Preliminary Exams 3

In the arena, the spectators were abuzz with excitement and disbelief.

Murmurs rippled through the crowd as they watched Oasis's remarkable performance.

Some pointed excitedly at the magical projection, discussing his swift eliminations and impressive tactics.

Among the spectators, Sir Elias watched with pride, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

He had seen Oasis's potential from the beginning, but even he was impressed by the young apprentice's remarkable skills.

Beside him, Zane and Lancelot stood in shock, their expressions a mixture of surprise and disbelief.

They had known Oasis possessed talent, but they hadn't anticipated just how exceptional he truly was.

As they watched Oasis's swift movements and decisive actions, they couldn't help but feel a sense of awe and admiration.

Back in the clearing, Oasis took a moment to collect himself.

He quickly moved out of the open space, his keen senses picking up the sounds of distant clashes.

Following the sounds, Oasis soon came upon a fierce battle between three candidates.

The scene was intense and chaotic, each combatant demonstrating their unique abilities.

One candidate, a young woman with fiery red hair, wielded fire magic with precision and intensity.

Flames danced around her hands as she launched fireballs and jets of flame at her opponents, the heat shimmering in the air.

Her eyes burned with determination as she chanted incantations, the ground around her scorched and blackened.

Opposing her was a tall, composed young man who manipulated water with graceful, fluid movements.

Streams of water twisted and turned around him, forming protective barriers and launching powerful jets at his adversaries.

His control over the water was masterful, and he used it to douse the fire attacks while countering with his own aquatic assaults.

His demeanor was calm, his focus unwavering as he maintained his defensive and offensive strategies.

The third candidate, a muscular boy with a fierce expression, relied on his formidable sword techniques.

His blade flashed in the sunlight as he executed swift, precise strikes, parrying attacks and launching counterattacks with remarkable speed.

His movements were fluid yet powerful, each strike delivered with deadly accuracy.

The sword glinted with a sharp, lethal edge, and his stances indicated rigorous training and discipline.

The battle was a whirlwind of elemental and physical prowess.

Fire clashed with water, steam hissing into the air, while the sword-wielder danced between the spells, his blade deflecting and slicing through the chaotic energy.

The ground was marked by scorch marks, puddles, and deep cuts from the sword strikes.

Oasis watched from a concealed position, analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of each combatant.

He noted how the fire magic user struggled against the water attacks, how the water magic user maintained a steady defense, and how the sword-wielder exploited openings with swift strikes.

It was a delicate balance, each trying to outmaneuver the others, their energies and skills intertwining in a complex dance of combat.

Oasis was particularly fascinated by the girl's fire magic, intrigued by the way she wielded her spells.

"I have to learn how to do that somehow," he thought, studying her movements and incantations.

He decided to make his move.

Calmly, without saying anything, Oasis stepped out of his hiding spot and walked to the center of the triangle formed by the three combatants.

His sudden appearance caused them to halt their attacks and turn their attention to him.

"Who is this?" the girl thought, feeling a mix of relief and curiosity.

"At least for now, I'm saved. I was running out of mana."

The water user glared at Oasis, his face twisted with anger.

"Who do you think you are? Courting death?" he spat.

The boy with the sword, sensing the shift in the battle dynamics, wisely retreated to the forest, watching the scene unfold from a safer distance.

Oasis remained unfazed by the hostility directed at him.

"Both of you look tired. It's pointless to keep fighting," he said, his voice calm and measured.

He then turned his gaze to the girl. "Teach me your fire magic," he requested, his tone firm and sincere.

!!!

The girl's eyes widened in surprise. She had never encountered someone who would ask for a lesson in the midst of a battle.

The water user, however, was enraged by being ignored.

With a furious shout, he gathered his remaining energy and launched a massive ball of water toward Oasis.

"Aqua Burst!" he yelled, his voice echoing through the clearing.

"He's done for. Too much confidence," the girl thought, bracing herself for what she assumed would be Oasis's downfall.

Just before the Aqua Burst could hit him, Oasis extended his hand.

With a swift motion, he absorbed the water spell, subjugating its energy and making it his own.

The crowd watching the projection gasped in astonishment, their excitement palpable.

Gathering the absorbed water energy, Oasis countered the attack with a powerful spell of his own.

!!!

"Water Magic: Phoenix Wave!" he bellowed, sending a formidable wave of boiling water magic back at the water user.

The Phoenix Wave crashed into the water user with incredible force, knocking him off his feet and rendering him unconscious.

His body glowed briefly before being transported out of the imitation Whispering Woods, marking his elimination from the exam.

In the arena, the atmosphere was electric.

The massive projection of the imitation Whispering Woods had everyone on the edge of their seats.

As Oasis's "Water Magic: Phoenix Wave" spell unfolded on the screen, the audience was awestruck by the sheer power and precision of the attack.

The vivid image of the water user being knocked unconscious and transported out of the woods played out like a dramatic scene from a legendary tale.

Elder Aric, standing with a commanding view of the arena, couldn't contain his surprise.

"Really, who is that kid? How is this possible?" he muttered, his voice carrying a mix of disbelief and admiration.

Sir Elias, watching intently, was equally stunned.

"Which water magic spell is that? I did not teach him, and magic subjugation?"

"What on earth is going on?" he thought, his mind racing to comprehend the extraordinary display of skill from his young disciple.

Zane, standing beside Lancelot, was rendered speechless.

His understanding of magic wasn't deep enough to grasp the full extent of what they were witnessing, leaving him in silent awe.

Lancelot, however, summed up the collective sentiment with a succinct and astonished declaration.

"This kid is a monster," he said, shaking his head in disbelief.