315 - Red Eyes in the Storm
Beatrix:
I searched through the forest, following the direction of that suffocating presence, but found nothing. When I reached the area, it had vanished, and all I found were a few unconscious students: Edmund, Thyra, and Viktor.
What happened to them?
A chill ran down my spine, but there was no one around. I needed to take them, along with the others, to a safe place. My priority was to ensure the safety of Princess Syvis and the Saint. After that, I would seal the evacuation tunnel and head to the elevator to make sure help was on the way. Only then would I turn my attention back to that oppressive presence.
No matter how much I looked around, I couldn't sense it. But, when I focused on a distant point, I felt it subtly, as if it were moving away.
It's far from where the students are gathered... Whatever it is, as soon as I seal the tunnel and ensure the elevator goes up, I will personally investigate what this thing is.
Nathan Evenhart:
"Nathan!" Chloe shouted, appearing at my side. "What do we do? Do we head to the elevator or join the other students going to the caves?"
Cylla was running close to me, spitting fireballs at the monsters that resembled monstrous dogs.
The flames quickly died down under the torrential rain now pouring heavily over the forest.
"We need to group up with the other students at the camp first. I'll confirm if it's possible to approach the elevator."
"We can help you!" Kinue said, appearing next to Chloe.
Ahead, the royal family squads were trying to clear a path through the forest, knocking down trees and using magic to reshape the terrain. A direct route seemed impossible, so they were forcing alternative passages through the dense vegetation.
When we finally reached the camp, chaos reigned. Orcs and other monstrous creatures were everywhere, their roars echoing amid the storm's noise.
"This is madness!" Alice exclaimed.
Further ahead, I saw Princess Rose unleashing gusts of wind, controlling the air currents to keep the creatures at bay. Elsewhere, veteran students fought with fire and water magic, trying to contain the hordes.
My eyes widened as I saw Professor Beatrix carrying an unconscious Thyra in her arms, her expression grim. Behind her, Edmund and Viktor, also unconscious, were being carried by other students.
"Lord Nathan! Lady Chloe! Where have you been?" The twins' voices echoed as they stumbled out of the woods, their clothes stained with blood and their axes dripping.
"I'm glad to see you're safe," I murmured, relieved.
"You there!" Beatrix approached, handing Thyra over to the group of students preparing an improvised healing circle. "Princess! Finally, I found you."
"Professor Beatrix? What's the plan now?" questioned Saint Tiffania, gripping her staff tightly, the golden aura around her weakening.
"The plan is to get you all to a safe place." She spoke firmly, but I could see the exhaustion in her eyes. "I tried to communicate with the people up top using a magic device, but it's blocked. The best we can do is send the elevator. If I put the corpse of one of these creatures inside and send it to the surface, they'll understand something is wrong. Once I'm sure the elevator has gone up, I'll return to protect you."
I looked to the side, the flames on the trees finally beginning to subside under the rain I had summoned. I continued focusing my mana on the clouds above, increasing the intensity of the rain to extinguish the forest fire.
If I generate a tornado here... the storm's force could end up killing students. There's no way to control the trajectory... and on top of that, these orcs could withstand the fall...
"I'm going to the elevator," Professor Beatrix said. "Follow Princess Rose's group and the other students. I'll cover the rear."
"We will help!" Duncan protested, stepping forward with his fist clenched.
"As your professor, I am ordering you to cooperate and follow the plan!" Beatrix said, her voice sharp.
"There's no time for this kind of thing. We're all in danger!" Alice shot back, her gaze fierce. "Let's cooperate and work together. The elevator area is full of those creatures. You know that."
Beatrix clenched her fists but nodded, finally relenting.
"Fine... But you will only provide cover, and if I order it, you will retreat. No matter what happens to me, understood?"
Everyone nodded.
Rose Olarion:
I had carved out a somewhat safer route for the students toward a tunnel. It was the best way to escape the chaos. The path was protected by veterans and more experienced combat students, clearing the trail and eliminating any creatures that approached. There were many injured, and we were taking them to the healing mages who had been the first to reach this shelter. In front of the tunnel entrance, earth mages raised thorny walls, sealing off forest routes and leaving a single safe passage for the students.
My clothes were completely stained with blood. It wasn't mine. It belonged to the students I had desperately tried to bring to a healer. They died before we even reached a safe place. The only healing potion I had... was already gone. The infirmary had been consumed by fire, and if there were any healing potions there, they had been destroyed along with the tents. It took time to organize the panicked students. But the scene of what those creatures did to the others was still vivid in my mind: crushed, trampled, as if they were nothing.
"Rose!" a voice called me. I was facing one of those orcs head-on. I charged forward with my rapier in hand, channeling wind mana into its blade. It raised a wooden shield, blocking the slash, and hurled it with tremendous force. I ducked at the last second, and the shield destroyed a tree behind me with a dry crash.
"AARGH!" the monster roared, slamming its fists against the ground with force. I slid to the side, channeling more wind into my feet. My blade shimmered with mana as I leapt, propelled by an air burst. In one swift motion, I pierced the creature's skull with the tip of my rapier.
In an instant, the orc tried to move, but I was already injecting a massive charge of wind into the wound. The power exploded internally. Blood trickled from its ears and nostrils before its body collapsed heavily to the ground.
I shook my sword, cleaning off the monster's remains. Then, I turned to the one who had called me.
"Professor?" I said, panting, staring at Beatrix. She looked as exhausted as I was, but still maintained that unshakable presence.
"I need your cooperation. There are other teachers leading groups of students to the safe tunnel."
"What do you need?" I asked, trying to catch my breath.
"I'm heading to the elevator. I'll take a small group with me. They'll go up and call for reinforcements. You need to continue leading the remaining students, seal the tunnel, and keep them safe until the rescue arrives. As soon as I send the group, I'll return to you."
I looked around at the gathered group. There had to be more than twenty students there. I recognized their faces: Alice Asalon, Chloe Evenhart, Syvis Rhiannon, Duncan Asalon, and other known names and powerful nobles. The rest were a mystery.
"Guide Princess Syvis and Saint Tiffania with you and seal that tunnel," Beatrix ordered, her gaze firm.
"Professor, Nathan Evenhart, Chloe Evenhart, and Kinue must stay with me," Saint Tiffania interrupted.
Beatrix turned to the others. "Prince Duncan, Princess Melina, Lady Alice. Are you sure you wish to go? It would be safer to wait in the tunnel with the others."
"No! We will go to the elevator immediately," Duncan replied, resolute.
"If the prince has decided, I cannot disagree, Beatrix," said Sebastian, though his expression was tense.
The professor sighed, accepting the decision. "Alright. Stay close to me and follow orders without question," she said, staring at the students with determination.
Then her eyes narrowed, scanning the group. "Someone is missing... Where is Nathan Evenhart?" she asked.
Nathan Evenhart:
I ran through the forest, using my speed and lightning to draw as many orcs as possible away from the main group. I needed to attract as many as I could and steer them off the path—I couldn't allow Kinue and Chloe to risk such a dangerous route to the elevator.
I used my speed to catch the creatures' attention. A burst of light and sound, a flash, and then I dashed forward, the guttural screams of the orcs echoing as they chased me, blinded by fury.
I had tried to convince them to stay with the other students while I went with Professor Beatrix. It was useless. They were as stubborn as I was. They wouldn't leave me alone, and, likewise, I would never leave them behind.
Cylla was with them, her fierce and protective presence ensuring their safety. That gave me the freedom to act without hesitation. I just needed to lead those creatures away. When I finished, I would return.
I approached the elevator area. There were dozens of them there, gathering trees, wood, and stones, forming a barricade so no one could get through. I saw some of them standing still, acting as guards.
Jumping from branch to branch, I circled the area. However, when I landed on one of the higher branches, a spinning axe cut through the trunk, forcing me to leap to the ground. I rolled upon impact, and when I stood up, I was surrounded.
Dozens of orcs stared at me with their bestial eyes and weapons ready. Some laughed, others growled.
"Looks like we've got a lost little sheep..." one of them grunted, twirling his axe menacingly.
"I'll take his legs! I need a new handle for my axe!" another mocked.
I frowned. "You... can speak?"
"H-he understood us?!" one of them said, confused.
"Nonsense! Humans don't speak our language!" the largest of them growled.
Shink!
The Cursed Blade, which had been at a distance, came spinning through the air and lodged directly into the neck of the orc who had spoken, sending him crashing down in a spasm. Silence hung for a moment as the others stared at me, stunned.
The smarter ones took a step back, but the mindless ones charged forward. I sighed.
"Great... let's have a little chat." I said, my expression turning serious.
The presence of mana expanded around me.
Lightning danced around my body, and the magical pressure filled the air.
"W-what is this feeling?! This suffocation..." one of them mumbled.
I moved forward, striking the first orc with a quick blow. I grabbed the arm of one and tore it off, breaking it as I pulled. Another tried to hit me with an axe, but the Cursed Blade returned to my hand, deflecting the attack. I drove the blade into his neck.
One of them hurled a spear at me, but I caught it mid-air and threw it back, piercing through an orc's chest and pinning him against a tree.
"AAARGH!" he screamed, spitting blood.
The mindless ones attempted to surround me again. I spun the sword and electrified the water on the ground around me. The closest orcs convulsed with the shock, collapsing to the ground, while I leaped over another, crushing its knee and driving the Cursed Blade into its back.
I approached one of the still-living orcs, pressing my boot onto his chest.
"I'll ask only once: Who ordered you to attack the academy?"
They groaned in pain, but none answered.
"If you won't talk..." I raised my hand to the sky. The clouds responded, and in an instant, lightning descended like whips of light, striking both the mindless orcs still trying to approach and the intelligent orcs lying on the ground.
The dust settled. The intelligent orcs were down and groaning. I had spared them from a fatal strike. I crouched, staring at the one who seemed the most conscious.
"I didn't hear the answer." I pressed my boot harder against his chest.
The orc who had been pierced by the spear pulled it out of his own chest and tried to stand. I moved forward, delivering a punch to his neck, forcing him to kneel. He gasped in pain.
"Who ordered this attack?!" I repeated, my patience wearing thin.
"Human... I... I will kill you..."
"Kill me how? You can barely breathe," I said.
He hesitated, his expression confused.
"You... you really understand our language..."
"Who is your leader? Is it the demons? I want to know their names, their powers, EVERYTHING!" I said, pushing his head into the ground, crushing it with force.
"Nidhogg..." he tried to respond.
BAM!
Suddenly, a blast echoed, and his head exploded in a wave of blood. Then, one by one, the other orcs who were still alive met the same fate, their heads bursting like smashed melons.
My expression turned serious.
"Damn..." I murmured. "They... they can't speak. Some kind of curse?"
Then I felt something. A strange sensation as if gravity had gotten heavier. It wasn't just me; even the mindless orcs in the distance stopped moving.
Something was coming, getting closer.
And then I felt it.
I instinctively moved away from the elevator entrance, and then the barricade shattered, exploding into pieces.
A step was taken, then another.
Amidst the rain and the storm, I felt the weight of its presence and saw something that shocked me.
Emerging from the elevator was a humanoid figure in black clothes, with long black hair. He wore a dark mask. What struck me the most were the eyes... the eyes were red. They were glowing red lights in the darkness.
"It seems I arrived at just the right time," said the dark figure.