Chapter 69: A Lie Beneath the Ashes

The monstrous predator who had commanded one hundred Shadow Soldiers just a few minutes before was gone in an instant.

His shoulders drooped slightly and his posture reverted to the loose, lazy pose of an average D rank student.

The bright silver hue that had lined his pupils was replaced by an average, uninspiring shade of dark brown.

He stepped back with his head bowed lightly as he gazed upon the medics as they rushed past him.

His expression was the picture of mild confusion and astonishment as if he really had awoken to find himself in the midst of such chaos and destruction.

"Wh-What in the world just happened..." Lucian muttered absentmindedly as he ran his fingers through his messy blond hair.

He turned to scan his surrounding nervously and took in several broken parts of the ground before turning away as quickly.

His voice was filled with innocent bewilderment, perfect for the frightened act he was putting on for the soldiers present.

He took a good look around the ruined basin, carefully noting the large craters in the rock formation as if trying to understand how any of them had survived the ordeal.

Nearby a military investigator was already taking apart the remains of the battle basin.

He sifted through large hunks of fallen stone and poked curiously into each deep crater as if searching desperately for something to fill the holes in his understanding.

"Spread out," The investigator ordered those nearby, "don’t touch anything not yet cataloged."

A short while later the investigator stopped before a small pile of broken rock and rubble.

Dark stains could be seen smeared throughout the tattered mess.

The investigator crouched down and carefully pulled away the disturbed stones with a pair of insulated gloves, revealing something far more gruesome.

Scattered among the broken mess was dark blood and streaks of charred flesh.

The investigator turned sharply to the nearest person before calling out, "Principal! I found something!"

Principal Warren turned to regarding the dark stains with growing concern as he walked over.

His spiritual senses swept over the remnants of evidence before settling with an unsatisfactory conclusion.

"Can you tell how many people were here?" the principal inquired.

The investigator shook his head, "Not really sir.

Most of the remains were pretty much... mangled beyond recognition.

I think whatever this was, it was more than just a fight."

His eyes lingered for a moment on Evelyn.

Then he turned his gaze to settle on Evelyn, "Evelyn, tell me exactly what you saw here."

The young girl merely smiled, "I had come here with Eric and Lucian to test on beasts for the trial.

We didn’t see anything at first."

At that, her expression grew slightly more somber, "Then suddenly we felt the activation of a formation!"

"A formation?" Warren’s expression darkened.

Evelyn nods, "We were caught off guard.

When it activated it sealed the valley where the battle was held."

She lowered her gazing slightly, her injured hand moving slightly as pain shot through her veins.

"The formation neutralized our power and isolated the battlefield.

We couldn’t break through the barrier it created, not even our combined attacks were powerful enough."

Warren said nothing as he listened intently, "Tell me what happened after that?"

Evelyn’s eyes swept briefly over the ruined battlefield before she replied, "That’s when they appeared."

"Who?" Warren asked.

"The ones who set the plan in motion," Her voice lacked any emotion as she continued.

"They attacked us right away.

We fought back but the formation’s energy was too much for us.

It broke us down completely,"

She paused as if recalling something distasteful.

"After that, just when we thought everything was over, someone else arrived in the battlefield.

That’s when the real battle began."

Warren frowned in thought, "Someone else?"

Evelyn nods, "A man in a dark cloak.

He came into the formation alone.

We couldn’t see him very well but ever since he appeared everything changed drastically."

She lowered her gaze, her eyes clouding slightly.

"We didn’t have a chance to stand up against him before he knocked us all out with a single blow."

Warren’s brow furrowed as confusion seeped into his mind, "All of you?"

Evelyn nodded calmly, "When we woke up the formation was gone.

That’s when we saw this," Evelyn gestured vaguely at the ruined battlefield.

"Everyone was just... scattered across this field?"

Once again, the principals gaze swept over the ruins before settling on Evelyn, "Was there anything else?"

Evelyn shook her head, "Nothing at all Principal.

It was all over before we even knew what happened.

When we finally woke up whoever was responsible was gone."

Warren looked over Evelyn for a long moment before he finally turned away, There were too many pieces of this puzzle not connecting.

However, with the formation destroyed, and most of the evidence reduced to ash, there wasn’t much he could do now.

With a heavy sigh the man said, "Enough.

This trial is over.

You may return to your academy Evelyn and Lucian."

The girl blinked in surprise before Warren turned to the other soldiers, "Gentlemen.

Collect all evidence you can salvage, then return to base with it for analysis.

As for you two," he turned to regard Lucian and Evelyn seriously, "Return to the academy.

I suggest you take a few days rest and let it all sink in.

As for Eric," He turned to regard the younger blond male currently being treated by the medical staff, "He can return separately for proper treatment.

You’ve all had more than you bargained for in one day.

Leave the rest to me."

He turned to regard the battlefield once more before adding with a solemn note in his voice, "Whatever happened here, I will find out."

Evelyn gave a respectful nod, "Yes Principal."

At her side Lucian lowered his head respectfully, hiding the calculating eyes that peered over the gathered soldiers before finally locking onto Warren himself.

Without a single word of acknowledgment the principal turned from the ruined basin, giving no indication of the thoughts running through his mind.