“—Now fight it.”

Lance's voice brought forth memories of yesterday, the fear, blood, monsters, his surging emotions, and the most torturing repeats without any choice but to start the battle once more until he was able to kill his enemy.

He already knew that his test would be much tougher than last day's warm up but he put it in the back of his mind and made himself feel good thinking, what could be much worse than that? Lo and behold, even if he was an amateur his senses are telling him that this monster was at different level than the ones he fought previously, he surely had no chance against this beast!

Alexis wanted to turned around and complain relentlessly about the abuse he is taking right now but when he looked up he saw the manticore also looking down at him, another memory much painful surfaced back from the deepest recess of his mind. The great shadow that blocked the light and its spread opened bat wings overlaps with the creature that he did not dare to forget, even though they only had that few similarities the picture in his mind became much more vivid that he started to feel the blazing heat and heard the despairing cries.

Then just like what happened when the boulder vultures attacked the city, Alexis felt fear which then was instantly swallowed by his rising anger. He knew that what's in front of him was not of the same creature and they're not even related at all but even if his logic says that, the emotions boiling up from his chest was not something he could suppress, and it was something not meant to be suppressed in the first place.

“Aaaaarrrrhghhh!!!”

For the first time after he survived that hell he let his emotions out, the inhuman voice came out from his burnt mouth powered by churning emotions that he sealed off inside his heart, now the chains holding them started to slowly broke away.

“DIIIEEEE!!!”

Not losing in terms of hatred the manticore cries was filled with one as it dove down towards Alexis—whose cracks around his blackened body started to lit up.

“Alexis!”

Kyrille was about to run towards him when she saw the monster started its attack however a hand that was suddenly placed on her shoulder held her back, she struggled to free herself but it was all in vain, she glared at the owner of the hands and was about to rattle him with complains but—

“Look.”

Lance pointed back at the front, it made her closer her lips but before she was able to turned her head back a blast of air and dust ram towards the group forcing the young miss to close her eyes.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

Without even waiting for it to settle down she struggled to open her eyes, she then looked towards the place where Alexis stood before she lost sight of him but she did not see the young man instead it was the manticore that landed on the ground replacing him.

Her imaginations run wild but before it reached the conclusion of the young man's death she saw the monster looked towards the side, there Alexis just stood up after dodging the attack, his robe and the clothes inside was slowly burning though. Kyrille relaxed her tensed body and heaved a sigh of relief.

“You sure care for him, young miss.” Damian teased.

“Hmph.”

She slapped Lance's hand away but did not tried to run towards him again instead she just watched the young man in worry.

“Make the ground flat.”

Damian did not fought the captain's orders but only sighed before he placed his hands on the ground.

“You sure work me to the bone today.”

While they were talking Alexis just dodge the mantincore's thorny tail that threatened to pierced his body, he rolled and end up towards its back.

Even if he was enrage it did not meant that he totally loss his reason and will attacked like a maddened beast, the little bit of logic inside his mind and also his instinct pointed that was not a battle instead just idiotic was of suicide. Alexis followed the little things he learned from yesterday, which was to dodge, take initiative, and kill his enemy!

Swish!

He docked barely dodging the tail swipe that tore the wind, when it passed over him he charge towards its unguarded back while he unsheathed his new sword, he gripped the long sword with his two hands positioning it into a slash but just before he attacked the manticore flapped its wings floating off the ground, due to that Alexis blade missed by a large margin, after that he instinctually took a step back and raised his sword towards his chest.

Clang!

The beast back foot slammed against his sword throwing him back towards the mountain wall, when his back hit against it a sickening sound could be heard as he coughed off some blood out his mouth.

And before the young man could even land on the ground, the manticore already made a turn flying towards him in a great speed and just about its claws reached him to tear his body into uneven pieces it was met with a transparent golden yellow wall firmly blocking it.

The grating scratch echoed the peak as the manticore's human head shown the expression of annoyance it then attacked it with both of its claws trying to destroy the barrier, however, it did not even made a dent on it. In the end it gave one last hateful look on the young man on the other side before it flapped its wings and flown towards where the audiences are.

Yet the same thing happened, the manticore used all its skills hone from from its birth until now but none of them worked against the barrier that oust him from the group.

It did not realize but the two of them was already trapped inside the same colored dome made by Heretic, no one could get out until one them died—which was hundred percent against the manticore.

While it madly attacked the barrier Lance voiced reached Alexis ears, “Stand up, you don't need to keep suppressing your emotions in front of an enemy instead control it, and use it.”

Alexis didn't really understood what that meant but he felt that it would guide him somewhere still it was not time to comprehend some philosophy as the manticore irritatedly turned back towards him.

The beast flapped its wings and bared its fangs while the young man held his sword tightly and lowered his stance, the two glared at each other with the same hatred filled eyes before they moved towards each other trying to see who will be the one that triumphs.

Then their fight—the second round, started once more.