Helena’s eyes widened in disbelief as she watched Victor’s hands move at an impossible speed, spinning like a tyre!!
“How is that possible?” she mumbled to herself, her voice tinged with awe and confusion.
Ssssshhh
Sssssshhh
Sssssshhhh
The students, who had lined up as instructed, were being hurled out of the dome with such force and speed that they couldn’t even manage a scream. It was as if Victor was yanking weeds from a garden, each one disappearing into the night as soon as Victor’s hands made contact.
Aether, still lounging comfortably on Helena’s lap, observed the scene with an amused expression. ‘Not bad, I suppose…’ he thought, his eyes narrowing as he watched Victor grab each student by the neck and toss them out.
Why the neck?
Because Victor had short-circuited the spiders!!
In reality, what Aqualina or what Aether said to everyone… had explained was theoretically sound.
Intersecting two different energy signatures could indeed cause the spider to black out… but it would still function as if it had a triggering mechanism, potentially blowing their head….. So, yes, Aether had spun quite bullshit to everyone.
‘And these brainless fools believe it,’ Aether thought, an amused grin spreading across his face. He finally understood how Kennedy had managed to deceive so many.
In these worlds, where the focus was primarily on magic, so it’s rare that anyone pursues technology seriously. Not many believe in it enough to question it.
Aether’s gaze shifted to Helena, who was frantically trying to open and close the dome using the controller. She was focused, determined, and yet… helpless. To be honest, it was a futile effort… she really did not need to do it!!
He lied to her to keep her here!!
He lay comfortably on her lap, his body relaxed, his mind calculating. He waited… waited… waited… until only 25% of the students remained. Then, with a subtle nod, he signalled Victor to stop.
‘Now it’s time to deal with the elite class and the professors,’ Aether thought.
He couldn’t possibly reveal his heroic side to the heroine while other powerful characters were still in play, could he?
Victor’s hands abruptly ceased their spinning, and he landed on the ground with a heavy thud, his chest heaving as he struggled to catch his breath. Sweat dripped from his brow, his muscles trembling from the exertion.
“A-Are you okay?” one of the students asked softly, his voice tinged with worry….. But the concern wasn’t for Victor; it was a selfish fear for his own safety.
It was that same feeling of helpless frustration, like standing in a long line, just about to reach the front, only for the teller to announce that it was lunchtime.
The annoyance, the anxiety—it gnawed at him!!
Suddenly, Selene arrived from the fighting, She looked at Victor, then shifted her gaze to Helena, her eyes softening. “I’ll take care of it for you,” she offered, her voice gentle yet firm.
Helena shook her head, her lips parting in a faint smile. “It’s fine…” thankful that her friend trying to help her!
But Selene simply smiled back, her eyes briefly flickering toward Aether. Her lips twitched in barely concealed dark emotions….. She would definitely make him spoil her the next time they were alone!!
Definitely!!!
She pouted slightly, taking a deep breath to calm the storm within her. Her inner yandere was barely contained…. It’s working!
Then she turned her attention to the massive spider that Alaric and the Professor had captured for research… or perhaps for war.
Meanwhile,
“Are you ready now?” a boy asked, impatience etched on his face as he looked at Victor, who was still panting heavily.
“Come on, man! At least throw me out!” the boy demanded, frustration creeping into his voice. But when Victor remained indifferent, the boy’s bravado crumbled, and he began to plead. “P-Please, bro… I’m the only son in my family. Just throw me out, and I’ll visit you with my whole family to thank you.
Please, I’m begging you!”
Just then,
“KYAA!!!”
The boy’s pleas were abruptly cut off by a piercing scream.
He whipped around to see the source… The enormous red-black spider escaped from the robes and its razor-sharp legs were about to pierce Selene’s stomach when,
Sssssssshhhhhhh
Victor appeared in a blur. He reached Selene just in time, his powerful arms scooping her up and… tossing her outside.
Selene, a playful wink sent Aether’s way as she went out. He returned the wink with a sly smile of his own.
“Everyone, run!” the boy suddenly screamed, panic overtaking him as he saw the spider advancing toward them with deadly intent.
They all knew that even the professors had struggled against this creature—what chance did they stand?
“A-Aether!” Helena’s voice trembled as she tried to rouse him from his apparent slumber. But then,
The spider suddenly halted its advance, its razor-sharp legs retracting as it turned its attention to Kenley, who was bound and gagged nearby.
Tang, Tang…
The spider moved toward her with unsettling precision, its legs clicking against the ground. It scooped her up with ease and then, without a second glance, it bolted away into the darkness.
The students collectively exhaled a sigh of relief. They didn’t care what happened to Kenley…. she was just a traitor.
As long as they were safe, that’s all that mattered.
“No! I won’t let you go!” Victor roared, determination blazing in his eyes as he took off after the spider.
“W-Wait! Please throw me out before you go!” the boy cried, his voice cracking with desperation and fear.
Aether felt a pang of pity for the terrified boy, ‘Sorry, bro, but you guys are crucial for my deadly fucking plan,’ he thought, his mind already moving ahead as he telepathically reached out.
/Aria/
/… I will do it/
Her response came with slight hesitation.
Unlike Selene, Aria didn’t know the full details of Aether’s plan.
She only knew that Aether needed something from that monstrous creature and that her role involved taking out the elite-class students as well as the professors.
And since she believed/loved him too much, she didn’t ask many questions about ‘Things’ he wanted from the monster but she was worried about him fighting alone with the monster.
She really didn’t want him to fight that monster alone and…. yet with Aether’s gentle and reassuring voice, he managed to persuade her.
/You better come back to me!! Hmph!!/
/Of course… Haha./
Aether laughed inwardly, his heart warming at the sound of her worried, pouting voice. He could picture her perfectly…. cheeks puffed in adorable frustration, eyes filled with concern.
Moments later, Aria arrived at the stadium, then she stood before Helena.
Helena’s face twisted in horror when she saw the state Aria was in—bloodied, bruised, and battered—but before she could utter a word, Aria cut her off sharply. “We need to throw out the chosen ones before anyone else,” she ordered, her voice brooking no argument.
Hearing this, the remaining 25% of the students paled, their faces drained of colour as the reality of their situation sunk in.
Meanwhile,
Alaric and the other professors were barely holding on. They panted heavily, their bodies broken, most of their limbs torn to shreds. Alaric himself had lost his right hand, and he stared blankly as the Mechaflesh Arachnid chewed down on the severed limb, the sound of crunching bone sending chills down everyone’s spine.
Thalia and the others were in no better shape. Their bodies were battered, covered in blood, and they could barely move, each breath a struggle.
“T-This bastard!” Thalia hissed through gritted teeth, fury and helplessness warring within her. They were fighting without Arcane energy—of course, they were as weak as newborns!
She tried to move, her muscles screaming in protest, “Cough, Cough” but a fit of coughing overtook her, blood splattering the ground.
“O-Our bodies have reached their limits, guys,” Aqualina murmured, her voice faint and tinged with despair as her vision blurred from exhaustion.
And then,
“Hahaha… Look at you lot… the so-called chosen ones,” a mocking voice cut through the air.
They all turned to see Kenley, sitting atop the massive, razor-sharp spider that was now advancing toward them.
Their faces darkened with dread.
“Oh? You finally showed up, my cute little niece…” The Mechaflesh Arachnid’s voice was a grotesque rumble as it devoured the last of Alaric’s hand, its body twitching grotesquely before bulging, growing even more monstrous.
“And you’re as great as ever, my dear uncle!” Kenley shouted, her voice fractured, her teeth broken, yet filled with twisted joy. The enormous red-black spider crawled closer, and Kenley, perched atop it, folded her arms as she glared down at Alaric, “Kill every single one of them, Uncle!”
Everyone just braced themself for the confrontation…. But then,
“Victor?” Thalia whispered, her eyes widening as she saw Victor appear out of nowhere. Before she could even react,
Sssssshhhhhh!!
“First Out~”
Victor moved like lightning, grabbing Thalia’s and hurling her outside.
Kenley’s eyes narrowed, her voice rising in a shriek of frustration. “Kill them faster!!!” she commanded, her fury palpable.
Tang!!!
Sssssshhhhhh!!
“Second Out~”
The Monster’s limbs moved with deadly precision, aiming to impale Aqualina. But before it could reach her, Victor was there, throwing her… gently!
Kenley and the Monster stared in shock, their disbelief evident as Victor continued his relentless throwing. The Monster lashed out with every limb it had, stabbing and slashing at the others, but,
Tang!!!
Sssssshhhhhh!!
“Out~”
Tang!!!
Sssssshhhhhh!!
“Out~”
Tang!!!
Sssssshhhhhh!!
“Out~”
Tang!!!
…
…
One by one, every single person was thrown out.
“What the hell are you doing?!” Alaric roared, catching Victor’s hand just as he was about to reach him. Alaric’s eyes were wide with surprise—he couldn’t believe Victor was even throwing the other professors out.
“Saving your ass, I suppose,” Victor retorted, his tone laced with sarcasm as he swatted Alaric’s hand away.
“I don’t need you to save me, brat! Just save those students, and I’ll take care of—PUFFFF!!!”
Before Alaric could finish his arrogant declaration, Snowflake, with a fierce hiss, returned to her size, twisted her massive body and slammed her powerful tail into Alaric’s stomach, sending him flying.
“HISSSSSSsssss~”
Snowflake hissed menacingly, her eyes locked onto the Mechaflesh Arachnid, her muscles coiled, ready to strike.
The Monster and Kenley blinked in stunned silence, processing what had just happened. And then, as the reality of the situation sunk in, Kenley’s face contorted with rage.
“VVVVVVIIIIICCCCCTTTTOOORRRRRRR!!!!”
“Hehe….”