Chapter 234
TL: TangSanFan
ED/PR: Tanthus
***Bellbrook Subjugation Battle (2)***
"Your Majesty, you must evacuate for now! Advisors are currently contacting the scholars to work out a means of escape from the island! Among the academy's personnel, there are those with the ability to devise a route off the island!"
Kneeling with his head bowed, Clair's voice sounded urgent as he made her report.
As a member of the royal guard, the foremost priority was to evacuate the Clorel royals, even before the massive dragon high in the sky made its next move.
- Kaaaaaah!
The dragon's roar enveloped Acken Island time and again.
- Kaaang! Kaang!
With each roar growing fiercer, its aftermath cracked several windows of the royal quarters.
Weaker windows down the hallway shattered with a crash. Servants passing by struggled to suppress their terror-filled screams.
With each roar from Bellbrook, more of its magical energy could be felt.
Slowly but surely, it was breaking the iron chains that tightly coiled around its body. Although it was unclear who was forcing the maintenance of the seal upon the mighty Bellbrook, one thing was certain: if they remained still, the area would be ravaged.
- Kaaaaah!
From the window of the royal quarters, the colossal foreleg of the Dragon of Starry Fortress, Bellbrook, was seen brushing past.
Sweeping by with a violent gust, it collided with the mountain mid-slope, triggering massive clouds of dust and a landslide.
Soaring above the dust, a diminutive figure of a mage flew up.
It was Lucy Mayrill, the head of the magic department, cleaning her skirt from dust while floating in the night sky above the giant-headed dragon.
The Clorel Emperor momentarily furrowed his brow at the view from the window.
"First, we must control the situation. Summon all available warriors inside the royal quarters."
"Your Majesty! You must escape the island first!"
"Enough noise. When even a single student struggles against this calamity, should I, bearing the name of royalty, flee with my tail between my legs?"
The Clorel Emperor spoke in a low voice to Clair.
"Do you think such behavior befits an Emperor? The academy must already be in greater chaos. To bring order to this situation, legitimate authority must impose control. If the academy cannot do it, then the royal power shall sort it out."
"But if we don't leave quickly, your life could be in danger!"
"Father. I'm fine, so please at least get off the island...! There are plenty of ways if we look for them! You can command the field from outside the island too!"
"If the greatest human, the Emperor, flees in terror, then those left on Acken Island will only be thrown into further confusion. Is that how things will be resolved?"
The Clorel Emperor turned away from the chaotic scene outside and rested his chin on his hand, lost in thought.
"Reigning as an Emperor means I cannot flee thoughtlessly in such situations. Phoenia."
Phoenia's eyes widened as she looked up at the Clorel Emperor.
Numerous outsiders, merchants from the living quarters, academy students, and staff members packed the tight Acken Island.
Among them all, the most noble and lofty was undoubtedly the Clorel Emperor.
If he were the first to flee, those next in the line of succession would rush to escape the island.
Therefore, he would not leave the island.
As long as he firmly planted himself at the helm, other nobles could not haphazardly take such selfish actions.
"How can one who flees and abandons his people command over them?"
The Clorel Emperor stopped there and once again sharply ordered Clair to muster the remaining forces inside the royal quarters.
With no choice but to obey the imperial command, Claire nodded and ran down the hallway.
Time was of the essence.
The Clorel Emperor kept his gaze fixed outside.
Bellbrook and Lucy Mayrill continued to exchange blows, their magic at a level that even the royal mages couldn't help but marvel at.
Even without fully breaking its seal, Bellbrook pressed down on Lucy Mayrill. The aftermath of their battle alone was spreading destruction across the island.
The magical blast from Bellbrook that Lucy repelled struck the cliffs once more.
The resulting shockwave... hit directly the spire at the center of the Sylvania Academy.
- Kooooom
It was a scene visible from afar at the royal quarters.
But the sight alone forced eyes to shut tight.
The center spire of the Sylvania Academy was collapsing.
Standing proudly in the central square, visible from anywhere on Acken Island, was the giant spire. Its brick exterior crumbled completely, depositing debris all over the square.
The central square was crowded with outside spectators.
There would be hundreds of injuries, at least, and dozens of fatalities—and that's a conservative estimate.
In such chaos, proper medical support would be impossible, so most would succumb to their wounds.
The Clorel Emperor clenched his eyes shut and gritted his teeth. Yet, he could not afford to lose composure here.
"Have the warriors been summoned yet!"
Grudgingly prompting his officials, there was no alternative but to head towards the central or student square.
Clair had just slipped through the door when a sharp tentacle pierced his chest. Blood spilled from his lips as he coughed up a mouthful.
"Keu, huk..."
The strength of demonkin can't be judged by appearance alone.
Even gremlins and giant bats that look identical can vary greatly in strength from one individual to another.
While most of the demonkin had been dealt with, a lone giant bat had just subdued seven of our soldiers. It was a critical situation, especially since additional escort troops hadn't yet arrived.
"Do...doomed..."
Clair couldn't finish his sentence. His body went limp and collapsed, and through the gap in the door, torn vertical bat eyes were visible.
Princess Phoenia clenched her lower lip hard, barely suppressing a scream.
Even if Clair hadn't opened the door, it seemed the bat was moments away from breaking in. Phoenia, shivering, stood up and placed herself in front of Emperor Clorel, gathering her magic.
Despite her amateur magic, she was the only one capable of fighting right now.
- Bang!!
Just as she gritted her teeth, the meeting room's door burst open, and the grotesque form of the giant bat burst in.
* * *
Two magic-infused arrows pierced through the heart of a wolf corpse.
Kiikeeeeng! Kieeng!
With a piteous cry, the reanimated wolf tumbled onto the marble floor, splattering it with dark red blood.
-Awooo!
Merilda's lament tore through the night sky of Arken. The high-tier wind magic 'Blade Storm' engulfed the area.
An advanced form of the basic wind blade magic, blade Storm summoned a whirlwind of sharp gales over a large area, different from the basic spells only in its covered range. The wolf corpses blocking the road leading out of the faculty buildings were slashed to pieces, leaving the outer road blood-drenched, a horrible sight but a necessary act.
『 There's so many of them! How are we ever going to reach Triss Hall like this! 』
Next to Merilda, I checked my magic. True to her strength, Merilda's magical efficiency was seriously poor.
Following the outer roads and cutting across combat buildings to climb the hill, that's where Triss Hall is located.
Sitting atop the hill, with a clear view of the faculty buildings, the marble structure of Triss Hall manages the entire operation of the Sylvania Academy.
The principal's office, the vice-principal's office, key academic administrative offices are all located there, and most academic conferences take place in Triss Hall, as well-known professors' labs are all housed there for efficiency in movement.
『 We could break through, but won't you be exhausted by the time we reach Triss Hall? Is it really okay for me to keep rampaging like this? 』
"Right now, reaching Triss Hall as quickly as possible is what's important. We have to clear the path first!"
『 Got it! Here they come again! 』