The battlefield raged with chaos. Fire, stone, lightning, blood, and shadow clashed violently across the carnival grounds. Team Plutrion's plan had unfolded with ruthless precision—every academy mage was caught in the claws of mind control or brutal magic. The academy students were holding on, but only barely. Their energy was waning, their movements growing sluggish.
Amidst the storm of destruction, Lina stood apart, her hands pressed tightly to her chest. Her heart pounded—not from fear, but from the crushing weight of responsibility. Her healing magic had saved her friends countless times, yet now… her strength alone wouldn't be enough.
The cries of her comrades echoed in her mind.
Show's voice—bold, determined:
"If they want fights… we'll give them! The Arcane Academy Battle Royal begins!"
Drake's calm but fierce tone:
"I'll freeze every obstacle in our way, no matter who it is."
Karen's quiet resolve:
"Even if I stand alone, I won't let them push us down."
Raelyn's light, unwavering:
"Darkness will never consume our bonds."
Chris' grin, filled with confidence:
"They'll regret underestimating the Arcane Academy."
And then her own voice. Fragile. Afraid. Always standing behind, patching wounds, never leading the charge.
Her fingers trembled. "If I do nothing… if I keep just watching them fight… everyone will fall. Their health, their lives… are in my hands."
Her mind flashed—memories of their laughter in the dorms, the teasing arguments during training, the unity of standing shoulder-to-shoulder in the academy courtyard. She saw Hibiki smiling, Lyra's warmth, Presto's energy, Lily's kindness… even now twisted under mind control.
Tears welled in her eyes, but her grip steadied.
"I won't let anyone be taken from me. Not while I still breathe."
She spread her arms wide, her magic flaring. The air around her shimmered like the dawn sky breaking through storm clouds. Her aura rose, pure and radiant, threads of celestial light spiraling around her body. The battlefield seemed to pause—the air heavy with anticipation.
Her voice rang out, firm, unwavering:
"High Heavens Enchant—"
A blinding surge of ethereal runes carved themselves into the ground beneath her feet, stretching like an endless constellation. The heavens themselves seemed to open as radiant wings of light unfurled behind her.
"—Elysium's Urōnia!"
A shockwave burst outward. A tidal wave of light swept across the battlefield, flooding every corner of the academy. Blood magic corroded and crumbled away under its brilliance. The gold thunder scattered into harmless sparks. Water and stone froze mid-motion. Every dark enchantment faltered.
One by one, the students staggered back to their feet.
Drake rose from shattered ice, frost glittering in his hair, his eyes burning with newfound strength.
"Not bad, Lina… you've given me the edge I needed."
Karen stood tall, her aura dazzling like a star, her hands glowing with attraction magic refined sharper than ever.
"With this… I'll pull victory into my orbit."
Raelyn emerged, his radiance magnified by Lina's enchantment. His light shone so bright it tore the shadows away.
"Now this… feels worthy of the academy's pride."
Chris cracked his knuckles as stone chunks floated around him with renewed vigor. He smirked.
"Guess the warm-up's over. Now it's my turn to crush them."
And then—flames erupted like a second sun.
Show rose from the heart of Lina's enchantment, fire surrounding him in a roaring spiral. His eyes gleamed with determination, the weight of leadership renewed. He clenched his blazing fist, flames scorching the air.
"Good job, Lina." His voice boomed, carrying across the entire carnival. "Now—"
The ground quaked beneath his step forward. Fire raged higher.
"Let the true battle begin."
The battlefield erupted with cheers from the academy students. Lina's knees buckled slightly, exhaustion pulling at her body, but her heart soared. She had done it. She had given them hope again.
And with that light, the tide of the battle shifted.
TO BE CONTINUED…
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