Clang!

Noah barely managed to block Boris’ next strike. The impact numbed both of his arms. His feet slid backward across the ancient stone floor, leaving shallow marks behind.

"Ghk..."

His chest burned with pain.

Every clash reopened the wounds that had only begun to heal.

Boris wore a faint smile.

"You’ve reached your limit."

His twin daggers flashed once more.

Clang!

Clang!

Clang!

The attacks flowed one after another without pause. Each strike was heavier than the last.

To Noah, it felt as though massive boulders were crashing against his sword. His exhausted body could barely keep up.

On the other side of the corridor, Mary was having no easier time. Another orange magic circle formed before her.

[Fire Lance.]

Three blazing spears shot toward Albert.

Whoosh!

Whoosh!

Whoosh!

Albert snorted.

Mana surged around his greatsword. He swung the sword at incoming attacks.

BOOM!!

The fire lances exploded before reaching him. The blast filled the corridor with smoke and scorching heat.

Albert continued charging through the explosion as though it had never happened. His enormous sword came crashing downward.

Mary hastily conjured a barrier.

Crack!

The translucent shield shattered instantly. The remaining force threw her backward.

Bang!

She slammed against the stone wall before stumbling back onto her feet.

"Cough...!"

Blood trickled from the corner of her lips.

Noah saw everything from the corner of his eye. His expression darkened.

’Dammit...’

They couldn’t win. Not in his current condition. He had exhausted nearly all of his mana fighting Xavier. His muscles were torn. His body had reached its limit.

Mary had also spent a considerable amount of mana healing him and supporting him throughout the earlier battles.

Continuing this fight would only get them killed.

Boris noticed the hesitation in Noah’s eyes.

"You’ve realized it too. There was never any chance."

His daggers danced forward again.

Clang!

Clang!

Clang!

Noah blocked desperately, but every impact pushed him farther back.

"Mary!"

He shouted without taking his eyes off Boris.

"We’re running!"

Mary immediately understood. She didn’t question him for even a second.

"Got it!"

She thrust her wand toward Albert. A brilliant crimson magic circle expanded before her.

[Flame Burst]

Boom!!

A violent explosion of fire erupted between them. The corridor disappeared beneath flames and thick smoke.

Albert instinctively raised an arm to shield his face.

"Tch!"

At the same moment, Noah unleashed several ice spikes from the ground beneath Boris.

Crack!

Crack!

Crack!

Sharp pillars of ice erupted upward. Boris leaped backward. The attack hadn’t injured him. But it had bought them exactly what they needed.

"Now!"

Noah grabbed Mary’s wrist. The two of them spun around and sprinted deeper into the ruins. Their footsteps echoed frantically through the ancient corridor.

Tap!

Tap!

Tap!

They burst into the enormous hall containing the Moon Goddess statue. Towering pillars rushed past them.

The flickering torch still lay abandoned near the entrance, its light growing fainter behind them.

Noah’s breathing became ragged. Every stride sent agonizing pain through his battered body. His vision blurred for a moment.

Still he forced himself to keep moving.

’Just... a little farther...’

Mary stayed beside him despite being exhausted herself.

"Noah!"

"I’m fine!"

He lied through gritted teeth. Blood slowly dripped from beneath his academy battle gear. His healing wounds had opened once again.

Boom!

The smoke exploded apart. Boris and Albert emerged from it at terrifying speed.

"They’re escaping!"

Albert roared.

"Don’t let them leave this place!"

Both men accelerated. Their footsteps thundered across the stone floor as they chased after the fleeing students.

The distance between them rapidly shrank.

"They’re catching up!" Mary shouted.

"I know!"

Noah glanced ahead.

The long staircase leading toward the upper passages came into view.

"There!"

They immediately changed direction and rushed toward it.

Step!

Step!

Step!

The ancient stairs stretched upward into darkness. Noah gritted his teeth and forced his aching legs to move faster.

Every muscle in his body screamed in protest. His lungs burned. His vision swam. Yet he refused to stop.

Behind them, Boris smiled coldly. "They won’t get far."

Albert tightened his grip on his massive sword.

"We’ll finish them before they reach the surface."

The chase through the ancient ruin had only just begun.

---

Back to Damien and the others.

Damien remained standing, his body bathed in a faint golden glow.

Cuts and bruises covered him from head to toe. Blood dripped steadily from several wounds, soaking parts of his academy battle gear. Even so, he refused to fall.

Several meters ahead, Daniel lay motionless on the forest floor.

The demon’s body was riddled with deep sword wounds, his lifeless eyes staring blankly toward the darkening sky.

Beside Damien stood Lyria, breathing heavily. Her chest rose and fell rapidly as she leaned on her golden spear for support.

"We... we did it..."

Damien let out a weary breath and nodded.

"...Yeah."

The golden aura surrounding him slowly faded. The pressure he had been suppressing all this time finally caught up to him.

His knees buckled.

Thud.

Damien collapsed onto one knee before falling completely onto the ground. The last traces of golden light vanished from his body.

"Damien!"

Lyria hurried to his side and knelt beside him.

The forest had become almost completely dark, with only the faint crimson glow of the evening sky filtering through the dense canopy overhead.

Without wasting a moment, she raised her hand. A soft golden-white magic circle formed beneath Damien.

Warm healing light spread across his battered body, slowly closing the smaller wounds while easing the pain in his muscles.

As she examined him, her eyes widened slightly.

"...He broke through."

A faint smile appeared on her face.

"He reached the Condensed Core Realm... Low Rank."

Despite being unconscious from exhaustion, Damien had advanced during the life-and-death battle.

Lyria let out a relieved sigh.

"...What a monster."

---

Meanwhile...

On the other side of the forest...

The battle between Botis and the three students had reached its final stage. Kaelan, Ken, and Arisha stood several meters apart, surrounding the demon from three different directions.

All three were exhausted.

Kaelan was in the worst condition.

Blood flowed continuously from multiple wounds across his body, and his breathing had become uneven. Even holding his twin daggers had become difficult.

Ken wasn’t much better.

His clothes were torn in several places, and numerous cuts covered his arms and shoulders. Fresh blood dripped steadily from the tip of his sword.

Arisha’s mana had nearly been depleted.

Sweat covered her forehead as she held her wand tightly. The blue crystal embedded at its tip glowed faintly, showing just how little mana she had left.

Across from them Botis still stood.

Although the demon remained imposing, he was far from uninjured.

Deep cuts crossed both of his arms. One of Arisha’s wind arrows had pierced completely through his thigh. A long diagonal slash stretched across his chest, staining his clothes crimson.

Blood continued to drip onto the forest floor.

Yet despite everything...He remained standing tall.

His crimson eyes swept across the three students with undisguised irritation. His grip around the spear tightened.

"You brats..."

His voice was cold and filled with killing intent.

"...You’re far more persistent than I expected."

He clicked his tongue. A Condensed Core Realm warrior like himself had spent so much time fighting three academy students.

Worse, his primary target was still alive.

It was humiliating.

Botis slowly lowered his stance. Dark orange flames began swirling around his spear once again.

The surrounding air distorted from the intense heat.

"I’m done playing."

His mana surged violently.

"This time..."

"...Kaelan dies."

The terrifying pressure swept across the battlefield.

Kaelan tightened his grip on both daggers. Despite his battered body, he stepped forward without hesitation.

Ken silently moved beside him, his sword raised.

Arisha pointed her wand toward Botis.

The three prepared themselves for one final clash.

Botis bent his knees.

The ground beneath his feet cracked. Just as he was about to launch himself forward—A black magic circle silently appeared beneath him.

Botis frowned.

"...What?"

Dark matter erupted from the circle like liquid shadows. It wrapped around his legs before rapidly climbing over the rest of his body.

"What is this?!"

He struggled violently, attempting to tear free. The dark substance only tightened further. Within seconds, it completely engulfed him.

His furious voice abruptly disappeared. Silence returned to the battlefield.

A calm, slightly tired voice echoed from among the trees.

"...Seems I’m late again."

The students immediately turned toward the source. A familiar figure stepped out from the darkness.

The dark magic restraining Botis was clearly under her control.

"Instructor Morgana!"

Relief instantly filled Arisha’s face. She nearly dropped her wand.

Kaelan finally let out the breath he had been holding.

His tense shoulders relaxed.

"...We made it."

His legs finally gave out.

Thud.

He dropped onto the ground, breathing heavily. He was alive and safe. At one point he really thought that he was going to die.

Ken also lowered his sword. The tension that had gripped his body slowly disappeared.

The battle was finally over.