My Soul card is a Reaper-Chapter 1016: Dreams of the Past: The Hunting Mission (2/3)

"Sealing Art: Shadow Bind!"

She slammed her palm downward, and the moment her feet touched the ground, the seal vanished beneath the surface.

For half a second, nothing happened.

Then—

Black ropes of energy erupted from the earth, coiling around the Vulcan Beasts like living snakes. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

\\*Scraaaa\\* \\*Scraaaa\\*\\*Scraaaa\\*

The creatures screeched, struggling, but the bindings held firm. Their massive claws scraped against the rocky ground, tails whipping wildly, but it was useless.

"Now!" Artaigne shouted.

Rael and Eon met each other's gaze for a heartbeat—then charged forward, summoning their Soul Cards as their battle truly began.

Rael's Death Scythe materialized in his grasp—a twisted yet majestic weapon. Dark energy pulsed through its sleek black blade, yet a layer of golden light coated its surface, creating a strange contrast. Corruption and divinity were intertwined in one form.

Beside him, Eon summoned Marduk's Mace, the legendary weapon crackling with unseen power. The Hourglass of Time hovered beside her, its white sand trickling downward at an unnatural pace, creating an invisible field in the surroundings and slightly slowing down the time for them.

From a distance, Ban Zhao's sharp eyes narrowed in intrigue. As a Supreme Being, she could sense the time manipulation.

"Headmaster Achilles was right about them," she murmured. "Freak siblings from Camelot. One wields a scythe infused with both divine and corrupted energy, while the other commands time itself and holds a divine weapon. They're anomalies—true children of heaven."

Eon smirked. He gripped the mace's handle tightly and rolled his shoulders. "Let's test it out."

Rael said nothing, but his gaze burned with the thrill of battle.

The fight began.

Artaigne landed first, dashing toward one of the trapped Vulcan Beasts. The creature roared, its spiked tail thrashing in frustration, but the dark energy bindings held firm.

She flipped her dual daggers into a reverse grip, lunged forward, and slashed across its chest with a sharp, precise motion. A deep wound tore through the beast's thick hide, molten blood spilling onto the blackened ground.

Rael and Eon charged past her, splitting into different paths.

Rael's Death Scythe cut cleanly through one of the beasts, slicing it in two with a single, effortless stroke. The golden layer around the blade burned away the creature's essence, leaving behind nothing but an evaporating husk.

Eon lifted Marduk's Mace, his body surging with raw energy. The Hourglass shimmered beside him as if responding to his will. With one powerful swing, he slammed the Vulcan Beast's skull into the earth, shattering both rock and bone in an instant. The creature didn't even have time to scream.

Artaigne, seeing them move at terrifying speed, gritted her teeth and attacked with swift, rapid strikes, bringing down her target with sheer precision.

By the time she finished, the siblings had already slain the remaining two, their bodies moving in perfect synchronization.

When the last of the Vulcan Beasts fell, their spirit cores glowed brightly before floating toward the three warriors. Rael, Eon, and Artaigne absorbed the spirit cores into their souls, feeling a small surge of energy from the fallen creatures.

Artaigne stood still for a moment, watching them.

Her grip on her sword tightened slightly in frustration.

"Even after everything... the gap hasn't changed at all."

Meanwhile, Ban Zhao watched in silence, her arms crossed.

"Too strong. If they join forces with Arjuna and Nuada, perhaps... this year, we'll finally have a chance to defeat Lightning Academy in the Junior Championship."

But that was for another time.

Minutes later, they found another batch of Vulcan Beasts roaming the area.

The result was the same.

The creatures never stood a chance.

Within no time, the team slaughtered ten Vulcan Beasts, completing their assigned mission.

They returned to Ban Zhao, who awaited their report.

She nodded approvingly. "You're free to do whatever you want now. Do you wish to stay on the island or leave?"

Rael stepped forward without hesitation.

"We're going after the Vulcan King."

Ban Zhao raised an eyebrow, but she saw no uncertainty in their eyes.

"Very well," she said. "Go on."

With that, the three of them ventured deeper into the island, moving toward the volcanic heart of the barren land. The heat grew intense as they neared the center of the island. The ground pulsed with veins of molten rock, the air thick with the scent of sulfur.

But then—

Rael suddenly raised a hand, stopping the group. Ahead, the clash of weapons and bursts of energy echoed through the air.

Moving swiftly, they took cover behind a jagged rock and peered out.

There, in the middle of an open clearing, three familiar figures stood locked in battle.

Arjuna. Bheema. Yudhisthira.

The three Pandava brothers were seen fighting against three masked opponents, their weapons clashing with bursts of power.

"What should we do?" Eon turned to her brother. Rael didn't speak and instead gazed at Artaigne. "Your call."

Artaigne furrowed her brows, watching the battle afar for a moment. "Well, it was clear that the three of them were struggling. And they are our classmates. Moreover, the Vice Principal is watching us. She would be expecting us to assist them."

Eon gruffed, crossing her arms. "I don't have any intention of helping that big-headed giant (Bheema). I say we watch until they ask for assistance."

Artaigne looked at her. "Eon, we can't let our emotions cloud our judgment."

"Seriously, what happened in these six weeks? Or has this been her true personality all along that she has been suppressing it for years?" Rael couldn't help but wonder, his eyes muddled by confusion over Artaigne's change of personality.

In the end, he let out a sigh and said. "Let's go and save them."

Meanwhile, Arjuna, Bheema, and Yudhisthira held their ground against the three masked figures, their weapons clashing in a flurry of attacks. Arjuna couldn't use his Arcana spirit and opted for a sword because of close combat. Yudhisthira was focused on parrying the assassin's sword while Bheema was using a Gadā, a blunt mace with a large oval-shaped head instead of traditional flat heads like Eon's.

Sparks flew as the masked assassins maneuvered with precision, their movements swift and calculated. The fight was at a stalemate—neither side gaining the upper hand.

All of a sudden, from the shadows of various rocky structures, Rael and his companions emerged in different directions, each assisting one.

Without hesitation, Rael, Eon, and Artaigne joined the fray.

Rael's Death Scythe whirled like a storm, forcing the assassins currently engaged with Arjuna to go on the defensive.

Eon activated the Hourglass of Time, slowing another's movements to help out Arjuna, while Artaigne used her soul skill and emerged from the shadows of the assassins engaged with Bheema, landing a decisive strike on his back.

Sensing the sudden shift in momentum, the masked figures gathered before exchanging quick glances and nods—and then, just like that, they vanished, using a random teleportation scroll without speaking a word.

The battle was over.

But instead of relief, a different kind of tension hung in the air.

Bheema, his muscles taut with barely contained frustration, took a step forward. His sharp glare fixated on them.

"Why did you interfere? We didn't need your help," he growled at Artaigne, making her shudder for a moment. She got away from him.

Eon scoffed, folding her arms. "Ungrateful much? As expected," she shot back. "We saved your lives, and you're scolding us?" She glanced at Artainge. "Told you before. We shouldn't have helped these Southerners."