Chapter 76 - The Battle against Destiny (3)

The air trembled with power.

From the middle sanctum of Beastridge Mountain, the allied forces surged forward. Some galloped across the terrain on beasts of speed and strength. Others took to the skies, their summoned beasts gliding or soaring with majestic grace. The skies shimmered with motion, winds roaring as dozens of figures took flight.

Gasps and murmurs echoed from the ground as eyes turned upward.

A radiant Alicorn streaked through the clouds, Aiden astride it like a knight from a legend, his armor gleaming under the sun. Just behind him, Kyle’s Gryphon beat its mighty wings, the blend of lion and eagle drawing awe from every observer.

Selena rode atop a translucent Ice Phoenix, its frosted feathers leaving behind trails of glittering cold in the air, while Elowen seated behind her,with glowing Fairy Glyph, its wings like rippling parchment of ancient spells.

Aurelia charged below on her Qilin, hooves thundering with divine might, and beside her, Vincent rode the Silver-Winged Wyvern, its metallic sheen reflecting both sky and steel. Lilliane’s Nine-Tailed Fox darted between ridges with unnatural speed, its many tails trailing behind in a mesmerizing dance of magical color. Aria hovered high above them all, serene upon her Celestial Crane—pure, regal, and untouchable.

"They... all made contracts with

those

?" someone whispered, breathless.

"Those are mythical beasts... beings that rarely ever bow to mortals..."

Even veteran soldiers stared in disbelief.

And amidst the awe, riding quietly above the clouds, was a sleek, serpentine beast gliding with liquid grace—Seraphina’s Hydro Serpent. Its iridescent scales shimmered between hues of deep sea blue and stormy silver, coiling through the air like a flowing ribbon of water and wind.

At its back, Luca sat behind Seraphina, the wind tousling his dark hair as he gazed down at the battalion below.

"You’re really lucky, Professor," Luca said with a wry smile. "To find such a rare beast in the

Outer Sanctum

, of all places."

Seraphina chuckled, her voice light and smooth against the wind. "Indeed. Its affinity with water and wind aligns perfectly with mine. A natural match."

There was a pause before she glanced back slightly. "Last time, I forgot to ask... why weren’t you able to form a contract?"

Luca exhaled, his eyes narrowing slightly at the horizon. "It’s complicated. The problem’s with me—my affinities. Time and Space... They’re not exactly easy to resonate with." He gave a small, tired laugh.

Seraphina was quiet for a moment before smiling. "You really surprised me today—with what you did in that meeting. Speaking out like that, swaying the entire camp..."

She shook her head with a soft smile. "Now I understand how you always manage to get into trouble."

Luca let out a bitter laugh, scratching the back of his neck. "Well... I had to do it. If I hadn’t,no one knows what would happen."

The wind howled louder as they neared the cursed beast, but neither spoke again. Below and above, the allied army surged onward—united, determined, and unknowingly marching toward the most terrifying truth that slumbered within the ridge.

The moment they crested the ridge, everyone fell silent.

There it was.

A colossal demonic dragon, its body wreathed in black and crimson flames, body stretching wide enough to blot out the sun. Its glowing eyes locked onto the approaching group like it had been waiting—watching. With a guttural, bone-rattling roar, it began to move. The ground trembled under each thunderous step as the monster advanced.

Tension coiled in the air like a drawn bowstring.

"Everyone, to your assigned positions!" a voice barked from the front, sharp with urgency.

Luca turned to Seraphina, seated beside him atop her majestic Hydro Serpent. The beast’s body rippled with water-light, its serpentine form coiling gracefully in the sky. Even now, it drew curious stares from the knights and mages around.

"Professor," Luca said, voice steady despite the chaos ahead, "you’re one of the strongest here. Please support the mages. When the time comes, I’ll need all of you to strike together—with everything you’ve got."

Seraphina nodded firmly. "Understood."

Luca glanced at the approaching threat once more, then called out sharply, "Eric!"

A blur of ethereal blue shimmered into view as Eric swooped down on his Dream Butterfly, its translucent wings glowing softly like starlight in motion.

"Take care," Luca told Seraphina before leaping from the Serpent’s back. He landed behind Eric and steadied himself. "Let’s go."

Eric snorted. "Well, what a grand job we have—fetch and carry."

"What do you expect first-years to do?" Luca muttered. "We’re not strong enough to fight head-on."

"Unless..." Eric trailed off.

"Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that," Luca finished grimly.

The battle began.

The first wave struck like lightning—priests stood at the rear, chanting with glowing staves raised high as they summoned divine spears of radiant light that rained down on the dragon’s scales. Knights roared as they charged in, riding their contracted beasts—Winged Lions, Lightning Leopards, and Flame Stags—blades flashing and mana flaring with each strike.

But the dragon was unrelenting. Every swing of its tail shattered trees and flung riders across the battlefield. A single breath of its corrupted fire melted barriers, leaving scorched craters in the earth.

Screams filled the air.

Some students—frozen in terror—couldn’t move until a mage’s protective barrier snapped into place just in time. That was enough to jolt them into motion.

"Injured, two o’clock!" Luca shouted, pointing at a bloodied figure crawling near a broken boulder.

"I see him!" Eric dove low.

As they neared, the world around Luca suddenly warped. The trees blurred, colors bled into one another, and the roar of the battle dulled into silence.

"What the... Eric?" Luca’s voice echoed strangely.

Eric grinned over his shoulder. "Illusion field. One of the Dream Butterfly’s passive abilities. Makes us nearly invisible while we work."

Luca blinked, then smirked. "Perfect for our job. The beast will only see an empty patch of land."

They reached the injured knight, his armor torn and blood staining his shoulder. Luca dismounted swiftly, slinging the man over his back with effort.

"Let’s go!" he shouted.

They turned and raced back toward the rear lines, where Aria waited with her Celestial Crane, glowing with healing light, wings spread wide like a divine guardian.

Behind them, the battlefield burned with chaos and courage alike.

And this... this was just the beginning.

Three hours had passed. The battlefield was a canvas of chaos—crimson skies torn open by arcs of flame, surges of wind, torrents of water, and jagged bolts of lightning. Screams echoed endlessly, some of rage, others of pain. The war against the colossal demonic dragon had turned the once-pristine valley into a burning graveyard.

Luca sat on Eric’s Dream Butterfly, his expression distant, shadows under his eyes from fatigue and horror. Blood wasn’t on his hands, but it was all around him. "War... it’s cruel to everyone, isn’t it?" he murmured, voice heavy with grief.

Eric simply nodded, jaw clenched as they scanned the battlefield again.

"But... look." Luca pointed toward the dragon in the distance. "It’s weakening."

And it was. The monstrous beast, though still terrifying, moved sluggishly now. Its scales—once glimmering with cursed mana—had dulled. Its wingbeats no longer shook the earth with the same wrath.

Eric turned. "Yeah... but we’ve lost a lot too."

They dove down again, wings fluttering like ghosts through smoke. Luca spotted another wounded warrior—a mage with burnt robes and bleeding arms. "There," he said, and Eric veered towards the fallen. They picked him up carefully.

As they flew him toward the rear line, a thunderous scream echoed behind them.

"Finally!" Eric shouted. "That divine power plan worked better than expected!"

Luca’s eyes narrowed. "Yeah... and now it’s time for the finishing blow."

They reached the rear safe zone, where Aria—the Saintess—was surrounded by shimmering shields of light, her healing magic glowing like stardust around the injured. Aiden, Selena, Kyle, and Lilliane were already there, each bearing scratches, bruises, and exhaustion.

Luca approached them swiftly.

"They’re preparing for the final strike," Aiden said, glancing at the distant hill where mages and warriors had begun gathering.

"I figured as much," Luca replied.

Lilliane stepped forward, worry in her voice. "But... shouldn’t they wait? Just a bit more?"

Aiden shook his head. "No. They’ve been charging that energy for too long. If they don’t release it now, it’ll explode inside the casters. The beast has weakened enough. This is their one chance."

Everyone fell silent in grim understanding.

Then, the horn sounded.

A long, majestic note that pierced through the chaos—signaling the final assault.

All eyes turned to the sky.

Luca clenched his fist. "It’s now."

High above, the mages—dozens of them—hovered in formation, glowing like celestial beings. Magic circles overlapped, forming a complex, luminous array that pulsed with boundless energy. Each mage poured their entire mana core into the formation, elemental light blinding the heavens themselves. Water, flame, lightning, wind, and earth—every element merged into an overwhelming prism of power.

Then—

Boom!

The spell released like a wrathful judgment of the gods.

A gargantuan beam of pure mana descended from the sky, engulfing the demonic dragon in a blinding column of light. The entire battlefield shook. Rocks shattered. Trees bent away. Winds howled. A wave of magic washed over everyone—warm, heavy, and final.

When the light faded, the dragon’s body collapsed with a deafening crash, earth trembling beneath its weight.

Silence.

Then—cheers erupted.

Voices screamed in joy and disbelief. Some wept. Others raised their weapons, shouting the names of the fallen.

Luca stood frozen, eyes on the fallen beast. He exhaled, slowly unclenching his hand.

And then—

Rooooaar!

A pulse of red light seared his vision.

"Damn... that blood crystal," he shouted, gritting his teeth.