(Julius Argenti POV)

I planned to tell Mrs Rumbles of the potential attack here just before curfew. However, midway through dinner, Veronica replied and wrote that she would speak to her personally.

I don't know how they knew each other, but it saved me an uncomfortable conversation. Veronica also told me that I wouldn't have to worry about telling anyone the information.

That deprived me of any responsibilities so I pushed today's events out of my mind and indulged in the food.

Using so much mana left me famished so I ate as if I hadn't eaten food in a week. Nearby, other students were also devouring their food.

I almost felt bad for the hotel managers. The food bill was going to be sky-high. But I didn't have to pay for it, so I didn't worry.

What about feeling guilty?

Guilty? Never heard of it. Can I eat it?

One by one, everyone finished eating and returned to their respective rooms. After stuffing myself, I returned to my room.

It was a decently sized two-bedroom room. James' bag lay strewn across the floor. Our dirty clothes from camping were hung on the balcony after being washed by him.

'I've got to thank him for that.'

James himself was asleep in the bed without changing his clothes. He must've been exhausted from today's events.

I wore some shorts and a T-shirt before hopping into bed. Unlike in the infirmary, sleep came to me quickly.

***

My honed senses woke me up that night.

'God, how many times must my sleep be interrupted.'

In the past week, I had only slept a full 8 hours ONCE. It was getting on my nerves.

I could tell there was danger and I could feel my skin tingle. I picked up my weapon and exited the room, leaving the sleeping James behind.

"Is Ataxia attacking?"

Suddenly over the loudspeaker, we heard Mrs Rumbles' voice.

"Everyone wake up! We are being attacked by a criminal organisation. Grab your weapons. Make your way to the dining hall where a teacher will be. Do not take the elevators. If someone unfamiliar appears, kill them without hesitation. I mean it. Kill Them. THIS IS NOT A DRILL. I REPEAT, THIS IS NOT A DRILL."

'I guess is one way to inform everyone.'

Everyone rushed out of their rooms weapons drawn. Everyone was looking at each as if they were the enemy, ready to attack if anyone made a single move.

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"STOP"

Everyone turned towards me. I couldn't deal with everyone being hostile to each other, especially since we were probably going to be targeted first.

We were on the top floor and Ataxia was probably going to attack us directly since Mrs Rumbles ruined all chances for a sneak attack.

"Everyone split up and either go left or right and take the stairs. The enemy hasn't arrived yet but will soon. Before going down, destroy the stairs."

"But why? Won't that mean that we can't go down?"

A student questioned me.

"Everyone can't go down at once. And it's also too slow."

"But how will we get down to the ground floor safely?"

"I guess you could use the walls the break your fall...?"

My words didn't inspire much confidence.

"I don't know, you're mages. Figure it out yourself. Also better do it quickly if you don't want rocks falling on our classmates."

I didn't expect many on the other floors to head straight to the stairs first, so I hoped that no one will be injured by the falling stairs.

I heard the stairs breaking as they jumped down to the ground floor. Getting to the dining hall was priority one. From there we'll make our plan of attack.

From the ranks and the numbers of the attackers on the USB, I knew the 7 B ranks and the A rank would be holding off our 10 teachers.

The 3 C ranks and the D ranks would target us. It was good that they seemed short on numbers. They had only 8 mages to hold off our 10. And their A rank would have to face Sarah Rumbles and Kentora Loho, two A ranks. Though they only had to hold off, not kill so it was possible.

1A -10A would struggle with the D ranks. Most of this cohort was D rank, albeit low D ranked. It would be approximately 240 inexperienced D ranks vs trained 143 D rank mages.

We needed to be together to stand a chance against them. The C ranks worried me though. I and Amina could take one each but I didn't trust Violet or James to be able to defeat the last one.

They'd never been in a battle where the opponent was attempting to kill them nor had they killed before. Though Amina hasn't done the former though she has done the latter. But trusted her to adapt and win.

"Hey Jules, why are you still here, should we go down?"

"Hmm?"

James interrupted my thoughts.

"I have things to do first."

I spoke in an authoritative tone. There was none of the friendliness that I had before. I didn't want to show this side of me to them yet. But I had no choice. I couldn't baby them in this situation.

I first sent a message to Veronica, informing her of the attack.

Next, I asked James to follow me to the elevators before asking him to forcefully open the doors. The four elevators revealed empty shafts. I used my sword to cut the cables sending the elevators down to the ground.

Now nobody could use them. I could now feel the presence of mages rapidly approaching us. They were coming in fast I had probably had only 2 minutes before they broke through the roofs and ambushed us.

'Should I set a trap? No, I don't have enough time. Time is better spent regrouping with everyone and creating a concrete plan.

I jumped down the stairs with James following suit. James used his gravity attribute to slow our fall. The fallen stairs blocked the entrance to the hall, so the students broke a wall into the dining hall.

I was greeted by panicking students running around like headless chickens. The promised teacher was also missing leading to this chaos.

'We're going to be massacred.'

I couldn't help but be pessimistic. This was the next generation of mages.

I could see Violet trying organized everyone but she was just as confused as everyone else. I was tempted to leave everyone and run away myself, but I decided against it.

I was confident in my ability to survive the incoming attack since only C ranks would pose a threat to me, and if I focused on dodging, I'd be safe.

*buzz*

I checked my phone and saw a message that said that she'd be here in around 20 - 30 minutes. That was our objective now. To survive until SUITE gets here.

After spending a couple of seconds creating a basic plan in my mind, I walked up to Violet and informed her of our objectives and the plan I created.

She nodded, taking a deep breath before standing on the stage. She projected her voice, enhancing it with mana.

"EVERYONE, LISTEN TO ME. If you want to survive, then follow my instructions."

All the students' heads turned and face her. They were looking at her as if she was Jesus himself.