Internet Mage Professor
Chapter 148: Another problem?

Chapter 148: Another problem?

Nolan leaned against the marble balustrade of his villa balcony in Silver Blade City, gazing across the magical viewport toward the tower where Varros just made his invitation.

A slow, satisfied smile curled his lips. His students—Calien, Erik, and even their attendants—had been offered positions in the prestigious Black Vale Territory Academy.

That was promise fulfilled, and it glinted brighter in the sunset than any coin or jewel.

"No," he said softly to Lirazel, drifting nearby. "It’s perfect. The chief’s recognized their talent. They’ll grow there—be unmatched soldiers one day. This... this is how real power is forged."

Lirazel hovered above the lifeless body of Yxthul, gently cradling the strange luminescent crystal he once carried—now dim and silvery in her hands.

Tears sparkled in her rouge-stained cheeks as she spoke softly to the corpse’s cooling form.

"It should have been harder, Nolan," her voice trembled. "A spawn of Vur’Magrax—those lineage’s warriors are brutal, resilient. I expected a battle of wills, of blood. Not... this. He died too easily. Too cleanly."

Nolan chuckled, a dry, amused sound. "Oh, come now, Lira. You’re not actually upset at his defeat. You’re upset you didn’t get more out of him." He raised his eyebrows, tone wry. "You expected this to be a challenge to your reign. But it turns out he was just a pawn... and you ended up sucking his lifespan earlier anyway."

Lirazel’s wings fluttered in agitation. "That’s—Nolan, you—" she began, but her tone flickered. "I was going to harvest his essence... bond with the crystal... integrate him into my power. I expected centuries of accumulated mana! Instead, one bullet, and... gone."

Nolan tilted his head, sarcasm dripping with false warmth. "Well, he was preoccupied cruising toward stage ten. I was kind enough to include a suppressive antimatter round."

Her eyes snapped up at him. "You knew. Of course you knew. You always know."

He smirked. "I’m Nolan. I always—

A trembling ran through the city’s foundations, smooth and gentle at first—a mere whisper.

The crystal in Lirazel’s hand vibrated, pulsed with barely-contained energy.

Lirazel raised an elegant hand, as if warding off sudden pain. "Do you feel that?"

"It’s a minor tremor. You said this place could withstand a—" Nolan’s words trailed off as the earth shuddered again, stronger this time.

A third tremor arrived, deep and resonant, rattling the marble vase beside them. Dust rained from the ceiling, and even the projection of the tower flickered with distortion.

Lirazel’s composure cracked. "Nolan—this is not the scale of a quake. It’s—this is arcane interference. The ground is merging with magic. The fabric of the den... It’s aligning."

"What did you do?" Nolan demanded, eyes darting to the crystal. It glowed—first faint purple, then brimming with molten light.

Lirazel floated over the body again, whispering to the crystal. "I didn’t cause it intentionally..." she began, voice shaking. "But Yxthul’s death could have triggered it. The spike in mana, the ancestral resonance—it activated this." She held it up—dark veins lacing through it like the roots of an ancient tree. "It’s part of the Dungeon Dragon Den merge process. Ponka is destabilizing the barrier. The boundary between dimensions is... it’s collapsing."

Nolan’s brow creased. "She said it. We didn’t need a second apocalypse today."

The ballroom doors rattled as another tremor shook the city—not just the villa, but the streets below. Lanterns flickered, wine glasses danced on tables, and servants heard the quake through polished windows.

Lirazel’s smooth features twisted in sudden resolve. "We have to move—now. I can stabilize the merging. The crystal... but only if we go to Ponka’s lair quickly. If it merges before we contain it, the result... it will be impossible."

Nolan stared at her with narrowed eyes. "That dungeon is going to drop right into the city? Into the academy zone? Into—into us?"

She nodded grimly. "Yes. There is no time. This is your world’s nexus. We can shift just in time... or we get crushed."

He shook his head slowly. "You have twenty seconds to convince me this is not the worst idea of the day."

She closed her eyes and breathed. "You offered Calien and Erik—and their attendants—a future here. But this merging will undo everything: their training, the structure of the tower, the fortress they fight beneath. If we allow Ponka’s dragon den to... to merge with reality... flood into our realm... nothing will be left but chaos." Her voice cracked. "You’ve worked so hard... I know you care for them."

For a moment, Nolan said nothing. Dust fell from the ceiling. The projection of the tower trembled again, as if the mad pulse was being driven inside the walls of his mind.

"Alright," he said softly, face hardening into calm. "We’ll do it. We’ll interrupt a merging once more."

Lirazel’s hand shook, and she tucked the crystal safely inside her robe. "If we falter—if I misfire—Ponka’s dungeon could break loose. The academy, your villa, the city— Erased."

Nolan drew a long breath. "Better than letting the world come to ruin under unchecked forces. If we win, they’ll build a better tomorrow under Calien and Erik..." He looked out across the villa grounds. Flames danced from torches. Scholars and servants stared in shock.

A long silence passed.

Lirazel nodded, confirming the plan. "We move through the underground passage. The catacombs below your villa connect to the ether gate... and beneath it lies the sealed dungeon. That’s our only path."

He smiled grimly. "Let’s go break another demon den before breakfast."

They turned, stepping away from Yxthul’s corpse—left behind and forgotten as a husk on the villa’s ethereal balcony.

Outside in the city, the ground tremors continued.

Carriages rattled on the cobblestones, guards searched the skies, but did not suspect the heroes approaching below.

Their teacher and the succubus, armed with ancient crystal and dire resolve, moved with careful purpose—stopping only to secure lanterns and slip through cathedrals’ hidden passages.

As they reached the vault beneath the academy’s tower, the tremors intensified. Shadows pulsed. The walls were breathing.

Lirazel whispered a chant. The walls shimmered like rippling glass. "Be ready," she hissed.

Nolan drew his weapon. "After everything... I think I’ve still got your back."

She nodded, grim satisfaction in her eyes.

Then, a final quake—violent enough to burst the underground seals—and Lirazel surged forward, crystal glowing with spectral light.

They charged into the merging dungeon—right as reality screamed.