Mistress Of The Evil Forest

Case 100: Advent – The scientist.

As Aurora steps forward while preparing her sword, Claudia Heisenberg also sets her blade ablaze, and the principal Alice also begins to chant some dozen spells. Seeing as the three, who are relatively stronger than regular soldiers, are about to enter combat, the two commanders nod at each other.

Before they can issue a temporary retreat order, however, a sudden presence disturbs their keen senses. A hooded figure appears right beside Silaerob, taking many by total surprise. Even then, they subconsciously initiate an [Inspect] on this figure—a result of their training.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Name: Skely              

Race: Skeleton                    Title: Glory of the Past

Level: 43 

HP: 121/121                    MP: 134/144

STR: 4.6                     INT: 6.3

AGI: 4.8                    STA: 4.8

Skill: [Inspect Lv.7], [Light Magic Lv.7],
[Fire Magic Lv.7], [Teleportation Lv.6],
[Blink Lv.5], [Parallel Thinking Lv.4],
[Language Lv.4], [Accuracy Lv.3],
[Status Condition Nullification Lv.3],
[Pain Immunity Lv.2].

State: Normal.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

''A skeleton?!''

Someone shouts, catching the attention of many more. They automatically group this skeleton together with the zombie who is wreaking havoc, assigning them in their minds as a target to defeat. Moreover, this skeleton is particularly dangerous, seeing as its level is 43—a relatively high number.

However, some notice the anomaly right away—[Light Magic]. This seemingly paradoxical skill more or less tells them that this figure is truly unique. Coupled with its closeness toward Silarob and its lack of fighting intent, the commanders instead focus on the current enemy.

Skely, who has teleported to Aurora after completing a task, quietly speaks, sounding an eerily deep voice that sends chills to whoever happens to hear it.

''My Lady, it seems they are indeed trying to sacrifice the whole city. Amelia Luminous and her soldiers are on their way to sabotage the effort.''

After a brief moment, Aurora nods.

''Help them.'' She says. ''Take the others along if needed.''

''Roger.''

With that, Skely jumps away with a grapple made from light magic, leaving behind a number of dumbfounded people. Reality sinks in at the moment, and they belatedly realize that they have just seen an undead wielding the sacred magic, especially for the professors of Astra Academy, who, at their cores, are scholars.

Even if they have just heard a crucial piece of information, their brain can't help but spin, and curiosity fills their mind as they try to think of the fact.

In emergencies, people often panic and forget important things. For instance, when someone has gotten themselves into a devastating accident, everybody says, 'Call 911!' yet none do so since they assume others will do it. That is why it is essential to name someone and force them to call the ambulance immediately.

Suddenly remembering this possibly unrelated fact, Aurora points straight at Claudia Heisenberg.

''You.'' She says firmly. ''Tell all the soldiers to search for the summoning formation and sabotage it.''

''All?!'' Claudia raises an eyebrow.

''Those level 30s won't make a difference. Us three are enough.''

''Since when did we become your teammates?''

''Are you not?''

''...''

Gazing deep into the flowing galaxy of Aurora's mask, Claudia finds herself unable to refute. After all, if she says no, won't that make her Silaerob's enemy?

With that, Claudia immediately runs to the commanders while Aurora and Alice begin to engage with Genji. The dim black eyes of the deceased hero radiate an ominous aura that makes everybody hesitate, yet Aurora forces herself through that, swinging her sword firmly.

In an instant, intense waves of mana fill the battlefield as the two continue their exchanges; fire clashes with ice, and light pierces through darkness's defense. As Aurora concentrates her senses on her opponent, she notices the fight seems to get easier. For one, every time there is a mishap in her movement, a spell will inevitably come in to interrupt Genji's attempt to exploit her weakness.

On this battlefield, only Alice is capable of such precise actions. Even if they have never fought together, it seems Alice knows exactly what to do to support Aurora.

'As expected of the principal.'

Alice herself is in the early stages of the master tier, which is nothing to scoff at. 

''Haap—!''

Following that, Claudia, who has completed her task, jumps in with her blazing sword. Seizing the chance when Genji has to block Claudia's vertical strike, Aurora blinks behind her opponent and stabs the Blackstar toward his heart.

''Kuh...!''

Unbelievably, Genji twists his body at a visibly impossible angle, dodging the stab while spinning around, bashing his scorching palms at both of the women. Noticing the vulnerable Claudia hovering in the air, Aurora bursts toward her using [Flight] and snatches her, landing some distance away. 

As if waiting for this chance, Alice resolutely sends a multitude of advanced magic toward Genji. Huge waves of water surge ahead akin to hungry beasts, wind scythes cut through air erratically as if creating a matrix, and lightning bolts constantly rain from the muddy sky—all aimed at the lone man.

Putting Claudia, who is clinging onto her body, down, Aurora breathes out in relief as she watches Genji lightly parry the magic, one by one. If Alice and Claudia hadn't been here, who knows how long she would have withstand this monster until she was forced to go all out?

The reason she is holding back is simple—if there is a puppet, there must be a master pulling the strings somewhere. In this situation where she can reliably take advantage of these two's strengths, it is simply idiotic not to conserve her stamina until the puppet master appears.

[MP: 169/187]

'Not too bad, hm.'

Ever since she raised her magical skills to level 7, the MP consumption whenever she uses magic has been significantly reduced. Now, she truly understands why it is recommended not to buy too many skills and focus on mastering the active ones.

''Hey, let's go in again.''

''Alright.''

Following Claudia, Aurora once again springs toward Genji, and the siege battle resumes. Once the three have finally familiarized themselves with each other's combat style—in other words, once they have found the rhythm—their flows of attack become much more seamless, and they are able to cover one another effectively.

Slowly, Genji begins to suffer minor cuts—cuts infused with dense magic—while the trio has hardly received any attack. Slowly, the tide of the battle is turning in their favor.

'''' !!! ''''

Then, predictably or unpredictably, an anomaly pops out of seemingly nowhere. Genji, as if breaking out of a chain binding his power, suddenly explodes his fiery mana, pushing both Aurora and Claudia back considerably.

An eerie laughter, one that sounds like it will invade the minds of the hearers the moment it has a chance, rings loudly in the air, and when the trio looks toward the direction where it is coming from—the sky, their eyes narrow. 

There, a man neatly dressed in a black suit and drafting a white lab coat on top of it floats. He gently pinches the brim of his black fedora with his gloved fingers, the other hand tucked into his coat's pocket.

Beyond his blank, full mask, the man keeps laughing as if tearing his face apart.

''Hah...''

Aurora sighs—half in relief, half in annoyance. Undoubtedly, this man is the one Chloe has repeatedly warned her about.

One of Ravenous Moon's Advents - Lucius Calistaire.

Or, as the players call him—the Mad Scientist.