Flashing Fang

That night, the four of us enjoyed the festivities of passing the Assessment as the Top students. Many students were asking Toby, Claire, or Leo for tips on how to improve in their various fields. But what's more surprising, is that there are some magic users talking with me.

"H-hey... Woo- I mean... Yman Caliesto, right?" A guy with lightning yellow hair and ornage eyes approached me, his smile is a bit forced but he doesn't seem like a bad guy.

"Yeah, what's up?" I asked politely and he bows his head.

"I'm really sorry!" He apologized so abruptly, even I was taken aback.

"H-hey... There's no need for you to apologize." I said, this situation is embarrassing me.

"R-really? Well, I'm Arthur by the way. Arthur McGillan!" He said and shakes my hand.

McGillan? As in... the Adopted brother of the Female Lead, Lucy McGillan? Arthur was his name... When I wrote Lucy's character, I didn't her adopted brother died while she was on her arms. Which awakened her true power as a Ranger. In short, I'm talking to a sacrificial character.

'Inspection!'

-No further information available, despite the Level Difference-

Name: Arthur McGillan

Level: 5

Weapon Proficiency: Fists

Class: Entrant (Possible route to Brawler)

Academy Ranking: 119th (Previously 190th)

Title: Neophyte of the Fists

Talent: 'Armor Crusher'

So he's a close quarter entrant, and by the looks of it, he can be useful when dealing with hard armored enemies.

So how on earth did this guy die? I didn't get to explain it in the main story because I was suppose to leave it out when Toby and Lucy were supposed to be lost during a duo mission. But then silly me misplaced the original manuscript and I didn't have a copy of it.

But seeing how cheerful Arthur is, I guess he really has an impact on Lucy's life, especially saving the lives of others.

'A compassionate and loyal woman who strives to protect her loved ones.' That is how I made Lucy. And how she and Claire became best friends. Losing Arthur meant she knows the weight of losing someone so close.

"Nice to meet you Arthur." I said and shook his hand. Arthur was so glad that I forgave him or something, because he sat down beside me and talked incessantly. Mainly about how he can crush White Iron with a single blow.

"But doesn't that hurt?" I asked him and he gave me a proud grin.

"These puppies have yet to let me down." He flexed his muscles and just realized how much of an impact this will affect Lucy. Arthur was her source of annoyance and her first sun. Right before she met Toby.

"Hey, Arthur? You have a sister right?" I asked, better late than never to know if he really is Lucy's adopted brother.

"I do... but she's with her friends." He said, a flash of sadness played across his face momentarily.

"I see... Hey, let me introduce you to my teammates." I offered and his face became pink.

"W-what? Y-you mean with Tobias King, Lheon Khalid, and Ms. Claire Venus?" And I think I became acquainted with a simp. An MC Squad simp...

"Hang on... Why is Claire the only one with honorifics?" Toby, Leo, and Claire suddenly came from my back and shocking Arthur to high heaven.

"I-I-I'M SO SORRY SIR TOBIAS, I WASN'T BEING TOO INFORMAL." Arthur said shrilly and I could tell, Toby had a very mischievous side of him, and that's teasing flustered people.

"Toby that's enough." Leo said and turns to Arthur and extends his hand and shakes Arthur's. "Lheon Khalid. Call me Leo."

"Hehe, sorry kid. Tobias King, call me Toby!" Toby also shakes Arthur's hand, rather a bit violently.

"I'm Claire Venus. Nice to meet you Arthur." Claire said, but she was a bit indifferent. But... Didn't she and Lucy meet already?

"Y-yes... Nice to meet you too Ms. Claire, sir Leo." Arthur said weakly, I feel like he's about to faint.

"I'm going to get a drink, you guys in?" I asked and their eyes perked up.

"Sure Yman, we should celebrate! Since we're getting our-" Toby was about to say we're about to get our weapons when Leo suddenly covers his mouth and Claire coming in clutch:

"Getting our drinks! We're really thirsty, so... Can we request you to get us some? I'll get the Peppermint Special."

"The Red Robin for me." Leo pipes in and Toby's eyes perked up as he was released from Leo's grip:

"I'll take Summer Night, thanks a bunch Yman!"

"W-wait, I'll come with you!" Arthur said and I happily accept. The kid's a welcoming company that's for sure, but I can't shake the feeling. Does he really need to die in order to set the path for Lucy?

I shake my head and try to stay positive. Maybe I misread my own novel. Yeah let's go with that. But like I always tell myself: Don't tempt fate:

'Character Quest: The Heart and the Fist'

Clear Conditions: Protect Arthur McGillan from the Assault while using the Script of Light.

Clear Rewards: EXP, Title, Talent: 'Holistic Blessing' , Skill: 'Script of Lightning' and 'Script of Fire'

Failure: -1000 Academy Reputation, -100 Reputation from the McGillan, King, Venus, and Khalid Families.

What in the name of hell?! The failure conditions are completely stacked up to murder me! Basically, I'm screwed if Arthur dies. But... 'The Assault?'

Then an explosion occurs just as I remembered what it meant. But before any debris hits me, Arthur, and anyone within a meter of me:

"Torrents Bring Refuge!"

A wall of cascading but soothing water screens everyone from harm. I glared from the windowsill, and sure enough... Experimented Beasts, or Chimeras, were pouring in the cafeteria. Three turtle heads with ebony shells, three wolf heads with crimson fur, and one Lion head with a silver mane.

"Yman, what are those things?" Arthur panicked, so did the other students. And not gonna lie, I was also shaking.

The Turtle Heads glared at our direction and they snarled, or snapped... or whatever sound turtles make when they're angry and charged towards us.

-Inspection!-

Name: Ebonshell Chimera

Level: 7

Weakness: Light and Fire

Note: Their hard Shells absorb Magic

Of course... The quest system really does know how to give useful hints on what to use. But I have a problem... Their shells are capable of absorbing magic.

"Shit... Arthur, watch out!" I yelled and grabbed Arthur's collar as the Turtles barrel through the counter.

"Yman... what are they? They look like beasts but... I though Calestro Academy won't have any beasts because of the barrier put up?!" Arthur stammered. But I can't reveal it just yet. I need more evidence if I want to prevent an even greater tragedy.

"Arthur, can you fight?" I asked him and he looked at me with a huge concern face.

"What? Shouldn't we wait for the seniors and evacuate?" Arthur panicked, but I took out my grimoire and proceed in a battle stance.

"I'm not the only one whose thinking of waiting for the Seniors. Plus, if we can distract them long enough, then we can keep the damage to a minimum." I said, and right on cue, three bullets suddenly shot from our backs, and I imbued it with Light energy, it pierced two of the turtles' heads, but the third one managed to block it with its large arms. The two turtles were staggering yet they still lived, the bullets didn't dig too deep I suppose.

"Yman! You good?" Leo asked as he reloads again. His head was bleeding and he can only use one of his eyes.

"Yeah... I am, where are Toby and Claire?" I asked, but not taking my eyes off the turtle.

"Taking care of the wolves, only they can keep up with their speed." Leo cussed, clearly it made him bite his pride as a marksman, but I'll give him effort points for seeing his limits. "What are they Yman? They don't look like any beasts in the Beastpedia?"

"They're artificial... And I don't want to use my magic at these turtles all at once, those shells... I don't think my magic can break them." I said while hiding my ability to inspect. Not because I don't trust Leo, but I think someone else might be watching.

"Got it... Should we try that Water Beam again?" Leo asked and I shook my head.

"We might hit the unconscious students." I warned and he cursed his oversight.

"Yman... I want to help." Arthur said from my back and he was wearing his academy bracers, he was still shaking from his feet but his face was filled with determination.

I admire his bravery, but couldn't help but tease him a little bit:

"You really want to fight despite shaking to your boots?"

"S-shut up! Your magic can't even touch them!" Arthur flared and I laughed.

"Don't worry... Once we get rid of those shells, then we'll be able to do whatever to them." I reassured him.

"Those shells look hard... I don't think my bullets will be enough to pierce them." Leo cursed under his breath.

"Leave it to me. If you give me the signal, I'll pull through." Arthur said as he runs for the second floor. I have to hand it to him, he needs momentum to deliver a precise and devastating blow.

"Got it. Leo, let's try and distract the turtles." I said and Leo nods and fires a pot shot at the turtles. They made their noise again and charges towards us.

'Light and Fire magic can hurt them... but Magic is useless on them unless I break their shells. But Leo's bullets were imbued with light energy.'

"Yman stop day dreaming and focus!" Leo's voice snapped me out from my overthinking, and I barely dodged the barreling of the turtles, despite their size, they were a bit fast and could hit hard.

"S-sorry..." and I mentally slapped myself. This is no time to be overthinking. I don't want to hit their shells, so I just have to take away their sight.

"Leo, Arthur! Close your eyes!" I called out and I was hoping they did as I recite the incantation:

"Light, shine down! Photon Flash!!"

A blinding light erupted from the faces of the turtles, and all three of them were staggering and stumbling backwards. Their arms covering their eyes and they were wailing in pain.

"Arthur, now!" Leo shouts as he reloads his gun. Just then, Arthur comes from above:

"Armor won't save you!"

Arthur's fist made a resounding sound when it connected with the shells of uninjured turtle, smashing the shell to smithereens.

"Nice one Arthur!" I said and fired off a sword made out of light from my grimoire. Easily evaporating the chimera. One down, two to go.

"Holy crap that actually worked." Arthur exclaimed as he comes closer to me and Leo.

"Dang, doesn't your fist hurt after that?" Leo asked.

"Nope, I feel fine. Now that the element of surprise is gone, only two turtles left!" Arthur said, and he wasn't shaking from fear anymore.

"I have an idea. But I need you to trust me on this Arthur." I said and Arthur nods.

"What do you want me to do?" He asked, I smirked and he shuddered.

"Y-Yman... why do you have that creepy smile?" He shivered.

"Let's do a Unison Strike." I said and Leo understood and steps forward.

"I can give you at least a few minutes. Whatever you're planning Yman, better make it count." He said as he strafes on the Turtles.

"Yman... dude, I trust you and all. But..." Arthur began but I gave him a reassuring smile.

"My magic won't hurt you. Don't worry, I'll be imbuing your whole body with Light Elemental Magic." I told him and he nods.

"Okay. I trust you." He said and offers his fist, and we did a fist bump. This is it.

"Leo, stand back!" We called and Leo fires a smokescreen for the both of us. Now!

"Demons Descend!" I cast the spell and it envelops Arthur in pure light as he propels himself towards the Turtles.

"Coming through!" Arthur's fist collides with both Turtles and a blast of light envelops around them, melting the turtles into non-existence.

Three down, four more chimeras to go. But as we turn towards the wolves, a scream cuts our moment of victory.

"LUCY!" Arthur called as the Lion Chimera was closing in on Lucy McGillan. And he gets in between her and the beasts claws.

SLASH!

"ARTHUR!!"