The Villain Professor's Second Chance

A few of the knights, like Doran and Sharon, fought with raw power and emotion, their attacks unpredictable yet effective in their own ways. Sylvanna provided a different kind of stability to the fight—an anchor of control amidst the chaos. It was a dynamic that Dravis quickly assessed as both a strength and a potential weakness, depending on how their opponents exploited these differences.

He twisted on his heel, his blades flashing as he spun, slicing cleanly through another shadow creature attempting to pounce on Sharon. The knight had overextended in her aggression, and Dravis had intervened before she could get hurt. Sharon barely noticed the help—too caught up in her own battle rage to thank him or even acknowledge his actions. Dravis didn't care; he wasn't fighting for gratitude.

Suddenly, a loud roar echoed from behind. The magma bear surged forward, its stone body cracking with the intensity of the heat within, molten rock glistening as it swung its massive paws at a cluster of shadows attempting to corner Sophie and Theo. Each swipe of the magma bear's claws sent ripples of heat through the air, instantly evaporating the shadows on contact.

The air itself seemed to shimmer around the bear, its presence both a terrifying and reassuring sight.

Sophie took a deep breath, her icy mana swirling around her. She moved with the magma bear, the cold of her power mixing with the bear's intense heat, the two forces colliding yet somehow complementing each other. Her blade glowed faintly with frost as she swung it through the shadows, each slice freezing them momentarily before shattering them with a quick twist of her wrist.

Despite the intense power she wielded, her expression remained calm, her focus unbroken.

"Perfectly balanced," Dravis noted, his eyes narrowing as he observed Sophie's movements. She was a study in contrasts—her grace in battle matched by her unwavering adherence to an idealistic sense of justice. The way she moved, her form flawless, her strikes deliberate—it spoke of her determination to uphold a code, one that made her seem rigid.

To Draven, rigidity was a vulnerability—an enemy could learn her patterns, predict her moves.

Sylvanna's voice cut through the chaos of battle again, her tone teasing. "You call that fighting?" she shouted, her arrow finding the neck of a particularly large shadow creature before loosing another at one advancing on Evan. "Or are you all just warming up?"

Sharon's head snapped up, her eyes blazing. She opened her mouth, clearly ready to spit fire back at Sylvanna, but before she could get a word out, Sophie intervened.

"She's right!" Sophie called, her voice ringing clear across the battlefield. "Focus, everyone! Don't get distracted—push forward!"

She stepped forward, her sword swinging in an arc, frost scattering like snowflakes as her blade connected with the closest shadow. It recoiled, the frost spreading across its form before it shattered into dark wisps. Sophie's determination was evident, her every move filled with purpose.

It was as if she was pushing back not just against the shadows, but against the doubts and whispers that had plagued her since her engagement had ended.

Dravis watched her for another moment, before another shadow surged toward him, pulling his focus back. He sidestepped swiftly, both blades slicing through the creature's core as he twisted, his movements almost too fast for the eye to follow. He could sense Sylvanna's eyes on him, even from her elevated perch.

He could hear the slight shift in her breath, the way she let out a low whistle as if impressed.

"Keep those arrows coming, Sylvanna!" Dravis shouted, his tone cold and commanding, yet holding just the barest hint of respect.

"I'm already ahead of you!" Sylvanna called back, her voice full of confidence. She nocked another arrow, her eyes scanning the battlefield for her next target.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Doran, with his face flushed red from both exertion and frustration, moved with his longsword in quick, aggressive strikes. He lacked the finesse of Sophie, but each attack was driven with a fury that seemed almost boundless. His scowl deepened as he glanced towards Dravis and Sylvanna, clearly irked by their casual banter.

Rhea, darting between shadow figures, slashed at their weak points with her daggers, her small size allowing her to move with agility that the larger knights couldn't match. She paused for a moment, her eyes locking onto Sharon, who had charged forward recklessly, her broadsword cleaving through a shadow that had dared to get too close.

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"Sharon!" Rhea called, her voice urgent. "Watch your left!"

Sharon turned just in time, her blade swinging outwards to deflect a shadow's attack. She shot Rhea a grateful glance before continuing her assault, her swings wild but powerful. Rhea couldn't help but shake her head with a slight smile—Sharon's dedication to their captain was something to be admired, even if it did make her reckless at times.

Theo, ever the steady presence, positioned himself between Sharon and Sophie, his shield raised high as he blocked a shadowy tendril that lashed out at his captain. He pushed back, his shield glowing faintly as he charged forward, using his weight to shove the creature back before slicing at it with his sword.

Dravis, in the midst of the chaos, analyzed everything—the patterns of the shadows, the way each of his allies fought, their strengths, their weaknesses. He could see the flaws in their coordination—the openings that the shadows could exploit if they were given the chance.

Sophie's rigid adherence to her forms, Doran's aggressive recklessness, Sharon's emotional fighting style—it was all there, laid out in front of him like a map of potential vulnerabilities.

And yet, there was something to be said for their determination. Despite their flaws, they fought with everything they had, their loyalty to each other clear in the way they covered one another's weaknesses, stepping in to protect each other when needed. It wasn't perfect, but there was a strength in that unity, a bond that couldn't be easily broken.

Dravis lunged forward, his blades slicing through another shadow, his eyes locking onto Sophie as she fought beside the magma bear. She moved like a knight from a storybook—her blade cutting through the darkness with a beauty that almost made it seem effortless. But Dravis knew better. He could see the effort in her movements, the way she pushed herself, her breath coming in short bursts.

She was strong, but she was not infallible.

A shadow creature lunged at her from behind, its form shifting as it moved. Sophie didn't see it, her focus entirely on the creature in front of her. Dravis moved without thinking, his body a blur as he darted towards her, his blade cutting through the shadow before it could reach her.

Sophie turned, her eyes widening in surprise as she saw Dravis beside her, his blade already sheathed in darkness as he pulled away.

"Watch your back, Captain," Dravis said, his voice cold, his eyes meeting hers for just a moment before he turned away, already moving towards the next threat.

Sophie blinked, her lips parting as if to say something, but the words never came. She watched as Dravis moved away, his form disappearing into the chaos of the battlefield. She didn't know what to make of him—he was cold, distant, and yet... he had saved her, without hesitation. She took a deep breath, her resolve hardening as she turned back to the fight, her blade slicing through another shadow.

The shadows seemed endless, their numbers growing with each moment. They moved like a swarm, their forms shifting and twisting as they surged forward. And yet, the group held their ground, their combined efforts pushing back the darkness.

Sylvanna's arrows continued to rain down from above, her shots precise, each one finding its mark. The magma bear roared, its massive frame moving through the shadows, its molten body a beacon of heat and light. Sharon fought with all her strength, her broadsword cleaving through the shadows, her fiery personality evident in every swing.

Theo's shield remained a constant barrier, protecting his comrades as they fought, his steady presence a reassurance to those around him. Rhea moved with agility, her daggers flashing as she struck at the shadows, her movements a blur of speed. Doran's attacks were relentless, his frustration driving him forward, each strike filled with determination.

And Evan, though cautious, fought with growing confidence, his spear darting out to strike at the shadows, his eyes filled with determination.

Dravis, amidst the chaos, moved with precision, his blades slicing through the shadows, his eyes scanning the battlefield, assessing, calculating. He saw the weaknesses, the openings that needed to be covered, the threats that needed to be neutralized. He moved to where he was needed, his blades cutting through the darkness, his focus unbroken.

Sophie moved beside him, her blade glowing with frost as she fought, her eyes filled with determination. She glanced at Dravis, her eyes narrowing as she watched him move. There was something about him—something that didn't quite fit. He was too skilled, too calculated. He fought like someone who had seen countless battles, someone who knew exactly what needed to be done.

His gaze, that precision and coldness, reminded her of someone.

And it makes her didn't trust him, not fully.

But for now, they were on the same side, and that was enough.