### Chapter 427: Everyone’s Got Hidden Talents
As the three descended from the stage, everyone nearby rushed over, concern plastered across their faces.
After all, falling from such a height meant that even with their hardy bodies, a few bumps and bruises were inevitable.
But oddly enough, they seemed perfectly fine!
“Well, I actually got saved by a junior. Kinda embarrassing, isn’t it?”
“Wow, that junior was super quick on her feet!”
“What kind of magic was that? Controlling the ground to reshape it seems simple, but how did she manage to protect them?”
Someone shouted out a question: “Hey you! What magic was that? It looked pretty impressive!”
“Yeah, seriously! Falling from that height and not even a scratch? Not to mention, her alchemical gear didn’t break either.”
Since someone asked, Yuliya thought for a moment and replied, “Oh, it’s just a really simple beginner magic, um, actually it’s two. One for earth manipulation and the other for water control.”
Yuliya stomped her foot—this is earth!
Then she pointed at a water tank prepared by some unknown club below, which was now completely empty.
“I found out that this stage is made of clay. It’s super handy! Just add water to soften it, and when it dries, it hardens. Many short-term constructions use this! So it’s really simple to catch them with wet clay!”
That’s all there was to it! The entire process involved basic magic that most students present could manage.
Forget about Gold Level; even Silver Level students could pull this off.
After all, this was just Yuliya’s current skill set.
If she really let loose, she could easily catch them from mid-air.
The others suddenly had a lightbulb moment.
“Oh, so that’s how it is! It’s actually pretty simple.”
But the problem was timing, quick reactions, and casting speed!
If there hadn’t been two ready-to-use elements nearby, manipulation would’ve taken way longer—there’s just no way anyone could’ve kept up!
“No wonder she’s rated ‘Excellence,’ while we’re just barely passing. That’s the gap!”
“Fast reactions, keen observation, and calm response. This girl is definitely going places.”
“Hey, can I learn from you too? I’m a freshman too, no ulterior motives, just pure learning!”
Yuliya cleared her throat, grabbed her amplification magic device, and shouted, “Next group, please!”
As the next group came up, they looked a bit… unique.
They had a lot of personality!
Though dressed in school uniforms, their hair was all sorts of wild colors with bizarre styles.
Three guys and one girl, all with long hair, and one was a beastman!
Each of them had at least five different hairstyles blended together, creating a floral extravaganza.
Or to put it another way, they looked like they’d just rolled through a hedgerow!
“We are the Thunder Strike Club! Let’s be bold, wild, and BOOM!”
With that, they abruptly started tossing things into the air.
Crackling and popping, like fireworks!
“Ow, this is kind of interesting.”
“It actually looks pretty cool.”
“Too bad it’s still bright out; it’d look a lot prettier at night.”
Suddenly, the leader stopped and shouted to the crowd, “What we’ve got right now can only be called ‘Thunder.’ The sound is pop, pop, pop—just a warm-up!”
“The academy clearly states that we can only go all out in designated areas. But today, in honor of our dear junior, we’re making an exception! Get ready for a BIG ‘BOOM!’ Countdown! Five! Four! Three!”
Some seasoned seniors immediately shouted, “Run! Get out of here!”
“There’s no time to retreat; everyone cover your ears!”
“Don’t just stand there! Freshmen, listen up!”
Of course, a small group of people cheered in excitement.
“Two! One! Get ready for a huge blast!”
The moment the words left their mouths, a massive boom echoed through the air, shaking even the distant classrooms. Many windows popped open, and people peered out.
And then, an alarm blared.
“Students, we’re done here! Time to run!”
At the leader’s command, all four members bolted in different directions as if they were on a mission.
Yuliya stood there, mouth slightly agape, watching them rush in just to rush out, all in the span of twenty seconds.
Ten seconds later, a neat squad of ten appeared out of the classroom area’s teleportation array, rushing over, asking a few quick questions, and dashing away.
Only then did the students, still reeling from the explosive sound, start to process what had just happened.
“Holy cow! What just happened?”
“That was the Security Team, right? They must be going after those guys.”
“Do they have the guts to break the rules of Saint Felis Academy?”
Freshmen were shocked, while upperclassmen had already regrouped and were ready to watch the next club’s performance.
“Get used to it; that’s how their club operates. They’ll have their rounds with the Security Team at least once a month.”
“Don’t be too surprised; they’re likely holding back this time—no completely letting loose. There will be surprises ahead.”
“Didn’t I tell you all to cover your ears? By the way, the junior is fine, right?”
Of course, Yuliya was perfectly fine—her reflexes were off the charts!
At her skill level, honestly, she could muster more.
Back in the day, when I was playing with explosives, I’d drop one and take out a whole section of the teaching building with it.
The sound, oh, it would resonate throughout the academy, and half of it would definitely catch on!
What they did just now? Not enough bang, too little impact, just noise without any visual show, and certainly no real damage—just pure theatrics!
But hey, I’ll give them credit; this club has a bit of flair to it.
For a moment, Yuliya found herself actually intrigued.
But then she shook her head. They seemed too cute and innocent to mingle with the artful chaos of those “trendy” kids.
Afterward, a few more clubs presented, but all were fairly standard.
Like the Magic Studies Club, the Fireball Faction, and a martial arts group.
Their performances were decent.
However, for some reason, several clubs encountered mishaps during their showcases, and Yuliya had to step in to save the day a few times.
After all, this was her territory; things going wrong wouldn’t reflect well.
And these mishaps, overall, weren’t too dangerous, but they did lower the overall vibe a notch.
Oh, I see; undercover sabotage at play.
In the academy, clubs weren’t restricted to just one; you could be a social butterfly and dabble in as many as you wanted.
While inter-club competition might not be very evident in daily life, there were two clear competitive moments.
One was the current recruitment phase, and the other was the annual club evaluation.
So, those in the know were in the loop.
Regardless, Yuliya was genuinely enjoying the show.
At that moment, the next club stepped up.
“We are the Serene Reading Club. Welcome to all students interested in special literature.”
Others might have thought this club was mundane, but it instantly captured Yuliya’s heart.
A reading club? What a gem!
Isn’t this the perfect excuse to do absolutely nothing? Just pure lounging around!
