Author Of Worlds: I Reincarnated Into My Novel As A Random Character
Chapter 35: The Dragon Worshippers Are Here

Chapter 35: The Dragon Worshippers Are Here

Sylvia was deep in a tranquil sleep, her breathing soft and steady as she drifted through the blissful haze of a pleasant dream. The warmth of her blanket wrapped around her like a gentle cocoon, and the faint rustling of leaves outside her window provided a soothing rhythm.

But that serenity shattered the moment the system’s voice echoed in her mind.

’Guess tonight won’t be so peaceful... I wonder, do I have to infiltrate somewhere dangerous today?’

She didn’t feel too irritated by the system’s abrupt appearance. Instead, curiosity flickered in her eyes as she turned her attention to the luminous blue screen hovering in front of her.

[Host, please survive the dragon worshippers in the surroundings!]

"What?" Sylvia’s breath caught. Her eyes widened as she abruptly sat up in bed, her heart pounding in her chest.

A wave of unease settled over her. As if on cue, the distant wails of pain and destruction filtered in through the walls, crawling into her ears like whispers of doom. The cries of the wounded and the echoes of chaos gripped her chest with invisible fingers.

She turned her gaze toward the bottom of the screen. The glowing text stood out starkly in the dimly lit room.

[Rewards]

[Rank 8 Esper, Ability Upgrade: SS-Rank Atomic Alteration!]

[Penalty]

[Death!]

Her heart skipped a beat. Sylvia stared in disbelief.

The system had never issued a death penalty before.

And an ability upgrade? That was unheard of. Her thoughts whirled as she tried to comprehend the magnitude of what this meant.

’What changes will the upgrade bring to my power? Will it finally eliminate the side effects I’ve been dealing with?’

A faint sense of wonder mixed with tension filled her chest. After gathering herself, she rose from the bed and walked cautiously toward the door.

Just then, a knock echoed softly across the wooden surface, followed by a voice that sounded too smooth, too polite.

"Hello, student... It’s your teacher. Please open the door. Something is happening, and I want to check on you!"

Sylvia’s pupils contracted slightly. She narrowed her eyes.

’A teacher?’ Her gaze grew sharper. ’Or something pretending to be one?’

...

"Surviving this will be difficult," Matthew murmured as he stood beside Axel, eyes narrowed.

"It has begun." He turned toward the infirmary’s ward door, his expression grave.

Axel looked stunned. His voice trembled slightly.

"You mean the invasion you warned Instructor Aurora about?"

Matthew nodded slowly. He didn’t need to look twice. The signs were all there. The dragon invasion had commenced.

He remembered every detail he had written. The power outage was one of the worshippers’ primary tactics. It plunged the academy into darkness, while the enemy used night-vision gear to gain the upper hand.

Despite this, Matthew didn’t panic.

Suddenly, a quiet knock tapped against a nearby door.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

"There are some issues in the infirmary. If anyone is inside, please indicate so we can escort you to safety."

It wasn’t their room. It was the one right next to them.

Matthew’s eyes narrowed. They were next.

He moved quickly toward Axel, who was lying on the bed. Leaning close, Matthew whispered softly.

"Don’t move. Listen carefully. Here’s what you need to do."

After speaking in hushed tones, he crept toward the corner of the room. Slowly, silently, he summoned his ability. A soft glow emerged from his palm as he withdrew a metallic shard of adamantium.

It had been a while, but now he was finally using his power again.

A subtle breeze brushed against his skin. The sensation was almost liberating. A wave of comfort surged through him as he pressed his palm gently against the wall.

The wall responded instantly. The surface began to crumble, particle by particle, disintegrating in front of his eyes in complete silence. A clear path emerged behind it.

Matthew glanced toward the door again.

The voices outside continued, muffled but persistent.

Then came silence from the neighboring room.

A faint female voice finally broke the stillness.

"There’s two of us here."

Matthew recognized it immediately. A girl. Her tone carried fear but also composure.

Moments later, the groan of an opening door echoed through the walls.

Then came absolute silence.

Matthew felt an icy chill crawl up his spine.

He remembered writing this very scene. Back then, he had grinned with amusement.

But now, standing inside it, the reality struck differently.

’I didn’t expect it to feel this terrifying.’

He took deep breaths, steadying himself.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

The sound came again, louder and closer. This time, it was their door.

Matthew didn’t move. He stood perfectly still, right beside the frame, just out of sight. He clenched his fists tightly, willing himself to stay calm.

The silence stretched painfully.

Then came the sound of retreating footsteps.

Minutes passed. Axel started to believe they were safe.

Until—

Bang!

A deafening crash tore through the silence. The door exploded inward, slamming against the floor with a thunderous thud. Dust surged into the air. The clanging of metal filled the room.

Matthew’s heart raced.

Thankfully, he had anticipated this. He had avoided standing directly behind the door. Instead, he remained off to the side, concealed in the blind spot.

Two figures stepped into the room.

They were cloaked in black robes that shimmered faintly with a sickly green hue. Their faces were exposed. Their skin had a hard, scaly texture. Horns jutted out from their foreheads, and tails swayed behind them.

Lesser dragons.

Matthew recognized them instantly.

Humans who devoted themselves to dragons could receive the creatures’ blood. In doing so, their strength would increase dramatically, and they would transform into lesser dragons.

This was one of the reasons so many became worshippers. Origin paths were limited. Without an upgrade crystal, progress was nearly impossible. Faced with stagnation, many chose to serve the dragons instead.

’If I remember correctly, I wrote that fifty of these monsters would invade the academy.’

His memories were clear.

The two intruders turned their attention to Axel, who remained unconscious on the bed.

One of them spoke with a guttural laugh.

"Look what we have here. A little mouse, sleeping peacefully."

As he spoke, his long scaly tongue slithered from his mouth, saliva dripping onto the floor with a grotesque squelch.

The second one stepped forward, reaching out with clawed fingers.

"Don’t waste time. Kill him quickly. We must finish them all before the six-hour timer runs out."

Without hesitation, he raised his claw and prepared to strike Axel.

Just then...

Matthew’s hands emerged from the shadows. They moved like serpents, silent and deadly.

A/N: As we begin our premium journey, I just want to welcome and appreciate you for following me along this interesting ride...