It was absolute chaos. What was supposed to be a routine field trip turned into a life-and-death situation. Tessa Potts, a normal teacher, shouldered the burden of saving as many of her students as she could.
"Kya!" "We are going to die!" "Mommy!"
And while she and her fellow teachers had some training, they were far from combat-equipped. She watched as teachers shielded students and fought. The more resilient students, aware of the stakes even began to help, dragging the wounded back and administering first aid.
"Ms. Potts! We ran out of potions!" "Coach Glover fainted! The mana-shield is about to turn off!" "Just when are the Breakers coming?! We will all die at this rate!"
Tessa couldn't blame them. Few had the nerves to witness a dungeon break and not fall apart. Luckily, she was such an individual.
"DO NOT GIVE UP! HELP IS COMING! LAVENDER LIGHTNING!"
Slamming her staff into the ground, violet lightning bolts fell from the heavens. Each Worker Ant clawing at the shield turned black as purple flashes of mana electrocuted them. Like insects fried by a bug zapper, the large monsters all fell by the dozens.
"Huff... Huff... Gather the students, stop supplying mana to the other shield generators and pour everything into the one behind me."
"Ms. Potts, are you sure about this?"
"I'm not. But we don't have a choice."
Left in awe by her demonstration, the teachers began to follow Tessa's instructions.
Tsk. My mana is less than twenty percent. There are just too many! Will I even last at this rate?
Tessa looked up. There—five gigantic Soldier Ants stood still. Like predators, they waited.
These cunning bastards... they're waiting for the teachers to tire before attacking. If we don't do something, we're all going to die. We need to disrupt the flow.
She turned and approached a group of wounded students at the back. When the teacher saw them, her hands tightened on her beloved staff almost as if trying to strangle it.
One of the boys silently looked on as the teachers tried to retreat to their position. Unable to stop herself, Ms. Potts swung her weapon like a bat and struck the student in the back of his head.
"OW! What the hell?! You dare…" Ignoring his posturing, Tessa commanded:
"Trevor! I need a vanguard to turn the situation. I will give you my last Rank B potions. Heal up and charge the Red Soldier Ants and lead them away."
"What? Have you gone insane, you old hag? I'm Rank B! If I die, the school's screwed!"
Slap!
The sharp sound rang true despite the situation. Stunned, the boy could only hold his cheek meekly. Tessa gritted her teeth as she tried to stop herself from killing her idiotic student.
"This is bigger than you, Trevor. This situation began due to your stupidity. Power comes at a cost. The reason the school spoils you is because of your potential. If you continue to act like a coward, I will not only terminate your recommendation to the Breakers, but have them blacklist you."
"Y-you can't do that! I've been training for years—this'll ruin everything! Let's just wait for the Breakers! I mean the shield is holding right?"
"We will be dead before they arrive! The time has come to show your mettle! Act like one and I will ensure you get into a good guild! Trevor, we need you!"
Tessa didn't want to do this. But rather than the ego of one student or the lives of everyone here, she had to make him understand the stakes.
Trevor began to scurry backward, his body trembling from fear.
"I-I… I can't… I…"
Tessa couldn't help but frown. As a former Breaker, she knew that look. It was the look of someone who lacked the will to fight. It was the look of a coward.
"I see. Then so be it."
Turning around, Tessa's mind raced for a way to survive.
"W-Where are you going?" the boy stammered.
As she walked away, Tessa removed her hairpin and unfurled her hair. The simple act caused purple-colored mana to surge from her body. Those who watched were surprised—for the middle-aged teacher suddenly regained her beauty and youth.
"You're lucky, Trevor. As a child, the school shields you. Should we somehow survive, you still have a future. If you were just one year older… the Breakers would have had you executed." Tessa snarled.
KUUUUUUU!
The loud groaning reverberated into the skies. Five gigantic monstrosities slammed their colossal legs as they walked. Each step was like an earthquake. Their extremely thick bodies blotted out the sun for those below.
So you finally move.
At the terrifying sight, the teachers all raced to Ms. Potts. Ragged and injured, the teachers all looked to her for support. The students, seeing the hellish sight, all trembled—afraid of death.
"Ms. Potts. What do we do now?" "Do we fight? Or do we run?"
Tessa gulped nervously as she swallowed her doubts and hesitation.
"I—I will try to fight the Soldiers. Worker Ants usually stand down when they move, so the shield should hold. I will try to last as long as I can. When I fall… try your best to save the students."
Her words caused everyone's stomachs to plummet. Try your best. That was all they could do.
With trembling steps, Tessa exited the area of the mana shield.
KEKEKEKEKEKE!
The legions of Red Worker Ants all chattered, as if betting on how long the teacher would last. One of the Soldiers had its mandibles swing together rapidly. It seemed excited.
Taking a deep breath, Tessa readied her staff and channeled every bit of mana into her weapon. Her eyes lit up like stars as lightning danced across her body.
Honey, I'm sorry I don't think I'll be coming home tonight. Jeffrey, Mommy loves you. Goodbye.
However, before she could even move—something fell from the sky.
BOOOM!
With a catastrophic impact, powerful gales blew and created a curtain of dust and debris. As the winds raged, Tessa stabbed her staff into the ground and hung on for dear life.
KUUUUUUU!
A Soldier Ant's cry rang out. But it lacked its fearsome presence. It almost sounded like a pitiful whimper.
What in the world is going on? Did reinforcements arrive?
Tessa cleared the dust away using her mana and marveled at what she saw. A Red Soldier Ant—a monster few could ever hope to defeat alone—was dead. Its head was crushed, its body awkwardly collapsed on itself.
And from the dead ant's head, a lone figure emerged.
It was a figure encased in black armor from head to toe. Glowing red eyes that seemed to scorch the soul of anyone who met their gaze.
A chilling silence spread across the entire battlefield. Both insect and man froze in the presence of the powerhouse. The Red Workers on the ground lowered their bodies as if trying to seem small. Meanwhile the Red Soldier's antenna all twitched as they analyzed the situation.
The students and teachers who saw it couldn't believe what they were witnessing.
"What? Who is that?"
Tessa quickly tried to scan the powerful individual. Yet what she saw caused her blood to run cold.
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Information not available.
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"An unregistered Breaker? Is he a rogue? Or a wanderer? Will he help us?"
Before Tessa could make sense of what was happening, the breaker moved. Like a figure out of myth, He picked up the shattered Soldier Ant's remaining head and tore it from the rest of its body.
As if to spite the entire hive of insects, he hurled the remains at the other Soldier Ants.
KUUUUUUU!
KREEEEEE!! KREEEE!! KREE!
All the Worker Ants—every single one—turned and charged at the black knight, as if trying to drown a nightmare in numbers. Loud impacts followed as even the Soldier Ants all converged on the lone warrior.
The imposing presence then vaulted into the sky and charged.
Tessa, who saw the ants' reaction, couldn't help but gasp.
"Just how powerful is this man that the ants react this way?! But thankfully he came—maybe we can find a way to survive today."
Relief flooded Tessa as she saw the black knight attack. He didn't speak—but in the way he moved, there was no doubt. This was no Breaker. This was something made purely for war.
She would never forget what came next. No one would. That day, the world bore witness to the birth of a legend.