The Game's Extra: Azhriel Odyssey-Chapter 50: Holding Back.

In the forest, a fair distance from where Elizabeth’s fierce battle had just ended, another storm brewed under the fading sun.

Within the thick canopy, where shadows stretched long and the light barely reached, crimson orbs blinked in the darkness. Pearls of blood, glowing silently like watching spirits.

Arianne stood at their center.

Unshaken. Untouched.

Her eyes empty.

The forest trembled with magic.

Her long snow hair fluttered gently in the wind, and her crimson eyes glowed faintly beneath the flickering sunlight. Around her lay broken branches, cracked earth, and three cadets who still refused to give up.

They formed a loose triangle around her, breathing heavily. Two held swords, and one held a long silver spear. All three looked tense, sweat dripping down their faces.

Arianne didn’t move.

One of them—the one with the spear—finally broke the silence. With a shout, he charged.

His spear thrusted forward, aiming straight at Arianne’s chest. But before it could touch her, a thick red shield formed in front of her, made of swirling blood.

The tip of the spear slammed into it with a clang, stopping completely. The cadet’s eyes widened in surprise.

Before he could pull the weapon back, Arianne moved.

She stepped forward, her hand raised. With a flick of her fingers, the blood that formed the shield whipped out like a snake.

It struck the spear-wielder in the stomach, lifting him off the ground and throwing him into a tree. The red light on his badge flared—and just like that, he vanished.

+10.

Arianne didn’t even glance at the glowing number on her badge.

"One down," she said softly.

The other two cadets looked at each other, then at her.

Fear.

It showed in their eyes.

But they still raised their weapons and rushed in at once. It was their only chance to get into the most prestigious academy.

The one to her left swung his sword low, trying to sweep her legs. The other went for a high strike, aiming to take advantage of the distraction.

But Arianne wasn’t ordinary.

She jumped back lightly into the air, spinning once. Her cloak fluttered, and as she twisted, lines of crimson magic formed around her feet.

As she landed, she raised her hand—and blood burst from the ground beneath her like geysers.

The cadets tried to dodge, but one was caught directly in the chest by a tendril of blood. It wrapped around him like a rope and pulled him to the ground.

Before he could scream, another red light shone from his badge. He disappeared into light.

+10.

The last one hesitated. His blade trembled slightly in his hand.

Arianne tilted her head. "Still want to continue?"

He gritted his teeth and roared, charging forward.

She didn’t even blink.

This time, she didn’t raise a shield. Instead, she stepped into his swing.

The sword sliced at her side—but never made contact. Blood spiraled out of her skin, creating a thin barrier around her. The sword bounced harmlessly off it.

Then she punched.

Her fist struck him square in the chest. A burst of blood exploded from the impact, sending him flying backward. He hit the forest floor hard.

The badge on his chest flashed red.

+10.

Arianne exhaled softly.

The forest grew quiet once again. Only the sound of wind rustling through leaves remained.

She turned and began walking. Her pace was slow, unhurried. But her senses were sharp.

She could hear more.

Two more cadets were nearby—hiding. One behind a tree, another crouched near a rock. Both were trying to suppress their presence.

They must have watched her fight and thought twice about charging in.

They were smart. But just not enough.

Arianne stopped walking. Without turning her head, she lifted her hand and whispered a single word.

"Bind."

From the trees above, two threads of blood silently dropped like thin ropes. They twisted through the air, moving like snakes with minds of their own.

The first thread coiled around the ankle of the cadet near the rock. He didn’t even realize it until it yanked him into the air and slammed him down. He screamed before disappearing in a red glow.

The second tried to grab the other one, but he reacted quickly—rolling away and slicing the blood with his dagger.

Arianne raised a brow. "Hmm."

He got up, breathing fast. "You... you’re a monster."

She didn’t answer.

Instead, her eyes narrowed, and a wave of blood exploded from her feet. It raced across the ground like a living thing. The cadet jumped into the air, trying to avoid it—but Arianne was already behind him.

She appeared in a blur, her hand glowing red. Before he could strike, she touched his chest.

Blood magic flowed through her palm into his body. His eyes rolled back as he fell.

The badge turned red.

+10.

The wind shifted again.

Another presence.

This one was different—stronger. Arianne turned her head. A girl stepped out from the trees, her viridian hair tied in a long braid.

"Sydelle" Arianne said.

*****

Got it. Here’s Kevin’s fight with two cadets using his ground element, written in a simple novel-style format and spanning around 1500 words:

---

Kevin moved silently through the dense woods, his boots barely making a sound on the moss-covered ground.

The trees were tall, their canopies thick, casting shadows everywhere. Shafts of golden light pierced through the gaps, but the forest still felt dim and quiet.

He paused near a shallow creek, crouching low. His fingers brushed against the earth. It was still damp from the morning dew. He closed his eyes for a moment, feeling the pulse of the ground.

His affinity with the element of earth allowed him to sense movements nearby. Two presences were closing in.

’They’ve noticed me,’ he thought.

He didn’t move. Instead, he pressed his palm flat against the dirt. A faint brown glow pulsed from his hand and spread outward, vanishing into the soil.

Moments later, two cadets stepped out from the trees.

One of them—a tall boy with dark brown hair and a heavy axe—grinned. "Looks like we found someone."

The second was shorter, slimmer, with twin daggers and quick eyes. She didn’t speak, but her gaze was sharp.

Kevin slowly stood. "Do you want to fight or just talk?"

"We’re not here to talk," the axe wielder answered.

The girl dashed forward without a word. Her movement was swift, barely disturbing the leaves. Kevin’s hand clenched.

The ground shifted.

As she stepped into range, a spike of stone shot up from the earth. She twisted mid-air, barely avoiding it, landing to his left. At the same moment, the boy with the axe charged.

Kevin didn’t back away.

He slammed his foot into the ground, and a wall of earth rose in front of him.

Clang!

The axe struck the wall with force, sending bits of rock flying, but the wall held.

The girl came again, this time from behind. Kevin turned swiftly, his hand swiping upward. A chunk of the ground surged, forming a jagged slope. She stumbled, and Kevin followed up, punching the ground near her.

The earth burst under her feet, throwing her back.

But she flipped mid-air and landed smoothly.

The axe boy had already come around the wall. Kevin ducked just in time as the massive weapon swung overhead, missing him by inches. Kevin kicked his leg, and the ground beneath the attacker turned soft—like quicksand.

The boy cursed as his leg sank, slowing his movement.

Kevin didn’t wait. He placed both palms down.

"Stone Burst."

The area around him exploded with force, pushing both enemies back.

Dirt, rocks, and dust flew in all directions. When the dust settled, both cadets were standing, bruised but still ready to fight.

"You’re strong," the dagger girl said for the first time. "But let’s see how long you last."

She rushed in again, but this time she didn’t go alone. The axe boy moved at her side, and the two coordinated their attacks.

Kevin narrowed his eyes.

He stepped backward. The ground behind him rose up like steps, carrying him higher as he retreated.

The girl threw one of her daggers—it glowed faintly.

Kevin raised a stone wall, but the dagger curved around it.

It struck him in the shoulder.

He winced but didn’t falter.

The axe boy leapt, swinging from above. Kevin raised both arms. A stone shield formed in front of him and blocked the hit, but the force pushed him down to one knee.

The girl charged in close again.

Kevin didn’t wait. He smashed the ground with his fist.

From below, a thick column of stone erupted, lifting him into the air while shaking the ground. The sudden quake threw both cadets off balance.

Kevin stood on top of the column, blood dripping from his shoulder. He breathed heavily, but his eyes remained sharp.

He raised his arm, and the column began to fall forward, aiming at the axe boy.

The cadet rolled out of the way just in time, but Kevin was already using the momentum. As the stone crumbled beneath him, he rode the fall and landed with a punch that sent a wave of rock forward.

The axe boy couldn’t dodge it in time. The stones wrapped around his legs, locking him in place.

"Now!" the dagger girl shouted.

She threw her second dagger, but this one wasn’t meant to hit—it burst midair into a cloud of smoke.

Kevin’s vision blurred.

He backed up immediately, his foot slamming the ground, trying to sense movement.

From the left—fast.

He spun and caught her arm mid-swing. His grip tightened.

"I felt that," he muttered.

Then he twisted, using her momentum against her, and threw her over his shoulder. She crashed into the ground.

The smoke cleared. The axe boy was still trapped.

Kevin’s foot stomped again.

A stone fist shot out of the ground, slamming into the boy’s chest.

His badge flashed red, and he vanished in a pillar of light.

+10.

The girl gasped, tried to rise, but Kevin was already above her, hand raised. A boulder floated next to him, ready to strike.

She froze.

Then slowly, her badge glowed red.

She vanished too.

+10. freewёbnoνel-com

Kevin stood alone now, breathing slowly. He wiped the blood from his shoulder.

He looked around. Birds chirped again. The forest, once loud with fighting, was now silent.

He sighed.

"That was tiring," he muttered, sitting on a nearby rock.

He pulled a small cloth from his belt and tied it around his wound. It wasn’t deep, just enough to sting.

He clicked his tongue.

"Tch, I would have won in a minute. If i wasn’t holding back."

As he sat there catching his breath, he heard a rustle nearby.

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