In the midst of chaotic combat, Haruto, Sylvie, and Bane demonstrated remarkable synergy, their combined skills proving more effective than most. Their prior encounter with Motar had honed their instincts and responses, making the current onslaught of creatures seem manageable by comparison. Bane's seasoned prowess was evident as he guided the trio through the melee with a commander's eye.
As they navigated the battlefield, two Ifrits, their eyes glowing with malevolent intelligence, targeted them. Sylvie's voice cut through the din, "Kage, switch with me!" She immediately cast her Hex Magic: Territory Restraint, causing vines to burst from the ground. One Ifrit dodged nimbly, but the other was caught in the ensnaring vines.
Haruto responded instinctively, harnessing his newfound mastery over the wind. The battle with Motar had unlocked something within him; his powers felt unrestrained, more responsive. He extended his arms, channeling the wind into razor-sharp blades that sliced through the air, cutting down the airborne Ifrit, while Bane finished the ensnared creature with a precise strike from his Hydra swords.
From their vantage point, the Vanguards observed the unfolding chaos. The field was quickly thinning; about 300 participants had already fallen, their dreams dashed by the brutal reality of the initiation. This year's initiation was proving to be exceptionally lethal, designed not only to test the warriors' combat skills but their ability to adapt to unexpected and extreme situations.
This initiation was different. It was a baptism by fire, responding to the emerging threats the kingdom faced, as hinted by the disastrous scout mission. King Drago, having seen the dire report, knew the kingdom needed warriors who could handle the real and present dangers, not just triumph in staged duels.
The plaza, transformed into a battleground, held the rapt attention of those outside the magical barrier. Families and supporters who had come to cheer on their loved ones were now witnesses to a spectacle none had anticipated. Some were escorted away, unable to watch as the participants were decimated by the ferocious beasts.
Amid the chaos, Sylvie showcased her strategic mind, orchestrating their attacks with precision. But the battlefield was unpredictable. As she moved to aid a wounded healer, Gram and his crew reached the girl first. Relief turned to horror as a Wood Ogre targeted them, and in a chilling moment of betrayal, one of Gram's men threw the injured girl into the beast's path to save themselves. The Ogre gruesomely ended her life by completely ripping her apart, and Gram approved the cold-hearted sacrifice without a second thought.
Sylvie, stunned by the cruel act, froze—an opening two pond dwellers didn't miss. These frog-like creatures, agile and venomous, leapt towards her from the walls. The sudden peril snapped Haruto out of his observation, his instincts screaming as he dashed towards Sylvie, electricity crackling around his hands, a new manifestation of his evolving powers.
"Bane! Help!" Haruto shouted, pushing his legs to their limits as he saw Bane struggling with a mutated Mountain Boar's charge. The situation was dire, Sylvie was in immediate danger, and every second counted.
As Haruto sprinted, the air around him vibrated with the raw energy of his intent, his body somehow channeling the static into a focused charge. He could feel the power building, ready to be unleashed.