Chapter 53 – End of the Entrance exam(5)

Chapter 53: Chapter 53 – End of the Entrance exam(5) The ground trembled beneath their feet. A low, ominous rumble echoed through the water, vibrating through the earth. The tremors grew stronger with every passing second. Dust fell from the ceiling, pebbles danced across the ground, and the previously tranquil waterfall began to pulse with unnatural energy. All eyes turned toward it. Seraphina narrowed her eyes. "Something’s wrong." Lilith’s crimson gaze darkened as she saw what was happening. Her vampire followers huddled together, fear creeping into their undead veins. Charlotte calmly lifted her chin, silently assessing the environment with her piercing aquamarine eyes. A noble’s grace and confidence radiated from her posture. Only one person didn’t seem concerned—Alex Dragonheart. After observing the scene unfolding, he disappeared while everyone’s attention was elsewhere. As the rumbling intensified, a deep, unnatural screech echoed through the water—like nails against the world’s fabric itself. From beneath the crashing waterfall, the shadows shifted... something massive moved. Suddenly, the water exploded upward as an enormous, serpentine creature emerged. Ossirath. The serpent of forgotten rain—a creature feared even among Advanced-rank monsters—slithered from the churning pool hidden behind the waterfall. Its obsidian scales shimmered with a glossy sheen, each plate thicker than castle walls. Glowing crimson lines pulsed along its body like molten lava, and venom dripped from its jagged fangs, sizzling as it hit the ground. Its eyes—no, voids of hatred—locked onto the intruders. Every single team froze. "That’s—" a terrified voice cracked. "An Advanced-rank... no... Peak-Advanced!" someone cried out. Terror surged like a tidal wave. Ethan Williams and Alden von Crestvale instinctively tightened their grips on their swords, muscle memory kicking in. "Now that looks like a worthy challenge," Alden muttered, a grin spreading across his lips. In contrast, Lilith’s vampire followers panicked, some even backing away. But Lilith? She didn’t even flinch. One single word slipped from her mouth: "Silence." The vampires stopped. Cold. Not a single step back, not a whisper. Her authority terrified them more than the monster. Charlotte raised an eyebrow in amusement, glancing at Lilith before focusing back on Ossirath. "How did that guy know the monster was here?" she thought aloud, gaze momentarily shifting toward where Alex had disappeared earlier. "Where did he disappear to?" she wondered. But her thoughts were cut short. Ossirath roared. The sound wasn’t just loud—it was a soul-piercing screech that rattled bones and shattered thoughts. It ripped through the cavern like thunder incarnate, snapping everyone out of their daze. Without warning, the serpent lunged—not at the elites, but at the scattered human followers already scrambling away. A massive swipe of its tail— BOOM! The ground cracked and several unfortunate souls were flung like ragdolls into the air. Cries of pain were silenced in an instant as they were eliminated. "Maintain formation!" Charlotte barked, shaking off her thoughts. "Range at the back, magic support in the middle. Now!" Before the formation could fully settle, a blur of motion shot forward. Alden. His fire resonance already ignited, his aura flared like a comet as he dashed straight at the serpent. "Don’t underestimate me, you overgrown worm!" he shouted, his blade glowing. He slashed downward with flaming force, landing a direct hit on the monster’s scaled side. CLANG! The strike echoed—but the scales didn’t break. Ossirath barely flinched. A moment later, its massive tail swung sideways. CRASH! Alden was sent flying like a cannonball, smashing into a tree trunk. The impact cracked the bark and sent leaves flying. He groaned, blood dripping from his mouth. "Damn... thing’s tougher than it looks. Fuck—that hurts." The fight began. Charlotte lifted her arms. Rings of gravitational force formed around her, centering on Ossirath. Seraphina raised her hand, forming massive icicles above the serpent’s path. Lilith extended her palms, her blood forming crimson lances that spiraled toward the beast. The vampires, now composed, took formation and launched spells and arrows imbued with night magic. The human followers, rallying to Charlotte’s voice, charged forward in battle formation, blades drawn. Ethan activated his elemental affinities. Golden light surrounded his blade, lightning crackled across his form. He shot forward, weaving through chaos. Each attack landed with varying effects— Charlotte’s gravity wells slowed Ossirath slightly, forcing the serpent to dip and drag its mass. Seraphina’s ice spears struck the monster’s flank, sending shards flying—but only scratching its outer scales. Lilith’s blood spears managed to pierce slightly deeper, hissing against the serpent’s mana-coated hide. The vampire unit’s coordinated assault caused minor explosions across its body, creating small scorch marks. Ethan’s lightning-infused blade slashed across the serpent’s eye ridge, leaving a faint burn and forcing it to recoil. But then... the serpent retaliated. Ossirath’s body began to glow ominously. Lines of magma-like energy surged from its chest and spread across its form. Massive arcs of dark energy pulsed around Ossirath’s body. A wide wave of Corrosive Mist spewed from its gaping maw. The mist slithered across the battlefield, melting plants, rocks—and unprotected humans. One follower screamed as the acid mist corroded his armor, flesh sizzling as he fell. Another tripped and fell into the mist, his form reduced to bones in seconds as he was eliminated. Another attack followed. The serpent’s massive tail whipped through the air, launching sickles of condensed mana. One blade severed a vampire’s torso mid-flight. Another collided with Ethan’s barrier, causing it to crack before he deflected the rest with a wild leap. Then came Tectonic Crush. Ossirath’s entire body slammed into the ground. The jungle floor fractured. Trees toppled. Craters formed. Several followers were launched into the air, limbs flailing. One human was swallowed whole by a fissure that opened under his feet. Seraphina hit a tree, dazed. Charlotte nearly lost her footing, using her gravity magic to stabilize herself. The formation fell into disarray. Charlotte shouted, "Regroup! Maintain formation!" Seraphina got up and took flight, her ice wings unfurling from her back. "Take this," she said coldly. Her ice magic exploded outward, spikes and spears forming mid-air before launching toward the monster. The ground around Ossirath began freezing, limiting its movement. Charlotte raised her staff. "Let’s see you slither in this." Graviton Collapse—a field of dense pressure warped around the serpent, slowing its body as if time itself had thickened. Lilith smirked, blood rising from her hand and forming blood lances that spiraled toward the monster. "Don’t disappoint me now." Her followers moved with militaristic precision, conjuring more blood magic and dark tendrils to entrap Ossirath. The human followers joined in too, unleashing waves of elemental magic—flames, arrows, stone spikes, and lightning bolts. Ethan joined the assault, his body cloaked in brilliant white and golden light. Light spears and thunderbolts shot from his sword, arcing through the air and striking the serpent repeatedly. Ossirath roared, flailing, its body bleeding but not yielding. Some attacks bounced off, others left seared wounds. Its pupils dilated. Berserk mode. The beast’s power erupted, its body expanding, the ground was shaking as it released Devouring Wrath—a massive wave of cursed energy that shattered incoming spells and threw attackers back. Ethan, still standing tall, took a deep breath. "Time to end this," he muttered. He activated Light Resonance, his entire body radiating divine energy. Then, his sword began to glow—Dawnbreaker Judgement. He focused. "First Form: Radiant Edge." A blinding beam of light surged around his blade. Ethan dashed forward with speed beyond comprehension, piercing through the battlefield like a divine spear. His sword found a weak point—the base of the monster’s neck. BOOM! A massive explosion of holy light erupted. The crowd watched in awe. — Outside the Deserted Isle The world watched. Screens broadcasted the battle from every angle. Commentators screamed over each other. "WHAT A STRIKE! ETHAN WILLIAMS HAS PIERCED THROUGH OSSIRATH’S DEFENSES!" "THIS—THIS IS WHY HE’S THE PROPHESIED ONE!" The world was going crazy watching their hero. In the Williams Dukedom In a lavish estate, Tanya Williams—Ethan’s mother—stood, fists clenched in excitement, tears brimming in her eyes. "That’s my son! You show them!" she shouted. She glanced wistfully at the empty chair beside her. "Arthur is busy with work again... Evelyn is at the academy... I hope you guys are watching him too." — Back at the Isle Seraphina, Charlotte, Lilith, and Alden relentlessly struck at Ossirath. Alden, bloodied and grinning, returned to the field. "Round two, snake." With Charlotte’s gravity magic pinning the serpent and Seraphina’s ice locking its joints, the beast’s movements slowed drastically. Ethan shouted over the chaos, "Char! Sera! Hold him still for a few seconds!" Both girls nodded. Their magic intensified. Ethan focused everything into his next attack. "Fifth Form: Strike of Judgement!" He vanished, reappearing with a thrust of pure, blinding energy—aimed at Ossirath’s heart. CRACK! But before the attack could finish— A second voice rang out. "Astral Void Rend – Fourth Form: Bladestorm Mirage." A blur. Silver hair, blue eyes. Alex. Appearing out of nowhere, his blade moved like a phantom. The attack came from behind—layers of afterimages slashing into the monster simultaneously. The two strikes collided—one light, one void. Ossirath shrieked, its body convulsing. And then— BOOM! It disintegrated into particles of light and faded into the air. Silence. The battlefield froze. Ethan, panting heavily, sheathed his sword. That fifth form had drained him. Only now, he noticed Alex, standing calmly a few meters away. "So, you didn’t run," Ethan muttered. He smirked. "Ruthless bastard." "He came out at the end just to ensure he’d get a share of the points," Ethan thought. "Sneaky bastard." His thoughts came out loud. Alex smiled twitched at that. He wasn’t the only one thinking that. Everyone’s eyes turned toward the silver-haired figure. Charlotte. Seraphina. Lilith. All stared daggers at him. Alden? He was grinning like a maniac. Alex slowly began to clap. "Bravo," he said, voice smooth and mocking. "That was beautiful. Entertaining, even. But... you all look so drained. So tired." His eyes gleamed. He raised his right hand, his sword glowing faintly. Then, with a flick of his left hand, he drew a dagger in his left hand. His expression turned deadly serious. "So... shall we get started?"