If Naell were to describe the situation he was in, he would undeniably call it annoying, as it was such a drag for him to be there.

Yet partly he blamed himself, as who else brought him there in the first place?

.

.

.

"Owly something's wrong…"

The peaceful day allotted for resting had been fiercely interrupted by an unprecedented event.

"You think, HOOT?!"

"..."

As the two exited the library what beheld their sights was a gathering of several high-ranking monsters; few of which Naell and Owly had encountered before.

The hordes of mighty wildetaurs, the child-like yet murderous goblins, and the likes of the intellectual cyclopes.

Within most directions, he saw the figure of giant beasts; flocks of Griffins, Giant Trolls, and even a Hydra.

"Nope to the right." Said Naell, seeing there was no such thing as an enormous monster on that path.

"...You're not avoidi—"

"Where did they all come from?" Interrupted Naell.

"A high-level dark spell is hiding the source, HOOT."

"Interference magic?"

"Yup, HOOT."

*******

When the smoke cleared from the destroyed wall, Naell scanned the area he had arrived in.

Rubble, dust, and exhausted faces were present; a scene that was nothing like the lively hall of students he used to pass through.

Yet what surprised him the most was the protagonist's party, they who boasted such power and confidence were far from that usual state.

Glancing further into the chaos, he caught a glimpse of the three figures that menacingly stood afar.

• All thre— four rather, are releasing insane power. •

He said to Owly telepathically, to which the bird then nodded and replied.

• M'Hoot. •

Naell's and Owly's eyes then both landed on a seemingly empty corner. That was when Sult immediately charged at them in the blink of an eye.

"He's fast, HOOT!"

Whilst Sult attempted to strike with full force, a dark shield intercepted his fist causing him to get startled.

"Ah…" He reflexively expressed as he clutched his tickled hands in amusement.

"..."

That made Naell and Owly raise a brow at the burly man's impulsive attack.

Sult had charged head-on at a dark spell that was meant to slow or stun any who would touch it, yet it was a detectable spell for those who simply had focus.

Alas for the burly man, it was noticeable that he indeed knew of the dark spell, he just simply didn't have an ounce of care.

Of course for Naell, that brief moment of drawback was enough for him to aim his staff at Sult, shooting highly pressurized water which again, with a grin, the burly man gladly took on.

With that, Sult staggered, yet only for a moment.

• Welp, it's not there anymore. •

Naell said telepathically, casually looking at the corner he first intended to shoot at.

"Your detection is admirable…" Pierd said with impressed eyes while signaling his companion to retreat.

Sult took heed and followed getting a mouthful of insults from Awthra. In return he laughed while casually rubbing the dust from his arm.

"It's itchy but not that powerful."

"You idiotic blockhead!"

As the trio of villains seemed to be minding their own business. Naell's gaze then wandered onto Note. He could feel just how much he struggled to stand with his low aura.

'Noooo this reminds me of what happened in the book…' Naell thought to himself, pitying who he recalled was his favorite character.

[ Snow Cushion ]

Upon casting that for the weak knight, Naell then glanced in Namiku's direction and immediately, he felt rage.

A sense of urgency showered upon him the minute he locked eyes with the rest of the protagonist party.

The small princess' disheveled hair was far less noticeable compared to her face in pure distress. Tears had been flowing on her cheeks as she tried to crawl to Note in frustration.

Near her, the half-elf had his back against a wall. It was noticeable how all the while in his exhaustion, he was still coating his string to form a web-like shield for his friends.

Next to him was Andrew who completely lacked the strength he usually possessed. He was kneeling and clutching his arm with a pained look towards Viola.

And the kind Viola was heaving and had both of her hands still persistently glowing above someone, her friend.

The output was weak and the brightness of her light magic even more so.

"Hey…"

Finally, Naell's eyes landed on her as he took a step forward from Owly.

"Is that...?"

Her otherwise pink hair was dirtied by rubble, her skin paler than any of her friends, and her hands weakly laying on her side as she tried to keep her eyes open.

Even then, Rinca was entirely coated in her fading aura.

Naell's detection only made him see much more vividly how unstable her pinkish aura was as it flickered like a weak candle.

Rinca was losing consciousness with only Viola's magic keeping her barely awake.

"Naell, Rinca she!!!" Namiku's weeping voice was stuttering with regrets and woe.

Andrew and Rizaul had managed to stand back and assist Note. The three were visibly angry toward Awthra.

"Rinca… shielded us and I could only watch." Viola also said with tears flowing endlessly.

As Naell watched Rinca, the so-called Duchess of Ice who was barely awake, they were able to gaze at one another.

• Please protect my friends…

and forgive me. •

[ Rinca!!! ]

With their screams in unison, they cried as she lost consciousness.

.

.

.

In that mere moment, Naell's mana shook violently.

"...Hey, did you do that?" His blood red eyes glared at Awthra, whose mana had been lingering on the weak Rinca.

Yet Awthra didn't even look at him and was still focused on the protagonist party, her prey.

• HOOT, Hey! • Owly called out to Naell whose eyes had nothing but pure resentment.

"Naell…!" Even Note glanced at the young noble, only to surprisingly be greeted with a fortified [ Ice fortress ] shielding him and the rest from any more harm.

Its small windows were enough for Naell to see through and monitor anyone inside.

"I leave the rest to you, Riz."

"I got it."

"And please, protect her."

Immediately, they nodded and wiped their eyes.

Seeing the annoying spell, Awthra began her incantation of fire once more. She was resolute in burning the ice fortress along with the protagonist's party.

As her magic was on the brink of being shot, Naell then said,

"Hey, didn't I say something?!”

Gripping his staff, his mana began to shake a fearsome amount. The mass of it then gathered onto the tip of the refined elven wood.

It was then in that instant the accumulated mana had cast a powerful ice spell, bursting in full force, and firing directly in Awthra's direction.

Sult saw this and stepped up to the front of Awthra. He then began releasing more aura than he ever did before, making the area around him quiver and quake as well.

"Stop, you fool---!" Pierd called out but it was all too late.

Sult only grinned as his aura blared with immense power. His arm was coated with what seemed to be their defense.

With Awthra not sensing nor reacting fast enough to Naell's spell, Sult took the full hit.

Dust and rubble once more filled the air as Awthra coughed amid the smoke.

When the scene cleared, the protagonist party's eyes widened and stared at the still smiling Sult.

"HAHAHAHAH, THAT WAS GREAT KID!" He cackled, not noticing Awthra's concerned look at his arm.

"You idiot..." Pierd said sternly, as he stared at his raving companion with a blank expression.

"What do you mean? That was a kitten's tickle at bes–-" Yet he stopped himself as when he tried to raise his left arm, he realized it was immovable.

It had been completely crystallized from his shoulder to the tip of his fingers. Its entirety was white with no hint of aura emitting from it.

As Sult took a step, his entire left arm fell without warning, shattering on the ground and turning into dust.

"Wha---" He coughed up blood and immediately knelt from where he stood.

From inside the fortress Note then muttered in surprise and bewilderment,

"Haha...like Stardust."