Chapter 3: journey to New Eldra

Chapter 3: journey to New Eldra

After weeks of training, the chosen had grown more accustomed to their abilities, though none of them had fully mastered their powers. They had been equipped with simple weapons, meant to assist them in battle. These were not enchanted or special, just ordinary tools to complement their combat styles.

The convoy rolled down the barren highway, the wheels of their armored vehicle crunching over the cracked earth. The sky above was a dreary shade of gray, thick clouds hanging low as if watching their every move. In the distance, mountains loomed, casting long shadows over the wasteland. New Eldra Academy was still miles away, but the journey had already begun to weigh on the group.

Inside the vehicle, the seven chosen sat together, each lost in their own thoughts. Across from them, two bodyguards—hardened veterans who had seen their share of battles—kept a watchful eye on the road. Their rifles rested in their laps, ready for any sign of trouble.

Serena, unable to sit still, drummed her fingers on the hilt of her twin-bladed spear. "This is way too quiet," she muttered, glancing out the narrow window.

"Enjoy it while it lasts," Adrian said, his voice calm. "We all know it won't stay quiet for long."

Mira sat beside him, her bow resting against the seat. She said nothing, her eyes scanning the horizon as if waiting for the first sign of danger.

Sunny sat in the corner, his black scythe leaning against the wall of the vehicle. He still hadn't unlocked the true power of his mask, and that thought gnawed at him. The others were already bonding with their abilities, feeling the energy that their masks provided, but for Sunny, the silence from his mask was almost deafening.

The vehicle jolted as it hit a bump in the road, and Noah gripped his warhammer tighter. "How much longer until we get there?" he asked, looking over at the bodyguards.

"Another few hours," one of them, a grizzled man with a scar running down his cheek, replied without turning around. "Keep your eyes open. These roads aren't safe."

Jax chuckled, leaning back in his seat. "Is anywhere safe these days?"

The bodyguard didn't respond, his eyes fixed on the road ahead. The tension in the air was palpable, and even Jax's usual grin faded as they continued on in silence.

Suddenly, the vehicle lurched to a stop, throwing everyone forward in their seats.

"What the—?" Serena began, but before she could finish, the bodyguards were already on their feet, rifles raised.

"Stay inside!" the scarred bodyguard barked, moving toward the door. The other bodyguard followed him out, weapons drawn.

The group exchanged uneasy glances, instincts kicking in as they prepared for a fight.

Outside, the bodyguards scanned the area, their eyes narrowing as they spotted something in the distance. It was a figure—no, several figures—moving through the dust and debris that littered the wasteland.

"Demons!" the second bodyguard shouted, raising his rifle and firing off a shot.

In an instant, the group inside the vehicle sprang into action. Serena grabbed her spear, her fingers tightening around the handle as she rushed to the door. "We can't just sit here!"

Noah was right behind her, warhammer in hand. "They'll need our help," he said grimly.

The others followed, weapons ready as they stepped out of the vehicle. Sunny hesitated for a moment, his scythe feeling heavier in his hands than usual, but he steeled himself and followed the group outside.

The demons were closing in fast. They were humanoid in shape but grotesque, their skin a sickly gray and their eyes glowing with unnatural light. Their bodies shimmered with an oily texture, and long claws extended from their fingertips.

The bodyguards fired rapidly, but the demons were fast, dodging the bullets as they advanced.

"Stay back!" the scarred bodyguard yelled as one of the demons lunged at him. He sidestepped, narrowly avoiding the claws, and fired again, this time hitting his mark. The demon shrieked, collapsing into a heap, but two more took its place.

Serena charged forward, her spear cutting through the air with a crackle of lightning. She struck one of the demons, sending electricity coursing through its body. It convulsed violently before falling to the ground.

Jax moved like the wind, his daggers flashing as he darted between the demons, striking with precision. "Keep moving! Don't let them pin us down!" he called out, slashing another demon across the chest.

Noah swung his warhammer with all his strength, the impact sending shockwaves through the ground. The gravity around him intensified, pulling one of the demons down and crushing it under its own weight.

Mira hung back, loosing arrows into the fray. Her aim was deadly, each arrow finding its mark as she provided cover for the others.

Adrian teleported in and out of the battle, striking from unexpected angles. His short blade flashed as he cut down a demon, only to vanish and reappear behind another one. "There are too many!" he shouted, dodging a swipe from a demon's claws.

Elara, her rapier in hand, focused on controlling the battlefield. She couldn't fully access her mind control powers yet, but she could feel the whispers of the demons' thoughts. It was chaotic, but she pushed through the noise, aiming her attacks with calculated precision.

Sunny, still unsure of his mask's abilities, stayed near the back of the group. He swung his scythe at a demon that came too close, managing to fend it off, but his frustration grew with each passing moment. Why wasn't his power awakening?

As the battle raged on, Serena, Adrian, Noah, and the others exchanged a glance. They knew what they had to do. Without hesitation, they each reached for their masks and slipped them on.

The transformation was immediate.

Serena's mask fused seamlessly with her face, and her body began to change. Her muscles tensed, her skin darkened slightly, and two sharp horns erupted from her forehead. She grew taller, more imposing, her aura crackling with demonic energy. Her spear felt like an extension of her body, humming with newfound power.

Adrian's form shifted as well. His body elongated, his eyes glowing a fierce red as three smaller horns sprouted from his head. His teleportation ability seemed to become even faster, almost instantaneous, as his demonic side sharpened his reflexes.

Noah let out a low growl as his warhammer pulsed in his hands. Four thick horns curved from his skull, his frame growing larger and more muscular. The gravity around him intensified, and with a single swing of his hammer, he sent several demons crashing to the ground, unable to resist the force he now commanded.

Mira's transformation was more subtle but no less dangerous. Her body became leaner, her fingers elongating as if designed to hold her bow with even greater precision. A single, thin horn jutted from her forehead, and her arrows glowed with dark energy, each one more lethal than the last.

Jax's transformation gave him an almost feral look. Two sharp horns curved back from his head, his eyes taking on a predatory gleam. His movements became even more fluid, his speed unmatched as he darted between the demons, cutting them down effortlessly.

Even Elara, who was still learning to control her powers, felt the shift. Her mask fused with her face, and a single horn emerged from her forehead. She could feel the demons' chaotic thoughts more clearly now, giving her an edge as she directed her strikes with eerie precision.

Sunny hesitated, watching his friends transform. His mask still felt dormant, but something inside him stirred. He couldn't let them fight alone.

The mask bearers, now in their half-demon forms, fought with terrifying efficiency. Their horns gleamed in the fading light, and their power overwhelmed the demons, turning the tide of the battle. With every swing of their weapons, the ground shook, and the demons fell in droves, unable to keep up with the sheer force of their opponents.

But despite the group's newfound strength, the demons kept coming, their numbers seemingly endless. The bodyguards were struggling, unable to match the speed and ferocity of the attackers. One of the bodyguards was thrown to the ground by a particularly large demon, his rifle skidding across the dirt. The other fired in desperation, but the demon swatted him aside with a single swipe of its claws.

"Sunny!" Serena shouted, her spear crackling with lightning as she fought off two demons at once. "We need you!"

Sunny gritted his teeth, gripping the scythe tighter. He wasn't going to let them down. He couldn't.

Suddenly, the demon that had been advancing on him froze. It stood there, staring at him with glowing eyes. And then, slowly, it began to retreat, as if something had shifted in the air around them.

Sunny looked down at his mask, feeling a strange warmth emanating from it. He didn't understand what had just happened, but something inside the mask had finally stirred. It wasn't much, but it was a start.

With renewed determination, Sunny joined the fray, his scythe cutting through the demons with surprising ease. The others rallied around him, their attacks growing more coordinated as they fought together.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the last of the demons fell. The wasteland was silent once more, save for the heavy breathing of the group.

The scarred bodyguard limped over, wiping the blood from his face. "You kids did good," he grunted, nodding at the group. "