The Wielder of Death Magic

A girl with green hair tied with a flowery band – her complexion was fair beyond reproach. No origin could be found since she came from another province. The boys didn’t stare due to hormones, no, granted her beauty was angel-like, it was her strength, the sheer aura of wanting to fight.

“Group A, bring forth the captain!” yelled Fletcher who gestured the guild-people to start preparation.

“Captain of Team A,” said she with the green hair loudly, “-Anna Igusta.”

“Good. I feel your determination. Now then, your opponent, as will the others,” a side-glance, “-is going to be the One-eyed wolf of the Azure Forest. These beasts are known for their bloodthirst with a ranking of Tier-8 Steel.” The strength level had the students gasp into utter silence. “We said prior, nothing will be held back.” The arena emptied with the beast growling and pulling on its chains. The dense glare it gave sufficed to have most of Team A shiver.

“Fight!” the chains broke with a clang. It dashed by leaving a trail of dust. The next instant without even tracking the movements, the wolf stood in their blind side and swiftly clawed at three students. They fell promptly with minor injuries.

“GET UP!” screamed Anna following the wolf, it turned with another growl. Face to face, it was twice her height, yet, the moment after it struck, she held a hand and conjured a magical barrier. It took and returned the impact sending the monster a few meters back.

.....

“Gather around me,” said she, “-melee go at the front, support, at the back, I’ll heal as much as I can, come on people, we need to win!”

As it so happens, the battle was being marked by the Guild-Representatives. They who sat with weird attire held pen and paper. “The green-haired girl has a lot of potential,” said one of them, “-she can fight off the one-eyed wolf but choose to heal instead. A selfless action to put her team before glory, I’m impressed.” The statement said it all.

Sadly, the selflessness brought the downfall of the other members. Facing imminent death wasn’t easy, broken morale from the first strike had them fight a losing battle. And so, one by one, the team broke – the healing and protection didn’t suffice.

“Useless,” mumbled she alone with the wolf, her blue eyes changed to red, “-Binding Forest.” A spherelike bundle of veins swallowed the beast, “-A thousand thorn of the Rose!” *snap.* A barrage of projectile impaled the monster to end the battle. Her fierceness never dwindled as the face remained on alert.

“Team A, congratulation,” said Fletcher mildly impressed, “-those who have been injured will be tended. Team B, you’re up!”

The next row approached at a slow pace. Confidence was lacking, and when asked to voice their leader, none dared to make a move. “No leader, what a shame. Guess thee are to fight without a guide, very well, as punishment for not obeying my orders, we’ll release 4 wolves!” The words rocked the arena to its core, and just like that, the monsters were brought in.

“SIR!” voiced a rather enraged Lampard, “-it’s not fair,” said he passionately, “-I’ve seen people die at the hands of those wolves. A single one managed to destroy my village, and here you are trying to punish others without a care for human-life!”

“Shut it,” gritted Rena, “-sir, I apologize on his behalf, a troubled past, you know the deal.”

“Mr. Lampard,” came the daggerlike voice of Lady Melisa, “-troubled or not, you’re not the only one who has suffered at the hand of the monsters. All who stand here has had said experience. Don’t go thinking thou art the only with revenge in mind.”

“Lady Melisa,” interjected a member of Group B. Blue hair and bluer eyes, “-Lampard, I thank you for trying to stand up for us. It’s true we didn’t choose a leader. Tis because we don’t need one,” suddenly, the truth of Group B came to fruition. Each member stood with weapons and an air of malice. “-we’ve been on the battlefield plenty o’ time.”

“Adventurer Frost,” said Fletcher, “-I guess the prodigy of Blade’s End decided to speak up. I was wondering what need be done to rile that cold-spirit.”

“Sorry about that sir,” he casually scratched his head, “-can we begin with the evaluation?”

“I guess standing up didn’t matter in the end,” added Leonard gently parting his hair, “-Frost is Tier-7 Sapphire. A prodigy who climbed the ranks at a neck-breaking speed. There’re rumors of him drugging the path to the top. Mindless chatter of the weak,” shaking the head in dismissal, “-let’s see how he fights.”

The signal to start blew, and blew it did for two of the wolves froze to death within a second. The remaining two were killed effortlessly by the four other members.

“Group B, they individually outranked the fellow comrades. I guess four didn’t suffice, what say you, Guild Representative, any remarks?”

“Always the cynic, aren’t you, Fletcher. Team B passes the evaluation, they each stand out as very versatile and experienced warriors. They’re a good batch, I can already feel the guilds fighting for those boys.”

“And you’re always the mysterious one, aren’t you, Mr. Denver.”

“The nature of the job,” he added slyly, “-bring out the last team, I have a soap-opera to watch.”

‘And annoying as ever,’ he thought to gesture the last group.

“Thanks for standing up for us earlier,” said Frost with a smirk, “-I suppose heroes are always born stupid.” On that, Group B laughed their way up the stairs.

“Pompous bastard,” gritted Rena with intent to start a fight.

“Don’t!” mumbled Leonard, “-there’s no need for that now. Come on, let’s go.” Lampard led the way listlessly with a blank expression. “I guess they’ve pissed him off,” laughed Rena, “-leave the front-lines to him.”

‘Each step I take, the closer we get. The battlefield smells of blood and iron, the stickiness of the dirt and humidity from Group B is annoying. Why does this feel so familiar, why is my heart racing? My mind says to hide but the body says to move.’

“Hey... HEY!”

“Jen, sorry about that.”

“Stop spacing out,” said she nodding upwards. The five stood with Fletcher peering down.

“Who’s the leader, come forth.”

“It’s me, sir,” said Lampard with a cavalier expression.

“I won’t go into details and as punishment for speaking up earlier, you’ll be fighting hordes of goblins as well as the one-eyed wolf. Do I make myself clear?”

“Yes sir!”

“We’ve gone an angered them for no reason,” laughed Rena.

“Listen, everyone,” said Lampard, “-we’ll be fighting a hard battle. Rena and I will take the vanguard, Leonard, since you’re a mage, please do the best to support us. Jen, as a marksman, you’ll be on overwatch. Goblins move quick and they don’t take no for an answer.”

“What about me?” asked Igna.

“You have a sword, don’t you?” returned Rena coldly, “-keep to the side-line and leave the fighting to us. Jen will have your back since you two are buddy-buddy.”

“I guess we are friends,” laughed Jen standing farther back with Igna in tow. “-don’t let her get you down. You came here to become a trader, didn’t you? Leave the fighting to us. My quest today is to protect you with my life, a trader with an escort, how does that sound?”

“Sounds good,” replied he emptily, ‘-why does it feel so humiliating to be shoved to the side. I hate this feeling,’ he glared, ‘-suppose that’s what they think of weaklings. Nothing much I can do about it.’

In the distance, the cages opened to unleash three one-eyed wolves and countless goblins. They went straight for Rena who held two-swords. A dual-wielder, the sword-style that is rare, complicated, and useless. Only if the style is mastered correctly is then that the offensive power becomes a thing of remark.

The goblins closed in, a blink later following a twirl, the headless bodies fell.

“She’s getting careless,” said Jen firing an arrow with a burst of air. The pressure at which it shot took the heads of countless goblins and injured a wolf on the verge of ambushing Rena. Leonard summoned spirit-beasts to aid the fight. Lampard did naught but stand, the spear readied to pierce. “YOU DARED LOOK DOWN ON ME!”

*CRACK.* The walls shattered with an impaled wolf.

“Such offensive power,” voiced Denver, “-that boy has more potential than I’ve seen so far. Rena is strong and is getting stronger, the quick reactions, as well as her sword-style, are harmonious. Jen and Leonard might seem to not do anything; however, they’re truly supporting the group. Each member is helping one another to fight. I like what I see, except for that boy over there. The weak stature and unwillingness to fight are shameful.”

Hard as they may have tried, the battle remained at a deadlock. Lampard’s strength came to a standstill after the first assault. Leonard’s mana grew weak and Rena’s stamina dwindled. The fight had dragged on for a solid twenty minutes. Two one-eyed wolves and the ever-annoying green devils.

“How’s everyone?” asked Lampard with the group standing back-to-back.

“I have another ten-minutes in me,” said Leonard.

“Same here,” panted Rena.

“Running out of arrows.” The horde soon learned and surrounded the group, the situation grew dire.

“I have an idea.”

“What is it, Leonard?”

“If we charge the last two wolves, we might just make it. The goblins will keep fighting as long as those two are around. Show them our power and they’ll retreat.”

“Sure,” all agreed.

“Us three will charge the one to the right. Jen, I saw the destructive power earlier – you’ll be essential in this plan. Fire the last arrow at the other and don’t hold anything back.”

“Soooo demanding,” she sighed, “-sure, go forth then, Group C.”

“Don’t worry, Igna, we’ll be over soon,” said she turning to the boy sat with back against the arena wall. ‘Finally,’ he breathed as the nightmare would come to an end.

*CHARGE* spear at the front, the trio broke through and made for the wolf. Imprisonment spell held the movement and the two warriors fought with every remainder of strength.

‘Guess it’s my turn.’ Straight and powerful, Jen drew her bow. A whirlwind of pure destruction gathered at her feet.

‘A trader doesn’t need to fight,’ the eyes closed, ‘-I guess they really don’t need me.’ The outlines of multiple bodies grew apparent. One managed to slip past the assault team and snuck just shy of Jen. ‘She’s about to die,’ the eyes opened with the whole arena coming to a stop. ‘-No way in hell am I going to sit back,’ dropping the sword, he jumped.

*FWOUP* the loud explosion of the arrow hit the target instantly. ‘Well, there goes another bow,’ sighed she dropping the broken weapon. “-Hey, Igna, it’s over,” said she glancing over the shoulder. *Crack,* warm liquid hit her face. ‘Blood?’

“I guess I managed to protect you,” laughed he with a blade coming out the stomach.

“Igna?” her posture slumped.

“Are you an idiot?” he pulled out the weapon from the front, “-don’t worry about me,” quick to turn and stab the green devil, “-the other team needs support,” he fell to his knees, “-my sword is there, take it and go. I probably can’t use it anyway.” Thus, he fell headfirst with blood gushing as if an open tap, ‘-this is so familiar,’ thought he, ‘-I’m going to die and still, there’s no fear. I know with certainty that I’m coming back to life.’

*YAAA,* the other goblins fell at Jen’s hand.

“Aren’t you supposed to guard the little weakling?” inquired Rena.

“Shut up,” refuted she, “-the ‘weakling’ saved my life and yours too. Be fucking grateful since he died to save pompous assholes like you!”