Elemental Zodiack

Chapter 2: Tragedy

[--- A voice can be heard announcing the start of the final exam. Each competitor goes to the training room of their number.

"Let the final exam commence! You have to kill the homunculus in less than one hour! Good luck!"

Hearing the announcement, Yoso turns to Kuro and says:

"Let's go, Kuro!"

"Yes!"]

Kuro and Yoso use the same strategy as always, with Kuro using his shield to protect Yoso, which is charging towards the opponent. The other challengers are trying to surround the homunculus.

They have faith that Yoso will be able to give it a strong finishing blow if they all restrain it.

"I need to get even closer... My power from this distance is not going to be enough."

Yoso knows that his catalyst won't do enough damage to the opponent if he doesn't get any closer. The basic catalyst that the students get at this academy is twin guns that use only the life force, but don't use its special element. Without any elements, its attacks are not especially weak or strong against other types of opponents.

Those basic catalysts have the special power that increases their attack power, depending on how close you are to your enemy.

The other students know that Yoso is one of the most talented students, so they are trying to create a way for him to attack from as close as possible.

"But... something is wrong there. Why isn't the homunculus moving? He hasn't even opened his eyes since he got here." thinks Kuro

Kuro realised that something isn't good, and once the homunculus opened his eyes, all of them realised the situation.

"Everyone fall back!"

"Hmm? What is... this power? asks Yoso while looking straight at his opponent.

The homunculus showed them his power. It was enough magic power to put them on their knees just by being in the same room with him.

But they realised too soon because in the instant the homunculus has launched his first attack, all of the students surrounding him were already down in a bath of blood.

Only Yoso and Kuro got away with just some scratches after being defended by Kuro's shield.

Meanwhile, in the examination zone, everyone was being alerted.

"We have an emergency in training room one! The homunculus went berserk! His stats went sky high, and he already killed 4 of the students!"

"We have to send someone in right now!"

"No... We won't send anyone," says Braum Thinker with a calm tone.

"I won't interrupt this exam just to stop that failed experiment from killing two kids. If they want to live, let them do it themselves..."

"What are we going to do, Kuro? This exam is way harder than our past exams, and we don't even have Kenya."

"I have a plan. I am going to be the bait. This time, I am going to charge him. You go behind him and put all your power in one hit. I don't think that thing will be able to dodge if he will be concentrated on me."

"Fine... Let's pass this test!"

"Now... GO!"

With the signal of Kuro, they both start running. Yoso avoids the homunculus as much as possible while Kuro charges towards him with his shield in front.

The homunculus starts to hit Kuro's shield with incredible power after he gets to him.

"Go Yoso!"

With that final shout, Yoso jumps with his guns at the homunculus' head. But right at that moment, it gets down and Yoso's shot hits Kuro's shield. The homunculus then turns around and hits Yoso in the belly, throwing him into a wall.

"Yoso!"

"I'm... alright," says Yoso while spitting blood

"I would've been dead if I would have taken that hit directly."

Right at the moment of the impact, Yoso defended himself with one of his guns from the attack. He got badly injured, but this action saved his life. However, this isn't done yet.

The homunculus starts running towards Yoso. A red burst of aura gets out of its body while running towards Yoso.

"I'll... die," thinks Yoso, not being able to get up after that first hit.

But right at that moment, his life was spared once again... Drops of blood started spilling onto Yoso. As he opens his eyes, he sees his friend Kuro, with the hand of the homunculus piercing him through his chest.

"Well, that's unfortunate, Yoso... My shield broke... But you can't give up just now. You have to become the emperor... remember?"

Then with his last powers, Kuro grasps the homunculus' arm. Yoso gets up and with tears in his eyes and one broken arm, starts shooting the homunculus everywhere with all his magic power.

"You can do this...Yoso!" says Kuro, slowly losing his consciousness.

The homunculus drops on his knees, now being covered in blood. Yoso puts his gun at his head, but right before shooting, he looks at his friend's dead body and freezes.

"I can't do this... I can't become just like you!"

"Why did you stop? Didn't he kill your friend?" says Braum after just entering the room.

"I can't! I won't be a criminal just like him..."

However, Braum just grasps the homunculus' head and smashes it with his bare hand.

"You failed kid... Now come with me."

Walking behind Braum in the lobby, everyone that already took the test was looking at Yoso.

Kenya then comes running at him and asks:

"What happened? Where is Kuro?! Don't tell me you didn't pass!"

"I am sorry, Kenya... I failed."

Then he gets dragged by Braum into a room, where no other pair of eyes could see them,

"You imbecile! You got hurt and couldn't even kill that failed experiment that killed five of our testers! Showing mercy will only bring this kind of tragedy!"

"F-failed...? Then it means it is your fault that...Kuro is dead?"

"It was a failed experiment. But it is your fault that you lost there. A good soldier has to overcome any situation!"

"Cut the crap! Do you mean Kuro died because of your little experiment?! And you knew this could happen!?" Then full of anger, Yoso punches Braum... but his punch felt like a feather for Braum's massive body.

Braum retaliates with a quick punch in Yoso's face that puts him down. As his eyes were about to close, he heard Braum's last words before leaving,

"You won't get out of there too soon, kid. Hope you can resist without food and water a few days..." and so, Yoso's consciousness faded.

After a few hours, Yoso wakes up, hearing an alarm.

"Intruder! Intruder! Someone from the "outside" got on the academy's territory!"

"What is happening...?"

Then a tile from the room's floor starts to move. A person comes out of the floor and talks to Yoso that was watching with a questioned expression,

"Hey, kid! I came to get you out of there!"