Project Superior: A Hero’s Awakening

The scene opened with Princess Misaki and Jason struggling to fend off countless Varmints, monstrous creatures that surged toward them and their squads with insatiable hunger. Despite having just managed to defeat Prince Magnus' squad, their victory felt hollow—they were too weak to hold their ground against this relentless tide.

Princess Misaki, her body battered and bloodied, gritted her teeth as she parried another of the beasts' attacks. Thoughts of despair swirled in her mind. I can't even land a solid hit on these monsters, she thought bitterly, feeling the weight of her failures. Let alone leave a scratch on them. And my abilities... I can't use them at full power. Not here. Not without risking everyone around me. Her chest heaved as she tried to push the rising tide of panic back down. What am I supposed to do?

A sudden eruption of power shifted her focus. Elowen, their team's nature mage, summoned a colossal tree. Its gnarled veins twisted and snaked outward, trapping and immobilizing several Varmints. The ground trembled beneath their combined weight, but the respite was fleeting.

Nearby, Jason channeled his dwindling energy into twin glowing spheres, the light of which painted his face with an eerie glow. "Fusion Ignition!" he roared, hurling the fused orb skyward. It spiraled upwards before expanding ominously, pulsing with growing energy.

"Everyone, run! Now!" Jason bellowed, sprinting in the opposite direction. His voice carried both urgency and desperation.

Misaki pushed herself to her feet, her legs trembling. But exhaustion betrayed her—she stumbled and fell hard onto the blood-streaked ground. Her vision blurred, and she felt the cold fingers of despair clutching her heart.

"Princess!" Jupiter's voice cut through the chaos. He rushed to her side, forming an immense barrier with his powers. The translucent dome shimmered as Jason's energy orb, now a blinding sun, reached critical mass.

With a deafening roar, the orb imploded, unleashing a devastating shockwave. The world turned white as the detonation obliterated everything in its radius. When the dust and debris finally settled, Jupiter's barrier crumbled, leaving him panting and severely burned. Misaki stared at him in shock, her lips trembling. He protected me...

Yet their relief was short-lived. To their horror, the Varmints emerged unscathed from the destruction, their grotesque forms silhouetted against the fading light of the blast. One of the creatures stepped forward, its movements unsettlingly deliberate. Its glowing, predatory eyes locked onto Jupiter and Misaki.

Jupiter gritted his teeth and raised his arms in defiance, ready to face the creature despite his injuries. The Varmint tilted its head, almost curiously, and then, to their shock, it uttered something faint, something almost intelligible: "E...rus."

The Varmint extended a clawed limb toward Jupiter, as if attempting to touch his burns. Before it could, an icy screech tore through the air. An enormous ice phoenix hurtled toward the creature, striking it with unrelenting force. The beast was propelled skyward, vanishing into the atmosphere before erupting in an explosion that painted the heavens white.

The remaining Varmints hesitated, confusion rippling through their ranks. Then, a deafening crash shook the earth as a figure descended from the sky, landing with earth-shattering force. Dust and debris billowed outward as the ground cracked beneath him.

Instructor Joshua had arrived.

He stood tall, his etheral instrument, the 'Leviathan Battleaxe', gleaming in his hands. Without hesitation, he hurled the massive weapon toward the Varmints, the force of its swing slicing through eight of them in a single blow. The others roared in rage and charged at him en masse.

Joshua clapped his hands together, his voice booming like thunder. "Caelwyn Glacius: Ice Age... Sub-Zero!"

In an instant, the entire forest was encased in frost. Trees, mountains, and lakes were frozen solid, their surfaces glittering like crystal. The Varmints—once ferocious and untouchable—were now motionless sculptures of ice.

Summoning his axe back to his hand, Joshua swung it in a wide arc, shattering the frozen creatures into shards. He wasted no time rushing to Jupiter and Misaki's side.

"Are you alright?" he asked, his voice heavy with concern. His piercing gaze scanned their injuries. "Can you move?"

Jupiter tried to respond but collapsed from exhaustion. Joshua caught him effortlessly, his expression softening.

Turning to Misaki, he spoke again. "Your Highness, did you fight the Varmints directly?"

"Yes, Instructor Joshua," she replied, her voice weak but steady.

A shadow passed over Joshua's face. "Did you notice any strange black-green veins appearing on your body?"

Misaki blinked, confused. She glanced down, inspecting herself for any signs of what he described. "No... I don't think so."

Joshua exhaled in relief. "Thank the heavens," he murmured.

"Why did you ask?" Misaki pressed, frowning. "What would that mean?"

Joshua hesitated, his usually steady demeanor faltering. "It's... complicated. But simply put, contact with a Varmint is a death sentence."

Misaki's heart sank. "What do you mean?"

"They're made of a strange energy," Joshua explained, his tone grave. "Anyone who comes into contact with them risks infection by a deadly virus—the Black Death. It's incurable. Even immortals can't survive it."

Misaki's blood ran cold. "How is that possible? How can such a thing exist?"

Joshua shook his head. "We don't fully understand it. But we do know how to protect ourselves." He paused, meeting her gaze. "You must shield yourself with your aura. It must be as thick and strong as your skin. Only then can you avoid infection."

Before Misaki could respond, distant explosions reverberated through the frozen forest. She turned toward the noise, her eyes wide with dread. "What now?" she whispered.

The air was thick with tension as Instructor Joshua calmly stated, "Oh, that's just your homeroom teacher, Miss Seo-Yeon."

"Miss Seo-Yeon caused those explosions?" Misaki asked, her voice tinged with disbelief.

"Yes, she did," Joshua replied without missing a beat.

The atmosphere grew heavier, an almost suffocating pressure settling over the battlefield. Sensing something more dangerous approaching from the portal, Joshua snapped his fingers, summoning a new regiment of ice troops. Their frosty forms shimmered under the harsh light, ready for his command.

"Take Princess Misaki and Jupiter to the evacuation sector immediately," he ordered, his voice firm. "All students participating in the Forest Crown Hunt are being transported there. Ensure their safety at all costs."

Joshua's eyes hardened as he addressed the ice soldiers again. "If my students are harmed... it won't be your survival on the line."

The ice soldiers exchanged nervous glances before carefully gathering Jupiter and Misaki. They began their retreat, heading swiftly toward the evacuation zone, where medics and staff waited.

Joshua stretched his shoulders, rolling them with precision, before drawing the Leviathan Battleaxe from his back. Its icy blade gleamed as if hungry for the battle to come. A violent surge of energy burst forth from the portal from before, shaking the ground as something emerged.

A varmint stepped through—but this one was different. It stood upright, its grotesque form twisted into something disturbingly humanoid.

Joshua narrowed his eyes, his thoughts racing. A humanoid varmint? This is new. His grip tightened on his weapon. If it's humanoid, it's at least a red administrator core level… possibly higher.

The creature's lips curled into a smile, and then it spoke, its voice guttural and mocking. "What delicious food you are."

Joshua's eyes widened. A talking varmint? He steadied himself, keeping his expression cold. "You lowly creatures dare harm my students?"

The varmint's smile widened. "Your students smelled delicious."

Joshua's lips curled into a dark smirk. "You think you'll be the one feasting today?" He cracked his neck and rolled his shoulders. "Now tell me… how would you like to be cooked? Rare? Medium? Well-done?"

The varmint snarled, its patience snapping as it lunged at Joshua. The attack was swift, but Joshua blocked it effortlessly, his axe gleaming as it intercepted the creature's claws.

"Pathetic," he muttered, shoving the varmint back with a surge of strength. But the creature was relentless. It kicked the Leviathan Battleaxe from his grasp and landed a brutal punch to his face, sending blood streaming from his nose.

Joshua staggered but grinned through the pain. "That all you got?" With lightning speed, he drove a powerful punch into the varmint's stomach, making it double over and retch violently. Seizing the moment, Joshua delivered a series of precise strikes, each blow leaving the creature more disoriented.

The varmint roared in frustration, swinging wildly, but Joshua dodged each attack with practiced ease. In a swift motion, he retrieved his axe and swung it with deadly precision, freezing the creature's midsection and tossing it aside like a broken doll.

"Weak," he taunted, his voice laced with disdain. "You've got a red ethereal core, but you fight like an amateur."

The varmint's eyes burned with fury. "I will kill you," it snarled, its body beginning to heal at an unnatural speed. Before Joshua could press his advantage, a swarm of varmints surged from the portal, merging with the humanoid creature. Its body expanded grotesquely, muscles bulging as its power grew exponentially.

Joshua's expression turned serious. He cupped his hands, drawing them to his side as freezing energy condensed between them. The air around him dropped to a biting chill as he unleashed his technique. "Cryo-Blast!"

The blast of concentrated ice energy surged forward, freezing everything in its path, including the massive varmint. For a moment, all was silent. Then a deafening roar shattered the stillness as the creature broke free of its icy prison, its strength even greater than before.

It appeared behind Joshua in an instant, striking him with devastating force. Joshua was sent flying, crashing into the ground with a grunt of pain. The creature wasted no time, pummeling him with a flurry of brutal attacks.

Before the creature could land another blow, Joshua's Leviathan Battleaxe flew to his side, slamming into the varmint and knocking it away. Blood dripped from Joshua's wounds as he forced himself to his feet.

A voice cut through the chaos, light and teasing. "How are you losing this badly?"

Joshua turned to see Miss Seo-Yeon standing behind him, a playful smirk on her face.

"Took your sweet time, didn't you?" Joshua muttered, his annoyance clear.

Seo-Yeon shrugged. "Oh, relax. I was just having a little fun. Besides, that thing's near our level. No need to get all worked up."

Joshua sighed, shaking his head. "Just get ready to kill it, Seo-Yeon."

"Alright, alright," she replied, raising her hand. From miles away, her ethereal weapon, the Crimson-Blade Rebellion, responded to her call. The volcano housing the greatsword erupted violently, sending the weapon hurtling toward its master. As it landed in her grasp, the air around her shifted, charged with her immense power.

Seo-Yeon studied the varmint as it regenerated, her gaze sharp. "I've heard varmints have ridiculous healing abilities, but this is absurd."

Joshua nodded grimly. "We have to end it quickly, or it'll possibly evolve and surpass us."

Seo-Yeon's grin returned. "And we have to kill it before the imperial army arrives. Can't have Miss Faelwen thinking I'm weak."

Joshua rolled his eyes but couldn't hide the hint of a smile. "Focus, Seo-Yeon."

The varmint, now fully healed and more monstrous than ever, charged at them with blinding speed. Seo-Yeon met its attack head-on, her Crimson-Blade Rebellion colliding with its claws in an explosion of energy. Joshua stepped forward, his Leviathan Battleaxe raised, ready to end the fight once and for all.

Instructor Joshua's Leviathan Battleaxe swung in a wide arc, slicing clean through the varmint's left leg. The icy edge froze the severed wound instantly, halting its notorious regenerative powers.

Miss Seo-Yeon seized the opening, her blazing Rebellion Greatsword cutting a fiery streak across the varmint's chest. The creature howled in pain as the flames seared its grotesque form, leaving charred, unhealing flesh in their wake.

The varmint grasped at the glowing blade, its claws struggling to wrench it free. Miss Seo-Yeon didn't flinch. Instead, she released her grip on the hilt and stepped forward, delivering a flaming uppercut. "Rising Dragon Fist!" she cried as an ethereal dragon of fire burst from her fist, sending the varmint hurtling skyward.

Joshua followed up with a barrage of jagged ice spikes, which erupted from the ground and speared the airborne varmint, pinning it like an insect in amber. Miss Seo-Yeon leaped nimbly from spike to spike, her boots leaving fiery prints on the frozen surfaces. She reached the writhing varmint, landing hard on its chest with a sharp crack.

Driving her blade into its neck, she twisted it with precision. The varmint roared in agony, its claws flailing wildly. It grasped Miss Seo-Yeon by the head, slamming her to the icy ground with bone-crushing force. Yet she held fast to her blade, her grip unyielding as she worked to sever its head.

Desperate, the varmint sprang high into the air, hoping to shake her off. Joshua anticipated its move. Appearing above them with an icy flash, he brought his Leviathan Battleaxe down on its nape. "Seo-Yeon, now!" he bellowed.

Miss Seo-Yeon ignited a burst of flames beneath her feet, spinning mid-air like a fiery buzzsaw. With one final, precise cut, she severed the varmint's head from its massive shoulders.

But the fight wasn't over. Before their eyes, the decapitated head began to reattach itself, sinews and flesh knitting together at an unnatural speed.

"Persistent little freak," Seo-Yeon muttered, kicking the body away as she soared upward. Grabbing Joshua's hand mid-air, she steadied them both as they landed a safe distance away.

"We're finishing this, Joshua," she declared, her voice resolute.

Joshua nodded, their auras flaring to life and painting the sky in dazzling hues of icy blue and fiery red. Their combined energy warped the air around them, shaking the ground beneath their feet.

With synchronized precision, they merged their elemental powers into a spiraling mass of raw destructive force. "Gamma-Ray Burst!" they shouted in unison, unleashing an overwhelming torrent of energy that surged skyward before crashing down on the varmint.

The blast annihilated the creature, tearing apart its remnants and leaving nothing but a smoldering crater. The sheer force of the attack reverberated across the planet, leaving no doubt about the power they had unleashed. Stars dimmed and shattered as waves of destructive energy rippled outward, tearing through countless celestial bodies. Galaxies were ripped apart, their luminous spirals collapsing into chaos, as the sheer magnitude of their unleashed power carved an indelible scar across the cosmos.

As the dust settled, Miss Seo-Yeon gave Joshua a playful grin. "Thanks for saving me back there, my knight in shining armor."

Joshua scoffed, his irritation plain. "I should've let it eat you instead."

She laughed, ignoring his gruff demeanor. "Oh, come on, Oppa. Admit it—this is the most fun you've had in ages. When was the last time we fought something other than each other?"

"You're not wrong," he admitted begrudgingly. "I haven't used this much power in a while. Feeling rusty."

Before they could continue their banter, Miss Faelwen appeared, rushing toward them with urgency. Her face was pale, and her breaths came in short bursts.

"Faelwen, what's wrong?" Joshua asked, stepping forward.

She shook her head quickly. "I'm fine, but two students are missing—Xavier Ashford and Prince Magnus Flashstride. They weren't at the evacuation sector."

Seo-Yeon's playful expression turned serious. "I didn't see them during the rescue. What happened?"

"Princess Misaki said they were fighting before the attack," Faelwen explained, glancing between them.

Joshua sighed, rubbing his temples. "Damn it. We need to find them, now."

The three split up to search the forest, and with Faelwen's Eyes of Revelation, they eventually found Prince Magnus unconscious, his body battered and barely breathing.

Seo-Yeon knelt beside him, checking for signs of life. "He's alive, but barely. What happened here?"

Joshua's sharp eyes scanned the area, noting the heavy presence of varmint blood. His gaze fell on a pair of shattered glasses—Xavier's distinctive Visors of Time. Picking them up, his jaw tightened.

Seo-Yeon's composure cracked. "His glasses… Did something happen to Xavier?"

"Don't jump to conclusions," Faelwen urged, though her voice wavered.

Joshua shook his head. "We searched the entire forest. If he's not here…"

"He must've led the varmint away," Faelwen suggested. "To protect the other students."

Joshua exhaled sharply, forcing himself to stay calm. "He's not dead. Xavier's a genius—he wouldn't go down that easily, even against one of those things."

"Then we search outside the forest," Faelwen decided, her tone firm. "Seo-Yeon, take Prince Magnus back to the evacuation sector. Joshua and I will find Xavier."

Seo-Yeon hesitated but nodded. Gently lifting the prince, she took to the air, her fiery aura glowing against the darkening sky.

Joshua and Faelwen exchanged a determined look before turning toward the forest's edge, their hearts heavy with the unknown but resolute in their mission.