n

n

n

"Serena!

" John said with a happy confused expression.

n

"What happened?

" Serena asked as she walked up to them.

n

"It's a long story...

" John replied.

n***

n

"Ah, I see... So he's not always reckless...

" Muttered Serena.

n

"Oi.

" John recoiled.

n

"Anyway, why was he after you? Eleanor,

" Serena asked,

n

"Even if you ask me... I'm not sure... I was hidden but somehow he saw through it. Light magic isn't that good for fighting until you can use advanced class spells...

" Replied Eleanor,

n'I guess light magicians have it hard…' John realised.

n

"I'm guessing he was just farming for badges.

" John said as he looked towards the direction they headed.

n

"Yeah, that explains it, I thought he might have been someone after her, but I doubt there would be any students doing that.

" Said Serena.

n'Don't jinx it' John inwardly cursed.

n

"So what's the plan?

" Serena asked as she looked at John.

n

"The plan is simple, Find Ariel and wait until the lady announces the new rule she had mentioned,

" John replied.

n

"Understood

" Said Serena.

nShe being less aggressive today made John think about how many players has she fought.

n'Let's see...! T...Ten!?' John guessed.

nThe number 10 was displayed under her badge number.

n

"O-Oi... Serena, how many others have you fought?

" John asked with a surprised expression.

n

"hm? I didn't count, but I got attacked by 3 groups, or was it 4? Either way I got to vent out a lot of stress or I feel relieved,

" Said Serena with a satisfied expression.

n'4...? What happened?' John wondered.

n

"Wow...

" John muttered.

n

"What about you?

" Asked Serena as she looked over at his badge.

n

"Eight

" He replied.

n

"Oh... doesn't that mean I'm ahead of you?

" Asked Serena with a smug expression.

n

"Not for long...

" John muttered.

n

"Fufufu... Don't worry, I'll make sure to protect you,

" Said Serena as she started trembling.

n…

n

"Go ahead, keep laughing.

" John said as he tried to hide his embarrassment.

n

"pfft

" Unintentionally let out Eleanor as she grabbed her stomach and started trembling.

n

"Ah... Sorry, it's just we're in the middle of an exam and watching you two is hilarious,

" Said Eleanor as she recomposed herself.

nJohn and Serena looked at each other for a while before Serena walked over to her and whispered something in her ear, at the same time, she showed me a mischievous smile.

n

"Eh? Is that true?

" Asked Eleanor with a shocked expression.

n'Huh?' John wondered.

n

"Of course, I guarantee it.

" Said Serena with a smile.

n

"E-Eleanor, what did she say..?

" John asked.

n

"I'm sorry, I can't say...

" Said Eleanor as she stared straight at him.

n'What did she tell her...?' John wondered.

n

"Well, let's go find Ariel, We shouldn't keep her waiting any longer,

" Said Serena as she started to walk ahead.

n

"Hey, what did you tell her?

" John asked.

n

"Don't worry

" Said Serena with the same smile.

nJohn looked over at Eleanor and she suddenly got startled.

n'Was she staring at my hair?' John wondered.

n

"I-Is there something on my hair?

" John asked as he looked at her.

n

"Nothing! N-Nothing at all!

" Replied Eleanor with bright red cheeks.

n'… What did she tell her...?' John thought up.

n

"Serena

" He said as they followed behind her.

n

"What? If it's about what I said, I'm not telling you,

" She said.

n

"We're heading the wrong way

" I said as I pointed to the right.

n

"I... I knew that...

" Muttered Serena as we changed directions

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

n*Crack*

nThe sound of something cracking could be heard behind her. In that instant, she ducked and a bird made of wind barely missed her

nShe quickly recomposed herself and started running.

n

"After her!

" Shouted guy who appeared to be the leader of the group.

nThe guy, along with the 3 others who heard this, pursued her.

n

"There's no use in running, little girl, It'll be quick...

" said the guy.

nThe girl ran, and the guy with his group chased.

nShe panted heavily as she kept a constant speed while avoiding the trees.

n

"She's fast...

" Said one of the guys.

n

"Not fast enough

" Said the leader.

nThe girl stopped running.

nIt was a dead end; she had entered an open plain in the middle of the forest and was surrounded. There was nowhere to run.

n'4... each in a single direction…' They thought.

n

"Now, girl, give us your badge and we'll be on our way.

" Said the leader.

nWithout saying anything, the girl readied her staff.

n

"So we're doing this the hard way... Don't say I didn't warn yo-

"

n*Boom*

nThe sound of a burst interrupted his speech, and a split second later he was sent flying on to the tree behind him.

n*Thud*

n

"Boss!

" Shouted the other 3

nHis head and back crashed straight on to the tree, the impact was so hard that it caused him to spit out the saliva in his mouth as he dropped to the ground.

n'That's one…' Thought the girl.

n

"Haha... Hahaha!

" let out the man as he slowly got up.

n'?!'

n

"Boss, are you fine?

" Asked one of the guys as he kept his guard up against the girl.

n

"Fine...? I've never felt better... Watch and learn... This magician is strong... I didn't even see her chant, haha... I'll fight her, no one interrupt...

" Said the guy as he took off his shirt.

nThe shirt dropped on to the ground and made another *thud* Sound could be heard.

n'Is that a normal shirt...?' The crowd wondered.

nThe guy's physique was toned; it suggested that he had gone through a lot of training despite looking only slightly older than her.

n'Sort of like Mr. Blacksmith' they thought.

nHis excited expression under his short brown hair made him seem like a battle enthusiast, just like someone this girl knew.

n

"The boss took his shirt off... he's about to get serious...

" Said the only girl of the group

n

"Hey, little girl, I apologise for underestimating you, Tell me your name.

" He said.

n

"...

"

n

"Or not, anyway... It's a shame that you're a wind user... Not a very fair match up for you...

" Said the guy before he started to chant something.

nAriel who felt danger fake chanted cast 'Ventus Tormentum' right before he could finish.

nYet right before the air pressure hit him, he leapt to the side and dodged it, while continuing his chant.

nBefore Ariel could unleash her second attack, he had finished chanting.

n

"Intermediate earth magic: Earth Armour

"

nThe moment he said that, the rocks on the surrounding ground started to merge up around his body, eventually engulfing it like some sort of armour.

n'Armour?' John thought.

n

"Well then, how about we start?

" Asked the guy.

nA split second after, he charged straight at Ariel.

n'!'

nIn what felt like an instant, he was right in front of Ariel, with his arm pulled back, ready to send a punch flying.

nHe was fast, not only did the armour not slow him down, but it looked as if it made him faster.

nWithout any hesitation, he threw a fist aimed straight at her stomach.

nAriel tilted her body to avoid it, but it was a fake. His real aim was her head, he had already swung his leg at her while she was moving to avoid the punch.

nIt's over. Mages aren't built for resistance, all it takes is one hit thought the man as his kick approached her head

n

"Scutum ventus

" Said Ariel once she finished her fake chant.

n'When did she?!' the man spoke.

nThe man's leg came into contact with an invisible force of air. It was invisible to the naked eye, but he could feel it.

n'What's this...?' He thought to himself.

nBefore shortly after getting blown back due to 'Ventus tormentum' which Ariel had cast while he was distracted

n

"Haha... 'Silent chant' and 'Quick Cast' sure makes an insane combo...

" He muttered

nAriel looked at him with a confused expression but ignored it

n

"I guess we should move on to round two, righ-

"

n

"No

" Interrupted Ariel.

n'What does she mean by that?' Ariel muttered.

n

"You're too scared to fight?

" He asked.

n

"No, the fight is over...

" Ariel muttered.

n'I have no choice…' Ariel thought to herself.

n'What's she talking about?' Thought the leader.

n

"Um... Boss...

" Muttered one of the guys.

n

"What? Can't you see we're in the middle of a fight?

" The leader asked.

n

"A-A-A-Above... You...

" Muttered the guy.

n

"Huh? What are you talking abo-

"

nThe leader stopped talking after he looked up

nHis body began to tremble in excitement as he looked up

n

"Advanced class wind magic...

" Muttered Ariel

n

"You're kidding right... That advanced? There's no way that's on the level of an advanced spell...

" He said with a nervous smile

n*Boom*

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

n*Boom*

n

"What was that?!

" Asked Serena who suddenly sprung up.

nIt's hard to scare her, but she wasn't good with jump scares.

n

"That sounded like some sort of sonic boom...

" John muttered.

n

"A sonic boom?

" Eleanor asked.

n

"I'll explain later, we're nearly there, That sound came from Ariel's Direction!

" John said as he started running.

n

"Is she fine?!

" Serena asked as she hastily followed behind.

n

"I don't know,

" John replied. 'Please be fine...!' He hoped.

n***

n

"Arie-

"

nWhat the hell happened here...? The trees are broken, the ground is slightly sunk in; It looks as if someone dropped a bomb here...

n

"John?

" Asked Ariel as she picked up the badge of one of the unconscious guys.

n'Three... Four... Four people knocked out and the terrain in this state... Ariel did this...?' John counted.

n

"H-Hey, Ariel, what happened here?

" John questioned.

nOne of the guys knocked out was covered in earth, and their badges were all gone.

n

"I was fighting these guys and lost control over a spell...

" Said Ariel as she redeemed the last badge.

nThe number under her badge number displayed 5.

nBut for this result to happen, after losing control of a spell, John wondered what sort of spell was that it was.

nRight when John was about to ask, Ariel suddenly collapsed onto the ground.

nThey rushed over to her to see what happened.

n

"Ariel, can you hear me?

" Asked Serena.

n

"Mhm...

" Said Ariel with a smile.

n

"Ah... good...

" Said Serena as she let out a sigh.

n

"What happened?

" Asked Eleanor

n

"She probably used up too much magic when her spell went out of control. She should be fine if she gets some rest.

" John replied.

n

"I see... that's good

" Said Eleanor with a relieved expression

nJohn then picked up Ariel and put her on his back.

n

"Eh? John...?

" Said Ariel as she got startled.

n

"Rest up, we're getting away from this area, your spell caused too much noise,

" John said.

n

"I can walk...

" She muttered.

n

"Say that when you can stand,

" John replied curtly.

nAriel, who couldn't think of any counter argument, gave up and said,

n

"Thank you...

"

n

"Yeah...

" John muttered.

nSerena just stared at him without saying anything, and he couldn't tell what she was thinking.

n

"What?

" John asked.

n

"Nothing

" Serena replied as she looked away.

n

"This is an announcement, 60 players remain, and hidden rule will now be announced.

"

n'Eh? Already? Crap, in our current state…..' John realised.

n