♤Far Away From The State Academy Island, In the Second World City, Chester City Of The Super Country Of Britannia.♤
An aged man in tattered attire bowed to the young woman, who appeared to be around eighteen years old, with an air of nobility surrounding her in her blue mage robe.
"I am grateful for your unwavering support, Miss Chloe," he said.
As the young lady pulled out her handkerchief to wipe the beads of sweat from her face, she replied humbly, "It is my duty as a mage, Mr. Bennett. Besides, this is a mission, and I cannot afford to perform poorly, lest I receive a low grade."
Despite Chloe's modest response, her contributions to the Z town in Chester City were significant. If one were to inspect the camps she had just exited, they would find hundreds of individuals in bloodied clothing.
However, there were no signs of injury beneath their clothes, even after the terrifying battles they had faced against the Steel Gates Mercenary Corps. This was all thanks to Chloe's use of her mana to heal these people.
Gracefully bowing, Chloe continued deeper into the dilapidated town, filled with destruction and the sounds of tears and mourning.
Despite her expertise, there were bound to be some who were lost, either dead before the retrieval team could bring them to healing or healed but succumbing to death just minutes later.
However, even as the death toll increased and the mourning and destruction continued, it did not diminish the foundation of their beliefs, as evidenced by the sound of the ongoing protests in the distance.
The Cultural Revolution Front was spearheading a revolution against the callous and greedy nobles in Chester City. Sighing with frustration at her inability to quickly reduce the rising tensions that showed signs of sparking a civil war, Chloe made her way toward the Activist Group. After all, it was her duty to protect them.
As Chloe made her way through the crowd, she spotted an orange-haired kid shouting at the top of his lungs as he joined the protest. He would have looked like an ordinary child if not for his enhanced muscles and the large Warhammer strapped to his back. A smile appeared on Chloe's face as she saw the childlike innocence exhibited by the kid.
With that smile, Chloe reminisced about a conversation she had with her brother in the mission hall two months ago. "It's a shame that such a young kid would have to witness such horrors with his childhood still ahead of him," Chloe had said to her brother.
"Such is the responsibility of those blessed by Fate to receive even an ounce of mana. Our sacred duty is to protect the weak," her brother had replied with an indifferent voice.
Chloe remembered asking her elder brother to change her partner, but he had stubbornly refused and allowed both of them to come to this corrupt-ridden city on the brink of internal strife.
Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, Chloe headed towards the little boy. She grabbed the collar of his jacket from behind and dragged him out of the protesting crowd, ignoring his struggles.
She led him to what used to be a hospital, which was the only facility that had little damage as a result of the strife. The townsfolk had offered it as a base for their saviors.
Zane's piercing auburn eyes glared at Chloe as he spoke, "Why did you have to drag me away from there, Big Sister Chloe? I was giving those bad nobles a piece of my mind, and I was about to challenge them to a fight before you interrupted me."
Chloe flicked Zane's forehead and reminded him, "I've already told you many times, our job isn't to protest but to provide relief and delay any possibility of a civil war until we receive backup from the Military Task Force."
Zane protested, "But isn't that my duty as a man?"
Chloe flicked his forehead again and replied, "You're not yet a man, Zane. You're just an eleven-year-old kid."
Zane sniffled and threatened, "I won't go on a mission with you again. Next time, I'll switch missions with Zoe and team up with Big Sister Amber." With tears in his eyes, he stormed out of the hospital, blowing raspberries at Chloe before leaving.
Chloe chuckled, "Ah, the beauty of youth. I wish Zoe was here. I miss rubbing my face against her cute cheeks." Chloe said as she remembered Zane's twin sister Zoe. However, Chloe's pleasant memory was quickly tainted by the thought of her adversary, Amber.
Just as Chloe was about to ponder further, a loud explosion shattered the silence outside, interrupting her thoughts.
Rising to her feet, she hurriedly made her way outside to witness the unfolding event. As she emerged from the hospital, the sight that greeted her was one of chaos and destruction.
She saw the armored figure, clad in red full plate armor with black accents, a white cape with a symbol on its back, and a scar running across his left eye. He wielded two greatswords with silver blades, and his very presence seemed to exude a menacing aura.
Chloe watched in horror as the "Unfated" residents of Z town tried in vain to attack the armored figure, their bullets and arrows bouncing harmlessly off his armor. The sight of the charred corpses that surrounded him made her heart sink, and the sight of a bleeding Zane triggered something inside her.
With her quick wit and sharp deduction skills, Chloe quickly assessed the situation and sprang into action. She focused her energy and summoned a huge Mana Sigil before her, a direct testament to her quick reaction ability.
Focused Point: Coiling Vortex
Abruptly, a slender and focused stream of water erupted from the Mana Sigil, aimed directly at the imposing figure before them. The man's head snapped towards the source of the water mana, his attention momentarily diverted from the cowering humans behind him. With a swift motion, he crossed his massive greatsword in front of him, coating it in blazing mana.
As the spiraling water collided with the man, it began to twist and twirl around him, forming a tight and powerful vortex. Surprisingly, the vortex remained contained and didn't draw in any surrounding objects. However, the frown on Chloe's face betrayed her struggle to maintain the spell's integrity.
Suddenly, a downward slash, infused with an orange hue, sliced through the violent torrent of blueish mana. The sharp blade, combined with the fiery mana, effortlessly tore through the vortex, eliciting a wicked grin from the man.
"Hey, little girl. The name's Gabriel and I am an enforcer for the Steel Gates Mercenary Corps. But I'm sure you already knew that. It seems you're the only one here worth giving me a decent fight," he taunted.
Chloe muttered, realizing that one of her most destructive spells did not affect Gabriel, "I need to conserve my mana. The best way to do that is to focus on close combat, which will increase the efficiency of my attacks and reduce mana consumption since they will be enhanced by physical force."
However, she paused and muttered again, "But against such a beast, will my physical prowess even be useful?" Chloe stared at the hulking figure of Gabriel, contemplating her next move.
Determined and focused, Chloe summoned her mana and created a small circular pool of water beneath her feet. Stepping onto the water, she used her will to control its flow and guide her movements towards Gabriel's towering figure. As she approached him with a sliding motion, she conjured water whips in both hands.
Chloe advanced towards Gabriel, her water whips at the ready, sensing the formidable aura of power emanating from him. Their exchange of blows revealed Gabriel to be no ordinary opponent.
The fiery mana coating his greatsword effortlessly burnt through Chloe's liquid column, leaving her unable to conjure another whip before a flame burst sent Gabriel hurtling 10 meters into the air.
As he descended with his blade, he swung it downward, unleashing a shockwave that blew away everything in its path, and headed straight for Chloe. Thinking on her feet, Chloe quickly shaped her mana into a sword and, with a flick of her wrist, transformed it into ice as a lighter blue Mana Sigil appeared.
The greatswords clashed and both opponents were at a standstill.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, a Warhammer struck Gabriel's head, sending him hurtling toward the left and crashing into several broken walls. Zane, the source of the attack, gasped loudly as he struggled to catch his breath.
"I promised to protect you, Big Sister. That's what a real man does," Zane said, struggling to catch his breath as he surveyed the damage he had caused.
Gabriel emerged from the rubble unharmed, laughing loudly. "This is what a man lives for," he said. "Your attack has loosened my joints, and now I can fight seriously."
With a burst of flames propelling him forward, Gabriel charged toward Zane and Chloe with his greatswords crossed over his chest. However, he was interrupted midway by the appearance of a child who suddenly appeared between him and the siblings.
Upon seeing the child's features, Gabriel smirked. "Oh, another one appears, using my element type. Can today get any better? The spunk of the young is something this old man misses. Please, come at me all at once," he said, unfazed by the previous surprise attack.
Zane tightened his grip on his Warhammer, realizing what it meant for his companion to be unable to harm the terrifying man. Chloe was alert, unsure whether the new person was an ally or not, as they stood between them and Gabriel. With Gabriel charging towards them, she could only hope that the new person would be on their side.
The young kid burst into the air, flames coating his feet, seemingly oblivious to all that was happening. A resolute shout echoed from his mouth as he soared through the sky.
"For a man to attack a woman is a crime. And as a warrior, I swear on my honor to protect my lady's dignity. I, Magni, solemnly swear." The boy, around Zane's age, proclaimed as he descended towards Gabriel.
"Fiery Eclipse!" Magni yelled as a sword light projected from his blade, swinging with great force. An illusion of a dragon in descent, wreathed in flames, basking in the moonlight.
The flames burned intensely as the attack connected with Gabriel's greatswords, creating a tiny bit of pressure that cracked the ground beneath him for the first time since his arrival.
Seeing an opening, Chloe and Zane coordinated their attacks, aiming to capitalize on Gabriel's unguarded parts and cause damage. However, Gabriel was not one to be underestimated.
With a roar, he summoned a powerful gust of wind that sent the three fighters flying backward. As they struggled to get back on their feet, Gabriel charged towards them, his greatswords crackling with energy, creating a booming sound on the battlefield.
The mages and the "Unfated" residents of Z town were grateful they hadn't engaged in the fight as they witnessed a battle beyond their capabilities.
As the intense flashes of light continued, the mayor of Z town quickly contacted The Port Island Academy Missions Hall, requesting backup. After observing the situation and realizing there was no chance of winning, he explained the urgent need for assistance.
Once he hung up, the mayor turned to a man in a doctor's coat who was smoking in the corner of his office. Although his facial features were hidden in shadow, the man's malicious grin was unmistakable as his lips parted to reveal a set of white teeth.
"Dr. Shade, I have done as you asked. Your servant awaits your praise," Mr. Bennett, the old man, bowed before the man in the corner, eager for his approval.
"Come here, my faithful minion. You have done well," the man said as he rubbed the old man's head.
"Here you go," Dr. Shade said, handing the old man a small, spherical candy with a shiny, translucent surface that glowed.
Quickly unwrapping the candy, the aged man swallowed it whole. Suddenly, his grey hair darkened slightly as he seemed to reduce in age, and a burst of fiery mana enveloped him, coating him with flames. But with a snap of Dr. Shade's fingers, the flames disappeared, leaving the doctor to look at his handiwork.
"Hmm, not perfect yet. The power-up lasts a maximum of five minutes. I'll need more test subjects," Dr. Shade muttered, disappearing into the shadows without a trace. The old man still coursed with euphoria, feeling his sudden power-up revert to its normal state, as he once again became what he always was - an "Unfated."
############
♤The Port Island Academy's Port Centre Stadium, located in Port Island City on the State Academy Island.♤
While these events were unfolding on what could be considered the other side of the world, Dante, Atlas, and several other entrants were navigating through a forest that was essentially a haven for death traps.
The fact that Atlas was tied to the vine of a carnivorous tree and the thorny vines that surrounded Dante threatening to shred his skin was proof enough of the danger. Despite this, Atlas had a smile on his face, and the Abyssal Energy tendrils that held the vines in place hinted at a different story.
Intermittent bursts of flames, lightning, and spells created occasional rings, accompanied by the piercing shrieks of the plant lifeforms. These signs gave the entrants hope that they might be able to pass the deadly course. The faint outline of a pink-haired girl in the distance, who was responsible for all of this, further bolstered their confidence.
However, life often has its plans, especially when Dante- The Cursed One, is involved. Just as the entrants were starting to feel elated about completing the test, the coalescence of mana at a central point quickly silenced their cheers.
The green Mana Sigil vanished, revealing a giant plant monster. Before a few entrants could even react, the monster's colossal branches crushed them to death.
Cries for help and screams echoed as the once-overconfident entrants panicked and called out for their loved ones. Some remained unfazed, while others shouted with joy at the prospect of a worthy opponent. And some were terrified that their uncontrolled powers could harm their companions.
Amidst this chaos, a duo stood out. Atlas' enigmatic smile made it difficult to read as he gazed intently at Dante's face. He observed Dante's scrunched-up expression change from one of discomfort to a wide grin, as the monstrosity appeared.
Dante rubbed the hilt of his blade, Abigail, and the writhing tendrils of Abyssal Energy that had been holding the vines in place began to dance, expressing their master's joy at the appearance of the monster.
Third Character Illustration
Kenji Rothschild
He possesses a distinctive appearance, characterized by his tall and muscular build, combined with a slender frame. He sports short, spiky blonde hair that falls over his forehead in a unique style, drawing attention to his golden eyes, which bear a cross emblem.
A large cross-shaped scar marks his left chest. Kenji's fashion sense is a statement of its own, with a preference for a golden jacket left unbuttoned, paired with gold baggy pants and black boots.
He carries a katana strapped to his hip, alongside black fingerless gloves, adorned with metallic plates on the knuckles.
The intricate designs on his jacket depict flames, waves, clouds, rocks, and lightning bolts, complementing the metallic accents on its high collar.
Kenji's right-hand features a tattoo with a lightning cloud circling a golden sword, concealed beneath his gloves. Finally, he wears a harness on his back, accommodating a total of ten swords, making for an impressive display.
[Note: Chapters 10 to 24 delve into the events that unfolded in the month leading up to the academy. They provide a detailed account of the protagonist's experiences during this crucial period. The narrative seamlessly resumes from the point where the previous academy chapter left off, allowing for a smooth continuation of the story.]