Chapter 68
A low growl resounded behind them, and everyone immediately went on alert. The carriage had already been taken out of the marsh, so the students were ordered to remain inside.
Professor Zain clapped, and invisible threads spread outward in all directions.
"A high-grade… but only one," Serbian immediately gave out orders.
"Continue forward. We will speed ahead."
Everyone climbed inside the carriages, but Serbian lightly tapped his foot on the ground and leapt onto the carriage roof. Zain also took a similar position.
Grrrrr… Grrrrr…
Serbian signaled.
The magic knights mounted on the carriage horses rushed ahead at full speed. Serbian tapped the roof, and mana began gathering around him. Stone slabs appeared beneath the carriage wheels, and the carriage lifted off the ground.
Whoosh—
A monster appeared out of nowhere on Zain's left side.
Tak!
A clap resounded, and the creature was pushed back slightly, but the distance between them didn't increase. It began closely chasing the carriage.
A stone spear appeared out of thin air and shot toward it. The crocodile-like monster rapidly shifted its body and avoided the spear, but the spear didn't chase. Instead, it exploded.
Stone shards lodged into its thick skin.
Azek looked out of the window and gestured with one hand. The shards exploded again, mana turning violent as bleeding wounds appeared across the monster's body.
Zain completed his spell.
A loud clap followed by a thunderous sound echoed through the forest. The monster exploded into pieces, and what emerged from its body were thin wires glowing with excited mana.
Azek thought he had seen it wrong.
Wires… with excited mana?
That was a novel approach to his concept. It had proven its worth as the monster had been taken care of with much less effort.
However, it was still incomplete, as it had only been used for attack, and much of the monster's remains still had to be burned by Azek.
The carriage didn't slow down and continued charging forward. Zain continuously spread mana threads to detect any abnormalities.
They had reached one-third of their journey without much trouble, but now they had encountered a high-grade monster.
Serbian's expression didn't look good. He was listening to the sounds traveling through the earth.
Thud… thud…
His pupils dilated.
"There is a horde starting to chase us!" his shout resounded throughout the carriages.
"Full speed ahead! Prepare for the worst!"
The carriage roofs opened, and wooden planks extended outward. Knights immediately took positions on them while the carriages were still running.
Magic spells were cast on the horses' hooves to further increase their speed.
The voices resounding behind them became louder and louder.
Azek listened carefully, and the atmosphere inside the carriage became heavy. He gulped down something bitter and tried to think, but nothing came to mind.
Lyana looked outside the window, then turned toward Azek.
"Do you think we will make it out of this?"
Azek looked toward the princess.
"Given the circumstances… I don't think so."
"Hmm… that is a realistic answer."
She paused before speaking slowly.
"But you know… even if I don't make it out today, I'm not going down without a fight. I'll take some—if not all—of them down with me."
Her voice was resolute, and her eyes reflected her determination.
Azek felt she was truly worthy of the respect granted to her.
He calmed down and looked outside. The road ahead was still deep within the forest, and it would continue like this for the rest of the day.
The thudding sounds became louder.
Sweat dripped down Serbian's face. Judging from his scouting, the number was at least three hundred monsters.
There was no way to make it out alive if they were surrounded.
"What should I do?"
He at least needed to protect the students, even if he lost his life. But the situation wasn't allowing this to happen.
Tap.
Azek stepped out onto the carriage roof.
"Professor Serbian."
Serbian looked at him with a grim expression.
"Why aren't you still inside?" he reprimanded.
"I have an idea."
Serbian gestured for him to continue.
Azek shared the details.
"Absolutely not. This is a suicide attempt."
Azek didn't reply immediately. Serbian stared at him in disbelief.
Princess Lyana also stepped out of the carriage.
"At least a fifty percent chance of survival exists. With our current situation, I'm not sure we will make it out alive."
Serbian shook his head.
"I can't recklessly endanger the students' lives, Princess. If there is a fifty percent chance, I would rather you young ones have it than us."
Lyana fell silent.
The thudding sounds were growing closer, mixed with monster growls.
"Then there is one other thing we can do," Azek said and explained his second idea.
Serbian thought for a moment.
"I think this aligns better with your thoughts, Professor Serbian. I hereby order you, as the sole Princess of the Saika Empire, to carry it out immediately."
Lyana's tone shifted from respectful student to commanding leader.
Serbian straightened his posture. He gritted his teeth and lowered his head.
"I will obey."
The chasing sounds increased, and some monsters became visible.
Serbian stood alone on the carriage roof. Ahead lay a road filled with trees and bushes.
Emilene began manipulating wood mana. New plants rapidly grew, dividing the pathway in the middle. A crossroads formed in the blink of an eye.
The professors prepared.
The corpse of the high-grade monster was displayed on the carriage roof containing the professors, while the students had Professor Zain guarding them.
The horde approached.
Serbian made a farewell gesture and jumped to the other carriage. The corpse pieces began falling after he landed, attracting monsters.
They reached the crossroads.
As soon as they separated into two pathways, Professor Zain knitted a tight net of excited mana, blocking the pathway.
At the same time, the carriage rushed forward at full speed, and Azek acted.
The earth shattered, and stone spears lodged into monsters on both pathways, while Lyana and Genevieve continuously fired fire and wind arrows toward the army.
The distance gradually increased.