The air crackled with tension as Haruto, Aoi, Yuki, and the girl they had rushed to save faced off against the towering Golem Boss. It loomed over them, its rocky form pulsating with dark energy, ready to unleash its fury.

“Stay close!” Haruto shouted, gripping his fists. “We need to protect her at all costs!”

The girl trembled, looking between the Golem and the group, fear etched on her face. Aoi readied her ice magic, preparing to defend the girl with her ice spears.

“Haruto, I’ll create a barrier of ice to shield us! Just keep the Golem distracted!” Aoi said, determination flooding her voice.

As the Golem charged, Haruto unleashed “Hikari no Tate,” the shield of light appearing just in time to absorb the Golem's massive fist. The impact reverberated through the air, but they held their ground.

Yuki, still finding her confidence, summoned her dark flames. “I’ll do what I can!” she cried, launching bursts of shadowy fire at the Golem. The flames flickered around its body, but it barely flinched.

“Keep it up, Yuki!” Haruto encouraged. “Just a little longer!”

As the fight wore on, time seemed to slip away. The Golem swung its arms, smashing boulders and rubble, while Haruto and Aoi worked in tandem, dodging and countering its attacks. The weight of the moment bore down on them, each heartbeat resonating with urgency.

Suddenly, the Golem paused, its eyes narrowing in confusion. Aoi seized the moment. “Now! Haruto, combine our attacks!”

With a nod, Haruto channeled his light magic alongside Aoi’s ice. Together, they unleashed a stunning combination, an explosion of radiant light and shimmering ice, dazzling the Golem and momentarily disorienting it.

“Let’s get out of here!” Aoi shouted as the last seconds of the test ticked away.

The group bolted, racing past the Golem as it staggered, momentarily confused. They dashed through the dungeon entrance just as the final buzzer rang out.

As they emerged into the bright light of the arena, applause erupted around them. Students and spectators cheered, their voices a chorus of approval.

“Look! They made it!” someone shouted, pointing at the trio.

But not everyone was pleased. Haruto caught sight of the bullies from before, their faces twisted in anger and disbelief.

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“Those losers shouldn’t have made it out!” one of them spat.

As the crowd celebrated, Haruto, Aoi, and Yuki turned around to ensure the girl they had saved was safe. To their shock, she had vanished into thin air.

“Where did she go?” Haruto wondered aloud, scanning the area.

Before they could question it further, the announcer’s voice boomed over the crowd. “Attention, everyone! The next stage of the exam will begin shortly! Teams will be drafted for the 4v4 battles!”

The trio exchanged anxious glances. They had just faced the Golem Boss, but now they had to prepare for another fight.

“We don’t have a fourth member,” Yuki said, her brows furrowing in concern.

“How hard are the battles going to be?” Aoi asked, biting her lip, glancing nervously at the crowd gathering for the next challenge.

Before they could devise a plan, their names were called. They were drafted against a team composed of an Earth mage, a Water mage, and two Fire mages.

“Great, this is just what we need,” Haruto muttered, determination hardening in his chest.

The battlefield was set, the tension palpable as the two teams faced each other. The opposing mages grinned confidently, their elemental energies swirling around them, ready for combat.

As the battle commenced, Haruto and his team readied themselves. He could feel the weight of their challenge looming ahead.

The heat of battle intensified and Yuki felt the weight of doubt creeping in. Standing shoulder to shoulder with Haruto and Aoi, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she was just a burden.

“Guys, I—” Yuki hesitated, glancing away from their determined faces. “I don’t think I can keep up with you. I’ve always been weaker than everyone else… I’ll just drag you down.”

Her heart raced, and the shadows of her past crept in—memories of laughter and whispers that haunted her. The weight of her elemental affinity felt heavier than ever.

Aoi, sensing Yuki’s distress, turned to her, her expression softening. “Yuki, you’re not a burden. You have your own strength, even if you can’t see it yet. We’re in this together.”

Haruto nodded vigorously, his voice firm and reassuring. “Aoi’s right! We wouldn’t have made it out of that dungeon without you. Your magic is unique, and it has the potential to turn the tide in this battle. You just need to believe in yourself!”

Yuki looked at them, her heart fluttering with hope. “But what if I fail? What if I can’t do anything right?”

“Everyone starts somewhere,” Haruto said, his gaze steady. “Remember how we struggled against the Golem Boss? It was teamwork that got us through. We’ll figure this out together, just like we did before.”

Aoi chimed in, “And if you stumble, we’ll be right there to catch you! You’re part of this team, Yuki. Your heart is what matters most. Just trust in yourself and in us.”

Yuki felt warmth spread through her chest, and for the first time, she allowed herself to believe that maybe she could be strong too. “You really think so?”

“Absolutely,” Haruto said, flashing her a confident smile. “Let’s show them what we can do!”

With newfound determination, Yuki nodded, a spark of courage igniting within her. Together, they would face whatever challenges lay ahead.

Then, without warning, the two Fire mages launched a combined attack, a torrent of flames swirling toward them like a raging inferno.

“Get ready!” Haruto shouted as the firestorm barreled down.