The Iron-Horn Boar charged like a runaway boulder.
Its massive, iron-plated hooves tore violently through the earth, kickstarting a storm of dirt and sending jagged rocks flying in every direction.
“Mira!”
Lyra didn’t think.
Sprinting across the chaotic battlefield, Lyra ignored the screeches and roars of other beasts clashing around her.
Her silver bracelet flashed a warning pulse against her wrist as she pushed her legs to their absolute limit.
“Move!” she screamed.
Mira looked up, her green eyes widening in sheer terror as the towering boar closed the final few meters.
For a split second, fear rooted her to the spot.
It was already too late to dodge.
With a desperate burst of speed, Lyra threw her entire weight forward.
The impact knocked both girls sideways, sending them rolling hard across the dirt.
A fraction of a second later, the boar thundered through the same space they had been standing, its lethal, razor sharp tusks missing Lyra’s face by less than a hand’s width.
Unable to brake, the beast crashed headfirst into a massive stone pillar.
The pillar exploded into a cloud of jagged rubble and choking gray dust.
Lyra groaned, coughing as she rolled onto her back.
Her left shoulder burned fiercely from the impact, but she forced herself to sit up.
“…Are you okay?” she gasped, waving the dust away from her face.
Mira blinked rapidly, her body trembling as she looked down at her hands.
“I… I think so. You saved me… Lyra, there wasn’t even time to think…”
“Save the thanks!” Lyra warned, her eyes locking onto the dust cloud.
Through the haze, a pair of glowing red eyes locked back onto them.
The Iron-Horn Boar let out a deafening roar.
It was already shaking off the rubble, turning its massive head back in their direction.
“Mason!” Lyra called out.
From the drifting smoke, the tall, crimson-haired swordsman appeared like a phantom.
Without a single word of hesitation, Mason gripped the hilt of the greatsword strapped to his back and unsheathed it in one fluid, powerful motion.
CLANG!
The metallic collision sent a brilliant shower of sparks flying into the air.
The sheer force of the impact forced Mason backward, his heavy leather boots digging deep, jagged grooves into the solid ground.
He skidded several meters before finally stopping, his muscles straining.
“…Strong,” Mason muttered, his voice a low, gravelly rasp.
The boar, however, was barely fazed.
It shook its heavy head, snorting a cloud of hot steam from its snout before lowering its armored forehead once more.
“Move!” Mason barked.
The three of them scattered in different directions just as the beast unleashed another ferocious charge.
Around them, the vast examination plaza had devolved into complete, unmitigated chaos.
Over forty elite students fought desperately for their survival.
Some attempted to form crude battle lines, working together to bring down the trial beasts, while others selfishly abandoned their teammates, using their peers as bait to secure a quick exit.
Every few seconds, the crystal bracelets on the students’ wrists flashed brightly, updating their scores in real-time.
+2 Points
-1 Point
+3 Points
The numbers rose and fell like a chaotic stock market, but Lyra barely spared her wrist a glance.
She was entirely focused on the immediate task of staying alive.
“Myrmor…” she breathed, ducking behind a shattered stone block as the boar thrashed nearby.
“The boar… its front armor is impossible to pierce, I haven’t seen such beast before.”
“Then stop attacking the front,” Myrmor’s voice echoed calmly in her mind, entirely unaffected by the surrounding violence.
Lyra peeked around the stone block, her eyes tracking the creature’s movements.
The boar charged towards Mason.
It missed as Mason vaulted over a pile of rubble.
It turned, but its massive bulk made the rotation slow and clumsy, that was when it clicked.
Its hind legs…
“They’re slower,” Lyra realized, her eyes lightening up.
“The armor on its flanks is much thinner to allow for movement.”
“Correct,” Myrmor noted. Read this novel at g.com for the best experience.
“But remember, a stronger enemy rarely has only one weakness. If you target the rear, it will simply kick. You must disrupt its focus.”
Lyra nodded, her mind working at high speed.
She watched the beast’s trajectory again.
Lowering its head.
Accelerate.
Commit fully.
Wide turning radius.
“…I have an idea,” Lyra whispered.
“Mason!”
The swordsman glanced toward her, easily parrying a stray Stone Wolf with the flat of his blade.
“What?”
“When it charges you again… don’t try to stop it. Don’t block it!”
Mason’s thick brows furrowed in confusion.
“…Explain.”
“There’s no time! Just trust me!”
The crimson-haired warrior hesitated for only a heartbeat.
He looked at the giant beast, then back at Lyra’s determined expression.
He gave a single, sharp nod.
“Fine.”
The Iron-Horn Boar snorted, its red eyes locking onto the largest threat.
It pawed the ground once, then charged straight toward Mason like a runaway freight train.
This time, Mason stood his ground until the absolute last second.
Just as the razor-sharp tusks were about to pierce his chest, he threw himself to the side.
The beast rushed past, its immense forward momentum making it impossible to stop.
It was exactly as Lyra had predicted.
“Mira, now!” Lyra shouted.