Since the apocalypse, Earth has transformed into a wasteland overrun by mutated creatures. Animals, once familiar, had evolved into dangerous predators, their forms twisted by the energy of the Meteor. Among the most feared were the Voidwings—pack hunters that stalked the night skies, their piercing screeches like the wail of banshees.
Today, those screeches echoed across the sky.
The Second Year Students stood on edge, weapons drawn and cores activated. The air was thick with tension. Dust swirled at their feet, carried by the eerie silence before battle. The acrid scent of ash and burned wood filled their nostrils, remnants of the forest fires that had long since died.
Up above, the Alpha Voidwing circled like a vulture, its shadow flickering over the students. Twice the size of the others, its sleek black wings stretched wide as it soared, its talons gleaming in the fading dark clouds. The beast let out a deafening screech, piercing through the unnatural quiet.
Brandon, at the head of the group, kept his gaze locked on the creature. "Hold your positions," he commanded, his voice firm. But even he felt the creeping sense of dread as the Alpha began its descent, defying the laws of physics. He could feel the weight of its presence pressing down on them.
Without a single flap of its wings, the Voidwing plummeted toward the ground, beak open wide as if ready to devour the students whole. The gust of wind that followed its descent was immense, scattering the students in every direction like leaves in a storm. The roar of the wind drowned out the sounds of their scrambling footsteps.
Brandon dropped to one knee, his hands bracing against the earth as the powerful gust slammed into him. The force rattled his bones, and his Infernal Energy surged instinctively to protect him. His body radiated with heat as flames flickered along his arms.
Ariana screamed as she was thrown backward, her small frame unable to withstand the force. She crashed into a boulder, the impact knocking the wind out of her. "Ugh!" she groaned, struggling to rise. David darted toward her, his Aqua core already activated as he shot a jet of water into the air, trying to regain control of the situation.
Brandon gritted his teeth, his hands digging into the cracked earth beneath him. "This beast is on another level," he muttered. He pushed himself to his feet, flames igniting along his arms. "Alright, let's see how it handles this!"
"Infernal Energy: Flame Whip!" His voice rang out as the flames erupted from his palms, forming into long, fiery tendrils. The heat from the whip radiated across the battlefield, causing the air to shimmer as it lashed out, wrapping around the Alpha Voidwing's thick neck.
The creature screeched, thrashing wildly as Brandon yanked it toward him, his muscles straining against the force of the beast. The ground shook as the Voidwing struggled to break free, but Brandon held firm, his feet planted in the ground like roots.
Flames crackled in the air as he lashed the whip across the Voidwing's back, leaving searing marks across its black hide. The stench of burning flesh filled the air, and the Alpha let out an ear-splitting roar that vibrated through Brandon's skull. But just as Brandon moved to strike again, the Voidwing flapped its wings, sending a gust of wind so powerful that Brandon was knocked off his feet, his back slamming into the dirt.
"The wings!" David shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos. "We need to take out the wings!" Without hesitation, he leaped into the air, his Aqua core surging with power.
"Aqua Energy: Water Blast!" David's voice boomed as a powerful stream of water shot from his palms. The blast hit the Voidwing with a force that made it stagger, momentarily disorienting the beast.
Martin, already anticipating the next move, stepped forward. The ground beneath his feet trembled, responding to his command. "Gaia Energy: Stone Pillars!" The earth rumbled as two massive pillars shot up from the ground, trapping the Voidwing between them. The creature thrashed, its massive wings battering against the stone.
Brandon, recovering quickly, lashed his Flame Whip around the Voidwing's neck once more. He pulled hard, flames sizzling as they constricted around the Alpha's throat. The beast's shriek echoed through the battlefield, but it still wasn't enough to bring it down.
"We need more pressure!" Brandon growled, sweat dripping down his brow. His whip crackled with intensity, but the Alpha Voidwing's strength was unyielding.
Bliss, perched atop one of the stone pillars, surveyed the battlefield with sharp, calculating eyes. She had been waiting for the right moment, her core glowing softly beneath her skin. "Now," she whispered to herself, her lips curling into a smirk.
With a graceful leap, she launched herself into the air. The wind bent to her will, slowing her descent as she positioned herself above the struggling beast. Her fingers splayed out, energy crackling between them.
"Aerial Energy: Wind Blades!" Bliss cried out as she slashed her hands downward. Twin blades of razor-sharp wind surged from her fingertips, slicing through the air with a high-pitched whine. The blades struck the Voidwing's wings, cutting through flesh and bone with precision.
A screech of agony filled the air as the beast's wings were severed, sending it crashing to the ground with a thunderous thud. Dust and debris erupted from the impact, and for a moment, everything seemed still.
Bliss landed gracefully, flipping forward to stand before the fallen Voidwing. Its wings, now useless, lay in tatters around it. The creature's chest heaved as it struggled to rise, but it was too late.
From behind, Jim came barreling forward, his fists ablaze with Infernal Energy. He leapt high into the air, his right fist glowing with a brilliant, fiery intensity.
"Take this!" he roared. His fist collided with the Alpha Voidwing's chest, and the resulting explosion lit up the battlefield like a miniature sun. Flames erupted in all directions, and the force of the impact sent shockwaves through the ground. The Voidwing let out one final, pitiful screech before its body was engulfed in flames.
The explosion was so intense that Martin was forced to raise an earthen dome to shield the students from the blast. Bliss used her Aerial Core to propel herself backward, the wind cushioning her retreat as the ground shook beneath her feet.
When the flames died down, the battlefield was eerily quiet. Smoke rose from the charred remains of the Alpha Voidwing, its once mighty form reduced to ash and smoldering bones.
Larry was the first to break the silence, his voice cracking with excitement. "It's over! The beast is dead!"
The students, though still cautious, began to lower their guards. They gathered around the crater where the Voidwing had fallen, their breaths coming in heavy gasps. Brandon and Jim stepped forward, their bodies unscathed despite the violent clash.
In Brandon's hand was a small, glowing black orb. The energy within it pulsed faintly, casting an eerie glow across the group.
"What's that?" Roland asked, his voice filled with awe as he stared at the object in Brandon's hand.
"It's an Energy Core," Eric answered before Brandon could speak, his voice calm and composed. "This one belonged to the Alpha Voidwing. It was what kept it so powerful."
"And what can we do with it?" Ariana asked, her eyes narrowing as she studied the core.
Eric smiled faintly. "These cores are infused with Meteor Energy. They have various uses depending on the beast they're harvested from. This one…" He trailed off as Jim cut in, his voice sharp.
"Enough talk. We need to move," Jim said, his impatience clear as he turned away from the group. "We don't have time to stand around."
Eric raised an eyebrow but said nothing, though his expression showed that he had expected the interruption. The tension between them simmered, but Brandon stepped in to diffuse it.
"We need to focus," Brandon said, his gaze sweeping over the group. "While you were all fighting, Eric found a route. The item we're looking for is in City Hall, and the fastest way to get there is through the west."
Edwin chuckled, shaking his head. "I'm not a Kid,Brandon. I've been in Los Angeles before the Apocalypse. The journey to the City Hall would take us close to Four hours and you call that the fastest way ?
Brandon nodded. "It's the safest route. The possibility of encountering a beast there is less."
David, still angry, stepped forward. "And you're going to listen to him? We already lost one of our own because of his decisions!"
"That wasn't my fault," Eric said firmly. "I only made a suggestion—"
"A suggestion that killed someone!" David shouted, his face red with fury.
Without warning, Eric moved. His core flared with energy, and before David could react, Eric's fist connected with his face. David stumbled backward, blood trickling from his nose as he hit the ground.
Eric didn't stop. He surged forward, but a wall of earth erupted between them, blocking his path.
With a single punch, Eric shattered the wall, sending shards of stone flying in all directions. The sheer force of his blow stunned the group. Even the Gaia users, those who commanded the earth itself, exchanged uneasy glances. The power Eric had just displayed wasn't typical of his level—it was something else entirely, something primal.
David, wiping the blood from his face, staggered back to his feet. His eyes were burning with rage, his Aqua Core flaring as water began to pool at his feet, swirling around him in a defensive circle. His hands trembled as he called forth the energy, his mind struggling to comprehend how Eric had become so powerful.
"You… you've crossed the line!" David growled, raising his hands. Streams of water shot forward, twisting like serpents, but before they could reach Eric, Brandon stepped in, his voice calm but firm.
"Enough!" Brandon's command echoed through the tense silence. He stood between the two, his body radiating heat, flames flickering in the air around him. "We don't have time for this. Whatever grudge you two have can wait until we finish the mission."
David hesitated, the water he had summoned faltering for a moment before dissipating entirely. He clenched his fists but lowered his gaze, the fire in his eyes simmering down. Eric, on the other hand, remained silent, his expression cold and unyielding.
Before any more words could be exchanged, Larry's voice cut through the tension, high-pitched and panicked. "They're coming… I can feel them!" His small frame was trembling, his blind eyes wide with terror. "There are more of them… a lot more!"
Everyone froze. Even Brandon's flames dimmed as the reality of Larry's warning settled in. In the distance, the sound of heavy footsteps, dozens of them, reverberated through the ground. The earth trembled under the weight of the approaching beasts. It wasn't just a few Voidwings—this was an entire pack, and they were closing in fast.
"Everyone, move!" Brandon's voice rang with authority as he barked the order. Without hesitation, the team sprang into action, tearing off in the direction of the western path.
Ariana grabbed Larry by the wrist, pulling him with her as they sprinted through the trees, their footsteps barely keeping pace with the rumbling of the ground behind them. The sounds of the beasts crashing through the underbrush were growing louder, closer. Every second felt like a race against death itself.