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"Damn knife ears, stop trembling and crying like a damn pussy! Get your shit together and channel more mana into those weak ass swings. You've got some twig arms, huh? Do you even exercise?!"
Borfus blocked the incoming strike with his shield, which radiated a powerful golden aura that reinforced its durability and strength. However, he lacked the speed to move fast enough on his own to block the attack in time. Someone else had stepped in to help him.
"Are you okay?"
"Eh?"
Reinhardt's eyes widened in surprise as little Elizabeth appeared at his side. Her hand glowed with warm, radiant light that spread across his body. His wounds closed rapidly, the pain fading away in seconds.
"E-Eh? W-Why...?"
"Hm? Are you okay now?" Elizabeth asked calmly.
"Why did you heal me...?"
Elizabeth raised an eyebrow, looking genuinely puzzled.
"Why wouldn't I?"
"..."
Yes. Indeed. Why wouldn't she?
This was something Reinhardt, a descendant of a proud knight family who had never truly fit in, had never really considered before. In his mind, people only performed good deeds for clear reasons: rewards, fame, gratitude, or to return a favor. He had never imagined that someone would do a genuinely good thing for a person who had insulted and treated them harshly.
That had been the wrong way of thinking.
Good people do good things for anybody. It does not matter if that person insulted them or hated them. They simply do what they believe is right, no matter what. A truly good person does not let insults shake their heart or affect their actions. They brush them off and hold no grudges, knowing the other person simply does not know any better.
"Thank you..." Reinhardt sighed as he stood up. "I can fight now...!" His mana surged powerfully, gathering within his blade layer after layer as he poured even more energy into it. "Like this...?!"
"Hah, don't ask me, just do it!" Borfus laughed heartily while clashing against a Thrallgus all by himself. "Now! It's coming!"
The towering muscular monster tripped after Borfus dodged its claw, then charged straight toward Reinhardt and Elizabeth. Elizabeth began gathering a small sphere of darkness in her hands, preparing to cast a spell, but Reinhardt stepped forward first.
I can't let this kid get hurt. She's a healer! he thought, swinging his sword with determination. "HEEAAAA!"
CLAAASH!
His sword collided with the monster's claw, slicing cleanly through several of its fingers. The severed digits flew through the air as the Thrallgus screamed in pain, clutching its injured arm and howling loudly.
"GRUOOOHHHH!"
"I-I did it...!" Reinhardt gasped in disbelief. "I actually did—"
"It's not dead yet, dumbass!" Borfus roared. He charged forward and delivered a powerful Shield Bash to the monster's back, causing the Thrallgus to stumble heavily. "Hit it in the head! Now!"
"R-Right!"
Reinhardt nodded quickly and swung his sword, aiming to stab the monster's head. However, the blade struck with a loud clang.
CLANK!
It was far too hard.
"D-Damn it! The skull's harder than stone?!"
Elizabeth smiled gently and placed her hand on his back. A bright flash of light enveloped Reinhardt for a moment, making his eyes widen in astonishment.
"This power...!"
"It's a buff. Do it quickly," she said.
Even though she did not possess a specific skill designed to buff others, creating a spell that increased an ally's speed, strength, or defense came naturally to Elizabeth. It was as simple as weaving her Harmony element to benefit others, just as she had done for herself. Harmony, the opposite of chaos, naturally healed and strengthened living beings. As someone deeply attuned to magic, she could accomplish this without much difficulty.
Of course, spells created this way were somewhat unstable and weaker than those found in grimoires or granted as proper skills. Still, repeated use of these new spells could bring about meaningful change.
Ariel, her floating grimoire, hovered nearby and assisted her. Reinhardt noticed the book and felt a surge of respect.
She's... this girl is the real deal! he thought, smiling lightly. "Fine...! Because you trust in me...! I'll fight with all I have!" He roared and stepped forward. "HEEAA!"
He swung his sword once more. The Thrallgus had already recovered and met his strike with a heavy punch.
CLAAASH!
"Nnnggh?!"
Elizabeth had given him a modest buff, nothing too extreme. His body would not have been able to handle anything stronger. She granted him roughly a thirty percent increase in strength and named the newly invented spell "Harmonious Reinforcement." She noticed that the spell grew and developed best when used on others rather than on herself. After all, it was a spell meant to help people.
"Come on now, beard cutter, stop being such a pussy!!!"
A new figure dropped from above, leaping high into the air before descending with a powerful axe strike that cleaved straight through the Thrallgus' hard skull.
CRASH!
Borfus finished the monster off decisively.
"That took too long. We're surrounded again. At this rate we'll all die and fail the trial!" he shouted angrily.
"Tsk!" Reinhardt clicked his tongue. "Wait, where's the Oni girl?"
"Over there," Elizabeth replied, looking into the distance. "She's flashy as hell!"
FLASH! FLASH! FLASH!
Meanwhile, the mysterious Oni girl moved with incredible speed. Her legs crackled with energy as her sword cut and weakened the Thrallgus one after another. She could slice their tough hides and make them bleed, but their incredibly hard scales and bones made it difficult for her to kill them instantly. Her cutting techniques and skills were not yet at the level needed for instant kills. Even so, she proved highly efficient at bleeding them out slowly. As a loner, she paid little attention to anyone else around her.
The rest of the adventurers struggled and failed to inflict meaningful damage. They screamed and trembled, stepping back and huddling together in a large group as the Thrallgus approached with wide, cruel smiles on their faces. The monsters laughed as if they greatly enjoyed cornering helpless humans.
Archivald fought alone, defending against two Thrallgus at once. He swung his polearm skillfully, striking their heads, shoulders, stomachs, and crotches, several known weak points that should have paralyzed them. Yet the monsters' unnatural toughness meant even these attacks only slowed them down. The trial had clearly been designed to force participants to work together.
"And the girl...?" Elizabeth wondered. She soon spotted the Ghoul Girl trembling in a corner. The Thrallgus groaned and staggered as her ghosts induced fear and hallucinations, tormenting them with nightmares. However, the girl herself was too afraid to fully utilize the powerful artifact she carried or the potent netherworld flames within her.
Elizabeth shook her head. At this rate, everyone would lose. They could not keep fighting separately.
"Everyone, we have to work together!" she suddenly called out, her clear voice shocking the entire group.
"ROOAARRRR!"
As she spoke, a huge Thrallgus, larger and more ferocious than the others, emerged and charged straight into the group. This one had red scales, a long tongue, and crazed, bloodshot eyes.
"A berserk variant?! Seriously?!" Reinhardt exclaimed in disbelief, stepping back. "Ah! Watch out!"
The giant claw descended toward Elizabeth as the monster leaped into the air, targeting her as the smallest and seemingly weakest, yet the one with the most appetizing Fantasium signature.
Alfrion smiled quietly while readjusting his glasses. "Let's see if you're just all talk, Elizabeth..."
CLAAASH!
Some expected a bloody massacre. Others thought the girl would be sent flying dozens of meters away. Yet what actually happened far exceeded their imaginations.
"Hmph. I was talking!" Elizabeth said angrily. A golden barrier surrounded her perfectly, blocking the heavy attack without a single scratch. She could have stopped it with her bare hands, but she did not want to appear too flashy. Even so, the display was still impressive.
"How about you stop annoying us? Demon Bite."
A dark book materialized beside her. Asmodeus. Thick darkness poured from the grimoire as dozens of small, vicious jaws formed and began biting through the Berserk Thrallgus's tough skin and arm, tearing it to shreds.
"GAAAAHHHHH!"
The monster screamed in agony and stumbled backward, bleeding profusely. Everyone gasped, finally realizing what Reinhardt had already understood.
"This girl's the real deal!"
Elizabeth smiled softly as she looked at the rest of the group.
"Now that I have your attention, please listen. This trial was made for us to work together!" she declared. "We cannot win if we do not cooperate...! So please, help us defeat the Thrallgus!"
Her words, spoken by this little adorable disguised dragon, stirred their hearts like nothing else could. It was as if she possessed a natural, kingly charisma. They could almost see a shining star behind her. She was a natural-born leader.
Inspired and filled with renewed hope after falling into despair, the adventurers stood taller. They looked at the monsters, then felt her warm light reaching them.
"I will buff you all. Let's fight as one!"
"Let's become adventurers!" she roared.
"YEAH!!!"
They roared back in unison, united by the shared desire to fulfill their dreams and finally become true Adventurers.
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