The acrid stench of smoke lingered in the air, mingling with the metallic tang of blood and debris that filled the grand hall. Nate's vision was blurred by the remnants of dust and the aftermath of the explosion, but his mind was sharply focused on one thing—Sophia's betrayal.

The paralyzing curse still gripped him, locking his muscles in place, as he watched Sophia, and the others disappear through the shattered remnants of the assembly hall. He struggled against the invisible chains that held him, his eyes burning with a mix of rage and desperation. Chloe's pained expression haunted him, a silent scream in her wide, shocked eyes as she was dragged away.

"I... won't let this...stand," Nate growled through gritted teeth, his voice strained against the spell's constraints. The anger burning in his core surged, the scar left by his father's fruit pulsing with a dark, molten energy.

Elysia's gaze flicked between Nate and the fading figures of their captors. Her breath came in ragged gasps, the reality of the situation pressing down on her with a crushing weight. "We have to break free... we have to save them," she managed, her voice trembling with determination.

Beside her, Irina focused intently, her hands weaving intricate patterns in the air. Sweat beaded on her forehead as she poured her remaining energy into dismantling the blood curse that bound them. "Hold on... just a bit longer," she whispered, her voice filled with unwavering resolve.

Anton, ever the picture of calm, scanned the room, his analytical mind racing through scenarios. "We need a plan. As soon as we're free, we find a way to track them. Sophia's actions make no sense... there has to be more to this."

Evan's face was a mask of fury, his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white. "When I get my hands on them... they're going to pay for this," he muttered, a dangerous glint in his eyes.

The seconds stretched into an agonizing eternity, but finally, Irina's efforts bore fruit. The binding curse began to unravel, threads of dark magic dissipating into the air. With a shuddering gasp, Nate felt control return to his limbs, the invisible chains falling away.

"We're not out of this yet," Irina warned, her voice strained. "But we can move."

Nate staggered to his feet, his gaze hard and determined. "Then we don't waste any time. We find them, and we bring them back. Sophia's not getting away with this." Nate says, as he dashes out running outside.

"Wai—" Before Elysia can finish her sentence she gets interrupted by a searing pain where she has her sigil that binds Drakkar to her. Oh no he's going to slip.

As Elysia steadied herself, the pain from her binding sigil searing through her skin like a white-hot brand, a sense of dread clawed at her mind. If Drakkar's control slipped, there was no telling what kind of havoc his demon instincts might wreak, especially if he caught up to Sophia in his current state. The betrayal and chaos already unfolding could quickly turn into a bloodbath. She tried to push the thought aside, focusing on one goal: stopping Nate before he charged headlong into danger.

Just as she took a step to follow him, the vice president—a tall, imposing figure known for her unyielding composure under pressure—blocked her path. Her voice was firm, commanding attention. "Elysia, stop. We cannot rush out there blindly."

Elysia bristled, but the vice president's steely gaze held her in place. "Running after them now would be a death sentence. We don't know what's waiting out there, and if The Purity Front takes control over the Central Magic Grid... We are done for. We need to regroup."

At that moment, Anton stepped forward, his posture exuding an eerie calm that came from years of military experience. His gaze swept over the hall, quickly assessing the situation with a clinical detachment that belied the chaotic scene around him. His mind raced through tactical protocols and crisis management scenarios, weighing their options. He had been in situations like this before, and he knew the key to survival was organization, strategy, and focus.

Everyone, listen up!" Anton's voice cut through the residual murmurs and frantic movements, grounding those around him with the confidence of a seasoned commander. He gestured to the students who were still frozen in shock, some bleeding, others shaking with fear. "First priority is securing the wounded and assessing our numbers. Those who are able-bodied, get the injured to cover and stabilize them as best as you can. If you have healing scripts, use them. We need to conserve Aetherium, but we can't afford to lose anyone else."

Anton turned to Irina and Evan, his voice dropping into a tone that brooked no argument. "Irina, you're with me. Your stasis ability might be needed to shield us from any follow-up attacks. Evan, coordinate the able students into squads. Each squad should focus on a specific task: medical assistance, perimeter defence, and a recon team."

Evan nodded sharply, his previous anger focused into grim determination. He immediately began organizing students into small groups, assigning each person a role based on their strengths. His voice carried authority, reminding everyone of the urgency and seriousness of their situation.

The vice president turned back to Anton, her expression stoic but questioning. "What about Sophia and the others?"

Anton's eyes darkened, his mind clicking into an operational mode honed through years of black ops training. "We need intelligence before we make any moves. The Purity Front knows what they're doing. If they've breached the assembly hall, they've probably set traps and positioned sentries around key areas. Charging in without intel would be suicide." He looked over at Irina. "You've got Chrono Stasis on standby, right?"

Irina nodded, her face pale but resolute. "I can keep it active, but I'll need a line of sight. If we run into any ambushes, I can buy us time to react, but it'll drain my reserves fast."

"Understood," Anton replied. He turned to the remaining students who were equipped with combat-ready CATs. "Form up. Defensive formation. We move as a unit, and no one goes off alone. We've seen what they're capable of. If The Purity Front takes controls the Central Magic Grid for example, they'll have control over Aetherium distribution. This means they can jam our CATs, but there are limits to every system. If we can locate their interference source, we may be able to counter it with a synchronized script burst."

The vice president glanced at him, brows furrowed. "Do you think they're using localized jammers?"

Anton nodded. "I'm not sure but having the ability to disable our CATs isn't easy, especially implanting a spell into someone's blood. I'm not sure what their goal is or what they will or won't control, but it's best to be safe in scenarios like this and plan for everything we can think of."

Anton moved quickly through the wreckage, helping students trapped under beams or pinned by debris, his movements brisk, efficient. His voice dropped into a lower, darker tone as he muttered to Elysia, "If they've got the grid, they control Aetherium distribution. That gives them control over nearly everything that powers this academy. If they're jamming our CATs, we need you ready to dismantle it when we find their interference points." He paused, his gaze assessing her. "Can you handle that?"

Elysia met his eyes, forcing the tension in her body to relax, even as her sigil throbbed with renewed urgency. "I can handle it," she replied, her voice firm. The pain was nearly blinding, a reminder of the secrets she kept. If Nate slipped into his other self, the consequences would be catastrophic. But right now, she had a role to play, and she'd see it through, no matter the cost.

Anton nodded, then cast his gaze over the hall, taking in the students who looked to him, bewildered, terrified. He'd seen this look on recruits before, back when he was embedded in combat operations. The look of young soldiers just starting to understand the cost of survival. He didn't sugarcoat his next words.

"This isn't a game. Those of you who thought this academy was safe, that it would protect you from the darkness of the world—consider this your wake-up call." His voice was grim, unforgiving. "The people who attacked us will not hesitate to kill every last one of you if it furthers their cause. They have already proven that they'll use any means necessary. This isn't a schoolyard brawl. This is survival, and if you want to live through this, you will follow my orders without question. Understood?"

A murmur of assent rippled through the group, the fear in their eyes hardening into something closer to resolve. Anton's words hung heavy in the air, a dark promise of the brutality they might yet face.

The vice president, her face as pale as bone but her gaze unwavering, stepped forward. "And if the Central Magic Grid is their target?" she asked, her tone steely.

Anton's expression was stony. "Then we cut them off at every access point. This grid is the lifeblood of NovaMyst and the entirety of New London

If they take control, they don't just destabilize the academy—they hold the entire city hostage." He paused, his eyes flickering with a lethal gleam. "I won't let that happen. Which is why we don't wait for backup. We are the backup. We secure each access point and cripple their interference where we find it."

Anton's voice shifted, louder now, addressing the gathered students. "Everyone, fall in line. Here is what I want you to do. First, I want two squads, one for healing, one for defending. The healing squad will consist of those of you that are already helping or prefer to help those that need it. Squad two is for those of you that want to protect the people healing."

"What about you?" The vice president asks.

"I will take Irina and Elysia and we will form our own squad, the recon squad, and we'll be clearing the path forward."

Every student was on edge, their bodies coiled with adrenaline, their minds barely processing the abrupt descent into chaos. But Anton's words kept them anchored, his presence a dark lighthouse in the encroaching storm.

They moved as a cohesive unit, slipping through the rubble-strewn corridors, their footsteps barely audible as they followed Anton's lead. He kept them low, avoiding the large windows where shadows flickered ominously in the broken light filtering through the dust. The faint clinking of metal echoed somewhere nearby, punctuated by the occasional crack of distant gunfire—a grim reminder of the firepower The Purity Front wielded.

As they neared the central atrium, Anton held up a fist, signalling a stop. He scanned the area, his gaze flickering with calculated precision. The shadows were too thick, too still. Something was waiting for them.

He turned to Irina. "Now," he murmured, barely a whisper.

Without hesitation, Irina activated her Chrono Stasis, the air around them shifting, vibrating with a palpable tension as time in the immediate area froze, everything within her radius locking in place. Anton scanned the frozen scene, his eyes narrowing as he spotted several figures poised to strike, weapons drawn, their faces twisted in anticipation of ambush.

He exhaled, his voice low but steady. "Irina, hold it steady. Elysia on my mark, we neutralize each target, silently and efficiently. We only have a few seconds before the stasis field drains her."

With practiced precision, they moved as one, silent and deadly, striking down the frozen attackers with unerring accuracy. Blood sprayed, dark and silent, each member of The Purity Front dropping to the ground as the stasis faded, leaving nothing but still bodies in their wake.

Irina staggered slightly, the toll of her ability evident in the pallor of her face. Anton placed a steadying hand on her shoulder, his expression unreadable but oddly approving. "You did well. Now fall back and conserve your energy; we'll need you for the final stretch."

Elysia pressed forward, her hands tracing patterns in the air as she worked to dismantle the jamming spells embedded throughout the hall as well.

As each one unravelled, the hum of magic gradually returned to their CATs, a faint glow reigniting around the students who'd managed to keep themselves armed.

"We're back online," Elysia whispered, relief colouring her voice. "Whatever jamming scripts they're using, I can tear them down—just keep me close to the interference sources."

"Good," Anton said, his voice low and purposeful. "Now let's keep moving. The faster we secure the grid, the better chance we have of keeping this place from turning into a slaughterhouse."

They pressed forward, moving through the academy like shadows, each step measured, every movement purposeful. The faces around him reflected the same reality he'd faced countless times before: the sobering knowledge that the world could descend into hell in an instant, and that survival depended on will, discipline, and the courage to face it without hesitation.

As they neared the final stretch leading to the grid access point, Anton's gaze sharpened, his senses honed to every possible threat. Whatever lay ahead, he would see them through it.

The heavy stone doors loomed before them, ornate yet functional, crafted to withstand both magical and physical assaults. The faint flicker of candlelight seeped from beneath the door, casting eerie shadows across the cold stone floor. Anton signaled for Irina and Elysia to stay close as he reached for the iron handle. With a surprised look Anton noticed that the passage way, and door to The Central Magic Grid chamber was already opened.

The Central Magic Grid chamber was bathed in an almost otherworldly glow, the air thick with an electric tension that prickled against their skin. A vast array of intricately designed consoles, each one etched with arcane symbols and script, lay in a semi-circle around the central grid. The grid itself was an imposing structure—a towering network of interlocking geometric designs suspended mid-air, each line pulsing faintly with Aetherium energy. The walls were lined with ancient stained-glass windows, their colours dimmed by layers of frost, and candles placed meticulously throughout the room added a flickering warmth that barely staved off the pervasive cold.

But it wasn't the beauty of the place that held Anton's attention. It was the three figures stationed by the central grid, each one cloaked in dark robes bearing the insignia of the Purity Front. One of them was hunched over a console, muttering incantations as they manipulated the complex machinery. The other two stood guard, hands on their anti-magic weapons, scanning the room with sharp, wary eyes.

Anton motioned for Irina and Elysia to hold position just inside the doorway. His voice was barely a whisper. "Three targets, one operative and two guards. The operative seems focused on interfacing with the grid. Irina, as soon as I give the signal, freeze the guards. Elysia, be ready to disrupt their weapons."

Irina took a steadying breath, her fingers already tingling with the familiar energy of her Chrono Stasis spell. Elysia's gaze was steely, her hands subtly tracing patterns in the air as she prepared to dismantle their weapons from a distance.

Anton moved forward, staying low and silent, waiting until he was close enough to strike. Then, with a quick, decisive nod to Irina, he gave the signal.

Irina's hands moved gracefully, weaving an invisible net around the guards. In an instant, time froze within her sphere, locking the guards in place, their wary expressions now frozen in a twisted mask of surprise. Elysia acted simultaneously, her eyes narrowing as she focused on the anti-magic weapons, her dismantling spell unravelling them piece by piece. She could feel the resistance of the spells woven into the metal, but her focus was unwavering. The weapons dissolved into harmless fragments, clattering softly to the ground.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Anton moved with deadly precision, slipping through Irina's stasis field as if it were air. With a swift, brutal efficiency, he neutralized the guards, one hand over each of their mouths to ensure silence as his Integrated Armament, a combat knife, found their hearts. He let their bodies drop soundlessly to the ground before signalling to Irina to release the spell.

The operative, oblivious to the fate of their guards, remained hunched over the console, fingers dancing across the controls, murmuring a string of incantations. As Anton approached, he caught snippets of the operative's intent—words about siphoning power, rerouting Aetherium, and destabilizing the academy's central systems. He tightened his grip on his weapon, inching forward with the cold intent of a seasoned predator.

Just as he was about to strike, the operative's hand twitched, a dark energy flaring briefly across the console. The grid pulsed, and Anton felt a shift in the air, a ripple of magical energy that seemed to stretch outward, radiating through the walls.

Anton's strike was swift and lethal, but as the operative crumpled to the ground, they managed a final, rasping laugh. "You're too late..." they whispered, blood seeping from their lips. "The Front already has... what it needs..."

With a last shudder, the operative went still, leaving Anton staring at the console, his mind racing.

Irina and Elysia approached, their eyes wide as they took in the room's chilling beauty, now tinged with the blood of the fallen guards. But there was no time to appreciate the setting; the pulsing energy of the grid was intensifying, the glyphs on the consoles flickering erratically.

"Anton," Elysia murmured, her voice tight with urgency. "If the Purity Front has already activated a sequence, they could be rerouting the entire Aetherium distribution from this chamber. The academy... even the city itself... could be starved of power."

"Can you stop it?" Anton asked, his gaze hard.

Elysia examined the console, her fingers hovering over the ancient controls, her mind racing to decipher the arcane codes. "I can try to reverse the sequence, but it's deeply embedded. The Purity Front didn't just set up a standard script. This is layered magic—a hybrid of modern and ancient spells. I'll need time."

"Do it," Anton commanded, positioning himself near the doorway, his senses on high alert. "Irina, watch her back. The Front won't let us undo this easily."

Elysia's fingers flew over the console, muttering a blend of incantations as she dove deeper into the layered spells. Her brow furrowed, beads of sweat forming as she navigated the complex network of controls and incantations. Each layer resisted her, forcing her to dismantle barriers one by one.

Suddenly, the room trembled, the ground vibrating as a low hum echoed from the grid itself. The candles flickered wildly, and the energy in the room surged, dark and ominous.

"Something's wrong," Elysia whispered, her voice barely audible. "They've embedded a failsafe... If I tamper too much with the controls, it could trigger a backlash—a surge that could overload the entire grid."

Anton's gaze was cold and calculating. "If that happens?"

Elysia looked up, her face pale. "Then the grid could implode, taking the academy—and possibly half the city—with it."

"Blow it the fuck up." Says Nate showing up at the door, his sword now redder than pink.

"You're here!" Says Elysia, a mix of relief and worry.

"Yeah. Sophia and them left." Nate spits out. "A lot of people got in my way, and I ended up losing track of them." He says, punching a hole through one of the computers.

"Do it Lysia. I'll be fucked if I'm letting you die too."

Elysia's fingers hovered over the console, trembling. Her gaze shifted from the ancient runes to Nate's resolute face, a storm of defiance and fear raging within her.

"I'm not doing this, Nate. I'm not just going to... to blow this up and let you take the blast! That's insane!"

Nate's jaw tightened, and he took a step closer, his voice low but fierce. "We don't have time, Elysia. If you don't do this, that failsafe will detonate on its own. I'd rather control the explosion than let it go off when we're not ready. Besides..." He smirked, though his eyes held a dangerous intensity. "I can handle it."

"You're lying," she shot back, her voice shaking with barely suppressed fury. "You can't handle that! I know you can't!"

Anton's gaze flicked between them, his brows drawn in confusion and suspicion. "What the hell are you talking about, Nate? 'Contain the explosion'? You can't possibly survive that kind of force."

Irina echoed Anton's concern, her hand gripping her Chrono Stasis trigger anxiously. "This isn't something any of us can just 'contain.' How exactly are you planning on—"

"There's no time for this!" Nate interrupted, his tone sharp, almost pleading as he shot a desperate look at Elysia. "Command me, Lysia. Connect me to the grid. Use your dismantling ability to make it unstable. If it's gonna blow, I'll control the blast long enough to give you a chance to get clear."

Elysia shook her head, her expression stricken. "Why would you want to trigger it? How does that make sense? You'll die, Nate!"

"It makes sense because it's the only shot we have," he said, his tone raw with intensity. "Look, if the Purity Front put this failsafe in place, it's either here to stall us or to blow the entire academy sky-high. And if it's the latter, I'd rather trigger it myself than let it take out everything. I'm not dying, okay? I'm just... buying us time."

Anton's face hardened, his eyes narrowing. "This is a suicide plan, Nate. There has to be another way."

"There's no other way," Nate growled. "We're out of options. If I don't do this, we lose control of the grid, and that means losing everything. Elysia, please... trust me."

She clenched her fists, struggling against the inevitable. Her heterochromatic eyes flashed with a resolve matching his. "This isn't right," she whispered. "But... fine." She lifted her hand, weaving the spell to connect Nate to the grid, her eyes filled with a pain she couldn't hide. "But you'd better come back, Nate."

He gave her a crooked grin. "That's the plan, princess."

As the spell settled over him, Nate felt the surge of raw, wild energy from the grid flow through him, a storm of Aetherium sparking under his skin, filling him with both power and pain. He grimaced, but held his ground, focusing all his willpower on containing the volatile energy within.

Anton grabbed Elysia's arm as the room began to tremble, cracks spiderwebbing across the floor. "We need to go. Now!"

Irina cast one last, agonized look at Nate, her voice choked. "Nate—"

"Get the fuck out!" Nate roared, his face twisted in concentration. "Elysia, use those eyes of yours. Track Chloe. Royals have a unique Aetherium signature, right? Use it and get the hell out of here."

Elysia hesitated, her heart clenching painfully. But she nodded, focusing her heterochromatic gaze, allowing the unique colours and frequencies of Aetherium to filter through her vision.

"We'll be back," she whispered, a vow that hung heavy in the charged air. Then, she tore her gaze away from Nate and sprinted out of the chamber, Irina and Anton close behind.

As they rushed through the ruined corridors, the horrors of the ongoing siege confronted them at every turn. Bodies littered the ground, some still, others struggling in the throes of pain. Flames licked at the walls, casting an orange glow that danced alongside the shadows of fallen students and shattered dreams. Screams echoed, and the stench of blood and ash filled the air, a grim reminder of the battle that raged throughout the academy.

Elysia's vision began to blur from exhaustion, but she pushed herself harder, her heterochromatic eyes seeking Chloe's unique Aetherium trail. She stumbled over debris and sidestepped panicked students, her focus narrowing to the faint, ethereal trail that lingered, a signature only she could detect. It was faint, a whisper of royal energy among the chaotic signatures of battle.

"There!" she gasped, spotting a flicker of Chloe's Aetherium aura, leading toward a distant corridor.

Anton gripped her shoulder, his voice a mix of urgency and encouragement. "Good. Let's move. We don't have much time before Nate's—"

He cut himself off, not daring to finish the thought.

The three of them pushed on, sprinting through the ruins of their sanctuary, following the trace of Chloe's Aetherium. The weight of what they'd left behind hung heavily on them, but there was no time to grieve, no time to think of anything but survival and the sliver of hope that they could find Chloe before the entire city fell.

Behind them, the grid chamber trembled, the hum of energy growing ominously louder as Nate fought to contain the deadly failsafe within.

And as the distance between them and the grid chamber stretched, Anton cast one last glance back, his face grim.

The Abyss District sprawled before them, a cityscape shrouded in eternal twilight, its towering structures clawing at the sky like jagged fingers. The streets were slick with rain and grime, reflecting the faint neon glows of forgotten signs that flickered in pale, unnatural colours. Water pooled in the uneven cracks of the pavement, littered with rusted debris and the skeletal remains of old vehicles. Above, the buildings loomed, their gothic facades heavy with centuries of soot and wear, interwoven with dense, tangled power lines that crackled sporadically, casting fleeting sparks into the damp air.

It was a place abandoned by both time and society, where the poor and the "unfit" were left to survive on the fringes of magic and progress. Despite the dim light, each window seemed alive, watching, as if the buildings themselves bore silent witness to the suffering and unrest simmering in the heart of New London's dark underbelly. This was a place that had seen revolutions rise and fall, its very stones steeped in the blood and despair of those who had been cast aside by society.

Elysia, Anton, and Irina moved through the district with hurried steps, eyes scanning every shadowed alleyway, every glint of metal that might signal a lurking threat. Elysia's gaze was fixed ahead, her heterochromatic eyes glowing with a fierce determination, homing in on the trace of Chloe's magical signature. It pulsed faintly in her vision, a distant beacon amid the squalor and grime of the Abyss District.

At last, they found her.

Chloe lay bound on the filthy ground of a narrow alleyway, her wrists and ankles shackled in restraints inscribed with anti-magic runes, glowing faintly with a sickly green light that pulsed in time with her frustrated, angry breaths. She was conscious, her face set in a fierce scowl, her eyes blazing with defiance even as she struggled against the restraints. A few feet away lay Sophia, unconscious and discarded like a broken doll, her once-pristine uniform now stained with dirt and blood.

Standing over Chloe was the leader of the Purity Front. His tall, gaunt figure seemed almost spectral in the dim light, his face partially obscured by the hood of his robe. His voice was low but carried a weight of conviction, each word dripping with contempt for the world Chloe represented.

"The magic grid and all it stands for..." he began, his tone controlled, chillingly calm, "is nothing but a tool of oppression. It promises freedom, prosperity, progress—but only for the select few, the privileged, those who've turned magic into a weapon to dominate the weak. The Abyss District is a testament to that lie. A place where the 'unfit,' those deemed 'unworthy' of magic's gifts, are left to rot, stripped of their dignity, their rights."

He paced slowly, as if savouring each word, letting the message sink into Chloe's defiant gaze. "By destroying the grid, we do more than just disrupt your precious academy. We dismantle a system that keeps people in chains, that reserves the power of Aetherium for the chosen few, and keeps it bound instead of free and all around us, as it should be. The explosion will be a reckoning, a wake-up call that will force the world to confront the cruelty and inequality it has hidden for too long."

Chloe's lips curled in disgust. "You're insane if you think blowing up half the city will change anything."

The leader's smile was grim. "True change is never born from peace. History has shown that again and again. By severing the magical flow of Aetherium, we expose this so-called 'gift' as the poison it truly is, a trap that binds humanity in invisible chains, enslaving even the magical creatures it should protect. This isn't just about New London—it's about every soul oppressed by this system, every child left to starve in the Abyss while the elites grow fat off the city's lifeblood."

His gaze grew distant, almost reverent. "The explosion will shatter this illusion, tearing away the veil that hides the truth. It's a message to the world, a call for all who suffer under this tyranny to rise, to break free from the chains of magic and build a society grounded in equality, dignity, and genuine freedom."

The monologue was cut short by a sharp, slicing sound. Anton was already in motion, his two Integrated Armament combat knives glinting dangerously in the dim alley light. He moved with a lethal grace, weaving through the Purity Front members, his movements a blur as he struck with precision and ruthlessness. A dark aura of Aetherium crackled around his blades as he unleashed a flurry of attacks, each strike punctuated by an explosion of raw energy.

"Void Rend," he muttered, his voice low and deadly. The blade in his left hand sliced through the air, creating a ripple that distorted space around it, sucking one of the nearby Purity Front members into an imploding void. A muted scream was all that escaped before the figure was compressed into nothingness.

He spun, shifting his stance, and thrust his right-hand blade forward. "Soul Severance," he intoned, a spectral blade extending from the knife, passing through his target's chest. The member dropped instantly, their essence visibly draining from their body as if their very soul had been cut loose.

Another attacker lunged at him, and Anton shifted his grip, his left knife sparking with energy. "Blood Scythe." The blade transformed momentarily, sweeping through three of the Purity Front members in a broad arc. As the blade sliced through them, a crimson mist erupted, leaving blood painting the walls in a macabre display as their bodies fell lifeless to the ground.

Irina stayed back, her hands glowing with a spell of containment, prepared to shield the group from any stray attacks. Meanwhile, Elysia closed in on the leader, her gaze icy, her expression unreadable.

The leader barely had time to react as Elysia's own blade materialized in her hand, an ethereal weapon shimmering with potent magic. She slashed downward, her blade biting deep into his shoulder, slicing through flesh and bone with a sickening crunch. Blood spurted from the wound as he staggered back, gasping, his face twisted in agony.

She didn't stop. Elysia moved with a precision and coldness that mirrored Anton's, her strikes aimed to maim, to make him suffer. Her blade found his thigh next, cutting deep enough to dismantle his kneecaps, bringing him to his knees with a strangled scream. Blood pooled around him, glistening in the neon glow of the alley's dim lights, and he collapsed, writhing, his voice now a mere rasp as he struggled to speak.

Anton and Irina rushed to Chloe's side, carefully disassembling the restraints that bound her. The runes flickered and died as the anti-magic field dissipated, allowing her to finally sit up, rubbing her wrists, her face still set in defiance even as her exhaustion showed.

"Thank you," she muttered, her voice raw but resolute.

"We need to get back to Nate," Elysia urged, casting a worried glance back in the direction of the academy. "He's holding off whatever failsafe they triggered, but I don't know how long he can last."

But before she could finish her sentence, a brilliant flash lit up the sky, casting harsh shadows across the alleyway. They all turned, eyes widening in horror as they saw the distant silhouette of the academy, now consumed in a blinding, fiery explosion. The shockwave rolled through the Abyss District seconds later, rattling the decrepit buildings, shattering windows, and filling the air with a roar that seemed to shake the very earth beneath them.

Elysia's heart sank, her voice barely a whisper. "Nate..."

The leader of the Purity Front, lying in a pool of his own blood, let out a weak, gurgling laugh. His voice was faint, filled with a twisted satisfaction. "You... were too late... the damage is done. The magical elites will fall... and New London... will burn..."

Anton clenched his fists, but he kept his focus on his team, pushing down the fury that burned beneath his calm exterior. The leader's taunts meant nothing if they couldn't secure their own people. He glanced around, assessing the state of the group, his gaze lingering on Chloe and Sophia.

"We stay put," he announced, his tone brooking no argument. "The authorities need to handle the aftermath here. We're not rushing back into chaos without reinforcements. And we need to make sure both Chloe and Sophia are stable."

Elysia whipped around, her expression sharp and furious. "Are you serious? Nate is in the academy alone, facing that explosion! We can't just sit here and wait while he—"

Anton's face remained impassive, his voice firm. "Elysia, I understand what's at stake, but rushing back without assessing the situation will help no one. Nate would want us to be smart, not reckless."

Chloe, who had been quietly catching her breath, stood up, her face pale but resolute. "Anton, we're wasting time. Nate... he needs us. I'm fine. Sophia..." She glanced at her unconscious body, a flicker of worry crossing her face. "Sophia's out, but she's stable. I'll be fine to move." Her eyes met Anton's with a steely resolve. "Let me go back."

"Absolutely not," Anton replied, his tone like iron. "You're not going anywhere in your condition. None of us are. Irina—call in backup. We'll wait here until the authorities arrive."

Irina nodded, already lifting her communicator, fingers tracing the emergency glyphs. Her voice was calm as she relayed their location, the nature of the situation, and the need for immediate assistance. But her face was set, mirroring Anton's determination. She glanced at Elysia, her gaze a silent message to trust their decision.

Elysia's hands balled into fists, her eyes flashing with frustration. "Anton, this isn't just about being cautious. That explosion... it's like nothing we've ever faced. If we don't act now, we could lose everything—Nate, the academy, and the city. You can't ask me to stand by while everything I—"

"I am," Anton interrupted, his tone leaving no room for debate. "Our priority is the safety of everyone here, and that includes you. The authorities need to know the full scope of what happened, and we can't leave an unconscious Sophia here alone. We stay put until they arrive."

Chloe's face twisted with desperation, her worry for Nate palpable. But she took a steadying breath, her gaze flickering between Elysia and Anton. "Fine. But as soon as the authorities get here, I'm going back." Her voice was firm, her worry only thinly veiled beneath her resolve. She gave Elysia a meaningful look, a silent acknowledgment of their shared worry and their shared determination to act the moment they could.

Elysia's jaw clenched, but she finally gave a reluctant nod, her shoulders tense with restrained energy. She glanced back in the direction of the academy, her heart torn between duty and the overwhelming urge to run toward whatever might be left of it.

As the moments stretched on, the echo of distant sirens grew louder, mingling with the low hum of the shattered district. The authorities would be there soon, and with them, perhaps, a clearer path forward. Anton's gaze remained fixed on the horizon, his expression unreadable, but his mind raced with thoughts of the academy, the explosion, and the danger still lurking in the shadows.

As they waited, a grim silence settled over them, each of them lost in their thoughts, the weight of the past hours pressing down on them. The faint glow of the city cast eerie shadows across the alley, making the Abyss District feel like a place suspended between worlds—between the old order and the chaos of what lay ahead.