The outcome of the team battle had already been decided, but every eye in the arena remained fixed on the spirit fighting platform.
According to the finals rules, the winning side of the team battle still had to win one individual match before they could officially claim the championship.
Shrek's representative was, without question, Yun Tian. On Barak Royal Academy's side, Zhao Tuo had long since taken his place at one end of the spirit fighting platform.
Their gazes collided across the entire platform—one calm as a mountain, the other blazing like fire.
"Individual cross-tier match: Yun Tian of Shrek Academy versus Zhao Tuo of Barak Royal Academy—begin!"
The instant the referee's arm dropped, Zhao Tuo moved.
Martial Soul Possession of the Golden Lion covered his body in a layer of gleaming golden fur, while beast-like vertical pupils lit up in his eyes.
Four soul rings rose beneath his feet—white, yellow, yellow, purple. Though the fourth ring was only purple, the aura they gave off together still made many spectators in the stands hold their breath.
He did not test the waters at all, immediately entering a state of full-power eruption.
"Lion's Roar!"
His third soul ring lit up, and Zhao Tuo opened his mouth with a deafening roar. Golden sound waves spread forward in a fan shape, shaking the gravel on the platform's surface into the air.
This was an area-of-effect mental attack. Taking it at close range, even if one was not knocked back, would leave them briefly dazed—more than enough for him to seize the initiative.
But Yun Tian reacted even faster.
Before the sound waves of Lion's Roar could arrive, the Earth Tiger Armor had already merged with him in an instant.
The tiger-eye patterns on the armor's visor lit up with an earthen-yellow glow, isolating