Sergeant Dell continued leading the students deeper across the planet towards the side of the Mountain. Many of them protested, saying it was reckless to move so quickly through an orange portal—especially when the area seemed strangely empty of monsters. But Dell ignored every complaint and pushed forward. With no other choice, the students followed.
Then the ground quaked.
A violent tremor ripped through the terrain beneath their feet and distant screams echoed across the wasteland.
"What's happening?!" several students shouted.
Dell raised a hand sharply, commanding silence. He quickly lifted his binoculars and scanned the area.
Then his body froze.
"Excuse me, sir… why are you—"
"Crap… crap… crap…"
Dell suddenly turned toward the mountain and bolted.
Leaving the students behind, he screamed at the top of his lungs.
"You fools—run for your lives! A monster herd is coming!"
Panic exploded.
The entire class broke into motion at once.
"What the hell is happening?!"
---
Silver immediately turned toward the source of the tremors. Her sharp eyes narrowed as she focused on the distance. Then her expression changed.
Her eyes widened.
At the same time, her emergency alarm began beeping nonstop while screams erupted from farther ahead.
Silver immediately rushed toward the students.
They were already sprinting toward the mountain in pure panic.
This was too much for first-years to handle.
And Faye was there as well.
Without hesitation, Silver broke into a run.
---
Some students tripped and fell.
Others, blinded by panic, stepped over them without looking back. Survival had taken over. No one waited.
No one stopped.Only fear remained.
And behind them— the herd was closing in fast.
Far faster than the students could escape.
"If no one stops them… every one of these students will die."
Silver's jaw tightened.
"This explained everything. Why the monsters had seemed scarce. Why the area had felt wrong from the moment they entered. The beasts hadn't disappeared— it was the herd of monsters for the worse."
"What could had be the reason for such a stampede."
The creatures weren't individually high-ranked.But their numbers made them deadly.
Dozens, and hundreds of orange-red serpent-like beasts with four clawed legs rushed across the ground.
And they were already upon them.
Silver burst into speed and drew the academy-issued sword.
With one clean downward slash— the first beast split diagonally in two.
The blade continued through the next. And the next. Bodies dropped instantly.
By the time she turned back, the students had already run ahead.
Just as Silver moved to follow— Faye landed directly in front of her.
"You handled those beasts like they were nothing," Faye said quickly. "Good. We can cut through the herd together. But with this many students we need to move fast."
She looked back at the fleeing crowd.
"We have portable portals—but evacuating everyone would take too long. We need backup from the base."
Silver nodded,"Then contact them and keep moving. I'll cover you and the students."
Both understood instantly. Faye sprinted ahead. Silver followed close behind, cutting down beasts while shielding students at the same time.
Faye was surprised Silver could keep pace with her.
"Yes... she had speed ability too… just like me."
Even in the middle of the chaos, the thought flashed through her mind.
"If things were not this serious… I'd want to see which of us is faster."
"But there's no time for that."
Faye activated the communicator while running. At the same time, she slashed down another charging beast.
"This is Sergeant Faye. Nathan! Do you Roger that, We need help at the Orange portal planet! Send help immediately. Nathan are you listening!"
Silence.
She tried again. That's when the message came— the communication satellite is dead.
Faye's eyes widened.
"What…?"
Her breath caught.
"How is that possible?"
Nathan—the captain responsible for the first-years should be stationed at the base. He should have answered instantly Knowing full well that it's an orange planet.
But the line was dead. No one was receiving. No one was there.
Faye immediately turned to Silver.
"Something's wrong. The base isn't responding."
"We have no other option. We need to set the portable teleporter fast," Faye said.
Silver nodded.
"Go ahead and establish it where the students are heading—near the mountain."
Silver commanded.
"I'll handle the rescue and keep the herd back."
"Got it." Faye answered without hesitation and rushed ahead.
---
Dell's class remained at the very front——running desperately toward the mountain.
But the other classes were still behind. And the monster herd kept coming.
"Closer… faster…" Layla muttered to herself as she forced her tired legs forward. But no matter how hard she tried, she was beginning to slow down. Her breathing had turned ragged, and every inhale burned in her chest. I'm already exhausted… I can't keep this pace much longer.
Meanwhile, Fex, Vicky, and Logan were doing fine and keeping up their speed without much trouble. Fex glanced over his shoulder and quickly noticed Layla and Peter falling behind. Peter was still carrying the heavy bag while Layla was struggling as she ran.
Fex slowed his pace and rushed back toward Layla. Before she could react, he picked her up in his arms and immediately continued running.
"Hey, Fex… you didn't have to do that. I could've managed," Layla said in surprise, her cheeks turning red.
Fex kept his eyes ahead while running. "Yeah, I could clearly see you were struggling. Besides, I can reach the mountain faster if I carry you."
Layla blinked and quickly looked away, embarrassed, while trying to ignore how fast her heart was suddenly beating.
"Hey, but what about me?" Peter shouted in disbelief while still carrying the bag.
Vicky turned and looked at him with an amused expression. "Well, there's no way I'm carrying a weak man. In my opinion, this is your moment to break your limits."
Peter looked like he had just been personally betrayed. "Huh…"
Before he could complain further, something metallic suddenly grabbed the back of his shirt and lifted him into the air.
"Wait—what?!"
Peter was yanked forward at incredible speed.
It was Logan.
A mechanical arm extended from his equipment while he remained comfortably seated in his floating chair as if nothing unusual was happening.
Vicky glanced at him and smirked. "Well, aren't you the lazy one? Still slouching around on that comfy seat of yours."
Logan shrugged without concern. "It doesn't run on steam. It runs on my MC, so you don't have to worry about me."
Vicky grinned wider at that. "Good. Then let's see which one of us reaches the mountain first."
And with that, she pushed herself forward and burst ahead.
The others followed close behind, racing toward the mountain while the ground continued trembling beneath them and the herd kept closing in from behind.