Path of the Unmentioned: The Missing Piece-Chapter 88: Race to the Hill [3]

Kyle’s legs burned, every muscle fiber screamed in protest as he forced himself to keep moving.

The forest around him had become a green and brown blur. Branches whipping at his arms and face as he crashed through the undergrowth.

A thin branch snapped across his cheek. Leaving a stinging cut that immediately began bleeding.

But he barely felt it.

Behind him. The sounds of Sylvie’s last stand grew fainter.

The occasional boom of water magic spells told him she was still fighting.

But for how much longer?

His stomach twisted at the thought. She was good, really good when she got past her nerves.

But against three opponents?

Even if she took one down. The others would overwhelm her.

His vision swam dangerously as a wave of dizziness hit him.

The headache pounding behind his temples reminded him just how low his mana reserves had fallen.

Normally. He could use [Lightning Steps] without thinking.

He could channel electricity through his body like breathing.

Now? Now even summoning a spark made his bones ache.

He had to be smart about this. Had to save every last drop for...

The trees suddenly gave way to open space.

Kyle stumbled into a clearing. His boots skidding on loose dirt and dead leaves. His chest heaved as he took in the scene before him.

Cedric, Eleanora, and Cassian.

The three of them were locked in a brutal fight.

Their movements sluggish from exhaustion.

Cedric stood at the center.

His golden hair matted with sweat and dirt. His academy uniform torn in several places.

He was breathing hard, but his sword remained steady as he fended off attacks from both Eleanora and Cassian.

Team 1(Cedric) and Team 21(Eleanora and Cassian).

All three looked like they’d been through hell.

Cassian’s right eye was swollen nearly shut.

Eleanora had a nasty cut across her forearm, and Cedric’s usually pristine appearance was marred by dirt and bruises.

Their teammates were conspicuously absent.

Kyle’s mind raced. Had they been eliminated already?

Cassian noticed him first.

His one good eye widened in recognition before a savage grin split his face.

"Kyle! Help us take down Cedric!"

Kyle hesitated for only a second before nodding. "Yeah. Got it."

Cedric’s expression darkened as Kyle rushed toward him.

The golden-haired swordsman braced himself. His blade glowing faintly with residual light mana.

Then...

Kyle jumped.

A tiny flicker of blue-white lightning crackled around his boots propelling him over Cedric’s head in a high arc.

He landed in a roll. Barely slowing before breaking into a sprint again.

"WHAT?!" Cassian roared.

Eleanora’s eyes widened.

Without hesitation, she bolted after Kyle. Her legs shimmering with light mana.

Cedric didn’t waste time cursing. He just ran, fire flaring at his heels.

Serena burst from the trees moments later. Her glaive still in hand.

She barely glanced at Cassian before chasing after the others. Faint purple lightning crackling around her.

Cassian stood there for half a second, stunned.

Then...

"WAIT FOR ME. YOU BASTARDS!"

Fire exploded from his boots as he launched himself forward. His massive frame barreling through the grass.

—

Kyle’s lungs burned as he forced his legs to move faster.

The hill loomed ahead.

The white finish line barely visible in the distance.

Behind him. The others were closing in.

Eleanora with her light-infused steps.

Cedric’s flames scorching the grass beneath him.

Cassian roaring as fire erupted from his boots.

And Serena’s dim purple lightning crackling around her.

He couldn’t afford to waste mana.

Not yet.

Eleanora was the first to reach him. Her ruby eyes locked onto his back as she swung her estoc in a swift, precise slash.

Kyle barely twisted in time. Feeling the blade graze his side.

A thin line of blood welled up, but he didn’t stop.

"Not this time, Kyle," she said. Her voice steady despite her exhaustion.

He didn’t answer.

Instead, he pivoted on his heel and lashed out with Zalrielle.

The black tachi hummed as it cut through the air, forcing Eleanora to leap back.

Cedric took advantage of the opening.

A burst of fire erupted beneath his feet as he lunged forward. His sword aimed straight for Kyle’s ribs.

Kyle barely managed to block. The impact sending a shockwave up his arms.

Their blades locked sparks flying between them.

"You are not getting away that easily" Cedric growled, his blue eyes blazing.

Kyle didn’t answer. With a sudden twist.

He disengaged and kicked out, catching Cedric in the stomach.

The golden-haired swordsman stumbled back. But before Kyle could press the advantage.

Cassian barreled into him like a raging bull.

"Gotcha!" Cassian grinned. His massive arms wrapping around Kyle’s torso in a crushing grip.

Kyle gasped as the air was forced from his lungs. He drove his elbow back into Cassian’s ribs, making him grunt. But the brute didn’t let go.

Serena saw her chance.

Her glaive flashed as she swept it toward Kyle’s legs.

At the last second, Kyle twisted. Forcing Cassian to take the hit instead.

The blunt side of the glaive cracked against Cassian’s shin. Making him roar in pain and finally loosen his grip.

Kyle broke free and sprinted forward.

The finish line was so close now. Just a few dozen meters.

Eleanora and Cedric recovered quickly, surging ahead.

Cassian limped but still followed. His pride refusing to let him fall behind.

Serena moved like a shadow. Her glaive ready to strike at any moment.

Kyle’s legs screamed in protest. His body pushed beyond its limits.

But he had one last trick.

He was saving his mana for this. That’s why he wasn’t even using elemental manipulation to boost his speed like the others.

Now.

Kyle’s vision blurred as he pushed every last ounce of strength into his legs.

The white finish line blurred ahead. Just twenty more strides.

[Lightning Steps]

The world fractured into blue-white streaks as Kyle’s final burst of speed kicked in.

His muscles screamed in protest. His lungs burned.

For one frozen moment, three figures became streaks of motion.

Cedric’s sword arm outstretched.

Eleanora’s estoc flashing silver.

Kyle’s tachi humming with residual energy.

Then...

Impact.

All three slammed across the painted line in a tangle of limbs and weapons.

Kyle’s shoulder smashed into Cedric’s ribs. Eleanora’s knee caught Kyle’s thigh.

Their momentum sent them rolling across the grass in a cloud of dust and torn-up turf.

"What the—" Cedric coughed, spitting out dirt.

"Who—" Eleanora gasped, trying to push herself up.

Kyle just groaned. His face pressed into the grass.

His entire body felt like one giant bruise.

Before anyone could speak again.

A familiar tingling sensation crawled up Kyle’s limbs. His vision filled with white light as his body began dissolving into glowing particles.

"Wait—" Cedric reached out as his own form started breaking apart.

Eleanora’s mouth opened to protest...

POOF

The world dissolved into white.

Kyle materialized with a jolt. Stumbling forward onto the polished marble floor. His knees nearly gave out as his body remembered phantom pains from the simulated battle.

Across the room.

Cedric and Eleanora appeared simultaneously, both blinking in disorientation.

Cassian popped into existence a second later, still mid-roar before he realized the fight was over.

"Who—" Kyle rasped, his voice raw.

"Won?" Cedric finished, running a hand through his disheveled hair.

Professor Brynn Foxglove looked up from his Mana Tablet with a tired smirk.

"Nexus(Academy’s System) is still calculating. Never seen a three-way photo finish this close before."

Sylvie materialized beside Kyle. Her blue hair sticking up in every direction.

"K-Kyle good work!" she squeaked, then immediately turned bright red.

Luna popped into existence besides them.

"Took you long enough! Reo and I got eliminated ages ago."

The giant projection screen flickered to life above them. Displaying frozen footage of the final moment.

Three blurred figures crossing the line. Their positions impossible to discern with the naked eye.

[RESULTS PENDING]

Flashed across the screen in bold letters.

Kyle exchanged glances with Cedric and Eleanora.

The princess’s usual composure had cracked. Revealing a competitive glint in her ruby eyes.

Cedric just grinned, that infuriating smile back in place.

Somewhere behind them, Cassian groaned. "I hate you guys."

The screen flickered again.

[ANALYSIS COMPLETE]

Every student in the room leaned forward.

Kyle’s fingers twitched at his sides.

After everything.

The Vorthal fight.

The pillar crossing.

Sylvie’s last stand.

It all came down to...

The screen resolved into slow-motion footage.

Three figures highlighted in different colors as they crossed the line.

Kyle’s foot – blue outline

Cedric’s shoulder – gold outline

Eleanora’s outstretched hand – light yellow outline

The image zoomed in impossibly close. Down to the molecular level, before flashing the verdict.

[WINNER: TEAM 7]

[Margin of Victory: 0.008 seconds]

The room erupted.

Luna whooped loud enough to shake the windows.

Sylvie clapped her hands over her mouth.

Reo groaned dramatically while Cassian just facepalmed.

Cedric blinked. Then burst out laughing.

Eleanora’s lips pursed for half a second before she inclined her head. "Well played."

Kyle just stared at the screen. His legs finally giving out as he collapsed onto a floor.

His fingers brushed the hilt of his black tachi.

Zalrielle hummed warmly in response.

And as the chaos of the observation room swirled around him.

Kyle allowed himself one exhausted. Victorious smile.

———

Author’s Note:

Hello lovely readers!

Newbie here.

Did this arc feel a bit repetitive to you? I originally intended it as a "mini exam" before moving the story forward.

But it might have stretched longer than planned. Let me know your thoughts.

I’d really appreciate your feedback!

———