Surviving the Academy as a Third-Rate Villain in a Mech Suit

Tesline handed me the crimson bands, and as soon as I held them in my hands, I felt a faint tingling sensation run through my fingers. The system activated instantly, and a translucent window appeared in front of me, projecting a detailed description.

[-System-]

[Name: Crimson Bands]

[Bands stained with dragon's blood, these ancient and worn bands are imbued with a crimson aura that pulses as if alive. They cover the wearer's forearms and part of their hands, leaving a faint reddish trail with every movement.]

[Ability: Draconic Fury]

Your strikes against the same enemy increase the damage dealt, up to a maximum of 10%.

[Bonuses:]

[+20% melee damage]

[+10% attack speed]

[Successful hits restore 5% of your maximum health.]

[Stat Requirements:]

None.

[-System-]

[Name: Adamantine Bracers]

[Forged deep in the mountains by ancient smiths, these adamantine bracers are the last defense between the wearer and death itself.]

[Ability: Wall]

When blocking an attack, the user receives 25% less damage for 5 seconds. If you perform a perfect block, no damage is taken.

[Bonuses:]

[+15% physical damage absorption]

[+10% magical damage absorption]

[+20% resistance to altered states (poison, bleeding, and freezing)]

[+10% attack speed]

[Stat Requirements:]

STR: 50

VIT: 20

DEX: 25

As I read through the descriptions, I couldn't help but smile. This gear was practically tailor-made for someone like Tesline, whose physical strength and knack for direct combat perfectly aligned with the advantages these bracers offered.

"Well? What do they say?" Tesline asked, leaning in, eager to know how good the items were.

"For now, you can only use the Crimson Bands. The other one has higher stat requirements," I explained, handing her the bands and helping her put them on.

"Anything else I should know?" she asked, curious about the bands' benefits.

I explained their abilities and bonuses to her. While speaking, my eyes caught sight of a worn grimoire tucked into the mage's robe.

In the game, grimoires simplified powerful spells into magical glyphs, reducing the time needed to cast them.

A grimoire also allowed you to carry more spells into combat. Carefully, I picked it up, and the moment my fingers touched its surface, the grimoire began to glow with a golden light, as if awakening from a long slumber.

The cracks and damage on its cover repaired themselves before my eyes, the yellowed pages smoothed out, and the engraved title on the cover emerged clearly, "Supreme Arcana."

"Wow!" I murmured, genuinely amazed.

Tesline, who had been adjusting her bracers, looked up.

"What now?"

"Wait... let me check something." I activated the system, focusing on the grimoire I was holding. The familiar window appeared before me, and my heart leaped when I saw the results.

[-System-]

[Name: Grimoire of Arcane Knowledge]

[Quality: Legendary]

A tome containing the secrets of the most powerful mages of the ancient era. This grimoire has been enchanted with eternal restoration magic, preserving its integrity for future generations.

[Bonuses:]

[+25% magic potency]

[+15% mana regeneration]

[15% reduced spell cost]

[Access to stored spells and exclusive magic from a bygone era]

[Special Ability: Arcane Mastery]

Allows the storage and combination of spells to create unique variants.

"It's legendary!" I exclaimed, unable to contain myself.

"Legendary?" Tesline quickly approached, clearly intrigued.

"Yes! Grimoires are ranked by quality, and legendary ones are incredibly rare to obtain." I waved the grimoire in my hands, celebrating the discovery.

In the game, there were only three legendary-quality grimoires available, each requiring an extensive side quest to acquire.

Tesline gave me a slightly confused look. "Well, don't get too excited. Come help me dig a grave for those two."

The task of burying the bodies was more solemn than I had anticipated. Carefully, we dug two graves near the wall of the illuminated room, where the rays of that inexplicable light seemed to fall gently, as if the place itself blessed them with a final gesture of respect.

Tesline, her hands steady but reverent, helped place their remains with care while I handled the finishing touches. The soil was soft, almost as if it welcomed them.

When we finished, Tesline looked at me with teary eyes. "Rurik, I think you should say something. They deserve a few words."

I nodded, taking a deep breath to gather my thoughts. Though I improvised, I tried to honor their lives as best I could.

"Forgotten heroes, yet no less great for it. You lived lives full of glory, and though the world may not remember your names, those who once fought alongside you, those whose lives you saved, surely will. May your souls now rest in peace, and if there is another life, may you have the fortune to reunite for new adventures."

I paused, letting the words linger in the room. Tesline bowed her head in respect while I added in a softer tone.

"The courage and passion with which you lived your final adventure are but a reflection of the lives you led. You remind us that true greatness is not measured by how long we live, but by how we choose to live."

Tesline wiped away a tear before looking at me with a mix of curiosity and sadness. "Rurik, how do you think they ended up here?"

I turned to her, noting the emotion shining in her eyes. "It wasn't how you think, Tesline." I pulled out the journal we had found and opened it to the last page, where their final thoughts were recorded.

She watched me intently as I began to explain. "They didn't die in disgrace or forgotten by a cruel world. According to their journal, they were already old when they decided to come here."

I leaned against a wall while Tesline listened closely. "They lived lives full of glory and happiness. But fate presented them with a crossroads: one of them fell gravely ill, with little time left. Instead of waiting for the inevitable end in a healer's bed, they chose to embark on one last great adventure together."

Tesline's eyes widened, filled with emotion.

"One last adventure?" she asked softly.

"Exactly," I continued, running my fingers along the worn edge of the journal. "They followed the trail of a demon planning to gather an army. From their writings, it was a formidable enemy, but they were legendary heroes, confident they could stop it."

Tesline crossed her arms, listening intently as I recounted the story with the respect it deserved.

"The battle was brutal. They made it clear in their writings that the demon was cunning and powerful. Together, they managed to push it to a desperate state. That's when the demon unleashed its most powerful spell—a magical cocoon to absorb mana from the surroundings and reemerge stronger in the future."

I paused, letting the weight of those words sink in.

"A magical cocoon... was it indestructible?"

"To physical and magical attacks, yes. But the mage, with her ingenuity and determination, discovered something crucial. The cocoon wasn't immune to curses. So, she used a forbidden spell of corruption."

Tesline looked at me, wide-eyed. "A forbidden spell?"

"Yes." I nodded. "That spell flooded the cocoon with corrupt energy, ensuring the demon wouldn't just fail to grow stronger but would also weaken. If it ever awakens, it'll be a shadow of its former self."

Tesline processed this for a few moments before asking, "And then?"

"They climbed up to this room, exhausted but victorious, and decided to rest here. From what they wrote, they knew their lives were nearing their end, but they weren't afraid. They felt at peace, satisfied with having lived fully and faced one last challenge together."

I closed the journal carefully and placed it near the graves. "From what I can deduce, they passed away in their sleep—peacefully and without pain."

I looked at Tesline, expecting her reaction. To my surprise, tears ran down her cheeks, but there was a serene smile on her face.

"It's beautiful," she said, quickly wiping her eyes. "They lived a life any adventurer would dream of—glory, strength, and, in the end, a final adventure worth remembering."

"It's true," I agreed, sharing her emotion.

She gazed at the freshly covered graves with a longing expression. "Rurik... someday, when my time comes, I hope I can die like them—after living a full life, with glory, happiness, and someone by my side to share it with."

Her sincerity moved me. I didn't respond at first, letting the moment speak for itself. Finally, I placed a hand on her shoulder.

"If we keep doing what we're doing, I'm sure we can live a life like that. It won't be easy, but that's what makes it worthwhile, don't you think?"

She nodded, taking one last look at the graves. Together, we made sure the place was in perfect condition before gathering our belongings and preparing to move on.

After covering the graves with soil and letting the spell's flowers decorate the site, I found myself staring at the grimoire I had discovered among the mage's belongings.

It was hard not to admire it. Every page was restored as if untouched by time, and the intricate magical diagrams seemed to shimmer under the dungeon's dim light.

My eyes settled on one spell in particular: Eternal Bloomfield. According to its description, it was an enchantment meant to honor the dead or beautify special places.

"This will be perfect for them," I murmured, though Tesline seemed lost in her thoughts.

Taking a deep breath, I grabbed my staff and began studying the glyph. It was complex, with interwoven lines and curves seemingly designed to confuse.

After a few minutes, my hands moved on their own, tracing the patterns in the air with precision. I felt the magic flow from within me, gathering into the symbol now floating before me like a luminous figure.

"Florem Eternae!" I recited firmly as the glyph completed.

The ground around the graves began to glow softly. Flowers of every color emerged as if they had always been there, covering the freshly turned soil in a vibrant blanket.

The air filled with a sweet, serene fragrance. Even the dungeon's oppressive atmosphere seemed to lift.

"It's beautiful, Rurik," Tesline said, stepping up beside me. Her tone was soft, almost wistful. "I think they would have liked it."

I nodded, observing the result with satisfaction. "It was the least I could do for them."

Tesline crossed her arms, glancing around as if searching for something else. Then she looked directly at me. "Alright, now that we're done here, how are we getting out of this dungeon?"

I pulled out two small white stones from my pocket, faintly glowing. I held them in my palm for her to see.

"These are return stones. They'll transport us directly to the dungeon entrance."

She raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "That sounds... convenient. Why not use them already?"

I carefully put the stones away before responding. "Because there's something else I want to do before we leave."

Tesline tilted her head, frowning. "Something else?"

I looked at her, trying to gauge my words. "There's an optional boss in this dungeon. If we do everything right, we can defeat it easily. But... if we fail, we'll be in serious trouble."

Her expression shifted from curiosity to bewilderment, then to concern. "And couldn't we just use the return stones if things go south?"

"We could," I admitted, "but it'd be a missed opportunity. If we beat it, we'll get a significant reward and level up much faster."

Tesline started pacing in circles, clearly debating with herself. Finally, she stopped in front of me, her eyes shining with determination.

"Alright. Let's face it. But you'd better have a solid plan, Rurik. If anything goes wrong, I'm using that return stone before you can blink."

I couldn't help but chuckle softly. "Don't worry. If all goes well, we'll have enough experience to rank up at the guild."

With the matter decided, we began preparing. I reviewed my grimoire one last time, ensuring I understood every spell that could be useful. Meanwhile, Tesline adjusted her gloves with metal claws, her movements calm but resolute.

The field of flowers glowed faintly behind us, a reminder of what we'd promised—to honor the lives of those fallen heroes while continuing our own journey.

We approached the boss's door slowly. The air was thick with tension, and each step echoed on the metallic platform beneath our feet.

This wasn't an ordinary fight. The boss beyond wasn't an enemy we could confront head-on, at least not with our current capabilities.

I turned to Tesline, a mix of confidence and concern in my voice. "Before we go in, let me explain the plan."

She crossed her arms, looking at me expectantly. "This better be good."

"The boss room is a suspended platform," I began. "Below us is a body of water that seems bottomless. The boss is a living suit of armor, massive, wielding a sword proportional to its size. We can't defeat it in direct combat. But... we can use the room's structure to our advantage."

Tesline frowned, clearly intrigued but not entirely convinced. "And what's the plan?"

"We'll wait for it to take seven steps toward us. Its weight is such that each step makes the platform tremble. Once it takes the seventh step, we'll rush forward to provoke it. The boss will try to strike us with its sword. When it does, it'll lose its balance due to the weight of its attack and fall into the water. And with that, we'll have technically defeated it."

There was an awkward silence as she processed my words. Then she sighed, rubbing her face. "Rurik... that's the dumbest plan I've ever heard. You're supposed to be the smart one here."

"I am," I replied, with a smile meant to be reassuring. "Trust me. It'll work."

She stared at me incredulously for a few more seconds before finally nodding. "You'd better be right. This is going to be ridiculous."

"Don't worry your little head; this will work," I said, trying to sound confident. Then I added, "Give me a few minutes before we go in."

Tesline nodded and leaned against the wall, probably thinking of how she'd remind me of this if something went wrong. Meanwhile, I stepped away into a corner and called the system in my mind.

The system responded immediately, displaying a glowing panel in front of me. Two notifications caught my attention.

[-System-]

[Secret mission completed: "Inherit the Will of the Fallen."]

[Reward: 1 skill point.]

[Secret mission completed: "Fearless Adventurer."]

[Reward: 1 skill point.]

My eyes lit up as I read the details. With these, I now had three skill points—a great reward, especially at such a critical moment. Wasting no time, I opened the skill menu and directed those points toward my freezing spell.

[Spell: Freezing - Level: 4]

[Description: Envelops enemies in ice, immobilizing them and causing continuous damage.]

{Damage per second: 250}

{Duration: 8 s}

{Casting range: 10 m}

{Cost: 150 MP}

{Cooldown: 30 s}

I allowed myself a smile as I closed the menu. This new level would make a big difference if anything went wrong with our plan. Although my main goal remained to avoid direct confrontation, it was always good to have an ace up my sleeve.

I returned to Tesline, who looked at me with a mix of impatience and curiosity.

"Ready to put your brilliant idea into action?"

"More than ready," I replied, opening the door decisively.

The boss's chamber was just as I remembered it from the map. A massive metal platform extended before us, suspended over an abyss filled with dark water that seemed endless. In the center of the circular platform, the boss awaited—a massive suit of armor, shrouded in a dark aura, wielding a sword as tall as I was. Its eyes glowed a fierce red, watching us as if it already knew our intentions.

"There it is," I said quietly, pointing it out.

Tesline glanced at it, then back at me.

"That monster is huge. Your plan better work."

"It will," I assured her. "Just remember to count its steps and move at the right moment. Trust me."

She sighed as I climbed onto her back.

"I don't really have a choice, do I?"

I shook my head, and together we stepped forward. The living armor rose with a heavy, menacing motion.

Each step echoed like thunder on the metal platform, shaking everything around us. Tesline and I counted silently, hearts pounding. One... two... three... Each step brought us closer to the critical moment.

When it reached the seventh step, Tesline gave me a quick glance and, without waiting for my signal, darted to one side, slipping nimbly past the massive armor.

The creature reacted almost instantly, twisting its torso with surprising speed to attempt a horizontal slash with its enormous sword.

The blade tore through the air with a deafening roar but missed Tesline. The armor, unable to stop its own momentum, lost balance and ended up falling toward the edge of the platform.

The impact resonated loudly as one of its hands managed to grab the edge, preventing its fall into the abyss.

"Don't tell me it can climb back up!" Tesline exclaimed, preparing to attack if necessary.

"We won't let it," I responded, raising my staff. With a blue flash, I cast my Freezing spell, covering it with a thick layer of ice.

"Tesline, finish it!" I shouted.

Without hesitation, Tesline leaped forward. Her clawed gloves, the Crimson Bands, ignited with an intense red energy. As they struck the frozen hand of the armor, they left a red dragon-shaped trail that seemed to roar before fading.

The blow was devastating. The metallic fingers released their grip on the platform, and the armor finally fell into the abyss.

The sound of its fall was muffled by the dark water, leaving an almost solemn silence in the room. Tesline and I exchanged a look before letting out a small laugh, a mix of relief and satisfaction.

"I can't believe that worked," Tesline said, wiping sweat from her forehead.

"I told you," I replied, trying to sound confident, though I had been on the verge of panic myself.

We approached the center of the platform to check our bracelets and see the results. The system flickered before me, displaying a bright notification.

[Name: Rurik] - [Level 10]

-> Vitality: 15

(HP: 715)

(Reg: 5.5 s)

-> Mind: 15

(Mana: 395)

(Reg: 5 s)

-> Strength: 7

-> Dexterity: 5

-> Intelligence: 40

-> Defense: 0

[+5 Stat Points]

Tesline asked to see my stats again. I showed her the changes, and her expression shifted upon seeing my defense still at zero.

"Zero defense?" she exclaimed, surprised. "You're not planning to raise it?"

"I tried, but it won't let me," I replied, wallowing in my misery.

"That's strange. I think we should figure out what's going on," she said. She had a point.

"Can I see your stats?" I asked to check her growth.

[Name: Tesline Koizumi] - [Level 15]

-> Vitality: 15

(HP: 650)

(Reg: 4.85 s)

-> Mind: 12

(Mana: 300)

(Reg: 4.25 s)

-> Strength: 21

-> Dexterity: 21

-> Intelligence: 9

-> Defense: 17

[+7 Stat Points]

"Level 15?" Tesline exclaimed, raising her hands in triumph. "This was much more effective than I expected."

"And I made it to level 10," I responded with a smile. "I think this was a great success."

"Sure, though it's still the stupidest plan I've ever heard," she added with a laugh.

"The point is, this mess is over," I replied, joining her laughter.

After ensuring there were no more surprises in the room, we decided to use the white stones to return to the dungeon's entrance. Tesline looked at them curiously as I explained how they worked.

"So, how do we use them?" she asked.

"We destroy them, and they'll take us back to the entrance," I replied.

"Ready to go back?" I asked.

"Definitely. I've had enough of suspended platforms and living bosses for one day," she answered with a tired smile.

We both broke the stones simultaneously, and in an instant, a glow enveloped the room. I felt a slight tug, as if space itself contracted around us, and when I opened my eyes, we were back at the dungeon entrance. The fresh air was a welcome change after so many hours underground.

"I never thought I'd be so glad to see the moonlight again," Tesline said, stretching as her gaze wandered to the nearby forest.

I nodded, letting the warm evening light wash over my face. I pulled out the watch I had carefully kept in my belt.

"Time to leave in style," I said, lifting the watch to summon my armor.

"This always impresses me," Tesline commented, stepping closer.

I climbed in first, setting my feet aside from the weapons we had gathered in the dungeon. I extended my hand to Tesline, who took it and jumped nimbly into the cockpit beside me. The controls lit up at my touch.

"Ready?" I asked, adjusting the levers and ensuring everything was in order.

"Of course," Tesline replied with a mocking laugh.

With a soft hum, the feet of the mechanical armor lifted off the ground and propelled us forward. We left the dungeon entrance behind—a decision I realized was a mistake for not attempting to conceal it.