"What a shame… I thought at least one of them would die. But that's fine… now we'll see if it happens," Cassiel said mockingly, a confident smile on his face.
Kei and Yuto exchanged a glance. A chill ran down their spines.
"Boys, attack," Cassiel ordered, raising his sword with that same arrogant grin.
"Damn it!" Kei took his best stance, bracing himself.
Suddenly, someone came running from the building toward the training field.
"Yuto, watch out!"
Kael made vines erupt from the ground, trapping the cultist who was about to strike Yuto.
"Thanks, Kael," Yuto said as he drove his sword straight into the cultist's heart. The body collapsed almost silently. Even after the kill, Yuto didn't lower his guard—his eyes scanned the field, searching for more threats.
Kei blocked the attacks of two cultists at once, spinning and dodging, measuring every strike. His movements were controlled, his breathing steady, avoiding mistakes that could leave him exposed.
"Don't let your guard down—stay calm!" Arata shouted while evading and countering three cultists trying to surround him. His blade moved with precision, not only cutting them down but creating space for Kei and Yuto, protecting them while maintaining control of the battlefield.
From the side, Cassiel watched with his usual mocking smile, evaluating every movement without intervening. Even without lifting a finger, his presence alone made the tension suffocating.
Suddenly, a rapid movement on the ground caught Yuto's attention.
"Yuto, careful!"
Kael appeared again, focusing his power on the nearby vegetation. Roots burst from the earth at just the right angle, tripping the cultist charging at him. The enemy stumbled, giving Yuto time to recover.
Kei seized the opening, spinning to knock another cultist down with a clean strike. His eyes flicked toward Cassiel—this situation felt far too deliberate. Adrenaline and psychological pressure mixed as he evaluated every enemy movement… and Cassiel's silence.
Kael stepped back a few paces after using his magic, breathing fast as he struggled to maintain focus.
"Cover your flanks!" Arata ordered, blocking an attack from the corner of the field. Every second mattered—one mistake could mean the difference between survival and collapse.
"Well, well… looks like Kei actually knows how to wield a sword after all," Cassiel mocked, eyes fixed on him.
The cultists tightened their formation, surrounding Kei and Yuto with synchronized movements, as if they were a single entity. Every blocked strike, every sidestep, was a game of precision.
Kei spun sharply, blocking a blow from his right. The impact sent a tremor through his arm, but he held his focus.
I can't let them surround me.
Yuto took advantage of the opening, slashing the nearest cultist and throwing him off balance. Without hesitation, he turned and blocked another strike from behind. His breathing stayed controlled, but his heart pounded relentlessly.
A few steps away, Kael manipulated the flora with surgical precision. Roots burst from the ground, entangling a cultist's ankles and slamming him face-first into the dirt. Vines spread through the bushes, stopping another enemy who tried to sneak up behind Kei. Still, Kael could feel his concentration faltering—controlling multiple plants at once was draining.
Arata moved fluidly between them, deflecting attacks and forcing enemies back. Every strike he delivered eliminated a threat and opened space for the others.
"Don't lower your guard!" he shouted, dodging an attack from the edge of the field.
One cultist managed to close in on Kei, slashing quickly. Kei leaned back just in time, then countered with a precise blow. The cultist fell—but three more were already closing in.
"Hold your positions!" Arata commanded, blocking two attacks at once. Their coordination was flawless. The tension was high, yet no one made a fatal mistake.
Kael retreated again, gasping for air as he used the remaining roots to slow the last cultists still standing. He knew he couldn't keep this up forever.
Kei blocked another strike with a quick spin, and Yuto took the chance to bring down the last cultist advancing on his side. With an agile leap, Kei intercepted another enemy trying to flank them. Together, they forced the remaining cultists back—disorganized and defeated.
A tense silence settled over the field, broken only by heavy breathing and the creaking of the restrained vegetation. The immediate danger was over…
…but they all knew the real threat was still standing.
The last cultist collapsed, and silence filled the training ground. Kei, Yuto, and Kael breathed heavily, while Arata kept his sword raised, scanning every shadow.
For a moment, it seemed like the battle was over.
Then a light breeze swept across the field.
A chill ran down their backs.
It wasn't coming from the cultists.
Cassiel stood at the edge of the field, that mocking smile still on his face, sword ready, eyes locked onto them all. His presence was silent—yet overwhelming.
Cassiel drew his sword with surgical precision, the blade gleaming in the sunlight.
"Let's see if you can even scratch me," he said confidently—and sprinted toward them.
Damn… he's fast, Kei thought, his sword trembling slightly as he calculated the timing.
Cassiel charged at Yuto—then abruptly changed direction, launching himself at Arata instead.
Arata reacted instantly, his blade colliding with Cassiel's. The metal screeched under the force.
"Strike of Vanaglory!"
With a bitter smile, Cassiel drove his right hand into Arata's stomach.
The air was knocked from Arata's lungs as he staggered back. Cassiel raised his sword to finish him—
—but Kei slammed into him, forcing him back and stopping the attack.
Cassiel skidded several meters away. He frowned, clearly annoyed… then slowly smiled again.
"Well now. The puppy has fangs," he said, brushing dust off his clothes.
"What a shame your friend Kael doesn't share that blood… though, considering who his father is, it makes sense he hides among plants."
Kael clenched his jaw, fury burning in his eyes.
Cassiel advanced lightly, every step calculated, blade gleaming with each movement. The three youths retreated slightly, measuring distance as their breathing quickened.
"Is that all you've got?" Cassiel mocked, his eyes filled with disdain.
"Not even a scratch."
Kei attacked with a diagonal slash. Cassiel dodged effortlessly, their blades clashing again. Every impact was a brutal reminder—this enemy was not normal.
Yuto attacked from the left, aiming for a surprise strike. Cassiel spun away with inhuman fluidity.
Kael summoned roots from the ground, trying to bind him—but Cassiel simply leapt over them, as if gravity itself meant nothing.
"Come on," Cassiel taunted. "Don't tell me this is your best."
The tension was unbearable. Every breath, every muscle was strained.
"You should be fighting seriously by now," Cassiel said lazily. "I'm getting bored with this children's game."
That was enough.
Kael's rage flared. Roots and vines surged violently—but Cassiel slipped past them again, landing in front of the group, blade raised.
"Now!" Arata shouted.
They moved together.
For the first time, Cassiel's aura shifted—still confident, but alert.
"Very well… let's see if you can truly wound me."
He charged.
Steel screamed through the air. Kei blocked with all his strength, arms shaking. Yuto circled, searching for an opening. Kael summoned everything he had left.
Then—
A mistake.
Cassiel's guard opened for a single instant.
Yuto saw it.
"Now—together!"
Their combined attack struck.
Cassiel screamed—a sound devoid of mockery. His sword slipped from his hand as he stumbled back, finally falling.
Silence.
Cassiel lay on the ground, breathing heavily, his arrogant smile replaced by shock… and vulnerability.
"Idiots… I'm not dead yet…" he muttered, forcing himself up.
Before anyone could react—
"This is where your legacy ends, Cassiel Rhoam," Arata said coldly.
His sword pierced Cassiel's back, bursting through his abdomen.
"Yuto… you will die…"
Those were his last words.
Cassiel collapsed lifelessly to the ground.
Kei, Yuto, and Kael stared at the body.
"…Do you think he'll come back?" Kei asked quietly.
No one answered.
All three turned to Arata—with the same fear lingering in their eyes.