Chapter 235: The Way Out

The girls’ student residence had turned into a battlefield.

Stone pathways were cracked open. Dormitory walls were scorched and shattered. Windows hung broken from their frames, and sections of the courtyard had collapsed into rubble.

Students were everywhere.

Some fought desperately against the hooded Vassel attackers, weapons trembling in their hands. Others lay on the ground bleeding, being dragged away by classmates trying to keep them alive.

In the distance, several professors clashed against stronger Vassel members. Explosions of mana lit the sky as spells and corrupted energy collided again and again.

Into this chaos—

Ron, Lia, Jax, Selene, Drevin, Maera, and Seris Velmira arrived.

The group slowed instinctively.

Ron’s eyes widened.

“…What the hell…”

The residence they knew looked nothing like this.

A scream cut through the air.

One of the students had fallen to the ground, wounded. A hooded Vassel fighter raised his blade above her—

Before it could fall—

THUD.

Seris appeared like a flash.

Her kick landed directly into the attacker’s jaw, snapping his head sideways and dropping him instantly.

She didn’t even look down at him afterward.

Instead, she raised her gaze toward the sky.

Her expression darkened.

“…Come quickly,” she said sharply.

“We don’t have time.”

Behind them, Maera stirred weakly on Lia’s back.

“Mmm…gh…”

Lia turned her head slightly.

“Maera?”

At the same time, Drevin groaned as well.

Jax leaned toward him. “Hey—wake up!”

Both of them suddenly opened their eyes.

Their instincts kicked in immediately.

Maera pushed herself upright slightly while Drevin grabbed for his bow.

Ron raised a hand quickly.

“Calm down. It’s us.”

Jax nodded. “Yeah. We already beat that guy.”

Maera and Drevin looked around the battlefield, then at the group, trying to piece things together.

Slowly, their guards lowered.

Ron spoke quickly.

“We’re at the girls’ residence now.”

Maera nodded once, still processing.

“…Alright. I want to know what happened and how we won later.”

Before she could say more—

Seris interrupted sharply.

“Move.”

They all turned.

“We must do this quickly.”

Ron nodded.

“Come on. I’ll explain while we move.”

They began running again, cutting through the battlefield.

Several Vassel fighters attempted to intercept them, but Ron and Lia dispatched them quickly while moving. Jax fired short bursts to keep attackers away, and Selene supported with quick rune barriers to block stray attacks.

After several minutes—

They reached the outer boundary of the academy.

Seris suddenly stopped.

The group halted beside her.

Seris stepped forward and flicked her fingers casually.

Tap.

Her finger struck something invisible.

But the impact echoed faintly like glass.

An invisible wall shimmered in the air.

Even though they had been told about it—

Ron, Maera, and the others still gasped slightly.

Seris turned to Lia.

Without hesitation, she removed the band from her own wrist.

Then she tied it carefully around Lia’s wrist.

“This is important.”

Next, she pulled out a small folded map and handed it to Lia.

“Listen carefully.”

She pointed at a location marked near the outer districts of the city.

“Once you escape the barrier, go here. Near the slums.”

Her finger tapped the spot again.

“There is a hidden space gate located there. It connects directly to the Gravundar Kingdom.”

Then she pulled out a shining blue mana crystal and placed it in Lia’s hand.

“When you reach the gate, insert this crystal into the core slot. It will activate the portal.”

“Once it opens, step through. You will appear near Valdoria.”

She then tapped the band now wrapped around Lia’s wrist.

“When you arrive, press the rune on this band.”

“It will send an emergency signal to Vice Chairman Lucen.”

Jax raised a hand slightly.

“…Why not just press it here?”

Seris shook her head.

“Two reasons.”

She raised two fingers.

“First—this barrier blocks all mana transmissions.”

She lowered one finger.

“Second—the distance.”

“This band cannot send a signal across such a long range unless you are closer.”

The explanation sank in.

Seris looked directly at Lia.

“You understand?”

Lia nodded firmly.

“Yes.”

Seris turned.

“Selene.”

Selene straightened slightly despite her recent revival.

“Open the mana barrier.”

“Lia will pass through.”

Selene nodded.

“…Understood.”

Selene stepped forward toward the invisible wall.

The air in front of them shimmered faintly where the barrier stood, distorting the space like heat waves over a desert road.

She lifted her staff.

With a soft mechanical shift, the long staff condensed and folded, transforming into her wand. The blue crystal at its tip glowed faintly.

Selene inhaled and raised the wand.

Runes began forming in the air.

One after another, glowing orange symbols appeared as she traced them with precise movements. The runes floated forward and pressed against the invisible surface of the barrier, slowly spreading across it like cracks of light.

Seris stood beside her, watching the surroundings carefully.

Lia adjusted the band on her wrist and tightened her grip on the small blue mana crystal.

She was ready.

The barrier began reacting.

The runes hummed softly as Selene continued drawing them.

Just a little more.

Then—

A blur.

A fist shot toward Selene’s head from the side.

But before it could land—

THUD.

Seris’ gauntlet intercepted it.

The impact rang sharply through the air.

A hooded figure stood there now, arm still extended from the punch.

Seris’ eyes narrowed.

Another Vassel fighter.

Without hesitation she countered.

Her leg shot out in a sharp kick aimed at his ribs.

But the hooded man reacted instantly, raising his forearm and blocking the strike before sliding backward several steps.

Seris stepped forward slightly, placing herself between the attacker and Selene.

Her gauntlets crackled faintly with electricity.

“Selene.”

Her voice was calm but firm.

“Continue.”

Her gaze never left the enemy.

“I’ll take care of this.”

The hooded man straightened slowly after blocking Seris’ kick.

For a moment he stood still.

Then he reached up and pulled the hood back.

Blue-grey hair spilled out, messy and layered. His hairstyle looked wild and wind-tossed—a heavily textured, shaggy short mullet with choppy razor-cut layers forming a spiky crown. The sides and back fell long enough to brush the nape of his neck, while jagged strands of fringe framed his face and tapered toward his cheekbones. Brown eyes looked out from beneath the uneven bangs with quiet amusement.

He dusted his shoulder casually.

“Thinking of leaving?” he said lazily. “I think not.”

He tilted his head slightly.

“My name is Tedus, and I am—”

“Shut up.”

Seris cut him off immediately.

Her voice was cold.

“I don’t care who you are.”

Lightning crackled faintly along her gauntlets as she stepped forward, placing herself fully between him and Selene.

“But you’re going down.”

Behind her, Selene continued drawing runes across the barrier, the glowing symbols spreading wider as the magic circle slowly formed.

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