Chapter 562: Thunder God Tribe
Cana rummaged through her bag again and swiftly pulled out two glowing cards, tossing them high into the air.
"Fountain of Prayer! Lightning of Fate!"
The instant Mira was frozen, Cana followed up with a combo of water and lightning-based card magic. For most enemies, this chain of elemental attacks was enough to knock them out. It was a finishing move Cana had always been proud of.
But this wasn’t just anyone, this was Mira.
As Cana drew more cards in preparation, she shouted to her partner, "Lily! Now’s your chance!"
No response.
"Lily?"
She turned to look and was stunned to find Panther Lily, no longer in his large combat form. He had reverted to his small black cat form, his longsword stabbed into the sand beside him. Crouching low, Lily had his paws pressed tightly over his ears, his entire body trembling.
"Can’t hear it, can’t hear it, it’s just Cana’s magic. It’s not real thunder... Not scared, not scared..."
This was Panther Lily, the same Exceed who always looked so stern and dependable in battle, terrified of thunder?!
Cana’s serious expression crumbled instantly. She was completely caught between exasperation and disbelief. "What are you even talking about?!"
Crack!
The ice that had sealed Mira suddenly fractured and then exploded with a deafening boom. The water and lightning spells that followed hit her directly, bathing her in arcs of crackling magical light. The eerie, black, vein-like patterns on Mira’s face stood out even more ominously in the flashing glow.
But instead of faltering, Mira stepped through the storm like a force of nature, licking her upper lip with a smirk. "That actually stung a bit, Cana."
"Ah...uh...that..." Cana gave a sheepish laugh and waved her hands awkwardly, completely at a loss.
"Thanks for the warm-up," Mira said sweetly, her smile utterly captivating, yet behind it, a glint of something mischievous.
"Now it’s my turn."
"Mwahahaha!!!"
"Eeeek...yaaah!!!"
Lily’s and Cana’s synchronized screams echoed across the entire beach.
Route A Cana’s team: Eliminated.
Back in her usual form, Mira let out a soft sigh and brushed sand off her skirt. "Guess I’ll have to carry them both back to camp... I’m still not used to fighting without the buff."
It had been two days since she’d last seen Rhodes.
Mira puffed her cheeks in mild annoyance. She couldn’t help but complain inwardly, why hadn’t the Master let everyone regroup at the island before kicking off the trial?
Turning toward the entrance to the next stage, she muttered, "He better be doing okay. I hope Elfman and Lisanna aren’t hurt..."
Route C — Cave
In a completely different area, Elfman and Evergreen were exploring the depths of a shadowy cave. Oddly enough, despite the natural darkness, the path ahead was brightly lit.
Tiny glowing insects floated lazily through the air like drifting stars. Brighter than ordinary fireflies, these magical creatures were often used as natural lanterns in mines and tunnels.
In this quiet and beautifully lit cave, the atmosphere between the man and woman was subtly charged.
They would sneak glances at each other now and then, only to quickly avert their eyes, just like Alzack and Bisca had done in the early days of their courtship.
After the third time their eyes met and darted away, Evergreen blushed slightly and snapped irritably, "Focus already! Stop looking at me!"
Elfman blinked, caught off guard, and instinctively shot back, "You’re the one who looked at me first!"
"Idiot! Who’d want to look at some musclehead whose brain is all brawn too?"
"Ha! Muscles are the symbol of a real Man!"
"How can a so-called Man forget he can fly when it matters most?"
"That’s a new ability. And didn’t you forget too?"
"I’m not a Man, thank you very much." Evergreen huffed with a toss of her hair. "And I came to help you, so you should be grateful if we pass this exam smoothly."
"Ugh... women are such a pain." Elfman looked frustrated but deep down, he really did appreciate it.
They walked forward, bickering all the way, until their steps halted before a flag bearing the character for "Fight."
"A fight flag? That means we’re up against another team," Elfman said, stepping half a pace ahead to shield Evergreen. "Stay alert, Evergreen."
"I don’t need your reminder," Evergreen replied, stepping forward herself to show they would fight side by side.
"Well well. If it isn’t Evergreen and the Manly Man."
"Evergreen!"
"Evergreen!"
"Manly Man!"
"Manly Man!"
As Bickslow’s voice rang out, his floating dolls echoed his words obnoxiously, circling through the air.
"Still as noisy as ever." Elfman sighed. "So you and Freed are our opponents, huh?"
"Freed? Oh no!" Evergreen suddenly dashed forward. "Elfman, attack now!"
"Huh? Ah, got it!" Elfman hesitated for just a second before realizing what she meant. In this kind of terrain, if Freed had time to etch his runes, they might as well forfeit.
"Whoa, whoa, going all in from the start?" Bickslow waved as he retreated. "Go, Babies! Linear formation!"
The five dolls lined up in formation and charged at Evergreen and Elfman.
"I’m not falling for that!" Evergreen gracefully waved her folding fan, firing five golden bolts of light toward the dolls.
But Bickslow grinned, tongue sticking out. "I know your tricks too well, Evergreen."
The dolls swiftly broke formation and dodged the incoming attacks with uncanny coordination.
"Do you?" Evergreen smirked, sidestepping to clear a path.
"Partial Take Over, Iron Bull Arm!" Elfman roared, charging forward. His right arm transformed into thick, dark metal. With a powerful hook punch, he slammed into a doll, sending it crashing into the others like a bowling ball.
The sheer force blasted all five dolls into the cave wall.
"Here I come, Bickslow!" Elfman charged again, winding up a punch aimed straight for his opponent.
Given the difference in raw strength, a hit from Elfman at this distance could end the match.
But just before impact, a long sword swept in from the side and blocked the punch.
Steel met steel with a deafening clang.
Freed held the sword with both hands, bracing the flat of the blade with his palm to withstand Elfman’s overwhelming power.
"Duck!"
Evergreen’s voice echoed, and Elfman instantly crouched.
Freed glanced up and froze.
Evergreen hovered in the air above, her glasses pushed to her forehead. "No."
He averted his eyes just in time, avoiding her petrifying gaze.
But Evergreen only smiled sweetly. "It’s just as dangerous even if you don’t look. Fairy Machine Gun, Pixie!"
A barrage of tiny, glittering light bullets rained down like machine gun fire, peppering the battlefield.
"Babies, X-Formation!" Bickslow commanded. The five dolls, though previously scattered, zoomed back and formed a glowing X pattern.
A magical shield formed between them, absorbing the incoming fire.
Just as the shield began to falter, Elfman stood again and barreled forward.
With a powerful swing, he shattered the formation.
Two dolls were knocked into Bickslow. The other three slammed into Freed’s chest and face.
Both of them staggered back with pained grunts.
Bickslow growled, lifting his mask slightly. His eyes glowed ominously, only to widen in disbelief.
"What? Since when are you wearing glasses too?"
Elfman adjusted the sunglasses perched on his nose and grinned triumphantly. "My brother-in-law gave them to me after your last stunt. Slipped them on just now while I crouched."