Chapter Twenty-Eight: Entrance Exam Part – II
My group, Group – K, enters the portal and prepares ourselves at the starting point.
"The race will begin in three minutes, be prepared." An announcement was made.
I glimpse others; I stand on one side, followed by Charlene, then Mason, Artemis, and Tucker.
Charlene then stares at me.
"You don't need to worry about anything." She declared
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"Your mana-will is below average, and I can barely sense it. On top of that, you are also carrying a sword, which makes you a magic knight somehow. So as a fellow knight, I won't attack you nor defame you." She replied.
Oi, Charlene, don't underestimate me, if only I could tell this. "Sigh" well, not that it matters since I purposely suppressed my mana-will.
"The race will start in 10 seconds." Another announcement.
But Charlene, as always, a cold queen, eh?
"Get ready…. Start." and hence the race started. Charlene and Mason dashed at full speed, causing dust smoke; only Tucker and I were standing on the front line as the dust was cleared. Dang! Everyone is gone. I guess I should also start.
As I was going to start, Tucker came in front of me.
"You are also a commoner that means I can win against you. And if I can at least defeat you, I might get selected." He challenged me.
I see that's why he didn't start, let others go ahead, and then defeat me. That's some confidence he got.
He was about to perform a spell. In the meantime, I got behind him and landed a chop making him unconscious. I laid him on the ground with care, and then I dashed and increased my speed at max. Finally caught up to Artemis.
She glanced at me and said, "Aren't you doing pretty good for a commoner? But too bad, you won't be able to defeat me." Saying that, she increased her speed and left me. But yet again, I caught up.
"Too bad, but I caught up to you," I said with a smirk on my face.
"Ughh! You are annoying, and stop smirking like that pervert," She replied.
Sorry Artemis, for being a meanie to you, but I need to defeat you so that I can make you stronger than you are now.
"Aww, don't be like that."
She was utterly annoyed and said, "Ugh, seriously, you are annoying. Fine then, I shall you the difference between you and me."
She then decreased her speed and jumped in the air. A strong wind formed around her and created a bow & arrow made out of the strong wind currents. As she was about to release that strong attack of 'Wind-arrow,' I immediately got behind her.
But she realized it and turned around at once, shot the 'wind-arrow,' and fell back. I cut her attack in mid-air and landed.
Artemis retook her stance and used, 'wind-strike.' Many magic circles of green colour with a blue tint on it, forms and strikes of wind of descends on me.
{wind-strike, continuous strikes of wind. When used on a large scale, the wind strikes emerge from the user's magic circles. Tier-4 spell}
{Magic spell consists of formulas for spells. One may or may not use magic circles, depending on their mastery over that spell. But for large-scale attacks that are Tier-4 and above, it needs to have a magic circle as a catalyst to activate a large-scale spell. The colour of the magic circle will differ from magic to magic.}
*Kaboom* and the smoke of dust forms around.
"See, you should have just given up from the beginning itself. Well, not that it matters to me." Saying that, Artemis turns around.
*cough* *cough*
"Earlier, you used an upgraded version of 'wind-arrow,' and now you used 'wind-strike' on a large scale. It was quite impressive, considering your current level. You are amazing, Artemis."
"How-how did you dodge all that?" she complained.
"Dodge? I didn't dodge any; I cut through your magic."
"No way, you are just bluffing."
Artemis uses 'wind-chains.' Another bunch of magic circles forms, and win chains come out of those magic circles at an incredible speed aiming at me.
{Wind-Chain(s), Mana chains of wind element. Tier-4}
I used 'Art of Sword - Octa slash.' And cut all her 'wind-chains.'
{Octa slash: freehand eight swings/slash of a sword}
"You are kidding me, right? You cannot even use magic, and yet you are overpowering me. It just doesn't make sense." She spoke.
She ultimately lost; she cannot win against me anymore. But this loss will make you stronger, far stronger than what you can actually become. So, it's okay if you lose now.
"Artemis, you are indeed strong, but you made a total of two mistakes." She was willingly listening to me, so I continued speaking, "…. First: You underestimated me because I am a commoner. Second: You lost your composure in your fight, which made you lose control over your magic spells."
I pointed my finger towards her and remarked, "Artemis, get stronger." Now this one last thing, and I am done. "By the way, there's the third mistake as well." She looked confused, "…. You just declared I cannot use any magic. It's just I decided not to reveal my magic. You shouldn't do that, you know."
'Art of Wind Sword – Slash of Wind Storm.'
{Slash Of Wind Storm: A strong wind storm is like a slash either diagonally, horizontal or vertical.}
A strong slash of wind storm is advancing towards Artemis.
"Well, then I will be going forwards," saying that to Artemis, I dashed forwards at an incredible speed.
I hope I didn't hurt her pride much, but it was fun fighting against her after a long time.
Minutes later, I sighted Charlene. That Mason guy isn't here - that means Charlene and Mason had clashed against each other. And Charlene successfully defeated Mason, and he is out of the race.
I caught up to her, and I was right behind her. She noticed me, turned around, and stopped. The end line is not so far now; she looks at the white line and takes the stance. So, she won't let me easily finish this race, huh?
"I don't know how you defeated that girl but, I shall defeat you right here." After saying this, Charlene cast over 200 magic circles. The Sky over me was just covered with magic circles
"Fall under my 'Magic-arrows'"
{Magic-arrows: Simple arrow made of mana without its property being changed into an element or so. Magic-arrow is a Tier-1, but Charlene here used should be at least Tier-3.}
Magic-arrow is a spell that everyone could use. Still, the magic circle Charlene initiated is over 200, and should be each of them should higher than Tier-2. Casting so many spells within seconds, you genuinely possess incredible talent, Charlene. If we had fought a year before, you might have defeated me with just your sword skills, but current me can easily get through this.
I draw out my sword, close my eyes, and pinpoints each magic circle as quickly as I can using 'Dragon sense'.
{Dragon sense: One of the traits of dragon or dragon's mana. Work same as sensing but stronger.}
"It's no use." She exclaimed, and the magic arrows are now descending on me at an incredible speed. I used 'Wind-barrier' and 'Dragon sense'.
As those magic arrows reached that certain distance, I used 'Art of Wind Sword – Whirlwind'.
{Whirlwind: Unleashes a whirlwind of slashes around their body which can defend from the incoming attacks.}
I deflected and cut most of the arrows with this technique, some of them hit me, and some missed me. The smoke of dust forms and disappears.
Charlene was surprised and annoyed as she saw me standing without a scratch after the smoke disappeared. She panicked for a second, but she calmed herself and returned to her cool-headedness. She raises her arm towards me.
I cannot win against her if I restrict myself, which is a perfect chance for me as she hasn't used her own magic yet.
Once again, she forms magic circles in front of her arm. While she did that, I rushed in towards her, closing the distance. As I reached a favorable distance for Charlene, she revoked her magic circles. She simultaneously drew her sword, activating her magic.
She switched to her sword, eh? But sorry, Charlene, my target isn't you but the white line behind you. As the distance closed in, I changed my path and used 'Wind-step'. I increased my speed, got past her and reached the white line.
Hence the race concluded, and I am the winner of Group – K
______________________________
Linnea's POV:
(The professors are inside a faculty room watching the entrance exam and checking if they are eligible to join the academy.)
"I didn't expect him to win this race." Professor Shira said.
"Indeed, it is a surprise." A professor replied.
"Isn't he the one you recommended, professor Linnea?" Another professor asked me.
"Yes, Arturo Kei, he is the one I recommended," I replied.
"Oh – ho, He is holding back, am I right, Professor Linnea?" Professor Leo Bladelod questioned me.
"Even I don't know if it is, but all I can say is, He will never disappoint you," I replied.
"That's rare for you to praise someone, but now I am interested in him, especially in his sword skills." Professor Leo replied.
Art, I never thought you would even impress professor Leo, "Chuckles."
"So, it is decided that examinee Arturo Kei is selected and will be joining the Academy."