The Mystic Trials II

I continued to hold onto Aria's hand, her slender fingers cold and steady in my grasp. The other summons materialized one by one, their forms smaller and less developed, but still brimming with potential. Each beast's youth was evident in their proportions—their limbs slightly gangly, their energy more raw than refined. Yet there was no mistaking the power they would one day wield.

Kael's Royal Dragon stood tall for its age, its white scales gleaming like polished pearl, though its movements lacked the unshakable confidence of maturity. It let out a low rumble, its head swiveling to take in the surroundings. Mary's Golden Lion, its mane smaller but still radiant, shifted nervously, its paws shuffling against the ground. Prince Valkas's Infernal Boar snorted, the dark patches on its hide still faint, like embers waiting to ignite fully. Gail's Royal Wolf prowled forward with a youthful eagerness, its steps light and cautious.

Each one was a Luminara beast, now strengthened by their second core but still far from the fully matured forces they would one day become. Their energy pulsed in the air, raw and untamed, a far cry from the disciplined power of older beasts.

Prince Valkas took a step forward, his crimson gaze sweeping over the group. "Let's get into formation," he said, his tone calm but carrying an edge of authority.

He pointed to Kael first. "Your Royal Dragon is a tank type, so it'll stay close to us, shielding the summoners and providing ranged support. Its bulk will be crucial if we face anything that tries to break through."

Kael nodded, his arms crossed but his expression focused. The Royal Dragon, as if understanding its role, shifted closer to the group, its tail curling protectively around its summoner.

Valkas's gaze moved to Aria. "Aria is also a tank type, so she'll take the vanguard alongside the Dragon. Elara," he added, turning to me, "I know her restrictions make this challenging, but her resilience will be vital."

I nodded, gripping Aria's hand a little tighter. She didn't flinch, her expression as calm as ever, but there was a faint squeeze of reassurance in return. She stepped forward, her small frame radiating an aura of quiet determination.

"Mary," Valkas continued, turning to the blonde girl whose Golden Lion stood poised at her side, "your beast will take the left flank. It's nimble enough to intercept threats and provide support."

Mary gave a sharp nod, her verdant eyes flicking briefly to me before returning to her summon. The Golden Lion let out a small growl, its youthful eagerness tempered by Mary's steady presence.

"My Infernal Boar will take the right flank," Valkas said, placing a hand on the creature's head. The boar snorted, its tusks gleaming faintly in the dim light of the forest. "It'll match the Lion in mobility and help with offensive maneuvers."

Finally, he turned to Gail, who leaned casually against a tree, his smirk firmly in place. "And Gail, your Royal Wolf will take the middle. Its speed and agility make it perfect for reinforcing weak points or covering gaps in our formation."

Gail straightened, his smirk softening into something more thoughtful. "A pivot point, huh? Guess I'll take it. Let's just hope we don't need too much 'reinforcing.'"

Valkas ignored the quip, his focus shifting to the group as a whole. "Stick to your positions and trust your summons. The Mystic Trials aren't just about individual power—they're about teamwork. If we don't act as one, we won't make it through."

There was a moment of silence as his words settled over us. Then, one by one, we all nodded.

"Understood," Kael said, his voice steady.

Mary gave a terse nod. "Got it."

"Sure thing, Your Highness," Gail drawled, though the usual smugness in his tone was tempered with a rare seriousness.

I glanced at Aria, who tilted her head slightly, as if waiting for my command. "We're ready," I said quietly, my voice more confident than I felt.

With that, we moved into formation. The summons shifted into their positions with practiced precision, though their youthful movements betrayed a hint of nervous energy. Kael's Royal Dragon rumbled low as it took its protective stance near the center. Aria stepped forward, her onyx eyes scanning the path ahead with an intensity that belied her small frame. Mary's Golden Lion and Valkas's Infernal Boar flanked us, their energy buzzing in the air, while Gail's Royal Wolf prowled the middle, its sharp gaze darting in every direction.

The forest seemed unnaturally still as we pressed forward, the air thick with tension. Aria walked ahead of us, her small frame defying the oppressive atmosphere. Even with her restrictions in place, she radiated a quiet confidence that eased my nerves—if only slightly.

Then she stopped.

"Enemy," Aria said simply, her voice steady as she pointed toward a thicket ahead.

We all froze, our senses straining to catch whatever she had detected. Moments later, the ground trembled, and a faint glow seeped through the underbrush.

The Prime Astra Beast emerged.

It was a towering monstrosity, its body encrusted with jagged, translucent crystals that shimmered with an eerie light. Each movement it made caused the air to ripple with raw mana energy. Its eyes, two orbs of molten gold, locked onto us with an unsettling intelligence.

From the moment I saw it, my Diamond Grimoire began to hum faintly at my side. It manifested itself, flipping open to a blank page, and as the beast stepped fully into view, a name etched itself onto the glowing parchment:

Prime Astra Mana Beast: Zenthralis.

The details followed, scrawled in elegant script that only I could comprehend through the Grimoire's bond with me. Zenthralis was no ordinary beast. It was a Prime Astra creature, a rarity among mana beasts in this forest, and one that had risen to dominance by devouring other beasts and absorbing their cores. Its crystalline growths weren't just armor—they were living conduits of mana, capable of amplifying its power to devastating levels.

"Zenthralis," I murmured aloud, my voice barely audible over the pounding of my heart.

Prince Valkas stepped closer to my side, his hand tightening on his sword. "That's… not just any mana beast."

"It's a mature Prime Astra," Kael added, his voice grim. "Even restricted, Aria's going to have a hard time with this one."

Aria tilted her head, her black eyes narrowing as she studied Zenthralis. The beast roared, the sound like shattering glass, and the crystals on its back glowed brighter. A pulse of mana shot out from it, slamming into the ground near us and sending a shockwave through the air.

"Formation now!" Valkas barked, his voice snapping us into action.

Kael's Royal Dragon moved to shield us, its massive wings spreading as it braced for impact. Mary's Golden Lion and Valkas's Infernal Boar flanked the beast, each growling in defiance. Gail's Royal Wolf darted to the side, waiting for an opening. Aria, calm and unflinching, stepped forward to face Zenthralis directly.

"Aria, be careful," I called out, gripping my Grimoire tightly. Even with her restrictions, she was still the strongest of us. But Zenthralis was no ordinary opponent.

The beast struck first, crystals on its arms elongating into razor-sharp blades as it lunged at Aria. She dodged with a fluid grace, her restricted power focused entirely on defense. Her movements were precise, deflecting each strike with her hands as sparks flew from the impact.

"She's holding back," Kael muttered, his Royal Dragon launching a stream of divine energy at Zenthralis to distract it. The beast roared again, swatting the attack aside with ease.

"Too strong," Mary whispered, her voice shaking as her Golden Lion leapt into the fray, only to be knocked back by a surge of mana from Zenthralis.

"Keep attacking together!" Valkas commanded, his Infernal Boar charging in with a fierce bellow. Gail's Royal Wolf followed, darting in and out to harry the beast's flanks.

Despite their efforts, Zenthralis seemed untouchable. Its crystalline armor absorbed most of the damage, and its counterattacks were swift and brutal. Within moments, we were all on the defensive.

"Aria, now's the time!" I shouted, desperation creeping into my voice.

Aria nodded. For the first time, I saw her falter slightly, her small frame straining against Zenthralis's relentless power. She activated her Secondary Trait, Duality, her divine energy flaring to life as golden light mingled with her miasma. The cuffs on her wrists glowed faintly, the restrictions holding her back even now.

With a burst of speed, Aria closed the gap between her and Zenthralis. Her fist collided with its crystalline chest, cracking the surface but not shattering it. The beast retaliated with a bladed arm, striking her across the side and sending her skidding back.

"She can't do this alone," Kael said, his voice tight. "We need to coordinate!"

Valkas stepped forward. "Follow my lead. Mary, distract it with ranged attacks. Gail, aim for its legs. Kael, keep its focus on you. Aria needs an opening."

We moved as one, our summons attacking in unison. The Golden Lion roared, launching a barrage of light at Zenthralis, forcing it to shield its eyes. The Royal Wolf darted in low, snapping at its legs, while the Royal Dragon unleashed another wave of energy, keeping its attention divided.

Finally, Aria found her opening.

She struck again, this time focusing her energy into a single, devastating blow. The crystalline armor shattered under the force, and Zenthralis let out a final, anguished roar before collapsing.

Aria stood over Zenthralis's fallen form, her expression unreadable. She looked back at me, her hand reaching out once more.

I took it without hesitation, squeezing it tightly as relief washed over me.

"Good job, Aria," I whispered.

She nodded, her voice soft but firm. "Together."