Hermes Academy of Ascendants. In a special restricted area, some people were operating on some devices, their foreheads covered in sweat as they quickly tried to operate something, but it seemed things were not proceeding according to plan.
A middle-aged man looking at them questioned,
"How long will it take to finish the dungeon and get everyone out?"
A man in black-framed glasses hurriedly replied," we can't say for sure, but current estimates show it can take from 5 minutes to 36 minutes, sir."
"Shit…"
The man cursed, clearly not liking the answer.
The man with the glasses gave a forced smile.
"Vice Principal, you know we cannot do anything until the Boss challenge is going on."
David Johnson, the Vice Principal of Hermes Academy for Ascendants,
nodded, yet his expression was one of reluctance.
He felt like he should have applied for that holiday he was promised when he first joined the academy as an assistant professor, yet had never received.
"This is giving me so much headache."
He muttered in his hushed voice.
The staff with thick black-rimmed glasses gave his superior a look of pity. Then he turned his head, looking not far away at a young man standing in front of the dungeon entrance, the main reason for his superior's headaches.
Looking at the young man was like looking at a silent volcano that was one tiny flame away from erupting and destroying everything in its path.
He hurriedly diverted his gaze and looked back at the transparent screen in front of him that was showing different data.
Not just the staff member, of course David himself knew that the young man was unknowingly or deliberately spreading his Aura, pressuring every staff member around the dungeon.
He sighed inwardly, praying to the goddess of fortune that nothing would happen to the youngest son of House Crimson, known as Asher Crimson, who was inside the artificial dungeon.
He walked forward, cutting through the invisible Aura of the young man effortlessly.
Or at least, that's what it looked like from the staff member's perspective.
David stopped beside the young man, looking at the dungeon gate/portal that was dyed red, indicating no entry allowed.
For a moment they stayed like that, not moving, not speaking…
Then David broke the silence with an exhale as he said,
"I don't know what you're using to detect your brother's safety, but it malfunctioning is more probable than something happening to your brother in the dungeon."
The young man didn't look at David as his lips opened, "Nothing is absolute, especially if it involves a dungeon. I believe these are your words, Professor."
David smiled helplessly as his former student returned him the words he once imparted to him.
He didn't get angry at his former student who called him a professor, even though he was the Vice Principal now.
He said, "But this is not like the other dungeons, as it's an artificial one. You know what it has to offer to students more than I do, as you yourself have entered it before.
No matter what, a Grade 2 Ascendant with a soulforged weapon and Primary Elemental abilities can't face much danger in this dungeon.
Only the Boss might give them a fight. Even then, you arrived before the Boss chamber was opened, so it's unlikely that Asher even faced the Boss yet."
Arthur stayed silent for a moment, then he said, "what if the monsters are not the ones he faced?"
David tilted his head, frowning. "What do you…" then his eyes widened as he looked at Arthur…
"That's… that's not possible… what are you saying, someone else, one of the students, wants to hurt your brother? Are you serious?"
"Nothing is impossible in a dungeon.
That's also something you said."
"But this… Arthur, you don't have any proof, ok? Don't say…"
Arthur, cutting him off, said. "I'm here, that's proof enough."
"Maybe not the students, maybe someone else.
This would not be the first time anyways."
As if reminded of some unpleasant memory, David scowled and shook his head.
"That's also not possible. Don't you know how tight the security has gotten? Ever since that incident, there's no way something like that will happen again".
"Good.This better be just a mistake otherwise…"
Arthur didn't finish, but the message was clear.
David's scowl deepened as he could feel all the staff's gaze on him.
Arthur had clearly threatened the whole academy. Normally, he would just shrug it off as a concerned brother expressing worries for his little brother, but now everyone was watching, and if he didn't give an appropriate response to the threat, then… gritting his teeth, his expression turned cold.
In an indifferent tone, David said,
"Arthur Emory Crimson, I know you're not in your right mind now, but please be aware of your words. This is the academy, not your family's teratory."
There was silence all around.
No one made any noise, they all looked at the two in front of the dungeon with various expressions as if anticipating something.
Arthur, silent for a moment, opened his lips.
His expression wasn't abnormal. With a plain tone, he said,
"The Crimson family doesn't give threats.
Then turning his eyes back at the dungeon entrance, he continued, it was a warning."
David blinked in shock. He didn't know how to respond or what to respond with, but just then the staff who were monitoring the dungeon gate exclaimed, Sir, the boss fight has ended, we can get the students out now.
Before David could respond, Arthur in a commanding voice said, "Do it. bring everyone out."
The staff member with the black-framed glasses didn't know what to do.
Naturally, he looked at David for guidance.
David cursed inside for the umpteenth time as he nodded, indicating agreement.
Then the staff members started operating the holographic screens in front of them, and slowly the red gate started to change color and started glowing Whites blue.
Arthur and David both stepped away from the gate. Then light poured out from it, forming into different people wearing white uniforms with golden embroidery — the uniform of the academy.
Arthur's gaze scanned through everyone as he searched for Asher. David did the same, though he focused more on the students to see if anyone was hurt or injured. But as expected, there seemed to be no injuries — or at least, that's what he thought.
As their eyes scanned through everyone, right at the back of the group stood a young man with messy crimson hair, looking lost. Both David and Arthur froze as they looked at him with indescribable expressions.
The young man looked haggard. His face was pale and gaunt, as if he hadn't eaten anything in weeks. His uniform, unlike the others, was covered in crimson blood and mud. David could even see two holes torn through the uniform at his abdomen and chest.
Before he could observe more closely, Arthur vanished from beside him. In a flash, he appeared in front of the young man, looking down at his brother.
His expression was dark, his eyes burning with barely suppressed fury.
In a chilling voice, he demanded:
"Who did it?"