First Blood, First Victory
He was carrying a light spear.
— I thought it would be easier to keep my distance…
Rub nodded slightly.
Finally…
Daichi.
He went inside.
The interior was dark.
The smell of wood and iron.
Simple weapons lined up.
Swords.
Spears.
Axes.
He walked slowly.
Looking.
Thinking.
He stopped in front of a sword.
Simple.
Unadorned.
He held it.
The weight felt… familiar.
— …
Without saying a word…
He took it.
When he left…
Erza watched.
Expressionless.
Rub took note.
— Sword.
He closed the notebook.
— Okay.
— Now it really begins.
The groups have been divided.
Four at a time.
With supervision.
Daichi's group:
Daichi
Kaito, Liora, Toma
And, from a distance…
Erza watching.
— "Simple mission," said Rub.
— Gather fruit.
— Hunt small animals.
— And come back alive.
Some laughed.
Thinking it was easy.
The forest was silent.
Too quiet.
The group moved forward slowly.
— "This is way too easy," said Kaito.
— "Don't say that," replied Liora.
— The forest is no joke.
Toma pointed.
— There!
A small animal.
Quick.
Kaito rushed forward.
— I’ll get it!
He missed.
The animal got away.
— Damn!
Daichi watched.
Trying to learn.
Trying not to make a mistake.
Liora stopped.
— Wait.
She looked around.
— Something’s wrong.
Silence.
— Too quiet.
Kaito rolled his eyes.
— You overthink things.
And he moved forward.
Then—
A sound.
Deep.
Heavy.
— …
Daichi stopped.
His body froze.
He recognized it.
A low growl.
Toma froze.
— This wasn’t a beginner’s mission…
Liora took a step back.
— Retreat.
Now.
But it was too late.
Something was moving among the trees.
Big.
Heavy.
Watching.
Kaito raised his sword.
— I can handle it—
— "NO!" Daichi shouted.
The sound came closer.
Louder.
More real.
And then…
The leaves parted.
Something came out.
The leaves opened.
And something slipped out.
Silently.
Quickly.
A snake.
No.
A monstrosity.
Over six meters long.
Red scales.
Cut by white diamond-shaped lines.
Its eyes were cold.
Fixed.
Watching.
— …
No one moved.
— “Back up…” whispered Liora.
Too late.
The creature attacked.
Fast.
Too fast.
Toma didn’t even see it.
— AAH—!
His body was thrown to the side.
The prey had torn his arm.
Blood.
— TAKE THAT! — Daichi shouted.
The snake backed away.
Preparing another attack.
Kaito charged forward.
— I’LL KILL THIS THING!
He missed.
The snake dodged it reflexively.
It counterattacked.
Kaito was grazed.
He fell.
— Damn it—!
— FOCUS! — Liora shouted.
— She attacks in a straight line!
— Don’t face her head-on!
Daichi was breathing heavily.
His body froze.
Again.
The same feeling.
Fear.
— No…
The snake lunged again.
Straight at him.
Daichi moved.
Instinctively.
Step to the side.
The creature brushed past him.
— …?!
— Now! — Liora shouted.
Kaito stood up.
Even though he was wounded.
He attacked from the side.
— ARGH!
The blade struck.
Lightly.
But it hit.
The snake turned around.
Furious.
Toma was trying to get up.
His arm was bleeding.
— I… I’m okay…
That’s a lie.
The snake attacked him again.
CLANG!
A blade deflected the attack.
Erza.
— Get up, boy! — she said, coldly.
— This isn’t over!
She stepped back.
It’s not over.
— “She’ll only intervene if it’s fatal…” Liora said, panting.
— So fight properly!
Daichi gripped his sword.
His hands were shaking.
But he didn’t back down.
— Kaito!
The other looked over.
— Distract him!
— I was already doing that!
Kaito advanced again.
More carefully.
The snake focused on him.
Daichi moved.
From the side.
Just like he’d seen Erza do.
— Now!
Liora fired an arrow.
It hit the creature in the eye.
The snake’s scream echoed.
Violent.
— NOW! — Kaito shouted.
Daichi charged forward.
Without thinking.
Just acting.
The blade went in.
Between the scales.
Blood.
The snake writhed.
Out of control.
Erza appeared again.
Just one movement.
She deflected the tail that was about to crush Daichi.
— "Keep going!" she ordered.
Dagan wasn’t there.
There was no protection.
Just them.
Kaito struck again.
Liora was retreating.
Preparing another arrow.
Daichi drew his sword.
And attacked again.
The creature was weakening.
But it was still dangerous.
Final attack.
It lunged forward.
Desperately.
Daichi froze for a second.
But he didn’t stop.
He dodged.
By a hair.
And he struck.
With all his might.
The blade went through its neck.
Silence.
The snake's body fell.
Heavy.
Lifeless.
No one moved.
Breathing was all that could be heard.
Toma fell back to the floor.
— I think… I didn’t do too badly…
He tried to smile.
He failed.
Kaito laughed.
Weakly.
— You almost died, you idiot…
