The projection of Oasis standing calmly in the clearing, having effortlessly taken control of the situation, was a powerful image.
It reinforced the notion that this young candidate was not just another participant but a true contender with remarkable potential.
The combination of his swift, decisive actions and his unexpected mastery of water magic had captured the imagination of everyone present.
"What did I just do?" Oasis muttered to himself, still shocked by his own capabilities.
The sword-wielding candidate, witnessing this display of power from the forest, immediately ran away, wanting to avoid Oasis.
Despite not fully understanding how he had accomplished what he did, Oasis maintained his composure.
"So powerful," the girl thought, her earlier fatigue and desperation replaced by curiosity.
"Will you teach me?" Oasis asked again.
The girl, momentarily taken aback by his request, nodded slowly. "huh.. Sure," she said, recognizing his genuine interest.
"Anyway, it's about to get dark, so we need to find a spot and rest," Oasis continued.
His approach and calm demeanor helped the girl feel more at ease.
Together, they moved through the Woods, looking for a safe place.
As they walked, the girl introduced herself. "I'm Mira," she said. "I'm from the Emberclan."
"I'm Oasis," he replied, keeping his introduction simple and focused.
As Oasis and Mira moved through the Woods, the spectators in the arena buzzed with speculation.
"Emberclan," they whispered, the name carrying weight and recognition. "So she is a noble."
Zane, watching intently, leaned over to Sir Elias. "The Emberclan is one of the great noble families" he explained. "What is Oasis planning?"
Sir Elias, his eyes fixed on the projection, responded thoughtfully, "Oasis has always been curious."
In another section of the stands, a nobleman sneered,
"Who is this country bumpkin? He thinks he can master fire magic just by asking?"
"Two affinities are already impressive, but adding a third?"
"That's not something just anyone can achieve."
As he smirked, Zane's thoughts were conflicted. He admired Oasis's drive but also understood the difficulty of what he was attempting.
Back in the Woods, Oasis and Mira found a small clearing surrounded by dense trees, providing some concealment and a measure of safety.
Oasis used his magic to clear away debris, creating a comfortable space for them to rest.
Mira conjured a small, controlled fire to provide warmth and light.
"I can start teaching you," Mira broke the silence.
"Don't worry, rest and replenish your mana," Oasis replied calmly.
"By teaching me, I don't mean like that. I will learn as I see you fight with others, so basically, you are now my companion."
Mira was taken aback.
"What does he mean? Who learns magic like that?" she thought, surprised by Oasis's unconventional approach.
In the arena, the spectators were abuzz.
"Ha ha ha ha," someone laughed.
"He has hit his head. Kids nowadays are too ambitious," the noble smirked. "If magic was learned like that, everyone would have been great."
After a few minutes of resting, Oasis suddenly created a magic barrier spell combining water and wind around Mira.
!!!
"Stay here and rest, I will be back," he said firmly.
Mira protested, "Who do you think I am, your prisoner, huh?"
Oasis ignored her and looked deep into the forest. "Get out, it's pointless hiding there," he commanded.
Without a word, eight candidates jumped into the clearing, each from different directions.
They were surprised to see each other, indicating they were not together; everyone was for themselves.
The scene was tense, each candidate eyeing the others, calculating their chances.
Oasis stood in the center, his calm demeanor contrasting with the tension in the air.
The first to move was a candidate wielding a massive hammer, charging directly at Oasis.
With a swift motion, Oasis used wind magic to create a powerful gust, knocking the hammer-wielder off balance.
As the hammer-wielder stumbled, Oasis followed up with a precise wind blast, sending him crashing into a tree, unconscious.
Seeing an opportunity, two more candidates, a dual-wielding swordsman and an archer, decided to team up temporarily.
The swordsman engaged Oasis in close combat, while the archer fired arrows from a distance.
Oasis dodged the swordsman's attacks with fluid movements, his wind magic augmenting his agility.
He used water magic to deflect the arrows, creating a shield that absorbed the impacts.
With a sudden burst of speed, Oasis closed the distance to the archer, using his wind magic.
He disarmed the archer with a quick strike and knocked him out with a punch.
Turning his attention back to the swordsman, Oasis parried the incoming blades with a combination of water and wind, eventually overwhelming the swordsman with precise strikes, rendering him unconscious.
The remaining five candidates hesitated.
"Moonlight Technique: First Form - Summer Frost," a calm, almost ethereal voice of a woman emanated from the woods.
In a heartbeat, a girl with silver hair emerged, moving with a speed and grace that left the onlookers stunned.
As she dashed towards the first of the five candidates, a chilling aura followed her movements, a delicate frost forming on the grass and leaves in her wake.
Her technique was fluid and elegant, each strike imbued with a cold, biting energy.
She delivered precise blows to each candidate, her movements too fast to follow.
With her first strike, she created a crescent of icy energy that slashed through the air, freezing the limbs of the first candidate upon contact, rendering them immobile.
The second candidate, attempting to counter, was met with a palm strike that sent a shockwave of cold through his body, instantly freezing his defenses and knocking him out cold.
The third and fourth candidates tried to coordinate their attacks, but the silver-haired girl spun gracefully between them, her fingertips trailing a line of frost across their bodies.
They collapsed simultaneously, their forms encased in a thin layer of ice, unconscious.
The fifth candidate, witnessing the fate of the others, tried to flee. However, the girl's speed was unparalleled.
She appeared before him, her silver hair flowing like moonlight.
She struck with a swift, icy jab to his chest, sending a wave of cold through his body, causing him to fall to the ground, unconscious and covered in frost.
A cold chill lingered in the air, the scene marked by the frozen forms of the defeated candidates.
The girl stood amidst them for a moment, her expression serene and composed. Her eyes briefly met Oasis's.
Without a word, she vanished back into the forest, leaving behind a scene of unmistakable mark of her chilling power.