Night of the Full Moon (4)
Atop the central tower of Shanellia Hall, which rose like a watchtower, the screen projected by Kyle's watch displayed Shion perched in one corner of the spire.
Setting aside the question of how he'd climbed up there in the first place, Serin Anette posed the fundamental one.
"What are you doing up there?"
Cadet records were stored in the watches, and with the ID known, communication was possible without restrictions. Right now, Shion's image—mid-call—was being broadcast live in real time. Serin Anette's voice reached him directly.
-Someone has to keep an eye on the battlefield. And we need to request reinforcements at the student council building.
"So you're volunteering for that role?"
Serin Anette's tone carried a hint of dissatisfaction. Shion had placed second in the entrance exam, after all. Kyle Ivanstair took first, but Shion was no pushover either. She understood him stepping up as a control tower, but given his performance in the exam, it meant losing a key asset.
-There's no one at Arsen with better eyesight than me. And I'm basically the only sniper left anyway.
At that moment, someone fidgeted in the corner of the hallway. It was Essili Silvergaden, bow slung openly over her back. She shot Shion a glare full of resentment through the screen, but no retort came back.
-I've pinpointed the source. Lara Steelhiden in Titania Hall—the ghost possessing her is the prime culprit.
"The prime culprit...?"
-It's complicated, but simply put, she's the boss.
-Shion! Another one's coming up beside you!
-Yeah, hold on a sec.
Bang!
Shion on the screen wasn't alone. Iri de Sugamond was with him.
-Anyway, we need to head to the next dorm over right away. We've cleared the third floor between us, but we'll have to punch through the second ourselves.
"...?"
They'd already handled the third floor? The casual delivery made her doubt her ears for a second.
-Oh, and at least four of you need to stay here.
"Pardon?"
-Ghosts keep popping up. If you leave it unchecked, who knows what'll happen. If they clump together into a mass of grudge spirits, it'll be a nightmare.
-So split into two teams. Four stay here to handle the first and second floors. Pick the ones with the most stamina.
"Split into two teams..."
Serin Anette touched her chin as Shion continued.
-Yeah. I've thought it over—Essili Silvergaden, Kyle Ivanstair, and Elin Beonard head to Titania Hall. The rest stay put.
Serin Anette glanced back. It was indeed the most efficient lineup, just as Shion said. Kyle Ivanstair and Elin Beonard were melee specialists. Add Essili Silvergaden's covering fire, and breaching Titania Hall would be straightforward. As the one who'd erected the ice walls, Serin Anette needed to oversee Shanellia Hall—and she could hold an entire floor solo. For stability, she should stay.
Counting heads, Serin Anette belatedly sensed something off.
"Hold on. You're aware one person's gone missing from our side, right?"
-Kai Alma? He's probably resting on the third floor. Bumped into him earlier—saved us some work.
...That guy who'd told them to do whatever and bailed?
-Anyway, I'll monitor from here. No need to head to the student council for the dorm supervisors. Leave that to me and breach the neighboring dorm ASAP.
-This is a time fight now. You've probably noticed too, Serin Anette—the longer it drags, the stronger the ghosts get.
-Soon they'll even wake the fainted cadets. Then we'll have no choice but to break bones to subdue them.
"Wait, hold on. We're fine here, but what about you?"
On the screen, Shion faced dozens of spirits. Glimpses of Iri fighting behind him flickered by.
-We're good. Two's enough here.
-We're not good! Something weird's coming from over there!
Different voices overlapped. But there was no easy way to send help. As Shion said, neutralizing the source fast was the best for them.
Serin Anette finally bowed her head reluctantly.
"...Understood."
-Don't take too long. Hurry.
Click.
The call ended on that note.
Kyle, who'd been resting, stretched and stood.
"You heard him? Let's follow Shion's plan for now. Doesn't look like there's a better option."
"......"
"......"
Kyle offered his hand amiably, but they rose grudgingly, taking it. Memories of Sion Illeionhart must've left quite the trauma. Intellectually, it made sense—but emotionally, following his lead chafed.
Whoosh!
No sooner had the call ended than a faint fireball streaked in. I countered it instantly with a magic bullet.
The flames fizzled under a barrage of opposing water bombs. Right now, I was learning the hard way just how crucial stat buffs were.
Facing these spirits was manageable only thanks to the Player correction from joining the main story. Bare-handed, it'd be far tougher.
And spirits made it worse—they ignored levels. Low, mid, even occasional high spirits swarmed the spire.
Small mercy: high spirits were intelligent and less prone to panic, so fewer in number. Still plenty threatening.
Low spirits' attacks? Iri could tank them bare. Mids onward demanded real damage.
Rumble!
The sky flashed. Lightning forked down like spiderwebs—straight at Iri de Sugamond, sword raised.
She became a lightning rod on the spot.
"Hot! Gaaah!"
I nullified it with a mana shot. More like blunted the shock with earth attribute, but damage was minimal.
"M-My hair... it's still there, right?"
"Still fine."
"Ugh..."
Static had her hair frizzing like a bomb, but intact. I wasn't much better—clinging to stat buffs and mana regen.
Firing mana-infused shots nonstop guzzled it. We couldn't hold forever.
No matter Iri's toughness, sustained hits would drop her eventually.
Kyle's team had to subdue Lara first. So I needed to clear their path to Titania Hall.
I scanned below with Telescopic Vision.
Kyle, Essili, and Elin darted through gaps in the shattered ice walls toward the next dorm. Titania Hall cadets clung like zombies—all possessed.
-Wh-What's this?! They're everywhere outside too!
-Quiet, Elin!
Banshees appeared whimsically anyway—but possessing Lara Steelhiden? Nightmare difficulty.
"Shion, I'm hitting my limit. Can't hold much longer."
"No, you can still go."
"Ughhh..."
I said she could—but it was a lie. Innate talents bloomed at death's door or utter limits.
Iri hadn't awakened hers yet. Like protagonist-buffed Kyle, she toughened with abuse.
This might even accelerate it. For her sake, push her into a corner more.
Spirits didn't oblige by targeting only her—I took hits too.
"Sorry, hold on a bit longer."
I raised my Glock.
High ground plus Telescopic Vision let me survey all of Arsen. And I had Sharp Shooter.
Ideal for a sniper.
Dorms sprawled below. Shanellia to Titania wasn't far—but swarming cadets blocked the way.
Click.
I aimed at the center. Channeling all spared mana into one shot.
Dizzying pain rattled my skull—mana depletion warning.
But backing off now meant death. To clear this event, I had to go all-out like the others.
Kyle's team struggled to break through. I pulled the trigger.
Bang!
Cannon-like roar echoed through the dorms. Muzzle flash squinted my eyes. Recoil numbed my wrist.
But the half-mana blast was monstrous. Wind pressure bowled over cadets in a line.
"Shion! Snap out of it!"
I nearly toppled too. Iri steadied my shoulder, snapping me back.
Vision spinning, I saw Kyle's team dash into Titania Hall.
"One down..."
First task—get them inside—done.
My Glock hand trembled. Another like that, and my wrist was toast.
...Sadly.
I had to abuse it once more.
"Iri."
"Yeah. Listening."
"If I look like I'm falling, grab me before I do."
"Uh, sure...?"
Squeezed out remaining mana, reloaded a magic bullet. This time, aimed skyward.
Post-trigger, I'd need a brace for weeks probably.
Whatever—solve the event first. Hellish difficulty meant delays could spawn grudge masses.
...!
Spirits reacted to the pistol's mana, even mindless lows. Moths to flame, they swarmed.
I hooked my finger first. Fire-attribute magic bullet—this one's prep for tonight.
No power—just flash. Perfect signal flare for Arsen.
Click.
As I squeezed—earth-shaking roar.
"Shion...!"
Iri gripped her hilt, shouting. I read lips only.
I knew. The black thing scaling the spire—a high spirit.
Too late to pivot. As it lunged, I fired.
Red beam streaked skyward—then
Boom!
Burst into massive fireworks. Visible across Arsen—dazzling climax to the opening act.
Arsen's sky, plummeting past, was breathtaking.