The sound of battle entered our ears from afar. At once, Luke, Blaine, and I hardened our postures in preparation for battle. The clanging sounds carried over by the air were intense, like two giant blocks of steel crashing into one other over and over again. Each attack and every parry was heavy enough to send a normal person flying.

The three of us exchanged gazes and nodded. With Luke in the lead and Blaine in the center, we set off toward the sounds.

Before long, giant slabs of stone-colored ochre and yellow from the constant harassment of the wastelands came into our sight. Cracks spread through the slabs on the ground and stretched up to the broken pillars of marble on the sides. Dust and sand filled the ground, though the scathing air had calmed down near the place. We had been following the map toward the center and had entered the altar-like place etched on it.

The sounds of battle intensified.

Short grunts and low growls mixed in with the sound of metal.

Our feet came to a screeching halt as a pit popped up in our path. The stone slabs stretched downward all around in the giant circular pit. With the other end almost a few hundred meters away.

Red hair fluttered wildly inside the pit. With a shake of her head, flames would form a wall between her and the enemy. Seraphina Exise swung her spear and parried the strike of the blades before jumping back and heaving a sigh. The blades were pushed back, but the monster's four legs did not let its body lose balance. The appendage-like legs pushed against the ground and sent the monster flying ahead. Wings popped open from its back as its claws glistened in the wind again.

“Mantis…”

With yellow sand covering its body, the giant mantis monster bore its fangs against Seraphina Exise. It tore through the air and bulleted toward the girl.

Seraphina Exise lowered her stance and rolled on the ground, dodging under the mantis. The head of her spear tore into the ground and she used it as a pole to twirl around and kick the Mantis' legs.

Her kick… passed through the mantis' feet.

With unfathomable speed, the mantis had stepped back and left Seraphina kicking at its afterimage. It swung the blade extending from its claws in the air. It was too far to reach her, but a crescent of air zapped out from the blade and slammed into Seraphina's torso, sending her flying back into the pit.

“Sera!“ Blaine shouted.

“Oh? Is that you Blaine? Ouch, ouch…” Sitting against the wall, Seraphina Exise held her stomach and tried to stand up. A bright smile covered her face as she turned her gaze to us.

“You've brought quite the cuties,” Seraphina said. She took the support of her spear and got on her feet, eyeing the mantis again with a gaze more serious than before.

“Ralph, was it?“ she said, not looking at us. “Do you fancy a mantis head? You can treat me to dinner in return.“

Wow, so this was how she captured the hearts of many, huh? Seraphina Exise was a true devilish woman, even the seniors in the academy weren't safe from her.

“How about I do that regardless of the head?“ I smirked and answered.

“Hey, you! Shut up!“ Blaine hissed at me, while Seraphina broke into a chuckle.

“Fine, I'll hold you up on that offer.“ With that, Seraphina took a stance again. Her mana coursed through her blood-red spear and covered it in flames as her hair started swaying again.

Blaine clicked her tongue and dropped the bag off her shoulders. She then reached into her pockets and pulled out her bow as Seraphina and the Mantis engaged in a staredown. The bluish-white bowstring formed from the tips when her hand tightened around the grip.

What the heck? This bitch was planning to help her friend from up here?

Blaine pulled the bowstring.

Seraphina and the Mantis lowered their stance. Ready to charge.

I sneaked my hand behind Blaine's back.

An arrow of magic formed.

Seraphina and the Mantis shot off the ground.

“Ah…”

With as much finesse as I could summon, I pushed Blaine ahead and dropped her from the pit.

“AAAH!“ she screamed as she fell. Seraphina and the Mantis stopped in their tracks as a newcomer came crashing down into the battlefield and fell on her back.

Luke looked at me with widened eyes, while I just shrugged. “Silly one, that girl. Tripped on her own feet.“

Back in the pit, the Mantis deemed Blaine to be the easier prey and growled at her. The girl displayed her vast vocabulary as she cursed me out, as expected from a smart kid, I learned a few new words today.

The Mantis screeched and raised its blades when two arrows swerved through the air and toward its eyes. It cut the arrows through the middle and growled again.

Right then, Luke jumped down from the walls and dived into the pit. He pulled his sword back, covering it in his bright mana. Luke swung the sword down carrying all the momentum from the fall. The Mantis formed a cross with its blades to block the sword but was pushed back by sheer force.

“It's three against one, monster,“ Luke said. “You should start by laying off my friends.“

A true nice guy till the end. He dived in to save his friends and not for the points.

The Mantis shook its head. A green glow crept up on the blades in its forelegs as a gust, no, a tempest of wind circled them.

It was time for me to dive in too.

I slowly hooked the bag in a corner of the walls and stretched my arms and legs. The Mantis was powering up its blades as it slowly prepared to charge into them again.

There wasn't much of a need to hide my abilities here. Though there were drones around, I was still Isabella's student. She explicitly told me to not take up the entire spotlight but to make sure I proved myself as her pupil. I wasn't quite up for her PR work, but a chance to let loose was worth it.

I took in a deep breath and looked down.

The mantis would charge ahead just as I dive down. I would dodge its blades in midair and slam it with a wind spell while taking away its senses. Perfect plan.

The mantis' legs twitched.

I jumped off into the pit, forming a beautiful arch. My eyes stayed focused on the approaching mantis and its blades, ready to track its movements and avoid them.

The mantis swung its blade.

I moved my eyes to intercept its movements—

—When a translucent blue box blocked my vision.

{System Update: Complete}

{Heyyyyyyyy hostttt! Missed me any!?}

FUCKING SYSTEM.