The group that would be responsible for the center was already there prepared for action, they could be few, but there was a very powerful group concentrated there, the QAN formation with each of the mages with power to even be called master mages, in addition to being in the company of her master, who was in fact a master mage and with reckless powers, without disdaining the QAN training of the Academy students and their teacher, all eight there would give their all to protect that place.
– This is awesome, being able to fight alongside you! – Declan said excitedly.
– Our opportunity to prove that we can be like you one day. – Erik said.
– We'll be better actually. – Eve said smugly.
– They are as confident and arrogant as the three of you were, I think that's a good sign. – Anitta laughed.
– The honor is our, children, let's do our best... You carry in your blood one of the most famous and powerful combinations of Celestia, will be a valuable reinforcement. – Adriana commented.
– Let's show these bastards the QAN power. – Maurice said, he was as convinced as his daughter.
– It will be good to see the work Derek has been doing with you kids, I know you will make us proud today, the entire Royal Guard as well. – Thiago commented fondly.
– I guarantee, they've all been giving it their all... And they'll try even harder today. – Derek said smiling.
– They do not wait for what awaits them, all in position. – Anitta said, she sensed the arrival of troops.
It didn't take long and several enemy battalions burst into the center area going after the mages. Derek wasted no time in moving along with his students to show service to four extremely renowned mages in the Royal Guard.
– I'll go first… Just in case… Quantum Phamtom: Quantical Target. – Conjured Erik who used his spell to leave part of the field in quantum phase and enemy soldiers as the only possible targets for attacks.
– Now I come... Concealed Dark: Shadow Ironworks! – Conjured Declan, he used darkness at first fluid that suited the bodies of targets limiting their movements drastically.
– It's time for a "feminine" touch… Blazing Drill Rain. – Eve conjured mockingly that she'd summoned Chimera Flaming Drill Doll and with him high in the sky, her drills dropped from the puppet at high speed and glowing flames chasing the immobilized targets.
– You really are the pride of any teacher... Etherial Purge. – Conjured Derek who generated a spark of celestial energy that obliterated all remaining mages within range of the blow.
The trio QAN and Anitta fought and at the same time watched the performance of the young people, it was impressive, they were powerful, skillful, it was like seeing a younger incarnation of the Anitta team, even their instructor was a mage of celestial magic.
– Very well done... Thiago, Maurice, how about we show them a little of our teamwork? – Adriana said.
– It's for now! – The other two replied.
– This will be fun. – Commented Anitta who always loved to see students working together.
Thiago was the first, he used his quantum magic to trap more than a thousand warriors inside a sealed space in a quantum phase, soon after it was Adriana's turn who touched the ground and from there began to emanate a swamp of darkness that seemed alive immobilizing the targets by wrists and ankles, in addition to having an energy drain factor, finally it was Maurice's turn with the Fiery Slash Angel, a three-meter humanoid puppet with large angel wings made of blades, its body and clothing is designed for the most unusual cuts, in addition to a system of oil and flame cannons throughout the body, and especially in the palm of the hands, it did phenomenal damage. But this formation of the QAN team had another difference, they also risked attacking after the combo was established, Thiago used quantum expertise to blow up several others, Adriana drowned many in her swamp, and Maurice summoned sharp metal pillars to help the work of your puppet. His kids were impressed, their parents' combo had been at least six times theirs.
– We still have a lot of work to do. – Eve commented that she had gaped.
– We will reach this level. – Commented Declan.
– With a lot of effort, but let's be like them. – Erick said with a look of admiration.
– They're just warming up… be careful. – Said Anitta who suddenly felt the approach of a very powerful magic discharge and protected all eight with veils of celestial magic from the initial impact.
It was Heda and Maynard who had arrived here, things were going to get more tense.
– Two generals… Derek, don't leave the boys here, they won't have a chance. – Said Anitta.
– Time, after all, I'll have the opportunity to face "Twelve's Enlighted", the one they say is closest to the gods. – Heda laughed even with some respect for the opponent.
– Take it easy, she is one of the most feared master mages of her time… Should we kill the children last or do we start with them? – Maynard said rather cold and indifferent.
– It won't even be funny, let's finish off the master mage, she's the one who can represent a real danger here. – Said Heda.
The older QAN trio came closer to Anitta.
– Derek, you and the boys take care of the remaining soldiers, these two are ours... Children, I know you want to defend Belladona, but this battle is not for you. – Adriana said maternally.
– Right! – Said the three young mages who went with Derek to take care of the other soldiers.
– You take the Bricttish, the celestial mage is mine. – Said Anitta resolute and certain that it was the best thing to be done.
– As you wish, master. – The QAN trio nodded.
Then the battles began, in a part of the center field the QAN trio prepared to fight a mage who was clearly more powerful than any of the three there, but perhaps together they could kill him.
– The senior QAN Trio of this generation... I heard a lot about you in the last war, even young people gained a lot of respect, it's a pity they're going to die crushed before me... Ground Devastation. – Conjured Maynard, he made the ground explode with several pieces of earth and rock going to the skies and then these shards came crashing back into the ground to hit the mages.
– Caution! – Thiago said, he managed to pass him and his colleagues to the quantum phase.
– This boy is very powerful, so young and so strong, we have to be careful, individually he can represent us big problems. –Adriana said.
– Thiago... Me and "Dri" distracted him, you arrest him in the Quantum salon and blow up the son of a bitch. – Maurice said.
– Right! – Said the other two.
Maynard used several powerful earth projectiles coming from the earth, but the experienced mages managed to dodge them, and they went however to finish him off. The Bricttany might be more powerful, but those three had much more experience.
– Heavenly Fiery Slashes. – Conjured Maurice, that made his puppet launch several flaming blades from his wings to try to hit Maynard, on top of that he used a second spell without reciting it that made the puppet rotate above Maynard releasing a continuous and very vigorous flamethrower.
– Let me help you friend... Concealed Dark: Prision Of The Shadow Beast. – Conjured Adriana who formed something like a mighty misshapen beast of darkness that hit Maynard from behind and left him immobilized and hurting him.
– Now I'm done... Quantum Phamtom: Quantum Room + Quantum Phamtom: Colapse Of The Quantum. – Conjured Thiago, first he trapped Maynard in a small and concentrated area in the quantum phase and then unleashed an explosion in the quantum phase that should be able to destroy almost a nation calculating the power of a quantum fission if applied in the applied in the common phase of matter obeying the same law of proportions as the quantum phase, it was a very powerful magical style, but converting the quantum energy to this world its potential was very condensed, it caused damage, but nothing compared to the damage it did to the laws of physics of the phase. quantum.
It seemed to be the end of Maynard, but no, he was there with a mocking smile, whole and unscratched, and around him multicolored stones that had looked like a monolith moments before.
– Earth magic remember? I cast an anti-quantum monolith, a stone that can nullify the effects of quantum explosions, trapping me in the quantum world won't work. – Maynard laughed.
– In the same way that this stone has no effect outside the quantum phase, so my attacks have an effect out here, you bastard... Quantum Phamtom: Phamtom Dragon. – Conjured Thiago who summoned two projectile dragons of quantum energy in profusion and helix pattern against Maynard who couldn't dodge in time being hit and taken to the skies.
– And we can still finish you off, no matter how great you are… Concealed Dark: Might Confinement. – Conjured Adriana who trapped Maynard in a magical sphere of darkness and extremely heavy that pulled him to the ground.
– My turn… Flamethrower Metal Chaos. – Conjured Maurice, all the puppet's flame and oil mechanisms were activated, to help the wings reshaped themselves like propellers to intensify the spell, it was something epic and majestic.
It had been a very powerful combo, but soon Maynard was free again, he seemed to have used his power over the earth to protect himself, the mages didn't accept that and kept going up.
– You really deserve the fame you have, each one worthy of being considered as a master mage in power... But today I'm not kidding, so... Die soon... Mad Shards Storm. – Conjured Maynard who rained shards of rock in all directions aiming at the three mages, it was in a very powerful and intense frequency.
– This boy, he's not even kidding, a powerful land user like that, I haven't seen one of those since the war, at least not since… – Adriana said.
– That's right I am Maynard Stone, son of Ekatherine Stone, the mage that you left to die in the last war, I know the stories and even what Celestia tried to hide, my clan was considered one of the most powerful in all of Bricttany , and taking advantage of the chance to diminish the forces of Bricttany in an eventual war after that, you, led by the one there who is said to be the closest mage to the gods, allowed my clan to be massacred and did not help my mother who helped them so much, so therefore, this is my retribution for this betrayal. – Maynard said, he intensified the strength and quantity of the shrapnel. – Celestia, Bricttany, Kalaria, Nihondo, Kora'q, what's the difference? All nations are nothing but selfish people who think only of their own good and do not care or lose the chance to destroy the lives of others for their futile reasons, but Madame Stroika will purify this world, and then there will be no more wars, deaths and no Suffering. –
– Do you really believe that child? Sorry for your mother, I admit we didn't think much about that day all those years ago, our orders were to get out of there, eliminate the enemies and get out, no charge, no prisoners, the Stones were badly wounded and we had no medical mages in the group. – Thiago said, he had protected himself and his friends by putting them in a quantum phase.
– Not to mention that it is naive of you to think that wars will end with the Stroika in command, she will hunt down everyone who opposes her, and even if she achieves this world of "peace", it will only be an illusion, a conquered peace at the cost of fear, repression and coercion of the will. – Adriana said, if she wasn't shaken, her courage was constant.
– You may be a remarkable mage, but realize that you are a man with false illusions of peace because of your traumas... I'll just tell you one thing, your mother died more than ten years ago and in battle, GET OVER IT! – Maurice said, he showed the ferocity of Celestia's Royal Guard mages.
– You bastards, they don't even regret what they did. – Shouted Maynard who casts special stone dragons, the type of stone that crosses the barriers of the quantum phase.
– Adriana! – Shouted Thiago.
– I'll take care of it… Concealed Dark: Defenseless Tag. – Conjured Adriana, she blocked the projectiles marking them with dark symbols that seemed to stop the projectiles and make them useless.
– I'll kill you in front of your children, then I'll take care of skinning them alive. – Maynard said.
The fight remained tense, a series of blows, techniques and moves, it was as if he had trained all his life to face those three, versatile and fast techniques to give work to Adriana's dark incarcerations, resistance and defensive skills against the offensive of the puppet and it was clear a stock of an extremely rare ore capable of even crossing the quantum phase of reality, it was a fight for revenge, it was the past coming back, but they would fight until the end, after all they fought for their children, for the Guard Real and by Belladona.
Closer to the library Heda and Anitta were starting to fight at the same time as Maynard and the QAN trio. It was a combat between celestial mages, it was a powerful and dangerous confrontation, the power that emanated from there was frightening.
– At last we met, your fame is great, considered the greatest teacher of celestial magic, it's an honor, I'm sorry it's in such aggressive conditions, after all we both want the same thing, world peace... And for that we need to fulfill the vision of Lady Stroika, who will restore order to this world, is the will of the gods. – Said Heda with an impressive calm, she seemed to emanate calm, tranquility and peace, besides of course waves of celestial energy against the opponent.
– Do you really believe what you say, girl? Some god or goddess may even have breathed this madness into Stroika's ear and into yours, but I assure you it wasn't our gods, it was some crazy foreign god, what your master wants is a generalized global eugenic and political genocide . – Said Anitta launching comets of celestial energy.
– Gods of this universe or another, does it matter? Don't you Royal Guards pray to two goddesses that aren't even in this universe? What matters is that Stroika has the means to purify this world, it can be cruel and somewhat totalitarian, but maybe that's what this world needs, submission to a greater force that guides them since they don't know how to exercise their free will, this world lives in wars, arbitrations, endless conflicts for interests. – Heda said, she was a manipulator of celestial magic at a level very similar to Anitta, in addition she was also going to the direct attack.
– Your power is undeniable, only your heart is out of place... The gods do not enslave us, they gave us free will, as these forces that Stroika seeks are perverse, I will not allow this nonsense... Virgo: Enlightment Path. – Conjured austere Anitta who made the ground around Heda and from there exploded a myriad of fissions of celestial energy in the form of petals sparking power.
– One of your most powerful spells, you're trying to evade direct confrontation, I understand, your combat skills must have deteriorated early, but that was never your strong point anyway, your true power hasn't even been shown yet. – Heda laughed, who knew that was not all that the master mage had to show, in addition to having protected herself in a sphere of celestial energy.
– You seem to be very studious, and also wise, compassionate, I don't know what a person like you does next to Helloise. – Anitta said, floating in the air conjured a series of ten dragons of celestial energy at high speed against her opponent.
– Your loyalty blinds you, don't you see? In the end everyone is just fighting for their own causes, but one of the direct consequences of the Stroika's ambitions is a lasting peace, within three decades or more who will remember that it started with a massacre? Celestial Soul Strikes. – Conjured Heda, her hands sparkled, with celestial energy, she then advanced against Anitta, each hit she gave was physical damage and spiritual damage even more intense.
– Celestial Enlighted Barrier. – Conjured Anitta immediately after feeling the first three hits, her opponent was very good, her spell cast a celestial energy barrier that blocked the opponent's blows, but Anitta was much more nasty, she made the barrier remodel itself by sticking in Heda and then combusting. – Now there is no doubt you are a Scrögger, each genetic lineage that has the trace of celestial magic passes and teaches the use of this magic in a different way, the Specter and the Gallard have similar ways, but the Scröggers are the best in mixing the celestial magic with physical combat. –
– Once again I'm very surprised by your absurd intelligence, you're really right, my main style is contact... Soul Slicer. – Conjured Heda, she created blades of pure celestial magic in her hands, feet and knee, calibrated to do serious spiritual damage.
– One of the most dangerous methods without a doubt, but never underestimate another master of celestial magic... Soul's Prision. – Conjured Anitta who trapped Heda in a cage of magic seals that tried to drain the mage.
– Now who underestimated me was you. – laughed Heda who with her blades tore the magic cage. – A prison made on the same basis as my magic, was not the smartest tactic, show me the power by which you are held as the mage closest to the gods. –
– Reckless child. – Said Anitta reproaching her opponent.
The fight was fierce, both were experts in their own ways of controlling celestial magic, it was a fight that could take cosmic and karmic proportions, after all they were messing with one of the most sacred magics that existed, Anitta never appealed right away to her true combat archetype and it had really been ten years since she had used it, she would judge if it was worth it, and Heda, she might look fragile, but could potentially be the most powerful among Stroika's generals, her soul-destroying abilities were a danger to anyone who faced it.
***
The group that would be in the cafeteria area would be crucial, as it was a strategic area at an approximate distance from the center and the main building, even though there was a lot of space between them, it was a good point to have control over. George had everything under control and positioning the teams. His three paladins were close to him, Ravi Flare, a very skilled young fire mage; Ramona Zachery, a very skilled young weapons mage; Lazaro Watts, a skilled electricity mage.
The Harley team was very well prepared, the long-haired redhead of the team was Ingrid Hailway, a very skilled mage with her family's techniques, even though she didn't specialize in the roots golems, she manages to summon them, but it wasn't much your style; the young brunette of the team was Antonio Buligati, a sensorial mage; and the mage of Nihondess descent was Suiji Mizumaru, a water mage. The teams Sabatella and Gregory were also on hand, ready for combat, and luckily for them, it wouldn't be long before the troops were already emerging.
– Okay, we have to contain as many of the bastards as we can, this location gives easy access to many others, we need to neutralize the danger. – said George.
– We are at your side, master, let's all defend Belladona. – Ravi said.
– I know that Ravi… This place is like our spiritual house, we owe everything to her. – Said George.
– And we all serve with honor, especially those of us who are teachers, we have to set an example to these young people. – Said Sabatella.
– Yes, this is very true, but they are already very brave to take risks like that... Guys, this is the time for everyone to prove themselves worthy of the Royal Guard. – George said, he was already positioning himself for battle, the enemies were already arriving from all directions.
The groups were already ready to fight, advancing against the different fronts of the battle, the Harley team was advancing to an area a little farther from the cafeteria near the origin of one of the hordes.
– Guys, no mercy, let's fall on them! Jaw Meteors. – Conjured Harley, he summoned ten medium-sized meteors with a slash of fangs. – Ingrid will... Antonio, Suiji, get smart now. –
– Yes master... Paralysis Thorns Bloom. – Conjured Ingrid, she permeated the master's meteors with her thorns with golden pollens of paralysis.
With the impacts of Meteors there was direct damage from the shock wave and the spread of the paralyzing pollen.
– My turn… High Sensibility. – Conjured Antonio, he focused his sensitivity magic, this would amplify the effects of the paralyzing pollen on the neural systems of those affected.
– I close this show… Ascending Water Pillar. – Conjured Suiji, he conjured a very vigorous and powerful ascending water spiral that passed by dragging all the foot soldiers he could.
- That's right my boys, we have to continue, remember the battle formation always, Ingrid and Antonio in support, me and Suiji in the direct offensive, if you want to go to the right let us know so we can cover your techniques. – Harley remembered.
– We know master, we are no longer novices, remember? - Ingrid laughed.
– And no neophytes yet. – Harley laughed tenderly even in front of that battle.
Harley's group continued and struggling in formation, they were already well advanced students. Sabatella was leading his group at another point in the area, his group was extremely talented, no wonder they were one of the best of the third year.
– Boys, we have to bury these bastards… Dark Daggers Dance. – Conjured Sabatella, as she moved gracefully and launched hundreds of dark daggers with frightening force and precision.
– No need to speak twice master… Absolute Zero Snowrain. – Cast Ethaniel with his seductive way bringing his hands together and leaving the snowy field, besides he was causing magic concentrations to freeze targets in magic concentrations of -734.0 Cº, he managed to kill several soldiers that way, but others managed to somehow protect themselves, this was a family technique, one of the most powerful, but he couldn't use it to its full potential, couldn't keep the point of absolute zero for a long time yet.
– Let us take care of those who resisted... Dark Bolt Onslaught. – Conjured Steven who seemed to move like lightning hitting opponents with black thunderbolts, in addition to being much more agile in movement through internal electrical impulses, he gave considerable damage.
– Shown... Chaos Pit. – Conjured Craig, he opened small portals of chaos energy right under opponents.
– They're doing great guys. – Commented their master, she was proud, they would soon be neophytes, she knew of the capacity of all of them.
The Sabatella team continued in the fight demonstrating why they were so good; the Gregory team was not that far behind either, their combat was voracious and very effective, they were taking care of a very central area over there.
– Damian get ready… Gorgon Glare. – Cast Gregory, his spell managed to trap at least 400 enemy soldiers and three advanced level enemy mages in a state of paralysis.
– Yes sir... Quantum Phamtom: Quantum Room. – Conjured Damian, he trapped the targets in a room in the quantum phase, had perfected the spell in the last vacation, he was even a prodigious Quasar, besides being able to do the quantum modulation to concentrate damage on selected targets.
– Now it's up to me… Explosive Seal Target. – Conjured Fafi, she marked them all with the explosive magic seals, they had turned into human bombs.
– If I may… Thunder Impulse. – Conjured Philip, who concentrated the electrical magic on his pulse, shocking an area from where the shock wave would violently propel everyone paralyzed in all directions.
Damian undid the quantum phase and these paralyzed targets went off in all directions and exploding taking even more of their fellow invaders with them was a rather morbid tactic.
– These are my boys… Even so, we still have a lot of them to get rid of, don't hold back, it's not like in training, you're allowed to kill anyway. – Gregory said.
– Understood Sir! – Said his students.
Everyone was fighting and giving their all, the invading soldiers and the troop chiefs were very powerful, but they were giving their all and in the company of very powerful captains, and of course the presence of a great master mage who owned the spellbook of Lunes , he decimated the warriors who dared to cross his path, his students even showed themselves Paladins to honor their titles.
– We can't be ugly in front of the master or these neophyte projects, right guys? Deadly Shurikens Rain. – Conjured Ramona who provoked a shower of shurikens that she could control with a frightening skill that was perhaps as good as her own master's.
– Let me help you... I hope my little brother doesn't do bad too... Lightning Discharge. – Conjured Lazaro who used his friend's shurikens as conductors and amplifiers of the hitting range of his electrical discharges.
– I think it's time to raise the temperature, right... Explosive Fiery Dragons. – Conjured Ravi who launched five explosive flaming dragon projectiles in profusion.
– Admirable, they are a really great team. – George smiled, remembering his previous team, and how much it hurt to lose two of the team members, or at least he thought he had lost two until recently.
The fight spread across the field, it was something very intense and the young people wanted to prove themselves, but not all opponents were for them. Harvey was fighting a man of robust bearing, stroiko features and who was actually very strong, user of metal magic, he conjured several piercing spirals of iron.
– Master, we can help you… I just need to put him in a trance. – Antonio said, who was advancing trying to put the target into a trance.
– I'll help you with that. – Ingrid said, she released the paralyzing spores.
– You two… It's a trap. – Harley said, he tried to hold his students, but they were more agile.
– You should listen to your master. – laughed the stroikan of robust bearing and metallic powers, a series of spirals appeared out of nowhere passing through the two mages, it had been a fatal hit, they had no more salvation, they were bleeding, impaled on the multiple spirals of metal.
With their last strength Ingrid and Antonio hold each other's hands.
– You unhappy... Get out of my sight! – Shouted a very stressed and pissed off Harley who conjured a great meteor crowned with searing flames and launched it against the murder of his students.
Unfortunately the mage managed to survive the impact and returned to combat.
– I swear you will pay with your life... Ingrid, Antonio, you will be avenged. – Harley said he had tears in his eyes.
– And you won't be alone, I'll help you master. – Suiji said.
– Just be careful, he's not a weak mage, quite the opposite. – Harley said.
– It will be fun to end up with you in your own house. – The stroiko mocked.
That wasn't the only complicated fight, the members of the Sabatella team got involved in a match while the mistress went to take care of other field leaders and ended up ambushed by a high level black mage with beautiful curly hair, she was beating all three, Ethaniel, Craig and Steven were in a very difficult state, their opponent was a very powerful physical reinforcement mage indeed.
– Lady, you are strong, but you will not leave here alive. – Said Steven who advanced with blades of black thunder against the mage in violent movements.
– We are in three, you are only one. – Laughed Craig who launched a shower of energy projectiles of chaos.
– How about relaxing a little? Frost Evanescense. – Conjured Ethaniel who began to provoke an increasingly concentrated ice storm around the mage.
– You have Celestia's pest talent, but it's not like you'll have much time to improve. – Mocked the mage who advanced in a sure attack hitting a punch that made Ethaniel spit blood, disoriented and make his spell dissipate.
The other two were at her, but after a quick head-on fight she managed to beat them both even more and hold them by the neck in the air by choking them.
– It's a shame, so young and so beautiful. – Said the mage who broke the mages' necks with an extremely absurd ease.
– NO! – Yelled Ethaniel who was still on the ground hurt, he saw two of his best friends being killed like animals right in front of him.
– You're next, darling. – Laughed the mage who was approaching Ethaniel, still weakened.
Sabatella had felt, she didn't want to accept that two of her students had died, she was very proud and a mother's love for them, in moments she came to a close, filling the mage who killed them with blows and slashes with dark daggers .
– You bitch, you pay me. – Said Sabatella who went into physical combat in a very dismayed way.
The opposing mage took advantage of Sabatella's emotional outage and flawed punches and grabbed her in a bear hug to crush her breaking all her bones.
– For a Royal Guard captain who has just lost two of her students, you are fighting very poorly. – Mocked the Zambi mage from M. Stroika's army.
– Have you ever heard of strategy? You cow... Last Good Bye Hug. – Conjured Sabatella, and from all over her body emerged daggers of darkness, and by the force of the embrace, the enemy mage was pierced full on all her vitals, this was the trump card in Sabatella's sleeve to deal with physically stronger enemies than she. .
Ethaniel was crying beside the corpses of his friends.
– Master, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I should have fought harder to protect them. – Ethaniel said tearfully.
– Don't blame yourself Ethaniel, you gave it your all, the opponent was very powerful... They died like Royal Guard mages, now what we have to do is continue to fight and honor their sacrifice, then we will watch over their deaths, I promise I won't let you die. – Said Sabatella, almost blushing, hugging her student, she wouldn't leave him helpless, but he still had a fight to continue.
– Right, Master… For them. – Ethaniel said, drying his tears, even though inside he was still destroyed.
The Gregory team and George's Paladins were mingling in the battle, they fought well mixing techniques and combos, Lazaro and Phillip were the most excited about this partnership.
– Hey bro, am I doing well? – Phillip laughed, who was using his electric discharge spells well.
– Much better than last time, after all you are not a disgrace to the clan. – Lazaro joked, he did everything his brother did, but on a much larger and more powerful scale.
– We'd better concentrate, we can't go easy, not with Mr George overseeing us closely. – Commented Ramona.
– And much less defending our home. – Ravi smiled.
– I really wanted to be fighting alongside his father, but I have to accept that Erik is the new "Q" of the new QAN lineup. – Laughed Damian who proved to be at an absurd level with quantum magic.
– Stew. – Fafi laughed.
Gregory was finding that approach incredible, but he was more concerned about another approach of another magic signature, it was huge, frightening, almost even more powerful than George Gallard's own, it was Aron Steel who approached with a calm look, but his presence was frightening.
– I see you are Mr. George's new students, I would open my eyes, for him to abandon you will be as easy as he did to me or when he let Ava die... Honestly, both situations were because Ava and I we were on the way to becoming more powerful than him and he couldn't accept that. – Aron laughed with a certain veiled mockery.
– Bastard, don't open your mouth to talk about Master George... Who do you think you are to talk about him like that?! – Ramona cried.
– He is Aron Steel, former student of Mr. George, teammate of Emiliana and Ava... MIA in World War VI and now an ally of the Stroika. – Reported Gregory.
– "Greg" still has the same charm… "Missing in Aattle"? It's more likely "left to die". – Mocked Aron.
– Let's get him together, we're at seven, he's only one. – Fafi said.
– Be careful, he's very dangerous… Damian, you already know what to do. – Gregory said.
– You can try. – Laughed Aron who threw a vertical wall of 1 meter razors against everyone.
Everyone prepares to advance against Aron and dodge the razors and Damian prepared his spell, but everyone was tricked, Aron diverted all the razors to Damian too quickly for him to conjure the quantum phase. Damian was covered in fatal cuts, including his partially cut throat.
– Are you going to say that you didn't expect this? Rule number 1 always kill the doctor first; Rule number 2 kill the quantum ones, they can be a pain in the ass, Thiago won't miss it, after all he has two more. – Aron laughed, who gladly took the blows of the others who came forward thinking they were targets of the razors.
Aron had resisted the blows well. Besides allowing them to say goodbye to their friend who was practically dead.
– Fafi… Philip… It was an honor to be your teammate… Tell my parents, my sister and especially Erick that I love them all. – Damian said, he left that world with a smile on his face knowing that he had given his life for the cause he believed in.
– The honor was ours, Damian, ours. – Fafi said, crying beside the corpse.
– We'll tell them you loved them. – Philip said with tears in his eyes, he was suffering from the death of his teammate.
– You bastard… You're going to pay for this, for killing my student, you shit. – Gregory shouted as he stood for battle.
– Get out of my way Gregory, it's not because we were friends before that I wouldn't kill you without hesitation. – Aron said with a cruel smile on his lips.
– You killed my apprentice, you killed Thiago's son who was one of your best friends, you're not the same as before. – Gregory said furiously.
– Being left for dead transforms anyone and I told you so… Flourish Of The Razor Flower. – Conjured Aron who made a rose made of giant razors "blossom" right under Gregory and the others.
All managed to escape the most lethal cuts, but still took some damage.
– Asshole… Gorgon Glare. – Conjured Gregory trying to immobilize Aron and it partially worked, his movements were restricted.
– Now it's up to us. – Said Ramona furious that launches a storm of shurikens.
Ravi and Lazaro turbocharged the projectiles with flames and electricity, it was a powerful combo, in line with that it had some explosive shurikens due to Fafi's explosive seal spell and more electrical shurikens. George had wiped out an entire session in that area when he saw what was happening, he didn't want to believe it, even though he'd known for some time of his student's change of heart. When George got there Aron had already blasted the mages' blow and his blades were already touching terror, the mages were very hurt, Aron was very powerful, skillful and quick with his blades, it was almost surreal, unfortunately some injuries were fatal, he had it had been a tragedy, Lazaro had stepped in front of Philip to protect him from an inevitable horde of razors, but then Gregory had stepped forward to take the razors, but eventually George had shown up and hit all the razors with the "Twin Shredders ".
– Gregory, Lazaro, I'm proud to see you embody the values of the Royal Guard, but now all of you are going to help Sabatella and Harley, I'll take care of this one here alone. – George said that he had a lot of pain in his heart for having to fight against his former pupil.
– Teacher, long time, no see. – Aron laughed ironically. – What an encounter, isn't it? –
– Honestly, I would prefer that you were dead than that you commit such dishonor against the house that took you in, you ungrateful brat. – George said, inside he cried blood, that which had been one of his greatest prides as a teacher, had become his greatest disappointment.
– Funny, isn't that what you did when you left me to die over ten years ago in that damn war? – Aron said irritated.
– HUMF! Idiot, you don't know how much I looked for you, how much Ava and Emiliana looked for you like crazy, but we were in a war we couldn't afford to stop everything to go after just one mage, no matter how much he was my student and like a son to me. – Said George saddened.
– At least not when the missing mage isn't royalty… As if I was going to believe, I wasn't hiding, so I don't know how they didn't find me, I was wounded, I would have died if not for Madame Stroika. – Aron said irritated.
– Aron, do the right thing, things don't have to be this way, please. – George asked.
– Save your words, let's settle this in a fight, old man. – Said Aron, he conjured a dragon formed by razors and launched it against George.
– Honestly, I didn't want to have to do this, but if there's no other way out, I'll fight and bring you back to the right side. – Said George determined and with his swords activated he slashed the razor dragon.
– You know it will be much harder than that. – Aron laughed, who controlled the dragon's razors, reusing them with his telekinesis and launching them against the master.
– Aron, you do not know the pain of having to face you, but your actions are perverse. – George said, he managed to deflect the razors with his swords and his telekinesis. So he used his swords in his extensive way.
It was a tense fight, George would have to use his telekinesis to intensify his moves, even though Otrera had recommended not to, and he was still in the middle of his cancer treatment. Aron demonstrated that he had learned a lot from his master, he was a first-rate razor and telekinesis master.
– Perverse, me? It took me a while to understand, master, but the truth is that Celestia is the true perversion, manipulative aristocrats, the Royal Guard is a stronghold of nobles, they only started to accept people from the people more and more out of fear, seeing that there were mages among the commoners with potentials as much or even greater than royalty, so they prefer to keep us around to control and use us, make us feel important, when in fact most commoners can't even join the Academy, they usually end up joining the army common. – Aron said with hatred and without stopping to attack voraciously.
– Fool, how can you believe such nonsense? I've never treated any of you three any different, none of you were royalty, and I gave my all training you, so don't be unfair... In the past the Royal Guard was really elitist, but we're on the way to change, little by little and thanks to mages like you, Ava, Emiliana, Morrigan and several other young people who have been proving that the Royal Guard is not just for the noble blood, that true nobility lies in the conviction of our hearts. –Said George that he protected himself with some shields he conjured from Lunes's spellbook.
– You want me to believe that? Those who are not of the nobility do not have the same respect, are not properly promoted, while they have captains of the nobility very young, I have seen several extremely talented mages stagnant as Paladins or as sages, we know very well that sages are behind the scenes , the captains are almost always the nobles. – Complained Aron who launches a flurry of razors in a cross.
– Do you want us to purposely discredit the mages for having noble bloodline? There is no favoritism you preach, magic, as you may know, has links to genetic issues, families known as noble, are the ones that generations ago demonstrated the strongest genetic traits, this is just a reflection, but how do you same also said, people who are not among the noble families also manage to manifest magical nature on the same level as those said nobles... You three were going to be promoted to captains soon after that battle. – George said, he felt a huge guilt inside.
– Hard to believe since you left me for dead. – Aron said irritated, launching an inverted shower of razors.
– Only you know what a pain it was, but we couldn't stop... There's still time to stop this nonsense. – Said George.
– After everything I've done so far, I don't think so... And honestly, even if everything you say is true, it doesn't change the unequal social stratification of Celestial that deserves to be expunged... Cross Razor Blades Storm. – Conjured Aron who summoned razors in the form of a cross of 1 meter blade vertically and horizontally, there were several that flew aerodynamically around Aron.
– Aron, don't think I get any pleasure out of this… Goddess's Knight. – Conjured George, his spellbook opened and a set of gray and crimson armaments appeared, full armor with wide shoulder pads, armored tail, perfect mobility, absurd strength, but not only that, there was also a six-foot oval shield and an advanced spear with a three-dimensional blade of a Luneanian forge, along its hilt had a coiled serpent, to support it still had two hundred crackling-bladed swords.
– Here is the true power of the Sagittarius mage, his spell and legendary weapons... Now this fight will be good. – Aron said, he bristled in battle, he wanted revenge, he wanted the purification of Celestia and a new beginning for the commoners of the nation.
So the fight got even more fierce, it was an intense and painful fight, a fight between student and teacher, those who one day would have given their lives for each other, were on the verge of slaying each other's lives.
***
In area I of Lake, Ethan was already positioning himself with the others who were conferred as tactical reinforcement for him, he was very happy to be on that occasion with his two former teammates.
– I never thought the day would come that they would dare to touch this place, not even in the last six Great World Wars they even dared to target this place. - Said Thea.
– Me too, but let's defend our home, with all our strength, especially with these young people with such determination. –Ethan smiled.
– Remember when we were their age? So full of hope, fire, and the desire to face the biggest craziness? – Jack said, he looked at the young students who were there struggling and dedicating themselves to battle.
Everyone was warming up, the groups were glowing and fighting, Andreas and his students seemed eager to start the fight, the team mistress had already summoned her combat animals, a pack of eight black Dobermann dogs of three meters each; the Jaden team was there at the concentration, until Yan went to talk to Keith a little further away.
– Keith, the fight will start soon, we don't know what can happen, so I wanted to ask your forgiveness, forgiveness for how I treated you, I had no right to do that. – Yan said, really sorry and didn't want to die without being forgiven.
– It's okay... That's behind us now, what matters is the future. – Keith said with his sincere smile.
– Can we be friends? – Yan asked.
– Of course, good Royal Guard colleagues, always. – Keith said with a sincere smile and forgiveness, he liked to see that he could start life over.
In the meantime, the mages who made up the old Elijah team went to talk to Alana.
– You are the granddaughter of Mr. Elijah, right? – Said Thea smiling.
– Yes it's me. – Alana said a little tense.
– It's a pleasure to meet teacher Elijah's granddaughter, we were his team, our master. – Jack said, he messed up Alana's hair gently.
– I didn't know you were grandpa's students. – Commented Alana impressed.
– He was the one who trained us and thanks to him I managed to become a master mage, a great teacher, it's a shame that after his retirement he left the capital, but whenever we have time we go to visit him. – Ethan laughed. – You have the same glow in your eyes as he, I'm sure you'll become a great mage. –
– T-Thank you, Mr. Ethan. –Thanked Alana blushed.
– Why her grandfather never commented on you? You know, having trained one of the queen's sons is a big deal. – Commented Megara.
– Maybe that's exactly why Elijah never liked expose his past and was always discreet, a wise teacher, efficient and with a humility that perhaps no other master mage has had. – Commented Henri.
– That's true, maybe he just didn't want to leave you too impressed, he commented that you have big ambitions. – Ethan said with a smile.
– Of course, I'm Cancer and it's better to open your eyes, one day I'll be the master Cancer mage. – Said Alana sure of himself.
– I would not doubt even more if you have the blood of Mr. Elijah in your veins… All of you are showing enormous courage, you are even worthy of being called Royal Guard mages, all of you… This was something we learned from the Master, being born into the nobility does not make you an eligible mage for the Royal Guard, but rather the conviction of your heart, he has never backed down on any mission, and we will honor that too. – Ethan said, right after he felt with his sensorial magic, the enemies were arriving in that area. – They are coming, on top of them without any pity. –
And so that area of the lake was filled with enemies, thousands of them, the area of the lake was really something colossal, the teams went into battle with everything, they wouldn't hold back, they had to do their best and they wouldn't chicken out, the Teachers targeted the most powerful and students looked after low-level soldiers.
– You won't make me embarrassed boys... Dobermanns's Pack Tourbillon: Ace Strike. – Conjured Andreas who aligned her magic with his animals increasing their attributes and abilities, their fangs and claws even more powerful covered by magic circuits of reinforcement, they moved with leaps and spinning like live drills attacking, it was brutal and very powerful.
– We always do well, you know… Molten Lava Craters. – Conjured Amon who developed by nature an extremely rare magic in his family, the lava magic that they possess through an intersection of generations ago with the great-great-grandmother of Amon having married a Hecatrix. His spell unleashed a shower of great smoldering lava rock spheres.
– Let's make it more fun, right love… Rise Of Thyphoon. – Conjured Damian Thyphon that caused a powerful typhoon that took the lava spheres spreading them several times across the field, in addition to over time forming a typhoon with lava parts.
– I don't need to make such a fuss to kill like you... Viper Kiss. – Conjured Vetrix, his lips turned green, he moved quickly, he was certainly a better physical fighter than his teammates, he gave quick kisses, or even bites, all fatal with a magical poison that slowly deteriorates the cells, an almost certain death sentence, to aid in the Vetrix combos also released poison bristles from the nails.
The Andreas team was one of the most varied in terms of abilities going to different extremes, but they helped each other to some degree, were partners for good times and bad. Not far away the Jaden team were taking care of several other mages, they would defend their home with everything they had.
– Rachel, do the honors, please! – Jaden said with a look of someone who knew he would cause massive damage.
– If you ask… Drownsy Atmosphere. – Conjured Rachel who used her magic generating magic waves that numbed the senses and left the enemies confused and some even sleepy, of course some were too strong to fall under the spell of a third year student, but that's why the rest of the team was there.
– I'm still from here... Paths Of The Wind: Wales Curtain. – Conjured Yan, his spell generated several branches of wind gusts as if it were a large net.
– They won't even know what literally hit them… Explosive Seal Mark. – Conjured Jaden producing several explosive magic seals that got lost in the wind and exploded when they came in contact with the targets.
– Second explosive round now… Rock Ball Festival. – Conjured Harry forming several stone spheres full of thorns and throwing them against opponents who tried to destroy the spheres thinking it was a simple spell, but these spheres were filled with explosive seals, it was another massacre.
– They will regret breaking into BA. – Laughed Yan who intensified his air currents to an even more violent frequency.
They were lively fights, no one would hold back, if there was a moment to prove themselves, it was this one, in front of so many powerful mages. Team Henri was lucky to have Ethan around to see him perform, having a master mage's favor guaranteed them much more challenging missions in the academy years, and they wouldn't do it for less.
– Alright boys, get ready... Doppler Effect: Large Scale. – Conjured Henri who put the effect of the spell on him and his students, the enemies saw several illusions of them, this left the mages of the team Henri in the advantage.
Henri demonstrated his combat ability with powerful and vigorous blows with a sensorial effect of pain amplification, he was really a great expert.
– If it's to do damage, it's with us... Kozumikkubaree (Cosmic Ballet). – Conjured Megara in Nihondess, it was a special spell, temporarily Megara's body seemed covered by a layer of cosmic energy, and then went on an offensive full of punches, kicks, knees and violent headbutts.
Megara shone in that fight, her movement was as graceful, as violent and fatal, she was with everything.
– It's going to be a real bang… Mad Allure. – Alana conjured, a shadow came out of her body and spread across the battlefield around her yielding about twenty mages, they were all with impaired mobility or even completely stopped, it was Alana who was using the spell and her magical energy to maintain that mental and sense control.
– Since you've already done the honors, friend... Chaos Satellites + Gravity Bind. – Conjured Keith, he summoned several large spheres of energy from chaos, then he increased the gravitational field around with mass increase causing a minefield that fired the paralyzed mages from one sphere to another violently hardly leaving the ground by the force of the field. gravitational, only being dragged from sphere to sphere by impacts.
Soon the team Henri prepared for a combo, they were facing a mage who seemed to be of a more advanced level, not quite a field leader, but was much more powerful than the common soldiers, Alana was with her Lazy Mist; Megara complemented it with her quick and powerful jabs while Keith prepared his Satellites and Gravity combo, even so the mage was still standing, but Henri soon took care of that small detail, but they almost got rid of the mage on their own.
Ethan saw that and was impressed, it was like seeing his old team again and younger, they really had talent, especially Alana, who he saw her with great affection, and she had talent, needed to develop more, take more risks, could become even a master mage of respect.
– Ethan, it's time to show Ivy and the others why we were the ones at the academy, do the honors. – Thea laughed, struggling fervently. – And no "Cancer" spells, use yours from our time as a paladin. –
– Let it go… Seek 'N' Hide. – Conjured Ethan with a smirk, his spell took the sight of at least five hundred mages on the battlefield.
– How mean… Burning Ashes. – Conjured Thea who spat out an absurd amount of ash and smoke that filled that part of the battlefield, and with a swipe of fangs she ignited the ash and smoke.
– It reminds me of our first solo missions… Crystal Garden Bloom! – Conjured Jack using a spell of the Sapphire clan that made the ground appear a garden of giant and pointed sapphire obelisks that impaled those who were blind and amidst the flames.
– Let's go for another… Oblivion with sapphire rain so Thea can prepare the Smoke? – Said Ethan.
– Let's go… Sapphire Rain. – Conjured Jack, caused a shower of sapphire fractals.
– Oblivion Danger! – Conjured Ethan who made the targets not pay attention to the danger.
– It's already been time, thanks boys… Explosive Smoke: Inside Out. – Conjured Thea, her spell precipitated explosive ash into the bodies of the targets and then exploded inside.
Arguably the most powerful trio of that battle was the team trained by Elijah, it was a field with several teams with sensorial manipulators, but none of them could really compare at that moment with the skill and talent of Ethan Gallard, their power was indisputable. The teams eventually mix, Alana had the opportunity to fight a bit alongside Ethan, along with Rachel and Henri who formed reality perception distortion combos. At one point Keith, Yan, Damian and Jack faced an enemy who had appeared there a short time ago and seemed very dangerous, and really was, after all it was Beatrice, one of M. Stroika's generals and one that none of them did. she had seen, heard or faced, so they treated her as just another opponent and went on top.
– This seems to be a strong one, boys, let's go with everything. – Jack said, he was throwing an ascending shower of sharp sapphires.
– Leave it to me! – Said the others who casted their spells to complement, a double combination of furious gusts of wind and a destructive trail of chaos energy.
– Talented, too bad they are insufficient… Dark Omen Storm. – Conjured Beatrice unleashing a slasher gale of black wind blades to destroy the mages, in addition to being able to cut their spells with relative ease, she was no longer on the ground, hovered in the air.
The mages managed to protect themselves, and felt the power of that mage in their skin, things would be difficult.
– I'll help with it... Gravity Bind: Core Pressure. – Conjured Keith, this spell exerted an increased force of gravity around a target, increasing hundreds of times the weight of gravity according to the user's strength, it was a technique to incapacitate and even kill.
– TSC! A powerful spell, but a user not yet prepared to use it to its fullest potential... Thinks I need to move to cast my spells, you nuisance. – Beatrice said, widening her eyes and with a look of someone who simply had contempt for those opponents, even trapped in the increased gravity field she unleashed a very fast and sharp wind and darkness tornado that dissolved into a myriad of black wind blades in the Keith's direction.
– Keith, no! – Yan said, he threw himself in front of the blow trying to use his wind magic to undo the blow, but he wasn't able to, he took full on all the damage of the biting black wind, fatal damage was his end.
– Yan, Yan, please don't. – Keith said, his body was all bloody and full of cuts from the third-year mage.
– Very much… Thank you so much for forgiving me in the end… I'm glad it was to protect you, serve the Royal Guard for both of us, I know you're capable… Please tell Rachel I love her . – Yan smiled, who died right away.
– YAN! – Keith and Damian shouted, Damian was his friend for years, and Keith had just forgiven him, he hoped to build a good friendship with him.
– He's already dead… GET OVER IT… You have bigger problems. – Beatrice laughed almost insensitive, but at least let them say goodbye to Yan.
– You'll pay for it. – Jack said, he was already gathering magic to continue the fight. – Keith, Damian, get out of here, go take care of another point, she is not an opponent for you. –
Keith left there taking Yan's body and escorted by Damian, Jack left to fight Beatrice, but she was obviously more powerful than him, Ethan noticed the opponent and immediately went to help his friend saving him from a fatal hit, he was already hurt.
– Jack, you need to find somewhere to recover, I'll take care of her. – Ethan said, he managed to hide it well, but his head was racing, worried about that battlefield, if his mother was okay or if Alister was okay, the enemies were showing very thick skin.
– Right! – Jack said, he leaved there while Ethan takes care of Beatrice.
– The third prince of Celestia, Cancer mage, I have heard many things about you... I sincerely want to see if half of it is true. – Beatrice laughed, who looked like she was hungry for wanting to rip her opponent's head off.
– Beatrice Omen, I also heard a lot about you, genocide, sociopath, you don't mind killing anyone, you have no appreciation for human life. – Said Ethan ironic and acid.
– Look who's talking, I can be all that, but I don't try to justify myself with "it's in the name of the greater good", if I defend something I do, I assume, as you Celestia's starches kill, decimate and cause the more diverse problems and justify as being in the name of "peace and order", the only difference between you and Stroika is that she is not ashamed to show who she really is. – Said Beatrice who launches two typhoons of black wind that converge in a black wind trap to try to tear Ethan apart, who finds a way to escape.
– It's not because you're a psychopath that everyone's a closeted psychopath, honey… Doppler Effect. – Conjured Ethan, it was a sensorial manipulation spell, Beatrice now saw several Ethans on the battlefield.
Ethan would try to be stealthy and land blows with amplified pain sensitivity, but it wouldn't be that easy, his opponent had a style of magic that allowed him to attack 360 degrees very easily.
– Interesting little trick, too bad not enough to fool me right! Dawn Of The Omen Owls. – Conjured Beatrice who formed from below a flock of black wind owls that surrounded the mage, and thus detected the real Ethan who ended up being caught by one of the sectors of black wind owls and once identified she launched all the others against him .
Ethan had to turn to dodge quickly by taking several double backwards leaps. He would have to figure out a way to face an opponent that simple manipulation wouldn't work, she could blast a gale of black wind quickly.
– You are an interesting opponent and you seem to have a very strong psyche... Hearth's Crossroad. – Conjured Ethan who trapped Beatrice in a state of sensorial manipulation to leave her emotionally paralyzed, to render her helpless. Then he went for the direct attack, had to take advantage while the blow lasted, hit blows that had the sensitivity of pain increased by 10 times.
Beatrice had very good psychological control as with the amplified pain she was able to reactivate her brain functioning by recovering from the spell.
– You really are a powerful manipulator, but I won't fall so easily... Omen Wind Destruction Trail. – Conjured Beatrice, she unleashed several black wind blasts that ravaged the battlefield, she really wanted to finish off the Cancer mage.
– You can come with everything I can take, I want to see if you can take it with me, your elemental release is sublime, but I don't need to match it, I have other ways to deal with you. – Ethan said, launching psionic energy bristles and dodging the gusts of wind masterfully.
The fight was getting exciting, it was a fight of power and skill, two very different areas and a lot of feelings involved, both were betting their lives on this battle.