Alex maneuvered the blood-made platform while speaking to Eva, their speed increasing rapidly as they soared tens of meters above the ground.
For a while, they thought the journey had been smooth, having passed several buildings without issue. But as they flew between skyscrapers, Alex was unable to ascend any higher, as the higher they went, the harder it became to control the platform. Suddenly, the sound of shattering glass broke the calm; an orc leaped from one of the skyscrapers, heading straight for Alex and Eva. Prepared for such an attack, Eva waved her hand, causing the orc to be hit as if by an invisible hammer, sending it hurtling back to the ground.
Throughout the journey, they encountered more orcs and other monsters, but none managed to get close enough to be a real threat. Eva deflected each projectile and creature that came at them with swift reactions, which impressed Alex, who was genuinely starting to appreciate her powers and quick reflexes.
After a few more twists and turns, avoiding numerous monsters, the university campus finally came into view. But Alex and Eva were stunned by the sight before them. The campus had turned into a battlefield. In the wide-open spaces, many people were locked in combat with identical monsters, all crafted from a strange, shiny silver metal. Each monster resembled a metallic panther with a wolf-like head and four whip-like tentacles extending from its back.
The monsters attacked at high speeds, their tentacles lashing like whips. The people defending the campus had formed a well-coordinated strategy: golems held the front lines, fending off the metal beasts, while mages and weapon masters attacked from behind, using spells and energy bullets to restrain the monsters. A few individuals armed with iron bars and axes stayed close to protect those on the backlines from any surprise attacks. The formation was impressively solid—despite the hundreds of metal monsters, none could breach their defenses. And any creature that slipped through was instantly destroyed by fireballs, icy spears, or swift stabs from those ready to strike.
Alex and Eva watched the battlefield. Alex was less surprised by the battle itself and more by humanity's ability to adapt and create such a powerful force in such a short time.
"Let's go; it seems the monsters are beginning to retreat," Alex said, guiding the platform downward. Once they landed, the blood platform dissolved, transforming into a sword in Alex's hand. Without warning, Eva darted towards the human crowd. Alex wanted to call out to her, but he worried about the metal beasts attacking her, so he decided to follow closely.
The campus was in ruins, with burning buildings and craters across the ground, as though it had been bombed. Eva made her way to the center of the human forces, which numbered in the hundreds. The fighters formed three ranks: the first row of warriors held weapons and defended those behind them, the second row comprised mages and weapon masters firing energy bolts and ice spears, and the third row was made up of golem masters who commanded their golems to engage the metal creatures.
In the middle of the second row sat a girl on the shoulders of a stone golem, with a glowing, white circular aura behind her illuminating the battlefield.
Eva moved toward the girl. At about two hundred meters from the crowd, a few people noticed her approach. Stone golems surrounded her, and two young men in their early twenties wielding metal spears stepped forward.
One of the young men looked at Eva and demanded, "Identify yourself and explain why you're approaching us in the middle of a battle. If you don't have a good reason, we'll attack immediately."
Alex stood a few meters behind Eva, understanding why the two acted cautiously—any unknown person could be a threat in the middle of a war. Still, he was ready to intervene if Eva was in danger. Confident in his abilities, he could sense that neither the golems nor the humans posed a serious threat to him.
"My name is Eva. I'm the sister of Karlin, the girl in the center with the aura behind her," Eva replied. Though unimpressed by the youths' attitudes, she didn't want to cause trouble in such a dangerous situation that could affect her sister.
Alex wasn't surprised; ever since mana and contracts arrived on Earth, humans had improved physically in various ways, even if their contracts didn't specifically enhance their bodies. Eva, for instance, could spot her sister from five hundred meters away with ease.
The young men relaxed slightly after hearing her response; it seemed Karlin held a high position within this small army.
"Very well. Can you wait a moment? The Emika should withdraw soon," one of the youths said while keeping an eye on Eva and Alex. Alex observed the two men closely. Both were of average height with athletic builds; one had blond hair, while the other had black hair. Their spears had a unique metallic design that Alex doubted could be found on any university campus. Both emitted auras that cloaked their bodies like armor.