Villainous Instructor at the Academy
Chapter 72: Phantom

Chapter 72: Phantom

The clearing was a mess—scorched earth, bloodstains, and the stench of burnt mana thick in the air. But it wasn’t over.

Not yet.

Class B’s second team was still standing.

Bruised.

Bloodied.

But far from broken.

They were regrouping, their mana surging as they closed ranks.

"Damn it," Julien muttered, wiping blood from his mouth. "They just don’t quit."

"Neither do we," I murmured, my cane still humming with residual mana.

We couldn’t afford to stop.

"Felix," I called softly.

"Still here," Felix muttered, his hands trembling but his fireball steady. Wallace was behind him, barely staying upright.

"Leo?"

"Alive," Leo whispered, but his voice was distant.

The tether was still there. Weak, but not gone.

Later.

I couldn’t deal with that now.

"Wallace, how much mana do you have left?"

"Enough for... one good cast," Wallace rasped, sweat dripping down his face.

"Save it," I murmured.

We’d need it.

Julien, Mira, and I stood at the front.

Class B was forming up again—this time, more focused.

No recklessness.

No mistakes.

They’d learned.

Good.

"Professor," Mira murmured, her voice low.

"I know," I muttered.

Class B’s mages were shifting positions, moving to the back to provide cover fire.

Their swordsmen moved forward, forming a defensive wall.

Standard formation.

They’re trying to box us in.

"Julien," I murmured softly.

"On it," he muttered, shifting his stance.

"Same plan," I said, my eyes narrowing. "Mira—disrupt."

"Got it."

"Felix—fire suppression."

"Always."

"Wallace..." I hesitated.

"I know," he murmured, his voice weak but steady.

I gave a curt nod.

Time to finish this.

"Alright," I murmured, my mana building.

"Let’s end this."

Class B struck first.

Boom.

A barrage of firebolts surged toward us, the mages pouring their remaining mana into the attack.

"Down!" I barked.

Julien and Mira ducked, and I raised a barrier—

Crack.

The bolts slammed into the shield, the force pushing me back a step.

"Felix!" I barked.

"On it!"

Felix retaliated, hurling a volley of fireballs toward their formation.

Boom.

The mages scrambled to raise their shields, but they weren’t fast enough.

One went down, his barrier shattering.

"Now!" I barked.

Julien and Mira surged forward.

Clang.

Julien’s sword met steel, sparks flying as he clashed with Class B’s lead swordsman.

Clang.

Mira darted between the gaps, her dagger flashing as she went for weak points.

They were holding.

For now.

But we weren’t playing fair.

"Wallace," I murmured, my voice low.

"Ready..."

I felt his mana surge.

This was it.

"Now!" I barked.

Wallace raised his hand, pouring the last of his mana into the ground.

Boom.

The earth beneath Class B’s formation cracked, sending a shockwave through their ranks.

They stumbled.

"Go!" I roared.

Julien and Mira didn’t hesitate.

Clang.

Julien’s sword flashed, slicing through their line.

Mira was a shadow, her dagger finding flesh as she danced between their defenses.

But they weren’t done.

"Push harder!" I barked, my cane humming as I poured mana into it.

Crack.

I slammed it into the ground—

A burst of force rippled outward, knocking back the closest enemies.

"Felix!" I barked.

"Got it!"

Boom.

Another burst of fire surged toward the mages.

They barely blocked it—

But they were slowing.

Good.

"Julien!"

"On it!"

Julien pushed harder, his blade cutting through their defenses.

Clang.

One down.

Clang.

Another.

"Damn it!" Marcus, still bleeding, pushed forward.

"You’re still standing?" I muttered, my eyes narrowing.

Fine.

"Julien, Mira—fall back."

"Professor—"

"Now."

They didn’t argue.

I stepped forward, my cane humming with mana.

"You don’t know when to quit, do you?" I muttered softly.

Marcus’ eyes were wild, his mana flaring erratically.

"You took Elias down," he growled. "I’m not leaving without payback."

"Funny," I murmured. "Neither am I."

Clang.

Our weapons met, mana surging between us.

But Marcus was slower now.

Tired.

Desperate.

I kept my movements sharp, controlled.

Clang.

Strike.

Clang.

Deflect.

His swings grew sloppier.

Good.

"Professor!"

Julien’s warning came too late.

Boom.

A burst of mana surged from Marcus, wild and uncontrolled.

I barely blocked it in time, the force pushing me back.

Shit.

But I wasn’t alone.

"Now!"

Mira appeared from the side—

Slash.

Her dagger found its mark, slicing deep into Marcus’ leg.

"Argh!"

He staggered, his balance gone.

"Julien!" I barked.

"On it!"

Clang.

Julien’s sword flashed—

Slash.

Marcus fell.

Down.

"Not bad," I muttered, my breath heavy.

But it wasn’t over.

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

I looked up.

Class B’s remaining mages were still standing.

Barely.

But they were charging one final spell.

Shit.

"Get down!" I barked.

Boom.

A wave of force erupted from their final attack—

But we were ready.

"Wallace!"

"Got it!"

A barrier flared to life, absorbing most of the impact.

Crack.

It held—barely.

When the smoke cleared...

They were down.

All of them.

Silence.

"Is... is it over?" Felix murmured.

I didn’t answer.

I was scanning the area, senses stretched.

Waiting.

Nothing.

"Yeah," I muttered softly. "It’s over."

For now.

"Professor..." Mira murmured, her voice tight.

I turned.

Leo was on his knees again, his breathing shallow.

Damn it.

The tether.

It was still there.

"We need to move," I murmured softly.

"Where?" Julien asked, his voice rough.

"Phantom Fish Scale," I said softly, my jaw tight.

We weren’t done.

Not even close.

And whatever was waiting...

It wasn’t going to be easy.

The forest was too damn quiet.

No birds.

No rustling leaves.

Just... silence.

And I didn’t trust it.

"Stay close," I murmured, leading the group deeper into the woods.

Leo was walking beside me, but his steps were sluggish. His face was pale, sweat dripping down his temple.

The tether was still draining him.

Not much time left.

"Wallace," I murmured softly.

"Still breathing," he muttered, his voice weak. His mana was spent, but he was still on his feet.

Good.

"Julien, Mira—take point," I ordered.

"Got it," Julien murmured, his sword ready.

Mira melted into the shadows beside him, her dagger glinting faintly.

Felix and Leo stayed close behind me, while Wallace held the rear.

Formation solid.

But the tension in the air was thick.

"Professor," Julien muttered after a while. "We’re getting close."

I felt it too.

The mana was... shifting.

Thicker. Heavier.

"Phantom Fish Scale..." I murmured, my eyes narrowing.

We were almost there.

But something was—

"Stop," I ordered, my voice sharp.

Everyone froze.

"What is it?" Felix whispered.

I didn’t answer.

My eyes scanned the clearing ahead.

There.

The pond.

The water was unnaturally still, reflecting the moonlight like a perfect mirror.

And at the center—

Shimmer.

A faint glow.

"Phantom Fish," I murmured, eyes narrowing.

The scale was barely visible, floating just beneath the surface.

But we weren’t alone.

Movement.

"Shit," Julien hissed, his eyes narrowing.

"Class B," Mira murmured, her tone tight.

Across the clearing, shadows moved.

Six figures.

Second search team.

And they weren’t wasting time.

"They’re going for the scale," Felix whispered.

"Not on my watch," I muttered, my jaw tightening.

"Professor..." Mira’s voice was calm, but I caught the edge of worry.

"I know."

Class B wasn’t here for a friendly chat.

They wanted that scale.

And they’d fight for it.

Fine.

"Positions," I murmured, my voice low.

Julien and Mira moved immediately, flanking left.

"Felix, Wallace—cover the right."

"Leo," I murmured softly.

"I... I’m okay," he whispered, but I could see the strain.

He wasn’t okay.

But we didn’t have a choice.

"Stay with me," I murmured.

He nodded, his jaw tight.

Class B was already closing in.

"Six of them," Julien muttered, eyes sharp.

"They’re splitting up," Mira added softly.

Smart.

They were trying to flank us.

But I wasn’t about to let that happen.

"Wallace," I murmured.

"Yeah?"

"Cut off the left."

"On it."

He knelt, tracing a quick rune into the dirt.

Spark.

Mana surged, and a wall of earth erupted between Class B’s left flank and the pond.

"Nice," Julien murmured, his grip tightening on his sword.

But the other four weren’t stopping.

They were moving fast—too fast.

"Felix," I barked.

"Already on it."

Boom.

A fireball surged toward their lead fighter.

He dodged—

But barely.

"Now!" I barked.

Julien surged forward, his sword flashing.

Clang.

Their swords met, sparks flying as mana clashed.

Mira was a shadow, her dagger already moving—

Slash.

A quick strike to their mage’s shoulder.

"Damn it!" he hissed, stumbling back.

But they weren’t backing down.

Clang. Clang.

Steel met steel as Julien and Mira held the front line.

Felix kept throwing fireballs, forcing their mages to stay defensive.

"Wallace—barrier!" I barked.

He raised his hand, pouring what little mana he had left into a thin barrier.

It wouldn’t hold for long.

"Leo," I murmured softly.

His breathing was labored, but he was still standing.

"Stay with me," I whispered.

He nodded weakly, his eyes flickering.

But the tether was pulling harder.

We needed that scale.

"Professor!" Julien grunted, barely holding his ground.

I clenched my jaw.

Time to finish this.

"Mira, disrupt their mages!" I barked.

"On it!"

She slipped into the shadows, her dagger flashing as she circled their backline.

"Julien—hold the front."

"Always."

Boom.

Another fireball from Felix—

Clang.

Julien’s sword clashed against their lead fighter again, pushing him back.

But they were regrouping.

They weren’t done yet.

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

"I know," I murmured.

My cane pulsed with mana.

Enough waiting.

"Cover me."

Julien’s eyes flickered with understanding.

"Go."

I surged forward.

Class B’s leader noticed too late.

Crack.

My cane struck the ground—

Mana surged.

The ground beneath them shifted—

Boom.

An eruption of force sent them staggering back.

"Felix!"

"On it!"

Boom.

A burst of flames surged toward their formation, forcing them to scatter.

"Julien!"

"Here!"

Clang.

Julien’s sword met their lead fighter again, but this time—

Slash.

Mira’s dagger found his side.

"Argh!"

He staggered.

"Now!" I barked.

I surged toward the pond—

The Phantom Fish’s glow shimmered beneath the surface.

Almost there.

"Not so fast."

Class B’s last mage was waiting.

His hands glowed with mana—

"Shit."

Boom.

A burst of wind surged toward me.

I barely raised a barrier in time, but the force pushed me back.

Damn it.

"Professor!"

Leo’s voice was faint—

But he was moving.

"No—"

Too late.

Leo’s hand was outstretched, reaching for the scale.

The tether.

It surged.

Shit.

"Leo!" I barked, moving toward him—

But it was too late.

His fingers brushed the scale—

And the world...

Shifted.

"Professor..."

Leo’s voice echoed—

But it wasn’t coming from him.

It was deeper.

Darker.

No.

"Leo!" I surged forward, grabbing him before he fell—

But the damage was done.

The scale pulsed—

And whatever was inside... woke up.

"Professor..." Leo’s voice was barely a whisper.

"Stay with me," I murmured, my grip tightening.

But I could feel it.

Something was coming.

Something... worse.

And this time...

We weren’t ready.

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