Chapter 8: Escaping the Bad End(5)

"Student Vadgailles Tashcun you are under arrest!"

["Chapter 1: Paglaum Opening Ceremony" will end in 00:15:36 minutes]

A notification that Vadgai should have used a sign of relief brought him dread instead.

That was because...

There was no other notifications.

Not even a single one that signified that the death flags had been apprehended. 

"Your highness!" Vadgai beaconed, his body moved faster, stronger, one that the instructors that have held him down didn't anticipate. Escaping their grasps, strength pooled in his heels.

Prince Liam who caught on to Vadgai's intention, activated his magic. Although a genius there was little to what he could do now. Not when he has yet to acquire the weapons and equipment he needs.

A gold barrier appeared before Freya, and Troy who was closest to the prince. However, that was his current limit.

He had no time, nor enough power to send a barrier in Azra's way. 

However, oddly enough, he wasn't all too worried.

Azra, who had just saw one of her longest friends die in such gruesome manner found herself in a warm embrace.

Screams erupted as fleshy parasitic zurge jumped out of the body of the apprehended students. The zurge that emerged from Lidia's body was ten times more hideous. 

And as much as it was hideous, it was fast, in its last few minutes of life it had launched an attack towards the target it was ordered to kill.

An attack to strong to counter with Vadgai's current magic, too fast to warn Azra, but...

It's weak enough not to kill him.

That was if he endured long enough for Freya and the instructors to heal him. After having used up all the pills in his possession, he would have to gamble-no, faith rather, to the pivotal characters.

Vadgai who had calculated all reasons, all options, found hugging himself hugging the girl in front of him as he braced the attack that seared his back. 

He could feel the erosive acid burn away the measly disciplinary uniform on him, the sharp claw marks lacerated his skin as the acid burned him outside-in.

[Passive skill "Poison Resistance" is recognizing zurge acid as poison! Skill is in effect]

[Current body condition is unable to support complete effect of skill. Detoxification is prolonged]

Ignoring the blue screens, Vadgai used the last drops of his mana on his manipulation and offensive magic. He had knocked back the zurge enough to isolate it from the rest.

The instructors were quick to move, the remaining students-now out of Vadgai's skill infuence- regained their senses, as they too begin to help. 

["Chapter 1: Paglaum Opening Ceremony" will end in 00:7:05 minutes]

[Death Flag have been apprehended]

[Death Flag have been apprehended]

[Death Flag have been apprehended]

Seeing the zurge fall one by one, Vadgai found his strength leaving him, the pain starting to creep in as [Coldblooded] was running out of time due to the mana depletion.

"Why... Why?"

A confused whisper echoed from underneath him. Azra concentrated her magic to his injuries, but the corrosion was faster than what her waning mana could counter.

Poison resistance had also yet to detoxify the acid, though Vadgai doubt the skill and Azra's attempt could recover the damage that have already been inflicted. 

Maybe because she knew of such a thing, she's desperately pooling her mana into him.

Wasn't this the same girl that have told him she hated him a few minutes ago? Shifting his gaze, his grey eyes saw teary ones, the same ones he had first seen when he opened his eyes in this world. 

If anything, rather than asking him, shouldn't Vadgai be the one to ask why.

Why was she's so desperately trying to keep him alive?

Atleast, for Vadgai his reasons were clear. Why did he save her? It was obvious, in order to reach the end of this world. The true ending. The key to success in every strategy. 

But he couldn't say that. The game wouldn't allow to, and a part of him refuse to. 

The lack of blood made it impossible to tell if it was what he, Jun, wanted or if it had been Vadgai's residual traits, but he was sure of one thing.

"...because you need to live to make a choice"

Azra who would be known as the human communication tower, the control center in the future...

Losing the strength in his arms, Vadgai started lean on to Azra for support, "the choice whether you stay here taking it lying down" his voice weak but firm "or fight"

Humanity's medulla.

Smirking at the sight of a woman with fiery hair at the pinnacle of her strength, one who have surpassed her potential. 

But for her to do that, she needs to escape the shackles bounding her. 

["Chapter 1: Paglaum Opening Ceremony" will end in 00:00:23 seconds]

["Chapter 1: Paglaum Opening Ceremony" ending is being calculated...]

Seeing the notifications he had been waiting for relief washed over him.

[All zurge in this episode have been apprehended!]

[Targets; Freya, Troy Gibbins and Azra Vermillian lived! Minor characters; 23 severely injured, 4 disabled, the remaining with light-moderate injuries]

[Calculating number of deaths...]

[Pivotal character deaths: NONE]

Although relieved, Vadgai no longer able to keep up with the rapidly changing texts, his breath grew noticeably faster, shallow, desperate.

[Coldblooded have been deactivated!]

And as if a puppets strings were cut all his weight shifted on Azra.

"Vadgai?" patting his shoulder Azra slowly raised her voice "hey, Vadgai, oi!" 

His conciousness was slipping away from him, the voices around him faint as he saw one last notification.

[Congratuations! "The Start of Hope" ending has been awarded!]

Vadgai's world turned dark.