Moving Forward

Professor James POV

James woke up groggily. His limbs were shackled.

He swept his gaze around the room, finding the unconscious Zain in a similar situation.

Instantly, he was reminded of the things he heard before he was knocked out. 

William and his group were escaping from the Academy. They were going to kill James and Zain after interrogating them.

'No. I can't let that happen.' His mind raced

He was ready to die when he snooped around the Academic Cell. However, he never wanted to bring harm to Zain.

As a teacher, his duty was to lead his students to a bright future. Not to their demise.

"The first one is up." One of the guards noticed them. When they came nearer, they saw that Zain was still unconscious, "Shit, how much dosage was he fed?"

The guard kicked Zain.

In response, Zain groaned. His breathing was shallow, he was as pale as a sheet and shivering uncontrollably. 

He wouldn't wake up, no matter how much the guards hit him.

If the guards didn't know that the poison was not lethal, they would've believed Zain was dying.

'I have to hurry up. His condition doesn't look good.' James was aware of Zain's deprecating health. It seems worse than his initial prediction.

James' palms were covered in molten flames.

The flames grew in an instant, transforming into a fiery red sword. James flicked his wrist and chopped the chains bounding him.

The guards were appalled.

Under the effect of paralyzing poison, James shouldn't have been able to move so quickly.

"Sound the alarm—"

The guard's words were cut off along with his torso.

James kicked the second guard, pushing him away from Zain.

"Hey, kid. Can you wake up?" James asked while stabilizing his breathing. 

As a Mutant, it was easier for James to activate his abilities when compared to other classes. 

If a Fighter or Magician was in a similar situation, they wouldn't have been able to call upon their internal energies.

But that was the extent of James' prowess. 

He wasn't a combat teacher, rather a scholar. His first attack landed by pure luck.

A group of guards rushed to the scene. They saw James and understood the situation. One of them rushed back to warn William.

James wanted to stop the guard, but he couldn't.

He raised his sword and stood between Zain and the remaining guards.

Two guards rushed at him from opposite sides.

James raised his sword to block the attack from the right side. The second guard used the opportunity to slash at his tendons.

At the same time, three arrows flew towards him.

The orders were to not kill James and Zain until interrogation was done. 

However, should the two retaliate, the guards were allowed to beat them until they were one step away from death.

James dodged the arrow aimed at his heart. The remaining ones hit his abdomen and thigh.

"Argh!" He groaned, swinging his sword at the guard who slipped past his defense.

The guard dodged the attack. He threw a dagger toward Zain before retreating.

James' body reacted instantly. He tensed his calves and jumped in the dagger's path.

Spurt!

"...Dammit," James cursed as he fell to his knees. Bright blood flowed through the injuries that riddled his body.

With the poison slowing his movements, this was the limit for him.

In the end, he would be the cause of a student's death. 

What use were his ideals?

He knew his students gossiped behind his back, called his names, yet he remained strict.

Someone like Mr. Walker was a thousand times better than him. 

Mr. Walker was a frivolous person, but he wouldn't have struggled to save a student if he was in James' situation.

He was a failure in the end.

"Don't think too hard." James heard a familiar voice. He saw Zain staring at him with clear eyes. "It's okay to fail."

Then, James lost his consciousness.

...

Zain POV

I repeated the words from the dream. They helped me sort out my thoughts.

The situation was clear to me. We were caught by William, the spy of Mythos Cult.

Professor James got hurt while trying to save me.

I chuckled lightly. He should've used that energy to escape by himself.

He would've failed and been caught by the Mythos Cult bastards. But it was better than sacrificing himself for a student he knew for less than a week.

The guards eyed me warily. My shackles were cut by Professor James, making them cautious.

"Hehe, it hurts like hell." I tried to ignore the pain and shifted my focus to the guards.

I was going to die. It wouldn't matter if I fought here or not.

But.

"I don't like leaving someone who tried to save me." 

Mana flooded into my veins like a tsunami. Red mist gushed out of my skin as I used my skill [Puri Puri Mist]. The skill converted my blood into blood mist.

"Give up! We are in the innermost part of the warehouse! Even if you defeat us, you'll need to fight more of us if you want to escape!" The guards threatened me.

"How many of them are there?" I asked.

"Thirty-three. All of them are Grade 2, one is Grade 3 and I can't determine the strength of the last one." Nutless appeared beside me.

"What about the rescue? You didn't inform any authority about the kidnapping?" I put Professor James on the ground carefully. 

"Who are you talking to!?" The guards grew restless as they couldn't see Nutless.

"I did, but this place is hidden and secured. It will take time for the rescue to arrive. There is a 98.73% chance that these people will escape before then," Nutless answered.

"So I either stall until then or take them out myself." 

Fuck, what was this absurd difficulty? All of the guards were at least as strong as me. 

I had to defeat them with one foot in the grave.

"Bastard, I told you to shut up!" The guard at the forefront rushed at me.

However, at the last second, his movements grew abnormally slow.

I didn't miss the chance and shot the Godsbane needle through his head.

Thud!

He fell to the ground.

My stomach churned as the guard's blood spread on the ground. 

He had a gaping hole in his head and his eyes were still staring ahead, as if he hadn't realized he was dead.

I suppressed my thoughts. 

I could think after I had saved Professor James.

The other four guards attacked instantly.

Their movements were slow. 

They had inhaled the blood mist, which carried the paralyzing poison present in my blood.

I moved quickly. The infected blood had left my system, making me clear-headed. And the skill Poison Resistance bolstered my defenses.

"You fucker!" The guard next to the one I killed threw daggers at me.

I rolled to the side.

At the same time, the Godsbane needle punctured his left leg. 

As he fell, I opened the Magic Pocket, took out a card, and flicked it at his forehead, killing him instantly.

The shooters in the back had their visibility hindered due to the blood mist.

They were easy prey in that state. The Godsbane Needle slithered like a silver shadow and reaped their lives.

[Grade 2 Metahuman (14) defeated. Gained 220 exp.]

[Grade 2 Metahuman (12) defeated. Gained 210 exp.]

[Grade 2 Metahuman (11) defeated. Gained 200 exp.]

[Grade 2 Metahuman (12) defeated. Gained 210 exp.]

[Grade 2 Metahuman (13) defeated. Gained 215 exp.]

Killing was laughably easy compared to my worries. I had made a mountain out of a molehill.

Just as I tried to say those words, gastric juices rose through my throat. 

"Blergh!" 

"Master shouldn't use his mist ability too much." Nutless waited to speak until I was done. 

Puri Puri Mist converted my blood into blood mist. The blood was altered, it couldn't be tracked back to me. But the skill had a huge weakness.

The lost blood wasn't magically recovered. 

If used without restraint, it could kill its user.

I wiped my sweat.

My condition was becoming worse by the second. I didn't have much time left.

"Hehe, don't underestimate a rotten water."