Chương 19: Minions of the Abyss

The hologram of the Dragal materialized before the class, its presence sending a chill through the room. Standing at a towering height of three meters, its form was a grotesque amalgamation of metallic skin and fibrous sinew, radiating an aura of pure malevolence.

"This is a Dragal," Elder Linara's voice echoed through the room, her tone grave.

"Inhabitants of the abyss, invaders from another plane of existence. They are not like the creatures of Nexaria, for they wield a power far more sinister."

Lassim's eyes widened as he beheld the monstrous creature before him. The Dragal's scales gleamed with an eerie luminescence, pulsating with a sickly green light that seemed to seep into the very air around them.

"These creatures are machines of pure rage, destruction, and war," Elder Linara continued, her voice trembling slightly. "They do not wield the elements as we do or know them, but rather harness a separate force—one that we have come to dub as Chaos, as that is the only way to describe it's nature."

At the mention of the word "Chaos," a shiver and tremble was sent through his connection to his spirits from them.

"This Chaos is a power unlike anything you have ever encountered, a force of pure entropy and destruction that defies all laws of nature. The Dragal's very presence corrupts the land upon which they tread," Elder Linara explained.

"Anything they touch is soon reduced to ash, consumed by the malevolent energy that courses through their veins and radiates out from their beings."

The hologram quickly shifted to a battle scene of a group of warriors, all wielding excessive might, more than he could ever fathom, trying their best to slay the creature.

Lassim felt a knot form in the pit of his stomach as he watched the hologram of the Dragal unleash its fury. It was a sight that filled him with a sense of dread and awe, a reminder of his spirit awakening ceremony where he was told he'd be a bastion against these horrors that lurked beyond the borders of his world.

"These creatures are worse than nightmares," Elder Linara continued, her voice filled with urgency.

"They possess supernatural strength and wield no weapons, yet hold unimaginable power. To face them in battle is to court death itself. I pray that you only face their minions for as long as possible. If you encounter one before you are at the minimum of Spirit Transform stage, run. Run as fast and as hard as you can and don't stop. Don't look back. Don't save a ally that has tripped in the blood soaked mud of the battle field. Run."

As the hologram faded away, Lassim couldn't shake the feeling of unease that lingered in the air. The Dragal were a threat unlike any other, a force of pure evil that sought only to bring about the end of all that stood in their way.

With a heavy heart, Lassim realized that the journey ahead would be far more perilous than he had ever imagined. But he was determined to face whatever challenges came his way, to stand firm in the face of darkness and defend his home with all his strength.

For the battle against the Dragal was not just a fight for survival—after what he heard in his awakening directly from the gods, it was a fight for the very soul of Nexaria itself.

"However, as spirit warriors, it is our duty to protect the people of Nexaria from threats like the Dragal," Elder Linara continued, her gaze sweeping over the class. "And to do that, we must be prepared to face them head-on, to stand firm in the face of danger and defend our home with all our strength."

"At your current strength, and most likely for the next two decades, you'll need to focus your skills and training on the minions that do the Dragal's bidding. The abyssal legion that they use to attack us in waves, with every portal they open sending hundreds upon thousands of them through."

"There are several tiers of power to the members of the abyssal legion. The weakest being the Demon Beasts. They are typically similar to Spirit Incubation level warriors, with some equivalent to Spirit Growth warriors. Next are Demon Savages, similar to the previous level they are typically Spirit Growth level in power and some equivalent to Spirit Transformation level warriors. This continues for each tier from Demon Beasts, Demon Savages, Demon Lords, and the dreaded Demon Emperors that are second only to the Dragal themselves." Elder Linara pausing for the students to absorb the information.

"You will meet these creatures long before you hopefully ever cross paths with a Dragal, so it's out duty to prepare you for the most common demons. We'll start with some examples from each tier, but our future training will rely on learning and facing the demon beast level creatures for now."

The hologram disk now begun rotating through several creatures, stopping when Elder Linara provided a description.

"These are Shadow Hounds at the Demon Beast Rank. These creatures are the foot soldiers of the Dragal's legions, resembling large, shadowy wolves with glowing red eyes. They possess sharp claws and fangs, and their fur is as black as the night. They are fast and agile, capable of moving swiftly through the shadows to ambush their prey."

"Next are the Chaos Goblins at the Demon Beast Rank. Small, grotesque creatures with twisted features and sharp claws. They are known for their cunning and ability to set traps for unsuspecting victims. They are often used as scouts and spies by the Dragal, gathering information and sabotaging enemy defenses."

"Going up a stage of power, we have Abyssal Fiends at the Demon Savage Tier. These creatures are larger and more powerful than the Shadow Hounds. They resemble humanoid demons with leathery wings and horns protruding from their heads. They are capable of slow moving flight and possess formidable strength and agility. However, the flight is certainly cause issues as you'll most likely still be in the Spirit Growth and Transformation phases without the ability fly when you're dealing with these foes. Troublesome indeed."

"Also at the Demon Savage Tier are Hellfire Drakes. These creatures are massive, dragon-like beasts with scales as black as obsidian. They breathe fire and are capable of flight, making them formidable opponents in battle. They are often used as aerial support by the abyssal legion, raining down destruction from above."

"With another increase in power we have the Demon Lords in, you guessed it, the Demon Lord Tier. These are the lowest level commanders of the Dragal's legions, powerful beings with the ability to control lesser demons and creatures. They are humanoid in appearance, with dark, twisted features and glowing red eyes. They are highly intelligent and typically have yet to obtain their own demonic names, still tortured slaves of the Dragal's whims. They possess powerful magic and are skilled in combat."

"Additionally we have the Abyssal Behemoths in the Demon Lord Tier. These creatures are massive, beasts with thick, armored hides and massive twin tusks jutting from their maws. They are used often as siege weapons by the Dragal, capable of breaking through enemy defenses and our elemental shields with ease when enough are gathered at one spot. They are slow-moving but incredibly tough to slay."

"Finally, we have the Demon Emperors in the Demon Emperor Tier. These are the most powerful beings in the Dragal's legions, second only to the Dragals themselves. They are humanoid in appearance, with dark, twisted features and glowing purple eyes. They possess immense strength and powerful magic, capable of laying waste to entire armies with a single spell. They are each named and us Nexarians must typically sacrifice tens of our strongest spirit warriors every time we wish to kill a Demon Emperor. It's a horrifying penalty that we must pay." Elder Linara's with a trembling voice and eyes moistening at the words she spoke.

The classroom was as quiet. All the students absorbed in their thoughts and some feeling terror at the situation they were in. The lives they led till now were but children playing in their family homes, protected like garden flowers. Now they were confronted by the reality their parents and other elder loved ones have sheltered them from. They had to come to terms with their new reality.

As the lesson drew to a close, Elder Linara dismissed the class with a final word of encouragement, her voice ringing out with a sense of determination.

"My young warriors," she said, her eyes sweeping over the attentive faces before her, "remember that your journey as spirit warriors is just beginning. Embrace the challenges that lie ahead, for they are the stepping stones to greatness."

With those words, she bid them farewell, her form shimmering with an otherworldly glow as she disappeared from view, quickly leaving the room.

As the students began to file out of the classroom, Lassim couldn't help but feel the pressure on his shoulders. Thankfully, he was joined by Sirium, who was keeping pace by his side, but had also been deep in thought during the lesson. The two of them exchanged a glance, their minds still reeling from the words of Elder Linara.

"Hey, so," Sirium said, breaking the silence between them. "I was thinking, since we have some free time, why don't we go explore the academy a bit? I heard there are some interesting places to see, and I thought it might be a good way to clear our heads after all that heavy talk."

Lassim nodded in agreement, the idea of exploring the academy's grounds appealing to him. It would be a chance to familiarize himself with their new surroundings.

"Sure, that sounds like a great idea," he replied, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Lead the way, Sirium. I'm curious to see what this place has to offer."

With that, the two of them set off, their footsteps echoing through the halls of the academy.

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