Chapter 229: New Threat

The courtyard outside the boys’ residence was chaos.

Hooded attackers moved through the grounds like shadows, violet blasts raining down from the sky. Burn marks scarred the stone paths. Windows were shattered. Smoke drifted through the academy like a low fog.

Ron drove his spear forward, the flaming tip punching through the chest of the last hooded attacker in front of them. The man collapsed, body dissolving into dark residue that bled into the ground.

Ron exhaled slowly.

“…That weird feeling I was feeling earlier… it’s easing up.”

Selene nodded, gripping her wand. “That should be the corrupted mana. William said it weakens our mana flow. The resistance buff must be helping.”

Lia wiped her blade clean with one smooth motion. “Fighting here without any goal is pointless. We should move to the girls’ residence. If this is a full assault, most students will be gathered there.We could group up with our class…”

Ron frowned. “Most? What do you mean most?”

Jax blinked. “Wait… aren’t you two coming from the girls’ residence already?”

Lia shook her head. “No. We were outside the academy—shopping district. We were heading to your residence when the attack started.”

Selene added, “Today was the annual cultural ball. Most students would’ve gathered at the girls’ residence hall first before the event.”

Ron and Jax froze.

“…There was a ball today?” Ron asked slowly.

“Yes,” Lia said flatly. “Everyone knew.”

Selene glanced at both of them. “…Aside from two idiots.”

Jax looked at Ron. “Who two idiot are talking…oh….”

Ron facepalmed.

Another whistling sound cut through the air.

“DOWN!” Ron shouted.

They dove behind a stone wall as multiple violet orbs slammed into the courtyard, explosions ripping through the ground. Stone fragments and dust sprayed everywhere.

Jax peeked over the edge. “…We seriously need to deal with those things.”

Above them, several floating cannons vehicle hovered in the sky—each mounted by a hooded attacker. Violet energy gathered at their tip of cannon before firing again.

Selene’s eyes narrowed. She looked from the cannons… to the tall boys’ residence tower nearby.

Then she turned to Ron.

Then to Jax.

“…I have a plan.”

Jax immediately shook his head. “No. I don’t like that tone. I’m already saying no.”

“Come with me,” Selene said quietly.

They slipped into the residence building and moved quickly up the stairs, reaching the rooftop. From there, the floating cannons were clearly visible in the sky.

Selene outlined the plan in a low voice.

Jax stared at her.

Then at the sky.

Then back at her.

“Nope. Not doing that. Absolutely not. You see how high that is? I value my life.”

Ron put a hand on his shoulder. “Please, Jax.”

Lia nodded. “We need you.”

Jax crossed his arms. “Nope.”

Selene stepped closer… and gently held his hand.

“Won’t you do it… for me?”

Jax froze.

A faint blush appeared on his face.

He turned dramatically away, wiping imaginary tears. “This is emotional manipulation. Clear abuse. I’m being forced into this.”

Selene smiled faintly. “So that’s a yes. Don’t worry I’ll prepare you with my utmost effort.”

“…Yeah, yeah,” he muttered.

She raised her wand.

Orange runes formed in the air, spinning around Jax before settling onto him.

Rune Magic — 3rd Circle: Protective Charm.

The runes wrapped around him like armor, forming a glowing shell before fading into his body.

More runes formed.

Rune Magic — 2nd Circle: Strengthen Rune.

A rune shot into Ron’s chest, reinforcing his body and mana flow.

Rune Magic — 2nd Circle: Speed Rune.

Another rune struck Lia, her form becoming lighter and faster.

Selene stepped back.

“Get ready.”

One of the floating cannons drifted closer to the rooftop—still high, but just within reach.

Selene narrowed her eyes.

“Jax. On Ron’s hands. Now.”

Ron immediately crouched and locked his grip. Jax stepped onto his palms, swallowing once as he looked up at the hovering cannon.

“…If I die, I’m haunting all of you,” he muttered.

Ron didn’t reply.

—and launched Jax upward with explosive force.

Jax shot into the air like a missile.

Wind roared past his ears.

Okay… focus.

Remember what he taught you.

Jax’s breathing slowed.

His vision narrowed.

The world dulled.

Noise faded into a distant hum.

Only the target remained.

He slipped into Convergent Stillpoint.

Time felt thick. Every movement stretched. The hooded pilot in the cannon became the center of his world.

Jax raised both guns.

Two shots rang out—almost silent in his perception.

The first bullet, coated in white mana, shot straight toward the pilot.

The hooded man flinched, barely dodging.

The second bullet followed a split-second later.

From the pilot’s perspective, the first shot missed.

But Jax was already predicting the path.

The first bullet ricocheted off the cannon frame—

the second struck it mid-air—

and the altered trajectory sent the first bullet curving behind the pilot.

It punched through the back of his skull.

Jax’s eyes stayed focused.

“Now…”

Spellshooter’s Arsenal: Exploding Ricochet Round.

The bullet inside the man’s head detonated.

From the outside, the body looked intact for a brief moment—

then blood began seeping from his face and hood as his body slumped forward and fell from the cannon.

Jax maintained Stillpoint—

Still mid-air, Jax began descending—

—and suddenly felt weight slam onto his back.

“What the—?!”

His focus shattered.

He blinked, vision returning to normal speed.

Lia had used Ron’s strengthen rune-enhanced throw as her own launch.

She had followed him into the sky.

She planted one foot on Jax’s back like he was a moving platform—

“I am not a surfboard!” Jax shouted.

Lia ignored him and leapt from his back, landing smoothly on the now-empty cannon vehicle.

Jax’s focus shattered as gravity reclaimed him.

“Ahhh—!”

He dropped—

—and landed hard inside the cannon platform as Lia grabbed his collar and hauled him in.

He lay there for a second, staring at the sky while gasping.

“…I am never agreeing to any of your plans again.”

Lia immediately seized control of the cannon steering array.

The violet weapon pivoted toward the other floating cannons.

Lia glanced over the controls. “We’ll find you another ride .”

She turned the cannon.

“Ron and Selene are going to the girls’ residence. We’ll clear the sky and support them.” She says to Jax.

Ron nodded from the rooftop below, gripping his spear.

Selene adjusted her grip on her wand.

The cannon roared to life as Lia took control, rotating it toward the other floating weapons.

Jax slowly sat up inside the vehicle.

“…I knew something like this will happen.”

.

.

.

The sky above the academy burned with streaks of violet.

Jax stood inside the captured cannon vehicle, gripping the control ring with one hand while aiming the firing conduit with the other. The purple core hummed as it gathered energy.

“Alright,” he muttered, half-grinning despite the chaos. “Now this is getting fun.”

He twisted the control and fired.

A violet orb shot forward and smashed into another enemy cannon, bursting into a violent explosion that sent fragments raining down across the courtyard.

Not far away, Lia had taken control of a second vehicle. Her movements were far more precise—clean, efficient. She angled the cannon downward, released a burst of purple orbs, then immediately swerved.

Three enemy cannons were caught mid-turn.

Boom.

Boom.

Boom.

They detonated in a chain.

From below, Ron glanced up while driving his spear through another hooded attacker.

“They’re seriously enjoying themselves up there.”

Selene, standing beside him with glowing runes circling her wrists, nodded once. “Let them. It’s working.”

Above, the remaining cannon vehicles were quickly being thinned out.

Jax leaned out slightly from his stolen craft and fired again. Another orb shot forward, clipping the wing of an enemy vehicle and sending it spiraling downward.

He laughed. “Lia! On your left!”

“I see it.”

Her cannon turned smoothly and released two precise shots. The purple orbs curved slightly, striking the target from both sides. The vehicle ruptured mid-air.

Within moments, most of the aerial cannons near their area had been destroyed.

Then—

Something cut through the sky.

A dark blur.

Fast.

Too fast.

It tore straight through Jax’s vehicle.

The metal split like paper.

Jax’s eyes widened. “What the—?!”

A second later, the same blur pierced Lia’s vehicle.

Both crafts began to fall, engines shattered.

“Jump, Jax!” Lia shouted.

They both leapt.

Behind them, the damaged cannon vehicles exploded mid-air.

Ron moved instantly, catching Lia as she dropped. The impact pushed him back a step, boots scraping across the stone.

Selene slammed her staff down and formed a glowing rune net. Jax fell straight into it, bounced once, then rolled off, groaning.

They regrouped fast.

Then a voice echoed behind them.

“Kekekeke…”

All four turned.

A hooded figure stood there casually.

One arm extended.

Something flew through the air and snapped back into his hand.

A double-ended obsidian polearm, its edges lined with dark, fang-like blades. Corrupted energy leaked from it in slow wisps.

He rested it against his shoulder.

Even before he pulled back his hood, the pressure around him felt different. Heavier. Sharper.

Wrong.

Ron felt his grip tighten.

Selene’s runes flickered.

Jax’s expression hardened.

Lia stepped forward slightly.

The hood fell back, revealing a pale face and a thin, amused smile.

“I was wondering what all that noise was,” he said.

His eyes moved across the four of them like a predator assessing prey.

“Turns out… some little puppies were playing with toys.”

He spun the polearm once, letting the corrupted aura flare.

“Let me teach you something,” he added softly.

“Little puppies shouldn’t interfere in adult matters.”

The pressure intensified.

Ron, Lia, Jax, and Selene all felt it clearly.

They were outmatched.

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