The Magic Knights surged forward, spirits bursting to life — flames swirling into spears, bolts of lightning cracking against the earth, icy blasts freezing the grass beneath their feet. Their power was undeniable. As they sprinted, their war cries pierced the stormy sky:
> "FOR ESHALORN!"
"HONOR THE SPIRITS!"
"CRUSH THE CROWN!"
The Echelon Knights charged to meet them head-on — steel clashed with magic in a blinding storm of color and blood.
Sound of war erupted—screams, metal slicing flesh, spirits howling, horses shrieking.
In the midst of it all, the Mythics stood still for a moment, observing.
Arslan watched, hood down, his black hair whipping in the wind, glowing red eyes betraying the presence of Kar'Thæl within him.
Kar'Thæl's voice whispered inside:
> "Look at them. They're stronger than average Knights, yes. But still incomplete. Undefined. You will show them what true power is."
Beside him, Ismere Daeva cracked her knuckles. "Looks like their spirits are more bark than bite."
Tarric Vohl grinned. "Then let's show them thunder that bites."
The Mythics exploded into motion.
Arslan leapt with his Black Aura Shield manifesting, deflecting a fire spear launched by a Magic Knight. He spun midair, fists ignited with cursed energy, and drove his hand through the Knight's armor — spirit and man alike sent flying.
"That's one!" Arslan hissed, a faint smirk forming.
Tharion Vale, the Earthshock wielder, slammed his palms to the ground. A massive fissure cracked open beneath a whole unit of Magic Knights, swallowing them into a roaring chasm.
> "FOR LUMISGRAVE!" he roared, as rocks burst upward, hurling enemies into the air.
Zhalya Neris's eyes glowed crimson as her Blood Sight allowed her to track and predict every incoming strike. Her blade met a Magic Knight's flaming axe — redirecting the spirit attack into another.
Yuna Solthrae, one of the healers, moved swiftly among the wounded Echelon Knights. Her Healing Pulse flowed from her fingertips in radiant waves, closing wounds, reviving stamina, whispering calm through the pain.
One injured Knight gasped, "Yuna… I thought I was done for…"
She smiled gently, "Not while I breathe."
But it was Caelis Morvayn, the wielder of Frostbind, who sent a wave of terror through the Magic Knights. He conjured a hailstorm that sliced and battered their frontline, freezing spirit projections mid-flight.
> SHRRRHHHH! — the sound of ice cutting through fire, wind, and flesh.
"Didn't think magic could freeze magic?" Caelis said coldly, skating forward on a slick of ice, launching frost javelins from his palm.
Yet, for all their power, the Mythics weren't untouched.
Kyren Daxe, the Heat Pulse wielder, took a spear of lightning to his shoulder. He growled, smoke rising from the wound. "These spirits… they adapt faster than expected."
Vaelith Ren, the Life Restoration expert, hurried over. "Hold still." Green light enveloped the wound, knitting flesh. "We're not losing anyone today."
But then came a rumble—
A Magic Knight Commander appeared, far larger than the others, his Air Spirit pulsing violently around him like a cyclone.
"Lumisgrave's pets! Face a real spirit user!" he bellowed, summoning razor winds that cut into armor.
Mythics flinched under the pressure.
Arslan stepped forward, calm. "Kar'Thael."
The voice inside responded.
> "Use the chain technique. Show him how the undefined face the awakened."
Arslan raised his hand. A spectral chain of cursed flame erupted from his wrist, wrapping around the Air Knight and slamming him into the ground.
"Your spirit is loud," Arslan whispered, stepping forward. "But mine… devours."
He plunged the chain into the earth — a ripple of black energy rose and devoured the wind spirit entirely. The Knight screamed as his power was drained, collapsing unconscious.
The battlefield froze for a second.
The Magic Knights saw it — and fear took root.
> "He… devoured a spirit?!"
"That one—he's not normal…"
"What are these Mythics?!"
King Mamba, watching from a distance, clenched his jaw. His generals shifted nervously.
Meanwhile, King Farhan, observing Arslan and the other Mythics, finally allowed a small nod of satisfaction.
> "Let them know…" he said to Julious beside him, "…what true power looks like."
Sounds of war returned — but now the tide was shifting.
The Mythics surged with renewed force.
Seris Vahla spread a poisonous mist, melting through enemy weapons.
Elyra Thorne froze an entire unit mid-emotion, rendering them unable to fight.
Malrik Envor's runes flashed across the ground, creating energy traps that exploded with blinding light.
Horses thundered, swords rang, magic cracked, and war cries echoed into the skies.