n

n

nWith every step John took, he could feel just how much he had pushed himself.

nFighting the first 3 guys was one thing, but this victor guy, he was definitely something else for John.

n'Hopefully, he doesn't encounter those three, but even if he does, they should be able to hold him off.' John thought.

n

"*Thud* Ouch

" John said as he hit his face on the tree in front of him.

nHe kept getting distracted as if the vines, trees and roots weren't enough of a reminder.

n

"Forget that, I'm nearly there...

" John muttered.

nAfter all this time he was finally close to one of them, thus he wondered who it gonna be. Serena, Ariel or Eleanor?

nWith each step John got closer and closer until finally.

n

"That's...

"

nIn front of John stood Eleanor. John was behind one of the bushes so she couldn't see him.

n

"El-

"

nBefore John could finish, he felt a spell being activated.

n'Where?!' He wondered.

nJust when John was about to react and pinpoint the spell, he heard someone say

"Boom.

"

n'Oh cra-' John cursed.

n*Boom*

n------------------------------------------------------------

n*Boom*

n

"Ah!

" Unintentionally let out Serena as she sprung up and felt goosebumps travel through her whole body.

n

"What was that...

" Muttered Serena as she climbed up the trees.

nFrom the highest point she surveyed the area.

nThe instant she did, she noticed that there was a large amount of black smoke coming off an area.

n

"Smoke..? An explosion?

" She said.

n'John can't use explosion magic, and I'm a bit tired after all the fights, so... '

n'But still... Why do I feel like I should check it out… ?' Serena thought.

n

"Even if it was him, John can handle himself, there's no point in worrying about it.

" Said Serena as she stretched out her legs.

nShe sat down on one of the branches of the tree.

n

"But rather, this is a nice view...

" She thought.

nThe pure green colour of the trees merged together and gave it healthy feel. The bright yellow sand on the outside shined as it reflected the sunlight, truly a good view.

n

"The smoke is ruining the view... How long will that last?

" Serena wondered.

n'You can't set fire to the forest because the trees are resistant to fire. I tested it and nothing happened. The flames didn't spread and disappeared shortly after.' Serena thought.

nSerena stared straight at the smoke, forcing her eyes to see even further than they were able to.

n

"No luck... I can't see anything... And on second thought, I'll go... I'll have to teach a lesson to whoever did that about preserving nature!

" Said Serena with a smile as she stood up.

n*Crack*

n

"Eh?

"

nThe sound of something cracking was made and shortly after the branch which she stood on, broke.

nSerena and the branch fell straight down.

n----------------------------------------------------------------

n

"Boom... The timing was slightly off... Damn it, after all that practice...

" Muttered the voice as it got closer.

n'A guy, huh…' it thought.

n

"Why does my magic always make so much smoke...? What's worst is that it takes so much magic power...

" He muttered.

n'Another unique magic user…' He guessed.

n

"But man, I wonder if I got her... Simple spells weren't working so setting up the trap, was the best option, since she right into it, all I need to do is go collect her badge.

" The man spoke.

n'Deprehendre' The word resounded.

n

"Wait... If she fell right into it...

" He muttered.

n'There…' he spotted.

n

"Then doesn't that mean...

" He realised.

nGlacies lanceam Translation: Ice lance.

n

"She's dead!

"

nRight as he said that, John propelled straight at him from the inside of smoke, he could clearly see his location thanks to deprehendre.

n

"!

"

n*Crackle* *Crackle* *Crackle*

n'… They all missed, no... He dodged them. Did he feel it coming...?' John wondered.

n

"Oi... Whoever's hiding' in the smoke you can come out now, I know you both weren't knocked out by the explosion.

" John taunted.

nJohn that that he was smarter than he acted.

nThe smoke started to disperse, and shortly after, it had disappeared completely. Thanks to that, he could see them clearly, just like they could see him.

nA tall spiky red-haired guy, who seemed to be on his 16s, he was, no doubt.

n

"Ice..?

" He muttered as he stared at the ice sphere John had formed.

nShortly after he said that, it broke down.

nInside was John and Eleanor, they both had our guards up.

nJohn was surprised his ice sphere managed to tank that explosion. Although it's mainly thanks to the continuous supply of magic, he gave it to harden it and make it denser.

n

"You protected yourselves from my explosion with ice..?

" The man questioned.

nThey ignored his question and stayed quiet.

n'Explosion magic... And it looks like he can set up traps, ah, I hate this matchup.' The man thought feeling frustrated.

n

"Pfft, haha, this is interesting, you're just like-

"

nBefore he could finish, ice spikes were sent straight at where he stood from behind the trees but missed. He managed to dodge it at the last second by leaping to the side. For a mage he was pretty athletic and good at dodging.

nThe ice spikes pierced the ground and began to freeze it, ice spread from the ground to where he had leapt to and rose up in the form of literal spikes.

nBut again, he dodged it by jumping up on to one of the tree branches.

nHe faced the direction where the attacks came from and a nervous smile was formed on his face.

n*tap* *tap* *Tap*

nThe sound of footsteps could be heard coming from the direction that the attack came from.

nShortly after, a girl appeared, she wore a white robe and was slightly shorter than the guy but still tall; she had long cyan hair which was slightly braided near the top. She gave off an intimidating yet elegant air around her.

n

"John, thank you.

" Said Eleanor with a slightly saddened smile.

n'Why is does she look sad...? Thankfully I made it in time and managed to form an ice sphere before Eleanor was harmed,' John thought with relief.

n

"No worries, but don't drop your guard yet, we don't know if she'll attack us.

" John advised.

nThat must be the other person he had felt nearby, when he used deprehendre to find his location, he must've ended up finding someone else that approaching us at high speeds.

n

"Tch, you sure are persistent, aren't you? You'd be a lot cuter if you weren't,

" Said the guy on the tree.

nWithout saying anything, the girl leapt at him with a weapon in her hand.

n

"A rapier..?

" The man thought.

nShe was fast. In a single leap she reached the tree branch which he stood on. Even I'd have difficulties avoiding a sudden attack like that, and yet he...

n*Boom*

nThe sound of a small explosion resounded when they came into contact with each other.

nA small amount of smoke was formed and dispersed shortly after she leapt back.

nThe guy was gone.

nThe girl simply stared at John and Eleanor.

nJohn nervously smiled back, and so did Eleanor.

nThe girl nodded at them and faced the direction where they exchanged blows. There was a bit of blood on the branch.

nRight when she was about to leave, John stopped her and said.

n

"If you're still chasing him, don't follow that blood trail, he set up a fake in the smoke to mislead you and headed that way.

" John said as he pointed forward.

nEverything John said was true. He had seen it where he went with deprehendre, and the blood trail was leading to a different direction.

nThe reason why John told her was because he knew how hard it is to chase and track someone down. Although it's not really that hard for me since Serena have deprehendre.

nShe stared at me as if trying to see if I was lying before nodding and heading in the direction, I pointed

nRight before she left, she stopped.

n

"Thank you

" She said before going

nAnd just like that, she was gone.

n

"That was... unexpected...

" Said Eleanor.

n

"Yeah that's right...

"

n

"Ah... Crap, this is going to be awkward... Is she still mad at me...? It's only us two…

" John realised.

n

"She... Seemed strong...

" Said Eleanor.

n

"Yeah, she is... And so is the guy...

" John stated.

nRight before she leapt at him, he finished had finished a chant which John didn't even notice that he had started chanting.

nThe moment she leapt at him, she thrust her rapier at his badge, but missed because he used his shoulder to take the hit which made her pierce his shoulder. In that moment, he swung his arm with a small glowing orb positioned slightly above his palm at her.

nYet she dodged it by pulling out her rapier and leaping back. After that, he threw the orb, and it exploded it mid-air causing the smoke, and that brought them on to now.

nIt was fast, but the dungeon monsters were faster.

n

"Yeah, he made the right choice to sacrifice his shoulder... And if she hadn't jumped back in time, things wouldn't have been good for her either, they were evenly matched, but I can tell that she's stronger...

" Said Eleanor.

n

"Yea-

"

n'Wait... what?' John wondered.

n

"John? What's wrong?

" Eleanor asked.

n

"Eleanor, you have pretty good senses,

" John replied.

n

"I do? Hmm

" Asked Eleanor as she tilted her head with a confused expression

n*Rustle*

nRight when John was about to reply he heard someone approaching them beside us.

n

"Eleanor, ready your guard,

" John said.

nEleanor hastily grabbed her staff and got into fighting position.

n

"Who could it possibly, be this time...?

" John muttered.

nFrom between the trees came a very familiar girl.

n

"Alright, which one of you guys caused that explosion!

" Said Serena as she came out.

nWith a confused expression she stared at us.

n

"Eh? John?!

" Shouted Serena.

n