Chapter 94: "How Far to the Illusion Core?"
As he dispatched the swarming Illusion Erosion Bodies, black ash whipped through the air. Ludenberg shook it off and lifted his head to survey his surroundings. But there was nothing to gauge his position relative to the "center." No signs, no maps.
Ludenberg pondered. If I just keep pushing forward while clearing these Illusion Erosion Bodies, who knows when I'll find the Illusion Core. Wait... hold on.
He scanned the area and belatedly noticed a striking structure nearby. A tower piercing the sky like a spear.
A tower? It definitely wasn't there a moment ago.
He was certain he'd checked every inch as he walked, yet this tower had suddenly materialized in his view. Since this was an evaluation, it seemed they'd deliberately concealed prominent landmarks like this with Sacred Law Formations to prevent easy access to the Illusion Core.
Designed to reveal itself after a set time? Doesn't matter. Its appearance must mean I should climb it to spot the Illusion Core.
The tower was tall enough to overlook the entire old school building, so without hesitation, he sprinted toward it. There was no strict time limit, but another student might claim the core first, forcing him to hurry. Even so, he didn't neglect to eliminate every Illusion Erosion Body blocking his path—taking them down in numbers would boost his score significantly.
Upon reaching the tower's base, Illusion Erosion Bodies blanketed the ground. Easily dozens of them. As a direct vantage point for locating the Illusion Core, it was clearly designed to be a formidable approach.
Just low-rank ones anyway. No need to hesitate.
He'd clear them all for the points, then immediately pinpoint the core. A brutally straightforward plan, but for someone capable, brute force was often the most efficient.
Ludenberg had more than enough skill to punch through that horde. He kicked off and charged.
The doubled number of Illusion Erosion Bodies mutated the instant they detected him, borrowing forms from their past victims and prey. But it was all futile.
Crunch.
The moment one mutated and fixed its gaze on him, Ludenberg's blade pierced its heart. Ignoring the scattering black ash, he barreled straight through the pack at full speed.
Grotesque shapes lunged to greet him, but they all ended as black ash. No matter their form or armored hides, it made no difference.
Crack!
Having confronted and surpassed his own limits, Ludenberg's advance was unstoppable. Everything in his path was sliced, shattered, or impaled in an instant. It wasn't limited to his sword—even mid-swing, he ripped out another beast's heart with his bare hand.
Their heartbeats echoed in his ears; crushing them was all it took. His senses tracked every incoming attack from all directions, dodging effortlessly while pulverizing cores.
By the time Ludenberg reached the tower's entrance, only black ash remained.
He ascended immediately. The tower was towering, filled with plenty of Illusion Erosion Bodies inside, but he slaughtered them on sight and summited in moments.
From the top, he scanned the old school building. The vast landscape unfolded before him, revealing two key details.
There were four towers total—not just this one. And the Illusion Core.
It sat at the center of a bizarrely warped spatial rift, roughly the size of a human torso.
Found it. That's the Illusion Core.
But that wasn't all.
Wait... that's a mid-rank Erosion Beast?
Guarding the core was a mid-rank Illusion Erosion Body, three times human size, patrolling like a sentinel.
The core isn't the real issue. No wonder they offer bonus points. And now I get the no-friendly-fire rule. For most students, even a mid-rank would be overwhelming.
The professors' intent was clear: take down the mid-rank with a group assault, then destroy the core.
But Ludenberg had no intention of following that script. Soloing a foe meant for a team would skyrocket his score.
No one had approached yet—others either hadn't spotted the towers or couldn't reach them.
Move before they find the core.
He descended and headed straight for it.
* * *
Philia Rosette was in a frenzy. Illusion Erosion Bodies were everywhere.
She knew her limits objectively: she could handle a few at once, but not hordes. Maximum three. Beyond that, she evaded, seeking safe paths toward the core.
She wasn't top-tier, but she wasn't dumb.
Once occupation ends, defense phase starts right away. I need to reach the core and link up with others. Dropping out now means zero defense points.
Rather than risk elimination chasing extra kills, better to conserve stamina for defense.
Having awakened Celioum's divine power, she could fly short distances, so she soared between buildings, avoiding detection ranges and picking off isolated stragglers for points.
Scanning from rooftops, she finally spotted an anomalous site amid the uniformity: a protruding rift with a torso-sized core in its midst.
There. The Illusion Core? Wait... a mid-rank Erosion Beast? Better wait for backup before rushing in.
Not just the mid-rank—the core's vicinity teemed with dozens more.
Can't solo this. Need at least a few others to break through.
Philia hunkered on the roof, watching for allies.
Soon, sounds of battling Erosion Bodies reached her. She turned and gaped.
What the hell?
A massacre. And amid it, Ludenberg.
Surrounded by endless foes without a flicker of concern, he swung his blade, turning them all to ash. Even to Philia, his strikes were chilling—leagues beyond her own swings.
Slice. Scrape. Crunch.
Flesh parting, hides tearing, hearts piercing. The cacophony formed a horrifying symphony.
Philia stared blankly, then realized: If I just sit here, defense phase will start without me. Then what?
Her face hardened. If Ludenberg smashed the core solo and triggered defense now, she'd be ejected immediately. A "defense" phase implied waves of Illusion Erosion Bodies. She'd last seconds against that.
No, can't let this happen! If defense starts before others arrive, I'm out!
She abandoned occupation points, unfurling Celioum wings to scout and rally students to the core. Only then could she score in defense.
* * *
Evelyn scanned the area. "What's going on? Where are all the Erosion Bodies? There were tons from the tower."
After start, she'd rallied scattered students, bypassed individual kills, and targeted a newly appeared tower for easy gains. From it, she'd spotted the core and was now leading a group toward it.
"Yeah, the core area was swarming..."
Another student agreed; Evelyn nodded. "Stay sharp anyway. Can't rule out ambushes."
"Got it!"
"Evelyn, look! Someone's flying over!"
"Huh? What?"
Evelyn looked up. A red-haired girl approached, as her teammate said.
"Who's that? Not Innocence rank. Anyone know her?"
"Abyss. Philia Rosette. Decent personality."
"Oh?"
Evelyn noted that. Still in means she's got some skill. Join up—every body counts now. Good personality means no drama.
Philia descended from a high roof, looking urgent. "Hey. Joining us?"
"Yeah—wait, no! We gotta hurry there now!"
"Why?"
"Ludenberg's wiping out everything near the core solo!"
"What?!"
Evelyn blinked in shock. "How?"
"I was waiting at the core for others, but he shows up, clears the pack, spots the mid-rank, and bolts. Hurry or we'll get nothing!"
"..."
Evelyn swept her gaze ahead, exasperated. No wonder the area was clear—it was already swept.
"Ha... haha."
"What now?"
"...Run."
"Huh?"
"If we don't hustle, he'll smash the core! For defense points, get to it fast!"
Evelyn led the group at full sprint.