Theodore stood frozen in confusion as his team formed a protective circle around him, their weapons and mana at the ready. The situation didn't make sense to him. Just moments ago, they had been cowering in fear, unwilling to face the queen of slimes. And now, here they were, defying the odds and standing against Lenny.
He furrowed his brows, his voice calm but tinged with disbelief. "Didn't you guys say you didn't want to fight the queen of slimes? How did you even know I was in danger?"
Elisa turned to him, her gaze sharp as her voice cut through the tension. "We didn't know you were in danger, to be honest. But something felt wrong. The potion Mr. Lenny gave us was made of slime. That's why we were scared earlier—it wasn't natural."
Theodore's eyes widened in realization. "So, you figured it out because of the potion?" He glared at Lenny. "You were the one who made them drink that, weren't you?"
Lenny tilted his head, feigning innocence, a dramatic pout forming on his lips. "Oh, how sad. My dear students don't trust their favorite teacher anymore." His expression quickly shifted, a sinister smirk spreading across his face. "But I have to say, this is quite entertaining. All of you, standing together—what a heartwarming sight. I suppose I should thank you for making this evening more exciting."
His gaze darted between them, sharp and mocking. "Now, who figured out my little plan, hmm? Let's see. Was it Noah?" He sneered at the boy. "No, he's too gullible and far too proud of himself to notice. Maybe it was my favorite loudmouth, Elisa?" His eyes flicked to her as she glared back. "No, you're more brawn than brains." He chuckled maliciously. "Oh, I know—was it Jin?" Lenny burst into laughter, the sound echoing across the battlefield. "That's impossible. Jin is just a pathetic version of the old Theodore—a max-level coward."
Hiding behind the trees, Jin's fists clenched as he heard Lenny's words. He didn't want to believe what was happening. His teacher—a man he had admired—was now standing as the enemy.
Lenny paused his taunting and squinted at Vivian, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Or was it little Vivian? Oh, wait, no. She's too timid, not even one of my students. A mage like her couldn't possibly—"
"It was me," Vivian interrupted, stepping forward. Her icy glare was fierce, her voice steady despite the tension. "You dare to harm Theodore, and I promise you, Lenny—I'll make you wish you'd never been born."
Lenny's laughter erupted once more, uncontrollable and mocking. "Oh? You? The timid little mouse? You're going to send me to hell? Well then, do it, brat!"
Elisa didn't waste a second. She grabbed Theodore by his collar and flung him toward the trees, shouting, "Go protect yourself ! We'll handle this!"
Theodore landed near Jin, coughing as he scrambled to his feet. "Elisa, wait—!" But she was already moving, her small figure darting toward the queen of slimes.
With incredible agility, Elisa scaled the queen's massive, gelatinous body. Using her gravity mana, she walked effortlessly across the shifting slime, slashing at its core with her dual blades. The queen roared in anger, thrashing wildly and smashing the ground to shake Elisa off. But Elisa was relentless, dodging and slashing with precision, each movement fluid and precise.
Lenny's smirk twisted into a snarl as Vivian closed in on him, summoning a spear of ice and hurling it at his chest. Lenny sidestepped, the spear grazing his arm, and lunged at her, attempting to grab her leg. Vivian leaped back, her movements quick and calculated.
"Oh, so you've got some fight in you," Lenny sneered, summoning two six-foot-tall slime soldiers clad in thick armor. "Let's see how long you can last."
The soldiers charged at Vivian, their speed and strength overwhelming. One of them swung its massive arm, narrowly missing her stomach. Before it could land another blow, Noah appeared, his water sword slicing through the soldier's arm. He grabbed Vivian and pulled her to safety.
"Vivian, be careful! That bastard isn't someone you can take on alone!" Noah shouted, his breath labored.
"I know," Vivian replied, panting, her anger simmering beneath the surface. Her usually timid demeanor was nowhere to be found as she glared at Lenny.
Lenny, watching their struggle, couldn't help but grin. "What a delightful show. But let's see how much longer you can keep this up." His green aura mixed with black as the queen of slimes roared, her body pulsating with dark energy.
Theodore clenched his fists, his body trembling with anger as he watched his peers struggling in battle. His mana reserves were completely drained, rendering him powerless. "Damn it!" he yelled in frustration, the feeling of helplessness gnawing at him.
Jin, who had been lingering nearby, hesitated before stepping closer. His hands fidgeted nervously, and he glanced at Theodore repeatedly, making the prince visibly uncomfortable.
"If you've got something to say, just spit it out!" Theodore snapped, glaring at Jin. His patience was wearing thin, and Jin's hesitance wasn't helping.
Jin swallowed hard, his lips trembling as he finally spoke. "M-my prince… I—I haven't done anything to help. I didn't fight. I didn't contribute anything. I've always been weak, and I know I'm nothing compared to the others." He gritted his teeth and took a deep breath, forcing himself to continue. "But you still chose me… out of everyone. You trusted me. And now—now I want to be useful."
Theodore stared at him, his gaze sharp but silent. Jin felt the weight of the prince's judgment, but instead of retreating, he extended his hand, holding a potion.
"This… it's the potion Lenny gave us earlier. I know it has a side effect—fear—but it's the only way I can think of to replenish your mana," Jin said, his voice shaky but firm.
Theodore narrowed his eyes at the bottle. He didn't trust anything that came from Lenny, but he had no other options. He clenched his jaw, considering it for a moment, before nodding. "I guess you're right. Give it to me."
Jin handed the potion over, and Theodore drank it in one swift motion. The liquid burned as it went down, and his muscles began twitching almost immediately. A suffocating wave of fear gripped his chest, slamming into him like a tidal wave. The sheer intensity of it made him stagger and fall to his knees, groaning in agony.
Jin's eyes widened in alarm as he watched Theodore writhe on the ground. "Was the side effect this strong for you?! What's happening?!" Jin's voice quivered with panic.
But Theodore didn't respond. It wasn't just the potion. The residual fear the slime queen had cursed him with earlier now resurfaced, merging with the potion's effects and amplifying his torment. His body felt like it was drowning in an endless ocean of terror, each wave crashing over him harder than the last.
Clutching the hilt of his broken sword, Theodore let out a guttural yell and drove the jagged edge into his leg.
"Prince Theodore! Stop!" Jin screamed, frozen in shock.
But Theodore silenced him with a sharp glare, the fire in his crimson eyes commanding him to stay back. With deliberate focus, he channeled his mana into his purple flames, allowing them to burn through his body. The flames coursed through his veins like molten lava, purging the fear that had paralyzed him. The excruciating pain was unbearable, but Theodore endured it, his teeth grinding as he fought through the agony.
Finally, the overwhelming fear began to dissipate. The suffocating weight in his chest lifted, leaving his body trembling but free. He pushed himself to his feet, his breathing heavy but steady.
"Good," Theodore muttered, his voice low and gravelly. He flexed his fingers, feeling his mana returning—albeit in small amounts—and the lingering effects of fear vanishing completely. "I guess I'm immune to fear now."
Jin stared at him, his mouth agape in disbelief. "How… How did you do that?" he murmured, almost to himself.
Theodore turned to him, his gaze sharp and unwavering. "Fear is just another obstacle, Jin. You face it head-on, burn it to ashes, and move forward. You can't let it control you."
Jin swallowed hard, his admiration for Theodore growing as he watched the prince stand tall once again. This was the kind of strength he had always dreamed of—a strength that didn't just come from power but from sheer will and determination.
Theodore's crimson eyes glowed faintly as he turned his focus back to the battlefield. "Stay here if you're still scared, Jin. I'll handle the rest."
But Jin shook his head, a newfound resolve in his trembling voice. "No… I'm done being scared. I'll fight too."
For the first time, Theodore smirked. "Good. Let's go, then."