BOOOOOOOOM–!!!
"...!"
"KYAAA?!!"
"W-WHAT THE HELL?!"
After the giant pillar of lightning struck down the barrier enveloping the hotel, a violent shockwave exploded outward, sweeping through the surroundings like a roaring storm. The ground trembled as if something enormous had descended from the heavens. A burst of blinding white light covered everything, forcing people to shield their eyes.
Sand and debris flew like sharp bullets carried by the wind. People instinctively covered their faces, raising their arms or putting up mana shields in a panic. Many staggered back, others crouched low, everyone reacting purely on instinct as the sudden chaos swallowed the entire vicinity.
The whole area shook. It wasn't just the ground— everyone felt the shock from their feet up to their bones.
And after a while...
Everything slowly calmed down.
People peeked between their fingers, then slowly lowered their hands. Confusion filled the air. And without even needing to think… all heads turned to the same direction.
To the one responsible for the lightning pillar—
Raven.
He stood there, completely calm, not even breathing heavily. It was as if he simply swatted away a minor inconvenience.
And in front of him...
Was the now broken barrier, shattered open like brittle glass.
"..."
Not a single person said a word.
Even the Heroes who had been desperately trying to break the barrier earlier just stared. Their mouths were slightly open, their minds blank, completely unsure how to react to what they had just witnessed.
Their combined efforts didn't even make a crack earlier... yet Raven broke it alone in an instant.
And the one to shatter the silence—
"We can enter now, let's go."
Was none other than Raven himself.
And after saying that—
BZZSH—!
His body turned into lightning and shot through the opening, rushing into the hotel without wasting a second.
"Let's follow after him." - Curtis
"Yeah." - Blake
BAM!
Alec and the others immediately followed. Their expressions were full of confusion, but they knew the situation was urgent. And above that, they understood Raven well enough— he would explain everything later.
Anyway, seeing them move—
"L-LET'S ALL GO TOO!"
"Y-YEAH!"
The professors and heroes snapped back to reality. Their stupor vanished, replaced by focus and urgency.
BAM!
And so, they too kicked off the ground and rushed into the hotel.
*****
(Raven's POV)
I scanned everything around me carefully while rushing toward the second floor where Ruby and the others were. Every corner, every hallway, every shadow— I checked them all in milliseconds.
I'm trying to look for someone in trouble.
But I saw no one.
'At least that means nobody got separated... there's a high chance no one is dead yet.'
I thought, trying to calm my racing mind.
[Understanding] and [Thought Acceleration] were still active, pushing my thoughts faster and clearer. I kept thinking about the next move, about how to handle this entire situation without messing anything up.
'Even if I rushed straight to Ruby, I wouldn't be much help. She's facing the main enemy of this arc.'
The orchestrator of this terrorism.
A majin contracted with the Pride Demon Clan.
His rank was just a little lower than Ruby's.
'I'll just be a burden if I go directly to her.'
So instead—
'I'll look for the other students first.'
"Levina, go to the dining area. That's where Ruby is. Help her."
I said while sprinting up the stairs. Then without hesitation—
-Got it!
BZZSH—!
Levina shot off like a bolt of blue lightning, instantly flying toward the dining area. She was trailing me beforehand.
BZZZZSSH—!
Meanwhile, I continued upward. Higher floors first. Students might be hiding, trapped, or trying to escape through windows.
*****
"?!!"
Ruby blinked, blinded for a moment by the flash of light that entered her eyes.
"Was that... a lightning?"
She muttered as she squinted toward the outside.
She had clearly seen a stroke of lightning fall from the sky. But more importantly—
'I felt Raven's and Levina's mana from it.'
For some reason…
Just knowing Raven was nearby made her chest loosen.
'I don't know why... but it feels like everything will be alright now.'
"Hah..."
A small laugh escaped her. She never thought someone could make her feel this way.
"That lightning..."
She heard Keara's voice from beside her. Judging by her tone, she recognized who it belonged to as well.
"That's right, it's him."
Ruby said with a small smile.
"..."
Keara's expression softened instantly.
-Kyuu!
Both of them turned when they heard a cute chirp. Yuki puffed up its body proudly, as if saying it expected nothing less.
The two smiled looking at her.
But immediately, Ruby shook her head and returned her gaze to the majin in front of her.
He was facing the cracked window, seeming shocked by the lightning pillar. He stopped attacking and just stood there frozen.
And even though Ruby can't see his face because of the mask, she was sure he was surprised.
Then, even with the noise from gunshots from the terrorists—
"How...? I was sure there was nobody nearby that could destroy that barrier...!"
Ruby heard the majin mutter that.
"What? Did something unexpected happen and ruin your plan?"
Ruby immediately said with a sly tone after hearing that.
The majin turned sharply to her. Even through his mask, his rising aura was obvious— full of irritation and anger.
"Tsk!"
He clicked his tongue and raised his right hand, aiming it at Ruby.
"At least you... I'll kill you."
He declared.
"Come and do it, if you can."
Ruby answered, unbothered.
Then—
S W O O O O O S H—!!!
A surge of mana erupted from the majin, so strong it made the air tremble.
Ruby's brows lowered. He was truly going all out now— ready to kill her even if it meant his own life.
But—
S W I S H!!!
Ruby didn't care. She immediately shot an ice spear at him.
BASH!
The majin destroyed it.
SWOOSH!
Then he dashed toward the mana barrier protecting Ruby and the others, swinging his whip relentlessly!
WHIP! SPLAT! THAK—!
The majin continuously attacked the barrier.
SWISH!
Ruby kept firing ice spears, but now the majin focused solely on breaking through. He blocked only the lethal ones, letting the rest hit him, small wounds appearing across his body.
The terrorists were the same. Even as limbs were severed, even as blood poured out—
"KAHAHAHAHAHA—!!!"
"DIEEEE!!!"
They kept attacking like mindless beasts who didn't feel pain!
Ruby's brows furrowed.
They truly deserved the name of a crazy cultist and demonic cult.
Still, she maintained the barrier and attacked with everything she had left, protecting everyone.
But then—
CRACK-!
A thin fracture appeared on the barrier she made.
"?!"
Her eyes widened. The majin's attacks were piling up faster than her regenerating mana.
The people behind her trembled. Some wailed quietly. The moment they saw the crack, fear swallowed them whole.
And seeing their fear— the majin burst into twisted laughter.
"GAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!"
His calm demeanor earlier completely disappeared, like he had gone crazy.
"I'M GOING TO KILL ALL OF YOU!!!"
F W O O O O S H~!!
He exclaimed as demonic aura poured out of him, thick and suffocating.
Students cried behind Ruby. Even Keara and Yuki flinched under the pressure.
"Tsk!"
Swish~
Ruby clicked her tongue, pulled out her sword, and gripped it tightly.
'I'll protect everyone until the end.'
She swore silently. Ruby could just stop protecting the others and just fight all the terrorists, she will surely survive that way.
But if she did that— Keara, and everyone else in the dining room... They're going to die.
That's why Ruby refused to let go of the mana barrier.
"And if ever, if I die here... at least I'll be free from the curse."
She whispered under her breath.
BAM!
C R A C K—!
Another violent strike hit the barrier, widening the fractures. One more hit would shatter it.
"..."
Ruby focused herself, she stopped firing ice spears now, saving her mana. She prepared to rush out the moment the barrier broke.
The majin raised his hand. His whip glowed with concentrated mana.
SWISH—!
Then he swung downward with killing intent!
"BRACE FOR IMPACT!"
Ruby shouted.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!"
The whip tore through the air as the majin laughed maniacally—
But right before it hit—
BZT-
A tiny buzzing sound entered everyone's ears.
Then—
BZZOOOOM!!!
A bolt of lightning shot from the entrance of the dining area and struck the majin! It all happened in a millisecond!
"Huh?"
Ruby's eyes widened. She snapped toward the entrance.
And there—
-Raven told me to go here! I'm here to help!
A small bluish orb floated in the air.
It was Levina.
