"If it's not enough…" Corin thought, his lips twisting into a crazed smile, "then I'll take everything at once."

Without hesitation, he activated the essence stone at its full capacity, drawing every ounce of its drugged energy into his body.

An immediate surge of power coursed through him like molten lava, but it came at a cost. His skin turned a deep, unnatural red, and veins bulged across his arms and neck, threatening to tear through his flesh. The transformation was horrifying.

A wave of killing intent radiated from him, chilling everyone to the bone. His bloodshot eyes locked onto Ethan with raw hatred.

"ARRRGHHHH!" Corin roared, his voice guttural and feral, as he threw his sword aside. He charged at Ethan, barehanded, like a wild animal.

His speed was shocking—blinding. The audience barely had time to blink before he was upon Ethan.

Ethan stood firm, unfazed. A smirk played across his lips, and his eyes gleamed with confidence. "If a fistfight is what you want," he said calmly, pulling his arm back, "then take this!"

Both fighters threw their fists forward with immense power, their strikes colliding mid-air with a thunderous *BAM!*

The impact shook the entire arena, sending a shockwave rippling outward. Dust and debris scattered as the ground trembled.

But Corin was the one who paid the price.

The sheer force of Ethan's punch sent him flying backward, crashing onto the ground thirty steps away. He tumbled like a ragdoll before coming to a stop, his body battered and his hand mangled from the impact.

The audience erupted into murmurs.

"They're both monsters, but Ethan's on a whole different level!" one spectator exclaimed.

"I think Corin should just accept his defeat," a girl said sympathetically. "He fought well this time. It's nothing like before—his image will be way better now."

But Corin wasn't listening.

Slowly, shakily, he pushed himself up. His hair hung messily over his face, hiding his expression. Blood dripped from his knuckles, and his body trembled with pain. Every inch of him felt like it was on fire, his injuries screaming for him to stop.

But he couldn't.

His mind raced with a single, tormenting thought: *Why isn't it enough? Why am I still losing?*

"WHY?!" Corin suddenly screamed, his voice filled with rage and despair. He raised his head, glaring at Ethan with wide, unblinking eyes.

The arena fell silent—an eerie, almost oppressive silence.

Then someone whispered, barely audible over the tension. "His eyes… they've turned red."

Ethan's smirk faded, replaced by shock. His sharp gaze focused on Corin. "Second Awakening…?"

Corin's eyes glowed a deep, unnatural red. His pupils had shifted, becoming slitted like those of a snake or a predator. His teeth lengthened, sharp fangs emerging, and his nails grew into claws, ten times their normal size.

The transformation was horrifying to witness.

Corin no longer looked human.

The next moment, golden fur began to grow all over Corin's body, spreading rapidly. His entire form twisted and expanded, bones cracking and reshaping as his transformation took hold.

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Gasps erupted from the audience, their faces pale with fear.

"There's no doubt about it," someone whispered in horror. "He's had his second awakening… and turned into a wolfman!"

The arena descended into chaos. The transformation was sudden and without warning, leaving everyone in shock.

Lortell, however, broke into a chilling laugh as she stood from her seat, her crimson eyes gleaming with excitement. "Hahaha… Who would've thought I'd get to see the future Duke killed right here in front of everyone today!"

Panic rippled through the spectators, their voices rising in confusion and fear.

"Wait!" Lilith shouted, stepping toward Lortell. "He's still the Duke's son—"

But Lortell silenced her with a cold, dismissive glance. Her lips curled into an evil smile.

"Basic laws of the kingdom," Lortell said, her voice dripping with malice. "If anyone awakens as a vampire, wolfman, or any other anomaly, they're to be killed on sight—regardless of their status."

Lilith froze, unable to argue further. She clenched her fists, trembling with frustration. Lortell's words were correct, and Lilith knew it. But the bitter irony stung—Lortell herself was a vampire, But all she could do was watch as events unfolded.

"ROARRRR!"

A deafening roar shattered the tense silence as Corin, now fully transformed, rose to his feet. His ripped clothes lay in shreds on the ground, unable to contain his new form.

He now stood over six feet tall, his body covered in thick golden fur. His muscles bulged with raw power, and his sharp claws gleamed under the light. Corin no longer resembled the boy he once was. He was a beast—a wolf on two legs.

The wolfman's glowing red eyes locked onto Ethan, and he roared again, shaking the arena with the sound.

Ethan's face turned pale as panic gripped his heart. "No way… no way… Wolfmen have the highest physical strength upon awakening! Unlike vampires or anomalies, they're monsters in raw power. I can't fight him. I have to run!"

But before Corin could lunge, another figure appeared in front of him.

Lortell.

She moved so fast that it was as if she had teleported. Her very presence made Corin halt instinctively, his feral rage subdued for a brief moment by the sheer force of her aura.

Lortell stood tall, towering over the newly awakened wolfman. Despite his newfound size and strength, Corin had to look up to meet her gaze.

Her wide, sinister smile deepened as she looked down at him, her crimson eyes glinting with amusement.

"Say goodbye to your life,boy," Lortell said, her voice low and menacing.

Slap!

Lortell swung her palm toward Corin with deadly precision. To her, one strike was more than enough to end his life, to snuff out the raging wolfman before he became a threat.

But just as her hand was about to connect, Corin's body shimmered and vanished into thin air, as though he had never been there.

"What?" Lortell's hand stopped mid-air, her crimson eyes narrowing in frustration.

"He teleported!" Lilith exclaimed, her voice urgent. "It's a unique ability of wolfmen. They naturally have affinity with the space element. He can teleport anywhere within a limited range. But his mana isn't strong enough to take him far!"

Lortell's expression darkened ,"Of course, I know that!" she snapped, her tone dripping with annoyance.

But the crowd didn't take the news calmly.

"Teleport anywhere?" someone gasped, their voice trembling with fear. "That means he could appear right behind us! He could kill us at any moment!"

The realization sent waves of terror through the audience.

"Run! Run!" a man shouted, his voice cracking with panic.

At once, chaos erupted. People began pushing and shoving, desperate to reach the exits. Fear gripped the arena like a storm, and no amount of shouting could stop it.

"Don't panic! Leave in an orderly fashion! Everything is under control!" several teachers yelled, their voices booming in an attempt to calm the crowd.

But their words fell on deaf ears. How could anyone believe them after what they had just witnessed? They had seen a boy transform into a monstrous wolfman, Like a creature out of nightmares.

Meanwhile, Esdeath sat calmly amidst the growing chaos, her sharp gaze scanning the panicked masses.

"I suppose it's time for me to leave too," she muttered, her voice indifferent as she stood from her seat. Her eyes briefly glanced at the empty chair beside her, Maruti's seat.

Maruti had left a while ago, Corin vs Ethan was the last match of today and her match was already over, She had not much intrest in watching a fight with obvious outcome.

Without another word, Esdeath melted into the crowd, moving gracefully amidst the chaos until she disappeared entirely.

Back on the arena floor, Lilith approached Lortell, her expression a mix of worry and determination.

"We need to prepare to capture him," Lilith said firmly. "He hasn't killed anyone yet. There's still a chance to save him."

Lortell's crimson eyes flickered with a brief, hidden smirk, but she quickly masked it with a solemn nod. "Fine," she said, her tone neutral. "Let's go."

Lilith and Lortell were about to leave when a B-rank teacher rushed toward them, his face pale and his voice trembling with urgency.

"Vice Principal!" he called out, his breath heavy. "Another wave of beasts and monsters has appeared! Our B-rank teachers and the third-year students are holding the line, but it's becoming difficult to manage. We need reinforcements!"

He didn't wait for a response. Turning on his heel, he sprinted back toward the forest, knowing every second counted. There was no time for long discussions—he had come to deliver the message and return to the fight.

Lilith's eyes darkened, her jaw tightening. "Another wave? Why is our luck so terrible right now?" she muttered through gritted teeth.

Turning to Lortell, she tried place a hand on her shoulder but of course due to height difference,She could barely reach her waist. "You go with him and help them defend the academy. I'll stay behind and focus on capturing Corin."

But Lortell's face twisted with anger, her crimson eyes blazing. "Don't give me that nonsense!" she snapped. "What if something happens to Esdeath? If she so much as gets a scratch, I'll peel the skin off your body!" Her voice was sharp and threatening, each word like a dagger.

Lilith sighed but held her ground. She grabbed Lortell's arm, her grip firm yet reassuring. "Trust me," she said, her voice steady. "I'll take full responsibility this time. Nothing will happen to her. I promise." Her eyes held a sincerity that even Lortell couldn't ignore.

Lortell narrowed her eyes, her lips pressing into a thin line. She didn't fully trust anyone when it came to Esdeath, but Lilith's confidence made her hesitate. Finally, she scoffed.

"Hmph. I've placed multiple investigative essence stones on Esdeath. If she's in any danger, I'll know immediately," she muttered under her breath. Reluctantly, she nodded. "Fine. But if you break your word, I won't forgive you."

Without waiting for a reply, Lortell turned and strode off toward the back of the academy, heading deep into the large forest where the waves of monsters were attacking. Her tall figure disappeared into the shadows, her presence as commanding as ever.

Lilith watched her leave and let out a small sigh of relief. "Sending her away was the right decision," she thought, her expression serious.

If Lortell had found Corin first, there was no doubt in Lilith's mind that she would kill him without hesitation. Lortell didn't care about Corin's status or his circumstances—she would see him as a threat and eliminate him.

"Corin is the Duke's son," Lilith reminded herself. "He can't die without the Duke knowing what's happening. If I don't handle this carefully, the entire academy will be in chaos."