I was in deep shit.

『Allen… Please…』

I thought I had been imagining it, but that really sounded like Ellin. Oh shit! Did they come here?!

『Allen: Guys?! How did you get here? Get the hell out while you can!』

The next telepathic sending was a jumble of everyone talking at the same time. I recognized Ellin, Namrick, and Grastel. A pause.

『Namrick: We came here to help you! What’s the situation?』

Namrick had the stubborn tone of when he’s set his mind and won’t listen to reason. Maybe I did need some help after all.

The situation was a clusterfuck, but I tried to explain while I was busy running down a hallway with my bodyguards.

『Allen: Nightmare cultists are coming out of the woodwork! Stay away from them. It’s like they’re getting stronger by the minute!』

I had no idea what was going on. One of the students had thrown a fireball at the invader reducing him to a burnt mess of charred meat. Then another student wearing a crazed grin hit him from behind, slamming him against the wall. And calmly picked up the dead villain’s blades before rushing toward us.

And that kept happening all over. The whole Academy was fucking chock full of the vermin!

More panicked screams broke my concentration.

「Cultist: Heh-he. Let me get rid of the nuissances sso we can talk.」

Why are they all talking like that?!

My bodyguards pushed me into another hallway. In the midst of chaos, I had no idea where we were anymore. There was smoke coming from somewhere.

God fucking damn! How am I supposed to deal with this shit?! My thoughts had degenerated into long strings of imprecations. My skill set in this situation was utterly ineffective.

『Grastel: Allen! We know what you’re up against! It’s a bodystealer… a demonic spirit!』

A bodystealer? Someone who possesses bodies, then? Things started to make sense. Why they were attacking one at a time. How they spoke as if we already met, and in the same mannerism.

My bodyguards had been discouraging bystanders from getting involved and prioritized moving through uncrowded locations. They knew…

「Allen: Are we being chased by a demonic spirit?!」

I asked my meat shields, receiving only a grunt in reply. I squashed a pang of anger.

「Allen: When did you think would be a good time-」

Shrapnel exploded right behind us.

「Allen: To tell me?!」

My bodyguards ignored me, but I cut them some slack. We’d been on the run since the beginning, with little to no breath to spare.

『Ellin: Someone’s still breathing here!』

Ellin forgot to turn off the transmission. Her thoughts were leaking.

『Namrick: Where are you? How do we help?』

Help… I needed time to think. So this was something like demonic possession. We needed an exorcist.

「Allen: Anyone knows how to exorcise demons?」

I asked while we got through another door. One of the soldiers put a chair under the doorknob to slow down our pursuer.

Unfortunately, a blade stabbed through the door catching him right into his forehead, which was still inclined forward. He slumped down, a puddle of blood starting to form.

『Ellin: Maybe I do…』

Ellin’s reply didn’t seem to brim with confidence. Good enough for me. Adrenaline and a full tank of mana were keeping me sharp and clear, despite the confusing mess.

We passed through another location, meeting more smoke.

「Damn! This exit is blocked! We can’t get out… We have to go another way!」

「What happened to the reinforcements?!」

I was wondering that too. It was like we’d been cut off.

It appeared that the demonic spirit had set the stage, blocking the secondary exits and starting fires right before engaging us. He also kept spreading fire to drive us into a corner.

We were being chased by a crazy pyromaniac capable of possessing random people. Even just keeping track of the enemy was a challenge.

Was all the panic and fear making him stronger? I had read about aspected mana boosting those who embodied it. The bodyguards were starting to feel distressed. After losing touch with their leader and seeing two of their comrades die, they were starting to lose their discipline.

I tried projecting an aura of calm meditative emptiness. There wasn’t much I could do besides protect myself. I wish I had my flashbangs.

Wait…

『Allen: Guys! Did you bring some of my flashbangs?!』

『Namrick: The sphere things? We have two each.』

So six of them, the equivalent to two-something full flashbangs.

『Allen: Great!』

Good, we could try disabling this foe with a surprise attack long enough to run off. It would have been ideal if they had brought all of them, but it wasn’t time to be picky.

I heard noises behind me, no doubt the bodystealer catching up. Catching a glimpse of a window, I confirmed we were still at the upper levels.

「Allen: Hey! Can’t we jump off the window?」

I thought, with magic and snow, we were likely to survive the fall without severe damages.

「He’s too fast. He’d catch up right away in the open with all that soft snow. We need walls to slow him down and keep him busy, at least until we get a chance to disable him.」

He touched a chain he had tied to his side. I assumed it was something created to deal with the demon.

Anyway, I guessed he was right. If the demon could track me, then our only chance was to find some way to block him. Something moved outside, I barely caught a glimpse from the tail of my eye, but when I looked again, there was nothing there.

Maybe it wasn’t so safe outside. Something must have happened to those guys who were so eager to call for reinforcements.

『Can you hear me?』

An unfamiliar voice spoke inside my mind. No, wait… I had heard it just before this mess started. The leader of the bodyguards!

I thought he was a goner. He had bought us several minutes, but he hadn’t shown up again since then.

『Allen: Uh… Yes. I’m here with your men… somewhere upstairs.』

I had never set foot in most of these areas. Not that my sense of direction had ever been good in the first place.

『Go back toward the main entrance. We’ll set up an ambush in the northeast corridor. First floor.』

「Allen: Guys, your boss is still alive!」

That got my bodyguards’ attention.

「Allen: He just contacted me saying he’s setting up an ambush in the northeast corridor. First floor.」

The soldiers glanced at each other.

「The Captain is safe?」

So he was a captain.

「We stand a chance!」

I had trouble telling the bodyguards apart. They were all hidden behind helmets. The only differences were the mages having lighter robes instead of armor.

「I studied here, I know the way. Follow me!」

The mage bodyguard beckoned, and we followed.

『Allen: We’re getting there. Be ready with the flashbangs!』

The mage cast an explosion against the corridor ceiling, causing a good chunk of debris to fall beside the doorway.

「That will buy us a few breaths.」

Then in front of us, a guard, one of the Academy, approached. His sword was drawn, his face contorted in a crazy smile.

Fuck me.

「Bodystealer: Sssurprise! Heheheheh!」

One of the bodyguards launched himself forward and engaged in sword combat, although he well knew it was suicide.

I and the others kept going.

「Bodystealer: You can’t run from me! Hehe.」

Promised the demon possessing the guard, behind the clashing of swords.

How are we going to lose him if he can jump into another host so quickly? I was starting to have bad feels about this whole ordeal. What’s stopping him from jumping right into us?

Where was Violet? This looked like one of those nightmare scenarios tailor-fitted for an archmage.

A scream and a frenzy of footsteps in the distance.

「Mage Bodyguard: Down here!」

We rushed down a flight of stairs, and the mage cast a flurry of fireballs upwards.

「Mage Bodyguard: We’re almost there. Warn the Captain!」

I did so.

『Allen: Almost there!』

I sent through the ring.

『Namrick: We’re ready. We’ll give you a signal to cover your ears and close your eyes.』

I relayed the same to the surviving bodyguards. I would give them the signal.

「Bodystealer: Right behiiind you~」

The possessed guard said mockingly. I really wanted to stop and plant a fist right into his fucking face. Fortunately, my sense of self-preservation was still somewhat operational. Also, the possessed person was innocent.

We entered the designed corridor.

* Tap tap TAP TAP TAP *

The demon was closing in fast. I had the feeling he was playing with his food. Us.

『Captain: Now!』

The signal came.

「Allen: Now!」

I repeated, closing my eyes and covering my ears.

* CLACKLABAAM! KABLAM! *

The flashbangs exploded almost simultaneously, the sound so loud my ears were ringing, despite being covered.

We opened our eyes and turned around. From a side door, the trio and the captain crashed into the deafened possessed guard. The stern-faced man whipped out his enchanted chains, which he quickly wrapped around our pursuer as Grastel assisted in knocking him to the ground.

The chains glowed then he jumped back, wary. The demon-possessed guard didn’t budge. That seemed to satisfy the bodyguard’s captain.

「Captain: Got him! These enchanted chains should contain him.」

He said finally, a hint of a smile showing off under the scowl.

「Ellin: Is-Is it done?」

Asked Ellin, hiding behind Namrick. Grastel was right beside the captain, standing up.

The bodyguards cheered.

The possessed guard lay on the ground, still Too still.

I felt they were cheering prematurely.

「Allen: Guys, don’t stand there like painted targ-」

Suddenly, the captain, who had the other soldiers crowded in front of him, grew still, his face going slack. He fell forward, revealing a dagger planted on the back of his skull.

Fuck.

「Allen: Fuck!」

「Not-Grastel: Thiss iss a nice ssword right here. You almost had me there, human. Hehehe!」

Behind him was Grastel, who, with a smooth motion, had slipped the captain’s blade from his sheath as he fell.

The remaining bodyguards were caught by surprise and didn’t react in time

* SWISHISH *

A flurry of blades and my bodyguards fell apart.

Literally.

Guts spilled, along with unpleasant smells. Blood splattered in several arcs. Some even went on my eyes, forcing me to blink.

I rarely feel strong emotions, but I couldn’t avoid getting that sinking sensation of everything going to shit. Sometimes I really hated being right.

「Ellin: Eeeek!」

Screamed Ellin, cowering behind Namrick, who thankfully had the sense to step back and defend.

「Namrick: Grastel… No!」

Namrick shouted, his face screwed with both anger and fear.

The possessed Grastel tilted his head in their direction, a malicious grin spreading over his face.

「Allen: Move awa-」

I tried to warn, but the demon wearing Grastel’s body rushed ahead too fast and headbutted Namrick, who couldn’t but hesitate before his friend.

Both he and Ellin were sent crashing against the wall behind them. Namrick was out cold, blood gushing down his nose.

I couldn’t do anything.

Shit!

At that very moment, I felt powerless. I didn’t know how to deal with spirit possession. Not-Grastel fixed his attention to me, wearing a grin that looked wrong on him.

「Not-Grastel: Whew! Can you feel all thiss deliciouss fear?! I’m brimming with power!」

He rolled his shoulders and stretched out his limbs. Behind him, Ellin twitched. I kept my cool.

Only at that moment did I notice how my limbs were succumbing to small tremors. A disappointing reminder that I was getting rusty by the lack of action.

「Allen: Enough! You got me.」

I yelled to keep his attention focused on me. A clear mind was the only weapon left I could use in this situation.

Who was the one who had given their ring to the captain? Ellin or Grastel?

Since he first spoke, I had only heard from him and Namrick…

「Not-Grastel: I believe we had a discussion to continue…」

He raised his palms up, one hand still holding the sword. But I got a good look. He wasn’t wearing his magic ring.

『Allen: Ellin! Can you hear me?』

「Not-Grastel: Finally got rid of all the insectsss…」

The demon said, smiling even harder while cleaning the blade on Grastel’s clothes. I’m so gonna curb stomp your demonic ass spirit, I promised mentally.

「Allen: So what? Do you think to bring me to your cause by hurting my friends?」

He chuckled and started walking closer, slowly. I took a step back.

『Allen: Ellin!』

I put some urgency to my mental sending.

「Not-Grastel: Those brats? I may decide to let them walk away if you come with me willingly…」

『Ellin: Ugh… A-Allen?』

I saw Ellin try to move, still covered by Namrick’s unconscious body.

『Allen: Stay still!』

I warned her, never gazing away from the danger walking toward me.

「Allen: And what if I don’t?」

I said with a tone of challenge. The demon-possessed Grastel chuckled in a sinister way.

『Ellin: I-I’m afraid…』

「Not-Grastel: I’ll take over your body. Closing off your aura won’t sssave you, I only need a cut. And you are attuned to fear! I could preserve both your spirit and body for months!」

I grunted. I wasn’t really listening. I was thinking about what to do. Ellin said she could exorcise spirits. And the chains around the subdued guy… they had to be enchanted to restrain the demon, to keep him from leaving.

『Allen: Ellin… I’ll let him possess me.』

He won’t react to her if he’s busy with me.

『Ellin: Wha- No!』

There was another enchanted chain ready to be used, lying across the gore. It looked intact.

『Allen: Listen! When he jumps in me, use the chains, and try to exorcise the demon.』

『Ellin: But I…』

Ellin was still in shock.

「Not-Grastel: Caith got your tongue, human? Oh! If you think help iss coming you are out of luck! Heheheh.」

「Allen: What do you mean?」

I asked, feigning surprise, all to keep him busy just a little longer.

『Allen: If it works, his soul will be destroyed, right? At the very least, we can imprison him inside my body.』

The kids came to help me. I had to give them a chance, even if it hurt me.

『Ellin: Yes… But I’m scared. Death, so close… Again…』

Her telepathic voice was full of despair. Come on, Ellin, get it together.

「Not-Grastel: I left a little surprise out there, as a diversion… Hehe~」

The demonic-possessed Grastel revealed, confirming my worries. No one was coming in time to save our asses.

How did spirit possession work? Was it about willpower? Spiritual strength? I should have read more books.

「Not-Grastel: I expect they’ll be busy long enough for me to finish the job.」

『Allen: Ellin… I’m going to buy as much time as I can.』

I kept my eyes fixed on Grastel’s. I had to play it right.

『Ellin: I don’t know what-』

『Allen: Either chain me or run. It’s up to you.』

『Ellin: I… I’ll try.』

Her thoughts had a wavering tone. But with a hint of resolve. I didn’t see any other option.

「Not-Grastel: I’ve had enough. Anssswer me now, or I’ll cut this one’s throat.」

He moved the blade to Grastel’s neck, drawing a line of blood. He smiled.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

Time to make Master Zheng, the man who taught me meditation, proud of my mental fortitude.

「Allen: I made my choice.」

I said at last.

「Not-Grastel: Oh-ho? Let’ss hear it then! Be quick!」

I walked closer. Better to shorten the distance Ellin had to move. In case it only took mere seconds to possess me.

「Allen: I decline.」

I said, pushing him back. He needed me alive, and that body wasn’t his. He wasn’t going to kill me outright.

「Allen: Tell your god he can suck my dick.」

I said defiantly, making his grin waver.

「Not-Grastel: You-!」

I stabbed a finger on his chest, driving him further back.

「Allen: And tell him that his nightmares were the lamest I’ve ever had the misfortune of suffering in my dreams!」

He didn’t hesitate after hearing me insult his god. I felt a piercing pain on my arm, where he had sliced me, so fast I barely saw it. I stood still.

「Not-Grastel: No matter, there are ways to change your mind…」

He said, restoring his nasty grin and grabbing my wounded arm with surprising strength. Cold sweat covered my forehead. This is it.

A moment later, Grastel collapsed. I held him not to let his head hit the floor. It’s happening.

Thrill, dread, and anticipation filled my whole mind.

Suddenly I felt it. Something foreign invading the sacred abode of my soul. I clenched my spirit body shut as hard as I could.

「Allen: NOW!」

How long could I resist?

『Bodystealer: Here I am!』

I felt him attempting to put me to sleep. Despite my efforts, I lost consciousness of my body, but I held onto my awareness.

『Bodystealer: Oooohh! Ssomeone who triess to ressist. How refresshing! Please try your bessst, I’m gonna enjoy it..』

And the pain enveloped me.