The clock struck 1:30 PM and Sang So-Yi, Hyeon Bae, and Jiahn were still in need of their two recruits before the next period began. The three met up on the roof together after their third period, going over their new plans for recruiting Pyo Yu-Ni and Song Jae-in with them trying for Pyo Yu-Ni this time.
"Alright, Song Jae-in is in her music class right now and Yu-Ni has a free period. It's just hard to track her down...with only an hour and 15 minutes left on the clock, I doubt we can get Song Jae-in on time," So-Yi began, letting out a soft sigh and leaned her back against the barricade of the roof.
"Oh! I know Pyo Yu-Ni likes to hang out at the fountain near the St. Goken Academy Campus. I still don't know why she hangs around there," Hyeon Bae chimed in, looking over at So-Yi with expressionate eyes with the thrill of finally helping out.
Jiahn crossed her arms and hummed lightly, wondering why Pyo Yu-Ni would be at the Academy. She took out her phone and went onto the Go-Goken App to look at Yu-Ni's profile. Reading her profile once more, she discovered two new details upon it.
"Aah, she has an Academy Crush. Yeesh, her crush must run deep if her Lust Aspect is at a C+. Must be some guy who's also into the Mini and Pocket Beast collection. How exactly are we going to recruit her?" Jiahn asked, lowering her phone to look at So-Yi and tilted her head.
"With such little time on our hands, the task seems daunting...and we aren't even allowed on Academy grounds without permission from a staff member. That means someone had to be sneaking her on Academy grounds," So-Yi deducted, crossing her arms and letting out a dragged sigh and rose her head with slight frustration.
"So where will we find our fourth and fifth members from? By the time fourth period begins it'll be too late to bring them onto our side," Jiahn asked with light annoyance that none of their plans went right.
Suddenly, the roof door opened, all three girls turning their gazes toward the roof entrance to see Mul Ir-Wol wandering onto the roof. The trio all glanced at each other then back at the new girl of Grushia High School with confusion. Mul Ir-Wol looked over at the trio, her eyes brightening at the sight of them.
"Aah, Annyeong!~ More students of Class 12-A?" Ir-Wol said cheerfully, hurrying over toward the three girls and beamed a smile at them then bowed. "My name is Ir-Wol and this is my best friend, Mul."
"Greetings.." Mul said in a soft, digital tone with a warm smile on her face and waved at the three girls.
"Hey, I'm Jiahn Wa...wait, are you the new transfer student we've been hearing a lot about? The girl with a V.O.I.D System?" Jiahn asked, showing high interest in Mul and her design.
Mul Ir-Wol's eyes brightened up at Jiahn's interested and nodded happily, skipping over to her and held out Mul for her to hold. "Mhm!~ She's made with the Kindness OS, so she's made to serve me and my friends but I don't like to treat her like a servant. She's my best friend!"
Jiahn took Mul gently from Ir-Wol's hand and stared at the tiny, cute droid. She couldn't help but to smile softly at her, a soft hum playing in her throat. "She is really cute. Do you know you made her?"
"Uhm...I dunno her name, but she goes by the name Naju Hachiman," Ir-Wol answered as she looked off into the distance, thoughtfully tapping her chin with her finger.
"Hachiman? The same clan that was once actively hunting you, Jiahn? They did actually reform after you defeated them with Sa Nu Rim huh?" So-Yi asked curiously, intrigued by the creator of Mul.
"Naju Hachiman...her name rings a bell. She sounds very important, like I'm supposed to know her. She built Mul, I see...did she give her to you or did you find Mul?" Jiahn asked, handing Mul back to Ir-Wol.
"Mul found me actually," Ir-Wol giggled, happily hugging Mul with a soft, happy squeal.
Sang So-Yi studied Mul Ir-Wol's appearance for a moment then nodded to herself, standing up from her desk then walked toward Mul Ir-Wol. "You're in Class 12-A correct?"
"Mhm! I was transferred over from Gangga High School to this one. I wanted to go somewhere where I could learn more about my power as a Valkyria and a Zodiac Knight!" Mul Ir-Wol answered happily, giving a warm smile to Sang So-Yi and pointed at her Aquarius hairpin.
"Zodiac Knight? I thought the Aquarius Deity had already chosen her vessel in Princess Athena. There are two Zodiac Knights?" Hyeon Bae asked, scratching the side of her head in slight confusion.
"Obviously not. I'm willing to bet that the real Zodiac Knight is standing right in front of us. I'm almost certain Ir-Wol more credible than Princess Athena," Sang So-Yi said, studying Ir-Wol's appearance with an analytical gaze and hummed softly. "Would you like to join us for the group lesson later today?"
"Sure, why not! It would be so nice to be in a group with impressionable Valkyrias! Oh, who is the teacher for our class? I couldn't find them anywhere around the school. That's kinda why I'm on the roof," Mul Ir-Wol said, giving the trio an embarrassed laugh and rubbed the back of her head.
Jiahn chuckled softly at Mul Ir-Wol, crossing her arms and leaning back against a desk. "We have two Professors teaching our class. The main professor is named Ms. Luciel Winters and her partner is the legendary S Rank Valkyria Sa Nu Rim."
"Luciel Winters? Ahh! I've heard of her before! She used to be a student at St. Meishi Academy. I witnessed the entire liberation of St. Meishi by Squad V! Nox, Luciel, Fleur, and Effie were so cool! I was actually on a small trip at that time, it was so fun to watch!" Mul Ir-Wol gasped, excitedly covering her mouth with her hand.
"Squad V? You mean the Squad of Law and Order? Ms. Winters was a member of a legendary Zodiac Squad?" Sang So-Yi asked in awe, thoughtfully tapping her chin then stared off into the distance.
"Huh, it was like fate that Mul Ir-Wol just appeared here. There was no way I would've figured out Ms. Winters was that impressive. This Nox guy though. I want to meet him and see if all the rumors are true," Jiahn thought aloud, closing her eyes as she began to think about Squad VII.
"Rumors? What rumors?" Mul Ir-Wol asked, tilting her head at Jiahn's statement.
"The rumors about Nox being the Anti-Ascea or a False Messiah? Tch, yeah right. Those are obviously made up stories to downplay him and his achievements and fulfillments. If only they actually knew who he is..." So-Yi said, scoffing lightly as Jiahn's statement snapped her back to reality.
Hyeon Bae tilted her head curiously at Sang So-Yi, raising a brow and hummed thoughtfully. "But you've never met him. How do you know what and who Nox is like?"
Sang So-Yi hummed lightly and exhaled softly, rubbing the back of her neck, her mind trailing off to the events with Covet in Battle Zone 4. "I'm just saying that I don't believe in the rumors...besides who are we to judge this Nox guy with a log in our own eye?"
Mul Ir-Wol noticed So-Yi's flustered reaction, her gaze brightening as she noticed So-Yi's Holy Fire emitting a small ember from her chest. She giggled softly at her, her hold on Mul tightening with warmth. 'There's no denying it...she has truly been gifted with the Spirit. She's met Nox...'
The four girls continued to talk with one another for a while longer, Mul Ir-Wol getting to know the trio better and vise versa. As they chatted with each other, the next bell rang for the fourth period to begin, the Lesson on Kindness now about to go underway.
Gathering all of their belongings, the four young women all began to make their way from the roof to the ground level. They all walked down the halls together, a few students watching them walk down the hall in slight shock. The two F Ranks were casually hanging around a C+ and a B Rank, a sight that was rare to see around Grushia High.
Making it outside, Battle Zone 1 was seen straight ahead. Within the zone, the students of Class 12-A could see four tall towers in the distance, three supporting towers and one main tower. The towers had rust falling off of their bodies, proof of years of silence within.
"During the time of Gideon in the land of Uthea, King Gideon ruled over the Five Great Southern Provinces: Arthirus, Pyroc, Rivule, Therris, and Volta... On his fourth year of ruling over the south, King Gideon hosted a banquet and noble ball for his people..." A mysterious woman's voice began, her tone sweeping through the air to reach the ears of Class 12-A.
"For 180 Days, King Gideon displayed his vast wealth and splendor over Southern Uthea, garden hangings of fine gold linen and adorned with expensive stones of ruby, sapphire, and emerald...river streams decorated with glass stoned that released glass particles..."
"When King Gideon's spirits were high from wine, he sent his seven servents to retrieve Queen Astrid wearing her royal crown to display her beauty before all the people...yet she did not come and the King's anger burned over, causing him to wage war against Queen Astrid and her people..." The voice continued, the towers lightning up and whirring into action with red lights flashing upon them.
Class 12-A looked up at the towers, hearing a deep mechanical growl coming from within Battle Zone 1. Appearing in front of them was Luciel, fitted in her Vinesever Battlesuit, her tattered light brown cloak clown with the winds. Su-Yun walked onto the scene as well, her hands inside her coat pockets with a smirk on her face.
"After Queen Astrid's death...a new queen rose into power to liberate her people from King Gideon's tyrannical rule. Having to play Gideon's game, having to please him, Queen IllIlI...the Flora Vinesever, rose to a position strong enough to overthrow him," Luciel said, adjusting her mask and awakening her Yaoke.
Suddenly, the area warped around the students of Class 12-A, each student being warped at a tower in groups of five. At each tower, large roots circled the tower's land radius, trapping each student at their designated tower to prevent them from leaving.
"Leading her army in groups of five, Queen IllIlI stormed the Five Provinces with one goal in mind, unity over strategy. Once she reached King Gideon's main Province, the Kingdom of Therris, King Gideon reinforced his last kingdom with four towers, the main tower holding an Angel inside," Luciel finished, her voice reaching throughout the entirety of Battle Zone 1 with the sound of a mechanical roar echoing on the air.
At the first tower, Sang So-Yi looked around for Jiahn, Hyeon Bae, and Mul Ir-Wol only to find herself with Sun-mi, Ye-Won, Li-Na, and Pyo Yu-Ni. She exhaled softly through her nose, seeing what she had to work with then turned her gaze back toward the large rusted emerald tower in front of them.
"So this is the lesson of Kindness she was referencing to? I wonder what lesson she's trying to teach here," Li-Na said, pushing up her glasses and glancing down at her phone to see what dangers could lie ahead in the tower.
〘Scanning area for adversaries...〙
▸ Enemy Unknown.
"Obviously it's gonna say unknown. Did you not hear that woman's whole speech? Queen IllIlI stormed the Provinces with unity over strategy, meaning we have to go through this with faith and not on our own understanding," Ye-Won said, holding her arms as she looked at Li-Na with a raised brow.
"Right, storm the mysterious tower and then what? Queen IllIlI went in with faith, sure, but that doesn't mean she didn't have strategy. We don't even know where Ms. Winters is and we are thrown to the wolves. Like what is the goal here?" Sun-mi responded with a deep sigh, looking at the rusted tower in front of them.
"I'm guessing the goal is to get the Main Tower activated, but we can't get there with the entanglement around us. There's a balcony up there with a binocular stand up there, something tells me that's gonna be very important," Sang So-Yi said, pointing at the top of the tower.
The four girls looked up to where So-Yi pointed, seeing the balcony and binocular stand. With somewhat of a next step in mind, the five girls rushed toward the tower with the plans of climbing to the top. Upon reaching the tower, roots sprouted from the ground and thrusted themselves toward the girls to pierce through them.
Instinctively, Pyo Yu-Ni took one of her Mini Beast Cards from her pocket and held it out, the card shining brightly and summoning forth a small Red Wyvern to blow the roots away with its flames. The girls watched as the roots turned into ashes, the flames burning each root back to the ground.
"Rebellion against the king...is an unforgivable sin. Those who defy the King's Order shall pay with their life," A voice whispered in the ears of the five girls, the vines in front of them tangling together and taking form into an older man donned in veridian green hunters attire with a gold and emerald bow.
"Wh-who the heck is that?!" Yu-Ni squeaked, taking a step back away from the man in front of her.
"Granted from the woman's speech from earlier, it could be one of King Gideon's men. A General at that," So-Yi answered, manifesting her Silver Swallowtail and took on her stance.
"The lesson is on Kindness right? How is this teaching Kindness? What are we even supposed to do?" Sun-mi asked, looking over at So-Yi with her microphone clutched tightly in her hand.
Sang So-Yi hummed softly as she looked past the General at the large supporting tower behind him, using her discernment to figure out the next steps. "Something to do with this tower for sure, but...that old man seems important as well."
Ye-Won rolled her shoulders and huffed lightly, stomping her foot down as she got into her battle stance, a light burst of ethereal red energy pulsing around her body. "Whatever the case may be, I'm not letting some old man get in my way! Kaua!"
Li-Na pushed her glasses up and brushed her hair behind her ear, watching Ye-Won launch herself into battle then took her tablet out to record. "Everyone else, stay back. I want to record the first bout so we know what we're dealing with."
Ye-Won charged in with a running knee, but the Old General side stepped her attack then fired a floral green arrow at her. Ye-Won chopped the arrow in two with her hand surrounded in Spirit Energy then balled her hand into a fist, firing multiple bolts of Spirit Energy at the Old General.
The General manifested multiple arrows behind himself then fired each one toward the spirit bolts, both projectiles colliding and detonating into an explosion. Green and white smoke filled the area, giving Ye-Won a chance to run toward the tower.
Before she could reach the tower, the Old General manifested in front of her via vines and struck her with a heavy knee to her stomach, sending her flying backwards. "Those who are not of the Royal Guard may not enter the towers!"
So-Yi and Yu-Ni caught Ye-Won, both girls grunting softly as they stumbled backwards from the sheer momentum of Ye-Won's body. They both helped her onto her feet, making sure she was okay and able to keep going. Ye-Won reassured both girls with a thumbs up, a grin showing on her face.
"Well, from the data I collected, I can't get a clear reading on his speed nor strength. Clearly, this guy scales in the S Rank or EX Rank Levels, way beyond what my systems can currently handle since it scales up to A Rank," Li-Na said, slipping her tablet back into her bag.
"That's the point," Sang So-Yi said, standing in front of her group in a thinking pose as the stared at the Old General, one of my Sovereign Butterflies manifesting beside her Silver Swallowtail. "Queen IllIlI knew the people she was facing was stronger..."
"Then we're fighting a losing battle? Clearly, he's guarding the tower since he knocked Ye-Won into next week just for nearing it!" Sun-mi exclaimed, crossing her arms and letting out a frustrated exhale.
Sang So-Yi continued to think, noticing the Old General didn't attack until they did and turned around to face the team. "Remember the words from the cloaked woman earlier. Unity over strategy. I think I know what we are supposed to do."
"What?" Yu-Ni asked, stepping closer to the group with light curiosity.
"We storm the tower, but it's more than that. You remember what he said? Rebellion against the king is an unforgivable sin, but who's the King in question? King Gideon is dead and I doubt his Spirit lived on after his fall, yet..." Sang So-Yi began, turning around to face the Old General once again.
"He's not a Monster..." So-Yi said quietly to herself, staring at the Old General with a thoughtful expression.
Li-Na glanced at So-Yi for a moment, beginning to wonder what she encountered at Battle Zone 4 that changed her view and demeanor. "So what do you say we do?"
So-Yi turned back to her group and smiled confidently at them, giving each of them a nod. "We give him Kindness and show him who the true King is. He won't attack unless we do, so obviously he's reactionary. His heart never turned hard, only his eyes."
"Whoa...that was deep," Sun-mi said with a light chuckle, glancing at the other girls.
"Yeah, you almost sound like some scholars I used to be around with my Eomma and Appa. Though they were tribal at the core, they were very spiritual at the heart," Ye-Won agreed, letting out an impressed hum toward So-Yi.
Pyo Yu-Ni stared at So-Yi with a bit of impress, pushing her slipping glasses up on her face and confidently nodded. "Okay, let's go with your plan."
The Old General watched as So-Yi approached him then rose his bow in defense. "Those who are not of the Royal Guard shall not enter Therris's Left Wing!"
So-Yi stood in front of the Old General with confidence, meeting him in the eye and stood firmly. "The king you serve is dead and the war you fight has already been lost. However, you can serve an even greater King, a King that can grant you Eternal Life. A Lord that reigns over all Lords. You can open your eyes again."
The Old General listened closely to So-Yi's words, lowering his bow slowly then relaxed slightly. "A greater King? A King greater than Lord Gideon of Southern Uthea? Who might this King be?"
"The only one titled Lord of Lords, The Son of Man, Ascea," So-Yi answered, glancing down at the man's chest and noticing his core being exposed, a sure opportunity for her to use Purifying Blow against him arising.
"Ascea..? Ascea...I have heard of His name before. King Gideon said he served under Him, and we all believed in him because we were keeping the laws, the Commandments. Yet...all because of one deny from Queen Astrid, all of those people died in our hands," The Old General began, looking up at the sky and dropping his bow onto the ground.
"Queen Astrid knew the kind of ruler Lord Gideon was, yet I could not...and I was slain by the Vinesever because of it. Yet...my Spirit could not pass. Regret...that's the one thing that caused me to not pass. I refused the 3 Day Limit on Earth..." The Old General said, his gaze never leaving the sky.
Li-Na pushed up her glasses slightly and exhaled deeply at the Old General's story, closing her eyes and slightly lowering her head. Sun-mi and Yu-Ni's gazes softened as they listened, their hearts aching at the tragic retelling. Ye-Won glanced up at the sky to see what the Old General was looking at, noticing an ethereal blue star in the sky despite it being day time.
Sang So-Yi continued to stare at the Old General's weak point, knowing she was given the option to spare the Old General or push him into his Final Lament. "So you do know who the true God is?"
"I do now...being trapped inside this tower locked me in a time capsule. But after hearing His name...it helped me remember who I truly was before Lord Gideon's rise," The Old General said, looking back down at Sang So-Yi with a smile.
Suddenly, a sharp rigid vine pierced through the Old General's weak point, shattering his core and causing his body to shine brightly and shatter into glasslike particles. The girls all let out surprised screams, reach of them staggering backward in terror.
Dropping upon the ground was an emerald orb, the orb rolling to Sang So-Yi's feet. A deep roar could be heard within the tower, the large light platforms of the tower glowing a bright red as the roars grew louder. The girls were all frozen with fear, having watched the Old General die before their eyes after spraing him.
You made the correct choice...
And now the events are playing out the same way as the past...
Be not afraid...
You must drive the Monster within the tower away...
'Monster? What the heck is in there?!' So-Yi asked to me mentally, her body physically unable to move an inch due to the roars.
"S-Sang So-Yi...what...is inside the tower..?" Yu-Ni asked, slowly turning her head to look at her.
"I don't know...but whatever is in there...it is from the same period as the Old General. What the hell is this school..?" Sang So-Yi answered with shallow breaths, nervous sweats rolling down her face.
The five girls, despite their trembling fear, each decided to push forward toward the looming tower. So-Yi, leading the group, slowly and cautiously pushed opened the cracked doors then crept inside. The girls followed suit, the doors behind them slamming shut with the metal sounds echoing through the vast room.
Inside, the first floor of the tower was grand, the centerpiece of the floor being a symbol of the Tree of Life. The iron walls were covered with rust, dust and rusted ash all falling and collecting in a pile on the floor. Two large staircases each sat upon both ends of the towers circular walls, leading up to the balcony.
Sang So-Yi looked around the first floor, noticing a chamber for the Old General's Orb to set inside ahead, but felt a ghoulish chill crawl down her spine. "The pedestal is on the first floor and the binoculars are on the balcony...what is this lesson..?"
Li-Na's glasses began beeping, the right lens bringing up data while the left lens had locked onto something lurking in the darkness. "Something's in here..."
〘Scanning area for adversaries...〙
〘Advesary Found!〙
▸ Monster Type: Nature/Fusion
▸ Monster Name: Ruler Totec
▸ Monster Rank: Six Star (A Rank Threat)
▸ Corrupted: Yes
A humanoid creature began to descend from the top of the tower, his body made with leaves and limbs wrapped with rigid vines. His head was shaped like a rose, his mouth within the center of the rose fitted with sharp teeth. He had one wing upon his left side, the wing made from roots and leaves.
The Ruler Totec landed on the ground with a heavy thud, the rose bud along his body blooming and sprouting eyes at the center of the flower. "She...was as beautiful...as the roses in Therris...yet...she denied me. A King! Yet, I perish under God's foot? I refuse to accept the jurisdiction!"
The five girls grunted heavily as a wave of dark purple energy began to burst from the Ruler Totec's body, his prideful energy slowly overpowering the five girls. Sang So-Yi glanced up from her shielding arms, gasping as she noticed multiple vines flying toward them, each one threatening to claim their lives.
So-Yi quickly acted, grabbing Yu-Ni's arm then phased through the first vine and pushed her out the way. She launched herself toward Sun-mi and Ye-Won, tackling them to the ground to avoid the next set of vines, each vine sticking into the door behind them. Sang So-Yi looked up and noticed the last vine headed straight for Li-Na's chest, calling out her name in distress.
Before the vine could reach Li-Na, the vine struck an invisible barrier around Li-Na, blue and light purple energy rippling into view in front of her. She pushed up her glasses and let out a soft exhale. "I don't know what Ms. Winters is going with this lesson...but one thing is for certain."
"This entity...can not be spared! All Offenses Online!" Li-Na called out, summoning forth her Techno Orbs and powered them on.
The Ruler Totec laughed at Li-Na's initiation of combat, getting into his stance then taunted her to strike first. "Queen Astrid couldn't stand up to me...so who are you to defy me?"
"A Valkyria that will strike you down!" Li-Na bellowed, activating her Orbs into firing beams of light toward the Ruler Totec.
The Ruler Totec evaded the beams of light with his great speed then launched a bundle of roots toward her from his hand. Li-Na dove off to the side then rolled on the floor back onto one knee, summoning a robotic hand next to her and fired it toward the Ruler Totec like a missile.
"Your efforts are worthless!" The Ruler Totec taunted, deflecting the robotic hand toward the staircase, the metal hand bouncing off the surface and onto the floor. "You think your efforts are worthwhile when even I couldn't make it into the Kingdom?!"
The Ruler Totec's forearm detached from his body and launched itself toward Li-Na, but a summoned Salamander from Yu-Ni appeared in front of the vines connecting the detached forearm to the Ruler Totec's bicep and sliced the vines. The forearm fell to the ground, the Ruler Totec's vines now caught ablaze.
To everyone's surprise, the Ruler Totec's forearm began to sprout vibes from the exposed veins and found its way back to the Ruler Totec. He reconnected his arms, the eyes upon the roses on his body each watching the girls carefully as he noticed they were high on guard.
"You all would be wondrous roses for my garden!" The Ruler Totec declared, dashing toward the girls at high speeds.
Ye-Won intercepted the Totec, clashing fists with him but he overpowered her and knocked her back with a swing of his forearm. Recovering in the air, she landed on the ground then let out her Tribal Howl, a burst of ethereal red energy surging around her body.
Sang So-Yi launched her Silver Swallowtail forward, warping ahead as Ye-Won charged forward, the two of them synchronizing their attacks against the Ruler Totec. The Ruler Totec fended off their attacks then caused them to split apart by launching his rigid vines from his body in all directions.
"Fly away!" Sun-mi yelled into her microphone, a Stigmata upon her tongue shining brightly and causing the head of the microphone to shine.
Suddenly, destructive soundwaves began crashing toward the Ruler Totec, striking his body and sending him flying backwards. While he was in the air, Yu-Ni summoned another Red Wyvern using one of her Mini Beast Cards, the dragon letting out blazing roar and began breathing fire toward the Ruler Totec.
The Ruler Totec laughed at the united efforts of the girls, hardening his body with psuedowood, solid wood forming around his body to block the scorching flames of the Red Wyvern. He let out a monstrous roar, his roar causing the flames to disperse and Fury Aura began to pulse around his body.
"He's too strong..! What's left for us to do against this guy?!" Pyo Yu-Ni panicked, glancing over at Li-Na for tactical support.
Li-Na pushed up her glasses and glanced over at Ye-Won and So-Yi, a gleam reflecting off her glasses as she hatched an idea. "Sang So-Yi! Ye-Won! Go all out! This is our only plan! We have to drive him out of the tower!"
Sang So-Yi looked back at Li-Na, seeing her nod then turned her attention back toward the Ruler Totec. Her expression became focused, her right eye shining brightly as her Stigmata began to activate at full force. Her Holy Fire began to erupt from her chest, blue lightning crackling around her body.
"Ye-Won, I know we have our differences, but it's sounding like we are the King and Queen pieces on this board. Let's show this beastial monstrosity what Class 12-A can truly do," Sang So-Yi said, getting into her stance, her light blue aura spiralling around her body.
Ye-Won closed her eyes and took a deep breath then exhaled slowly, her tribal tattoos flashing light blue as well and the highlights in her hair became silver. "Maluhia and Pyeong-hwa, Sang So-Yi. I never disliked you, so I'm willing to set aside our differences to take down a greater foe!"
The Ruler Totec got into his stance as well, his mouth stretching and curling into a wicked grin at So-Yi and Ye-Won, his gaze focusing on So-Yi's Holy Fire. "Holy Fire...heh...HAHAHA! So Ascea still lives on? So it's true...Yesha did bestow His Spirit upon the Earth? Those Exzodian Leaders were right...He never left the Earth!"
Sang So-Yi smacked her fist against her palm, similar to Jiahn and cracked her knuckles. "You don't even speak from the same time frame, you're stuck in the past...but you're worse than a Monster. You're a Daemon, a parasite that needs to be exterminated and exorcized!"
"You...you can not exorcize...a Principality," The Ruler Totec said with a cold tone and grin, the eyes upon his body staring directly at Sang So-Yi, a prideful dark purple energy flowing around his body.
The Ruler Totec used a burst of speed to appear in front of Sang So-Yi, swinging his forearm with brutal intent. So-Yi swiftly phased through his attack with a backstep then countered with a knee strike to his abdomen, knocking him backwards a step. He regained his footing and launched a wild wooden hammer punch toward her face.
Ye-Won appeared in front of So-Yi swiftly, blocking the attack for her then pushed his arm down, leaving his head open for a swift jab. Knocking him back, Ye-Won began rushing him with a barrage of strikes filled with Spirit Energy. The Ruler Totec blocked and evaded most of her blows, but one well placed attack left him slightly staggered.
"We have to drive him toward the balcony, it's our only way of getting him out of the tower!" So-Yi called out, dashing toward the Ruler Totec with her Purifying Blow ready within her right hand.
Ye-Won nodded and charged behind So-Yi, her left arm crackling with blue lightning as she began gathering spirit energy around her arm. "Alright, let's do this!"
Both girls charged into battle once more with a Purifying Blow and Destiny Flash, but the Ruler Totec hardened his body with psuedowood once more, blocking the attacks. They continued to launch rapid blows at his armor, letting out this battle cries amidst their barrage.
Sang So-Yi warped backwards then leaped backwards into a running start, her eyes flashing light blue and lightning surging around her body. She bellowed as she charged forward, her body becoming a bolt of lightning and crashing into the Ruler Totec.
"Nngh..! What the—!?" The Ruler Totec exclaimed and groaned as So-Yi managed to crack his pseudowood armor, the impact knocking him back and leaving him staggered for another attack.
"I hope you didn't forget about me!" Ye-Won bellowed, charging forward and clenching her fist tightly as she launched a crushing Destiny Flash at the weak point of his armor left behind by So-Yi.
Ye-Won roared with might, her ethereal light blue aura flashing silver for a split moment as she began manifesting more strength within her attack. The Ruler Totec groaned heavily as he was blown away by the attack, my Sovereign Butterfly flying past Ye-Won to attach upon the Ruler Totec's shoulder.
Li-Na, Sun-mi, and Yu-Ni ran up the staircases to reach the balcony, watching as So-Yi and Ye-Won weakened the Ruler Totec enough to get him upon the tower's open balcony. At the top, they could see the sunlight peering into the dark tower, the binoculars sitting at the end of the balcony.
"The binoculars," Sun-mi pointed out, watching as Li-Na hurried toward the equipment and stopped running to glance back down at the first floor of the tower.
Li-Na peered into the binoculars, noticing the other towers were activated as well, each of the towers having glowing red panels upon the front. "The other towers are inactive as well...yet we have the monster. What is the goal of this? It goes begin unity over strategy..."
"Hopefully we can figure this out quick enough. So-Yi and Ye-Won are burning through their energy and the Ruler Totec just keeps hanging on," Yu-Ni said worriedly, watching the battle below and holding onto the railing of the twin staircases.
The Ruler Totec chuckled darkly as he noticed So-Yi and Ye-Won were getting tired, the rest of his pseudowood armor crumbling off his body and leaving him without his defenses. "Well, well...you managed to get through my pseudowood. It takes a while for it to regenerate, so I'll commend you on your efforts."
"However, this battle is far from over. You see...I know the game you're here to play. Activate the towers...and cast out the demon residing in this Battle Zone. Your Professor is on a mission, one will not let her complete," The Ruler Totec said, the rest of the leaves and petals withering off his body to reveal his true form.
So-Yi and Ye-Won grunted as they felt a significant increase in the Ruler Totec's energy, their bodies entering fight or flight mode and bracing themselves. The Ruler Totec's true form was the opposite of an abomination, yet he was quite beautiful despite being corrupted.
His body was light brown like oak wood, his hair a verdant green with flowers growing within it. Wrapping around his left leg, a black snake slowly coiled around him and slowly slithered its way up around his neck. Multiple butterflies made from spirit energy appeared around him in different colors, his angel wing becoming full of leaves and reinforced with divine wood.
"This is the beauty Queen Astrid missed out upon... And now with her power as part of me...Drevas is complete. That is of what I am, Drevas! The Therris Angel!" Drevas exclaimed with a prideful laugh, his body becoming a multicolored silhouette and catching the two girls off guard.
Drevas warped in front of So-Yi, catching her off guard with a devastating palm strike to her stomach, causing her to cough a bit of blood before getting blown backwards toward the wall. Ye-Won gasped in disbelief and turned back to look at So-Yi, her body freezing out of fear before slowly turning around to look at Drevas.
Drevas grabbed Ye-Won's neck and rose her off the ground with a smirk, slightly digging his sharp nails into her skin. "Class 12-A, how amusing to see you all try to defy the Overseer. He knew you'd be here on a lesson on what..? Kindness..? Let's see...how kind your sistren can truly be."
"Ye-Won! So-Yi!" Yu-Ni screamed in horror, hurrying to draw another card but stumbled and dropped her box onto the ground, the box falling through the gaps of the rail. "N-No..!"
The box of cards fell upon the floor with a loud smack, catching Drevas's attention and causing him to look back. Keeping the struggling Ye-Won in his grasp, he looked down at the box of cards then glanced up at Yu-Ni with a smirk. Yu-Ni fell back with a terrified scream, her eyes filling with tears as she pushed herself away from the rails.
As Drevas was distracted, a stream of lightning rushed toward his face, Sang So-Yi warping toward him and landing a devastating kick to his jaw. Drevas groaned heavily, dropping Ye-Won as he flew backwards into a wall. He grunted softly as he looked up, seeing So-Yi helping Ye-Won onto her feet.
"So, you're actually just like Covet from Battle Zone 4... A Principality. I'm guessing you also have something to do with Woo-Chi's administrative leave from Grushia High?" So-Yi asked as she helped Ye-Won onto her feet, turning her stern gaze toward Drevas.
Drevas smirked at So-Yi, standing up straight on his feet and spread his wings. "More or less...I am the Spirit of King Gideon that refuses to pass on! And I refuse to be judged until I have all that is rightfully mine! I thank the Overseer for buying Therris's Towers and with that, me."
"However, I have nothing to do with that weakling Woo-Chi. Her petals died when she encountered Covet, so she's worthless to me. Such a useless human, not even worthy in God's eyes, that's why He abandoned her like He did me! A foolish God like that is not worthy of MY praise!" Drevas pridefully roared, pressing his hand against his chest firmly.
"You tried to kill Woo-Chi's faith, but you failed just like you failed at truly killing off Queen Astrid, and just as you failed to defeat Queen IllIlI. You say she's unworthy, but she's more worthy of God's love than you demons will ever be," So-Yi said, her tone growing more deep and serious.
Drevas smirked as he felt So-Yi's energy rejuvenate, his excitement growing as he noticed her aura pulsed with glass-like particles. "It seems I've hit a nerve... Woo-Chi will never be anything more than a failure in this world, just like you! You will be swallowed up by the mouth of the ground and spat out like useless dust in the wind!"
"Yeah? Is that so? Tch..." So-Yi scoffed, rubbing the back of her neck then rose a middle finger at Drevas. "Shibal.."
Drevas's smirk withered away at So-Yi's defiance, his eye twitching with annoyance and his aura began to flare around his body. "You won't be so smug after I deal with you!"
Drevas propelled himself toward So-Yi with a flap of his wing, bellowing as he launched a furious punch toward her. So-Yi dashed forward as well, leaping forward and colliding with Drevas with a Purifying Blow. The two knocked each other back, sliding along the ground before charging forward again.
Ye-Won coughed lightly and held her neck, watching her fellow classmate risk her life for the group. Her eyes flashed golden, her tribal tattoos glowing a bright silver then she let out her Tribal Howl, her hair becoming silver and her ethereal silver aura lighting up the darkness of the tower.
"So-Yi! Let's do this!" Ye-Won roared, launching herself forward with unshakable courage.
"It's about time you've come to your senses..." Sang So-Yi replied, moving her hair from her eyes before warping forward toward Drevas.
Drevas roared as he battled against the two girls, the two subtly leading up up the tower into the light within the balcony. He flew up toward the balcony above the girls, thrusting his hand forward and summoned a magic circle, firing a volley of large, green thorns at the girls.
Li-Na acted quickly, summoning multiple techno orbs and firing lasers to collide with the volley of orbs. Each collision caused an explosion in the air, filling it with smoke and obscuring the girl's vision of Drevas for a moment. Drevas swiftly flew out of the smoke, his hand outstretched to grab Li-Na.
"He's at the top! Now we drive him away!" So-Yi called out as she ran up the stairs, vaulting over the railings and activated my Sovereign Butterfly to swap positions with Drevas.
"Already on it!" Ye-Won called out, leaping over the railing of the staircase and roared.
Drevas grunted in shock as he hovered in the air, glancing up to see Ye-Won falling toward him with a Destiny Flash. He quickly flew around her and knocked her away with a roundhouse kick before flying back up in the air. He glanced around the balcony, seeing So-Yi and decided to target her.
He warped toward So-Yi with a heavy chop at her neck, but she phased through his attack then Sun-mi launched her microphone at his head, the microphone hitting its target and staggering him. He let out a bellow, his aura pushing the girls into different directions to separate them.
"This is getting dire. How are we supposed to defeat him?" Li-Na asked with a light grunt, shielding herself from the high winds of Drevas's aura.
"We're not supposed to defeat him, not until we activate the towers! Drevas is a demon to be casted out, but before that we have to weaken him...through his own Royal Court!" So-Yi said, her mind veering off to think about the Old General's Orb and the pedestal on the first floor.
"We've already completed step one, so all there's left to do is unite and make him leave the tower!" Ye-Won said with confidence as she walked up the stairs, tossing Yu-Ni's deck of cards toward her.
Yu-Ni gasped as she caught them, holding them to her chest then stood up onto her feet. She looked at the other girls, noticing they were all circling Drevas. "If we don't defeat him in the end, who does?"
"The only one who can save us from any situation if you would believe in and love Him with all your heart, mind, soul, and might. The true Lord and Savior, the Good Shepard, the Bridegroom, Ascea," Sang So-Yi answered, her Silver Swallowtail and my Sovereign Butterfly fluttering with grace at her invocation of the name Ascea.
"It's useless to try to invoke His name into this situation! Class 12-A is already doomed! Their salvation is forfeit just like Woo-Chi's! They still live in their sin everyday! What makes you think He will save them?!" Drevas reprimanded, his tone filled with pride and disdain.
Sang So-Yi grunted slightly as the high winds began pushing her back, but she stood firmly, keeping her right eye open with it glowing brightly. "Because it is written! Wrenched people are we, even I, but it only through the blood of Yesha that we are justified and saved from the wrath of God! Yesha paid it all during His crucifixion, took on all sin in the world for us!"
"He was the perfect sacrifice needed to fulfill the law, to create a perfect covenant between Son and Father!" Sang So-Yi continued, gripping her chest and turning to look at her classmates, her friends. "You've all heard the good news! The TRUE Gospels, so turn your eyes and heart back to God and become the Valkyria you are called to be!"
Suddenly, the Holy Spirit fell upon each of the girls, their Holy Fire emitting from their chest and awakening their Spirits for the first time in a long time. Drevas grunted softly as he felt the righteous energy within the tower increase, his eyes looking at the five holy flames around him then back at So-Yi, his eyes slightly widening in revelation.
Standing behind Sang So-Yi was me, Noxius Ascea Exzodia, the perfect Incarnation of Ascea and the Son of Man and Son of Yesha, the Most High, in a glorified state. Drevas could feel his body trembling, his instincts telling him to flee the tower by taking flight from the balcony.
The first tower was saved, but Battle Zone 1 was still in danger with Drevas heading toward the next tower to regain his sinful power. Sang So-Yi looked up at me with a smile and nodded then I smiled back at her, warping away to the next tower to help the next group.