499 Chapter 499: Waking Nightmare (2/2)
The monsters took off even faster than before, and even the middle school students paused in the midst of their attacks, realizing something was amiss. One of the training staff raced toward Xun Lian Jia and whispered urgently to him, and he strode hastily to the center of the field.
”Everyone, stop what you're doing!” he bellowed. Not that he needed to. Everyone had literally abandoned their current tasks at the sudden transformation of atmosphere. The trainers were hurrying about now, taking charge of the scattered groups of students and bringing them together. ”As of right now, all training sessions are cancelled! The trainers will be bringing you to the shelter shortly. You will remain there until I say it is all right to leave! All trainers, do a head count and make sure no one is missing! We will be heading to the underground shelter immediately!”
”What's happening?”
”What's going on?”
”I don't know, but there's something scary coming. Can't you feel that?”
”Yeah…is it a monster? Are we under attack?”
As the students gossiped and chattered amongst themselves, the trainers got into their midst and hurried them along.
”All right, everybody! Follow us! This way! Don't fall behind!”
I joined Adrian and Melina, as well as their group, and gestured for them to go. Adrian glanced at me, his nose wrinkled.
”Do you know who is attacking, Brother Richie?”
”No idea.” I shook my head. ”But whoever it is…it's not good.”
The air of malevolence was so stifling that it was beginning to suffocate me. Around me, the students were panicking, unable to withstand the heavy air of dread that emanate from the opposite side of the lake. Glancing at the large body of water, I saw massive, gray clouds roiling above it. Mana was taking the form of violet lightning, striking and swirling around the surface of the lake, which began to boil viciously.
”The lake! Did you see that?!”
”Something's coming!”
”Mommy! Save me!”
”What the hell is that?!”
”Move it! All of you!” Xun Lian Jia roared. He waved the students along and barked instructions to his trainers while he proceeded toward the lake. His device beamed to life, a glowing sword that crackled with blue lightning. At that moment, the middle-aged camp manager showed up, and he turned to her, his voice filled with urgency. ”Contact HQ, tell them to send reinforcements. We have a rank A mage here.”
”The enemy is human?” the camp manager asked, her eys wide. Xun Lian Jia nodded, his eyes still on the lake.
”Unfortunately…yes. Now go!”
She hurried off, while ushering more of the middle school students toward the camp buildings. As for me, I patted Adrian and Melina's shoulders.
”You guys go head and seek refuge in the shelter.” I turned to Rossetti. ”I'll be counting on you to look after them.”
”What do you plan to do, Sensei?” Melina asked worriedly.
”Don't tell me…” Adrian's eyes widened. ”Brother Richie, you plan on fighting the enemy?”
”Yeah,” I confirmed. ”That's what I'm best at.”
”Are you serious?!” Rossetti demanded, glaring at me. ”You can't! Let the adults handle it! I'm sure Chief Xun Lian Jia will…”
”He won't last longer than a few minutes.” I pushed my glasses up and sighed. ”Don't you sense the immense amount of power coming from this…person? He's no ordinary mage. And look…Chief Xun Lian Jia's hands are trembling violently. He also understands the strength of this person very well.”
”All the more…” Rossetti began, but I shook my head.
”If I don't delay the guy until reinforcements arrive, he'll break into the shelter and slaughter everyone in there. Besides, you know what kind of magic I use. I'll be more useful out here in the open than in confined space.”
Rossetti gave me a look, and she finally conceded my point with a nod.
”Be careful,” she told me.
”Yeah! Watch yourself, Brother Richie!” Adrian added. I could tell that he really wanted to join me, but knew he would be nothing more than a burden. I couldn't fight as well if I had to protect him from the enemy as well.
”Please don't get hurt, Sensei,” Melina pleaded as well, her eyes shining with worry. She then smiled, and I realized that she trusted me enough to believe that I would win. ”Good luck, and kick that guy's ass for us.”
”Heh. I will do my best.” I nodded and sent them running toward the shelter before I turned around to join Xun Lian Jia and face the impending threat.
”You shouldn't be here,” the chief trainer told me, but he didn't order me to fall back.
That was a good sign, at least. He was aware as I was that he was no match for the enemy, whoever it was.
”Can you hold the guy off by yourself?” I asked as I placed my hands on the hilts of my two swords. ”I don't mean to doubt your abilities, but…yeah. Besides, having an extra hand around will increase our chances of victory.”
”Victory?” Xun Lian Jia threw his head back and laughed. ”You're considering the possibility of victory? I'll be happy if we're somehow able to survive until the frontline military mages arrive.” He then grew solemn. ”Until they come, it's just you and me against…that thing, boy.”
”Yeah.” I didn't put on any false bravado this time and watched the lake. By now, the storm had calmed, and a single gigantic bolt of purple lightning struck, vaporizing the water into steam. A dark sihoutte appeared to materialize above the boiling surface of the lake.
The enemy had finally chosen to show itself.
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