My Borderline Supervillain-Slash-Hero System
Chapter 82 Hunt in the Shadows

Chapter 82: Chapter 82 Hunt in the Shadows

Deep within the dense southern forests of the Fresher Meet Village, a white-masked woman flew through the air like a streak of light.

She was Kora Veyne, one of the Deans of the Academy.

Behind her, a dozen figures in senior student uniforms pursued at high speed, relentless in their chase.

Kora glanced over her shoulder.

They were still on her trail.

Her eyes narrowed as her gaze fell on the black burn mark marring her right arm.

"The reports in the Academy were wrong," she muttered through clenched teeth.

"That kid Shelby... he’s more troublesome than anyone imagined."

She clicked her tongue in frustration and increased her speed, cutting through the wind.

"I saw through his cultivation level. I should’ve overwhelmed him with just a puff of my mana," she continued angrily.

"But he blocked my punch. Blocked it! I’m a Dean, damn it, and he’s still a student!"

Her voice trembled with disbelief. The memory of their clash replayed in her mind.

"Everyone keeps calling him a genius. Sure, I see it now—but that skill... what was that? There’s no record of anything like it in the Academy. A technique that amplifies his power by leaps? It makes no sense."

She darted between the treetops, trying to shake the pursuit—but no matter how fast she moved, they stayed close.

And then it clicked.

Her eyes widened.

"Shit... I should’ve known!"

She cursed aloud, furious with herself.

"There’s a Manahound among them. That’s why they’re tailing me so accurately!"

Kora’s eyes narrowed in determination.

"Fine. If they’re tracking my mana, then I just have to disappear."

She dove downward and landed lightly on a thick, high branch, her white mask catching a glint of moonlight.

Without wasting a second, she formed a series of intricate hand seals, her lips moving in low, practiced whispers.

"Chimaeric Camouflage Technique!"

A shimmer of distortion washed over her body. Her figure vanished—sight, sound, scent, and all.

But she wasn’t done.

She continued weaving her hands, even more rapidly now, channeling mana into another spell.

"Mana Shroud Spell!"

A veil of invisible energy wrapped around her, cutting off the residual mana signature that could betray her location.

Her presence—physical and magical—faded into the forest like mist into night.

Half an hour later, the senior students arrived at the very spot Kora had landed.

They halted mid-air.

The one leading them, a sharp-eyed youth named Christopher, raised a clenched fist.

Everyone stopped immediately.

Kora, concealed within the branches nearby, watched them with cautious eyes.

She held her breath, observing each of their faces.

Vann Hooper, the squad leader, called out from behind.

"What is it, Christopher?"

"I’ve lost the assailant’s mana trail," Christopher reported, frowning deeply. "It completely vanished at this location."

"That’s not possible," Vann Hooper growled, crossing his arms. "Everyone—even rejects—release traces of mana unconsciously. Only the dead don’t leak mana. Something’s off here. Try your skill again."

Christopher nodded and complied, hands already forming seals. But Vann’s last comment gnawed at him.

He paused, then turned slightly and corrected gently, "Captain, that theory was disproven over a decade ago by Dr. S. Manroe. He wrote that even the dead release a unique residue known as ’Death Mana’."

Vann glared at him. "You know what, Christopher? Nobody likes a smart-ass. So try not to be one."

He gave Christopher a light slap on the back and added, "Why don’t you use that brilliant brain of yours and crack this situation instead? Do your goddamn job, Chris."

Christopher adjusted his glasses—an old nervous habit—and forced a smile. "Right. On it, sir."

He proceeded to cycle through his full arsenal of mana-tracking spells, layer after layer of sigils pulsing into the night air. The rest of the squad hovered silently in tense anticipation.

Finally, he let out a frustrated breath and turned to Vann. "It’s a dead end, Cap. There’s nothing else I can do."

Vann narrowed his eyes. "You got no other way? No tricks left?"

"I’m sorry. I’ve exhausted every tracking method I know. My only guess is... the assailant used a forbidden spell to completely erase or suppress their mana signature. It’s beyond what I or anyone here can detect. Either that—or they escaped using a high-grade teleportation spell."

Sighs of frustration spread through the team.

"This is bad, Cap," said Boris Veyloris, one of the brawnier team members, stepping forward. "We’ve never botched a mission like this before. What now?"

"Obviously," Vann replied, exhaling slowly, "we abort. While we’re out here chasing shadows, the Fresher Meet Village is left wide open."

Boris clenched his fists, clearly displeased. "An assailant attacking a registered student this close to the village? Whoever it is, they’ve got guts. No one in Artemis would risk that unless they’re with the Villain factions."

He clicked his tongue in frustration. "Shelby filed this as a legit protection request. Put a hefty contribution into our mission fund too. And now we’re standing here like idiots. This is a screw-up—big time."

As the first complaints surfaced, Joanna Marrowind, the round and always-grumbling team member, jumped in. "Tch. What a letdown. I thought we’d get to stretch a little. Instead, we’re playing hide-and-seek. Honestly, I’m starting to think someone here just isn’t pulling their weight anymore..."

He glanced sideways at Christopher with a sly smirk.

Christopher’s eyes twitched. "Fatty, don’t push me. Want a beating?"

Joanna gasped in mock terror. "Ooooh, I’m sooo scared~"

Just as the two were about to launch into a full verbal brawl, Vann exploded.

"Enough!" he barked. "You two—shut up."

He pointed at each of them in turn. "Congratulations. You’re both on kitchen duty for two months. You’ll cook, clean, and polish boots until your egos shrink back to human size."

Joanna groaned. "Seriously?"

Christopher mumbled under his breath, "Unbelievable..."

Ignoring them, Vann addressed the rest of the group. "Alright, listen up. We’re pulling out. If the higher-ups want someone to blame, I’ll take full responsibility."

And in his mind, he added: After all, I’m the Captain.

One by one, the team flew off into the night, leaving the forest behind.

Vann remained for a moment longer. He turned his gaze toward the trees, eyes narrowed.

"Consider this your lucky day," he shouted into the darkness. "Next time you come near the village, I’ll be ready."

With that, he leapt into the air and vanished into the skies.