The fifth day on Trial Island Theta was now a theater of war, its pristine beach a chaotic canvas of elemental fury. The battle for the Seraphaquor raged on, a maelstrom of magic and steel, with the students of the Sea folks Sovereign Territory forming a defiant bastion against the relentless assault of a four-empire alliance. Sebastian and Kael remained hidden behind their boulder, two ghosts watching the world burn, their presence unknown, their intent a mystery.
Princess Luafalemoe Talimafua, her face grim with strain, commanded her forces with a grace that belied the desperation of her situation. Her Tier V: Pearl Dragon and Scared stingray were the twin pillars of their defense. The dragon, a vision of opaline scales, spiraled through the air, weaving its body through the storm of spells, while its Tide of Benediction ability created shimmering barriers of purifying water that healed her allies and cleansed the battlefield of the curses and poisons thrown by the alliance. The stingray, a creature of raw, crackling power, zipped through the water, its tail lashing out with potent electric shocks that stunned and paralyzed a number of the attacking Rune-Beasts.
Prince Tavita Moanali'i Talimafua fought with the ferocious pride of his people. His Tier V: Tsunami Serpant was a force of nature, its immense body a living wall of water and muscle that smashed against the alliance's front line. The roar of the serpent was deafening, a sound that carried the raw fury of the ocean itself. He used his Galu Malosi (Mythical Tier) talent to amplify the serpent's power, causing a massive tidal wave to rise and crash over the alliance's front line, washing away Prince Constantin's Tier IV: Spelldancer Deer and Princess Hasanda's Tier III: Lustraptor and Brightclaw Wolf in a torrent of saltwater.
The alliance, however, was not easily broken. Their numbers were a grinding, inexorable force. Prince Mikazuki Renjiro, his Sword Heart (Mythical Tier) talent allowing him to perceive and counter every move, led the charge with his Tier IV: Murakaze Warrior. The warrior, a samurai-like Rune-Beast wreathed in wind and steel, met Prince Tavita's Tier IV: Armored warrior Shark in a brutal duel. Their movements were a blur of motion, the clang of the warrior's blade against the shark's armored hide a rhythmic counterpoint to the chaos of the battle.
"They are too powerful, Renjiro!" Princess Mikazuki Sayaka yelled from the back, her voice tinged with frustration. "The Pearl Dragon is healing their every wound!"
Her Tier IV: Voidwhisper Kitsune let out a high-pitched cry, weaving powerful illusions of terror and despair into the minds of the Sea folks' Rune-Beasts, but Princess Luafalemoe's Sami Tele (Mythical Tier) talent was a powerful counter, telepathically strengthening her Rune-Beasts' resolve.
Prince Long Yulin, his Spear Saint Dragon Piercer (Mythical Tier) talent active, hurled a javelin of pure mana at the Coral Giant Guardian, aiming for a weak point he had spotted with his Eyes of Fire (Rare Tier) talent. The javelin, a lance of concentrated energy, struck true, shattering a part of the coral golem's shield and causing it to stumble back. His Tier IV: Dracozen and Princess Long Yuhua's Tier IV: Verdanix and Verdanthorn Goliath joined forces, a torrent of green and fiery attacks aimed at the injured golem, hoping to cripple the Sea folks' main defensive shield.
From the safety of the academy's grand assembly hall, the sheer spectacle of the battle was playing out on the colossal Rune-screen. A large number of professors were present, their usual academic calm replaced by the tense excitement of spectators at a gladiatorial match. Specifically, the water-based Rune-Beast specialists were on the edge of their seats, their attention entirely focused on the injured Seraphaquor.
"Look at it," Professor Elara, a renowned scholar of mystic creatures, whispered, her voice filled with a mix of awe and avarice. "A Seraphaquor. The Haloed Abyss. Its power… it's beyond anything we've seen in centuries. The runes on its wings are divine in nature, not magical."
"Even in its weakened state, it's capable of casting a Tide of Benediction," Professor Gareth, an old, wizened Rune-Beast tamer, added, stroking his long beard. "This creature's lineage... it could be a direct descendant of the primordial sea. The student who bonds with it would not just be a trainer; they would be a legend."
Their conversation, and the greed in their eyes, perfectly encapsulated the lure of the Seraphaquor. It wasn't just a powerful Rune-Beast; it was a key to untold knowledge and power, an artifact of a bygone era, and an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to establish a bond with it.
But some professors, a small and elite group, were not so focused on the Seraphaquor. They were watching the empty spaces, the shadows, and the rock formations with an unsettling intensity. Professor Jian, his usual calm demeanor replaced by a sharp, analytical stare, pointed to a small, almost imperceptible tremor in the sand near the battlefield.
"It is strange," he said to his colleagues. "The movements on the screen are chaotic, yes, but there's an underlying rhythm to it. The battle's flow is predictable. But there's a wild card... a force that hasn't made its presence known yet."
A few of his colleagues, specialists in tracking and stealth, knew exactly what he was talking about. "You mean the two masked students, Sebastian and Kael," one of them said, his eyes narrowed. "They're still out there. They're watching."
"Yes," Jian affirmed. "They are the true masters of this game. They didn't just plunder the Verdant Hollow; they outsmarted everyone, provoked the very students who are now fighting, and disappeared without a trace. Their Rune-Beasts are strong, but their minds... that is their true weapon. I'm not interested in the Seraphaquor. I'm interested in their next step. They will not simply watch this play out. They are waiting for the perfect moment."
Back on the beach, the battle was reaching a critical turning point. Princess Luafalemoe and Prince Tavita were holding their own, but their Rune-Beasts were exhausted. The Coral Giant Guardian was now fractured, its body riddled with cracks from the constant barrage of elemental attacks. The Turtle'oa was still standing, but its shield was beginning to show signs of strain. The alliance, however, was also taking heavy losses. Prince Constantin's Tier IV: Frostleo was limping, its movements slowed by the constant water-based attacks, and Prince Thakin's Tier IV: Santuario Giant had been neutralized by Prince Tavita's Vavau spirit, a powerful wind-based creature.
Frustration began to set in among the alliance leaders. They had the numbers, but the Sea folks' Tier V Rune-Beasts were simply too strong.
"We need to end this now!" Prince Constantin bellowed, his face a furious red. "We cannot afford more losses! Focus everything you have on their Pearl Dragon! Once the healing stops, they will fall!"
His command was met with a chorus of agreement. Prince Long Yulin's Dracozen and Prince Renjiro's Dewdrift Wyvern ascended, their bodies wreathed in fire and wind, preparing for a combined assault. Princess Mikazuki's Voidwhisper Kitsune began to weave a powerful, mind-shattering spell, its aim to distract the dragon and leave it vulnerable. Prince Constantin's Tier IV: Astralion and Prince Sigismund's Tier IV: Aquaros Dragon launched a focused barrage of light and water, their attacks converging on the Pearl Dragon.
Princess Luafalemoe saw the incoming assault. "Tavita! Protect the Haloed Abyss!" she commanded. She knew this was a feint. They weren't truly aiming for the dragon; they were trying to distract her while a new threat emerged.
Her instincts were proven correct. Princess Long Yuhua and Prince Thakin, the two with the heaviest Rune-Beasts, moved in a coordinated flank. Yuhua's Tier IV: Verdanthorn Goliath, a behemoth of wood and vine, charged towards the Seraphaquor, its goal to pin the injured creature down. At the same time, Thakin's Tier IV: Buildhorn Rhino, imbued with the power of his Thotsakan Rage talent, charged directly at Princess Luafalemoe herself, a desperate, high-risk attack to take out the commander.
The Sea folks, their backs against the wall, fought with renewed fury. Prince Tavita's Tsunami Serpant roared, its body coiling protectively around the injured Seraphaquor, its movements slow and cumbersome from exhaustion. The Armored warrior Shark intercepted the Buildhorn Rhino, but the rhino's charge, powered by the mythical talent, was a force of pure, untamed rage. The two creatures collided with a sound like a small earthquake, the shark's armored body groaning under the force of the impact.
Princess Luafalemoe, her Pearl Dragon now engaged in a fierce aerial battle against the alliance's Rune-Beasts, was left vulnerable. She knew she couldn't rely on her beasts to save her.
"My Lord, they are at their limit," Kael whispered, his hand on the hilt of his hammer. "The alliance is desperate. They're leaving themselves open to counterattack."
Sebastian, his eyes still gleaming with a cold, strategic light, remained silent. He watched as Prince Thakin's Buildhorn Rhino broke through Prince Tavita's defenses, and Prince Long Yulin's Dracozen and Prince Renjiro's Murakaze Warrior landed with a thud, their target the now-exposed Princess Luafalemoe.
The alliance was overconfident. They thought they had won. They thought the battle was over. But they had forgotten about the two phantoms in the shadows, and the legend of the Haloed Abyss was not theirs to claim. Sebastian, having seen all he needed to, finally spoke.
"The time for observation is over, Kael," he said, his voice a chilling whisper that carried no emotion, only the promise of a coming storm. "Let's begin."