Dimensional Eclipse – Chapter 8
All the students finally reached the riverside. But uncertainty clouded their minds—none of them knew whether the river water was safe to cross. Could the water be poisonous? Or perhaps worse… could there be monsters lurking beneath its surface?
These questions made the students hesitate, fear gripping their hearts at the thought of what might await them on the other side.
Kaede calmly, adjusting his glasses
"I don't think there are any monsters inside this river."
A student alarmed
"How can you say that so confidently?"
Kaede pointing at his glasses
"Because I have these special glasses."
Shru curious, frowning
"Oh really? By the way, what is special about these glasses? I have seen you wearing these glasses many times, but I have also seen you without them many times. If you don't have any eye problem, then why do you wear these glasses?
Kaede a bit hesitant, then serious
"Actually… these glasses were given to me by my father. With their help, I can detect monsters' aura. Though they don't work too well against high-level monsters, they're still effective enough. I don't think this rift contains anything stronger than that Lich we encountered earlier.
And with these glasses… I can also tell whether this river's water is poisonous or not."
Jessica surprised
"So… is that some kind of artifact?"
Kaede nodding
"Yes… most likely."
Shru teasing, with a playful smile
"You should keep wearing those glasses. They actually make you look cute."
Fernando raising an eyebrow, curious
"By the way… where did your dad even find such an awesome artifact?"
Kaede shaking his head slightly
"I don't know." actually...
Another boy stepped forward, his tone sharp.
Lawrence Class C, 1st year, crossing his arms
"Enough chit-chat. This isn't the time to be telling stories. If he says the river's safe, then let's go. But first—Kaede, you should be the one to cross first."
Shru protesting immediately
"What? Why him?"
Lawrence smirking, taunting
"Of course, because he is the one who said it's safe. Isn't that right, everyone?"
Other students murmuring together
"Yes… Lawrence is right. Let him go first."
"Exactly, Kaede should cross first."
Shru irritated, muttering under her breath
"Ugh… these ungrateful people…"
Kaede nodding calmly, without complaint
"Alright. I'll go."
Fernando concerned, stepping closer
"Are you sure? This could be dangerous."
Kaede with a small smile
"It's fine. Besides, they're not wrong. I said it's safe, so I'll prove it."
With steady determination, Kaede walked toward the river. Without hesitation, he leapt into the water, his body cutting smoothly through the surface as he began swimming strongly across.
Emily Class C, 1st year, pointing excitedly
"Look, he's doing fine! I think it's safe. Come on, everyone, let's go too!"
Encouraged by Emily's words, the students quickly followed Kaede and jumped into the river.
Fernando warning loudly as he swam
"Hurry up! Monsters could appear here at any moment!"
After some effort, all the students managed to cross to the other side of the river safely.
Emma looking around, suspicious
"Doesn't this feel strange to you? We crossed the river… and it's been a while, but no monsters have appeared."
Shru relieved
"Well, that's a good thing, right? At least we're safer now."
Fernando shaking his head, grim tone
"No. This is exactly why I'm worried. Weak monsters vanish when a powerful one is nearby. That means… a stronger presence must be around us. We need to be even more careful now."
Scene Shift
Narrator:
Inside the rift, high above in the sky, a massive aura blast exploded. Teacher Bekiyon had released it as an emergency signal.
Mayu sensing it, her expression sharp
"An aura blast…? Is there Something's gone wrong."
Team 2 – Students
Joseph grinning proudly, holding an artifact
"Man, today's been amazing! We found three artifacts already!"
Jennifer smiling with satisfaction
"Yes, and out of those, two were Class C… and one was Class B."
The rest of the students were cheerful, excited at their success. They knew this meant they would pass the trial.
Student 1 pointing at Joseph
"Did you see how Joseph killed that monster?"
Student 2 nodding eagerly
"Yeah! That was incredible. Joseph really is one of the strongest in Class D."
Class C Student 3 frowning
"But wait… why are students like them still stuck in Class D? With potential like theirs, they should be in Class C, maybe even Class B."
Student 2 excitedly pointing to Jennifer"And don't forget Jennifer! "Did you see how she took out the entire group of E-level monsters with her arrows?" That was amazing!"
Class C Student 4 impressed
"Exactly. They deserve to be in our class."
Roman Class C, sternly, cutting everyone off
"Enough with this nonsense. The reason they're not in higher classes is simple. Maybe they failed their trial exams, or made mistakes that lowered their scores. Remember, it's not just raw strength that matters. Education, discipline, and consistency are important too."
Suddenly, everyone's attention shifted.
Jennifer eyes narrowing
"Was that… an aura blast just now?"
Joseph serious now
"Yes. That was a signal. Something must have gone wrong."
At that moment, someone landed before them with incredible speed.
Mayu commanding voice, serious expression
""All first-year students, go to the gathering point."
immediately!"
Hearing Mayu's words, every student understood. Something serious had happened.
Scene Shift – Elsewhere
Arnold frowning, sensing the aura in the sky
"An aura blast, huh? "Does that mean there's some problem inside the rift? Ugh, that's why I didn't want to come here. Anyway, first I have to take these stupid kids to the gathering point."
Scene Shift – Command
Mr. Siwo to Miss Alina, worried
"Miss Alina… do you think we can enter this dimension wall?"
Miss Alina shaking her head
"No. I don't think so…"
She suddenly closed her eyes, sensing carefully.
Miss Alina concentrating
"Wait… if I sense properly… one of the students' tags is still intact."
Teacher Siwo hopeful
"Does that mean we can get inside?"
Miss Alina nodding
"Yes. If that student uses his tag, my aura can reach inside the rift. Through that, I can enter and break the wall from within. But… only if someone actually activates it."
Miss Larry frustrated
"But why aren't they using their tags? What's stopping them?"
Teacher Siwo grimly
"They must be facing some serious problems. We can't rely only on the tags. We need another plan.
Contact Teacher Bekiyon immediately—tell him to bring all the S-Class students here as soon as possible."
Scene Shift – Jungle Rest Point
Kaede sitting, uneasy
"This place feels… too quiet."
Shru nodding slowly
"Yeah. I feel it too."
Jessica firmly
"We need to stick together."
Fernando serious, glancing around
"She's right. Stay close."
The students sat down near the jungle area to rest. But suddenly… something stirred.
Fernando whispering sharply
"Everyone… stay absolutely silent."
Shru low voice, nervous
"What… what is that?"
Fernando grimly, in a low tone
"It's a mutated beast."
Shru fearful, whispering
"Mutated? But…"But what are these? And whoever—or whatever—they are, how did they come here?"
Jessica explaining, softly
"They're not really monsters. They're normal animals that accidentally enter the rift's radius. The magical energy here twists their bodies, mutating them into dangerous creatures."
Kaede pushing his glasses, whispering
"I can see its aura output. Its level is at C – Peak."
Fernando staring at Kaede, whispering
"And how do you know that?"
Kaede pointing at his glasses
"My artifact. These glasses can read aura from any living being."
Shru awed, whispering
"That's… seriously awesome."
The students held their breath in silence, hoping not to be noticed. But suddenly, a girl accidentally stepped on a twig. The snapping sound echoed in the stillness.
The mutated beast immediately charged straight at her.
Emily froze in terror. Her heart pounded, her body unable to move. She thought it was the end.
Kaede rushing forward, shouting
"Aura wave"
Using his ability, Kaede manipulated the surrounding aura and pushed Emily back just in time, saving her from the beast's strike.
Kaede "He signals to everyone: 'Do not move, stay right where you are for a while.'"
The mutated beast, blinded by frenzy, attacked aimlessly around the area.
Fernando whispering urgent
"Everyone… move back quietly! Into the bushes!"
The students carefully retreated until they were safely away.
Shru shivering, disgusted
"What the hell was that thing? Ugh… so creepy!"
Jessica grimly
"I don't know… it looked like some kind of bull."
Kaede sighing
"If I had my book with me, I might have been able to figure it out. But… I accidentally left it back at the academy."
Shru squinting, remembering
"Wait, your book? I've seen you carrying it around inside the Runes Sometimes it was in your hand… and other times, it wasn't there at all. What's with that?""The situation at that time was such that I couldn't ask you about this, and later I forgot about it."
Kaede smiling faintly
"That book is actually my aura weapon. My father gave it to me. Just like you can resize aura weapons with your energy, I shrink mine when needed."
Shru smirking, pulling something from her clothes
"Ohhh, so that's why.. by the way...Look at this."
Kaede eyes widening slightly
"so..You keep your guns hidden under your clothes… by shrinking them into keychain size?"
Shru nodding proudly
"Yep. Cute, right?"
Kaede smiling faintly
"Yeah."
Shru serious now
"But remember—when we actually need to fight, aura weapons must return to their real form. Their 'cute' state is useless unless we channel aura into them again."
Kaede nodding
"True. Unlike Miss Mayu, we can't actually manipulate our weapons completely. For us, shrinking is just a trick. Unless we fuse aura back into them, they're basically useless."
Kaede looking thoughtful
"Still… I really wanted to know more about that mutated beast. I think maybe it was—"
Emma interrupting
"They're called Tarang. Basically… mutated bulls."
Kaede surprised
""And how do you know about this, Emma?"
Emma smiling sadly
"My grandmother was part of an organization that studied mutated beasts."
Shru frowning
"But that thing was strong. Almost C-Peak level… the kind of strength a mid-boss in a C-Rank rift would have."
Fernando relieved, wiping sweat
"Good thing it didn't pay too much attention to us."
Jessica nodding firmly
"Yeah. We got lucky."
The students barely had time to relax when horror struck. Without warning, one student's throat was slashed open. His body collapsed lifelessly to the ground.
When all the students had just started to calm down and take a moment to rest, suddenly something completely unexpected happened. Panic and terror erupted as the unthinkable occurred: the heads of some students were severed, blood splattering in all directions. Screams tore through the air, and a wave of shock froze everyone in place. Fear gripped their hearts, and no one could comprehend what had just happened to their friends. Confusion, horror, and helplessness washed over them like a tidal wave, leaving them paralyzed with dread.
Suddenly, numerous sharp red crystals started raining down from the sky onto the students. Panic and fear immediately gripped them.
Fernando – shouting anxiously, "What is happening?
Fernando – "Earth Wall!!!"
Using his Earth Wall skill, Fernando raised a massive wall. All the incoming crystals crashed against it, but they were so powerful that the wall shattered within moments.
At that moment, they sensed a strong presence right in front of them—a monster of immense power. Fear surged through the students as their hearts raced, realizing they were facing something far more dangerous than anything they had encountered before.
Fernando panicked, shouting
"Everyone, run! NOW!"
Shru terrified her voice trembling with urgency and fear, "This enemy is far too powerful! We can't fight it… Everyone, run " Her eyes darted around wildly, scanning for a safe escape route as sweat ran down her forehead.
Jessica: her face pale, voice shaking, and hands clenching in panic, "Yes… if we fight we'll definitely die!" She stumbled back a few steps, her heart pounding, unable to comprehend the sheer terror of the creature before them.
KAEDE thinking to himself, voice tight with urgency and fear:
"This presence is almost as deadly as that lich. I have to get everyone out of here quickly to somewhere safe. Maybe if we run into the forest we can survive."
Kaede shouting urgently
"Quickly! Follow me!"
But one boy was paralyzed with fear. His legs refused to move. Suddenly, sharp crystals shot out toward him.
Boy screaming in terror
"No! Please! Someone save me!"
Kaede immediately concentrates his aura into one point, shaping it into a protective shield, and positions himself directly in front of the boy. All the incoming crystals slam into Kaede's shield, but their force is so immense that the shield shatters. Kaede is hit by some of the debris, taking a few injuries himself, his face tightening in pain as he struggles to maintain his stance.
Kaede wincing, but steady
"Are you alright?"
Boy shaken, grateful
"Th-thank you…"
Emma worried, rushing to him
"Kaede! Are you okay?"
Kaede gritting his teeth, nodding
"I'm fine. Emma, help me get the others out of here!"
Suddenly, a barrage of sharp crystals rained down on Kaede and Emma.
Jessica gathering energy, shouting
"Energy Balls STRIKE!!!"
Pink-colored energy filled the area. Jessica's energy balls collided with the crystals, causing a massive explosion. But the strain left her exhausted.
Fernando raising his hands with determination, yelling
"Earth Wall masculation
Fernando had erected several massive stone walls in front of him, which were protecting all the students from the relentless attacks of the red crystals.
Fernando commanding
"Everyone! Run into the deep forest Hurry!"
But then, suddenly, all the walls shattered.
Fernando stared in shock, unable to believe what had just happened his incredibly powerful skill had been destroyed and scattered so easily.
Then, from behind the shattered pieces of the massive walls, a tremendously powerful presence began to make itself felt. The students' breaths caught in their throats, and for a moment, no one could move—its aura was so overwhelming.
Suddenly, a monster appeared before them, completely covered in crimson-colored crystals. Its body was surrounded on all sides by these blood-red crystals, gleaming with a terrifying, almost liquid shine, like molten blood. The sight sent a wave of sheer terror through the students, freezing them in place.
Narrator ominously
An A-Grade Monster—The Crimson Crystal Queen.
Narrator explaining
Just like human aura users are divided by levels… monsters too are divided by grades.
D-Level aura warrior cannot defeat a D-Grade monster.
D-Grade monster equals the strength of two mid-level D warriors.
Only extremely talented warriors can ever defeat monsters of their own grade.
And now, it was clear… the students faced an opponent that was far beyond their abilities.
Fernando shaken, whispering
"Shit… what do we do now?"
Jessica determined but weak
"We need an opening. I'll create a massive explosion with all my strength. That might give us enough time to escape its sight."
Fernando — shocked and incredulous, "And how are you going to do that? You have that much power??"
Jessica — determined, her eyes glinting with resolve, "No… I don't, but I have a hidden move."
Fernando — confused, "A hidden move?"
Jessica — nodding firmly, "Yes. I can use it only once, but it will temporarily boost my power tremendously. I can create a massive explosion. This ring on my hand—it's an artifact that can only be used one time."
Fernando — worried, "But… will you be okay after the explosion?"
Jessica — her voice steady, though her expression tightens slightly, "I don't know… it will cause a lot of damage to me, but yes, I will survive."
Fernando — hesitating, "But, Jessica…"
Jessica — interrupting firmly, "Fernando, don't worry so much. You know, before coming to the rift explanation, I absorbed a lot of healing pills. My injuries will recover faster than anyone else's after a little rest."
Fernando — finally nodding, still tense, "Ha… Alright."
Fernando grimly
"But that means someone has to distract it first… and none of us are in any state to do that."
At that very moment, a massive aura blast echoed from afar. The ground shook.
The Crimson Crystal Queen paused, its attention shifting toward the blast.
Fernando eyes widening
"Jessica! Now's our chance!"
Jessica summoning her full power
Jessica : her eyes blazing with determination, "Then fine… I'll put everything I have into this attack. This is our last chance!"
Jessica — shouting, "colossal orb!!! Burst!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Immediately, Jessica channels the ring on her finger. She spreads her hands wide, drawing in the surrounding aura energy. The energy swirls violently around her as she forms a massive, glowing energy ball. With a fierce yell, she launches the colossal orb straight toward the Crimson Crystal Queen, the sheer force of it radiating overwhelming power and light.
Taking advantage of the opening, the students ran into the forest
Fernando panting, carrying Jessica on his back
"Jessica! Are you alright?"
Jessica was nearly unconscious, her body drained after unleashing her full power.
Emma worried
"We need to find a safe place fast."
Kaede nodding quickly
"Wait. I'll search for one."
But on the other side, the Crimson Crystal Queen remains completely unharmed by the massive attack. She carefully surveys the area around her and starts advancing toward the open forest where the students had fled.
Before moving forward, she pauses for a moment, turning her gaze back to the place where the first explosion had occurred. She observes it intently for a brief moment, as if assessing the threat, and then continues her advance, steadily closing in on the students from behind.
Scene Shift – Aura Burst Location
--- A moment before the explosion…
All around, shattered stones and debris had completely devastated the surrounding area and right in the midst of this destruction, someone was standing.
Noxy with a cold, confident smirk, staring into the destruction
"Shirou, no matter how strong you think you are… surviving this attack is impossible."
Then, suddenly, a voice echoed from among the shattered stones, "What nonsense is this? Did you really think this was enough to stop me?"
Shirou stepping out, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth, a sly, arrogant smile on his face
"Heh… that wasn't so bad."
Noxy eyes widening in shock, his voice trembling with disbelief
"W-what?! How did you survive that?"
Shirou calmly, still smiling as he cleans the blood from his lips
Do you really think you're the only one hiding who hiding strength ? After the incident with the Runes, I've made myself even stronger."
When Noxy launched his devastating Aura Burst, Shirou reacted at the very last moment. He drew upon his second category powers, summoning his Aura Weapons—his pair of deadly daggers. With lightning reflexes, he channeled his energy into them, using the blades to deflect the overwhelming wave of aura. The impact still injured him slightly, "But even then, it wasn't powerful enough to kill him "
Noxy narrowing his eyes, impressed yet serious
"So… you've mastered your second category powers as well?"
Shirou confidently, with no hesitation
"Looks like it."
Noxy grinning darkly
"Impressive… but it doesn't change the fact that here, you are going to lose."
Shirou his tone sharp, eyes fixed on Noxy
"Then let's see."
Noxy suddenly unleashes an even greater surge of aura. The air trembles, the shattered earth beneath him cracking further as his power rises.
Noxy voice echoing with confidence
"Fine then… let me show you my Aura Weapon!"
Shirou's eyes narrow in surprise. For a third category awakener like Noxy to also wield an aura weapon was something rare, something terrifying.
Around Noxy's neck, a pendant begins to glow fiercely. In a flash, it expands, transforming into a massive aura-formed shield, shimmering with power.
Noxy smirking with pride, holding his shield forward
"Behold! My Aura Autonomous Shield! Let's see how you escape this. I'll definitely crush you with it!"
Shirou with a flicker of anger, gripping his daggers tightly
"Fine then. Let's see."
Shirou's aura bursts out in a storm, blue sparks of thunder crackling violently around him. He channels his aura into his daggers, which now glow with Blue Thunder, radiating raw destructive energy.
Noxy eyes widening slightly, a spark of shock in his voice
"So I was right… you've gained remarkable control over your second category powers. Without these thunders, you would never have deflected my attack. Not bad, Shirou… not bad at all."
Shirou snapping back sharply, his expression hardened "Enough talking. Come let's see who crushes whom."
Both warriors charge at each other with everything they have. Their aura collides violently, tearing apart what little remained of the battlefield. Every strike shakes the ground, every swing distorts the air. Their confidence is unshakable, their determination absolute.
And with that clash, Chapter 8 comes to an end.