Exam (6)
Meanwhile, the lamia assault on the assembly point grew fiercer by the moment. The sky brimmed with their shrill cries and bizarre gestures. On the ground, the rasping friction of serpentine lower bodies slithered from every direction.
“Professor Adria! Lamia are pouring in from the north!”
“Stay calm! Don't falter—reform the lines!”
Even amid the chaos and terror, Professor Adria stood unshaken. She thrust her sword high, directing the front lines with commanding precision. Her voice rang clear over the din of battle.
“Hold your positions!”
The instructors moved in perfect unison at her command. Sweat streaked their faces, tension etched in every line, but Adria's resolute presence planted a spark of hope in their hearts.
“There are too many!”
Yet the lamia numbers swelled endlessly. As if guided by an unseen hand, they eroded the assembly point's defenses with meticulous, calculated precision. Their movements held eerie consistency and purpose amid the frenzy.
This isn't just a raid, Adria muttered through gritted teeth, speaking as much to herself as anyone. Her eyes gleamed sharply. What she witnessed was no mere primal frenzy. Seizing the truth in an instant, she raised her voice higher.
“Something's commanding these lamia!”
The instructors and personnel shot her tense glances. Adria pressed on with fierce conviction.
“Their actions are too coordinated. Someone's controlling them. We can't just fight blindly—we have to find and break their chain of command!”
Her words steadied the wavering group, replacing doubt with grim resolve. They couldn't merely defend; they had to unearth the source of this onslaught.
What about the students...?
Worry for the students weighed heavy on her anxiety. Their own situation was dire enough—if the kids outside faced these lamia too, it would spell disaster.
“One step at a time!”
Adria steeled herself with a firm voice. Her eyes flashed cold steel, her sword slicing the air with menace. She plunged into the lamia throng, her blade reaping foes with ruthless efficiency. Each strike pierced vital points without hesitation.
“Nngh...!”
But the enemies seemed numberless. Mounting fatigue dragged at her limbs, her high-exertion style pushing her toward exhaustion.
“A human stronghold!”
“Are you their leader?”
The lamia surged like waves, forcing her back. Mocking jeers echoed around her. She fought to the last, teeth clenched, but their overwhelming numbers and ferocity wore her down.
“A gap!”
“Kuh!”
At last, a lamia blade pierced Adria's side. Not deep, but perilously close to fatal. Grimacing, she steadied her faltering body and raised her sword anew.
“Die!”
The lamia blade arced toward her eyes. In that breathless instant, a sharp whistle cut the air.
Thuk!
“Aaaagh!”
An arrow from nowhere shattered the attack. Adria glanced aside to see an elf with flowing silver hair sprinting forward, bow in hand. She shone like a beacon of hope amid the battlefield.
“You're... Melina, right?”
Adria recalled her name, noting the pointed ears. Melina's face mingled anxiety and determination.
“Yes. Are you alright?!”
Melina's eyes widened at the wound. Adria masked her pain with a wry smile.
“This is nothing. I've endured worse. But the students need to be somewhere safe first. The lamia are swarming this way.”
Her tone brooked no argument. But Melina shook her head firmly, stepping forward.
“No. I'll fight too. Even with reinforcements, we'll need every hand.”
Adria couldn't help a chuckle at the bold resolve. Pride and admiration warmed her grin.
“Alright then. I leave it to you. But don't push too hard—we adults will handle the rest.”
Adria clapped Melina's shoulder with a smile. In that moment, the air chilled sharply as new magic rippled outward.
Ching—ching—
Pure ice crystals targeted the approaching lamia.
“I hurried back because things looked messy—what's going on here?”
From the icy aura emerged a golden-haired woman, her clear blue eyes radiating intensity.
“Elisha!”
Melina's eyes lit up at the sight from afar. Rivals by nature, they were comrades now.
“Everyone!”
Another figure dashed in—a woman in maid attire. Her black dress remained pristine amid the chaos, her windswept hair baring fierce resolve.
“Eily! You're safe!”
“Yes! But what is all this? You have no idea how blocked the path was!”
Eily caught her breath, wiping dust from her face. Her eyes burned bright nonetheless. The lamia focus northward had let her reach the point at last.
“More importantly, has Master arrived?! What if something happened on the way?!”
Her voice trembled with worry. Adria soothed her.
“Arnold can handle himself. If we made it, so will he.”
“Still, a maid's instincts never lie!”
“Anyway, with uninvited guests piling up, I suppose I should join the party.”
Eily's concern lingered, but she gripped her sword steadily.
“Hey~!”
And another arrived—likely the last. Varis, clad in iron armor, panted as he ran up.
“Varis, you made it too?”
“Y-yeah... somehow. Professor, what the hell is going on?!”
“No idea. But something's directing these lamia. There's a leader out there somewhere.”
Adria stared into the distance, resolve hardening her gaze.
“Everyone, I know it's a lot to ask, but can you help? We need to find that leader. Convince it or take it down—end that, and the attack stops.”
They nodded, weapons firm in hand.
“Of course!”
“A bit overwhelming, but the other instructors are tied up holding this place.”
“I'll fight too.”
“If we don't stop them now, the damage will be worse. Together, then.”
Varis, Elisha, Melina, Eily. Talented souls from varied paths united. Adria, undaunted by her wound, readied for another charge.
“Alright, everyone... follow me!!”
With her battle cry, the five warriors pressed forward as one. Enemy roars closed in, but their eyes burned unyielding.
“Your Majesty, we've found what looks like a human outpost and launched the attack.”
Deep in the forest, far from the assembly point's clamor, a lamia bowed low with his report. His low, keen voice sliced the silence.
“Good work. Show those humans what we're made of.”
The lamia queen flicked her tail leisurely. Her eyes blazed with dominance as she surveyed her minions. Beside her lay a bound academy instructor, lips sealed tight. Dust and blood marred his face, but his eyes still smoldered defiance at her.
“Tch.”
He ground his teeth in fury. His blunder had led to this catastrophe—he silently berated himself. Yet his resolve bound him tighter than the ropes.
“You wouldn't talk, but we'd have found it anyway.”
The queen tapped her staff idly on the ground. Flames erupted briefly in response.
“If resistance drags on, I'll handle it myself.”