At the mountain known as Ashcroft, a town thrived on its abundant mineral deposits, attracting merchants and prosperity. The country even sought to secure a steady metal supply from the city.
Upon discovering the mountain's riches, humans swiftly claimed Ashcroft for its resources. Despite the town's wealth from mining, the residents had ample materials for personal use. When the humans attacked, the demons were well-prepared and armed with weapons in stockpiles. The town proved challenging to conquer, leading to a week-long struggle that resulted in many residents being killed or enslaved to work in the mines and subjected to grueling conditions without respite or adequate sustenance.
When the army from Nessus arrived, their mission was clear: reclaim the mine and liberate their kin. They executed a pincer maneuver, attacking from the front while simultaneously infiltrating the mine's hidden tunnels. The element of surprise was on their side, and for a brief moment, it seemed the demons might reclaim their home.
However, the humans, driven by desperation and the promise of power, refused to relinquish their hold on Ashcroft. They recognized the mine's strategic importance; it was a source of weapons and resources vital for their ongoing war against Nessus. Despite the overwhelming odds, the humans fortified their positions, determined to withstand the onslaught.
As the battle raged, the humans fought with a ferocity born of fear. They clung to the mine, convinced that losing it would mean their ultimate defeat. For hours, the fighting was brutal, with both sides suffering heavy casualties. The tunnels echoed with clashing steel and anguished cries, a grim reminder of the stakes at play.
Just when it seemed the tide might turn in favor of the demons, the human reinforcements they sent for arrived in the nick of time. Fresh troops poured into the fray, bolstering their defenses and reigniting their resolve. The fighting escalated, and the demons, despite their initial advantage, were overwhelmed by the sheer numbers and tenacity of the human forces.
As the sun began to set, the battlefield grew chaotic. Many Nessus soldiers fell, their sacrifices echoing in the minds of those still fighting. The remaining demons, realizing the tide had turned, decided to retreat into the depths of the mine, hoping to regroup and plan their next move.
The humans, though battered and weary, managed to hold onto the mine at a terrible cost.
"We've regained control of the town and forced the demons into the mines," one soldier reported.
"Shall we enter the mines?" another asked.
"Wait for the arrival of the Heroes and our commander. We must receive orders before proceeding. Ensure no demons escape from the mines," the leader instructed.
Meanwhile, atop a large tower in the town, a group of soldiers, including the Heroes and the commander, gathered for a briefing.
"That is our report, commander," one soldier informed.
"We have retaken the town and cornered the demons," the commander acknowledged.
One of the heroes, Giichi, said, "It would be risky to send our troops into the mines without knowledge of the tunnels' layout."
"You have a point, Giichi. We must be cautious. Aia, could you use your powers to assist our troops in the mines?" the commander inquired.
"I could unleash molten lava to incinerate the demons."
"No. That mine is rich in mineral resources. If you do that, all the metal ingots we could use will be lost, and we have to find another place to forge our weapon."
The summon heroes, Giichi Hata and Aia Baba were tasked with seizing Ashcroft.
"Very well, I'll flood their minds with water..."
"No, apologies, but we need the demons alive." The commander's words puzzled the heroes.
"They might hold valuable information. They're attacking multiple locations. We can learn their plans if we capture them in the mine."
The commander had another reason. They needed slaves to continue to work in mines. The heroes are unaware of this truth.
"Alright, Aia, can you release a gas to put the demons in the mine to sleep?"
"Yes, I think that's possible."
"Perfect. Order the knights to sabotage the mine entrances. Lady Aia, release the gas into the mine."
"Understood!"
VVVVVVVV! "Suddenly, a loud trumpet-like sound echoed above the town."
"What was that?"
"I don't know. Alert the soldiers for a possible enemy attack."
The officers hurried down the tower to prepare the troops.
"Wait, Sir Giichi and Lady Aia!" The commander halted the heroes. "Head to the south side, find the lieutenant, and ready the cannons to repel the enemy."
"Got it."
As they left the tower, a massive lightning bolt struck the tower, obliterating it and the commander.
"No!" Aia cried out, rushing towards the fallen commander, but Giichi stopped her just in time as another lightning bolt struck the same spot.
Soon, more lightning came down from the heavens, hitting buildings and soldiers, and panic spread through the town.
"Is this the demons' counterattack?"
"We must retreat."
"Retreat? After we've just regained control?!"
"We have no choice. The lightning could hit us at any moment."
Giichi clenched his teeth, realizing Aia was right, though he had not anticipated this. They had lost many men in the battle to reclaim the town, only to now face abandoning it to the enemy again.
Amidst the chaos, screams filled the air as lightning continued to strike.
While fleeing, Aia and Giichi witnessed soldiers being struck down by the deadly bolts.
"Sergeant! Over here!" A familiar voice called out in a quieter area. It was one of the soldiers who had escaped the tower before it was destroyed.
"Are you two alright?"
"What's happening, Sergeant? Is this the demons' retaliation?"
"Is it safe here?"
"Come down, both of you. We lack information; this could be a demon's magic spell."
"If it is, shouldn't we find the spellcasters?"
"We don't know their location. We must remain here. I know a little bit of magic. I cast a barrier that repels lightning."
A lightning bolt struck the barrier, deflecting harmlessly and sparing those underneath while damaging nearby buildings.
"Close call."
"This barrier can withstand the enemy's assault. We're safe as long as we stay here."
"We can't stay here forever. We must act; our comrades will perish if this continues."
"I understand, Aia, but we don't know the enemy's whereabouts. Even if you knew, how could you approach them in this chaos?"
"Um... we can't..." Aia faltered, realizing her lack of a plan. The enemy's location remained a mystery. They could be outside the town, on the mountain, in a building, or even in the mine.
"Wait, Aia, your affinity with mana allows you to sense what spells mages are casting, right?"
"Regardless of their location, you can discern their intentions by sensing their mana," said Giichi. "Do you see where this is leading?"
Giichi's suggestion was clear: Aia could use her ability to sense the mana gathered for spells to track down the caster of the lightning magic within the barrier.
"That's a good idea."
"We can locate the one casting the lightning magic and confront them."
The knights in the barrier were filled with hope until Aia shattered it.
"I'm sorry, but I can't do it."
"What...?"
"Why not, Aia? Why can't you?"
Aia had been trying to pinpoint the source of the lightning magic since she and Giichi left the tower.
"I've been searching for the magic user, but I can't sense anyone gathering mana for this spell for miles."
"Is it true?"
"No way!"
The knights were dismayed by Aia's revelation. Without finding the caster, they would be helpless witnesses to the devastation of their comrades and possessions. Giichi refused to accept this fate. He grabbed Aia by the shoulder, urging her to act.
"You must do something, Aia! People are dying! We need to find the caster before everyone here perishes."
"I'm trying, Giichi, but I can't locate them!"
"Try harder!"
The sergeant intervened, pulling Giichi away from Aia.
"Calm down, Sir Giichi! I understand your frustration, but you can't blame Lady Aia."
"But our comrades are dying..."
"Enough! Aia is already doing her best to locate the mages. Pressuring her won't help."
Giichi took a deep breath, calming himself. "I'm sorry, Sergeant. Aia, I apologize for my outburst. Please, find the culprit behind this."
"I'm doing my best, but..."
"Aia?"
"Are you alright, Lady Aia?"
"I sense mana gathering within the town."
"Does that mean the demons are inside?"
Aia shook her head. "It doesn't seem related to the lightning spells outside. It's a different kind of magic, likely from our mages preparing an attack spell!"
Aia approached a window to observe the army's mages readying their assault. The soldiers and Giichi joined her.
In the distance, several spells were cast into the sky in the form of light magic unfamiliar to Aia. The magic soared high, flickering as it seemed to strike something beyond the clouds.
A loud noise reverberated through the sky as the magical attacks struck their target, causing the unknown enemy to cry in agony.
"Wooo Aaaa!"
The sound was so powerful it created a shockwave, parting the clouds and damaging the town. Buildings crumbled and debris scattered as the town's defenders struggled to remain grounded amidst the chaos. The force of the impact swept away some unfortunate souls.
Deep within the mines, the demons who had managed to escape could also hear the creature's pained cries. Fearful that the cave would collapse if the onslaught continued, they hurried towards the nearest exit.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the shockwaves subsided.
Panting heavily, Aia asked, "Is everybody alright?"
"I'm fine."
"We're okay over here." the soldiers reply.
Outside, the mages shout another attack at the sky, causing damage to the enemy. As another shockwave hits the town, Giichi, Aia, and the knights grasp for something to hold onto. The barrier shatters quickly, exposing them to the blast's full force. People begin to be swept away, but only Giichi and Aia manage to withstand the onslaught.
"That shockwave we felt must be the enemy's retaliation against our comrades' attack."
"It seems likely. The demons using that lightning spell must also be using magic to fly. That explains why they remained elusive," Aia deduced.
"Because you were focused on the ground, not the sky," observed Giichi. Aia had always noticed spellcasters standing firmly on the ground, never in the air. They were flying while casting spells, which was considered impossible due to the concentration required to stay aloft. Any attempt to cast a spell while airborne would disrupt their concentration, leading to a swift descent. This belief was held by both humans and demons alike.
Aia and Giichi gazed skyward, spotting a glowing light above the town. Initially mistaking it for the demons' familiar lightning spell, they soon realized it was something different. The small light expanded into a massive sphere of crackling electricity, looming menacingly over the area.
"Quick, Aia! Can you do something about that?" urged Giichi.
"I'll try my best, Giichi," Aia responded, raising her hands toward the sphere.
"O lightning, heed my call—harm, not those present. Disperse and return from whence you came," she chanted. The sphere visibly shrank in response. Encouraged by the result, Aia repeated the chant.
As Aia continued her efforts, the sphere gradually diminished until it vanished altogether. Thanks to her innate elemental abilities, she could easily manipulate the elements, a unique talent that allowed her to neutralize the impending threat. However, this feat required a deep understanding of the element, intense focus, and a significant amount of mana.
In that moment, Aia was akin to a skilled hacker thwarting an enemy missile before it could strike.
The sphere of electricity vanished as Aia completed the final words of her magic, draining her of almost all her mana. Exhausted, she sank to her knees, her energy spent.
Giichi hurried to her side, offering his shoulder for support. "You did it, Aia. You saved us," he praised as cheers erupted in the distance, heralding Aia, who had averted the crisis.
The joy was short-lived as twenty lightning bolts struck the mining town, causing chaos and destruction. Fortunately, no one was harmed, but the strikes magnetized the untouched metals underground, turning them into conduits for electrical energy. Copper, iron, nickel, and cobalt became charged, creating a bizarre magnetic field that distorted gravity within the town.
Buildings, debris, and parts of the town began to levitate as the magnetic forces took hold. The humans in the town were caught in the altered gravitational field and cried out in confusion as they helplessly floated off the ground.
"Aha!"
"Waaa!"
"Uuuuu!"
"Ho ho ho ho!"
The survivors struggled against the overwhelming force, their calls for help echoing in the distorted gravity that held them aloft.
"Aia, what's happening?"
"I don't know! I'm certain I nullified that spell." Unbeknownst to her, the sphere of electricity had not been dispelled by her power but had merely been contained within a smaller sphere by the one who created it.
As they ascended, they spotted a glowing light ahead. "Aia, look, there's something up there," Giichi exclaimed, caution in his voice, fearing it might be another lightning spell. They look off into the distance, they realized it was a figure clad in a long trench coat resembling the starry sky, glowing with a pale white light. Its hands and feet emitted the same eerie glow, and a mask with only two eye holes covered its face.
"What is that?"
"I don't know."
As Aia and Giichi floated higher into the air, their eyes widened in disbelief at the sight unfolding before them. Below, not one but four figures clad in sleek black knight armor—unlike anything they had ever seen—charged toward the glowing entity. They moved with an eerie grace, their dark metal glinting ominously in the distorted light.
"What is that?" Aia whispered, her voice trembling with a mix of fear and awe.
"I don't know, but they're all going after that glowing figure!" Giichi replied, his heart racing as he strained to catch a better glimpse.
The knights drew gleaming swords, each blade shimmering with an unnatural darkness. In perfect synchronization, they launched an assault on the glowing entity, their movements fluid and precise. The first knight swung its sword, aiming to strike, but the entity, seemingly aware of the approaching threat, pivoted with otherworldly agility, its pale glow intensifying as it prepared to defend itself.
Aia and Giichi watched in stunned silence as the knights clashed with the glowing figure. The air crackled with energy as swords met ethereal forms, sending ripples of light and shadow dancing through the atmosphere. The impact created shockwaves that reverberated through the distorted gravity, dangerously causing Aia and Giichi to sway.
"What's happening? Are we going to fall?" Aia exclaimed, gripping Giichi's arm tightly.
"I don't know!" he shouted, his eyes darting between the combatants. The knights pressed their attack, coordinating their strikes with deadly precision. Though seemingly outnumbered, the glowing entity moved with a grace that allowed it to evade many blows, retaliating with bursts of light that illuminated the area.
Suddenly, the knights regrouped, forming a tight formation as they launched a combined assault. They slashed and thrust, their swords creating a symphony of dark shadows against the entity's radiant glow. Aia and Giichi felt the gravitational pull shift again, drawing them closer to the chaotic confrontation.
"We need to get out of here!" Giichi urged, panic rising in his voice. But before they could react, the knights unleashed a powerful wave of dark energy, momentarily stunning the entity and causing a blinding flash illuminating the surrounding area.
As the light faded, Aia and Giichi braced themselves for the next move. Their hearts pounding as the battle raged on, they were uncertain of what fate awaited them amidst the clash of light and darkness.
"Giichi, do you think that thing caused everything here?"
"I believe that's the case. That would explain the attacks. Let's join them. Can you assist me with your magic, Aia?"
Aia cast a spell on Giichi, enabling him to fly despite the distorted gravity. Giichi expressed his gratitude before soaring into the fray.
"Good luck. I'll provide support from behind."
The entity engaged in combat with skilled knights, wielding Soda Ajax's sword against its adversaries. These foes displayed exceptional martial prowess, enhanced mobility, endurance, and magical abilities, almost like superhumans. They navigated the distorted gravity effortlessly, using floating objects as footholds.
A knight unleashed black flames at the entity, but they were absorbed by several spheres the entity had conjured in defense.
The knights charged forward, attacking the entity with their swords. In a swift counterattack, the entity deflected their strikes with its sword, cleaving one knight in half. The fallen knight's body disintegrated into particles.
"Don't relent! Press on!"
Undaunted by their fallen comrades, the remaining survivors pressed on.
Mighty spears, more potent than black flames, were hurled at the entity. Another knight was employed to neutralize the entity's abilities, aiming to hinder its powers. The attacks closed in, but the entity swiftly evaded the distorted gravity to float upward, narrowly escaping the dark spears. With a swift motion, it flung its sword at the knight who had countered its powers.
"Aha!"
The entity's sword found its mark, fatally striking the knight, whose body disintegrated into particles.
Now free to wield its powers, the entity extended its right hand towards its shoulder, halting the incoming black spears. With a gesture, it manipulated the spears' trajectory and redirected them towards the surrounding knights.
The black lances pierced the hearts of the last two knights, their bodies disintegrating into particles as they floated up from the gravitational distortion.
The entity extended its arm, and the sword returned to it. Next, diamond crystals formed all across the distorted area. From the sword, energy gathered at the tip and then shot out, hitting a diamond crystal in front of it. That diamond soon shot out that energy to other crystal diamonds across the area in the shape of laser beams. The beams of light hit the remaining human survivors, turning them to black dust.
"Aaa!"
Giichi attacked, swinging his ax. The entity blocked with the holy sword, enraging Giichi.
"You murderer! You killed all of those people without hesitation," Giichi accused. He then noticed the sword the entity was holding. "Wh…what!? That sword!? It's Ajax's! What did you do to him!?"
Giichi powered up his ax, but the entity resisted. Sparks flew as the blades clashed until the entity pushed Giichi back.
"Ugh!" Giichi was thrown back, crashing into things before a building halted his momentum.
"Not yet!" Giichi recovered, facing the oncoming entity.
Activating his strength-boosting ability, Giichi jumped toward the entity. His ax soon began to glow, signaling that it had received a boost, all thanks to Aia. Their clash damaged the surroundings.
Clank, clank, clank! Their weapons clashed. Giichi aimed for the entity's head, but it deftly parried and struck his torso.
"Pffa!" Giichi was sent hurtling towards the ground by an ax kick.
"Giichi!" recovering inside a nearby building, Aia witnessed her classmate sent flying. She had been resting after depleting her mana. Seeing her comrades fall to the ground, she knew she had to act. Casting a spell, she summoned the wind and flew out of the building.
As Aia flew, fear gripped her, but thoughts of Giichi's bravery spurred her on. Despite her fear, she decided to rescue him. Spotting Giichi amidst the wreckage, she headed towards him.
Aia hides behind various objects to evade the entity's notice, using broken walls, carriages, and debris as cover. She listened intently until she heard Giichi's scream.
"Raaaaaaaaa!"
"Giichi!" Aia's heart skipped a beat. Was the entity harming him? Without hesitation, she flew towards Giichi, arriving just in time to witness the entity thrusting its hand into his chest.
Aia froze, her mind struggling to comprehend the sight before her. As the entity withdrew its arm, Aia seized the moment, grabbing Giichi and fleeing with him.
"Hang in there, Giichi. We'll find help. Stay with me," Aia reassured him as she flew out of the distortion and landed in a nearby forest for a brief rest.
Navigating through the darkness of the night, Aia noticed the strange circle in the sky emitting light. She avoided using elemental light to conserve her mana, wary of attracting unwanted attention.
"Gasp, Gasp, Gasp. Giichi."
Aia approached Giichi to use healing magic on the wound in his chest. However, upon closer inspection, she found no injury.
"What is this? I saw that thing pierce Giichi's chest. Did I imagine it? No. Oh, light, hear my plea. Shine warmth on this poor soul. Light, hear!"
A radiant aura enveloped Giichi, healing his cuts and bruises, but he remained unconscious.
"Giichi, wake up!" Aia shook his shoulder. But he did not wake up. "What's happening? Why won't he wake up? Did that thing do something to Giichi?"
A loud tree branch snapping startled her as Aia pondered why Giichi remained unconscious.
"What was that!" Aia leaped up, scanning her surroundings. She saw only trees and plants. Whispers escaping her lips, she cast a wind sound spell, hoping to detect any hidden presence. The spell yielded no results.
Aia sighed in relief and turned back to face Giichi, only to find the entity standing before her. Before she could react, the entity grabbed her throat.
"Cough, cough, let me go," Aia choked, struggling against the entity's grip. Despite her efforts, the entity did not release her, instead plunging its hand into her chest.
"Raaaaaa!"