The sky had turned a shade darker.
The once vibrant wind that danced around the cliffs now carried whispers of unease. From the edge of the high ridge, Aizak Mikami stood with his arms folded, his dark cape fluttering behind him, and Vaerion beside him — his massive form casting a wide shadow across the rocky landscape.
Below, the valley that cradled the village of Miruth remained untouched — peaceful. But that peace was too perfect. Too quiet.
"They're coming," Vaerion said, his voice grave and low.
Aizak nodded. "I can feel it. Something unnatural is stirring."
Far below, the other six Great Mages were scattered around the glen. Suzume Tamami was conducting a defensive barrier of light magic over the villagers, her golden aura pulsing like a beacon. Akane Aika soared overhead, pushing away suspicious clouds with powerful gusts. Chouka Daiki stomped her foot into the ground, weaving earthen walls around weak spots in the village defenses.
Fumiko Haruki and Hitomi Ika had taken the frontlines, one with fierce flames blazing from her fists, the other summoning waves of water ready to crash on command.
And Tomomi Usagi… she had vanished again. Typical. Her dark magic had always allowed her to work best from the shadows.
Aizak turned to Vaerion. "I'm going down there. They'll need me."
"You're the key," Vaerion warned. "Whatever is coming… it isn't just an attack. It's a message."
"Then let me be the answer," Aizak replied.
He leapt from the ridge.
Dark wings shimmered from his back as he glided gracefully toward the village, landing between Suzume and Hitomi.
"Perfect timing," Suzume said, a soft smile lighting her face. "The barrier is almost complete."
"I'll reinforce it," Aizak said, placing a hand on her shoulder and channeling healing magic. The shimmering barrier grew brighter, steadier.
Hitomi gave him a short nod. "Good. Because something's definitely coming."
At that moment, a thunderous roar split the air.
A black fissure ripped through the sky, directly above the valley. Magic crackled from it like lightning, and a shape began to emerge from the rift — something massive and cloaked in crimson smoke.
"A Summoning Gate?" Chouka gasped, stepping back from her barrier wall. "But it's corrupted!"
From the fissure dropped a monstrous figure — a beast unlike anything they'd seen. A massive, horned creature, its limbs shrouded in decaying vines and bone armor, its face hidden beneath a cracked dragon skull.
"Not just a beast," Tomomi's voice whispered as she reappeared behind Aizak. "That thing has a soul. A dark one."
"Everyone, formation!" Akane shouted from above, spinning wind around her to give speed to her allies. "We hit it fast and hard before it settles!"
The Battle Begins.
Fumiko let out a war cry and launched herself forward, flames bursting from her fists. She clashed with the beast head-on, forcing it back with a fiery explosion. Hitomi followed, sending spears of ice and water at its limbs, trying to freeze its movements.
Chouka called forth pillars of stone to trap its legs, while Suzume layered holy light to weaken its defenses.
Aizak held back for a moment, watching.
Every motion of the creature was strategic. It was no mindless monster. It knew how to counter them — breaking stone pillars, shielding itself with dark energy, and even absorbing some of their attacks.
"This thing's too smart," Tomomi muttered beside him. "It's reacting. Learning."
Aizak's eyes narrowed. "Then it has a master."
He channeled healing magic through the ground, spreading revitalizing energy to his friends as they attacked. But inside, he was preparing something else — something deeper.
Dark Pulse.
He summoned shadows around his body, forming a spiraling aura of darkness.
"Everyone, pull back!" he called.
The group obeyed without hesitation, falling behind the second line of defense. The creature roared and surged forward — straight into Aizak's waiting hands.
He released the Dark Pulse — a controlled wave of dark magic shaped like a spinning vortex. It struck the monster head-on, flinging it backward into the trees at the valley's edge.
But even as the monster fell, it laughed — a deep, guttural sound echoing from within.
Suddenly, the air split again — and more portals opened.
This time, five smaller beasts dropped into the valley — shadowy wolves with glowing red eyes and fanged smiles.
"Reinforcements," Suzume said grimly.
Akane cursed. "This is a coordinated assault."
"Then we coordinate back," Fumiko said. "We take them out — all of them — and then close the gate!"
They spread out again. This time, Aizak focused on support, healing their wounds mid-fight, casting dark shields when someone was about to be struck. Vaerion soared above, breathing streams of blue fire onto the beasts, holding back the tide.
Hitomi and Chouka worked together — freezing the wolves while Chouka crushed them with rocks. Tomomi disappeared into the trees, slitting throats from the shadows. Fumiko's fire blazed like a star.
They fought like one.
Together.
After an intense battle, the final wolf fell, disintegrating into smoke. The large beast — weakened — let out one last shriek before Aizak, Suzume, and Akane combined their power to strike it down.
The valley fell silent.
The rift above pulsed… then shattered, sending harmless motes of dark energy drifting through the sky.
Everyone stood frozen.
Breathing.
Bruised.
Exhausted.
Victorious.
But none of them cheered.
Aizak knelt by the ashes of the main beast. Something glittered among the remains — a fragment of a crystal, black with veins of red light. He picked it up.
Tomomi stared at it. "That's not from this world."
"It's not," Aizak agreed. "Someone is creating monsters like this and sending them through corrupted gates."
Chouka folded her arms. "Who would do that? And why attack this place?"
Vaerion landed beside them, his eyes focused on the horizon.
"Because someone knows who Aizak really is," the dragon said quietly. "And they're testing his strength."
The group turned to Aizak, surprised.
He hesitated… then sighed.
"I haven't told you everything."
Slowly, he stepped forward.
"My real name… is Aizak Mikami, Crown Prince of the Altherian Empire. I left my kingdom to understand the world, to hide from those who would use me, or worse, control me. But I think hiding time is over."
The six mages looked at one another, stunned.
Suzume was the first to smile.
"We already knew you were special."
"You're still one of us," Hitomi added.
Tomomi shrugged. "Makes sense. You always had that dramatic prince vibe."
Fumiko grinned. "Royalty or not — you're fighting with us. That's what matters."
Akane smirked. "But if you start acting all high and mighty, I'll drop you from the sky."
They laughed together — not because the danger was over, but because they had chosen each other.
Aizak smiled, feeling something rare and powerful settle in his chest.
Belonging.
Chouka walked up beside him. "So what now?"
Aizak looked at the crystal in his hand, then at the sky.
"Now," he said, "we find out who's behind the rifts."
Vaerion rumbled in agreement.
"And we stop them before they tear this world apart."
---
[To be continued…]