Elsewhere, a battle of unimaginable proportions was about to unfold. Pragaya stood tall, his hands and feet encased in shimmering armor, his glowing wings spread wide like a divine avenger. This was the same power he had used to claim victory in the Magian Battle all those years ago—a power etched in legend. He smirked at the Hellriser before him, his piercing gaze unwavering.
"Tell me... how did you know?" Pragaya asked, his tone steady yet commanding.
The Hellriser, maintaining its sinister smirk, remained silent, its eyes gleaming with malice.
"Fine then," Pragaya continued, his voice growing sharper. "Let me ask you this—why did you end up in hell?"
At this, the Hellriser's smirk faltered, replaced by a dark scowl. Pragaya's words struck a nerve, but he didn't stop.
"The fact that you're standing before me now can only mean one thing," Pragaya said, his voice dripping with disdain. "Not only were you a worthless human in life, but even in death, you managed to make yourself more pathetic. Instead of facing your sins and seeking atonement, you chose the coward's path. You sold your soul for fleeting power. You make me sick."
Pragaya's words cut through the air like a blade, his tone both scornful and righteous. The Hellriser's malevolent grin twisted into an expression of pure hatred, its body trembling with suppressed rage.
The Hellriser lunged at Pragaya with immense force, but Pragaya stopped its claws effortlessly with just a single finger. As the two locked in a fierce stalemate, the Hellriser's lips curled into a twisted sneer.
"You know, hell is actually a much pleasanter place than this cursed world," it spat, disgust etched onto its face. With a sudden surge of strength, the creature slashed harder, forcing Pragaya back a few steps.
The Hellriser continued, its voice rising in rage, "Humans are the real demons! You make this world a living hell—all of you!"
Pragaya remained calm, his expression unreadable, as the Hellriser screamed in fury and prepared for its next move.
The creature's glowing eyes began to shift, their color draining to an unnatural, pure dark. A chilling smile stretched across its face. "It's about time I got serious," it declared. "This was my magic when I was still alive. Let's see how you deal with this on top of my nullification."
The Hellriser raised its arms, and ethereal, fluffy dark clouds began to materialize around their battlefield in the sky, spreading around the area.
Pragaya, standing firm in midair, watched the phenomenon unfold with an unshaken gaze. His demeanor suggested that the display, no matter how ominous, did not trouble him in the slightest.
The Hellriser tilted its head, a twisted grin spreading across its face. "The name's Corp," it said, voice oozing malice.
Pragaya smirked, his presence radiating authority. "Oh, so now you're introducing yourself? Didn't know soulless beasts had manners," he quipped, his tone sharp with mockery.
Corp's grin widened, his voice dripping with mock disdain. "One good trait I picked up from the humans I killed, I suppose. They were all so insistent on exchanging names before they died." His words hung heavy in the air, followed by maniacal laughter that echoed through the battlefield.
Pragaya let out a low chuckle, calm yet menacing. His steady gaze bore into Corp as if dissecting him piece by piece. His mere presence seemed to drain the humor from the situation, Corp's laughter faltering until it faded completely. The Hellriser's expression turned cold, emotionless, and his predatory instincts surged to the surface.
Without a word, Corp launched his attack. He kicked off the fluffy clouds he had conjured earlier, using them like trampolines to ricochet through the sky with increasing speed. Each bounce turned him into a streak of dark energy, zipping through the air in erratic, unpredictable patterns.
Pragaya didn't flinch. His eyes, glowing faintly with his light magic, tracked Corp's every movement with uncanny precision. His posture remained steady, his confidence unshaken, as if he were waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
With a powerful final bounce, Corp launched his attack, his claws slashing through the air, yearning for Pragaya's blood. Yet, Pragaya casually sidestepped the strike, his movements calm and effortless. Undeterred, Corp ricocheted off another cloud, only for Pragaya to dodge again with the same unshaken demeanor.
This game of pursuit continued for several tense seconds. Corp's frustration grew with every missed strike. His expression twisted into a snarl, and his movements became more aggressive, the clouds trembling slightly under the force of his increasingly desperate bounces. "Why won't you stop running, you arrogant fool?" he growled, his voice seething with irritation.
Realizing the futility of his direct assault, Corp abruptly altered his approach. He conjured a swirling sphere of cloud, its surface shifting like a storm, infused with nullification magic. The energy radiating from it was unnatural, a blend of glowing mist and crackling sparks that distorted the air around it. The weapon pulsated ominously, a clear indication of its deadly potential to pierce through any magical barriers.
Corp resumed his relentless bouncing, but this time, the clouds themselves shifted positions unpredictably, as if alive, and new ones materialized at the last possible moment to propel him. His erratic movements created a dizzying blur of speed, his aim clearly to render himself untraceable.
Yet, through it all, Pragaya's piercing gaze never faltered. His eyes followed Corp's every move with unwavering precision, his calm composure a stark contrast to the chaotic flurry of his opponent's desperate maneuvers.
Corp launched his attack once more, faster and more relentless than before. However, Pragaya effortlessly dodged it again. This time, Pragaya struck back, his index and middle fingers twisted together, delivering a precise jab to Corp's stomach.
Corp stumbled back, his expression twisting into mockery.
"What was that, old man? You trying to tickle me?"
Pragaya smiled confidently, a glint of superiority in his eyes.
"Take a look at your right arm," he said calmly.
Corp glanced down, and his face shifted from smugness to shock as he noticed his right arm hanging limp and lifeless at his side.
"What the hell did you do, you geezer?" he snarled, anger flaring in his voice.
Pragaya, still poised with his fingers twisted in the same position, gestured toward Corp with an air of calm authority.
"This," he began, "is a little something called Varma Kalai—an ancient martial art hailing from the great land of Hind."
Corp's confusion deepened as he narrowed his eyes at Pragaya.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
Pragaya's tone shifted into one of enlightenment, his words carrying the weight of tradition.
"Varma Kalai is a sacred martial art that targets specific pressure points. It can disable limbs, inflict pain, or even heal, depending on the intention of the user."
Corp's gaze sharpened as realization crept in.
"How the hell do you know something like that?"
Pragaya's confident smirk widened as he replied with measured simplicity.
"I know someone."
Pragaya decided it was time to switch from defense to offense. With an explosive burst of speed, he became a blur, weaving through the battlefield like a streak of lightning. Corp's confidence faltered as he frantically leapt between his clouds, using their dynamic positions to evade Pragaya's relentless assault. His single functioning arm limited his options, and his movements became increasingly erratic as he struggled to keep Pragaya's strikes from landing.
Despite his panic, Corp's cunning mind was working overtime. As the numbness in his paralyzed arm began to subside, a flicker of determination returned to his glowing eyes. "Just hold out a little longer," he muttered under his breath, dodging another narrowly-avoided strike. Pragaya's precision, however, didn't waver.
Sensing the opportunity to close the fight quickly, Pragaya extended his arms and conjured a constellation of radiant light spheres around Corp. Each sphere pulsed with energy, their golden glow contrasting sharply against the dark, clouded battlefield. With a commanding flick of his fingers, Pragaya sent them hurtling toward Corp like homing missiles.
Corp smirked, arrogance returning to his face. "Old man, did you forget my nullification?!" He raised his functioning hand, and with a sharp motion, a wave of nullification magic rippled outward, dissolving the light spheres into nothingness. "Nice try, but you'll have to do better than that!"
Unbeknownst to Corp, his triumph was short-lived. Pragaya had anticipated this reaction. Using the distraction to his advantage, he moved with blinding speed, appearing behind Corp in an instant. The air cracked under the sheer force of his movement, a sound that sent shivers down Corp's spine—if only he'd realized its significance sooner.
"Behind you," Pragaya said coolly, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade.
Corp barely had time to widen his eyes before Pragaya struck. With a calculated twist of his wrist, he drove two fingers directly into Corp's spine, targeting a vital pressure point. The blow was surgical in its precision, and its effect was immediate. A sharp jolt shot through Corp's body, and his muscles locked up entirely. His glowing eyes dimmed as he let out a guttural growl of frustration.
Corp fell, his once-proud form collapsing onto the battlefield. He twitched slightly, trying in vain to move. "W-what did you...?" he rasped, his voice now trembling with disbelief.
Pragaya straightened his posture, brushing nonexistent dust off his armor with a casual air of authority. "I warned you before, didn't I? Your nullification is impressive, but overconfidence blinds you. And as for what I did..." He adjusted his gauntlets. "Let's just say you won't be bouncing around anytime soon."
Corp's earlier laughter felt like a distant echo, a ghost of his former arrogance, as he lay motionless on the ground. The battlefield was eerily quiet now, with the last remnants of his conjured clouds dissipating into the air, leaving the once-chaotic skies clear. A ray of sunlight broke through the parting clouds, bathing both Pragaya and Corp in a golden glow. The stark contrast between the serene light and the somber reality of the moment was palpable.
Pragaya descended slowly, his expression unreadable, standing tall beside Corp's defeated form. The Hellriser's body was still, but his piercing gaze remained fixed on the sky above, as though searching for something beyond the heavens.
Pragaya's voice, calm and steady, broke the silence. "Do you have any last words?"
Corp let out a weak chuckle, the sound hollow yet defiant, as his eyes slowly shifted to meet Pragaya's. Despite his broken body, there was a glimmer of something—pride, defiance, or perhaps a trace of humanity—lingering in his gaze.
The scene shifted to a battlefield filled with chaos and desperation. Rai sprinted through the crumbling ruins, pursued by a relentless horde of Hellrisers. Unlike the intelligent Corp, these beasts were mindless, driven by an insatiable thirst for blood.
Rai, tears streaming down his face, wailed in terror: "I don't wanna die! Not like this! I still have so much to accomplish!" His voice cracked, comically reaching high-pitched tones, as exaggerated streams of tears trailed behind him.
Kromus trailed closely, dispatching Hellrisers one by one with precise blasts of frost magic. "If you'd stop running like a headless chicken, I could do this faster!" Kromus shouted, his irritation evident.
Rai continued to sprint until his path was abruptly cut off by a towering wall. He skidded to a halt, his face morphing into a comical mask of exaggerated horror. "A dead end?! Oh, come on!" he groaned, flailing his arms. Turning around, he faced the encroaching horde, his knees shaking like jelly.
With desperation in his eyes, Rai clenched his fists, channeling all his prana into his right hand. "Alright, Rai! Time to be a hero... or at least not dead!" he declared to himself, his voice trembling.
Squeezing his eyes shut, he twisted his body and hurled a punch with every ounce of strength he had. The force surged forward, and Rai braced for impact. But instead of the squelch of a defeated Hellriser, he heard a muffled grunt.
Confused, Rai peeked through one eye, only to see his fist firmly planted in Kromus's face. The ice mage stood frozen (figuratively), his frosty hair ruffled and an incredulous expression plastered across his face.
Rai gasped, looking around and realizing the Hellrisers had already been eliminated. "W-what just happened?!" he stammered.
Kromus rubbed his nose, his expression a mix of pain and exasperation. "What happened is you punched me, you absolute buffoon!" he snapped.
Rai stepped back, bowing repeatedly in apology. "Sorry, sorry, sorry! I thought you were—uh—one of them!" He paused mid-bow, then added: "But hey, at least I didn't die, right?"
Kromus, his face turning a frosty shade of red from sheer irritation, yelled, "You absolute moron! Do you have any idea how close you were to getting yourself killed if I hadn't been here?" His icy breath almost seemed to freeze the air as his fury overflowed.
Rai, scratching his head nervously, grinned sheepishly and replied, "Well, it's all fine now, right? See? I'm still standing, safe and sound!" His tone was carefree, almost childlike, as if narrowly avoiding death was a minor inconvenience. He patted Kromus on the shoulder like they were old friends catching up over lunch.
Kromus glared at him, his icy aura crackling faintly. "Safe and sound? You're a walking disaster waiting to happen."
Before Kromus could escalate his tirade, a desperate yell echoed from behind them. Both of their expressions instantly turned serious, their instincts kicking in. Without needing to exchange words, Rai began channeling prana into his fists, his muscles tightening as a faint silver aura shimmered around him. Kromus, on the other hand, coated his fist in jagged ice that morphed into a weapon resembling a spiky flail.
They both in tandem broke through the wall outside to see what was happening.
Outside, chaos reigned as Harchell, battered and bruised, struggled against a colossal creature towering over her. Its molten black body radiated heat, and fiery veins glowed beneath its jagged exterior. The beast roared, shaking the very ground beneath their feet.
Rai's jaw dropped as he pointed dramatically at the creature. "What the hell is that thing?!"
Kromus, standing beside him, grimaced. "That," he said, his tone heavy with urgency, "is an Infernal Beast."
Rai's face instantly contorted into an over-the-top question mark, his mouth hanging open in clueless disbelief. "An infernal what now?"
Kromus sighed deeply, pinching the bridge of his nose. "These things aren't like Hellrisers. They're not human souls corrupted by sin. They're pure demons, born from the depths of the Abyss." He glanced at Rai, who was nodding vigorously, as if taking mental notes.
Then, with an exaggerated salute, Rai replied, "Got it, loud and clear!"
Kromus turned to check on the battlefield, only to realize Rai was already staring intently at the beast. His playful demeanor was gone, replaced by a rare focus. The silver aura of prana shimmered around him, and his usually wide eyes narrowed with determination.
Rai swooped in just in time, catching Harchell in his arms. Her elegant white hair glimmered under the light, and her pointed ears turned a soft shade of red as she looked up at him. "Oh, my knight in shining armor, you've come to save me," she purred, her voice dripping with mature seduction as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
Rai, slightly flustered but maintaining his composure, responded with a warm smile, "Yeah, now sit back and rest. I'll handle this."
Harchell leaned in slightly, her lips curving into a playful smirk as she twirled her index finger on his chest. "My, my, how manly of you," she teased, her tone a perfect blend of sultry and amused.
Rai gently set Harchell down, then turned to Kromus with determination. "Mr. Frosty, sir, please take Harchell to safety." Before Kromus could even begin to protest, a voice rang out from behind them. "There you are, Rai!"
The group turned to see Gale, Rose, and Baruss landing gracefully beside Rai. Gale let out a relieved sigh. "I'm glad you're alright, Rai."
Baruss clapped Gale on the shoulder, then gestured up at the massive beast looming above them. "What on earth is that thing?"
The group followed Baruss' gaze, their faces pale with fear as the towering creature's radiant red eyes bore into them. The Infernal beast let out a terrifying growl, slashing its massive claws at the gathered group. Rai acted quickly, scooping Harchell into his arms and leaping out of the way just as the attack raked through the air. Everyone else dodged in unison, but Gale hesitated for a moment too long. Baruss was quick to react, catching him just in time.
"Get your head together, man! You wanna die or something?" Baruss snapped, frustration in his voice. Gale, shaking off his momentary lapse, nodded resolutely. "Yeah, sorry about that. I'm good now."
Rai's voice cut through the tension. "Guys, that's an Infernal Beast. Unlike the Hellrisers, this is a pure demon beast." He turned to Kromus, urgency in his tone. "Take her to safety."
With the situation escalating, Rai prepared for the coming battle, his focus sharpened and his aura silver and crackling with prana.
Kromus, taken aback by the intensity in Rai's eyes, stood momentarily stunned. The goofy boy he had known was gone, replaced by a man with a fierce determination to overcome the beast before them. A dilemma raged within Kromus. On one hand, he couldn't leave the students to fight alone, but on the other, Harchell was too injured to be left unattended.
Sensing the conflict in Kromus's mind, Rai broke the silence. "I know you have a good sense, Kromus. Look at that creature and tell me I can't beat it."
Kromus's gaze shifted to the infernal beast, and then back to Rai, locking eyes with him. In those eyes, Kromus saw the burning fury, the resolve that had been building in Rai ever since the Hellrisers had shown up. Rai had had enough of these chaotic monsters wreaking havoc on the world and the people he cared for.
Kromus, reassured by the fire in Rai's eyes, realized there was nothing to worry about. Though the beast was stronger than the Hellrisers, it was slower and lacked intelligence, a fact that worked in their favor. With Rai and the rest of the group all being Level 5, it wouldn't be a problem.
Kromus let out a deep sigh. "Just don't get yourselves killed," he said, his voice filled with gravity. His piercing gaze met Rai's, a silent warning behind it.
Rai gave a firm nod, handing Harchell over to Kromus.
Kromus carried Harchell away from the battleground, her eyes still fixed on Rai, admiration clear in her gaze. "You see it in him too, right Kromus?" she asked softly.
Kromus glanced at her in confusion. "Huh? See what?"
Harchell smiled warmly, her voice filled with sincerity. "His pure heart—nothing but love for those around him, no matter the hate they throw at him."
The realization struck Kromus. He remembered how Rai had run from the Hellrisers not in fear, but with the intention of finding a way to deal with them without killing them. Despite being surrounded by violence, Rai's heart refused to embrace bloodshed. Even if the Hellrisers were no longer human, they were once people, and that fact weighed heavily on him.
Kromus chuckled softly, his voice rich with respect. "Well, it seems you've chosen a good man, then."
Harchell beamed, her smile deepening. "Yes, I have."
Kromus raised an eyebrow mischievously. "But don't you think he's a little too young for you?"
Harchell playfully rolled her eyes, her tone amused. "Oh, Kromus, we both know humans mature physically at 12. By the time they finish their ten-year journey at the academy, they'll be emotionally mature too. And honestly, have you noticed? Rai is already emotionally mature in a lot of ways. It's like he skipped some of the awkward growing-up phases."
Kromus nodded thoughtfully. "Yeah, you're right. He does seem a bit... ahead of his age. Makes me wonder what kind of life he's had to make him mature this early."
Harchell smirked, teasingly, "Maybe he's just always been ahead of the game."
Kromus snorted, his usual gruff demeanor softening. "Could be. I don't think he's ever just been a regular kid."
Meanwhile, Allseer, rolled up into his crystal ball form, couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss. Among the students he had assessed today, there was an underlying sensation that irked him—a nagging thought that he had overlooked something important.
He pondered silently, the weight of his thoughts heavy within the confines of his crystal form.
After a moment of contemplation, he decided to set the unease aside. With a slight shimmer, he transformed, the crystal ball shifting and glowing with energy. It was time to go and check on the students, to ensure everything was as it should be.
The battle raged on with intense energy as Rai, Rose, Gale, and Baruss locked in fierce combat with the towering Infernal Beast. Rai's silver aura shimmered brightly as he focused all his prana into his legs, his silver energy surging as he launched himself forward. With a thunderous roar, he delivered a powerful kick straight into the beast's face, sending it reeling backward.
At that very moment, Rose, levitating high above the creature, gathered her fiery magic. She conjured a massive fireball and hurled it down toward the beast with precise aim. The fiery sphere collided with the beast's body, erupting in a burst of flames that momentarily blinded everyone with a blaze of intense heat.
Meanwhile, Gale and Baruss, working in perfect synchronization, harnessed the power of wind. Gale summoned a sharp gust that formed a concentrated blade of wind, and Baruss, not to be outdone, sliced the air with his own slash of sharp wind magic. The combined attack hit the beast's two front feet, toppling the creature onto its back.
Seizing the opportunity, Rai swiftly jumped into the air, his aura flaring brighter than ever. With a deep inhale, he tapped into prana, unleashing an Atmaan explosion that significantly boosted his power. His body surged with newfound speed, and he rocketed toward the beast like a shooting star. With a mighty roar, Rai focused every ounce of prana into his fist, then descended at breakneck speed, delivering a thunderous punch straight into the beast's abdomen.
The force of the impact was so great that the ground beneath the beast cracked open, sending a shockwave through the area. The beast howled in agony, its monstrous form shuddering under the weight of the blow.
The four of them stood together, smiling in triumphant unison, their breath heavy from the battle.
"Well, there's no way it's getting back up from that," Rai said confidently, his silver aura still faintly glowing as he wiped a bit of sweat from his brow.
Just as the words left his mouth, the beast groaned, the ground shaking as it slowly began to rise back to its feet, clearly undeterred by their combined assault.
The smiles on their faces instantly faded. Their eyes widened in disbelief. Rai's jaw dropped.
"No way…" he muttered, his confident tone completely gone.
Baruss, looking up as the beast rose. "I forgot to bring an extra pair of underwear!" he said as his legs were trembling.
The beast, even in its ferocity, seemed to pause for a split second, as though it was equally shocked by Baruss's declaration. Then, it just snarled.
Rai, Gale, and Rose turned to look at Baruss with wide, disgusted eyes. Even the beast seemed to be offended by his words.
"Seriously? This is the time for that?" Gale groaned, rubbing his temples.
"I'm gonna pretend I didn't hear that," Rose muttered, her red eyes flicking away in embarrassment.
Baruss, now realizing the gravity of the situation, glanced around awkwardly, then said, "Well, I'm just saying... I didn't expect that thing to get back up, okay?!"
The group braced themselves, preparing for round two. But to their surprise, the beast, still reeling from Baruss's previous comment, did something unexpected: it reached into its massive mouth, pulled out a pair of underwear, and tossed it to Baruss.
Everyone stared, jaws hitting the floor, their faces a perfect mix of confusion and disbelief. Baruss blinked rapidly before speaking up, his voice full of hesitation. "Hey, whose underwear is this?" he asked, already bracing himself for the awkward truth.
The beast, seemingly unbothered, pointed to itself with a single claw, causing the group to freeze in utter silence. For a moment, time seemed to stand still.
Then Rai, with his usual comedic timing, broke the silence. "There is no way in hell this is gonna fit you," he said, a teasing grin spreading across his face.
To everyone's horror—and bafflement—the beast proceeded to put on the red underwear to prove that it was indeed its own. The group's eyes nearly popped out of their heads as they watched in stunned silence.
"That... is beyond elastic," Rose quipped, unable to hold back her disbelief.
Baruss, trying to keep his composure despite the absurdity of the situation, shrugged. "You know what, that's a nice look on you... keep that red underwear on while we beat your ass." He gave the beast a mock thumbs-up, clearly making light of the ridiculousness of it all.
The group exchanged wide-eyed looks, wondering how their battle had taken such a bizarre turn.
The beast let out a deep, rumbling chuckle, its snarling grin bared wide. The shift in its demeanor was immediate—what had been a bizarre moment just seconds ago turned into a deadly serious confrontation. With a swift, mighty punch to the ground, the beast caused the earth to tremble beneath them, sending shockwaves that threw the group off balance.
Before they could recover, the beast opened its massive maw, unleashing a torrent of black fire from its throat. The flames crackled with an eerie energy, consuming everything in their path.
Rose, eyes narrowing, quickly fired a powerful beam of fire from her hands, matching the beast's attack. The two streams of fire collided mid-air, creating an explosion that rocked the battlefield. The force of the blast sent all four of them careening backward, crashing into the nearby wall with a violent impact.
As Rai slowly picked himself up, still groaning from the impact, he weakly asked, "What the hell was that?" His voice barely audible through the daze.
Rose, groaning as she rose to her feet, replied in a similarly weakened tone, "That was Abyssflame."
Gale, shaking off the rubble, squinted at her and asked, "What's that?"
Baruss, trying to sound serious, answered with exaggerated confidence, "It's flames from the Abyss," while giving a cartoonish, overly solemn look to the others.
The group blinked in unison, staring at Baruss with unamused expressions.
Rose, ignoring Baruss's odd display, clarified, "Yeah, those are the flames of hell itself, said to be able to burn everything in its path."
Rai grinned, finding his footing and steadying himself. "Sick. This is getting more interesting by the second."
However, despite the excitement, a fleeting thought gnawed at the back of his mind. Kromus had told him these beasts were supposed to lack intelligence, but the battle so far was proving the complete opposite. Rai furrowed his brow in confusion, silently thinking, what's going on here?