Shield Of Vengeance

###Chapter 22: The Trio

Agin staggered back to the rest of the class, breathing heavily as he carried the injured students from the chamber. His armor was covered in scratches, and his expression was grim.

"Healer! Get over here now!" he shouted, his voice firm but edged with desperation. A healer student rushed forward, immediately tending to the injured students lying on the ground.

Agin leaned against the stone wall, rubbing his forehead with his gauntlet. His exhaustion was evident, yet his fury burned brighter. He turned sharply toward the teacher, his eyes blazing.

"Are you seriously going to send more of these kids in there?"

The teacher crossed his arms, his expression calm—too calm. "Yes," he replied curtly.

Agin's fists clenched at his sides, and he took a step forward, his voice raising.

"Are you insane? That thing is going to destroy them! You've seen the state of the students who came out. Do you even care what happens to them?"

The teacher gave him an unimpressed look, raising an eyebrow. "Agin, calm down. That's why you're here—to make sure they don't die."

"Grrr..." Agin growled under his breath, biting back a retort. He turned away with a frustrated wave of his hand. "Tsk, forget it."

The students had been silent, but the scene before them was only amplifying their fear. Their faces were pale, their hands trembling as they exchanged worried glances.

"I can't do this," one boy muttered, his voice quivering. "That thing is too powerful."

A girl nearby hugged herself tightly, her eyes glistening with tears. "It's not fair. This isn't a test—it's a death trap. What are we supposed to do against that?"

More students began murmuring in agreement, their collective panic growing with each word. The air was thick with tension, and for a moment, it seemed like the fear might consume them all.

But the teacher remained unfazed. He called team after team, sending them into the boss's lair. Each group returned battered and broken, saved only by Agin. The once-energetic class had transformed into a group of frightened children, their confidence shattered.

Finally, it was Arie's trio's turn. Liana, the healer on their team, was visibly trembling. Her knuckles were white as she gripped her staff, and her lips quivered as she whispered, "I… I don't think I can do this. I'm too weak."

Arie stepped closer to her, his voice steady and reassuring. "Liana, look at me."

She hesitated but finally met his gaze.

"You're not weak," Arie said firmly. "You're important. Without you, we wouldn't stand a chance. We'll protect you. You just have to trust us."

"But what if—"

"No 'what ifs,'" Arie interrupted, his tone unwavering. "We'll get through this. Together."

The princess added, her voice calm but commanding, "He's right, Liana. You've got us, and we've got you. Now's the time to believe in yourself."

Liana swallowed hard, nodding slowly. "O-Okay. I'll do my best."

The teacher's voice rang out once more, cutting through the tense atmosphere. "Alright, next team—enter!"

As they stepped forward, Agin, still leaning against the wall, called after them. "Listen, I can't fight alongside you this time," he said, his voice laced with fatigue. "I'm too worn out. I'll stay here and jump in if things get out of control, but you're on your own for now."

Arie paused and turned to Agin, his expression cold yet resolute. "That's ok," Arie said, a faint smirk forming on his lips. "We won't need it anyway."

Agin blinked, caught off guard by the sheer determination in Arie's tone. "Hmph. Don't get cocky, kid," he muttered, though there was a faint hint of respect in his voice.

As they approached the massive doors to the boss chamber, the atmosphere grew heavier. The faint blue light of the torches illuminated the cold stone walls, casting long shadows. Arie's gaze shifted toward the teacher, an unexplainable sense of unease gnawing at him.

What he saw made his stomach tighten—a faint, almost imperceptible smirk curled at the teacher's lips. It was the kind of expression that sent a chill down his spine, a smile that didn't belong in a situation like this.

Why is he smiling? Arie thought, his suspicion growing stronger. What is he planning?

The sound of the massive boss snapped him out of his thoughts. The chilling blue flames inside flickered to life, casting the skeletal figure of Skeletus into stark relief.

As they stepped into the chamber, the room was eerily quiet, save for the faint crackling of the torches. Skeletus remained still, his massive frame slumped as though he were in a deep slumber.

Arie took a deep breath, steadying his nerves. He glanced back at Liana, giving her a small nod of encouragement, then looked to the princess, who returned his gaze with a determined expression.

"Let's do this," he said softly.

As they moved deeper into the chamber, Skeletus began to stir. His massive head tilted upward, the crimson light in his hollow eye sockets blazing to life. A deep, guttural growl rumbled through the room as the skeletal giant slowly rose to its feet.

The battle was about to begin.

The moment Skeletus charged, the fight erupted into chaos. His massive form moved with surprising speed, bones grinding against each other like an avalanche as he swung his claw at the trio.

"Scatter!" the princess yelled, leaping to the side just as the massive claw smashed into the ground, shaking the entire chamber. Dust and debris filled the air, and the sound of clattering bones echoed ominously.

Arie dodged with precision, his slime magic forming a shield around him to deflect the smaller shards of bone. "Liana, stay back!" he shouted, crafting a series of sharp, floating blades from his magic. With a quick motion, he sent them flying toward Skeletus.

The blades struck their target, shattering one of Skeletus's rib bones, but the skeletal titan barely flinched. Instead, it turned its glowing crimson eyes toward Liana, who stood frozen a few paces back, her staff shaking in her hands.

"Liana!" the princess shouted as she darted in front of the healer, blocking another swipe from Skeletus with her sword. The impact sent her skidding back, but she held firm. "Snap out of it! We need you!"

"I—I can't!" Liana stammered, her voice quivering. Her eyes were wide with terror as she watched Skeletus rear back, preparing another devastating strike. "I'm gonna mess up. I'm gonna get us all killed!"

The princess gritted her teeth, glancing back at Liana. "There's no time for this!"

"Liana, listen to me!" Arie's voice rang out, sharp and commanding. He shot a quick burst of sharp slime magic at Skeletus's face, momentarily blinding the creature. As it stumbled back, Arie turned to Liana, his expression firm.

"You can't freeze up now," he said, his voice cutting through the chaos. "Do you see what the princess is doing? She's risking everything to protect us. If she can do that, so can you."

"But I'm not like her," Liana whispered, tears streaming down her face. "I'm not strong. I don't know how to fight—"

"You don't need to fight!" Arie interrupted, stepping closer to her despite the battle raging around them. "You just need to do what you're best at. Heal us, support us. That's more than enough."

The princess, still holding her ground against Skeletus's relentless attacks, called out, "Liana, we're a team! We can't win this without you!"

Liana's breath hitched. She glanced at the princess, who was pushing back Skeletus with sheer willpower, and then at Arie, who had positioned himself to shield her. For a moment, doubt clouded her mind again—but then something clicked.

"I won't let them down," she whispered to herself, her grip on her staff tightening. "I can do this."

The next time Skeletus struck, the princess was knocked back, landing hard on the ground. "Liana!" she called out.

This time, Liana didn't freeze. She darted forward, her staff glowing with a brilliant green light. "Vital Mend!" she shouted, releasing a wave of energy that washed over the princess, instantly healing her wounds.

The princess got back to her feet, her eyes widening in surprise. "Liana, that was incredible!"

Liana didn't stop there. Her confidence growing, she began chanting another spell. A shimmering barrier of light appeared around the group, deflecting Skeletus's next blow.

Arie smirked, stepping up beside her. "That's what I'm talking about. Keep it up!"

The princess, emboldened by Liana's recovery, charged forward again, her sword glowing as she unleashed a powerful slash against Skeletus's leg. The skeletal giant roared in pain, staggering back.

"Liana, boost me!" the princess shouted.

"On it!" Liana responded, her staff glowing as she cast a strength enhancement spell on the princess. "You've got this!"

With newfound power coursing through her, the princess leapt into the air, her blade slicing through the air with a brilliant arc. The strike hit Skeletus's shoulder, shattering part of its massive arm.

Meanwhile, Arie used the distraction to craft a massive spear from his slime magic. "Let's see how you like this!" he said, hurling it with all his strength. The spear pierced through Skeletus's chest, cracking several ribs.

The battle was far from over, but with Liana back in the fight and the trio working as a cohesive unit, they stood a chance. For the first time since entering the chamber, the tides were beginning to shift.

Agin watched in stunned silence as the trio faced the Skeletus. His surprise grew with every passing moment—they were managing on their own. He turned his gaze to the teacher, expecting a nod of approval or even concern. Instead, he was met with something chilling: the teacher stood there with a wide, almost sinister grin, as though he was enjoying the spectacle. Agin's unease deepened.

"What's with that creepy smile?" he muttered under his breath. "This isn't normal…"

The scene shifted back to the fight, where Princess Lea and Liana were in the thick of battle. The Skeletus loomed over them, its massive skeletal frame radiating an aura of pure menace. Despite its overwhelming size and strength, the two girls stood their ground, their movements synchronized like a well-rehearsed dance.

"Liana, flank it! Keep moving!" Lea shouted, her voice sharp and commanding.

Liana nodded, her hands glowing as she cast another spell. "Got it! Holy Chain, binder of heaven, immobilize this person, this wicked villain!" she cried, summoning glowing restraints that wrapped around the Skeletus's legs, holding it in place.

The Skeletus roared, its glowing eyes flaring as it struggled against the magical bonds.

"Nice work!" Lea called, rushing forward with her sword in hand. She leapt into the air, aiming for the Skeletus's exposed ribs. Her blade struck true, carving through the dense bone with a resounding crack.

The Skeletus staggered but didn't fall. Instead, it raised its massive arm and swiped at Lea with terrifying speed.

"Princess, look out!" Liana screamed.

Lea twisted midair, narrowly avoiding the strike. She landed gracefully, her sword still at the ready. "Thanks, Liana! Keep those spells coming!"

"I'll try!" Liana replied, her voice trembling slightly. She clenched her fists, summoning more chains to wrap around the creature's arm, limiting its movements.

Arie, standing at a distance, observed the fight carefully. He raised his hand, summoning his slime magic to form a protective barrier around the girls as the Skeletus attempted another powerful swing. "Focus, you two. Don't let it catch you off guard," he said, his voice steady but firm, after forming yet another spear, and launching straight to Skeletus's skull, but this time, it dodge.

"We've got this!" Lea shouted back. She darted forward again, her sword flashing as she struck at the creature's leg, trying to destabilize it.

The Skeletus roared in frustration, its movements growing more erratic. It slammed its claw into the ground, shaking the entire chamber. Liana lost her footing and stumbled, the glow of her chains flickering.

"Liana, hold on!" Lea called, rushing to her side.

"I'm fine!" Liana said, quickly regaining her balance. She raised her hands once more, summoning a burst of light that temporarily blinded the Skeletus. "That should buy us some time!"

"Good thinking!" Lea said, a determined grin on her face. "Let's hit it where it hurts!"

The two girls worked in perfect tandem, Liana using her spells to keep the Skeletus distracted and restrained while Lea delivered precise, powerful strikes to its weak points. The Skeletus roared and thrashed, but the girls refused to back down.

"You're stronger than you think, Liana," Lea said during a brief pause.

"Only because you're here," Liana replied, her voice filled with determination.

The Skeletus suddenly slammed its arm into the ground again, breaking free of Liana's chains. It let out a deafening roar and charged at them, its massive frame shaking the earth with every step.

"Move!" Arie shouted from the back, summoning his earth magic to create a wall between the girls and the oncoming attack. The Skeletus smashed through it, but the delay gave Lea and Liana enough time to evade.

"We need to slow it down again!" Lea said, glancing at Liana.

"I've got one more spell left," Liana replied, her voice strained. She raised her hands, summoning a swirling vortex of light. "Chains of light, descend and bind, the wicked soul, lost and blind. By divine will, I call the decree, imprison now, let none be free. Heaven's power, strong and bright, hold them fast through endless night! Heavens chain, Divinder Chains" she cried, and glowing tendrils erupted from the ground, wrapping around the Skeletus's torso and arms.

"Perfect!" Lea said, dashing forward. She leapt into the air, aiming for the Skeletus's chest. Her blade struck hard, sending cracks spidering through its massive frame.

The Skeletus roared again, its glowing eyes flickering with rage. It began to thrash wildly, breaking free of the tendrils and forcing Lea to retreat.

"It's not going down easily," Lea muttered, catching her breath.

"No kidding," Liana replied, wiping sweat from her brow.

Agin, watching from the sidelines, couldn't believe his eyes. The girls were holding their own against a creature that would've made seasoned adventurers flee in terror. "They're… incredible," he murmured.

But his admiration was short-lived as his gaze shifted back to the teacher. The man's unsettling smile remained, his eyes fixed on the fight with an intensity that sent chills down Agin's spine.

"Something's not right here," Agin muttered. But for now, all he could do was watch as the battle raged on.

Just as it seemed like they'd gained the upper hand, a deep, menacing rumble echoed through the chamber. The Skeletus's scattered bones began to quiver and shift. Arie, Princess Lea, and Liana froze in disbelief as the creature's shattered form started to reassemble itself. Bones snapped back into place with unnatural precision, and in moments, the towering skeletal behemoth stood whole again, its glowing eyes burning with even greater intensity.

"No way," Liana whispered, her voice trembling.

"This can't be happening," Lea muttered, gripping her sword tightly.

Their hesitation proved costly. The Skeletus raised its massive claw, and the ground beneath them trembled violently. "Move!" Arie shouted, but it was too late.

With a deafening crack, spikes of bone erupted from the ground in every direction—Spinal Surge, the Skeletus's deadly skill. The three scrambled to react, but the attack was too sudden. Though Arie's warning came just in time, Princess Lea and Liana were still caught off guard, barely leaping out of the way. The spikes grazed them, ripping through armor and flesh, and both women hit the ground with pained gasps.

"Are you two okay?!" Arie called, his voice tinged with panic.

"We're... fine," Lea grunted, clutching her side where blood was beginning to seep through her clothes.

Liana winced as she pushed herself up, her hands trembling. "I can still fight," she said, though her face was pale.

The Skeletus didn't give them a moment to recover. With a guttural roar, it unleashed a powerful blast of pure dark magic. The attack wasn't a spell—it was raw, chaotic energy, and it tore through the air with devastating force.

"Look out!" Arie yelled, leaping into action.

The blast erupted with a deafening roar, sending shockwaves that shook the very chamber, causing dust to fall from the walls and the air to tremble. The explosion sent them hurtling through the air, slamming them into the stone walls of the chamber with a sickening thud. Cries of pain escaped them as they crumpled to the ground, unmoving.

Arie, however, managed to intercept part of the attack. With his Weaponer Technique, he formed a shimmering shield around himself, absorbing the brunt of the dark magic. The impact still forced him back a few steps, but he remained standing.

Agin, watching from the sidelines, couldn't hold back any longer. "That's enough!" he roared, rushing forward. But before he could intervene, the teacher grabbed his arm with an iron grip.

"What are you doing? Let me go!" Agin shouted, his eyes blazing with fury.

The teacher's calm voice was laced with menace. "Stop, or you'll die."

"What?!" Agin glared at him, stunned.

The teacher leaned closer, his expression dark. "I'm warning you, Agin. Interfere, and you'll regret it."

Agin hesitated, his mind racing. He hated every second of it, but the teacher's cold words echoed in his mind "If you interfere, I'll kill you myself". His mana had been drained from protecting the others earlier, and he knew the teacher's threat wasn't an empty one. If he jumped in now, he'd be nothing but a liability, or worse, a target. Clenching his fists, fury and fear mingling in his chest, he cursed under his breath and stepped back, the weight of the teacher's gaze heavy on him.

The scene shifted back to Arie. Seeing Lea and Liana injured and bleeding stirred something deep within him. He rushed to their side, kneeling between them.

"Hang on," he said, his voice steady despite the chaos around him. He placed a hand on each of them, summoning his healing magic.

"Vital Mend."

A soft, golden glow enveloped them as Arie's magic began to mend their wounds. Though it wasn't enough to fully restore them, the bleeding stopped, and their breathing steadied.

"Arie…" Lea murmured weakly. "You can't… fight that thing alone."

"Don't talk," he said firmly. "Save your strength."

Liana groaned, trying to sit up. "We… we can still help…"

But Arie shook his head. "No. You've done enough."

With a swift motion, he casted a teleportation spell, transporting himself and the injured girls to Agin's side. They reappeared in a flash, and Arie gently set them down.

"Take care of them," he said to Agin, his tone commanding.

"What about you?" Agin asked, his voice filled with concern.

Arie turned, his expression cold and resolute. "I'll take care of this."

"What? You can't possibly—" his words were cut off as Arie raised his hand.

A swirling vortex of energy appeared at Arie's side as he opened what seemed to be a magical inventory. From within, he pulled out a katana, its obsidian surface pulsing with an ominous black glow. It was the Sword of Calamity, a weapon that radiated power and destruction.

The sight of the blade rendered Agin speechless.

"What are you doing?!" Agin finally shouted. "You can't possibly defeat that thing on your own!"

Arie didn't respond immediately. Instead, he began walking toward the Skeletus, his steps deliberate and unshaken. His right eye suddenly ignited with black flames—a manifestation of his inner power. He paused, glancing over his shoulder at Agin.

"Too late," he said, his voice low and menacing.

The chamber seemed to darken as Arie approached the Skeletus, the Sword of Calamity humming with energy in his hand. The air crackled with tension, and even the Skeletus paused, as if sensing the shift in the battle.

Agin stood frozen, his mind racing. "What is he…?" he whispered, unable to tear his eyes away from Arie's imposing figure.

As Arie closed the distance between himself and the Skeletus, the creature let out a bone-chilling roar, its glowing eyes locked onto its next target. But this time, Arie didn't flinch. He tightened his grip on the Sword of Calamity, the black flames around his eye burning brighter.

The true battle was about to begin.