Chapter 30
Ilux's swift and precise arrival not only dispersed the deadly attacks but also gave Theo the opportunity to reorganize his strategy, restore his balance, and consider his next moves without falling deeper into Cru's traps.
While the battle and pain accumulated, Ilux revealed the reason for his delay: he had been held up in the library before rushing to the battlefield.
That explanation manifested through his body movements, the firmness in his steps, and an aura radiating both experience and heightened awareness.
Theo, though exhausted and injured, understood that every piece of information conveyed, every seemingly simple motion, carried strategic meaning, confirming that Ilux was not merely a temporary savior but part of a larger calculation on the battlefield.
Ilux arrived just in time.
"I knew you'd be angry about my lateness.
But listen first—I didn't do it on purpose. I got trapped in the library."
Huufffh!
"Not because I was studying, don't get me wrong.
There's an annoying teacher who suddenly held a surprise test.
My grades have been poor lately, and if I ran off again, I could have been expelled from the academy.
So I worked on all the questions from morning till evening, without rest, without opening this locket."
Tsuuung!
"Only after leaving the room did this object light up.I heard the clash of swords and fragments of images that didn't have time to become clear.
But I knew it was you.
Aldraya, Erietta, and you.
So I ran, jumped from the third floor—and well, you know the rest."
'That locket is a transmission, but not an ordinary one.
It connects not just sound, but fragments of images, as if two worlds are joined through that small sliver of light.'
Running toward the battlefield with quick steps and heavy breaths, Ilux recalled the reason for his delay.
The trip to the library was not merely to study, but to take a sudden test administered by one of the academy's teachers.
The test was designed because the teacher was concerned about Ilux's declining grades.
During the task, Ilux concentrated fully, completing his exam papers with great diligence, repeatedly ignoring the warning signals blinking from the locket hanging around his neck.
Only after finishing and leaving the library did he notice the strange light emanating from the locket, and within the next two seconds, he clenched both fists and leapt from the academy's third floor, landing safely without a scratch.
Theo observed every move of Ilux with sharp eyes, recalling that the locket emitting the signal was the one Aldraya had given him during the first arc of episode five.
The small crystal fragment locket seemed simple, yet from its silver engravings, Theo recognized its extraordinary value within the academy's context.
The locket's function was not just voice transmission, but also capable of displaying rough visuals of conditions between two distant parties.
The images resembled manually cut film clips, showing movements and situations in real time.
Theo realized that the last signal received by Ilux indicated the clash of two swords, accompanied by visual fragments of Aldraya and Erietta pressing their blades together, signaling that the danger facing Theo was extremely serious.
'And the sudden library test?
As far as I know, there's never been a scenario like this in Flo Viva Mythology.
Even on Ilux's route, there was never an additional test after the mid-fifth arc.
I've completed this game hundreds of times, exploring every possible ending, and none mention anything like this.
So, who added this part?
Cru? Or another Administrator?'
Suuuuufh!
'If this is indeed an Administrator's intervention, it means they're testing something.
Testing the effects of storyline changes on the game world's system itself.
Damn, that means I have to be ready to restore the branch scenario to its original path.'
Wuaaaahhh!
'I wanted to conserve energy to stabilize my Parameters, but now I've got extra work because of Cru and all those damn Administrators.'
Theo stared at the battlefield, his eyes still red from previous explosions and attacks, yet his mind was moving faster than the movements of his own sword.
Confusion and amazement engulfed him, for the scenario of Ilux taking a sudden test never appeared in any Flo Viva Mythology game he knew.
No story points, no guidance in the game's arcs, suggested that Ilux was required to take a sudden test in the Star Academy library.
Everything seemed like an addition deliberately placed outside the main path, making Theo feel that the game's reality was beginning to shift in his own hands.
He began to realize the most disturbing possibility.
If this extra scenario was indeed the result of Cru's interference, one of the most ruthless Administrators in Flo Viva Mythology, then the purpose was clear.
'Testing the player's limits and adaptability under conditions never explained.'
Every passing second, every step Theo took, was now controlled and calculated not only by the game's rules but also by the cunning creativity of those with power beyond the scenario itself.
The injuries in his left arm and shoulder, limiting his fighting capacity, became an added burden, increasing the complexity as he tried to decide when and how to unleash his Totality Technique without destroying his own body.
This uncertainty forced Theo to adjust all his senses and instincts rapidly.
He assessed Ilux's position, anticipated Cru's attacks, and mapped out possible escape routes from pressure coming from all directions.
Theo's mind not only observed the flow of the game but also penetrated the boundaries set by the Administrators, trying to piece together alternate scenarios for his survival.
He knew that every decision made here would determine whether he could remain standing or be swept away by forces not only from his opponents but also from unseen hands controlling every possibility behind the scenes.
Like it or not, Theo had to face this additional workload.
"I know I'm not the one to ask, but this time, I need your strength."
"Strength, huh?
Funny hearing that request from someone who once stabbed me in the back."
"Consider it a belated confession.
But if you want to survive—if we want to stop Cru—I have to borrow a bit of your power.
Just this once."
"You're terrible at asking for help, Theo.
But fine—I'll help.
Though honestly, I don't even know what we should do now."
Theo restrained himself from cheering, aware that Ilux's presence was not merely entertainment, but an opportunity to be managed carefully.
Although his past betrayal toward Ilux still lingered, Theo's fighting instincts forced him to suppress his emotions, assess the situation, and weigh every potential move.
He knew that Ilux's additional power could be the deciding factor between life and death, but it also had to be directed properly, not simply thrown into action.
Every Cru attack, every energy explosion, was no longer just a test for Theo alone, but for both parties who now had to think in sync.
In Theo's mind, a strategy gradually formed, though a haze of uncertainty shrouded the path ahead.
He adjusted the rhythm of his body's movements, impaired by injury, assessed Ilux's distance and position, predicted possible counterattacks from Cru, and tried to find exploitable gaps.
To be continued…