Chapter 36: Corrupted Sentinel Approaching!
Ethan’s heartbeat accelerated the instant the announcement confirmed it.
A monster outbreak had really happened inside the academy.
"...Well."
"I’m dead."
His first instinct was to panic, but he quickly forced himself to calm down.
No.
The academy had prepared for situations like this. There was a designated safety zone, countless instructors, elite Sentinels, experienced Guides, and an entire emergency response system. They should... no, they had to be able to handle something like this.
They just had to.
The loudspeaker crackled once more before the Principal’s composed voice echoed throughout the academy.
[Attention all students. A map leading to the academy’s designated safety zone has been sent to every student’s phone. Follow the marked route immediately and report to the safety zone without delay. Do not wander elsewhere. Repeat, all students are to report to the academy safety zone immediately.]
The moment Ethan heard those words, his expression froze.
"...Fuck."
He had completely forgotten.
His phone.
He hadn’t charged it since yesterday.
With everything that had happened over the past few days—his phone had practically ceased to exist in his mind.
"...Please..."
He scrambled toward the bedside table and snatched it up before desperately pressing the power button.
Nothing.
Then...
A tiny red battery icon flashed onto the screen.
And immediately disappeared.
"..."
"...Yeah."
"Just my fucking luck."
Ethan stared at the lifeless phone before dragging a hand down his face.
He couldn’t stay here.
Absolutely not.
The academy had specifically ordered everyone to report to the safety zone. Remaining behind was basically asking to die.
Taking a deep breath, he hurried toward the door.
Please...
Please let there be other students outside.
Surely people would still be heading there. If he followed them, he’d eventually reach the safety zone. That thought lasted exactly three seconds.
The moment he stepped outside the dormitory...
His entire body froze.
"..."
Not a single person was to be seen, the once lively newly built dormitory had become eerily silent.
Broken flower pots littered the pathways. Decorative benches had been overturned and split apart, shattered glass glittered beneath the morning sunlight, while chunks of cracked pavement and broken stone were scattered everywhere. Several trees had snapped in half as though something unimaginably powerful had simply bulldozed through the area.
The peaceful dormitory from barely half an hour ago now resembled the aftermath of a natural disaster.
Ethan slowly took one step backward.
"...Nope."
"I’m going back inside."
The words had barely left his mouth before another horrifying realization struck him.
"..."
"..."
"...Fuck."
His room keycard.
He had left it inside. And in his panic, he had already locked the door behind him.
He stared blankly at the locked door. Then tried the handle anyway.
Locked. Of course it was locked.
There was no way to retrieve another access card until he reported it to the dormitory office.
Which currently had absolutely nobody there because everyone had evacuated.
"..."
"Think, Ethan."
"Think!"
He shut his eyes, desperately searching through the original Ethan’s memories.
Come on...
Anything.
Any clue at all.
At first, there was nothing but fragmented memories.
Then...
A blurry scene surfaced.
Rin.
The original Ethan had once asked where the academy’s safety zone was, and Rin had casually pointed toward a certain direction while explaining the route.
It wasn’t much.
But it was enough.
"I’ll take whatever I can get."
His lungs burned almost immediately as he sprinted through the ruined academy grounds, following the vague route he could barely remember. If he could just reach that general area, then maybe he’d find signs—or better yet, other students heading there.
Just as he rounded another corner...
A deafening explosion erupted somewhere ahead.
BOOOOOOM!!
Ethan instinctively turned his head. His pupils shrank.
Not far from where he stood...
The battle was unfolding.
Enormous monsters towered over the academy grounds, their grotesque bodies twisting unnaturally as corrupted spiritual energy poured from every inch of their flesh. One resembled an enormous wolf with jet-black fur covered in pulsating crimson veins, while the other looked like a giant insect whose countless blade-like legs effortlessly sliced through buildings whenever they moved.
Standing against them were only a handful of elite Sentinels.
Among them...
Drey.
His dark hair had already become stained with dust and blood, yet his expression remained as cold as ever. Every swing of his weapon carried overwhelming force.
One slash severed one of the wolf monster’s claws. Another strike blasted the insect backward, sending its massive body crashing through what remained of a nearby training building.
The other elite Sentinels coordinated seamlessly around him, supporting every opening he created, but it was obvious to anyone watching.
Drey was carrying the battle.
Ethan could only stare.
"...Damn."
He genuinely admired them.
Meanwhile, here he was scared out of his mind while those people were fighting monsters one-on-one.
Then again...
If he possessed even half of their strength, he probably wouldn’t be shaking this much either.
Forcing himself to look away, Ethan turned another sharp corner.
Only to almost collide with someone.
"Ethan?!"
He looked up.
"Rin!"
Rin’s expression immediately darkened.
"What are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be inside the safety zone? You’re putting your life in danger!"
"I know!" Ethan nearly cried. "My phone died before I could receive the map! I have no idea where the safety zone is!"
Realization immediately crossed Rin’s face and without another word, Rin grabbed Ethan’s wrist.
"Come with me."
Relief instantly flooded Ethan.
The two hurried through several academy pathways before eventually arriving at a massive transparent barrier surrounding what appeared to be the academy’s central emergency shelter.
Dozens upon dozens of instructors stood guard around the barrier while students continuously streamed inside through designated entrances.
No wonder Ethan hadn’t seen anyone earlier. The academy had deliberately opened shorter evacuation routes from every dormitory and classroom directly toward the shelter.
Unfortunately...
Without the map...
He had unknowingly taken the longest possible route.
The moment Ethan stepped through the shimmering barrier, he finally understood why it was called a safety zone.
The enormous protected area had enough space to accommodate thousands of students. Several defensive arrays glowed beneath everyone’s feet while powerful barrier formations shimmered overhead, forming layer upon layer of protection around the entire shelter.
Students stood everywhere.
Some were comforting frightened friends.
Others silently prayed.
Many simply stood frozen in place.
Nobody looked calm.
Ethan finally released the breath he had been unconsciously holding.
"...Thanks."
Rin smiled.
"No problem."
Then his expression turned serious once more. "I have to go."
Ethan blinked.
"...Go where?"
"Back outside."
"The instructors are calling every combat-capable student."
Only then did Ethan remember.
Rin...
...wasn’t an ordinary student.
He was an A-rank Sentinel.
His smile immediately disappeared.
"...Be careful."
Rin grinned.
"I will."
Then, without waiting any longer, he turned and disappeared beyond the protective barrier once again.
Ethan watched him leave, an uncomfortable feeling settling deep inside his chest.
"...Take care of yourself."
The words came out as nothing more than a whisper. Knowing there was absolutely nothing else he could do, Ethan found an empty space among the countless gathered students before squeezing himself into it.
Hundreds...
Maybe even thousands of students had gathered inside.
Everyone waited.
And prayed.
Time slowly lost all meaning.
Ethan had no idea what was happening outside. Were they winning?
Or...
Were they losing?
He desperately hoped it was the first. Looking around, he realized he wasn’t the only terrified person.
Almost every face he saw wore the same pale expression. No one talked or even moved.
There was complete silence untill the loudspeakers crackled to life once again.
This time...
The voice carried unmistakable relief.
[Attention. Monster attack has been successfully handled. The invading monsters have been eliminated.]
For several seconds...
Nobody reacted.
Then almost everyone released the breath they had been unconsciously holding.
Including Ethan.
His shoulders visibly relaxed his eyes brightening.
"...We made it."
A relieved smile had barely begun forming on his face—
When another announcement suddenly exploded through the loudspeakers.
Unlike the previous one...
This voice was filled with unmistakable panic.
[Oh no! Corrupted Sentinel approaching the safety zone!]