Chapter 89: The End of the Exam
"Mertens…Hey Mertens! Get your head in the game!"
"Zoe, don't you think that's a little harsh. I mean, he just saw his sister bleed out in front of him."
"...My apologies, Lars."
The mind magic user snapped back to reality. He'd been thinking about what Frida had said to him, right after she got one of those episodes from the Eye of Wisdom in their battle.
You… knew nothing of this, didn't you?
Knew nothing of what? What was she trying to say? That was what was bugging him. He lifted himself from the ground, turning to face Zoe. "What were you trying to say?"
"I was just asking what the plan-" Zoe said, then was cut off by Cara's hand over her mouth.
"What she was trying to say is that if you need a bit of time to recover," Cara said, "then we'll forfeit the match so that you can do your thing."
"No."
They all jumped at the intensity in Lars's voice as he turned his blue eyes towards them.
"That wouldn't be fair to you," Lars stated, his eyes weary, "or our opponents. After all the work we all did to get here, it would be a disservice if I were to bow out now. Besides," he laughed, "Frida wouldn't want me to 'disgrace the Mertens name'."
But it was a hollow laugh, and as Lars sat back down, all of his teammates' faces were etched with worry.
"The plan…the plan, huh?" Lars mused. "What was the plan? I don't even know, just… do whatever."
Zoe grabbed him by the scruff of his neck. "What do you mean just do whatever?! I know your defeat of your sister might have not gone the way you wanted it to go, but you need to get up and stop feeling sorry for yourself, because right now, we have a match to win!"
Lars said nothing, simply looking down. Zoe's expression softened, and this time, she was quieter.
"Look, I know… what it's like to be wronged by your siblings. You have time to mope around all you want after the match. But for now," Zoe said, letting him go, "please could you just pull yourself together and at least attempt to stop feeling sorry for yourself? That's not the Lars I know."
"The Lars I know always took action," a voice cut in. It was Sharya, the blue haired girl flanked by Oda and Yul. "Even after the incident in Lire Village, or in the dungeon, he never sat around feeling sorry for himself."
"He just took steps to make himself better," Yul gruffly said, pulling Lars up and dusting him off.
"That's why we admire you, Lars," Oda said, his voice devoid of his usual jokiness, filled with the same seriousness it had when he had first met Lars. "You never gave up on improving yourself."
Lars was silent for a moment. Such great friends I have…
"Thank you for reminding me who I am," Lars said, his blue eyes regaining their glow. "I'm going to sort things out with my sister. But first, I'm going to win this match!"
…
"You sure you're feeling okay, Lars?" Kian asked, tilting his head to look at his opponent on the battlefield. "Because seriously, if you need time to-"
"It's not wise to pity your opponent," Lars said, a smile dancing at his lips. Kian smirked back.
"If that's how you want to play it, then fine by me!" he said emphatically, meeting Lars's hand in a fist bump.
Meanwhile, next to them, there was a different celestial squabble going on. As Valros had mentioned to Kian before, if he could not find a partner in enough time, he would go into stasis (or "fading out of existence" as he called it) - a state of inactivity which was very hard to get out of. Most likely the other celestials would have not seen him for 100 years or so.
"Alright, siblings, so I know it sounds bad-" Valros said.
He was then cut off by a punch in the gut from Bashir, a slap from Liora that sent him spinning towards Iskra, and finally a powerful punch from said mind celestial that sent him careening into the ground.
"You bastard! Do you have any idea how dangerous your indecision was?!" Liora yelled, fist bumping Iskra.
"Always the same thing with you," Bashir scowled.
"I'm sowwy…" Valros mumbled, dusting himself off.
"T-the match is about to begin," Zaira said timidly. "S-shouldn't we…"
"Good point," Liora replied, flicking her hair and moving towards Zoe. The rest of the celestials dispersed back to their hosts as well, and Iskra hovered beside Lars.
"Iskra," the mind mage said, not turning towards her. "Let's work together from now on."
Iskra was confused, then slowly, a smile crept across her face. "Of course, Lars Mertens."
"Team L vs Team M, begin!" the capital mage said, bringing his hand down.
"Same strategy as last time!" Lars yelled to the others, who were already leaving. "But this time I want Cara on defense with me!"
The beast magic user skidded to a halt, turning around and pointing a finger at herself. "Me?"
"Yes, you," Lars snapped, activating Königlich Gedankenreich. "If they use the same strategy as before, there will be two attackers, and in that case, someone with your… disruption is useful."
"Awwww, Larsey said I was useful," Cara said, nudging Lars in the side repeatedly. "Looks like you do care about me after-"
"Shut up," Lars said, tripping her over, though a faint blush appeared on his cheeks. "Go and intercept Kian."
"Yes, sir!" Cara mockingly said, saluting in a show of fake respect, and then using Lupine Leap to dash off.
Cara bounded forward with unrestrained enthusiasm, her wild grin barely concealing the dangerous precision of her movements. Lars, meanwhile, glanced at Iskra, who hovered beside him, her ethereal form almost shimmering in agitation.
"If you're going to fight Valros," Iskra began, her tone clipped but composed, "don't rely solely on brute strength. It's not enough to overpower him. You need to outthink him. Crush him so thoroughly that he'll question his very existence."
Lars smirked faintly, his blue eyes flickering with determination. "I'll keep that in mind."
Iskra narrowed her gaze. "You had better. I won't tolerate anything less than absolute domination."
Meanwhile, Zoe and Cade wasted no time heading straight for the opposing crystal. Cade's threads flared outward like a spider's web while Zoe's paintbrush danced across the air.
"Let's wrap this up quickly," Zoe muttered, her eyes fixed on the glowing crystal ahead.
Lars turned his focus back to the battlefield. His mind spun as he crafted the gambit that could win them this match - or lose it spectacularly. He activated Königlich Gedankenreich, the pink-hued domain flaring to life and consuming the field in its radiance.
"Virtual Insanity," Lars murmured, his mana surging as he manipulated the field. The positions of everyone on the battlefield began to shift erratically, blinking in and out of their original locations as if caught in a chaotic game of musical chairs. Opponents who had locked onto targets suddenly found themselves disoriented, their attacks missing wildly or landing in unexpected places.
"I'll need to stay reserved for this one," Lars said under his breath, his fingers twitching as he prepared his next move. He began charging Neural Rapture, his signature spell, his weapon glowing faintly as mana gathered at its tip.
"Is that why you paired yourself with Cara?" Iskra asked, her voice low but curious. "You plan to hold back while she keeps the heat off you?"
Lars snorted. "My reason hasn't changed. Cara's the best fit for intercepting someone like Kian. Her wildness keeps him guessing."
"Hmm," Iskra mused. "You're deflecting, but I'll allow it. For now."
Before Lars could reply, a gust of wind swept across the battlefield. A familiar figure descended gracefully, his Golden Dawn robe billowing behind him. Yuno stood tall, his grimoire floating beside him as his golden eyes locked onto Lars.
Iskra's voice was sharp in Lars's mind. "What's the plan to deal with him? This one's no pushover."
Lars exhaled slowly, steadying his nerves. "It's a mana-consuming gambit, but I'm going to swarm him."
Without hesitation, Lars cast Mana Soldiers. The air shimmered as dozens of pink-hued figures materialized, each wielding translucent weapons. The soldiers were faceless, but their forms moved with uncanny precision, their numbers growing rapidly.
"How many is that?" Julius whispered from the royal box, his eyes wide. "There must be at least a hundred of them! So cool!"
The soldiers surged toward Yuno, surrounding him in an unrelenting assault. Yuno responded with a wave of wind magic, slicing through several soldiers at once, but for every one he destroyed, another two replaced it.
Lars remained rooted in place, the glow of Neural Rapture intensifying as the spell continued to charge. Sweat beaded on his brow as he split his focus between maintaining the soldiers and sustaining the battlefield's disorienting shifts. His mana reserves burned rapidly, but he refused to falter.
Yuno narrowed his eyes, his wind magic flaring as he unleashed a powerful tornado to clear the immediate area around him. He looked directly at Lars, his voice carrying over the chaos. "If this is all you've got, Mertens, you won't last."
Lars grinned, his exhaustion masked by the sheer force of his resolve. "You haven't seen anything yet."
Lars's Mana Soldiers harried Yuno from every direction, their shimmering, translucent forms multiplying faster than he could destroy them. Each wind-fueled strike cleaved through one soldier, only for two more to spring up in its place. Sweat beaded on Yuno's brow as he assessed the situation, his mind calculating the best way to neutralize this seemingly endless army. His sharp golden eyes darted toward Lars's crystal in the distance.
"If I can't take them all down," Yuno muttered, summoning a sphere of spiraling wind above his palm, "I'll end this in one shot."
The sphere grew denser, its whirling edges sharp and deadly, a miniature storm contained in his hand. With a sharp flick, Yuno unleashed the blast, aiming it directly at Team M's crystal. The wind projectile screamed through the air, a missile of destruction destined to end the match.
But Lars's voice rang out, clear and calm despite the chaos. "Virtual Insanity!"
The battlefield shimmered, reality twisting as Yuno's position suddenly shifted, replaced by Kian mid-strike. The wind blast, no longer aimed at the crystal, careened toward Kian and Cara's duel. Kian barely managed to leap aside, the explosive wind carving a deep gouge in the ground between him and Cara. Dust and debris rained down as Kian turned toward Lars, his black hair disheveled, irritation flaring in his eyes.
"Lars!" Kian shouted, his voice taut with frustration. "What's with the constant switches? Fight me properly, you coward!"
Cara, perched atop a chunk of rubble with lupine grace, laughed lightly as she brushed off her shoulder. "Oh, relax, Kian. You can't expect a brainy guy like Lars to play fair. This is how he wins."
Kian scowled. "I don't care how he wins! If he's got such a big move planned, why not just-"
Lars interrupted with another calculated flick of his fingers, activating Virtual Insanity again. The battlefield shifted once more, Kian vanishing from his position near Cara and reappearing somewhere far from Lars. Meanwhile, Lars now stood directly in line with Team L's crystal, a confident smirk on his face.
He raised his weapon, the glaive's blade gleaming as mana poured into it. A hum filled the air, the sound growing louder as the energy built. His grimoire glowed, its pages fluttering as he prepared to unleash his signature move.
"Iskra," Lars called out, his voice calm but edged with anticipation. "Care to help me out? Let's make this one unforgettable."
The ethereal spirit of Iskra materialized beside him, her translucent form shimmering with celestial light. She tilted her head, a playful smirk on her lips. "You've got quite the flair for the dramatic, Lars. Let's make it count."
She extended her hands, channeling her energy into Lars's weapon. The blade pulsed with radiant light, a mixture of Lars's pink mana and Iskra's brilliant white. The sheer intensity of the power distorted the air around it, creating waves of heat and shimmering light that rippled outward.
Meanwhile, atop the massive Muscle March Mushroom, Noelle and En were desperately trying to maintain their hold on Team L's crystal. The mushroom's beefy legs thumped rhythmically, carrying it across the battlefield in erratic, bounding strides. En, perched atop the cap, clung to the crystal with one hand and his grimoire with the other, sweat pouring down his brow.
"Please Mr Muscle, calm down!" En shouted, his voice strained as he struggled to keep balance.
Noelle, standing a few paces behind him, her water magic swirling protectively around her, shot him a glare. "If this thing bucks one more time, I swear I'll drench you! Focus on keeping the crystal safe, En!"
Before either of them could react, the battlefield seemed to tremble. Lars's voice rang out across the arena.
"Mind Magic: Neural Rapture!"
The energy he had been charging erupted from his glaive in a single, devastating arc of pink and white light. The slash screamed through the air, its edges crackling with unrelenting force. The sheer power of the attack sent shockwaves rippling through the battlefield, displacing dust, debris, and stray mana as it tore toward the mushroom.
Noelle's instincts flared. Her eyes widened as she felt the energy's oppressive force closing in. "Move!" she shouted, grabbing En by the back of his collar and yanking him backward just as the slash barreled past them. Her water magic surged, forming a protective bubble around the two of them as the shockwave rocked the mushroom.
En, shaken but unharmed, stared at the aftermath of the attack. "Did he just... split the mushroom?!"
Indeed, Lars's Neural Rapture had cleaved the mushroom cleanly in half. The absurdly muscular legs buckled as the massive cap collapsed, which also meant that it hit Team L's crystal and shattered it into fragments that scattered across the battlefield in a dazzling display of light.
Cade and Zoe, who had just closed in on the mushroom, froze mid-step as the shockwave from the slash washed over them. Zoe's expression darkened, her paintbrush glowing as she conjured a shield to protect herself from the debris.
"Lars!" she shouted, her voice a mix of fury and reluctant admiration. "You planned this from the start, didn't you? You were always going to do this yourself!"
Cade, his threads curling protectively around him, chuckled softly. "Classic Lars. Always the strategist."
The battlefield fell silent as the shattered remains of the crystal glimmered on the ground. The announcer's voice boomed across the arena, breaking the quiet.
"Team L's crystal has been destroyed! Team M are the winners of the Royal Knights Selection Exam!"
Cheers erupted from the crowd, their excitement a deafening roar. Lars stood tall, his weapon lowered, the faint glow of mana still lingering on its blade. He exhaled slowly, a satisfied smile tugging at his lips as Iskra hovered beside him, her expression one of quiet pride.
"Well," Lars said softly, glancing toward the ruins of the mushroom. "That went about as well as I'd hoped."
He heard a yell in the background as he deactivated Gedankenreich. It was Zoe, her grey eyes now full of fury as she rushed towards Lars.
"Shit," he whispered, but as he tried to run towards the portal, he found inky tendrils wrapping around his legs, slightly pushing them open. "Ohh shiiiit."
"You bastard!" Zoe yelled. "Telling us to attack and then doing all the work by yourself!" With that, she leveled a kick straight at Lars's "private area". Zoe's kick connected with Lars's shin—not quite the intended target, but close enough to make him yelp—Kian materialized beside him, grinning wickedly.
"You know, Lars," Kian drawled, his black hair disheveled and his expression radiating mock offense, "I was going to let it slide that you ignored my duel challenge, but now I feel morally obligated to teach you a lesson."
Lars tried to backpedal, hands raised defensively. "Guys, come on, it's just a game! Strategy is part of the - yeowch!"
Kian's fist slammed into Lars's arm, followed by Zoe's paintbrush delivering a sharp thwack to his shoulder. Lars staggered, his face twisting into a grimace as he stumbled away.
"Alright, alright! I get it!" Lars shouted, his voice rising an octave as Zoe lunged again.
"Oh no, you don't!" she barked, summoning another inky tendril to trip him. "You told us to attack while you played the lone hero! You deserve this!"
Before Lars could muster a defense, a torrent of water slammed into all three of them, hurling them across the battlefield. Lars skidded to a stop in the dirt, coughing and soaked, as Noelle's regal voice cut through the chaos.
"Enough!" Noelle's hands were on her hips, her magic still swirling menacingly around her. "Do you have any idea how close that attack was to actually killing me? I'm royalty, Lars! You don't just casually fire off something that destructive without warning me first!"
"Noted," Lars muttered, his tone half-apologetic, half-defensive as he hauled himself to his feet.
Noelle glared at him for a moment longer before flipping her hair with a haughty "hmph" and turning away. En sighed loudly in relief.
…
"Congratulations to all of you," Julius began, his voice calm but commanding. "Each of you has proven your strength, strategy, and resolve during this Selection Exam. As Royal Knights, you will bear the responsibility of protecting the kingdom from its greatest threats. I trust you will rise to the challenge."
The hall erupted into applause, but it was short-lived as the doors burst open and King Augustus Kira Clover XIII strode in, his flowing cape billowing dramatically behind him.
"Indeed!" Augustus proclaimed, raising his arms theatrically. "But let's not forget the real hero of this operation—me! It was my divine wisdom and unmatched leadership that made this entire selection process possible!"
Julius gave the king a patient smile, his eyes glinting with quiet amusement. "Of course, your Majesty. Your contributions were… invaluable."
"Yes, yes, invaluable!" Augustus puffed up like a peacock. "Now, all of you, don't forget to praise your king for his tireless efforts in making this momentous occasion possible!"
The knights exchanged bemused glances but clapped politely. Julius raised a hand, his voice soothing. "That will do. Let us bring the Royal Knights Selection Exam to an official close. May your strength bring honor to the kingdom."
The knights bowed as Julius dismissed them, the spectator box gradually emptying.
…
Lars made his way to the infirmary. Inside, Mimosa, Lucia, and the recovering Asta were gathered alongside Magna, Luck, Noelle, and Klaus. The atmosphere was tense, the weight of defeat heavy in the air. Asta lay on the bed, his injuries patched up but his expression blank.
Lars stopped at the edge of the group, his gaze falling on Asta. He didn't offer a smile or any platitudes. Instead, his voice was quiet, firm.
"Don't slow down."
Asta's fingers twitched, and his eyes flicked toward Lars. Something in his gaze shifted, the spark of determination reigniting, even if faintly. Lars didn't wait for a response. He turned and walked out of the room, passing Yuno in the hallway. Neither spoke, their mutual understanding needing no words.
Lars stopped at the next door and pushed it open. Inside, Frida sat with her back straight, a bandage covering her Eye of Wisdom. Anastacia and Kirsch were beside her, their faces a mixture of concern and curiosity.
Without hesitation, Lars grabbed a chair and pulled it up in front of his sister. His usually playful demeanor was gone, replaced with a steely seriousness that silenced the room.
"Frida," he began, his voice low but commanding. "Tell me what you saw with the Eye of Wisdom. What was it I 'knew nothing of'? And don't bother lying. I'll know."
Frida's lips pressed into a thin line. Her gaze flickered briefly to Anastacia and Kirsch, then back to Lars. The silence stretched, thick and heavy. Finally, she exhaled, leaning forward slightly.
"All right," she said quietly, her voice tinged with something unreadable. "I'll tell you."
A/N: this chapter was so short i'm so sorry - it's just a bit hard to keep the ideas flowing at times
next chapter's gonna be longer i promise