Ayla reappeared with the two Eclipsed away from Nox as possible, after all, she couldn't focus on taking the two down if she had to make sure that Nox was fine.
He should be able to handle a single tier 3 by himself, right?
The two Eclipsed looked confused at the sudden change in scenery...well, it wasn't that much of a change since they were still surrounded by trees, but at least they were in a large clearing this time.
"I've never fought multiple tier 3 Eclipsed before," Ayla placed a hand on her chin as if thinking before shrugging, "but the headmistress said I should be able to handle this much."
There wasn't the slightest bit of change in her expression even when faced with two tiers 3 primals.
Her eyes were completely devoid of any type of emotion even as she spoke.
"Let's give it a try then."
The Eclipsed, a gorilla like one and one that was vaguely shaped like some type of reptile, let out a roar..
"Too loud," she muttered as the shadows on the forest floor started vibrating.
Wether they were tired of her expressionless face or could feel her getting ready to attack was unknown.
But the Eclipsed soon lunged.
They moved almost simultaneously, the reptilian one darting around her flank while the gorilla-type charged straight on, its massive fists raised to crush her.
Ayla didn't move.
Or rather, she didn't need to move.
The moment the Eclipsed's fist got close enough, shadowy chains shot out from the the ground and completely restricted it.
"I hope Nox is doing well," she said calmly, even as the creature thrashed violently, trying to free itself from the chains. "If he dies, the headmistress will be disappointed."
The shadow chains pulled tighter the more the Eclipsed struggled.
The reptile Eclipsed, didn't waste any time as it continued its dash towards her, but she didn't move a single step.
The reptilian Eclipsed closed the distance in an instant with claws spread wide but before it had the chance to land an attack, a circular pool of darkness expanded from her feet like ink spreading through water.
The reptilian Eclipsed quickly leaped over it, but the shadows rose like spears, forcing it to twist midair and retreat.
She moved her wrist and five shadow-spikes rose and started tracking the Eclipsed like some type of homing missile.
The reptilian Eclipsed twisted in the air with unnerving agility, its body contorting as it narrowly slipped between the first two spikes.
A tendril of shadow shot from the ground like a serpent, coiling around its ankle and forced it to the ground with a boom which shook the forest.
The creature shrieked, jerking violently as it tried to tear itself free, but the shadow only tightened around it, expanding into a net.
Behind her, the gorilla Eclipsed let out a final, desperate roar and tore one arm free, it then immediately aimed the free arm at the standing Ayla, hoping to turn her to a smudge on the floor.
She didn't even bother to turn.
A massive spike erupted from the ground and cleanly pierced its skull, coming out on the other end.
The roar was abruptly cut off and the giant body of the Eclipsed collapsed, pixelating into black particles.
Ayla's expression remained the same as it previously was but that was the closest to disappointment she could show.
It was as though checking whether that was truly all the creature had to offer.
Then she turned her gaze back to the struggling reptilian one, its red eye trembling as she approached.
From it's perspective, the forest seemed to have gotten a lot darker and all the light had been swallowed but instead of rejoicing at the darkness all it felt was fear.
Normally, darkness was a comfort to an Eclipsed, a place to hide and to hunt but this time this one felt like a darkness that would swallow it.
It was like Ayla had become one with that darkness and only her eerily glowing eyes looking directly into the creature was visible.
It trashed around, trying to free itself and escape this approaching monster but all of it was useless, after all, it was still tightly bound.
"You really should…" she sighed, placing her hand on its snout, "just stay still."
The shadows converged around it, originating from her palm and enveloping the Eclipsed completely.
One moment later, the Tier 3 exploded into pixelated fragments, wiped out so cleanly that even its pieces didn't get the chance to touch the forest floor before it disappeared.
Ayla lowered her hand and exhaled softly.
"Nox should be done now too," she muttered, shadows receding into the ground as she looked toward the distant section of forest.
A sudden rumbling caused her expression to change for the first time today and her brows knit.
"…I should check on him."
With a step, she suddenly vanished leaving behind a dispersed shadow.
***
BOOM!
"U-um A-ascended Dawn, p-please don't destroy the door, it'll take my department a whole month to fix."
Outside the simulation room, the head of the engineering division was practically in tears as he watched yet another dent form in the supposedly Tier-4-proof door.
"Then get this damn door open," Astra answered as she looked back at him with a small frown.
"We, we can't!" the technician squeaked, "the entire simulation is on complete lockdown, we have no override, please, Ascended Dawn, if you break it we'll—"
BOOM!!
Another crater formed beside the first, big enough for someone to comfortably sit inside.
"If he dies,"
BOOM!
"Then I'll wrap you all in whatever metal this door is made of,"
BOOM!!
"And toss you in a rift myself," Astra finished, her voice eerily calm compared which was a huge contrast to the violent craters she was punching into the reinforced metal.
She pulled her arm back , coated it in however much SE she had and slammed it into the door.
BOOM!
Smoke filled the air but as soon as it receded, the engineer's face immediately turned pale.
The door that was capable of withstanding tier 4 attacks without a scratch had completely given way and had fallen completely off their hinges.
Astra shook off the slight cramp that caught her fist before stepping into the virtual room, "let's go save my lab rat."