A while ago...
"Come on Aziroth, get your bums up."
Donovan had made sure everyone was ready for a fight. Even Aziroth. Though, an odd feeling rested in the back of Donovan's heart. Like a vague warning to him. But he brushed that aside. There's no sign of impending doom other than a harmless attack.
Soon, Nironius entered the territory of Haelfein. Aziroth and Donovan jumped for the apparent leaders. A boy with a rifle and a girl with warfans. As they got in range, Aziroth attacked the rifle boy with his scythe. And Donovan the warfan girl.
As the other students around them attacked Nironius, Donovan made the first move with a jump kick that struck the fans, "Enzo!" The girl called out to her friend.
"Got it!"
Donovan's senses flared up as Enzo kicked Aziroth away and aimed his rifle towards Donovan, "Woah-!" A loud BOOM rang in Donovan's ear as a bolt of lightning shot out towards him.
Donovan had managed to evade it. Barely. He should get a bit more serious, He nearly got struck with it. It was as fast as one as well. Before he could react, The warfan girl came close and swung her warfans at him.
Donovan quickly held her hand and blocked it. She suddenly twisted and turned, throwing out an axe kick as Donovan let go of her hand. He took a step back and barely dodged her attack.
She continued off with it and began engaging him in close quarters. Exchanging blows and kicks with each other. Donovan had often seen this flexibility and fighting prowess from assassin's who trained all their life or even red hand members. Donovan was impressed with her skills.
"Hot damn woman!" Donovan sent out a straight kick before diving in and performing a short breakdance kick that sent her backing away, "Quite agile for someone like you huh?"
"Thank you. You're Donovan right?" She asked.
"Yeah. And you are?"
"I'm Zhu Shi." She answered, "Pleasure to finally meet you."
A short distance away from them, Enzo and Aziroth were in the middle of a heated battle with each other. Green magic is shot out everywhere as Aziroth relentlessly attacks Enzo, who managed to be light on his feet and dodge away.
"Never seen you fight often, Azzy!" Enzo said as he shot out a few lightning bolts towards Aziroth, "Gotta say, I've never seen anyone fight like you!"
"Is that a compliment?" Aziroth grunted as he twirled around and quickly slashed at Enzo, who blocked it with his rifle, probably a bad idea to do so.
"Yes! Gosh, do you ever talk to people? Can't pick up on a compliment now can you?" Enzo stomped the ground under him, lightning streams ran across the ground. Aziroth jumped upwards to avoid it, "You always spend your time hanging around in the library all to yourself! I hear people calling you a freak!"
"Let them! I enjoy being alone!" Aziroth swung his scythe together, sending out a green arc of magic. It exploded near Enzo, sending shrapnel his way that cut his skin and irritated his body, "Gaining knowledge is a much better alternative than social communication!"
"What use is it to the world if you hide it!" Enzo shouted as he gripped his hand. Forming a rod of lightning and threw it at Aziroth, "Why must you be selfish?!"
Aziroth barely avoided it, receiving a small nick on his face as he grit his teeth, "What are you sputtering about?!" Aziroth lunged in and swung diagonally with his green scythe. Pushing Enzo away.
"What the hell is your deal man! You weren't like this before! You always were cheery and an open arm to all of us! But what has gotten into you?!" Enzo landed on an archway and shot out more bolts of lightning from his rifle.
Aziroth quickly swiped the bolts of lightning away, "Nothing Enzo! Nothing happened!"
"Not from our perspective! What happened to the Azzy we knew?! The boy who had dreams! Who supported us throughout our training and growth! Now you're like a stranger to us now, and we hate it!" Enzo shouted, "Just tell us why?! Why this sudden change?!"
The cheerful personality of Enzo had devolved to anger and frustration in his fight with Aziroth. Even Aziroth himself had some of his emotions go out of control. As he visibly scrunched his eyebrows in annoyance.
"You don't understand...None of you will-" Aziroth was cut short by Enzo slamming his bayonet against Aziroth's scythe.
"Just tell us Damnit! Eio misses you, you know? She misses you a lot!" Enzo shouted.
Aziroth held back just cutting him with his magic. Instead, opting to kick him away and throw down an ash bomb below himself. Obscuring Enzo's sight on Aziroth.
Returning back to Zhu and Donovan. They continued their heated onslaught against each other with break. Donovan occasionally broke the walls and ground with his fists and legs. While Zhu was able to cut through them with her warfans like butter.
Donovan slammed his foot on the ground, lifting up three small boulders from the ground and sending them towards Zhu with his punches. But she managed to cut through them with ease.
To her surprise, he's more strong and agile than she heard of. Everyone knows about Him and Gary fending off their own class by themselves. But they never took note of their one versus one power. His fighting style is more unique than everyone she's ever fought before. Mixing in martial arts from all around the world and incorporating breakdancing out of everything was something she never expected.
And to top it all off, he's not even using magic. He's just using pure strength and small amounts of enhancing alone. She should be careful. It all can go sideways if not careful. Zhu quickly leaped forwards and swung her warfans towards Donovan who dodged back quickly. But to his surprise, she continued it by throwing it towards him.
He kicked the first one away and caught the second with his hands. Zhu came in holding the first warfan and stabbed forwards at Donovan's face. Barely nicking him and cutting his face.
Donovan stomped his foot on the ground, finally utilizing his magic to shake the ground around them, and explode it from under. Pushing both of them off. Donovan and Zhu landed on archways above everyone else, "Was that face cut really necessary?" He asked.
"Possibly." Zhu cleaned her warfan, "I have to hand it to you irish, you exceeded alot of people's expectation today."
"Well thank you." Donovan bowed, "It's nice to hear that."
"You're in the security force right?" Zhu crouched on the archway for a second to rest, "That's what I heard."
"You heard right." Donovan said, "Never expected it from me, don't ya?"
"Hm..." Zhu sighed, "Yep. Never did."
Zhu stood up again, before suddenly throwing her warfans towards Donovan. But before he could slap it away, Zhu suddenly appeared above the fan and brought her heel down on Donovan's head. Unexpectedly hitting him with speed he never thought she had.
"Ow-!"
Zhu used Donovan's body as support to boost herself up and attempt to plunge her blades on his back. To her surprise, Donovan dashed away faster than she imagined. As he sprawled on the ground and looked up, Donovan slammed the bottom of his foot at her chest. Pushing her a small distance away with unbelievable force. This was stronger than she ever felt before.
"Ah...!" Zhu used her fans to keep her from falling off the archway.
Donovan ran towards her, And Zhu shared the same energy. They began to engage each other in intense close quarter combat. Each side appears like they want to kill each other in the process. Zhu occasionally tried to go for his throat, while Donovan tried to break her bones with his strikes.
Their faces turned serious as their exchange brought the attention of most of the watchers from the crowd. Elyssia watched Donovan fight with worry in her eyes. They can kill each other with those attacks. Should she have let them participate?
An odd feeling rested in her stomach watching Donovan fight. Something feels off. And it is. From below the arena, the red hand member waited patiently as he watched through a screen the events unfolding. Donovan looks ripe for the killing. But there's still no signal from the maestro. Forcing him to just wait.
Though, most of his other colleagues had done their part. They're just waiting for the perfect moment. And for Shoatan to do their part. But right now, Zhu and Donovan's fight seemed very interesting. It's only a matter of time until it's released. And then the carnage can begin.
Zhu slowly began to lose her stamina as she kept on fighting Donovan. Yet he's showing no signs of fatigue at all. She finally slipped up. Overextending her stab a bit too far and putting her off balance.
"Shit-!"
Donovan slammed his knee on her stomach without hesitation, "Akh!"
He followed it up with jumping off the archway and grabbing Zhu by the collar. And slamming her belly first to the ground hard. Creating a small crater. He could hear a bunch of "Ooo's" And "Ahh's" from the sheer force of the slam.
He stuffed his foot under her chest and lifted her up, before grabbing the back of her shirt and throwing her to a wall again. She crashed through the hard stone and ended up rolling across the ground. Ending up in sight of Enzo.
The sight of her beaten froze Enzo in place for a single second. Letting Aziroth jump forwards and knock the rifle out of his hands. Before sweeping his legs and pushing him off the archway.
As Enzo groaned from the pain, Aziroth jumped ontop of him, and bound him to the ground with his green magic, "Good...Now stay there."
"Fuck..."
All around them, Nironius was losing against Haelfein. As there were more Nironius out of commission than Haelfein. Was he really beaten by them? He got his emotions to get the better of him and paid the cost.
To everyone's shock, Akane came running through to the base, waving Nironius' flag in the air, "What?!" Enzo couldn't believe his eyes. Did Yuri and Carmilo fail in protecting the flag?
"I got it! Hahaha! WE got it!" Akane cheered as Donovan breathed a sigh of relief.
"Great. We're up three points. And Soon four when Samuel comes along with the second flag. What's the score?" he asked.
"Three to three soon. Arlecant has Grinshar and Silkaneth." Akane said.
"Ah. Shit, forgot about them capturing Grinshar...Well Akane. Wanna do the honors?"
"Absolutely!"
Everyone cheered for her as she stepped up on the platform. Raising the flag high and letting the seniors go ballistic at this sight. They can win! They can finally win! The excitement is further amplified as Akane placed the flag into a hole. Signaling the conversion of Nironius.
Aziroth grabbed Enzo and pulled him up, placing him by the wall before starting to leave, "Wait...Azzy."
"What?"
"Will you please just tell me...why? Why did you change all of a sudden..." Enzo asked.
Aziroth stared at the ground for a second, before sighing, "I...went through some events. Things you won't understand. Really. I mean it. And...I had to distance myself away from you because of it. I hope you can understand Enzo...tell Eio I said hi. And that I still love her."
"I..." Enzo had no words to say anymore. He could only watch helplessly as Aziroth stepped away from him. Walking up to Donovan who's catching his breath.
"How was Zhu?" Aziroth asked.
"Was she always this crazy? She looked like she wanted to murder me!" Donovan said, "But she's a long out mate. I slammed her through a wall."
"That was you? Good lord, you're more ruthless than I imagined." Aziroth shook his head.
"I can see you smiling. Are you?"
"What? No..." Aziroth shook his head.
"Ah. I see it. I can see you smiling mate." Donovan pointed out.
Aziroth couldn't help it. He chuckled slightly at Donovan's tomfoolery. He was an interesting one. For being a spy that was trained to kill at a young age as told by the headmaster, he surely was a jokester. He started to doubt if he even was a spy.
"Ha! Knew a heartless bastard like you can laugh! Just takes some time to do so!" Donovan celebrated, "Also, where's the Zyortis flag? Shouldn't it be under our control?"
"Yes. But Samuel or Gary must bring it here. When a class is claimed, their captured flag remains open for taking. So we can't guarantee its capture." Aziroth said.
"Ah, That's pish!" Donovan shouted.
"It's the rules...What is that?"
Donovan turned around. Standing a short distance away from them, something emerged from behind the walls. A grey hand grabbed the side of the building and stepped into view. It was a short figure. Roughly five foot six in height.
"Huh? Hey Matthew, Rovanne, do you see this right now?" Elyssia activated her comms.
"Yeah. What is that?" Rovanne wondered, "Madhav. Are you there?"
No response came from Madhav's side. As his slumber remained unaffected or changed. Whispers began to slither across the audience as they witnessed the arrival of a weird humanoid creature. It had no eyes, but just three plated flesh armor on its face. A sort of buff body with rings on its chest.
"A monster? No, it's too small for one." Donovan said.
"Uh...Why is it here?" Aziroth slowly reached for his scythes.
"I dunno really. Hey!" Donovan waved his arm towards the Haelfein students, "Did you throw this thing in?!"
"Huh?!" A student shouted back, "What did you say?!"
"I said...did you let this gray little shit insid-"
SHING
BOOM
The world went quiet for a moment. The birds stopped chirping. The crowd stopped cheering. Even the sounds of the exhausted students were able to be heard. The air became still and cold. To take in the realization of what happened.
Everyone seemed to be frozen at the exact moment it happened. Aziroth, Elyssia, and the Haelfein students were staring at Donovan with wide eyes. Taking an non-existant second to comprehend what just happened.
From around the school, a few people in red chuckled at the sight. Especially the red hand member under the arena, "There it is... here we go."
Soon, everything went into motion again. The agony started to appear. The cheers turned into panic. And Donovan was finally able to turn around to see what just happened. His left arm wasn't there anymore. Now nothing less than a stump from just above his elbow. Blood soon started to drip down from his wound.
"Huh?"
"ERRAAAAGH!" The monster roared at the top of its lungs.
The scream woke everyone up. Even Karasu as he jumped up slightly, "What the hell?! What was that?!" He took one glance at Haelfein's base before panic settled in his mind.
"What the fuck?!" Karasu stood up immediately.
Without thinking, Aurora swiped her hand across the air, summoning a small, near invisible hand to descend towards the arena. The monster slammed its hand on the ground and embedded its claws inside. Before suddenly lunging full speed towards Donovan.
"Donovan-!" Aziroth was kicked off the platform by Donovan. Just as the monster slammed onto it. And leaped towards Donovan yet again. Reeling its hand back.
Donovan quickly held up his right arm and activated his tongue, chanting three different spells at the same time. Black and white magic surrounded his arm and formed a temporary barrier as the monster slammed its fist right onto it.
The force of the punch sent waves of agony coursing through Donovan's arm as his body crashed to the ground. He rolled a few meters away before grabbing hold of the floor and slowing himself down.
This was not the only thing that appeared. All over the school, from the dark shadows to the tiniest of crevices emerged horrid creatures found all over the world and under. Their twisted bodies screeched out, hungry for blood. The men in red laughed hysterically from their bases as the school fell into utter chaos.
Students and parents alike were attacked by their pets. Teachers and guards attempted to help but ended up being mauled by multiple monsters. The screams of terror and hysteria were like music to their ears. The teachers watching from their towers suddenly stood up and ran around like headless chickens in a panic. They witnessed the monsters arriving from out of nowhere and were scrambling to get out and protect the students.
Back in the arena, Samuel and Gary witnessed Donovan stand up from the dust, clutching his stump. Without thinking, they rushed towards him. As they did, the ground rumbled behind them. Before a blue barrier rushed out from beneath. Forming into a dome in the middle of the arena. Trapping the three with the monster.
Headmaster Avshino tapped into the security force's comms, "Elyssia! Madhav! Matthew! Rovanne! Come in!"
"Headmaster!" They all exclaimed. Madhav suddenly woke up and stared at the screens in confusion.
"What the hell is happening?! Answer me?!"
"We don't know!" Elyssia looked around, trying to figure out what to do, "It seems to be an attack Headmaster!"
"Damnit! Elyssia, your objective here is to deactivate that barrier! Madhav! Can you shut it down?!"
Madhav frantically tried to do so using magic and electronics, "No sir! I can't get through! It must be deactivated from the original source!"
"Good lord, Elyssia, there's a room under the arena that allows access to its settings! The entrance should be by the fourth exit! Straight right and behind a red landmark! Send someone there and deactivate the barrier!"
"On it sir! Rovanne! You're with me! Matthew, madhav! Protect the students! Anyway you can!"
Returning to the trio, they help Donovan stand up, "Holy shit Donovan! What the fuck happened?!" Samuel gazed at his wounds.
"Now's not the time! Infront!"
As the other two turned to where Donovan pointed, the monster slammed its foot on the ground and pulled its head back. An alarming amount of magic rapidly builds up within its mouth. It was charging up a magic beam.
The other students all around the blue barrier was calling out to the three. But it fell onto deaf ears under the sound of magic charging up. Aziroth tried to cut the barrier, but all else fails. All around them, monsters slowly crawled into the arena. Eyeing the students hungrily.
The monster inside finally stopped charging up. And stilled the air for a single second.
"INCOMING!"
"KRAAAAAGH!"
BOOM