Episode 717
A loud crash echoed through the alchemy lab as Serena, her body transformed into metal, and Shadia, gripping a dagger in reverse, glared at each other, their energies clashing in the air.
Behind them, Zion and Aaron, the head of security for Pannotia, shifted nervously, caught in the tense standoff between the two professors. In contrast, Himmel, the martial arts instructor, watched the confrontation with his arms crossed, clearly intrigued.
Serena broke the silence first, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Still can’t shake those habits from Salmak, can you? Always reaching for a blade when things don’t go your way.”
Shadia shot back, “And you think being from the mafia makes you any classier?”
Neither woman showed any sign of backing down. Typically, it was Zion who caused trouble in the special abilities department, but this time, it was Serena, usually the peacemaker, who was on edge.
Just then, a voice devoid of emotion rang out from the doorway. “Threat detected.”
Everyone in the room turned in surprise to see a girl with violet hair and eyes standing there in uniform. Aaron’s eyes widened in recognition. “Lara?”
Two more girls, identical in appearance and wearing the same uniform, stood against the wall. These were Lara, Lami, and Luda, the triplet guardians of Pannotia.
A low hum filled the room. “Eliminating threat,” the girls intoned as magical circles began to form around them. Zion, alarmed, shouted, “Hey, hey! You inflexible sisters! No, no! They’re not a threat!”
Knowing the terrifying power of the triplets’ infinite magic, Serena and Shadia quickly disarmed. The magical circles around the triplets faded away, and everyone, including Aaron, Serena, and Shadia, breathed a sigh of relief.
At that moment, Al, Jeff, and Alice entered the room. Seeing the situation had been defused by the triplets’ arrival, Alice shook her head at Al and Jeff. “See? I told you they wouldn’t actually fight. Good thing, too. I almost used Lightning Thunder in a panic. Imagine the mess that would have caused.”
Hearing Alice casually mention nearly using a high-powered 7th-circle light spell, everyone in the room, including Serena and Shadia, turned pale. Zion, who had watched Alice grow up, shook his head slightly. “Honestly, Alice is the second most dangerous person here after the principal.”
Satisfied that everything was under control, Alice hummed a tune as she headed back to the courtyard. The triplet guardians, expressionless as ever, also left the lab. Once they were gone, those remaining in the room finally exhaled in relief.
Shadia sheathed her dagger and addressed Serena. “Anyway, for the upcoming martial arts battle, the alchemy department will team up with our assassination defense department.”
Serena shook her head. “That’s ridiculous. Alchemy pairs best with the special abilities department. Why don’t you team up with the necromancy department? You both have that gloomy vibe.”
Shadia’s hand moved toward her dagger again, but Himmel, who had been watching, intervened. “Hold on. Alchemy should team up with our martial arts department. That way, we can recreate Ishtar’s secret techniques…”
Zion, alarmed, waved his hands. “Whoa, whoa! Calm down! Teaching the kids Ishtar’s deadly techniques could lead to disaster!”
What had started as a martial arts battle to assess student skills had turned into a battle of egos among the professors, each trying to secure the best combination of departments for their students.
Aaron, the only one still thinking clearly, stepped in to mediate. “Let’s stop this. Instead of us deciding, why don’t we let the students form their own teams?”
Though the professors were still disgruntled, they agreed it was best to step back for now. As Shadia left the lab, she shot Serena a warning look. “Tell your special abilities students to watch their backs.”
Serena smirked. “Funny. Don’t you know we have the Three-Eyed students on our side? We don’t have a ‘back.’”
With the professors gone, Al and Jeff finally relaxed. “Jeff, I think our past misdeeds are catching up with us.”
“Past? Didn’t we just cause trouble recently?”
“It’s a figure of speech, you idiot.”
As Al and Jeff bickered, the wall shimmered, and someone emerged from it. It was none other than Jason, the head of the magic department.
“Jason? What’s going on?” Al asked, surprised.
Jason cast a soundproof barrier and whispered conspiratorially to Al and Jeff. “If you pair up with our students this time, I’ll make sure the alchemy department gets a bigger budget next semester.”
Al and Jeff exchanged a glance, clearly tempted by Jason’s offer. Thus, the academy’s martial arts battle was becoming a web of schemes and intrigue.
“Are you suggesting we hold the martial arts battle as a real-time strategy event in a dungeon instead of a tournament?” Professor Yulina, who was chairing the faculty meeting, asked Richmond.
Richmond nodded cautiously. “Yes, I think the traditional tournament format doesn’t quite capture the current trends. This way, we can better assess the students’ overall judgment and quick thinking.”
The other professors quickly calculated how Richmond’s proposed format would benefit their own students. Jason, the head of the magic department, was the first to speak up. “I agree. It’s a great idea.”
Across the room, Cloné, the head of the knight department, stood up abruptly. “Agree, my foot! How is this supposed to be a fair assessment? Let’s just scrap the whole thing!”
Shadia, in charge of assassination defense, clicked her tongue at Cloné. “Looks like the knights aren’t too confident in their reflexes. I guess they do seem a bit outdated these days.”
“What? Want to see how outdated a mace to the head feels?” Cloné retorted, his tone heated.
As the two squared off, Arina, who had been silent, raised her hand. A massive cloud formed on the ceiling of the meeting room, crackling with electricity. Cloné and Shadia quickly sat down, knowing that even the most stubborn would yield before a 9th-circle archmage.
Arina surveyed the now-quiet room and smiled at Richmond. “It sounds interesting. Let’s proceed with this plan.”
With the principal’s approval, no one dared to object, and the meeting concluded. As the professors left, their minds raced, strategizing the best combinations of students for optimal results.
“Professor Richmond, could you stay for a moment?” Arina’s voice stopped Richmond in his tracks as he was about to leave with the others.
Left alone with Arina in the spacious meeting room, Richmond felt a twinge of fear. As he wondered what was going on, Arina cast a soundproof barrier and asked, “So, have you made any progress with all this commotion?”
Richmond hesitated, his eyes darting around. “Progress, well…”
“Just tell me whatever you have,” she encouraged.
After a moment’s pause, Richmond replied, “I’ve noticed a few students who seem suspicious.”
He pulled a document from his pocket and handed it to Arina. As she reviewed the security report, her eyes widened. “If this is true, it could have serious repercussions.”
“Yes, that’s why I was hesitant to bring it up. But objectively, there are some suspicious circumstances…”
Arina closed the report and nodded. “I’ll leave everything to you, Professor Richmond. Proceed as you see fit.”
Richmond was taken aback. “Are you sure about that?”
“This is the best approach for now. Astaroth is quick to catch on. If I get involved, he might flee, making it harder to catch him.”
Richmond nodded in understanding. “Understood. I’ll narrow down the investigation during the martial arts dungeon battle.”
With a determined nod, he left the meeting room after bidding Arina farewell.
Alone, Arina pondered the document Richmond had shown her, her expression serious. “If Richmond’s suspicions about Astaroth are correct, his audacity is undeniable.”
She rose slowly, knowing she had her own preparations to make to ensure Astaroth couldn’t escape Pannotia. “He’ll pay dearly for defiling Pannotia.”
A chilling smile spread across her face, a hint of menace in her eyes.
“Hmm…”
The sound of stones being shuffled filled the dimly lit room as someone pondered over a Go board. After a moment of contemplation, a single stone was placed on the chaotic board. Miraculously, that one move turned the tide, transforming a losing game into a winning one.
The figure, face obscured by a hooded robe, nodded in satisfaction at the board. He murmured to himself, “A martial arts battle in the dungeon, huh? It’s a predictable move, but it has its merits.”
Rising from his seat, he moved to a corner of the room. As he extended his hand, the wall split open, revealing a hidden crystal orb. Placing his hand on the orb, its color shifted, and an image appeared.
A rugged man with a scruffy beard, clad in a worn uniform, materialized within the orb. As he began to speak, his voice resonated from the crystal.
”…I thought you might have been compromised since I hadn’t heard from you.”
The robed figure smirked at the man in the orb. “You’re worrying too much.”
He continued with a hint of mockery in his voice, “How did you find the last shipment?”
The voice from the orb responded, ”…Better than before. With that level of performance, I’m inclined to proceed with the deal.”
The robed figure shook his head. “Just because you want it doesn’t mean the deal is done. Everything has its price, doesn’t it?”
The man in the orb bit his lip before speaking again. “Are you proposing the same terms as before?”
“My terms remain unchanged. Bring me a relic or an artifact of equal value, and I’ll provide the unlocked integrated circuit.”
After a moment of hesitation, the man in the orb nodded. ”…Understood. I’ll inform you once the item is secured. But the performance of the goods must be guaranteed.”
The robed figure nodded in agreement. “Of course. I’ll be waiting.”
With that, he ended the conversation, shutting off the orb and concealing it back within the wall. Returning to his seat, he gazed at the Go board, idly fingering the stones.
“It seems the headmaster is up to something… and he’s put Richmond forward.”
He placed another stone in the center of the board. This time, the move was a blunder, worsening his position. The robed figure’s eyes gleamed as he studied the board.
“Headmaster, whatever you’re planning, Richmond will be your downfall.”
His eyes, now glowing red, transformed into the eyes of a demon. Astaroth, the demon coiled within the depths of Pannotia, was meticulously advancing his schemes from a hidden lair where no one could find him.