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Chapter 84: Swarm of Red-Lotus Serpents

After hearing Ashura’s explanation, everyone broke into a cold sweat, and even the six Instructors turned pale.

Instructor Anthony was especially shaken, for he had been the one who speared the Red-Lotus Serpent’s head and ignored Ashura’s shout behind him.

Instructor Anthony barked, “Your name is Ashura, right? Stop spouting nonsense; how could such a powerful Beast be here? How could you know that snake was your so-called Red-Lotus Serpent? Quit upsetting everyone!”

Ashura still threw him a look as though he were an idiot, muttering inwardly that he had told him to stop, but Anthony had killed the snake just to show off, and now he was scared.

If students ended up injured or dead because of that one thrust, Instructor Anthony would never bear the responsibility.

Instructor Ella asked anxiously, “Are you sure? Then what should we do next? How do we save ourselves? Reinforcements will still take time, though nearby teams’ Instructors are on their way.”

Instructor Anthony retorted unhappily, “Instructor Ella, you actually believe this brat’s wild tale? A Tier-7 Beast? Has he even seen one before…?”

Before Anthony could finish, Instructor Ella cut him off sharply, “Shut up! I believe him!”

The area fell deathly silent, and Instructor Anthony in particular stared in disbelief at the beauty he had long admired, shocked that she had yelled at him to shut up for the sake of a penny-pinching student.

While Anthony’s face flushed between green and red with embarrassment, Instructor Enge’s pleasant baritone sounded at the right moment, “I once read a Beast Forest chronicle that mentioned the Red-Lotus Serpent; what Ashura said matches it, and even elite mercenary groups avoid that creature.”

Hearing Instructor Enge’s words made everyone even more frightened; the nearby boys and girls all showed terror, for the mere name of a Tier-7 Beast was enough to make them tremble.

Ashura had felt slightly relieved when Instructor Enge backed him, finally seeing a sensible person taking charge.

Yet when Instructor Enge looked at him for guidance, Ashura was speechless, though he knew this was no time to act coy.

After thinking for a moment he said, “Instructors, gather all students together and let no one act alone; is there an open area nearby that is easy to defend and hard to attack, preferably without trees or underbrush?”

Instructor Enge replied, “There is a deep ravine with a cliff ahead, fairly close; vegetation there is sparse, and with the cliff at our back we only need to defend on three sides.”

Ashura decided immediately, “We go there; advance at full speed, and once we arrive clear an open space.”

No student dared argue; they rushed nervously in that direction, and even the frail mage students were dragged along by the Warrior students.

When they reached the ravine, Ashura surveyed their surroundings: loose rocks dominated, vegetation was sparse, and a bottomless cliff loomed behind them.

Although the cliff was not completely vertical, it was steep enough that the bottom could not be seen.

Ashura knew this was a good defensive spot and, after a brief discussion with the Instructors, decided to set up their formation here.

Thus, regardless of their feelings, each Instructor ordered their class to form defensive lines, because they could not afford heavy student casualties.

Besides, even they could not face a Tier-7 Red-Lotus Serpent King.

The formation remained two Warrior classes shielding the Magic class in the center, with the four Warrior Instructors standing at the very front.

Instructor Ella and the fire-element Instructor Slade positioned themselves in the middle; Instructor Slade kept wiping cold sweat from his brow, muttering under his breath.

If the Instructors were this nervous, the students were worse; a few female Magic students burst into tears under the suffocating tension.

No male student stepped up to comfort them either; their fingers whitened around their weapons, for it was likely their first time facing life and death.

Instructor Ella was just as tense, aware that her water-type Magic had limited effect against such fast serpents and fearful of friendly fire; it was also her first time in such peril, and her heart pounded furiously.

Just as her nerves were about to snap, a tall yet not burly figure stepped in front of her, his black crew cut bristling like steel needles and two golden-gleaming Twin Swords reversed in his hands at his sides.

Instructor Ella stared at the figure before her for a long moment without reacting.

Sensing her gaze, the youth tilted his head back slightly and smiled, saying, “I told you before we set out that I’d protect Instructor Ella, remember?”

Hearing the slightly teasing words and seeing his handsome profile, Ella’s cheeks flushed, and she spat lightly without replying, yet she no longer seemed so afraid.

Ashura did not get a reply from Instructor Ella but heard several soft snorts.

Focusing, he saw Magina, Lan Yu, and Clara standing around him, and for some reason he shrank his neck guiltily.

Magina glared at him and said, “Don’t run around later; stay behind us, got it?”

Ashura’s face darkened, yet when he saw their stern eyes he swallowed the words he wanted to say; let them think what they wanted… as long as he did not have to fight, he hoped the worst would not come.

Everyone stared nervously at the forest ahead; dusk was falling, and several campfires had been lit to provide light.

After more than an hour some people began whispering, wondering whether Ashura had tricked them.

Ashura ignored the chatter; suddenly his eyes sharpened and he shouted, “They’re coming!”

His shout silenced everyone, and they all stared tensely at the forest.

Moments after Ashura spoke, a dense rustling rose from the woods, like bones being gnawed, sending chills down their spines.

The students instinctively stepped back, and even the Instructors looked grim; Instructor Enge shouted loudly, “Courage! Tenacity! Never yield! Face the enemy!”

Those battlefield slogans seemed to dispel part of their fear, and the students gripped their weapons, waiting for the fight.

The rustling drew nearer; under the dim light, pairs of deep-red eyes suddenly flashed one after another in the dark forest, some tiny as fireflies, others as big as fists, staring coldly and unblinking at the crowd.

Several timid Magic students collapsed to the ground; lacking a Warrior’s physique, they could not outrun anyone, and their minds were blank, unable to recall a single spell.

Yet when a pair of lantern-sized crimson slit pupils glowed in the forest, even Ashura drew a sharp breath, smiling bitterly inside.

He glanced at the surrounding girls, wondering whom he should grab first when it was time to run…

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