Nico and Davi walked ahead being part of the first group to begin the test. In the order of arrangement,davi's team would enter the same time with the second years and third years since the fourth, fifth and sixth years aren't part of the test. Immediately the test began, Nico ran to the place Andrew Diaz choose while Davi went into the school's gym which was thier Base.
Upon reaching the lab were Andrew Diaz choose, there was no one there, just the flag in place. Not bothered about the flag,he jumped down the hole in the lab and went through the path he came out from the previous day
While he was strolling, Claire ambushes him from behind stunning him but because of his insight,he was able to dodge easily
"Wow...you dodged that huh"
"..."
"You won't speak huh...well it isn't like you're gonna get past—"
"Sorry I'm in a hurry"
Using gearshift,he closes the distance instantaneously and lands a punch. Despite blocking, the impact sends her flying.
When she realized that she was being pushed back,she removes her blade to gain an upper hand
He summons his broadsword and runs towards her with resolve to win. After exchanging attacks for a while,he managed to subdue her
"Where is Andrew Diaz?"
"Oh..."
Andrew Diaz walks out from behind a rock and smiled.
"It's just as you said Claire... he's weak"
Claire who he taught to be on the ground was now pointing a blade at Nico. Apparently, Nico had been fighting a clone of herself.
"Oh..."
Nico drops his sword on the ground and picks a piece of rock
"Weak you say?..."
By throwing the stone,he broke through Claire's barrier magic that she used to hide her real self and attacked her. Almost immediately,he vanished from the scene and appeared behind her using one with the wind
"Oh"
Andrew Diaz drops his coat and picks up his broadsword. Seeing this Nico poises a question
"Why do you want to have Lily by all means?"
"Huh... don't tell me that's why you came here to fight me..."
Andrew Diaz looked at him for a while but he didn't give a reply
"Ah...if you'll excuse me"
Andrew picks up his coat and turns to go when Nico attacks him from behind
"Seriously..."
Nico swung his blade but it hit Andrew's coat shocking him. By the time Nico realized, Andrew Diaz had pummeled him through a rock with his broadsword.
"I remembered saying we should abandon this right"
"Sorry...I made a promise so I can't stop now"
Nico crawls out of the rubble with a smile on his face.
"Sorry about that... time for round 2"
Nico ran towards Andrew and clashed blades. In terms of raw power, Andrew is proven to be far stronger but Nico was managing to keep up thanks to weapon glory
Despite activating weapon glory, I'm still on the receiving end
"Oh... you're managing to keep up.guess I'll increase the intensity"
"What"
Andrew stamps his leg on the ground and swings his blade. Despite seeing this attack for the first time, Nico felt something unusual about it.
"Argh..."
As the blade closed in, Nico tried his best to dodge using insight but couldn't. Switching plans,he blocks but is a fraction too late.
"This power..."
The blade connects crashing Nico into the wall beside them. So as not to kill him,he uses the blunt side of the blade.
"Oh, did he die?, I used the blunt side though"
"Argh...urgh"
Nico vomits loads of blood as he crawls out of the rubble.
"Ah..."
"Oh, you're still alive huh..."
"I couldn't confirm when I saw you use that power but now I'm sure...you used power from the brink right?"
Andrew and Claire were equally shocked when they heard it. No one is meant to know about his hidden skill
"Just now... how did you know, who are you?"
"Nico... But yours is somewhat unusual"
"What?!...you have power from the brink?"
"Yeah something like that... now let's make a bet. If you manage to block my attack, you'll leave Lily alone for good. But if not I'll do anything you want"
"Oh... deal"
Nico charges with insane speed using gearshift. Utilizing all the Mana he has,he focuses on his blade for the final strike. When the attack connected, the impact was enough to shake the entire cave they were in and a portion of the school.
When the dust died down, Nico was on the ground, covered in blood and breathing slowly. Andrew walked up to him and smiled.
"You lose..."
Ah... I'm so weak, weak
Andrew turned and carried his coat.
"I promise you,I won't bother Lily again."
"Huh..."
A unison of Claire and Nico react when they heard what he said
"Claire,heal him... and meet me at our rendezvous"
"Yessir"
Claire knelt down beside Nico and healed him up.
"Sorry for attacking you..."
"Huh...oh,it wasn't a problem. I would have attacked you if you didn't anyways since my master told me to"
"Guess we're even then"
"No we're not..."
"Huh?"
Claire turned her face to another side
"Nothing"
"Eh"
"I said nothing!"
Andrew walked for a while before sitting on the floor.he glanced back at the hand he used to block the attack which was bleeding profusely.
After healing himself up,he exhales deeply
"Nicodemus huh..."
"Looks like you came here first"
The man with an automailed leg walks towards him, smiling
"Let's go..."