Chapter 53 He Protected Everyone with His Life

Chapter 53 He Protected Everyone with His Life

Chloe was thrilled. "Rena, it's really Rena! Let's go over there!"

We ran toward Rena and the others.

As we got closer, we could see that Rena and the other students with her were all injured.

When Rena saw us, she was first surprised, then her eyes widened with worry. "What are you doing here?"

"We noticed you never came back, so we came looking for you."

After Chloe explained, she asked, "What's going on here? And how did you guys get in?"

Rena shook her head with a bitter smile. "We don't know either. We were rehearsing for the school celebration in the classroom, and suddenly those magical instruments went out of control. They burst out with sharp magical sound waves. We had no warning at all and just passed out. When we woke up, we were already here."

Rena pointed at herself and the others. "Before you arrived, we already searched the area carefully. We couldn't find an exit."

This was really difficult. I felt a headache coming on. We came to find people, and now we were trapped here too.

Everyone looked at each other. A suffocating despair slowly spread through the air.

I thought for a moment and tried to comfort them. "Don't worry, everyone. With so many of us missing, the academy will notice soon. We just need to wait for the professors to come."

Rena and the others didn't say anything.

I continued, "There was a very strong dark magic wave from the music classroom. The academy couldn't possibly miss it. What we need to do now is rest well and save our strength."

As soon as I finished speaking, Rena's eyes suddenly widened in terror. "Vanessa, watch out! Behind you!"

I quickly dodged to the side. A water arrow grazed my arm, cutting a wound that immediately started bleeding.

I quickly turned around to see Chloe with empty eyes, dark magic swirling around her. The wand in her hand still glowed faintly.

"Oh no, she's been corrupted by dark magic. She's lost control."

My heart jumped as I shouted, "Everyone scatter!"

A painful groan came from Chloe's throat. Deep purple marks gradually spread across her neck, and the magical waves inside her body became more and more violent. Dozens of magical water arrows shot toward us, and we scrambled to dodge. Because we were worried about hurting Chloe, no one dared to fight back.

Chloe's expression became more twisted, and blood was seeping from the hand gripping her wand.

"Chloe! Stop! If you keep this up, the magic will backfire on you!"

I shouted in worry. But Chloe seemed to hear nothing, and the water arrows only became more dense and fierce. The blood that dripped from her was instantly absorbed by the ground.

I had no choice. I gritted my teeth and focused my mental power.

Soul Reading.

The scene before my eyes instantly turned black and white. Right in front of me, Chloe's light blue spiritual body was wrapped in thick purple-black threads.

"Chloe, wake up. Don't let the dark magic completely control you."

I directed my mental power toward Chloe, trying to awaken her consciousness. The closer I got, the stronger that cold and violent aura became, constantly attacking my spiritual body. I tried to keep my spirit gentle and calm, slowly approaching Chloe's spiritual body.

Chloe's expression gradually calmed down. She blinked extremely slowly, and her unfocused pupils began to focus.

"I..."

Before I could speak, Darius suddenly rushed toward me. A dark magic shield instantly appeared, and a blinding light flashed beside me.

"Ugh!"

Luke groaned in pain, clutching his chest as he fell to the ground, his eyes rolling back as he passed out.

"The shield's backlash knocked him out," Darius explained.

I turned to look at Luke and saw thick purple-black energy swirling around him. He had clearly been corrupted by dark magic too.

Before I could check on Luke, Darius let go of me. He rushed forward and knocked Chloe out with quick, efficient movements.

Not far away, the other trapped students looked at him with suspicion and started whispering, "Why is the Voidborn attacking his own people? Has he lost control?!"

My heart tightened. Darius absolutely couldn't lose control. If he really did something irreversible, that would be terrible.

"Vanessa."

Darius gently set Chloe down. He looked up, his reddened eyes staring straight at me. Veins bulged at his temples, clearly showing he was enduring great pain.

"It's struggling inside me, trying to control me."

Darius bit his lower lip hard, and a trickle of blood appeared.

"I can't hold it back much longer."

"Don't be scared. I'll help you suppress it right away. We'll be fine."

My heart clenched. I stepped forward, wanting to take Darius's hand, but he avoided me.

"...Darius?"

"Vanessa, listen to me. This time is different. There are other people here who've already passed out. If you fail, everyone will be in danger."

He looked at me deeply, those gray eyes reflecting only my image.

"I don't want you to get hurt. Especially because of me."

A painful growl escaped his throat as he swayed and stood up straight. The marks on the back of his left hand began moving like flowing blood, and a magic circle started forming beneath my feet.

I looked down and immediately understood what Darius intended.

"Rena, come help me. Drag Luke over here. Everyone get closer."

I called out to Rena and dragged the unconscious Chloe to my side. Rena didn't hesitate and immediately walked toward me. The other students hesitated for a moment but still followed behind Rena. They watched Darius warily, afraid he might suddenly attack.

As the circle gradually took shape, someone recognized it.

"This is a protection circle. The Voidborn is protecting us."

My nose immediately stung. Yes, Darius had always been protecting everyone. But just because of his identity as a Voidborn, he was shut out by everyone without reason.

The protection circle continued forming, and Darius's face became paler and paler. His voice grew weaker.

"Vanessa, I have a mark from Aethergate College of Magic on me. Once I lose control, a professor will immediately come to stop me. This protection circle can block most dark magic attacks. You only need to hold on for a very short time."

I nodded, looking at Darius with stinging eyes. There was nothing I could do now. I was still too weak. I could only watch helplessly as Darius drew this protection circle himself, then shut me out.

Everyone else present held their breath. They looked moved.

Just as the protection circle was about to be completed, dark purple light suddenly burst from Darius's body.

My face changed instantly. "Darius! What are you doing! You've put most of your magic power into the circle. What about yourself?!"

Darius's handsome face was already pale to the point of transparency. He forced himself through the pain to give me a smile.

"This way... it's foolproof."

"No! Without your own power to maintain it, if the dark magic explodes inside you, you might never wake up again! Do you understand me?!"

I tried to rush out, but the protection circle was complete. A translucent barrier completely separated me from Darius. I pounded on the barrier with both hands, shouting hoarsely.

"Darius!"

The corners of Darius's lips curved into a slight smile, just like when he was by my side on normal days.

"Vanessa, I told you. I will protect you with my life—"

Before he finished speaking, Darius's eyes were instantly completely consumed by purple-black.

He roared out loud, his hands clutching his head desperately. Massive dark magic erupted from within his body.