Chapter 421 96.1 - A slight misunderstanding

Chapter 421 96.1 - A slight misunderstanding

'That should do it,' she thought, satisfied. 'Now. Let's see if Irina Emberheart is really hiding her strength or if someone else was there.'

Zafira moved closer to Irina, her eyes narrowing as she scrutinized the unconscious student.

According to what she knew, either Irina Emberheart was hiding her strength, or she was not the one. By putting Irina into a dangerous position, she would be able to see her real strength.

In a way, this was quite a good move in her mind. Since either she would see Irina's part of strength or she would see her dying.

At the end of the day, though she wasn't as hostile to humans as other demons are, she was still their enemy.

'Yet. No matter how much it seems, I am really inclined to believe the latter option.' After all, the strength of the spell Irina had displayed at that moment was remarkable but not enough for that bastard Belthazor.

He would have easily escaped using his own spatial attribute like a cockroach he was just as before. The way Irina Emberheart fought was not suited for one-on-one. Sure, she had many tricks in her mind, and she successfully deceived Seraphina, but that would not work against Belthazor.

BOOM! Just as she thought about it, suddenly another explosion happened right around her, and another demon contractor appeared right beside her face.

She was not seen, thanks to her disguise and her concealment, but the thing she wanted to see appeared right before her eyes.

'Let's see.' As she thought about that, she stopped to observe.

The demon contractor, a hulking figure with glowing red eyes, advanced towards Irina and the other girl beside her. His presence exuded malevolence, and his intent was clear. He was trying to capture them, most likely, since the killing intent was not there. Yet, as he was approaching, suddenly Irina woke up.

SWOOSH!

She tried to defend herself, but her attack wasn't strong enough for her to succeed. The demon contractor's attack hit her from her head, making her unconscious.

Irina remained motionless, showing no signs of waking up, even under the imminent threat.

'Is she really this good at acting?' Zafira mused, doubt creeping in. 'Or is it as I suspected, and she isn't hiding any significant power?'

The contractor just grabbed, and at that moment, a huge amount of attack came from the other side of the arena. It was so fast that if she hadn't used her special ability to move as fast as she could, she would have been dragged into the fire and most likely destroyed in the process.

Zafira's eyes narrowed. 'So, someone else is protecting her. Just as I thought.'

'Hmm.....This is not it. This woman is from Emberheart Household. And my location can be revealed.' In an instant, she had disappeared from where she was standing and then appeared somewhere else.

'If Irina isn't the one, then who is pulling the strings?'

She began to roam around the chaotic arena, her senses heightened. She needed to find the true culprit, the one with the power to defeat Belthazor.

Zafira moved through the shadows, her eyes scanning for any sign of unusual activity.

As she observed the other people, her attention was suddenly drawn to a faint but familiar energy signature. Her heart skipped a beat. It was the energy of Belthazor. She instantly started looking for its source, her eyes darting around the arena.

The energy was fleeting, appearing and disappearing in an instant, but it was enough to send a thrill of excitement through her. 'Belthazor's energy... here?'

She focused all her senses, trying to pinpoint the source. It was elusive, almost as if whoever possessed it was intentionally masking their presence. Zafira moved swiftly, her eyes scanning every face, every movement.

The energy signature flared again, stronger this time, and Zafira honed in on its location. But just as quickly as it had appeared, it vanished. She cursed under her breath, frustrated at the missed opportunity.

Despite her best efforts, she couldn't confirm the identity of the person who possessed Belthazor's energy

But still, it was a good day for her. She had been able to confirm that the killer of Belthazor was here. The thrill of the hunt surged through her veins. 'So, you are here,' she thought, a predatory smile creeping across her lips. 'I will find you, and when I do, you will face the consequences.'

"It is not like this is the first time it happens, isn't it?"

As she said that, Callum's eyes were narrowed.

"Not everyone is like that woman."

"But everyone has the potential to become one."

"Your worldview is skewed."

"So what? Can you refute it?"

"..."

Amelia looked between them, her own worry and confusion evident. "Eleanor, if there's a traitor, we need to find out who it is, but this isn't the time for internal conflict. We need to be united."

Eleanor nodded slightly. "I understand, Amelia. But we can't ignore the signs. Someone knew our plans. Someone ensured the executives wouldn't show. And we need to find out who that someone is."

Callum's anger simmered, but he knew deep down that Eleanor might be right. Something wasn't adding up, and the failure of the operation had too many inconsistencies. "Fine," he said through gritted teeth. "But you need evidence. You can't go around accusing people without proof. I know what you are thinking, and you can't do that."

"....."

"Eleanor."

"Fine."

Still, the dangerous glint in her eyes didn't disappear. It was evident that she was also not happy with the fact that they lost this chance to deal with those.

********

As the chaos began to subside and the last of the explosions were quelled, the Headmaster, Jonathan Verdict, stepped onto the center of the devastated arena. His presence alone seemed to bring a sense of calm and order amidst the lingering smoke and debris.

"Ladies and gentlemen," his voice echoed through the amphitheater, amplified by a spell to reach every corner, "I deeply apologize for the terrible incident that has taken place today. The academy has been attacked, but rest assured, the threat has been neutralized thanks to the swift actions of our staff and students."

He paused, allowing his words to sink in. The crowd, though shaken and weary, listened intently. None of them raised their complaints, but many of them seemed to have negative opinions already.

"To those who have been injured or affected by this attack, we will ensure you receive the best medical care immediately. Our first priority is your safety and well-being."

Jonathan's gaze swept across the crowd, his expression grave but composed. "In light of this incident, we will be providing accommodations for everyone affected. You will have a safe place to stay tonight, and the academy will cover all expenses. Additionally, compensations will be provided to those who have suffered losses or injuries."

He raised a hand, calling for attention. "I must also announce that the remaining matches of the duel period will be postponed until tomorrow. This will give us time to ensure the safety and security of our students and spectators, as well as to allow everyone to recover from today's events."

There were murmurs of relief and understanding among the crowd. Many nodded, appreciating the headmaster's swift and thoughtful response.

"Please follow the academy staff, who will guide you to your accommodations," Jonathan continued. "We will work through the night to ensure that tomorrow's events proceed smoothly and safely. I thank you all for your patience and cooperation during this difficult time."

With that, he stepped down from the platform, his presence still commanding respect and attention. The academy staff began to organize the crowd, directing them to the provided accommodations.

********

"You are finally here."

And at nighttime, when the darkness prevailed.

Under the moon, the fiery-haired girl looked at the newcomer with her blazing eyes.