The air in Golem Valley remained thick with dust, remnants of their desperate battle still lingering. Samson glanced at his exhausted companions. The tension had settled, but only for the moment. They needed to move—fast.
Cedric, wiping sweat from his brow, knelt beside Kara. Her breathing had steadied, but she was still unconscious. Exhaling deeply, he hoisted her onto his back. "Let's get out of here," he said, his voice firm despite his exhaustion.
Linara and the others nodded, and they began their trek out of Golem Valley. To avoid further encounters with the massive stone creatures, Cedric raised sturdy earth walls around their resting area before they departed, shielding them from wandering golems. Linara, drawing upon her plant magic, extended vines and leaves around them, blending their group into the dense foliage of the forest beyond the valley.
As they pressed forward, Linara repeatedly checked on Kara, using her healing magic to stabilize her injuries. Despite her best efforts, Kara remained unconscious for most of the journey. "Her condition is stable, but this isn't enough," Linara murmured, frustration evident in her voice. "We need proper medical attention soon."
The Supply Station
Hours passed before they finally arrived at the supply station. The small outpost, nestled between the trees, provided much-needed provisions and medical care. Several other students from different groups were already resting there, their faces marked with exhaustion and relief.
A healer examined Kara immediately, applying proper treatment to her wounds. As the medicine took effect, her eyes fluttered open, a hazy look of confusion in them. The others crowded around her, relieved.
"Kara," Linara said softly. "You're awake."
Kara blinked a few times before trying to sit up. "Where… are we?"
"The supply station. We made it out," Cedric explained.
Kara's gaze shifted from face to face, eventually settling on Samson. Her expression darkened, and a sharp glare replaced her confusion.
"You…" Her voice was low but filled with hostility. "What the hell was that?"
Samson frowned. "What are you talking about?"
Kara scoffed, swinging her legs off the cot and forcing herself up, despite Linara's protests. "Don't act dumb. That lightning bolt—you nearly fried me! If you hadn't messed up, I wouldn't have been knocked out!"
Linara's eyes widened, and Cedric stiffened. Samson clenched his jaw.
"I saved your life," he said, his voice calm but firm. "The golem would have crushed you if I hadn't used that spell."
Kara's lip curled. "Yeah? Well, maybe next time, try not to almost kill the person you're saving."
Linara frowned. "Samson didn't mean to—"
"I don't care what he meant," Kara cut her off. "I got hit, I blacked out, and now I'm waking up to this mess. So excuse me if I'm not feeling grateful."
A tense silence followed.
Samson exhaled, crossing his arms. "You're impossible to talk to."
"Good," Kara snapped. "Because I don't want to hear excuses from the guy who nearly fried me."
Cedric sighed. "Look, we have bigger things to focus on. We're all here, and we're moving forward. Let's not waste time fighting over something that's already done."
Kara rolled her eyes but didn't argue. She shot one last glare at Samson before turning away.
Linara exchanged a glance with Cedric, but neither said anything. They all knew Kara wasn't the forgiving type.
The Final Challenge
The tension between Kara and Samson remained thick, but the group pressed forward regardless. The final obstacle loomed ahead—a towering cave entrance that seemed to swallow all light.
As they approached, they noticed other groups had gathered as well. Some had arrived before them, their faces grim with anticipation. At the front stood the leader of Group 2, a tall boy with sharp eyes and an air of authority, it was Khan. Samson remembered the boy who he met first day at the academy. They became good acquaintance but after it was revealed that Samson has low mana Khan started to avoid him.
Samson still doesn't forget that thing.
Khan stepped forward. "For those just arriving, listen up. The final challenge is beyond this cave." His gaze swept over the crowd. "Inside, a magical Lion beast awaits."
Murmurs spread through the gathered students.
"It's too strong for any single group to take down," he continued. "If we want to defeat it, we have to work together."
The weight of his words settled over the students. One by one, nods of agreement spread through the crowd. They had come too far to fail now.
Then, a voice rose above the murmurs.
"I'll lead us," Siddhartha declared, stepping forward with unwavering confidence.
A hush fell over the students as they turned to face him.
Siddhartha's gaze was firm. "We need a solid plan, and I have one. If you want to succeed, follow me."
His certainty left little room for argument. One by one, the students nodded, accepting his leadership.
With their goal set, the groups gathered at the entrance of the cave. The final battle awaited.
Taking a deep breath, Siddhartha raised his hand and gave the command.
"Let's go."
And with that, they stepped into the darkness, ready to face their greatest challenge yet.