The Villain Professor's Second Chance

Chapter 37: Phase Three (1) The Attack

As they approached the abandoned church, its once-majestic spires now crumbling and shrouded in darkness, an unsettling feeling settled over the group. The church loomed like a ghost from the past, its decaying structure a stark reminder of the shadows they fought against. Sophie signaled for her knights to move in, and they entered the building with weapons drawn and senses heightened.

Inside, the air was thick with the scent of decay and a strange, metallic tang. The pews were overturned, and the altar, once a place of reverence, was now desecrated with symbols of dark rituals. As they moved deeper into the church, they discovered more evidence of the Deadly Hollows' malevolent activities—magical artifacts, blood-stained runes, and grotesque effigies.

Sophie's ice-blue eyes scanned the surroundings, taking in the details with a mixture of revulsion and determination. Sharon, her adjutant and trusted friend, moved beside her, her wind mana subtly swirling around her, ready to be unleashed at a moment's notice.

"Keep your guard up," Sophie whispered, her voice barely audible. "This place is a nest of vipers."

"Argh!"

Suddenly, a shout rang out from one of the knights, followed by the clash of steel. The Deadly Hollows had sprung their ambush. Dark-clad figures emerged from the shadows, their eyes glinting with malice. The air was filled with the sounds of battle—swords clanging, spells crackling, and the cries of combatants.

"Argh!" a knight cried out as he was struck by a shadowy figure. Sophie turned sharply, her sword a blur of motion.

"Not so easy!" she yelled, meeting the first enemy that came at her. Her blade met resistance, the clash of metal on metal sending vibrations up her arm. She twisted, using her opponent's momentum to throw him off balance, then followed up with a swift, precise strike that felled him.

Nearby, Sharon fought with fierce determination. Her wind mana enhanced her agility and speed, allowing her to dart around her enemies. She struck with deadly precision, her blade flashing as she moved. "I'll get you!" she shouted, her voice filled with resolve.

The knights pressed on, cutting down the enemies that barred their path. Sophie and Sharon led their team down a spiraling staircase that descended into the bowels of the church. The further they went, the darker and more oppressive the atmosphere became. The walls were lined with more symbols and artifacts, each one radiating a sinister energy.

"Go on, Lady Icevern! We'll handle these crooks," Graham uttered as he held his greatsword high with Aldren behind him. Despite their often bickering, their teamwork in battles proves to be one of the best.

Sophie nodded. "Sharon, with me!"

At the bottom of the staircase, they reached a massive, ornately carved door. Sophie pushed it open, revealing a vast underground chamber lit by flickering torches. In the center of the room stood a figure, his presence commanding and unmistakable. This was Revenant, the leader of the Deadly Hollows.

Revenant turned to face them, his expression one of shock and surprise that quickly turned to annoyance. He was tall and imposing, with eyes that seemed to pierce through the darkness. Without a word, he uncorked a vial and drank its contents. His body convulsed briefly, then he straightened, a dark aura emanating from him.

"Welcome, Lady Icevern," he sneered, his voice dripping with contempt. "I didn't expect you to make it this far. No matter. You and your knights will die here."

Sophie stepped forward, her sword at the ready. "We're here to end this, Revenant. Your reign of terror is over."

Revenant laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. "Bold words. Let's see if you can back them up."

With a sudden burst of speed, he lunged at Sophie. She parried his attack, their swords clashing with a shower of sparks. The force of the blow pushed her back, but she regained her footing quickly, countering with a series of rapid strikes. Revenant blocked each one, his movements fluid and precise.

Sharon moved to flank him, her wind mana swirling around her. She unleashed a blast of wind, aiming to throw him off balance. Revenant dodged, his eyes narrowing as he assessed her. He swung his sword in a wide arc, forcing both women to step back.

"You think you can defeat me?" Revenant taunted, his voice echoing in the chamber. "I am beyond your reach."

Sophie's eyes blazed with determination. "We'll see about that."

She channeled her ice mana, the air around her growing cold. Frost formed on the ground beneath her feet, and with a powerful gesture, she sent shards of ice hurtling toward Revenant. He deflected some with his sword, but a few struck home, piercing his armor and drawing blood.

"Ah!" Revenant's expression twisted with rage. "You'll pay for that!"

He raised his hand, dark energy gathering around him. The ground shook as he unleashed a torrent of shadows, the malevolent force surging towards Sophie and Sharon. Sharon countered with a gale of wind, the two opposing forces clashing in a spectacular display of power.

"Keep him busy!" Sophie shouted over the roar of the elemental battle. "I'll find an opening!"

Sharon nodded, her focus unwavering. She darted around Revenant, her wind mana aiding her movements. She struck with her blade, quick and precise, each hit chipping away at his defenses. Revenant snarled, his attention divided between the two women.

"Not so fast!" Sharon taunted, her eyes gleaming with determination.

Sophie watched for her moment, her ice mana ready to strike. She saw a flicker of weakness in Revenant's stance and seized the opportunity. With a fierce cry, she launched herself at him, her sword glowing with icy blue light. She struck with all her might, her blade biting deep into his side.

"Argh!" Revenant roared in pain and fury. He swung his sword wildly, forcing Sophie to retreat. Blood oozed from the wound, staining his armor. He glared at her with a mixture of hatred and grudging respect.

"You're stronger than I anticipated," he admitted, his voice a low growl. "But it won't be enough."

Sophie and Sharon regrouped, their breaths coming in heavy gasps. The battle was far from over, and they knew they couldn't afford to let their guard down.

"We need to finish this," Sharon said, her eyes locked on Revenant.

Sophie nodded. "Yes. Let's do it together."

They moved in unison, their attacks coordinated and relentless. Sophie's ice and Sharon's wind combined in a dazzling display of elemental power, each strike driving Revenant back. He fought with desperation, his movements growing more erratic as he struggled to fend off their assault.

Finally, with a final, devastating blow, Sophie's sword pierced Revenant's heart. He staggered, his eyes wide with disbelief. He tried to speak, but no words came. He fell to his knees, his life force draining away.

"It's over," Sophie said quietly, her voice filled with exhaustion and relief.

Revenant's body collapsed to the ground, the dark aura dissipating. The chamber fell silent, the echoes of battle fading into the stillness.

Sophie and Sharon stood victorious, their bodies weary but their spirits unbroken. They had faced the leader of the Deadly Hollows and emerged triumphant.

"We did it," Sharon said, a tired smile spreading across her face.

But Sophie felt something a miss.

Suddenly, Revenant's body crumbled into dark dust, and the both of them clutched the hilt of their swords tightly at the sight.

"Yes. You did it," A woman appeared from a battered door of the chamber. "Entering our trap, just like a great fool,"

Not just one, but several figures appeared from the rest of the doors from various directions.

"Sophie Lydaria Seralina von Icevern. What a disastrously and unnecessary long name," A deep voice appeared from the left.

"How dare you insult Lady Sophie!" Sharon shouts, enraged.

"Fufufu! Look at the little puppy barking in anger. How foolish," A small man appeared from the right.

"Yeah! I bet she would look fine when broken," A big muscular man appeared from the front.

And finally.

"I never thought the image of me inside you was that weak, Selene," The voice that was similar to the Revenant that they just killed appeared from behind them.

"So it was just sorcery?" Sophie asked coldly. "Another dark magic, formed by the witch over there?" Sophie points at Selene with her chin.

Selene's lips curled into a wicked smile, her eyes gleaming with malice. "Very perceptive, Lady Icevern. But perception alone won't save you." She raised her hands, and dark energy began to coalesce around her, casting eerie shadows across the chamber.

The other figures closed in, their expressions ranging from malevolent glee to cold determination. Sophie and Sharon found themselves surrounded, the odds growing ever more daunting.

"Stay close," Sophie murmured to Sharon, her eyes flicking between their enemies, analyzing their movements. "We'll have to fight our way out."

Sharon nodded, her wind mana already swirling protectively around them. "Ready when you are, my Lady,"

The muscular man lunged first, his massive fists swinging with brute force. Sophie sidestepped, her blade slicing across his arm. He roared in pain, but it only seemed to fuel his rage.

"Gotcha!" the small man hissed, darting forward with a dagger aimed at Sharon. She deflected the blow with a gust of wind, then retaliated with a powerful kick that sent him sprawling.

Selene watched the skirmish with an air of detached amusement. "Is this the best the knights of Icevern can muster? Pathetic."

Sophie ignored the taunt, focusing on the battle. Her ice mana surged, forming a protective barrier around her and Sharon. The knights' training and synergy were evident in their movements; they fought as one, their attacks complementing each other.

"Let's finish this quickly,"