The Smiling Death

He tried to regain his balance. But Seraphina was already above him, descending from the air like a golden comet.

"Kh—!!"

Amon rolled aside.

BOOM!!

Her sword hit the ground, splitting the soil like it was paper. Dirt shot upward.

Amon jumped back, panting lightly. "Sera!... Damn, you are still so strong!"

Seraphina lifted her head, sweat running down her cheek. "I told you… I won't hold back… Even if I am tired."

She flashed forward again.

Amon crossed his weapons instinctively.

CLANG!!

The force shook his arms. His knees bent almost to the ground. Her raw strength overwhelmed him instantly.

"Ghh…!! You call this tired!?"

Seraphina didn't answer. She twisted her blade, forcing him away.

Amon used the momentum to leap back.

His shadow rippled.

He flicked his wrist.

[Shadow Clutch]

Dark tendrils burst from the ground, wrapping around Seraphina's legs.

She paused. "Oh? Nice–"

Amon didn't let her finish.

He threw his hatchet.

The dark line shot at Seraphina.

FWISH!!

The spinning black blade tore through the air, covered in shadowy mist.

Seraphina tilted her head slightly.

The hatchet passed beside her face,

THUD!

And lodged into a tree behind her.

Amon clicked his tongue. "You're still dodging like that?"

Amon was questioning now. Was it the right decision to fight her? 'Damn, I thought it would be easy to defeat her since she was tired! But I fucked up.'

Seraphina stepped forward.

The dark tendrils shattered like fragile glass. His poor spell.

Amon dashed in, sword raised.

He swung with all strength.

CLANG!!

Seraphina parried, her blade drawing a neat arc.

Amon could barely keep up with her movements.

He slashed again, using his footwork to increase his speed.

Seraphina slid back, deflecting every blow with effortless precision.

CLING! CLANG! CLING!

Her sword danced lightly, but each movement had power that shook Amon's arms.

'Damn it! She's tired but her technique alone is enough to crush me!!'

Amon jumped back, gasping for air. Seraphina wasn't chasing him.

She stood in her stance. Shoulders slightly trembling, chest rising and falling faster.

"Amon…" she spoke softly. "You really have improved a lot in just a few months."

"Save that until I land one good hit!" Amon shouted, sprinting again.

His shadow swirled beneath him,

He blasted forward with all remaining energy.

Seraphina lowered her blade.

Amon slashed down.

CLANG!!

Seraphina blocked.

But this time, Amon's hatchet flew from behind her, controlled by shadow.

She narrowed her eyes, twisting her body.

The hatchet grazed her cheek. A small cut formed.

Amon's eyes widened. "YES!! I—"

Seraphina kicked him in the stomach before he could finish.

"GAHHH!!"

Amon was sent flying, rolling across the ground.

He coughed, holding his stomach. "O-Okay… that hurt more than expected…"

Seraphina wiped the tiny droplet of blood from her cheek.

She smiled faintly. "Congratulations… you're the first to land a hit on me during this exam."

Amon groaned. "And I'm also the first one to regret it."

But even so…

He stood up again.

Shakily, but resolutely.

Seraphina's expression softened for a moment.

But then,

She raised her sword again.

"We still have one minute left."

Amon's legs trembled. His arms were numb.

But he raised his weapons anyway.

"Let's go, Seraphina…"

His voice cracked, but the smile on his face didn't.

"I'm not done yet."

Amon dashed at her.

[Gloom Orb]

With his left hand forward, he conjured a spell.

The black smoky sphere shot toward her.

Seraphina also kicked off the ground and rushed at incoming Amon. Her sword slashed through the attack.

It burst, and smoke spread around her form. She felt dizzy… but only for a second. She came out of the smoke.

There Amon was standing in his sword stance.

Sword held by both hands. Blade back at his right side. Knees bent.

His blade was covered with shadow. Dark smoky tendrils leaving the dark blade's surface.

[Umbral Veil Sword Art: First Form – Crescent of Dusk]

His sword moved in a clean horizontal slash.

The dark crescent slash moved toward her, tearing the air with a sweet sound.

Seraphina became alert.

Her sword's blade started to gleam in bright golden color. Her left foot dug in the soil with great force. Right leg behind.

Her sword moved.

A golden line attacked the incoming dark arc.

BOOM!

An explosion occurred.

The smoke spread.

Amon didn't wait. He knew this was not enough to defeat her. He instantly lifted the hatchet from the ground. He ran forward as she lunged from the smoke at him.

Amon's shadow moved again. With lightning speed it covered his hatchet's blade.

Clang!

"AHH!" Amon clenched his teeth. His muscles straining. An ache shot through his whole body.

His dark eyes met the golden pair.

Calm, confident.

Amon raised his left hand above, then brought it down with blinding speed.

Seraphina pushed his sword's blade, but the momentum didn't change much.

The hatchet was still coming at her face.

But her speed was by no means slow.

Clang!

Her blade met his hatchet.

'Gotcha!' Amon smirked.

The shadow on his hatchet rippled. It moved from his hatchet to Seraphina's sword.

Her eyes widened. It was sudden, too unexpected.

The dark cold liquid-smoky kind of thing moved from her hand to her face instantly.

She stepped back from Amon. Left hand trying to catch the shadow.

But her face was already covered with shadow.

Amon moved. He didn't wait. His sword was ready to strike at her form. To eliminate her.

Slash!

Amon's eyes widened.

Even with her face hidden, Seraphina was able to sense his attack. The moment Amon's sword came in a horizontal slash, she jumped back.

Still, blood spilled.

A cut formed on her stomach. It wasn't deep. It was small. Not big enough to injure her gravely. Or eliminate her.

But seeing her condition, Amon knew.

'Just one strike… just one and she will get eliminated.'

But using shadow, controlling it for long had also taken a lot of toll on his brain.

'Fuck! I need to be fast.'

He strode forward.

The shadow covering her trembled. It loosened. It broke from her face.

'Shit, I can't control it much,' Amon cursed.

From the breaking shadow, her one golden eye looked at him.