Part Thirty-Five

The battlefield evolves into a crucible of strategy and raw power as Nessa observes from a distance, her eyes shimmering with interest. "Hmmm~ Let's see how he deals with this~," she muses, a hint of anticipation in her voice. As Alik and Lia momentarily retreat, Nessa gestures deftly, manipulating the flame pillars to grind against the ground as they encircle Thaddeus. The pillars of fire merge, their chains intertwining to form a formidable cage around him, binding him with hundreds of fire chains.

Alik, his grin wide with excitement, revels in the moment. "Hahahaha! Not so calm now, huh?" he exclaims, his voice echoing with triumph. He slams his arm into the ground, activating his attribute, "Scythe of War." Along with this, he employs his skill "Giant's Growth," amplifying the potency of his attack. From the earth, he wrenches a colossal scythe, its blade made of burning obsidian. The scythe, enshrouded in flames that mirror the fiery hue of Alik's hair, is a terrifying sight, exuding a sense of dread and power.

Lia, maintaining a strategic distance, unleashes her chains, skillfully manipulating them to form a secondary barrier, ensuring that Thaddeus has no avenue for escape. "This should be enough," she states, her voice firm and resolute.

Trapped and immobilized by the fiery chains and Lia's relentless assault, Thaddeus exhales a resigned sigh. With a swift blink, he conjures magic shields all around him, enveloping himself in a protective aura. "You kids are strong for your age," he acknowledges, his voice tinged with a mixture of respect and pity.

Alik's response is brash and confident. "You're too weak for your age, old man!" he retorts, his eyes gleaming with fervor. Gripping the massive scythe, he swings it horizontally with immense force. The scythe, a behemoth of a weapon, cuts through the air with a terrifying ease, its blade a torrent of burning obsidian and flame. The fire dances along its edge, casting a sinister glow on everything it touches.

As the scythe moves through the air, it creates a wave of heat and light, the flames licking the air with an intensity that could melt steel. The ground beneath the scythe's path cracks and smolders.

The battle reaches its zenith, a crescendo of raw energy and unyielding resolve as Orion pours every ounce of his power into the colossal sword. The great sword descends from the clouds with a terrifying presence, its silhouette casting a foreboding shadow over the entire academy.

Simultaneously, Alik's scythe cleaves through the air with a ferocity that is both awe-inspiring and horrifying. Its path leaves destruction in its wake, slicing debris in half effortlessly. The scythe's intense heat incinerates any monsters or students unfortunate enough to be nearby, leaving nothing but scorched earth where they once stood.

At this critical moment, Thaddeus stands as the last bastion against the onslaught. With a determined grunt, he breaks free from the chains binding him, his movements a display of sheer willpower. He raises one hand upwards and stretches the other across, tirelessly reinforcing his two magic shields as the dual attacks bear down upon him.

The collision of the scythe and the sword with Thaddeus's shields creates an explosion of fire and energy. A massive wall of flames erupts, sweeping across the academy in a horizontal inferno that sears everything in its path. The sheer force of the impact pushes Thaddeus downwards, the ground beneath him cratering under the immense pressure.

Thaddeus's muscles strain and pop under the unbearable stress, his focus unwavering as he counters the scythe with one hand. His efforts send the scythe recoiling, but the relentless pressure from Orion's colossal sword bears down on him, threatening to crush him with its overwhelming might.

With every ounce of strength, Thaddeus pushes against the descending sword, his magic shield fracturing under the immense force. The energy released from the clash is colossal, visible and palpable even at great distances. The shockwave extends outward, a physical manifestation of the battle's intensity.

Thaddeus's resolve is unbreakable, even as his shield shatters. With bare hands scorched to the bone, he coughs blood as he holds up the massive sword, grunting with exertion. The struggle is Herculean, a test of endurance and strength against impossible odds.

But the sword's relentless descent proves too much. In a devastating moment, it pierces through Thaddeus's shoulder, ripping a massive portion from his body. Blood gushes from the grievous wound, painting a stark contrast against the scorched battlefield.

Despite the catastrophic injury, Thaddeus remains standing, his breathing heavy and labored, his body wracked with pain. He stands firmly, a testament to his indomitable spirit, unwilling to yield even in the face of such overwhelming destruction.

Nessa, with a look of surprise that quickly morphs into amusement, blinks and smiles broadly. "Wow~ Seriously, I didn't think you would survive that," she remarks, a tone of genuine astonishment lacing her words. Rising to her feet, she stretches leisurely, as if the life-and-death struggle before her was no more than a spectacle for her entertainment.

As they approach the severely wounded Thaddeus, Lia suddenly interjects, cautioning Alik, who seems poised to charge. "Don't," she says firmly. "He won't be able to move right now; his body took too much damage." Acknowledging her words, they continue to advance toward Thaddeus, who, despite his grave injuries, maintains a defiant glare, tinged with disappointment.

Nessa, closing the distance, addresses Thaddeus with a cold, commanding tone. "Save your breaths, old man," she says sharply. Her eyes, icy and unyielding, bore into him as she demands, "Tell us the location of the key. I've gotten bored." Her impatience is palpable, a clear indication of her desire to conclude this confrontation.

In response, Thaddeus smirks, the action strained due to his injuries. "You poor souls are so talented. It's a shame you're being controlled by a beast that intends on killing you," he retorts, his voice weak but filled with conviction. His statement reflects a mix of pity and frustration towards his young adversaries.

Lia, unphased by Thaddeus's words, reaches into her bag and retrieves a container. Inside lies a sinister tool of coercion. "You'll tell us whether you like it or not," she states coldly, her resolve unwavering.

Nessa, with a morbid curiosity, moves to Thaddeus's side and tastes his blood. "Ugh, it tastes bad," she comments disdainfully, poking at an exposed lung with a lack of empathy. Her actions are a chilling display of her callous nature.

Lia, holding a maggot in her hand, approaches Thaddeus with a menacing intent. She forcefully opens his mouth and stuffs the parasite inside. The maggot begins its sinister journey towards Thaddeus's brain.

Orion, exhausted to his core, staggers towards the group and collapses, gasping, "I used... All my energy..." His voice is strained, reflecting the immense toll the battle has taken on him. He lies on the ground, utterly spent and immobile.

Nessa, ever the critic, looks down at Orion with a mix of amusement and disdain. "That attack was mid to be honest," she comments nonchalantly, unimpressed by the enormity of his effort. Orion, despite his exhaustion, manages a retort, clicking his tongue in annoyance. "I'm going to beat your ass when I can move!" he groans, but his words carry little weight in his debilitated state.

In response, Nessa playfully jumps on him, pinning him further to the ground. "No, you won't," she teases, her lighthearted demeanor contrasting sharply with the gravity of the situation around them.

Meanwhile, Alik inquires about their next move. "Are we going to kill him?" he asks, his tone serious and intent. Lia, maintaining her watchful gaze on Thaddeus, responds with calculated coldness. "We have no choice. At most, he'll lose control for a couple of minutes. His mentality is strong," she asserts, her voice betraying no emotion.

Thaddeus, despite his dire situation, grins defiantly. "Unfortunately, you're too late for that," he declares, hinting at an unforeseen development. At that moment, light footsteps are heard approaching. All eyes turn towards the source of the sound, revealing a young girl who looks no older than twelve, joining the scene.

The girl, exuding an aura of annoyance, surveys the damage with raised eyebrows. "Do you realize how much damage you've done to the place!?" she exclaims, her high-pitched voice filled with frustration. She is dressed casually, in a white shirt, brown cap, and shorts, her long, wavy hazel hair cascading down to her waist. Her sunglasses rest atop her head as she rubs her temples, clearly agitated. "Do you know how annoying it is to travel from the western sea all the way back here? My damn vacation was ruined!" she complains, kicking a rock in irritation.

Alik, unable to believe the audacity of the young girl, snorts dismissively and quickly approaches her. "Oi, you kid, get lost before—" he starts, but his threat is cut short. The girl, glaring at him with intense, white eyes, raises her small hand and waves it in front of him, uttering, "Get lost, you damn cultist."

As she waves her hand, a shocking and abrupt change occurs. In an instant, Alik's head vanishes, his body collapsing lifelessly to the ground. The girl, clicking her tongue in annoyance, steps over him nonchalantly, her presence exuding an inexplicable and formidable power.

Lia, Nessa, and Orion are left in utter shock, their eyes wide with disbelief and fear. 'W-what just happened? I couldn't see anything,' Nessa thinks to herself, her gaze fixed on the little girl who, despite her appearance of having no mana and being full of weak points, has just demonstrated a terrifying power.

Lia, her teeth gritted in frustration, commands Nessa to take action. "Shit, Nessa, hurry up and make a portal," she orders, her fist clenched so tightly that blood begins to seep from her hand. "We'll need to try again another time," she declares, recognizing the need for a tactical retreat.

Nessa, without hesitation, begins conjuring a portal, understanding the urgency of their situation. The air crackles with the energy of the forming gateway, their only escape from this unforeseen threat.

Meanwhile, the girl turns her glaring eyes towards Thaddeus. "You! I left you in charge, look at the damn academy! It's a mess!" she scolds him, her tone sharp with anger. Thaddeus, coughing up blood and still grinning, apologizes, "I'm sorry, Principal Moria. These kids have quite destructive attributes."

Moria, exasperated, rolls her eyes and sighs. "I told you to refer to me as 'Moria' dammit, when are you going to start listening to me?" she retorts, her annoyance palpable.

As Lia, carrying Orion and Nessa, creates a distance, attempting to escape Moria's wrath, Nessa's portal materializes, offering them a chance to flee. They move swiftly, seizing the opportunity to evade the formidable principal.

Moria, seemingly more upset about her interrupted vacation than the chaos around her, looks up at the rift in the sky, still spewing out monsters. With a simple gesture of her fingers, she effortlessly closes the rift.

Turning her attention back to Thaddeus, she chides him for taking a bet too seriously. "I told you that I was joking, don't take a bet so seriously! You can use your techniques without permission," she says, pointing her finger at his forehead. With a simple touch, she eliminates the parasite that was trying to control him.

Thaddeus, ever the stoic and principled man, responds, "I'm a man of my word." Moria, clearly frustrated with his stubbornness, rolls her eyes. "Because you're a man of your word, all this," she gestures to the surrounding destruction, "is coming out of your pay."

Moria, gazing at Thaddeus with a mixture of irritation and concern, lets out an exasperated sigh. "Look at you... Ugh, you're so stubborn," she laments, her frustration evident. Reaching into her belongings, she pulls out a healing potion and tosses it to him. The potion works its magic, temporarily closing his grievous wound and offering him some relief. "Now hurry up and deal with the mess you made," she instructs, throwing a robe at him to cover his injuries.

Professor Thaddeus, examining his fingers that have now reformed, hesitantly asks, "Can I use a technique?" His question seems to push Moria to the brink of exasperation. She dramatically grabs her face and falls to the ground, exclaiming, "I'm going to go insane with this man." Gathering her patience, she finally acquiesces, "Yes, use a damn technique, stubborn fool."

Thaddeus, showing gratitude, responds, "Thank you, Principal Moria," which only makes her cringe in apparent disgust. He then raises his hand, channeling his mana not to create a magic circle but to form an array. A bright golden array manifests, causing it to rain golden drops. These drops elegantly slice through all the monsters in the vicinity, while leaving the professors and other allies unharmed.

"There you are," Thaddeus mumbles, his eyes closed as he concentrates on his task. Lifting a finger, he conjures a top-tier magic arrow made of pure mana. With a flick of his finger, the arrow vanishes, speeding straight towards Lia and the others.

"Shit, shit, shit," Lia curses, sprinting through the academy at a high speed, attempting to evade the deadly projectile. Nessa, struggling with the portal, finally announces, "Got it, I don't know why there was so much interference." She opens the portal just in time for her and Lia to escape through it.

However, as the portal begins to close, the arrow, with unerring accuracy and lethal speed, pierces through the closing gateway. It slices Orion, who was lagging behind, into a pile of blood, leaving behind a gruesome scene as the portal snaps shut.