As soon as the lights of the magic circle extinguished in the sky, the white bow transformed back into a ball of light again and returned to Sanna's chest.
When the ball of light entered her body, she instantly felt all the exhaustion from the last magic spell she had performed.
All of her magic reserves were depleted. It may take a while before she can perform another series of attacks.
Sanna fell to her knees and stayed in a sitting position, feeling the cold of the truck's metals beneath her. She scanned the whole area and a sense of satisfaction filled her. The aswang were all dead on the ground, pierced by her energy arrows. The last time she released this large scale of magical attack was two years ago.
She was not yet enrolled in Neo Archipelago Slayers Academy. She was on her way to the agricultural floating island to visit her ancestral house, when their aircraft was attacked by level 1 and level 2 aswang.
The aircraft was a passenger type vehicle. Most of the passengers were mundane or regular humans. Luckily, there was one licensed slayer on board.
The level 2 aswang was throwing large rubbles toward their aircraft, and unfortunately, one of the aircraft's wings was hit. The vehicle started to descend to the ground, but thanks to the superb skill of the pilot, the aircraft landed safely below while the passengers remained unscathed. But their dilemma was just starting.
The vehicled crashed in the middle of a withering forest and found themselves surrounded by group of wolf-like aswang.
Screams of horror erupted and started to spread inside the aircraft.
Sanna was starting to get infected by the wave of panic when the licensed slayer stood and ordered the people to remain calm.
The slayer asked the pilot to open the door as he will exterminate the aswang. When the door hit opened, the slayer quickly released his weapon - a bo staff. He ordered the pilot to immediately closed the door as soon as he stepped foot outside.
Sanna watched the slayer through the vehicle's glass windows when he launched himself out. She saw him twirled his body and volley of ball-shaped lights were released from his spinning form.
The lights hit the surrounding aswang and gaping holes were left on their bodies.
The passengers cheered inside, witnessing the whole battle. Sanna also felt a sense of relief while clutching her chest tightly.
Somebody from the crowd asked the pilot, who was still gaping in awe, to call for a rescue team immediately. The pilot quickly recovered and nodded his head. He started tapping on the hologram screen to contact the Command Center when he noticed from his peripheral that the slayer started to run away from them.
The people turned their eyes outside also. Some started to scratch their heads, puzzled why was the slayer running away from.
Then a looming shadow from afar appeared.
As soon as he defeated the wolf-like aswang, the slayer felt a faint tremble on the ground. He immediately ran to the source and spotted from afar the looming shadow of the level 2 aswang.
The one who threw the rubble to their aircraft.
Standing at eleven feet, the level 2 aswang flared its nostrils and howled deafeningly.
After releasing its howl, the slayer could hear a bunch of noises around the area. Then another group of wolf-like aswang came from different areas, paying heed to the howl of the level 2 aswang.
Noticing the incoming threat, the slayer grimaced at the situation they were in. He was very outnumbered, and he didn't know if he could defeat them all.
The slayer started tapping on his mobile device, contacting the fallen vehicle. As soon as he was connected, he quickly asked the pilot if he already contacted the command center for pick up. The pilot assured the slayer that the rescue team was already on their way, but it will take some time before they arrive, and the center asked them to hold off the aswang until they come.
That was when Sanna mustered all her courage and interrupted the conversation of the pilot and the licensed slayer.
"I-I could help," she said tentatively. "I also have a contracted mythical being! And I think I could help you."
The slayer paused then asked her if she was already enrolled in the Slayers Academy which Sanna replied that she still has two years left in middle school before she enters the academy.
Some of the elders among the passengers protested against the idea of a young girl leaving the safety of the aircraft. Sanna was about to reply when the slayer's voice interrupted the tense air.
He admitted that he was reluctant to get help from a middle schoolgirl, but he needs all the help in this kind of situation. This made Sanna smiled triumphantly.
The slayer asked the pilot to open the door for Sanna which the pilot obeyed.
When she stepped outside, she immediately summoned the weaponized form of her contracted mythical being.
Sanna approached the slayer and examined the area. He was right, Sanna thought. He couldn't do this alone.
The slayer glanced on her way and asked her if she's ready which Sanna nodded in reply.
"I have a plan," she stared. "I've been training with this large area of effect spell. It's not yet perfect. I might blackout after releasing it, but this will give you time to defeat the level 2."
The slayer was surprised by her bold words. But he was also impressed that she was already training her slayer skills despite being a middle school student.
He nodded at her plan and clapped her shoulder, trusting her.
The slayer lowered his body and formed his attacking stance at the incoming wave of aswang.
Taking a deep breath, Sanna closed her eyes and pointed her bow at the sky.
While the aswang were charging hurriedly at the two humans, a magic circle filled with white lights appeared on the sky. The aswang halted their movements, noticing the white lights above.
"Dance of Starlights!" Sanna shouted while looking at the monsters.
And volley of energy arrows poured out from the magic circle, aiming straight down to the aswang.
The arrows successfully hit the group of wolf-like aswang, piercing them to the ground.
But -
The level 2 aswang just simply brushed off the energy arrows. But the giant monster was distracted.
The slayer noticed its distraction and launched himself to the level 2 aswang.
Sanna was starting to feel light-headed, but before she closed her eyes, she saw the slayer launched from his bo staff a huge wave of white explosion on the aswang's chest.
Then everything went black.
The next thing she knew, she was already in the hospital bay of the agricultural island. They were all rescued while the slayer successfully slew the level 2 aswang.
A nurse came and told her that someone wanted to give her a note.
Sanna opened the white paper and read the note inside - You did great back there! Without you presenting yourself bravely, we'd be dead by now. Thank you! P.S. Continue to polish your skills - X.
Remembering that event, she wondered if that slayer would be impressed that she no longer blackout after releasing that same spell.
Sanna tried to scan the area, looking for her comrades - Ranger and Yule.
But she couldn't find them.
Where did they go? she asked herself.
*****
When Sanna instructed them to cover themselves from her spell, Yule was looking around the area, checking for durable cover against her attacks. Then, the magic circle appeared in the sky.
He needs to find cover fast, he thought.
He started running around when somebody grabbed his shoulders. Yule was about to launch his spear above when he noticed that Ranger was the one who grabbed his shoulders.
Ranger was flying with his eight yellow blade swords hovering behind him like wings.
"This is faster," Ranger pointed out to Yule.
They flew in the air until Ranger found a suitable place to take cover from Sanna's attacks.
Ranger crashed to a window of high floor building and landed safely inside. They were inside of a ruined office or used to be a corporate office.
After brushing the dust and glass shards from their body, they moved closer to the window they had just crushed and witnessed the area spell of Sanna.
*****
Yule was impressed by the attack of Sanna. She decimated all the aswang within the vicinity. He was glad that he was with two capable people in this extermination mission.
Then he heard Ranger gasped and mumbled something incomprehensible.
Ranger his arms and pointed something from afar.
That was when Yule spotted giant shadows approaching.
Then Avatar's voice buzzed in their communication line.
"Ranger, Yule, Sanna! You have to get out of the area, now! There are at least two level 3 aswang approaching your area!"
"Don't worry, we see it too," Ranger replied.