Karl used [Earth Manipulation] to clear the tunnel and rebuild the damaged wall sections where Oathbreaker had detonated an explosive skill under a crab, and led the way through the tunnels.
With the lights back on, it was easy to tell how bad of shape the tunnel was in, so he continued reinforcing the walls as they went.
It was made of the same concrete as the Golden Dragon Nation’s military bunkers, but that had only kept it marginally intact after the attacks.
However, the sections closer to the bunkers were deeper so that the students had somewhere to escape to in the event of a gas attack, as the toxins would either rise or settle.
"The first few bunkers are down here. There is a central hub leading to classrooms on much lower levels." Johann explained.
Karl listened for movement, and then nodded. "Nobody seems to be in the classrooms, unless they’re soundproofed. I hear people in the other tunnels."
"Your ears are that good?"
Karl laughed. "I can hear your heart beating. It’s a beast thing."
"The beast master path really worked out well for you. But I hear that your wife is also a powerful woman." Johann noted, then stopped at one of the doors and tapped the same national anthem rhythm that Karl had used.
The door opened, and an unfamiliar teacher poked their head out.
"Oh, Johann, it’s you. Is the attack over? Or are you coming to update us on the situation? The power just came back online." He asked.
"We came to see if the power was back on in all the bunkers. The attack is nearly over, but the situation is not good on the surface. How bad is the condition of the bunker?"
The teacher shrugged, "Some cracks in the ceiling, but otherwise solid. Everything is working again now that the power is on."
"Alright, we will keep moving. Keep the students safe and in the bunkers for now."
The teacher frowned. "How long will it be before they can go back to their dorms? The bunkers are a bit crowded."
"There are no dorms. The surface level of the academy is completely annihilated. It was pure luck that the backup generator survived. We will stop and see if we can get main power back online, but I believe that some of the power lines are above ground, so we’ve likely got nothing coming from the grid." Johann explained.
"Oh."
"Exactly. Just keep them in place, and we will come up with something."
Karl went to the next bunker entrance, but this time there was tapping from inside the door, the National Anthem, the same as before. But just to mess with the teacher on the other side, he answered with a random song.
The door swung open, and Sergeant Rita, no, now she was Major Rita, and Royal Ranked, stomped out.
"Do you think that I don’t know it’s you? And why did you answer the test rhythm with ’La Vida Loca’? Did you forget everything that you were taught?" She demanded.
Karl shrugged. "It seemed like it would be more fun this way. Is everyone alright in your bunker? We got the power back on, and ventilation, but the Academy is totalled, so the students will be in there for a while."
Rita smirked. "Serves her right. Now, go help the Paladin. I assume you have a skill for opening doors."
Karl was still laughing when he made it to Johann, who was giving him a strange look.
"Rita was my advisor when I first arrived at the Academy a few years back. But she said that I must have a talent for opening doors, and it made me laugh." Karl explained.
Johann smirked. "Well, she wasn’t totally wrong. The roof has caved in just enough that the door won’t open. There is a secondary hatch, but it’s in the ceiling, and needs to be dug out for them to use it."
Karl gave a dramatic wave, and the roof rearranged itself back into shape, then the locks on the door disengaged, and it swung open to reveal a shocked teacher.
"That was locked." He stammered.
"I know, I unlocked it. How is everyone in your bunker? Is the power and life support back online properly?" Karl asked.
"Yes, everything is back online. Are you an Earth Mage sent in to help?" The teacher asked.
"Not really. I have some Earth Mage type skills, but I am not a mage. I was sent here to help, though. You know, Elites need to stick together in times of trouble."
[Karl broke the teacher again.]

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