Eclipse of the Forbidden

Chapter 6 : Echoes of the past

The aftermath of the battle left the school grounds in disarray. Debris littered the area, and the ground was scorched from the devastating clash. Haru, Kai, Aria, and Sena stood among the ruins, their breaths heavy as they surveyed the damage. Despite their victory, the cost of the battle was clear.

“What now?” Aria asked, her eyes scanning the horizon. “We’ve beaten the leader, but we know the Zenith Circle won’t just disappear.”

Haru clenched his fists, still feeling the burn of the orb’s power lingering in his veins. His body was exhausted, and every movement sent a ripple of pain through him. But he couldn’t rest. Not yet.

“We need to figure out why they came after us,” Haru said, his voice hoarse. “There has to be more to this.”

Sena crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing. “I agree. This isn’t over. But we can’t afford to be caught off guard again. We need to be prepared for what’s coming.”

As the group gathered their bearings, a familiar figure approached from the distance—Professor Kaito, the head of the school. His face was a mixture of concern and pride as he surveyed the damage.

“Haru,” Kaito began, his voice stern but understanding, “you’ve done something remarkable today. But your actions have consequences. The Zenith Circle is far more dangerous than you realize.”

“We didn’t ask for this,” Haru muttered, his frustration bubbling to the surface. “We didn’t choose to fight. They came after us.”

“I know,” Kaito said, his voice softening. “But the Zenith Circle doesn’t operate like a typical organization. They’re driven by something much darker—a desire for power. And they won’t stop until they get what they want.”

Sena stepped forward, her gaze sharp. “What exactly are they after, Professor? Why target us?”

Kaito’s expression darkened. “The Zenith Circle believes that the orb Haru holds is a key to something far greater—a source of unimaginable power. They’ll stop at nothing to claim it for themselves.”

Haru felt a chill run down his spine. “What do you mean, ‘key’? What is it that they really want?”

Kaito hesitated, as if weighing how much to reveal. Finally, he spoke, his voice grave.

“The orb Haru holds is part of an ancient artifact—an artifact that has been lost for centuries. It holds the potential to reshape reality itself, to control time, space, and even the fabric of existence. If the Zenith Circle gains control of it, they could change the course of history.”

A tense silence filled the air. Haru’s mind raced as he processed what Kaito had just revealed. The orb, the very source of his power, was tied to something far beyond what he had ever imagined. It wasn’t just an object of strength—it was a weapon of unimaginable power, one that could rewrite the laws of the universe.

“Then we can’t let them get their hands on it,” Haru said, his voice resolute. “But how do we stop them? How do we fight something that powerful?”

Kaito’s expression softened, and he placed a hand on Haru’s shoulder. “You’re not alone in this, Haru. There are others who seek to protect the artifact, who will help guide you. But you must understand that this isn’t just a fight for power—it’s a fight for survival.”

Kai clenched his fists. “So what’s the plan? We sit back and wait for them to come to us?”

“No,” Kaito said, his voice firm. “We’re going to find out everything we can about the Zenith Circle. Their weaknesses, their strategies, and most importantly, their motives. We’ll need to be smarter than them, faster than them. And we need to prepare for whatever comes next.”

As the group processed Kaito’s words, a sudden noise interrupted their thoughts. A distant rumble—like the sound of something massive moving through the air. The ground trembled beneath their feet, and Haru’s heart skipped a beat.

“What is that?” Aria asked, her voice laced with tension.

“I don’t know,” Haru said, his instincts flaring. “But I don’t think it’s good.”

Just then, a flash of light erupted from the far side of the school grounds, followed by a violent shockwave. The force of it sent the group flying backward, and Haru barely managed to create a shield in time to protect them from the blast.

“Get up!” Kaito shouted, his eyes wide with urgency. “They’re here!”

Haru struggled to his feet, his mind racing. The Zenith Circle was already launching another attack. He could feel it—their presence was undeniable. The battle was far from over.

The sky above them darkened as a massive figure descended from the heavens. The creature was unlike anything Haru had ever seen before—an enormous, winged being made of crackling energy, its eyes glowing with an eerie, unnatural light. It hovered above the school, sending waves of power rippling through the air.

“This is bad,” Kai said, his voice tight with fear. “That thing is huge!”

The creature let out a deafening roar, sending another shockwave through the ground. It was clear that the Zenith Circle had unleashed their most powerful weapon yet.

“We need to take it down, now!” Aria shouted, her eyes blazing with determination.

But Haru knew they couldn’t do it alone. They needed a strategy, a plan. They couldn’t just charge in headfirst. This wasn’t a fight they could win through brute force alone.

Sena scanned the area, her mind working quickly. “We need to find its weakness. There’s always a vulnerability—something we can exploit.”

“Leave that to me,” Kaito said, his voice steady. “I know this creature. It’s a summoned being, created by a powerful mage within the Zenith Circle. If we can disrupt the summoning ritual, we can weaken it.”

Haru nodded. “Then we’ll need to find that mage. Kai, Aria, you’re with me. Sena, stay back and provide support.”

With that, the team sprang into action, moving swiftly toward the heart of the school grounds where the creature hovered. Kaito remained behind, his focus shifting toward the magical symbols glowing in the air around the beast.

-

As they neared the creature, it unleashed another blast of energy, sending Haru and the others diving for cover. The air was thick with the power it exuded, and Haru could feel the intensity of its presence.

“It’s not going down without a fight,” Kai said, gritting his teeth.

Aria’s voice was steady, but her eyes were sharp. “We’re not backing down either. Let’s go!”

Together, they rushed forward, Haru at the front, shield raised. The creature’s eyes locked onto them, and it let out another terrifying roar, summoning bolts of lightning to strike them.

But Haru was ready. He used the orb’s power to deflect the lightning, the energy crackling around him as he charged toward the creature’s core. Kai and Aria flanked him, attacking from different angles.

---

The battle raged on. Haru’s shield held strong against the creature’s strikes, but it was clear they weren’t making much progress. They needed to find a way to stop it, and fast.

Then, Sena’s voice rang out. “I found it! The mage is hidden behind the altar at the center of the ritual circle. If we take out the source, the creature will lose its power.”

Haru didn’t hesitate. “Let’s move!”

With a final surge of energy, Haru broke through the creature’s defenses and charged toward the mage. The others followed closely behind, and together, they stormed the center of the battlefield, prepared to end the fight once and for all.