"They're bloody everywhere!"
When the monsters were released in the arena, the panic and confusion nearly made everyone an easy pick-off. If it wasn't for Aziroth's quick thinking, there would be kids dead already. However, that's not the case right now. Aziroth had managed to coordinate the students into a defensive circle around the Haelfein area. Some of the Firbol and Nironius students remained to help.
Aziroth is barely managing, however, as the onslaught of monsters is slowly wearing people down. Sooner or later, a kid would slip up, and die. Aziroth had been throwing ash bombs toward the horde. Slowly wilting it down, but his progress regressed immediately as more filled up the gap.
"Ah...damn-!" Aziroth furrowed his eyebrows, he turned to his right, seeing Enzo limping towards him with his rifle in hand, "Enzo..."
"Just protect the others...I need to find Zhu..." He grunted. Aziroth could still see the annoyed and disheartened look within Enzo. Who just wanted to fix the bond they had with their friend.
Before Aziroth could say anything, a creature jumped into view and tried to go for the killing bow against Enzo. Aziroth pushed him away and blocked the strike with his scythe.
Enzo reacted quickly and shot a bolt of lightning under Aziroth arm and blew its chest to pieces. More came around them. Aziroth pushed Enzo's head down and twirled his scythe before swinging in a circle around him. A long wide green arc cleaved through all of them.
"Show off..."
"Wasn't intended for it," Aziroth muttered.
But more kept on charging forward. As if when one falls, two more appear to fill its place. Even with the amount of lightning bolts that Enzo shot out, or how many times Aziroth cuts them down, there's always more for them.
The two of them eventually were pushed back to the others. The kids who were injured were laid near the platform while those who can fight barely managed to hold the onslaught off.
But before their untimely death, their saviors had finally arrived. Coming in the form of a whole army of students charging through the crowd from one side. The rest of the participants had come. Under the lead of one girl.
"No way..."
"Enzo!" Yuri and Carmilo came running out of the crowd. Grabbing Enzo into a tight hug, "You're safe!"
"Gah-! I know-Let go of me...Too tight-" Enzo choked out.
Carmilo and Yuri let go of him, before spotting Aziroth standing some distance away, "Oh. Well...Hey Azzy."
"Hi."
Enzo could see the awkwardness as clear as day between them, and he decided to change the subject, "Where's Zhu? Have you seen her?"
"Is that her?" Aziroth pointed towards a corner, out stumbled the same girl they were looking for, appearing worse for wear with her clothing soaked in blood. Of her own or monsters? They're unsure which to decide.
But nonetheless, they were ecstatic to find her. Running towards Zhu and grabbing her into a tight group hug, "Zhu!"
"Agh-! Ow ow ow ow! Let go...please-!" Zhu choked out as well like Enzo.
They pulled back and let Zhu take a breath. But as she did, a sharp throbbing pain erupted on her chest. Leaving her breathless on the ground. The three knelt down to see what happened, "Zhu. You okay?"
"No..." She tried to stand up but ended up falling down again. Her friends tried to find a potion for her, but they turned out empty-handed.
Aziroth stood back and watched the whole event happen. Trying to see what he can do to help. But out of nowhere, a girl appeared next to Aziroth. Startling him for a second, "Woah- What the...?"
"Pardon me. But what's up with her?" She asked Aziroth as she pointed to Zhu.
"She's injured. Maybe a broken rib or something." Aziroth said, "We don't have any healing potions. And-"
"Just leave that to me!" The girl hopped toward Zhu and the group, "Hey there everyone!"
They all turned to her as she knelt in front of Zhu, "Uh...who are you?" Yuri asked.
"Someone with medical training." She answered, "Place your friend against the wall. I need to see the injury."
They stared at each other with doubt in their minds, but still did as she asked. The girl observed Zhu's injuries, trying to see the main problem, "Yeah. Broken rib, Flailed chest, and the sternum is broken. I don't know how you were able to even stay awake."
The girl touched Zhu's leg before reaching into her pouch, "Here. Drink this. Healing potion."
Zhu quickly took it and gulped down the liquid. Immediately numbing most of the pain. And she can feel her body rumbling from within, "Feeling better?"
"Yes...Much better..."
"Ha! Oh, thank god!" Enzo released a loud breath, "Thank you so much...Uh...what's your name?"
"Aurora Black. A pleasure to meet you." Aurora stood up again, "Now, if you guys are ready. I'll need all of you. Including scythe boy there to help me."
"M-Me?" Aziroth pointed at himself.
"Yes you. We are going to that big slash over there where the monsters are spawning in. And sealing it for good."
***
"You're right Donovan. That maybe the thing we're looking for." Samuel carefully evaluated Crystal.
"Now here's the kicker. How do we exploit it?" Gary asked.
Crystal seemed to be gathering his energy for another round of fighting. The three took this time to observe for any advantages they could exploit. And Donovan found it. With the help of Samuel's confirmation, he's going to gamble. It's something he despised, but at times like this, it is necessary.
"You leave that up to me..." Donovan looked at his friends and noticed something, "Wait a second."
"What?"
"Me and Gary are shirtless. Will you look at that!" Donovan pointed out.
"Oh you're right! OOMPH!" Gary flexed his muscles. Performing a wide range of poses, "Awh yeah. Love this body alright."
"Are you serious right now? You're thinking of that?" Samuel asked.
"Oh come on Sammy. Join us!"
"What he said!" Gary supported Donovan, "Go shirtless! Go shirtless!"
Samuel thought about it for a second, before shrugging. Throwing his sickle on the ground and ripping off his ripped shirt. He's not too insecure about it. He worked out every day back at Hanlerk's base. So he's well-toned and fit.
"YEAAH!" Gary cheered loudly at the sight, "Shirtless cavemen brothers! Woooo!"
Just as they were cheering, the ground rumbled behind them. A platform rose from the ground. Revealing an open hole for the flag to be inserted in. Out of the blue, an announcement was made with Elyssia's voice, "Attention those who are stuck in the middle, there was a platform raised nearby where you can insert the flag inside. This will break the blue barrier and set you free! I need you guys to do it now! Before you die!"
Samuel still has the flag nearby him. A thought ran through his mind telling him to do what Elyssia asked to do. But the thought of this beast being let loose sounds much worse compared to fighting only the three of them.
"Should we?" Samuel asked.
Crystal was finally done regaining its power. As it roared towards the three. More of the appendages appeared from their back. Donovan thought over their options, but Gary decided to speak his mind, "Hell nah! We got this boys! If we use a bit of our luck, we can kill this bastard. We ain't no pussies!"
"Are you sure?" Samuel still had some doubts about it.
"I agree with him. Come on Sammy, we're some of Hanlerk's favorites. Best of the best. Or something like that. We've fought against oni-level monsters before. And we can do it again." Donovan readied his magic yet again. His silver tongue flicked out of his mouth from time to time.
Samuel stared at the flag for a bit, he looked up to the arena stands and spotted Elyssia and Rovanne standing there. Trying to tell him to insert the flag. Maybe they're right. Maybe he can beat them together.
In the end, he decided to throw the flag to the ground much to the dismay of Rovanne and Elyssia, "Alright then. I trust you boys."
"That's the spirit..." Gary readied his warhammer for battle.
Samuel grabbed his two sickles and walked toward both of his friends. Before getting into a fighting stance with both of them. He threw away his broken glasses and eyepatch. Revealing the double red irises and pupils from underneath. Donovan had a hand sign ready, while Gary was eyeing Crystal like a wild animal.
A short tense silence followed for a solid five seconds. Magic radiating off of the four monsters. Not even the wind dared to break the silence. Letting the world stop just for this event.
Then it was broken, with a simultaneous dash from the trio. Crystal barely had any time to react before the three descended upon him. Donovan shot out a magic spell that disrupted Crystal's focus. Long enough for Gary to slam his warhammer toward his chest. Sending him back slightly.
Samuel came in next and tried to cut him with his sickle, but the appendages acted out on its own, it was vibrating on its own. Piling up magic upon its blade. Before a single appendage immediately shot out a slash.
Samuel barely managed to dodge it. He noticed that it was significantly faster than the bigger slash. Maybe ten times as faster. But less devastating. The other appendages finally acted on its own. Shooting out more of the slashes towards Samuel.
This time, he was ready. Even at point-blank range, Samuel managed to duck and weave under the numerous slashes coming his way. Anyone else who was in Samuel's place would have immediately been cut into pieces.
Rovanne and Elyssia were watching from afar, "How the hell is he doing that?!"
"His blessing I suppose!" Rovanne said.
"You know about it?!"
"Yeah?"
"And you didn't tell me?!" Rovanne realized her mistake.
"I'm sorry! I forgot alright! Plus, he wanted it to be kept secret!"
Elyssia palmed her face in disappointment, "Fine. I'll question him myself. But for now..." She grabbed Rovanne by the arm and jumped down to the arena.
Returning back to the trio, Samuel deflected the appendages down and pushed them to the ground. Before locking it with a spell.
"Nicely done Sammy!" Gary leaped in and slammed his fist multiple times on Crystal's chest. Doing not much damage, but finishing it off with a warhammer to the side of the head.
Donovan appeared from above and slammed his heel on Crystals head. In the exact same spot where Gary struck him with the hammer. Imbuing it with multiple spells leads to a heavier impact. Sending Crystal tumbling down.
Crystal swung his arm around and pushed Donovan and Gary back. Before freeing the appendages from the ground and charging forwards. The trio engaged in a synced fight against Crystal. Whenever one attacked, the other came in to apply even more pressure upon him.
Crystal escaped the trio's attacks with a deafening scream that temporarily stunned all of them. It charged towards Donovan. Pulling its fist back for a punch. Gary and Samuel tried to intervene, but Donovan pushed them back with a magic spell.
"Donovan! Why did you-"
"Trust me-!"
"HRAAAGH!"
BOOM
Crystal's fist had collided with Donovan's face. His friends, Elyssia, Rovanne, and even some students outside just watched it happen. Visibly cringing from the punch. But to their surprise, Donovan was still standing. But just bending backward a bit as his hands held onto the Crystal's on the back of their attacker.
"Got you..."
Using a magic spell, a magic whip emerged from his fingers and held on to the other crystals. He ripped out every single crystal on his attackers back. Leaving it gritting its teeth in pain.
"And now...comes Gary."
And indeed he came. Gary holstered his warhammer and slammed his fist straight onto the side of Crystal's head. He continued it off with another hook. And again with the other hand. Before uppercutting Crystal away towards the barrier. Causing him to let go of Donovan.
Crystal barely managed to stand upright. Visible bruises on Crystal's head can be seen. It was the first time ever that he was actually damaged, "Will you look at that..." Donovan chuckled, "I found your weakness~"