"Hah..."
I let out a tired breath, staring at the small camp we'd managed to set up. A few hours had passed, and at least we had found everyone.
Except Aestrea...
But someone like him wouldn't die that easily.
Around me, there was a mess of injured students.
Iris and the rest of the healing team were working their butts off, rushing from one person to the next, trying to keep up-
The wounds were bad. Really bad. It wasn't like regular injuries.
The skeletons we fought left more than just cuts and bruises. It was as if their magic had poisoned the wounds, making them hard to heal.
I could see the exhaustion on Iris's face as she tried to heal someone whose leg had been nearly shattered, but it wasn't going well.
The healing spells weren't working like they should and that was probably due to their void attribute.
"Lucas! Have you thought of a plan yet?" Maya's voice cut through my thoughts as she plopped down beside me.
I shook my head. "Not really... Void Magic is... tricky. It messes with everything." My voice came out a little more tense than I wanted it to.
"Then hurry up! Everyone's starving, and you know how slow the professors are to get here..." Maya sounded frustrated, but I could tell she was trying to hide it.
She always did that when she was worried.
"I know, I know..."
I let out another sigh.
She was right.
We were running out of time, and everyone was on edge, not to mention, even I was starving.
I couldn't think straight on an empty stomach, but we had no choice.
"Shit..." I bit my lip.
But then, I felt someone tapping my shoulder.
It was Ella.
"I have a plan." she only said those words, and it was enough to warm up my worries.
We quickly gathered all the students who were able to move, and Ella began explaining her plan. It was clear she had thought this through.
We'd already located the boss room a while ago, so all that was left was to execute her plan.
It wasn't complicated, which was probably why it made so much sense.
Ella laid it out for everyone in the simplest way possible:
First, we'd need to divide the group. The students who were healed and still able to fight would be split into smaller teams. Each team would have a specific role. Some would be in charge of distracting the Void Lich, while others would target its weaker spots.
The goal wasn't to take it down completely just yet—more like wearing it down, keeping it busy while we figured out a way to finish it off.
Then, we had the healing team—our "healing squad," as I'd come to call them. They'd stay behind the fighters, ready to jump in when needed. Their job was to keep everyone patched up and ready for the next round, especially those on the frontlines. If someone got injured or too tired, the healers would be there to back them up.
It was a simple plan, but it gave us something to work with.
We just had to move fast.
We all set off towards the boss room, the sound of our footsteps echoing through the dark cave.
The air was cold, unnaturally cold, as though something was watching us from the shadows. As we neared the entrance, I could feel the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.
The Void Lich was waiting for us.
Ella motioned for everyone to spread out, and we formed up in our groups.
Then, we pushed the door open...
The Void Lich...
It was as terrifying as it sounded.
It stood tall, its bony body giving off an ominous energy that made the air feel strange.
Its eyes were empty black holes that glowed eerily. Its robes were torn, and its sharp, claw-like hands oozed a dark mist.
The air around it was cold and heavy as if the life in the room was being sucked away by its very presence.
"Stay focused, we have to stick to the plan!" Ella warned us.
Everyone nodded, and we all got into position. Maya was already itching for a fight, her fists clenched, ready to charge.
Rose stepped back, her hands shining with fire magic, and Iris positioned herself near the back, keeping an eye on us, ready to heal if anything went wrong.
However, one thing that we didn't count was how terrifying the Lich's pressure was. The other students that were injured couldn't move their bodies at all!
Ella's plan had just been wasted...
Seeing this Ella bit her lips, but she quickly made up a small plan just for us five.
"On my count, we move," Ella said, and we all tensed, waiting for her signal.
"Go!" Ella shouted, and we charged.
I was the first to move.
"Demon Slaying Sword Art..."
『 Corrupted Sword! (✦ Advanced-level Swordsmanship (B+) ✦) 』
My sword ignited with black flames as I rushed forward, aiming straight for the Void Lich
As I closed the distance, the Lich finally moved. It raised one of its bony hands and shot out a blast of void energy.
The air around it warped and twisted as the magic flew toward me.
"Shit!" I cursed, jumping to the side just in time.
The blast exploded against the floor with a loud boom, sending chunks of stone flying in every direction.
I barely dodged, feeling the heat from the blast on my back.
Ella wasn't wasting any time.
『 Heavenly Strike: Consecutive Waves! (✦ SS-Level Swordsmanship ) ✦) 』
She was already in the thick of it, her sword enveloped with a bright golden glow moved in graceful arcs as she slashed at the Lich's limbs.
Her strikes were fast, too fast for the Lich to block, but it didn't seem to feel anything.
Clang!
Each strike rang out against its dark armor, leaving no visible mark.
Maya charged next, her body a blur of motion as she darted in and out of range, aiming for Lich's chest.
Her fists glinted in the dim light, swinging at its armor with lightning speed.
Clang!
Clang!
The sound of metal hitting bone echoed through the room as Maya's iron fists bounced off the Lich's form.
"Damn it!" Maya cursed, spinning out of the way as the Lich swiped at her with one of its claws, the sharp nails making a sharp sound as they cut through the air.
Next, it was Rose.
"Rain of Fireballs!"
She stepped back, her hands glowing with fire magic. She flicked her fingers, and fireballs flew from her hands, aimed directly at the Lich's chest.
The fire crackled and popped in the air before slamming into the Lich's dark form.
Boom!
The fire exploded on contact, lighting up the room for a split second. The Lich stumbled back, its form flickering slightly.
It didn't seem to be hurt, but it definitely noticed the attack.
Then, all of us felt a washing sensation over our bodies.
I glanced back and saw Iris, her hands glowing as she cast healing spells and buffs to keep us in perfect shape.
The Lich raised both hands and void energy swirled around it.
The air grew heavy, and suffocating, and I could feel my stomach twist. It was building up something.
I could feel it.
"Get ready!" Ella shouted, her voice cutting through the tension.
"It's going to attack!"
BAAM!
The Lich slammed its hands into the ground, causing the room to shake. A wave of void energy burst forth, cracking the ground under its force.
The wave expanded, and I barely managed to roll out of the way, feeling the heat and pressure of the magic wash over me.
Crack!
The sound of the stone floor cracking beneath the force of the attack rang out.
"We need to hit its weak spots!" Ella shouted, her sword glowing brightly as she moved in again.
I nodded, knowing she was right.
I gripped my sword tighter, making the black flames increase in size. Then as I increased the concentration of mana, I dashed forward once again.
The Lich raised a hand and a black hole appeared in front of it, pulling in everything nearby. The air around it warped, and I felt the pull, like a vacuum, sucking at my body.
"Get back!" Ella shouted, pushing me out of the way just as I almost got sucked into the hole.
The others were scattered, doing their best to avoid the gravitational pull of the Lich's magic.
Whoosh!
The air seemed to twist as everything was sucked toward the void. I saw Maya trying to hold her ground, her body tensing as the pull tried to drag her in.
"Fight it!" Rose yelled, flinging another fireball toward the Lich's chest.
Boom!
The fireball exploded on impact, but the Lich barely flinched.
"It's too strong!" Maya shouted, her voice strained as she dug her feet into the ground.
Iris was doing everything she could to heal us, but even her magic seemed to be struggling against the void.
"I can't keep up with this!" she said, her face starting to pale from the effort.
"Hold on!" Ella shouted, her voice carrying over the chaos.
She was already making her way toward the Lich again, sword raised.
I followed her, focusing all my energy on my sword. The black flames burned hotter than ever as I swung the blade at the Lich's chest.
『 Devastation Sword! (✦ Advanced-level Swordsmanship (A) ✦) 』
Slash!
The sword connected with a sickening clang, but this time, something was different. The Lich staggered back, and I saw a crack appear in its chest.
It was weak there, I could feel it!
"Now!" Ella shouted, and we all attacked at once.
Iris sent a healing spell to Maya, who charged in once more, her fists flashing with an intense blue aura as she struck at the crack in Lich's chest.
Clang!
Clang!
Her irons hit, but they didn't penetrate.
The Lich was too tough.
But we couldn't stop now.
BOOM!
The room shook again as the Lich roared, the force of its anger shaking the floor. A massive wave of void energy shot out from its body, expanding rapidly.
"No!" Ella shouted, loudly, hanging on her sword.
Before we could react, the Lich's black hole grew bigger, pulling everything into it.
"Shit!" I yelled, trying to resist the pull, but it was too much.
I could feel my feet leaving the ground, my body being dragged toward the void.
The others were in the same situation. I saw Maya struggling, her fists clenched as she tried to resist the pull, but she couldn't.
I snapped my attention toward the other students, my heart racing. There, standing in the middle of them, was Iris, surrounded by a brilliant golden barrier.
Her face was twisted in concentration, teeth gritted, as she poured every ounce of mana she could muster into the barrier.
It was a desperate move. She looked like she was barely holding on, her knees shaking, sweat streaming down her face.
But even with all her strength, the barrier felt like it might crumble any second.
It wasn't looking good at all.
'Fuck... I'll need to reveal my identity!'
There was no more time to waste.
I gripped my sword tightly, my knuckles turning white as the ominous aura began to swirl around me, coating the blade in black flam—
—BOOOOOOOOM!
Everything around me shook violently.
Debris flew in all directions, rocks, and rubble crashing down from the ceiling, and the ground beneath us trembled as if it was going to split apart.
A blinding flash of light filled my vision, making me shield my eyes instinctively.
When the dust cleared and my vision returned, I froze.
There, standing in the middle of the wreckage, was a figure I knew all too well.
Aestrea.
But something was wrong...
"Stop it, you crazy bitch!"
CLANG!
Aestrea cursed loudly as he reflected the sword from...
...our instructor Zeva?
"Come on Aestrea! You're still hiding your power, I can feel it!"
CLANG!
CLANG!
CLANG!
The two of them moved like shadows, their swords clashing in a blur motion.
It was almost as if they were teleporting, vanishing, and reappearing in a split second, their weapons flashing in the air, creating sparks with every hit.
They were so focused on their fight that they didn't even notice us, not for a second.
But then it hit me.
The explosion had caught the Void Lich's attention, causing him to release his spell.
And somehow...
Both of them had managed to save our lives.