{Note: It should've been spetum polearm, not septum polearm. Sorry for the slight mistake.}
"Hey, kids, why are you out here?"
A voice resounded near them. Zachariel and Victoria look up and saw a woman floating in the air, dressed in scarlet-red armor and helmet.
No, it would be better to say that almost everything about her was scarlet-red, excluding her fair skin. She held a long spetum polearm, 1.5 times longer than Zachariel's.
It had 4 projections from the base, and they looked similar to a devil's horns.
Her glowing scarlet-red eyes stared at them, emanating a strong domineering aura that greatly affected Victoria, but not Zachariel.
"Madame, we're out here because I'm being followed by those wraiths. My friend here was implicated and I had no choice but to bring her along." Zachariel politely responded.
Zachariel's statement made General Astrid raise one of her eyebrows, "Being followed?", doubtful of what Zachariel said.
The latter ignored her, knowing fully well that the main reason behind it must remain secret. He didn't care whether she believed him or not.
He only told her about the wraiths following him due to how strong she looked, `I'll gamble for this. I hope it works.`, as he had thought out a plan on how to deal with the wraiths.
"Victoria, can you walk?", Zachariel asked.
Victoria shook her head. The shout earlier affected her too much, and something inside of her seemed to have awakened.
`My… my…`, a voice whispered in her mind.
General Astrid was infuriated, "You-!", `How dare you ignore me?!`
"Then pardon me for being rough but we don't have much time.", Zachariel picked her up again and stood up.
He bowed to the armored figure, "I'm sorry ma'am, we're in a hurry here.", before leaving.
General Astrid was about to smack him but a low growl resounded behind her. She turned around and saw two wraiths running towards her.
She brandished her spetum polearm and readied herself, but the wraiths ignored her presence.
`Don't tell me what that boy said earlier is true?`
She turned around and casted, `Binding Light!`.
A line of light came out from her left hand and chased after the two wraiths. It then bounded them, and she pulled the two towards herself.
They wriggled around, struggling to break free from her constriction.
She observed them and found something peculiar, `Hmm? They seem to be muttering something?`
"Kill him, kill him…" The wraiths repeated.
`Kill him? Are they referring to that boy earlier? But why? What kind of reason do they have that made them want to kill him that badly?`
The affair she thought to be a simple attack from the dark underground factions became more complicated.
`Something's going on here, and that boy must've got an answer to this.`
She vanished from the spot along with the two wraiths and followed Zachariel's trail.
…
Zachariel hastened.
`That scarlet-armored lady should be trailing on to me now. Those wraiths, and the Imperium guards. A big mess must've happened after an hour had passed.` He concluded in his mind.
There was no way a majestically armored lady like that would appear out of nowhere on a normal day in the Imperium Capital City just to greet him and ask why he was outside.
`The wraiths must be scattered around the city, and they must be having a hard time eliminating them. Otherwise…`
His thoughts were interrupted when Victoria asked, "Zachariel, where are we going? Why are we not calling out for guards?".
She was worried because the wraiths were strong and scary to look at.
As a girl fond of looking at pretty things, the wraiths were a nightmare for her.
"Victoria, you said earlier that that loud shout from before seemed familiar to you, right?" Zachariel replied with a question.
"Yes, but why ask that, Zachariel?"
"Because I need you.", Zachariel admitted making Victoria blush.
"You're the only one who can stop this mess right now." Zachariel confidently proclaimed.
"Mess? Do you mean those scary-looking ghosts? But how can I stop them? How do you know that?"
Zachariel just smiled, then suddenly turned serious. Victoria was confused, "Zachariel, are they here?!", softly asking him. She could not see as clearly unlike Zachariel.
Zachariel nodded.
Growls reverberated near their location, scaring Victoria. She clung tightly to him, afraid that those ghosts would come over to her.
"Zachariel, let's get out of here!" Victoria begged.
Zachariel looked for a tree or something similar to put Victoria down, `There!`
He ran, evading the charging wraiths.
'Gragh!' 'Whoosh!' 'Whoosh!'
The wraiths were agile and charged again, but a line of light suddenly sprang on the ground and bounded them.
General Astrid snorted. She pulled the wraiths far away, not caring what happened to them.
"Boy, if you have something in your mind, you better do it now!", she commanded. Binding the wraiths was an arduous task for her. Their will would invade her mind, and she could not hold for long.
Zachariel smirked, `It looks like my guess is on point. She must be a general and definitely knows what's happening.`, and put Victoria down, "Victoria, I'll be back."
The smile on his face astonished Victoria, `How can he remain that calm when facing those scary-looking monsters?! Also, why are his red eyes always having a small glow of green sometimes?`
Zachariel turned around, "Zachariel, be careful!" Victoria reminded.
He jumped at the group of wraiths leaping at him, kicking one of them towards where the rest were gathered.
This angered the wraiths, forcing them to launch spells against him.
Zachariel gathered his dark mana essence before casting, `Shield Projection!`, protecting him from the incoming threat of magic spells.
`This kid, a Prospect candidate!`, General Astrid complimented, `He could see well in this blackout when it's outside!` when suddenly, someone established a telepathic mana link with her.
{Note: Phrases enclosed in <> are an indication of a telepathic mana link conversation.}
She was shocked,
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General Astrid did not like being ordered around,
He continued clashing against the wraiths around him.
'Pak!'
'Boom!'
Spells, punches, and kicks would be thrown out from time to time, lighting up the dark area.
It soon brought the attention of the Imperium guards, mercenaries, and Great School instructors, who were still on the search to where the wraiths went.
…
"Over there!" Captain Assha led her men to the source of flashes and explosion sounds.
So did the other guards as well.
…
On the Imperium Ward, back in Zachariel's room.
"Did you find Zachariel?" Iria puffingly asked.
"No,", Luiz shook his head.
They just came back from being interrogated at the Imperium Barracks when they saw the tattered state of Zachariel's room.
The hole was long repaired by the array formation, but the disordered bed and jumbled furniture gave way to what had happened earlier.
"Don't tell me he was done in by those wraiths?" Iria gasped.
"Iria, this is not the time for jokes." Luka reprimanded, then turned around to everyone saying, "Come, everyone, let's look for Zachariel."
Luka took the lead and went out of the building but was stopped by Instructor Rufus, "Brats, you should keep inside for now."
"But sir, our classmate-", Luka insisted, and so did Instructor Rufus.
"Leave the search to the Imperium guards. That's their task anyway. As for you, you should remain hidden. You won't be of any help for now. Don't try to be heroic because you would look like an idiot if you did."
"Then I'd rather be an idiot than stay hidden like this!" Luiz exclaimed.
"Hmm, great determination you have…", Instructor Rufus approached him, "but you are weak."
'Pak!'
He knocked Luiz unconscious, shocking the other students. They thought Instructor Rufus would pat him on the shoulders.
"This is a reminder to you all. You may think you have the power to save people, but that is only blind bravery and naivety that is normal for people at your age. Once you experience your first battlefield exercise, you will realize just how futile and meaningless your words are right now.", Instructor Rufus emphasized, carrying Luiz on his shoulders.
He commended Luiz for showing such determination but mocked him for being naïve. He didn't want these young fighters dying because of overconfidence or complacency.
He put Luiz on the bed and went to the door.
"You stay here in Zachariel's room until he returns. There are some Imperium guards around. If the ghosts attack here, immediately go out and call the guards. Do not ever try to confront them, understood?", Instructor Rufus commanded.
"Yes sir."
The students behaved.
"I wonder what happened to Zachariel…" Lia worried. She gave out her testimony to the Imperium guards about what had happened earlier.
"Lia, don't try going out through that window anytime now," Iria warned. She knew how much Lia cared for Zachariel's safety.
She recovered from the traumatic sight she saw when Amelia killed a student. Fear still lingered in her heart, the past flashing back on her mind.
…
A wraith punched Zachariel from down his chin, "Argh!"
He flew in the air, spewing blood in the process.
"Zachariel!" Victoria shouted, reaching her hand out to catch him. But she was too far, and it was too dark for her to see anything.
The only way for her to determine Zachariel's location was through the glowing green light coming from the wraiths.
'Ptui!'
Zachariel landed on the ground, drenching the ground in his blood.
"Kekeke!" The wraiths seemed to jeer at Zachariel, their glowing green eyes intensified.
"Kill him… kill him…" Their mutterings echoed in the area, and Victoria heard all of it. "No, please don't kill him!"
A wraith jumped high and landed right beneath where Zachariel was with great force.
'Boom!'
The ground cracked from the force, and Zachariel's back almost broke in half.
"Urghm!!!" Zachariel groaned again, with more blood flowing out of his nose and mouth.
"No!" Victoria cried in pain. She couldn't bear to hear Zachariel's groans, `How is he? He's alright, right?`
General Astrid was shocked by the sudden turn of events.
`F*ck! How come he's at a disadvantage all of a sudden? Weren't they all even earlier?!`, she thought that Zachariel had the power to contain four of those ghosts at once, but reality proved her wrong.
She wanted to help him but there were too many wraiths and minions she was currently binding. Add to that that more of them were coming, if she lent a hand right now, she might put Zachariel in an even worse situation.
`Where are those Imperium guards?! Why are they sloppy all of a sudden?!` She cursed them for being too slow.
The other generals were out at the border right now, and Madame Lena was still unconscious.
`Sir Walker won't go out until His Imperial Majesty's life is in danger. Those guild leaders won't act until the CPL orders them to.`
A wraith stomped on Zachariel.
"Ahuh!" Zachariel groaned in pain.
"No, please stop!" Victoria pleaded as the tears fell from her eyes. She tried to cast spells against them, but they remained unaffected.
A wraith kicked Zachariel in his abdomen, launching him to the air, and landed near Victoria. The latter knelt on the ground; despair plastered on her face.
"Zachariel!" She waveringly called out to him.
"Vic…to…ri…a… I'm… sor…ry…" Zachariel apologized.
"No, please. Don't die on me!" Victoria reached out her hand, but Zachariel was pulled by a wraith. It raised Zachariel in the air before pounding him to the ground.
"Noooo!!!" The situation became worse, and Victoria slowly lost her sanity.
The mutterings from the wraiths loudened. The event was similar to a group of cult members enchanting weird words for their ritual.
"No, please stop hurting him!" Victoria ran over to him and pulled him away from them.
"Aaahhh!" She immediately felt the pain from Zachariel.
Her heart became enraged, angry about why did Zachariel had to endure a torturous pain like that.
`Why… why why why??? Why does my love need to suffer like this? He didn't do anything wrong!` Victoria, or rather, the voice inside her, wailed.
She kept on pulling him, even though the pain intensified.
A wraith slowly walked towards them, "Stop going here!", Victoria futilely casted a fireball spell and continued pulling Zachariel.
`I need to help him! I know I can, I have the power to! Aren't I a Prospect candidate?! What's the use of me being a Prospect candidate if I can't beat them!`
Blood already flowed out of her mouth, but she continued pulling him to safety, or so she thought.
`I need to save him, I need to save him! He stood there with a smile on his face, unafraid of those ghosts that I fear so much! Why can't I be as brave as him? I need to be brave. Victoria, step up!` Victoria swore in her mind. She couldn't understand why she was doing it, but that was everything in her mind right now.
`Fireball! Slashing Wave!`, she repeatedly casted spells.
"Zachariel, don't worry. The guards will be here soon!" Victoria tried to comfort herself.
"Victoria, the guards won't be here-!" Zachariel responded, but…
'Psch!' A wraith suddenly pierced through his abdomen with its arm, fatally injuring him.
"Nooooo!!!!" Victoria finally snapped. Her wailing voice echoed in the air.
General Astrid could feel the helplessness and despair in Victoria's voice. She too, could not help either as there were almost a hundred wraiths and minions she was binding right now.
Her hands and mind were too occupied to help in any way.
The wraith pulled out its arms, smirking while looking at Zachariel.
Victoria stared at the horror standing in front of her. The wraith's body towered over her, and the glowing green and dark mist intensified.
`No, Zachariel, he must be alive!` She snapped out of it and looked down below.
"No, please don't die. Please don't die…" Victoria cried, begging Zachariel to not die. She kept on tugging him but the latter did not respond in any way.
"This is not happening… this is not happening…" The 'death' of Zachariel made her insane.
`He's not dead right? Because he's strong right? I know it because he smiled at me earlier? The confidence in his eyes. Those were not lies! No, not lies!`
"No, he's not dead… he's not dead…" Victoria repeated.
She kept on touching Zachariel's body but to no avail.
The pain in her heart peaked, `No, why does the world hate him? Why did he need to die? We're only just students, and we haven't even made any enemies! Why is this world so cruel?!`
`Because the world simply hates him, Victoria. Everyone is jealous of someone, and that someone is Zachariel!` A voice replied in her mind.
`Don't you see? That woman over there? She is strong, but she didn't help the two of you get rid of the wraiths!`
`The Imperium guards, where were they when you needed them?! Gone!`
`Your seniors, where were they when you needed them?! Gone!`
`Why didn't they come over your call for help when you needed it? Because they need him to be gone!`
`The wraiths, the Imperium, this entire world! It should burn!`
The echoing words in her mind affected her. She became extremely cold with hatred burning in her eyes.
"I won't forgive you…", a dark miasma enveloped Victoria all of a sudden, shocking General Astrid.
"I won't forgive you all!" She bellowed to the skies, her shout resounding throughout the entire Imperium.
It echoed three times, knocking out many low-level fighters nearby. The others covered their ears and bled.
Victoria's silver hair became black, and elongated until it reached her waists. Her body was now entirely enveloped by a dark miasma, and her eyes became eerily scarlet-red.
Her body also transformed. Everything about her became larger and more muscled, but still retaining the beauty that she held.
Her enraged expression stared at the wraiths that were about to strike at Zachariel.
"Die!" A high-pitched and eerie womanly voice came out of her mouth.
She reached out her hand and the dark miasma gathered on her left index finger, striking with an extremely ancient magic spell that pounded the wraiths into submission.
Her attack generated a force that willed everything to kneel in front of her, excluding Zachariel.
General Astrid was shocked about this, `What hidden power!`
Even an upper grandmaster-level fighter like her could not resist Victoria's will. She landed on the ground and knelt without much resistance.
"Keep on dying!!!"
She successively launched the same magic spell over and over again. General Astrid was beaten to near-death.
After seeing the result, the transformed Victoria stopped what she was doing.
"My love, you have died, and this world shall pay with their own lives!"
Victoria's arms opened wide, gathering air to her stomach then loudly shouted at the skies. "Ooaahh!!"
The entire Imperium Capital City has filled with shouts again. The people who bled ears before slowly succumbed to drowsiness as they could no longer take any more of the pressure coming from Victoria's call.
Some of them died.
The dark mist swirled around her up to the sky, bringing turbulent winds that fluttered the leaves and bent the trees aside.
After she shouted, the remaining wraiths were pulled towards her. A long black arm made from the dark miasma that was encircling her would stretch out from Victoria's transformed body, searching for any wraiths in the vicinity.
Meanwhile, the minions were absolved of their corruption, returning them to their previous body state, alive and well, though unconscious.
The long black arms frightened many people.
"Ah, look out!"
It carried a strong death aura wherever it went. Some of them accidentally touched it and died, absorbing their flesh, leaving only a skeletal frame of their body.
Soon after, the entire army of wraiths and minions was gone.
Still, Victoria continued in her channeling. This caused the entire area to slowly become devoid of life.
`Shit, someone needs to stop her!`, General Astrid, who was laying on the ground with heavy injuries, cursed.