Paired Evaluation II

"Incredible," Rachel murmured under her breath, her sapphire eyes locked on Arthur. She wasn't one to throw around praise lightly, but watching him now? It was hard not to.

Arthur wasn't just strong—he was absurdly, ridiculously strong. His individual power was second only to Lucifer's, but what truly set him apart wasn't raw strength. It was his mind. His ability to think ten steps ahead and make anyone he partnered with shine. Watching him and Seraphina fight, it was as if they'd trained together for years. Every movement they made complemented the other's, as if they shared a silent, unspoken understanding.

Rachel folded her arms, her lips curving into a small smile despite herself. This was why Professor Nero hadn't paired him with Ren. She understood now. Even though Ren heavily disliked Arthur, their abilities were so complementary that Nero probably worried they'd accidentally overshadow the rest of the class. Instead, Nero had chosen the duo with the least natural chemistry: Arthur and Seraphina.

And yet, it hadn't mattered. Arthur's versatility made everything work. Rachel could practically see the calculations running through his mind as he fought, every spell, every move of his sword perfectly timed to give Seraphina the edge she needed.

'He's too versatile,' Rachel thought, her mind running through potential combinations. She tried pairing him mentally with Jin, Ian, even Ren—and every single scenario worked. It wasn't arrogance or overestimation. It was the truth. Arthur was adaptable to a frightening degree. His Gift, Lucent Harmony, let him wield all eleven elements with ease, combining them with such finesse that his spellcasting was just as deadly as his swordsmanship.

She bit her lip thoughtfully. Lucent Harmony was technically a Body-aspect Gift, yet it enhanced his spellcasting just as much as his physical prowess. It was… unfair. No, that wasn't the word. Unparalleled. The cream of the crop of Body-aspect Gifts.

Her musings were interrupted as Nero's voice called her and Cecilia forward. "Rachel Creighton and Cecilia Slatemark, it's your turn."

Rachel exhaled, pushing her thoughts of Arthur aside. Now it was her turn to prove herself.

She stepped forward alongside Cecilia, the two of them facing the containment field as the six-star beast was released. A massive Obsidian Scorcher emerged—a reptilian predator with scales that shimmered like molten rock and smoke curling from its nostrils. Its eyes glowed a fiery red, and when it roared, the heat in the air spiked noticeably.

"Well, this will be fun," Cecilia drawled, her crimson eyes gleaming with excitement.

Rachel didn't reply immediately. She tightened her grip on her staff, golden mana beginning to swirl around her. "Focus, Cecilia. We need to work together."

"Oh, I'll work with you, Ray-Ray," Cecilia teased, though there was a sharper edge to her voice now. She extended her arms, crimson mana coiling around her fingers like living fire. "Let's see if the Saintess can keep up."

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Incredible heat radiated from the Obsidian Scorcher, the six-star beast towering before us like a molten leviathan dragged straight from the heart of a volcano. Its molten scales shimmered with fiery light, casting rippling waves of heat that made the ground beneath us crack. Smoke curled from its nostrils, and its red, ember-like eyes locked onto us with a predatory glint.

'It's like facing a living furnace,' I thought as my fingers tightened around my staff. My golden mana flared to life, light magic swirling around me in soft waves as I prepared for the fight.

"Not gonna lie, Ray-Ray," Cecilia drawled from beside me, her voice laced with that familiar teasing edge. "This one's a bit scarier than your usual glowing monsters."

"We don't have time for your jokes," I snapped, though my tone lacked its usual sharpness. The tension in the air was suffocating. "Focus, Cecilia."

Her crimson mana began to coil around her like a serpent, her expression shifting from playful to sharp. "Don't worry. I'll burn it to cinders."

The Scorcher didn't wait for us to strategize further. It roared, the sound echoing through the hall like a volcanic eruption, and lunged with surprising speed for something its size. Its claws raked through the air, leaving trails of molten energy in their wake. I barely had time to raise a barrier before the strike connected.

The force of the impact sent me skidding backward, my boots digging into the ground as I held the barrier firm. Cracks spidered across the shimmering golden shield, but it held—for now.

"Cecilia!" I shouted. "Now!"

She didn't need further instruction. Her crimson mana surged, and with a flick of her wrist, she unleashed a spiraling inferno toward the Scorcher. The flames roared, striking the beast's side with a thunderous explosion. For a moment, the molten scales seemed to dim, blackening under the onslaught.

But then the Scorcher reared back, shaking off the flames like a dog shedding water. Its molten hide glowed even brighter, absorbing the heat of Cecilia's attack. A smirk spread across the beast's reptilian maw, and it retaliated with a burst of superheated air. The wave struck like a freight train, forcing both of us to dive in opposite directions to avoid being roasted alive.

"Is it absorbing my fire?" Cecilia growled, rolling to her feet and glaring at the beast. "Great. Fantastic. Just what I needed."

"Stop feeding it mana!" I shouted, summoning a concentrated beam of light magic. I aimed for its eyes, hoping to blind it and slow its advance. The beam connected, and the Scorcher let out an irritated roar, stumbling as it swiped blindly at the air.

"Nice shot," Cecilia admitted grudgingly. "Fine. I'll switch it up."

She extended her hands, weaving together fire and wind mana in an intricate pattern. A moment later, a vortex of crimson flames erupted around the Scorcher's legs, restricting its movement and kicking up a cloud of ash and embers. I took the opportunity to reposition, darting closer to its flank and firing a volley of light-based projectiles. Each one struck with pinpoint accuracy, chipping away at its molten armor.

The Scorcher, however, wasn't going down without a fight. It slammed its tail into the ground, the force creating a shockwave that sent jagged chunks of molten rock hurtling in every direction. I raised another barrier, the golden shield flickering as it absorbed the brunt of the attack, but the strain was beginning to show.

"Ray-Ray, your shields are cracking," Cecilia called out, her voice laced with genuine concern. "Don't push yourself too hard."

"I'm fine!" I shot back, gritting my teeth as I poured more mana into the barrier. "Just keep attacking!"

Cecilia smirked, her crimson mana flaring brighter. "You got it."

She launched herself forward, crimson flames trailing behind her like a comet as she closed the distance between herself and the Scorcher. With a flick of her wrist, she conjured a massive fireball—not aimed directly at the beast, but at the ground beneath its feet. The resulting explosion sent the Scorcher off balance, its molten claws scrabbling for purchase on the unstable terrain.

"Rachel! Now!" Cecilia shouted.

I didn't hesitate. Summoning every ounce of light mana I could muster, I unleashed a piercing beam of golden energy directly at the Scorcher's exposed chest. The attack struck true, and for a moment, it seemed as though the beast might actually falter.

But the Scorcher was far from finished. It roared, the sound reverberating through the hall as its molten body began to glow with an even more intense heat. The temperature in the room skyrocketed, and I felt beads of sweat forming on my brow despite my protective barriers.

"It's going to explode!" I warned, recognizing the signs of an area-of-effect attack.

"Not if I can help it," Cecilia muttered, her eyes narrowing. She began weaving another spell, her movements faster and more fluid than before. This time, the spell was a combination of fire and wind mana, creating a spiraling vortex that surrounded the Scorcher and contained its destructive energy.

The beast struggled against the containment, its molten scales cracking as it poured all its power into escaping. But Cecilia's spell held firm, giving me just enough time to prepare a finishing move.

"Together," I said, glancing at Cecilia. She nodded, her smirk replaced by a look of fierce determination.

We unleashed our combined attack—a beam of pure light magic from me and a crimson inferno from Cecilia. The two spells converged, striking the Scorcher with an explosive force that sent shockwaves rippling through the hall. When the dust settled, the beast lay motionless, its molten body cooling as the last remnants of its energy faded.

Silence filled the room, broken only by the sound of our labored breathing.

"Rachel Creighton and Cecilia Slatemark," Nero's voice finally rang out, his tone neutral but tinged with approval. "A+. Well done."

Cecilia turned to me, a triumphant grin spreading across her face. "Not bad, Ray-Ray. I guess you're not completely useless."

I rolled my eyes, but a small smile tugged at my lips. "You're not so bad yourself, Cecilia."

For once, there was no snarky comeback. Just a mutual nod of respect.