The sudden appearance of the gate sent shockwaves through the crowd. Panic surged as monstrous creatures began pouring out, their claws gleaming in the dim light and their roars shaking the air. Hunters in the vicinity sprang into action, but their numbers were too few. The monsters were relentless, some slipping past the hunter's defenses and charging toward the civilians.
Screams filled the air as beasts tore through the streets, and chaos erupted all around. Families ran for shelter, and the academy students present began to rally, trying to contain the breach.
Leon and Sophia stood side by side, bracing themselves as a pack of wolf-like creatures with glowing red eyes hurtled toward them. Their sharp fangs dripped with saliva, their snarls echoing in the air.
"They're coming straight at us!" Leon yelled, drawing his sword, his muscles tensing as the creatures closed in.
Sophia stepped forward, her own blade gleaming under the faint light of the nearby lampposts. "Stay close. Don't let them surround us!" she warned, her demon instincts kicking in, heightening her senses.
As the first of the monsters lunged, Sophia darted forward, her blade cutting through the air in a fluid arc. The sharp edge sliced cleanly through the creature's neck, blood spraying as it collapsed to the ground. Leon spun beside her, his sword striking with precision, cleaving through another monster's spine.
"Lila! We need you!" Leon shouted as another wave of beasts began to charge.
Lila stood behind them, hands glowing with magical energy, her face filled with determination. "I'm on it!" she replied, casting a healing aura over both of them. The light that emanated from her hands closed up any minor wounds they had sustained and revitalized their stamina, allowing them to fight on without faltering.
"Keep going, I'll heal you as you fight!" Lila urged.
Sophia and Leon pressed forward, moving in perfect sync. Every time Sophia's blade slashed through one of the monsters, Leon would follow up with a powerful strike, cutting through their hide with brute force. When one of the beasts managed to claw at Leon, Lila's magic quickly healed the wound, keeping him in the fight.
The onslaught continued. Sophia flipped over one of the creatures, her blade gleaming as she severed its head, while Leon impaled another monster with a single, deadly thrust of his sword. Blood splattered the ground, but the two didn't stop. They couldn't. Too many lives were at stake.
Meanwhile, at the center of the chaos, Alex faced off against Dark Star. The dark figure, now fully consumed by rage, rushed at Alex, attacking with a speed and ferocity that was almost inhuman.
"You think you can humiliate me and get away with it?" Dark Star screamed, his voice wild as he summoned dark energy into his hands. He lashed out with blinding speed, sending shockwaves of power toward Alex.
Alex barely managed to dodge the first few attacks, his instincts and enhanced agility allowing him to avoid the brunt of Dark Star's rage. But as the fight dragged on, Dark Star's relentless assault began to wear him down. His attacks became faster, more unpredictable, and each blow landed with increasing force.
Alex raised his sword to block a vicious strike, but the impact sent him stumbling backward. He gritted his teeth, steadying himself as Dark Star lunged again, this time with a dagger aimed straight for Alex's heart.
"You're too slow!" Dark Star roared, his voice dripping with malice.
Alex parried the attack at the last moment, his sword scraping against the dagger, sparks flying from the clash. He tried to counter with a slash, but Dark Star was already gone, moving with the fluidity of shadow. Before Alex could react, Dark Star appeared behind him, his dagger slicing at Alex's side.
Alex grimaced, feeling the sting of the blade cutting into his skin, but he didn't slow down. He spun, lashing out with his sword, forcing Dark Star to jump back. Breathing heavily, Alex realized the fight wasn't in his favor. This version of Dark Star, though not at full strength, was still dangerous—dangerous enough to overwhelm him if Alex wasn't careful.
"You're stronger than I expected, boy," Dark Star sneered, his voice low and menacing. "But you're still not enough to defeat me."
Alex's grip on his sword tightened. He couldn't afford to lose. Not now.
Summoning every ounce of strength, Alex activated his Moonlight Sword Dance, his sword glowing with radiant energy. He moved in a blur, launching a flurry of strikes at Dark Star, each one faster and more precise than the last. Dark Star struggled to keep up, his dagger barely blocking the onslaught.
But even as Alex pushed forward, Dark Star retaliated with dark magic, sending pulses of black energy toward him. The force of the magic slammed into Alex's defenses, knocking him off balance.
"This is the end for you!" Dark Star bellowed, his voice booming as he unleashed a massive wave of dark energy, aiming to crush Alex completely.
Alex raised his sword, bracing for the impact, but the sheer force of the attack was too much. He was thrown back, crashing into the ground with a heavy thud, his body screaming in pain.
Dark Star approached slowly, a cruel smile forming on his lips as he loomed over Alex.
"You fought well," he said mockingly. "But in the end, you're just another fool who dared to stand in my way."
Just as Dark Star raised his hand to deliver the final blow to Alex, a sudden whistling sound cut through the air. A streak of bright fire blazed toward him, forcing Dark Star to twist his body and narrowly avoid the fiery projectile. The arrow slammed into the ground beside him, exploding in a flash of searing heat.
Dark Star's eyes widened in surprise, his gaze snapping upward to find the source of the attack. His focus shifted from Alex, and he snarled in frustration as he saw the sky above.
Thousands of shimmering blue fire arrows hung in the air, casting an ethereal glow across the city. The entire battlefield froze in awe as the burning arrows hovered, their brilliance lighting up the night like stars.
Then, in one synchronized movement, the arrows all shot forward at once, raining down upon the monsters with lethal precision. The creatures barely had time to react before they were struck by the blue flames. Each monster hit by an arrow let out a deafening scream before disintegrating into ashes, their twisted forms burning away as the blue fire consumed them entirely.
The citizens, the hunters, the students—all stared in awe as the monsters were wiped out in seconds. The previously chaotic scene now seemed surreal, as the blue fire blazed through the streets, erasing the nightmare that had just descended upon them.
"What's happening?" Leon gasped, stepping back, his sword still gripped tightly in his hand, but the threat had already vanished.
Sophia's eyes widened in amazement, her breath catching in her throat. "This power... it's incredible," she whispered, watching as the blue flames continued to purify the battlefield.
Lila, who had been healing them moments before, stood speechless, her eyes scanning the sky. "Look..." she murmured, pointing upward.
Everyone's attention turned to the source of the arrows, and there, floating majestically in the night sky, was the headmaster of the academy—Amelia Grant. Her figure was wrapped in a brilliant aura of blue flames, her long robes flowing around her as if she were suspended by pure energy. Her eyes gleamed with power, and her face was calm, almost serene, as she controlled the magic with absolute mastery.
Her hands were extended toward the battlefield, guiding the flames with grace and precision. The sheer magnitude of her magic overwhelmed everyone who witnessed it, leaving them in awe of her incredible strength.
Dark Star, who had been taken off guard by the sudden attack, glared at Amelia, his face twisting in fury. He clenched his fists, dark energy swirling around him, but even he seemed to hesitate now. He had planned for chaos, but this… this power was beyond anything he had anticipated.
Amelia glanced down at Dark Star, her eyes narrowing as her blue flames circled her body like a living shield. "You've caused enough harm," she declared, her voice calm but filled with authority.
Dark Star, still seething with rage, gritted his teeth. For a moment, it looked like he might charge at her, but the undeniable power radiating from the headmaster made even him think twice. He backed away slowly, his eyes never leaving Amelia.
"This isn't over," he growled, his voice filled with venom. "You may have saved them tonight, but I'll return. And when I do, you won't be able to stop what's coming."
With that, Dark Star vanished into the shadows, disappearing as quickly as he had appeared.
Amelia lowered her hands, and the blue flames around her slowly began to fade. She descended gracefully to the ground, her presence commanding silence from the crowd.
The civilians, hunters, and students all watched in stunned silence as the headmaster landed gently, her expression calm as if she had not just unleashed one of the most powerful displays of magic they had ever seen.
Amelia glanced at the students—Alex, Leon, Sophia, and Lila—her eyes softened slightly as she took in their exhausted, battle-worn forms.
"Are you all alright?" she asked, her voice gentle but firm.
Alex nodded, still catching his breath. "Thanks to you, Headmaster," he replied, wiping the blood from his lip.