"Blazing Gallant!" Hana fired it toward a giant, crimson-red fly.
It burned the bugs to ashes.
A few meters away from her battle, Ayjin similarly finished up her battle with her foe; it was fortunate they had encountered two Demons who were fighting each other. Despite the steady progress they were making Hana knew at this rate, they'd likely fail the exam – in total about a hundred thousand Demons regularly spawn in this Mana forest a month, out of the four-thousand plus people here, and only leave about three-hundred who can pass this exam. With how long this exam had lasted the window of being included in those three hundred was dwindling by the second. A literal race against time.
She had all this information thanks to her elder brother: Midas Von Yue, who had once attended Arcane Academy. He was a top student so he knows very well the intricate system this school has. "Come on, we have to move."
"Don't order me around noble!" Ayjin sneered at her before walking.
Damn it . . . She wanted so badly to fight back, to make jabs at her, to bite back – but it flashed in her mind; the Horrifying sight of Maverick looking like he was near death's door, no he was at it. Aside from passing the exam, a more urgent matter to why they have to pass the exam so they can return to the Academy and get medical health quickly. She knows all too well that probably one of the staff was bought by Avoure, so that's why no staff member had tried to interfere with this.
They should probably check in on Maverick right about now, to see if he's fine now. "Hey should check on Maverick real quick."
"Yeah, I hope he's fine now."
Before Hana could move she turned her back, looking at a couple of trees, squinting her eyes to see if anything was there: She didn't know why, but lately, she felt like they were being watched. So far nothing had happened, still, with Avoure hunting them, you could never be careful.
Reinforcing their legs with Mana had drastically increased their speed, they sped off through the forest; backtracking to the cave.
The Mana forest around them was like a blur, they were across large distances per second; if one were to look at them right now one would see two fast blurs passing them in a few seconds. Because they were so fast most obstacles that got in their way were obliterated from their sheer speed, and the ones that were too big to simply walk through they just simply took a slightly altered path.
They have been going for about a couple of minutes. This entire time of them hunting Demons, she and Ayjin didn't interact with each other that much – well to be more exact Ayjin didn't give her a friendly shoulder, most of the time she'll insult her because she's a noble. Normally she would have retaliated, but she can't. How could she when the main reason they're in this messy situation is because of her fiancé, Avoure?
Just thinking about that smug bastard made her blood boil. This all started a few years back, Avoure wasn't her only suitor; like many daughters of nobility before her, she had many different suitors from different levels of nobility. From lowly sons of low-class nobles to the upper echelons of nobles. Many wanted her hand, it was understandable her family, the Von Yue. Is very influential, has a close relationship with the Royal family, and their eldest son is the strongest Human on e
Gaiea. So many would flock to her hand – she rejected them all. She was able to because in comparison most of the suitors' families weren't very influential or rich, that was until the Vin Mae family proposed that their eldest son should marry her.
Vin Mae aside from being very rich and influential, some say their family even rivals hers – which she calls bull crap on that, but never mind that fact. Avoure's father was also good friends with her father and had close ties with the Royal family. Another thing is Avoure is the same age as her too, some would say they were a match made in heaven. Just thinking about it made her puke.
The only reason why she wasn't engaged to Avoure was because he was studying abroad, but now he's back in the Royal Kingdom she has no choice, but to marry her now. She hated it!
Hana grips her hand tightly, frustration building up inside of her.
"You know I-it's your fault r-right!"
Ayjin was crying, tears streaming down her face. Looking at her with an angered expression.
"It's always like this! You nobles are messing with the lives of us lower-class citizens! Treating life like some kind of game! It's thanks to your drama that Jackson is hurt!"
Hearing her say this made Hana wanna punch her in the face, just how self-righteous this girl can get?
"Nobles like you are scum hurting people!"
Oh how badly she wanted to bite back, especially since she's coming from a particularly violent group.
Even though the urge to fight back was slowly diminished like a fire getting poured on by water. How could she fight back when it's her fault for being hunted down by Avoure's team? It's her fault Maverick was hurt so badly – the image of Maverick at death's door made her stomach churn.
"Not even gonna defend yourself? Guess you're self-aware how shitty nobles like you are!" Hana heard how angry Ayjin was, it surprised her how someone could be as angry as her.
"I'm s-sorry . . . " She hated how weak and pathetic her voice sounded, but it was deserved. In this instance, she was a pathetic girl.
"How can y- it's a Demon!" Ayjin stopped dead in her tracks. Seeing Ayjin stopping Hana slid to a screeching halt, her foot had dug deep into the ground, pulling it out, and seeing the very expensive boots covered in dirt was very frustrating.
"Demon?" Hana approaches Ayjin.
Ayjin didn't say anything, she hid behind a tree peeking out to see something, the vines and trees were blocking her view of what Ayjin was seeing. Hana ducked out of the way of those and got a glimpse of what Ayjin was watching.
It was one of the more weird-looking Demons Hana had seen today – reckon the weirdest one by far today. It was a giant pale hand, each fingernail colored black and sharp to the point it could probably cut trees with ease. In the middle of it was a freaky huge yellow eye staring at the ground, at the button where the wrist was supposed to be it was a fleshy lump with large spike chains coming out of it.
"This one looks tough," Ayjin muttered under her breath, Hana agreed to her assessment. Something about it screams danger. Hana unsheathed her rapier to be prepared.
"I summon Shadows Fang," besides her Shadow Fang arising from the shadows, it quietly snarled at its prey waiting for its master's orders.
"I want you to circle the Demon, let's see what its capabilities are," Ayjin ordered the pure black wolf, it eagerly nodded at its master and took off in a heartbeat, jumping from place to place on the natural terrain it jumps high into the hair and landed on the Demon's back. Its black claws and jaws began to rip and tear through the flesh; Demon's signature blue blood flew everywhere. The Demon's eye contorted into an expression that seemingly resembled rage, the chains beneath floated up like some kind of invincible force was lifting it.
The very sharp tip of those chains pointed at Shadow Fang and jets forward at high speed. Fortunately, just in time Shadow Fang jumps out of the way – the chains piercing its owner.
Hana pointed her rapier at the Demon, flames converged at the tip ready to be fired. "Blazing Gallant," Muttering those two words the flames fired. It shot through the air and hit its target; the Demon's eye. Falls onto the ground, its eye utterly destroyed leaving behind a burnt hole in its place, the flames begin to spread all over the Demon. It writhed all over the ground before succumbing to its injuries and perished. It stopped moving.
"Well, guess I was overestimating- look out!" Ayjin pushed her to the ground; something went past where they were standing, and it hit a tree behind them causing it to explode. They saw Avoure and his minions walking from a couple of trees.
"Damn it, it's them! They don't know when to quit!" Hana cursed underground her breath, she got up readying her rapier.
"Shadow Fang came to me! I summon Void Tank!" next to her the giant panda rose from the ground and the wolf walked up to her other side growling at its opponents.
"Oh? That's quite strange, why isn't that commoner boy with you?" Avoure smirked, likely already knowing what happened to Maverick.
"All of you will pay for hurting Maverick," She made the first move, firing a wave of flames at the trio, and all of them split up. His two teammates are teaming well while Avoure is going alone. He headed straight to her while the other two chased after Ayjin.
Firing more fire at Avoure he simply teleported to dodge. Cursing under her breath Hana looked around to find him. A hand grabs her neck from behind getting lifted. "What the hell!" Hana winces from the pain.
"You certainly are doing a bad job at making me pay," He threw her to a nearby tree, and she crashed into it causing blood to rush out of her mouth. She covered her mouth to make it stop but blood still rushes out of her hand.
"Is that all?"
"Blazing Gallant!" Hana immediately fired another one. He dodged it with ease.
Using this chance Hana hid behind a tree to catch her breath. Humiliated further that a noble is hiding.
________________________________
Shadow Wolf jumps back in time as Avoure's teammate's snake arms try to bite it, not wasting any seconds Shadow Fang rushes to him dodging all of his strikes and getting closer to him.
Once in range Shadow Fang lunges at him – its hindlimbs sink into the ground like the ground was water.
The shadow wolf tried to stay afloat despite a mysterious force dragging it deeper and deeper in.
Seeing the black wolf unavailable to do anything right now, the snake arms guy decided to strike. His two snake arms dig their fangs deep into Shadow Fang; eventually, it goes limp and disappears in a flash of smoke.
In the distance was Void Tank and behind it was Ayjin, seeing her Shadow Fang die she bit her lips in frustration. Re-summoning Shadow Fang again. Right now she wants far away from the chubby guy, it's obvious he's a Mana Arbiter and his ability is to make the ground into some kind of liquid to certain people; while she's confident she could handle the bald guy the chubby one would be a tricky opponent to beat.
Peeking out of the Void Tank she saw that Bold guy was standing out in the middle, no signs of the other one – probably hiding amongst the bushes or trees.
"What should I do?" She muttered to herself; thinking of a plan – an idea popped into her head. Besides her, she summoned one of her Magic Beasts. It flew out of her shadow and landed in front of her, this was Hugin; it was a black metallic bird that resembled an eagle and a bit like a knight, its entire body was made out of black metal segmented together. On its beak, there was a visor that looked like the ones knights wear, covering the bird's eyes.
It made a chirping noise then bowed to her. "Hey there buddy," She pats Hugin on the head, which makes a higher pitch chirping sound. Enjoy her touch.
Hugin had two abilities, flying super fast and vision transference: she's able to see what Hugin sees, a great thing for reconnaissance. The metal bird flew high up circling the area, despite being made of metal it didn't make a single noise.
She sees the entire area from an aerial point of view, and even though she had a third vision it wasn't that confusing nor hindered her original vision.
She saw the bold guy standing there ready to counter what she'd throw at him – but she did find it weird how he was just standing there so Hugin flew around to see if he was nearby.
She saw him! He was crouched behind some tree near his teammate. Hugin flew over to the chubby guy watching to make sure she didn't lose him.
"Shadow Fang ran up to him as fast as possible," pointing at the bald guy – the wolf nodded, sprinting to him while Ayjin ran around the area using Mana Reinforcement to increase her speed.
Looking at Shadow Fang, the wolf tried to jump at him, like last time Shadow Fang was getting pulled underground – just like she predicted. Now both of them were distracted by it.
Behind the chubby guy, reinforcing her arm to the brim with Mana threw a punch at his head, sending him flying out in the open. "That's payback for what you did to Jackson!"
"You filthy animal bitch!" He stood up dusting off the dirt.
His teammate ran to her shouting. "You'll pay for your insolent peasant!" His snake arms rush to her. Ayjin moved out of the way in time and then dashed over to him, punching him in the gut with her reinforced Mana arm.
This knocks him back next to his teammate. "This bitch will pay . . . " A dark blue aura surrounds him.
"Yeah, finish her off Omort!"
"Crap he's transforming," she muttered, the fight had got a whole lot more difficult.
Dark blue energy engulfed him entirely and then it dissipated revealing his new form. It was half snake half man type body, with his upper body being human while his lower body was that of a snake. Slimy green scales covered his entire body and his head was a fusion between a Cobra and a human. "I'll make you learn your place!"
He ran to her at high speed, it caught her off guard as he grabbed her face and threw her to some trees. Her back exploded from the sheer pain she felt – luckily she had reinforced her back so there wasn't any damage to it.
Hugin Swope down and stabs him using its beak, blood flies all over him as Hugin rapidly flaps its wings digging deeper. "You scum! Daring to hurt a noble!" He grabbed the bird and tried to crunch it, but it didn't work.
Hugin kept smashing its beak into him. "Fucker!" He rips the metal bird apart.
Ayjin was about to summon Shadow Fang to her side – but immediately fell into the ground like it was water.
"Crap!" She tried desperately to stay afloat. Thinking anyway to get out of here.
"Thanks a lot, Devin," The snake man nodded to the chubby guy.
"Let's finish this bitch off!" Both of them walked over to her, having a sinister grin.
"I have to get out quickly, I summon Void Tank!" Next to her Void Tank was summoned, just like its master it too was sinking in the water and because of it being heavier wasn't able to keep itself afloat and drowned.
Ayjin tried to think of a solution, but all of it failed, it was the end for her.
Someone came rushing out of the forest, and both of their arms were wrapped in azure blue flames.
"Lay your hands off her!"
It was Jackson!
________________________________
Before I got here I was speed running the quests; completing several of them in fact, leveling up to thirty-six and increasing all my stats, primarily defense as I'm fine with my current strength and speed. After exiting the latest dungeon I heard fighting and decided to check it out, where I saw Ayjin getting beaten by Avoure's teammates.
Using Critical Strike on both arms I targeted the fat guy first, hitting him right in the jaw, though he wasn't sent flying because I was holding him. Using all my strength lifted him and slammed him down. This knocked the guy out – I winced a little bit, some blood was flowing out of his head. Ooh sorry about that.
I dodge out of the way of the snake human strike. "You'll pay for hurting a noble!"
"You guys were the first ones to attack us!" I effortlessly dodge out of the way of his attacks.
"Because you're getting in the way of our leader's plan!"
"What plans!"
"You kept hogging our leader's fiancée to yourself!" He threw a punch that I wasn't able to dodge in time. I use Mana Reinforcement in that spot so there won't be any damage.
"You know commoner I'm shocked you're still standing there alive, my venom is a hundred percent lethality rate," He glared at him.
"An unorthodox method."
"Hmm no matter, that'll finish you off, filthy commoner!" I expected his arms to turn into snakes, but his neck elongated coming right to me!
[DODGE!]
I know! I backflip out of the way though it didn't matter his head was still faster, oh shit!
The guy chops down my arm, his large sharp fangs tearing through my flesh. I feel the venom working inside of me, my legs getting more weak, and my vision getting more blurry. Crap!
I struck him down with Critical Strike, he seemingly ignored the pain and still bit down. "You won't let go huh? Well sorry in advance."
I used the same trick as in the cave, but this time I imagined the diamond-shaped Mana to be big. A large Mana diamond pierces out of my arm, the snake man lets go of my arm, and he gets stabbed too.
"My mouth!" He screams in pain.
I release my Mana and quickly dilute the venom with the trick again, now doing it right. The effects of the venom were weakening until it was entirely gone.
"Here let me help ya," Pulling Ayjin out of the ground.
"You h-" I was interrupted because Ayjin hugged me.
"Y-your ok!" Relief flooded her voice. Hugging tightly like I'd somehow died and come back.
Seeing such a beautiful girl hugging me made me blush and pretty horny. "Y-yeah I'm f-fine can you let go now?"
"O-oh sorry!" She immediately let go, looking away from me, her face red as a tomato.
"All of you shit faces! I'll kill you for hurting a noble!" The guy stood up ready to go for round two.
Me and Ayjin got ready to fight, she summoned Void Tank and Shadow Fang.
With me and Ayjin here that'll be a piece of cake- a giant creature landed behind the snake guy. I feel the sheer power and danger it emanates, I was sweating from the might this thing has. Already. What the hell is that thing?
This thing was similar to some four-legged spider, though instead of fur or normal spider skin. From mandibles to its legs, this thing was covered in crimson metal plates. It had four round balls that were glowing blue on its head, acting as its eyes.
[PLAYER I'D ADVISE TO RUN NOW!]
"Oh god it's a Greater Demon . . . Run!"
________________________________
The battle had lasted a while now, and Hana was tired and injured; a stark contrast to Avoure who looked perfectly fine albeit he was sweating a little.
Her once pristine white clothing was now covered in dirt and fresh blood, and her bright blond hair was now a complete mess with dirt and sweat covering it.
"For Gaiea sake! You're so damn annoying!" Hana gripped her rapier.
"Alright, enough fun and games, it's time to finally end this long charade," Dozens of light particles converge in his hand, and it becomes a spear made of light. "Don't worry I'll only just knock you out for a bit."
Seeing his smug smirk made her blood boil in rage. Even with all these injuries she won't give up, she'll keep on going, getting ready to fight she pointed her rapier at him. "As if."
The tension in the air was thick, she glared at his smug expression. Hana thought of any plans to counter his abilities. Especially his ability to teleport is probably the most annoying thing he can do.
Her best bet is to catch him by surprise.
Hana saw him take a step – he was instantly in front of her. "Crap!"
He plunges the spear of light at her. Coating her entire rapier in flames she blocked the spear, sparkles of Mana flew everywhere from the resulting clash. In terms of raw strength Avoure unfortunately was the clear winner between the two of them, her entire body getting pushed back by his overwhelming strength, but she didn't give up still resisting. "Come on now, give up! It's getting rather annoying!" Hana saw his smug smirk getting more annoyed.
"Then die!" Using Mana Reinforcement kicks Avoure in the gut, sending him flying to a tree.
"Time to end this!" An aura of light covered his entire body. His once confident and smug attitude is replaced by a silent angry expression. Even if she wasn't able to do actual damage to him, just seeing his enraged face was all too satisfying to Hana.
"Hana run!"
Wait that voice, was that Maverick's voice?
Even though Avoure looked surprised to hear the voice, Hana looked to see Jackson quickly running to her with a panicked expression, behind him, Ayjin was having a similar expression to him. "M-Maverick! How are you- "
________________________________
"No time, just run!" I grabbed her hand and rapidly began to drag her with me.
"From what?"
"From a Greater Demon!" Ayjin shouted too. I heard in this distance a gigantic roar, the ground shook from its mighty roar. My heart rate increased as the ground kept shaking from the power of the thing.
Then the ground shook once more, but this time more powerful that it almost made us tumble.
Something rushed down in front of me, crashing into the ground causing dirt and dust to kick up everywhere so it was hard to see though I could make out its silhouette. I knew it was the Greater Demon from it and its roar that almost deafened my eardrums. Once the blanket of dirt and dust dissipated I saw the Demon seemingly snarling at us, despite having no facial features to make any expressions.
Before coming to Arcane Academy Lucian had explained to me the hierarchy of the Demons, each Demon can fit into three categories depending on their strength: the weakest of these three are Dullard Demons, the majority of Demons are Dullard so it takes about one to two Arcana Mage to kill them; the second strongest is a Greater Demon, rarer than the last they are significantly more deadly and powerful, their so deadly it takes about six to eleven Arcana Mage to kill it; lastly the strongest Demon are Overlords, rarer than Greater Demon in record history of the Royal Kingdom only about eight Overlords
have been spotted, and three of those eight were killed, a guaranteed one-hundred percent lethality rate. There isn't any number on how many Arcana Mages can take down an Overlord as they're too much for a group of ordinary Arcana Mages to handle and too rare to set a standard.
Another thing is every Demon in each class isn't equally powerful, some Dullards are more powerful than others, while some Greater are weaker than others.
To gauge how powerful a Demon is and what category they belong to, you have to look at how much Mana they're producing since Demons are creatures made of Mana. By reinforcing your eye you can see how much Mana they're producing.
A sword getting unsheathed.
With my Mana-infused eye, I saw it wasn't particularly large the Mana it was producing, still the amount of Mana is still worrisome.
In the corner of my eye, I saw Avoure teleporting away.
"Running is useless, we have to fight this thing!" Hana blasted the Demon with her flames, it screeched in pain as the entire body was set ablaze. It
Rushes towards us, with its entire body in flames it looks like a flaming meteor heading straight towards us.
All of us, fortunately, jumped out of the way just in time, it barreled right past us and crashed into some tree. The tree it crashed into was obliterated from the impact.
It shook off all the destroyed wood and slammed its thick leg into the ground, the world shook from the impact, the trees around us fell over each other, and the ground split apart like sand. The ground was shaking to the point I had tripped over a crack.
"I summon Shadow Fang!" Besides Ayjin Shadow Fang rises next to her and immediately sprints to the Demon.
"I summon Hugin!" A black metallic crow was summoned perch on her shoulder, that's a new one. It flew high into the air, gaining momentum as the air was wrapped around it, and dived back down.
Shadow Fang jumps at the Demon clawing out its eye, but its claws can't pierce the thick iron-like skin of this creature, the Greater Demon responds with cackles of energy surging around its body. It reached the wolf – a flash of light momentarily engulfed the wolf then disappeared, and a puff of smoke was the only thing in place.
The metal crow dives head first directly into its skin, the iron beak manages to pierce the skin! Energy surges in the Demon's body and a flash of light. The metal crow was no longer there.
"Blazing Gallant!" Hana fired a large lance of fire at the Demon. It managed to push back the Demon, but it wasn't enough; her flames didn't even burn this thing's skin. It roared again signifying the beast's rage.
Charging at Hana, she tried to get away – the Demon slammed its entire body on Hana. "Hana!" I ran over to her.
[Calamity Point: 99]
Hana fell over the ground, lifting its giant huge legs and bringing it back down; I heard Hana's muffled screams of pain.
"I summon Driller!" A worm-like beast Ayjin summons it to dig underground.
Energy cackles around surging through its body and slamming back into Hana.
[Calamity Point: 94]
"Get away from her!" I activated Critical Strike, and its blue fiery aura surrounded both of my arms.
[10x Strength]
I punch it straight to its leg, this sends the beast back by a couple of meters, but enough to get Hana back. Carrying her on my back I saw her clothes were in complete ruins, she was injured beyond belief, and her breathing was getting slower. "Damn it! Ayjin summon Void Tank!"
[Calamity Point: 87]
Ayjin summoned the giant panda, I ran to it carefully putting Hana's body behind it; the panda acting as a shield. The ground shook again causing me and Hana to fall. "Are you ok Jackson?"
"Yeah I'm fine, but Hana! She needs help!"
"It feels like everything is getting worse by the second!" Ayjin slumps down next to Hana, likely trying to catch her breath. I take a peek at the Demon.
It was again, in between some cracks I saw smoke coming out of them. Where the hell is I-
A black shadow covered us and a second later I was sent flying, crashing into a tree. I got back up, my entire body was in pain, and my legs could barely stand from the sheer pain they were experiencing. "What the hell was that . . . shit it hurts." I wince in pain, though my entire body was covered in wounds – blood gushing out, my right arm in particular was mangled, skin having been ripped so blood oozed out, bones seen in area where they shouldn't be, and my arm was almost numb, aside from moving fingers it was like the arm didn't exist., even the sensation of pain vanish in that body part. But my body was in agony. I coughed up some blood as I stood up; if one were to see me they'd think I should be dead, honestly, even I'm surprised how I'm alive.
Something broke in my legs the moment I stood up and I immediately fell face-first into the ground. Damn it! Stand up! But I can't. It was like a giant boulder on top of me, keeping me on the ground like some kind of dog.
I channel Mana through my body, reinforcing them. I stand up, my legs shaking; with the amount of pressure they were holding the moment I make a wrong move they'll explode.
The Demon had landed where we were, Void Tank was nowhere to be spotted, and in its place was smoke floating up into the sky.
The Greater Demon stood over an unconscious Hana and Ayjin – who could barely stand up, she looked even more injured than before. Its massive body completely towers over them and its shadow envelops them.
Damn it! I have to help them! I tried to walk to them, but my legs felt like they were about to explode even with Mana infused into them.
[PLAYER ESCAPE THE BEAST! PRESERVE THYSELF!]
"No! I won't leave them behind!" Even though my instincts told me to run, all of my body was screaming at the top of my lungs to run away, the primal instincts of a man begging me to run. I wouldn't leave them behind. They were my friends! They protected me when I was vulnerable. Staggered on my feet, swaying from side to side almost falling, but barely maintaining my balance.
I have to protect them!
[Calamity Point: 80]
I keep pushing to my limits – oh god it hurts!
[Calamity Point: 76]
It hurts so badly, I – I have to keep moving!
[Calamity Point: 73]
[PLAYER HIE RUN! ABHOR THE WAKING RAGE, LAPSED THE PARLOUS RAGE!]
Everything around me was getting blurry, colors and objects mixed match together as if the entire world was drawn with watercolors, the lines and shapes of object that define each other seemingly seeped into one another, everything was slowly becoming distinguishable, and the entire world was unrecognizable; it was something like squinting your eyes, but the world was already obscure. Honestly I didn't even know I was facing the right way. Because of this my sense of direction was null.
[Calamity Point: 72]
[DON'T LET THE RAGE CONSUME THYSELF OR THOU BECOME A BEAST OF INSANITY!]
I wasn't even feeling anything, the pure agony I was feeling moments ago, it disappeared. All that was left was nothing, it wasn't blissful even that feeling was gone. I was nothing, the sensation of feeling anything was gone, my sense of smell was gone, my sense of touch was gone, my sense of hearing was gone, but not my eyesight, it might as well be gone as the world around me was nothing but white – heck I didn't even feel like I have a body nor was walking.
[Calamity Point: 71]
Yet despite all of this, what everything happened to me – I have to protect them,
Protect them . . .
Protect them . . . .
PROTECT THEM
[Calamity Point: 70]
Everything around me exploded in pain, the entire world was red.
________________________________
This was it, everything was over. She didn't know where Jackson was, but it wasn't that urgent right now. The Greater Demon towered over Ayjin, its massive frame covering her view from the sky. Its four blue balls looked down at her and Hana's body, despite the fact it didn't have a face at all, Ayjin knew. A hunch this monster was enjoying seeing them suffer this much. "Damn it all . . . " She whispered, closing her eyes, accepting the inevitability of her fate. Thoughts of her time in this school flooded back to her.
It wasn't supposed to be like this, she wanted a fresh start at life. To close that chapter of her life. She moved to the Royal Kingdom so she could attend this school, to try and become a Royal Guard, funny in a certain way. The irony of her being an Endian wanting to become a Royal Guard. An occupation where most of them are prejudiced against Endians.
Everything seemed to fall apart when she had moved to the Royal kingdom, the kingdom's overwhelming hatred for Endians, the act of living costing an arm and a leg to simply live in the kingdom, the cost to apply for Arcane Academy was way too high for her to pay; so in the end she results in doing that . . . at least there was one silver lining: meeting Jackson Maverick. A human who didn't discriminate against her, a guy he had the same interest as her and was fun to be around, despite being quite dorky.
Demonic roar echoed throughout the entire forest, its terrifying scream reverberating through the forest, the sound alone made her very soul shiver. A question popped into her mind: What made that roar, it wasn't the Greater Demon that's a fact she knows, its roar and the one she heard were completely different, the second one was far more terrifying and monstrous in nature. She snapped her eyes open – the Greater Demon wasn't looking at her anymore, something had grabbed its attention from behind her! She spotted something, the legs of the beast in front of her was quivering? Was this thing in fear? How is that possib-
Ayjin felt a demonic presence weighing her down, the sheer aura of this being was crushing and pure malice incarnate, like an entire ocean of pure malevolent was on top of her, it felt like it was about to get crushed, her breathing began to come to a halt. Turning around to see the source of this aura, the one who had made a Greater Demon scared – it was Jackson. He was standing up, unnatural still, literally not even an inch or even breathing. One would even think he was just a statue. "What's happening to him . . ."
Black mist began to come out of his skin, it wasn't smoke as this mist wasn't that thick. More and more of this black mist comes out of Jackson's skin, all of it floating to his face – converging in the center like a vortex making something. It was a mask?
Formed on Jackson's face was a black mask, Totally covering his entire face: the mask itself has an intricate design to it, it was reminiscent of a skull, Not a human one, but a skull of a humanoid creature. Two large horns protruding upwards and holes where the eyes are seen, she can't see his eyes just pure darkness staring right back at her.
"W-what happened to him?" She muttered, cold sweat drenched her body, she couldn't stop her hands from shaking in fear at the sight of Jackson or whatever had possessed him. It was redundant to say this, something is wrong with Jackson, something very strong with him, just the sight of him almost made her faint from fear. This wasn't Jackson anymore, not it was a being much older and grander than anything she could have imagined. Infusing Mana into her eyes, gasping at what she saw. Absolute large amount of something, she isn't sure what energy that surrounds him is, something she knows is it isn't just Mana. What kind of energy it is was far more potent and raw than Mana. The amount of this mysterious energy he was producing was so large it made the entire world black, maybe literally as she didn't see an end to it, pure black completely blocking anything else she saw. Releasing the Mana in her eye to return to her normal vision.
He disappeared in an instant! Where was he? Looking around the area to find him – a loud boom went off near her. "What the hell was that?" The Greater Demon crashed into the tree, causing dirt and dust to kick up in the air, once it was clear Ayjin saw the Greater Demon's state, half of its body was gone, and the Demon's blue blood dripped down on the floor along with its guts and other organs falling to the ground – seeing this disgusting sight almost made her puke, What the hell just happened!
She notices someone next to her, it was Jackson and with one arm was carrying the other part of the Demon, he or it threw that body aside, walking to the Demon ignoring her.
The Demon screeched in pain, its leg kicking up in the air trying to get back on its feet and maybe run away, escaping this monster, but because half of its body was missing it was useless to do so. Step by step Jackson draws near, with every step the Demon grows more desperate to escape. Once Jackson was near to it, the Greater Demon kicks Jackson, its body surging with power. It kicks Jackson with enough force that the ground shook, yet Jackson wasn't even remotely fazed by that strike – he didn't even move an inch. Jackson grabs the Demon's legs, his finger breaking through the Demon's metallic plating and digging deep into its skin. With a casual pull rips the leg off. The Greater Demon screamed in pain, it was so loud Ayjin covered her ears so she wouldn't go deaf, Jackson was not affected he simply stood there.
Jackson's left arm suddenly combust, dark red flames covered the entire forearm, at first the flames were wild and sporadic, it looked like how actual flames would move being affected by the winds. A moment later the flames stop moving wildly, instead it molded itself like water creating a claw-like construct surrounding Jackson's forearm. Rising the claw-like arm Jacskon slashes the Greater Demon, leaving behind a trail of black streaks. The sharp claws of it pierces the metal skin of the Demon like butter, finally killing the Greater Demon, evident as it stopped moving.
Jackson slowly turned around – her crimson red eyes meeting those eyeless dark void. "Jacskon?" She said, hoping that whatever Jackson had turned into he was able to control it, that this was his Arcana. Worryingly he didn't respond instead he simply walked over to her like he was tired. "Jackson i-is that still you?" She asked again praying he'll respond or anything, but he still didn't.
"Please answer me!" She begged again, like the last two times didn't answer. Seeing him so close now, this aura of evilness and malice radiating off of him she crawled backwards, getting far away from him, it was only a few inches before her body gave up from all the injuries. "Damn it! Move!" She tried to move her arms or legs, but it was fruitless. They wouldn't budge an inch. Turning around she saw he was now standing over her, with him being so close she could see how grievous his injuries are, his black and white Jacket completely drenched in blood and dirt, scratch that his entire body was soaked in blood, his right arm mangled, this amount of wounds would kill any normal person, if that didn't kill them the blood loss will, he simply stood there watching her for a moment. "Jackson?" She tried once again calling out to him, hoping he'd respond: Saying he's safe and they'll be fine.
Cracks formed on the mask, slowly bits and pieces of it broke apart like sand; its remnants flowing with the wind, a second later the mask was no more. It was just Jackson's normal face. Opening the once close eyes he gave her a soft reassuring smile, it made her heart skip a beat. "Is that really you?" She asked.
"Thank god you're ok . . . " He fell to the ground, like a puppet having hsi strings cut.
"Jacskon!" Crawling up to her, she tried to wake him up, but she didn't. Doubts and fear began to creep in her mind. Turning him around and putting her ear where his heart was; she heard it beating still.
He was alive!
Relief flooded in her, she laid right next to him to try and rest for a while. Even though it was one day for her it felt like years had gone by.
Suddenly all three of them began to glow a white color. "Huh?! What the heck is this?" Ayjin couldn't help, but internally groaned at another fight. She had enough fighting that is today, plus she wasn't exactly in the right condition to fight, but still in order to protect them she'll do it. Getting back up she looked around the area searching for the one who had caused this. "It's getting brighter!" The glow on them was getting brighter.
"What should I do!" She tried to think of any plans, then the light fully engulfed her.
Ayjin opens her eyes to find she was back in the Academy's courtyard, everyone was there. All the staff members and teacher, the other seniors. And other first years like them too. Everyone's attention suddenly was drawn to them the moment they appeared. It makes sense compared to the others; her team looks like they went to war. The once noisy courtyard was completely silent, they all gasped and were in various degrees of shock at their appearances. Having all this attention on to them Ayjin couldn't help but blush, in this moment she desperately wanted to curl up into a shell and hide.
She saw someone pushing through the shocked crowds of people.
"Excuse me coming through!"
"I'm coming through!"
Two very distinct women were passing through the crowd, eventually the crowd parted ways for two women to ran over to them: the first woman Ayjin didn't recognize, she had pale blond hair and wearing a white coat with red accent, she was pretty sure this woman was the student council president; while the other was the head deputy Amalie Glacier.
While the woman Ayjin didn't recognize came straight to Jackson, Amelia went to Ayjin. "Miss Fe what on Gaiea happened here!"
"W-we w-w-were attacked!" Before She could continue Amelia interrupted her.
"I'd like to discuss the matter in private, for now I want you to rest." She then turns to the crowd – who was watching the whole thing and whispering to each other. "All of you! This isn't some kind of museum, go back to your dorms! Also I need help carrying them to the nurse's office, be quick!" Amelia barked at the crowd, one another staff member carried Hana, and another one carried Jackson. Amelia herself helped Ayjin to walk to the nurse's office.
Following Amelia's orders the crowd dissipated, in the distance Ayjin saw Avoure and his teammates glaring at them, but in all honesty she didn't really care, too tired.
But there was one thing that concerned her very much: They didn't pass the examination.
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[Name: Jackson Maverick]
Level: 36
Title: Incel|Loser, Bloodied Survivor
[STATS]
Points: 0
Strength: 51
Speed: 49
Defense: 39
Mana: 20
Calamity Point : 70
[SKILLS]
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-Critical Strike-
-Mana Reinforcement-
[QUEST]
[SHOP]
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