The Royal Knights could not hold out for long before they were defeated, with more than two-thirds of them killed or wounded.
Just then, a whistle sounded from somewhere. Thousands of black-clad figures suddenly appeared atop the hills on either side and charged down at an astonishing speed.
By then, every member of the Royal Knights had fallen, leaving only one squad leader alive.
The Soul Masters from the fifteen academies could only rely on their own strength to protect themselves.
Dazzling lights of various colors began to appear around the Soul Masters as they unleashed their Martial Souls and revealed their Soul Rings.
Although there was no coordination between the academies, each one formed its own small group. The appearance of the enemy instead stirred their fighting spirit.
Rather than retreating, they advanced. Without needing anyone to organize them, they swiftly charged toward the enemy.
Not only were they protecting themselves, but this was also a chance for real combat.
If they could survive this battle, they would benefit immensely from it.
Other than the teachers, the Soul Masters from these fifteen academies were basically between level 30 and level 45.
The vast majority had not even reached level 40.
Only Skywater Academy had an entire roster above level 40, with most of them having even broken through level 45.
They had originally been brimming with confidence, believing that their Soul Power in the thirties could play some part in this battle.
But what they had not expected was this.
Reality dealt them a crushing blow.
The students from all fifteen academies combined numbered only around two hundred.
Even including the teachers, there were no more than two hundred and fifty of them.
Yet more than a thousand black-clad figures came down from the valley.
The weakest of these