It was not the release of a raw power, but rather, although not perfect, a refined energy.
His dark magic transformed into something bigger—something he hasn't done in his life yet. His power intensified as the boar's groan of pain grew louder.
Yukari saw that Tsukishiro was finally able to release much stronger power. Seeing this, she supplied him with Magic energy from the backlines.
"Haah!!" Tsukishiro yelled out, further pressing his blade, going deeper and deeper into the Boar's flesh.
However, it wasn't enough. The boar released a stronger shockwave and power, rivalling Tsukishiro's darkness. Then, Bam—a massive explosion occurred, pushing Tsukishiro back violently, and causing a huge smoke to form.
After the smoke ceases, Yukari sees that the boar is now emitting a stronger energy than before—an energy strong enough to shake their hope of winning. On the other hand, Tsukishiro was on the ground, impaled through a sharp wood, sticking up from the ground.
"Hey!" She called out, her voice losing its composure, and a slight panic dwelt within.
Tsukishiro's blood spilled on the ground.
I have... to stand up...
His vision was beginning to blur... This was exactly what happened to him years ago. A wolf bit his arm, and the pain was almost familiar.
The enemy... is still there...
He tried to stand up, however, the stick on his abdomen sent explosive pain all throughout his body.
His mind wants to stand up, however, his body doesn't respond.
Is this the end? I've only started...
Thoughts rushed through his mind.
Maybe... I was meant to be weak all this time...
I haven't found Youko yet. Though I'm sure that she'll already a very strong magician.
Damn it,
...
Yukari took deep breaths.
"It's only the start of the season, and yet, things like these are already happening." She signed.
With careful steps, she walks forward. The boar notices her and sees her as a threat. The boar immediately released a set of powerful lightning strikes towards her.
"There's a reason I hate wild fighting. It consumes too much magic energy."
She jumped to the side, and while in mid-air, looked for an open gap to attack the boar.
"He is slowly dying. I need to heal him."
However, the boar was merciless, only continuing to shoot bolts of lightning towards her.
Then,
"Flower petals." She chanted.
Soon, petals from the ground rose up in the air, floating. Then, all at once, like sharp knives, they launched themselves towards the boar, slashing the boar, further weakening it, and causing it to fall temporarily.
Although effective, Yukari's body was weakened. She coughed, and blood splattered out of her mouth. The spell took a tremendous amount of her magic energy.
However, she can't stop. Without delaying for a single bit, she immediately went over to Tsukishiro.
"His breathing... Is slowing... Then,"
Seeing that things are dire, she gently closed her eyes... And then, when she opened it again, it was emitting a greenish glow. And, through her mere gaze, the wound slowly closed, as if Yukari was reversing time itself, and in less than five seconds.
She glances over to the boar, and it's already recovering. Time is running out.
She curled her fist into a ball and punched Tsukishiro in the abdomen, immediately shooting him awake.
He curled up and held his abdomen tightly in pain. However, he soon realized that... The stick wasn't there anymore.
"What...?"
He touched his abdomen, making sure that he wasn't dreaming.
"What happened?!" He exclaimed, slightly freaking out.
"S-Sorry, I had no way of waking you up," Yukari said, her voice slightly guilty.
"N-No, I-I mean—what?... What happened?!"
"I'll explain later... But please, kill the boar, I don't have enough magic energy."
He turned to his side and saw that the boar was slightly weakened. He was still confused about the whole thing, but he nevertheless stood up, grabbing his blade with him.
"O-Okay, I got this."
He mustered all the magic within him and, with a focused gaze, dashed forward and towards the boar.
The boar was still squirming around, still occupied by Yukari's attack.
"I'll handle this." He murmured and, with full force, swung his sword downwards.
He yelled his heart out, pouring as much energy as he could. This time, he was more successful. The blade goes through the Boar's flesh. It tried to resist, casting lightning energy all around its body.
"Not this time!"
Distort, and Change!
He landed on his feet and immediately jumped once again, his blade carrying a bigger, magical force than before. Then, in a smooth, single slash, leaving traces of darkness behind, he decapitated the head of the boar.
The head fell and rolled onto the rocky ground, with Tsukishiro landing on the side briefly after.
"T-That's it. W-We did it!" With excited eyes, he looked over to Yukari's direction, who, to his dismay, was weakened to the point where she was crouched on the ground, on the verge of passing out. Concerned, he immediately rushed up to her.
"A-Are you okay?" He asked worriedly.
"Y-Yeah..." She coughed, only for blood to pour right out.
"Blood? W-Wait, I'll carry you back to—"
"I-It's fine, this happens e-everytime." She said, almost like she always repeated that phrase. Deep within her words was frustration.
She slightly pushed Tsukishiro away, attempting to stand up on her own. She managed to, but her weakened body made it difficult for her to walk.
"A-Are you sure you can walk?" Tsukishiro asked further, extremely worried.
Seeing that she really can't walk properly, "N-No, I need help." She murmured. "B-But first, g-grab the head of the boar."
Tsukishiro affirmed and immediately ran over to the boar's head and grabbed it. Then, Tsukishiro, through his other arm, placed Yukari's arm over his shoulder, before slowly walking back
This is no longer the time to continue the test.
...
After a few minutes of walking, they managed to arrive at the entrance portal, where, beside it, the teacher, Miss Aurelia, was waiting.
She noticed their incoming presence, "Back so soon-" however, she stopped, as she noticed the head of the boar that Tsukishiro is carrying in his hand.
She immediately rushed up to them, worriedly.
"Why are you carrying that boar's head?" Miss Aurelia asked, both terrified and amazed.
"W-We defeated it, Miss Aurelia," Tsukishiro responded.
Miss Aurelia looked at them from top to bottom. Tsukishiro was fine, except for a hold in his tunic, signifying that he was stabbed. On the other hand, Yukari was weakened immensely, her skin color pale.
From those things, she knew that Yukari was a support, while Tsukishiro was the front, and together, they defeated what seems to be a Monster that is not supposed to be within the test area. An A+ boar.
"That boar you two just defeated is not supposed to be on the test. I deeply apologize." She said genuinely, bowing her head apologetically.
"P-Please raise your head up," Tsukishiro replied,
Miss Aurelia raised her head up, her eyes serious.
"What you've killed is an A+ boar. I see that you also got a few boar horns of the requirement, so for that reason, you both pass. There are no classes afterwards, feel free to go home."
Miss Aurelia, through her eyes, already saw the number of horns they have, even though they haven't shown it yet.
"T-Thank you very much!"
Both of them thanked.
"This is a deep mistake from the academy. Once again, I deeply apologize. You two may return back through the portal, I will take care of some things."
Miss Aurelia walked past them, cursing the school under her breath.
"This isn't what they paid me for. The hell is wrong with this school?"
...
"Let's go back," Tsukishiro suggested. Yukari nodded in reply.
Both of them went back to the portal and onto the school yard.
Both of them sat on the nearby bench, with Tsukishiro gently assisting Yukari.
"T-Thanks." She said, as she closed her eyes. Her breathing was a little staggered. However, slowly, she was recovering.
"Are you doing fine now?" Tsukishiro, who then sat beside her, asked.
"I'm fine. Thanks again. It's just mana depletion."
Tsukishiro smiled. However, that smile almost immediately faded, as the feeling of disappointment surged.
"I'm sorry, you depleted your magic energy because of me." He apologized, clenching his fist, his voice solemn and low.
"Not your fault. Tsukishiro, your name, right?"
"Yeah."
"Right. It's not your fault. You killed the boar. You did most. It's my own incompetence," She replied, her voice remaining cold and stoic.
"That's not true at all. Without you I—" He was reminded of death, knocking on his door. "I would have died. Thank you again."
He remembered being stabbed... And then, suddenly waking up, now without his wounds. He thought that maybe Yukari brought his life back, and because of that, she was weakened.
"Either way, without one another, it wouldn't have been possible. Let's just put it at that."
"Yeah... Alright."
Minutes passed, and Yukari eventually ended up falling into a sleep. Sleep is her way of replenishing all her lost energy.
Tsukishiro, feeling guilty about leaving her, stayed beside her for hours. Good thing that there weren't any more classes afterwards.
He thought about Youko. Wasn't Youko here in this school? If so, why hasn't he encountered her yet?
Is the building for the stronger magicians different from those who aren't?
Thoughts about meeting her shuffled within his mind. And soon, the sunset came. Yukari was still fast asleep.
He also remembered the battle earlier. He opened his palms, staring at it, pondering.
"Have I improved? Or am I stagnant? I spent more than half a decade training, and yet, I was easily killed by that boar... When will I become strong?"
...
At this hour, most of the students were already preparing to go home.
He looked at them, one by one, hoping for some miracle that he would see the person whom he came for.
But as time passed by, that hope would be crushed, as all the students were already out.
"I wonder where she is." He mumbled...
Suddenly, he hears a soft moan beside him. He looked beside him and saw that Yukari was already awake.
"You're awake now..."
Yukari looked around with half-closed eyes and realized how long she had slept. Her eyes widened, as she almost jumped up from her seat.
"It's night already?" She blurted out. And then, her glance landed over to Tsukishiro, who was looking at her.
"You're still here... Why are you still here?" She asked, a little embarrassed.
"I-I mean... It's a little rude to just leave you hanging here..." He replied,
"W-What? You just wasted your whole, maybe 8 hours!" She replied, flustered.
"I-It's fine, really."
Feeling guilty, she immediately stood up and rummaged through the pockets of her white dress, then...
"Here. I-I apologize that I've wasted your time. However, I-I do want to express my gratitude so... Here." She puts her hand forward, holding a piece of sugared bread that she was planning to eat.
Tsukishiro was surprised. "It's okay, I don't mind at all."
"No, I'll feel bad the whole night if I just leave it like this. Please accept."
"O-Oh, okay. Thank you."
"I-I think, Tsukishiro, you should go home, and get some rest."
"Yeah, goodbye, and thank you once again."
He turned around, and waved goodbye.
Yukari stared as Tsukishiro slowly disappeared far away.
...