Chapter 27: Core Bearer [2]
The battle suddenly stopped, across the academy mana beasts froze in place.
The students, who had been desperately fighting moments ago, instinctively stepped back.
"...Huh?"
One beast dissolved into glowing particles.
Then another.
Within seconds, every mana beast across the battlefield began fading away like mist under the morning sun.
"W-What’s happening?"
"They’re disappearing!"
"...Did we win?"
Relief slowly spread across the central grounds.
Students who had been gripping their weapons tightly finally let out exhausted breaths before collapsing onto the ground.
Roselle watched the fading beasts in silence.
One after the other, every last one vanished.
A small smile appeared on her face.
’...Senior Seris. Did you find the Core Bearer?’
______
High above the academy, the enormous winged mana beast that had been exchanging blows with Darius, Nicholas, and Augustus suddenly let out one final roar.
Its body shimmered. Then it began dissolving into countless golden particles.
Nicholas lowered his sword.
"...It’s disappearing."
Augustus clicked his tongue before resting his greatsword across his shoulder.
"Hah... Guess it finally decided to quit."
Darius quietly watched the beast vanish into the sky.
"No." His voice remained calm. "The Core Bearer has been separated from the Helion Core."
Nicholas and Augustus both looked toward him.
Nathan, who had just arrived after helping evacuate students nearby, asked,
"So... someone actually found the Core Bearer?"
"In an academy this large?" Augustus added. "That’s no small feat."
Darius nodded.
"Indeed. But who accomplished it is irrelevant." He looked over the devastated academy grounds. "What matters is that the disaster has come to an end."
A faint smile crossed his face.
"The ones who located the Core Bearer and severed its connection to the Helion Core are the true heroes of today’s battle."
The four of them landed back on the academy grounds.
Augustus stretched his shoulders.
"So... When do we get to meet this Core Bearer?" His expression gradually hardened. "They’ve nearly destroyed the academy. Whoever they are... they’ll answer for this."
Nicholas shook his head.
"That comes later." He glanced toward the injured students being carried across the campus.
"Right now, our priority is treating the wounded and making sure everyone is safe."
Darius nodded in agreement.
"Exactly. Everything else can wait."
Nathan tightened his grip on his sword.
"Then let’s move."
Without another word, the four separated to begin helping the academy recover.
_____
Underground Sewage Chamber
The golden shell had completely disappeared.
The unconscious figure lay motionless on the cold stone floor.
Everyone stared and no one spoke.
Alden slowly stepped closer. His heartbeat echoed loudly in his ears.
"...No," His voice barely escaped his lips.
"It can’t be..." He stared at the familiar figure lying before them.
No one spoke. The silence inside the underground chamber felt heavier than the battle itself.
It simply... didn’t make sense.
Leon ran a hand through his hair in frustration.
"...Why?"
He looked at Claire’s unconscious body, unable to hide his disbelief.
"Why would someone like her be involved in something like this?"
Legion frowned as he scanned the chamber.
"Something doesn’t add up." He looked around once more.
"The Helion Core isn’t here."
"...You’re right," Leon muttered. "It was definitely the Helion Core."
"So where did it go?" Legion continued. "Did it disappear? Return to wherever it came from?"
’Right after the connection was severed, the Core should’ve already detached from her.’ Alden thought to himself.
Before anyone could continue speculating—
"Questions can wait."
Seris’ calm voice cut through the silence.
She knelt beside the figure and placed two fingers against her neck.
A moment later, she withdrew her hand.
"She’s breathing. Her mana is exhausted, but she’s alive." She rose to her feet.
"Our priority is getting her to the infirmary. The Headmaster can handle everything else."
No one argued. They silently nodded.
______
Meanwhile the academy had begun recovering.
The remaining mana beasts had completely vanished, and with the danger gone, professors and senior students immediately began repairing the damaged buildings.
Healers moved from one injured student to another, treating wounds as quickly as possible.
There hadn’t been a single fatality.
"We actually survived..."
"We did it!"
Cheers and relieved laughter echoed throughout the academy.
The nightmare was finally over.
Just then—
"Nico!" Roselle hurried over the moment she spotted Nicholas. Without hesitation, she wrapped her arms around him.
Nicholas smiled softly and returned the embrace, gently patting her head.
"I’m glad you’re safe."
Roselle smiled before slowly stepping back.
"So am I."
Nicholas glanced around the grounds.
"Where are Vice-President Seris and Leon? They’re not back yet."
Roselle shook her head.
"Alden took them."
"...Alden?" Nicholas frowned. "Took them where?"
"He said he’d found the Core Bearer." She let out a small sigh. "They followed him into the underground tunnels."
Nicholas looked genuinely surprised.
"He found the Core Bearer?"
Roselle folded her arms.
"Honestly... I thought he was bluffing. I couldn’t bring myself to believe him." She looked toward the direction of the underground entrance.
"But..." Her brows slowly knitted together. "Now that everything’s over, it seems he really did know something."
A thoughtful silence settled over the two.
"It looks like everything’s under control." Darius walked across the academy grounds, his gaze sweeping over the injured students being treated by healers.
The reconstruction had already begun. Broken walls were being restored with earth magic, while support teams cleared away the debris left behind by the battle.
Augustus and Nathan soon joined him.
Augustus stretched his shoulders with a satisfied grin.
"So... that’s it? A happy ending?"
Nathan chuckled.
"Can you stop saying things like that before we’re actually done, President?"
Before Augustus could answer—
"They’re back!" A student’s excited shout echoed across the academy.
"Vice-President Seris and the others have returned!"
"They defeated the Core Bearer!"
Instantly, countless eyes turned toward the entrance leading down into the underground tunnels.
Augustus raised an eyebrow.
"So, my fiancée was the one who solved everything?"
The underground gate slowly opened.
The first to emerge was Seris. Her expression remained as composed as ever as she calmly walked up the stairs.
"Vice-President! What happened down there?"
"Did you catch the one who stole the Helion Core?"
"And where’s the Core?"
Questions poured from every direction.
Seris didn’t even slow her pace.
"They’re right behind me." She simply gestured toward the tunnel behind her.
"You’ll see soon enough."
Without another word, she walked past the crowd.
A few moments later, Leon emerged from the tunnel, supporting Legion, whose arm was draped over his shoulder.
Legion looked exhausted, barely able to walk.
"The Vice-President..."
"Senior Leon..."
"Legion..."
The students counted each person as they came out.
"...Then the last one should be..."
Everyone instinctively looked toward the dark tunnel once more. Silence gradually spread through the academy.
Whoever emerged next would be the one carrying the Core Bearer.
Professors stopped what they were doing.
Nicholas, Roselle, Nathan, Augustus—every student. Even Darius himself kept his eyes fixed on the tunnel entrance.
Slow, footsteps echoed from the darkness.
A familiar figure finally appeared.
Alden’s clothes were torn. Fresh blood stained his sleeves. Yet despite his injuries, he continued walking forward without stopping.
Someone rested in his arms. Only long chestnut-colored hair could be seen at first, hiding the person’s face.
The entire academy held its breath.
Alden stepped completely out of the tunnel.
The unconscious girl’s face slowly turned into view.
"Wait," A student gasped. "Isn’t that...?"
The murmurs instantly spread through the crowd.
Nicholas’ eyes widened.
Roselle froze where she stood.
Seris quietly watched everyone’s reactions.
But no one looked more shocked than Darius.
His pupils trembled.
For the first time since the incident began, the Headmaster’s composure completely broke.
His lips parted slightly.
"Is that... Claire?"