Xin'er played with the dagger like a child with a new toy. Christian ignored her and focused on Lucretia. "Can I see your magical tools?" She hesitated momentarily before summoning a circular shield with an owl on the surface and a sword with clouds drawn on the blade.
"Show me their powers."
Lucretia raised her shield, and the earth molded to her whim as it rose from the ground to form a wall that protected her. It was as if she were an Earthbender who could control the natural elements with her movements. Lucretia then waved her sword to release wind slashes.
'It seems she's not just spoiled,' Christian thought as he noticed signs of training from her movements and how she held the shield and sword. 'Moreover, she probably was not telling the truth about those magical tools.' Christian had his suspicion that her bracelets were powerful artifacts.
"Menes, any chances your plants have any healing effects?"
"My plant is more for offensive uses. However, I did bring this with me." He took a small sack from his robe's pocket to reveal a few blue seeds.
"Vitaseeds?" Xin'er asked.
"They are used for emergency treatment. That's very common knowledge," Lucretia explained.
"You can assume I am very ignorant of common sense or knowledge," Christian stated casually as he took one of the seeds and swallowed it. 'The effect is about 20 to 30% that of the Wiggenweld Potion. Although low, it should be enough.' He took the bag from Menes and kept it for himself. The plant wizard raised his hand to say something, but quickly lowered it.
"Okay, this is how our team will move forward from now on," Christian stated. "Lucretia, you're in the front, and your main job is defense and protecting the entire group. Menes, you are in the back while Xin'er is in the middle. Menes, you have two jobs: protect Xin'er and provide assistance for whatever foe we encounter. Focus on hindering their movements or strength through poison.
"Xin'er, your job is to protect yourself while filling us with the knowledge we lack."
"So, what's your job?" Lucretia asked before he could continue.
"I will be behind you, serving as the main attacker, detection specialist, planner, and healing assistant."
"You know healing magic?"
"Is there anything you can't do?"
"Plenty," Christian replied casually. "Now, do you think we should rest or continue moving?" Although the test had just begun, he felt it might not be a bad idea to rest and reorient their mindset, since a lot had occurred in a short period.
"It's best if we don't rest here," said Xin'er. "There are terrible creatures that can live in a carnivorous marsh. It will be terrible if they climb the hill and attack us at night."
"In that case, let's leave." Christian first tied his locks before waving his wand around his head to transform his magic robe into pants, boots, and Roman leather armor. His robe severely limited his mobility in such an environment.
"Are those Persian clothes?" Lucretia asked as she gazed at Christian's pants.
"Yes, and all of you might consider changing for this trial."
"I'm fine too," added Menes. Only Xin'er felt apprehensive, but it was apparent that she also did not want to change clothes, so Christian did not insist. He motioned for Menes to have the captured armored ants lead us through one of the tunnels, and once the creature chose one of them as its main direction, Christian used the Reparo Charm to undo the tunnel's collapse due to his Bombarda Charm.
The group followed the ant through a tunnel at the base of the wall, requiring no additional effort. The group kept close together as they followed the armored ant.
"There is a squad coming our way," Christian suddenly warned. "Come closer, I'll cast the Disillusionment Charm on all of us. Maybe we can avoid them."
"It's useless. Armored ants are earth element creatures, so they see through their connection to the ground," Xin'er said. "Not to mention, they will instantly recognize this one as not their own."
Christian frowned as he felt a direct confrontation was the worst option. "What if…Well, it's too late. They've detected us. On your guard." Lucretia was already prepared, and as soon as she saw the first ant, her sword flew from her hands to stab three ants before flying back. Then, she held the shield in her left hand to rush to kill these creatures with her sword.
"Why are you using such a dangerous fighting method? Kill them from a distance with your summoned sword," Christian warned as he killed a group of ants with the severing charm.
"You mean fight like a coward? No, thank you."
"Wasn't that what you did before?"
"I…I was just scared. No, I mean, I was rattled and could not calm down before," Lucretia answered while continuing to kill these ants.
'What a weird girl,' Christian thought. The way she fought was very contradictory to how she normally behaved. Three ants suddenly jumped toward Christian while he was distracted talking, and Menes reacted in time by controlling tree branches from the ground and tying them down.
"Thanks," he said as he cut them into two pieces. The battle soon ended as this small squad was annihilated. Christian immediately froze all the ant corpses to use as emergency food in case they ran out of food. Then, he continued the journey, constantly using the Revelio Charm to detect any upcoming enemy.
The group continued their journey, following the same routine for a few minutes: they encountered a small squad, killed it, and took the corpse for food. For a moment, Christian thought this would be the extent of this test, until his spell detected an anomaly.
"Something's coming, and it's flying."
"That's impossible," Xin'er added. Christian knew what his spell revealed. The shape of this creature's aura had wings and was moving at great speed.
An ant with wings flew to the group. It was smaller than the previous one, about the size of a chicken. The ant looked at us briefly before flying in the direction from which it originated.
"Catch it," Xin'er yelled, and Menes reacted by trying to bind the creature. However, the winged ant evaded the tree roots. Sadly for it, Christian also took action: "Carpe Retractum."
The Seize and Pull Charm created a magical cord of orange light that rushed from his wand's tip to the ant's leg and stopped it. However, the creature's strength was something he did not expect, so Christian was dragged.
Countless roots rose from the ground to bind the winged creature, but despite its best efforts, it could not escape. Xin'er hurriedly approached it to observe; her brow furrowed deeply.
"I think we are in deep trouble."
"This is a winged ant, the same species as the armored ant, but for the wind element," she explained.
"So?" Lucretia asked.
"Let her finish," Christian said, and she snorted softly.
"These ants are very territorial, so they would never allow other species to live under the same roof as them — unless this place was an [Elemental Nest], with the four species cohabitating together."
"Are you saying that this nest not only contains legions of armored ants but winged ants, fire-breathing ants, and blue ants?" Lucretia asked.
"That's not even the worst part," Xin'er added solemnly. "This place should have four queens."
"Are you serious? We might barely be able to defeat one queen if we're lucky, but you're saying there are four?" Lucretia could not accept this fact. "Maybe you're wrong. The third test is difficult, but never to this extent."
"Maybe you're right."
"We can't take the risk in case she's not," Christian added.
"What do you expect us to do in this situation?"
"Our objective is to get to the core — not fight."
"Okay, and how do we do that?"
"First, we need fast transportation," Christian answered before walking to the winged ant to use the Confundus Charm. "Menes, control this one, too." Christian wanted double assurance.
"This thing cannot carry us," Lucretia commented. However, as soon as Menes finished, Christian used the Engorgio Charm to enlarge the winged ant until it was big enough to carry all four. "Xin'er, in your opinion, which queen would be easier to deal with — the earth or wind queen?"
"Hmm? Why are you asking this?"
"I have this glaring suspicion that the exit to this location will be the lair of the queens."
"That actually makes sense if you consider the test's objective," Lucretia nodded.
"The Armored Ant Queen is known for her defense and strength, while the Winged Ant Queen is extremely fast. So, I don't really know which would be easier."
"If our objective is to escape, then the wind queen is our worst option."
Christian looked at her.
"What's with that look?"
"I'm surprised you finally said something smart."
"Alright, I apologize," he immediately said. " That was out of line." Christian knew antagonizing his teammates was not a good idea, especially in this situation. Lucretia snorted coldly, "I will graciously accept your apology."