Chapter 54: Intrusions and Alliances

Lia’s boots crunched over the cracked, sun-baked stone of the rocky plateau. The air here was dry and sharp, carrying the scent of dust and heated rock. Her eyes scanned the open expanse, always edging her path toward the center of the battlefield.

A faint rustle broke the stillness. Lia froze, her hand hovering near the hilt of her blade. Then — a sudden streak of golden-white light zipped past the far ridge, followed by a shrill, insect-like chitter.

Someone’s fighting…

Carefully, she crept toward the sound, keeping low until she reached the edge of a rocky outcrop. Peering over, she spotted the source of the commotion.

A young elf stood her ground against a swarm of insectoid beasts, each the size of a large hound. The girl’s long, silky silver-blonde hair swayed as she moved, catching hints of gold under the plateau’s harsh sunlight. Her bright jade-green eyes were locked in fierce focus, her pale, moonlit skin glistening faintly as mana flared around her. Her flowing tunic, pale green and silver-blue, bore delicate leaf and star embroidery. Around her neck hung a slender silver pendant with a crystal shard that shimmered faintly.

Her opponents — Chittraks — crawled across the rocky ground with unnatural speed. Their stone-gray shells were ridged like shale, blending perfectly with the terrain. Black, bead-like eyes clustered together in unnerving groups, and hooked claws scraped furrows into the rock. Their jagged mandibles clicked and chattered as they closed in.

The elf’s mana surged.

3rd Circle – Radiant Shield.

A shimmering disk of light flared into being, intercepting a claw strike that could have split stone.

The Chittraks pressed in. She gritted her teeth, slammed her staff to the ground, and shouted:

3rd Circle – Blinding Flash!

A burst of brilliant light erupted, blinding the creatures. Lia, watching from above, winced and quickly shut her eyes before the flare reached her.

The elf used the moment’s reprieve to create distance, her movements swift and measured — almost like a dance. She raised her staff high, mana flaring brighter.

4th Circle – Celestial Barrage.

Multiple lances of light streaked toward the Chittraks, each one bending midair to strike its mark. The instant they hit, the bolts exploded in dazzling bursts. The rocky plateau rang with the echoes of their deaths.

When the dust and light cleared, the elf exhaled, lowering her staff. “Phew…” she murmured.

Then her head snapped toward Lia’s hiding place, her jade eyes narrowing.

“Who’s there?” she called, voice calm but edged with readiness.

Lia stepped out from behind the rocky edge, her grip firm on her sword’s hilt.

The elf girl turned fully, staff still raised, her stance guarded.

“Who are you?” she asked, her jade-green eyes sharp.

Lia mirrored her caution, keeping her own weapon ready. Then, with a small bow, she replied, “I am Lia. And you are, miss?”

The elf inclined her head in return. “Lirael Elenros, First Princess of the Sylwenora Kingdom.”

She’s a princess… like me? Lia thought, a flicker of curiosity passing over her face. But before she could say more, the familiar, unnerving clicking of mandibles echoed through the plateau.

From between the boulders, more Chittraks poured in.

Both women shifted into battle stances. Lia surged forward into close combat, her sword flashing in swift arcs, while Lirael’s staff flared with bursts of light from a safe distance. A faint light-green aura shimmered around Lia’s form as she sliced cleanly through chitin and claw.

Then she caught movement behind Lirael—a Chittrak lunging from her blind spot. Her aura flared brighter, and in the next instant—she was gone from where she stood.

Wind Butterfly – First Technique: Elegant Speed!

Lia reappeared above the monster, her blade carving through it in a flurry of rapid slashes. The Chittrak collapsed in pieces before it even realized it was dead. Without pause, Lia darted toward the next targets, cutting them down with precise, fluid motions.

From the corner of her eye, Lirael watched in brief amazement. Such speed… for a human.

Lia was so focused on two Chittraks in front of her that she didn’t notice a third creeping in from her flank. She only sensed the attack at the last second—her aura beginning to shift toward pink—when a voice rang out:

Aurora Veil!

A soft, shimmering veil of light wrapped around Lia, dampening the force of the incoming blow. The monster’s claw passed harmlessly through her side as if phasing through air.

Lia spared a quick glance back to see Lirael’s staff still raised in her direction. She gave a short nod in thanks, and Lirael returned it. Conversation could wait until the fight was over.

Together, they cut down the last of the Chittraks.

“That was a good save,” Lia said at last, sheathing her sword. I could’ve handled it with my heightened state… but no need to reveal that yet.

“And thank you as well,” Lirael replied, lowering her staff.

Lia began to walk away, but a voice called after her.

“Hey, Miss Lia—want to team up?”

Lia paused, considering. “On one condition: I’ll team up with my friend once we meet him. After that, we won’t attack you. I’ll guarantee it.”

Lirael’s lips curved slightly. “Deal.”

—

Meanwhile, outside the test area, Zane lounged back in his seat, watching Lia’s fight play out on the barrier’s projection.

Hmm… she’s improved. Handling herself well. His eyes narrowed slightly. But both Ron and Lia still can’t use my little blessing anywhere near perfectly.

A faint ripple of intent brushed against his senses. He straightened, scanning the area. No one else seemed to notice. With a quiet sigh, he rose and drifted casually toward a deserted section of the stands—then vanished.

—

Location change — Somewhere outside the exam barrier

Just beyond the shimmering boundary stood five or six cloaked figures. Their leader, clearly the one in command, spoke in a low, urgent tone.

“Quickly. Use earth magic—dig a tunnel into the barrier. Aldren may have built this thing, but after maintaining it for the whole exam, he’ll be exhausted. And with this…”

He pulled out a red-and-black crystal tower, its surface pulsing with an ominous light.

“…he and the others won’t sense us.”

High above, Zane hovered in the air, watching.

Always the same… typical cliché bastards.

He descended soundlessly, landing behind them.

The group continued discussing their plan until one finally turned—and froze.

“W-who are you?” the leader demanded, suddenly on edge.

“That doesn’t matter,” Zane replied flatly.

The leader’s eyes widened. We didn’t sense him until he was right here… He’s as strong as the captain!

“Captain! Save us!” he shouted.

Nothing happened.

Zane’s lips curled into a smirk. “You mean this?”

He reached into his dimensional bag and tossed something at their feet. It rolled once before coming to a stop—revealing the grotesque, bloated face of their “captain.”

Several of the cloaked figures recoiled in disgust.

“Well,” Zane said casually, pointing at the head, “I killed him. Couldn’t even bring myself to speak to him—he was that repulsive.”

The leader’s hands trembled, but behind the fear, he was buying time. At last, he barked, “Now!”

A red-black barrier flared up around the group, sealing them in.

“Hah!” the leader laughed. “You can’t touch us now! This barrier could withstand someone far stronger than the captain. In thirty seconds, we’ll be gone, and you’ll be left watching!”

Zane stepped forward, smiling faintly. He stopped just in front of the barrier. The leader laughed harder—until Zane laughed too.

The sound cut the man short.

Zane slowly extended his hand toward the barrier. His fingers slipped through as though it were water. He stepped fully inside.

“W-what?! How?!” the leader stammered, backing away.

“You don’t need to know.” Zane tilted his head slightly, considering. “Now… what should I do with you?”

Then a thought crossed his mind. Those unfinished projects on my island… I left them alone because I didn’t have living human test subjects. His smile turned razor-sharp. Problem solved.

“You’ll do nicely,” he said darkly.

The cloaked figures stiffened in terror.

“Off you go.”

He snapped his fingers. The group vanished before any could utter a word.

Lifting his wrist, Zane spoke to the sleek watch-like device there. “Computer—order the secondary system on the island to capture them and put them in the test subject chambers. I’ll begin the experiments soon.”

“Message sent to secondary system,” the AI voice replied.

Zane laughed low and long, then vanished—reappearing in the exact spot he’d left. Moments later, he was seated again, as if nothing had happened.

Back inside the exam area

Ron stood in a patch of thinning snow, the white drifts broken by stretches of bare ground and jagged rock.

Around him, a loose ring of students closed in—some with weapons drawn, others with spells at the ready. Their eyes gleamed with the unspoken intent of taking him down before he could advance further in the exam.

One stepped forward, voice sharp.

“Take his badge—don’t eliminate him, but make sure he can’t fight back!”

Ron let out a long, tired sigh.

How the hell did I get into this situation…?

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