Happening at the same time with Gary's encounter...
"I didn't think you were even close to achieving this...!"
Samuel stared at the huffing Lucas. Volatile amounts of magic seeping out of him in a steady stream. White and purple essences clouding his flesh as he slowly stepped over to Samuel.
"Uh...Maybe you want to calm down a bit-"
"HRAAH!"
Lucas lunged forwards and slammed his hands where Samuel was standing before. Obliterating the ground after him. Raw magic shot out wildly in every direction, all the students around him scattered everywhere, trying to avoid his onslaught.
"Caitlin! Capture the flag! I'll fight Lucas!" Samuel was still in the air after jumping away from Lucas, "Go!"
"Got it!" Caitlin called out to her class as they all ran back.
Samuel landed safely, and readjsuted his sunglasses. Maybe this is an appropriate time to use his own magic path, "Stop moving! you sack of shit!" Lucas screamed as he lunged forwards, placing his hands together and unleashing a blast of radiant magic.
Samuel placed his sickle together, a black and white circle of runes formed from thin air as magic quickly piled up within it, "Protect!"
BOOM
The radiant beam collided with a large circle of runes that stretched up around nine feet. As soon as the beam settled, Samuel pushed his hands forwards, the circle shooting out its own beam of radiant magic. Lucas dove to the side, then leaped into the air and shot out a few more blasts of magic.
Samuel duck and weaved through most of them, but with the final one, he caught it with one of his sickles and imbued it with his own magic, throwing it back at Lucas.
Lucas held up his hands in an attempt to tank it. As it hits his body, it explodes with twice the initial power. Flashes of black and white streaked across the blue sky as radiant magic struck their master.
As the smoke dissipated, Samuel appeared before Lucas in the air, his sickle above him crackling with magic. As he swung down, Lucas held up his magic flesh to block it. The impact created a deafening BOOM that echoed across the arena.
The onlookers watch on as a seemingly normal human clash with a prodigy in his second release form. Such a concept shouldn't even be possible. The prodigy should have beaten him by now. But how is it going for this long? Even the teachers were worried.
They pondered if they should interfere in the tournament. As they gazed upon Samuel and Lucas fighting each other, with Samuel seemingly handling his own, the sparks of black and white magic questioned everyone present.
"What is that? A magic path?" Miss Scott asked.
There was a boy and a girl next to one of the librarians. They scrolled through hundreds of documents and used an orb to look through hundreds of eyes from within the library. Searching for any information on said magic path.
"We're finding nothing." The boy said, "I'm sorry Miss Bairnes. We didn't find any info on that specific magic path."
"Are you sure it's a magic path? Maybe it's just raw magic." Arlecant's head teacher, Lunhow, asked
"No. I'm confident that's a magic path." Mister Kiro said, "But what it is, is a mystery. From what we saw so far, it looks to be an offensive type."
"Could be. Let's just keep watching. This is... an interesting battle." Headmaster Avshino said.
"Have they told you about it?" Mister Kiro asked Avshino.
"No..." He gave a white lie. The three did tell him that they are using. Hanlerk himself told the headmaster personally as well. a magic path, but they never told him what it was. Only that it is unpredictable at times. Even to the user.
Rovanne was cheering with pom poms as she watched Samuel fight Lucas, "Yeah! Yeah! Get him! Beat his ass Sammy!"
"Bit cheery, aren't you Rovanne?" Matthew commented.
"Yep! Seeing our Samuel kicking ass is awesome!" She said,
Madhav still sat by his chair, watching from the screens, as Samuel and Lucas landed on the ground, Lucas seemed to be on his last straws as he wildly swung his hand around, sending out a wide arc of magic that flew across the arena, "Lucas is in his second release, yet he's losing against Samuel. Have you ever seen him train? Any of you? In fact, have you seen any of the trio train before?"
The rest of the security force said the same thing, "No."
"They're still hiding things from us huh?" Madhav chuckled, "Didn't all of us patrol with one of them and ACTUALLY manage to bring out any information from them?"
Everyone was silent. Rovanne and Elyssia both forgot that and just had a normal conversation with them. While Matthew was hesitant to provoke Gary. he fought him before once, and it wasn't pleasant.
Madhav quickly breezed through the cameras around the arena, he might need to sleep soon, he kept seeing small red dots flashing across the cameras. Or even someone jumping and disappearing. He blamed it on lack of sleep setting everything up.
Maybe he could just rest. Close his eyes for five minutes. Surely that will bring his energy back. Returning to the tournament, Samuel couldn't help but enjoy this fight. The switch in his head activated again as he closed the gap between each other.
Lucas attempted to swing his arms around and hopefully strike Samuel, but all else failed as Samuel blocked and knocked his hands away from him. Lucas pulled his fist back and bundled magic into it before slamming it forwards. Ending up hitting the ground as Samuel jumped up.
The ground blows up into a majestic flash of luminous magic. Shooting out radiant magic in every direction. But that was all flair compared to Samuel's magic. For his was made to kill.
Samuel kicked away Lucas and holstered his weapons, before slamming his fist on Lucas' burning mask. Sending him barreling away. The magic slowly drained out of Lucas as exhaustion began to overtake him.
"Pathetic really!" Samuel suddenly appeared infront of Lucas. Slamming his knee on Lucas' face. Pushing him against the wall, "Your second form is weak! And incomplete! There are gaps in your magic essences! Abyssmal performance!"
Lucas tried to scream out, "Shut it-" only to receive a harsh hook to the face.
"So-called prodigy-!" Samuel slammed his fist into Lucas' visible face as his mask and magic disappeared, "You're a disgrace! An insult to the radiant beast users!"
Samuel hopped back and channeled magic yet again, "Judgement!" Black and white strings embedded itself on Lucas' joints, tendons, and other body parts. Almost controlling him with puppeteer strings.
Samuel could kill him right now. Use the strings to rip him apart and tear his body to pieces. A small whisper in his ears and brain commands him to do so. No. No he will not. Never. He refused. Samuel punched himself momentarily, letting him see the beaten state of Lucas. It is truly pathetic though. He wondered when they would encounter an actual challenge.
A black aura rummaged through the arena. Signaling Firbol being captured by Haelfein, "That's too bad." Samuel raised his hands in the sky. Pulling Lucas up with the strings, "You'll need to control yourself. All that power and this is what happens? Beaten by me?"
Samuel pulled the beaten Lucas closer to him, "You're no hotshot. Better stay humble." With one quick push, the strings pulled Lucas away from Samuel and raised him up high in the air, before slamming him down a big distance away from Samuel. towards the middle of the arena.
Samuel pulled himself towards Lucas with the string. And landed on top of him. Exhaustion had caught up with Lucas. As he closed his eyes in utter defeat. He can hear the screams of his father in the future when they meet again.
"Oof. Nice one Sammy." Gary whistled.
"Thanks...I think I overdid it." Samuel sighed.
"It doesn't matter. You fucked up a second release hard though!" Gary wrapped his arms around Samuel's head, "Proud of ya angel boy!"
"Heh...Thanks." Samuel smiled.
Gary pushed Samuel and beckoned him forwards, "Come on! We got a flag to conquer!"
Samuel followed Gary towards Nironius. Ignoring the bloodied victims of his rage as he moved to the territory. He found Akane helping on attempting to conquer Nironius with a few Firbol kids.
"Get the flag! I'll deal with the rats!" Gary said as he rammed through a few kids. And getting his hands on a few unfortunate bystanders.
Samuel ran up towards the platform. Seeing the flags of both Nironius and Zyortis on it. As he reached for Nironius, he saw someone running up from behind him with a rapier. He spun around and quickly deflected the multiple stabs that came his way.
He pushed the attacker off towards the other side of the platform. Facing the Spanish boy who appeared to be the leader, "You..." He muttered.
"Yellow. How's everything?" Samuel didn't know what to say.
"Not good. Because of your friend here, my friend was hurt-" He lunged forwards. Sending out quick jabs and stabs towards Samuel. Who managed to deflect each one of them.
The Spanish boy was surprised at this and quickly pulled back, "What?" Samuel questioned.
"You're...Samuel Silva. Aren't you?" He asked instead.
"Yes? And you are?"
Before he can answer, a golden aura flew across the arena. The announcer had just commended Arlecant for capturing Grinshar finally. Making them gain the lead. The Spanish boy grimaced slightly, before accepting his duty infront of him, "Carmilo Garcia."
"Alright...nice meeting you, but I need that flag-!" Samuel rushed in, and Carmilo retaliated with a few jabs.
Samuel expertly evaded most of them and swung his sickle upwards. Barely missing Carmilo by an inch. Carmilo grabbed the cape he was wearing and attempted to blind Samuel with it.
Carmilo stabbed forwards using his rapier, expecting it to hit its mark. But he never fully understood what was with the sunglasses. And that will cost him his attack. Samuel could see from behind his cape. And quickly dodged out of Carmilo's attack.
Samuel grabbed the flag and threw it to Akane, "Run! Go! Capture it Akane!"
"Got it!"
"What! No! Stop her-"
Samuel rushed in and shoulder bashed Carmilo down on the platform, He formed magic on his fingertips and muttered a spell, "Blind and mislead!" He threw it out behind Akane and a few Haelfein students as some Nironius students attempted to chase her down. Creating a black stinging fog that stung everyone trying to chase her down.
"No!" Carmilo looked on helplessly as Akane zoomed across the arena. She always was a fast runner.
"Sorry man. But I kinda want to win." Samuel said. Unknowingly deactivating his eyes when he feels empathy. A horrible habit that could cost him one day.
Carmilo stood up begrudgingly, and lunged at Samuel with no warning. Stabbing his rapier towards his face. Catching Samuel by surprise. He barely managed to dodge without receiving an injury as the tip pierced the edge of his sunglasses, shattering the lenses and removing his disguise.
For a second, Carmilo saw simple red eyes from the boy, in the next second, a second iris and pupil formed on both his eyes. Immediately, Carmilo felt the stare of a thousand souls. His ancestors judged him from his failure.
Not a moment passed until he felt the shivers of the dead creep up behind him. Sending a chill down his spine. He can feel the cold breath tickle his back as he stares at Samuel's eyes. This was the side-effect of witnessing the sudden eye change. And he won't be the last.
"Wha-"
Samuel slammed his forehead to Carmelo's face. Stunning him for a second as Samuel sliced downwards, cutting Carmilo's shoulder and up, "Gah!"
An uneasy feeling settled in Samuel's soul as veins popped out from his head. His eye twitched slightly as he began ruthlessly attacking Carmilo. Swinging wildly with such speed and strength that it brings Carmilo to the edge of the platform.
In Samuel's unusual rage, he had entirely missed the fact that Nironius had been captured by Haelfein as a black aura rummaged through the arena. Signaling the capture of Nironius, when Carmilo tried to explain it to Samuel, he didn't listen. And slowly marched forward with bloodlust in his eyes.
Carmilo tried to fight back and attempted a final stab towards Samuel. Samuel easily moved his head to the side and readied his sickles. In a flash, he cut through his rapier, leaving it useless as the tip fell to the ground, "What the-"
Samuel slammed his foot on Carmilo's shin, causing him to cry out as he fell to his knees. He raised his sickle one more time, ready to strike this sinner down. And end his miserable life once and for all. He couldn't hear the shouts of his friend running to him. It was only then when his arm was grabbed by a firm grip did he suddenly stop.
"Samuel! Din englelic idiot! Wake up!" Gary backhanded Samuel's face, trying to snap him out of his trance.
It worked, Samuel suddenly shook his head, and snapped out of his weird rage, "What the...where...Huh?"
"It happened again Samuel." Gary gave him his sunglasses. Samuel accepted it and put it on. Though only one lens actually hid his eyes, the other was mostly shattered, "Look. Everyone was watching."
Samuel glanced around. Gary was right, everyone was staring at him. Watching him as he was about to murder a student. Their eyes were uncomfortable to Samuel. His heartbeat rapidly increased as he spun around. Covering his eyes.
"Look away assholes! Unless you wanna die!" Gary announced to everyone. They didn't need to be told twice as they turned their gaze elsewhere. Helping out their new Nironius teammates.
Gary stared at Carmilo, who was wincing in pain from Samuel's kick, "Suck it up mate. You'll go through worse."
"Gee...Thanks man. Not like you shattered broke some of Yuri's bones some time ago!"
"Womp womp. Here..." Gary threw two healing potions at Carmilo, "Drink it. The second for your friend."
Carmilo quickly gulped it down as Gary turned to Samuel, "Hey man...You alright?"
"Yeah...I just..." Samuel turned around, seeing everyone focusing on their own thing.
"I know. You don't like it when they see your eyes. I'll make sure Donovan forces them to forget. We'll figure out what happened later alright? Right now, we can win. The game is still on, let's just capture the flag."
"Yeah...You're right." Samuel stood up again. He reached into his fanny packs and took out an eyepatch. Placing it over his exposed eye to hide it yet again. Noone dared to question it. Fearing Gary's wrath.
Samuel took the Zyortis flag. As soon as he did, everyone turned around, watching as Samuel held the flag high. The gloom suddenly changed to happiness and excitement as they cheered Samuel on.
"Let's capture the flag, yeah?! Let's bring glory to Haelfein!" Gary hyped everyone up as Samuel jumped down the platform. They chanted Samuel's name as he walked through the crowd. All that talk with Sultan on keeping low.
"Let's go!" Gary beckoned everyone forwards. Anyone who was able to stand and run followed Samuel and Gary as they ran through the middle of the arena.
For some reason, it was quieter than usual. The cheering from the crowd was quieter as well. Samuel furrowed his brows before suddenly stopping in place, "Wait."
Everyone followed his example, "What? What's wrong?" Gary asked.
"It's just that...something's not right. I..." It struck them like a truck. The sensation of fear and panic pierced both Gary's and Samuel's heart in an instant. In the crowd, Aurora felt an odd sensation in her heart. The same thing woke Karasu up as his eyes shot open. He gripped his katana in response.
Gary and Samuel received the same warning to run. Dodge. Duck, "GET DOWN!" Samuel screamed.
As both Gary and Samuel sprawled to the ground. The people behind them were bewildered on what to do. But some in a panic decided to follow their example and duck to the ground. Everyone laid flat on the ground. Not a second later, a deafening BOOM echoed through the arena.
A sharp burst of wind blew past and above the students. It was as sharp as a dragon's firebreath. As loud as a shotgun shot. And as panic inducing as a bombing. The quiet arena suddenly shifted from cheering to the sounds of horror. The onlooker began screaming and running out of the stands. Samuel looked up to see a huge part of the arena missing. A gargantuan jagged slash had cut through the arena ground. Destroying everything in its path. And breaking through the stand. And into the far mountains.
Donovan suddenly appeared into view from a good distance. Panting and sweating heavily. As Samuel and Gary stood up, their heart dropped immediately as blood dripped from Donovan's injury. He was grasping his left arm tightly. Or where it should have been as he was now missing everything below the elbow.