Chapter 163: Wow! The Iona Bus!

Chapter 163: Wow! The Iona Bus!

Everyone, get ready with your magic. It would be even better if we sprinkled some Undead Assimilation Potion.

Creak.

A hand with nothing but white bones sticking out emerged from the ground.

It was the welcoming hand of the dead.

By now, the cultists, who were busy fueling their own inferiority complexes and proving their faith, must have noticed our presence.

Shield!

Shield, Invisible Guardian!

Carla and Elisha quickly cast their shields first.

Since I was already wearing several defensive magical items, instead of casting a shield myself, I pulled out a sky-blue potion from my inventory.

Right around when the skeletons had fully emerged, I sprinkled an Undead Assimilation Potion on each of our heads.

Then, I took out another bottle and asked Iona.

Should I sprinkle some on you, Professor?

No! No! Im a vampire, so the effects are a bit lost on me!

Ah.

Right. Vampires werent exactly a common race. Being classified as undead and dealing with blood meant they were overflowing with vitality.

Iona smiled wickedly at the skeletons beginning to stand up.

And theres no need to confuse the senses!

Iona raised one hand and chanted a short spell.

As much as I weep blood, let my enemies pour out their lives. Blood Rain!

Snap!

The moment she snapped her fingers.

Out of nowhere, blood started to rain down from the sky, targeting everywhere but where we were. And then

Bubble, bubble.

The skeletons began to melt away from where the blood droplets touched.

-Grooo.

-Click, clack.

-Keeeuk.

The undead, having risen just a short while ago, sat back down and sank into the dirt.

It wasnt elemental magic, but her main skill, blood magic.

Considering that Iona, a high-level magician, chanted even briefly, it must be a mid-level magic spell.

In just a few seconds, the surrounding undead were cleanly swept away.

Iona proudly puffed out her rather impressive chest towards us, who awkwardly lowered our staffs.

Ahem! Ahem! Now do you see what Professor Iona is capable of? Dont worry too much, and just stick close and follow! Ill send a few your way later to deal with! They wont count towards your grade, but Ill be watching, so do your best to take them down!

Iona, with her index fingers at her eyes, made a stern face in jest.

We smiled at her antics and braced ourselves.

Understood. Then well be counting on you to lead.

Uh?

Iona hesitated for a moment, but upon seeing our well-practiced triangular formation, her bloody eyes widened.

Excellent! Excellent! Then lets start now! We just need to go down to the basement of the cabin, right?

Well thats true, but seeing the Professors firepower, it seems unnecessary to go down through a trap-laden passage. We could set something up from our side to prevent them from escaping

Recalling the structure of the underground facility known among users as the cabin branch, I tapped the ground with my foot, estimating a suitable spot.

Professor Iona, could you collapse this area, please?

Argh!

The branch head tried to force his eyes open but ultimately couldnt resist the physiological reaction and closed them.

The nerve. Trying to use your evil eye on me

Crack!

Aaaahhhhhhh!!

Um, yeah.

Before I could finish my sentence, the divided thorns pierced both of his eyes, blinding him.

Iona, the owner of the thorns, gave me a wink as if to say well done, then immediately kicked the branch heads shin with a serious face.

Thud!

Urgh!

You. You dare to glare at my student like that? It seems like you dont understand the situation From now on, youll spill everything you know.

Heh cough. The Cardinal of Intolerance watches over this place with a biased eye. You wont hear anything from me Aaaahhh!

The thorns that crushed his eyes wriggled, injecting something into the inside of the branch head.

He started foaming at the mouth and then stopped talking.

Iona tapped the shin she had hit earlier with a look so sharp it seemed it could cut, chillingly cold.

Thats for me to decide. Not you or your god. I, Iona Francheska, will decide. Got it?

Y-you madwoman

Though he was cursing Iona, his voice had noticeably less bite than before.

Why was Iona so intimidating when faced with a cultist right in front of her?

In H&A, Iona rarely showed her fighting seriously, so I didnt realize

This is what it felt like.

My admiration and bewilderment were short-lived as Iona, returning from her cruel vampire charisma to her usual goofiness, pointed towards the office door with a giggle.

Student Yandel! Student Yandel! The earlier scream will bring other cultists here! While I interrogate this one, could you take care of the intruders?

Grr Okay, leave it to me.

She must have planned this from the start.

With the Curtain of Vampirism blocking our retreat, all the remaining cultists and monsters would rush towards us.

But this was a small branch in the mountains.

Even if they come in large numbers, theyd be at most lay followers or low-level undead.

That would be manageable.

Maybe Id even finish cleaning up before Ionas interrogation was over.

I stepped forward towards the door and said,

Elisha, you stay by my side and prevent them from approaching. Carla, Ill leave the heavy hitting to you in the meantime.

Sure. Ill take this opportunity to show you that I havent just been idling around.

You can count on me, Master! Thanks to you, Ive become a bit stronger than before!

I smiled warmly at their reliable responses, and I gathered my magic.

Frozen chill. Soaring spear. Pierce through, Ice Spear.

Ssshhh!

The sharp ice that formed at the tip of my staff was launched towards the door.

Crack!

Aaaahhhhh!

The sound of wood breaking was followed by a high-pitched scream.

The signal that the cultist subjugation had begun.