Seeing the massive number of eggs scattered across the area confirmed their worst fears. The situation wasn’t looking good, especially not near the shrine. None of them were experts on this kind of thing, but they all understood one thing clearly, it was time to be cautious. Anything could come next.
“Let’s just leave and head back to the shrine,” Panla said, her voice calm but firm. “If we have to deal with thirty of those things, I don’t think that’s a fight we want.”
Redrick gave a short nod, clearly in agreement.
When they returned to the students, Panla saw them already gathered. Most had calmed down from earlier, their nerves steadying. It was a shame, really, if they’d had just a few more regular beast encounters, this trial could’ve served as a proper assessment for the students.
Not just that, but it would’ve helped prepare them for life in real guilds. Nothing compared to actual field experience. There were countless stories of mages who remained unknown until they faced real combat, until they’d stepped foot inside a dungeon and survived.
This is the best decision for the students, Panla thought to herself. She took a breath and then called out, “Alright, everyone, get ready to move! We need to locate the exit portal. If the information from the guild is accurate, it should be back where we came from, then west from there.”
“What?!” a few of the students groaned.
“We’re already leaving? Isn’t that too soon?” one asked. “We only fought two types of beasts.”
“Maybe it’s because of the one we did fight,” another muttered. “That thing was tough. Our magic barely scratched it.”
The students were murmuring and gossiping among themselves, and honestly, they had every right to. In many ways, the Academy had failed them, especially after teaming up with this particular guild.
If things had gone like last year, it would’ve been fine. But nothing was the same.
“GARAKKK!”
A sudden, piercing screech sliced through the air, interrupting all chatter. The sound made every student freeze, a cold shiver crawling up their spines. They had heard that cry before, not long ago. And it hadn’t been good news.
They quickly turned their heads, looking around wildly, eyes scanning behind them, across every direction, desperate to spot where the sound had come from.
“Hey,” Chiba said, trying to mask the tension in her voice. “That sounded kinda far, right? Maybe… maybe that’s a good thing. So, how about we stop standing around and start moving, yeah?”
Several students nodded in agreement, visibly tense but eager to escape. Just as they made the first move,
“GARAAKKK!”
The same screech echoed through the space again, sharper, closer. And this time, it wasn’t alone.
“GARAAKKK! GARAAKKK!”
Multiple cries, one after another, overlapping, each one nearly identical. A chorus of sharp, monstrous voices.
“There’s so many of them…” Yolden said, her eyes widening in alarm.
Piba gasped, her gaze snapping toward the entrance where they had first come through. There, emerging through the shadows, was the same green-feathered creature they’d fought earlier. But this time, it wasn’t alone.
Five of them stood there, glowing eyes, sharp beaks, and wings half-spread like they were ready to pounce.
“GARAAKKK!” the one in front shrieked, and a sound wave shot directly toward the group.
Luka immediately floated in front of the students, arms outstretched. Just as the sonic wave was about to strike, he summoned a powerful gust of wind, dispersing the attack before it could harm anyone behind him.
“Everyone!” Luka shouted. “Find another exit and move quickly! I’ll deal with these ones!”
His voice was steady, but deep down, he knew, based on his last encounter, handling one of these things had been nearly too much. Now there were five. And the situation was rapidly spiraling out of control.
The students began to move, but their hope was short-lived.
Crashing through the hallway behind them, five more of the green beasts appeared, blocking the path.
Several had jumped high, landing on the roof tiles above. Others emerged from every direction, surrounding them.
“I didn’t want to be right,” Redrick muttered, eyes narrowing. “But it looks like I was. There must be close to thirty of them.”
“And they’ve clearly caught our scent,” Panla added. “They’ve surrounded us completely.”
Without warning, one of the birds leapt from above and dove straight at the students.
Panla acted instantly, gathering a surge of lightning into her palm and hurling it through the air. The bolt struck the creature mid-flight, but it barely slowed. Its massive body continued barreling toward them.
Just before impact, Beatrix raised her hands, shifting the ground with force. Jagged earth pillars shot up and slammed into the bird, capturing it mid-air and halting its descent. With a flick of her wrist, she redirected the captured beast, hurling it across the field.
These transfer students really are reliable, Panla thought, a glint of respect in her eyes.
But the threat was far from over. Even the one Beatrix had thrown off had already risen again, locking eyes with the students, its fury undimmed.
From one side, a cluster of the creatures opened their beaks, preparing another devastating screech.
Redrick raised his arms high. “Not this time!” he shouted, sending out a volley of fireballs that struck them in their open maws, knocking their attacks off course.
It stunned them, but not for long.
Now grounded and unable to screech, the beasts charged forward.
“Support me any way you can!” Redrick yelled, continuing to launch fireballs, aiming for their feet, trying to knock them off balance.
The students behind him cast spell after spell, but the creatures plowed through the onslaught. For a mage, getting into close combat was the worst-case scenario, and it was happening.
One of the creatures lunged at Redrick with its massive beak aimed directly at his chest. He braced himself, but before it could strike, a bolt of lightning flashed across his vision.
A glowing fist landed squarely on the beast’s beak, smashing it into the ground. Its head was driven so deep into the floor that the tiles cracked.
Standing tall, lightning sparking around his body, was a figure clad in crackling gauntlets.
“I guess this is one of those situations,” Dame said, eyes narrowed, “where we don’t need to hold back.”
*****
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