Chapter 115 Not the end.

Chapter 115: Chapter 115 Not the end.

Helping Eugene carry the frozen alphas away from the jaws of the monsters, they finally reached the gate where all of them were placed safely outside the school grounds.

At least that was supposed to be the easy part.

They had managed to get the others out of the danger zone while Eugene’s time-freezing spell was still active, and for a moment, Noah thought they could finally leave this nightmare behind.

They could just walk away.

No more monsters.

No more screaming.

No more blood.

No more damn school.

But just as they were about to move, Noah suddenly stopped.

He looked around.

Something wasn’t right.

"No, what am I doing?"

His eyes widened.

"Where are Lamia and Rose? They’re meant to be here already."

Eugene’s face immediately paled.

There it was.

The exact problem he had been hoping wouldn’t happen.

He had been planning to get Noah and the other alphas as far away from this place as possible before the spell wore off. Once the time freeze broke, everything inside the school would start moving again, and the monsters would return to their rampage.

But now Noah was asking about Lamia and Rose.

And Eugene already knew there was no way he could convince him to leave them behind.

"Ash, didn’t we just finish this conversation about leaving danger behind?" Eugene asked desperately. "Please don’t do this."

"My friends!"

Noah turned toward him.

"Lamia is the one who’s going to help me train. He knows magic better than anyone here, and if I’m going to learn how to control these powers, I need him. And Rose—"

He stopped for a moment.

His expression softened.

"Rose is my friend. I can’t just leave her here."

Eugene’s heart sank.

He knew that look.

Those silver eyes were too sincere, too genuine, and there was no way he could stand there and watch Noah become miserable over the disappearance of his friends.

"I don’t want to do this without them," Noah continued. "If you don’t want them to come with us, then I’ll go back myself and bring them. You love me, right, Eugene?"

Eugene’s mouth opened.

Nothing came out.

Noah took a step closer.

"So let’s stop talking and go do the right thing."

That completely destroyed Eugene’s remaining resistance.

Damn it.

He couldn’t say no to that face.

"Fine," Eugene sighed. "But we have about twenty minutes before my time spell breaks completely and everything goes back to normal."

His eyes shifted toward the ruined school.

"And when that happens, the whole terror is going to be unleashed again."

Noah nodded immediately.

"Then we have twenty minutes."

Eugene stared at him.

"You’re not even scared?"

"I am terrified."

Noah answered honestly.

"But I’m more terrified of leaving my friends behind."

That was enough.

Eugene sighed and looked around for something they could use to get back to the assembly ground quickly.

They couldn’t exactly run all the way there.

Not with the school collapsing around them.

Then his eyes caught something.

A car.

It was sitting abandoned near the parking lot, the driver’s door hanging open.

Someone had probably tried to escape in it and never made it far enough.

"Okay, Ashton. Come over here."

Eugene hurried toward the vehicle.

"I’ll drive us to the assembly ground. And be careful with that sword."

Noah glanced down at the heavenly sword still in his hand.

"It isn’t heavy."

"That’s not what I’m worried about."

Eugene pointed at it.

"Don’t let it accidentally pierce your skin or anyone else’s. We still don’t know exactly what that thing can do."

Noah nodded.

The frozen alphas were carefully hidden inside what had once been a small security base near the gate. They were out of immediate sight, and with the time spell still holding, they wouldn’t be moving anytime soon.

Once they were sure the others were safe, Noah climbed into the passenger seat.

Eugene got behind the wheel.

Then the engine roared.

The car shot forward.

"Eugene!"

Noah grabbed the side of his seat as the vehicle sped through the school grounds.

"Can you reduce the speed a little? You’re hitting the highest speed mark!"

Eugene only winked.

"Don’t worry. I’ve got you."

"You say that like we’re not about to die!"

"I’m not going to let you die."

The car continued racing through the ruined school.

Noah could barely keep his head straight as they swerved around abandoned vehicles, broken walls, and monsters that had been frozen in place.

Then finally, they arrived at the main assembly ground.

And Noah immediately realized something.

The time freeze hadn’t affected everyone.

The major figures involved in the battle were still moving.

Lamia.

Oliver.

Lysander.

The emperor, Damon Ashborn.

And his two mages.

They were all still active while Irene and the man beside her remained frozen.

Noah stared through the windshield.

"How are they still moving?"

Eugene’s eyes narrowed.

"I don’t know."

Noah didn’t get the chance to ask anything else.

Something caught his attention.

A figure was on the ground.

Jerking.

Struggling.

Her body twisted as though she was barely holding onto consciousness.

Noah’s heart dropped.

"Rose."

His hand immediately went toward the door.

"Stop the car."

Eugene slammed on the brakes.

"Noah—"

"Let me out!"

Noah was already reaching for the handle.

Eugene grabbed his arm.

"Calm down! We’re already here. Don’t let your emotions take over."

Noah stared at him.

"That’s Rose!"

"I know."

"She’s hurt!"

"I know!"

Eugene held his gaze.

"Look at them."

He pointed toward the battlefield.

"They aren’t affected by my spell. Do you understand what that means?"

Noah stared.

Then realization slowly dawned on him.

"They’re powerful."

"Exactly."

Eugene nodded.

"Not just powerful. Their abilities are on another level compared to the others."

Noah looked toward Lamia.

His eyes widened.

"Lamia..."

He had never considered it before.

Could Lamia really be one of the highest-tier magic users?

If he was, then why had he allowed himself to be bullied for so long?

Why had he hidden his abilities?

How had Noah never noticed?

There were too many questions.

"What about me?"

Noah looked at Eugene.

"I froze completely. Does that mean I’m not powerful enough?"

Eugene shook his head.

"No."

He looked at him carefully.

"Didn’t you break free from the spell?"

Noah blinked.

"I did."

"Then that’s your answer."

Eugene pointed toward the frozen alphas.

"They’re still trapped, but you weren’t. I think your consciousness went somewhere else when the spell took effect. Maybe that’s why you were able to break through it."

Noah sighed.

He didn’t understand his powers anymore.

One moment he was helpless.

The next, he was doing things even powerful supernatural beings couldn’t explain.

And he hated not knowing what he was.

Finally, the car door opened.

Noah jumped out.

He rushed toward Rose.

But then he stopped.

His eyes widened.

The situation had already changed.

Lysander stood near Rose.

Lamia was there too.

And whatever had been controlling Rose was gone.

The malicious spiritual presence that had possessed her had disappeared.

"Is she...?"

Noah’s voice trembled.

He moved closer.

"Oh my God."

Rose was unconscious, but she was breathing.

"She’s safe."

The relief that washed through Noah almost made him cry.

She was okay.

His friend was alive.

Lamia turned around the moment he noticed Noah.

His eyes widened.

Then Lysander looked over too.

"You!"

Lysander’s expression immediately darkened.

"You’re not supposed to be here. Weren’t you supposed to take him away?"

He glared directly at Eugene.

Eugene had already caught up with Noah.

"Demon or whatever the hell you are, don’t talk to me like that."

Lysander’s lips curled into a cocky smile.

"Oh?"

Eugene stepped closer.

"You don’t have the right."

For a moment, the two stared each other down.

Then Lysander’s smile slowly disappeared.

His expression became unreadable.

He simply dusted his hands and turned away.

Eugene frowned.

"What happened?"

No response.

"Is the battle over?"

Lamia finally answered.

"No."

He looked toward Rose.

"Not even close."

His expression was serious.

"While I was trying to cast Maria out of Rose’s body, something happened. I don’t know exactly what it was, but the spirit vanished completely."

Lamia glanced toward Lysander.

"I don’t know if he did something or if the spirit simply lost its hold, but either way, it’s gone."

He took a breath.

"I think this is our cue to leave."

Noah nodded.

For once, that was something everyone could agree on.

Except someone else had already noticed Noah.

"Son!"

Damon’s voice thundered across the battlefield.

Noah’s entire body stiffened.

Damon came rushing toward them, his long robe trailing behind him.

"You’re safe."

His face showed relief.

"You’re okay. Thank God."

He stretched out his hand.

"Come with me. We can leave this place and start over. Whatever happened here, it’s over now."

Noah stared at him.

The man was his father.

At least that was what everyone had claimed.

But Noah couldn’t feel anything toward him.

Not affection.

Not trust.

Only anger.

"Don’t put your hands on me."

His voice was cold.

Damon froze.

"Son—"

"I said don’t touch me."

Damon still tried to reach for him.

That was when Lysander moved.

A burst of flame shot through the air and struck Damon directly on the hand.

The emperor screamed.

His hand immediately caught fire as the force sent him crashing into a nearby pillar.

"Damon!"

One of his mages shouted.

Lysander didn’t even blink.

He turned toward Noah.

"No one touches what belongs to me."

Noah stared at him.

"Lysander..."

The demon ignored him.

He simply walked back toward the others.

Rose was still unconscious, so Lamia moved to carry her.

"Come on. We’re leaving."

Everyone began to move.

But behind them, Damon slowly pushed himself away from the pillar.

Smoke rose from his burning hand.

His face had completely twisted with fury.

He stared at Noah.

Then at Lysander.

Then at Lamia.

His voice echoed across the ruined battlefield.

"No!"

Everyone stopped.

"I will get all of you."

His eyes burned with rage.

"I will fucking get you all!"

The school behind him trembled.

Another explosion erupted from within the building, sending flames into the sky.

Damon clenched his fists.

"This isn’t the end!"

His voice followed them as they disappeared from the battlefield.