Using the skunk attack they managed to separate Molimi from Janus, ultimately weakening the strength of the team.
While the skunk had been spreading its black smog, under the cover of darkness the last member of the senior team made its appearance.
It showed the ferocity of a hippopotamus, extremely large and aggressive with a bite that could easily crush the opponent.
The senior student wielding its magnificent powers was a third-year student known for his advanced physical martial arts and extensive combat skills.
Molimo and the skunk were both at a standstill when Molimo managed to trap the skunk but before it became incapacitated it managed to scratch Molimo with a paralyzing attack.
Now it was just Janus versus the third year named Poko.
Poko was using a barbed whip on its spirit beast fuelling its rage against the new recruits.
Spider versus Hippo, it was down to a simple brawl as both fighters were exhausted and it was a matter of endurance as to who could hold out longer.
Sly was puzzled.
What were the new recruits really supposed to take away from these so-called challenges?
Paralyzed, Molimo stumbled nearly falling into his own pit breathing a sigh of relief.
Only to be shoved in by Poko when he realized his skunk teammate had also fallen there was no way that Poko could allow Molimo to make this a two versus one.
While he was doing that Janus was still dodging his ornery webbed toe stomping strikes that shook the ground like a massive earthquake.
The only take away that Sly got from watching these fights was that at Paradise Military Academy massive spirit energy and brute physical strength was still prized.
So, the quickest way for the new students to adapt and learn this and gain instinctive reactions and combat experience was through getting brutally beaten?
"Boooooo!!!!" hollered and jeered two new recruits at the back.
They, like the rest of the crowd, thought the seniors were quite disgusting with that skunk sneak attack.
It totally changed the trajectory of the battle signalling that the win was still up grabs, this intense fight was still anybody's victory.
Old Man Biggs threatened, "The two students at the back stop talking before I knock your teeth out."
His eagle eyes and loud blustering interrupted Sly's introspection of the match.
"Looks like the little squirt is up next. I hope you're learning from the fight."
"I am Sir," replied Sly.
"Oh…pray tell... what have you noticed?" queried Old Man Biggs.
"The seniors have the advantage when it comes to teamwork and being familiar with each other's moves."
The instructor stroked his chin deep in thought. "That's pretty obvious…tell me something I don't know already?"
"Well…that player Janus has pretty good reflexes," blurted out Sly. "Not only that but he is not fighting with just one spirit beast like the others. The giant spider had several tiny spiders that are like specks that latch on to the enemy and are draining their spirit energy."
Intrigued, Old Man Biggs raised an eyebrow, here was finally a promising student who could see the boundless spirit energy in others.
Of course, with his interest piqued, Old Man Biggs had a heart full of expectation from Sly's observance of the ongoing fight.
It seemed that Janus after a few wins had clearly underestimated his opponent who hadn't been showing his true strength and hippo shifted to its level 3 form.
The hippo became more powerful and oppressive, its skin was very thick and none of the baby spiders was working on it anymore.
Its massive canines slashed apart all the red threads that Janus' spider in its level 1 form tossed at him.
The red spider was just like its master Janus, none of them like losing and at the last-minute tottering on the edge of defeat it started to evolve on the battlefield.
When some spirit beasts evolve, they are at their weakest and this was unfortunately true for Janus faithful red spider.
It was being dragged across the fight area by the hungry for victory hippo, Janus was ballistic at this point and his cries to Poko went unheeded as the older boy was determined to win.
Old Man Biggs immediately left Sly's side and yelled, "stop."
The match was over and it was obvious that the senior team won but Poko was enraged that this set of newbies embarrassed his team out there on the field he would not stop until they were all obliterated.
Four or five neutral students went on the field to try and assist the new recruits to take them quickly to the medicine tent to get intensive medical treatment but found it blocked.
They were unable to even enter the field fully as the hippo had gone berserk and was no longer even listening to the obnoxious taunts and commands of its owner.
Old Man Biggs, "Poko, you nitwit, you don't deserve to have a spirit bone. Get your ugly spirit beast under control right this instant!"
Hearing his old instructor's voice Poko wanted to plead for mercy, he took his eyes off of his crazed hippo for a minute.
"I can't! It won't listen to me!" cried Poko in alarm.
Now that the neutral students ran away in fear the mad hippo slowed down, then spun around its eyes filled with rage, it wanted to grow, it wanted more spirit essence and it senses someone with massive amounts of spirit energy at the edge of the field.
The hippo's crazed eyes scanned the field until it spotted Sly then it charged in his direction.
Sly sensed that something was wrong despite the hysteria from the spectators and the maddening crowd.
Then suddenly he was knocked out of the way by Old Man Biggs who was wrestling with the hippo, "Boy, move it, you're in no condition to take a hit."
Shoved out of the way Sly tripped over his own feet, hitting the ground hard as despite his old age the trainer still forcefully shoved with all his strength.
Old Man Biggs managed to drag the hippo away from Sly but it wasn't very far the hippo kept turning his head to keep its target, namely Sly in sight.
Then he watched in a daze as the hippo kicked Old Man Biggs out of the way, its horrible red pupils dilated then fixed on Sly, the hair on its back was stiff and raised in an aggressive posture.
Despite its huge size it was light on its feet, now that he sent the trainer to the moon it turned its fierce gaze back to the trembling Sly.