Takan's roar traveled all throughout the vast corridor of the Training Hall.
The sound was sharp like a knife, enough to cut through one's eardrums and make everyone swallow their saliva dry.
The vanguard leading the way into battle inside the corridor was Gloomy Klebias.
"Whatever! I don't care! This is the end of my life!"
He was the top student among the first-years of the Combat Department.
Klebias was prone to saying ominous things and was always complaining. Coupled with his gloomy appearance, one couldn't help but think of him as someone rather pathetic. However, he was actually pretty resilient in a crisis.
Even with how cowardly he tended to act, he was still able to take the top spot among the Combat Department's first-year students. Although, strangely, he was unsure of his own skills. Maybe it was due to his past—an unfortunate family upbringing or history—but whatever the case, it wasn't what was important right now.
What was important was that he was able to withstand attacks at a level that anyone would be shocked by.
"Waaaaaaaah!"
He had one of his arms in a splint due to a fracture, but Klebias was running across the corridor of the Training Hall as if it was nothing.
The Training Hall was one of the three buildings in the Student Center. It was used as a venue for various assemblies and was also often used as a training field. It was properly managed, as it was a building where crowds of people would come and go all year round. To prove this fact, not a speck of dust could be seen on the marble floor of the long corridor.
At the end of the corridor, about fifty meters ahead, was a large door that led to the Combat Practice Field. It was where the first-years and second-years held their Joint Combat Training class every year. That majestic door, which would normally welcome any student in Sylvania, was now being blocked by a massive burning lizard.
Just looking into its eyes would flood one with the fear from the previous subjugation attempt.
Takan slowly stood up, letting out a sharp, ear-shattering roar. Fear began to take over Klebias the moment he saw Takan, his legs trembling.
"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
Klebias clenched his teeth as he managed to get his trembling body under control. All of his senses were screaming at him to run away, but he knew there would be no positive outcome if he threw everything away here.
Fortunately, he had companions with him. He didn't need to deal with the overwhelming fear by himself. There was Ed Rothstaylor, who was, for some reason, overflowing with confidence while remaining calm. There was also Lortelle Kecheln, who was always able to stay cool-headed regardless of the crisis at hand. They were completely different from Klebias, who made a fuss and got scared even in small crises.
Klebias didn't think any of them would be able to deal any significant damage to Takan, but at least he didn't have to enter this hell alone. The fact that he wasn't alone served as some comfort in this hopeless situation.
"It's coming! The battle is starting! Now what…?!"
As he saw Takan rushing toward him, the burning lizard spirit looking like it was going to devour him, Klebias looked back to ask about the plan.
But nobody was there.
Klebias hadn't looked back while running as fast as he could. He couldn't afford to pay attention to anything because he was in a state of panic, running with all his strength.
The corridor of the Training Hall stretched endlessly, and his teammates—who should've been running with him—weren't there at all.
A cold sweat ran down Klebias's back.
"I got tricked! You tricked me!"
Klebias screamed, almost in tears.
"HEY, YOU CRAZY SHITS! HEY! WHERE ARE YOU?! COME OUT! WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO?! OF ALL PEOPLE, WHY DO I HAVE TO BE THE SACRIFICE, HUH?! IF WE WERE GOING TO DO THIS, WE SHOULD HAVE JUST SENT TAYLOR! HE ALREADY VOLUNTEERED ANYWAY! SO WHY ME?! AHHHHHHHHHHH!"
Klebias continued screaming in the most pathetic way as he ran like crazy, with Takan chasing behind him.
If he had known this would happen, he never would've trusted that damn Ed Rothstaylor. He would've persuaded Princess Pheonia, even if it meant throwing himself on the ground and throwing a tantrum like a child.
He blamed himself for believing in the commanding presence of Princess Pheonia and following the plan she approved.
"WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS TO ME?! AGHK! I HATE YOU! I HATE THIS WORLD! SAVE ME! PLEASE, I'M SORRY! AGHHH!"
Klebias running away with tears in his eyes was truly a pitiful sight.
"Act like we're going to enter with him, and once Klebias is focused on Takan, we'll run out. He wouldn't agree to this if we told him, since he's such a scaredy-cat. That's why we have to do it like this."
The light of dawn was rising from the east. This long night would soon come to an end.
Lortelle slowly closed her eyes, then opened them again. She stood in a corner of the Student Square where she could see the three large buildings: the Training Hall, which Klebias entered; the half-collapsed Glockt Hall in front of it; and next to it, Obel Hall, which Ed Rothstaylor had run into.
Pulling her full focus together, she gathered all the magic power in her body.
Her conversation with Ed earlier replayed in her mind.
"The first step is to make Klebias enter the Training Hall's corridor."
"So you were just going to sacrifice Klebias in the end. It might not be a bad move, but morally speaking, criticism is inevitable."
"I wouldn't have said anything if it were such a one-dimensional plan."
Lortelle focused on Klebias's screams echoing through the corridor.
"You have the most important role, Lortelle. You'll secure the entrance for the group going to defeat Janica. You'll also be in charge of delivering the fatal blow to Takan."
There was no hesitation in anything Ed Rothstaylor said. In this chaotic and urgent situation, he made decisions without pause. He had complete confidence in his plan.
Lortelle closed her eyes.
She had experienced countless crises since she was young, having worked in business early in life.
A crisis was a crisis because it was unexpected. From logistical issues like halted distribution or cash flow problems, to practical dangers like competitors' schemes—she had seen it all.
From experience, she knew a crisis revealed a person's true nature—and their worst qualities.
She thought of Ziggs earlier.
In an unpredictable crisis, he had been shaken, swayed by his emotions.
Then she remembered how Princess Pheonia steadied him.
A truly reliable person was someone who searched for answers in a crisis without being consumed by fear or emotion—someone who never doubted their own beliefs.
"The most urgent thing is to get the group fighting Janica into the Combat Practice Field. We can think about defeating Takan afterward. So listen carefully—when you think Takan is far enough, destroy the wall next to the field."
The key was to keep Takan and Velosfer separated.
The worst-case scenario was fighting both at once.
"Whew… well… he really is showing off…"
Lortelle usually gave orders, not followed them.
At the Elte Company, even veteran merchants bowed their heads to her.
But here, she was just a first-year student.
Still, the essence shouldn't change.
A fallen noble. Someone standing at the edge with nothing left.
She didn't have to obey someone like Ed Rothstaylor.
And yet…
His words carried strange conviction.
He spoke like someone who had already survived countless crises.
"…What exactly is his worst quality?"
He had even returned her three gold coins.
Lortelle smirked.
"Well, I'm not the type to judge based on rumors."
Above her floated a massive ice spear.
No matter how resilient Klebias was, Takan would eventually catch him.
The only option was to destroy the walls of the Training Hall.
It was simple—but not something anyone would normally think of.
The Student Center was something they all took for granted.
A symbol of Sylvania.
But—
Glockt Hall was already destroyed.
A building could always be rebuilt. A life could not.
"I can't believe I'm destroying the Training Hall myself… when else would I ever do something like this?"
Then again—
She had already blown off its roof once.
"…I see now."
"You're good at this type of thing."
Lortelle chuckled softly.
Ed Rothstaylor really was interesting.
Maybe when this was all over, she'd talk to him again.
BANG!!!
Lortelle slammed her ice spear into the outer wall of the Training Hall, near the Combat Practice Field.
The thick wall collapsed as dust rose into the air.
She smiled neatly as she saw the other group waiting on the outskirts of the Student Square.
Everyone's puzzled expressions were quite memorable. Anyhow, their entry point had been secured.
The only thing left to do was take care of Takan.
They just had to buy enough time so the other group could defeat Janica. It was obvious what she needed to do now.
"If we do something about its scales, then your magic will become effective against Takan. I'll take responsibility and figure out what to do about the scales, so just gather all the magic power you have and cast the strongest ice magic possible then."
Lortelle became quite curious about this guy who gave such straight-to-the-point instructions.
The possibility was slim, but perhaps, she had found someone just like her. Her heart would've skipped a beat if that were the case, but she wasn't immature enough to get excited over such a slim possibility.
Lortelle quietly began to gather her magic as she watched the group in charge of defeating Janica enter the Combat Practice Field.
This was a thousand times better than the commands of that princess who was still naive and easily swayed. Ed's was an unfounded conviction that it would all work out. And if this was the wrong way, then it would all be useless. But at least, right now, it didn't feel that way at all.
"KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! LORTELLE! I'M GOING TO KILL YOU ALL! I WON'T LEAVE YOU ALONE!"
Klebias screamed as he ran out of the Training Hall, Takan almost catching up to him, on the verge of eating him whole.
"NEVER MIND! I'M GOING TO DIE! IT'S TOO DANGEROUS! SAVE ME! I'M SORRY! I'M SORRY I SAID I WOULD KILL YOU! I'LL FORGIVE ALL OF YOU! JUST PLEASE SAVE ME!"
Watching him scream in a pathetic manner, Lortelle gathered all the magic power in her body.