Blade institute: the unseen prophecy

41

The first wave of demons hit us like a tidal wave, their bodies crashing against our defenses with a force that nearly knocked me off my feet. Rian was at my side, his sword flashing as he cut through the ranks of demons with a precision born of countless hours of training. Ethan and Sam were nearby, their movements a blur as they fought to keep the demons at bay.

The battle was unlike anything we had faced before—brutal, chaotic, and relentless. The demons were faster, more coordinated than any we had fought in the past, and their numbers seemed endless.

I unleashed my magic, channeling the elemental forces I had spent weeks honing. Flames erupted from my hands, scorching the earth and incinerating demons in their path. Wind howled around me, throwing back those who dared to come too close. The power surged through me, potent and intoxicating, but I kept a tight grip on it, determined not to lose control as I had in the Valley of Shadows.

But even as I fought, I could sense the darkness within me, the part of my power that wasn't bound to the elements. It whispered to me, urging me to let it out, to use it fully against the horde that threatened to overwhelm us. I could feel it coiling in my chest, waiting, eager. But I couldn't afford to unleash it again—not here, not now.

"Hold the line!" The Headmaster's voice rang out over the din of battle, a beacon of command in the chaos. His presence, his sheer force of will, kept the defenders from breaking under the pressure. I could see him in the distance, directing the flow of the battle, his power a bright, unyielding light against the encroaching darkness.

A demon lunged at me, its claws outstretched, but I was faster. I blasted it with a jet of water, the force of the impact sending it hurtling back into the mass of its kin. Beside me, Rian was a whirlwind of steel, his sword cutting through the enemy with deadly efficiency. We had fought together so many times that our movements were perfectly in sync—an unspoken dance of survival.

But the demons kept coming. For every one we cut down, two more took its place, and despite our best efforts, they were starting to push us back. The defenders around us were beginning to falter, their faces drawn with exhaustion and fear.

Suddenly, a massive demon, larger than any I'd seen before, broke through the ranks. Its eyes locked onto mine, and a sinister grin spread across its grotesque face. It was as if it knew who I was, what I was, and it was coming for me.

Rian moved to intercept it, but the demon was faster than expected. It swatted him aside with a backhanded blow that sent him crashing into the ground several feet away. I screamed his name, but there was no time to see if he was okay—the demon was upon me.

It lunged, and I barely managed to raise a barrier in time. The force of its attack sent me staggering back, my vision swimming as I struggled to maintain the shield. The demon's claws raked against it, each strike sending cracks spider-webbing through the magical barrier.

I could feel my strength waning, the exhaustion from the battle and the strain of holding back the darkness taking its toll. The demon's attacks grew more vicious, more determined, and with one final, powerful strike, it shattered my barrier.

I was thrown to the ground, the impact knocking the breath from my lungs. The demon towered over me, its eyes glowing with a predatory gleam. This was it. I was too weak to summon another shield, too drained to fight back. The darkness inside me surged, urging me to let go, to give in to its power, but I held back, knowing the risks, knowing what could happen if I lost control.

But then, out of nowhere, a blast of light erupted from behind the demon. It roared in pain as the light seared through its flesh, and it turned, enraged, to face the new threat. Ethan stood there, his hands glowing with the remnants of the spell he'd just cast, his expression fierce.

"Get away from her!" he shouted, his voice filled with a determination I had never seen in him before.

The demon roared and charged at Ethan, its massive form barreling toward him with terrifying speed. But Ethan didn't flinch. He raised his hands, and another blast of light shot out, striking the demon square in the chest and sending it staggering back.

It wasn't enough to kill it, but it bought us precious time. I scrambled to my feet, summoning the last of my strength as I prepared to attack. But before I could, the demon let out a guttural snarl and lunged at me again, its claws aimed directly at my heart.

I barely had time to react, throwing up a weak shield that I knew wouldn't hold. But just as the demon's claws were about to strike, a blur of motion passed between us. Sam, moving faster than I'd ever seen him move, intercepted the blow, his sword slicing through the demon's arm in one swift motion.

The demon howled in agony, but Sam didn't stop. SHe pressed the attack, driving the demon back with a flurry of strikes that left it reeling. I could see the exhaustion in his movements, the strain of pushing his body beyond its limits, but he didn't relent. He fought with a ferocity that bordered on desperation, each strike fueled by a determination to protect us, to protect me.

Ethan joined her, the two of them working in perfect harmony to drive the demon back. I could see their plan, see how they were setting it up for a final blow. But the demon was powerful, and even wounded, it was still a formidable opponent.

As they fought, I gathered the last of my strength, focusing on the power within me. This time, I didn't hold back. I couldn't afford to. The darkness surged, mingling with the elemental magic I had trained so hard to control. I could feel it pulsing through me, a force of nature