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The Return to Astraea
The journey back to Astraea Academy was fraught with tension. Kaito led the group through the treacherous mountain paths, his expression unreadable but his mind burdened by the fragment’s influence. Each time he used its power, he blacked out, waking to find the battlefield silent, his companions either in awe or fearful of what they had witnessed.
Yumi stayed close, her gaze flickering between concern and unease. “Kaito, are you sure you’re okay? You’ve been... different since the temple.”
“I’m fine,” he replied curtly, though his voice lacked conviction. “We need to focus on getting back. If the demons attacked us there, Astraea might already be their next target.”
The group fell silent, their pace quickening.
---
As the academy came into view, the misfits stopped in their tracks. Smoke rose from the central tower, and the sound of distant battle reached their ears. Demons swarmed the outer walls, their numbers overwhelming the academy’s defenses.
“The attack’s already started,” Toru said, gripping his sword tightly.
“They’re here for the fragment,” Kaito said, his voice steady despite the chaos ahead. “We can’t let them have it.”
Elara hesitated, her hands trembling around her staff. “But… there are so many of them.”
Before Kaito could respond, a sudden flash of light erupted from the academy. From the central courtyard, Valen and Seraphine emerged, their combined auras radiating immense power.
Valen moved with precision, his dual blades carving through the demonic ranks like a storm. Each strike was imbued with energy that disintegrated the demons on contact. Seraphine stood behind him, her staff glowing as she unleashed waves of starlight, creating barriers that shielded the academy while obliterating entire squadrons of enemies.
“These two are monsters,” Rian muttered, watching in awe.
“They’re holding back the bulk of the army,” Kaito said, his eyes narrowing. “But that means the academy is vulnerable to infiltration.”
“We need to get to the catacombs,” Yumi said, her tone urgent.
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As the misfits entered the academy grounds, it became clear the attack was more organized than they anticipated. Groups of demons systematically targeted key areas, each led by a high-ranking general.
One such general, a towering beast with molten skin and four arms, blocked their path. Its fiery gaze landed on the group, and it roared, the sound reverberating through the courtyard.
“You think you can stop us, mortals?” it growled. “Your academy will fall, and the fragment will be ours.”
Kaito stepped forward, his hand instinctively reaching for the fragment at his side. “We’ll see about that.”
The group sprang into action. Toru charged head-on, his blade clashing with the demon’s molten axes. Yumi cast a barrier to protect Elara, who began healing their injuries mid-fight. Rian’s shadows danced around the battlefield, striking at the demon’s exposed flanks.
Despite their coordination, the general’s strength was overwhelming. Its molten attacks scorched the ground, forcing the group to scatter.
“Kaito, now would be a good time to use that thing!” Toru shouted, barely dodging a strike.
Kaito hesitated, the fragment’s whispers growing louder in his mind. “Not yet,” he muttered. “We can handle this without it.”
---
Before Kaito could commit to a plan, another explosion shook the academy. From the central tower, a second general appeared—this one wreathed in shadows, its form constantly shifting. It moved toward the catacombs, its intent clear.
“Yumi, Elara, Rian—go after that one!” Kaito ordered. “Toru and I will handle this.”
Yumi hesitated but nodded, leading the others toward the catacombs.
“Don’t die, Kaito,” she said before disappearing into the chaos.
Kaito turned back to the molten demon, his expression hardening. “Let’s finish this.”
---
Yumi’s group reached the entrance to the catacombs just as the shadowy general breached the outer wards. Its dark energy surged, shattering the protective seals that had guarded the fragment for centuries.
Seraphine appeared at their side, her aura dimmer but still formidable. “The defenses won’t hold much longer,” she said grimly. “We need to stop it here.”
“You’re hurt,” Yumi said, noticing the blood staining Seraphine’s robes.
“I’ll manage,” Seraphine replied, raising her staff. “Focus on keeping it contained.”
As the shadowy general turned toward them, Valen appeared in a flash of light, his blades already drawn. “You won’t take another step,” he said, his voice like steel.
The battle that followed was unlike anything Yumi had seen. Valen and Seraphine fought with precision and ferocity, their attacks harmonizing perfectly. Yet even their combined strength struggled against the general’s shifting form.
“Elara, reinforce Seraphine’s barriers!” Yumi shouted. “Rian, disrupt its movements!”
---
Back in the courtyard, Kaito and Toru finally brought down the molten general, though not without cost. Toru collapsed, his armor scorched and his breathing labored.
“Kaito…” Toru gasped. “Go… help the others. I’ll catch up.”
Kaito hesitated, his hand gripping the fragment tightly. He could feel its power surging, begging to be unleashed.
“No,” Kaito said, his voice steady. “You’re coming with me.”
Using what little essence he had left, Kaito summoned a wind barrier to protect Toru before heading toward the catacombs.
As he entered the sacred chamber, the scene before him froze him in place. The shadowy general stood at the altar, its claws reaching for a second fragment—one that radiated light and warmth, a stark contrast to the darkness of the first.
“Kaito, stop it!” Yumi screamed.
But Kaito didn’t need the warning. His body moved on its own, the fragment in his hand glowing with fierce intensity. The whispers grew deafening, and for a moment, everything went black.
---
When Kaito came to, the battle was over. The shadowy general lay in pieces, its essence dissolving into the air. The chamber was in ruins, the altar split in two.
The misfits and the remaining defenders stared at Kaito in stunned silence. His body radiated an otherworldly energy, and in his hands, he held both fragments—the light and the dark.
“What… just happened?” Yumi whispered.
“I don’t know,” Kaito said, his voice trembling. “But this isn’t over.”
Valen stepped forward, his expression unreadable. “You’ve done well, Kaito. But the fragments are more than you can comprehend. Their power is dangerous, even to you.”
“We’ll figure it out,” Kaito replied, his resolve unshaken.
As the first rays of dawn illuminated the academy, Kaito looked to the horizon, his grip on the fragments tightening. He didn’t know what the future held, but he knew
one thing for certain—this was only the beginning.