Several people stood up, and weapons were drawn.
"No need for that," a smooth voice said from a dark-robed figure. I couldn't make out their face under the hood.
I had stood up as well, with my hand resting on the hilt of my sword.
"I am just coming by to observe this glorious moment in the sun. All this celebration and no thank you for all my help in reaching such heights?"
The question was mocking.
"Legend Xanatos, you are not welcome here, even as a Soul Projection," Dean Beacon Smith declared loudly.
My mind froze as I realized this was the person who had cursed me and stolen countless skill levels from me. Ozy let out a long hiss from my shoulder pauldron.
"Soul Projection, if you say so. You are quite rude, then again you placed that bounty on me. And before you say the College doesn't handle bounties, you act as a guarantor and depositor for them. Now I have come to repay that debt with interest."
"You almost destroyed the College and the city of Undercraft. I suggest you leave before I get creative. I wasn't appointed as Dean for my winning personality."
Dean Beacon Smith floated off the platform and towards Legend Xanatos, who was standing at the far side of the tower from the platform.
"Oh, a threat. But that is why you should thank me. I helped to give your College a lift. I felt the need to avenge my defeat. Paying debts is something that I strongly believe in."
"Then go into the dungeon and repay the debt to Supreme Legend Elena," I boldly declared.
Everyone turned to look at me, including Legend Xanatos. I would not remain silent in front of my great enemy. I drew my sword and pointed it at him.
Ozymandius flew up behind me and hovered above and behind my head.
"Oh, the young pup and his snake bark loudly. Thank you, Justin. All that hard work was quite enjoyable," he said.
I knew there were legends watching who were far stronger, but no one was ready to risk a battle to the death here. But I would take my chances of striking down Xanatos now.
"Lightening Beam! Vibration Blade!"
I rushed forward. Ozy followed behind me. He was already releasing a Bounded Alchemical Field around Xanatos.
"Mana Stilling.Mana Rebound. Mana Lock."
My spell skill instantly winked out just before reaching him, my blade stopped vibrating, and Ozymandius let out a scream of pain, collapsing out of the air. My body froze in place, unable to move.
"Now that was me being nice. We need some proper music! We need something exciting for this event. Something to herald the beginning of the end for this College and the ascent of the Dark Cabal! There are no supreme legends left to save any of you."
Xanatos snapped his hand.
The sound that surrounded the tower was like a restless heartbeat in the shadows, a sonic abyss that swallowed the very light of the sky as darkness settled over everything. Flickering heavy beats carved out a primal rhythm in the background.
"Cease this madness!" Dean Beacon declared while moving into a combat posture.
"I am not really here; what can you do?" he asked in a mocking tone. "So angry and emotional. Let your emotions fuel your skills! Don't you want to know my amazing plan?"
"Then say it," Dean Beacon Smith said with a lot of hostility, while I remained frozen in place. Two legends had moved in front of me to protect me while a third had stepped in front of Ozy.
"So hasty. But gloating when you have already won is half the fun of killing people and making them suffer. You know what is better than a passage to the dungeon? A volcanic passage to your College. Enjoy the eruption!"
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His maniacal laughter sent shivers down my spine.
Dean Beacon Smith suddenly appeared in front of Legend Xanatos and struck out with a glowing hand. It went right into his body. Legend Xanatos stared down as the pulsating music seemed to make everything vibrate.
"How?" Dean Beacon Smith asked in pure shock before screaming and collapsing backwards. His hand was rotting and emitting black smoke. There was no damage to the dark cloak.
"Now, why would I spoil such a wonderful skill? I am not one of your useless Professors who will soon make a wonderful bonfire," Legend Xanatos said.
Healer Melon was the only professional healer present, and he rushed forward as two Legends quickly moved in and pulled Dean Beacon Smith back.
"Greater Purify! Greater Purify! Greater Cure."
"Slice."
"Fire Blade!"
"Lightning Beam!"
Three attacks flew through Legend Xanatos and did nothing to him and impacted the far edge of the tower behind him. There was a moment of silence as everyone tried to think of what they could do and whether they wanted to risk it. More powerful skills could risk the entire College and the other guests.
"The Dark Cabal will never be beaten! Now, let's test this bastion of weakness and depravity. You must escape the volcano, or the Seraphim will destroy you. Oh yes, the Dark Cabal knows all. Even your foolish agreements."
Dean Beacon Smith was standing back up as legends surrounded him. Healer Melon did good work. I could also move again as my Mana unfroze itself. That had been incredibly scary. One skill rendered me completely immobile.
"You think that will end this new age? You can't kill an idea; you can't kill progress. You can't destroy the future. The past is the past, but the future will come regardless, and the future is a present, a gift for all of us to live," the Dean declared to the cheers of the crowd.
"Pretty words. But it is time to put those words to the test. You have no supreme legends to save you this time. Civilization is a lie. Peace is a betrayal. Now face experience the full might and revenge of the Dark Cabal!" Legend Xanatos rose into the air, fading away as his pulsating music faded away as well.
Suddenly the College shook heavily, and there was a minor tilt. For as long as I remembered, it had never tilted. Various people screamed in panic. Outside, the weather revealed a huge plume of fiery dark gases that was rising. Within seconds, the sun obscured everything, plunging everyone into a hellish darkness.
"Legends defend the perimeter. Professors, with me, we must ensure the safety of the College! Guests and students take shelter," he loudly declared. His hand still smoked and rotted. Healer Melon glanced at me, and I nodded as he rushed off with the Dean while using healing skills. He could do better with the Dean and our time together was over.
"You okay, kid?" one legend asked me. Ozy had flown up and landed back on my shoulder pauldron, feeling quite unhappy.
"I am fine," I replied.
"Hah, shouldn't have expected anything else of Elena's kid. Rushing a legend like Xanatos. Brave but foolish. You've got balls, kid. I hope to see great things," the Legend said before rushing off without even giving their name.
"Justin!" Harren rushed over along with my teammates. The entire College shook again, and the tilt became worse.
"We should leave. Does anyone need to pack?"
"I do," Stormy and Sam both said.
"I need to get to my mech," April added.
Only Harren and I were ready to go into the dungeon at this moment.
"We will meet in the plaza after getting our gear. I will go with April, and Harren, you go with Sam."
I noticed Stormy's father was right behind her. My Danger Sense was rapidly spiking upwards, and the fiery clouds of ash around the College looked bad. I did not know how much longer the weather wards would hold.
"Where will we escape to?" Sam asked.
"We will open an escape portal at the main plaza in fifteen minutes," Stormy's father said. I noticed that there were two other elves with him. "The Mana density in the air is increasing. After that time, any kind of teleportation will be too risky."
"Let's go, fifteen minutes," I said, and everything shook and tilted some more. The elevator hadn't come back up yet, and the panic from everyone remaining on top of the tower was growing.
"To the edge, quickly," Stormy said. We all rushed there. "Jump off the edge and trust me."
“But…" Sam started to say, but Harren grabbed him around the chest. April had her mouth open as I picked her up in a princess carry and leaped off the edge. I knew what Stormy was planning. I had to trust her. We didn't have time for a discussion.
Sam and April were screaming as we plummeted off the side of the tower. I noted other people leaping or flying away as I stayed near Harren to make things easier on Stormy. Just before we hit the ground, Stormy acted.
"Solidify Air!"
Just before we slammed into the ground, the air became thicker, and our descent slowed. It was hard to breathe, but it was only for a few seconds. The landing was hard, like jumping off a two-story building instead of the main tower of the College. But it was nothing that Harren and I couldn't handle.
"What was that?" April asked in shock.
"We need to move. Which way to The Indomitable?" I asked.
"Um, that way, in the fortified research section,. I rushed off still carrying her. "You can set me down."
"No time."
Her legs were too short to run fast. She drove a mech; she wasn't a physical combatant. She didn't have movement skills or the stats to back them up. April began giving more directions as everyone in the College was panicking. The shaking and tilt were getting worse.
The fiery ash surrounded the entire College, activating the nighttime lights. Legend Xanatos was more of a monster than the actual monsters. The fiery ash would have killed the people living outside and beneath the College. It was likely that most of the students and staff were going to die as well.
The College was strong, but against an erupting volcano, I did not know if they could survive. Already the weather wards were looking weak as wisps of ash began trickling through, increasing the temperature and creating a black snow-like effect across the College.