Arnik's ears rang. The world blurred in flashes of light and chaos. His breath hitched as he struggled to regain his footing, but the battlefield was a storm of destruction.
Magic bolts streaked past him, ripping through the broken landscape, kicking up dust and debris. The air reeked of scorched earth and blood.
He turned, searching frantically. "Kai! Rose! Markus!"
BOOM.
A sudden impact slammed into his chest. The force sent him flying backward, his ribs screaming in protest. He barely had time to brace before crashing into a pile of rubble.
Through hazy vision, he looked up—just in time to see a demon user looming over him. A wicked grin stretched across its jagged face.
Then, it struck.
Arnik barely managed to roll aside as the creature's clawed fist cratered the ground where his head had been. He countered, flames erupting from his hands as he sent a fiery blast straight into its torso. The demon screeched, stumbling back.
But there was no time to rest.
Kai was darting through the battlefield, his weapon shifting in rapid succession—dagger to spear, spear to sword—every move precise, every strike aimed at an enemy's weak point. But no matter how many he cut down, more came.
Rose was a blur of motion, her Yari spinning in deadly arcs. Blood smeared across her face, her ears twitching as she dodged a crushing blow. She fought like a cornered beast, moving with raw instinct.
Then there was Markus.
Markus fought like a demon himself.
He didn't dodge. He didn't retreat.
He tore through everything in his path.
A demon user lunged at him, claws raised—Markus grabbed its arm mid-strike and twisted. A sickening snap echoed over the battlefield. The creature howled, but Markus didn't stop. He drove his head forward, cracking his skull against its face, sending it reeling.
Another demon user charged from behind. Markus didn't even turn—he threw his trident-sword backward like a spear. It pierced clean through the demon's chest.
But he wasn't done.
With sheer brute strength, he yanked the first demon toward him and ripped its arm off with his bare hands. Blood sprayed across his face, dripping from his wild grin.
The creature shrieked, trying to regenerate, but Markus wasn't letting it.
He tackled it to the ground and sank his teeth into its throat, tearing out chunks of flesh like a starving animal.
It gurgled, its wounds sealing up—but Markus wasn't finished.
He grabbed its torso and pulled.
Veins bulged in his arms as he ripped the demon in half, its organs spilling onto the battlefield.
But it still tried to regenerate.
Markus stomped its head.
Again.
And again.
And again.
Each sickening crunch splattered more brain matter against the dirt.
The demon twitched, its body desperately trying to reform.
Markus didn't stop.
Not until there was nothing left.
Not until the battlefield was painted red.
Not until his breath came out in ragged heaves, his body covered in steaming blood—most of it not his own.
Kai had stopped fighting just for a moment, watching from a distance.
"…Markus…" he muttered under his breath.
This wasn't just brutality.
This was something else entirely.
And Markus looked like a MONSTER!
Aika's voice crackled through the comms, filled with desperation. "Arnik! You have to come back alive! All of you! Please, fall back—now!"
Arnik gritted his teeth, dodging another strike before smashing a demon user aside with a blast of fire. "We're trying!"
But Markus… Markus wasn't trying to fall back.
Solo.
He stepped forward, his boots crunching against the scorched ground, his blade gleaming with fresh blood.
Satsujin.
The man stood amidst the carnage, unbothered. The battlefield twisted around him, his very presence warping the air. His red eyes locked onto Markus, a knowing smirk creeping across his face.
Markus didn't wait.
He burst out of the smoke, sword raised high. "HEY!"
Their blades met in an instant. Sparks flew as steel clashed, Markus driving forward with a relentless fury.
Satsujin barely moved, effortlessly weaving through the onslaught. His footwork was lazy, almost bored, his movements smooth, mocking.
Markus snarled, adjusting his grip—too late.
Satsujin was already inside his guard.
In a blink, a hand clamped around Markus's throat.
A deafening CRACK split the air as his helmet shattered under the pressure.
Markus choked, his hands clawing at the iron grip crushing his windpipe. His feet kicked against the ground as he was lifted like a ragdoll, his vision blurring.
Satsujin tilted his head, his grip tightening. "I remember you now… the wolf pup that ran." He leaned in, his voice laced with amusement. "I almost forgot about you. But look at you now. Pathetic. Just like your parents."
Markus's vision swam with red.
With a guttural growl, he wrenched himself free, falling to the ground with a heavy thud, coughing violently.
Satsujin chuckled, stepping forward. "You should've stayed hidden."
Then he was gone.
No—too fast. Markus barely registered the movement before—
SHNK!
A deep, searing pain ripped through his chest.
A thin red line appeared across his armor—then his flesh.
Blood gushed from the fresh wound.
Markus staggered, his breathing ragged.
Satsujin exhaled, flicking his blade to the side, shaking off the blood. "Disappointing." His gaze lowered. "I was hoping for more from a Sentryon."
Kai screamed. "MARKUS!"
He lunged forward, but a demon user tackled him to the ground, pinning him down with an overwhelming weight.
A sickening chuckle echoed in his ear. "Where do you think you're going, little mage?"
Kai struggled, but the creature only pressed down harder, its claws digging into his shoulders. "Watch closely," it sneered. "I want you to see how easily he dies."
Satsujin raised his sword, the edge gleaming under the crimson sky.
Markus, still reeling, barely had the strength to raise his weapon in defense.
The blade came down.
BOOM!
Satsujin was blasted off his feet, his body careening through the air before smashing into a crumbling wall.
Smoke and dust erupted from the impact.
Markus gasped, collapsing to one knee, barely holding himself up.
Kai's head snapped toward the source of the explosion.
His breath hitched.
Someone else had entered the fight.
Crowne stood at the center of the chaos, his hand overflowing with raw, crackling magic. The energy distorted the air around him, waves of heat and power radiating from his palm.
He wiped blood from his mouth, grinning as his wounds instantly healed. "Wow, wow! I taught you better than this," he mused, shaking his head.
Markus, still breathing heavily, forced himself back to his feet, his grip tightening around his sword. His entire body screamed in protest, but his eyes never left Satsujin.
"Move," Markus growled. "I'm not done."
Crowne flicked his wrist, sending a small wave of force to push Markus back slightly—not enough to hurt, just enough to remind him of the gap in their strength.
"Whoa there," Crowne chuckled, lowering his stance. "You're done here, pup. This guy? He's 100 times stronger than you."
Markus clenched his teeth, his frustration boiling over. "I don't care."
Crowne sighed, rolling his shoulders. "Yeah, I figured. But the thing is… I do." His eyes gleamed. "Now get moving before I make you."
Kai, struggling to get up, gritted his teeth, trying to push himself off the ground. His body refused to cooperate.
Then—soft hands grabbed his arm.
"Here, up you go~"
Miu effortlessly pulled him to his feet, her usual bubbly energy unfazed by the carnage around them. She gave him a bright smile. "There you go! All better."
Kai blinked. "Uh… Thanks."
"No problem~" She giggled, patting his shoulder like it was just another day.
Meanwhile, Zara Blitz tore through the battlefield like a storm.
Metal screeched as sheripped through machines with her bare hands, her sheer speed tearing them apart before they could even react.
Her eyes locked onto a pile of rubble—movement underneath.
She grabbed onto a slab of concrete and ripped it clean off, revealing a bloodied and battered Rose.
"Come on, woman!" Zara barked.
Rose groaned, barely conscious, as Zara yanked her up and threw her over her shoulder. Without missing a beat, she dashed across the battlefield, dodging incoming fire and skidding to a stop right in front of Kai.
She dumped Rose at his feet.
"You," Zara pointed, breathing heavily, "are getting on that damn evac ship."
Kai barely had time to process before alarms blared.
Overhead, massive dropships hovered, their ramps lowering. This was it.
Zara wiped sweat from her brow. "This is our last chance. We're leaving now. If you wanna live, get moving."
Kai looked up at her. "What about you?"
Zara smirked. "We'll be right behind you. Promise."
Rose groaned, shaking her head as she forced herself up. "No way—I'm not leaving you guys—"
"Rose." Zara crossed her arms. "Carry your boyfriend the rest of the way."
Rose froze. Her ears twitched violently.
"H-he's not my boyfriend!!!" she sputtered, her face turning red.
Zara rolled her eyes, already turning back toward the fight. "Whatever. Get moving."
Grumbling, Rose threw Kai's arm over her shoulder, half-dragging, half-carrying him toward the evac ships.
Kai sighed. "You could be gentler."
"Oh, shut up," Rose muttered, ears flicking in irritation.
Meanwhile—
Satsujin moved in for the kill.
Arnik, exhausted, barely managed to react in time. His arms crossed in defense, bracing for the attack.
Before it could land—
A streak of silver flashed between them.
A cane clashed against Satsujin's blade, stopping the attack dead.
Arnik looked up.
Alaric Vayne.
His movements were effortless, refined—like he wasn't even trying. Elegance itself.
Satsujin clicked his tongue. "Hmph."
Alaric adjusted his grip on his cane, his expression as calm as ever. "Get going," he murmured to Arnik. "This fight isn't yours anymore."
Arnik hesitated, looking at the battle raging around them.
Alaric's eyes flickered with sharp amusement. "I wasn't asking. Go."
Arnik clenched his fists—then turned and ran toward the evac ships.
As the last of them boarded, the remaining teachers stood their ground.
Crowne cracked his knuckles, his magic burning like wildfire around his hands. His grin was almost feral.
"This…" He exhaled, stepping forward. "Is gonna be bloody. And I love that."
Alaric sighed, adjusting his collar. "This is going to be so… inelegant."
Takashima's voice crackled through the comms. "This is gonna be difficult. Hold them off."
Zara scoffed, fists clenched as she stared at the endless swarm of machines marching toward them. "You expect us to hold off all of these?"
"How long do you need?" Vayne asked, rolling his wrist as his cane pulsed with energy.
Takashima's reply was firm. "Ten minutes."
Crowne burst out laughing. "That's it?! Oh, come on, you could've at least made this a challenge!"
Takashima's voice softened slightly. "Miu… Get back safe, okay?"
There was a small pause before she replied, her voice quiet but unwavering. "You know I can't guarantee that."
The air around them shifted.
The Top Mages of Mars stood side by side, magic coursing through their bodies, ready for battle.
A slow, eerie laugh echoed through the battlefield.
Satsujin stepped forward, his red eyes glowing with amusement. "What an honor… Facing the legendary Top Mages of Mars."
Vayne adjusted his sleeves, unimpressed. "You're a fool if you think you can take us on alone."
Satsujin grinned. "Oh, I'd love to…" His aura flickered. "But the smart thing would be to take down that ship."
He vanished like a shadow.
Vayne's eyes snapped to Crowne. "Crowne! Stop him!"
Crowne's smirk sharpened. His body blurred before Vayne even finished speaking.
The moment Satsujin reappeared in mid-air, aiming straight for the ship—Crowne was already there, drawing Twin Blades.
Their blades clashed.
Satsujin's face twisted with surprise. "Fast."
Crowne's grin widened. "Faster than you."
The shockwave of their impact split the air. Sparks and streaks of magic burst around them as their battle began.
Vayne exhaled, turning back to the oncoming machines.
"Now," he muttered, rolling his shoulders.
He raised his cane, energy crackling around it.
"Let's push them back."
His eyes narrowed, thoughts swirling.
Not many can best Crowne in combat… But we will see.