Gary's potential

The fact that his blade had managed to slice through Ray's gauntlets meant he wielded a higher-tier weapon. If all three of these enemies were as strong as this man, survival was nearly impossible. Ray quickly glanced over at Gary to see how he was holding up.

Gary was engaged in a relentless battle with the dual swordsman. Sparks flew as their blades clashed repeatedly, each impact ringing through the air. Gary had no time to breathe, no moment to regroup. He was doing well to hold his ground, but minor scratches were beginning to accumulate. If this dragged on any longer, those small injuries would build up and ultimately cost him the fight.

The fact that Gary could block his opponent's strikes at all meant that the dual swordsman wasn't as powerful as the first man who had attacked Ray. That confirmed it—Ray's own opponent was likely the leader of the group.

Before Ray could form a new plan, the swordsman and the chain wielder charged toward him in unison. He immediately infused Ki into his gauntlets, bracing himself for their combination attack.

The chain wielder swung his weapon around his head a few times before hurling it toward Ray. He pivoted on his left foot to dodge, barely managing to grab the chain mid-air. Just as he prepared to yank it, the swordsman was already upon him. Ray quickly released the chain and rolled backward, barely avoiding a horizontal slash aimed at his torso.

Deciding to eliminate the weaker of the two first, Ray dashed toward the chain wielder. But before he could reach him, the swordsman leaped in between them, cutting off his path. The chain wielder took full advantage of this to gain distance, resetting his stance and preparing for another ranged assault. No matter who Ray focused on, the other would interfere. He needed to rethink his strategy.

Taking a few steps back, Ray prepared to reassess his approach. But before he could, the swordsman's blade began glowing a deep, fiery red.

He swung his sword wildly in multiple directions, and with each slash, a blazing arc of fire shot out, racing toward Ray. He ducked and wove through the inferno, dodging the flames by mere inches. The heat from each fiery arc singed the air around him, making it harder to breathe.

As the final blade of fire whizzed past him, a heavy, metal weight suddenly appeared, hidden within the flames. Ray had no time to react. The weighted chain slammed into his chest, launching him backward with immense force. His back hit the ground hard, and a sharp pain erupted in his ribs. Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth as he gasped for breath. Looking down, he saw that his chest piece was cracked.

He was hurt, but there was no time to gauge the severity of his injuries. Just as he struggled to his feet, a scream rang out from his right. His eyes darted toward Gary, who was reeling from a deep gash across his left shoulder. Blood dripped down his arm, staining his clothes.

"This arm just got fixed, damn you!" Gary shouted angrily at his opponent.

Ray was shocked that Gary still had that much fight left in him. He was completely covered in wounds, barely holding himself together. If Ray didn't act soon, they were both going to die.

The flaming swordsman was likely the one who had set the entire battlefield ablaze. He was the most dangerous of the group, and Ray knew he had to eliminate him first.

The chain came at Ray again while he was still struggling to get up. With no time to dodge, he quickly rolled to the side and grabbed hold of the chain. The chain wielder immediately tried to pull it back, but it was useless. Ray poured every ounce of his remaining Ki into his gauntlet and held on with all his strength. He wasn't letting go this time.

The flame swordsman rushed toward him, closing the distance with alarming speed.

Ray pressed his free hand against the ground and shouted, "Summon Noir!"

In an instant, a black-furred, horned wolf materialized at his side. Without wasting a second, Ray leaped onto Noir's back, still gripping the chain tightly. With Noir's incredible speed, they sprinted in circles around the two enemies, the chain winding around them as they moved.

The chain wielder struggled to keep up, but before Ray could completely ensnare them, the flame swordsman reacted swiftly. With a single swing, he sliced clean through the chain, breaking it apart. The metal links clattered to the ground.

"The boy is a mage? No one told us about this," the chain wielder muttered to his ally.

"It doesn't matter. The mission stays the same," the flame swordsman replied coldly.

Ray narrowed his eyes. "Noir, you handle the one on the left. The flame swordsman is mine."

Splitting their opponents was the best move. The flame swordsman was clearly the strongest of the two, but with Noir keeping the chain wielder occupied, it was now a one-on-one fight.

Just as Ray prepared to engage, his eyes flicked to Gary. He had thought Gary was already defeated, but his friend was somehow still standing. At first, Gary had been completely defensive—dodging, blocking, and taking small opportunities to counter. But something had changed.

Gary's attacks were becoming unpredictable, forcing the dual swordsman into an increasingly uncomfortable position. His sword reached just the right spots at the right moments. The tables had turned. Gary was now the aggressor, and the dual swordsman was struggling to keep up. He wanted to counterattack, but Gary left no openings. It was as if he could read his opponent's mind, predicting each move before it happened.

"Damn it!" the swordsman yelled in frustration. "Aren't they just students?! Why are they so strong?!"

Gary smirked. "You're right, we are students. But we're the best damn students at Avrion Academy."

Gary's next strike was aimed at the man's head. Seeing the power behind the attack, the man instinctively crossed both his blades to block. But the moment he did, Gary vanished from sight. The next thing the swordsman knew, his legs buckled from under him. He collapsed onto the ground in shock. Gary had feinted the attack and delivered a sweeping kick to his legs at the last second.

Now, Gary stood over him, sword pointed directly at his throat.

"Tell me," Gary demanded. "Why did you attack us?"

The man hesitated, but before he could speak, a blast of fire streaked across the battlefield.

"Gary, watch out!" Ray shouted.

Gary barely managed to jump back in time. But the fire wasn't aimed at him. It engulfed the fallen swordsman, incinerating him within seconds. His body blackened as the flames consumed him entirely.

Ray's eyes darted toward his own opponent. The flame swordsman had launched the attack mid-fight, sacrificing his own ally without a second thought.

Gary staggered to his feet, breathing heavily. "Don't worry, Ray… I'll come help you now," he said, taking slow, unsteady steps forward.

But as soon as the words left his mouth, his knees gave in, and he collapsed onto the ground.

"Just stay there! You've lost too much blood!" Ray called out. "Don't worry, I've got this."

His voice was filled with confidence, but deep down, doubt gnawed at his mind. This opponent was stronger than anyone he had faced before. And now, he had to fight him alone.