You know that feeling after waking up and you slept on wrongly on your arm, or after sitting in an uncomfortable position in class for a long time and when you do stand up you will feel little irritating current flowing through that body path, that feeling is often referred to as pins and needles or medically known as paresthesia. It's a temporary numbness or tingling sensation that occurs when there's pressure on a nerve, disrupting normal nerve function.
When you move or relieve the pressure, blood flow returns, and the nerve starts functioning again. This can cause a sensation of pins and needles, prickling, or a slight electric shock-like feeling. (Sorry for the biology class).
That was the feeling that Zephyr was currently feeling only this time it was worst, instead of pins and needles it was spears and sword, anytime his right leg touched the ground instead of mild irritation, excruciating pain surged though his right leg.
"Shit".
Zephyr cursed under his breath, eyes locked on the ant as it stood up from the ground, Zephyr was right, the thin point that consisted of his neck, waist and the likes were it's weak point. Its carapace groaned and creaked, bending unnaturally as its segmented legs twitched with renewed aggression. The beast's claw subconsciously wrapped around it's neck as it rubbed the position Zephyr had realeased his devestating kick.
Seeing the beast momentarily disoriented Zephyr looked for ways to defeat it, he turned around to see that Arden and cealsen were kneeling on the floor, their hands in the position the beast had Peirced, trying to stop the free flow of blood.
'where the hell are they'. One moment they were standing behind him and the next he couldn't find them anymore.
Looking around he caught sight of them at the very end of field talking among themselves— the two girls.
'what the hell is wrong with them, do they not know we could all die'. It was then it hit him, this wasn't a battle to the death, it was a test and the instructors here wouldn't let anyone die.
'Why did I forget about that'. The rush of the battle had forced him to stop thinking and react on instinct that he momentarily forgot that they were not fighting to death.
'That would explain why the beast haven't attacked yet, Magnus is deliberately holding it back'. The Ant just stood in one position, it's body trembling due to anger but it was waiting for someone to make the first move just like the beginning of the test. Turning his head back he saw Cealsen and Arden hand on their chest and the other hand in front of them with two fingers pointing upwards with the other clenched.
They weren't trying to stop the flow of blood, they were healing it through—
"Hollow Art". Zephyr muttered under his breath. "If only I had access to one, I could have relieved my leg".
The two of them stood up shirts ripped revealing newly healed flesh. Arden body tensed as he positioned his self in the direction of the ant about to take off but was held on the shoulder by Cealsen.
"We need a plan". Cealsen spoke with a pensive look on his face.
"What's there to plan, we charge in and bring it down". Arden said as he readied to head out.
"And where did that bring us last time". Cealsen words seems to make sence in his mind as he released his stuff body. "What do you suggest". Arden said as he looked at him.
Cealsen didn't answer, instead he turned to Zephyr as he spoke with a frowning expression on his face. "What happened out there you looked ..... Stiff".
Zephyr rolled his eyes. 'You could just say weak'. But before he could respond the Ant released a feral roar upward.
Cealsen quickly took something out of his inner robe and there it in Zephyr direction, Zephyr step sided as he watched the necklace hit the ground.
Cealsen confused expression gave way for realization. "Don't worry, it's an Hollow Artifact it align your cognitive and body aweraness, greatly increasing speed and reaction time". Cealsen explained hurriedly.
'seems like he is buying my stiff story'. Although he didn't sell any stiff story. 'who am I to clear this misunderstanding'. Throwing away caution to the wind he picked up the necklace and put it on.
'wow my mind feel clearer'. He could already feel the effects of the artifact. Just as he was going to show his gratitude, the ant let out another feral roar as it rushed in their direction.
"Triangle formation— Arden spearhead, Zephyr left wing, I'll take the right wing. Cealsen barked out as they quickly rushed into formation.
Zephyr was genuinely surprised as he immediately got into formation despite never actually participating in any types of drill.
He ran a few feet behind Arden and to his right was Cealsen. Arden clashed with the beast, his elbow bone hitting the left claw of the ant with a furry of sparks. Cealsen was preoccupied by the right claw, while Zephyr rushed past the beast, then turned sharply on his heel as he channeled the force of his sudden movement through his hand and onto his scythe as he swang it at the tiny waist.
The appendage on the back of the Ant blocked the blow, but the appendage was severed, And with a gush of black ichor.
The Ant let out a roar of pain as it turned to the source of his pain, then a whisper.
Gravitas— void anchor.
The voice of Cealsen came out as a whisper, the Ant hulking form suddenly hunched as if gravity had increased in it's position— gravity did in fact increase in it's position as it struggled to stand upright.
The intense gravitational force didn't act in Zephyr and the rest who wasted no time as they descended on the ant. They closed in from the triangular position, Zephyr scythe landed on the the other appendage, severing it cleanly, the appendage didn't fly off neither did the blood gush out, it stayed in the same position and if not for the tilting of the appendage it would have looked as if nothing happened to it.
Zephyr released another slice, slicing of the left arm of the ant, he was about to release another strike when he suddenly felt danger. "Retreat". Zephyr had already began to move back before the voice of Cealsen rang out.
They quickly retreated with far more speed then the one they had advanced with. As the gravitational force retreated the ant suddenly stood up with force, it's remaining appendage flew away as black ichor gushed from the wound, black ichor gushed out of it's mouth as it held it's chest— it's chest was curved in likely from the pounding of Arden bone fist, and the spear of Cealsen lodged in one of it's knees.
Zephyr held his scythe tight preparing to attack when suddenly a clean transparent water flew at an impossible speed from the other end of the field towards the Ant.
The Ant intended to move out of the way, but the spear lodged in it knees held it in place for a moment. And that was all it took for the water to slice through it's thin waist. The upper body of the Ant fell to the ground with a thud, black ichor gushing upward like a geyser.
Zephyr stood there as he gazed at the scene. 'it's dead.... Just like that'. The brown hulk was dead, one moment ago it was alive, ready to tear him apart and now all that remained was a lifeless corpse.
As the reality of the dead ant settled in his mind his body suddenly grew weak, his legs gave in, looking at his right legs closely he could see that the skin around it was torn and bleeding. His head started to get cloudy despite the necklace still tied around his neck.
"Congratulations for passing the second phase. Aspriant welcome to the Academy".
Hearing as the sweet voice sang the sweet melody of his success his pain was pushed to the back of his mind.
"Arden Vermilion". Arden directly sat on the flow, his murky yellow hair glueing to his fore head because of his sweat.
"Claire Clot".
"kola Clot". The two girls walked closer towards the center of the field.
"Cealsen Grant". Cealsen walked towards Zephyr and extended his arm towards him. "Nice one". That was all he said with his arm outstretched towards the kneeling Zephyr.
Zephyr got joyful seeing the hand stretched in front of him, he got a comrade now, he stretched his hand as he was about to grab the hand his name was called.
"Zephyr Demios". As soon as his name was called, Zephyr could see the look of surprise on the face of Cealsen which changed to shock and then morphed to disgust as he took a step back.
"Y-you are Zephyr Demios?". Zephyr was genuinely confused. 'What's with the reaction'. His question was answered with the sentence that left Cealsen mouth.
"The one who intended to rape the third princess!".