Aurora battlefront: Era of Salvation

The roar that tore through the night was more than just noise. It ripped through the campus like a tangible force, shaking the very air. Shadows recoiled from the sound, and the streetlights flickered, struggling to hold back the darkness. Underneath one of the flickering lights, the monster emerged. Its jagged, obsidian-black skin glinted with a wicked gleam, each shard reflecting the faint light like a shattered mirror. Its eyes, glowing with an intense, malevolent red, locked onto Shaun with pure hatred.

“Crap!” Shaun’s heart slammed in his chest. Panic gripped his body, making his fingers twitch, his breath hitching in short gasps. He spun sharply, his sneakers scraping against the cracked pavement. In a single explosive motion, his legs coiled and released, launching him forward like a fired arrow. The wind whipped at his track uniform, the fabric snapping against him as he raced across the athletic field.

Behind him, the ground quaked under the monster’s pounding footfalls. Every step was a violent tremor, sending shivers through the earth. Shaun dodged between the debris from the earlier chaos—overturned coolers, shattered goalposts, and mangled equipment littered the field. The looming bleachers ahead stretched like skeletal claws in the dark, casting long shadows across the grass.

Whoosh!

A massive claw sliced through the air just behind him, close enough to tug at his hair. The beast had dropped to all fours, its speed doubling as it tore across the field with primal ferocity. Shaun could feel its hot breath on his neck, each exhale reeking of decay. “Shit, that was too close!” he hissed, adrenaline narrowing his focus, turning everything else into a blur. Veering left, he narrowly avoided the creature’s snapping jaws.

He was running out of time. The beast was gaining on him, each step louder, each breath hotter. Shaun’s eyes flicked to the bleachers, then back to the creature. “Screw it,” he muttered. A surge of power ignited deep within him, a familiar rush that burned through his veins. His eyes flashed vivid yellow, the pupils narrowing into thin slits. A golden aura rippled around him, shimmering like heat waves off asphalt.

[Leopard, his grace ability that heightened his senses to those of a predator. His vision sharpened, picking up even the faintest flicker of movement in the shadows. Sounds—once distant—became crystal clear, like a hunter tuning in on his prey. His body grew lighter, more agile, every muscle ready to pounce. With a final push, he prepared to leave the monster in the dust.]

BOOM!

His foot slammed into the ground, the impact sending shockwaves through the earth. Grass and dirt exploded beneath him as he shot forward, his speed now blinding. The landscape blurred into streaks of green and black as he widened the gap between him and the monster. A grin tugged at his lips. “Yeah, keep up if you can!”

Behind him, the creature let out an enraged roar. Refusing to relent, it ripped a tree from the ground and hurled it into Shaun’s path. The massive trunk crashed down like a thunderclap, splintering as it hit the ground. Shaun didn’t slow. “Nice try, but not good enough!” he barked, leaping into the air. His body twisted with feline precision as he vaulted over the tree, landing in a smooth roll and back on his feet in an instant.

The monster, refusing to admit defeat, plowed through a nearby brick wall. Shards of debris sprayed like shrapnel. Shaun shot a glance over his shoulder, his aura flaring brighter. He could hear his teammates now—the distant shouts, the clatter of weapons being readied. “Almost there... just a little more.”

Suddenly, the creature leaped into the air, slamming down directly in front of him. Its claws were poised to strike. Shaun’s reflexes took over, his body moving on instinct. He ducked under the beast’s swipe, then used its outstretched arm as leverage, scaling it with smooth, fluid movements. He sprang over its head, landing in a perfect sprint.

“Now!” Shaun shouted, his voice echoing into the night.

High above, Min-Ji crouched, steadying her aim. She released the ballista’s trigger, sending a sharpened bolt whistling through the air. It struck the monster’s shoulder with a sickening *thunk*, burying deep into its flesh. The beast howled, dark blood spilling from the wound as it staggered back.

“Go!” Masato yelled, charging forward with a hammer-like blow to its leg. Bone crunched, and the creature collapsed to one knee. Lawrence followed up with a brutal right hook to its head, sending a shockwave through the air. Seth barreled in next, slamming his full weight into the monster’s torso, forcing it back.

The creature’s roars turned weak, desperate. Its movements slowed, its defenses crumbling.

***

Back at the school, barricades rattled from distant impacts. Students scrambled to reinforce the defenses, their faces pale with fear. A modified ballista stood ready, wedged between overturned desks in a makeshift barricade.

“They’re coming!” a student shouted, his voice trembling as the distant howls of hellhounds echoed down the hallways. “Get the ballista ready!”

“They’re loading!” another yelled as sharpened stakes were fitted into place. The hallway buzzed with tension. Footsteps and growls grew louder.

“Fire!”

The ballista released with a resounding *thunk*, sending wooden stakes shooting down the hall. They tore through the front ranks of the hellhounds, turning them to ash. “Reload!” Students with bows followed up with a volley of arrows, the hallway becoming a storm of flying projectiles.

“Hold the line!” a senior barked. “We can’t let them through until Lucas and the others finish that monster!”

The hallway shook from the violence outside, but no one knew exactly what was happening.

***

On the field, Seth stood over the broken landscape, blood trickling down his face. The ground was a mess of craters and destruction. He stared at the monster, now struggling to rise from the massive crater it had created.

“Dammit… it had one more trick,” he muttered, wiping blood from his eyes. He glanced at his unconscious teammates and squared his shoulders. The creature growled, locking its glowing eyes onto him.

[End of Chapter]