[Ariel PoV]
Raul was sleeping while leaning against a large boulder. It seemed to be night now; it's very difficult to tell the time in a closed-off place like this. I looked at his sleeping face. He looked like an innocent, decent man when he was quiet and not acting up like this.
I suppose he is exhausted after being hunted by three Clans incessantly for the last three days. I don't know why he's doing this. Wouldn't it be better to go through this exam smoothly without making enemies of everyone competing?
I don't know—lately, so many of Raul's actions are completely beyond my understanding. I think the current Raul seems different from usual. When he was wounded and closed his eyes back then, for some reason, I felt as if he were carrying a heavy burden. And somehow, my body moved on its own to touch his cheek and heal his wound.
Considering what he has done recently, I shouldn't have helped him. However, seeing his expression at that moment, a desire to help him arose for some reason. I don't know; I don't understand it.
Not long after, he also suddenly cried after asking about Brian. This was quite strange—the Raul I knew never showed his weakness to me at all. He always wanted me to see him as a "true man."
I approached Raul's sleeping form. Somehow, ever since I've been interacting with him lately, Raul feels like a stranger to me.
"What are you doing?"
Suddenly he woke up. Why is he so sensitive to movement around him? Is this normal even for a Knight?
"N-nothing," I replied, quickly returning to where I was sitting.
"How long was I asleep?" Raul asked me.
"I don't know. A fairly long time, I think."
Hearing my answer, Raul stood up and walked over to the roasted rabbit he had cooked earlier.
"Hmm... You ate it, I see," Raul remarked, noticing the rabbit.
I turned my face away at his words. Previously, I had refused to eat Raul's cooking and was reluctant to drink the water stored in the coconut shells.
"Well... I'm going out to scout for a bit," Raul said as he walked out of the area.
Is he going to fight again this time? With his arm in that condition? Why is he pushing himself like this?
***
[Raul PoV]
Currently, I am near a crevice that allows me to peek at the area below. I can see several students either sleeping or standing guard.
This mine has three levels. The first is Level One, the very bottom of the mining area. This is where the miners once worked for materials. It's laid out like a labyrinth, and it would be difficult to find the exit if you aren't familiar with the place.
Above that is Level Two, where miners temporarily stored materials and where the workers' rest area was located.
Finally, there is Level Three, not far from Level Two. This is where I am hiding with Ariel. This area isn't very large and only served as an equipment warehouse and a workspace for supervisors.
Right now, I am on Level Three, scouting the group that seems to be led by Valeria. It looks like they came from the southern tunnel. That means Geralt's group is near the northern mining area. I have to hurry there to take them out before they cross the bridge connecting this area to the northern mine. It would be very difficult for me if their groups joined up before the final battle.
When I arrived, I found no sign that Geralt's group had crossed the bridge yet. I suppose they decided to rest for the night.
I then searched for a place to hide and went back to resting while waiting for their group to arrive in this area.
***
[Geralt PoV]
After we had rested for a long time, I ordered the others to move out again. We had entered the mine via the northern tunnel, but we hadn't encountered a single trap from that bastard Noble.
After that, we slept to rest our bodies so we'd be better prepared to face that man. We took turns standing guard. Judging by the faint sunlight filtering in, it seems it is morning already. It's very hard to estimate the time in a place like this.
"Hurry! We'll keep moving to meet the other groups on the other side!" I commanded my members.
"Ouhhhh!"
"Ouhhhh!"
We began walking through the mine. It was very dark, with only a tiny bit of sunlight reaching us. However, only two people here possess Nature Mana for light magic, and they can't keep it active indefinitely.
After exploring the area for a while, I saw a wooden bridge connecting this area to another. However, I had to be careful not to walk into that rotten Noble's trap.
"Two of you! Check the condition of that bridge!" I ordered.
Two of my men approached the bridge. They checked the footing, the handrails, and even the area beneath it. However, they didn't seem to find any issues.
"Geralt! The bridge looks perfectly safe to cross!" said one of the members assigned to check it.
Feeling secure, the remaining 13 members I led began to cross the bridge, with me at the very front. However, just as I had nearly crossed to the other side, the bridge suddenly vibrated.
— Thud!
I turned around, hearing something drop onto the bridge. A black-haired man was standing right in the middle of the bridge, surrounded by my men.
"Where did he come from!?"
"He jumped from above!"
Yes... that bastard Noble—Raul de Garcia—had suddenly appeared before us.
"Attack him!" I ordered.
The members began attacking him. However, with the limited space on the bridge, our numerical advantage was ineffective. I wanted to blast him with magic, but the risk of friendly fire was too high. Yet, to defeat an enemy like this, sacrifices must be made.
I began focusing mana in my right hand. My members were struggling against the man despite their numbers.
"Fire Rain!" Seven fireballs streaked toward them.
Raul, in the middle of the fight, noticed my magic and turned. He then grabbed one of my members, using him as a shield to protect himself from my spell.
"Captain! Why are you firing a wide-area spell while we're still here!?" one of them complained.
I didn't care about their complaints. The man then leaped toward me using Axio magic. His leg was raised as high as his head, ready to strike.
— Bam!
I blocked his Axe Kick. The man spun his body quickly and kicked me right in the head.
Ughhh... my brain rattled; his kick sent me flying and rolling across the ground.
"Don't just stand there daydreaming! Attack him!" I ordered the members who were staring, stunned, after seeing me get kicked.
My eight remaining members surrounded Raul again. Now that the fight was no longer on the bridge, we could utilize our numerical advantage. The rotten Noble began dodging the relentless attacks coming at him. However, he continuously managed to evade and deliver effective counterattacks.
"Corner him! Don't give him room to run or dodge!"
I'm going to use that magic again...
My members began lunging in turns to catch him. Two of them finally managed to grab each of his legs, stopping his movement.
Great! My magic will hit him this time!
But just as I thought my plan would succeed, the black-haired man muttered something.
"Sartaxio..."
His body lifted into the air. He performed a high jump, carrying my two members seven meters into the air. They crashed back to the ground, both unconscious because they had hit the earth head-first.
His jumping magic is stronger than before... is that a second-tier Axio spell, like Accel is to Acceleration? How is it possible he can use magic that is only supposed to be usable once someone becomes an official Knight of the Empire?
My remaining six members attacked him again. After observing, I noticed the man's left arm was hanging limp; he hadn't used it to defend or attack once. What is his plan, exactly?
I didn't care. I had one goal: to avenge his dirty trick of interfering in my duel with Brian.
"Flame Panthera!"
Both of my hands were enveloped in flames. This was the first time I was using this magic, even though it wasn't perfect yet. Raul kicked one of my members' heads, then glanced over, noticing my magic. He... seemed to smile.
I dashed toward him at high speed.
— Bam!
I threw a punch, but the man managed to block it with his hand. His body was pushed back by my strike until he hit the cave wall.
"Feel my new power!"
Flame Panthera increased my speed with fire propulsion; its destructive power also increased slightly because Speed equals Power.
The man stood up; his face showed neither pleasure nor anger. What is this man thinking? This time, he ran toward me. I reactivated Flame Panthera and lunged at him.
It looked like he was going for a right-hand punch. However, I already knew his attack patterns after fighting him yesterday.
— Bam!
I raised my right hand and blocked the swift left-leg kick he launched. Yes... this man always uses feints to deceive his opponents. He smiled again, seeing that I could read his attack. I countered with a left jab toward his face, which he dodged easily.
— Bam!
Again, he launched a powerful kick. I blocked it with my arm, but the impact shoved me backward.
"Flame Pant—"
— Bam!
Damn it! He won't let me activate my magic and keeps trying to attack me with his kicks. The man lunged again to attack.
"Hey! Let me activat—"
— Bam!
Ughhh... my arms were vibrating violently from blocking his kicks. Why are his kicks so strong? I noticed the strange stance the man was using. What martial art is he actually using?
But I had no time to think. The man was about to attack again. I focused on his leg movements. It seemed this attack would be much stronger than the last.
— Bam!
Ughhh... my head rattled; the man had suddenly launched a right punch that hit my temple.
— Bam!
I blocked his right-leg kick to my head. I tried to counter with a left punch, but my strike only hit the air.
— Bam!
Gughhhh... my solar plexus... he had ducked to avoid my strike and then delivered a swift punch to my stomach.
— Bam!
He kicked my body again, sending me rolling across the ground. Damn it... why can he always counter my magic and my attacks? I tried to get up...
— Bam!
My head reeled; he had kicked me again. My vision began to blur... I was on the verge of losing consciousness.
Damn it... why...?
— Bam!
Ughhh... why am I this weak...? I want to win... I want to win against this man...
— Tap... tap... tap...
I heard the sound of footsteps. The man walked slowly toward me. Those black eyes and that flat expression were like a lion that had grown bored with its prey.
Damn it... I want to win... no matter what it takes...
The man's leg lifted; it looked like he was about to crush my head. Closing my eyes, I prepared to be eliminated from this exam.
Dammiiiit!
"Wind Blow..."
I felt a strong gust of wind heading this way. Opening my eyes slowly and looking to the side, I saw Valeria appearing with her members.
"Follow that pervert slowly, but try to keep your distance!" Valeria commanded her members.
It seemed the man had fled once reinforcements arrived.
"Are you all right, Geralt?" Valeria asked as she walked over to me.
Hearing her words, I remained silent, clenching my fists and biting my lip.
I lost...
Damn it...
This is truly frustrating...