Veer barely had time to react before the Flame-born Guardians lunged.
A towering figure of fire and molten rock swung a fist the size of a bull's skull at him. He rolled to the side, feeling the heat lick at his skin as the guardian's punch obliterated the stone floor.
Dust and debris flew everywhere.
"Alright… definitely not something I can just punch."
Other applicants were scrambling, some summoning protective mantras while others activated enchanted weapons. A girl wielding twin chakrams spun like a storm, slicing through one of the flaming guardians with arcs of energy.
Veer, on the other hand, had… well, his fists.
Which was a problem.
Another guardian charged him, its molten eyes burning with ancient fury.
Veer dodged again—only to find himself cornered against a rock wall.
The guardian raised both arms, its form glowing brighter as it prepared to bring down a devastating blow.
Think, Veer, think!
His mind raced. These things were clearly constructs, not living creatures. That meant they had a source, a core—just like the Mantra Core he had stolen earlier.
And if they had a core…
Then they had a weak spot.
As the guardian swung, Veer dived forward, slipping between its legs.
His sharp eyes scanned its molten form—and then he saw it. A faintly pulsing rune at the base of its spine.
Without hesitation, Veer drove his fist into it.
BANG!
The impact sent a shockwave rippling through the guardian's body. Its flames flickered violently—then collapsed inward, crumbling into ashes.
Veer blinked.
"…That actually worked?"
He had been ready to run if it didn't.
But now, he had a plan.
Grinning, he turned to see the other applicants struggling. The peacock-like noble from earlier was flailing, his expensive robes partially on fire.
Veer sighed. "Guess I should help."
With newfound confidence, he darted into the fray.
One guardian came at him—Veer sidestepped and drove his palm into its rune. Boom—ashes.
Another leaped from above—Veer dodged and slammed an elbow into its weak spot. Poof—gone.
Within moments, Veer had cleared an entire section of the battlefield.
The other applicants stopped and stared.
Even Guru Dhiran, watching from above, raised an eyebrow.
The noble boy, half-burned and wheezing, groaned, "You have got to be kidding me…"
Veer dusted off his hands.
"Alright," he said, stretching. "Who's next?"