All the students were gathered in a specific location within the city, where Circle Five guards were positioned at different points to protect the area.
Meanwhile, the Circle Six mages remained close to the civilians, who had no means of defending themselves if the situation got out of control. The residents were being gathered into groups so they could all be transported at once to a safe location using Hao's magic. However, the process was still far from complete, as many people were still waiting to be evacuated.
At first, Kai seemed quite frustrated by the interruption, but it didn't take long for him to regain his composure. His expression turned serious as he watched the portal. After all, there was something he considered far more important at that moment: if the civilians were in danger, he would need to protect them, just as his father did when he acted as a hero.
"Do you think we'll be called?"
Enrico, who was standing beside him, also maintained a serious expression as he watched the portal.
"If they need us, they'll call."
That portal didn't seem to be related to a true dungeon, especially since there was still some time before one was supposed to appear. This led Enrico to consider another possibility: Jago might already be involved in this, considering what he had previously witnessed in the knights' dungeon.
"By the way, where's that Jester guy's team? I don't think they were defeated."
After hearing Caelan's comment, Enrico became more attentive and realized that he was right. Jester's team really wasn't among the participants gathered at that location.
Looking more carefully, he noticed that some guards from the continent of Valtara were interrogating the team members about the confrontation. Taking advantage of the opportunity, he summoned Lunaris, who became invisible by covering himself in blood. Then he discreetly sent him closer to the guards, using the connection between them to listen to their conversation.
"Necromancy? Isn't that a magic belonging to Nartheis or demons?"
"Yes, sir. Apparently, he's not human. Besides, he can fight quite well without using his Necromancy and has demonstrated considerable intelligence."
The description made Enrico's eyes widen for a moment. That behavior was exactly how Jago acted whenever Enrico forced him to use all his abilities in the fake zombie dungeon. It didn't take long for an irritated expression to appear on his face.
'Now I understand that feeling I had about him... His damn Unique Ability is annoying!'
[Enrico, calm down. You shouldn't lose control.]
'You say that as if I were going to do something, System. You know me.'
Enrico maintained a calm expression, turning his attention back to the enormous portal as he waited for what would happen next.
If he got the opportunity, he would certainly kill Jago. However, to his irritation, it seemed that the bastard had reached a new level of evolution, as he had even managed to alter his own stats, making himself pass for someone else with that absurd disguise.
'My evolution seems far too slow to keep up with his... What should I do?'
[Please, just don't go overboard if you come up with some crazy idea.]
While Enrico was reflecting on the situation, one of the guards approached Ethan and his companions.
"Ethan, the Kings have requested that you and your team be sent back to the ship where you were staying. If anything happens, you'll be safer there. Please, follow me."
"Wait! Are we just going to sit around doing nothing? What about our alliance?"
"Don't worry. You'll be the only ones sent back, apart from me. We already discussed this with the Kings before the competition even ended, so you can relax."
Erika, who was standing beside Ethan, nodded and began following the guard, followed by the other team members. Ethan remained still for a few moments, reflecting on the situation before finally deciding to leave. Apparently, the continent of Valtara didn't want to risk losing its greatest talents.
'It makes sense. After all, they're the best the continent has to offer so far.'
Even so, Enrico realized that he might end up needing help from another team. The problem was that students from the other continents were also being sent to safer locations, far away from that area.
'The worst part is that I can't do much. I only know one team that could help me, but one of its members probably has rather peculiar feelings toward me...'
[It seems the only team that can help you is that girl's.]
Enrico turned his head and spotted Lamia and her companions, who were about to leave accompanied by a guard. Without wasting any time, he quickly decided to approach them.
"Lamia, can I talk to you?"
"Sorry, but I..."
"It's about what you want."
Upon hearing those words, Lamia stopped her response and turned her eyes toward Enrico, immediately showing interest. Then she turned to the guard accompanying her group.
"Miss Guard, could you wait for us a moment? I need to say goodbye to a friend."
After receiving permission, Lamia followed Enrico to a more secluded area, away from the other people. The two headed toward a space near the banquet hall, located on the first floor of that large building.
Lamia seemed a little anxious, waiting to find out what Enrico intended to tell her and whether he would finally accept her proposal.
"What did you want to talk about? Do you want me to take you with me, by any chance? Just so you know, we'll be testing several spells to try to bring your feminine appearance back..."
Enrico let out a sigh and calmly placed one hand against the wall behind Lamia, moving closer to her. At first, the girl took a step backward, showing some irritation at the unexpected approach. However, her expression changed completely when she noticed Enrico's body beginning to transform, gradually recovering its feminine appearance. Her eyes lit up with admiration as soon as she recognized the beauty she so desperately wanted to see again.
"T-That's...?"
Enrico kept his gaze fixed on Lamia, conveying such obvious seriousness that, for a brief moment, she was completely mesmerized by his golden eyes.
"Yes. I can transform into this form whenever I want."
Lamia's eyes shone even brighter, and she immediately moved closer, displaying excitement that was almost impossible to contain.
"Why didn't you tell me before, beautiful? Come with me to my homeland! There, you'll be treated like the goddess you are!"
Enrico's face moved closer to Lamia's, stopping just a few centimeters away. The proximity made the girl's breathing become irregular and unsteady, as though every breath were a mixture of desire and enchantment.
"Sorry, but my place is on this continent. Even so, I can use this form when I'm with you in the future and when I visit your continent."
Enrico brought one hand to Lamia's face and gently caressed her cheek. A slight shiver ran through the girl's body, and she closed her eyes, eagerly waiting for what would happen next.
"Of course, if you help me protect this city today."
The touch disappeared from her cheek, making Lamia open her eyes in surprise. By the time she realized what had happened, Enrico was already moving away, calmly walking toward the exit.
"Help you? Is that all I need to do?"
"Yes. Even so, remember one thing... If you really want me, you'll have to talk to my future wives, as I told you before."
Before leaving, Enrico gave Lamia one last smile, still in his feminine form. The confident expression on his beautiful face made the girl's eyes light up once again, leaving her completely enchanted by the sight.
'I really need her... I have to talk to my girls about this. They'll like it!'
He returned to his original appearance and ran a hand through his hair, slightly messing it up. He thought it was somewhat troublesome to have to switch between the two forms from time to time because of Lamia, but he recognized that having her by his side in the future would be quite useful.
[You're evil! How dare you take advantage of a girl's feelings like that?]
'As if I had any other choice. We need all the help we can get in case something happens. Besides, she'll get what she wants too.'
Enrico messed up his hair a little more. Deep down, he also thought he had been somewhat cruel, but he considered it better than simply waiting around while everyone died. In any case, now that he had made that decision, he would take responsibility for it. After all, that was the kind of person he was.
'I'll do my best to help her in the future.'
When Enrico raised his eyes toward the sky again, he was surprised by what he saw. The battle had apparently already begun, as countless explosions illuminated the sky around the enormous portal, making it clear that the confrontation was taking place on a massive scale.
"Are those Ranvil-rank Nartheis? There must be at least a hundred of them in the sky!"
It wasn't just their numbers that drew attention. Most of those Ranvil-rank Nartheis appeared to be at Level Three, making the situation even more concerning.
A few seconds later, several Nartheis began invading Vesparello, being launched through the portal toward the city. Their bodies struck the ground with tremendous force, causing impacts that destroyed houses and scattered debris through the streets.
"I'd better hurry back!"