The car violently flies through the air in broad daylight, its shadow sliding across the ground like a predator lurking. Gabrielle barely has time to react before she sees the vehicle spinning uncontrollably towards her, launched with surreal force.
— Aaaah, I'm really going to die now! — Gabrielle's scream echoes through the street, her eyes wide, fear paralyzing her in place.
Farid, not wasting any time, pulls her by the arm, spinning to face the approaching car. The sunlight reflects in his eyes, while his expression turns to pure disdain.
— Always so violent… — he grumbles, as if already bored with the situation.
With a swift and precise movement, the Djinn punches the vehicle at the exact moment it is about to hit them. The car crumples with a shrill sound, being thrown back up into the air until it crashes into a nearby wall, scattering twisted metal pieces across the ground.
Gabrielle, still breathless, tries to absorb what just happened. She blinks repeatedly, shock etched on her face.
— What... was that?! — she stammers, her voice trembling as she looks at Farid.
Farid turns to her with a calm smile, as if it were just another inconvenience.
— I warned you we should have left right away. Things like this always happen to you! — He scans the tree-lined street, his senses on high alert.
But before she could respond, a dark presence seems to approach.
From the roof of the nearby house, a colossal shadow moves closer, its dark form contrasting with the blue sky. A thunderous roar is heard, making the surrounding windows vibrate.
Farid narrows his eyes, visibly irritated.
— Damn it... we'll have to find another way out. — He holds Gabrielle's hand firmly, already plotting their next move.
— F-Farid…! — Gabrielle exclaims, her voice filled with fright as she feels her body suddenly lifted into the air. She feels the cold breath of death on her neck.
Before Farid could react, a second grotesque shadow materializes atop the high school wall, like a distorted figure against the clear sky.
Gabrielle is lifted nearly three meters high, her heart racing and her eyes wide as she tries to process what's happening. Her body instinctively writhes in an attempt to escape, but the grip holding her is relentless.
The creature that has captured her is immense, its skin dark as pitch, with hints of indigo purple shimmering in the daylight. Its eyes, the same color, are fixed on Gabrielle, as if savoring her surprise and vulnerability.
Farid quickly turns, his eyes assessing the situation as the sinister silhouette of the Tar on the neighboring roof roars. This second Tar casts a threatening glance at them, its eyes glowing with a sinister intensity, even in the sunlight, and its sharp claws reflecting the daylight.
Gabrielle, her heart pounding, fixes her gaze on Farid, determined to alert him. Even in fear, Gabrielle remains courageous.
— Farid, this ugly thing is taking me! Do something! — she says, her voice a bit urgent as she struggles to find a way out of the situation if Farid cannot help her.
Farid grits his teeth, his eyes narrowing as he processes the situation. The energy around him starts to vibrate, charged with determination. He knows he must act quickly.
— This ends now… — Farid murmurs, his eyes glowing with fierce determination as he prepares to confront the Tars.
Gabrielle feels the pressure increase around her body as the dark and grotesque tail of the Tar keeps her suspended. Fear crawls up her spine, but she isn't going to give in easily. With a determined kick, she strikes the creature with all the strength she can muster.
— Let me go, you disgusting monster! — she screams, her voice trembling with anger and courage.
Even while trapped, Gabrielle continues to struggle, trying to free herself. The indigo-skinned Tar walks over the wall to the school roof, with Gabrielle wrapped in its tail. Upon reaching the roof, it emits a terrifying roar, a sound so loud and deep it reverberates through the street. The sound is so piercing it shatters the surrounding windows, and everyone present shrinks back, covering their ears to block the penetrating pain.
Gabrielle feels dizzy and nauseated by the shrill sound, on the verge of passing out, but she resists.
— Blondie! Hang on, I'm coming! — Farid yells desperately, his eyes wide with concern as he watches Gabrielle being lifted even higher by the monstrous creature.
But before he could act, the gray-skinned Tar takes advantage of the distraction and, with devastating force, hurls a second car directly at Farid. The impact is brutal— the car hits Farid with a deafening crash, crushing him against the ground.
— Aaaah! — Farid's scream of pain echoes as the automobile presses him with all its weight.
Guilherme, still near the school guardhouse, writhes in agony, his body suffering from the marks of transformation into a Tar.
***
The indigo Tar lifts Gabrielle even higher, its tail coiled around her body like a deadly serpent. Its dark eyes stare at her fixedly, as if studying every movement she makes. With a sudden and crushing grip, it compresses her body, making Gabrielle let out a cry of pain.
— Aaaah, horrible monster! — Gabrielle exclaims.
Suddenly, something unusual happens. Around Gabrielle, a golden cloud begins to form, emanating from her body like a mysterious glow. Small sparkling dots float in the air around her, illuminating the space in a hypnotizing display.
The Tar's eyes widen, its expression filled with surprise and fascination by the light now surrounding the girl—it is the Sands of Desire.
Gabrielle felt the pressure increasing around her body, her breathing becoming shallower as the Tar tightened its tail against her. Her vision was starting to blur, and fear mingled with exhaustion.
"Damn... I didn't want to end up like this…" she thought, struggling to keep her eyes open. "But... I don't... have the strength..." she continued.
She looked at the Tar, which stared at her with semi-closed eyes, preparing for the final blow. Tears began to well up in the corners of her eyes. She felt a wave of sadness and regret flood her chest.
"Penelope... I'm sorry..." she murmured, her words almost inaudible. "I'm weak... I couldn't keep my promise…"
Suddenly, an impact struck the indigo Tar. A shoe hit it squarely on the head, which barely seemed to feel the hit.
— Let go of my friend, you disgusting, idiotic monster! — Daniella shouted, her voice filled with fury.
The Tar slowly turned towards Daniella, its eyes narrowing into a resentful glare. The creature began to gather vibrant energy, indigo with scarlet hues, that pulsed within its mouth. The energy grew in intensity, and then, with a roar, it shot towards the girl.
Daniella froze as she saw the deadly wave of light coming her way. Her body instinctively shrank.
— Help… — she whispered, her voice almost disappearing into the air.
Gabrielle, with great effort, twisted to look at her friend.
— Dani... run!! — she shouted, feeling the despair grow.
But before the energy could hit Daniella, a figure moved in a blur. With a superhuman leap, someone launched into the path, blocking the attack.
Daniella saw a tall figure land firmly, its feet dragging across the ground and creating deep grooves in the concrete as the force of the impact reverberated.
— Th-thank... you… — Daniella started to say, but her words got caught in her throat.
Looking at her savior, Daniella saw its true appearance: sharp teeth and red eyes shining in the daylight. Its long, slightly messy hair swayed in the wind. It was a fierce sight, a mix of human and something much more frightening.
Despite the fear enveloping her, Daniella finally managed to find her voice again, though it was quieter.
— Is... everything... okay? — she murmured, taking a cautious step back but still not averting her gaze.
***
A dense black smoke escaped from Guilherme's lips, enveloping him in a frightening aura. It was impossible to tell whether he was self-aware or what his true intentions were. His nose twitched incessantly, like a predator in search of its prey.
With a slow and sinister gesture, Guilherme licked his lips and flashed a predatory smile. Without warning, he dropped Daniella to the ground, his eyes locking directly onto Gabrielle and the shimmering Sands of Desire floating in the air.
He raised his hands, and a nauseating sound filled the environment. His fingers were being pierced from within, nails being destroyed to give way to a sharp, dark mineral that rapidly grew, transforming into sharp claws.
A bestial roar erupted from Guilherme's throat as he leapt toward Gabrielle, claws ready to attack.
— Not my Mistress, kiddo! — a voice thundered.
Farid, who had been hidden behind the thrown car, appeared in a blur of motion. In an instant, he was on Guilherme, forcefully stepping on his face, diverting his trajectory and hurling him into the school building with a deafening crash. Pieces of concrete and glass flew, as Guilherme was pushed into the structure, causing considerable destruction.
Farid kept his foot firmly pressed against Guilherme's face, who writhed on the ground, immobilized.
— Shhh, stay quiet… — Farid said with a calm smile.
He crouched down, his left hand hovering over Guilherme's face while keeping him pinned to the ground with his foot. A golden glow began to emanate from Farid's hand, the Sands of Desire swirling around his fingers, enveloping them in a veil of shimmering light.
Guilherme finally stopped struggling, his eyes slowly closing as he fell into a deep, peaceful sleep, returning to his human appearance.
— Ready... we'll talk later... Gui… — Farid murmured, his voice soft as a nighttime breeze, as he stepped away, leaving Guilherme in the temporary peace of sleep.
Farid then quickly turned his gaze to the Indigo Tar, which was holding Gabrielle more firmly.
The Sands of Desire surrounded her body, and around them, a thick, voluminous cloud began to form, the golden particles swirling with the intensity of a small sandstorm.
In a swift gesture, Farid conjured the Clock of Desires, watching closely as the sands inside the instrument decreased rapidly, being sucked toward the Tar through Gabrielle's body.
— The Tar is forcibly extracting the Sands of Desire, which are stored in the Hourglass, through Gabrielle's body... Tsk! It's a very unpleasant ability… — Farid murmured, his eyes narrowed with concern. — Trying to corrupt them by force... and all at once...
But the danger was closer than he realized. The Gray Tar, taking advantage of Farid's distraction with the Indigo Tar, entered the school from above, descending upon him like a shadow. With a quick and precise strike, the Gray Tar hit Farid's right side.
Farid, however, did not move an inch. His body remained immobile, enveloped in a golden aura, the Sands of Desire swirling around his right arm like a glowing shield.
— Wait until your turn comes, kiddo! — Farid said, enjoying himself, a bold smile lighting up his face.
He spun his body with agility and, in a fluid motion, struck the Gray Tar with a devastating knee strike. The impact sent the Tar flying across the gate area, crashing with a thunderous sound and kicking up a cloud of dust.
When the golden aura around Farid disappeared, a deep cut on his right arm became visible, from which blood began to drip slowly.
— Tsk... Even with the Sands of Desire as a shield, I couldn't block it completely. — He frowned, frustrated. — Damn... And wounds caused by Tars cannot be healed by the Sands... I can't take another one of those…
With his eyes quickly scanning the battlefield, Farid turned his attention to Daniella and Guilherme. "With them here, I won't be able to fight with the freedom I need; there's also the Blonde who's been captured by the larger Tar."
Suddenly, an energy beam shot from the Indigo Tar towards Farid, fast as lightning.
— Farid, watch out! — Gabrielle shouted, her voice full of urgency.
Farid barely dodged, the Djinn now near the gate with unconscious Guilherme hanging on his back and Daniella in his arms.
— Thanks, uncle!" Daniella said, relieved.
— Uncle?! — Farid said, mortified. — Call me that again, and I'll drop you, you know?! — Farid huffed, trying to hide his amused smile.
Carefully, he set both of them down on the ground.
— Take this foolish guy away with you, please, okay? — Farid said, his voice unmistakably ironic and playful.
— Sir... you know Gaby, don't you?! Save her, please! — Daniella pleaded, her eyes shining with hope.
Farid threw an encouraging smile at Daniella before turning his attention back to the Indigo Tar, which still held Gabrielle under its control.
— No need to even ask… — Farid said, extending his shoulder decisively. — Now get moving! Let's go, let's go!
Turning to the Indigo Tar, he made a challenging gesture.
— Hey, you walking tar, let her go and come fight! I want to see if you're really good without a hostage!
Farid shot towards the opposite side of the gate, trying to draw the Indigo Tar's attention away from Gabrielle, while Daniella carried Guilherme out of the school.
The Djinn was only a few steps away from reaching Gabrielle when the Indigo Tar reacted with fury. With an agile movement, the beast attacked Farid with its long claws, throwing him back into the courtyard with a brutal blow.
— Farid! — Gabrielle screamed, desperation in her voice.
— I'm fine, blonde… — Farid replied, struggling to get up, a confident smile forming on his lips despite the pain.
— Up, up, be careful! — Gabrielle warned, her voice full of urgency.
Before Farid could fully recover, the Gray Tar hit him with its tail, causing him to stagger. It then began firing a series of gray energy blasts, with scarlet reflections, that hit Farid directly, pushing him back with force.
— Farid… — Gabrielle whispered, her tone of concern filled with helplessness.
Gabrielle's vision was starting to blur, her strength diminishing as the Sands of Desire around her glowed with increasing intensity. The smoke enveloping the scene was slowly dissipating, revealing the injured Farid trying to stand with difficulty.
***
Gabrielle opened her eyes slowly, struggling to stay conscious. Her eyes, though half-closed, were focused on Farid, who was visibly injured but still determined. The fight was far from over, and every movement Farid made was a battle against pain and exhaustion. The determination in his gaze reflected the hope Gabrielle needed to keep resisting.
— Farid... no... if this keeps up... you... — Gabrielle whispered, her voice wavering, eyes wide with fear.
Farid, breathing heavily, blocked the swift attacks of the Gray Tar, narrowly avoiding its deadly claws. In a swift movement, he counterattacked, striking the monster with a powerful punch, sending it flying away.
— Farid is fighting, even Dani tried to fight... I can't... give up... — Gabrielle murmured to herself, trying to gather strength. Her heart pulsed with determination, echoing the courage she saw around her.
— Hang in there, Blondie, I'm coming! — Farid shouted, his eyes burning with the promise of protection.
The Gray and Indigo Tars, now coordinated, unleashed their combined energies at Farid. He tried to dodge, but the attacks hit him, enveloping him in an explosion of light and smoke. Gabrielle watched the scene, her strength waning as her vision closed in, a veil of darkness descending over her.
But then, something unexpected happened. The Sands of Desire around her began to glow with an overwhelming intensity, as if reacting to the growing determination within Gabrielle. The golden light spread, enveloping her in a radiant aura that pulsed like a heartbeat, bringing a sense of warmth and renewed strength.
Within the darkness, Gabrielle felt a new energy growing, a deep connection with the Sands that seemed to respond to her desperate call. She was not alone. And as the light grew, a new hope ignited within her, a flame that refused to be extinguished, no matter how fierce the storm around her.
Gabrielle, with eyes half-closed and struggling to breathe due to the crushing grip of the Indigo Tar's tail, felt a wave of energy surge through her body. Her eyes began to emit a faint golden glow, and her words came out as a desperate whisper:
— ...I can't... give up... Farid... my Djinn... My Genie...
Suddenly, as if an ancient force had been awakened within her, Gabrielle rose with determination. A powerful energy enveloped her, and her words came out with unshakable authority:
— COME TO ME! I COMMAND!
Gabrielle's eyes shone more brightly, turning into a radiant gold. With inexplicable strength, she broke free from the tail of the Tar that coiled around her, freeing herself. At that moment, Farid was surrounded by a golden aura and, like a shooting star, transformed into a bright light, appearing suddenly before Gabrielle. Without hesitation, he knelt before her in complete respect.
— Yes, My Mistress. I, Farid, the Marid Djinn, am here! — declared Farid, his voice filled with devotion.
Gabrielle, now with an imposing stance and a gaze that radiated the authority of a Mistress, raised her left hand towards Farid. Without saying a word, he gently held her hand from underneath. An intricate blue arabesque was engraved on the palm of Gabrielle's hand. The same arabesque, a cursive U with a small hook at the left end and an oval circle at the top, was engraved on the Hourglass of Desires, like a seal of power.
Farid brought Gabrielle's hand to his lips, kissing the arabesque with reverence. At the moment of the kiss, an intense brilliance flooded the environment, like an explosion of golden light, revealing a powerful presence. Shamal's figure appeared, radiating energy. Her exaggerated smile widened as she launched into the air, executing a graceful and powerful flying kick.
— How wonderful! — Shamal exclaimed, her voice overflowing with enthusiasm. — I'm feeling freer than the last time I showed up!
The glow around Shamal grew, illuminating the surroundings with renewed power. Shamal's mocking smile echoed even louder, and she looked disdainfully at the two Tars.
— Let's dance, boys, the party starts now! Watch out for me, I'm quite crazy! I have a certificate. Hahahaha. — Shamal laughed hysterically, with a look of confidence and mockery