The altar began trembling, and a low rumble spread outward, shaking the ground beneath their feet.
"W-what's going on?!" a few students panicked, their voices quivering.
Most, however, steadied their breathing and tightened their grips on their weapons. They already knew this was the final test. Even with numbers on their side, the outco was uncertain. Everything depended on whether the leading mbers could endure what was coming.
While waiting for the final boss monster to appear, Luis let his eyes wander towards Alicia. His instincts told him there was sothing different about her aura.
It seed stronger, sharper—maybe?
He wondered if it was the sa as he had guessed. 'Did she really break through D-Rank?' Thinking so, without hesitation, he ford a telepathic link.
{Did you break through?}
Alicia's eyes widened as she glanced at him. {What the—! How did you know?!}
Upon receiving a suspicious glare from her. Luis only shrugged, his lips quirked with his usual smugness. {What's so surprising? As your all-powerful and capable husband, it's only natural I'd notice.}
Alicia didn't comnt on his act of self-praise, nor did she point out that he'd once again skipped the word future along with husband.
Instead, her gaze sharpened mischievously.
{All-powerful and capable, huh? Then tell —what have you got to say about the fact that you magically shattered my favourite mug last night and hid the pieces behind the cupboard?}
"…." Luis stiffened. The ntal link ensued in silence.
Alicia's lips curved, her shoulders shaking, barely suppressing herself from bursting out in laughter. The "all-powerful husband" stood frozen, caught red-handed, his cheeks warming as he tried to look anywhere but at her.
'Damn, Lily!'
As if guessing his thoughts, Alicia continued. {Don't worry, it wasn't Lily?}
Luis: {?}
{Ivy saw everything you did and brought those broken pieces as evidence to .}
Luis froze, cursing himself. 'Seriously? Busted because of my pet?!'
Feeling ridiculous, he pushed the thought aside, his focus snapping back to the sound of the seal opening at the centre of the altar.
"Keep your distance! Prepare to attack as soon as the monster appears," Luis ordered.
As for the words of the top student of their batch, none of them raised any objections. Even the other top students, such as Thomas and Seraphina, among others, acquiesced in following his command in this upcoming battle.
At this ti, Luis made a full display of his command skills, instantly boosting everyone's morale.
Around him, the students raised their weapons, looking ready to bolt. As the great battle was about to begin. The rescue staff had already made ample preparations to minimise casualties—though the history of previous years reminded everyone that, despite excellent dical facilities, not every life could always be saved. Death was rare, but never absent.
Even the professors watched silently, their eyes fixed on the screen. They understood that this battle was more than a trial of strength; it was a crucible. A necessary step in the students' growth—no, their very sublimation.
---
*Crack*
*Rumble*
The altar split with an earth-shaking crack. A pulse of mana erupted, rolling across the chamber like a tidal wave. So students crouched and dodged to avoid being affected. Then, they regrouped according to the formation.
Luis narrowed his eyes. 'Here it cos.'
From the widening rift erged a monstrosity. A lion's face of polished steel glared with burning crimson eyes, every snap of its jaws screeching like grinding blades. Below, deer-like legs pounded the ground, tearing roots through stone as thorned vines lashed out like living whips. Vast eagle wings spread wide, each beat whipping the air into a howling sandstorm. And trailing behind, its serpent tail writhed—scales glistening, fangs dripping venom that hissed as it struck the earth.
The Chira of Five Realms; Morthys!
(Image Here)
Morthys embodies traits from all five zones of Vernos Dungeon—Poison, Mist, Tech, Sand, and Plant.
The mont it inhaled, vents along its body hissed, releasing a pale mist with a nerve-paralysing effect that spread across the battlefield.
Everyone already knew about the monster from class and had prepared to avoid the mist before it even appeared.
Several support-type mages slamd their staffs into the ground, conjuring dos of mana that glowed faintly to push back so of the mist. Although the Chira's aura pressed relentlessly, making every barrier shudder. Their combined efforts held it off.
Seeing their quick reaction, Luis nodded, sparks already crackling in his hands. After seeing the monster's appearance, he couldn't help but comnt. "This thing looks even more disgusting in person."
While complaining, he didn't forget to issue commands.
"Mages up! Archers behind!"
Luis's voice cut through the sandstorm made by the Chira like thunder.
"Support barriers! Keep the mist at bay!"
---
Arrows whistled into the storm first. Rura had already loosed three flaming shafts, each streaking like teors toward the Chira's chest. They exploded on impact, fire crawling briefly across the steel plating before being snuffed out by the sandstorm whipping around its wings. She didn't falter and kept drawing again, fire swirling to coat the next volley.
"Keep up the pressure! Don't let it advance!" Luis commanded. At the sa ti, he raised his gun and fired three precise mana bullets. They streaked through the haze and detonated against the monster's left wing, staggering its beat for a fraction of a second.
This action successfully aroused the Chira's hatred. As it tried to stabilize itself, it let out a roar. The Chira's roar shook the chamber, reverberating through the bones of every student present. Only a few powerful ones like Luis, Cobert, and Alicia seed fine.
The Chira slamd its claws into the ground, fury burning in every breath. Its serpent tail hissed, releasing a poisonous fog, while its deer-like legs pulsed with dark energy, splitting the earth apart. From the cracks, thorned vines shot out like living snakes, coiling around the students' arms and legs.
"W-what the-"
"No! Help!"
"Aaah!"
With terrifying strength, they yanked the screaming victims off their feet and dragged them high into the air, thrashing helplessly as the barbs dug into their flesh.
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