The waves of the lake towered higher and higher as a sky blue shark stayed still as ice, staring at me with building pressure surrounding me. Staring into its icy blue eyes, I felt myself kneeling down, slowly crawling into the water.
'Master! Wake up!' Veil yelled, waking me up from my daze. I held my head down, not daring to look into it's eyes but that wasnt my only problem. I watched as the water rose around my feet, trying swallow me into its grasps.
Suddenly, Veil grew her vines out of my body again, grappling herself to 2 tree trunks before dragging me out of the water. As soon as my feet touched dry land, I tried to bolt into the forest, as far away as I could get from this tidal lord.
It was life wanted me dead in the next few moments. A familiar ear piercing screech sounded from above, catching everyone's attention. The armored bone sky glider flew down from above, between me and the forest, while Veil retracted her vines so they wouldn't get cut.
"What do I do?" I asked aloud in defeat, trying to find an way out. Then, I heard a weird gutteral roar from behind me before I saw a three pronged trident made of water fly through the sky. It rained water onto me but no one was deceived by its watery form.
It was aimed straight at the bird's chest. The bird coo'd coldly as it shot back up into the air before shooting down onto the tidal lord.
It's claws pierced through its back, causing blue blood to pour out of its back.
'RUN!' Veil yelled in my mind but something caught my attention. How did it shoot a trident of water? Looking back, I saw a path of broken trees, but I didn't want to leave. When will I see two superior spirits fighting it out.
"When will we be able to see 2 superior spirits fighting it out?" I whispered aloud and I swear I could faintly hear Veil cursing before she grew vines out my back, up into the trees.
'You're going to do it safely at least' she demanded as I shot up high into the upper part of the tree's crown. Below, I saw the bird with multiple wounds in its body while the shark was bleeding badly, dying the clear water and deep blue. It's tail was clipped entirely as it used floating rings of water to move around quickly.
Suddenly, a massive wave formed behind the shark, growing higher with each passing second. That should be its tidal wave trait? We watched as a gold aura enveloped the bird. Then, it was like the air shifted slightly, becoming more concentrated. Then, we heard it.
Looking back, I saw scattered birds flocking towards the armored bone sky glider, to its aid. The wave engulfed the bird but passed just as quickly. Water washed up below me but I was too high up to get wet. Bird's passed me left and right, attacking the shark.
Most were eaten but some did manage to hurt it, taking out both it's eyes. The shark suddenly submerged itself while a single ripple spread across the lake. All birds that got hit by it were quickly pulled under. Then, I watched as the armored bone sky glider shot up but struggled to stay afloat, trying to escape.
'Master, we're can take out the bird if we time our attack right' Veil called out urgently, surprising me. I looked at the bird flying in our general direction and considered it.
"Ok, tell me the plan" I finally asked and she quickly went through everything.
"You know, that might actually work. You ready?" I asked as Veil's vines came loose, slowly letting me down towards the ground.
'Yes master. Let's begin' she stated as more and more vines gathered behind my back. The bird spotted me almost immediatily, surprising me but I expected this to an extent. It shot towards me as fast as it's injured body could take it. As it drew close, I started to sway side to side with the help of the 2 vines holding me up.
Then, it was right infront of me, trying to bite me in half. The vines holding me mid air suddenly brought me up by 2 meters, holding me outside of its reach. Then, all the vines on my back finally shot out, grabbing every bone they could.
The bird screeched in shock and protest as it felt the energy leaving its body. I felt vast amounts of energy coursing throughout vines, into my arm. Then came the battle of attrition. The bird was trying to fly away as both its energies and bones were being sapped away as I was trying to stay in one piece, holding onto the branches and it via the vines.
It felt like I was in bullet time, everything moving too slow for comfort but soon, everything changed. A pulse of black light shot up the vine before entering my arm through the white tattoo.
I didn't get to enjoy the system's notification as a multitude of water arrows were flying towards me. Most of Veil's vines retracted into me but the 2 in my shoulders started to move rapidly.
'Time to go master' Veil called out as we swung through the trees, accelerating quickly. Time passed slowly but I noticed the sun was about to fall below the horizon, as well as a heavy feeling in my body.
Suddenly, I felt a weakness spread across my body as the world around me faded into darkness. The last thing I could vaguely hear was Veil yelling something about darkness. Then, everything went black.
Back over to Tiana's side, the entirety of the shelter was marching together towards a stone clearing.
"My lady, are you sure we can do this? That thing... it isn't normal" A rather built man called out to the group of 4 woman. Tiana looked at him with contempt and scoffed.
"Xavier, is anything about the ruined forest safe? This is just another challenge we'll overcome, ok" Tiana chided with a smile but it didn't reach her eyes. Xavier nodded slowly before walking back to the group.
Soon enough, they made it to the stone platform. It was flat for about a mile with strong winds kicking up dust, but that didn't distract from what lived there.
What layed in the center could only be described as a giant. A 10 meter tall silver stone humanoid being with a giant hammer to it's side.
"Everyone charge! Jess, slow it down!" Tiana yelled, giving the signal for everyone to move. A blue Grey aura shot towards the giant as it took a step towards them.
Upon contact with the aura, it slowed down for a few seconds, allowing the students to surround it before Jess paled from lack of koi.
"Attack!" Tiana yelled as she started to build a blinding light around her arms. A faint outline of a massive spear formed before her. Countless people were attacking the giant's stone body, leaving faint white marks.
Slowly, the giant picked up its hammer and a dirty red aura surged from it, connecting with its chest.
"Back off! Its going to attack" Vivian yelled, holding the elite dark bone blade coated in her bloodied aura. Those near her backed off but the majority didn't.
"Attack harder" Tiana yelled brutally but it was too late. The giant swung it's hammer down, hitting the solid stone. A massive Crack quickly formed across the stone and a red glow emerged. Then, lava oozed out quickly, too fast to be natural.
"Fall back! That's lava isn't normal!" Tiana yelled out but the damage was done half of there large group of 100ish people died in the lava. People ran back, watching the giant wade through it unaffected. Then, the spear was ready.
Tiana raised her hands high as the spear grew as bright as the sun, blinding those close to her. Then, she launched it towards the giant's chest. A clear explosion rang out as silver stones went flying. When the dust settled, everyone saw one of the giant's arms laying in the lava, while numerous cracks layed in it's chest. In the center was a silvery gold stone, translucent with a bright light emanating from it.
"It's core" Tiana whispered before scanning the remaining people in the group.
"Kill it while its down!" She screamed as she started to gather light in her hands once more. If one payed attention, you could see a shared look of distrust between Vivian and Xavier. Yet, no one could see it through the flurry of attacks.
***
I woke up to a strange black pulse that was vaguely familiar but I couldn't recognise it immediatily. Then, it enveloped me and I felt weightless.
"Shit! Is it time to go back?" I called out but no one answered me. Looking around, I vaguely saw some figures in the distance but couldn't make them out. Then, everything got extraordinary bright before settling on a soft light. All around me were students that looked battered and beaten down.
"WELCOME BACK TO THE DRAVEN DIVISION!" Sol, the principle of this damned academy, announced with too much enthusiasm for his own good.
"Once again, I am Sol, the principle of this academy and I have your scores here, along with your class registrations. However, this year, we are foing things a little differently" he started but something else caught my attention, causing my legs to tremble. Then, we all heard it, a scream.
"Aah yes, the students that didnt make it. Unsightly, no? Lets get them removed" Sol called out but the damage was done. Countless bodies of our peers layed there. Some dried of blood, pierced countless times, charred or half eaten. One by one, they were carried out.
"As I was saying. Your scores are public for teachers, mentors, and advisers. Your peers wont know unless yoou show them" Sol explained, which I appreciated. I don't know how I did but I did end up killing 2 elite spirits, given special circumstances. I don't want to let anyone know. Don't want taken advantage of.
"And for your classes. You will have a list of each class youve already been accepted to next to your score. You just need to confirm you will attend what classes you want" He explained but I saw a devious grin spread across his face.
"If you think that you deserve to be in a class that isn't listed in your chart, feel free to contest my decision" sol finished while his aura flare out, suffocating us all.
Soon, his pressure faded as he disappeared out of nowhere. I looked around but a couple things caught my attention. I spotted Gavins group but couldn't find the twins. Then, I found Brandon's group, still with that bitch that kicked me out.
Suddenly, a black watch appeared on my wrist with a square screen. I looked down at it in awe as the screen lit up.
[Welcome student, felix, to the Draven division. I am the A.I. of the school. Your score is a, 'S'. Your course list is as follows]
My watch read off the following, stunning me. looking around, I saw countless others doing the same until I noticed 2 people staring at me.
Gavin and Tiana.