Novan POV.
The scenery was different from what I knew. After the descent of Dancing Blades, plants and animals evolved into monstrosities called depraved. This led the modern era as we know, down the dystopian path. The seven continents of the modern era, under the destruction and chaos, brought their people together to fight the depraved, incurring unfathomable losses of both people and resources.
My point?
This was nothing like any of the known human sanctuaries, strongholds of humanity. Neither was it the outskirts, places outside said sanctuaries.
No, rather, this seemingly beautiful scene was even more eerie than it seemed.
I raised my hand to try to call my Dancing Blade; for unknown reasons, it wouldn't respond. My connection to it was severed.
Just then...
I tilted my head. Something whizzed past me, drawing blood from my cheek. The projectile bit into the ground, forming a little crater.
Had I not reacted in time, I could've lost my head.
I took to the sky, weaving my way through mighty tendrils, each the size of a human.
As I evaded one tendril, another shot towards me, without enough time to react. I conjured a blade from air, and slice through the approaching tendril.
The earth quaked violently. Still occupied by the endless onslaught of tendrils, I could only see from the periphery of my vision that something truly terrible was moving.
Cutting the tendrils with clean arcs. The damn tendrils just grew back, albeit slowly.
Something wrapped around my foot, I felt numb, my vision blurred, and the wind became loud. Pain coursed through my veins. I tried to draw a breath, only the sensation of water sipping in found me.
I quickly cut the tendril and shot for the sky.
The earth quaked more violently than before.
My ears were ringing, my lungs burned. I could feel the slight involuntary tremble of my limbs muscles.
"How exhilarating." I mused.
It truly was.
I looked down. What I saw was a jarring sight indeed.
This short encounter had taught me two things. The first was, what I was facing was a singular being, spanned across acres of land. The second thing was how to kill the damn bastard.
The tendril that had dragged me under water was a darker shade of brown, notably darker than others. When I cut it, it didn't regenerate like the others, instead, it wiggled in pain, trashing the swamp.
"I've got you,". I said "Let's end this."
Asif in response to my word, the spike surrounding the depraved shot towards me like missiles.
I brought my arm forward to block but it didn't move.
Looking at my right hand, I had to admit. "It's busted. You got me good"
"Wind Cocoon." Gash of wind enveloped me. It moved with unnatural speed, it's speed helped deflect the missiles.
I raised my left hand. Wind swirled together forming something.
Wind swirled around the tendrils, cutting into them like a blade. This was done around the darker tendril I had seen earlier. What I had done helped expose it, what seemed like a heart was now in plain sight.
"Gotcha"
By now, what I was conjuring was done forming. It was a spear. It was a long mighty spear made of wind, it length was mighty enough to pierce the heavens. It's length was comparable to a skyscraper.
With a singular gesture, it fell down with might, crashing into the monstrosity. A booming sound was heard upon impact, a huge creater formed. The once irritating swamp had long being evaporated by it.
Silence. No visible movements.
It was dead, or at least immobile.
"That settles this."
I wonder. what kind of place is this? Where were the other candidates?
"What kind of exams is this?" I looked around contemplating. "Something is definitely off. My connection to my Dancing Blade, a life or death situation. What the hell is Central up to?" I frowned.
"Novan, of the original sin of pride. Sinborn of pride."
Came a voice.
It was from behind, feminine and authoritative. An overwhelming presence washed over me.
"To what do I owe the honor?" I said without turning around.
"Murder, amongst other dreadful things you've done. You're such a deplorable being." She said, looming closer. "Mercy to monsters but not your own kind. I guess the rumors were true, you are one of them. A monster."
"What can I say? Some reputation are self made."
"Each candidate were given three options. Quit the test, defeat their designated depraved to pass."her voice grew cold. "Or... defeat the instructor in charge of their exams for a special promotion."
"Well then, I guess I'll have to take you on too."
I smirked. By the time I was done saying this, my wind conjuration was completed. It was a saber. What should have been a laser blade was made from a vortex of air, spinning at an incredible pace. It looked like a lightsaber, the only difference was the material it was made of.
Our blades collided, her's wasn't a Dancing Blade either, but a normal one.
Her eyes narrowed. She must have figured it out.
This saber had two main advantages.
The first was, due to it's spinning vortex, whatever comes in contact with it is parried, by the wind's movement.
The second was, it was not like a traditional sword. It used friction to chip away from what it came in contact with, rather than slicing through.
Knowing this, her advances became more forceful. I couldn't keep full consciousness. I had lost a lot of blood. The spikes from earlier were poised. I was awake due to sheer willpower and pain.
I can't recall how long the fight lasted but I do remember one thing, It ended when the Eclipse was over.
Too many things were wrong with this woman. Things I could not explain.
I fell to the ground, my breathing uneven. I was hurting allover. My eyes were heavy.
"I failed to kill her." I murmured between ragged breath."I hope this doesn't affect my score. I can't afford to lose here, not when I'm so close."
I couldn't help it anymore, my eyes went shut and everything became dark for a moment.