The second peace talisman rose into the air, its runes igniting even faster than the first, erupting with a golden light far more brilliant than before. A translucent spherical shield exploded outward with her at the center, shattering the compressed wind blade that was sharp enough to slice through several meters of stone wall. The force of the impact gouged a half-meter-deep trench into the ground, but the shield itself remained immovable.
Ignatius frowned, but his hands did not stop. He raised his staff again, and wind blades slammed into the shield in rapid succession, each producing a sharp, metallic clack. Under the dense barrage, the golden shield showed no cracks, nor did it even ripple.
“This thing can't be maintained forever!” For the first time, there was a noticeable tremor in Ignatius's voice. He turned to the thirty cultists behind him and barked, “Concentrate all attacks on that blonde student! I want to see just how long this amulet can last!”
All the cultists' staffs turned simultaneously. Fireballs, wind blades, ice spikes, and shadow impacts—magic of every color poured down like a torrential rain onto the golden shield.
The light of the explosions and the shriek of wind blades merged, causing the entire open space to flicker between light and shadow. Setis stood in the center of the shield, watching the world-ending chaos outside, her heart racing so fast it felt like it would leap out of her throat.
But the wounded behind her were safe—everyone was now wrapped within the protection of the shield.
Hogg moved the instant the cultists turned their attention toward Setis. Taking advantage of their distraction, he channeled lightning mana through his entire body, his staff wreathed in bolts of electricity as he swung it at the tall mage. The tall mage parried in haste and was forced back several steps.
However, Ignatius remained unmoved. He looked at the faces illuminated by the golden light inside the shield, then at the tall mage being held back by Hogg, his expression unchanging. With thirty cultists concentrating their fire on a single point, even the strongest defensive item would eventually be depleted.
Inside the shield, the light of the second peace talisman on Setis's chest remained stable. The runes flowed at a leisurely pace, as if all the attacks from the outside were nothing more than a breeze brushing over a lake.
Minutes passed. Finally, the light of the second peace talisman began to dim. The golden shield gradually grew thinner and paler, and the flow of the runes slowed. Ignatius's eyes lit up, and the mana on his staff condensed even faster.
The golden light vanished completely.
“Now!” Ignatius raised his hand and sent a Wind Blade straight for Setis's head.
Then, a third golden light exploded before his eyes.
The third peace talisman flew out from Setis's robe, its runes igniting even faster than the first two. The golden shield reformed, deflecting the wind needle that was already mid-flight. The needle pierced into a nearby ruined wall, leaving a tiny, deep hole, while the shield remained perfectly intact.
Ignatius's hand gripped his staff so hard it trembled—not from a lack of mana, but from an emotion he hadn't experienced in a long time.
Suppressing his fury, he turned to the nearest cultists. “You few, deal with the others first—those lying on the ground and the one with the axes. Since this shell can't be broken for now, we'll clear out the trash outside first.”
Several cultists immediately redirected their staffs. Fireballs and wind blades began to rain down toward Marcus and Hector. Marcus used the last of his strength to raise his notched twin axes to block the front, but an ice spike grazed his left leg, and blood began to flow down his trouser leg. Hector gripped a common longsword he had scavenged from the ground, barely managing to parry, his arms shaking with every blow.
Hogg gritted his teeth and forced the tall mage back once more. Lightning mana exploded beneath his feet as he used the momentum to leap backward.
“Everyone, get close to me!” He swung his staff horizontally, the cyan-purple wind patterns on it glowing blindingly bright as a gale swept outward with him at the center. The air current, mixed with a large amount of dust, enveloped Setis, Adrian, and everyone else, forming a massive wind sphere that suddenly took flight.
The tall mage tried to pursue and attack but was forced back by a retaliatory lightning strike from Hogg.
“The northwest corner!” Adrian shouted, struggling to steady himself within the gale. “There's a supply passage under the outer wall in the northwest corner! I used reverse runes to open a backdoor there when I came in; it should still be open!”
Hogg didn't hesitate, turning to fly toward the northwest. The wind sphere carrying over a dozen people swept across the academy's sky, passing over ruined buildings and scattered fires. Just as they neared the outer wall, Hogg, flying at the very front, suddenly stiffened.
Below the northwest wall, the iron-grated gate still stood silently. Around the frame lay a dozen corpses—some in red robes, some were the guards he had brought, and... some were students, including a few in civilian clothes whose identities were unclear. Blood was everywhere on the stone slabs; some had already dried and turned black, while some was still slowly seeping into the cracks between the stones. Above the gate, the passage that should have been held open by the reverse runes had vanished. The dark red light curtain was now perfectly integrated with the surrounding barrier, without a single gap to be found.
“The backdoor is gone.” Hogg's voice was calm, but his gaze surreptitiously flickered toward the Second Prince.
He landed in front of the iron gate, the wind mana slowly dissipating as he set everyone back on the ground. Most of them collapsed from mana exhaustion, leaving only Setis to support a weakened classmate with her trembling hands.
Adrian was the last to land. He stared at the iron gate, at the light curtain that had returned to its original state, and the usual composure on his face finally cracked. His Adam's apple bobbed for a moment before he managed to squeeze out a few words.
“...Impossible! I personally had the reverse runes placed; once activated, they should have lasted for at least several hours—”
“Your Highness.” Tyris clutched the wound on his shoulder, looking up at him with difficulty. “These people... they haven't been dead for long.”
Adrian didn't answer. He looked at the bodies strewn across the ground, at the students who had come here looking for a way out because they believed his words, and suddenly remembered what Lanqiu had said by the warehouse window.
Those people couldn't be trusted. The other side never intended to leave a backdoor from the start; this exit had been used to lure them in from the very beginning.
Setis helped her classmate lean against a corner and looked up at the dark red light curtain slowly flowing above the academy. The barrier hadn't changed; mana was still draining. It was difficult enough for professionals like them to even remain conscious... what about the ordinary people in the academy?
Setis didn't even want to imagine the scene twenty minutes from now if this barrier continued to exist. The entire academy would turn into a living hell, and everyone inside—no matter who they were—would be doomed.
The sound of wind mana cutting through the air came from not far behind; Ignatius and his men were catching up. Setis closed her eyes, and after a few seconds, as if making a final decision, she walked over to Hogg and took out the last two peace talismans.
“Lord Preceptor, you no longer need to be distracted for our sake in the coming battle. These two peace talismans... I hope they can be of help to you.”
Hearing this, not just Hogg, but everyone present was visibly moved, looking at Setis in disbelief. They had personally experienced how strong the defense of the peace talismans was; it was something even a Rank 7 mage could do nothing against, yet she was giving them to someone else without reservation.
This was equivalent to telling him—she was giving up her own hope of survival, leaving the hope of victory to the only person present who still had the strength to fight, all to grasp at that sliver of a chance for victory.
“You—”
“Lord Preceptor, I am a noble.”
Setis shook her head, looking at Hogg with determination.
“This concerns the safety of the kingdom; you need not worry. Compared to a noble, this country and its people need you more. Only if you live will the kingdom see true peace and tranquility. For the kingdom—we are willing to face death.”
These words were not just for Hogg, but for everyone else present as well.
After saying this, she placed the peace talismans into the stunned Hogg's hands, gave him a respectful bow, and returned to the group.
“We will not be a burden to you. Never.”
Perhaps it was because they had reached the brink of death, or perhaps the sliver of noble pride remaining in their hearts had been awakened by Setis's words, but they all bowed to Hogg and then silently supported each other as they retreated to the rear—Adrian von Augustus was no exception.
At this moment, no plan mattered anymore. He only wanted to face death as a worthy prince, so that Hogg could secure victory for the kingdom.
Rate on N.U.
