Arc 1 Chapter 32 : Lance of Longinus

[Elena POV]

The time had finally come.

The final battle of the last day.

"Justice Spirit!"

Brian immediately activated his signature spell. His body became enveloped in a radiant golden light.

He then shot toward Raul, who had taken the high ground.

Brian's punch missed as Raul shifted his head to the side before driving his fist into Brian's stomach. Raul then kicked him, sending his body flying backward.

If this continued, Brian would fall straight into the deep ravine behind him.

"Flame Panthera!"

Geralt summoned flames around both of his legs.

He rushed toward Brian, caught him in midair, and landed safely on the ground.

"Brian! We agreed not to underestimate him, remember!?" I reprimanded the reckless blond.

"Sorry. I just wanted to rescue Ariel as quickly as possible!"

Raul had positioned himself on higher ground, surrounded by deep ravines. If that was the case, then ranged attacks would be effective for forcing him down and allowing us to surround him.

"Mages, fire your spells and destroy Raul's footing!" I ordered them.

"Understood!"

"Of course!"

They began chanting their spells.

A moment later, magical attacks of various elements shot toward Raul.

He jumped and grabbed onto a rope hanging from the ceiling before swinging through the air, evading the spells flying toward him.

—BOOM!

Our spells exploded against the walls of the mine.

Raul landed, activated Accel, and punched one of our members directly in the cheek, sending him flying backward.

"Geralt! Protect our mages! Valeria and the others, restrict his movements! Brian, attack him whenever he gets cornered!"

I began issuing commands.

Geralt moved to intercept Raul as he pursued our mages, while Valeria's attacks forced Raul to keep his distance from them.

"Earth Bind!"

Raul's legs were caught by a hand made of earth that emerged from one of our member's spells.

The earthen hand lifted him into the air before hurling him violently against the mine wall.

But Raul twisted his body in midair and planted his feet against the wall, absorbing the impact.

He then stood and activated Accel once more.

"Geralt, Brian! Get ready! He's coming back! Don't let him get anywhere near our mages!" I ordered them.

Seeing how much trouble our mages were causing him, it was obvious Raul would prioritize eliminating them.

Raul charged toward us again.

Geralt and Brian moved to intercept him.

The two of them exchanged blows with Raul. Our mages couldn't safely target him this time because they risked hitting Brian or Geralt, the backbone of our defensive line.

If only Ariel were here, we could fight without having to worry about friendly fire.

"Aghhhh!"

Geralt screamed in pain.

Raul had stomped on his ankle, leaving it visibly dislocated.

Raul then kicked Brian in the face, sending him flying, before following up with a powerful punch to Geralt's face.

"Get ready! He's coming!"

Raul charged toward us again.

His appearance resembled a snake preparing to strike its prey.

"Earth Missile!"

"Fire Ball!"

"Wind Blow!"

The mages fired their elemental spells toward Raul once again.

The black-haired man began running in a zigzag pattern, effortlessly avoiding every spell we launched at him.

"Advance! Stop him from getting any closer!"

Four of our members rushed forward to intercept Raul as he drew closer.

Raul suddenly dropped low and slid across the ground, slipping through the gap between the two members at the front.

He then leaped into the air and delivered a Flying Kick directly into the chest of the member standing ahead of him.

—Bam!

He followed up with a punch to another member's face, sending him flying.

"Damn you! Die, you bastard!"

The remaining two members charged at him.

But Raul easily evaded them before striking one man's elbow.

His arm bent unnaturally in the wrong direction.

"Arrrgh! My arm! My arm!"

The man screamed hysterically.

Raul then kicked the final member, knocking him unconscious.

After defeating four people with ease, there was nothing left standing between Raul and our mages.

Several of them began to panic as they watched him charge toward them.

Valeria stepped forward.

Both of her hands began to glow, signaling that she was preparing an extraordinary spell.

"Earthborn Amalgam!"

The earth around Valeria began gathering in front of her, forming a massive mound.

A moment later, the mound took the shape of a terrifying humanoid figure nearly four meters tall.

It was...

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on NovelPhoenix. Report any occurrences.

A golem.

"Attack him, Amalgam!"

The golem swung its massive fist at Raul.

Raul rolled across the ground, evading its attacks one after another.

If even a single blow from that enormous golem landed, there was no doubt that every bone in his body would be crushed.

I looked at Valeria's back.

Being capable of using a third-level Earth spell at her age was proof of her extraordinary talent in magic.

"Raul! I won't let you do whatever you want!"

Brian shouted as he charged toward the black-haired man once again.

It seemed he had recovered after taking Raul's devastating kick.

I glanced at Geralt, who was still clutching his injured leg.

If Ariel were here, this battle would be much easier.

Perhaps that was the main reason Raul had kidnapped Ariel in the first place.

He had already predicted that Ariel would become the deciding factor in this battle.

"Sunlight Fury!"

Brian's hands became enveloped in golden light.

He unleashed a barrage of attacks against Raul.

Yet the black-haired man read Brian's movements with ease.

—BOOM!

Raul leaped far backward to evade another attack from Valeria's golem.

"Fiery Kick!"

Suddenly, Geralt appeared from behind and launched a flaming kick at Raul before he could land.

Raul turned around and raised his right hand to block the attack.

—Bam!

He was sent flying backward.

Geralt looked as though he was struggling just to remain standing on one leg.

Sweat covered his entire body as he fought through the pain.

There were twelve of us left, including me.

With Brian serving as our primary fighter, Geralt and the mages accompanying Valeria acting as support, we should have been capable of defeating Raul here.

"Hoo~ You still want to fight, huh?"

Raul activated Temper and Accel simultaneously.

"Should I break another one of your bones, Geralt?"

Hearing Raul's words, Geralt's body visibly trembled.

"Don't be afraid, Geralt! Everyone is here to support you!"

I tried to bolster his courage.

Raul suddenly charged toward Brian and Geralt.

Brian stepped forward first and threw a right hook.

But the black-haired man ducked beneath it and drove his fist directly into Brian's knee.

—Crack!

The sickening sound of bone breaking echoed through the area as Raul's fist struck his knee.

Brian was then sent flying when Raul kicked him.

"Fiery Kick!"

Geralt rushed forward to help Brian, launching himself into a flying kick.

His leg was engulfed in flames.

But Raul avoided the attack and caught Geralt by the ankle while he was still in midair.

"Don't think an attack like that can stop me!" Brian shouted as he got back up and charged toward Raul once again.

Seeing this, the black-haired man spun around and threw Geralt directly toward Brian.

The two collided with each other.

After dealing with them, Raul charged toward the mages once again.

The only thing standing between him and them was Valeria's golem.

"Amalgam! Attack him!" Valeria ordered her golem.

The massive construct charged toward Raul.

Seeing the enormous stone figure approaching him, Raul leaped into the air.

A Rune appeared on his right hand, signaling that he was activating a powerful spell.

That spell...

Could it be...?

"Reject Impact..."

—BOOM!

Valeria's golem was blown apart by the shockwave released from Raul's spell.

"Aghhhh!"

Raul then kicked Valeria, sending her crashing into the mine wall.

He proceeded to eliminate the remaining mages one by one, using nothing but his legs.

Could this really be the end...?

---

[Ariel POV]

I could hear them.

Through these small openings, I could see the battle taking place.

They were fighting Raul.

I wanted to scream and tell them that I was here.

But if I did, their attention would be diverted, and Raul could exploit that opening to defeat them easily.

I didn't want to become a burden to them again.

But I wanted to help them.

I didn't want to simply sit here and do nothing.

I looked up at the opening above me.

My hands reached for the rocks as I tried to climb the seven-meter-high shaft.

But no matter how many times I tried, my body kept slipping back down.

My physical strength was simply too weak to climb such a steep shaft.

"Aghhhh!"

I heard a scream.

I looked through one of the small openings.

Geralt was clutching his injured leg.

I had to hurry!

I had to heal him.

I tried climbing again.

With great difficulty, I grabbed hold of a piece of rock I could reach.

But once again, I fell.

It was impossible...

Throughout my entire life, I had always been saved whenever I found myself in situations like this.

Someone always came to my aid.

I had never needed to save myself.

"Gagghhh!"

Another scream echoed through the mine.

This time, I saw Raul break the arm of a man who had tried to attack him.

No.

I couldn't give up here.

Everyone was fighting.

I couldn't just sit here and do nothing while they risked everything.

I climbed again.

I tightened my grip and pulled myself upward with everything I had.

Just a little more, Ariel...

You can do it.

Don't become a burden to your friends again.

You have to be able to help them this time.

I repeated those words inside my head, strengthening my resolve.

"Hah... Hah... Hah..."

Finally, I managed to climb out of the shaft.

I couldn't waste any more time.

I had to hurry to where the others were fighting.

I ran as fast as I could toward the exit.

But then I encountered another problem.

I had forgotten that Raul had carried me across a ravine earlier.

I looked down into the dark abyss.

I couldn't see the bottom at all.

Could I make the jump?

One wrong step and I would fall and be eliminated from the exam, leaving me unable to help my friends who were still fighting.

I took a deep breath before slowly exhaling through my mouth.

Honestly, I wasn't sure I could make it across.

But I had to try.

I stepped backward to create some distance.

Then I sprinted forward as fast as I could, building as much momentum as possible.

I jumped.

But my feet wouldn't reach the other side.

"Aghhhh!"

My hands managed to grab the edge of the cliff.

With all my strength, I pulled myself upward.

"Hah... Hah... Hah..."

Finally, I made it.

I stood up and immediately continued running toward the screams that had become increasingly clear.

Not long after, I reached the battlefield.

But what I saw left me stunned.

It was almost impossible to believe.

Raul stood alone.

Every one of my companions had fallen.

Only a few of them were still moving.

The black-haired man then glanced toward me, noticing my presence.

"Finally, you've arrived, Ariel," Raul said with an expressionless face.

"Now, you're the only one left who hasn't been injured."

He began walking slowly toward me.

Both of his arms hung limply at his sides, as though they had been paralyzed.

"No, Ariel! Get away from him!"

Brian shouted as he struggled to stand.

He then charged toward Raul, attempting to stop him from reaching me.

"I won't let you do whatever you want! **Flame Panthera!**"

Geralt also rose and joined the fight.

The three of them began battling once again.

Raul could still keep up with both of them despite seemingly relying only on evasive movements and attacks with his legs.

I had to do something...

I had to stop Raul somehow.

If I didn't, even more of my friends would be injured.

"Aghhhhh!"

Brian screamed after taking a devastating kick to the face.

Mother...

Am I allowed to use it?

I grasped the pendant my mother had given me.

It was an artifact containing a sealing spell passed down through the Lusignan Family.

Yes...

Our family was renowned for its mastery of sealing magic.

"Quick! Attack him, Valeria!"

Geralt grabbed Raul from behind, locking his arms around him and restraining his movements.

"I understand!"

Valeria rose to her feet and began gathering a tremendous amount of mana in her right hand.

"Fire it at me along with him if that's what it takes to defeat this bastard!" Geralt shouted.

A magic circle appeared before Valeria's palm.

Green magical energy began swirling around her body.

"**Rayo la Verde!**"

A green laser erupted from the magic circle and shot toward Raul and Geralt.

The black-haired man headbutted Geralt in the nose, causing blood to spill from it, and broke free.

"Aghhhhh!"

Geralt was struck by Valeria's spell.

His body began blistering as a magic circle appeared around him.

Slowly, Geralt's body disappeared into the magic circle.

It was the sign that he had been eliminated from the first stage of the examination.

"No... It can't be..." Valeria muttered in disbelief.

—Bam!

Raul immediately rushed toward her and kicked her, sending her crashing into the mine wall.

"No... Stop this, Raul..."

The black-haired man glanced toward me again.

He walked toward me slowly, as though he had already won the battle.

"Ariel, run! I'll hold this monster back!"

Brian rose once again and charged at Raul with what little strength he had left.

Please...

Stop this fight.

A pink-colored mana began surrounding my body.

I...

**—Bam!**

Brian collapsed.

Raul had driven his right knee into Brian's solar plexus.

He then began stomping on Brian's head.

"Raul... Please, stop all of this..."

His black eyes stared coldly into mine.

He didn't respond to my plea.

I remembered what we had talked about regarding insects.

*You have to get rid of me through violence if you don't want me to beat your friends to death today.*

Those were the words he had said to me earlier.

I understand now...

This time, I didn't want to keep relying on my friends to save me.

This time...

I would be the one to protect them.

"I am the Light of My World..."

I began reciting the incantation of a spell I had never used before.

"Bring Hope for Humanity... Eradicate the Darkness from Form of Evil..."

Raul began running toward me.

There was nothing left standing in his way.

I stretched my hand toward him.

A magic circle appeared before me.

Raul—the black-haired man—had already reached me.

We were now standing face-to-face.

"Sealing Magic... Lance of Longinus..."

A magical spear emerged from the circle.

It shot forward and pierced straight through Raul's chest.

His body was pushed backward before the magical spear embedded itself deep into the mine wall.

Raul's body hung against the wall, crucified by the Lance of Longinus that had pierced through his chest.

This holy spear was a treasured inheritance of the Lusignan Family.

No one could remove it except its user.

Blood began spilling from Raul's mouth.

His uniform was soaked in the blood pouring from his chest.

"Well... Done... Ariel..."

After saying those words, a magic circle began enveloping his body.

Then, he vanished without leaving anything behind.

He—

Raul de Garcia—had been eliminated from the first stage of the survival examination.