When Ian first appeared.
A semi-transparent energy barrier was already enveloping the city, emanating a faint blue glow, like a flowing crystal film. This was the black-robed wizards' final defensive measure.
The black-robed wizards had realized this as well.
They ceased using attack magic, instead pouring their magic power into the city's shield, attempting to prevent Ian from approaching. However, Ian fearlessly launched an assault.
"Reinforce the shield quickly!" screamed a wizard, waving their hands frantically, trying to inject more magic to maintain the barrier's stability. Other wizards responded in turn; they gathered around the altar, chanting ancient spells, the tips of their magic wands flashing with dazzling light.
The energy shield thickened violently, its surface rippling in layers, seemingly resisting the imminent impact. Ian was already closing in. Its wings folded sharply, transforming into a straight black arrow, crashing fiercely into the shield with a sound that shook the heavens and the earth, warping the shield violently.
As if it was about to collapse at any moment.
Yet it barely held its shape.
"It held! It's working! This method works! It can't stay in the human world for long! We just need to hold on until it returns, then we'll only have to think of dealing with it in the next thousand years!"
breathlessly shouted a wizard, showing a hint of hope on their face.
But just.
Their babbling sounded like gibberish to Ian, making it impossible for Ian to explain that their perception of him was completely and utterly mistaken.
In fact.
Ian couldn't wait to return to his own world.
But he couldn't go back.
Without finding out from these black-robed wizards, he'd probably be stuck here until he died of old age, unable to return. So, there was no way around it; Ian had to take down this city.
Friendliness didn't work.
Then he would use force.
Dumbledore was his professor.
And was Grindelwald not the same?
This was only the beginning.
After his initial attack, Ian didn't stop at all. His body spun in the sky, diving again, crashing into the same spot in the same manner.
"Boom!"
This time, the shield emitted a piercing wail, cracks appeared silently, spreading rapidly like a spider web. The black-robed wizards desperately infused magic, trying to repair the cracks, but their efforts proved futile. Ian's third strike arrived, and with a deafening explosion, the energy shield finally gave way.
"Crack!"
The shield shattered.
Turning into countless points of light scattered in the air.
Ian's raven form, like a black meteor, crashed into the Steel City's interior!
"It's over... Our city is facing its end! The insane raven will take us all!" muttered the old wizard, clearly well-informed.
His face was pale.
"Run! Zeus! We must flee! Escape!"
Someone dragged the ancient old wizard, fleeing chaotically.
The other black-robed wizards scattered in all directions.
The Sky City was plunged into total panic.
The magic they had united before failed to kill Ian, so they certainly didn't expect their individual magic could have any effect on this black raven.
Everyone had only one option: to flee, even jumping off the city to fly towards the ground— To this, Ian did not give chase, instead circling around until finally locking onto a slower black-robed wizard.
It was a woman.
Holding a baby tightly in her arms.
That was precisely why she was running so very slowly.
"Don't be afraid, I won't kill you, I just want to understand your situation." Ian swooped down, transformed into human form, and appeared as a teenage boy with what should have been a sunny demeanor.
Yet.
"Don't kill me! Don't kill me!" the woman screamed in terror, but the baby in her arms seemed unafraid, instead giggling, reaching out with a small hand as if trying to grab Ian's magic wand.
"Hmm?"
Ian was momentarily stunned.
Because.
He saw... sunlight in the baby's hand. Yes, a strand of golden sunlight was actually gathering in the baby's hand, resembling a small sun.
"Is she the daughter of the Sun God?!"
Ian felt an incredibly familiar sensation.
In this very moment.
He realized just how wondrous destiny could be.