Nathan Evenhart:
A massive blast of fire struck with devastating force, consuming everything in its path.
The Dark Elf was engulfed in flas, letting out agonized screams as he stumbled away, desperately trying to escape the searing heat.
I looked down at my own body—and to my surprise, even amidst the fire, the flas did not harm .
I recognized who had saved .
Forcing myself up, despite the throbbing pain of my injuries, I lifted my gaze.
Above us, at the edge of the hole we had fallen through, a red dragon lood, its flaming eyes locked onto us.
"ROOOAR!"
The thunderous roar echoed through the cavern, and Cylla descended, landing directly in front of .
A sharp, tallic taste of blood filled my mouth as I coughed, spitting out a large amount. My body, pushed to the absolute limit, finally buckled under exhaustion.
"Beloved, are you alright?" Cylla asked, not turning her gaze away, her eyes fixed on the Dark Elf.
"I'm fine. Don't worry."
With effort, I called the Cursed Blade back into my hand.
The Dark Elf was crouched, grunting in pain. Yet, even then, I could see his wounds slowly healing—though Cylla’s flas had dealt far greater damage than any of my spells.
"You..." he rasped, spitting blood—a darker shade than any human’s. Parts of his body were severely burned, his charred flesh gleaming in blackened hues. "You're a superior being. Why do you care for him? I thought, to your kind, we were nothing but vermin."
Cylla remained unshaken, her gaze unwavering.
"I am going to kill you," she said, her voice dripping with pure hatred.
The Dark Elf didn’t seem to understand her words. To him, it had only sounded like a roar.
"Still so young, it seems..." he muttered. "You're not as big as you should be. Does your kind know you're interfering?"
He raised his hand, enveloping it in pulsing darkness and violet light.
"I don’t know what’s happening here... but if I bring your head to my masters..." His crimson eyes burned with intent. "They will be very pleased."
Without warning, he charged, dashing toward Cylla.
She unleashed a torrent of fire, but he dodged with incredible agility, floating effortlessly through the air.
I channeled thunder through my body, feeling the electricity surge through my muscles, and launched myself toward him with all my strength.
He turned, ready to counter my attack—
But before he could react, sothing unexpected happened.
From my eye, the Stone Maiden erged, gripping him tightly.
"What—?"
His shock was evident as the two of them began plumting downward.
Cylla didn’t hesitate.
She unleashed another blast of fire, engulfing them both, as I summoned lightning, striking him from above.
From the ground, roots erupted, wrapping around the Dark Elf as he struggled to break free.
He managed to push the Stone Maiden away with a violent burst of strength—
But was imdiately struck by an earth-shaking impact.
From the sky, my Knight of Light descended with full force, slamming the Dark Elf into the ground with crushing power.
I charged forward, sending jets of water to pin him down even further.
My entire body crackled with energy, thunder surging through my veins as I closed the distance.
With a powerful leap, I lunged forward at full speed.
The Stone Maiden appeared beside —
Ready to strike.
The dark elf, with a burst of black energy, pushed the Knight of Light away, montarily freeing himself. But before he could do anything else, he took a crushing punch from the Stone Maiden, sending him flying backward.
Seizing the opening, I channeled the thunder’s energy through my body and shot toward him.
My attack struck him squarely, electricity surging through his body, causing violent spasms. He was sent flying back.
The dark elf scread in pain as I advanced, landing a direct punch to his face that made him stagger.
Without hesitation, Cylla spat fireballs in his direction, forcing him to retreat even further.
I took the opportunity and charged forward again. Before he could react, I delivered a powerful kick, slamming him against the cave wall.
With a swift motion, I hurled the Cursed Blade, spinning at high speed. It cut through the air before piercing him with force. The blade’s effect, however, didn’t seem to work against him, but that didn’t matter at that mont. My goal was to wound him, to weaken him.
The elf conjured a sword made of darkness, a pulsating purple glow running along its blade as if it were alive. Despite all my effort, he laughed, as if none of this ant anything to him.
I called the Cursed Blade back and charged, engaging in direct combat.
Our swords clashed with force, sparks dancing in the air with each strike. I reinforced my body with thunder, using its energy to keep up with his speed. Even so, every exchange of blows was a deadly challenge, my mind calculating every movent to avoid being defeated.
"Now!" I shouted.
Cylla unleashed a devastating jet of fire in our direction. The flas engulfed us, but while I remained unscathed, the dark elf scread in agony, his skin burning.
Seizing his distraction, I slamd him against the wall with a powerful thrust, pinning him down as Cylla’s fire consud him.
"Aaaahhhhh!" he scread, his voice echoing through the cave.
Without missing a beat, I landed a direct punch to his mouth, feeling the impact reverberate through my arm.
But then, the air around us shifted.
The density increased, and an oppressive darkness erged, swallowing everything. Before I could react, the darkness exploded, a wave of black energy hitting with overwhelming force.
The impact sent flying, my body crashing to the ground. A deep wound pulsed intensely on my side.
Suddenly, I felt myself being pulled. Cylla grabbed by the mouth and flew off, carrying away from the spreading black explosion.
I looked back as the cave trembled violently. The destruction was absolute. My golems had been obliterated, and a massive crater now scarred the ground.
At its center, the dark elf stood, his gaze fixed on us, a nearly tangible rage radiating from his eyes.
"We have to run, my beloved!" Cylla shouted, the concern evident in her voice.
"We can't! The professor is down there!"
Suddenly, we were struck by an invisible force. It felt like a giant hand pressing us down, forcing us into a rapid descent.
I gathered my energy and conjured a sea of roots, surging toward the elf. He had his hand raised, pointing directly at us, manipulating that gravitational power.
"Aspect of Ti!" I shouted, a searing pain stabbing through my eyes, making scream as blood dripped from them.
The world turned blue in an instant.
Even in frozen ti, he was still moving, but his magic had been deactivated, including the gravity that had been crushing us.
The pain in my eyes was unbearable. Activating the Celestial Aspect so soon after using the Special Eyes was taking its toll.
"Deactivate!"
Ti resud its flow, and I used the montum to propel myself toward where Beatrix had fallen.
Cylla kept attacking the elf, spitting bursts of fire and keeping him occupied.
I reached Beatrix and found her unconscious on the ground. Placing my hand on her neck, I felt a wave of relief upon confirming that she was still alive.
"We're getting out of here," I murmured to myself as I lifted her, securing her against my back.
I started running, ignoring the pain in my body.
Ahead of , the battle between Cylla and the dark elf raged on.
Cylla flew in circles, unleashing relentless waves of fire, while the elf dodged and counterattacked, conjuring black swords and trying to reach her midair.
The two clashed, their powers colliding like two storms refusing to give way.
As she roared and fought to protect us, I knew that every second counted. We had to escape before it was too late.
"Leave here!" Professor Beatrix said, her voice weak, her eyes barely able to stay open. "I have to hold him off."
I ignored her words, continuing to run with her on my back.
"But what about that drink you promised?" I tried to joke, forcing a light tone to ease the tension.
"You're an idiot..." she muttered despite her pain.
I focused all my energy and used a burst of speed.
"Aspect of Ti!" I said, feeling my only functioning vision begin to darken.
The world around turned blue once more. In frozen ti, the dark elf’s magic was deactivated. I saw his body begin to drop midair, the spell he had been about to cast on Cylla vanishing instantly.
I released ti, letting it flow again.
The elf was thrown back by Cylla’s fire blast, which struck him head-on and sent him crashing against the cave wall.
"We're doing it!" I told the professor, a sliver of hope flickering inside .
Cylla landed in front of us, her fierce gaze locked onto the enemy.
"This creature... is it what I think it is?" Beatrix asked, staring wide-eyed at the dragon.
"I’ll explain later," I replied as I jumped onto Cylla’s back with Beatrix still in my arms. "But she’s on our side."
Cylla began flapping her wings and took flight, but before we could gain enough altitude, an explosion resounded through the cave. A black blast struck the ceiling, causing debris to rain down.
"I didn’t tell you to leave!" The dark elf’s voice echoed, filled with fury.
I looked back and saw him surging toward us, flying at a terrifying speed.
"Aspect of Ti!" I called out again, trying to freeze ti, but… nothing happened.
The emptiness of my mana hit like a punch. I was drained.
A searing pain exploded in both my eyes, as if a muscle had been torn apart. I scread in agony, the burning sensation like molten needles piercing through them. I had damaged their mana channels.
When my vision cleared, I saw him.
The dark elf raised a black sword, the sa blade exuding an aura so vile, so intense, it felt like it was piercing my very soul.
I knew, with absolute certainty, that this strike would be fatal.
He lunged at , and the icy fear of death gripped my entire being.
But before he could reach , Cylla threw herself in the way.
The black blade pierced through her chest.
"AHHHHHH!" Cylla’s scream of pain reverberated through the cave.
"No!" I shouted, the desperation tearing apart from the inside.
Cylla lost control in the air, crashing against a wall before plumting to the ground with force. We were thrown down along with her.
The impact was brutal.
I hit the ground hard, feeling the air ripped from my lungs. Beatrix landed beside , motionless. Cylla was further ahead, her massive body battered and bleeding.
"Enough gas!" The dark elf’s voice reverberated.
Suddenly, the invisible force of gravity returned.
I was pressed against the ground with such intensity that I couldn't move a single muscle.
I looked toward Cylla, desperately searching for any sign that she was okay. But the blood pouring from her wound filled with terror.
She was whimpering in pain, her body trembling slightly as she struggled to breathe.
"Cylla…" I murmured, unable to do anything.
The gravity continued to crush , each second stretching into eternity.
The dark elf floated in the air, gazing down at us with a cruel smile, savoring every mont of our defeat.
"Cylla!" I tried to shout, but the gravity intensified, pressing further into the ground.
The dark elf pointed at Cylla, and the gravitational force slamd her against the ground with devastating power. She roared in agony, the sound tearing through the air, but she was powerless to break free.
This was just amusent for him. All this ti, he could have immobilized us whenever he wanted.
He slowly floated toward , stopping just in front of with that cruel grin still on his face before landing.
With the pressure keeping my entire body pinned, I couldn’t even turn my head to look at him. He placed his foot on my head and began to press down, forcing my face into the dirt.
"You… are such a nuisance…" he said, his voice dripping with contempt as he pressed harder, grinding my face into the ground.
Suddenly, the gravity vanished.
"Activating and deactivating the Aspect of Ti has been nothing but an annoyance!" he said with a cold laugh.
I seized the mont and tried to get up to attack him, but he was faster. He grabbed my wrist with a crushing grip and crushed my hand, breaking my fingers.
The pain was instant and excruciating. I tried to scream, but before I could, he seized my throat with his other hand, lifting into the air.
The grip was brutal. The pain was unbearable, and the world started fading into darkness around . All I could see were those glowing red eyes, radiating the pure malice of a Celestial Aspect.
I tried to strike him, to conjure any spell, to generate electricity and electrocute him… But my mana was nearly depleted. Nothing worked.
"ROOOAR!" Cylla roared in fury, trying to rise.
But the elf simply increased the gravitational pressure on her.
With a deafening crash, the ground beneath Cylla gave way, collapsing under the overwhelming force.
"Ahhh!" My breath grew even weaker, each attempt to inhale a futile struggle. I could feel life slowly slipping away from my body.
"It’s ti," he said, his voice icy. "Dying now or after the Great Lord arrives in this world makes no difference."
He tightened his grip on my neck even more as his other hand conjured that black sword—the sa cursed blade that had wounded Cylla.
"Once I’m done with you, I’ll kill that dragon."
Despair consud .
With the last ounce of strength I had left, I pulled a dagger from my storage bracelet and drove it into his neck.
But he didn’t even flinch.
"Goodbye…"
That was when a powerful gust of wind struck us.
He and I were thrown to the side, rolling across the ground until we ca to a stop.
Lifting my head, I saw Beatrix ahead, spinning her scythe at an incredible speed.
From the whirlwind created by its motion, razor-sharp wind slashes began to strike the dark elf, leaving deep gashes on his gray skin.
He tried to advance, but the cutting winds kept him trapped, every movent punished by new wounds.
Beatrix spun fully, her scythe glowing with concentrated power.
As she completed the motion, a massive, razor-sharp wind blast sliced through the air toward the elf.
The impact was devastating.
He was hurled backward, his body slamming into one of the cave walls.
Without hesitation, Beatrix launched another wind slash, this ti at the ceiling.
The cave’s structure began to tremble. Fragnts started falling, signaling its imminent collapse.
She didn’t stop. Her gaze was locked onto the elf, her body battered and exhausted, but her determination unshaken.
"Go, Nathan!" Beatrix shouted, her voice firm but weary.
I struggled to my feet, spitting blood, every movent a painful effort.
"I can't leave you here!" I protested, anguish clear in my voice.
"There’s no ti!" she responded urgently. "I’ll keep him busy and catch up with you later."
I tried to argue, but she gripped my shoulders firmly, her eyes filled with determination.
"There’s another being like him wandering the forest near the camp," she explained quickly. "I can't let the other students be in danger. Go! Take Princess Syvis and the others to the elevator and call for help!"
I hesitated, my heart torn.
"If you love these people, staying here will only put them at greater risk," she said with finality.
Before I could argue further, a powerful gust of wind blasted away.
I tumbled across the ground until I stopped, and then I heard the sound of the cave ceiling collapsing.
"I’ll see you around..." were the last words Beatrix said before the rocks crashed down between us, completely blocking the way back.
"Professor!" I tried to scream, but it was too late.
I was trapped on the other side, powerless. Even if I wanted to help her, there was no way. My mana was depleted, and I had no strength left to do anything.
The sound of battle echoed from the other side of the cave, but I could do nothing.
My heart clenched with every passing second.
Fighting against despair, I ran toward Cylla, who was lying in the crater where the dark elf’s gravity had crushed her. Blood was everywhere, the red stark against the surrounding darkness.
"Cylla!" I shouted, throwing myself into the hole and rushing to her.
Her eyes were half-closed, her breathing shallow.
I imdiately pulled a healing potion from my storage bracelet.
"No…" she said weakly. "You take it, my beloved."
"I need to help you!"
She lifted her head with difficulty, her eyes showing exhaustion but also concern for .
"It’s okay… this potion won’t make a difference for . I’m sure it won’t work," she said, but I ignored her words.
I poured so of the potion onto her wound anyway, watching the liquid trickle down her injured scales.
"You’re so stubborn…" she murmured, and then, against all odds, she began to rise.
"I have to get you out of here," she said, determined, despite her body trembling with pain.
Before I could say anything, Cylla grabbed with her mouth and began to fly.
In the air, I could hear her heavy breathing and the pained whimpers escaping between her muffled roars. The cave continued to tremble, and the echoes of battle still reverberated against the walls behind us.
Finally, she reached the surface.
Rain poured down in torrents, drenching the ground and making the atmosphere even darker.
Cylla landed with difficulty, nearly collapsing. She rolled to the side, exhausted, and to my surprise, her dragon form unraveled.
Now, before , stood her moon panther cub form.
I rushed to her, my heart tightening as I held her unconscious body in my arms.
Her wounds were still bleeding, and her breathing was weak.
"Cylla…" I murmured, cradling her carefully as pain consud . Her breathing was irregular, each breath a desperate struggle for air.
Cylla had fainted, and I could feel it—she was on the brink of death.
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