Theo instinctively touched the wooden ring on his finger, drawing strength from Aksai’s silent support.
He then manifested his beast-type Aether Wisp to face his enemies.
The Wisp manifested with a soft, ethereal glow that gradually intensified.
It began to take shape, swirling and coalescing into the form of a young dragon. Its body was slender and sleek, covered in translucent scales that shimmered with a spectrum of colors.
The dragon’s wings were delicate and semi-transparent, like gossamer, hinting at the powerful, full-fledged wings they would one day become.
The dragon’s eyes were large and expressive, filled with a curious intelligence that mirrored Theo’s own. Tiny, luminescent horns adorned its head, and a row of small, fin-like spines ran down its back.
Despite its youthful appearance, there was an aura of potential and latent power surrounding the wisp, suggesting the greatness it would achieve as it matured alongside Theo.
As the dragon hovered in the air, it exuded a sense of playfulness and energy, occasionally emitting soft, melodic trills that sounded like a blend of purring and singing. Its tail, long and whip-like, swayed gracefully, creating faint trails of light in the air.
Theo’s Aether Wisp looked like it needed a few years before it could be called a full-fledged dragon. Just like Theo, his Aether Wisp was also young and immature.
Theo’s heart raced as the four masked abductors surrounded him, their menacing presence closing in. With a determined glare, he let his dragon wisp do his bidding.
“Get him!” one of the abductors shouted, their voices muffled by the masks.
Theo’s dragon wisp roared, its ethereal form flickering with vibrant energy. The dragon lunged at the nearest abductor, its translucent claws slashing through the air. The abductor stumbled back, surprised by the ferocity of the attack.
Spell Domain: Draconic Might!
A shimmering barrier expanded around him, its protective aura infused with the dragon’s essence. The air within the barrier thrummed with power, making the abductors hesitate for a moment.
Theo then activated his school’s identity token, channeling his Aether into it. The token glowed brightly, and the defensive magic circle around him came to life. Runes etched into the ground pulsed with energy, forming a protective dome that surrounded him.
The identity token given by the school had many uses. Thankfully, Theo remembered to use its functions and bolstered his defenses using it.
“Not so easy, kid!” another abductor snarled. It seemed these abductors were already aware of the identity token’s functions. As such, they didn’t look surprised when Theo managed to raise a high-grade defensive barrier around him.
Theo also made use of the identity token to enhance the offensive and defensive capabilities of his Aether beast. Inside the school premises, Theo had a homeground advantage thanks to the identity token. As such, he could fight with the abductors on equal grounds even though they were far more stronger than him.
The abductors released their own Aether Wisps—spectral creatures that varied in form. A shadowy wolf, a flaming phoenix, a serpentine dragon, and an armored bear materialized, their eyes gleaming with malevolence.
Theo’s dragon wisp faced the shadowy wolf first, their clash sending sparks of Aether energy flying. The wolf snapped at the dragon’s wings, but the dragon retaliated with a burst of fiery breath, forcing the wolf to retreat.
Theo was a very ambitious young boy. Plus, the school he attended was considered a top-notch organization in the entire province. As such, Theo had been trained well in various fields and practical examinations. As such, he didn’t lose focus and made optimal use of his cards.
‘Sir Aksai, will you help me this time?’ Theo secretly asked Aksai’s woodland clone, pleading with him to aid him get out of the mess.
‘I can surely help you, Theo. But if I do, I may fall into a long slumber and I might not be able to wake up any time soon. Do you still want me to help you?’
Aksai answered Theo’s query while secretly laughing in his mind. He saw this situation as the best way to leave Theo. He just needed to play his cards right and he’d be free to explore the rest of Acarnis on his own terms. As such, he made up a cliched story to help Theo and use the opportunity to say farewell to him.
‘No… I am not ready to lose you. I… I’ll deal with these goons on my own,’ Theo replied with determination, making Aksai tongue-tied. It seemed that the kid was even more desperate to retain his cheat-ability than he had initially thought.
The fight raged on.
Theo’s Spell Domain hummed with energy, reinforcing the defensive magic circle. The abductors tried to break through, but the barrier held firm.
Theo’s eyes flickered with determination as he manipulated the array on his identity token, summoning several top-grade drones powered by AetherTech technology.
The drones emerged from hidden compartments around the school grounds, their sleek forms hovering menacingly. They identified the abductors as enemies and opened fire with precision energy blasts. The abductors were forced to split their focus, battling both Theo and the relentless drones.
“Take them out!” the leader of the abductors commanded. The flaming phoenix soared through the air, unleashing a torrent of fire that engulfed one of the drones. The drone exploded in a shower of sparks, but the remaining drones continued their assault.
Theo’s dragon wisp circled back, targeting the serpentine dragon wisp. The two dragons clashed in mid-air, their roars echoing through the courtyard. Theo felt a surge of pride as his dragon held its own against the more experienced wisp.
But the abductors were relentless. The shadowy wolf lunged at Theo’s barrier, its claws raking against the shimmering surface. Cracks began to appear, and Theo’s concentration wavered. The armored bear wisp charged forward, its powerful blows further weakening the barrier.
Theo gritted his teeth, pushing his Aether reserves to their limit. “Come on, just a little more!” he urged, glancing at the drones for support.
The drones continued to fire, but the abductors were starting to gain the upper hand. The phoenix and the wolf worked together to destroy another drone, while the serpentine dragon wisp managed to land a devastating blow on Theo’s dragon.
With a pained roar, Theo’s dragon wisp began to flicker and fade. Theo’s heart sank as he felt his connection to the wisp weaken. The remaining drones fought valiantly, but the abductors’ combined strength was too much. One by one, the drones were destroyed, leaving Theo vulnerable.
“Now!” the leader barked. The abductors focused their efforts, their Aether Wisps converging on Theo’s barrier. With a final, coordinated strike, the barrier shattered, and Theo was thrown to the ground by the force of the attack.
Disoriented, Theo tried to stand, but the armored bear wisp slammed into him, knocking the wind out of his lungs. His vision blurred as the abductors closed in, their Aether Wisps towering over him.
“You fought well, kid,” the leader said, his voice laced with grudging respect. “But it’s over.”