The Extra’s Academy Survival Guide - Chapter 234

“Your Majesty, you must evacuate first! Your advisors are currently in contact with the academy to determine a method of escape from the island! They have informed us that they have secured a way for a small number of people to evacuate!”

Claire spoke urgently, her head lowered as she knelt.

As a member of the Imperial Guards, her highest priority was the evacuation of the Kroel Imperial Family. They needed to escape as quickly as possible before the massive dragon in the sky launched another attack.

Kyaaaaahk!

The dragon’s roar was powerful enough to destroy Acken Island at any moment.

Crash! Shatter!

The roar intensified, shattering the windows of the royal residence.

Glass cracked and burst throughout the corridors. Servants running through the halls struggled desperately to suppress their screams of terror.

Little by little, the amount of magic power emanating from Velbrok’s roar increased.

Slowly but surely, it was beginning to break free from the chains wrapped around its body. There was no way to know who was still forcibly maintaining Velbrok’s seal, but one thing was certain—if this continued, the entire island would be devastated.

Kyaaah!

Through the shattered window of the royal residence, the Holy Blue Dragon’s massive forelegs swept past.

It slammed into Right Mountain, leaving behind a violent gust of wind as a massive landslide and dust storm erupted.

A petite magician flew through the cloud of dust.

With the Holy Blue Dragon Velbrok’s enormous head looming before her, she hovered calmly in the air, brushing dirt from her skirt.

Lucy Mayreel—the top student of the magic department.

Emperor Kroel frowned as he stared out the window.

“We must first bring the situation under control. Gather all military officers who are still capable of moving within the royal residence.”

“Your Majesty! You must evacuate the island first!”

“Enough. That single student is standing against that calamity right now. How could I flee and bring shame upon the imperial family?”

Emperor Kroel’s voice was firm as he addressed Claire.

“Do you truly believe that is what an emperor should do? If the academy falls further into chaos, the only way to calm it is through authority. If the school cannot stabilize the situation, then the imperial family must step forward.”

“But if you remain here, your life will be in danger!”

“Father, please leave the island…! What solution could you possibly find here?! If you escape, you can at least mobilize the empire’s forces!”

“If the highest authority in the empire flees in fear, Acken Island will descend into complete chaos. Do you think that will help anyone?”

Emperor Kroel turned away from the window, clenching his teeth in thought.

“Penia, being emperor means that I cannot run from a situation like this.”

Penia’s eyes widened.

There were countless visitors, merchants, students, and faculty members gathered on the small island of Acken.

Among them, the most important was Emperor Kroel himself.

If he fled first, the nobles would scramble to escape in order of rank, tearing each other apart in the process.

That was why he refused to leave.

As long as he stood firm, no noble would dare act selfishly.

“How could an emperor who abandons his people ever sleep at night?”

Emperor Kroel then shouted at Claire, ordering her to summon everyone still inside the royal residence.

No matter how dire the circumstances, she could not disobey a royal command. Claire bowed deeply and rushed out into the hallway.

Chaos reigned everywhere.

Emperor Kroel continued monitoring the situation from the window.

Velbrok and Lucy Mayreel exchanged relentless attacks. It was a spectacle that left even imperial magicians awestruck.

Velbrok, still partially restrained by its seal, attempted to overwhelm Lucy. The aftermath of their battle scarred the island with widespread destruction.

Lucy deflected another blast of Velbrok’s magic power, sending it toward the cliffs.

The resulting shockwave—

—slammed into the towering spire at the center of Silvenia Academy.

Boooom.

***

From far away, the sight forced one to squeeze their eyes shut.

The central spire of Silvenia Academy had collapsed.

The massive structure, visible from anywhere on Acken Island, shattered at its upper levels. Brick and debris rained down across the plaza below.

The central square had been crowded with outsiders.

Hundreds were injured. Dozens were dead.

Given the chaos, proper medical aid was impossible. Most of the wounded would not survive.

Emperor Kroel shut his eyes tightly and clenched his teeth, but he could not afford to lose composure.

“Where are the men I summoned?!”

With no other choice, he began issuing orders to servants, instructing them to assist survivors in the central and student squares and guide them to the safest locations on the island.

Places protected by large-scale defensive magic, underground shelters, or—

Grrrrrrrrrrr.

“Wh-What is that…?”

The situation deteriorated further.

A massive magic circle spread across the sky above Acken Island. It was not Lucy Mayreel’s elemental magic—it was unmistakably Velbrok’s dragon-type magic.

A sickening dark-red aura filled the heavens.

Then, the unimaginable occurred.

Boooooom!Boooooooom!

It was like the gates of hell had opened.

Historically, dragons were followed by countless monsters.

Normally, this would not have been possible for Velbrok, which had remained sealed for centuries. It had only just begun to awaken and should not have had time to command followers.

However, monsters poured forth from the dark fog engulfing the island.

The reason was clear.

Velbrok had been sealed by Celestial Magic.

The monsters it once commanded had been sealed as well.

Now, after hundreds of years, they were free.

They rampaged across Acken Island.

They were buying time for Velbrok to completely break its seal. Once freed, it would not need monsters at all—the island would be annihilated in a single strike.

Until then, it used its followers to spread chaos.

Monsters descended from the sky. Some cushioned their falls with magic. Others survived through sheer physical resilience. Some died on impact—only to rise again as undead.

Giant bats. Cyclopes. Gremlins. Undead wolves. Monstrous beasts.

Some hunted in packs. Others required dozens of knights to defeat.

“Th-This… is unbelievable…!”

“Kyaaaaaak!”

Clang!

“Kaaaahk! My arm! My arm!”

Screams echoed through the royal residence as monsters crashed inside.

“…What… is happening…? Out of my way…!”

Emperor Kroel pushed Penia aside and burst into the hallway.

Through the shattered window, he saw the inner garden.

And then—

—he made eye contact.

Even from the third floor, he did not need to look down.

It had only one eye.

The massive cyclops grinned grotesquely at the emperor.

Emperor Kroel felt his skin crawl.

Before he could speak, an imperial knight smashed through the window and plunged his blade into the giant’s eye.

Stab!

Eeeeeghk!

The cyclops screamed and toppled backward, crashing into the servants’ annex and destroying it completely.

The knight who made the attack would not survive the fall.

But the crisis continued.

Another window shattered as four gremlins burst inside, followed by two giant bats.

Crash!

Kaaaaaw!

Before they could advance, Princess Penia unleashed her magic.

Water Ball. Water Prison.

Water encircled the monsters, attempting to drown them—but her magic power was insufficient to restrain so many at once.

Cold sweat drenched her as she cried out.

“Father! I can’t hold them much longer!”

“Your Majesty! Please return to your room!”

Claire returned with troops and cut down the gremlins alongside the soldiers. Blood splattered as she issued rapid orders.

She escorted the emperor and princess back into their room, barricading the door with furniture.

“The entire area is overrun. Until reinforcements arrive, you must remain here.”

“The royal residence is on the outskirts. If even this place has fallen into chaos, then the academy itself must be a massacre.”

“The professors, combat students, Elte Company mercenaries, and Telos guards will hold the line. For now, you must stay here.”

“But the damage…”

Claire pointed toward the window.

Monsters swarmed the grounds, tearing humans apart.

“Why… is this happening…?”

“The Imperial Guards’ priority is your safety. Please—make it your priority as well.”

She extinguished the lights and covered the windows.

Emperor Kroel broke into a cold sweat. Penia’s fingers trembled.

Then—

“Selah…!”

There were three princesses on Acken Island.

Selah had gone to the student square.

Unprotected.

“My daughter Selah… She went to the education district…!”

Claire’s expression hardened.

“I will form a recovery unit and retrieve Princess Selah.”

She began to leave—

Splatter!

A tentacle pierced her chest.

“K-Keuk…!”

A lone giant bat had slaughtered seven soldiers.

Claire collapsed as it peered through the door.

Princess Penia bit her lip.

The bat was already forcing its way in.

Crash!!

The door shattered.

***

Two magic-infused arrows pierced the Undead Wolf’s chest.

Keeeek!

It collapsed, shrieking as blood sprayed across the marble floor.

Awooooo!

Merilda unleashed Tempest Blade.

The advanced wind magic shredded the undead wolves along the road.

[There are too many! At this rate, when will we reach Trix Hall?!]

I checked her magic reserves—strong, but inefficient.

We pressed onward.

“Keep clearing the way. We need to reach Trix Hall quickly.”

[Understood! More incoming!]

Gremlins surged forward—

Bang.

They were launched away by a single punch.

Daike Elpelan stood there, fists dripping with blood.

“What are you doing here, Ed Rothstaylor?”

“I’m heading to Trix Hall.”

“Then go.”

He looked at the sky.

“If you’re going to fix this… don’t die.”

“Of course.”

I mounted Merilda.

The road ahead was still long.