The scratching sound of *Giant Spider* sharp legs on the volcanic rocks echoed throughout the Black Rock Valley.
The air felt increasingly thick with a chest-tightening acid aroma.
Three giant spider monsters with eight glowing red eyes stood surrounding the first-year students of class 101.
However, the tense atmosphere that had gripped the students a few seconds ago now slowly began to be replaced by focus and discipline.
There was no more blind panic like what happened in the forest previously.
Under the tactical command and direct guidance of Professor Erin, the students began to move according to the roles honed for weeks in the classroom.
"Focus on the formation! Don't let them break our ranks!" shouted Leon Arven loudly from the front row.
The blonde-haired youth stood tall, pointing his magic staff toward the largest spider on the left side.
Although cold sweat beads flowed down his temples, his expression no longer showed empty arrogance, but a strong determination to protect his groupmates.
On the other side, Serena Rose held her notebook tightly with her left hand while her right hand gripped the clear crystal-hilted magic staff.
Her eyes stared sharply at the spider's leg joints, recalling every detail of the monster's anatomy she had learned in the academy library.
"Their front leg joints are the weakest point! Concentrate blunt magic attacks there to knock down their balance!" shouted Serena giving instructions to the support group in the back.
Hearing those instructions, Kai Renford standing in the middle row took a deep breath to calm his pounding heartbeat.
The memory of private tutoring with Erin flashed back in his mind—how to align mana flow without fear, how to let energy flow calmly like a river stream.
Kai reached his hand forward, channeling stable energy to peers around him running out of breath due to monster mana pressure.
"Thank you, Kai," whispered one of his groupmates whose mana flow felt restored thanks to that energy support.
Kai nodded slightly, then redirected his focus back to the battle arena.
One of the *Giant Spiders* grunted angrily, leaping high into the air with the intent to pounce directly on the middle group.
The monster's black shadow covered the valley's dim light, creating its own terror for the students watching.
However, Erin who stood not far from them did not move at all to intervene.
She remained standing calmly with her dark blue robe waving in the valley wind, her yellow eyes watching every movement of her students with full confidence.
Erin knew when she had to step in to save lives, and when she had to let her disciples grow through real trials.
"Now, Leon!" shouted Serena giving the cue.
Leon responded quickly.
He channeled all the mana concentrated in his core, then swung his staff forward.
"Pressure Wind Blast!" shouted Leon.
A high-pressure wind gust shot rapidly hitting the lower body of the *Giant Spider* leaping in the air.
That attack was not designed to cut the monster's thick-scaled body, but to drastically alter the direction of its leaping momentum.
*Bugh!*
The spider monster bounced sideways, failing to land on target, and crashed into a pile of volcanic rocks with a loud noise.
Before the monster could get back up, the student group under the command of Serena and Kai simultaneously released simple binding spells Erin had taught in class last week.
Glowing blue light rays tightly wrapped the spider's legs, locking them onto the stone ground without being able to move freely.
Two other spider monsters seeing their comrade paralyzed tried to approach to provide help.
However, Professor Adrian who supervised from the rear line immediately stepped forward, flicking his robe to release a protective wave holding back the movement of the two monsters so they wouldn't approach the students' battle area.
"Good job, children!" shouted Professor Adrian with a booming voice showing appreciation.
"Maintain formation and finish it with direction!"
Hearing that praise and support, the students' confidence surged even higher.