Seed of Titan-Chapter 102: The Nightmare Unfolds

Samara quickly flapped her arm, and small brown rings emerged from the back of her hand.

"Looks like I can still transform," she remarked.

Ravi looked at Samara in disbelief before turning to Drai.

"What about you, boy? Can you still use your skill?" he asked.

Drai tested it out. He activated Colossal Augmentation, and his body instantly grew.

"I can," Drai replied as he shrank back.

Seeing that Drai was also unaffected, Ravi frowned. Turning to his aide, he signaled him to test it out.

Jack complied and activated his empowering skill, which changed the skin of his right hand into a grey hue. He then pointed at the table with his transformed finger, but nothing happened.

Raising an eyebrow, Jack shifted his stance and sent a palm strike toward the wall without touching it. A dull light flashed from his hand, but nothing else happened.

Jack finally released his skill and turned to Ravi.

"I can use buffs, but not offensive skills."

Ravi lowered his head and contemplated. After a few seconds, he raised his head and looked gravely at Samara and the others.

"I think we’re dealing with a spell-restriction array or skill," he stated.

"You mean like the ones used during the Century of Chaos?" Samara asked, paling slightly. She had stumbled upon this exact terminology while she was reading history books covering this specific era.

"Yes, but it might not be the same thing," Ravi said. "After all, it was only prominent during that time period and hasn’t been much heard of since. We don’t even know how it actually works—calling it ’spell-restriction’ is merely because of the lack of a better term."

Ravi waved his hand once more with a grim expression. As expected, he still couldn’t manifest his spells.

"We mages are basically sitting ducks right now. Combat-focused evolvers like Jack fare a lot better, but the ones who have a distinct advantage in this particular situation are definitely those from the Body Transformation Faculty—like you guys," Ravi mentioned.

The four seated guests glanced at each other silently. Drai himself was wondering whether this was a good or bad thing.

’We might just be able to defend ourselves if we get attacked since most of us can still put up a fight. Luckily, the others didn’t follow me here. I’m pretty sure Jian and Natalia are the only ones who can buff themselves. But they often use attacking skills when fighting, so they would still be at a disadvantage.’

Ravi walked back and forth across the sitting area, visibly concerned. Meanwhile, Jack stood there silently, waiting for Ravi’s command.

Eventually, Ravi sighed and said, "Drai, come here."

Drai stood up and walked to Ravi. When he was close enough, Ravi quietly mentioned, "You need to get out of here fast, boy."

"Yes, professor. Let’s leave together," Drai replied.

"No. I’m staying here. I need to get to Zar. I’ll get Jack to accompany you until you get to safety."

Drai’s heart sank. He immediately grabbed the professor’s arm and frantically remarked, "But it’s dangerous, Professor! You can’t even use your powers! What if they come for you?!"

Ravi shook his head and gazed at an unforeseeable distance.

"These people probably set up this spell-restriction to deal with Zar. I think he’s in way more danger than me since they haven’t come for me yet. I’m sorry, but I can’t abandon my good friend, Drai."

Noticing Ravi’s quivering arm as he was saying this, Drai became speechless. He had hoped that Ravi would escape with him, joining Christo and the others under Liam’s protection and possibly even breaking through the larger dome surrounding the whole academy, seeking reinforcements. But after hearing the professor’s words, Drai couldn’t bear forcing him to leave.

Ravi let out a rueful smile and patted Drai’s shoulder. He didn’t know what the intruders wanted with him, but he figured it wouldn’t be too bad if he really got captured since he would likely keep his life. His utmost priority now was to send Drai to safety and seek Zar.

Turning to the professors, Ravi instructed, "Samara, Paul, follow me to Zar’s residence. Our rector might be in danger. And let’s gather the other professors on the way, especially those who aren’t too affected by the spell-restriction."

Samara and Paul nodded and got up from their seats. Smith also stood up, looking unsure of what to do.

Ravi took a glance at the unfamiliar student before turning to his aide.

"Jack, I’ll go with Samara and Paul. You go help these two boys escape. If you’re able to get out of the campus, contact our friends in Rivida and ask for their assistance. And if anything happens to me, I leave the matter of my inheritance to you. I trust that you know what to do."

Jack didn’t comment and simply nodded. But his tightly clenched fists that were currently trembling at his sides signified his true feelings.

All of a sudden, Smith hastily ran to Jack and bowed repeatedly while pleading, "Mr. Jack! Please help me get to safety! I promise to repay you in the future!"

Seeing the boy’s distressed face, Jack sighed and immediately suppressed his dejection from having to leave his long-time employer and friend behind.

Putting his hands on Smith’s shoulders, Jack helped the boy stand upright and reassured, "There’s no need to beg or promise, kid. It’s my duty to get both of you out of here rega—"

Jack’s voice was suddenly caught in his throat. He lowered his gaze and saw that his stomach had been deeply punctured by Smith’s hands that had become gleamingly sharp.

Smith raised his head, smiling creepily at Jack as he remarked, "What did you say, old man? I was too busy holding back my excitement to hear you clearly."

"Y-you..." Jack muttered weakly, his body trembling.

Smith smirked as he pulled out his hands from Jack’s stomach and knocked him away with a kick.

Ravi and Drai looked at the bloody Jack in horror.

"Jack!" Ravi cried out as he rushed to his friend. He knelt and checked on Jack, only to find him on the verge of bleeding out.

"What have you done!?" he howled at Smith.

Smith chuckled and licked the blood on his hand.

"Don’t get all dramatic, old man. I’m just following orders," he replied with a shrug.

Ravi gritted his teeth in fury. He turned to Samara and Paul and shouted, "What are you doing?! Quickly capture—"

This time, it was Ravi’s voice that got caught in his throat. His face instantly paled as a cold shiver ran down his back.

Noticing the changes in Ravi’s expression, Drai turned his head around. What he saw filled him with dread.

Paul was standing there with a cold expression, holding Samara’s mangled neck with one hand. The woman’s body had gone limp, her feet dragging on the floor.

The large professor pulled out a small device and spoke through it, "Trojan Horse to all team leaders. I’ve secured the Anomaly and Manic Friend. Gather all your captives at the designated area and proceed with the main mission."