Wrath had been killed. With that, another major threat had been taken off of the battlefield. That only left three more to be dealt with.

However, the remaining few weren't going to be any easier than the first few.

Aergia, Eve, and Pride.

3 of unknown power and abilities. For those three, this was a matter of completing a mission to a person they were indebted too.

For the students of Theta, this was a battle of life and death. In order to survive, they had to win and do anything that it takes to achieve that outcome. Whether or not they would be prepared to make the necessary choices remained to be seen.

For the members of the fangless python, this was just another small step to their inevitable rise. Another piece of the puzzle. Win or lose this battle, they were assured that they would win this war. They had the upmost faith in their leader, in Prometheus. With him leading the charge, victory was assured.

And so, they fought without hesitation. They threw their lives on the line without second thought.

This battle with so many intertwined fates, raged on.

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Hikaru was already halfway towards her destination, when the sound of a message being broadcasted over the P.A. system could be heard.

Stopping in her tracks immediately, she tuned in her hearing, eager to see what had transpired.

Along her journey, she had seen multiple massive explosions come from the direction of the front and from Within the Magic Academy. If that wasn't worrying enough, whole sections of the building were collapsing at an alarming rate. Whatever battle was going on in the front was more than just a little intense.

"Students of Theta magic academy! My name is Cath, a third-year student, belonging to the magical applications branch. I know my voice won't do much in raising your hopes, however I hope that the words I bring will. The situation is without a doubt improving. Your efforts are not in vain! Wrath has been defeated!"

Hikaru gasped.

Wrath had been defeated. That should have been impossible. She had seen the trending clips of his battle with the "world ender" of Europe, Julius. He had managed to hold his own. He had also been the one to initiate this attack.

He was a mythical figure. He shouldn't have been 'defeat able.'

Yet without a doubt, that was what Cath had said. A group of brave students had managed to take him down.

An indescribable feeling began to well in her chest, which could only be described as hope. Hope, that they would actually pull through.

Everyone else must have been feeling the same way. They had damaged to overcome the impossible, and now, what was stopping them from doing anything else?

"The damages to the Magic Academy were great. I'm asking for anyone who is able-bodied and not locked in conflict to head to the Magic Academy and assist in the evacuation of the remaining students and teachers still trapped inside. Many of whom are unconscious! Find Brennan and work together with him. This fight isn't over, however don't lose help!"

The broadcast ended their, and Hikaru felt much better than she had before. If things kept progressing at this pace, then maybe-no-they would definitely be able to win.

After all, defeat wasn't an option.

Turning her attention back towards the arena, where lightning was striking without pause, her thoughts began to drift over to her reason for going there.

Raiden.

Internally, she was still kicking herself for leaving him their alone. Whatever that monster Greed had done to him, it had several messed with him. His thoughts were a jumble, his mana level was constantly fluctuating, and one of his eyes had literally changed color. She could only hope that whatever negative effects he was experiencing went away with that monster's death.

Despite all of that, he still decided to head to another battlefield. Still decided to put his life at risk. It was like he didn't care at all if he died!

And horrifyingly enough, Hikaru realized, he probably didn't.

From the very first conversation that she had with Raiden, she could tell he was one of those people who had low self-esteem.

And he rarely ever smiled. Even when he was hanging out with Erika, Nova, and Masayoshi, he didn't smile much.

Hikaru gained even further insight into Raiden's head in the morning that he, her, and Masayoshi had conversations about Justice. He was someone who wanted to look on the better side of things, however he always chose the reality of things.

She could also tell that he enjoyed having those morning conversations, especially when they were about nothing meaningful. She enjoyed them too. Talking about the weather, or the latest HxH theories, or anything else.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

That was until one day, he pulled back. Stopped participating as much. Kept to himself. He already rarely ever looked anyone in the eyes, and now, it was down to zero.

Hikaru could not just sit back and watch him pull himself back form everything. Her own heart couldn't handle the sight.

The day Hikaru had introduced the lesson about developing their own abilities, Hikaru heard her own dads voice urging her on. Telling her to be the one to bring a smile to his face.

And so, she did what she was best at and devised a strategy to bring a smile to Raiden's face. She asked him to accompany her to the mall, not only to get him to join the special defense force team, but to also just have fun.

Whether or not he viewed it as a date himself was a completely different matter Hikaru didn't want to think about. She couldn't even collect her own thoughts on that matter.

However, what she did know, was that he enjoyed that day. She did too. He smiled just as much as her. He laughed. He had a good time.

His smile and the time they spent was still engraved in her mind.

And she could tell just how competent he was. He became a member of the student council on his very first day along with his sister. He was willingly late to class to take his sister out on a tour of the school, and she could tell that he cared very much for her.

He was smart. He was strong.

And according to the stories that Kami had told Hikaru when they talked, he was extremely reliable. He hated tea but still drank it every time Kami made it. He was a magical prodigy, but when it came to people's feelings, he was a dunce.

And he was someone who wouldn't hesitate to help.

He was everything great.

And that's why it made Hikaru so mad when he called himself a 'worthless piece of shit'. The way he just cast aside his own worth and took all of the blame upon himself. They way he tried to make everyone hat him, so that he could justify his own decision.

She hated all of it. And she wouldn't stand for it.

She swore that she would pull him out of it, to give him a slap in the face to wake him up when the moments right.

She wished she had done it sooner, because right now, it might be too late.

Turning a corner, she nearly crashed into another student.

Coming to a halt, she slides, to see the black-haired girl in front for her do the same.

It was Aura.

Her eyes widened in a mix of relief and shock at the sight of Hikaru. Immediately, she asked,

"Have you seen Phi!"

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Shindo jumped from rooftop to walkway to wall, never ceasing in one place for too long. He had only one target in mind right now.

He was heading for the large battlement in the far corner of the Magic Academy, that hugged against the barrier. There, lie the strongest aura signature within the entire battlefield.

Shindo had given this mission to himself. He couldn't let it fall to anyone else. Because it would be selfish of him.

After giving that broadcast and seeing the support he got from all of the students that he thought feared him, he couldn't let them down by shying away from this task.

In the back of his mind, his killing of Greed was still fresh. It would probably always remain that way. He wouldn't ever let himself forget it, just like he never forgot his first kill.

He landed on another glass walkway, increasing his speed. He wanted to get there as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, he couldn't make use of his ability to teleport, because he could only travel to places where he had previously placed a teleportation spell. He had never had any reason to come to this side of the magic academy. He was internally kicking himself. Had it not crossed his mind that it would be useful in case of an emergency?"

Although, it looked like his opponent was taking their sweet time. They were either waiting for Shindo, or they were a very relaxed and self-absorbed person.

Oddly, Shindo had a feeling that it was a bit of both.

He had two main objectives currently.

Number one, was to confront this opponent and prevent him from reconnecting with his allies. He hoped that all he had to do was hold this opponent off, however, he didn't allow himself to operate on thoughts of hope.

He resigned himself to the fact that he would most likely need to defeat this opponent.

Which would be no easy task. Shindo hadn't even seen this man yet, and he could be sure of that much.

His second objective was to try and locate the headmaster. From the very beginning of this conflict, the headmaster had not made an appearance. Shindo knew that he wouldn't just remain uninvolved unless something else was at play. And if there was anyone who would be responsible for keeping the headmaster out of the battle, who else but the strongest person on the battlefield currently.

He slid down another rooftop, continuing to move. From behind him, a massive battle had just reached its conclusion. He could sense a very strong aura suddenly die out. The P.A. system announced that Wrath had been defeated.

Shindo smiled at that news.

Those massive explosions, and the sun suddenly shining down for a brief moment, along with that massive explosion striking the barrier. It was not an easy battle. But they managed to do it. That was two down.

Suddenly, Shindo sensed another person's mana signature appear, as if they quite literally appeared out of thin air.

Stopping on a dime, Shindo vaulted over the battlement, to see down below the shadow of someone moving throughout the brush on the ground.

They were darting from bush to bush, never in the open long enough for Shindo to get a good look at them.

Immediately concealing his aura, he began to trail this person. He stuck to the roof-tops, making sure to stay out of sight.

From what he could see, they were tearing a path towards the tower Shindo had been going too.

Now, where they an ally, or an enemy.

If they were an ally, they would have a lot of explaining to do. They were very far out from where the battle was concentrated. However, the lack of communication that anybody possessed probably excused that.

As the approached a part with relatively little underbrush, the mysterious figure stepped out into the open. In the rain, it was extremely hard to make out who they were, but Shindo could tell they were a girl with long blonde hair.

Deciding that now was the time to pounce, Shindo jumped out, and landed in front of this person.

He spun his spear, before putting it right up to this person's throat.

At the same time, a knife was at his.

Not even blinking, Shindo looked the girl up and down.

She was wearing a black trench coat, meaning that she was a member of the special defense force. She was sucking on a lollipop, and had a radio attached to her left leg.

"You knew I was following you." Shindo didn't even bother to phrase it like a question.

"I'd have to be blind to not notice such a powerful aura approaching. Congratulations on the speech."

"Who are you?" Shindo faintly remembered seeing her on the day he had gone to see the preparation of the 'Castle of Dreams', however he didn't know her name.

"The name? Phi."

"What are you doing out here?"

"I could ask you the same thing." She fired back, not shying to make direct eye contact with Shindo.

"You seem smart. You know the answer to that already. Don't make me turn my weapon against an ally."

They had a prolonged staring contest, each one staring at the other through eyes that were locked behind curtains of hair that stuck to their heads because of the rain.

"Are you willing to trust me?" She asked, her eyes narrowing.

"That depends on your answer."

She sighed, before slowly pointing to the massive tower behind them.

"I know where the headmaster is being trapped."