I Became A Flashing Genius At The Magic Academy-Chapter 318

Amid the roaring red and yellow flames, Hong Biyeon’s silver hair danced as she incinerated a black wraith entirely. Her destructive power alone was already comparable to that of a 5th-class mage. When she unleashed her flames in full force, even the wraith couldn’t withstand it.

“Disgusting...”

As a mage highly sensitive to mana, she could sense it through her sensory organs. While the other, less sensitive students might not notice, she could clearly smell the foul stench of negative mana emanating from the wraith, causing her to wrinkle her nose.

*Thud! Boom!*

Just as she managed to take down one wraith, another appeared from the sky, materializing from an inky mass.

“Aaahh!”

“Run!”

The supposed “magic warrior trainees” scattered in fear, fleeing at the sight. Some students managed to raise their staffs and attempted to fight, but their firepower was far too weak to face these creatures.

*To handle even the smaller wraiths, you need at least 5th-class level magic...*

The larger wraiths, on the other hand, seemed almost immune to any ordinary magic attacks unless they were especially powerful.

Gripping her staff tightly, Hong Biyeon rushed toward the students who were fighting the wraiths. Her entire body throbbed in pain from the strain of amplifying her mana moments earlier, but she couldn’t just leave those idiots alone to get themselves killed.

“Move.”

Her voice was a low murmur, barely loud enough to be heard, yet the students fighting the wraiths could hear her voice clearly in their ears.

“W-wait!”

“That crazy human woman!”

*Fwoosh!!*

Before they could get out of the way, Hong Biyeon unleashed her flames. She clearly didn’t care if they thought she was telling them to move faster and get out of her way.

*Screeeeech—!*

*Ugh...!*

Though the flames hit, the wraith only staggered slightly, showing no real damage. She hadn’t fully gathered her mana, and the wraith was simply too massive.

*At least I bought some time.*

She had bought the other students enough time to escape, so she prepared to turn and flee herself...

*Thump*

...only to find another giant wraith forming right behind her, taking shape in the air.

“Ugh!”

The impact of its landing sent Hong Biyeon flying backward, slamming her back against a pillar and forcing a gag out of her. Thankfully, her protective barrier absorbed most of the damage, but her head spun for a moment.

*Focus...!*

She forced her eyes open and focused ahead, where the giant wraith she had been battling, along with the newly landed smaller wraith, were both charging straight at her.

**Thud! Thud! Thud!**

Each step shattered the ground. The speed at which the giants advanced was terrifying, even with their massive bodies—like cargo wagons barreling toward her at full force.

Dodge. Left.

Her instincts screamed at her, and she threw herself to the left. Just then, a massive tree sprouted up beside her, tripping the wraiths by their ankles and sending them crashing to the ground.

*Roar—!!*

Unable to withstand the backlash of their momentum and weight, the giants toppled over, causing the ground where Hong Biyeon had just been to collapse.

“This magic...”

There were many at Starflower Tree who could manipulate plants, but only a rare few could control trees so quickly in combat.

As far as Hong Biyeon knew, the only student who used trees in combat was Flame. But this magic felt too intense and impersonal to be hers.

“You’re safe. Let’s get moving.”

A voice came from behind her, and Hong Biyeon recognized who it was.

“...Jellyel.”

“Quickly.”

“Didn’t consider that I’d be crushed under those things, did you?”

Hong Biyeon’s irritation bubbled over as she spoke, but Jellyel replied calmly.

“I figured you’d dodge.”

It sounded like trust in her abilities, but it also irritated her, as if their personalities didn’t quite align.

Nevertheless, Jellyel had saved her, so Hong Biyeon quickly left the classroom.

“The students nearby are heading underground. The shelters should be safe.”

“Where’s the shelter?”

“It’ll take at least 30 minutes to reach, especially with the connecting corridors destroyed. Assuming the ground holds up.”

“This place is huge. Is there no warp gate?”

“This isn’t Stella. Even if there were, it wouldn’t be usable now.”

“The system here is a mess. The disaster response plan is completely lacking. Where are the professors?”

“They’re probably fighting somewhere.”

As they spoke, Hong Biyeon observed Jellyel more closely. At first, she’d thought Jellyel was similar in personality, which oddly made her like her. But she now realized their personalities couldn’t be more different.

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If she had to describe it, Hong Biyeon was like a blazing flower, while Jellyel was more like a quiet candle, waiting to ignite.

“This way.”

Following Jellyel’s lead, they soon reached a dead end.

“Are you sure we’re going the right way?”

“Yes. Until three months ago, there was a small path here. It must have been under repair.”

“What? You’re telling me this now?”

“My apologies. Let’s try another route.”

“Are you sure you even know the way?”

“Well, I’ve only attended school for a few months in total this year.”

“Oh, wonderful.”

Hong Biyeon cursed her luck, but she had to admit that Jellyel was sharp and quick-witted, even if she had one glaring flaw.

“This path has collapsed.”

“It looks like the staircase they planned here was canceled.”

“Not this way either. Let’s go somewhere else.”

Jellyel, it seemed, had a severe lack of directional sense. Finding this hidden weakness left Hong Biyeon unsure whether to laugh or cry.

“Move aside. I’ll lead.”

With no other choice, Hong Biyeon took charge. Navigating wasn’t too hard. Building structures were never that complex.

Even though the signs were destroyed and the building twisted in odd ways, she mentally mapped out the routes, simulating the possible paths.

The entire process took barely three seconds.

“Follow me.”

Taking the lead, Hong Biyeon pointed to a collapsed passage.

“Can you clear the path with some trees?”

In response, Jellyel lightly waved her staff, causing a tree to grow and form a small bridge. They crossed, and it withered away once they passed.

“Can’t you keep it stable for others to use?”

“That’s not possible. It requires continuous mana to sustain.”

Hong Biyeon briefly thought of Flame, who could maintain summoned plants for an entire day, but brushed it off.

The path she chose seemed to lead them smoothly to the underground shelter. However, due to the building’s collapsed sections, the journey was taking longer, and as they expanded their route to avoid wraiths, the wraiths soon surrounded them from all sides.

They were appearing faster than they could be defeated.

“Be careful. There’s a wraith ahead.”

“...I see it.”

Soaked in sweat, Jellyel stared tensely at the massive wraith across the hall.

This was the largest one they’d seen yet. It was so tall that, while its feet stood on the first floor, its head reached the school’s rooftop.

Hong Biyeon wiped the strands of hair stuck to her cheek, catching her breath. She had expended too much mana and stamina on the way here, with no strength left to break through this wraith.

“This is bad...”

“What?”

“The shelter... is behind that wraith.”

“What?”

Hong Biyeon paled at Jellyel’s words. The wraiths attacked any source of life they sensed, yet this one was pacing around as if uninterested.

That could only mean... the shelter was empty.

*Boom! Crash!*

A distant explosion drew the giant wraith’s gaze for a moment before it resumed its slow, aimless circling around the shelter.

“That’s the professors fighting.”

The professors were finally rallying and driving the wraiths toward them, but waiting for them would take too long.

There were students hiding everywhere, and the wraiths were drawn to them, attacking whatever life they sensed.

How many students had already been injured or killed? And how many more would be?

“We can’t waste any more time.”

“...I know.”

Jellyel grimaced in frustration, mentally calculating every possible way to tackle the situation but finding no answer.

*“Help us! Please, someone!”*

*Screams for mercy and shrieks of terror echoed from students discovered in hiding, spreading through the hallways.*

Wraiths closed in from every direction.

If they stayed here, they would be surrounded and slaughtered.

“Are you thinking of fighting it?”

“There’s no other way.”

“Your magic is too flashy. You’ll definitely draw the attention of every wraith nearby.”

“No need to overthink it. I never planned to win this alone.”

“Are you...”

Jellyel stepped back with a hint of respect in her eyes.

“You’re going to sacrifice yourself? Impressive. I won’t stop you.”

“Cut the nonsense.”

She had no intention of dying here. No calculations, no grand strategy.

This was... just a gamble.

But a gamble with a 99% chance of success.

*Fwoosh!*

The flames Hong Biyeon summoned burst forth, rising into the air and shooting up toward the school’s ceiling. Jellyel, watching, turned slightly pale and asked nervously.

“If you set off a flare here, I think...”

“All eyes will be on me.”

All

the wraiths nearby would focus on her.

And... those kids running around somewhere out there might also see it.

“You’re drawing attention... for what?”

“That’s all I need.”

It was reckless, a seemingly suicidal act, but Hong Biyeon’s face showed no hint of fear. Her confidence only left Jellyel more perplexed.

What kind of faith did she have to make such a crazy move so boldly?

For Jellyel, who had never relied on anyone else in her life, the unfamiliar feeling of trust was a mystery.

“Let’s make it count.”

*Boom—Crack!*

High above, a giant flare exploded, broadcasting its message across the entire school.