Hitman With A Badass System

1319  Battle inside the Mazeroth

A few minutes before Michael disrupted the dragon army, Elidyr was leading Lenora and a group of dark army soldiers into the courtyard after breaking through the barrier around the castle.

"Where the hell is everyone? No soldiers or guards?" Lenora commented, glancing around the eerily empty courtyard. The courtyard of Mazeroth was expansive, with ancient stone archways, lush green lawns, and cobblestone paths leading to various towers and buildings. Statues of past scholars and magical creatures dotted the landscape, giving it an air of history and mystery.

"This isn't a stronghold of an army. It's a place of learning, an academy that nurtures students," Elidyr explained, his voice tinged with a hint of nostalgia.

"More like a factory producing brainwashed idiots loyal to Skyhall," Lenora snickered.

Elidyr couldn't help but see the truth in her words. He knew that this place was founded to nurture students and foster their growth. However, Skyhall had lost sight of the original purpose along the way. Their obsession and fear over the prophecy had twisted Mazeroth from an academy into a tool for their own ends. Ironically, their actions to avoid the prophecy had brought it upon them.

As they moved through the courtyard, Elidyr's thoughts lingered on the bitter irony. The prophecy they tried so hard to evade was now their reality, a consequence of their own actions.

They soon entered the castle through a large, wooden door. The hallway inside was wide, with high ceilings supported by stone arches. Torches lined the walls, casting flickering light on the moving portraits that adorned them. The portraits depicted past headmasters, professors, and notable alumni, their painted figures animated and conversing with each other. The corridors had an air of age and wisdom, with polished stone floors that echoed their footsteps as Lenora followed Elidyr with her eyes scanning the moving portraits. Some of the figures turned to watch them, whispering among themselves.

"Hey there, what's your business here?" one of the portraits asked, a stern-looking wizard with a long, flowing beard.

"Look who we have here, a vampire in our hallowed halls!" one portrait sneered.

"An elder vampire, no less," another gasped, causing a ripple of shocked murmurs among the painted figures.

"Yeah, it's me. Got a problem with that, you bunch of old farts?" Lenora snickered.

Elidyr couldn't help but smirk at her response. They continued walking, the dark army soldiers close behind with their hands on their swords and weapons, ready to cast spells at a moment's notice.

11:49

"Do you even know where you're going, Elidyr, or are you just winging it?" Lenora asked, glancing sideways at him. As they were walking through the corridor, Elidyr felt a pang of nostalgia, and memories flooded back. He remembered running through these corridors as a student, causing mischief and exploring every nook and cranny.

"This place hasn't changed a bit… It's beautiful," he mumbled with a mix of emotions like sadness, longing, and regret.

Hearing Elidyr, Lenora was taken aback by the sudden display of sentiment. She had always known Elidyr as the grumpy, stoic runemaster, never showing much emotion. Seeing this side of him made her realize how special Mazeroth was to him.

"If even our always grumpy half-elf runemaster feels like this about this place, it must be truly special," she thought.

As they walked forward, the dark army soldiers remained vigilant, mentally preparing themselves for any trouble. Lenora couldn't shake the feeling that this was too easy, too quiet. She glanced out a nearby window and saw the Dark Lord flying around, evading dragons, with Nithroel killing dragons with surprising brutality and show of power.

"I wish I was out there fighting dragons instead of sneaking around like a fucking thief," Lenora muttered. n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

 "Don't worry, Lenora. You might get your fight soon enough…" Elidyr gave her a sideways glance and a wry smile.

A portrait of a young lady screamed, her painted eyes wide with fear and urgency. "The professors are coming to deal with you! Run while you can!" she shouted, her voice echoing through the grand hallway.

Lenora's senses tingled as she detected several beings rapidly approaching. She turned just in time to see a stern-looking lady in a green robe, her hair pulled back into a tight bun. Beside her walked a black-robed man with flowing hair and piercing eyes. There was something about him, those eyes—they reminded Lenora of someone. It took her only a few seconds to connect the dots.

"Lane Voldiguard," she muttered under her breath, realizing he might be Eve Voldiguard's uncle.

Seeing the two professors leading a group of soldiers and more people who seemed like professors, Elidyr halted his steps. The tension in the air was palpable, the dark army soldiers tensing as they prepared for what was coming.

"Looks like we've got company," Elidyr said quietly as his eyes scanned the group before them. The green-robed lady, with her severe expression, and Lane, with his unsettlingly familiar eyes, stood at the forefront, ready to stop the intruders.

"This is no place for the Dark Lord or his minions." Lane stepped forward and issued a warning even though he knew that they wouldn't leave without a fight.

As Lane assessed the group before him, his gaze fixed on Lenora. Her pale skin, the overwhelming fragrance, and the dark lipstick immediately marked her as a vampire. The power radiating from her, the unmistakable aura of an Immortal stage cultivator, told him she was no mere vampire but an elder vampire. Lane had heard rumors about the elder vampires under the Dark Lord's command, and now he was finally facing one.

"Leave now, or face the consequences," Professor Kayla stepped forward, her hands glowing with Arch energ.

Lenora chuckled, showing no fear. She looked amused at the sight of their Half Immortal stage cultivation. When Michael was a student, they were all at Fusion stage level 10, but now, they had reached Half Immortal stage level 3, thanks largely to the resources Skyhall provided to prepare them for this day.

"How about you all run away like little scaredy-cats and avoid the fucking bloodshed?" Lenora grinned menacingly, her canines elongating into sharp fangs. Her eyes glinted with a predatory gleam, clearly enjoying the tension and the fear she was instilling.

In response to her threat, Lane merely snickered with a cold smile playing on his lips, as he pulled out a small vial from his robes. The golden liquid inside shimmered ominously, casting an eerie glow in the dim light of the hallway.

Lenora's eyes narrowed as she caught sight of the vial. An unsettling feeling gnawed at her. "What the hell is that?" she demanded.

On the other hand, Elidyr's eyes widened as he recognized the potency and purity of the potion. He had spent enough time with the Dark Lord to know a poison when he saw one. Despite the golden color, he was certain this potion was nothing but poison. Before he could utter a word of warning, Lenora lunged at Lane, her speed a blur of motion.

With a calm demeanor, Lane simply threw the vial onto the ground. It shattered with a sharp crack, and a golden mist immediately erupted from it, enveloping them in a thick, swirling cloud.

Elidyr was momentarily blinded by the mist. He couldn't see anything but heard Lenora coughing violently and cursing through the haze.

"Fuck! What is this shit?" Lenora's voice was filled with anger and desperation. "You fucking bastard, I'll rip you apart!"

"Goddamn it, I can't see! Elidyr, what the hell is happening?" Her frustration and rage were palpable.

"Get ready to die, you son of a bitch!" She shouted while coughing frantically. Although the golden mist didn't affect Eldiry and the soldiers like it did with Lenora, it still obstructed their eyesight. He could hear the soldiers and professors shuffling, preparing for an imminent clash. The golden mist seemed to cling to them, making the air heavy and difficult to breathe.

"This is not just any poison," Elidyr thought, trying to keep calm. "It's designed to incapacitate you, Lenora. Get out of here," Elidyr warned as the dark army soldiers cast their spells.

The dark army soldiers, trained by Eve and Gaya, didn't let fear cloud their minds. They calmly raised their hands, casting several spells that sent shock waves with force, clearing the mist. To their surprise, they saw Lenora stumbling, blood seeping from her nostrils and mouth, her face paler. She was weakened by the poison.

"Did you really think we haven't dealt with elder vampires before?" Lane, looking at the stumbling vampire, said sternly.

"I'll rip you apart," Lenora mumbled, but before she could say anything more, she fell unconscious.

 "This is your last warning. Leave or face the consequences," said headmistress Kayla, this time in a louder and firmer voice.

Yet, Elidyr didn't say a word but flicked his wrist, revealing several runes engraved on his body that glowed in a strange crimson red. He cast a spell, forming a lion made of pure energy and flames that shot out of his hands and lunged at the professors.

"Take cover!" Lane shouted, casting his own defense spell. A shimmering barrier formed in front of him, sparkling with blue and white energy, creating a shield that resembled a translucent dome. The lion of flames collided with the barrier, sending sparks and embers flying in all directions. Without giving the professors any time to retaliate, the dark army soldiers cast spell after spel as they conjured powerful bursts of energy. One soldier unleashed a spell that formed a whirlwind of scorching flames, spiraling through the hallway with a roar. Another created a wave of water that crashed against the professors' defenses, sending ripples of energy through the walls.

Kayla's eyes gleamed with determination as she summoned ethereal swords, their blades glowing with a brilliant blue light. She moved with grace and precision, parrying the soldiers' attacks and striking back with swift, decisive blows.

"Hold the line!" she shouted.

"We can't let them through!"

Meanwhile, Lane utilized his skills as a potion master to enhance his spells. He threw vials of glowing liquid onto the ground, which exploded into clouds of various effects. One vial released a mist that froze the ground, creating slick surfaces that caused the soldiers to stumble. Another emitted a blinding flash, temporarily disorienting the attackers.

"Stay sharp!" Lane commanded, tossing another vial that erupted into a wall of fire, blocking the path of the dark army soldiers.

As the battle progressed, the walls trembled as energy blasts collided with defensive barriers. Chunks of stone were torn from the walls, and the air was thick with the scent of blood and the tang of magic.

"We need to end this soon. The poison will soon lose its effects on the Elder vampire. If she woke up, she will be immune to the poison for another hour. We cannot afford that," Lane said amidst the battle.

Kayla, who just knocked out a dark army soldier with a blow to his face, looked at Lenora…She could tell by the way the elder vampire was squirming that she would wake up soon.

"We need reinforcement. I hope the headmaster will come here sooner rather than later,"