Part Nineteen

In the midst of the chaos engulfing the academy, Professor Thaddeus walks down a wide-open hallway with an air of resigned calm. Monsters rampage through the building, and the sounds of battle echo from every direction. Thaddeus sighs heavily, rubbing his temples in frustration. "It just had to be on an important day," he mutters to himself, his voice tinged with irritation.

As he proceeds, a colossal monster looms ahead. Towering like a moving house, its grotesque form is a nightmarish blend of insect and reptile. Its body is covered in thick, scaly armor, glistening with a sickly sheen. Multiple eyes, glowing red with malice, dot its elongated head, and its mouth is filled with rows of razor-sharp teeth, dripping with venom. Enormous claws, each the size of a small car, scrape the ground as it moves, leaving deep gouges in the stone floor.

The monster lunges at Professor Thaddeus with terrifying speed, its claws extended, ready to tear through anything in its path. Debris flies as its massive form bulldozes through the hallway, intent on destruction.

Without a hint of panic, Professor Thaddeus turns to face the behemoth, raising his palm in a calm, assertive gesture. The monster's momentum comes to an abrupt halt, as if hitting an invisible barrier. Thaddeus holds his head with his other arm, a look of mild annoyance crossing his face. "Lady Moria is going to have my ears for this," he murmurs, envisioning one of the academy's principals and her likely reaction.

A small magic circle appears on the palm holding the monster at bay. In a flash, fire erupts from the circle, enveloping the beast in a conflagration. The monster howls in agony as the flames consume it, its cries echoing through the corridor. Within moments, it collapses, its form disintegrating into ash.

Brushing off his uniform, Professor Thaddeus continues forward, his expression one of stoic determination. His objective is clear – he must reach the staff building to activate the array formation. Amidst the pandemonium, he remains a pillar of composure, undaunted by the monstrous onslaught.

Professor Thaddeus issues a commanding message through a crystal connected to the academy's speaker system. His voice, clear and authoritative, resonates throughout the corridors: "Double check if there are any nearby students. Their protection should be a priority. Do not leave your assigned area unless you are escorting students out. Try to kill as many monsters while protecting important monuments, libraries, or any building of importance."

After delivering his instructions, he puts the crystal away and sighs deeply. Running a hand through his hair to push back the rainwater, he speaks without turning around, his voice tinged with a mix of certainty and regret. "I'm going to assume you're a part of the cult, Bianca."

From the shadows emerges a figure, a striking girl with vibrant pink hair and eyes. Her lips curl into a wide, unsettling smile, her expression one of eerie delight at being caught. She casually leans against a fallen pillar, crossing her legs in a nonchalant pose. "Ah~ Professor Thaddeus~ You don't know how long I've been waiting to fight someone, anyone~ And please, no need to call me that. My real name is Nessa," she says, her voice playful yet chilling.

Professor Thaddeus blinks, turning to face her with a somber expression. "Nessa... I'm disappointed. My own student is a cultist. No matter how hard I tried, you cultists do a good job in completely removing all traces," he responds, his disappointment evident in his tone.

Nessa bites her lower lip, a glint of excitement in her eyes as she looks at Thaddeus. "Lia and Kuza sure are good at that," she remarks casually, standing up and stretching with a sense of satisfaction. "I wonder how strong you truly are~" she muses, her voice hinting at an underlying challenge.

Professor Thaddeus, rubbing his temples with a sense of weariness, responds with a resigned tone, "Truly, what a disappointing outcome."

As Nessa confronts Professor Thaddeus, a sense of danger and excitement emanates from her. "Where is the Key of Ethia?" she inquires with a playful yet sinister tone.

Thaddeus, unfazed by her demeanor, responds with a firm voice. "The Key of Ethia is an artifact only the principals can access. You're wasting your time trying to get it, Nessa."

Nessa's giggle echoes in the hallway, a sound both chilling and gleeful. "Hmhmhm. I see, I just needed to confirm you know where it is." Her steps grow more deliberate as she approaches Thaddeus, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Now that I've confirmed it, I can finally have some fun~"

In a burst of speed, she closes the distance between them, appearing before Thaddeus in an instant. With a smirk, she launches a powerful punch towards him. Thaddeus reacts swiftly, blocking her strike with his arm. The impact of their clash is immense, creating a huge crater and sending shockwaves that resemble an earthquake through the area.

Surveying the damage, Thaddeus mutters under his breath, "It seems like I'll need to use some resources to prevent this place from being completely destroyed. I just hope Lady Moria doesn't give me too much grief for this." Pushing back with considerable force, he manages to create some distance between himself and Nessa.

As Nessa charges back towards him with incredible speed, Thaddeus quickly activates a tablet, bringing to life one of the academy's powerful arrays. Energy courses through the academy, casting a vast array on the floor all around, reinforcing the structure against further damage.

By the time he finishes activating the array, Nessa is right in front of him again. This time, Thaddeus catches her fist, stopping her attack. The impact of their collision is still great, but the destruction is significantly lessened thanks to the activated array.

Nessa, undeterred by the formidable power of Professor Thaddeus, licks her lips with a hint of anticipation. "Is it true? Are you the strongest professor?" she asks, her voice laced with curiosity and a hint of provocation.

Thaddeus responds with a level of modesty, "There's no official ranking system. But I'll tell you this – I am not the strongest. Professor Ayla, for instance, surpasses me, and even she doesn't consider herself the strongest."

In a swift motion, he twists Nessa's arm clockwise, aiming to incapacitate her. However, Nessa, displaying remarkable agility, flips her body with the momentum, breaking free from his grip and creating distance between them. She looks at him, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "You're lying~ You're hiding your true strength. We knew it from the start," she taunts.

"Then I better end this now," Thaddeus declares, his tone shifting to one of resolve. In an instant, he appears in front of her and delivers a powerful punch straight to her face, propelling her into a hard wall. Blood splatters across her face as she collapses to the ground.

Miraculously, Nessa slowly stands up, her wounds healing at an astonishingly rapid pace. She smirks through the blood, "Owie~ That hurt." Thaddeus watches in disbelief, realizing the extent of her healing abilities. 'The impact of that hit should've shattered her skull. Her healing technique is incredible, far beyond the capabilities of an ordinary practitioner,' he thinks to himself.

Nessa charges at him again, her speed even greater than before. Thaddeus braces himself as the fight evolves into a high-speed martial arts duel.

Every strike Thaddeus delivers is met with Nessa's swift counters. He aims a powerful kick at her side, but she spins, redirecting the force and launching a counterattack with her elbow. Thaddeus narrowly dodges, feeling the air rush past his face.

He retaliates with a series of rapid punches, each one aimed with precision. Nessa parries with deft movements, her arms blurring as she blocks and redirects his blows. The sound of their fists and feet clashing resonates like thunder in the hallway.

Nessa lands a solid hit to Thaddeus' midsection, but he absorbs the impact, using the momentum to spin and attempt a sweeping leg kick. She leaps over it, flipping backward and landing gracefully, ready to pounce again.

The battle intensifies as they exchange blows, each one more ferocious than the last. Thaddeus lands a heavy palm strike on Nessa's chest, sending her skidding back. But she recovers almost instantly, her wounds healing before his eyes.

With swift precision, Thaddeus elbows Nessa in the back, sending her flying across the sky. The impact is powerful enough to break her spine, but she miraculously heals before landing, her resilience defying belief. Thaddeus watches her descent, an expression of mild surprise etching his features. "I see, your technique... No, your skill is incredible," he acknowledges, recognizing her formidable healing ability.

Nessa, smirking, pushes her wet hair back as the rain intensifies. "It is a fun skill, isn't it? My lord gave it to me for being so devoted," she boasts, her voice dripping with pride and a touch of madness.

Thaddeus raises an eyebrow, his analytical mind piecing together clues. "I see, so there's a crack in its seal," he muses, referring to the underlying vulnerability in her seemingly invincible healing ability.

Nessa charges at him, her movements a blur in the torrential downpour. "Are you going to show me anything interesting, or will I have to force it out of you?" she challenges, her voice echoing with excitement.

Thaddeus sighs, his gaze lifting to the dark, stormy sky. "Both principals have forbidden me from using anything other than basic techniques unless they give me permission," he states, bound by the rules of the academy.

As Nessa lunges forward with a punch, Thaddeus effortlessly evades, appearing behind her in an instant. He attempts to rip her head off, but Nessa's technique makes her seem to phase through the attack, a testament to her cult's mastery of obscure and powerful magic.

"So, are you going to let yourself die if your techniques become useless?" she taunts, her voice a mix of challenge and mockery.

Without turning, Thaddeus lifts his arm, blocking her kick with ease. His response is calm yet firm, "Maybe I will. But someone as weak as you cannot beat me." His confidence is unwavering, a testament to his experience and skill as one of the academy's most respected professors.

Professor Thaddeus reacts with lightning speed. With a swift, calculated raise of his arm, he executes a precise strike into the air. This singular, forceful motion intersects the path of an unseen monster, massive and serpentine in form.

The creature, initially invisible, reveals itself in the wake of Thaddeus' attack. Resembling a colossal snake, its body is elongated and massive, stretching far beyond the confines of the hallway. Its scales, dark and iridescent, shimmer with a sinister sheen under the storm's erratic lighting. The creature's eyes, narrow and malevolent, flicker with a predatory glint. Its jaws, lined with rows of needle-like teeth, snap aggressively, poised to unleash terror.

However, Thaddeus' attack lands with such devastating force that the creature's head explodes upon impact, sending a shower of gore and shattered scales into the air. The once invisible beast's body collapses, now fully visible, its formidable form rendered lifeless in an instant.

As the remnants of the monster rain down, the measured footsteps of Kuza resound through the corridor. Pushing his wet hair back, Kuza approaches with a calm yet confident expression, his presence adding another layer of intensity to the already charged atmosphere.

Professor Thaddeus, his gaze fixed on Kuza, speaks with a tone of cold disappointment. "I didn't expect you to be a cultist, Kuza."

Kuza's gaze falls on Nessa, his expression one of mild annoyance. "You were supposed to stay put," he remarks, the tone of his voice implying a reprimand.

Nessa, unfazed by Kuza's displeasure, responds with a casual shrug. "He's the one that spotted me," she says, nodding towards Professor Thaddeus, her voice laced with nonchalance.

Kuza then turns his attention to Professor Thaddeus, his expression shifting to one of calculated assessment. "I'm sure you completely expected this, seeing how you were keeping tabs on me every once in a while. Now, Thaddeus," he begins, extending his hand in a gesture that seems both commanding and expectant. "Don't make this any harder than it has to be. Hand over the Key of Ethia. Your death can be avoided," he states, his voice carrying an undercurrent of threat.

Professor Thaddeus, unfazed by Kuza's demand, rubs his temples in a gesture of annoyance. He reaches for a nearby stick, his actions deliberate. "Negotiating with you would be a joke," he responds calmly, infusing the stick with mana, transforming it into a hardened weapon with a mere touch.

With a subtle flick of his finger, Thaddeus sends the stick crashing into the floor. The sound of a monster's agonized scream reverberates through the corridor, indicating the presence of a huge, unseen creature lurking beneath.