Class B and Class D were moving just outside the forest.
"Damn it… my head is messed up," one of them said in frustration. "Our entire plan got ruined. I don't even know which class that was."
Linksan calmly replied,
"It doesn't matter which class it was. What's done is done."
"Yeah… you're right," Tua agreed.
Suddenly, Linksan narrowed his eyes.
"…I can feel something ahead. Looks like another class."
"Hm…"
"They're together… Class B and Class D…"
"…No. That's Class C."
Linksan analyzed the situation.
"That means the team that lost earlier were the remaining members of Class D. Their defeat was obvious. They never had the courage to face Horobi's team."
Tua frowned.
"What do you mean? Horobi defeated Class D?"
"…Yeah."
Linksan continued calmly,
"It's not a big deal. But the real question is… what are the remaining Class D members doing with you?"
Tua stepped forward.
"I have an offer for you."
"An offer?" one of the Class C students asked.
"You can never defeat Horobi or his team. Even we might not be able to. So… join us."
He continued,
"In return, we'll give you third place. Just help us defeat Class A."
A student hesitated.
"But wouldn't that be cheating? What if there are problems later?"
"No," Linksan replied. "External weapons and boosting potions are banned. This is just an alliance. It will only benefit you."
He added coldly,
"Think carefully. If you refuse, you'll be eliminated here. And finishing third is much better than coming last."
"Never!!" a Class C student shouted. "We will never do something like that!"
Another student argued back,
"Are you crazy? He's right! We should join them. It will benefit us."
"They could betray us! We can't trust them. We will win with our own strength."
"I'm going with them. You can do whatever you want."
Some students joined Tua… while others refused.
Tua clicked his tongue.
I could eliminate the ones who refused right now… but then even those who joined me might leave… and I don't want that.
"Cheh…"
Linksan looked at him.
"What happened? We still have enough people."
"…Yeah. It's enough."
"Let's make a plan first. Then we find Horobi before he finds us."
"Alright."
Outside the Forest – Near the River
Horobi and his team were preparing.
"Danzo, did your shadows find anything yet?"
"No. Nothing so far. Looks like everyone is hiding inside the forest."
"What about Abyss?"
"No information yet. I've told him to keep an eye on the forest edge. You keep watching as well."
Horobi nodded.
"Everyone stay alert. Understood?"
"Oh dear, Horobi… you're worrying for no reason," Liora said. "No one can defeat us."
"Yeah," Mio added.
Horobi sighed lightly.
"I'm not saying we'll lose… but we should still be prepared."
"Alright."
After some time—
"Listen, I found Class B!" Danzo shouted. "And… Class C and Class D are with them!"
"What?!" Mio reacted.
"Is Class B fighting both of them?" she asked.
"No… it doesn't look like that. It seems like they're working together."
Horobi's expression turned serious.
"As I expected… this is a big problem. We'll have to face three classes at once."
"Tch… so they're too scared to come alone?" Loki said.
"So what do we do, Horobi?"
Horobi thought for a moment.
"…We should set traps along the path."
Mio smiled.
"See? I told you I'm smart!"
"Yes… Mio, you're right," Horobi said.
"Haha!"
"Alright, that's enough," Liora interrupted.
"Hey!"
"Let's set the traps. But make sure they don't notice anything."
"Got it."
The traps were carefully set.
---
Battle Begins
The air near the forest turned strange.
Everything was silent… but it wasn't a natural silence.
Horobi stood still, his eyes sharp.
"Take your positions. And remember… no one will act recklessly."
"Roger that," Danzo said and disappeared behind a tree.
Mio climbed onto a branch, focusing ahead.
Liora and Loki stood near the hidden traps.
Meanwhile…
Linksan, Tua, and their combined team moved carefully through the forest.
"Stay alert," Linksan said. "They must be nearby."
"Huh… I just want to see Horobi," Tua smirked.
Suddenly, a student stopped.
"Wait… something feels strange."
"Are you scared?" another laughed.
"Shut up! I'm serious—"
CLICK!
He stepped forward—
BOOM!!
An explosion erupted beneath them.
"Aaaahhh!!"
Several students were thrown into the air.
"TRAP!!" Linksan shouted.
---
Horobi's Side
Horobi smiled faintly.
"It's started…"
"Yes!! First hit!" Mio said excitedly.
"Nice," Liora added.
------
Chaos
"Everyone fall back!" Linksan ordered.
"Watch your steps!"
But it was too late.
CLICK! CLICK! CLICK!
Traps activated one after another—
Ropes lifted students into the air.
Illusions confused them.
The ground turned unstable.
"Cheh!! Cowards!" Tua shouted.
A voice echoed—
"Cowards…?"
Everyone looked up.
Horobi stood on a tree branch.
"You came with three classes… and you call us cowards?"
"Horobi…" Tua muttered.
Horobi jumped down.
"You formed an alliance… I expected that."
Linksan stepped forward.
"And you set traps. Smart."
Horobi smirked.
"This game isn't just about power… it's about strategy too."
Tua stepped forward.
"Then let's fight directly."
Horobi looked at him.
"As you wish."
Tua dashed forward.
CLASH!!
Horobi blocked easily.
"You're not that fast," Horobi said calmly.
Tua muttered,
"This guy… he's faster than before…"
Linksan stepped in.
"Stop playing around."
"I'm coming," Linksan replied.
He kicked Horobi back.
"Not bad," Horobi said.
Linksan created a lightning sword and handed it to Tua.
"This isn't external. It's made from my power."
Tua laughed.
"Not bad at all."
Both attacked together.
Horobi blocked… but Tua landed a hit.
"Ahh… you two make a good duo," Horobi said.
"But…"
A magic circle appeared.
"Let's make this fair."
"Come… Abyss."
A dragon appeared.
Fear spread instantly.
Mio attacked without mercy, using dark spheres and absorbing mana.
Liora spread poison, weakening everyone.
Mare struggled but held his ground until Jimmi and Danzo arrived.
"Relax," Jimmi said. "You're not losing."
They quickly overwhelmed their enemies.
After that—
Mare looked at Mio and Liora with a teasing grin.
"Hey… Mio, Liora… tell me something."
Both of them looked at him.
"…Are you two Horobi's girlfriends?"
For a moment, everything went silent.
Mio and Liora slowly turned their heads toward Mare… their expressions cold.
Mio spoke first.
"And if we are… Do you have a problem with that?"
Liora crossed her arms.
"Yeah. Or are you jealous?"
Mare panicked and waved his hands.
"Wait, wait! That's not what I meant!"
He quickly tried to explain.
"I'm saying… why don't you two go help Horobi fight? If you defeat Tua and Linksan…"
He smirked again.
"…just imagine how much Horobi would praise you."
Mio blinked.
"…Praise?"
And just like that—
She drifted into her own world.
In her imagination…
The battlefield was quiet.
Tua and Linksan were already defeated.
Horobi slowly walked toward her.
"Mio… that was amazing."
His voice was soft… impressed.
"You defeated both of them… all by yourself."
Mio's face turned slightly red.
"R-Really…?"
Horobi smiled gently.
"I'm really impressed."
He stepped closer…
Closer…
Mio's heart started racing.
"Horobi…"
He leaned in slowly—
Their faces inches apart—
Mio closed her eyes…
This is it…!
SMACK!!
"Wake up!"
Mio's head snapped to the side as Liora slapped her lightly.
"Stop daydreaming."
"H-Huh?!"
Mio blinked rapidly, her face completely red.
"W-What are you doing?!"
Liora looked at her with a deadpan expression.
"You were smiling like an idiot."
Mio immediately covered her face.
Mio and Liora stepped forward.
"We'll fight them."
"What?" Horobi frowned.
"Just go and sit."
"…Fine. Call me if needed."
Final Clash
Mio attacked Tua.
Liora fought Linksan.
The battle was intense.
Then suddenly—
Tua pierced Mio from behind.
"Ahhh!!"
Horobi froze.
"MIO!!"
Dark energy started rising from her body.
But she collapsed.
Tua laughed.
"That's it?"
He kicked her.
Horobi appeared instantly.
PUNCH!!
Tua was sent flying.
"You've crossed the line…"
Horobi attacked without stopping.
Linksan tried to escape but Liora defeated him.
Tua tried to fight—
Horobi broke his weapon… and crushed him.
Flames engulfed Tua.
He ran towards mio.
Horobi tightly held Mio in his arms, his expression filled with urgency.
"We don't have time…"
He looked at the others.
"I'm leaving. You guys handle the rest."
Danzo immediately stepped forward.
"You can't leave yet. We haven't completed the test."
"I don't care about the test!" Horobi snapped. "Mio needs treatment right now."
Liora stepped closer.
"I'm coming with you."
"No," Horobi said firmly. "You stay here and help them. There's no time left. If we don't eliminate Class C, they might win because of numbers."
Liora hesitated.
"…Fine."
Horobi adjusted his grip on Mio and turned around—
"I'm going."
Just as he was about to leave—
"Wait!!"
A loud voice echoed from behind.
Everyone turned.
The remaining students of Class C slowly stepped forward, their hands raised.
"…We surrender."
Horobi stopped.
One of them spoke again,
"There's no point in fighting anymore. We can't defeat you."
Another added,
"Even if we continue… the result will be the same."
The leader took a deep breath.
"We officially surrender."
For a moment, silence filled the battlefield.
Then—
A familiar presence appeared.
Raii stepped forward calmly.
"…Then the result is decided."
He looked around.
"The winner… is Class A."
Aftermath
Horobi carried Mio.
Raii tells Horobi to put Mio down.
"Heal."
She recovered.
"…Thank you, sir."
After the match ended, the atmosphere finally calmed down.
Some time later…
Mio slowly opened her eyes inside the rest room.
"…Where am I?"
"I'm right here."
She turned her head and saw Horobi standing beside her.
"Master… you're here…"
Horobi frowned slightly.
"I told you not to call me that. My name is Horobi."
"…Sorry."
Mio lowered her gaze slightly.
The next moment—
Horobi gently pulled her into a hug.
"I love you… Mio… Liora."
For a second, Mio froze.
Then slowly… she held onto him as well.
From behind, Liora stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Horobi.
"I love you too… Horobi."
The room fell silent.
But this time… it wasn't the tense silence of battle.
It was warm.