The forested area was made up of trees tens of meters high, yet you could see the dark and starry sky, and on the forest floor there were grass, roots, stones, everything you would find in a wild terrain; In another area, the sound of the river could be heard, the banks had few trees and the terrain was somewhat sandy, but what scared the most and kept the students alert were the Riverc, bipedal beings in the second rank, with amphibious skin that dragged their prey to the depths of the river to devour them. In the mountainous areas, the terrain was quite uneven, but it offered a good view and places to take cover in the middle of a battle, so it was the place most of the students chose.
••••
Evans' 7 companions were sitting, on the pieces of a tree trunk they had cut, around a campfire. Karven, who was stoking the bonfire, asked when he saw Evans sitting on a stone in the shadows watching the sky:
-What is he doing?
Lizet understood when everyone looked at her that the question was directed at her.
-Evans likes to watch the night sky, he has done it since he was 10 years old. -Responded Lizet.
Everyone was left speechless, it seemed like something quite peculiar but not questionable, it was Karven who relaxed the atmosphere when he asked enthusiastically:
-Who is going to cook? or do you want me to do it?
Lizet, Hana and Zelia got up to prepare the food, without even responding to him.
Evans, for his part, was not just observing the sky, he was trying to perceive what was happening in the surroundings, as far as his knowledge and the third circle of mana allowed him.
"I barely notice a slight fluctuation; but it's enough, something will happen tonight"
••••
The professors and instructors were observing the island from the boat, everyone seemed calm, but when there were just a few minutes left before midnight, in the farthest part of the dock, over zone A of the island, the clouds began to gather frantically, then they acquired a dark color, Professor Carion had just taken out his saber from the ring but it was already too late, a powerful crimson lightning bolt fell from the sea of dark clouds, the roar of which made the entire island shake.
-Immediately! Look for the students! -Carion ordered, infusing mana into his voice.
The professors were surprised, but they knew they had to act, they had no time to hesitate.
Carion extended his magical perception, and sensed a ship receding just at the other end of the island.
-Professor Adel, Professor Wester. Protect the students Captain Phenz, steer the ship to the other end of the island!
A man with white hair and mustache, who was wearing a simple dark blue uniform, ordered his crew:
-Everyone work, we are heading to the other end of the island as quickly as possible.
The vast majority of the crew were elemental magicians and although the ship did propel itself with mana stones, the joint spells of wind and water could accelerate the progress even more.
••••
Evans was standing guard when the noise spread throughout the island, his companions woke up exalted, he told them:
-We have to go back to the dock.
Everyone nodded, gathered their belongings and began to run towards the dock until Zelia shouted:
-Hundreds of creatures are approaching!
-To the trees! -Evans ordered, taking Hana and Zelia by the waist and holding them in his arms while he jumped to the top of a tree.
The rest of the companions climbed the trees using their own skills. Soon after, hundreds of black-eyed rabbits stampeded by.
"If the beasts are so upset, it must be because the barriers that divide the Zones have become unstable, there must be some higher-ranking magical beasts taking the opportunity to hunt or fleeing from other even stronger beasts."
Evans continued using his magical perception, until he sensed chaos on the dock.
"Are they attacking teachers and instructors?"
Evans looked into the forest again and sensed two fourth rank beasts that were not far away.
"Does the dock seem more dangerous than staying hidden here?"
Evans looked at his companions and they seemed to be waiting for his orders, even Karven had a firm look, as he was aware that they were in danger.
••••
When the teachers entered the dock with the instructors, they met five subjects of different physical builds, 4 men and 1 a woman, all five were wearing black costumes and wore tight-fitting leather masks that covered their heads.
-4 warriors at the top of the fifth rank and a mage at the starting point of the sixth circle. -Professor Wester murmured.
-Don't let your guard down, kill them on the spot, we can't waste time. -Professor Adel acted decisively by drawing her sword, strengthening her body with aura, and covering her sword with cutting aura.
Magic cut!
Pop!
One of the five strangers blocked Professor Adel's attack with his sword. The instructors were surprised, but Professor Wester made them react by saying:
-These criminals are burning their mana channels; They will not last long; attack and resist, they will fall.
Professor Wester took out a sinister black staff that at the top had what looked like the stuffed head of a bat that had a white magical gem in its mouth.
The five criminals, as Professor Wester called them, attacked; Professor Wester summoned dozens of blades that were uselessly blocked by the warriors' weapons because upon contact they exploded, releasing a purple mist that entered their airways.
The warriors who had stopped their advance were attacked by the instructors who did not plan to waste the opportunity, however, it was a mistake, the four criminals burned the mana and aura of their bodies in an instant reaching the level of a warrior at the peak of the sixth rank.
Court! Blood! Court! blood!...
It was a carnage, 8 of the fifteen instructors fell dismembered to the ground, some had not died instantly, so they witnessed how their bodies had been mutilated before they died. but the 4 warriors had been pierced to death by dozens of white spears that emerged from the ground.
Professor Adel continued attacking the magician who did not stop moving using wind magic while burning her magic circles.
Professor Wester calculated the enemy mage's movement, pointed his staff, and just as the mage flew in the direction Professor Wester was pointing, a purple circle flashed and exploded.
A loud explosion threw the magician to the ground and Professor Adel did not hesitate to dacapitate her to prevent her from causing more problems.