Of the two massive weather storms that had gathered at Theta Magic Academy, one had already been neutralized.
The rain clouds that hung high above and inside the barrier had all been blown away by a massive beam of lightning that nearly pierced the heavens. Because of that, the sun shone once more.
However, the raging flame storm that ravaged the front of the academy would not be dispelled so easily. It burned alongside the destruction that was being caused by the advancing army of non-magicians decked out in mana-nullifying tech from head to toe.
The flames were natural, not made of mana. And they burned brighter than anything else out there. The heat the flames gave off could be felt even at a distance, and the wall of flames was so tall that, along with the smoke that it gave off, it created an absolutely crushing and suffocating atmosphere.
And yet despite all of that, the students of Theta Magic Academy did not surrender. Led by Himitsu, they continued to battle with everything they had. The mana-nullifying tech that the students were up against was the real deal, preventing their opponents from being affected by any magical spells or sequences. Even weapons imbued with mana could not put a scratch on the tech.
That didn't mean that they were out of options, however. Through Himitsu's guiding words, they were able to stand their ground against the impressive tech.
"Just because they can't be hurt by mana doesn't mean that mana is completely removed from the game!" Himitsu said, as he dodged two people firing rockets from their suits before grabbing them and smashing their heads together.
He pointed towards Erika. "Don't rely on mana for your attacks; instead, use it to buff yourself. They can't neutralize the mana inside of your body unless their tech comes into contact with it. So don't get stabbed!" As Himitsu gave Erika this advice, he sidestepped a spear that would have gutted him and punched the man wielding it so hard in the face that he crumpled to the ground instantly.
Nodding, Erika focused on only using the mana in her body to strengthen her physical attributes, rather than attack. This was made even easier by the fact that the sun was out, meaning her ability was in full force.
Dashing towards a group of enemies, Erika blitzed them before cutting all three down. As she slid past them, she allowed herself to smirk.
"Even though he's melodramatic, he was always a good teacher." She said to herself as she cut down another two aggressors.
Watching both Erika's and Himitsu's examples, the other students began to do the same. The results were immediate, as they began to take down their armored opponents with ease.
Their movement speed and attack were only buffed by the fact that Masayoshi was currently using his own ability, [Scales of Justice], in order to buff all of his allies.
Very quickly, the tides of the battle that had so suddenly shifted away from their favor began to shift back towards their advantage. However, the surprises were not done yet.
From the back lines of the opponents forces, two people rocketed forward. Their suits were equipped with jetpacks that allowed them to fly. Reaching their hands out, their suits literally transformed into a blade, and they began to slash and attack indiscriminately.
Jumping in front of Genji, Himitsu blocked the slash of the sword with just his arms before trying to grab the man. However, he made use of his jetpack and blasted himself out of Himitsu's reach.
"Stay alert! I can guess that their suits are able to do a lot more than just nullify mana!"
Soon, the rest of the pythons followed suit, activating different functions of their suits. Rockets, jetpacks, swords, arrows, and missiles—all at once, many different factors were suddenly introduced into the battlefield.
Thinking quickly, Himitsu activated a large-scale defensive spell.
A massive wall erected in front of the students, protecting them from the onslaught of machinery fire for a brief moment. Up ahead, the cannons that were atop the magic academy continued to fire.
"How long!" Himitsu shouted into the air, using mana to amplify his voice.
His answer came from a shaky voice that spoke over the microphones of the P.A. room.
"Attention. All students and teachers gathered around the front courtyard of the magic academy. In 15 minutes, it is essential that you all evacuate away from that area and move back to the magic academy. I repeat, in 15 minutes it is essential that you all move away from the front courtyard area."
As soon as the message ended, Himitsu began to scan around the area. Along with the students that had first moved to make the final stand with him, they were also accompanied by many other brave students who decided to rejoin the battle. Himori, Luka, Ren, Homura, and many other students that he recognized stood behind him, their faces grim, in battle posture.
Internally, Himitsu began to have a debate with himself.
As their teacher, it was his job to make sure that they survived. Not just that, it was his job to make sure that they weren't gravely injured. It was his job to make sure that they didn't have to see horrible truths and participate in them.
Despite the fact that this was a war academy, Himitsu didn't believe that it justified showing them violent acts and expecting them to just be prepared for it. He couldn't stand the way that things currently were. These kids were exactly that. Kids. Not soldiers. And yet here they are fighting a battle that they shouldn't be involved in.
The mages association hasn't arrived, and I don't think they're coming any time soon. This situation is definitely more serious than anybody could have originally imagined.
Still, he couldn't deny these children's bravery. Himitsu had been taken out of the game by a sneak attack he had never seen coming. So had the rest of the teachers. The entire guard of magic knights that had been placed there had been assassinated. All of it had been done suddenly, with no warning.
And yet the students did not give up and did not lose hope. They fought, and they laid their lives on the line in order to make progress. And progress they did make.
They freed all of the teachers. Slayed 4 of the 5 enemies oppressing them and held out long enough to launch multiple counterattacks. They had shown that they were more than just kids in this battle.
However, Himitsu did not want to risk these children's lives any more than they had already been risked. And so in that moment he made a choice. As the barrier began to crack, he said,
"You've all fought well up until this point. Despite the fact that you all are students, you all have shown the bravery and honor of a true magic knight." Himitsu turned to look at the students standing behind him. "And so, I'll respect your choice to stay in this battle if you wish. However, if you want to leave, if you don't want to fight anymore, then I will respect that decision as well. You've all earned it."
Himitsu closed his eyes as he laid out the choice for the students. He could feel the barrier beginning to shatter.
When he opened his eyes...
No one had left.
Instead, they were all just staring forward with determined expressions on their faces.
Sighing, but also letting out a sad smile, Himitsu turned back towards the barrier.
Behind him, he could hear Suijin say,
"Serious doesn't work well on you, sir. I guess I should have taken that account when I gave my rating for your lesson. 2 out of 5."
Himitsu's eyes widened, and that comment actually made him laugh. Just a bit.
"Tough customers out here. Don't worry, I'll give you all the greatest lesson you'll ever see. Then you'll have no choice but to give me five stars."
In that moment, the barrier shattered, and the final battle began.
※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※
"Angels. That's what they're called." The man in white said, as he watched the girls desperately try to escape the plants that bound them, slowly sucking away their mana. "A fitting name when you learn the context of where they come from." He walked closer to Aura before reaching his hand out and touching the vines of the plant that now took the shape of a chain.
"At least from what I've heard, the reason that these plants evolved to take such a shape and be so reactive to mana is because the climate and ecosystem of Antarctica are so harsh that the only thing they can feed on is mana."
He concentrated mana in his fingers, and the plant snapped at him. However, it could not wrap itself around him. He flicked the vines of the plant away.
"I've also heard that the reason for this evolution is the ridiculous nature of the creatures in Antarctica. In order to survive, it must feed on beasts of insane levels of mana. Maybe it's both. Either way, the name Angels is pretty fitting. After all, no matter what, they literally stand at the very top of the food chain. If everything relies on mana, then they will always be at the top because they nullify it."
After going on his rant, Pride stepped back to see Hikaru and Aura both staring at him. He smiled.
"Finally, some people with respect. I had enough of dealing with pretentious brats."
"What do you guys even want here?" Aura managed to get out. Her energy was fading fast, and soon her consciousness would be gone.
"Our goal here? Simple, get the witch what she wants."
"And this witch...w-wants Raiden?" Hikaru said.
Pride's smile grew. "Respectful and smart. I like you. And the answer to that is yes. The Witch of Vainglory has set her sights upon that boy, and now it is our job to make sure that she gets what she wants." Pride said it as if it was the most obvious thing in the entire world.
The chains of the plants began to tighten around Hikaru's wrists as they began to absorb more and more of her mana. "She's your leader?"
Pride nodded as he turned his eyes to the sky. "Don't worry. I'm sure she'll like you. After all, I like you." Pride placed his finger on Hikaru's chin, forcing her to look at him. Hikaru's eyes were glassy, and her face was pale. She was breathing heavily.
"And once you see her love, once you understand the depths of it, you'll understand why we did what we did. We were indebted to her more than we could ever pay, even if we gave up our lives in her stead."
Hikaru was barely listening to what he was saying, as she was about to fall unconscious. Her vision was darkening rapidly, and she could feel all of the strength steadily leaving her body.
Silently, she prayed that Raiden wouldn't find her dead body. Silently, she regretted the things that she didn't get a chance to say or understand.
Raiden… I never got to tell you-
And at the same time, a light descended from the heavens.
At the same time, the chains around Hikaru suddenly burned away, and she and Aura were dropped to the ground.
Just before they hit the ground, they were both caught.
Hikaru looked up to see someone with black hair and one red and one black eye staring down at her. They were glowing. Literally, lightning flickered up and down their body.
"Raiden?" She asked, unable to completely understand what was happening.
"That just so happens to be my name." He replied. Hikaru felt a sort of warmth envelop her, like a blanket.
Slowly, her vision unblurred. Her breathing slowly returned to a stable rate.
"Be careful.... They're after you."
"Half dead and trying to tell me to be careful?" He smirked; however, Hikaru wasn't joking.
"I'm serious!" She didn't have enough energy to shout, so she infused mana into her fingers and pinched him on the shoulder.
"Okay! Okay! Keep doing that, and I might drop you!"
Next to them was Nova, helping Aura stand on her feet.
"Oh right, I should—" Raiden began.
"Don't put me down," Hikaru said.
Raiden looked at her in confusion; however, she turned her face away from him at that moment. "My l-legs are still...weak."
His confusion turned into understanding. Before his expression hardened, and then he looked at Pride. "Just what the hell are those things?"
He gestured to the plant behind Pride. Pride just shook his head. "You just missed the whole explanation. A shame. Although you probably wouldn't have been respectful enough to sit down and listen to the whole thing, unlike that refined young lady in your arms."
"Yeah, you're right. I wouldn't have cared enough." Raiden raised the level of his aura, and the lightning began to flicker around violently. The aura also surrounded Hikaru.
"You know, I was thinking about everything you were saying about the witch and her wanting me."
Pride looked at him with a humorous expression. "Are you ready to grovel on your knees and beg for forgiveness?" He asked.
Raiden barked out a harsh laugh. "No, not that. I was just thinking I'd like to meet her, you know? Kind of like a blind date, but scratch the blind part, and maybe even the date part as well."
Pride simply shook his head. "How arrogant. You think yourself on the same level as her, that you could just demand a meeting? You truly are the most arrogant person I've ever had the displeasure of meeting". The answer is no. You don't get to decide how this goes."
"I figured you'd say as much. Then how about this? Me and you. 1 on 1." Hikaru's eyes widened as Raiden said this, and so did Aura's.
"Just what the hell are you thinking! Fighting him one-on-one!" Hikaru grabbed Raiden's arm once again.
However, Raiden's facial expression was locked on a smile.
"Do you really plan on breaking your promise?" She asked, the hurt on her face evident.
"It's not breaking it if I don't lose. Don't worry, I have a plan." He then passed Hikaru into Nova's hands. Hikaru protested; however, Raiden just shook his head.
"Her legs are still weak." Was what he told Nova.
Nova nodded, seemingly unconvinced.
Then, Raiden drew his sword and pointed it at Pride. "Once I beat your ass, the witch will have no choice but to come out and talk with me." He said, flashing a cocky grin.
And then Pride began to laugh. So hard that he literally doubled over. "You truly are the peak of human arrogance."
Pride's expression turned serious. "Fine then. I'll teach you a true lesson in the dangers of excessive pride."
Raiden's cocky smile remained.
The white knight of Pride.
Vs.
The one loved by the witch.