Extra Pages: The Author's Odyssey

Isabella gritted her teeth, managing to deflect the arrow with her staff.

She was clearly focused on keeping her distance while preparing another spell. The battle was becoming a test of endurance and strategy, and I knew I couldn't afford to make mistakes.

Finally, Isabella found an opening and launched a powerful wind blade toward me.

I dodged to the side, the wind razor narrowly missing me but cutting through the air with a sharp hiss. I needed to end this quickly before she could wear me down.

I focused on her movements, anticipating her next attack. As she prepared another spell, I drew my bow for one last, decisive shot. I let the arrow fly, aiming for her staff.

The shot was precise, and the arrow struck the staff, causing Isabella to lose her grip on it. The staff clattered to the ground, leaving her vulnerable.

Isabella looked at her fallen staff with a mix of disbelief and frustration.

She tried to summon another spell with her remaining mana, but it was clear she was exhausted and out of options. I moved in, ready to finish the confrontation.

Time seems to slow down for Isabella as she watched Lucas to close distance between them.

She couldn't help but grit her teeth.

The challenge is just started and she already encountered very tough opponent.

If she loses here, it means she will be the first one to drop out of challenge.

She couldn't accept that!

Lucas has become stronge...Very strong in fact.

At the start of Acadmy Lucas was weak and Isabella could have easily beaten him then but now the position have been changed.

At this close distance, Isabella didn't have enough time to chant another spell and her staff is already not in hands.

It means it's end game for her...

Soon enough Lucas was near her face, with arrow that aims at her head.

Silence evelloped in surroundings, as she gazed at Lucas eyes and couldn't help but shudder.

His eyes...They were emotionless.

It was if this was real fight and he was ready kill her here.

'What wrong with him?'

Isabella couldn't help but thought to herself as she was waiting for Lucas next move.

Sigh...

After moment of silence, a sigh escaped from Lucas mouth as he put away his bow and arrow.

'What?'

While Isabella was puzzled, he trudged up to her and tapped on her shoulder.

"It's still early, so let's take it easy."

After murmuring incomprehensible words, he walked past her to the outside.

Isabella watched him leave in a daze.

Isabella stood there, frozen and bewildered by Lucas's unexpected gesture. The intensity of their confrontation had dissipated in an instant, replaced by a confusing mix of relief and frustration.

"Wait," she called out, her voice trembling slightly. "Why did you let me go?"

Lucas paused and turned back to face her. "This is just a training exercise, Isabella. There's no point in pushing ourselves to the limit right now. We both have more to learn from this experience than just who wins or loses."

His words struck a chord with her. She realized that Lucas had not only grown stronger but also wiser. He understood the value of restraint and saw the bigger picture beyond a simple win or loss.

"I… I see," Isabella said softly, her initial frustration melting into a reluctant understanding. "Thank you, Lucas."

Lucas nodded and then continued down the hall. As he disappeared from sight, Isabella couldn't help but feel a renewed sense of determination. She had underestimated him, but now she knew better. She vowed to improve herself, to become stronger and more capable.

Shaking off the lingering thoughts, she retrieved her staff from the ground and took a deep breath. There was still time left in the quest, and she wasn't going to give up just yet. With renewed vigor, she set off to continue her mission.

***

I safely went past Isabella and entered the fourth-floor lobby.

The fourth-floor lobby was quite huge but oddly silent. There were no voices nor were there any noticeable presences.

What's going on? Did everyone go elsewhere?

I turned on my smartwatch.

All cadets participating in the Artifact Frenzy Quest were wearing 'life-detection devices'.

These devices accurately measured the HP of each cadet, eliminating those that received critical damage.

Through the smartwatch, I checked the GPS coordinates of these devices.

There were only ten cadets on this floor, including me and Isabella .

Six of these ten were already traveling in teams.

"Ella...."

Next, I checked Ella GPS coordinate.

Currently, she was in a bathroom on the seventh floor. It seemed she was planning on killing time there, as she showed no sign of movement.

In that case, I had to chase after her.

...Then suddenly, I felt curious about what the other cadets were doing.

A fight had broken out on the third floor, the floor above me, but the big match had yet to start. In other words, Evelyn and Elera had yet to meet.

However, on the fifth-floor lobby, a big match that anyone would want to see was starting. The cadets facing each other were that great.

Aric and Adrian. The two cadets, who could be said to be the representatives of Team Black and Team White, had met.

I put on the CCTV watching their fight.

—I knew this day would come, Adrian.

Aric muttered in a serious tone.

—....

However, Adrian faced Aric silently.

—Come. I'll show you the difference between our level.

Adrian pulled out his sword in response to Aric provocation. Aric also held up his broad sword.

Adrian was the first to attack. He charged in and swung his sword. Aric stepped back as he blocked Adrian attack. Sparks flashed at the clash between a spear and a sword.

They both properly utilized the strengths and weaknesses of their weapons for offense and defense.

At that moment, someone quickly shot past me.

Stomp, stomp, stomp— A harsh stair-climbing sound rang out.

I glanced up and saw Isabella. She was running away faster than anyone I had ever seen before.

"...Oh right."

Thanks to her footsteps, I snapped back to reality.

Although a marvelous, intense exchange of broad sword and sword was happening below me, I didn't have the time to leisurely watch them.

I headed to the emergency stairs. As it was smaller than the staircase in the central lobby, I would be able to avoid enemy encounters.