The Boar snorted, tearing through the ground in a burst of speed. The sound of its hooves striking stone filled the air— THUD, THUD, THUD!— as the boar barreled toward them.
Cael sidestepped sharply, scraping his sword across the creature's flank as it passed. Sparks flew, barely cutting through the iron-like hide. "Damn, it's tougher than before!" he grunted.
Lucien's voice came fast. "It's building energy. Second charge, duck low when it stomps!"
Cael dropped instinctively, and the beast's tusks cut through the air inches above him. Lyra darted in from behind, her light forming a faint shimmer that sliced across the boar's rear leg, slowing its movement for a second.
Lucien watched, sharp-eyed, waiting for the smallest mistake to exploit. "Good! Keep it turning. It's losing focus!"
The fight rhythm took form as Cael slashed and moved. His blade glowing faintly as aether ran along the edges. His movements weren't perfect, his footing slipped once or twice, his swings too wide but Lucien filled the gaps with precise timing, his voice guiding every adjustment.
"Shorter swings. It'll twist left after that stomp. Don't chase it, cut across!"
Cael followed without thinking. The next strike hit true, leaving a deep gash on the beast's shoulder. "Ha! That did it!"
Lucien gave a small grin. "Now again, but with control. Don't lose your rhythm."
Cael smirked. "You talk too much for someone not swinging."
"I'll start swinging when you stop missing," Lucien shot back, a spark of humor breaking through his calm tone.
Lyra darted between them, her ethereal blades of light cutting at the creature's weaker joints. Every time she struck, the faint hum of her energy rippled through the air like wind against glass.
While they fought, the distant echoes of other awakeners filled the rift.
Screams. Metal clashing. Roars.
Elsewhere, two young warriors fought clumsily against a similar beast, their weapons trembling in their grip. One lost his footing, narrowly escaping death as a supervisor swooped in to pull him out. His emergency flare streaked into the air, bright red against the dim blue of the rift.
Farther away, an elementalist struggled to focus his mana flow, his flames bursting too wildly, searing the edge of his robe. The Summoner by his side struggled to control his summon, a small rock drake as it ignored his calls, swatting its tail lazily as if bored. He cursed under his breath, trying again, but his commands met deaf ears.
Just miles away, Another group of summoners fought together, their creatures barely holding formation. One summon, a rabbit-like beast fled mid-fight, causing its master to panic and lose focus. Their opponent, a rift wolf, took the chance and lunged, As another flare shot up.
Not all fared poorly, though. Some of the upper division students cut through their enemies with skill and precision. Elemental bursts, coordinated attacks, blades coated with aether, each showing why they were the elites of their batch. But even they showed strain. Beasts fought differently than human opponents; their instincts were chaotic, unpredictable.
It was chaos across the rift.
Back where Lucien and Cael fought, their battle remained composed. They weren't rushing for glory, just testing their limits and learning. Cael's breathing was steady now, his blade movements cleaner. Lucien watched him closely, noting how quickly his friend adapted.
"Good stance," Lucien called. "But don't overextend when it feints. Watch the left leg; that's where it anchors before a charge."
Cael nodded, muttering through gritted teeth, "You make it sound easy."
Lucien's grin widened slightly. "It will be, once you stop thinking so much."
The boar bellowed, shaking its head violently. Dust scattered as it slammed its hooves down, the ground trembling beneath them.
Lyra's voice echoed softly, "It's gathering energy again."
Lucien's expression hardened. "Yeah. It's not done yet."
The beast's eyes glowed faintly brown, the veins along its body pulsing as chunks of rock lifted from the ground.
Cael took a step back, sword raised defensively. "That's new."
Lucien frowned. "It's reinforcing its hide. Same skill as before, but it's adapting." He looked to Lyra. "Stay mobile. We'll bait it again, but this time hit from above. Use that new burst of yours."
Lyra nodded faintly, her glow intensifying.
The air grew tense, the rumbling beneath them stronger now. The horned boar pawed the ground, lowering its head as it prepared to charge again.
Lucien steadied his breath, his voice calm. "Cael… let's finish this right."
Cael cracked a grin, rolling his shoulders once more. "You give the word."
Lucien's hand tightened on his weapon. The ground cracked, the beast roared, and the world around them blurred into motion once more—
The fight had entered its last phase.
And in the midst of the chaos, Lucien's eyes shone with quiet determination. He wasn't just fighting to survive anymore. He was learning, adapting, and leading, like someone who'd already walked this path before.
The sound of hooves thundered once again.
"Now!" Lucien shouted.
And with that command, the battle truly began.
The ground trembled under the horned boar's weight as it charged, tusks glowing with dull brown light. Dust rose in waves, swallowing everything for a moment before a sharp metallic clang split the air. Cael met the beast's charge head-on, his blade flaring with pale blue light. Sparks scattered, and the impact forced him back a few steps, boots grinding against the broken earth.
Lucien's voice came sharp and steady, cutting through the noise. "Hold your ground! Don't let it reset!"
Cael gritted his teeth and forced a breath through the burn in his lungs. His veins pulsed faintly with blue light as he drew deeper into his aether flow. He could feel it, the heat crawling up his arm, the wild thrum of energy that demanded to be used.
Lucien stepped forward, his eyes never leaving the boar. He moved just enough to take the pressure off Cael, intercepting a wide tusk swing with his short blade. The strike pushed him back slightly, but his stance didn't falter. "Now, Cael! Use your skill!"
Cael shouted, letting the built-up energy burst from his weapon. His aether flared violently, wrapping the blade in a haze of force.