Upon the officer's arrival, Professor Karn couldn't help but feel relieved. "Colonel Zieg, you've come... What about the other reinforcements..."
The middle-aged officer named Zieg glanced at Professor Karn and shook his head. "I am the only 4-Ring reinforcement."
"After learning of the situation here, the Great Nobles of the Empire Capital exerted substantial pressure on the Military Department and the Jurisdiction Bureau. They demanded that all available forces be deployed to defend the main urban area, especially the Upper City District where they reside, against any invasion by evil followers."
"In the short term, there probably won't be any more reinforcements from the Empire Capital."
A flicker of astonishment crossed Professor Karn's face. "But, this is a blatant challenge to the Empire's authority..."
"A challenge to the Empire will certainly be met with the sternest retaliation."
"However, for those Great Nobles, the better choice of retaliation is undoubtedly to kick an adversary when they are down during their escape, rather than to step into a trap set by them at this moment."
Colonel Zieg looked at the astonished Professor Karn and slightly shook his head. He hadn't completely spelled out some things.
In reality, those Great Nobles in the Empire Capital had already mentally prepared to sacrifice St. Roland Academy in this incident.
Of course, if the children of those nobles were among the hostages trapped in the academy, the situation would have been quite different. Forcing the Military Department and the Jurisdiction Bureau to mobilize all their forces, even deploying private armed forces secretly In Control by the nobles themselves for the rescue, would have been entirely possible scenarios.
But the Ashes Cult chose an excellent time for their attack, right at sunset, when the students of noble descent who had been studying at St. Roland Academy had already returned to their estates in the Empire Capital.
Those remaining in the academy were mostly commoner students without any support in the Empire Capital.
To those Great Nobles of the Empire Capital—these were merely a group of commoners with some talent at best, lacking any significant background. Weighing the value of such students against the risk of attempting a rescue—knowing full well the enemy had a 4-Ring powerful pro and they might even lose their own Master Rank Beastmasters to a counterattack—the balance was clear without a second thought.
After hearing the officer's words, Professor Karn fell silent for a moment. After a while, he spoke again, "Colonel Zieg, if we join forces against that cult leader..."
"It's going to be difficult." Colonel Zieg's voice remained serious. "According to my senses, he is a high-level 4-Ring, the same rank as me, and he should not be an average member among the Ashes Cult's cult leaders."
"With you being a mid-level 4-Ring, it won't be hard to suppress him and gain the upper hand, but it would be extremely difficult to achieve a quick victory within half an hour."
"Moreover, according to the fluctuations detected by the Eye Demon, the sacrificial ritual inside will be completed within twenty minutes. By then, even if we defeat that cult leader, it would be too late."
"However, regardless, as a member of the Military Department, I must try."
The middle-aged officer summoned a bear-like Pet Beast by his side. "Actually, there's another way to break the situation."
"The Ashes Cult's cult leader is being engaged by us on the outside, while those arsonists inside the firewall are all 2-Ring."
"If your school's students are strong enough, they might have a chance to destroy that altar from the inside. This would not only stop the ritual's continuation but also break the sealing fire array. That would allow the army and teachers to enter and rescue the hostages."
"The students inside..." Professor Karn's frosty eyebrows knitted, and then a glimmer of joy appeared on his wrinkled old face. "Although many senior students are out on assignments, I remember that the most elite members of the student council have just returned."
As he spoke, his eyes, which were looking at the Eye Demon detection screen, suddenly lit up. "Act now!"
Behind Professor Karn, ethereal dots of red, blue, and green appeared. The dots swiftly coalesced, turning into small-winged humanoid creatures. These were Element Fairies of fire, wind, and lightning attributes.
Moreover, unlike common Commander-rank Element Fairies, those summoned by Professor Karn had clearer forms; even the rudimentary shapes of crowns could be seen forming on their heads.
This indicated that his three Element Fairies had already reached the 4th Order, qualifying as Fairy Sovereigns.
The tri-colored dots rapidly converged and then became beams of light that shot toward the firewall.
On the other side, the giant bear summoned by Colonel Zieg stood upright with a deafening roar, emanating a ring of earthy yellow radiance.
BOOM—
A Magma Giant, its entire body flowing with lava, emerged from the flames. Its magma-cloaked fist struck the oncoming elemental wave.
The elemental wave shattered, but the Magma Giant also staggered, its black volcanic rock cracking open.
In a brief moment, three Master Rank Beastmasters were locked in battle.
「On the other side of the firewall.」
Almost simultaneously with the confrontation of the three 4-Ring powerful pros on the outside, several students, who had been dirt-streaked and disguised among the captured crowd, suddenly burst into action.
Majestic silhouettes of Pet Beasts emerged, their formidable presence displaying their owners' status as 2-Ring Beastmasters.
As students outstanding enough to become intermediate Beastmasters while still at the Extraordinary Academy, they were among the best of the best.
They were all members of the St. Roland Academy student council, who had fought side by side numerous times and had undertaken many high-difficulty tasks for the adventurers' association.