Henry: "What! How is there a Djinn here?"
Dakota: "I don't know, but this just got a lot more dangerous than I expected."
The group stared at the dark figure standing over the remains of the giant serpent, its twisted form radiating malice and power. The Djinn was humanoid, with dark, shadowy skin, eyes like smoldering coals, and energy that crackled around him like a dark aura.
Lucas: "Dakota, we should get out of here before the Djinn finishes eating the serpent. We don't want to end up being its next meal."
Ava: "Yeah, Dakota, I think it's about time we get the hell out of here. This is way beyond our league!"
Dakota: (pausing, considering) "You're probably right…my parents and my teacher did warn me that if things ever got too dangerous, I should run. But still…"
Dakota's fists clenched, his eyes lighting up with a dangerous glint.
Dakota: "But I'm not running away. If we defeat this thing, we'll gain the kind of experience that can't be taught at the academy. This is a chance to get stronger…and a chance to fight a real Djinn!"
He took a step forward, his stance solid and unyielding.
Dakota: "Sorry, guys, but I'm staying here to fight."
Liam: "Are you crazy, Dakota?! There's no way you're taking that thing down alone."
Dakota: "Who says I'm fighting it alone?"
Liam: "Wait…you think one of us is crazy enough to stay here and fight a Djinn with you?"
Dakota: (smirking) "Yeah, I do. Right, Henry?"
Henry's eyes met Dakota's, and a slow smile spread across his face.
Henry: "You're right, Dakota. I'm in. I want to fight the Djinn too."
Jack: "Have both of you lost your minds? This isn't some school training exercise. This is a Djinn we're talking about!"
Amelia: "Please, let's just escape! All of us are exhausted except for you two, and there's no way you can take down a Djinn alone."
Henry: "How can you be so sure?"
Luna: "Listen, you two! This isn't about bravery—it's about survival! We can't beat a Djinn. Let's just get out of here."
Dakota: "I'm sorry, but I won't run away from this."
Mia: "For heaven's sake, Dakota! Why do you always have to be so reckless?"
Lucas: "Yeah, he really is like this. He never runs away, no matter what. But maybe that's a good thing. Fine, I'm in. I'll fight too, Dakota."
Ava: "What?! Not you too, Lucas…"
Liam: (sighing) "Fine, if the rest of you are going to fight, then I'll stay and fight too. Someone has to keep you all from getting yourselves killed."
Jack: "If all of you are fighting, then I'm not going to be the one to run. I'm in, too."
Ava: "Ah, damn it! Here we go again…"
After a few moments, even Amelia, Mia, and Luna reluctantly agreed to fight alongside their friends.
---
The group steeled themselves as they prepared to enter the boss room where the Djinn lurked. Djinns were known to be humans who had traded their souls to devils for power. They were deeply malicious creatures, driven by darkness and cruelty—though not quite as monstrous as true devils. Judging by the oppressive energy radiating from this one, it was likely a mid-ranked Djinn, something that no student from the Hero Academy should realistically face.
Dakota: "Guys, I think that's a mid-ranked Djinn. Be on your guard."
Lucas: "A mid-ranked Djinn? Are we seriously thinking we can beat that?"
In the Hero and Djinn rankings, levels went from low-rank to mid-rank, high-rank, and master-rank, with the very strongest being the ten Legendary Heroes or ten Mythical Djinns. Mid-ranked Djinns were already considered incredibly powerful, and they could easily overpower an ordinary academy student.
Dakota: "Don't worry. If all of us fight together, we can take him down."
Henry: "Yeah, Dakota's right. If we work as a team, there's a chance we can win."
Ava: "Fine…let's just get this over with."
With their minds made up, they entered the boss room, and the scene before them was gruesome. The Djinn was hunched over the giant serpent's body, feasting on it with unsettling glee. Hearing footsteps, the Djinn turned around, a twisted grin spreading across its face as it wiped blood from its mouth.
Dakota: "Hey there, Djinn! We've come to kill you."
The Djinn straightened up, his gaze locking onto Dakota's with dark amusement.
Djinn: "Oh? So you children want to kill me?"
Dakota: "That's right. We do."
Djinn: (laughing) "What can mere children, not even heroes yet, hope to do against me? Hahaha!"
The Djinn's laugh was manic, his voice echoing through the chamber.
Dakota: "We may not be heroes yet, but we're students of the Hero Academy!"
Djinn: "Oh, students, huh? That makes things interesting. But tell me, where do you rank in this academy of yours?"
Dakota: "We're the strongest students in the academy."
Djinn: (smirking) "Well, well. What an honor, to kill the strongest students from the Hero Academy."
Dakota: "You're not going to kill us."
Djinn: "We'll see about that."
As he spoke, the Djinn released a wave of dark energy, his aura flooding the room. The oppressive force was like a tidal wave, pressing down on the group with crushing intensity. But they held their ground, each one determined not to show fear.
Djinn: "Impressive. You didn't fall to your knees. Very well, let's see what you're made of."
Dakota: "Everyone, get ready! He's coming!"
In a blur of motion, the Djinn appeared in front of Luna, landing a powerful punch that sent her hurtling into the wall. She coughed up blood as she hit the ground.
Jack: "Luna! No!"
Jack: (furious) "You monster!"
Fueled by rage, Jack summoned his lightning spear and lunged at the Djinn, aiming to strike him down. But the Djinn dodged with ease, delivering a punch to Jack's stomach that sent him sprawling.
Henry: "Jack!"
Dakota: "You're going to pay for that. Lucas, freeze him!"
Lucas: "Got it!"
Lucas quickly cast an ice spell, frost erupting around the Djinn's body. But the Djinn shattered the ice effortlessly, laughing at their attempts.
Djinn: "A feeble ice spell? You'll have to do better than that."
Dakota: "Lucas didn't need to freeze you completely. He just needed to hold you still for a moment!"
Using the opening, Dakota activated his Flame Boost and Flame Fist, moving with blinding speed. The Djinn barely had time to react as Dakota's flaming punch connected with his head, knocking him to the ground.
Dakota: "Now! Everyone, launch your spells!"
Without hesitation, the group unleashed a barrage of magic. Fireballs from Dakota, Ava, and Henry; a water blast from Mia; and Liam's Lightning Rain—each spell aimed directly at the Djinn. The relentless onslaught continued for a full thirty seconds, each spell crashing into the Djinn in a storm of elemental fury.
Dakota: (breathing heavily) "Please tell me that did the trick."
The dust cleared, and a sinister laugh filled the room.
Djinn: "Nice try, but you'll have to do better than that."
Henry: "How are you still alive?!"
Djinn: "I managed to activate my shield just before your spells hit me. But…you did manage to hurt me. So, I think it's time to end this."
With a fierce snarl, the Djinn used his Flame Burst, a fiery shockwave erupting from his body and scorching the room. Most of the group was thrown back, but Dakota, Henry, and Lucas managed to activate their shields just in time.
Dakota: "Ah, this burns like hell."
Djinn: "Three left. What will you do now?"
Dakota: (determined) "Isn't it obvious? Even if there are only three of us left, we'll still kill you. You're going down, Djinn!"