A twisted look appeared on Minsium's face as he heard the word "Professor".
After faking his death, Minsium didn't expect to be called by that name again.
Minsium: it's been a while since anyone called me professor.
When he turns to see who just called him, he was genuinely surprised to see a young man with black hair and Red eyes, and on his shoulder is a black cat with crimson eyes.
Minsium: hmmm? Strange, in All of my years as a professor, I didn't teach anyone with the same face as you, if I ever encountered a person like you before, I would've remembered, especially with those red eyes of yours.
John suddenly made a nervous expression on his face While clasping his hands.
John: oh, my bad, let me reintroduce myself, my name is John shon, but I think you know me by my other name.
A look of surprise, was clearly visible on his face as he looked at the young man in front of him.
Suddenly, John's nervous voice Quickly changed to a more calmer and colder Tone as he reveal his identity.
John: Leon Smith.
Minsium's eyes opened wide as he heard the name Leon Smith, with a twisted smile and some veins appearing on his forehead and other parts of his face, Minsium is now face to face with the person he disliked the most.
Minsium: you little shit, I don't know how you faked your own death, but I'll make sure that you stay dead.
John: Hmph, You stole the words from my mouth.
[On the surface]
The first group of guards start attacking, suddenly, a sword covered in golden aura started hitting the guards, it's fast and unconstant, Aldric - who's the one using the sword - cleared His side from the guards, Arnold is using iron gloves and his fists to fight the guards on his own direction, while Lona is clearing it with a short sword, the three of them are taking the shape of triangle while Cohly Is supporting them from the middle.
Aldric: I've cleared the guards on my side.
Arnold: same here.
Lona: don't let your guard down, it's just the first phase.
Cohly: it's okay, I'll keep supporting you guys.
Lona: Be careful not to deplete all your mana, the same thing goes for you two we still don't know when the support nor John will come to assist, so we better save our energy.
Aldric, Arnold, Cohly: UNDERSTOOD!!!
Suddenly, the sound of a huge number of guards making their way to the surface is loud enough to warn Lona and the others.
Lona: everyone, in your position the next phase is coming, and they seems to be more than the last one.
Aldric, Arnold, Cohly: ROGER THAT!!!
as the guards start surrounding them, the number of guards is probably near 70, Aldric and the others cover themselves in mana before They start clashing with them.
With a quick move of his hand, Aldric sends three slashs of mana, hitting some guards, suddenly, five guards attack at the same time, Aldric blocks their swords at the same time, he pushes the ground with his foot and send them flying.
On the other hand, Arnold is taking down every guard that comes to him with one hit on their head, left and right, he's using every opportunity to land a punch.
Even though she's using a short sword, her attacks don't miss its target, Lona swings her sword as if it was a painting brush, hitting the important parts of the human body, neck, head, and the chest.
In the sky, some arrows are heading to the ground, but suddenly, it seems like something stopped them, something Like a glass dome, in the ground, Cohly seems to be the one who made it, while keeping the sky safe, she started healing her teammates who's fighting and supporting them.
Even though they took a large number of guards, more are still coming non-stop, Aldric after realizing that start to get worry.
Aldric: (this is bad, every guard we take down, three replace him, if we keep it up like that, it won't be too long until we collapse, right now, running away is not an option, any more, and we still don't know where's the support John talked about, I hope he doesn't take long to revocate the summoning ceremony).
[Underground]
Running away from small blue mana balls, John is running in a circle around the colosseum's ground, trying to avoid Minsium's attacks, on his shoulder, Elesa is using her powers to create a shield to parry the attacks that are coming from the back.
Minsium: HAHAHAHAHAHA, WHAT'S WRONG LEON? DON'T YOU WANT TO KILL ME? YOU DIDN'T WASTE A WHOLE YEAR FOR NOTHING, SO SHOW ME WHAT YOU GOT.
Even though he was running for his life John couldn't help but to feel excited for the fact that he can kick this man's Ass with fists and words after all that time of waiting.
John: I was going to fight you man to man, fight but then I remembered that you're not considered a human anymore.
Minsium: by "not a human" you must mean a higher being.
John: hahaha, you got it all wrong, I meant that you're like a bug, you only have one braincell, and you don't even know how to use it.
John suddenly stops, using the sword to cut out a big chunk of the colosseum's ground and kick it towards Minsium, Minsium creates a circle of mana and sends it to cut the stone in half, suddenly the two enemies stop attacking each other and just stand there, looking at each other.
Elesa: damn it, John, you really need to find a way to stop that bastard, I don't know if my magic can handle more of that damn book.
Minsium: hmmm? A talking cat? Wait this is your- HAHAHAHA, I can't believe that the explosion that happened a year ago is because of this cat.
Elesa: HEY!!! IF IT WASN'T FOR THAT BOOK, I WOULD'VE KILLED YOU INSTANTLY YOU FUCK HEAD!!!
Minsium: heh, I see that your cat's Tongue is so rude, I should probably cut it for her right after I kill you.
John: heh, what makes you so sure that I would die by you?
Minsium: isn't it obvious? I have the blessing of the savior, this book is just a key to free him, and I had the honor to be the holder of it, once the savior sets his foot out there, I'll be walking to a pure place that filthy creatures like you wouldn't even dream about.
John: I always knew that you were a Maniac, you say that you are a pure being, but what I see in front of me is the filthiest creature that ever set a foot on this world, looking at you is making me want to throw up.
Minsium: I really want to make your death the most slowest and painful, but I don't have time for that.
The two look at the other's eyes, trying to take the upper hand and strike first.
[In the surface]
In a place near the academy, a group of 150 soldiers on their horses is moving after Roland and Asha.
Asha: so let me get that straight, Someone from Victoria Academy sent a distress message, and it was written with blood?
Roland: yeah, that's it, besides, the message says that the consul is getting out of control, and now they are keeping the students as hostages.
After reaching a nearby hill behind the Academy, Roland noticed something weird going on, so he gave the soldiers the sign to stop.
Roland: Asha, look near the lake.
Asha: huh? It's a little too far but I can see something, wait what's that?! Are those some kind of guards?
Their eyes landed on a strange scenery, the consul guards surrounding what looks like a shining little dome, and it seems to be about to break from the guards attacks.
Asha: could that dome be.
Roland: the students who were mentioned in the message, they must be inside that dome.
Soldier: Captain Roland what are your orders?
Roland: Captain Asha and I will go there first as for the rest of you wait here, don't charge until you see the signal from us.
Soldiers: YES CAPTAIN!!!
Roland and Asha stood there, and suddenly jump in the sky.
[At the same time]
Inside the dome the group are in critical condition.
Aldric: (this is so bad, Arnold and Lona got injured and I ran out of mana, Cohly is now using all she got to make this dome).
Out of the sudden Cohly starts bleeding from her nose and coughing blood.
Cohly: *Cough* *Cough**Cough* *Cough*.
Aldric: COHLY! you're bleeding so much!
Cohly: d-don't worry about me Aldric I-I can still keep going, if I let go of the dome then everyone will be exposed to the danger, if I don't give this all I got, then what'll be the point of our fight, it's okay, as long as I can, I'll keep this dome until help arrives because it's the only way.
Aldric: Cohly . . .
Feeling speechless as he see his senior giving more than she has just to safe them, Aldric can't do anything but stare at Cohly's power drain with every second.
Suddenly, a sound of something shattering comes from the top of the dome,
Out of the sudden, the dome crashes as two figures enter, as that's happening, Cohly collapse on her knees, before the rest of her body falls on the ground, a woman with purple hair catches her in her arms, while a Man with brown hair draws his sword from its sheath, unleashing a devastating purple Aura surrounding the high ranking students and the two Captains, blocking the way of the consul's guards.
Asha: poor child, she drained the last of her strength just to keep her friends safe, don't worry we'll take care of everything now.
Asha took some pills out of her pocket, she then ground one of them in Cohly's mouth, she then looks at Aldric who's sitting on his knees in shock of what just happened and throws a pill to him.
Asha: Hey, blonde boy, take this.
Aldric catches the pill and takes a clear look at it, it's a green pill with the shape of candy.
Aldric: huh? is that candy?
Asha: it's okay, it'll restore your energy.
Aldric: oh umm thank you (could this be the support John has mentioned?).
As the Aura fades away, the path is now open to the consul's guards to walk through it, when the first guard tries to charge and attack, Roland swings his sword, sending a powerful slash killing the guard and making a path of dead bodies in its direction.
Roland walk calmly while giving the guards a clarification that they are wanted criminals.
Angry guard: HEY!!! WHAT THE HELL YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?! DON'T YOU KNOW THAT WE ARE THE CONSUL?!
Roland: ATTENTION EVERYONE, ANYONE HERE WHO CLAIMS TO BE A FOLLOWER OF THE CONSUL IS NOW UNDER ARREST ON CHARGES OF DETAINING CIVILIANS AND CONSPIRING AGAINST THE STATE.
Angry guard: SAYS WHO?
Roland: SAYS ME, I'LL GIVE ALL OF YOU A CHOICE, YOU CAN SURRENDER NOW AND WE'LL TAKE YOU TO JAIL OR.
Angry guard: OR WHAT?! WE'RE NOT GOING TO SURRENDER TO ANYONE, ESPECIALLY NOT SOMEONE FILTHY LIKE YOU, SO TAKE YOUR CHOICES AND SHOVE 'EM UP IN YOUR ASS.
Roland: so your taking the second choice then, very well.
Roland looks at Asha over his shoulder and gives her a sign with his head, Asha quickly understood the sign so she raised her right hand while holding Cohly in the other, she sent a Pink ball of mana in the sky, when the ball reached a High altitude, it Exploded.
The soldiers immediately recognized it as the sign.
Soldier: this must be the sign Captain Roland talked about, EVERYONE, LET'S GO HELP OUR CAPTAINS.
Soldiers: LET'S GO!!!!
suddenly, the consul's guards start hearing loud horse sounds getting closer every second, it was the sound of a 150 soldiers charging at them, ready for battle.
Aldric: t-that's (did John bring An entire battalion to support us?).
As they hear the soldiers coming at them, the consul's guards starts attacking Roland and Asha.
Some guards try to attack Asha and Arnold and Lona, but suddenly, they got struck by lightning.
Roland uses a combo of swordsmanship And quick, powerful kicks, taking down any guard that gets close to him, suddenly, a guard trys to attack Roland from the back, but before he can Attack, Aldric blocked the Hit and pushed the guard away before finishing him.
Roland: Hey kid, go and rest beside Captain Asha, I can take care of them until the soldiers arrive.
Aldric: please let me help you, I feel much better after eating that candy thing (this guy is much stronger than me, and his body reflexes are on another level, not to mention his fighting style is fast and more effective on the enemies than mine, I'll be in his way if we fought together, but I don't want to be that guy who relies on others in every problem, I want to help and stand there for them like John) please let me help sir, I still want to fight for my friends, please.
Roland: Hmmm.
Just then, a guard tries to attack Roland, but Roland twists around and kicks him hard in the stomach, sending him and seven others crashing into a nearby tree.
Roland looks at Aldric's eyes and immediately knows that anything he will say to make this young man in front of him to leave the fight will end in failure.
Roland: hmmm, Captain Asha will protect your friends, as for you, cover my back and I'll cover your's, understood?
Aldric's eyes shine after hearing that.
Aldric: yes, I-I mean understood.
As their backs face each other, the soldiers arrive at the same time, Currently, the battle on the surface has already determined the winner, right now, the underground battle still With an unknown fate.
[Underground]
John and Minsium are looking at each other in a complete silence, Like two chess players waiting for the other's move to figure out the best way to win.
John: (damn it, I need to think of something, I don't have much time).
Minsium: what's wrong Leon? Don't you want to get your revenge? That face you're making, you want to punch me in my face and destroy my skull, I can see it in your eyes.
John: (as much as I hate to admit it, but he's right, That smug smile makes me want to stuff my fist deeper and deeper into his face with every passing second, but reaching him is so hard, especially with the spells he's using, hmmm? Wait I think I found it) Elesa.
Elesa: what? do you have a plan?
John: kind of, just do as I say, put the shield in front of me so we get closer to him.
Elesa: have you lost your mind? this is insane, think of something else.
John: too late, we're heading now, Hold on tight to my shoulder.
Out of the sudden John starts sprinting towards Minsium in full speed.
Minsium: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA, I NEVER THOUGHT THAT YOU OF ALL PEOPLE WILL TAKE ANY RISK, WELL, COME ON.
As John steps closer, the time seems slower in his prospective, Elesa blocks Minsium's Attacks with the shield, but it started cracking, just when John gets closer to Minsium the shield breaks but John doesn't stop, even though the attacks Hit the edges of his body and hair, he still continues to move forward, when he gets close enough, he raises his sword.
Minsium: DO THINK A SWORD CAN DO ANYTHING TO ME?! I'LL BREAK IT LIKE HOW I'LL BREAK YOU AFTER IT.
Minsium Hits the sword and shatters it into very small pieces, the sword he took from that guard is now shattered in his hand, and one of it pieces make a cut under his right eye, now All the hope seems to be gone for John, but even with all that, he takes one big step forward closing the distance between him and Minsium, he tightens his fist and punches with all the hatred he had for him and landed it in the middle of his face.
John: AAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH.
The impact was so powerful that it produced a shockwave so strong that even those on the surface felt it.
Minsium is sent through the air to crash in the wall, a look of satisfaction appears on John's face while his eyes glow red, suddenly Elesa snaps him out of that state.
Elesa: Hey, wake up, we still have to stop the summoning circle.
John: don't worry, I'm still awake.
Elesa: stay focused you can celebrate after we're done with everything.
Just when they were about to pick up the strange book with the eye, a sudden shockwave emerges and a strong light appears on the circle, without hesitation John jumps as far as he can from it.
Minsium: hahaha, he's already here.
Elesa: John, did you feel it?
John: I'm afraid that we're already too late, he did it, he actually summoned the Savior.
Suddenly, A second shockwave emerges from the circle, stronger than the first, this time John can't even move a finger.
John: ( What the hell is going on?! I can't move, my legs are shacking and I'm sweating a lot).
A white lightning appears from the circle and start heading towards John.
Elesa: Hey are you sleeping or something, lightning going to hit us.
John: Elesa, I can't move my legs or any part of my body.
Elesa: WHAT?!!
Just when the lightning is about to Hit him Elesa pushes him away from the danger, John loses his balance and fall on his knees.
Meanwhile the white lightning start chasing after Elesa, with her cat form she can run and dodge it with ease.
In a sudden moment, a white rope comes out of the circle and starts heading to John, Elesa focus her vision on it and warn John from it.
Elesa: JOHN! GET UP AND MOVE OR YOU'LL DIE!!!
John: ( damn it! I need to move, but my body is not responding, no matter what I do I can only move my eyes, there's must be a way to- huh?! ELESA WATCH OUT!!!).
the lightning reaches Elesa and strikes her, she fell unconscious on the ground.
As he was still on his knees, feeling both helpless and Fear, he can only watch as the white shining rope is slowly coming to him.
Minsium: HOW DARE YOU!!! TRYING TO STEAL THE SAVIOR'S GIFT FROM ME!!!
Minsium rushes to John and kicks him away from the ropes direction and takes his place and Extends his hand forward to it.
The rope touches Minsium's hand and slowly, it starts ripping out his flesh, then his muscles and vains, reaching even his bones.
Minsium: YES! YES! O SAVIOR TAKE ME WITH YOU TO THE GODHOOD AND SET ME FREE FROM THIS WORLD'S SINS, HAHAHAHAHA-
As he fade away from existing his last laugh echo repeat before vanishing from the colosseum room.
The summoning circle starts to disappear and alongside it disappearing, an earthquake starts destroying every corner of the consul's lair.
John: I can finally move my body a little, but what's going on with this earthquake?! I must find a way out of here Elesa, HUH!?!! ELESA!!!
Just then, when he thought it was safe, the colosseum room starts collapsing, huge chunks of the ceiling falls in the ground and the entrance of the room is closed by it, John looks at the unconscious Elesa and without hesitation he pulls himself to stand up and go to her, even though he didn't recover from the impact of the summoning circle, he still managed to reach her, and the first thing he does is covering her with his body protecting her from the falling chunks as the room collapses above them.
[On the surface]
On the battle field, the dead bodies of the consul's guards is covering the grass and few are still alive.
Soldier: we managed to take down almost everyone, those who are still alive either surrendered or are trying to escape, we sent some soldiers behind the ones who are trying to escape they should be here in a few minutes.
Roland: good work, let me know if something happens.
Roland turns to Asha and it seems like the students have woken up.
Asha: Captain Roland you're here!
Roland: how's the situation?
Asha: well, the three students who were badly injured are now awake, as for the blonde boy I had to force him to stay here so I can check on him, I gave them some time to figure things out, we can talk to them now.
Roland: mhmm.
Roland and Asha walk towards Aldric and the others.
Roland: is everyone feeling better now?
Lona: y-yeah thanks for MS. Asha we feel a lot better than the moment we woke up.
Roland: I'm glad to hear that, I have a few questions and I hope you can answer them for me since you're in the charge of the high ranking students in the academy.
Lona: it's okay ask away.
Roland: I want to know, why would the consul attack students from the academy, and why you didn't send a message earlier?
Lona: well, a while ago there was a demon attack on the library and a mysterious student managed to defeat it, and right after that the consul put it their guards everywhere so they can capture that student, and the reason why we took so long to send a report is because it was yesterday that we discovered that the consul is planning to summon some kind of creature, they call it the Savior.
Roland rolls his eyes back to Asha who's already scanning the area, but the results are negative.
Asha: hmmm, I don't feel anything out of ordinary in the area.
Roland: that means they failed, hmmm.
Roland eyes roll from Aldric to Arnold then to Lona and Cohly, as if he's looking for something on their hands.
Roland: you're not the only students here right?
Aldric: y-yeah that's right there's still a friend of us, his name is John, and he's now in the consul's lair.
Roland: huh?! Did you just say that he's in the consul's lair?
Aldric: y-yes he's still there.
Roland: damn it! The entrance to the lair has already been closed.
Aldric, Arnold, Lona, Cohly: WHAT!?!!
Roland turns and he spots a soldier tying a guard with a rope, so he steps forward and grab the guard from his shirt.
Roland: YOU, do you know how to open the entrance?
Guard: y-yes, yes I do.
Roland unties the rope and pushes him to where the entrance was.
Roland: now open the door.
Guard: y-yes.
The guard tries to use the spell that opens the entrance but it doesn't work, he tries several times but the result is the same.
Roland: quit playing around and open the damn door!!!
Guard: I-I'm trying but the spell won't work, I swear I'm not fooling you I swear!
Suddenly, Asha puts her hand on Roland's shoulder and tell him some very bad News.
Asha: Roland, sorry, but I have to tell you that I scanned 100 meters under the ground, and I didn't find anything that can be called a lair, even if it was destroyed, it would at least leave some big chunks of it but I simply can't find anything.
Roland: damn it!! You, are there any other entrance or exit to that place.
Guard: N-No it's only this.
Roland: Tsk ( there must be a way, an entire lair can't just disappear in the blink of an eye, but how?).
[Somewhere under the water]
At the bottom of the water, John is unconscious and drowning, and suddenly, a fish starts swimming around his face.
John: mhmm.
Slowly opening his eyes to find a fish in front of him, surprised by it he jumps back a little, then he realizes he's under the water.
John: (huh a fish? What the...) hmmffff.
He quickly puts his hands on his mouth to cover it.
John: (how in the world did I end up under the water? Wait where's Elesa?!! Damn it I need to find her quickly, she was already unconscious before that place collapsed).
John looked around and noticed that a group of fishes is surrounding something, so he swam towards them, he then finds Elesa surrounded by them, but when he approaches her, the fishes swam away.
John: ( I found her, now I need to reach the surface Argh, my body is still weak, but I must reach it or we'll die here).
He grab Elesa and start swimming to the surface, a while later he feels numbs on his legs but he still continue forcing himself to move.
He finally reach the surface and the first thing he does is trying to wake Elesa.
John:*panting* *panting* *cough* *cough* *cough* ELESA! ELESA! WAKE UP! COME ON!
he Pats her on the back and continues calling her name, and after a while she wakes up.
Elesa: *cough* *cough* What's happening? WHEN AND HOW DID WE ENDED UP IN THE WATER!?!!
John: I'll explain later, now we have to get out of here.
From a far, Aldric looks at the lake and see a human figure in the middle of it, when he focuses a little, he realizes it's John.
Aldric: sir, look there, it must be him.
Roland: I NEED SOMEONE TO THROW A ROPE AND START PULLING HIM OUT OF THERE!!!
A soldier uses a bow with an arrow tied to a rope and shoots it near John, John quickly understood and grab the rope, then three soldiers start pulling him.
On a nearby hill, between the trees, a tall man wearing blue clothes with white hair and blue edges wearing a white mask covering All his face with two sharp eyes holes stands and watches everything happening in the lake, and next to him stands a girl who seems to be wearing the same mask and some kind of dark blue Academy uniform, and it doesn't seem to be from Victoria Academy or Fortis vanguard, noticeable she have a russet katana on her waist, and white hair with pink and red edges.
The Man: hmmm.
The girl start talking in a calm yet cold Tone.
The Girl: don't you want to retrieve your book?
The Man starts speaking In a tone of superiority and calmness.
The Man: Hmph, you mean that piece of trash? It contain no value to me, I only found it on my travels, besides, if it helps with our plans then I have no problem to burn a hundred more.
The Girl: hmmm.
The Man: there's nothing more to do here, the seal had already opened, so our work here is finished, let's go.
Behind them a blue portal opens, the man starts walking to it, but the girl takes one last look at the lake.
The Man: Hmmm? Are you coming or not?
The Girl: Hmph.
The Man: is there something you want to check on before we leave?
The Girl: No.
As she said that she enters the portal without saying anything more, then the man follows her into the portal, when the two of them enter, the portal suddenly disappears, leaving no track them.
To be Continued. . . .