We found ourselves on the lowest floor...
A cavernous part we didn't expect to encounter...
"It's my fault for letting my guard down. It looks like we've been taken through a dungeon hole."
Which means this is the bottom floor. And... I didn't let my caution lapse again, this time grabbing both Belitha and Laia in my arms and dashing a safe distance of five meters to evade the gigantic fist of the monstrous entity that was on the verge of pounding us to fine meat. This is the Floor Boss's lair. Grasping onto me tightly, sweat rolled down Laia's forehead, she was incapacitated by debilitating fear which coursed the sensation of death through her veins.
"It's a D-D-D-Demon!"
The creature stood at a height of 12 meters, a humanoid demon-like creature, with dark blue armor similar to that of an Ankylosaurus.
It has a burly and muscular form. Pitch black skin and a crown which has three silver spikes running down the top, and two downward pointing black horns on the sides.
It's back armor has long spikes running down each side, the plated chest and torso are dark blue with five spikes on each end and his tail has a blue mace on the end of it, with silver spikes.
This demon was a prince of this inactive demonic castle, the Arcadian Castle and it went by the name Zerstörung, anyone who lived here knew the story of how 500 years ago our country was once ruled by a demon lord known as Alkaedius Div Nedra.
This creature of darkness was the same thing, a demonic entity which was created to destroy anyone who crossed the lower levels where his possessions were kept. We were unfortunate enough to stumble here.
The steam leaving it's nostrils and the blood red eyes it had made this demon look all the more intimidating. It's animalistic roar made Laia crawl further back, only after I'd left them.
She panicked severely, fear paralyzed her.
"L-Laia. I-It's fine! I'm here with you!"
It was admirable to see them standing up for each other, but there wasn't any time to admire that. I had to get to work.
I stood two meters away from the monstrosity, it's shadow completely engulfed me but I was unafraid.
Hm, true, it does seem more formidable than the Polymorphs. Now then, I best begin the final touches on our practicals.
Turning my back on Zerstörung to first assure Belitha and Laia that they were indeed safe. I spoke to them while the demonic entity unveiled its large destructive hammer that coursed with negative energy.
He didn't let me finish, which was a bit rude but it's one of those things you have to overlook.
The hammer descended at an impregnable speed but I was quick enough to equally react. I turned sharply and placed my right palm out in the direction of the descending hammer.
[ Unique Skill ---> Oracle Engine ]
Activating...
[ Ultra Wall Formation ---> Reflect: Ultra Wall ]
Spell evolutionary process...
A defensive sphere encompassed me. It was best described as a shimmering blue globe of energy which the demon's armament clashed with and immediately did it's job by generating a repulsive force that blew the demon numerous meters backwards.
By the use of kinetic reactor magicube energy it's the ultimate offense via defense as the more you attack it, the stronger it gets by using accumulated motion to effectively circumvent external forces.
When engaged in close quarter combat like this, Type Magic isn't the ideal choice, as much as I wanted to show Laia the perks of that magic technique. I'd already gotten some distance from my opponent having had the reflective force bubble blast Zerstörung some few meters back.
"N-No way."
They couldn't believe I had what it took to face this demon, that's what the astonishment on their countenance informed me. But focusing on the fight at hand, it's very useful if you use it to take advantage of an enemy's opening.
Thus, I prepared my Type Magic by speedy activation which manifests a magic seal slightly on the top right hand side of the demon.
With my hand gesture a powerful beam of light is projected from the drawn seal which results in me setting Zerstörung ablaze. A sizable explosion followed after as I heard the vile creature wallow in agony.
"Type Magic's strength is that it can be use in succession, without interruption and with a logical sequence. Unlike common spells, it doesn't consume magic energy and you can form the magic swiftly. No chants or unnecessary preparations required."
As I spoke, my hand progressively moved in a patterned motion while my index finger drew a spiral trace of energy in the air.
Finally, I'd created about forty magic seals with ancient runes engraved on it. They project multiple beams of energy which decimates the target within their range, generating continuous sizable catastrophic explosions. They were like fireworks.
Zerstörung didn't survive it for long, flat on the ground but still breathing. I dismissed my magic seals for one reason.
"Miss Laia? Would you please deliver the final blow?"
Tears already flowed from her eyes, she still seemed to be afraid, had I not given her a valid reason not to?
"Muster up your willpower and cast away your past. Miss Laia, right now you truly are at the point in your life where you get to make a choice. If you want to change, then show us that resolve."
My words may have reached out to her, I wasn't aware but in that time she could see flashes of her childhood till now and how she'd been discriminated, made fun of, sexually harassed and so much more cruelty she experienced. Until now she's always escaped her sorrowful feelings. Maybe hoping that some day a kind, loving person would come and rescue her from this callous world. She didn't fight the reality before her, and simply chose to be submissive and endure.
"I-I don't want to endure or feel these pains anymore! I don't want to run anymore!"
I watched her walk up to Zerstörung; the demon in question and the moment it saw her it thought this was easy pickings. As such, the creature of darkness darts for her with it's claws out first but she stood gallantly preparing her Type Magic.
"Take this!"
With her arm outstretched she unleashed a brutal assault on the creature declaring she wouldn't cry anymore, crating an impressive number of ten magic seals that completely incapacitated the Demon. It was an indubitable destruction.
Before she fell on her knees I ran quickly enough to catch her from behind, watching her breathe laboriously I could tell she was exhausted. I acknowledged her first and foremost.
"Well done, Miss Laia.."
Belitha was equally glad to acknowledge her and offer support however best she could, even going as far as hugging her and once again smiling before referring to Laia as a friend. One even the green-haired girl did not believe.
We defeated the Floor Boss together! That in it's own was worthy of praise. It was a sight of sheer happiness without a doubt, such a scene would touch anyone's heart.
Her tears of joy was the most important thing that day.
I went to acquire the last needed item for our list to be completed, and that was the Gallanite.
We were in luck, if I recall correctly Lady Ophelia mentioned that they're found on the lower floors and since this was the final it'd be abundant here.
It was a strange black mineral I'd never seen nor heard of before, even with reading so many books, or maybe I'd read of it once but didn't recall. It's not a mineral talked about much.
I nod my head having seen a huge chunk, one I planned to snap off from the cluster.
When I touched it, Scentia did it again noting down her usual complexity which was sometimes beyond comprehension.
[ Unique Skill ---> Oracle Engine ]
Activating...
[ Item Analysis ---> Gallanite ]
Processing...
[ Item Analyzed ]
Replicated...
Now we could finally take our leave. We had everything needed to get a passing score on our grades or hopefully even better.
[ Hours Later ]
We were outside the Arcadian castle, with not only our required items but also the horns of Zerstörung to prove that we did indeed kill the floor boss, undeniable proof.
While other students hung around, Lady Ophelia was impressed. She knew we did but couldn't help but ask us again, just for clear confirmation or rather clarity.
"Students killed a Demon?"
"Yes! But it's only because Nyx taught us Type Magic!"
Laia didn't know saying that would out me even more, but she only did so as her own way of praising me and showing gratitude, possibly. I already knew Lady Ophelia caught on to the possibility that this wasn't n originally existent magic, because of the momentary widening of her eyelids.
"Type Magic?" she inquired wanting to know what type of magic that was. But I was quick to dismiss the truth with another lie of mine, that starting to become a normal occurrence. I started my nervous and mildly suspicious chuckles again.
"Wait! No we almost died! Gosh, I was so scared that we wouldn't make it out alive especially with me fear of darkness, ironic since my name is Nyx b-b-but you get what I'm saying right?"
The girls were confused as to why I lied, I stood in between them so they looked at me from both sides. Visibly perplexed by my choice of words. I just resumed my nervous laughter in the awkward silence stating how lucky we were to have survived.
The other students stared uncomfortably at me and I knew they'd thought what kind of a weirdo I was.
"Let me guess, the useless leech Laia just let you guys do all the work while she watched like some idiot from her safe zone! Honestly girls these days are a bore! And worse a Cross and the daughter of a Hero choose to associate with a plague like her! Such fools!"
I preferred not to dignify Dilbertʼs words with a response even if he'd just spoken ill of Belitha.
My laughter paused and I chose to be quiet instead, but what I heard next came as a mountain of shock to me, after first hearing the sound of an admittedly loud slap to the cheek.
Dilbert fell to the ground before he crawled backwards against a tree. A slap delivered by Laia and just the hand imprint on his face alone spoke on how painful it was.
"I don't care what you say about me. I won't allow you to insult my friends!"
She was happy to use those words. Dilbert on the other hand was not expecting this turn of events days after his duel with me. "Y-You arrogant! You lowly woman!" he had more to say but apparently wasn't given the chance to as Belitha had just used a forcible stream of water against him to shut him up.
Water Magic isn't necessarily her area of focus, but it was enough to handle him.
His face and upperbody was drenched in water. "I won't let you ridicule Laia!" claiming that she would not forgive him if he did. Thereafter, he ran away while shouting "Just you wait!" he'd never felt this embarrassed before, it may prove a problem in the future.
"Dilbert! Wait!"
His supposed friends ran after him. And both Belitha and Laia laughed.
What a day, friendship and bonding. The occasional learning and me accompanied by two equally beautiful and wonderful ladies. Just the sight of them made me tear up a bit.
Now it's about time to leave school. This was the perfect ending and absolutely nothing could go wrong, not once had I felt this at peace since I got here.
"You wait there."
Said Lady Ophelia as she grabbed me by the shoulder, her voice was the usual menacing and intimidating one she usually relates through. I knew it was her who'd held me by the shoulder, sweat started dropping from every pore while I turned my neck slowly toward the back to face her.
She wore her serious look, I was definitely in trouble.
"Where'd you think you're going. Nyx... We have a lot to talk about."
Sigh. Just my luck.