Chapter 180 Chapter 40.5 - A Test
Emerging from the shadows was another student, an incredibly beautiful girl with silver hair cascading towards her waist and eyes as blue as an icy winter sky.
Her presence, which exuded an air of elegance and cold determination, would immediately capture the attention of everyone in the vicinity.
"Seraphina."
Irina met the eyes of the newcomer with a fiery gaze, her aura burning. It didn't take a genius to understand that her emotions were overflowing.
'Seraphina Frostborne.'
It was the girl's name, a character, and a future pillar in the game.
'Of course, it is going to be her.'
There was no way, other than Seraphina, that someone would intentionally target Irina like this.
'After all, they are rivals.'
Information that Seraphina was the rival of the Irina wasn't disclosed, and everyone knew about it. Even in the game, these two often clashed, creating problems for the player.
They were incompatible and almost impossible to put on the same party, and at some point, the player would need to make a decision as to which one to choose.
Each one of them came with its own storyline and its own problems, and choosing one would essentially make the other enemy.
Seraphina, unperturbed by Irina's fiery aura, regarded her with a calm demeanor. There were no traces of other students in her group.
'Are they spread?' I asked myself after seeing her alone. If it was Seraphina, that might be true since even under the cold exterior she had shown; she is also a mage with huge ego and arrogance.
'No, that wouldn't be the case.'
However, I dismissed the idea. Different from this fiery girl, Seraphina was someone who could easily control her arrogance and her feelings, and this was the reason why she was ranked higher than Irina in the school rankings.
"Isn't it a surprise to find you in our little territory, Irina?" Seraphina's voice was as composed as ever, her words carrying a subtle chill. "I was just having a discussion with my group about the prowess of Emberheart's best."
Irina's jaw clenched, and her fists tightened around her staff. She shot a glance around, noticing the absence of anyone accompanying Seraphina. "I don't see anyone around you."
Seraphina responded with an elegant smirk, her demeanor unwavering. "Indeed. After all, there is no one to talk about Emberheart's best since there is nothing to talk about. Unless, of course, you count fiery tantrums and misplaced arrogance."
Of course, while talking about her, I missed one thing.
'This girl really has a poisonous tongue.'
If there was one thing Irina lacked compared to Seraphina, it would be the fact that Seraphina knew how to speak.
Even from her childhood, she must have been pretty compatible with politics and higher society. After all, if a person doesn't know how to talk, they can't survive in such a place.
This is also the reason why Irina probably hates going home since it is the same for her own household.
"If you're here for a fight, Seraphina, you won't be disappointed."
Seraphina's lips curled into a slight smile, an expression that held a hint of amusement. "A test of skill among students is always enlightening, don't you think?"
CREAK!
With those words, the surrounding mana surged, forming crystals above her head. A sudden burst of frost emanated from her, and in an instant, the surroundings were transformed into a wintry landscape. The ground beneath their feet frosted over, and the air became biting cold.
SWOOSH! SWIRL!
The same went for Irina; unfazed, she conjured flames around her staff.
"Sigh, this is troublesome," I mumbled.
Knowing that the fight that was going to happen here would mean that we might also be swayed by the clashes.
The contrasting elements of fire and ice clashed as the two mages faced off.
'We need to get ready too.'
I observed the fight. Even though I really wanted to watch and see how the top two mages in the academy fought, I knew we wouldn't have the time.
Since Seraphina attacked us, that means she wanted something. That girl wouldn't do something that doesn't have any benefits to her. She might like messing with Irina a little bit, but essentially, she dislikes doing random things, and her showing herself after attacking without her group clearly indicates what she is after.
It was the device. Even though we had recorded the magic formulas on the device, we had yet to submit it to the teachers, and no rule indicated that a device belonged to a group alone.
That meant it was susceptible to stealing.
And, already aware of that from the start, I got the device from Irina.
'She probably thinks the device is on Irina.'
Seraphina knows Irina just like me, and she also knows how arrogant she is.
'This fight is pointless.'
She also knows that, no matter how much power they put in this fight, it won't end with a clear result.
After all, there are other predators out there, and she can't waste much time.
'So, she will aim for a clean victory.'
And that clear victory was getting the device, which basically meant our whole points.
"Sylvie, are you ready?"
I said, looking at her.
"What?"
She asked, slightly surprised.
'!'
I was about to inform them that they were probably coming, but at that second, my senses screamed at me.
CLANK!
The sound of metal meeting metal echoed through the wintry landscape as I swiftly turned, raising one of my daggers to deflect the arrow coming from my back. The arrow clattered against the blade and fell harmlessly to the frosted ground.
Eyes of Hourglass.
Activating my skill, I immediately observed the direction the arrow came from.
'From the tree, huh?'
And my eyes immediately noticed another student on the tree. He tried to conceal his mana and presence as best as he could, but he was still not good at it enough.
'A low ranker.'
The teams were balanced. Thus, I knew he was the lower-ranked student.
'Then, this must be the other one.'
TAP! TAP!
Immediately before my eyes, a presence made itself known.
SWOOSH!
Dashing at me with a rapid speed, another student appeared with his sword aimed right at my chest.
CLANK!
However, I was ready from the start. Blocking the attack with my dagger, I redirected it to the ground, altering his balance.
THUD!
And then, with a smooth kick, I pushed him back, opening the distance.
"Kurgh…." The student grunted, stumbling backward from the force of my kick. He quickly regained his composure, a mix of frustration and determination on his face.
As he staggered back, I took a moment to assess the situation. The wintry battleground was now scattered with the clash of elements, the hiss of flames, and the crystalline coldness of frost.
'Archer first.'
Immediately grabbing my bow from my back, I knocked an arrow on the bow and channeled my mana.
SWOOSH!
Since I had done this same motion countless times and also trained while alternating between close combat and long range, it didn't even take me a second to shoot the arrow at the archer on the tree.
CLANK!
Of course, the guy who had just scattered noticed that I switched to the bow and then immediately dashed to me with his sword once again.
CLANK!
I blocked his attack once again with my daggers, but this time, I was the one pushed back. Switching back to dagger took a little time, and my posture wasn't perfect.
SWOOSH!
The guy continued attacking without any words, and I evaded and blocked the attacks utilizing my agility.
SLASH!
Even then, he was quite fast. His school rank was probably around the number 700 or something, and it was getting harder for me to simply fend off his attacks.
"Heh….I thought you were strong or something, but I guess I overestimated you."
As two wounds appeared on my body, the guy finally opened his mouth with clear contempt. I guess he was finally lowering his guard.
'Tch…..Humans are really simple.'
I clicked my tongue inwardly, seeing this guy. This happened quite frequently, even in the game, as most of the students would lower their guards. I knew they were still a bunch of young kids who didn't know much, but at the very least, they should have learned how tricky dungeons can be.
'This will be my lesson to you.'
Dash.
I activated my skill, feeling my speed increase.
SWOOSH!
And immediately dodged the guy's swing with a clean movement. I could see his eyes widening, clearly not expecting me to suddenly dodge. He was accustomed to my speed in this matter of seconds, and that was his mistake.
SLASH!
First, with a clean slash, I aimed right at his abdomen.
"Arghk-"
Severing the place where his nerves connected, I made him limp for a second.
SLASH!
And then, with another smooth slash, I severed the small connecting point behind his arms on his rear delt.
That place was where his arm tendons were connected, and he staggered, dropping his sword to the ground.
I was about to follow my attack with another, but at that second, I could see his eyes shine.
'!'
And I immediately needed to back off.
CREACK! FOOSH!
From the ground I was standing, a small pillar made from earth appeared. If I were even a second late, I would probably be injured.
'As expected, he has a skill.'
Just like me, any other student is also bound to have skills and hidden cards.
As the fight went into stalemate, I took a moment to assess the situation.
The wintry battleground was now scattered with the clash of elements, the hiss of flames, and the crystalline coldness of frost, while the archer and this swordsman.
"Sylvie."
I immediately called Sylvie, who was looking at everything with surprised eyes. I knew from the start that it wouldn't be easy alone while not showing my full capabilities.
"…."
At first, no response came.
"SYLVIE!"
However, as I raised my voice, she immediately came to her senses.
"….S-sorry."
She apologized, but it was not the time to apologize.
"Can you cast me a buff?"
I didn't want to disclose my prowess to others, and I needed a reason to explain how I beat these two.
'I guess I will be drawing attention to Sylvie, but that is fine.'
She is already bound to get attention in any case since she has already shown how capable she is. The instructors observing her from a distance probably contacted the chairman already.
"I-I will try."
Sylvie nodded in understanding, her eyes regaining focus. She swiftly began to channel mana, her hands weaving through intricate patterns in the air as she invoked her supportive skill.
Most of the healers are very important, both because they can heal and because they can cast buffs, though I still don't know how they are related or how they obtain those skills.
'I guess it comes with their traits.' I thought, but I didn't have much time to analyze.
SWOOSH!
The guy before me realized Sylvie's occupation, and he immediately dashed towards me, trying not to let her buff me….
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