Chapter 88: The Drunkards Trap-4

The test continued as more students finished their matches, some with ease, others with struggle.

Then came a name that made a few heads turn.

"Azhriel."

Illiana’s voice rang clearly through the magical speakers mounted to the floating surveillance drone. It hovered above, its lens zooming in as the next student calmly stepped forward.

Azhriel walked toward the center of the field with quiet steps, his expression steady. As he approached the circle, the magic beneath his feet swirled, shifting through vivid colors before settling into a deep blue glow.

From it, the summoned monster emerged.

It was a giant bear—its black fur thick and coarse, muscles bulging beneath it, claws long enough to tear steel, and sharp fangs glistening with saliva. Its red eyes burned with primal hunger.

But Azhriel... looking at it smiled.

’Oh, this brings back some nice memories,’ he thought, his gaze meeting the beast without fear.

’Well, let’s see how far I’ve come.’

Illiana’s voice followed, sharp and crisp.

"Begin."

The bear didn’t hesitate. It roared and charged forward, far quicker than one would expect from such a massive beast.

It tore through the ground with heavy steps, shaking the earth beneath it. Dirt flew. Its breath steamed in the air.

But Azhriel didn’t move.

His hand slowly drifted to the hilt of his sword. He stood tall and still, his eyes calm.

He turned his head slightly, just enough to glance toward Sydelle, who was watching from the crowd. She blinked, catching his gaze. Her brow lifted as if to ask, "What are you planning?"

Then—

Crack.

Lightning sparked beneath Azhriel’s feet.

Not just any lightning—it was purple. Deep, sharp, and filled with raw energy. It crackled around him, lifting his hair and cloak as the static spread outward.

The bear was just meters away now. Roaring, closing in.

Step.

Azhriel moved.

It was just a single step, yet.

In a blink, he was gone. The sound of thunder booming behind his step.

A vertical flash of violet lightning split through the air like a blade from the sky itself. For a heartbeat, the entire field lit up—white and purple streaks painting the ground.

Many in the crowd had to close their eyes from the light.

Click.

The soft sound of a sword returning to its sheath echoed gently across the field.

When everyone opened their eyes...

The bear was dead.

Its massive body stood still for a moment—then split cleanly down the middle.

The two halves slid apart as smoke curled from the charred line where it had been cut. A sharp smell of burnt flesh and fur filled the area.

Silence.

No one spoke.

Kevin’s mouth was slightly open. Samuel just stared, stunned. Arianne narrowed her eyes in quiet thought.

Elizabeth stood frozen, and Sydelle... she didn’t blink, her gaze sharp.

Then, there was Raymond the only one who smiled.

They had caught it.

That hadn’t been a technique. It wasn’t a flashy spell, or some grand attack.

It had been one slash—pure and clean. A lightning-coated strike so precise and powerful that it sliced through the beast like it was nothing.

He hadn’t strengthened his body, or summoned a skill. Just a single step, then a swing, and thunder.

Illiana’s voice came again, slightly delayed this time.

"...Done. You may return, Azhriel."

Even her tone held a trace of surprise. She had memorized every student’s elemental profile. Azhriel was known for his outstanding ice affinity, not thunder.

And yet, here he was. Showing mastery in something entirely different—something she hadn’t expected.

Azhriel turned away from the smoldering corpse of the bear. Not a scratch on him. His steps remained calm as ever, like it had been nothing more than an exercise.

The others watched as he passed, silent.

"Wow, dude, that was really cool." Kevin whistled, still half-grinning as Azhriel rejoined the group.

Azhriel simply raised an eyebrow, his usual calm expression unchanged.

"Look at you, showing off like that," Chloe added, arms crossed but a slight smile playing at her lips.

"Am I, now?" Azhriel asked, his tone light.

"Yeah, that was legit showoff," Raymond said, shaking his head as if still processing what he’d seen. "One step, one slash—and the thing just split like a fruit."

"I mean, come on," Kevin laughed. "Couldn’t you have at least pretended it was difficult?"

Azhriel just gave a small shrug. "It didn’t need to be."

Sydelle, still watching him from the side, narrowed her eyes faintly but said nothing.

Arianne looked thoughtful, her gaze lingering on him longer than the others.

As they talked, Azhriel’s thoughts drifted elsewhere.

’It will be soon now.’

Other students stepped forward. Arianne finished her fight easily with her blood magic, clean and precise. Samuel also won, though he added a little too much flair for something so simple.

Then Illiana called, "Raymond."

Raymond stood up, his spear resting across his back, one hand still in his pocket. Just by looking at his relaxed posture, it was clear—he wasn’t nervous at all.

The magic circle on the field glowed again, swirling with light as the next monster took form.

It looked like a strange mix of bird and beast—black wings like burning feathers, and grey skin that looked like hardened stone.

It was a Gargoyle.

"Kreee!"

The creature let out a loud screech, wings spreading wide as it stepped forward. Its presence alone sent a small shiver through the students.

This one was stronger than the others—[Adept+] ranked. The strongest monster summoned today.

But Raymond’s face didn’t change. He looked at it like it was nothing. Like the outcome was already set.

"Start."

At Illiana’s signal, the monster launched itself into the sky, flapping its wings with a loud gust. Its claws were sharp, ready to tear him apart.

Raymond didn’t flinch. Slowly, he pulled one hand out of his pocket.

Above it, a small orb of light formed—golden and glowing with heat, like a tiny sun floating over his palm.

This was his element. The Sun.

The orb burned brighter with every passing second, its warmth filling the air. But Raymond didn’t rush.

He stood there calmly, waiting.

Then, just as the Gargoyle lunged down toward him, claws stretched out—

He flicked his wrist.

The golden orb shot forward like a bullet, aimed straight at the monster.

The orb collided with the Gargoyle’s face in a blinding burst of heat and brilliance.

Boom!

A sharp sound rang as the explosion threw waves of scorching light across the arena.

The screech of the Gargoyle turned into a pained roar, its wings catching fire as the radiant energy consumed the air around it.

The spectators flinched from the intensity, some shielding their eyes from the flash.

The Gargoyle plummeted mid-air, crashing into the ground with a heavy thud. It tried to get up, its steel-like skin scorched and cracking, but it was clear—it had taken heavy damage.

Raymond, still with a hand in his pocket, calmly walked forward.

"Let’s finish this."

Another orb formed above his hand, this time smaller but more condensed. It shimmered golden-red, the surrounding air distorting from the heat.

The Gargoyle raised its claw and charged again in one final desperate attempt—but it was too slow.

Raymond flicked the orb at its chest.

Boom!

This time, the sound was deafening. The second orb pierced through the Gargoyle like a bullet, a stream of blinding solar energy bursting through its back.

The monster collapsed, smoke rising from its chest. Silent. Defeated.

Cheers and gasps echoed through the field.

"That’s done," Raymond said, turning around, brushing his coat as if he’d only swatted a fly.

It was flashy. Confident. Absolute.

And above all—it was victory.

"And then you guys say I’m the one showing off," Azhriel muttered, arms crossed as he looked at Raymond.

The others didn’t reply. They just gave him a blank look.

In their heads, one shared thought echoed.

’You both are show-offs.’

Before anything else could be said, Illiana’s voice came through the speakers again.

"Well done, Raymo—"

Her voice glitched, the last part cutting off suddenly.

Three pillars of light rose in the sky.

Then, the sky changed.

High above, a crimson veil spread across the vast sky. The light dimmed. The soft blue of the sky turned blood red.

It wasn’t just a change in color—it felt wrong. The air grew heavy, thick with something unnatural.

A sharp buzzing followed, and the magic drone floating in the sky sputtered and fell, crashing onto the ground in pieces.

The students looked around in confusion.

Then—

Howl.

Screeech.

One after another, roars, growls, and screams echoed from all sides. Not just one or two—but dozens.

The noise filled the air like a wave, sending chills down everyone’s spine.

From the shadows of the nearby forest, glowing eyes began to appear—tens of them. Then more. Yellow, red, blue—all staring straight at the students.

A low rumble passed through the ground.

"W-what’s... what’s happening?" one student asked in a shaky voice.

"H-how am I supposed to know?!" the one beside him snapped, equally terrified.

Raymond’s eyes narrowed as he gripped his spear tighter. Samuel stepped forward, placing himself between the weaker students and the trees.

Everyone was tense now.

Weapons drawn. Eyes scanning.

Fear crawling into their hearts.

But the one who stood the stillest—frozen more by shock than fear—was Azhriel.

His expression was unreadable. His breath caught in his throat.

Because he recognized this.

This wasn’t supposed to happen.

Not now.

’What the fuck is happening...?’ he thought, his heart pounding.