I was on my way back to my dorm after finishing my intense morning routine when I spotted Krisha approaching me from a distance. As she came closer, she waved and called out to me.
"Hey, Kazu, I saw you doing push-ups earlier," Krisha said, her voice tinged with unexpected shyness. "Actually, I see you every morning doing that, and jogging before dawn. Why do you do it?"
I scratched the back of my head, feeling a bit self-conscious in my sweaty workout gear. "Oh, that? I'm just trying to manually strengthen my body. I was really sickly in the past, so I've been working incredibly hard to get healthier. Sorry if I was a bother."
Krisha's eyes lit up with deep curiosity and encouragement. "No, not at all! I was actually thinking of joining you every morning. Is that okay with you? I'd like to get in better shape myself." She fidgeted with her hands behind her back, her pale cheeks turning a soft pink. "But, if you don't want that, it's fine... I might just get in your way..."
I smiled warmly at her. "Ah, well... sure, it's perfectly fine. I don't mind at all. It might even be more fun with a workout buddy."
Krisha's face brightened, her embarrassment giving way to genuine excitement. "Great! In that case, let's head to the Academy's cafeteria. I'll treat you to a meal. You look tired and hungry after your routine."
I placed a hand on my stomach, which had indeed started rumbling quietly. "Uh, are you serious? That's really kind of you... but a bit embarrassing."
"It's nothing, really. Just a small way to thank you for letting me join you. Umm, Kazu, can I ask you something?" Krisha ventured hesitantly.
"Of course. What's up?" I responded, entirely curious about what was on her mind.
"Do you have a girlfriend?" Krisha asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
I blinked in sheer surprise. "Not yet... I haven't really thought about it. I've got a lot on my plate right now with the trial, and we're still young to be worrying about that, don't you think?"
Krisha blushed deeply, her face turning a violent shade of red. "Oh, uh, yeah... you're totally right. We're still young," she stammered, clearly flustered by my response.
We continued walking towards the Academy's cafeteria, engaging in light, easy conversation about our classes and the upcoming exams. When we arrived, the bustling activity of the noble students and the heavy aroma of freshly prepared food greeted us. The cafeteria was a massive, lively place, with groups of students chatting and laughing over their opulent meals.
As Krisha and I entered, several aristocratic students looked up from their tables. Whispers began circulating rapidly through the crowd as they noticed my heavily defined physique and confident stride.
"Who's that? He's so handsome... and look at that build! Is he a knight?" one student whispered loudly to another.
Krisha, highly aware of the sudden attention I was attracting, quickly took hold of my arm. The gesture seemed casual, but it effectively sent a clear message to the room that we were together. She smiled up at me, trying desperately to seem nonchalant despite her obvious nervousness.
I noticed the jealous looks and, though initially surprised, decided to go along with Krisha's subtle claim. "So, where should we sit?" I asked, trying to keep the mood light.
"How about over there?" Krisha suggested, pointing to a quieter, more secluded corner of the cafeteria. "It's a bit more private."
We made our way to the corner and settled into our plush seats. Krisha signaled a nearby server to bring us a selection of dishes, and soon a massive variety of delicious, high-tier food was spread out before us.
"Thank you for this, Krisha," I said, my gratitude highly evident as I began to dig in. "It's really thoughtful of you."
Krisha smiled, feeling a bit more at ease now that we were sitting and eating. "It's the absolute least I could do. I've heard a lot of rumors about you from the other students, and I thought it would be nice to get to know you better myself."
I looked up, deeply intrigued. "Oh? What have you heard?"
Krisha's cheeks flushed slightly as she spoke. "Just that you're incredibly dedicated, and that you did some impossible things with Air magic yesterday. But I'd like to know more about you as a person."
As we continued our meal, we talked about our interests, favorite elemental classes, and future goals. The conversation flowed easily, and Krisha found herself enjoying my company far more than she had expected from a rival.
After we finished eating, Krisha stood up and stretched, looking highly refreshed. "That was really nice. I'm glad we had this meal together."
"Me too," I agreed, standing up and gathering our empty plates. "It was a great break from the usual training routine."
We left the cafeteria and walked back toward the Scholar's dorms, our conversation continuing as we shared stories and laughter. The day had turned out to be unexpectedly pleasant, and I felt a profound sense of contentment as I headed back to my room, incredibly grateful for the new friendship.
As we parted ways at the entrance of the dormitory, Krisha looked at me with a warm, lingering smile. "See you tomorrow morning for the workout?"
"Definitely," I replied, returning her smile. "I'll be looking forward to it."
The Invasion
It was just past noon when Krisha and I returned to our respective rooms at the Zirabia Magic Heights Academy. The sun was high in the sky, bathing the sprawling campus in a warm, golden light.
The absolute serenity of the afternoon was abruptly shattered by a devastating tremor that rattled the entire academy.
The heavy stone ground beneath me shook violently, and I felt a sudden, chilling wave of apocalyptic murderous intent wash over the campus. It was so thick it made it hard to breathe, making my heart race with pure apprehension.
The peaceful midday calm was instantly replaced by utter, screaming chaos. Students spilled out of their dorms, their faces a mix of sheer confusion and absolute terror. Professors rushed out of their quarters, their expressions serious and highly focused. Among them were Garlock and Marlowe, two of the academy's most esteemed instructors.
Their eyes were drawn to a deeply disturbing sight in the sky. There, floating high above the academy spires, was a woman whose dark presence was both commanding and highly menacing.
My pulse pounding, I rushed out of the dormitory. The bright sunlight seemed to aggressively heighten the tension in the air. I scanned the horizon, searching for the source of the overwhelming murderous intent. Krisha, her beautiful face completely pale with worry, ran alongside me, her breaths coming in short, anxious bursts.
"Kazu, did you feel that?!" Krisha's voice trembled as she pointed up at the sky.
"Yes," I replied, trying to steady my racing thoughts. "The tremor was enormous, and the murderous intent is like absolutely nothing I've ever felt before. Not even the dungeon boss felt like this."
Krisha's silver eyes widened in absolute horror as she looked upwards. "Look! There's a woman floating up there."
I followed her gaze and saw that the central administrative part of the academy was already in ruins. The once-grand structure had been completely devastated, a clear sign of the immense, apocalyptic power that had been unleashed. The stark destruction made my heart pound with both profound fear and deep determination.
Professor Marlowe, his face pale but resolute, spoke urgently to his colleague. "Mizawa... The right hand of the Demon Lord."
Garlock, his expression grim and hard, added, "So that's Mizawa? The child taken by the Demon Lord from a family in Druzka decades ago? The tragic stories were true."
Marlowe's worry deepened. "That's not all that concerns me, Garlock. Mizawa is no ordinary demon. If my suspicions are correct, she is now Rostiel's right hand. This means she is far more powerful than any monster we have ever faced."
Garlock, stroking his beard thoughtfully, considered the sheer gravity of the situation. "Do you think we have a chance against her?"
Marlowe nodded firmly, his eyes narrowing. "Mizawa possesses all six Affinities. But if we combine our strengths, we might be able to defeat her here."
Garlock, highly intrigued and resolute, agreed. "Six Affinities, you say? Alright. Let's see what we can do."
Feeling a massive surge of determination, I approached my professors with Krisha tightly at my side. My face was set with resolve, though my eyes betrayed my deep concern.
"Professor Garlock, Professor Marlowe, who is she?!" I asked, my voice filled with worry.
Marlowe's expression was deadly serious. "That is Mizawa, the right hand of the Demon Lord. She possesses all six Affinities."
My eyes widened in sheer shock. "Six Affinities? How is that possible? You said it would kill a normal person!"
Marlowe explained, his voice steady despite the gravity of the situation. "As the Demon Lord's right hand, Mizawa was granted a dark blessing to perfectly wield all six elements without exhausting her life force."
My concern deepened. "If she has six Affinities... she must be incredibly powerful."
Marlowe placed a highly reassuring hand on my shoulder. "Don't worry, Kazu. We will handle this. Just stay back and watch." His golden Light aura flared with blinding intensity, a clear display of his confidence. "I'm not afraid of you, Mizawa!"
Garlock, with a deeply determined look, added, "We'll take care of this, Kazu. Protect the other students."
Marlowe and Garlock began walking purposefully toward Mizawa, their movements precise and coordinated.
Mizawa's voice, cold and heavily mocking, cut through the tension of the ruined courtyard. "Are you the strongest professors here?"
Garlock's response dripped with absolute sarcasm. "Perhaps."
Marlowe, completely unruffled, replied, "Why should we tell you?"
Mizawa's disdain was palpable. She floated lower, her dark cloak billowing. "If you are simply here to amuse yourselves, then leave. Your combined aura is highly insignificant to me."
"Are you underestimating us?!" Marlowe's voice was edged with pure anger.
Garlock, clearly irritated by the demon's arrogance, remarked, "It seems you are mistaken about where you've come. Flies belong in the trash, not in a school."
Absolute fury sparked in Mizawa's glowing eyes. She unleashed a powerful wave of Primal Demons using her Dark Affinity; their monstrous forms writhed with black energy. In a massive burst of flame, she then summoned a towering Cerberus using her Fire Affinity. The beast roared deafeningly, its three heads snapping viciously as it prepared for battle.
Mizawa stepped back into the sky, her gaze cold and calculating as she watched her summoned minions charge the professors.
Garlock and Marlowe responded with highly practiced precision. Garlock, with a look of disdain, conjured a massive Ice Barrier completely around the Cerberus. He rapidly filled the barrier with freezing water and summoned large, sharp chunks of earth and ice, driving them directly into the barrier. The shrapnel pierced the Cerberus, trapping it in a bloody, crystalline prison.
Meanwhile, Marlowe, with a deeply focused expression, invoked a powerful Divine Spell. The Light magic wove highly intricate patterns in the air as he captured the Primal Demons in a glowing magical scroll. "Oh, revered gods, confine these primal demons immediately!" Marlowe chanted, sealing the monsters permanently within the scroll's protective enchantment.
Marlowe stood tall, a confident smirk forming on his lips as he faced Mizawa. "What's the matter, Mizawa? Did you run out of minions to hide behind?"
Garlock chuckled beside him, his hand stroking his beard in mock contemplation. "Maybe she is just here to entertain us. You should leave while you still can, little demon, before you get seriously hurt. It'd be much better for you to go back to wherever you crawled out from."
Mizawa's eyes flashed with apocalyptic fury at the taunts. "You dare mock me?!" Her voice dripped with lethal venom. "I'll do more than hurt you. I will entirely erase every trace of your pathetic existence from this continent! The Demon Lord will have no obstacles left once I'm done with you!"
She raised her arms, rapidly summoning a highly concentrated force of energy from all six elemental affinities at once. The heavy ground beneath her trembled violently as she combined them into a single, highly destructive mass, ready to obliterate the entire academy area.
Garlock shook his head, still grinning defiantly. "I don't think so. That's way too dangerous, even for you." With a swift, fluid motion, he conjured a massive solar flare, the searing heat focused entirely on Mizawa to disrupt her casting.
Marlowe took immediate advantage of the distraction. "Demons like you don't belong in this world. It's time to seal you away!" He began an ancient incantation, his voice resonating with pure power as he aimed to trap Mizawa within an enchanted Light scroll.
But as the spell took form, it quickly fizzled out, dissipating into absolutely nothing against her dense aura.
Mizawa laughed, a sound that echoed with cruel, heartless delight. "Did you really think a weak spell like that could contain me, the right hand of the Demon Lord? You must be joking!"
Marlowe's confidence wavered for the very first time. The spell's absolute failure sent a terrible chill through him—Mizawa was far stronger than he had anticipated.
Sensing the dangerous shift, Garlock's demeanor turned highly serious. "Marlowe, we're going to need something much stronger." He started to channel his Earth and Fire affinities simultaneously, preparing for a highly coordinated, lethal assault.
But Mizawa wasn't done. She shot a concentrated blast of pure, six-element energy directly at the professors. The raw force of it was immense, and the ground beneath them cracked and splintered as it raced toward them. Marlowe quickly conjured a Light barrier, barely managing to deflect the attack, though the catastrophic impact sent violent shockwaves through his magical defenses.
The academy trembled under the sheer force of the battle, and students and professors alike watched in absolute horror from a distance.
Hidden among the onlookers, I tightly clenched my fists. If they can't stop her... what will happen to all of us? Maybe I can help them. The thought of stepping into the apocalyptic fray scared me, but my deep determination to protect this university overrode my fear.
Garlock noticed my presence and shook his head subtly, signaling for me to stay back. "This isn't your fight, Kazu! We can handle this!"
But Mizawa had other plans. "You're all absolute fools if you think you can resist me!" she sneered, her voice amplifying. "I have already destroyed the capital of Soradia! I erased it completely from existence! And now, this pathetic academy will suffer the exact same fate!"
The mention of Soradia struck a massive nerve. Marlowe's eyes widened. "Soradia? You... you destroyed Soradia?"
From the sidelines beside me, Krisha gasped, her beautiful face completely draining of color. "S—Soradia? My family's estates..."
Mizawa's laughter was cold and completely heartless. "That's right. Not a single soul was left alive. The slums on the outskirts of the capital were lucky enough to escape my wrath... but this wealthy place won't be so fortunate."
Krisha's silver eyes filled with terrified tears, and panic gripped her as horrifying thoughts of her family's fate overwhelmed her.
"And now, it's Druzka's turn," Mizawa declared with twisted glee. She raised her hand, and with a lazy flick of her wrist, she telekinetically lifted one of the senior professors off the ground. Slowly, she began to crush their skull with unseen pressure.
A blood-curdling scream filled the air as the professor's head violently imploded, the lifeless body dropping to the ground with a sickening thud.
A massive wave of pure fury surged through Marlowe and Garlock. The taunts were over. It was time to fight with absolutely everything they had.
"Enough of this!" Marlowe roared. He channeled his Light Affinity to its absolute maximum, his aura shining like a golden beacon. Garlock, in turn, summoned a massive Fire Tornado, directing it at Mizawa with deadly, pinpoint precision.
Mizawa barely had time to react as the combined force of the professors' attacks bore down on her. She dodged with highly impressive speed, but the outer edge of Garlock's intense flames licked at her, severely singeing her cloak. She retaliated with a massive wave of dark energy, forcing the professors to dive wildly out of its destructive path.
Watching the destruction, I felt a massive surge of energy within myself. My instincts screamed at me to help, but I hesitated, unsure of my exact role in this battle. The scene unfolding before me was unlike anything I had ever encountered.
Mizawa, sensing the professors' mounting resolve, decided to end this once and for all. She flew high into the air, her body surrounded by a highly dangerous, swirling dark vortex. With a cry of fury, she began casting a massive weather spell. The sky instantly darkened, and soon, massive, sharp shards of black ice began to rain down upon the academy courtyard.
Marlowe and Garlock prepared to defend against the onslaught, but before they could react, Mizawa used her immense telekinesis to pin them tightly in place. They could only watch helplessly as the deadly ice shards hurtled toward them.
The situation seemed entirely dire, but the fight was far from over. Driven by a newfound, absolute courage, I finally stepped forward.
"I can't just stand here and do nothing!" I shouted.
I used my highly leveled Assassin skills. Blink. I vanished in a blur of motion. Mizawa barely registered the movement before I reappeared directly behind her, launching a highly concentrated blast of Fire Pierce at her back.
She snarled, deflecting it just in time, but the effort distracted her enough for the professors to break free from her telekinetic hold.
"Good timing, kid!" Garlock shouted as he quickly regained his footing. He and Marlowe rapidly regrouped, channeling their remaining power into one final, highly coordinated attack.
Mizawa, realizing she was now firmly on the defensive, gathered her energy for a highly desperate counterattack. The air crackled with intense magical tension as the three forces violently clashed, the entire fate of the academy hanging in the balance.