The final bell of the day rang, signalling the end of another lesson. Asaga sat at his desk, staring blankly at the board, his mind wandering elsewhere.
He thought that today's lesson on teamwork was a waste of time for someone like him, who preferred to work alone. The other students busily scribbled notes into their notebooks, eager to absorb every detail of the lesson.
Meanwhile, in Asaga's mind, his loyal companion Dark Blood observed him and his classmate Angel, pondering their different approaches to teamwork.
"Angel and the boy, two contrasting versions of the same coin," Dark Blood thought. "I wonder how they will fare working together."
As the other students filed out of the classroom, Angel approached Asaga, eager to discuss the lesson.
"Hey, Asaga, what did you think about today's lesson?" she asked with a friendly smile.
Asaga shrugged, "It was fine, I guess. Not really my thing."
Angel nodded thoughtfully. "I understand how you feel, but I think working together can be powerful. When you have a team that works well together, you can accomplish so much more than you could alone."
Asaga considered her words, but still, he felt sceptical. He had always been a lone wolf, preferring to rely only on himself. However, he could not deny that Angel's passion for teamwork was infectious.
Dark Blood observed the two of them with interest, wondering how their different perspectives on teamwork would play out in the future. For now, he simply waited and watched, eager to see what the future held for his companions.
As the students began to pack up their bags and make their way out of the classroom, Dark Blood couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement building inside him. He had a feeling that John's prediction about Asaga and Angel becoming a team was going to come true sooner rather than later. And once they did, the Divine Duo's persistent problem would no longer be a threat.
Asaga's attention was drawn back to reality as he noticed everyone getting ready to leave. He watched as Romia waved goodbye to him with a cheerful grin, causing Angel to give her an unfriendly glare.
Asaga chuckled to himself at Angel's jealousy. For Angel, she let out a deep sigh, trying to calm down her jealous emotions before continuing to take notes on the lesson. Asaga watched her, admiring her determination and focus. Despite her occasional emotional outbursts, Angel was a valuable teammate who always gave her best.
“What did the principal say to us? Do you remember?”
Angel stopped writing, turned to look at him, and happily replied.
“Yes! The principal told us to practice together for the upcoming Grand Tournament.”
“Let’s do that at night. That’s my only free time.” Asaga coldly said.
“How about the vacant land behind the academy? There, no one can bother us. Let’s meet at the main entrance, around eight o’clock in the evening. What do you think?” Angel suggested.
“Sounds good to me. Then, meet you at eight.” nodded Asaga.
Asaga raised his hand to say goodbye to her before leaving the room.
Angel's heart fluttered as she watched Asaga, feeling a mixture of excitement and nervousness for their upcoming practice session. She couldn't deny that she found him attractive, despite his cold demeanour.
“What a cold person! But he still looks handsome, though. By the way, I should go back to the dormitory now.”
While she packed up her belongings and prepared to leave, Angel couldn't help but let out a small yawn. She was exhausted from the day's lessons and training, but she knew that she needed to keep pushing herself if she wanted to succeed in the Grand Tournament.
She knew that the vacant land behind the academy was the perfect place for them to train, away from the prying eyes of their classmates and teachers.
When she arrived back at her dormitory, Angel collapsed onto her bed, letting out a long sigh. Even with her exhaustion, she couldn't shake the excitement she felt for their upcoming practice session. She knew that Asaga was a tough nut to crack, but she was determined to break through his cold exterior and work together to become a powerful team- more than that.
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Meanwhile, a guard of the Royal Legion patrolled the border between the Kingdom of Ford Anatist and the neighbouring country of Kataruck, his eyes were ever-vigilant for any signs of suspicious activity. The night was dark and quiet, with only the sound of his footsteps echoing through the silent woods.
Suddenly, a movement caught his eye. He raised his torch to get a better look and saw a figure lurking in the shadows.
"Who's there?" he called out, his hand tightening around the hilt of his sword.
The figure ignored his challenge and continued to move along the border, heedless of the guard's warning. Alarmed, the guard drew his sword and brandished it in front of him, the magical orb in his other hand glowing with a faint blue light.
"Step away from the border!" he shouted. "Or face the punishment of the Royal Legion!"
The figure stopped in its tracks, turning to face the guard with eyes that glinted with a strange, otherworldly light. Its voice was low and menacing as it spoke.
"Do you fear death, human?"
The guard was taken aback by the figure's sudden aggression. He had faced many dangers in his time, but something about this creature filled him with a deep sense of unease.
"What do you want?" he asked, his sword still pointed at the shadowy figure.
But the figure only laughed, a sound that sent shivers down the guard's spine.
"I want nothing from you, mortal," it said. "But death... death is coming for you, whether you like it or not."
The guard felt a cold sweat break out on his forehead. He had heard tales of creatures like this, creatures that lurked in the shadows and whispered of death and despair.
"Stand down, creature," he said, his voice ringing with authority. "I am a member of the Royal Legion, and I will not be threatened by the likes of you."
“You do fear death.”
The sphere in his hand immediately burst into pieces as it finished speaking. He had never encountered anything like this before, and the sheer power and malevolence emanating from the creature was almost too much to bear.
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With a sudden burst of movement, he turned and ran towards the nearby watchtower. He knew that he needed to find help, and fast. But as he reached the base of the tower, a strange thing happened.
The entire structure began to shake and shudder as if it were made of nothing more than brittle sticks. The guard watched in horror as hundreds of cracks appeared in the stone walls, and then, with a deafening roar, the entire tower crumbled to the ground.
He stumbled back, barely managing to avoid being crushed by the falling debris. His mind was reeling, his thoughts a jumbled mess of fear and confusion.
"I don't want to die," he muttered to himself, his voice barely audible over the sound of the crumbling tower.
But it was too late. A large rock came hurtling towards him, striking him in the head with a sickening crunch. He fell to the ground, his body crushed and broken.
As the shadowy figure approached the wreckage, it saw the severed arm protruding from the rubble. Without a moment's hesitation, it grabbed the arm and began to chew on it, relishing the taste of flesh and bone.
Finally, the creature crossed the border into the neighbouring country of Kataruck, its hunger satisfied and its malevolent purpose clear. It was a being of darkness and death, and nothing would stand in its way.
"Long live our lord."
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Angel emerged from the academy, looking every bit at the picture of grace and sophistication in her neat uniform. A subtle, alluring fragrance trailed in her wake, drawing the attention of those around her.
But despite her captivating presence, there was a hint of anxiety in her expression. She scanned the area, searching for any sign of Asaga, but saw only the security guard on duty.
Then, she spotted Asaga leaning against a nearby tree. His white T-shirt was covered in glossy black from a long leather jacket, giving him an air of cool detachment.
Underneath the overcoat, Angel caught a glimpse of dark blue pants, and her eyes were drawn to the SoulEquiqment hanging from his right hip - a bright, dazzling red gem that glinted in the fading light.
"He's so cool," she thought to herself, her cheeks beginning to flush with a mix of admiration and nervousness.
Taking a deep breath to steady herself, she began to approach him, her hand waving in a hesitant gesture of greeting. As she drew closer, she could feel her heart racing in her chest, wondering what the night might hold for them.
“Hi, Asaga! You know why we are here, right?”
“Yes, I know. How do we get to that vacant ground?” Asaga wondered.
Angel spoke her idea.
“We’re not old enough to drive. Are you okay with riding a horse? I know a horse rental shop nearby, not too far.”
Finding that was a good idea, Dark Blood persuaded Asaga.
“You should accept her offer, boy. It’s been over five years since your last ride on a horse.”
Asaga pondered. He was a bit scared, but then finally nodded in agreement.
Those two left the academy. After that, Angel led Asaga to a stable.
“Choose a horse that you like. Then, we will move to the practice area!” Angel said.
They split up to find out which horse suit them the most. Just in an instant, Angel quickly pulled out a white horse. Meanwhile, Asaga was still very confused because he did not know what to pick. He did not want to waste their time, so Asaga just randomly chose a brown horse.
They went to the counter to pay the horse rental fee before taking their horse to go outside. Then Angel climbed on the horse and looked down at Asaga.
“It’s your turn! Don’t worry. These horses are friendly!”
“Right away.” He replied doubtfully while looking at the hill in front of him.
The wind was blowing gently, rustling through the leaves and causing the tall grass to sway. Asaga couldn't shake off the feeling of being watched, and his eyes scanned the surrounding area. He noticed a figure standing atop the hill, silhouetted against the sunset.
“Uhm- Hello!? Asaga!”
It startled Asaga, turning his head in all directions. She puffed out her cheeks angrily when he was not paying attention to what she said.
“Sorry! I’m just thinking about something.” Asaga apologized.
“We better move now.” sighed Angel.
Asaga and Angel galloped off towards the horizon, leaving behind the hill where a Lizardwar in a low-rank uniform lurked, a pair of binoculars trained on the surrounding terrain.
With a practised hand, he reached for his walkie-talkie, and his voice crackled through the device.
"One, two, three, testing! I am Kosest, an intelligence agent from MR-1. I am at Uchire Academy, observing the movements of the Divine Duo's son."
Silence greeted his report for a moment before a cold, mechanical voice replied. "Only two individuals? No other notable activity?"
"Yes, sir," Kosest confirmed, scanning the horizon for any signs of danger.
"Very well," the voice intoned. "Maintain your surveillance of the targets, but do not engage. The Colonel Association will issue further instructions soon."
"What about the attack? Who will take the lead?" he asked.
"About that," the voice replied coolly, "tell Terist to use all of his powers to target the closest residential area. The Council of Power will take full responsibility for the upcoming attack. Our job is not to interfere."
Kosest's heart pounded in his chest as he listened to the chilling voice on the other end of the radio. An attack was imminent, but his superiors had ordered him to stand down and observe, leaving the responsibility in the hands of the Council of Power. It was a baffling decision, and Kosest struggled to understand the rationale behind it.
Kosest's blood ran cold at the words. The Council of Power was a ruthless organization, feared by all who knew of them. To entrust them with the responsibility of the attack was a grave decision, one that could have disastrous consequences.
"I thought we were in charge of this," Kosest exclaimed, his frustration and fear boiling over.
"Not anymore," the voice replied, cutting him off abruptly. "Continue your surveillance and await further instructions."
The radio went silent, and Kosest was left seething with anger and confusion. He desperately wanted to take action, to prevent the attack and protect innocent lives. But his orders were clear, and he knew that disobeying them would only lead to his demise.
With a frustrated growl, Kosest tossed the radio aside and rose to his feet. He had a job to do, and he would do it to the best of his abilities, even if it meant watching as the Council of Power unleashed destruction.
Asaga and Angel had ridden their horses for miles until they reached a peaceful meadow, located far from the hustle and bustle of the Uchire Academy. In the distance, they could see the shadowy outline of the noble building, a constant reminder of the life they had left behind.
The meadow was a flat, open expanse, devoid of any obstacles or hazards, making it the perfect place for training. Asaga and Angel stood facing each other, about fifteen meters apart. Angel broke the silence, her voice ringing out clear and determined.
"We will have a match-up to test each other's strength," she said, her eyes focused and alert.
Asaga grinned with excitement, his adrenaline already pumping. Though they had sparred before, in the heat of the moment, he had let his Demon Form take over, and he couldn't remember much of what had happened. Plus, the principal had intervened, so the stakes were not as high as they were now.
“I don’t think a boy should fight with a girl!” Asaga concerned.
Angel gently smiled, “Don’t worry. This is an age of gender equality. Give your best shot!”
Asaga once again showed a confident smile when he understood Angel’s intentions, asking Dark Blood.
“Ready, Dark Blood?”
“Go for it, kid!”
Asaga then bit the right thumb with his fangs. He held it for a while, then spit out, leaving a bleeding hole. Asaga swept the blood up the centre of his chest, from top to bottom.
Asaga's eyes glinted with anticipation as he summoned his SoulEquipment. Around him, fiery red water began to flow, coiling like a python ready to strike. The water separated, forming a floating sword that glimmered with dark power.
"Fury, despair, and loss. Dark Blood is ready to serve its master," Asaga declared, his grip firm on the hilt of the sword. He pointed it at Angel, ready for the challenge.
Angel, in turn, summoned her own SoulEquipment. A bright yellow magic portal appeared, and giant tree roots emerged, coiling together to form a pupa about the same size as Asaga's sword. She closed her eyes, chanting a spell with a prayer-like demeanour.
"The power of altruism and light, Golden Roses!" Angel exclaimed as the pupa she was holding transformed, revealing a delicate and majestic sword that radiated with a powerful aura. She pointed the weapon at Asaga, ready for the battle to begin.
Asaga and Angel stood at opposite ends of the meadow, both poised and focused. The air around them hummed with anticipation, and the only sounds were the rustling of the leaves and the gentle breeze that swept across the grassy field.
With a nod of agreement, they began their battle. The clash of their swords echoed through the meadow as they exchanged blows, each one determined to come out on top. Their skills were evenly matched, and the fight was intense, the sound of metal striking metal filling the air.
Let the battle begins!