CHAPTER 1031: RUN OUT

Erend caught the second fireball just as easily as the first. His palm closing around the dense sphere of flame then with a faint hiss, the energy winked out, leaving not even smoke behind.

He dusted his hand against his thigh as if brushing away nothing more than a speck of dust.

The chamber grew silent for a beat.

Every pair of eyes of candidates and staff alike fixed on him with newfound respect. They had all heard of Sergeant Erend’s reputation, but hearing rumors and witnessing him in action were two very different things.

For many of them this was the first time they truly saw what he could do.

They had been told that he awakened his Magic years ago when the war against the Elves was still happening but none of them had ever seen the shape of his strength. Not even when the invasion of the strange creature happened.

Now, they finally understood that whatever they thought was possible, Erend stood far beyond it.

Whispers broke out in the back, staff exchanging nervous glances. The candidates, who only hours ago were amazed at the destructive potential of their own gifts, suddenly realized just how small their power seemed next to him.

Erend’s voice cut through their thoughts, calm and even.

"This one is better," he said, meeting Candidate Number Two’s eyes. "But can you create something like this consistently?"

The woman straightened her back and swallowed and answered in her firm voice. "Yes, sir. I can."

"Good," Erend replied with a small nod. "Then I want to see it. Don’t just show me the flame but how you use it in a fight. I’ll be coming to you now and now you must show me how much you can do while under pressure."

Her eyes widened slightly at his words. Surprise flickered across her face, but it was quickly overtaken by a determined fire.

She clenched her fists and nodded sharply. "If that’s what you want me to do, sir, then I’ll do it."

"Remember," Erend continued, his voice low but commanding, "attack me as if you truly intend to kill me. You don’t need to hold anything back."

"Yes, sir." The woman’s response was crisp, her hesitation gone.

She raised her hand and flames sparking once more. A fireball the size of a soccer ball bloomed in her palm, pulsing with dense energy.

Erend began to walk toward her, his stride steady and unhurried.

She hurled the fireball, and again, he caught it in his hand and snuffed it out as if it were nothing. He didn’t even break his pace.

Another fireball came then got snuffed out again. Then another, then another. Erend’s eyes never blinked and his steps never faltered.

The woman’s jaw tightened. Anger bubbled in her chest.

She poured more of herself into the flames and conjured larger spheres at once, each one of them burning hotter and denser than the last but it also looked wilder.

BOOM!

BOOM!

BOOM!

She hurled them in rapid succession. The chamber lit up with furious explosions, bursts of fire crashing against Erend. Their heat forces the other candidates to raise their arms and flinch back.

The air itself grew heavy and stifling. The temperature rises with every blast. Sweat dripped down their faces. Even hardened staffers shifted uncomfortably under the oppressive heat.

But Erend still walked forward. His figure emerged through each burst untouched, like an existence striding through a storm.

The woman gritted her teeth, her anger spilling into her Magic.

She even started to roar, throwing her arms forward and instead of another fireball, a torrent of flame erupted.

A massive stream of fire that looked wide and furious flooding the chamber like a living inferno.

Gasps rang out across the room. A few of the younger candidates recoiled, fear flashing in their eyes.

"Sergeant Drake!" someone blurted, their voice trembling with panic.

But Adrien stood still, arms crossed, his expression was calm. Billy smirked faintly, leaning on his heel, while Conrad’s face remained cool and calm.

They, more than anyone, knew the truth.

That no matter how strong or how wild that fire was it wouldn’t be a problem for Erend.

A few seconds later, when the woman’s body finally gave out, the fire vanished all at once.

She stood there swaying, her chest heaving and sweat dripping from her brow.

Her arms trembled and then she sank to her knees. Her head spinning and her vision swimming with black spots.

She gasped raggedly whilw clutching the floor as if the ground itself might tilt beneath her.

"What... what’s happening to me? It feels like... I’m being drugged..." the thought came sluggish and foggy, her mind slipping under the weight of exhaustion.

Then, through the haze, a pair of boots appeared in her blurry vision.

She lifted her eyes with effort and saw Erend standing right before her. His gaze was steady.

"You would already be dead right now if this were real combat," he said with a calm voice as always.

The woman said nothing. Her lips parted but no sound came. Her pride kept her from collapsing entirely, but she couldn’t summon the strength to answer.

Erend turned away from her and faced the rest of the candidates. His voice carried across the chamber, firm and unyielding.

"This is what happens when you run out of Magic energy. I’m guessing most of you have never experienced it, because you’ve never pushed yourselves this far." His eyes swept the room, catching the uneasy expressions of the gathered candidates. "But in a real battle, this weakness will kill you. It is not always your enemies that could kill you but your own limits."

Silence filled the room. No one dared to whisper now, the weight of his words settling like iron on their shoulders.

"Be careful," Erend finished, his tone leaving no room for doubt. Then he raised his hand. "Medical staff, tend to Candidate Number Two."

As the staff hurried forward to lift the exhausted woman away, Erend turned back toward the line of waiting candidates. His eyes locked onto the next in line.

"Candidate Number Three," he called, his voice calm and steady. "Step forward."

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