[Voidknight Ascension] Chapter 126: Gothic Architecture 101

Raiko readied her manatuned katana to intercept the gargoyle, but it crackled with purple lightning. Far from the quietest of elemental magics. Otherwise, that spell would be ideal for striking the gargoyle out of the air.

If she unleashed that rift of Lightning mana, it’d attract far more monsters. None of which Sam and his group knew the level of.

First Layer mana was only so strong, and hopefully that applied to the monsters that dwelled here too. As to what upper limit that was, Sam didn’t have a clue.

The highest-level monster they had seen thus far had been a level 50 [Rhino Skywhale] just the other day.

It was shocking just how much larger it was than the first [Rhino Skywhale] they saw so long ago.

Despite how far Sam’s power had reached, even with Level 22 Swordsman, he wouldn’t have stood a chance against that roaming monster.

It didn’t even come close. And that was assuming that the monsters and creatures of the First Layer were in any way comparable in levels to a Job rather than a Legend.

Though if the latter was true, then Sam was punching very far above his weight. His gear and bloodline added up to quite a bit of additional stats. Though, as much as he would have liked it, he doubted he was that much stronger than other people.

He saw Raiko’s hesitation. She didn’t expect her Chaos mana to conjure the Lightning element, but if she had to strike to stop Lenal, Komachi, and Chompers from getting injured, she would.

Sam had been subtly using [Heavy Blade] this entire time, charging it slowly while keeping the blade sheathed. He didn’t pour mana into it—something he didn’t realize he could control until he began using it in earnest to chop down trees and dig trenches—but merely gave it a trickle to avoid tanking his MP.

Of course, now was the moment of truth. He stepped to the side, putting Raiko out of his immediate range and used [Heavy Blade] at the same time as he unsheathed his sword.

The [Dullahan Greatsword] expanded into being, glowing silver with the aura of [Heavy Blade]. Sparks showered the stones as Sam drew the blade that seemed to go on forever and ever. It reached well over a dozen feet at the curved tip, long enough for Sam to hit the diving [Gargoyle] mid-air.

By the time it realized its mistake, the [Gargoyle] put its stony hands forward to block the attack, but it was too late. Its speed only aided Sam’s attack as the two met with all the force of a train hitting a compact sedan.

The [Gargoyle] burst into stone dust and Sam’s [Heavy Blade] continued forward until it cracked the stones of the ground and sent a massive rent up through the Great Hall’s steps and splintered open the doors with the forceful Impact mana that detonated.

Sam looked up sheepishly. He hadn’t intended for the [Heavy Blade] to go that far, but it was hard to control.

I need more time to practice my [Heavy Blade] drawing technique.

Still, the effect was impressive.

“Dude, you just one-shot that [Gargoyle]!”

You defeat the [Gargoyle (Level 25 – Copper)].

You gain substantial Experience for slaying a Tough monster.

“And it’s level wasn’t anything to sneeze at either,” Lenal said. “But why would a [Gargoyle] be here? They are not part of the Academy’s defenses.”

Sam frowned, but not at what Lenal said. He could hear noises coming from inside the Great Hall. “Back up,” he said, holding his sword out to the side and using [Power Stance].

His greatsword began to shine with silvery energy again as he started charging [Heavy Blade].

Frosty mist poured out of Raiko’s sheath, its white-blue hue crisper than any other color, as if the magic was somehow more real. He could feel the mana welling up inside it.

It felt different from anything else she had used before. Even in the middle of battle, Sam was excited to see what new power she was going to show off.

“Those,” Lenal said as the shattered doors were filled with antiquated suits of armor, “are the Academy’s defenses.”

The creaking sounds of the autonomous suits of armor filled the courtyard.

“Can’t you turn them off?” Sam shouted above the din as he struck out against one of the [Soulless Suits]. With [Heavy Blade] doing most of the work, the first two suits of armor went down into a clanging heap.

“No!” Lenal yelled back. “I already told you, I’m not a professor. I don’t know the passcode to tell them to stop!”

“Looks like we’ll just have to push past them,” Matt said, sending a globule of shimmering poison arcing over their heads.

It splashed amid the clumped-up armors, staining their breastplates with a fizzing, caustic substance that ate through the metal with surprising speed.

Matt lobbed a few more spells from the rear, and each of the suits of armor that were marked were far easier to kill once they got to Sam or Raiko.

Raiko struck the suits that Matt doused with poison with slicing rifts of Ice mana. The frost had an odd chain reaction, freezing over the poison, intensifying the effect with rapidly growing crystals. All the while, the mana deepened on her katana.

Is that some kind of stance magic? Sam wondered.

Sam’s huge greatsword crunched through metal that was partially eaten by Matt’s poison. Those that were spared, however, were flattened like tin cans.

A few, Sam was able to use his Breaker bloodline on, shattering them like glass, but there were simply too many to do that to each and every one.

When using [Stealth] didn’t seem to be a priority anymore, Komachi cast [Warding] on the party, increasing everyone’s physical defense. Good thing that spell still worked roughly the same, even with the Bard using an instrument as a focus to cast magic through.

Then she played [Haste Mazurka], speeding the whole group up.

Sam swung his greatsword about, as much to give Raiko and himself some breathing room as to deal heavy damage to the [Soulless Suits] that poured out of the Great Hall like a plague of metal.

Fortunately, the Ninja didn’t need to keep too close to Sam for the frontal tactic to remain in effect, and most of her attacks were ranged, anyway.

He wasn’t sure what would happen if one of those mana rifts grazed him, but hopefully he wouldn’t have to find out.

Out in front, Sam could sweep his sword recklessly about, providing an opening for the others to attack without any of that pesky friendly fire.

You defeat the [Soulless Suit (Level 18)].

You gain additional Experience for slaying a Decent Challenge monster.

You defeat the [Soulless Suit (Level 18)].

You gain additional Experience for slaying a Decent Challenge monster.

You defeat the [Soulless Suit (Level 18)].

You gain additional Experience for slaying a Decent Challenge monster.

Many more Experience notifications followed.

The suits weren’t as strong as that single gargoyle had been. Based on levels alone, it was clear who would’ve been the victor if monsters like the gargoyle had attacked the Aker Academy’s automated defenses.

Level Up!

Your [Swordsman] Job has reached Level 23.

+6 Strength | +6 Vigor | +3 Agility

+3 Dexterity

+2 Bonus Points

Roots blasted through the stones of the courtyard and ensnared half a dozen suits of armor. The roots continued to grow and snake through the empty suits, completely immobilizing the creatures.

“Don’t attack the roots!” Kai called out.

Sam saw why a moment later.

From empty helmets, roots leapt out like some horrifying monstrosity toward other Soulless. The roots branched out with unsettling effectiveness, and as his victims grew, the speed at which the roots spread only intensified until there were no more Soulless left.

Sweating and heaving his greatsword up onto one shoulder, Sam surveyed the courtyard, now filled with dead or dying suits of armor.

A few scrabbled weakly on the vines that ensnared them, but those were easily dealt with by a swift strike from Raiko’s katana.

Even those granted Sam greater Experience, full participation it seemed too, though not quite enough to reach the empowering rush of another Swordsman level.

“No wonder the Academy was dumpstered,” Matt said. He motioned to the Soulless. “These things are pretty weak, especially compared to that [Gargoyle].”

Lenal nodded. “Our defenses were… severely weakened after the apocalypse. Though… one thing bothers me.” She peered into the empty shell of one of the suits of armor. “Why were there so many if the Academy has already been overrun? What allowed them to turn this place into a Dungeon?”

The Analyst shivered at the last word, and Sam couldn’t blame her. It seemed like a desecration of the highest order to turn your home, your one bastion of safety, into something dark and evil.

Based on what Sam remembered from the Monster Nest, it didn’t seem like creating Dungeon was a fast process. He had a sinking feeling in his stomach that he couldn’t quite shake.

But the answer was obvious. At least for Sam. He sheathed his sword after a few moments without any further attack. “It means that the creatures that attacked this place didn’t attack the Great Hall. They were watching it, nothing more.”

“Ahhh,” Matt said, catching on. “Then that means your people must not have been hiding in here? Or else the creatures would have stormed into the place and the defenses would be slaughtered.” He motioned to the scattered bits of armor here and there.

Whatever magic was holding the Soulless together dissolved upon their deaths, and the armor—which Sam very much would have liked to hoard—began to rust and crumble to nothingness.

He cursed, hurrying forward to grab a falling pauldron, but by the time it hit his hand, it was nothing more than a pile of red dust.

“Likely,” Sam said, shaking the rusted dust from his gauntlet. Since they no longer seemed in immediate danger, Sam tested out if he could place his bonus points.

Surprisingly, he could. The two bonus points went straight into Mind. He didn’t want a third of his HP as MP anymore, so he resolved to spend a few levels of bonus points to up his Mind to a point that he was satisfied.

Considering more abilities were hopefully coming, he would need more MP to use them.

“Anyone else level up?” Raiko asked, her sheath still aglow with magic. Whatever it was, the built-up spell hadn’t dispersed yet.

“Machi hit 21 Bard!”

“So I’m finally above your level,” Raiko said, then quickly deflated. “Somehow, that… does not feel as good as I thought it would.”

“I got two levels,” Matt said. “And some abilities to choose, so if you don’t mind waiting a second so I can pick, that’d be great.”

“We seem safe for now,” Sam said. “But if we need some downtime, best to do it inside the Great Hall.”

“Agreed,” Kai said, following him into the heavy stone building.

Once inside, Sam could see that his initial suspicion should have been right. Its walls were heavy and the windows, many of which were shattered, were covered in a thin film of mana that shimmered in the light.

And if that wasn’t enough, there were heavy bars set into the narrow windows that would have made anything larger than a toddler struggle to gain entry.

Sam warily marched up and down the long, dark, polished tables. There were places set for less than 30 people by the looks of it, and some of the food was spoiled and moldy.

Whatever happened here occurred not too long after Lenal was separated from the Academy.

Sam shook his head. He was getting a bad feeling about this whole thing. What the hell happened here? And why, out of all places, had they chosen to abandon the Great Hall? It seemed like the perfect place to make a last stand.

“That is easy,” Lenal said, appearing at his side. Sam hadn’t realized he spoke his concerns aloud. “The Great Hall is a place of gathering and respite, but it is not the most important place in the Academy.”

They couldn’t be that stupid, Sam thought. Oh, but they could, said another thought.

Sam shut his eyes. He knew the answer. “They would have gone to the Tower of Art.”

“It is the oldest and most venerable building, yes. It would only make sense.”

Yes, Sam thought sourly, if you wanted to be slaughtered. That building draws the eye from every angle. You couldn’t miss it if you tried. And there are so many floors and windows!