“Oh my, it seems they are getting quite serious now. This should be over soon,” Aeloria remarks, her voice calm and detached as she hovers in the air, her shimmering silver hair trailing in the wind, watching the chaos unfold below.

Her observation proves accurate as Blaze’s hair transitions to silver with streaks of violet, his eyes glowing deep violet, emanating an intense energy. Scarlett undergoes a similar transformation, her crimson locks shifting to a silver-white with a spectral shimmer, and her eyes glowing with an eerie luminosity.

“Let’s kill this thing swiftly. The longer this fight lasts, the more energy we’ll lose,” Blaze says, gripping the Inferno Reaver tightly, his determination etched into every movement.

“You don’t need to tell me twice. I’m always ready,” Scarlett retorts with a smirk, summoning the shadowy Soul Reaver into her grasp, its void-like mist swirling ominously.

“Maybe we can defeat this thing before Kai gets back,” Riku says with a mischievous grin, clearly eager to claim all the glory.

“Not happening!” a playful voice echoes from above. Perched casually on a cloud, Kai waves down at the group before leaping off and landing beside them. “I wouldn’t let you guys hog all the fun.”

“Glad you could make it. I assume all went well with your matters?” Cassie asks, her tone polite but distant.

“Yeah, my sis shocked me. I’m surprised she’s as strong as she is,” Kai responds, rubbing the back of his head with a sheepish grin.

“Well, it’s not that shocking,” Riku chimes in. “She’s always watching you train and imitating you. Not to mention her ability is nothing to scoff at.”

“Alright, enough small talk. What’s the deal with this cat?” Kai asks, his playful demeanor replaced with seriousness.

Blaze steps forward, his voice calm but sharp. “Its eyes are primarily green, but when it uses its Nightmare Howl attack, they shift to red. It’s extremely fast, agile, can turn intangible, and either vanishes completely without a trace or teleports.”

“Well, isn’t that a lot of bull. How can it be this powerful?” Kai says, though his grin betrays his eagerness for a challenge.

“There’s more,” Scarlett interjects, her voice laced with irritation. “This kitty can attack you from the inside.”

“And,” Cassie adds, her tone measured, “it can even break out of my darkness and destroy anything I create as if it’s paper.”

“We need to come up with a plan to defeat this thing,” Lyria suggests, her voice calm yet firm, her glowing violet eyes narrowing.

Before a strategy can be formed, the Phantasmal Panther springs into action, its sleek, ethereal form moving at blinding speed. Its eyes shift to red as it opens its maw, unleashing its dreaded Nightmare Howl.

“Everyone, get out of the way!” Lyria shouts, urgency in her voice.

“Do not move. Just activate your aura and think of it as rubber,” a sly voice echoes in Blaze’s mind. It’s Ēteru no Eikō.

“Why? What’s the point of that?” Blaze questions, his tone skeptical.

“Just try and see,” the voice responds dismissively.

Blaze complies, activating his aura. A mix of violet and crimson energy envelops him, its vibrant hues pulsing as he focuses. To his surprise, the aura shifts, taking on a rubber-like property. The Nightmare Howl rebounds off him and hurtles back toward the Phantasmal Panther.

“How…?” Blaze mutters, stunned and slightly winded from the exertion.

“This will be your next lesson,” Ēteru no Eikō explains, her tone dripping with superiority. “This aura is an extension of your inner thoughts—your mind. With enough mental power, you can shape and mold it, producing different effects. However, as you can see, it’s draining. Until you master it, use it sparingly.”

“So I can shape it at will…” Blaze smirks, ignoring the warning as his mind races with possibilities.

“How did you do that?” Kai asks, bounding over with wide eyes, his curiosity overflowing.

“Yeah, we saw that energy during our fight with the Triad of Echoes. What exactly is it?” Riku inquires, equally intrigued.

Blaze shrugs, his expression indifferent. “I honestly don’t know, nor do I feel like explaining if I did. All I know is I can use it in this fight.”

“That’s cold. So cold…” Kai mutters, visibly deflated.

“That’s just how he is. You’ll get used to it,” Lyria says, her kind tone soothing Kai’s disappointment.

The Phantasmal Panther, clearly irritated at being ignored, begins to charge up an attack. Its fur becomes wispy and insubstantial, absorbing the surrounding light. Faint, glowing blue lines trace its limbs and face, its otherworldly appearance intensifying.

Suddenly, the Panther’s Seiki explodes outward, an oppressive wave of energy forcing the group to their knees.

“This pressure… It feels like a massive weight on my shoulders. Is this its true power?” Riku grunts, struggling to rise.

“I can barely move… Was it holding back this whole time, toying with us?” Kai groans, frustration etched across his face.

Unseen by the others, Cassie retreats into the shadows, her cleverness allowing her to evade the crushing force.

“As if I’ll let something like this stop me,” Scarlett growls, forcing herself to stand. Blood trickles down her skin, her body trembling under the strain. “A mere bloodlust from a little kitty isn’t going to stop me.”

“Scarlett, stop taunting the oversized cat before it—” Blaze’s warning is cut short as the Panther strikes, slamming Scarlett into the concrete with a paw.

“—kills you,” he finishes, shaking his head in exasperation.

Blaze concentrates, enveloping himself in his aura once more. The pressure lifts slightly, enough for him to move. Flexing his fingers, he prepares to strike but is immediately hit by spectral claws. While the aura deflects the attack, the force sends him crashing into a nearby building.

“This new ability… comes in handy,” he coughs, spitting blood. “Wha—what’s going on?”

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

“As I warned you,” Ēteru no Eikō chuckles, her tone mocking, “using this power recklessly harms you in return.”

“Then I’ll finish this with one attack,” Blaze declares, ignoring her protests.

“What’s the plan? Tell me you’ve got a plan,” Riku asks, his voice a mix of hope and skepticism.

“I always have a plan,” Blaze says with a smirk.

“I knew it. He doesn’t have a plan,” Riku mutters.

Blaze begins explaining his idea to the group, hoping to end the fight with a decisive blow.

“Go!” Blaze yells, his voice filled with urgency.

Without hesitation, Riku unleashes a barrage of lightning blasts from his hands, his body crackling with electricity. The Phantasmal Panther, moving with unnatural grace, dodges the attack effortlessly, but is caught off guard by Lyria. She’s right behind it, firing off two beams of light. The beams hit, but the patterns on the Panther’s body light up, absorbing the attack before firing it back at her with devastating force.

Scarlett charges in to help Lyria, but it’s too late. She watches helplessly as Lyria collapses to the ground, unconscious.

“Now you’ve done it, you damn cat!” Scarlett snarls, her grip tightening on her Soul Reaver. She releases a barrage of powerful slashes, each strike absorbing the energy of the Phantasmal Panther. However, the Panther barely falters. Instead, it retaliates, hurling Scarlett through the air and sending her skidding across the ground.

“My, oh my, two down… Only Four more to go,” a voice says from above, smirking as it watches the battle unfold.

The Phantasmal Panther, its eyes now glowing red, charges toward Scarlett’s defenseless body, but it’s stopped in its tracks by Riku. With a flash, he surrounds the beast in an electric cage. However, the Panther shatters the cage effortlessly, its piercing green eyes locking onto Riku before shifting to red.

“Not good,” Riku mutters. Thinking quickly, he leaps out of the way of the Nightmare Howl, covering his ears and using his speed to avoid the brunt of the attack. But the Panther appears right in front of him, and with a swift strike, its maw tears into his side, blood spilling onto the ground as he falls.

The Phantasmal Panther prepares to finish off its prey, but before it can strike, Cassie steps in. She envelops the beast in a barrier of darkness, buying them a few precious seconds.

“That should buy us a few seconds,” Cassie says, stepping back. “But how do we defeat this thing?”

“Did anyone else notice that it got stronger when those marks and patterns appeared?” Kai asks, his eyes focused on their downed teammates.

“It did get stronger,” Blaze confirms. “It was holding back against us. What predator would waste its strength on prey it knows it can defeat? But now, we’re the prey, and if we don’t find a way to defeat it, we’ll all be dead.”

“Well, that’s a mood killer,” Kai jokes, trying to lighten the tension. “But seriously, this thing is tough. I think we can beat it.”

“How do you plan to do that?” Blaze asks, raising an eyebrow.

“Just follow my lead,” Kai says with a grin, charging at the Phantasmal Panther. “Let’s see how you like a taste of your own medicine.” With those words, Kai begins to shift, transforming into the very form of the Phantasmal Panther.

“I see what he means,” Cassie says, watching Kai engage the Panther. “We’ll keep it occupied while you charge up enough power to take it down for good.”

Blaze nods. “Tell me, Ēteru no Eikō, what will happen if I release an attack at full power while using this aura?”

“Well, let’s see,” Ēteru no Eikō responds in Blaze’s mind, his tone filled with a hint of amusement. “Your power will be unstable, fluctuating constantly, making it harder to control. It could lead you into a coma, or it could break down your connection to your Reiki for who knows how long. And the third option… you could die.”

“All except the last, I’ll accept,” Blaze replies, determination in his voice. He begins to concentrate, focusing all of his aura into his Inferno Reaver. The blade begins to glow with a crimson and violet aura.

“I just need five minutes,” Blaze calls out, the air around him crackling with energy.

“Five minutes, got it. Easy,” Kai says, charging directly at the Phantasmal Panther, which had already broken free from Cassie’s darkness barrier. The Panther locks eyes with Kai, clearly surprised to see itself in front of him. But that shock quickly turns to rage, and it releases a Nightmare Howl.

“Is that the only attack you know?” Kai taunts, releasing his own Nightmare Howl. The two roars clash, and the shockwave from the collision causes buildings to collapse around them.

“This thing doesn’t seem too strong,” Kai says, but his confidence falters as the Panther’s roar starts to push him back. The shockwave sends him flying, crashing into several buildings, which collapse on top of him. “Ugh, guess I spoke too soon.”

“Idiot,” Cassie mutters, creating shackles out of darkness that wrap around the Phantasmal Panther’s legs, restricting its movements. “It’ll be harder to break through these now. I’ve analyzed your power, so try and break free.”

Enraged, the Phantasmal Panther struggles, its roar becoming so high-pitched that the ground beneath them begins to quake.

“Are you ready yet, Blaze? Take any longer and, I don’t know how much longer I can hold it back,” Cassie calls out.

“Almost there, just a bit more!” Blaze responds, his Inferno Reaver glowing brighter and illuminating the surrounding area.

Just as Cassie is about to let out a sigh of relief, her face turns to shock and horror. The Phantasmal Panther breaks free from the shackles, dust swirling in the air where it once was.

“Where… is it?” Cassie says, her eyes scanning the area, only to hear a low growl behind her. She spins around, just in time to see the Phantasmal Panther’s bared teeth, saliva dripping from its maw. “Of course, it’s behind me,” she mutters, quickly creating multiple layers of darkness barriers to protect herself.

But the Panther’s attack is too fast. It strikes her with devastating force, sending her crashing from the platform of darkness and into the city streets below.

“NOW YOU’VE DONE IT!” Kai roars, fury rising in his chest. He charges through buildings with the agility and swiftness of the Phantasmal Panther, his body still in its form. He opens his maw, his teeth coated in dark energy and his own Qi. He sinks his fangs into the Panther’s side, causing it to roar in pain, blood spilling onto the ground.

“How do you like that?” Kai taunts.

The Phantasmal Panther stops flailing for a moment, then a sinister smirk forms on its face. It strikes back with its tail, knocking Kai off balance. His grip loosens, and with a sudden jolt, the pain forces him to revert to his original form.

“Just enough time, now take this you damn mutt!” Blaze roars from high in the air, his Inferno Reaver glowing with an intense crimson and violet aura. He dives down with incredible speed, ready to deliver the final blow to the Phantasmal Panther. But the creature phases through his attack, its eyes flashing with a smug smirk.

“Hn, too bad. I was ready for this!” Blaze grits his teeth, but his strike cuts through the Phantasmal Panther’s form, splitting it in two. However, as the attack lands, Blaze winces in pain. His muscles constrict, his body writhes, and within moments, everything goes dark.

“Ugh,” he mutters under his breath before collapsing, his body unable to withstand the backlash of his own power.

“Interesting,” the figure watching from above says, their voice rich with amusement. Floating down to the ground, they observe the fallen group. "To think they defeated this beast. They all have the potential to become great threats to us and our goal. I should deal with them now, while they cannot move." The figure’s presence feels imposing, their every movement graceful and deliberate.

Standing at 6'1", the figure exudes an aura of power. Their skin is a pale blue with a soft, opalescent shimmer, reminiscent of water’s surface at night. Their eyes, a deep oceanic blue, are flecked with silver, creating an impression of constant motion. Their long silver hair cascades down their back like a flowing waterfall, ethereal and fluid. Their features are strikingly angular yet regal, lending them an air of both beauty and authority.

The figure’s attire is unique, resembling the flowing patterns of water. Their chest is barely covered by water that seems to hold itself in place, while a sash of flowing water cinches at their waist, transitioning into high-cut panties that emphasize their toned midriff. Their legs are partially covered with sleek, flowing water patterns, leaving most of their skin visible. Thin spirals of water encircle their wrists, and their bare feet ripple the water as they step.

Before they can act, a calm voice speaks from behind them. “I do not think that is a wise idea. You see, my precious students have had a tough day, and night, so I would kindly ask if you let them off the hook just this time.”

The figure spins around, startled. ‘What? How—when did she get behind me? How could I not sense her presence?’ She thinks

"My, my, to think I could not sense your power," the figure mutters under their breath, surprised at the sudden appearance. "You must be very powerful. But I have a mission, and no one will stand in my way." With that, she forms a dagger of water and lunges at the newcomer, but her strike shatters effortlessly on Aeloria’s skin.

Aeloria yawns, clearly uninterested. "How weak. And here I thought you'd be a challenge, sending an invasion on my city." She looks at the defeated students around her, then adds, “It’s getting late, and my students need time to heal. Tomorrow is a school day, so let me wrap this up quickly.”

The tension in the air grows as Aeloria looks the woman over with a bored expression. “I’ll give you two options. Option one: stay, fight, and die. Option two: leave, survive to fight another day.” Aeloria’s blindfolded eyes lock onto the figure before her, unflinching.

The woman’s gaze sharpens. “What is your name?”

Aeloria gives a slight, innocent tilt of her head. “It’s not polite to ask someone’s name without giving yours first, is it?”

The woman’s eyes twitch, frustrated. With a sigh, she answers, “My name is Kaela. And what is yours?”

Aeloria smiles playfully. “Quite interesting, your name. It has two meanings. The one I care for is ‘Who is like God.’” She glances at Kaela with a knowing smile.

Kaela’s brow furrows. “That doesn’t give me your name.”

Aeloria shrugs, unfazed. “My apologies. My name is Aeloria, at your service." She gives a playful bow. "It means ‘the Goddess of Dawn and New Beginnings.’”

Kaela scowls. “I didn’t ask about that.”

Aeloria stands straight again, her voice firm. “You have potential, Kaela. The potential to face me as an equal. But not as you are now. Right now, you’re nothing more than an ant to me. So until that day comes, survive by any means necessary, because I will be the one to kill you.”

Kaela, processing Aeloria’s words, thinks to herself, To think she would be willing to let me live after what I did. Who is this woman? Is she really that powerful, or is she just overconfident? Either way, I should take the offer.

After a long pause, Kaela nods slowly. “Then I will take my leave. May we cross paths again in the future.” In a blink, she vanishes, leaving only a faint ripple of water behind.

Aeloria watches her leave, her posture relaxed, and then turns to her students. She gently picks them up, one by one, and transports them to the hospital. "You all did well," she murmurs softly, her voice filled with pride, as she disappears into the night, ready to ensure her students' safety and recovery.