"Truly, a show of elegance and art." Bourgham muttered in amazement at seeing the display at the arena, he continued looking at Rio, "It seems you were right, lad."
"Indeed, Mr. Bourgham," Rio said as he sipped his coffee, he continued as he asked with a hint of concern, "However, isn't this quite brutal..?"
"That's normal," Bourgham said in a certain tone, he tapped his finger in the armchair as he continued. "If they can't handle some brutal things, they shouldn't have enrolled at the academy."
"..You make a fair point," Rio nodded sighing, he asked in curiosity, "What about the injuries..?"
"Don't worry. With the current latest medicinal achievements, a few broken bones and ribs are as easy to fix as small wounds," Bourgham said, reassuring Rio.
"I'm going outside and take a break," Bourgham said as he stood up wriggling his body while he took his coffee from the chair.
"I see. Take care then." Rio nodded as he bid farewell to the eccentric man.
As for him? He wasn't going to go outside yet. He wanted to see what the last two main characters can do, mainly Amber Hong and Xiao Long. Albeit their matches will be less intense than Arcuied's and Eugene's, he didn't care.
—
"No. 3, Amber Hong, enter the stage and proceed to be examined. Please bring your desired weapon."
It was finally her turn, Amber thought in impatience as she stood up and prepared herself. She wanted to finish this match quickly. She wanted to check on her friend in the infirmary.
Remembering Eugene, Amber sighed as she shook her head. What was she worrying about? It was not like that fool would just die. With all likelihood that doofus will recover just fine.
"Haha.." Amber chuckled softly, her head shaking. She approached the line in the middle, walking to the entrance of the arena.
Right. It was not like Eugene would die. Her friend was too stubborn for that.
Amber smiled, her body entering the arena. She stared at the room, her green eyes darting around the opposite side of the room. She took out her weapon as she waited for the opponent she was going to face.
Her weapon was a long piece of curved wood with a string attached to both of its ends. It was a bow. She picked a bow, mainly for one reason. She was good at it.
Taking up the bow as a weapon comes with twenty arrows, well she could have taken much more arrows, but it would be too heavy and unnecessary. Twenty was enough, even if she included the scenarios that she missed a shot.
Besides, she had a backup in her pocket. One could never be too prepared.
At that moment, on the opposite side of the room, the door opened. Guile came back, this time not holding a leash to the magical beast, but riding it.
"Hm, this might be too easy for ya'…" Guile said as he looked at Amber at the arena while riding the magical beast.
Amber looked at the beast and sighed in relief. It was a Grey Wolf. Like the name implied, it was a wolf colored grey. The lowest of low among the hierarchy of wolves.
However... Amber raised her brows warily. Even if the Grey Wolf was the weakest among the wolves, it didn't remove the fact it was deadly.
It was the motto of the Hong Family to never underestimate its opponents. No matter how weak or strong, one should face an enemy with caution.
"Oh well, not like I can do anything that much.." Guile muttered as he jumped off from the wolf and exited the arena.
The moment Guile left, the fight started.
Amber took out one arrow from her back and fired it at the Grey Wolf's eye. The eye was a weakness to every beast that relied on sight. The wolf was no different.
Unfortunately, it didn't work out. The Grey Wolf suddenly opened its jaw, biting the arrow, and shattering it to pieces.
It was fine, just from that slight reaction — she had already known how fast the wolf was...
Amber quickly took a step back, running to a distance while her hand took two more arrows from the back — she slotted it in the bow, pulling the bowstring — she released it.
The Grey Wolf rushed forward, rapidly dashing as it chased Amber through the arena.
Swooosh! Swoosh!
Amber fired two more arrows in succession, but this time she applied a skill. «Elysia Wind» a wind enchantment skill. It reinforced the arrow with magical wind, making it faster than it was previously. One was aimed at the eye and the other was aimed at the neck.
The Grey Wolf opened its jaw, gnashing its teeth as it bit the arrow heading for its eye. However, it failed to account for the arrow that aimed at its neck.
Woosh!
"Woooo…." The Grey Wolf howled in agony, the arrow burrying into its neck. The neck of a wolf was its most vulnerable part.
Swoosh!
As The Grey Wolf wriggled its body to remove the arrow stuck in its neck, Amber fired three more arrows without rest. Each reinforced by magical wind.
An arrow struck the eye of the wolf — blinding its vision as dark red blood dripped from its face. The Grey Wolf howled, its cries of agony resounding in the arena.
"Wooooo...."
Amber whistled, her back turning. Well, that was easier than she thought... all her bravado and nervousness were useless then.
At that moment, the last two arrows successfully struck the Grey Wolf, hitting the most vulnerable spots of the beast. The howls of wolves quickly exhausted...a while later, the wolf completely fell to the floor.
—
Just as the novel described, Amber was indeed talented at the bow. She had a good aim and precision, however she was limited to the fact that she didn't have much battle experience, Rio observed as continued to watch over the arena.
In all things considered, the match was an easy win for Amber. If he had guessed why... the academy most likely underestimated her. Even though Amber's father was quite well known...
Amber, for the most part, was hidden in the scrutiny of others, having no fame outside of being the daughter of the richest man in the whole world.
"The Hong Emerald Eyes... the best eyes for archers." Rio sighed. Those eyes... had a long history behind them.
—
After cleaning the arena, Guile left to get the next Magical Beast and Amber rushed to the infirmary to check upon Eugene.
The students realized, similarly to Amber, that the opponent they were going to fight was something they could beat. That put a relief on them..
Xiao Long was snoring as he lay on the floor comfortably, he was a sleep. At that moment, however, the announcement rang once again.
"No. 4, Xiao Long. Please enter the stage and proceed to be examined. Please bring your desired weapon."
Xiao Long, hearing that loud announcement, abruptly woke up in his sleep. It took a few seconds before he realized he was getting called to the arena.
"Oh, shit!" Xiao Long said, grabbing his weapon. It was a long, thin wooden rod. It was a wand. Sorcery was his specialty.
Xiao Long quickly entered the arena, at the same time Guile entered the arena as well. Xiao Long got a good look at the opponent he was going to face. It was a Griffith. A large bird with two large wings. At the word of history, a larger and more powerful hawk.
It was a Rank E Griffith.
Well, not like the size mattered that much, Xiao Long thought as prepared the things he was going to use. Huh…that strategy should work.
"Don't overkill it, okay?' Cleaning is tough," Guile said as he looked at Xiao Long with a smile. Afterwards, he left the arena.
At the moment Guile left, the match started. Xiao Long, without hesitation, immediately activated a skill without the Griffith reacting.
"Aqua." Xiao Long commanded as he pointed his wand at the floor. Instantly, the floor below the Griffith was filled with a puddle of water.
The Griffith shifted its eyes below, staring at the puddle of water intently.
"Glacier." Xiao Long said casually.
In that instant, the puddle of water was encased with ice — before the Griffith could react, its feet were suddenly stuck to the ground, unable to move.
Xiao Long closed his eyes, his mind concentrating intently. Accessing magic. Dividing the flow into four parts. Redirecting in four different pathways. Alter reality. He opened his eyes, muttering:
"Agi...Agi...Agi...Agi."
At that moment, four large fireballs slowly conjured behind Xiao Long. The Griffith stared in fear, its eyes widening as it vehemently struggled.
"Now, go." Xiao Long yawned, his hand shoving the wand. The fireballs flew through the air — slamming into the large magical bird as its body incinerated in the room.
"That seems about it," Xiao Long said callously as he turned his back, preparing to leave.
—
"Casting four skills simultaneously...? How talented indeed." Rio muttered in shock as he observed the onslaught of burning and explosion. The novel didn't lie. Xiao Long, was not only a genius of alchemy — but also a genius of sorcery.
The mental talent and imagination required to do that was astronomical. Rio sighed. Perhaps he could do that as well... somehow, he doubted that.
After the match finished, Rio stood up and prepared to leave. He fixed his white coat, taking one last glance at the test. There were a lot of talented students. He shook his head, taking his coffee as he walked outside and left the room.