Chapter 205: Lower Realm Evaluation 4!

Chapter 205: Lower Realm Evaluation 4

Tessa breathed deeply, scanning her surroundings as the chaotic energy of the battlefield settled around her. She turned her attention to her teammates, analyzing their strengths and weaknesses with sharp precision.

Zuri's hard, stone-like body gave him an advantage in durability. As a member of the stone race, he was practically a walking fortress—ideal for absorbing blows and acting as a meat shield.

Gastro, on the other hand, hailed from the bull race, renowned for their exceptional strength and endurance. His primary weakness was his lack of speed, but his sheer power and formidable horns made him a valuable asset in combat. In battles requiring stamina and brute force, Gastro's presence could be a game-changer, especially when deployed with strategic precision.

Then there was Liam, the enigma. He resembled a human but wasn't quite one. His skin shimmered faintly, an ever-changing halo of colors rippling across its surface, much like a chameleon blending into its environment. She couldn't identify his race unless he chose to reveal it, which only added to his unpredictability.

Tessa nodded decisively. "Here's the plan," she said, her voice firm. "I'll go on the offense. Gastro, charge the winged tiger from the side. Zuri, ram into it from the opposite direction. And Liam..." She paused, eyeing him with a half-smile. "Don't die."

The winged tiger roared, its fury palpable as it charged forward with alarming speed. Its fiery yellow eyes glinted with malice, its massive frame radiating raw power.

It was clear the beast wasn't going to let Zuri's earlier joke slide. Unlike Gastro, who had the wisdom to let his irritation pass, the tiger seemed determined to avenge its wounded pride.

As it lunged, Tessa's plan fell apart in an instant. Instead of engaging her in the center, the tiger veered sharply to the right, bypassing both Tessa and Gastro entirely. Its sights were locked on Zuri, who stood there with a bemused smirk, oblivious to the danger barreling toward him.

"Zuri, move!" Tessa barked, her voice cutting through the din.

But it was too late. The winged tiger slammed its colossal paw into Zuri's chest with devastating force. The blow was blindingly fast, almost too quick to follow. Zuri's sturdy stone body cracked slightly under the impact as he was flung backward, skidding across the ground and leaving deep grooves in the dirt.

Tessa felt a brief pang of amusement at Zuri's predicament—some Schadenfreude, given his earlier antics—but she pushed it aside. The situation was critical.

With the tiger's attention momentarily diverted, Tessa seized the opportunity. She moved like a streak of lightning, her speed defying logic as she closed the distance between herself and the tiger. Her mind raced with calculations: its weak points, its blind spots, and how best to exploit its rage-induced tunnel vision. However, before she could catch up, the tiger had widened the space between them making her pause momentarily.

Zuri was hurled back like a stone skipping across water. He landed with a resounding thud, a plume of dust rising around him. His once-intact clothing was torn in the front, exposing his cracked, stone-like chest. A jagged white scar ran across it, resembling the mark left when a machete strikes rock.

For a moment, Zuri lay still, catching his breath. Then, to everyone's dismay, he burst into laughter—loud, uncontrollable laughter that echoed across the battlefield.

"Is he serious right now?" Tessa muttered under her breath, her irritation barely contained. Even the winged tiger paused, its head tilted in confusion before its rage reignited, its growl reverberating through the air.

The tiger lunged for Zuri again, clearly intent on silencing him permanently. Tessa, however, wasn't watching the fight anymore. Her sharp eyes had caught something the others had missed: the door to Panel 1 was unguarded.

Her mind raced. This tiger was relentless, and trying to defeat it was a losing game. They were here to progress, not to die trying to win an unwinnable battle. If the tiger was fixated on Zuri, that was their chance.

"Enough of this," she hissed, her decision made.

Tessa had to hint Gastro on her new plan, but as for Liam and Zuri, she had long grown tired to the two, they can do whatever they want. She flicked her eyes towards Gastro and then hinted toward the door, a silent command. Gastro, quick on the uptake, gave a subtle nod.

Liam, however, hesitated. His conflicted gaze darted between Zuri—now grappling with the tiger's massive paws—and Tessa. "We can't just leave him!" he protested, though his voice lacked conviction.

But Tessa's resolve was unshakable. Her plan was as clear as an open wound laid bare. Zuri had unwittingly bought them time, and she wasn't about to waste it.

Before Liam could voice another objection, Tessa and Gastro moved as one. They surged toward the door at full speed, their forms blurring with the intensity of their sprint.

Zuri, oblivious to their departure, continued laughing even as he dodged the tiger's ferocious swipes. Liam, caught between loyalty and logic, cursed under his breath.

"Jerks!" he shouted after them, but his feet remained rooted.

Before Tessa and Gastro could reach the door the attention of the winger tiger was triggered...

The winged tiger froze mid-assault on Zuri, its ears twitching as it picked up a faint sound. A low growl escaped its throat when it turned and saw Tessa disappearing into the entrance of the door.

A deafening roar of fury shook the ground, sending shivers down Liam's spine as the winged tiger pivoted and charged past him. Its powerful wings beat against the air, propelling it forward faster than anyone had ever seen.

The tiger's rage was palpable—it had kept countless competitors from crossing this threshold, and now these two dared to challenge its dominance. It would rip them apart before they could savor their cleverness.

Tessa had just crossed the threshold, her feet skidding to a halt inside the new space beyond the entrance of the door. She turned to look back, her heart racing as she saw Gastro struggling to keep up. Speed was not his forte, but the determination etched on his face made her pause for a fleeting moment.

The winged tiger bore down on him, its massive paw raised high, ready to crush Gastro before he could reach safety.

"Move it, Gastro!" Tessa shouted, though she doubted her words would make any difference.

Gastro didn't need the reminder. He gritted his teeth and hurled himself forward, his body curling into a ball as he rolled toward the door. The tiger's claws swiped down just as he passed the threshold, tearing into the back of his thigh.

Gastro let out a sharp grunt of pain but didn't stop. The momentum of his roll carried him into the chamber, where he sprawled onto the cold floor, clutching his bleeding leg.

The winged tiger skidded to a halt just outside the entrance, its roar of frustration echoing through the corridor. Its massive body slammed into an invisible barrier that shimmered faintly, barring its entry.