Humanity's Last Hope

Chapter 7: Bonds

"Three students from Class A got "killed" by Dusk Aome!"

"Good signal... For a moment I thought that you were so i***t that you wanted the other students to find you..." said Dusk

 And after that, Dusk and Hikari go on their separate ways once again...

--- A few minutes passed since they separated, and now, Hikari sees from afar, a huge explosion that brings with it the sweet sound of the eliminations...

"Three students got "killed" by Dusk Aome!"

 After seeing that explosion, Hikari started going straight in the way where it happened...

"So his plan is working..." he mutters while running.

 Dusk had the idea to go separate ways at the beginning and then when one of them needed help, he should use signals that could be easily seen by the one whose help is requested. Thanks to that, Hikari can go at high speed directly at that location... And thus, Dusk and Hikari met at the explosion's place...

"So, there are only two opponents left..." says Hikari

"One of them being Tohka... And I feel like the other one is pretty damn strong as well..."

"But you were with her when she has got her weapon, so you might know something about it... But she might know about yours too..." says Hikari

"Yeah, but I didn't use it this round, and I don't think I will at all."

"Let's go find them... They can't be too far away fro-" but he didn't even get to finish his sentence since he got interrupted by a flying magical arrow that came from the brushes.

 With all of his force, Hikari drew both his swords to deflect the magical arrow, but his right arm got injured in the process.

"Argh... Well, god damn it hurts!"

"But it isn't a deep wound though..." says Dusk

"This is my classmate's ability... Cursed Arrow!" says Tohka from afar with her katana already out, in her hands.

 She then continues with: "She is also the best sniper in our class!"

"Hikari, can you fight a little?" asked Dusk

"Yeah, but what are you intending to do...?"

"You'll see. Cover me, now!"

 Another arrow was launched straight in Dusk's direction, but with a fast gunshot, Hikari blocked it. Afterwards, Dusk ran straight in that direction from where the arrow got launched.

 Meanwhile, Hikari started fighting with Tohka... Even though he's lost one of his arms' use, he is still acting with a calm demeanour, trying to find the best plan...

"The sniper attack at an interval of 30 seconds... I have to dodge the arrows and also keep a distance of her..." thinks Hikari

"Are you ready...? Here I come!" shouted Tohka just before enveloping her katana in blue flames, making the atmosphere feel a bit... Colder...

 She attacked Hikari with incredible attacks, but he hardly dodged them all. His arm is heavily injured and all he can do is dodge and think about what to do in the current situation.

"Do it faster you idiot...!" thinks Hikari

"She didn't move one step from where she was when Dusk left... Her confidence... She could've eliminated me with this injury. Is she really toying with me?" thinks Hikari

"Is that all you've got? Is the loss of an arm that big of a deal?" asks Tohka

"I am just playing here... Don't mind me!" replies Hikari

"Hmm? So if I speed up a little...?" mutters Tohka

"Think... If I attack, I can't dodge all of her attacks that cover a big area... My speed fell after so many battles... I am tired... The arrow timer is 30 seconds... Another one should be coming... Now!" thinks Hikari while dodging in the air.

 But then, no arrow appeared...

"Hmm? Well, that's weird..." he mutters

"So it's done... Hey you! Ever asked yourself what happens if I cut a lightsaber with another lightsaber?!" shouts Hikari, knocking two of his weapons, one into the other.

 A loud screech came from the broken weapon at the impact, loud enough to make Hikari's ears start to bleed... This action, made Thoka put her hands on her ears since the sound was insupportable...

 At that moment... One announcement could be heard... But no one did actually hear it...

"Ishigami Ryouta was "killed" by Dusk Aome!"

 The sound disappeared, Tohka started to run towards Hikari with her sword, leaving him only the option to dodge her attacks. She unleashed her magic again and jumped to Hikari with her sword, attacking him from midair.

"It's over..." says Hikari

"Hmm...?" muttered Tohka

"Hikari Ianku was "killed" by Tohka Kurogane... and also..."

 At that moment, two words were heard...

"Death Claws!"

"Tohka Kurogane was "killed" by Dusk Aome at the same time! The winners of the exam are Dusk Aome and Hikari Ianku with Dusk Aome being the last man standing!"

"Good job... You owe me a lightsaber by the way!" says Hikari

"Thank... Wait, what?!"

"Was this all your plan...?" asked Tohka

"Well, yes... We are a team after all..." said Dusk

"And also... Teach that classmate of yours to fight at close range..." adds Dusk.

"Hehe... I think I should..." said Tohka

 Dusk and Tohka started chatting and laughing just like this, while Hikari kept staring at them. And then... Later that night, on the ship...

"The lesson is over! The winners are Dusk Aome of Class B and Hikari Ianku of Class D, both of them getting A grades for the entirety of the semester! Congratulations!" shouted the principal.

"Also... Congratulations for humiliating Class A!" he added.

 Tohka and all the other members of Class A started intently staring at the principal with a murderous look on their faces...

"Tomorrow, we are heading to school! Lessons start again from next week! Until then, go and relax! After what I've seen these days, I am going to make some of you train until you vomit blood! That's all!" he said.

 After that, everyone went to his own room on the ship. In some of the rooms, music and laughing could be heard... They are enjoying the time they have left on this ship... At Dusk and Hikari's room, many students are knocking for diverse reasons... However, neither of them does answer...

 They are already out of their room, more precisely, in Mizuki's room playing card games with her and Tohka...

"I've won again..." says Hikari.

"How...?" asks Dusk with a defeated look on his face.

"You are too good at this..." says Mizuki

 Meanwhile, Tohka is standing in a corner of the room depressed, since she lost every card game until now... On 4th place...

"It's fine Tohka! Come back, I didn't win a game either!" says Mizuki

 Then after a while...

"I've won ten games in a row! Yay!" shouted Mizuki

 Tohka is more depressed than she was before...

"Umm... How about we leave now...?" asks Dusk

"Yeah..." says Hikari

"Well, it's pretty late... Good night, you two!" says Mizuki as cheerful as ever.

 They leave the room, but after two more minutes, they enter back in a hurry, quickly closing the door behind them.

"Hmm? Didn't you leave?" asks Tohka

 Then a loud sound could be heard from the door...

"Mister Dusk! Mister Hikari! We know you are here!" shouted many voices from behind the door.

"Umm... How do we leave now...?" asks Dusk

"You are the one with the quick plans! Say something!" shouted Hikari

"Okay then! You wanted it!" says Dusk

 Then with two quick moves, he took Hikari and threw him out on the window... Then after saying goodbye, he jumped on the window himself...

"Umm... Bye..." says Mizuki while staring at the window, dumbfounded.

 After a few minutes...

"Swim you, i***t! It's your fault we are here anyways!" shouted Hikari while doing his best to swim after the ship, in the vast ocean.

"Shut up! How should I have known that the window would bring us here!?" shouted Dusk while swimming as well.

 They were hardly trying to come back on the ship after freely jumping out of it... That was rather sad, and there was one more problem...

"A-Are those?!"

"Sharks... Swim faster, mister dark mage..." said Hikari

"Aaaaah! This is not good! Sad backwards is das! And das no good!" shouted Dusk

"You can't think of anything normal in this situation?!" shouted Hikari

 After a while, they finally managed to get back safe and sound, probably ready to catch a cold at any moment... On the ship, the two of them stayed outside for a bit, not entirely since they didn't want to enter as wet as they were, but more since all those kids were probably still at their door.

 Just like this, the two partners and rivals sat down and started talking about life...

"Of course I don't know where the holes of the pretzel go after you eat it!" shouted Dusk

"Ah... I see..."

"Well... What are you planning to do after graduating?" asked Dusk

"Oh, that... Nothing I should plan. The academy and military plan it all. After all, the two of us are probably going to be in the same team even after graduation... This is just how it works..." explained Hikari

"I see... So teams are involved... I really wish the four of us can stay together as a team after graduation..."

"Yeah, I bet you fell for that crazy Blue Fire chick..." says Hikari while getting up.

"N-No! It's not like that!"

"Yeah, sure! Let's go inside... It's already past 00 AM, there is no chance they are still here. And we might catch a cold if we stay like this..."

"Okay..."