Chapter 10: Chapter 10: Mock Exam (End)

(Elsewhere)

Elsewhere someone was approaching a cave this was the location where another C- ranked monster was placed.

The two were twins and both had blonde hair. The male had short regal hair while the female had long hair

This was no other than the Third prince and 2nd princess of the kingdom they decided to team up as their always together looking after each other

“Let’s do this Sis”

“You got it bro”

They were both enthusiastic and kind which wasn’t something you’d expect in the cruel world of nobles, deceit and betrayal

The twins stepped into the cave together, their golden hair glinting faintly in the darkness. Their eyes, identical shades of steel blue, scanned the shadows as the air grew damp and heavy.

The stench of earth and decay thickened with every step, beneath the echo of dripping water came a low hiss, stretched and deep, as if the cave itself were breathing.

From the darkness, it immerged scales black as midnight, they streaked with burning crimson veins that pulsed like molten fire. The massive serpent’s body coiled and uncoiled

It’s eyes glowing with hunger, the twins exchanged a silent nod they had fought monsters before as training in the castle ever since they were 10 but never one that radiated suffocating malice

“We’re both early D ranks and we thought we’d be able to take it in together but…”

“Yeah it seems we need to go all out only a few minutes are left until the exam ends”

Steel rang as they drew their swords, the serpent struck first jaws snapping like a guillotine they leapt apart, blades across it’s scales sparks flying but leaving shallow cuts at best.

The cave shook as the beast’s tail lashes, sending one of the twins sprawling into the rocks. The other pressed the attack, darting in with agile strikes forcing the serpent to recoil with a hiss of pain.

“I got your back sis”

“Thanks Duke”

Then suddenly with terrifying speed the serpent lunged low and caught one of them with it’s Fangs

“Dukeeee!!!!”

“Arghh!”

The cry echoed through the carven as poison sank deep, veins burning dark beneath pale skin. The other twin’s eyes widen in horror as their sibling staggered, gripping their chest breath already ragged.

“DUKE!! ARE YOU OKAY!?”

“Yeah we have some tolerance to poison but it still stings”

Selena then put her hands out golden mana surrounded duke as his skin regained some color

“Thanks, now let’s begin round two”

The serpent reared towering above then and coiled lighter, it’s jaws opened wide, fangs glistening with venom aiming to crush and devour them both

The uninjured twin Selena dragged duke back, blood and poison staining her hands but the sheer force of the serpents movements sent tremors through the ground, stones raining from the ceiling their swords felt suddenly small and their bodies frail.

Despite the pain duke felt he gritted his teeth and forced himself to stand up, selena backed him up helping him stand

They both charged, both blades brushing against it’s black scales, sparks were flying as blood sprayed leaving a deep cut on it’s body

The serpent hissed with anger and annoyance it suddenly twisted it’s body and spun slamming it’s massive body against the twins

* CLANG *

They both blocked the strike with their swords but the sheer force of the blow sending them crashing against the cave wall

* BOOOOMM *

They crashed against the wall coughing up a mouthful of blood, their vision began a bit fuzzy their vision a bit blurry they staggered and fell to their knees and coughed up blood once more

“The gaps between ranks is wide but we shouldn’t give up”

“Yeah let’s hold on until the exam ends”

They both stood up their eyes filled with resolve and energy lightning crackled around Dukes body and Selena’s body surged with violent winds

They both lunged as the serpent also opened it’s mouth wide, they met blow for blow the cave shaking from the impact

Until one of them gave out in the end, poison was sinking into their veins as their skin pale even more pale as the poison ran deeper

“We must use…cough! Our other affinity we can’t fail here”

“But-”

Just as despair was setting in, a ripple of light cut through the darkness, from the shadows at the mouth of the cave stepped a figure. A young teen with long silver hair streaked with stands of violet that shimmered in the gloom, his yellow golden eyes glowed faintly, filled with calm determination and confidence, in his hands gleamed a blade faintly radiant with an aura that distorted the air around it.

“Yo! It’s been a while you two”

“Adam!?”

They both exclaimed as they saw Adam, they haven’t seen him for a whole 5 years. They were all childhood friends and they thought something happened to him since their father and Duke Dragonis never said where he was

“Oops!”

The serpent lunged while Adam was distracted, but the space itself seemed to warp around Adam’s swing, his blade cut not only through scales but through the distance itself

Folding the beast backward in a flash if impossible motion, the snake writhed and hissed it’s coils smashing into the carven walls but the very strike met a blur of silver light. The teen’s swordplay was both precise and unrelenting, weaving arcs of violet edged power that cleaved through the monster’s defenses.

The twins were conscious and brutally beaten, they couldn’t believe what was happening as they saw Adam fight the serpent with such ease

“He changed”

“Yeah…he really did”

Selena said with a faint blush on her face, duke noticed this and struck a devilish smirk

“Ohh? The princess falls for their savour?”

“No-no that’s not-”

Duke made a light chuckle and just watched as the battle continued

They could only watch as Adam pressed forward, forcing the serpent into retreat. Poison dripped from it’s Fangs blood streaked it’s once glossy scales, and the cavern shook with it’s roars.

Finally with a final devasting slash with violet arcs that tore through both flesh and the fabric of space itself, the serpents massive body split it collapsed with a thunderous crash blood steaming in the cave floor.

The silence that followed was almost unbearable, Adam then lowered his blade swiping the air as the blood from the sword slammed to the ground, it’s glow fading as he then turned to the fallen twins.

His gaze softened as he stepped closer towards them, kneeling Infront of both of them.

“You guys held in well”

“But I wasn’t gonna let you guys fail the exam like this”

“It won’t be fun without you guys around”

Adam chuckled a bit as they both joined in that’s them a sudden chime went through the whole area signaling the end of the exam

“Well seems like it’s over”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep