Ren struggled to catch his breath as he surveyed the courtyard. Monstrous Shadow beasts prowled everywhere, creating a horrific massacre. Students perished left and right, their screams echoing across the grounds. Even the most skilled fighters, battling valiantly to their final moments, failed to land a single blow against these creatures. Regardless of their powers or abilities, the outcome remained inevitable—death awaited them all.
"Your body has been successfully healed," a system message announced.
Though physically restored, Ren felt far from healed. Exhaustion consumed him, weighing down his limbs like lead. He collapsed, his body refusing to respond any longer. His eyelids grew heavy, darkness encroaching upon his vision as slumber welcomed him into its peaceful embrace.
Meanwhile, Lucas raced through the courtyard, his flames consuming everything around him. He dodged a wolf's vicious swipe, then narrowly evaded a fireball hurled by a once-red, now blackened flaming humanoid creature. Weaving between multiple strikes, he launched fireball after fireball, frustration mounting as his attacks inflicted no damage on the beasts.
"These creatures are formidable," Lucas thought, his mind racing. "If I unleash my full power now, I could obliterate this entire courtyard—and possibly kill innocent students. But if I do nothing, students will die anyway." Making his decision, Lucas leapt skyward, spinning gracefully as his flames shifted to a brilliant blue. He summoned his devastating incinerate attack upon the surrounding beasts.
A gigantic fireball, spanning half the courtyard, materialized in Lucas's palm. Even he struggled to contain its immense power. "Take cover!" he shouted, his voice strained with effort as he released the enormous attack.
The flames descended mercilessly, striking the Shadow beasts. Some perished on impact, others burned slowly to death, while a few—to Lucas's astonishment—emerged completely unscathed.
"How did they survive?" he gasped, disbelief etched across his face. "I channeled my full power into that attack."
Elsewhere, Leon darted toward multiple Shadow beasts, daggers gleaming and robe fluttering behind him. He lunged at a shadow skeleton, which deftly dodged and crafted a bone sword before charging toward him. Leon parried the bone sword with his dagger, then leapt forward in a fluid motion, slicing the shadow skeleton in half.
In another part of the academy, Rex shouted in frustration, "Is it working? He said it would work! Why isn't it working?" His voice trembled with anger and disappointment.
The voice inside Rex's head responded coldly, "I didn't anticipate this outcome. I thought this would effectively eliminate him."
"You claim to plan, but your strategies are flawed," Rex snarled. "I followed your instructions precisely, and they failed. I'm finished obeying you. I'm seizing your power for myself. I am neither your slave nor your servant. I am my own master, and no one will control me again." His eyes narrowed, glowing crimson instead of their usual void-like appearance.
The voice attempted to reclaim its power from Rex, but found itself unable to do so. "How is this possible? I should be able to retrieve my power at will."
Rex's eyes blazed with hatred. "I won't relinquish your powers. You've proven unworthy of them. I'll wield them instead, and they'll never return to you."
"How dare you!" the voice thundered. "I am your God! You obey me and me alone!"
"Silence!" Rex commanded. "I bow to no one. I'll exact my revenge on my own terms." He channeled demonic shadow energy directly into his brain. After several targeted attacks, the voice vanished completely.
Rex stood in the cellar, his eyes darkening further. "I've had enough of following orders and being enslaved. This ends now. I will have my revenge. God of blood and shadows, I am Rex. You thought you could control me, make me your puppet. After I finish with Ren, you're next. Prepare yourself—the king of demonic shadows approaches."
Meanwhile, Ren finally awakened in the courtyard. He sprang to his feet, his body fully restored, narrowly avoiding Lucas's incinerate attack. The devastation surrounding him was absolute—half the courtyard reduced to charred earth. Where lush grass once grew, only burnt dirt remained. Several students caught in the crossfire lay reduced to ashes. Numerous Shadow beasts had been destroyed, yet those that survived the attack continued their rampage, seemingly impervious to the flames.
Elias fought desperately to keep one beast at bay, struggling more than anyone realized. He attempted every magical element—water, ice, fire, lightning—but nothing affected the creature. The beast attacked not his exterior but his internal organs, which were rapidly failing. His heart faltered, his lungs strained for air.
He was dying.
With one final, devastating strike, a giant Shadow serpent ended Elias's life. His lungs collapsed simultaneously as he expelled his innards onto the ground. His body crumpled, heart stopped, breath extinguished—his valiant life snuffed out in an instant.
Several students paused their battles to witness his death, honoring his sacrifice. Elias had given everything to protect those hiding within the school walls. His courage had prevented the beasts from breaching the city limits, saving countless innocent lives in villages and towns beyond. Though students had perished, no civilians had been harmed—all thanks to Elias's bravery.
He had granted the dying precious final moments—seconds of life that, however brief, were infinitely valuable.
A determined student rushed forward, carefully placing Elias's body in a bag and carrying it to the courtyard's edge. He secured it where the beasts couldn't reach, determined to return the fallen hero to his family and friends. They deserved to know of his honorable death, to have his body for proper funeral rites.
The student sprinted back to rejoin the fight. The Shadow beasts allowed no time for mourning—they hungered for blood.
And blood, the student thought grimly as he drew his weapon, was exactly what they would receive.