The atmosphere within the artificial realm was charged with anticipation as the clock ticked down to the final minutes of the test.
Participants engaged in fierce battles, showcasing their skills and tactics for all to witness.
In the monitoring station, Sable compiled a list of potential participants. In the hall, many scouts and cadets were enjoying the spectacle of the test.
In the midst of the realm tension, Thant Zin arrived at the scene just in time to witness a stunning turn of events.
His eyes widened as he observed Azrael, the enigmatic figure who had drawn everyone's attention, emerging victorious against the formidable opponent known as Zephyr Galeheart.
A faint smile tugged at Thant Zin's lips—this was an unexpected outcome.
But Thant Zin, no stranger to battle, appreciated strength when he saw it. The battlefield lay in ruins, Zephyr's body disintegrate into a blue particle, and Azrael stands amidst the aftermath with tattered armor.
Before Thant Zin could fully process the situation, Azrael's gaze shifted towards him.
A flicker of movement—a swift gesture of Azrael's hand—and a massive earth elemental rock shot toward Thant Zin with surprising speed.
It was a test, a calculated move to gauge this young prodigy's abilities.
Thant Zin's martial instincts kicked in, and with a swift strike, he shattered the incoming rock.
A grin of exhilaration spread across Thant Zin's face. It was a rare opportunity for him to engage in combat with an opponent of Azrael's caliber. However, his excitement was short-lived.
As the dust cleared from the shattered rock, Thant Zin realized that Azrael's figure had vanished.
'He's more skilled than I thought,' Thant Zin mused to himself. He had been searching for a worthy opponent, and it seemed like he had finally found one in Azrael.
A faint rustling sound reached Thant Zin's ears, and he turned just in time to catch a fleeting glimpse of Azrael's retreating form. Despite his disappointment at the abrupt halt to the confrontation, Thant Zin's grin widened. The chase was on.
Azrael's figure reappeared in the distance, already retreating from the encounter.
Despite his impressive display, Azrael knew he couldn't continue to fight. His body had taken a toll, and could no longer bear the strain, exhaustion, and pain seeping through his every fiber.
There were still forty minutes left in the test, and his position was secure enough to warrant a strategic withdrawal. His current standing puts him at number two on the participant list.
Inside the monitoring room, Sable's approving nod acknowledged Azrael's decision. "Good decision to disengage," she murmured.
Thant Zin's pursuit continued with an ever-growing enthusiasm, his skillful movements allowing him to gradually close the distance.
With every step, he unleashed a relentless barrage of skills, each aimed at slowing Azrael's agile movements and creating strategic openings for engagement.
Thant Zin's voice echoed across the field, a challenge laced with excitement. "You're quite slippery, aren't you? How about a fight?"
Azrael's priority was clear—conserve his energy and stamina.
He maintained a deliberate pace, skillfully evading Thant Zin's onslaught while paying no need to his inquiries. His eyes darted towards the list of active contestants displayed on his bracelet.
He knew he couldn't afford to engage with every opponent, but he had to remain vigilant and devise a solution against Thant Zin.
In the hall, scouts and cadets watched the spectacle with rapt attention, their eyes glued to the screens that projected the action. They watched with mixed emotions—pity for Azrael's struggle, and respect for his determination.
"It's quite unfortunate for him to cross paths with Thant Zin," remarked one of the cadets.
Sympathetic murmurs rippled through the audience as they observed Azrael's growing fatigue and Thant Zin's relentless pursuit.
Luna's hand instinctively rested on her chest, her lips moving in silent prayer for Azrael's safety. Theo's brow furrowed, his concern mirroring Luna's.
Meanwhile, in one of the corners, Hyunwoo and Yerin exchanged knowing glances. They understood the gravity of the challenge Azrael faced.
In a surprising twist, Azrael abruptly halted his sprint, pivoting to face Thant Zin. His stance was brief but determined, and for a fleeting moment, they clashed—Azrael's defensive posture fending off Thant Zin's relentless attacks.
Then, with lightning speed, Azrael appeared in front of Thant Zin's face.
He delivered a knee to Thant Zin's liver, followed by a powerful elbow strike to his head—a sudden, fierce offensive.
Thant Zin felt the impact of the strikes, his body jolting, but he deftly blocked and evaded Azrael's moves with his impressive defense.
This small exchange showcased their formidable hand-to-hand combat skills.
Then, just as Thant Zin attempted a counter, Azrael's stance shifted, and he darted away, altering his running trajectory.
A murmur of speculation swept through the watching hall. "What's his plan?"
"Could there be another trap?" wondered a cadet aloud, the audience collectively holding its breath.
Thant Zin's interest was further piqued, his curiosity about Azrael's capabilities growing. "Hey! Tell me," he called out amidst the chase, a hint of challenge in his voice, "how did you defeat that aeroswift guy?"
Azrael's response was a graceful dance of evasion and counterattack. He executed calculated strikes and precise shots from his gun, conducting a series of hit-and-run maneuvers with remarkable finesse.
These tactics created distance between him and Thant Zin, who found himself defending effectively but unable to counter Azrael's swift assaults.
"You sure don't talk much." Thant Zin commented, receiving no response from Azrael.
The audience's attention remained captivated, torn between admiration for Thant Zin's martial brilliance and a growing curiosity about Azrael's unorthodox tactics.
Azrael swiftly moved through the terrain, activating his remaining traps on cliffs, the ground, in trees, and even in the air.
However, Thant Zin easily broke through all of them, his relentless pursuit showing no signs of waning.
In the distance, the sound of a clash reached Azrael's ears. 'Finally, there's a group fight ahead,' seizing the opportunity, he increased his running pace and joined the ongoing battle, further intensifying the chaos of the battlefield.
Thant Zin, too, entered the fray, his focus solely on Azrael as he effortlessly evaded the attacks of other participants.
With a deft move, Azrael seized a nearby participant by the collar of their armor, "Ugh!" and threw the individual toward Thant Zin.
Thant Zin responded with a swift, devastating kick to the participant's head, instantly eliminating him. In one fluid motion, he appeared next to Azrael, aiming a vicious kick toward Azrael's stomach with his shin.
Azrael reacted with remarkable speed, blocking the kick with his steel staff before swiftly raising his leg and jabbing his toes into Thant Zin's stomach.
The force sent Thant Zin stumbling back, gasping for breath.
Thant Zin immediately launched another offensive, but Azrael had already evaded, slipping through the battlefield like a serpent, using other participants as human shields against Thant Zin's relentless assault.
The atmosphere in the watching hall was electric, all eyes locked onto the screens as the battle of wits and skills continued to captivate the spectators. Azrael's name was beginning to shine, matching Thant Zin's brilliance.
Azrael sprinted once more when he saw that the battlefield was thinning out, while Thant Zin relentlessly pursued him.
"This madman," Azrael muttered under his breath.
Swiftly, Azrael weaved through the forest, his keen eyes scanning for another battlefield.
Spotting another large group battle, he joined the chaotic fight once more, further intensifying the chaos.
This time, Azrael added an additional layer to the chaos, creating an artificial smoke that shrouded the entire battlefield, providing him with cover as he maneuvered amongst the participants.
Thant Zin found himself momentarily disoriented, his attacks thwarted by the obscurity of the smoke.
Within the smoke-filled battleground, Azrael's silhouette weaved through the skirmish, engaging in brief clashes with Thant Zin whenever the opportunity arose.
Strikes, kicks, thrusts, and swings—each exchange was swift and calculated, Azrael's hit-and-run strategy allowing him to hold his own against this formidable opponent and eliminate other participants simultaneously, earning him additional points.
Amidst their rapid exchanges, Thant Zin managed a ferocious counterattack, delivering a powerful roundhouse kick that slammed into Azrael's side.
The impact was bone-jarring, leaving a blossoming bruise where his ribcage met the skin, and momentarily stealing Azrael's breath as he staggered back, clutching the inflicted injury.
Yet, amid the chaotic brawl, Azrael persevered. Their skirmishes unfolded with a relentless rhythm—kicks, strikes, thrusts, parries, blocks, and blows exchanged rapidly.
Gradually, Azrael managed to tip the scales, inflicting more damage with each calculated strike, as if this smoke-filled battlefield had become his natural domain.
"He's on par with Thant Zin!" a scout exclaimed, his voice reflecting the astonishment that rippled through the crowd. "Both these contenders are true geniuses in their own right!"
As the smoke began to clear, Azrael's figure emerged, dashing away from the battlefield.
His form bore the scars of battle, with countless black bruises marring his body. However, his spirit remained unwavering.
Emerging from the dissipating smoke, Azrael's prowess drew admiration from the spectators. They marveled at his capabilities, placing him on equal footing with Thant Zin—a rare moment of equality between the two.
Thant Zin sensed Azrael's mana aura and realized that Azrael intended to continue his tactical retreat. Thant Zin pursued it relentlessly, his determination unwavering.
If there was one thing Thant Zin hated the most, it was being unable to retaliate much after getting beat up.
As the minutes dwindled, Azrael's stamina waned. His body had been pushed to its limits, his footsteps faltered, and his breaths labored.
Then, with a sudden halt, Azrael turned to face Thant Zin directly.
Covered in numerous black bruises, Azrael stood resolute, a tense silence enveloping the field as he squared off with Thant Zin. A glint of exhaustion flickered in his eyes.
Thant Zin's voice broke the stillness, a mix of triumph and challenge. "Finally, you can't run anymore. Fight me." his expression lit up with anticipation.
In response, Azrael let out a low chuckle, a faint smirk playing on his lips. "It's not your day, battlehead."
Azrael body briefly emanated a violet-hued mana aura, as the numerous black bruises on his body leaked the mana. Then, like a mirage dispersing in the wind, Azrael's form began to disintegrate into thin air.
Thant Zin's eyes widened in surprise, his brows furrowed, as a startling revelation unfolded—the figure he was chasing was a mere clone of Azrael, a distraction to divert him so Azrael could fully escape.
Thant Zin's gaze shifted to the countdown timer—there were still eight minutes left in the test—he wanted to search for him, but his body started to dissolve into a blue particle.
"Tsk," a frustrated click of his tongue escaped him, realizing that he had been outwitted. His shoulders slumped as he watched his form dissipate.
The test was over, and Azrael's strategy had secured his escape.
Confusion rippled through many of the audience members in the hall, and even the cameras following the action had been deceived by Azrael's act.
In one corner of the hall, Hyunwoo's eyes lit up with understanding. He turned to Yerin, his expression appreciative. "Azrael didn't just run. He knew when to strike and when to disappear. He accelerated the elimination of other contestants, then used a clone to deceive Thant Zin at the last minute, ensuring his victory."
At the monitoring station, Sable's admiration was evident in her smile. "An impressive maneuver, indeed."
As the test came to a close, the audience buzzed with excitement and admiration for both Azrael and Thant Zin.
Their battle had captured everyone's attention, and the consensus was clear—they were both exceptional fighters, standing on equal ground in a test that had showcased their incredible skills.
Hyunwoo and Yerin exchanged knowing glances and proceeded to leave the hall, heading for the exit. "It was an exciting performance to watch," Hyunwoo remarked, a smile playing on his lips.
Meanwhile, Azrael's real body was safely concealed elsewhere, already having evaded Thant Zin's relentless pursuit. He sat on the ground against a tree, heaving deep breaths. Every inch of his body throbbed with pain.
'Finally, it's over.'
At last, he disintegrated into a cascade of blue particles, marking the end of a remarkable and strategic display of his abilities.
***************
As the high-pressure battle reached its conclusion, the atmosphere in the watching hall underwent a subtle shift.
Some cadets began making their way toward the exits, their curiosity had been satisfied, while many scouts remained, their attention firmly fixed on the events unfolding on the first floor.
The once-quiet hall, which had fallen into hushed anticipation when all 10,000 participants were transferred into the artificial field, now teemed with renewed energy as the remaining one hundred participants gradually reappeared in the hall, transported back from the intense battle.
Those who had been eliminated were already transported to another building, carrying the weight of their defeat with them.
On the upper floor of the hall, a multitude of scouts, along with a few cadets, had gathered to witness the result of the test.
In a seamless transition, Azrael's form flickered and then solidified. The return to the hall felt almost surreal, with the burdens of battle lifting instantaneously.
His wounds and physical exhaustion vanished as he was transported back to the controlled environment.
Amidst the commotion, the observer entered and offered her congratulatory words, a genuine smile gracing her features. "Congratulations on all of your performances," Sable's voice resonated with approval.
As if on cue, the massive screen at the front of the hall displayed the test results.
Azrael's name occupied the second spot on the ranking, a testament to his skill and strategy. Above him was none other than Thant Zin, the young genius martial fighter who had proven himself as a formidable force.
Azrael's gaze shifted from the screen to the upper floor, where his friends Luna and Theo stood.
A mischievous spark danced in his eyes, and he raised his eyebrow and gave them a nonchalant smile as if he were telling them—everything had gone according to his plan.
Luna's lips curved into a smile, while Theo nodded in approval, their eyes shining with unspoken admiration for their childhood friend's remarkable performance.
The hall reverberated with a mix of emotions—relief, excitement, and a shared sense of camaraderie that had been forged through the trials of the test.
The artificial field had been a stage for their trials, a testing ground in which their strengths and weaknesses were exposed.
Azrael's name might not have topped the list this time, but his performance had earned him respect and recognition, solidifying his place among the elite participants.
As the test came to an end, the participants dispersed, each one carrying the memories of their battles and the lessons they had learned.
The hall echoed with discussions, admiration, and speculation about the various contenders' abilities. The results were clear, but the impact of the test would linger, shaping their perspectives and aspirations.