311 - The Dance of Blades in the Tower
Nathan Evenhart:
"Kill them!" Sebastian shouted, his voice echoing through the tunnel walls.
Behind me, the elf Bron reacted with the speed of a veteran. He raised his bow, pulling an arrow taut as his mana flowed through the wood. The arrow glowed in shades of orange, and when released, it ignited midair, tracing a fiery arc before striking the ground in the middle of a horde of creatures—blue larvae the size of dogs. The explosion that followed consumed the magical beasts, reducing them to ashes.
Bron didn't stop. He slid across the ground with fluid speed, his steps smooth as he nocked another arrow, once again imbuing it with his fire mana. One after another, his arrows erupted in flames, turning the battlefield into a series of small bursts of light and heat.
"Whew!" Bron exclaimed, wiping the sweat from his forehead with a satisfied grin.
We were at a crossroads within the tunnel. Further ahead, the charred remains of creatures lay scattered across the uneven ground. I finally understood why we needed a trained team just to visit the museum inside the tower. Magical beasts emerged at random, rising from the depths, turning even a simple excursion into a mortal risk.
"I think that was the last of them on this side," Bron remarked, casually twirling his bow between his fingers, though his sharp eyes continued scanning the surroundings.
In every direction, the bodies of creatures lay strewn about, indicating that the other teams had dealt with their own groups. Bron, Syvis, Nora, and I had taken care of our share of the horde. Not far away, I saw Chloe and Tiffania finishing off their enemies. Everyone had wrapped up their fights almost simultaneously.
"I think we can move on," Syvis said, her breathing steady but her eyes still alert.
I observed her enchanted relic, a green sword resembling a bamboo stalk. Yet, its blade was unlike any I had ever seen. At times, it transformed into a flexible whip, snapping through the air with thorny vines sprouting along its length. At others, it hardened into a sturdy staff made of ancient wood.
Syvis could freely shape her relic, which was attuned to the plant element.
"The path continues this way," Nora pointed, her expression calm but watchful.
Though she was a mage specializing in construction magic, Nora had shown great talent as a Shooter Mage. During the battle, she wielded her wand with remarkable precision, manipulating the flow of water to create waves that slowed the creatures while the knights finished them off with clean strikes.
"We're in the Hall of Warrior Statues," Sebastian informed us, gesturing ahead.
The place was imposing. Light emanated from crystals embedded in the walls and ceilings, casting a faint blue glow, just enough to outline the sculpted figures along the corridor—warriors frozen in battle poses, carved with such precision that they seemed ready to spring to life at any moment.
"Can you throw a fireball to light up that hallway? I'm curious to see what's down there," I said, stepping closer to the prince.
He shot me a sharp look, his serious face twisting into an expression of disdain.
"I'm not your servant, Evenhart. If you want something, do it yourself."
"Okay..."
We kept walking until we reached the museum. Various paintings adorned the walls, skulls of creatures were displayed on wooden stands, and swords rested in the grip of ancient suits of armor. Red ropes marked the restricted areas. There were jars, vases, small statues, and even wooden toys displayed in cases.
"Just to remind you," Sebastian spoke, his tone firm. "Touching or taking anything from the museum is strictly forbidden. It's a serious crime."
"They are objects from another time," Syvis said in admiration, gazing at a wooden toy.
I looked at it.
"I think Thyra is going to get arrested," I muttered to Chloe, who laughed.
"She'll definitely want to touch one of these things," she replied.
Cylla stood beside me, curiously examining the artifacts.
"That one always gets attention," Anastasia pointed toward a statue. "It's famous in this museum."
We all moved to where she was pointing, and there it was—a towering warrior, gripping a massive sword. He held the blade high, as if in the midst of battle. A brief flicker of excitement passed through me as the rune inscription on the statue translated itself before my eyes.
"What does it say?" Duncan asked Nora.
"We don't know. It's written in the unknown part of the rune language," Nora answered.
I stepped closer, and the words danced in the air in front of me. I had already tested this with Cylla when I held the enigma, so I knew no one else could see the translation but me.
"A great warrior, more than a brother… my sword, my shield, my strength. In silence, he stood, but now he rests. May his soul find peace—Tyr Odinson."
My brief excitement turned to surprise as I recognized the last name on the statue.
Odinson? The same family Siegfried mentioned?
"That's such a cool statue," Melina said.
"Hmm… do you like wild men?" Anastasia teased, and I saw the princess turn red.
"That's not what I meant!" she stammered, embarrassed.
Each of us continued looking at the statues around us, which depicted various warriors. Cylla seemed fascinated, moving through the exhibit with curiosity. She could read the runes as well.
BAM!
A loud sound echoed through the space.
"What was that?" Duncan asked.
The entire place began to tremble—the ground, the ceiling, the walls. Everything shook.
"Did anyone touch something?" Anastasia rushed to our side, standing next to Melina and Alice.
"No," Chloe replied. "Did someone mess with anything?"
The tremors continued.
"Is this a normal occurrence on this floor?" Syvis asked as she approached.
Saint Tiffania ran toward us.
"No! This isn't supposed to happen!" Tiffania shouted.
The tremors intensified, forcing us to steady ourselves. Then, suddenly, they stopped.
Sebastian arrived, looking tense.
"We should stay here," he suggested.
Boom!
A deafening impact reverberated through the tunnels, shaking the entire room. Chunks of the ceiling and debris began to fall.
"I think we should run. This whole place looks like it's about to collapse," Alice said as we dodged falling rubble.
"Why is this happening?" Chloe asked.
"I don't know. This isn't supposed to happen," Tiffania replied.
We ran.
"We should stay here," Sebastian repeated.
"Stay?! Are you insane?" Alice shot back.
We sprinted back toward the tunnel we had come from. The entire place was still trembling.
"We need to get out of here!" the Saint urged, and we all ran.
***
The tremor had stopped, but the unsettling feeling remained. The closer we got to the exit, the louder the sounds of clashing steel and spells being cast became.
"What is going on?" Alice asked as we ran.
As soon as we emerged from the tunnel, we noticed that the massive cavern was engulfed in darkness—the enormous light orb above no longer illuminated the space. In the distance, the glow of the campfires could be seen, but what stood out the most was the fire spreading through the forest. Part of it was burning, and carried by the wind, I could hear faint, distant screams.
A rustling sound in the undergrowth caught our attention. Some of the knights with us immediately drew their weapons.
"Guys!" Kinue burst out of the bushes, her entire body drenched in blood.
"What happened, Kinue?!" Chloe asked.
"I don't know, strange monsters appeared out of nowhere. The student camp was attacked."
She was about to continue when the sound of footsteps reached us. A small group of students emerged from the forest—I immediately noticed they were elves.
"Princess!" the elves cried out.
Among them, I spotted two human students rushing toward Melina, Alice, and Duncan.
"What the hell is happening in this place?!" the prince demanded.
I ignored them and went straight to Kinue while the Saint moved toward the elves.
Cylla stepped closer to me. "Something is really wrong. I have a bad feeling."
"I feel it too," I replied in thought.
Through the conversation, we pieced together the situation. The creatures had gathered, blocking off the path leading to the elevator chamber—the only exit back to the surface.
"A group of students led by Princess Rose is escorting as many as they can to a tunnel that leads to the caves. They are guarding the tunnel entrance to keep the creatures from getting through. Staying in an open field is dangerous," an elf explained. "The veteran students are trying to fight them off… but many are dying."
"We need to find a safe location," Sebastian said. "If we go back the way we came, we can seal the tunnel. That would be safer for you, Your Highnesses."
"It's better to go to the elevator," Duncan insisted.
"No!" Tiffania objected. "If no one has come down to help, then something must have happened. If these monsters are as intelligent as they seem, I doubt we can easily break through them there. We should join the other students and fortify the tunnels, holding our ground until reinforcements arrive. With enough people, we can seal off a tunnel for as long as necessary."
"I'm not leaving my sister in this place. The elevator is our best chance. If the other students couldn't make it, it's because they were weak. But together, we can reach it," the prince argued.
"My responsibility is to the royal family of my kingdom. You are free to make your own decisions. I will take my people to safety," the Saint declared.
I looked at both of them, trying to think things through.
"So you've made your choice. You're free to stay with those elves and wait for death. You humans of MY kingdom, escort your king to the elevator."
Ignoring their argument, I dashed toward a tree and leaped onto its branches. Focusing wind and lightning into my feet, I let my mana flow and propelled myself high into the air, soaring as high as possible.
From the top of a massive tree, I could finally see the full extent of the chaos.
The student camp was surrounded by a ring of fire, with the forest burning and trapping them inside the village. I couldn't see much beyond that, but from what I could make out, some people were trying to put out the flames while creatures attacked them. In the distance, I spotted students holding torches, calling out to others.
A corridor of people had formed near the burning area, working desperately to extinguish the fire while students rushed through.
As soon as I landed, I made my decision. I had to step in and see exactly what these creatures were. There shouldn't be monsters this dangerous in this place.
"Tiffania, I'll help you reach the students gathered along the route. The best option is to regroup in a location with fewer openings for an attack," I said. "We need to prevent more people from getting hurt."
How did these creatures even get here? If there had been a stampede from some cave, we would have known. And why isn't anyone coming down from the academy to reinforce the students?
"You!" the prince suddenly barked, pointing at me with an authoritative tone. "You and your group will escort us safely to the elevator."
I raised an eyebrow, feeling my blood boil at his arrogance.
"I'm not your servant. If you want something done, do it yourself."
The prince's face turned red with indignation.
"What did you just say to me?!" he growled, clearly furious. But before he could continue, a sharp sound cut through the air.
Swoosh!
Instinct took over. Lightning crackled across my skin, and in the blink of an eye, I moved. A blue flash illuminated the area as I appeared in front of Nora, my hand crackling with electricity, stopping an arrow just inches from her face.
She stumbled backward, pale, her eyes wide in shock.
"I… I almost died," she murmured, still trying to process what had just happened.
The sound of leaves crunching under heavy footsteps pulled my attention. From the darkness of the forest, massive figures began to emerge.
Humanoid… but grotesque. Towering, muscular creatures with green skin and crude weapons made of bone and rusted metal.
That's when my eyes burned. A wave of heat surged through my mind, and suddenly, the knowledge surfaced—orc.
"Prepare yourselves!" one of the elves shouted, his voice trembling with urgency.
I took a deep breath, feeling mana surge through my body as the creatures snarled, ready to attack.
"More of them are coming!" a soldier shouted as the forest seemed to shake with the approach of more beasts.
I clenched my fists.
So that's how it's going to be?
Sebastian Blake:
I saw them emerging from all directions. Orcs. Beasts I had once seen alongside Lady Sindra—brutal creatures that devoured men without hesitation. I knew that a few were rational, but most behaved like bloodthirsty monsters.
Suddenly, the air grew heavy. A chill ran down my spine, and my eyes instinctively turned to Nathan Evenhart.
While all the students positioned themselves for defense, he remained still, simply watching the approaching orc horde.
"Protect the royal family!" I shouted, reminding myself of the duty assigned to me by Theodore Borir. My job was to keep the royal family away from the larger group of students, shielding them from any abnormal dangers that might arise.
Nathan Evenhart, however, seemed detached from the rising tension. He took a step forward, his voice calm and cold.
"Who are you? What's your purpose here?"
The orcs only grunted, some laughing while swinging their crude axes, clearly eager for battle.
"Step back, I will protect everyone with my barriers," declared Saint Tiffania, positioning herself in front of Nathan with her staff raised, golden mana beginning to radiate from it.
"It's fine," Nathan replied, his voice unwavering and confident.
At that moment, the orcs roared in unison and charged from all sides, bursting out of the forest like a wave of destruction.
Fsssshhhhh!
A sharp sound echoed—the crackle of lightning. Electricity surged around Nathan's body. And then, he vanished.
A blue flash. Super speed.
Nathan reappeared among the orcs like a striking bolt. In midair, he spun and launched an arrow straight into the eye of one of the creatures. The impact sent the orc staggering backward before it collapsed heavily to the ground.
As soon as his feet touched the ground again, a sword materialized in his hand, and he charged into the horde alone.
"Since none of you want to talk, I won't waste any more time."
He moved with deadly grace, dodging the heavy swings of their axes with fluid spins, slicing through legs and piercing chests with deadly accuracy. Every motion was a dance of blades and lightning.
I stood frozen in disbelief. One by one, he cut them down.
Beside me, Prince Duncan seemed just as stunned.
"Has he... always been like this?" he murmured, clearly bewildered.
"No... He always avoided training. The instructors said he was... just average," I muttered, just as astonished.
Then, in a flash, Nathan appeared above one of the remaining orcs. He raised his fist, electricity crackling violently around it, and slammed it down.
BANG!
The impact unleashed an explosion of blue light, and as the dust settled, Nathan stood tall.
Beneath him, the orc lay charred, its body smoldering with burnt flesh. His sword hovered beside him, spinning lazily in the air, still enveloped in crackling electricity.
I exchanged glances with the other knights, equally impressed.
Nathan stepped forward, his gaze fixed on the remaining creatures.
"Looks like you're all just mindless brutes."
That's when a larger, more muscular orc emerged from their ranks. It snarled something in a deep, guttural language, its sharp teeth bared in defiance.
Nathan tilted his head slightly, his eyes narrowing.
"So, you can talk? If that was your brother… know that I won't apologize."
The electricity around him crackled even louder.
Wait—did he just understand the orc's language?