Chapter 44: Black Dragon
Old Ben stepped out of the barrier and was immediately met with a rather unexpected scene.
A group of figures stood there with grim, hardened expressions, while one among them sobbed uncontrollably.
"Sob... we will never forget your sacrifice!"
"Sir Ben, you didn’t need to go that far. I could have teleported it away..."
"You stubborn hag, why are you still stuck on that idea?"
The chaotic exchange continued for a moment before a loud deliberate cough cut through the noise.
"Ahem!" Aurelius Zenith stepped forward.
"Please forgive them, they do not know the full truth yet," he said calmly.
Old Ben, meanwhile, wore a rather peculiar expression as his gaze swept across the group, especially on the one who was still sobbing dramatically.
"Well, I suppose it’s fine, I have my own methods and they are still... young, after all," he said with a sigh.
"You seem to have some important guest arriving, so I will leave the rest to you. Just make sure my involvement is not mentioned."
With that, he vanished once again.
Aurelius did not waste time.
"You two, seal this space immediately," he commanded, already sensing the arrival of a powerful presence approaching at tremendous speed.
’No wonder they are considered a pinnacle race,’ he thought to himself, his expression turning slightly more serious, after all not every human has the potential to rise at the peak of this world.
Moments later, a massive black dragon descended.
Its form hidden from ordinary perception yet dangerously powerful to those capable of sensing it.
Its presence alone commanded the surrounding mana.
"Aurelius Zenith," the dragon spoke in the Dragon Tongue, its voice carrying an oppressive weight that influenced the very environment.
"What was that presence? How could an Outer God manifest within a sealed domain like this? Even the laws of the world seemed to tremble."
Its gaze pierced through the barrier remnants, attempting to analyze what had transpired within.
’Should I use [Rewind]?’ the dragon considered briefly.
However, such an action carried risks, as the entity in question could reverse trace and attempt to increase its influence here.
Aurelius, however, appeared completely unfazed.
"Well... nothing much happened, it got scared of me and ran away," he replied casually, giving a thumbs up.
"...Got scared and ran away?" the dragon repeated slowly.
Its eyes twitched.
Moments later, its massive form shifted into that of a tall, handsome human male with black hair and faint dragon scales lining his arms.
’How can someone lie so shamelessly... and with such terrible acting?’ the dragon thought, barely containing his irritation.
Then – Cough!
Aurelius violently began coughing up large amounts of blood as his previously steady presence wavered dramatically.
"What?!" the dragon exclaimed in genuine confusion.
Just moments ago, Aurelius had appeared completely fine, yet now he looked as though he was on the verge of death.
"Take me... to my office," Aurelius said weakly, his voice strained as a figure quickly appeared beside him and escorted him away, vanishing from the scene.
The dragon closed his eyes slowly, taking a deep breath as if trying to suppress his growing frustration.
When he opened them again, his gaze shifted toward a nearby female mage.
"You," he said, his tone carrying authority, "explain what happened here."
The mage stiffened slightly.
"Uh... Sir Dragon, I truly do not know, I only just arrived here. Perhaps you should ask my superior."
Veins appeared on the dragon’s forehead as his patience visibly thinned.
At that moment, he felt an overwhelming urge to simply destroy the entire place.
Unfortunately, he already understood exactly what was happening, after all he was acquaintance with Aurelius.
"Fuck!" he muttered under his breath as he turned away, clearly frustrated.
Now, there was little he could do.
He would have to wait until that man decided to speak for himself.
After all, he had not come here casually, he had official duties to fulfill, and whatever had transpired here would need to be reported back to the council.
***
One day later...
A full day had passed since the incident involving the Outer God, and now the Imperial Zenith School remained in a state of complete shutdown.
The aftermath had spread far beyond the School’s walls.
Across the Empire, the media was flooded with discussions questioning the institution’s security, as concerned families demanded answers about how such a catastrophic event could occur in a place entrusted with the future of their children.
The school’s reputation, once considered unshakable, had taken a severe blow, and many influential figures did not hesitate to make their stance public.
Among them, the most prominent voice was that of Duchess Valor, who openly declared that the era of the Imperial Zenith School being the undisputed pinnacle of the Empire had come to an end.
Her words carried significant weight.
Not only was she master of the most powerful duchy, but she also stood as the head of the Empire’s second most influential school, the Sky School, making her statement impossible to ignore.
While the world outside buzzed with speculation and tension, life within the dormitories had taken on a quieter, more uncertain tone.
Inside their room, Bonjour and Sénior sat across from each other, engaged in casual conversation, when suddenly the scroll resting on their desk flickered to life.
Lines of text appeared upon its surface, written in the Barbarian language.
"Looks like this is from Uncle," Sénior said.
"No... I think this is from the Great Shaman," Bonjour replied, his tone shifting as he reached for a specialized quill lying nearby.
The moment Bonjour prepared to write a response, his hand froze mid-motion.
At the same time, Sénior’s expression stiffened.
[Coucou: I heard something happened at your school. Should I come and take a look?]
A heavy silence filled the room.
"Why is this your sister?"
"Why is this that witch?"
Both of them felt a sudden chill run down their spines.
Far away, thousands of kilometers from the School, atop the summit of a snow-covered mountain, a small wooden hut stood against the raging cold winds.
Inside, a figure radiating an overwhelming and terrifying presence held a similar scroll in her hand, her sharp eyes fixed upon it.
"Why is he not writing his reply?" she muttered, her voice low yet laced with impatience.
The air around her grew colder.
