Captain Nova heard another explosion from inside the Academy.

He was right! After his squad chased after the fleeing Elementalists outside the walls, another group took this chance to create a hole and enter the Academy.

Of course, he didn’t stop his chase as someone would be waiting for them inside—someone who was even stronger than a Captain like him.

He quickly shifted his attention to the fleeing Elementalists while also wondering about the intention of their infiltration this time…

‘Is it about that damn pocketwatch again? Or was it related to the lightning a few weeks ago?’ He thought for a brief moment before recalling that the ‘Descent’ wouldn’t last that long.

He had to hurry and kill all these Elementalists before their timer ran out.

***

In the meantime, while all of this was happening, Isaac Vermont was observing everything going on from the top of the Dark Soul Tower of the Academy.

He was watching the Elementalists and the Aura Masters outside the Academy, who seemed to be experts of destruction. They would destroy anything they pass through without caring whether they’re valuable or not.

“This is interesting… They’re not targeting the students or the professors. They’re causing chaos as if that was their true goal.” He muttered with interest.

He had been trying to find out the invader’s identities and purpose for coming here. However, their actions really show that they were just distractions.

‘They’re too weak and unruly… I don’t think they’re from the Secret Organization… Are these hired mercenaries?’ He guessed while observing the fluctuations of their energy. They weren’t that impressive. If their 9th-year and 10th-year students have Mystical Artifacts with them, they would be more than enough to deal with these enemies.

Soon, he heard an explosion at the nearby laboratory and realized that someone had entered the Academy through a secret path…

‘So it’s him… He had truly gone mad this time…’

He recognized the intruder as Charles Blackwood, the previous Headmaster of the Academy.

Although they have made changes to their defensive structures, the secret path couldn’t be easily removed. They could only block it with a Formation Circle, so it could no longer be used. However, it seemed that Charles had brought someone who could forcefully break this Formation.

“Sherman isn’t here… I guess I should just watch for now…” He muttered as he ignored the presence of the previous Headmaster and his companion, who was wearing a weird mask and staff.

No, he wanted to ignore those two. However, he heard their conversation, which garnered his interest.

“Mountain Bandit, are you sure that your Staff will react on the Divine Sword?” Charles asked the man beside him. He felt even more exhausted after breaking through the secret path they used to enter.

They quickly arrived at the center of the Academy, but because of the traps that were placed in the secret path, they had certainly caught the attention of the Headmaster and other Professors inside the Academy.

They had to find the Masked Devil and steal the Divine Sword quickly.

“Yes, I’m sure. It’s been reacting ever since we entered this place. It was faint, but it was reacting. The sword was hidden somewhere here.” The Thunder Emperor replied as he moved in the direction where he could sense it.

“They’re coming at us… You have to make sure that we’re in the right direction.”

“Of course. This staff was made from an object found together with the Divine Sword. To be specific, this is made from the Scabbard of the Divine Sword.” The Thunder Emperor said.

“What did you say?”

It wasn’t just Charles who was surprised by these words.

As a matter of fact, Headmaster Jean Hoffman, Isaac Vermont, and Vale Chambers were listening to their conversations as well.

Jean and Isaac looked at the staff with greed while Vale connected his mind to the Stormbringer to ask if it was true.

In the meantime, the two infiltrators already stopped in front of the library.

They didn’t enter the place since they could feel a terrifying formation of art blocking their path.

“Only those with ripped shadow can safely enter this place… If you’re sure it’s inside, then we should give up…” Charles said as he looked behind them. 𝘳𝑎.𝒸ℴ𝓂

He could see Jean Hoffman appearing from the shadow of a nearby pillar. Jean was holding his black top hat with his left hand while his cane with his right hand.

The man was showing his unbothered smile as if he didn’t mind their infiltration into this place…

“Hello, Charles… Hello, Mountain Bandit… Welcome to my academy.” He greeted.

“Are you telling me that the Divine Sword was inside our library?” Jean continued as if they were friends.

The Thunder Emperor didn’t even glance at him and just stared at the door of the library.

“It is inside… I’m sure of it. Are you the Masked Devil?” The Thunder Emperor asked.

Jean’s eyes widened as soon as he heard the question… He blinked for a moment before laughing out loud.

“Hahaha! That was unexpected. No, I’m not the Masked Devil. I don’t even have an idea about his identity. I can’t remember any brave Dark Arts Practitioner who would dare offend the Church of the Three Paragons besides Sir Morgan Vermont.” Headmaster Jean replied as Darkness suddenly shrouded the three of them.

“Charles, you’re already too old. I heard that you didn’t even last an hour against the Masked Devil.” He said as he slowly approached the two.

“Kekeke… You’re too arrogant, Jean. If you didn’t have the help of three Master Arcanists, you would’ve failed to take my position. You’re just alone now and there are two of us here.” Charles said as he flicked his finger to swallow a black pill.

The pill immediately took effect, and an aura that wouldn’t lose from the Descend Spell of the Vessels appeared.

The Darkness that the Headmaster was trying to use stopped a few meters away from the two.

“We’re both in the Darkness Path, Jean… You’re a lot easier to deal with than the Masked Devil.” Charles said as his eyes turned completely black.

His gray hair and beard also started turning black while his skin became bronze…

“So it’s indeed a forbidden pill…” Jean stopped moving as he shifted his attention to the Thunder Emperor. “Hey, Mountain Bandit, aren’t you going to attack me?”

The Thunder Emperor smirked as he replied. “I’m the Thunder Emperor… and I don’t need to act to deal with you. The old man is more than enough.” 𝒊𝒆𝓪.𝙘𝙢

The Thunder Emperor said as he charged and slammed his staff at the door of the library…

Boom!

𝑖𝘦.𝑐𝘰𝘮