Chapter 158 [Event] [Enigma Red Dungeon] [19] The Exam Is Over



[40TH FLOOR]

"We have located Edward, Mrs. Katia!" A staff member leaped out of his chair, relief evident in his voice. However, Katia's anger still simmered as they struggled to find Edward Falkrona.

"Where is he?" Katia inquired urgently, her ears tuned and her eyes sharp as she stood next to Walter Celesta.

"He's on the forty-fourth floor, and he seems unharmed," the staff member replied, pointing at a screen displaying Edward strolling leisurely, hands in his pockets, as if oblivious to the gravity of the situation or the important exam he was currently supposed to be taking.

Katia's gaze grew colder, and the staff member couldn't help but feel the weight of her disappointment. No one could decipher her exact thoughts, but it was clear she was far from pleased with Edward's nonchalant demeanor. Thankfully Edward was not her student but Almona's student…

"Huh?!" Suddenly, another staff member, a woman, shot up from her seat with a look of shock. "P-Professor Katia!" Her words triggered a series of events as the screens started to blur, one after another.

"All the cameras have been forcefully disabled!" Another staff member exclaimed, frantically attempting to rectify the situation by typing codes on his keyboard, but to no avail.

"Professor! Our team on the fiftieth floor is experiencing the same issue. They're unable to handle the situation."

"W-We've lost control of all the cameras... It's impossible..."

"We've even lost communication with the overseers..."

"What are we going to do, professor...?"

"...," Katia stared silently at the blurry screens, and the room fell into hushed anticipation, waiting for her orders. Even Walter remained silent, having prepared something to divert her attention, only to find himself caught off guard by the unforeseen turn of events.

'What is happening?'

He felt as lost as the others. All he had desired was Aurora's demise, and Pyres and the others had assured him that it would be taken care of. Little did he know that Ante-Eden and Caishen were also within the dungeon, harboring their own plans and causing the cameras to malfunction.

Walter clenched his fists, suppressing the urge to immediately contact Pyres and inquire about the situation.

"Call Headmaster Geoffrey," Katia finally spoke, shocking everyone present.

"T-The Headmaster? But it's just a technical glitch or-"

"Call him," Katia reiterated, her tone brooking no argument. It may have seemed excessive to summon Geoffrey, a Demigod, and even disrespectful to some, but Katia trusted her instincts. Something was gravely amiss. She had sensed it from the beginning, and now her suspicions were confirmed.

"The exam is canceled. Send a team to rescue and evacuate all the students immediately."

"Y-Yes!" The man nodded and hastened to fulfill the order.

Then, Katia turned to another staff member. "Prepare an urgent call with the Monarch's Alliance. We need them to send a Monarch to the Enigma Dungeon of the Dorian Capital. The danger level is 'red.' The royal Prince and Princess are in extreme peril, as are the sons and daughters of Dukes and high-ranking nobles. Relay this information to all the Dukes and instruct them to forcefully liaise with the Monarch's Council to expedite the process. The enemy is currently unknown."

"Y-Yes, ma'am!"

"Professor Walter."

"Katia," Walter addressed her with a troubled expression. "How could this be possible..."

"We don't have time to dwell on this, Professor," Katia interjected, cutting off Walter. "I will go and rescue the students. Please take charge of the management until a Monarch or the headmaster arrives."

"Perhaps I should accompany you, Katia?" Walter suggested.

"No. Someone needs to stay here," Katia shook her head and began to make her way towards the exit. However, her departure was halted.

"Professor!" a man rushed in, dropping to his knees. "M-Mathis Roger left ahead of us!"

"Mathis... he must be concerned for his sister," Walter murmured.

"We must leave immediately," Katia declared, swiftly moving towards the others. Fortunately, they were already on the 40th floor. They only had to eliminate the mana beasts and proceed like any other group of Delvers would.

But...

"What..." Katia's eyes widened as she beheld a massive mana circle materializing in the void, obstructing their path on the 40th floor.

"It's a spell!" someone exclaimed.

"A highly sophisticated one," Katia muttered under her breath.

'Who...?'

The orchestrators of this event had been preparing for it extensively, driven by a clear and definite objective.

It manifested at the precise moment when they were setting out on a small army to rescue the students. Only Carla's brother, Mathias, managed to slip through in time.

"Professor... the headmaster is in Sancta Vedelia," the staff member reported, completely exhausted.

"...," Katia stood motionless, her mind racing to find a solution. She possessed no knowledge of intricate mana circles like this one. Such teachings were imparted at Sancta Vedelia, not here.

****

[50TH FLOOR]

"Professor…"

"..."

"Professor!"

"Huh?" Almona was brought out from her lost thoughts by her colleague. She turned on her left.

Her colleague had a pale face and pointed at the screens which were displaying grey screens. 

Around her everyone was panicking wondering what to do and looking for a way to solve the problem. They lost vision on every floor the exam was being held. They couldn't ensure the safety of the students anymore.

"Professor Katia also encountered the same problem on the fortieth floor, Professor. It doesn't bode well…"

"..." Mona clenched her fists hearing that. She could still remember Professor Erwin and Marcus Greenvern leaving to check on the camera. It had been hours now and they still didn't come back nor contacted them. She felt guilty for what happened.

'Then the camera on the fourteenth floor was deliberately disabled? It wasn't an accident!'

'The enemy is on the forty-seventh floor!'

She had no doubts anymore. They were preparing a trap there for a long time now since it was the first camera which showed a problem.

Reaching this conclusion, Almona removed her earpiece which had no use anymore. She couldn't contact no one. Then she hurriedly walked out of the room.

"Professor?" Her colleague followed Mona puzzled. "W-We must do something, the students are-"

"I will go ahead. Professor Erwin and Marcus are in danger. Dispatch a team to evacuate all the students immediately. Ask Professor Katia or Professor Walter if you need instructions. There might be a Monarch Level threat, be careful."

"Y-Yes!" The Professor nodded to Almona but he couldn't help but gulp hearing that an enemy of Monarch level could be inside the dungeon.

"Send also another team on the upper floors to get an outside contact. We might need the help of Delvers there. They will be handsomely rewarded."

"Yes!"

Almona left, unfortunately right after she left a complex circle appeared blocking their way…to the lower floors.

****

"Brandon Delavoic." The man plastered a smile at my reaction. "I am Brandon Delavoic. Do you remember me Edward."

I struggled to regain my breath, my silence not stemming from a lack of response but rather from the shock that had gripped me. The man before me had dark, neatly swept-back hair and wore a dark coat, his smile plastered on his face like a mask that couldn't conceal its falseness. Even a blind person could see through it.

Instinctively, I took a few steps back, my body reacting to his presence. I had never anticipated encountering him here. He was the leader of Ante-Eden, so I had expected him to send his subordinates after me or Jayden. Yet, here he stood in person.

Just being in his presence caused my forehead to dampen with sweat. He was leagues above me, a figure of power and authority. Brandon Delavoic, the leader of Ante-Eden and the main antagonist of the first game, was also my father's old friend. I vaguely remembered seeing him with my father in the mansion. Back then, they had been friends, but my father soon discovered Brandon's true nature.

"You've been through quite a lot, Edward," he remarked, his gaze fixed on me.

I couldn't help but notice his eyes, amber like mine. "!" My mouth fell open slightly in surprise. I had no recollection of him having amber eyes.

"Oh, that," Brandon said, casually touching his eyes and wearing a smile. "It must stir up memories for you, Edward."

"No... don't..." The words escaped my lips, accompanied by a searing pain in my heart that raced at an unimaginable speed.

"You've seen those eyes many times before, Edward," he continued despite my state in a calm tone, his eyes fixated on me.

Silent tears began to stream down my face, unbidden.

Brandon continued to cover his eyes with his hands. "The Olphean Blood, I always yearned to know what made it special. In Sancta Vedelia, they hold it in high regard due to their bloodline, and I became curious. That's why, nine years ago..."

"Anathemas Fire," I uttered, my voice laced with boiling anger directed at him. My fury fueled the purple flames that now raged around me.

"...after killing your mother, I gouged out her eyes."