OLD-WORLD EXTRA

***

[Where's Maharajah? He's not replying.]

Phoenix asked on the comms as she ran through a trembling tunnel.

Her eyes were fixed on the road ahead, and her feet were following a path laid out for her.

Unlike usual, she wore her augmented suit in its default look, not needing to be in her best form to face the Templars.

Besides, she didn't want the students tripping over themselves.

While they were considered adults at that age-thanks to factors like increased maturity, intelligence, and the shorter average lifespan of an Earthener-she still saw them as teens, their hormones often spiraling out of control.

[He's likely reached Elijah's cohort by now. His opponent could be giving him some trouble.]

She raised a brow at Aquila's response.

[Nah. Those Templar Deacons are too weak, no way he's struggling.]

A chuckle echoed in her mind.

[Who said it's just Deacons? Or only Templar soldiers, for that matter? But enough of that; we've only got ten cohorts left, so let's pick up the pace.]

Aquila commanded while checking the coordinates of the closest cohort near him.

Once he locked on to them, he added:

[Any of you see Emir yet?]

In response, all eight hunter-group leaders had scoffed in some way or another.

This question seemed to be frequently asked if one judged their reactions.

[I'm telling you, that punk definitely went straight for their base!]

[Haha! Exactly, fuckers like us always pull up to the factory!]

The fighting maniacs, Kremlin and Iron Reich, joined the conversation, loud as always.

They were currently in the middle of combat, Kremlin, a Brawler, smashing through the soldiers with his fists, while Iron Reich, an Arcanist, fired a minigun, tens of enchantments engraved on it.

Students ran away behind them, rushing towards the ruin's exit.

[I wouldn't put it past him...]

Red Dragon agreed, lifting a few pieces of rubble that trapped a student beneath and tossing them aside.

[And stop being too loud, German humor is no laughing matter.]

Lionheart chimed in:

[They're right though. Judging from the types of injuries I'm seeing, there are just too many of them. It's like they have a factory producing knockoff Celestials, even the highest-ranked Awakened are subpar.]

Despite the chaos around him, his tone was calm, almost indifferent.

He, unlike the other nine, remained at the entrance, healing the injured alongside those from the Academy and Second Life.

[And about Emir, if he's not at their base yet, which I doubt, he's on the way now, clearing everything out. Either way, you guys better be ready for whoever's left that sneak down here. They'll join those at the exit soon enough.]

A creepy laugh resounded.

[Heh... He always does like to make an entrance, doesn't he?] ƒгeewebnovёl.com

Shinobi's voice was low as his scythe sliced through the air.

He was unseen among the ruins, only appearing to signal the arrival of death.

His Shinobi Shozoku allowed him to blend in seamlessly, leaving only heads and blood in his wake.

[But it's always the quiet ones like his little pale friend that you need to watch out for.]

Southern Cross joined in next, his voice gruff:

[Quiet or not, I'd rather see him in action than just hear about it... Fuck! I've seen one ability, and that was it.]

He wiped blood off his long sword with the back of his hand.

The muscles under his dirty brown hair tensed as he tightened his grip on the hilt.

[I WANNA FIGHT THE BASTARD SO BADDDD!]

Ignoring what appeared to be a usual occurrence, Kalahari muttered, her tone dismissive:

[This waiting around; it's not my style. Let's hope he's as good as he looks, or else we're all screwed.]

The South African woman was a Shadow Binder through and through, moving with grace that belied her deadly nature, matching Lyra in skill.

[But if he tries to take all the glory, we'll have words. He won't get away with it just because he's a little handsome~.]

She wielded the shadows at all times, never advancing into a place where none were present. Phoenix, who had been uncharacteristically silent for a while, finally spoke up again: [Alright, alright, enough talking; I just asked something simple, geez.]

[Agreed.]

Aquila affirmed.

[Shut the fuck up and move.]

They did just as he asked.

His words were harsh, but they didn't mind.

He was their leader, and he could say his commands how he liked.

Soon, the outer underground tunnels echoed with the sounds of battle.

Dust filled the air, making it hard to breathe while lights flickered on and off, casting long shadows on the cracked walls.

Gunshots constantly rang out alongside Aether Core implosions.

Anomalies formed all over the place, destroying much of the ruin.

The trembling ground increased in fervor, now rumbling.

Many students screamed for their lives and hid away in random corners near the exit.

Yet, most stood their ground and fought.

This was a testament to Emir's effectiveness as a professor.

It was unfortunate that some chose to rot away instead of fighting, but he didn't expect that

every promising student would rise to the occasion when the time came to shove.

The mind was difficult to change after all.

Still, the outcome was better than he had previously anticipated.

Though his methods were questionable, the results spoke for themselves.

No one would dare question him after this... if they survived, that is.

Regardless, with no one to rely on but themselves, the students were forced to act, and in that

challenge, they succeeded.

The several first-year professors who monitored their dive had left them early on.

They couldn't afford to help them.

Other battles took precedence, much deeper inside the ruin.

It was a war.

One that simultaneously unfolded on multiple fronts.

They were up against Templar, Liberation Army dregs, Constructs, and Monsters.

While they certainly had the stronger force, they were greatly outnumbered.

But the Academy showed no major signs of defeat.

In fact, they had gotten closer to their goal of saving most of the students.

Unfortunately, however, it wasn't all sunshine and rainbows.

Good news usually came with something else that was a bit more sour.

Amidst the chaos, Phoenix was just done rescuing another cohort.

She sprinted ahead of them, their boots pounding against the broken floor as they went in

opposite directions.

Her black hair was tied back, and sweat dripped down her forehead, a clear sign that her

repeated Holy Relic use was taking its toll.

[How are you holding up?]

Aquila's words crackled through her mind.

She glanced at a small radar on her HUD and quickly replied:

[Alive, and a minute away from reaching the next cohort!]

[Great. We're almost done on our end.]

His voice was calm, but the strain was clear.

Not because he was exhausted, but because of failure.

There weren't any major defeats, true, but that didn't mean jackshit.

"Fucking rats!"

He stabbed his assault rifle forward, a long bayonet at the end of the barrel tearing through a

soldier's throat.

Blood splattered, and he kicked the soldier away, dropping him to the ground next to multiple

dead bodies with similar-looking injuries.

Aquila was saving his ammo as much as possible, using his gun as a melee weapon.

It was the best in the market, an HA415. Completely customized, with a short-stroke gas piston system, a full-length Picatinny rail on

top for an integrated digital optic, a collapsible stock, embedded LED indicators for ammo status, and a robust handguard with multiple accessory rails.

The man had certainly paid a pretty penny for it, and thankfully for him, it paid off.

Beside him, Professor Lang summoned an Aetheric Bulwark, shielding three frightened

students as they made their escape.

He stayed on the ground, performing chest compressions on a male student, even though he felt no heartbeat beneath his hands.

Lang repeated that motion for what felt like hours, silently begging for a miracle. For him to

come back to life.

But as Aquila fired his gun, taking out more soldiers, the student's heart remained still,

lifeless.

Right... a student had died. And he wasn't the first.

Two more had fallen before him-both girls.

The bullied one and her friend, the one who had stood up for her, the one who questioned

Emir about bravery.

It appeared that they had been left behind by their cohort.

Signs of battle littered the scene, evidence of their struggle. They had fought valiantly, but against a Deacon from Templar, their efforts were futile.

Though the HG leaders dismissed them as knockoffs, they were still Paladins and Knights.

The difference in sub-rank was more than those poor girls could handle.

After all, they were the same rank as Quinn-Elite.

They were burned alive.

Ironically enough, Iron Reich had found them.

He and Kremlin were now fighting side by side at the end of Aquila's tunnel, clearing a path

through the chaos.

Kremlin's fists shot out bright blasts of ice-cold Aether, each punch taking down multiple

enemies.

Meanwhile, Iron Reich's enchanted minigun roared, bullets flying in all directions, indiscriminately tearing through foes.

Those two did not care whether students had died or not; they were simply enjoying

themselves.

"Haha! These guys just keep coming!"

"Let's make sure they regret it!"