If we let them get the child...This war might be as good as over.
. . . . . . . .
Though the sound-shattering speed of the lance, it still proved laughably slow for Chalybe.
He effortlessly sidestepped the weapon and tapped it with a finger, freezing it mid-air.
Whoa, Izobel whispered.
There it is, Caesar smirked.
The weapon wasn't physically encased in ice, but suspended in time and locked in space, stripped of motion, and its existence paused.
Undeterred, the knight drew out ten daggers, gaze still locked on Chalybe. Before he could unleash the blades, Caesar suddenly appeared before him.
Hello there, Caesar tilted his head.
White-hot flames engulfed his forearm as he delivered a blow to the knight's helm, knocking him back to the 2nd row.
As the sinister soldier struggled to balance itself, an oversized warhammer slammed into its chest, hoisted by a student, sending him to collide with the chalkboard.
Bullseye! the female student roared triumphantly.
Martha Chaste Hope, a noble-born Skylander, daughter of Tennant Jones Hope, an eminent figure in the blacksmithing and weapon trade across Zion.
She had brilliant orange ponytails, eyes as dark and gentle as dusk, and a devilish grin that cemented her presence.
Her most unique features were her two large, feathered orange wings that could create great gusts of wind.
Get up, peasant, Martha pointed at the knight. There is more where that came from...
The knight unexpectedly threw another javelin at Martha, almost skewering her.
Before the dagger could impale her, a flash moved her out of harm's way.
What a shame, princess. A male voice spoke elegantly. Don't want a beauty like you to be harmed. That would be awful.
The boy pointed his finger at the knight, and an invincible force pushed the foe deep into the chalkboard.
E-escanor? Martha said.
Escanor Adelard de La Rochefoucauld, future Knight at your service. Escanor smirked. Am I still the hottest sun spirit you have ever seen, Martha?
Escanor had golden shoulder-length hair, with white and red streaks. His eyes were bright red, with a faint yellow flame floating on his head.
"From the Violet, from the heaven"
"I reckon of the spectre of the seven"
Mr Shawn chanted as a cloud, the same multi-colored cloud from his private dimension, and used it to ensnare the knight.
The cloud twisted and solidified, pulsating with iridescent hues, each shimmer searing pain into the knight's soul.
Who are you? Mr Shawn thundered, fury crackling in his voice. No one storms into my class to commit murder. Why are you here to kill Prince Chalybe?
The knight began to tremble, the helmet loosening. The armour jerked violently as a black soot slowly seeped out between the cracks.
GET DOWN!!! Mr Shawn screamed.
In a violent burst, the entire suit disintegrated into a frenzied flock of ravens, each bird honing in on a student with bloodthirsty precision. But the students swiftly dispatched the flock.
Leo's stomach somersaulted as she felt something sinister slither into her senses. Her skin crawled, not in fear, but in confusion.
"Are these the same ravens outside in the academy's yard?" she thought. "No, it can't be. Right?"
As she killed some ravens that dived at her, her nose caught a foul-smelling smell - spicy yet sour.
Explosives.
Leo, astonishingly swift, ripped her table from its hinges and flung it at a glass panel.
But it was too late.
An explosion shattered the panels and blasted through the barrier of desks. The shockwave shook the entire classroom, and the searing heat burnt the furniture.
Students were thrown through the chaos, fragments of glass and splinters of wood embedding into their skin.
Caesar caught Izobel midair and cradled her descent to the ground.
Zeus leapt and managed to grab Leo before she landed.
A violent storm of ravens, possibly hundreds, burst into the room following the explosion.
As some students were incapacitated by the blast, the birds of prey used that opportunity.
Hungry and feral, they dug their slaver-forged beaks into their skin, ripping through flesh and bone, tearing blood vessels as screams echoed.
As more ravens flew into the classroom, some raced towards Caesar and Izobel.
Izobel's rose-colored eyes flared with luminescence as she activated her Divinity. Swarm.
"Hidden in nature's breath"
"Come forth and bring your wreath."
From her back emerged a large, purple avatar of a centipede, glowing brightly while creating a comforting shriek like the real insect.
The insect enveloped her and Caesar's like a spiritual shield, shielding them from the brunt of the attacks.
Caesa!!! A voice cried out.
Caesar looked over and saw Zeus on his knees, his clothes torn, but seemingly unharmed. His face spelt disgust as tiny red sparks of electricity danced around his body.
Thunderbolt! he screamed. Now!!!
Caesar couldn't help but smile.
Izobel brought down the shield as the young paragon soared toward the roof. As he struggled to dodge the large amounts of ravens, something began to snipe them out of the sky, paving a clear path for Caesar.
"Yo Caesar," Chalybe called out with his weapon equipped. "I will cover for you."
The weapon was a crossbow, the helm electric blue and adorned with glowing cyan runes matching the prince's eyes.
As Chalybe pulled, a radiant arrow of divine light formed. Each shot froze ravens mid-flight, locking them in time and space.
Zeus closed his eyes and began to chant.
"The Sky was cold and blue and ghost."
"I was born to serve as a host."
Storm clouds began to form, completely hiding the blue sky as thunder rumbled.
A pentagram halo appeared behind Caesar as Zeus raised his hands to the sky.
Caesar leapt through a hole in the ceiling as Zeus's hand came down. A searing arc of red lightning struck Caesar's feet. But instead of burning him, the energy was absorbed.
Caesar himself began to chant.
"The force awakens for those who plead."
"I serve her sword for those who bleed."
Spinning like a cyclone, more lightning clothed Caesar's foot as he channelled it into his descent.
Please don't burn me, please don't burn me. Caesar thought
Caesar crashed into a raven, unleashing arcs of lightning that danced through the air, striking every last bird.
THUNDERBOLT!!! Zeus and Caesar roared in unison.
The lightning increased, reducing all the birds into ashes.
Nailed it, Caesar said as he tuffled his hair.
The classroom fell silent for a breathless moment. The students stared, awestruck by the flawless synchrony between the Prodigy and the Genius.
But a raven suddenly stopped, studying him with intelligent eyes. Caesar returned the gaze, his memory flashing back to the early morning.
You, Caesar asked the raven. You studied me this morning. Who are you? Or better yet, what are you?
The raven responded immediately. It cawed loudly and flew back outside; its sounds lost to the wind.
Silence fell on the class.
Is it over, already? Martha sounded disappointed.
Another wall fell, and another abomination emerged.
A monstrous creature stumbled into the class, towering over Caesar.
It was the same raven, but with hulking limbs ended in jagged talons and wings spread like blackened thunderclouds. Its slaver beak glistened, and its spine was armoured with metallic spikes.
Okay, Caesar, Izobel said calmly, brushing dust from her skirt. You've had your fun.
She turned to Chalybe.
Butterfly Endgame. Now.
Chalybe's smile was obvious—he wanted to surpass Caesar. If Prodigies and Geniuses made a flame, two Prodigies would make a firestorm.
Izobel's eyes glowed brighter, and behind her, an enormous butterfly avatar materialised —glowing pink and the size of an automobile bus. The radiant construct charged straight at Chalybe.
"The creatures nested, their wings aloft."
As Chalybe rushed towards the beast, the butterfly avatar latched onto his back, gifting him a pair of shimmering pink and blue wings.
The beast responded by hurling shelves, debris, and jagged talons—but Chalybe blurred between them, too fast to hit. In a blink, he was face-to-face with the creature.
"Time shall pray, Space may cry."
"The winter shall come, far and wide."
He drew back his crossbow as divine energy rushed into it. The arrow formed was the height of Chalybe, glistening with blue and pink light as it was launched into the beast with impossible force.
Shockwaves tore through the classroom.
"BUTTERFLY ENDGAME!!!"
The beast convulsed violently, as it seemed to glitch out of reality.
The arrow launched it skyward, as it erupted in a brilliant pink flash, leaving a butterfly-shaped hole in the clouds above.
"My bad," Chalybe sighed. "I was meant to say, 'The Winter shall fight'"
A wave of relief but anguish washed over the room. Students were injured.
Caesar rushed over to Chalybe with joy, as Chalybe's wings faded.
See, Caesar. Chalybe mused. You are not the only one who can...
The air whistled as a crow flew through the chest of the prince.
It impaled him cleanly.
Caesar's vision blurred as he saw his best companion fall with a gaping wound where one of his hearts once beat.
Izobel and Zeus stared in disbelief, too slow to comprehend what just happened.
Escanor's flames burned brighter.
Martha's smile melted.
Leo dropped down on her knees.
Chalybe, the boy fast enough to run with light itself, was killed instantly.
How fast had that crow moved?
Subarchi, kinomurta, yeppa kenkai geetei.
A deep voice spoke from the ruins of the classroom wall. There stood a man.
The Same man with a throne in the cave.
The same man who attacked the Percival's household.
He stared at the prince's dead body with disappointment.
All that delay, he said. Just to be killed by a single raven?