The Smiling Death

"Hehehehe," he laughed as he dashed forward with all his might.

The Goremaw's upper body came to collapse on Marcus. A sudden pain shot through his wounded leg. He clenched his teeth. It was not like he would die if the monster collapsed on him. But he would get eliminated.

He wouldn't be able to win this exam. Top this exam. He couldn't give up here. His eyes filled with resolve. The grip on his spear tightened.

He endured the pain in his knee and lunged to the side with all his might.

But his knee betrayed him. His jump was not able to cover much distance. The massive body of the monster was just inches above him.

He just had to cross a few steps of distance, yet his jump was not enough. His purple eyes widened.

But before the monster's body touched him, something collided against his back.

"What—" He was surprised.

Something faster collided against Marcus's back as he flew forward.

THUDDD!

The colossal body fell on the ground with a loud thud. Smoke spread in the surroundings.

The ground shattered. Debris flew in different directions. The impact was huge. Everyone covered their sight to avoid dust going into their eyes.

Slowly the smoke and dust started to subside in the air. All the group students were now looking at where Marcus was.

"Cough-cough!" From the smoke, Marcus rose. He was near the dead body of the Goremaw. Just beside him was Amon, covering his nose.

All of them sighed in unison. The monster was dead, so they could finally breathe and relax.

The battle was over. Arnold leaned his back against a nearby tree, sitting there while looking at the scene.

Eliana sat on the branch of a tree, sweat flowing down her forehead.

Seraphina was still standing, her breathing heavy. Still, her grip on her sword didn't loosen. She was still holding it tightly.

Aisha just stood at her position, folding her hands beneath her chest while her eyes were on Marcus and Amon.

She remembered the time when Amon had helped her from falling down in the dungeon. Again today he helped Marcus. Her image of Amon in her mind became even better.

Amon, who was standing beside Marcus, gazed at his wrist bracelet.

'The time… only eleven minutes are remaining,' Amon thought as his eyes fell on Marcus.

Sensing his gaze, Marcus turned his face toward Amon. "…Thanks," he expressed his gratitude to Amon in a sour expression.

But Amon had other plans. Just as he was about to move, his wrist bracelet suddenly flashed red. Everyone else's did too.

A translucent screen popped up in front of him with a new message.

"Warning: The barrier is shrinking rapidly. Only a 50-meter safe zone will remain."

Amon blinked. 'Only fifty meters?'

He looked around. 'Good… we're already in the center. We should be safe.'

Everyone read the message.

Amon could see the transparent blue dome-shaped barrier shrinking.

'Well no problem anymore.'

Amon summoned his sword back into his hand, the one he had put in the storage ring when he was trying to save Marcus.

He moved a little behind Marcus. His sword raised high. Then he brought the blade down in a diagonal slash.

'Marcus, I just saved you, now it's your time to pay back… hehehe… through your points.' Amon smiled widely.

The silver blade came down in a clean diagonal slash.

Marcus, who had just gotten out of a dangerous situation, then the message that distracted him. He didn't notice that Amon had moved behind his back, that he had pulled out his sword. Let alone Marcus, no one noticed it.

Splash!

"AAARRRRGH!"

Blood splattered in the air with the shrill, painful scream of the young man. A deep diagonal slash formed on Marcus's back. It was a very deep cut. Marcus's back arched, his eyes wide. He fell forward.

Thud!

Arnold, Seraphina, Eliana, and Aisha were not able to understand what had just happened. They were just checking the message when they heard a scream. It was a familiar voice.

When they looked up, it was none other than the scene of Amon slashing Marcus from behind.

Just some moments ago, Amon saved Marcus from getting crushed under the huge body of the monster.

Now he sneak-attacked him.

Meanwhile, Marcus, who fell on his front side, slowly groaned and turned. Now he lay on the ground, on his back.

Blood streamed rapidly from his cut. His bloodshot eyes glared at Amon.

Amon also met his gaze with a wide smile.

But then Marcus's lips curled up. He grinned widely.

"Not bad, Commoner… but next time I won't let you defeat me!"

His body started to shimmer as he vanished from the spot. He was teleported outside. Marcus was eliminated.

Then slowly Amon's smile disappeared. He looked up. His eyes met with Arnold.

Arnold's dark blue eyes observed the scene. His lips moved silently… but Amon could guess what he muttered.

Sneaky bastard.

Of course, for Amon, it was like a compliment.

The others remained frozen in their spots, stunned by what had just happened.

Amon calmly flicked the blood off his sword, as if what he did was the most normal thing in the world. The silver blade shimmered before he stored it back into his ring.

Seraphina's eyes were calm. But there was still a hint of small surprise there. "He… really attacked him."

Eliana blinked twice, still trying to process it. "But he saved Marcus just a moment ago…"

Aisha's eyebrows twitched. "This guy… just when I thought he's not that bad by saving Marcus." She shook her head.

Arnold pushed himself off the tree trunk, his expression mixed between disbelief and amusement. "He saved him just to eliminate him right after? Good choice. You actually know how to use your brain."

Amon stretched his arms casually, ignoring all the shocked stares.

"Well," he said lightly, "points are points."

Silence.

Arnold smirked. He knew. Points were points. If he needed to be top… he needed to eliminate more students. Amon had just eliminated Marcus. Defeating Amon would be easy… and he would get lots of points.

Then his gaze turned to Seraphina.

But there was a bigger fish who might try to eliminate Amon… or maybe him.

And Arnold actually wanted to fight her.

So he decided. Arnold kicked off the ground. He dashed. His target was Seraphina.