Only With Initial Resolve

"It seems we can't reach a consensus," Morton said slowly. "Then let me see what kind of people this school for the weak can produce."

The black cloaks moved in unison after Morton finished speaking. They weren't pure mages; rather than alchemical items and simple magic gathering abilities, they relied more on their own martial prowess.

Helise and Hubert, on the other hand, were pure mages. Seeing the black cloaks begin their assault, they started chanting. Fatenai could see magic surging towards them, but the reaction wasn't very strong—perhaps because both were still students.

Compared to the two of them, Helise's chanting was more successful.

Fireballs and lightning erupted from their hands, charging towards the attacking black cloaks as their chants ended. The black cloaks were incredibly fast, so the time they could spend gathering power through chanting couldn't be maintained for long. In any world, it's the same: magic requires chanting, and the energy generated by the chant grows with the duration of the chant.

Fatenai, unable to use magic, pulled out a plant from under her cloak. At this moment, she couldn't use her master skills from the summoning system because she couldn't confirm what effect using them to disrupt the magic gathering would have on Helise and Hubert.

After all, these black cloaks didn't fight purely with magic; they also had swords.

Fatenai did too.

Taking a deep breath, Fatenai threw the plant. The Black Demon Vine wrapped around a black cloak's feet, instantly binding his legs. He immediately tried to cut the Black Demon Vine with his sword, but Fatenai's figure had already appeared before him—her longsword swung in a beautiful flourish.

At this point, Fatenai's sword movements were less flashy, no longer resembling noble swordsmanship.

Fatenai's sword struck the black cloak's hand. The sword clattered to the ground with a scream as the black cloak's hand was severed. She didn't stop, thrusting towards his legs—blood splattered. As she felt the blood spray onto her skin, Fatenai felt her skin grow hot. Fortunately, it was night; otherwise, she would have been too afraid to see everything clearly.

With his leg injured, the black cloak lost his balance and toppled to the side. Fatenai saw the sword he swung before falling, and a clear trajectory flashed in her eyes—she took a light step, moving backward instead of forward. Gripping the sword hilt with both hands, she put all her strength into driving the longsword into the black cloak's chest. Initially, she felt armor blocking her, causing a slight hesitation, but then she let out a low growl and increased her force.

She had been a girl who adhered to noble etiquette daily just a month ago, and now she had killed someone.

As the black cloak's body toppled to the side, Fatenai felt a sense of daze until the light from Helise's fireball, which blocked a black cloak approaching her, awakened her.

"Are you alright? I know this is hard to accept, but you have to," Helise said, looking at Fatenai with concern. Fatenai's expression reminded her of herself from a long time ago. "I'm sorry if I sound cold-blooded."

Fatenai shook her head to comfort her, glanced at the composed Morton, and said, "I'm sorry, I was too weak."

They didn't know who Fatenai truly was, but Fatenai was well aware that these mages seemed to be striving to "counter" nobles, and she herself was a noble.

She couldn't be weak at this moment.

Although Fatenai had defeated one black cloak, the battle was actually quite difficult. Facing seasoned black cloaks, even with the potential of the two mages, they weren't achieving good results. Helise watched the situation with some anxiety, fending off the black cloaks' relentless attacks, her chanting falling behind.

Her chanting was interrupted by the enemy's sudden approach just as it was about to finish.

"Hubert?" Helise looked at Hubert in surprise as he suddenly appeared before her. The dagger that the approaching black cloak had swung was about to hit her, but now it was embedded in Hubert's shoulder blade.

"Concentrate!" Hubert shouted at Helise. She immediately came to her senses and retaliated with magic.

They were at a disadvantage, steadily retreating.

Fatenai could see that Helise and Hubert were inexperienced mages, now facing fast and powerfully attacking black cloaks. Excluding the one Fatenai had killed, the black cloaks had only lost four men, yet Hubert was already nearing incapacitation—blood continuously flowed from his shoulder.

Helise and Fatenai were also injured, but the most troublesome aspect wasn't the wounds themselves, but the fact that as women, their stamina was limited. Fatenai was also a girl who fought with a sword.

"Fatenai, you've truly exceeded my expectations." As the last three were forced back against a giant beech tree, Morton looked at Fatenai and beckoned, his voice surprisingly gentle, like he was looking at his little sister, full of care. The black cloaks, understanding his intent, simply surrounded them without continuing their attack.

Fatenai remained silent, her vision darkening.

"I'm done playing games," Morton suddenly said, his gentle tone turning sharp.

"No need for apologies..." Fatenai thought, thinking that Ed and Morton were indeed brothers, but she didn't show it. She lacked the strength at the moment. Supporting herself against the beech tree, she suddenly spoke.

"You don't need to apologize..." Helise said, supporting Hubert, thinking Fatenai was talking to her. "At least try to survive."

Fatenai ignored the misunderstanding. Helise then noticed that Fatenai was looking at an empty space. Morton looked at her, unsure what the girl meant by looking at the empty space.

"It seems you can't take it anymore. Then let's end this," Morton said. At the same time, the black cloaks stepped forward.

The atmosphere grew as heavy as the slow descent of a guillotine blade, slowed down thousands of times.

Fatenai's expression seemed to suggest a calm acceptance of death, but in reality, no one could see "him."

"As a summoner, I was programmed to 'serve my master.' It has been a great surprise to satisfy my exploration of this world in this way," an old man with white hair said calmly in Fatenai's line of sight. "As for everything else, I believe you can handle it. Farewell, Lonai."

Fatenai curved her lips and slowly extended her hand.

Darwin's figure gradually faded. The old man, who never forgot to explore, now wore a look of relief. Fatenai felt a sense of closeness towards Hermes, and towards Darwin, her admiration had always been present and would only grow stronger.

"Alright, Morton, let's talk properly now." Seeing Fatenai inexplicably raise her hand, Morton remained silent. At this moment, she spoke.

As her voice echoed, the sound of hooves trampling the ground filled the forest. A halo of light could be seen approaching from a distance—it was unmistakably a sacred creature of the forest.

Undoubtedly, it was a Unicorn. Its pure white fur illuminated the area, evoking a sense of divinity.

For the black cloaks, the Unicorn was no divine and gentle creature. It was a powerful warrior in the forest as well, so as it charged into the crowd, they parted, allowing the Unicorn to reach Fatenai and the others. At the same time, Helise and Hubert felt a gentle power lift them onto the Unicorn's back.

"Stop them!" Morton exclaimed, realizing the significance of the Unicorn's appearance.

But the black cloaks were powerless to stop it. The Unicorn neighed, stomped its front hooves forward, and the gust of wind that erupted blocked their advance. Then, it swiftly charged into the forest!

"Hurry!" Fatenai shouted at the Unicorn, seeing Morton's expression grow even more grim.

"What are you saying? What about you?" Helise quickly reacted and turned to look at her.

"Go!" Fatenai repeated, her voice now carrying an undeniable authority.

Everything happened very quickly, almost in the blink of an eye. Morton's face contorted. He remained silent, his fingers spread—Fatenai could see magic rapidly gathering, a strong reaction accompanied by immense power.

However, his chant was interrupted. Vine-like plants erupted from the ground, yanking Morton violently into the air and suspending him!

Morton let out a cold snort. The black cloaks quickly moved forward and severed the vines. He landed easily, and then Fatenai was seized by the hands by a black cloak.

"Kill her," Morton commanded.

"Heh heh." Annoyingly, a soft voice rang out. Morton and the figures in black cloaks immediately turned their heads, discovering that at some point, a man had appeared on a large rock in the clearing.

Fatenai was also somewhat surprised.

"Who are you?" Morton asked, looking at him with great caution.

The man had long, lake-blue hair and wore a white robe similar to that of an ascetic. His eyes were like clear blue gems, reflecting everyone's figure with crystal clarity. Hearing Morton's voice, he replied gently, "I am Merlin."

They were astonished, and Fatenai was even more so. She had recalled Darwin and summoned the summoner again, staking everything on it.

But she had never expected someone of this caliber.

King Arthur's mentor, Merlin—perhaps because he was a legendary mage, he could even manifest before people.

"Perhaps you haven't heard of me—but it doesn't matter," Merlin said softly, slowly standing up. Although he seemed incapable of posing any threat, Fatenai could see that the convergence of magic had suddenly become wondrous. Instead of forming a vortex and surging towards Merlin, the magic danced like sprites according to Merlin's will. "So, what is your intention, girl who is as unyielding as King Arthur?"