The blood-red seam grew ever wider as the outer flesh and clothing of the creature I once knew as Coach Philip slowly fell away. Like the bloody carcass of an animal peeling its own skin while still standing, more and more of the layers of flesh and other pieces of clothing fell away before our eyes. The sound and smell were very much akin to a butcher’s shop, but there were no knives, and the blood, assuming that is what it was, was barely noticeable despite all the ripping and loose flesh flopping to the floor.

What was revealed after the short few seconds it took “Coach Philip” to change into his true form was a skinless humanoid with bare bulging muscles visible and gleaming white teeth sans any lips somehow still curved into a facsimile of a smile. It was both revolting and horrifying.

Not the least bit surprising was the reaction of the group I was with though. They all as one screamed their lungs out and made a straight shot for the nearby door, crowding the small entryway in the process.

The monster, taking advantage of the opportunity, thrust one of its large meaty hands in their direction. The bare oversized appendage also seemed to have a set of long pointed fingernails or perhaps claws.

I was not standing idle either though, as I quickly stepped in its path and projected an interposing chromatic shield to block the strike coming for them. At first, it seemed the barrier spell had worked, but that brief sense of hope lasted but for a short moment before it and my shield shattered and the large muscled hand meant for others hit me full force instead.

The blow sent me shooting with a loud *THUD* into the opposite wall as the impact knocked the wind out of my lungs and no doubt leaving a painful bruise on my back. A problem for future Jenni, assuming she survived this encounter.

After losing focus for a brief moment, I looked to see if my friends had made it out with the time I had given them, and thankfully it was enough, as for the moment, it was just me and this creature that was masquerading as Coach Philip in the room.

Rather than bother asking it, I tried to make use of my Analyze general skill to garner more details about the monster before me.

Alchemical Horror- Lvl 12

The Alchemical Horror is a formidable, skinless monstrosity characterized by its imposing size and bulging, muscular physique. This fearsome creature is the natural nemesis of mages and warriors alike. Its grotesque appearance is a testament to its unnatural origin and powers.

“Frick” I muttered to myself after first noticing the telltale color and quickly reading the description of the monster.

Again, its lip-less mouth curled up into a revolting smile as it looked over at the distress on my face.

“Ah, why such a troubled expression on your face, little kitten?” It asked with derision and a mocking tone in its still very human-like voice. “See something you don’t like perhaps?”

Kitten? Someone else called me that recently too.

“What are you doing here? Why are you doing this? What happened to Coach Philip?” I rapidly blurted out, partly out of curiosity, but also to buy my friends more time to get away.

“Hmm, well I could tell you, but why bother really. You’ll be dead soon anyways.” It said with a disturbing-looking sneer on its face. Taking that as its cue it launched another meaty right hook at me which dodged and deflected with another shield, but the beast's attacks seemed to be able to punch right through my shields with little effort.

Silently I professed my deepest thanks to Bobbie at that moment for forcing me to face that terrifying drake now. Without that experience, I would probably already be dead, or at least incapacitated, which would likely end up with me being dead anyways.

“Ss Ss Ss” It laughed in a bizarrely inhuman fashion. “Such a slippery little minx aren’t you. All the better for me really, despite you rushing my big reveal, I wouldn’t want this little game of ours to be over quite so soon.”

Frick, I needed to get out of this small confined space where it can continually keep hitting me, and move out into a more open area where I’ll be at more of an advantage. My only hope was that I’d bought enough time for the others to make it to safety, so I could focus on just dealing with this monster that was still way stronger than I was currently.

Making a break for the door, I rushed out into the hallway without any further attacks coming my way. I guess it really was content to let me go right now so I didn’t see a reason to argue with this small mercy provided to me, despite the source.

It wasn’t long after though, rushing down an adjacent hallway that I ran into my two friends just standing there, seemingly having been waiting for me.

“W-what the frick are you two doing!? Run!” I yelled at them as I approached.

“I wasn’t going to fucking leave you behind Jenni, so hurry the hell up so we can all get out together.” Beth shouted back as I reached them.

“You big freaking dummy, next time, don’t wait on me. I’ll be fine, even more so if I know I don’t have to worry about you as well.” I shouted at her.

“What do you mean you can protect yourself?” Beth replied between panting breaths as we ran down the hallway together. “Coach Philip has at least 100 pounds on you, and who knows what other side effects those drugs he’s taking have on him besides the obvious.”

“R-right, the obvious.” I replied, feeling somewhat annoyed that Beth was still being hampered by the veil, and not fully aware of what was actually going on. I wasn’t sure how much more danger that ignorance put her in, but it certainly wasn’t less.

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

“Come on, we're almost at one of the exits.” Mira informed us.

Looking ahead, I could see the trio of Jackie, Niki, and Letitia all kicking, shoving, and pushing against the exit doors in front of them.

“You got to be fucking kidding me.” Beth exclaimed while taking in the sight.

“What’s happening?” I asked loudly enough that they could hear me. “They shouldn’t be locked, why can’t you open them!”

“They are fucking locked.” Jackie shouted back while trying to ram her shoulder into one of the doors. “Or blocked, or jammed, or whatever. Either way, they won’t fucking open.”

“Fuck.” Beth said loudly, clear dismay in her voice.

“Yes, most unfortunate.” A familiar, yet strange voice said from an adjoining hallway. “Principle Temple was so proud of the new lockdown security features she had added to the school. Quite effective at keeping outside threats from getting in, but also just as effective at preventing you all from escaping the threats that are already inside.”

The monster called an 'Alchemical Horror' calmly made its entrance to the junction of the hallways our group was now standing in. The same condescending expression was clear and visible on its red skinless face despite the lack of most normal human features.

“What the hell is wrong with you Mr. Philip?” Beth screamed, partly in fear partly in anger. “Why are you doing this?”

“I’m afraid you wouldn’t understand you stupid and sadly ignorant little human, but honestly I couldn’t be bothered to explain it to you even if you could.” It replied dismissively. “Now then, where were we young Ms. Morrow?”

“Eat this!” I screamed as I launched a volley of magic in it’s direction.

Nights Swift Arrow

Shadows Sharp Bite

Darkness strikes down all that I see.

“Shadow Bolts!”

Each bolt landed with the typical and satisfying pop and sizzle, against the creature's bare red muscle and flesh, but somehow it didn’t seem to show any form of visible reaction to the attack.

“Oh? Was that it?” It said with a sinister and toothy smile. “Hopefully you have more tricks up your sleeve, because I’m afraid that just won’t do.”

“Run!” I immediately shouted at the others, having been left with no other choice.

Needing little prompting, Jackie and co. heeded my words right away. Beth and Mira though both seemed set on not leaving without me.

Annoying as their disobedience was, I was running away myself so it didn’t matter much in the end. If we somehow survived this, I’m going to enjoy taking the time to lecture them on being so reckless and stupid for waiting around for me.

Beth at least had some excuse, but Mira should know better at least.

“What the heck Mira?” I yelled at her as we ran down the hallway together. “Beth I can kinda get it because of her handicap, but why are you being so difficult?”

“You need me.” She said simply.

“What?” I replied genuinely confused.

“You can’t beat that thing on your own and you know it.” She replied.

“M-maybe so, but what are you going to do to help?” I shouted back

“For starters, I’d tell you that the reason your magic didn’t affect it is because of the type of creature it is. It’s a type of magical construct, or homunculus, which means that it is naturally resistant to most forms of magic. This one also seems extra resistant to shadow magic, probably because it somehow knew that that was the only form of magic you can do so far, at least I’m assuming.”

“How do you…” I started to say before she kept going.

“Unless you feel like unveiling Beth, Jackie, or the others right now, you need some kind of backup and I’m all you have available so stop complaining and let me help you.” She said in the strongest most determined voice I’ve ever heard from her until now.

“Okay, fine then. Help me.” I replied as we sped past an open door to a classroom.

“Wait!” Beth shouted before Mira and I could really start strategizing. “Let's try busting out one of the classroom windows and going out that way.”

Following Beth’s lead we rushed into the classroom, and I watched as Beth picked up the nearest chair and chucked it forcefully at the window only to see it bounce off and have no effect.

“Here, let me try.” I said, stepping forward.

I prepared and launched a fully buffed salvo of shadow bolts at the window, and still, the window remained perfectly whole and undamaged.

“How…?” I said in confusion before activating one of the newest skills I’d taught myself recently.

Class Skill:

Mana Sight - Level: 1 Rank: F

The Incantation skill allows the skill holder to see the form and structure of other magics through at first the vision, but later possibly with other senses as well. Mastery of this skill will increase the detail of what can be seen per level of improvement, and the amount of interference that can be ignored.

Skill potency 5% per level

Reduce potency of interference by 1% per level

On each of the windows in front of us was now a glowing blue sigil, clearly indicating the presence of magic, and the likely reason the windows seemed impervious to my attacks.

There was no way these were on all the windows. Despite my eyes glowing a bright blue color while it was activated, I did use the skill in class on occasion to practice when no one was looking, so I would have for sure seen something like this before now right?

“Ah, admiring my handiwork a little are you, yes?” A disturbingly and annoyingly familiar voice said from behind us. “Yes it was quite the bit of prep work I put in, to mark each of the school's windows with a sigil in the evening once everyone had already left for the day. But clearly, the results speak for themselves, no?”

The three of us spun around to confront the monstrosity behind waiting there, and the source of this newest piece of chilling information.

My curiosity started getting the better of me, so I had to ask. “Why couldn’t I see them before now, they're clearly magical so my eyes should have noticed them.”

“It’s because the sigils you’re seeing are likely alchemical, and weren’t magical in nature until they were activated.” Mira explained first.’

“Ah, as the troublesome little halfbreed says.” The musclebound horror said with a sneer in Mira’s direction. “A useful bit of camouflage for the trap you all have found yourselves in.”

This setup had clearly been well thought out and a long time coming. Putting the pieces together, being called kitten, the alchemical magics, its focused attention on me, and the timing of it all, I was confident enough to at least guess who was behind this.

“You’re working for ‘The Doctor’, aren't you?” I demanded, trying to provoke some piece of useful information that might somehow save me and my friends.

“Hssssss.” It hissed loudly and angrily at the mere mention of that name. “Don’t you dare sully with your foul little tongue the title of one so great and far above us that they may as well be the stars in the night sky?”

“How. Dare. You!?” It said with an uncontrolled rage clearly filling its eyes now.