Elara stood still for a moment, absorbing Captain Eryndor’s words. Her gaze flicked between Cedric, whose expression was as tense as she’d expected, and Lucavion, whose smirk carried its usual air of infuriating confidence. The murmurs from the other adventurers filled the air, but Elara barely registered them. Her thoughts churned, a mix of concern and excitement bubbling beneath the surface.
‘Fighting at the central flank,’ she thought, her fingers brushing the hilt of her staff. The memory of yesterday’s battle flashed through her mind—how the frost magic she’d trained for years had finally felt alive, purposeful. Her spells had struck true, carving paths through chaos. She’d improved, and she could feel it. Fighting alongside Luca again, even if she wouldn’t admit it aloud, sounded… exciting.
A faint smile tugged at her lips as she let the thought settle. ‘I’ve come this far. Why not push further?’
But then her gaze shifted to Cedric. His jaw was tight, his posture rigid. She knew him well enough to see the faint tension in his eyes, the lingering frustration that hadn’t faded since his duel with Luca. It wasn’t just the loss that weighed on him—it was the unspoken challenge of being grouped with the very person who’d bested him.
Elara sighed softly, nudging him with her elbow. “Cedric, you alright?” she asked, keeping her tone casual.
He blinked, glancing at her as though pulled from a distant thought. “I’m fine,” he said quickly, though his voice carried an edge of unease.
“You don’t look fine,” she countered, her brow furrowing. “Listen, if this is about the grouping—”
“It’s not,” he cut in, his tone firmer now. “I’m just… focused. That’s all.”
Elara studied him for a moment, then nodded. “Alright. Just remember, this isn’t about proving anything to anyone. We’re a team, Cedric. We’ve got this.”
His expression softened slightly at her words, though the tension didn’t fully leave his posture. “I know,” he muttered, his grip on his sword relaxing marginally.
Satisfied for now, Elara turned her attention back to Lucavion. He stood a short distance away, his white cat perched lazily on his shoulder, surveying the gathering crowd with an almost regal air. His dark eyes caught hers briefly, and his smirk deepened, as if he already knew exactly what she was thinking.
‘He’s really annoying,’ she thought, shaking her head. But her faint smile returned nonetheless.
Fighting alongside Luca wasn’t just an opportunity—it was a challenge, and one she found herself oddly looking forward to. His unorthodox style, his uncanny precision—it pushed her to adapt, to rise above her limits. Yesterday’s battle had been proof of that.
As the groups began forming around them, Elara adjusted her staff, a spark of anticipation lighting in her chest. ‘Let’s see how far I can go.’
******
The sun had climbed higher, bathing the battlefield in its harsh light as the waves began. The sea churned violently, giving way to the monstrous forms that surged forth from its depths. The air thickened with tension, but Elara gripped her staff tightly, her frost magic already crackling in anticipation.
Lucavion was the first to move, his dark blade humming as he waded into the fray with a confidence that bordered on reckless. He didn’t so much fight as he butchered, his strikes brutal and efficient, cutting down monsters with a precision that sent sprays of ichor arcing into the air. It was chaotic, messy, and completely unorthodox.
“Trap them before they scatter,” Luca called out, his voice calm despite the chaos. His blade carved through a serpentine creature with a resounding SLASH!, its segmented body crumpling at his feet. “If you can keep them in place, I can cut through them faster.”
Elara nodded sharply, her focus sharpening at his words. “I can do that!” she replied, her staff glowing faintly as frost began to swirl around her. She turned toward Cedric, who had taken up a position behind her, his sword ready to intercept any monsters that slipped past. “Cedric, cover me!”
“Always,” Cedric said firmly, his gaze steady. He positioned himself carefully, his shield angled to guard Elara as she prepared her magic.
The waves of monsters surged closer, their snarls and guttural roars filling the air. Elara planted her staff firmly on the icy platform, her fingers tracing intricate patterns in the air as she began to cast.
「Frostvine Snare」 (2-star spell)
Frost shot out in curling tendrils, snaking around the limbs of the nearest monsters. CRACK-SNAP! The icy vines locked them in place, freezing their movements as they struggled against the unyielding frost.
Lucavion wasted no time. He surged forward, his blade carving a path through the immobilized creatures. Each strike was swift and deliberate, his movements almost surgical despite the raw brutality of his attacks.
Elara turned her attention to the next cluster of monsters, her mana flaring as she prepared another spell.
「Glacial Edge Barrage」 (2-star spell)
A volley of jagged ice shards erupted from her staff, hurtling toward the advancing wave. WHOOSH-THUNK! The shards pierced through their targets, freezing their limbs and leaving them vulnerable to Lucavion’s relentless assault.
“Perfect,” Luca called, his smirk audible even amidst the chaos. “Keep that up, Elara.”
Elara spared him a brief glance, her heart racing as she saw how seamlessly their efforts combined. It wasn’t just efficient—it was exhilarating. She refocused, her staff glowing brighter as the frost around her intensified.
Meanwhile, Cedric held the rear with unwavering resolve. Every time a monster slipped through, his sword was there, striking with precision. His shield bore the brunt of the attacks, deflecting blows meant for Elara as she continued casting.
“Elara, behind you!” Cedric shouted, his blade flashing as he intercepted a creature lunging toward her. The clash of steel echoed through the battlefield, and Cedric dispatched the monster with a swift strike.
Elara nodded, her grip tightening on her staff. “Thanks,” she muttered, already channeling her next spell.
The other adventurers, positioned around them, began to notice the rhythm of their trio. While Cedric and Lucavion handled direct combat, Elara’s frost magic provided crucial support. Her spells not only trapped monsters for Lucavion but also shielded weaker adventurers from being overwhelmed.
“Your magic’s covering the whole flank!” one of the adventurers called, his tone both impressed and relieved. “Keep it up, Frost Mage!”
Elara didn’t reply, too focused on maintaining her momentum. The strain of constant casting was beginning to show, her mana reserves dipping lower with each spell, but she pressed on.
As if sensing her fatigue, Lucavion called out again, his tone laced with that infuriating confidence. “Don’t waste too much of that fancy mana on me, mage. I don’t need the attention.”
Elara rolled her eyes but couldn’t help the faint smile tugging at her lips. “You’ll get what you need,” she shot back, channeling another spell.
「Frozen Tempest」 (3-star spell)
She swept her staff in a wide arc, unleashing a spiraling storm of frost and wind. WHIRR-CRACK! The tempest engulfed the advancing wave, slowing their movements and forcing them into tighter clusters.
Lucavion capitalized on the opening immediately. His blade glowed faintly with dark energy as he launched himself into the thick of the immobilized creatures. SLASH! THUD! Each strike was decisive, cutting through the monsters with an efficiency that bordered on terrifying.
Cedric, ever the sentinel, continued to guard Elara’s back. His shield deflected another blow, the sharp CLANG! ringing out as he shoved the attacker away with a growl. “How much longer can you keep this up?” he asked, his voice tight with effort.
“Long enough,” Elara replied, though her voice wavered slightly. Her mana reserves were nearing their limit, but she refused to falter. She raised her staff once more, the frost around her swirling with renewed intensity.
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The monsters continued their assault, but the trio held firm, their combined efforts pushing back the relentless tide.
And Elara knew something.
She was really improving.
******
The battle dragged on, the relentless waves of monsters testing every ounce of Elara’s strength, skill, and resolve. Frost clung to the battlefield, the shimmering ice and jagged barriers marking her tireless efforts. Around her, Cedric’s shield clashed against claws and fangs with unyielding resolve, while Lucavion danced through the chaos, his blade carving a path through the immobilized monsters like a shadow given form.
Each time she felt her focus waver, a glance at her companions pulled her back. Cedric, standing firm, guarding her without hesitation. Lucavion, fighting with that maddening blend of precision and recklessness, pushing the monsters back with ruthless efficiency. They trusted her magic, and she would not fail them.
“Last push!” Cedric barked, his sword flashing as he cut through another advancing creature. “We’re almost clear!”
Elara gritted her teeth, channeling her remaining mana into one final spell.
「Frozen Cascade」 (3-star spell)
She thrust her staff forward, releasing a torrent of icy shards that cascaded across the battlefield. WHOOOSH-CRASH! The frost engulfed the remaining monsters, freezing them in place before Lucavion’s blade finished the job.
The last of the monsters fell, their guttural roars fading into silence. The battlefield was eerily still, the only sound the heavy breathing of the adventurers who had survived the wave. Around them, the remnants of frost and ichor painted a grim but victorious picture.
Elara lowered her staff, her arms trembling from the strain. The glow of her magic faded, leaving behind an almost oppressive silence. Her legs felt like they were made of lead, and the world around her seemed to tilt as exhaustion hit her like a crashing wave.
“Ugh…” she murmured, swaying slightly before her knees buckled. She collapsed onto the icy platform, the cold seeping into her skin as she gasped for air.
“Elara!” Cedric’s voice was sharp with concern as he knelt beside her, his shield clattering to the ground. “Are you alright? Speak to me!”
“I’m… fine,” she managed, her voice barely above a whisper. Her staff lay beside her, forgotten for the moment as she tried to catch her breath. “Just… tired.”
Cedric’s brow furrowed, but he nodded, clearly relieved that she was conscious. “You pushed yourself too hard. That was incredible work, but you need to rest.”
Elara nodded weakly, too drained to argue. Who would have thought that being in the middle of the formation would be this hard? She had trained for years, but nothing could have prepared her for this relentless intensity.
“You really went all out, didn’t you?” Lucavion’s voice cut through the haze of her thoughts, his tone as maddeningly casual as ever. He approached, his blade resting on his shoulder, and glanced down at her with a faint smirk. “Guess that’s what happens when you insist on showing off.”
Elara groaned, her annoyance bubbling up even through her fatigue. “Just… shut up,” she muttered, her words weak but still laced with irritation.
But before she could retort further, something happened.
BOOM!
And explosion occurred.
SWOOSH! SPLAS!
Followed by a sound of splashing….
And an eerie feeling enveloped everyone.
“What?”
With a shadow cast over their bodies.