September 30, 3067, Sunday
The White Forest was known as one of the most dangerous areas in the continent, and the Far West Military Academy sits at the middle of it. There's a reason why it was situated at one of the convergence zones of beasts in the continent.
The academy was strategically located in one of the continent's convergence zones, where the most ferocious beasts roamed. For centuries, it had been culling the population of these creatures, acting as a preventive measure to keep the forest in check. Without it, the continent would have faced a terrifying phenomenon known as the Beast Tide far more often—a surge of beasts so dangerous that it could raze entire regions.
The day broke violently with a blaring siren, echoing through the academy even before the first light of dawn. The sound jolted the students awake, throwing the dorms into chaos.
"Attention, students! Third years, report to the central plaza immediately. First and second years, assemble outside your dorms!" The announcement echoed through the hallways, stirring a whirlwind of activity.
"There's a Beast Tide," Kristan muttered as he calmly folded his blanket, despite the urgency in the air. He then quickly pulled on his auror uniform, the same one Ardiel was struggling to put on in his rush.
Ardiel and Kristan raced outside, joining the throng of male students who were already gathering in nervous clusters. The air buzzed with tension, everyone on edge, knowing something big was about to happen.
"Students, sort yourselves according to your class sections!" Rodan's voice boomed over the still-blaring siren.
"Ardiel!" Reno shouted as soon as he spotted Ardiel.
"What's going on?" Ardiel asked, his heart pounding in his chest.
"It's a Scale 3 Beast Tide," Reno replied grimly.
"Scale 3? That's the biggest one in months!" Kristan exclaimed, his usual composure finally cracking.
Beast Tides were measured by scale. Scale 1 involved a few dozen beasts, Scale 2 around a hundred to five hundred, with most being Rank 1 to Rank 3—which was relatively easier to confront. But starting Scale 3, things are a bit different. It meant nearly a thousand beasts, including Rank 4 and above beasts, the kind of surge that could obliterate an entire town. And anything beyond that—Scale 4 or 5—was pure devastation, with Rank 6 beasts and higher tearing through the land.
As the students lined up, a mixture of fear and resolve showed in their faces. This was their first real encounter with a situation they had only studied in history classes and Magical Beast lessons.
"As you all know, every student must participate in the Resistance," the announcement continued. "Second years will form the third line of defense, positioned just behind the Third and Fourth years. First years will be at the rear. Sergeants will lead the second and first-year students."
Five male sergeants wearing silver armors walked in front of the lines. One of them being someone Ardiel and Reno could recognize, the two looked at each other as if communicating with their eyes.
Rodan briefed the students with the things they should know about, like strictly following orders, and always being observant of the situation, and reporting anything unusual.
As the second alarm sounded, signaling the beast tide was only a kilometer away, Rodan departed.
"I will be taking command of this squad," said a young man in his mid teens.
His silver armor gleamed as he stood tall in front of the two lines. Ardiel's heart skipped a beat when he recognized his older brother, Erick. He was glad to see him again amidst the chaos.
"I have two rules for you to follow: always move in pairs, and report anything unusual to me immediately." His commanding voice cut through the anxious murmurs of the crowd.
"I'll do my best to keep you safe, but remember, this is also an opportunity for you to gain experience and grow stronger. Seize the chance when it comes."
His authoritative tone and striking presence made him seem like a young hero, earning him admiration from the nervous students lined up before him.
The academy was engulfed in a sense of urgency. Professors and knights positioned themselves at the front lines outside the walls, some remaining on the battlements for long-range attacks and surveillance.
The third and fourth years were stationed just behind the professors and knights, their prior experience with Beast Tides giving them a critical role in the defense.
As they exited the walls and took their positions outside, a fresh wave of anxiety washed over the first and second years. This was the first Scale 3 Beast Tide in over a year, and most second years had only faced Scale 1 Tides, where they had played a much less active role.
Ardiel tightened his grip on the shortsword in his right hand. He was the only student who had chosen two weapons, with a bowblade and quiver strapped to his back.
Kiera, his partner, had selected a set of throwing knives, her main weapons being a pair of long daggers. As a member of the Ashborn family, known for their mastery of various weapons, she was naturally skilled with swords and daggers, preferring the latter as her weapon of choice.
Soon, the third alarm rang, signaling them to be ready to engage.
The rumbling grew louder—the "Morale Breaker," as they called it—caused by the beasts charging toward the wall. The ground trembled, and a deep sense of fear settled over the students, making their hearts race faster.
Howls and growls echoed through the forest, blanketed in thick white snow. The endless expanse of white created a false sense of calm, heightening the fear of the unknown lurking beneath the snow. Then, without warning, the forest erupted. The beasts burst from the tree line, their eyes glowing with feral hunger, their massive bodies breaking through the snow in a terrifying wave of fur, fangs, and claws.
Ardiel's breath hitched as he saw the first ranks of beasts emerge. It was the cannon fodder of the tide, composed of Rank 1 and 2 fenroxes, snow jeogor, and some flying lixycons.
"Brace yourselves!" Erick's voice cut through the cacophony, sharp and clear.
Ardiel bent his knees and prepared himself for the clash.
The instructors had clashed with the beasts, allowing the weaker ones to pass through while they confronted the larger threats. Though the students were involved, the instructors weren't heartless. They acted as a barrier, keeping the stronger beasts at bay while letting the students handle the smaller, weaker ones, giving them a taste of real battlefield experience.
Magic spells flashed through the air perfectly aimed at the beasts, the sound of sword slashing through the beasts' flesh made a harmony with the explosions whenever a spell hits a beast.
Ardiel's focus sharpened as he saw a Rank 1 fenrox slip past the second line, making a beeline for the second and first years. His heart pounded with urgency.
He spun his mana ring and rotated his mana core, preparing for the clash. His breaths came in short, sharp bursts, mingling with the acrid smell of smoke and sweat. He could see Kiera at the edge of his vision, her face a mask of fierce determination as she readied her throwing knives. The sight of her unshaken confidence gave him a surge of courage.
A scream pierced the night—raw, primal terror as one of the students fell, overwhelmed by the relentless tide. Panic spread like wildfire through the ranks, and Ardiel felt a surge of helplessness. He had to act—now.
With a deep breath, Ardiel sheathed his sword and grabbed the bowblade and arrow from his back. His hands were steady, though his heart raced furiously. He aimed with precision, his eyes locking onto one of the fenroxes that Erick was struggling against. The beast's massive jaws snapped shut with a menacing growl, its eyes gleaming with malevolent intelligence.
He drew the bowstring back, the tension in the string mirroring the tension in his chest.
SWISH!
The world seemed to slow as he let the arrow fly. It sliced through the frigid air with a deadly swiftness, finding its mark with a satisfying thud. The fenrox let out a pained roar, stumbling before collapsing into the snow.
The sight of the beast falling filled Ardiel with a grim sense of accomplishment, but there was no time to celebrate. The battle was far from over. More beasts were pouring through the gaps, and the students' lines were held only by a thread.
His classmates all had their faces painted with shock and admiration as they saw what Ardiel had done. Erick was also shocked for a moment while holding off the beasts, he knew Ardiel's purpose, and that was to show the students that they could also do the same if only they were brave enough.
So he did his best trying to hold off as many beasts as he could until the students were ready.
The noise of clashing weapons, roaring beasts, and magical explosions filled the air, creating a symphony of chaos. Each spell and sword stroke was a desperate act of survival, each student's resolve tested to its limits.
Ardiel let off three more accurate shots before switching to his shortsword. He activated Lightstep and also engulfed his body with dragon mana, both his mana ring and mana core doing their work.
He stomped his feet and shot forward with surprising speed. By now, his control had gone up to 37%, with Albert's trials yesterday helping a bit and giving him an idea how to improve his control better.
He went straight to the snow jeogor who sneaked past Erick and was about to pounce on a second year student who froze on her spot. It's bite has freezing capabilities.
He charged straight at a snow jeogor sneaking up on a terrified second-year student. His sword struck with brutal force, cutting deep into the beast's flank and sending it crashing back into the snow, thanks to his speed, it increased the impact of his attack.
Kiera followed swiftly, landing a precise, clean strike that severed the jeogor's neck. The beast crumpled into a lifeless heap.
"How's that?" she snickered, glancing at Ardiel with a challenging grin. He barely registered her words, already moving to the next threat.
"Stay behind me and focus on the ones that get past," Erick advised, his voice sharp with urgency.
Ardiel nodded, his eyes scanning the battlefield with intense focus. The chaos of the fight surged around him, every moment a brutal test of skill and courage. The clash of weapons, the roars of beasts, and the crackle of magic blended into a frenetic symphony of survival.
Finally, the other students joined in, following Ardiel's lead and slowly turning the tide of the battle. The second years couldn't let the newcomer steal all the spotlight while they remain frozen in fear, that would be humiliating.
And as the waves of beasts continued to crash against the academy's defenses, Ardiel felt a strange, exhilarating clarity settle over him—a quiet certainty amidst the chaos.
For the first time, he felt like he truly belonged on this battlefield.
Things are starting to go well for them, but as usual, there will always be variables in every battlefield.
"ROAR!!"
The roar pierced the air like a thunderclap, shaking the very ground beneath their feet. It was a primal sound that seemed to freeze time itself, a monstrous growl that made every student's blood run cold.
Ardiel had just finished dispatching another fenrox when a chilling wind swept through the battlefield, signaling something even more terrifying. The students' eyes were drawn to the distant forest, where shadows twisted and roared. Through the swirling snow, the outline of a massive beast emerged, its form white and ominous against the white backdrop.
"It's a Rank 6!" came a shout from the front lines. The beast was a towering, nightmarish creature with eyes that burned like embers. Its white hide was menacing, and its roars echoed like an apocalyptic thunderclap.
Panic surged through the ranks. Students, some of them seasoned warriors, felt their resolve waver. Ardiel's heart pounded. This was no longer just a trial, this is a Pandemonium.
And this was also happening on the other four sides of the battlefield, the real Beast Tide had just begun.