What was supposed to be a day of leisure, festivities, and celebration had turned into chaos — a night of terror without end. Professors tried to calm the panicking students while scanning the surroundings for any sign of threat.
— You stupid dwarf, could you please help get the students out of here? Or are you just going to stand there and let us do everything?
— Shut up, you smug elf! I'm doing my best. Maybe if you were half as fast as you brag about, this would be done already!
Instructors Cainy and Elizabeth argued like children, until another man approached and snapped at them.
— Could you two stop acting like kids and hurry up with the evacuation?
It was Kalistro, the instructor of swordsmanship and weapons, hauling two unconscious students by the arms while giving them a stern glare.
— Fine! — they both replied.
— But what's going on? — Elizabeth demanded. — Out of nowhere, our mana and powers just... vanished! Like they've been sealed!
Cainy, who seemed to grasp the situation better than the others, answered while helping a group of terrified students move toward the exits.
— It's probably a high-grade sealing rune artifact. Whoever did this came well-prepared. Otherwise, the Headmistress would never have allowed this to happen.
They both nodded grimly.
— Indeed... maybe she already knows who's behind this — said Kalistro, scanning the hall with sharp eyes, searching for Freya.
— Enough talking. Move it! There are still plenty left! — Elizabeth barked, trying to keep the frightened students from trampling each other.
Back with the trio — Evo, Freya, and Ravina.
— Wait a second... isn't this happening too soon? — Evo asked, frowning.
— We've only just started preparing to capture the infiltrators a few days ago, at the start of the term. There's no way they managed to set all this up so fast — he said, exasperated.
— Unless... — a thought struck him cold.
— Unless they already had people inside from previous years — completed Ravina, her expression hardening.
— And not just that... — Freya's eyes narrowed as she looked up at the ceiling.
Evo turned to her. — What are you thinking, Freya?
— I think the ones they infiltrated here weren't just students... but also staff members. That changes everything.
Ravina's eyes widened.
If there were traitors among the staff, people with real influence inside the academy, then their assumptions about how quickly this happened were meaningless. This had been planned for a long time.
— So what do we do now? — Evo asked.
— First, you go somewhere safe with the others — said Freya in a tone that made clear she wasn't asking.
— No way I'm leaving you two here! I refuse!
His voice was firm, but she snapped back, angry.
— Have you lost your mind, Evo? You're way too weak for this fight! If something happens to you, I'll never forgive myself. You're leaving, and that's final!
It was the first time she'd ever spoken to him like that.
Still, he didn't back down.
— And what about you two? What are you planning to do?
— Ravina will try to contact the Emperor and request reinforcements.
— And as for me...
Freya's gaze lifted toward the ceiling, where a massive glass dome revealed the night sky — now hidden beneath a translucent blue barrier that pulsed faintly.
— I'm going to destroy that barrier.
Evo opened his mouth to protest, but another voice — cold and emotionless — echoed through the hall before he could speak.
— I can't let you do that.
The words carried no anger, only an absolute statement of fact.
The three of them looked up.
On top of the glass stood a hooded figure, draped in tattered black cloth, exuding a dark, poisonous aura. Beside him stood another figure — silent, motionless — yet even more terrifying for the sheer absence of presence.
Evo froze. His body refused to move.
His heart pounded violently as terror clawed at his chest. His legs trembled under the crushing malice radiating from the two above.
— N-no way... — he whispered.
On instinct, he activated the Eyes of Pride — and immediately regretted it.
What he saw was limited... but it was enough to chill his soul.
[Target Information]
[Analyzing...]
[Complete]
[Warning!] Due to the overwhelming difference in strength, only partial data can be displayed.
Name: ???
Age: ???
Race: Chimera Dragon
Level: 684
Attributes: Unknown
Skills: Unknown
Authority: Unknown
His pulse quickened as another analysis appeared — even worse than the first.
Name: ???
Age: ???
Race: !om?n#+l% of the D#!%nd@?e Ma%!$na
Level: 899
Attributes: Unknown
Skills: Unknown
Authority: Unknown
— We need to get out of here. Now!— Evo muttered, barely standing as his knees trembled.
The two above had clearly noticed what he'd done.
— Ohhh... so you managed to see through us, huh? Impressive. For someone so weak, you've got quite the handy little ability there. — The corrupted voice mocked.
Evo clenched his teeth, blood trickling from his lip, forcing himself upright beneath the suffocating aura that crushed him like an insect.
— Freya... Ravina... we need to le—
— Relax, Ev. Who do you think I am, you brat? — Freya smiled at him, her confidence sharp as a blade.
Then she looked up again — and laughed.
That laugh sent chills down his spine.
— Those two idiots think they're on top of the world... but—
Hahahahahahahahahahahaha!
Her laughter dripped with contempt. Evo blinked in disbelief. Had she gone insane? There was no way she could fight them — not with her magic sealed.
But she kept talking, her voice rising enough for both enemies to hear.
— It's true we were caught off guard, but that doesn't mean we're helpless. I left something ready... for emergencies like this.
The two on the glass didn't move. No reaction. No fear.
Freya smirked — and raised her hand toward them.
— I should thank you both... for standing exactly where you needed to.
Then she snapped her fingers.
CLACK!
At first, nothing happened.
The two looked around, confused — while Freya's grin only grew wider.
— Don't look so lost... it's already on its way.
And then it came.
A blinding purple beam — like a laser — pierced straight through one of them, sending the body hurtling down like a meteor.
BOOOOOOM!
The explosion rocked the hall. Evo shielded his face from the flying debris.
When the dust settled, a crater gaped before them — and in the center lay a mangled body.
Freya and Ravina stood side by side, smiling darkly. The air around them was heavy — predatory. For a moment, they didn't look like saviors... but villains.
Freya stepped forward and crushed her heel against the creature's head.
Blood spattered across the marble floor.
— H-how...? — he coughed, struggling to breathe. — How did you attack me... if your mana is sealed...?
She chuckled.
— Hahaha... and why would I tell you that? Maybe the rest of your friends are listening. Aren't they, Baltazar?
She grabbed his hood and yanked it off — revealing the face beneath.
Evo flinched, nearly gagging.
The creature was grotesque — gray scales, mismatched horns, one curving back, the other jutting upward. One eye glowed crimson, the other a sickly green. His skin was a patchwork of sewn flesh and dragon parts.
— What have you done to yourself, Baltazar? You grafted dragon flesh from different species... turned yourself into a chimera. You're disgusting — she spat, her tone full of scorn.
He roared back, voice bubbling with venom.
— Shut up, you filthy whore! You and that blonde bitch! You ruined everything! You think we forgot what you did? That time... it was your fault! You meddled where you shouldn't have!
His laughter turned twisted, echoing through the hall.
— But not this time... hahahahaha! This time, you won't stop us!
Freya tilted her head, amused, and pressed her heel harder against his skull.
— Aww, I'm so sorry for ruining your little plans. You know me — I just love being nosy.
— That's true — Evo muttered, finally regaining his composure as he realized she had everything under control.
Freya looked at him, pretending to be a girlfriend offended by her beloved's comments, and he immediately fell silent.
Then she turned her gaze back to the broken creature, a cruel smile curling on her lips.
— Tell me... why are you still talking so proudly, when you've already got one foot in the grave?