For a moment, no one in the area moved—not even Clayton. Everyone stood still, silently observing one another, as if trying to gauge the strength of their potential enemies.
It soon became clear that the two people who had just collapsed were both five-star mage apprentices. Meanwhile, the one who had launched the lightning serpent at Clayton was a four-star apprentice. Only Clayton himself was a mere three-star.
Upon this realization, everyone reacted differently. The two five-star apprentices looked somewhat relieved, now focusing only on each other. They paid no attention to Clayton or the injured lightning mage. As for the wounded one, he seemed completely indifferent—whether due to confidence or simply having accepted his fate was unclear.
Clayton—the "weakest" among them—looked appropriately nervous, as any sensible three-star apprentice would in such a situation.
