CHAPTER 219: YEARS LATER (1)

~ROOOAAR!~

A torrent of molten rock and superheated steam erupted from a creature’s maw, a ferocious attack that boiled the very air.

The battlefield, a once-serene clearing deep in the forests, was now a cratered hellscape of scorched earth and shattered trees.

At the center of it all stood the beast, a hulking monstrosity of living volcanic stone and magma that easily stood over six meters tall.

Its body was a shifting mass of obsidian-like plates, with rivers of glowing lava flowing through the cracks, and its roar was the sound of a mountain breaking apart.

It was circled by a disciplined company of warriors, a mix of Dwarves and Humans. Each of them was clad in the sleek, light blue armor of the Sparkborn Legion, with their weapons glowing with a mana.

"Shield Wall! Formation Gamma!" a commanding voice barked from the rear line.

At the command, the Dwarven warriors in the front slammed their massive tower shields into the ground.

~CLANG!~

Mana flared to life, creating a shimmering, interlocking barrier of pure force. The wave of magma crashed against it, the sheer heat causing the air to warp.

But the Knights held their ground, gritting their teeth as their defensive weapon techniques strained under the ferocious assault.

From behind the wall, the human knights thrust their long spears, the tips glowing with piercing energy, stabbing at the beast’s molten joints.

The teamwork was flawless, but the Magma Behemoth was far more powerful than any single one of them.

"It’s pulling back!" someone shouted. "Prepare for its Tremor Stomp!"

But they were too late. The beast reared up on its hind legs and brought its colossal feet down with devastating force.

~CRAAASH!~

The earth itself buckled. A shockwave of seismic energy erupted outwards, shattering the Dwarven shield wall and sending the unprepared Knights flying.

Just as a dozen soldiers were thrown helplessly into the air, a calm, clear voice cut through the chaos.

"Aevis Squad, engage! Weavers, secure the fallen!"

A second team, composed almost entirely of graceful Elves, flanked by a few human mages, swept into the battlefield.

They were led by a stunning beauty with silver-blonde hair that seemed to shine with its own light.

With a single, unified gesture, they began their chants in perfect harmony. Ropes of living, green vines shot out from the ground, catching the airborne Knights and lowering them gently to safety.

Human mages created walls of rushing water to cool the molten rock, while healers, their hands glowing with a soft, warm light, immediately began tending to the injured.

The situation, which had been on the verge of collapse, was brought back under control with an effortless grace.

From a command post on a nearby ridge, Serena spoke into her comm, a hint of playful superiority in her voice. "You see that, Karl? That’s how it’s done. Perfection over brute force."

Karl, who had been directing the Knights, frowned for a second before his teeth flashed in a wide, competitive grin. "Oh, really? I guess it’s time to end this little warm-up then."

He switched his comms channel. "Alright, Legionnaires, new plan! Listen up! Phase Gamma, containment protocol! I want it immobilized! Heavy chains, Earth-binders, the works! Give it everything you’ve got! This battle has dragged on long enough. This is our best and final shot at slaying this damn thing!"

The Knights roared in affirmation and got to work. They no longer tried to damage the beast directly.

Instead, they moved with a new purpose, using heavy, enchanted chains to ensnare its limbs while Dwarven warriors stomped on the ground, their own earth magic causing stony shackles to rise up and clamp around its ankles.

Meanwhile, Karl secluded one of his soldiers from the main assignment. A girl with sharp, focused eyes and a massive longbow strapped to her back.

"Lyra, this is your time to shine. The beast has a magma core in its throat; it only exposes it when it roars. Save your most powerful shot. When we give you the opening, you don’t miss."

Lyra gave a single, sharp nod, her hand already nocking a fearsome-looking, spiraled arrow that sang with stored energy.

"NOW!" Karl bellowed.

On his directive, the Knights pulled on the chains with all their might, forcing the Behemoth off-balance. It roared in pure frustration and rage, its great, molten maw opening wide to unleash another torrent of fire. That was the opening.

"Lyra, FIRE!"

~VMMMMMP!~

The sound of the mana enhanced arrow being released was a deep, resonant hum. It flew in a perfect, glowing arc, straight into the beast’s open throat and impacting the glowing magma core within.

For a moment, there was silence. Then, the beast began to glow from the inside out, cracks of brilliant light spreading across its obsidian hide.

With a final, deafening crack, it shattered, collapsing into a pile of cooling, inert rock.

Cheers erupted from the combined force of Knights and Mages, a joyous celebration of completing another difficult training assignment.

"Good job, pals!" Karl said, walking into the clearing. "After slaying this 9-Star beast, there’s no monster in the real forest you can’t challenge!"

They all cheered once more, but Karl held up a hand.

"Hush, hush. Don’t get too proud yet," he said with a smug air that instantly deflated their moods. "I can slay one of those things with my eyes closed. It took a hundred of you working together to take down just one."

They were used to his bravado, but sometimes it just got to them. He grinned. "Don’t worry. Once we’re done grooming you, you’ll all be slaying 9-Star beasts single-handedly. But for now, you’ve earned a break. Return to the campus!"

"SIR, YES SIR!" they all roared in unison, their spirits lifted once more.

Serena crossed her eyes at Karl before telling her Mages that they were dismissed as well. They all worked together to harvest the valuable simulated corpse before departing.

Meanwhile, Karl walked over to Serena and, without a word, grabbed her hand, dragging her away from the battlefield and deeper into the forest, a mischievous grin on his face.

"Karl! What are you doing?" she asked, surprised by his sudden action. "We were supposed to train them until 6 PM, it’s only 2. Why the early dismissal?"

He finally stopped, crossing his hands on his chest and shaking his head with a look of mock gravity. "I’m disappointed, Serena. Truly."

She looked completely confused. "Disappointed? About what?"

"How could you forget?" he said, his voice feigning hurt. "Today is the day. The day Adrian finishes up with that thing of his."

Serena’s eyes glowed as she instantly remembered the date. "The... the Satellite," she whispered in awe.

"Yup!" Karl confirmed. "The final activation is scheduled for this evening. You wouldn’t want to miss that, would you?"

"Ah! Thank you for reminding me! I almost forgot!" she said with excitement. "Let’s go! What are we waiting for?"

"Ah, ah," Karl said, holding up a finger. "We’re racing. Let’s see who gets to the Grand Factory first."

Serena rolled her eyes. "You can fly, and I can’t. How is that possibly a fair race?"

Karl put on a pondering expression. "That’s true. A completely unfair advantage." His expression broke into a wide, shameless grin. "Okay then. I’ll carry you."

"What? No!"

Before Serena could argue anymore, Karl had scooped her up into his arms in a princess carry.

With a powerful laugh, he launched himself into the air, soaring above the trees and towards the distant spires of New Haven, leaving a very flustered and protesting Serena with no choice but to hold on tight.