The Exalt [Cultivation Fantasy]

"I might have a way," Oscar uttered. His words rang clear, distinct from the bubbling lava and the hisses of the hot vents of steam and ash. However, despite the clarity of his voice, his face was dark, and his frown did little to help ease the tension.

Serena perked up and glanced at Oscar, only to be met with his grave demeanor and hesitated momentarily. Whatever Oscar was planning, she knew it had to be risky and a potential ticket to losing this trial. Her red lips fell into a frown. "What is your plan?"

There was very little time remaining in this trial, and they had three platforms left.

"No matter how bad it may get, there's no way the Pavilion will allow us to die in this lava. However, we may lose or be out of commission for some time after doing this." Oscar moved toward Serena, who was staring at the molten lava in concern.

Oscar's assertion was not without merit, so Serena nodded. Her confidence grew with Oscar's determination to see it through, and her green eyes focused on him. "Explain."

"I have a special technique that can grant me incredible power. That, together with our combined Ein, may be enough for me to jump in succession multiple times," Oscar slowly entered Reis Awaken to adjust his body to its optimal condition while talking. "But we will need to rouse our Eins beyond our limit."

The banner above them changed, showing eight minutes were left in this part of the trial.

"So what do you say?" Oscar reached his hand out to Serena.

Serena stared at Oscar's coarse hand full of callouses. Without hesitation, she placed her hand on top of his; she had gotten used to the roughness of Oscar's hand a while ago. With her slender hand gripped tight, Serena sighed and said, "Guess it can't be helped."

However, she was soon taken aback as Oscar suddenly pulled her in. Her vision suddenly shifted to staring at the rocky ceiling and Oscar's face from above. She could feel his hands holding her tightly on her back and legs; it was the so-called princess carry.

"What are you doing?!" Serena stammered with a beet-red face, trying to push herself off Oscar. "What is the meaning of this?"

Oscar was also slightly flushed. Although he was used to seeing beautiful girls, holding one in his arms was still an awkward experience for him. Despite Serena's attempts to get off, he maintained his hold on Serena. "Sorry, but it'll be easier to do this if I hold you close."

His innocent obsidian eyes looked at Serena without a hint of a lie. To move as fast as possible with Serena in tow, he could not drag her by the arm, or else she would get hurt. There was not a single intent to take advantage of the situation.

Even though his intentions were pure or not, Oscar did end up with a small reward from this. The only other time he was close to a girl was when talking to Celestina or Emily, but nothing too close like this. His slightly flushed face became a dull red; Serena was surprisingly light, and the flowery smell of her hair reached Oscar's nose like an enticing fruit.

He held his hands respectfully to avoid misunderstandings, but he couldn't stop thinking about the soft feeling in his arms. She was soft but also firm underneath, he couldn't describe it, but it was pleasing to the point he understood why Frederick and Emily, like his mom and dad, loved to hold each other.

It was an entirely different feeling from holding a friend.

Serena was still red as a tomato to her thin neck. She wanted to keep retaliating but stopped after hearing Oscar's explanation. Instead, she cursed slowly, saying each word slowly, "This…better…work…or…else!"

"I'm sorry, but just match your Ein to mine. It'll be over in a matter of moments." Oscar held her tighter, making Serena yelp as her head rested on his chest.

Serena saw Oscar's face was serious, and he was staring dead ahead at the exit. With a pout, she reined in her complaints since there was no time for that.

'Adamasreis'

Oscar gathered the Reis to form the Adamasreis on his hands and feet.

"Huh?" Serena couldn't see Reis nor feel any Ein, but she could tell something was different. Her back and legs felt Oscar's hands, which were trying their best not to be disrespectful, suddenly have a different feeling. It was like they were the hands of a diamond statue.

'Dual Awaken'

Oscar unleashed his Ein to the max and conducted more Reis to surpass his limits. "Now!"

At Oscar's instruction, Serena also surged her Ein to the utmost, no even more than before, to the point where blood started to drip down her nose. Their blue and yellow Eins mixed much more than before, becoming a light mellow green.

Without hesitation, Oscar kicked off the stone platform with tremendous force. His shoes tore apart due to the 'Shattering Wave' being expelled out of his feet; this was made caused the rocket-like propulsion.

Serena's eyes widened at how high up they were. But then, some blood spilled over her forehead. It wasn't from her nosebleed but from Oscar, who was holding her. His eyes, nose, and mouth were dripping blood.

'Is he going to be alright?' Serena grew worried.

On their descent, Oscar roared and landed on the stone platform, causing it to shake a little. Then he propelled up again in another great leap.

Serena continued to flow her Ein to alleviate as much pressure as possible. Whatever technique Oscar had done held tremendous power, but he would succumb to this pressure unless she aided in any way she could.

They landed on the second platform and then the third.

Oscar was fast approaching the limits of both his of 'Awaken'; his heart and core were hurting badly. However, he refused to back down and diverted all he had into his feet. He trusted Serena to provide some relief on top while he brute forced his way through the pressure.

"One more!" They shouted.

In a final leap, Oscar felt himself losing consciousness. He noticed Serena's eyes were dimming as well, so he quickly held her in a protective hug. He tumbled on the ground, past the door, feeling his body being bruised all over by the rocky terrain; Serena was unharmed.

"We did it," Oscar coughed, lying flat on his back, and blacked out. The two lost consciousness as the sound of a bell dinged, proclaiming the end of this part of the trial.

Hours later.

"My head," Serena opened her eyes in a daze but winced. "Ugh!"

The overuse of her Ein brought sporadic surges of pain to her core. She struggled to get up and rubbed her temple. "What happened?"

When her mind became clearer and more aware of her surroundings, Serena couldn't help but stare blankly below her. She had been lying on top of Oscar for the entire time without knowing.

"Why am I on top of you?!" Serena screamed and tried to move, but her legs were weak, and she fell back onto his chest; she didn't realize it earlier, but Oscar's chest was incredibly well-toned. Soon, her face was red again as heavy breathing resounded. Serena's hands gripped tightly on Oscar, and her eyes were in a daze.

"How muscular…." She softly voiced sweetly. Her hands felt how muscular and firm Oscar was underneath his clothes despite his normal frame.

For all the appearances she kept up as a prideful and proper lady, she had one flaw. An infatuation that she could not get rid of. Muscles.

The one thing she was fascinated with was muscles. Not overly grown muscles but well-toned dense muscles. She couldn't help but be entranced, feeling the amazing muscles under her face and hands.

"No! No!" Serena quickly lifted herself; her hands were still on Oscar's chest. The solid feeling under them made her blush more, but she shook her head. "What is wrong with me?"

She stared down at Oscar's unconscious face with a shy and irritated face. Her lips scrunched up in a pout. Serena recalled the last moments when they were falling from the air when Oscar held her tight in his muscular arms and took the brunt of the fall.

"Ah~ your arms were so sturdy yet gentle." Serena smiled and swayed her shoulders like a flower in a breeze but soon slapped herself. "Stop it! He's a rival and a competitor. So what if he has muscles; he's not that handsome."

She closed her eyes and arrogantly crossed her arms, still sitting atop Oscar, but took a peek at Oscar's face. Her eyes slowly softened as they continued gazing at his countenance. "Hmmm, he's not handsome, but it's not bad."

Oscar was not a handsome person, but he wasn't ugly either. His face was average but was something that a person could stare at for a while without getting sick of it. Serena was caught in her moment of captivation, humming while looking at Oscar's face.

"After all that, he sleeps quite peacefully." She opened his eyelids to see if he was awake. But only a soft snore came in response, inducing her giggling.

She was the type who had no patience for people who caused her trouble and impeded her progress, like Mary Jones. But she respected people like Oscar, who had given his all and succeeded with her.

This respect grew with the memories of working together with Oscar, Oscar protecting her, and his incredible muscles into something more. Her heart felt like it was about to burst; it was the blooming of love for the young maiden.

With a flush on her cheeks and lowered eyes from delight, Serena poked Oscar's cheek with a grin. But then she frowned when she saw the side with no ear. "It must have been painful. Hmm, what's this?"

There was a small object in Oscar's ear. Serena was puzzled and removed it.

"AHHH!" Oscar was forced awake by the tremendous pain. The inhibitor had been removed.

Serena was knocked off. Her eyes were full of shock and worry, seeing Oscar in agony.