SWOSHHHHH....
KABOOOMMMMMMM...
GRRRRRRR...
KLAAAAAAANNNNNNN...
The battle raged on with unrelenting ferocity, the clash of steel and magic echoing through the air. Leo's sword sliced through the fray, often used to deflect rather than attack, as he struggled to conserve his dwindling energy.
The mages proved more resilient than he had anticipated, their magical prowess forcing Leo to retreat. He sat beside the soldier, who gazed at him with a mixture of shock and fear.
"Who... are you?" the soldier stammered, but Leo's mind was elsewhere. He pondered the enemy's strange behavior – why didn't they press their advantage now that he had retreated?
His gaze shifted towards the necromancers, and his eyes widened in surprise. Behind them stood three automatons: one seated on a throne, adorned with the same key chain Leo had seen earlier, flanked by two guards.
The guards' inactivity puzzled Leo – why weren't they attacking? The mages and necromancers seemed to be protecting the king, but something about the guards didn't add up.
Echidna has once explained the features of mana to him. A mana user could sense other mana users and determine their strength and level of powress.
As a mana user, Leo could sense the strength of others. The king's aura was palpable, but the guards' was shrouded in mystery, as if they were concealing their true power.
For now, Leo's priority lay in defeating the resilient mages. With the automatons being resurrected by the necromancers, the battle was far from over. Leo steeled himself for the challenge ahead, his determination burning brighter than ever.
Leo's gaze remained fixed on the automatons as he posed the question, his voice firm and commanding. "Do you want to survive this trial?"
The soldier's response was hesitant, his voice trembling slightly. "Huhhh... me? Yes." Despite the fear evident in his tone, his determination shone through.
Leo's response was laced with sarcasm. "So why don't you go back to how you were when we started this second test, and let's take out the garbage?" He gestured towards the automatons, his eyes never leaving theirs.
The soldier, stood tall, his confidence growing. "I'm Sancho... Sancho Huntsman." His voice was steady, and his eyes locked onto Leo's.
Leo's grin was fierce. "I'm Leo. So, Sancho, let's show this woods what lumbering actually means." With a nod, the two of them stood up, ready to face the enemy.
As they charged into battle, Leo's strategy was clear. "I attack, you cover for me." With that, he sprinted towards the mages, his movements swift and deadly. Sancho, meanwhile, prepared to take on the soldier-automatons, his determination and newfound confidence driving him forward.
KABOOMMMMMM....
KLANNNNNNN...
WHUSHHHHHHHH....
The cacophony of war erupted once more, the sounds of clashing steel and magic filling the air . Leo and Sancho clashed with the enemy, their movements a testament to their unyielding determination.
Sancho's battle with the resurrected soldier-automatons was almost leisurely, thanks to Leo's relentless pursuit of the necromancers. However, the necromancers' teleportation abilities proved a formidable challenge, forcing Leo to adapt his strategy.
Infuriated by their evasiveness, Leo redirected his attention to the Aether mages.
HAAAA....BAAAMMMMM.....
With a fierce cry, he charged forward, his anger fueling his speed. The Aether mages, unable to withstand his fury, fell before him like wheat before a scythe.
Leo's attack on the Aether mages was a blur of swift and deadly precision. With his anger fueling his movements, he charged forward, his sword slicing through the air with lethal intent.
Each strike was calculated and merciless, leaving the Aether mages little chance to defend themselves. Leo's speed and agility allowed him to dodge their aether blasts with ease, closing the distance between them in the blink of an eye.
As he reached the mages, his sword flashed in the light, striking true time and again. The Aether mages attempted to retaliate, but Leo's fury was unrelenting, his blows landing with precision and force.
One by one, the Aether mages fell, their bodies crumpling to the ground as Leo's sword claimed their lives. The speed and ferocity of his attack left them little chance to respond, and soon the last of them lay defeated at his feet.
As the last Aether mage crumpled to the ground, Leo's gaze swept the battlefield, his eyes burning with intensity. The necromancers, now his sole focus, seemed to sense his determination.
Leo realized his speed alone wouldn't be enough to take down the necromancers, given their ability to teleport instantly. He focused his energy and whispered a single word: "Conceal." The air seemed to ripple around him as he vanished from sight, his presence no longer felt.
Sancho's eyes widened in shock. He knew that only magicians and Vassals possessed abilities like this. Leo's display of both magical and combat prowess left Sancho uncertain about which category to place him in.
FWOOOMMMMM...
With stealthy precision, Leo emerged from the shadows, his invisible form gliding towards the necromancers like a ghostly apparition. His sword, now a silent extension of his will, sliced through the air with deadly accuracy.
CLANGGGG...
Each strike was a masterclass in precision, finding its mark in the necromancers' vulnerable spots. They crumpled to the ground, their teleportation abilities rendered useless against Leo's swift and silent assault.
The necromancers' eyes widened in terror as they realized their foe was among them, striking without warning. Their cries were cut short, silenced by Leo's efficient and ruthless strikes.
SWOOSHHHHHH.....
One by one, the necromancers fell, their bodies slumping lifelessly to the ground. The last necromancer's eyes locked onto the spot where Leo's voice seemed to emanate from, but it was too late. Leo's sword found its mark, and the necromancer's body joined the others, lifeless and still.
The soldier-automatons, now deprived of their necromantic sustenance, dissipated into nothingness, leaving behind an unsettling silence.
Sancho watched in amazement how the necromancers fell to their feet lifelessly.
Sancho's feelings were a mix of awe and apprehension. He felt a sense of relief that the immediate threat had passed, but he couldn't shake off the feeling that he had just witnessed something extraordinary.
Leo reappeared after muttering "Dispel," his aura cold and intense, with a strong sense of mana emanating from his body. Sancho's grip on his sword tightened, his eyes locked on Leo. "Who are you?" he asked, his voice firm. "You're not an ordinary soldier, are you?"
Leo's response was measured, his gaze shifting towards the king and guards. "Don't you think we have bigger problems than that?" he said, his voice low and even. The king and guards stood motionless, their eyes fixed on Leo and Sancho, their expressions unreadable.
The second test's true challenge was only just beginning. With his body emanating a potent mana aura, Leo's eyes gleamed with anticipation. A wicked grin spread across his face as he charged forward alongside Sancho.
Their target was the three automatons, including the two formidable guards. The air seemed to vibrate with tension as they approached, their movements fluid and synchronized.
The guards, their faces expressionless, stood like monoliths, awaiting the impending clash. The king's gaze remained fixed on Leo, his eyes piercing and inscrutable.