The battle outside the carriage remained deadlocked. The massive [Extreme Cold Ice Wall] covered the exterior of Carriage 10, but its crystalline surface was now crisscrossed with a web of cracks.
Ice shards fluttered down with every magical impact, only to be painstakingly and slowly repaired by the mana Sefina continuously poured into it.
Sefina stood at the very front of the carriage, her petite figure like an immovable pillar. But only she knew the immense pressure she was under.
Her wine-red eyes were fixed on the assassins circling the ice wall like a pack of wolves.
While desperately maintaining the defensive magic to prevent it from being instantly shattered, she would occasionally seize a gap to instantly unleash several fierce [Explosion Spells] or [Water Screens] in counterattack, trying to disrupt the enemy’s assault rhythm.
However, two fists could not fend off four hands. Facing the relentless barrage from ten coordinated Sixth-tier Mages, defending and counterattacking alone was simply too much.
She could clearly feel the mana within her body ebbing away like a receding tide. Her once-full mana core sent out faint waves of emptiness.
They could not continue with this passive defense any longer!
While maintaining the ice wall, Sefina spoke in a voice that was cool yet carried undeniable authority, calling out to those inside the carriage:
“Everyone, listen! Do any of you have disposable magic scrolls? Whatever type, use them all! Now!”
Magic scrolls—precious items with complete magic arrays pre-inscribed on special materials—could be activated simply by injecting mana.
They were lifesavers for low-tier Mages or tools for fighting above one’s tier, but their rarity of materials and complex craftsmanship made them extremely expensive.
Most students from Oselenka came from well-off families and kept one or two for emergencies, but their tiers were generally not too high, mostly around the fifth tier.
Higher-tier scrolls were difficult for their own mana to drive. At this life-or-death moment, no one cared about material possessions anymore.
“I have one!”
“Use mine!”
“Let’s do this!”
Upon hearing her words, the students immediately sprang into action. After a brief moment of panic, the instinct for survival and trust in Teacher Sefina took over.
They took out their treasured scrolls from their bags, pockets, and even tight-fitting storage accessories, and without hesitation, poured their remaining mana into them!
In an instant, the carriage windows lit up with densely packed, variously colored small magic arrays.
Fireballs, Wind Blades, ice spears, lightning arrows, earth spikes… Although the power of a single one was far inferior to the assassins’ attacks, their sheer numbers were an advantage. They flew towards the enemies hovering in the air like a swarm of bees.
Students without scrolls gritted their teeth, squeezing out the last of their mana to release their strongest offensive spells.
Teacher Shalina had never stopped either. Her face was pale, sweat beading on her forehead, yet she continued to wave her wand, summoning wave after wave of summoned creatures that fearlessly threw themselves at the enemy in suicidal interference and attacks.
This seemingly scattered yet overwhelming counterattack took the assassins completely by surprise. They had to divert part of their attention, either dodging or raising small shields to block this “harassment.”
While it couldn’t cause them substantial harm, it undoubtedly greatly disrupted their casting focus and attack rhythm. The previously storm-like combined assault instantly faltered.
Now!
This was precisely the moment Sefina had been waiting for to switch from defense to offense.
Without hesitation, she stopped pouring mana into the [Extreme Cold Ice Wall], allowing the cracks on the massive ice surface to spread rapidly.
At the same time, Sefina frantically gathered all her mental focus and remaining mana at the tip of her wand.
Fire elements in the air surged towards her at an unprecedented speed and scale. The ice-blue gem at the wand’s tip was even illuminated to a crimson red.
Rapidly outlining and condensing. A majestic, enormous crimson-red array took shape above her head.
Seventh-tier offensive magic—[Heavenfire Annihilates the City]!
This was a complete seventh-tier magic, immensely powerful, but the time and mana required to construct its array were staggering. It would have been impossible to cast during the previous high-intensity exchange.
Sefina had used the precious opening created by the students’ desperate efforts to complete this killing move.
“What… what is that?!”
“Such terrifying mana fluctuations…”
The students inside the carriage felt the searing heat and pressure that seemed capable of igniting their very souls.
They stared dumbfounded at the dazzling crimson array above Teacher Sefina’s head, which shone like a small sun.
The sky seemed to be torn open. Endless heavenly fire poured down like a waterfall, covering nearly half of the airspace ahead and completely enveloping the five hovering assassins.
“Not good!”
“Defend, quickly!”
The targeted assassins let out screams of terror. They desperately raised their strongest defensive magics, various colored shield lights flashing frantically.
But before a true seventh-tier magic, sixth-tier defenses were still insufficient.
BOOM—!!!
Deafening explosions rang out one after another. Crimson flames devoured all sound and light. The scorching heatwave, even through the gradually shattering ice wall, rushed against their faces, making it hard to breathe.
As the flames dispersed, only scattered falling embers and the smell of scorching remained in the air.
Three completely carbonized corpses fell straight from the sky like broken puppets.
Two others, though luckily alive, were charred black all over. Their protective magics were completely shattered, and their hovering forms teetered unsteadily. They had clearly lost most of their combat ability, even struggling to maintain flight.
Half dealt with!
Having cast two seventh-tier magics, [Extreme Cold Ice Wall] and [Heavenfire Annihilates the City], plus the earlier continuous defense and counterattacks, her mana consumption was enormous. She had roughly only sixty percent left.
Sefina’s face also looked somewhat pale from the dual overdraft of mana and mental energy.
If there were only five enemies left, the pressure would be much less, and the mana required to maintain defensive magic would be significantly reduced. Perhaps… there was still room to maneuver.
However, reality was always cruel.
Inside the carriage, the students who had just erupted with astonishing counterattack momentum were now mostly slumped in their seats, panting heavily, faces deathly pale.
Their magic scrolls were exhausted, and their own mana was almost completely drained. Teacher Shalina was still holding on, but the light from her summoning arrays had also noticeably dimmed, clearly nearing her limit as well.
At this moment, those with any combat ability left were almost only Sefina and Shalina, who was in slightly better condition.
Just then, the remaining five assassins seemed to have reached some consensus. They suddenly stopped all attack movements, their figures accelerating sharply as they instantly overtook Carriage 10 and flew ahead.
The next second, the answer was revealed.
“What are they trying to do?!”
A student cried out in terror.
The five assassins hovered directly in front of the tracks, simultaneously raising their wands, aiming at the railway bed not far ahead.
Five powerful attack spells of different colors slammed down like heavy hammers onto the tracks and sleepers.
BOOM—!
Another deafening explosion rang out. Shattered stones and twisted steel flew in all directions.
A section of track several tens of meters long ahead was completely destroyed by this concentrated bombardment, leaving a horrifying large crater and twisted, broken steel rails.
“They… they blew up the tracks!!”
“We’re done for! The carriage is going to flip!”
Cries of despair instantly filled the entire carriage. Everyone understood that once a high-speed carriage lost the support of the tracks, the consequence would be a terrifying derailment or overturning.
The immense impact and shock would leave those inside either dead or grievously injured, completely losing the ability to resist, left to the mercy of the enemy!
“Sefina! What do we do?! Should I use summoned creatures for an emergency brake? Forcing a stop might still give us a chance!” Teacher Shalina shouted anxiously, the color drained from her face.
Yet, faced with this situation that would drive anyone to despair, Sefina was exceptionally calm.
She didn’t even look at the destroyed tracks ahead. Her wine-red eyes remained fixed on the five assassins in the air who were preparing their next wave of attacks.
Sefina’s voice was terrifyingly calm, carrying an unquestionable resolve:
“Continue forward.”
“What?! But ahead…” Shalina could hardly believe her ears. Ahead was a dead end!
“Forward!”
Sefina sharply turned her head, her gaze as sharp as a blade.