"Lily, provide support from the back." Ana dashed toward the demon horde after saying that to Lily.
Hueg also followed Ana and then, in a matter of seconds, left her behind.
Lily nodded her head and prepared herself, but all of a sudden, a realization struck her. 'She is a mage too. Why is she going close range?'
There was no one to answer Lily's doubt, so she tossed it aside. She didn't have to watch her back as another group of students were defending it.
" [ Wind Thrusts ] " Hueg cut a straight line in the demon horde, not even breaking a sweat to kill these low-level demons.
Meanwhile, Ana analyzed the situation once again. 'That is a tier-2 demon knight, and from the energy signature, it looks like it is at the 1st Stage Fleshcrafting Realm. I and Hueg are both in the 8th Stage Apprentice Realm, and I can tell from Hueg that his body is filled with mana, not the vital energy that warriors possess. On the other hand, Lily is in the 7th Stage Apprentice Realm. We might not be enough to take this thing down, but that doesn't mean we can't give it a try.'
'However, let's clear these mobs first, or they might become an obstruction in the future.' Ana shifted her focus from the Corruptor to the low-level demons — to clean them up from the field.
…
Somewhere deep into the forest, a mountain could be seen kissing the edge of this forest.
On its ridge were a group of mature men and women in scholar's robes, sitting on their respectable chairs.
"Looks like some kids have found out." A bored man with a thick beard said it nonchalantly, looking at the battle that was taking place in the distance. He was Greg, one of the teachers in the academy. He had black hair and tight muscles underneath his robe. He was a 6th Stage Bloodline Strengthening Realm, a Warrior.
"Duh, it is not much of a secret anyway. People with brains can find it out." A voluptuous woman, who was having a hard time hiding her figure even in such a loose robe, rolled her eyes backwards at Greg. She was Cynthia, also one of the teachers in the academy. She had blonde hair, brown eyes, and a face that bloomed with maturity. She was a 4th Stage Master Realm, a Witch.
Cynthia looked at the woman beside her, who had a calm face and was smiling below at the fight that was occurring. Cynthia asked. "Hey, Monia. Care to tell me why you were so hell-bent on sending the demon knights we were saving?"
Monia, the woman sitting beside Cynthia, replied."I just want to see how good the new batch of students are. We were having basic geniuses these past years despite the Star Shower of Prosperity occurring. If we find good ones, we will nurture them fully. You do know our branch of the academy is declining. We might get severe resource reductions if this keeps going on."
Monia was also a teacher at the academy, but she was in the senior category. She had a smaller body than Cynthia, and she had light blue hair. She was a 9th Stage Master Realm, a Ice Mage. She knows a lot of insider stuff that the people around her do not know now.
Monia was tasked with this year's selection, and she would do anything to bring the fame back to her branch.
The academy was mainly located in the Central Capital, where the King resides. Because of the increasing number of people each year—in the past—the king decided to separate it into three branches called The Three Arms of EverGreen Academy of EverGreen Region.
Students from all classes, from royals to peasants, could enroll in these three arms, which were located in the three Duke's Kingdoms. Then the people who would perform exponentially could enter the Main Arm of the academy, in the King's Kingdom.
The people under the age of 23 who could enter the top 500 of the dragon ranking could enter the Main Academy, where resources were abundant.
The last man, who was beside Greg, nodded his head to Monia's concern. "Senior Monia, your concerns are truly valid, and it looks like we are getting some good and rare geniuses."
This man looked considerably younger than the others here. He had red hair and ruby like eyes. He looked innocent yet arrogant at the same time. He was Vik, a 1st Stage Master Realm, Fire Warlock.
Vik then looked in another direction, where a bunch of students were getting healed. "But to think that you could bring our branch's top genius with those same words."
Monia just smiled and didn't answer Vik's question.
Vik was referring to the one who was escorting the injured students away. This top genius was called Asher, a genius Space Battle Mage who was in the 1st Stage Master Realm.
…
"Huuh~" Hueg stood on the ground and let out a deep breath. He looked ahead at the Corruptor who was just looking at them blankly and not doing anything. "I guess this guy is arrogant."
"Yes." Ana agreed with Hueg, so did Lily, who was behind them.
They could feel strong energy signatures coming from other places, indicating the fight against demon knights had already begun, but here was the exception.
Ana glanced at Lily and Hueg, asking them with slight concern. "Can you guys handle it?"
She was worried because they got exhausted cleaning up their surroundings and the other students didn't come to help them, instead backed away, which resulted in the other demon rushing toward them — having them clear six to eight blocks of carriage worth of demons.
"Heh! You underestimate me too much, little girl." Hueg said with a big smirk, readying himself to rush forward.
"Yes, this is nothing." Lily also bravely said.
Ana didn't know why, but she felt a certain feeling in her heart—fun, exhilaration, bonding, trust—that she had not felt fully in her past life.
Ana also removed her ice-cold expression and said it with a smile. "Let's give it our all."
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