Sylvain and the Relic were gone.
And in their place, the ooze had grown into a massive, hulking form, until eventually it began to harden and the finer details of the monster that stood in the room morphed into existence.
First came the limbs- thick, taut, and blackened flesh that flexed with unnatural strength as claws the size of daggers extended from its fingers. Then came the jagged, armor-like plates that formed across its back, sides, and tail; each piece looking as though it had been carved from volcanic rock.
The head was last to take shape, its skeletal structure forming with gaping hollow sockets where its glowing red eyes shifted erratically between openings, never staying in one place for long. Its jagged teeth jutted out from its massive jaws, with saliva glistening as the beast's breath came out in heavy, feral snarls.
Finally, the jagged spikes running along the monster's back mirrored the Lance of Ruin's crossguard, resembling bone-like protrusions that extended down its armored back and all the way to its snout; and by the time the transformation was complete, what remained of Sylvain was an abomination resembling a giant, demonic salamander.
A flash of lightning lit up the chamber, and everyone could see for a split second the blackened beast in its full, grotesque form. Its red glowing eyes darted in seemingly random directions as they moved from one cavity to the other, before settling its attention on the bandits who'd huddled together in fear at the back of the room.
Panic overtook them, and the survivors screamed as they split off and attempted to flee. Unfortunately for one of them, a bandit in the middle hesitated as he was torn between which side to follow, and ultimately sealed his fate. Now trapped like a rat, he pressed his back helplessly against the cold stone wall and watched in terror as the looming figure of the Black Beast towered over him.
"No, no, please! Stay away from me! Stay away! Stay- RAAAAAAAGH!"
Standing on its hind legs, the monster reached out with its darkened muscular hand and grabbed the poor soul. Meanwhile, his companions didn't even look back as they sprinted around the occupied beast. Nobody on the other side of the room even tried to prevent their escape as they ran past them, and instead continued to watch in horror as the man's cries were abruptly silenced and his corpse tossed aside.
The sight caused Bernadetta to scream before she fainted, and Petra caught her. Meanwhile, a wide range of reactions rippled through the group- some froze in shock, others tightened their grips on their weapons, and a few exchanged uneasy glances, unsure of what to do next.
"By the Goddess…" Was all Gilbert could utter out.
Kratos immediately went into action as he went to the front of the company and took charge. "Everyone, spread out! We cannot allow ourselves to be easy targets!" His voice cut through the chaos like steel, and the group instinctively moved to follow his orders.
"Professor, what are we going to do?!" Ingrid shouted as she and her sisters moved to the right to flank the beast with their spears raised.
"Hold your positions, but do not attack! We do not know what it is capable of!"
"Brother, what has happened to Sylvain?!" Mimir demanded again, his voice laced with growing panic. "Is the lad alright?"
If there had ever been a moment when Kratos' expression could betray his emotions through the shield of his thick beard, this was it. His jaw clenched, and his eyes hardened as he answered. "The Relic has consumed the boy. A black beast stands in his place now."
"You bloody wot?" Mimir's voice cracked with a mix of shock and disbelief, his usually sharp wit momentarily lost as he processed the grim revelation. "And what of Miklan?"
Kratos did not answer, and when the beast turned around, all the bandit leader could do was whimper in absolute terror. Lacking the strength to pull himself off the floor and run, he found himself face-to-face with the demonic monster that had once been his brother. With a panicked cry, he rolled onto his stomach once more and began dragging himself forward with his bloodied arms, desperately crawling toward Kratos and the others.
At first, the monster seemed to be looking around the room as its red eyes darted between each group that began to surround it, yet it made no move to attack. Eventually, Miklan stopped for a moment before turning his head to see what exactly it was doing, and both of its eyes immediately snapped to the red-haired man crawling away.
Miklan froze in place, trembling as he caught sight of the Black Beast's glowing crimson eyes locking onto him. Its head tilted slightly as if to study him, and for a moment, there was an eerie stillness in the room.
Then, without warning, the Black Beast let out a furious roar that echoed through the chamber, as though a primal, unrelenting rage had been brought to the surface. Its claws dug into the stone floor, leaving deep gouges as it prepared to charge.
Miklan's face twisted in terror as he cried out, his voice cracking with desperation. "No, no, stay back!" He began to drag himself forward with renewed urgency, his bloodied arms trembling under the strain as he scrambled to put distance between himself and the looming monstrosity.
The beast launched itself at Miklan, shaking the floor beneath him as he once more saw a set of razor sharp teeth closing in on him, its jaw opened wide as if it intended to eat him whole; and all the older Gautier could do was roll himself up into a ball as he waited for his inevitable demise.
But then, in a move no one could have foreseen, Kratos acted. Tossing his spear aside, the Spartan broke into a full sprint, charging past Miklan and toward the beast. The sight alone was enough to leave everyone stunned, unable to process what was unfolding.
With an earth-shaking impact, Kratos' shoulder slammed into the beast's snout, striking between one of its massive horns and its deadly maw. The force of the collision reverberated through the chamber, and though Kratos' momentum was halted, the sheer power behind his strike was enough to slow the beast's charge.
The Spartan dug his heels into the ground, his feet skidding across the stone as cracks splintered beneath him. The beast roared in frustration, pushing against him with relentless force, but Kratos held firm. Finally, with a defiant roar of his own, Kratos stopped the beast dead in its tracks, mere feet from where Miklan lay trembling on the ground.
"HOLY SHIT!" Caspar yelled as he jumped back, his eyes wide and his mouth agape. He turned to Annette, pointing frantically at the scene. "You never said your professor could do that!"
"We didn't know he could do that either!" Annette shouted back, her voice filled with equal parts awe and panic.
Meanwhile, despite being stopped dead in its tracks, the Black Beast's sole focus remained on Miklan. It snarled and roared, trying to force its massive frame past Kratos while attempting to take swipes at the bandit.
"Sylvain!" Kratos bellowed in an attempt to reach him. "This is not who you are! You must fight it! Control yourself!"
But the beast, now consumed by rage and instinct, showed no sign of recognition or restraint. "Sylvain" did not want to listen. It roared once more as its massive claws struck the ground in frustration.
After a moment, realizing that he was not dead yet, Miklan looked up with wide eyes at the sight before him. Kratos stood firm, holding the enraged Black Beast at bay. As though remembering he had legs, the redhead scrambled awkwardly to his feet and staggered away from the monster. He broke into a clumsy sprint, weaving around the gathered fighters in a desperate attempt to escape the chaos.
"Stop him!" Gilbert commanded, pointing toward the fleeing bandit. "Do not let him escape!"
Almost immediately, Miklan was tackled to the floor by several men. Meanwhile, Dimitri, one of the first to break out of his stupor at the feat his professor was now displaying for all to see, shouted to his comrades. "Come on! We have to help him!"
It felt silly at first, considering that what he was suggesting was helping someone who seemed to have the situation firmly under control. However, he reminded himself that this was one of his childhood friends they were talking about, and so it didn't matter to the prince. He needed to find a way to fix this, and fast.
Dedue, Ingrid, Ashe, Mercedes, Annette, and even Edelgard followed Dimitri without hesitation, sprinting toward Kratos as he continued to hold the Black Beast in place
But Kratos, noticing them out of the corner of his eye, turned his head and bellowed, "No! Stay back! Do not come any closer!"
His students stopped in their tracks, and that brief moment of distraction was all the beast needed. Suddenly, the Black Beast stopped pushing against Kratos and abruptly reared back. The Spartan, momentarily thrown off balance from the unexpected shift, barely had time to steady himself before the beast twisted its massive body and swung its tail with devastating speed.
The tail struck Kratos with the force of a battering ram. The sheer power sent him hurtling to the side, his body colliding with the stone wall, leaving a massive, gaping hole that exposed the chamber to the raging thunderstorm outside. And their professor was nowhere to be seen.
"PROFESSOR KRATOS!" Some of the Blue Lions screamed.
Edelgard, who stood amongst them, struggled to process what had just happened. Her eyes darted between the hole in the wall and the beast now looming over them, its glowing red eyes fixed on the room's occupants.
Then a voice broke through the sound of the storm.
"Oh! Oh! Bloody hell, what's happening?!"
Edelgard's gaze snapped upward just in time to see a severed head tumbling through the air, the distinct sight of Professor Mimir spinning wildly before it began to plummet toward the ground.
Without hesitation, Edelgard darted forward, extending her arms as Mimir's head fell "head first" toward her. She caught him just in time, holding the head securely in her hands.
"Wha- who? Oh, bless me nan, thank you, Your Majesty!" Mimir exclaimed, his voice brimming with genuine relief despite the absurdity of the situation.
"You're welcome, Professor." Edelgard replied calmly, her grip steady as she glanced down at him. "After all, I know how much you like to stay in one piece."
Mimir chuckled nervously. "Aye, well, it's not exactly me favorite pastime, being tossed about like a blasted cabbage."
Their conversation was interrupted by another roar, and Edelgard looked up to see the Black Beast refocusing its attention on everyone in the room. Without wasting a moment, the Empress took the broken string that had once tied Mimir to Kratos' hip and threaded it through the strap of her armor between the plates on her shoulder. She pulled it tight and secured the knot, fastening it so that Mimir's head dangled securely against the back of her shoulder, resting just above her shoulder blade.
"Oh! Well, this is certainly a nice change in view," Mimir quipped, his tone laced with his usual dry humor despite the chaos unfolding around them.
"We don't have time for this, professor!" Edelgard shot back, her voice firm as her eyes stayed locked on the Black Beast. "We need to bring this thing down before it can cause any more damage. Now that Sir Kratos is gone…"
"Don't worry about him, lass," Mimir reassured her, his glowing eyes turned toward the snarling Black Beast ahead of them. "In the meantime, is that really what I think it is?"
Edelgard frowned, her hands tightening around her axe. "If you mean a demonic beast, then yes. But I've never seen anything like this."
"You mean you've fought one of these before?" Ashe asked while keeping his bow at the ready.
The young woman shook her head. "They are extremely rare, and I've only ever seen one as a child. They're highly resistant to magic, and their soft hide is still very thick."
"So then how do we kill it?!" Caspar practically shouted.
Edelgard opened her mouth to answer, but the Black Beast interrupted her with a deafening roar. The creature reared its massive head back, and the air around it seemed to distort as chunks of nearby rubble were pulled toward it, accreting into a jagged, pointed projectile before launching the deadly mass toward Dorothea and her group of mages.
Dorothea's eyes widened as she tried to move out of the way, but the projectile came too fast. Just as she braced herself, her vision was filled with a blur of blue hair. A strong force slammed into her side, and she felt herself being tackled to the ground. The two of them rolled across the floor, the stone projectile crashing into the ground where she had just stood, sending debris flying.
When they finally came to a stop, Dorothea found herself sprawled on top of none other than Felix. Her moment of shock quickly melted into admiration, and she gave him a sly smile. "Ooooh, my hero~"
Felix, however, didn't share her sentiment. He stared back at her with an expression that practically screamed, What the hell are you talking about? before he rolled his eyes "Ugh." Then, without another word, he pushed her off of him and stood up as if nothing had happened.
Dorothea scowled as she sat up, crossing her arms with indignation. "How rude!" she huffed, glaring after Felix as he ran to rejoin the others.
The close call snapped Gilbert into action. With his shield and axe in hand, he charged to the front ahead of the students. Slamming his weapons together with a loud clang, he shouted, "Hey, you giant lizard! Over here!"
The Black Beast turned its massive head toward him, its glowing red eyes shifting erratically between the sockets in its skull. Just as the creature let out another earth-shaking roar, Manuela appeared at Gilbert's side, donning her assassin's armor and holding her blade in an underhand grip.
She turned her head toward Edelgard and the rest of the students. "What are you waiting for? Hurry up and figure out where its weakness is! We'll keep this thing busy for as long as we can."
Edelgard nodded, gripping her axe tightly as she quickly turned to the others. "Right. The underbelly is the most vulnerable spot, and once it sustains enough damage, we should be able to reverse the transformation."
"And what about Sylvain?" Dimitri asked skeptically, though the concern in his voice was clear.
The white-haired girl shook her head grimly. "Unfortunately, there is nothing we can do for him. If you want to make it painless for him, however, we'll have to destroy the insignia on the beast's head."
"No, no way…" Annette said despairingly. "There has to be a way…"
Dimitri's expression darkened as he looked at Annette, torn between his emotions and the grim reality of the situation. His fists clenched tightly around his lance, his knuckles white. For a moment, it seemed as though he might agree with her, but instead, he let out a sharp exhale and spoke with quiet authority.
"Annette," Dimitri said, his voice heavy with sorrow but firm. "I don't want to do this any more than you do, but Edelgard is right. She's the only one here with any real insight on how to deal with demonic beasts. If there were another way, don't you think she would have told us by now?"
Annette shook her head, tears welling in her eyes. "But Sylvain- there has to be something we can do! He's still in there, I just know it!"
Dimitri stepped closer, his gaze unwavering. "If you truly care about Sylvain, then the best thing we can do for him is to end his suffering. Dragging this out will only prolong his pain" He paused, his voice softening just slightly. "Please, Annette. I know it hurts, but you have to trust me."
Annette bit her lip, looking away as she tried to stifle a sob, but doesn't didn't respond.
Before Dimitri could turn around and give the order to the rest of the Blue Lions and their troops, Edelgard's attention was drawn to Linhardt, who was rushing toward them, his face flushed from exertion.
"Wait, hold on a second!" Linhardt called out, his voice breathless as he came to a halt. "There might actually be a way!"
The group turned to face him, their expressions a mix of confusion and hope. Dimitri' seyes lit up as he stepped toward the panting healer. "What do you mean?" he asked urgently.
Linhardt glanced over at Annette. "Annette, you've been able to sense magic from the beast, right? The aura that surrounds it?"
Annette blinked, momentarily caught off guard. "Strange? I don't-" She paused, her brow furrowing as she looked toward the Black Beast and held out a hand as if to feel the temperature of the room. Slowly, her expression shifted to one of realization. "Yeah, now that you mention it... the magic coming from the beast feels... Ancient. Like a glass of water that's been left out for too long."
Linhardt nodded firmly, as if confirming something he had suspected. "Exactly. The magic the Relic possesses isn't natural, and since it can only be accessed by someone with a Crest, we can determine that the Crest itself is the key to maintaining this transformation."
"But how exactly?" Ingrid asked impatiently. "How do you expect us to control the flow of the Relic's magic if none of us even have a compatible crest?"
Linhardt sighed, his frustration beginning to show as he ran both hands through his hair. "Does everything need to be spelled out for you?" he snapped, the stress of the situation clearly getting to him. "I'm trying to figure this out, just give me a moment!"
Ingrid glared but didn't respond, her lips pressing into a thin line. The others exchanged uneasy glances but remained silent as Linhardt turned his attention to Mimir, still dangling from Edelgard's shoulder.
"Professor Mimir," Linhardt said, his tone sharp but focused, "Edelgard alluded earlier that the Crest on the beast's head is likely where the Relic's power is being channeled. If the Crest acts as the conduit for the flow of magic, is there a way to disrupt it directly? Even if none of us have a compatible Crest?"
Mimir's glowing eyes shifted slightly, as if he were deep in thought. "Hmm... Well, lad, if the Crest is indeed acting as a conduit, it's not about controlling the magic- it's about disrupting it. You wouldn't need a compatible Crest to block the flow, rather, you'd just need enough magic to interfere with it. A bit like clogging a pipe, if you will."
"Right. So, if we can get close enough to the insignia and physically make contact with it, someone with strong magic could inject their own mana into it. That could disrupt the flow of power between the Relic and its host, stymieing the magic needed to maintain its form."
"But wouldn't injecting mana into it instead strengthen the transformation?" Deduce inquired.
Annette answered this time. "Theoretically, no. Like we said, the magic from the relic is something else entirely. Injecting our own magic into it would be like mixing castor oil and water."
Mimir hummed thoughtfully. "Aye, that's a sound theory and all, but getting close enough to try will be the real challenge. That beast won't exactly sit still and let you fiddle with its head."
"And that's assuming that it's no different than actually destroying the Crest Stone." Edelgard lamented, before a voice spoke up behind them.
"I'll go." Everyone turned to see Felix, his sword in hand and his expression set with a deadpan look on his face.
Caspar scoffed. "You? You barely know any magic. What are you gonna do, glare it to death?"
Felix shot him a sharp glance. "In case you haven't heard, I'm not a one-trick pony like you are," he retorted coolly.
That was enough to set Caspar off. "What did you just say?!" he growled, stepping forward with his fists clenched, ready to confront Felix.
Before things could escalate, Edelgard stepped between them, her axe in hand and her expression stern. "Enough!" she snapped, looking directly at Caspar. "Cool it. This isn't the time for your petty arguments."
Caspar gritted his teeth but stepped back reluctantly, shooting a glare at Felix before muttering under his breath.
Felix ignored him and returned his attention to the group. "I may not be as powerful as you, Annette, but I know how to control what I've got. As long as you keep that thing distracted, I can climb up its back and avoid getting chewed to bits."
Mercedes frowned. "Felix, that's-"
"Dangerous. I know," Felix interrupted. "But it's better than sitting here arguing until someone gets eaten. So unless someone else has a better plan, let me do it." The group exchanged uneasy glances, but no one offered any objections. "Nothing? Good. Let's not waste anymore time."
Without waiting for a response, he turned and sprinted toward the battle.
Dimitri clenched his jaw, watching Felix for a moment before snapping into action. "Everyone, move out!" he barked. "Keep the beast distracted and maintain your distance! Do not let it focus on any one group!"
The Blue Lions, Black Eagles, and their troops sprang into action, scattering to draw the Black Beast's attention while keeping to the edges of the chamber. The monster let out a guttural roar, its shifting red eyes darting between its attackers as it tried to keep track of the movements around it.
As the others moved into position, Dimitri's gaze fell on Marianne, who was standing rigidly nearby, staring up at the Black Beast as though lost in a trance, her face pale.
"Marianne!" Dimitri called as he ran toward her. His voice broke through her daze, and she blinked rapidly, her head snapping toward him.
"Y-yes, Your Highness?" she stammered.
Dimitri stopped in front of her, his expression softening slightly as he spoke. "Listen closely. You've been studying Reason, correct? You've been practicing ice magic?"
Marianne hesitated, then nodded slowly. "Y-yes, I have…"
"Good," The prince said firmly. "I need you to take your unit and focus on freezing the beast's feet in place. If we can slow it down, it will give us a much better chance of keeping it distracted and buy Felix some time."
Marianne's eyes widened in alarm. "But… I don't know if I can. What if I fail? What if it-"
Dimitri placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, meeting her gaze with calm determination. "You won't fail. I trust you, Marianne. Your magic is strong, and your troops will follow your lead. I'll make sure nothing happens to you or your unit. You have my word."
Marianne swallowed hard. After a moment, she nodded hesitantly. "I… I'll do my best."
The prince replied with a small smile and a nod, "Thank you, Marianne. We're counting on you."
Meanwhile, Edelgard took her position at the front beside Gilbert, her axe ready as she prepared to engage the Black Beast. Gilbert glanced at her briefly before speaking, his voice low but firm. "Do we have a plan to stop this thing?"
Mimir's voice cut in from her shoulder. "Aye, there's a plan- or the beginning of one, at least," he said. "Wee Fraldarius is going to try and save Sylvain by climbing onto his head and cutting off the Relic's hold on him while the rest of us keep him busy."
The older knight furrowed his brow, his expression a mix of doubt and concern. "You're entrusting the success of this plan to one young man climbing a rampaging beast while the rest of us provide a distraction? It seems... far-fetched."
"Far-fetched, aye," Mimir replied, his tone sharp. "But it's the best bloody idea we've got."
"I don't like it," he admitted, glancing toward the beast. "But I'll go along with it. If there's even a chance to save Mattias's son, then we must try."
The operation was in full swing as Felix rounded the Black Beast, staying low to the ground to avoid drawing its attention while trying to approach one of its hind legs. He darted forward, only to stop abruptly when the monster's glowing red eyes suddenly shifted, locking onto him for a split second.
"Damn it," Felix muttered under his breath, forced to back off to avoid getting caught in its peripheral view.
He circled again, waiting for an opening. As the others worked to keep it busy, an arrow from Ashe's group struck the beast's side. It roared and shifted its weight, stomping one of its hind legs down hard in response. The impact sent cracks splintering through the stone floor, and Felix had been forced to leap back to avoid the stomp while growling in frustration.
"Are you trying to get me killed?" Felix hissed through clenched teeth, glancing briefly at the students coordinating the attacks. His patience was wearing thin.
"Felix, are you needing assistance?"
The swordsman turned his head sharply to see Petra suddenly appear at his side with a sly grin. "If the beast is not letting you climb on," she told him, sheathing her blade. "then I will be allowing you to do it myself."
Before Felix could respond, Petra darted forward. She stopped roughly a couple of yards from the beast, turned around, and cupped her hands on her knee, her eyes locking onto Felix. "What is the word you are saying in this instance?" she called out, her voice loud and clear. "Tup-tup?"
Felix stared at her, his face instantly contorting into an exasperated glare. But before he could correct her, the beast snarled and stomped closer to Petra, its massive claws cracking the stone beneath it. Petra glanced back at it briefly, her eyes narrowing, before turning her attention back to Felix. She gave him a pointed look that seemed to say, Hurry.
With a final sigh of resignation, Felix muttered, "Fine," before breaking into a full sprint toward her. As he closed the distance, she adjusted her stance, holding her cupped hands steady. "Hup-hup!" Felix yelled as he reached her, stepping onto her cupped hands and knee. With a grunt of effort, Petra launched him into the air, propelling him upward toward the Black Beast's hulking form.
Felix stretched his arms out, barely managing to wrap his hands around the base of one of the bone-like spines running along the beast's back. Dangling off the side, he adjusted his hold and began pulling himself up, eventually securing himself against the column like a monkey hanging from a tree.
From his perch, Felix glanced down just in time to see Petra roll out of the way of the beast's massive claws to narrowly avoid being crushed. She popped up from the ground effortlessly, cupping her hands around her mouth and calling out, "Go, Felix! You are having this!"
She then sprinted off, drawing the beast's attention and leaving Felix to shake his head in exasperation. "Someone should really get that girl a dictionary," he muttered under his breath, before he started making his way towards the maw of the angry beast he rode on.
From the ground on the other side, Dimitri watched as Felix started to climb over the monster's back, and he waved his spear in the air in order to give the signal. "He made it! Marianne, start with his back legs! We've only got one shot at this!"
Marianne, standing with her unit nearby, took a deep breath. Her hands trembled slightly as she stared at the massive beast before her, but she mustered up the courage to do what needed to be done. "Everyone, follow my lead! We need to hold it still!" she commanded, though her voice was steadier than how she felt.
Her unit followed suit, channeling their magic alongside her as tendrils of frost crept up the beast's hind legs. The creature roared in frustration, its massive claws scraping against the stone floor as it struggled against the growing ice.
"Hold it steady!" Dimitri barked, rallying his own troops to shield the mages from retaliation. "We can't let it break free!"
Above the chaos, Felix pressed forward, inching closer to the creature's head as the battle raged below. He was almost there.
When he reached the second-to-last column, Felix crouched low and hooked his left leg tightly around its base, anchoring himself in place. Leaning over the top of the monster's skull, he used the horn on its snout as a brace, gripping it firmly with one hand while stretching his other toward the glowing Crest insignia embedded in the beast's head.
The moment his fingers brushed against the insignia, the red eyes of the Black Beast shifted abruptly, focusing solely on Felix. He froze for a split second, the piercing, ominous gaze making his chest tighten as though the creature could see straight through him, but Felix grit his teeth and forced himself to press on, placing his palm firmly against the Crest.
Almost immediately, his mind was flooded with images, flashing in rapid succession like a broken mirror piecing itself together. At first, they were chaotic and incomprehensible, but gradually, they began to take shape.
He recognized some of the scenes. They were vivid, almost painfully so. He saw Miklan, his face twisted in anger as he hurled insults at Sylvain, blaming him for every perceived failure. He saw a younger Sylvain cowering beneath his brother's shadow, fists clenched in frustration as Miklan shoved him, humiliated him, over and over again.
The memories came faster now, and with them came an overwhelming wave of emotion- rage. It wasn't his own anger, Felix realized. But… it also wasn't Sylvains?
The beast roared beneath Felix, its movements growing more erratic as though reacting to his intrusion. The sheer force of its struggle caused it to pull its back foot free from the icy bonds holding it to the floor, followed shortly by the front leg Marianne had been freezing.
Marianne gasped, caught off guard as the Black Beast suddenly lurched forward. Iit swiped one massive clawed hand at the group, the strike catching two priests and flinging them violently to the side. They hit the ground hard, groaning in pain as the rest of the unit scrambled to retreat.
The beast then looked at Marianne directly, and once more, she found herself unable to move as Sylvain's demonic form loomed toward her.
Acting purely on instinct, Dimitri threw his spear with all his might, the weapon whistling through the air before impaling itself deep into the beast's shoulder. The Black Beast let out a deafening roar, its glowing eyes shifting to focus solely on Dimitri.
The beast lashed out in retaliation, swinging its massive claw at the prince. Dimitri barely had time to raise his shield before the impact sent him flying backward, landing hard on his back. He gasped, the air knocked from his lungs as the creature turned its full attention toward him.
It rushed forward with alarming speed, closing the gap in seconds. The beast loomed over Dimitri, raising its massive, reptilian hand high above its head, ready to crush him beneath its weight.
"Your Highness!" Gilbert could be heard yelling, but he was too far away to stop what was coming.
"NO!" He heard another feminine voice cry out from nearby.
Through his dazed vision, Dimitri saw Marianne appear between him and the beast, her hands outstretched. Her face was pale, her expression not only of fear and desperation, but also fierce determination.
With a desperate cry, she slammed her hands to the ground, magic surging through her, and the floor right in front of her erupted with ice. As the ice accumulated, Marianne molded it upward, forming a jagged icicle as if she were sculpting clay. Her hands pressed together, fingers pointing upward as she shaped the ice into a sharp, pointed spike.
The massive claw came crashing down just as the spike completed its formation. The sharp icicle pierced the underside of the beast's hand with a sickening crunch, and the creature let out a deafening, painful roar. It thrashed wildly in frustration, its movements growing more erratic, and head whipped back and forth violently, its skeletal maw snapping at the air in rage.
Marianne's shoulders drooped as fatigue overwhelmed her. She was about to lose consciousness as Dimitri appeared by her side and caught her before she could fall over.
Meanwhile, Felix gritted his teeth as he tried to maintain his hold on the beast, but the erratic movements proved too much. With a sudden jolt, the Black Beast bucked, and Felix lost his grip. He yelled out as he was thrown through the air, tumbling uncontrollably before landing hard on his right leg. The sharp crack of bone breaking echoed through the chamber, followed immediately by his pained cry. Felix clutched at his leg, rolling to one side as he tried to steady his breathing, but the pain was overwhelming.
The monster let out another roar, pulling with all its might against the ice. With one final, shuddering movement, it broke free, shards of ice scattering across the floor. The Black Beast turned its attention toward Felix, its glowing red eyes locking onto him as it began to lumber forward.
Felix struggled to push himself up but collapsed again, his injured leg unable to bear any weight. But before the monster could reach him, Edelgard stepped forward, her axe glinting in the stormlight from the broken wall. She planted herself firmly between Felix and the beast as she raised her weapon.
"That is enough," she said firmly. "This ends here. I'm going to put an end to this- permanently."
The Black Beast let out a low snort as if scoffing at the Empress's words. With its head low, its glowing red eyes fixed on her, it charged. But Edelgard held her ground. She tightened her grip on her axe, preparing to strike the insignia on the beast's head once it was close enough. The creature closed the distance rapidly, opening its toothy maw as it bore down on her.
But just as she began to raise her weapon, a massive figure with ashen skin and red tattoos suddenly entered her line of sight; and before Edelgard could process what was happening, Kratos collided with the beast's head from the side. His muscular arms wrapped tightly around the creature's thick neck, and with a bellowing roar, he wrenched the Black Beast off its feet.
The chamber shook as the Spartan wrestled the monstrous creature to the ground, slamming it onto its side with a force that sent cracks splintering through the stone floor. The beast thrashed and roared in defiance, its limbs clawing at the air, but Kratos held firm.
As he tightened his grip on Sylvain's monstrous form, he raised his head and bellowed, "Now! Hurry!" before the beast managed to turn its head just enough for one of its protruding to knick his shoulder, drawing blood.
Edelgard was momentarily stunned by the man's sudden appearance, which was natural given the fact that he should've been dead. Yet not only was Professor Kratos very much alive, but he also appeared completely unscathed, despite having been tossed through a stone wall earlier. The sight only deepened her confusion, but there was no time to dwell on it.
Edelgard instinctively began to move, believing he was speaking to her. But before she could reach the beast, it became clear what he meant as Annette dashed past her and toward the creature. Without hesitation, she placed her hand directly over the glowing Crest insignia on the beast's head.
"Come on!" Dedue shouted, rallying his unit. The hulking Duscan broke into a sprint toward one of the jagged spinal columns jutting off the beast's back, now hanging precariously off the ground. With a leap that belied his size, he grabbed onto the column, using his weight to add leverage and pin the monster further.
Rorie, Dedue's sergeant, looked around at his fellow soldiers, who were at first hesitant to follow their officer's order. "You heard him, lads!" he yelled. "Get stuck in!" Without waiting for a response, Rorie followed Dedue's lead, running toward the beast and leaping onto the same spinal column, with the rest of the unit now doing the same with the others.
Meanwhile, Felix, still on the ground nursing his injured leg, turned his attention to Annette. She was standing over the beast's head, her hand trembling as it rested on the glowing Crest insignia. Her expression was pale, and Felix knew instantly what was happening.
Gritting his teeth, Felix pushed himself upright, forcing himself onto his good leg. Pain shot through his body, but he ignored it, hobbling toward Annette as determination overtook him. He reached her side, placed his hand over hers on the Crest.
Annette looked up at him in surprise, but before either of them could say a word, a third hand rested gently over Felix's. He turned his head, only to see Dorothea standing there, smiling as she winked at him.
Felix rolled his eyes in exasperation. Really? Now?
Annette, her confidence bolstered, nodded as her magic began to surge. "Alright, together on three," she said, her voice shaking but resolute. "One... two... THREE!"
All three pressed their combined energy and poured everything they had into the Crest. The insignia began to glow brighter and brighter, pulsing erratically under their hands, until finally, a powerful force erupted from the Crest, knocking them all away.
The pulsating wave threw Felix, Annette, and Dorothea backward, sending them sprawling across the chamber floor. Even Kratos, still holding the beast down, was knocked loose by the shockwave. The Black Beast roared, louder and more agonized than ever, its thrashing growing more violent and erratic. Its movements became desperate, almost as though it were suffocating.
The gathered students and soldiers held their ground, their eyes locked on the creature as its massive body began to slowly disintegrate. The jagged, armor-like plates flaked away into ash, revealing sinewy flesh that soon followed suit. Piece by piece, the monstrous form dissolved, its movements growing weaker and more sluggish with each passing moment.
The deafening roars of the beast began to shift, morphing into something more human. The guttural cries softened, turning into the unmistakable groan of a boy in pain. When the last of the ash faded into the air, all that remained was Sylvain. He lay on the cold stone floor, the Lance of Ruin held loosely in one hand, while his other hand bore a nail-sized hole.
Mercedes was the first to come to his aid, followed swiftly by Kratos as the nun checked his pulse, and then his breathing. After triple checking everything that could be used to determine whether someone was alive or dead, she let out a deep, heavy sigh of relief before saying out loud for everyone in the room to hear, "He's alive."
The tension in the room seemed to break all at once. A collective exhale swept through the group as relief replaced the anxiety that had gripped them moments before. Some lowered their weapons, while others dropped to their knees, overwhelmed by the outcome.
Kratos remained by Sylvain's side, his eyes methodically scanning the young man's battered form as he checked for any additional signs of injury. Aside from the hole in his hand, a knife-sized wound in his shoulder, and the cut on his cheek, nothing else appeared to be life-threatening.
"He will need proper treatment," he said plainly, but there was the unmistakable hint of worry and concern in his voice.
Then, a shadowy figure appeared by his side. "Professor Kratos," Hubert said with concern, touching the gash on his shoulder. "You are bleeding."
The Ghost of Sparta shrugged him off. "It will heal." He told him rather forcefully, and Hubert bowed with respect before backing away.
"The nearest hospital is in Conall, less than a day's ride north from here." Gilbert knelt down beside him. "Once we ensure that he's under no real threat from that transformation, we'll take Miklan to Sengann and deliver him and the Relic to Lord Gautier. In the meantime…"
The knight's gaze fell over the spear in Sylvain's unconscious hands, and once again, tension filled the room as the reality of having to take the spear with them settled in their minds. Nobody made a single move to grab it, but eventually it was Kratos who'd decided to be the one to do so. It was the very first time he'd held such a weapon from these lands, and he'd half-expected to get some kind of reaction out of it. Thankfully, however, there was not.
"Brother?" a familiar voice interrupted his thoughts.
Kratos looked up to see Edelgard standing before him, Mimir's head dangled from her hand. She held it out to him, her gaze steady and expectant.
With a grunt and a nod, Kratos rose to his full height, the Lance of Ruin in one hand as he took Mimir's head with the other. The two regarded one another silently for a moment before glancing toward Sylvain's unconscious form, now being carefully lifted by Dedue's soldiers.
After a long, painful silence, Mimir finally said something in a low voice that Kratos knew very well he was going to say.
"Brother… I think that it's about time that we and the Archbishop had a little talk."