Chapter 1348: The Shrine
When Raze heard the number, three hundred, his mind went into overdrive.
He couldn’t stop thinking about the tricky situation they were now facing. The deeper they traveled into this place, the more it seemed likely that the Underfang Guild had never actually explored this dimension. And if they had, then it must have been only a shallow sweep, barely scratching the surface.
The real problem was this: no matter how small or weak these creatures seemed… dimensions didn’t care about that.
The dimensional limit referred only to the number of beasts defeated. Whether they were powerful or puny, it didn’t matter. Kill enough of them, and the dimension boss would be summoned.
Which meant that if they fought, and defeated, these three hundred creatures, they’d likely trigger the arrival of the boss. And that was a risk they were far from ready to take. No one had a clue how powerful the boss might be.
“If you can, make sure the students don’t engage the small ones,” Raze warned the teachers around him. “These kinds of monsters tend to act as a horde. They might not be hostile the entire time we’re here… but if one of them gets attacked, the rest will swarm us. All of them.”
His warning didn’t exactly make anyone feel more at ease. Still, the group kept pushing forward, doing what they could to remain alert.
Eventually, they reached the summit of the hill they had been climbing. The terrain flattened out, and for the first time in a while, they had a clear view of what lay ahead, and it left them stunned.
“It’s… beautiful,” Chiba said, her voice filled with awe.
“Right?” Yolden pointed. “It’s incredible that a place like this even exists here.”
“Yeah, but… why would something like that be here, where monsters are roaming around?” another student asked.
“Are you an idiot?” Londo shot back with a scoff. “Did you seriously not pay attention in any
of your studies?”
What they were staring at was the entrance to what appeared to be a shrine.
It stood tall in the clearing, a large, open rectangular gate with a faded board above it. Whatever words were once carved into it had long since vanished. Not that it would’ve helped; even if they were legible, the language was completely foreign.
Time had not been kind to the structure. Vines wound tightly around the giant red pillars that framed its entrance. The sign was cracked and nearly illegible, the whole thing swallowed by the wild, overgrown forest.
But what truly stunned the students was its size.
Even though they were only at the gate, a glance to the right revealed a massive outer wall, stretching nearly a full kilometer, and that was just one side. The same could be seen to the left. And along the far wall, they noticed large sections had crumbled, marked with deep claw-like scars.
“Londo’s right,” Luka said, stepping forward. “Even though our academies have become more combat-focused, understanding the history and context of dimensions is just as important.”
He turned back to face the group.
“As you may know, nearly every dimension discovered has traces of lost civilizations. In almost all of them, there’s evidence that humans, or humanlike races, once lived here. The timeline of their collapse varies depending on the dimension.”
“In some cases,” Luka added, “it feels like their downfall happened just recently. In others… it’s been centuries, maybe even millennia.”
Panla and Redrick stepped forward and led the group through the front entrance of the shrine. The students followed, wary but fascinated. Their caution matched that of their teachers.
Inside, the shrine opened into a large courtyard, grass-covered sections arranged in rectangular plots, with long corridors leading off to the left and right. More gates could be seen deeper within the structure, marking off other sections still hidden from view.
Cracked pots, broken wooden beams, and the occasional forgotten relic littered the ground like discarded memories.
“Can you sense anything?” Panla asked quietly.
“It seems clear, at least for now,” Redrick replied. “But we still shouldn’t split the group.”
Panla raised her hand, signaling everyone to gather around. The students quickly formed up, their attention sharp.
“There are two key goals when entering a dimension and hunting inside it,” Panla began. “The first is the beast crystals
. I’m sure you all understand their value.”
A few students nodded, others clenched their fists in anticipation.
“The second,” she continued, “is the discovery of artifacts. Each civilization encountered within a dimension faced its own threats. Whether it was from beasts… or even each other, we don’t always know. But during their time, they forged powerful tools, many of which still remain.”
“Some of these artifacts are deeply connected to magic,” she said, “while others operate on unknown principles. But all of them are rare, dangerous, and incredibly valuable. Some are worth a fortune. Others are so unique that even the Grand Magus take personal interest.”
The moment she said those words, the students’ eyes lit up with excitement. A buzz passed through the group.
That reaction, however, made Raze uneasy.
“There’s one more thing you should all know,” Panla said, her tone turning serious. “Since this expedition is a joint venture between the academy and the guild, we’ve agreed to split everything discovered. Fifty percent of all findings will be handed over to the guild, and they’ll determine the value of each item beforehand.”
Truthfully, from what Raze had heard, the guild had made an incredibly fair offer. Usually, they’d only compensate the academy with ten, maybe twenty percent of the total value.
This time, though? They were offering fifty.
And that made Raze even more suspicious.
Because there was one more thing the teachers hadn’t mentioned, something important.
The areas with the most ancient artifacts, the ones buried deep in ruined civilizations like this… were also the places that tended to house the most dangerous beasts.
Maybe we’re about to find out just how strong this dungeon really is, Raze thought, his hand instinctively hovering near his weapon that wasn’t there.
***
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Chapter 1349: Searching The Shrine
The students and teachers hadn’t split up, despite how massive the shrine truly was, which, in Raze’s opinion, was a smart decision.
None of them knew the true level of this dimension. With the students lacking real combat experience, it was far safer to keep them grouped together.
Rather than encountering beasts, which oddly seemed absent so far, the students had focused on exploring and searching for artifacts.
They began in the area they had first arrived at: a grassy, rectangular section of land. The space was littered with collapsed crates, shattered pots, and even what looked like fragments of broken weapons jammed into the ground. The students began digging, investigating the debris to see if anything valuable remained.
Some used their magic to assist in the process. Since the teachers hadn’t forbidden it, the rest assumed it was a valid method of searching.
“How do we even know we’ll come across an artifact in the first place?” Chiba asked, skeptical.
“The item will resonate strongly with magic,” Raze replied.
Both Chiba and Yolden were surprised to hear his voice. Last they’d seen him, Raze had been wandering away from the group. What they didn’t know was that he wasn’t searching for artifacts, he was simply surveying the area in general.
“All artifacts resonate strongly with magic,” Raze continued, stepping a little closer. “Through our research, we’ve learned that it’s not the effects of the items that make them special, but the items themselves.
“I’m sure you’ve all learned in your enchanting lessons, some materials are far more susceptible to magical influence than others. The ones that react naturally to magic are the best candidates for enchantment.
“All artifacts share this same quality: an intense reactivity to magic. There’s even been ongoing discussion among scholars. Is it that these items were enchanted and thus became artifacts? Or were they already so magically reactive that they naturally absorbed energy and transformed into artifacts over time?”
“Good explanation,” Luka said, suddenly appearing behind them with a satisfied grin. “I’d heard you were smart as well as skilled. So, I assume you also know the two classifications of artifacts?”
“I do,” Raze answered calmly. “Artifacts are more than just rare magical items, they’re mythical-grade or higher. Anything enchanted beyond the mythical grade is considered an artifact, like the ones that were donated to us. But the true artifacts… those are the items found in other worlds.”
Luka, clearly satisfied with the answer, gave a short nod before turning and walking off.
“The amount of knowledge you have never ceases to amaze me,” Yolden said, shaking his head in awe. “Sometimes I think you leave even the teachers speechless. How do you know all of this?”
“I’m not from the same place as the rest of you,” Raze said, glancing away. “All I could do was study. It was the only way to rise up.”
With that, he moved off to check on the rest of the group.
After some time scouring the grassy ruins, the group concluded that there were no artifacts in this section of the shrine.
“Alright everyone, it’s time to start searching the hallways and each of the rooms!” Panla called out. “The hallways are narrow, so we’ll be walking in a single line. Once I’ve cleared enough space, each of you will search a room one by one. If you find something, signal immediately!”
The students nodded in unison and followed her lead. They soon entered one of the shrine’s main halls, lined with broken, crumbling statues. None of them could even guess what the figures were supposed to represent.
From there, they moved in a rectangular path, checking room after room before proceeding deeper into the shrine.
As the students walked along, they began to notice more destruction, walls cracked, doors missing, statues in pieces. Some rooms didn’t even have sliding doors to separate them from the next.
When Panla gave the go-ahead, groups of four entered each room to begin their search. The students didn’t feel unsafe, they could hear their classmates in the adjacent rooms, and the absence of beasts only boosted their confidence.
Panla and the other teachers patrolled up and down the hallway, keeping a watchful eye.
“Should we keep searching this shrine for another hour?” Redrick asked. “Odds are the Underfang have already combed through this place.”
“It’s mostly for the experience,” Panla replied. “Let them have a bit of a breather too. After this, we’ll resume looking for more beasts. I’m still a little uneasy about venturing too far from the entrance. We haven’t seen a single beast strong enough to gauge the level of this area.”
“Hey, we’re here,” Redrick said with a grin. “We’re more than enough to protect them. Besides, these students are special. Still, I wish I could see what the transfer students are really capable of.
“After everything I’ve heard, I want to judge their skills for myself.”
Meanwhile, in one of the rooms, Liam had joined the rest of Pagna’s students, everyone except for Raze. The four of them were paired together for this part of the search.
As they moved through the dimly lit space, it didn’t take long before Liam spotted something on the floor. He bent down and picked it up.
“What is it?” Beatrix asked, peering over his shoulder.
“According to the system,” Liam said, “it’s a broken shell.”
Beatrix examined the object. From the curve and size, it looked more like part of a large plate, but if it really was a shell, that meant the creature it came from had to be enormous, and she was wondering something else as well.
“And the other issue is…” Liam added, his voice quiet, “it’s fresh.”
****
*****
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Chapter 1350: The Bird Beast
When Liam discovered the eggshell, he had no doubt in his mind, there was a beast nearby. His instincts screamed it. Looking up, he spotted a fairly large hole in the wall, roughly the size of a clenched fist. Faint light pierced through from the other side.
Quickly, he adjusted his position, crouching so he could peer through the hole. And what he saw on the other side was almost exactly what he’d feared.
He spun around and immediately pressed a hand over his mouth, signaling the others to stay silent.
“What did you see?” Beatrix whispered.
Liam shook his head firmly.
“Don’t speak,” he whispered back.
The warning came just in time, but not fast enough.
A thunderous crash erupted as the wall directly behind him exploded. A massive, green-colored beak tore through the stone and slammed into Liam, piercing his side and sending him flying.
His body burst through the walls of the hallway and shot across the shrine like a cannonball, until he landed hard on the grass outside, back where they had originally started.
“Monster!” Beatrix shouted, eyes wide with horror.
At that very moment, all three of them, Beatrix, Dame, and Safa, reacted instinctively. Qi surged into their legs as they leapt backward at full force, breaking through the hallway walls on their own and landing beside Liam on the open field.
“I’ll heal you,” Safa said as she knelt beside Liam. She knew it wasn’t life-threatening, he’d survive, but a wound that deep was still a pain to deal with.
“Everyone, move out to the open field!” Panla shouted to the students.
They didn’t hesitate. Some burst through the walls, others ran through the doorways, all rushing outside. Eventually, all of the students, including Raze, had gathered outside, still within the shrine’s entrance zone.
Tension hung heavy in the air as they waited, breaths held tight. Then, they saw it.
A large beast tore straight through the shrine’s walls, shrieking as it burst into view.
“AGHHHH!”
The screech was so sharp, so powerful, that it felt almost supersonic. Nearby students winced in pain, covering their ears as the shockwave rolled over them.
The creature towered over them all, an enormous bird-like monster, nearly eight feet tall. It had thick, powerful legs it stood upon, no arms, only large wings folded close to its sides. Its feathers were a dark, mossy green that shimmered as it moved, and its massive beak looked strong enough to crush stone. But the most disturbing part… was its eyes.
They seemed unfocused, glassy, like it was staring off at something no one else could see.
“Well, this is a bit different from the frogs,” Redrick muttered, folding his arms. “Let’s see how the students handle this one.”
From what they could tell, there was only one beast, but the sheer force of its entrance made it clear. This wasn’t a mid-level threat. This was something much more dangerous.
Thinking quickly, the mages struck. Spells launched from every direction, pinning the bird’s massive feet to the ground and encasing them in thick layers of ice.
With it trapped, a barrage of spells followed, fire, lightning, wind, slamming into the beast from all sides. Its head jerked side to side from the hits, but it barely flinched. The attacks didn’t seem to have left a single mark.
“Is it the feathers?” Panla asked, watching carefully. “They seem to be blocking all the magic… even combined spells aren’t doing anything.”
“Get ready,” Luka warned, eyes narrowing. “We may have to jump in any second. This isn’t going to be a walk in the park.”
Suddenly, the beast slammed its head down with incredible force, cracking the ground and completely shattering the ice around its feet.
“Don’t stop!” Chiba shouted. “Keep attacking with everything you’ve got!”
A powerful tornado of wind surged forward, laced with flames that exploded against the bird’s side. The impact was strong enough to push the creature back, nearly knocking it off its feet.
Behind the swirling flames, a glowing white light shimmered, and Piba stepped forward, eyes locked on the beast.
“Thanks for the support,” Chiba said, steadying herself.
“Hey,” Piba replied, “this is exactly what my power’s for. In a situation like this, I’m all in.”
But the bird wasn’t done.
It swung its head around toward the group and let out another high-pitched scream, its beak wide open. The sound wave blasted forward like a shock bomb, aimed directly at the top students.
They reacted instantly, raising a thick earth wall to absorb the attack, but the scream shattered it completely, tearing through the stone.
Then, just in time, Piba stepped forward again and reinforced the mages’ magic. Her intervention stabilized the wall enough to prevent the soundwave from reaching them.
The creature wasn’t finished.
It pulled its head back again and then lashed forward, sending two concentrated screeches straight at Chiba and Yolden. The impact spun their bodies midair and sent them crashing hard into the dirt.
“Alright, that’s enough!” Redrick called out. He was already high in the sky, floating beside Panla.
Panla raised her hands and fired several lightning bolts into the sky. The bolts came crashing down, piercing through the feathers on the bird’s wings and feet. In that same instant, they activated, releasing surges of electricity that paralyzed the beast, locking it in place.
Then Redrick made his move.
He spun in the air, gathering flame into his fists until it formed a massive fire construct, a tiger made entirely of blazing energy. With a roar, he slammed it down like a meteor. The fire-tiger struck the back of the bird’s head with explosive force, slamming it to the ground.
The beast was dazed, stunned by the combined assault. But just in case it wasn’t enough, Luka had already prepared a reinforced earth spike beneath it.
Redrick’s fire punch drove the bird’s head straight into the sharpened stone, ending the fight in a single, brutal blow.
The creature twitched once, then went still.
Dead.
“That one was tough,” Panla said as she floated down beside the others. “It took all three of us just to deal with it.”
“Right,” Redrick agreed, catching his breath. “But… maybe that was the highest-level beast in this whole dimension?”
At least, that’s what the teachers were hoping.
*****
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Chapter 1351: That Man Will Help You
Usually, after defeating a beast like that, the teachers would gather the students and begin evaluating their performance. But this time, they were honestly a bit stunned.
They had taken the creature down, but it had taken all three of them to do it. None of them were close to being seriously injured, but if they hadn’t been there… the thought of how the students might have fared alone made their stomachs twist.
So, while the students were being seen to by Diana, who moved from person to person checking for injuries, the teachers huddled a little distance away, talking in hushed voices among themselves.
“Any damage to the students?” Redrick asked, watching Panla walk over, her face tight with concern.
“The screeching from the beast, it definitely did something,” Panla said, brushing her fingers over her arm as if remembering the sharp sound. “Anyone who was close by took some damage to their hearing and balance, but nothing permanent. Honestly, it’s kind of a miracle. Only one student was really hurt.”
They all turned to look at Liam, who was currently being healed by Safa. He was sitting up now, and although there were some visible bruises and scuffs, his body didn’t seem to be in serious trouble.
Still, the teachers remembered other trips, other dimensions, where mages had taken hits like that and hadn’t gotten back up. Liam was lucky. Seriously lucky. Not that they knew it, but part of his resilience came from his uniquely fortified body.
“The real issue is… what do we do now?” Luka asked, his arms crossed tightly over his chest. “We haven’t ventured far into the portal. And yet, we’ve already come across something that strong. Maybe it was a one-off, but there could be more beasts, stronger ones, even.”
“Shouldn’t the guild have at least warned us?” Redrick questioned.
“You mean the same guild that attacked our students?” Panla replied sharply. “Yeah, I don’t think they care about giving us a proper heads-up. Which is exactly why I’m hesitant to keep going deeper. We managed to handle that beast, but that doesn’t mean we’ll be so lucky next time.”
While the teachers debated whether to push forward or hold their ground and explore more cautiously, Diana and Safa moved through the students.
Safa had just finished tending to Liam, placing a final wave of healing light over his chest.
“Alright,” she said, dusting her hands dramatically, “that’s enough to make it look like I worked some kind of miracle. Now I need to check on the others.”
“Wait, Safa, there’s something I need to talk to you about!” Liam called out, trying to sit up straighter.
“You can tell me after!” she shouted over her shoulder, already jogging away. “I need to make sure everyone else is okay first!”
Left behind, Liam frowned deeply, clearly worried. His eyes scanned the rest of the area, hoping to find someone else to talk to. Raze was in deep discussion with Londo. Dame, as usual, had drawn a group of female students around him, and Beatrix wasn’t much better, surrounded by curious onlookers.
“Damn it. This is important…” he muttered. “Maybe I should just tell the teachers.”
Meanwhile, Safa had reached two of the top-ranking female students, Chiba and Yolden. Both looked fine physically, hardly scratched from the earlier fight, but the expressions on their faces told another story entirely.
Safa could hear their conversation as she approached.
“I don’t get it,” Chiba said quietly. “My spells… they barely did anything. I froze.”
“Same here,” Yolden replied, her voice equally small. “I had no idea what to do. It was like nothing worked.”
Even though they weren’t physically hurt, Safa cast her light magic over both of them. A soft glow spread through the air and settled on their bodies. The girls inhaled sharply, visibly relaxing as the magic took effect.
“Thanks, Safa,” Chiba said, her voice a little steadier now. “That… that actually really helped. I can feel it working already.”
“Light magic really is amazing, huh?” Yolden added. “If we run into another beast like that, we’re going to need someone like you.”
Safa nodded, her brows furrowed slightly. “I overheard you two talking. You’re scared this assessment is going to get worse, right?”
The girls exchanged a glance, then nodded.
“We spoke to Piba after,” Chiba explained. “He told us he’s never seen a beast that strong in a dungeon before. And… he’s worried. Especially with how the teachers were reacting.”
“I want to keep going,” she continued. “I mean, this is our first real assessment. But I can’t lie… it shook me. A lot.”
Safa watched them closely, her heart softening. She remembered her first time facing a real beast, how close she came to dying. That feeling of helplessness. She couldn’t blame them for the way they felt. It wasn’t just Chiba and Yolden. Everyone looked shaken.
“If the teachers are worried,” Chiba added, “then it means even they think there’s a risk. That they might not be able to protect us. And I know being a strong mage is important, and this whole cultural exchange is supposed to be a big deal, but… I don’t want to die.”
Without a word, Yolden reached out and grabbed Chiba’s hands, holding them tightly. She was trying her best to be the stronger one between them.
“Hey. We made it through, right? It was one beast. There are so many of us, so many mages. Whatever gets thrown at us, we’ll make it through. Besides, we’ve got the transfer students here too.” She smiled faintly and turned to Safa. “Right, Safa?”
“If things really got that bad… you guys would help us, wouldn’t you?”
Safa blinked. The transfer students were seen as elite among the rest, but she could tell Yolden wasn’t asking because she truly believed it. Not fully. She just needed something, someone, to believe in right now.
Still, Safa chose to take the words seriously. If comfort was what they needed, she’d give it.
“If something happens that the teachers can’t handle,” Safa said with quiet certainty, “we’ll step up. Us transfer students, we’ll protect you.”
Chiba and Yolden stared at her. Whether it was her light magic or just the calm in her voice, something about what she said clicked. They believed her.
Safa smiled gently. “And if something comes that even we can’t handle, if things ever feel truly impossible, there’s still someone you can rely on.”
She glanced across the field, her eyes resting on the one person she had absolute faith in.
“If you’re ever really scared, and don’t know what to do… ask for Raze. He can handle anything.”
****
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Chapter 1352: A Large Problem
After speaking with Safa and feeling their nerves finally calm, Chiba and Yolden watched her walk away. She continued weaving through the crowd, checking on other students, even those who hadn’t suffered any injuries.
A few boys shouted out after her, calling her Saintess as she moved from group to group, her gentle aura leaving a trail of comfort behind.
“I know Raze is special,” Chiba said thoughtfully, watching Safa pause beside another student. “We could all tell when he taught us, but… they really believe in him, don’t they?”
“Yeah, I’ve been thinking the same thing,” Yolden replied. “If the teachers can’t deal with something… then why do they think Raze will be able to? The way they talk about him, it’s almost like they think he’s one of the Grand Magus or something.”
She paused and glanced at Chiba.
“But the way Safa said it… I really think she meant it. Like, deep down, she honestly believes he can protect us.”
“Well, that’s probably because they’re brother and sister,” Chiba added with a small smile. “It’s kind of cute, actually.”
While the students continued recovering, the teachers were busy reviewing the situation based on Diana’s report. After hearing about how the students were feeling, and everything they had gone through, the four instructors gathered to make a decision.
They hadn’t been in the dimension long enough to fully evaluate its risks or structure, so rather than push deeper, they agreed it was best to stay put, for now.
The shrine area where they currently resided was relatively safe. Exploring further could trigger another encounter like the last, and if something stronger appeared… it wouldn’t be worth risking the students’ lives.
If a similar beast appeared again, they would reassess. But if anything stronger showed up, they’d retreat immediately.
Just then, a voice called out, hesitant and soft.
“Umm… Teachers?”
They turned around, surprised by who was approaching. Out of everyone, it was the one person who shouldn’t have been walking.
“Liam?” Diana blinked, stepping forward. “You should be resting. Safa’s healing magic is powerful, but your body must still be in shock from that hit. Don’t worry about what happened, and let the teachers solve the issue.”
Despite their concern, all three teachers bowed their heads to Liam, showing genuine remorse.
However, It felt like Liam was about to be shoved away, before he really got to say what he wanted.
“But I need to speak about something.” Liam asked.
“We owe you an apology,” Redrick said solemnly. “It was our decision to have you scout that small chamber. We’re the ones who put you in danger.”
“It’s really okay,” Liam said, flustered. He barely had a scratch left on him, but he understood the gravity of what had happened and why they were acting this way.
“I actually… I wanted to talk to you about that,” he said, glancing over his shoulder to make sure no other students were listening in. “There’s something I need to show you.”
The teachers tensed. Even without using magic, Liam could feel it, the shift in their breathing, the way their hearts sped up slightly.
“When I found the beast… I also found a piece of an eggshell,” Liam explained. “I think the creature hatched from it. But that’s not all. There’s something else I think you really need to see for yourselves.”
Redrick and Panla exchanged glances, then nodded. Luka stayed behind to supervise the students while the two teachers followed Liam down the hall and into the chamber where the eggshell had been discovered.
When they reached it, Redrick bent down and picked up the jagged fragment.
“This is massive…” he murmured.
“You really think the beast we fought came from this?” Panla asked.
Liam nodded. “The size matches. It has to be from the same creature.”
“But if that thing was freshly hatched…” Redrick trailed off, the implications dawning on him. “Then it wasn’t fully grown. That wasn’t even its full power.”
“And it wasn’t the dimensional beast either,” Panla added. “Which means… it’s not the strongest thing in here.”
Their decision to stay was rapidly unraveling. The situation was starting to look more dangerous than they’d anticipated.
“You did the right thing telling us this,” Panla said, placing a hand on Liam’s shoulder.
But Liam shook his head and pointed toward a broken hole in the far wall, the same one the beast had burst through earlier.
“No,” he said. “That’s not what I wanted to show you.”
The three of them walked to the hole, carefully stepping forward to peer through the gap. On the other side was a field. Another section of the shrine… but vastly different from the one they were in.
And littered across the field?
Eggshells.
Dozens of them.
At least thirty shattered, curved fragments scattered across the grass, each one the same size as the shell they’d just examined.
Panla’s face paled.
“Are these all from the same species as the one we fought?”
“If they are,” Redrick said grimly, “then… where are the beasts? The shells are already broken.”
His eyes narrowed, his expression growing darker.
“I remember reading about something like this once… in a report from another dimension. A cluster of beasts hatched at once. When that happened, the strongest one would stay behind to guard the nest… while the rest went out on their first hunt.”
Panla’s eyes widened in alarm.
“You mean to say… the one we fought wasn’t hunting yet? That it was just the guardian?”
Redrick gave a sharp nod.
“If that’s the case… the others, twenty-nine of them, are going to come back.”
He turned away, his voice rising.
“We have to get out of here. Now!”
****
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Chapter 1353: A Fleet Of Beasts
Seeing the massive number of eggs scattered across the area confirmed their worst fears. The situation wasn’t looking good, especially not near the shrine. None of them were experts on this kind of thing, but they all understood one thing clearly, it was time to be cautious. Anything could come next.
“Let’s just leave and head back to the shrine,” Panla said, her voice calm but firm. “If we have to deal with thirty of those things, I don’t think that’s a fight we want.”
Redrick gave a short nod, clearly in agreement.
When they returned to the students, Panla saw them already gathered. Most had calmed down from earlier, their nerves steadying. It was a shame, really, if they’d had just a few more regular beast encounters, this trial could’ve served as a proper assessment for the students.
Not just that, but it would’ve helped prepare them for life in real guilds. Nothing compared to actual field experience. There were countless stories of mages who remained unknown until they faced real combat, until they’d stepped foot inside a dungeon and survived.
This is the best decision for the students, Panla thought to herself. She took a breath and then called out, “Alright, everyone, get ready to move! We need to locate the exit portal. If the information from the guild is accurate, it should be back where we came from, then west from there.”
“What?!” a few of the students groaned.
“We’re already leaving? Isn’t that too soon?” one asked. “We only fought two types of beasts.”
“Maybe it’s because of the one we did fight,” another muttered. “That thing was tough. Our magic barely scratched it.”
The students were murmuring and gossiping among themselves, and honestly, they had every right to. In many ways, the Academy had failed them, especially after teaming up with this particular guild.
If things had gone like last year, it would’ve been fine. But nothing was the same.
“GARAKKK!”
A sudden, piercing screech sliced through the air, interrupting all chatter. The sound made every student freeze, a cold shiver crawling up their spines. They had heard that cry before, not long ago. And it hadn’t been good news.
They quickly turned their heads, looking around wildly, eyes scanning behind them, across every direction, desperate to spot where the sound had come from.
“Hey,” Chiba said, trying to mask the tension in her voice. “That sounded kinda far, right? Maybe… maybe that’s a good thing. So, how about we stop standing around and start moving, yeah?”
Several students nodded in agreement, visibly tense but eager to escape. Just as they made the first move,
“GARAAKKK!”
The same screech echoed through the space again, sharper, closer. And this time, it wasn’t alone.
“GARAAKKK! GARAAKKK!”
Multiple cries, one after another, overlapping, each one nearly identical. A chorus of sharp, monstrous voices.
“There’s so many of them…” Yolden said, her eyes widening in alarm.
Piba gasped, her gaze snapping toward the entrance where they had first come through. There, emerging through the shadows, was the same green-feathered creature they’d fought earlier. But this time, it wasn’t alone.
Five of them stood there, glowing eyes, sharp beaks, and wings half-spread like they were ready to pounce.
“GARAAKKK!” the one in front shrieked, and a sound wave shot directly toward the group.
Luka immediately floated in front of the students, arms outstretched. Just as the sonic wave was about to strike, he summoned a powerful gust of wind, dispersing the attack before it could harm anyone behind him.
“Everyone!” Luka shouted. “Find another exit and move quickly! I’ll deal with these ones!”
His voice was steady, but deep down, he knew, based on his last encounter, handling one of these things had been nearly too much. Now there were five. And the situation was rapidly spiraling out of control.
The students began to move, but their hope was short-lived.
Crashing through the hallway behind them, five more of the green beasts appeared, blocking the path.
Several had jumped high, landing on the roof tiles above. Others emerged from every direction, surrounding them.
“I didn’t want to be right,” Redrick muttered, eyes narrowing. “But it looks like I was. There must be close to thirty of them.”
“And they’ve clearly caught our scent,” Panla added. “They’ve surrounded us completely.”
Without warning, one of the birds leapt from above and dove straight at the students.
Panla acted instantly, gathering a surge of lightning into her palm and hurling it through the air. The bolt struck the creature mid-flight, but it barely slowed. Its massive body continued barreling toward them.
Just before impact, Beatrix raised her hands, shifting the ground with force. Jagged earth pillars shot up and slammed into the bird, capturing it mid-air and halting its descent. With a flick of her wrist, she redirected the captured beast, hurling it across the field.
These transfer students really are reliable, Panla thought, a glint of respect in her eyes.
But the threat was far from over. Even the one Beatrix had thrown off had already risen again, locking eyes with the students, its fury undimmed.
From one side, a cluster of the creatures opened their beaks, preparing another devastating screech.
Redrick raised his arms high. “Not this time!” he shouted, sending out a volley of fireballs that struck them in their open maws, knocking their attacks off course.
It stunned them, but not for long.
Now grounded and unable to screech, the beasts charged forward.
“Support me any way you can!” Redrick yelled, continuing to launch fireballs, aiming for their feet, trying to knock them off balance.
The students behind him cast spell after spell, but the creatures plowed through the onslaught. For a mage, getting into close combat was the worst-case scenario, and it was happening.
One of the creatures lunged at Redrick with its massive beak aimed directly at his chest. He braced himself, but before it could strike, a bolt of lightning flashed across his vision.
A glowing fist landed squarely on the beast’s beak, smashing it into the ground. Its head was driven so deep into the floor that the tiles cracked.
Standing tall, lightning sparking around his body, was a figure clad in crackling gauntlets.
“I guess this is one of those situations,” Dame said, eyes narrowed, “where we don’t need to hold back.”
*****
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Chapter 1354: Using It All
The cursed gauntlets Dame wielded weren’t just any relics, they were creations of Raze, embedded with a very particular, eerie power. Among their many abilities, one stood out most: they could absorb the essence of those who had recently passed away. Through this, the spirits and powers of the dead could be temporarily summoned, lending their strength to the wearer.
But it had always worked a little differently with Simyon.
Simyon’s immense physical strength wasn’t just natural, it came from a mythical-tier cursed item bound to him. At the same time, Simyon had learned to channel his magic into the item, producing a unique effect: the Lightning Body.
This technique didn’t just harden his form into something nearly unbreakable like a weapon, it also made him incredibly fast, thanks to the combination of lightning magic and refined Qi. It was a dangerous, elite-level enhancement.
And yet… Dame had never quite understood why, even now, he could use the Lightning Body after absorbing Simyon’s spirit. Perhaps it had something to do with the cursed earring also bound to Simyon, overlapping with the gauntlet’s absorption.
Regardless, it had become one of Dame’s strongest trump cards. Between his arsenal of cursed items and the Hybrid Form, the Lightning Body remained his most efficient weapon. Its true value lay in its magical source. Since the lightning body came from an enchanted artifact, every time he used it, pure mana was released into the air.
This was Dame’s backup plan, his last resort in case everything went wrong during the battle assessment. And now, seeing the kind of beasts surrounding them, he knew it was time to act.
The punch he had landed moments ago had been supercharged, infused with his Qi and crackling lightning. It struck the bird-like creature directly in the skull, sending a surge of energy ripping through its body. When it hit the ground, its head caved inward, and electricity pulsed violently through its twitching limbs.
Redrick, still stunned from nearly being taken down himself, could hardly believe his eyes.
That transfer student… did he really just do that? Redrick’s heart was racing. It took three teachers working together to take one of those things down. And he did it in a single hit? What even is that lightning ability, he didn’t use that against Piba. Has he been hiding this strength the whole time?
“I know you’ve got questions,” Dame said, cracking his knuckles. Sparks danced around his arms. “But right now, the best thing you can do is back me up, support me the best way you can!”
He didn’t wait for a reply. Dame kicked off from where he stood, blasting forward like a lightning bolt. He crashed headfirst into another one of the bird monsters, then, with both hands, forced its beak wide open. In one fluid motion, he shoved another creature straight into its gullet, electrocuting both from the inside out with a violent surge.
Redrick shook off his daze. He knew what he had to do now. Reigniting his fire spells, he began launching attacks toward the rest of the creatures that were closing in, trying to prevent them from surrounding Dame, because that’s exactly what they were doing.
Elsewhere, things were getting worse. The birds weren’t letting up. They leapt from rooftops, beaks open, claws extended. Beatrix stood her ground but knew she was being pushed. Her earth magic was powerful, but she couldn’t hold back the flood forever.
That’s when something shifted inside her.
Squinting at the incoming threat, she reached out a hand, and her hair began to subtly change. Then, from her palm, crimson shots of Qi exploded like bullets, slamming into the beasts. One of them was knocked so hard it crashed through a rooftop and disappeared from sight.
I still can’t use all of her powers, Beatrix thought. I’m worried it might change me completely… but this is a start. If I combine my Qi with the Bloody Woman’s energy, it turns into something like projectile Qi. I’m not ready to release her fully, not yet. But this is the path. Just like Raze told me.
Meanwhile, things were becoming desperate near Luka.
The beasts had grown smarter. They were learning. After observing the teachers’ abilities, they began choosing their targets carefully. Four of the bird creatures had zeroed in on Luka, circling him before unleashing high-pitched screeches all at once.
Luka threw up walls of wind to shield himself from the attack, but the sound waves were constant, ripping into him from every angle. His organs started to tremble. Blood dripped from his ears, and even his mouth.
We should’ve never stayed here, Luka thought, his body shaking. Something felt off with the guild from the beginning… Did they ever actually explore this portal themselves?
But then, a sudden warmth washed over him.
His breathing steadied. The pain eased. His bleeding stopped. His body was… healing.
He looked around, confused, then noticed a glowing aura radiating across the battlefield.
That’s… Safa? Luka thought. Is her Light Magic really this strong? It’s reaching me from across the entire field, and not just reaching, it’s healing me instantly. I’m not even affected by the sonic blasts anymore.
Safa’s aura flowed outward like sunlight, touching everyone. It calmed the students’ nerves, and those who were wounded by the screeches began to recover rapidly.
“The transfer students… they’re really saving us?” Chiba whispered, half in awe.
“It appears that all of them… were holding back their strength,” Piba said with a proud grin.
“Well, I don’t care why,” Chiba replied. “Because of them, we might actually make it out of this alive.”
But there were still two who hadn’t acted yet.
“Is this okay, Raze?” Liam asked quietly. The battlefield roared around them, but for a moment, time felt still. “Them using their powers like this… Should we be doing the same?”
Raze didn’t turn. His eyes remained on the chaos unfolding ahead.
“I’m not the one who controls your actions,” he said. A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips. “If you’ve decided to use your power to protect others… then that’s your decision to make.”
***
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