The sun shone brightly, illuminating the lush forest of Everwyn Town under the country of Mythralis a few yards away from Mysthic Academy, where most of the talented sorcerers are studying.
Outside of the forest is where the audience is watching from the massive hologram that showcases the different S-rank students inside the forest, who will start their semestral challenge in a few minutes. Each of the hologram screens features each of the four s-rank students who have different abilities to present later.
Among the audience are the students of Mysthic Academy who belong to different ranks from A-rank to E-rank. Each of them is eager and curious to see the performance of the four most skilled students in their academy.
Guards are disposed of in every passageway of the forest to prevent anyone from going in to commit any malicious acts for the safety of the students. Security lines surrounded the whole forest to tighten the security from the crowd.
Ashnie Levina Raiel gazed up at the sun, squinting her eyes. Her chunky sneakers crushed on the dried leaves as she walked under the shade of the tree. She was clad in a black short-sleeve fitted top, highlighting her toned abs and black cargo pants with a slightly baggy fit, complete with multiple utility pockets.
"The wait is getting longer than I anticipated," she whispered, adjusting her belt and fingerless gloves.
Her eyes landed on the drone that was filming her. She sighed and averted her gaze from it, stretching her limbs to prepare her body.
The four holograms outside of the forest were replaced by a big one, showing the headmaster of Mysthic Academy, William Gray. He was clad in formal attire with a blue necktie and a smile on his face.
"Good day to all the people of Everwyn, I, the headmaster of Mysthic Academy, William Gray, want to extend my gratitude to you all for attending the semestral skill challenge or evaluation of our academy's students. As we all used to do, the students will showcase their strengths and abilities to survive the forest. The first one to exit will be the winner for this semester."
Levina heard the speech, which made her drag her feet away from the shade of the tree.
As the bell resonated around the forest, the four S-rank students started to make their way, proceeding to the exit of the forest. The big hologram of the headmaster was replaced by the four holograms again, showcasing each of the four.
Levina used the massive branches of the trees as her stepping stone to get faster to the exit. As much as possible, she didn't intend to fight any of the three. As long as she exits first, she'll be the winner.
She halted her run when she detected a blood spike pierce through the trunk of the tree, a few inches away from her face. She mechanically shifted her gaze to her right side, seeing one of the S-rank students standing on the branch of the tree 100 yards away from her.
Joaquin Vladimir Basco, the student who utilizes blood magic, interrupted Levina's early escape. He was clad in a high-collared, long-tailed black coat with deep crimson-red accents, black fitted trousers with a side pocket attached to his left thigh, and knee-high black boots with red X-like detail near the top. He's also wearing fingerless gloves with different colors of black and crimson-red.
"Trying to escape without fighting us?" He smirked, his blood ability circulating on his right hand.
Levina felt another presence behind her, making her jump to another branch of the tree to avoid the attack.
The daggers that were sent flying to her penetrated the trunk of the tree. She gazed at the person who did it, Thomas Anthony Sylvia, the most talented healer of the academy. He may be a healer, but he's good in combat using his weapons. He was clad in a layered, asymmetrical black armor coat and stitched, strapped leather plates on his chest, paired with dark trousers and combat boots.
"What's with your outfit? You looked like a rogue." Joaquin scanned his body.
He didn't listen to his remarks and said, "How about a pair-up? Let's defeat her."
"I don't mind it." Joaquin shrugged.
Levina clutched her katana behind her, preparing to attack. Since the two have already cornered her, she doesn't have a choice but to deal with them. However, she's still vigilant, knowing that there's still other S-rank students inside the forest who haven't made their appearance. She's aware
that certain someone is the most dangerous one among them.
Levina immediately unsheathed her katana when Joaquin suddenly appeared in front of her, his scimitar clashing against her weapon.
"Nice agility," he commented, opening his free hand, and an explosive blood bomb emerged from it.
Levina created a shield made of her electricity element, and she jumped back to another branch as the blood exploded on her shield. She thought that holding back wouldn't be a good decision as the two of them charged at her in full power. She extended her power to her weapon, coating her blade with electricity.
She swung her katana against their weapons as her abilities shrouded her body, preventing them from getting closer.
The students who are watching the holograms are cheering for every student in the forest, but most of them are screams from women for Joaquin.
On the other hand, all A-rank students in the crowd are wondering why the other one hasn't made their move yet. They're still walking through the forest, their face covered by their hood.
The fight between the three became intense as soon as Levina managed to inflict serious damage on Joaquin's midsection, earning worried comments from the audience. His coat was burned on his midsection part, exposing his bleeding skin.
He cursed under his breath, covering his wound to prevent the blood from oozing. Anthony was about to help him, but Levina blocked his way, sending a massive sphere of electricity. Anthony didn't have a choice but to back down, or else he'll receive severe damage from the attack.
Levina is preventing him from getting closer to Joaquin as he is capable of healing his wounded part. She can't afford to waste her energy. Hence, she decided to take down Anthony first.
His eyes widened when Levina approached him, her sword was covered with electricity, creating a vibrating sound. He parried his lance, but it was cut off as Levina's katana slashed through his left shoulder. He winced in pain as his blood spurted, making him kneel on the ground.
Levina took his free arm and electrified it to prevent him from healing himself. Anthony let out an agonizing pain, feeling the shock and burning sensation on his arm, coursing through his whole body.
The audiences were horrified upon seeing what Levina did, even Joaquin, who was watching from the branch of the tree.
"Is she going to kill him?" Joaquin whispered, his hands trembling as he intertwined them, preparing to shoot an arrow of blood in Levina's direction.
Levina knows that Anthony can still heal himself despite not touching his wounded part. However, as long as she continues to hurt him, he won't have the strength to heal himself. Although this method would also tire her up, she didn't have a choice.
"Scarlett Shot!" Joaquin screamed as his blood arrow struck through the foliage, aiming at Levina's back.
However, Levina felt the attack behind her as she immediately dodged it, which made it land on Anthony's midsection. Anthony let out another scream. He growled as he curled himself into a ball.
Joaquin gritted his teeth, clutching his scimitar. He glared at Levina, who was staring at him coldly. Joaquin was about to jump from his position and attack her, but he heard a vibrating sound above him, and his eyes widened. He crossed his arms above his head, protecting himself from the explosion.
"Electroblast," Levina muttered as the technique she cast a while ago exploded above Joaquin. She glanced at Anthony, who was trying to heal himself, but she stepped on his arm, stabbing his thighs with his electrified katana.
Anthony screamed in pain, his veins were tracing on his face. He panted, and his body quivered from the damage.
"Now then... time to leave." She jumped up to the tree branches and sprang towards the exit.
She didn't expect the last person to attack her since she thought that they had probably gone from the exit knowing how long time flies. But to her surprise, a string that was covered in fire shrouded her body.
She cursed and tried to dodge the attack, but her speed wasn't enough anymore to react. Her body slammed against the sturdy trunk as the string coiled around her body, the fire burning her skin, making her wince.
A woman with red hair and eyes appeared in front of her.
"It looks like you're not ready to take me on at your state."
***