Karanzo dodged to the side when he noticed the shadow of a speared Bloodguard on the floor in attack motion. Karanzo's heart sank for a moment when he saw three more armored guards enter the cell. He had miscalculated and didn't expect the Bloodguards to arrive so quickly from different directions.
The three cadets screamed in disbelief, "There are four guards?! Are you kidding me?!"
"Tch! Looks like I'll have to use violence too," Karanzo challenged, holding only a chain of shackles as a weapon.
The Bloodguard shouted, "Sazank Karanzo! You are a talented cadet, but your destiny ends here!"
All of a sudden, one of the Bloodguards in the back knocked the Bloodguard in front unconscious with the tip of his spear. Karanzo and the others were surprised by the friendly fire.
"What's going on?" Karanzo muttered in surprise.
One of the guards removed his helmet and revealed himself to be Thanistor, and said, "Sazank Karanzo, I can't believe you would get yourself into such trouble."
"You...the White Knight back then?" Karanzo was surprised.
The other two guards also removed their helmets, revealing themselves to be Ray and Joel.
"Yo, Karanzo," greeted Joel, his old friend.
"Joel, you're here too?" Karanzo asked in disbelief.
"It's amazing, isn't it?" Joel responded. "It's been a long time since we've seen each other since class. Thanks to Thani, we were able to escape this cell."
"Sorry to interrupt your Class C reunion, but Ray and Joel, could you please remove the shackles from them?" Thani gently ordered to avoid wasting time.
Ray and Joel used the key they had taken from the guards to unlock the shackles. The grateful cadets were now willing to either help or die to escape, and Thanistor had gained three more recruits to join in their plan to overthrow Manseto's Prison. In total, there were now seven cadets in the cell with the same goal.
Thani was somewhat amazed by Karanzo's plan to use the saved cadets as bait. "Your plan is fine. After all, this exam is about teamwork. In the world of assassins, that means taking advantage of each other."
"What are you trying to say, Thani?" Karanzo asked.
"Just give up. You won't be able to get out of here if you keep acting alone. You have no idea what kind of traps they've set up outside the prison. We'd better join the other cadets to conquer this damn prison. Would you like to come along?"
"Damn, straight to the point, huh? Fine, but only after I put on that armor and grab that spear," Karanzo replied, raising his chin toward the unconscious Bloodguard. "By the way, I can tell from the condition of your hands how you got out of this cell."
The cadets who had been saved gazed in awe at Thani's gauntlet-covered fist, which continued to drip blood. Thani smiled, knowing that Karanzo shared his sentiments. Ray and Joel didn't need to explain anything to Karanzo, who had his own ways of understanding without compromising Thanistor's fighting ability. Throughout the night, Karanzo had surmised that Thanistor had been quietly rubbing his Aetherium shackles against the ground, causing them to rust and weaken unnoticed by the guards. This would make it easier for the cadets to break free the next day, especially if there was any commotion in the prison.
However, Karanzo didn't like the idea of escaping because the ninja had other ways as he didn't want to harm his fighting performance, and he knew it would be a pain in the ass on the next important day. Instead, he preferred using deception to prevent disaster, something he believed Thanistor couldn't do, as every job had its own principles.
Ray said, “When Thani's shackles came off, he tricked a guard and slammed him down, tying him up with a chain of shackles so we could get the cell keys and armor as we did with the other two guards.”
"Yes, it took me all night to do that, but due to my current condition, I'm trying to avoid fighting as much as possible," added Thani, who was still struggling to move his wrist.
(“So, I see,”) Karanzo thought to himself as he put on the armor. ("Apparently, he also benefited greatly from this plan. Fighting together is a crazy plan for me, but I don't think I have a choice.")
"However, we must hurry, otherwise Instructor Manseto will come to this prison and it will be the death of us all," warned Thani.
“Instructor Manseto? Come against us all? How did you know that?” asked one of the cadets.
"We overheard orders from the guards," Joel replied. “And their hasty movement out of prison. If we can't get out of here by noon, then Manseto will be forced to kill us all, as he is called, Manseto the Dark Executioner."
Karanzo finished putting on the armor and was holding onto the spear. "There's no more time, come on!"
They all set out on a mission to save the other cadets.
*
Ischel woke up from her sleep, realizing the chaotic atmosphere in the prison. She could hear the cries of the guards coming from upstairs. The Bloodguards in Block B, overwhelmed with worry, left their positions one by one and ran toward the stairs leading to the main hall, where the war between the guards and cadets was taking place. Yuria and Kirana knew that Instructor Manseto must have given orders, and today was the climax – a life-and-death situation.
"What's happening?" Ischel asked, stuttering and half-awake.
"Ischel, for the time being, waits for Nana's plan," Yuria responded while glancing at Kirana, who was familiarly called Nana.
"What plan do you have in mind, Nana?" Ischel asked.
"Wait a little longer, and you'll find out," Nana said, winking at Ischel.
A group of male cadets rushed toward Block B, jostling and racing to open the cells of the three princesses who were eagerly waiting for their dashing knights. Yuria and Ischel felt foolish if this was really Kirana's plan. The rumors about her were not wrong; this popular girl was indeed dangerous among men, especially when it came to inciting and manipulating them. She made false promises and dashed hopes, all of which vanished with her charm. In a world of assassins, those who fell under her spell were as good as meat shields for her.
"Kirana the Dancer, you promised me that if I let you out of here, you would be my girl, right?" pleaded one of the cadets who was trying to unlock the cell but slipped as someone pushed him from the side.
“No, I will be the one to save you! You promised me too!” exclaimed the pushing cadet.
Thanks to the Mystic Haze Grass herbal concoction, Kirana's facial beauty would always leave an imprint on her victims' minds and hearts. There were still many ingredients that could change her appearance, along with the perfect makeup.
In just a few seconds, another group of men arrived, pulled by an invisible rope of Kirana's charm. The men clashed valiantly in front of the cell, causing the goddess of dreams to wait a long time.
“Oh my gosh, Nana... I think you have an even smarter plan,” murmured Ischel, patting her forehead.
“I think so too,” Yuria replied with a sigh. Now she understood why that girl was called Dangerous Kirana.
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The male cadets became acquainted with Yuria after her shackles were removed. Yuria was the first cadet to taste the Flask of Nightmare, and they bombarded her with unimportant questions about her well-being, whether her power had increased, what the potion tasted like, and whether she already had a life partner. Their curiosity made Yuria feel disgusted and uncomfortable, especially considering the black potion that made her want to vomit.
"She used to be called the Rogue among the D-class cadets," Kirana told them.
The male cadets were fixated on Yuria's radiant white face, which was no less beautiful than Kirana's. To them, Kirana was like a graceful and elegant sun goddess, while Yuria was like a cold and calm moon goddess. The female samurai and ninja of the Mist Desert were truly remarkable!
"Ehem... Please get straight to the point," Ischel interrupted, looking annoyed, and feeling like she had lost the beauty contest to the two of them.
Ryuusei the Samurai, one of the pre-eminent cadets and Kirana's lover, approached them and explained the events that had taken place in the prison, as well as Thanistor's escape plan. The plan was to free all of the imprisoned cadets and fight together toward the ship. However, the success of this plan depended on the cadets working together without betraying each other, as treason was rampant in the fortress. They hoped that this explanation would persuade Kirana the Dancer, Ischel the Pantheress, and Yuria the Rogue to join them.
"The knight predicted everything, even stealing information from the guards while disguised as one of them. Currently, Thani and the others are fighting the guards and waiting for everyone to gather at the main gate. That's where we need your strength," Ryuusei explained.
"I'll go with you," Ischel replied firmly. "If that's the only way out of this prison, then I'm in."
"Count me in too," added Kirana. "It's good to know that Thani still cares about female cadets like us," she chuckled.
Yuria closed her eyes and shook her head in disappointment. ("Why didn't they say that earlier instead of asking silly questions?") she thought to herself. Without saying another word, she walked out of the cell, leading the way for the others.
Yuria had waited for this moment for so long, and her body was eager to react to the threat before her. There was a reason these cadets had trained in the fort for ten years. As the leader of the group, the others followed her toward the main gate of the prison to gather.
***
The main hall was a large space, flanked by pillars on both sides. This was the stronghold of the Bloodguards, and they were not going to give it up without a fight. The Bloodguards had set up a defensive perimeter around the room, and the cadets could see the glint of their spears and shields in the dim light. The two sides eyed each other warily for a moment, and then the cadets charged. Thanistor led the charge, shouting orders to his comrades as they prepared for battle. The sound of metal hitting metal filled the room as the two sides clashed. The cadets had the advantage of surprise and quickly gained the upper hand. They used their agility and speed to dodge the Bloodguards' attacks, striking back with their own weapons.
Despite the initial success, the cadets knew they couldn't let their guard down. The Bloodguards were tough opponents, and they fought with a ferocity that was unmatched. Thanistor rallied his comrades, urging them to keep fighting. The battle raged on for what felt like hours. The cadets used every trick in their book to gain the upper hand, from flanking maneuvers to feints and distractions. The Bloodguards fought back with equal vigor, never giving up ground.
In the end, it was the cadets who emerged victorious. The main hall was littered with the bodies of the fallen Bloodguards, and the surviving cadets stood victorious amidst the pillars. Thanistor and his comrades were bruised and battered, but they knew they had won an important battle. As they looked around at the devastation, they knew that their journey was far from over. The road ahead would be long and treacherous, but they had proved to themselves and each other that they had what it took to overcome even the most daunting of obstacles.
As other cadets slowly arrived, they witnessed several guards lying bloodied from the assault by the powerful cadets. Thanistor's group was exhausted and overheated, prompting them to remove their armor. They aided other cadets in ambushing the Bloodguards at one point, using their bare hands or stolen spears. This was their greatest accomplishment while in captivity. Despite the lull in fighting, they remained vigilant, as Bloodguards from any block could appear at any moment.
Yuria's party emerged through a dark passage from blocks A and B and was surprised to find many cadets waiting for them.
"This means that only from Block D," stated Thani, wiping his sweat.
Block D was indeed shrouded in mystery. The last time there had been any signs of life was when a cadet, tired of living in peace, whistled loudly like a death trumpet that sent the Bloodguards down. Thanistor wondered if there was also a war in Block D, which could explain the shortage of reinforcements from the Bloodguards in the main hall.
Ischel was surprised to see her two former classmates, Joel and Karanzo, while Kirana happily reunited with her friends from class B who were also searching for her. They gathered and greeted each other, followed by cadets from other classes who checked on the condition of their friends - some were missing, some were dead, and some were alive. Despite being enemies and competing for rank in the fortress, this final test seemed to bring them together in happiness to see their surviving comrades. While Manseto made it clear that they could choose to work individually or cooperate if necessary, the choice was ultimately theirs.
Their reunion was abruptly interrupted by a male cadet who was on the verge of throwing up at the sight of this peaceful gathering. "Stop this reunion!" he shrieked.
All the cadets fell silent and looked at the man - a Dark-Elf with white hair and red eyes resembling a demon. "Since when did our life as assassins who fight and kill in the fortress become a life of love, family, and friendship like this, huh?! You better explain right away, Thanistor!" he demanded.
"H-he's Lucius the Berserker from Class A," stammered one of the cadets.
Lucius van Hellsing, also known as the Berserker Prince, was a cadet from class A with the number 322. He hailed from the Nevandreth Kingdom in Wallakarya Territory (Mist Desert). Despite being of noble blood, he was looked upon as a bastard child with many inner, family, and social problems. His gaze conveyed a history of hatred toward the continent, and no one dared to ask him about his problems since he always ignored people's warnings. The most concerning thing about him was his tendency to commit random acts of vandalism, which not only frustrated the seniors but also the academy. Despite this, he became famous among the cadets for challenging a senior to a one-on-one duel in order to deal with his uncivilized behavior, and for demonstrating his unquestionable fighting skills.
"He’s right," a woman's voice continued. "I don't care about this reunion. Didn't we learn in class to kill those we trust because it's an easy thing to do?"
The woman, with a sadistic expression, stepped on the body of a guard who had been bound with shackles. "For now, we're working together to pass this test. But we'll be enemies again for the next test and compete until only a few of us survive to the end!"
"That's Vanatos the Nailer from class D!" exclaimed someone.
Elsa Belmont, a cadet in Class D with the number 555, was among the missing children brought to the academy by Instructor Durzo following the Kaliyuga Explosion. She was once a childhood friend of Yuria and Aina, but they grew apart after Elsa developed a sociopathic mindset. By the age of nine, she had already killed enough people to be considered a "Kikimora" by her peers. According to Instructress Lucia, Elsa was exposed to the congenital Aida virus from birth, and her antisocial personality disorder was regarded as the worst among all of her patients. Nowadays, she prefers to go by the name Vanatos instead of her real name, for reasons she chooses not to reveal.
In the arena, she would often pierce holes in her victims' bodies, earning her the nickname 'the Nailer.' Because of her infamous savagery, she was accused of being the perpetrator in the murder cases of cadets in class D who died one by one with bloody roses on their bodies, which led to her transfer to a private class with Fenrius, Mason, and Aleister. However, the murders continued even when she was held captive, which made her scribble on the walls of her classroom. One message that was clearly visible read "IS THIS AN ACADEMY OR A PRISON?" Additionally, during every mental writing test, she always expressed her frustration using her signature belligerent slash-style with all capital letters that sounded like screams from Pandemonium of Maldrakar, which shocked the seniors.
The delinquents had started to cause a commotion, and before the alliance between the cadets could dissolve, Thani shouted at them, "Everyone listens to me!!" His voice was loud and commanding, making all the cadets understand the gravity of the situation. Thanistor's leadership qualities were beginning to show.
"Our main goal right now is to get out of this gate! We need to run toward the ship and get off this island! I've overheard the Bloodguards' orders, and they have thirty percent of their forces waiting outside the gate, ready to attack us with poisoned arrows the moment it opens!
"Get ready to run as far as possible toward the ship! If you want to fight the guards without weapons, that's your choice! But remember, your survival is your responsibility! We cannot underestimate the thirty percent of the Bloodguards waiting for us. The remaining seventy percent will surround us from behind the prison and are on their way here! We need to move quickly!"
A cadet ran toward the crowd from a distance, screaming, "Thani!! There are a lot of Bloodguards in Block D!"
All the cadets were shocked to hear this. Their minds raced with the possibility that their comrades in Block D had become corpses and pools of blood. Fighting unarmed against seventy percent of the Bloodguards was akin to committing suicide. They didn't have much time, the prison atmosphere was like a ticking time bomb.
"Zain Wulmar is fighting against the Bloodguards over there!" the cadet added. "He ordered us to get out of this prison immediately!"
"Everyone, get ready! Open the gate now!" Thani shouted.
Ray and Joel pulled the levers located in the corner of the room, opening the massive steel gate, which was split in two. The light from outside the prison slowly illuminated their vision. Now was the time for the test of life and death to be determined. Thani took a deep breath and gave a loud signal, "Three...! Two...! One...! And go!"
They all ran out of the gate together, breaking through a portal to heaven.