Chapter 99: Aftermath III

Now, by the time the academy received Lex’s preliminary account, videos of Leon’s summons had already reached the students.

They tried counting the figures of he skeletons, but would often lose track when some went behind buildings, and would have to start again. Others had stopped counting and simply shared the video with Leon’s name attached.

Dustin and Raul had also heard all of it, and were watching the video themselves. They had already heard that the expedition had encountered trouble, and neither had been able to get much beyond confirmation that Leon was alive.

Now, Raul sat on the edge of his bed, holding his phone where both could see it.

"That’s certainly Leon’s," Dustin said.

Raul moved the video back a few seconds as even they tried to count how many skeletons. The video didn’t show more than 15, but even that was already plenty enough, and the write up said there were more? It was unbelievable.

They watched it again and again in utter surprise.

A message from Leon arrived while Raul was opening another recording. He had replied to the questions they had sent earlier, confirming he was fine and would be going home before returning to the academy.

Raul looked between the message and the paused video before typing.

"When were going to tell us about the army of undead you pack bro?" Dustin asked.

The reply came a little later, though the answer was certainly unclear. They requested the actual number, and Leon, not seeing any need to prolong it, simply answered. 50.

Dustin leaned closer to read it himself, then sat back down.

They had spent quite a while trying to beat one, and he had fifty?

"Ask him what the one in the robe does," he said.

...

At the medical collection point, Leon put his phone away as Lex approached. The instructor had finished speaking with the people arranging transport for the academy students and now had a support tucked under one arm. His torn sleeve had been replaced, though the bandages beneath the clean one made it sit unevenly.

Linda was in the next chair. Bren and Nolan had gone to get something to drink, leaving their bags beneath their seats.

"I heard someone’s coming to collect you?" Lex asked.

"Yes, sir. My family’s arranging it," Leon said with a nod.

"Alright, make sure you tell the transport officer before leaving."

"Yes, sir."

’I was already shocked enough by five. Who would have thought the kid had so many more?’ Lex thought, looking towards the road.

"You know, I was already shocked enough with five."

"I didn’t plan on showing the rest." Leon said.

"I gathered that." A small smile appeared on the instructor’s face. "You’ve made that particular conversation much easier."

"There’s still the dungeon."

"Yes. And the people you got out of it." Lex’s expression settled again. "When the academy asks, I’ll tell them what happened. I suppose you can answer questions about your summons yourself. You’ll soon be summoned with or without that anyway, I guarantee that."

"That’s fine." Leon said.

There wasn’t much else Leon needed to say. Lex had kept his word when it mattered. What had happened outside the dungeon had been Leon’s own choice.

The instructor reminded them to get some sleep once they were somewhere they could manage it, then continued towards the shelter where Gareth was waiting.

...

In the Headmaster’s office, Joseph placed Lex’s preliminary account beside the information they already had on Leon’s awakening.

The incident reports were still incomplete. Injured students had been sent to different hospitals, the professionals had statements of their own to give, and the government teams handling the breach had more urgent things to do than answer the academy’s questions.

Even then, what they had confirmed was enough to make their earlier discussion seem rather small.

"Fifty whole summons. What a hassle," the Headmaster said as he looked at the roster.

"That was the number he originally deployed. Some were destroyed."

"And he maintained the rest through the night?"

"Yes, while they worked in different places," Joseph said with a nod. "Truly extraordinary."

The Headmaster read through the list again. Two Swordsmen, a Mage, agility types, Warriors, and Archers. They had different forms and uses, yet all belonged to the same student.

Most wouldn’t have lasted against the monsters that entered the cities. Some had already been destroyed, and the reports clearly stated that Leon’s position would have been overrun without help.

Still, that hardly made the rest ordinary.

"The weaker ones needed to be maintained too," Joseph said. "His Grade 3s were also active. He didn’t just bring them out for a short display."

The Headmaster leaned back.

They had been trying to make sense of three summons, the readings from Leon’s awakening, and how the skeleton first recorded differed from the Swordsman he later revealed. Now there was an entire army, which he had kept working for hours. The burden on his Spirit Energy should have been considerable.

Lex’s account mentioned food, treatment for minor injuries, and rest. There was nothing about the Spirit Energy depletion they would have expected.

"Hahhh... We have quite a bit more to ask him now," the Headmaster said, looking at the papers. "And more trouble to deal with since it’s gotten out."

Joseph understood. With the recordings already on the internet, fame would be the least of their concerns. It was only a matter of time before other countries took an interest.

"Let him go home first," the Headmaster said. "Once we know when he’s returning, arrange a time for him to come here."

"Of course, sir," Joseph said as he collected the papers.

Their discussion would stay in the office, but the students outside needed little encouragement to come up with explanations of their own.

By afternoon, some were saying Leon had always possessed fifty summons. Others believed the disaster had forced him to awaken again. One group explained it through his family’s wealth, while another insisted the Mage could create Warriors.

The videos spread faster than anyone could correct the rumours.

Dustin heard two different versions at the training grounds before he had even finished warming up.

"He said we’ll talk when he gets back," Raul said, putting his phone on his bag.

"He better."

Dustin rolled his shoulders and took his position. He was still struggling to stop the Golem from putting too much weight into its attacks. Leon having another forty-nine summons didn’t solve that problem for him.

Raul called his Panther forward from the other side. He still wanted another attempt against the Swordsman when Leon returned, though now he was wondering which one they had been fighting.