The Villain Professor's Second Chance

Draven's office.

It wasn't just a vague notion or desperate guess. She had been there once before, during a particularly intense lecture when Professor Draven had called her and a few others for a private demonstration of magical artifacts. She remembered the glowing crystal set on his desk, a means to contact him or his assistant in case of emergencies.

The memory was so clear now, even as the tower crumbled and monsters clawed at its very structure.

Amberine turned to the group, who were still catching their breath after reinforcing the wards on the storage room. Elara sat with her back against the wall, her face expressionless but clearly fatigued. Maris was tending to the barely conscious Ramia, who trembled with a mixture of fear and exhaustion.

"We need to get to Draven's office," Amberine said, her voice breaking the heavy silence.

Elara's eyes flicked up, a brow raised in skepticism. "Draven's office? Why? How's that going to help us?"

Amberine knelt down beside the group, trying to keep her voice calm and steady. "I've been there before. He has a crystal—a magical communicator that can contact him or his assistant directly in emergencies. It's heavily warded. If there's anywhere in this tower that's safe and can get us some outside help, it's there."

Elara leaned her head back, staring at the ceiling. "That's assuming we can even get to his office. Do you even know how far it is from here?"

Amberine nodded, though the truth was her certainty was a bit shaky. "Five floors. It's not that far. I remember his office is on the 50th floor."

Elara scoffed, pushing herself up from the floor. "And you think the next five floors are going to be a walk in the park? We've barely survived the last few encounters, and that was just getting to this room."

Maris spoke up, her voice weary but calm. "We don't have a choice, Elara. We can't stay here forever. The wards won't hold much longer, and you know it."

Elara exhaled sharply, brushing a hand through her silver-streaked hair. "Fine. But if this fails, Amberine, and we get killed because of your hunch…"

"We won't get killed," Amberine interrupted, standing to face her. "We don't have any other option, and you know it."

For a moment, Elara looked like she might argue, but instead, she sighed and nodded, her expression softening just slightly. "Alright. Let's go before I change my mind."

Amberine wasted no time. She gathered her gear, her eyes scanning the room one last time. Ramia still looked fragile, her body trembling as she tried to stand. Amberine crossed over to her, offering a hand.

"Can you walk?" Amberine asked, keeping her voice as neutral as possible, despite the lingering anger in her chest.

Ramia hesitated but nodded weakly. "I… I can."

"Good," Amberine replied, though the tightness in her chest didn't ease. "Just stay close. We can't afford any more accidents."

The group gathered what little they had, and without another word, they moved out of the warded storage room and into the twisting, corrupted corridors of the magic tower once again. The air was colder here, thick with the taint of demonic magic, and each step felt like a gamble, as if the very floor beneath them could give way at any moment.

The first few minutes of their journey were eerily quiet, the only sound being the soft footfalls of their boots against the stone floor. Amberine kept her senses sharp, her eyes darting to every shadow, every flicker of movement that seemed out of place.

"We're close," she muttered, her voice low as she led the group through the darkened hallway.

Elara, walking just behind her, kept her eyes forward, her expression tense. "Let's hope your memory isn't failing us now."

Before Amberine could respond, a low, guttural growl echoed from the darkness ahead. She froze, her heart skipping a beat as she turned toward the sound.

"Something's coming," Maris whispered, her voice tight with fear.

Amberine didn't have time to react before the shadows shifted, and three monstrous forms emerged from the darkened corridor. They were twisted, grotesque creatures, their bodies warped by the demonic magic that had consumed the tower. Their skin was dark and mottled, their eyes glowing with a sickly green light.

"Prepare yourselves," Amberine shouted, already summoning the fire within her hands.

The creatures lunged, their twisted claws gleaming in the dim light. Amberine threw out a wall of fire, hoping to slow their advance, but the creatures were fast—faster than anything she had faced so far.

"Ramia, stay back!" Elara barked, already casting a series of defensive spells to shield the group.

But Ramia, shaken by the sight of the monsters, panicked. Her hands flared with unstable magic, and without thinking, she cast a wild burst of energy directly into the middle of the group. The blast of raw mana surged through the air, knocking Maris off balance and sending Elara stumbling backward.

"Ramia, no!" Amberine yelled, but it was too late.

The creatures seized the opportunity, rushing forward with terrifying speed. Amberine barely managed to dodge a swipe from one of the monsters, its claws tearing through the air inches from her face. She spun, hurling a concentrated fireball directly into the creature's chest, but it only seemed to anger it more.

"Maris, get Ramia out of here!" Elara shouted, regaining her footing and casting another defensive barrier around the group.

Maris, still dazed from the blast, pulled Ramia to her feet, dragging her back as far as she could. "Come on! Don't let your magic get out of control!"

Amberine gritted her teeth, focusing all her mana on the largest of the three creatures. The flames in her hands roared to life, burning hotter than before. She could feel Ifrit's power surging through her, amplifying her strength.

The creature lunged again, but this time Amberine was ready. She released the fire in a massive burst, engulfing the monster in a blaze of scorching heat. The creature let out a horrific screech as the flames consumed it, its body disintegrating into ash before it could reach her.

"Elara, now!" Amberine yelled, turning to the other two creatures that were still closing in.

Elara didn't hesitate. She extended her hands, her voice low and commanding as she cast a series of rapid incantations. A bolt of lightning shot from her fingers, striking the second creature square in the chest. The impact sent it flying backward, its twisted body convulsing as the electricity coursed through it.

But the third creature was still coming, and it was faster than either of them had anticipated. Before Amberine could react, it was on top of her, its claws slicing through the air toward her neck.

Amberine braced for the impact, but just before the creature could strike, Maris appeared at her side, her hands moving in a graceful arc. A shimmering illusion appeared in front of the creature, disorienting it for just long enough for Amberine to hurl another fireball at its chest.

The creature stumbled, its momentum lost as the flames seared through its flesh. Amberine didn't waste any time—she thrust her hands forward, sending another burst of fire into the monster, finishing it off with a final, explosive blow.

The hallway fell silent once again, the only sound being the crackling of dying embers. Amberine stood panting, her hands trembling from the exertion. The creatures were dead, their twisted forms now little more than ash and charred remains.

"Ramia, what the hell were you thinking?" Amberine snapped, turning toward the girl, her voice dripping with frustration.

Ramia shrank back, her eyes wide with fear. "I… I didn't mean to… I just… I panicked."

Elara stepped forward, her gaze cold and unforgiving. "If you can't control your magic, you're going to get us all killed. Stay out of the way, or I'll make sure you don't cause any more accidents."

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Amberine clenched her fists, but she didn't argue. As much as she hated to admit it, Elara was right. They couldn't afford any more mistakes. Not with how dangerous the tower had become.

"Let's just keep moving," Amberine muttered, turning away from Ramia. "We don't have time for this."

The group pressed on, their steps quickened by the ever-growing sense of urgency. The tower seemed to pulse with dark energy now, the very walls oozing with corruption. Every corner they turned held the promise of more danger, but Amberine kept her focus locked on the goal—Professor Draven's office.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, they reached the 50th floor. The door to Draven's office loomed ahead, its dark wood carved with intricate runes and magical sigils. The air around it felt different, more stable, as if the corruption hadn't quite reached this part of the tower yet.

"This is it,"