episode_0164

“Everyone. Fulfill. Your mission.”

At the chilling echo, the assailants were reminded of the mission’s essence.

It was for a single purpose.

‘Destroy the Academy.’

The mission content was simple.

Infiltrate the academy without being detected, and make contact with the designated target.

Afterward, they were to re-germinate the seed of destruction.

The target who would become the sacrifice was as follows.

“Target… Regia Filers.”

Regia Filers.

A girl known to wield a dragon as a summoned beast.

Samples related to dragons were extremely rare.

Moreover, a strength that was said to become near omnipotent once fully grown.

The cult aimed for such power.

This mission was not a kidnapping.

After making contact with the target, they planned to proceed with the ritual right there.

A ritual to inject demonic energy into the subject and dye their essence black.

It was a process commonly known as [Corruption].

After subduing the weakened target and forcibly performing the ritual, the defiled essence would soon transform into a monster.

In short, it was a plan to inject demonic energy and turn the subject into a chimera-like being.

‘If only that happens.’

A corrupted dragon.

They would be able to bring such a disaster down in the middle of the Academy.

The Death Dragon sealed in the underground temple… perhaps, they might even summon something more horrifying than that.

Regia had been targeted by the cult all along for the following reason as well.

Because the dragon, as a sample, possessed infinite possibilities.

Especially now, when the summoned beast had not yet awakened into a complete adult.

It was nothing short of a golden opportunity for the cult.

‘Today… the lineage of Galimar ends.’

The reason for their obsession with the Academy was simple.

Because it was a place that had become a symbol of peace after the Great War, which had left a huge scar on the Empire.

Dark magic is a discipline that feeds on fear.

Each time people lost hope and learned despair, the aura of evil became a little clearer.

This was precisely why the cult, from their perspective, absolutely had to collapse the Academy and the Great Cathedral.

To approach their long-held desire.

“Only. For. His. Revival.”

The Gravedigger muttered as if in prayer.

He hadn’t even considered the possibility of the mission failing.

Because they were going to move within a thoroughly prepared plan.

For this mission, they even borrowed hands from outside.

‘The Entrepreneur, and Benity.’

Two factions cooperated.

Currently, beside the Gravedigger stood the ‘Hounds,’ known as the Entrepreneur’s direct subordinates.

Furthermore, within the academy, there were also informants planted by Benity.

They investigated the academy’s security situation and the target’s schedule, informing them of the appropriate time for execution.

Thanks to this, the mission proceeded without a hitch.

The Gravedigger tore the scroll he took from his pocket.

*Rip!*

The parchment ripped with a sharp, piercing sound.

Immediately after, the assailants’ forms vanished.

It was a magic that completely erased the presence of the designated subject.

This was an artifact found in a corner of the labyrinth, and it, too, contained ancient mysteries.

It was also an item they had carefully preserved for several years for today’s operation.

The assailants crossed the academy grounds.

“Time. 17 minutes.”

They had a grace period of merely about 20 minutes.

If they exceeded that limit, faculty members who detected the anomaly would rush over.

Even if the Gravedigger was considered a strong figure within the cult.

If the number of faculty members exceeded ten, guaranteeing victory would be difficult.

They would have to complete the mission and leave within at least 15 minutes.

It wasn’t ample time, but it wasn’t so tight as to cause issues.

Because it was enough time to corrupt one incapacitated student.

The Gravedigger stepped forward.

His gaze was directed towards the alley on the opposite side.

*Thump thump.*

Footsteps grew steadily closer.

Before long, pink hair came into the assailants’ sight.

The target was on her way back to the dormitory after finishing training.

The Gravedigger, who had been tailing her, then signaled.

“The funeral. Commences.”

A voice that was eerily sinister.

The shadows spread across the roadside began to move all at once.

***

Meanwhile.

Regia, having finished her training, was returning to her dormitory.

The training had been so intense that she had exhausted all her energy.

Thanks to this, the girl’s steps were wobbly like a sick chicken.

The desire to collapse onto her bed immediately flickered in her mind.

The pilot exhaled softly.

“Phew… Still tough.”

Recently, Regia had been overworking herself a lot.

One might say she pushed her own abilities to their limits.

Thanks to this, it was common for her to have no strength left to even walk after finishing her day’s schedule, just like now.

There was a reason for her obsession with training.

It was none other than a certain boy.

‘Yuda Snakers.’

A person who was like a benefactor to Regia.

After seeing him in a wheelchair, the girl received strong motivation.

It was the fervent desire to become strong enough to protect someone.

At the time the boy was continuing his fight somewhere.

She hadn’t been able to be by his side.

She didn’t want to experience such frustration anymore.

She wanted to become someone who could be trusted and relied upon by others.

Therefore, the girl put in effort.

“……Still, it’s rewarding.”

Perhaps it was a response to her admirable dedication?

Regia was indeed growing stronger.

Her bond with her summoned beast had grown stronger than before, and she had mastered most basic magic.

Now, if her condition was good, she could even overwhelm professors.

The girl smiled with a touch of pride.

“Hehe…”

Her fingers moved instinctively.

Regia toyed with the ring on her left ring finger.

A faint light dyed the girl’s cheeks slightly red.

As she turned into the alley, immersed in such thoughts.

“……?”

A chilling sensation swept down her spine.

She didn’t particularly sense any human presence.

However… an indescribable sense of unease tickled the back of her neck.

Regia quietly turned her head and scanned her surroundings.

The surrounding scenery was that of an unremarkable academy.

The approaching spring, lush green bushes, sunlight filtering through tree branches.

And the sky, slowly setting into a blue and red twilight.

And…

A strange stillness that had settled over the entire alley.

“…….”

No sound could be heard.

Even the chirping of birds that had been cheerfully singing just moments ago.

Even the rustling whispers of the bushes now and then.

Even the clattering of daily life from afar, all of it.

‘Something…’

Something was wrong.

The girl hurriedly began to guard her surroundings.

But it was already too late.

A whip flying from somewhere bound the girl’s body.

At the same time, a reddish light isolated the surroundings.

*Clatter!*

“Ugh…?!”

Arms, legs, neck, waist.

Ropes binding every part of her body without missing a single spot.

Regia, flustered, tried to resist, but strangely, her body had no strength.

No matter how much she focused, she couldn’t draw forth mana.

This was due to the ‘Dispel’ magic coating the whip.

Thanks to this, the girl couldn’t even use her specialty, summoning magic.

“U-Ugh…!”

Regia struggled desperately.

Normally, she would have somehow freed herself from the binds, but currently, her energy was depleted.

Her helpless movements merely resulted in her sprawling on the ground.

In front of the girl stood unidentified assailants.

An eerie murderous aura swirled around them.

‘Dangerous.’

There was no way out.

She tried to call for help outside the alley, but her voice couldn’t properly carry.

Regia’s voice was muted due to the barrier’s effect.

*Thump.*

As she lost strength from her futile resistance, a man soon approached.

Judging by his attire, he appeared to be the leader of the group.

Something viscous was dripping from his ragged, covered hand.

It was none other than demonic energy.

“Sacrifice. Destruction. Will. Now. Be carried out.”

An echo seemingly boiling with malice.

The shadow then directed his palm, filled with demonic energy, towards the girl.

A dreadful stench, and terror, engulfed the entire alley.

The creeping shadow targeted the girl.

There was no way to escape.

Regia unconsciously closed her eyes.

*Crack!*

However.

The hand the man had extended was violently flung back.

Sparks originating from somewhere repelled the demonic energy.

‘Ring of Fate.’

The accessory, sensing danger, had deployed an instantaneous defense.

The ring on her finger soon shattered.

Being a consumable item, it immediately disappeared.

As she watched the green light crumble like dust, a voice suddenly brushed past her ear.

-You… kept wearing the ring.

-Please make sure to carry it with you. Don’t forget it, and don’t lose it.

-One day, it will protect you, Regia.

The light vanished from Regia’s eyes.

Though the attack was miraculously blocked, nothing had changed.

She was still unable to even counterattack.

The opponent in front of her merely shook his stinging hand and unleashed demonic energy once more.

The time the ring had bought was merely about 10 seconds.

The girl was helpless against the approaching death.

“Calamity. Dragon. Be reborn.”

Following the continuous chant, the sky gradually darkened.

By then, no trace of the ring remained.

Just 10 seconds.

“Hey, you guys.”

But.

Those 10 seconds were enough to create time for someone to intervene.

At the end of the alley, a shadow flickered.

A red line bisected the air.

*Slice!*

A strike delivered without a moment to react.

The man quickly ducked his head.

Unlike a few who reacted swiftly, some members of the group had their heads severed.

They hadn’t been able to evade it. The cut was chillingly clean.

The man conducting the ritual slowly turned around.

“…….”

“What are you doing to our kid?”

There stood a fox.

A fox, wreathed in deep crimson flames, with a sword pointed.

She glared at the man with fierce eyes.

The flickering flames drove away the darkness.

“Stop your nonsense and get out.”

It was the arrival of reinforcements.