abcnovels
Chapter 85 Another Academy Attack?!!!
Chapter 85 Another Academy Attack?!!!
Name: Rex Xander
Level: 25
XP to next level: 50,000/350,000
Race: Human
Class: Cerberus Slayer (Effect: gains 2x more XP from killing wolf-like creatures)
Strength: 118
Agility: 126
Endurance: 108
Intelligence: 88
Aether: 70/70
Available ability points: 30
Active Skills
Temporal rift (Level 1) XP to next level: 0/100
Time rewind(Level 2) XP to next level: 0/100
Passive Skills
Fate's eyes
Titan's will: Cooldown time left(26 hours)
"30 ability points....how do I do this?" Rex mused as he looked at his stat panel.
"Thou art not been paying heed to thy Intelligence stat a lot" Cronus spoke in an advising tone.
"Intelligence uh?... Hmm... Yeah, that doesn't sound bad at all, I guess I'll drop 20 stat points in there for now" Rex said.
+20 stat Points to intelligence
+10 stat points to Agility.
His new stats appeared as usual...
Name: Rex Xander
Level: 25
XP to next level: 50,000/350,000
Race: Human
Class: Cerberus Slayer (Effect: gains 2x more XP from killing wolf-like creatures)
Strength: 118
Agility: 136
Endurance: 108
Intelligence: 108
Aether: 70/70
Available ability points: 0
Active Skills
Temporal rift (Level 1) XP to next level: 0/100
Time rewind(Level 2) XP to next level: 0/100
Passive Skills
Fate's eyes
Titan's will: Cooldown time left(30 hours)
"Yeah...great!" Rex smiled.
"Harbinger, Dost thou not feel something wrong?"
Rex turned his head, looking sideways "Uh? What's wrong?" He asked after finding nothing.
"Thou hast only been focused on thine physical stats for a while now..."
"And.....?" Rex arched a brow
Cronus continued after heaving a heavy sigh "Thou hast not paid attention to thine main abilities.... the purpose of your existence, your strength as an harbinger!"
"Um.... could you break it down?" Rex asked
Cronus sighed again "Thou hast paid no attention to thy time powers, thou art never used thine time powers often in battle ever since thy return from the fight with Charon!"
Rex's eyes widened in surprise "Shit! That's....that's..... how the hell did I even forget about my powers?!...Dammit.... Dammit! I've been too focused on my speed and Aether control for a while now!" He gasped.
"Yea! Hence, thou should try developing your time powers more and more... for it shall be thy real friend in battle!"
"Got that! Got that! Cronus... Anytime I forget to use my time powers in a battle, Sieze my Aether, got it?!"
Cronus just sighed in response, half-wondering is his choice of picking Rex as his harbinger was worth it. Sieze his Aether during battle? If he did that, how would he be able to use his time powers? He'll be just helpless in battle.
Meanwhile back at the academy
"Attention all students! Operation clear all assassins have been concluded! The school grounds are now free from danger! Safe zone will now open up in 10, 9, 8, 7..."
Seraphina's expression was that of worry. Although she knew Jefferson was there to protect Rex, she just couldn't stop worrying about him. "What if her father took advantage of this situation to attack him!"
"Anything the matter, Sera" Brenda walked closer to her, Magnus by her side. The two of them had recovered from their injuries, thanks to the treatment Lyra and the support team had administered.
Brenda, she was from the Voss family and she knows I am from the Valenbrook family.... But ever since, she's always been acting like she doesn't even know about the rivalry between both our families
"No, noth...nothing!, nothing's wrong" Seraphina stuttered.
"You just stuttered twice, c'mon Sera! You should be able to share your probs with us now" Mgnus said "After all, you're mah buddy Rex's girl so...."
"Shut it Mag!" Brenda interrupted and then turned to Seraphina "Worried bout Rex, are you?"
"Um...no..... not really,.... I mean yes....ugh!" Seraphina facepalmed as she turned around
Safehouse Opened!
(All Dorm-living students will now be teleported to their various dorms in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.....")
Attention once more: Due to some issues, the academy won't be in sessions until further notice! During this time, we we encourage the students not to slack off and still continue training their abilities!"
"Great! Just what I needed...a day off!" Magnus smiled.
"Guess this is it Sera... See ya later!" Brenda spoke as she walked away with Magnus also following...
"Um...wait!" Seraphina shouted after a while. She just had to know...why was Brenda always calm, acting so carefree around her despite knowing her family background.
Brenda turned her head slightly as if she had been expecting the call "What? You got something to say?"
Seraphina hesitated, her gaze flickering between the floor and Brenda's calm, almost knowing expression. She could feel her heart pounding in her chest, the words caught somewhere between her throat and her mind. Finally, she steadied herself and spoke.
"Why?" Seraphina asked, her voice quiet but firm. "Why are you always so... normal around me? You know about the feud between our families, don't you?"
Brenda turned fully, her arms crossed and her face a mask of mild amusement. "Of course, I know," she replied, her tone light but not dismissive. "It's not like the rivalry between the Valenbrooks and the Vosses is some big secret. Everyone in Astral City knows."
Seraphina's cheeks flushed slightly, but she pressed on. "Then why? Why don't you seem to care? My family... my father... they wouldn't hesitate to see yours ruined. And I'm sure your family feels the same about mine."
Brenda let out a short laugh, shaking her head. "Do you really want to know, or are you just fishing for an answer that'll make you feel better?"
The question caught Seraphina off guard. She opened her mouth to reply but found herself at a loss for words. Brenda sighed and stepped closer, her expression softening slightly.
"Look, Sera," Brenda began, her voice dropping to a more serious tone. "I stopped caring about all that family drama a long time ago. The scheming, the backstabbing, the constant measuring of power and influence, it's all pointless to me."
Seraphina blinked. "Pointless? But your family..."
Brenda raised a hand, cutting her off gently but firmly. "Yes, my family. They can do what they want, play their games, fight their wars. I don't care. I decided a long time ago that I wasn't going to let my name define me. Brenda Voss might mean something to them, but to me? It's just a name. It doesn't own me."
Seraphina stared at her, a mix of admiration and confusion in her eyes. "But how? How can you just... not care? Don't you feel any obligation to...."
"No," Brenda interrupted, her voice sharp but not unkind. "I don't. Obligation, loyalty to some abstract idea of family, it's just a leash they use to control you. I've got my own path to walk, my own goals to chase, and I'm not going to let centuries of bad blood cloud my judgment."
Her words hung in the air, and for a moment, Seraphina didn't know how to respond. Brenda's gaze softened as she added, "I don't see you as 'Seraphina Valenbrook.' I see you as Seraphina. That's it. You're a decent person, kind, strong, maybe a little too worried about what people think. But none of that has anything to do with your last name."
Seraphina felt her chest tighten, a warmth blooming within her. She managed a small smile. "Thank you," she said softly. "I... I don't know what to say."
"You don't have to say anything," Brenda replied with a shrug. Then her tone shifted, a teasing glint entering her eyes. "But you could maybe stop looking at me like I'm about to stab you in the back. It's kinda rude."
Seraphina laughed, the tension in her shoulders easing for the first time in days. "I'll work on that."
Brenda grinned. "Good. Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got some 'not caring about family politics' to get back to." She gave a playful wave and started walking away again, Magnus falling into step beside her with a curious glance at Seraphina.
As Brenda's figure disappeared into the distance, Seraphina stood there for a moment, lost in thought. Her world had always been defined by her family's expectations, by the weight of her name. Seeing someone like Brenda, so free from those chains, was both inspiring and intimidating.
"I wonder," she murmured to herself, "if I could ever be like that."
Stay connected with empire
A shadow loomed in the distance over the academy. The air grew cold, thick with an unnatural stillness, as if the world itself held its breath. High above the grounds, a dark figure soared effortlessly, wreathed in a swirling maelstrom of shadows and frost. Lucius Noctis had arrived.
His crimson eyes glowed with malevolence, cutting through the twilight like twin beacons of destruction. His presence was suffocating, his aura heavy with the weight of his newfound godhood. The academy's automated defenses sprang to life, sirens blaring as energy turrets locked onto their target.
"Unidentified hostile detected in restricted airspace! Initiating countermeasures!" came the cold, mechanical announcement.
Turrets fired beams of concentrated energy, but Lucius barely glanced at them. He raised his hand, and with a flick of his wrist, a massive shadow barrier materialized, absorbing the attacks like they were nothing. The beams dissipated harmlessly into the abyssal shield.
"Pathetic," Lucius muttered, his voice low and cold.
From the barracks, soldiers scrambled to their positions. Their synchronized movements betrayed their rigorous training as they launched volleys of attacks. Some wielded energy-infused firearms, while others unleashed elemental abilities, hurling bolts of fire, ice, and lightning at the intruder.
Lucius hovered above them, his expression one of utter disdain. "I do not have time for distractions," he said softly, his voice carrying unnaturally over the battlefield. He extended his arm, and shadows erupted from his hand, coiling like serpents before lashing out. The tendrils moved with horrifying precision, ensnaring the soldiers mid-attack. Cries of panic and agony echoed as the shadows constricted, crushing armor and bone alike.
"Why do you struggle?" Lucius asked, his voice carrying a mocking edge. "You are mere ants beneath my heel, yet you dare resist me?"
A brave soldier with flame-wielding abilities charged forward, his body blazing like a comet as he lunged toward Lucius. "For Astral City!" the soldier roared, hurling a massive fireball directly at him.
Lucius caught the fireball in his palm, the flames snuffed out instantly as the cold of his shadow aura consumed them. He stared at the soldier with a bored expression before raising his hand. A spear of pure darkness materialized and, with a casual flick, pierced the soldier's chest. The man crumpled, lifeless, to the ground.
"Enough," Lucius declared, his voice booming across the battlefield. The remaining soldiers froze, terror rooting them to the spot. "I did not come here to slaughter nameless pawns. My quarrel is not with you."
He descended slowly, his feet touching the ground with a grace that belied the destruction in his wake. The soldiers instinctively stepped back, their resolve crumbling under his oppressive presence.
"Bring them to me," Lucius commanded, his tone absolute. "The heirs of the Valenbrook and Voss families. Seraphina and Brenda. They are the only ones I seek."
A murmur rippled through the ranks of soldiers, many of whom exchanged uneasy glances.
Lucius smirked, sensing their hesitation. "You protect them?" he taunted. "Do you truly believe they would do the same for you? Step aside, and I may yet let you live."
When no one moved, Lucius' eyes narrowed, his voice dripping with malice. "Very well. I shall extract them myself." He raised his hand, and the ground beneath the soldiers trembled as shadows surged forth, swallowing several of them whole.
Within moments, the academy's outer defenses were in shambles, and the air was thick with the acrid smell of burnt metal and despair.
Inside the academy, chaos reigned as students and faculty scrambled for safety. Seraphina and Brenda, having heard the commotion, stood frozen in the hallway, their faces pale.
"What's happening?" Seraphina whispered, her voice trembling.
They had just been discharged from the safehouse, claiming that it was now safe so just what was going on?"