The Academy's Doomed Side Character-Chapter 153: Ambush Failed [ 4]

Meanwhile.

Far from the wrecked auditorium, where the crowd was still reeling from the sudden attack, a man sprinted down a quiet, dimly lit hallway. His footsteps echoed with rising desperation. Sweat clung to his face, and his breath came in short, frantic gasps.

Kai Foster and Ethan’s third associate—the one who was supposed to stay hidden, the one who wasn’t even meant to be involved directly—was losing it.

"Damn it... damn it...!" he cursed under his breath. "How the hell did the information leak?! The attack was airtight! No one was supposed to know—no one!"

He yanked open a service door, slipping into one of the side wings of the academy, away from the main flow of traffic. But the deeper he ran, the more he felt the walls closing in.

He couldn’t hear the crowd anymore.

Too quiet.

His panic only worsened.

And then—

"Professor Jade Cole."

A voice, calm and cold, echoed down the corridor.

He froze.

His breath caught. Slowly, almost unwillingly, he turned around.

A young man stood at the end of the hallway, arms crossed, leaning casually against the wall like he’d been waiting there for hours.

Leo.

The second protagonist.

Sharp-eyed, short-tempered, and unfortunately for Jade, not known for his patience.

"Where are you going in such a hurry, professor?" Leo asked, voice laced with dry amusement.

Jade tried to form an excuse, some flimsy lie—but no words came out.

Leo took a step forward.

"Ah. That’s what I thought."

Jade reached for the wand at his belt in a panic—but it was too late.

In the blink of an eye, a blast of wind knocked the wand out of his hand. It clattered against the wall and shattered like glass.

And before Jade could even react, Leo was already in front of him, grabbing his collar and slamming him hard against the wall.

"You know," Leo said, tilting his head slightly, "I was in a really good mood today. Got all dressed up for a stupid ceremony and everything."

He tightened his grip.

"But then your stupid monster ruined it."

Jade whimpered, blood trailing down from his forehead where it struck the stone.

Leo smiled—but there was no warmth in it.

"You’re going to tell the Chairman everything. Starting with who you’re working for."

Jade didn’t reply.

Another punch.

"Don’t make me repeat myself," Leo growled, his voice low and dangerous. "You think I won’t break a few bones to get answers?"

Jade’s knees buckled, but Leo held him up by the collar, his knuckles white.

"You’re not even the worst of them, are you? Just the guy they sent to clean up. That means there’s someone bigger. Smarter. You’re just the tail end of a rotting beast."

Jade coughed, blood dribbling down his chin. His lips trembled, and for a second, it looked like he might talk—but then his eyes darted behind Leo.

Leo noticed.

Too late.

A burst of dark mana shot down the hallway, fast and jagged like a bolt of black lightning.

Leo barely turned in time, shielding himself with a wind barrier. The blast struck it and dispersed with a howl of static and smoke—but the force still sent both men flying back.

Jade hit the ground hard, groaning. Leo rolled to his feet instantly, eyes narrowing as a new figure stepped out from the shadows at the far end of the hall.

Tall.

Cloaked in black robes.

Face hidden beneath a bone-like mask shaped like an insect’s skull.

And in his hand—another wand, glowing with pulsing red runes.

"You talk too much, kid," the masked figure said, his voice deep and gravelly. "That professor served his purpose. He’s no longer needed."

Jade, realizing what was happening, reached out weakly. "W-Wait, no! I can still—"

The cloaked man flicked his fingers.

A spike of mana surged—and Jade’s body convulsed before collapsing like a puppet with its strings cut.

Dead. Just like that.

Leo’s eyes widened for a brief second before narrowing again. His knuckles cracked as he clenched his fists.

"Great. Another coward with a mask. You people really need a new gimmick."

The masked man tilted his head.

"You’re not part of the plan. But I suppose you’ll make a good test subject."

The mana around him warped—dark, unstable, foul.

Leo grinned, his wind aura spiraling around his body like a storm.

"Oh yeah? Then come test me."

The hallway lit up in clashing hues of gold and black as the two forces collided—lightining spear and shadow magic tearing through the air with violent force. Glass shattered. Walls cracked. The entire side wing trembled from the sheer intensity of their duel.

But Leo wasn’t backing down.

And for the first time, the traitor’s backup was forced to fight someone they hadn’t prepared for.

Which meant...

The rest of the academy?

Safe—at least for now.

----

The hallway echoed with the clashing roar of wind and dark magic as Leo tightened his grip on his spear. His [Weapon Master] talent flared to life, sharpening his reflexes and precision with every movement.

The masked man lunged forward, wand crackling with unstable dark energy, aiming a brutal strike at Leo’s head.

Leo pivoted on his heel, his spear slicing through the air in a fluid arc. The spearhead gleamed cold under the flickering lights, carving a sharp line that intercepted the dark magic just inches from his face. The force of the collision sent a shockwave rippling down the corridor.

Without missing a beat, Leo spun, using the momentum to thrust his spear forward, aiming for the masked man’s torso. The attacker twisted, barely avoiding the deadly tip, but Leo’s spear grazed the man’s cloak, tearing the fabric and leaving a thin streak of blood on the cloth.

The masked figure snarled, retreating a step, then unleashed a rapid volley of dark bolts. Leo grunted, sweeping his spear in a wide arc to deflect the attacks, the spear’s shaft absorbing multiple hits but holding firm. His enhanced weapon mastery allowed him to anticipate the attacker’s rhythm—each movement measured, calculated.

He advanced, spear poised low. The masked man attempted a sudden, erratic strike—a wild slash of his wand accompanied by a burst of raw mana. Leo ducked under the attack, rolling forward and driving his spear upwards with precise timing, aiming straight for the man’s exposed side.

The spear pierced the dark robe, drawing a hiss of pain. The masked man staggered but, surprisingly, didn’t falter long. He twisted violently, planting his wand into the ground to propel himself backward with a burst of force.

"Not bad," Leo muttered, catching his breath. "But you’re not getting away that easily."

With a roar, Leo charged, spear spinning like a whirlwind. His [Weapon Master] talent amplified every motion—each strike a perfect blend of speed, power, and control. The spear danced between offense and defense, stabbing, slashing, and parrying as the masked man scrambled to respond.

The corridor became a blur of flying debris, shattered tiles, and sharp clangs as steel met magic.

Then, suddenly, the masked figure faltered.

His breathing was ragged; the wound Leo inflicted was deeper than expected. He cursed under his breath, eyes flickering with frustration.

Without another word, the man turned sharply and vanished down a side passage, disappearing into the shadows.

Leo lowered his spear, muscles tense, eyes scanning the darkness.

"He’s running," Leo said quietly, voice edged with both relief and irritation.

But Leo knew better than to let him get away.

This was far from over.

Leo’s eyes narrowed as the shadow swallowed the fleeing figure. The dim hallway seemed to stretch endlessly before him, silent now except for his own steady breathing and the faint hum of residual magic in the air.

He tightened his grip on his spear, muscles still coiled from the fight. Every instinct screamed at him to give chase—but he had to be careful. The masked man was clearly desperate and dangerous, likely prepared with traps or reinforcements.

Leo took a measured step forward, then another. His [Weapon Master] talent heightened his senses, allowing him to detect the faintest disturbances: a scuff on the floor, a whisper of shifting air, the subtle scent of burnt ozone.

The man hadn’t gone far.

Suddenly, a sharp metallic clang echoed from a nearby corner.

Leo’s body tensed instantly. He pivoted, spear raised in a defensive stance.

From the shadows, a blade flashed—a razor-thin dagger aimed for Leo’s side.

But Leo’s reaction was instantaneous. He twisted, using the spear’s shaft to deflect the strike with a harsh clang that rang through the hallway.

The masked man emerged, eyes wild and calculating, wielding two daggers now, his movements desperate but still precise.

Leo sidestepped a rapid slash, countering with a precise jab to the attacker’s ribs. The man grunted but didn’t fall. Instead, he spun, using Leo’s momentum to try and throw him off balance.

Leo planted his feet firmly, spear acting as a lever. With a powerful twist, he broke the attacker’s grip and shoved him back.

Steel met steel as their weapons clashed again and again, each strike testing the other’s skill and endurance.

Leo’s breathing remained controlled, each movement economical but deadly, his spear strikes punctuated by calculated parries. The attacker’s strikes grew more erratic—fear creeping into his style.

Finally, with a fluid feint and a sudden thrust, Leo drove the spear’s tip just beneath the man’s ribs, forcing him to stagger.

The masked man’s eyes flickered with rage and defeat. He dropped one dagger and fled once more, limping but determined to escape.

Leo watched him disappear into the darkness, then exhaled slowly, muscles releasing their tension.

This was just the beginning. He would find Jade Cole’s accomplice—and put an end to this betrayal once and for all.