Last chapter I was going to say, why couldn't the villain just command a group of random students to go beat up and incapacitate MC, as there'd be no way to prove he was behind it, and thus he wouldn't get disqualified for attacking or intimidating other candidates. But as I suspected when he said only his powerful form could command them, he isn't able to transform on will and this chapter confirms it which is why it wasn't an option
Still no explanation for how she is unaffected by knives though