In minutes, Vincent's underlings seized nearly half of the academy. Their attacks were precise, targeting the academy's weakest points where guards were sparse, and deftly maneuvering their way through.

Their attack zeroes in on anyone tied to the noble family or the four pillars. And with Principal Wuldor and most professors nowhere to be found, the students are outmatched against these highly trained foes.

For most students, the test proved worthwhile, as those who had reached the final round held their decently ground against their attackers, successfully halting their advance. Rowan, Kane, Aaron, and many others won their battles with ease, only to be confronted by an even stronger opponent.

Back at the restaurant, Karla, Rachel, and Davis realized they were facing someone way out of their league. "Princess, escape through the window," Karla urged, her gaze locked on their adversary. "Even if we team up, we won't stand a chance against him. Get help. I'll stall him for as long as I can."

"A few more seconds won't make a difference, but sure, princess, make your escape. I'll catch up with you soon," Vincent remarked with a carefree tone.

"If we fought together, maybe—" Davis began, but Karla's swift action cut him off mid-sentence. [Shing*] Her blade clashed against something mid-air, revealing numerous strings extending from Vincent's fingers.

With little choice, Rachel seized Davis's arm, and they bolted straight for the window, jumping out and landing safely on the ground. Karla observed as Vincent remained unmoved. "You don't seem concerned that they escaped."

Vincent laughed at her question. "What's there to worry about? They can't leave the Academy anyway." He grew tired of his facade and removed his mask. "There we go, I can finally breathe properly." With a sweeping gesture of his arms, Karla sensed his strings filling the room, blocking any possible escape route.

“It was fun talking but it’s time for you to die now” Vincent’s bloodthirst was revealed making Karla internally shake in fright.

Meanwhile, Rachel and Davis sprinted through the hallway, pursued by Vincent's underlings who appeared in relentless waves. Though the two fought off the assailants with relative ease, their progress was impeded as they reached the cafeteria, where they were greeted by Vincent, seated calmly at one of the tables.

"Having fun running?" Vincent quipped. "Would you like a helping hand in finding an exit?" He continued, waving a severed arm around like a toy. Rachel and Davis's hearts sank as they feared the worst for Karla.

"W-what have you done to Karla?" Rachel inquired, struggling to maintain a composed demeanor.

"Oh, her?" Vincent replied, feigning surprise as he examined the severed arm, confirming it belonged to Karla. "Let's just say, she didn't quite make it out," he giggled.

While the two were distracted, some of Vincent's more capable underlings sneaked up from behind and successfully scattered black dust on Davis's face. Rachel reacted swiftly, managing to jump and dodge the attack, only to find herself ensnared by Vincent's wire.

"Got him!" Vincent declared, pointing at Davis. Drawing closer to Rachel, he leaned down. "You know how difficult it is to infiltrate this place and capture you? And him? It took quite some time." Straightening up, he spread out his arms. "But hey, it's all paid off. I've successfully captured the Royal princess..."

As he continued his monologue, Rachel attempted to break free from the wire, but it was reinforced. Focusing her aura, she redirected her energy into the wire until she broke free, then rushed at Vincent, sword in hand.

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Her efforts proved futile as she, too, was sprayed with the black dust by Vincent, collapsing to the ground unconscious. Vincent smiled with delight. "The Blackthorn family's anesthetic powder works wonderfully."

"Capture them and prepare the portal. Recall everyone and get ready to leave. The barrier won't be active for long," Vincent instructed before turning away. "It seems I have an unwelcome guest." He faced Professor Selena, who was surprised to see her pupil lying unconscious on the floor.

Both of Vincent's underlings moved to pick up Davis and Rachel, but they were interrupted by Selena's attack, which Vincent swiftly halted. "Hurry up, we don't have much time," Vincent urged, swinging his wire at Selena.

Professor Selena, an expert in wind magic, initially couldn't see the wire, but she sensed the shift in the air as it moved. Reacting on instinct, she dodged backward, narrowly avoiding the wire. As she dashed away, she watched as the nearby table was split in half by the wire's force.

Vincent launched another attack with his wires, but Selena dodged by swiftly moving across the cafeteria. Closing the distance, her speed increased dramatically. However, just as she neared him, she was ensnared by his wires, leaving her trapped.

Vincent, aware that time was limited, moved with lethal intent as his wire aimed for her neck. Yet, before he could strike, he was thrown backward into the wall by a violent burst of wind. Regaining his footing, he turned to see a wind spirit, in the form of a bird, floating around Selena. Her energy had increased astronomically.

"Well, isn't that just freaking great, a wind spirit?" Vincent joked as if nothing had happened. "Shouldn't you annoying bastards be hiding somewhere deep inside your Mother Nature?" His remarks angered the wind spirit.

Vincent, no longer adopting his leisurely attitude, attacked relentlessly with tremendous force. Each of his strikes was infused with his mana, disrupting the flow of Selena's wind magic.

As they continued their relentless assault, moving through multiple rooms and destroying them in the process, they noticed that none of their attacks were landing on their opponent.

With time pressing down on him, Vincent was compelled to conclude the battle swiftly. "Fucking hell, it seems I have no choice but to use his power," Vincent grumbled in disdain. Drawing upon the strength bestowed upon him by his master, his power surged unexpectedly, catching Selena and her wind spirit off guard by its sudden ascent.

Primordial flame*

He then unleashed a torrent of fire magic, obliterating everything in his path. When the dust settled and Selena was nowhere to be seen, he vanished using the flames, reappearing in the academy's backyard.

"Is the portal ready?" Vincent's voice resonated with a demonic timbre, his aura suffocating even to his underlings. "Yes, sir, it's ready," his underling replied in a low-pitched voice. "Open the portal and depart with our target," Vincent bellowed in anger.

To those who had served him before, his actions seemed uncharacteristic. "But, sir, some of our people aren't here yet," one of his men dared to speak, only to be swiftly severed into multiple pieces by Vincent's wire.

"Does anyone else have something to say?" Vincent's tone was chillingly calm as he surveyed the silenced crowd around him. “Good, then open the portal, and let’s move” his command was clear.

Opening the portal, Vincent’s goon walks through. Vincent before leaving with them used his wire to completely bring down the upper half of the building in an attempt to cover their track.

As he strode towards the portal, Vincent sensed that his demonic form was beginning to wane. Suddenly, an attack came from behind, but he effortlessly halted it and turned to face Selena, her weakened form drenched in blood.

"Annoying insect," he hissed, unleashing a potent fire spell intended to end Selena's life. Yet, at the critical moment, Rowan intervened, wielding his blade. Unable to destroy the attack or halt its advance, he swiftly redirected it upward into the air with a deft maneuver, sparing Selena from certain death.

"Oh? An intriguing insect has appeared," Vincent remarked, his gaze shifting to Rowan with a hint of fascination. However, a drop of blood fell to the ground, originating from Vincent's nose.

His hand gingerly touched his bleeding nose "This vessel has reached its limit," he declared. His unwilling eye then turned to Rowan, who had fallen to his knees before Selena, spitting out a mouthful of blood.

"Soon, this world will kneel to me," Vincent murmured to himself with a satisfied smile. Without further distraction, Vincent strode through the portal before it sealed shut, leaving the Academy in ruins behind him.