“For Satan!”

A voice filled with chilling faith echoed through the auditorium.

“Intruders, you mean the Satan Church!”

Yoo Soo-gap clenched his teeth and tightened his fist.

“The followers are just numbers, nothing special. We need to locate the Apostles.”

“…It seems the President is already dealing with them.”

Im Soo-ryeon, Yoo Soo-gap’s assistant instructor, pointed towards where the President was.

“Two against one… There’s no way there are only two Apostles in such an attack.”

The unexpected assault left the number of Apostles unknown.

The reason for the Satan Church’s sudden full-scale attack was also unclear.

“I knew we’d face them someday… but why so suddenly!”

“Students capable of combat, protect the others and defend yourselves as much as possible!”

All instructors, including Yoo Soo-gap and Im Soo-ryeon, were holding the line, but the numerical disadvantage was overwhelming.

They had no choice but to order the students to fight.

“Disciplinary Committee! Spread out! Protect the students!”

“Yes, Captain!”

The Disciplinary Committee had trained for emergencies like this, buying time for the students to regain their composure.

“Jeong Gyeoul! Lee Ha-yoon! No limits on your power! Move freely and destroy them all!”

“Yes!”

Some students were already standing out, and thanks to them, the instructors could breathe a little easier as they took down the followers one by one.

‘The students are fighting better than expected. Then… I’ll help the President take down the Apostles.’

Yoo Soo-gap thought driving out the Apostles would solve everything.

It was too naive a thought.

He didn’t consider what it truly meant to face the Satan Church.

Why this group had survived so long, why nations feared them.

Unfortunately, the ease with which the Apostles invading the Academy were dealt with was the biggest factor.

The instructors knew Jeong Gyeoul and Lee Ha-yoon had taken down two Apostles.

Because of this, the perceived threat level of the Satan Church dropped in the instructors’ minds.

Instead of clumsily trying to protect the students, the correct move would have been to push all students into the war, overcome the numerical disadvantage, and crush the enemy.

But the instructors thought they could hold the line.

The students also believed the instructors would protect them.

The situation began to change when casualties started mounting among the students.

***

“Those bastards!”

Jeong Gyeoul gripped her sword, ready to charge and cut them all down.

But at that moment, Lee Ha-yoon grabbed her arm and stopped her.

“What are you doing? Let go, Ha-yoon!”

“No!”

Lee Ha-yoon spoke firmly, and Jeong Gyeoul looked at her in disbelief.

“What do you mean, no?”

“You’re about to charge headfirst into the enemy’s midst. Protecting the students is good, but you need to protect yourself too!”

“…I’m not an idiot. Do you really think I’d do that?”

In truth, Jeong Gyeoul would have been the first to charge into the frontlines if Lee Ha-yoon hadn’t stopped her… but being held back allowed her to regain her senses.

“Gyeoul! Ha-yoon! Are you okay?”

Amid the chaos, the Lee sisters managed to find Jeong Gyeoul and Lee Ha-yoon.

“…Where were you two?”

“Near the back gate. It’s chaotic there too… but Instructor Im Soo-ryeon said she’d hold the line and told us to come here.”

“How many are there?”

“About… 150? 200? I’m not sure, they’re swarming in like crazy.”

It wasn’t much different from what Jeong Gyeoul had observed.

Around 200 at the back gate, dozens breaking through the roof, and another 200 at the front gate.

Roughly 500 had invaded.

“Where were they hiding all this time?”

“Even if they were hiding, how could no one notice such a large force moving?”

How could the Capital Defense Command and the Association miss a 500-strong armed group moving?

“Something’s off, this smells fishy.”

“…Are you thinking of a traitor inside?”

“The Academy wouldn’t be breached so easily, and if they broke in from outside, we’d have noticed the commotion… It’s strange that no one noticed until they stormed the auditorium.”

As Jeong Gyeoul inched closer to the truth.

“Ahhh!”

“No! Jeong-min!”

“Ahhh! Soo-bin!”

The students’ screams erupted.

“First… we’ll find the traitor later. Let’s protect the students. Ha-yoon… I’m really sorry but…”

“Can’t we just kill them all?”

“Huh? That’s true, but it’s not something to take lightly, killing people…”

“They don’t look like people to me, just beasts. I’ll go first!”

Killing people is an act that scars the mind.

Jeong Gyeoul was worried about Lee Ha-yoon’s mental state.

But… was this good timing?

Lee Ha-yoon was in a dark state, unbothered by killing.

Murder is like smoking; the first time is hard.

After that, it gradually eats away at your mind.

But neither Jeong Gyeoul nor Lee Ha-yoon were weak enough to be shaken by that.

“…If it gets too hard, you can step back. Take it easy, sisters.”

“That’s what we wanted to say, Gyeoul. Take care of yourself.”

Lee Chae-song, Lee Chae-rin, and Lee Ha-yoon continued defending the front gate.

Jeong Gyeoul moved to stop the followers slaughtering students inside the auditorium.

***

Two pairs of eyes watched as the Satan Church’s followers began pouring into the auditorium.

“Can they handle it alone?”

“Impossible. We’ll join when they’ve weakened enough.”

The plan was to push Gula and Eruogens onto the President, wait for his strength to wane, and then step in.

Fury, the Apostle of Wrath, knew how to control her anger and turn situations to her advantage.

‘Those two can die. Only the Cult Leader and I will receive Satan’s power.’

Fury, the 1st Apostle, watched the situation, ready to crush Rage if things got overwhelming.

Of course, she showed no sign of it, and Rage simply followed.

“What about the Association?”

“They’ve noticed, but their movements are sluggish.”

“Whether they break through the traps outside or disable them, it’ll take time… The real problem is the Clock Tower.”

Surprisingly, the Association didn’t seem afraid.

Even knowing Jeong Ha-yul was involved, they didn’t seem concerned.

Fury was more worried about the Satan Church’s eternal nemesis, the descendants of the Golden Dawn, than Jeong Ha-yul.

“From England to here? Is that possible?”

“From England, it’s impossible… but there’s evidence that Clock Tower mages have been entering Korea recently. What if they haven’t returned?”

“…That’s a big problem! Shouldn’t we finish this quickly and get out?”

“You go in and stir things up. I’ll join after assessing the situation outside.”

“Got it!”

Fury had planned to crush Rage if the situation turned, but since Rage volunteered to dive into the fray, she couldn’t be happier.

‘The Academy’s strength can’t be ignored. Those three will either die or suffer equivalent injuries… That’s when we’ll retrieve ST-156.’

Retrieve ST-156, and the Cult Leader will begin the ritual.

Once Satan descends…

Even sharing a fraction of his power would be enough to destroy the Clock Tower.

And unfortunately for the heroes, that was the truth.

‘It’s about to begin. The frenzy of slaughter.’

As Fury said, the atmosphere inside the auditorium shifted in an instant.

The students began to regain their momentum, pushing back the followers.

Those at the front cheered, driven by the thrill of battle.

The sensation of hundreds of combatants following behind them fueled their emotions.

As they pushed the followers back with all their might.

Seven weapons simultaneously flew towards one person.

Swoosh—

After the first slicing sound.

Six more slicing sounds followed in quick succession.

“Ughhh!”

“Ahhh!”

The bodies of the students charging forward froze.

‘What the hell is that!’

Just looking at it made their stomachs churn. The fear of death overwhelmed them.

Both arms, both legs, the neck.

The remaining torso was sliced horizontally and vertically.

All that remained were mutilated corpses.

The body parts scattered, and students covered in entrails, flesh, and blood began to panic.

A cold silence enveloped the auditorium.

The students who had been charging forward froze in place.

The gruesome scene lingered in their minds, refusing to fade.

They were hero aspirants, students who knew death was always a possibility.

They trained to overcome the fear of death.

But…

‘This… this isn’t right…’

Something beyond cruelty.

In the grotesque scene, they couldn’t even scream.

Thud— thud—

The body parts that had been sliced and flung into the air began to fall to the ground.

Thud—

Students collapsed where they stood.

Many dropped their weapons.

They had lost their will to fight.

“For Satan!”

“Kill them all!”

Taking advantage, the Satan Church’s followers began to push forward.

The Satan Church dominated the flow of the battlefield.

The students were left to despair.

At that moment.

“You idiots! Pick up your weapons!”

Boom—

Amid the chaotic mix of followers and students, someone landed with a deafening crash.

Shattering the auditorium floor, standing tall with a sword in hand.

It was the figure of a young girl, but she was every bit a hero.

Instantly drawing attention, three more girls appeared beside her.

“I knew this would happen. You said you wouldn’t go into the middle.”

“This isn’t the enemy’s middle, it’s between the enemy and our allies.”

“…Always with that mouth!”

The ones who would save everyone from this nightmare weren’t the S-Class hero Hwarang Kim Yu-shin.

Nor Instructor Yoo Soo-gap, Instructor Hong Eun-jung, or Assistant Instructor Im Soo-ryeon.

It was Jeong Gyeoul and Lee Ha-yoon.

Two Awakened Ones, just 14-year-old middle schoolers.

Girls who should still be throwing tantrums, protected under their parents’ care.

The youngest among everyone here stepped forward to save them all.

“…We can do it! If they can, why can’t we!”

“Right! It’s embarrassing to be protected by someone younger!”

“Pick up your weapons! Let’s fight back!”

The dying embers began to reignite.