Chapter 16 - Willpower's Strength

What is a Fanged Crawler doing here?! Someone really is pulling strings from behind the scenes. But why? Is it about my status?

I could fight equally with one, but I'm seriously at a disadvantage. The place is dark, it's narrow, I can't use my strongest magic or else I'll expose myself, I can't summon my familiars for the same reason either.

I panicked for a while, but managed to calm down. It hasn't notices me, yet. Should I escape or should I fight? I looked behind me towards the stairs, but it collapsed. What caused it?

I have no choice, then. I can't fight a Fanged Crawler right now. Not when I don't know if people are watching me. I should escape. I will escape.

Strengthening my will to escape, I acted out a plan on my head. I've already fought a Fanged Crawler once, but it was a unique one. Sebastian and my familiars are also there.

I casted a spell. It was an earth spell to determine someone's location. The Fanged Crawler is right across the room. Good.

I turned towards the broken stairs leading up. I should be able to get up with earth magic. I prepared my incantation and did it fast. When mages chant their spells, their surroundings would glow because of the gathered mana.

The Fanged Crawler stared my way, growled, and sprinted towards me. He was halfway through when I finished my big spell and raised the ground beloq me so that I could get out. The floor shook and I hurried outside.

I reached the door and turned the knob. It's locked! I need to find a window, fast. I searched for one frantically. All of them were boarded up. The basement door was still blocked by my spell.

I summoned Nightmare from my shadows. Let's just hope they think Nightmare is a normal Black Spider. I ordered him to cut the door and in one slash, it fell down.

An explosion erupted behind me. I returned Nightmare from my shadows and ran towards the forest. I have a plan.

I'm slow, but considering the forest is lined with trees, that thing won't catch up to me sooner or later. I heard trees fall behind me one by one, but I need not worry. I am already at my destination.

On my way there, I saw a long, wide, and deep ravine. I'll make a trap and let him fall there. He should die, right?

I chanted my spell and made an earthen bridge across the ravine and stood at the opposite end, waiting for the monster. It took a while, but he finally arrived. They can jump, but not this wide gap so I'm confident about this.

I stood and faced it. I mocked it so that it would cross my bridge. It was angered and rushed towards me, but soon after the bridge collapsed and he fell, making a loud and high shriek.

I did not expect that. My ears were ringing, but it was now ringing with that automated voice's voice.

『Congratulations. You have passed the second test. You will be now transported into the third test, the Test of Willpower.』

Everything went white. All the mountains, lakes, and rivers disappeared. I'm now back at this white void.

After a while, the scenery started to change. Into a familiar one. Fourei Village. The memoried about that place came back to me. I touched my teary eyes and wiped them. I'll come back soon, Lily.

I was teleported inside my house. Mother is inside, alone, crying. I asked her what was wrong and she just shook her head, saying nothing. I hugged her and comforted her.

It was like I'm back living my ordinary life. I have forgotten that this was a test. I nearly lived there for a month when something happened.

The next day, I woke up. Sounds of panic resounded the village and houses were burning. I worried for my mother, so I went and looked for her. I seached every nook and cranny and still, nothing.

That was when I heard a shout. I went outside and asked the villagers what had happened.

『It's bad! Everyone that gets affected by it turns into a maddened monster! Even your mother and Lily got affected by it! You should run!』

What?! My mother... A monster? Where..?

My heart ached. I clutched my chest and tried to remember something someone told me. It was impossible. I couldn't even grasp a word of it.

I ran towards the center of the commotion. A large humanoid monster stood there, unmovjng. I felt its gave and i felt like it gave me a look of contempt. You're just a monster, nothing else!

I casted a barrage of spells against it and was shocked to see it, still at the same place, not budging. That was when his mouth opened, muttering something I barely heard.

『You. Go deal with this child of yours. Also you. Help this woman deal with this pitiful child』

From the smoke, it emerged. Two familiar, yet unrecognizable faces. One was my sweet mother, now distorted and became a monster. The other was Lily, my childhood friend and my first crush.

It hurts. It hurts to see their pained expressions. The look of them begging to end their suffering cloded my mind. I approached them and tried to talk to them.

『Hey, Mother and Lily. I know you'll be fine. I'll find you a cure, I promise.』

I went and hugged them, but soon I was greeted back by reality. They swung both of their arms and hit my head. I was flung away from them.

That was when that thing, that crucial thing, finally entered my mind.

『Remember. On the last test, nothing matters. Just do what your will wants you to. Failing that means you'll be trappee in eternity there.』

It was the words of the headmaster's twin. I'm not sure when I heard it, but there it is. Clear as day.

I started to clear my thoughts and felt my will. What should I do? It's all just an illusion, nothing more.

I opened my eyes and saw the faces of everyone suffering. They became a monster. A pawn that obeys whatever it's master commands. No one would want that. Not when their master is this overbearing and evil.

I shall purge this land and free all of you. That was what my will wanted. It's a hard thing to do, since I could only limit myself to using five elements.

I summoned Nightmare again and asked for his help this time. He nodded and was speaking at an excited tone when he saw the large monster.