The Smiling Death

Sword clashed against sword. Steel met steel. Sparks flew in the air. The metallic sound spread in the surroundings.

Seraphina had reacted immediately the moment Arnold attacked her.

Her eyes narrowed. Cold. Her gaze met Arnold's ice-cold blue eyes.

They pushed each other, then brought their swords to attack again.

Cling! Cling!

"Hah… you still have stamina after one hell of a battle… you monster," Arnold grinned worriedly as he fought against Seraphina.

His sword started to gleam in starlight.

"Look who's saying it. You are not any less than a monster, Arnold," Seraphina replied while taking his attack.

They fought. Her sword's blade started to shine in golden light.

Cling! Cling!

Multiple silver and golden trajectories appeared in the center of the forest, clashing against each other.

Their movements were perfect, precise, calculated.

Just a little distance away from them, Aisha was observing their fight. She was wondering whether she should join the battle or not.

Just then, a blue mana arrow shot at her.

Aisha, sensing it, lunged back, avoiding the arrow barely.

Eliana landed on the ground. She pulled the bowstring; the arrow shot again.

Aisha grinned widely. "Hah. So the elf is finally showing some courage."

She dashed forward with her greatsword.

Her sword raised and came down, shattering the ground where Eliana had been standing moments before.

Even Eliana and Aisha started to fight.

The last battle had begun. Less than ten minutes remained for the exam to end. Yet here they were, all fighting.

Amon, who initiated it, slowly moved away from them.

He hid behind one peculiar huge tree.

'Fuck! They're going at it!' His heartbeat was faster.

He couldn't believe that a fight would break out like that after eliminating Marcus.

'Let's observe it.' Amon peeked from the tree.

He first observed Seraphina and Arnold.

Sparks burst outward, lighting the air like tiny shooting stars. Arnold's breathing grew heavy, sweat rolling down his cheek. Seraphina, though tired, still moved with that sharp, unyielding precision she was known for.

A few meters away, Aisha dodged another mana arrow, flipping backward. Eliana nocked another arrow instantly, landing lightly, her emerald eyes locked onto her target.

But their fight became nothing more than background noise compared to the duel in the center.

Arnold roared and stepped forward, pouring mana into his sword. The blade blazed with star-white light.

[Starlight Arc]

He slashed upward, a bright wave tearing through the ground toward Seraphina.

Seraphina planted her foot, golden light surging through her blade.

[Dawn Sever]

Her sword cut downward, meeting the starlight slash head-on.

BOOOOOM!

A burst of blinding gold and silver exploded between them. Leaves whipped away, trees trembled, the ground cracked.

Arnold staggered two steps back, coughing. Seraphina slid only one. Her eyes fixed on him.

"Tch… still this strong," Arnold muttered.

His blue eyes shone in silver color. Tiny star particles appeared around Seraphina.

He was using his ability. But Seraphina had seen it before.

Seraphina exhaled softly. "I guess… I should also use my ability."

Her body started to emit blinding golden light. It was so pure and bright that Arnold covered his eyes. His focus shattered. His ability didn't manifest completely because of it.

"Shit!" Arnold cursed.

SHIIING!

She moved.

So fast that he didn't even know it.

Golden light traced her path like a comet.

Arnold instinctively reacted, raising his sword, eyes closed, but Seraphina was already inside his guard. Her blade pressed against his neck, stopping a hair's breadth away.

He froze.

"…Fast," Arnold whispered, still eyes closed.

Seraphina's whole body was radiant. Golden. Divine. She flicked her blade sideways. A cut formed on Arnold's chest.

She decided to attack his chest. Her movements were too fast. Arnold didn't even know when she slashed.

Arnold's body glowed with a faint blue shimmer as the elimination spell activated.

Seraphina's body stopped glowing.

He looked at her, his eyes now open. Despite losing, he laughed breathlessly. "Heh… you got me. Guess I'm out."

Seraphina lowered her sword. "You fought well."

Shimmer,

Arnold vanished from sight.

A gust of wind filled the gap where he once stood.

Seraphina stood alone in the clearing, golden light fading from her blade as she exhaled, steady and calm. Her eyes hardened again as she slowly turned toward the remaining battles.

There, Eliana and Aisha were still fighting. But the fight was nearly over. Eliana was too wounded. Just a few more attacks and she would be eliminated.

Seraphina was tired. Her ability had taken a toll on her body.

But she didn't stop. Her grip on the sword's hilt never loosened.

Their fight had grown desperate.

SHWIP!

Another mana arrow flew. Shaky, unstable.

Eliana's hands trembled as she drew the string. Her arms were quivering. Her face pale. Blood seeped from a cut on her side.

A huge spear of wind appeared above her head as it shot toward Aisha.

Aisha didn't back away; her greatsword slashed the spear, destroying the spell.

"Haa… haa…" Eliana panted, barely able to stand.

Aisha, in contrast, still moved with brutal energy. Sweat dripped down her cheek, but her steps were steady. Her beast-like instincts pushed her forward, relentless.

"Not bad, little elf," Aisha said with a grin. "But you're at your limit."

Eliana bit her lip and fired again.

Shiwp!

Aisha tilted her head; the arrow grazed her cheek and vanished into the trees behind her.

"Hah. Still trying?" Aisha cracked her neck. "Fine. Let me end this."

She gripped her greatsword with both hands.

Eliana flinched. Her vision blurring. She couldn't even focus her mana anymore.

Aisha dashed.

A blur of speed and muscle.

Eliana raised her bow weakly,

Aisha leaped.

Her sword swung in a wide arc, the impact shaking the ground.

BOOOOM!

The strike shattered the earth where Eliana stood.

Dust and broken roots shot upward like a small explosion.

Seraphina's eyes sharpened.

There was no scream.

Just a faint shimmer of blue light.

When the dust settled… Eliana was already gone.

Eliminated.

Aisha stood there.

The red eyes met Seraphina's.

Aisha may look okay, but in truth she was also too tired. Eliana was no easy opponent. She was agile, using her wind magic to move from one tree to another so easily.

Seraphina didn't wait. She shot forward at Aisha.

While Aisha got ready for the attack.

There was a grin on her face.

Meanwhile, from one corner. Behind the tree, Amon watched the fight.

'Fuck, why are these ten minutes not ending? Why the heck is time moving so slow?' He was just waiting for the exam time to end.