The Shrek team members had already been helped down from the arena.
Tang San refused a stretcher and staggered back to the preparation area, supported by Oscar and a reserve team member.
His head was lowered, hiding his expression, but his tightly pressed lips and faintly trembling body betrayed the turmoil within him.
Dai Mubai was propped up by Zhu Zhuqing and Lin An on either side. His unusual eyes had lost their former brilliance, leaving only emptiness and suppressed fury.
Ma Hongjun had been carried down on someone's back and was still whimpering in pain.
Seeing their students in this state only deepened Flender and Yu Xiaogang's guilt and worry.
Yu Xiaogang drew a deep breath and forced himself to calm down. He was their teacher, the team's tactical backbone. He could not lose his composure.
He stepped forward, his voice slightly hoarse. "Let's head back and treat your injuries first. Don't think about anything else. Focus on recovering."
His gaze swept over each young face etched with defeat, lingering especially on Tang San and Dai Mubai.
"Victory and defeat are commonplace on the battlefield. One loss doesn't mean anything. Find the problem and solve it. We still have a chance."
His words were steady as he tried to instill confidence in his students. Yet even he felt how pale and powerless those words sounded at this moment.
Over by Canghui Academy, Shi Nian had already led his victorious team out of the preparation area, brimming with pride beneath countless gazes of amazement and apprehension.
Before leaving, he deliberately cast another glance toward Shrek. The smugness and mockery in his eyes were almost tangible.
The Shrek group silently gathered their belongings, preparing to leave this place that had brought them such humiliation.
Their shit-green uniforms and the advertising slogans