Capítulo 19: Chapter 19: The Survival Run 5
Elena Ezra stood in a clearing deep within the dense forest, her sharp elven senses attuned to every movement around her. The trees whispered with the wind, their leaves rustling like a warning. She knew she wasn't alone. The air was thick with tension, and her hand tightened around her staff, its intricate carvings glowing faintly with emerald light.
Suddenly, four shadows burst from the underbrush, their snarls echoing through the trees. The wolves, each as large as a full-grown horse, circled her with predatory precision. Their eyes glowed with a feral light, and their fangs glistened as they bared their teeth. These weren't ordinary beasts; they were monsters, their fur bristling with dark energy, their hunger for blood evident in every movement.
Elena didn't flinch. Instead, she raised her staff high, the emerald gem at its tip pulsing with energy. "Winds of the Sylphs, heed my call," she whispered, her voice steady and calm. The air around her began to stir, the gentle breeze quickly escalating into a fierce gust. With a sweeping motion of her staff, she unleashed the spell. "Gale Force!"
The wind erupted from around her in a powerful blast, tearing through the clearing with a ferocity that shook the very trees. The wolves howled as the force hit them, their bodies struggling against the onslaught. Two of them were lifted off their feet and hurled into the air, crashing into the trees with bone-crunching force. The other two, however, dug their claws into the ground, resisting the wind as they pushed forward, eyes locked on their prey.
Elena's eyes narrowed. These beasts were tougher than she expected. But she wasn't done yet.
With a graceful twirl, she planted her staff into the ground, the emerald gem glowing brighter as she chanted her next spell. "Roots of the Earth, rise and bind my foes!" The ground beneath the remaining wolves rumbled, and thick, thorny vines shot up from the soil, wrapping around their legs and bodies. The wolves snarled and snapped at the vines, but they were relentless, tightening their grip with every struggle.
Elena raised her hand, and a swirl of green energy formed at her fingertips. "Nature's Wrath!" she cried, releasing the spell. The energy shot out in a wave, slamming into the wolves with the force of a charging beast. The vines constricted further, crushing the wolves until their howls of rage turned into whimpers of pain. In a final burst of green light, the vines exploded outward, leaving the wolves lifeless on the ground.
Breathing heavily, Elena surveyed the scene. The bodies of the wolves lay still, their dark energy dissipating into the air.
When the rankings for the entrance exam had been released, Elena had been devastated to see her name in the second position. She had always believed that no one her age could match her, let alone surpass her. Her entire life, she had been praised as a prodigy, the princess of the Elven Continent, destined for greatness. But to come second? It was a blow to her pride that she couldn't easily accept.
She remembered the day she saw the results. Her father, the ruler of the Elven Continent, had tried to console her, as had her brothers. They all said she had done well, but Elena could see the disappointment in their eyes, hidden behind forced smiles and comforting words. They had expected her to be first. As a princess, she was supposed to be the best, yet she had been overtaken by someone else—a boy named Alex Reinheart.
At first, she thought it must have been a mistake. How could someone surpass her? She had trained harder than anyone, studied magic and combat since she was a child, honing her skills to perfection. The thought of someone else being better than her was infuriating.
Then came the day of the entrance ceremony. She had been eager to see this boy who had dared to take the top spot from her, but to her surprise, he didn't even attend. Instead, Elena had to give the opening speech, all the while wondering who this Alex Reinheart was and why he hadn't shown up.
Her mind had played with the idea that maybe he wasn't that amazing after all, maybe the ranking was just a fluke. But that illusion was shattered the next day. She saw him sparring with Victor Stone, one of the academy's top students, and Alex was holding his own effortlessly. No, more than that—he was dominating the fight. His movements were precise, his power undeniable. And when they faced the professor in a demonstration, no one had been able to land a hit. No one, except Alex.
Elena had watched in disbelief as Alex struck the professor, a feat that none of the other students had managed. It was in that moment that she realized the truth: he was stronger than her. She couldn't deny it, and it gnawed at her pride. For the first time, Elena was faced with someone who was more talented, more skilled, and it was something she couldn't easily accept.
Her thoughts snapped back to the present, the weight of her frustration and determination settling in her chest. She knew she needed to become stronger, to surpass him. She couldn't stand being second best, especially not to him. The resolve hardened in her heart. She would train harder, push herself further, and one day, she would surpass Alex Reinheart. She had to—her pride demanded it.
Alex stood amidst the towering trees of the virtual forest, his sharp eyes scanning the dense canopy above him. The VR world was a marvel of advanced arcane technology, designed to be as close to reality as possible. The scent of pine filled the air, the crunch of leaves underfoot sounded crisp, and the faint rustling of creatures in the distance added to the immersive experience. Here, everything felt real—pain, hunger, even the need to breathe. It was a place where the line between reality and simulation blurred, and where mistakes could be as costly as in the real world.
He took a deep breath, feeling the cool air fill his lungs, and then let it out slowly. This place was so vivid, so tangible, that it was easy to forget it was all just an illusion. But Alex wasn't here to admire the scenery. He had a plan—a strategy that would give him an edge over the other students scattered throughout the forest.
The trees around him were thick and closely packed, their trunks reaching high into the sky, forming a nearly impenetrable wall of green. The dense foliage above blocked out much of the sunlight, casting the forest floor in a perpetual twilight. If a fire were to break out here, it would spread quickly, consuming everything in its path. Alex knew this, and he was about to use it to his advantage.
He raised his hand, his mind focusing on a spot deeper within the forest. He wasn't a mage, but as a noble, he had access to the best resources and training. While his primary focus was on swordsmanship, he had learned enough to cast basic spells when necessary. And right now, a little fire was exactly what he needed.
"Fireball," he murmured, his voice steady and confident.
A glowing rune formed in the air before his outstretched hand, pulsing with arcane energy. A small, fiery orb shot forth from the rune, blazing a path through the air before smashing into the trunk of a large tree. The dry bark caught fire almost immediately, flames licking upward as they began to consume the tree.
Satisfied, Alex pointed to another tree a little further away. "Fireball," he said again, and another orb of fire streaked through the air, striking its target with the same result. The flames spread quickly, moving from branch to branch, leaf to leaf, fueled by the dry wood and underbrush. He repeated the process a few more times, strategically igniting trees in various locations around him.
Within moments, the forest was ablaze. The crackling of burning wood filled the air, and the heat from the flames began to intensify. The fire moved faster than Alex expected, racing through the dense foliage, turning the serene forest into a hellish inferno.
"That should do the job," Alex said to himself, his voice calm as he watched the fire spread. His expression remained impassive, his mind calculating the effects of his actions. This fire would create chaos, driving other students out of hiding, and forcing them into the open. In the ensuing panic, it would be easier for him to pick them off, one by one, or let the fire do the work for him.
He remained silent, watching the flames climb higher, their orange glow reflecting in his eyes. The fire roared as it devoured the trees, sending plumes of smoke into the sky. It was beautiful, in a way, how something so destructive could be so mesmerizing. The heat was becoming more intense, and Alex could feel the temperature rising around him, but he didn't move. He needed the fire to spread far enough to serve his purpose.
He took a few steps back, finding a spot where the flames wouldn't reach him, and stood there, watching as the fire continued to consume the forest. The smoke began to thicken, the once-clear air turning into a murky haze.
As he watched the fire, his thoughts drifted to the others scattered throughout the forest. By now, they would have noticed the fire, their panic setting in as they tried to figure out what was happening. Some would run, trying to escape the flames, while others might try to find the source. It didn't matter to Alex. They were all part of his plan, whether they knew it or not.
He stood there a while longer, watching the flames dance and flicker, before finally turning away. His work here was done. The fire would spread on its own, and soon, the forest would be a sea of flames. He could already hear the distant cries of panic, the sounds of students scrambling to escape the inferno he had unleashed.
Status de energia semanal
-- Ranking de
Poder 
-- Pedra de
Poder