Their Mistake, Her Rise - Chapter 514: Chapter 514

Almost at the same time, a gleaming dagger sliced deviously through the crowd, aiming precisely for the spot where Zoe had just been standing.
Zoe soared into the air as Shawn reached up and caught her wrist. Together, they spun in perfect sync like a human carousel. At the peak of her leap, Zoe swung her leg in a wide arc, delivering powerful kicks to the opponents surrounding her.
With a devastating sweep, a large group of people crashed to the ground in an instant.
The other trainees erupted in fury at the sight.
One shouted, "Sir, isn't it cheating for Zoe and Shawn to team up like this?"
Another chimed in, "Exactly! This is completely unacceptable!"
Some trainees shouted angrily, "That's not fair! They must be severely punished!"
Ryan replied, "Ten trainees have already been eliminated. Their actions don't break any rules! Which means Zoe and Shawn's actions weren't part of the training exercise, so it can't be considered a violation."
One of the trainees protested, "This is clearly exploiting a loophole! Can we team up, too?"
Another said, "Exactly! We want the same deal!"
Ryan said coolly, "I don't object to teaming up, but if you cause trouble as a group, you're all out."
"Sir, is killing against the rules?" one trainee dared to ask.
Ryan turned his cold gaze on the questioner and said, "Once you sign the Death Pact, your lives and deaths are no longer our concern. As long as you don't kill openly during this period, kill as you please."
Ryan's words opened the floodgates for these demons. This gave those demons free rein to indulge in their darkest impulses.
A daring trainee challenged, "Sir, can we kill you too?"
Ryan sneered, "Of course not! Attacking or defying an instructor violates the rules."
The trainees' faces fell in bitter disappointment. They harbored a bone-deep hatred for Ryan. If killing instructors were allowed, Ryan would be dead already.
Ryan added, "Aside from the instructors here, that dog is also off-limits. Lay a finger on it, and you'll pay with your life."
One defiant trainee, dagger in hand, charged straight at the dog to kill it. But before he could get close, a bullet nearly tore through his instep. Terrified, he slumped to the ground.
Ryan said coldly, "Now do you get it? I wasn't joking."
A terrified silence fell over the group. They realized that Ryan was serious. No one dared to court death now.
Every project in the Hunter Tournament was being live-streamed from all angles to video streaming platforms. It was not just government officials worldwide watching this competition; people everywhere were glued to their screens.
Watching the free-for-all on the live stream, they were utterly shocked to see the participants attacking each other like rabid wolves. All eyes were on Zoe and Shawn's perfectly synchronized final move as the fight ended.
One viewer exclaimed, "Looks like Clusians do know fighting skills!"
Someone said, "Is this what Clusians call a celestial warrior? She moves like she's flying, fights like a demon. She's stunning!"
Sophia and Aileen sat together, watching the internal surveillance feed on the monitor screen. Here, they were watching a live broadcast. Just then, the cameras happened to capture Zoe and Shawn.
The screen now showed the log-carrying challenge. All participants were forced to wade into the mud pit, hauling heavy logs while doing squats, all under relentless high-pressure water jets.
The torrents of water battering participants made it hard enough just to keep their footing, let alone complete the grueling challenge. Unable to take it anymore, some trainees collapsed right there in the mud pit.
This challenge must be completed in pairs. Naturally, Zoe was paired with Shawn.
Aileen slammed the table, fuming. She said, "What the hell is this? They took my money just to fund their little lovefest? This is outrageous!"
Watching the seamless teamwork of Zoe and Shawn, Sophia was so furious she nearly exploded.