Chapter 5: Berserker

"Alright let the battle for the semi-finals match begin." Geraldus roared the start signal.

Their opponents are currently both pure Avalonians one was blonde and the other had a chestnut colored hair. Both of them are wearing high quality armors. The chestnut haired guy was wearing a heavy armor with a finely designed sword on his left hand and a wide shield of his right. The blond guy was rather wearing a lighter armor and was wielding dual swords instead of a sword and shield.

Corvelia charged at the opponents. The two retaliated by slashing their swords producing wind blades "[Cutting Wind]." 

She dodge by sidestepping to the left then Akatriel behind her released a [Blinding Flare]. Corvelia then rushed in to complete the routine. However as she came into close contact with them, they show no signs of being dazed. This caught her unprepared giving her no time to avoid another wind blade they had released.

"[Light Barrier]." Akatriel called out the defensive spell.

A screen of light intercepted the attack in front of her canceling it upon contact and letting her escape unscathed.

"[Light Shackles]." Akatriel then invoked a rooting spell. However before the spell could completely activate, the enemy has already jumped away from targeted location.

"[Burning Claws]." Corvelia used this opportunity to rush at the person still in midair and slashed with her fiery claw blades aiming at his abdomen. His companion intercepted from behind parrying the attack with his sword. Her target then was able to land on the ground and retaliated with an upward slash. Corvelia took second too late as jump back, she won't be able to completely evade the counterattack. 

"[Piercing Light]." A beam of light struck the sword changing its current course. Robert released another wind blade, this time directed at Akatriel not giving him a chance to cast another barrier.

"Shit." Akatriel cursed as he tumble to get away from the attack's path.

When he had recollected himself, he saw Corvelia already recieved a deep wound on her left shoulder and leg.

"Corvelia pull back. [Light Shackles]." Akatriel called out and summoned a field of chains between her partner and the enemy.

"[Heal]." He then came to the limping girl's side and applied healing magic on her wounds. The cuts healed within a matter of seconds. 

"How were they able to negate all the attacks?"

"I don't know. But for some reason, I got the feeling that they were able to predict our actions before we could even perform them." Akatriel released another [Piercing Light] and as expected, the enemies were able to predict his attack beforehand and avoided it. 

"Moreover they were able to evenly trade attacks with you despite the supposed difference in the strength between races. Unless their possessing herculean innate ability, those armors are most likely enchanted with high level magic to enhance their physical strength.

"Akatriel Godsworn and Corvelia Hölle-Flügel isn't it? I commend you great skill and capabilities but I'm telling you now, you've got a very slim chance in defeating us." The blonde guy spoke to them.

"Did you understand what the guy was trying to say?" Akatriel asked his partner.

"Sorry, I couldn't manage to. I did hear him mentioned our names though, is he a friend of yours?"

"Nope. Never met him. Haven't even heard of him." He denied.

"Urk...this guys are pissing me off. For you to know, I am Edward du Lac son of the duke Richard du Lac a descendant of the great Sir Lancelot. A shame on you for not knowing my honorable name." The guy said in anger.

"Hmmmm. Sorry bro, I can't really recall hearing that name before."

"Argh..  Fine. The point is, you can't win against us. We have already gathered information on how you both fight in a battle. Especially you Akatriel, you're the type who thinks things deeply first before you act. When things go wrong you take time to revise the plan before charging in again. You supporting capabilities are good, a special trait needed in a Subjugation Squad team. However my innate ability is reading other people's mind. A must-think-first-before-act person like you is at a total disadvantage against me."

"Heh...so does that mean your ability is useless when we're attack without giving it much thought." Corvelia concluded. "Akatriel I think I got an idea."

"Hahaha. Fighting without a plan. Its just like you Corvelia, the Berserker. Raised and trained by her father a great Dragonborn warrior, however he died when you were still young. Without any other dragonborn here specializing in berserk combat or the means to go to the Dragonborn land being tied up to your mother with sensitive health. You've become someone unable to refine her fighting style, only wrecking havoc among both friend and foes very befitting of your given title."

"Grr. What did you just say!?" Corvelia said in contempt.

"I meant that even if you would go berserk in here, the effort would still remain worthless. Robert here has the innate ability to connect and sychronize his mind and senses with another person. With both of us able to read your minds and by sharing our senses, heck we could keep up until the time you lose control and succumbed to you berserk. By then, maybe you've taken down your partner first. Ha, nothing but a crude and rusted double edged blade, your father would surely be ashamed of you if he ever meets you in afterlife."

Corvelia gritted her teeth in fury. Akatriel patted a hand on her shoulder asking her to calm down. "I may hate people who assume they know how I think. But I more deeply resent those people who groundlessly tells that someone's parent hates their son or daughter just because they can't be great like their lost parent."

"You've got problem with that? Oh year you're an orphan too after all. Hahaha." Edward mocked him.

"Hey, Corvelia. You said you got an idea right? Let's go with it."

"Well, yes. But what they said earlier has a point. I might just turn on you when I lose control." she hesitated.

"We won't know if we won't try." he reassured her.

"You're really desperate aren't you." Edward taunted him.

"Nah. You just don't know me like you thought you did. Now lets go Corvelia."  

"But-."

"No buts. I'm stronger than you think. It's just that you're the one who has the bigger reason to give them punishment so I'm giving you the chance to do so. Take it. We can do this, just trust me. You trust me right?"

"Okay I get it."

"Hit them as hard as you can for me will you."

"Alright." Corvelia said all fired up.

"You two are really hopeless." Edward said in astonishment.

Akatriel and Corvelia readied themselves.

"Okay lets go. Go all out all you want, leave the defense and support to me."

"[Hunter's Sight]." Corvelia lock on unto Edward and began with their offensive. Akatriel followed pursuit behind her.

"[Cutting Wind]." the opponents unleashed their ranged attacks.

"[Light Barrier]." 

The protective barrier negated the attack as Corvelia continued to charge in towards them. 

"[Burning Fist]." She commenced her assault upon coming within range. Akatriel also started to release barrages of [Piercing Light].

Corvelia's strike was parried by a sword followed by a counter which Akatriel blocked with a barrier. Their opponents nimbly evade or parried those attacks while counterattacking with their own. As the exchange continued from time to time attacks from the opponent would wound Corvelia prompting Akatriel to heal her.

"Take out the support first Robert." Edward called unto his partner.

"Hey, the one you to should focus on is me, [Relentless Assault]." Corvelia's attack started to increase in speed and power with each succession taking away both their chance to target Akatriel.

"Damn it, [Shield Rush]." Robert charge at her with his shield knocking her back.

"Grrah...[Breserker's Rage]." She immediately jumped back in resuming her barrage, this time filled with anger and bloodlust.

"You're really doing it despite the danger of injuring bystanders! Your craz-." Robert wasn't able to finish his words as a gauntlet buried itself on his cheeks. He bounced three times after being blown away before finally rolling into a stop unconscious."

"Robert! Damn." Edward cursed in panic as Corvelia pursued him as her next target.

Rushing towards him, she twisted her body to deliver a massive punch. Her prey tried to parry the attack but the swords shattered as the gauntlet hit them. The dragon gauntlet continued to travel toward his chest wrecking the armor protecting him. His body was launched into midair with his mouth spewing blood before landing hard on the ground on his back. Corvelia then still tried to pursue him even after he was knocked out.

"[Light Shackles]." Akatriel had to summon the chains to bound her down. He then ran to her side to calm her down. "Hey, its okay now. We won the match already."

Corvelia still tried to break free from the chains. Before she could do so Akatriel summoned three more set of them to hold her still. After struggling for some more time, Corvelia began to regain her control.

"Huff...Huff...did we win?" She asked looking exhausted.

"Yup we did. Thanks to your effort." He congratulated her.

"Geez...you were really confident you could hold me down back there."

"Its easier to capture someone going berserk since their movement pattern is too easy to predict rather than someone who could predict when and where I will activate my spell."

"I don't know if I should treat that statement as something negative or positive."

"Of course take it positively. Its coming from a friend. It just meant you can berserk all you want when your with me...hahahaha"

"Friend? Even after you've seen me like that? I've could've killed them if I wasn't stopped."

"Like I said your already a friend of mine. A tantrum due to your monthly period won't be enough to change that."

"Hey!."

"Hehehe. I'm just trying to lighten up the mood. Their already being treated by the school nurses. Their's nothing to worry about. Here let me heal your wounds too."

"Thanks." She said with a smile.

(Father,s ince the time you've left. I finally made a real friend.) she whispered to herself.

"What was that?"

"Oh, nothing. Lets rest for a while before the last match starts."

"Sure."

Team 13 has already won their third match, but Varis still hasn't fought in any of the matches.

"Looks like we still don't know what Varisis capable of." Corvalia spoke worried.

"Don't fret about it. We still have some cards up our sleeves. You could also go on berserk again without worry."

"But what about Elise? How are we going to fight her different personalities?"

"She may be able to change her personality to adapt with the situation, but they all have one common weakness. Once you are able to anticipate their disabling magics and get close to them, they are actually weak in close combat. You can try engaging her first since not much of her skills can hold you off. Also if ever she has still some surprises with her, I've already have a way to counter her magic spells. We'll just switch targets then."

"So the plan is I'll take on Elise first and you'll go against Varis, then depending to the situation well exchange opponents if necessary?"

"Yup easy as that."

"Okay, lets go with that. Simple and direct." Corvelia agreed.

"The fifteen minutes break is over. Participants of the last match, head now into the combat area." The teacher called out for them.

Akatriel stood up and offered Corvelia a hand.

"Shall we?"

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She gratefully took his hand.

"Yup, lets give our best."

The two teams faced off in the middle of the open field.

"Finally, it has ended with the our teams fighting for the final match." Elise greeted the pair as the entered the combat area.

"Yup. So it seems. You ready to lose your brother for a week BroCon?"

"Never. Over my dead body."

"Okay. I think Corvelia and I can fix that."

"What? Do you two really intend to kill me? Hey don't just take my words seriously!"

"Wait, Akatriel. I did say I'd use berserk again, but I didn't think killing someone was included." Corvelia spoke flustered.

"Whoa, I wasn't serious about that. Can't you take a  joke? Besides Corvelia's not the only one showing of her skills this time."

"Hehe...then show me what you got old man."

"No need telling me that BroCon."

Geraldus from the side raised his hands... "Now, for the final match to decide the strongest pair in this class section..." then dropped it with the signal. "Start!"

"[Blood Mist]." Red mist covered the combat area obstructing the combatants view. Varis sprinted past Corvelia pursuing Akatriel who was retreating away from the mist.

"Akatriel, careful!"

"I got this, [Sun Strike]." He called out a spell.

"Too slow. [Sanguine Blade]." Varis bit his finger and produced a pair of samurai shaped razor-sharp blades with his own blood.

"Tsk...a blood user."

Closing in to Akatriel, he slashed his body without hesitation. However the blade just passed by the image unscathed. 

(What? an illusion?) Varis was taken aback, he scanned the are for his opponent's presence and found the real target was still further ahead and immediately understood the situation. (He made a mirage of himself by bending the light around him, making him appear nearer than the original image!) 

The air around him suddenly felt hot and dry.

"Shit, he made me stepped into the center of his spell." The sun's heat from above focused unto where he's standing with a pinpoint accuracy, detonating the air and searing anything within its area of effect. 

Five meters around the area was blackened and the grasses were burned to ashed. The shock-wave from the blast was even strong enough to clear the mist from the combat area. However the opponent in the middle of it was still standing unharmed.

"[Blood Caparace]. Phew, that was close." Varis' body was now encased by crimson armor.

"Wow. Your a tough one too."

"Hah, try giving me a scratch now."

"That was a such measly air strike. Try this one for size." It was Elise with her hair now turned red. "[Meteor Rain]."

Dozens of flaming boulders about an adult person's size came descending from the heavens.

"I'll be your opponent. [Flame Bolts}." Corvelia released extremely condensed fireballs from her gauntlet into the skies.

The two spells met with a blast raining the whole field and its bystanders with cinders. Weren't it for the barrier built earlier before the event, the buildings nearby would have also been affected causing a fire.

"Idiots do you intend to burn the whole school." Geraldus yelled in anger.

"Oops, sorry sir." Esire apologized. "How about this Corvie, [Flame Hail]."

"No, your not even listening at all Miss Moonspell!" Geraldus moaned in frustration.

This time she sent a flame orb into the atmosphere, detonating it and raining the area with flames.

"[Light Shackles]." Corvelia take care of Varis for a moment." Akatriel bound his opponent and asked for Corvelia's assistance.

"Okay, leave him to me."

Akatriel then ran into the center of the field and released a spell directly above him. "[Darkhole]."

A black sphere was sent soaring upwards. It suspended in midair and began to sucking in all the flames falling from the sky.

"Nice, you finally used your shadow spells. Looks like you've made pass the advance level too." Esire praised him. "But sadly you made a wrong move."

"[Blood Cage.]" A magic circle made of blood appeared around Corvelia as she was fighting Varis. The circle activated creating a wall of red light surrounding it edges and preventing Corvelia from passing through it. Corvelia tried punching through it only to receive something similar to a electric shock upon touching it. She couldn't seem to break them even in her full strength.

"Damn. [Piercing Light]." Akatriel sent beams towards both directions. Varis parried it with his weapon, while Esire's figure just dissolved into shadows after being hit. "A [Doppelganger]? when did she switched out?"

"Right here old man." The mage was now standing besides the cage. Her hair is currently black.

"Argh...let me out. [Berserker's Rage]." Corvelia continuously banged her fist against the wall.

"Calm down there my dear, or else I'll be forced to use some harsh means to shut you up." Evany warned her.

"Like I care." Corvelia snapped back.

"As you wish then." Evany said with a smirk.

(Shit this is bad.) The thought just settled into his head.

"Hey Akatriel, want me to show you a new magic I learned? [Nightmare's Core]." 

Shadow covered Corvelia's cage encasing it with a black dome. Akatriel felt his spine went cold. (Shit things are really getting bad.)

"Evany stop that. Dispell that magic at once." He warned the black mage.

"Not until the match has ended." Evany sadistically said. "Besides this is the last match, there's no reason to hold back don't we. Release her yourself if you want to."

Akatriel heard Corvelia made a scream in resistance from within the dome. "Damn it you sadistic idiot." He decided to rush toward them.

"The hell you just said!? Take this [Shadow's Clutch]." A giant dark claw assaulted towards Akatriel.

"[Divine Ray]." A ray of light struck from the skies piercing the ground starting from where the hand was towards his opponents location.

"[Blood Guard]." Varis made a shield with his blood to block the attack. After successfully repelling the spell, he charged towards Akatriel. "[Bloodthirst]."

He assaulted him filled with blood-lust, never giving him a chance to counter-attack. Akatriel dodged and parried the attack with [Light Barrier] and [Piercing Light].

"Stop dancing around, [Shadow Bind]." Akatriel's shadow wrapped around his feet.

"I control my own shadow. [Black Thorns]." The binds on his feet was released and black spikes sprouted outwards from the ground around him pushing back Varis into a retreat.

"Fine, no holding back then." he began chant. "But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. I summon thee Spear of Destiny, 'Holy Lance of Longinus'."

A lance materialized within Akatriel's hand. It was made of silver overlaid with gold. Engraved on the rod were runes emanating divine aura, enshrouding its wielder with holy protection and assistance. He dashed towards Varis and swung his lance. Varis blocked it with his swords crossed but the lance's blade cut through the crimson blades like butter.

"How ?"

The lance then made a stab piercing his shoulder. Vanis was unable to react in shock as he saw his prided armor easily penetrated by the opponent's weapon. The lance then made another swing slashing through his back. Another slash on his right side, then on his left knee and after that to his left arm. After a few more sucessions of slashes, the blood armor finally broke down and was dispelled.

"[Dark Jaws]." three dark fins came from the mage's shadow to assist his ally rushing towards Akatriel. A few feet from him the emerged from the ground revealing their shark-like forms with jaws wide open.

Akatriel just swiped his lance at them, banishing them in an instant and started to sprint to the remaining opponent.

"Don't turn your back on me Akatriel. We're not through yet. [Sanguine Binds]." Varis released red strings from his wounds to encase them on Akatriel.

"No were done here." Akatriel pierced the ground with his lance. It produced a shock-wave tearing the strings to shreds and launching Varis into the air. Before he could land into the ground Akartiel withrew his spear and made seven stabs going upward then another five to the left creating a cross. "[Sealing Cruciform]."

Light came from the lance piercing through Varis. From the points where the light pierced through runes appeared and began covering every part of his body restricting him from his ability to move and using magic. 

Akatriel once again turned back and ran towards Evany. "I'm telling you Evany stop that spell now!"

"What harm can a little fear do. Both are partners are sealed, lets end this one-on-one first. I want you to meet someone new." Her hair changed from black to metallic silver.

In an instant she disappeared from where she was standing. Akatriel tried to sense her presence. (From above!) He jumped back to dodge. His enemy fell on the spot where he was standing a few moments ago with a huge impact.

(Teleportation, Gravity Manipulation and Acceleration. Spacial and Time Magic huh. Moreover going for a melee combat. This is going to be annoying) he thought "So its Battle Mage this time huh. What's your name?"

"It's Estrea. Your combat skills are topnotch as always, but I'm winning this time."

"That would have been the outcome if you had that during the last time we had sparred. However even your new magic is useless when I have this lance."

"Lets see about that." She one again disappeared on her spot.

"Holy Lance blessing, [Omniscience]." 

Akatriel readily blocked the surprise attack coming from the left and retaliated with a trust of his lance. Estrea dodged by teleporting.

He swung the lance to the right. Estrea reappeared  on the blades's path and avoided it with her accelerated perception.

"[Giga Impact]." Estrea swung her staff it's tips weight multiplied 100 times towards Akatriel. He blocked it with his lance as if it were nothing.

"What?"

"This lance negates any magic it touches. Give up." Akatriel explained.

"Then I'll just use something untouchable. [Gravity Bind]." 

Akatriel felt a huge pressure tugging him down.

"That's still useless. Holy Lance's sanctum [Hallowed Grounds]." 

One by one spears of light fell on the ground. One in each of the four directions, North, South, East and West. "Tsk...the cage is still to far to be covered by the zone."

All the magic 10 square meters within it was negated. Akatriel used this opportunity to close in unto Estrea and slashed at her weapon. The staff was cut in two.

With his opponent now weaponless, he rushed towards the cage.

"What's so urgent in dispelling that magic?!"

"Please make it in time." He prayed and struck with his lance.

However, his prayers came unanswered. Before his lance could touch the cage, it explode blowing him away.

"Damn. You're asking me? Tactical Combat 101, never use a illusion spell on an opponent who knows 'Berserk' skill especially the likes that induces fear or helplessness because what you'll get in the end...is a rampaging beast." He finally explained his worry.

"Why didn't you tell me earlier."

"Both of you were attacking me without pause. I couldn't find a chance to explain it so I thought it was faster finishing off you both and dispelling it myself."

A roar was heard from the site of the explosion. Everyone was sent into confusion. Corvelia emerged through the smoke and flames. Bat-shaped wings made of fire had sprouted from her back. In her eyes were bottomless rage and anger. Her whole body was on flames and is radiating killing intent.

"Let me rephrase the lecture I gave earlier. What you'd get in the current case...is a rampaging king of the mythical beast."