Chapter 330 - 330- Festival 61-The gates open!

Words : 1703 Updated : Oct 11th, 2025

Soon, the end of the day had come and with it was night. The calm darkness invaded the light of day, and the moon took the place of the sun, its luminance spreading across the expanse of the sky. The night came with the modifications of the plans of those who had reached out to use it for their benefit. Including the Duo from the Red Peacemakers. The Academy was silent, the subtle footsteps of Staff members walking about the Hostels, serving as Live watch guards for the students. The previous night had sent a message to all, and it was one they would like to not repeat. It left many students awake and on their guard, edging on their beds for when the tendrils of a Storm will reach out for them once again. The perpetrators of the incident were still currently in that Academy, their location null to even the highest of Authority. When it came down to it, one would wonder if the Academy was truly handling the situation properly. Was this truly the best way to go about a Rebellious Siege in their own domain? It was juvenile, perhaps sluggish in the manner they chose to handle it, but with no leads on them, they were stuck at a dead end. Perhaps they could go through the Territorial Spaces, or even walk around the Academy grounds until they were located, but that was a process they couldn't count on. Mostly because it had been done once before, and found futile, but it didn't stop them from being cautious. Standing guard, for now, was their best bet and choice, at least till a reasonable solution came up. One that the Headmaster would have to crack down with the other Major Staff members. While they handled their matters on top, something else was brewing below, on another Territorial Space, a conflict was about to brew. In the underground pipes, loud footsteps echoed, and a pair and a short whistle of an old-school song echoed with it. Their figures were basked in darkness as they approached a corner, the glow of light cascading down their figures as they stepped into the corner. With precision and a fixed goal, the duo made it into an opening. An empty one that led further to different parts. The whistling continued until Mila snapped back at Nicho. "Quit it with that tune!" She cried out, startling the man. He raised a brow, his expression widened in surprise. "Oh, be calm, Mila. It was just an old melody from my hometown, Beyond the North." "Well, I don't like it and don't tell a woman to calm down. We're about to begin a serious mission, you shouldn't be so lax about it!" She said, snapping her gaze away from him. "Especially after what happened last time." Nicho shrugged. "They're powerful people within the Academy. It's okay to admit we might have underestimated their forces." She clicked her tongue, her rage palpable when they turned a corner. Just then, the louder chattering of humans echoed against the iron nature of the Pipes, reaching them easily. It sounded like chaos, with complaints and shouting, the sound one would hear from a mob with different interests. This startled Mila on hearing it closer, her gaze shifting towards Nicho. This time, his expression turned different, firmer and more serious. He walked past her and headed first, his hand gripped tightly on his odachi. On turning on the last corner, they walked into the open space, where the members of the System Uprisers stood prepared. "What do you mean, trust them?!" "Why should we listen to you?!" "They've betrayed the Cult! I say we go our way!" The chatter and protests from the Group were far from welcoming. Nicho felt a strong sense of hostility in the air on working in and so did Mila as she lingered behind him. It seemed like they were protesting against something or someone. A raised platform stood in front of the group where Katherin and Crown stood, their expressions laced with confusion at the reaction of their Cult. Someone else stood next to them, a young girl in the Homeric Academy Uniform, from Class Silver. An aqua-haired with a particularly guilty expression. Nicho could analyze all he wanted but he would continuously end up with the same discomforting result. 'Did they find out about our decision?' He glanced back at Mila, her expression just as guarded as his and was prepared to turn back, but by then it was too late. A figure in the group finally noticed their presence. "Over here! The traitors!" The Cult whipped their gazes to the two figures, their expressions blank with indifference and soon, the Cult charged at them. Nicho clicked his tongue as he rushed forward, pulling Mila with her when a dome formed on the entranceway of the open space just as they rushed out of it. The members collided with the Dome, their confused and enraged gazes glaring at it and the people who rushed away from it. "What now?!" Crown asked, walking up to Katherin, who held the Shield in place. "I have to talk to them. There must be a way to work things out without any form of conflict." Bishop Crown sighed as he rubbed his temple. A familiar figure walked up to them with an executioner blade hanging neatly on his back. "Let us come with you, Katherin. These people are dangerous." Katherin turned towards the familiar presence, shifting her gaze away nearly instantaneously. She seemed more focused on controlling her enraged Cult members than a former colleague. "Now is not the time, Roland. Get back to your corner like you always have." "Don't take my indifference as disinterest, Katherin, Crown. I want this to succeed as much as you do." Crown raised a brow. "Are you really? Then stay in your corner as instructed. You will do us more good that way, but..." He turned to Katherin. "I agree with him. They could kill you in protest. I get that they are powerful but they are only two. It is exactly why they ran when we rushed at them." Katherin cackled, her right arm holding her mouth shut in startlement. The others flinched in surprise, Crown especially. "You must be joking. Did you not see what Nicho did? We didn't even know the Student President was that strong until now. And Mila? She escaped the King and the Headmaster in the same space. Do you think we are capable of such feet? When we barely have the bare minimum to keep ourselves together?" She glanced at them, her expression darkened. "Think straight, you fools! We need them for our plans to work! It's exactly why Wisdom lived his life. Isn't that so?" Roland tilted his head, and Crown looked away, his thoughts spiralling within his head. "You do realize they intended to betray us?" Roland asked, his gaze shifting to the bystander who had remained silent until now. "Isn't that so, Water Hero?" The girl flinched and nodded quickly, shifting her attention away from them. Crown sighed and walked up to Katherin, pulling her by her arm. The sudden thug brushed off her focus and the dome gave way, causing the angered Cult group to spill into the pathway. Cries of shock and pain escaped their lips as they did so. "We come with you or you don't go at all." Crown stated while Roland walked closer. She glanced at them both, a heavy sigh escaping her lips as she accepted her fate. "So be it." The group of three seemed to have come to a consensus, with Ruffia Jones standing behind to watch the scene unfold. She stood in silence, yet her thoughts reeled in. 'These are the people that want to lead a society where the System upholds...?' With a silent hiss, she turned around to walk away. 'Nah, I don't think so.' ***** While the System Uprisers were on about their own crisis, the executives of the Red Peacemakers were about to complete something that could either add to it or diminish it. They had reached a separate part of the Pipelines, below the rest. Mila stood at the exit, a large open pathway, while Nicho worked on a tool, a golden one with intricate contraptions and master engineering. The silent air was filled with the subtle hums and vibrations the tool made as he worked on it, opening it bit by bit into an oddly shaped tool. Mila watched in silence, the subtle hums of screams reaching her ever so slightly. She felt a cold shiver down her spine, her gaze whipping towards the door. "We could have easily killed them, you know." She said with a matter-of-fact tone, her gaze narrowed. "Leave them be. There may still be a chance to negotiate." "Yes, they still need us.....and they're helping though, little may still be of importance." "Exactly. We want to get this done in one night so I asked Katherin to get us the room numbers of certain students....students that are all Non-system users." Mila's gaze sparked into realization. "I see. That way, we can easily target the ones we want without wasting much effort. That is a good idea." "Would have gone well if someone had not heard our conversation...." Mila remained silent, her brows furrowing in displeasure. A few moments passed and Nicho stood to his feet from the task he had set himself to complete. "Oh, you're done? What is it?" Mila asked, her gaze lingering on the foot-stool-like object. Its curved, golden edges and mirror-like surface left a deep impression on her. Nicho glanced at it and then at Mila, a smile on his face as he stepped on it, causing a swirl of mana to surge out from the tool, taking form into an oval portal. He nodded in satisfaction, Mila's eyes bulging open ever so slightly. Nicho glanced back at her again and then at the artefact when a foot stepped through. "...this is our gate to success."

Chapter 330 - 330- Festival 61-The gates open!

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