Beneath the mine.....

Splosh! The sound of water echoed as a figure pushed through it—Sir Francis. Hours had passed since he was buried beneath the mine. He trudged through a narrow cave passage filled with water, reaching up to his waist.

"Ugh," he muttered with a shiver as the cold water seeped through his metal armor, leaving him drenched and uncomfortable. The cave walls around him shimmered faintly, illuminated by light crystals protruding from the damp rock. Their glow cast eerie shadows, offering little comfort in the oppressive darkness.

I don't want to end up dying in here, Sir Francis thought grimly, forcing himself onward. Ahead, he spotted an open passage, its floor rising slightly above the waterline. Quickening his pace, he climbed onto the dry ground with a grunt of effort.

"Ahh... dry land," he sighed in relief, collapsing against the cool stone wall. Sitting there, he allowed himself a brief moment of rest, his head tilted back and his breath steady.

"I hope they're all right," he murmured softly, his thoughts drifting to Sir William and Sylvia, who were still above ground. The weight of uncertainty gnawed at him, but he clenched his fists, determined to press on.

Above ground.....

Lightning tore through the air, its blinding flash followed by a deafening explosion. Splintered tree branches rained down, scattering across the battlefield.

"Urgh!" Aki grunted as he slid backward across the dirt, his boots digging into the earth as he struggled to regain balance. His free hand pressed against the ground, steadying him. Ahead, the Demon Lord Alastair loomed closer, his presence suffocating.

The dark figure raised a clawed hand, now crackling with a sinister, electric-like energy that surged and flickered violently. The malicious magic lit the space around him in ominous hues, intensifying the tension in the air.

Aki stood upright, tightening his grip on his wand, the faint glow of his magic encircling him. His gaze locked on Alastair, unwavering. With a deep breath, he steadied himself, his mind focused as he prepared to counter the Demon Lord's next attack.

"Is that all you've got?" Alastair sneered, his tone dripping with contempt. His glowing eyes bore into Aki, brimming with malice. "I thought you'd be stronger, being the so-called savior. It seems I overestimated you. You're nothing."

Aki stood firm, his composure unshaken by the taunts. He didn't rise to Alastair's bait, instead quietly calculating his next move. The Demon Lord's mocking smile faded slightly, replaced with irritation at Aki's silence.

Snarling, Alastair lunged forward. In an instant, his form shifted into that of a massive, dire wolf, black fur rippling with dark energy. His claws gleamed as he charged, aiming to tear Aki apart.

But just as Alastair's paw struck the ground near Aki, a radiant magic circle flared to life beneath him. The intricate patterns glowed ominously, trapping him within its bounds.

"Eltro!" Aki intoned, his voice steady as he thrust his wand forward. Bolts of lightning erupted from the magic circle, surging upward and striking Alastair repeatedly.

"Arghhh!" The Demon Lord roared in agony, his massive frame writhing under the relentless barrage. Sparks danced across his dark fur as the lightning crackled and surged, Aki's magic holding firm.

With his wand still raised, Aki focused on maintaining the spell, sweat beading on his brow. The air around them vibrated with energy as the continuous strikes illuminated the battlefield.

"You... wretched little..." Alastair growled through gritted teeth, his voice thick with rage. A dark aura began to emanate from his body, growing denser with each passing moment.

With a deafening roar, the aura erupted outward in a violent explosion, shattering the magic circle and breaking Aki's spell.

Aki staggered back slightly, the recoil from the dissipated magic leaving him momentarily breathless.

"You'll pay for that!" Alastair snarled, his voice echoing with fury. His form bristled with dark energy, his eyes blazing with hatred. "I'll kill you! And don't expect a quick death from me!"

The monstrous wolf surged forward, claws tearing into the earth as he closed the distance between them. Aki swiftly conjured a shimmering magical shield just in time to block Alastair's ferocious strike.

Growling, Alastair unleashed a flurry of relentless attacks, his claws and fangs colliding with Aki's barrier in a chaotic dance of dark energy and protective magic. Despite the intensity of the assault, Aki's expression remained calm, his mind racing as he sought the next opportunity to counter.

As Aki faced off against Alastair, Sir William and his group were locked in a desperate battle with the remaining wolves.

"Garrghh!" Sir William grunted as his sword cleaved through a snarling wolf. Another wolf lunged from the rear, aiming to catch him off guard. Just as its jaws neared, a vine shot up from the ground, ensnaring the creature's legs and halting its attack. It was Amabel's magic.

In a flash, two Terean hounds pounced on the restrained wolf, tearing it away from Sir William.

"Amabel, watch out!" Sylvia called urgently. A lone wolf had slipped past the guardsmen's defensive line, weaving through the chaos and heading straight for Amabel. Its maw opened wide, revealing sharp, glistening fangs.

"Kya!" Amabel squealed, stumbling back in panic. Before the wolf could close the distance, a massive stone block erupted from the ground with a loud rumble, slamming into the wolf. The creature yelped in pain, stumbling before another Terean hound leaped onto it, dragging it away from Amabel.

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Sylvia rushed to Amabel's side, catching her by the arm. "Are you alright?" she asked, her voice full of concern.

Amabel, still shaken, straightened herself and nodded. "I-I'm fine," she stammered.

The headmistress approached swiftly, her sharp gaze scanning the battlefield. "Don't let your guard down," she warned. It had been her magic that conjured the stone block to protect Amabel.

Sylvia placed a reassuring hand on Amabel's shoulder. "We've got this," she said firmly. "I'll watch your back, and you watch mine."

Amabel nodded, determination flickering in her eyes despite the fear. Around them, the guardsmen fought valiantly, holding their line against the relentless wolves.

The battlefield was chaotic, filled with snarls, clashing steel, and bursts of magic as the group struggled to maintain their ground amidst the onslaught.

Each time Sylvia or Amabel conjured their spells, the wolves anticipated and dodged them. Their movements were erratic but precise, and their wounds healed almost instantly.

Seeing this, Sir William moved beside the headmistress. “The battle has dragged on for far too long,” he said, moving closer to the headmistress as he struck a wolf with his sword. He raised his shield to block an incoming attack, pushing the creature back before swiftly cutting it down.

Sir William then continue saying, “My lady, is there any spell that can slow their movements? The wolves are relentless, and they’re faster than ever.”

“I’m on it,” the headmistress replied. She continued, “Order your men to close their distance to the center.”

Without hesitation, Sir William nodded and shouted in a commanding tone, “Men, regroup! Form a defensive circle!”

The guardsmen slowly backed up, shields raised, forming a circle with the headmistress and the mages, including Sylvia and Amabel, at the center.

The headmistress turned to Professor Gale and said, “Professor, could you command your Terean hounds to push the wolves further from the defensive line?”

“Of course, my lady,” Professor Gale replied.

“Sylvia,” the headmistress called as Sylvia blasted away a wolf trying to breach their defenses.

“Yes, headmistress,” Sylvia replied.

“When the Terean hounds push the wolves back, I want you to conjure a lightning spell around their position. Professor Gale will withdraw the hounds as soon as your spell is ready,” the headmistress instructed while conjuring a stone barrier to fend off a wolf attempting to breach the circle.

She continued, “It should give enough time to immobilize the wolves for Amabel to bind them with her vine spell,” she said, glancing at Amabel beside Sylvia.

Amabel returned the gaze and nodded without a word, understanding that the headmistress had a plan in mind.

The headmistress smiled confidently and said, “I’ll handle the rest.” Her tone was steady despite the tension in the air.

Professor Gale focused his thoughts, seamlessly assimilating them with the summoned Terean hounds. The binding vow between him and his familiars allowed them to communicate without words. As the Terean hounds pushed the wolves away from the defensive line, Sylvia prepared her spell, waving her wand.

At Gale's command, the Terean hounds abruptly retreated, clearing the area. In an instant, streaks of lightning formed around the wolves' position, encircling them. The energy crackled and surged, striking each wolf with precision. The wolves wailed, momentarily stunned.

Amabel seized the opportunity, summoning vines that shot from the ground, wrapping tightly around the wolves and holding them in place. Simultaneously, the headmistress waved her wand swiftly, chanting, "Enbruer." Large stone slabs erupted from the ground on either side of each wolf, the tips joining above to form enclosed traps.

With a slow, deliberate motion, the headmistress lowered her wand, guiding the stone slabs downward, sinking them into the earth with the wolves trapped inside. The wolves growled and hissed violently, but their struggle was futile. When the spell was complete, the ground sealed, leaving no trace of the creatures.

The headmistress exhaled a relieved breath, a faint smile crossing her face as she met Sir William's gaze. He returned the expression, his relief evident. Sylvia sank to the ground with a heavy sigh while Amabel, panting and lowering her wand, stood beside her. Their battle was finally over.

In the distance however, a clash of dark magic and Athia’s promised savior raged on. Alastair, still in his wolf form, swung his massive claws, sending sharp waves of dark energy slicing through everything in their path. The trajectory was clear: Aki.

Anticipating the attack, Aki commanded the earth to rise, forming a wall of rock and dirt as a natural barrier. The dark aura slammed into it, shattering the structure entirely. Amid the dust and debris, Alastair grinned menacingly, but Aki was nowhere in sight when the air cleared.

Alastair’s grin twisted into annoyance as his eyes darted around, searching for his opponent. “Whew, that was close. He almost got me,” Aki muttered, floating above the battlefield, not far from the chaos below.

“YOU SHOULD BE MORE CAREFUL!” Vidia’s sudden outburst startled Aki as she appeared beside him, shouting directly into his ear. She stood with her hands on her waist, her expression livid.

“Sorry…” Aki replied sheepishly, his weak smile acknowledging her scolding.

“Hmph.” Vidia crossed her arms tightly, glaring at him.

“Wait, I thought you already left for somewhere safe,” Aki said, puzzled.

“I was hiding under your robe the whole time, clinging to my dear life!” Vidia shot back, her tone sharp.

“I… really didn’t notice,” Aki admitted, his voice tinged with guilt. Vidia gave him a sharp look before shifting her gaze back to Alastair, who was now thrashing through the woods, tearing apart trees in his frantic search for Aki.

“Show yourself, you spineless brat!” Alastair’s roar carried through the battlefield. His eyes eventually locked on Aki, hovering high above.

“Crap, he saw me,” Aki muttered, a hint of panic in his voice.

“How are you planning to stop him?” Vidia asked, her tone serious.

“I was hoping you’d have an idea,” Aki replied, gripping his wand tightly, already preparing for Alastair’s next move.

Dark energy swirled around Alastair as his form began to shift. The wolf dissolved, replaced by a massive, eagle-like creature cloaked in shadow and exuding an ominous aura.

“Here he comes,” Aki said as Alastair surged upward, his new form slicing through the air. Aki dodged the charge and descended toward the woods below, weaving meticulously through the cover of the trees. Alastair was relentless, his dark wings slicing through the branches as he gave chase.

Clinging to Aki’s robe, Vidia observed intently. “His form is incomplete.”

“Incomplete?” Aki exclaimed, narrowly dodging a hurled tree trunk.

“I can sense it from his aura,” Vidia explained. “His presence in this reality isn’t whole—like he’s only been half-summoned.”

A sudden blast of dark energy shot toward Aki; he conjured a light barrier just in time, the radiance blocking the attack. Now grounded, he braced himself defensively, holding his wand before him to maintain the shield.

“Urgh…” Aki grunted as he struggled to push the dark energy away, forcing it upward with all his strength.

Alastair glided downward, his form shifting once again. He landed in a humanoid shape, his eyes locked on Aki, his dark aura swirling menacingly as the two prepared for the next clash.

“The dark dead tree... it’s emitting the same dark malicious aura as him,” Vidia said, hovering beside Aki as she eyed Alastair and the surrounding battlefield. “His summoning body must be nearby—perhaps beneath that tree, under the mine,” she continued.

“Summoning body?” Aki asked, his expression puzzled but his stance steady.

Vidia explained quickly, her tone urgent: “The being in front of you exists because of a summoning ritual. I can feel it—his presence distorts reality. He doesn’t belong to this world; however, he is just a specter of his own existence. In other words, his presence in this reality ties to a summoning body that links our world and his.”

Before Aki could fully process her words, Alastair spoke, his voice dripping with mockery. “I’m impressed you’ve managed to withstand my attacks so far. I expected less from a mere human.”

“Aki,” Vidia called softly, her tone cutting through Alastair’s taunt. Aki’s attention shifted briefly to her, though he kept his focus on Alastair, ready for any sudden move.

“We need to destroy his summoned body to defeat him,” Vidia said, calm but firm.