Eerie was a blur, closing the distance in a heartbeat. Her blade shimmered with deadly intent, descending toward King with enough force to cleave steel.
King's eyes narrowed, his mind calculating the trajectory in an instant. There was no time to evade-he was trying to protect his best friend, Joan, who was kneeling behind him, clutching the wound left by the blade Eerie had pierced him with.
Instead, King's muscles tensed, and the air around him thickened. The blade struck-but it didn't cut. A ripple pulsed outward as King's gravitational field absorbed the blow. The ground cracked beneath his feet, but the impact force muted, as if the blade had struck water instead of flesh.
Eerie snarled and struck again, faster this time. Each swing sent shockwaves rippling through the air, yet every blow slowed just before it reached him, as though an invisible hand was softening the force. King gritted his teeth, sweat trailing down his face.
His muscles burned as he maintained the field, the effort of redirecting energy taking its tolI. He couldn't attack, only defend, because he was afraid of Eerie going directly for Joan and finishing her prey. And for that, he was not going to let a single attack pass him. He stepped back, the strain visible in the twitch of his jaw, but his eyes burned with determination.
| "ls that all you've got? You can do better than that, no?" King growled, his voice steady despite the effort.
Eerie roared in frustration. unleashing a flurry of strikes. The ground shook, walls cracked, and dust filled the air. But King held his ground, determined to see this to the end-even if it meant laying down his life to protect his friend. Every blow was cushioned by the invisible barrier of his will and evolution.
| "Oh, come on, you're starting to break, aren't you?" Eerie smirked.
"I'Il have to give it to you-I didn't think Terrarians were capable of such feats." As Nova was about to reply
Boom
The ship the Empire's soldiers used as transport came crashing down, destroying the east wing of the Magnificent Sleveren Estate and killing several Empire soldiers and students trying to take cover. Nova froze as his gaze landed on the wreckage. His heart skipped a beat.
The figure from his dreams and visions walked out. Golden hair cascaded down her back, and long, elven ears pierced through her glowing strands. Nova's eyes widened. He froze. In that moment of hesitation, Eerie seized the opportunity. With blinding speed, she rushed forward. Nova couldn't muster his gravitational field in time, and- CRACK!
The hilt of her sword slammed into Nova's jaw, sending him to the ground. Overexerted, his body betrayed him, leaving him sprawled and helpless. Desperation clawed at him as he turned toward the shipwreck, hoping to glimpse the girl once more. But she was gone.
| "I thought l'd have to go all out for a brat like you." Eerie sneered, circling him like a predator.
"lt's such a shame to end talent like yours... but duty calls." Her blade crackled with Lumis, the chaotic energy of a far superior race.
This can't be... she's not Terrarian. Nova's mind reeled. Terrarians can't manipulate Lumis like that. The strike came faster than a lightning bolt. Nova closed his eyes, resigned. If I have to die to protect my friend, so be it. But when he opened his eyes, there was someone standing between him and the enemy. Blood poured uncontrollably from the figure's wounds.
| "No... no, no, no... NO!" Nova's scream cracked, his voice breaking as he recognized the lifeless figure.
"You've always protected me... it's my turn. Let me have this one." The smile on Joan's face broke Nova's heart. In that moment, memories surged-
The day they met.. Walking the corridors of the lower floor of the institution while looking out the window and at sky and remembering it to be dark like it was about to rain,when suddenly
Nova felt disdain as he watched everyone pass by like it was none of their business.
The words still echoed:
| "How is it possible for a Terrarian to look this ugly and fragile?"
"Maybe he's not even one of us. Maybe he's from the 4th continent."
As Joan was about to be hit again
something in Nova snapped that day.
Nova knew what it meant to be bullied; he knew what it meant not to belong or to be cast aside by the society you work and slave for. He left the bully unconscious, his leg broken and arms dislocated.
As he picked Joan up from floor and gave him an earful for not even trying to defend himself. From then, Joan followed Nova everywhere, and over time, Joan's companionship taught Nova to see himself as a true Terrarian.
And now Joan, the one he swore to protect, lay motionless on the ground. Joan's final whisper escaped his lips:
| "Please... just this once... protect him." Suddenly-
Eerie collapsed, completely knocked out. Nova's eyes darted up. Standing above Eerie was the girl from his dreams-the elven-like figure. Nova could barely breathe.
| "Can you stand? We need to leave. Now." Her voice was firm, commanding.
"But... Joan..." Nova mumbled, his voice trembling. His gaze remained locked on Joan's lifeless body.
"Do you want your friend's sacrifice to be in vain?" Her words were a blade cutting through his hesitation.
"If not, stand up and push forward. Let's go now, or you'll truly die." Nova staggered to his feet, but he couldn't stop the tears streaming down his face.
"What about my friends? What about Joan? I can't just leave!" Before he could protest further, she gripped his arm tightly
"What about your friends? If they can't handle something like this then it's better they die here because what's coming is a lot worst than this" she said and dragged him away.
To be Continued...