Chapter 12

...⚠ Warning:...

...This chapter contains scenes of injury, destructions and distress. Reader discretion is advised....

...— Arcllumen...

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...𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐖𝐄𝐋𝐕𝐄 ...

...𝙸𝙽𝚃𝙾 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙰𝙱𝚈𝚂𝚂: 𝚂𝙷𝙰𝙳𝙾𝚆 𝙾𝙵 𝙵𝙴𝙰𝚁 𝙰𝙽𝙳 𝙿𝙾𝚆𝙴𝚁 𝚅𝙸...

ᴵᵐᵃᵍᵉ ⁷• ᶜʳᵉᵈⁱᵗᵉᵈ ᵗᵒ ᴾⁱⁿᵗᵉʳᵉˢᵗ•

...꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶ ๋ ࣭ ⭑꒷꒦꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶ ๋ ࣭ ⭑꒷꒦꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶ ๋ ࣭...

The dust slowly settled, revealing the wreckage of the building. Through the thick haze, Yuri’s sharp gaze caught sight of a towering figure—an enormous mutant standing ominously just a few meters away. The floor beneath them was fractured, the structure groaning under the weight of destruction.

In the monster’s grotesque grasp was Ferroniger, his body suspended midair like a lifeless doll. The mutant’s fingers tightened around him, its dark, pulsating aura exuding an eerie presence. Its jagged teeth gleamed under the flickering lights, its abyss-like eyes locked onto its prey.

Yuri felt an unsettling chill crawl down his spine. The sheer size and aura of the creature were terrifying—but he refused to let fear show. His expression remained firm, though beads of sweat betrayed his tense anticipation.

Ferroniger struggled, attempting to summon, but the mutant’s grip was suffocating. His voice barely escaped. “Ker—” He choked, but his words were cut short as the vice-like hold crushed the air from his lungs.

The mutant’s growl rumbled through the air before it released a deafening roar, a sound so powerful it felt like it could shatter bones. Without warning, it flung Ferroniger across the battlefield.

CRACK!

His body slammed into the wall, the impact causing fractures to spread like spiderwebs across the surface. A dull boom echoed as debris tumbled to the floor. Blood splattered from Ferroniger’s mouth, his breath ragged as he slumped against the rubble.

“Hey!” Yuri shouted instinctively, his voice carrying a rare edge of concern.

...˚ ༘ ೀ⋆.˚...

Outside the school, the world felt eerily still. The campus, usually alive with distant chatter, now stood in dead silence.

Arclreign walked along the grounds, her steps light and unhurried. The cold wind brushed against her skin, carrying the crisp scent of fallen leaves. The soft rustling of trees played a quiet melody—a stark contrast to the chaos within.

She was aware of the battle raging inside, but she paid it no mind.

Until it came to her...

CRASH!

Glass shattered from the upper floors, sharp fragments glinting as they rained down. Her calm gaze lifted just in time to witness Ferroniger’s body hurtling through the window, crashing onto the rooftop of the opposite building.

A massive figure followed, landing with a heavy thud that sent vibrations through the structure. The rooftop trembled beneath its weight.

From her position below, Arclreign observed the battle as if she were watching birds in the sky. She blinked, showing neither concern nor intrigue. Her expression remained as soft and natural as ever.

...˚ ༘ ೀ⋆.˚...

“Ugh…” Ferroniger groaned, his body sprawled across the rooftop. Blood trickled down his temple, staining his already battered form. But even in his injured state, there was an undeniable charm to his presence, as though the battle scars only added to his striking features.

My summoning… it won’t activate. He clenched his jaw, his mind clouded with exhaustion. Despite his body screaming in protest, he forced himself upright, his muscles trembling under the strain.

The hexed mutant loomed over him, approaching slowly, deliberately—as if savoring its impending victory.

Ferroniger’s instincts screamed at him to act, to summon, to fight back. But his thoughts were scattered.

*Damn it! I can’t focus.*

Then, in the midst of turmoil, he felt it. A presence—light, unshaken, unwavering.

His sharp gaze flicked to the side.

There she stood.

Arclreign.

Still. Silent. Watching.

The chaotic winds did not ruffle her composure. The monstrous scene before her did not disturb her tranquility. It was as if none of it mattered in her world.

For the first time in the battle, Ferroniger felt a fleeting sense of peace, a calm that seeped through his wounds and numbed the pain.

*What… is this feeling?*

CRACK!

A sudden impact snapped him out of his daze.

Yuri’s fist had connected with the mutant’s jaw, the force so immense it sent a shockwave through the air. The creature reeled back from the sheer raw power.

Ferroniger blinked, regaining clarity. *What a raw strength…* His admiration for Yuri’s raw force flickered in his mind, grounding him back to reality.

“You good?” Yuri’s voice rang through the dust, stepping toward him without lowering his guard. The mutant groaned, staggering from the hit but still standing.

Ferroniger let out a dry chuckle, lowering his head as exhaustion caught up with him. “I told you to escape,” he muttered, his voice laced with exasperation. “But once again, you didn’t listen.”

“Yeah, yeah, forget it,” Yuri huffed. “I wouldn’t be able to sleep if I left you to die.”

Then, something caught his eye.

A flicker of light. A glint.

His gaze shifted toward Arclreign, drawn to the radiant shimmer of her earrings—diamond-like, flawless, reflecting the dim glow of the night. Yet, it wasn’t the jewel that held him captive. It was her.

His breath hitched.

“A girl…” he muttered under his breath.

The thought barely settled when—

BOOM!

The floor quaked. The mutant lunged, its massive jaws snapping toward them.

Yuri leaped back just in time, dodging the crushing force of its fangs. With fluid precision, he twisted midair, bringing his leg down in a devastating axe kick.

The impact sent a violent shockwave through the rooftop. The mutant groaned, its body absorbing the force, but it did not fall.

Ferroniger, still on the ground, clenched his fists. His body refused to move, his injuries weighing him down.

*No matter how strong you are…*

His jaw tightened as he watched Yuri face the monstrous foe alone.

*Victory isn’t guaranteed.*

The battle was far from over.

𝓣𝓸 𝓫𝓮 𝓬𝓸𝓷𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓾𝓮𝓭...

...─────────── ୨୧ ─────────────...

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