Chapter 245: Clone Wars [VII] ’I really wanted to avoid this...’ Azel thought as he stared down the clone of the 6th Circle Mage. Where did everything go wrong? He could have just activated the machine quietly from the lab instead of letting Silas give that grand speech. He had already changed the plan mid-way, after all, what was the need of announcing when you could just end them? But no — the system apparently was instigating. [You have received a New Main Mission] [End The Clone Wars] [While a few do not believe that the clones are real, a majority do and are immensely afraid. Someone must step up and give them hope. Clones might attack, so you must protect the machine at all costs until it’s ready to destroy them.] [Bonus Mission: Kill The Clone of 6-Circle Mage Luke] [Reward: S-Grade Fate Box] [Main Mission Reward: Key To Lycas] ’I really want to reject this mission... but I can’t.’ He thought after looking at it once again. Lycas was a well known place in the novel. The ruined kingdom of the werewolves. That place had a lot of potential for soldiers, and who didn’t want their own personal werewolf army? A key was the only way to reach it in the novel and getting it like this was better than searching through a pile of monster shit to find it like Reinhard did. Azel pushed to the side as a blazing fireball streaked past him, melting the tiles where he had been standing. The heat licked at his skin. ’A 6th-circle mage clone... perfect. Just perfect.’ The crowd scattered. Screams echoed across the hall as students tried to run in every direction. Professors raised barriers to hold back the rampaging clones, but they were being overwhelmed. Azel’s hands tightened around the hilt of Kyone’s sword. ’They can protect that machine... two minutes. That’s all it needs.’ He dashed forward, the world flashing white with speed. "First Style... Star Strike!" ... Meanwhile, at the far end of the hall, Jewels clutched the box tightly to her chest. She was trembling, her hands slick with sweat as she tried to hold it tight. "It’s okay... it’s okay..." she whispered to herself over and over again. All around her was carnage. Professors were shouting incantations. Students screamed and some were trying to fight while others were crawling for their lives. Despite all the professors’ protection, it was still a massacre. A girl’s scream tore through the air. Jewels turned her head, just in time to see a clone pinning the girl to the ground, its face twisted in hunger. Before she could react, a deafening blast of sound ripped through the air. The clone’s head exploded. "Stay focused!" Silas shouted. "Run toward the exit and avoid clones!" Her brother. He was covered in blood, not his, thankfully and his expression was grim. He was already forming another sound circle with his hands, ready to attack again. Jewels bit her lip hard. ’Are we in hell?’ Another girl screamed, and another. A male student was being dragged by two female clones, their faces emotionless but their eyes filled only with lust. The sight made her stomach churn. They couldn’t save everyone. Her hands shook as she turned her gaze back to the machine. The glowing lights at its side flickered unbothered... It was charging, but it wasn’t ready yet. Then she felt something cold wrap around her leg. She looked down. A clone of her classmate that was bruised and bleeding stared up at her. His mouth hung open as his cheeks were pink. His trousers were tented the moment he laid eyes on her. He reached for her thigh. Jewels screamed, clutching the box even tighter. Silas reacted instantly... a pulse of sound erupted from his hand, turning the clone’s head into pulp. Blood splattered on the floor and over Jewels’ face. He grabbed her shoulders. "Are you okay?" She nodded shakily, tears filling her eyes. "Thirty seconds... thirty seconds left..." He pulled her close, forming a shimmering barrier of vibrating air around them. A sound barrier that was dense enough to repel anything. "Just hold on," he said, his voice trembling now. "It’s almost over. I’ll protect you." She buried her face in his chest, sobbing quietly. Outside the barrier, the battle raged on. ’How many people gave that bastard their blood?’ he thought bitterly. He clenched his fists. He wanted to go out there, to help. But his sister... she was the only family he had. He couldn’t let her die. "Azel... Lorraine... I hope you two are fine," he muttered under his breath as he closed his eyes. ... Lorraine’s staff glowed red as she fired off another volley of flame orbs, scorching a line of clones that were trying to charge her. Her arms ached, but she kept going. "Just don’t let these fuckers get close to you!" Mynes shouted beside her. The professor was standing tall, her hair wild, her eyes burning with anger. Ten glowing runes floated before her like golden petals. She pointed forward, and each rune shot like a bullet toward ten different clones. They hit and then they exploded. Flames and smoke burst outward, shaking the walls. "So this is how lustful men are, huh?" Mynes muttered under her breath, "Could never be Azel though." She was pretty sure even if she showed him her breasts, he wouldn’t react... Lorraine bit her lip and focused. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚 She had followed Mynes because she knew she’d be safe near her or at least safer. The clones didn’t just go for women, but seeing what they were doing to others made her heart twist in disgust and fear. Another wave came, this time they were female clones. They pounced toward a group of male students. "Disgusting..." the professor spat, snapping her fingers. The runes blazed again, detonating right in front of them. Lorraine coughed through the smoke. "Professor... do you think we’ll survive this?" Mynes smirked. "We should, well not if my student keeps doing crazy things." Lorraine blinked until she followed her gaze. And then she saw him. Azel. He was a blur of white light and speed, cutting straight toward the clone of Professor Luke. She could barely follow his movements. He was moving faster than her eyes could follow. ’Is he insane?’ she thought. Then, for a single moment, the world flashed white. By the time the flash ended, Azel had closed the distance. It seemed the battle had happened at high speed because it was already over... Behind Azel were broken magic barriers still rotating in the air. His bone blade carved through the clone’s body cleanly in one smooth, merciless strike. The halves of its body fell apart midair before hitting the ground. Azel landed on his feet, his coat billowing from the wind of his own attack. He rolled his shoulder and stretched, exhaling deeply. "Whoa... it’s been a while since I’ve used Star Strike," he muttered, sheathing the sword back into his arm. "I think it’s over." Across the hall, Jewels’ hands trembled as she pressed down on the glowing switch. The machine began to hum. Blue sparks of electricity danced across its surface. Then the energy burst outward in every direction, flooding through the walls, floors, ceilings. Azel raised his sword and braced himself, he could feel the air itself vibrating. Then it hit. A colossal wave of electricity surged out from the machine, sweeping through the entire academy.