"Every demonic beast has its core. You must open them, dig them from their body, and retrieve them. They would all look similar to this." Mushu said.

"Do you mean we need to open their bodies?" One of their Class A comrades asked.

"Yes. The crystal core, gallbladder, spleen, blood essence, tendons, and bile, every internal organ, especially if it's a giant beast. Like bears, lions, apes."

"Apes???"

"Yes," Mushu replied.

"Where do we put them?" Four Eyes asked, his eyes glinting with curiosity and a hint of reverence for the items that had been deemed essential by Ling Li.

Mushu, with a sly grin, said, "We will provide you with storage like this." He held out his sword, and with a quick flick of his wrist, it vanished into his storage ring. The group collectively held their breath, eyes wide with astonishment.

Four Eyes squinted, trying to make sense of the seemingly magical act. The others exchanged incredulous glances; they were convinced that Mushu had conjured some arcane trick. For them, the ring had to be a mystical artifact.

Mushu then retrieved the sword effortlessly and placed it onto his storage belt. "We have a storage ring, belt, and sack," he explained, casually as if discussing the weather.

"Now. From here onwards, you are on your own. We will wait for you outside the array," Shi Min announced, his voice calm but with an underlying tone of urgency. "Don't forget to collect the crystal cores."

Mushu stepped forward again, handing Shun a small bag. "Here, these are ready-to-eat food."

Shun peered inside the bag, and his jaw dropped. It was like peering into a small universe of culinary delights. 'So this is the magical storage bag,' he mused, a grin spreading across his face.

"Is there enough for all of us?" Chatty, the group's notorious chatterbox, inquired, his eyes full of wonder.

Without a word, Shun tilted the bag towards Chatty. His friend's eyes bulged as he inspected the bag from top to bottom, left to right, as though expecting to find some hidden trick.

"This… This is the magic storage bag?" Chatty's voice was barely above a whisper, filled with awe.

"Yes," Mushu confirmed with a nod. In an instant, both he and Shi Min disappeared, their departure so sudden it was as if they had never been there.

Unbeknownst to them, Ling Li was watching their every move through a magical tablet that connected with the array. She could manipulate anything within its bounds, her eyes sparkling with mischief and intelligence.

"I can't get used to all this magic appearing before me," Chatty babbled, trying to process the wonders unfolding around them.

Shun chuckled, securing the bag inside his backpack, ready for whatever lay ahead.

"Come on, let's move forward," Jack urged, his voice cutting through the tense silence.

The group fell into step behind him, the atmosphere heavy with anticipation. Four Eyes walked beside Jack, scanning the surroundings with calculated precision. At the same time, Shun trailed behind with his two new allies from the battleground, their steps synchronized in cautious unity.

In the distance, the unmistakable sound of teeth grinding echoed through the forest, sending shivers down their spines.

"What do you think that is?" they whispered amongst themselves, voices barely audible.

Jack, sensing the unease, unsheathed his sword with a smooth, practiced motion. Four Eyes followed suit, his grip steady and assured. The rest of the group mirrored their leaders, drawing their weapons and readying themselves for whatever lay ahead.

As they advanced, the forest seemed to hold its breath until suddenly, the underbrush exploded with movement. A colossal demonic porcupine leaped from the shadows, landing with a thunderous crash before them. Its quills, each more than a meter long, stood erect, bristling and protruding like an army of spears. The tips were barbed, menacing, and deadly, reminiscent of fishhooks. The creature chattered its teeth, producing a noxious chemical odor that filled the air.

"Cover your nose!" Jack bellowed, his voice urgent and commanding.

"Uncle, the quills are even longer than our swords," Shun marveled to Four Eyes, Shun's eyes wide with disbelief.

"The belly is its weakest point," Jack noted, his gaze fixed on the demonic beast.

The porcupine, as if understanding Jack's words, curled into a tight ball, shaking its body violently. Quills flew through the air, a deadly barrage aimed at the group.

"Shield yourselves with your swords!" Jack ordered.

"These quills are damned sharp!" someone yelled.

"How do we even attack its belly if it's rolled into a ball?" another voice questioned, frustration evident.

"Patience…" Jack replied, his tone calm and steady. "When it unrolls, we will distract it while others prepare to use bows and arrows. What do you think?"

"Let's try it," Shun agreed, nodding.

Half of the group quickly armed themselves with bows and arrows, spreading out to encircle the beast.

In a mere blink, the demonic porcupine unrolled, its quills gleaming under the muted forest light. Shifting its weight with alarming agility, it swung its menacing tail toward them. The air crackled with tension.

"Attack with your arrows!"

Jack's voice resonated through the group. In a seamless motion, they launched their arrows, each one a missile of precision aimed at the porcupine's vulnerable underbelly. With a guttural growl, the beast retaliated, whipping its spiked tail in a deadly arc, narrowly missing Four Eyes.

The demonic porcupine's agonized cry echoed in the forest, a chilling sound that sent shivers down their spines. The acrid smell of chemicals saturated the air as the creature emitted a noxious odor, signaling its demise. Moments later, the beast collapsed, its life force extinguished. A soft glow emanated from its body, dissipating to reveal the coveted crystal core.

The journey ahead was fraught with peril. They faced the demonic boar, whose tusks were as sharp as blades; the demonic lizard, its crocodile-like tail a weapon of destruction; and, finally, the demonic wolf, whose ferocity and cunning tested every ounce of their strength and strategy.

Battles were fierce and relentless. Sweat mingled with dirt, and every arrow shot was a testament to their resolve. Collecting the core of the demonic wolf was a triumph, each core a trophy of their valor.

After collecting the wolf's crystal core, they all found themselves outside the magic array; a palpable sense of accomplishment and exhaustion hung in the air.

Ling Li, ever the stoic mentor, addressed them. "Today, you have faced and conquered level-one demonic beasts. Tomorrow, you will understand the true might of level two. Prepare yourselves."

"Let's call it a day," Ling Li announced; her words were a balm to their weary souls. The promise of tomorrow loomed large and daunting yet filled them with a renewed sense of purpose and determination. They had only just begun to unravel the depths of their potential.

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