Path of the Unmentioned: The Missing Piece-Chapter 85: Feathers and Fury [4]

The observation room hummed with quiet energy as the academy’s instructors gathered around the glowing projection screens.

The air smelled of stale coffee and ozone from the active monitoring spells.

Scattered papers and empty mugs littered the long central table where Brynn Foxglove sat slumped in his chair.

Rubbing his bloodshot eyes.

Professor Carter stood ramrod straight near the main display.

His perpetual frown deepening as he watched the students struggle.

"Disgraceful," he muttered as another team fell to their assigned monster.

"They are treating this like a classroom exercise rather than life-or-death combat."

Aurelia Valemont leaned against the back wall.

Her expression carefully neutral though her fingers dug into the clipboard she held.

Nearby, Seraphina perched on the edge of a desk. Absentmindedly twisting a strand of pink hair around her finger.

The largest screen currently showed Team 1.

Cedric’s squad – finishing their battle.

The footage replayed in slow motion.

Cedric’s radiant blade cleaving through their humanoid horned adversary’s neck (Silver Grade 1) in a perfect execution strike.

Clara Reeves halberd pinned the creature’s whipping tail at the critical moment while Luna’s precise ice shards blinded it just before the killing blow.

"Typical" Carter said with a derisive sniff.

"Cedric Valtieri does seventy percent of the work while the others play support. Clara Reeves and Luna Starfrost performed adequately. But the other two might as well have been training dummies."

Brynn stretched his arms behind his head, yawning.

"What’d you expect? Kid’s got main character syndrome written all over him. At least they finished clean."

Seraphina chuckled.

Pointing at Luna’s grinning face on screen.

"Look at her. She’s having the time of her life while everyone else looks like they are about to pass out."

Aurelia remained silent.

Her sharp gaze already shifting to another monitor where Team 7’s battle was about to begin.

The footage rewound to show the moment Team 7 first encountered their assigned monster.

Brynn let out a low whistle as the Vorthal emerged from the forest shadows.

"Well damn. They got the ugly one. That’s just mean."

On screen. The crow-humanoid hybrid moved with terrifying spee.

Immediately gutting the ice mage from Kaelith’s team who had stumbled into their path.

The instructors watched dispassionately. Simulated deaths were expected in these exams.

"Interesting," murmured Instructor Graves.

A tall woman with silver-streaked hair.

"Orion Ironviel’s reaction time has improved significantly since last month’s assessments."

She nodded approvingly as Orion’s earthen spikes erupted to impale the Vorthal’s attacking arm.

Carter grunted. "Still relies too much on brute strength. That overhead hammer swing at the 1:23 mark left him completely open. Against a real opponent. He’d be dead."

Then came Kyle’s intervention.

The footage showed him using Lightning Steps to blur across the battlefield. Grabbing Isolde’s wrist and yanking her back just as the Vorthal’s claws would have eviscerated her.

Simultaneously.

His free hand sent a wall of jagged ice erupting between them and the monster. freewёbnoνel.com

Seraphina sat up straight. Her hair falling over her shoulder. "Wait, did he just—"

"Pre-cast the ice spell while executing a movement technique" Aurelia finished. Her voice carefully controlled though her grip tightened on the clipboard.

"Dual-element manipulation during high-speed combat. That’s... not something even I’ve seen from him before."

A murmur ran through the assembled instructors.

Even Carter’s perpetual scowl lessened slightly as he leaned forward to study the playback more closely.

The room fell silent as they watched Sylvie Wavecrest’s transformation.

One moment the blue-haired mage stood trembling.

Her oversized wand shaking in her hands.

The instant combat began.

Her posture straightened.

Her movements becoming precise and economical.

"Fascinating," murmured Instructor Marrow, the academy’s water magic specialist.

"That pressurized water spear technique. Most mages her rank can’t maintain that level of density over distance. The control is exceptional."

Carter nodded grudgingly. "Her combat instincts are solid. But she still freezes up beforehand. That hesitation could be deadly in a real engagement."

The footage shifted to Isolde Suncrest engaging the Vorthal directly.

Her montante blazing with fire. Several instructors exchanged surprised glances at her fluid footwork and precise blade work.

"Isolde Suncrest is ranked fifty-eight?" Seraphina asked incredulously. "Her techniques are easily top thirty material."

Aurelia studied the redhead’s movements clinically.

"Knight training, almost certainly. Look at her stance. That’s professional swordsmanship. But she hesitated at the 2:17 mark when the Vorthal feinted left. Nearly got Kyle killed covering for her."

They watched Roland Swiftbrook continue firing arrows despite the deep gashes across his chest.

His hands shaking but his aim remaining true.

Brynn chuckled darkly. "Kid’s got guts. I’ll give him that. Absolutely no sense of self-preservation though."

The room collectively held its breath as the footage reached Kyle’s final move.

The reckless slide beneath the Vorthal’s guard. Tachi’s thrust piercing its chest followed by the internal ice explosion.

"...That was either brilliant or suicidal" Carter said after a long pause.

"Probably both. Charging a Grade 1 Silver-rank with that leg injury should have gotten him killed."

Seraphina’s chuckled. "That’s our boy. No halfway measures."

Aurelia’s lips twitched almost imperceptibly. ’His elemental control has progressed remarkably.’

Brynn switched the main display to show the other successful teams.

Team 21’s footage showed Eleanora directing her squad with uncanny precision.

Her estoc flashing as she exploited the monster’s blind spots with almost prescient timing.

"Princess knows what she’s doing" Graves noted.

"Those positioning calls are perfect. And Wilson’s still fighting despite that shoulder injury. Kid’s tough as nails."

They watched as Cassian.

His fire-and-earth gauntlets crackling with energy. Tanked a direct hit to keep the monster distracted while the lightning spearman landed a critical strike.

Team 3’s battle played out differently.

Lyra’s nature magic entangled their opponent while Reo’s wild charges somehow worked in their favor.

The footage showed Serena Blackthorne electrocuting the creature’s lungs from the inside, ending the fight.

"Serena Blackthorne’s glaive technique is flawless" Carter admitted.

"But Reo Dustbane is still too reckless. That third charge should have gotten him killed if not for Lyra Silverwind’s covering fire."

Brynn leaned back, lacing his fingers behind his head.

"Four teams survivors out of two hundred. Exactly as predicted."

Professor Carter crossed his arms. "We gave them impossible odds for a reason. The real world won’t coddle them."

The exam’s design was merciless.

Team 1 (Cedric, Luna), Team 3 (Serena, Reo, Lyra), Team 7 (Kyle, Sylvie, Orion), and Team 21 (Eleanora, Cassian) were the only squads assigned Grade 1 Silver-rank monsters.

Deliberately overpowered challenges meant to break them.

A dozen other teams faced Grade 2 Silver opponents. Still lethal, but theoretically survivable for elite students.

The remaining 165+ teams battled Grade 3 Silver creatures. Difficult, yet within their expected capabilities.

"And yet" Seraphina mused, twirling her pink hair.

"Only our four star teams conquered the unbeatable."

On screen switched to show the surviving four teams.

Battered but alive.

The instructors exchanged knowing glances.

The real test was just beginning.

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