'That should do it,' she thought, satisfied. 'Now. Let's see if Irina Emberheart is really hiding her strength or if soone 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 mont 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 concealnt, 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 mont, a huge amount of attack ca 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, soone 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 sowhere 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 excitent 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 movent.
The energy signature flared again, stronger this ti, 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.'
Satisfied with her discovery, Zafira decided to retreat for now. She had gathered valuable information and had a new lead to follow.
"Sophia. You are here! Thank god!"
The ga had just beco more interesting, and she was determined to uncover the truth behind Belthazor's death.
"I thought sothing happened to you. Where did you just go?"
For her, this identity seed to be still useful for a while.
********
The chaos that had erupted in the amphitheater and the surrounding areas was slowly being brought under control. Eleanor and her team, along with the faculty mbers, moved swiftly and efficiently to wipe out the remaining threats and restore order.
After it beca clear that the executives were not going to appear, the decision was made to abandon the mission and focus on quelling the commotion. The faculty mbers, highly skilled and prepared for such ergencies, worked in unison with the hunters.
Eleanor stood at the center of the now-quiet amphitheater, directing the efforts to round up the last of the corrupted civilians and ensure the students' safety. Her expression was a mix of relief and exhaustion, but her mind remained sharp, taking in every detail.
Within half an hour, everything was resolved. The faculty and hunters had subdued the attackers, neutralized the threats, and begun tending to the wounded. The chaos had subsided, leaving behind a tense silence.
Amidst the cleanup, Headmaster Jonathan appeared, his face a mask of stern disapproval. He surveyed the scene, his eyes narrowing as they landed on Eleanor.
"We have things to talk about," Jonathan said, his voice carrying an edge of restrained anger. "Co to my office this evening."
Eleanor nodded her head, accepting the responsibility without protest. "Understood, Headmaster."
She knew that her actions and the decisions she had made needed to be accounted for, and she was prepared to face whatever consequences awaited her. The headmaster's displeasure was evident, and she understood the gravity of the situation.
From the eyes of the Headmaster Jonathan, everything would be evident. The existence of the Hunters hidden in the crowd and those people making their appearance later than it was supposed to be made it obvious that their goal was sothing else.
This was sothing she was already expecting. Yet, if there was one thing that she hadn't expected, that would be the fact that the operation failed.
As Jonathan walked away, Eleanor turned to her colleagues. Alia and Callum approached her, concern etched on their faces.
"What did he say?" Alia asked quietly.
Eleanor sighed, rubbing her temples. "He wants to talk this evening. I'll have to explain everything."
Callum frowned, but at the sa ti, he looked at her angrily.
"We also thought we were here for sothing. But I guess your intel wasn't good enough."
His words were sharp and pointing, but he was never soone who would hold his words back for the sake of not hurting others.
"Now we look like clowns. How are you going to explain this to the dia?"
Alia added, her voice tense, "We risked the lives of the civilians for no reason. We could have made our appearance faster and prevented so much chaos."
Eleanor's eyes turned serious and cold. She didn't answer imdiately, her gaze distant as she processed the situation. Finally, she spoke, her voice steady and authoritative. "There was a traitor amongst us. No other explanation can be made."
Callum narrowed his eyes, his anger barely contained. "Are you shifting the bla now? Instead of doubting the intel, are you actually doubting our own people?"
Eleanor t his gaze with an unwavering stare, her mind made up. She didn't flinch under his intense scrutiny. "I'm not shifting bla. I'm stating a fact. The way this operation failed, the timing of the attacks, and the lack of executive appearance all point to inside information being leaked."
Callum's frustration boiled over. "So, you're saying one of us betrayed the mission? That's a serious accusation, Eleanor."
"It is not like this is the first ti 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 beco one."
"Your worldview is skewed."
"So what? Can you refute it?"
"..."
Alia 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 ti for internal conflict. We need to be united."
Eleanor nodded slightly. "I understand, Alia. But we can't ignore the signs. Soone knew our plans. Soone ensured the executives wouldn't show. And we need to find out who that soone is."
Callum's anger simred, but he knew deep down that Eleanor might be right. Sothing 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 seed to bring a sense of calm and order amidst the lingering smoke and debris.
"Ladies and gentlen," 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 seed to have negative opinions already.
"To those who have been injured or affected by this attack, we will ensure you receive the best dical care imdiately. 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 ti 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 ti."
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 nightti, when the darkness prevailed.
Under the moon, the fiery-haired girl looked at the newcor with her blazing eyes.
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