Victory!!

Hades smacked Edward's head with the sword's flat, knocking him down. CRACK! Edward's heavy armor left an imprint on the ground. He immediately leaped back up, swinging his battleaxe at Hades "I've taken heavier hits!"

BAM! Hades stomped the ground with his left foot and kicked up with his knee [Repulsion], CLANG! He deflected the battleaxe by hitting it on the flat side. [Repulsion] Hades took the chance and pushed himself past Edward swinging his sword. BAM!

Edward blocked the attack with his gauntlet. Thud! He turned around to face Hades. He immediately saw him swinging the blade down, a single downward heavy swing.

Edward held his battleaxe with both hands above his head and looked up to block the attack.

[Attraction] [Repulsion] Hades swings his blade down, pulling toward Edward's head and using repulsion to push downward.

CLANG! The sword smacked into the battleaxe shaft with a booming sound, and Edward's legs cracked the ground from the weight settling on him. GRA! His back jolted him, his knees started to feel weak as his lower back screamed in pain.

'Was it a mistake to tell him about my injury? Is he that smart?' Edward stared at Hades confused, clenching his teeth to kill the pain, he pushed up.

The weight suddenly stopped, and Hades lifted his blade up. 'Is he stopping?' Edward wondered but soon saw Hades's smile, and the blade came back down.

GRWAAAAAAAAAA! Hitting again and again like a crazed ape, [Attraction] [Repulsion] [Attraction] [Repulsion] [Attraction] [Repulsion] [Attraction] [Repulsion] [Attraction] [Repulsion] [Attraction] [Repulsion] [Attraction] [Repulsion] [Attraction] [Repulsion]

GHA! Edward gasped as the air refused to enter his lungs. Each hit was heavier than the one before, no that wasn't right. After each hit, his back pain caused him to feel weaker, so the attacks felt stronger.

Hades wasn't trying to cut or hit a specific spot. Swinging the blade downward blindly, his only aim was to hit Edward. 'I can't retreat, the moment I lower my axe he's going to smash my head.' Edward thought as he tried to think of a way to get away from Hades.

CRACK! Hades's sword shattered, he wasn't using it properly, after all. And the battleaxe shaft was thick as well.

'My chance!' Edward screamed internally getting ready to swing his axe, he had already forgotten this was a test. At some point, he had started taking this fight seriously.

[Repulsion] Hades rushed in immediately, BAM! With his shoulder, he smacked Edward in the chest [Repulsion] BAM! Edward's massive body flew away as if it was nothing.

Nina gasped, covering her mouth in horror. Is this really happening to Edward, the monster chopper?

BAM! Hades flew toward the still-flying Edward at a blinding speed, bouncing through the air he swung his fist down.

CLANG! Hades's fist smacked right into Edward's steel chest plate. Sending his body crashing down on his back, Edward coughed blood, his back pain only grew stronger. 'No mistake about it, he's indirectly aiming for my back…'

At that moment, Hades got ready to blast himself toward Edward and pummel him again but Gabriella cut him, "Enough!"

Hades stopped glaring at her with a passive face, "What?"

"Enough, stop. The fight is already over, we can't have you injure the instructor." Gabriella said approaching Hades with steady steps.

"He never fought back…" Hades sighed with a disappointed look, "Your father did far better." He added.

"Don't go compare people to my father. Edward said that he was injured in his back." Gabriella pointed out, even if Edward wanted to fight back at full force, he can't. That's the reason he is here carrying tests and not outside hunting monsters.

"Injured? His back? He should have already healed it." Hades replied, not for a moment he had thought that Edward was still injured. All he did was fight as he saw fit.

"You can't heal injuries that were sustained slowly, healing magic heals wounds, not wearing bones and flesh."

Healing magic can heal wounds that have just been sustained. That is achieved by having the body regenerate to the stare he was before a short while. This meant that a wound that has been left for a long time can't be healed, it has already become the body's natural state.

Gabriella stared at Edward as she tried to stand up using his Battleaxe. "It's possible to slowly heal it, but that would cost mountains over mountains of gold and years of continues casting."

Edward stood taking deep breaths to calm his pain, Nina rushed toward him with a worried face. "Are all right, should I call the healers?"

He waved his hand with a smile, "I'm fine, don't worry. He passed, not like I could stop him even if I wanted to."

Nina sighed, "Don't push yourself too hard, it will be hard to find another examiner if you fell ill."

Gabriella approached them, taking a quick look at Edward, "You don't seem fine, it's better for you to go back home and rest."

"You can tell even without examining me? No way am I going back, I still have to hold your test as well." Edward replied clenching his grip on the battleaxe.

Gabriella shook her head in disappointment, "And people ask why they can't be healed. You better go rest, you're at your limit."

Edward shook his harder than the stone head, "No way,"

Gabriella sighed, "Fine, let's finish my exam. Can we start right now?"

"Yes…" STAB! The moment he replied before he could fully stand, Gabriella, pulled her sword stabbing him in the neck.

BLUGH! Edward puked blood as Gabriella pulled her sword, a gold string rushed from her fingers healing his neck. "I won, now go rest." She smiled.

Nina stood there terrified while Hades smiled, "Hold up, that's a sneak attack…" Edward protested, she didn't even let him stand up.

"Sneak attacks are a legit way to kill, and an effective one at that. It's either you're too exhausted to win against me, or too naïve to be qualified as an examiner and a hunter. Pick what you like, either way, this test ends here." Gabriella said with a smile, shaking the blood from her sword.

"But…" Nina wanted to speak but didn't find a fault in what Gabriella said, Edward had agreed to their fight to start. She baited him and he fell for it.

"She is right Edward, go rest for now." Nina said looking at Hades and Gabriella, "The both of you pass, congratulation."

Edward sighed staring down, she had him. This is a loss he has to accept. "Next time I will watch my words, didn't think that a high priest would use a sneak attack."

"Remember, I'm a noble before a high priest. Don't expect only the caring side of a religious person." She smiled, holding her sword in her hand.

Edward burst laughing, "Nah, I get it. It's definitely my loss!" He stretched his back and arms, and cracking his neck he looked at the sky. "You remind me of an old party member, we used to call him the corrupt priest."

Nina smiled, "Well then, let's get your cards at the desk. The guild master isn't here this day but I can handle things on my own."