Part Four

-Azura's POV

I'm locked in this insane dance with the tentacled behemoth, my blood pumping with the thrill of the fight. This thing is tough, but hell, that just makes it more fun. I'm grinning like a madwoman, completely in my element.

Another one of its goddamn tentacles comes swinging at me. I dodge, close enough to feel the air shift, and I can't help but laugh. "You think you can hit me with that slow-ass shit?" I taunt, my voice echoing over the water.

I leap onto the tentacle, running up its length. It's trying to shake me off, but I'm not some fly to be swatted away. "Come on, you big ugly fuck, is that all you've got?" I shout, my laughter mixing with the sounds of battle.

My hand glows with a fierce aura, sharp as a blade. I start hacking into the tentacle, each slice a declaration of my strength. "Yeah, take that, you slimy piece of crap!" I yell, feeling the rush of adrenaline. 

With a final, triumphant yell, I sever the tentacle. It splashes into the water, but I'm already scanning for my next target. I land back on the water, my stance wide and challenging.

"Who's the king now, huh?!" I shout at the beast, my voice dripping with mockery. "You're just a big, dumb fish in my pond!"

Out of the corner of my eye, I spot three figures – two being carried by a woman with a sword, sprinting full tilt up the monster's body. "What the hell are these bastards up to?" I mutter, squinting against the sunlight reflecting off the water. The one being carried looks like a goblin, passed out or something, and the other, just tagging along.

My eyes narrow, a spark igniting in them. "You think you can just show up and steal my thunder?" I clench my fists, feeling a surge of annoyance. Nobody gets to upstage me, especially not in the middle of my fight.

I take off at a sprint, chasing after them, my feet pounding on the water's surface. "Hey! You fucks! This is my kill!" I yell, gaining speed.

Knox, panting, tries to keep up. "Azura, goddammit! BE careful, the one that's running is Isadora, she is the daughter of Duke Alister-" But before he can finish, a tentacle whips out, flicking him away like a bug.

I glance back briefly, seeing Knox flung into the distance, then refocus on the trio ahead. "Duke who now?" I scoff under my breath. "Like I give a shit about some Duke."

The fact that they might have set this trap makes my blood boil. I'm not just pissed – I'm furious. They think they can play me? Use this monster as some pawn in their little game? Well, they've got another thing coming.

I catch up to them, my aura flaring around me like a raging inferno. "Oi, you sword-wielding maniac and your sleeping beauties! You're not getting away with this! Once I catch you I'll rip that damn smile off the goblin's face!" I shout, ready to throw down.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

-Isabella's POV

Standing on the water, watching the chaos unfold, I click my tongue in irritation. "What the hell is V doing?" I mutter to myself, my gaze fixed on the distant skirmish. Rushing into a fight and then saying we won't see him for the rest of the match? Typical of him, always doing things his own way.

I walk over to where Biana is still sleeping soundly on the surface of the water, despite the commotion. "Ugh, how disgusting," I grumble under my breath. "How is she even considered a noble?" I can feel my disdain growing. Biana is the epitome of everything that gives nobles a bad name.

I kick her shoulder lightly to wake her. "Hey, Biana. What is V up to?" No response. Just more snoring. I take a deep breath, trying to contain my frustration.

Aira, who's been watching silently, approaches me. "Don't waste your energy on her... you know how lazy she is," she advises.

I frown, kicking Biana's shoulder again, this time with a bit more force. "Lazy? This is beyond lazy." I can't help but think out loud. "A lazy person doesn't sleep all day. There's a limit to what 'lazy' implies. She's surpassed that limit."

Finally, Biana stirs, yawning and turning away. "Leave me alone..." she mumbles, her voice drowsy and dismissive. "Stop bothering me..."

That's it. The audacity of her disregard for me, treating me like some commoner, ignites a fire in me. I swipe my finger through the air, and the mana I've been using to solidify the water surface around Biana disperses. Instantly, she plunges into the water with a splash.

A mix of anger and satisfaction courses through me as I watch her flounder. "Maybe that'll teach you some manners," I say coldly, turning away to focus back on the fight.

In the water, Biana emerges with a series of heavy coughs, expelling the water she's inadvertently swallowed. Her annoyance is palpable as she clicks her tongue, visibly upset about her favorite pajamas now soaked through. She runs her hands through her hair, trying to regain some semblance of order.

"Oi, you fucker! Do you want to die?" she yells, her voice tinged with both anger and indignation, directed squarely at me.

I turn back to face her, my expression unchanging. "You could never beat me," I retort coolly. The idea of Biana, of all people, challenging me seems almost laughable. She's known more for her indolence than any real skill.

Biana, unfazed by my comment, makes a rude gesture, pulling down one eyelid and sticking out her tongue. It's a blatant sign of disrespect, especially coming from a noble, albeit one as unconventional as Biana.

She rummages in her pocket and produces a talisman, tearing it in half. In response, the water in front of her solidifies, forming a makeshift platform. Biana steps onto it, still visibly irritated. She takes another talisman, ripping it to dispel the water clinging to her.

"Great, just fucking great! Now I smell like pond water!" she complains loudly, her voice dripping with sarcasm and frustration.

I glare at her, unimpressed by her theatrics. "What is V doing?" I ask, trying to steer the conversation back to something productive.

Biana grumbles in response, grabbing a new pillow and blanket from seemingly nowhere. "I don't fucking know!" she exclaims, throwing her hands up in exasperation. "What? Do I look like his fucking wife or something!? Do you think I know what he does?"

She then collapses back onto the water, her new blanket and pillow in place, settling herself comfortably. "Why the fuck would I care about his actions? Oh, and the next time you do something like that. I'll kill you." she mumbles into the pillow, her voice muffled.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

-Luna's POV

Gareth's boisterous voice breaks through the quiet of the forest. "Oh~ Leave this one to me!" he exclaims, stepping forward with an air of misplaced confidence.

Mira, however, quickly intercepts him. "Go kiss your fucking muscles in a corner, you bastard. I'm the one hunting today," she retorts sharply, her impatience with Gareth evident.

I sigh, watching their usual bickering unfold. When will these two ever stop fighting? It's like a never-ending loop with them.

I shift my focus back to the task at hand, lifting my bow and peering through the small lens attached to it. There, in front of us, lies a massive cat, its form sprawling lazily in the dappled sunlight. It's asleep, thankfully, which should make our job a bit easier.

I examine the creature closely, searching for the best shot. As I do, the artifact strapped to my bow begins to emit a faint glow, subtly altering the bow's angle. Oh, so this location? Really? This artifact is incredible, offering suggestions for potential weak spots on some creatures. I'm not sure why V would entrust me with something this powerful, but I'm not about to question my luck.

I pull back the string, the arrow coated in mana, and release it. It slices through the air with a silent swiftness, hitting the sleeping cat with precision. The impact is clean, and the beast stirs only slightly before becoming still once again.

As I'm tending to my bow, Zara approaches with a curious expression. "Hmm~ You truly are an amazing archer, I mean that cat was very far away," she comments, her tone conveying genuine admiration.

I can't help but smile at her compliment. "Heh~ I've been training my whole life after all. It would be weird if I couldn't hit a target like that," I respond with a hint of pride.

Zara's expression shifts to one of concern. "By the way... do you know what's up with Sera? She's been... a bit off," she inquires, her brow furrowed.

I nod, understanding her concern. "It's probably just stress. You know how important this is, and since she is considered the leader in the class, she probably hasn't gotten any sleep." I try to sound reassuring, but inside, I'm not so sure. Sera's been more than just stressed lately; she's been acting out of character. I hope whatever she's going through isn't too serious.

Nyssa suddenly joins our conversation, her usual cheerfulness shining through. "Nice job, Luna~ Ariadne just told us there's activity that way," she says, pointing in the distance. "She says it's a class fighting a monster, so we should take this opportunity to catch them off guard."

Her eyes fall on my bow, and she gives it an appreciative look. "What an interesting artifact~ Anyway, since Sera and I are the fastest, we plan to go around while the rest of the group heads straight. That way, we'll prevent their escape."

Zara chuckles, wrapping her arms around Nyssa in a playful hug. "Heh~ Our short little Nyssa is leaving us~ We'll be bored without you," she teases.

I nod at Nyssa, agreeing with her plan. "That makes sense. I'll try to stay hidden just in case any of their teammates are hidden too," I add, thinking about the best way to use my archery skills in the upcoming confrontation.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Dodging and weaving, Isadora's agility is remarkable, especially considering she's carrying both Lysandra and me up the monster's massive body. "Hehehe, it won't be long until it's all set up," I muse to myself, watching Isadora's every move. I've been keeping tabs on Sera and Mira – everything's unfolding just as planned. I can't believe those two fell for the gift I gave them. I gave Mira a blindfold to train with a tracker in it and I just gave Sera a new sword. 

But then there's Azura, hot on our heels and clearly itching for a fight. "That crazy boy loves to brawl," I sigh, glancing back at her. Her presence adds an unpredictable element, but that just makes things more interesting.

Suddenly, Isadora twists around mid-run, her sword drawn in a swift, graceful arc. She's met with an attack from Azura, but Isadora's quick reflexes turn the clash to our advantage. Using the force of Azura's strike, she propels us upward, gaining more distance.

Azura, undeterred, is grinning maniacally. "I'm going to rip that goblin's face off," she shouts, her eyes blazing with a mix of anger and excitement. What the hell did I do to her? And for the last time, I'm not a goblin!

In response, I quickly conjure a string of mana and flick it towards her, aiming at her feet. The mana string wraps around her foot, and with a swift yank, I flip her over. Heh, that's what you get for underestimating me. I mean, just who do you think you are calling me a goblin? I understand if Biana and the others do it because I used to look uglier in this damn body but you have no right!

As she's tumbling, I can't resist giving her a cheeky middle finger, just as a tentacle from the beast catches her mid-air and sends her flying. "See ya, wouldn't wanna be ya," I call out, a smirk on my face.