As the two sentient magic beasts emerged from the shimmering barrier, the atmosphere across the battlefield changed instantly.
The serpent was far larger than the ordinary ones. Its emerald-black scales shimmered beneath the afternoon sun, and every movement of its enormous body left deep grooves across the cracked road.
The wolf was even more unsettling.
Unlike the others, it stood upright on two legs. Thick muscles bulged beneath its dark fur, while its forelimbs ended in clawed fingers instead of paws. Its crimson eyes swept across the battlefield before locking onto a single target.
Instinct.The two sentient magic beasts immediately identified the greatest threats among the ten apprentices.
The serpent's gaze landed on Manny.
Almost simultaneously, the two sentient magic beasts charged.The serpent opened its jaws.A torrent of green acid burst forward.Manny disappeared.The acid slammed into the street behind him, instantly melting the vehicle into a smoking crater.
Sssshhhh!!!
Manny was the third level apprentice of the azure Tower He reappeared behind the serpent, his enchanted sword already swinging. It was the same attack that had split the first two serpents apart.But the serpent had expected it.Its massive tail whipped around with terrifying speed.
Boom!
The blow struck Manny square in the chest before his sword could land.His body blasted through the wall of a nearby restaurant in an explosion of concrete, shattered glass, and splintered furniture.
At nearly the same moment, the wolf reached Kelvin.It raised its massive fist before bringing it down with overwhelming force.Kelvin answered with one of his own.
Bang!
The collision exploded like thunder.
The force of the impact sent shockwaves racing across the street, blowing loose debris in every direction.Neither gave way.Instead, both were forced backward by the tremendous recoil.Before Kelvin could steady himself in mid air the serpent's tail swept toward him from the side.
Kelvin's eyes narrowed.
He knew he couldn't dodge.Instead, he raised his arms to shield his vital points.
Boom!
The tail struck him head-on.Kelvin's body tore through the front of a nearby convenience store, shattering the glass entrance before crashing into the shelves inside only after crashing into the back wall did he finally come to a stop. The wolf landed back on the ground with a heavy thud.The serpent slowly drew back its tail.Having forced back the two strongest apprentices, the sentient magic beasts shifted their attention toward the others.
The remaining Crimson Tower apprentices tightened their grips on their weapons.Across the street, the Azure Tower apprentices instinctively did the same.The pressure bearing down on them was unlike anything they had felt since arriving in Coconut Grove.Then
Crash!!!
The restaurant wall exploded outward.
Chunks of concrete flew into the street as Manny stepped through the dust.A trail of blood ran from the corner of his mouth.
He wiped it away with the back of his hand, his eyes fixed on the giant serpent.Almost at the same time
The front of the convenience store burst apart.Kelvin walked out through the shattered entrance, brushing bits of broken glass from his shoulders.
His forearms ached from blocking the serpent's tail thin trails of blood ran down his right arm where shards of glass had sliced through his sleeves. His uniform was torn in several places, and fresh blood stained the fabric around his arms.
But his gaze never left the bipedal wolf, in unison they said the same thing.
"You bastards, you're finished"
The surrounding apprentices stared in silence.Both of them...Had reached the Third Level of the First Circle.No one stepped forward.Everyone understood.
This battle no longer belonged to them.
It was a fight between the two strongest apprentices... and the two sentient magic beasts.
Neither magic beast waited.The wolf burst toward Kelvin.The serpent shot toward Manny.Kelvin stretched out his right hand.Golden light gathered in his palm before extending outward.The blade of Light Breaker formed once more.Without slowing down, he slashed.The wolf twisted its body.The golden blade sliced through empty air.
In the same instant, Kelvin willed the spell to change.The rigid blade unraveled into a glowing whip.He lashed it toward the wolf.The whip tore through the air with a sharp crack.
The wolf reacted immediately.
It leaned aside, avoiding the slash before grabbing the glowing whip with one clawed hand.Its grip tightened.
Kelvin's eyes narrowed.
With a thought, the whip solidified once more.The flexible strand instantly became a sword again.The wolf's pupils shrank.Before it could release its grip
Slash!
Its right arm fell to the ground.Dark blood sprayed across the street.The wolf staggered backward, letting out a furious roar.Across the battlefield Manny vanished. He reappeared above the serpent.Then below it.To its left.To its right.Again.And again.Flashes of light appeared all around the giant serpent.
The beast's head darted in every direction, unable to predict where he would appear next.
The serpent lashed out wildly. Its enormous tail swept through the air again and again.Each strike shattered the road and crushed abandoned vehicles.
But every time. Manny was already gone.The serpent's movements became more frantic. It could no longer keep track of him. A flash of light appeared behind it once more. Manny struck.
Slash!!
The serpent's tail separated from its body. A deafening screech echoed across Coconut Grove. Dark blood poured from the severed stump as the massive tail crashed onto the street. The serpent's enormous body writhed in pain. But it didn't stop. With what remained of its tail, it slammed toward Manny. His expression changed. He raised his enchanted sword.
Boom!!
The impact forced him backward. His boots carved deep trenches through the ground before he finally came to a stop.
He exhaled heavily.
His arms trembled slightly from the force of the blow.
"Still that strong."
Across the battlefield The bipedal wolf's eyes burned with rage.It glanced at the arm lying on the ground. Then its gaze slowly returned to Kelvin. With a furious roar, it grabbed hold of a nearby streetlight. The concrete around its base cracked. With a violent pull the entire pole was ripped from the ground. Sparks burst from the severed cables as the wolf swung the streetlight.
For a brief moment...
It looked as though it were wielding a massive sword.The wolf tightened its grip around the streetlight.With a powerful leap, it soared into the air. It launched itself into the air, the streetlight raised high above its head before bringing it down with all its strength.Kelvin raised Light Breaker.
Clang!
Golden light collided with steel.The impact sent a violent shockwave across the street.The ground beneath Kelvin's feet caved in.His arms trembled.Blood seeped through the torn sleeves of his uniform before dripping onto the shattered ground.The wolf pressed down harder.Kelvin gritted his teeth.The muscles in his arms tensed as he struggled to hold the attack back barely.
For a brief moment, neither side gave way.
Then
Kelvin looked toward his teammates, and Manny did the same. Both of them were completely out of breath, their muscles screaming under the pressure.Looking at the the remaining apprentice, they yelled together in a desperate, angry chorus
"What are you guys doing?! Are you all just standing there?! HELP ALREADY!!!"
They both shouted through gritted teeth. All of a sudden, the apprentices sprang into action. The Crimson Tower apprentices focused on the wolf, while the Azure Tower apprentices focused on the serpent.
Noah was the first to move. Mana surged into his right hand as a blazing spear condensed above his palm. Without hesitation, he hurled it toward the wolf. The spear streaked through the air like a blazing comet.
The wolf sensed the danger.
It immediately turned its head toward the incoming attack.That single moment was all Kelvin needed.Kelvin stepped forward.
Thrust!
Light Breaker pierced deep into the wolf's neck.The beast froze for the briefest instant.Instead of withdrawing the blade, Kelvin twisted his wrist.
Slash!
The golden blade tore sideways through flesh and bone.The wolf's head separated from its body.The massive body remained standing for a heartbeat before collapsing onto the street with a deafening thud.
Across the battlefield
The serpent bore down with what remained of its tail.Manny gritted his teeth. His enchanted sword trembled as he struggled to keep the enormous weight from crushing him.The cracked ground beneath his feet continued to sink.Seeing their leader trapped, the Azure Tower apprentices acted without hesitation.
Vines burst from the ground, wrapping around the serpent's body.Blades of wind hammered against its scales.Ice spikes erupted beneath its belly.Fireballs exploded against its side.The barrage forced the serpent's attention away from Manny.It instinctively lifted the remaining part of its tail to deal with the attacks.
That was all Manny needed.He vanished.
Boom!
The remaining tail crashed into the ground where he had been standing, blasting chunks of debris into the air.
A flash of light appeared high above the battlefield.Manny.He raised his enchanted sword.Mana poured into the blade. The runes engraved along its surface lit up one after another.
He continued feeding it mana.Below him, the Azure Tower apprentices refused to let the serpent move.Fresh vines wrapped around its body.Spells continued raining down, keeping the sentient magic beast occupied.Lightning began crackling around Manny's sword.The pressure in the air grew heavier with every passing second.When the blade could hold no more mana, Manny's eyes sharpened.
"Dodge!"
The Azure Tower apprentices immediately scattered. Manny sent the thunderous force downward a thunderous bolt of lightning tore through the sky.
Boom!!
In an instant he shattered the serpent brain completely. A violent shockwave swept across the battlefield, throwing every apprentice backward. Only Kelvin remained where he stood.The serpent's massive body collapsed onto the ruined street with a deafening crash.The second sentient magic beast was dead.
Silence followed.
The constant roars of the magic beasts were gone. The explosions of spells ceased. Dust drifted through the air as chunks of broken concrete settled across the street.The apprentices finally relaxed. For the first time since entering Coconut Grove...The mission was over.