Chapter 156: 156: Signs of Invasion- Part 2

The tension in the observation room was suffocating.

"We need todosomething!"

Professor Elara snapped.

"If demons are involved, wecannotleave those students trapped inside!"

"We know that!" Elder Erin finally spoke, his voice calm yet firm.

"But how do you propose we get them out when even Victor struggled to break through the interference?"

A heavy silence followed his words.

No one had an answer.

Professor Aldric hesitated before turning back to Victor.

"You know more than you’re letting on. How did you recognize this so fast? Whatexactlydo you know about the demons?"

He accused.

Victor simply smiled.

"Now, now. This really isn’t the time for an interrogation, don’t you think?"

"You—Youknewthis was coming, didn’t you?"

Aldric clenched his fists.

Victor’s expression didn’t change.

"Maybe."

Elara stepped forward, her tone cold.

"Victor, if you’ve been hiding something about the demons, then—"

Victor held up a hand, silencing her.

"Listen. Right now, there are students trapped in a dungeon that may or may not be crawling with demons. Instead of wasting time questioningme, how about we focus on getting them out?"

He said.

The professors exchanged uneasy glances.

Finally, Elder Erin nodded.

"He’s right. We’ll question Victorafterwe ensure the students’ safety."

"Then what do we do? The forcefield is still up, and we don’t have the power to break it."

Professor Dain asked.

Victor’s smirk returned.

"Leave that to me. Iwillget that barrier down."

He said, cracking his knuckles.

His golden eyes gleamed with something dangerous.

"And then, we’ll see just what these demons are really after."

He murmured, almost to himself.

______

Liam had never moved faster in his life.

Whatever was happening, he had to find a way to break through the interference and get everyone out.

He dashed through the dungeon’s corridors, his mind racing.

’Demons... It has to be them.’

That presence he had felt earlier—the suffocating, ancient magic—was all the confirmation he needed. He had encountered something similar in his past life, and he knew what it meant.

The barriers blocking communication weren’t just a coincidence.

This dungeon had beencompromised.

And now, every student trapped inside was in serious danger.

Asger flew beside him, his expression dark.

"Liam, what’s the plan? You can’t just charge in without knowing what we’re up against."

"I need more information. And I think I know just the person to get it from."

Liam muttered.

He changed directions abruptly, heading toward the deeper parts of the dungeon.

Asger frowned.

"Where are we going?"

Liam’s eyes narrowed.

"To find thatkidfrom before."

Liam’s fingers twitched as he stood at the entrance of the chamber.

The air was thick with magic—dark, oppressive, andfar too familiar.

He had felt this before.Livedthrough it before.

His eyes scanned the room quickly, taking in every detail. The stone walls of the dungeon pulsed with energy, ancient symbols glowing red against the ground. At the very center of it all stoodthat kid.

And beside him—

Liam’s gaze locked onto the summoning circle, where a severed human hand lay, acting as the ritual’s catalyst. Blood dripped onto the glowing sigils, feeding the dark energy swirling in the air.

It was already too late.

The kid turned to him, his eerie, unshaken smile sending a chill down Liam’s spine.

"The ritual has begun. There’s nothing anyone can do to stop it now."

The kid announced, his voice devoid of concern.

Liam’s jaw tightened. His instincts screamed at him tomove, to disrupt the summoning before it could reach completion.

In a blur, he shot forward, intent on retrieving the hand from the circle before the connection could solidify.

But—

Boom!

A force slammed into him mid-step, sending him skidding backward.

Liam’s boots dug into the stone as he came to a stop, eyes narrowing as the kid calmly stepped in front of the circle, blocking him from interfering.

The kid tilted his head.

"Come now, Liam. You should already know how this goes. After all—"

He mused, his voice almost mocking

A grin stretched across his face.

"—you’ve lived through thisoncebefore."

Liam’s breath caught.

His body tensed as the pieces snapped together in his mind.

This wasn’t just a random summoning. This wasn’t just a normal dungeon gone wrong.

These demons...

They were the same ones who had invadedEarthin his past life.

The very ones responsible for the nearextinctionof real magic.

A cold, bitter rage burned in his chest.

"You,"

Liam exhaled, voice low with barely restrained fury.

"Youknew."

The kid chuckled.

"Of course I knew."

He gestured lazily to the summoning circle, where the energy pulsed with even more intensity.

"And you should have known too. After all, historylovesto repeat itself."

Liam clenched his fists.

This was bad.

If this ritual succeeded, the first wave of the demon invasion wouldbegin.

Liam had sworn that if he ever got a second chance, he would never let history repeat itself.

And now—

He was standing in the middle of the exact same nightmare.

______

Victor stood in front of the barrier, his expression unreadable.

The other professors stood behind him, waiting, tension thick in the air.

"Victor, we need to hurry."

Elara urged.

Victor didn’t respond right away. His golden eyes flickered, his gaze focused entirely on the swirling magic in front of him.

And then—

He smiled.

A slow, knowing smile.

"Ah!So that’s what’s going on."

He murmured.

Professor Aldric frowned.

"What do you mean?"

Victor turned to face them, the amusement never leaving his expression.

"Looks like we were neversupposedto be able to interfere. Because this isn’t just any dungeon anymore."

He said.

The weight of his words sank in instantly.

Professor Dain’s face paled.

"You mean—"

Victor nodded.

"It’s been transformed into agate."

A stunned silence followed.

"No... A gateto the demon realm?"

Elara whispered, horror dawning on her face.

Victor exhaled, stretching his arms lazily.

"Bingo."

"But that’simpossible! How could someone turn an artificial dungeon into a full-fledged summoning gate?"

Another professor sputtered.

Victor’s smirk darkened.

"Well, whoever’s behind this must beverytalented."

He said,

His eyes gleamed.

"And extremely dangerous."

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