83 Heading to the Top

Teacher Takuma watched as Eva continued pouring her Energy into the barrier. Her face had paled slightly as she was slowly becoming more and more exhausted. Teacher Takuma could see that she was running low on Energy within her Elemental Reservoir. Whatever they were doing inside, they needed to finish it quickly.

Just as she was thinking this, a powerful pulse came from within the barrier and passed through the two of them. Teacher Takuma felt an instant fear from the evil feeling presence that was just emanated. Eva, however, grinned, her eyes filled with joy.

"They did it!"

Teacher Takuma looked to Eva with a questioning gaze. Before she could ask, there was a ripple from the side of the barrier, before another one occurred on the top, and another one just a few feet from where Eva stood. After a few more ripples, Eva nodded her head and her power seemed to sore as the barrier began to vibrate violently under her power. A crack appeared in the barrier. And then another. Bit by bit, like a spider web, these cracks began to cover the barrier. Eva withdrew her hands and made a seal with her hands. At that moment, the barrier shattered and dissipated into the air.

As the barrier disappeared, Eva looked up to see Arata, Damien, Ryouma and Hyosuke walking over. Arata and Ryouma were holding up a clearly exhausted Damien. Hyosuke walked besides them, a hint of pride in his eyes as he looked at Damien.

"Not bad kid. A bit unorthodox, but I guess you're a bonafide Shadowguard now."

Damien, although pale faced and tired, smiled at his master's comment. Arata also grinned as he helped Damien to the side, sitting him down with his back against the wall.

"You overcame your Demons, conquering and taking authority of them. It is an honour to call you my Shadowguard, Damien."

Damien looked to Arata with a look of gratitude.

"T-Thank you, C-Captain."

Arata nodded and turned to Eva and Teacher Takuma. His eyes locked with Eva's, a piece of him having a sense of deja vu as she looked at him with a caring gaze of relief. He coughed awkwardly, before turning to Teacher Takuma.

"Teacher Takuma. You, Hyosuke and I will continue the mission and head up. Lady Eva, I want you and Ryouma to help Damien out and see if there has been any changes on the outside."

Ryouma was about to say something, when Arata lifted his hand to cut him off.

"No complaints."

Obviously Ryouma wanted to follow Arata, but he understood that Damien was weak right now. He could also see that Lady Eva was also looking a little exhausted. They needed to get out of here now. He nodded.

"Yes, Captain."

Lady Eva also looked like she wanted to protest, but nodded silently instead, walking over to help Ryouma carry Damien. Arata glanced at Teacher Takuma and Hyosuke. The three nodded as they sped off, out the door and up the stairs. As they ran up, Arata noticed the Black Crystal in Hyosuke's hand was emitting pulses. He gave him a look.

"Calling for backup? I still don't think it is needed."

Hyosuke chuckled as they ran.

"Backup? As if. I'm merely asking your Father a question."

Arata was confused for a moment, before grinning widely.

"This should be fun."

As they made their way up, Arata scanned each floor using his Shadow Awareness and could see that most of the Demon's had been defeated or killed. The connections to the bomb's were disconnected and it seemed as though they had successfully averted the explosions. As they passed by the third floor, Arata could see Eamon, Teacher Lu and Teacher Nyoka fighting with two powerful Demon's. Arata could see that one of the Demon's appeared to be injured. Eamon turned and locked eyes with Arata mid battle and sent a pulse of Energy through to him.

Head to the top!

Arata looked away as he continued running up the stairs. As they reached the sixth floor, Arata scanned the floor and saw Teacher Mei fighting another powerful Demon. He could also see that Teacher Diya was on the ground, clearly injured. Hyosuke turned to Teacher Takuma.

"You stay here and help her out."

Teacher Takuma hesitated, her proud nature not wanting to simply take orders from this man. But she guessed that he was someone from the Sato Clan, and definitely someone much stronger than her, so she nodded as she went to join Teacher Mei. Arata and Hyosuke continued their way up the stairs. They could both feel an oppressive force coming from above, Arata found that his Shadow Awareness couldn't see through the aura coming from the top. Hyosuke had a grim look on his face.

"I'm thankful that Lady Moriah is here."

They reached the door that led to the roof and they went through. They immediately saw a Energy Beam heading towards them. Arata dived to the side as Hyosuke jumped into the sky. The beam completely destroying the door the walls around it. Arata looked up to see Vice-Principal Zhang now standing in front of him. Past him, he could see Lady Moriah pointing her staff towards a man in a black cloak.

The man had a skull mask covering half of his face. The black cloak seemed to have faces moving across it, as if trapped souls were trying to get out of the cloak. He held a blackish grey sword with a skeletal hilt in one hand, and a staff made from the spine of a large creature in his other hand. He glanced over to Arata and laughed.

"You brought me a gift. The fresh blood of the Sato Clan's Heir. You are too kind, Lady Moriah. But he didn't seem to want my gift that I gave to him."

As the cloaked man cackled evilly, Lady Moriah harrumphed loudly.

"Your gifts are nothing but pathetic parlour tricks. Cheap shots towards children. You Demon's are utterly despicable."

The cloaked man stretched as he yawned.

"Oh your self righteous bulls**t bores me. Let's go back to having some fun, shall we?"

Lady Moriah grinned.

"Gladly."

The cloaked man then looked up and moved his blade to hit away a metal spike that was shot at him. He slashed and deflected three more metal spikes before Lady Moriah appeared before him, thrusting her staff towards him. He moved to the side as a burst of fire shot past him. He raised his staff to deflect another strike from Lady Moriah. His blade made a high pitch screech as he slashed at Lady Moriah. Two of the spikes that he had deflected reappeared in a cross before Lady Moriah, clashing with the blade. Lady Moriah pushed her palm forward towards the man's chest, flames gathering on her palm. A dark aura came from the man's chest, colliding with the flames, and gently pushing the man back.

As he moved back, he moved swiftly as a metal spike moved past him, just dodging it. He turned and slashed behind him, his blade clashing with what seemed to be nothing but darkness. He spat angrily.

"Another lackey of the Sato Clan."

Within the darkness, two metal spikes emerged, pressed against the cloaked man's blades. Hyosuke slowly appeared from the shadows, wielding the two spikes and grinning.

"I prefer the term Shadowguard."

Hyosuke twisted the spikes in his hands, guiding the blade to the side and creating an opening for Hyosuke to strike. As he swiped up to the cloaked man, he brought his skeletal staff in to deflect the spikes. As Hyosuke clashed with the staff, he felt the metal spikes absorb a deathly energy. He dropped the spikes instinctually as he retreated backwards. He watched as the spikes fell to the ground, slowly decaying. The cloaked man chuckled.

"Such a shame, just a second more and it would have gotten you too."

Hyosuke grimaced. This guy wasn't so simple. Hyosuke disappeared into the shadows as the cloaked man turned around to deflect another burst of flames. Lady Moriah sent Fireballs flying towards the cloaked man, each one he was able to deflect. Vice-Principal Zhang turned to Arata.

"Lady Moriah and Little Eamon insisted that you watch. We will need your assistance to bring the Demon Elder back to the Sato Clan, but they asked that you just sit back on this battle."

Arata gave Vice Principal Zhang a look of frustration before he nodded. As much as he wanted to help, he knew that he would be in the way for the most part. He wasn't at the level yet that he could help Lady Moriah and Hyosuke. Vice Principal Zhang seemed to be of the same mind as him, as he also stood out of the fight, choosing to just stand in front of Arata as protection. Although Vice Principal Zhang was a powerful individual, he knew that his strength would limit Lady Moriah and Hyosuke's ability to go full out. His strength lied in defensive maneuvers and support. Although he could support them from the side, his defensive capabilities were currently needed to ensure the safety of Arata.

The cloaked man seemed frustrated as he raised his skeletal staff. It began to vibrate violently, permeating an awful, deathly aura. Sensing danger, both Lady Moriah and Hyosuke retreated. As they moved back, the cloaked man brought his staff down, slamming it into the ground. Arata, using his Shadow Awareness, watched the Energy enter into the ceiling, rushing through the building. He watched as the Energy entered all the dead and unconscious Demons on the lower levels. Arata began to panic as he felt an ominous premonition coming.

The bodies of the Demons below began to glow and pulse with Energy. The Inner Court students and teachers all looked towards the bodies in confusion. A powerful surge of Demonic Energy rushed over the building and the bodies exploded one by one. The teachers and students did their best to retreat, but it happened so suddenly and there were so many bodies that many were unable to escape the consuming explosions. Eamon grabbed Teacher Lu and rushed back as he could see the Demonic Energy gathering. The Inner Circle Demons that they were facing cackled hysterically as their Energy surged with overwhelming power before they exploded, Demonic Energy consuming everything around them. Eamon created a barrier in front of him and Teacher Lu to protect them. Teacher Lu also created a barrier, seeing how powerful the explosion was. This Demonic black hole caused by these two powerful individuals destroyed everyone in the vicinity; student, teacher and Demon.

Teachers Mei, Diya and Takuma sensed something was off as their opponent changed tactics and charged at them. The Demon glowed with an oppressive aura as he yelled.

"I'll be taking you bitches with me!"

The Demonic glowed as he rushed to get as close to the others as he could. Knowing that something was off, the three teachers retreated as a powerful explosion occurred behind them. They turned around horrified as they all did their best to protect themselves and escape from the all consuming Demonic explosion.

Arata stared horrified as his Shadow Awareness allowed him to witness all the horrifying destruction happening beneath them. He had sacrificed all of his comrades just like that. Causing them to all explode and take out many of the students and teachers. The death that this man had just caused. Arata looked up with a look of pure rage and disgust. Hyosuke also looked up at the man, having also witnessed what had happened below. Lady Moriah and Vice Principal Zhang weren't able to see what had happened, but they knew that it wasn't anything good having felt the powerful explosions of Demonic Energy beneath. Hyosuke growled angrily.

"Coward! Using your comrades as explosives. Despicable!"

Understanding what had happened, Vice Principal Zhang's face turned grim. Lady Moriah's hand shook violently, her face distorted with rage. She raised her staff.

"Today, you will be judged!"

The cloaked man, who was now on his knees, holding the staff that was implanted into the ground, had his eyes closed as he chuckled maniacally. He opened his eyes, power glowing from within it. The others could feel that his aura was growing more oppressive. The death that was now exuding throughout the building began to rush to the roof, coalescing within the staff do he cloaked man. He slowly rose to his feet, his Energy continuing to grow and become more suffocating.

"None of you are qualified to judge me. Today, the sky will rain with the blood of those that oppose the Great Demon's of the Valley! Prepare for death!"