Chapter 25: New Threat
As the dagger's influence continued to surge within me, I struggled to maintain control, fighting against the relentless power that threatened to overwhelm my senses. The ground shook beneath me, and the brilliant light of the shockwave illuminated the underground expanse of the Dagger Academy.
But amidst the chaos and disarray, the dagger's presence suddenly shifted, its focus shifting to an unseen threat that I had yet to comprehend. Panic surged through the dagger's voice in my mind, a frantic urgency that I couldn't ignore.
"There's a threat nearby," the dagger's voice echoed within me. "A danger we must confront."
Confusion gnawed at me as I tried to understand what the dagger was referring to. The energy that had surrounded me began to dissipate, the brilliance fading, and I felt a growing sense of unease.
And then, I saw them, Victor, Alex, and one of the five commanders, lying unconscious on the ground. Their forms were battered and bruised, evidence of a fierce struggle. It was then that I noticed the presence that had infiltrated the academy, a menacing figure that exuded an aura of malevolence.
A demon, dark and formidable, stood before me. Its monstrous form was unlike anything I had encountered before, a grotesque fusion of claws, horns, and fangs. It was a creature from the supernatural realm, a threat that had infiltrated the heart of the Dagger Academy.
Fear and determination welled up within me as I realized the gravity of the situation. The dagger's earlier panic had been a warning, a call to action. I couldn't allow this demon to go unchecked, not when it had already incapacitated some of the academy's most formidable members.
With newfound resolve, I took a step forward, my grip on the sword firm and resolute. The dagger's presence surged within me, its energy now focused on the looming threat before us. The battle was far from over, and I was determined to confront this unseen adversary head on, to protect the academy and those who had been injured in the demon's rampage.