The number of comatose individuals in the school is increasing—more precisely, more are being discovered as comatose, and now, it's evidently impossible to hold classes.
Due to a large number of students and a few teachers falling into a deep sleep, the infirmary doesn't have enough space to accommodate them. Professors can only entrust students and teachers who can still move to bring beds and stretchers from various areas, placing the students directly in the teaching building.
Some teachers began acting as assistants to medical staff, helping those responsible for healthcare, while another group of teachers straightforwardly abandoned patrols and stationed themselves outside the teaching building.
The spirits' attacks haven't weakened, but… there aren't many places left to defend.
"Damn... That mastermind merely attacked once, leading to such losses… If..."
"Stop letting your imagination run wild! Morale, understand morale!"
A few exhausted teachers talking about "darkness" and "coma" sat on the bench, their tones heavy, clearly pessimistic about the future.
The mastermind hasn't even acted personally, and Duel Academy has already almost lost most of its people. If this continues...
However, only Tenjo Hikari understands.
This isn't just [an attack]; rather than calling it an attack, it's merely the "omen" of the darkness descending...
Next, apart from a few still-able individuals, the rest likely won't be able to endure.
Tenjo Hikari pinched his brow.
In reality, even Tenjo Hikari himself has been affected by the power of darkness. If not for memories conflicting too much with his own, he might not have realized it at that time.
That instance was just casually added.
If during this period, darkness implanted some strange memories, even he wouldn't be immune.
There's fear that further protective measures are necessary.
He quietly started calculating, contemplating how to carry out more protective alchemy, how to protect more classmates, and how to help more people resist mental attacks...
At this moment, inside the academy's cave.
Ed directed the Phoenixman to defeat a spirit, having Phoenixman grab it to interrogate its dimension and reason for coming. Confirming it wasn't innocent, he decisively chose to eliminate it.
While others hurried to the teachers' dorms due to chaos caused by Professors Paladin and Moushou, Ed was exploring across Duel Academy Island.
The main direction of investigation was some positions and locations in Professor Seraph's "Apocalypse Record," where Ed discovered many upper-level spirits, which were the main force of the spirit invasion. Eliminating them could save a lot of effort for Duel Academy.
However, even after dealing with another spirit, Ed felt no relaxation.
Previously, a weird power swept through him, causing him to lose focus during a duel, nearly collapsing. Fortunately, that power came quickly and left quickly, not enough to make him fall.
Nonetheless, after the duel ended, his worry increased.
As he left the cave and headed towards the Duel Academy teaching building, his concern became more apparent.
No patrolling teachers could be seen on the way, and exploring students had completely disappeared, making his worry more evident.
Could it be…
The "Apocalypse Record's" omen of the coming of "Darkness"?!
His expression turned grim.
Because he preferred working alone, after researching Seraph's "Apocalypse Record" with Tenjo Hikari and Manjome, they split into two groups to handle matters within the school.
In the morning when he learned about "Professor Paladin attacking Professor Moushou," Ed vaguely sensed the matter might not be understood the same way by the students, because he vaguely remembered Seraph's record having accounts of professors like Paladin, Cobra, and Moushou.
Therefore, when Tenjo Hikari told him not to worry, he resolutely left the school to clear spirits.
Now, it seems that matter should have been easily resolved by Minister Tenjo.
But…
Even with Tenjo Hikari as the "umbrella," he couldn't withstand the flood.
[Omen]!
The existence called the God of Extinction by Professor Seraph is slowly descending upon this school!
He hurriedly returned to Duel Academy, greeted by countless collapsed, unconscious students on the ground.
Indeed—
His face was somber.
Afterward, he hurriedly shook his head.
No, the urgent task was to quickly find the Minister and them—
He inquired from multiple sources and found Tenjo Hikari, who was helping, slightly relaxing, and then seriously summoned them.
Seeing Ed safely return, Tenjo Hikari and the others sharply exhaled in relief.
Venturing alone on Duel Academy Island now was undoubtedly extremely dangerous. Being able to return safely was excellent news.
After all, they couldn't afford the loss of more personnel, especially the loss of strong support like Ed.
Honestly, the loss of Shou and Kenzan already pained Tenjo Hikari.
These two were really not bad, especially Shou; his coma made Tenjo Hikari feel the upcoming events would only become more difficult.
"Sigh—Senior Fubuki would have been great at a time like this," Tenjo Hikari remarked wistfully.
In critical moments, having a big brother like Fubuki around would undoubtedly comfort many people. At least, if Senior Fubuki were to console those few sobbing girls, they wouldn't feel as distressed.