Final Assessment Ends

On the Final Assessment arena.

Under the Earth Dragon Lizard's absolute suppression, everyone believed Chen Xing's squad had completely lost any hope of turning the tables.

After all, suppressed by the Earth Dragon Lizard's Star Power Field, they could not find even the slightest chance to fight back.

When the assessment would end and how it would end were entirely up to the Earth Dragon Lizard.

The decision was completely out of Chen Xing's hands and those of her teammates.

In fact, when Tiandao and the others had fought the Earth Dragon Lizard earlier, if it had used this method then as well—

Even with Tiandao's considerable strength and their seamless cooperation, they would likewise have found it difficult to injure the Earth Dragon Lizard in the face of such an overwhelming gap in power.

But no one noticed that just as the Earth Dragon Lizard raised its claw, preparing to end this tedious farce—

A figure had silently arrived behind it.

Not only did the Earth Dragon Lizard in the arena fail to notice, even the spectators outside the arena saw nothing.

Swish—

Chen Kong gripped the Demonic Blade Blood Flame and swung it hard at the wound on the Earth Dragon Lizard's left knee.

Although the wound on the Earth Dragon Lizard's left knee had healed and scabbed over—

The newly grown rock scales were far less durable than its other scales, and the hidden damage within the flesh had worsened again after Tiandao's strike.

Thus, Chen Kong's sudden attack achieved an unexpectedly effective result.

"Roar—"

The sudden agony made the Earth Dragon Lizard instinctively lash out with a claw.

Smack!

Chen Kong was sent flying by the blow. He spat out a mouthful of blood as he flew backward, while the Demonic Blade Blood Flame slipped from his hand and clattered to the ground.

Silence. Deathly silence.

Everyone stared in shock at Chen Kong, whose sneak attack had succeeded.

Their minds were utterly blank.

Because none of them had noticed when Chen Kong had approached the Earth Dragon Lizard.

The Earth Dragon Lizard inside the arena was equally stunned.

It lowered its head in disbelief, staring dumbfoundedly at the bloody wound on its knee.

But while the Earth Dragon Lizard's attention was held by Chen Kong—

The Star Power Field that had been suppressing Chen Xing and the others instantly dissipated.

Seizing this precious opportunity, Chen Xing sprang into action.

She picked up the Demonic Blade Blood Flame lying on the ground.

A great deal of blood flowed from the palm gripping the hilt, quickly soaking the entire blade.

After devouring that blood, the demonic blade's body became covered in a layer of blazing flames.

Chen Xing held the blade in both hands and rushed forward, taking advantage of the Earth Dragon Lizard's attention being fixed on Chen Kong.

Sensing movement below it—

The Earth Dragon Lizard instinctively swung another claw.

But almost the instant its right claw rose, Rin, lying on the ground, struggled to raise an arm.

"Shadow Bind. Dark Thorn."

Already at the end of her rope, Rin used all her Star Power at this critical moment.

That Star Power transformed into countless shadow-like ropes, wrapping around the Earth Dragon Lizard's newly raised right claw.

Though these Dark Thorns could not completely restrict the Earth Dragon Lizard's movements, they delayed its claw for a brief instant.

And that fraction of a second gave Chen Xing the perfect opportunity.

It allowed her to unleash the strike she had wanted to deliver ever since the battle began.

Boom!

Chen Xing became a crimson meteor, and the Demonic Blade Blood Flame, carrying towering fury, slashed once more at the wound on the Earth Dragon Lizard's body!

"Roar—"

Amid a gorgeous red lotus woven from flames and blood, the Earth Dragon Lizard let out an unprecedented howl of agony.

Its massive body staggered backward for the first time.

But after steadying itself and feeling the searing pain in its leg, the Earth Dragon Lizard completely lost its mind.

Ignoring the injury to its left knee, it violently raised its claw and swept it out.

Chen Xing, standing so close, had no way to evade the attack.

She followed in Chen Kong's footsteps, sent crashing away. After slamming into the arena barrier behind her, she slid down onto the arena floor, drenched in blood.

Though she looked utterly miserable and no one knew how many bones she had broken—

There was not a trace of pain on her face. Instead, it held a sickly delight.

She stared fixedly at the Earth Dragon Lizard's continuously bleeding wound, her eyes brimming with exhilaration.

Did you see that? Anything Tiandao can do, I, Chen Xing, can do too!

But unlike Chen Xing's joy, the Earth Dragon Lizard had been completely consumed by rage and could no longer remain rational.

"Roar—"

It charged furiously toward Chen Xing, raised its claw high, and prepared to smash this offender into pulp with a single slap!

"Enough!"

Yun Meng's voice suddenly came from behind the Earth Dragon Lizard, bringing its claw to a complete stop in midair.

The Earth Dragon Lizard turned around and found Yun Meng standing on the arena at some point, staring at it with a face like ice.

The pressure of a Rank 2 Star Envoy not only froze the rampaging beast in an instant—

It also jolted it awake from its fury, restoring its reason completely.

Facing the dark-faced Yun Meng, a humanlike fear appeared on the Earth Dragon Lizard's face.

Clearly, in its eyes, Yun Meng, a Rank 2 Star Envoy, was entirely different from the Starborn. She was a being above it.

Thus, no matter how unwilling it was—

The Earth Dragon Lizard ultimately abandoned its revenge against Chen Xing. It silently lay down and began licking the wounds on its body.

Seeing that the Earth Dragon Lizard had calmed down—

Yun Meng immediately ordered the medical staff from the base to enter the arena.

After all, while Chen Xing and Chen Kong had both achieved shocking results—

Their injuries were also severe and needed treatment as soon as possible.

"Notify the medical team. Prepare two S-rank nutrient pods immediately."

"Yes!"

Under Yun Meng's orders, a large number of medical personnel rushed to Chen Xing and Chen Kong's sides and treated them at the fastest possible speed.

As for Rin, although she had temporarily fainted from exhaustion—

She had not suffered any serious injuries, so there was no need to worry too much.

Before long, Chen Xing and the others were carefully carried away by the medical team.

Yet as Chen Xing was lifted onto a stretcher, her beautiful eyes remained locked on the wound on the lizard's knee.

At that spot, two intersecting scars formed a vivid red "X," glaringly conspicuous.

Did you see that, Tiandao? I'm no worse than you.

With that thought, Chen Xing closed her eyes in satisfaction and completely lost consciousness.

Not long after, only the Earth Dragon Lizard and Yun Meng remained in the vast arena.

But unlike the heavy atmosphere at the start of the assessment—

After witnessing the examples set by Tiandao's and Chen Xing's squads—

Most of the Starborn had overcome their fear of the Earth Dragon Lizard. They dreamed that they, too, could accomplish the feat of injuring a Rank 2 Star Beast with the body of a Half-Star.

But they soon discovered that they had been far too naive.

Because the remainder of the assessment became a thorough one-sided crushing by the Earth Dragon Lizard.

Not only was none of the remaining ten squads able to replicate the miracles of Tiandao's or Chen Xing's squad—

The team that lasted the longest endured for merely twenty-three seconds, getting blasted out of the arena by the Earth Dragon Lizard in under half a minute.

When the final student suffered a humiliating defeat, the Earth Dragon Lizard threw back its head and released a long roar, as if venting the humiliation it had suffered earlier.

At the same time, Tiandao, resting in the dormitory area, suddenly opened his eyes.

Notification: "Stellaris Prequel: Embers" has begun airing in the real world. The Alternate Dimension Playback function has now been activated for you, along with visible bullet comments and the Real-time Popularity Ranking.

Tiandao looked at the sudden system notification, excitement filling his brow.

Is it finally time to see the results?

With that thought, Tiandao decisively activated Alternate Dimension Playback.

From a brand-new Audience View, he watched the "hit anime" in which he himself had starred.

To heighten his sense of involvement, Tiandao even became the first person to send a bullet comment.

He adjusted his sunglasses and rapidly tapped the air with his fingertips.

Before long, a bullet comment with golden special effects instantly appeared on the screen, making him the first person to comment on the entire anime.

First!