[Elena's POV]
Finally, the time has come... The final battle on this last day.
"Justice Spirit!" Brian immediately unleashed his signature magic. His body was instantly enveloped in a golden light. He then lunged toward Raul, who held the high ground.
Brian's punch missed; Raul tilted his head, evaded, and countered with a punch to Brian's stomach. Brian's body was sent flying after Raul followed up with a kick. At this rate, Brian would fall into the deep abyss below.
"Flame Panthera!" Geralt summoned flames beneath his feet. He shot toward Brian, caught him mid-air, and landed smoothly back on the ground.
"Brian! We agreed not to underestimate him, didn't we!?" I shouted, warning the reckless blond-haired man.
"Sorry, I just wanted to save Ariel quickly!"
Raul occupied the higher position, surrounded by deep chasms. In that case, long-range attacks would be effective in forcing him down so we could surround him.
"Mages, fire your spells and destroy Raul's foothold!" I commanded.
"Ready!"
"Of course!"
They began chanting their incantations. Shortly after, a barrage of magic from various elements streaked toward Raul. He leaped, grabbing a hanging rope, and swung through the air to dodge the spells flying his way.
—Boom!
Our magic exploded against the mine walls. Raul then landed, activated his Accel magic, and punched one of our members squarely in the cheek, sending them tumbling.
"Geralt! Protect our mages! Valeria and the others, restrict his movements! Brian, attack him when he's cornered!" I began directing the team.
Geralt started intercepting Raul, who was hunting our mages, while Valeria's magic fire forced Raul to keep his distance.
"Earth Bind!"
Raul's feet were caught by hands made of earth protruding from the ground—magic from one of our members. The hands lifted him and slammed him hard against the mine wall. However, Raul twisted his body and used his feet as a spring to absorb the impact against the wall. He stood up and reactivated his Accel magic.
"Geralt, Brian! Get ready, he's going to attack again! Don't let him get near our mages!" I ordered them both.
Seeing that the mages were giving him trouble, it seemed Raul would target them first. Raul dashed toward us again; Geralt and Brian moved to intercept him. Currently, they were trading blows rapidly. The mages couldn't aim at Raul this time for fear of hitting Brian and Geralt, who were the backbone of our defense.
If only Ariel were here, we could fight freely without worrying about friendly fire.
"Aghhhh!"
Geralt screamed in pain. Raul was seen stepping on his ankle, causing a visible dislocation. Raul then kicked Brian's face, sending him flying, before landing a heavy punch on Geralt's face.
"Get ready! He's coming!"
Raul lunged toward us again, his appearance now like a snake about to strike its prey.
"Earth Missile!"
"Fireball!"
"Wind Blow!"
The mages fired directed elemental magic at Raul again. The black-haired man ran in a zigzag pattern, evading every spell we fired.
"Advance! Stop him from getting closer!"
Four of our members ran forward, trying to halt Raul's approach. Raul slid across the ground, passing through a gap between the front members. He then leaped into a flying kick, hitting the chest of the member in front of him.
—Bam!
He then punched another member nearby, sending them reeling.
"Damn it! Die, you rotten noble!"
The remaining two members attacked him, but Raul easily dodged and punched one member's elbow until it snapped in the wrong direction.
"Arrghhh! My arm! My arm!" the man screamed hysterically. Raul then kicked the last remaining member until he lost consciousness.
After defeating the four men with ease, there was no longer any obstacle between Raul and the mages. Several of them looked panicked as they saw Raul running closer.
Valeria stepped forward. Both of her hands began to glow, signaling she was about to use an unusual spell.
"Earthborn Amalgam!"
The earth around Valeria began to gather in front of her, forming a massive clump. Before long, the mass took the shape of a giant, terrifying humanoid statue four meters tall. This was... a Golem!
"Attack him, Amalgam!"
The golem began attacking Raul with its massive hands. Raul rolled here and there to evade. If he were hit even once by that giant golem, every bone in his body would surely be crushed.
I looked at Valeria's back. Being able to use earth magic like this at her age proved her immense talent.
"Raul! I won't let you do as you please!" shouted Brian, who returned to attack the black-haired man. It seemed he had recovered after taking Raul's clean kick.
I then looked at Geralt, who was still clutching his leg. If Ariel were here, this fight would be much easier. It seems this was the main reason Raul kidnapped Ariel earlier. He had predicted that Ariel would be the deciding factor of this battle.
"Sunlight Fury!" Brian's hands were enveloped in golden light. He launched a barrage of attacks at Raul. However, the black-haired man read Brian's movements with ease.
—Boom!
Raul leaped far back to avoid an attack from Valeria's golem.
"Fiery Kick!" Suddenly, Geralt came from behind, launching a flaming kick toward Raul before he could land. Raul turned and raised his right hand to block Geralt's strike.
—Bam!
He was sent skidding backward. Geralt looked like he was struggling to stand on just one leg. Sweat drenched his body as he endured the pain.
Our group had twelve people left, including me. With Brian as the main fighter, and Geralt and the mages with Valeria as support, we could defeat Raul here.
"Hoo~ You still want to fight? Should I break your other bones, Geralt?" Raul said, simultaneously activating Temper and Accel magic.
Hearing Raul's words, Geralt's body visibly trembled.
"Don't falter, Geralt! Everyone is here to support you!" I tried to make him feel stronger.
Raul dashed toward Brian and Geralt. Brian moved first to attack with a right hook, but the black-haired man ducked and drove a punch into Brian's knee.
—Crack!
A sickening sound echoed as Raul's fist hit the knee. Brian was then sent flying after Raul kicked his body.
"Fiery Kick!"
Geralt rushed to help Brian, launching a flying kick. His leg was wreathed in flames. However, Raul dodged and caught his ankle in mid-air.
"Don't think that attack can stop me!" Brian shouted, rising again and lunging back toward Raul.
Seeing this, the black-haired man spun his body and threw Geralt, causing him to collide with Brian. After dealing with the two of them, Raul dashed back toward the mages. Only Valeria's golem stood as their protector.
"Amalgam, attack him!" Valeria ordered.
Seeing the giant statue moving toward him, Raul leaped into the air. A Rune appeared on his right hand, a sign he was activating a powerful spell.
This magic... could it be he's using...
"Reject Impact..."
—Bomb!
Valeria's golem shattered into pieces, hit by the shockwave released by Raul's magic.
"Aghhhh!"
He then kicked Valeria, sending her flying, and began taking down the mages in front of me one by one using only his legs.
Is this the end...?
***
[Ariel's POV]
I heard it... I could see it through these small holes... They were fighting Raul.
I wanted to scream and tell them I was here. However, if I did, their focus would be distracted, and Raul could use that to defeat them easily. I didn't want to be a burden to them again.
But I wanted to help them... I didn't want to just stay here.
I looked up at the height of the hole where I was trapped. My hands began to reach for the rocks; I tried to climb this seven-meter-high hole... but even though I kept trying, my body kept falling. My physical strength was too weak to climb this steep shaft.
"Aghhhh!"
I heard a scream. I looked through the small hole and saw Geralt clutching his leg. I have to hurry! I have to heal him.
Climbing the hole again, I struggled to grip any edge I could reach. Yet, I fell again, unable to climb further.
This is impossible... All my life, I have always been helped in situations like this. I was always assisted and never tried to save myself.
"Gagghhh!"
Another scream echoed... This time, Raul broke the arm of a man trying to attack him. No, I cannot give up here... Everyone is fighting; I cannot just stay here doing nothing!
I climbed the hole once more. Strengthening my grip, I fought with all my might not to fall.
Just a little more, Ariel... You can do it... Don't go back to being a burden to your friends... You must be able to help them this time.
I said those words in my heart to strengthen my resolve.
"Hah... Hah... Hah..."
Finally, I managed to climb out of the hole. I couldn't linger; I had to rush to where the others were!
I ran as fast as I could to leave the area. However, another problem arose. I forgot that Raul had carried me to jump over a chasm. Looking down into the dark abyss, I couldn't see the bottom at all.
Could I jump across? One wrong step and I would fall and fail this exam, leaving me unable to help my fighting friends. I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. Honestly, I wasn't sure if I could reach it, but I had to try.
Backing up to get a running start, I ran as fast as possible to gain momentum. I leaped—but it looked like my feet wouldn't reach the edge.
"Aghhhh!"
My hands caught the edge of the cliff... With all my strength, I pulled my body up.
"Hah... Hah... Hah..." Finally, I succeeded.
I stood up and continued running toward the screams that were now very clear. Shortly after, I reached the place where the others were fighting Raul. However, I was shocked to see the state of the battle.
There stood Raul alone; all my comrades had fallen, and no one was left standing. Only a few people were still moving. The black-haired man glanced at me, noticing my presence.
"You finally made it, Ariel," Raul said with a flat expression. "Now, you are the only one left who isn't injured."
He walked slowly toward me. Both of his arms hung limp, as if paralyzed.
"No, Ariel! Get away from him!" Brian shouted, trying to get up. He then lunged, trying to stop Raul from approaching me.
"I won't let you do as you please! Flame Panthera!" Geralt also rose to fight Raul.
The three of them fought again. Raul, who appeared to only dodge and attack using his legs, was able to keep up with both of them.
I have to do something... I have to stop Raul no matter what. If not, more of my friends will be hurt.
"Aghhhhh!" Brian screamed as he took a clean kick to the face.
Mother... Is it okay if I use it?
I held the pendant given by my mother. It was an artifact used to seal the sealing magic of the Lusignan Family. Yes... our family is famous for being experts in sealing magic.
"Quickly, attack him, Valeria!"
Geralt grabbed Raul's body from behind, locking his movements so he couldn't move.
"I understand!" Valeria stood up and began gathering a massive amount of mana in her right hand.
"Shoot me along with him if that's what it takes to defeat this bastard!" Geralt cried out.
A magic circle appeared in front of Valeria's palm; green magic energy swirled around her body.
"Rayo la Verde!"
A green laser shot out from the magic circle, streaking toward Raul and Geralt. The black-haired man headbutted Geralt's nose until it bled, then broke free.
"Aghhhhh!"
Geralt was hit by Valeria's magic. His body began to blister, and a magic circle appeared beneath him. Geralt slowly disappeared, swallowed by the circle—a sign he had failed the first stage of the exam.
"It... can't be..." Valeria said, looking on in disbelief.
—Bam!
Raul rushed over and kicked her, sending Valeria's body crashing into the mine wall.
"No... stop this, Raul..."
The black-haired man glanced back at me. He walked slowly, as if he had already won the match.
"Ariel, Run! I'll hold this monster back!" Brian rose once more and attacked Raul with his remaining strength.
Please, stop this fight...
Pink mana began to surround my body...
I...
—Bam!
Brian fell; Raul struck his solar plexus with his right knee. He then proceeded to trample on Brian's head...
"Raul... I'm begging you, stop this..."
His black eyes met mine coldly. He didn't respond to my plea at all. I remembered what we had discussed about insects earlier.
'You'll have to remove me by force if you don't want your friends beaten to a pulp today.'
That's what he had said... I understand now. This time, I don't want to keep being saved by my friends. This time, I will be the one to protect them.
"I am the Light of My World..."
I began to recite the incantation of a spell I had never used before.
"Bring Hope for Humanity... Eradicate The Darkness from Form of Evil..."
Raul started running toward me; there were no obstacles left for him now. Stretching my hand toward him, a magic circle appeared in front of me. Raul—the black-haired man—had arrived. We stood face-to-face.
"Sealing Magic... Lance of Longinus..."
A magic spear erupted from my circle and shot through Raul's chest. His body was pushed back until the spear finally embedded itself into the mine wall.
Raul's body hung on the wall, crucified by the Lance of Longinus piercing through his chest. This holy spear is a heritage of the Lusignan family; no one can remove it except the user.
Blood began to spill from Raul's mouth; his uniform was soaked by the blood pouring from his chest.
"Well... Done... Ariel..."
After saying that, Raul's body was enveloped by a magic circle and vanished without a trace. He—Raul de Garcia—had failed the first stage of the survival exam.