Counter (2)

"Ta-Tanya… How long do you think we can keep this up?! I think that was the 10th one to come through the door, we can't afford to hold this choke point for much longer!" Penelope shouted as she finished off another knight with a lethal spell.

"Do not worry, even when you tire yourself out, I will still fight." Tanya may seem like she was still at full capacity, but truth be told, she was starting to feel the effects of fatigue. While she might not be as tired as Penelope and Erina, she had indeed expended much energy in holding back the two entrances to the room.

"The only good thing about this is that the skills they are dropping are decent. But what good will they do if we end up dead." Tanya murmured.

[Skill acquired: Iron Skin (high 2nd tier)]

[Skill acquired: Flame Blade (low 3rd tier)]

Tanya had indeed received many rewards from the fighting. As time went by and the knights rushed through the door, Tanya had obviously contributed the most to the kill count. However, the trio were only a trio.

"Tanya, Penelope, I can't believe that we will die here, let kill as many of these bastards as we can!" Erina had long since grown used to the scent of blood and had lost the sense of childish innocence about her. She resembled those fearsome frontline knights now, bearing her sword in retaliation to the enemy.

"Oh please… As if I can die in peace without sleeping with Tan." Penelope sighed.

"I promise you that if we get out of here alive, I will satisfy your requests for an entire night! So fight harder until you have nothing left! And if it does get to the point where we are on the brink of death, do not let these knights capture us alive. They are not the savoury type." Tanya had a serious look on her face, further magnified by the blood stains all over her once immaculate uniform.

BANG

CLANG

WOOSH

The sound of metal banging and bodies hitting the floor had echoed into the dormitory room. The grass on the outside had suddenly begun to fill up with blood and dark plated corpses on the ground. No other explanation was needed for this, The trio instantly knew what was happening.

"They came back!" Erina shouted in relief as she plunged her blade into another knight's neck.

"KILL THOSE STUDENTS! They might outnumber us and have us surrounded, but we are much more highly skilled!" The commander clenched his fist and ordered his band of 20 or so men to fight back.

"Tanya, I think this is the last knight…" Penelope fell down and leaned on the wall for support, having just finished off the 20th knight.

'I need to kill more magicians for spells… my options are only limited to 1st tiers, hmmph!' Tanya was aware of her shortcomings. While she may be an excellent melee combatant, her ranged abilities were only limited to a crossbow and some 1st tier ranged spells. Penelope on the other hand could cast a plethora of deadly long range projectile spells, showing the true advantage of a [War Mage].

'I feel as though I am on the verge of another ascension.'

"Tanya, I will provide ranged support from here. Go rest up, I don't want you overworking yourself…" Penelope placed her hand on Tanya's shoulder and kissed the latter on the forehead.

On the ground, the students and teacher were dominating. Since they were not surrounded and captured, they now had the upper hand. They were only defenceless because of the fact that the knights had them in a terrible position earlier. Now, they were surrounding the knights and had virtually no difficulty with engaging enmasse.

"Magic class students, fire all you have at the front knights!" Rosellia shouted, casting a powerful lightning spell at an unsuspecting knight.

"You no longer have the advantage of surprise! Die for what you've done!"

The student all began firing off their spells or building a defensive line in front of those who could.

The few teachers which remained alive were the main firepower, but the sheer volume of the students was what made the force formidable.

"Reinforcements from the middle building are coming to back us up!" A knight shouted as he pointed to the search squad that had just returned from the fire.

"Die." Yuri's face hid a twisted expression as she pointed her palm above the door frame of the middle building.

"[Radiant Blast]!"

A powerful beam of light hit the top of the door frame and blasted into the building, sending rubble falling down on the knights as they ran towards the battle.

"ARRRGH!" A few knights were crushed by heavy marble objects and were quite literally, left in the dust.

'If don't like Tanya, you do not deserve to live.' Yuri had concluded. The space within her heart allowed her to accept many people for who they are. Yuri had loved her parents and had made many friendly acquaintances through her natural sweet charm. An angel that accepted everyone, but was attracted to none.

Tanya had changed this. Suddenly, Yuri no longer spoke to the people she may have once tolerated. She had instead chosen from a smaller group of friends, instead of having an army of people she just knew favourably. She had discovered friendship and what it meant to long for something. She would never forgive anyone who wanted to harm Tanya.

'Maybe Tanya will give me a kiss on the lips when this is over… my heart is beating so fast just thinking about it!' Yuri squealed innocently inside her heart.

"This-this! This is not what was supposed to happen! A SIMPLE MISSION HE TOLD US! A SIMPLE MISSION!" The commander yelled with an insane expression.

"You kids… I WILL KILL YOU ALL!"

TWANG

"Urghh…"