Daigo and his team are en route to escort the elder to his destination. Along the way, Amelia initiates a conversation with Baek Ji-soo about her father,
"Hey, Ji-soo, you are Baek Sa-on's daughter, right? she asked.
"Yes, why do you ask?" Ji-so responds with evident confusion.
"Nothing in particular; I simply want to speak with you. I find myself somewhat interested in you," Amelia states unexpectedly.
"Whoa, chill, Amelia, I'm not swinging that way, alright," Ji-soo responds defensively.
Amelia burst out laughing after hearing Ji-soo's reply.
"Hahahaha, no, I didn't mean it that way,"
"I mean that I am interested in becoming your friend," Amelia states, attempting to restrain her laughter.
In the meantime, Adeyemi Obi asks Wyatt a question,
"Wyatt, how do you become so big like this? Look at your muscle, it's as hard as a rock!" Adeyemi ask Wyatt while in awe of his physique.
"I think it's mostly genetics, but I also train a lot running, lifting rocks, swimming, stuff like that," Wyatt says with a proud grin.
Everyone was in a good mood and enjoying the walk while still looking after the elder. But all of a sudden, the elder halted and sat down in the middle of the walk.
"Everyone, stop!" Daigo called out to the group.
"Sir—" Adeyemi blurted out instinctively.
"Sheesh! Adeyemi, don't talk to him, we're not allowed to, remember?" Daigo said as he quickly covered Adeyemi's mouth with his hand.
Daigo intervened when Adeyemi tried to question the elder, since communication with the elder was not permitted before arriving at the destination.
They were required to wait until the elder decided to resume walking. During this pause, Adeyemi heard footsteps approaching from the bushes and said,
"Guys, looks like something's coming. Get ready!"
Daigo drew his sword as the others got ready to cast their enchantments.
Out of nowhere, a sharp dagger came flying straight at Ji-soo, but Wyatt jumped in front of her and took the hit.
"Look out!" Wyatt yelled, throwing himself in front of Ji-soo.
"Ahh—motherf— that hurt so bad," Wyatt groaned after being struck by the dagger.
"Wyatt, are you okay? Why would you do that for me?" Ji-soo asked with a worried expression.
"I'm not sure… I just acted on instinct and jumped in front of you."
"Also, I'd rather take the hit than see you get hurt," Wyatt said, meeting Ji-soo's gaze.
Everyone was worried about Wyatt as the dagger was lodged deep in his back. While the others tried to help him, Daigo sensed movement in the bushes and swung his sword blindly toward them.
"Hiyah! Take this!" Daigo yelled, slashing forward.
After swinging his sword, Daigo felt something grab his left leg. He looked down in shock and saw sharp chains wrapped around it.
"What is this thing? Where did this chain come from?" Daigo shouted, panic creeping into his voice.
After everything that happened, the villain finally stepped out of hiding. He wore a black suit and a red glove and said,
"Don't move. If you move even an inch, you can say goodbye to your left leg," the villain said, smirking at Daigo.
He then introduced himself to the team, explaining his reasons for attacking them.
"My name is Zuma. I'm an assassin, and I'm being ordered to kill one of you. Guess who—hahahaha!" Zuma laughed menacingly.
Daigo, filled with rage, was about to lunge with his sword when Amelia shouted at him.
"Don't move, Daigo! You can't risk losing your leg!"
Daigo stopped when he heard Amelia. He hesitated, lowering his sword instead of striking Zuma.
Watching them tremble in fear, Zuma burst into louder laughter and slowly eased his grip on the chain in his hand. Ji-soo caught the moment and silently started her enchantment.
Go! Rope of hope!" she yelled as she hurled her water magic, forming it into a rope aimed at the chain in Zuma's hand.
"Got it! Daigo, move—now!" Ji-soo shouted as she pulled the chain away.
The moment Ji-soo pulled the chain away, Daigo charged at Zuma with a scream,
"Electric Wave!"
"Oh, shoot!" Zuma cursed as the chain was yanked from his grasp.
Zuma was paralysed for a moment, giving Daigo the opening to swing his sword with full force—but just before it connected, someone intervened and saved him.
"Stop messing around! They might be kids, but they're still Noveum Academy students, you idiot!" the mysterious man shouted at Zuma.
The mysterious figure quickly dragged Zuma out of danger and said,
"Guys, we're gonna take our leave now. See you again," the mysterious man said before running off with Zuma slung over his shoulder.
Just as Daigo moved to pursue them, Amelia stopped him and said,
"Daigo, stop. Wyatt needs help first. He's bleeding a lot," Amelia said anxiously.
Daigo stopped, lifted Wyatt onto his back, and rushed back toward the academy as fast as he could. Wyatt was already starting to lose consciousness from all the blood he had lost.
"Wyatt, hang in there, alright! Everything's going to be fine," Daigo said, trying to comfort him.
Adeyemi asked what would happen to the mission and the elder.
"What do we do now? What about the old man?!"
"This is an emergency. Wyatt comes first, we'll just bring the elder with us," Daigo said firmly.
After the exhausting and painful run to the academy, the team finally felt some relief as Wyatt was rushed into the academy's emergency room.
A short while later, Bastian rushed in with a worried look and asked what happened.
"What happened? Why is Wyatt covered in blood like that?!" Bastian yelled, clearly panicked.
Out of nowhere, Baek Ji-soo stepped forward and blamed herself.
"It's me… I'm the reason Wyatt ended up like this," Ji-soo said, guilt written all over her face.
"What?!" Bastian exclaimed in confusion.
Daigo intervened and told Bastian the truth about what had happened.
"No, sir, please listen to me!"
"While we were taking the elder, an assassin ambushed us. A dagger flew straight at Ji-soo, and Wyatt threw himself in front of her to protect her," Daigo said, his concern for Wyatt obvious.
An hour went by, and the doctor still hadn't appeared to give any news. The group was tense, silently praying for Wyatt. Ji-soo was consumed with guilt over what had happened, but Amelia stood by her side and tried to comfort her, saying:
"Ji-soo, don't blame yourself. He made that choice to protect you."
"He will be fine. You remember he survived my most powerful spell in the entrance exam, right? This is nothing for him!" Amelia said, squeezing Ji-soo's hand to reassure her.
Ten minutes later, the doctor finally came out to give them the news.