The scene shifts to Allseer, who walks toward the first-year students, his mind still nagged by the feeling that he missed something crucial. He reaches the door to their classroom, opens it, and steps inside.

The students immediately panic, screaming in terror and unleashing a barrage of magic attacks. Allseer, unfazed, raises an eyebrow and gives them a pointed look.

"Yeah, my fault for barging in," he says flatly, before his face morphs into exaggerated anger.

"But seriously, what the hell were those attacks? If a Hellriser had come through that door, you'd all be dead by now!" he shouts, his tone comically over the top.

The students, wide-eyed, pause for a moment, blinking in confusion, unsure how to react. Allseer takes a deep breath, trying to regain his composure.

"Alright, alright. Let’s dial it back," he mutters, rubbing his temples. The room goes silent as he stares at the students, who are still processing what just happened. One student nervously speaks up.

"We’re sorry! We’re just... we’re scared, okay?"

Another student, still fuming, grumbles from the back,

"What the hell, man? No one warned us about this! I thought the academy was supposed to be impenetrable."

Allseer sighs, finally letting his anger subside as he steps further into the room.

"Well, that’s why I’m here, to make sure everything’s alright," he responds, trying to keep things serious now. But as he looks around at the panicked students, his face shifts again, this time with an air of grave importance.

"But first, guess I’ll have to educate you on what’s going on."

His tone shifts, becoming far more serious as he addresses the now-quiet group.

"I’m not surprised you don’t know what a 'culling' is," he says, his voice low and deliberate. "I mean, most of you are high-borns who've lived sheltered lives, safe from the real dangers that lurk outside."

The students exchange nervous glances, the tension in the air palpable. Then, one student whispers to another,

"What the hell is a 'culling'?" The rest of the students mutter in confusion, their anxiety rising.

Allseer watches their reactions with an unreadable expression, letting the question hang in the air.

Allseer continued, his tone shifting to a serious one. “The culling happens unannounced. It’s a sort of hunting for demons. Whenever there’s a shortage of souls that end up in Hell, the demons execute a culling, sending mostly low-level Hellrisers and Infernal beasts, along with other demonic creatures.”

He paused, letting the gravity of the situation sink in before continuing. “Very rarely do you see high-level demons with intelligence. The demon that the headmaster is facing right now, for example, is one of those rare cases.”

The students, still apprehensive, glanced at each other nervously.

“All high-level demons like that are usually handled by the capable warriors such as the Elemental Knights and of course the four clan heads and the Elemental Magistrate along with his general, they are our shield against the darkness,” Allseer added. “The fact that these beasts were allowed to get here would mean that either our shield is busy elsewhere or are unaware of this” Allseer thought to himself in that moment.

Allseer's face softened as he shifted to a more cheerful tone. “But don’t worry!”

He smiled brightly, trying to reassure the students. “As long as Master Pragaya is here, there’s nothing to worry about. So just relax, all of you, okay?”

His smile lit up the room, and the students, though still anxious, seemed to breathe a little easier.

Allseer refocuses the students' attention. "Coming back to why I’m here," he began, his voice steady, "I need to do a headcount. Is everyone from your class here?"

The students exchanged glances and began counting among themselves. After a moment, one student spoke up. "Yeah, everyone’s here… except for four people. Rai, Rose, Gale, and Baruss. They went out with Kromus to fight."

Allseer smiled faintly at the mention of Rai. "Of course, Rai would fight. That doesn’t surprise me at all," he thought to himself, his expression softening for a brief moment.

He turned toward the exit, speaking as he moved. "Alright, then. Kids, stay here. I’m sure the battle will be over any minute now."

Just as Allseer was about to leave, a student suddenly exclaimed, "Wait! We forgot Ariel!"

Allseer froze mid-step and turned back, his expression clouded with concern. "Ariel?" he asked, his voice sharp with urgency.

Another student nodded. "Yeah, that girl with the invisibility magic. She doesn’t seem to be here."

A flicker of unease crossed Allseer’s face as he activated his Appraisal magic, trying to locate Ariel’s aura. To his shock, he found nothing.

Allseer’s face turned pale.

Without a word, he spun on his heel and exited the room in haste.

The students were left behind, whispering among themselves and scratching their heads in confusion. "What was that about?" one asked nervously.

Uncertainty hung in the air as Allseer disappeared, his urgency leaving the students more uneasy than before.

Allseer quickly transformed into his crystal form, the smooth, reflective surface shimmering faintly in the chaos around him. Without a moment's hesitation, he began rolling at a breakneck pace toward the battlefield where Pragaya was still locked in combat with Corp. The air buzzed with tension as the urgency of the situation pressed heavily on him.

Inside his crystalline form, Allseer’s mind raced, a single, chilling thought repeating over and over like an alarm: We are in danger.

Meanwhile, Rai, Gale, Baruss, and Rose prepared themselves for the second round of their fight. Rai’s mind wandered, pondering the peculiar behavior of the creature before them. "Why is this thing acting so intelligently?" he muttered under his breath. "Every other Infernal we've faced so far has been nothing more than a mindless beast."

His train of thought was interrupted as his eyes caught something in the distance—Mammoth and Jörmungandr locked in a fierce battle against four Infernal beasts. The clash was brutal, the sheer scale of their combat shaking the ground. Mammoth’s strikes, combined with Jörmungandr’s overwhelming power, were awe-inspiring, yet the odds were in their favour.

Closer still, Rai noticed the Deans and the senior fifth-year students, each holding their own against smaller groups of these creatures. With their collective strength, it was evident that their efforts were enough for keeping the hordes at bay and even push them back. Yet somehow, the beast that Rai and his friends were facing remained an outlier—more powerful, more intelligent, and far more dangerous.

The four sprang into action without hesitation, their bodies moving instinctively. Baruss, Rai, and Rose formed the vanguard, engaging the Infernal head-on, while Gale held the rear, providing crucial support. They attacked from multiple directions, aiming to overwhelm the creature. But despite their coordinated efforts, something was wrong—their strikes seemed ineffective, leaving no visible damage.

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The group exchanged concerned glances, but there was no room for despair. Baruss and Rose pressed on, their attacks relentless. Gale continued his support, firing precise bursts of magic to aid their assault. Meanwhile, Rai took a calculated step back, his sharp eyes fixed on the creature.

"Does it have magic nullification?" Rai muttered to himself, watching closely as the attacks landed but failed to leave a mark. He scrutinized the beast’s movements, its body. No, the attacks weren’t being nullified—they were connecting. So why weren’t they working?

Frustration gnawed at Rai as he racked his brain. "What the hell is the deal with this thing?" he thought, his fingers tightening into fists.

Then, as if sensing his unease, the Infernal turned its glowing, malicious eyes toward Rai, locking him in a deathly stare. Rai froze, his breath hitching—it was as though the creature was sending him a clear message: Watch closely, and witness your defeat.

Before Rai could react, the Infernal sprang into motion, its speed suddenly far greater than before. With terrifying precision, it lunged at Rose and Baruss, grabbing them in its massive, clawed hands.

"No!" Rai shouted, his voice breaking.

In a sickening display of power, the Infernal smashed both of them to the ground, the force sending tremors through the earth. Rai stood frozen, gobsmacked at the horrifying development. His heart pounded in his chest as the weight of the situation bore down on him.

Rai could no longer afford to sit back and strategize—he had to act.

"NOOOOOOOOOOO!" he roared, his voice echoing with sheer determination. Activating Atmaan Explosion, Rai's speed surged beyond normal limits, propelling him forward in a blur.

Just as the Infernal raised its massive leg to crush the unconscious forms of Baruss and Rose, Rai appeared beside them in an instant. With raw strength amplified by Atmaan Explosion, he grabbed hold of the beast's leg, halting its deadly descent. Veins bulged in his arms as he strained against the creature’s immense power.

From the distance, Gale watched in horror. The earlier attack had left him paralyzed, his heart gripped by dread. The sight of Rose and Baruss lying limp only deepened his fear, rooting him to the ground.

Rai, sweat dripping from his brow as he struggled to keep the Infernal at bay, turned his head slightly and shouted, "Gale! Get Rose and Baruss out of here! I don’t think this is an ordinary beast—something’s wrong here! Hurry!" His voice cracked with desperation, a stark reminder of the stakes.

Snapped out of his frozen state, Gale forced himself to move. Summoning his wind magic, he propelled himself forward, scooping up Rose and Baruss with surprising efficiency. The wind swirled around him as he whisked the two unconscious bodies to safety, his heart pounding as he glanced back at Rai holding his ground against the Infernal.

Rai, now free from under the beast’s crushing weight, darted away just as its massive foot slammed into the ground with a thunderous force. The impact sent a cloud of dust and debris spiraling into the air. Shielding his face, Rai turned toward Gale, his voice sharp and commanding.

"Gale, listen up! There's something off about this beast. Take Rose and Baruss and get out of here—now!"

Gale hesitated, his eyes darting between Rai and their unconscious comrades. He opened his mouth to protest, but Rai snapped his head around, his gaze steely and unyielding.

"I don’t have time to freaking argue with you—GO!" Rai’s tone carried a rare edge of desperation, leaving no room for debate.

Faced with Rai's resolute expression, Gale clenched his fists, reluctantly nodding. Without another word, he turned and rushed back to retrieve Rose and Baruss, using his wind magic to expedite the retreat.

Meanwhile, Rai slowly shifted his focus back to the towering Infernal Beast. Dust swirled around them, and as the creature's glowing eyes locked onto his, Rai steadied his stance, his body tensing.

"Alright, big guy," Rai muttered under his breath, his lips curling into a determined smirk. "It’s just you and me now."

The beast's demeanor shifted, a gleam of wicked amusement sparking in its monstrous eyes. It seemed to have concocted a sinister plan. In a blink of an eye, it vanished from Rai’s sight, reappearing behind him. The sudden movement left Rai momentarily disoriented, but the beast wasn't targeting him—it was facing Gale.

Rai spun around, his heart dropping. He reached out instinctively, his voice caught in his throat as panic took hold. "GALE, WATCH OUT!" he tried to yell, but the words didn’t come fast enough.

Before Gale could react, the beast swung a massive, clawed arm, striking him with devastating force. Gale’s body flew like a ragdoll, crashing into a wall on the left where a jagged piece of concrete jutted out like a deadly spear.

The sound of impact was sickening. Rai’s world slowed as he saw Gale’s chest impaled on the sharp concrete. Blood trickled down the cold stone, dripping steadily onto the ground. Gale’s eyes widened in shock, his expression twisting in agony.

Rai stood frozen, his hands trembling at his sides. His heart pounded violently in his chest as he took in the horrifying scene—his best friend hanging lifelessly, the spark in his eyes dimming with each passing second. Blood soaked the ground beneath him.

"No... Gale..." Rai whispered, his voice breaking, horror etched into every fiber of his being.

The scene briefly shifts to Allseer, who had just reunited with Pragaya as the latter concluded his battle. Pragaya, now powered down and wiping the lingering tears from his face, turned to face Allseer. Allseer arrived in a state of frenzy, his tone urgent.

“Master, we have a grave problem,” Allseer said.

Pragaya, his brows furrowing with concern, responded, “What is it, Seer?”

Allseer pointed toward the spot where Corp had been lying. “Master, I don’t think this one here was the leader of this culling,” he said gravely.

Pragaya’s expression immediately shifted to one of worry and urgency. “What do you mean, Seer? Are you certain?” he asked, his voice sharp with concern.

Allseer nodded firmly. “Yes, Master. Quick, we must act now. Ariel has gone missing. I suspect the true leader of this culling has her—either as a hostage or for some other nefarious purpose,” he explained.

Without wasting another moment, the two of them sprang into action. Allseer reverted to his crystal ball form, rolling swiftly through the academy halls in search of any leads. Meanwhile, Pragaya remained flying over the battleground, scanning the area for anything out of the ordinary that might offer a clue.

The urgency in their movements mirrored the weight of the situation. Both knew that time was running out, and with the possibility of a more dangerous enemy lurking in the shadows, every second counted.

Meanwhile, a bit earlier in time, Kromus had just dropped Harchell off at the infirmary.

“Right, down you go,” Kromus gently placed Harchell on a stretcher as nurses rushed to her aid. He glanced around the infirmary, noticing how busy it was today.

“Quite the busy day, huh?” Kromus lightly asked one of the nurses.

“Yes, sir, but thankfully we haven’t had any fatalities yet,” the nurse replied.

“That’s good,” Kromus answered, his relief evident.

Harchell, with a look of worry in her eyes, turned to Kromus. “You should go check on the four of them, Kromus.”

Kromus gave her a reassuring smile. “Come on, Harchell. They’ll be fine.”

But Harchell, her voice calm but troubled, responded, “Yeah, most likely... But this beast was different. I know I got caught off guard because I was focused on so many Hellrisers, but still… The timing of that beast’s attack made it seem like it wasn’t a coincidence. It was almost as if it was waiting for me to let my guard down.”

Kromus’s relaxed expression faltered. “What are you saying, Harchell? Are you sure?”

“I’m not, but while you were carrying me away, my eyes were locked on Rai. I momentarily glanced at the beast, and it was smiling—almost as if a plan had finally come to fruition,” Harchell explained, her voice heavy with concern.

Kromus’s face hardened. “Damn it.”

Without another word, he sprang to his feet and raced towards the four.

On his way, he bumped into Allseer, who was currently scouring the academy for clues about the real leader of the culling.

Allseer quickly explained the situation to Kromus, his voice urgent and tense.

“Crap, how could I be so stupid?” Kromus muttered, his face darkening with realization. “Let’s go. I think I know what you’re looking for.”

Without another word, the two of them rushed toward the location of the four students, their footsteps quickening. Allseer, now filled with even more urgency, telepathically reached out to Pragaya.

“Master, the situation has escalated. We need you at the scene, now.”

Pragaya’s response was immediate, his voice tinged with both concern and determination. “Understood. I’m on my way.”

The three of them hurried as fast as they could, the atmosphere thick with anticipation and dread. When they finally arrived, the sight before them was nothing short of extraordinary.

Gale lay impaled through the chest, his body hanging lifelessly on a shard of concrete. Rose and Baruss were unconscious, their bodies battered from the previous assault. But it was Rai who took everyone by surprise.

He stood at the heart of a massive suit of yellow lightning armor, as if piloting it like a colossal mech. The armor crackled with raw power, electric arcs flashing across its surface, and a cape made of pure lightning swirled behind him. The suit covered Rai completely, giving him an imposing presence that dwarfed even the massive Infernal Beast. In fact, Rai’s armor was so large and powerful that it seemed to tower over the beast itself.