As the battle raged on in the town of Ecrin, a single individual observed everything from a nearby cliff. A boy with a youthful appearance sat casually, grinning as he watched the battlefield unfold beneath him.
"Hahaha... Oh, how I love their screams," he muttered, sipping red wine from a glass. "The perfect pairing for a fine wine."
Perched on the cliff’s edge with his feet dangling like an excited child, the second seat of the SIN Council viewed the chaos below with the excitement of someone watching their favorite movie. His dark green hair, tied in a ponytail, fluttered in the windy night, and his gray jacket with gold accents hung loosely over his slender frame, the wind tugging at its edges.
No one except the Priestess, the leader of SIN, knew his real name. To those who had survived long enough to learn of him, he was simply called "The Immortal Trickster."
As he gazed upon the destruction of Ecrin’s outskirts and the fallen soldiers, his expression was devoid of empathy. Instead, he reveled in the chaos before him.
"Such a shame," he said with mock disappointment. "All those corpses just lying around. If only I could get close enough, I’d have a delightful present for Francea. She was fuming when she found out she couldn’t come on this mission."
SIN was well aware that Ren had escaped with the teleportation device, headed for Orios Academy. The Priestess had personally assigned the Trickster to gather intel on the invasion and locate Ren.
"Fools," he said with a sneer. "Throwing everything they have at an enemy they don’t understand. They should’ve run, at least that way, some might have survived."
But what truly piqued his interest were the shadow creatures. These strange beings swarming the academy weren’t in SIN’s database. Their origin was a mystery, even to them. What intrigued him most was how the horde moved: a seemingly mindless swarm, yet somehow coordinated. It was destruction with purpose, as though something or someone was controlling them.
Narrowing his eyes mischievously, the Trickster focused on the students below. They were young—too young to be caught in a war like this. Yet they stood with a resolve that surprised him. Despite their fear, they held their ground, following the orders of that woman—Valis.
"Haha, I suppose there's a reason why Reus is so eager to duel with her," he mused, swirling the wine in his glass. "The title ‘Steel General’ fits someone who can rally children to face such odds."
His gaze swept across the battlefield—the mechs, the crumbling barriers, and the faltering defenses of the academy. Valis was doing her best to keep things from descending into total chaos, but the Trickster could see the cracks forming. The horde was relentless, and it was only a matter of time before the academy fell. The students didn’t stand a chance—not against this.
"In the end, they’re just children," he said coldly. "Brave, but ultimately expendable."
His orders were simple: observe, gather information, and most importantly, locate the individual who had infiltrated SIN’s base and escaped to Ecrin. The boy's gaze sharpened as he scanned the battlefield, searching for any sign of Ren—the man who had outwitted SIN and slipped through their grasp.
"Oh, he must be here somewhere," the Trickster said, his tone turning dark as a wicked smile curled on his lips. "I can't wait to meet him again... and ask some questions while I rip his nails off. That will be fun."
A shiver ran down his spine as he imagined what he’d do once he captured Ren. The look on his face was one of pure excitement—the thrill of a predator who had found the prey of a lifetime.
Salivating slightly at the thought, he wiped his mouth with his sleeve. "Ah, I’m drooling again. Reus wouldn’t like that."
Despite his excitement, the Trickster wasn’t under any delusions. If Ren had managed to evade SIN within their own base, finding him amid the chaos of battle would be like searching for a needle in a haystack. Still, the Trickster had patience, and there was plenty of entertainment right in front of him. He would wait, watch, and when the time came, he would strike.
"And when I find you," he thought, a grotesque grin stretching across his face, "I’ll uncover every secret you’re hiding."
For now, he enjoyed the scene playing out before him—the academy struggling against the tide of destruction. The explosions illuminated the night sky, and the Trickster savored the spectacle like a grand performance.
"Ah, it really is a beautiful night," he sighed contentedly, raising his wine glass toward the battlefield, the red liquid catching the light of the stars.
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A deafening crack echoed through the air as the second barrier shattered, sending tremors through the academy grounds. Though the horde had been damaged and slowed by the relentless attacks, it continued its advance, showing no signs of stopping. The academy was now on the brink, and everyone inside knew it.
Only the last barrier stood between the shadow horde and total annihilation. The streets were littered with the bodies of fallen soldiers who had died fighting for their cause. Buildings lay in ruins, destroyed by the unrelenting advance of the horde, which marched ever closer.
Everyone was beginning to lose hope once more. No matter how much they fought back or prayed to the goddess, it seemed there was no miracle in sight.
“Pull back! All personnel, fall back to the academy grounds!” Valis shouted into the microphone, her voice amplified by the speakers. “We will make our last stand here, inside the academy!”
In the courtyard, faculty members, students, and medical staff rushed in every direction, helping wounded soldiers as they staggered back. Some bore only light scratches and bruises, while others were in critical condition, barely clinging to life.
Screams of pain filled the air, sending shivers through the students. For most of them, this was their first experience of such a bloody and brutal scene—one that could only be described as war.
“Ugh, I need to sit down,” Liana muttered, holding her hand over her mouth as she fought back the urge to gag. The stench was unbearable, a mix of iron and gunpowder so thick you could almost taste it.
Stolen novel; please report.
“Liana, are you alright?” Shiro asked, placing a hand on her shoulder, concern evident in his voice.
“I-I’m fine. I just need to sit for a moment,” she said weakly, dejected. Glancing around at the chaos, her eyes filled with despair. “This... This is horrible. Why would the goddess allow this to happen?”
Her words left her classmates stunned. They all wanted to comfort her, to give her some kind of answer, but the truth was, none of them could. Deep down, they were all hoping for divine intervention, praying for this nightmare to end.
But the nightmare wasn’t ending.
As the horde reached the final barrier, it charged with relentless force, clawing and biting at it. But this barrier wouldn’t fall as easily as the previous one.
In the courtyard, Eslis and the remaining mages poured every ounce of their mana into regenerating the magical shield. With every strike from the horde, they immediately repaired the damage. But this strategy was unsustainable. Their mana reserves were draining rapidly.
“Hold it for as long as you can!” Eslis commanded. “Don’t spread your mana too thin. Focus it on the points of impact; it’ll conserve energy.”
Meanwhile, Barran coordinated the faculty and staff to set up defensive positions around the academy. “All students, go to your designated areas and follow your teachers’ instructions!” he ordered with authority.
The remaining soldiers, those still able to fight, were positioned at the academy gates under Valis’s command. “Hold the defensive line!” she shouted, her voice unwavering as the soldiers raised their rifles, bracing for the inevitable assault.
The academy’s mechs stood at the front lines, massive figures prepared to defend the last bastion. Cannons were moved into place, aimed directly at the approaching horde.
After what felt like an eternity, one of the mages collapsed from exhaustion, his mana fully depleted. The loss of just one mage sent ripples through the barrier. Cracks began to form, and the recovery slowed significantly.
Sensing the weakening shield, the creatures intensified their attack, focusing on the vulnerable spots. The remaining mages fought to repair the damage, but with each one that fell, it became harder to hold the line.
Crack.
A small section of the barrier shattered, leaving a gap just wide enough for the shadowy creatures to flood through.
They had breached the academy grounds.
Dozens of them poured in, rushing toward the gates with terrifying speed. However, most were intercepted by the mechs, their massive swords and ranged weapons tearing through the horde. Cannons mounted on the mechs’ arms blasted the creatures into oblivion, while their heavy legs crushed any that dared to get too close. But some managed to slip through, charging directly at the academy gates.
“Soldiers, ready your weapons!” Valis commanded, her sword drawn and gleaming in the pale moonlight.
The soldiers raised their rifles, their faces paled with fear, but they gritted their teeth and stood firm.
“Fire!” Valis’s voice rang out, and gunshots erupted from the defensive line. Bullets tore through the air, striking several of the charging creatures, but others dodged with incredible agility, closing the distance.
“Cannons, prepare to fire!” Valis shouted again. The cannons, now fully loaded, swung into position, aimed at the advancing horde.
“Fire!” she shouted, her sword pointed forward.
A deafening explosion ripped through the night as the cannons unleashed their payload, obliterating the creatures in a fiery blast. For now, the gate was secure, but both Shiro and Ren knew it couldn’t last.
Shiro stood among his classmates, his gaze hard as he took in the approaching darkness. There was no more time for doubt. If they were going to survive, they would have to give everything they had. As the leader of Class F, it was up to him to lead them.
“At this rate, we’re going to have to fight too,” Rolan said, his voice grim as he watched the battle at the gate.
“I’d say it’s inevitable,” Lucius replied, gripping his staff in preparation.
“Liana, are you okay?” Celes asked, kneeling beside her, worry etched on her face.
“Yeah, I’m fine now,” Liana said, standing up with Celes’s help. “I need to fight too.”
Shiro's resolve sharpened to a razor’s edge, forged by the determination of his friends, the citizens' fear, the mages’ unwavering focus, and the soldiers' sacrifices.
No more fear.
No more uncertainty.
No more nightmares.
It’s time to take a step forward.
Towards a bright future.
Rise, O warrior.
You are worthy.
The amulet around his neck began to vibrate. What had once been a soft hum quickly grew in intensity, drawing startled gasps from his classmates. The familiar blue aura that had surrounded the amulet before now pulsed with life, expanding outward in a wave of light.
“What’s happening?” Rolan asked, eyes wide with astonishment.
“The amulet!” Liana exclaimed, her voice rising in excitement. “It’s awakening!”
The aura spread across the academy grounds, reaching every corner, wrapping around everyone within its reach. Students and teachers braced for what they assumed was an enemy attack, only to be greeted with a sudden warmth. The paralyzing fear that had gripped them melted away, replaced by a feeling of invigoration, as though their spirits had been reignited.
Valis, stationed near the gate, felt the surge of power course through her, unlike anything she had ever experienced before. A seasoned warrior, renowned as one of the empire’s greatest generals, she was no stranger to strength. But this was something else entirely. It was as if she could take on the entire horde singlehandedly.
“This... this is incredible,” Valis whispered, staring at her glowing hands in awe.
Across the academy grounds, similar expressions of wonder spread. Exhaustion faded, replaced by boundless energy and resolve.
“It’s like a strengthening spell,” Eslis murmured, barely able to comprehend what she was feeling. “But the power… it’s on a completely different level.”
Shiro gripped the amulet tightly, his heart pounding in time with the pulsing aura. He could feel the way the magic responded to his own determination, amplifying it, then spreading that energy to everyone around him. This wasn’t just a weapon—it was hope, manifesting in the most powerful way. And in the hands of someone willing to fight, it had the power to turn the tide of any battle.
Above, on the academy rooftops, Ren watched the scene unfold, a mixture of relief and satisfaction gleaming in his eyes.
“Yes!” Ren cheered quietly, grinning. “I knew you could do it Shiro!, Just as expected from the protagonist.”
He knew what the amulet really was: a buff item, one of the most powerful in the game. Not because of its rarity, but because of how utterly broken it was. The stronger the wearer’s bravery and resolve, the greater its effect. In the hands of the protagonist, it was nothing short of miraculous.
But Ren also understood the price. The amulet was a one-time-use item, a failsafe to balance its overwhelming power. Once its purpose was fulfilled, it would be gone forever. The developers had designed it that way so players wouldn’t rely on it as a crutch.
Yet, in this moment, it was exactly what they needed.
Ren’s smile softened as he watched the students and teachers below rally, their spirits rekindled by the amulet’s power. “You’ve got this Shiro,” he thought, his heart swelling with pride. “Show them what a hero can do.”
The horde would not stop.
But neither would they.