Twisted Wonderland: Glorious Masquerade - Let the Bell of Solace Ring

Chapter 4-6: Only One Thing to Do

Using the students to distract the plants, Ruggie and Jamil are able to keep them away from the time being.

"All right, we've thinned out the flowers a bit," Jamil says.

Soon, one of the students regained his movement, "Ah... It feels like I have control of my body again. What was that about?"

And the other students snap out of Jamil's spell, "Huh? What was I doing just now? It was like someone hijacked my consciousness..."

"Guys, this isn't the time! We gotta make a break for it!" Ruggie says.

"Good point... All right!" The student says.

Soon, the group takes their leave. However, the Noble students are slowing down.

Both Noble Bell students exclaim, "Whoa, they're FAST!"

"This is exactly what we were saving our energy for," Jamil says.

"I'm so exhausted after that fight, I'm in no shape to run..." The first student says.

The second student cries out, "Hey, don't stop now! The flowers will get any stragglers!"

And soon the flowers capture the students, but Ruggie and Jamil are able to escape.

Ruggie snickers, "Shyeheehee. I gotta hand it to you, Jamil. You get some real messed-up ideas. I can't believe we just tricked some innocent Noble Bell students and made 'em take a dive for us!"

"Remember, the Noble Bell student council president started this. It's only fitting that subordinates clean up the mess their leader made. And the students who are still in the building led the flowers out here to start with. They deserve to be held accountable," Jamil says.

"Oh man, that wicked smirk is priceless," Ruggie says as he snickers, "Shyeheehee! If any of the other pampered goody two-shoes on our team heard that, they'd faint in horror."

Well, yes. I wouldn't say that to just anyone. Besides, it's like you said before," Jamil says.

Confused, Ruggie asks.

"What'd I say?" Ruggie questions.

"The more human shields, the better," Jamil answers.

Ruggie quickly understands, "Ahaha, that was me all right! You can never have too much help with weeding. Might as well make the job easier since we're not getting paid for it."

"We don't have to outrun the flowers to escape them. We just have to outrun others nearby. Which is why—rgh..." Jamil says, and begins coughing and feeling exhausted, "Okay... I think I'm running... out of steam..."

"I don't blame you. I'm a beastman and this is still rough on me..." Ruggie says.

The students are unable to keep up as well.

"Looks like the guys behind us can't go on either," Jamil says.

"Welp... Only one thing to do," Ruggie says.

"Yeah. We have to act fast, before we lose our precious human shields..." Jamil says.

"...And find more guys in hiding!" Ruggie & Jamil" Reply.

Meanwhile, somewhere in the campus, the rest of the Night Raven Students continue running down the halls.

"I recognize those doors. We're coming up on the lecture hall!" Sebek says.

Sebek and Silver quickly open the door to see the Lecture Hall is fully engulfed by the flowers.
"We're back to where we first fought the flowers!" Deuce says.

"Let's see..." Idia says, looking towards the window to see the bell tower, "The bell tower was the next building over, right?"

"Indeed. I saw a skywalk on the second floor when I was gazing down from the top. It connects the main building to the bell tower. Let's head for the side stairs that go to the second floor," Rook says.

"If only it were that easy," Azul says.

Seeing the lecture hall, Idia says in shock, "Whoa... The entire hall's covered in firelotuses."

"And they're still growing," Briar says, worried.

"There were many students gathered here when the flowers first struck. It must've been a prime location for them to flourish, given all the nourishment around," Malleus says.

"It seems they've continued multiplying, feeding on the magic of the collapsed mages," Rook says.

Suddenly, Negie struggles to get up, "Urgh..."

And Che'nya, "Mrr..."

"Ah, I see the Roi des Neiges!" Rook says.

Briar says, "And there's Che'nya!"

"Man, they helped us escape and now they're really suffering..." Deuce says.

"We can do nothing for them here," Malleus says, "If we are to save those lying at our feet, we must turn our gazes upward."

Deuce soon understands, "...Yessir!"

Silver steps forward and says, "Sebek and I will secure a path to the stairs."

"Let us go, my liege!...And the rest of you humans!" Sebek says.

And with that, Silver and Sebek use their magic to push away the flowers.