"So far, we haven't been able to determine how a rift could've opened inside the school, and fortunately no death toll has been announced so far." She continued "The situation appears under control, as the hollow looked to have been mostly wiped out by the teachers, and the after shocks of the Principal's battle."
Unnoticed to everyone, Garrick Veyne was the only reason no one had died yet. His power allowed him to control magnetic fields as well as perceive and redirect Kinetic energy.
Every moving object possesses kinetic energy, and Garrick can interfere with that energy, changing how objects move without needing to physically touch them.
He was capable of accelerating an object already in motion, turning something as simple as a regular rock into a devastating projectile. He can also decelerate or halt incoming attacks by stripping away their kinetic energy, causing bullets to drop from the air or a charging opponent to suddenly lose their momentum.
The most frightening aspect of that power was redirection. Rather than simply stopping an attack, Garrick can alter its trajectory, causing bullets, blades, debris, or even a charging enemy to veer violently from their original path.
With enough precision, which he had, he can make an opponent's own momentum work against them.
His magnetic manipulation gives him control over magnetic fields and magnetically responsive materials. He can attract or repel suitable metals, manipulate metal weapons and debris, interfere with electromagnetic machinery, and use existing magnetic fields to influence objects around him.
Needless to say, the two abilities become far more dangerous when combined.
Garrick might magnetically pull a steel beam toward himself while simultaneously accelerating it with kinetic manipulation, transforming it into a projectile. He could catch a metal weapon with magnetism, then redirect its momentum back toward its owner. He can even use the recoil and movement of his surroundings as weapons, turning a battlefield filled with machinery, weapons, vehicles, and debris into an extension of himself.
The combination of these two abilities allowed them to create magnetic fields around each student's bodies, and redirect anything that might threaten their well being. His focus was split in two, the battle and the protection of his students.
After several hours of fighting, the teachers and soldiers of the army managed to eliminate all hollows within the school.
With that, they're attention now changed into search and rescue; they needed to find and evacuate all students and non-combatant staff of the school.
Once the rescue operation started, after some minutes had passed, they noticed that no death had occurred within their side. Every soldier, teacher, student and staff were all accounted for. Many were unconscious and with a few scratches, yes, but there was no trace of life threatening injuries anywhere near their bodies.
The most surprising part was the weird energy surrounding their bodies. More precisely, there were magnetic fields acting as barriers for them, preventing any harm from reaching their bodies.
Everyone knew what this meant, even though he was fighting a clearly high ranked Voranth, the Principal had not abandoned them to their luck.
He was protecting all of them.
Many of the staff and students were simply grateful and excited to be alive. It was the most experienced fighters, teachers and soldiers, that realized what this actually meant.
Due to their weakness, the Principal had been forced to split his focus between his battle and their lives. All of them were aware that even the smallest window of distraction was the difference between life or death in battles of this magnitude.
It made their victory feel…shallow. Now, they all knew that without the principal's interference, the death toll would have been devastating.
—-
(A few minutes early, at the same time that the search and rescue operation started)
Broken stone covered the ground. Shattered windows surrounded the courtyard, and thick clouds of dust drifted through the air.
At the center of it all, stood Garrick Veyne. Several meters behind him laid his students, on the second floor of the building behind him, unconscious. The rescue operation would not reach that building yet, as it was very close to their battle.
Their bodies were motionless against the floor of their classroom, their breathing shallow. None of them had been able to remain conscious after the Voranth's earlier assault.
Garrick glanced toward them for only a moment. 'Still breathing…good.' He said in his head.
His attention returned to the creature before him.
The Voranth stood among the wreckage, its regenerated arm restored, but blood still dripped from the wounds covering its body.
Garrick's expression remained calm.
"Regeneration is really annoying you know." Garrick said, breaking their silent staring contest.
The Voranth flexed its restored fingers and smiled.
"The only annoying thing here is you. I was close, so close…I could feel it." The Voranth said while grabbing its head with a mad grin painted on its…face?
Then, it vanished.
The ground exploded beneath its feet.
Garrick barely moved from his relaxed position. They had been fighting for a while, so he knew the extent of the creatures ability and strength…well, at least from what the Voranth has shown so far.
The Voranth's fist stopped inches from his face. Its momentum had disappeared. Garrick had taken control of the force behind its movement and brought it to a halt.
"You really don't learn huh?"
Garrick then twisted his wrist, and the force suddenly reversed.
The Voranth was hurled sideways and smashed through a concrete pillar. Before it could recover, the metal remains of a shattered railing ripped from the ground.
Several pieces shot toward it like spears. The Voranth responded by raising its restored arm. Blood erupted from its body, and the crimson liquid hardened into blades.
CLANG!
Metal collided with blood. One spear pierced the Voranth's shoulder. Another tore through its thigh, while another wrapped around its torso, pinning the creature down. The creature pulled itself free…or at least it tried.