“Is everyone ready?” the Principal inquired, her gaze sweeping over the Elite class students assembled before her.
“Yes, Principal!!” Their voices rang out in unison.
They stood poised near the Teleportation Station, a structure both ancient and awe-inspiring. Massive roots, twisted and gnarled with age, erupted from the earth, their surfaces etched with strange, glowing symbols. These roots, pulsing with raw Arcane energy, intertwined to form a path that gradually parted, revealing the entrance to the teleportation portal…..
It was the same portal through which Aether had once arrived.
The Principal’s gaze lingered on her students, a hint of pride softening her stern expression. Though only a chosen ones were truly required for this trial, her deep care for all her students had driven her to bring the entire Elite class.
She had even allowed some attendants to join, believing the experience would impart invaluable lessons.
She was, after all, a Principal who cherished her students deeply!!
“This is my first time going to the Pyra Empire…” Vesperine whispered, her voice trembling with excitement as she clung to Kai’s arm. Her eyes sparkled with anticipation, her lips curled into a wide, joyous smile. Kai, mirroring her enthusiasm, nodded eagerly. “Haha… me too,” he said.
Since the Principal had granted permission for attendants, Kai had chosen Vesperine to accompany him.
Timmy?
He was crying in the corner!!
Meanwhile, Victor’s eyes darted around, a flicker of unease crossing his face. He appeared to be searching for something…. or someone.
“What are you looking for?” Kyra asked, her curiosity piqued as she watched him.
“Nothing,” Victor replied flatly, though inwardly his thoughts were in turmoil. ‘I haven’t seen Delphine since that day…’
He knew she was overwhelmed with responsibilities… repairing the academy, addressing the grief of parents who had lost their children—so much so that she scarcely had time to sleep.
Victor sighed, His gaze shifted to Aether, who stood silently behind Aqualina. Aqualina, unwilling to leave Aether alone in the academy, had begged the Principal to allow him to join…. The Principal, with a show of reluctance, had agreed.
“Come on, guys!” The Principal’s voice broke through the moment, authoritative yet laced with affection, as she motioned for the students to enter the portal one by one.
Finally, only Victor remained. He glanced back…. The Principal smirked knowingly, her voice soft but firm as she said, “Come on, Victor. Everyone has their responsibilities…” With a gentle push, she sent him into the portal and they disappeared.
Just as the portal sealed shut, Delphine arrived, her face flushed, her breathing ragged, “-Ha…ha… I missed them…” she whispered with a deep sadness. She had been so consumed by her duties that she hadn’t even been able to say goodbye to Aether.
….
…
Pyra Fulgur Empire
“Welcome to our Pyra Fulgur Empire!” A voice, sharp and authoritative, cut through the air as the students materialized in their new surroundings. The speaker, a woman of imposing presence, stood tall and unyielding, her gaze steely as she welcomed them.
Victor stepped forward, his eyes widening as he took in the scene before him….
Towering mountains dominated the horizon, their jagged peaks piercing the sky, cloaked in swirling mists that gave them an otherworldly appearance, ‘Damn…’ Victor thought, his breath catching in his throat as he absorbed the sheer scale and beauty of the landscape.
!~Ding~!
[Mission: Save and Seduce Raven Noir]
Victor’s thoughts stumbled…. His eyes darted to Raven Noir, who stood nearby, her hand gripping the hilt of her thin sword so tightly that her knuckles had turned white. Her posture was tense as if she were bracing herself for an unseen threat.
‘What now?’ Victor sighed, a deep weariness settling in. But before he could process it, a sudden, fierce wind howled through the air…
SsshhhhhHHHH
SssshhhhHHHHHH
The students staggered, their feet slipping on the uneven ground as they struggled to remain upright. Their gazes shot skyward, where a colossal shadow darkened the sky… a humongous blue dragon, its massive wings beating with a force that made the very earth tremble beneath them.
“ALL HAIL THE DRAGON EMPEROR!!” The staff at the teleportation station fell to their knees, their foreheads nearly touching the ground as they chanted in reverence.
The dragon began to descend, its massive form shifting and contorting as it approached the ground… Blue scales shimmering with a radiant, almost blinding light.
“GGGRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!”
Then, with a thunderous roar that seemed to shake the mountains themselves, the dragon transformed. Its enormous body shrank, contorting into the shape of a man…. a man of extraordinary beauty and terrifying presence.
His hair was a deep, iridescent blue, cascading down his back like a waterfall. His chest, bare and chiselled like sculpted marble, gleamed under the pale light, muscles rippling with latent power. Two sharp, gleaming horns jutted from his forehead, each one glowing faintly with an eerie, otherworldly light that hinted at the boundless energy within him.
“Welcome, the Chosen Ones!” His voice boomed, resonating with a primal authority that sent a shiver down the spine of anyone who heard it. His eyes, narrow and slit like a predator’s, surveyed the group with a cold, calculating gaze. He landed gracefully, his every movement exuding an effortless arrogance, as if he were a god among mere mortals.
The instant his feet touched the ground,
Thud
Thud
Thud
…..
…
A crushing wave of pressure radiated from him, forcing everyone except the Chosen Ones to their knees. The very air seemed to grow heavier, saturated with the overwhelming power that emanated from the Dragon Emperor. The students struggled to remain upright, their bodies trembling, their breath coming in ragged gasps as they fought against the oppressive force.
The man’s lips curled into a satisfied smirk as he surveyed the scene, his eyes gleaming with a cruel amusement. But then his gaze caught on Victor… who remained standing, calm and composed, seemingly untouched by the Emperor’s overwhelming presence.
The man’s brows knitted together in a mixture of confusion and… irritation. But before he could act, his eyes landed on another figure.
“MY SON!!” he bellowed, his voice suddenly warm and affectionate as he strode toward… Leon Dragonheart.
Without hesitation, he wrapped his son in a bear hug, his powerful arms nearly crushing the younger man.
Leon returned the embrace awkwardly, his face burning with embarrassment, “H-Hello, Father,” he stammered, unable to hide the crimson flush spreading across his cheeks.
“How long has it been since we last saw each other? You look thinner! Are you eating properly?” The Emperor’s voice was now thick with concern, his eyes narrowing as he examined Leon’s slim frame with a critical eye.
“F-Father!” Leon protested, mortified by his father’s public display of affection. “L-Let’s talk at home, please?”
“Oh! Yes, yes… we’ll talk later,” the man agreed, his tone reluctantly shifting back to one of authority as he turned his attention once more to…. Victor.
He moved closer, his presence looming as he stared down at Victor, “What’s your name, human?” he demanded, his voice cold and imperious, each word a command.
Victor glanced at Kyra and Selene, who were gasping for breath under the intense pressure, their knees trembling as they knelt before the Dragon Emperor.
He then turned back to the man, meeting his gaze with a level, “State your name before asking who I am,” Victor replied very politely not even using ‘Fuck’…. it was very polite!!
Yet,
“HEYYYYY!!!”
“HOW DARE YOU!!!”
The staff at the teleportation station erupted in fury, their faces twisted with rage as they glared at Victor, their hands twitching with the desire to kill him for his insolence.
But the Emperor raised his hand, silencing them with a mere gesture. His eyes never left Victor’s, a predatory smile slowly spreading across his lips, “You’re the one who hurt my son, aren’t you?” he asked, his voice low and deadly.
Leon’s face drained of colour…. as memories of that agonizing, ball-crushing kick flashed through his mind. His hands instinctively moved to shield his groin, his legs trembling uncontrollably.
Victor shrugged, his expression nonchalant, “If you’re asking about your son’s future… yeah, I’m the one,” he replied, his voice steady, unafraid.
The Emperor’s eyes bored into Victor’s, searching for any hint of fear or weakness… But there was none!
After a long, tense moment, the Emperor’s lips twisted into a grudging smile, “You’ve got guts… I like it… a little,” he admitted, before he turned to the Principal. “You’ve chosen a bold disciple,” he remarked as he stepped back.
As if on cue, the sky darkened once more, filled with the massive forms of more dragons descending from the sky. Their enormous wings spread wide as they touched down, the ground quaking beneath their weight. They were not mere creatures… they were the Emperor’s elite guard, each one a symbol of the unimaginable power he wielded.
Carriages, suspended from the dragons, landed gently, ready to transport the students.
As the students began to board the carriages, the Principal approached Victor, her eyes gleaming with pride. She leaned in close, her voice a whisper of approval, “You’ve really impressed me, My favourite disciple!!” She gave him a pat on the back before moving on.
[+2000 AP]