Escape (3)

Episode 10. Escape (3)
KRAAAAGH!
The undead’s eyes gleamed with bloodlust as they sensed my movement.
They let out guttural screams and lunged toward me—but it didn’t matter.
“If you think you can catch me, go ahead and try.”
None of the undead here, even with their dark auras, could match the speed of my full-body enchantment.
I only needed to break through the front line.
Just the front.
GRAAAH!
No sooner had I thought that than an undead orc blocked my path, swinging a wooden club as thick as my arm.
But I had no intention of stopping.
Now that the undead had spotted me, the dark mages likely knew I was here too. Add the three-minute time limit on the full-body enchantment…
If I hesitate even for a moment, I won’t make it past the border.
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Shadow Crafting Technique.
Shadow Daggers, Two in Succession.
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Two cursed shadow daggers glinted sharply in my left hand.
With a flick of my wrist, I released them—and they embedded precisely in the orc’s eyes.
Blinded, the undead orc lost its stance.
As it staggered, I drove my right fist into its stomach.
Ssshhk…
KRCHCHCHK!
The Stigma reduced the undead’s body to ash.
My body passed through its torso.
The stench of rotting flesh clung to my nose.
“It’s possible.”
At this rate, I can cross the border before the enchantment wears off.
Wait—just two minutes left now?
No time to rest.
I thrust my right hand, imbued with divine energy, forward, crossing both arms in an X and lowering my stance.
WHSSHH!
The wind roared in my ears.
Like I was riding a runaway carriage, the world blurred past me at breakneck speed.
THUMP! CRACK! CRRUNCH!
I tore through undead, trees, and bush in my path—full-body.
The barbed wire fence that had looked tiny through binoculars was now right in front of me.
Less than a minute remained on the full-body enchantment.
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“It’s a full-body enchantment!”
“He’s already using it at this stage?”
“How’s he cutting through the undead like that…”
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The dark mages at the border—about 30 of them—gaped in shock as I approached like a storm.
“Activate the curse!”
The one who seemed to be their leader gave the calm order.
A third of the dark mages pressed both palms to the ground. From their hands, violet lines shot across the terrain like spiderwebs, converging on the ground beneath my feet.
SCREEEEEE—
In seconds, the earth turned violet.
As if the speed I’d built was a lie, I couldn’t take more than five steps before—
CRACK!
My feet sank into the ground.
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Curse of Gravity.
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A dark spell that increases gravity so drastically, movement becomes impossible.
If not for the full-body enchantment, I’d have been flattened like a dried fish.
How much curse energy did they pour into this ground?
“Seize him!”
Thinking my movements were restrained, the dark mages began casting other spells at me.
So this is how badly they want to stop me, huh?
I leaned into the oppressive weight of the curse—
BOOOOM!
—And slammed my stigma-engraved right fist into the ground.
The moment it hit, the earth dented inward and the violet curse lines receded around the impact zone.
The curse was weakened—just around my position—thanks to contact with the Stigma.
My heavy body lightened.
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“W-What the—?”
“The curse… isn’t working!”
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Panic swept across the faces of the dark mages still channeling the spell from the rear.
Rising from the curse-weakened ground, I flexed my fists.
…Honestly, I’m starting to get pissed off.
Can’t they just let me go?
They’re pretty skilled, so I doubt any of them will actually die from this.
Sweeping my gaze across the mages flanking me, I summoned the mana I’d been holding back.
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Shadow Crafting Technique.
Shadow Greatsword, Solo Crafting.
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CLENCH.
Gripping a black greatsword in both hands, I raised it over my head.
“Better dodge if you value your life.”
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Shadow Crafting Technique.
Shadow Greatsword: Enlargement.
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RRRRUMMBLE…!
The cursed blade grew wildly in size, the hilt vibrating with the surge of energy.
Soon, the greatsword reached nearly 10 meters long.
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“He’s insane…”
“They said he was a student—this is no student!”
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With a mighty swing, I brought the massive sword down.
CRAAAAAASH!
The ground, weakened by the Curse of Durability, shattered, dust clouding the entire area and obscuring everyone’s vision.
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The dust settled.
The dark mages steadied themselves, scanning for Aaron.
“…Ah.”
All eyes stopped at a single point.
The barbed wire, shattered to powder by the Curse of Durability.
Footprints in the snow trailed into the forest beyond the fence.
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“Goddammit…”
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No one had to say what it meant.
Aaron Bayonel had crossed the border.
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Staggering, I leaned against a nearby tree.
Even after crossing, I kept running another 30 seconds to avoid being tracked.
My lungs were burning, and both hands trembled.
A nearby stream gurgled quietly, calming my hypersensitive nerves.
Now that I’d put some distance from the border, the dark mages likely wouldn’t pursue me further.
This was Sancternim Academy territory—where a Blue Dragon hatchling served as Headmaster.
If the dark mages stirred trouble here, the Dark Empire might end up incurring a dragon’s wrath.
Even they wouldn’t be reckless enough to risk that.
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Full-body Enchantment: Disengage.
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I collapsed to the ground, strength draining from my limbs.
Side effect of the enchantment. I’d need at least 10 minutes of rest to recover.
Luckily, I’d grown used to controlling it since returning. If I’d been delayed by even a day, I wouldn’t have broken through their tightened perimeter and would’ve been dragged back to the Dark Empire.
I’d put out the worst fire for now.
But another problem remained.
“Even though I crossed the border, Sancternim won’t just take me in.”
I wasn’t a student here—yet.
To be officially protected, I had to apply for and pass the entrance exam.
And Sancternim had no obligation to protect outsiders.
“The application deadline is in a week.”
If word got out that I was on campus, the Dark Empire would pressure Sancternim to hand me over.
I had to hide my identity until I got in.
After ten minutes, when I could move again, I went to the stream to wash up.
Reflected in the water was my seventeen-year-old face.
Black hair. Red eyes. Sharp features.
Being young had its perks—even after days without a proper wash, I still looked presentable.
After washing, I placed a hand on my face and cast a curse.
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Curse of the Mask.
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A mid-level dark magic that alters the caster’s appearance.
It overlays an illusion on the face—normally lasting only three seconds.
But when cast on oneself, it can last indefinitely—as long as you keep a constant mana supply.
One slip, though, and the illusion breaks.
Not the most practical curse.
But with 27 years of experience, mana control was second nature.
I had honed my dark magic skills long before I regressed.
Ssshhh…
Lowering my hand, I saw my reflection again.
Platinum blonde hair, blue eyes, softer features.
A completely different, ordinary look.
I could’ve used this while fleeing the Dark Empire—but they’d already issued a continent-wide manhunt for me.
And Curse of the Mask could be easily seen through by skilled dark mages like Lienna or the Four Patriarchs.
That’s why I hadn’t risked it.
Better to save my cards for now.
Especially one this useful.
“Still…”
I tensed, focusing on the sounds around me.
Silence.
Nothing nearby.
Considering how much ruckus I caused at the border, Sancternim should be investigating the area.
Were they not here yet?
“First things first—recover.”
It hadn’t even been 30 minutes since I crossed.
One step at a time.
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Three Hours Later.
With the Curse of the Mask in place and fresh clothes, I made my way down the mountain.
“Strange.”
Even after staying in one place so long, not a single search party had shown up.
Maybe the mountain was just that deserted…
But this was too quiet.
“I have a guess.”
My eyes narrowed.
Adding everything up—I was likely already being watched without knowing it.
I couldn’t sense anything, but gut instincts like these were usually right.
“Let’s see who shows up first.”
As I lifted my head, I could finally see Sancternim’s campus drawing near.
First, I needed to find a place to stay nearby.
With my altered face, I wouldn’t draw much attention.
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The streets near Sancternim were bustling.
Carriages rolled over smooth, tiled roads.
Applicants and their parents chatted energetically.
Everyone looked and dressed differently, reflecting the diversity of the Luknica Continent.
With the entrance exams a week away, the crowds were only growing.
While searching for an inn—
“Oh no, what do I do…”
A woman was looking around in distress.
“…Huh? Ah!”
Our eyes met, and she lit up as she approached me.
“Um, are you perhaps here to apply for Sancternim Academy? You look like you’re in your late teens…”
“I am.”
“Great! I’m actually a new teacher here, but the campus is huge and hard to navigate. Do you know where the main building is?”
“…”
I took a moment to observe her.
Blue hair. Deep sapphire eyes.
Probably early to mid-20s.
About my height, with a long braid over one shoulder.
“So she finally shows up.”
She was the one.
The person who’d been tailing me since I entered Sancternim.