Chapter 26: All Eyes on Me

Hate Me, Witch!

The raging flames shot up into the sky, dyeing the dusky heavens above the outskirts of the Imperial Capital a deep red.

Outside Saint Roland Academy, the Dean of the Alchemy Academy, Karn, gazed at the towering wall of fire that had risen, severing the student dormitory district from the outside world, his expression heavy with concern.

"Where are the Headmaster and Vice Headmaster?"

"The Headmaster hasn't returned to the school in two years. No one knows where the old man is now."

A weary-looking instructor wiped the sweat from his forehead and answered, "The Vice Headmaster said three months ago that he was heading to the Starrealm to search for a young Rift Beast. He’s probably still lost in some dimensional rift."

"What about the other deans?"

"Some are away for academic projects, some are on diplomatic visits with the Noble Alliance, and one seems to be attending a... multi-person oper— I mean, a noble banquet. None of them are likely to make it back anytime soon."

The young instructor carefully glanced at Dean Karn. "Right now, within the entire academy, you are the only Fourth-Ring Master present."

"Those good-for-nothing old fools!"

Of course, he knew that he couldn't really blame his colleagues for this.

Under normal circumstances, even if secret organizations wanted to stir up trouble, they would never dare to do so in the Imperial Capital.

This was the very heart of the Fresta Empire, where powerful figures were as numerous as the clouds.

Even if those lunatics managed to pull off something big, escaping the Empire’s borders under pursuit from the capital’s elite would be nearly impossible—

A classic case of "hurting the enemy by a thousand while losing eight hundred yourself," an absolute losing bargain.

In contrast, lawless border cities with few strong protectors and easy escape routes leading into the Lost Territories were far better choices for stirring up chaos.

Because of this, ever since its founding, Saint Roland Academy had never experienced such a violent incident. Naturally, it lacked any real sense of crisis or vigilance, and its security measures were little more than decorative.

But who could have predicted that this time, the attackers would be the Ashen Order?

Compared to other forbidden organizations labeled as heretics by the Church, the Ashen Order was only mediocre in terms of both size and strength.

However, they had one defining trait—

They were utterly fearless.

While other forbidden groups would at least weigh the consequences and potential losses before acting, preserving their strength and minimizing high-tier casualties in pursuit of maximum benefit,

The Ashen Order, a gang of pyromaniacs who lived by the creed of "Burn! Burn! Burn!" never concerned themselves with such trivialities.

Even when captured, these lunatics would simply shout "Anhura Akbar" and "Meteor Trail" before turning themselves into human fireworks.

They were the ultimate self-destructing nutcases—hated by all and sticking like dog crap to a shoe.

Even the strongest factions could only curse their luck when forced to deal with the Ashen Order.

For a brief moment, Dean Karn lost his composure.

But he quickly collected himself, his gaze turning grim as he looked into the distance.

He could sense it—a faint but unmistakable mental force had locked onto him.

The Pontiff of the Ashen Order.

As one of the only two Fourth-Ring powerhouses present, he had been targeted from the very beginning.

Though no attack had been launched yet, the chilling sensation crawling up his spine made Karn feel as though needles were pricking his skin. He knew the Pontiff could strike at any moment.

This was precisely why Karn hadn't tried to break the fire formation.

His instincts told him that despite both being Fourth-Ring, a professor who had spent years teaching could never match a mass-murdering executioner like the Pontiff.

"Looks like we'll have to hold out like this. This is the Imperial Capital—time is on our side."

"I'm afraid not, Professor Karn. Time is not on our side."

A steady voice rang out.

The speaker was a middle-aged man clad in a military uniform, his face stern and battle-hardened.

At his collar was the insignia of a black hawk.

Behind him, a massive Void Eye floated midair, its countless tendrils writhing in the air. Faint waves of psychic energy trembled through the surroundings, indicating the use of a wide-area detection skill.

The officer waved his hand, and a hazy light screen materialized, displaying the scene his Void Eye had detected.

At the center of the dormitory district, which was now sealed by the fire wall, dozens of robed figures wielding scythes patrolled the plaza.

In the four corners of the square, hundreds of students lay scattered across the ground, bound by ropes.

However, none appeared to be dead or even seriously injured—most bore little more than minor scrapes.

And at the very heart of the plaza, a pitch-black altar was rapidly taking shape.

From time to time, dark phantom flames flickered above the altar, dispersing into the surrounding fire wall—

Evidently acting as the formation’s core, sustaining the blockade.

Deeper within the altar, an even more sinister and malevolent force was brewing.

Even through the projection, the gathered professors felt an overwhelming chill creep down their spines.

"These arsonists are planning to use the students in the dormitory district as sacrificial offerings for a Fire Sacrament."

The middle-aged officer’s voice was steady.

"Based on the Void Eye’s analysis of the mana fluctuations, once the ritual is complete, its unleashed power will be enough to wipe out at least half of Saint Roland Academy."

Seeing the officer’s arrival, Dean Karn felt a slight relief. "Lieutenant Colonel Zieg, you're here... What about reinforcements?"

The officer named Zieg glanced at Karn and shook his head.

"I'm the only Fourth-Ring reinforcement."

"After receiving word of the incident, the Empire’s high nobility placed immense pressure on the Military Department and the Order Bureau, demanding that all available forces focus on securing the main districts—

Especially the Upper District where they reside—to prevent any heretics from infiltrating."

"For the time being, there will be no further reinforcements from the Imperial Capital."

A trace of shock flashed across Karn’s face. "But... this is a blatant challenge to the Empire’s authority—"

"Challenges to the Empire will, of course, be met with the most severe retaliation."

"But to the high nobility, the ideal time to retaliate is after the enemy flees, allowing them to crush the stragglers rather than walking into an enemy’s carefully prepared trap."

Lieutenant Colonel Zieg looked at the stunned Professor Karn and shook his head slightly.

He didn’t fully voice his thoughts.

In truth, the Imperial Capital’s aristocracy had already prepared themselves to sacrifice Saint Roland Academy in this incident.

Of course, if any of their own children had been trapped inside the school, things would have been very different—

The Military Department and the Order Bureau would have been forced to mobilize their full strength.

Even the private armed forces secretly controlled by the nobility would have been dispatched for the rescue.

But the Ashen Order had chosen their timing well.

It was dusk—just as all the noble scions studying at Saint Roland Academy had already returned to their family estates in the capital.

The ones still left inside the academy were, for the most part, commoner students with no support in the Imperial Capital.

To the high nobility of the Imperial Capital—

These students had no background. At best, they were just a group of slightly talented commoners.

Compared to launching a forced rescue despite knowing the enemy had a Fourth-Ring powerhouse, potentially even losing some of their own Master-Tier Beastmasters in the enemy’s counterattack—

It was obvious which side of the scale weighed heavier. The answer required no deliberation at all.

After hearing the officer’s words, Professor Karn fell silent for a moment.

A long while later, he finally spoke again, “Lieutenant Colonel Zieg, if you and I work together against the Pontiff…”

“It’ll be difficult.”

Lieutenant Colonel Zieg’s voice remained serious. “From what I can sense, he’s at the high end of the Fourth-Ring, the same tier as me. Within the Ashen Order’s hierarchy of Pontiffs, he’s certainly not a nobody.”

“With you at mid-Fourth-Ring, suppressing him and gaining the upper hand isn’t hard. But defeating him quickly—within half an hour—would be incredibly difficult.”

“And according to the Void Eye’s readings, the sacrificial ritual inside will be completed in twenty minutes. By then, even if we defeat the Pontiff, it will be meaningless.”

“Still, no matter what, as a soldier, I have to try.”

The middle-aged officer summoned a massive bear-like beast beside him. “Actually, there’s another way to break this stalemate.”

“The Pontiff of the Ashen Order is being held up by us on the outside, while the arsonists inside the fire wall are all Second-Ring.”

“If the students inside your academy are strong enough, they might have a chance to destroy the altar from within. That would not only stop the sacrificial ritual but also disrupt the fire-sealing formation, allowing the army and instructors to enter and rescue the hostages.”

“The students inside…”

Professor Karn furrowed his graying brows. Then, suddenly, a hint of delight flashed across his wrinkled face. “Quite a few senior students are away on missions, but if I recall correctly, the elite members of the Student Council have just returned.”

As he spoke, his eyes suddenly lit up as he watched the Void Eye’s projected image.

“Move!”

Behind Professor Karn, three ethereal lights—red, blue, and green—emerged and swiftly coalesced into small, winged humanoid creatures.

They were Elemental Fairies of fire, wind, and lightning.

However, unlike ordinary Commander-Tier Elemental Fairies, the ones summoned by Professor Karn had far more defined forms, and faint crowns were beginning to take shape on their heads.

This signified that his three Elemental Fairies had reached the Fourth-Ring—they could be called Fairy Monarchs.

The tri-colored lights quickly gathered into beams, shooting toward the fire wall.

On the other side, Lieutenant Colonel Zieg’s summoned giant bear also rose on its hind legs and let out a deafening roar. A ring of earth-colored light rippled outward.

Boom—

A molten giant, its body coursing with lava, emerged from the flames.

Its magma-coated fist smashed into the oncoming elemental wave.

The elemental wave shattered, but the molten giant also staggered a few steps, its blackened volcanic rock skin cracking apart.

In the blink of an eye, the three Master-Tier Beastmasters had engaged in battle.

…

Meanwhile, on the other side of the fire wall—

Almost simultaneously with the battle erupting outside, several students, previously covered in dust and disguised among the captives, suddenly sprang into action.

Mighty summoned beasts appeared one after another, radiating intense auras that revealed their masters’ identities as Second-Ring Beastmasters.

Being able to reach Mid-Tier Beastmaster status while still a student at a Transcendent Academy meant they were among the best of the best.

They were all members of Saint Roland Academy’s Student Council—veterans of numerous high-difficulty missions under the Adventurers’ Association.

Having identified the altar as the key to breaking the enemy’s strategy early on, they had deliberately disguised themselves as captives, silently maneuvering closer to the pitch-black altar.

Then, after exchanging glances, they launched a coordinated assault on the dark altar.

A sacred chant echoed behind them, accompanied by beams of pure light.

It was Diris, who had summoned her pure white unicorn, blessing the summoned beasts with a series of support-type enhancement skills.

With these buffs, the beasts’ attacks became significantly more powerful.

The sudden turn of events lifted the spirits of all the students present, as well as the instructors outside who were observing through detection magic.

Mature in thought, precise in strategy, seamless in teamwork.

And now enhanced with buffs.

This was the elite of Saint Roland Academy!

The chance to break the crisis, to become the heroes who saved the academy—

To be bathed in flowers, glory, applause, and admiration—

It was right before them!

Yet, against all expectations—

Just as their summoned beasts’ attacks were about to strike the dark altar,

Tendrils of black flames, as if devouring all light, silently emerged around the altar.

Then.

In an instant.

Nearly all the summoned beasts that had approached the altar let out agonized, piercing wails as their flesh burned and corroded.

Even when their masters immediately recalled them into their Soul Pact Spaces, they could barely cling to life.

And the searing pain rebounding through their soul contracts left the students who had launched the attack ashen-faced—before they collapsed unconscious.

In mere seconds.

The elite Student Council members, in whom everyone had placed their hopes, had utterly fallen—

Never to rise again.

…

“Hahahahaha! Did you really think we of the Ashen Order were just brainless lunatics? That we’d leave such an obvious weak spot for you to exploit?”

“The altar is suppressed by our Lord’s sacred relic. How could you lowly ants possibly destroy it?”

A crazed laugh rang out from among the black-robed arsonists.

A figure stepped forward from the crowd—clearly a leader among them.

His unrestrained aura instantly made all the captured students feel their hearts sink.

Third-Ring!

A High-Tier Beastmaster!

And not just newly promoted.

Aside from the Pontiff outside, the arsonists had hidden such a formidable figure among them.

For academy students, Mid-Tier Beastmaster was already considered the limit. The Third-Ring was a realm beyond their reach—

A rank that could already hold a commanding position in the Military Department.

It wasn’t just a matter of having one additional Soul Pact.

It was the fundamental difference between a Summoned Beast’s upper limit being stuck at Transcendent-Tier or breaking through to Commander-Tier—

An insurmountable chasm.

The arsonist leader swept his gaze across the surroundings.

Then, his eyes locked onto Diris—who, after casting multiple support skills, was now drained of her spiritual energy, her delicate face pale.

He raised his scythe, pointing it at Diris’s swan-like white throat, a cruel, twisted grin forming at his lips.

“I’ve heard that a pure white unicorn only bonds with virginal maidens.”

“A soul this pure would make the perfect first offering to our Lord.”

…

“Bastard! Let go of President Diris!”

“Stop! Your atrocities will be judged!”

Seeing Diris standing defiantly with a scythe at her throat, refusing to bow to the arsonist leader, many students roared in anger.

As the President of the Saint Roland Academy Student Council, Diris had always been diligent and responsible. Whether dealing with teachers or classmates, she was well-mannered, kind, and gentle.

With her outstanding beauty on top of that, she had long been the perfect goddess in the hearts of countless commoner students.

Now, watching their goddess in danger, many wished they could charge forward to play the hero, but unfortunately, they were all bound by ropes, completely unable to move.

Yet, as their shouts and curses filled the air, the arsonist leader—who had been forcing Diris up onto the altar—actually paused.

However, it was not because of the meaningless yelling.

He turned around, frowning as he stared into the distance.

"Who’s there? Come out."

"Oh? So the Ashen Order does have some smart ones after all. Guess you’re not all just a bunch of ‘burn, burn, burn’ lunatics."

"Well, I suppose if you were all just about burning, you’d have long since been used as pawns and wiped out."

"Any secret organization that can survive for a long time must have its own unique way of handling things."

A lazy voice drifted over from afar.

A young man and woman emerged from the cluster of buildings.

The young man had black hair and dark eyes, wearing a trench coat with his hands stuffed in his pockets, his expression casual and indifferent.

Beside him, the young woman had long hair draped over her shoulders. Even the plain Saint Roland Academy student uniform couldn’t conceal the beauty of her delicate, fair face.

She stood half a step behind the young man, her pale gold hair fluttering with the heat waves rising from the fire.

It was Xia Ya and Ailora.

With his hands still in his pockets, Xia Ya gave the arsonist leader a once-over.

"By the way, I’m a little curious… does every single one of you in the Ashen Order have to carry a scythe?"

"Are you guys all cosplaying as the FFF group or what?"

FFF group?

The arsonist leader frowned slightly, not understanding Xia Ya’s words.

But soon, he shifted his attention away from Xia Ya and locked onto the blonde girl standing beside him, gripping a silver spear.

Something about this blonde girl felt off.

From both her age and the mental energy he sensed, she shouldn’t have reached the Third-Ring yet—she was still in the Mid-Tier Beastmaster realm.

Yet, in his spiritual perception, the girl felt like a razor-sharp knight’s sword, her entire being radiating lethal killing intent.

It was as if anything—iron, stone, whatever—if it stood before her, would have only one fate: to be pierced and shattered into dust.

The arsonist leader’s expression grew increasingly serious.

There was no doubt about it—this blonde girl before him was a genuine threat.

Though she was also Second-Ring like the previous weaklings, she was in an entirely different league.

"Xia Ya, Ailora!"

Noticing the two of them, Diris looked up in surprise and delight.

The captive students also grew restless.

Some turned to Ailora with hopeful eyes—this was Saint Roland Academy’s undisputed strongest student.

Perhaps what the Student Council elites had failed to accomplish, this top-ranked student—rumored to have long been carrying out missions for the Military Department—could pull off?

Meanwhile, others were glancing around in confusion, whispering to each other:

"Wait… who the hell is Xia Ya?"

"Ahem."

Xia Ya glanced around and cleared his throat.

"Alright, everyone, eyes on me. I have an announcement to make."

In an instant.

Students, arsonists, instructors—every gaze locked onto Xia Ya.

Even the three Fourth-Ring powerhouses locked in battle in the distance diverted a small portion of their attention toward him.

All the hidden cards had already been revealed, and the battle had reached the final, make-or-break moment.

At this very instant, Xia Ya and Ailora might just be the final variables that would determine the outcome of the war.

Then.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone present.

Xia Ya uttered the words that made every Saint Roland student see black.

"Well, to be honest, I think President Diris’s soul quality is kinda subpar."

"So… how about I be the sacrifice instead?"