Villainous Instructor at the Academy
Chapter 71: No mercy

Chapter 71: No mercy

We didn’t get far before they found us again.

"Move!" I barked, pushing the group forward.

The mist was thick, but it wasn’t hiding us anymore.

"Professor..." Mira’s voice was tight, her eyes scanning the shifting fog.

"Yeah," I muttered. "I feel it."

They were close.

Julien’s grip on his sword tightened. "They’re not giving up."

"Of course not," I muttered. "They want the damn scale."

Leo was moving better now, but I wasn’t sure how long that would last. Wallace was barely standing, and Felix was struggling to keep him upright.

"Felix," I murmured.

"I’m fine," he muttered, though his face said otherwise.

Damn it.

"Just hold on," I murmured. "Almost out."

"Not quite."

That voice.

I didn’t need to turn.

"Elias," I muttered under my breath.

"Miss me?"

Bastard.

We turned—and there they were.

The second search team.

Ten of them.

Armed.

Ready.

And pissed.

"Professor..." Julien’s voice was low, his stance shifting.

"Hold."

Elias stepped forward, a smirk on his face despite the blood still dripping from his arm.

"Thought you could sneak off?" he murmured, his eyes locked on me.

"Thought I told you to stay down," I muttered.

"Funny," he murmured. "I was about to say the same thing."

Mana.

Incoming.

"Scatter!" I barked.

Boom.

A blast of mana ripped through the mist, forcing us to split.

Julien and Mira moved fast, vanishing into the fog.

"Felix, go!" I barked, pushing him and Wallace to the side.

Leo stayed close, his steps steady but his grip on his dagger was weak.

"Leo," I murmured. "Stay with me."

He nodded. Barely.

"Good."

Time to end this.

Elias didn’t wait.

He moved fast, his sword flashing through the mist as he came straight for me.

Clang.

I blocked with my cane, mana flaring as I pushed him back.

"Still standing?" he murmured, eyes narrowing.

"Getting tired of this," I muttered.

"Good," he murmured. "Then let’s finish it."

Clang.

He pressed harder, his strikes faster—stronger.

But I wasn’t alone.

"Not today."

Julien.

His blade came down hard, forcing Elias back.

"Miss me?" Julien grinned, his mana flaring as he pressed the attack.

"Annoying as ever," Elias growled, deflecting the strike.

"Less talking, more fighting," Mira murmured, her dagger lashing out from the side.

Clang.

Elias barely blocked in time, but he was losing ground.

"Focus!" Elias barked.

The rest of his team moved.

"Here we go," Julien muttered.

Class B wasn’t holding back.

"Wallace!" I barked.

"On it!"

Despite being drained, Wallace pulled out a rune-carved stone, slamming it into the ground.

Boom.

A shockwave erupted, scattering the mist and forcing Class B back.

"Move!" I barked.

We surged forward.

Julien clashed with a swordsman, their blades ringing through the clearing.

Mira was a shadow, her dagger flashing as she struck from the sides, keeping them off balance.

"Felix!" I barked.

"Covering!" Felix had finally gotten Wallace to safety and was now hurling firebolts, keeping the pressure on.

"Leo," I murmured softly.

His grip on the dagger tightened.

"I’m ready," he whispered.

Good.

"Stay with me."

Elias pushed forward again, his mana flaring.

He was done playing.

"Julien!"

"On it!"

Julien was already moving, intercepting Elias before he could close the gap.

Clang.

Sparks flew as their blades clashed, but Elias was stronger.

"Damn it," Julien hissed, forced back.

"Help him!" I barked.

Mira was already there, her dagger lashing out in quick, precise strikes.

Elias was fast.

Too fast.

"Professor!"

Felix’s voice echoed, and I barely moved in time—

Boom.

A blast of mana surged toward me.

I threw up a barrier, barely absorbing the impact.

Damn.

"They’re pushing hard," Felix hissed.

"No kidding," I muttered.

Time to change that.

"Wallace!" I barked.

"Got one left!" he hissed, pulling another rune.

"Use it."

He slammed it into the ground—

Boom.

The ground trembled, vines erupting from the earth and lashing out.

It wasn’t perfect.

But it bought us time.

"Now!" I barked.

"Julien, Mira—push!"

They didn’t hesitate.

Julien surged forward, his blade flashing.

Clang.

He forced Elias back.

Mira struck from the side, her dagger slicing close.

"Felix, cover!"

"On it!"

Firebolts flew, keeping the other B-Class members from closing in.

They were on the defensive now.

"Professor!"

Julien’s voice was tight, his mana flickering.

"Switch!" I barked.

Julien fell back, and I stepped forward.

"Elias," I murmured.

He was breathing harder now, his mana strained.

"Still standing?" I murmured.

"Not for long," he growled.

"Let’s see."

Clang.

Our weapons met, mana surging.

I pushed.

Hard.

"You’re done," I muttered, pouring everything I had into the strike.

Crack.

Elias’ sword shattered.

Wide open.

"Julien!"

"Got it!"

Clang.

Julien’s blade came down—

Elias barely dodged, stumbling back.

"Not this time," Mira murmured, her dagger striking true.

Slash.

Elias dropped.

Down.

"Professor..." Julien panted.

"Finish it," I murmured.

Mira didn’t hesitate.

One clean strike.

Elias was done.

Finally.

"Professor," Felix murmured.

The rest of Class B...

They were backing off.

"Not so tough without your leader," Julien muttered.

"Let them go," I murmured.

They weren’t a threat anymore.

"Felix, check Wallace."

"On it."

I exhaled slowly, the tension finally easing.

"We won?" Leo’s voice was barely above a whisper.

"Yeah," I murmured softly. "We won."

But I didn’t feel relieved.

Because I knew...

This wasn’t over.

Not yet.

"Don’t celebrate yet," I muttered, my eyes locked on the retreating figures of Class B.

Elias was down, but the others...

They weren’t running.

They were regrouping.

"Professor..." Mira’s voice was tight, her eyes narrowing. "They’re not done."

"Yeah," I murmured, my jaw clenching. "I see it."

The ones backing off weren’t leaving.

They were forming a perimeter.

Shit.

"They’re stalling."

"For what?" Julien asked, his sword still raised, but his mana was flickering.

I didn’t answer.

Because I already knew.

"Reinforcements," I muttered.

"Seriously?" Felix groaned, dragging Wallace toward cover.

"Leo," I murmured softly.

He was still standing beside me, his breathing uneven, but his grip on the dagger was steadier.

"I’m ready," he whispered, his voice more certain this time.

"Good," I murmured.

Because this was about to get worse.

Much worse.

A low hum echoed through the mist.

"Professor..." Mira’s voice was sharp now.

"I know," I muttered.

Footsteps.

Dozens of them.

From the mist, they emerged.

The rest of Class B.

Another ten.

Fully armed.

Mana surging.

"Shit," Julien hissed. "They brought backup."

And they weren’t here to play.

"Positions," I barked.

Julien and Mira fell in beside me, their weapons ready.

"Felix, Wallace—stay down. Protect Leo."

Felix gritted his teeth but nodded. Wallace was barely conscious, but he held on.

I’d buy them time.

"Professor..." Julien murmured, his stance shifting.

"We hold," I said softly.

They weren’t backing down.

Neither were we.

No retreat.

No surrender.

"Last chance," I murmured, my eyes narrowing. "Walk away."

Elias’ second-in-command stepped forward.

Marcus.

Of course.

"Not happening," Marcus murmured, his eyes cold. "You have what we want."

"Over my dead body," I muttered.

"Easily arranged."

Figures.

"Julien."

"On it."

Clang.

Julien met the first strike head-on, his sword clashing with Marcus’.

"Stay sharp," I barked, my cane already raised.

Mira disappeared into the mist, her dagger flashing as she went for the weak points.

"Felix, cover!" I barked.

"Got it!"

Fire.

Felix hurled a barrage of firebolts, forcing Class B’s mages to fall back.

But they weren’t unprepared.

"Barrier!" someone barked.

A shimmering shield of mana flared to life, blocking Felix’s assault.

Damn.

"They’re coordinated," I muttered, my jaw tightening.

"Not for long," Julien grunted, pressing Marcus hard.

Clang.

Their blades clashed again, mana flaring between them.

Mira struck from the side, her dagger aiming for Marcus’ exposed flank—

But he was ready.

Clang.

He spun, blocking her strike and forcing her back.

"Watch it!" Julien hissed, barely deflecting another blow.

"On it," Mira growled, her eyes narrowing.

Too fast.

Too coordinated.

"Professor!" Felix barked.

I spun—

Boom.

A bolt of lightning surged toward us.

"Down!" I barked, throwing up a barrier.

The bolt slammed into the shield, dispersing the energy—but the force still pushed me back.

Damn.

"Professor..." Leo’s voice was tight.

"I’m fine," I muttered, but my hands were trembling.

This was bad.

"Julien, Mira—fall back!"

"Not happening!" Julien growled, his blade flashing as he deflected another strike.

But I could see it.

They were tiring.

Marcus pressed harder, his strikes heavier—faster.

Julien was barely keeping up.

"Switch!" I barked.

Julien fell back just as I stepped in.

Clang.

Our weapons met, mana surging.

"Not bad," Marcus murmured, his smirk widening.

"Not trying to impress," I muttered, pushing back hard.

But he was strong.

Too strong.

"Julien, catch your breath," I muttered through gritted teeth.

"Got it," he panted, moving back.

Time to change the flow.

"Mira," I murmured.

"Already on it."

She was gone.

Silent.

Deadly.

I kept Marcus occupied, my strikes steady—controlled.

He was stronger, but I was smarter.

"Getting tired yet?" I muttered.

"Not even close," Marcus sneered.

Good.

"Neither am I."

Clang.

I deflected his next strike—

And that’s when Mira struck.

Slash.

Her dagger bit deep into his side.

"Argh!" Marcus staggered, blood dripping from the wound.

"Got you," Mira murmured, her eyes narrowing.

But he wasn’t down.

"Bastard!" Marcus roared, his mana surging.

"Julien!" I barked.

"On it!"

Julien surged forward, his sword flashing—

Clang.

He met Marcus head-on, his strikes relentless.

"Push him!" I barked.

Julien didn’t hesitate.

Clang.

Strike.

Clang.

Strike.

Marcus was losing ground.

Good.

"Felix!" I barked.

"Ready!"

"Now!"

Felix hurled a burst of mana straight at Marcus—

Boom.

The explosion knocked him off balance.

"Finish it!" I barked.

Julien didn’t hesitate.

Slash.

His blade struck true, cutting deep.

Marcus fell.

Down.

"Professor..." Julien panted.

"Stay sharp," I muttered, my eyes scanning the battlefield.

Class B wasn’t giving up.

They were regrouping.

Again.

"Damn it," I muttered.

"They’re not stopping," Mira murmured, her eyes narrowing.

"No," I murmured softly.

They wouldn’t.

"Julien, Mira—form up."

"Felix, protect Wallace and Leo."

"Got it."

I exhaled slowly, my grip tightening on my cane.

We weren’t done.

"Professor..." Julien’s voice was tight.

"They want a fight?" I murmured softly.

My mana surged.

They’ll get one.

"Let’s finish this."

No mercy.

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