It wasn't Ardiel's first time to see a Rank 6 beast since there are Drakerns being domesticated in their territory and trained as mounts, it's a special breed of a drake and a wyvern, with a strict condition that both beasts should have elemental attributes, which is only possible if they have purer dragon bloodlines.
But the creature looming over the treetops now was something else entirely—a Froststeel Behemoth. Twice the size of any Drakern he'd encountered, its hide was as tough as steel, and its tusks were thick, crystal-like icicles that gleamed ominously in the cold light.
"Fall back!" one of the instructors bellowed, his voice cutting through the rising panic. "Scale 4!" he added, and the words sent a shockwave through the students.
A Scale 4 threat meant this situation was deadly serious. The instructors and knights immediately took charge, knowing they couldn't risk leaving the students outside the protective walls—not with a Rank 6 beast on the loose.
"Everyone, retreat!" Erick yelled, if he was holding off the beasts earlier while suppressing his strength, now he doesn't have any reason to hold back anymore.
A deep emerald aura erupted around his sword, crackling with lightning. Like their father, he had formed a contract with a Lightning-attributed dragon, and now, his entire body was engulfed in emerald sparks. The sight was both terrifying and awe-inspiring, as if he had become the embodiment of a storm.
"Ardiel, lead your classmates back," Erick commanded, his voice firm despite the whirlwind of chaos. Without waiting for a reply, he charged forward with blistering speed, his sword cutting through the lower-ranked beasts with deadly precision. His aura crackled like thunder, making the ground tremble under his feet.
As Ardiel guided his classmates through the turmoil, a sense of urgency pressed upon him. He glanced back to see the instructors and knights stationed at the northeast gate taking over, ensuring the students were safely ushered inside. The gate slammed shut behind them with a resounding thud, sealing out the immediate danger but leaving the battle still raging.
Suddenly, a woman stepped forward amongst the instructors. Her mere presence seemed to halt the 40-meters tall Behemoth's advance, as though her sheer will alone could hold back the beast.
"I'll handle this big guy. You deal with the rest," she declared, her voice commanding and calm amidst the chaos. The crowd watched in awe as her waist-length white hair danced in the wind. Her movements were smooth and unflinching as she advanced toward the colossal beast, her eyes burning with fierce excitement.
Her crimson eyes sparkled with an almost dangerous thrill. "Time to stretch my arms," she murmured, a smirk playing on her lips.
With a swift, practiced motion, she angled her arms sharply, her elbows bent and forearms extended downward. An intense indigo aura coalesced into deadly claws around her clenched hands while radiating heat that instantly evaporated the snow within 10 meters in her vicinity. They extended outward with a razor-sharp gleam, ready to engage the Froststeel Behemoth.
During this moment, Ardiel rushed towards the top of the walls to see the situation. He first did a headcount on his class to make sure none of them were left behind. As soon as he arrived on the walkway, he saw the magisters stationed on the embrasures threw a barrage of magic spells towards the beast tide, the collective intensity made him feel that the mana around the area was being sucked in to charge their spells.
The Behemoth, undeterred, continued its relentless advance toward the academy. But it slowed as Monika charged toward it, her movements a blur of speed and precision. Her massive, deep indigo claws—longer than a man's arm—extended from her fists, giving her the appearance of a feral beast herself.
"That's Miss Monika," a voice spoke beside him. It was one of the magisters firing endless spells at the beasts. He seemed intrigued by the small boy standing beside him when others were likely cowering behind the walls.
"She's one of the only three Rank 7 Instructors in the academy, along with Dean Orfen and Instructor Helena," he added, filling in the curiosity welling up inside Ardiel who couldn't take his eyes from the scene.
Monika leaped effortlessly to the height of the wall and slashed her claws at the side of the Behemoth. The beast swung its tusks wildly, trying to hit her, but she was too fast.
Her attack landed with a thunderous impact, carving a deep, searing trail into the beast's hide. The Froststeel Behemoth roared in agony, the sound reverberating like an earthquake. Known for its incredibly durable hide, the Behemoth now bore a severe, charred wound—a testament to Monika's power. The attack, which could have gouged a ten-meter deep gorge in the ground, left only a two-meter deep wound on the Behemoth, showing just how formidable its defenses were.
While Monika relished her one-sided battle with the Behemoth, a similar situation was unfolding in the southwest as a Rank 5 beast appeared in the line of sight of the knights.
A Rank 5 Galeshear Owl emerged, summoning dozens of mini-tornadoes around the battlefield. Known for its aerial dominance, its ability to summon sharp wind blades and tornadoes made it notorious among beast hunters in the North. Though it was weaker in rank, its abilities were troublesome to face.
With a piercing screech, the owl flapped its enormous wings, sending countless razor-sharp wind blades slicing through the air. Trees were shredded, and the ground was scarred by its relentless assault. If the Behemoth was known for its impenetrable defense, the Galeshear Owl was feared for its overwhelming offense.
Fortunately, the Southwest division also had a capable representative. Helena, another Rank 7 Instructor, appeared on the scene. Standing by the fortress wall, she lifted both arms and with a graceful flick of her wrist, she unleashed a torrent of wind blades that clashed with the owl's attack, neutralizing the threat in a spectacular display of magic.
When facing an enemy, the best strategy is often to fight fire with fire—or, in this case, wind with wind. The Galeshear Owl screeched in frustration, realizing its attacks were being expertly countered.
In a desperate bid, the owl flapped its wings with increased ferocity, enlarging the tornadoes it had summoned. But Helena was ready. She swayed her arms as if conducting an orchestra, and the winds began to shift. A cold breeze blew in the opposite direction, disrupting the tornadoes' paths, and one by one, they dissipated at her command.
She looked like a Wind Goddess that freely commands the winds of the world.
A Rank 5 beast against a Rank 7 Magister? It was no contest. The owl's efforts were as futile as a child trying to overpower an adult.
All five sides of the academy's defenses were under siege by beast tides, led by creatures ranging from Rank 4 to Rank 6. This was the largest tide the academy had faced in decades. While they had rankers strong enough to face mid-ranked beasts, the sheer number of enemies meant they couldn't protect everyone.
"Fall back behind the walls!" Rodan bellowed, slashing through hordes of Strigers and Fenrions with his aura blades. Though there were no Rank 5 or 6 beasts in the southeast, the mass of Rank 4 creatures was proving just as formidable as the single Froststeel Behemoth or Galeshear Owl.
"Get inside, now!" Eileen shouted at Reno and Kristan, who were struggling against a Rank 4 Striger. It was a beast that even ten Rank 1 aurors couldn't hope to defeat—it was like trying to crack a boulder with an egg.
Dozens of magic circles appeared around her, shooting beams of lightning at the beasts without pause. Both she and Erick were contracted to Lightning Dragons, but while Erick was an Auror, Eileen was a Magister.
"She's going wild again," one of the sergeants muttered in awe as he fired down from the wall.
"They say that when she and her twin are on the battlefield, all you can hear are thunderclaps," another soldier added, admiration clear in his voice. "They're unstoppable, even against those stronger than them."
"Let's go!" Reno urged, understanding that they could no longer contribute here. The lower-ranked beasts were all but exterminated. The mid-rankers were the only ones keeping the tide at bay.
Once the students were safely behind the fortress walls, the real battle began.
Deafening explosions resounded from all sides of the academy, shaking the very earth and decimating the once peaceful white forest.
Morning had come and gone, and by the time the sun set, the beast tide, which had felt like an eternity, finally ended. With the Rank 5 and 6 beasts vanquished, the remaining lower-ranked creatures were swiftly dealt with.
The aftermath was harrowing. The air was thick with the choking stench of charred flesh, and the once pristine snow was stained deep crimson with blood. The battlefield, now a grotesque tableau, was littered with the mangled remains of both man and beast.
The twisted bodies of fallen knights lay strewn among the carcasses of the slain creatures, their lifeless eyes reflecting the dying light of the day. Some were still clutching their weapons, fingers frozen in a death grip, while others were barely recognizable, their forms battered beyond recognition.
Silence fell over the academy, a silence so profound it was suffocating. The jubilant roars of victory were absent, replaced by the hollow, haunting wind that whispered through the broken trees. For the academy, this had been the worst tide it had ever faced, leaving behind only the heavy weight of loss.
As darkness enveloped the academy, the last rays of sunlight slipped beneath the horizon, and the night claimed the battlefield. It was a night that would be long remembered, a night where the cost of survival was etched in blood and sorrow.
Ardiel made his way back to the central plaza, where tents had been set up. Everyone was required to report, with long lists of survivors and casualties posted on the bulletin boards.
"What did I tell you?!" a familiar voice shouted nearby. Ardiel turned to see Eileen yanking Reno's left ear.
Relief washed over him as he realized they had both survived. For the first time, the fear of death had gripped him. He sighed, noticing Reno's injuries—both arms wrapped in white cloth, but nothing too serious.
"I was just helping my classmate!" Reno protested, trying to push Eileen away, but she was too strong. He feared she might actually pull his ear off this time.
"It's great that you're loyal to your friends, but it's not so great when you nearly get yourself killed."
Ardiel walked toward them, amused by their bickering.
"She's just too shy to admit she's glad Reno's safe," a deep voice said beside him, also enjoying the scene.
"Brother Erick!" Ardiel exclaimed. His tall brother patted his head and pulled him into what seemed like a brotherly hug, though it was a bit less intimate.
"I didn't know you could be so brave," Erick said, his tone full of admiration. He had witnessed Ardiel's courage on the battlefield earlier, seeing his youngest brother fight with a fierce determination, slashing and shooting beasts without hesitation.
"Ay, that's nothing compared to your Lightning Armor, you really look cool!" He recalled how Erick had fought with such ferocity. His battle prowess had shone brightly, even stealing the spotlight at times from Monika's one-sided clash with the Behemoth.
"You two, what are you standing there for?!"