Jiao's thoughts: Look at that boy's predator eyes...
A smile slowly crept across his face.
"The fun has only just begun."
He shifted his gaze toward Aturia.
Before she could even realize what was happening, another giant snake burst from the ground and shot toward her at incredible speed.
"Next is the ice girl turn let's see how she'd handle it
The giant snake lunged at Aturia with blinding speed, but she couldn't run because of the deep injury on her thighs earlier.
Then, without warning, the colossal serpent let out a deafening screech as it scraped across the ground before slowly grinding to a halt.
As the dust settled, a figure came into view.
Seig.
Breathing heavily, he stood between Aturia and the serpent, having taken the full force of its charge with his own body.
Jiao's thoughts: This boy's endurance is unbelievable... He took that attack head-on and is still standing.
Seig: "A... Aturia..."
He spoke weakly, bruises covering his body.
Aturia's eyes widened as she snapped toward his voice.
There he stood, his crimson predatory eyes locked on her as he shielded her from the giant serpent with his own body.
Seig: "You... okay, you dweeb?"
Despite his battered condition, a faint, mocking grin spread across his face.
Meanwhile outside the forest gate—
Mr X is sitting on a table eating his lunch as he gets interrupted by a member of the Camelot police force who runs in with anxiety.
Officer: "There's terrible news Mr X.
Mr X: "Already? What is it?
Officer: Three dead bodies were found in the basement of the academy ground.
Mr X: "Dead bodies?
Officer: "Yes sir come and see for yourself and they look very weird.
Ten minutes later they reached the basement in the Academy.
Officer: "Judging from their belongings they were all Rank 3 magic knights from the Spade kingdom to take part in the exam. And as you can see their faces are completely gone"
Mr X bends down as he inspects the corpses.
Mr X thought: Their faces are completely smooth as though they've been melted. No doubt about it... I recognize whose technique was used here but why now of all times.
"Officer! Report this to the King of Knights immediately. Tell him this is a Code Red."
His expression hardened as he turned toward the forest.
Commander: "A rogue Magic Knight has infiltrated Camelot and entered the Rank 2 Exam. I'm going after him."
Meanwhile in the forest as the tension continues to rise with Team E.
Jiao: You stopped my attack boy...impressive. He opened his mouth as his long black tongue stretched and wrapped around Seig pulling him closer.
Seig: "Hey get off me" he screamed defiantly
Jiao: "That predator crimson look in your eyes, your fangs and claws there's no doubt. You're the vessel of the Fire Elemental beast.
Seig growls in anger
Jiao: "How fascinating that when you're consumed with rage. You lose yourself and a bit of dragon Mana within his leaks through and your body changes.
He raises Seig shirt up as he sees a red dragon head symbol tattooed on Seig stomach.
Jiao: "Ah... there's the seal. He suddenly concentrates mana around his finger tips and struck Seig directly on the his stomach.
As Seig screamed in agony and pain before falling unconscious.
Miki: "Aturia, you have to help Seig!"
Aturia: "But I..."
Her voice trembled, the words catching in her throat as fear rooted her to the spot.
Miki: "Fine... if you won't do something, then I will!"
Miki sprinted up the giant snake's body, charging straight toward Jiao in a desperate attempt to save Seig.
Jiao merely smirked before casually hurling Seig's unconscious body high into the air.
Miki thought to herself "He'll die from that fall!
Without hesitation, Miki changed direction and dashed after him.
Clapping her hands together as she concentrated, she immediately used a substitution technique, instantly switching places with a tree branch high above.
She caught Seig in her arms just before he could hit the ground.
Miki: "Phew... he's okay."
She let out a sigh of relief, holding him close.
Miki: "Aturia... Seig may be clumsy, and he can be a little reckless... but he has a good heart."
She looked Aturia straight in the eyes.
Miki: "Seig is no coward."
Aturia closed her eyes as countless thoughts raced through her mind.
Aturia: "Seig... Miki... You two really are amazing."
Jiao: "Oh? So you can talk now."
A smirk crept across his face.
Jiao: "Or are you still shaking in your boots ice girl, What happened to all that arrogant pride?"
Aturia: "What's so funny, freak? What are you staring at?"
She took a step forward, her voice steady.
Aturia: "What, did you really think I'd just roll over and die from an attack like that? You're nothing but a trickster."
A fierce glare settled in her eyes.
Aturia: "I am a Magic Knight. I am Aturia Silva... and I am no coward."
She then Immediately activated her hex eyes ad
Four blue lines emerged from her irises as her Hex Eyes awakened to a new level.
Jiao: "Heh... so your noble blood is finally awakening."
He glanced at her eyes with a grin.
Jiao: "From two lines... to four. Looks like the pressure finally forced your Hex Eyes to evolve."
Without hesitation, Aturia conjured twin ice daggers in her hands. Behind her, a barrage of ice spikes formed in midair, suspended in eerie silence as they awaited her command.
Aturia's thoughts: I've spent my whole life chasing one goal... growing stronger so that one day I could kill my older brother.
...But maybe I've been the real fool all along.
If I can't even find the courage to stand up and do what has to be done at a time like this... then what chance would I ever have against... him?
Aturia took a deep breath and lowered into her stance.
Then she burst forward.
With a sweep of her hand, the ice spikes suspended behind her shot toward Jiao in a relentless barrage.
Jiao's body twisted unnaturally as he slithered between every projectile with snake-like agility, weaving through the storm of ice without a single spike touching him.
Aturia immediately jumped while swinging through the tree branches.
With the enhanced perception and reaction speed granted by her four-line Hex Eyes, Aturia effortlessly read Jiao's inhuman movements.
The instant she saw an opening, her body responded without hesitation and she hurled one of her ice daggers.
The blade sliced through the air with deadly precision before piercing straight through Jiao's arm.
Jiao: "The way he anticipates my every move and reacts instantly is fascinating. Not bad. He said to himself smiling.
A smile spread across Aturia's face, her eyes gleaming with pure exhilaration as the fight was moving to her favour.
She took a deep breath.
Then she exhaled.
A raging blizzard burst from her mouth, engulfing Jiao in a torrent of freezing wind and ice. Frost rapidly spread across his body and the surrounding area, encasing everything in its path beneath a thick layer of ice.
Jiao: "Damn it, I can't move.
He struggled to break free but Aturia didn't even give him to rest. As she immediately forged an ice spear in her hand took one step forward and threw it all her strength piercing jiao directly through the head.
Aturia breathed heavily sweating as she was quickly running out of stamina and her mana reserves were reducing due to overuse of her hex eyes.
Minutes later, cracks spread across the frozen prison as the ice slowly melted.
Aturia frowned. Something felt... wrong.
The spear was still lodged in Jiao's head, yet there was no blood.
Crack.
The body split apart like a hollow shell.
Jiao's frozen skin peeled away in long strips before collapsing into pieces
A voice echoed from behind her.
Jiao "A serpent always sheds its skin."
Aturia's eyes widened as she turned.
Jiao stood several meters away, breathing heavily. His clothes were torn, and fresh cuts covered his body, but he was alive.
"My Serpentine Magic: Shedding Skin lets me discard my outer layer at the last moment. It doesn't heal my wounds or restore my mana... but it can save me from a fatal blow."
Aturia: "You stubborn mongrel why won't you just die?
Jioa let out a small chuckle: "I admit you truly are outstanding you make the name of the Silva Family proud. You really are his brother aren't you? I can tell you have a far greater potential with those eyes than Sae ever dreamed of.
Aturia: You know my brother? She said surprised.
"Just who the heck are you anyway?
Jiao: Name's aren't important? But if you'd ever like a rematch I'll see then pass this exam as quickly as you can. I'll see you again if you manage to defeat two of my teammates who work for me. I believe you've met one already the imposter.
Miki thought to herself: So that imposter earlier is working for this guy? And there's another one?
Aturia: "What the hell are you talking about? We never want to see your face again.
Jiao: "Heh... I'm not interested in your teammates."
His gaze briefly drifted toward Seig before returning to Aturia.
Jiao: "That boy carrying the Dragon Vessel does amuse me... but I don't think I could even control its raw, destructive power."
A sinister grin spread across his face.
Jiao: "No... the one I'm interested in is you.".
He said pointing at Aturia and suddenly Aturia felt a sharp sting at her leg. She looked down as a snake bit her while jiao was distracted her.
Aturia pulled its fangs from her leg and froze it instantly but it was already too late as the snake had already injected its venom.
Jiao: "I look forward to seeing you again Aturia... in the quest for power. He said laughing with a sinister smile before slithering away.
Aturia held her leg in pain and agony due to the effects of snake bite.
Piggybacking the unconscious Seig, Miki hurried over to Aturia as fast as she could.
She gently placed Seig down to focus on Aturia.
Miki: Aturia what happened...She said as she saw Aturia clutching her leg revealing a snake bite.
Miki's thought: "By now, the poison must have already spread...
...But I still believe there's a chance.
She stretched her hand toward Aturia.
A gentle purple glow enveloped her palm as healing mana flowed from it, beginning to purge the venom from Aturia's body.
The bite wound on Aturia's leg slowly closed, and the bruises covering her body gradually faded under Miki's healing magic.
But something was wrong.
The venom remained in her bloodstream, refusing to be purged.
This was no ordinary poison.
Aturia clutched her head and let out a cry of agony.
Aturia: "My head...! Why does it hurt so much?!"
Her eyes suddenly rolled white.
A moment later, her body went limp.
Before she could hit the ground, Miki lunged forward and caught her in her arms.
Miki thought: This guy possesses a venom capable of resisting healing magic. There's no doubt that man is dangerous.
Dark clouds gathered overhead, swallowing the sky as rain began to pour.
With no time to waste, Miki struggled through the downpour, carrying both of her unconscious teammates to a nearby cave.
Once inside, she gently laid Seig and Aturia on the cave floor before collapsing to her knees beside them.
Miki: "What... what am I supposed to do now? She said to herself in isolation.