The sky darkened as a terrifying spectacle unfolded above the beleaguered city Zero. A cascade of karmic monsters descended from the heavens, their grotesque forms blotting out the sun. It was as if the apocalypse itself had arrived, doom raining down upon the valiant defenders below. The wall resistance had slowed significantly, and now the students from Eldor Academy found themselves in the direct path of this monstrous deluge.

Cyrus's heart raced as he assessed the dire situation. Those fighting on the wall faced almost certain annihilation, and he knew that if they fell, Eldor would have no choice but to retreat. Without Eldor's crucial support, the vanguard would be crippled, their metaphorical legs cut out from under them before the final sprint.

To make matters worse, Cyrus spotted karmic monsters in the distance turning their attention towards their position. From every direction, it seemed the vanguard was being overwhelmed, struggling merely to survive. Doubt began to creep into Cyrus's mind, threatening to unravel his resolve.

"Calm down, Cyrus, calm down," he muttered to himself, his voice barely audible above the chaos. "It's not over, it's not over." His mind raced, desperately searching for a solution to their seemingly impossible predicament. Suddenly, an idea struck him. "Leora!" he called out.

Understanding flashed in Leora's eyes as she grasped Cyrus's intention. Without hesitation, he barked out his order: "Regroup!"

In an instant, their formation shifted. The wall, now broken beyond repair, was abandoned. They formed a tight circle around Cyrus, with the children huddled at the center for protection. The remaining combatants took up defensive positions on the perimeter, holding the encroaching monsters at bay.

Leora pushed her magic to its absolute limits, blood streaming from her mouth and ears from the strain. Her golden hair whipped around her in the void, making her appear like a radiant star amidst the encroaching darkness. All the magical energy at their disposal condensed around Cyrus, ready for his command.

In that crucial moment, Cyrus recalled a pivotal revelation from his journey with the Queen. While others believed magic was meant to be controlled and subdued, he had come to a different understanding. He reached out into the void, allowing his magic to flow freely, wild and unrestrained.

The earth beneath them split and cracked, the very foundations of the city groaning in protest. Nearby buildings were wrenched from their moorings, rising into the air above the group. These massive structures coalesced to form a crude but effective shield in the sky, just as the rain of karmic monsters began to fall.

The strain was immense, forcing Cyrus to one knee as he struggled to maintain the protective barrier. The shield wavered precariously, threatening to collapse at any moment. Gasps of fear and doubt rippled through the group as they realized how close they were to total annihilation.

But Cyrus refused to yield. He stood proud, channeling every ounce of his strength and will into maintaining their defense. Beside him, Leora's body trembled violently, blood flowing even faster as she pushed herself beyond her limits. The Eldor students, showing remarkable courage, continuously cast healing spells to support her, even as exhaustion began to claim the youngest among them.

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When the rain of monsters finally ceased, a new horror awaited them. The fallen karmic creatures began to rise from the ruins, their nightmarish forms spreading across the horizon as far as the eye could see. Cyrus realized with grim certainty that there was no way for their group to rejoin the vanguard now. Once again, he would have to improvise.

With a heavy heart, Cyrus produced the cube of myriad transformation. Leora, seeing his intention, dragged her wounded body towards him. "No!" she cried out. "You'll never be able to come back alone!"

Cyrus met her gaze, his expression a mixture of determination and resignation. "Marvel at the beauty of the unknown," he quoted, recalling the prophet's words. "I'm not certain I will come back, and frankly, I don't want to guess. I will dive into the unknown."

Before Leora could reach him, Cyrus waved the cube in the void. In an instant, everyone around him was sucked into the mystical artifact as it fell into his hand. The cube, usually light as a feather, now felt immensely heavy with the lives it contained.

Cyrus knew he had only one chance. If he failed, they would all perish, but success meant a chance to regroup with the vanguard at the headquarters. Sweat trickled down his face as he assumed a sprinter's stance, his hands trembling not from fear but from the surge of adrenaline coursing through his veins.

"Go!" he shouted, propelling himself forward just as the karmic monsters launched their attack. A dense net of blade-like fingers whistled through the air, threatening to shred him to pieces. Cyrus moved with lightning speed, his body instinctively shifting into the primordial form. His arms and legs transformed into those of a feline, and he found himself running on all fours like a lion.

He wove through the deadly net with inhuman agility, dancing between certain death. When a wave of purple flames came crashing towards him, Cyrus, disregarding his own safety, leapt directly into the inferno. His fist smashed into the void, dispersing the flames as he continued his desperate dash towards the Bureau headquarters.

In the distance, he could see the Nightmare Vogel engaged in fierce combat with the karmic monsters. Unlike Cyrus and his group, the Bureau's specially tailored weapons could pierce the monsters' tough armor with a single shot. This was the preparedness Cyrus had spoken of, the reason the Bureau stood a better chance against this otherworldly threat.

Pushing himself to his absolute limit, Cyrus felt a sharp object pierce his leg. He crashed to the ground, tumbling uncontrollably before finally coming to a stop at the entrance of the Bureau. The cube flickered, its power waning, and Cyrus could no longer contain its magic. In a flash, the army from the wall materialized amidst the chaos.

Under Eldor's guidance, what remained of the vanguard managed to regroup. Of all the combatants, only ten were still capable of fighting. Eldor approached Cyrus, his face etched with grim determination. "The hardest part has been done. Everyone counts on you now, Cyrus," he said, casting a complex healing spell. Cyrus felt his wounds seal, though not completely healed. "It won't last more than five minutes before the pain returns in full force," Eldor warned.

Cyrus nodded, steeling himself for what was to come. "Okay. Form the wall and keep defending. I won't need more than five minutes to end this. Once it's over, retreat and let the Bureau finish the job."

As Cyrus prepared to enter the Bureau, he cast one last glance at Eldor and the others. Their eyes met, a wordless exchange of trust and determination passing between them. "Stay alive," Eldor said simply, before turning to rally the remaining forces. "Now take your positions! Let's teach these bastards a lesson they won't forget!" he roared, unleashing the full power of his elemental magic.

The soldiers responded with a unified battle cry, taking up their positions with renewed vigor. In the distance, the karmic monsters, as if sensing this resurgence of hope, began their final charge. At first, they moved slowly, their massive arms swinging ominously at their sides. But soon they were sprinting, their thunderous footfalls shaking the very foundations of the earth. Buildings crumbled in their wake as they advanced, a symphony of destruction heralding their approach.

As the karmic monsters opened their maws, ready to unleash their devastating attacks, the soldiers City Zero stepped forward, prepared to meet their fate with unwavering courage. .