Inside the underground laboratory, the number of participants was quickly dwindling in numbers.

In the beginning, there were about two hundred of them, including their close friends and family members, but now, only a couple of dozen remained.

Adam had been contiously supplying mana to the teleportation portal, and swifty transporting the Magi to his underground vault in Saratoga.

If not for his vast mana reserves—thanks to forming a familiar bond with Valerian—he would have long since run out of energy.

But still, having to activate the teleportation portal for an extended period of time was depleting his mana at a very quick rate.

It had to be known that the teleportation portal was a result of the Rank 4 Spell: Dimensional Door. Thus, the mana consumption for its continued activation was enormous.

Yet, it had to be done.

The safety of these contestants took precedence above all else. Perhaps… even his own well-being.

As the young Magi, all of them showing a mixture of concern and gratitude on their faces, continued to be drowned by the resplendent light of the teleportation portal, Adam couldn't help but wonder:

Since when did I start putting others' lives before mine?

This was a sudden relization that startled him greatly. Unbeknownst to him, it had sort of become a his life's mission to deliver these Magi to safety.

Would the old Adam ever do such a thing?

He did not know.

The raven-haired youth continued down his train of thought, his dark eyes distant as ever.

Sending two hundred people to Saratoga through the portal will consume a large chunk of my mana reserves.

And then, I even have to fight against the cultists… and who knows what else they've planned for the city.

The future is uncertain and full of risks, and yet I…

His thoughts came to an abrupt halt when a couple of children ran towards him and gave him a hug. He was quite tall, so the kids ended up hugging his legs instead.

They looked up with teary eyes and said:

"Thank you, Dark King!"

"You… you won't leave us right?"

Adam was momentarily startled.

Michael's boys, he thought.

He forced out a smile, then fondly rubbed their heads. "Of course! I'll be there right after you."

"Promise?"

The younger one, Joseph, asked as he held out his pinky.

Adam hooked his pinky finger with the boy's and smiled gently as he lied, "I promise."

He then nodded at Michael and sent the family away. One by one, the contestants stepped on the portal and disappeared. The adults were under the influence of Compel, so most of them teleported away without any resistance.

The ones with more mental resilience struggled slightly, but in the end, they, too, were sent away.

At the same time, Adam also made sure to observe the progress of the battle above ground through his Sphere of Resonance.

Things were…

Not looking so good.

He was deeply surprised by the Professor's magical prowess. Unlike him, who favored close combat battles and a blend of mana combat techniques and spells, the elderly woman fought exclusively from afar, wielding a vast arsenal of powerful spells.

Moreover, she also had the assistance of a large number of mysterious creatures from the Spirit World, making her fighting style even more versatile and unpredictable

She had already dealt with over a dozen Mana Liquefaction Magi and a Mana Vortex-level beast. Now, she was preventing a small army of Magi led by a handful of Mana Vortex Magi from entering the manor.

It had already been close to ten minutes since their battle had started, and until now, she hadn't received a single scratch on her body. She used defensive spells ingeniously and attacked in a timely manner, dealing the greatest damage with minimal effort.

However, Adam could tell that her mana reserves were rapidly decreasing.

He had almost never had to worry about his mana reserves, but the vast majority of Magi had to. Mana was a precious resource, and especially so during battles.

If casting spells and utilizing mana combat techniques were considered important, then the circulation of mana and its efficient expenditure could be considered equally important.

Not everyone was blessed with vast mana reserves like Adam, let alone Edward.

Most Magi had to consciously ration their mana, ensuring not a single drop went to waste, for their very lives depended on it.

And now… so did Mathilda Whitaker's.

Damn it, just a little more…

Adam gritted his teeth, his heart beating rapidly. There were only a few more contestants left. It would take about a minute, at most, to teleport them away.

But would Professor Whitaker survive that long?

Hold on just a—

Suddenly, Adam's pupils constricted when he saw the Mana Vortex Magi come together to pool their mana, then summon a ghastly abomination.

Adam had fought a similar creature back in the coastal waters of Blackshore, but this one…

This one was bigger and stronger than the one he'd fought!

In that moment, Adam weaved a simple hand seal and sent a mental message through Mind Whisper.

This was not an opponent that Professor Whitaker could fight. She was already so dangerously low on mana. There was absolutely no way she could survive even a single attack from the colossal abomination.

"Quick! Hurry!" Adam roared, his expression darkening by the moment.

The contestants flinched at his grave expression, but they quickened their pace. One by one, they stepped onto the portal, vanishing in bursts of light.

Suddenly, the sound of lightning echoed in the laboratory. A brilliant flash lit up in the chamber, and Professor Whitaker appeared out of nowhere.

Her knees buckled at once, but before she could collapse, Adam was already at her side, catching her.

The elderly woman glanced at Adam with a pale face and whispered, "We need to… leave."

Adam said with a gentle smile, "Of course. I was waiting for you."

As he led her to the portal, she muttered weakly, "That thing… I don't know how they created such a monstrosity, but Adam, you… you cannot fight it. You must leave with me this instant."

Adam remained silent. He gently placed her on the portal, then instructed the last couple of people to stand with her.

He looked at the elderly woman and smiled, "I know. I'll be right there... I promise."

Before Professor Whitaker could even protest, a brilliant light engulfed her along with the final batch of contestants. In the next instant, they were all gone.

Adam's smile gradually faded. He looked down at the glowing runic formation for a brief moment, then lifted his foot and…

Destroyed the portal.

He then summoned the Staff of Calamity. The moment it appeared, the entire manor violently shuddered. And then…

It all came crashing down on him.

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