Chapter 21: Alex’s First Test at EE Academy – Part 2: Breakthrough Under Fire
In the dark elemental room, a boy with a bloodied body and a limp, dangling left arm was dodging numerous arrows and parrying with a spear in his only functioning hand. Suddenly, Alex felt something—something had opened in his mind. He could feel the dark element outside his body—and more than that, he felt he could control it.
I don't have much of a choice here. If I can't do it, I won't be able to enter the EE Academy, Alex thought.
He began circulating the dark element through his blood vessels, exuding a dark aura. With it, he tried to control the element, but just then, an arrow pierced his thigh. With a scream—"Fffuck!"—he collapsed.
That's not it, Alex thought. *If I'm able to feel all the dark element... can I not control it?
Let's give it a try. I don't have the luxury to close my eyes—let's just keep dodging and parrying and do it.
With sheer willpower, he reached out, sensing all the dark element in the room. With it, he formed a shield. A flimsy dark elemental shield took shape in front of him—only to shatter instantly under two arrows. But Alex smiled.
"Finally. So that's how you do it. Let's do it again".
Another flimsy shield formed—this one covering most of his body. It held off three arrows.
Alex kept trying, improving. After half an hour—and many new slashes from arrows—he finally formed a dome-shaped dark elemental shield. He sat inside it.
I'm exhausted. My head... feels like it's tearing apart from the inside. Thinking makes it worse. Just keep the shield sturdy... stop thinking, Alex said.
He fell into a trance-like state—no thoughts, only instinct—continuously reinforcing the shield with dark element.