NABC Chapter 46: Index [4]
Chapter 46: Index [4]
Chapter 46: Index [4]
The first course of action was an emergency lockdown. Index, fortified with multiple layers of magical systems, activated its defensive protocols almost immediately.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
Barriers flared to life, sealing off sections of the fortress with walls of glowing energy as reinforced gates slammed shut.
Thump!
Vanitas and Alaric moved swiftly down the corridor. The rumbling fortress and distant sounds of battle could be heard down the corner.
"We need to contain this before it spreads further," Alaric said. "The west wing is our priority. That's where Edmund Velgrind was last reported."
"What about the reanimated monsters?" Vanitas asked.
"They'll be dealt with. The Crusaders are trained for this. Velgrind is the bigger threat."
But what Alaric feared was Edmund's specialty.
Necromancy.
A forbidden branch of dark magic. According to reports, monsters were rising again and again despite being killed. It was almost certainly Edmund's doing.
"Necromancy," Vanitas muttered. "So, the monsters...."
Alaric nodded with a grim expression. "His work. If we don't stop him, this won't end."
"I see."
Ahead, the sound of battle grew louder.
Vanitas adjusted his gloves. "Then we stop him."
Alaric glanced at him briefly and sighed. "Stay close, Professor. This isn't like dealing with theories and books. Edmund is dangerous."
"...."
Vanitas held back a frown. He was clearly being looked down on, but it was understandable.
If he had to be honest, some of the guards might even be stronger than him.
"I'm aware," Vanitas replied calmly. "Lead the way."
As they moved deeper into the west wing, the sounds of clashing metal and roars echoed through the walls.
"Edmund!"
The moment they arrived, Alaric didn't hesitate.
His figure blurred as he dashed forward. The blade in his hand glowed faintly under the dim light, leaving Vanitas momentarily behind.
"Shit—" Edmund cursed under his breath, startled.
Clang!
The sound of metal against metal reverberated through the hallway. Alaric's blade had been intercepted, not by Edmund, but by someone else.
Vanitas narrowed his eyes, pouring mana into the spectacle.
It was another inmate. One of the inmates Edmund must have freed.A powerful Crusader, who seemed to have stolen the sword from a guard he killed.
"Fuck, you a bull, Warden?" the inmate cursed. "You owe me one for this, Edmund."
"Yeah, yeah," Edmund said. "Now hold him back for me."
Clang! Clang!
Alaric's blade collided with the inmate's weapon again and again, filling the corridor with the sharp ring of steel.
Despite the inmate's strength, Alaric's skill kept him on the defensive. In fact, Alaric was pushing him back.
Meanwhile, Edmund moved further back.
Vanitas raised his hand, forming his fingers into the shape of a gun.
Extending his arm forward, he whispered.
"Windblade."
A gust of wind in the shape of an arc burst forth, catching Edmund off guard and forcing him to stumble back.
"Wha—You? I thought we—" Edmund began, but Vanitas didn't let him finish.
His lips moved as if he were chanting before he spoke clearly.
"Stone Cannon."
A spinning projectile of compressed stone shot forward like a drill.
Edmund, startled, quickly chanted a barrier spell, deflecting the attack just in time. Sparks flew as the barrier absorbed the impact.
The sound of boots echoed through the hallway as guards rushed in, surrounding Edmund and the inmate still locked in combat with Alaric.
"Damn it!" Edmund cursed, his eyes darting around.
Then, suddenly, he smirked.
"...."
Vanitas's senses sharpened. Something wasn't right.
A chill ran down his spine as he sensed movement behind him. Turning around, he saw figures emerging from the hallway.
More inmates.
A myriad of chants filled the air as voices overlapped one after another. Magic erupted from all directions, bolts of fire, shards of ice, and arcs of electricity.
"Shit," Vanitas cursed, quickly dodging a lightning strike that cracked against the wall.
"Regroup!" Alaric shouted, cutting down the inmate in front of him with a swift strike before turning toward the new threat. "Stay together and hold the line!"
The guards scrambled and chaotic fighting ensued. It was a battlefield.
Vanitas stepped back, narrowly avoiding a stream of fire.
'I expected it to go like this, but okay, shit. This is harder than I thought.'
There was a deep sense of regret, but he quickly dismissed it. Index wouldn't fall so easily. He was sure of it.
There was one crucial factor he clung to.
The inmates, even those skilled in magic, lacked a proper medium. Without a staff or conduit, they could only cast up to Master-level spells effectively.
Anything beyond that would backfire.
But Master-level spells were still dangerous, and Vanitas knew better than to underestimate them.
Adding to his troubles was his own limitation. His cancer made casting anything above Advanced-level spells risky.
Chaos surrounded him. Guards fell, some slashing through inmates while others were overwhelmed.
Magic lashed out from all directions, forcing Vanitas to dodge constantly as he returned fire with his own spells.
But before he could catch his breath, the sound of screams echoed through the corridor. Blood sprayed like a fountain, bathing the stone walls in crimson.
"...."
Vanitas turned to see Alaric in the middle of the chaos.
The Warden stood drenched in the blood of inmates. His blade moved seamlessly, cutting down inmates one after another, sparing no one.
Despite the cracks in his armor and the wounds across his body, Alaric persisted.
His figure blurred, disappearing and reappearing in flashes as he navigated through the chaos.
'His stigmata....'
Alaric's relentless assault was momentarily interrupted as two inmates—both former Crusaders—intercepted him.
Their coordination slowed him down and forced him into a defensive stance.
Meanwhile, the guards fought fearlessly, cutting through inmates and monsters alike.
But it was clear they were struggling. Some guards had already fallen, motionless.
Vanitas clenched his fists, realizing he would only get in the way.
But there was another way he could help.
His Spectacles flickered, displaying the layout of Index.
Key points and potential escape routes lit up on the map.
Vanitas quickly analyzed the information, noting places where Edmund might be heading.
Without hesitation, Vanitas turned and began running. His mind raced as he pondered the best route to intercept Edmund.
But the fortress wasn't going to let him go so easily.
———!
Reanimated monsters emerged ahead. Vanitas skidded to a halt, raising his hand as the first beast lunged.
This wasn't the time to hold back. There was no need to fake a chant.
A swift Windblade cut through the beast, dropping it instantly. But more were already closing in.
Vanitas dealt with them quickly, casting Windblades and Stone Cannons.
Thud!
As the last monster fell, Vanitas wiped his brow, feeling the strain. His mana reserves were dwindling, and blood started trickling down his nose.
"Fucking terminally ill patient!"
He scanned the stigmata.
「Boundless Reservoir」
◆ Understanding: 30%
◆ Capacity: 2870/9000
◆ Fosters continuous growth in mana reserves, allowing mana capacity to expand and evolve over time.
——————
Vanitas pushed forward, feeling his body ache.
"Tsk."
More monsters intercepted him. Vanitas gritted his teeth, deciding to conserve his mana.
Instead of casting spells, he used wind magic to enhance his movements, dodging their claws and fangs as he sprinted down the corridor.
One monster blocked his path, but Vanitas ducked low and slid beneath its swipe. Another lunged from the side, and he used a broken piece of rubble to knock it back.
As he approached one of the marked locations on his Spectacles, he turned a corner and spotted him.
Edmund stood before a large, glowing barrier. His hands moved as he muttered to himself.
Tak.
Edmund's head snapped up, startled. "You...?"
His eyes widened in shock before narrowing. He quickly composed himself, stepping back slightly from the barrier.
"What the hell are you doing here?"
"...."
Vanitas didn't answer immediately.
Edmund frowned, clearly frustrated.
"You've got no stake in this. So, what's your motive?" Edmund asked.
"Motive, huh?"
Before Edmund could press further, the sound of footsteps echoed through the corridor.
"Professor!"
Guards from the south wing, still battered and bloodied from fighting monsters, arrived at Vanitas's side.
"...."
For the first time, Vanitas grew uneasy, biting his lip.
"Go back! I'll handle him!" Vanitas screamed.
"Professor, bu—"
But before the guard could finish....
Tak. Tak—!
The sound of more footsteps came from behind them. Vanitas and the guards turned around.
There, emerging from the dimly lit corners, stood familiar figures.
"Darwin?" one of the guards muttered, his voice trembling.
"Clayton...." another whispered, recognizing the faces.
....Reanimated guards.
The tension became palpable as the reanimated guards took slow steps forward, gripping on their weapons.
"You people are fighting the wrong battle," Edmund began. "That man over there...."
He pointed directly at Vanitas, smirking.
"Him! He's the reason I was able to escape!"