BOOM!!!
Chaos and explosions rocked the place as the fantasians unleashed spell after spell at Marcus, Patrick and Kevin.
Maria was on standby as she didn't have any interest in fighting anymore, while Marcus and Patrick told Anabelle not to intervene as her help wouldn't be needed.
Despite the relentless spells thrown by the fantasians, the cadets seemed to be much stronger, as they were cutting down the fantasians quickly.
Kevin formed blades made of fire as he cut them down one by one.
One of them got the jump on him but...
Smack!
His now broken body was sent flying away by Patrick's war hammer as he was going on a rampage.
Right now, more than anyone, he had something to prove. His fight with Lucas had been a bust.
Lucas manhandled him like a toddler. That alone was humiliation enough for him. Being born without a power, in a super powered society was humiliation enough.
He'd seen how non-powered people were treated in the federation and worst of all, in the military.
But he wanted to prove them wrong. Prove to everyone that even without powers you could still become extremely powerful.
And yet... it was someone like him, a fellow non-powered individual that had humiliated him like this, stomping all over his resolve.
And even with a rematch, he didn't have the confidence he'd win, so he decided to take it out on the enemies of the federation.
These invaders who stole half the Forak continent in their initial invasion seven hundred years ago.
So with no hesitation whatsoever, he whacked all the fantasians in his immediate range with his warhammer shattering their bones instantly killing them.
Marcus on the other side, was thoroughly enjoying himself. He was fighting like a one man army as he was cutting down the fantasians with much ease.
Maria watched from the side, at her fellow cadet's merciless slaughter of the attackers.
Even if it was war, she couldn't really fathom how anyone, much more people her age, could easily take the life of others.
Even then, she made no attempt to stop them. After all, it's not like the fantasians wouldn't cut her down the first chance they got.
'Haa. This is why I hate war.' She thought as she watched the approaching end to the conflict.
The fantasians, obviously outmatched, had their numbers quickly dwindle and by the time Lucas arrived, dragging an unconscious Lyxa in tow, the mob was now no more.
The ground was littered with their burnt and broken corpses.
Lucas looked around at the carnage, his expression remained calm, but Maria could see the sadness his eyes carried seeing his own people lying dead around him.
'Poor Lucas,' she thought as she got up to console him.
"This didn't have to happen," he muttered, more to himself than anyone.
Marcus scoffed, kicking a fallen dagger aside. "Yeah. Tell that to them. They attacked us if anything."
He then nodded at Lyxa. "And now she's gonna give us some answers. Hopefully."
Before Lucas could respond, River and Alicia returned, the latter grinning.
"Took care of my mutt," Alicia said, as she looked to the side seeing River basically use earth to drag Renard's unconscious body here.
"Hoh? Golden boy's alive? How thoughtful of you." Then her eyes caught sight of Lyxa. "Looks like we're gonna have ample sources of answers now." She said as a wicked grin stretched across her face.
River remained silent. She'd long known what was most likely to happen to Renard. As uncomfortable as she might feel with it, she also believed they needed answers.
After all, they need some idea of the scale of this attack and how deep in the know, this traitor was.
Cough! Cough!
Lyxa's cough drew everyone's attention back to her as she regained consciousness.
She did a brief gazing around and immediately came knew what was happening.
She'd been defeated and captured alive. As for why, she was also very well aware why. As she knew what would happen.
Her eyes drew to Lucas as she wondered if he would torture her as well. Though she doubted it as he'd shown no tendency to do such.
And so to strike the first psychological blow, she spat at the ground, as she glared at them, her eyes filled with defiance. "I'll never talk, you dogs of Terra! What, you think you can break me? Never!"
"Really?" Marcus and Alicia said at the same time, grins on their faces as they walked closer to her to confirm her words.
Lucas seeing what was about to happen, immediately cut in. "She's right. We don't know the first thing about interrogation methods. Let's leave her here for the instructors. I'm sure they'll be here soon."
Marcus raised an eyebrow. "And when will that be? Our battle caused a lot of ruckus and the fantasians used their mana without restraint and there hasn't been an alert whatsoever. I think our instructors have their hands full."
"Or they're dead." Alicia chimed in, earning a glare from Lucas as she raised her hands in fake surrender.
"Besides why are you sticking up for her Lucas? She's a fantasian. The enemy, remember? Sheesh. You're a Terran, act like one." Kevin said as he pushed Lucas aside and stood in front of Lyxa.
'I'm not a Terran,'. Lucas thought, almost voicing it out but deciding not to.
"Stop. It's obvious he's uncomfortable. Makes sense actually. He's sixteen. If anything we're the weird ones for not feeling uncomfortable." Anabelle spoke for the first time. She then turned to face Lucas.
"It's okay if you're uncomfortable. It means you're a good person. Stay on the sidelines if it makes you uncomfortable." She said, her hands on his shoulder as he could only grit his teeth and accept what was to happen.
'I should've just killed her when I had the chance.' He thought as he sat on the floor almost as if he'd resolved himself.
"I won't sit on the sidelines. I'm a soldier remember. Eventually I may find myself in a situation where I have to do this to save those I care about."
Seeing the whole debacle play out, Lyxa couldn't help but laugh. A bitter, sarcastic laugh.
"Say what happens if I don't talk? You'll kill me? I mean I'll die even if I tell you won't I? So why should I tell you anything?"
Before Marcus could respond, a round projectile came flying out of the woods at high speed.
It splattered in front of Lyra with a sickening thud. At a closer look, they, she saw that it was the remains of Jero's head.
The cadets present froze in their tracks, their eyes wide with shock. Lyra's laughter had died in her throat as she stared at the battered head in shock at the brutality.
Just then, a voice cut through the silence, cold and menacing. "Enough games."
Blood seeped into the soil as Nathan stepped from the shadows, his katana glinting from the sunlight.
His expression was calm, eerily calm. He looked at the cadets who all, including Lucas, had a frightened expression on their faces.
He looked around to see if Natasha had returned. She hadn't. Good. Meaning she couldn't stop what was to happen.
He walked forward, ignoring the others, his footsteps deliberate and heavy, until he stood in front of Lyra. He tilted his head slightly as he bent to her height, his face right in front of her as he spoke.
"Now talk."