chapter 34: The Fall of Xyrus Academy 2

"NOW! I apologize for the delay! Without further ado, we will now commence with our main event! Fellas, bring them out!"

As Draneeve grandly waved his arm like some conductor, the frozen mana beasts stirred and sat up straight as a line of hooded figures, covered in robes, emerged from the bell tower, each dragging a student behind them.

It was then that the crowd collectively gasped, their minds coming to a halt. They pressed their hands against the barrier. Many fell to their knees, staring out in front of them, lost in a daze.

Being dragged by her hair, her face battered and bruised while her clothes were in a torn mess... it was Tessia.

"Shhhhh." Draneeve waved his hand theatrically for the crowd to settle down before continuing. "I'm sure all of you are just dying to know what is going on, but before I explain, I'd like to introduce myself."

He took a few steps forward and straightened his robe, combing his hair back with his fingers. "As I mentioned earlier, I go by Draneeve."

He made a dramatic pause, as if expecting a round of applause. When nothing happened, he shrugged and continued. "I know that at this moment, you may see me as some sort of bad guy. I wouldn't be surprised, what with the attacks and the deaths, but I assure you, I am on your side."

That ridiculous statement caused an uproar, as jeers and shouts reverberated through the crowd.

"Silence."

His voice couldn't have been louder than a low growl, but the weight of that one word and the immediate pressure following it froze the crowd into silence.

"As I was saying... My name is Draneeve, and I have come to save you all."

Draneeve spread his arms in a grandiose manner, his robe fluttering in the wind, making him look quite impressive. No one dared to speak, too afraid of what he might do; they all simply waited for him to continue.

"You see, I come from a faraway land. This faraway land is a cruel, cruel place for the weak. Yes, I am talking about all of you. Those gathered here are considered the 'elite,' whose backgrounds and potentials make you the future of this continent, but from where I come from, you are simply trash." Draneeve's last words were spat out in a mocking staccato.

"That being said, I have made this extremely long and tiresome journey to prepare those I deem worthy so that when my lord becomes this continent's new ruler, you will have a place in his kingdom and not be tossed aside like the trash you currently are."

In the crowd, confusion spread as people exchanged glances, their expressions revealing disbelief. It was as if they thought this whole thing was some elaborate prank.

"To those who stand in front of me today, congratulations on being the ones chosen to be honored pawns of the new ruler of this continent. Lukiyah, step forth and show them a glimpse of the newfound powers you have been bestowed with."

Lukiyah? 

The figure concealed under a robe, who had been holding onto Tess by her hair, stepped forth, dragging her with him. A young man in the crowd bit his lip, struggling to keep calm.

Underneath his hood, the figure seemed to be searching for someone before he stopped; his eyes locked onto the young man . He stood transfixed as he removed the hood of his robe.

Confirming his suspicions, it turned out to be Lucas Wykes. His eyes seemed to be laughing as he continued to stare at him. Slowly, the edge of his lips curved up as he tugged Tessia up by her hair, just enough so her neck was next to his face. His mocking gaze never left his as Lucas ran his tongue slowly—gratingly—up her neck to her ear, only to stop and wink at him.

"Lucas, you son of a B I T C H ! How dare you?" A sudden shout erupted from the crowd.

Black spikes shot up from the ground, injuring students who couldn't escape in time. Guilt flickered within him , but he's body remained fixated on Lucas.

As he approached the barrier, black plasma engulfed his hand, dissolving it as easily as fire melts butter. Lucas's surprised expression was overshadowed by Draneeve's fear. He raised his hands in a placating gesture, but dozens of mana beasts sprang forth to attack. With a flick of his wrist, black spikes skewered the beasts mid-leap.

The magic felt unnatural, almost malevolent. The student body continued to advance toward Lucas, who now wore a look of unease. The other robed figures prepared to rush in, but Draneeve silently halted them.

Suddenly, he began to lose his balance, signaling that he was reaching his limits. He wanted their body to fulfill its intention of killing Lucas. Staggering, he raised his hand and launched a black spike that struck Lucas in the shoulder.

As their vision dimmed and consciousness slipped away, he fell to the ground…

Draneeve walked toward Elijah and kneeled next to him . It looked like he was checking for signs, making sure that Elijah was still alive, carefully, almost tenderly like a royal attendant would to his king. 

Finally, getting up as he carried Elijah's limp body in his arms, Draneeve began walking towards the back of the stone platform where several robed men were fumbling with what looked like an oddly shaped anvil.

"Lukiyah. Change of plans. You will take care of the ones ignorantly approaching and dispose of these—" he glanced down at the students captured, his eyes stopping at our Student Council President, "— trash."

"I will be heading back first. I expect you to follow us through the gate, promptly after," Draneeve continued, the pompous expression he once had nowhere to be seen.

"Why are you bringing that along with us?" Lucas started to say, but his voice ended in a gasp as his eyes bulged out. The arrogance on Lucas' face left him in a second, as he crumpled to his knees, sweat dripping down his face.

"You are but a mere tool. You will do as I say, no questions asked, and if you continue to display this sort of ignorance again, there will be consequences." Draneeve's voice was commanding and sharp, different from how it was when he first revealed himself.

Lucas' face struggled to remain firm as he was clawing where his heart was until Draneeve kicked him, toppling him over on his side.

"Say it!" He growled.

Even from here, I could see Lucas' jaw clenched angrily, but he convulsed and repeated through gritted teeth, "I... am... but... a... mere... tool."

"It is ready, my Lord." One of the robed mages near the anvil announced and he disappeared into the gate.

As Draneeve disappeared the professors started to question Lucas behavior and calling him a traitor , The glimmer of hope, that the student had now that Draneeve disappeared, faded as they watched the professors get tossed around. 

The spells Lucas used wasn't special, but the amount of mana he exhibited and the control he had over it was truly terrifying. Simple and obvious implications of multicasting only allowed for each spell that was used in congruence with another to be harder to control and weaker in power.

Even casting two spells at once consisted of essentially splitting your consciousness to mold and manipulate the mana differently , the more well-versed professors could cast four spells at once.

Yet, Lucas was easily casting six spells. He was surrounded by a flaming sphere that shielded him from any of the professor's magic, as four offensive spells had already knocked out the spell formations professor. A two meter flaming knight was fighting on par with Professor Glory, keeping her, who stood as the vanguard, from protecting her teammates. It was cruel to watch as Lucas easily overwhelmed the combined efforts of four professors.

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( MC POV )

As I stand atop the academy building, gazing at the chaos below, everything unfolds just as it did in the novel. I allow them to take Elijah to the other side because he is my ticket to the other continent. However, they will never have Tess; she is the key to their plans and a vulnerability I can exploit.

Looking back at the turmoil, I find myself puzzled by one thing: Kathlyn Glayder. Why is she crying? She could easily defeat the enemy and hold her ground against Lucas. For a brief moment, I wonder if she is afraid of Draneeve, but even after he left , she continues to fight like a child. Did I waste my time on her?

The students flee the battlefield, leaving only the professors and the remaining members of the Disciplinary Committee. Lucas is engaged in combat with the three remaining professors. Among them, Professor Glory is gravely injured, her bloodied right hand pressed against her side, struggling to maintain her grip on her sword with her free hand.

Claire rushes toward Clive. "Ah, I remember! She will lose her mana core. Let me help her out. I can sense him; he is near," I thought before issuing a command to no one in particular.

"Pull them out of the battlefield!"

Gathering mana into her blade, she accelerates, muttering a chant.

[Burning Lance]

She spears the discolored grizzly wolf that has Clive pinned down. She helps him back up, but out of the corner of her eye, she saw a stone spike aimed at her stomach. As it approaches, despair washes over her, but just before it strikes, she was pulled into the ground, losing consciousness as she sinks deeper into darkness.

As the students disappear from Lucas's view, confusion washes over him, but he has no time to dwell on it. A sudden icy grip clutches his insides, twisting and slowly freezing him from within.

The palpable pressure in the air intensifies, making gravity feel heavier as he approaches.

Beads of cold sweat form, soaking his clothes, and he unknowingly takes a step back.

"Welcome to the party, Arthur. You're just in time," he jeers, satisfied with the calm timbre of his voice.

Arthur says nothing as he continues toward Lucas at a suspensefully slow pace, an obsidian dragon standing tall behind him.

"Impressive pet. Did you think it could help you now? Look around you! All of this was done by me! The professors you held in such high regard? I stepped on them like disease-ridden pests," Lucas chuckles, taking a few steps forward.

Arthur walks past Lucas, ignoring him, causing Lucas's fists to shake with rage.

"She was crying for you, you know," he taunts.

No reaction.

"Oh sure, she stayed strong at first. It made it all the more satisfying to see her break down," he chuckles.

"Fucking hell, fight already," I mutter under my breath.

"ARTHUR LEYWIN! YOU DARE IGNORE M—"

(Time skip to the fight)

The battle begins with both exchanging verbal taunts. Lucas makes the first move, launching an attack with his magic in an attempt to catch Arthur off guard.

Arthur quickly counters Lucas's initial attack, using his own magic to deflect Lucas's spells.

"Second phase, Dragon Awakening," Arthur says in a low voice.

[Absolute Zero]

The very air seems to freeze as a curtain of white flame erupts around him, just as Lucas's spell bombards him.

"H-How is that p-possible? N-No, it wasn't supposed to be like this. How are you suddenly able to use ice-attribute magic?" Lucas babbles, as if he has just seen a ghost.

Unrelenting, Lucas begins chanting another spell, which, judging by the amount of mana gathered in his right hand, is more powerful than the previous one.

"CREATION FORM!"

[Infernal Lance]

"I hope you survive this one too. That way, you can watch as I make your precious princess a true woman!" he jeers, launching the flaming spear.

[Black Thunder]

Arthur shoots out a condensed bolt of electricity with his right hand while catching the shaft of Lucas's spear with his left.

"Gahhh!" Lucas shouts. "My arm! It hurts! My arm!" he screams.

Arthur continues to advance toward Lucas, who is still pawing at the empty space where his left arm used to be.

"White Fire!" he roars, igniting Lucas's left hand in a pearl-colored flame.

"This... this isn't fair! L-Lightning magic? You're a q-quadra-elemental..." Lucas's voice trails off as he stares in disbelief, his lips trembling as he notices Arthur's lightning-clad arm.

"Yes, I am," Arthur replies.

Lucas's bloodcurdling scream pierces the air as his arm shatters like glass.

"N-No... How dare you! I'm Lucas Wykes!" he spits out, collapsing weakly onto the ground.

Arthur places a foot on Lucas's leg and declares [Downforce].

"GAHHHHH!"

Lucas coughs up a mouthful of blood, his leg crumpling into a mangled mess. Shattered bone fragments litter the pool of crimson seeping through the cracks in the ground, created by the increased gravitational force.

After a brief interrogation, Arthur positions his foot between Lucas's mangled legs, the only extremity left on his body besides his head; the last place he could cling to any semblance of power.

"W-What are you doing?" Lucas's voice trembles with fear.

"Taking measures to ensure your filth won't spread to the next generation."

Lucas's eyes widen in horror as the stubs of his arms flail helplessly. He opens his mouth to protest, but...

"May your suffering last into your next life," Arthur states coldly.

[Downforce]

After a brief moment a thunderous sound erupts from above.

"Boom!"

The red-tinted barrier surrounding the school shatters from above. Fragments of the barrier flutter down, reflecting the vibrant colors of the Aurora Constellation, which is almost in full bloom in the night sky. The bloodstained academy transforms into a scene reminiscent of a fairytale.

Descending amidst the shimmering rain of broken barrier shards are three figures. Even before I can discern their identities, the pressure they exude makes it clear who they are.

I smiled at the scene and matured "The Lances".

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ARTHUR LEYWIN'S POV: 

Looking down, I noticed Lucas's eyes fixed on the Lances. He spoke again, this time more distinctly.

"B-Brother…"

Before I could react to his words, a sudden surge of light struck me in the chest, propelling me straight into the bell tower with such force that I shattered the mana-enforced wall, burying myself beneath the rubble.

As I vomited blood—and what felt like my intestines—I struggled to pull myself free, but it felt as if my entire body were glued to the wall. Confused and disoriented, I tried to make out the figure of the one who had cast the spell through my blurred vision.

It was one of the Lances. I couldn't discern much more than his indistinct silhouette, but before he could fire another shot, I caught sight of a bolt of blue lightning that struck the lance, sending it crashing into the opposite side of the mana bell tower.

"B O O O M."

I couldn't focus my eyes on him, but I heard his voice: "Bullying the young, are we now, Lance?"

As the dust settled and my vision began to clear, I saw the one who had attacked me. He possessed pale skin and platinum blonde hair, combed neatly to the left. His head was oval-shaped with a strong jawline, and there was a striking resemblance to Lucas.

"He called him brother," I thought.

Looking at the figure who had struck Lucas brother , I couldn't see enough to identify him. I also couldn't feel his mana; it was strange, as if he were present yet somehow not. My instinct screams danger , I knew he was strong.

"Who are you?" the blonde Lance shouted, wiping the blood from his mouth.

The black-hooded figure didn't respond; instead, he began to scan the area until his gaze settled on the white-haired Lance.

He spoke in a mocking tone, "Long time no see, Lance Zero. How are your injuries?"

Her eyes widened before she responded, "It's you," hissing the words.

"I asked you a question," Lucas's brother shouted.

"And I didn't respond, so shut your mouth," the hooded figure retorted.

"How dare you!" Lucas's brother exclaimed, though his voice was surprisingly calm.

"Don't, Bairon. He's—" Lance Zero didn't finish her sentence before Bairon transformed into lightning and advanced.

A bolt of lightning shot toward the black figure in a straight trajectory. Bending backward, he narrowly avoided Bairon's strike, creating distance between them before backflipping away from the advancing lance .

"You're fast," he said with a smirk. A spear made of pure lightning manifested in Bairon's hand as he prepared to attack. While its tip resembled a trident, the overall structure was unmistakably that of a spear.

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( Mc POV )

As the spear drew closer to my chest, I swiftly kicked his elbow joint. His brows furrowed at the impact, as I had augmented my feet with 90% of my mana. For a brief moment, his grip on the spear weakened. Seizing the opportunity, I spun around and delivered a roundhouse kick to his face. 

Crack! 

"Ah, what a lovely sound; it's definitely broken," I thought to myself.

As the kick connected, Bairon began to lose focus. Before he could regain his clarity, I struck him in the solar plexus with a powerful palm strike. To maximize the pain, I infused it with sound mana, shocking his internal organs. He collapsed to the ground, coughing and vomiting blood.

Looking down at Bairon, I felt a desire to mock him, but the magma-forged sword in the hands of Olfred Warend prevented me from doing so. As a dwarf, Olfred was short, with a heavily muscled build and bronze skin. His dark brown hair was styled in a medium-length ponytail.

Before the sword could reach me, I ghost-stepped back and swung my hand from right to left, aiming to sever his arm.

Slash!

An arm flew through the air, leaving a trail of blood. "Thud." The dwarf's eyes widened as the pain set in.

Surveying the people around me, I declared, "I have achieved my goal so There's no reason to linger here and play with you any longer. 

Farewell, ladies." With that, I vanished into the shadows.

Everyone looked around in confusion before Bairon caught on and shouted, "Noo! My brother , Lucas…!".