Outside Aurelia School – Magic Barrier
The air outside the school was thick with crackling energy, the storm of mana still swirling above, a reminder of the incredible force Miles had unleashed. The magic barrier surrounding the school flickered with every strike from the enraged Lightning Eagle. It was clear the beast was no longer just attacking the school—it was targeting the warp point, drawn to the surge of energy emanating from it.
The eagle's massive wings beat furiously, its thunderous screech filling the air as it dove straight for the source of the gathering mana. Its body was crackling with electrical energy, its talons glowing with raw power, and its eyes locked on the swirling portal.
But the very moment Marcus stepped through the warp, the air seemed to change. There was a sudden, overwhelming presence—a suffocating pressure that made the sky itself tremble. The eagle, sensing something far stronger than itself, hesitated mid-air, its instincts screaming that it was outmatched. It was a beast of immense power, a level 50 creature, but what stood before it now… was something else entirely.
Marcus stood tall and imposing, his figure cloaked in a dark, regal aura that seemed to distort the very air around him. His eyes, cold and calculating, locked onto the eagle for a mere moment, and the creature froze. The energy surrounding Marcus was like the weight of a mountain—unyielding, unstoppable. Every step he took felt like an earthquake, his very presence exerting a force that dwarfed the eagle's primal power.
The beast, feeling the imminent danger, screeched one last time as it tried to turn and flee. But it was too late.
With a single word, Marcus commanded the air around him to obey.
"Shred."
The air trembled violently with the force of Marcus's magic, a wave of energy that ripped through the atmosphere with absolute precision. The Lightning Eagle, despite its strength, was no match for the sheer overwhelming power Marcus exuded and was sliced into clean pieces. It staggered mid-air, its wings faltering before it plummeted to the ground below . The impact of its fall sent ripples through the surrounding area, and a final blast of lightning crackled as the creature's form lay still, defeated by Marcus's overwhelming might.
Marcus stood there, his expression unchanged, as the last remnants of the eagle's magical energy fizzled out in the air. The beast's corpse lay in a heap, the remains of the once-mighty creature barely recognizable.
Without a single glance at the defeated eagle, Marcus turned his attention to the figure in black who had followed him through the warp point. His voice was calm, but it carried the weight of someone who had seen countless battles, someone who expected results.
"Return," Marcus commanded. "You will be rewarded for what you've done here, but first, I have an assignment for you."
The figure in black nodded, waiting for the task.
Marcus gestured toward the school, his eyes narrowing as he surveyed the devastation around him. "Find out everything about those who have wronged Miles Daves. All of them. Leave no stone unturned."
The figure bowed low in acknowledgment and disappeared into the distance, his form blending into the wreckage of the surrounding landscape.
Marcus took a moment to survey the destruction that had unfolded around the school. Though the magic shield still stood strong, he could see the damage that had been done. The landscape was scarred by the assault of the magical beasts. The ground was churned up, with deep gouges where massive claws had struck, and patches of earth had been scorched by lightning and fire. Trees lay in splintered heaps, their trunks shattered by the force of the beasts' attacks. There were remnants of shattered walls, broken fences, and debris scattered everywhere, marking the fierce battle that had just taken place.
Yet, amid the chaos, the magic barrier surrounding Aurelia School stood unharmed. The shield shimmered with a faint, protective glow, a thin barrier of light that was still intact. Though the surrounding area was filled with destruction, the school itself was safe—for now.
Marcus's cold gaze swept over the chaos. The beasts had been relentless in their attack, but none of them had breached the shield. The magic barrier had held firm, and it was a good thing that he had arrived when he did.
The magnitude of the situation began to settle in. The fact that the school had endured this assault without falling was a testament to the strength of the barrier—but Marcus knew it wouldn't hold forever. He couldn't rely solely on the shield. He had to act quickly, and decisively.
"This is just the beginning," he muttered to himself, his voice as cold as steel. "But it's a good thing I arrived first. If I hadn't… things might have turned out much worse."
As he stood amid the wreckage, Marcus's gaze lingered on the school. He could see the silhouette of Miles through the glowing magic barrier, still unaware of the full extent of what was happening outside.
Outside the School – Magic Barrier
Marcus took a single step forward, his presence exuding power as he approached the magic shield that had protected the school. With a smooth motion, his hand reached out and made contact with the barrier.
The shield, once unyielding, shattered at his touch as though it was made of fragile glass, splintering into nothingness with a faint, almost imperceptible sound. No resistance. No effort. It was as though the very essence of the shield recognized Marcus as its superior.
Without even looking at the remnants of the broken barrier, Marcus raised his hand, murmuring a simple incantation.
"Seal."
In an instant, a massive dome of swirling air encased the entire school. The wind whipped around the perimeter, thick and impenetrable, the force of it creating a shimmering, translucent barrier that stood firm and regal. The dome's magic pulsed with an intensity that made the ground tremble beneath it. Unlike the previous shield, this one was elegant and commanding, a testament to Marcus's mastery of elemental magic.
"It will hold for now," Marcus muttered, inspecting the air seal as it settled into place. "No one gets through without my permission."
He stood for a moment, the weight of his power settling in, before turning on his heel and walking briskly toward the school's underground chambers. His footsteps were steady, each step measured, and within seconds he was standing before the door to the underground office.
A brief moment passed.
Then, in the next instant, Marcus was already inside the room, as though he had simply appeared from thin air.
Inside the Underground Office – Aurelia School of Magic
Maria and Miles both froze. A chilling, screeching cry echoed from the distance—the last dying call of the Lightning Eagle. The sound reverberated through the walls, rattling their senses.
But that wasn't what made their blood run cold. It was the unmistakable sound of something far worse.The shield, the one that had held strong and steady, had shattered in an instant. There was no mistaking it: someone had broken it.
And then, a new surge of magic flooded the area. It was stronger, denser, filling the air around them with an oppressive pressure. Maria could feel it crawling down her spine, the magic wrapping around the entire school, pushing out the remnants of the previous shield with ease.
Miles, his senses still heightened from the awakening ceremony, felt it too. The air was crackling with power and it wasn't just the presence of mana. This… this was someone who commanded magic like no other.
Before Maria could say a word, the heavy door to their underground room was shattered—its iron frame splintering like paper—revealing a figure standing in the doorway. In the blink of an eye, the sturdy door that had been built to withstand magic pressure was reduced to nothing.
Maria instinctively stepped in front of Miles, her posture defensive. She could sense it instantly: this wasn't just a person. This was someone powerful. Someone who could bring destruction with a flick of their wrist if they so desired. The air was thick with a foreboding presence, and Maria braced herself for what was to come.
She didn't speak—she didn't need to. Miles could feel it too. The man standing in the doorway was dangerous.
The figure before them was clad in dark, regal robes, the fabric flowing with an elegant mix of deep green and black, colors that seemed to shimmer with the magic surrounding him. His stance was commanding, the way he stood in the doorway exuding authority, confidence, and sheer power. His very presence screamed dominance, as though the world bent to his will.
But there was something else that made the scene even more unsettling: the figure's face was obscured.
The silence was thick, pressing in on them, but the weight of the situation was undeniable. Every moment felt like it stretched on forever. Maria's heart raced, but her posture remained rigid, determined to protect Miles at all costs. The last thing she wanted was for him to fall into the hands of whatever this figure from the capital.
Miles, for the first time, felt a deep, unsettling chill settle in his chest. The magical surge, the force of it, rattled him more than he'd ever felt before. It was as if he was staring down something beyond his comprehension.The air in the room seemed to get thicker, and Miles could almost feel the pressure of the man's gaze, despite not being able to see his face.
This was the real danger. The true weight of the situation.
And Miles was starting to understand just how deep the web of his awakening had already become.
And then the man spoke.
A voice that was deep and commanding, full of authority, but smooth like velvet.
"Don't recognize me anymore, Miles?"