Eclipsium

"The Demonoid? The entity that you told us appeared 18 years ago now showing itself right here….. Right now?" Shin asked with an unsatisfied tone after hearing Kazuma's answer about the current situation they were in.

"It's the only logical explanation right now, alright? The sudden abnormal eclipse and the earthquake just now? Those can only be caused by that creature. Nothing in history has ever caused something like this," said Kazuma, his voice trembling, unable to hide his fear.

Shin clenched his fists, his mind racing as adrenaline surged through his body. "Then we need to get out of here. Standing around will only get us killed." He looked at the others, his eyes firm. "Let's move. Now."

Without another word, the group began to run. Their hurried footsteps echoed through the desolate hallways as they headed toward the school gate. The once lively campus was now a landscape of chaos. Students screamed and scattered in every direction, their faces pale with terror. Windows were shattered, desks and chairs overturned as classrooms were abandoned in panic. The air was thick with dust and the acrid smell of smoke.

As they passed the courtyard, a deafening roar reverberated through the air, shaking the very ground beneath their feet. Shin skidded to a halt, his breath hitching as his eyes were drawn to the source of the sound.

Towering above the chaos stood the Demonoid. The creature's form was a grotesque figure that blurred the line between human and monster. Its glowing red eyes burned like embers, set into a face that seemed carved from a nightmare.The creature's body, though roughly human-sized, was a twisted combination of flesh and metal, while its mechanical right hand pulsed ominously with a dark, crackling energy. The appendage resembled a weapon, reminiscent of a gauntlet, with vents glowing a sinister black-purple. Each movement of the creature exuded an unnatural weight, as if the ground itself recoiled from its presence.

The Demonoid raised its mechanical hand, and a massive beam of dark energy erupted from it, tearing through a section of the school building. The explosion sent debris flying, and screams filled the air as students nearby were caught in the blast. The sky above, already darkened by the eclipse, seemed to shudder with the force of the attack.

Shin's group froze in horror. "This… this can't be real," Hana whispered, her voice trembling. Emilia clutched her arms, her pale face streaked with tears.

"Keep moving!" Shin shouted, shaking himself free from his shock. They resumed running, their breaths ragged as they navigated the chaos. The school gate came into view, but so did something else.

The Demonoid.

It stood a mere fifty meters away from the gate, its massive frame looming over the terrified students who had gathered there. Some, desperate to escape, attempted to run past it. One boy, no older than sixteen, sprinted toward the gate, with a mask of determination. But before he could reach safety, the Demonoid's mechanical hand whirred and released another beam of dark energy. The boy was struck mid-step, his body disintegrating into ash in an instant.

A collective gasp escaped the group as they witnessed the gruesome scene. Hana covered her mouth, her eyes wide with horror. Emilia turned away, sobbing, while Kazuma's legs seemed to buckle beneath him.

"It's killing them…" Kazuma muttered, his voice barely audible. "It's killing anyone who tries to get past it."

More students and teachers began to gather, their faces pale and stricken. Among them were a few teachers, including Ms. Sato, a kind and soft-spoken woman, and Gaku Yoichiro, the imposing and cold-eyed head of discipline. They approached Shin's group, and their own plans to escape were converging.

"We're trapped," Ms. Sato said, her voice shaking as she addressed the group. "We need to think of a way out… together."

Gaku sensei, however, was less cooperative. He stepped forward, his sharp eyes scanning the terrified students. "The way out is simple," he said, his voice cold and commanding. "We use the larger group as a distraction. While the monster's focus is on them, a smaller group can escape unnoticed."

Shin's eyes narrowed. "You're suggesting we use these students as bait?" he said, his voice rising in anger. "You're going to sacrifice them so you can save yourself?"

"It's a practical solution," Gaku replied, his tone indifferent. "We can't save everyone, but we can save enough to ensure the survival of the school's leadership and brightest minds."

"That's enough," Ms. Sato interjected, though her voice lacked the authority to match Gaku's. "We can't put the students in more danger. There has to be another way."

Gaku's cold gaze silenced her. "There isn't," he said sharply. "This is the only plan that makes sense."

Shin stepped forward, his fists clenched. "You're a coward," he said, his voice low and seething with anger. "You're willing to let innocent people die just to save your own skin. That's not a plan. That's murder."

Gaku's expression darkened, but before he could respond, Kazuma grabbed Shin's arm. "Shin, stop," he said urgently. "This isn't the time to fight. We're in real danger here."

"But he's wrong," Shin argued, his voice shaking with frustration. "We can't let him do this."

"I know," Kazuma said, his tone firm but calming. "But we can't afford to waste time fighting each other. If we don't figure something out, none of us are getting out of here alive."

Shin hesitated, his rage simmering beneath the surface, but he finally relented, stepping back. Gaku smirked triumphantly, but Shin shot him a glare that promised this wasn't over.

Ms. Sato placed a reassuring hand on Shin's shoulder. "We'll find another way," she said softly. "We have to."

As the group stood there, the Demonoid let out another earth-shaking roar, its mechanical hand charging with dark energy. Time was running out, and the stakes had never been higher.

Gaku sensei stepped forward, his expression calm yet commanding. "Students, listen carefully," he began, his voice cutting through the fearful murmurs. "We have a plan to escape this nightmare. It will require careful coordination, but if everyone does their part, we will all make it out alive."

His words seemed to soothe the panicked crowd. Fearful and desperate for guidance, the students hung onto every word, nodding along to his explanation. None of them suspected that Gaku sensei was concealing the truth—that a group would be used as bait to distract the Demonoid.

Shin's group, standing slightly apart from the main crowd, exchanged uneasy glances. They knew the truth behind Gaku sensei's words. Shin clenched his fists, the words of Gaku's earlier sinister plan still fresh in his mind. Beside him, Kazuma let out a low growl of frustration.

"We're not following his plan. That man's lying through his teeth." Kazuma muttered under his breath, his tone resolute.

Hana, her arms crossed tightly, nodded in agreement. "Absolutely not. That man… he's not someone you can trust. Have you heard the rumors about him? He's done things—things that never made it to the disciplinary board because he knows how to cover his tracks. Threatening students, playing favorites… even rumors of bribes. And now this? Using scared kids as bait to save his own skin? I wouldn't be surprised if he's been planning something like this for years."

Shin's jaw tightened as he listened. "It doesn't matter what his reasons are. I'm not going to let him sacrifice innocent people."

As their whispered conversation continued, a hesitant voice rose from the crowd, interrupting Gaku sensei's speech. "Sensei… how will the groups be divided?" a student asked, her voice trembling.

Gaku sensei's lips curled into a sinister smile, though he quickly masked it with a calm expression. "Good question," he said smoothly. "To ensure the best chances of success, I'll divide us into two groups. Group One will be led by me while the second group provides support from the rear." His gaze shifted to Shin's group, portraying a faint edge of malice. 

"Shin's group will be in the second team."

Shin's fists clenched, but he held his anger in check. He knew arguing now would only make things worse. Ms. Sato, sensing the tension, stepped forward. 

"I'll go with Shin's group," she volunteered. "They'll need a teacher with them."

Gaku sensei's expression darkened for a moment, but he quickly composed himself. Gaku shrugged dismissively.

"Suit yourself."

The groups were ready. Despite the lingering unease, the students took their positions.

Before the plan could be executed, the distant sound of sirens echoed through the air. Flashing lights appeared beyond the school gate, and a convoy of police vehicles skidded to a halt. Armed officers emerged, their weapons aimed towards the Demonoid.

"They're here! The police are here to save us!" a student cried, his voice shaking with relief.

"Fire!" one of the officers shouted, and a volley of bullets ripped through the air. The students froze, a spark of hope flickering in their hearts. Could the police bring the monster down?

The students hesitated, the sudden appearance of the police giving them a false sense of hope. Chaos erupted as the firing began. The students, emboldened by the distraction, began to scatter. Kazuma grabbed Shin's shoulder. "Everyone's panicking! We need to move now!"

Kazuma turned to the others and shouted, "Run! Scatter! Head for the gate while the Demonoid is distracted!"

Shin's group and the other students began sprinting toward the gate as they dodged debris and fled for their lives. Gaku sensei, furious that his plan was falling apart, muttered curses under his breath. 

Their hopes of seeing the police battle the Demonoid was short-lived. The Demonoid barely flinched under the assault from the police's firearm. Bullets ricocheted off its twisted metallic frame or were absorbed entirely in its body. Furthermore, any injuries caused by the bullet seemed to heal eventually.

Under the barrage of the bullet, the Demonoid glowing eyes burned brighter, almost amused by the futile attack. With a guttural roar, it raised its mechanical hand and unleashed a devastating beam, obliterating the police vehicles and tearing through the officers. In a matter of moments, the reinforcements were no more. 

As the police forces were wiped out, the Demonoid attention then shifted to the chaotic students and teachers that were running like the ants that fled away to avoid being stepped on.

At the back of the crowd, the Demonoid began picking off stragglers. The Demonoid moved with terrifying speed, cutting through the ranks of students at the back. Its mechanical hand struck down those too slow to escape, while beams of dark energy tore through others. Screams filled the air, and the once-organized escape turned into a frantic race for survival.

In the middle, Gaku sensei's desperation overtook his thin facade of leadership. As the Demonoid closed in, he began pulling students in front of him, shoving them toward the monster to buy himself more time. Cries of betrayal echoed as one by one, his victims were consumed by the creature's attacks.

Shin, running at the front, suddenly noticed Gaku sensei's horrifying actions. His heart sank when he saw Gaku push Emilia.

She stumbled to the ground, directly in the creature's line of fire. Her terrified eyes locked onto the Demonoid as its mechanical hand began to charge its deadly energy aimed directly at her. Time seemed to slow as the beam's deadly glow illuminated her face.

"Emilia!" Shin shouted. His body moved before his mind could catch up. He turned on his heel and sprinted toward her with adrenaline surging through his veins.

"Shin, stop! It's too dangerous!" Kazuma yelled, but Shin ignored him. His legs moved on their own, driven by an overwhelming instinct. Something deep inside him screamed that he couldn't let her die.

In the split second before the beam fired, Shin reached her just in time, grabbing her hand and pulling her to the side. The blast struck the ground where she had been moments before, sending a deafening explosion through the air. The force of the blast hurled them across the field, landing hard on the ground.

Shin groaned, pushing himself up despite the ache in his body. "Emilia," he rasped, turning to her. "Are you okay?" His voice filled with concern.

Emilia, trembling and dazed, nodded slowly. "I… I think so. You… you saved me…"

Thick smoke from the explosion enveloped them, providing temporary cover. Shin quickly surveyed their surroundings, calculating their position. They were about a hundred meters from the gate—their only way out. But with the Demonoid still standing, the path was perilous.

The rest of the school grounds were surrounded by the crumbled remains of the building, a labyrinth of destruction that offered no escape. Time was running out. The thick smoke, which had shrouded them in a fragile veil of safety from the demonoid's gaze, was beginning to thin, tendrils dissipating into the air.

He clenched his fists, his mind racing. "Can I really protect her? Can I save us both from that monster?" Doubt clawed at him, an insidious whisper in his thoughts. 

"If I fight it… do I even stand a chance?"

The answer loomed like a shadow over his heart. The memories came flooding back. The police, their weapons useless, bullets tearing through the creature only for the wounds to heal moments later. It was unstoppable, invincible. What could he possibly do that they hadn't already tried?

The negativity threatened to paralyze him, weighing him down like chains. But then, amidst the torrent of fear and despair, one thought pierced through the chaos. 

 He glanced at Emilia, her tear-streaked face filled with fear, and made a decision. There was only one way.

Shin helped Emilia to her feet. "We need to move," he said urgently. "The smoke won't last."

"But how?" Emilia asked, fear evident in her voice. "That thing… it's unstoppable."

Shin clenched his fists.

"I'll distract it. You run to the gate as fast as you can."

"No!" Emilia protested, her voice breaking. "I won't leave you behind. There has to be another way!"

"Listen to me!" Shin said, his voice breaking with emotion. "You have to go. It's the only way."

Tears streamed down her face. "Why are you doing this? Why would you risk everything for me? We barely know each other! Why? Why??"

"I don't know," Shin admitted, his voice soft. 

"But something inside me tells me I have to protect you. No matter what. If I don't, I'll regret it for the rest of my life."

As he spoke, a flicker of a memory flashed in his mind. It was Emilia's smile, vivid and warm, and a voice calling his name. For the first time, it didn't bring pain. Instead, it filled him with a sense of purpose. 

He smiled faintly, solidifying his resolve.

Meanwhile, at the gate, Kazuma and Hana watched as more students escaped. Ms. Sato helped guide the stragglers, her voice calm despite the chaos. Kazuma's eyes darted back toward the school. "Shin and Emilia still in there," he muttered, stepping forward.

Hana grabbed his wrist, her voice trembling. "

Please… don't go. You'll be killed if you go back."

Kazuma hesitated, seeing the fear in her eyes. Reluctantly, he stayed, hoping that Shin and Emilia made it out alive.

"Shin… don't you die on me. You have to come back… both of you."