QUEST FAILED

     Mr. Vlad and the students rushed to the scene. The teachers attempted to disable the magical barrier surrounding the arena, but their efforts seemed futile. Various spells struck the barrier – fireballs, ice thorns, high-level air spells, unfortunately none of them worked. It looked like I was on my own with James for the next ten minutes.

James lunged at me, dagger in hand, eyes burning with rage. I sidestepped his initial attack and sprinted toward the edge of the arena. The translucent barrier shimmered around us, sealing us in. I knew I had to think fast, because it was clear that his intention was to kill me. Not making me admit that I was the Shadow Dancer. 

"Shit…" I couldn't use my spells without revealing too much, since everyone thought that my mana was close to zero. 

"Running away, Axel?" James taunted, his voice echoing in the enclosed space. "You can't hide from me!"

"You're out of your mind, James!" I shouted back, keeping my distance as I circled around him. "This won't end well for you!"

James laughed maniacally. "You think you can outsmart me? I'll make you pay for what you did!"

"I did nothing. I don't even know you!"

"You liar! Liar! You planted those things on me!"

He threw his dagger as soon as his sentence ended, aiming straight for my heart. I twisted my body at the last second, feeling the blade slice through my clothes. The blade should've just stuck to the ground, however, James used an air spell and it came back in mid-air, embedding itself in the back of my thigh. Pain shot through my leg, but I didn't stop. I reached down, gritting my teeth, and yanked the dagger out, blood streaming down my leg. 

James was closing in fast. I had to act quickly. I took the dagger and held it defensively, ready for his next move. He charged at me again, fists clenched, his face a mask of fury.

"You ruined my life!" he screamed, swinging a punch at my face. I ducked and slashed with the dagger, grazing his arm. He hissed in pain but didn't back down.

"I didn't ruin anything!" I retorted, backing away. "You did this to yourself!"

James tackled me to the ground, knocking the wind out of me and made me drop the dagger. He straddled my chest, his hands around my throat, squeezing hard. I gasped for air, struggling to break free. He let go of my throat, punched me twice, and continued squeezing the life out of me. With a burst of strength, I grabbed his wrists and twisted, forcing him to release his grip.

I kicked him off and scrambled to my feet, the pain in my leg making it hard to stand. James was – something else, he looked like he wasn't going to give up any time soon. He ran at me again, but this time I was ready. I dodged and delivered a hard punch to his ribs, hearing a satisfying crack. He doubled over in pain, but only for a moment.

"You think that's enough to stop me?" he wheezed, his breath ragged. "You should think again."

James reached into his pocket and pulled out a small glass tube filled with a glowing red liquid. He uncorked it with his teeth and downed the potion in one gulp. Instantly, the wounds on his body began to close, and his breathing steadied.

"Ah…" I said, swallowing hard. "Well, shit."

James smirked and advanced on me. I knew I was outmatched; he had combat experience, and I had none. 

He came at me, swinging his fist. I barely ducked in time, feeling the rush of air as his punch sailed over my head. I stumbled backward, almost tripping over my own feet. Seeing me struggle, James' smile got even wider and he closed the distance between us quickly. I sidestepped another punch, narrowly avoiding a kick aimed at my midsection.

"Stand still, you coward!" James growled, frustration clear in his voice.

"Not a chance," I replied, breathless.

I spotted the dagger on the ground and made a desperate dash for it. James anticipated my move and cut me off, grabbing the dagger and slashing at me. I jumped back, the blade missing me by inches. Sweat dripped down my face as I tried to catch my breath.

James didn't give me a moment's respite; he came at me again, his dagger gleaming in hand. I tried to dodge his thrust, but he feigned an upper attack before quickly slashing low. The blade tore through my clothes and cut my stomach. It wasn't a serious wound, though, it still hurt like hell.

"You think you can keep running?" he taunted, swinging the dagger again.

I ducked and rolled to the side, trying to create some distance between us. "Running's kind of my specialty," I quipped, though my voice shook with fear.

[Reminder: Kill James.

Upon completion: 10AP, 1500g.]

'There's no way I'm killing anybody ever,' I thought. 'Even if it's someone like James.'

"You maniac!" Mira yelled from the other side of the barrier. "Let him go!"

James chuckled. "Who is this bitch, your girlfriend?"

"Mr. Vlad, do something!" she shouted in anger. "What are you waiting for? Do something!"

"I – I can't," the teacher admitted. "He activated the barrier with a tournament key."

"Shit… how long has it been since the fight started?" I muttered to myself.

[Time passed: 4 minutes.]

"Only four? It felt like four years…"

James conjured two fireballs in the air and struck them with his dagger, sending them hurtling toward me. I dodged the first spell, but the second one hit me square in the chest, launching me backward. I slammed into the barrier, which rippled from the impact, my back searing with pain.

James cast another spell, a burst of wind that struck me hard, knocking me off my feet again. I crashed to the ground headfirst, my vision blurring as I briefly lost consciousness. Through the haze, I saw him approaching, a fireball ready in his palm.

"Ugh, shit…" I muttered, struggling to get up. "Fuck…"

[Time passed: 5 minutes.]

He conjured two fireballs and sent them hurtling toward me. Both hit me, and my coat caught fire. In my dazed state, my brain couldn't register that the burning smell was coming from me.

I frantically patted out the flames with my hands and managed to stand, only to be met with another volley of fireballs. Four of them struck me, sending me crashing to the ground once more. This time, my body refused to move an inch.

"I guess… I have to drop the facade, huh?"

"This is your punishment, Axel!" James yelled. "Your punishment, you hear me? If you'd only paid your fucking protection money, all this wouldn't have happened!"

"Help him!" Mira pleaded with Mr. Vlad. "Please, sir! Do something!"

"Your sister is next, you hear me! Next! I'll fuck 'em up good!"

[Upgraded Dagger]

With the concealed dagger in my hand, I stayed on the ground, acting like I had lost consciousness. James moved closer, inch by inch. When he was finally within striking distance, I mustered the last bit of strength I had and jumped. I drove the dagger deep into his stomach. Blood spurted out, covering my hands and shirt. I stumbled backward, watching as James clutched his stomach.

I couldn't let him die, though. After he collapsed, gurgling on his own blood, I examined his belt and found another red potion. I uncorked the bottle and lifted his head, trying to make him drink it.

"Oh shit… are you dead?" I asked, my eyes widening with fear. "Don't…"

My sentence was cut short as his dagger plunged into my shoulder. I screamed in pain, rolling backward as James came after me despite my attempt to help him. He sat on my chest and forced his dagger toward my throat.

"You fucking dog!" he growled. "Die! Die!"

"Ugh…" I was holding his hands, preventing his dagger reaching me.

[Time passed: 8 minutes]

"I… helped you!" I strained, my voice barely audible. "Shit…"

He pressed the dagger further, the cold blade cutting into my skin and drawing blood.

"Stop! Stop!"

"Axel!" Mira screamed. "Fuck! Let him go, James!"

"You ruined my life… now it's my turn!"

"You did this to yourself!" I whispered in anger. "You. No one else. You!"

"Fuck you!"

I tried to kick him off of me, but that didn't work. It only made the blade come closer to my throat. My strength was waning by the second. I had to come up with a different plan.

[Time passed: 9 minutes]

I created a small rift near my head, and a tentacle lashed out, hitting James in the face. Hoping no one saw me using that spell, I quickly closed the rift and finally managed to kick him off of me. He fell to the ground but quickly recovered, grabbing his dagger and wiping his bleeding nose. His eyes were filled with rage.

"What was that?" he demanded.

"I don't know what you're talking about," I lied, trying to keep my voice steady.

"You used a spell! Don't think I didn't see it!"

He dashed toward me, attacking with his dagger. My shoulder was deeply wounded, but the adrenaline coursing through my body kept me going. I dodged his first two attacks, but he swept my feet out from under me with a low kick, sending me crashing to the ground.

"Enough cat and mouse play, Axel." He sneered. "Goodbye."

"No, we can…"

He threw his dagger, aiming straight for my head.

[Time passed: 10 minutes]

The barrier disappeared and Mr. Vlad immediately cast an air spell, stopping the dagger in mid-air and redirecting it back at James. The blade plunged into his head, and he fell onto me, blood and brain matter oozing from the wound. I tried to push him off, but my strength was gone; I couldn't move him an inch.

Everything went dark, and I passed out. Before losing consciousness, I saw one of those translucent boxes appear near my face.

[Quest Failed: Kill James.]