Academy Showdown - Book I - Rise of the Phoenix

Intermission I: A Unique Kind of Threat

"HERE IT COMES!!" shouted a man in tactical gear as he and his squadmates braced for the oncoming threat. Charging on all fours was an otherworldly beast with red tendril-like quills and large dijon-colored eyes. The squad of mages dispersed, making sure to do so in various directions which would force the monster to choose one. When it stopped in its tracks, the squad had it surrounded.

"Ready? Aim!" On their captain's command, the squad trained their semi-automatic rifles on the monster. Channeling their mana, they fired a volley of mana bullets at point-blank range.

REEEEOOOOOOGH!!

The bullets ricochet off of the creature's skin, appearing to be ineffective. Letting out an ear-splitting roar, the beast generated powerful soundwaves that forced the squad of mages to their knees, dropping their weapons.

"Dammit!" the captain cursed as he tried to fight through the soundwaves. When he managed to open his eyes...

"Ahhhhh!!"

"No, no, nooooooooo!!!"

...he was met with a horrific sight. The monster had sprouted its tendrils and used them to bind several of the other mages. Even with his ears ringing he could hear their blood-curdling screams as the tendrils began to tighten.

"Let them go!!" The captain raised his right hand as a blue sigil glowed from underneath his tactical clothes. "Fortis Glacius!"

Following his incantation, five large icicles materialized around him, waving his hand to position them towards the beast before letting them shoot through the air at full force.

SHWOOP SHWOOP SHWOOP!!

The icicles connected, stabbing through the monster's tough exterior. However...

REEEEOOOOOOGH!!

In mere seconds, the icicles shot out of the beast. The captain ducked for cover as two of them flew over his head. Before he could gather his bearings, another tendril shot out towards him, wrapping around and constricting his torso mercilessly.

"AAAGHHH!" He screamed as the jolt of pain coursed through him. He looked around to see that his comrades were still fighting to get free, though their strength was waning. Just as it seemed there was no hope in sight...

"Ah, there it is! Koda, Noah, get in there!"

"You got it, bro!"

"Acknowledged."

Two figures fell from the sky and landed before the creature and its captives. One was a tall male crystal demon with pale white skin and short lilac-colored hair. A single yellow horn protruded from the top left side of his head. Hoisted over his shoulder was a giant spiked paddle. Next to him stood a slightly shorter boy in a full-body suit of metallic armor.

"Appraisal: a magifauna of unknown origin. These characteristics are not seen in any known country on the planet Terra. There is a ninety-five percent chance that this creature emerged from a nearby Red Zone." The metallic lad drew his arms together, unlatching both of his hands and producing two cannon-like barrels. "Let us eliminate this beast and free the mercenaries, Toda."

"You got it, Noah!" The crystal demon pointed his spiked paddle sword in the monster's direction, producing an audible 'whoosh' as he swung it forward. His body emitted a vibrant purple glow before turning to his partner and remarking, "And the name's 'Koda', you dumbass bucket o' bolts!"

Noah didn't waste any more time and trained his cannon at the beast, firing a massive ball of mana that quickly detonated and dispersed into several smaller beams that hit the monster from all sides, causing a sizable explosion.