[13 minutes 32 duos remain]
An exchange between myself and Jericho didn't seem to be what I had envisioned.
CLASH CLASH CLASH
The sound of steel when our weapons clash with one another.
My blade is far smaller than his I felt my hands steadily shaking.
I think back to what Marko had told me when discussing the type of weapon I should learn. "The long sword can take advantage of their reach and ability to form structurally powerful angles to both blow through and get past strong centerline defenses. However, it's not as versatile as a simple blade such as this. "
"Center," I said to myself.
I quickly used that to try and advance from the sides of Jericho.
"Hmph"
He quickly reads my movements and shifts his body in the direction I was going to hit. Whatever direction I am he will always have his body in the direction am in. Every time colliding with his blade creating shockwaves throughout my body.
He's good i thought.
He was trained well. Although I should have the advantage because he's using both hands to wield the long sword. The swiftness and speed he has with it. Not only that but the pure power that is put into each strike. If am not careful I may break my blade.
As he continues his offense. I watched as he spun around to create momentum in a simple 360 turn as he jumped up in the air.
"What do I do dodge or- " The attack was so fast that there was barely enough time to think.
BOOM
CLASH
I somehow managed to block the attack as it created a little crater from where I stood. I leaned more into making the hold deeper. As his sword drew closer to my face I used my blade to push him to the right of me to land near my face with that I pushed him off me escaping from the small crater.
HUFF HUFF
I used this short time to catch my breath.
Jericho then emerged from the crater gaining his footing once more.
"C'mon Valerus I know your swordsmanship is good show me something" as he motions to keep going.
I glance at the scythe that is planted into the ground not that far from me.
Jericho and my eyes met he smiled as he held his long sword with his right hand as it rested on his shoulders. "Oh am not going to make it that easy" as he quickly ran towards it.
STEP STEP STEP
We met mere feet away from the scythe.
ZIP
I flashed a step towards the scythe as I reached it before Jericho but I was soon met with a long sword an inch to my face face.
I quickly pulled my neck back. As I attempted to hit him with my scythe from the side.
He then simply escaped it as simply used levitation to stay out of harm's way.
SWIPED
He swiped with his long sword but I was met with no response. On one knee getting slowly back up. "That levitation spell sure is useful," I said to him looking up. With his cape flowing in the air, he looked to be a hero from a fantasy story basking in the air slowly coming down.
"Hmph didn't you even try to look at yourself?" He says arrogant tone.
I looked down at my uniform it was now scorched.
"When?"
He points at his sword "My long sword here isn't just some ordinary long sword"
Jericho holds his sword out in front of him with both his hands.
I take a readied stance as I prepare for an attack.
{WEAPON ENHANCE: SIEGFRIED}
The long sword then transforms into a sword made of dragon scales. Red in color scales all around with rough edges.
"I wouldn't want to get sliced by that one bit"
Jericho then plants it into the ground resting his two hands on it. "I heard that you have no mana. Thats perfectly fine without but am about to show you the difference between a Dragonclad like me and you" Now picking it up with one arm.
VOOSH
He then suddenly appears in front of me in a squatted position "Dont worry Valerus this won't kill you."
In that instance, I felt an immense pain in my midsection.
SLAM
He then smacks me and sends me hurling through a ton of trees.
"Valerus!" Bianca yells out.
"Maybe i might've" Jericho gives himself a pat on the back. 'I expected a little more he showed more promise. I didn't even to get to show you my armor."
"He didnt even take his rings" Bianca says preparing for battle.
"Dont bother Earth Saint I dont want to fight you." He looks over in the opposite direction. "Though I was surprised when he defeated you Twelve Star" he points his sword at Ezekiel.
The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.
"You dont you dare point that-"
"Ezekiel!" Albeck yells out.
WHIP WHIP
Ezekiel quickly dodges.
Lily stands with her dual whips. "Hey your fight is with us Lion Boy"
"Pay attention or you'll lose the rings," Bella says with her bell activated.
"Hey girl with the pink hair after were done here go heal my buddy for me" Ezekiel demands.
"O-ok"
"Azalea dont take orders from that guy he's our enemy"
Ezekiel then stops moving "Somethings coming," he says.
RUMBLE RUMBLE
The ground begins to rumble.
"What the hell?"
"Is it the barrier closing?"
"No" Albeck looks at the clock "can't be it not time yet
[11 minutes 32 duos remain]
"It stopped?"
"What's that?"
A giant shadow gets cast over them.
The five mages look in complete shock at what they're seeing right now.
"TCH" Jericho remarks.
"Oh my god," Lily and Bella say.
"N-no way," Azalea says in shock.
Albeck and Jericho look upon the sky.
A giant sea serpent emerged from the lake. Its ocean blue skin, with wings in each section of its midsection, allows it to fly, and purple eyes, with blue mane-like upper with the head of a snake. It moves around the sky like a snake on the ground.
"What the hell is it doing" Ezekiel says.
The serpent then moves in a continuous circle as a blue light begins to emit in the center of it.
"It's generating a lot of mana for something," Albeck says.
"For what?" Ezekiel questions.
-----------------------------------
RUMBLE RUMBLE
"Is this the thing you were waiting for?" Sunneta asks.
The giant shadow casts over them.
"There it is," Jonathan remarks.
Sunneta eyes widden"W-what is that?!"
Jonathan looks up with amazement "Our ticket to guarantee victory. The Great Serpent of the Greater Forest
Jonathan lifts Sunneta up with his magic. "Hold on tight. Wouldn't want you to be on the forest grounds right now" He says as he floats above the trees getting a better look at this monster.
---------------------------
"EVERYONE GET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL" Jericho commands.
Albeck uses his iron hands too grab as much of them as possible. With Himself, Bella, and Lily in one hand with Ezekiel in the other. "Valerus" Ezekiel runs over to pick up a battered Valerus.
While Jericho carries both Azalea and Bianca.
Suddenly creature stops.
"HERE IT COMES"
Releasing a massive tidal wave on the right side of the map.
WHOOSH
The five active mages float above the Greater Forest of Aiz as they watch the entire area get flooded watching the numbers of duos dwindle.
[10 minutes 20 duos remain]
In the headmaster's room at Aurora Saint Academy
"He finally unveiled his weapon," Percival says crossing his arms.
"From the looks of it, it seems he can wield fire Captain. A polar opposite of you" Alekzander remarks.
Captain Caldwell slowly shakes his head"Fire? No, it's not fire. At first, a person would say fire because of the way his body emits smoke and how he left the spiders burnt. That is not the case. His weapon "Siegfried" is not a fire element, the real ability of that weapon is- Well you can see for yourself if you observe more Alekzander"
"Ok, Captain," he says in disappointment.
"Why can't he just tell me what his ability is," he thinks to himself.
Captain Caldwell then activates a magic circle on the side of him.
"Hello," a female voice picks up.
"Luitenant Hanami how are things going over there?" Captain Caldwell asks.
"Bareable," she says in a tired voice.
"A ton of students must've come your way I assume"
"Yeah of course after that tidal wave. They're all being brought here soaking wet. It's a good thing my captain gave me support from the rest of the division"
"Woah all of them escaped that," Faith says.
"I did them to expect the unexpected" Luna says.
"You're right you gave them the brief outline of the exam," Faith says "Now let's just see if they can handle the sea serpents rampage" as she relaxes and puts her hat over her eyes.
"It was on them to study the geography on Aiz," Axel says.
"They"ll manage to get out of this" Ceaser remarks. He then looks up at the projection at Valerus "It could be possible that they can take it out"
"Yes, my girls made it through!" Ariana says excitedly softly clapping to herself "Even half of the duos are gone. The ones that got eliminated should be reappearing back in the nurses' office. Hopefully, they didn't sustain any major injuries" Ariana says. "You would have to thank my students for helping them out. On the other hand, the ones that got eliminated will be fine"
"They got wiped out"
"Wiped out?"
"Yes it is a phrase that's used when a wave knocks you down"
"Interesting"
Celeste continues to watch closely as the other two teachers look at her.
"She's paying close attention to this" Ariana remarks.
"Yeah"
"Impressive they managed to avoid elimination quick thinking," Professor Kayneth says.
"This is just the beginning with only 20 duos remaining near then half are gone at the 10-minute mark. The barrier didn't even begin to close yet." Professor Deximer remarks.
"They will do whatever means necessary to survive. I wonder what kind of tactics will be applied" Professor Lop says.
"They nearly took out all of my animals," Colt says.
"Hmm no we are down to 40 mages which 8 will come out on top? Only the best will make it through. " Headmaster Alfred says.
--------------------------------------
Back in the Greater Forest of Aiz
Trickles of little drops of water subside drop from the sky as the aftermath of the tidal wave is displayed.
HUFF HUFF
"Everyone alright?" Ezekiel asks.
"Uhh" Bella and Lily are still shaky after that sudden attack while Albeck's giant iron hands hold himself and the others up.
"What pure strength," Jericho says while looking up at the giant sea creature at the same time holding Azalea and Bianca. "This thing is ginormous if am estimating 3,377.62 ft with that wing span that crosses almost half of the area." He then looks down back at the forest floor.
Pure destruction as that Tidal Wave flattened out all the trees within the vicinity they were fighting in. The signs of the spiders that were once there were no more. The giant beast circles around the area the mages are in.
"Hey. Let's put fighting each other on the side" Ezekiel yells at Jericho. He slowly looks at Ezekiel and gives a nod.
"Am not too sure you'll be quite efficient 12 twelve stars since you're known to be a close-ranged fighter"
SIGH
Ezekiel lets out a say and shakes his head "I do have something up my sleeve but it'll take me out for a while. I was saving it but THIS right here calls for it." Jonathan with his blade reverted back to its original state on his holster. "We either wait for it to do another attack or we attack it first. Either way, it won't end up good for us."
"If the three of us attack at the same time we may do some damage. " Albeck says.
"Well attacking the beast sure does sound better than waiting to be destroyed," Ezekiel says.
ROAR
RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE
"What the hell is it doing now"
VOOM
A magic circle appears by its side.
VOOM VOOM VOOM VOOM
Multiple magic circles begin to form across the sky.
"Everyone prepare to dodge" Jericho speaks.
Suddenly the magic circle begins to shoot out a shower of powerful magic blasts shooting in all directions.
BOOM BOOM BOOM
The groups dodge the fury of magic blasts from the giant sea serpent.
BLAST BLAST
"SHIT" Jericho swiftly dodges all the best being hurled whilst holding Azalea and Bianca under his arms.
BLAST BLAST
"Faster Albeck," Bella says.
"Am trying my best" Albeck says focusing on the incoming blasts that hurl towards them.
"What about Rose and Suneeta" Azalea remarks.
BLAST
"They won't be taking down that easily" Bella yells across to Azalea. "Ugh. Ah. they both will be fine" Lily says while ducking her head hiding.
BLAST BLAST
"Eriko as well," Ezekiel says as he stares at an unconscious Valerus.
[8 minutes 15 duos remain]
"Shit the numbers just keep dropping"
These blasts are just getting faster.
BLAST BLAST BLAST
---------------------------------------
BLAST BLAST
Sunneta covers herself.
Jonathan puts up his hand as a protective barrier appears around them.
"Your ability sure is amazing"
"Yeah, it is useful. Now how about I bounce it right back at you" Jonathan motions his hands as he makes a gun with his pointer and middle finger shooting back a similar blast at the beast"
----------------------------------------
A giant blast gets hurled at the sea monster.
BOOM
ROOOOOOARRRRR
Temporarily making the beast stunned for the time being.
"What was that"
"Its attack got deflected right back at it," Jericho says.
"Ezekiel now is the time for whatever you were going to do"
"Ok. Sorry Albeck I might get heavy"
{ULTIMA MAGICA: LIONHEART}
Eriko & Rose
[Location: South West The Fog of Eternal Memories Rings: 2]
Valerus & Bianca
[Location: North East Rings: 4]
Ezekiel & Albeck
[Location: North East Rings: 8]
Bella & Lily
[Location: North East Rings: 6]
Suneeta & Jonathan
[Location: South Rings: 10]
Azalea & Jericho
[Location: North East Spiders Rings: 2]
