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Chapter Six – Entrance Exam Part Two

"Arc Saber!"

The blade of the scythe is thrown and rapidly spins towards Lucia.

"Vanguard!"

"Split Spin." the creature whispered.

The blade splits into two and rips through Lucia's defensive barrier. She quickly dodges the attack. But the monster isn't finished. It turned its scythe onto her and slashes through her barrier jacket.

"How!? Ugh!"

She was severely wounded. The monster simply grinned. It showed no compassion whatsoever. It takes pleasure in the pain of others. It seems suffering was its heroin. It raises its scythe and stares at Lucia. For an instant, she saw the terror in its eyes. She can feel the cold sweat slowly running on her skin. She knows she couldn't make the same mistake. She waits for the monster to make a move. It was a stalemate for both of them. The first one to make a mistake will be their last. That is until a blast of blue spheres bombarded the battlefield. Lucia was able to make a last second dodge of these fatal bullets. Looking up into the sky, she saw the familiarly dressed mage. In her blue and white gothic barrier jacket, Alice quickly follows up her attack.

"Shooting type, on, activating offensive spell: CERULEAN BOLT."

Another batch of blue spheres hurled towards the ground. Dust and debris flew up as the impact created several holes. Most of the trees were now grounded and the damage to the landscape was unimaginable.

"Hey! Watch it!"

"I'm sorry. I'm new at this and…"

The fiend suddenly appears behind Alice. By instinct, it prepares to cut off her head with its scythe.

"Repel."

As the scythe strikes her neck, a blue light flashes. The monster is thrown off and Alice is unscathed.

"Phew that was close. Thanks, Ruby Heart."

"Yes, Master."

"Let's go Lucia." She extends her hand to help Lucia up. "We can't afford to lose her now, can we?"

"Ah…" for the first time, she was speechless. She should have been dead. That attack was fatal. It was at close range. How? These thoughts, it was bewildering to think about. "Yeah, okay."

Meanwhile, Research Center Helicopter approaches the battle area. Aboard it is one of the greatest minds to have ever emerged from the time of the Rebuild. A blonde woman with crimson eyes admires the view from outside. The communicator palmtop rings.

"Miss Testarossa."

It was a man. His face in a grimace, he looks to be in his late fifties. His stern face makes it look as though he is a father about to give a scolding to his favorite daughter.

"Yes, Mr. Director?"

"Have you received your orders?"

"Yes, let's see…" she picks up a piece of paper and a pen from her bag and begins to read out loud. "Directive number one, present reports of the Linker Core Body Revival Project to superiors…" she puts a check mark on the paper. "Check."

"Directive number two; recreate another stable body from failed test subject. Check…" she smiles cheerfully. "Directive number three, let recreated stable body wreak havoc on unsuspecting civilians. Check."

"Miss Testarossa!" The man on the monitor does not look amused at the woman's joke.

"Jeez… would it kill you to have a sense of humor?"

"This is not a time to jest Miss Testarossa. Right now, Project FS+ is on a rampage and all you do is fool around..."

With this, the woman puts her hand over the communicator.

"Bye-bye, Mr. Director."

"What? Miss Testarossa don't you dare…"

She slams the cover of her communicator.

"Really, the situation is hard enough as it is."

She lets off a soft sigh.

"There's no point in brooding over these kinds of things. Mr. Pilot, do you think we can move a little faster?"

"Yes ma'am."

"Look out!" Chaser shouted.

The pillar collapses in front of Chaser and the doctor. The damage from the battle was taking its toll on the surroundings.

"We have to stop them."

"Huh? What are you saying?"

"Those two, they're fighting a S+ Class Mage."

"What? That thing is actually a mage? How did that happen? I mean that thing is…"

"Anyway, we should hurry and stop them. The Hierarchy Special Corps can handle the situation. Once they arrive I must…"

"Slow down…" Chaser suddenly grabs her hand. "Breathe…"

She looks at him curiously.

"How's that going to help me?"

"Just breathe will you?"

Dr. Frig takes a deep breath.

"Now tell me, what the hell is going on?"

She was surprised at the question as if it was something Chaser should have known. There was a moment of silence before Dr. Frig finally opened her mouth.

"You really have no idea what she is?"

"Yeah, I have no idea what she is. Wait a minute. She…? What do you mean "she"? That thing has a gender?"

"Yes. That thing is a resurrected mage. To be exact, a mage revived with the use of a shard from her Linker Core."

"Is this a bad joke? I mean reviving dead mages. That's just wrong. That's wrong even by my standards."

"I know but…"

"You do know that you can never truly revive a dead person? That this thing that you created is merely an unstable clone."

"I…"

The wind blew from the forest in front of the arena.

"Fine. I guess there's no helping it. Let's go stop those two."

"Thank you. I…"

"Wait. I'm not doing this for you. I'm doing this to save the money invested on this project. I know they can defeat that monster you created. If I can please the higher ups, who knows? One day, I might be the one giving you orders."

Chaser smiled. It might have been the first time Dr. Frig ever saw this side of him. She blushes furiously.

"Well… um… yes... thank you again."

Lucia is at her limit. They have finally cornered the monster but…

"Lucia!"

The monster strikes using her scythe with speed that can equal that of her own.

"Azure Wall!"

The impregnable Azure Wall once again proved to be a reliable spell. The scythe's blade, only inches from Lucia, is dispersed. The monster retaliates and prepares a desperation move. It aims its scythe towards the two. Its eyes gleaming, it coldly stares at its would-be victims.

"Alice! Stop that thing. Its casting a Class A spell."

"I got it."

Alice carelessly charges in the direct path of the spell.

"No! Not that way! Alice!"

"Thunder Smasher!"

Blasts of lightning burst from the scythe. She was reckless. She never anticipated the attack. She will truly… die.

"Alice!"

Lucia closes her eyes. She did not want to see another one falling for her sake. She did not want to remember the vivid memories of death. But no explosion ensued. It was eerily quiet. She opens her eyes. Alice is still standing. Not a hint of the blast was present; no injury, not even a scratch.

"This is… what is that monster?"

Alice was oblivious to what Lucia meant. No one should have survived such a powerful attack. None of her classmates would. Even she would have perished. She was the true monster.

"Prisoner's Shackles!"

A ray of violet light wraps the monster. It drops from the air to the arms of a beautiful blonde woman. Her elegance was all awe inspiring. Her slender body moved with the wind as she approaches the vicious beast.

"Reinforce Chain!"

The light shines brighter.

"Now. Now. We're heading back to the lab. You should be thankful that I got here first. This girl would have certainly destroyed you." She pats the monster's head and quickly turns to Alice. "Heh... why are you giving me that look?"

"Huh? Uh… no… it's nothing. I…"

The vicious monster they've been fighting was immediately tamed by the mysterious woman. She smiles as she approaches Alice.

The woman extends her hand.

"I'm Alicia Testarossa, a scientist from the Research Center. Nice to meet you."

"Ah... I'm Alice Eunos."

"Wow. We have similar names. That's so cute."

"I guess we do." She smiles.

Alicia points at the monster.

"I have to go now and punish her for escaping. I'm very sorry for the trouble she caused." she blushes.

"Yes. Thank you for capturing her."

"It's not a problem. She's just a bit restless, that's all."

As Miss Testarossa boards the helicopter, she catches a glimpse of Lucia. She gives off a sort of sinister smile.

"She looks just like her…" she whispers. And the helicopter took off back to the Research Center.

Feeling relieved Lucia sighs.

"You were great Lucia." Alice's eyes sparkles as she admires her previous savior.

Lucia doesn't say a word and walks off.

"Wait, Lucia. Are you mad? Hey!"

But she keeps on walking.

"Wait." She grabs Lucia's hand but quickly shakes it off.

"Don't touch me."

"But…"

She leaves her wondering why. What did she do to make her angry? She thought that she finally made a friend, that she gained her trust. But now, only a cloud of doubt hovers over Lucia's troubled mind.

In the helicopter, the monster silently slumped on the corner with her eyes on Alicia. The monster's shadow melds with its skin revealing its true form. She has the same blonde hair and crimson eyes as that of Alicia. Looking at both of them, they were like parent and child. The communicator activates. It was Mr. Director.

"Did you acquire the target?"

"Yes."

"Good. We wouldn't want the higher ups to find out about this mishap."

"I beg to differ."

It was Ariel. Her eyes spoke for her. She was enraged at the incident. The communicator deactivates. It was only her and Alicia. Not to be intimidated, Alicia simply smiles.

"It's been a long time, hasn't it?

"Yes it has. Now, will you mind if I destroy that little project of yours?"

"Now. Now. That's no way to treat my little sister."

Note: Chapter 7 will be updated tomorrow night. Sorry for the delay. Examinations are always hectic.