Chapter 227 Escaping with Their Lives, Returning to the Duchy of Tanya
"No! This can't be happening!" Shasbia shouted angrily, trying desperately to regain control of the power. However, it was already too late.
With the continuous drain of energy from the magic circle, Shasbia's dark power was completely exhausted. His body went limp, collapsing onto the ground, his eyes filled with resentment and despair.
"We won!" Prolo Hawthorne shouted excitedly.
Dean Bruce and the others also let out a sigh of relief. They helped each other up and looked at Shasbia, who lay motionless on the ground, filled with the joy of victory.
But just at that moment, something unexpected happened.
Shasbia, whose power had already been drained, suddenly opened his eyes, and they gleamed with a strange, eerie light.
"Do you think it's over? How naive..." Shasbia's voice was low and sinister. .net
Dean Bruce and the others felt a chill run through them. They quickly assumed defensive stances. Shasbia's body began to undergo an unnatural transformation. It gradually became transparent, as if he were merging with the surrounding darkness.
"Not good, he's going to self-destruct!" Chikx Thomas exclaimed.
Dean Bruce and the others were horrified. They knew that if Shasbia detonated himself, the blast would be catastrophic.
"Run!" Dean Bruce shouted, grabbing the others and running toward the exit of the chamber.
But Shasbia was faster. His body swelled to an enormous size in an instant, and then, with a violent explosion, it shattered. A terrifying shockwave swept outward, throwing Dean Bruce and the others away.
When everything finally settled down, Dean Bruce and the others struggled to climb out of the rubble. They looked around and found that the core of the Black Hole headquarters had been completely destroyed.
"Did we… really win?" Krupp gasped, his voice trembling.
"We won. It's over." Dean Bruce replied.
At that moment, Nozer Hawthorne walked over, expressing his gratitude. "Thank you, Dean. I owe you one. If you ever need anything from our family, don't hesitate to ask."
"Dr.Dean," Prolo Hawthorne also approached, saying, "Thank you so much. If it weren't for you, we wouldn't know how we would have made it out alive."
Dean Bruce gave a slight smile. "There's no need to thank me. This place isn't safe for long. Our top priority now is to return to the academy."
He then signaled for everyone to quickly gather their things and prepare to leave.
At that moment, a faint woman's voice seemed to emerge from the sky ahead.
Her figure was graceful, incredibly lifelike, and blindingly radiant.
It was as if a celestial being had descended from the heavens.
"What is this?" Krupp asked, confused. "Is that... a celestial descending to the mortal realm?"
"No, wait, look! That's not an adult at all; it looks more like a little girl," Prolo Hawthorne noticed something odd and called out.
Dean Bruce also found the situation suspicious. He decided not to pay attention to the little girl, motioning for everyone to head back to the academy immediately.
Just as they were about to leave, a strange smile appeared at the corner of the little girl's lips. "Interesting... They managed to slip away under my watch, huh? How amusing."
With that, a thought popped into her mind. She quickly changed shape, transforming into an elderly woman, and began walking towards the direction of the academy.
...
Upon returning to the academy, the principal immediately sought out Dean Bruce to inquire about the situation.
After hearing the full account of events, the principal looked at him in surprise. "Dean, you weren't injured, were you? If you are, it would be difficult for me to explain!"
Dean Bruce smiled and shook his head. "I'm fine, Principal. We successfully destroyed the Black Hole Organization's headquarters and even found the 'Key to Eternity.'"
The principal's eyes lit up. "That's fantastic! You've truly done a great service to the magical world. By the way, have you made any progress with the 'Key to Eternity'?"
Dean Bruce gave a wry smile. "Not yet. The key seems to hold immense power, but we haven't figured out how to unlock it."
The principal nodded. "No need to rush, take your time. By the way, Dean, I've been curious for a while—those strange spells you used before, where did you learn them?"
Dean Bruce's heart skipped a beat. Why is the principal suddenly interested in this? He scratched his head and chuckled. "Well, actually, I just made those up on the spot. I didn't expect them to actually work."
The principal paused for a moment, then burst into hearty laughter. "Dean, you truly are a talent! But next time, please refrain from using those weird spells. If they fail one day, it'll cause problems."
Dean Bruce chuckled as well. "Don't worry, Principal. I'll be more careful."
Just then, a voice called out from outside the door. "Principal, is Dean Bruce in there?"
Both the principal and Dean Bruce turned to look, only to see an elderly woman standing at the door, leaning on a cane and looking somewhat frail.
"May I help you?" the principal asked in confusion.
The old woman looked up and revealed a kind smile. "I am Monta Alice, and I have come to speak with Dean Bruce about something."
Monta Alice?
Dean Bruce was taken aback. He had never heard that name before. What could she possibly want with him?
Nevertheless, Dean Bruce spoke up. "I'm Dean. What can I do for you?"
"You are Dean?" Monta Alice said. "Hello, Dean. I have a granddaughter who would like to learn magic. I was wondering if that would be possible?"
"Is your granddaughter beautiful?" Dean Bruce asked bluntly, not wasting time.
"She's as beautiful as a fairy," Monta Alice smiled. "When you meet her, I'm sure you'll be pleased."
Dean Bruce felt a bit uncertain, but seeing the serious look on Monta Alice's face, he didn't want to outright refuse.
"Alright, let her come tomorrow, and I'll assess her abilities," Dean Bruce said.
Monta Alice smiled and nodded. "Thank you so much, Dean. I'll bring her to you first thing tomorrow morning."
With that, she turned around, leaning on her cane, and left, walking shakily away.
The principal watched Monta Alice's retreating figure before turning to Dean Bruce. "That old woman seems quite kind. There shouldn't be any problems, right?"
Dean Bruce shook his head. "I can't say for sure. But since she says she'll bring her granddaughter tomorrow, we'll see then."
The principal nodded. "Alright, let's go take care of other matters for now."
With that, the two of them left the office.
The next morning, true to her word, Monta Alice arrived at the academy, accompanied by a girl.
The girl looked to be around fourteen or fifteen years old, exceptionally beautiful, with large eyes that blinked playfully, giving her an aura of charm.
"Dean, this is my granddaughter, Alice," Monta Alice introduced her.
Dean Bruce took a moment to appraise Alice. She was indeed very beautiful, and there seemed to be an indescribable aura about her.
"Hello, Alice. Welcome to the academy. I'm glad to have you here to study magic," Dean Bruce said with a smile.
Alice returned a sweet smile. "Thank you, Dean. I look forward to your guidance."
"Uh... Monta Auntie, you can leave now," Dean Bruce said to Monta Alice. "I've accepted your granddaughter. If you have no other business, please leave."
Monta Alice smiled. "Alright then, Dean. I'll leave Alice in your hands. Take care, my dear."
With that, she turned and left the academy.
Dean Bruce watched Alice for a moment, feeling a sense of unease. While Alice appeared innocent and carefree, he couldn't shake the feeling that there was an inexplicable mystery about her. However, since she was already here, he decided to start teaching her some basic magical knowledge.
"Alice, have you had any experience with magic before?" Dean Bruce asked.
Alice shook her head. "No, Dean. I don't know anything about magic."
"That's alright. Let's start with the basics—elemental magic," Dean Bruce said as he began to explain the fundamental principles and casting techniques of elemental magic.
Alice listened attentively, occasionally nodding to show her understanding. Dean Bruce observed her focused expression and secretly nodded in approval. He could tell that this girl had a natural talent for magic.
However, just as they were in the middle of their lesson, a disruptive voice suddenly interrupted them.
"Well, well, if it isn't Dean Bruce. What's this? Taking in new students again?" came a sarcastic voice.
Dean Bruce looked up to see a young man, dressed in lavish clothes and wearing an arrogant expression, walking toward them. Behind him trailed a group of lackeys, all strutting with an air of superiority.
"Jason, what are you doing here?" Dean Bruce asked, furrowing his brow.
This young man, Jason, was notorious in the academy for being a spoiled rich kid. Leveraging his family's wealth and influence, he often caused trouble around the school. Dean Bruce had never liked him.
"I'm here to check if you're actually teaching properly," Jason said with a smirk. "But it looks like you're not doing so great. It's taking you this long to teach such basic stuff?"
Dean Bruce's expression darkened. "Jason, mind your manners. I'm the teacher here, and how I teach is none of your business."
"Oh, you're showing some backbone now, huh?" Jason scoffed. "But do you really think you can teach this new girl properly? I highly doubt it."
Alice, hearing this, spoke up with a hint of annoyance. "Jason, senior, please show some respect to my teacher."
"Oh? The little girl has some attitude," Jason said, giving Alice a once-over. "But who do you think you are, to demand respect from me?"
Seeing the situation escalating, Dean Bruce quickly stepped in front of Alice, blocking her from view. "Jason, don't push it," he warned.