Elizabeth Eudora frowned as she felt the ground shake and as she saw the immense destruction of magic far away. A blinding light that even illuminated the night sky.
("That magic, it is similar to the headmasters, the princess mayhap?") She mused, but she was more focused on the third mana signature; the second belonged to Gregory, no doubt.
"It belongs to a Chaosmaw." A voice to her side supplied, and turning to it, Elizabeth spotted Professor Gregory approach her in the dark and destroyed courtyard.
"Professor Gregory." Elizabeth greeted. "I have found no students here, though the only few left that are unaccounted for would be the princess, your daughter, and..."
"Mikoto Yukio." Professor Gregory finished for her, all but spitting out the boy's name as if it were venom.
("Tis understandable, Mister Yukio is quite the tardy student.") She mused as she spoke. "But you said that mana signature belonged to a Chaosmaw, correct?"
"Indeed, we can also assume that it was responsible for this little attack on the academy." Professor Gregory deduced as he continued. "And just when the headmaster is gone, this was clearly planned."
"You are quite right." The two professors heard a new voice enter the fray, as well as the sound of two bodies hitting the floor. Both turned to meet the sight of Mirabella and Agatha's damaged, torn, and unconscious forms on the ground. With a grinning Asmodai standing not far from them,
Professor Eudora's eyes immediately zeroed in on the two downed students, a frown evident on her face.
"Worry not, dear Professor. They still live, for now." Asmodai stated, his grin growing as Elizabeth glared at him. "They were quite powerful, but unfortunately not powerful enough."
"State what it is you came here for, demon, or I shall dispose of you." Professor Gregory stated, his eyes still indifferent and cold despite the state of his daughter.
"We came here for but one reason: spawn of Isadora." Asmodai started, his grin growing. "To announce our existence."
"Our?" Elizabeth asked.
"You shall soon see." He merely said that as he raised a palm at the two, they immediately tensed their bodies as they awaited the attack. "But I suppose killing two professors might help spread the news."
"Hubris is unbecoming, demon." Professor Gregory spoke as he directed a glance towards Elizabeth. "Retrieve the girls; I shall dispose of this cur."
Elizabeth merely nodded her head as a purple hue enveloped the two girls. Asmodai did not seem to care as two people's bodies were dragged her way. Quickly, she retreated with the two in tow, leaving Professor Gregory against Asmodai.
So there they stood in the once-grand courtyard, standing in ruins, remnants of cobblestone paths snaking through the overgrown moss and twisted vines. Surrounding it, imposing walls stood tall, their carved stone now marred by cracks. Wisps of fog now danced lazily, adding an eerie atmosphere to the scene.
"Creation magic, azure wolf." Professor Gregory murmured.
From the depths of Gregory's conjurations emerged a resplendent creation, born of pure magic. In an awe-inspiring spectacle, the enigmatic figure of a wolf materialized before him. Standing as taller than a horse, its powerful presence emanated an aura of ethereal beauty, tinged with an air of menace. Its fur was pure white, somehow appearing both soft and yet impenetrable, like a blizzard frozen in time.
The wolf's piercing azure eyes glowed with spectral luminosity, gleaming with eldritch intelligence far beyond that of a mortal creature. Its broad shoulders rippled with muscular strength, moving with a primal grace that belied its otherworldly origins. Each movement sent subtle tendrils of magical energy rippling through its body, causing the fur to shimmer with a faint magical aura.
"Ah, the Gregory's famous creation magic." Asmodai noted. "It is rather complex to use, if I recall correctly; hence, blueprints of creation are made and passed down." Professor Gregory merely said nothing about the man's scarily accurate knowledge.
With a deft wave of his hand, Asmodai summoned his own potent magic, conjuring a translucent barrier before him.
It shimmered with the power that resonated within Asmodai's very being. The barrier pulsed with contained energy, as if a dormant storm were trapped within its translucent surface.
The magical wolf, under Professor Gregory's command, lunged forward with feral ferocity. Its sleek form moved with a grace that defied its size. As it closed in on Asmodai, the wolf's icy breath formed flickering tendrils of otherworldly frost, freezing the moisture-laden air around its colossal maw. Each stride caused the earth beneath its paws to tremble, its power resonating with each mighty paw fall.
Just as the wolf surged forward, Asmodai summoned forth the full potency of his magical barrier. The barrier twisted and rippled, as though it were an ephemeral shield composed of pure, distilled energy.
With an impact that reverberated across the courtyard, the wolf slammed into the barrier. Energy rippled outward from the point of collision, with visible tendrils of azure light cascading across the shield's surface. The barrier groaned under the weight of the overwhelming force, cracks spider webbing across its otherwise perfect integrity. Yet it held steadfast, defiantly refusing to succumb to the wolf's onslaught.
Asmodai, sensing the need for a change in strategy, swiftly dismissed his magical barrier with a flick of his wrist. The barrier dissipated like a shimmering mirage, leaving him momentarily vulnerable. With a savage grin fixed on Professor Gregory and the magnificent wolf, he unleashed another surge of magical energy.
Asmodai's body levitated off the ground, ascending swiftly into the air. His form appeared weightless, suspended above the battlefield, the tattered ends of his cloak fluttering. A corona of swirling magic enveloped him, creating a aura that sparkled with swirling hues of deep amethyst and radiant indigo.
With a silent incantation murmured under his breath, Asmodai summoned forth his dark and deadly magic. From the very depths of his conjured energy, dozens of arrowheads, thick and imposing, materialized in the air around him. Each arrowhead was cast in a shadowy hue, as if forged in the depths of the darkest abyss and imbued with a latent malice that permeated their very essence.
Asmodai released his hold on the arrowheads, launching them towards Professor Gregory and the azure wolf with graceful precision. The air sang with their eerie whistle, as if they were living specters forging a path of destruction.
In a display of supernatural agility and unearthly instincts, the magical wolf sprang into action. Its lithe form contorted through the air with an elegant grace, evading the onslaught of arrowheads. Each nimble twist and turn was executed with supernatural precision, fluidly avoiding the lethal barrage that threatened its master.
The wolf's ivory fangs and razor-sharp claws became its tools. With each swift maneuver, it intercepted the arrowheads, shattering them into splinters against the might of its supernatural strength. The courtyard became a storm of swirling darkness and shattered dreams as the wolf's teeth and claws met their mark, reducing the lethal projectiles to smoky debris.
Its eyes sparked with preternatural awareness, scanning the skies for any remnants of danger. Each twist and turn showcased its supernatural agility, its body moving like liquid fire, dodging and weaving flawlessly through the remnants of arrowheads that scattered the once-dilapidated courtyard.
With each arrowhead deflected and broken, the wolf formed a protective shield around Professor Gregory, preserving him from the relentless assault. The air throbbed with the energy of thwarted destruction as the wolf's defiance rippled through the ruined courtyard.
"Quite the impressive creation; this is no mere wolf." Asmodai commented with a smirk. "Though, unfortunately, it is not enough."
"What are you blabbering about, demon?" Professor Gregory's gaze grew sharper.
"I suppose it would not hurt to inform you." The demon started. "You see, my lord only identified a few potential threats: the headmaster himself and the spawn of Octavia. There are, of course, more, but those two stand out the most." Professor Gregory's eyes merely narrowed upon hearing the information.
"So you see, Professor..." His grin grew as he continued. "You are no threat."
The professor's eyes widened as his body tensed, while Asmodai's mana flared to increasing heights. He was preparing a spell—an extremely powerful one. One that he might not be able to defend against.
Asmodai, his mana simmering with unreleased power, found himself suddenly torn away from the ruined courtyard. With an abrupt displacement, the desolate surroundings melted away, replaced by the enchantment of the dense forest. His senses were inundated with the scent of damp earth, the rustling whispers of leaves, and the mystical ambiance woven within the ancient trees.
As he collected himself in this new environment, his eyes locked on a figure lurking just a few meters away. A masked boy emerged from the shadows, clothed in an enigmatic uniform adorned with a striking combination of black and gold. The mask, an eerie visage of an impossibly wide grin etched upon his face, exuded an uncanny allure that sent an involuntary shiver cascading down Asmodai's spine.
The boy's presence carried an air of unnerving mystery, his form cloaked by the foliage-dappled shadows. The golden accents in his attire glimmered like ethereal rays seeping through the canopy above, casting dappled light upon the forest floor.
Asmodai, his instincts aflame with curiosity and caution, spoke with an authoritative tone, his voice resolute yet tinged with an unspoken awe. "Who are you, masked one, and why have you brought me to this place?"
Teleportation magic was involved, no doubt, but the wards he had placed should have prevented any kind of teleportation from taking place. Yet this teleportation was also so abbreviated and quick; all it took was a blink, and his surroundings had changed and he was back in the forest.
"Oh, I'm no one important." The mask boy spoke, his voice muffled and androgynous. "I just had a question."
"A question?" Asmodai was, for lack of better words, bemused. This child had torn him away from his battle for a mere question. "Fine, what, pray tell is this question, boy?" Asmodai played along; he was a curious demon after all, so he would humor this boy.
"How'd you break the wards?" He questioned, and Asmodai raised his nonexistent brow.
It was quite the peculiar question after all.
"I am afraid I cannot answer that." He stated this as the masked boy heaved a sigh.
"I see. Well, bear with me as this is my first real fight." Confusion was quickly made evident, but suddenly the silence was shattered by a burst of insane speed. The masked boy vanished from his spot, his form becoming nothing but a blur as he closed the distance between them in a heartbeat. Asmodai barely had time to register the movement before he appeared before him, his hand gripping Asmodai's face in a vice-like hold.
Asmodai's muscles tensed, but before he could react, the boy unleashed a surge of absurd strength. It was as if the young boy were possessed by a supernatural force. Asmodai's body was launched into the air, torn from the ground with astonishing power.
The forest seemed to bend and sway with the force of his throw. Asmodai, a mere projectile, sailed through the air. Trees shattered and snapped, their once-sturdy trunks splintering in protest as the airborne warrior effortlessly ripped through their defense. Leaves were sent into a frenzy, torn from their branches, and swirled in a chaotic vortex.
Asmodai's body tumbled and twisted, an object subjected to the whims of the mask boy's immeasurable strength. His limbs flailed against the onslaught of the forest's natural obstacles, his silhouette colliding with ancient trunks and scraping against gnarled branches. The sickening crunch of bone and the hiss of displaced air accompanied Asmodai's chaotic flight as he was propelled further and further into the depths of the forest.
Finally, Asmodai's body came to a staggering halt, crashing into the forest floor with a ground-shaking impact. The once-verdant patch of ground now bore the markings of his violent descent. And yet, despite the merciless barrage and the extensive journey through the forest, Asmodai lay relatively unscathed physically.
Astonishment and shock washed over Asmodai's features, his mind reeling from both the shock of the unanticipated attack and the realization that he had, for the first time, been rendered completely powerless. The sting of his pride being briefly tarnished lingered, his sense of invincibility shattered by this random boy's incredible display of brute force.
"I was merely caught off guard." Asmodai reasoned as he stood up from the ground.
"Come on, don't be a sore loser." He heard the familiar voice of the masked boy, who had already made his way over to Asmodai despite the distance.
"It was a simple lack of attention that allowed you to throw me this way; it won't be happening again." Asmodai's gaze sharpened as he studied the eerie mask of the boy and waited for his response.
"Uh-huh, whatever you say." He merely uttered it.
Asmodai suddenly found himself annoyed.