"Continue," Jenna said as she looked at the paralyzed students.

Lisanna and Jill were next, but they did not dare open their mouths as they stared at the snowy peak.

"Don't worry. Nothing will come out - yet."

"This one gets harder?!"

"Yeah, seriously?!

Some outbursts were ignored. Instead, Jenna commanded, "Lisanna O'Clair, Jill Bernard: Go."

Both were extremely hesitant, but they leapt into action on her command. While it was technically possible to swim across through, if one kept both whirlpools perfectly in-line, it was practically impossible for someone who didn't have the ability to either read the currents (who would, at that point, have better options) or read a nautical chart (who would decide to not bother with such a temporary region).

Even Jill's earth pillar lasted only a second under the oppressive force of the water.

Ayla bit her lip before taking command at the two who stood unaware of what to do if they had to bring the other across.

Lisanna originally passed by on Mathias' bridge and then passed with the remanents of another's pillar. Except to actually plan it seemed difficult.

"Okay! We'll all be making a bridge! Earth Pillar and like spells will be used!"

There was some chatter and Jack came back to help out. Mathias wandered over after, but they were already casting the spells.

Lisanna and Jill made it across, but their ascent was slow.

There were small, steep paths up the two-meter tall ledges, but more often than not, they were covered in ice or channelled icy water downwards. For that reason, so as to not fall down all the way, the group chose to climb with their hands.

Jill used earth pillar for a step up, but using it so often for the last formation, she grew exhausted and could only force herself to use it three times in total, after forming the bridge.

Once they reached the peak, Lisanna lowered her head as she concentrated as Jill followed her lead and took the step up.

"Fire Pillar!" She repeated it thrice, bathing in the fire directly as Jill backed off. They saw it reform after seconds the last time it was invoked, after all.

The ice still creaked and erupted. It was smaller this time, but they were both sent flying off the peaks. Their falls were guided into the frigid waters and after a full minute of being batted around in the water, they were released. They even swept past the entire group's eyes twice - twice - before landing. Rather, by being knocked up by a thrashing wave violently upon the shore.

Whether by design or divine spite, they were subjected to take more penalties for trying to - and failing to - completely disable the main feature.

One had to be thankful that the water tore the earthen pillars into such fine pieces that they weren't smashed into them.

"... Uh... n-next up."

Hunter and James looked at one another and begrudging accepted the nightmare they were about to expose themselves too.

They all did.

And there was not even a mythic bird-of-prey at the peak.

------

Eighteen students sat outside of the water formation, absolutely miserable. Many were already dried off and warmed up, but they were not excited to take the next task.

Sensing the mood, Ayla, a recent escapee of the water's baptism - Air Step was a wonderful thing -, brushed the ice from her palms and said. "Okay, we'll have to get through that rock gorilla-thing next. I don't doubt it is that strong, but it already siphoned off some of the flying rocks! We can do this if we plan properly!"

"... I'm pretty sure Satyr is getting used to running normal laps and doing target practise," one student said despondently.

Ayla thought for a moment and shrugged. "So what?! We're strong! We'll get through this and have our cake-meeting to celebrate!"

Erik broke the shivers in his body to stand up straight, not wanting to be outdone, particularly as he glanced at the other arena. He batted away the frost in his eyelashes and shouted, "right! We just need to get around it! Once we reach the peak, we'll just keep running!

"We'll need everyone who can still use Flatten to help make a path to for everyone! Me and Mathias will distract the stupid gorilla!"

"Woah! So cool!"

"Yeah!"

"Hoo-rah! Hoo-rah!"

"Thanks so much!"

Erik grinned and said to the students, "but we'll be switching out! Ayla and someone else can take the Sand Snake!"

"Yes! Thanks, Ayla!"

"Wha-?!" Ayla stammered and shook violently. Most thought it from the cold, but she was joyful until she realized she fell into Erik's trap. No one wanted to fight the giant sand snake.

"Lisanna and someone else will help take care of phoenix! And we'll see what the next one is... but probably Mathias again!"

"Wha-?!" He still did not recover from the shock off being volunteered for the first one, but having a second pinned on him too? Even if it was an easier course for him, it was too much!

"It's settled! Let's go!"

Erik ran forward valiantly, leading the others behind him to charge as well. Ayla, Lisanna, and Mathias were all rooted in place. It would be one thing if they volunteered themselves or knew more about the creatures, but just up and volunteer someone else without knowing anything about it? It seemed ridiculous.

Ayla stifled the rage and fear on her face as she stared at the sandy behemoth; Lisanna drooped under the weight of expectations for a flying fire-ball with a five-meter wind-span; Mathias looked back and forth from the three-meter tall rock gorilla and the mysterious icy creature that was bound to be born from the hail.

"They're only a little unreasonable," Jenna said as if to pacify them. "The monsters, that is. Good luck."

She agreed with Erik's plan.

"... He is so going to regret this if there is even a single grain of sand in my clothes," Ayla muttered dangerously.

"... Can I really...?" Lisanna groaned.

"... Why...?" Mathias muttered darkly.

Erik just picked the one he was confident in helping him. If James was more experienced and agile, he'd likely have picked him. This was because of the difference in advantages; Erik was naturally agile and athletic, plus he could use wind magic to rapidly escape. James would have been able to fight effectively, acting as bait that can repel attacks, assuming they were reasonable, with either his shield or earth magic.

It was just if the attacks were unreasonable, they would need to dodge. A lot. It wasn't a simple pass-through for one-person, they would have to buy enough time for the whole group. Which also became an issue considering his events from the prior night weighing James down.

"What are you waiting for? Get moving."

Jenna took pity in them and did not speak further as she saw them drag their feet. It was amusing to watch this class, after all. She was tempted to brag to the other instructors about her class, but even she did not want them to get conceited.

Mathias, Ayla, and Lisanna naturally did not know that. They just dreaded the first obstacle. Once cleared, it meant their turn would either be up or fast approaching. Or fast approaching again in Mathias' case, assuming the burden fell on him.

"Finally!" Erik shouted to the three stragglers. He pointed at the roaming gorilla atop the jagged hill. "It is surprisingly nimble, Mathias, so don't take it head-on."

"..."

Mathias was busy staring at the spikes that appeared on closer inspection. Its entire body was made out of the jagged spikes that once swirled in the air. Several smaller ones seemed loosely attached to its thighs and arms, giving it the impression of something akin to bulging veins atop scale armour. Or bandoliers for projectiles. Which was more intimidating, he couldn't say.

"Once we attract its attention, be ready to move! James, Jack, and Jill, you'll be need to make sure that people get out quickly."

"Understood."

"That's fine."

"Yeah!"

They gave non-plussed responses, feeling assured that that had better odds than last time. The man-sized boulder turned into a gorilla's chest, after all.

"Right, if it shifts targets, be ready to scatter! Okay, are you ready?!" There was a thundering cheer. "Mathias?!"

No response.

"Ayla, kick Mathias on my mark: Three! Two! One! Go!"

Ayla stayed silent. She thought long-and-hard about the consequences before finally shouting, "Gust!"

Mathias was launched forward. He half-expected the response before, but he knew who he was going to refuse after.

He stumbled into the formation and Erik jumped in after him. Mathias, still at the edge of the formation, hastily grabbed the ice-coated staves. He ran forward anxiously, impulsively as he weaved through the rocky spikes on the ground. Erik did the same as he drew his curved blade.

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"Come at me, you stupid gorilla! Wind Blade!"

A blade of wind tore through the spiked pillar the stone gorilla was standing on. It collapsed hard into the ground. Where once it had only indents for eyes, scarlet gems appeared. They locked onto Erik and burned at the sight of the boy jumping around its territory.

The gorilla hammered his chest, sending gusts of wind buffeting against both boys' bodies and pounced towards Erik.

"Air Step! Go! Wind Blade!"

Erik jumped over the two-meter tall, hulking stone behemoth.

Glaring at the other boy it saw earlier, it only began to register those two. However, as a scratch appeared on the gorilla chest, it hurled one of the spikes that adhered to its body. Erik, already in mid-air, could just barely raise his sword to block the foot-long, thick needle from piercing his chest. It was retaliation for shifting its gaze - and dodging.

And then as the other boy appeared in the gorilla's line-of-sight, it hurled another spike at Mathias' face.

Mathias brought both staves up to his face, locking them with the woven ice, and tried to dodge. It was too quick. The needle nearly pierced the hastily-made ice, stopping inches from his eye.

It roared in fury.

It darted towards the boy who it saw block the attack as Erik managed to stop his fall at the bottom of the hill.

"Air Step!"

Erik tried to come back to help Mathias, but the gorilla was already halfway there.

The rock gorilla sweeped its long arms out passed the rocks piercing up from the earth, shattering them without fail, and closed in on Mathias. It pawed the shards and stones into Mathias' face as its body crouched low to tackle.

Mathias dove away, tucking his legs in as his instincts commanded.

Where he was, a cloud of dust remained in a two-feet deep hole. The gorilla passed over the spot it smashed its other arm into the stone ground, grabbed the earth, and slowed itself down to stomp its feet.

"Wind Blade!"

The rock gorilla hurled spikes into the incoming wind blade. The first broke the spell, the second slipped past Erik's body, and the third clashed with steel.

Mathias darted away and cringed as he saw that people were still heading into the formation.

"Are you all not done yet?! How many?!" Erik shouted, noticing the flicker in Mathias' eyes. "Air Step!"

Erik jumped above the incoming spikes and slashed down on at an incoming needle while twisting his body.

He deflected one, but one tore a hole through his training uniform, cutting a scarlet line from the center of his chest to his left shoulder.

"Ten- no! Eight!" Ayla replied from the peak of the formation.

Mathias bit his lip before begrudgingly bringing the ice he slowly built upon his staff to the front.

It had already hardened to combat steel, but he doubted it would do anything aside from anger the gorilla.

He fired his own needles of ice at the gorilla as it drummed its chest victoriously.

Four needles hit it square in the chest. There were only two chips on its torso.

The blood-thirsty eyes slowly craned towards him. Slowly, tauntingly, as it maintained its rigid body.

Until it did not.

It moved so quickly that Mathias only had time to raise his staves at the incoming swing.

The ice that could clash with steel shattered into his face and neck. He saw the world in slow-motion as the shards of ice were drifting towards his face, the staves collapsing back to his head, and ground slowly disappearing from his feet.

The head of the gorilla, featureless aside from the scarlet, glowing eyes, was inches from his face as it leaned forward extremely to fight the inertia generated from its speed. And the scaled, spiky arm was slowly inches its way closer and closer to Mathias' chest.

Except the boy began to pick up speed as the force of the wind generated from its rush and that which was released from the swing itself pushed him back.

He slowly saw six inches of distance between him and its eyes turn to ten, then twenty - feet -, before he felt every fibre of his back flared in pain as forces pushed back against it. Unmoving forces. Mathias rolled, deflected by a stray, tall spike, and landed face up just in time to see Ayla send the last person down the other side.

He dragged himself up, coughing violently, as gorilla recentered itself, hammering its chest.

"Wind Blade!"

A mark appeared just below its eye. Erik panted as another ethereal blade of wind appeared. Unlike the others, this one was glistening like a dark gemstone, showcasing its near-solid mass as an inch-deep gash appeared on the gorilla's chest. It cut through rock that could collide into nigh-indestructible, jagged pillars and not leave a single scratch on the scaly-armour.

"Climb already!" Erik commanded, positioning his curved blade in front of Mathias.

Mathias' body moved mechanically - completely against every notion his mind possessed. Mathias' back was just aching for the first few meters, but then he groaned, and keeled over, he forced himself up the last six or seven meters and limped to the peak.

Ayla just shouted, "now! Take him out of here!"

"""Flatten!"""

She pushed him down the shuddering slide and Jack and James took an arm each before dragging him out.

"Erik! Clear!"

"Gah!? Air Step! Air Step! Air Step!"

Erik caught one last spike, cutting across his upper arm, but he bolted out with Ayla leading the way.

No one else acquired injuries, but Mathias collapsed once Jack and James tried to stabilize him on his own feet. Erik tumbled out of the sky, tucking and rolling once he cleared the formation, but unable to move. Only after he stopped rolling did they see a fist-sized, quaking stone twitching before being pulled back to the formation.

The gorilla offered him one last attack.

Jenna waved forward the healers she called earlier. "I knew you could do it. Now plan for the next one. They should be able to move in a couple of minutes. But I think it is time to name that 'someone' who'll be paired with you, Ayla Argentine."

"Ha, ha, any volunteers?" She asked lifelessly, completely unable to focus.

Erik could likely beat her if he wasn't training with a new weapon and she was hesitant to say if she could beat Mathias in a fight. So if they were bleeding and battered because of the first one, she was not confident.

"..." No one spoke up.

"I will do it." James finally said as he stepped back from overseeing Mathias' recovery. "But first, they will be okay, correct?" James asked Jenna.

"Yeah, bruising for one, exhaustion for the other. Any cuts you see are probably just going to disappear in a moment anyways. Now go. Devise a plan. Or just go?"

Ayla scratched her head and sighed dramatically. "We don't really know what this one does, do we?"

She looked to see the sands dunes rise and fall with it passing through under the sand. However, on occasion, when it popped its head out, it was clearly in a different place than its movements suggested. Since its head with a closed maw was about the size or Ayla's body, it was probably ten meters long at least.

It seemed like it could displace sand subtly, by its own body or will, and roamed the outer edges with little indication of its movements.

It did not once touch the rocky formation, but she doubted it did not have the ability. It meant she would be fighting it directly in the sand dunes - considering the size would invariably include the others into its attacks.

"... Well, I guess this is the best we can do," Ayla muttered. She slapped herself to wake herself up. "Okay! We'll be doing this! Lisanna and Hunter, make another path once it is distracted! Do not waste any time!

"James and I'll distract in the outer-ring! James, don't try to take its attacks head-on and try to have solid ground underneath you. Jack and Jill! I'll be needing your help to make a few pillars in the sand once before we leave and after you reach the top, but don't waste any more time than that! James! Stay close to the rock formation so you can escape to solid ground and launch attacks only when it surfaces!"

"Again? Cool."

"Yeah! Will do!"

While they were tired, they felt a little happy to be relied upon. Furthermore, they did not have a hard task at all.

As if sensing Ayla's wavering determination, the snake surfaced on the outside edge, as if taunting her. It stuck out the granular tongue, and roamed the top of the sand dunes, proudly showing off all of its ten-meters of its body-length.

""... Ugh.""

Two groans came from behind. Jenna pushed both dead-eyed boys forward, but Hunter and Tanner stepped to their sides. "We got them. We'll try to be quick. Just make sure the ground is solid, okay?"

Since the hill was gradual, Tanner was the first to sling Erik over his shoulder in a fireman carry. If the glassed sand did not hold, it would be near-impossible to bring the uncooperative bodies across.

Hunter nodded enthusiastically, but Lisanna was more reserved. Her attention kept shifting to the phoenix that was circling around the next formation.

"Okay!" Ayla took a deep breath. "We're starting in... three... two... one... go!"

Lisanna and Hunter launched consecutive fire lances, shortening the distance apart more than normal. It was to ensure that the ground would hold for the two carrying Erik and Mathias. Synthy joined in as earth pillars appeared in front of the bemused snake.

"... Annnnnd! Here we go!"

Ayla ran forward, jumped towards the glassed sand, hopped to a nearby pillar and shouted, "look here! Wind Blade!"

Like the gorilla, two scarlet gems appeared on its blank, sand-covered face. The burned brilliantly as it locked sight on Ayla and another who sprinted on the glassed path towards the rocky interior.

The serpent took the blow before turning to look around at the two targets curiously.

It could only sense the first two. Since half of its head of cleaved off, it summoned more sand to replace it. Since it could sense no more, it felt no more need to analyze the situation. It reared back and bared two stony fangs and flangs opened on its neck. The serpent slashed its coiled tail towards the Ayla, scattering tonnes of sand her way.

"Hell no! Air Step! Air Step! Wind Bla- agh!? Wind Blade!"

Ayla tried to jump over the wave of sand launched her way, but she hit its crest. Coughing and wiping the sand from her eyes, she launched the spell with blurred eyes.

The serpent struck upwards. It's stony fangs nearly pressed down on the blinded, falling Ayla; yet, a giant spear of earth punched through the serpent's neck.

The head dispersed sand upwards - and the tail thrashed towards James.

James brought the shield up to take the tip of the sandy tail. The shield, even reinforced with mana, cracked and James was knocked back three meters as the tail continued hammering the sand, stone, and glassed bridge. James' body felt all the air in his lung disappear and he gasped as he kept his body from collapsing with a single forearm.

If he didn't think it already useless, he would've lost his sword in the shifting. Thankfully, he put it to the side in the first place.

Without a head, it span around unknowingly, and the tail smashed in Ayla's flailing body, but not before she shouted, "Gust!"

Unlike the times she used it before, the winds condensed dreadfully. A glimmering block was formed and launched towards the tip of the tail. The tail cut through it, but not before the spell was releasing its force. She launched herself with the explosion of wind to both disperse the sand and lessen the blow by slowing the entire serpent down.

She was still knocked face-first into the sand.

James forced himself up. Just in time to see the scarlet gems reappear. It grew its head back.

"..."

Ayla pulled her head up from the sand and screamed, "how many?!"

"Ten! The two were taken first!"

"TEN?!? KYA?!"

She felt the piercing eyes of the serpent lock on her. Her body was not cooperating. It felt like she was trapped. Her attention was so focused on the serpent's eyes, she fell to notice the sand collapsed around her.

"Pull yourself out! Earth Pillar! Earth Lance!"

He aimed a pillar right beneath her feet. However, the shifting sand is displaced sent her a foot away from the intended boost. She still greedily held onto the life-line.

And then noticed the red eyes were gone.

James scowled at himself. He missed the creature. It dove directly into the earth. There was no trace of it.

James paled.

"Don't move! Earth Lance! Earth Lance! Earth Lance!"

Ayla screamed as deadly spears of rock narrowly missed her hands, back, and head. "Wh-what was that for?!"

"Get out now!"

She felt a chill. Once her feet were free - and not even vertically, she shouted, "Air Step!" willingly skidding across the sand as she shouted, "Wind Blade!"

The serpent that nearly swallowed her whole loomed over to adjust its aim and struck downward.

A storm of dust, gravel, and sand appeared as its body collapsed from atop her. She had just enough time to roll away, seeing two red gems sink in the sand before screaming, "that's it! I'm done! I'm done!"

She was already flying away from the flailing serpent, seeing James sprint away, as they both pushed the bodies that were not moving fast enough for their tastes.

A reverberating silence filled the air. "Erik....! I'm going to kill you when you wake up," she said before she, too, collapsed.

James held up better. He collapsed but lifted himself up just enough to flip himself over.

"Ah, good job. It was an interesting display. I believe it is up to Lisanna O'Clair and that someone else now, if I'm not mistaken." Jenna permitted the healers to look at the two students who were beaten and bruised as Lisanna paled.

"I, uh, I don't know..."

Erik coughed violently, looking up from Tanner's shoulder, and said, "... P-pick Fara... we'll need Synthy *cough* later..."

"That... *cough*... means...?!"

Mathias tried to growl, but he failed part-way. He briefly hoped this would excuse him from his assumed role.

"So Fara Yhir," Jenna began, adding her own weight to Erik's mangled words. "Do you accept the role?"

"... Sure."

Fara was more hesitant than usual, but she did not betray any explicit anxiety. She was one of the few that managed to guide her escort to the other side without any damage - aside from their boots, of course.

Lisanna had the least issue in the heat amongst all of the fire mages here, so she was a logical choice. Paired with her skill in combat, it only solidified her role in leading this charge.

Except she did not know what to say.

Erik, seeing this, coughed and began to lay it out. "... Lisanna and Fara will distract it... then someone'll make a ramp... or stairs up... then... just run for it..."

"And you?" Tanner asked.

"... I'll... I think I can move... kinda..." Erik stumbled forward. He caught himself and pushed Mathias to take a step as he covered his cut chest. "Get up!"

Erik saw the water roving across Mathias' body so even as the boy fell to a knee, he did manage to get up on shaking feet. Mathias' back was fixed to some extent, but the bruises seemed to be imprinted in his muscles and bones.

"... Erik if you ever volunteer me for anything again...!"

"Yeah, yeah... deal with it," Erik coughed and that was the end of it.

No one was in a good mood. No one was having fun. No one had much patience.

Except, perhaps, one.

Jenna clapped cheerfully. "Okay, shall we?"