Currently, Xacion and his team were relaxing at their camp, confident in their position. Xacion, the Hero of the Holy Sword, was happily chatting with his team, who were thrilled to have such a legendary figure as their commander. Their leader, Leandro—the same noble who had bullied Liva—had given Xacion full authority, trusting his strength and reputation.
"Alright, we just need to wait for the trial to finish—" Xacion began, but before he could finish, Mixarnt appeared behind him, perched on a tree branch. Energy crackled around Mixarnt as he launched himself at Xacion, his wooden sword glowing with power.
The sudden attack caught everyone off guard. Mixarnt's wooden sword clashed with Xacion's weapon, creating a shockwave that sent debris flying. Xacion barely managed to block the strike, his eyes widening in surprise. "Mixarnt?! What are you—"
Mixarnt didn't respond. His expression was cold and focused as he pressed the attack, his movements swift and precise despite his injuries. Xacion, though strong, was caught off balance by Mixarnt's ferocity. The two clashed again, their weapons creating sparks as they exchanged blows.
While Mixarnt kept Xacion occupied, Rosalind, using her blue rose aura, slipped past the chaos and made her way to the flag. Liva, following Althea's instructions, created a diversion by casting a spell that sent a burst of light into the air, drawing the attention of Xacion's team.
"Now, Rosalind!" Althea shouted.
Rosalind moved swiftly, her agility and precision allowing her to grab the flag without being noticed. She signaled to Althea and Liva, and the three began their retreat, leaving Mixarnt to handle Xacion.
despite his injuries, fought with everything he had. His Enigma Enhancement pushed his body to its limits, but he refused to back down. Xacion, though stronger, was struggling to keep up with Mixarnt's relentless assault.
"Mixarnt, you're insane!" Xacion shouted, blocking another strike. "You're going to get yourself killed!"
He was frustrated. He had joined the trial specifically to ensure Mixarnt's elimination, even conspiring with the elves to hunt him. But now, as the fourth trial neared its end, things weren't going as he had planned.
"You think I care!?" Mixarnt roared, his grin twisted and fearsome, a far cry from his usual confident smile. He charged at Xacion again, his movements erratic but fueled by sheer determination. Xacion, growing increasingly frustrated and unnerved, activated his Holy Sword ability. With a single, powerful swing, he sent Mixarnt flying into the trees, the impact shaking the forest.
But Mixarnt didn't stay down. He stood up immediately, his body trembling from the strain, and charged again. Blood dripped from his wounds, his breathing ragged, but he refused to stop. Xacion's eyes widened in disbelief. "What the hell is wrong with you!? You're going to die if you keep this up!" He said with a grin and sweat on his face.
Mixarnt didn't respond. His mind was clouded by pain and anger, his emotions pushing him forward. He no longer cared about the consequences. All he wanted was to win—to prove something. To himself, to Moon, to everyone watching…
No, deep down, all he really wanted was for the pain in his heart to stop.
In the viewing box, Sunshine's eyes were wide with panic as she watched the scene unfold. "Mixarnt!!!!" she shouted, standing up from her seat. Her heart raced as she saw him take hit after hit, his body pushed to its absolute limit. She turned to Eclipse, her glare sharp and accusing, before quickly looking away. Without another word, she quick-stepped out of the room, her mind set on one thing: saving Mixarnt.
She didn't care about the trial anymore. She didn't care if Mixarnt lost or got disqualified because of her interference. If he died, there was no guarantee that even Isolde could heal him in time. Sunshine's emotions were a whirlwind of fear, anger, and desperation as she raced toward the Eternal Forest.
Eclipse, still in the viewing box, felt a wave of guilt crash over her. She had been the one to push Mixarnt to this point, her coldness and rejection driving him to act recklessly. As she watched him fight like a cornered beast, her Lunar Eyes flickered with unease. She clenched her fists, her usual composure cracking under the weight of her emotions. She wanted to intervene, to stop Mixarnt before he got himself killed, but she couldn't. As General Eclipse, she had to maintain her role and uphold the integrity of the trial. But as Moon, the kind and caring receptionist, she wanted nothing more than to rush to his side and tell him everything would be okay.
Back in the forest, Mixarnt's body was on the verge of collapse, but he refused to give up. His Enigma Enhancement was pushing him far beyond his limits, and the strain was evident in every movement, his muscles are torn and bones could be seen. Xacion, though stronger, was growing increasingly uneasy. He didn't want to kill Mixarnt knowing that their fight is being broadcast to the entire Aetherlight as it will ruin his image, but the boy's relentless attacks left him with no choice but to defend himself with full force.
"Mixarnt, stop this! You're going to get yourself killed!" Xacion shouted, his voice tinged with desperation.
But Mixarnt didn't listen. He charged again, his wooden sword glowing with mana as he unleashed another powerful strike. Xacion blocked it, but the force of the impact sent shockwaves through the area, knocking both of them back.
"Come to me, Enigma!" The tension in the Eternal Forest was palpable as Mixarnt and Xacion clashed in a brutal exchange of blows.
"Radiant Wave!"
"Aetherion Slash!"
Mixarnt, despite his grievous injuries, he fought with a ferocity that bordered on madness. His Radiant Wave collided with Xacion's Aetherion Slash, the force of their attacks shaking the ground and sending shockwaves through the forest. But Xacion's strength was overwhelming. With a spinning slash, he unleashed another devastating Aetherion Slash that tore through Mixarnt's defenses.
Mixarnt's arms and legs were shattered by the force of the blow, his body crumpling to the ground as blood poured from his mouth. He lay there, barely alive, his breathing shallow and labored. Xacion stood over him, his Holy Sword glowing with energy as he prepared to deliver the final strike. In his mind, Xacion seethed with anger. 'This fucking kid,' he thought. Mixarnt had ruined his plans during the 3rd Trial, and now he was standing in the way again. The dark sword entity in the Saint Church had warned him that Mixarnt needed to be removed, and Xacion was more than willing to oblige. But he had to be careful—killing Mixarnt outright would destroy his image as the Hero of Aetherlight.
"You won't die, but I'll make sure you'll be nothing more than a vegetable," Xacion sneered, raising his sword for the final blow. Before he could strike, a flash of golden light illuminated the battlefield. Sunshine appeared, her Solaris Shield materializing just as Kay's announcement echoed through the colosseum and in the eternal forest:
"The 4th Trial is over."
With a swift motion, Sunshine blocked Xacion's attack, the impact sending a powerful shockwave through the air. Her golden flame eyes blazed with intensity as she glared at him, her voice cold and commanding.
"The trial is over, Xacion. Get out of my sight."
Xacion hesitated, his grip tightening on his sword. He wanted to finish Mixarnt off, but he knew he couldn't risk a direct confrontation with Sunshine, especially not in front of witnesses. With a frustrated growl, he lowered his weapon and stepped back. "This isn't over," he muttered before turning and walking away.
Sunshine didn't waste a second. She dropped to her knees beside Mixarnt, her hands glowing with healing energy as she began to stabilize him. Her healing powers weren't strong enough to fully repair his shattered limbs, but she could at least stop the bleeding and keep him alive. "You reckless idiot," she whispered, her voice trembling with a mix of anger and fear. "Why do you always have to push yourself like this?"
Once Mixarnt was stable enough to move, Sunshine carefully lifted him into her arms. Her eyes scanned the forest, and with a quickstep, she vanished, reappearing moments later at Isolde's camp in the Eternal Forest. The camp was a temporary medical station set up for the trial, with Isolde and her cleric knights ready to tend to the injured.
"Isolde!" Sunshine called out as she arrived, her voice urgent. "I need your help. Now."
Isolde, the Saint of Aetherlight, turned immediately, her calm demeanor shifting to one of concern as she saw the state Mixarnt was in. "Bring him here," she said, her voice steady but filled with urgency. Sunshine laid Mixarnt down on a nearby cot, and Isolde began to work, her healing magic far more potent than Sunshine's. The cleric knights assisted, their combined efforts slowly mending Mixarnt's broken body.
As Isolde worked to heal Mixarnt, Sunshine stood nearby, her arms crossed and her eyes flickering with worry. She couldn't shake the image of Mixarnt lying broken and bloodied on the ground, his body pushed to the brink of death. Her heart ached with a mix of emotions—anger at his recklessness, fear for his life, and a deep, unspoken affection she had tried to ignore for so long.
Eclipse, who had arrived shortly after Sunshine, stood at the edge of the camp, her Lunar Eyes filled with guilt and regret. She had watched the entire fight from the viewing box, her heart breaking as she saw Mixarnt sacrifice himself for the sake of his team. She knew she had played a part in pushing him to this point, and the weight of her actions was almost too much to bear.
As Sunshine exits the tent, she noticed Eclipse standing there and walked over, her expression hard. "This is your fault," she said, her voice low but filled with accusation. "If you hadn't pushed him away, he wouldn't have been so reckless."
Eclipse didn't respond. She knew Sunshine was right. She had let her jealousy and pride get in the way, and now Mixarnt was paying the price. "I'll make it right," she said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. "I promise."
Sunshine sighed, her anger fading slightly. "You'd better. Because if anything happens to him, I'll never forgive you."
As the two women stood there, their shared concern for Mixarnt bridging the gap between them, Isolde finally stepped out of the tent. "He's stable," she said, her voice calm but tired. "His arms and legs will take time to fully heal, but he'll live."
Sunshine and Eclipse both let out a breath they didn't realize they were holding. For now, Mixarnt was safe. And as the sun set over the Eternal Forest, the two women vowed to stand by his side, no matter what challenges lay ahead.