Chapter 139: Two Groups.
Krune looked at him.
"Is that a problem?"
The guys immediately shook his head.
"As long as you keep your end of the agreement, I don't mind even if you are a fly."
Both of them entered the dimensional slot while the other observed it with their Divine Sense. Around a minute later, Krune's group was simply shooking their heads, the result was way too predictable. As for the enemy team, their eyes were almost falling off their sockets. Since when wisps are this strong?
Turns out that Krune didn't give the guy any chance to retaliate. By using his tribulation lightning from the start, he completely crushed his opponent's defense. The battle finished with several skills disappearing right in front of the enemy. If Krune hadn't stopped on purpose, the guy would be dead already.
After coming out, he finally understood that he had hit a steel wall. His name was Heino Welzut, and he was obviously another cultivator from a top-ranked planet. That's why he was confident in his own abilities. Unfortunately, he encountered Krune. He isn't weak. In fact, he is even stronger than Boen back in the Measuring Hall. Even Ao, Arlan, or the others would have a hard time to beat win.
After the two came out of the slot, Heino only let out a sigh. It can already be considered good that Krune showed mercy. He then looked at Krune and asked.
"I've never heard about a wisp this strong, what is your name?"
Krune replied.
"Makui Planet's Krune."
Only now did Heino understand what kind of steel wall he had hit.
"The Elemental Major Core, I've heard about you before the exam started. Not only you have an Elemental Core, but you can also use Tribulation Lightning... Impressive!"
Heino then looked at his teammates and said.
"We are leaving, the next floor door isn't active yet, so we still have time to find another one."
Krune heard that and felt relieved, the guy was really going to keep his promise. Just as Heino was about to leave, Krune gave him a piece of information.
"On my way here, I spotted another door south-west from here. But there were three teams fight over that one. You can decide if you want to try that or not."
Heino looked at Krune and nodded.
"Thanks for the information."
After that, they left.
Krune looked at the door slots and then back at everyone.
"As you can see, the number of slots is decreasing. What Joty said in the past turned out to be true, we probably won't have enough slots for the entire team at some point. Of course, that is considering that we don't lose anyone anymore."
Everyone nodded, they had already expected this much. Shinja looked at Krune and asked.
"What about we make two teams when that time comes?"
The others also thought that this was the only way.
"It's not a problem, the issue is, who is joining which team?"
Ao and Arlan immediately proposed.
"The two of us will build a team, our coordination is very good, and we can use battle formation. We will definitely not be the only ones who need to separate, so I refuse to believe that we are going to find any team too strong. Even if we do, we can just ignore that one and try another."
Krune agreed that it was a good idea.
"Have Yusa join your side too, she bests at support, which will be of great use for you two."
Yusa nodded. She also thought that it would be the best balance. Krune can also play the support role to start with, so his side would not need her that much.
Joty, Mari, and the other guys were amazed by that decision. At first, they thought that Krune's group would just cast them out, but instead, his group separated first.
Shinja noticed the looks on their eyes and explained.
"We don't have any intention of relying on Krune's power to pass the exam. Remember, this is a test! By separating at this point would give everyone a better chance to show their abilities."
Krune agreed with Shinja's words. That's why he didn't say anything when Ao and Arlan decided to part with him for the rest of the exam. Arlan then looked at Joty's group direction and spoke.
"You guys already got used to our battle formation, so you come with us too. You noticed that you aren't at our level, but with the battle formation, you can still give us an enormous help. As long as we keep the members of the battle formation, I'm confident that we have a good chance of passing the test."
Krune then warned everyone.
"It has already passed the point where you can stay outside defending the slots before entering it without worry. The team battles are getting close to the end too. So you all better be prepared to enter a slot and defend it alone. I know that some of you are not confident about it, but there is nothing more we can do. We kept our promise and helped you get this far, you can only rely on your own strength after that point."
Joty, Mari, and the other remaining cultivators and demon beasts nodded their heads. They also know that it wouldn't continue like this forever.
In the end, Ao's group would have Arlan, Mina, Yusa, and Joty's group. Krune's side would have less, but each one of them should be able to fight or at least defend a slot for ten minutes. So they didn't need to rely on group battle, his group could simply charge into the slots and defeat the inside opponents or defend it.
Krune's side had Shinja, Lofa, and Tasier. The only one that Krune was a little concerned about was Lofa, who could be said to be the weakest one in his group. Tasier and Lofa don't have the Spiritual Energy Meridians, so they aren't at Ao, Shinja, and the others level. But Tasier still had his innate lightning ability, which gave him a great boost. Lofa was the only one who could only rely on what she was taught.
"Are you confident?"
Lofa looked at Krune and smiled.
"At first, I didn't even have hope to participate in the Divine Path Sect Entrance Exam. But now, I've come this far. Whether I pass or not, I'm already happy enough."
Tasier looked at her and said.
"We spared several times, although you couldn't beat me in the end, your defense abilities were enough for you to drag the battle for almost thirty minutes. Remember that I'm a lightning user, which is perfect against your water element. If you can hold me that long, you can definitely do the same against the others."
Shinja heard that too and nodded.
"Tasier is right, I had taught you myself, and I know very well what you are capable of."
Lofa was happy to hear that.
"I definitely won't let you down."
While everyone was discussing the issue, another team appeared inside Krune's Divine Sense. The fact that they had appeared didn't bother Krune, but there was one guy in the middle that made Krune warier.
"There is more coming."
The door to the next floor hasn't activated yet, so there was no use to enter the slots at that point. It didn't take long for the other team to appear.
This group had a total of fifteen contestants, and surprisingly, their leader was none other than Colen. As mentioned before, Colen is the owner of the Space Major Core. Colen had also noticed Krune, and he did know who he is. He still remembers the battle that broke out as soon as the First Test started. Krune, of course, knew him too. Colen then came forward.
"Ten Major Cores, Space Core Colen Fecit."
"Ten Major Cores, Elemental Core Krune."
The area became silent after that, neither side said or did anything. Colen then smiled and turned around.
"Let's go."
His group was confused, but they didn't say anything. Just like that, Colen left.
On the way, Colen's companion couldn't help but ask.
"Why didn't we attack them? I don't believe we could lose."
Colen shook his head.
"I can feel the presence of another door nearby, and I noticed that the next level door wasn't activated yet when we met Krune back there. So we have more than enough time to conquer that one. I have no doubt that we can win, but starting a fight against a Major Core without need is idiotic."
Colen then laughed.
"Of course, if there was no other door and the next level was already open, then I would have charged at them straight away! But this won't continue for long, slot confronts will definitely happen in the last ten levels, it is just a question of time."
The door the Colen was talking about was the one Krune mentioned before to Heino. Colen felt the doors differently than Krune, he doesn't need the Divine Sense, the spatial fluctuations that the doors give is more than enough for him. His ability to find other doors could be said to be even higher than Krune. Colen's companion nodded and didn't say anything else.
Back at Krune's place, everyone was sweating cold, except for Krune, of course. Yusa took a deep breath and said.
"That scared me."
Ao, Arlan, and others also nodded. Shinja then commented.
"Only Krune would be able to contend against that guy, but his companions were obviously on another league too. I'm sure I could fight one of them head-on, but I'm not sure about the price I would need to pay to win. Not to mention that every single one seemed at the same level. In a group battle, our side would definitely lose."
Krune agreed with what she said, if it really came to that, Krune would decide for a retreat. If it was only Colen, he could take him, and he has the confidence to win. Arlan, Ao, Shinja, and Yusa probably could take one of the others each too, and Krune was confident that they could also bring back a victory. But for the rest, only Tasier and Lofa would probably have enough strength to hold one back, not win, only hold. As for Joty's group, there is no doubt that they would lose very fast.
Once Joty's group was defeated, Krune's group would be assaulted from all sides. It was a hopeless battle to start with. Of course, the other side would have to pay some price as well since Krune's group isn't weak.
Suddenly, the door behind them started to shine.
"The next level is open, let's go!"