The empire had barely begun to recover from the devastation left in the wake of Lucifer's defeat. Smoke still lingered over the shattered countryside, and soldiers whispered rumors of the legendary summoner who had struck down a being thought invincible. But the peace was fragile. Even as Rocky, Sylvia, and Risha had retreated to safety, word reached the imperial capital that a new, terrifying threat had emerged.
High above the walls of the empire, a shadow passed over the city like a dark cloud. Citizens looked up in confusion, the sunlight briefly dimmed, and a haunting cawing echoed across the streets. Horses reared, and children shrieked, but before the guards could fully react, the source of the disturbance became visible.
Happy the Harpy.
She descended like a whirlwind of feathers and steel, her wings spanning nearly twenty feet, each feather tipped with razor-sharp talons. Her eyes glowed with a mischievous yet terrifying intelligence, and a cruel grin stretched across her face. She had been the first of Carbrarra's Seven Generals, and now she had chosen to strike the heart of the empire.
"Ah… what a quaint little city," she sang mockingly, circling above the walls with effortless grace. "Full of humans so proud of their defenses… let's see how long that pride lasts."
Imperial guards readied their weapons, arrows notched and ballistae aimed, but Happy merely laughed, a sound that cut like a blade. With a flick of her wings, she sent a storm of razor feathers spiraling toward the city, each one capable of slicing through steel and stone alike. The gates of the capital shook, screams echoing as debris fell from the buildings.
In the imperial palace, the generals and commanders convened, desperation etched on every face. "Who… what is this?" one officer demanded, panic rising. "It moves too fast! Nothing can stop it!"
"This… is one of Carbrarra's generals," replied the emperor's advisor grimly. "The Demon Lord is testing us… and this harpy is the vanguard."
Meanwhile, Rocky, Sylvia, and Risha stood on a nearby ridge, overlooking the empire. The city sprawled beneath them, smoke curling from the outer districts, and the unmistakable figure of Happy the Harpy swooping and diving through the streets.
Sylvia's hands clenched the hilt of her sword. "She's destroying everything. We can't just let her—"
Rocky raised a hand, aura flaring in faint pulses. "I know. But we're not strong enough yet to fight a General head-on. Not like this."
Risha hovered beside him, crimson eyes gleaming, wings unfurling. "Then we intercept strategically. We can't stop her from entering the city, but we can minimize damage and buy time. I can handle most of her minions, you focus on speed and disruption."
Rocky nodded, his shadows twisting and snapping into afterimages that flitted over the battlefield. "Let's move."
The trio descended toward the city in a controlled blur. Risha's shadows formed barriers and slashing appendages that intercepted falling debris and civilians in the streets, carrying them to safety. Sylvia, though still recovering from her injuries, moved with precision, cutting through enchanted spikes and feathers hurled by Happy. Rocky blurred past buildings, gathering momentum as he tracked the harpy's movements.
Happy noticed them, tilting her head and letting out a sharp, echoing cackle. "Ah, new toys! How delightful! I've been sent to see what legends call 'summoners'—come, little ones, entertain me!"
With a sudden burst of speed, she dove toward them, wings cutting through the air with terrifying precision. Her talons extended, aiming for Rocky first. He blurred forward, leaving afterimages to confuse her, but one talon clipped the roof of a nearby building, sending sparks and splintered stone flying.
Risha unleashed a flurry of shadow spikes, aiming to disrupt Happy's flight, but the harpy twisted in midair with inhuman agility. "Cute, but you'll need more than tricks to stop me!"
Sylvia leapt, swinging her sword, aiming to pierce Happy's wing, but the harpy laughed and dodged with a flip, feathers flashing in the sunlight like blades. Rocky's afterimages formed a coordinated assault from multiple directions, attempting to force Happy into a corner—but she simply laughed, flipping and spiraling higher into the sky.
"Rocky… she's fast… faster than I thought!" Risha shouted, launching another series of shadow spikes that narrowly missed the harpy's talons.
Rocky clenched his fists, aura blazing brighter. "I know. But I can't let her destroy the city. We need a distraction… something to lure her away from the civilians."
He blurred forward at near-light speed, creating dozens of afterimages that zipped in every direction, forcing Happy to adjust her flight constantly. Arrows, enchanted spears, and imperial artillery tried to strike her, but Rocky's shadows deflected much of the incoming fire while drawing the harpy's attention.
Happy's cackle echoed. "Oh! I see your little plan… trying to protect these mortals! How adorable! But let's see how long you can play."
With a sudden dive, she targeted a section of the city square, talons extended to strike. Rocky reacted instantly, intercepting her midair, the shadows of his aura wrapping around her talons to reduce the force of impact and redirect her momentum. She screeched, flapping wildly, and sent a wave of razor feathers spinning outward.
Risha reacted immediately, forming shadow barriers and striking down the feathers before they could reach the citizens below. Sylvia cut through debris and falling objects, her movements precise despite exhaustion. For a moment, the three of them moved like a synchronized machine, holding the harpy at bay while protecting the innocent.
But it was clear—even to Rocky—that this was unsustainable. Happy's speed and agility were beyond anything he had encountered, and every strike required immense concentration and energy. His aura flared, adaptive instincts racing, but fatigue gnawed at him. Risha's shadows were fraying at the edges, and Sylvia was showing signs of overexertion.
Rocky made a decision. "We can't defeat her here… not yet. We have to retreat—draw her away from the city."
Sylvia's eyes widened. "Retreat? But the city—"
"Trust me," Rocky said firmly. "We'll live to fight again. That's the only way to protect everyone."
Risha's grin turned sharp, approving. "Finally, some strategy. Let me create a path."
Risha extended her shadows outward, forming a bridge of dark energy above the rooftops. Rocky lifted Sylvia, and together they took flight, leaving the city behind. Happy dove after them, talons slashing, feathers scattering, but Rocky's blur and afterimages kept them just out of reach.
The harpy screeched, circling them in anger. "You think you can escape me? I will tear you apart, little summoner!"
Rocky's aura flared, adaptive energy forming jagged wings that propelled them faster than thought. "Not today," he muttered. "We'll train. We'll get stronger. And next time… you won't stand a chance."
They disappeared into the mountains, the city behind them left unharmed thanks to their quick thinking. Fires were minimal, civilians were safe, but the empire's citizens would long remember the shadow of the harpy that had nearly destroyed their capital.
High above the ridge, Rocky, Sylvia, and Risha landed, panting and exhausted. Rocky's aura pulsed faintly, remnants of the battle still lingering in the air. "Happy… the first of Carbrarra's generals. She's strong, faster than Lucifer, and far more unpredictable."
Sylvia leaned on him, still catching her breath. "We can't fight like that… not yet. We need training. Strategy. We need more power."
Risha's crimson eyes glimmered with determination. "Then we train. We adapt. And next time, when Happy—or any of Carbrarra's generals—returns, we won't just survive. We'll dominate."
Rocky nodded, eyes burning with renewed resolve. "The Demon Lord has started his campaign. One general at a time. First Happy, then the rest. We'll be ready."
As the sun set behind the mountains, casting long shadows over the ruined battlefield and the empire below, the trio looked toward the horizon. The war was far from over, but for the first time, they had a plan. They would grow stronger. They would adapt. And when the time came to face Carbrarra and the remaining generals, the world itself would tremble before their combined power.