Athos stood atop a jagged rock formation, surveying the battlefield. His monstrous visage twisted into a cruel smile as he gazed at the chaos his creations were about to unleash.
Athos raised a clawed hand, commanding his newly spawned henchmen to advance. "Time to end this."
Before him stood Oni, a hulking, ogre-like creature with bulging muscles and a towering frame. His skin was rough and cracked, as if he were forged from volcanic rock, and his eyes burned with primal fury. Beside him was Naga, a sinister snake-like woman with scaled skin, glowing yellow eyes, and a slithering, serpentine lower body.
Oni, eager and impatient, let out a deafening roar. "For Athos!!" he bellowed, his voice echoing like thunder.
Naga, more composed and calculating, hissed softly.
"Sssss... as you wish, my lord," she replied, bowing slightly. Her forked tongue flicked in and out as she eyed the battlefield with cold precision.
Turning her attention to Oni, Naga's expression shifted to disdain.
"This brute," she muttered under her breath.
Oni, oblivious to Naga's remarks, charged forward with reckless abandon, his massive club raised high.
Oni roared as he smashed through the lines of eldoans and beastfolk, his sheer strength sending warriors flying. Naga, in contrast, used her cunning. She weaved through the chaos, striking with her venomous fangs and agile movements, sowing terror among her enemies.
The Eldoans and beastfolk, united in desperation, roared as they charged toward Oni and the advancing horde of monsters. Arrows flew, spells crackled, and swords clashed against claws as the battlefield erupted into chaos.
Naga watched Oni with a mixture of annoyance and reluctant admiration. She turned to her fellow snake-like creatures in the horde and commanded,
"Letssss go. Sssshow them no mercy."
Her movements were swift and fluid as she slithered into the fray, her venomous fangs gleaming in the dim light.
On the opposite side of the battlefield, the combined forces of eldoans and beastfolk braced themselves. Despite their tenuous alliance, both sides fought valiantly, united by the shared threat of Athos.
Eldoans mages, alongside the teachers and students of Magux Academy, formed the frontline. Among them were two prominent students:
Bax Wood, with fiery red hair and a personality to match. His eyes burned with determination as he prepared to unleash his fiery spells.
Roki Bilzton, with his calm demeanor, blue hair, and ever-present sunglasses. He was the strategic counterbalance to Bax's impulsiveness.
The two stood side by side, their dynamic energy a stark contrast but complementary in battle.
Bax clenched his fists, flames beginning to flicker around him.
"Let's burn them all!" he exclaimed, his voice brimming with confidence.
Roki, calm and collected as always, adjusted his ever-present sunglasses and gave Bax a side glance. His blue hair shimmered in the light of the distant fires. "Easy there, hothead. Use your earth element this time too, not just fire."
Bax turned to Roki, his fiery demeanor tempered by his friend's reminder.
"Of course I'll use earth magic!" he retorted, slamming his foot into the ground. The earth beneath them rumbled as jagged rocks jutted upward. "I'm Bax Wood, from the Wood family! Fire and Earth are my specialty!"
Roki allowed himself a small, knowing smile.
"That's my partner."
As the monsters closed in, Bax slammed his hands to the ground, channeling his earth element. A wall of jagged rocks shot up, blocking the path of advancing beasts. With a swift motion, he transitioned to fire, igniting the rocks into blazing pillars that erupted in a wave of flames.
Roki followed up with precision. He stomped his foot, causing the ground beneath a group of monsters to collapse, creating a pit of sharpened spikes. He muttered a chant under his breath, reinforcing the battlefield with calculated traps.
"Stay sharp, Bax," Roki said as he launched a flurry of water toward a charging ogre. "This isn't just about showing off."
Bax laughed, fire roaring in his palms.
"Who says I'm showing off? I'm just making sure they know who's in charge!"
The duo's coordinated efforts held the monsters at bay, inspiring those around them. Their partnership, though vastly different in temperament, proved to be one of the most effective defenses on the battlefield.
.......
The battlefield was alive with tension and magic, but on one side, a different kind of confrontation was unfolding. Petra Haws, the ever-calm history magic teacher, stood with Aro Lupe, the sharp-tongued magic teacher known for his unparalleled expertise in both offensive and defensive combat magic.
Aro, with his arms crossed, glared at Petra. "I still hate you for siding with Colerio," he spat, his tone dripping with annoyance.
Petra adjusted her artifical glasses, unbothered by his outburst."You really hate Colerio that much, don't you?" she replied with a faint smile.
Aro's face contorted in frustration. "Of course I do! That bastard struts around like he's some kind of hotshot... Ugh, I can't stand him!"
Petra chuckled lightly. "Teacher Aro, it sounds to me like you just want his attention. Perhaps you feel a rivalry with him?"
Aro's face turned red with indignation. " Rival? Are you stupid, Teacher Petra? We're teachers, not children!" he snapped, his voice rising.
....
Nearby, two Magux Academy students watched their teachers bicker.
Lucy Greay, a mage with blonde hair tied neatly in a ponytail, stood quietly, observing the mayhem. Her calm demeanor and analytical nature were a stark contrast to her companion, Lory Lawen, whose dark, flowing hair and haughty expression practically radiated her noble lineage.
Lory stood with her hands on her hips, surveying the battlefield like a queen surveying her domain. Her lips curled into a confident sneer as she gestured toward the fighting.
"They will face the might of the Lawen family," she proclaimed, her tone dripping with self-assured pride.
Lucy opened her mouth to respond, likely to temper Lory's arrogance, but a low, gruff voice cut through the air.
"Is that so?"
Both girls turned sharply to see a towering figure approaching. Gori, a 23-year-old beastfolk resembling a massive, muscular gorilla, loomed over them. His broad shoulders and thick arms exuded raw power, and his sharp eyes held a mixture of amusement and challenge.
Lory's expression soured instantly, and her voice rose in an incredulous shout."YOU ARE THAT STUPID GORILLA!"
Gori raised an eyebrow and smirked, clearly unbothered by her outburst. "Stupid gorilla? You bitch."
Lory's eyes widened, her hands balling into fists at her sides as she stepped forward, her face flushed with anger.
"What did you just say to me?!" she demanded, her voice quivering with indignation.
Gori folded his arms over his chest, meeting her glare with a calm but teasing look. "You heard me, noble brat."
As the tension between Lory and Gori escalated, Lucy sighed heavily and pinched the bridge of her nose. She had seen this kind of exchange far too many times before.
"Please, focus, you two!" Lucy interjected, her voice tinged with exasperation. "We're in the middle of a war, in case you've forgotten."
Gori shrugged, a playful grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Relax, Blondie. Just having some fun with your mighty friend."
Lory turned on Lucy, her tone defensive. "You're siding with him now? This... this ape?!"
Lucy held up her hands, her patience wearing thin. "I'm not siding with anyone. I'm just saying maybe save the insults for the enemy?"
The bickering was broke as a new presence approached. The air grew colder, and the unmistakable sound of rattling bones filled the area. All eyes turned to see Ash Minse, the former Magux Academy teacher. Now a dark mage, his once-youthful appearance had been ravaged by the forbidden spell Endios Lalute, leaving him prematurely aged.
Beside him loomed a figure cloaked in deathly energy: Shen Mort, a lich and former alchemist teacher at the academy.
Petra's eyes widened in shock as she recognized Shen.
"Shen..." she whispered, her voice trembling.
She made a move toward him, but Aro grabbed her arm, holding her back. He shook his head silently, his expression a mixture of caution and resolve.
Aro turned his gaze to Ash, his lips curling into a smirk.
"You look older now, Teacher Ash. Or should I say... Ash the Dark Mage."
Ash, his eyes glinting with irritation, responded in a cold tone.
"It's been weeks, Teacher Aro. How have you been?"
Aro's smirk deepened. "Doing just fine. Not becoming old like someone here."
Ash's eye twitched, the jab striking a nerve. "Your mouth is still as insufferable as ever," he retorted, his tone sharp.
The group fell into an uneasy silence as the weight of Ash's presence settled over them. The battlefield raged on in the background, but here, a different kind of tension brewed.
Petra's gaze remained fixed on Shen, her heart heavy with a mixture of grief and disbelief. Aro's sharp wit clashed with Ash's dark energy, the air between them crackling with unspoken animosity.
Lucy and Lory exchanged glances, their teacher's history unfolding before their eyes. Meanwhile, Gori crossed his arms, watching the exchange with mild curiosity.
As the battle loomed closer, it became clear that the conflicts here were not just with the monsters but also with the ghosts of the past.
Not far away, Lucy Greay and Lory Lawen observed their teachers with a mixture of curiosity and unease.
Lucy, ever the peacekeeper, frowned. "Why do they always have to argue like that? It's not helping anyone right now."
Lory folded her arms, her dark eyes narrowing as she glanced at Lucy. "This is more than an argument. It's personal."
Before Lucy could respond, Gori, the towering kingkong beastfolk, chuckled deeply. His arms were crossed over his broad chest, his expression one of mild amusement.
"These Eldoan teachers sure like to bicker, don't they?" he remarked, his voice a low rumble.
Lory whipped around, glaring at him. "What are you even doing here, stupid gorilla?!" she snapped.
Gori raised an eyebrow, clearly unbothered by her insult. "I could ask you the same thing. Shouldn't you be hiding behind your noble name right about now?"
Lory's face turned red with fury."You—!"
Lucy stepped between them, holding up her hands in exasperation. "Enough, both of you! We have bigger things to worry about."
The tension in the air reached its breaking point, and the battlefield seemed to hold its breath. As the first spells were cast and swords were drawn, it became painfully clear: the monsters were not the only enemies here. The past, with all its betrayals and unresolved conflicts, loomed just as dangerously over the battlefield.
......
As the ancient Hero Roe gazed at his disciple, Chalu, his eyes gleamed with pride. The mountain rock, once a solid mass of stone, now lay in two halves, the jagged edges a testament to the power that had shattered it. Roe's lips curled into a faint, approving smile, as though witnessing the birth of something extraordinary.
"You..." Roe began, his voice soft but filled with a weight of knowledge only a seasoned hero could carry. He smiled, his tone laced with the pride of a teacher watching his pupil surpass even the highest expectations. "You've already taken the path of Hero."
Chalu, standing tall despite his beastfolk origins, his fur matted with sweat, locked eyes with Roe. His gaze was unwavering, fierce—like the eyes of a warrior destined for something greater.
"What's next, teacher?" Chalu asked, his voice steady but with a hint of eager anticipation, his body still humming with the residual power from the strike.
Roe's smile remained, but his eyes darkened with the weight of unspoken truths. The mountain rock split by Chalu's strike hadn't been the result of brute force alone—it was a culmination of years of aura, a training that went beyond simple strength. Chalu's training had unlocked something profound, something that would forever change the course of their journey.
The truth behind how such power could split a mountain rock... the path that Chalu would now walk... that would all be revealed in the next chapter.
To be continue