Chapter 8: Instant Kill
"Whoa, these guys are Aletheia level! That lightning mage isnt using his magic though?"
"Instructor Kenn is getting embarrassed out there.. I heard if you even yawned in PE he would make you run until sundown that's how his pride is!"
"Prince Niccoló not going to Aletheia is a huge surprise I guess he wants to revive the school's prestige!"
Sophis students were raving as they watched with excitement. Their soon-to-be classmates were of a high echelon and could perhaps beat back the decadent status of Sophis among the top three institutions in the Daek empire.
The student president though watched the display with Riné and Mime intently. Each movement and clash was observed as Giselle, the neon-green-haired student next to him, watched with interest.
"Ah, I see they're using an unfired gun approach."
"Hm. What do you mean?"
"The examinee Mime is being a hanging variable toward Ken on whether or not he's capable of a threat however the fact is you cannot disregard a gun pointed at you unless you confirm it's loaded or not."
"Hoh. That's why Riné isn't using his lightning magic, to lower his threat to Ken?"
At this question, Gizelle's expression went from knowledgeable to confused.
"I dunnoh. It's not like the guy is running out of mana the way he's inefficiently enhancing his own body. The most important thing for those two is that the gun doesn't misfire."
The student president nodded seeming in a daze before snapping out of it.
"Instructor Kenn, could you beat him without your magic?"
"Hm? If I were to fight without my phenomagic it would be tough."
"Would you lose?"
"Hell no."
7 Minutes remain.
Upon realizing the hidden weapon in Riné's grasp the instructor realizing the bad predicament he was in began to take a proactive approach.
'Looks like I was taking it too easily. I'll have to go serious if I am not be embarrassed.'
"Explosion Magic: Mine Field"
Red projectiles came from Kenn's hands as they dug into the ground in a grand number before Riné and Mime as the two looked down watching their step.
Riné felt frustrated as his whole plan had to be revised as he stopped for a moment Kenn threw a flying mana projectile rapidly at his position Riné threw the knife at it causing it to explode before it reached him. If he had gotten knocked back… Taking one look at the ground behind him where a projectile had dug and hid itself he knew it would have been devastating.
Mime on the other hand was panicking internally. His poor mana control wouldn't save him here as he remembered only the positions of the nearest mines.
'Should I have the foot soldiers arrive and clear the field? No I'll just allow the Notus to remove our momentum if I stop the encirclement…'
The first to make their move was Kenn who stepped over the placed mines without setting them off as he lunged toward Mime to get rid of him first.
"You're first."
Riné jumped forward as he set off a few bombs he managed to maneuver however it was too far a distance as Kenn's leg swung out to strike Mime water began to rise from the ground.
The mines before Mime and Kenn exploded causing Mime to be blown away from the instructor as Mime and Riné realized with enthusiasm the appearance of their teammate.
"Sorry we took long the instructor was pretty tough, Keth though is a bit busy taking out the Notus."
Kairi moved past the shoulder of the blockading clockwork soldiers entering the entrapment. A surprise variable that earned them a greater chance of defeating the instructor.
Riné instantly took advantage of the moment as he picked up his saber from the ground sprinting toward the instructor the blade became wrapped in mana.
"Thank you Kairi."
The saber held a great threat to Kenn as he lunged forward to meet the saber with his hardened fist.
"That won't WORK!"
The fist cracked as mini explosions pushed the saber back as it made contact with Riné's saber. The two struggled back and forth as Mime attempted to move in.
"Don't forget about me."
Kenn clicked his tongue. He had seen what Mime was capable of since the beginning. The kind he despised. All bark no bite just being a pesky fly as he grasped Mime by the neck slamming him into the ground causing Mime to lose breath and lose focus for a second.
"Do you yield? Are you a Comis stage mage right? The very first stage any toddler of a mage becomes yet you're how old? 17? 18? How patronizing!"
Mime yelped in pain as the heat from the explosion magic began to burn his neck before making weeping noises as he turned his head away.
"You're crying?"
Relieving the pressure from his hand it wasn't pity but confusion. Where was his earlier bravado? Mime's weeping became a laugh as he turned toward the instructor with ambition in his eyes creating a purple glow as his mana erupted in great force.
"No it's just funny. The plan played out just as he said!"
chains of purple translucent mana wrapped around Kenn's arms as Mime freed himself of the grasp kicking the instructor away. Kenn struggled as he could break out in less than three seconds however, in a battle a second meant life or death as Riné appeared from his blind spot in the air swinging his elbow against the instructor's neck causing him to fall over and the third mark to be placed.
Riné nodded to Mime approvingly as he extended an arm for him to reach. Mime grinned back feeling the wound around his neck before happily taking the helping hand up.
'Mime truly followed the plan.'
Riné thought back to before Kenn escaped from the brute and he had told him the plan.
"Bait out the instructor's fury by holding back your strength over and over until you change him point blank to subdue him with all your mana. Chains will do or a simple all-out attack will be enough just a moment will do."
"Just keep making opportunities by being annoying."
Taking account of Mime's mischievousness and his relative inexperience in battle he made him adapt a mosquito-like approach to slowly whittle away his opponent's composure before making a fatal mistake.
It was nothing complex but perfectly adept for the Joker Mime.
"This is our deadly combination [ Trickster X Duelist ]!"
The instructor felt belittled he was over two realms above this absolute novice yet he was ensured by these makeshift chains and struck. He shattered the chains as he stood up and rushed to pummel Riné with a final explosive burst.
Standing frozen amongst the rampaging winds Riné stood a sculpture composed as the wind blew his hair to the side accentuatinghis stunning appearance as he merely glanced at the instructor.
'I'll send you off without my lightning.'
Riné activated his mana marks as the three on his leg, liver, and neck activated as the wild mana traveled through his body causing him to be stunned in the air as Riné stuck out his palm.
'Crack!'
The instructor flew into the straight extended palm face-first as the mana-enforced strike sent through breaking the nose's cartilage before reverberating through the skull, rattling the brain, and the mana through his body. The mana around Kenn dissipated as his explosion magic vanished without a trace the distinct sound of a bell traveled out as the two collided canceling the momentum of Kenn's attack.
An instant kill!
"Huh?"
Riné felt nauseous as he began to sweat as the reverberation of the instant kill traveled through his body. The instructor fell over unconscious as the strike rattled his brain causing collapse. The instant kill he had learned was a reaction when two opposing forces met and one cancels out the other with the same amount of force as a counter causing a restriction on the other's magic usage yet at his level because of the level disparity Riné felt backlash to the point of great exhaustion.
Recalling the image of his master explaining the instant kill he grinned slightly. It was first time achieving this feat as he felt the entrance exam was truly a valuable experience just for this moment on his path to Emperalis. His gaze unreadable with perplexing emotions as he grasped the area where his chest was tightly. At the same he felt he should feel guilt for the instructor but recalling the burns on Keth he shook his head eliminating that guilt in an instant. Unable to handle the growing exhaustion Riné lost focus as his legs gave out.
As he was about to fall over Riné felt a great weariness before he was caught by both his arms. Mime and Kairi held him up as the two looked in awe of Riné's feat of taking down an instructor in a flashy way. Exam officials entered the area to take the unconscious Kenn away on a stretcher as he needed quick medical attention the group continued to end the exam before the Prince could enter.
The surrounding area was cleared thanks to Kairi and Keth's assistance as the exam was coming to an end, and the Notus were being eliminated. There was no leader for the Notus to eliminate to take control. The goal for this final section was the elimination of every Notus. As the different instructors were handled by Keth and Kairi assisted by Mime only thirty seconds were left before the final Notus stood tall. A grandfather Notus swung two large great swords as the different examinees failed to get closer without facing heavy punishment. Mime continued to do a blitz approach sacrificing wave after wave of Notus to overwhelm the Notus as he glared at the timer he set with anxiety.
"QUICK TAKE IT DOWN TIMES U-"
A axe and bolt from an insane distance from the prince's camp as Mime reacted he felt it was over his bet was done Riné and Kairi were on it.
"Water Magic: Damping Soak"
"Lightning Magic: Smite X5"
The water entered every crevice of the final Notus as the lightning fell almost from the heavens using the water as a conduit the Notus collapsed from the built-up damage from the examinees and Notus as the axe and bolt arrived no less than a second later slamming against the walls of the arena creating a large crater and a bolt was lodged into the wall itself.
"The exam is over! The final Notus has been neutralized examinees thank you for your effort we will get your results to you in a quick time!"
A familiar pink-haired female announcer came onto the mic as the examinees from Mimes side of testing each gave a sigh of relief as those on the Prince's felt sullen.
The students in the crowd were at a loss for words. Some were standing out of their seats leaving the arena gossiping about the different examinees while most were all focused on the instant kill landed on the instructor. A difficult feat to land in any scenario now it was exaggerated as it was the strict Kenn who was knocked out. A blemish to any career that would forever leave a mark on one's pride as an instructor as Mime sprinted toward Riné and Kairi as he jumped and aimed to hug the two, both had learned to avoid their hug as the two dodged coldly.
"Not bad, very close on the clock but you managed to pull it off with half the army. I commend you all. Especially you black hair saber user."
The shine of gold from the prince as his majesty appeared in royal form Mime and the others kneeled before Riné realized the situation and kneeled following their example.
"It was nothing your majesty. I simply acted according to the orders of a friend. My friends did the most work."
Riné gazed toward Mime who looked like he was in bliss looking back teary-eyed appreciating the title as Riné had grown to like the group he had been paired up with as they stood each other. Keth scowled however it wasn't a serious one as Kairi gave a warm nod back.
'I think I understand why Mother used to tell me friends are those you least expect to become close with. I think I'll be around them for now."
"Alright, I'll leave this matter for now let's all have a discussion after the results are released."
The prince waved his hand turning his back on Riné's group as the mute special admissions examinee who had thrown the axe followed without dissent while Holless wanted to say a word with Riné he was given a glare by the Prince before he sighed in discontent but listened.
Thirty minutes would pass before the results were released.