Mid-Terms IV

Rachel regarded her mysterious savior, suspicion evident in the narrowing of her eyes as she readied her light magic. Arthur, however, opted for a non-confrontational approach, raising his hands in surrender.

"Do you really think I'm foolish enough to challenge you in a one-on-one?" Arthur quipped, his tone laced with a hint of amusement.

A furrow appeared on Rachel's brow as she pondered his words. He had a point. The mock war had already showcased his tactical prowess, and Arthur was astute enough to recognize his own limitations. Unlike some reckless teenagers driven by bloodlust, he seemed grounded.

"What if I decide to attack you anyway for the points?" Rachel questioned, testing the waters. Arthur chuckled, "That's precisely why I didn't side with Ren. He would've backstabbed me for sure. But with you, Rachel, I trust in your inherent goodness."

His deep blue eyes met Rachel's shiny ones, and she couldn't help but take a breath, attempting to maintain a neutral expression.

Goodness?

How quaint.

Rachel couldn't help but dryly laugh internally. Her experiences had taught her the potential harm that misguided notions of goodness could inflict, courtesy of her own mother.

Yet, Arthur exuded a different aura. It felt distinct. He didn't view Class 1-A as the budding heroes or legends that others envisioned. Instead, he seemed to look at them with a certain pity, understanding the darkness each of them harbored. It was the same understanding that had caused Seraphina to lower her guard around him.

Rachel, too, sensed a similar feeling. The sensation that maybe, just maybe, it was okay to let go and trust Arthur.

But she didn't yield to that feeling entirely.

Opting for caution, Rachel decided to take it one step at a time.

"Alright, fine," she relented, "I wouldn't harm someone who just saved me from elimination. Besides, we still have to deal with the dungeon boss, and it's likely to be quite formidable."

"Smart move," Arthur remarked, exhaling. "We still have other students to contend with. With Luke and Ren out, that's at least two down for now."

"Wait, you took down Luke?" Rachel questioned, her eyes widening in surprise. 'Arthur is undoubtedly strong, but handling Luke without any visible injuries? How did he manage that?' she pondered.

"He dropped his guard at the beginning of the fight, making it straightforward," Arthur casually explained. "People often lack experience against opponents, and emotions tend to take over. It's understandable, given that we're still growing."

Rachel hummed in acknowledgment, contemplating his words. It was a valid point; Ren, in particular, had showcased how emotions could blind one in a fight. However, it would be a different story for Jin, Ian, and Lucifer, who had hands-on battlefield experience.

The same applied to Rachel herself, having engaged in combat from a young age. Ren, Seraphina, and Cecilia, on the other hand, had grown up in more peaceful surroundings due to their families avoiding conflicts with other races.

Glancing sideways at Arthur, Rachel couldn't help but wonder, 'Where did he acquire such experience?'

She knew about Arthur's training with the knights in a county of the Slatemark Empire and his subsequent sponsorship to attend Mythos Academy. However, the depth of his combat experience seemed unusual. Was it sheer talent, or perhaps a knack for controlling emotions?

Rachel had encountered similar talent in some knights and mages within her family, so it could be that.

The two of them ventured into a section of the dungeon where a notorious 4-star beast, the Abyss Arachnid, had established its nest. The area housed a mix of 3-star and 2-star beasts, with the majority being the latter.

The Abyss Arachnid resembled a colossal spider with an array of legs, its form a result of the transformative influence of mana on the creatures inhabiting this world. When mana had first permeated their environment, beasts instinctively integrated it into their biology, enhancing their physical capabilities.

Humans, on the other hand, did not undergo such radical mutations. Unlike beasts, they wielded mana cognitively, not on a visceral level, marking a fundamental distinction between the two.

This particular 4-star beast was infamous for its ability to ensnare victims and drain their life energy. Possessing formidable strength, agility, and a variety of abilities, it posed a significant threat.

However, facing the Abyss Arachnid were Arthur and Rachel—Arthur, well-versed in the knowledge of various beasts from the novel, and Rachel, the daughter of the Creighton family with an inherent understanding of magical creatures.

"Efficiency is key in dealing with these creatures," Arthur declared, his gaze cold and calculating. Rachel nodded in agreement.

"Start by using a light spell to blind them, considering they're accustomed to darkness," Arthur suggested, aligning his strategy with Rachel's own thoughts.

"Sure," Rachel concurred, preparing to cast a simple 2-circle light spell. Focusing all her energy into light manipulation, she created an orb and released it above the Abyss Arachnids. The burst of light disoriented the creatures as they looked up.

Arthur, in the meantime, had already vanished. Rachel quickly caught on and utilized light magic to dispatch the 3-star beasts while Arthur executed a powerful strike on the 4-star Abyss Arachnid. As the light dissipated, she witnessed the creature neatly cleaved in two by Arthur's decisive blow.

Concerned about the energy consumption, she inquired, "Won't that use too much energy?"

"No," Arthur replied, shaking his head. "I concentrated the spell to ensure a swift and efficient kill. It's the fastest way to handle such situations."

She didn't reply and simply followed him as they continued across the dungeon.

On another side of the dungeon, Seraphina pressed forward with little regard for the beasts and traps that crossed her path.

'Weak,' she thought, effortlessly using mana to speed through the dungeon. The majority of a <Silver >-rank dungeon's beasts were expected to be feeble, particularly since this dungeon, like others, had long been conquered and domesticated.

While a few 4-star beasts, including the boss, awaited deeper within, even they wouldn't pose a significant challenge. Beasts, even those trained by Mythos Academy, couldn't match the strength of humans, elves, or dwarves at the same level.

The academy's training enhanced the beasts, making them stronger than their wild counterparts, but aside from the boss, none should approach her level.

As Seraphina turned another corner, she unexpectedly came face to face with someone she had hoped to avoid.

"Seraphina," a voice echoed, and an evil smile played on Cecilia's face. The red-eyed girl peered at Seraphina, who grumbled inwardly.

Ever since their standoff at the Freshman Ball, Cecilia had kept her distance, which Seraphina appreciated. However, she didn't like the way Cecilia looked at Arthur, as if he were an intriguing toy.

Arthur was her friend, and she wouldn't allow anyone like Cecilia near him.

"So, wanna partner up?" Cecilia taunted with a mocking smile. Seraphina's brows furrowed.

The suggestion was a joke, a mockery of Seraphina's strength, and an attempt to offer a false sense of security. Cecilia knew she was stronger and wanted to make that clear.

"No," Seraphina replied curtly, unsheathing her sword, plum blossoms blooming around her as she launched an attack on Cecilia.

Rachel and Arthur soon entered another section of the dungeon, where ancient stone walls gave way to glistening crystal formations.

"Looks like this leads to the boss chamber," Arthur hummed, forging ahead.

Rachel concurred, keeping her senses alert to detect the boss's mana signature. Along the way, they encountered an assortment of 1 and 2-star beasts, with only one 3-star creature.

So far, it seemed too easy.

'What kind of strength does the boss hold?' she wondered. It couldn't surpass Ren, as he stood at the zenith of power achievable at <Silver >-rank. If the boss fell short of Ren's might, dealing with it would be manageable for Arthur and her.

Pushing aside her musings, she continued until they reached the end of the tunnel, entering a colossal crystal chamber. Four tunnels extended in each cardinal direction, and they had just emerged from one of them.

From the opposite tunnel, Jin stepped forward, exchanging glances with Arthur in silent understanding. Before Rachel could decipher the unspoken communication, Ian emerged from the right tunnel.

They shared another glance, this time tinged with a hint of hostility. However, before any of them could make a move, an explosion from the left tunnel diverted their attention.

A figure was hurled out, swiftly halting and deflecting a fire magic spell with her sword and plum blossoms.

It was Seraphina, pushed back by Cecilia.

"I finally get my revenge on you!" Cecilia grinned, igniting a 4-circle spell in her palms. But before the spell could strike Seraphina in her defensive stance, Jin intervened.

He advanced, twin shortswords pressed forward, intercepting Cecilia's attack.

"Why are you in my way, Jin!" Cecilia yelled, anger etched on her face. Before she could say more, the entire cavern trembled.

A collective hush fell over the group as a figure materialized from a space warp. Breaths caught, and an unsettling shiver coursed through everyone present.

The being that had stepped forward defied easy description. It appeared as though a human form had been immersed in the very essence of darkness, an embodiment of malevolence itself.

Arthur found his eyes quivering in shock at the significant deviation.

Why was a demon now standing before them after centuries of silence?