A Journey Unwanted

[EARLIER]

Mikoto's eyes glazed over the dozen or so dissipating demon corpses within the auditorium of the academy.

("No luck; these few were just mindless.") There were quite a few demons that had invaded the academy; most professors were out tending to them, while most students were hauled away somewhere. But still, he himself had been out looking for any intelligent demons. He wanted to ask about the wards and how they had broken them; of course, any demon might not just want to part with said information.

So as he stood there, his mind whirred with thoughts, and his brow furrowed in contemplation. He dwelled on the intricacies of the wards, also pondering the meaning of the demons just randomly invading the academy. Yet, despite the weight of his musings, a certain serenity clung to him, undisturbed by the silence around him.

Suddenly, a thunderous boom shattered the stillness, causing his thoughts to scatter like shards of glass. The main entrance doors, grand and imposing, exploded inward, splintering and crashing as if struck by an unseen force. In the gaping void created by the shattered doors, a figure emerged—yet another demon of nightmarish proportions.

This monstrous entity stood over twelve feet tall, its body twisted and contorted as if torn apart and reassembled with malicious intent. Its grotesque form was a malevolent fusion of sinew and bone; its skin was cracked and oozing with an otherworldly glow. Thick, heavy chains wrapped its body, linking its limbs together in an eerie display of confinement. Eyes like burning coals glowed a sickly green, reflecting a cold hunger and a desire for vengeance.

With an unearthly growl that echoed through the auditorium, the demon lunged toward the unsuspecting boy. Its limbs moved with unnatural speed, propelled by a ferocity that could only originate from the depths of the darkest abyss. Teeth gnashed, sharp as razors, as it extended long, clawed fingers, its intent unmistakably clear—to strike the boy down.

However, the Mikoto remained unbothered, unflinching as the demon closed the distance between them. In one fluid motion, he withdrew his hands from his pockets, extending his fingers as if holding an invisible gun. The air shifted around him, charged with an unknown power that crackled like electricity.

With a flick of his wrist, he aimed his invisible barrel toward the demon. A surge of energy coursed through him, a stinging sensation that flowed from the extended fingers down to his core. As he pulled an imaginary trigger, a shockwave erupted, sending ripples of force cascading towards the demon.

In an instant, the demon imploded, its grotesque form collapsing upon itself as if sucked into a vacuum. The audacious display of power silenced the roaring beast, leaving only the fading echoes of its malevolence to linger in the air.

The boy sighed, adding another mindless demon to the pile.

As his fingertips tingled with residual energy, a surge of magic pulsed through him. With not even a whispered incantation, reality warped, and he found himself hovering in mid-air, his body effortlessly suspended above the destroyed courtyard of the once magnificent Academy.

The courtyard lay in ruins, a testament to a battle waged between forces unknown. Cracked cobblestones lay scattered, their jagged edges protruding like broken promises. Scorch marks scarred the ground, a testament to the ferocity of unleashed magical spells. Ashen remnants of once-majestic statues and pillars littered the area, their fragments serving as somber reminders of the magic that was lost.

From his aerial vantage point, he surveyed the scene below. Two figures stood locked in a confrontation. One was Professor Gregory; Mikoto recognized the prick. To his side was a large, ethereal white wolf with azure eyes.

The other figure, an unknown demon, unleashed a barrage of magical, arrow-headed projectiles. These constructs, menacing in appearance, materialized from otherworldly energy. They hurtled towards Professor Gregory, leaving trails of malevolent power in their wake.

But the wolf, with an agility that defied imagination, moved swiftly, its majestic form nearly a blur of motion. It easily intercepting each arrow head with jaws lined with razor-sharp fangs. The arrows shattered upon impact, dissipating into shards of ebony smoke that dissipated into the ether.

Mikoto's gaze never wavered as he observed the battle unfold. The wolf's movements were not the result of mere instinct but of a deep bond between it and Professor Gregory. Their synergy resonated through the air, a dance of trust and loyalty.

("It's no summon.") Mikoto noted that it was completely comprised of pure mana. It was created, not summoned. That must have been the Familial Arts of the Goddess Isadora, no doubt. As interesting as that was, Mikoto found himself more interested in the demon, who actually seemed intelligent.

"It looks like I found what I was looking for." Mikoto smiled as he raised his hand at the blue demon.

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[ELSEWHERE]

"I dare say I do not enjoy being carried around like a sack of potatoes." Ruby complained from beneath Lucinda's arm.

"S-sorry." Lucinda could only sheepishly apologize as she sped through the dense forest; despite the absurd speed at which she was going, she managed to avoid the trees. Unfortunately, the two of them were also victims of the random teleportation spell invoked. Hence, they found themselves in the forest.

"I suppose it's fine." Ruby murmured, keeping her eyes closed as the wind violently rushed her face. "But you're quite fast; I thought you would be slow."

"How come?" Lucinda questioned as she avoided yet another tree.

"You have a huge breast." The smaller girl bluntly stated.

"W-what!?" The older girl flushed.

"I said you had-"

"No, no! I... uhm, heard...I just..."She was not quite certain how to respond to that.

Well, she was at least certain of one thing.

As they rushed through the labyrinthine foliage, the forest seemed to thicken around them, the air growing cooler and heavier. Dense branches reached out hungrily, entangling their gnarled fingers as if to impede their escape. However, her speed remained unyielding, weaving effortlessly through the ever-changing maze of trunks and shrubs.

A distant, ominous rumbling sound began to permeate the air, causing the birds to scatter in a flurry of feathers. The vibrations seemed to reverberate through the roots of the towering trees, stirring a ripple of unease in the very soul of the forest. It was the sound of something colossal, something wicked, that threatened to disrupt the delicate balance of this enchanting realm.

Suddenly, as if sensing imminent danger, Lucinda tightened her grip on Ruby and sprang backwards with astonishing agility, just as the ground beneath them erupted with a thunderous crash.

As the dust from the collision settled, a towering specter emerged, its lean silhouette framed by the wreckage of trees. The demon wore a tattered, vermilion jacket that seemed to cling to its lean muscular frame with surprising elegance. Each button on the jacket glinted ominously, gilded accents glimmering with an ethereal glow. Its pants were tailored impeccably, though now scuffed and torn from the impact.

Its face was surprisingly human though with its skin it was anything but, its mouth contorted into a sinister smirk. Crimson eyes burned with an insatiable hunger, while jagged horns jutted menacingly from its forehead. Withered, leathery wings stretched menacingly behind its back, every movement malice.

"Ah, there you are." It spoke with a raspy and oddly human voice.

"You're a Chaosmaw..." Lucinda's muscles coiled like springs, and her eyes fixed on the demon. She sat Ruby down, and no words needed to be exchanged as the aqua-haired girl quickly made her exit. Though the demon did not spare her even a glance,

"Spawn of Octavia..." It murmured as it licked its lips with its elongated tongue. "You look even more delicious in person." Immediately, her expression turned to one of repulsion.

("From what I sensed, there was only one Chaosmaw; there's no way I'd overlook this one.") She frowned as she unsheathed her katana and prepared to take a stance. But suddenly, in the distance, a huge pillar of pitch-black flames erupted and pierced the atmosphere.

"My, my. It seems Asmodai is having some fun." The Chaosmaw commented as he turned back to her. "Forgive my lack of manners; I am known as Nybbas." It introduced. Lucinda's gaze, merely held its own as he continued. "But I must say, I look rather forward to seeing your twisted and broken form!" He said it with a sneer morphing into his features.

Suddenly, Nybbas appeared before Lucinda, his body radiating with magical energy. He channeled his mana to reinforce and strengthen his body, with a faint glow surrounding him. 

Nybbas extended his hand towards Lucinda, his razor-sharp nails gleaming in the dim light of the forest. He aimed a series of precise and lethal strikes, his hands becoming a whirlwind of blurs. The wind whistled as his nails sliced through the air.

Lucinda's eyes widened, observing each movement with unwavering focus. She moved with natural grace and agility, seamlessly dodging Nybbas' attacks. Her body weaved and twisted, narrowly avoiding the deadly claws that sought to tear apart her flesh. She relied on her intuition, with her instincts guiding her every move.

With each dodge, Lucinda displayed an innate understanding of Nybbas' movements. It was all much too telegraphed, and she questioned if he was actually trying. She predicted his strikes, moving fluidly to evade them and every once in a while using her sword to deflect his strikes. Her body seemed to dance between the spaces his claws attempted to occupy, her mind calculating the precise timing required to avoid harm. The forest floor crunched beneath her feet as she easily maneuvered, barely leaving a trace in her wake.

Nybbas did not seem that frustrated by Lucinda's agility and skill, but he increased the intensity of his attacks. His movements became more erratic and aggressive.

("He's just using magic to strengthen himself.") It was odd; she could sense his mana, and he should easily be capable of tier 4 spells at least.

But Lucinda remained vigilant, her senses heightened to the max. She analyzed Nybbas' patterns, noticing the slight shifts in his stance before each attack. With lightning-fast reflexes, Lucinda's body contorted in seemingly impossible angles, her muscles flexing and releasing with every dodge.

The clash of steel against air filled the forest as Lucinda effortlessly avoided Nybbas' strikes. But suddenly the demon stopped his attacks and leaped backwards, a smirk on his face despite how ineffective his attacks were.

"You're as skilled as you are beautiful, spawn of Octavia." He mused as her gaze grew sharper. He was preparing a spell.

"Why have you demons come here?" She decided to ask. Nybbas merely shrugged.

"Well, I merely came here for some fun; Asmodai, on the other hand, is here to fulfill our lord's wishes," He informed leisurely.

("Lord? Another Chaosmaw; they must be powerful if this Nybbas follows under them") She deduced.

"I was looking forward to battling a spawn of Octavia, but you seem much too powerful for me." He admitted it as he raised his palm. "I think I'll just go and help Asmodai."

With a wicked grin etched across his face, Nybbas raised his palm towards the heavens. Blue flames flickered and danced before it, swirling in intricate patterns like a mesmerizing waterfall frozen in time. Magic, wicked and untamed, crackled through the air as the infernal fire twisted and roared with an intense hunger to consume.

The forest trembled and cowered as Nybbas thrust his palm forward, commanding the arcane energy to surge forth. It exploded from his hand with an ear-splitting roar, forming an immense wave of swirling blue fire. The destruction was immediate, as if the elements themselves recoiled in terror. Trees were stripped of life and reduced to smoldering skeletons within the destructive path of the sizzling flames.

But Lucinda was already prepared. Raising her free palm, she tapped into an element that would counter those intense flames: water. Her connection surged to life a stream of pure liquid power erupted from her hand, cascading forward with a mighty force.

Time seemed to slow as the colossal stream of water surged towards the malicious wave of fire, the elements poised for a cataclysmic collision. The air crackled as the clash of fire and water heralding a confrontation of unimaginable power.

As they converged, the wave of blue fire sizzled and twisted, desperately clawing at its existence. The water, an indomitable force, surged and surged, its momentum unyielding. Violent hisses deafened the forest as the boiling flames battled against the relentless onslaught of water. Steam erupted, obscuring the battleground in ghostly tendrils and creating an ethereal veil of obscured perception.

As the vapor cleared, revealing the aftermath of their titanic clash, devastation draped the landscape. The ground trembled beneath their feet, littered with the charred remnants of ancient trees now reduced to ash. A wide clearing stretched out before them, scorched and scarred by the remnants of an elemental war.

Lucinda stood, uninjured, but there was no sign of Nybbas. He had escaped. Lucinda frowned as she turned her head in a specific direction. A battle was waging on, and she sensed the mana of the other Chaosmaw.

Nybbas was powerful; were anyone else to face him, then they would not be able to win. This Asmodai was no doubt the other Chaosmaw; someone was battling him.

"Sorry, Ruby." She needed to get there fast and put an end to the demons.