Chapter 149: Escaping From Academy

Alaric’s eyes flickered with a cold gleam as he took in the lingering creatures that still crawled around the wreckage of Natasha’s workshop. Despite having slaughtered dozens already, more of them were creeping in, their glowing crimson eyes filled with insatiable hunger.

’Persistent bastards, aren’t they?’

He extended a hand, fingers twitching as his magic flared to life once more.

“Azure Tempest!”

A whirlwind of crackling blue energy erupted from his palm, tearing through the creatures in a dazzling cyclone. Their twisted bodies were shredded apart, limbs and heads sent flying as the arcane storm consumed them.

“Blazing Nova!”

Without pausing, Alaric unleashed another spell, a fiery explosion blooming in the middle of the remaining creatures. The blast sent waves of scorching heat radiating outward, reducing the demons to nothing but piles of sizzling ashes.

He had made sure to keep Natasha out of the blast radius, but his senses suddenly flared as he felt two powerful killing intents locking onto him.

’Elite Demons.’

Two monstrous figures were charging toward him from the shadows of the ruined hallway, their twisted bodies pulsing with dark martial aura. Their speed was terrifying, their claws gleaming with deadly sharpness.

Alaric made a quick decision.

“Nope, not dealing with that today.”

Without hesitation, he turned and snatched Natasha by the waist.

“E-Eh?!” she yelped as she was suddenly lifted off her feet.

The Azure Spirit Lion’s ethereal form congealed around them, its spiritual energy wrapping around Alaric’s body as he blasted off, soaring through the shattered window at breakneck speed.

Below them, the two Elite Demons slammed into the spot where they had just been standing, their claws tearing through the air, but their targets were already gone.

Natasha, now securely held in Alaric’s firm grip, clung to him tightly as they flew through the night sky.

“You could have warned me first, you know!” she huffed, though she wasn’t exactly complaining about being held so securely against him.

Alaric smirked. “Would you have preferred I let those demons rip you apart while I gave a courtesy notice?”

She pouted, but then her golden eyes filled with something else—curiosity, mixed with pure astonishment.

“Alaric…” she said slowly, tilting her head to look up at him. “Just how did you become this strong so quickly?”

Alaric let out a chuckle as he lowered one of his hands to cup Natasha’s firm buttocks, squeezing lightly.

“Lucky encounters,” he murmured, enjoying the way her body pressed against his. “A lot of them. I’ll tell you the details later.”

Natasha’s face flushed, but instead of protesting, she smirked and leaned in, pressing a soft kiss against his lips.

“Thank you for saving me,” she whispered, her voice dripping with warmth.

Alaric returned the kiss briefly before pulling back. “You don’t need to thank me. I’ll always be there when you need me.”

Natasha’s heart skipped a beat at his words, but before she could say anything else, Alaric’s gaze locked onto a familiar battlefield in the distance.

Brita.

She had nearly finished off all the remaining creatures. The ground was littered with frozen corpses, their grotesque forms encased in jagged ice formations. Brita stood amidst them, her breathing a little heavy but her eyes still sharp and calculating.

Alaric’s lips curled into a grin. “Looks like she managed just fine.”

Without slowing down, he descended rapidly. Brita, sensing his approach, whipped her head up and scowled.

“What the hell are you—Wait—!”

Before she could finish, Alaric swooped down, snatched her up by the waist just like he had done to Natasha, and shot back into the sky with both women in his arms.

“Alaric, you bastard! Let go of me!” Brita snapped, her face burning with frustration.

“Not happening,” Alaric replied smoothly, adjusting his grip as she struggled in his hold. “We’re getting out of here. It’s time to let the professors do their jobs.”

Brita gritted her teeth, but deep down, she knew the real reason he was escaping.

’This bastard just doesn’t want to die fighting these monsters.’

As much as she hated to admit it, Alaric wasn’t wrong. These mysterious creatures were not normal demons. Their numbers were endless, and even with her true strength as a Master Mage, she had only just barely managed to clear the ones in her area.

If an Elite Demon had shown up while she was still suppressing her magic rank, she would have been in serious trouble.

But what really infuriated her was something else entirely.

She now knew the truth.

Alaric was him.

That Masked Mage. The one who had humiliated her in the Auction Hall. The one she had sworn to defeat.

And now, he had not only rescued her, but was holding her waist like she was some kind of helpless maiden!

Brita seethed in silence, her hands clenching into fists.

’Just you wait, Alaric… the moment we’re out of this mess, I’m beating you senseless!’

For now, though, she stayed quiet.

Survival came first. Revenge could wait.

~~

Alaric soared through the sky, the golden evening sun casting a warm glow over the land as it slowly began its descent. The sky was painted in soft hues of orange and pink, a beautiful contrast to the chaos they had just escaped.

Held securely in his arms were two stunning beauties—Natasha, with her long, wavy reddish hair and striking purple eyes, and Brita, with her sleek black hair and piercing green eyes. The two women were held close to him, their bodies pressed against his as they flew far away from the academy, leaving behind the swarm of grotesque creatures and the impending battle that was no longer theirs to fight.

Natasha, feeling the wind rush past her, turned her head slightly and met Brita’s gaze. She had expected to see something there—perhaps gratitude, perhaps admiration. After all, Alaric had just saved her life. And he was incredibly handsome, with those tousled golden locks and those sharp, almost hypnotic ruby-red eyes.

Yet, what she saw instead was… hatred.

Not just mild annoyance. Not irritation. But actual hostility, burning in Brita’s emerald-green eyes as she stared daggers at Alaric.

’Huh? What’s this about?’ Natasha thought to herself, raising a delicate brow.

Hadn’t Brita been fighting alongside Alaric just minutes ago? Usually, when a woman fought alongside a man of Alaric’s caliber, the natural progression was interest, followed by infatuation, and then—inevitably—falling hopelessly in love.

At least, that’s how things should go.

But instead, Brita was glaring at Alaric as if he had personally stomped on her childhood dreams.

Natasha smirked to herself.

’So she hates him, huh? Good. That means I don’t have to worry about her becoming competition.’

She wasn’t the type to get jealous easily, but having one less rival for Alaric’s attention? That was always a good thing.

Meanwhile, Alaric—completely oblivious to the silent exchange between the two women—was focused on getting them as far away from danger as possible. His grip on both of them remained firm yet careful, ensuring they were secure while he controlled the ethereal form of the Azure Spirit Lion.

After a few minutes of high-speed flight, he spotted a secluded clearing near a tranquil riverbank, far away from the chaos that had erupted at the academy. The area was surrounded by lush trees, their leaves swaying gently in the evening breeze. Birds chirped in the distance, and the sound of rushing water from the nearby river provided a rare sense of peace.

Satisfied that they were safe for now, Alaric descended, landing smoothly on the soft grass before gently setting Natasha and Brita down.

Brita immediately took a step back, putting distance between herself and Alaric, while Natasha adjusted her hair and smirked at Brita’s reaction.

Alaric, however, had no time to care about Brita’s attitude. His gaze sharpened as he turned toward her.

“Now then,” he said, his tone firm and commanding. “Tell me what you know about those creatures.”

Brita scowled. “Why should I?”

Alaric narrowed his eyes. “Because you clearly knew something about them. You called them ’Demons’—you even referred to that large one as an ’Elite Demon.’”

Natasha’s eyes widened in surprise. “Wait… Demons?” she repeated, looking between the two of them. “Like the ones from old fairytales? That’s impossible, right? I mean… demons don’t actually exist, do they?”

Brita crossed her arms, still glaring at Alaric but ultimately sighing as she realized she didn’t have a choice. She wouldn’t expose her true source of knowledge—she wasn’t about to tell Natasha about the Phantom Assembly or her own connection to it.

“I read about them in ancient texts,” Brita finally admitted. “A long time ago, there were records describing creatures just like the ones we fought today. Beings of immense cruelty and destruction, ones that once roamed this world freely.”

Alaric frowned. “And what happened to them?”

Brita’s expression darkened slightly. “They were all killed. Every last one of them. Wiped out by the heroes of the past. The records spoke of a war—a massive battle where the strongest warriors and mages joined forces to eradicate the demons completely. It was said that none remained, that their existence was erased from this world.”

Natasha listened with rapt attention, her brows furrowing. “But if they were wiped out, then how the hell are they here now?”

“That’s what confuses me,” Brita admitted. “According to everything I read, the demons should be nothing more than history. A dead species. So how are they suddenly appearing now? And why at the academy, of all places?”

Alaric tapped his chin thoughtfully, his sharp mind already piecing together potential theories.

’The Phantom Assembly was already moving behind the scenes, and now these creatures—so-called demons—are appearing after supposedly being extinct for centuries? That’s not a coincidence.’

“These demons,” he said slowly. “What else do you know about them? Their weaknesses? Their abilities?”

Brita hesitated before answering. “Most of the texts I found described them as creatures of dark energy, highly resistant to physical attacks and even most magic. Only high-tier elemental spells, divine magic, or weapons forged with sacred enchantments were said to be effective against them.”

Alaric sighed. “Fantastic. So we just so happened to be fighting creatures that normal magic barely affects.”

“Pretty much,” Brita deadpanned.

Natasha, however, still looked skeptical. “But wait,” she interjected. “Why have I never heard of demons before? I’ve read my fair share of books—okay, maybe not that many—but something like this should’ve been common knowledge, right?”

Brita turned to her with a small smirk. “The texts I found weren’t in your average library, Natasha. They were buried deep in restricted archives. If the existence of demons was something that was meant to be erased from history, then most people wouldn’t know about them at all.”

Natasha pouted. “So basically, I’ve been left out of the big, world-changing secrets again. Great.”

Alaric chuckled. “To be fair, most people don’t know about them either. But now that we do… we need to figure out why they’re back.”

Brita nodded, though her expression remained tense. “And more importantly… who brought them back.”

The evening sun continued to dip lower on the horizon, casting long shadows across the clearing. The wind picked up slightly, rustling the trees, as the three of them stood in contemplation.

There was no doubt in Alaric’s mind—this wasn’t just some random catastrophe. Someone wanted these creatures to return.

And whoever it was…

They were dangerous.

~~

While Alaric, Natasha, and Brita remained far away from the chaos at Verdant Dawn Academy, the battle between the demons and the academy’s faculty raged on with terrifying intensity. Spells of immense power illuminated the sky, clashing against the grotesque creatures that had suddenly emerged, their twisted bodies moving with an unnatural fluidity.

However, despite the sheer strength of the professors—each one a high-ranking mage—the sheer number of these creatures made it a battle of attrition. The entire academy’s defensive magic was in full force, activated by the faculty to assist in repelling the invaders.

Glowing arrays and powerful enchantments shimmered throughout the academy’s grounds. The defensive Aegis Veil, a massive protective barrier that covered the entire academy like a translucent dome, was holding strong against the assault, preventing any external reinforcements from arriving for the demons. Whenever the creatures tried to breach it, they were repelled by powerful counterforces, sending crackling waves of energy rippling across the sky.

The Mana Drain Circles, spread throughout the academy grounds, were draining the ambient magical energy around the demons, weakening them slightly. These circles had been created to suppress hostile forces and prevent unauthorized spellcasting during emergencies, ensuring that enemies would find themselves at a disadvantage.

The Elemental Amplification Arrays allowed the faculty members to channel their magic with heightened potency, their fireballs roaring with increased heat, their ice spells freezing the ground solid upon impact, and their wind magic slicing through the battlefield like invisible blades.

And yet, it wasn’t enough.

The faculty was powerful, but the demons were relentless. For every demon that was slain, another two would take its place, their nightmarish figures crawling through the shattered entryways of the academy, their guttural snarls echoing ominously.

At a vantage point, a group of students stood observing the battle from a distance—none other than the group of noble heirs led by Kenneth. These young elites of high-ranking noble families had been watching the battle unfold, their expressions shifting from initial confidence to creeping unease as the fight continued.

Kenneth, standing at the center of this group, was calm, but his sharp eyes were focused intently on the creatures below. His dark brown hair was slightly disheveled from the earlier chaos, but his emerald eyes gleamed with something the others lacked—understanding.

The noble heirs around him, however, were beginning to panic.

“This… this can’t be real,” one of them muttered, gripping his ornate staff tightly. “How are these things even here?”

Another noble heir, a young woman with platinum blonde hair tied in an elegant braid, swallowed hard. “They match the descriptions perfectly,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “Those statues in the dungeon… their features… it’s the same.”

Kenneth’s lips curled slightly, though he quickly hid his amusement.

’So they finally realized it,’ he thought.

The connection was undeniable.

When they had discovered that hidden chamber in the dungeon during their exploration weeks ago, they had come across eerie stone statues—hideous, grotesque figures that seemed almost too lifelike. Some of them had jagged weapons, others had gaping mouths filled with razor-sharp teeth. They had dismissed them at the time as remnants of some ancient civilization, nothing more than remnants of the past.

But now… those very same figures were alive.

Somewhere deep in his gut, Kenneth had felt something change when they looted that chamber. It was the moment he had laid his hands on that glowing orb, the one item that his system had practically screamed at him to take.

And now, here they were.

’So that orb… it really was something special,’ Kenneth mused, feeling excitement creep into his thoughts.

Unlike the noble heirs surrounding him, who were now breaking into hushed, frantic discussions, Kenneth was not afraid. In fact, he was elated.

Because this meant that the item he had taken—that orb—wasn’t just some random trinket. If taking it had triggered this, then its power must be beyond anything he had ever imagined.

But, of course, he wasn’t about to share that information.

“Kenneth…” one of the noble heirs, a stocky young man with an elaborate silver robe, turned to him with wide eyes. “What… what do we do? Should we tell the professors?”

“Tell them what?” Kenneth asked coolly, folding his arms. “That we may have accidentally triggered the resurrection of an ancient demonic force?”

The noble heir paled. “…When you say it like that, it sounds really bad.”

“That’s because it is bad,” another noble heir hissed. “If they find out we’re involved, do you have any idea what will happen to us? Our families?”

“Exactly,” Kenneth said, his voice laced with amusement. “Which is why we say nothing.”

“But—”

“No buts,” Kenneth cut in, his expression serious now. “Listen to me carefully. The moment we open our mouths about what happened in that dungeon, we won’t just be putting ourselves in trouble—we’ll be putting our entire houses in jeopardy. Do you think our families will appreciate us admitting that we are the reason these things are attacking the academy?”

The noble heirs fell silent.

Of course. They knew exactly what would happen.

Their prestigious noble families wouldn’t take kindly to such humiliating revelations. The Verdant Dawn Academy was the greatest magic academy in the empire. If word got out that they were responsible for something like this…

The consequences would be dire.

“We keep our mouths shut,” Kenneth continued, lowering his voice so only they could hear. “And we watch. We observe. Let the professors deal with this.”

“But what if they lose?” the platinum-haired noble heiress asked anxiously. “The professors are struggling. The defensive enchantments are strong, but they won’t hold forever. If the professors fall… then we’re next!”

Kenneth smirked. “That won’t happen. The academy has been standing for centuries. There are protections here that even we don’t fully understand. Besides, when things get really bad… that’s when the Archmages step in.”

The moment he said that, a massive explosion erupted in the distance, shaking the ground beneath them. A powerful surge of magic radiated through the battlefield as an Archmage finally joined the fray.

A majestic, blinding golden light shot into the sky, dispersing the dark energies that had begun creeping over the academy. The sheer force of the spell caused the air to vibrate, and even from this far away, Kenneth and his group could feel the suffocating pressure of an Archmage’s power.

“See?” Kenneth grinned, as though he had expected this outcome all along. “There’s our solution.”

The noble heirs, though still shaken, visibly relaxed at the sight of the overwhelming power being unleashed.

Still, deep in Kenneth’s mind, there was only one thing he cared about.

That glowing orb he had taken.

Something told him that it was far more important than he had initially realized. If it was truly connected to these demons, then it meant that whatever power was sealed inside of it was something ancient.

Something that shouldn’t exist in this world anymore.

And now… it was his.