[Emergency Alert: Maiju-Class Threat Detected]
[Designation: Mammothram – Manatude Level 5.9 – Fortress Breaker Class]
[Location: Klarc City, Western Limana Kingdom]
The ground trembled violently as the colossal quadrupedal Maiju, Mammothram, smashed through a towering monument like it was brittle glass. Obsidian tusks gleamed under the emergency lights, and each thunderous stomp sent seismic mana pulses rippling through the streets, cracking pavement and toppling lampposts. Dust and debris rained down like a storm.
High above the chaos, Light hovered, his radiant aura flaring like living lightning, illuminating the ruined skyline.
"That thing's tearing Klarc apart like it's nothing," Light said, voice sharp with urgency. "Helliard, sync with me. We drop it before it reaches the Arc Reactor tower."
A flash of solar fire erupted beside him as Helliard materialized from a Solar Drift, embers spiraling around his frame like angry fireflies.
"Already cooking," Helliard replied, eyes burning with focus. "I'll set the minefield. You punch it straight into the burn zone."
Light smirked, adrenaline sharpening his grin. "I like the sound of that. Reyk-Light Barrage—coming up!"
He dashed forward in a burst of light-warping speed, leaving brilliant afterimages trailing behind him like streaks of falling stars.
Skill: REYK-LIGHT BARRAGE
A relentless flurry of light-enhanced punches exploded against the Mammothram's hide, each impact blooming into blinding flashes. The final strike detonated with a devastating pulse of radiance that disoriented the beast, forcing it to stagger.
Helliard streaked around the Maiju in blinding loops, his Solar Drift leaving a glowing lattice of superheated flame trails that scorched the ground and boxed the monster in.
Skill: SOLAR DRIFT – INFERNAL GRID
Plasma mines ignited in the air and on the earth, forming a deadly cage of fire.
The Mammothram roared in fury, charging blindly. Light's eyes narrowed with fierce determination.
"He's trapped. Time for the big one—AKUREYRAN SMASH!"
He rocketed downward, photonic mana condensing around his fist into a searing point of light. The overhead strike slammed into the beast's back with cataclysmic force, cratering the street and erupting a massive upward beam of pure light that pierced the smoky sky.
Helliard didn't waste the opening. As the Mammothram struggled to recover, dark-violet flames swirled into a burning sigil above his palm.
"Not done yet. Let's shut down its mana core."
Skill: ABYSS PYRE
Black-violet flames erupted and latched onto the beast like living parasites, disrupting its seismic mana pulses. The Mammothram's legs buckled, its terrifying power flickering wildly.
Light hovered beside his rival, breathing hard but grinning. "Nice timing."
Helliard's expression hardened with cold resolve. He raised his hand, a blazing solar ring forming above him.
"Eclipse Burn… ignition."
Skill: ECLIPSE BURN – TERMINUS FLARE
A condensed miniature sun of roaring flame hurtled like a meteor. It slammed into the disabled Mammothram and detonated in a blinding plasma nova, swallowing the beast in devouring light and fire.
The explosion thundered across the city. When the blinding glare finally faded, only scorched earth and silence remained, broken only by the howl of wind through the devastated streets.
[Emergency Alert Update:]
Status: Mammothram Neutralized
Damage Assessment: Moderate – Reactor Tower Secure
Operatives: Light (Code: Solaris Prime), Helliard (Code: Arcflame Sentinel)
Civilian Casualties: Minimized
Commendation Recommended
In the central square of Klarc City, hundreds of civilians erupted into thunderous applause as the two top pro sorcerers descended. The relief in the air was palpable—many were openly weeping, hugging one another after the near-disaster.
A reporter pushed through the crowd, eyes wide with awe. "Wow… you two are the best duo I've ever seen!"
Light scratched the back of his head with a modest grin. "Well, if you say so."
Helliard crossed his arms, his usual cocky smirk returning. "Don't get it twisted. We're rivals. One day I'm beating his ass and taking the number one spot. That's a promise."
Nearby, a massive public screen replayed the battle in vivid detail, drawing even more spectators.
In the crowd, Shinji watched with a quiet smile, arms folded.
"Damn… those two have insane synchronization."
A sharp voice cut through beside him. "Tsk! Why are you even here, dumb shit?"
Shinji glanced sideways at Kurai-chi and shrugged. "Because… I'm watching the news?"
[Emergency Alert: Maiju-Class Threat Diverted – New Priority Identified]
[Location: Zenith Park, East Sector – Arcane Theft in Progress]
[Threat Designation: Witch-Triad – Arcane Extraction Operatives]
[Targets: Kuraido & Shinji (Students – Level: Unregistered)]
[Field Report – Unit Arrival ETA: 3 Minutes]
Zenith Park crackled with unstable residual mana. Three witches, cloaked in flowing garments of living shadow, crackling flame, and writhing vines, stared down the two teenagers with predatory hunger.
One witch scanned Shinji, her eyes widening in disbelief.
"…That's impossible. He had no Arcane signature before. Now it's surging off him like a broken seal."
Another witch narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "He's not even registered. Is he a wildborn Arcane?"
The third grinned maliciously, licking her lips. "Doesn't matter. Strip them both. We'll rip the power out while it's still fresh and raw."
Kuraido immediately stepped in front of Shinji, his posture protective even as confusion flashed across his face.
"Wait—hold up. This loser? Shinji? You're saying he suddenly has Arcane?!"
Shinji crossed his arms, trying to mask his unease with sarcasm. "Wow, thanks for the heartfelt backup, Sunbutt."
Kuraido shot him a glare. "You had zero mana last semester! I literally watched you pass out trying to lift a practice wand!"
Shinji's smirk deepened as a blackish-violet aura suddenly exploded around him, wrapping his body like a flowing cloak of living shadow. The air grew heavier, charged with raw, untamed power.
"And now look at me," he said, voice low but confident. "Shining like Amsterdam at midnight."
Kuraido stared at the surging aura, momentarily speechless.
"…You named your moves after Dutch cities?"
Shinji chuckled. "Yep. Wanna see Rotterdam Smash or The Hague Blitz first?"
Kuraido deadpanned, "You're kidding me."
The witches began chanting in eerie unison. Dark sigils glowed beneath their feet as they rushed forward.
Witch #1 (Dark Grimoire): "Let the void consume—Nocturne Veil!"
Witch #2 (Flame Grimoire): "Burn it down—Hellpyre Spiral!"
Witch #3 (Nature Grimoire): "Bloom and devour—Thorn Maw!"
The alley erupted into chaos.
Shinji's violet aura burst outward in a wave of raw kinetic pressure. Kuraido threw up a blinding wall of radiant light.
Shinji grinned fiercely. "Hey Sunbutt, think we can actually not die here?"
Kuraido fired a blazing Solar Plasma Blast, voice tight with adrenaline. "I'm still processing that you're actually useful now!"
Shinji vanished in a blink—Abyssal Surge activating. He reappeared above Witch #2 with explosive force.
"Rotterdam Smash!!"
A black-violet shockwave crashed down, sending the flame witch stumbling. Kuraido skated through a shimmering Heat Mirage, leaving five illusory copies of himself.
"Try guessing the real me—Flare Burst Accel!"
He dashed past Witch #1, igniting the walls with searing heat trails. Witch #3 countered with twisted, poison-laced vines that snagged Shinji's leg mid-movement.
"Tch—The Hague Blitz!"
Shinji spun mid-air, discharging a violent violet burst from his foot that shredded the vine apart.
Brief Breather Behind a Broken Car
The two boys slid behind cover, chests heaving. Kuraido wiped sweat from his brow, panting.
"Alright… I admit it. You've got Arcane. Happy now?"
Shinji leaned against the car, catching his breath with a tired grin.
"Say it properly. You were wrong. I have more Arcane than you now."
Kuraido groaned. "Oh shut up. At least my powers don't sound like a tourist brochure."
Shinji laughed softly. "At least I didn't get slapped by a plant."
Final Push (Stalling for the Defense Force)
They stood side by side as the witches advanced again, battered but still dangerous.
Kuraido clenched his fists. "Time to stall. You take Shadow and Nature. I'll fry the Flame one."
Shinji shook his head. "Switch it up. I owe the Nature Witch a beatdown."
They exchanged a quick fist bump, a silent understanding passing between them.
Shinji & Kuraido (together): "Let's go all out—just this once."
Shinji's eyes flashed with violet energy. "Eindhoven Detonation!"
Kuraido's aura blazed like the sun. "Solar Flare Cannon!!"
The alley exploded in a violent symphony of light and devouring shadows. The combined assault bought precious time as the distant wail of Arcane Defense Force sirens finally echoed through the park.
[Update: Witch-Triad Status – Engaged & Contained]
[Status of Targets: Wounded, but Alive]
[Unregistered Arcane Detected – Subject: Shinji – Recommend Immediate Evaluation]
Thirty minutes later, after thorough investigation, Light and Helliard arrived at the scene.
Light rushed toward the lead officer, tension clear in his voice. "Sir! How's my apprentice?"
Helliard raised an eyebrow. "You have an apprentice now?"
The officer nodded. "The two students—Shinji S. Tsukishima and Kuraido K. Tenryu? They're in good condition. Those witches have attacked before. You remember them, Sir Light?"
Light's expression darkened. "Yes."
"They keep chanting 'Hail Lord Axzhebhan' during interrogation. We still don't know why they're stealing mana and Arcane. The world's falling into chaos… But those two teenagers—they handled themselves well. They're strong enough to fight a 3.3 Maiju-class threat."
Light and Helliard exchanged a quick glance, both silently doubting the officer's estimation but saying nothing.
"Well," Light said with a reassuring smile, "we'll guide them toward a better future."
Helliard nodded. "Count me in."
Hours later, in the quiet of their rooms, sleep refused to come for Shinji and Kuraido. The day's events replayed relentlessly in their minds.
Shinji lay on his back, staring at the ceiling, his voice a tired whisper in the dark.
"Wow… we actually teamed up. How odd." He sighed, exhaustion finally pulling at him. "I'm sleepy… no more thinking tonight."
Kuraido, in the adjacent room, couldn't shut his eyes either. His thoughts churned.
Why didn't I beat him that day…? Was it because I already knew the truth—that his mom and dad died the same way mine did?
Maybe he doesn't even know… dumb shit.
Where the hell did his power suddenly come from? It was a miracle, right?
Tch… I want to apologize to him. But I can't bring myself to say the words… or even act on it.
Both boys lay awake in the heavy silence, the weight of unspoken truths and newfound power pressing down on them.
To be continued…