Barbara and Bastian were walking leisurely down the hallway after leaving Raisa and Kenji's room. But suddenly, a loud siren blared throughout the building.
Without hesitation, Kenji, Raisa, Julia, and Ramon rushed out of the room and found Barbara and Bastian still standing in the corridor.
"What's going on?" Raisa asked, her eyes scanning the area with concern.
"We should head to the auditorium," Ramon suggested. "They usually make announcements there."
The group quickly made their way to the main hall. When they arrived, they saw Ms. Yumi and Sakura—Raisa's mother—already there, both wearing serious expressions.
"What's happening, Ma'am?" Kenji asked urgently.
"We're not sure," Ms. Yumi replied tensely. "The siren just started on its own without any warning."
Not long after, a man dressed in military uniform stepped onto the stage.
"Apologies, but the event might be canceled. However, the prizes will still be distributed to each contestant," he announced clearly.
"For those with non-combat Vassels—those blessed for support or utility—please gather at the airport. We will escort you safely back home."
"As for those with combat-type Vassels, your help would be appreciated, though it is not mandatory. The city council will provide Life Elixirs for any fallen Vassels."
The room buzzed with whispers. The man continued, more somber now:
"You're probably wondering what's going on. This city is under attack by the infamous terrorist group—BloodVassel. They are extremely dangerous. If you wish to evacuate, do so immediately. Head to the airport."
Sakura turned to Raisa and said softly, "Come, let's go."
But Raisa stood firm. Determination blazed in her eyes.
"Mom, I'm staying. I want to help. My Vassels are strong."
"Are you still just a child?" Sakura snapped, voice trembling.
"Please trust me," Raisa replied. "This feels like my test. I can't keep hiding from the world, or from fear, forever."
Sakura hesitated, clearly torn.
Then Kenji stepped forward. "Auntie… I promise, I'll protect Raisa with my life."
Raisa gave him a quick look, half surprised, half amused.
"Wow, you two sound so romantic," Sakura muttered, trying to mask her worry with sarcasm. "So this was the plan all along—make me leave so you can have a secret date?"
"Mom, no!" Raisa protested. "My Vassels are seriously powerful. We're going to help however we can."
Sakura looked at her daughter for a long moment. Then, finally, she exhaled.
"Alright."
With one last glance back, Sakura and Ms. Yumi boarded the aircraft—one capable of traveling at twice the speed of light—and disappeared into the sky.
Kenji and Raisa followed the soldier in military uniform toward the edge of the training grounds—an area where they usually played and relaxed. But now, the atmosphere was entirely different.
As they reached the seaside cliffs, they looked out toward the ocean.
At first glance, there were countless tiny green dots scattered across the water.
But when they looked through the binoculars, Raisa gasped.
"Goblins," she muttered. "Hundreds of thousands of them... swimming toward the shore."
A chill ran down Kenji's spine.
Not far from them, they saw Barbara and Bastian standing side by side, and Ramon with Julia just a few steps away.
"Hey! You guys didn't leave?" Raisa called out.
"I'm strong," Ramon replied with a smirk.
Julia simply nodded beside him, her expression calm but resolute.
Barbara raised her chin confidently.
"A sea battle? That's my domain."
Bastian, on the other hand, looked visibly nervous as he glanced at the approaching army and then at the determined expressions of the others.
"W-Well… I'll make sure there's coffee ready when you all get tired," he said, forcing a small smile.
"One of my Vassels can produce an unlimited supply—no matter the situation. And my other Vassel? he can clean anything. Not just dirt—he can cleanse blood, poison, even infectious bacteria… as long as I see it."
There was a short pause before Raisa grinned and gave him a thumbs up.
"Actually… that sounds really useful."
A man in a military captain's uniform stepped forward, surveying the vast ocean filled with green shapes.
"Those with long-range capabilities," he commanded, "now's your time. If we can stop them before they reach the shore, we'll save thousands of lives."
Kenji stepped up without hesitation. His body glowed with lightning, and in an instant, he transformed into Thor, summoning a thunder-infused warhammer into his hand. With a mighty swing, he hurled it into the sea.
BOOOOM!!
Electric currents surged through the ocean, creating a massive shockwave. Countless goblins screamed before being electrocuted underwater—many falling instantly.
Barbara transformed into The Puppeteer, raising her hand as dozens of dolls equipped with sniper rifles and machine guns materialized around her. From behind the cliffs, they opened fire in perfect formation—bullets raining down on the goblin horde.
Julia became Seraphim, her wings of light stretching majestically behind her. She ascended into the air, then began releasing rapid blasts of radiant energy—each shot cutting through rows of enemies like divine arrows.
Ramon transformed into Ignies, his body cloaked in flames. With a deep breath, he summoned his fire dragon. Mounting it with grace, he soared into the sky, launching massive fireballs that exploded over the water, turning entire patches of goblins into ash.
All around them, hundreds—no, thousands—of other contestants awakened their Vassels and joined the battle. The sky lit up with spells, energy beams, elemental arrows, and more, as a long-range assault began.
Raisa stepped forward last. Her body shimmered as she transformed into Miranda, sleek and deadly. She summoned her signature AK201, a futuristic assault rifle, and began firing in rapid bursts.
BRATATATATAT!
Bullets ripped through the air, piercing goblins before they could reach land. But Raisa's expression darkened.
"There are too many," she muttered. "They just keep coming… from where?"
She knew what had to be done.
Without hesitation, she activated her second blessing.
Two mini-drones materialized above her shoulders, silently floating into the sky. Each one unfolded and revealed four miniature nuclear warheads. The warning lights blinked red.
Raisa's eyes narrowed.
"Fire."
The drones launched.
BOOOOOOMMMMM!!!
Twin mushroom clouds erupted over the ocean. The shockwaves tore through the goblin army with terrifying force—water rising high into the sky, steam hissing as energy scorched the sea.
For a moment, the entire battlefield fell silent… as the smoke rose, and the waves calmed.
Just moments after the twin mushroom clouds faded into the horizon, a soldier descended rapidly from the sky. His Vassel form was sleek, futuristic—equipped with a high-powered jetpack that allowed him to soar through the air with incredible speed.
He landed hard on the rocky cliffside near Raisa and the others, his boots kicking up dust.
"Listen!" he shouted, his visor flickering as it transmitted battlefield data. "I flew above the cloud. I saw them—five individuals standing eight kilometers out at sea, gathered on a hidden shoreline."
Everyone turned to him instantly, alert.
"One of them keeps summoning the goblins—endlessly. That's the source of this army."
"Another is generating a massive shield barrier that protects the island. I tried attacking it, but… it's nearly indestructible."
He looked grim as he continued.
"The other three haven't moved… but that worries me even more. I suspect they hold powerful blessings, waiting for the right moment."
The group fell silent for a second.
The captain, who had been quietly listening to the conversation, nodded firmly. Without a word, he walked toward Miranda, who stood still with glowing eyes and drones humming around her. As he approached, she turned to face him, expression unreadable.
"Can you launch another nuclear strike?" he asked bluntly.
"I can fire six more rounds," Miranda replied calmly. "And once they're depleted, I can summon four more drones. That gives me sixteen more shots total."
The captain broke into a cold sweat. A child... holding the power of a battlefield goddess.
The thought of Raisa—a teenage girl—wielding world-ending weapons made his stomach twist. But in this moment, pragmatism won over fear.
"Then we'll need to use that firepower wisely," he muttered.
"The bigger problem," he added, raising his voice to the group, "is how we even get there. That island is eight kilometers out in the ocean."
Just then, Ramon, still in his fiery form as Ignies, stepped forward.
"I can call my dragon," he offered. "It can fly me across the sea."
The jetpack soldier quickly shook his head.
"Too dangerous. The waters between here and the island are swarming with monsters—goblins are just the start. I saw trolls, ogres, even a goblin titan. I doubt your dragon would survive the flight."
Suddenly, a sultry laugh broke the tension.
"Well then… looks like it's my time to shine," said Barbara, her eyes glinting.
Her body shimmered, transforming into her Pirate Vassel form—a striking woman with sharp eyes, a confident smirk, and a revealing outfit that fluttered in the sea breeze.
She walked toward the shore, barefoot on the sand, and waved her hand dramatically over the ocean.
A massive rumble echoed across the waves.
Ten colossal warships erupted from beneath the sea, surfacing one by one. Each vessel was massive—capable of carrying over 2,000 fighters apiece. Cannons lined their sides, and glowing Vassel crests decorated their sails.
"With these beauties," Barbara said with a grin, "we can bring an army to that island."