Chapter 26: Lucas and Agrona
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, feeling the cool sea breeze caress my face as I stood on the expansive balcony of my luxurious new mansion. As I opened my eyes, I was greeted by the stunning sight of the glittering blue ocean stretching out before me, framed by the rugged cliffs and verdant greenery that surrounded my hilltop abode.
From my vantage point, I could see for miles in every direction, taking in the undulating waves crashing against the rocky shore, the endless expanse of the sky stretching overhead, and the lush tropical forests that blanketed the hillsides in the distance. The sound of seagulls and crashing waves mingled together, creating a soothing melody that transported me to a world of pure tranquility.
The money I used to purchase this new mansion came from my successful investments in various businesses. I had carefully analyzed market trends, assessed potential risks and rewards, and made informed decisions. Finally, my hard work and strategic thinking had paid off, and I was now the proud owner of a luxurious home that sat atop of a hill.
As I relaxed and sipped my tea, the very fabric of reality itself around me began to shake. The purple particles that make up a particular law of the world began to condense, causing the mansion to shake. Despite the phenomenon, I remained calm and still continued to drink my tea.
As the shaking intensified, I could feel the vibrations reverberating throughout the mansion. The sound of the chandelier's crystals clinking against each other filled the room, adding to the chaotic scene. Finally, the purple particles formed into a silhouette of a humanoid figure, its aura radiating a divine glow.
The very embodiment of Fate itself asked. "Misfit, I have come in response to your summons. What did you wish to talk about?"
"Nothing much... I wished for some confirmation if there is a stage above white core." I replied with a calm tone.
Fate nodded its head slowly, its eyes gleaming with understanding. "Ah, I see. Your assumption would be correct. The one's called the Ancient Mages or Djinns have achieved a stage known as the Integration Stage. They have transcended the limitations of the physical realm and are able to merge with the mana that permeates all things. They are capable of wielding magic that is beyond the comprehension of most mortals,"
"Thank you for confirming my suspicions, Fate," I said. "Is there anything else you can tell me about the Integration Stage?"
Fate regarded me with a solemn expression. "It requires immense dedication, sacrifice, and a deep understanding of the nature of mana. Few have ever achieved it, and those that have are considered to be the greatest mages in history. But considering your ability to defy the laws of the world, I have a feeling you will be able to achieve it very quickly."
And with those words, the divine figure dissipated into the purple particles that formed it, leaving me alone once more in the luxurious living room. I took another sip of my tea, thinking of ways to achieve that power.
...
And so, the days passed as I experimented on different processes. As I delved deeper into mana, I discovered that the key to achieving the Integration Stage was to compress the mana in my core to an unprecedented level.
With that discovery, I spent a few hours every day to compress my mana core to its absolute limits. As I practiced, I could feel my mana core expanding and contracting, gradually becoming denser and more concentrated. I could sense the power within me growing stronger with each passing day.
Finally, on the fourth day of my vacation, I felt a surge of energy within me. It was as if a barrier had been broken, and my mana core had reached an unprecedented level of density. I could feel the power within me growing stronger, and I knew that I had achieved the Integration Stage.
*Claire Bladeheart PoV*
Humility. Loyalty. Resoluteness. Courage.
These words had been instilled in me before I even understood what they meant. These were the four qualities necessary to have a heart as sharp as a sword. This was the creed of the Bladeheart family.
Ignorant as I was as a child, I had truly believed I would be able to follow this sacred doctrine upon which my family was built, no matter what the circumstances.
How truly ignorant I was.
This was the thought that clawed at my mind, making my heart ache as I stood helplessly watching—simply watching.
Simply watching as Theodore was beaten and burned into an unrecognizable state. Simply watching as Elijah, despite being unaided, fearlessly tried to defy a figure so powerful I could only submit and hope—hope that I'd somehow make it out alive.
Even with my eyes fixed on the scene, I had trouble registering what exactly was occurring, much less believing it to be real.
What all the student mages here could not hope to do, what all the professors had failed to accomplish, Elijah, single-handedly, had achieved.
I had never considered him anything more than Arthur's silly friend. He had given me the impression of being easy-going, almost ditzy at times, but not at that moment. After he had cursed aloud at Lucas, his demeanor had shifted and become unrecognizable.
As thoughtless and downright mad as he may have been, Elijah displayed the courage and strength that I couldn't.
As if his enraged cry had released his soul, Elijah's body seemed almost lifeless. His shoulders slumped and his head was hunched forward. I looked away when a sudden blast of black metallic spikes shot out of the ground. I thought he had already died; then I realized it wasn't Draneeve or any of his henchmen who had invoked the mysterious spell.
Elijah had cast it.
The spell he had used was unusual, almost unnatural, but it was when he placed his palm on the surface of the barrier—when a black flame-magic began coiling around his hand, melting the transparent barrier as if it were butter—that a cold chill ran down my spine.
Seeing that mysterious magic so easily destroy something that not even all the professors combined had been able to scratch, I felt hope. Maybe he would be able to end this.
In that moment, alongside that feeling of hope, I felt an almost tangible contempt for myself.
I looked down and realized my hand had unconsciously gripped the hilt of my sword. I scoffed at myself. What use was this sword of mine if fear rendered me unable to even take a step forward?
Looking back up, I fixed my eyes on Elijah. He swayed as he walked, staggering drunkenly, as if he wasn't really in control of himself. Anyone who tried to oppose him was intercepted by a black spike. The speed at which each spell was cast shouldn't have been possible. They couldn't even be called spells, but more of an automatic defense mechanism.I had never heard of anything like this before, much less seen with my own eyes a magic so unnatural, so sinister—so evil.
But most confusing of all was how Draneeve was behaving toward Elijah. Elijah was killing his mana beasts left and right; he had already killed three of the robed underlings. Draneeve should have been angry—downright furious at him for thwarting his plans—but instead he looked… afraid.
I was only able to make out bits of Draneeve's words to Elijah, who was simply ignoring the mastermind of this disaster and making his way toward Lucas.
Draneeve kept repeating that he "didn't know." I also thought I heard him refer to Elijah as "sir"—but no, that couldn't be right.
When his attempts to distract Elijah proved futile, Draneeve started barking orders at his robed lackeys, telling them not to lay a hand on Elijah. It was a strange sight—our fellow student was trying to kill Draneeve's allies yet he was ordering them not to fight back.The other students were baffled, not quite sure what to make of all this. Some were voicing their doubts as to whether he was actually on our side, perhaps suspecting that Elijah was in league with Draneeve. But then he collapsed on the ground, his final attempt at killing Lucas ultimately unsuccessful.
At first, Elijah's sudden outrage, and his display of cryptic powers, had left us too shocked to move. Then some of the professors composed themselves enough to realize that the fracture Elijah had made in the barrier gave us a chance to fight back.
This thought had already crossed my mind. I knew that with all the mana beasts either dead or badly injured, and Draneeve distracted by Elijah, now was the perfect opportunity to retaliate.
I knew this, yet my feet stayed nailed to the ground beneath me. I knew it, but I was still afraid…"Students, clear the way!" A small group of professors, led by a burly mage wielding a glowing staff, pressed through the crowd toward the hole in the barrier. The students shuffled out of the way without protest. For many, the images of Doradrea's severed head and Theodore's lifeless body were burnt in their minds, leaving them too discouraged to join in the battle. But some students still gathered the courage to try and join the professors.
Clive was one of them. I spotted him rushing forward, his hands already wielding his bow and arrow, but a professor in the back stopped him and turned him away.
"Fools," I whispered under my breath. It was still hopeless. Did the professors think they could now somehow beat Draneeve? They should know better than us. Was it their sense of duty that was driving them to their deaths like this? Or was it their pride, preventing them from being rational?
'Was being courageous akin to dying a fool's death? Was that what the Bladeheart creed demanded of me?'
Kathyln must've heard me. She turned to me, her eyes red and lips quivering, hoping for an answer.
But I didn't have one. I knew my limits. I knew only a fraction of what my enemies were capable of, and even that was enough to rob me of the confidence to unsheathe my sword.
It was like a scene from one of the stories my mother had often read to me before sending me to bed. I watched as the professors marched toward the breach in the barrier, like heroes on an expedition to save the princess from the evil magician.
I could see the burly battle mage, whose class I had taken last semester, in the lead. Behind him was the spell formations professor who taught underclassmen. Following a few steps behind was a professor I didn't recognize, with a crooked wooden staff, then Professor Glory. She caught my eye and gave me a firm, solemn nod before taking a second sword from her dimension ring.
The look she gave me sent chills down my spine. It was one I had never actually seen before, but I instinctively knew it was the look of someone accepting her death.
The Bladeheart creed clawed its way up into my mind.
Humility. Loyalty. Resoluteness. Courage.
Damn it.
A mixture of emotions rose within me: frustration for lacking the resolve and loyalty a Bladeheart should display for her academy; shame at lacking the courage to fight alongside them; and disgust at my pride for being ignorant enough to believe I had what it took to be a leader of the disciplinary committee… to be a Bladeheart.
I shook my head, hoping to clear my dark thoughts. Living through this would give me another chance to redeem myself, would it not? I couldn't be courageous, loyal, resolute, and humble if I was dead.
I turned my attention back to Draneeve, who had kneeled next to Elijah. He seemed to be checking for signs that Elijah was still alive—carefully, almost tenderly, like a royal attendant would for his king. Our professors, prized throughout the entire continent for their skill as mages, were summarily ignored while he barked out orders to his subordinates.
Finally Draneeve rose, carrying Elijah's limp body in his arms, and began walking toward the back of the stone platform. Several robed men were there, fumbling with what looked like an oddly-shaped anvil.
"Lukiyah. Change of plans. You will take care of the fools approaching, and dispose of this—" He glanced down at the captured students, his eyes stopping at our student council president, and finished, "—trash. I will be heading back first. I expect you to follow us through the gate promptly." The pompous expression Draneeve had once worn was nowhere to be seen.
"Why are you bringing that along wi—" Lucas's question ended in a gasp as his eyes bulged out. The arrogance on his face was gone in an instant as he crumpled to his knees, sweat dripping down his face.
"You are but a mere tool. You will do as I say, no questions asked. If you display this sort of ignorance again, there will be consequences." Draneeve's voice was commanding and sharp, different from how it had been when he'd first revealed himself.
Lucas struggled to remain calm, and he clawed at his heart until Draneeve kicked him, toppling him over onto his side.
"Say it!" he growled.
Even from here, I could see Lucas's jaw clench angrily, but he convulsed and repeated through gritted teeth, "I—am—but—a mere—tool."
"It is ready, my lord," announced one of the robed mages near the anvil.
Draneeve snorted derisively, then walked away, leaving Lucas heaving, trying to compose himself before getting up.
We all just stood there watching. Even the professors, brave enough to march toward the figure so powerful that he played with a disciplinary committee member like he was a ragdoll, seemed stunned that he had crumpled a mage to his knees with just a thought.
Professor Glory was the first to realize that something was amiss. She pointed toward Draneeve, who was heading for the now-glowing anvil, and cried out, "We can't let him leave!"
The four professors rushed for the hole in the barrier, but a pillar of fire as thick as a grown man's torso shot up in front of them.
Lucas's face was still lined with pain as he looked at the four professors. The desperate expression on his face was gone, though, and he walked confidently toward them, conjuring a second pillar of flame with his other hand.
It was already too late. Draneeve and a group of his robed lackeys had vanished, taking Elijah with them and leaving behind the glowing anvil-shaped object.
"Lucas! How dare a student of this academy be involved in such acts of terrorism?" Professor Glory roared, imbuing mana into both of her swords. The rest of the professors also raised their weapons, the burly battle mage already muttering a spell.
A manic grin spread across Lucas's face and he started cackling, sounding more like a rabid animal than a man. "How dare I? You think you are anywhere near the level I am at now? How dare you! How dare you speak to me as if you are my equal? You are merely bugs that need to be squashed." As Lucas spoke, the mana around him began swirling even faster, and dark veins appeared on his thin, gray arms.
Thus the fight began. The glimmer of hope I'd had, now that Draneeve had disappeared, faded as I watched my professors being tossed around. The spells Lucas used weren't special, but the amount of mana he exhibited and the control he demonstrated was truly terrifying.
It was a basic principle of multicasting that each spell used in conjunction with another would be weaker and harder to control. Even casting two spells at once meant essentially splitting your consciousness, since you had to mold and manipulate the mana differently. A few professors were rumored to be able to cast four spells, but even Professor Glory could only initiate three spells in such a high-pressure situation.
Yet Lucas was easily casting six spells. He was surrounded by a flaming sphere that shielded him from any of the professors' magic, and four offensive spells had already knocked out the spell formations professor. A six-foot flaming knight was fighting with Professor Glory—who stood as the vanguard—and keeping her from protecting her teammates. It was astonishing to watch as Lucas easily and cruelly overwhelmed the combined efforts of four professors.
"What are we standing here for? We need to help them!" Curtis's voice stirred me from my daze. His clear eyes, filled with rage and impatience, peered deep into me.
He was right; it was my duty.
I was the leader of the disciplinary committee.
I shifted my gaze to the bell tower, to Feyrith and Tessia, and the other captured students. I saw Theodore; he might still be alive. We could still save him if we acted now.Lucas was occupied with the professors, and only a few of the robed lackeys had stayed behind. It was my duty. Yet why couldn't I move? Was my body so deeply entangled in the vine of fear?
Then a pained cry drew my attention.
It was Professor Glory.
She was lying on the ground, grasping at her side as a puddle of blood slowly spread beneath her.
I remembered how she had looked at me before crossing the barrier: Her eyes had told me she knew she could die, but it wasn't a look of resignation; rather one of determination. She was definitely afraid, but she was doing what she could in hopes of giving the other students here a chance to live.
"You're right." I tore through the shackles that had bound me to that spot and took a step forward. Unsheathing my sword, I locked eyes with Curtis as he leapt atop Grawder. He gave me a firm nod, his eyes reflecting the same determination that Professor Glory had shown.Before going through the barrier, I looked for Clive and a few other students who I knew would be capable enough to be of assistance.
The rogue mages who had blocked our escape had already gone through to aid Lucas, so with the two Glayder siblings riding on Grawder and Clive beside me, we chased after them.
"Don't!" Professor Glory had barely managed to croak the words, her eyes wide in fear, before we were attacked. These figures were somehow completely covered under their robes—even their faces hidden by unnatural shadows. I blocked an earthen spike with my blade just as another enemy slammed into me from behind, knocking me down.
As I rolled away, I lashed out at the robed man with my sword, slicing him where his throat should be. And I felt it—the sensation of my blade on flesh. Yet the man neither stopped nor recoiled. His gray hands reached out for me, mana surrounding them.
Just then, Curtis's bond tackled him from the side, knocking him away. Kathyln cast a spell to immobilize the enemy, then asked, "Are you okay, Claire?" as she extended a hand to help me up.
Before I could answer, I heard a shrill howl from where the professors were fighting Lucas. It was the large battle mage who had led the charge of professors. The flame guardian Lucas had conjured was gripping his throat, holding him suspended in midair. His neck was steaming, and the smell of burnt skin filled the air.
Despite his large frame and muscular arms, the burly mage struggled to free himself. His screams became more and more hoarse, eventually being reduced to throaty gasps. He kicked and thrashed wildly at the fiery knight Lucas had summoned. I knew I would never forget the look on his face as his body fell limp.
I tore my eyes away when the professor's body caught fire, burning through his clothes and skin as he was cooked alive for everyone to see.
I had to push away my desire to run. Had I made the wrong choice? I knew that professor. I remembered him showing me a picture he had taken with his three-year-old daughter. I had told him it was a waste of money—getting a portrait would've been much cheaper—but he had just grinned stupidly, cradling the picture as if it were actually his child.
What would happen to his family now?
I felt the urge to vomit, but I was able to hold firm. Still, I was dazed enough to almost be struck squarely in the chest when another robed man launched a fireball at me. I barely managed to parry the spell.
It was chaos. The professors who weren't fighting against Lucas were trying their best to lead the remaining students away from the area. Over by the bell tower, Clive was lifting Tessia from the ground, but then was knocked away by one of the injured mana beasts. The few other students I'd brought with me from Professor Glory's class were doing their best against the five remaining robed mages.
To my right were the three surviving professors, including Professor Glory. She was badly injured, her bloody right hand pressed against her side, her free hand barely able to hold onto her sword. About a dozen yards away, Lucas stood at the center of a storm of spells, seemingly untouchable.
Gritting my teeth, I ran toward Clive. I knew what Professor Glory would have wanted me to do. I had to save the students while the professors were keeping Lucas busy, but before I could even take a step forward, an invisible force slammed into me, causing me to fall to my knees.
As I looked around, I saw that everyone, including the attackers, had also fallen to their knees. The pressure was immense, as if the very air around us was crushing us with its weight. It was then that I noticed that the clouds above had turned a sickly shade of purple, and bolts of lightning were striking the ground with an intensity that felt like the end of the world.
I looked up and saw a purple vortex forming above us, its eye looking like an abyss. Out of it stepped a figure emanating an aura of darkness, power, and danger that surrounded their entire body. I wasn't able to see their face, only their eyes that glowed with the same eery purple as the lightning.
My heart raced with fear and anticipation, unsure of what was to come next. The battlefield was silent now, as all combatants knelt before the dark figure, waiting for its next move. It was clear that we were all in grave danger, and that the fate of the academy rested on the outcome of this encounter.
The next moment, his aura scattered into the atmosphere, revealing his true form to be a very popular person within the academy.
Relief and nervousness washed over me as I recognized the figure as Professor Azathoth, the prince of Elenoir and the older brother of Tessia. I knew that Professor Azathoth was not to be trifled with. His power was immense, and he was admired by many. But seeing him now, in the midst of the chaos, I felt a glimmer of hope. Perhaps he could help us turn the tide of this battle. Yet, despite this, I only felt fear and apprehension at that moment.
It was clear that Professor Azathoth was not here to offer his help, but rather to take control of the situation.
*3rd Person PoV*
'What is this pressure I feel!? How is it so powerful that even I kneel before it!?' Kezess, the leader of the Indrath Clan and the current ruler of Epheotus, thought to himself as he experienced the pressure emitted by our dear protagonist.
At the same time…
'Who is the one emitting this bloodlust!? If I can have him on my side, I may be able to defeat Kezess once and for all.' Agrona, leader of the Vritra Clan and ruler of Alacrya, thought, seeing the bloodlust as an opportunity to obtain a new ally against Kezess.
*Lucas Wykes PoV*
Staring down at the professors as they struggled to stand back up—the very mages that I strove to be like—it was clear to me that their lives were in my hands. With my newfound powers, these so-called "elites" were now nothing more than ants to me.
Amplified cognitive processing capabilities for higher levels of spell casting.
A nearly unlimited pool of mana for me to access and utilize.
Heightened reflexes, along with enhanced physical prowess and dexterity.
The elixir Draneeve had given me had fulfilled its purpose. Just as he had promised, it truly brought forth my full potential.
From an early age, it had been obvious that I was a gifted mage. However, my older brother Bairon outshone me, and my accomplishments had never satisfied my family's expectations. I had spent my childhood chasing after his insurmountable shadow, but no longer—now I had finally surpassed him.
Having easily wiped out the distinguished professors of this academy, I believed I had actually transcended the realm of mortals, incomparable to even the highest of human, elven, and dwarven mages.
So why did I suddenly like an icy claw had gripped my innards, twisting and freezing my insides?
The palpable pressure in the air seemed to make the force of gravity in the vicinity stronger as he approached.
Beads of cold sweat began forming, seeping into my clothes. I instinctively took a step back.
Was I afraid?
That was impossible. With my newfound powers, I was invincible. I was all-powerful. I was perfect.
"Welcome to the party, Professor Azathoth. You're just in time," I jeered, satisfied with the calm timbre of my voice.
He said nothing, just continued walking toward me at a deliberately slow pace.
He said nothing, just continued walking toward me at a deliberately slow pace.
His steps never faltered, never swayed, as he approached the bell tower.
The field was deathly silent. Even the senseless mana beasts that Draneeve controlled instinctively knew to prostrate themselves in submission.
"Look around you. All this—it was done by me! Those professors who were so highly regarded? I stepped on them like disease-ridden pests," I chuckled, taking a few steps toward the elven prince.
Unaffected by my taunts, he wordlessly made his way toward me.
Some of the students had already defeated Draneeve's minions; only a few mana beasts remained on my side. However, they were petrified with fear. As he got closer, it dawned on me… He wasn't even looking at me. His gaze had never been directed at me.
I was stunned. My feet stayed glued to the ground as he simply strode past, ignoring me and everyone else here.
How dare he! I could easily crush him right now; he should be pleading, begging for me to spare him and his friends. But instead, he had the audacity to treat me like I was invisible.
My clenched fists turned white.
Azathoth passed by everyone else, disregarding his dead or dying peers and colleagues, then kneeled down in front of the elf princess.
I knew exactly what to do, and my lips curled up into a smirk. Let's see him ignore this.
"She was crying for you, you know," I taunted.
No reaction.
"Oh sure, she stayed strong at first. That made it all the more satisfying to see her break down," I chuckled.
His shoulders twitched .
"You see, I wanted to play with your little elf princess some more, but Draneeve told me not to lay a hand on her. I was going to disobey at first but then an idea struck me—what better way to break you than to have you lie helplessly on the ground as you watch me cripple the girl you care for so much?" My laughter echoed throughout the academy as everyone watched, unable to muster up the courage to even utter a word.
My face twitched in rage as Azathoth wordlessly gazed at his little elf sister.
"Azathoth Eralith! You dare ignore me?" I roared. "You think you're so much better than me? Let me show you true power!I'll break every bone in your body so you can only cry helplessly as I desecrate Tessia right—"
The words caught in my throat as the ground underneath him abruptly splintered and crumpled like a sheet of paper, making me stumble.
I regained my balance and looked back up at him, whose back was still to me as he gently stroked the elf princess's head. I was suddenly hit with the same sensation as earlier—like the frigid, emotionless grip of a demon, twisting at my insides, wringing the air out of my lungs.
Air escaped my throat in choppy, shallow gasps, as if the wind had been knocked out of me.
I was unable to compose myself. I could feel my hands trembling. Then I realized it wasn't just my hands; my whole body shuddered uncontrollably from its very core.
What was happening to me? Why was I reacting this way toward some mere elf? He was no older than me, and I was more powerful than even the professors of this famed institution. It should have been impossible for him to be stronger than me, yet… what was this sense of—
He turned around.
I would never have thought something as simple as eye contact could be so terrifying, but then his currently eerie purple eyes, sharp as a knife, met mine, and the remaining air in my lungs was sucked out.
And suddenly, I realized what I had been feeling the entire time, the word to describe the emotions I couldn't grasp.
No! I refuse to admit this!
I ignored the inaudible scream of protest deep in my mind, the one that was begging me to flee, to escape in the opposite direction from him.
"Oh, am I finally worthy of your attention?" I spat mockingly, struggling to keep my voice from shaking.
"Lucas."
Azathoth should have been nothing more than a spoiled prince, while I had been born into the Wykes family, which birthed the most talented mages this continent had ever seen. Yet his voice rang with such authority that I almost kneeled on instinct.
"I thought of most beings as nothing more than ants unworthy of my attention," He continued with a chill edge to his voice as he moved toward me. "Unfortunately for you, I am not so kind enough to forgive an ant that dared to bite me." His emotionless eyes, empty and frozen, never broke contact with mine, and a tangible bloodlust gripped at my limbs like shackles. He was comparing me to an ant. No, he truly saw me as an ant. Yet any words of rebuttal or protest refused to leave my mouth.
Why…
It wasn't supposed to be like this. My powers should now be greater than his. So why was this happening? He was just a spoiled prince, a few months younger than me—how could he frighten me more than Draneeve did? How many millions of men and beasts had he murdered that he possessed such a suffocating, oppressive killing intent?
Even the very earth seemed heedful of him, and the balance of the floating city became unstable with each step he took.
My heart pounded harder and harder against my ribcage, as if it wanted to break out and escape. My vision blurred and cold beads of sweat rolled down my forehead and into my eyes.
Tearing my gaze away from Arthur, I focused on Tessia. There had been a barrier of darkness around the elf princess, leaving me no opening to make use of her.
As Azathoth silently advanced closer, I saw it. In his eyes was a raging tempest, hungry to create mayhem, just barely contained.
But I was Lucas Wykes, second-born of Otis Vayhur Wykes! Elite mages of Xyrus Academy had been brought to their knees by my overwhelming strength. Azathoth was nothing more than a spoiled prince— a prince of a kingdom who had to declare peace before they lost!
My mind snapped into a state of desperation and frenzy as I fought down the burning desire to run. Him, scare me? Never. I would rather die than plead for my life.
*Azathoth PoV*
Lucas was nothing more than an ant beneath me. His arrogance and thirst for power were mere annoyances that I could easily dispose of. But I had more important matters to attend to.
I turned my attention to my sister, Tessia. She had been kidnapped by Lucas, and I had come to rescue her. She was safe now, but she was traumatized, and it was my duty as her older brother to protect her
I healed her wounds and placed a protective barrier around her.
Suddenly, I sensed a surge of power from Lucas. It was feeble compared to mine. He was trying to taunt me, but it was futile. I could feel his fear and desperation, and I already knew that he was no match for me.
I turned to face him, and his eyes met mine. He was trembling, and I could sense his terror. It was almost amusing how easily I could intimidate him.
My eyes were still locked onto his, unblinking, and my grip on my magic intensified, my energy surging around me like a tempest. I felt the very earth tremble beneath my feet as I advanced towards him, and I knew that I was imposing my will upon everything around me.
"Lucas," I said, my voice cold and emotionless. "I thought of most beings as nothing more than ants unworthy of my attention. Unfortunately for you, I am not so kind enough to forgive an ant that dared to bite me."
I began to let my [Eyes of Absolute Destruction] ravage free, making it chaotic. With each step I took, the ground beneath me began to rupture, lightning struck the ground harder, and the very fabric of reality began to shake.
Lucas's eyes widened as he saw the destructive power I was unleashing. He tried to summon his own magic to defend himself, but it was useless against me.
In an instant, I appeared before him, slicing his fingers off from his body with a swift motion of my hand. He screamed in agony, and I could sense his fear and desperation intensifying.
"You have made a grave mistake," I said, my voice booming with authority. "You thought you could challenge me, but you have only sealed your own fate."
He fell to the vround on his back, with the only thing he could do was to watch as I slowly end his life.
I conjured a thin blade of mana on my fingertips, and swiftly severed his limbs with lightning fast speed.
"Arghh!!!" As his screams echoed through the air, I could sense the fear of his minions as they watched in horror at what was happening. They knew that they were powerless against me, and that their fate was also sealed.
"Do not worry, I will not let you die so easily." I said, my voice still cold.
I raised my hand, and a dark aura surrounded me, pulsing with power. I channeled my energy into Lucas's body, inflicting unbearable pain upon him. His screams grew louder, and his body convulsed uncontrollably.
"You will suffer for your arrogance and your foolishness," I said, my voice dripping with malice. "You will feel the pain of a thousand lifetimes, and your suffering will never end."
I continued to torture him, unleashing wave after wave of destruction magic upon him, but never letting him die nor be destroyed. His body was wracked with pain, and his screams echoed through the air. I could see the fear in the eyes of his minions, and I knew that they were trembling with terror.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, I ended his suffering. I pierced his chest, grabbing his source and shattering it.
His body began to dissipate along with the fragments of his source. With his source now destroyed, he will never reincarnate ever again.
I then turned my attention to his minions. And with a snap of my fingers, turned all of them into meat paste.
I watched as their bodies were crushed into nothingness, and their blood and bones scattered across the ground. They had been foolish to attack this academy, and they had paid the price for their idiocy.
The expression on both the students and teachers alike were that of both awe and terror.
Before I could leave, a tall muscular man landed before me. He possessed pale skin, platinum blonde hair combed to his left, and piercing green eyes. The man was none other than Lance Bairon Wykes, brother of Lucas, who I just killed. He immediately aimed a punch straight to my head.
I stood there, taking the punch head on.
As Bairon's fist collided with my head, I barely even flinched. The force of his punch was nothing compared to the power I possessed, and I could feel the impact reverberating through my body.
"You killed my brother," Bairon snarled, his eyes blazing with anger. "You will pay for what you have done."
I could sense the rage and grief that consumed him, and I knew that he was not going to back down easily. But I also knew that he was no match for me.
"I did what needed to be done," I said, my voice calm and measured. "Your brother was a fool who dared to harm my sister. I merely responded in due kind. But enough about your ant of a brother, let's talk about what you're doing... A lance attacking a future council member? Preposterous."
I grabbed his wrist on and broke it.
Lance let out a cry of pain as I broke his wrist with ease. But he did not falter. He came at me again, this time with a flurry of punches and kicks, but I easily dodged them all.
"I am a white core mage. Do you think you can defeat me, Azathoth?" he spat, his voice filled with anger and hatred.
"Did you really think that you were the only one who achieved white core stage between the two of us?" I said, smirking.
I blinked once, amplifying the wind caused by my blink to send Bairon flying.
He crashed into the wall, leaving a large dent as he fell to the ground, groaning in pain. I approached him, my eyes still glowing purple.
"You are no match for me," I said, my voice cold and unforgiving. "I suggest you surrender now, before I decide to finish what I started with your brother."
"I think you should stop right there, Prince Azathoth." Lance Varay Aurae said, as she trapped both me and Bairon in ice.
"And why should I listen to you, Varay?" I said in a cold tone, breaking free from the ice with relative ease.
Varay stood her ground, her eyes blazing with determination. "Because if you don't, the council will have no choice but to strip you of your title and powers," she said, her voice firm.
I raised an eyebrow. "And what makes you think you have the authority to make such a decision?" I asked, my voice laced with sarcasm.
Varay remained unfazed. "I don't have the authority, but the council does," she said.
"Do you think my own parents, who make two out of the six council members who agree to that? Also, I just saved Prince Curtis and Princess Kathyln who are the son and daughter of the King and Queen of Sapin who make another two-sixths of the council members."
Varay hesitated for a moment, realizing that I had a point. "The council may not agree on stripping you of your title and powers, but they will certainly not tolerate such behavior from a future council member," she said firmly.
I sighed. "I couldn't really care about the council, but very well, Varay. I will stand down for now," I said, my voice laced with annoyance. "Arthur, take care of Tess for me." I said to the auburn haired boy running towards me.
"Where are you going?" He asked, still confused about the situation.
"I will rescue Elijah back from the other continent"
Arthur looked at me for a moment, his expression thoughtful. "Do you need any help?" he asked finally.
I shook my head. "No, this is something I must do alone," I said firmly. "But I need you to watch over Tess. She's still in a coma, but she may wake up at any moment."
Arthur nodded. "I understand," he said. "But what about him? What are you going to do with him?"
I looked at Bairon, who was still groaning on the ground. "I'll leave him here for now," I said, my voice cold. "But if he tries anything, you should be able to take him down along with Varay if you use all your abilities."
Arthur nodded once again, understanding my instructions. I turned to leave, my mind already focused on the task at hand.
I walked away from everyone, and began spreading my mana across the entire planet. As I spread my mana across the lands, a looming darkness began to be felt by every being on the planet.
After a few seconds, I felt a familiar presence on the other continent. Successfully locating Elijah, I began to use my [Eyes of Absolute Destruction] to peer into his situation.
I saw that he was inside the throne room of a large castle within a very populated city. I continued to observe Elijah's surroundings, scanning for any potential threats or obstacles that may hinder my rescue mission. As I looked closer, I noticed multiple beings surrounding him, the one on the throne being the most powerful.
The man had smooth skin and a sharp jaw. He has vibrantly scarlet eyes and massive horns sprouting from the sides of his black hair like an elk's antlers, except shiny and black, each coming to a spear-sharp point. His horns have several gold and silver rings wrapped around the many prongs, and bejeweled chains also trace the lines of the horns.
I narrowed my eyes, recognizing the man as Agrona Vritra, Sylvia's former fiancé and the one responsible for her injuries when I found her.
Sighing, I deactivated my clairvoyance and began to use my [Eyes of Absolute Destruction] to create a rift in space-time that would allow me to get there.
As I focused my energy and concentrated on creating the rift, the air around me began to crackle with electricity. The ground shook beneath my feet, and the very fabric of space-time seemed to warp and twist.
With a final surge of power, I ripped the fabric of space-time wide open, creating a rift. The rift shimmered and glowed with blinding dark colors.
I stepped through it and found myself standing in the center of the throne room, my coat billowing around me in the gust of air created by my arrival. The beings around me turned to face me, their expressions ranging from shock to fear.
I kept my gaze fixed on Agrona Vritra, who was now standing from his throne. "Who are you?" His voice, laced with caution and curiosity
I didn't answer his question, instead, I spoke with a calm but authoritative tone. "I am here for Elijah. Give him to me, before I burn this continent to dust."
Agrona Vritra's eyes widened in surprise, followed by a deep chuckle. "And what makes you think a lesser like yourself would have enough power to order me?"
I met his gaze without flinching. "Because I do. And do not worry, I will not be dealing with you, she will. Sylvia!"
At my command, a woman with pitch black hair and bright red eyes stepped out from my shadow. The woman was none other than Sylvia,
"How!? You're supposed to be dead!" Agrona said in shock, as he took a step towards Sylvia.
But before he could take another step, Sylvia used her [Eyes of Destruction] to paralyze everyone in the room except for me.
"You dare speak to me after what you did?" she spat, her voice trembling with anger. "You will pay for what you've done, Agrona. You will pay dearly."
As Sylvia leaped towards Agrona, a black sword materialized in her hand. With a swift movement, she swung the sword towards him. But Agrona was quick, he managed to dodge her attack and counter with a blast of pure mana.
Leaving Sylvia to her revenge, I walk towards Elijah, killing every single Alacryian I walked past. Before I could reach Elijah however, I saw the face of a particular Alacryian.
"Ah... You must be Cadell. You were the one who killed Sylvia before I resurrected her, correct?" I said, before paralyzing him completely, as well as destroying his mana core.
I finally reached the unconscious Elijah, and used [Gatom] to teleport him back to the academy.
When I looked back at Sylvia, she already had Agrona pinned to the ground using [Zora e Dypt].
I approached Sylvia and Agrona, who was struggling against the powerful spell. "Are you done?" I asked, looking at Sylvia.
"I'm not, my liege," she replied, her eyes fixed on Agrona. "But I will be soon."
I nodded and took a step back, giving Sylvia some space to finish Agrona off. As she continued to cast her spell, I watched as Agrona's struggles grew weaker and weaker. Eventually, he stopped moving altogether, his body going limp.
With a final strike, Sylvia enchanted her sword with [Bebesd], piercing Agrona's source and destroying it, making sure he doesn't survive.
Sylvia stood up, wiping the blood off her sword with a cloth. She turned to me and nodded in acknowledgement. "Thank you for your help," she said.
I nodded back, "Your "father" may attack us, due to our power being a threat to his rule. And considering his track record, he will do so. So, I propose we strike preemptively so we don't have to deal with him later."
Sylvia's eyes narrowed in agreement. "You're right, my liege. It's better to take action now than to wait for him to strike first. He must pay for his genocide on the innocent Djinn race."
"Personally, I couldn't care less about his genocide. I've done things much worse. I just want to get this over with, and not have to deal with this later on."
Sylvia nodded, understanding my perspective. "I see. Regardless, we must act swiftly and decisively." She sheathed her sword and looked at me. "What do you suggest we do?"
"Simple. We go to Epheotus and charge head on and eliminate anyone who stands in our way." I said, matter-of-factly.
"Right now?"
"Yes, right now. I prefer to get this over with as soon as possible." I replied.
Sylvia nodded, "I understand. Let's go then. I'll follow your lead."
With that, I opened a rift to right outside Kezess' palace, ready to eliminate him and deal with the aftermath later.
Weekly Power Status
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