Magni focused his power into his fists. He attacked a nearby Chimera. The creature's roars were silenced by his lightning-infused punches. He was fighting more like a beast than a man. The lion head of the Chimera shattered into pieces and scattered around. Control now belonged to the goat head. Just like the Chimera before, it reared up on its hind legs and headbutted him. Magni and the creature clashed heads. The Chimera died when its other head was also smashed to pieces. A large gash opened on Magni's forehead. The venom was draining his strength. He needed to be treated immediately. He now understood this: the training they did at school was far simpler than real missions. Furthermore, real missions were ruthless. He could die right here, right now.
"No... No, not yet," he told himself. He wasn't going to die here.
The Alpha Chimera spoke, "What are you mumbling about, human? Are you wrapping yourself in hopes? It is all in vain. The venom coursing through your blood has already begun to destroy your body. Leave this place."
He looked at the Alpha Chimera with eyes bloodshot from the venom.
"Every single one of you will die. My hopes are not in vain. Hah, even if I die... My friends are here." Magni was panting heavily.
The hall he was fighting in was beginning to spin. He locked onto the Alpha and launched himself like an arrow. His fist collided with the Alpha's goat head. A violent shockwave shook the building, and the marble pillars cracked. The only path for the others to reach Magni was sealed off by debris falling from the collapsed ceiling. The situation wasn't looking bright at all. He had to be careful of the pillars while fighting. A plan began to take shape in his mind. He had to kill the Alpha without letting it out of the building.
However, there was one more Chimera. He needed to take care of it first. Swiftly moving behind it, he tore off its tail. As the Chimera roared in agony, Magni grabbed it, swung it around, and hurled it into the Alpha. The Alpha crashed to the ground. Magni ripped off the chimera's heads and finished it off. Only the large one remained. The two locked together and began to push and shove as if wrestling.
From behind the closed door, they were calling out to Magni. Though he couldn't tell who it was, he was certain it was a male voice. "Magni! Are you alright? Hold on a little longer, we'll find another way!". Magni had to stall the Alpha until they arrived. Even if he couldn't kill it alone, they would definitely overpower it once the others arrived.
Magni began to throw his weight into the fight. First, he stepped out of the creature's range. He pulled his fists up to his chest, right beneath his chin, like a boxer. He was waiting for the opponent to make the first move. When the Alpha made its move, he lunged as well. He threw a powerful punch right at the creature's ribs. But the monster didn't budge. The Chimera retaliated with its claws. Magni tried to dodge, but he wasn't fast enough. His legs weren't obeying him.
The attack to his stomach tore his skin apart. He checked his abdomen with his hand. It was bleeding. Bleeding profusely. His vision was beginning to blur. He dropped to his knees. This was the combined effect of both the wound and the venom. He had no strength left to stand.
The Alpha said, "Why are you still fighting? Hah... You must rest now. You cannot endure any longer. The venom of my race is quite potent, human. Let go, surrender... Or your body won't hold out. I have nothing left to lose. My pack is dead. You slaughtered them all. I will not die without taking one of you with me."
Pushing himself to the limit, Magni stood up. His eyes could barely see; he could hardly make out the creature. He was not going to lose on his very first mission. No... He had to hold on.
"I won't stop until I become the best, ah, the strongest. I have too much to lose. I must protect them... No matter the cost. I will not die!!!"
Magni grabbed a metal rod lying nearby. Using his lightning, he heated it. He used the red-hot metal to cauterize the wound on his stomach. He screamed in pain as his skin burned and sealed together, closing the wound. Once done, he launched an attack with the rod in hand.
Suddenly appearing right beside the creature, he plunged the rod into its stomach. He hammered it in with his fist to drive it deeper. Both sides were at their limits. The Alpha bit Magni on his left collarbone. Magni heard his bone shatter. After the bite, it hurled him into the wall. Without waiting a second, Magni threw a solid punch. The creature fell flat on its back. Its goat head's neck was broken.
He was stomping on the creature, raining down a barrage of left and right hooks. Even though it bit Magni's back with its snake tail, it was of no use. The human was so focused on attacking the Chimera that he no longer felt the pain.
After five minutes, the team found a way inside and was met with a terrifying sight. Two mangled Chimera corpses were scattered across both sides of the room. The Alpha's lion head had been reduced to a pulp, and Magni was still slowly throwing punches at it. Aurora couldn't stomach it and threw up. The Alpha's brain matter was splattered across Magni's face and hands.
Han ran over and hoisted his captain off the creature's ruined body.
"Hey! Snap out of it, Magni. Talk to me!" Han shouted. Magni kept throwing punches. It didn't take long for Neptune to assess the situation. Magni had already lost consciousness. His punching was merely a reflex. Aurora couldn't even look at him.
Han put him on his back. "We need to return to the school immediately!".
On the drive back in the vehicle they had arrived in, Magni finally stopped punching. His eyes were open and bloodshot; his mouth kept filling with blood, and he was vomiting into a container in the vehicle. The venom was pushing him closer to death. The moment they entered the school, Han didn't even wait for the vehicle to stop; he threw him onto his back and sprinted toward the infirmary. He was racing against time. Every second was crucial.
Han kicked the infirmary door open and rushed inside. While on the road, they had informed Aidoneus of Magni's condition. Their teachers were there as well. He hadn't expected the situation to be this dire. Selkis guided Han, instructing him to lay Magni down on the stretcher. Then, she ordered all the students to step outside, and told Aidoneus to stay by her side and assist.
Han stepped forward and said, "I can't leave my captain. I brought him here, and I'll help with whatever is needed."
Aidoneus replied, "Han, you bringing Magni this far is enough. Now clear the infirmary. There's no need for a crowd."
"But!"
Selkis snapped, "Hey! This is an order. Everyone, out!"
Han and the others reluctantly left the room.Aurora's eyes were filled with dread. Just thinking about Magni in that state, and that room, made her want to vomit. Han and Neptune were simply waiting for any news. They hadn't been able to help their captain; they had left him all alone.
Aidoneus cracked the door open and told those outside to go to the auxiliary infirmary ward for treatment of their wounds. Those whose injuries were not fatal were being treated there. Han and the others went to the place their teacher had specified. Their treatments began.
Meanwhile, Sol's team was handling the matter with the Centaurs. They had more or less reached an agreement. They were waiting for an official sent by the state for approval. The team was chatting with them in the meantime. They learned that they weren't the monsters they had heard about, but were actually quite friendly as long as their lives weren't threatened.
Though the others couldn't entirely understand why, Sol and Luna hung back, keeping their distance from the Centaurs. The first person to notice this was Amor. Walking over to them, he asked, "Why aren't you two joining us? Our business here is almost done, come on over."
Luna replied, "We have our own reasons. We don't really get along with Centaurs. Especially Sol. Isn't that right?"
"Yes. It's an old grudge. It's not important."
Urania noticed the gathering and walked over to them. She asked why they were standing apart. Amor explained that Sol didn't get along with the Centaurs. At this, Urania responded, "What? It'll be fine! I'll mediate, come on. Hey, Absolus! Come over here!" calling the Centaur to them.
Sol took a deep breath. "I'd prefer to speak with Absolus in private," he said, and walked toward him. Amor watched the situation carefully. Something strange was going on. It had to do with Sol and Luna. When Absolus stepped out from the dark shadows of the trees and saw Sol approaching him, that cheerful and relaxed expression was wiped from his face. The expression he wore was caught somewhere between anger and terror.
Sol led Absolus away from everyone, behind the trees, deeper into the forest. Urania had also sensed the unease in the air.
Absolus began, "Lord He—"
Sol interrupted, "Do not use my name out there."
"Lord Sol, if I had known you were here, believe me, I would have put an end to this matter much sooner! I beg your forgiveness."
"Calm down, Absolus. I am not someone like my father. I do not wish to harm you or your herd. My reason for being here is different. Do not tell anyone you know me. Or my sister."
"Lord Ar—"
"Didn't I just warn you!?" Sol flared up. The light radiating from him reached all the way to the others.
"I am sorry! Please do not be angry!" "I will overlook your mistake this time. I will not be so understanding the next."
"Of course, of course! Is Lady Luna here as well?"
"Yes." "Oh, then your father sent you here."
"Correct. This matter does not concern you, Absolus. Let's head back now. Explain it to your herd, they are to treat Luna and me as strangers. Do not expose us. Or you will meet the same end as your Grandfather."
"Understood, my lord. Leave it to me."
When the pair returned, the representative had arrived. The agreement was signed without delay, and the team hit the road to head back. On the way, Amor asked,
"Sol, can I ask you something?"
"Ask." "Why did you want to speak with Absolus privately?" As he said this, Amor had a mocking smile on his face.
With an impassive face, Sol replied, "Like I said before, I had my own reasons," ending the conversation.
Not a peep was heard from anyone until they arrived at the school. After getting out of the vehicle, they went to the courtyard and looked for Aidoneus but couldn't find him. At that moment, they ran into Prometeus, who happened to be there. Urania asked if he had seen Aidoneus, mentioning they had returned from their mission and needed to report. Prometeus took on a gloomy demeanor. Sol and Luna knew nothing good would come out of this.
"He must be in the infirmary. Helping Selkis. Poor kid. I hope he doesn't die. His condition was disastrous. Dying hurts a lot."
Sol asked, "Poor kid? Who are you talking about?"
"The one with the red hair and blue eyes. Forgive me, my memory for names is quite terrible. Once, when I died, he took me to the infirmary without knowing who I was. You were even there, I mean, when I died." he said, pointing at Hekate.
Everyone's faces turned to ice. This was Magni. Prometeus added, "Haven't you heard? He was exposed to a massive amount of Chimera venom. And there was a giant gash on his stomach." he said. Urania broke into a run toward the infirmary. The others followed right behind her. Everyone had a single thought in their minds. "Magni, please don't die!".