SHAMAN PROTOCOL
Chapter 92: Eli’s Eternal First Year: Interrupted

Chapter 92: Eli’s Eternal First Year: Interrupted

[One week ago...]

"Eli."

The headmaster’s childlike voice echoed softly in his office. He stood by the window, watching the students below.

Eli—the old grandpa—stood in the middle of the office, eyes on the ghost blanket draped nearby.

"There’s a young shaman in your class who has no spiritual power. Or if he does, it’s very weak, but somehow, he could fight entities only Zone Zero could," the headmaster said, turning toward him. "Will you look after him?"

Eli’s brows furrowed. "You want me to look after a specific student?"

"Mhm!" the headmaster hummed. "I know you’ve always looked after your classmates, but this young shaman will make things... interesting."

"Headmaster, I’m not looking for anything interesting," Eli chuckled. "All young shamans are interesting as they explore their powers."

The headmaster shook his head. "Not that kind of interesting—haha! You’ll understand once you start observing him. Who knows, it might even make you want to step up to second year!"

Eli frowned, glancing at the printed eyemask on the ghost blanket.

Contrary to what people believed, he had his own reasons for remaining a first-year student for the past five decades. Sure, he failed some tests, but with his experience, he could’ve entered Zone Zero easily.

Yet he chose to stay. He thought that would never change—until the day he died.

"His name is Mikel Graves," the headmaster said with a slight giggle. "He’s... interesting."

---

[Present Time]

An interesting kid... Those were the headmaster’s words days ago.

Now, Eli was beginning to understand why the headmaster said those words.

After all, it was the first time the headmaster asked him to look after a specific student, not to spy on him, but simply to observe.

He’d heard about the cafeteria incident but didn’t think much of it. He knew Eron well—bratty little heir had once tried to pick on him when they were classmates. So it was no surprise someone had finally bit back.

But the part he didn’t believe—couldn’t believe—was that Mikel had fought Eron without using spiritual energy. It was impossible. Because shamans fighting shamans was a tricky situation and fight, because it meant spiritual power against another spiritual power.

He would never have believed... if he hadn’t seen what just happened.

"Does he really have no spiritual energy?" Eli wondered aloud, eyes fixed on Mikel. "Or... does he just not use it because his physical strength is enough?"

No... that didn’t make sense either.

To fight a spiritual being, one must use spiritual power to inflict damage. That’s why the twins’ attacks worked—they were spirit-on-spirit.

His thoughts stopped as another roar shook the forest.

"MOO!"

The cow—knocked down earlier—rose to its feet without difficulty. It let out another earth-rumbling roar.

Smoke flared from its nostrils as it locked eyes with Mikel.

Mikel only grinned, raising his fist like a boxer.

"A boxing fight!" Blitz cheered, still half-hidden behind the earth wall. "Big Brother Mickey, you can do it!"

Boom, cradled in Gallos’s arms, raised a tiny fist too. "Big Brother Mikey, fight him!"

"No," Ran said quietly, clutching his aching side. "A head-on fight with the Ruminant King..."

Even if Mikel could stand his ground, this wouldn’t end well. Dodging the jab of that thing? Nearly impossible.

But that wasn’t Mikel’s concern.

He looked down at his beaded bracelet, which pulsed hot against his skin.

If this keeps up, it’ll lash out just from sensing a fraction of that thing’s power.

He snapped his eyes up. Beating the Ruminant King wasn’t the issue.

It’s what happens after.

The last thing I need is a color correction...

"Boom! Blitz!" he yelled, turning even as the Ruminant King loomed. "Help me—I can’t beat this guy on my own!"

The twins perked up and blinked. Then they both leapt up, shouting:

"BoomBlitz back in action!"

"Wait—" Ran nearly choked when Mikel called him next.

"Ran!"

Ran’s eyes widened as he looked at Mikel, catching the sharp, determined gleam in his teammate’s gaze.

"Help me beat this guy," Mikel said, pointing at the Ruminant King. "You’re our red stripe. So you have no choice."

"..." Ran went quiet. He looked at the Ruminant King, now absorbing energy from the air. He wasn’t supposed to be the sword, and he wasn’t supposed to be a red stripe. But right now, no one else could do it.

He finally nodded. "Gallos," he panted, "please help me."

Gallos, the silver phantom knight, said nothing. He simply looked at the cow and then at Mikel.

"I’ll support!" Eli yelled, already drawing glyphs into the dirt with the tip of his shoe. "Blitz, can you help me sketch this in a bigger size?"

Blitz perked up and checked what the old man had drawn on the ground.

But then, another deafening roar.

"MOO!" The Ruminant King raised its glove-wrapped hoof and aimed down at the group.

"Big Brother Mickey!" Blitz shouted, stomping the ground.

At the same time, Boom called out, "Boomblast!"

The earth rose in front of Mikel, creating an earthen wall. At the same time, trees shot out from either side, slamming toward the Ruminant King.

But—

Crack!

The earth wall cracked before the punch even reached it. The trees shattered on impact. Another second later...

Boom!

The wall exploded, and the ground below it gouged into a pit, right where Mikel was standing. But as the Ruminant King gazed at the pit he’d created, he heard them from his side.

"Ran!" Mikel shouted, drawing the cow’s attention.

The Ruminant King turned to see Mikel and Ran standing atop rising trees. Mikel crouched low, gripping a branch while Ran struggled to balance, holding the same knife from earlier.

"Gallos..." he said, pressing his palm to the blade. "Let’s go!"

The trees bent backward, producing slow, careful cracks before they launched the two into the air.

Ran’s knife gleamed with silver moonlight as it extended into a sword. Mikel’s Blood Chain wrapped tightly around his fist, burning hot, almost as if trying to crush his fingers.

The Ruminant King roared. "MOO!"

It tried to move, but then realized it couldn’t. It looked down to find glowing symbols etched into the ground it was standing on.,

And in the corner... An old man was chanting calmly.

The glyph didn’t restrain the body, but rather paralyzed the spirit. Enough to hold even a titan... if only for a heartbeat.

"MOO!" It roared louder, hoping to shake them off, but it was already too late.

Mikel and Ran were already at him.

Ran drew a deep breath before he breathed out in a shout, "Justice... STRIKE!" He slashed diagonally with his silver-coated blade.

Mikel clenched his fist and hurled it downward.

Eat well, Carnage.

As one glowed silver and the other darkened, the Ruminant king held its arms up while its entire body glowed with its own spiritual energy as if it were coating itself.

At the same time, Ran’s slash landed from the opposite side, a punch on the other side. A boulder hit its groin, and a tree slammed into its spine.

"Moo..." The Ruminant King groaned.

Its arms cracked and shattered from within. Its burning gaze dimmed until it turned white.

Thud!

Ran and Mikel free-fell, only for a tree branch to catch Ran and a stone outcrop to catch Mikel. When they were near the ground both were tossed out. Ran landed hard on his butt, and Mikel on his knee.

All five stared at the Ruminant King.

It was still standing, arms raised.

"No way..." Ran whispered, wide-eyed. "It’s still... standing?!"

The twins frowned and the grandpa’s eyes hardened.

"All of that..." the grandpa whispered, his face bitter. Of course, that isn’t enough to take it down. In all the fifty years I’ve been here, it’s just impossible.

But then, the soft gust of wind blew past them, making the Ruminant King tilt until it slowly collapsed on its side. The second its body crashed, a harsh wind blew past everyone. But this time, they held their ground.

What followed was silence and the bell around the Ruminant King’s neck ringing faintly.

Even after a few seconds, no one spoke a word as they kept their widened eyes on the massive cow on the ground.

"It’s down!" Blitz shouted. "We won!"

"We did it! Yehey!!" Boom cheered.

Upon hearing their cheers, Ran collapsed on his bottom. "Hah... we... won...?" he exhaled, still stunned.

The grandpa stood frozen, staring at the fallen cow.

"We... won?" Eli whispered blankly. "Against it?"

Mikel collapsed onto his buttocks, his mouth stretching from ear to ear. The Blood Chain had stabilized—its hunger sated by the cow’s spiritual energy.

[Congratulations, Master. You’ve defeated the undefeated champion: Sir Loin. Grade A beef, well tenderized.]

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