Chapter 95: Keep Your Wits About You
From then on, Lancet stepped into the background, watching and listening.
The Class Group B, C, and D students huddled in a corner, listening with rapt attention as Astensia took complete command of their phase of the operation.
"The moment we enter, the Demons will attack mercilessly so we must act fast. We will move like a sweep unit," Astensia explained, tracing a line through the residential blocks. "We will march through the town street-by-street, I will slay any Demon that comes our way. Those who can will disinfect the poisonous red fog out of the air so we have a safe, breathable path all the way to the Chapel."
She looked at the Elementalists in the evac team. "When we reach the civilians in the catacombs, there will be no need for barricades. A stone wall on the surface does nothing if the monsters just tunnel underneath it and eat the civilians from below."
Astensia tapped the space beneath the Chapel on the hologram. "To stop the digging, forcefields will be cast directly down into the literal dirt and rock beneath the Chapel. As always, I will stand at the front and slaughter anything that approaches the doors, but you must turn the ground itself into an unbreakable magic bunker."
"And once that underground bunker is fully activated?" Thornson asked, impressed.
"Once the ground is a hundred percent secure from all angles," Astensia said, pointing to the eastern edge of the map, "we open the secret smuggler tunnels and sneak the civilians out the back door to the eastern ridge."
"By the Heavens..." Head Ranger Durmon breathed. "That actually covers every blind spot."
On the other side of the table, Thor made plans for the main attack.
"You will stay down in the central square and make sure the Demon horde only looks at you. While you keep them busy on the ground, the Elemental Mage and I challenge the greater threat. The Demon Commander will protect the Head, so while he handles the Mage, I’ll face the Demon Head."
Vernon seemed to have found his courage again, because he seemed greatly displeased that Thor was the one to battle the Demon Head.
"Killing that devil would immediately stop the Demon Break," Thor finalized.
The atmosphere in the tent had completely shifted. The worry that everyone had before was completely gone. With the presence of Astensia and Thor, everyone was way more hopeful.
The Rangers and Brigades stood taller. The students looked ready to tear the doors off their hinges. Of course they were confident; they had legends fighting beside them.
Lancet stood quietly in the back, listening to every single detail. It was Astensia’s and Thor’s plans so as expected, it was flawless — a perfectly crafted military operation.
’But it’s going to fail,’ Lancet thought grimly.
Because neither Astensia, nor Thor, nor Wolfgar knew about the second Demon Head hiding in the shadows of Hebthej.
If the vanguard killed the clock tower anchor, the second Head would activate its Gloom Domain not long after, leaving everyone helpless for the Demons to spread freely.
Lancet looked at the faces of everyone around him—men with families, students with futures. This wasn’t just about farming EXP, getting Character Points, or leveling up.
If he didn’t perfectly execute his own plan, a lot of people were going to die in a few days. He had to kill that second Demon Head, even if he had to do it alone.
Soon, all the planning finally came to an end. Professor Wolfgar stepped in front of the students, clearing his throat to get their attention.
"You all have your roles," Wolfgar stated. "We have trained for this. The Academy has forged you for this exact moment. Go out there. Follow the strategies we have laid out, cleanse the town of Hebthej, and return to us as heroes of this kingdom and the world."
Wolfgar struck his chest with a closed fist.
"For the Excellence and Dignity of Humanity!"
"For the Excellence and Dignity of Humanity!" the entire tent roared back, the sound shaking the canvas walls.
Led by Vernon Heavenblum, the vanguard formed two tight files and began to march out of the command tent. Astensia and Thor fell into step, flanking the vanguard. Thor took the far side, her eyes fixed forward, while Astensia walked directly beside Lancet.
The Knight looked down at her Master.
"Are you scared, Lord Lancet?" she asked softly over the sound of their marching.
Lancet looked up at her then lowered his head, gulping. "A little."
Astensia immediately smiled, as if she knew it would embolden him. "It will be fine. Just keep your wits about you. I have slain far greater Demons than what awaits us behind those walls."
Lancet lowered his head. ’I guess if my creations can do it, then I can do it too.’
Outside the tent, two lines of Kingdom Rangers, armed with Graceblasters, flanked the pathway. They created an honor guard formation to escort the vanguard to the corrupted town gate.
Lancet watched them match alongside him — one even looked at him and gave him a brave nod: something a soldier would do to another. It made Lancet feel uplifted, like doing all of this was for something greater than himself.
They marched closer to the gate. The sky above got redder and the smell of ash and rotten things threatened to suffocate them.
Finally, they arrived. The tall town gate was completely obscured by a thick layer of crimson miasma, bubbling like a living thing. Something like an acidic fungus.
This made the gate utterly impenetrable by normal means.
"The only way in is to blast right through," Astensia explained as she stepped in front of the assembled vanguard, raising her voice over the howling wind. "Once we do, the Demon horde will be instantly aware of our presence. There will be no time to waste, and no time to hesitate. You must execute your various roles the exact moment we enter the breach!"
The students drew their weapons and prepared their Grace. "Understood!"
Astensia stepped back. "Thor?"
The Valkyrie stepped towards the gate. Once she was a few feet away from the structure, she lifted her warhammer, pointing it at the corrupted entrance. "All of you, step back."
The vanguard and the escorting Rangers hurriedly retreated several paces.
They heard a slight rumble of thunder in the sky and their heads raised. In the heavens, the blood-red clouds immediately began to violently spiral, churning like a great storm was about to occur.
"Lightning Storm Singularity," Thor commanded.
The heavens immediately tore open. Dozens of blinding blue lightning bolts rained down from the sky, instantly converging at the very tip of Thor’s hammer.
Then, they blasted outward in a singular mighty bolt of lightning, directly into the center of the miasma-ravaged gates.
KRAAAABOOOMMMM!!!!
A shockwave of white light erupted outward, forcing everyone to throw their arms over their eyes. The blast shattered the corrupted iron into thousands of glowing shrapnel pieces, instantly vaporizing the creeping miasma, leaving nothing blocking their path.
After the thunder, the next thing they heard were shrieks of a thousand Demons echoing from the streets within.
Astensia drew the glorious Blessed Blade..
"CHARGE!!!!!!"