"Ugh… I can't handle this stench And also that sound—my ears and nose can't take it," Torvin muttered, grimacing as he waved the foul air away.
The battlefield before him writhed with countless demons, their shrieks and roars echoing through the forest. "There are too many of them," he said, his voice tense, "but we can hold them off… as long as those two on the mountain don't move."
High above, standing at the peak of the Black Mountain, two figures watched in silence. Their faces were hidden beneath black robes, but the crystals on their foreheads burned like twin stars—one orange, one green.
The orange crystal flickered as its bearer finally spoke. "Do we really have to attack these beautiful fairies?" His tone was mocking, almost playful.
The green crystal shimmered with amusement. "No, no… we're just here to distract. Let the demons do the dirty work. We'll enjoy the show from up here.
"How many crystal clones can you make right now, Ronan?" Aanya asked, eyes fixed on the approaching horde.
Ronan took a deep breath. "I can create a thousand… but I can't manage all of them if I'm fighting too. If I stay away from the battlefield, somewhere quiet, I can control them all at once."
Aanya nodded firmly. "We don't have much time. The demons are getting too close."
She turned to the others. "Torvin, Sara—keep watch. Don't let a single one of them enter the village."
Her eyes shifted back to Ronan. "You—make as many clones as you can control at once. Then go hide in the safest place you can find. We need your focus."
She unsheathed her weapon, the steel catching the last light of day.
"As for me and Sora… we've got only one job: kill as many of them as we can. We hold the line until Haruki joins us.
Now—take your positions!"
With a wave of Ronan's hand, the earth shimmered—a thousand crystal clones emerged, forming a glowing army standing guard before the village.
High on the mountaintop, the orange-cloaked figure whistled. "Well, well… they've got an army. Now I see why this village has stayed protected so long."
The green-crystaled figure chuckled. "I think our little show just got a lot more interesting."
Down below, Ronan vanished into the shadows, finding refuge among the rocks. The air vibrated with tension.
And then—the demons charged.
The crystal clones began to move, their bodies glowing faintly with inner light. As they marched forward, the demons roared—then charged.
The two forces collided in a violent crash, crystal and flesh slamming against each other. The battlefield turned into a massacre. Shards of shattered crystal flew into the air, mixing with black demon blood.
Above it all, Aanya soared through the sky, her wings spread and start launching air, in mid air converted into ice niddles.
Thousands of ice needles burst from the air, piercing through the demon ranks like a frozen storm. The ground below became a field of impaled bodies and fractured shadows.
Sora darted through the chaos, his sword flashing like lightning. He moved with lethal precision, cutting down demon after demon. Blood sprayed as he danced through the battlefield, eyes locked on the next target.
Near the edge of the village, Torvin and Isara stood their ground, weapons drawn ready to attack.
In the shadows of the forest, the wind stood still. The trees whispered, but everything else was silent.
Haruki whispered under his breath, barely audible:
"Hiding time is over… Now let's see who survives this round."
Beside him, Eran glanced at him with surprise.
He had never seen Haruki this nervous.
Eran murmured, a smirk curling on his lips:
"So even you get nervous... I think I've finally found what I was looking for."
He chuckled softly.
"Let's go, what are you waiting for? …But never mind, I'll ask you about it later. First, let's finish them."
Suddenly, the air shifted.
Haruki transformed.
A radiant burst of golden energy exploded from his body. His form changed into the Golden Spear – First Form, glowing with a divine brilliance. His aura was calming… but the light it emitted was sharp, intense—like a blade made of sunlight.
Haruki spoke, voice resolute:
"I need to move fast. The angels won't be able to hold them off much longer."
Around them, even the seasoned soldiers froze, their faces pale.
They had never felt power like this before.
Eran narrowed his eyes, impressed.
"So, now you're ready…"
He gripped the hilt of his blade, energy flaring around him.
"Then I guess I have to match your speed."
The sword pulsed with a deep red glow as he began transforming into his Crimson Ascendence Form.
But just as Eran was about to unleash his power, Haruki paused. His eyes narrowed. He felt something.
He turned sharply to Eran.
"Wait. You stop here."
He pointed deeper into the forest.
"Take the soldiers with you and go. There's a massive banyan tree hidden there… beneath it, I sense something."
His voice dropped into a whisper.
"May be you found there that man or something that can give us clue about Elara and cassie"
Eran's smile faded, his lips slowly curving downward in frustration.
"But I want to go with you," he muttered, his voice sharp with disappointment.
"I want to see the black bloods. I want to know… are demons really something to fear?"
Haruki didn't stop. His eyes were focused, expression unreadable.
"I don't have time to explain," he said firmly.
"Search the forest."
And in a flash—he was gone.
Haruki sprinted, golden light trailing behind him like a comet, tearing through the forest like a blade of light. The leaves fell from the trees, swirling through the air, torn loose by the sheer force of his speed.
As he raced toward the Black Mountain, one thought echoed in his mind:
"I can't let Eran get involved… Not in this."
Back in the forest, Eran stood still, the silence returning around him.
He let out a breath, then scoffed.
"He always gives orders… Never listens to anyone else."
He looked over at the soldiers who were still frozen, waiting for a command.
A smirk returned to his face.
"Fine. I'll lead them. Maybe this will be fun after all."