The Game's Extra: Azhriel Odyssey-Chapter 49: Elizabeth Vs Alicia and Chloe.

Elizabeth moved first.

A whip of spiraling water burst from her hand, slicing through the air toward Alicia with sharp speed.

"Not holding back, huh? And here I thought we were friends," Alicia said, a hint of amusement in her voice as she dodged to the side.

Her sword gleamed as it cut through the water whip, scattering droplets into the air. But even before the water fell, Elizabeth was already closing the distance.

She came fast—her rapier thrusting straight for Alicia’s chest.

Alicia tilted her body just in time, narrowly avoiding the strike. Her sword swung in a wide horizontal arc to counter.

But it didn’t hit flesh.

Instead, the blade met a strange resistance—water. A thin sheet of water had wrapped around Elizabeth, and Alicia’s sword moved through it like it was cutting through heavy syrup, slowing her strike.

That was all the opening Elizabeth needed.

She twisted her body with practiced grace, stepped in, and drove her fist forward.

It connected cleanly with Alicia’s jaw.

Alicia’s eyes blurred as the impact rang through her head, the force sending her stumbling back.

The forest seemed to spin for a moment—but her feet held ground, her grip on her sword didn’t loosen.

A thin trail of blood, flow from her lips.

Instead of falling, Alicia gathered herself—and around her, the air turned cold.

Shards of ice, thin and sharp, formed in a blink. They hovered for a heartbeat... then shot forward like arrows.

Elizabeth didn’t flinch.

She simply raised her hand. A ripple echoed outward, and a wall of water surged to life in front of her.

The ice shards struck the shield with sharp rippel—but none made it through. They melted on contact or bounced harmlessly away, steam hissing as cold met hot fluid grace.

Behind the shield of water, Elizabeth’s eyes narrowed faintly—focused, steady.

She had already felt the shift in her perception, the faint whisper of movement. Alicia’s blade came fast, aiming right for her throat. Elizabeth moved back, just a single step—precise, controlled. The sword passed harmlessly in front of her.

"Ack—!"

Alicia barely had time to recover before Elizabeth’s foot slammed into her gut.

The blow was clean, brutal, and silent.

Air burst from Alicia’s lungs as she flew back, crashing against a tree with a thud and a sharp crunch of bark. Leaves rained down around her.

Only then did Elizabeth speak. Her voice was soft, but there was no warmth in it.

"Are you mocking me... or do you truly think you can win like this?" she said, her head tilting slightly.

There was no anger. No pride. Just cold truth in her words.

Like a doll made of porcelain and winter—flawless, beautiful, and utterly devoid of mercy.

Alicia staggered upright, clutching her side. Ice began to swirl at her feet, but it was weak, thin—slow to form. Her breathing was uneven, and her expression tightened in frustration.

"Hmm... okay, if that’s what you want," Elizabeth said quietly.

A swirling arrow of water materialized beside her, sharp and fast. With a casual flick of her wrist, it launched toward Alicia.

It was swift—too swift to dodge in her current state.

But just as the arrow was about to pierce her, a thick wooden root erupted from the ground and coiled in front of her, blocking the blow with a wet thud.

Alicia’s eyes widened. She turned her head. Elizabeth did the same.

Standing not far from them, her palm still raised, was Chloe.

—

Outside, in the grand arena, cheers erupted again.

"Ohhh, what’s this!? Chloe Warrens with the dramatic save!" the anchor’s voice boomed through the speakers. "Looks like the stakes are rising!"

—

"Damn... that could’ve ended badly," Chloe exhaled, stepping closer to Alicia without lowering her hand.

Elizabeth, expression unchanged, asked calmly, "Do you plan to team up?"

Chloe gave a small smile. "Oh? Do you plan to fight us both if we do?"

Elizabeth’s answer came as naturally as breathing. "I don’t mind."

Chloe’s brows drew together, a subtle frown appearing. "Aren’t you underestimating us a little too much?"

Then, the air shifted.

Elizabeth’s voice cut through it like a blade—cold, clear, absolute.

"No," she said, as her mana swelled, rippling across the ground. "It’s both of you... who are underestimating me."

The moment those words fell, the water moved.

From both sides, massive waves of water surged out like twin tsunamis, rising behind Elizabeth and crashing forward toward Alicia and Chloe with a deafening roar.

Chloe reacted quickly.

She clapped her hands together, and a thick dome of wood rose up around her and Alicia, curling into a shield.

At the same time, Alicia pressed her palms to the ground, and a layer of ice formed over the wood—strengthening it just as the crashing wave slammed into them.

The wave struck like a beast, roaring and crashing into the wooden dome.

Bam!

The sound echoed through the forest as the shield of wood and ice shuddered. Cracks ran like lightning through the icy layer, and water seeped in through the splinters, but the barrier held.

Inside the dome, Chloe gritted her teeth. Her palms were pressed to the trembling floor, sweat beading at her brow as she poured more mana into the structure.

"Damn... how is she this strong?" she hissed, voice strained.

"Do I look like I know!?" Alicia snapped back, her own hands pressed to the frozen layer, reinforcing it with more ice. "Ask her after we survive this!"

Chloe gave a short, humorless breath, half a scoff. "Assuming we can survive her."

The two girls shared a glance—tense, but resolute.

Outside, the flood died down. The crashing waters slowed to ripples. Silence lingered... just for a breath.

Then came footsteps. Calm, steady, deliberate.

Elizabeth was approaching.

Before they could fully catch their breath, sharp blades of water pierced through the wooden dome—one after another—like spears tearing silk. The defense shattered, unable to keep up anymore.

"The hell... does she even get exhausted?" Chloe muttered, frustration in her tone.

"From the looks of it... I don’t think she does," Alicia replied, gripping her blade tighter.

The wooden dome collapsed in splinters, revealing Elizabeth walking calmly toward them.

A thin line of sweat trickled down her forehead, but to Chloe and Alicia, it might as well have been droplets of water—calm, composed, unfazed.

Chloe struck first.

Thick vines shot out, writhing like snakes toward Elizabeth. Alicia moved alongside them, her sword gleaming as she attacked in sync.

Elizabeth moved with fluid precision.

She ducked under one vine, twisted past another, her body like flowing water. Then—

Clang!

Sparks scattered as metal clashed. In the same breath, Elizabeth parried both Chloe’s and Alicia’s attacks with a single, smooth movement. Her rapier held firm, and her expression didn’t even flicker.

The blades clashed again—ringing, sharp, relentless.

Alicia moved fast, her sword slicing through the air with force. Mana surged through her body, strengthening her muscles, pushing her reflexes.

Elizabeth moved with the same intensity. Her movements were as clean as ever, but behind her calm eyes, fatigue was beginning to rise.

Her breaths grew just a bit heavier, though her form never faltered. She turned her wrist at the right moment—Alicia’s blade slid off her rapier, throwing her balance off slightly.

Elizabeth moved in to strike—no, to kick.

But something wrapped around her ankle.

A thin vine.

Chloe’s doing.

Elizabeth’s eyes shifted, realizing it too late.

Alicia’s sword closed in—fast and sharp.

Elizabeth twisted her body with every ounce of control she had, avoiding a fatal blow. But—

Slice.

The blade grazed her shoulder, tearing through the fabric.

A shallow cut, but enough to draw blood.

Red bloomed on white, a stark line against her dress. For the first time in this battle, blood dripped down Elizabeth’s arm.

She stood still.

She didn’t rush to attack, didn’t raise her weapon. She just looked at the two before her and let out a calm breath.

Then, softly—coldly she spoke.

"All this... and just a simple graze."

Water gathered gently around Elizabeth’s shoulder, shimmering faintly. It coiled like silk, mending her wound with ease.

The bleeding stopped, the cut closed, and her skin looked untouched—almost like it had never been struck at all.

That was the strength of the water element. It wasn’t just for offense. Even at her level, Elizabeth could heal small wounds effortlessly. Quick, clean, and efficient.

Chloe stared, wide-eyed.

Then groaned.

"Oh, just kill me already," she muttered, her shoulders slumping in disbelief as her body tensed again.

Two Hours Until The Exam Ends

The announcement echoed faintly in the skies above the island.

Without hesitation, Elizabeth moved. A blur. Her steps barely touched the ground as she surged forward—faster than Alicia could react, faster than Chloe could even shout a warning.

Alicia’s blade rose, but it was already over. Her badge flared red, a faint hum followed, and in the next instant, her body vanished—teleported away in a soft pillar of light.

Chloe’s breath caught. The shock froze her limbs.

Then—thwip.

An arrow flew.

It struck her stomach before she could dodge, knocking the wind from her lungs. She stumbled, knees nearly buckling, as Elizabeth calmly approached.

Raising her head slowly, Chloe forced the words through her breathless voice.

"Just... how the heck are you so strong...?"

Elizabeth halted. Her rapier, already raised for the final blow, hung suspended in the air.

For a moment, silence.

Then softly, as if confessing something hidden deep in her heart, she answered—

"Because I have someone to protect."

The blade fell, and with a flash of red, it ended.

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