Chapter 12: "Secrets of Power"
Hassan woke up early to the sound of whistles signaling the students to start a new day at the "Sacred Temple." He felt an internal tension, not just because of the daily challenges, but also due to the recent warnings about the abnormal activities that had appeared on the outskirts of the city. The sky was slightly overcast, which heightened his emotions.
In the lecture hall, the students gathered to hear the warnings from the instructors. One of them, the defensive magic instructor, spoke in a serious tone about the dark creatures that had been seen gathering near the city's borders. "We must be prepared. We know that the threats in the past were not mere illusions. Therefore, all of you must double your training efforts."
Hassan exchanged glances with Ivan and Mirai, and he knew they would need to enhance their skills in both defense and offense. After the lecture, Hassan decided to focus more on developing his mana control skills.
The training began in the temple's courtyard, where the students were divided into groups. Each group underwent rigorous training. Hassan decided to challenge himself further, so he asked one of the instructors for help in enhancing his mana flow.
After hours of intense training, Hassan decided to retreat to a quiet spot in the nearby forest. He sat on the ground, closed his eyes, and focused on his inner energy. With each breath, he started to feel the flow of energy increasing in his body. After a series of repeated attempts, he finally managed to break through the fourth circle. A never-before-felt sense of power overwhelmed him, as though he held the entire world in the palm of his hand.
"I did it!" he whispered to himself, feeling refreshed.
While Hassan was in the forest, he decided to take a walk to explore the surroundings. He noticed unfamiliar traces on the ground, as if creatures had passed through here. An eerie magical aura filled the air, making him sense that something unnatural was occurring.
"What is going on here?" he wondered aloud.
He returned to the temple to tell Ivan and Mirai what he had seen. The three of them were excited about the discovery, which led them to ask the instructors for permission to go on a short mission to explore the forest.
After receiving permission to head into the forest with his friends, the instructors had prepared a new challenge for the students. It was an exercise in a controlled environment, where they had to protect a small tower from attacks by simulated dark creatures.
"This is our time to shine!" Hassan said as he prepared with Ivan and Mirai.
With the start of the challenge, a warning whistle sounded, and the dark creatures surged from all directions. The monsters appeared from between the trees, creatures with glowing red eyes, sharp fangs, and wide wings. Battle cries filled the air as the instructors cheered the students on from afar.
"Protect the tower!" Ivan shouted, as he began casting barrier spells to protect his teammates. Hassan prepared to face the enemies.
Hassan used his newly gained mana power, which enabled him to release powerful magical energies. He fired glowing fireballs at the creatures, causing fiery explosions to erupt in the forest. Magic filled the air, and the wind carried the scent of smoke.
While Ivan defended using barrier magic, Mirai weakened the enemies from a distance with spells that destabilized them. She was gathering her mana and using her energy to release blue flames that trapped the enemies in place.
"Come on, let's combine our mana power!" Hassan shouted, directing his energy towards his teammates. They all gathered together and began to cast a joint spell.
A brilliant light gathered around them, and the magical energy exploded like a storm, pushing the creatures back. But the challenge was far from over.
Among the creatures, a larger monster emerged, with dark wings and eyes radiating malice. It seemed to be the leader of the beasts, emitting shrill cries that signaled danger. It advanced toward the tower, threatening to destroy it.
"No! We must protect the tower!" Hassan shouted, feeling a new strength building inside him.
A fierce battle broke out, with Hassan using everything he had learned to confront the creature. He launched fireballs, but the creature easily dodged them.
"Ivan, Mirai, let's use the fusion spell!" Hassan said, his face now serious.
The three of them collaborated once more, gathering their energies into one powerful spell. They unleashed a combined magic blast at the creature, which attempted to attack them, but the spell was so powerful that it stopped the creature in its tracks.
With a final effort, Hassan launched a devastating spell, resulting in a massive explosion that sent the creature crashing to the ground. Silence followed for a moment, before the students' victory cries filled the air.
"We did it!" Ivan and Mirai celebrated as the other creatures fell in the wake of their defeat.
One of the instructors overseeing the challenge approached with a smile, "Well done," then scribbled some notes in his notebook before turning and leaving.
The rest of the students also completed the challenge, some succeeding easily, some struggling, and others either surrendering or being defeated.
After the test was over, the instructors gathered to discuss the results. They encouraged the students to continue developing their skills. "Well done, you deserve a warm round of applause," said one of the instructors. However, one of the instructors' expressions suddenly changed.
"Listen, although you have all become a little stronger, you must not be complacent with your power. There is always someone higher than you, whether in status or even strength," he continued. "We are preparing you now to become great masters, your star will shine across the entire continent. So do not slack off, and continue at this level or even push further."
At that moment, Hassan realized something: his path was still at the beginning, and he had to be determined not to give up and fall into despair, regardless of how long it would take to achieve his dream.
Thus, the day filled with excitement came to an end for our hero and his friends, but... in the depths of the pitch-black night, a mysterious figure watched the temple from afar, her dangerous gaze reflecting hatred and loathing toward the people of the Empire of the Sunset. Most of her attention and focus, however, was directed at the Sacred Temple, as if she harbored an unquenchable grudge against it.
To be continued...