The Sage — or rather, the young man — seemed slightly embarrassed by all the stares, especially those from the girls. He snapped his fingers. His white robe instantly transformed: he now wore fitted black pants, a dark leather jacket, sturdy boots, and a black cape that fluttered in the night wind. The outfit gave him an elegant yet dangerous appearance.
He drew a long sword with a shimmering blade.
"Let's end this," he declared calmly.
The remaining demons charged in rage. The battle reached an entirely new level of intensity. The Sage danced with his sword as if it were an extension of his body. Every strike was precise, fluid, and devastating. He parried a shadow axe, pivoted, and sliced the weapon cleanly in two before striking the demon with a backhand that sent it flying. He leaped onto a broken pillar, rebounded, and dove into the middle of a group, chaining rapid strikes that created arcs of light with every swing of his blade.
"He's a monster!" a demon screamed while retreating.
"No one can move that fast!"
The Sage spun, slashed, and dodged. His cape whipped behind him with every movement. He seemed tireless. When momentarily cornered by four opponents, he jumped high into the air, performed a twist, and landed with a shockwave that knocked them all to the ground.
Sensing the decisive moment had come, he rose truly into the air, carried by an invisible energy. The mark on his right forearm began to shine intensely. Golden luminous patterns appeared across his entire body. His blond hair lifted, taking on a brilliant golden hue.
He raised his sword high above his head, gripping it firmly with one hand. In his free hand, an intense emerald-green glow began to shine — the deep color of pure, nurturing earth.
"By the earth of truth and purity…" he murmured in a resonant voice.
He slowly passed his luminous hand over the blade of the sword. The green light seeped into the metal, making it glow with a powerful, sacred verdant radiance that illuminated the entire esplanade.
"May the darkness that corrupts the soul be consumed…"
The blade vibrated, charged with colossal energy.
"May the light erase lies and cruelty… May the shadows that veil the heart disappear forever!"
On the final word, Frost brought his sword down in a lightning-fast vertical strike. A massive arc of emerald-green light erupted from the blade, slicing through the air with a deafening whistle. The attack shot straight toward the heart of the enemy ranks.
When it struck the demons, a monumental explosion rang out. A powerful shockwave swept across the entire esplanade, destroying the last demons in a blinding flash of light mixed with green and gold. The ground shook violently. A column of energy rose into the sky before slowly fading, leaving behind a heavy silence and sparkling ashes.
The Sage descended gently, the patterns on his body gradually disappearing. His hair returned to its natural blond color. He landed gracefully, his black cape floating in the wind, and observed the traces left by his enemies for a moment.
He then walked back toward the group with slow, elegant steps, under the admiring gazes of the female mages who looked at him like a legendary hero. The boys, on the other hand, clearly showed a hint of jealousy.
Lyseria stepped forward first, still emotional.
"Sage… are you alright?"
He gave her an innocent, almost childlike smile that contrasted sharply with the power he had just displayed.
"Call me Frost. And yes, I'm fine, Lyseria. I'm not hurt."