Spirit Taming

Chapter 371: Safe House

'Killer's thistle- rare

This is a beast that is often used by tamers that desire to be a weapon's master. This beast is normally a support type beast that allows the tamer to have a beast that holds many sharp weapons with blades. However, due to a forced evolution and growth using small bits of blood and demonic energy, this beast has mutated to become a killer's thistle instead of a battle thistle.

Due to this change, the killer's thistle has the urge to collect sharp things and build up condensed energy within itself. After a set time, it will stop moving and wait for prey. Then it will release whatever it has stored on its body to pierce the prey.

If it is feeling like it is outnumbered, it will sacrifice itself and explode all the condensed metal and fire energy it has. Upon doing so, its body and the sharp pieces of metal it may have collected become devastating weapons to kill off many.'

The sudden explosion that rocked the entire arena caused much more damage than anyone had been prepared for. The ice shields were cracked and shattered by the metal pieces while the glass pieces shattered on impact causing many to have new wounds. But even worse was the fact that there were still some flames causing burns as well.

The announcement that ethereal academy had come from the blood moon cult was enough to make many within hearing range run, but those within the arena were not prepared. Especially the students closest to the arena or even within the arena like the fourth years were.

However, these were the oldest and best of the two academies. The Nebula students had made defensive formation. A thick wall of ice was between them and the explosion. It had cracked and broken slightly but there were pieces of metal that had been stopped completely.

On the Nova side, they had walked more individually. Ella's older brother appeared to have deflected it all with pure strength. An amazing feat to say the least. The wall of fire that the Mourne family eldest had used was also a good way to melt away the projectiles. But seeing these flames brought Clark back.

Back to the day he found what had used to be his parents curled up and burned beyond recognition.

"Clark! We have to go!" Maria grabbed Clark's arm and tore him away from where he was about to run. Where he was about to unleash all his pent up rage that had been buried.

"The elite guards are with us. The remaining ethereal academy students are attacking the public. Many have already engaged in battle but we are heading to my home." Illia had many more guards around her and the Nebula students. But the Nova students were included. Specifically, Clark's group that had been invited to sit right next to her.

The chaos that was blooming around was clearly the result of whatever the cult had planned. It wasn't to attack but so that they could completely distract the guards. From what Clark could feel, this attack was the perfect way to escape. If he was ever hunted, he would be able to use this sort of chaos. That was if it wasn't going to harm the innocents like this.

The reason that the entire group and every student had trouble was that many had been harmed, just being rushed outside the stadium but the guards had put them in a daze. Even Clark with the higher experience that he had was struggling to grasp the amount of blood he saw.

So many people that had been on the streets had been attacked. There were bodies just laying on the road while guards surrounded and defeated the culprits. More explosive bursts of energy rocked Nebula causing some ice buildings to collapse. But what was even more shocking were the large ice pillars appearing. From the outside many could see the cloaked red figures frozen within.

This was the work of the Nebula city lord for sure. A sign that she was not one to be toyed with.

"Ahead of us, one enemy. Engage and dispatch." The order from the guards snapped Clark from what he was focused on. The bloodied figures ahead of them had chains stabbed through their hearts. It was a despicable use of bodies to be shields against the guards.

"You damn monster!" Clark felt his body tremble while he shouted at the red cloaked figure. It was an instinctive shout that he had not even intentionally let free. But it was enough to boost the guard's hatred for what they saw before them.

Before anyone else could move, the guard in the lead dodged around the chains thrusting dead bodies in front of him. The second that his sword flashed, the cultist was already split in half. Ice crystals blooming everywhere that a drop of blood fell. "Move forward to the safe house. You have three minutes to evacuate the package."

It was a rush again. Every student could only follow the orders of the guards as a mansion was getting closer. It was clear that they would be defending them through everything. But even the streets seemed to be getting cleared. The screams were fading and more and more guards could be seen.

The incredible spectacle of a full force of guards moving against an enemy would shock every official that witnessed it from another city. There was no other like Nebula that had such a perfect flow of guards. The reaction time was too short. The strict training was evident in even the slightest motions of every guard.

Not only had the attack shocked them, but the instant reaction shocked them even more.

"Remain here for the duration of the battles!" The guards ushered everyone in to a large room. It had no windows. Only two doors that had a group of five guards in front of them. They were prepared to fight to the death while they waited for the all clear sign.

"Give me a report as soon as you have it or I will have your job!" Illia had broken from her normal character and threw out an angry order. The guards did not move but it was very easy to see that they understood their positions in reference to who Illia was. They would definitely do as they were told.

"That was real fighting…. Is that really how we are going to be?" Reese was a little stunned to say the least. But he was wondering if he could become a swordsman that could effortlessly cut someone in half without a single flinch. Without a worry to maintain his goals.

"Why are you all sitting here like sheep! They would have killed you. This is life and death. Get your panties out from your arse and toughen up. The world isn't all soft and lovable. It's cruel and requires a firm hand!" Ralph was the one that shouted at everyone.

But he was right.

Knowing that Ralph had grown on the streets made it easier for Clark to see where this was coming from. He knew that Ralph had most likely seen bad things happen. Was Ralph still visibly shaken by what they had seen? Yes, but not as bad as Grace was or some of the others. They were facing a moral dilemma deep within themselves.

What could only be felt like as an eternity seemed to pass after Ralph had his outburst. But it had been enough for many of those brought with them to bottle their fears for the moment. For them to begin the process of hardening their souls so that they could face the world properly.

It was like someone had brought an explosion right to them when a guard opened the door and handed a paper to Illia directly.

Illia herself appeared to be holding a lot back. She had been trained as a child of a lord, especially the city lord of Nebula, to handle these situations. But that didn't mean there was more happening under the surface.

"The guards report that they have killed fifty attackers. There have been losses but the attackers are all handled. Guards and forces from all surrounding cities have united within the arena and are currently meeting for a clean up plan. We will be able to return to those we are supposed to be with within the hour. For now, please wait here."

The announcement was like releasing water from a dam. Many were forced to collapse to the ground by the release of stress, but Clark's group remained standing together near Illia. They had unconsciously fallen in line behind Clark as he had moved toward Illia. "We will need to find our professor. But she is still keeping us safe.

Let me know what you need." Clark knew that the assassin beetle was still nearby hiding to protect them. It was just a sixth sense.

"I need you to remain here with me. We will go together when we need to. I know that the announcement will be made soon." Illia's fists were clenched as she took deep breaths. She was internally cursing her weakness. Even the person she deemed as the strongest of her age, standing right in front of her, had not been able to move in to action during this attack.

How could she say she would ever be strong enough to take over this city? How could she say that she would one day be the next lord of Nebula?