Adjusting her training armor, Bruna watched the names of three of Enrico's companions disappear from the list.
'This is going to make the leader angry.'
A second after thinking that, she realized what she had just said mentally.
'Looks like I'm getting used to it... Damn.'
Placing a hand on her forehead with a sigh, Bruna headed in the opposite direction from where she had seen some of Elowyn's subordinates pass. For now, her goal was to find Enrico and the others. Without a doubt, she did not want to face the princess again. When she had tried to help the others and went to fight alongside them, Elowyn simply appeared in front of her with her hands behind her back, beginning a battle between the two.
'I couldn't do anything... It was so humiliating.'
Bruna had been defeated in only five strikes from the princess's golden magic, and afterward, she lost consciousness. When she woke up, she learned that Enrico had appeared to help his companions and, even more impressively, had managed to fight several of her subordinates at the same time before more reinforcements arrived.
'And he even faced the princess herself.'
Months ago, the difference between them had already been great, but it seemed that the distance only continued to grow. The only thing that comforted Bruna was having managed to reach Class B.
She clenched her fists as she continued walking.
'I can't stand still.'
Enrico had made that clear during the training. If she wanted to continue becoming more powerful, she needed to increase her strength. That was precisely why, besides perfecting the techniques she already mastered, he had asked her to develop two new abilities based on the true essence of her affinity.
Hunting Magic was not limited to increasing her instincts or improving her ability to fight with swords. Hunting involved much more than simply pursuing prey. She needed to find tracks, identify the target's location, follow its movements, understand its habits, and, at the right moment, launch the attack.
Enrico had realized that before she did.
'You're thinking of hunting only as combat. If you truly want to master this affinity, you need to learn how to hunt in extreme situations.'
Bruna still remembered his words. Because of that, she had developed her first technique.
"Hunting Magic: Prey's Trail."
Small white sparks appeared around her body. For a few seconds, nothing happened. Then, her perception began to change.
Bruna began to feel small changes in the environment around her. Marks left on the ground, recent movements, the smell of mana, and even small disturbances caused by someone's passage began to stand out in her mind.
She slowly turned her head.
Someone had passed in that direction a few minutes ago.
'I can find people even without seeing them.'
A discreet smile appeared on her face. This was one of the new techniques Enrico had asked her to develop. Prey's Trail allowed Bruna to identify the signs left by a target and reconstruct its trajectory. The longer she remained analyzing the environment, the more information she could obtain.
However, there was a second technique. A technique that was not meant to find the prey.
It was meant to ensure that it could not escape.
Bruna closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
"Hunting Magic: Hunter's Territory."
The white mana silently spread through the environment. For several meters around her, Bruna began to perceive any movement that occurred within that area. She did not need to look directly at someone. As long as the person was inside her territory, any change in the environment could be detected.
A falling leaf.
A step.
A change in the flow of mana.
Even a small movement behind a wall could catch her attention.
Bruna opened her eyes. She still remembered the first thought she had when she created that new magic.
'So this is it...'
It had been a month ago that she finally understood what Enrico wanted her to learn.
"I can feel everything..."
Bruna walked several meters before deactivating the technique. She still could not maintain it for very long, and the mana consumption was considerable, but she had already managed to master the basics.
'I need to keep training.'
She resumed walking through the corridors of the academy, keeping her senses alert. Her goal was still to find Enrico and the others, but now there was a difference: she no longer needed to search blindly.
Her eyes scanned the path ahead while her mana discreetly spread around her.
'If someone is nearby... I'll find them.'
Bruna tightened her grip on one of the swords.
'I don't want to lose again... I have to be a huntress, just like my ancestors and my mother.'
Bruna continued advancing through the forest. The sensation of someone approaching made her instincts react immediately. She stopped and turned her face toward a side passage.
"Someone is there..."
The next instant, a figure emerged from behind a tree. It was a girl with dark hair and a calm expression, wearing the academy uniform. She was one of Elowyn's subordinates.
As soon as her eyes met Bruna's, the girl also stopped.
"You're one of that boy's companions."
Bruna narrowed her eyes. That girl was from Class A and had allied herself with Elowyn despite having a low rank.
"Sora Vink."
The girl pronounced her own name while raising one of her hands. Small luminous letters began appearing around her fingers, forming words that floated in the air.
"The princess told me about you. She told me to eliminate anyone who was helping Enrico."
The letters began transforming into shining blades that advanced toward Bruna at high speed.
"Letter Magic: Cutting Word."
Bruna crossed both swords and blocked the first attack. The impact made her arms tremble, but she managed to hold her position. Before she could counterattack, more blades came right after, forcing her to retreat while dodging each one.
'She's not like the others.'
Sora did not need to get close. Her words and the symbols she created were enough to keep Bruna under constant pressure. When Bruna tried to advance, a sequence of letters appeared in front of her and exploded, forcing her to jump backward.
"You won't be able to get close to me."
Sora extended her hand again. A huge letter appeared on the ground and, at the same instant, an invisible force struck Bruna, sending her crashing into the wall.
"Ugh!"
Bruna fell to her knees, feeling her body become heavy. Sora slowly walked toward her.
"You should have run when you had the opportunity."
Bruna took a deep breath and closed her eyes.
'I don't need to win through strength.'
Her new technique activated.
"Hunting Magic: Hunter's Territory."
The white mana spread through the corridor. Bruna immediately sensed Sora's position, even without looking at her. She also noticed the small changes caused by her magic and identified the exact moment when she would prepare her next attack.
Sora raised her hand.
"Letter A—"
Bruna disappeared from her field of vision.
"What?"
Before Sora could finish the technique, Bruna appeared beside her and delivered a slash with her sword. Sora managed to retreat at the last instant, but the blade still opened a cut on her arm.
"You..."
Bruna did not give her time to continue. Using Predatory Leap, she advanced again and attacked with both swords. Sora tried to create new letters to defend herself, but now Bruna could perceive every movement before the magic was completed.
"Prey's Trail."
A white mana mark appeared over Sora.
"Now you won't escape."
Sora tried to run through the forest, but Bruna immediately followed her position. Every change in direction was recorded by the technique, allowing her to predict where she would try to flee.
"How are you doing this?!"
Bruna appeared in front of her.
"Because you're my prey."
The two swords crossed in front of Sora's body. She tried to raise her hand to create another letter, but Bruna had already predicted the movement. A blow struck her wrist, causing her to lose concentration, and the second struck her side, sending her crashing to the ground.
Sora tried to stand up, but Bruna placed one of her swords near her neck.
"It's over."
Sora remained motionless for a few seconds before letting out a low laugh.
"So this is the power of one of Enrico's companions..."
Bruna breathed heavily, keeping her sword pointed at her.
"I still need to become stronger."
She sheathed one of her swords and looked toward the forest she had come from.
"Now I need to find the leader."
Sora's eyes widened in surprise. Such a strong knight really considered that boy her leader.
"Leader?"
Bruna realized again what she had just said and brought a hand to her forehead.
"...Damn."
She sighed before knocking Sora unconscious with the back of her sword.
"I'm really getting used to this."
After her opponent disappeared, her rank was updated to rank 58.
----
The names of Elian, Liam, and Caelan appeared on the image of those eliminated from the competition, along with the names of several other students. Sílvia and Camila looked up, worried. Below them, two students also disappeared from the arena, while the two had just increased their ranks: Sílvia was now rank 37 and Camila, rank 44.
Seeing the two students disappear, Camila turned to her partner.
"The boys were eliminated."
"The only problem with this broadcast image is that we don't know who is defeating whom when the defeated person's rank is lower than the winner's."
"But if no one took their ranks, then that means Princess Elowyn, whom you faced, might have been the one who defeated them as revenge, right?"
Camila was right. It could very well have been the princess. Since Enrico had given a simple warning about it, Sílvia was not too surprised, but there was still a possibility that someone else had been responsible for the eliminations. Because of that, she could not let her guard down against anyone, even if they seemed trustworthy.
"All of Class E has been eliminated."
Upon realizing that Class E had lost its last chance before leaving the academy, Sílvia sighed. That had been the class's final elimination before the holidays began. Of course, they would still have a few days to try to defeat someone from Class D.
"We have to meet up with the others. Let's go."
"Alright."
"Can I go with you?"
Feeling a presence behind them, the two quickly moved away. It was Velka. Before they could react, enormous claws of mist appeared around their bodies and restrained them in place. Sílvia was not sure why she had failed to sense or hear the approach, but she was certain that Velka had become stronger.
"You can stay right there. And you can decide whether you'll be eliminated by me or by Lady Elowyn."
That could only mean that Velka had already called Elowyn.
Ashes began to come out of Camila's body. At the same time, a large spear began to form in the air. The weapon spun rapidly and broke apart the mist claws holding the two.
"Let's go!"
Camila raised both arms and created an enormous vine. The plants wrapped around the two girls and quickly carried them upward.
"Looks like you prefer to be eliminated by me."
A giant mist claw appeared behind Velka and advanced toward the two. Before it could reach them, several vines appeared and pierced the claw, interrupting its advance.
The two continued moving away, but Velka did not give up. She ran after them and brought three fingers of her left hand together. The mist formed again, but this time it took the body of a beast. The creature had eight arms and three eyes.
Velka climbed onto it, and even though it was made of mist, the creature began running after the two. Shortly afterward, it gained enough speed to start flying.
"She's catching up to us!"
"I know... Poisonous Thorns!"
From the path where the vine was advancing, Sílvia summoned her magic, and several thorns suddenly emerged, trying to pierce the girl behind them.
Velka managed to dodge and immediately recognized the liquid present in the thorns thanks to the countless training sessions she had undergone with Narisse.
"Poison..."
Velka continued chasing the two. Her mist beast then ran into a cloud that was in their path and, upon passing through it, managed to overtake them. Because of the speed of the vine, Sílvia and Camila passed through the cloud right afterward.
"Koff! What is this?"
Sílvia realized that her body was beginning to go numb. Her consciousness wavered for a second and, unable to maintain control, the two fell from the vines.
Camila regained consciousness first. Still in the air, she gathered ashes in her hand and pointed a finger at Velka, who was rapidly approaching.
"Ash Magic: Fire Ash!"
The ashes began producing small flames. When one of them came into contact with another, an explosion occurred directly on Velka.
Camila managed to land on the ground. Sílvia fell beside her and regained consciousness only a second later. The two looked at the smoke and saw Velka emerging from within it. Some injuries were visible on her body, but she still seemed to be in good condition.
Velka looked at the two with an incredulous glint in her eyes, still trying to comprehend how much they had improved.
'That doesn't matter.'
Even so, her confidence did not diminish.
"You've improved. But thanks to the princess, I've also improved."
Velka pointed both hands to the sides. Two mist beasts appeared, similar to the previous one, but now there were two. Judging by the amount of magic present in their bodies, they were even stronger than the first creature.
"Velka, do you need help?"
Sílvia and Camila quickly looked toward the voice.
Diana approached Velka, apparently using her wind magic to further increase the strength of the two mist beasts.
Camila placed both hands on her head.
"Come on, shouldn't wind spread mist? Why did she have to have such good control over wind magic?"
Seeing that the two were about to start another battle, Sílvia decided to buy some time. She placed her hands on the ground, and two enormous vines emerged between the two groups. Velka and Diana stopped for a moment, thinking that it could be a trap.
Sílvia took advantage of the opportunity.
"Hey, Diana. Enrico really wanted you to join us."
Diana frowned.
"What are you talking about? If it weren't for him beating us up so many times, Lan wouldn't be treating Jorge and me so badly."
"Come on, you guys deserved it. Besides, I'm sure that if you joined the two of us now, not only would Enrico treat you well, but all of our companions would too."
Diana frowned even more and shook her head. Then, she raised her hand and began preparing an attack.
Velka realized that there was no trap. Sílvia was only trying to buy time.
"Interesting."
Velka commanded her two mist beasts to attack, but before they could advance very far, an incandescent ray pierced through both creatures, quickly dispersing them.
Diana and Velka immediately looked to the side.
Valença had arrived with a very calm expression, holding her staff.
"Camila, Sílvia. Do you need me to interrupt the battle?"
"Yes. We give up."
"They're all yours."
Seeing her friends relieved, Valença relaxed a little. Ever since she had seen the boys being eliminated, she had been worried about the others.
"You won't escape this time."
Hearing Velka, Valença raised an eyebrow.
The two began creating their magic. A thick mist covered Valença, preventing her from clearly seeing or sensing what was happening around her.
"Cutting Wind!"
Valença dodged to the side at the instant three wind slashes came out of a hole in the mist.
Above that same mist, an even larger mist beast than the previous ones appeared. With a simple movement of Velka's hand, the creature threw a punch at Valença.
"Incandescent Ray!"
A ray pierced completely through the beast's arm. Valença emerged from the mist and pointed her staff at the creature.
A large fireball appeared at the tip of the weapon and struck the beast, causing it to disappear.
Then, Valença pointed her hand at Diana, who was covering herself with wind magic while preparing another technique.
Valença raised two fingers.
The flames enveloped Diana and launched her upward, leaving her burned.
"She couldn't even resist the Flame Circle's attack? I think I'm overdoing it."
Valença seemed a little surprised that her opponent had fallen so easily to her magic.
Velka, meanwhile, had erased her presence within the mist. Taking advantage of the distraction, she approached Valença from behind and accumulated magic in her hands. A blade-shaped attack began to form.
'I want to see her resist this.'
That was her strongest technique. Even the princess had praised her power, so Velka believed that Valença would not be able to resist if she were hit.
She approached silently while Valença tried to find her through the mist.
She was almost there.
"Quil."
Suddenly, a small flame appeared in front of Velka.
She stopped immediately, trying not to make a sound.
Valença looked at the small flame and simply nodded.
Incandis exploded, causing an explosion that struck Velka with enough force to cause injuries that eliminated her from the battle between classes.
"Thank you, Incandis. Seeing your magic, I would definitely have been injured."
Valença stroked Incandis while the small spirit seemed happy. As she did so, she thought that she needed to stroke Enrico's hair again. She was already missing that feeling, even though only one day had passed since the last time.
Valença then noticed Velka falling unconscious to the ground, beginning to disappear.
"In a way, she lasted quite a while."
"Thank you, Valença. You're the best."
While Camila thanked her, Valença watched Sílvia resting. She had only found the two because Sílvia had created those vines. Besides, she realized as soon as she arrived that her friend was only trying to buy time until someone appeared.
'She made a great plan, but...'
"They definitely saw the vines I made as well and are coming here, so we should leave."
Sílvia said exactly what Valença had been about to think.
She knew it had been risky, but it was the only chance they had to win that fight. To tell the truth, Enrico was probably coming too. If she was right, that would be the place where the two groups would meet.
"I think we have to prepare and set some traps."
"Traps? Are you preparing a present for me?"
The three girls realized that they were surrounded.
Elowyn and all her subordinates were around them.
And above, in one of the holes in the cliff, was a Beastman girl whom they knew very well.
Danyana tilted her head to the side and smiled.
"I think you're surrounded. What will you do now to escape?"
Valença looked at Incandis, who was happily moving around her. Ever since they had left the dungeon and arrived at the academy, it seemed that Incandis wanted to find Enrico for some reason. However, since he was still recovering, Valença had not summoned him at any point.
A small smile appeared on her face.
If Incandis was that happy, it could only mean one thing.
A voice came from above, from a hole located right beside where the tiger girl was.
"What are you talking about? They don't need to escape from you."
Everyone looked up.
Enrico was sitting on the edge of the hole, resting his chin on his hand while seriously watching Elowyn and her subordinates.
At the same time, Enrico's companions surrounded the princess's group.
"I saw that you eliminated three of ours, so I'm going to return that favor twice over."