“I think I can interfere with the magic, so I can make use of the barrier,” remarked Oliver, who had been exposed to the mist.
Kevin had become more or less used to it by now, but he still couldn't help but ask, "So, are you saying you can wield spatial magic as well?"
Oliver shook his head and clarified, "No, I don't know how to use it properly."
"Properly?"
"I can't create it out of thin air without any medium, and I can only use paper as the medium. Do you remember when we first fought?"
"Oh… I remember. You summoned two portals using paper as a medium. Zombies jumped out of one of them, grabbed me, and blew itself up."
"Oh, I didn't mean any harm."
"Let's not dwell on the particulars."
Kevin's words held sincerity, for he too had aimed to eliminate Oliver.
"Anyway, you're saying that paper is not a magical item but your magic?"
"Yes. I perceive it more as a workaround than an item."
"A workaround?"
"Exactly. It's a devised method, born of my imperfect mastery of spatial magic. It pales in comparison to Elder's expertise."
Oliver's self-assessment carried candor, though Kevin wasn't as dismissive.
In the realm of magic, even workarounds were deemed skillful.
Yet, deliberation was a luxury they lacked.
"Let's set aside all the trivial talk for now. So, you're saying we can get out of here?"
"Yes. Though not confirmed, indications suggest we could manipulate the spatial magic formula within the fog to transport us elsewhere."
Kevin welcomed Oliver's revelation. A substantial predicament seemed to dissolve, only to be replaced by further uncertainty.
The union of the Magic Tower's Life School faction and Galos's life alchemy department left him stranded, directionless, in a contest where the stakes loomed large.
Moreover, the extent of their alliance remained obscure.
Formidable adversaries stood against them; intelligence was scant.
"Can you shift us beyond the fog?"
"I think it's possible. Shall we move outside the fog?"
"…Unexpected."
"What's?"
"I thought you'd say we shouldn't, out of curiosity. Also, I expected you'd say we need to help the students, including Derick and Felix."
"Ah… Under circumstances as they are, I'm but your personal aide, Professor."
Oliver responded, tilting his head.
In truth, his words bore weight.
In his role as personal staff, his foremost obligation lay in heeding the professor's directives. Given their current dire circumstances, it seemed illogical to extend aid to others.
Safeguarding himself posed a formidable challenge, an endeavor unto itself. No one would fault him should he seek escape unaccompanied. In fact, it might be more pragmatic to flee and apprise the external world of their plight.
‘Surely, that's the righteous course…'
Torn between rationality and sentiment, Kevin at last found his voice.
"Zenon."
"Yes, Professor."
"Do you know where the World Tree is?"
"Yes, I confirmed it when I examined the water vein."
"Then, that shall be our initial destination. We have to try what we can… Can I rely on your support?"
"Absolutely, Professor."
In response to Kevin's entreaty, Oliver exhibited interest and commenced channeling stored mana. He endeavored to disrupt the fog's ensconced magic and spells.
Remarkably, just as Oliver had posited, a portion of the intricate, expansive enchantment reacted. Kevin couldn't help but marvel.
Could this be categorized as talent?
"Let's proceed."
Upon Oliver's utterance, the fog, akin to a suspended veil, commenced undulating. Scores of appendage-like apertures engulfed Kevin and Oliver.
In short order, the dense mist receded, unveiling a novel vista.
In the vicinity of Lake Village's woods, Terence Roar and Yareli Issai stood, panting in the aftermath of a skirmish.
The terrain bore evidence of cryogenic frost and jagged icebergs, pockmarked craters suggestive of bombardments, and myriad maimed, frozen cadavers strewn about—an unforeseen encounter.
Within the ensuing stillness, Oliver, having disengaged from the fog, spoke.
"How are you both?"
***
Silence.
Oliver's unexpected salutation rendered Terence and Yareli mute.
Their faculties struggled to reconcile with the unfolding scenario.
Without uttering a word, Kevin, exercising empathy, advanced toward them. Shortly thereafter, Yareli bowed her head and opened her mouth.
"How did this… happen?"
"This is the handiwork of the Life School and the life alchemy department."
Yareli's inquiry ostensibly concerned their method of arrival, yet Kevin intentionally tailored his response.
Elucidating their mode of arrival would necessitate expounding upon Oliver's role, a prospect adverse both to Kevin's personal interests and their present context.
Presently, precision in grasping the circumstances, devising a remedy, or securing exit from this locale assumed utmost significance.
Yareli, evidently fatigued, offered no immediate objection, prompting Kevin to take the reins of the conversation.
"Terence. Where is General Philip?"
"Theodore summoned him for a meeting. Just him… without any attendants. Even One Master Tilda was called in alone. What do you mean by the involvement of the Life School?"
"I mean exactly what I said. A massive barrier materialized during the assembly hosted by the Life School and the life alchemy department. Who else could plausibly orchestrate it? These bodies are additional proof."
Kevin gestured toward a creature with a human torso and two canine skulls, persisting in his explanation.
"A chimera?"
"To be more precise, an enhanced human—a subject of the Life School's experimentation. They transformed numerous villagers and hotel staff into these abominations."
Yareli found herself aghast at Kevin's words. The narrative was a ghastly affront to reason itself. But even prior to that, it appeared she was unfamiliar with this research.
Terence displayed surprise, though of a different sort. While he seemed to accept the research's existence, he was taken aback by its application in this manner.
Seeking further insight, Terence posed an inquiry.
"How do you know that?"
"I can provide details if necessary, but do we have the time? Time is of the essence."
Kevin's assertion bore truth. The present circumstances were marked by a dire shortage of time. An unknown adversary who comprehended the situation could potentially manipulate the fog anew, subjecting them to its whims. Meanwhile, Philip and Tilda's safety, after their rendezvous with Theodore, remained a mystery.
Extricating themselves from immediate peril outweighed the luxury of delving into peripheral matters.
Naturally, as a War Wizard, Terence grasped this reality.
"You're right… Let's postpone the detailed discussion."
"Now we're getting somewhere. Yareli, what about you?"
Kevin's gaze shifted to Yareli, preempting protracted dialogue.
Given her grandmother's involvement in meeting Theodore, she nodded in agreement.
Skeptical and dubious as the situation was, addressing the immediate dilemma superseded all.
"Good. Let's proceed."
Having inadvertently assumed a leadership role, Kevin ventured into the woodland.
Along the route, he beckoned Oliver, inquiring about the World Tree's whereabouts. Observing silently, Oliver swiftly moved to indicate the tree's location.
"Are you trying to connect to the World Tree?"
Terence queried upon reaching the World Tree's vicinity.
"Yes. It's the only means to understand what's going on properly."
"It's useless."
"Useless? What do you mean?"
"I tried to connect, but I failed."
"Failed?"
"Literally. The moment I tried to connect to the root net, I was blocked by a massive wall and immediately bounced back."
Kevin, knowing Terence's abilities, looked both surprised and troubled.
Both Kevin and Terence were skilled Net Navigators.
Terence's failure meant something had interfered.
It seemed the people of Life School were not playing around.
To interfere with the connection to the World Tree, one needed to have more numbers and skills than those trying to connect.
Even with their allegiance to the life school faction, accumulating such resources would be implausible.
A notion crossed Kevin's mind.
"Could it be the interference of a Net Navigator?"
"That doesn't seem to be the case. If it was interference from the Net Navigator, consciousness would have to clash like waves, but it wasn't like that. It felt literally blocked by a wall. I don't know what it is, but at least it's not the Net Navigator."
Kevin quietly looked at Oliver. Oliver tilted his head, not knowing why Kevin was looking at him.
Kevin opened his mouth.
"We still have to try to connect once. Think about it after we try."
Neither Terence nor Yareli moved to interject. Kevin's rationale was clear – if Kevin managed to establish a link with the World Tree through his skills, it would be a gain; if not, it was no real loss.
Kevin concentrated mana in his fingertips, extended his consciousness towards the World Tree, and closed his eyes in deep concentration.
In response, Terence instructed Yareli and Oliver to encircle and protect Kevin, who was vulnerable in this state.
Moments later, Kevin reopened his eyes, having reestablished his awareness.
"It's real… There's an immense wall surrounding it."
From his reaction, it was apparent that the connection attempt had failed. As Terence and Yareli were poised to ask what their next step should be, Kevin made a startling declaration.
"Zenon… Give it a try, connecting."
***
All except Kevin found themselves doubting their ears.
Naturally so, as connecting with the World Tree demanded innate talent, technique, and mental acumen. Among wizards, only a few were capable of such a feat.
To propose this not to a student, but to a staff member with a mana disability, was nothing short of astonishing.
Oliver, the subject of this proposition, was equally taken aback.
How could Kevin suggest this with Terence and Yareli present? The situation baffled him deeply.
As Oliver regarded Kevin in search of an explanation, Kevin returned the gaze, communicating through his eyes.
While the exact meaning remained unclear, it appeared to convey the urgency of the situation – prioritize addressing the immediate crisis.
After a brief reflection, Oliver nodded. Denial was futile at this juncture, and the circumstances were undeniably grave.
"…Excuse me."
Oliver swapped positions with Kevin, eliciting even more astonished expressions from Terence and Yareli.
Terence and Yareli seemed poised to query the unfolding scenario, yet Kevin, the vanguard, subtly quelled their inquiry.
His directive was to overlook peripheral matters amid the current exigency.
With Terrence and Yareli's mouths shut, Oliver entrusted the aftermath to Kevin and gathered the stored mana in his body at his fingertips, attempting to connect to the World Tree.
Snap———!
Like a candle extinguished by a gusty breeze, Oliver penetrated the World Tree's Root Net.
Just as Terence and Kevin had described, a boundless, pitch-black barrier stood before Oliver.
An unprecedented phenomenon.
Curiously, a sense of déjà vu washed over Oliver, akin to having encountered something similar before.
‘When was it…?'
Ah, the recollection surfaced. Before infiltrating Mattel, for information, Oliver had connected to the World Tree, encountering a comparable experience.
While checking information Life School's Mattel Lab, a colossal eye had materialized out of thin air, inquiring: [Who are you?]
The sensation of that eye and this wall bore similarities.
‘And similar to Eve.’
At that time, Oliver had been somewhat pressed for time, swatting at the nagging eye in exasperation, shattering it like glass. Drawing upon that memory, Oliver once again extended his hand toward the black barrier.
The urgency was paramount.
Thankfully, the seemingly impregnable barrier splintered like thin ice at Oliver's gesture.
Thus, the void beyond the wall in the Root Net unfolded.
"Eve. Can you help me?"
As Oliver entered the Root Net, he spoke aloud. His words reverberated, soon followed by the swift yet gentle manifestation of a unified energy mass, its hue cast in shades of green.
It was Eve.
[Did you call? … Oliver.]
"Yes, it's been a while."
