Ch. 38 - A Disaster Sparked by This Year’s Top Student

As I hung up the phone, a weight lifted from my chest. That was the kind of security Bai Yu brought.

Knowing she was on her way, I felt my panic ease. The battle’s aftershocks still rumbled outside, but I could finally sit down and catch my breath.

I even straightened the bread baskets, which had tipped over from the tremors.

Meanwhile, the sky had become a standoff between two factions. But this wasn’t some calm debate.

Spells clashed and canceled each other out in bursts of light. One wrong move and you’d be swallowed by a terrifying blast.

Of course, the fight wasn’t just magical. Trash talk was flying too—insults were as much a part of the battle as the spells.

“Last chance—hand over Tan Han!” 

That line came up a lot, shouted by the leader of the San Angel School group.

Their voice was hard to pin as male or female. They looked vaguely feminine, but their flat chest told a different story.

San Angel School students hovered in midair, white wings spread wide but not flapping. Clearly, their flight had little to do with aerodynamics—those wings were more for show.

What stood out more were the massive, glowing wing projections behind them, radiating holy energy. White feathers drifted down from the air.

They even had faint halos above their heads, pulsing with sacred power that seemed to boost their strength.

“Pfft, you couldn’t even snatch her yourself, so you gang up and crash our academy? What, dying to join the Witch School?” The Witch School’s leader, a senior, fired back with a mocking edge, her voice dripping with sarcasm. Her jab got a wave of laughter from the other seniors.

The loudest cackle came from none other than Xia Li, the bakery’s manager.

If Ying Shiqian hadn’t been holding her back, Xia Li might’ve doubled over. She loved watching San Angel School eat dirt.

As for the Witch School’s Dome being shattered? No big deal. It got busted every couple of years for one reason or another. They were used to it—it could be fixed.

But luring these hotheaded San Angel School kids onto Witch School turf? Oh, they weren’t leaving unscathed.

Xia Li was practically itching to snap a few of those birdbrains’ wings. If she didn’t, she’d probably lose sleep over it.

The way things were going, a full-on brawl was seconds away. And the ones who should be scared now? Definitely not the Witch School crew.

San Angel School—and the Sorcerer School students tagging along for the show—were in over their heads. Watching the chaos was gonna cost them.

They seemed to realize it too, but as the saying goes, the arrow’s nocked, and it’s gotta fly. They’d thrown out their threats and glares—might as well go down swinging. Worst case, they’d respawn, right?

After all, the person they were supposed to protect—this year’s top student—had already been snatched.

The kidnapper was Xia Li, the Witch School’s infamous wildcard. She wasn’t the strongest, but she was ruthless, especially when it came to San Angel School. If she got a chance to mess with them, she took it.

A real menace. Everyone feared her, especially her red velvet cakes.

They were delicious, famous even, but at San Angel School? They were a cursed taboo.

Nobody dared sell them there anymore.

If someone at San Angel School got sent a slice of red velvet cake, they’d be crying with nowhere to turn. That stuff was pricey—worth as much as a resurrection spell!

This time, while escorting Tan Han, the San Angel School students received an entire red velvet cake. The moment they saw it, their hair stood on end—and then Xia Li pulled a fast one.

Now Tan Han was in Witch School’s hands. A whole person, snatched. Getting her back? Pretty much a pipe dream.

When they slunk back to San Angel School, they became the talk of the campus—and not in a good way. They botched it big time, especially after swearing they’d pull it off.

So, the easiest way out? “Die and respawn.” What better way to brush off a failure than a dramatic sacrifice?

For senior students, dying and reviving weren’t a big deal.

They gave it their all and paid with their lives. Even if people talked, they wouldn't be too harsh.

That was why they stayed there, slugging it out. One side was ready to throw punches, the other was ready to take them.

Back in the bakery, the glass door swung open, and a familiar figure hurried inside.

“Bai Yu, over here!” I called, waving eagerly.

“Yuehan!” She zeroed in on my voice and rushed over. “You okay? No injuries?”

“All good, don’t worry,” I said, warmed by her concern.

She grabbed my wrist, checked me over for scratches or bruises, then sat down next to me, relieved. “As long as you’re not hurt.”

“So, Yuehan, what made you pick this place for a job?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.

“It’s close to my dorm, and the pay’s awesome!” I blurted out. Those two reasons were plenty, right?

“Yuehan, if you need cash, I can hook you up with some solid gigs,” she said, her tone serious. “Do you even know what this bakery’s really about?”

“No need to trouble you, Bai Yu. I’m actually pretty happy here. Plus, free food! And yeah, I got a rough idea about the shop. The seniors aren’t exactly hiding anything. I know enough, and I’m cool with it.”

I gave her a reassuring smile. I knew Bai Yu was just worried about me, but I wasn’t fazed.

The chaos outside was proof enough—danger was everywhere. I couldn’t just duck and hide because this job might stir up trouble.

I already dipped my toes into the world of transcendence, and one day, I’d wield that power myself. I’d use it to protect myself.

Being overly sheltered wouldn’t do me any good. It’d just breed weakness. I knew where I stood—near the bottom of the pack. If I kept coasting like this, I might not even graduate.

And I was dead set on graduating from the Witch School.

I wanted to become a transcendence witch, to chase a higher world—even if I didn’t yet know what “transcendence” fully meant or if that higher world even existed.

Didn’t matter. I set that goal right there, right then.

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