"Hah... hah..." Vlad's breath came heavy and ragged as he landed on the ground after beheading the oni.
Its head fell first, followed by the heavy thud of its body.
"W-we did it..." Vlad murmured, falling forward.
His chin rested on Seraphina's shoulder as she arrived before him, supporting his exhausted body.
"Yes, we did it," Seraphina said in a calm tone as she supported him by moving his arm around her shoulder. "We defeated an Early Stage Rank Five Monster."
Hugo, Raphael, and Alisha also reached them. Despite the minor injuries covering their bodies, caused by the oni's mana explosion, their faces bloomed with happiness.
"Hahaha, killing a mutated oni as a team of four second-years and one first-year student," Hugo laughed, spreading his arms. "I can't wait to see the reaction on Professor Aldric's face when we show him the head of the oni. Hahaha—O-ouch, my chest," he muttered, stopping mid-laugh, his hand moving to his chest. "I must have broken a rib or two."
