n

n

n

"*inhale*

" John filled his lungs with as much air as he could and reinforced his limbs, torso and senses with magic.

n

"Advanced class fire magic: Fire a-

"

nWhile he was distracted, John grabbed on to his head with both of his hands, while covering his face.

n

"Wha-

"

nBefore he could finish John slammed him head first straight on to the ground.

n

"GAH-

"

nThe saliva in his mouth was forced out on impact, and he started to tremble.

n'Was that too much…' John thought with concern.

nShortly after, he turned unconscious and light particles surrounded his body before it removed him from the area.

nThe badge count under John's badge number changed from 8 to 9.

n

"That's one...

" John muttered as he stared at the 3 others who were having a free for all.

n

"When did he... Truce?!

" The girl asked as she looked at the other two guys she was fighting.

nShe had long brown hair and a determined look on her face. The air around her felt familiar but John couldn't recall why.

nThe two guys nodded and looked at John.

n

"Was I included in the truce?

" John asked with a nervous smile.

n

"Let's get him! Intermediate Fire magic: Fire Arrow,

" Shouted the girl as she cast a spell.

nArrows made out of flames were formed in front of her. They looked like Serena's but were slightly less defined.

n

"Oo the chant version, not bad,

" John muttered.

nAround 10 arrows were formed, meanwhile the other two guys had only started their chant.

n

"This is getting boring.

"

n'Everyone's using the same intermediate spells, aren't there any better intermediate spells out there?' John wondered.

n*Inhale*

nJohn filled his lungs with air and leapt while using all his strength.

nWhile John was mid-air, she aimed her arrows at him and propelled them straight at him, the other two guys didn't expect John to charge in from the front so they weren't able to do much.

nWhen John reached the guy on the right, he lifted up his arms in an attempt to guard his upper body.

nWith his left leg, John kicked his stomach which was unguarded.

n

"AH-

"

nThe momentum caused him to go flying back.

nBefore the other guy could think, John muttered a few words and propelled himself with velox straight at him.

n

"Sto-

"

nJohn sent a kick aimed straight at the side of his head, without hearing what he had to say.

n*Thud*

nHe dropped to the ground, and light particles covered his body. Shortly after, he disappeared.

nThe number under John's badge changed from 9 to 10.

n

"I guess that leaves you.

" John said as he slowly walked up to her.

n

"W-What...?

" She muttered while she started to tremble.

nShe looked around in a desperate manner, as if she was trying to find something.

nIt didn't take long for hope to reach her eyes.

n

"H-Hey! Get up! We can still outnumber him!

" She shouted towards someone.

n'Who's she talking to...?' John wondered,

n

"W-What's wrong?

" She asked.

nJohn looked over and saw who she was trying to ask for help.

n

"Ohhh him, he won't get up, he's frozen,

" John muttered next to her ear.

nLight particles were formed inside of the ice, and the guy disappeared. At the same time, the number under John's badge number changed to 11.

n

"Kyaaah!

" She screamed as she jumped back.

nAt the same moment, John noticed a few glares being directed at him from other people who were fighting amongst each other.

n

"You didn't have to get that scared...

"

nJohn felt like he had been misunderstood.

n

"Y-You fell for it! Advanced fire magic: Uprising flames!

"

nThe area where John had stood rose up in fiery burning flames.

n

"I-I... I got him...

" She muttered to herself.

n

"That was close.

" Muttered John.

nThe sound of John's voice sounding perfectly fine caused her to doubt her sanity.

n

"What's going on... I had set up the trap and everything... So how...?

" she asked as she refused to believe what she heard.

nThe flames slowly dispersed and John's figure could be seen more and more clearly.

nHer confused expression became even deeper once she saw what surrounded John.

n

"Ice...?

" She muttered.

nJohn's body was completely submerged in ice, which was currently melting, but at this point the fire had gotten weaker.

n

"Mhm, Ice, I cast the advanced ice spell: Ice burial on myself right before your trap activated,

" John replied as he slowly walked up to her.

n

"But how...? I didn't see you chant, and it's impossible to chant that fast...

" She spoke in a shocked tone,

n'Crap, she noticed…' John thought.

n

"No, I knew you had a trap prepared, so I had already chanted before our interaction.

" John explained falsely.

nLies.

n

"W-Who are you...?

" she asked as she looked at John.

n

"Hm? Just a 12-year-old adven-

"

nWithout finishing what he had to say, John began fake chanting and then shortly after said,

n

"Murum Glacies

"

nA Wall of ice was formed right next to them, and a small explosion followed after it.

n

"Tch, he noticed

" Said the guy as he approached John with his group.

nThanks to living on edge in the dungeon, John had gotten decently good at feeling hostility that is directed at him. John had felt an attack coming, so he fake chanted and blocked it.

n'But maybe it was too fast... was it realistic enough? Did she notice?' John wondered.

nJohn looked over at her and was surprised to see that she had her head hung.

n'What's she doing is she crying?' John wondered.

n

"You know, for someone with a normal hair colour, you're strong.

"

n

"What?

" She asked as she looked up at John.

nHis sudden question really confused her, but one thing he noticed was that from her expression, she still hadn't given up on losing.

n

"We're kind of surrounded right now. How about a temporary truce?

" John asked with a nervous smile.

n

"Sure!

" She instantly replied.

n

"That was fast,

" John muttered.

n

"I have a better chance of winning if I truce with you.

" She replied.

n

"What a change. A while ago you were crying with your head hung low.

" John stated.

n

"Huh? I was chanting.

" She replied.

n…

n

"Interesting... So you hadn't given up.

" John asked.

n

"Of course not, I have to last at least until top 30.

" She answered.

n

"Yes, yes, you have to last, but unfortunately, you're outnumbered.

" Said one of the guys that surrounded them.

n6 people surrounded them, they had blocked off every direction and were all chanting.

n

"Hey... Any ideas?

" She asked.

n

"Just one.

" John muttered.

nAfter John said that he started fake chanting.

n

"He's chanting! FIRE!

"

nFrom fire ball to Earth Shards attacks of each element were sent from every direction, all at the same time.

n

"Sphaera Glacies

"

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

n

"13 badges, I can't wait to see john's reaction when I get a higher rank than him.

"

n

"So that was your true aim

" Said Ariel with a nervous smile.

n

"Why do you want to get a higher rank than John?

" Eleanor asked.

n

"Eh?

"

n'Why...? Even if you ask me…' Thought Serena.

n

"I do too, and I guess we just want to prove that we're improving and that we're stronger than he thinks,

" Replied Ariel.

n

"Mhm

" said Serena as she nodded.

n

"I see...

" Said Eleanor.

nThey walked around and watched as people around them fought like there was no tomorrow.

n

"Wasting all their energy in the beginning is a bad move.

" Said Serena as she watched them.

n

"That's true

" Replied Ariel.

n

"O-Oi! There's 3 kids here, let's get some easy points!

" Shouted one of the guys in a group.

nThere were four members in that group, so they outnumbered them by one.

nThey hastily surrounded the girls and started chanting.

n

"This will be easy...

" Said another guy in the group.

n

"Oi, what did you just say?

" Asked Serena with a smile on her face.

n

"Why does it matter?

" Replied the guy.

n

"You said 3 kids didn't you?

" Asked Serena with the same smile but slightly colder.

nThe guy ignored her and finished his chant.

n

"Ariel

" Said Serena.

nAriel nodded.

nThe two girls started fake chanting and two fire spears and two wind spears were formed around them.

nEach was aimed at one guy.

n

"How?! We started chanting before them, so how!?

" He asked.

n

"Maybe next time, do less talking and more chanting, oh and I'm not a kid,

" After Serena said that she propelled the fire spear straight at him.

n

"Sh-

"

n***

nLight particles were formed, and their unconscious bodies were teleported away

nThe badge count under Serena's badge number changed to 15 and the count under ariel's number changed to 8.

n

"Hmph

" let out Serena as she shook her head.

n

"Serves them right, but Serena, why did you get so mad at them?

" Eleanor asked.

n

"Because they can't correctly judge someone's age.

" Serena replied.

n

"I-I see...

"

n'That's right, they called us kids, I remember her getting mad about that before, but isn't getting mad over being called a kid, childish.' Thought Eleanor.

n

"Hm? Did you two say something?

" Serena asked.

n'She's sharp…' Thought Eleanor as she shook her head.

n

"Should we go collect more bad-

"

nSerena suddenly stopped.

n

"Ariel!

" Shouted Serena.

n

"I'm on it!

" replied Ariel.

nAriel grabbed on to Eleanor and cast 'scutum ventus' while she jumped up.

nAt the same time, Serena leapt to the side.

nNot even a split second after, shadow spikes rose up from the area where they were standing.

nSerena's jump with Eleanor wasn't that high, so the spike would have gotten them if it was for the wind shield which had blocked it.

nThe spike retracted into the ground, and a black-haired kid ascended from inside of the ground shortly after.

n

"Not bad... I was getting bored..

" He muttered.

n