Chapter 239: Clone Wars [II] "Alright, we’re here," Silas said as they arrived on the rooftop of the academy. The place looked almost out of a romance anime — it was wide open, clean and kissed by sunlight. There were even flower pots along the railings, giving it a soft touch that didn’t quite fit with what was happening right now. It was beautiful enough to be a confession spot. But this wasn’t a date. Only the Student Council members and class representatives were allowed up here. "You can get comfortable on the bench," Silas added. Azel and Lorraine sat down. The green-haired representative paced in front of them, his boots clicking lightly against the tiled floor. Azel leaned back and crossed his arms, watching him silently. In the original game, this meeting never happened. Like a reckless fool he was, Reinhardt had chosen to take on the clones all by himself. These two, Lorraine and Silas, had only appeared much later to help. Silas stopped pacing, his expression grave. "There have been a lot of reports since this morning," he said. "Students who were seen walking around even though they were in their dorms the night before. At first, we assumed they were using advanced Enchantments or hidden Runes... but we ruled that out quickly after one of the clones was captured." Lorraine’s eyes widened slightly. "They caught one?" Silas nodded. "Yes. The clone didn’t have any connection to the original person. It acted independently and... well, it had its own thoughts." He paused, his face twisting with discomfort. "But those thoughts were depraved. Every clone we’ve identified so far has been obsessed with assaulting women. Some have already attacked female students." He turned to Lorraine with concern in his eyes. "So please, take care of yourself. We’re not sure yet who created these clones or what they’re after, but—" Azel raised his hand. He wasn’t about to sit through another week of speculation and long-winded theorizing when he already knew the truth. If he let them waste time now, more people would get hurt... Maybe someone he cared about. "Yes, Azel?" Silas asked, surprised but open. "You said these clones have no connection to their originals, right?" Azel asked calmly. Silas nodded. "Meaning," Azel continued, "they had to be created using something physical from the original. Like blood or flesh." Silas stopped pacing and looked thoughtful. "That’s... correct." Lorraine frowned. "But how would someone get all that from different students?" "Exactly." Azel tilted his head slightly. "So I’ll ask... has anyone in the academy been collecting blood samples recently? Or is this limited to students?" Silas scratched his chin, thinking. "There are some first-years among the victims, which is strange since your set started only five days ago. And as for the professors... it would be difficult to get their samples. Most of them are too strong or cautious to be tricked. But there are clones of them." Azel smirked. "Then it must be someone trusted. Someone who already had access to those samples." Silas blinked. "What do you mean?" "Someone that even you trusted with your own blood," Azel said, "since you already admitted you have a clone too." That hit like lightning. Silas froze for a second then realization flashed in his eyes. "It’s Drake," he said in shock. "Professor Drake! He’s the only one who’s been collecting blood samples for his research!" Silas’s expression darkened. "Why didn’t I think of this sooner? Let’s go confront him right now—" "I don’t think that’s a good idea," Lorraine interrupted, her tone showed she was serious. "He’s still far stronger than us. We should catch him off guard and find a way to suppress his magic before we move." Silas exhaled slowly, then nodded. "You’re right. We’ll do this carefully." ... Professor Drake sat in his office, scribbling furiously in a small leather-back diary. His pen scratched against the paper like a man desperate not to forget a single thought. The man’s eyes shone with sleepless excitement. He had just released the clones yesterday. And judging by the chaos spreading through the Academy today... ’Yesssss... I love thisssss...’ he thought, his smile warping into something grotesque. He was so lost in his euphoria that the sudden knock at his door made him jump. Knock. Knock. He blinked and straightened, his grin fading. "Come in," he said, forcing a calm tone. The door opened. Lorraine stepped in slowly, her expression showing fear. "Professor..." she began, "I need your help." Drake raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued. "State it, my dear," he said, gesturing for her to come closer. "You’re one of my brightest students, after all." Lorraine hesitated. "It’s about the clones." "Clones?" His tone remained casual, but his pen stopped moving. "Yes." She took a deep breath. "I think they’re being made from blood samples. That whoever’s behind them is using real blood to create duplicates." Drake’s hand twitched. The pen cracked between his fingers. "...Is that so?" he asked softly. Lorraine nodded, pretending to look uncertain. "They also said the clones are depraved... that they’ve been assaulting women." ’You can thank Reinhardt’s sample for that,’ Drake thought with an irritated snarl. Who knew that proud fool had such filthy impulses buried inside? Lorraine took another step closer. "If we can find out who’s been collecting the blood, we can stop the clones before more people get hurt. Please, Professor, will you help me find that person?" A dark chuckle escaped his lips. Tsk, tsk, tsk... "Oh, you poor, poor child," he said softly, setting the pen down and standing. His smile turned devious. "If only you weren’t so smart." "Professor?" "If only you’d been just a bit dumber," Drake continued, snapping his fingers. In an instant, the air shimmered. Serpents made of molten flame slithered into existence, circling the room like predators. Lorraine’s pulse spiked. "Do me a favor," Drake said, his eyes glowing red. "And die for me." Lorraine’s expression hardened. "I see," she said simply. The flaming serpents shot toward her but she stomped on the floor, and a towering wall of water surged upward, meeting the fire head-on. Steam filled the room as heat clashed with cool mana, crackling loudly. "The doors are locked," Drake said as the flames reformed behind her. "The windows too. You’re cornered. Accept your fate—" The wall beside him exploded. BOOM! The entire office shook as debris flew across the room. A blur of motion cut through the dust, spinning fast. Then... CRACK! Azel’s foot smashed into Drake’s face, sending him spinning through the air before slamming into the wall hard enough to cave it in slightly. He hit the ground, bounced once, and landed in a heap unconscious. Blood dripped from his nose, his glasses shattered beside him. Lorraine blinked, the gust from the impact blowing her hair back. "You... did it a bit too much," she said finally, looking at the crater where Drake’s head had been. Azel straightened, rolling his shoulders. "He was trying to hurt you." Lorraine’s cheeks flushed, and she quickly looked away. "Still... you didn’t have to break his face." "He’ll live," Azel said, glancing at the man’s limp form. "Probably." She smacked his elbow lightly. "Don’t say it like that." Azel chuckled, crouching down to check Drake’s pulse. "He’s out cold. Let’s tie him up before he wakes." Lorraine nodded and brought out a roll of enchanted cuffs designed by the Academy to suppress mana. She secured his wrists and ankles while Azel inspected the professor’s desk. ’I know this fucker had a diary somewhere.’ He thought and he soon found it... It seemed he had just been writing in it.