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"Nani, Nani, Nani..Nani!..Nani!!..Nani!!!...NANI!!!!!!!!!!...." The typically shy and calm Cole was yelling at the top of his lungs, barely hanging onto the Yellow Hover bike that was rocketing throughout the Catacomb's dodging arrow traps and mines left and right "R-Regis?!! S-sir! Please!! Slow down!..I can barely—..."
"Shut your hole Little shit!..." Regis grunted out as he was in the drivers seat, eyes glaring forward in concentration "Hahahaha!!...this is nuts! So this is what they meant by Racing Eh! I'm loving this!!" He exclaimed as he dodged dozens of mines exploding behind him which made it seem like he was actually trying to hit them on person, these Catacombs we're impressively built like a True Labyrinth with Sharp turns and Traps everywhere but every path led to the Finish like someway somehow looking to his left their we're some competitors and he swerved to the left crashing right into them to drive them off coarse and hitting a stone wall "Take that Yah wimps!!!"
Cole sweatdropped as he steadied himself after sometime, and sat in a daze looking around at everything rushing by them 'T-this is insane!...how am I supposed to help...' he thought and he saw multiple competitors coming up from behind them catching up. 'Oh no...he's not going to slow down and their going to catch up!...' he took a small tech slab from his waist as the hover bike shook he almost dropped it in a clumsy fashion "o-oh no! No! No!.." he grabbed hold of it last second as the black hair male did so a button was pressed and it extended into a Large Staff hitting someone hovering by on the head and knocking them off by accident "A-Ah!.." the shy boy simply said his mouth making a comedic oh shape as he could see the pair he made crash tumbling in the distance.
"That's more like it Shithead!...keep that up! And you might just make it!.." Regis said coldly as he continued to drive; the hover bikes we're extremely fast paced leaving energy trails behind 'I'll kill anyone on the way there!...ANYONE!!' He thought ruthlessly In complete contrast to Cole whom looked at his staff in bewilderment 'T-that's all I have to do...knock them off. O-okay! I can do this...' he stood up on his seat holding his staff over his shoulder in anticipation for anyone else trying to get close "I'll keep them off o-our back!"
"This is...This is just!...this is AWESOME!!..." Dante yelled he was on the edge of his seat at the speed these hover bikes we're going they we're actually a head of everyone, in spot number one. Reason being he didn't even have to run too the bike as Kira grabbed his collar and practically threw him at it 'Ehehe..she's stronger than I thought tossing me like that..' he thought suddenly he was interrupted by her Proper and stern voice "Keep your eyes open!..I see multiple vehicles approaching from behind. Don't be distracted so easily..keep them away from us.." The Blonde girl commented coldly as she had a radar pad on her dashboard.
"Oh crap! Their's 6 of them!...woah!!.." Dante exclaimed as their Blue Hoverbike took a sharp right in the catacombs, he held on easily before looking up at the 6 bikes coming up toward them 'heh!...' the ash haired male stood onto his seat suddenly unsheathing his Longsword "Alright! Here I go!-..."
"What do you think your doing?! Sit back down before you fall off you idiot!...don't be stupid!..We have to reach the finish line as a Pair. If I make it without you I still fail. Plant yourself back down." Narukami spoke with a seriously confused tone, just what was this clown thinking standing up on a hover bike, at this speed.
"Ano...relax. Just keep driving.." The white haired male sighed softly exhaling deeply, as a Small hue of Blue Mana surrounded his body and pumped down to the soles of his feet. In that instant he leaped, taking a literal leap of faith as he could see an opponent coming up, landing right onto their Hover bike "Yo! Lookin good guys! Mind if I take a ride.."
"H-hey! Get the hell off my bike! Are you insane?!!!!.." The driver yelled swerving left and right trying to shake Dante off but to no avail, the apprentice chuckled at their attempts and in a single swoop he kicked the driver on his temple knocking him unconscious and causing the bike to spin out of control seeing that one was down; he continued to jump from bike to bike like a Monkey swinging his sword at their Tires and causing them to lose control. "Wooooooooohhhhh!!!!!" He screamed in joy thrilled at the ordeal.
Kira could not believe what she had witnessed 'he jumped?!...he bloody jumped?!...what sort of guerrilla tactic is that?...' she thought shaking her head, hair flowing from left to right in disbelief as she continued to speed forward not even trying to wait for him. 'How can someone be so calm and excited during an Exam so important. Where did they find him?...better yet. Who the heck is he?...' her deep thinking was interrupted by a sudden whistle glancing to her right she narrowed her Blue eyes as if trying to process what she's seeing.
Dante had a smirk plastered on his face, as he was driving next to her on an Enemy Hover bike, he even had the audacity to wave at her like a neighbor in the morning. "Hi!...fancy meeting you here!...haha!...this is fun isn't it?.." she had enough of his jokes, weaving to the right she used one free hand to grab his collar "stop playing games!...get over here.." with a flick of her wrist he was pulled off the bike and right onto his seat. "Your a Mess...you know that....a welcome one at best.."
His ears perked up at the compliment and he smiled feeling accomplished 'I got her to recognize me as someone other than Trash! A mess is better I hope...' Dante let out a breathe of relief, he took down Six enemies so far, but he couldn't help but notice a Yellow Hoverbike getting close to them as they made a sharp right turn he could see clearly and he waved "Ooooh! Cole-San!!! It's me!!.."
"D-Dante!!..." Cole suddenly stood up waving back as Regis finally caught up to them with a swift drift, now they we're neck and neck "I saw a bunch of downed B-bikes? Was that you?!.."
"Hai!..that was me.." Dante chuckled rubbing the back of his neck, as they talked briefly. Regis was glaring evil daggers at Kira "Oi! Don't even think your going to be the number one spot this year! It's Ogrekiller's Time to shine!"
"Tch....you couldn't shine even if the Sun was in the palm of your hands...Brute" Kira retorted with Sass, flipping her hair back confidently giving Ogrekiller an irk mark "Why! You! Your lucky I respect you enough to not crash your bike!....I'm itching to fight you when the time comes!..just you wait I'll-..huh?!.."
As the Two Pair's conversed not really feeling threatened as they we're in front of everyone or so they thought. A Gang of others suddenly appeared, surrounding them and boxing the two in. "What are you idiots doing?!..."
"Damn. I knew something was up with some of these people...their ganging up on us. Wanting to take out the top competition early..." Kira cussed under her breathe, their we're several Pairs surrounding them preparing to use concentrated Mana attacks. "We're sitting ducks here!..."
"Wait! Working together is allowed?! That's so not cool!.." Dante huffed gripping his sword as Cole grabbed his own Staff preparing to hit them if they got too close. "I could jump...but I run the risk of causing their bikes to lose control and hit us at this proximity...What do I do-.."
"Well, well, well...we got ourselves a party Miss Lycoris...let's spice things up shall we?..." the Laid back voice was none other than the swag boy himself Yuma driving his red Hoverbike with the mysterious girl behind him. "Looks like we caught up on the front...it's free Real estate now"
"My name is Rose...." The girl spoke annoyed looking forward at the group surrounding the others and unsheathing her Katana Blade as a Purple Mana covered her body and the wind around her shifted "Slice them to bits...Kami sori no kaze!" With two successful slashes; hundreds of slashing condensed winds launched forward slicing up three of the Enemy hover bikes only leaving four more as she sheathed her sword the attack actually ended up cutting the drivers up all over their bodies as well.
Yuma Sweatdropped "Eh? I know I said spice things up...but that's just insane girl." He commented as she scoffed and they sped forward seeing the Regis and Kira we're slowing down because of the remaining competitors trying to take advantage and jump them. "You know we could swerve around and leave them be. It would totally give us the win...." He mentioned selfishly
"Do that...and I'll cut you in half...if it we're fair. But their ganging up on them...which is anything but fair...we help. But only briefly then you speed up..." Rose commanded darkly making Yuma sigh "For a Mysterious girl with crazy Mana! You're too nice. Ugh! Fine..we help"
Dante looked behind seeing Four Hoverbikes torn apart by Wind Manipulated Mana and his eyes widened "Hey! It's Yuma and Quite girl...thanks for the help..." as Kira swerved left colliding into one of the enemies, The white haired apprentice used his blade and pierced it into their tire making them fly off and crash. "Three left!..."
"O-only Two Dante-San!..." Cole replied as he knocked the heck out of another driver with his Staff, making Regis Grunt "Look at this weakling finally growing a pair!...Oi! We didn't ask for your help Lionheart!"
"Oh ho but you so desperately needed it..." Yuma chuckled smoothly seeing that their we're two left. The Catacomb's we're starting to get more and more tight meaning they would be reaching some sort of drop. "I don't mean to be a buzzkill but theirs a Drop coming! I suggest making haste with those two!"
Rose scoffed at the idea of a Drop and nodded preparing to use her Katana again, as she turned and this time was going to leap. Dante actually had gotten the same idea, as he prepared to take down one of them as well "Oi! Quite girl! I got the one on the left!.."
"My name is Rose!..." She said once again rolling her eyes in annoyance, as she aimed for the one weaving to their right "Fine."
"Rock the World.... ryuu no ikari!!" Dante gripped his Sword pouring his Mana into it before unleashing a powerful energy slash that Trembled the cavern and hit the enemy directly causing their Bike to explode profusely, Kira's eyes widened "you idiot! We're in a Catacomb! An Explosion like this will make it collapse!"
"O-oh!...my bad.." He Sweatdropped as she was correct, the Catacomb's began to shake and tremble beginning to collapse in on itself "Ah crap.."
"Everyone Drive like it's the end of the world!!..." Yuma yelled smoothly as he poured more Mana into his Hoverbike making it jolt forward accidentally causing Rose to trip as she was losing balance because of Dante's explosive attack, now grabbing hold onto the Tail end 'O-oh no...' she thought cussing at Yuma's recklessness.
The Tunnel they we're in crumbled and began to collapse, closely catching up to all of them. The situation was more dire than expected as Cole's heart was ready to jump out of his chest "I-I don't want to die here! I don't want to die here! Please don't let me die here!...oh Kami!!"
Regis roared angrily "Shut your mouth!!!...I can see the Exit! Their really is a Drop!! Dammit!! Hold on!!! This is gonna be rough little shit!!" The blonde brute exclaimed as he also sped up his Hoverbike with Mana, everyone was neck and neck the Final Enemy had been crushed by the falling ruble as Rose wasn't able to finish them because of Dante.
Kira yelled at the top of her lungs "Do not lose spirit!! We shall get to the end!! Just hold on...here it comes!!...HOLD!!" She spoke with nobility trying to psych everyone up as finally they reached the light at the end of the tunnel.
..All Three Hoverbikes Made it out of the Tunnel as they drove off a cliff with a Giant Drop below, all of them yelling together in adrenaline and shock. One by one they landed on an Elevator Like Platform that was ascending several meters away from where they had leaped from the Cavern collapsed onto itself.
Yuma let out a huge breathe of relief "Pheww...for a second I thought we we're done for...but looks like the top of the Exam made it..." he said suddenly before looking back at Rose whom was glaring daggers at him from under her hoodie "Watch your Mana. I was almost crushed holding onto dear life back here.."
"Haha! Your fine though! Everyone's fine..." The Swagger out male spoke confidently as he looked up to see a Large Hatch open up, cheering could be heard echoing before long his brown eyes looked around at the Arena and crowd of people going nuts at their performances. "I had a feeling their we're Camera's down there..."
"Yuma-kun~! You we're Amazing!! We love you! Yuma-kun~!!!!..." the Fangirls yells erupted among the cheering, making the male wink at the crowd. Clearly causing over a dozen fictitious heart attacks at that moment.
Regis smirked feeling good that they we're able to make it, he looked up at the overhead Titantron seeing that they only had a few minutes left to spare "least that's dealt with! Out of my way Weakling! Don't get the wrong idea. I had to deal with you for the first part...but I'll kill you..."
Cole comically backed away several feet and bowed "H-hai!! Gomen'nasai! Gomen'nasai!..." he said several times apologizing, His Blue eyes that we're once filled with fear we're now calmer that they got past the first part.
"You idiot! You almost got us all killed!!" Kira gritted her teeth grabbing Dante by the collar and forcefully shaking him a couple times "what sort of reckless move was that! Trying to take us all down with your idiocy..."
"Ehehe...Gomen'nasai. I didn't think the place would collapse..." Dante chuckled softly at her yelling as she sighed shaking her head and releasing him "You really are nothing but a mess.."
"Ehem!...if you're all done with this touching moment! The exam must continue..." Ibuki said sternly walking over to them and pointing over at the center of the field "Go on...the others are waiting...and also-.." he pointed at Dante with a deadpan "Stop causing Property Damage you Airhead!...do you know how long it's going to take to rebuild those Catacombs!...honestly."
"Oof...my bad Teach. Wait, Others?..." Dante said curiously, his Aqua eyes suddenly fell onto four other individuals waiting in the middle of the field "E-Eh??! I thought we were ahead of everyone Narukami-Chan!.."
"Drop the 'Chan'...address me formally Jester!" Kira sighed softly joining the others in making their way to the center of the Arena; she was curious as well "I could've sworn we we're the first....hmm..they must've slipped by among the chaos..."
"Hey I know those four...now that I have a better look at them. Their Quadruplets....what was their clan name...ah...right. The Tora Clan...known for their Ferocity and Versatility.." Yuma informed the others placing his hands in his pockets, as he treaded behind the others. "That's means theirs only 10 of us left..."
"W-wait?!...T-ten?! Their was Thirty of us before?!..." Cole exclaimed shocked at the realization that Twenty People didn't make it passed the first Exam. "I-I wonder what that means..."
"It means nothing...last year only five made it out...consider yourselves lucky..." Ibuki ruffled his black hair as he began announcements "everyone line up....It's time for the Second half of the Knight Exams.....Dueling..."
"Dueling?...." Dante tilted his head curiously, at the word rubbing his index finger over his temple in thought "Ano...what do you mean Dueling?"
"What are you? An Airhead? I mean what I said...You all will be dueling each other....I'll explain the rules next....and how it's going to work....so sit tight..." Ibuki said shaking his head, as they finally lined up he glanced to see the remaining Hoverbikes being taken away and he spoke into the Mic "Now it is time! To begin the second and final Part of the Exam! The Duel of Knighthood...."