'This whole exam is stupid,' Hajin thought as the golden aura around his fist began to hum.
Allen had built an impossible wall to humble the arrogant, then left fourteen applicants to decide whether failure meant obedience or surrender.
'I am not playing by those rules anymore,' he decided as his mana aligned with Juna, Elise, and Sable.
Juna lowered her center of gravity until one claw touched the floor, with dragon-tier power trembling inside muscles made for a much smaller burden.
Elise held her rapier in both hands while Sable set the edge of her sword at the same angle.
"Follow the gold," Hajin said, feeling all three connections answer, "let it carry the timing, and do not fight the force when it reaches you."
"I have it," Elise replied, with her eyes fixed on the place where the first attack had failed.
"Then stop talking," Sable said through a tight smile, "before the borrowed mana climbs out of my skin."
Juna's tail swept once behind her, then went still.
