air itself.
Su Wan stared at the sword in a daze, her expression twisting into a complex distortion.
She scoffed dismissively, "Crude form, utterly lacking in artistry..."
Despite her words, her fingertips involuntarily traced the blade's surface, a fleeting, almost imperceptible flicker of delight curving the corners of her mouth.
"...Still, it should be handy enough for cutting melons and chopping vegetables."
Lin Qingyue, standing nearby, struggled to suppress her laughter, her shoulders shaking violently.
Lin Xiyue wore a mix of exasperation and amusement, her gaze shifting between her girlfriend—the classic "tsundere" who denied her true feelings—and the sleek, ice-cold sword.
Next, it was Lin Xiyue's turn.
When Karula's gaze fell upon Lin Xiyue's massive Immovable Mountain shield, her eyes lit up with an almost frightening intensity.
"A perfect energy receiver! Absolutely the ideal medium for spellcasting!"
Rubbing her hands together excitedly, she transmitted a stream of information directly to Lin Xiyue's mind.
[ Golden Parry ]: Condense a runic magic circle on the shield's surface. With a precise shield swing timed perfectly, you can flawlessly deflect all attacks within a frontal fan-shaped area!
"Come on, try it out!"
Karula, brimming with enthusiasm, spread her arms wide. A dozen fist-sized explosive fireballs materialized in mid-air, forming a blazing barrage that rained down on Lin Xiyue.
"Eek!"
Lin Xiyue yelped in surprise, but her body reacted far faster than her mind.
She instinctively lowered her hips and stood firm, recalling the techniques Karula had drilled into her, and swung the massive Immovable Mountain shield in a sweeping arc from right to left.
A dazzlingly intricate golden magic circle blazed to life across the shield's surface.
As she swung, a radiant golden arc of light trailed behind the shield.
There was no deafening explosion, only a series of crisp, bell-like clang, clang, clang sounds.
Lin Xiyue felt only a negligible counter-force, utterly unable to shake her stance.
The dozen fireballs slammed into what felt like an absolutely unyielding wall, their energy instantly absorbed, compressed, and reversed.
In the next instant, they hurtled back along their original trajectories with even greater ferocity, detonating into a chain of fiery seas against the distant target tree.
"Exceptional talent! Yes! This is exactly how a shield should be used! Such overwhelming power... truly breathtaking!"
Karula's gaze was fixed on Lin Xiyue, brimming with undisguised admiration.
Lin Xiyue herself was stunned.
She lowered the shield, caressing her unscathed treasure with reverence, and gazed at the slowly fading golden magic circle on its surface, her delicate face flushed crimson with excitement.
Finally, it was Xia Lian's turn, the smallest member of the team.
Karula glared at the exquisite shortbow in her hand, Dark Night Starwhisper, scolding her with a tone of exasperation:
"This bow is too small! It doesn't even meet the standards of violent aesthetics!"
"The arrows you shoot are so weak and flimsy—how could they even scratch those thick-skinned behemoths?"
Xia Lian blushed, protesting softly, "But a Ranger's fighting style is..."
"No buts!" Karula interrupted domineeringly, and another stream of information surged into Xia Lian's mind.
[Karula's Greatbow: Condenses Magic Power into a radiant, magical greatbow capable of firing devastating, homing magical arrows.]
In the next instant, a magnificent greatbow materialized in Xia Lian's hands, nearly as tall as she was.
The bow's frame shimmered with flowing, seven-colored light, radiating an indescribable sense of wonder and raw power.
Clutching the massive light bow awkwardly, Xia Lian's cheeks flushed crimson, almost dripping with embarrassment.
Her petite, flustered figure formed a stark contrast against this colossal weapon—a veritable "battleship cannon" of violent power.
Karula's words—"How can you even hurt those thick-skinned giants?"—struck Xia Lian like a needle, piercing the most vulnerable part of her heart.
Yes, she thought, against monsters like the Stitched Abomination, I can only serve as a limited distraction...
But now...
Brute force can truly create miracles!
The era of the "scraping master" is over!
Xia Lian's eyes lit up with unprecedented brilliance.
After the training session, Karula, hands on her hips, surveyed the four women, their combat styles now completely skewed. She proudly delivered her closing remarks:
"Mages using melee combat, Rangers wielding heavy cannons—what's so strange about that? Otherwise, how would you deal with monsters with high magic resistance or thick hides? You need to be adaptable!"
Lin Qingyue immediately raised both hands in agreement: "Exactly! That's exactly the point!"
Lin Xiyue, Su Wan, and Xia Lian exchanged awkward glances.
Just then, the System's melodious notification chimed in Lin Qingyue's mind:
[Ding! Congratulations, Host! You've successfully corrupted the entire team's combat styles. Elation Value +2333!]
YES!
Watching her teammates master these absurd yet powerful skills, Lin Qingyue's heart swelled with overwhelming satisfaction.
Having obtained Karula's carelessly tossed spare Witch's hat and the recorded Magic Images as proof of mission completion, Lin Qingyue and her companions prepared to depart.
As they left the training grounds, the Elven Garrison Commander was already waiting outside.
Iris gazed intently at Lin Qingyue, a knowing smile flickering in her serene green eyes.
She handed Lin Qingyue a silver insignia engraved with laurel leaves.
Leaning closer, she whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Give this to her. Also, send her my regards. As for the reward, let her handle it!"
Lin Qingyue accepted the insignia with a solemn nod.
The four of them completely exited the magnificent Living Fortress, stepping back onto the soft forest floor.
Sunlight streamed down, abruptly pulling them from a frenzied academic world back to reality.
Lin Qingyue paused, glancing back at the Elven Fortress shimmering in the sunlight before turning her gaze toward the distant Beastman Camp.
She turned to her three companions, who had just mastered their new "talents," a mischievous grin curving her lips.
"Come, my fellow drama queens!"
Her voice brimmed with the excitement and anticipation that always preceded mischief.
"The grand spectacle of 'escaping death, utterly humiliated' is about to begin."
"Our goal is—to deceive the entire Beastman Camp!"