[@Estylwen][@Psyker Landshark][@ERode][@AThousandCurses][@Sifr]

[b][h3]ASCENDIA, ROOM 103 FOUNTAIN[/h3][/b]

The screams of people rang out across the forest as the makeshift swamp grew. They continued to move even as they sank, doing their best to wade through, but all eventually succumbed. Even as this occurred, more clusters of approaching farmers and knights moved in from farther out, from what Chunji could see. As he peered into the leyline itself, deep beneath his feet, it would at first appear to be a mass of writhing plants flowing through the very ground as if liquified. As his eyes would take in more of the scenery, however, something much more illogical would begin to form: a small village. It was lit ablaze, a sea of crimson burning the crops and forcing people from their homes. These people fled, only to be cut down by an individual cloaked in shadows, the blood of countless victims coating the massive greataxe this obscured executioner wielded.

It was impossible, as it appeared to be a bird's eye view of this situation from above, and yet it was underground within the leyline's roots. A vision or memory was the most likely reason, projected from inside the leyline's core as a result of mixed essences from the instructor and the primal powers he had temporarily merged with. Regardless, it would seem to repeat this scene after a while, were Chunji to keep looking. One thing would be clear, however: the clothing and general looks of these people being cut down appeared very similar to that of the people that wandered from out in the forest.

As rain fell heavy upon the smoldering marshlands, slowly but surely the embers would fade out. Chloe grit her teeth and let loose pained growls as her index finger slowly dug past the gap in Alto's barrier, giving it her all just to merely make contact with his Adam's apple, just to graze him long enough to age him - even two or three decades would do, if only to receive the satisfaction of seeing greying hairs or a receding hairline. Even as her clothes tattered and her barrier broke down further and further, she needed to just [i]poke[/i] him!

Her vision tunneled, focused solely on this one task, not realizing the sword raised to be brought down upon her in another blink, Alto's eyes sternly focused on her as if seeing a challenger to be incapacitated rather than a student to be taught. Even as the flames dimmed from the downpour, a swing of steel alone would be enough to shatter Chloe's defenses at that point.

[i]Ting.[/i]

In the next instant, the professor's weapon was flung aside, landing halfway into a nearby mud puddle. At the exact same time, the pink half-elf was tackled away. As if on a whim, the remaining embers and heat in the area that fought against the rain all subsided at once. Alto's eyes met Iraleth's as she made her statement, and it was as if a spell was broken on the man, recognition returning to his gaze. He'd nod his head, raising both of his hands in surrender. "Right. It's a win for you guys, you punched a hole in my PB." 

His demeanor had shifted once again, returning to how he appeared before the overcharge, his shoulders sunk low in relaxation. "I thought it'd be a lot to ask for day one, but you all pulled through. Nice work." His tone was casual, his disregard for the heat of prior seconds made apparent in his unsympathetic yet vaguely proud expression.

Chloe, meanwhile, struggled against Ciara. "Let me go! I was almost able to [i]really[/i] teach him a lesson. Then he'd learn not to take us so lightly." Her frustration shone through plain as day, her desire for vengeance obvious. Rio stumbled over bruised and muddy and looked at Ciara, perhaps for the first time, and let out a small smirk. "Thanks for that. I'd have done it myself, but apparently I overestimated where I stand in comparison to our 'amazing' instructor."

He'd then look down at Chloe, who by now had stopped flailing and instead elected to sigh and pout as rain fell upon her unsatisfied glare at Rio. "Don't act like you were really gonna do somethin'. Another second and you were in for a week in the infirmary in the best case scenario," was all the muddy leather boy would respond with.

All at once, the screams from further out in the forest would stop. Were Chunji to look, he would witness all of the nameless shamblers vanish into thin air. Alto would clap his hands together three times above his head as he looked out amongst his students with a glint of satisfaction. "We've about run out of time, and this leyline's been spent for now! Recover your Personal Barriers and prepare for re-entry into the school building. Compact 3 has claimed victory in this introductory lesson to survival, and so when we get back, you're all getting a big pizza party! Later, anyway." The last line was said under his breath, but Iraleth would, at least, be close enough to hear.

Almost everything appeared to wrap up in a neat little bow, with one exception - Davil was nowhere to be found. It was unknown exactly when, but at some point during the chaos of the battle's final moments, the boy had vanished. Even with a scan of the area through Chunji's eyes, the winged Wund wouldn't be visible. Even so, Alto appeared not to realize this, and had slowly begun the process of ending the overcharge...