(Elaine Vaelthorne's POV)
A sonic boom shattered the ground beneath him as Dain launched himself forward.
Too fast—!
I barely had time to react before his flaming fist filled my vision.
Instinct took over.
I twisted my body, my combat boots scraping against the scorched earth as I dodged by a hair's breadth.
But the shockwave of his attack still slammed into me, sending me tumbling backward.
"Elaine!" Evelyn's voice rang out, but I was already regaining my footing.
Dain didn't stop.
He pivoted instantly—switching targets—
Straight for Morganna.
Morganna's rapier flickered, leaving afterimages as she sidestepped his charge—her movement unnatural, almost as if she'd warped through the shadows.
A raven-black aura crackled around her as she reappeared behind him, her blade thrusting straight for his exposed back.
A clean strike—!
But—
Dain whipped around, his tail striking out like a warhammer.
CRACK!
The sheer force shattered the ground, sending Morganna flying.
She twisted mid-air, landing gracefully—but just barely.
Her rapier trembled in her grip, her arm numb from the impact.
Dain grinned.
"Good. You're fast," he admitted, rolling his shoulders. "But let's see how you handle this—"
He raised his hands.
Flames erupted from his body, forming a swirling firestorm around him.
And then—
He inhaled.
"Brace yourselves!" Evelyn shouted.
Dain's chest expanded, his throat glowing white-hot—
A dragon's breath attack.
He was about to unleash a direct inferno.
I clenched my fists. There was no way we could dodge all of it—
But Evelyn had already moved.
Boom!
She slammed her sword into the ground, her golden aura flaring to life.
"Aegis Bastion—Divine Warden's Wall!"
A radiant shield of light expanded outward, coating us in golden protection just as—
Dain unleashed his flames.
A roaring inferno surged toward us—
Blinding. White-hot. Absolute destruction.
The shockwave alone shattered the ground, sending waves of molten rock flying in all directions.
And Evelyn's shield—
It held.
But cracks splintered across its surface as the firestorm raged on.
Sweat trickled down Evelyn's brow as she gritted her teeth, her mana draining rapidly to maintain the barrier.
"Damn it…" she whispered.
We needed to counterattack.
Now.
I rushed forward, channeling my mana—
"Lunar Bloom—Silver Fang Waltz!"
Moonlight wrapped around my blades, turning them into crescent arcs of silver light.
I dashed through the battlefield—weaving between molten craters—
And lunged.
My swords sang through the air, carving a twin-spiral slash aimed right at Dain's flank—
He turned.
And for the first time—
His expression shifted.
My twin swords burned with lunar energy as I dashed forward.
Dain Drakonis' golden eyes widened slightly—a flicker of surprise.
But only for a moment.
Then—he moved.
His scaled arm whipped up, catching my right sword mid-swing.
CLANG!
A shockwave rippled through the battlefield, sending cracks splintering across the stone beneath us.
The force of our clash sent mana winds spiraling outward, blowing dust and embers in all directions.
Dain grinned, his draconic aura flaring.
"I was wondering when you'd stop holding back."
I twisted my left blade, angling for his exposed ribs.
But Dain was just as fast—he twisted his body, using his tail to knock my strike off course.
I leaped back just in time to avoid his counter, a flaming clawed strike that nearly ripped through my combat suit.
Tsk. Close.
Behind me, Evelyn and Morganna were already engaging Dain from different angles.
Evelyn's golden sword clashed against his fiery fists, while Morganna flickered in and out of the shadows, striking at his blind spots.
And yet—Dain was keeping up with all of us.
Not just keeping up—pushing us.
Every time we landed a hit, his draconic scales hardened.
Every time we forced him to defend, his aura flared stronger.
He was a fighter who grew stronger the longer he fought.
And that meant—we had to end this quickly.
I focused my mana, summoning vines from the ground to bind his legs.
Dain responded by unleashing a fiery explosion, burning away my nature magic before it could fully restrain him.
He pivoted, dodging a shadow-laced rapier thrust from Morganna before swinging a burning kick at Evelyn.
Evelyn blocked with her shield, but the impact still sent her skidding backward.
I clenched my teeth.
We were evenly matched.
For every attack we threw, he countered.
For every strategy we employed, he adapted.
The battle was escalating—
And then—
---
Ding!
[Attention Examinees!]
A sudden system notification cut through the battle.
Dain froze mid-motion.
Evelyn, Morganna, and I also halted, our gazes snapping toward the glowing message hovering in the air.
[The Dungeon Boss has been located!]
[A total of seven dungeon doors have opened throughout the battlefield. Each door may lead to the boss room.]
[The first examinee to slay the boss will receive a massive point bonus.]
[Doors will close in five minutes.]
Silence fell.
And then—
The battlefield erupted into motion.
***"
All across the ruins, examinees who had been locked in combat immediately disengaged.
The chance to earn points and secure a spot in the academy was far too valuable to ignore.
Even Dain's fiery aura dimmed slightly as he grinned at us.
"Well," he exhaled, flexing his fingers. "Looks like we have a decision to make."
My heart pounded.
The fight was unfinished.
But the exam wasn't just about personal pride—it was about winning.
If we hesitated, someone else would claim the boss kill before us.
Evelyn tightened her grip on her sword.
"We go for it," she said firmly.
Morganna smirked. "Obviously."
Dain cracked his knuckles, stepping forward.
"Then let's see which of us gets there first or wanna team up"
TO BE CONTINUE