CHAPTER 260: CHAPTER 260

Whoosh!

Cypher swung Fendral in a fluid arc, the blade twisting upward at an unnatural angle—a technique he’d honed after studying Remillia’s curving daggers. The elegant maneuver sliced through the air, dispatching the last Rogue with a decisive strike that left the Rogue crumpling to the ground.

Whitney let out a heavy sigh, wiping the sweat from her brow with the back of her hand. "They just keep coming," she muttered, more to herself than anyone else.

Edge glanced over, his spear still in hand as he casually wiped it clean on the edge of his cloak. "Whitney, are you okay?" he asked, his voice steady, almost indifferent, but his eyes betrayed a flicker of concern.

"Yeah, thanks to you," she replied, her face etched with fatigue but softened by a sweet, grateful smile that lit up her weary eyes.

"I’m glad," Edge replied simply, sheathing his weapon with a practiced motion.

Cypher scanned the scene, his gaze sweeping over the group. They’d already pulled twenty students out of danger using the GPS Mirror, but there were still more out there, waiting in the shadows. For now, though, their focus had to shift. "Everyone!" he called out, clapping his hands to draw their attention. The rescued kids looked up, wide-eyed and wary. "We’re going to guide you to a safe place. Just stick close and follow us."

"Why are you talking like they’re a bunch of children? They’re students just like you," Whitney narrowed her eyes at him, her voice sharp with reproach. She crossed her arms, still catching her breath from the fight, but her gaze was unwavering.

Cypher blinked, caught off guard. "Huh? Oh, sorry, it’s because I’ve been playing with the kids at the orphanage recently," he admitted with a sheepish grin, scratching the back of his head. The words tumbled out awkwardly, like he was trying to explain away a bad habit.

Whitney’s expression softened just a fraction, but she shook her head.

"Students, stay on your guard and follow us to the central building!" Jude bellowed gallantly from nearby, his voice booming with authority, spear raised like a banner. He cut an imposing figure, all broad shoulders and unyielding resolve.

"See? It’s the instructor’s job to say those words," Whitney said, turning back to Cypher with a curious stare. ’He’s just like Remillia when they speak. It’s as if they’re both older than they really are,’

Cypher rolled his eyes, a faint chuckle escaping him. "...Yeah, yeah," he muttered, waving her off dismissively.

In any case, the group began to move, the rescued students falling into a wary formation behind them. They trudged toward the central building. But then, someone in the crowd—a wide-eyed boy with a scraped knee—pointed frantically at the horizon. "L-Look over there!"

All eyes turned. In the distance, the Kraken’s massive tentacles lashed through the air like living whips, churning the sky into chaos. A deafening shockwave rippled outward, slamming into the ground with earth-shattering force. Trees toppled like dominoes, uprooted in sprays of soil and splintered wood. A massive cloud of dirt billowed up, obscuring the horizon in a haze of devastation.

Cypher’s eyes widened, his heart pounding as he watched the destruction unfold. The point of impact was unmistakable—the central building, their supposed safe haven, was crumbling under the assault. Walls cracked and collapsed, roofs caving in with thunderous roars. It happened too fast, a nightmare unfolding in seconds.

Before his mind could fully process the horror, his body reacted on instinct. Thoughts of Remillia flashed through his head, ’Was she still inside? Safe? Did they leave?’ He bolted forward, legs pumping as he sprinted toward the building. But after a few strides, he skidded to a halt, teeth gritted in frustration. The GPS Mirror. He couldn’t just abandon the students he’d rescued; they were his responsibility now. "Hurry up, everyone!" he shouted, his voice raw with urgency. "Follow me—run!"

He doubled back, herding the group with frantic gestures, his mind racing. By the time they reached the central building, the scene was one of utter devastation. "T-This..." Cypher whispered, his voice trailing off as he surveyed the wreckage. The structure had toppled into a heap of rubble, dust swirling in the air like ghosts. Dozens of students lay collapsed on the ground, unconscious or worse, scattered amid the debris like broken dolls.

He wanted to find Remillia—needed to—scanning the chaos for any sign of her. But then, his gaze locked onto a figure standing amidst the fallen students, blocking his path. Someone, poised and unyielding, as if waiting for him. Cypher’s hand tightened on Fendral’s hilt, a chill creeping up his spine. Who was this? Ally or enemy?

The mysterious man stood amidst the rubble, his mask concealing everything but his lower face—a twisted visage that revealed only a jawline etched with eerie calm. His lips curved into a happy smile, almost gleeful, as he locked eyes with Cypher. It was the kind of grin that sent shivers down spines, too bright and out of place in the midst of such devastation.

"Who are you?" Cypher gritted his teeth, his voice low and edged with suspicion. He tightened his grip on Fendral, every muscle coiled like a spring, ready to strike if this stranger made a wrong move.

But the man only responded with an ominous smile, his eyes—whatever lay behind that mask—gleaming with unspoken amusement. He didn’t flinch, didn’t speak. It was as if he was savoring the moment, drawing it out like a predator toying with prey.

Instructor Jude stepped forward beside Cypher. His face was a mask of grim determination, years of battles hardening his features. "Fall back, Cypher," he warned. "He’s not someone you can handle."

The mysterious man tilted his head, that unsettling smile never fading. "Ah, so you’re Cypher Knoxx," he muttered, his voice shifting mid-sentence like a broken record. For the first phrase, it was a woman’s sultry whisper, smooth and alluring; then it morphed into a man’s deep, gravelly rumble; and finally, it cracked into a child’s innocent lilt, high-pitched and playful. The effect was jarring, unnatural, as if multiple voices were layered within one throat.

Cypher’s brow furrowed instantly, a deep frown etching lines across his face. He’d heard tales of Rogues with bizarre abilities, but this... this was something else.

"What kind of Rogue are you?" Jude demanded, his voice steady despite the unease creeping into his eyes. He positioned himself protectively, ready to shield the group if things turned violent.

A deep, resonant smile spread across the man’s exposed lower face, widening until it bordered on manic. "That’s an interesting question," he replied, his tone laced with mockery. "What Rogue? Are you asking for my name? Unfortunately, I don’t have one." With a casual flick of his wrist, he reached down and grabbed the neck of one of the unconscious students sprawled on the ground, hoisting the limp body up like a ragdoll. The student’s head lolled, eyes closed in oblivion. "But I hear you guys call me Berserk."

Berserk.

The name hung in the air like a curse, echoing through the group. Eyes widened in unison

Seemingly satisfied with the ripple of fear his name had caused, Berserk let out a low, mocking snicker, his eyes—hidden behind that eerie mask—scanning the group of newly arrived students like a collector appraising rare artifacts. "There are many of you I want to take with me," he said, his voice a chilling blend of tones, shifting unpredictably as if voices from different lives were speaking through him. "But unfortunately, I’m out of time. I’ll just have to take this child." With a casual wave of his hand, he conjured a shimmering pouch out of thin air. He scooped up the unconscious student he’d been holding, stuffing the limp body inside as if it were nothing more than a forgotten toy, the pouch sealing with a soft, ominous click.

That was the spark. In a blur of motion, Cypher and Edge struck, their attacks synchronized in desperate fury. Cypher’s Fendral sliced through the air in a crescent arc of gleaming steel, infused with his own Aura, while Edge’s spear unleashed a piercing beam of light, crackling like lightning as it hurtled toward Berserk’s unguarded form.

Berserk merely sighed, a bored exhale that carried the weight of countless battles. A surge of raw magic erupted from him, a invisible wave that scattered their assaults easily. The crescent slash dissipated into harmless sparks, and the spear beam fizzled out mid-flight, leaving only faint trails of smoke in the air. He laughed then, a leisurely, taunting sound that echoed through the rubble. "Unfortunately, you’re too weak to do anything against—"

He didn’t get to finish. Jude charged forward like a thunderbolt, his movements a blur of seasoned precision. In the blink of an eye, he closed the distance, his hand shooting out toward Berserk’s masked face with lethal intent. But Berserk, unfazed, countered without a hint of defense—his own hand clamping onto Jude’s neck in a vice-like grip, fingers digging in with unnatural strength.

For a heartbeat, the air froze, tension coiling like a serpent. Then, Jude unleashed his power. A blinding blast of magic erupted from his palm, raw and explosive, slamming directly into Berserk’s head. The impact roared like a cannon, sending shockwaves rippling through the debris, dust and fragments scattering in a chaotic whirlwind.