"You bastard," Michael snarled.

"Don't look so surprised now, Michael. These things were coming a long time ago," Rudy said.

Raymond stayed back as he actively applied ice to Therese's wounds, stopping the bleeding. She was currently in shock, as she had never experienced such severe injuries before.

"Shut the fuck up," Michael said as he blitzed forward.

Rudy's eyes widened as he barely avoided the first slash; it's tip-nicking his ear as it bled without stop.

"Son of a bitch!" Rudy roared as he slammed his foot down, where a surge of flames burst, forcing Michael to back away.

However, Michael wasn't having it, as he slashed multiple times, sending blood waves at the man. But his eyes widened as he felt a presence rapidly approach him.

Reacting fast, he turned around as he blocked the claws of the white saint abomination earlier, throwing him back.

Rising up, he grunted as he spoke.

"Hyper flow."

Michael's blood began to flow at a speed quintuple of that of an awakened person, giving him a boost in strength and speed as he lunged forward.

Rudy smirked as he went behind the beast, forcing Michael to change targets as he crossed blades with the creature.

"You fucking coward!" Michael roared as he chanted.

"Burning blood!"

Without warning, the blood on his blade ignited in flames, burning the saint beast as it broke the stalemate.

"Flames, huh?!" Rudy said as he inhaled and spewed flames at Michael.

Michael's eyes widened as he extended his arm, forming a blood barrier that took the blunt of the force. Unfortunately, he cannot simply dodge, as Therese and Raymond would get hit.

Clenching his jaw, Michael's arms trembled under the impact of the flames. Slowly, he can feel the blood boil, and as it does, the more painful it becomes.

However, his visage paled as the white Abomination charged forward, shattering the shield and sending him back.

As his defence fell, the surge of flames began to swarm them, engulfing everything in its path.

Raymond watched as the flames inched closer and closer. He knew that if he took off his hands, Therese would die of blood lost and poison in her veins; it was unlike everything he's seen. Stopping now would allow it to flow once more, and saving her would be a far-fetched dream.

Seeing the flames go closer and closer, Raymond shot a look at Therese for the last time as he closed his eyes, his hand retreating when Michael spoke.

"Don't take your hands off."

Raymond's eyes widened as Michael's figure jumped before them and the flames, fully tanking the heat and the burning inferno with his bare body barely coated in blood.

When the flames had died and the smoke had ceased, Michael stood there, his body trembling as his skin had gone black, charred, and completely burned, along with the foul stench of flesh being cooked.

A wide smirk made its way to Rudy's face as he watched the state of the man. However, his smirk vanished quickly as Michael's eyes stared directly at him.

Although vague, Michael could feel more saint-ranked Abominations coming his way. If they stay here any longer, Raymond and Therese will die.

Shifting his gaze at them, Michael could understand the anger they felt towards him. He was there when the students were on a mission, and yet he couldn't save them. Even now, he resents himself for that weakness. But now... He has a chance.

"Go, run away," Michael said.

Raymond's eyes shot at Michael. "What the fuck are you talking about?!"

"I said, run," Michael repeated as he slowly raised his shaking arm.

"Wha... Don't act like a fucking hero! Now's not the time! If we're going, everyone is going!" Raymond roared. A rather unique expression, considering his cold personality.

"Nah, not this time," Michael said as he looked into Raymond's eyes.

Seeing his gaze, Raymond gritted his teeth as he nodded. He understood that there was no other choice now.

Without uttering another word, Raymond carried the unconscious girl in his arms as he carefully dashed away, ensuring the poison and bleeding were kept at bay.

Looking back for the final time, Raymond saw Michael's figure stand before the enemy, unyielding as he pulled out a spike made of blood.

A small smile made its way to Michael's face, as he could faintly hear the voices of his students before. So close. Just one more step.

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"Rudy, eat this, you fucking shit," Michael said as he slammed the spike in his chest.

"Crescendo."

Rudy's eyes widened as his face paled.

"NO—"

BOOM.

An ear-shattering explosion erupted in the area as Michael's body burst into an explosion of great magnitude, sending shockwaves that ripped the houses and the surrounding earth without mercy.

Looking at the size of the crimson eruption, Raymond clenched his jaw. They were still too close. It would still reach them. Disregarding his safety, he covered Therese.

"Argh, fuck!" Raymond cursed as he halted his steps to brace for the impact when a figure overshadowed them.

Due to the sheer power of the explosion, he couldn't see the man at first, but as it died down, the man spoke.

"I'm sorry I couldn't make it in time."

As the dust settled, Icarius's figure was revealed, his expression solemn. He could have arrived much earlier, but he took care of some matters first. When he arrived, he felt the presence of multiple Saint-ranked Abominations, so he went in and killed them. When he felt the buildup of power earlier, it was too late.

"Go. Leave this place to me," Icarius said.

Raymond nodded as he swallowed. Rising to his feet, he carefully carried Therese along with her severed limbs.

As the dense dust cloud finally let go, revealing the large crater left behind by Michael's sacrifice, Icarius clenched his jaw.

Raising his hand where a remnant lay, he spoke, his voice travelling to the ears of all the people present in Tera.

"People of Tera... Oliver Herax and Bloodborne Michael have fallen."

Everyone halted their steps as the announcement echoed in the air, reverberating without stopping.

"The headmaster is... dead?" A school staff member muttered, his face pale.

Lilith and the rest of the Nightwalkers felt their hearts drop, a sharp ache carving through them. Their leader was dead. He was gone.

The other students felt their bodies tremble. The headmaster was dead, as was a family leader. The very people they deemed strong were gone. Who is going to stop the monsters now?

Gritting his teeth, Icarius resumed his message. "To all listening, hear my call; finish what they wish; get the people to safety; honour them."

Raegan swallowed as he felt tears crawl at the edges of his eyes. Yet he remained strong as he bit his lip.

The other teachers and students gathered their courage as they resumed the flow of the evacuation, disregarding the fear, pain, and anger they felt. What Icarius said was the truth: they had to get the people to safety first. There will be a time to mourn.

"MOVE!" Lilith screamed as the Nightwalkers went back to work.

Meanwhile, Samael broke free from his and Azerel's stalemate as he listened to Icarius's voice, his eyes wide in disbelief. On the other hand, Azerel erupted into a wide, fanatic smirk.

"So he managed to do it," Azerel said, luring Samael's attention.

Looking at the man, Samael felt his stomach churn and his blood boil. His vision darkened, and his rationality slowly slipped away.

Yet again, the ministry took something of great importance from him.

Like a dam bursting open, Samael's killing intent burst forth, engulfing the entire place within seconds.

Feeling this, Azerel's smile widened even further.

"What strong blood lust!" He screamed as he felt his blood begin to rush.

However, contrary to his expectations, Samael remained calm even in his rage. He did not lash out like a mindless beast.

Tightening his grip on Crimson Raven, Samael barely held on to his rationality. He was angry—too angry. But he has learnt many times that his emotions cannot get ahead of him.

Looking at Azerel with fury burning in his pupils, Samael spoke.

"I'll kill you now."

***

Lowering the remnant, Icarius shifted his gaze forward. He could feel it—the stream of Saint-ranked Abominations emerging from the portals.

With each passing minute, the beasts exiting the gaps are becoming stronger. Soon there will be foes far more formidable swarming out. It has to end now. But how? How are the portals appearing inside the city?

Looking ahead, Icarius extended his astral compass, covering every corner of the sanctuary. But his eyes widened when he felt something repel his senses. Something in the heart of the city.

"Found you," Icarius muttered as a pair of black and red gauntlets formed in his hand.

But to get there, he has to first take care of the pests coming his way.

Slamming his fists together, sparks of lightning coursed through his hands, appearing and disappearing without trace.

Soon, the earth trembled and the ground shook as the abominations neared. Some were already a few hundred meters from him.

"Too slow," Icarius muttered as he lowered his stance.

"Charged speed."

Upon mention, large streaks of lightning coursed through his legs, emitting a blue light that cast shadows around him. With one dash forward, his figure flashed ahead like thunder in the sky, ripping through the wind and shattering the sound barrier.

Within a second, Icarius closed the distance as he slammed his fist against an abomination that resembled that of a spider, shattering its skull to mush and ripping its flesh with lightning.

Standing straight, Icarius watched the creature fall down, leaving a massive gaping hole where he struck.

Not wasting time, Icarius's figure vanished once more as two more Abominations were. blown to smithereens, their flesh painting the earth.

Leaping high in the air, Icarius appeared before one of the large saint-ranked beasts as he spoke.

"Inu."

Throwing his fist ahead, a large concentration of lightning converged, taking the form of a massive dog as it crashed against the monster, completely frying and tearing its body to pieces.

However, Icarius wasn't done yet.

"Thunder tempo."

On cue, multiple streaks of lightning extended outward, lashing around like a whip, cutting and lacerating whatever it hit.

Floating in the air, Icarius raised his hand as he grabbed a lightning bolt in the sky before launching it towards another wave of Saint-ranked beasts.

"Thunder strike."

As the bolt of lightning struck the horde, an explosion larger than what Michael caused erupted, blowing away whatever it hit like nothing but dust.

The people and the students flinched as the blinding light cast shadows among them, luring their attention to the grand destruction.

As the light finally subsided, what was left was yet another massive crater. But to Icarius's surprise, he felt something lurking. An energy source.

Could it be fuelling the portals? He wondered as he advanced forward. But his march was soon halted as another earthquake struck the earth.

"What the..." Icarius's words were cut short as his eyes widened.

Looking towards the centre of the city, he cursed.

"Transcendent abominations. This soon?" He said as he prepared.

As he did, a winged beast jetted towards him as it spewed a bath of acid at him. In response, Icarius spoke.

"Steel wall."

From his hand, liquid metal flooded out as it hardened to form a giant metal wall. As the acid made contact, it merely ate through a couple centimetres off the shield before stopping.

Turning them to liquid again, Icarius formed two steel discs with sharp edges as he thew them like a boomerang.

Unable to react, the winged creature had its wings torn as it plummeted down, causing a large explosion as it got crushed under its own weight.

Looking at the horizon, Icarius sighed. It looks like this battle was going to be more troublesome than he predicted.