Chapter 64: The Fall of Imenia

Sirbert’s room, as he wrapped up his day, was peaceful.

A quiet interior.

The soft scratch-scratch of a pen nib gliding across paper echoed gently.

Sirbert’s hand moved steadily, maintaining a consistent rhythm.

He paused briefly, furrowing his brow slightly before continuing to write.

It was because of the exam tomorrow.

Since Assistant Professor Hoppen’s condition was suspicious and possibly abnormal, Sirbert was preparing for anything that might happen, even what Hoppen might have to do.

That was the kind of man Sirbert von Ernhem—Nam Tae-min—was.

He regarded planning and preparation as natural and enjoyed research and inquiry.

Once the exam tomorrow was over, he’d have to resolve the Airlights issue, whether by using Hoppen or devising another plan.

‘Airlights…’

The pen nib, moving diligently, suddenly stopped again.

Thinking of Airlights distracted his focus.

‘Why did that guy join Heuka…?’

By all indications, it was almost certain he was moving with Heuka.

‘For what purpose?’

For a top-tier ranker like Airlights, such a notorious affiliation was clearly poison.

Sirbert knew this better than anyone, which was why he had trusted him—or rather, her.

And yet, Airlights had aligned with Heuka. It was utterly incomprehensible.

“…Let’s focus on this first.”

Sirbert pulled himself back and turned to the documents.

He moved his pen tip again, filling out the paperwork.

The room grew quiet once more, the only sound the soft scratching of pen on paper spreading gently.

***

After a while, his movement came to a halt again.

His gaze remained fixed on the papers, his hand still gripping the pen, his expression frozen.

He wasn’t distracted by other thoughts, nor was he thinking of Airlights.

It was simply…

A wisp of black mist slid slowly past his eye.

An impossible phenomenon.

One that should never occur.

Sirbert sprang from his seat and turned around.

“…Huh.”

Through the large window, a chaotic scene was clearly visible.

Black smoke soaring high into the sky from all around the academy.

People endlessly emitting smoke through their eyes, noses, ears, and mouths beneath the vast dome of black haze enveloping the entire academy.

Others stood helplessly beside them.

Some were fleeing in panic.

The black mist thickened gradually.

Chaos erupted in an instant.

And Sirbert knew very well what this bizarre phenomenon signified.

“Heuka.”

The black mist—the symbol of Atawolf and Heuka—had appeared.

“This wasn’t part of the plan.”

Sirbert muttered as the black mist deepened behind him.

Through the crack in the door, the mist steadily began to take form.

“…I just don’t get it.”

Sirbert continued muttering while staring out the window.

“Why all of a sudden?”

Though variables among the top ten rankers had made predicting the future meaningless, this was an outrageously sudden attack.

Heuka’s uprising was supposed to happen years from now.

Inside the room, the black mist had already fully formed into human shapes, numbering over ten.

Yet, strangely, not a sound nor a sign was made.

“If it’s this scale, they planned it.”

Sirbert shook his head.

“I just don’t understand.”

‘Why did they suddenly appear now?’

‘What were they aiming for by attacking Imenia?’

That itself was puzzling, but the real question was different.

“To think you lot would come after me with just this.”

Turning slowly, Sirbert’s eyes fell upon about a dozen figures clad in black.

Each one was a cadre-level member of Heuka.

But…

“I don’t get it. I don’t.”

Their strength was hardly a threat to him.

Sirbert reached out his hand toward them.

And then.

[Skill – ‘Advanced Telekinesis’ activated.]

KWAANG—!

The dozen cadres dropped their heads to the floor simultaneously.

“I’ll bury you so deep you’ll never crawl out again.”

Amidst the swirling dust, Sirbert’s gaze flashed fiercely.

Master of Telekinesis, Sirbert von Ernhem.

***

A full professor at the academy who had built his reputation throughout the Empire.

Outside, he was called the Savior and the Hero—an immensely powerful figure as the first awakened.

KWAANG—!

Based on such renown, he had evolved his main skill, Telekinesis, to its highest advanced tier, possessing several complementary skills fitting his stature.

KWAANG—!

When Sirbert unleashed his Telekinesis with full intent, few dared approach him, crumbling before his power.

KWAANG—!

But now, after tens of minutes facing Heuka’s cadres, Sirbert’s appearance was far from composed.

His usually tidy hair was disheveled, and although minor, wounds marked his body.

An uncommon sight for Sirbert to engage so thoroughly in battle.

“Damn bastards…”

The relaxed expression from earlier was gone, replaced by a deeply furrowed frown.

The problem lay in their composition.

They had formed a group specifically designed to counter only Sirbert’s Telekinesis.

They had members with skills that could defend against Telekinesis.

Telekinesis was not all-powerful.

Those who raised their physical specs to the limit were hard to restrain, and there were powerful attacks that could break through a single point or carry immense weight that couldn’t be lifted.

Of course, Sirbert had various skills to counter these, but the enemy seemed fully aware, responding with ease.

Just like now.

KWAANG—!

Those who were blocked from below smashed the ceiling and surged upward.

Sirbert cast Telekinesis on himself and leapt out of his ruined room into the air.

His room was already so damaged that its shape was unrecognizable, and he intended to create distance in midair.

“Really went all out, huh.”

Clicking his tongue, Sirbert watched as his enemies, floating similarly in midair, pursued him without hesitation.

Heuka’s power—no, Atawolf’s power, to be precise.

Those altered by Atawolf, becoming the black mist itself.

Feeding on chaos, fear, and terror, growing ever stronger.

All of Heuka’s members wielded Atawolf’s black mist.

Sacrificing themselves to open passages, moving as mist, or absorbing damage beyond their limits for others.

And these cadres had not only the traits of the black mist but also the abilities they had in life.

That was what made them Heuka’s cadres.

“Stop chasing me, you leeches.”

Flapping his black cloak, Sirbert reached out his hand toward the ones flying freely through the air.

He once again manipulated Telekinesis to pressurize them, but…

“Damn.”

One of them waved a hand, effortlessly dispersing his Telekinesis.

And with a single ability, sent the entire group flying into the sky.

Sirbert tried pulling stones and debris from the ground to hurl at them, but this time a giant barrier appeared, blocking everything.

Not only that, hundreds of small, sharp needle-like spikes shot out widely from within that barrier.

Blocking all with Telekinesis would drain his mana excessively.

[Skill – Intermediate Iron Wall activated.]

[Skill – Intermediate Iron Wall activated.]

He had no choice but to use multiple mid-tier skills repeatedly to defend himself.

“Those bastards are aiming to exhaust my mana.”

There were attackers capable of wide-range skills.

They were truly optimized to fight Sirbert.

“Maybe leaping into the air was a mistake.”

[Skill – Intermediate Iron Wall activated.]

[Skill – Intermediate Iron Wall activated.]

He blocked the dense needle barrage again, regretting the move—but it was meaningless.

Even on the ground, it wouldn’t have made much difference.

How could he turn this situation around?

“Think… think.”

Support from others?

He lowered his head and looked down.

Through the thick mist came screams and the clashing sounds of various skills.

Different-colored auras flashed and vanished in an absolute mess.

It was utter chaos.

[Skill – Intermediate Iron Wall activated.]

[Skill – Intermediate Iron Wall activated.]

He couldn’t rely on the academy’s guards.

They simply weren’t strong enough.

External aid?

The black mist encircling the academy blocked it—no escape from inside or out.

At least, a powerful enough figure to break through that barrier would be necessary to consider it meaningful support, and such help was unlikely.

He couldn’t expect anything from the students either.

They were frogs in a well who hadn’t experienced real combat.

How many of them could stay calm and fully utilize their skills in such a crisis?

[Skill – Intermediate Iron Wall activated.]

“Fall back…! Everyone, gather behind me!”

Amidst the chaos, one stood out.

Alkmion, professor of the knight department, called the students with a booming voice.

Twice as tall and bulky compared to ordinary people, with an upper body resembling a tiger more than a human.

He had been famous in the past as the Beastman Knight, known for that unique skill.

“Ugh!”

But he was too old to sustain a battle like this.

Heuka attacked like ghosts from all directions.

They had no fear—only the goal to kill.

Moreover, there were even larger monsters, Ogres, attacking everywhere.

Dealing with those while protecting frightened students was nearly beyond his limits.

Most professors at the academy were like that.

Past their prime, strong in other eras and worlds, but now only their experience remained.

But this wasn’t the time to dwell on that.

“We need to regroup.”

Alkmion shouted desperately, fighting with all his might.

He and some other knight-origin professors, along with a few students who had regained composure, were putting up resistance.

But the monsters glimpsed through the black smoke far outnumbered them.

“Alkmion!”

The ground shook as monsters charged at them.

“Fall back!”

Sirbert descended rapidly and seized control of the area with the remaining power of his Telekinesis.

As he retreated, he lifted all monsters surrounding Alkmion and his group into the air with his mana.

“Professor Sirbert!”

Only then did Alkmion break into a faint smile on his tiger-like face.

Even with blood at the corner of his mouth, relief flooded him.

A reliable ally had arrived.

True to Alkmion’s hopes, Sirbert landed without hesitation and clenched his fist tightly.

[Skill – Advanced Telekinesis: Pressure activated.]

Monsters and Heuka forces erupting midair were compressed and crushed instantly.

Numerous students behind, as well as the barely holding professors, stared at Sirbert in awe.

Like watching a hero.

“Professor Sirbert! This is the first time I’ve seen you this disheveled! Still… ha ha ha! Now that you’re here, I feel at ease!”

Alkmion laughed heartily despite his wounds and blood around his mouth.

But the smile vanished in an instant.

“…What exactly are those things? What did they bring with them?”

His gaze fell upon the cadres in black following Sirbert.

Sirbert ran a hand through his hair and spoke briefly.

“They’re cadres. Each one’s abilities were tailored to counter me. So Heuka’s…”

“Hm…”

His voice trailed off unexpectedly.

Even if that was the truth, it was too difficult to say aloud.

“So… I ask you to take care of them.”

He meant to protect the academy and the students while Alkmion and the other knight professors engaged the cadres.

It was the best, most reasonable choice in this situation.

Sirbert’s power was effective against many weaker foes, but useless against these.

Depending on how one saw it, it sounded like asking someone to die in his place.

“Kuh…”

Alkmion laughed loudly.

“Ha ha ha ha! Is this the kind of request you hesitate over? That’s not like you!”

With a fist the size of Sirbert’s face clenched, Alkmion strode forward with his massive frame.

“I may be old, but I’m still a tiger.”

Behind him, the other professors naturally followed.

They were colleagues who had carried their burdens together for half a lifetime, after all.

“We can’t lose to these undead wraiths!”

Alkmion slammed off the ground and charged ahead.

Needles rained down thickly on him.

“Where do you think you’re going!”

Aura enveloping his body, Alkmion pierced through hundreds of needles.

His former knight companions closely followed, using him as a shield.

Sirbert subtly activated his Telekinesis to aid them, but it dispersed before reaching the cadres.

He gave up cleanly and glanced around.

Students fleeing had already crowded behind him.

Most eyes shone with fear, despair, and terror.

Reading this, Sirbert tidied his hair and smoothed his clothes as nonchalantly as possible.

He looked at the students calmly and said, “They grow stronger by feeding on fear and terror. So…”

Turning his body, he activated Telekinesis again.

[Skill – Advanced Telekinesis activated.]

Heuka and Ogre monsters pressing in all around suddenly rose into the air.

“Don’t be afraid.”

[Skill – Advanced Telekinesis: Pressure activated.]

The monsters were instantly crushed.

Those who had been impossible to fell by slashing or piercing skills now compressed with ease—a wondrous sight.

“Hold your ground calmly.”

Hope began to flicker in the students’ eyes.

Of course, they could only see Sirbert’s back, but it was hope nonetheless.

Despite his words, Sirbert’s face twisted in pain.

Compared to the endless enemy numbers, his mana was already below half.

How long could he last…

“It will end soon.”

He couldn’t guarantee it.

“Ughhh!”

***

The scream—or was it a shout?—snapped him back to reality.

“Those damned bastards! How dare they! How dare they!”

Alkmion’s desperate roar.

Around him lay the corpses of several professors who had been comrades.

‘How long has it been?’

‘An hour? Two?’

He had no time to count.

Despite conserving mana and fighting desperately, enemies still flooded in.

The range he could defend had shrunk, and on the opposite side, students barely held their ground in groups.

Naturally, casualties continued, due to their clumsiness and fear.

‘Is this the end?’

His remaining mana was almost gone.

Moments ago, he had nearly lost consciousness.

The symptoms of mana exhaustion had begun.

‘There’s no way the academy’s personnel can stop Heuka if they come all out.’

The worst organization and massive force that even the Empire couldn’t control.

Their strength had only waned because they’d been reined in for over a decade since their major clash with the Sword Saint.

But that meant they were only storing power.

For a handful of professors, guards, and students to hold back such force was absurd.

They had truly done their best.

“Ughhh!”

“P-Please spare me!”

Screams came from behind.

Fearful cries.

But there was nothing to be done.

‘I really did do my best.’

What else could he do here?

Without mana, he could do nothing but die pointlessly.

“I am… Ulfert Alkmion!”

Once a glorious knight, his last desperate roar.

He and his knights had held out for hours against the dozen cadres set to kill Sirbert.

“My name is on the line. I will take one of you as my companion in death!”

But now it was near the end.

His comrades, who had shared his glory, were already sprawled on the ground wide-eyed.

Only Alkmion remained standing.

So, there was truly no choice.

‘Logout…’

There was no other way.

Plan for the future… the days ahead.

“Come on! Come on, you ghosts! Don’t hide like cowards—face me one by one!”

Hundreds of needles pierced Alkmion’s body.

His left fist crushed.

“Ugh, ughhh!”

“Block him! Block him!”

“Professor…!”

The students screamed behind him.

“Use Logout Ticket (72 hours)?”

There really was no other option.

“Yes” “No”

He would logout, recover, gather the Korean guild members, and call every ranker to take revenge today.

“P-Please save me!”

“Please… please!”

Sirbert’s finger slowly moved toward ‘Yes’.

Slowly. Very slowly.

As if crushed by something.

Suddenly, his finger stopped.

Not because of the students’ screams or Alkmion’s blood-curdling cries.

Huh?

Because a light appeared overhead.

In the black mist-enshrouded sky, a sudden light emerged.

Sirbert’s gaze naturally rose to the sky and widened in shock.

“…What is that?”

A golden giant stood alone, gazing down at the ground.

A wondrous being that reduced mortal human wars to mere trivial scuffles.

Its enormous mouth slowly opened.

“I am the Great Magician.”

A low voice echoed powerfully through the black mist.

“Hio Pavlenko.”

All eyes on the ground turned to the sky.