Raid
Eryon mounted the energy horse, his muscles taut as he struggled to stabilize himself atop the strange creature.
The sensation was entirely new to him – the powerful muscles of the horse rippled beneath him, its fur soft to the touch, and its energy emitted a fresh, pure scent.
His body swayed unsteadily, and maintaining balance became a battle. Each step of the horse sent tremors through his body, threatening to throw him off.
After a grueling half hour filled with conversation and errors, he finally found his rhythm, syncing his movements with the horse's.
"It's time to return and make use of this creature," Eryon said, his grin wide and triumphant.
---
At the same time, in a forest about 10 kilometers from Adenville High School, purple lightning thundered continuously, accompanied by dark clouds in the night sky.
Freya, Alex, and several Awakeners stood firm, facing the massive wolf, shrouded in eerie dark purple energy.
Alex's furrowed brow deepened as his gaze swept across the battlefield. The government had promised to send an Awakener of S-class, but all they had were a few A-class Awakeners, including himself and Freya, with the rest being B- and C-class.
The giant wolf, over 9 meters tall, was easily three times the size of an elephant. Its form was distorted by an odd gravitational field, making it difficult to approach.
"Stay sharp, everyone! We can't predict what this monster will do!" A stern voice of an armed man echoed across the field, prompting everyone to tighten their grips on their weapons.
They had been fighting the massive wolf for thirty minutes, only managing to inflict minor wounds.
Movement was extremely difficult because the wolf seemed to have control over gravity.
As they watched the creature inhale, dark purple energy gathered in its mouth, their resolve grew stronger.
"Dodge!" someone yelled, prompting all the Awakeners to quickly evade.
Suddenly, the creature unleashed concentrated energy, which shot out like a laser beam.
Boom!
With a thunderous explosion, the energy struck the ground, causing a massive blast. Flames erupted, sending thick black smoke spiraling into the air.
The impact was similar to a bomb blast site—a 100-meter radius of scorched earth, with what was once a lush forest now reduced to burning ashes.
"Cough! Is everyone okay?" The voice of the armed man came out raspy from the smoke and worry as he looked around at his fellow Awakeners.
"Anri's down! She was caught in the explosion!" A shout pierced the confusion.
At that, everyone rushed towards the fallen warrior. The woman, Anri, was cradled by her fellow Awakeners, her armor shattered.
"This is bad. Anri is our only healer. Without her..." Her words trailed off, but the implication was heavy in the air.
Panic spread among the group, their faces tight with concern and fear.
"What do we do now?"
"Damn, the government really messed this up. Did they even estimate the power of this creature? We'll all be slaughtered if this keeps up."
"If I'd known it would be like this, I never would've signed up for this raid!"
Grimaces and bitter complaints filled the air as the reality of the situation sank in. This monster, despite being only one, was far stronger than they had anticipated—a creature with a threat level easily high enough to require an S-class Awakener's attention.
As despair began to settle in, the sounds of distant battle filtered into the air.
"Wait... Do you hear that?" someone asked, trying to hear above the chaos after the explosion.
All eyes turned to the source of the noise. Through the lingering smoke, they could make out the silhouette of someone engaged in combat with the giant wolf.
"Is that... Alex and Freya?!"
The realization sparked hope in the hearts of the watching Awakeners. Alex and Freya were well-known for their unique powers.
"We need to help them!"
"With what, exactly? Look at them—they're in a league of their own."
The person who spoke fell silent upon hearing the rebuke, watching the battle with a mixture of awe and despair.
Alex had transformed into a giant energy mecha, on par with the size of the wolf. His class was special Aether Mage, granting him the ability to manipulate and solidify energy.
His fists clenched with real power, smashing into the wolf's skull with a loud crack, sending the creature toppling.
Meanwhile, Freya shone like a beacon in the sky, her back adorned with golden wings that gleamed in the dim light. Her golden aura amplified the grandeur of her appearance, and the golden sword in her hand added to her impressive presence.
With her class, Valkyrie.
Her gaze, sharp as an eagle's, found the creature's weak points. Gripping her sword tightly, she closed her eyes, gathering her strength.
A moment later, her eyes snapped open with intense focus.
"Yaaaaah!" With a cry full of power, Freya hurled her sword at the monster.
As if responding to her shout, the sword transformed into a beam of light, growing exponentially in size. The air hummed as the blade cut through, its clash resounding like thunder.
The wolf attempted to weaken the sword's trajectory using its gravitational powers but realized it wasn't enough. The creature quickly tried to dodge.
Boom!
Freya's massive sword struck the ground, sending a shockwave accompanied by the wolf's howl of pain, its body wounded, though only partially.
"Aaaarrrgh!" The creature's pained roar filled the air, and a wave of powerful energy shot out from it in response.
Alex wasted no time. Manipulating the energy in his legs, he propelled himself into the air, boosted by his energy mecha, until he seemed to touch the very edge of space. At that height, the mecha dissipated, leaving him floating in the atmosphere.
From this high vantage point, the giant wolf seemed like a mere dot on the ground.
Summoning a small orb the size of his palm, Alex concentrated on injecting energy into it. What was once the size of a hand quickly expanded into something massive, even larger than the wolf itself—an imposing sight against the backdrop of the starry sky.
Closing his eyes, he touched the orb. A bright blue light illuminated it, pulsing ominously. A moment later, his eyes opened, and the orb shot downward.
The bright light streaked across the night sky, a sharp contrast against the surrounding darkness. It was Alex's meteor strike!
The roar of the falling meteor filled the air, leaving the watching Awakeners in stunned silence.
"Take cover!" The armed man shouted, his voice barely audible over the roar.
The Awakeners, only about 20 strong, scrambled to avoid the meteor strike.
Boom!
Everyone ran for cover as the meteor slammed into the giant wolf, detonating in a massive explosion.
Flames engulfed the area, thick smoke billowing into the sky. The once-lush forest was now scorched earth, with a large crater marking the impact site.
Everyone stood frozen, their faces filled with awe and disbelief. They had just witnessed a human summon a meteor—a feat that was likely only achievable by an S-class Awakener. Yet Alex was only an A-class Awakener.
---
With the last of his strength, Alex descended to the ground. Sweat streamed down his face, and his body was drained from exhaustion.
Creating a meteor wasn't easy, and even just propelling himself to the outer limits of space had consumed nearly all of his energy.
With a grim expression, he gazed into the thick smoke, hoping the creature was dead. This was his strongest attack, and in previous encounters with such powerful monsters, it was always enough to defeat them.
The smoke persisted, blocking his view. But as he focused, he noticed a faint purple glow from within the haze.
His eyes widened in alarm, and he quickly created an energy shield. But it was too late.
An explosion of energy burst from the smoke, shattering his shield and striking him squarely.
Boom!
He was flung backward with tremendous force, crashing through several trees that shattered upon impact. His clothes were charred, his skin seared by the scorching flames. Agonizing pain tore through his body, and before he could fight it, darkness consumed him.
"Alex!" Freya's voice rang out across the battlefield.
Rushing to his side, she frantically checked his injuries. Her heart pounded in her chest as she saw him unconscious.
Slowly but surely, Alex's wounds began to close, while the pain that tormented him gradually faded. Freya remained focused, her hands trembling slightly as the flow of healing energy grew stronger, washing over Alex's body with a soothing warmth.
"Grrrgh!"
However, a growl from behind her made her blood run cold. She spun around, her eyes widening as she saw the giant wolf rising once again. Its body was scorched and marred by severe burn marks, and its eyes glowed a fiery red. Its sharp fangs dripped with saliva, and a menacing growl rumbled from deep within its chest.