Come forth, Behemoth.
The ground upheaved, revealing the massive form of the creature, Behemoth, vastly different from the smaller one Rudy once summoned.
As Behemoth rose, the skeletons that had stood upon the ground crumbled and were flung away.
Others were crushed under its massive feet.
With just its emergence, hundreds of skeletons were shattered.
Robert chuckled, saying,
"You shouldn't use necromancy like this."
Necromancy wasn't meant to be used so carelessly.
While one could argue that having the power to conjure such an army at will was incredible, it wasn't that simple.
While necromancy can instantly create an army, it requires proper preparation to be effective.
These hastily created skeletons were so fragile that even an ordinary person could shatter them.
To craft formidable skeletons, one needed to hand-pick corpses and bones, then imbue them with magic or treat them with special potions.
Since these skeletons skipped this process, they collapsed very easily.
The man with the dark circles under his eyes observed for a moment before channeling his mana.
"Bone Spear."
Suddenly, the nearby skeletons transformed into spears made of bone, flying rapidly towards Behemoth.
Thud!
"Rooooaar...!"
Dozens of these spears lodged themselves into Behemoth, making it cry out in pain.
The opponent, having momentarily stopped Behemoth with the spears, channeled mana to the ground once more.
"Undead Rise, Lich."
A skeletal hand suddenly sprouted from the ground.
"While preparation is important for necromancy, skillfully summoning the right undead from available corpses on a battlefield is a talent in itself."
Beside him, a skeleton slowly rose, its eyes glowing a sinister red.
"Undead Rise, Death Knight."
He cast another spell, and beside the newly risen Lich appeared a skeleton clad in old armor, wielding a sword.
The aura surrounding this undead felt unnaturally ominous.
Robert then realized what the man meant.
The Academy was ancient, housing the remains of numerous talents from times past.
It wouldn't be surprising to find powerful remains buried here.
If anything, the academy was more likely to have the remains of these gifted beings than ordinary corpses.
Robert glanced momentarily at Luna standing behind him.
Luna, assessing the situation, began to pull out a spellbook from her bag.
But as she attempted to open the spellbook, Robert held it shut.
"Eh?"
Luna looked at Robert in confusion.
"I'll pave the way. You should join the other professors."
"But I can help fight..."
Robert shook his head.
"Do as I tell you."
Something felt off.
The spellbook Luna uses belongs to Levian.
The period when he was expelled for using necromancy, the period when those handling necromancy in Ephomos were massacred, and finally, the period when Levians spellbook came into existence.
Was all of this just a coincidence?
To Robert, it seemed like the dots were connecting.
Of course, it might not be the case, but Robert felt there was no particular need to show that man Levians spellbook.
"Behemoth."
"Pwoooh."
Then, Behemoth began to move.
Using its large trunk, it swiped away the skeletons before it.
It also targeted the Lich and Death Knight ahead.
Hmm.
The Death Knight, holding the man, leaped upwards.
Thanks to that, he was able to avoid Behemoth's attack, but numerous skeletons were swept away.
"Go."
Robert ordered Luna.
Overwhelmed by Robert's aura, Luna nodded,
"Okay."
And she ran along the path that Behemoth had cleared.
The man stared intently at the retreating Luna.
"Are you sure you want to let her go alone like that?"
Robert felt slightly uneasy.
He wasn't sure how many enemies were out there, but if Luna encountered another while fleeing, she would undoubtedly be in danger.
Still, he had instructed her to flee because he believed in Luna to an extent.
Robert moved his mana with a slight smile.
"How about you worry about not dying yourself?"
Should I summon Mephisto?
The demon he summoned during the last fight with Oliver, Mephistopheles.
It was the demon Robert handled best and was the most powerful.
However, summoning it now wasn't a good idea.
He didnt know how many enemies there were.
Given the large sword strike and the explosion of Cromwells magic earlier, the leader of the rebels had also arrived.
It was necessary to pace his mana properly.
"What's your name?"
Robert asked the man before him.
"Daemon."
Robert looked at him with slight surprise.
He had expected a rebel to hide their identity, but Daemon had responded openly.
He might be someone who didnt care about such things.
"Well, now that introductions are out of the way."
Robert raised his hand to the sky.
"Let's have a proper fight this time."
Then, a large magic circle was drawn in the sky.
"Giant of Gluttony, Nephilim, show yourself."
Then the magic circle turned black, and a massive foot began to emerge from within.
A giant.
The giant that consumes everything, Nephilim.
While it was quite weak when facing fewer enemies but it showed tremendous power against larger numbers like a horde of skeletons.
With a smirk, Robert commanded,
"Devour everything."
"Uooooh."
Nephilim began grabbing and swallowing the skeletons on the ground.
And swallowed them.
A giant that becomes stronger as it consumes its enemies.
That was Nephilim.
Ugh
At the main entrance of Liberion Academy.
Two girls were quickly making their way through: Rie and Yuni.
They were on their way back from having tea outside the academy.
However, as soon as they arrived at the academy, it started to become chaotic, and large explosions occurred around them.
Yuni was particularly in high spirits today.
Whether in the royal palace or at the academy, there were hardly any moments she spent with Rie.
Because Rie disliked her.
Even if Yuni occasionally saw Rie, there was no real time spent together.
Whenever Yuni suggested having tea, Rie would decline.
Whenever their eyes met, Rie made it blatantly clear that she disliked her.
But today was definitely a good day.
She went outside the academy, had tea with Rie, and now...
Hold on tight, Yuni.
Rie firmly grasped Yunis hand, leading her forward.
Isnt this rather nice?
Yuni felt like she had returned to her childhood.
The days when Rie would hold her hand, hiding in the royal garden, came flooding back.
Looking ahead, Rie asked,
Sylph, what's ahead?
A green-tinted hawk, Sylph, appeared in response.
There's a man holding a large sword. He's not from the academy.
Rie frowned at this.
Can we sneak past him?
"Im not sure. I don't know to what extent he can sense our presence.
Rie nodded at Sylph's words.
Alright. If there's anyone in the main building who can help, call them. If not in the main building, then anywhere else."
Understood.
With that, Sylph vanished like a wisp of smoke.
A man with a large sword... a swordsman...
Rie pondered, her hand on her chin.
Typically, men wielding large swords were swordsmen.
Of course, there was Borval, who carried a massive axe but was a wizard.
However, he was an exceptional case.
What's he doing there?
With a serious expression, Rie peeked out from the bushes near the academys entrance.
Currently, both Yuni and Rie were hiding in these bushes.
The mysterious man stood in the pathway leading from the bushes to the main building.
Turning her head, Rie looked at Yuni.
When their eyes met, Yuni tilted her head with a slight smile.
Sigh... Aren't you worried at all?
Yuni shrugged, replying,
Why should I? I'm safe with you, arent I? Hiding here seems safest. The professors will surely protect the others.
At Yuni's words, Rie sighed.
Indeed, staying hidden here might be the safest until the situation is resolved.
Still, the mans actions up ahead were unsettling.
That man wasnt there from the start.
As Rie and Yuni were fleeing, he suddenly descended from the sky.
Upon landing, he surveyed the area before gradually walking towards the main building of Liberion Academy.
"What is he up to?"
Upon reaching a certain distance from the building, he unsheathed his sword, positioning himself to strike the structure horizontally.
"He intends to cut the building?"
Rie furrowed her brows.
Sure, an ordinary building might be cut, but not here, not at Liberion Academy.
Particularly that main building, which housed countless magical and alchemical tools.
It was like a powder keg.
As a result, dozens of protective spells blanketed the building.
If it were destroyed, the surroundings would be devastated, a fact well-known to the academy's officials who had placed those protections.
"It feels somewhat ominous, doesnt it?"
But, theres no way that man didnt know this fact.
He, after all, had infiltrated the academy.
And yet, he was making this attempt.
A dark aura swirled around his greatsword, steadily intensifying.
"Ha...!
The man was serious.
He was genuinely aiming to cut down the building, especially at a moment when the professors were busy evacuating the students.
Turning her head, Rie noticed Yuni, huddled beside her.
Gently grabbing Yuni's shoulders, she instructed,
"Yuni, no matter what, stay here and don't come out."
Yuni's eyes widened in response.
Looking at Yuni, Rie spoke once more.
"Promise me, you absolutely cannot come out."
Being a mere first-year, Yuni hadn't even learned intermediate magic yet.
The responsibility fell solely on Rie.
A brief distraction was all she needed, just enough to alert the professors of the intruder's presence.
Once the professors arrived, they would handle the situation.
She had already sent a Sylph, so a professor was bound to arrive soon.
She just needed to hold on for a little longer.
As Rie was about to make her move, Yuni suddenly grabbed her wrist.
"Don't go. It's too dangerous. Please, just wait with me here."
Usually, Yuni was always composed, even during sudden peculiar events.
But now, she seemed genuinely distressed, desperately trying to stop Rie.
But she couldn't just stand by.
If the man managed to slice through the building, the consequences would be dire.
Even if the professors survive, the students around them...
Rie thought she had to act.
Even if she was the Imperial Princess, destined for the Emperors throne, even if she was more valuable due to this, she couldn't just stand by and watch.
Rie gently freed her wrist from Yuni's grasp.
"I'll be back soon."
She said, flashing a reassuring smile before dashing out of the bushes.
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