Reincarnation of the Last Magus Emperor

Merlin and Nia sat cross-legged on the stone floor, their breathing steady as they entered a meditative state. The tension from their earlier battles melted away, replaced by the focused calm that came with mana replenishment. Merlin could feel the residual Lightning mana in his veins settle, his core gradually refilling as his breathing synced with his mana flow.

Nia, sitting a short distance away, seemed to radiate strength even while meditating. Her Earth mana had taken a toll during the last battle, but the steady rhythm of her mana replenishment reminded Merlin of the resilience she exuded in battle.

After what felt like an hour, both of them stirred. Almost as soon as they opened their eyes, a deep rumbling echoed through the corridor. The stone wall that had blocked their path groaned and parted, revealing a dimly lit passageway.

Merlin stood, stretching and rolling his shoulders. "Convenient," he muttered.

"Convenient or deliberate," Nia replied, grabbing her shield and axe. "Elder Magnus probably knew we'd need the time to recover."

They stepped into the corridor, the faint glow of mana stones lining the walls guiding their way. The air was cooler here, a stark contrast to the oppressive heat of the earlier traps.

As they emerged into a large, circular chamber, they were met with the sight of three other two-person teams. These were the best and brightest of the inner court Adepts, all of them at the peak of the 3rd Circle and handpicked by Elder Fergus for this exercise.

The other students turned toward them, their expressions ranging from surprise to thinly veiled disdain.

"Merlin and Nia?" one of them, a tall boy with fiery red hair and a flaming longsword strapped to his back, said incredulously. "Didn't think you'd make it this far."

"Especially you, Merlin," said a sharp-faced girl with striking blue eyes, her twin daggers shimmering faintly with Water mana. "Second Circle Novice, huh? Must've been a fluke you got through."

Merlin met their gazes with a calm expression, his saber resting casually in his hand. "We all took the same path. Maybe I'm just better at navigating mazes."

Nia chuckled softly, stepping forward with her shield in hand. "Or maybe we're just better than you expected."

Another boy, taller than the rest and clad in heavy armor that glowed faintly with Earth mana, folded his arms. "Doesn't matter. The Elder wouldn't have let you through if you weren't worthy. But don't expect us to go easy on you in whatever's next."

Merlin smiled faintly. "Wouldn't have it any other way."

Elder Magnus's voice boomed suddenly, reverberating through the chamber. "Congratulations on making it to the final challenge. Your teamwork and ingenuity have brought you this far, but now you must face each other. This is not a battle to defeat, but a battle to prove. Demonstrate your mastery of mana control, your understanding of teamwork, and your adaptability in combat. The victors will earn recognition and rewards befitting their rank."

The chamber lit up as an array formed beneath their feet, glowing faintly with shifting elemental symbols.

Nia looked at Merlin, her expression serious. "Ready for this?"

Merlin smirked. "Always."

The other teams took their positions, the air growing charged with tension. The final trial was about to begin.

From Myrddin's memories, Merlin immediately recognized the intricate array etched into the chamber floor—it was a summoning array, one designed to summon constructs for battle. He had seen arrays like this in the past, but the complexity of this one suggested Elder Magnus had taken it to another level.

With a brilliant flash of light, 15 Automatons materialized around the edge of the circular chamber. Five of them were Sagittarius models, each radiating a distinct elemental affinity: Fire, Water, Wind, Earth, and Lightning. Each wielded weapons strikingly similar to the ones used by the students, as if mocking their mastery.

The remaining ten Automatons were a mix of battle types: swordsmen with swift, aggressive stances; archers whose bows crackled with elemental energy; heavily armored tanks wielding massive shields; polearm specialists with fluid movements; and even a conjurer Automaton that hummed with latent magic, its glowing staff pulsating as if preparing to unleash devastating spells.

Elder Magnus's voice echoed through the chamber, heavy with authority. "This is your final test: teamwork and adaptability. You are not fighting each other, but the constructs before you. Prove your ability to coordinate, strategize, and conquer overwhelming odds. Victory will be earned through precision, cooperation, and resilience."

Merlin's mind raced as he assessed the situation. Five Sagittarius Automatons—those will be the greatest threat due to their speed and multi-weapon styles. The conjurer will complicate things, especially if it begins suppressing our mana. The heavy-armored ones will require focused effort to break through their defenses, and the ranged types could disrupt formations. We'll need to play to our strengths.

Nia leaned closer to him, her shield raised and glowing faintly with Earth mana. "This isn't looking good. We'll need to focus on coordination with the others if we're going to make it through."

Merlin nodded, his gaze sharp. "Agreed. The Sagittarius Automatons are the priority. If they mimic the abilities of the students, they'll be the most dangerous. We'll need to isolate and disable them while keeping the others occupied."

The other teams began murmuring strategies, their previous posturing replaced by a grim understanding of the challenge ahead. The red-haired swordsman, who had earlier mocked Merlin, stepped forward and addressed the group.

"Listen up," he said, his voice commanding. "If we don't work together, those Automatons will tear us apart. My team will focus on the conjurer and keep it from casting. The rest of you need to handle the Sagittarius and support each other with the smaller ones."

The sharp-faced girl with the twin daggers chimed in. "I'll take the archers with my partner. We can deflect their arrows and disrupt their formations."

Merlin stepped forward, his calm voice cutting through the tension. "Nia and I will handle the Lightning Sagittarius. It's the most likely to disrupt everyone's mana control. If we take it down quickly, it'll give us more room to maneuver."

The tall boy in heavy armor nodded. "Good. I'll lead my team to handle the Earth Sagittarius and the heavy-armored Automatons. We'll act as the frontline while the rest of you handle ranged and support."

With their plan loosely formed, the students spread out, forming a wide circle around the summoned Automatons. The constructs stood motionless for a moment, their glowing cores pulsing in unison. Then, as if responding to an unseen signal, they surged forward in a coordinated assault.

Merlin and Nia immediately moved into action. The Lightning Sagittarius targeted them, its four arms blurring with speed as it unleashed a barrage of attacks. Lightning mana crackled around its weapons, forcing Merlin to activate his Thunder Steps and Lightning Vein techniques to match its speed.

Nia held her ground, her shield absorbing the brunt of the Automaton's strikes while her axe swung in precise, earth-shaking arcs, forcing it to dodge and lose momentum.

Merlin darted in, his saber humming with concentrated mana as he aimed for the Automaton's joints. "We need to take out its mobility first!" he shouted, his blade clashing against one of its sabers in a shower of sparks.

Across the battlefield, the other teams engaged their respective foes, the chamber erupting into a chaotic symphony of mana, metal, and shouts.

Despite the overwhelming odds, the students fought with determination, each team pushing their limits in the face of Elder Magnus's grueling challenge.