Scene: Escaping Roderick's Cell
INT. PROFESSOR RODERICK'S SECRET LAB – BASEMENT – EVENING
Hugo and Mona slip through the now-loosened cell door, moving cautiously across the cold, dimly lit basement. Each step is slow and deliberate, their breaths held as they pass the slumbering dragon. The frosty mist from its breaths billows around them, sending chills down their spines.
Hugo (whispering): "Let's just get far enough away. If we make it out of here without waking this thing, we're lucky."
They continue forward when— SMACK! A small bat suddenly flutters directly into Hugo's face, knocking him off balance. He stumbles back, raising his hand instinctively, ready to release his black flames.
Hugo (startled): "What the—? I'll burn this thing—"
Mona (urgently grabbing his arm): "No, wait, Hugo! That bat—it's not just any bat… it's Fenix's familiar!"
The bat flaps its wings and lets out a soft chirp, confirming Mona's suspicion. Its red eyes meet hers for a moment, communicating its purpose.
Hugo (relieved): "So… Fenix actually sent it? He must have thought something went wrong when we did not return after going to Professor Roderick's office this morning."
Mona (smiling, relieved): "Looks like we have backup on the way, then."
She strokes the bat's small head, calming it.
She quickly searches the lab shelves for paper and finds a scrap nearby, along with a piece of charcoal. Scribbling a note, she finishes with a quick, small magic circle, her fingers moving deftly as she etches symbols onto the page.
Hugo (curious): "What's the circle for?"
Mona (smiling): "It'll give the teachers a mana trail to follow straight to us. Now they can locate us and plan a rescue without needing to ask where we are."
They tie the note to the bat's tiny claw, and with a final pat on its head, Mona releases it. The bat flutters up, its tiny wings stirring the mist as it flies off into the darkness.
Hugo (exhales in relief): "Good. If the teachers find us in time, we might just make it out of here in one piece."
Mona (nodding): "Let's hope the message gets to them fast. Until then, we need to find somewhere safe to wait this out."
They continue their cautious journey through the dark labyrinth of Professor Roderick's secret lab, the cold mist from the dragon fading behind them. Now, all they can do is hope that help arrives before their escape is discovered.
Scene: Rescue Mission
EXT. ST. ALARIC ACADEMY COURTYARD – EVENING
The courtyard is alive with chaos as students and teachers continue battling the monsters streaming through the dimensional gate. Amid the fray, Fenix's bat familiar swoops down to its master, delivering a letter tied to its tiny claw. Fenix grabs the note and unfolds it quickly, his eyes widening as he reads.
Fenix (to himself): "They're being held by Professor Roderick… so my gut feeling was right."
Shizuka (dodging a goblin's swing, glancing at Fenix): "What is it? What did you find?"
Fenix "After cyclops and Mona went to Professor Roderick's office this morning, they did not come back so I have a bad feeling. I asked my demonic bat to track them down... They are now somewhere in Roderick's lab. "
Shizuka (alarmed): "Roderick? Are you serious? Why would he do that?"
Without wasting time, they reach out to Professor Velorum with his telepathic magic, who listens with mounting concern but ultimately shakes his head.
Professor Velorum (over telepathic magic, strained): "This is bad timing, Fenix. The academy is under siege, and our first duty is to protect as many students as possible. I can't spare anyone to help with this right now."
Shizuka (determined): "Then at least let us go. We can handle this ourselves, Professor."
Professor Velorum (over telepathic magic, strained): "You don't understand, Professor Roderick is a grand mage. He is far more powerful than any teacher here except Headmistress Laura Stuart. You won't make it."
Fenix clenches the note tightly, glancing at Shizuka, who is fighting a goblin nearby.
Fenix (urgently): "I don't care if he's a grand mage or the king of all mages. Professor, these are our friends! They're trapped in his lab—we can't just leave them!"
Shizuka, breathing hard after dispatching the goblin, steps closer, determination flashing in her eyes.
Shizuka (firmly): "You know we're not about to sit this out, Professor. If you can't help, just don't get in our way. We'll deal with the consequences."
A heavy pause over the telepathic magic connection before Velorum responds, his tone resigned but worried.
Professor Velorum: "I can't stop you… But listen closely. If you must do this, at least allow me to give you some assistance."
In a flash, Velorum mutters an incantation, and a faint glow shimmers in the air before Fenix and Shizuka. It condenses into a glowing compass talisman, radiating faint pulses.
Professor Velorum: "This is a tracking talisman. The circle Mona drew on her note has a mana signature—use the talisman to trace it directly to them. But remember, Roderick will be more powerful than anything you've faced."
Fenix (taking the talisman with a determined smirk): "Understood. Thanks, Professor."
Shizuka (to Fenix): "Looks like we're not doing this alone."
Nearby, three classmates join them, drawn by the urgency of their whispers. Severin, Reina, and Alyssa—each with a look of grim resolve.
Severin (notching an arrow, voice low): "I overheard. Sorry but you don't mind if your class rep joins?"
Reina (steadily): "Hugo's part of this class, our team. No one gets left behind. If there's even a chance to help, I'm in."
Alyssa (soft but resolute): "Yes, and this is the time we fight against a grand mage, where else could we have such a possibility?"
The five share a glance, determination unspoken but clear. Fenix tightens his grip on the compass talisman, which glows brighter as it begins to pulse in a particular direction.
Shizuka (determination): "Alright, then. We're going in together. Let's bring them back."
The group, weapons at the ready, moves through the chaos in the courtyard. Their steps are swift and steady, undeterred by the roars and shrieks of monsters around them as they begin the path toward Professor Roderick's forbidden lab.
Scene: Aspectual Mages
INT. ST. ALARIC ACADEMY – PROFESSOR RODERICK'S OFFICE – EVENING
The five students rush into Professor Roderick's office, their eyes scanning the room as the compass talisman glows, pointing towards the bookcases.
Shizuka: "The bookshelves? That's… unusual."
Reina: "It's probably hiding a secret passage. Classic setup."
Severin steps forward, charging his energy beam as he signals everyone to back up.
Severin: "Everyone, step back. I'll handle this."
He releases the beam, blasting apart the bookshelves and revealing a spiral staircase descending into darkness.
Reina (satisfied): "I knew it."
Fenix: "A secret basement? This definitely screams 'bad idea,' but we're in now."
Alyssa: "Stay close. I'll go first with my shield up."
The group nods in agreement, rallying behind Alyssa as they descend the staircase. As they reach the bottom level, they're confronted by a menacing figure—a rotund man in a crow mask with twisted, dark wings protruding from his back.
Kloom: "I heard the explosion. Took you brats long enough to get here." (scoffs) "Only students? Did the academy really send just you?"
Severin (remaining calm): "You must be Kloom, a researcher under Professor Roderick. We know you're holding our friends—Hugo and Mona—"
Kloom (interrupting): "Right behind the bars, yes. No point denying it. But don't think you can just waltz past me."
Before Severin can respond, Kloom suddenly appears in front of Shizuka, a dagger in hand. In a swift movement, he plunges the blade into her stomach.
Shizuka (gasping in pain): "Agh—!"
Alyssa (in shock): "What the—how did he move so fast?!"
Severin (determined): "Close in on him, now!"
Severin fires an energy beam, while Fenix quickly summons a blood arrow, launching it at Kloom. But Kloom vanishes before the attacks reach him, his mocking laughter echoing through the hallway.
Kloom's Voice (echoing): "Did they teach you nothing? Facing a mage within his bounded field is suicide. Here, I have an endless supply of mana and can teleport at will using Aspectual Magic. You're utterly powerless against me!"
Reina kneels beside Shizuka, channeling her healing magic. Shizuka winces but steadies herself, her expression shifting from pain to determination.
Shizuka (smirking through the pain): "Think you're untouchable, huh?"
As she stands, she waves her hands, summoning water from the air and splashing it across the entire hallway, freezing it on contact. Suddenly, Kloom's form reappears, trapped within the ice.
Kloom (struggling): "What—how?!"
Shizuka (grinning): "Don't underestimate me, Mr. Aspectual Mage."
Fenix (smirking): "Our Sea Witch here is top of her year for a reason. She's dealt with worse than you."
Reina (relieved): "And lucky for us, your ego got the better of you."
Severin steps forward, eyes dark and grim, as he approaches the frozen Kloom.
Severin: "Enough games. Tell us where Hugo and Mona are."
Scene: Library of Time
INT. PROFESSOR RODERICK'S SECRET LAB – BASEMENT – EVENING
The students press forward, descending further into the dimly lit basement. They come to a halt as they step into an expansive, dimly lit library, its walls lined with towering shelves crammed with grimoires and ancient texts. The air hums with an eerie energy, and as they step cautiously into the room, a sudden burst of heat flares up in front of them.
Alyssa raises her shield just in time to block a wave of flames hurtling toward them.
Alyssa: "What in the world?! That thing looks almost human… but it's all flames!"
Reina: "It's a fire spirit! Professor Roderick must have bound it to guard this library."
Fenix: (sighing) "Great. I've got a bat as a familiar, and he has a whole fire spirit? That's just unfair."
His bat familiar chirps angrily, biting down on his finger in protest.
Severin: (charging energy into his hands) "Focus up, people! This thing's not going down easy!"
Severin unleashes several energy beams while Shizuka summons waves of water, aiming at the fire spirit. The creature moves with blinding speed, dodging each attack with ease.
Severin: (frustrated) "It's way too fast to hit head-on!"
Shizuka: "I'm getting flashbacks to the Queen... she moved with this kind of speed too."
The fire spirit retaliates, firing a massive fireball. Fenix's blood missile intercepts the attack mid-air, causing both projectiles to burst into a shower of sparks.
Reina: "Shizuka, can you use a large area water attack? It's bound to have a weakness to it."
Shizuka: (nodding) "I'll need you guys to keep it busy while I concentrate!"
Fenix: "You got it! Let's go!"
The team spreads out, launching attacks from multiple directions to keep the fire spirit off balance. Fenix fires his blood arrow from the spirit's right side, Severin fire an energy beam on its left. Alyssa shields the team from its fire while Reina casts her supporting spells. Shizuka draws her wakizashi, Yoishigure, focusing her energy. With a deep breath, she begins channeling water, droplets forming around her as the air cools.
When the fire spirit finally turns its attention to the others, Shizuka raises her sword, summoning a torrent of rain that begins to fall over the library. The droplets hit the fire spirit's flaming body, causing it to flicker and weaken. Taking advantage of the rain, she conjures a series of tidal waves, sweeping toward the spirit.
Shizuka: (frustrated as it dodges) "Ugh… it's still too fast!"
Reina: (calmly) "Don't worry about the waves—it's the rain that'll wear it down. Let's keep it distracted while it weakens."
The team redoubles their efforts, darting in and out as the fire spirit's movements grow slower and more erratic under the persistent downpour. Sparks of steam rise around it as Shizuka's rain continues to sap its strength.
Alyssa: (encouraging) "Keep going, Shizuka! We're wearing it down!"
The fire spirit falters, its flames dimming under the relentless rain. With one last surge of effort, Shizuka directs a final wave toward the creature, finally extinguishing it in a burst of steam that fills the library. The air grows quiet as the last embers fade.
Fenix: (grinning, breathless) "Guess fire and water aren't a fair match after all."
Shizuka: (smiling, exhausted) "Let's hope that was the last of his surprises… we've got friends to find."
The team regroups, steadying themselves as they move deeper into the library, each of them wary yet determined to rescue Hugo and Mona from whatever other dangers lie ahead.
Scene: The Frost Guardian
INT. PROFESSOR RODERICK'S SECRET LAB – BASEMENT – EVENING
Hugo and Mona sprint through the dark corridor, their breaths coming in sharp gasps. They turn a corner, eyes widening in relief as they spot Fenix, Shizuka, Severin, Alyssa, and Reina approaching from the opposite direction.
Mona: (relieved) "Fenix! Shizuka! You all actually came…"
Hugo, slightly battered but smiling, stumbles forward, throwing a quick nod of thanks.
Hugo: "Took you all long enough."
Fenix: (smirking) "Oh, it's all thanks to my little bat over here."
The familiar bat came out with a small chirp on Fenix's hand. The group chuckles, the tension breaking as they regroup. They're just about to turn back toward the exit when a cold, commanding voice fills the hallway.
Professor Roderick: (calm, dangerous) "Leaving so soon?"
The students freeze as Professor Roderick steps out of the shadows behind them, a cold smile playing on his lips.
Professor Roderick "Heh? Mona… Hugo… so you can get out of my prison cell?"
Professor Roderick (thinking) "That girl... Mona... she has no talent. What she did was merely to use everything she got to get through something harsh. That's the fighting method of the weak, not the talented. Just like how she dismantled the cell door by destabilizing its joints."
Severin: (steadying himself) "Professor Roderick, why would you do this? Why kidnap students? We are your disciples…"
Professor Roderick: (cold, stoic) "Don't think bad of me... what I have done is merely for myself."
The ground trembles as a low rumble echoes through the lab. Emerging from the shadows behind Professor Roderick, a creature stirs—its massive form gleaming white in the dim light. A Frost Guardian, a dragon with scales like frozen steel, lifts its head, eyes flickering open, emitting a frigid blue light.
Professor Roderick: (cold, stoic) "I am sorry but none of you leave."
The Frost Guardian releases a growl that chills the air, frost spreading along the floor as it steps forward. The students prepare, realizing they'll have to face both their professor and his monstrous guardian if they're to make it out alive.
Alyssa: (raising her shield) "Everyone, behind me! If it's a fight he wants, it's a fight he'll get."
Fenix: (frustrated) "Are you kidding me? A dragon? How'd he get so many monsters under his thumb, and all I've got is this lousy bat?"
Fenix's familiar bat, indignant, nips at his hand. He winces, giving the bat an apologetic pat.
The students brace themselves, forming a defensive line. Shizuka raises her sword, water swirling around it, while Severin readies his energy blasts, and Reina focuses her mana on defensive barriers around them.
Hugo: (to Mona, quietly) "Stay close. We'll get through this together."
The Frost Guardian roars again, icy breath spilling from its mouth and blanketing the room in an unnatural chill. The group prepares to face the dragon, knowing that this is no ordinary battle.
Professor Roderick suddenly vanishes, leaving the students alone with the roaring Frost Guardian.
Shizuka: (looking around, surprised) "Huh? Where did he go?"
Severin: (grumbling) "Don't tell me we're stuck fighting an infant dragon and an invisible grand mage."
Reina: (focused, studying the lingering magic) "No, it's teleportation. He's moved somewhere deeper in the basement."
Reina quickly draws a few magic circles, tracking Roderick's mana trail. After a moment, she nods, confirming he's no longer in their immediate vicinity.
Hugo: (relieved, clenching his fists as black flames curl around his hands) "Good. Then we can focus on the dragon."
The Frost Guardian lets out a deafening roar, gathering icy energy in its maw before unleashing a blizzard-like breath of ice down the hallway. In response, Hugo conjures a towering wall of black fire, blocking the freezing blast. Behind the fiery shield, Severin charges his energy beams, while Shizuka coats her wakizashi in a fast-flowing layer of water.
Mona: (nervous, but steady) "Even if it's just an infant, a dragon is still top-tier in any dungeon. We have to stay sharp."
Reina: (quickly) "Can't we just run for it? If we make it to the surface, the dragon will have to face the pro hunters from the Church and Cloud Tower, not to mention the academy teachers."
Fenix: (nodding) "That's actually a great idea, but—"
The dragon suddenly dives toward them, wings spread as it barrels down the hallway. The students drop to the floor, barely dodging the Frost Guardian's powerful charge as it sweeps past, crashing against the far wall and now blocking their only exit.
Fenix: (frustrated) "Well, there goes our easy escape."
Reina: (resigned, raising her hands and charging her mana) "Looks like we're in this for the long haul. Only way out is to take it down."
The Frost Guardian rears back, releasing another blast of frigid air that crystallizes the entire hallway, lowering the temperature to an unbearable chill. Frost clings to the walls, and the students can see their breath in the freezing air.
Shizuka: (sending a volley of ice spikes toward the dragon, only to watch them shatter on its scales) "What? Not even a scratch?"
Fenix: (rolling his eyes) "Of course not—it's an ice dragon. Water and ice attacks are useless."
Shizuka: (groans, frustrated) "Great, that's just perfect…"
Severin: (glancing at Hugo) "Hey, Hugo, since you don't have your sword, can you try to use your flame to defend us? I don't think anyone could defend against that blizzard breath except you."
Hugo: (nodding, focusing his Hell Blaze into a powerful firewall) "On it!"
Severin: "Reina, Mona, can you two do something? Maybe a strong fire spell?"
Reina: (hesitating) "I'd need time to draw the right magic circle, and offensive spells aren't exactly my specialty…"
Mona: (determined) "I have an idea! Reina, let's try creating a small-scale magic circle for Magma Eruption. I can project the circle, and you materialize the spell."
Reina: (uncertain) "Magma Eruption? That's advanced—if it fails…"
Before Reina can protest further, the dragon releases yet another chilling blast. Hugo's firewall starts to falter, the frost creeping into the flames.
Hugo: (straining) "It's freezing my flames! Whatever you're doing, do it now!"
Severin fires an energy beam at the dragon, but the attack only explodes against its scales without causing any damage.
Severin: (grimacing) "Nothing's getting through those scales!"
Fenix: (gritting his teeth) "We're barely making a dent here…"
Reina: (frustrated, glancing at Mona) "Fine! Let's try it—but if this fails, I'm blaming you!"
With a sense of urgency, Mona quickly sketches a rough outline of the Magma Eruption spell circle using a piece of charcoal on paper. While the dragon started to send multiple icicle spikes towards the students.
Fenix (surprised) "It can create spikes too?!"
But before the spikes can be hurled towards them, Shizuka summons a small tidal waves that knock the spikes out.
Shizuka "Hey, focus!!"
The dragon unleashes a relentless onslaught of attacks—hail-sized snowballs, massive ice spikes, and freezing blasts of blizzard air aimed straight at the students. Reina and Mona frantically work on the magic circle, their hands shaking but focused as they draw.
Alyssa: (bracing herself) "This shield can't hold up against those spikes!"
A particularly massive ice spike crashes against her shield, sending her staggering back.
Alyssa: "Damn it! I can't even block one of these!"
Severin: (gritting his teeth) "Hang on, we'll handle it!"
He fires a rapid series of energy beams at the incoming spikes, but they barely chip the massive projectiles, which keep hurtling forward.
Severin: "Not even a dent!"
Just then, Fenix steps forward, eyes narrowing with determination.
Fenix: "Get ready to witness the sacred arts of my clan! Bloody Circulation."
With a flick of his wrists, he conjures two massive crimson magic circles. One summons a swirling cyclone, while the other releases a powerful flow of blood. The two elements merge, forming a raging blood cyclone that tears through the ice spikes and dissipates the blizzard, causing the ice to shatter on impact.
The blood cyclone surges forward, enveloping the Frost Guardian and drenching its scales in crimson.
Fenix: (smiling, intense) "Now… Crimson Explosion!"
The blood coating the dragon pulses, then detonates in a visceral explosion. The explosion is unlike any bombs or mines but like a biological explosion, like when an egg exploded due to air. The explosion that bypasses its scales, tearing into its flesh with brutal force. The horrifying sight leaves portions of the dragon's hide stripped away, exposing raw, blood-covered muscle beneath.
Hugo: (wide-eyed) "Damn… Fenix, you've been hiding your power this whole time?"
Fenix: (smirking, holding up a ruby amulet) What? No... My blood magic needs me to use my own blood to attack. That technique requires like half of my body blood so I can never use it practically. Thanks to this though,"
Fenix pointed at his red ruby amulet, the Crimson Lord.
Fenix "Thanks to this 'charitable' gift from your dear brother, the Crimson Lord, I can replenish my blood by draining the opponent's blood from my blood magic contact, making this technique viable."
The Frost Guardian releases another deafening roar, its icy blue eyes now focusing on Fenix after the brutal, unexpected attack.
Alyssa: (struggling to her feet, shield dented) "Nice move, Fenix. But be careful, it's furious now!"
The dragon, visibly injured but still formidable, rears back, gathering a concentrated icy energy in its mouth as it prepares for an even stronger blizzard breath. Fenix sways slightly, weakened by the blood loss from his attack, but he steadies himself, grinning through the exhaustion. Meanwhile, Hugo creates an even larger fire wall to stop the blizzard.
Hugo: (determined) "I won't let you through!!"
The Frost Guardian lets out another furious roar, sending another barrage of massive ice spikes hurtling toward the students, who brace themselves for impact.
Hugo's towering firewall blocks the brunt of the blizzard, but the giant ice spikes punch through, aiming straight for the group. Severin, already gasping for breath, summons his remaining energy and unleashes a flurry of beams, each one meeting an incoming spike in mid-air with explosive force. However, each impact drains him further, and he staggers, nearly dropping to one knee.
Severin: (panting heavily) "Damn... I'm running on fumes here… This dragon just keeps coming!"
Shizuka: (frustrated, slashing at smaller shards with her water-wreathed blade) "You need three energy blasts just to take down one spike, and it's launching them like it's nothing!"
Alyssa: (casting a quick glance toward Mona and Reina) "Hey, girls, are you done with that magic yet?"
Mona: (sweating, hands trembling as she draws a final rune) "Almost there… just a little longer!"
Severin: (gritting his teeth, straining) "Better hurry, because we can't keep this up much longer!"
Reina: (annoyed, eyes narrowed as she completes her portion of the circle) "This is an advanced spell, class rep! We're working as fast as we can!"
Hugo: (glancing at Fenix, who's already looking a little pale) "Hey, Fenix! Think you can pull off that blood spell again?"
Fenix: (smirking, despite his weariness) "Oh, I've got more where that came from… Just give me a sec."
Without a hint of hesitation, Fenix digs into his school bag, pulling out several blood bags he had clearly prepared beforehand. He pops one open, chugging the contents like an energy drink before reaching for another.
Fenix: (grinning, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand) "Today, we'll see just how much havoc I can cause with my blood reserves."
The Frost Guardian snarls, sensing the brewing danger, and unleashes another spray of ice spikes, even larger than before, that come hurtling toward the group. Hugo grits his teeth and raises his flames higher, trying to cover everyone as best he can.
Alyssa: (bracing behind her shield, her voice strained) "We can't let our guard down for even a second! Those spikes are getting stronger!"
Fenix finally finishes his "refuel" and steps forward, eyes glinting with renewed intensity. He raises his hand, conjuring multiple crimson magic circles in the air, and mutters a few incantations under his breath.
Fenix: (smirking, eyes gleaming) "The sacred arts of the Tepes clan will be your end, you frosty lizard. Blood Garden!"
With a flick of his wrists, crimson magic circles appear in the air, and from each circle, delicate peony flowers made of blood begin to bloom. The garden of crimson peonies unfurls across the battlefield, each flower vibrating with raw energy. As they fully bloom, balls of overcharged blood shoot from the petals, flying toward the Frost Guardian with deadly precision and explosive force.
The blood missiles tear through the oncoming ice spikes, shattering them effortlessly, and slam into the dragon, detonating in a series of dust-filled explosions that force the beast back.
Hugo: (eyes wide in shock) "This… this is Fenix's real power…"
Severin: (in awe) "Those blood missiles… they're even stronger than my energy beams."
Shizuka: (pouting, crossing her arms) "And you never pull out moves like this when you're sparring with me!"
The Frost Guardian rears back, unleashing a furious roar as it attempts to summon another blizzard. Fenix, undeterred, narrows his eyes and channels more energy, summoning an even larger crimson circle.
Fenix: "You're not getting away that easily! Crimson Circuit!"
A single, massive peony blooms from the circle, radiating a dark, red light. With a surge of energy, it releases a wave of blood-red energy, crashing against the dragon's blizzard and pushing it back. The red wave overwhelms the icy blast, smashing into the dragon with such force that the hallway itself trembles. Cracks ripple through the walls, and rubble collapses down on the dragon, briefly burying it beneath stone and debris.
Alyssa: (in awe) "That… was intense."
Fenix: (grinning, wiping sweat from his brow) "Heh, now you've seen the true power of a vampire!"
Hugo: (nervously) "Is… is it over?"
But before he can finish, the pile of rubble explodes outward as the Frost Guardian emerges, injured and enraged, with its body battered but still moving.
Severin: (horrified) "It's still alive?!"
Reina: (urgently) "Everyone, fall back! We're ready!"
Reina and Mona stand together, hands outstretched toward the intricate magic circle they've etched on the floor. The air around them hums with energy as they activate the spell.
Mona: "I'll hold the circle steady. Reina, bring it to life!"
Reina: (nodding) "Here goes—Magma Eruption!"
The magic circle ignites, glowing a brilliant red, and from it erupts a torrent of molten magma, roaring forth like a volcanic eruption. The searing stream of magma surges forward, engulfing the dragon and consuming its icy scales in an instant. The Frost Guardian lets out a bone-chilling scream as the magma covers its body, melting through its defenses in a tide of relentless heat.
The students watch, bracing themselves, as the dragon writhes in agony, its cries echoing through the collapsing hallway.
As the students watch in horror, the molten magma covering the dragon abruptly freezes over, turning into a crystalline shell of ice. With a sharp crack, the frozen magma shatters, sending shards flying in all directions. The dragon stands revealed, battered and bloodied, its scales torn away in places, exposing raw flesh. It lets out a harrowing roar of pain and fury, the sound reverberating through the air as it charges toward the group, its massive claw swinging down in a deadly arc.
Alyssa reacts first, instinctively raising her shield to brace against the impact. But the dragon's claw hits with such immense force that she's thrown backward, skidding across the ground. Severin and Hugo rush to catch her, stopping her from being flung even further.
Reina: (voice trembling) "Are you serious…? It's… still alive?"
Shizuka: (whispering, terrified) "Is it… immortal?"
Fenix: (eyes narrowing) "Damn…"
The dragon's relentless resilience weighs heavily on all of them. They've thrown everything they have at this creature, yet it refuses to fall. Severin tries to keep calm, but a dreadful realization gnaws at him as he stares at the towering, bloodied beast.
Severin: (thinking, shaken) "So… this is what a high-ranking monster truly is…"
Across the battlefield, Mona, the mage who has no mana, drained and breathless, pushes herself up from the ground, her mind racing.
Mona: (panting, but determined) "Hey… I… I have an idea…"
Everyone turns to her, looking to Mona as their last glimmer of hope.
Mona: (gasping) "The dragon… its scales are damaged. If we can focus a small but powerful attack, we might be able to pierce its flesh… get through to something vital."
Severin: (eyes widening) "That might… just work…"
The dragon snarls and lunges forward, preparing to attack again, but a sudden shimmer of ice rises around it. Shizuka, her expression fierce despite the fear in her eyes, traps the beast in an ice prison, the frozen walls pressing in on the dragon to hold it back—at least temporarily.
Shizuka: (shouting to the others) "We don't have time to think this over! Fenix, you're the only one with enough power. Concentrate everything into one, focused shot, aim for its heart!"
Fenix: (regaining composure, nodding) "Got it!"
Shizuka: "This is an ice dragon—it'll break through my prison fast. The rest of you, keep it distracted so Fenix has time to charge up. Reina, Mona, start healing spells on everyone!"
Reina and Mona: (in unison, nodding) "Understood!"
Severin: (grinning despite the tension) "Alright then. Let's give it everything we've got—and try not to die!"
Without hesitation, Severin channels his energy, forming two crackling beams in his hands. As the dragon shatters the ice prison with a furious roar, Severin fires both beams directly at it, aiming to keep the dragon's attention away from Fenix.
Fenix takes a deep breath, stepping back to take out all of his remaining blood bags and start drinking. He gathers every ounce of his remaining power and concentrates on his blood. His eyes glow red with intensity as he begins channeling a massive energy attack, his hands trembling slightly from the strain.
As the dragon roars, preparing to attack again, Hugo steps forward, his one single eye blazing with determination. Raising his hands, he conjures a massive cyclone of black flames, swirling around the beast with intense heat and dark energy.
Hugo: (yelling) "Inferno!! Let's see how you deal with this!"
But before the flames can trap it, the cyclone suddenly crystallizes, freezing solid in an instant. The black fire shattered into fragments, raining down like dark ash. Hugo's eyes widen in disbelief as the dragon lunges through the remnants, claws outstretched, ready to strike.
Reacting swiftly, Shizuka summons towering ice spikes in the path of the dragon's claws, diverting the attack just in time.
Shizuka: (voice steady) "If my ice and water can't harm you, then I'll use them to deflect your attacks!"
With a wave of her hand, Shizuka raises a massive tidal wave, crashing it over the dragon's body. She freezes it instantly, encasing the beast in another ice prison. The others seize the opportunity, channeling their power and preparing for a final assault.
The dragon shatters the ice prison almost as quickly as it forms, breaking free with a defiant roar. But as it emerges, Severin and Hugo unleash a barrage of energy beams and black fireballs, targeting the exposed patch on its chest where its scales were burned away. The dragon howls in pain, staggering as it's bombarded by the relentless assault.
The beast swings a claw in fury, but Shizuka is ready. She summons another massive ice spike, intercepting the claw and stopping it mid-swing.
Shizuka: (calling out) "Fenix, now!"
Fenix: (grinning, steadying himself) "Alright, Sea Witch, I'm ready!"
Drawing on all the blood reserves he's absorbed, Fenix creates an enormous crimson magic circle in the air, his ultimate spell. He clenches his fists, channeling every last drop of his power into a single, devastating attack.
Fenix: (muttering to himself) "There goes all my meals for the month… Alright, let's make it count. This is my strongest spell!"
A massive crimson peony blooms from the magic circle, its petals unfurling majestically. From its center, a single, dense blood sphere forms, pulsing with lethal energy. With a swift motion, Fenix sends the blood missile hurtling toward the dragon's exposed chest, aiming directly at the creature's heart.
The blood missile streaks through the air with tremendous speed, piercing the dragon's vulnerable spot. It tears straight through its chest, ripping through flesh and bone, and exits out the other side in a spray of crimson. The dragon lets out a final, agonized scream as its body collapses to the ground with a thunderous crash, defeated at last.
The group stands in stunned silence, breathing heavily as they stare at the fallen beast, unable to fully process that the battle is finally over.
Scene: Aftermath of the Frost Guardian Defeat
INT. PROFESSOR RODERICK'S SECRET LAB – BASEMENT – EVENING
In the aftermath of the dragon battle, the group is weary and battered. Fenix lies limp, draped over Hugo's back, his already pale vampire skin now ghostly white from blood loss.
Hugo: (concerned, glancing back at Fenix) "Fenix, are you alright?"
Fenix: (weak grin) "Me? Just... super hungry. Or thirsty, I guess. I'm drained. That blood missile took... well, all my blood."
Shizuka: (with a comforting smile) "Don't worry. Let's get out of here before Professor Roderick returns."
Severin: (looking around, alert) "Alright. Anyone who can still move, grab those who can't. We need to get out of here. Now."
Suddenly, a chilling, echoing voice fills the basement. The walls reverberate with an ominous, dark energy.
Professor Roderick: (voice booming, sinister) "Oh, you won't be leaving. I will not let you escape."
The walls of the lab begin to glow, filling the air with crackling energy. Before the students can react, the entire basement is engulfed in an intense purple light. The walls shimmer, shifting and reshaping as a massive castle materializes around them.
EXT. ST. ALARIC ACADEMY COURTYARD – EVENING
Outside, the academy grounds are still embroiled in chaos as hunters and students battle the monsters pouring through the Gate. But everyone freezes as a massive purple castle suddenly appears, engulfing Professor Roderick's lab building and towering above the battlefield.
Pope Francis: (staring in shock) "What... is that?"
Professor Aster: (whispering) "A... a purple castle?"
Griffin: (realization dawning, voice grim) "That's no ordinary castle. It's a structure formed by Aspectual Magic... a Temple-ranked Bounded Field!"
Griffin narrows his eyes at the ominous structure, unease settling over him.
Griffin: (thinking, worried) "Roderick… What are you doing? You stole that grimoire from us... are you planning something dangerous with this temple?"
Monsters, attracted to the sudden appearance of the castle, swarm towards it. But as they approach, arcs of purple lightning shoot out from the castle walls, striking them down with ease. The crackling bolts decimate wave after wave of monsters, leaving the courtyard strewn with charred remains.
INT. PROFESSOR RODERICK'S SECRET LAB – BASEMENT – EVENING
Inside the newly formed castle, the students are trapped. Severin grits his teeth and unleashes an energy beam at the shimmering purple wall blocking their path, but the beam dissipates on impact.
Severin: (frustrated, banging his fist on the wall) "What is this purple wall?! We can't break through it!"
Reina: (fearful, eyes wide) "What... is this?"
Mona, slumped over Alyssa's shoulder, gasps for breath, struggling to speak as she takes in the situation.
Mona: (gasping) "This... this is Professor Roderick's Aspectual Magic… By freezing time in a certain space, he creates a 'stopping effect.' Physicists call it 'Quantum Lock.' Matter in this state… is basically indestructible to anything from our three-dimensional world."
Shizuka: (shocked) "What?"
On Hugo's back, Fenix stirs, his voice weak but laced with grim understanding.
Fenix: "Yeah… I've heard of it. A wall anchored in a fourth-dimensional plane… We can't break it with our normal attacks. We'd need something on a molecular level to even scratch it."
Hugo: (eyes widening) "You're kidding…"
Professor Roderick's voice fills the air again, echoing with cold amusement.
Professor Roderick: "Students… do not waste your energy. No matter how strong you are, it is meaningless before my Aspectual Magic. The only way to escape… is to face me. Find me in the deepest part of this basement. If you want to escape, you'll have to defeat me."
Shizuka: (clenching her fists) "Damn it… he's serious."
Reina: (fearful, voice trembling) "But… but how? He's even more powerful than that dragon… And we're all drained! Fenix and Mona are out of commission, and the rest of us are barely holding on."
Severin: (quietly, determined) "But it's the only way left…"
Hugo: (angry, frustrated) "If I just had my sword, I could at least do something!"
Mona's eyes snap open, a spark of hope flickering.
Mona: "Wait… your sword!"
Hugo: "What?"
Mona: (breathing hard, starting to smile) "Professor Roderick is at the deepest part of the lab, right? That means… we can use the rest of the lab against him. There might be magical grimoires in the library. And we could try to find your sword… and my projection pen!"
Alyssa: (nodding, realizing) "Yes… if we're smart about it, maybe we can find something here to use against him."
Fenix: (weakly) "Count me out, though. I'm… all out of blood. I'll only be a burden in a fight."
Severin looks back at Fenix, who is pale and clearly exhausted. He nods, understanding.
Severin: "That's alright, Fenix. Just stay here and rest. We'll come back for you once we've handled this."
Fenix: (managing a faint smile) "Thanks… Be careful."
The group exchanges one last look, steeling themselves. They know they're heading into the lion's den, but with every ounce of strength left in them, they're ready to face their former professor.