Chapter 296: Shadow Mystics 1
The salty sea breeze whipped across the wide beach, carrying the distant roar of waves and the sharp, metallic scent of incoming danger. A massive horde of twisted shadow monsters—hulking, jagged things with glowing red eyes—spilled out from the black tear in the sky, crashing onto the sand like a living nightmare.
I stood there at the front, breathing hard, one hand pressed to my side. Sweat rolled down my temple and dripped off my jaw. My whole body felt like someone had sucked the life out of it. For the first time in forever, I was completely tapped out.
Still, I forced a smirk and raised my voice so it carried over the growing panic of the crowd gathered behind me.
"So all of my shadow mystics are here now!?"
Seven girls snapped to attention in perfect sync. Their voices boomed back as one, loud enough to shake the air.
"YES MASTER!!"
The sound hit like a shockwave. Even the monsters paused for a split second.
I let out a low, tired chuckle, wiping the sweat bead from my cheek with the back of my hand.
"Hehe... that’s how it should be, my girls."
Alpha stepped forward first. Her long pink hair fluttered wildly in the wind. She drew her massive sword in one smooth motion, the blade catching the sunlight and flashing like lightning. She planted her feet wide, sword held diagonally in front of her chest, eyes locked on the approaching swarm.
"Master, you relax," she said in that calm, commanding tone she always used. "We will take it from here."
Beta was already grinning like a kid on her birthday. Dark animal-like energy swirled around her arms and legs, forming sharp, glowing claws that stretched longer than her forearms. She cracked her neck side to side and bared her teeth.
"Yes Master," she growled excitedly. "You can sit back and enjoy the show now."
I raised both hands in mock surrender, taking a few slow steps backward. "Alright, alright... as you all say."
The other five girls fanned out behind Alpha and Beta without a word—Gamma cracking her knuckles, Delta spinning twin daggers between her fingers, Epsilon summoning faint purple flames around her palms, Zeta and Eta stretching, themselves, ready to pounce as well.
I dropped down onto the warm sand, legs crossed, elbows resting on my knees. My body screamed in protest with every movement, but I kept the smirk plastered on my face. No way was I letting the crowd see how wrecked I actually was.
Behind me, the beach had turned into a makeshift audience. Dozens of people—tourists, locals, random ability users who had rushed over when the sky ripped open—stood clustered together, whispering and pointing.
One woman with a sunhat clutched her boyfriend’s arm. "Will these seven girls really fight that whole number of monsters...?"
Her boyfriend adjusted his sunglasses, squinting. "Yeah... it seems like it."
An older guy standing a little further back nodded confidently. "It’s okay. They’re strong. I saw them before—in the capital."
His friend next to him grinned. "Yeah! They were there when Zero fought the Queen. These girls cleaned up half the battlefield themselves."
A teenage boy pumped his fist in the air. "Yeahhh! You can do it, girls!!"
"Show those ugly things who’s boss!" A couple more voices joined in. "Go get ’em!"
Alpha glanced back at me for half a second. Our eyes met. I gave her the tiniest nod. She turned forward again, sword rising high.
The beach exploded into chaos the second the monsters moved.
A pack of ugly green-skinned goblins stood at the front of the horde, their jagged teeth flashing as they laughed in creepy, high-pitched voices.
"Gkhekhekhe..." one of them cackled, slapping its knee. "They think can do stop us now."
High above, a winged beast with leathery black wings and sharp talons hovered, arms folded across its chest like it was bored. It looked down at Alpha with glowing yellow eyes and smirked.
"Overconfidence is not good, you know," it called out in a deep, mocking voice.
Alpha tilted her head back, locking eyes with it. Her death stare was cold enough to freeze the ocean. She didn’t say a word—just tightened her grip on her massive sword until her knuckles turned white.
Down on the sand, a long serpent-like monster slithered forward next to a huge gorilla beast covered in dark fur and spikes. Both of them looked annoyed.
"Let’s just destroy them and get control of the island as fast as possible," the serpent hissed, its forked tongue flicking out. "It’s getting tiring."
The gorilla grunted in agreement, cracking its massive knuckles. "Yeah. Smash and done."
They started walking straight toward Beta, who was already crouched low with her glowing claws extended, teeth bared in a wild grin.
"Sure!" Zeta shouted from the side. She bent her knees deep, energy crackling around her legs like blue lightning. "Give your best shot!"
In one explosive leap, she shot forward like a rocket, sword raised high. She aimed right for the nearest group of goblins.
At the same time, Epsilon jumped straight up into the air, purple flames swirling around her fists and feet.
"Yeah, let’s end this fast!" she yelled.
She came down like a falling star, slamming her flaming fist right into a goblin’s face. The impact was brutal—*CRUNCH*—the goblin’s head turned to pulp instantly, green blood spraying across the sand.
"Yahooo!" Beta laughed like a maniac. She bounded forward in huge jumps, claws slashing left and right. Small alien-like creatures tried to swarm her, but she tore through them like paper. Limbs and heads flew everywhere as she carved a path straight toward the serpent and gorilla.
"Come here, you two!" she growled, gritting her teeth so hard you could hear it. Her eyes glowed with pure excitement.
*CLANG!*
High above, Alpha launched herself into the air with a powerful jump. Her sword swung in a wide, silver arc. It met the flying beast’s claws in a massive clash that sent sparks raining down like fireworks.
The impact pushed both of them back a little. The flying beast hovered again, shaking its hand like it stung.
"Hmph..." it snorted, glaring back at her.
