322 Oh my God

I made my way back to the dorm room. Each step felt heavier than the last, my body craving rest after the ordeal in the Phantom Chamber and the shocking events that followed. The corridors seemed to stretch endlessly, the shadows dancing eerily along the walls, illuminated sporadically by flickering torches. The muffled sounds of distant conversations and the occasional clatter of footsteps echoed through the stone hallways, creating a haunting symphony that mirrored my inner turmoil.

I finally reached my room, the familiar surroundings providing a small sense of comfort amidst the chaos. The wooden door, slightly worn from years of use, stood as a silent guardian. I pushed it open and stumbled inside, closing it behind me with a soft click. The room was dimly lit, the soft glow from the bedside lamp casting gentle shadows on the walls.

I didn't bother undressing or even pulling back the covers as I collapsed onto the bed, my exhaustion overwhelming any other thought. The mattress felt like a cloud beneath me, a stark contrast to the cold, hard ground of the Phantom Chamber. For a moment, I just lay there, staring at the ceiling, trying to process everything that had happened. My mind was a whirlwind of fragmented images and half-formed thoughts. I closed my eyes, hoping for a few moments of peace.

Just as I felt myself drifting off, a sharp knock echoed through the room. I groaned, forcing my eyes open. The knocking continued, insistent but measured. I dragged myself off the bed and crossed the room to the door, pulling it open.

Aron stood there, his expression indifferent, as if the chaos outside hadn't touched him at all. His calm demeanor was almost unnerving given the circumstances. The light from the hallway cast a halo around him, making his features appear even more stoic and unyielding.

"Can I come in?" he asked, his voice steady and devoid of emotion.

I stepped aside, letting him enter. He walked into the room and stood in the middle, looking around briefly before turning his attention back to me. His eyes flickered to the scattered books on my desk and the disarrayed bed, taking in the state of my room with a critical gaze.

"What do you want, Aron?" I asked, trying to keep the weariness out of my voice.

Aron didn't answer immediately. Instead, he studied me for a moment, his eyes betraying no hint of his thoughts. Finally, he spoke, "I wanted to check on you. After everything that's happened, I figured you could use some company."

I raised an eyebrow, surprised by his words. Aron was not usually the type to offer comfort or support. "Why the sudden concern?" I asked, unable to hide my skepticism.

He shrugged. "Maybe I just like keeping an eye on you. Or maybe I'm curious about how you managed to stay in the Phantom Chamber for so long."

"Be straight."

"How'd you do that?"

"Do what?" I asked, feeling a spark of irritation.

"That... whatever you did in the Phantom Chamber, you... you were there for hours. How'd you manage?" Before he could finish his sentence, I interrupted him.

"Why does it matter?" I looked at him, my voice tinged with annoyance. "I'm tired, dude. Just go—I also have a meeting with Eldric."

Aron stood there without moving. "Hey Ren... are you strong?"

"Eh? What kind of question is that?" I frowned. "Of course I am—like, didn't you just see it?"

"I mean... are you strong enough?" He nervously tapped his foot as he asked.

Silence.

I didn't answer him. Is this another illusion? Have I not gotten out of the Chamber? Why does he want to know?

"Why?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper.

"Nothing..." He turned and left immediately.

"What the hell?" I muttered under my breath as I watched him disappear down the corridor.

"Ha." I plopped back on my bed, the exhaustion hitting me again like a wave. Within minutes, I drifted into dreamland, the day's events playing out in my mind like a distorted movie reel.

***

"Ahhhhhhh"

"Kyaaaaaajhjhhj"

"HELP ME!!!!!"

I was woken up by shouting and screaming. I immediately ran towards the door, my heart pounding in my chest. Blaze wasn't in the room for some reason. The corridor was in chaos, filled with students rushing in every direction, their panicked shouts echoing off the stone walls. The normally peaceful dormitory had been transformed into a battleground.

I could hear the muffled sounds of fighting in the distance, punctuated by occasional crashes and bursts of magical energy. The air was thick with tension and the acrid smell of magic, a pungent reminder of the danger we were in.

I scanned the corridor, trying to make sense of the situation. Students huddled in groups, some casting defensive spells while others tried to flee. The normally orderly space was now a chaotic mess of scattered belongings and overturned furniture. Among the chaos, I noticed a figure cowering behind a large trolley, their eyes wide with fear. They were trembling uncontrollably, their normally stoic demeanor shattered.

"What's happening?" I asked, approaching cautiously.

The person looked up at me, their face pale. "It's... it's a breach," they stammered. "Monsters... they've breached the wards. They're everywhere."

I frowned, trying to process the information. A breach in the wards meant only one thing—something had gone horribly wrong with the academy's defenses. And monsters infiltrating the academy could only spell disaster.

"Where are the professors?" I asked, my voice steady despite the chaos around us.

The person shook their head. "I don't know. I haven't seen them. They're probably trying to contain the breach."

I nodded, my mind racing. I needed to find Blaze and my friends, and then we needed to figure out how to help. The academy was under attack, and we couldn't afford to be caught off guard.

"Stay here," I told them, though I could see they were in no state to move. "I'll see what I can do."

Leaving the person behind, I moved cautiously down the corridor. The walls seemed to close in around me as I advanced, the distant sounds of battle growing louder with each step. I turned down the corridor, my senses on high alert. The chaos around me intensified as I moved deeper into the dormitory. Suddenly, something popped up in front of me—a creature, grotesque and twisted, its red eyes gleaming with malice.

The creature looked like something out of a nightmare, all twisted limbs and jagged scales. Its face was contorted and angry, with glowing red eyes and sharp horns sticking out. The skin was a sickly gray color, covered in a slimy, black goo that sizzled on the stone floor. Its arms were long and skinny, ending in claws like something from a horror movie. The mouth was full of sharp teeth, and it looked like it was ready to bite. Even though it looked kinda human, it gave off a creepy, evil vibe that made the air around it feel icy cold.

Instinct took over. Without thinking, I swung a punch at it, my fist connecting solidly with its face. The creature was thrown back with surprising force, crashing into the wall. It writhed momentarily before lying still.

As the adrenaline rush subsided, a sinking feeling settled in the pit of my stomach. That wasn't just any creature—it was a demon. I had just punched a demon.

"D-demon...?" I muttered, my voice barely audible.

I froze, staring at the motionless form of the demon. The reality of the situation hit me like a ton of bricks. Demons had breached the academy's defenses. They were here, inside the academy.

"Oh my god." I felt my stomach drop, demons....are here.

"Kyaa!!" A girl ran past me, a low-class demon getting dragged by her ankle as she ran while screaming. I kicked it off of her, the creature tumbling away with a snarl.

"Oh my god." I repeated as I felt my knees give out, why the fuck are demons here?

Everything I know, everything I think I know, everything around me... why's all this so fucked? Or am I just dreaming? Did I ever come out of the Phantom Chamber? I didn't, right? These are not demons but some similar-looking creatures, right? Did the game have a hidden mob?

"Oh my... fucking days," I muttered, my mind a swirling vortex of confusion and fear. "Why is this happening NOW!?"