Bab 1372: Badai Melawan Arus
Ketika Raze bergerak maju, ia telah mendahului yang lain, hanya sedikit, tetapi terasa nyata. Anggota kelompok lainnya terus menekan serangan mereka, berhasil menekan monster itu. Serangan tekanan air magis dan tentakel yang meronta-ronta tidak mengenai kelompok itu berkat formasi dan kerja sama tim mereka. Meskipun mereka jelas-jelas mendengar kata-kata dan perintah Raze, ada keraguan di antara mereka. Mereka tidak sepenuhnya yakin bahwa ini adalah hal yang benar untuk dilakukan, tidak sepenuhnya. “Kau yakin?” tanya Panla, kekhawatiran terpancar di wajahnya. “Aku tahu Raze kuat, mungkin bahkan lebih kuat dari yang kita pahami, tapi apa ini benar-benar sesuatu yang bisa dia tangani sendiri?” Saat itulah Raze mengangkat tangannya yang bebas, mengangkatnya tinggi-tinggi di atas kepalanya. Fokusnya intens, dan energi magis yang pekat mulai terbentuk di lengannya. Sihir angin mulai berputar-putar di sekelilingnya, awalnya berupa arus kecil, berputar naik ke atas tubuhnya hingga menyelimuti seluruh tubuhnya. Energinya meluas lebih jauh, dan tak lama kemudian, sebuah bola sihir angin muncul dari intinya. Bola itu tak berhenti, malah membesar, membentang hingga melewati tempat yang lain berada. Saat mereka ditelan angin, rasanya lembut, tak lebih dari angin sepoi-sepoi. Namun, ketenangan itu menipu. Sebab ketika serangan binatang buas itu, semburan air besar-besaran dan tentakel yang tak terhitung jumlahnya, turun ke arah kelompok itu lagi, angin pun berubah. Ia meraung. Arus deras mendorong serangan itu mundur dan mencabik-cabik tentakel di udara. Itu adalah penghalang, perisai, dan senjata sekaligus. Angin merobek semua yang berada dalam jangkauannya. “Mantra ini… aku tahu,” kata Luka, matanya terbelalak menyadari sesuatu. “Ini mantra Bintang Tujuh. Apa itu artinya anak laki-laki ini, anak laki-laki muda ini, adalah Penyihir Bintang Tujuh? Tapi sepanjang sejarah Alterian, pernahkah ada orang semuda itu yang mencapai level itu?!” Namun, bukan saatnya bagi kelompok itu untuk terkejut. Mereka segera mundur, mengubah posisi agar tidak menghalangi Raze. Mereka tidak terlalu dekat dengannya atau monster itu, tetapi juga tidak terlalu jauh hingga mereka berada di dekat para siswa lagi. “Jadi selama ini… aku bertanding melawan Penyihir Bintang Tujuh?” kata Piba pelan, hampir tertawa sendiri. “Pantas saja aku tak pernah punya kesempatan, apa pun jenis kontesnya. Orang itu… dia benar-benar jenius. Hanya saja di level yang berbeda.”
“So what though?!” Yolden shouted, her voice still filled with worry and doubt. Her hands were clenched tightly at her sides. “Even if he is a Seven-Star Mage, a beast on this level, this dimension beast, I just don’t think he’ll be able to beat it alone!”
“You might be right about that,” Safa replied calmly, but her eyes were focused and confident. “That’s if Raze was only a Seven-Star Mage. I told you before, if we’re ever in trouble, real trouble, and he’s around, then we have nothing to worry about.”
Just as she finished speaking, the wind spell began to fade.
The beast must have sensed it too, saw a moment of vulnerability, and acted fast. It opened its massive mouth and shot out a condensed water jet, powerful enough to pierce through solid stone, aimed straight at Raze.
But Raze didn’t move.
He didn’t flinch.
He didn’t even raise a hand to block it.
The attack slammed into an invisible force just before reaching him. The water disintegrated, breaking apart as if it had hit a wall made of pure energy.
This was the power of his Blazer taking effect.
I guess since this beast is more of a magical type, Raze thought to himself, the barrier effect of the Blazer is stronger than usual. It’s stopping its jet attacks completely. That’s good… at least we have that.
Lightning crackled at his feet, small sparks jumping across the ground, building up.
“That Blazer’s barrier is that strong? Strong enough to block something like that?” Redrick asked, stunned. “Just how highly enchanted is that thing? And how the hell did a student get his hands on something like it?”
Now, Raze had to deal with something more physical, the onslaught of tentacles.
The first one came down hard, but it completely missed. Raze had already shifted to the side. Then, with a powerful kick off the ground, he launched forward.
Tentacle after tentacle lashed out at him. But not a single one was able to even graze him.
He was moving too fast.
To the others, it was impossible to keep track of him. They would only catch a glimpse of his body in one spot, just a flicker, before he vanished and reappeared elsewhere. He was already making more progress against the beast than any of them had.
Raze closed the distance, step by step, getting closer until the creature’s massive head came into full view. Lightning now danced across his blade, building with each step. Simultaneously, Qi surged through his entire body, amplifying everything.
With one final burst, he dashed forward, and his blade struck true, piercing straight through the beast’s skull.
In the next instant, Raze was already on the ground on the other side.Yang lain menyaksikan dalam diam, mata terbelalak, saat kepala binatang itu terlepas dari tubuhnya, melayang menakutkan di udara. Namun, itu hanya berlangsung sesaat. Air mengumpul dari badannya dan mengalir kembali, menyambung kembali kepalanya. Bentuk monster itu kembali sepenuhnya seperti sebelum serangan.
“Aku masih tidak mengerti,” gumam Panla tak percaya. “Bagaimana Raze bisa bergerak secepat itu ? Bahkan pengguna Lightning tercanggih di dunia pun hanya bisa berkedip berpindah lokasi. Tapi, yang kulihat, dia benar-benar bergerak dengan kecepatan tinggi… bukan teleportasi. Gerakan sungguhan.”Semua yang ditunjukkan Raze sejauh ini merupakan kombinasi Petir dan Qi. Kekuatan di balik kecepatannya yang luar biasa, serangan-serangannya, dan bahkan serangan terakhirnya, semuanya berasal dari penggabungan kedua kekuatan tersebut. Ia telah menggunakan Qi dan sihir karena ia tahu, jauh di lubuk hatinya, bahwa ini adalah monster yang tak mampu ia hindari. Namun, ia pun terkejut melihat betapa dahsyatnya kemampuan regenerasinya. “Bahkan dengan semua yang telah dia lakukan…” kata Luka muram, memperhatikan monster itu meraung lagi, pulih sepenuhnya, “sepertinya dia masih akan kesulitan memenangkan ini. Tanpa kemampuan, kekuatan, atau sihir yang cukup kuat untuk menghabisinya dalam satu serangan, pertempuran ini mungkin akan berakhir tanpa akhir.” Akan tetapi, satu orang tidak yakin akan hal itu. Londo berdiri diam, matanya terfokus.
Ada satu jenis sihir, pikir Londo, yang bisa menghentikan ini. Sihir Hitam. Jenis sihir yang memiliki sifat kehancuran itu sendiri. Jika ia menggunakannya, regenerasi monster itu akan melambat.Dan jika ia melemparkannya ke seluruh makhluk, maka ia akan tamat.Namun pikirannya menjadi gelap. Tak ada yang punya Sihir Hitam setingkat itu. Bahkan di Dark Guild sekalipun.**** **** Untuk informasi terkini mengenai MWS dan karya-karya saya di masa mendatang, silakan ikuti saya di media sosial saya di bawah ini. Instagram: Jksmanga Patreon*: jksmanga
Chapter 1373: The Shadow Within
When Raze saw the beast regenerating, a part of him had already expected it. Deep down, he had hoped it wouldn’t be the case, but he knew better. Even if he used a large-scale attack combining Qi and elemental magic, it still wasn’t guaranteed that it would be enough to eliminate this creature.
After the beast recovered its head, it immediately opened fire again, sending several jet streams of water directly toward Raze. In response, he used his lightning steps, fused with Qi movement, weaving between the strikes with flawless precision. He dodged each one and eventually returned to the same position he had started from.
For a moment, his gaze shifted to the others, the students, the teachers, and the remaining Pagna members.
“I can always figure things out later,” Raze muttered to himself. “But right now, while I still have the power to protect them… I should do that.”
With a sharp stomp of his foot, Qi erupted in a wave from the ground before him.
Watching this, Dame’s expression changed, a chill running down his spine. A small smile appeared on his lips.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen him use that,” Dame said softly. “If he’s pulling that out… then I guess it means he’s truly serious.”
Raze began to go through the Descending Steps. But this wasn’t just the traditional form of the technique. As he progressed through each step, Qi built up inside his body, and so did something else.
Raze was gathering Dark Magic.
Both energies were being channeled to the hilt of his sword.
By the time he reached the fourth Descending Step, he kicked off from the ground. At the same time, he activated the fourth form of the Dark Edge Sword Arts, Void Pulse.
A combination of Dark Magic and Qi blasted out behind him as his sword pierced through the stomach of the dimension beast. The energy burned through the creature’s defenses, eating away at its form. The regenerative ability that had once seemed unstoppable now slowed drastically, almost to a complete halt.
Panic spread among the students and teachers alike. Sweat formed on their foreheads as they watched the impossible unfold before them.
“Is that… what I think it is?” Redrick asked, his voice barely audible.
“If you noticed it, then we all did,” Panla replied quickly. “That was the power of Dark Magic.”
Raze wasn’t finished yet. With the beast reeling from the first strike, he pushed onward. Continuing through the Descending Steps, his body moved with perfect precision until he reached the final step and was airborne.
From above, his sword began to glow with the full energy of his seven-star core.
“The Dark Edge Sword Art that covers the widest area… the Second Formation, Eclipse Strike!”
All of the Qi that had built up within him surged into the attack. Combined with his magical affinity, something enhanced since forming his Dark Core, the strike reached a level beyond what anyone could have imagined.
When he swung his sword, the very atmosphere responded.
The entire field in front of the students was consumed by darkness.
A wave of dark energy crashed into the beast, slamming it into the ground. The entire landscape rumbled beneath the force of the impact. The sheer magnitude of the power sent tremors through the earth, making it impossible for the students to stay balanced. Some of them screamed, not from pain, but from fear. The overwhelming power, the strange magic in the air, it felt too foreign, too unnatural.
Londo, meanwhile, couldn’t take his eyes off the dark magic he had just witnessed.
No one in the Dark Guild has this level of magic,
he thought. It’s impossible. It should be impossible. And not just that… he’s using it with a sword?
Londo’s mind spiraled back into memory.
There had been one time, one incident, where someone in the Guild was seen wielding both a sword and Dark Magic. That event had been broadcasted worldwide. A mysterious individual capable of matching the Dark Magus in power.
If that person had this level of magic, Londo realized, then it would explain everything. It would make sense… but could it really be true?
Is that person… the new Dark Magus?
Londo began replaying his earlier conversations with Raze in his head, their walk, the strange aura, the things Raze said, how he carried himself.
Raze didn’t act like someone who answered to anyone. But at the same time, he didn’t act like someone looking for recognition either. Londo had been smug in their conversations, but maybe it had all been misplaced. This level of magic, this depth of control, it could only come from the Dark Magus themselves.
As the magic began to clear, Raze landed gently on the ground. The area beneath him had been utterly devastated. All the greenery that once filled the landscape had disappeared. Even the rocks near the river’s edge, the entire riverbed itself, everything was gone.
That included the beast.
Raze walked forward across the barren field. Amid the ruined ground, he spotted one thing left behind, the Power Stone.
“With a strong water core like this,” Raze said to himself, “if I use the Extraction Technique, it should increase my affinity.”
Without wasting any time, Raze knelt by the crystal and activated the Extraction Technique right then and there. The energy flowed into his body, his affinity with water slowly improving, a key element he had always been weaker in. This made everything that had happened inside the dimension worth it.
Once the extraction was complete, the Power Stone crumbled into nothing but scattered particles.
Raze turned toward the students.
There was no longer any threat. The portal stood open behind them. They could return to the academy at any time. But none of them were moving.
They just stood there, completely frozen, unable to process what they had seen.
They had just witnessed someone use Dark Magic. Not just anyone, Raze.
And now he wasn’t sure what to do.
Should he walk over and explain himself? Should he just turn around, walk through the portal, and disappear from the academy entirely? Maybe meet up with the others some other way?
What was the right move now?
What was the situation?
“All of you saw that, right?” Chiba asked, his voice breaking the silence. “What he just used… that was definitely Dark Magic.”
“Of course it was,” Bronto said, stepping forward. His face was serious, his tone confident. “Unlike us, who claimed to be members of the Dark Guild, not a single one of us could use actual Dark Magic… because we weren’t true members.
“It’s quite clear now. He is a member of the Dark Guild.”
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Chapter 1374: Judge Me by My Magic
After deliberating on what to do for a while, and watching both students and teachers stand frozen in silence, Raze made his decision. He would return to where the others were.
If he could still solve the situation the way he had originally planned, then that was the best course of action. But to do that, he needed to get a sense of how the students and teachers were reacting to him now.
As he walked back, Raze extended his hand. A flicker of dark magic appeared in the air. His sword had already been stored away, and now, using his dark magic, he began to switch his outfit from his specialized Blazer gear to the standard school uniform.
“That should make me appear more approachable to them, right?” he thought.
Watching the scene unfold, Dame couldn’t help but shake his head. He understood what Raze was trying to do, but there was a problem. The issue was that Raze had used the very magic that everyone feared: Dark Magic.
As Raze got closer, he could clearly see the students’ expressions. Many of them had stepped back, their eyes filled with unease and fear.
“What are you doing?” Safa said, turning around sharply, her voice tinged with frustration. “Raze just saved all of us. He fought against that massive beast, not just now, but he’s protected you multiple times before. And this is how you treat him?!”
“We can’t help it!” one of the students shouted. “He knows taboo magic! He knows cursed magic! Things have always been weird with you transfer students from the start… Are you part of the Dark Guild?!”
Safa didn’t understand where all this hostility was coming from, and neither did Liam or Beatrix. But the teachers… they understood. In fact, their reactions were even stronger than the students’.
Because the truth was, they had grown up being taught the same fear.
In the background, Bronto was silently smiling. This was exactly what he had expected to happen. The moment Raze revealed his powers, they would all turn on him.
“Dark Magic has been one of the greatest taboos in the world for generations,” Bronto thought. “They’ve all been conditioned to believe that only the worst kinds of people study Dark Magic. So much so that anyone found using it is executed immediately, along with anyone even close to them.”
“The teachers have lived even longer lives than the students. They’ve had even more time to absorb the fear and hatred toward Dark Magic and the Dark Guild. No matter what strength you show today, Raze… it won’t be enough to change their minds.”
When Raze took another step forward, the group collectively stepped back. Even Safa and the other students who had stood by him found themselves surrounded by those inching away from them as well.
This was the true state of Alterian.
“Is this why you wanted me to do all of this, Alen?” Raze wondered. “Because even if the Grand Magus are defeated, it won’t matter… if the people’s way of thinking doesn’t change.”
The situation didn’t look good, but Raze had somewhat expected this. So instead of trying to convince everyone, he focused on the few he might still reach.
His eyes locked onto two of the academy’s top-ranked students: Yolden and Chiba.
“Do you remember when we had our first tutoring session?” Raze asked, directing his voice to them. “I asked you both to make a list. One about what you thought of the Grand Magus… and one about what you believed regarding the Dark Guild.”
Now, the signs were undeniable. Yolden and Chiba both clearly understood, Raze was associated with the Dark Guild. Yet, they still listened as he continued speaking gently.
“What I want is for you to judge me based on my actions. Yes, I use Dark Magic, just like others use different kinds of magic. I did it because it needed to be done in that moment, for the sake of survival.
“If I am truly a member of the Dark Guild… and if every interaction you’ve had with me has been positive, then hasn’t your only experience with a Dark Mage been a good one?”
He didn’t stop there.
“Now look at the Underfang Guild. They attacked us. They forced the students to choose which one of them should be killed. They’re under the control of the Cerberus Guild, which is loyal to the Grand Magus.
“If you really think back on everything that’s happened, on how we’ve acted and how they’ve acted, then I hope you’re able to decide for yourselves who the real enemy is.”
There was one thing Raze and his group had done consistently since arriving at the academy: they had made a strong impression.
And that was something Bronto didn’t account for.
Raze had always been kind to the students. Safa, the Saintess, had healed their wounds without hesitation. Beatrix and Dame were always respectful and helpful. Every interaction they’d had with the academy’s students had been sincere and positive, even when their lives weren’t at risk.
There wasn’t a single student, or teacher, who could honestly say a bad word about them.
Which was why Raze’s words, urging them to judge by actions, struck deeper than anyone expected. Deeper than even Bronto had anticipated.
If anything, the students weren’t angry that Raze used Dark Magic… they were upset they had seen it. Upset that now they were being forced to question what they’d been taught all their lives.
“Raze…” Luka finally said, stepping forward. “You said before that you came here on an investigation, because of Alen. But I doubt Alen knows you’re using Dark Magic.
“Which means there must be another reason why you joined the academy… right?” Luka continued, narrowing his eyes. “So tell us, what’s the real reason you’re here? Or more importantly… what is it that you want from us?”
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Chapter 1375: The Bow of a Dark Mage
“If you’re asking why I defeated that beast, why I chose to help you, or why I’ve saved all of you time and time again, there was no hidden intention behind my actions,” Raze replied calmly.
“The answer is simple. We had the power to protect you. If I have the strength to make someone’s life less painful, without interfering with my own goals, then I will act, as I have done now. I’m not asking for anything in return for what I’ve done.”
Liam stood off to the side, a nervous smile creeping onto his face. He understood what Raze meant… but he also knew how his words might sound to everyone else. Raze had basically said that if helping them had interfered with his goals, he wouldn’t have bothered.
And even if that was the truth, he didn’t need to say it out loud.
“Our goal hasn’t changed,” Raze continued. “And most of what we’ve said to you in the past is still true. Alen knows some of what’s going on, but not everything. Our actions aren’t directly related to his.”
He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in.
“However, we came to this academy with the intention of entering the Magic Exchange Event. We still wish to participate, under this academy’s name. That’s all we’re asking. To return to how things were before, and continue on.”
A heavy silence followed. The teachers didn’t know how to respond. Without even speaking to each other, they all understood the weight of the decision ahead of them.
If they chose to stay quiet about all of this, it would mean allowing someone from the Dark Guild to participate in one of the most important magical events in the entire continent. What if everything had been orchestrated to reach this exact moment?
If something major happened at the Central Academy, they would be held responsible. Their silence would mean they had enabled it.
But to believe that everything, the Underfang attack, Raze’s intervention, the battles, they had all been staged… it was hard to accept. The actions of Raze and his companions had all seemed too genuine for that.
Just as the teachers were starting to truly consider the request, a voice rang out loud and bitter.
“What are you idiots thinking?!” Bronto snapped, unable to stay quiet any longer.
The silence had said everything he needed to hear, the teachers and even some of the students were actually considering allowing Raze and his group to stay.
He had never imagined things would turn this way. He’d heard there were sympathizers out there, people who had started to soften toward the Dark Guild after recent public events. But for students and teachers at a prestigious academy?
“I think you’re all forgetting something very important!” Bronto shouted. “He’s a Dark Mage, with an affinity for Dark Magic!”
He pointed at Raze like he was pointing at a criminal.
“No matter what he’s done, no matter how many people he’s saved, you all know why Dark Magic was outlawed.”
And then, with impeccable timing, someone echoed the next truth aloud.
“It only grows stronger through death,” Piba said, eyes wide.
“Exactly!” Bronto barked. “Think about it. You saw it for yourselves. How strong was his Dark Magic? It was terrifying! I haven’t seen magic like that since the Dark Magus himself!”
He turned his gaze to the crowd, making sure they heard every word.
“That level of strength… it doesn’t come from fighting a few beasts. He must have been surrounded by a lot of death. And don’t kid yourselves, it wasn’t just monsters.”
The Pagna Warriors gritted their teeth. It wasn’t fair. Bronto was twisting the truth, and everyone could feel it.
Raze didn’t lie. He didn’t deny what he’d done.
Yes, he had killed. And yes, many had died by his hand.
But none of them, none of these people, knew why. None of them knew the choices he had to make, the burdens he carried. And even if he explained, they wouldn’t understand. To them, it would all sound like excuses.
“Look at him,” Bronto sneered. “He’s not even denying it!”
“Shut up!” Dame finally snapped, stepping forward with fire in his eyes. “Say one more word, and I’ll make sure you lose every last tooth in your mouth.”
Dame had held back until now. He’d been restraining himself, trying not to appear like the aggressor, not wanting to give the others a reason to paint them as villains.
But he couldn’t take it anymore.
“You have no idea how many lives this man has saved, and continues to save!” Dame shouted. “Don’t talk as if you know us. Don’t act like you understand what we’ve been through!”
Bronto opened his mouth to respond, but quickly shut it when Dame raised his hand, daring him to try.
And then, what Raze did next stunned everyone.
The man who had just defeated a beast beyond their imagination, the same man who could destroy entire groups of warriors, got down on one knee.
Then, without hesitation, he bowed. His head touched the ground.
“Please,” Raze said. “All I ask is that you pretend you never saw any of this. Just allow us to return and attend the Magic Exchange Event.”
Gasps escaped the mouths of the teachers and students alike.
In the world of mages, power equaled status. High-star mages were treated like gods. They never bowed, not to lower-ranked mages, and certainly not to students.
But here was Raze, a Dark Mage no less, breaking every rule of status and pride. It didn’t make sense.
But to Raze, none of that mattered. Formalities, pride, reputation, those meant nothing to him. If bowing meant he could get one step closer to his target, he would do it a hundred times over.
“Stop it!” Londo suddenly shouted, his voice cracking with emotion.
“You shouldn’t have to bow to these people! You saved their lives, they should be thanking you! I can’t stand seeing them treat you like this!”
His fists were clenched, his voice trembling.
“Why? Why are you still being so nice to all of these idiots?!”
Londo’s words echoed across the battlefield, and for a moment, no one had an answer.
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Chapter 1376: Return to Fire
When Londo shouted, his voice rang out with pure anger. It caught everyone’s attention instantly.
It was completely out of character for the Londo they knew, the quiet one who kept to himself, who rarely, if ever, spoke up in front of a crowd.
And yet, here he was… defending the transfer students. People he barely even knew.
His sudden outburst had pulled the attention of every student present. Both of his fists were clenched tightly at his sides, and the fury in his voice was clearly directed at his fellow classmates.
“Hey… you don’t think Londo’s a Dark Guild sympathizer, do you?” one student whispered.
“With how many students are in this academy, there had to be one, right?” another added hesitantly.
“Listen to yourselves,” Moze snapped, stepping forward. “Does that even make sense? Londo’s one of the top students here. Some even say he could rank higher than Piba if he actually tried. Why would someone like him, who lives a good life, support the Dark Guild?”
Moze was trying to defend him, but his words only seemed to make Londo more furious.
“Shut up!” Londo growled, seething through gritted teeth. “You all know nothing! All of you, living your privileged lives, so far removed from what’s really happening out there. None of you know the truth.”
He took a step forward, his voice trembling but firm with conviction.
“You listen to whatever your families say. You obey the academy, the higher-ranked mages, without question. Why? Just because that’s the way things have always been?”
His eyes scanned the group. “None of you are even trying to see what’s real. You didn’t even listen to what Raze said properly.”
His voice cracked slightly, but he kept going.
“He saved all of you! Pretend for a second he wasn’t connected to the Dark Guild, pretend Dark Magic wasn’t taboo at all. This is how you treat someone who saved your lives?”
Londo’s chest heaved as he let out one final cry.
“All of you make me sick. I don’t want to be in an academy filled with people like you. Blind followers… that’s what makes you dangerous!”
He stopped. His body was trembling, his breath uneven. The adrenaline was burning in his veins, but he had to speak. He couldn’t hold it back, not after everything that had just happened.
Because Londo was almost certain.
This Raze… he had to be the Dark Magus.
Londo wasn’t one of the older fanatics who idolized the Dark Magus of the past. Many who followed the Dark Guild now had joined because of what the new Dark Magus had done, not the previous one.
Londo didn’t know if the old and the new Dark Magus were the same person.
And honestly? It didn’t matter.
Because everything Londo believed in now, every reason he had joined the Dark Guild, it was because of the new Dark Magus.
And everything about Raze, his power, his actions, his strength, pointed to one conclusion.
He was him.
Even if Raze had destroyed the former Dark Guild in the process of achieving his goals, Londo wouldn’t care. What mattered now was that he had risked his life to save them, students who didn’t even know the full truth.
For so long, Londo had believed the Dark Magus was a symbol of chaos. But standing here, watching Raze fight to protect others… that belief had started to shatter.
What he once thought was evil for evil’s sake… was now looking more and more like justice.
And that was why he couldn’t just stand there and let them tear him down.
Bronto stood frozen, trying to assess the temperature of the room. But now, with Dame threatening him just moments ago, he was completely quiet.
His tongue clicked in frustration as he noticed the three instructors step forward.
“I believe what Londo said is correct,” Panla was the first to speak, bowing deeply. “I believe… that we, the instructors, were afraid. Afraid of what you might do next. What desperate measures you’d take by heading to the Magical Exchange. And if we were responsible for that, it would have been… devastating.”
“Agreed,” Luka added. “We still don’t know if what you’ll do from here will be seen as good or bad by others. But the actions you’ve taken so far… they’ve come from good intentions.”
“And more importantly,” Redrick chimed in with a grin, “you freaking saved our lives. So, the least we can do is keep this secret. You’ve earned that much.”
One after another, the teachers expressed their support. They agreed to keep Raze’s identity, and the truth, hidden from the principal. They would carry on as if nothing had happened.
Most of the students seemed to fall in line with the decision as well. But there were more than fifteen of them here.
Not counting the top-ranked students or the instructors, that still left over nine others, including Londo, who needed to stay silent.
“Well, I guess we’re all in on the secret now,” Piba said with a shrug. “Whether we like it or not.”
Moze looked at him, frowning. “What do you mean by that?”
“If they find out Raze is a Dark Mage and part of the Dark Guild, what do you think will happen to us?” Piba asked flatly. “You’ve seen it. They don’t take this stuff lightly. They might decide we helped him. They might get rid of all of us just in case.”
He glanced around at the group.
“If they find out we knew and said nothing? That’s even worse. We’d be branded sympathizers. The best thing we can do is keep our mouths shut and move on.”
Liam, quietly observing, analyzed everyone’s facial expressions through his system.
He could tell… Piba’s words had worked. The fear had settled in. Enough to silence them.
Raze, watching it all unfold, finally let out a small smile.
“We’ve all been through a lot,” he said. “So let’s head back. The portal’s ready. Let’s return to the academy.”
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Chapter 1377: Too Easy to Kill
There was no trouble as the students approached the portal. Dame was once again keeping a watchful eye on Bronto, just in case the man tried anything. Now it was time for all of them to return—to leave the nightmare behind.
None of them could have expected the assessments to spiral into this. What began as a simple selection process for the Cultural Exchange had turned into a battle for survival. Most had completely forgotten that this was even part of a competition. At this point, they were just grateful to be alive.
And yet, they all now carried a burden—a heavy secret about the events that had taken place.
“We’ll head in first,” Luka said. “Panla will take up the rear and make sure everyone makes it through.”
“Are you sure?” Liam asked, stepping forward. “The Guild is going to expect Bronto and the others to come back. As soon as they see you’re fine, they’ll realize something’s wrong and attack. I doubt they were ever planning on sparing the teachers.”
The teachers exchanged uneasy glances. Liam had a point. The safest plan might be for the transfer students to go first. Raze could shield them, and the others could handle any immediate threats from the Guild members on the other side.
Now that Bronto was out of the picture, there shouldn’t be anyone left stronger than him within the Underfang Guild. But numbers could still be a problem. Their sheer volume posed a real threat to the academy’s students.
“Can we let the teachers go first?” Yolden asked.
Everyone turned to look at him.
“I know it’s safer if you all go first,” he continued, “but I need to see it for myself. I want to know whether this whole plan was the work of just one traitor—or if the entire guild was in on it.”
Raze understood what Yolden was getting at. It would be proof to everyone. Whatever happened next would expose the truth behind the Guild’s intentions.
“It’s fine,” Raze replied calmly. “I’ll make sure none of you get hurt. But I’m telling you now… you’re going to be disappointed.”
With the plan in motion, the teachers stepped through the portal first. They moved quickly, one after another, with the rest of the group following just behind. Raze’s team made sure they stayed close to the ranked students, ready for anything.
Waiting on the other side of the portal were about ten mages. They stood idle but alert, fully expecting Bronto and the others to return soon.
“The portal is activating!” one of the Underfang Guild members called out. “Be ready—some of them might be injured from the beasts.”
“Well, if using the students as bait worked, maybe we’ll get through this without losing a single member,” another one chuckled.
But their confidence vanished the moment the first figures stepped through the portal.
The teachers.
Then the students.
One by one.
“What’s going on? Why are they coming back?” one of the Guild mages asked.
They hadn’t moved yet—still trying to process what they were seeing. But the looks on the students’ faces said it all. Fear. Caution. They knew something.
“They know,” one of the mages snarled. “They know! Eliminate them!”
There was a part of Yolden, even in that moment, that had been hoping otherwise. Hoping that maybe—just maybe—the Guild members would show some compassion. That they would treat them with care. That they would show remorse.
But no. As soon as those words were spoken, he knew.
They had been planning this all along.
The mages began casting spells, preparing to strike. Multiple attacks surged toward the group.
But Raze was already in motion.
With one hand raised, he unleashed the Wind Sphere—the same spell he had used on the beast. The shield enveloped the entire group, deflecting and dispersing the incoming attacks like they were nothing. The energy cracked against the wind barrier, but not a single spell passed through.
Then, in a swift motion, Raze stepped forward, tossing his hand forward and releasing a surge of lightning that zapped one of the Guild members to the ground in an instant.
Safa, Beatrix, Liam, and Dame immediately sprang into action. They darted from their positions with inhuman speed, each targeting one of the remaining mages.
And they didn’t hold back.
Powerful strikes. Precision attacks. Blades and fists moved with deadly purpose—each Guild member fell in a single blow. The room was cleared within seconds.
“Damn it,” Bronto muttered bitterly. “I knew this would happen. None of those idiots could stop him. We’ll need the Crebus Guild’s help if we’re going to do anything against him…”
Raze stepped over the bodies, his expression cold and determined.
“We need to clear the entire guild,” he said. “Liam, with your system, you should be able to locate everyone. Take care of them—but leave two alive. Make sure they can’t contact anyone.”
He turned to the others.
“Follow Liam’s lead. We need the Underfang Guild to appear operational from the outside. At least until the Magical Exchange is over.”
The group nodded and split off, following Liam as he navigated the base using his system’s scanning abilities. Meanwhile, Raze stayed behind, walking through the portal room with the remaining students.
As the students moved forward, their eyes shifted downward—to the bodies on the floor. The dead mages. The men who had just tried to kill them.
“There’s one thing about this that freaks me out,” Chiba said quietly. “I don’t feel bad that they’re dead. I know they were going to kill us. But the way we fought back…”
She looked at her hands.
“It was too easy. Like we’ve done it a hundred times before.”
Her voice was shaky, unsure.
It wasn’t the act of killing that frightened her—it was how numb she already felt to it.
This was the reality of life in Pagna. Warriors lived with death constantly at their heels. One misstep, one wrong word, one glance at someone stronger than you—and it could be over. That kind of world hardened people.
Alterian was softer. Too soft in comparison.
And the difference was starting to show.
“Alright,” Raze said, pulling out his communicator. “While they’re doing that, there’s one more thing I need to take care of. Someone who can help clean all of this up.”
He began dialing, on a special wrist watch device.
“I’ll contact Alen.”
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