The Unmasked – Chapter 2
One by one, children drank the juice. Teachers followed, making small cuts on their fingers to inspect the color of their blood. The process began, but for the first fifty students, nothing happened.
Then came the two boys who had bullied Amelie.
As the blade pricked their skin, both revealed shimmering blue blood. They smirked at Leon, who clenched his fists in frustration. But he held back. He knew it wasn't the time.
"Blue blood is linked to water and ice manipulation," a teacher commented.
Soon, another student stepped forward, and the crowd's attention shifted. Whispers spread like wildfire.
She was strikingly beautiful and carried herself with effortless grace. Even the teachers seemed intrigued.
"That's Isla Beaumont," someone whispered. "Daughter of the Beaumont family head."
When her blood was tested, the reaction was immediate. Her blood glowed a radiant yellow.
Gasps echoed through the grounds.
"Yellow blood... it's incredibly rare," a teacher said, his voice trembling slightly. "It allows users to forge powerful weapons using their own blood."
The crowd erupted into applause. Nobles clapped, the King nodded in approval, and Isla's father beamed with pride.
Next, her brother, Harry Beaumont, stepped forward. The crowd watched with bated breath. His blood turned silver.
Again, the reaction was one of awe.
"Silver blood users can teleport," a teacher explained. "Another rare power."
Even the King turned to the Beaumont patriarch. "Your children have awakened some of the rarest blood types."
"Thank you, my King," the man replied humbly.
More students underwent testing. Some awakened powers, others didn't. Then it was Finn's turn.
He looked uncertain, his fingers trembling slightly. But when the blade touched his skin, a bright orange hue emerged. His face lit up with joy.
Leon congratulated him, clapping him on the back.
"Orange blood grants explosive abilities," said a teacher. "But be cautious. The stronger the explosion, the more damage it inflicts on the user."
Eventually, only two students remained—Amelie and Leon.
Leon helped Amelie step forward. She appeared nervous, her expression filled with doubt.
"I'm not going to awaken anything... I know it," she murmured.
But the moment her finger was cut, a droplet of green blood fell to the ground.
Everyone froze.
"Green blood!" a teacher exclaimed. "It grants control over nature, especially trees. But more importantly, it gives the power to heal. The finest doctors in our kingdom have green blood."
Tears welled up in Amelie's eyes. Leon smiled as she threw her arms around him. He hugged her back, overwhelmed with happiness.
The final name was called.
"Leon!"
He took a deep breath, pushing aside the fear and doubt that crept into his mind. Both his friends had awakened rare powers—could he?
He stepped forward, and the teacher made a small cut.
A hushed gasp swept through the crowd.
Purple blood.
Everyone stared, stunned.
"Purple blood?" a teacher whispered.
"It's one of the demon blood types..." murmured another.
The King leaned forward, his expression unreadable.
A teacher quickly clarified, "There are only four others in the entire kingdom with demon-type blood. Leon is the fifth. Though rare, it is not unheard of."
Still, murmurs rippled through the crowd. Children looked at Leon with unease.
"Purple blood users can create illusions, manipulate thoughts, and move objects with their minds," another teacher explained.
Leon silently returned to his place. The stares, the fear—it stung. But then, Amelie stepped forward and embraced him.
"I'm always with you, no matter what happens," she whispered. Behind her, Finn gave a reassuring smile.
Leon smiled back, grateful to have them.
Just then, a booming voice announced that the testing was over.
Before the celebration could begin, a guard burst onto the grounds, bloodied and breathless.
"Demons!" he cried. "Demons have attacked the border!"
The King stood immediately. Orders were shouted. Most of the guards were dispatched to defend the border. Only a small group remained behind to secure the school.
The nobles and the King departed, but the 5,000 students remained. Some administrative work still had to be completed.
Ten minutes later, even the remaining guards left—save for one posted at the school gate.
That lone guard soon came sprinting toward the teachers, panic in his eyes.
"Run! Run!" he screamed.
"What's going on?" a teacher demanded.
"Demons! They're attacking the school!"
Shock spread like wildfire. No demon had ever reached the school before. With most of the guards gone, only four teachers remained to defend everyone. While powerful, the teachers couldn't face a full-scale assault alone.
"How many are there?" a teacher asked.
"Over 150!" the guard gasped.
There were just twelve mid-level guards and four teachers remaining. Worse still, of the 5,000 students, only 500 had awakened powers—and most didn't even know how to use them.
"If we don't fight," one teacher warned, "we'll all die before reinforcements arrive. They won't be here for another hour or two!"
He turned to the students. "You must fight. Even if you're scared, even if you're new to your powers—you have to protect each other!"
Fear spread among the students. Some began crying, others froze in place.
Then Isla stepped forward.
"I'll fight," she said boldly. "I'll give everything I have!"
Her words sparked courage.
The others prepared themselves as the school gate exploded, and the demons flooded in.
Their blood glowed cherry red—typical of low-tier demons, who often had fire abilities or enhanced strength.
The guards engaged first, trying to push them back. Teachers joined, combining their efforts. For a moment, it looked like the tide was turning.
But then, the demons unleashed more of their strength. Several guards fell, and the enemy surged toward the teachers.
The teachers called for help.
Isla was the first to respond. Her blood-forged weapons gleamed as she cut down demon after demon with elegance and fury. Inspired by her, the students joined the battle.
Blue-blooded students countered the fire demons effectively, freezing many in place. Finn unleashed explosive blasts that shook the ground, and even the bullies used their powers to fight with surprising intensity.
Amelie stayed back, healing the wounded with her green blood. Her hands trembled, but she never stopped.
Leon struggled at first, his power refusing to respond. But when a demon charged at Finn from behind, something inside Leon snapped. Rage flooded his mind. His blood pulsed.
With a sudden wave of his hand, the demon was flung across the field, crashing into a wall.
Leon had awakened his abilities.
He began lifting demons into the air, slamming them down like ragdolls. His eyes glowed with intensity. Isla fought beside him, her blade a blur of motion as she carved through enemies.
Together, they were unstoppable.
Harry tried using his teleportation but struggled to maintain control, blinking from place to place without precision, narrowly avoiding danger.
After forty-five grueling minutes, the guards lay dead. But the students and teachers held strong. The non-powered children were protected. Only a handful of demons remained.
Everyone began to believe the worst was over.
But then...