《Another War》


 1 Girl with White Deer

    "Are you ready to face your fears?"


    "Umm... Do I need to?"


    Yule was stammering when he answered the beautiful girl in front of her. The girl in front of him had a long black hair draped in a violet dress.


    On her head, she was wearing a diadem, while her arms were covered by bracelets with shining jewels embedded on them.


    Hypnotized by the beauty before him, Yule was wondering also how he ended up in this dark place. He and this beautiful girl were only in this dark area.


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    Alone with her in this empty space.


    The girl suddenly stepped closer to Yule and grabbed his right hand.


    "Fear makes you human. And your humanity is the one thing I need right now."


    Then out of the blue, shards started dropping around this dark empty area.


    "What''s happening?" Yule started stepping back when he noticed the shards were dropping around him.


    He scanned the area around, but he couldn''t find where the shards coming from.


    The girl inched closer again to him. And, her jewels on her bracelets started glowing.


    "Yule. Will you be the hero that my world need right now?"


    "I-I don''t know what''s happening! But if you need a hero, then I''m telling you. I''m not hero material."


    The beautiful girl smiled and held her face. "Then you''re the kind of hero that we need."


    Then everything went black.


    *****


    DZZZZZT!


    Yule woke up from the sound of his alarm clock. His body was sweating. He immediately rose from his bed and looked at the mirror beside his cabinet.


    There was a telltale sign of sweat on his shirt. To calm his nerves, Yule breathed deeply and released it one huge sigh.


    "Yule! Wake up already! You''re gonna be late from school." His mom shouted from downstairs.


    "Coming down!"


    Yule started pulling his school uniform from his cabinet and went to the shower.


    After his preparations, he quickly grabbed a bite for his breakfast and waved to his mother and younger sister.


    While walking to school, someone suddenly grabbed his shoulder.


    "Hey, Yule! Have you read the latest chapter from the Draconian web novel?"


    The guy who grabbed Yule is his best friend in high school, Neil Gomez.


    Neil is a geeky guy who loves to read comics, manga, light novels and web novels just like Yule. That was why they clicked when they first meet during their freshman year.


    "Sorry man, but I stayed late night last night, studying for our Third Quarter Exam."


    "But our exam is next week?"


    "I know. But I just want to prepare in advance, so I won''t be loaded next week."


    "God, Yule Azul! You''re still stiff. You do know that our Senior Year is still next year, right? So, we, juniors still have a lot of time to slack off."


    "Well, someone has to be serious between the two of us."


    Neil started laughing which made Yule laughed too. Then suddenly, everything went slow for Yule.


    As the laughter and actions of Neil started from slow motion to still. Yule looked around, and the surroundings just froze.


    "The hell-"


    Then a magic circle appeared from where he was standing. Suddenly his vision was filled by a blinding white light.


    *****


    After the white light vanished, Yule suddenly fell on unknown ground.


    He opened his eyes and rolled on his back. Upon looking at the clouds above, he was surprised to see that the sky was painted in red color. He immediately pulled himself up and looked at scanned the area.


    He gasped at what he saw.


    He was in the middle of a dry and barren land. Yule was greeted by the amount of destruction around him.


    Tall buildings collapsed on the ground.


    Pave roads had been wrecked or smashed by heavy objects.


    Cars were smashed on the side roads.


    There was no life around except for him.


    "W-What happened here?!"


    Yule started running, looking for any sign of life. He saw some rustic road signs, indicating that he was still around Metro Manila. But a different kind of Metro Manila from where he used to know.


    He was just laughing with his best friend, and the next thing he knew it looked like the country just came from a war.


    While roaming around the area, he started to feel that the ground was shaking followed by a heavy stomping sound.


    He hurriedly headed to the area where the noise was coming from, as he believed that any sound is an indication of a sign of life.


    He hoped.


    When he arrived at the plaza, he found the source and gasped at the sight.


    The stomping noise was from a towering monster where Yule almost pissed on his pants.


    He stepped back from his footing, but then his foot stumbled from a can littered on the ground. And he fell on his knees creating noise as his buttocks smacked the ground.


    Surprised by it, the eight-foot creature stopped stomping and nudged its head on Yule''s direction. The monster found its new target.


    The creature looked like a crossbreed of a wild boar and a bull. It was a bipedal creature with a wild boar head and two tusks jutting from its mouth. And two visible horns erected near from its ear. The whole body was covered by black fur.


    "What the hell?" Yule started crawling backward, frightened at the sight of the creature.


    The monster heavily stomped the ground and moved to its new target.


    Yule began to cry and continuously crawled backward as he saw the monster was inching closer to him.


    When the monster moved away toward him, Yule found what the creature was stomping on that area.


    It was stomping on a human body or what it was supposed to be. Now, chunks of meat were splattered on the ground.


    Yule shrieked at the carnage.


    "I just want to go back!" Yule shouted.


    The monster halted his movements and began to curl its body. It was preparing to jump from his position to Yule''s, planning to splatter him also.


    When the monster was about to jump towards him, Yule immediately shut his eyes, giving up on escaping the monster. He was praying to all the gods to make it painless when the monster attacks him.


    The monster flared its nostrils, then hurled its body in the air.


    But the monster was blocked by another creature in mid-air. The wild boar-bull hybrid creature was thrown away to a nearby wrecked building. The building groaned when the monster''s body crashed the remaining cemented walls.


    While waiting for his impending doom, Yule slightly opened his eyes and was left gaping when a white creature headbutted its head against the monster''s body.


    Then, that white creature landed gracefully on the ground near to Yule''s position.


    He eventually noticed that the white creature was a white stag, crowned with long horns on its head. On its back, a human head popped out. There was a girl on the back of the white stag.


    The girl looked at Yule with examining eyes and stepped down from the white stag. He observed that the mystery girl was wearing a white long sleeve uniform and checkered short skirt.


    "Surprise to see a mundane human here." The girl said to Yule. Then, she held her right hand in the air. "Zura! Weaponize!"


    The white stag glowed brightly and turned into a ball of light. The light molded to a bow and landed on her hand.


    "Now let''s start slaying." The girl turned her body and faced the collapsed form of the monster. She quickly raised her arms and aimed the bow at her target. "You will be the fifth aswang I will be slaying today."

 2 History of the Parallel World

    "W-Wait! Did you just say Aswang? That thing..." Yule pointed at the monster, still stuck inside the building. "... is an Aswang?!"


    "You heard me right." The girl answered confidently while brushing her black hair, streaked with blue color. "Now just sit there and watch me annihilate that thing."


    Then the girl started pulling the string on her bow and arrow-shaped energy appeared within.


    After regaining some senses, the aswang shook its head and slowly started pulling itself up. When it tried to move its body, additional wreckages plagued the structure of the building.


    Taking advantage that the aswang was still disgruntled from the collision from the white stag, the girl quickly released her energy arrow, aiming for the chest.


    Upon releasing the arrow, a huge wave of air accompanied it, blowing the hair of the girl and dust within the vicinity.


    The aswang sensed the incoming attack, then quickly realized that the arrow was aiming straight at its chest.


    It flared its nostrils again and tightened his right arm.


    When the energy arrow was about inches away from its chest, the aswang swung its right arm, disintegrating the energy arrow like swatting a fly.


    The girl clicked her tongue. "Just you expect from a Level 2 Aswang." She turned her head to Yule. "Hey! What''s your name?"


    With his mouth hanging open, Yule then realized that the girl was asking him.


    "Sorry. I''m Yule Azul. That aswang just brushed off your energy arrow like a fly."


    "I''m Sanna from Neo Archipelago Slaying Academy." She looked back again at the aswang with a heavy grim on her face.


    "And we better find a hiding place, so Zuna and I can regenerate our powers. We have been slaying aswang for hours now."


    Quick on his feet, Yule nodded and stood up. "Where to go?"


    *****


    Yule and Sanna started running away from the aswang. They headed on their left side, running with all their might.


    "I know aswang, but that is not the aswang that we study in school."


    "What kind of education does your school teach? That aswang has always been like that for 100 years since they first appeared in Manila." Sanna interjected.


    They turned to a dark alley, stinking from various kinds of smells. Then they found themselves in a ruined business district where more collapsed buildings barricaded the main road.


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    Sanna pointed at the wrecked convenience store and went inside.


    Upon entering inside, there were shelves thrown on the ground. Lots of rusty and expired items such as canned goods and hygiene products were left scattered on the floor.


    The two cleaned the corner of the store by sweeping the trash and sat on the ground with a heavy grunt.


    Ignoring the broken glass, Sanna leaned her head to a broken fridge while Yule could still feel his heart pounding faster after running a long distance from the aswang.


    "Wait, you''ve mentioned that aswang appeared 100 years ago? Am I in the future? What date is it today?"


    Sanna raised her eyebrow and looking incredulously at him.


    "Did that aswang messed up with your head or what? First, it''s October 31, 2019."


    This made Yule froze on his seat then looked at Sanna. It was also the same date from where he came from.


    "Second," continued by Sanna. "What are you doing on the Ground? Mundane humans are prohibited from entering this place. Only slayers are only allowed in here."


    "I don''t know. One moment I was just talking to my classmate on my way to school. When all of a sudden, a strange light sucked me up in this place."


    "So you''re a student also." Examining his clothes, Sanna looked at him from top to bottom.


    Yule was wearing a white polo shirt and black pants. The standard male uniform in their high school. "But looking at your uniform, I have never seen that within Tawalisi. And you''re asking questions like it''s your first time seeing an Aswang in flesh."


    "Of course, it was my first time seeing an Aswang!" Yule raised his hand waving it in the air.


    "I live in a world where that thing is supposed to be in books, tv, comics, and movies!" Then he looked around. "I also live in a world where it''s not all ruined. It may not be perfect, but we are never in war."


    Sanna stood up and started pacing around. "This sounds insane. You know that, don''t you? You mean there''s a world out there where those things... those monsters don''t exist? No slayers around?"


    "You keep on mentioning slayers. What do you mean slayers?"


    Sanna sighed and looking down hopelessly at Yule. "I''ll show you." She started unbuttoning her long-sleeve uniform.


    This made Yule rose from his seat quickly, astonished at the sudden development.


    "Hey, what are you doing?" Yule looked elsewhere to avoid Sanna''s embarrassing action.


    Sanna just rolled her eyes. "Don''t worry, I''m not undressing, you fool. I just removed the top button to show you my shard." J


    Just as she had mentioned, Yule could see her flesh. He noticed that she was wearing a white bra as there were some parts peeking behind the uniform. But when he looked closely, he could see a green shard embedded between her chest.


    "What is that supposed to do? And why is it stuck between your chest?" Yule pointed out.


    Sanna touched the shard and smiled. "This shard was given to me by the Engkanto, and help me fight the aswang. I had this since 12 years old. Zuna, Appear!"


    The shard glowed and white energy appeared from it. This energy slowly shaped to a white stag that Yule met earlier.


    Now that Yule was seeing the white stag closer, he failed to notice earlier how majestic and beautiful the stag was. It was standing a foot taller than Sanna.


    The stag inched closer to its partner and bowed, showing to Yule its long branches of horns protruding from its head. The stag raised its head again and looking at Yule with its piercing blue eyes.


    "S-so beautiful..."


    Sanna chuckled and patted the head of her white stag. "I know. This is Zuna. He is a Lampong. A mythical deer from the North Luzon provinces. As you saw earlier, Zuna helps me fighting the aswang. Through this shard, Zuna and I made a contract. This shard helps him to materialize in our world."


    "And he can transform into a bow, right?"


    "Oh yes, if you know the stories of Lampong, they are always being hunted by tribesmen. They believe that this creature is a demon or a shapeshifter. Where the Lampong just wants to roam around our world. Maybe that''s why when we made the contract, he transform into a bow. Since their kind is being hunted and killed by it, which also tragic in a sense. But I''ve made a promise to Zuna that I will his bow to protect and defend the weak."


    "So you mean, Zuna is living inside you?" Yule asked.


    "It''s a yes and a no. Hehe. Yes, he''s living in me, but on a different astral plane through this shard. I don''t know how the Engkanto did it though."


    "Wait, now that I know that there is aswang, lampong..." Yule gestured towards Zuna. "...now, you''re telling me there are Engkanto too? Aaah! This is making my head hurts more!"


    "Of course! I''ve mentioned that the aswang appeared 100 years ago. Their appearance signifies the catastrophic start of our world. The government doesn''t know what to do, even the world leaders were left speechless. Military and nuclear weapons don''t affect them. Just like you, they thought these creatures can only be found in books. Plus, they are different from the stories they had read. They didn''t expect them to be these giant creatures. There are even records that the biggest aswang ever fought was 30 feet long wherein a lot of slayers united just to defeat it. Anyway, when the world is in chaos already, and the population decimated to almost half. The Engkanto appeared."


    "So these Engkanto, are they also the same from the books and stories? Beautiful and tall creatures, long pointed ears, wearing beautiful gowns, crowned with tiaras made of flowers?"


    Sanna snorted and begun laughing. The white stag looked at Sanna, wondering what was happening to her.


    "What?" Yule asked.


    "Sorry. If you''ve just met them, they are so different from the stories. Yes, they are tall and beautiful creatures, but they don''t have long pointed ears. They have the same ears as ours. And they don''t wear flower crowns!" Sanna began laughing again, now holding her stomach.


    "S-so they look like us?" Yule ignored the hysterical laugh of Sanna.


    Sanna stopped laughing and returned to being serious again. "They do, but what differentiates them from us is their eyes. They all have emerald eyes, plus they are all serious creatures. They are so cold. Never seen one laughing.


    So back to the story, the Engkanto appeared in our world after secluding themselves from thousand of years from humans. They arranged an assembly to all remaining human leaders, and that was when they told the leaders that the aswang has been their longtime enemies. For thousands of years, they have been holding at bay the aswang from the human plane, but something had happened. The aswang acquired a new power. They don''t know from whom. And for the first time, the Engkanto were defeated by the Aswang. They destroyed the world of Engkanto, the Dalakitnon. After destroying and killing the residents of Dalakitnon, the aswang found a way to portal themselves out to the human world.


    But not all Engkanto were killed Due to their technological advancement, they able to shelter some Engkanto into hiding. By the way, before you ask, Engkanto used to have magical powers but after thousand of years, it faded, leaving them to innovate and advance their technology. There is still some magic left, but they were all contained to magic stones, helping them advance their technology. If we are going to compare human technology, we are thousands of years behind them.


    As I''ve mentioned, there was a group of Engkanto left behind. This group with the help of magic stones created the shards in slaying the aswang. They are hoping that the shards will help them to regain their faded magical powers through making a contract with other mythical beings. Unfortunately, the shards won''t activate to Engkanto. That is why they turned to humans and forged a partnership with us, thus the slayers are born or at least made. They still don''t know why the shards will only activate to selected humans but not with Engkanto.


    When the slayers started to fight back for humans and Engkanto, the humans experienced a win after so many years. The aswang held back their attacks and retreated for a year. Since the Ground is already destroyed, the Engkanto built a floating city with the help of some humans and called it Tawalisi."


    Then Yule and Sanna heard a faint crashing sound outside. The aswang had found them.

 3 The Spear and The Boy

    The smashing sounds were getting closer and closer to Yule and Sanna. The white stag started to pace nervously around the convenience store.


    "Did I forget to mention that the aswang has a sharp sense of smell?"


    Yule just gulped in response to Sanna.


    "We have to get out of here quickly!" Sanna ordered. She also ordered Zuna to weaponize and transform into a bow.


    They stepped out from the convenience store and found that the aswang was just meters away from them.


    "I hate to be pessimistic, but if we run again, that monster will just catch up on us, and angrier than before," Yule said while the aswang smashed more buildings and cars with its bare hands. Both of them could hear his grunting sound.


    "You''re right. Since I already gained some of my powers, I have a plan and it involves our blood." Sanna said confidently, and she just saw Yule''s expression turned to sour.


    "Oh boy," Yule said dejectedly.


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    Sanna just laughed at him and looked at the aswang.


    *****


    In this ruined world, humans were no longer the apex predator. They were replaced by the aswang. Humans were just like little bugs to them, easily to be smashed but harder to catch.


    The eight-foot-tall aswang was like a demolishing machine, smashing everything within its vision. Most of the cars were in rubble already while the abandoned buildings collapsed after the aswang smashed the foundation and pillars.


    After searching the area, the aswang found the convenience store where Yule and Sanna rested earlier. But the two were no longer there.


    The aswang sniffed in the air just to double-check if the preys were still in the vicinity. But the aswang jolted, it could smell his prey everywhere. How could this be? It was like the humans were hiding in various places at the same time: from the nearby buildings, cars, lamp posts, to trash bin. All within the vicinity area.


    It sniffed again and found out that they spread their blood all over the area.


    Now, the aswang couldn''t pinpoint where they were hiding. It was blindsided.


    *****


    Minutes before the aswang arrived at the convenience store, Sanna and Yule returned to the store. She ordered Yule to cut himself. Yule went big-eyed from what Sanna just told him.


    She rest assured him that she would cut herself also, so she could spread their blood within the vicinity area which would blindside the aswang. The aswang was very dependent on their sharp sense of smell.


    This strategy would buy them time to defeat it.


    Sanna pulled a knife from her weapon''s belt located at the upper part of her left leg.


    Yule grimaced when he sliced his palm and spread it on a huge cloth. He was thinking about how unsanitary this action but their lives were on the line. Then after his turn, Sanna also sliced her palm and spread it on the cloth. When their blood was already spread enough on the cloth, Sanna cut it into pieces.


    "Now what?" Yule asked still feeling the cut on his palm.


    "Zuna! Normalize!" Sanna ordered to her bow. The bow turned to a ball of light and molded once again into its original form.


    "Zuna get this around the area. Make sure the pieces are scattered all over the vicinity."


    The white stag nodded at her and leaned down to munch on the cloths.


    Yule was surprised that the stag was eating the torn cloths with their blood spread on it.


    "Don''t worry. Zuna will spit out all the pieces within the vicinity. Her saliva is a good sticking paste, just so you know. It''ll guarantee that the cloths will stay in one place."


    "But our blood will wash out, right? Since it was already covered by its saliva?"


    "Nope. Zuna''s saliva will not contaminate our blood. This is tried and tested. And don''t ask me how I know it. It''s a long story." She turned to Zuna and nodded at her.


    "How can Zuna hide from the aswang? The moment he stepped out from this store, he will get caught by it." Yule voiced out his concern.


    "Don''t worry. Lampong can camouflage themselves based on their surroundings and environment if they want to. That''s why the tribesmen from the North Luzon had a hard time hunting them."


    Zuna quickly leaped away from the store and did Sanna''s order.


    "Now we have to get away from this store," Sanna said.


    *****


    Yule was hiding at the rooftop of a four-story building. One of the few buildings left unscathed by the aswang. He saw Sanna hiding also at the rooftop of a three-story residential house, just opposite from the building where Yule was.


    When the aswang arrived at the convenience store and started sniffing the air, Sanna stood from her ground, revealing her location to anyone. She raised her bow and fired an arrow


    The aswang was late when it found out that Sanna was firing behind. The arrow flew rapidly straight at the aswang''s back and successfully pierced the aswang''s body.


    The aswang released a deafening howl due to pain.


    "Lesson Number One: Aswang may have thick skin, but that thickness is not equally distributed on its body. Its weak spots are its back and chest."


    The aswang tried reaching the arrow but was unsuccessful in pulling it out. It faced Sanna, angrier than before.


    The aswang started running towards the residential house where Sanna was standing.


    Sanna just smiled at the creature and shouted: Normalize! The bow transformed back again to a white stag. She quickly rode on his back and patted the body of the stag.


    Zuna leaped in the air and landed on another collapsed building.


    The aswang followed the stag, rampaging to the new location of Sanna.


    "Zuna! Leap higher in the air then Weaponize!"


    The white stag obediently leaped higher in the air and transform into a bow. Sanna was falling to the ground. Even in the middle of the air, she aimed her bow at the aswang. A large magic circle appeared in front of her.


    "True Weapon! Dance of the Starlights!"


    When the energy arrow passed through the magic circle, it multiplied to thousand of arrows and flying towards the aswang.


    The aswang howled at the arrows and with nowhere to go the aswang just crossed its arm in front of him.


    The arrows successfully pierced the aswang, but some arrows disintegrate when they tried to pierce the shoulders, head, and the legs of the aswang.


    Yule was impressed at Sanna. He couldn''t believe she pulled that stunt and critically wounding the aswang.


    When Sanna was meters away before hitting the ground, she shouted: Normalize! The white stag caught his master and landed gracefully on the ground.


    The aswang could no longer stand the pain from its back and fell to its knees.


    Sanna noticed that the aswang collapsed on the ground. She was about to smile when she noticed that the sky was getting darker, an indication of impending dusk. Sanna clicked her tongue at the sky.


    "Yule! Get down from that building! I need to finish this aswang before night falls."


    Yule nodded at her and quickly did what she told him.


    "Weaponize!"


    She ran towards the aswang, preparing to fire her arrow again.


    When Yule was about to step out of the building. He noticed that aswang was starting to raise its head. And he saw that the aswang was smiling. He was about to shout a warning to Sanna who was unaware that the aswang was conscious all along. With inhuman speed, the aswang leaped from the ground and swung his arm towards Sanna. Realizing it late, she took the full brunt of the aswang''s swing on her and flew away straight to a building nearby.


    "Sanna!"


    Yule shouted and ran straight towards where she landed. When he arrived, he was expecting her to be full of wounds and concussions. But Yule was surprised that she was just unconscious and no visible wounds to be seen.


    He immediately checked her pulse, and when he felt her pulse, he sighed.


    Then Yule heard the aswang laughing maniacally. Behind it, the sky completely turned to dusk.


    The aswang stopped laughing and started at Yule and Sanna. The arrows on its back starting to fell off from its body. It was walking menacingly to them.


    Yule gasped on how the aswang regained its health. Then he noticed the moon and looked back at the aswang. He also remembered what Sanna said that she needed to finish the aswang before night falls.


    They are stronger at night time. Just like in the stories, aswang always appears during the night.


    Yule looked at Sanna again and nodded to himself. He would have to defend her. Yule scanned the area, looking for any weapon he could use against the aswang. Then, he found a pole lying on the ground.


    The aswang chuckled at him, mocking him.


    To whoever the gods in this world, please give me the strength to protect my friend, Yule thought while raising the pole at the aswang.


    Sanna is my friend despite the short amount of time we have spent together, he added.


    Please, guide me. Yule last words before he attacked the aswang with a pole.


    "I hear you."


    A feminine voice spoke to Yule out of nowhere, stopping his attack on the aswang. He looked at Sanna to check if she was the one who spoke, but she was still lying unconsciously.


    The aswang took this divided attention of Yule and with full might, he swung his arm at the boy.


    All air left from Yule, and his body went straight to a nearby house, colliding his back on the wall. Yule could no longer feel his body, but at the same time, he could feel the pain spreading over his body. When he tried to breathe, he coughed some blood.


    He was lying on the ground, helpless. He turned his head to check on the aswang, and it was inching closer to Sanna.


    He looked at the full moon, wishing someone would lend him some strength or power to defeat the aswang.


    Then, he remembered the face of the girl in violet dress when he was looking at the moon. When he woke up on that morning, he doesn''t remember seeing the face of the girl in violet dress. He just remembered that she''s beautiful, that''s all.


    Now looking at the full moon, he didn''t know what was happening, but he was starting to remember the face of the girl. She has piercing violet eyes, complementing her violet dress. If you would look closely at her eyes, there was sadness or despair in there. Then, her face is small but she has a sharp nose and small lips then that lips opened. "It''s time, my hero."


    Yule started to feel a small warmth on his chest. Slowly, he could feel his body again. Yule tried to sit and noticing too that he was regaining his strength also.


    Then his chest started to glow. Yule startled and quickly unbuttoned his shirt. The glowing light was coming from the embedded shard on his chest.


    "You know what to do."


    Yule heard the unknown feminine voice again. He looked around, but again there was no one. Yule saw also that the aswang was inches away from the girl, he wanted to protect.


    With strong determination, Yule stood.


    "Weaponize!"


    The shard on his chest glowed brightly, then a ball of light came out from it. The light flew toward his right arm and slowly molded to a long thin cylindrical shape, stretching longer. When the light fades out, it fully transformed into a violet spear.

 4 The Floating City

    The violet spear floated in the air for a few seconds, then before it fell to the ground, Yule quickly grabbed it. The moment he touched the spear, he could feel some kind of familiar feeling from it.


    The spear had the same length as Yule which was about 176 centimeters.


    He also saw some intricate designs covering the body of the spear. The diamond-shaped blade at the top was shining due to the moonlight.


    Yule was about to swing the spear just to feel it when he remembered that the aswang was inching closer to Sanna.


    Without a hint of hesitation, Yule charged at the aswang.


    The aswang felt the immense presence from behind. It stopped its track, forgetting the unconscious girl and faced the incoming attacker.


    Yule thrust the spear at the aswang which was blocked by its formidable arms again. The aswang just laughed at the boy.


    The aswang thought that the boy was just wasting his energy. The creature was stronger when the moon was at its full height.


    Their kind is in full power when night time takes over the sky, and they are immensely powerful when it''s full moon.


    Yule leaped back when his spear didn''t penetrate the skin. He ran next on his side, planning to hit the aswang from his back.


    The aswang was unmoving, examining his next move. When Yule was behind it and the aswang remained unmoved, he hastened his leap and aimed his spear at the back of aswang. But the aswang turned and charged its right arm, colliding against the tip of the spear.


    With all his might, Yule yelled and put much-needed force in thrusting his spear. Then, words started appearing on his mind. With nothing to lose, he voiced out those words.


    "First Form! Crescent Light!


    Yule slashed his spear, and a crescent-shaped light fired from it. The light cut off the right arm of the aswang, and blood sprayed out from what remaining of it. The aswang howled in deafening voice and tried to nurse its cut off arm.


    Yule landed on the ground after firing the light. He remembered what Sanna told him that aswang has thick skin except on its back and chest. Yule recalled Sanna''s energy arrows just disintegrated when they tried to penetrate the skin of its arms, legs, and head. Now, what changes? he thought.


    He saw that the aswang was still trying to stop the blood gushing from its cut off arm. Then, it saw Yule which made the aswang back step, looking cautiously at the boy this time.


    Yule changed his form to attacking stance and look at the eye of the aswang.


    "I don''t know what happened. But I guess you are no longer invulnerable despite basking from moonlight." Yule sent his smirk at the aswang.


    The aswang just growled at Yule in reply to him, then like a mad creature, the aswang charged angrily at the boy. Yule waited for the aswang while remaining on his attacking stance. When the aswang was close enough, Yule leaped again in the air and swung his spear.


    "Crescent Light!"


    Another crescent-shaped light released from Yule, and this time aimed at the left arm of the aswang. The light hit directly the left arm and cutting it from the aswang''s body. The left-arm fell off and lying limply on the ground.


    Since the aswang was charging at Yule, it lost its balance after losing both arms and fell on the ground.


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    Yule landed a few inches away from the body of the aswang and released a huge sigh after seeing the collapsed form of the monster. He left the area and assumed that the aswang died from blood loss. Yule returned from where he left Sanna, but when he arrived in the area, it was empty. He started to look around, but to no avail, she was gone.


    His eyes roamed the area again just to check if he missed anything. But he was the only living person within the vicinity. Yule started to feel his fatigue from the fight. Luckily, he found big rubble to rest, and when he was about to sit on it, the spear glowed and returned to his chest.


    Yule looked at the moon again and think about how his day turned out. From dreaming the mysterious violet dressed girl, then sucked by a mysterious light transporting him in this apocalyptic world, and to make it worse, he faced and ran from a creature he only heard from tales, and surprisingly killed it.


    While Yule was immersed with his thoughts, he heard a familiar howling sound above him. This made his heart beat faster. Yule looked grimly above him and found the source of all his misery today. The aswang was headed downwards to Yule, and it planned to smash the boy in pieces with its feet.


    Yule knew that it was too late to move away from his spot, and he was not sure if he can summon his spear again. He can only face his fate and be killed in this strange yet familiar world.


    When his body was overshadowed by the Aswang''s towering form, Yule simply lowered his head, praying silently that if he dies here, hopefully, he can be returned to his world.


    Then -


    "Zuna! Weaponize!"


    Sanna arrived at the area and found Yule standing alone on the ground, facing downwards while the eight-foot aswang looming above him. She noticed that the chest was now vulnerable after losing both arms. Sanna quickly aimed her bow at the chest and fired her energy arrow.


    The energy arrow pierced straight to the chest, causing the aswang''s body to fly across the building.


    Yule witnessed everything. He was relieved that Sanna was okay and returned for him. Again, she saved him from the aswang. Yule looked at the aswang, and for the first time, he was smiling. The aswang was nailed on the building by the energy arrow.


    "Lesson Number Two: Make sure you stab the chest of the aswang, before you relax and stand there dumbly."


    Yule turned and found Sanna and Zuna walking to him.


    "I thought you left me."


    "Trust me, I can never leave a civilian alone on the Ground. One of our sacred duty as a slayer is to rescue all humans from Aswang." Sanna started crossing her arms and looked at Yule with examining eyes.


    "You never told me that you are a holder of the shard. I was already conscious when you summon your spear. Who is your contracted mythical being?" Sanna said coldly.


    "I-I didn''t know that I can summon that spear! Trust me, Sanna. All I was thinking about that time was to protect and defend you from that aswang. Then this.. this... girl talked to me," Yule defended.


    "What girl? I didn''t hear anyone aside from you and that aswang."


    "Y-You see, before I was transported in this world, I had a dream of a girl in violet dress, asking me to be the hero of her world. When I woke up, I thought it was just a random dream. But then earlier, I heard her again. Telling me, it''s time. Then I felt something warm on my chest, then next thing I knew that spear appeared," Yule looked dejected at Sanna.


    "I also saw you performed a spell on your spear."


    Yule nodded at her. "If that''s what you call it, I just saw these words at my mind. I simply voiced it out. I didn''t know that my spear can release that kind of power."


    Sanna held her chin, pondering everything Yule told her.


    "The moment I met you, everything doesn''t make sense anymore. From your appearance on The Ground to what you told me that you were transported from a different world. I shouldn''t be surprised that you have a shard and weaponize a spear." Sanna just sighed at Yule then she walked closer. She raised her right arm and grabbed his shoulder.


    "Congratulations by the way on killing your first aswang."


    "Huh? But I didn''t kill it! I just cut off its arms. I didn''t even make sure that it was dead."


    "But without you, cutting off its arms, my energy arrow won''t pierce successfully its chest."


    Sanna jumped back and started walking to Zuna.


    "Let''s continue this conversation while riding on Zuna. We have to get out of here. I''m pretty sure more aswang will come after us with these commotions. They definitely heard us. Loudly."


    "No-No! I can''t deal another aswang. Plus, I don''t know if I can summon my spear again. I''m already exhausted."


    "Then we have to go. Climb up to Zuna and sit behind me."


    Yule did what she told him and climb to Zuna. He was hesitating to grab her on the sides. She might call him pervert.


    "You know, it''s going to be a bumpy ride, so you need to hold me at my side."


    Yule nodded and held her sides. From this view, he can see how long her hair was. He can see the blue streaks hiding, but still visible. Then, Zuna quickly leaped on the air, jumping to higher grounds. It was like Zuna was galloping from buildings to buildings.


    Yule had a better look at this world while jumping on the air on Zuna''s back. All he can see were wreckages all around. It was like the energy of this world had been zapped by someone else. Everywhere you look is Death.


    While Zuna was jumping higher and higher to different tall buildings. Yule saw some giant shadows from afar.


    "Those are Aswang. Probably, Level 3."


    "I can''t imagine facing those. We had a hard time facing a Level 2 aswang," Yule said while cringing at the prospect of facing another monster stronger they faced earlier.


    "By the way, I can''t help thinking back on how you summon your spear." Sanna turned her head to him. She was holding her hair to avoid smashing it straight to Yule''s.


    "What about it? I told you. I''m also clueless the same as you."


    "Yeah. I know. But you mentioned that a girl appeared or at least talked to you. Do you know that it''s very rare to make a contract with humanoid mythical beings? I think there were at least 10 people recorded in history who made a contract with them. Is there any chance, she mentioned her name?"


    "No. All I know is her appearance."


    Sanna held her chin again while her left hand held the neck of the white stag.


    "Such a mystery. Oh well, we will find more once arrived on Tawalisi."


    "I''m excited to see this floating city you mentioned."


    "Oh you will love it," Sanna said happily at Yule.


    After jumping to various buildings, highways, rooftops, Yule noticed a large shadow mass at the sky.


    "What is that?" Yule pointing out at the shadow.


    "Finally, we''re near. That''s the Floating City, Tawalisi."


    When they got nearer, Yule finally had a good look. It was a large landmass floating above ground. He peeked some giant domes and large mountains above.


    "Can''t believe this. I only have seen this on anime and some movies."

 5 City of Slayers

    Yule gaped at the ginormous size of the floating city. He didn''t know how they built it, but he appreciated the amount of task constructing this city.


    There might be magic involved too, Yule thought.


    Then he felt that Zuna was slowing down.


    "This is the entrance leading to Tawalisi," Sanna explained.


    Yule noticed a metal runway in front of them.


    The runway leads to a large tube connecting to the floating city. Zuna walked slower when his hooves touched the metal runway.


    "There''s a station guard near the entrance," Sanna pointed her finger to a small square-shaped metal structure. If Sanna didn''t point out the square-shaped structure, Yule would never notice it.


    The metal structure was like a giant box in the middle of empty space. When they got closer, Yule could see some glass windows surrounding it. Then beside it, a lone tall person guarding the area.


    Yule heard Sanna clicked her tongue when they inched closer to the guard.


    "Of all the days, he''s the one assigned tonight!" He heard the frustration in Sanna''s voice.


    When Yule looked at the guard again, he could see a smirk plastered on his face.


    "Well, look we have here," said the guard in a deep voice. Yule examined him and from their vantage, the man was towering them. His head was shaved, and upon closer look, there were some old scratches on his brown color cheek, probably acquired from past battles. The guard was wearing an unbuttoned long black coat, covering partially his black shirt and pants. Behind him, Yule could see a large ax strapped on his back.


    "Manu," Sanna nodded at him.


    Manu placed his hands on his hips, making him more an imposing figure.


    "You''re probably aware that you are beyond curfew hours from the academy."


    Yule and Sanna climbed down from the white stag. Zuna quickly turned to a ball of light and returned to Sanna''s shard. The two of them tried to feel their legs and feet after riding the white stag for hours.


    "I apologize for that. But you see," Sanna looked at Yule." While I was finishing my mission, I found a civilian on the Ground."


    Manu examined the boy from head to toe, while Yule looked at him nervously.


    "Hey boy, how the hell did you end up on the Ground alone? Civilians are not allowed in this area. Do you, perhaps plan to kill yourself? And how you able to get pass through the security?"


    Yule glanced at Sanna, looking hopelessly at her. He didn''t know if he can provide the same explanation he gave to Sanna.


    Sanna cleared her throat, intending to rescue Yule from Manu''s interrogation.


    "Manu, we are not mandated to answer your questions. We will provide the necessary explanation to the Academy and our class advisor."


    "I agreed. But this guy," Manu pointed at Yule. "He is a civilian, so he answers to me. A fully licensed slayer."


    Sanna chuckled and pretended to slap her forehead. "Oh did I mention that he is a civilian? Silly me."


    Manu looked incredulously at her. Sanna moved closer to Yule and started to unbutton his shirt.


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    Yule was surprised by Sanna''s action. He eyed her with a questioning look, but she just winked at him.


    Sanna pulled the polo shirt, revealing the bare chest of Yule.


    "H-he has a shard?" Manu said in disbelief. "But he is not familiar to me. I may not be familiar with all the names of the current students of the academy, but I''m pretty confident with my memory. I haven''t seen him on school grounds ever."


    "Oh Manu, I haven''t told you yet my full mission. I have to escort this guy to Tawalisi. He''s from the neighbor island. Yule is a transfer student to the academy." Sanna faced Manu proudly.


    "Which island?"


    "Again with questions, Manu. If you want, you could call my advisor, Professor Fields. I''m pretty sure he would love to receive a call from you."


    Manu stepped backward after hearing the name of Sanna''s professor. But he remembered his place and regained his composure quickly. Manu cleared his throat and glared at them.


    "Very well, both of you may enter the Tube Elevator." Yule quickly buttoned his polo shirt and followed Sanna''s footsteps.


    Then, Manu blocked their way using a left arm.


    "You know the drill, right?" Manu looked happily at her.


    "Please do it quickly," Sanna replied.


    Yule tapped the back of Sanna. "What now?"


    "He will just do a standard inspection and scan us."


    "Drone A5!" Manu shouted to no one. Yule looked around expecting something to come out, but nothing happened or at least appeared.


    When Yule was about to tap Sanna again, he heard a pop sound. It was the same sound when someone opens the cork of a bottle wine. He examined the ground and found a metal ball popped out from the metal runway. The metal ball floated from the ground and flew straight to Manu, circling him.


    "Scan them," Manu ordered to the metal ball. The drone flew towards Sanna and Yule. When Yule got a closer look at the drone, it was just a simple metal ball and at its center was red dot glowing, serving as the eye.


    "Scanning initiate," the drone said in a monotonous voice. Then the drone''s eye projected a red glowing line at the feet of Sanna. The red light quickly moved up, scanning the whole body of Sanna until it reached her face.


    "Sanna Vlanco. Recognized."


    The drone moved past Sanna and scanned Yule.


    "Unregistered Human. Awaiting for next order," the drone stayed in front of Yule.


    Manu smiled smugly at Sanna and moved aside, clearing the path to the Tube Entrance.


    "You may go now."


    Sanna rolled her eyes at Manu and marched with heavy footsteps towards the entrance.


    *****


    The Tube Entrance was just a huge glass tube connected to the floating city. When Yule and Sanna arrived in front of the tube, Yule didn''t see any visible doors so to enter it. Sanna walked closer to it and placed her palm at the glass. Then a small rectangular hole suddenly appeared where Sanna placed her palm. Slowly, the rectangular hole expanded horizontally and after a few seconds, it expanded vertically, accommodating the height of Sanna.


    She stepped inside and faced Yule. "Shall we?" she said.


    Yule stepped inside the tube and felt cold upon entering it. He thought there might be a hidden air conditioner inside. Then Yule heard a clicking sound underneath the circular metal floor where they were standing. The floor moved and started to ascend.


    Yule amazed by what happened and smiled brightly at Sanna. When he tried to look back at the station guard area where Manu interrogated them but it became smaller as they ascend farther away.


    "So what''s your deal with the guard earlier?" Yule asked. "I can sense that you''re not comfortable with him around."


    "Am I that obvious?" Sanna replied then started crossing her arms between her chest.


    "Let''s just say I''m not a big fan of him. I can''t discredit his skills as a good slayer, but he''s too proud of himself. Plus," she paused for a moment, "he was one of the people who accompanied my parents before they were killed." Then she looked through the glass looking at somewhere.


    A long pause went between them, and Yule was thinking about how to break the silence when he remembered something Sanna said earlier.


    "Um, Sanna you''ve mentioned earlier that there''s a neighboring island aside from Tawalisi. How many floating islands are out there?"


    Sanna looked back at Yule and smiled at him. "There are only three floating islands in this world. One is," she pointed above, "Tawalisi. Second is the agricultural and forest island, Verde. It''s farther from here. But people can go there by riding an aircraft. And the last one is the Sanctuary. It''s a research facility for shards and other technology-related. This one is a bit near to Tawalisi."


    "So there are also villages or cities on those two islands?"


    "In Verde, there''s only one city, but there are scattered villages on it, while Sanctuary is just one big facility. It is the smallest island among the three."


    "Would love to visit those two islands also," Yule said.


    Then, their background started to change. They could no longer see the horizon as they ascend further. They were surrounded by soil and rocks.


    "We''re near now," Sanna explained.


    Yule heard another clicking sound, and the metal floor stopped moving.


    While Yule was still looking at his surroundings, the rectangular door appeared again. Sanna moved first and stepped outside.


    Yule followed her and was greeted by an explosion of colors and sounds.


    There were a lot of people walking around on busy streets. Some are checking the colorful boutiques and stores. When he looked above, he was surprised to see flying vehicles up in the air headed to various directions.


    "This world has flying cars?!"


    Sanna just shrugged at him. Sanna was entertained on his surprise expression plastered on his face.


    While still looking above, Yule could see tall buildings and towering skyscrapers. There were some buildings with landing platforms, situated mid-level of the structures. Further above, Yule noticed that there was a glass covering the city from the dark sky.


    "Is this city enclosed by a glass dome?" he inquired.


    "Of course! We''re 10,000 meters above the ground. Without the glass dome, we can''t breathe normally, and this is to protect us also from the harsh environment outside."


    Yule nodded at her still amazed with everything he was seeing.


    "Come on, we need to go to the academy quickly and meet with Professor Fields. He will know what to do with you." Sanna started walking ahead towards the crowded street.


    When they were crossing the street, Yule caught by the attention of two tall figures walking against them. A tall man and woman wearing a white military-like uniform. Both of them had pale skin but their hair was very colorful. The man had bright green hair, while the woman had bright blue hair. Both figures stood out among the crowd of brown, black, blond heads.


    Yule looked at the face of the woman where he was struck with how beautiful she was. He was captivated by her green eyes. She also had a small face and a sharp nose. But when Yule looked at green-haired man, his eyes almost popped out. He had emerald stones for eyes. And the weird thing, he had eyelids covering the emerald stone when he blinked.


    Yule looked at Sanna to look for an explanation but she mouthed, Later.


    After crossing the street and away from the two tall figures, Yule and Sanna stopped at a nearby store.


    "Those two are Engkanto," Sanna explained.


    "I can definitely sense that they are not human. And you''re right, they are beautiful creatures. But I didn''t expect that you are literal when you mentioned that they have emerald eyes!" He blurted at Sanna. "But if they are both Engkanto, why the tall woman has a normal set of eyes?"


    "There are some Engkanto who show their emerald eyes proudly to everyone. It gives them distinction from us, humans. But there are also Engkanto who wear glamours to make their eyes normal to humans. I think this is the only magic left in them they can perform."


    Yule tried to find the tall figures among the crowd. But he could no longer find them. Sanna beckoned to walk again when they were blocked by a huge crowd, cheering someone in front of them. Yule tried to stand on his tiptoe, so he could peek. Then suddenly Sanna grabbed his hand and walked on their left. They moved to an area where fewer people blocking the path. When they had a better view of the surrounding, they found the reason why there were so many people gathered. They were watching a large hologram video. It was a live stream of two people fighting.


    "It''s a live feed of Tawalisi Battle Fiesta. If I remember correctly, the game is still in the middle of the Elimination round. It''s a competition for Slayers." Sanna explained to Yule.


    The hologram showed two people fighting: a young girl holding a staff facing a young boy also lashing his whip at the girl. But the girl avoided all the attacks.


    Yule thought the girl was the underdog, since she was on the defensive end, while the boy was aggressive on his attacks.


    After lashing several attacks that were all amazingly dodged by the girl, the boy started to breathe heavily. His attacks became slow which was also observed by the girl with the staff. The girl found the perfect timing and leaped from the ground. She mouthed some words and magic circles started appearing behind her. The boy froze when he saw the magic circles. He quickly unleashed his whip attacks, but pillars of white energy launched from the magic circles, targeting the boy.


    The attack from the girl was a direct hit to her opponent. When she landed on the ground, the boy fell on his knees, unconscious on the floor.


    The crowd yelled after the girl won the battle.


    "Enough detour, we have to go now," Sanna interrupted Yule still hooked on the hologram screen.

 6 Meeting the Class

    Yule and Sanna crossed two streets already. Sanna was walking in such a hurry that Yule had to play catch up with her. He asked her where they will meet Professor Fields which she simply replied that the professor was in the academy. But they need to ride a train before they can go there.


    Sanna also explained that the reason she was in a hurry as the train only runs until 10 ''o clock in the evening. When they passed a commercial building displaying a holographic analog clock, the hands were already pointed to 9:30.


    They turned to an alley which was dumped various trash bins and stinking with rotting smells. After exiting it, they entered another colorful street where some stores had LED walls streaming concerts, actual forest scenes, the ocean, and some CGI video game footage. There were also floating hologram screens floating in the air where news was being broadcasted live. Above it, more flying vehicles zooming above ground.


    Yule noticed that this street was busier compared to the other streets they passed. There were also a lot of people walking on the street. People were also having dinner along the street cafes.


    "Welcome to Section 2B - Entertainment District Annex," Sanna explained. "This dome has two entertainment districts. This one is the Annex where gaming and fancy restaurants reside here. The other one is Section 2A - Main Entertainment District where you can find casinos and media networks establishments. We''re near now to the train station, so we better hurry."


    Yule nodded at her, still roaming his eyes around.


    This is the kind of futuristic city from the sci-fi novels he read before, Yule thought.


    When they passed a certain gaming center, Yule and Sanna noticed there was a crowd gathering around it. Sanna walked straight and about to ignore the crowd when she heard a commotion inside the gaming center.


    Both stopped on their tracks and tried to peek from the heads of the crowd on what was the commotion about. They could see a brown-haired boy wearing a white coat with black pants running around inside. Yule noticed that the white coat that the guy wearing had the same pattern as Sanna''s.


    The brown-haired boy was dodging some people and chairs as he tried to escape a young adult man wearing eyeglasses who chase after him.


    "Ranger! Stop running around!" The young man with eyeglasses shouted while still chasing the brown-haired boy.


    Sanna gasped at Yule''s side, covering her mouth with her hand. "God kill me now. I know these people," she pleaded. Sanna marched inside the gaming center and shoved some people on her way. Yule followed her and apologized to the people on his way.


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    When they were inside the gaming center, Sanna and Yule stayed on the side and watched at the two people running around.


    "I like to introduce to you my classmate, Ranger Yellowlake," she pointed at the brown-haired guy who was wearing the same design of white coat as Sanna. "And the one we are looking for, Professor Matteo Fields. He''s our class advisor."


    When Professor Fields looked at their direction, his eyes got bigger and halted his run.


    "Sanna!"


    Ranger heard his professor shouted someone''s name and looked at Professor Fields.


    Professor Fields approached Yule and Sanna and tried to scratch his face, looking embarrassed.


    "Oh Sanna, why are you still in Upper Dome?"


    "I could ask the same for you, professor," she replied and Professor Fields winced at her reply.


    When Yule observed Professor Fields, he thought he was too young to be a class advisor for high school students. He looked like a college student wearing a long white laboratory coat. He also had disheveled black hair and behind the eyeglasses were gentle brown eyes, looking at them. Yule also noticed that Professor Fields was tall a person, standing at about 180 centimeters.


    "Y-You see, I tasked Ranger for some paperwork earlier, but when I checked his room, it was empty."


    "And we both know where he would go," Sanna finished.


    Ranger laughed behind the back of Professor Fields and slapped his back. The brown-haired boy approached them and waved at Sanna. With his height, towering Professor Fields, Yule, and Sanna, Ranger looked like someone who came from a high fashion magazine. He was smiling at them, and Yule could see a hint of mischief on his blue-colored eyes.


    The crowd started to disperse as they observed that the commotion was already over.


    After observing that the crowd was almost gone, Professor Fields looked at Yule, examining him with his brown eyes.


    "Are you by any chance, Sanna''s boyfriend?" He inquired.


    Ranger whistled, entertained at the new development. Yule surprised at his question which made him stepped back. Unknown to them, Sanna was clenching her fist, tilting her head down.


    "What made you think that he''s my boyfriend?!" Sanna exploded at Professor Fields.


    Professor Fields was taken aback when Sanna exploded. Ranger quickly jumped to Yule and grabbed his shoulder. "So when you and Sanna started dating? Does she wear different kind of persona when she''s with you? Do you know that she''s too stiff in the academy?" Yule didn''t know how to answer the barrage of questions from Ranger.


    Sanna quickly grabbed Ranger and launched her right leg, attempting to kick him on his stomach but with surprising speed, Ranger avoided the kick, leaping on top of a nearby table. He bowed mockingly at Sanna which made her more angrier. She was about to attack Ranger, this time with her fist, but Professor Fields clapped once his hands loudly. This made Sanna stopped.


    "I think we made enough commotion in this establishment," Professor Fields said and looked at the cowering staff of the gaming center behind the cashier area. "Wait for me outside, I''ll just talk to the staff."


    The three of them nodded at the professor and orderly exited the gaming center. While waiting for the professor outside, Sanna was still fuming from what happened earlier while Ranger laughed at the hologram screen, streaming a comedy show.


    When the professor exited the gaming center, he wore a very tired face. The trio looked at him expectantly.


    "Everything is settled. But I promised them that we will help them this weekend where we will do a full-time job, assisting the staff to compensate for the commotions we''ve done."


    Sanna and Ranger launched with various reasons that they have a pending task waiting this weekend.


    Yule coughed loudly and Professor Fields, Sanna, and Ranger looked at him. "Do I have to work too?"


    Professor Fields looked at Sanna, then sighed at no one. She moved to Yule and faced Professor Fields and Ranger.


    "This is Yule Azul. First, he''s not my boyfriend. Second, he claimed that he came from another world."


    Professor Fields and Ranger looked incredulously at her.


    "It''s a long story. I''ll just tell the whole story once we''re on the train." Sanna said to them.


    *****


    The party arrived at a large white building with glass walls constructed around it. They entered the premises and took the escalator going down to the platform. The platform was filled with a crowd of people again waiting for the train to arrive. Yule spotted a few Engkanto at the platform. Some were glamouring their eyes, while some wore proudly their emerald stone eyes. Those Engkanto had brightly colored hairs from red, red-orange, yellow, sky blue, pale pink, and a few silver hairs. There were also some Engkanto wearing the same white military-like uniforms from the pair he had seen earlier. While there were selected Engkanto wore a long white lab coat, same with Professor Fields. The remaining were just wearing ordinary clothes.


    The group settled to wait for the train near a large pillar. When Yule observed the platform, he could see holographic screens floating in the air, displaying the train''s schedules and other reminders for passengers. Yule observed also that there were no visible rail tracks, but the train''s path was enclosed by a glass-made tube. He was reminded of the tube elevator when they entered the city.


    Then the PA system broadcasted the arrival of the train. The incoming train rapidly arrived at the station, and it was floating above the ground!


    Rectangular doors started appearing on the glass-made tube. When the train fully stopped, it opened its doors and people started flowing out. The group waited, and when it was their turn, they hurriedly looked for a place to sit. They found an empty area and settled.


    Yule was in between the window and Sanna. While Professor Fields and Ranger sat in front of them.


    The moment that the train started moving and flew inside the tube, Sanna launched to her story. She recounted how she met Yule for the first time and told them that Yule came from another Earth. A peaceful Earth. She also them that they met and fought a Level 3 Aswang which made Professor Fields frowned, but he never made a comment and let Sanna continue her story. Sanna also recounted that Yule was a shard bearer and can summon a Weaponize form, but never had the chance to get the name or what creature he made a contract with. Yule supplied that it was a girl in a violet dress. Ranger almost fell from his seat when he heard a humanoid mythical being contracted, someone. She ended when they meet Manu at which made Sanna''s eyes rolled in disgust.


    Professor Fields was holding his chin and absorbing all the facts from Sanna, then he looked at Yule.


    "This is fascinating, Yule. It''s a lot to take in," Profesor Fields faced Ranger which he nodded. "But we need to examine your body first. We need to take a closer look at your shard. It might hold some answers we are looking for."


    "But to whom? People will just look differently at us. To be honest, if you approach me with this kind of story, I will just flip you and get away ASAP." Ranger said which made Sanna nodded.


    "Don''t worry. I have the right person in mind we can discuss this. In the meantime, the three of you should keep this to yourself while we''re waiting for answers. We''re all gonna pretend that Yule is my nephew from Verde, and he will enter the Neo Archipelago Slaying Academy as a student."


    The trio almost dropped their jaws upon hearing the statement from Professor Fields. Ranger and Sanna was about to launch with their concerns when Professor Fields raised his palm to them.


    "I''m going to make this work. I''ll pull some strings from higher-ups. In addition, we need another hand in slaying the monsters below. You all know that the Slayers population is getting reduce every year. Slayers die every day during duty. We can''t take away the fact also that every year fewer people are getting compatible with the shards."


    Ranger and Sanna looked down at their feet, reflecting on the current issues of the slayers.


    "By the way," Professor interjected brightly. "We haven''t introduced each other properly. I''m Professor Matteo Fields which already knew from Sanna. But I''m Ranger and Sanna''s class advisor. Both of them are in sophomore year. They are still far from being the best slayers they could be."


    Yule nodded at him. "I''m Yule Azul. You know my story. I''m a stranger in this world, and I don''t know anyone aside from you, guys. But please take care of me."


    This made Professor Fields, Ranger, Sanna smiled.


    *****


    The train flew inside the enclosed tube passing woodlands and mountains. Ranger started snoring on his seat, while Professor Fields picked a rectangular glass where various images and texts started appearing on the surface of the glass. Yule thought it was a mobile device.


    He looked through the window and noticed the four large domes around the floating city. All are brightly glittering within due to the lights emitting from the buildings and establishments inside. Yule saw some flying vehicles outside the domes, flying through the night sky.


    "We''re still far away from the Academy Dome." Sanna interrupted. "We just came from the Upper Dome. The train needs to pass through two more Domes before we arrived at our destinations."


    Yule nodded at her and looked back at the domes he could peek from his window. "What is the last stop?"


    "It''s the Capital Dome. The governments and slayers'' higher-ups stayed there."


    After seating for almost an hour and passed through two domes, the PA system announced that they arrived at the Academy Dome. Yule noticed that the people left were mostly high school students, and started exiting out.


    They walked towards a crowded escalator. Yule observed that they are all wearing different kinds of uniforms. He found some students wearing the same uniforms as Sanna and Ranger.


    Upon arriving upstairs, he was greeted by more people. Yule was surprised that there were still students at this hour. They were inside a glass building where Yule could peek the stars above.


    Professor Fields guided them out of the building, and Yule was thrown into another city-like landscape just like with Upper Dome.


    There were many buildings but compared to the Upper Dome, the Academy Dome was a bit more conservative. There were stores that already closed. Students started fading to various streets and alleys.


    Professor Fields noticed that Yule was looking around with his eyes. "This dome is mostly comprised of different schools from elementary to high schools, universities, and colleges. Some of the buildings here are dormitories and apartments for students and teachers."


    Yule observed also that there were fewer flying vehicles above in this dome.


    They walked two more blocks and arrived at a large overlapping arch which served as the entrance. It was surrounded by different kinds of trees. Yule could see some buildings inside.


    "I formally welcome you to Neo Archipelago Slaying Academy." Professor Fields said to Yule.

 7 The Summoning

    They were walking on a paved road surrounded by tall trees, while Yule could see some fireflies flying around the area, making the place more magical.


    The group passed a giant white stadium with lights on glowing on the second and third floors. Further ahead, they arrived at a five-story building with long corridors.


    "This is the students'' dorm," Professor Fields introduced to Yule. "We will have to say goodbye to Ranger and Sanna for the meantime. Yule will stay temporarily at the Teacher''s Dormitory where he will stay at my guest bedroom."


    The three students nodded at the Professor, then Ranger and Sanna waved goodbye to them. Yule and Professor Fields walked more and arrived at a western-style mansion. The mansion was surrounded long brick walls, and in the middle was a metallic gate.


    Professor Fields pulled a card from his lab coat and flashed it at the gate. The gate automatically swung open, and the two entered the premises.


    Upon entering the mansion, they were greeted by a chubby man at the desk. He tried to comb his unkempt hair when he saw the two. Professor Fields explained to him that he was with his nephew, and he will stay for a night while his transfer papers were being processed by the administration. The chubby man looked at Yule, then waved them off.


    They climbed the staircase and went to Professor Fields'' room. The room was very cozy, plastered with sky blue paper walls. There were two couches in front of a painting depicting the fall of angels in the bible. At the side of the room, two bookshelves stood with books filling it. Opposite of it, two doors erected on the side leading to the bedrooms.


    Professor Fields opened the left door and led Yule inside. The guest bedroom had a single bed and own bathroom.


    "I think you had a very long day. You may rest here, Yule. We will talk in the morning." Then Professor Fields closed the door.


    Yule went first into the bathroom and washed his face. After that, he leaped on the bed and released a long sigh. He agreed on Professor Fields he had a very long day. He could not believe that he was lying on the bed after the aswang they fought earlier almost killed him.


    Yule was also thinking about tomorrow when he would start faking himself as the nephew of Professor Fields. Many thoughts and images entered in his mind until sleep arrived.


    *****


    A knock woke up Yule. He stretched his shoulders and rose from the bed.


    Someone pushed open the door, and Professor Fields''s head popped up. "I brought clothes."


    Yule grabbed the clothes and told him how grateful he was. After cleaning and changing his clothes, he met the professor.


    The professor was sitting on one of the couches and reading a book.


    "I forgot to say last night that how cozy the room is for a teacher," Yule said.


    Professor Fields closed the book and smiled at Yule. "I''m glad you like the room also. This is the least that the Academy could do to us since most licensed slayers preferred to be on the field."


    "So you mean to say, all teachers of this academy are licensed slayers?"


    Professor Fields nodded at him. He rose from the couch and returned the book he was holding to the bookshelf. "We should go to the dining area. Breakfast is being served now."


    The professor led the way to the dining area located on the ground floor of the mansion.


    *****


    After their breakfast, Professor Fields and Yule went out and headed to another facility located in the southern part of the academy.


    "We will meet with my colleague who we can trust about your situation. This colleague of mine will do an examination of your body and the shard embedded on your chest."


    Yule nodded at him. He was actually nervous about what they would find on his body.


    They arrived at a seven-story building and went to the third floor. The floor had a long hallway where they passed some Engkanto wearing long white coats.


    Professor Fields went to the end of the hallway and knocked. When no one answered, the professor slide the door open and found a female Engkanto typing rapidly on the hologram keyboard while her glamoured eyes were glued to the hologram screen.


    Yule and Professor Fields entered the room, but the female Engkanto was deeply engrossed in her work. Professor Fields coughed louder, and the female Engkanto finally noticed them. She quickly jumped on her feet and faced them.


    The female Engkanto had deep blue colored hair with pink color covering the tail of her hair. She was about the same height as Professor Fields. Yule also observed that she was stunningly beautiful like the other Engkanto he had met. But Yule felt some gentle presence coming from her.


    "Matteo," the female Engkanto started.


    "Avatara," Professor Fields curtly replied.


    "I assume that he''s the guy you''ve mentioned from your email late last night?," Avatar inquired while eyeing Yule.


    Professor Fields faced Yule and introduced her. "Yule, I would like you to meet Avatara. She''s the colleague I''ve mentioned to you. She will try to help us."


    Avatara nodded at him then she clicked on the hologram keyboard. Automatically, the screen and the keyboard winked out.


    "Come, follow me."


    They were behind her when she started guiding them on another hallway inside the room.


    They stopped in front of a sliding door room. Avatara opened the door and led them inside.


    The room was pure white. Yule also noticed a circular-shaped metal platform in the middle of the room.


    "B719, initiate the examination," Avatara ordered to no one. Then hologram screens started appearing around her. Words and charts appeared on the screens. She quickly typed something on the screen in front of her, then a word ''Standby'' displayed on the screen.


    "Yule please stand on the platform, so we can start scanning you," Avatara instructed Yule.


    Yule went to the platform and felt uncomfortable, standing in front of Professor Fields and Avatara.


    Then a hole appeared on the ceiling, and a ball drone flew downwards and levitating in front of Yule. The ball drone had the same appearance as the drone of Manu.


    "Shall we start the scanning?" The ball drone asked in a monotonous voice.


    "Yes, please. Initiate Overall Scanning and Shard Examination," Avatara replied.


    Professor Fields went behind Avatara looking also at the screens surrounding her.


    The ball drone released a red light from its eye. The red light scanned his head first, then went all the way to the bottom. Data started appearing on hologram screens which made Avatara nodded. Then, the red light started going upwards and stopped on his chest. It stayed there for a few minutes. Then the red light disappeared. The ball drone stayed levitating in front of Yule.


    "Done scanning," the ball drone announced. Afterward, it flew back to the ceiling.


    Additional data started appearing on the hologram screens, but this time, it made Avatara frowned.


    Suddenly, they heard a knock from the door. Professor Fields and Yule looked at it and found Sanna opening the door. She nodded at the professor and waved at Yule.


    "This might take a while," Avatara announced.


    "Yule may step down from the platform. Sanna will escort you out. The two of you may roam around the academy while we wait for the result. I''ll stay here with Avatara." Professor Fields said to the two.


    *****


    When the two exited the room, Avatara furiously typed on the holograms and it generated more data and graph on the screens. Professor Feilds was just observing the whole process, letting her do her expertise.


    After a few minutes, Professor Fields sensed that she was about to conclude her work. Avatara displayed some images on the screens and faced the professor.


    "As expected the boy is in good health. He has the same DNA structure with the humans on this Earth. Same body functions, nothing different. What surprised me is this," Avatara slid the screen in front of her and a shard appeared on it. "A common shard usually have spirit energy readings around it." She held the image of the shard and put a throwing action towards Professor Fields.


    The shard appeared outside the screen via holographic imaging. It was floating in the air, and the two crowded around it. Avatara and Professor Fields were looking at close up version of Yule''s shard.


    "But the boy''s shard doesn''t have any spirit readings I could trace. It supposed to have a spiritual reading. It''s usually emitted by the contracted mythical being, and I''ve never encountered this kind of shard." Avatara said in a tired voice.


    "But they recounted that a weapon came out of it," Professor Fields insisted at her.


    "I know, and I believe them. You know why?" Avatara touched the holographic image of Yule''s shard, and a holographic screen appeared beside the shard. "The scan read there''s a spiritual weapon inside it. And I''m dumbfounded where''s the power coming from. I''m thinking his shard might be different because he came from another world which made it special."


    Professor Fields looked at the holographic image of the shard, then sighed.


    "I guess it''s my job now to figure it now," he said to Avatara.


    "Oh please, keep me updated. I''m intrigued by the boy''s shard. Let me know if you need anything else."


    "I trust, you will not say a word to anyone," Professor said carefully at the Engkanto.


    Avatara nodded at him in reply.


    "I guess, we''re done here for the meantime. I''ll go now and work on Yule''s papers for his admittance on the academy."


    "Do you think it''s a good idea to let him in?"


    "Like I always say to others, we need more slayers regardless of where he or she came from."


    Professor Fields waved farewell to Avatara and exited the room.


    *****


    Sanna was busy looking at the mobile device she was holding. Yule could peek some videos on the glass screen of the device. Every now and then, some notifications popped on the screen, while the two were walking outside.


    Then Sanna stopped halted her movement still engrossed on her mobile device.


    "I didn''t know it was today," she mumbled to herself. Sanna faced Yule and smiled at him. "Since it''s so boring just to roam around the academy, I have this better idea," she said in a playful tone.


    The two went to the stadium. This is the same stadium that Yule saw last night before going to Ranger and Sanna''s dormitory.


    The lobby area of the stadium was huge, and many students roamed around the area, while some were hanging out on the couches. There were also holographic screen floating in the air, displaying various announcements.


    Sanna hurriedly climbed the escalator while Yule was tailing her. After riding another escalator, they arrived at the third floor. The hallway was empty. Sanna ran towards the end of the hallway and pushed open the door.


    They were greeted with students casually seating in a gallery. The students were all looking down on the ground floor. Sanna led them on the front, and Yule could see below that there was a queue of students. They were patiently standing while a single student stood on an elevated platform.


    "They are all 12 years old. Some of them hope to be a slayer one day." Sanna explained.


    "But why are they here? Is this some kind of welcoming ceremony?" Yule asked.


    "Just watch."


    "Ram Park!" Somebody announced on the ground.


    The boy in front of the line stepped forward to the elevated platform. Yule thought that the boy looks nervous.


    Then a green-haired male Engkanto marched toward the boy. Yule couldn''t identify if he was wearing a glamour or not. But this Engkanto was also wearing a white military-like uniform. He shouted some inaudible orders and holographic screens started appearing around him.


    The Engkanto placed his palm on the screen in front of him. Then, a small light emerged out of thin air. The light subsided and a floating shard floating in the was left.


    "You may summon it now," the Engkanto ordered to the boy.


    Ram Park nodded at him, then cleared his throat."I-I, Ram Park, summon you!"


    The shard started glowing, and the crowd above were all on the edge of their seat, waiting for the shard and the boy to bond.


    Then, the shard broke.


    It broke into tiny pieces falling to the ground.


    The crowd shook their heads in disappointment, while Sanna just clicked her tongue.


    The boy was shocked and a look of disappointment drawn on his face. He was escorted out by two male high school students.


    "This is a summoning and recruitment ceremony," Yule announced to Sanna. She just nodded at him and waited for the next candidate in line.


    The next candidate failed to summon and bonded with the shard. And the next one failed also. The crowd started to express their disappointment with the turnaround of this ceremony after ten candidates failed to summon from the shard.


    The male Engkanto supervising the ceremony was also getting bothered with the outcome. Then a small girl with brown ponytailed hair stepped on the platform. This made Yule froze.


    The girl had some resemblance to her younger sister. Her sister loves to arrange her hair in a ponytail style. This made him homesick also. Are they worried sick about me? he thought.


    "Candice Rodriguez, you may start the summoning," the male Engkanto announced. This made Yule returned his focus to the young girl below.


    The girl swallowed a deep breath and shouted, "I, Candice Rodriguez, summon you!"


    The shard in front of her started glowing brightly and a huge wave of air was released around it. Candice and the people on the ground covered their faces. Then, a magic circle appeared on the ground where Candice was standing.


    The crowd started rising from their seats, eagerly waiting for the next turn of events.


    Candice didn''t know what to do next. She looked at the male Engkanto about to ask him what she should do next when someone shouted. That person was pointing his finger above.


    People immediately looked above, and all of them gasped on what they saw.


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    Another magic circle appeared.


    It was floating in the air near the ceiling.


    "This shouldn''t happen," Sanna said. "When a candidate summoned a mythical being, it just materialized in front of that person. I never encountered this kind of materialization."


    Yule looked at the helpless girl on the ground. Her mouth was hanging open and staring above at the magic circle she summoned.


    The magic circle started spinning, and something was coming out from it. A creature covered by a light jumped in the air and landed on the ground facing Candice.


    The light started to disperse and a black feline creature appeared. It had the same size and physique as a black panther. The feline creature was looking at Candice with its glowing yellow eyes. The creature started prowling around the girl. Candice noticed that the black feline creature was wearing a golden necklace around its neck.


    The male Engkanto almost fell on his back when a word appeared on his screen.


    "It''s Bastet!" He revealed.


    The crowd gasped at the revelation of the Engkanto. Bastet roamed her yellow eyes around the room and looked back again at Candice. The feline goddess leaped looking like she was about to attack the girl, but when the feline goddess was on the air, it changed to a small light and dived to Candice''s chest.


    The room was filled with utter silence. Everyone was still shocked that a goddess was summoned in this room.


    "So Yule, this is the part that you skipped as a slayer," Sanna said jokingly.

 8 The Roommate

    After the commotions, Candice was escorted by the guards and the summoning ceremony resumed despite the ongoing murmurs of the audience. Overall, an additional six candidates were able to summon mythical beings following Candice. The supervisor was shaking his head after the low turnaround of the recruitment.


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    Yule and Sanna joined the other students exiting the stadium. There were still a lot of students discussing and intrigued at the summoning of the feline goddess, Bastet.


    Sanna invited Yule to grab some food in the lobby area when Sanna''s phone started ringing.


    "It''s a text message from Professor Fields. He said that he will meet us at the Student''s Dormitory."


    The two grabbed their food first, before stepping out of the stadium.


    *****


    When they stepped foot on the student''s dormitory, they were greeted by Professor Fields.


    "I''m guessin'' that the summoning ceremony was exciting, I presume?"


    "Well, someone just summoned Bastet. And the whole crowd went wild after her appearance," Sanna replied to the professor.


    The professor whistled at the mentioned of the feline goddess, then he beckoned them to sit on the couches to continue their story.


    After recounting the story, Yule and Sanna was looking expectantly at the professor, waiting for his turn. He cleared his throat then turned his gaze to Yule.


    "Here''s the thing, there''s good news, bad news, and good news again," The professor started. "The first good news is you have a healthy body and your physiology is the same as us, despite you''re from a different world." Then the professor''s voice changed to a more serious tone as he dropped his next announcement. "The result of your scan''s shard is unfruitful. Avatara was scratching her head after finding out that there''s no spirit energy emitting from your shard."


    Yule gave the professor a puzzled look after hearing the spirit energy which was acknowledged by the professor.


    "The spirit energy, as mentioned, is the kind of energy usually emits by the mythical being in the shard. It can only be found through drone scanning which was done to you earlier."


    "So what''s inside my shard?" Yule asked.


    "Surprisingly, what we only found out is that there''s just a spear inside in your shard. But the mechanics on how you can summon it is still a mystery with us. We don''t know what kind of magic concealed in your shard."


    Yule was disappointed that even the Engkanto with their advanced technology and in-depth knowledge in shards could not help uncover the mystery surrounding him.


    Sanna noticed at the same time that Yule was feeling down. "So what''s the other good news?" she interjected.


    As on cue, Professor Fields leaped from his seat and clapped his hands. Yule and Sanna turned their heads at him.


    "The other good news is Yule," Professor Fields grabbed something on his breast pocket and showed it to Yule. The mystery item was the same rectangular glass-like mobile device as Sanna''s.


    "Starting tomorrow, you''re an official student of Neo Archipelago Slayers Academy!"


    He pulled Yule from the couch and turned over the mobile device to him. "The reason also that I asked both of you to meet here is to escort him to his dorm."


    Sanna also stood and grabbed Yule''s hand, shaking it. "Welcome to the academy!"


    "So am I going to start as a freshman here?" Yule inquired.


    "Well, as mentioned, I''ve pulled some strings, and you will be in my class as a sophomore. You will be in the same class as Sanna and Ranger."


    Yule almost jumped on his feet that he will be with Sanna and Ranger. He was glad that won''t be stuck in a classroom full of strangers.


    "So shall we go to your room now?" Professor Fields asked Yule.


    *****


    Professor Fields and Yule went to men''s dormitory wing after waving goodbye to Sanna. They set foot on the third floor and knocked on the door on the left side.


    The doorknob turned, pulling the door open. They were greeted by a short boy with disheveled black hair while still wearing his PJs.


    "Oh, Mister Dirq so nice that you''re still in your room! I would like to introduce to you our newest student in the academy, Yule Azul." Then the professor faced Yule smiling at him. "And Yule, this is Haruto Dirq, your roommate."


    Yule smiled back at Haruto but started to feel uncomfortable when his new roommate just stared at him with a placid look.


    "Oh great," Haruto said in an expressionless tone.


    Professor Fields started to move back. "I''ll leave the two of you now. Start to get to know each other and have an enjoyable year as roommates!" Then the professor zoomed away from the two students.


    Yule and Haruto was left with an awkward atmosphere. Both were engaged in a staring contest, but Yule stepped back and started clearing his throat.


    "May I go in?" Yule asked.


    "Do whatever you want. It''s your room now also." Haruto replied still in an expressionless tone.


    Upon entering the room, there were two poster beds faced at opposite ends. The other one was still in order while the other one had a crumpled bed sheet, an indication that they interrupted Haruto while sleeping.


    "Just a rule, you will not cross my territory and I will not cross yours. And I don''t like small conversations. We''re just roommates not friends. Any questions?"


    "I-I think you covered everything already," Yule replied. "By the way, thanks for the warm welcome," he added sarcastically.


    Haruto just rolled his eyes and returned to his bed.


    Ignoring Haruto, Yule went to his bed and found that there were three sets of school uniforms neatly placed on the bed. He roamed his eyes and noticed there was a small drawer beside the bed. He started pulling the three-row drawer, just to check if there were any things left for him. Unfortunately, it was empty.


    He returned to his bed again and rolled on his back, staring at the ceiling. Yule remembered the mobile device that the professor gave to him and quickly pulled it from his pocket.


    He pressed the screen of the mobile device which emitted a glowing light. Various dialog boxes bombarded Yule. He pressed one dialog box with an email icon on it. The screen switched to his student email account.


    Yule was surprised that there were already three new unread messages. The messages came from Professor Fields, Sanna, and Ranger.


    He clicked on Professor Fields'' message. Yule read the content where Professor Fields was just welcoming him again to the academy. He also mentioned his class schedule where he clearly stated that class starts at exactly 7:30 am. Before ending his message, the professor told you that he also shared his email address to Sanna and Ranger, so expect a message from them.


    After reading the professor''s message, he clicked on Sanna''s and Ranger''s messages. They were just checking on him and asking about his roommate. Yule replied to them and told them that Haruto greeted him with the warmest welcome and added LOL at the end.

 9 Face Off

    Morning came and Yule headed to shower to clean himself. After that, he quickly changed to Academy''s uniform which was fitted nicely on him.


    As soon as he stepped out of the bathroom, Haruto was waiting before him.


    "Took your time, huh," then Haruto went inside the bathroom.


    Yule just shrugged at him, thinking that he had to get used to Haruto''s attitude if he''s going to stay long in this academy. Plus, the aswang was way scarier than Haruto''s attitude to him. He chuckled at his thoughts and quickly went out.


    On his way out from the dormitory, he saw Ranger leisurely talking to other students outside. Yule thought that Ranger was a popular student in this academy since there were many students nodded at him every so often.


    While Ranger was deeply engaged in the conversation with his friends, he noticed Yule at his peripheral. He immediately waved at him and clapped the shoulders of his friends, concluding their discussions.


    "Morning! Excited on your first day?" Ranger said as he jogged to him.


    "Actually, yeah! I wonder if I will get along with our classmates."


    Ranger looked at him strangely then laughed hard. "I''m pretty sure, you will get along just fine with our classmates." With a strange emphasis on the word classmates.


    *****


    Ranger guided Yule to their designated classroom which was located on the second floor of the building. There were students still on hallway talking and scanning their mobile devices.


    Before Ranger slides open the door, he winked mischievously at Yule which made him curious if there was a joke he didn''t know.


    As he stepped inside the classroom, Yule found that Sanna was already inside immersed on her mobile device. He noticed also that there were six vacant seats while Sanna occupied the seat near the door.


    "You can seat anywhere," Ranger told him.


    "But others may think I''m imposing myself."


    Ranger waved him off and chose the seat the farthest at the opposite end of Sanna.


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    Undecided on which seat he should choose, Yule picked the seat right next to Sanna and greeted her. She turned her gaze to him and returned the device on her skirt.


    "So how''s Haruto? Basing from your reply yesterday, he definitely gave you the warmest welcome huh," Sanna winked at him.


    "Well, he seems like someone with a stick stuck in his bottom."


    Sanna snorted at his joke which made Yule laughed also. She divulged to Yule that Haruto was like that ever since he started in the academy. She also mentioned that she went to the same middle school as Haruto. But back then, he was a different person. Silent personality, but not cold personality just like now.


    Then the door slid open. Professor Fields appeared and greeted them.


    "I guess we''re all complete now," Professor Fields started, observing his three students.


    This made Yule paused because there were still four vacant seats in the classroom.


    "Aren''t we still waiting for the other students?" Yule inquired.


    Sanna and Ranger smirked at him.


    That was when Yule realized the wicked smile of Ranger when they were at the door and he was strange when Yule mentioned the word, classmates. The three of them: Sanna, Ranger, and Yule are the only students in this classroom.


    "As you can see, Yule, the three of you are my only students in this class. I''ve mentioned before that the slayers'' population is dwindling as the years pass by. So it''s common to have few students in a class."


    Aside from the ongoing threat of the Aswang on the Ground, the people of this Earth also faced with another problem on the slayers'' population. How could they slay all the aswang if their numbers are thin? Yule thought.


    "Since you''re all familiar with Yule. I guess no need for an introduction right?" Professor Fields announced.


    Sanna and Ranger nodded at him.


    "So let''s move forward to catch up session for our newest student. Since you''re new to slayers business, Yule, you''ll have to catch up big time. By the way, I believe in the effectivity of practical lessons, so I''m planning a side trip to the battle arena."


    *****


    They went to the ground floor of the building and entered a facility that had a resemblance to a wrestling stadium. There was a square platform in the middle which was surrounded by bleachers that can accommodate at least 5, 000 people.


    Professor Fields gestured to Sanna and Yule to step on the square platform, while Ranger and the professor stood on the sidelines.


    "Both of you start summoning your weapons," Professor Fields ordered.


    Following the professor''s order, Sanna nodded at him and shouted the name of the white stag. A white light appeared on her chest which quickly went to her right hand and a bow appeared on her grip.


    On the opposite end, Yule was starting to get nervous. After they defeated the level 2 aswang, he hadn''t summoned his weapon since then. He tried to breathe deeply, internalizing on how to summon his lance.


    "I summon you! Weaponize!" Yule shouted.


    But the whole facility was greeted by utter silence. No weapon or lance appeared in the hands of Yule.


    This made Ranger chuckled while the Professor looked intently on Yule.


    Then-


    "You may commence in battle now!" The professor shouted.


    "W-Wait!" Yule stammered while looking wildly at the professor and Sanna. "I haven''t summoned my lance yet!"


    But Sanna ignored all the protests of Yule and cocked her bow in his direction. When she pulled the string of her bow, a magic circle appeared before her bow. When the energy arrow was released and pass through the magic circle, it had multiplied to three energy arrows.


    And the arrows flew straight to Yule.


    When the arrows hit Yule, he was sent flying to the nearest bleacher, crashing it. Yule heaved deeply but was surprised that no arrows pierced on his body.


    "Slayer''s bodies are stronger and can endure heavy damages than normal humans or what we called mundane." Professor Fields explained as he saw that Yule was checking on his body for any sign of the arrows.


    As the professor explained it, Yule remembered Sanna''s earlier fight with the aswang where she crashed a building but remain to be unscathed after the monster threw her like a rug doll.


    "But our bodies have limitations also. So I wonder how many energy arrows you could endure before you can summon your weapon."


    As if on cue, Sanna released more energy arrows at Yule.


    He tried to shake his head to regain his bearing, but Sanna didn''t give her a chance as Yule tried to dodge the incoming arrows. He successfully dodged the initial batch of arrows, but when the arrows kept on coming to him like a hailstorm, he was sent flying again.


    "Hey, Sanna! Do you have any grudge on me?" Yule shouted while trying to stand.


    His opponent just smiled at him as her reply and launched more arrows towards him. Yule quick on his feet, ran on his left while the energy arrows trailed after him.


    "While you''re busy running away from the arrows, I''ll continue my lesson to you," The professor announced brightly at his student.


    The only thought that Yule could think about his predicament right now was to dodge all those arrows and save his life. So that''s why he was livid when Yule heard Professor Fields that he will continue her lesson while the boy may get pierced by those energy arrows.


    "We rank the aswang based on the level of their power," the professor continued. "There''s the level 1 wherein it took the shape of a large black wolf. It''s weak as a single opponent but way stronger with a pack, so I advise caution on dealing the level 1. Next is level 2 which you''ve already encountered together with Sanna."


    Yule barely heard what the professor was saying as more arrows trailed after him which caused explosions around the platform whenever Yule was hit by the energy arrow.


    "Level 2 aswang are giant creatures that have boar heads. They are intelligent creatures also than level 1s. Next is level 3. As mentioned before level 2 aswang are giants, but level 3 are titan level kind of creatures. They stand around 15 feet or more. The level 3s are bipedal creatures also, but their body is covered by green moss up until their head. They are completely devoid of features, not even eyes, noses, or mouths to be seen."


    Professor Fields stopped talking as Yule was no longer standing from his crumpled state on the ground.


    While lying on his back, Yule was breathing heavily. He no longer had the strength to stand and ran again from Sanna''s arrows. He touched his chest and prayed again to the girl in violet dress to help him summon his weapon. Then, he felt a small warmth on his chest, and at the same time, a word popped in his head. The original name of his weapon.


    "I summon you! Sibat!"


    A white light came out from his chest, and it floated before him.


    "Weaponize!" Yule shouted.


    The white light glowed brightly and the violet spear made its appearance again to Yule. He quickly grabbed the spear, and the moment it touched his skin, it rapidly vitalized his whole body, making him good as new.


    Yule rose from the ground and formed an attacking stance against his opponent, Sanna. Then he turned his gaze to the professor without breaking his form.


    "So what''s the next level of aswang?" Yule asked.


    Professor Fields smiled at Yule and nodded in his direction. "The last level is Level 4. They are the strongest aswang as they can wield immense power and magic. The odd thing is they look like human. During the early days of the war, many slayers were brutally killed by these level 4s, since those slayers let their guards down thinking that they were civilians needed to be rescued. But they were deceived by these creatures and annihilated their group."


    The professor paused and looked at Sanna. "You may take your rest now, Sanna. I think it''s time for Yule to face Ranger." She nodded at her professor and took a seat from the nearest bleacher.


    After Ranger heard his name from the professor, he started stretching his long arms which made some popping noise as he stretched them.


    "Finally! I was about to doze off while watching them." The smile that Ranger threw to Yule was a lot like a predator thrilled to taste his prey.

 10 Third Rank Seat Part 1

    With a flippant attitude, Ranger stepped on the platform while Yule examining him carefully, cautious about his opponent''s move.


    "Shall we start then?" Ranger asked while his eyes remained on Yule.


    "The battle will end once Yule landed a hit on Ranger, or if Yule conceded. Begin!"


    Waiting for the cue, Yule quickly charged on Ranger. He won''t give Ranger a chance to prepare his attack on him.


    But Ranger just chuckled on his charging opponent. When the spear was about to make contact on Ranger''s body, he immediately lowered his ground and rolled on his right side.


    Surprised by the last-minute dodge of Ranger, Yule could no longer stop his momentum and stumbled on his feet when he missed his target.


    "Smart. But your movements are already predictable, Yule." Ranger said while patting his white coat for some dirt and dust when he rolled to avoid the attack of Yule.


    Triggered by Ranger''s taunt, Yule clenched tightly his spear, preparing for his next move.


    "The rule is to land any hit on Ranger right?" He asked the professor which he nodded in reply to Yule.


    "Hope this will count."


    Summoning all his energy, Yule leaped in the air and swung his spear.


    "First form! Crescent Light!"


    A crescent-shaped light was headed towards Ranger. This made him erased his smile.


    Ranger suddenly jumped on his side, narrowly avoided the hit from Yule.


    "Oy, be careful with that thing! It almost slash off my arm!" Ranger landed on the platform, unscathed.


    This made Yule clicked his tongue, frustrated that Ranger dodge his second attack again. Ranger''s right, Yule thought. He could definitely read his moves.


    "I guess, it''s about time to get serious now and make you concede," Ranger placed his right arm on his chest then closed his eyes.


    "I summon you!"


    A white light came out from his chest and flew above him. It slowly expanded its shape horizontally and vertically. The light stretched more until it almost covered the whole ceiling of the arena.


    Sanna whistled when she looked above her, while Yule gulped at the size of this mysterious creature. He started preparing himself for an all-out attack from Ranger.


    "Thunderbird!"


    The white light dissipated, and a huge yellow bird came out of it.


    Everyone was looking at the giant avian creature when it released a deafening howl in the arena.


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    They immediately covered their ears, while Ranger just laughed at the creature.


    The thunderbird roamed his yellow slated eyes below and spotted its target - Ranger. The creature started flapping his two giant wings and electric currents crawling around its body.


    "I know. I know. I should let you roam around every once and awhile." Ranger apologized to his partner.


    The thunderbird howled again, but this time not in a deafening tone range. As if it was communicating with Ranger.


    "Let''s put aside temporarily your rants, Thunderbird. We''re going to stretch your wings."


    It flapped its wings again, unleashing a gust of wind inside the arena. Dust and pebbles flew around the area.


    "Thunderbird! Weaponize!" Ranger shouted.


    The thunderbird howled in the air again and transformed back to a huge ball of light. It flew straight to Ranger and enveloping him with blinding white light.


    The light faded out and Ranger was floating in the air.


    He was holding two yellow blade swords on his hands with electric currents surrounding the blades. Behind him, eight yellow blade swords were hovering in the air and forming like wings on his back.


    Yule was astonished by the new form of Ranger, making him more like an overpowered fighter in front of a newbie opponent.


    "Shall we start again?" Ranger said while looking below at Yule. Then the swords behind his back started moving and formed a circular shape behind him, all pointing to Yule.


    The swords released lines of power surge straight to Yule. He quickly launched his Crescent Light spell where it clashed mid-air from Ranger''s attack. The clash caused a wave of explosion, throwing Yule from his footing.


    He crashed to a nearby bleacher again, near from where was Sanna seating.


    She approached him and checked if he was still conscious to continue the fight. Upon confirming that Yule was still conscious and grunting in pain, she tapped him on his shoulder.


    Yule tilted his head to Sanna, touched that she was showing concern to him.


    "Wanna know why Professor Fields only ask you to just land a hit on Ranger?"


    He tried to nod his head at her, confused about her question.


    "In this academy, there are six students who attained Saint-level class in this academy. And among those six Saint-level students is," she paused and turned her face to the platform.


    The dust from the explosion started to disperse and hovering in the air like an ominous presence was Ranger who remained unscathed.


    "Ranger Yellowlake is the third rank seat from the six Saint Level class," Sanna continued.


    Absorbing the revelation that Ranger, his classmate, the same Ranger who had this laid back attitude was one of the top rank students in this academy left him astounded.


    "Oy, t-this is a suicide mission!" He shouted. "R-Ranger is the kind of last boss type in a RPG game!"


    Professor Fields heard Yule''s shout and chuckled at him. "So is that the cue that you''re conceding?"


    While trying to stand, Yule looked back again at his overpowered opponent. Ranger was wearing a smile, ready from another attack.


    This made Yule remembered the time he reached the last boss in one of the RPG games he played. He had to redo that level five times because the last boss was so powerful. But on his sixth try, he able to defeat the boss since he grinded more level just to defeat him.


    But this time, this was no longer a game. This was his reality now. He was too tired getting his ass kicked by the people around him: from Sanna now to Ranger.


    He had to level up now.


    Yule charged back again on the platform and faced Ranger with determination on his eyes now.


    "Wow, I like your look now. Shall we give it a try again?"


    This time, Yule made no reply and curled his body to an attacking stance.


    Sanna approached the professor, standing alongside him. Both were eager to see what will be the next move of Yule.

 11 Third Rank Seat Part 2

    Ranger lowered himself on the ground while the swords remained hovering on his back like wings. He was waiting for the next move of Yule.


    With his right arm fully outstretched while holding his spear, Yule charged at Ranger again where he yelled on top his lungs, yelling all his frustrations on this fight.


    His opponent not breaking the smile he was wearing, suddenly lowered his body and stabbed the ground with the swords he was holding.


    Not bothered by the unusual move of Ranger, he didn''t halt his charging at his opponent.


    Then-


    "Thundershock!" Ranger shouted.


    Yule tried to halt his momentum, sensing an incoming powerful attack.


    The ground started to tremble and vibrations were felt from where Yule was standing.


    And two pillars of light erupted on the ground and started heading on Yule''s direction.


    Those pillars were made of up of thousands of voltages and continuously erupting on the ground heading to the intended target.


    Yule was cornered with nowhere to go when he had this sudden urge to stab his spear into the ground also. Following this urge, Yule raised the spear and sent it to the ground, piercing it.


    The electrical pillars were already inches away from him when -


    "Second Form! Lunar Monument!" he shouted.


    The ground started to tremble again. They could also hear a rumble beneath the ground. Then, spears started poking from the ground.


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    The spears had the same appearance from the spear that Yule was holding. And each spear that sprouted from below slowly shattered the incoming electrical pillars. The ground produced more spears until there were no longer traces of Ranger''s attack.


    But those spears continued their way, pushing until they reach Ranger.


    Quick on his feet, Ranger leaped in the air and pushed higher until he could no longer reach by them.


    "Almost had me there, Yule!"


    Yule just clicked his tongue, frustrated that he almost had Ranger on his attack. But something made him stopped.


    Behind Ranger, the eight swords started to form a circular shape, preparing for another attack.


    If the swords launched their energy blast again, it would be a direct hit to Yule since he was already cornered on his spot while his spear was still stuck in the ground.


    "I better conclude this before things get messier," Ranger announced from above.


    Small ball of lights started appearing on the tips of the swords, ready to launch full blast upon Ranger''s signal.


    Yule tried to pull his spear, but it was not moving an inch from his pull. He twisted his spear clockwise that was when he noticed something from afar.


    A single spear extended its length when he twisted the main spear on his grip. When he tried to twist it again, the spear from afar extended again.


    Without noticing the movements below, Ranger outstretched his hand down and eight energy blasts launched behind him.


    Before the energy blasts hit him, Yule twisted his spear in the ground with all his might.


    That was when Ranger noticed a single spear extended its length out of nowhere. The spear pierced all the energy blasts, dissipating the blasts into thin air.


    Other spears stuck on the ground turned to pieces also, leaving a long single spear hanging in the air.


    Yule took this chance and twisted more his spear. The long spear went upward.


    Caught off guard by this sudden development, Ranger had little time to avoid the incoming blade of the spear, so -


    Ranger raised his right yellow sword to defend himself, and the two weapons clashed in the air. The yellow sword and violet spear.


    "And the fight is over!" Professor Fields announced.


    "W-wait!" Ranger stuttered.


    On the other side, Yule was panting heavily surprised also at the sudden announcement of their professor.


    "The fight is over now, Ranger. Yule landed a hit on you, specifically on your blade."


    "But he didn''t hit me anywhere on my body. I''m still unscathed!" he shouted.


    "I didn''t say that Yule needs to land a hit on your body. What I said is when Yule lands a hit on you, and he successfully landed a hit on your sword."


    "But that''s unfair! You didn''t explain to me fully the mechanics!" He returned on the ground again and a ball of light covered his entire body. After the light blinked out, the swords were now gone on his hands and behind him.


    A white light also covered Yule''s spears and returned back on his chest. When the spear winked out from his grasp, he fell on his knees feeling the fatigue of the fight. With his body feeling heavy, Yule was just staring at the ceiling basking on his win.


    Then a ringing tone interrupted them, it was coming from Professor Fields'' pocket. He pulled his device from the pocket and tapped on the glass screen. The professor tilted his head after reading the message and looked at his three students.


    "Good news, guys! We''re being summoned for an extermination quest." He announced to them.


    Sanna looked pleased when she heard the professor''s announcement. On the platform, Ranger was still complaining about the unfairness of the fight''s rule while Yule sighed heavily, thinking about how he could move his body.


    "Don''t worry, Yule. We will do the briefing tomorrow morning. Six AM sharp."

 12 How to Save a Girl?

    After Professor Fields'' announcement on their upcoming mission, he also asked his students - Ranger and Sanna to escort Yule on the medical building. He wanted to make sure that Yule is well-rested for the day in preparation for tomorrow''s mission.


    They nodded at the professor and quickly approached Yule who was still lying on the ground. Ranger assisted Yule where he grunted heavily while rising from the ground. He could still feel the aftereffect of the battle making his body felt very heavy.


    "Your body is still adjusting after releasing massive amounts of magic during the battle. This usually happens to newbie slayers after using consecutive magic spells from their weapon for the first time. You''re depleting your magic reserves quickly but through training, this can be fixed." Professor Fields explained as they passed him while going to the exit door.


    The professor waved goodbye to them and off to the medical building.


    *****


    They walked their way to their destination. The medical building was located in the same direction to the student''s dorm where they passed dozens of students walking also. Some of them nodded and waved at Ranger.


    Noticing the popularity of his classmate, Yule nudged Ranger and teased him for being Mister Popular which made Sanna rolled her eyeballs.


    While they were having fun on teasing Ranger, they had arrived at the medical building.


    It was a large facility where two buildings were erected on parallel to each other. They were linked by a connecting bridge on the middle floor of the buildings.


    They entered the facility and asked for assistance in the reception area. The female receptionist nodded and turned her head to Yule. She asked him some personal details which were needed to file a record. The receptionist input all the details provided by Yule on the hologram screen in front of her.


    After a while, a male nurse approached them and told them that he will be escorting Yule to his room so they can start scanning him for any injuries.


    Ranger and Sanna waved at him and let the nurse led the way to his room.


    Upon arriving at the medical room, the nurse asked him to stand still while a medical drone will scan him. The nurse moved near to the wall and pressed a button. Then, a medical drone descended from the ceiling and started scanning Yule''s body.


    After a few minutes, the drone announced in a monotonous voice that there were no injuries on the body and recommended for immediate rest. The drone flew back again to the ceiling after fulfilling its task.


    The nurse assisted Yule to the bed and instructed him if he needed any further assistance, he can contact him by pressing the button located at the drawer beside the bed.


    Yule thanked the nurse and let his head fell on the pillow. That was when he started to feel the weariness again and allowed himself to succumb to sleep.


    *****


    When he woke up, Yule stretched his arms, and he could still feel some soreness around his body, but unlike earlier, his body felt rejuvenated. He pulled his mobile device from his pants to check the time.


    It was already 6:30 pm! He slept for more than three hours. No wonder his body felt rejuvenated. Then he noticed also, there was one unread message from Sanna. He clicked on the message, and Sanna was inviting him to meet at a restaurant. Ranger and Professor Fields will be joining as well, and this will serve as a welcoming party for Yule also. This made him smile.


    Excited for the dinner, he quickly pulled himself up and went downstairs to the reception area. After discharging himself with the receptionist, he headed outside the academy area and went to the nearest bus waiting shed. Sanna instructed him to take the bus since the restaurant was too far from the academy.


    The restaurant is located near the university and college district.


    He arrived at the shed and noticed there were a couple of students waiting also. After a few minutes, a flying vehicle that looked like a bus arrived and opened its sliding door. The students entered the bus and Yule trailed after them.


    Upon entering, the students flashed their mobile devices to the pole near the driver. He imitated them, and a green light blinked on the pole.


    Sanna told him in the text that their mobile devices serve like an ATM card where the academy deposits monthly allowance to all slayer students only. So he can use it as a payment for his bus ride.


    After finding a vacant seat, the bus-like vehicle flew in the air. Yule was pressing his head on the window, enjoying the aerial view. He was like a kid enjoying a ride in a theme park.


    He could see lights below which were all coming from the buildings and restaurants. Then, the bus turned left, and Yule spotted a large lake surrounded by various small establishments.


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    After a few minutes, he felt that their flight was starting to descend on the ground. The bus announced on the speaker that they will be arriving on the University district and asking for the passengers to prepare for the drop-off.


    Once the bus landed on the ground, the doors opened and people started exiting out. After stepping out of the bus, Yule was greeted by different buildings constructed in various art styles. There were still some buildings constructed in modern design, but he was also surprised that there were also some constructed in art deco style.


    After enjoying the view, Yule tapped on his mobile device and typed the name of the restaurant. The screen provided the direction to his destination and started following it.


    *****


    Despite the help of his mobile device, Yule was getting lost in the district. The whole is district is like a maze, crowded by buildings and alleys. Compare to the Capital Dome, this area had few hologram screens hovering in the air.


    Above them also, the majority of the vehicles were the bus-like rides that Yule just took, flying in the air in different directions.


    Feeling hopeless, Yule was about to text Sanna if she could pick him up, but when he passed a certain alley, he could hear shouting coming from that area.


    Yule was torn between if he should peek or not in that alley, but his curiosity got the best of him. He stealthily moved toward the dumpster and hide.


    When he tilted his head upward to see the commotion, he found a pony tail-haired girl wearing a blue school uniform and opposite of her were three girls wearing the same uniform as her.


    "Save it! Just because you have that feline creature, you can act haughtily around school!" The girl with braided-haired shouted.


    "I-I was-" the ponytailed girl was interrupted when a girl beside the braided girl wagged her finger before her. Telling her to stop talking.


    "Remember, we are the one talking, Candice." The braided girl continued.


    ''Candice?'' Yule asked to himself. He had this strong feeling that he knew this ponytailed girl.


    When the girl moved her head, Yule saw the face of the ponytailed girl, enough for him to recognize her.


    She was the girl in the summoning ceremony. She summoned the feline goddess, Bastet.


    "But Agatha," Candice referred to the braided girl. "I''ve never boast around my contracted mythical being!"


    "Oh yeah," Agatha challenged. "But you keep on telling everyone that you now have this chance to save this world. Are you telling me that you have this messiah complex?"


    "I-I never said that I will save the world! What I told my friends is that I can now help save it. Plus, I''m planning to do it...," she lowered her head and mumbled her words."...for my dead parents."


    Agatha mockingly imitated her words, then she moved forward and pushed Candice''s chest through her finger. "Whatever! Whether you''re slayer or not, you still irritate me." There was cold sharpness on her voice.


    Then, Agatha signaled her friends, and the two pulled something from their backs.


    Inching closer his head, Yule tried to peek what was the item they pulled from their backs. That was when he saw balloons filled up by water. They were planning to splash Candice with those balloons.


    "W-What do you think you''re doing, Nikka? Forte?" There was already a hint of alarm on the voice of Candice.


    Nikka and Forte just snickered at her and looked at Agatha, waiting for the signal.


    Candice started to step back from them when Agatha snapped her finger. With their faces filled with a sinister smile, Nikka and Forte raised their arms and was about on throwing motion when -


    "I don''t think that''s a good idea, girls."


    Yule stepped forward quickly, halting the movements of Nikka and Forte.


    Filled with irritation on her face, Agatha threw Yule a dagger look. "Who the hell are you?"


    Candice was looking quizzically at Yule also. She was surprised by his sudden appearance. But thankful at the same time on interrupting Nikka and Forte.


    Looking at the three mean girls, Yule laughed at them and started scratching his cheek. "You see, I''m Candice''s brother."


    All the girls looked surprised at him.


    "But Candice never have a brother before! We thought she''s an only child!" Nikka protested.


    "Plus, you don''t even have similarities. Look at your skin!" Forte added.


    Yule checked their skin, and they were right. Candice had brown skin while he had pale white skin. His white skin was from their Spanish ancestry on his maternal side.


    But Yule didn''t break his smile despite the attacks from those two girls. "Silly me, did I just say brother? What I mean to say is I''m his cousin." He moved closer to Candice and put his arm on her shoulder. "We''re so close that we almost treat ourselves like siblings."


    Taken aback by the sudden development, Candice froze on her position.


    "Whatever!" Agatha shouted. "I don''t care if you''re his brother, cousin, or boyfriend! Girls!" she snapped her fingers again. This time, Nikka and Forte eagerly raised their hands heavy with water-filled balloons.


    Candice quickly snapped her eyes shut, preparing her body for the incoming attack.


    "I guess, you''ve left me with no choice." Yule pressed his chest and shouted - "Weaponize!"


    A white light popped out from his chest and went straight to his right hand where it extended its length until it fully transformed to his violet spear.


    The sudden appearance of the spear froze the three girls. But Agatha recovered immediately from her stupor.


    "Hey! That''s illegal! You can''t summon your weapon when you''re in the civilian districts!"


    Yule just chuckled at her and stomped the hilt of his spear to the ground. This made them jumped from their feet.


    "Unfortunately for you, there''s no one around to report me. So I can do whatever I want to the three of you," Yule said threateningly. "So still wanna throw those balloons?"


    Agatha clicked her tongue and waved her hand to Nikka and Forte. The two nodded at her and throw the water-filled balloons to the ground, splattering the pavement.


    "This is not over, Candice!" Agatha threw a death glare to Yule and walked away from them. Nikka and Forte trailed after her.


    Once those three girls were out of eyesight, Yule heaved a huge a sigh of relief and the spear returned to his chest again.


    Candice back step away from him and showing concern on her eyes. "Why did you help me?"


    "It''s three against one. The next move is to help you."


    She lowered herself and sit on the dirty ground. "I can take care of myself. I''ve been taking care of myself since my parents died."


    Yule raised his hands in the air, looking like he was surrendering himself. "From your looks, I know you can. But those girls were playing dirty at you. Sometimes, it''s okay to accept help from other people."


    "Even from strangers?" she retorted.


    "Hehe. Yes, even from strangers. Don''t worry, I will not ask anything from you."


    Candice looked faraway, ignoring Yule.


    Taking that as his cue to leave, Yule waved at her, leaving her sitting alone in the dark alley.


    Unfortunately -


    Yule still needed help in getting to the restaurant for his welcoming party. He cleared his throat loudly just to get the attention of Candice.


    He was successful in getting her attention as she looked at him expectantly.


    "Y-You see... Hehehe. I''m still new in this area. So I would like to ask if you know the direction of this restaurant?" Yule showed his mobile device, displaying the image of the restaurant.


    "So much for not asking anything from me huh?" She pulled herself up and patted her checkered skirt. Candice grabbed the mobile device from Yule.


    "I''ll walk with you. This is the least I can do after saving me from those morons."


    Yule bowed his head to Candice and followed after her.


    *****


    They crossed two blocks until they arrived at the row of restaurants surrounding the lake that Yule saw earlier. They further passed some establishments when they reached a restaurant with a signboard of a cartoonish fish wearing an apron and holding a spoon and fork.


    "So we have arrived," Yule said to Candice.


    She just nodded at him without replying.


    "You know you could join us also if you want to?"


    "What? I''m your charity case now? I''ll pass. I still have training to do."


    "Training? But you''re still in middle school right? Slayers training is due until you''re enrolled to the Academy if I remember correctly from Sanna."


    "You don''t know when the aswang will attack the humans again. So I better be prepared."


    "Well, we''re 10, 000 meters above ground, so I don''t think they can infiltrate this island."


    "You don''t know that!" She shouted. "M-My parents were killed by Level 4 aswang who could fly! And I definitely will kill that aswang!"


    Shocked by Candice''s revelation, Yule was left speechless, and he couldn''t think of the right words to reply to her.


    Then, they were interrupted when someone pulled open the door of the restaurant. Sanna and Ranger came out from it.


    "Yule! We saw you outside the restaurant. What''s holding you up?" Ranger asked.


    Ranger and Sanna were surprised that Candice was also in the area.


    "Oh, are you going to join us also?" Sanna inquired to her.


    Candice shook her head and looked back again to Yule.


    "Thank you again! But next time, I don''t need your help." Then she quickly away from them.


    "Okay so what exactly happened?" Ranger grabbed the shoulder of Yule.


    "It''s a long story. I''ll tell you once we''re inside."


    "Good! And Professor Fields is already in there. We''re only waiting for you. We thought you get lost."


    "About that..."

 13 Extermination Mission

    After explaining the reason why he was late to his companions, Yule munched on the food served at their table. The restaurant prepared various cuisine for them.


    While everyone was still busy finishing their food, Professor Fields tapped his wineglass to get their attention.


    "This is to officially welcome, my nephew," the professor winked at Yule. "Yule Azul to my class, Class Everstorm!"


    Yule almost choked from his food when he heard the name of the class. "There''s a name for your class?"


    "Of course!" Professor Fields beckoned everyone to raise their glasses. Since the professor was the only allowed to drink the red wine, the three students raised their glasses filled with mango juice.


    "Cheers!" They all shouted.


    They spent the hour enjoying the food and company of each other.


    *****


    The next day, everyone reconvened back to the classroom in preparation for the early morning briefing of their mission.


    Sanna and Yule arrived early followed by Ranger and Professor Fields.


    "Glad that we''re already complete. I hope your body and soul is prepared for our mission today." The professor started. "As mentioned yesterday, we will have an extermination mission issued by the Slayers Council. Just to give you a brief background while waiting for our Intel Officer, hordes of aswang are starting to appear in various areas of the archipelago. We don''t know yet what was the reason for this sudden outburst of the hordes. But in the meantime, all students of Neo Archipelago Slayers Academy will be helping on extermination missions. So this will be a busy week for all of us."


    Everyone was looking grim after hearing the report from their professor. Even Ranger who always had this playful attitude got into serious mode.


    Then the door slid open and a familiar figure entered the classroom disrupting their serious atmosphere.


    "Ah, you''re here! Good morning!" Professor Fields greeted.


    The visitor tried to comb her messy blue hair before facing the three students.


    "Good morning, class! I think your professor briefed you already about the agenda for today." She looked expectantly at Professor Fields to confirm.


    The professor nodded in reply to her. "Class, as you are already familiar with our visitor, let me reintroduce her again. This is Avatara and starting from now on she will be assigned to our class as our resident Intel Officer for all sanctioned missions by the Council."


    Avatara pulled something from her white lab coat and raised it. The object was like a remote control with only two buttons embedded in the body. She pressed the button and six hologram screens started popping out of thin air.


    She grabbed one screen and expanded it, so everyone could see the content.


    "So for today, Class Everstorm is assigned for an extermination mission." Then the screen zoomed in to a map of a certain area. "The class will be sent to coordinate number 55127. This area is used to be the capital city of Region Six from before. According to yesterday''s report, a group of level 1 aswang started to appear in the area in which the council quickly dispatched two licensed slayers to exterminate the monsters. The two slayers were able to accomplish the task but," Avatara paused then she tapped something on the screen and multiple red dots appeared around the area.


    "This happened." She let the students guessed what was the multiple red dots signify.


    "Each red dots signifies a single level 1 aswang?" Sanna guessed.


    "We hoped that was the case, but each of the red dots signifies a group of level 1 aswang. So collectively, they are already technically a horde now."


    This made Sanna gasped. She could not imagine a massive number of level 1 aswang congregated in one area.


    "So what happened to the two slayers?" Yule asked.


    "They tried to lessen their numbers, unfortunately, one got injured while the other one had his magic depletion. Thankfully, both of them escaped from the horde and rescued by our team."


    Yule heaved a sigh of relief after hearing the good news but -


    Ranger suddenly rose from his seat, looking furious. "Don''t you think it''s a suicide mission for us, students? How could we exterminate those hordes if those two licensed slayers can''t?!"


    Avatara was about to answer him when Professor Fields raised his hand, telling her that he will answer him instead.


    "That was also my initial reaction after reading the full details. But in this mission, I, a licensed slayer also, will be there as a backup just in case this went south. To add, our numbers are already spread thin since this horde appearance. All slayers and students were already dispatched to various coordinates. Even though we don''t want the students to be involved in this dangerous mission, our hands are forced to do this."


    With frustration plastered on his face, Ranger just shook his head and returned to his seat.


    "We don''t have to finish the mission within the day. We can always return once we generated enough power to resume our attacks." Professor Fields added.


    Avatara pretended to cough and looked at the class. "So any further questions?" Then she looked at Ranger. "Violent reactions?"


    The three of them shook their heads. Yule, Sanna, and Ranger understood how dangerous the mission was.


    "Avatara will be staying here in the academy to provide intel support." Professor Fields approached his students and gave an earpiece device to each of them. "This will serve as our communication device, so start wearing it now."


    After their preparations, the team headed to the hangar area of the academy.


    *****


    The hangar area was located on the underground level of the classroom building. They rode an elevator where Professor Fields flashed a badge on the elevator''s scanner before giving them access to the hangar area.


    When the elevator arrived on the bottom level, the door slid open leading to a wide metal bridge extending forward.


    As they stepped on the bridge, they could hear the various hiss of aircraft below them.


    All of the aircraft were as big as trailer trucks. They also spotted some students and professors entering unmanned aircraft. Some looked excited while some looked grim for their upcoming mission.


    As they were walking to their designated aircraft, Yule tapped Sanna''s shoulder. She looked at him quizzically.


    "Have you been in here?" he asked.


    "Yeah! Every time we were dispatched for a mission, we always use the hangar to ride an aircraft going down to the Ground."


    Yule nodded at her and remained to roam his eyes around the hangar."So I take this extermination mission is not the usual mission you had received before?"


    "Actually most of our missions before were for extermination. But we only faced a single pack of level 1 aswang or lone level 2 aswang. This time we will be facing a horde of level 1. Remember what Professor Fields told you a pack of level 1 is very dangerous, but to face a horde, even I would agree on Ranger''s reaction. I''d rather take an escort mission everyday than this."


    This made Yule''s heart beat faster. If Sanna and Ranger, two of the fiercest warriors he encountered in this world, feared the horde, what can he contribute during the fight?


    Professor Fields and Avatara turned to another corner which led to a metal stair going downward. They descended and found their designated aircraft.


    Their aircraft had the same appearance as all the aircraft found in the hangar. The vehicle was painted blue all over while the wings had some printed numbers for identification.


    Professor Fields tapped something on the nose of the vehicle and a door slid open on the side.


    "Shall we?"


    The professor entered the aircraft and went to the pilot''s seat. The three students found their seats on the back and strapped themselves.


    Professor Fields pressed a button on his hologram screen and the door started to close, leaving Avatara alone in the docking bay.


    The professor began pressing some button on his screens, and the aircraft released steam outside. After releasing that, the aircraft started to hover above the ground.


    Once the vehicle was hovering, the ground split open which led to the airspace below.


    Avatara held on to the pipes when strong air currents entered the area.


    The aircraft began descending and flew straight toward their destination.


    *****


    After thirty minutes of flying in the air, the aircraft started to lower its altitude when they were near to the designated coordinates.


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    They could see from the windows that the area was another barren land. It was almost identical to the area where Yule first arrived in this world.


    Once the aircraft landed on the ground, they immediately unstrapped themselves and rose from their seats. They waited for their Professor to finish some adjustments on their vehicle and after that, he faced them.


    "So before you head out," the professor started.


    This catch the attention of Ranger. "What do you mean by ''you''? Aren''t you coming with us?"


    "Yes, I''ve mentioned that I will be your back up. But the Slayers Council issued an order to us, professors that we will remain behind inside the vehicle while the students will face the aswang."


    The three of them were about to protest when Professor Fields held his hand before them.


    "As per the council, this will serve as your examination and evaluation for the term also. I will only interfere if I think your lives are in peril."


    Yule, Sanna, and Ranger were all in disbelief after hearing his explanation.


    "Forgot to add also," the professor smiled at them.


    "Go on dump more bad news to us! I won''t be surprised anymore!" Ranger shouted.


    "You, Ranger, will be field commander for this mission," Professor Fields announced.


    "What?!" Sanna was shocked at the announcement.


    "I stand corrected. This is the baddest news of them all." Ranger said.


    After composing themselves, the students reluctantly exited the aircraft and met the harsh wind of the barren land.


    "You may summon now your weapons," The professor''s voice was coming from the earpiece they wore.


    The three of them nodded and shouted in unison - "Weaponize!"


    A violet spear appeared on Yule''s hand.


    A white bow appeared on Sanna''s.


    And two yellow bladed swords appeared on Ranger''s hand.


    "You still have to walk thirty miles before you reach the first wave of the horde."


    They all nodded and headed quickly to their targets.


    Once they were near to the target location, they could already hear the roar of the monsters from afar.


    Ranger signaled them to take cover. Sanna and Yule hid behind a huge rubble while Ranger was within their sight, hiding behind a leftover wall.


    "What''s your order, commander?" Yule asked.


    Ranger scanned the area and found hundreds of packs of the black wolf-like level 1 aswang just roaming vicinity and howling at each other.


    "Let''s go wild!" Ranger ordered.


    They could hear Professor Fields laughing in the earpiece while Sanna and Yule just chuckled at the order.


    "What kind of order is that?" Avatara complained at Ranger, joining the communication line.


    Ranger ignored the Engkanto and stepped out from his hiding place. A lone black wolf-like aswang noticed the figure of Ranger and started howling, telling his pack of the incoming intruder.


    And all red eyes greeted Ranger, baring their deadly fangs at him.


    Ignoring them, Ranger leaped off the ground and shouted, " Eight Blade Swords!"


    After issuing the magic spell, eight yellow bladed swords appeared behind him extending like wings.


    "Full Charge!"


    The eight swords scattered around and formed a straight line before him. And balls of light started emitting from the tip of the swords and launched eight electrical pillars to the ground.


    The pillars started zapping the monsters and obliterating them from their existence.


    There were some aswang who were able to dodge the attack, but the swords trailed them. The aswang whined in pain after being hit by the electrical pillars.


    Ranger quickly landed on the ground and sprint toward the aswang who was continuously dodging the pillars.


    Unaware that another attack was coming from Ranger, the aswang winced in pain when Ranger slashed its head off.


    "Yule! Sanna! Unleash your attacks now!" Ranger shouted.

 14 Beyond the Mission

    Sanna stepped out and quickly scanned the area to look for a higher ground where she can effectively use her energy arrows.


    She spotted a place that suits her requirement - an abandoned trailer truck, high enough to give her some space from the enemies.


    While Ranger rampaged and unleashing his attacks to the enemies, Sanna headed discreetly to the abandoned truck. She thanked Ranger for the distraction.


    The aswang were very much distracted, avoiding and saving their necks from Ranger.


    When Sanna was about a few meters away from the truck, two shadow figures spotted her approaching form.


    These two figures hurriedly ran to their new target, but another surge of electrical attacks from above were launched at them.


    The aswang stretched their bodies in mid-air and avoided the attack. Unfortunately for their companions behind them, they were hit by the attack and burnt to a crisp.


    Sanna noticed the incoming figures and paused midway.


    Thinking that the prey gave up on running, the aswang eagerly bared their fangs at the girl. Both of them excited to rip her into pieces.


    But then the girl smiled proudly at the two incoming aswang.


    "Materialize!"


    The bow transformed into a majestic white stag, covering the small form of his master.


    Paying no heed to the stag, the aswang charged ahead to their prey.


    Then the stag quickly lowered its head, pointing its long and sharp horns at the attackers. The creature flared his nostrils and galloped forward.


    The stag charged head on to the incoming aswang.


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    Three bodies clashed, but the two aswang whined in pain as their bodies were pierced deeply by the horns. Red blood started to flow from the wounds where it trickled down to the horns.


    Irritated by it, the stag shook his head from left to right and two lifeless bodies flew to the ground.


    The body of the stag glowed brightly and returned to its previous form as a bow in Sanna''s hand.


    After making sure that there were no longer immediate threats or incoming attacks, Sanna immediately headed to the truck and climbed it to take her position.


    *****


    When Sanna left Yule to look for higher ground, he tried to look for easy opponents.


    He wanted to try on small fry first since this was his first time dealing with wolf-like aswang.


    Yule scanned around the area, but every time his eyes landed, all he saw was mayhem and death.


    He could see from afar that Ranger was slashing his enemies with his swords. Ranger was like a whirlwind with his weapons.


    He was spinning around, hacking the heads of the aswang. There were some aswang who tried to attack him from behind, unfortunately, a surge of electrical attack from above hit them, covering Ranger.


    Around him, bodies started to pile up, but he was not bothered by the sight. He was deeply in the zone slaying them.


    After seeing Ranger in full battle mode, this inspired Yule a little.


    The team badly needed his help right now. Sanna and Ranger could not defeat the hordes with just the two of them.


    Mustering all his strength, Yule spotted a lone aswang and headed forward.


    The aswang noticed Yule and started growling at him.


    Carried by his momentum, Yule thrust forward his spear at the aswang. But the monster leaped in the air and stepped on Yule''s head.


    With a growl, the aswang landed behind him, avoiding his attack.


    Gritting his teeth, Yule twisted his body, planning to sweep the aswang from the ground, but the creature dodged the attack again by leaping in the air.


    Yule expected its next move and gripped his spear tightly.


    "First Form! Crescent Light!"


    A crescent-shaped light was unleashed from his spear and hit the body of the aswang in mid-air.


    The creature''s body split in half.


    Yule moved away quickly to avoid being drenched by the internal parts of the aswang.


    Looking at the torn body on the ground, Yule heaved a sigh of relief after defeating it. It may be a small win, but it gave him enough confidence for this battle.


    When he was about to move to another area, he heard another growl behind him.


    Yule changed to his attacking stance to face another aswang when -


    Another aswang popped its head from a nearby wreckage. Then another head rushed forward, from his right this time. And another one until he was completely surrounded by eight aswang.


    All of them were growling at him.


    "Oh boy," he muttered.


    The monsters started approaching him, but with a careful step. It was like they were assessing his next move after he defeated their fallen comrade.


    "Do you need back up?" Yule jolted after hearing Sanna''s voice from the earpiece. He forgot that he had this device attached to his right ear.


    Yule shook his head, but he realized that Sanna couldn''t see his reply. "No. I can handle this."


    There was a pause, then Sanna''s voice buzzed again.


    "Okay, but please be careful, Yule."


    Then the communication went off.


    He assessed his situation again and looked around him. There was no room for escape. The aswang made sure of that. The only next move was to slay them all.


    "Let''s go then," he said to no one in particular.


    Realizing that the boy was about to launch his attack, the aswang from behind launched at him.


    Reading this movement, Yule greeted the aswang with a thrust of his spear and successfully pierced its head.


    Two more aswang leaped from their feet. Yule quickly pulled his spear and swung it to his incoming attackers.


    A crescent light was released. Both were hit by a single attack.


    The remaining aswang simultaneously ran forward to Yule. They were planning to kill him via a pincer attack. Two opposing groups rushed at him.


    Inspired by Ranger''s attack earlier, Yule spun his body releasing two consecutive Crescent Light attacks.


    It was like a ring of blade, slashing the remaining aswang in one sweep.


    While panting heavily, Yule moved forward to the next area where more aswang greeted him.


    *****


    Sanna was firing her energy arrows consecutively ever since she stepped foot on top of the trailer truck.


    No matter how many times, she killed one aswang, two more popped out. This reminded her of a certain creature like hydra.


    She was waiting for Ranger''s go signal, so she could release her large area of effect spell.


    But to no avail, Ranger remained silent in their communication line. Though she could see him from afar cornered by packs of aswang.


    Fortunately for him, Ranger was supported by his yellow swords hovering above him, unleashing surge of electricity around him.


    Then her earpiece buzzed.


    "Sanna!" Ranger shouted. She could definitely hear that he was heavily panting.


    "What''s our next move? These aswang are just depleting our magic reserves. We need to do one clean sweep before they overrun us."


    "I agree. You have my blessing to use it."


    "Then you better find a cover."


    "Sorry, what does ''it'' mean?" Yule interrupted them in the line.


    "Just find cover, Yule!" Sanna ordered him.


    She turned off the earpiece and examined the whole area overrun by the aswang.


    Raising her bow in the air, the air started to shift.


    All of the monsters in the area noticed the abrupt change of the atmosphere. They were scanning the area, hunting the source of it.


    Then a large magic circle appeared on the sky covering a 1 km radius.


    Some of aswang who were near Sanna''s location headed toward her. They could feel that the source of the sudden shift in the air and the surprise appearance of a magic circle above was because of her.


    They ran forward to stop her.


    Noticing that the aswang were on her, she nocked her energy arrow and release it upward. The arrow released a huge wave of air, knocking the aswang within the area.


    "Dance of Starlights!" Sanna shouted.


    She already used this spell when she fought alongside with Yule against a Level 2 aswang. But that spell was released through minimal magic reserves. In this attack, Sanna poured all her reserves into this shot, hoping to decimate all the numbers of aswang.


    The energy arrow passed through the middle of the magic circle. The circle glowed in the air and started spinning.


    "Die! All of you!" She shouted.


    Thousands of energy arrows rained down from the magic circle. The area of the attack covered the 1 km radius hitting all the aswang within the area.


    All of the aswang tried to run away from the rain of attacks. Unfortunately, the circle poured down more arrows. Their bodies were hit multiple times by the energy arrows.


    The attack lasted for more than 20 seconds until the magic circle lose its light and vanished into thin air.


    "Wow! Sanna, that was cool!" Yule cheered in their line.


    "Good one, Sanna!" Ranger added.


    But -


    Something happened.

 15 On the Professor side

    Professor Fields was agitated inside the vehicle. He had this feeling that something ominous will happen.


    "...Matteo, are you still in there?" Avatara''s voice in the communication line disrupted his thoughts.


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    "S-Sorry, I''m here."


    "I was talking to you for one whole minute already. Then, I noticed that you''re not replying to my question." A hint of irritation could be heard in her voice.


    "I''m lost in my thoughts again. What was your question again? Or are you telling me something?"


    "Ugh, so I have to repeat my report again. I was telling you that so far the kids are doing well against the horde. Look!"


    The screen before him showed the live video feed of his students where Ranger was unleashing his electrical attacks toward the monsters.


    I pity those aswang, the professor thought. He always knew the full potential of Ranger, plus he won''t be considered third rank seat among the Saint-level students of the academy without his wit and power.


    Then the screen showed next how Sanna defeated his enemies by using the materialize form of her stag.


    He already knew the capabilities of his two students, but what interested him the most was the battle skills of his newest student, Yule Azul.


    How would he fare against a group of aswang, he thought.


    When the screen showed the battle of Yule, the professor was impressed by the way he handled the situation. He could see potential from him. Though he was still unrefined on his attacks which could be fixed through time.


    Then he heard that they were planning to use the area spell of Sanna. He nodded at their tactics. They waited for the right time to use the spell since this would definitely deplete the magic reserve of Sanna.


    After seeing that horde were all killed by the rain of energy arrows, something popped out on the screen.


    Red rectangular boxes appeared with Warning! text on display.


    "What''s happening Avatara?" He quickly rose from his feet.


    "Wait, give me a moment."


    While waiting for the report from Avatara, the ground started to tremble. He could even feel it inside the aircraft.


    He immediately looked through the glass window. And the sight made him turned grim.


    There were at least three level 2 aswang approaching his aircraft. Both of them had an identical height of about 10 feet.


    "Avatara, I will head out. I''ll just exterminate some pesky aswang outside."


    "M-Matteo! Matteo! This is bad!" Professor Fields could hear the urgency in her voice."The kids! You need to get them!"


    "W-Why? What happened?"


    "I just scanned two Level 3 aswang approaching the kids!"


    The professor almost fell on his knees after hearing her report.


    ''A single Level 3 aswang is too much for a student already, but two level 3, that''s insane'', he thought.


    "Then I better head there fast!"

 16 The Help Part 1

    As soon as the lights of the magic circle extinguished in the sky, the white bow transformed back into a ball of light again and returned to Sanna''s chest.


    When the ball of light entered her body, she instantly felt all the exhaustion from the last magic spell she had performed.


    All of her magic reserves were depleted. It may take a while before she can perform another series of attacks.


    Sanna fell to her knees and stayed in a sitting position, feeling the cold of the truck''s metals beneath her. She scanned the whole area and a sense of satisfaction filled her. The aswang were all dead on the ground, pierced by her energy arrows. The last time she released this large scale of magical attack was two years ago.


    She was not yet enrolled in Neo Archipelago Slayers Academy. She was on her way to the agricultural floating island to visit her ancestral house, when their aircraft was attacked by level 1 and level 2 aswang.


    The aircraft was a passenger type vehicle. Most of the passengers were mundane or regular humans. Luckily, there was one licensed slayer on board.


    The level 2 aswang was throwing large rubbles toward their aircraft, and unfortunately, one of the aircraft''s wings was hit. The vehicle started to descend to the ground, but thanks to the superb skill of the pilot, the aircraft landed safely below while the passengers remained unscathed. But their dilemma was just starting.


    The vehicled crashed in the middle of a withering forest and found themselves surrounded by group of wolf-like aswang.


    Screams of horror erupted and started to spread inside the aircraft.


    Sanna was starting to get infected by the wave of panic when the licensed slayer stood and ordered the people to remain calm.


    The slayer asked the pilot to open the door as he will exterminate the aswang. When the door hit opened, the slayer quickly released his weapon - a bo staff. He ordered the pilot to immediately closed the door as soon as he stepped foot outside.


    Sanna watched the slayer through the vehicle''s glass windows when he launched himself out. She saw him twirled his body and volley of ball-shaped lights were released from his spinning form.


    The lights hit the surrounding aswang and gaping holes were left on their bodies.


    The passengers cheered inside, witnessing the whole battle. Sanna also felt a sense of relief while clutching her chest tightly.


    Somebody from the crowd asked the pilot, who was still gaping in awe, to call for a rescue team immediately. The pilot quickly recovered and nodded his head. He started tapping on the hologram screen to contact the Command Center when he noticed from his peripheral that the slayer started to run away from them.


    The people turned their eyes outside also. Some started to scratch their heads, puzzled why was the slayer running away from.


    Then a looming shadow from afar appeared.


    As soon as he defeated the wolf-like aswang, the slayer felt a faint tremble on the ground. He immediately ran to the source and spotted from afar the looming shadow of the level 2 aswang.


    The one who threw the rubble to their aircraft.


    Standing at eleven feet, the level 2 aswang flared its nostrils and howled deafeningly.


    After releasing its howl, the slayer could hear a bunch of noises around the area. Then another group of wolf-like aswang came from different areas, paying heed to the howl of the level 2 aswang.


    Noticing the incoming threat, the slayer grimaced at the situation they were in. He was very outnumbered, and he didn''t know if he could defeat them all.


    The slayer started tapping on his mobile device, contacting the fallen vehicle. As soon as he was connected, he quickly asked the pilot if he already contacted the command center for pick up. The pilot assured the slayer that the rescue team was already on their way, but it will take some time before they arrive, and the center asked them to hold off the aswang until they come.


    That was when Sanna mustered all her courage and interrupted the conversation of the pilot and the licensed slayer.


    "I-I could help," she said tentatively. "I also have a contracted mythical being! And I think I could help you."


    The slayer paused then asked her if she was already enrolled in the Slayers Academy which Sanna replied that she still has two years left in middle school before she enters the academy.


    Some of the elders among the passengers protested against the idea of a young girl leaving the safety of the aircraft. Sanna was about to reply when the slayer''s voice interrupted the tense air.


    He admitted that he was reluctant to get help from a middle schoolgirl, but he needs all the help in this kind of situation. This made Sanna smiled triumphantly.


    The slayer asked the pilot to open the door for Sanna which the pilot obeyed.


    When she stepped outside, she immediately summoned the weaponized form of her contracted mythical being.


    Sanna approached the slayer and examined the area. He was right, Sanna thought. He couldn''t do this alone.


    The slayer glanced on her way and asked her if she''s ready which Sanna nodded in reply.


    "I have a plan," she stared. "I''ve been training with this large area of effect spell. It''s not yet perfect. I might blackout after releasing it, but this will give you time to defeat the level 2."


    The slayer was surprised by her bold words. But he was also impressed that she was already training her slayer skills despite being a middle school student.


    He nodded at her plan and clapped her shoulder, trusting her.


    The slayer lowered his body and formed his attacking stance at the incoming wave of aswang.


    Taking a deep breath, Sanna closed her eyes and pointed her bow at the sky.


    While the aswang were charging hurriedly at the two humans, a magic circle filled with white lights appeared on the sky. The aswang halted their movements, noticing the white lights above.


    "Dance of Starlights!" Sanna shouted while looking at the monsters.


    And volley of energy arrows poured out from the magic circle, aiming straight down to the aswang.


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    The arrows successfully hit the group of wolf-like aswang, piercing them to the ground.


    But -


    The level 2 aswang just simply brushed off the energy arrows. But the giant monster was distracted.


    The slayer noticed its distraction and launched himself to the level 2 aswang.


    Sanna was starting to feel light-headed, but before she closed her eyes, she saw the slayer launched from his bo staff a huge wave of white explosion on the aswang''s chest.


    Then everything went black.


    The next thing she knew, she was already in the hospital bay of the agricultural island. They were all rescued while the slayer successfully slew the level 2 aswang.


    A nurse came and told her that someone wanted to give her a note.


    Sanna opened the white paper and read the note inside - You did great back there! Without you presenting yourself bravely, we''d be dead by now. Thank you! P.S. Continue to polish your skills - X.


    Remembering that event, she wondered if that slayer would be impressed that she no longer blackout after releasing that same spell.


    Sanna tried to scan the area, looking for her comrades - Ranger and Yule.


    But she couldn''t find them.


    Where did they go? she asked herself.


    *****


    When Sanna instructed them to cover themselves from her spell, Yule was looking around the area, checking for durable cover against her attacks. Then, the magic circle appeared in the sky.


    He needs to find cover fast, he thought.


    He started running around when somebody grabbed his shoulders. Yule was about to launch his spear above when he noticed that Ranger was the one who grabbed his shoulders.


    Ranger was flying with his eight yellow blade swords hovering behind him like wings.


    "This is faster," Ranger pointed out to Yule.


    They flew in the air until Ranger found a suitable place to take cover from Sanna''s attacks.


    Ranger crashed to a window of high floor building and landed safely inside. They were inside of a ruined office or used to be a corporate office.


    After brushing the dust and glass shards from their body, they moved closer to the window they had just crushed and witnessed the area spell of Sanna.


    *****


    Yule was impressed by the attack of Sanna. She decimated all the aswang within the vicinity. He was glad that he was with two capable people in this extermination mission.


    Then he heard Ranger gasped and mumbled something incomprehensible.


    Ranger his arms and pointed something from afar.


    That was when Yule spotted giant shadows approaching.


    Then Avatar''s voice buzzed in their communication line.


    "Ranger, Yule, Sanna! You have to get out of the area, now! There are at least two level 3 aswang approaching your area!"


    "Don''t worry, we see it too," Ranger replied.

 17 The Help Part 2

    Two giant shadows loomed over the area where they were earlier.


    Despite they were on the higher floor of a building, Ranger and Yule could feel the tremors from the ground due to the giant footsteps of these two massive creatures.


    "You have to get out of there," Avatara ordered them from the communication line.


    "We know," Ranger answered. "But we have to retrieve Sanna first. She''s still back there. And I''m pretty sure, she''s exhausted after releasing that large scale magic."


    "Sanna can take care of herself. You, two should -"


    "We will never leave her behind!" Yule interrupted Avatara''s rising tone.


    Avatara paused for a second, assessing what should be her next response to them, then replied to them again.


    "Okay. I''ll request some back up from other teams within the area. I''ll ask Matteo to rush his current task so he can retrieve the three of you."


    "The professor is busy?" Ranger inquired.


    "Oh, forgot to mention that he''s pretty occupied with three level 2 aswang. Currently, he''s slashing his way through, but these monsters are persistent."


    Yule almost gasped when he heard that Professor Fields was dealing with three giant aswang, but Ranger assured him that the professor can handle himself.


    Shrugging his worries and trusting Ranger''s words, Yule looked determine again in saving Sanna.


    "Here''s the plan, Yule," Ranger started and smiled at him albeit their grim situation. "I''ll carry you to where Sanna is while I''ll distract those two aswang."


    "So that''s the plan?"


    Ranger nodded in reply to his question.


    "But how are you going to escape them?"


    "Yule, are you forgetting something? I can fly!" Ranger pointed to his yellow blade swords behind him.


    "Are you sure, you could get out from there?"


    "Yes, trust me."


    Then Avatara''s voice chimed in again. "Good news, guys! There''s a team nearby. They already sent their confirmation to send some of their students to provide some backup. You can proceed now to Sanna''s extraction."


    Yule and Ranger voiced their confirmation to Avatara. Then Ranger quickly grabbed Yule''s shoulders and started flying toward their destination.


    *****


    They tried contacting Sanna through their communication line but to no avail, she was not replying to their messages. Ranger thought that she fainted after depleting her magic reserves.


    Yule remembered that the last time he laid his eyes on Sanna was she stood on top of an abandoned trailer truck. He relayed this information to Ranger, so they started scanning below for a trailer truck.


    Strong current of winds blew through them while they were gliding above. And as they got closer, Yule could finally see the true horror of level 3 aswang appearance.


    As mentioned by Professor Fields, they were like a golem type creatures wherein their body is made of different kind of large stones.


    The stone body was covered by dark green moss and looking above, the head or what should it be was devoid of facial qualities. It was a plain blank.


    Both monsters were standing at least 18 feet, stomping their giant stone feet on the ground.


    But there were little shadows behind them, rushing along these two giant monsters.


    Yule paled at the incoming wave of level 1 aswang, and above him, he could hear Ranger''s clicking his tongue. He was shaking his head at the sight before them.


    "Ranger, get me down. I could use my Lunar Monument spell to eradicate all the level 1 aswang." Yule offered to his companion.


    "And make you deplete your magic reserve? No! I need you right now to get Sanna out of here. Plus I need that spell later on. We need to save it since you could only use it once at your level."


    Yule nodded at him and hating himself for being weak in this situation.


    "I''ll be dropping you now. You have to find Sanna while I''ll distract our guests." Ranger winked at him and started to descend his flight.


    Yule found himself on the ground again and bid farewell temporarily to the flying form of his friend. He quickly searched the area while holding to his violet spear just in case another aswang slipped past from Ranger.


    While roaming around the area, he could hear some explosions from afar where Ranger was. The two gigantic level 3 aswang were trying to swat the flying form of Ranger. Unfortunately for them, Ranger was fast and launching various electrical attacks at them.


    Ranger also had the full attention of the packs of wolf-like aswang where some tried to leap from a tall building just to grab him. But his yellow bladed swords behind him intercepted the leaping creatures by blasting electrical attacks.


    Unknown to them, Yule was silently searching for Sanna. He was already taking too much time looking for her. And Yule knew that Ranger couldn''t last long.


    Until he spotted a crumpled form under a ruined yellow bus. Window glasses were already shattered by an unknown force and the whole length of its body was covered by rust and dirt. The tires were already depleted of air.


    He hurriedly headed to the bus to better check if it was Sanna. Crouching his body, he heaved a sigh of relief. It was Sanna. She must have dragged her body under the bus to hide herself from other threats.


    "Ranger," Yule started. "I''ve found Sanna. You can leave -"


    Yule didn''t finish his sentence when he saw the approaching forms of wolf-like aswang.


    They were all baring their fangs at him. Yule put his spear before him to prepare himself on attacking them.


    Then a single monster leaped itself from the ground and headed to Yule.


    He gripped his spear tightly. When it was already inches from him, Yule timely pierced the head of the aswang.


    The monster whined in pain and Yule pulled out the spear quickly and faced the remaining aswang.


    But he was caught surprised when he saw the pack simultaneously preparing to charge at him. He was about to launch his spell when -


    Tiny blue flames started appearing to each wolf-like monsters before them. These made them halted their steps.


    Yule was also taken aback by the sudden appearance of these tiny blue flames when he heard a male voice.


    "Never thought of you as the princess type," said the mysterious voice from behind.


    Yule and the monsters turned their gaze at the source of the mysterious voice.


    When Yule turned his body, he found a black-haired boy wearing the same white academy uniform as him. On his right hand, he was holding a long golden metal pole topped with a metal finial with two sections, each with three rings - a shakujo.


    Yule recognized this weapon since he always watched anime. In the anime, onmyouji has this kind of weapon for exorcising demons.


    "Haruto?" Yule said in disbelief.


    Haruto nodded at him and stomped the ground with his shakujo. The golden metal pole chimed from the rings attached to it. And this action made the aswang angrier.


    "You owe me after this. But we can talk later after I terminated these pesky monsters." Haruto scanned the whole area to get a better look at the aswang cornering them, then he shouted -


    "Kitsune! First Tail! Aoi Hono!"


    The blue flames started to get bigger and enveloped the whole body of the aswang. The monsters writhed in their bodies until they were fully consumed by the flames, leaving burnt bodies.


    Yule was gaping in awe and smiled at Haruto.


    "So your contracted mythical being is a kitsune?"


    "Yeah, the nine-tailed fox. Why? Got a problem?"


    Shaking his head, Yule grabbed the shoulders of his roommate which made Haruto a bit uncomfortable.


    "I''m a big fan of kitsune! I used to watch this show where the main character can transform into this giant nine-tailed fox!"


    Haruto irritably removed the hands of Yule and brushed him off. He moved closer to Sanna and checked her pulse.


    "Enough with your stupidy, we have pressing matters at hand. You need to carry Sanna now and evacuate this place." He ordered to Yule.


    "But how about Ranger?"


    Haruto pointed his finger to where Range was. "Oh, we got him covered."


    Yule turned his head to where was Haruto pointing, and he was not expecting it.


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    Giant magic circles with snowflakes symbols appeared beside the two level 3 aswang. Those magic circles released a cool blast of arctic wind from within.


    At first, nothing happened after the released of the cold wind, then the aswang tried to lift their giant stone arms, they couldn''t move it.


    Frost started to spread around their shoulders, freezing the arms.


    "Lee Jin-Yoo is supporting Ranger."

 18 The Help Part 3

    Heaving with heavy breath, Ranger continuously launched electrical beams at the monsters before him. He was soaring around the area, dodging the wide arms of the golem-like aswang.


    He could already feel that his magic reserves were starting to deplete. He had been releasing magical attacks nonstop since he dropped Yule earlier.


    It did not help also that there was a swarm of wolf-like aswang beneath him. The wolf-like monsters were all growling and snarling at him, looking for other ways how to pounce him from below.


    Looking at the situation, the odds were definitely against him. But he had to endure it until Yule rescues Sanna.


    Speaking of Yule, when Ranger was soaring higher to avoid the collision of the arms of the two golem-like aswang, he spotted his classmate from afar still searching for their missing friend and classmate.


    Then Ranger noticed that there were tiny shadows nearing Yule - most likely strays level 1 aswang, and they were inching closer to him. Ranger was about to alert his friend when a massive hand made of stone grabbed his right leg.


    Ranger''s body was pulled and throwdown to the aswang infested ground.


    Landing heavily on the ground, Ranger felt the full brunt of the throw. He almost fainted from the hit, but thanks to the superb body of a slayer he could still feel his body.


    He could feel some pain also from other parts of him, but tolerable.


    Two giant shadows loomed over him and on his sides hungry wolf-like aswang with saliva dripping from their mouth cornered him.


    ''As much as I want to help Yule, I have to help myself first,'' Ranger thought dreadfully.


    His swords started to glow brightly which made the wolf-like aswang pull back from their positions. The swords glowed more brightly almost blinding the aswang from the intense light emitting from Ranger''s weapons.


    "Die now, monsters!" Ranger shouted at his enemies.


    A ball of light enveloped the whole form of Ranger. The light that covered the body of Ranger was actually made of electrical energies wherein a hum could be heard around him.


    Then the ball of light exploded, releasing thousands of electrical energies around the area. The electrical attack hit the surrounding aswang, zapping them.


    The horde of aswang just yelped in pain before turning to charred bodies.


    After the eradication of the wolf-like aswang around him, the swords remained glowing, but this time in a normal state.


    Ranger was gasping after releasing that kind of magic attack then he looked above him. The two golem-like aswang remained unscathed after that explosion of power.


    He was expecting it. That kind of magic attack was just a scratch for them. At his current level, he couldn''t defeat them - yet.


    He just needs to distract them.


    Gritting his teeth, he tried to stand up from his position, and then his eight swords behind him started to extend like bird-like wings preparing to fly.


    He lunged his body and started to soar back in the air again.


    The two golem-like aswang stomped their feet, making the ground shake from their heavy bodies.


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    They were preparing for another surge of attack from their tiny prey.


    Then -


    BANG! BANG!


    Two gunshots were heard behind him. Ranger found the traces of the bullets since they were releasing trails of white smoke. The bullets were aiming straight at the giant monsters.


    The two golem-like aswang simultaneously swung their heavy arms to deflect or swat the bullets. But the bullets never reached them.


    Inches before them, the bullets exploded in mid-air.


    The giant aswang halted their movements, surprised at the sudden explosion.


    Nothing happened after the bullets exploded which made the golem-like aswang resumed their attention to Ranger.


    Ranger noticed it too. His swords started to glow brightly, charging its power to release another electrical attack, when he heard another disturbance below him. He could hear someone was yelling his name.


    "Ranger! Oy! Hey!"


    He spotted a human running towards him. The human was also wearing the same white Academy uniform until he recognized the face when the human was approaching near him.


    It was Jin-Yoo.


    She was gasping for air after running several meters away just to get in time to this coordinate.


    Jin-Yoo was crouching her body, holding her knees just to catch up her breath.


    Descending his body down, Ranger approached his schoolmate on the ground.


    But the giant monsters didn''t give them enough time to catch up. They stomped their heavy feet again, making the ground tremble again.


    Jin-Yoo almost fell on her ground after that shake, then Ranger suddenly grabbed her hand, leading her away from the watchful gaze of the aswang, despite having no visible eye attributes.


    *****


    Ranger found an abandoned RV parked beside the wrecked high way. They hid behind it and leaned their backs on the coldness of the van.


    Both were catching their breath, still feeling a slight tremor on the ground due to the stomping of the giant monsters. Both monsters were searching for their lost prey.


    Seating on the cold ground, Jin-Yoo looked at Ranger. She found him dirty. He was covered by dirt and dust already which was understandable since he''d faced a horde of monsters plus two giant aswang.


    She quickly pulled something from her academy coat. It was a compact mirror which made Ranger rolled his eyes. In reply to him, Jin-Yoo stuck her tongue out at him.


    Jin-Yoo looked at herself in the mirror and was impressed that she still looked fresh despite everything. She tried to hand comb her blonde-dye hair. The length of her hair reached her waist with some pink highlights at the tips.


    She also fixed her bangs which covered her forehead and eyebrows.


    Ranger was looking at her in disbelief. And Jin-Yoo looked at him expectantly.


    "What?" she asked in an irritated tone.


    "You know we''re in mortal danger, right? And your main concern is how you look before dying?"


    "Who said we''re going to die? I was sent here to assist your team. By the way, I haven''t heard a single ''thank you'' from you." She said nonchalantly.


    Ranger was at a loss for words after making that kind of announcement. But he regained his composure quickly.


    ''There''s another time for this. But right now, he has to find ways to trap those giant monsters,'' he thought.


    "You''ve mentioned that you were sent her to support me. But all I saw was failed gun shooting," pointing at the scene earlier where the bullets exploded in mid-air inches away from the aswang.


    "Excuse me! I''m not even done with my spell yet!" She suddenly rose from her sitting position and exposed herself to the aswang.


    "H-Hey!" Ranger tried to grab her, but she was too fast for him.


    The two giant aswang noticed the girl in a white uniform and turned their gazes toward her.


    Jin-Yoo just snorted at them and raised her arms in the air.


    "Kumiho!"


    Her chest started glowing and a ball of light flew out from her. It soared around her until it descended to the ground. The light extended its length and shape until the light started to dim revealing a white fox with nine tails behind it.


    The nine-tail fox turned its red eyes on her master and looked at her expectantly.


    "Weaponize!" Jin-Yoo ordered the fox.


    The fox nodded at her and transformed again into a ball of light. The ball split into two in mid-air and flew straight to her waiting hands.


    Glowing brightly, the two balls of light transfigured into twin white handguns on Jin-Yoo''s hands. She gripped the handguns and pointed at the giant monsters before her.


    "Release!"


    For a moment, nothing happened around them, even Ranger was looking around him expecting something grand or explosions will happen, then -


    Two giant magic circles appeared beside the two golem-like aswang. The magic circles had snowflakes symbols around it where the symbols started glowing in cerulean light.


    After glowing, the magic circles released from within a cool arctic winds straight to the giant monsters.


    Even from afar, Ranger could feel the cold current of wind, making him shiver despite the hot temperature in the area.


    Then Ranger started to hear a crackling sound. He looked at the source and found a massive amount of ice begun spreading around the arms of the aswang.


    "See!" Jin-Yoo interrupted Ranger''s thoughts and looked haughtily at him. "That was the purpose of the bullet explosions earlier to set a trap beforehand."


    He raised his arms as if surrendering to her in reply to her statement.


    Two huge bulk of ice stood from where the two aswang were earlier. The ice trapped the giant monsters inside.


    Then Ranger''s earpiece begun crackling.


    "Ranger! We''ve found Sanna! What''s our next move?" Yule said in a hurried tone.


    "We?"


    "Oh, yeah. Haruto came and help me. By the way, I saw giant magic circles near your area. Is Haruto''s classmate with you?"


    Then Ranger heard from the background another set of voice - Haruto probably, telling Yule the name of his classmate.


    "Yeah, Jin-Yoo is with me. We better move now while the aswang are still enclosed by those giant icebergs. I''ll be sending the coordinates in your mobile device for the rendezvous point."


    Yule said his confirmation to him and ended the call. Ranger turned his gaze at his companion where she was looking at him, waiting also for his orders.


    "Let''s move now!"


    Jin-Yoo nodded at his order and begun running.


    They haven''t run very far from their previous location when both of them heard a cracking sound. A similar sound where hundreds of people break a glass at the same time.


    It was all coming from the two huge bulk of ice and cracks started to spread around the ice until it shattered to millions of pieces, making it as if there was hailstorm in the area.


    And the two giant aswang were released from their ice cage.

 19 Retaliation

    Once the monsters were released from their ice cage, the golem-like aswang began thumping their stone chest like a giant gorilla expressing their dominance to the whole area. Despite having no mouth to shout their growl in frustration, the thumping they''d made on their chest was very loud as if there was someone bulldozing a certain building.


    Yule, who was carrying Sanna on his back, and Haruto witnessed the entire scene and stopped their track. They were running in such a hurry when they saw that the monsters were enclosed in a giant ice cage, but their hearts almost skipped a beat when the monsters were released from their frozen imprisonment.


    After thumping their stone chests, the golem-like aswang turned their heads to where was Ranger and Jin-Yoo located.


    Then the monsters started smashing their giant stone arms on the ground. The impact made a huge tremor on the ground, creating a huge crater where they smashed their hands.


    Yule and Haruto almost lose their footing due to the earthquake made by the aswang. Haruto helped Yule to steady him since he was carrying Sanna on his back.


    They haven''t regained their footing yet, when the golem-like aswang began smashing the ground again, and this time, Haruto fell on his buttocks while Yule tried protecting Sanna where he twisted his body and fell on the ground, face-first. Sanna was safe behind him.


    Trying to lift his body from the ground, Yule safely placed the sleeping form of Sanna beside him on the ground. Then he turned on the communication line to contact Ranger.


    "Ranger! We have to do something. At this rate, we can''t escape these aswang with them creating earthquakes on the ground. Plus, I''m carrying Sanna."


    "I understand. But I''m running out of ideas and magic reserves."


    Yule sighed in reply and turned his gaze on the aswang. They halted their arms smashing and started moving their giant stone feet to the direction of Ranger.


    Then Yule thought of some sort of plan, but it relied heavily on Ranger''s powers.


    "Hey, Ranger!"


    "Yes?"


    "I think of something. But how much power do you have left?"


    Ranger paused for a second, curious to where this question was going.


    "I think I have enough for one last electric outburst. Why?"


    Before replying to Ranger, Yule breathed in and launched his plan to him. Haruto heard Yule''s plan. It may sound outrageous, but he thought it might work if Ranger showed his true might as one of the Saint-class levels in the academy.


    *****


    Yule began running towards the two golem-like aswang. He left Sanna on Haruto''s care. The two stayed in their position since Haruto had also a part in his plan.


    ''Please God makes this work'', Yule prayed internally.


    While the aswang marched, they spotted a small dot running towards them below. One of the golem-like aswang swang his stone arm and smashed it to the ground, creating another shake.


    The small figure stumbled on his feet, but he didn''t try to stand up.


    After stumbling from the shake of the ground, Yule breathed in again and summoned his weapon.


    "Sibat!"


    A small light burst out from his chest and transformed into a violet spear on his hand. Both he and Ranger were on the edge of their magic reserves. And they had to make it count for every attack they will do.


    Yule gripped his spear and raised it on the air. He started pouring all his remaining magic reserves to his weapon, and a gust of wind started swirling around him - a manifestation of immense magic gathering in one place.


    The violet spear glowed after gathering enough magic from its master, and Yule felt a heaviness on his weapon. Then he locked his gaze on the two giant golem-like aswang before him.


    The monsters stopped their marching, after feeling the magic gathering from the small figure below them.


    Gripping his spear with both of his hands, Yule swang his spear and sent it to the ground. The moment it pierced the ground, a huge wave of air was released from the impact.


    "Second Form! Lunar Moment!"


    A sound of rumbling from the ground began to spread around him and heading to the direction of the two giant aswang.


    The golem-like aswang looked around their area, sensing something beneath their stone feet.


    Before Yule, a duplicate violet spear emerged from the ground, and another one poked out, and another one until numerous spears rose from the ground in a succeeding manner.


    At first, the spears started appearing in one vertical direction but later on, the spears spread around the area, making it look like a valley of thorns.


    The spears continued spreading until cornering the two giant aswang. But the monsters were not bothered by the appearance of the thousand spears around them. They began lifting their feet just to smash to pieces the annoying weapons when Yule twisted his original spear on his grip.


    All of the spears around the area started to elongate vertically, reaching the height of the two giant monsters. Then another rumbling sound could be heard from below them and spears poked out from the ground.


    The two giant aswang could feel the weapons below like needles prickling their feet, then something unexpected happened.


    The spears below them started to extend vertically, piercing their feet from below. There were some spears extending also and piercing some parts of their bodies.


    The two giant aswang were now pinned down to an awkward position. They could not feel the pain, but they can''t move their bodies.


    One thing that Yule learned before heading to this extermination mission, his spear could pierce anything. It was explained to him by Professor Fields after Avatara released a detail information on the spear''s properties.


    "Now, Jin-Yoo!" Yule shouted in his earpiece.


    From afar, Jin-Yoo was waiting for the signal from Ranger''s classmate - Yule. She was standing in an elevated area - a large stone lying on the ground. She was also impressed when the violet spears appeared from the ground.


    When she heard the shout from Yule, Jin-Yoo raised her hands in the air, gripping her twin handguns.


    Then two magic circles appeared before the mouth of her handguns and without missing a beat, she fired two bullets straight to the direction of the giant monsters.


    But just like her earlier shot, the two bullets didn''t reach the aswang and exploded inches before them.


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    "Release!"


    A white magic circle bloomed on the ground from where the two golem-like aswang were standing. And a cold arctic air was released from the magic circle where frost started appearing around the bodies of the aswang, until the bottom part of their bodies were enveloped again by a huge bulk of ice.


    Jin-Yoo turned on her earpiece and directed her gaze to the floating form of Ranger above her.


    "Now, it''s your turn, birdie!"


    Ranger almost chocked from the nickname that Jin-Yoo gave to him. But he returned his focus on the task at hand. Behind him, his eight yellow-bladed swords began glowing brightly.


    Just like Yule, Ranger started pouring his remaining magic reserves on the two swords he was holding.


    ''This is an outrageous idea from Yule. But we never know if I don''t try, do we?'' he thought. He just hoped that Professor Fields was on his way to them if this plan fails.


    The two swords he was holding started glowing also then all his swords glowed brightly, bathing the whole area with blinding lights.


    All of his swords started to fade into thousands of glowing balls of light and being absorbed by Ranger''s body. When he fully consumed his swords, his body began glowing also turning it into a giant single ball of light.


    Then the ball of light covering the body of Ranger started cracking on the surface until it exploded into thousands of small lights, revealing what was inside - a giant yellow bird made of electricity. The body of Ranger transformed into this energy form.


    From where Yule was kneeling, he saw Ranger''s transformation, he was amazed by it. Then his earpiece buzzed in.


    "Amazed aren''t you?" Haruto asked.


    "Of course, I am!" he replied strongly.


    "Me too. This one of the reasons why he''s classified as one of the Saint-class levels in the academy. One of his powerful skills is the integration of him and the Thunderbird into a single being. In this form, he is invulnerable and could slice anything."


    As Haruto was speaking, the energy form of Ranger began flapping its wings and soared in the air. Then Ranger spotted his target - the two giant aswang writhing from their frozen position. Ranger''s energy form started headed in their direction.


    "But," Haruto said, interrupting Yule''s thoughts. "He could only maintain this form for a certain amount of time. I''m guessin'' at best he can maintain this for 10 seconds only in his current skills."


    With such amazing speed, Ranger flew straight to the two giant aswang passing through them and slicing them in half.

 20 Done for the Day

    The moment Ranger attack head on the two giant golem-like aswang, Yule was gripping tightly on his spear. Not because he needed to exert more magical reserves, but he was hoping that this plan would work.


    When he asked Ranger about the status of his remaining reserves, he also asked him what kind of attack he could pull off with those reserves. He just replied to him vaguely that he could activate his ace skill but it has a time restriction, so he needed those monsters to be still as stone for a few moments which gave Yule the idea of using the magic attacks from his and Jin-Yoo''s.


    Yule relayed to all three the order of attack he''d planned for the total annihilation of those giant aswang, and it relied heavily on Ranger.


    If this plan didn''t work, they need to pray thoroughly to their gods to give them enough juice to run as fast as they need to away from their hunters.


    With luck on their side, they don''t need to that anymore.


    Ranger successfully sliced the two giant aswang into half which made Yule''s mouth hanging open, amazed by the exceptional skill that his classmate pulled off.


    The remaining parts of the aswang fell off heavily on the ground, creating a slight tremor on their location.


    "O-M-G!" Jin-Yoo exclaimed in the communication line. "We just defeated a level 3 aswang! Not just one, but two!" And she screamed in joy at the same in relief that the plan had worked.


    Yule was about to tell Jin-Yoo to tone down her deafening scream when he heard an electric hum from where the bodies of the aswang fell. He turned his head in that direction and saw the electric bird/Ranger''s body glowed brightly which Yule quickly shield his eyes with his hand. The glowing subsided and what had remained was the hovering human form of Ranger. His yellow sword blades behind him spread like wings, then his altitude started to descend on the ground.


    Thinking that Ranger was unconscious after that attack, Yule ordered his weapon to return to him, which immediately all the spears poking from the ground glowed and exploded turning to tiny lights and flew straight to his chest.


    "Ranger! Answer me, if you can," Yule checked his classmate and immediately ran as fast as he could to where Ranger was.


    There was a long pause, then Ranger''s voice cracked in.


    "Don''t worry, Yule. I''m still awake. I''m just feeling sleepy right now," Ranger replied in a weak voice.


    "Thank God! I thought for a second you''re falling on the ground." Yule stopped on his tracks, but his eyes remained lock on Ranger.


    "But hey, congrats! Your plan worked out. I''m also surprised at myself that I defeated a level 3 aswang."


    "Hey, it was a group effort. Plus we''re not yet done." Yule turned to where Haruto was located. "This is your cue now."


    *****


    Haruto stood afar from where Yule, Jin-Yoo, and Ranger. This was to ensure the safety of the sleeping form of Yule''s classmate - Sanna while they battle the aswang. And if all else fails, he could quickly carry Sanna away from those giant monsters.


    He had doubts about Yule''s plan, but he was glad it all worked out well in the end. But now, he had to do the last part of the plan - to ensure that two giant aswang will not rise from the ground.


    Haruto summoned his weapon back again - a golden shakujo. The golden rings on top jiggled, creating a chiming sound. He started swinging the shakujo like a baton, spinning it with his hands.


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    "Second Tail!"


    The wind started to swirl around him, gathering the magic from Haruto. Then a long red translucent tail sprouted behind him. And another red translucent tail appeared beside it. Both were wagging playfully from left to right.


    "Homura!"


    Below him from where he was standing, a red magic circle bloomed.


    *****


    "If you don''t want to burn, get away from the aswang, now!" Haruto ordered to Yule and Ranger in the communication line.


    Without a missing a beat, Ranger flew again in the air despite being groggy from the last attack he had made and quickly grabbed Yule. They fled the area and quickly headed to where Jin-Yoo was.


    Then, an identical red magic circle bloomed below from where the bodies of the aswang lying on the ground.


    And a sizzle of magical energies surrounded the fallen bodies. The temperature around the area of the magic circle started to get high and little flames started appearing the circle''s edge, licking and spreading around the area. Then, the little flames transformed into giant-sized flames, and it started consuming the stone bodies of the aswang.


    At first, it might seem like nothing was happening to the bodies, but the fire got intense, consuming further the aswang. The bodies started to melt turning into a dark lava-like form.


    The fire continued consuming the bodies until Haruto dispelled the magic circle. The red circle faded on the ground, and what was left was a dark charred solid ground. No traces left from the aswang.


    "It''s done," Haruto declared to the trio, who witnessed the burning scene.


    Yule, Ranger, and Jin-Yoo sighed in unison which surprised them and laughed at each other.


    "Hey, Haruto! If you don''t mind, why don''t join us here?" Yule inquired on the other end of the line.


    "As much as I want to but I have to carry Sanna, which by the way is your responsibility, Yule." Haruto retorted in an irritated tone.


    Ranger replied on behalf of Yule, fooling around Haruto when their conversation suddenly stopped.


    The three heard a heavy footstep behind them. Yule and Jin-Yoo quickly placed their palms on their chest to summon their weapons back, but Ranger raised his right arm in the air, halting the two students.


    "Hey! What happened? Is there another aswang?" Haruto asked concernedly.


    "Don''t worry, Haruto. We''re safe now. We just have a visitor." Ranger replied to him.


    "Who?"


    Ranger turned on his back and faced the incoming figure. He rolled his eyes at the figure, but then he broke a smile at him.


    Yule and Jin-Yoo followed suit and relief were written all over their faces.


    The mysterious figure walking towards them while carrying a heavy greatsword on his back was in fact, Professor Matteo Fields.


    The professor waved at them leisurely and when he was inches away from them, he grabbed the heavy greatsword from his back and pierced it to the ground while holding to the hilt like a supporting cane.


    "I''m guessin'' I''m too late to rescue you," The professor broke in, panting heavily.


    "Where were you? Do you know what happened to us?" Ranger fired his accusing questions to his professor.


    "Long story short, let''s just say I have to deal with a trio of pig-faced monsters. And yes, Avatara informed me of your situation. To tell you the truth, I was already here when I heard Yule-" The professor eyed the said student, "-telling his plan to the three of you in the communication line. And upon my observation, you don''t need my help so far."


    The students including Haruto almost revolted from the statement of the professor when Professor Fields raised his left hand.


    "I know. I know how it sounds. But I was ready to intervene if your plan went south."


    Then Avatara''s voice cracked in the line.


    "Guys, in my defense, I was telling your stupid professor repeatedly to intervene immediately regardless of how good the plan was. But since he''s a thick-headed prick, I can''t do anything." The engkanto said in an apologetic voice.


    Ranger was about to retort back when Yule edged him first.


    "Professor, I know we have a lot to catch up. But can we do this in the aircraft? Everyone is too tired already. Plus Sanna is still unconscious with Haruto."


    The professor smiled and nodded at his new student.

 21 Catching Up

    After exchanging their stories, the aircraft arrived at their location. The vehicle was being remotely piloted by Avatara from the floating city, Tawalisi back in their classroom.


    Just in time also, Haruto arrived while carrying Sanna on his back. He was panting heavily due to fatigue and the extra weight of his schoolmate. He was about to turn over Sanna to Yule when Professor Fields volunteered to carry his unconscious student.


    Looking at them individually, the students wore a very explicit appearance, indicating that they were about to fall off on the ground due to exhaustion as opposed to the professor who still looked pristine despite battling aswang earlier.


    They were all eager to rest their tired bodies inside the vehicle.


    When the aircraft opened its metallic doors, Professor Fields led the way inside followed by Ranger and Yule. But then, Yule noticed that his two schoolmate-Haruto and Jin-Yoo didn''t trail behind them. Both of them remained where they were earlier.


    "Hey, you two. Is there a problem?" Yule inquired at them.


    Jin-Yoo shook her blonde-dyed hair at him.


    "There''s no problem, silly! It''s just that we have to wait also for the two remaining members of our team." She looked behind her, trying to squint her eyes, checking if she could spot another aircraft that will transport them back to the floating city. "Our professor pilots our aircraft also, so they should be here any minute now. Let just hope she already picked up our classmates from the ground."


    Nodding at them, Yule thanked them whole-heartedly and went inside also into the aircraft.


    Upon entering inside, Ranger was already slouched at the seat, while looking expectantly at him, checking if Jin-Yoo and Haruto were behind him which he explained what Jin-Yoo told him.


    He also checked on Sanna which she was sleeping peacefully on a seat behind Ranger, while the professor was back on the pilot area at the front. The professor was waving at the remaining students outside through the window and started pressing some button at the holographic screens before him.


    Yule immediately took a seat beside Ranger and fasten his seatbelt. He was also beside the window where he could see the deserted area before him. He could spot some remaining carcass of the wolf-like aswang around the area. He was just glad he was leaving this barren land and back to the comfort of his bed.


    "Do you want me to continue piloting the aircraft remotely?" Avatara offered in the communication line.


    "Do you mind?" Professor Fields inquired.


    "Of course not. Now go and check on your students, and let me do my thing."


    "I didn''t know you have a thing." The professor retorted jokingly at the Engkanto.


    Avatara didn''t reply to him, but the professor assumed that his good friend was rolling her eyes back in the classroom, and then the holographic screens started winking out in thin air, and the wheel started moving on its own - signs that the Engkanto started her remote piloting.


    The aircraft started its lift off from the ground and flew in the air until reaching a suitable altitude, heading back to the floating city.


    Professor Fields moved out of the pilot''s deck and approached his exhausted students.


    "I didn''t know that you, professor, are capable of flirting," Ranger started and teased his professor.


    "I''m glad that your energy for trivial things is still intact, Mr. Yellowlake."


    "So you''re not denying that you were flirting earlier, but not just to anyone but to an Engkanto!"


    The professor groaned at his brown-haired student and looked at Yule seeking for help. But Yule just shrugged his shoulder, yet smiling at him.


    Surprisingly, the said Engkanto remained quiet in the communication line. The professor could only guess what was her reaction from Ranger''s teasing. He just had to have a separate conversation wiyh Avatara and assured her to pay no heed from his stupid student.


    "Enough of that, Ranger. I just want to check on you guys. Any missing limbs that need to be reported to me?"


    "Thankfully," Yule replied. "No missing limbs on my side. Though to be honest, while we were on the battlefield earlier, I thought we will not be returning in one piece after the massive amount of horde we''d encountered."


    Ranger nodded, supporting the statement of his classmate. "Seriously, professor. This is my first time encountering this kind of horde of aswang. I have this feeling that something is changing. It feels like that the attacks were planned. Usually, they just roamed around the area, searching for any left meats on the ground. But this one, this simultaneous horde attack, these monsters are up to something."


    The professor looked at Ranger and pondered at the insights of his student.


    Yule was also waiting for a reply from his professor. He thought that Ranger has a point. He may not be thoroughly familiar with the behaviors and traits of the aswang yet, but the earlier battle was an organized attack.


    "Surprisingly," Professor Fields started. "Avatara and I also had a similar discussion while I was en route to your location. We also thought that this is not just a random attack by the aswang. We''re thinking that someone is ordering them."


    "Is it possible? I thought these versions of aswang in your world are mindless creatures, more of following their instinct like a wild animal." Yule asked at the professor.


    "Remember what I told you that there are four kinds of aswang?"


    He nodded at the professor, remembering how Professor Fields explained the four levels of aswang during a battle with Sanna and Ranger.


    "The level four aswang has a human appearance, and I have to tell you, they are not just mindless creatures. They are fully capable of thinking for themselves. And to add that, every level four aswang has a unique power that can clash with an experienced slayer."


    After that revelation from his professor, Yule shivered at the thought of facing a level four aswang. He already had a hard time dealing with level one, two and three.


    "Have you met a level four aswang before?" Yule was looking at the professor and Ranger.


    Ranger shook his head, then they both looked at Professor Fields.


    "I did," but it was not Professor Fields who answered the question. The voice came from behind Ranger.


    "Sanna!" Yule rose from his seat and moved to her. Her colors are back to normal after being too pale after releasing her magic attack to the horde earlier.


    "I''m now fine, Yule. Thank you for worrying." She gave him a weak smile. "My parents were killed by a level four. I was with them when the attack happened. We were riding an aircraft going to Sanctuary together with their teammates. They were planning to drop me off first in Sanctuary before starting their extermination mission, but they never reached Sanctuary. A level four attacked our vehicle. My parents and another two slayers tried to buy us time to escape the attack. Manu, whom you''ve met Yule before, grabbed me and three other slayers came along with us. That was the last time I saw my parents."


    There was a long uncomfortable pause when Professor Fields suddenly clapped his hand, getting the attention of his three students.


    "Sorry about that, but I remembered something. Avatara found something interesting when she tried to point out all the attacks of the aswang this day."


    On cue, a holographic screen appeared beside him, showing the map of the country. Upon closer inspection, Yule was surprised that there were some missing islands on the map. Ranger noticed the questioning face of his classmate, and he pointed out that there were some islands sunken to the deep sea by some powerful level four aswang during their first attack.


    "Avatara, if you may," the professor asked politely to the Engkanto.


    Various red dots appeared on the map, and the dots started moving. The dots coming from the southern part of the country moved upward going north. While the dots coming from the northern part moved downward going south, until all dots were all replaced by ''X'' marks.


    "X means they were all exterminated. Anything else, you''ve observed in the map?" Professor Fields asked his students.


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    "T-They are, sorry were heading t-to Tawilisi," Yule''s eyes widen from horror and realization. They were right. This was an organized attack from the aswang.


    "Have you alerted the Council?" Ranger asked.


    "I''m sure they are aware of their movements already." The professor replied nonchalantly.


    The three students were all stunned from the revelation. Ranger and Sanna couldn''t remember the last time the floating city was attacked before.


    "On the other hand, I just want to congratulate you on defeating not just one, but two level-three aswang. Not all licensed slayers are capable of doing that. Maybe your generation could make a difference in this era." He smiled at them, proudly.


    Sanna was left with her mouth hanging open in disbelief. She embraced Yule and Ranger, congratulating them on this achievement. Since she was unconscious while they defeated the two golem-like aswang.


    "So good luck on social media. This will spread like a wildfire." Professor Fields warned them what to expect when they arrive in Tawilisi which they all groaned.

 22 Day Off Part 1

    When the aircraft arrived at the academy''s hangar, Avatara was waiting for them at the platform where a medical drone from the last time she did a check up on Yule was hovering in the air beside her.


    She let the drone scanned the four individuals who just exited the aircraft to check for any grave injuries that needed immediate medical attention. Fortunately, they were all cleared by the medical drone and levitate in the air on standby, waiting for any succeeding orders from its master.


    "Based on the reading from the drone," Avatara started, eyeing the three students carefully. "You, three, will be needing at least a day or two of resting to regenerate your magical reserves."


    Hearing it from the blue-haired Engkanto, Ranger did a fistbump to no one, grateful that there will be no classes to attend the next day.


    But Professor Fields mockingly pretended to clear his throat to get the attention of his students. He stood beside Avatara and flashed his smile at them.


    "As per the medical expert, the three of you will be taking a day off tomorrow and after that, we will resume our classes the day after that."


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    "But," Ranger interjected, stepping in front of Yule and Sanna. "Avatara have mentioned we need at least two days of rest. So please correct your announcement."


    "If I remember correctly, she mentioned at least a day or two, right?" He glanced casually beside him where Avatara just shrugged, looking like she didn''t want to be involved in this usual tirade by Matteo and Ranger. "Anyways, it''s final. See you on Friday." He voiced it out sternly, ending the argument.


    Ranger was about to protest again when Sanna grabbed his right shoulder and dragged him out of the hangar. Yule trailed behind them looking apologetic at his professor and to Avatara, while Ranger continued to have his fits despite being dragged forcefully by his classmate.


    When they exited the hangar and headed outside the academy, they found that there was a bus waiting for them. Upon entering inside, there were already other students seating casually who had similar haggard and tired looks as Yule, Ranger and Sanna''s. They all looked like they just finished their extermination missions also. Some of them threw a nod to Ranger which he returned casually, while Sanna and Yule tried to find a vacant seat which eventually they found separately.


    The three of them slouched at their seats and remained quiet until they had arrived at their dorm.


    *****


    They went on separate ways when they arrived at the students'' dormitory. Sanna waved goodbye at them and went to the girl''s wing earnestly while Ranger went to his hallway. Despite being on the same wing, Ranger''s room was located on the ground floor while Yule''s was on another floor. But before he left Yule, Ranger invited him to go to Game District tomorrow since they have free time tomorrow which Yule accepted and went upstairs, excited to feel the comfort of his own bed.


    When he opened his room, he was not surprised that Haruto hadn''t arrived yet before him.


    ''Their team might be on its way to the city. I''ll just talk to him tomorrow. In the meantime, I need to clean myself first'', he thought.


    He quickly went to the bathroom and undress his dirty school uniform. Then, he soaked himself with a cold blast of the shower, rubbing his body off of the grimes and remnants of the aswang. After making sure that his body was already smooth clean from the battle earlier, he changed to his PJs and threw himself to his bed.


    His mind was still active, reflecting from the battle he went through. Back to his homeworld, his main concerns were his assignments, projects, what to read next and what anime to watch next, the standard things in life for a normal high school student. But in this world, he had to juggle academics and battling mythological monsters where his life was always at stake, and one wrong move might cost his life or his teammates'' lives. Yule shuddered at the thought of losing the lives of his friends. He tried to shift his thoughts to other things. He pondered at the thought if he could still return back to his own world. But before he could come up with solutions, drowsiness arrived and he let himself succumb to it, letting the darkness in.


    *****


    The next day, he woke up from the continuous buzzing sound of his mobile device. He grabbed it from the bedside drawer and swiped open the device. He squinted his eyes from the sudden brightness of his mobile device and found ninety-nine plus notifications on his student portal. He tried to rub his eyes just to make sure if he was seeing it accurately. Fortunately, it was real, and he quickly clicked the notifications. He was directed to the main page of the student portal and found that there was posted video in the newsfeed. He clicked the video and was surprised it was the video feed of their battle yesterday. And their names were tagged at the video, including him.


    People were feasting on the comment sections where they were all surprised that a couple of students just defeated two level-three aswang. Yule found some students asking who was the other guy with a violet spear. Surprisingly enough, someone answered them that Yule was the "nephew" of Professor Fields. But another student commented that he was shocked that the professor has remaining relative after that "incident." This made Yule frowned.


    ''What incident?'' he asked himself. He was about to message Sanna or Ranger to know further about this mysterious incident when another notification popped on his screen. It was an email from Sanna.


    Upon opening the email, he noticed that it was not just addressed to him but to Ranger, Haruto and Jin-Yoo as well.


    ''Guys!! Check this out! We''re on national news!'' Below her message was a link to a news website. He clicked the link and directed him to a news page. He browsed the content and found there was an interview with Professor Fields, detailing the events that happened yesterday, and of course crediting his students to this achievement.


    Yule dropped his mobile device, letting it to the continuous buzzing sound of notifications. He tried to peek at Haruto''s bed, cringing for another wave of insults from him due to the noise of his device when he found that his roommate''s bed was empty.


    He grabbed again his mobile device to send an email to Haruto, worrying at his roommate''s whereabouts.


    ''Please don''t tell me your team is still on the Ground,'' he clicked sent, waiting for the immediate response of Haruto when his device made a sound again. Thankfully it was from Haruto and read eagerly his reply.


    ''How dumb are you? Of course, we''re back in the city. I''m doing an early training regime, unlike some people who are still slacking on their beds,'' Haruto replied which made Yule regret that he checked the status of his roommate.


    Shrugging off the negative vibes brought by his ever sour attitude roommate, he rose from his bed and went to the shower. After showering he changed to his school uniform which made him realize that he did not have any casual outfits in his cabinet. He''ll just have to buy a pair of casual clothes later after hanging out with Ranger which also reminded him that he needed to go downstairs now to meet him.


    He immediately grabbed his old clothes yesterday to bring it to the laundry room before meeting Ranger. After leaving his old clothes at the hands of some cleaning droid (which surprised Yule that he will be meeting in his lifetime an actual robot droid where he only had seen in the movies) in the laundry room. He left the room and went to the lobby downstairs where he was greeted by students flocking his tall friend at the center.

 23 Day Off Part 2

    Seeing the excited crowd around Ranger, Yule halted his steps towards him. Ranger was wearing casual clothes, answering all the queries from his schoolmates. All the students around him were eager to get his attention to recount the mission yesterday. Some were holding their mobile devices before them, recording videos and taking pictures to capture this moment.


    Then Ranger saw on his side the waiting figure of Yule. To avoid more ruckus, he eyed Yule tilting his head to the direction of the door, meaning - wait for me outside. Thankfully, Yule understood his gesture and nodded at him.


    Yule went ahead outside, lowering his head to avoid recognition from the students. Once he stepped outside, he released a huge sigh, appreciating there were few students outside.


    While waiting for his classmate, he tried to walk around the area and explore the greenery around the student''s dorm premises. There were some students lounging on the grass, talking and laughing with their companions, while some were sliding their finger, browsing their mobile devices. He also spotted a few students burying their heads on the book they were holding.


    He was about to pull his mobile device also to check some updates when someone tapped his back. When he turned around, there was Ranger standing before him, wearing an apologetic face at him.


    "So how''s Mr. Popular?" Yule jokingly asked.


    "To point out, you should be thanking me first since they were also asking questions about you, and I just saved your butt from their army."


    "Really? I can''t handle crowds especially if their attention is on me, so thank you! How do you escape them, by the way?"


    "I just told them that I need to go to the bathroom, faking that I have an ongoing stomachache which surprisingly made them awkward, then they started leaving me."


    Both of them laughed at that, then Ranger led Yule to the bus station outside the academy where they waited for five minutes before the bus arrived. They hopped on it and flew them straight to the train station. Ranger and Yule flashed their mobile devices at the gate and they went inside. There were few people inside the train station since there were still ongoing classes plus it was early morning. Ranger pointed out that they will be going to the Entertainment District - Gaming Center where Yule first met Professor Fields and Ranger.


    They entered the train when it arrived and found there were few people inside also. Most of the people inside were wearing business suits, most likely going to their respective offices. They spotted a number of Engkanto also with their colorful hairs and emerald stone-eyes.


    While Yule and Ranger were sitting, they found some people stealing a glance at them and checking their mobile devices to confirm their identity. Most probably, they identified them as the students in the news. Ranger just shrugged at them, while Yule just looked at the window, enjoying the view though he could feel a bit of embarrassment with some people pointing and talking about them during their train ride.


    After passing two domes, they arrived at the Upper Dome. The station was buzzing with people where some waiting for their designated train to arrive while some were just walking and talking casually at the station.


    When they exited the station, they were greeted with numerous holographic screens floating in the air, flashing the current news around the city. There was an ongoing air traffic with the flying vehicles up in the air, while below, humans and Engkanto were crossing the streets.


    Yule was shocked again how colorful and lively the Upper Dome was. Back to the Academy Dome, there were only students and schools surrounding the area, and the dome had this relaxing atmosphere. But in Upper Dome, everything was fast-paced. Everyone was so busy like they were always in a hurry.


    While walking along the street, they spotted a number of screens flashing the faces of Yule, Ranger, Sanna, Jin-Yoo, and Haruto. The screens also had the recorded footage of the battle.


    When they turned to another street, they passed a group of kids, raising their mobile devices, shouting out loud the names of Yule and company where they also want to be powerful slayers like them.


    "That''s one of the good points being recognized by the media," Ranger started. "We inspired younger generations to be better than us."


    Yule nodded at him, recognizing that was one of the few times Ranger talked in a serious note.


    *****


    They arrived at the Gaming Center where despite the early hour, the place was already crowded with teenagers and a few adults. The two went to a shooting game stall where Ranger flashed his mobile device, telling Yule that he had ongoing membership in this gaming center, and he had enough load for the both of them to play.


    Ranger started pressing a button on the screen in front of them, and the two of them pulled the plastic rifle gun from the sides of the stall. They were shooting zombie monsters before them, and both of them had a good time, when they felt on their back some gazes behind them. Yule paused the game and found a mob of people behind them.


    They were all looking expectantly at the two students and started raising their mobile devices.


    "How? - " Ranger asked but was interrupted by one of the mob.


    "Some people tipped us that the two of the five students from yesterday''s memorable battle were spotted going to this place."


    Then they fired a bunch of questions at the two pitiful students. Yule was overwhelmed by the crowd and was left speechless before them. He felt a tap on his shoulder, and Ranger was looking at him.


    "After three, we run like our lives at stake. Go somewhere you can lay low for a while, then we meet afterward." Ranger muttered, lowering his voice barely enough to be heard by the crowd surrounding them.


    He counted and when he reached number three under his breath, the two of them bolted out from the crowd, using their slayer''s abilities. Some people in the crowd yelled in surprise when the two students vanished from their sight.


    Yule was running with no apparent direction whatsoever until he starting to feel creeping exhaustion. He stoped from his run and found himself in front of a bookstore. Looking at the shop, this was a perfect place to hide from people, since there were only few people who go to a bookstore.


    He pushed the door inside and was greeted by rows of dusty bookshelves. The shelves were filled by hardbound and softbound books. He also spotted on the corner that there was a staircase going up to the second floor of the store.


    Yule tried checking some books, trying to verify if they had the same authors from his world, but unfortunately, all the books around him were unrecognizable. He tried pulling some books to check the synopsis at the back when he heard someone clearing his throat behind him.


    "Looking for a book?" The stranger greeted at Yule. The man was wearing an apron over his casual clothes, and he looked to be the same age as Yule or two years ahead of me. He scratched his messy short blond hair and smiled at him.


    "Umm, to be honest, no. But -" He was tilting his head since the man was taller than him, but he was interrupted by the stranger''s words.


    "Oh, are you here for the bookstore assistant job?" the man assumed. "I''m Rowan," extending his right hand to him which Yule clasped awkwardly. "I''m also a bookstore assistant, but as you''d noticed, the shop needs a lot of hands in cleaning the shelves. Oh, the owner is just buying some stuff outside, so he will be back anytime soon. In the meantime, you can sit while waiting for him."


    Yule didn''t know how to clear the misunderstanding, but he also realized that he needs extra cash, since the school only provided cash for his basic necessities. Plus, he was a certified bookworm also aside from his otaku craziness. He was pretty sure he will love this place also.


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    He just went on with the ride and found himself a part-time job when the owner arrived and interviewed him.


    *****


    Deep inside the academy''s hangar, a certain pony-tailed girl was hiding behind a metal pillar, checking the other slayer students, entering their assigned aircraft. She was breathing heavily due to nervousness. She wanted to prove herself and to other people that she deserved to be a slayer and to have divinity mythical being as a contracted partner.


    Suddenly, her chest started to glow, and a ball of light popped out from her, materializing the feline form of her partner. The black feline as large as a black panther appeared before her and was giving her with an inquisitive stare.


    Are you sure?


    That was the stare meant by the black feline beast. The pony-tailed girl just ignored her and checked the milling students around the hangar area. She was planning to get a ride from one of the outbound aircraft (more like to stealthily hop a ride), so she could land to the ground and battle a few aswang.


    When she found a certain aircraft where all the students and professor went inside, she dashed forward to her target. The black feline growled and shook her head, leaving her with no choice but to follow her partner. The beast returned to her light form and trailed back to her chest.


    The pony-tailed girl hid inside the aircraft where the supplies were kept for the mission. She clasped her hands and prayed she won''t be found out.

 24 On the Professor Side

    Buzzing with various people and Engkanto, the courtroom with a circular-shaped inside catered to numerous licensed Slayers, researchers, and professors related to aswang slaying. They were assembled at this moment for the recent unusual activities by the aswang on the Ground.


    The Slayers Council who stood proud and authoritative among the floating city was also alarmed in this abnormal situation, in which they reluctantly seek help from the academy to assist the extermination mission. At first, the Council didn''t want to involve the fledging slayers to face the hordes of monsters, but with licensed slayers'' population crisis, they were left with no choice, but to give the students practical experience against the hordes.


    Sitting at the upper far side of the room was Professor Matteo Fields, he was browsing on his mobile device to check some mails while waiting for the assembly to start. He didn''t bother to talk to other co-professors he spotted in the courtroom. The professor hated small talks especially to people who he didn''t find comfortable with.


    Professor Fields was already counting the moments to get back to Academy Dome. Currently, they were in the Capital Dome where the Slayers Council was located. The Council sent an invite to all available personnel in the floating city to gather at the Capital Dome for a special assembly that Professor Fields grudgingly accepted.


    "Do you think the Council will give something new update to us?" Avatara whispered beside him. The blue-haired Engkato was sitting beside him and sipping her green tea-brewed paper cup while she let her eyes roamed around the room.


    When he received the email from the Council, Avatara quickly popped a message to him, requesting the professor to accompany her going to the assembly which made Professor Fields forcefully attend this dreadful meeting. He was already thinking of random excuses to not attend the assembly, but Avatara happened.


    The Engkanto was eyeing him, expecting for an answer in which he just shrugged his shoulders. He was also clueless about what this assembly was all about. Plus, they were already aware of the situation. Based on the hordes'' movements, they were all converging toward Tawalisi. Or at least they were planning to until the slayers together with the students slaughtered them one by one.


    "I won''t be surprised if the topic is about politics again instead of our dire situation," he voiced out his thoughts to his seatmate.


    Avatara just chuckled at him and shook her head, agreeing with him - one of her long-time friends in the city.


    Then suddenly, somebody started hammering down a gavel that could be heard throughout the room. All conversations inside the courtroom were hushed immediately, expecting the entrance of the Slayers Council members.


    All eyes turned at the center of the courtroom, and an egg-shaped chair flew from above and hovered a few meters above the ground, followed by four more egg-shaped chairs. The chairs were occupied by four men and one woman. All of them had the appearance of 50 years old and above, except for the woman - who happened to be an Engkanto with short curly green hair. The five members of the Slayers Council were all wearing silver robes, covering their whole bodies.


    "Greetings, fellow slayers, researchers, and professors!" The man with receding hair and sitting in the middle of the council members greeted his audience with a booming voice. "Thank you for accepting our invitation to gather in the Capital Dome, despite your busy schedules!''


    "Like I have a choice," Professor Fields mumbled under his breath where Avatara slapped his hand, telling him that she heard him.


    "It''s true!" The professor mouthed and looking annoyed at the Engkanto.


    "But first," the man continued and flashed his smile at the audience. "I would like to congratulate every one of you for the successful simultaneous exterminations yesterday. I know there are still ongoing exterminations today, but yesterday was so successful which birthed to new heroes and future hope of our kind." The man looked at the direction where Professor Fields and Avatara were sitting, and he continued his speech congratulating every small win from yesterday''s event.


    "I guess, Councilor Marshall is still keeping tabs on you," Avatara whispered.


    He was about to answer her when Professor Fields heard a little commotion a few meters behind them. Both, Avatara and the professor looked behind them and found a woman walking sluggishly and kept on bumping someone''s seat.


    The woman with waist-length orange hair and wearing red long-sleeve partnered with black tight pants spotted the head of someone familiar, and a smile broke in her face. She tried to hasten her walk, but she couldn''t control her equilibrium. Using the back of the seats, she trailed her fingers and used it as her support while walking to Professor Fields direction.


    When she reached her destination, Professor Fields could smell the alcohol reeking from her. He couldn''t believe she came into the courtroom drunk.


    "Hey, Matteo! My friend!" She slumped herself to the seat beside him and patted forcefully the back of Professor Fields.


    "Rekka, please behave yourself! The councilor is having his speech, plus," Avatara looked irritated at the drunken appearance of their colleague, and people started to look at their direction, scandalized which the Engkanto was pointing out to Rekka.


    "What did I miss?" she replied instead.


    "Nothing much," Professor Fields answered. "Aside from the usual diversion speech he was doing right now instead of talking what matters the most."


    "I was thinking of not attending this ridiculous meeting! Should follow my instinct!"


    "By the way, I haven''t thanked you for giving assistance to my students yesterday."


    Rekka was also a fellow professor at the slayer academy who happened to be the class advisor of Jin-Yoo and Haruto. "Without Haruto and Jin-Yoo''s help, things might get complicated."


    Then their conversation was interrupted when someone raised his hand when the council members inquired to their audience if they have anything to raise inside the assembly.


    "Esteemed Councilor," a male Engkanto rose from his seat. "We want to know what are the council''s plans or strategies after finding out that the hordes were all heading to the direction of Tawilisi?"


    "Good question," Councilor Marshal said. "I understand your concern or everyone''s concern about this sudden development, but we''re assuring everyone that security of the floating city is still at best. We already asked the security team to double-check the defense parameters and shield generation of the city. I hope my answer will sate your curiosity."


    The Engkanto was about to ask a follow-up question, but thought better of it and nod at Councilor Marshall to end it.


    "The better question should be - what is our offensive plan since we''re always on defense against these monsters! But everyone is so afraid to ask it since no one want to take the initiative to rally with full force against the aswang." Rekka muttered to no one.


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    ''She has a point though.'' Professor Fields thought. ''Humanity is so afraid to fight full force against the aswang again after the aswang decimated the human population to the brink of extinction.''


    His thoughts were interrupted when his mobile device buzzed, indicating an urgent message followed by the Rekka''s mobile device tune. Both of them grabbed their devices and opened the message.


    "Oh boy! A naive middle schooler sneak her way to the Ground, and now she''s missing," Rekka announced to Professor Fields and Avatara. The Engkanto moved her head closer to her seatmate to get a better view of the message in Professor Fields''s mobile device. Apparently, the message was sent to all instructors of the academy.


    Professor Fields was about to ignore the message, since this was not the first time a student or a civilian sneaked their way down to Ground. It was basically a usual mission assigned to academy students, but he couldn''t get out of his system that something troubling was about to happen.

 25 Rescue Mission Part 1

    The next day, Yule and others returned to their class after the mandatory one day rest. He was still trying to organize his schedule for today while walking to his classroom since he will be starting his first day as a part-time bookshop assistant.


    With the classes and training he needed to attend to, only one thing he could think of, it was going to be a very long day for him or weeks at least, just to get familiar with his new routine.


    When they arrived in the classroom, Professor Fields asked the class to move to one of the practice arenas where they had to practice and train their synchronization as a team.


    Upon arriving, the professor sat on the bench at the far side of the arena while observing his three students dueling five combat droids in the centerstage.


    The combat droids had the same appearance as the mannequins displayed at the front of a clothing store. Though in this version, they were devoid of facial features and clothing. The five combat droids were dealing heavy blows from the three students, most especially from Ranger.


    Unfortunately, the droids remained unscathed from the battle while the students were already starting to show exhaustion from this ongoing battle.


    "Sanna, release your arrows once I gave you the signal. Yule, once I stun the droids, activate your spear pillars," Ranger ordered his classmates wherein they nodded as a reply. He was floating in the air, observing the attacking patterns of the droids. He watched as Yule tried to strike two droids with his spear, but both avoided the attack in unison. They were moving in a synchronized manner. On the other side, Sanna was exchanging from firing her energy arrows to hand to hand combat when the remaining droids launched at her. She sometimes used her bow to deflect the blows from the droids, then leaped away from them and fired three energy arrows quickly at the same time, aiming at their heads. But they easily avoided Sanna''s arrows and launched themselves at her again.


    ''This is going nowhere,'' Ranger thought, observing this tiresome situation they were in. He''d rather face the wolf-like aswang than these robots.


    "Guys, gather them in one area, so I can launch my attack now," he requested to Yule and Sanna.


    Yule and Sanna found a way to exchange glances and nodded at each other. Both of them were starting to feel the soreness from their body after receiving the hits from the droids.


    Yule dashed forward at the center while the two droids trailed after him. Imitating Yule''s action, Sanna kicked one of the droids on her right side, giving her the opening to dash forward also at the center. The droids followed behind her also, cornering Yule and Sana.


    "Move now!" Ranger shouted.


    Yule and Sanna jumped in the air, leaving the droids looking at them below. Without missing a beat, Ranger pointed his yellow-bladed swords at the droids and launched a wave of electrical attacks accompanied by a blinding light.


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    The droids were successfully hit by the electric attack and were left unmoving at the stage. Landing on the ground, Yule took this moment as his cue to activate his spell. Swinging his spear before him, he impaled the ground and rumbling sounds could be heard beneath him.


    "Lunar Monument!"


    The rumbling sounds moved towards the area of the droids and simultaneously similar violet spears protruded from the ground impaling the metallic bodies. This sudden attack awakened the droids, tilting their heads and looking at the direction of Yule''s despite being impaled by spears. This reminded Yule of a certain horror video game he played before where the main protagonist was trapped in an unknown village along with cult followers, where later on they realized they were in purgatory all this time.


    "Sanna!" Ranger shouted from above.


    Raising her bow, mana energies started to surround her field, and a white magic circle appeared meters above the heads of the droids, preparing for the energy arrows to be launched.


    Then -


    A deafening sound of alarm cutting off the trance of Sanna who was in the middle of firing her energy arrows.


    "Time''s up, students!" Professor Fields announced to them. "As you all know, you''ve failed in this activity."


    "B-But we''re about to launch our finishing attack!" Ranger protested.


    The professor gave him a thin smile. "The activity is to defeat the combat droids within fifteen minutes. Unfortunately, the droids, as I observe, are very much alive."


    "If I just move faster..." Yule moaned on the side. Frustration was shown on his face.


    "No, it''s my fault. My preparation time for shower of arrows should be at a faster pace." Sanna objected to him.


    "Being in quick feet is very important in battling aswang. A second delay may cost life on the Ground." The professor rose from his seat and climbed down to his students. "Though I have a few pointers I can share with you after observing your battle..." Then he launched to usual lecture mode, while the three students left with no choice but to listen to him and slouched on the benches.


    The professor went on for thirty minutes nonstop on his lectures on what they could improve on for their next synchronization training when he was interrupted by his mobile device who kept on buzzing.


    "Excuse me for a moment students. I sense this an urgent message." Professor Fields swipe opened his device and found an email from Avatara telling him that their team was being deployed for a new mission. He read the full content of the mission and just whistled after reading it.


    "Students, hate to interrupt our lecture. But we''re being deployed for a new mission."


    "Finally! Thank the gods!" Ranger exclaimed, but the professor just sighed at him.


    "Don''t be too excited, Mr. Yellowlake. It''s a search and rescue mission. A civilian who sneaked her way down to the ground."


    "Who are we searching for?" Yule asked the professor.


    The professor swiped again his device and looked for the name of the missing person.


    "It''s Candace Rodriguez. A middle school student and she''s tagged as an urgent mission since she already made a contract with a mythical beast or more technically a divinity."


    Yule gasped when he heard the name from his professor. She''s the girl she watched in the summoning ceremony and the girl he rescued from her schoolmates.


    "Do you know her?" Sanna asked him.


    He nodded at her. "She''s the girl who summoned goddess Bastet in the summoning ceremony."


    Sanna tried to recall her memories, and gradually recalled that day.


    "Have I met her?" Ranger asked his classmates.


    "Yes," Yule answered. "When you, Sanna and the professor arranged a welcoming dinner for me, she accompanied me to the restaurant."


    Ranger just shrugged at that, barely remember that there was a girl with Yule on that day.


    "When we can start the mission?" Yule quickly rose from his seat and looked eagerly at his professor.


    "W-wait! May I know first how the hell did she get down on the Ground in the first place?" Ranger inquired.


    "I''ll brief you once we''re in the aircraft."

 26 Rescue Mission Part 2`

    "Greetings, Professor Schroeberg!"


    "Hello, Professor Fields," Professor Schroeberg replied curtly. He was being displayed on the hologram screen while all eyes inside the aircraft were on him. Professor Fields set the aircraft to auto-pilot mode, so he could concentrate on the report from the senior professor.


    Professor Schroeberg was 20 years senior to Professor Fields, and wrinkles started to plague around his forehead. He also looked very formal in the screen with his pepper colored hair and a maroon vest covering his white long-sleeves to complete his attire.


    "Can you tell us again what happened after you landed your aircraft to the Ground?" Professor Fields started.


    "Yes. After landing on the Ground, I was giving last-minute instructions to my students when we heard some noise inside the storage area. I went inside to check it, and to my surprise, found a middle school girl hiding and crouching on the floor. She quickly bolted away from me and pressed the button on the wall to open the door leading outside. We tried to catch her, but she summoned her weapon and blasted us with a fragrance or perfume, then everything went black. And that was the last time we saw that blasted girl."


    "Do you think she used sleeping powder on your team?" Yule asked.


    "Possibly. I don''t know! Next time, I see that girl she will definitely pay for it!" the angry professor was fuming, remembering again that scene.


    "Thank you, Professor! We will contact you again if we missed anything," Professor Fields interrupted and pressed a button on the controller, blinking out the hologram screen of the senior professor.


    "Did he make a threat to a student?" Ranger looked at his companions, just to confirm if he heard correctly.


    "Rest assured, Ranger. It was just a spur of the moment. He will not do such a thing to a student. Anyways, so what do we know so far?"


    "One thing is for sure that was not just an ordinary sleeping powder she sprinkled to their team. It was a magic attack from Bastet." Sanna announced to the team.


    "From Bastet?" Yule tilted his head to her.


    "Yes. Bastet is also the goddess of perfumes."


    "So the middle schooler is already familiar in transforming her contracted mythical being to a weapon. Interesting." Professor Fields commended Candace''s skill despite the lack of training.


    "When was the last time she was located?" Yule inquired.


    Professor Fields tapped his mobile device and another hologram screen appeared to them. The screen was displaying the area map where they were headed currently. Then the screen zoomed in to a specific area where walls surround the entire vicinity.


    "This is area 10234. It used to be a major cultural site before the invasion. It was called the ''The Walled City'' by the citizens before. This is where she was last located until her signal from her mobile device was cut-off abruptly a few hours ago. We don''t know what happened to her mobile device, but most likely it''s either broke or it was smashed to pieces by who knows. Our mission is to retrieve Candace Rodriguez and escort her back to Tawalisi. And we have to do it before night time arrives."


    The three students nodded at their professor until the aircraft prompted for landing protocols.


    *****


    After landing on The Walled City, the team left their aircraft and started scouting the area. Professor Fields was contacting Avatara on his earpiece, requesting a quick scan of the area before they could proceed to their mission. After giving her clearance, the team headed deeper inside the abandoned city.


    Just like any area on the Ground, the whole vicinity was wrecked and large rubbles and boulders scattered all around as they passed through. They could see the traces of the old walls from afar, but there were glaring big holes they could spot. Though there were still some infrastructures that remained intact despite the damage they had endured. But most of them started to show deterioration.


    Yule was shivering despite the hot temperature since there was a certain haunting atmosphere spread around them. He couldn''t help but think that someone was watching them behind those abandoned sites.


    After walking around the area, they arrived on a large green clearing, overviewing the whole landscape of The Walled City. From the look of it, the clearing was used to be a golfing area after noticing the small hills and pocket holes on the ground.


    They were about to spread out to inspect the area when their communication device connecting to Avatara buzzed and popping her voice.


    "Guys! I just detec-"


    "Don''t worry, we can see it too," Professor Fields interrupted the Engkanto and squinting his eyes to the looming small shadows he spotted from the small hills.


    Aswang.


    "Team, summon your weapons!"


    The students nodded at their professor and summoned their contracted mythical beings. After summoning their weapons, they swung it and adjusted their body stance, preparing for the incoming attack.


    A pack of wolf-like aswang rushed forward to the four humans they had smelled while scouting the area. The leader of the pack charged rapidly to its prey, thrilled to taste human flesh.


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    The team didn''t wait for them to arrive and clashed them head-on while Sanna remained behind to provide support with her energy arrows.


    Ranger quickly struck his swords to the leading aswang, but the attack was dodged easily by the monster when it leaped in the air. Unknown to the aswang, Ranger was expecting its move and summoned his electric attack, aiming above him and striking the aswang. He didn''t wait for the confirmation of its death and moved on to his next target.


    On the side, Yule swung his violet spear to deflect the sharp teeth of the aswang, who kept targeting his throat. Irritated by the barrage of attacks, Yule waited for the moment when the aswang opened its mouth, and when that moment arrived, he charged his spear and pierced its body through its mouth. He quickly pulled out his spear when he felt the body started to limp. He checked for other targets and found their professor swinging his greatsword, chopping the heads of the aswang.


    There were at least three remaining aswang from the large pack who greeted them earlier. The three of them curled their backs, sensing their dire situation. They quickly pulled back from the slayers, but one of them yelped in pain and found an arrow protruding on its head. Another aswang was hit and fell on the ground.


    The remaining aswang kicked the ground and ran as fast as he could before another arrow hit its furry body.


    From afar, Sanna groaned in frustration since the remaining aswang was already too far for her to target.


    "Guys, sorry I missed one."


    "Don''t worry, we''re on it. Everyone, let''s follow that fiend. I have this feeling that aswang will lead us to our target." The professor announced to his students. "Sanna, try to catch up."

 27 Rescue Mission Part 3

    They were tailing behind the wolf-like aswang but making sure at the same time to keep a certain distance from the fiend to avoid it noticing them. The aswang led them to a labyrinth-like area where they made a dizzying twist and turns inside the labyrinth. The area was also dim, and good thing that slayers had beyond normal visions. Time to time, Professor Fields consulted with Avatara to check their vicinity for enemies. Fortunately, they hadn''t met any aswang so far, aside from the wolf-like aswang they were tailing.


    They were running for an hour already, and the labyrinth looked like an endless dungeon. Later on, they found Sanna tracking behind them which they nodded at her.


    The aswang led them in a dark hallway. They could also hear some droplets from the leaking plumbing system above them which was the only noise they could hear aside from their footsteps inside the creepy area.


    Then suddenly, they lost sight of the aswang. All of them halted their steps and checked the surrounding area where it could go.


    "Did the aswang just blend in the darkness?" Yule asked.


    "I won''t be surprised, despite having our slayer''s vision, this is their territory. There might be hidden passages in here," Professor Fields replied grimly.


    They tried touching and placing their palms on the cold brick wall to check if there were hidden buttons that could lead them to their lost target. But to no avail, the wall was just an ordinary wall.


    "Let just walk straight ahead and see where it would lead us," the professor led his students straight ahead and stopped his tracks when they found a cross-path. They were greeted with three hallways - one from the north side followed by the east and west hallways.


    "What now, professor?" Sanna inquired, stepping in front and examining the front of the hallways.


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    "Avatara," Professor Fields touched his earpiece to get confirmation on the next path. "Need help on this one. We need to find which hallway that will lead us to the most number of aswang? Can your sensor do that?"


    "S-Say what?" Ranger raised his voice, looking startled.


    "As I said before, the aswang could lead us straight to the missing student. And the aswang is looking for his pack."


    "But what makes you so sure that the missing student was captured by the aswang already?"


    "The girl came down to the Ground with a mission. She wants to prove herself especially to everyone that she can slay an aswang."


    "How do you know that?" Yule was intrigued by the Professor''s statement.


    " ''Cause she''s not the only who''d done it." Professor Fields pause for a moment recalling a certain memory back when he was still a fledging slayer and a student of the academy.


    "Can I interrupt your discussion?" Avatara''s voice popped in their communication earpiece.


    "Of course," Professor Fields quickly replied, shaking away the memory he just recalled.


    "I did what you''ve asked and upon checking on my scanner, I can''t find any aswang readings on the three hallways. Or maybe the pack is too deep in the labyrinth for me to scan. So in short, I''m blind in this case. Apology on this one." Everyone could hear the disappointment in the engkanto''s voice.


    "No, it''s okay. I kinda expecting it also. We''re already too deep in this labyrinth, and probably those hallways will lead us deeper from the surface." The professor put his fingers on his chin, pondering on what to do next.


    "Should we split?" Ranger suggested.


    "It''s ideal, but I fear that the aswang might ambush one of us. That will spread us too thin, and it will be easy picking for them. I''m thinking that all of us should enter one hallway only. In this way, we could support each other from their massive numbers."


    "So how are we going to choose?" Sanna also agreed on the Professor''s plan. There''s strength in numbers, hopefully, she thought.


    "By voting!" The professor offered.


    "I guess we have no choice but to vote then." Ranger sighed, looking disappointed that their fate will be based on voting. "Then I vote to go to the north hallway."


    Sanna started pacing around, looking at the entrances of the three hallways. ''Where to go?'' she asked herself. Sanna closed her eyes and spoke the first thought that popped in her mind. "East Hallway!"


    "Thank you, Ranger and Sanna. It might confuse everyone, but I vote for the West Hallway instead." The professor smiled at his students. Then he looked at the remaining student who had yet to vote. Yule.


    "So Yule, your vote will decide which hallway we should enter. Think carefully."


    Everyone was looking at Yule, expecting his answer. He felt pressured by the way they were looking at him, so he closed his eyes and asked himself where to go. He started clearing his thoughts, and he could hear his breath and the breaths of his companions. He could hear also his pounding heartbeat. He could hear also some other noise. Footfalls from distance?


    Yule opened his eyes, and everyone could feel the vibration on the ground. They could feel that there were unknown threats coming from the North and East hallways. Inching closer, the stomping noise from numerous invaders were coming to those hallways.


    Then heads from wolf-like aswang started pouring out on those hallways and started flooding the area.


    "Should we stick to your idea that we should follow the aswang?" Ranger asked sarcastically to the professor.


    "Hate to admit it. But everyone, run inside to the West Hallway!" Professor Fields shouted.


    Everyone launched themselves to West Hallway while numerous aswang were tailing behind them.


    "To be fair, Professor, I was planning to vote for West Hallway also," Yule consoled his professor.


    "Thank you, Yule for protecting my feelings. But double time on your run!"


    The professor no need to remind Yule because the adrenaline was already circulating on his veins, forcing himself to hasten his steps, away from the pack of aswang.

 28 Rescue Mission Part 4

    While his students were running for their lives against the numerous packs of aswang, Professor Fields halted his movements and faced the incoming aswang. All of them were thirsty and craving for a piece of human meat where saliva drooled from their hungry jaws. Despite the odds, the professor faced them fearlessly and greeted them with a smile which made the aswang hungrier to break the neck of this human.


    ''This will give them enough breathing room to find the missing student,'' the professor thought.


    It was pure chaos at the front of the west hallway. Numerous wolf-like aswang converged their path into the hallway. There were some aswang nudged and bite the other aswang, so they could lessen their competition in eating the lone professor.


    Professor Fields thought what kind of attack he should unleash to his opponents, so he could neutralize them, when a number of aswang simultaneously leaped from the ground and launched at the professor. Realizing that he did not have enough time to summon his weapon, Professor Fields lowered his body and turned to his attacking stance.


    He may not have his weapon yet, but he was not totally powerless against the aswang.


    The professor launched his fist to the first aswang who came at him, sending the fiend flying to the wall. Then another aswang came where he greeted it the same way as the first. Three more aswang aimed at him, but he leaped on the ground also to avoid their attacks. He spun in the air, momentarily, then his momentum brought back his feet to the ground again where it released a huge wave of air, knocking dozens aswang from the impact.


    The professor tried to shrug some dust on his pants, looking carefree at the eyes of the hungry aswang. Looking content that his pants were free from the dust and dirt, Professor Fields eyed the remaining aswang before him.


    Looking at his eyes, the aswang hesitated to attack him again. They had realized that they were not the predator in this battle. The packs could feel his overwhelming presence, and this time they were his prey now.


    Professor Fields flashed his smile at them again and tilted his head. "Please last long, okay?" His chest suddenly glowed, releasing a ball of light and transforming into a giant sword on his hand.


    That was when the aswang turned to another direction and run for their lives.


    *****


    Ranger, Sanna, and Yule were running deeper in the hallway when they had noticed that the professor was no longer behind them.


    It was Sanna who had noticed it first. "Guys, where''s the professor?"


    Ranger and Yule halted their steps and looked around the area, looking for any signs where the professor could have been. They tried contacting the professor through their earpiece, device, but unfortunately, he was not replying to their calls, even from Avatara.


    "I''m pretty sure, he left behind to deal with those aswang," Knowing the attitude of the professor, Ranger just shrugged at the idea and looked at his companions. "So what now? Should we proceed? Or wait for the professor?"


    "I say, we should proceed. The professor would want to continue the mission. I''m pretty sure he will catch up to us anytime soon." Sanna replied, trusting the capabilities of Professor Fields.


    Nodding at Sanna, Ranger turned to Yule.


    "I agree also. Plus, the more time we wait, the more chances that Candace would be in danger."


    "Okay. But before we proceed, I want all of us to summon our weapons first, just a precaution to what awaits us deeper in this hallway. Understood?"


    Yule and Sanna nodded in reply at him, and everyone summoned their weapons.


    "Now, let''s -" Ranger wasn''t able to finish his sentence when they heard a piercing scream, coming from the end of the hallway.


    "I got the feeling that we''ve found our missing student," Sanna declared to them.


    "Guys, before we go, I want to advise everyone to be rational regardless of what we may find at the end of the hallway." Ranger looked at the hallway again, looking grimly at the situation.


    "Are you expecting that we may find Candace''s dead body?" Yule raised his voice.


    "Yule, this is not the first time that a missing civilian will be dead on the Ground. The Ground is a very dangerous place to slayers, most especially to civilians who lack proper training in slaying against aswang."


    "But she summoned a frickin'' goddess as a contracted partner!"


    "Again, lack of proper training," Ranger said weakly.


    "Guys! She''d be probably dead if we keep on bickering than heading to the location. Avatara, can you scan any enemies ahead?" Sanna stepped forward, waiting for the reading.


    "Hmmm, I have a weak signal on your area, but I can detect at least one giant figure meters away from your group. But deeper than that, I could no longer scan it. You''re on your own."


    "I have the feeling we''d be facing a Level 2." Only a Level 2 would fit in this area, Sanna assumed from Avatara''s reading.


    Nodding at each other, the trio raced towards the end of the hallway, clenching closely on their weapons.


    *****


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    After running a good few meters away, just like they had expected a Level 2 aswang was standing guard to whatever place it was guarding behind it. The boar-head giant saw them coming and flared its nostrils at them.


    Standing at ten feet, the aswang stomped on his ground and marched towards them, angrily.


    "Yule! Sanna!"


    The two nodded at Ranger''s signal and prepared their spells against the giant aswang. Yule quickly ran in front of them and stabbed the ground with his violet spear.


    "Lunar Monument!"


    The ground trembled and cracks started appearing on the surface where similar violet spears sprouted from it, piercing the feet and a portion of its body. The aswang tried to thrash his body out of the spears impalement, but Sanna launched her attack, releasing a giant energy arrow, targeting its head.


    The aswang raised its arms, trying to deflect the energy arrow, but he felt another presence behind. It was Ranger, and the aswang was startled that it didn''t notice a human passed through.


    Ranger raised his swords on his hands and stabbed it straight on its back, straight where the heart supposed to be. The aswang yelped in surprise, lowering its arms and clearing a path for the energy arrow, piercing straight to its head.


    The students never had the chance to enjoy the satisfaction in defeating a Level 2, when another piercing scream came from the room at the end of the hallway.


    "Candace!" Yule shouted. Then he pulled out his violet spear and ran straight to the room.


    The spears that impaled the giant aswang, started disappearing, and the boar-head monster fell to its knees, lifeless on the floor.


    "Yule! Wait!" Ranger hurriedly followed his classmate.


    And upon entering the giant open space room, they found the missing student - Candace floating in the middle of the room, writhing in pain, and a woman dressed in a long black dress with her right arm raised in the air.


    From Yule''s view, it looked like the woman in black was siphoning the energy from Candace''s chest where the mythical contracted partner resides in slayer bodies.


    "What the..."

 29 Rescue Mission Part 4

    Yule never finished his thoughts when the woman in the black dress turned her annoyed gaze at him. She greeted him with piercing red eyes while her right hand remained in the air, continuing her process of absorption to the pitiful girl.


    "Well, look what we have here?" She said in a playful tone, showing her sharp teeth at Yule.


    He trod carefully, as he braved himself to inch closer to Candace and to the unknown woman. The woman in black smiled at Yule, appreciating her daunting action.


    "Let my friend go," he said in a commanding tone. "And no one will get hurt."


    The woman chuckled at him and lowered her right hand, halting the absorption process.


    "What if I want you to get hurt?" She combed her long black hair through her hands as if she was already getting bored in their conversation. The woman inched closer to Yule which made him back stepped.


    He could not pinpoint it, but there was something wrong with the woman. She looked very intimidating and beautiful at the same time, in a very dark way.


    "I don''t want to hurt you. So please give my friend back."


    The woman roared with a laugh as she looked back again at Candace who was unconscious and floating in mid-air.


    "This is what I want with humans. You''re all so naive when you face a human-looking figure. That happened also to that dumb girl. The moment she had seen me, she lowered her guards, and that was when I took my chance and grabbed her."


    "Y-You''re an aswang, aren''t you?" As soon as he said it, he swung his violet spear at her, readying himself to attack anytime.


    "Proudly." She showed her sharp teeth at him again then her red eyes started glowing. The air around the large room begun gathering around her, blowing her long black hair like a ruffled mane.


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    Yule tried to cover his eyes as dust and small stones flew around them. It was like they were in the eye of the storm, as the woman continued gathering the air around them.


    ''I need to get out of her radius. If this goes on, I will have difficulty in breathing,'' he thought. He tried to move his feet, but the gust was making it harder for him to lift his legs. He stomped the spear on the ground, using it as a cane to support him.


    The woman in black roared with laughter again, as she watched the pitiful human struggling to get away from his position. She continued playing with the air current around the room while Yule started to huddle himself as he was starting to breathe in a very difficult manner.


    Yule gripped tightly on his spear when his visions started to get cloudy. He could feel that he will faint anytime soon if this continues. Then the wind started to change, at first, it was just flapping his clothes violently, then it escalated quickly to like a lashing sensation. It started with his white coat when the wind lashed at him and cutting a small portion of his clothing. The wind made some small cuts on his arms and pants, while Yule tried to protect his face from the lashing.


    "What now, human? What''s your next move? Still sticking with ''I don''t want to hurt you?''" She scoffed at him and continued lashing the wind to her target.


    The wind blew vehemently at him, pressing his body to the ground despite steeling himself from the pressure. It continued to lash his body with small cuts, forcing him to weaken his grip from the spear.


    ''Is this the power of a Level Four Aswang?'' He asked himself as he was thinking of some other way to stop her opponent.


    "Yule! Cover your eyes!"


    Yule heard Ranger''s voice out of nowhere and followed his order. The woman in black turned her gaze to where the voice was coming from and found her target - suspended in the air and holding two swords on his hands while floating swords formed a circle behind him, making him like a saint in some old painting.


    Ranger grinned at the woman and the swords behind him started to glow until it flashed a blinding light around the room.


    The woman groaned from the blinding light and quickly covered her eyes as a protection from the flash. At the same time, Yule felt that the wind stopped swirling around him. The woman was too busy protecting herself that she halted her attacks on him. Grabbing this chance, he gripped his spear again. While his eyes remained close, he remembered where her position was and blindly charged forward to his opponent.


    The woman felt an incoming presence which she immediately summoned back her wind again. Since she don''t know where the attack was coming from, so she conjured a giant ball of wind around her and released it.


    The attack released a huge impact around her, sending Yule flying at the end of the room, while at the same time, the energy arrows that the woman didn''t aware were released by Sanna was knocked off also on its trajectory.


    Ranger was also hit by the impact and was sent to the ground while his swords remained lying on the ground.


    Now that she could see again, the woman in black looked at her surroundings again. She found a crumpled form of Yule at the far side corner, while the boy with flying swords was knocked out on the ground.


    But someone was missing. The person who shot the energy arrows. She scanned the vicinity, but all she could find was the girl suspended in the air, and the boys lying on the ground.


    "Come out! Come out, human! I know you''re out there somewhere. Let''s make it easy for the both of us and show yourself. So I could kill you."


    But the unseen human didn''t take any action after her invite which made her frustrated and lashing a strong wind around the room. Fortunately, it didn''t hit Ranger and Yule.


    "Next time, I won''t miss, and it will definitely hit your friends. So come out now!"


    "Disgusting creature!"


    The voice was coming from above. The woman looked above her and found a gaping hole, big enough to fit a human on the upper side of the wall, near to the ceiling.


    "Finally," The woman said with satisfaction. "Do you need any help coming down?" She said sweetly then cackled with laughter.


    Sanna cocked her bow at the aswang, stretching the string and generating an energy arrow at the same time.


    But something happened.


    Sanna noticed it first. She found that something glowing on Candace''s chest. Then the woman in black noticed it too, averting her gaze to the young girl, floating in the air.


    The light glowed brightly and popped out of her chest. It swirled around the room and flew straight to Yule. The ball of light touched his body, and the wounds he had obtained from the fight earlier started to close until it fully healed. After healing Yule, the ball of light flew to the direction of Ranger, but the woman in black tried to halt its movements by capturing the ball. Unfortunately to her, the ball of light was much faster than her and dodged her. Sanna finally noticing that the ball was healing her comrades, so she quickly released an energy arrow at the woman, but she avoided it also.


    Now, it was too late since the ball of light had healed Ranger.


    Yule and Ranger started to groan, regaining their consciousness. Then the ball of light flew at the side of Candace''s body and slowly materializing the body of the feline goddess.

 30 Rescue Mission Part 5

    With a heavy breath, Professor Matteo Fields swung his greatsword to the incoming fiend as he cut off its head and without missing a beat, he slashed his attackers from behind.


    After a standoff with the aswang in the intersection earlier, he followed the remaining aswang from the horde he just slaughtered. The remaining pack of the aswang was trying to escape him where they led him to dizzying tunnels until he reached a cavern, where to his surprise, was still packed of aswang from Level 1 to Level 2 category.


    Professor Fields groaned from the sight as all red-eyes turned to him and simultaneously attacked him from all sides.


    For an ordinary slayer, he or she might get overwhelmed by the sheer number of the monsters, but good thing Professor Fields was no ordinary slayer. He enjoyed the bloodshed in slaying the aswang as he repeatedly slashed his attackers. The aswang retreated from his attacking radius as he continuously swung his greatsword, then the wolf-like aswang parted and made way to the entrance of the giant level 2 aswang - three wild boar-faced giant aswang came to him.


    One of them raised its giant arm to launch a punch to the professor which he quickly used his greatsword as his shield, but looking at his peripheral vision, the remaining wild boar-faced aswang also took this opportunity to crush him on his blindsides.


    The professor just grinned at the incoming attack, then his greatsword pulsed. The aswang noticed also the shift of energy from the human''s weapon. They could feel a tremendous energy emitting from it. All of them were trying to change their momentum so they could avoid it. Unfortunately for them, Professor Fields roared with crazy laughter and from the greatsword, it released a huge gust of wind, throwing everyone within its vicinity.


    After experiencing the attack, some of the aswang tried to shake it and move forward on killing the human. But then something happened.


    They couldn''t move their bodies.


    They were all paralyzed from head to toe.


    Looking at their fallen comrade, they could see electricity hissing and constricting their bodies.


    "Now, now. Let''s finish this since I still have students to rescue."


    To those who were still standing, they retreated in fear from the human. Some of them growled furiously at him. But it did not affect Professor Fields.


    Swinging his sword again, the professor dashed to the remaining aswang, as he was thinking about how many more lower-tier aswang hidden inside this abandoned place.


    *****


    Lowering her bow, Sanna looked curiously at the black feline goddess who appeared beside Candace who was still unconscious and floating in mid-air by some unknown magic by the woman in black dress. She wanted to go down while the level 4 aswang was still distracted by the surprise appearance of the goddess - without being summoned by its conduit.


    She found this place while Ranger chased after Yule after defeating the level 3 aswang. She was about to go along with Ranger when she noticed a small passageway hidden behind the fallen body of the wild-boar faced aswang.


    Thanking her super-strength from being a slayer, she moved the giant''s body and found a hole good enough to crawl with her petite body.


    Then she heard a deafening sound from the entrance where Yule went to. She could feel a strong current of wind coming from it.


    That was when she decided to take her chances in this hidden passageway, so she could have an element of surprise to whoever they were about to face.


    ''Lady Luck, please let this passageway leads me to an advantageous position, not to my death,'' she prayed. Then she squeezed herself inside the hole.


    She was forced to crawl since it was a narrow and tight path until she could see a light ahead of her. Sanna forced herself to rush forward and reached the end line and found herself looking below at the large room where she spotted Candace and the woman in black, while Yule was almost kneeling before the woman.


    *****


    Since the woman in black still looked disgruntle at the goddess, Sanna whispered to her bow. The bow transformed into a ball of light then flew outside. It slowly stretched to its animal-form and a white stag appeared.


    Sanna threw her body outside also, trusting that the white stag will catch her. She felt the zero-gravity momentarily until her body started to descend from the pull. The white stag quickly caught her on his back, and they successfully landed on the ground beside Yule.


    While checking his fully healed wounds, Yule was startled when a white stag descend from above and riding behind the animal was Sanna. It reminded him of how they met the first time when he was transported to this strange world.


    "Are you okay?"


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    "Aside from the sores, yeah, I''m okay. Where''s Ranger?"


    She pointed to the direction where Ranger was and they saw him walking towards them. When they were united once again, they all turned their eyes at Bastet who was engaged in a staring contest with the woman in black.


    "I''m glad that you''re all fine now, young slayers," the feline goddess addressed them without averting her eyes at the aswang.


    "Sadly, I only have limited time in this plane without the support of my contracted partner. Please be aware that this will be the last time we will see each other."


    "W-What do you mean?" Yule stammered at her.


    "Yes, what do you mean, kitty goddess?" The woman in black echoed Yule''s question with a hint of tease in her tone. "I''m not yet done with you. So where do you think you''re going?"


    The black feline scoffed at her and eyed her carefully. "Unfortunately for you, your absorption process is too slow that I have now enough time to escape this plane." Then she turned her eyes at the three young slayers. "To be honest, the absorption process did by this woman has done enough damage to the bond that I have with Candace. The only merciful act I could provide to her is to leave her body and return to the Divine Realm."


    "You mean to say that aswang can absorb the mythical being inside our body?" Ranger exclaimed at the goddess.


    The woman in black just chuckled at Ranger, but Bastet responded to him.


    "Yes," she answered grimly. "I don''t know how. But they have the capability now to absorb us and use our powers from their greedy acts. If she succeeds in absorbing me earlier, I will become their servant and sadly a weapon against humankind."


    "So if you''re leaving Candace and the human plane, what will happen to her?" Yule asked while looking at Candace.


    Bastet looked at her partner who was still unconscious and turned her head to Yule. "As I''ve mentioned earlier, the absorption by this wretched woman was too severe that it had done damage to our bond. She..."


    All eyes were all looking expectantly at the feline goddess as her face changed to mournful expression.


    "...this young and passionate kid will be a lifeless shell now."


    The three of them gasped from the goddess'' revelation as Sanna covered her mouth from the shock. Yule was reeling from the news as his legs started to wobble weakly.


    "Either way, she will be a lifeless shell if I have finished absorbing the kitty goddess. So she''s useless now." The woman in black looked satisfied then her red eyes started glowing again.


    "Everyone, she will start attacking - " Ranger never finished his statement as Yule charged forward to the woman in black, gripping tightly his violet spear.


    "How many times do we need to play this game?" She asked Yule when a strong gust of winds gathered around her. The woman in black blasted the approaching slayer with her wind. Expecting her move, Yule swung his spear and impaled it on the ground so he could avoid being thrown out by her power.


    "Since she''s useless now, I just have to dispose of that stupid child now." She raised her right hand and strong wind current gather around her hand again.


    "No!!" Yule shouted.


    The wind blasted forward towards the direction of Candace, slashing its way to its target. But the feline goddess quickly leaped from her position and blocked the incoming attack, dissipating the wind.


    "This will be my last act of kindness for Candace." The feline goddess opened her mouth and a beautiful and enchanting song came out of her.


    To the ears of Yule and his classmates, it was alluring and beyond this world song, but to the woman in black, she started cowering and wailing from pain. She covered her ears from the painful music.


    While continuing her song, Bastet cocked her head to Yule''s direction and talk to her through his mind.


    "I have to go now, Yule. Use this chance to slay her permanently. And...." Bastet paused temporarily. "... save this world even though it''s not your homeworld."


    Yule uttered a shock of disbelief after knowing that Bastet was fully aware that he is not from this world.


    Nodding at the goddess, he immediately moved his body and prepared his spear. The song started to diminish slowly until the physical form of the goddess was fully gone. Yule launched himself to the aswang, thrusting his spear to her body.


    As his body was inching closer to her, unknown to Yule, the woman steeled her right hand and stabbed it to the center of his body.


    Ranger and Sanna anguished in shock as the right hand of the woman impaled straight to the body of Yule.


    Feeling light-headed, Yule was frozen after seeing the hand, penetrating his body. His spear fell and clanked on the ground while his vision started to get consumed by darkness.


    Then everything went black.

 31 End of Beginning Volume 1 Conclusion

    Blackness.


    Numbness.


    Blackness.


    Numbness.


    The cycle just kept on repeating itself until Yule could no longer tell the difference between those two elements. He couldn''t even tell how long he was in this empty space. The last thing he remembered was the woman in black plunged her hand deep into his body then everything faded.


    He just wanted to curl his body and accept that he was already stuck in here. But his mind kept on repeating the names of his companions - Ranger, Professor Fields, and Sanna. His mind was telling his body to claw out of this space, but his body remained stagnant, embracing the emptiness.


    ''If he comes back, will he make a difference in the battle?'' he asked himself. He pondered deeply in his thoughts since this was the only thing he could do right now in this empty space.


    He also began remembering his family back to his homeworld. His mother and younger sister won''t know that Yule lost his life in another world. He died fighting for another war.


    Dark thoughts started to infiltrate his mind as it began losing the will to escape this empty space.


    Then -


    Something lightly caressed his arm, giving little warmth on his body. It was also a welcoming feeling after experiencing numbness for quite some time already.


    Then it repeated again.


    This time it was on his head, followed by his chest until it spread out throughout his body, making him feel alive again.


    The warmth covered his whole body until he could feel that the empty space was shifting also. Then he found himself in a familiar place where shards started to fall from above.


    He tried to look above him, so he could find out where the shards were coming from, since the last time he was in here, he didn''t get the chance to look around the area. But there were no clouds or anything. It was just another blank and empty space where shards rained around the area.


    The strange thing, despite the continuous pouring of the shards, it never touched his body.


    The shards were avoiding him.


    While distracted to the shards, Yule began to feel that someone was approaching him. Then he heard soft footsteps inching closer to him.


    That was when he found himself looking at the girl he''d met before he was transported to another world.


    The girl was still wearing her long violet dress while her long black hair was being kept by the diadem around her head.


    The last time he saw her, she was wearing a hopeful look at him. But this time, she was showing a concerned look.


    \"Hi Yule,\" her voice was very soft, and the first sound he heard after being stuck in an empty space.


    \"We meet again.\"


    Yule tried to find his voice, then he answered her in a croaked voice. \"Y-Yes. It was nice meeting you again.\"


    \"I don''t have much time. But this may be our last time meeting each other.\" She stepped closer to him and started holding his hands.


    The moment she held her hands, it was the same warmth he felt earlier. Her hand was soft despite clenching her hands to him.


    \"You need to get back, Yule. The world needs you right now.\"


    \"B-But I failed. and I lost. Plus, there are a lot of stronger slayers than me back in their world. I don''t know what I can contribute to their ongoing war against the aswang.\"


    She dropped his hands and started holding his face, then smiled at him flashing her perfect white teeth. \"Yule, the moment you came to their world, a lot of things changed. With your help, they began making things they haven''t done before.\"


    Yule''s brows furrowed. \"How? So far, my tracking record was I''m good at killing at Level 1 aswang.\"


    \"But with your help, it made a lot of differences in fighting them. You may not be strong now. But I think you''re the missing the piece that the slayers need right now.\"


    \"By being the support role?\"


    The girl tilted her head and didn''t answer him directly. \"Whenever you''re around, your companions exhibit the highest potential they could''ve been as a slayer. Now, I will be giving you my last lesson to you.\"


    \"What do you mean ''last lesson?'' This is just our second time meeting each other.\"


    \"Remember whenever you discovered new spells in fighting off the aswang, where do you think it was coming from?\"


    Then Yule remembered those moments when out of the blue, words or spells surfacing in his mind.


    \"It was you! You were there helping me!\"


    The girl nodded her head and chuckled at him. \"Unfortunately, this will be my last time teaching you. My powers are waning.\"


    \"W-Why?\"


    \"I am a prisoner, Yule. My powers are being consumed.\"


    \"By whom?\"


    \"By a dark god. He was the one behind this invasion.\" Then her appearance began faltering. Her hand that was holding his face became translucent. She was starting to disappear!


    \"Wait! What''s happening?!\"


    \"I''m being pulled back. This is one of the reasons I pulled you out of your world. I''m seeking your help. Help me become free again.\"


    In rapid state, she was being erased from this space.


    \"What''s your name?\" Yule shouted.


    The girl gave her a weak smile until she completely disappeared from his sight. But her voice remained. \"That''s the thing, Yule. I don''t know my name anymore.\"


    Then the shards stopped pouring around him then his surroundings began whirling.


    *****


    Sanna was covering her mouth when the woman in black skewered Yule by using her bare hand. She was still on the back of her white stag when her visions started blurred from the tears leaking out her eyes.


    She heard Ranger howling beside her and sped towards the aswang.


    The woman saw the sudden movements of Ranger and quickly pulled out her hand from the lifeless body of the boy.


    Yule''s body fell from her grasp and landed on the ground with a thud. Blood started to spread around his body.


    Seeing the corpse of his friend, it further ignited Rage''s anger. Brandishing his swords, he flew straight to the aswang and launched an electrical attack at her.


    The aswang leapt from her position to dodge the attack and return it with a howling wind attack from her.


    Ranger flew sideways to avoid her attack, and the swords behind him started to rotate clockwise.


    Seeing the movements of the swords, Sanna knew what attack will Ranger unleashed. She immediately ordered the white stag and went to the body of Yule to pick him up.


    Sanna climbed down from the stag and quickly carried the body of Yule. Blood started to spread around her white uniform, but it was her least priority now. She climbed again to the white stag and placed Yule behind her. Sanna kicked Zuna, and the white stag galloped away from the battle area between the aswang and Ranger.


    Recognizing that Sanna successfully retrieved Yule''s body, Ranger eyed the aswang and hovered before her. \"Taste this, you monster! Shock-\"


    He never finished his chant when the woman in black gripped her hand in the air.


    \"You''re a troublesome opponent, my dear. I''ll be sucking your air now!\" The aswang gave a smirk to Ranger who was starting to gasp for air. He suddenly lowered his body and kneel on the ground, holding his neck.


    After gaining a safe distance from the two, Sanna noticed that Ranger didn''t launch his attack. She saw him kneeling on the ground, his hands grasping his neck like he couldn''t breathe.


    She hastened to move the body of Yule to the ground and summoned back to his weaponized form.


    Sanna knew that her bow attacks won''t be effective against the woman in black as she would just deflect easily her energy arrows with her strong winds. So she would just face her through physical combat. She needed to be fast. As she inched closer, Sanna noticed that Ranger''s skin was turning violet already from the lack of air. She only had few seconds to distract the aswang so Ranger could breathe again.


    Sensing that another young slayer was approaching her, the woman in black flashed her wicked grin at the young girl.


    Sanna cocked her bow at the woman and fired two consecutive energy arrows. The arrows changed their directions, splitting in mid-air, and instead of firing straight towards the aswang, the arrows went to the right and left side of the woman in black.


    The aswang just waved her hand and a strong current of wind greeted the arrows and deflecting them. But she was surprised that the young slayer was no longer in front of her. It was a diversion. Then the next thing she knew, her face took a strong kick from the girl.


    The aswang went down and touched her face which was now bruised. But Sanna never gave the chance the aswang to counter her. Sanna launched another kick at the aswang which made the aswang howled in pain. The amount of force she was receiving from the attack was far from the normal physical attacks by humans. Again, these people are slayers, to begin with.


    Due to the attacks also, she lost her concentration from the spell she leashed on Ranger which was now successfully breathing normally and glaring at her with so much hostility.


    Grabbing his swords again, Ranger pulled himself up and surges of electricity stared surrounding his body. He flew straight to her and blasted her with strong electrical attacks.


    The aswang howled again in pain after receiving the attack from Ranger. Then she went still, lying on the cold ground.


    Ranger lowered himself to the ground and looked at the crumpled form of the aswang. He was still breathing heavily as he was still reeling from a close death encounter. He sensed that Sanna approached behind him and looked at her.


    She was also panting from the fight and nodded at him. They wanted to to the killing blow at the same time for their lost compatriot - Yule.


    Both stepped closer to the aswang and that was when the ground started to vibrate. The two startled from the sudden movements of the ground, and Ranger found that the aswang was still conscious after receiving his attack.


    The woman in black placed her palm on the ground and started flooding with strong current of winds deep inside the soil of the ground.


    The cold stones from the ground started to break as if it was experiencing an earthquake. Then wreckage followed. The ground started to collapse, creating a fissure around them.


    Large rock formations protruded from it, and that was when they noticed that Candace was in danger from being pierced by the rocks. Ranger quickly sped towards her and grabbed her while Sanna recalled the animal form of Zuna and rode on her companion, leaping from various rock formations peaking from the wrecked ground.


    The woman in black began cackling with laughter as she rose from her position. Then her eyes started glaring at her target. She raised her arms and instantly summoned a giant strong wind. Pebbles, small rocks to bigger rocks began swirling around the room due to the strong current of wind.


    The walls started to creak also from the force circulating inside.


    \"Ranger! I don''t think we can handle this!\" Sanna shouted as the wind whiplash her hair behind her. Ranger was cradling Candace on his arms. He knew this will mean an end to them. They need the professor now.


    Then they heard the aswang yelped in surprise.


    Sanna and Ranger began cried in hope, thinking it was the professor rescuing them.


    But to their surprise especially the aswang, it was an unexpected cavalry.


    The mysterious person was holding a giant spear covered in light and a serious deadpan face greeted the woman in black.


    \"H-How??\" The aswang cried.


    \"I guess, they still need me.\"


    Recognizing the voice and appearance, Ranger and Sanna cried also in disbelief.


    \"Yule!\" They shouted in unison.


    The giant wind quickly dispelled after losing the concentration from the conjurer. But the woman in black snarled at Yule and glared at him with red eyes.


    \"Then I have to kill you again!\" She leapt from the ground and attacked Yule with a gust of wind again.


    Yule used his transformed spear to deflect the attack and vanishing the wind. The aswang snarled at him and launched herself at Yule.


    Seeing the attack, Yule raised his arms and shouted, \"Waning Crescent!\"


    The spear seemed to enlarge again, and Yule met the aswang in mid-air, launching himself also at her.


    They clashed in the air with the clawing hands of the aswang and the giant spear of Yule. It was a stand-off between two creatures fighting for their lives.


    Yule pushed his spear to the bare hands of the aswang. But she was holding him pretty well with her hands alone. Sparks began to emit from their clash, then the aswang exerted more energy to her hands, causing for Yule to falter slowly.


    \"Die now!\" The aswang shouted at him.


    Then she waved her hands at him, throwing the giant spears out of her way and launched a strong current of wind against Yule throwing him like a bullet straight to the ground. The woman in black followed Yule to give him the finishing blow.


    \"You really think, you''re kind of savior after resurrecting from my blow?\" She scoffed at him while Yule groaned in pain from the crash.


    Then he smiled at him. \"I never said that I would kill you. I''m just the support. Plus, I''m just buying some time.\"


    The woman in black gave him a questioning look and started to feel a strong presence from somewhere.


    They heard a loud crash from the wall behind the aswang, and a smiling professor stained with blood and some other things that Yule didn''t want to know waved at them. Professor Fields swung his greatsword and pointed it at the aswang.


    \"Need help everyone?\" Professor Fields asked innocently.


    The woman in black snarled at him and launched a strong current of wind at him. But the professor just swung his sword and deflect the attack.


    \"Then I will summon my servants now to deal with you!\" The aswang snapped her fingers. But silence only answered her.


    Ranger and Sanna looked around them, expecting for a wave of monsters to flood the wrecked room. But nothing happened.


    The woman in black snapped her fingers again. But no one answered her.


    \"Oh, forgot to mention also, were those your servants? I just exterminated all of them. Boy, I didn''t expect that you''re hiding a horde in this cavern.\" Professor Fields smirked at the aswang.


    \"What?! Those are for invasion for your flying cities! There were like thousands of them inside here.\" This time she was the one who faltered in front of the professor.


    \"Oh, so you''re the one who was behind of those horde attacks recently.\" The professor adjusted her eyeglasses.


    The aswang backstepped, feeling the overwhelming aura from the professor. \"I was just following orders from the Tantibus.\"


    \"Don''t worry, I know that group was the real one who was pulling the strings. I killed one of their members before.\"


    \"What?! You don''t mean you''re the Everstorm!\"


    The professor just flashed a grin at her and swung his sword at her. The aswang grunted in pain, and she found her head cut off from the body and fell on the ground. There were traces of electricity constricting on the cut-off part, then the remaining body fell on the ground also.


    Yule was in shock also after witnessing the extreme power from his professor. He was about to give him a thumbs-up, but he was consumed by blackness again. But this time, he was thankful he just fainted only.


    *****


    The next moment was hazy for Yule. He was blinking in and out when his companions regroup and picked up Yule. The next vision he had was when he was already inside the aircraft being nursed by Ranger and Sanna for first aid treatment. Candace was beside him still unconscious after the chaos they had experienced. And the last moment he''d seen was when he was brought to a hospital. The nurses and doctors were arguing that some student will attend to Yule to give him complete restorative healing. The doctors resigned and gave up on the demands of the nurse. Then he succumbed to sleep.


    When he woke up, he found himself rested in a white room with a holo-screen turned on but switched to mute. Then when he looked around, he was surprised that he had a companion.


    The stranger was wearing the same white uniform issued by the academy and was smiling at him.


    She had a short curly green-dyed hair kept by a black hairband.


    \"I''m so happy that you''re awake now.\" She said in a melodic voice.


    Yule tried to nod at her. But he could feel some little soar some parts of his body.


    \"Oh, don''t move much, Yule. Despite healing you, there are certain parts of your body that need to heal by yourself.\"


    \"You healed me?\"


    She nodded at him, then her eyes widen. \"Oh! I forgot I haven''t introduced myself. Silly me! I''m Amethyst Mayer. We haven''t met, but Haruto and Jin-Yoo talked about you before. They are my classmates under Ms. Rekka''s class.\"


    *****


    Deep inside the bookstore from Entertainment District, Rowan was plucking out books from the newly delivered boxes. He sorted the books according to their genre and placed them on the shelf accordingly.


    While humming to himself, he felt another presence hiding behind the shelf he was arranging. After noticing that it was a familiar presence, he let guards down and continued stacking the books.


    \"What do you want?\"


    \"Have you heard the news?\" The unknown visitor asked. It was a female voice.


    \"I heard a lot of news recently. What specifically?\"


    \"Newbie slayers defeated a level 4 aswang.\"


    \"Hmmm,\" Rowan pretended to think and recalled the news. \"If I remember correctly, it was Professor Fields who made the finishing blow. The fledging slayers helped him though.\"


    \"Regardless. What are your plans?\" she asked warily.


    \"To be honest, I have to see their skills first before making any plans. Plus, one of those fledging slayers you''re talking about is working here as part-time assistant though he has yet to appear for his first day.\"


    The mystery woman chuckled at him. \"If I know better, I think it''s no coincidence that he was pulled here. You made it happen.\"


    Rowan just shrugged at her and scratched his messy blond hair. He continued stacking the books to the shelf until he felt that the mystery woman disappeared already.