The sky above Arkanis Academy darkened unnaturally, clouds swirling with an almost sentient malice. The wind carried a bitter scent of ozone and smoke, and the very air hummed with tension. Below, the floating towers of the academy trembled, as if anticipating the storm of destruction that approached. Students hurried through the halls, their robes flapping wildly, whispers of panic and fear echoing off the stone walls.
Koha sat in the central courtyard, drained from his recent confrontation with Sky. His normally calm aura flickered weakly, and his hands shook as he attempted to read a tome of advanced elemental spells. Each page he turned was a struggle; his energy reserves were nearly exhausted, and even basic spells required immense focus.
Beside him, Rio, Huo, and Yin moved cautiously, their eyes scanning the horizon. Despite Koha’s vulnerability, they knew the academy depended on his presence. The wind carried distant rumblings, and in the shadows of the far mountains, a black vortex began to form a portal swirling with dark energy.
“Something’s coming…” Rio muttered, his fiery aura flaring in apprehension.
Huo gritted his teeth, gripping the hilt of his sword. “Prepare yourselves. Whatever this is, it’s no ordinary threat.”
Yin’s calm exterior masked the tension in his eyes. “Koha… you’re too weak right now. Focus on maintaining your barrier. We’ll handle the rest.”
Before anyone could respond, the vortex opened fully, and a figure descended. A tall, imposing man radiated dark energy so dense it made the very stones tremble. His hair was jet-black, perfectly coiffed, and his sharp features carried both charm and menace. This was Doojin, the most powerful dark mage the academy had ever recorded. His robes shifted as though alive, embroidered with ancient sigils that glowed with a menacing light.
“Ah… Arkanis Academy,” Doojin’s voice rang like velvet and steel combined. “How quaint. How fragile. How… deliciously weak.”
Students froze, hearts pounding. Professors appeared on the balconies, their faces pale with shock. Koha felt his stomach twist he was too drained to act, too weak to even muster a defensive spell.
Doojin raised his hands, dark sigils swirling around his fingers. “I will reduce this academy to ash. Every tower, every library, every soul within these walls… obliterated!”
From his fingertips shot 暗黒破滅の大陣 (Ankoku Hametsu no Daijin) – Grand Array of Dark Destruction.
Massive spheres of concentrated dark energy tore from his hands, erupting in the sky above the academy. Lightning infused with void energy danced across the clouds, striking the floating towers. Students screamed as debris rained down, and protective wards flared, attempting to absorb the impact.
Koha tried to rise, his legs trembling. He raised a hand weakly, but his aura barely extended. He could form a minor elemental shield, a flickering barrier of water and wind, but it wouldn’t survive Doojin’s full assault.
Rio stepped in front, flames erupting from his hands. 불꽃 회오리 (Bulkkot Hoeori) – Flame Whirlwind spiraled outward, deflecting a few fragments of debris. Huo braced his shield, summoning Escudo Inquebrantable – Unbreakable Shield, forming a dome of reinforced stone and magic. Yin’s torrents of water and light intertwined, forming protective flows around the three.
Even with their combined power, the academy trembled. “He’s… too strong,” Rio said through gritted teeth. “Koha… you must stay alive!”
Doojin laughed, a sound like shards of glass against steel. “Ah, the famous Koha. So weak. So fragile. I can sense his presence even from here.”
Koha’s eyes flickered. He could feel the dark energy reaching out toward him, probing for weakness. His heartbeat raced, and though his body was nearly spent, a spark of his innate power responded instinctively. He raised a trembling hand.
「炎よ、氷よ、雷よ、影よ、大地よ、風よ、全てを守れ…」28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgtJyKeH35F
“Flames, ice, thunder, shadow, earth, and wind—protect all of us…”
A weak yet determined basic elemental shield formed around him. Fire, water, wind, earth, and lightning intertwined, creating a shimmering dome. It was fragile, yet it bought precious moments for the students and professors to regroup.
Doojin’s eyes narrowed. He hadn’t expected a reaction. With a swift motion, he cast 死の竜巻 (Shi no Tatsumaki) – Death Tornado, a massive column of black wind laced with dark energy, aiming directly at Koha’s shield.
The shield flickered violently but held, though Koha stumbled backward under the strain. Rio, Huo, and Yin reinforced the barrier with spells of their own:
Rio: 번개의 검 (Bongae-ui Geom) – Sword of Lightning
Huo: Muralla del Titán – Titan Wall
Yin: Éclat Sacré – Sacred Burst
The combined elemental and protective magic held for a tense moment. Sparks flew, winds howled, and water from the nearby fountain surged into the shield to fortify it further.
Meanwhile, Doojin’s charm and presence drew the eyes of every student. Despite his malevolence, his handsomeness and poise were undeniable. He moved like a predator, circling the academy in midair, testing their defenses.
“Koha… you can barely stand, and yet your shield resists me. Fascinating,” Doojin said, his voice cold. “But fragility cannot withstand inevitability.”
He cast another spell, this one more concentrated: 闇の覇者 (Yami no Hasha) – Dark Conqueror, a blade of pure void energy that sliced through the floating air like a scythe. The combined shields of Rio, Huo, Yin, and Koha shuddered violently, some fragments of stone and debris disintegrating under the pressure.
Koha gritted his teeth, sweat and blood mixing on his face. He could feel his life energy draining rapidly, but his instinct screamed: defend the academy, no matter the cost.
He muttered quietly, almost a whisper, yet every word resonated across the courtyard:
「光よ、風よ、火よ、水よ、地よ、雷よ、全ての力よ、我に集え…」28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡysqsPm33b1
“Light, wind, fire, water, earth, lightning—gather all your power to me…”
A faint surge of energy pulsed through him. Not enough for an ultimate attack, but enough to stabilize the barrier and buy a few critical seconds.
Doojin’s eyes narrowed. “Hmm… this one… not fully awake, yet capable of resistance. Interesting.”
The professors, huddled in the main hall, frantically chanted:28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZdjCPAFX9g
“Activate the Archmage Barrier Array! Combine all wards! Protect the academy!”
Spells and wards flared across the sky, intertwining with Koha’s fragile shield. Lightning bolts clashed with fire streams, and shadows twisted around beams of light. The academy shuddered, but for now, it held teetering on the edge of annihilation.
Sky, observing from a distance, crossed his arms. “So this is the famous Doojin…” He murmured, eyes narrowing, assessing the threat. Unlike Koha and the others, Sky did not move immediately; he watched and calculated.
For Koha, every second was agony. He could feel his strength waning, the elemental energies around him flickering. But despite exhaustion, he would not fall. His will alone kept the shield alive, a testament to his resilience.
Doojin raised both arms, preparing his next massive spell, one that could obliterate the main tower entirely. Dark sigils glowed on the ground and in the air.
「アカナイスよ、燃え尽きろ！ 暗黒の審判をここに！」28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRrcpCYTGIj
“Arkanis, burn completely! Judgment of Darkness—here!”
The air quaked violently. Shadows surged into massive tendrils, the sky cracked with jagged lightning, and stones from the towers began to levitate under the spell’s weight.
Koha staggered but remained upright, bolstered by Rio, Huo, and Yin. Even in his weakened state, his instinctual connection to the elements allowed him to counteract the worst of the destruction.
Rio shouted, flames erupting, “We won’t let him take it! Koha… stay with us!”28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpwgLJbWvij
Huo roared, slamming his shield into the ground, “We protect our home!”28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjodXEQjHil
Yin chanted in a calm yet firm tone, “The academy stands. No matter the cost.”
Doojin’s gaze swept over them. He smiled faintly. “How touching. Even powerless, you cling to hope. But hope will not save you.”
As the dark mage prepared another colossal spell, Koha closed his eyes for a moment. He drew a deep, shuddering breath and whispered:
「残り少なき命よ、我が力に共鳴せよ…」28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgbG0sgSKNH
“O my dwindling life, resonate with my power…”
Though weak, the elemental energies of fire, water, wind, earth, light, lightning, and shadow converged faintly around him, forming a shimmering protective cocoon. It was a pale echo of his usual might, but it was enough to withstand the initial surge of Doojin’s onslaught.
The three allies flanked him, ready to give their all. Every spell, every breath, every heartbeat was a desperate act to prevent the academy from collapsing into darkness.
And above them, Doojin hovered, a figure of perfect poise and devastating intent, preparing for a strike that could very well end everything.
To Be Continued in Episode 24…
ns216.73.216.13da2
and then Add to home screen.