Exam (4): Flames of Fury and the Lamiel Onslaught
Elisha caught her breath, glancing back and forth between the fallen beast and the massive one lunging at her. Cold air seeped deep into her lungs, and a light sheen of sweat beaded on her forehead.
"This guy's... seriously pissed now."
Her whisper scattered into the empty air. The giant beast's eyes were already bloodshot, its crimson glare piercing through her as it stomped its forepaw, shaking the ground with each thud.
Elisha took a step back, gathering mana at her fingertips. Flames slowly flickered to life from her fingers.
"Just take it slow," she murmured, drawing a deep breath to steady herself. "Goddess of Flames, purify this place with your fire!"
Her voice rang out firm and intense. A fierce blaze erupted from her fingertips, swelling into a massive fireball that hurtled toward the beast. The flames enveloped its body, roaring wildly.
The beast let out an agonized scream, thrashing in pain. But Elisha's eyes remained vigilant, never dropping her guard.
"No way it survives that, right?" she whispered unconsciously.
Yet the beast's shadow within the flames grew larger.
"What the—?"
Her face hardened, leisure vanishing as tension spread across her features.
"GRRAAAAAH!"
Despite being engulfed in fire, the beast charged at her with even greater ferocity. The flames slid harmlessly over its muscular frame, unable to halt its momentum.
Elisha leaped aside nimbly, dodging the attack. The beast's claws gouged deep into the spot where she'd stood, kicking up a cloud of dust that obscured her vision.
"Not enough, huh?" She clicked her tongue, sinking into thought as she concentrated her mana further, running through possible scenarios in her mind.
"GRRR!"
In that moment, the beast burst through the dust, swinging its forepaw again. Elisha reflexively began chanting a spell.
"Pure crystal of cold ice, eternal permafrost that never melts, protect me—"
She barely managed to form an ice barrier, but the incomplete chant left it unstable. And such a half-baked wall couldn't fully shield her.
She dodged the claw shattering the ice, but the heavy blow grazed her shoulder.
"Ngh!"
Red blood sprayed from the gash in her skin. Clutching the wound, Elisha leaped back. The situation was spiraling out of control. If it kept up like this, things would turn irreversible.
"Stay calm...."
But in moments like these, Elisha kept her cool. Amid the rising tension, she cleared her mind and thought flexibly.
"Yeah, that could work."
A possibility flashed through her head.
"Pure crystal of cold ice, eternal permafrost that never melts, protect me!"
Elisha formed another ice barrier. The opaque wall stood between her and the beast.
"GRRAAAAAH—!!"
As expected, the beast smashed into the obstructing barrier with all its might. But something was off. Even with a proper chant this time, the magic shattered more easily than before.
"Guh?!"
"Gotcha."
This was Elisha's trap. The ice wall wasn't just for defense. Ding— Ding— As it broke, it flashed brightly, and the ground beneath the beast froze solid in an instant.
In truth, Elisha had set it up as a trap: the wall would rapidly freeze the surroundings upon destruction.
"This time, you're done."
The beast thrashed violently, struggling desperately, but the pure ice crystals held it fast.
"Goddess who birthed and nurtured fire, let the miracle of purification dwell in these fingertips—"
With steely resolve, she began drawing a magic circle toward the giant beast. Red light etched sharply into the air, flames intensifying fiercely.
"With the primordial flame that began all things, I invoke your authority and exalt your glory."
"Initium Fire!!"
With her shout, the magic circle erupted in explosive light, swallowing the beast.
"GRRAAAAAAAHHH—"
A scream like tearing flesh echoed, a fierce wind tousling her hair.
"......"
When the light faded, the beast lay still. Charred black like a massive lump of ash, it was no longer recognizable as a living thing.
"Hoo—"
The dying flames flickered out slowly, and Elisha let out a sigh of relief. The forest fell silent in an instant; she knew she'd won.
"Alright, victory's mine. Time to claim the spoils?"
The Cyclops writhed in agony yet refused to let go of Eily, flailing wildly. The massive club in its hand splintered trees indiscriminately, turning the surrounding terrain into a mess. Amid the shockwaves rippling through the air, Eily showed no sign of perturbation.
"Putting up quite the fight."
Eily narrowed her eyes, quickly scanning the terrain. Endless calculations ran through her mind—for victory, and to claim her master all for herself, she considered every option.
"......"
Eily locked onto the Cyclops's right ankle. Her preemptive strike had landed effectively. The already sluggish beast's mobility was crippled, making it move like a turtle.
"And its movements are so ponderous—easy to exploit the openings."
Observing the monster's slow, hulking motions, she moved with caution.
"RROAR!!"
Unlike the calmly analyzing Eily, the Cyclops swung wildly at empty air, as if swatting flies.
"......!"
As the club cleaved the air again, Eily dodged with agile grace.
"Now!"
Steadying her breath, she prepared her next move. The sword in her hand gleamed.
Just as the Cyclops raised its club high to smash down, she charged forward with all her strength, aiming her blade at its eye.
"RRROOOOAAAAARRR—!!!"
"Tch!"
But a massive roar sliced through the air. Eily faltered mid-thrust for the finishing blow.
"Ngh?!"
The follow-up attack forced her to retreat a step. Regretting her failure to land the decisive hit, she glared sharply at the clever Cyclops for its smart counter.
"GRRRHH...!!"
The Cyclops's eye burned red with rage, smoke practically billowing from its head like a volcano.
"RROAR!"
Its attacks grew more savage. Each club swing quaked the earth, dust rising like fog.
"More persistent than I thought...."
The Cyclops outlasted her expectations. Groaning in pain and frustration, it swung its arm to drive her off. But its blows never reached the nimble Eily; she fell back, regrouping.
"One more time!"
Gripping her sword tightly, she lunged again, targeting its left arm this time. The Cyclops twisted roughly for a counter, but Eily flowed like water, deflecting and plunging her blade deep into its arm.
"RRAAAAAHHH—!"
The Cyclops screamed. She could feel its strength waning. Catching her breath, Eily readied the final strike.
"Time to end this."
Without hesitation, she swung with full force at the nape of its neck.
"Guh, gack—!"
A heavy death rattle echoed through the forest. With the successful blow, the Cyclops collapsed limply. Its massive body hit the ground with a thud!, motionless.
"Haa... got it!"
Eily felt the tension drain from her body as she lowered her sword. The area was littered with battle scars, but her fight was finally over.
"No students back yet. Hope they're not pushing too hard."
The assembly point lay in tranquil peace. With Professor Igria overseeing the evaluation, along with various instructors and staff on constant watch, it was the safest zone for the students.
"If they've properly completed their training, they'll return safely."
The site was equipped with combatants, medical teams for emergencies, ample supplies, large tents, and basic facilities. To deter ambushes, chemical repellents were scattered around—harmless to humans but a foul stench to keen-nosed beasts, forming a barrier of sorts. Since the forest's monsters were mostly sensory-enhanced beasts, it was a wise academy measure.
"And elite instructors are deployed throughout the forest, active as we speak, right?"
"Still, can't let our guard down."
Those at the assembly point seemed idle on the surface but maintained taut vigilance. They upheld a solemn atmosphere, ever ready for sudden crises and worrying for the students' safety.
Then.
"We need help here!"
A urgent cry shattered the peace. An instructor appeared, drenched in sweat, supporting a student.
"What happened?!"
The assembly point erupted in chaos. Professor Igria and the waiting medics rushed to the student first.
"Found this student collapsed during recon. Unconscious, so I brought them back fast."
The student moaned faintly in semi-consciousness. But what shocked everyone was something else.
"...An arrow?"
A deep arrow embedded in the student's thigh. Professor Igria's face hardened upon seeing it. She racked her brain, recalling if any forest monsters wielded bows with that level of intelligence.
"Lamiel...?"
DONG—! DONG—! DONG—!
The moment she murmured the name, the assembly point turned to pandemonium. The warning bells rang out for emergency.
"Enemy raid! Enemy raid!"
It happened almost simultaneously. A male instructor's grim shout echoed across the site.
Everyone snapped to alert, scanning the surroundings amid the sudden assault.
"What...? Lamiels?!"
"Where'd so many come from...!"
"This is a full-scale emergency! Battle stations!"
Swarms of Lamiels poured into the assembly point like endless ants. Their lithe tongues sliced the air like ripples. As the massive horde emerged from the forest shadows, the ranks plunged into disorder.
"What in the world...."
Professor Igria gritted her teeth and drew her sword without pause. One thing she could swear on instinct:
"Hiss—"
The Lamiel assault had begun.