Ep.48 Combat Test Part 4

Kai Foster Pov

The chamber fell into an uneasy silence as Kane called up his next participant from our group. I watched from the sidelines, my own battle still fresh in my mind, as another hopeful adventurer climbed the platform steps. Their movements betrayed their nervousness—hands trembling slightly on their sword hilt, feet shuffling uncertainly across the wooden boards.

The match that followed was almost painful to watch. Kane, now fighting without the restraint he'd initially shown me, made quick work of his opponent. The clash of wooden blades lasted mere seconds before Kane's superior skill and magic brought the battle to a decisive end. The participant received a D-class rating, their disappointment visible in slumped shoulders as they descended the steps.

One by one, the remaining challengers met similar fates. Each battle seemed to follow the same pattern: a brief exchange of blows, a flash of magic, and then defeat. None managed to rise above D-class ranking, and with each failure, the atmosphere in the chamber grew heavier. The whispers among the spectators grew more anxious, more resigned.

Finally, only Rowan and Maya remained untested. Despite my confidence in both their abilities I couldn't help but feel a knot of anxiety in my stomach. These weren't just fellow participants; they were my friends, and watching them face such a formidable opponent was more nerve-wracking than my own battle had been.

Kane's voice echoed through the chamber: "Rowan, please make your way to the platform."

I turned to my left, where Rowan stood rooted to the spot. His face had drained of color, and I could see the slight tremor in his hands—so different from his usual confident demeanor during our training sessions. Understanding his fear, remembering how his earlier words had steadied my own nerves, I placed a gentle hand on his back.

"Don't stress, Rowan," I said softly, trying to inject confidence into my voice. "You'll do fine. We're right here watching, so just do your best." The words felt inadequate compared to the support he'd always shown me, but they seemed to help. A small smile crossed his face, mirroring my own, and he gave Maya and me a determined nod before squaring his shoulders and ascending to the platform.

The floorboards creaked under his feet as he took his position across from Kane. The B-class mage's expression remained neutral, but his eyes were sharp, assessing. The air grew thick with tension as they faced each other, the moment stretching out like a drawn bow string until Kane's voice shattered the silence: "Begin!"

Kane's shift in demeanor was immediate and stark. Gone was the cautious fighter who had tested me earlier—now he moved with deadly purpose, using wind magic to propel himself forward in a burst of speed. The air crackled with magical energy as he closed the distance, his wooden blade whistling through the air.

Rowan's reaction showcased his training. He channeled his own wind magic, launching himself skyward in a graceful arc over Kane's attack. It was a move we'd practiced countless times, but never under such pressure. Kane's blade sliced through empty air as Rowan landed behind him, immediately launching a counterattack.

Three air scythes materialized around Kane, each approaching from a different angle—a technique Rowan had perfected over months of practice. But Kane's mastery showed as he cut through each magical construct with fluid, economical movements, his blade leaving trails of dispersed mana in its wake.

Undeterred, Rowan gathered his magic for a more powerful attack. The air around him began to swirl and concentrate, and I recognized the technique he'd been developing in secret. The resulting blast of wind would have been powerful enough to uproot trees and send a full-grown horse crashing through a house wall.

But when the devastating attack reached Kane, it might as well have been a summer breeze. The B-class mage stood his ground, meeting Rowan's wind force with his own. The clash of magical energies was visible in the air between them—Rowan's wild, powerful gusts against Kane's controlled, refined power. For a moment, they seemed evenly matched, but then the difference in their magical mastery became painfully clear.

Kane's magic, honed through years of experience and supported by his superior mana capacity, slowly pushed back against Rowan's attack. The turning point was subtle at first—a slight shift in the swirling air currents, a small step forward from Kane—but soon became overwhelming. Rowan's magic crumbled under the pressure, and Kane's counterattack sent him flying across the platform.

I watched, heart in my throat, as my friend tumbled across the wooden boards. He tried to regain his footing, but Kane was already there, moving with that impossible speed. The wooden blade pressed against Rowan's throat, ending the match decisively.

"This battle may have ended quickly because of me being such a bad match for you," Kane announced, his voice carrying clearly through the chamber, "but I could still see that battle was no foreign subject to you and you're far more experienced than this match showed. For that, you will be given a D-class combat ranking."

Rowan's eyes widened, but not with joy. I knew that look—the same feeling of inadequacy that had gripped me after my own match, but worse. At least I had achieved C-class; Rowan's D-class rating must have felt crushing.

As he trudged back to our group, Maya spoke up before I could find the right words. "Raise your head, Rowan. It's just a stupid number—it doesn't mean squat. Once we get out of here, you'll keep growing stronger, and one day soon you'll laugh at the thought of this day."

Her gentleness surprised me, so different from her usual demeanor, but it brought a smile to my face. Before we could offer more consolation, Kane's voice boomed across the chamber, calling Maya to the platform.

The air itself seemed to thin as she made her way up the steps, already drawing in mana in preparation for battle. The atmosphere shifted palpably as she faced Kane—everyone present eager to witness what this twelve-year-old girl, who had achieved a C- class mana ranking, could do when fighting at full strength.

They assumed their combat stances, tension crackling between them like lightning before a storm. Kane's voice cut through the silence: "Begin."