While Hayatobi and his two monstrous students were carving out their territories in the deadly Valley of Death, a disturbance of a different nature was unfolding back at the academy grounds.
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[Academy Grounds]
"What is that?!"
Carl asked, breaking his concentration as he stared at the heavily armored, pitch-black carriage smoothly gliding inside the academy through the open main gate. There wasn't a coachman holding the reins, nor were there any horses or spirit beasts pulling it. It was simply moving on its own, propelled by dense, unseen runic arrays etched into its obsidian chassis.
The sudden appearance of the strange, autonomous carriage instantly confused all the students.
At the main administrative building, Elder Lady Gaga and Elder Merlot slowly walked out of the academy's grand double doors. They stood firmly in front of the entrance, their expressions grave as they stared at the carriage steadily moving towards them.
