Chapter 95

We, who had been caught off guard by the Black Organization's sudden attack, headed to the staff room to properly assess the current situation.

Moving recklessly could only lead to further confusion—this was due to the calm judgment of the experienced president and Rose.

"Excuse me."

The president briefly said this and then flung open the door to the staff room.

Then,

"Oh, Miss Arcstria! And... Allen-kun!"

"You, thank goodness... Our 'Brain' and 'Spear' have come to help us!"

The teachers heaved a sigh of relief.

(As expected of President Shii—Miss 'Arcstria'...)

It seems she has earned the utmost trust of the faculty as well.

As I was thinking this, the president strode into the depths of the staff room and addressed a male teacher.

He was, I believe, the vice-principal of this academy.

"Excuse me, could you tell me the current situation?"

"Y-Yes! The enemy is a group of swordsmen in black cloaks, numbering about three hundred—they are likely from the Black Organization! They have surrounded the main building, and we are currently fighting them off with the Discipline Committee and the Swordsmanship Club at the forefront!"

"I see... And how is the battle going?"

"...It's not going well. We are barely managing to prevent them from entering the main building."

As the vice-principal said this with a serious expression, a heavy atmosphere began to fill the staff room.

"...I understand. By the way, have you contacted the Holy Knights Association and the principal?"

"No, that's the thing... I've been trying to call them repeatedly, but... I can't get through at all..."

"...? What do you mean by 'can't get through'?"

"It seems that the Thousand Blades Academy has been cut off from the outside world by some kind of 'barrier'..."

The vice-principal pointed outside the window as he said this.

Straining my eyes, I could indeed see a transparent, thin membrane covering the Thousand Blades Academy in a hemispherical shape.

"A barrier, huh... That's troublesome..."

Having grasped the severe situation the Thousand Blades Academy was in, the president said,

"...Allen-kun. Do you think you can break this barrier...?"

"Me...?"

"Yes. As you know, there are two main ways to break a barrier: either defeat the caster or destroy the barrier with overwhelming power. Since we don't know the caster's location, our only option is to destroy the barrier. And the person with the highest output in this academy is—Allen-kun, you."

She continued speaking with a serious tone.

"This barrier is so powerful that it completely cuts off all external connections—it likely has an effect that hinders recognition. In other words, we can't expect any reinforcements from outside. Only those associated with the Black Organization can enter here. If we don't break the barrier as soon as possible, we'll be overwhelmed."

"...I see, quite a heavy responsibility, then."

If I can't break the barrier, a 'siege of hell' without reinforcements will begin.

"I'm sorry... But right now, you're the only one I can rely on..."

As the president said this, all eyes in the staff room turned to me.

"...I understand. I'll do my best."

I didn't have 'certainty,' but I had 'confidence.'

The strike that once tore through the prison—'Boundary Break'—should be able to cut through any barrier.

"Thank you, Allen-kun. I knew you would say that. —Reia and Rose, can you accompany Allen-kun? The enemy isn't stupid. They won't let him approach the barrier without a fight."

"Y-Yes!"

"I understand...!"

Reia and Rose nodded, and I asked a question.

"President, what do you intend to do?"

"I'll head to the front lines and maintain the battle lines. If we allow them to enter the main building, the situation will become uncontrollable."

She then immediately gave instructions to the teachers.

"Teachers, please join the battle, leaving a few here for communication. The communication team, please contact the Holy Knights and the principal as soon as Allen-kun breaks the barrier."

"Understood!"

At the president's command, the teachers quickly sprang into action.

"Alright, Allen-kun. I'm counting on you to break the barrier!"

She said this and then led the teachers out of the staff room.

She truly is the daughter of a prominent government family, the Arcstria. The usually clumsy president looked very reliable at that moment.

"Let's go, Allen...!"

"This is the most important mission. Stay focused, Allen...!"

"Alright!"

Thus, I, entrusted with a major task, rushed out of the staff room with Reia and Rose.

■

After that, we quickly moved towards the barrier.

Boundary Break is incredibly powerful, but its range is very short.

We had to get extremely close to break the barrier.

"Alright. This street is clear. We can do it."

Rose, who was experienced in such 'field battles,' nodded, and we all started running.

Our primary goal was to break the barrier—defeating the Black Organization would come after.

So, for now, we needed to avoid combat as much as possible and move stealthily.

Using the shadows cast by buildings, we ran through the darkness when—

A chilling, intense shiver ran down my spine.

"Watch out, Reia!"

"Eh... Kyaa!?"

In a split-second decision, I pushed Reia into the sunlight. The next moment,

Seven slashes were suddenly unleashed from the shadows.

By pushing Reia, I lost my balance,

"Ugh..."

I managed to deflect six of the slashes, but I was hit by a sharp strike.

"A-A伦...! ? I'm sorry, are you okay...!?"

Reia, her face pale, immediately rushed to my side.

"Don't worry. This is nothing."

I focused darkness on the injured area and healed it instantly.

Then—

"The power to control shadows... Hey, you're there, right? Come out—Dodoriel!"

I shouted loudly, and from the seemingly ordinary shadow, a man appeared like a mirage.

His blue hair, tied back, was badly damaged.

A large sword scar ran across his well-defined face.

Dodoriel Burton—once a prodigious swordsman at the Grand Swordsmanship Academy, now a dark dweller in the Black Organization.

"Ha ha ha ha ha ha...! You saw through that strike well! ...No, maybe it was expected? After all, you and I are soulmates—our hearts are connected...! Right, Allen?"

He laughed maniacally as he spoke incoherently.

"You're the one from the Great Trade Festival...!?"

"A swordsman who wields peculiar soul armor...!"

Reia and Rose, remembering Dorodiel, immediately drew their swords.

"Allen, leave this to us and go ahead...!"

"Reia is right—destroying the barrier is the priority...! Don't worry, we'll catch up quickly!"

The two stepped forward.

However, I was hesitant.

(Damn... Which should I choose...!?)

Stay and fight with them...

Or leave this to them and prioritize breaking the barrier...

(Reia and Rose have been defeated by Dorodiel before...)

But they have become much stronger since then.

(...Besides, the battle isn't just here)

Right now, blood is being shed in many places at the Thousand Blades Academy.

If I get held up, the damage will only increase.

Tactically, I should follow Reia and Rose's advice and prioritize breaking the barrier.

"...Alright. As I said before, Dorodiel can enter the 'Shadow World'! Even with two against one and his abilities divided, don't let your guard down!"

"Understood!"

"Haha, don't worry...!"

"...I'm counting on you!"

I left the scene to them and ran towards the barrier.

"Hey, where are you going without me...!?"

Dodoriel's anguished cry echoed as—

"It's your turn...!"

"It's us...!"

The sound of swords clashing rang out.

(Reia, Rose... I'll come back as soon as I break the barrier...)

Then, I wrapped my legs in pitch-black darkness and sprinted the shortest distance to the barrier.

Without any interference from the Black Organization, I arrived at the barrier.

"...Is this it?"

I gently reached out to the transparent, thin membrane that enveloped the Thousand Blades Academy.

It felt both soft and hard... a strange sensation.

(...I can do this)

I had a feeling, somehow.

I drew my sword and unleashed a powerful strike.

"Five Blades—Boundary Break!"

At that moment, a large crack appeared where I had struck.

It quickly spread throughout the barrier and, with a sharp 'crack,' the barrier shattered.

"Good, it worked..."

Now we should be able to contact the outside world.

If the Holy Knights Association and Miss Reia come to our aid, defeating the Black Organization shouldn't be too difficult.

(From now on, it's a 'siege with reinforcements'...! The tide of battle has turned...!)

Having successfully broken the barrier, I hurried back to Reia and Rose.

Kicking off the ground forcefully, I turned the corner of the second building and froze in disbelief.

"...Reia? ...Rose?"

There they were—Reia and Rose, suspended in mid-air by black shadows.

Tentacle-like shadows restrained their hands and feet, and they didn't move an inch.

"Hehe...? A bit too late, Allen?"

Dodoriel, noticing me, smiled with a sticky grin, and my blood boiled.

"...Move."

I closed the distance to Dorodiel in a single step,

"What!?"

And delivered a powerful mid-level kick to his side.

"Fast!? Gah...!"

He flew away at an incredible speed and crashed into the wall of the building.

In that moment, I cut through his black shadow with a single strike and freed Reia and Rose.

Placing my hands on their chests, I felt strong heartbeats.

"...Good. Really, good..."

They had external injuries, but none were too deep.

They were likely strangled by those black shadows.

As I heaved a sigh of relief,

"Hehe, as expected of my Allen...! You've become even stronger...!"

Dodoriel, pushing aside the debris of the building and bleeding from his forehead, stood up.

"...Dodoriel. This is the second time."

This is the second time he has laid hands on Reia and Rose.

"I've reached my limit... I will cut you down here and now...!"

I released darkness from my entire body and donned the 'Pitch-Black Cloak.'

It was blacker than any darkness I had ever seen and fit my body perfectly.

"Ah...! Good, Allen! Perfect! Come on, let's kill each other...!"

And so, the fateful battle between me and Dorodiel began.