Ronan took a left and started walking along the edge of the massive area. There were still around 1000 students active, which meant he could find an opportunity somewhere.
What was the point in hiding? Where would that get him? Ronan internally cursed himself for making such an inefficient choice during the chaos.
But more importantly, he cursed himself for picking such a boring choice.
The timer went down.
25:00.
20:00.
15:00.
It was at the 12-minute mark that Ronan finally found what he was looking for.
It was a single rank 2 student fighting off against two rank 1 students.
He only had one core, but that was because the others had likely been stolen. Ronan looked at the young man, battered and beaten, nothing like a noble.
The young man's green hair was dirty, and his arms and chest were full of cuts. He was clearly a noble, but he looked like a commoner at this moment.
The other two students weren't doing much better, however, teaming up to take down the stronger opponent.
Didn't they realize only one of them could benefit from defeating the rank 2 mage?
Ronan activated [Stealth].
Whether they realized or not was relevant to him.
The two students charged towards the noble.
One of them conjured a sickle of ice and shot it towards the rank 2 mage's face. He swiftly dodged and sent an arrow of fire back at them.
Rank 2 magic, Ronan assumed.
It shot towards the two rank 1 mages, and they both leapt out of the way, causing an explosion where the arrow made contact with the ground.
"You're running low on mana!" One of the rank two mages – a girl – yelled. "While we may also be low on mana, we are two people. You are only one! Without mana, do you truly believe you will be able to defeat us?"
"Give up," the boy next to her said, a cold look in his eyes.
The green-haired rank 2 mage gritted his teeth as he glared at the two rank 1 mages ambushing him.
"Do you have no shame? I had 3 mana cores at the start of this, and now I have only one, and you want to shamelessly steal this from me? I am a rank 2 mage! The Academy needs me, not some lowly rank 1 mages like you!"
The rank 2 mage was clearly very angry, but his words didn't make his situation any better, as the rank 1 mages simply got more furious.
"Then prove it," the girl gritted. "Or are you nobles all talk?"
The rank two mage moved again.
It wasn't an elegant gesture, no, it was desperate.
A wind blade shot forward towards the boy while he attempted to physically attack the girl who was closer to him.
The male rank 1 mage quickly dodged the attack.
However, that wasn't what the noble was going for. He cocked his fist back and was about to drive a fist into the girl's stomach.
But the girl simply sneered.
He was too slow with all his injuries.
She raised a hand and shot a sickle of ice directly at him, piercing him in the stomach. The rank 2 mage cried out in pain, clutching the ice lodged in his abdomen.
Ronan watched as the scene unfolded.
Patient.
His [Stealth] ability was still active, allowing him to hide behind a tree near the battle, avoiding detection.
It was draining his mana slowly, but Ronan had fully replenished it while he was hiding.
The girl's ally slowly walked up behind her, and he threw the rank 2 mage a mocking look.
"You nobles act like you're so superior, but it looks like you're just pathetic after all."
The girl spoke again.
"Drop the node, you cannot even stand."
She didn't move closer, though. This was still a rank 2 mage. If they let their guard down, the defeated mage could still take them down with him.
He laughed, his voice croaking.
"You think I'd let… trash like you take it?"
The boy behind her scoffed.
"Then we'll just take it."
He moved closer to the rank 2 mage.
He raised his foot, aimed at the noble's hand that gripped the node.
Ronan moved.
It was now or never.
He raised his hand.
And launched a fireball.
Not at the fallen noble.
At the boy.
BOOM!
Without an opportunity to defend, the fireball impacted the boy on the side of his chest. He was instantly sent flying to Ronan's right.
"–What?!" The girl yelped, snapping her head towards the explosion.
Ronan was already moving.
His body felt light, full of mana.
He instantly closed the distance from her blind spot, his hand shooting forward–
And he grabbed her throat.
The girl instantly started forming a sickle of ice in her palm, ready to stab Ronan in his abdomen–
But no time was wasted.
He activated [Fireball].
Not in front of him, not in his other hand.
In the hand grabbing the girl's throat.
BOOM!
Flames erupted point-blank.
There was no distance to react, no time to defend.
All of it had happened in seconds.
The girl's body convulsed violently as the explosion detonated against her throat.
It wasn't strong enough to kill her — that would disqualify him — but there were severe burns all over her throat and upper body, her shirt was ripped.
A figure swooped in and grabbed her.
Ronan turned to the boy now, who was slowly getting back on his feet.
He instantly started conjuring mana into his palm.
"You bastard–"
[Fireball].
A fireball exploded against his torso again, sending him crashing into the dirt. The sigil in his pocket slipped out, and Ronan quickly stomped it under his foot.
There wasn't much time left — he had to end this.
Ronan turned to the rank 2 noble.
He could see numerous emotions when their eyes met.
Fear.
Understanding.
Recognition.
"Ashbourne…?" Ronan could hear the boy mutter, but he paid it no mind.
The noble tried to move away, but there was still a sickle lodged in his chest, making him groan out in pain.
Ronan was in front of him now, his foot raised.
CRACK!