The Shadow Beast let out a roar as Kael and Lyra rushed toward it.
The Shadow Beast had claws that tore through the air aiming directly at Kael and Lyra.
"Left!" Lyra shouted to Kael.
Kael immediately moved to the left.
The Shadow Beasts claw slammed into the ground where Kael had been standing seconds ago sending dust and rocks flying everywhere around Kael and Lyra.
Lyra spun her spear with a lot of skill.
A silver glow surrounded her spear as she leaped into the air to attack the Shadow Beast.
" Strike!" Lyra said as she attacked the Shadow Beast.
Her spear slashed across the Shadow Beasts shoulder.
The Shadow Beast let out a scream as dark blood splattered across the arena floor.
The Shadow Beast screamed in pain. It did not fall to the ground.
Instead the Shadow Beasts red eyes burned with greater rage at Kael and Lyra.
"Be careful!" Kael warned Lyra.
The Shadow Beast suddenly swung its tail toward Lyra.
Lyra barely managed to block the Shadow Beasts attack with her spear.
The impact sent Lyra sliding across the ground.
Kaels eyes widened as he saw Lyra sliding across the ground.
"Lyra!" Kael said.
Before the Shadow Beast could attack Lyra again Kael rushed forward to help Lyra.
Blue energy exploded around Kaels body as he moved.
The air trembled as Kael jumped high into the air and slammed his fist into the Shadow Beasts face.
The Shadow Beast stumbled backward.
Lyra quickly regained her balance.
She looked at Kael in surprise.
"You are stronger than you look " Lyra said to Kael with a smile.
Kael scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
"I am still figuring it out " Kael said.
Lyra laughed softly.
"Well try to figure it out " Lyra said to Kael.
The Shadow Beast roared again clearly furious now at Kael and Lyra.
Cracks of energy started forming across the Shadow Beasts body.
Instructor Valerias voice echoed from above the arena.
"Be careful! The Shadow Beast is entering its rage state!" Instructor Valeria warned Kael and Lyra.
The Shadow Beasts power suddenly doubled.
The Shadow Beasts claws slammed down violently.
Kael and Lyra barely dodged the Shadow Beasts attack.
The entire arena shook.
Lyra frowned.
"If this keeps going someone is going to get hurt " Lyra said.
Kael looked at the Shadow Beast carefully.
Then Kael looked at his glowing hands.
The blue energy inside Kael felt stronger than before.
Kael remembered his moms words again.
His mom had said: "You must survive."
Kael clenched his fists.
Then Kael looked at Lyra.
"I will distract the Shadow Beast " Kael said to Lyra.
Lyra blinked.
"What?" Lyra asked Kael.
"Attack the Shadow Beasts heart when you see the chance " Kael said to Lyra.
Lyra studied Kaels face.
For a moment Lyra saw something in Kaels face.
Not anger, but determination.
Lyra smiled slightly.
"Alright hero " Lyra said to Kael.
Kael took a breath.
Then Kael ran toward the Shadow Beast.
The Shadow Beast. Charged at Kael.
At the second Kael slid under the Shadow Beasts claws.
Blue energy burst from Kaels body.
Kael slammed both fists into the ground.
The shockwave made the Shadow Beast lose its balance.
"Now!" Kael shouted to Lyra.
Lyra did not hesitate.
Lyra jumped high into the air.
Her spear began glowing than before.
Silver light surrounded Lyra like falling stars.
"Celestial Piercer!" Lyra said as she attacked the Shadow Beast.
Lyra thrust the spear downward with all her strength into the Shadow Beasts chest.
The Shadow Beast let out one deafening roar.
Then the Shadow Beasts body collapsed onto the arena floor.
Silence filled the stadium.
For a seconds nobody moved.
Then suddenly the crowd of students erupted into cheers.
"They did it!" the students said.
"They actually defeated the Shadow Beast!" the students said.
Kael breathed heavily as the blue energy around him slowly faded.
Lyra pulled her spear out. Walked toward Kael.
Lyra brushed a strand of hair behind her ear.
"Not bad for a rookie " Lyra said to Kael.
Kael smiled slightly.
"Not bad for a partner " Kael said to Lyra.
Lyra laughed.
Then Lyra held out her hand.
"Looks like we passed the test " Lyra said to Kael.
Kael looked at Lyras hand for a moment.
Then Kael shook Lyras hand.
"Yeah " Kael said.
High above the arena Professor Orion watched Kael and Lyra with interest.
Instructor Valeria crossed her arms.
"Two exceptional students in one exam " Instructor Valeria said.
Professor Orion smiled.
"A God Slayer and a future spear master " Professor Orion said.
Professor Orion looked down at Kael thoughtfully.
"The academy just became a lot more interesting " Professor Orion said.
Down in the arena Kael looked at the sky.
For the time since his moms death Kael did not feel completely alone.
Deep in the dark clouds, above the academy something else was watching Kael and Lyra.
A pair of glowing eyes opened slowly.
A cold voice whispered:
"So the God Slayer has awakened…"
The real war was only beginning. ⚡