The Beginning after the end : Perfect Duo

Here we go

I was anxiously earth swimming near his location, hopeful that he can't know my location. When he finally realized what I have done, I was able to tell so since his voice was pretty rough.

He can't find my location at least, not like you!

I finally emerged behind him by a few meters, penetrating against the ground, and the dust following my trajectory, swirling in the air, laser-focused on giving him a nice blow, and with my mana output to Thunderclap Impulse increasing by the minute, which in fact is taking a light toll on my reserves. Fortunately, he had no time to react, as my fist got into his back, the rigid muscles of his body coming in contact with my mana-enhanced fist.

He got thrown off guard, crashing into the nearest wall with a spiking sound.

It was a devastating strike, something he can't walk off unharmed?

I kept glancing in his direction, but no traces of him could be seen. Did he already move?

I could sense the war-hammer again, this time a few inches away, and I dodged its direction, finally close again to get a close-range combat going on.

I held the advantage, at last.

As the wa-rhammer hit the ground with a roaring sound, sending the fragments of rock scattering around the cavern, I was already throwing a barrage of blows, leaving him in feeble attempts at blocking them.

As his brows furrowed and his posture weakened, his absolute trust of victory was no longer there, reducing his chances of winning this so-called "test."

I took my distance again; I noticed he was trying to say something, but I won't let him finish it anyways. I conjured bright blue flames, encircling my sword and increasing its temperature.

In a flash, I dashed, closing the distance between us again. I slashed into his right side, but held back—just strong enough to send him crashing to the ______ground??

Nope, I got you, huh?

I reshaped the earth to gather around his limbs, rendering him immobile, and I closed on him using thick layers of frosty ice.

I was the one in control here, and it'll unfortunately be the case later on.

Is that a spoiler?

And with Ragnar done, I guess I can watch the other fight now.

I glanced back towards Arthur, who had it a bit harder than I did. He was being brilliant though, countering all of Mira's movements on his own.

He also didn't hold back when it was his time to attack.

I could feel him slightly losing his patience when he saw that I was already done with Ragnar. It's not like we're competing anyway, chill bro. Take your time, man.

I love when he's being competitive; it really indicates who he used to be, and it makes me appreciate him more.

Returning to the action immediately, sir, I didn't mean to display a nostalgic moment mid-action like some shows do, a.k.a. Naruto, though that really reminds me of that time Arthur and I got into trouble for not completing our meals, the good old days. Oh...

Sorry, I got lost in thought.

As his fire-enhanced sword asserted dominance over Mira's attack pattern, she was fast and lethal, but she couldn't do much against one of her kind, another assassin-like fighter.

I watched as he brilliantly used his wind attribute mana to heat up his sword even more; I could feel the heat from here.

Mira kept her distance, while Arthur closed the gap perfectly by finally cracking the ground just like he did with Cynthia.

Blocking Mira's field of vision, Arthur got to her back, and you know the rest.

Finally finishing this not-so-long test.

These guys were going to test us now? Well, I guess they just did.

Lilia approached me, slowly, and once she got close enough.

"Are you fine Tom ?"She asked, not keeping eye contact.

"Yes, I am it took quite some time to finish my part of the test but I eventually did" I said trying to meet her eyes.

"I'm glad you're fine then, it was quite stupid of you to actually participate in such a test to begin with, considering we're still about to dive into that" She said, trying to make me feel guilty ? maybe ? but this time she was looking straight at me, with a higher tone than usual.

"When you phrase it like that, it really is stupid, but I wanted to be accepted here and dealt with according to my strength level" I assured her.

I am stronger than most of these guys anyway, not to be arrogant, you know what I mean ?

"I don't want them to trait me like an inferior to them" I continued on.

Or, this had to be the case, so The writer gets himself some action to keep the readers inclined on, right ?

"That's one thing we're not doing for sure ,  but don't you think you should release Ragnar tho ?" Mira suddenly said.

When did she get here ?

"I totally forgot, Sorry Ragnar , I didn't mean to keep you there" I said, removing the magic keeping him in place.

"Look at you" He said, with an affectionate tone, he didn't display earlier.

A soft man on the inside, tough on the outside.

"You're hella strong man, I didn't imagine that, I wouldn't have been so easy on you" He said, matter of factly.

Easy now huh?

Arthur joined us too, his calm demeanor now visible again.

"So, what do you think ? he asked Mira and Ragnar.

"You're both brilliant mages, I have to say" They both said in union.

"Well, good to know" Arthur simply said nodding his head.

Lilia then checked Arthur's wellbeing.

Jaden, and Jade arrived, followed by the rest of the party, Jaden was quick to speak, saying :

"I was very impressed by your performance, guys, Tone, you were so good with that move where you became underground, how did you do that man ? and You Note, those swordfighting skills aren't something you obtain so easily, you must fought for years" He finally ended his very positive speech about us.

So naive, I have to say, but in a good way.

"Thanks, Jaden" We both responded.

His sister, Jade on the other hand didn't say anything, she really looks so suspicious about everything going on.

As she kept, staring at us for extended periods of time, till she realized I was doing the same thing.

It's not like we're surrounded by enemies, infiltrating this land as we speak, isn't dear reader ?

Sylvia though had another thing in mind, she gathered her words, and stood in the center of the group.

I sneezed all of a sudden, Temperature is really going on low even though we're still next to the entrance.

Sylvia's fists were tense, as she spoke

"Should we start this raid, then ?" She asked, with a worried tone,

The only thing that's worrying me, is the fact that Lilia still needs time to train , I hope we're not rushing things out.