The Transmigrated Author

Chapter 225: Arrival

"Curse... you... trees..."

Bazz's final words echoed in my ears, fading into the simulated breeze that brushed against my cheek.

The forest was silent now, save for the rustling leaves and the distant sounds of battle.

But I knew I wasn't truly alone.

A prickling sensation at the back of my neck told me I was being watched.

Truth be told, I had been harassed relentlessly by Jae's arrows during our chase.

I had no choice but to keep running towards the central apartment complex, hoping to reach the scene of the fight between Jan and Louise.

But for Bazz to have chased me this far...

Well, his tenacity is surely unrivalled compared to anyone else.

Luckily for me, a stroke of fortune (or perhaps a conveniently placed branch) intervened.

Bazz, in his pursuit of trying to eliminate me, had smacked his head against a massive branch, and following an explosion that happened before him chasing me a massive boulder of debris slammed into him with enough force to knock out even a superhuman.

It was clear that the fight between Louise and Jan had started earlier than expected, but it was the outcome of the battle that truly worried me.

If Jan had already faced multiple opponents on his way to the top floor, he would be either exhausted or injured, putting him at a significant disadvantage against Louise.

Then again, a healthy Jan, or even a slightly injured one, was still a force to be reckoned with. He was stronger than Louise, even in a rage-fueled state.

But if the building ahead of me was indeed split in half by Louise's polearm, as I suspected, then the final fight for the flag would likely take place underground, in the bunker.

The bunker... the location of the final flag.

I needed to confirm this.

If the fight wasn't happening there, then... well, I'd figure something out.

That's what I do best, after all.

**

[Pinnacle Academy, Dysotpic Simulation - Team A Base]

Back at Team A's base, a sense of unease hung in the air.

They had successfully captured one flag during Louise's initial charge, but their communication and coordination had since faltered.

Five minutes had passed with no further progress, and the realization that both teams were struggling to claim a second flag was starting to sink in.

"Where's Louise?"

Bazz asked, appearing from a shimmer of blue pixels, having finally respawned.

"He went after Jan,"

Valencia replied, her gaze fixed on the holographic map of the simulation.

"After Jan?" Jae echoed, her eyebrows furrowing.

"Is he crazy? Jan just took out Miya and Noah with a single move!"

Valencia shrugged, not particularly invested in their rivalry.

"Louise has his own reasons. But we need to focus on securing more flags. We still have a chance to win this."

The team nodded, agreeing with Valencia's assessment.

"A flag has been captured. The score is tied 1-1..."

If she didn't take this chance now, she could at least stall him until someone arrived.

"You can't..."

Alice whispered and raised her arm, feeling the mana in her body surge into her hand, forming a sharp ice shard.

As she closed an eye to aim carefully, she released the shot to stall Louise...

STAK!

CRASHH...

Louise moved his head to the side, watching the ice shard miss its mark, shattering into tiny fragments against the wall.

His face shifted from triumph to anger in an instant.

"Who did that?" He snarled and turned his head around.

Louise walked towards the source of the ice shard and his eyes began scanning the debris-strewn floor.

As he rounded a pile of rubble his lips curled into a sinister smile.

He found Alice huddled against the wall her face pale and her body trembling.

She clutched her Rapier tightly, but her eyes were wide with fear.

"Well, well, well," Louise sneered. "Who would have thought the Ice Princess would be in such a state?" He chuckled darkly, enjoying her obvious distress.

"Not me," he continued, his voice dripping with mockery.

Alice glared at him, her expression clearing showing she wasn't afraid.

But her trembling hands betrayed her fear.

Louise's eyes narrowed.

He hadn't been able to finish off the student with the flag earlier, but perhaps he could eliminate Alice instead. It would be even sweeter, considering she had consistently outperformed him in the theory exams.

He advanced slowly, relishing the terror in her eyes.

"Well, I'll be seeing you in the lobby after this," he said, raising the blue flag triumphantly.

"We're the winners!"

Alice squeezed her eyes shut, unable to bear the sight of his impending attack.

"Somebody... please... help..." she whispered, her voice barely a whimper.

Louise raised his polearm, ready to strike. But just as he swung downwards...

BAM!!!

A powerful force slammed into his side, sending him flying across the room and crashing into the opposite wall.

The flag slipped from his grasp, landing at Alice's feet.

"Sorry, was I late?"

A breathless voice echoed through the room.

Alice opened her eyes to see a figure standing before her, a bow strapped to their back and their eyes glowing with a brilliant blue light.

As the figure stepped out of the shadows, Alice recognized her saviour.

It was Rel Laurence.

"Don't worry, I'm here."