Tbate-The Reincarnates

Academic Exchange: 2nd Period

"Sorry, we're late!" Tessia yelled as we reached the place where the second test of the exchange would take place.

"You are the last. We can start now." Iris does a quick check.

The place where our exam would take place was a forest.

The forest looked like a giant bush stretching over the horizon, with the cluttered trees blocking any view of what lay below. Large birds and other fearsome winged species hovered over the dense green tangle, diving and hunting for their meal every now and then. What startled me more than they did, however, were the occasional roars that echoed in the distance. I could only imagine how big they must have been if they could shake or even knock down trees that blocked their paths as they traversed the dense jungle.

My nose was bombarded with scents of foliage, mixed with the damp underlying scent of moss, dirt, and decaying wood.

"As you very well know this is where your training will take place", announced Iris with her gaze still fixed on the forest, "This test will be divided into several scenarios so you can use your powers to the fullest!"

"Allow me to explain today's exam." James said, "Our Director Drossel with the help of Professor Iris made several crystals with the water of Mirror Lake, thanks to that the crystals can absorb mana, but if this mana exceeds a certain limit the crystal will be destroyed which will lead to the defeat of the team. Unlike the last exam, the team of these exams will be a mix of students from both academies, the rules are simple you can use any weapon or magic to fight or destroy the crystal and fight, but you can't cause permanent damage to your opponents, in the event that none of the crystals are destroyed within the thirty minute time limit, the team that has inflicted the most damage on the opponent's crystal will be the victor!"

"We chose this method because of teamwork, which my students need to learn." Iris said in her less friendly voice in the last part, making me cringe a little in embarrassment, "Which means your strategy will require cooperation, not just fighting and advancing with brute force. This method of examination would be the best possible way to get that, now without further ado let's get started! The first teams to fight will be Team A and Team B." Iris' gaze swept the students before she announced the teams, "Team A consists of: Lancelot Winey, Edward Byure is Peter Devian, Team B consists of: Ayla Leone, Yuki Vermut and Tessia Eralith. teams, please prepare."

"How are we going to face them?" I ask Tessia.

"I don't think Edward and Peter are big problems, but...I can't say the same for Lancelot." Yuki commented.

"Yes, Lancelot is not the kind of person we can deal with anyway." I said, "I don't think he's going to go on the offensive right away, he's most likely going to stay in the back looking after the crystal."

"If he does that, he's calling you to one-on-one combat." I pointed to Tessia.

"Yes, and that's exactly what he wants." I agreed.

"What will you do?" asked Yuki

I smile, "Grant your wish."

From Kathyln Glayder's Point of View

I watched as Lancelot and Ayla's team faced each other just a dozen feet away.

Esdeath, along with the Arthurs and Kize and even Iris watched silently, each of them afraid to blink and end up losing something in the fight.

When James announced the start of combat Edward and Peter both shot towards Tessia and Yuki respectively.

But to our surprise Ayla and Lancelot stayed put in their seats, my heart started to race the moment their auras thickened.

Lancelot and Ayla drew their weapons, making me deeply anxious, while I wanted to root for Lancelot, I knew Ayla wasn't just any opponent.

Ayla was perhaps one of the few people who could make him fight seriously and that was clear in his expression, while in the last test he seemed to want to assess Yuki's abilities, now his expression showed seriousness, as here a simple failure could cost the battle .

"Release." Lancelot spoke his sword began to glow a bluish green hue, "The 100 Beasts!" The Sword in his right hand drew an upward diagonal line. Along with a high-pitched air-splitting noise, something fell to the ground with a thud.

Many of the thick trees had been cut down and their pieces were falling and rolling to the ground.

Ayla unconsciously took a step back before she caught herself doing so. The magical energy that that sword exuded was cold-inducing that forced him to retreat.

The black aura emanating from the tip of the blade split into several thick strands, and as if a gigantic and terrifying beast took a swipe with its claws, everything in front of it was swept away in one fell swoop.

Then Ayla moved, a golden glow, sending tendrils of plants all over the battlefield. I couldn't tell what he was doing, but...

Ayla disappeared in a flash as the swarm of vines descended on Lancelot, but a huge column of stone laced with veins of black metal erupted from the ground.

Moving at the speed of the wind, Ayla appeared to Lancelot's left and a condensed field of shimmering energy surrounded him. Kicking a broken piece of spine, she launched herself towards Lancelot, exploding in a supernova of sheer force.

The battlefield was momentarily hidden in a cloud of dust, the battlefield was momentarily hidden in a cloud of dust.

"Good move." Commented Lancelot as he blocked an attack from his opponent's blade, "I expected no less from you Ayla."

Lancelot jumped back cooling the air around him, to reveal the wind arrow heading for his team's crystal, Lancelot grabbed the arrow which trembled slightly as if angry at not hitting its target.

"That was a good trick." Lancelot praised as he broke the arrow and faced Tessia who was in the top of one of the trees.

I was so immersed in Ayla and Lancelot's fight, that I completely forgot about the other fights which were generally pretty boring compared to this one, Tessia had already beaten Edward and it wouldn't take long for Yuki and Peter's fight to decide.

"Things are getting tough for Lancelot." Arthur commented beside me.

"Yes if Lancelot has to deal with Yuki, Ayla and Tessia together he will have trouble defending his crystal" Esdeath said in an analytical manner.

"The crux of this match is Ayla, she has to keep Lancelot busy, her team will win." Kize commented excitedly.

"We've reached a crucial point in the combat." Commented Iris, "maybe in a battle royale Lancelot wouldn't have much trouble, but here he's bound by the rules."

"I don't think either of them has revealed their cards in their sleeves." I commented

Lancelot sighed and adjusted his stance, "I've learned a few new tricks these past few years," said Lancelot, his voice ringing through the air, "I hope you have learned it too, otherwise this will end now... Welkin's first phase."