《The Strongest Student of the Weakest Academy》


 Chapter 1 Strongest Student of the Weakest Academy

    [? Player Profile ?]


    Name: Aestrea Moon (19)


    Identity: Strongest Student of the Weakest Academy, The Moonlight Swordsman, The One Who Loves The Goddess Of The Moon


    Affinities: Ice


    ? Mana: B


    ? Strength: C


    ? Vitality: C


    ? Agility: A-


    ? Spirit: S


    ? [Skills & Talents] ?


    [1] Moonlit Ice Lotus Sword Art [S???] ? Active Self-Created Skill


    [2] Judgement Eye [S] ? Active Self-Created Skill


    [3] Perfect Memory [Unranked] ? Passive Talent


    [4] Combat Instinct [B-] ? Passive Talent


    [5] Sword Mastery [A-] ? Passive Skill


    [6] Gun Mastery [A-] ? Passive Skill


    [7] Calm Mind [C] ? Passive Talent


    [8] Blood Eyes [Unranked] ? Your eyes ominously glow red.


    ¡ª¡ª+¡ª¡ª+¡ª¡ª+¡ª¡ª


    Damn it.


    To think that I''d be transmigrated into some kind of academy novel...


    I sighed deeply.


    ...


    My name is Aestrea, just like the body I was transmigrated to.


    In my past life, I was a world-popular actor who had won a bunch of awards and even filmed five of the best hits in the entire world as the main character.


    I was praised as a genius actor by everyone and was living a life of dreams. Of course, besides acting, I also had some hobbies.


    Like playing poker or gambling, but my favorite hobby is reading books.


    From all kinds of genres; horror, fantasy, sci-fi, I didn''t care about it as long as it had a good and attractive synopse.


    And of course, I read plenty of academy novels.


    I mean, the concept was just fun enough to get me hooked on them. From main characters such as extras, and third-rate villains to even professors or instructors!


    There were plenty of them for me to read.


    However, just yesterday, I was reading one of those novels, and when I went to sleep...


    I woke up in this body!


    And was immediately met with the flying panel in front of me.


    Thankfully, I also got this body''s memories just after I arrived.


    His life was pitiful, to say the least.


    He messed up and couldn''t get into the academy he wanted, and ended up in the weakest academy of them all.


    But, since he was what people call a late bloomer, he quickly grew and got a ton of new abilities and talents.


    And by the third year, he was considered the strongest student in the academy with only one remaining year at it.


    "Quite the hard worker..."


    "Haaah..."


    I couldn''t help but let out a deep sigh.


    After all...


    "I got transmigrated at the wrong time."


    At the moment where the academies were going to compete with each other to define who was actually the strongest.


    And I was the student most teachers had their hopes on.


    Currently, I am in one of the rooms of our academy''s flying ship, heading towards the capital city known as Eternum, in the Eternal Country.


    Yeah... pretty creative.


    Ahem.


    Tap, tap!


    The sound of someone knocking at the door reached out.


    "Mhm? Who is it?"


    "It''s me."


    The door opened, and a soft voice reached my ears.


    There, Vivian, my teacher appeared with a faint smile on her red luscious lips.


    "How are you feeling?"


    "Better now."


    "That''s great!" she sighed in relief, taking a seat on the bed, right next to me.


    "I was worried that our best student wouldn''t be able to participate in the academy''s competition."


    "Everyone started panicking after you passed out." she let out a small chuckle, meeting my eyes.


    "Oh! Also, I got what you wanted."


    She then proceeded to give me a few sheets of paper. I quickly took a look at it and couldn''t help but smile.


    ''This is just perfect...''


    It was the basic information of everyone I was going to fight. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The worst part about it, it''s just that it''s going to be a team fight so I might get pushed back by my teammates.


    "Also, there is going to be one extra exam, but unfortunately, I don''t have the information about what kind of exam, they wanted to be secretive."


    "Thank you, teacher."


    I smiled brightly at her. This was really going to be useful.


    In response, she only patted my shoulder before parting her lips.


    "Anything for my star student." she smiled wryly before leaving my room.


    As soon as she left the room, my eyes landed on the sheets.


    [Lucas Heartstone¡ªRank: C+]


    [Ella C. Alastair¡ªRank: B-]


    [Rose Firefly¡ªRank: B]


    "Mhm... Of all of the academy novels, I transmigrated into this one, huh?"


    A sigh escaped my mouth.


    [The Academy''s True Hero.]


    A novel with the obvious academy concept, but instead, the main character doesn''t get transmigrated or anything, instead the novel it''s just about his adventure.


    The [Eternum Academy] located in the capital is the place where most of the events occur, and it''s flooded by thousands of demons.


    And Lucas, who awakened the Light Affinity, is the hidden hero of the academy who takes most of his time killing those demons.


    So, if it appears that his rank is simply located at C+, it''s a lie.


    His rank should be A- or even A due to the huge amount of demons that he already killed. Not to mention, that he has his own system.


    In other words, he''s a complete monster.


    Well, I at least can see my status window, but...


    "I''ll need to fight against him somehow..."


    To be honest, even with my monstrous stats, I''d say that I''d even lose against one of the heroines who are of lower rank than mine.


    They''re all special in their kind of way.


    E.g. Ella C. Alastair is the second princess of the country and has almost mastered the Royal Sword Art that is equivalent to an SS rank art.


    And Rose Firefly basically is a monster when it comes to fire magic, her rank should be on the higher ends of the A-Rank, and she should be able to manifest 5th-level spells if not 6th-level ones.


    "Yeah... I''ll need to avoid fighting them as much as I can."


    That was the only chance I had.


    Each academy is going to fight around five rounds, which means that if I want my academy to advance I''ll need to win three rounds at last.


    Two academies are going to be eliminated, and then there are going to be three remaining which is going to be a duel-based competition.


    That means that they will basically send a student to the arena, and the student will fight opponents from either of the other two academies.


    In the end, the two academies whose students have more wins will pass to the final round.


    And the final round is going to be none other than a showdown.


    An academy versus another academy; every chosen student will fight against the other academy and the last student standing will declare the winner.


    However...


    "I still have two weeks before the competition truly begins."


    "I''ll need to train hard, real hard."


    It''s a pity though.


    In this novel in particular, I didn''t reach many of the chapters since it was the most recent one that I had read.


    It had over 500 chapters, yeah, but I was suddenly transmigrated before I could read them all.


    Truly unfortunate.


    But...


    Thinking about it, how come I never heard about Aestrea in the novel?


    I mean, I did hear about his identity as the Moonlight Swordsman since it was as famous as Lucas''s hidden identity.


    Did something happen to him before the competition or something?


    It''s weird...


    Tap, tap!


    Someone had knocked on the door, and soon a voice reached out to me.


    "Aestrea, we''ve reached the capital city!"


    We had finally arrived at Eternum.

 Chapter 2 The Strongest Student And His Mischiefs (I)

    "Alright, everyone, now that we''ve arrived in the capital, you''re free to do whatever you like! Just make sure you''re back at the hotel after these two weeks!"


    Vivian sternly spoke, her sharp gaze swept over us, leaving no room for arguments.


    "Yes, Ma''am!"


    The students replied in unison, and I couldn''t help but chuckle at their enthusiasm.


    My laughter caught their attention, and a few of them glanced my way, smiling. No one said a word about it, but their smiles felt warm.


    ''It''s liberating...''


    At our academy, there wasn''t any of that nonsense about noble bloodlines or social classes. Whether you were a commoner or came from some high-ranking family, it didn''t matter here.


    Everyone treated each other with respect, like equals. Not to mention all those warm and kind gazes towards me.


    The students even looked up to me¡ªa lot, actually. I even became something like a big brother to them all.


    If anyone had a problem, they knew they could come to me, and somehow, this body would always find a way to help.


    Nothing like in the [Eternum Academy] where the novel revolves around.


    Most of the students hate each other, they create their groups and fight against themselves to the point of using various dirty tricks.


    So, seeing this kind of atmosphere...


    ''It''s really liberating...''


    At this point, I and Aestrea had already become one. I didn''t know how to feel about it, but since this is now my life...


    I''ll enjoy to the fullest while fulfilling Aestrea''s wish.


    "Aestrea! Let''s grab something to eat¡ªwe''re starving!"


    "Yeah, let''s check out that famous Lavousier''s Caf¨¦ everyone keeps talking about!"


    Before I knew it, a small crowd of students had gathered around me, their eyes bright with excitement.


    I couldn''t help but smile at their enthusiasm.


    "Alright, let''s go. I''m starving too¡ªlong trip and all."


    One of them smirked. "You''re paying, right?"


    "Me? You''re the ones dragging me along! Shouldn''t you be the ones paying?"


    "Ehhhh? That''s so unfair!" they groaned in unison, their playful complaints drawing out my laughter again.


    Moments like this made everything worth it.


    And just like that, we went to Lavousier''s Caf¨¦.


    ...


    "Welcome!"


    The moment we stepped inside, a lovely brown-haired woman in a maid outfit greeted us warmly.


    Her smile was soft and welcoming, but her eyes widened slightly when she noticed just how large our group was.


    "A table for sixteen please."


    She blinked for a second, then quickly collected herself, nodding back.


    "Of course. Just a moment, please."


    With a small bow, she walked off toward the counter.


    Taking the chance, I took a look around the caf¨¦.


    Honestly, the caf¨¦ was stunning, to say the least.


    Warm lighting, polished wood floors, and elegant decorations made it feel more like a luxurious lounge than a simple caf¨¦.


    "Whoa! This place is just like the rumors!"


    And I wasn''t the only one surprised.


    "Right? I heard they''ve got a Master-Level Pianist here who plays live for the customers. If you pay extra, you can even request a song!"


    "Seriously? Should we request one?"


    The students around me were already buzzing with excitement, but then all their gazes locked onto me.


    "Ah... really?"


    "You should decide!" they chimed in unison, clearly enjoying my discomfort.


    Damn.


    These guys were too good at this.


    "Fine," I replied with a small sigh, furrowing my brows before flashing a wry smile.


    "But if we''re doing this, you''re all paying for the song."


    "What?! That''s not fair! We''re already paying for the food!"


    I chuckled softly. "Alright, alright, I''m kidding."


    ''Even though it''s quite unfair... ahem.''


    At that moment, the maid returned.


    "Your table is ready. Please follow me," she said with a graceful bow.


    "Um, sure."


    We trailed after her up a spiral staircase to one of the upper floors. She led us to a large table perfectly set for sixteen.


    It sat in a cozy, semi-private corner, surrounded by floor-to-ceiling windows offering a gorgeous view of the capital.


    But what caught my attention wasn''t exactly the view.


    Seated at a nearby table were five familiar faces: Lucas, Ella, and Rose.


    The other two... I didn''t know them at all. But, Lucas was with four girls¡ªit was safe to say they were either heroines or side ones.


    ''I didn''t expect to meet them so soon...''


    "Please have a seat and take your time with the menu," the maid said, bowing again.


    "Once you''re ready to order, just call for me."


    "Thank you," I replied, and with that, she left us alone.


    "Hehe, what should I eat?"


    "Mmm, so many choices! It''s hard to pick!"


    "Yeah, it''s what you''d expect from a place like this."


    The others were already diving into their menus, chatting excitedly about what to order.


    I flipped mine open but already had my choice in mind¡ªstrawberry pancakes.


    Simple, sweet, and perfect.


    And I might order a black coffee with that.


    "Alright, just let me know when you''re ready, and I''ll call the beautiful lady over."


    I said, putting the menu on the table.


    "Mhm!"


    "Sureeeee!"


    "Alrighty!"


    With that, I pulled out my phone and started looking at the news.


    It wasn''t really the news, but the student''s news. In other words, some kind of news but private to all the five academies''s students.


    [The Demon Hunter Reappears Again!]


    [The Demons Were Obliterated By The Demon Hunter Once Again!]


    Most of the articles were about the ''Demon Hunter'' which was none other than Lucas. He was the mystery that everyone wanted to solve.


    And even those four around him would probably not know his identity until next year.


    Not like I read the entire novel to know it.


    [Aestrea Moon, Who Is He?]


    "Oh?" My eyebrows raised in surprise.


    "Mhm, what is it?"


    "What you''re looking at?"


    The student sitting on my right leaned over curiously as te one on my left also joined in before I could react.


    "OH! Guys, look!" The one on my right snatched my phone, waving it around to grab everyone''s attention.


    "Aestrea has become one of the hot topics!"


    "What? Seriously?!"


    "What''s it about?!"


    They instantly became excited and started checking their phones. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Aestrea Moon, the Moonlight Swordsman..."


    One of them began reading the article dramatically.


    "In one of the hunting festivals, he disguised himself and single-handedly took down five high-ranking demon beasts, leaving behind their corpses¡ªwithout their cores!"


    "Wait, what?!"


    "It says they found out it was him because he dropped his identity card at the scene!"


    My stomach sank.


    "Oh..."


    "No wonder I couldn''t find my old ID and had to get a new one..."


    I muttered absentmindedly.


    Ah. That was a mistake.


    "IT REALLY WAS YOU?!"


    Immediately, they turned to me with excitement all splattered on their faces.


    "Well, yeah..."


    "That''s so cool!"


    "Yeah, you can be considered a celebrity!"


    "Right! The Moonlight Swordsman''s popularity was even in pair with the ''Demon Hunter''!"


    Damn it.


    This freaking canon event.


    Having a secret identity being discovered is more embarrassing than I thought.


    Gosh.


    ...


    Meanwhile, at the nearby table, Lucas leaned back in his chair, casually stirring the espresso in front of him.


    His sharp eyes flicked toward the group at Aestrea''s table.


    The cheerful chatter and laughter spilling from them weren''t exactly subtle¡ªit was impossible to ignore.


    "Seems like they''re having a good time," Ella remarked while also looking at the table next to them.


    She rested her chin on her hand, her long silver hair shimmering faintly in the warm caf¨¦ lighting.


    "They must''ve been friends for a while to laugh like that."


    "Friends or not, they''re loud," Rose muttered, adjusting her glasses with a small frown.


    Her tone wasn''t really harsh, just matter-of-fact.


    "Jealous, Rose? Maybe you want to join their party." Lucas smirked, tapping his spoon against the cup lightly.


    She shot him a glare. "As if. It''s just distracting."


    The other two girls at the table, Maya and Iris, exchanged glances.


    Maya, the livelier of the pair, chuckled softly. "I think it''s kind of nice. You don''t see big groups like that all getting along these days."


    "Yeah, but did you hear who''s with them?" Iris added.


    Lucas raised a brow. "Who? I wasn''t exactly paying attention to their conversation."


    "Aestrea Moon."


    That got everyone''s attention.


    Even Rose, who''d been busy flipping through the menu, looked up. Even she couldn''t help but ask with a surprised tone.


    "The Moonlight Swordsman who just got his identity discovered?"


    Iris nodded, brushing a strand of her ash-blonde hair behind her ear.


    "The very same."


    Hearing their words, Ella, who had been quiet until now, went completely still.


    A rosy flush crept up her cheeks, and her lips pressed together in a tight, wobbly smile. Her fingers twitched slightly against the table like she didn''t know what to do with her hands.


    "Oh?" Maya raised her eyebrows as her lips rose into a teasing smile.


    "What''s this, Ella? You''re looking a little¡­ flustered. Could it be... someone has a thing for the Moonlight Swordsman?"


    "A-ah... I-I d-don''t!" Ella stammered, her voice cracking as she shot up straight in her chair.


    Her hands flew to her cheeks, as though she could physically push the blush away.


    "Uh-huh," Maya said, clearly unconvinced.


    "You sure? Because I distinctly remember you going on and on about how he saved you that one time. What was it you said? ''So strong,'' ''so graceful''¡ª"


    "Maya, stop!" Ella''s voice rose as she waved her hands desperately, her embarrassment practically radiating off her.


    "Wait, he saved you? When was this?" Iris leaned forward curiously.


    "Last spring," Maya replied, her grin turning devilish. "She was surrounded by demon beasts, and guess who swooped in like a knight in shining armor?"


    "Ooooooh," Iris and Rose said in unison, both looking at Ella wryly.


    ''So... that''s why you''ve been rejecting my advances...'' Lucas frowned deeply.


    Ella buried her face in her hands.


    "I hate all of you," she mumbled in a muffled voice.


    "Should I go and get his autograph for you?" Iris giggled and asked Ella.


    "N-no!"


    "Shee, what''s the problem? If you aren''t fast enough, he may be grabbed by another vixen! By then, you aren''t going to have any chance with him!"


    Even Rose joined the fun.


    "I-I..." Ella''s face started rippling like a tomato.


    "Come on guys, you''ve already teased her too much." Lucan chimed in, trying to calm down those teasing maniacs.


    "Ugh... you''re such a fun killer." Maya pouted.


    "I-I hate you guys!" Ella, still flustered, pushed back her chair and shot to her feet.


    She spun around to storm off¡ªonly to collide into something solid.


    Thud!


    "Ow¡­" Ella stumbled back, clutching her forehead.


    And when she looked up, her heart stopped.


    In front of her, a familiar handsome man with glowing red eyes stood, with his hand extended towards her.


    "Are you okay?"


    He had a worried tone.


    She froze upon hearing his voice.


    Her face also seemed to have turned into a whole new shade of red.

 Chapter 3 The Strongest Student And His Mischiefs (II)

    "I''ll bring your table''s server right away."


    "Thanks."


    After ordering for all sixteen of us, I noticed the nearby table stealing non-stop glances at me.


    Their curiosity wasn''t that subtle, and I could practically feel their stares.


    ''They must have heard everything, huh...?''


    Anyway, everyone seems pretty excited about the competition.


    It was good to see, but my plans were a bit too complicated.


    I still needed to finish my preparations and two weeks wasn''t much time.


    I''d have to come up with an excuse to slip away and handle what needs to be prepared.


    I''ll need to get better equipment and probably will need to train my secondary weapon.


    Which is a gun, more precisely a model similar to a desert eagle.


    So, I''m thinking of stealing one of the protagonist''s opportunities which is the morph-weapon.


    A weapon that doesn''t have a necessary aspect. It could transform into any weapon¡ªsword, gun, axe, whatever you needed


    I''m sure it doesn''t really matter to Lucas, since in the future, he''ll receive an even more overpowered weapon.


    ''The only unfortunate thing is that past the academy''s competition, I don''t have much knowledge about the novel...''


    ''But, let''s not worry about that for now...''


    "Aestrea!"


    "Go request a song already!"


    "Yeah, pick something good! Nothing too boring!"


    These kids.


    "Alright, alright, I''m on it."


    A sigh escaped my mouth as I stood up.


    The pianist was playing something soft and soothing as I approached him. I requested a famous tune from our region¡ªsomething that could please my classmates.


    Thankfully, he knew the song.


    After sorting the payment with him and the maid, I started heading back to my table.


    And that''s when it happened... S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Thud!


    Something¡ªor rather, someone¡ªcrashed into me.


    A flash of silver filled my vision, and before I knew it, Ella was on the floor, mumbling softly.


    "Ow..."


    She looked up, her wide, startled eyes locking onto mine. Her silver hair shimmered in the caf¨¦''s lighting, and her face... well, it was the color of a tomato.


    She froze, her mouth opening and closing like she wanted to say something but couldn''t find the words.


    "Are you okay?"


    I asked with a soft tone. I really didn''t see her coming.


    "I-I''m fine!" she finally managed to squeak out, bowing her head so quickly I thought she would hit the table next.


    "That''s great..."


    I let out a relieved sigh.


    "Pfff...!"


    The sounds of laughter reached my ears.


    From the corner of my eye, I noticed her table watching us closely. One of the girls¡ªa lively-looking one with a sly grin¡ªwas barely hiding her laughter behind her hand.


    While Rose adjusted her glasses while smirking slightly.


    Lucas sitting with them didn''t look as entertained. His dark eyes narrowed slightly, his spoon pausing mid-stir in his coffee.


    ''Oh... I almost forgot that he has a crush on Ella...''


    ''Well... not like I care about it though.''


    "Sorry about that," Ella stammered embarrassingly, stepping back like she wasn''t sure if she should stay or bolt.


    "Don''t worry, princess; I didn''t see you coming either." I smiled back at her.


    "H-huh... p-princess?" her eyes widened significantly.


    Ah...


    I nearly forgot that her identity had not yet been made public.


    So, I need to quickly make an excuse.


    ''Think!''


    My lips quickly curled into a softer yet charming smile as I added.


    "With such beautiful and unique hair, if you''re not a princess, who is?"


    "I-I¡­ th-thank you¡­" Ella''s face, somehow, turned an even deeper shade of red.


    Her wide eyes blinked rapidly, and she stammered.


    It was quite funny, she didn''t know how to reply to my words.


    She bowed again, this time a little slower, clearly trying to regain her composure.


    Behind her, the lively girl from her table was practically in tears from holding back laughter, while the one with glasses, Rose, adjusted them yet again, her smirk widening.


    As for the other now, she had her head buried in the table, don''t know why.


    Lucas, though?


    He didn''t look happy.


    Not one bit.


    ''Ah¡­ guess I hit a nerve there.''


    Ella fidgeted on the spot, unsure of what to do next, so I decided to ease the tension.


    "Be careful next time, alright? We wouldn''t want you running into anyone else."


    "R-right!" she squeaked, stepping back.


    But then, realizing how awkward she looked, she dipped her head once more and hurried back to her table.


    As she plopped into her seat, her friends immediately leaned in, whispering and giggling like they''d just witnessed the juiciest gossip of the year.


    Lucas... only glared at me before averting his gaze from mine.


    Shaking my head with a small smile, I returned to my table.


    "Sorry for taking so long."


    "Ohhh, what happened?"


    One of my classmates asked, grinning like he''d just caught me doing something scandalous.


    "Yeah, who was that? She looked like she saw a ghost."


    "Nothing. She just bumped into me, that''s all."


    "Just bumped into you, huh?" A girl sitting across from me raised an eyebrow. "Didn''t look like ''just'' anything from where I was sitting."


    "Stop making it a thing." I rolled my eyes to the side.


    "Sure, sure," she teased, leaning back with a smug smile.


    These kids...


    ...


    As we left the caf¨¦, the streets were bathed in the soft, golden light of the setting sun, making the city feel alive in ways that made my quiet academy seem like a distant memory.


    Students scattered in all directions, laughing and chatting, as they decided where to go next.


    I stayed a few paces behind, letting the energy of the city wash over me.


    It was a far cry from the peacefulness of the academy.


    ''I''ll need to act as fast as possible... so, tonight should be a good time to start.''


    The morph-weapon is one of the underground labs, which means that I''ll need to go to the black market first.


    Lucas normally would get it a day before the competition because he ''accidentally'' meets a little girl who was running away from robbers and immediately beats them up.


    Then, he talks with the little girl and gets news about an experiment lab that focuses on making weapons using virgin blood.


    And children are the first target of them because they have the purest blood for this kind of thing.


    ''Of course, the first thing I''m doing is destroying the lab...''


    I''m no hero, but this kind of messed up thing needs to be obliterated of the face of the earth.


    However, getting into the black market isn''t necessarily an easy thing because I don''t have a pass or card for it.


    ''Mhm... It seems that I''ll have to do it the hard way.''


    A forced entry.


    The black market guards should be in the middle stages of B rank, so I should be able to deal with them.


    I only need to be lucky enough to not meet one of the black market''s bosses.


    More especially, Yara Devereux.


    She''s the person who holds the most shares of the black market, holding a perfect 51% that grants her authority over the entirety of the black market.


    Lucas meets her when he destroys the laboratory, and she has been interested in him since that point.


    And for their future relationship...


    ''I don''t know... Never go into that part...''


    So yeah, I just need to avoid them.


    "Oi, Aestrea, you coming or what?"


    One of my classmates called out, snapping me from my thoughts.


    "Yeah, I''m coming."


    For now, I''ll play along, and enjoy this moment of peace.


    But once everyone settled in for the night, I''d make my move.

 Chapter 4 The Strongest Student And His Mischiefs (III)

    [Lucas'' POV]


    Ella slid back into her seat, her cheeks still bright red from bumping into him.


    I felt bothered, really bothered.


    At least, now I know why she''s rejecting my advances.


    "Well, that looked interesting." Maya was the first to tease Ella, leaning in with a mischievous grin.


    That''s normal.


    Maya is quite a social butterfly and loves teasing people.


    "Sh-shut up!" Ella stammered, glaring at her, but her expression lacked real intensity.


    "Interesting is an understatement," Rose said, pushing up her glasses.


    I''m quite surprised.


    "You were frozen for at least three seconds. And don''t think I didn''t hear what he called you¡ª''princess.''"


    She doesn''t show smiles, but now she''s teasing Ella.


    "It was romantic though." Iris giggled.


    "Romantic?!" Ella squeaked before hiding her face with her hands.


    As for me, I didn''t join in.


    I stirred my coffee absently as my gaze turned toward him¡ªAestrea.


    The so-called "Moonlight Swordsman."


    He was quite the celebrity, after all, his identity was on par with mine.


    However, something about him rubbed me the wrong way.


    ''He''s too... how should I say it...? Calm, no... perfect.''


    ''Even his smile doesn''t even feel real... Like an actor.''


    After all, even a successful actor can''t fake emotions perfectly.


    ''And Aestrea seems just like that.'' S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    And then''s when a thought struck me.


    ''System, scan him.''


    [Ding!]


    A soft chime echoed in my head as the system activated.


    The familiar loading bar appeared in the corner of my vision, but then¡ª


    [Error!]


    [Data inaccessible.]


    "What?"


    I frowned deeply, my fingers tightening around the edge of the table.


    [Target classified under restricted parameters.]


    [Access denied.]


    Restricted?


    What kind of nonsense was that?


    I glanced at Aestrea again.


    He was smiling faintly, chatting casually with his group.


    ''Who are you, Aestrea?''


    "N-no!"


    Ella''s flustered protests suddenly snapped me out of my thoughts.


    "Ella, you should''ve asked for his number!"


    "I''m serious! Stop it!"


    "Relax~"


    They continued arguing.


    But I ignored it since my mind was occupied with something else.


    I could even scan the headmaster who is one of the strongest people in the world...


    But I cannot scan Aestrea?


    That''s weird.


    ...


    [Aestrea''s POV]


    The moon hung high in the sky, casting a pale glow over the quiet city streets.


    By now, my classmates had finally settled in for the night, which allowed me to sneakily get out by the window.


    ''Anyways...''


    The black market wasn''t far, but it wasn''t exactly easy to find, either.


    It was mentioned in the novel that it was buried beneath an abandoned warehouse located on the seventeenth street of the capital.


    And here I am.


    I did take a good look around and didn''t see anyone.


    ''Is it really here?''


    Slowly, I approached one of the abandoned buildings and slipped in through the window.


    The windows were shattered; the walls were covered with years of decay. A gentle rustle in the air made the old structure groan, but no other sounds reached my ears.


    ''Bingo.''


    Standing next to a swirly purple portal, held by two stone hands of giants, stood two men in black suits facing the portal.


    Each of them grasped a modified firearm, his eyes scanning the surroundings for any signs of potential danger.


    ¡º Judgement Eye (? S-Level Skill?)¡»


    Without thinking twice, I activated one of my skills.


    This one in particular could tell me if one person was evil or good as well as their weak points. And also, their rank and combat power couldn''t escape my eyes.


    "Two B-ranks... should be durable."


    I brought out my sword from my waist and silently channeled mana to my legs.


    Tzing!


    My body shot forward like a lightning bolt.


    "Moonlit Ice Lotus Sword Art..."


    ¡ºFirst Move! (? Ice Lotus Bloom?)¡»


    The sword in my hand shimmered with an icy glow as I swung it downwards.


    BAM!


    An ice lotus erupted at the center of the guards, its crystalline petals unfurling before shattering in an explosion of ice.


    Chill...!


    A wave of freezing cold swept across the floor, encasing everything in its path. The guards never even had time to move¡ªtheir bodies frozen mid-movement, their breaths mist.


    Satisfied, I stepped past their frozen forms and approached the portal. I pulled out a simple masquerade mask and slipped it on, adjusting my hood.


    ''Perfect.''


    Without another word, I stepped into the swirling purple portal.


    It felt unreal as if I''d been dunked in ice water without getting wet. I came out the other side; it was colder out, the atmosphere thicker.


    I found myself standing on a dark street with slick cold stones beneath my feet. Both sides of the road were lined by merchant stalls; their owners hawked their wares in hushed tones.


    The crowd here was unlike anything from the capital: hooded figures haggling over artifacts that shimmered with dangerous energy, others speaking about deals that would never see the light of day.


    This was the black market.


    Pulling my hoodie tighter, I followed the street, making myself aware of my surroundings.


    I made my way to a specific place where one could see the waters of the sewers falling into a polluted river.


    ''In the black market... anything can happen and I need to be prepared at all costs.''


    If I''m not entirely wrong, the lab was found in one of the highsky buildings. And Lucas escaped from the lab by the sewers.


    So, I decided to enter the sewers.


    Clamp!


    I entered one of the sewer''s giant pipes.


    "Disgusting..."


    The air was thick and rancid, the stench of rotting waste and stagnant water filling every breath.


    It felt like it clung to my skin, seeping into my clothes.


    The damp walls were coated with a slimy green mold that glistened under the faint light from my mana orb.


    The water beneath my feet was a slow-moving black sludge, and I had to step carefully on the narrow walkway along the edge to avoid slipping.


    "Could they have picked a worse hiding spot?"


    I mumbled in annoyance.


    Although this wasn''t the main entrance, it was the best I could use if I wanted to get out of the lab safely.


    I kept moving, the sounds of dripping water and distant scurrying filling the air, and after a while, I came across a section of the pipe that looked different.


    The walls here were newer, reinforced with metal plating.


    ''It should be around here...''


    Placing my hands on the metal pipes, I quickly channel mana into my hands before trying to twist them.


    "Great."


    I jumped in and found a vent where I immediately entered without making any noise.


    Crawling through the vents, the sound of some kind of machine running along with a chemical smell reached out to me, so I followed the noise.


    After a few minutes, I reached another vent


    ''Is this it?''


    I stopped, peering through the narrow slats into the room below.


    Ah.


    My breath hitched.


    It was a huge laboratory with gleaming, polished floors and walls lined with glowing screens displaying data streams that I couldn''t read.


    The room was dominated by a large capsule filled with a thick, glowing green fluid.


    Inside it was a girl with slimy, semi-transparent blue hair and unnaturally bright green eyes.


    What caught my attention next was the weapon resting on a platform beside her: sleek, and metallic, but the strangest part was the thick, pulsing string-like cable that connected it to the capsule and to her.


    ''Fuck.''


    My stomach twisted.


    They''re using deviants to make weapons?


    No wonder this morph weapon was so powerful in the novel¡ªit was made from the abilities of a slime-type deviant.


    Its ability to change forms at will made it the perfect source for a weapon that could adapt to anything.


    ''I need to act quickly...''


    But before I could plan my next move, a voice boomed through the room.


    "Hahahahaha! It''s done!"


    The voice was hoarse, filled with some kind of manic glee.


    I shifted slightly for a better view. An old man, hunched and draped in a long, stained lab coat, shuffled towards the capsule.


    His eyes were wild, and his thin gray hair stuck out at odd angles


    "My final project... the morph-weapon is complete!"


    He cackled, his bony hands shaking as he reached for a big red button on the control panel.


    ''Damn it!''


    The instant his hand struck the button, the room burst into a flurry of activity.


    The green fluid in the capsule drained quickly and the slime girl''s body jerked and contorted as the weapon pulsed with a sickly glow.


    I didn''t have time to think.


    BAM!


    I kicked the vent with all my strength, sending it flying straight for the old man.


    The metal panel crashed into him, knocking him backward into the control panel. Sparks flew as he stumbled, but he caught himself, his head snapping up to glare at me.


    "Oh. It seems we have an intruder..."


    His thin lips curled into a smile that sent a chill down my spine.


    I dropped into the room, drawing my sword in one smooth motion.


    My gaze locked with his...


    ¡ºJudgement Eye (? S-Level Skill?)¡»


    "An A+ ranker?"


    His mana signature was overwhelming, the kind that screamed trouble. Not to mention the ominous dark aura around him.


    Pure evil.


    This was about to be a damned problem.

 Chapter 5 The Strongest Student And His Mischiefs (IV)

    The air in the lab was heavy and thick, reeking of chemicals and burnt metal.


    It was strangely quiet now, except for the faint sound of machinery humming softly.


    Aestrea stood amidst the chaos, his frame tense and alert as he looked at the old man standing across from him.


    The man grinned, his crooked teeth yellowed with age. His wild gray hair framed a face that was half-mad with excitement.


    And in his hand was clasped around a staff, its head aglow with pulsating dark energy.


    "So," the old man said in a voice that was raspy yet steady, "a rat sneaks into my lab and thinks he can stop me?"


    Aestrea didn''t reply.


    His expression was calm, blank even, but his sword was already raised, glowing faintly as a silver mana pulsed through it.


    The old man tilted his head as his grin widened.


    "No words? Fine, let''s see how long you can stay silent."


    With a wave of his staff, a bolt of dark energy shot toward Aestrea.


    BOOM!


    The explosion rocked the lab, scattering debris across the floor as Aestrea dodged to the side, his movements fluid and precise.


    He didn''t waste a second, charging forward with mana-enhanced speed.


    SWISH!


    His blade sliced through the air, aiming straight for the old man''s chest.


    CLANG!


    The man blocked the strike with his staff, and the clash sent sparks flying.


    "You''re quite fast..."


    The man said with a small smile as he parried Aestrea''s sword back.


    "But, it still isn''t enough!" he grinned.


    Aestrea ignored his words, and instead, he pulled back his sword and swung again, this time aiming for the man''s legs.


    The old man jumped, avoiding his sword and retaliating with a downward strike of his staff.


    BANG!


    Aestrea ducked, narrowly avoiding the blow as the staff hit the floor, cracking the reinforced metal beneath it.


    ¡º First Move! (? Ice Lotus Bloom ?)¡»


    Aestrea''s sword glowed brighter as a faint silver aura enveloped it, and in a flash, he cut upwards.


    An ice lotus formed mid-air; its petals spun rapidly before shooting toward the old man.


    CRACK!


    The ice crashed into the hastily erected barrier, freezing it upon contact. Shards of frost scattered across the room, and the man stumbled back, his grin faltering for a moment.


    "Damn it... you fucking brat!"


    He raised his staff again, calling upon a wave of black spikes to erupt from the floor and go towards Aestrea.


    SHHHHKK!


    The spikes tore through the air, but Aestrea was faster. He leaped into the air, flipping nimbly and landing behind the old man.


    CLANG!


    Their weapons clashed once more, their sparks flying as Aestrea pressed on.


    The old man grunted, his movements were no longer fluid as struggled to keep up.


    "Damn you!"


    THUD!


    Aestrea''s shoe connected with the man''s stomach, sending him flying backward. He coughed, clutching his side as he stared daggers at Aestrea.


    "YOU FUCKING BRAT!"


    He insanely slammed his staff into the ground, and the dark energy surrounding it pulsed outward in a massive shockwave.


    ''Shit...!''


    This time, even Aestrea couldn''t dodge.


    BAM!


    The force sent Aestrea flying, his back hitting the wall with a sickening breaking bones sound.


    "A-agh... this... I broke a rib?"


    Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth as he staggered to his feet, one hand clutching his side.


    Pain radiated from his ribs, but he kept his calm.


    The old man laughed loudly, the sound echoing across the lab.


    "Hurts, doesn''t it? That is what happens when one goes up against a more powerful being!"


    Aestrea wiped the blood off his mouth and looked at the man. He clenched his sword tightly and then took a step forward.


    ''Alright, I got the hang of it now...''


    ''He''s only an A+ ranker because his mana is desperately powerful. So, it should be even easier than dealing with a C+ rank demon beast.''


    The old man''s laughter faltered.


    "What''s with that fucking look, you brat?!"


    Aestrea didn''t respond, instead, he lifted his sword once more, the blade shining brighter as his silver mana coursed through it.


    ¡º First Move! (? Ice Lotus Bloom ?)¡»


    "That move again? Do you think it will work once again?"


    The man scoffed as he quickly raised a dark barrier around himself.


    However, something changed...


    ¡º Reversal! (? Bloom of the Ice Lotus?)¡»


    The icy petals formed once again, spinning violently in mid-air.


    However, they didn''t shoot directly toward the man''s barrier this time. Instead, they split apart, circling the room like a whirlwind of frost.


    The old man''s confidence wavered.


    "What the¡ª?"


    CRACK!


    The frost began to creep up from beneath him, where his barrier didn''t cover. The swirling petals coalesced into sharp shards of ice, piercing through the weak spots in his defense.


    "ARGH!" he screamed, the ice slicing into his legs and forcing him to his knees.


    The attack didn''t stop.


    The ice crawled over the barrier, creeping inward as the petals closed in.


    Each shard shattered upon contact, releasing more frost and creating a web of cracks across the dark barrier.


    CRACK!


    The barrier broke, sending icy shards flying throughout the lab.


    "NO!"


    The old man roared angrily., his staff slamming into the ground once more to send another shockwave out.


    BOOM!


    The force sent the shards flying, but the strain was evident in the trembling of his hands. His breathing turned labored as he struggled to stand.


    Aestrea didn''t give him a moment to recover.


    His sword came down in an arc, aiming for the man''s exposed shoulder.


    CLANG!


    The staff met the sword, but the man''s grip faltered.


    "You''re just a child! How are you¡ª"


    THUD!


    Aestrea drove his knee to the man''s stomach, automatically cutting off his words and making him gasp in pain.


    The man stumbled back, coughing violently as he tried to raise his staff again. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡º Judgement Eye (? S-Level Skill?)¡»


    A faint glow danced in Aestrea''s red eyes, analyzing the man''s weaknesses.


    ''Left side exposed. Weak point at the ribs.''


    He didn''t hesitate.


    Swing!


    The blade cut through the air, slicing deep into the man''s side. The blood spattered across the floor, and the man yelled in pain.


    "AGGGHH! You... you little bastard!"


    He screamed, desperation filtering in his voice.


    A whirlwind of dark mana surrounded him, making Aestrea take a few steps back.


    "I can''t lose to a brat like you," he muttered.


    His voice was trembling, his body was quivering.


    "I''ve worked too hard for this... I won''t let it end here!"


    He raised his staff one last time, the dark energy gathering into a massive orb at its tip. The air grew heavier, and the ground beneath them cracked under the pressure.


    However...


    Seeing this, Aestrea remaining calm expression, suddenly... smiled.


    He reached out to his waist and pulled something out of it.


    "T-this... I-I... n-no!"


    The man immediately tried to revert his spell which had quite a long time to be launched.


    But, Aestrea only smiled.


    ¡º Ice Bullet (? Gunslinger Ice Magic?)¡»


    Tzing!


    A bullet was shot towards the old man, making a hole in his chest before his body started turning into an ice statue at the speed of the naked eye.


    The giant dark orb that he was about to launch disappeared into wisps, and those wisps quickly came back to him, unfreezing him.


    "Too late."


    Aestrea, who was now in front of him, muttered to him in a cold tone.


    "A-ah..."


    The man fell to his knees, blood dripping from his mouth as he clutched at the shards of ice embedded in his body.


    His staff clattered to the ground, the dark energy fading.


    "You... you monster...!"


    He muttered, trying to back away from Aestrea.


    With each meter he crawled back, Aestrea also took a step forward, his blood-red eyes glowing ominously in the dim light.


    The man''s breath hitched as he looked into those ominous eyes, his body trembling with nothing other than fear.


    "Stay back!"


    He cried, his voice breaking.


    "You''re not human... You''re a demon!"


    Aestrea raised his sword.


    Sweep!


    The blade came down in a quick, merciless arc, severing the man''s head from his body.


    SPLURT!


    THUD!


    The headless corpse slumped to the floor, with blood pooling beneath it. The only sound in the room now was the soft hum of machinery somewhere in the distance.


    Aestrea stood over the body, his chest rising and falling as he caught his breath.


    His blood-red eyes clouded slightly as he cleaned his blade and turned toward the capsule containing the slime girl.


    It still wasn''t over yet.

 Chapter 6 The Strongest Student And His Mischiefs (V)

    "Now... how do I solve this?"


    I pondered, looking at the slime girl floating inside the capsule.


    Her thin, slimy body glowed faintly in the dim red lights. The green of her eyes was lifeless, staring into nothing.


    Not knowing what to do with something like this sucks. Most especially when you are stuck in the middle of an enemy lab and alarms are probably just seconds from blaring.


    "Whatever... let''s be rough..."


    I cracked my knuckles.


    I moved closer to the capsule, gathering mana into my fist. It shimmered faintly, frost licking at my knuckles.


    Without hesitation, I swung.


    CRASH!


    The glass exploded outward, scattering shards across the lab floor. A thick blue liquid gushed from the capsule, splattering my boots and soaking the floor.


    I caught the slime girl as she slid out, her body was surprisingly light but strange.


    Gurglee.....


    Her form shifted a little in my arms, cool and slippery, like trying to hold a bag of jelly. For a second, I froze, weirdly uncomfortable.


    Gurglee...


    Her body is slimy indeed.


    Ahem.


    Setting her down gently, I moved to the other capsule, where the morph weapon rested


    I didn''t know if it would still be able to change its aspect because there was no slime girl when Lucas got this weapon.


    So, I don''t know if it will work.


    Gathering mana again, I punched the capsule.


    CRASH!


    The glass exploded as it had before, and I grasped the weapon. This time, it was a hatchet, but it vibrated in my hand with a faint hum, as if it were... alive.


    "Alright, that''s two for two."


    I glanced back at the girl.


    She looked fragile, unconscious but breathing, her form shifting slightly like a calm pool of water.


    I didn''t know how much time I had, but I was glad she was alive.


    RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIING!


    "Fuck..."


    Red lights flashed everywhere, bathing the lab in an angry glow.


    The high-pitched wail of the alarm echoed loudly.


    My gaze snapped to the capsule, where a small plaque blinked: Safety Measure Activated.


    I didn''t notice it.


    "Dammit!"


    The vents.


    I needed to get her out before whoever triggered the alarm showed up.


    Immediately, I moved back to the vent and gritted my teeth when I noticed that we couldn''t get out together.


    I would need to push her into the vent, and that would take quite a long time.


    ''Wait... when Lucas escaped there was a giant vent mentioned...''


    I took a deep look around, my eyes constantly flinching due to the flashing red lights, but I ignored it and searched fanatically.


    But the vent wasn''t anywhere.


    Not in the walls, not in the ceiling, not even hidden behind the equipment.


    "Shit... Nothing."


    I muttered in annoyance.


    "OI!"


    A sudden shout made me whip around.


    A group of people in black uniforms stormed into the lab with their weapons at the ready. Their gaze locked on me instantly, and I could easily feel their hostility towards me.


    ¡º Judgement Eye (? S-Level Skill?)¡»


    My vision distorted, glowing softly as their details snapped into view.


    ''All are B-level rankers...''


    Every single one of them.


    This was bad, really bad.


    And they didn''t waste any time.


    One of them barked an order, and the group advanced with their weapons pointed at me.


    "Put her down, now!"


    I didn''t respond.


    Talking wasn''t going to solve anything either way, I forced my entry here.


    With the slime girl cradled awkwardly in one arm, I tightened my grip on the morph weapon with the other.


    I didn''t have any experience with a hatchet, so I hung it on my waist and sheathed my sword since it was my main weapon.


    The first one lunged.


    CLANG!


    His sword clashed with mine, sparks flying as I parried his attack. Taking the opportunity, I ducked and then drove my knee into his gut.


    He crumpled to the floor with a grunt, but the others didn''t hesitate.


    Three more came at me simultaneously.


    SHING!


    I barely deflected the spear while twisting myself out of the way of a blade angled toward my neck. Then, the third swung an enormous mace, and I ducked at just the right moment.


    It slammed into the wall behind me with an earsplitting crash.


    "You''re dead meat!" one snarled, swinging at my legs.


    Sweep!


    I jumped back, narrowly avoiding the blade, but my footing faltered on the slick floor, and I had to adjust quickly to keep my balance.


    SLAM!


    One of them aimed a kick at my side, and I had no choice but to take the hit. Pain shot through my ribs as I staggered back, gritting my teeth to stay upright.


    "Damn it." S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    I cursed, shifting the slime girl''s weight in my arm. Her unconscious form was making this way harder than normal.


    The guards didn''t let me rest; another one came from the left and swung a twin-headed axe directed at my waist.


    CLANG!


    I blocked the first but had to pivot to avoid the second. As I did so, I swung the sword in an upward manner.


    CRACK!


    It slammed into his shoulder and sent him sprawling, drawing out blood.


    But there was no time to catch my breath.


    Two more charged in, one wielding a dagger and the other a broadsword. The dagger-wielder went low, aiming for my legs, while the broadsword swung high.


    I gripped the slime girl''s body a bit more, ducking under the broadsword before taking the opportunity to deliver a strong kick at the dagger-wielder''s knee.


    Thud!


    He went down with a small cry of pain, but the broadsword user quickly recovered and swung directly at my head.


    I immediately raised the sword with just one hand, the force of the impact jolting my arm.


    "Hah...!"


    I pushed forward against his blade and twisted my sword to knock it out of his hands.


    CLANG!


    His sword hit the ground, and I drove my elbow into his jaw, sending him crashing into a nearby table.


    The other guards hesitated, re-evaluating. I could see it in their eyes¡ªthey hadn''t anticipated this much resistance or strength.


    But I was struggling too.


    My breaths were coming faster now, my ribs screaming in protest every time I moved.


    "Don''t let him escape!"


    The seeming leader of them stepped forward with a glaive in hand.


    ''Of course... Fucking bastard.''


    He lunged, the blade of his glaive cutting through the air in my direction.


    Swoop!


    I twisted, narrowly avoiding it, and struck back with my sword.


    CLANG!


    The blades clashed, and the concussion ran up my arm.


    I moved in, pushing him backward until another guard found an opening from behind.


    THWACK!


    "Kugh...!"


    A heavy weapon struck the back of my body and sent me stumbling forward, gasping as pain shot around my body.


    The leader grinned sinisterly and raised his glaive again.


    "You''re done!"


    But I wasn''t going to give up.


    Even if I couldn''t use my Sword Art because I needed to wield the sword with both of my hands, I still had a huge amount of experience in killing demon beasts.


    Much less humans.


    Gathering what strength I had left, I shifted the slime girl in my arm and swung my sword upwards.


    CRACK!


    It caught the glaive, knocking it off balance. Using the opening, I drove a mana-infused kick into his chest.


    THUD!


    He flew back, crashing into a control panel.


    The others hesitated for a moment, but their hesitation cost them.


    Since the battle began, I was also inserting a bit of mana into the morph-weapon, to see if it actually worked.


    And now I understand how it worked.


    Basically...


    ''I understand it now.''


    I put my sword to my waist, switching it with the morph weapon, and then channeled what little mana I had left into it.


    The weapon glowed weakly, its blade slightly shifting as it morphed into a long, hooked scythe.


    SWOOSH!


    I swung it in a wide arc, sending the guards scrambling.


    But the leader recovered quickly, his glaive glowing with dark energy as he charged at me once more.


    BANG!


    He brought the glaive down with a crushing force, which sent shockwaves around the lab. Equipment flew everywhere, and I...


    CRASH!


    Was sent flying.


    I slammed hard into the wall as my body protested with screams and went sliding down to the floor.


    "U-ugh... damn..."


    Everything went fuzzy for a moment as my mind commanded my legs to lift me off the ground, and through it all, I managed to spot something underneath the capsules.


    A huge vent.


    It had been hidden by the bulky equipment, but now, with everything thrown around, it was clear as day.


    "There you are..."


    I gritted my teeth in annoyance.


    The guards were regrouping, closing in on me fast.


    And I did not have the energy to fight anymore. Collecting the last of my mana, I slammed the morph weapon into the ground.


    CRACK!


    Ice spread instantaneously, forming a thick, fortified wall between the guards and me.


    "He''s trying to escape!" one of them shouted.


    I ignored them, sprinting towards the vent with the slime girl still in my arms.


    The red lights were still flashing, the alarm still blaring, but I didn''t stop.


    Reaching the vent, I kicked it open and slid inside, the cold metal scraping against my back as I crawled forward as fast as I could.


    Behind me, the guards were pounding on the ice wall, their shouts growing fainter as I moved deeper into the vent.


    Finally, the noise faded, and I allowed myself to take a deep, shaky breath.


    "Made it... for now."


    I muttered, clutching my side as pain flared up again.


    Gurgleee.....


    The slime girl shifted slightly in my arm, her soft gurgle the only sound in the suffocating silence of the vent.


    "Ahh... how am I going to explain to the Saintess?"


    Looking at my gruesome injuries that would make an average joe limp if not pass out, I pondered, thinking of a familiar figure in my mind.


    The Saintess of the Holy Nation.


    Christina Solara.

 Chapter 7 The Strongest Student And His Mischiefs (VI)

    Although much bigger than normal, the vent was still quite tight for too many people, and I was having difficulty carrying the slime girl.


    Thwack!


    Behind me, I could hear the faint sound of those guards hitting against the ice wall.


    It wasn''t going to break that easily.


    I made sure to strengthen its fortitude.


    ''I brought a few potions, but they shouldn''t do much help to my condition...''


    Still, I ended up taking one of them, driving the liquid of the container to my throat.


    "Ugh..."


    A bland taste as always.


    This past body consumed a lot of potions since he always ended up getting injured one way or another.


    His training was hellish, and due to this care for his classmates, he ended up in a lot of trouble, especially against demon beasts.


    So, he would get a lot of injuries, and now I''m pretty much addicted to potions.


    "Ah..."


    As I kept crawling forward, the vent sloped downward suddenly, and I lost my grip for a moment, sliding a short distance before stopping myself with my foot.


    CLANG!


    The sound echoed loudly, and I froze.


    ''Shit...''


    I held my breath, straining to hear any noise behind me. But all I could hear was the faint hum of the machinery from the lab and the distant dripping of water.


    No one was following me yet.


    Eventually, I reached a junction where the vent split into three paths.


    "Great..."


    I took a look at each other.


    None of them had any clear markings, and the dim light made it nearly impossible to tell where they led.


    ''If only the author described this a bit more...''


    Instead, I closed my eyes and tried to feel the vibrations of the air. It was the only thing I could really do in this kind of situation.


    ''Left.''


    The left path had a slight draft, a subtle pull of air that insinuated an opening. It wasn''t much, but it was my best shot yet.


    I entered the left part, dragging myself through the narrow space.


    The vent grew colder as I moved, and the sound of rushing water became louder.


    ''Must be near the sewers again...''


    Finally, after what felt like an eternity, I saw a faint light ahead. A broken grate let in a soft, pale glow, probably due to the moonlight.


    "Almost there..."


    I reached the grate and then pushed it slightly.


    It wouldn''t budge at all.


    So, I gathered mana in the palm of my hand...


    CRACK!


    The grate broke loose, falling with a dull sound onto the ground below.


    Cool, damp air rushed in, and I leaned out, looking at where I ended up.


    A large drainage tunnel stretched out in front of me, water running constantly along the bottom.


    The smell was awful, but it smelled like freedom.


    Carefully, I lowered myself down, landing with a splash in the shallow water before then looking around.


    The tunnel was sparsely lit by some weak, flickering lights up along the ceiling. It was silent, except for the gentle rush of water.


    I began walking, each step creating ripples in the dirty water.


    Thankfully, after just a minute or so, the tunnel opened into a larger chamber. A rusted ladder led up to a hatch near the ceiling.


    "Hah... finally."


    I approached the ladder, shifting the slime girl in my arms once more. Climbing with one arm wasn''t going to be easy, but I didn''t have a choice.


    Taking a deep breath, I reached for the ladder and started climbing as my muscles tensed up with every small movement.


    ''It hurts... damn it.''


    I don''t usually groan in pain and things like that because of my [Calm Mind] talent, however, it still hurts a lot.


    It just means that I have a high pain tolerance.


    Gurglee...~


    After a few moments, I reached the top, and then I braced myself against the hatch and pushed.


    Creack!


    The hatch opened, and the night sky above greeted me. Cool, fresh air rushed in, washing away the stench of the sewers.


    I climbed out, pulling the slime girl with me.


    We were in an alley with tall buildings of the capital rising on either side. The streets were silent; only the hum of the city life came from some faraway distance.


    I leaned against the wall, getting my breath back. My ribs hurt, my whole body was smeared with mud, and I was sure I looked like hell.


    But we were safe.


    For the time being.


    I looked down at the slime girl in my arms. Her breath was steady as her chest rose up and down, but then, her eyelids quivered slightly.


    Her green eyes flickered open briefly, meeting mine before closing again.


    ''This... what was that?''


    I felt her arms suddenly enveloping my head more intimately, and then, her body''s size suddenly decreased until she was the size of my hand.


    Maybe even smaller than that.


    "This..."


    She opened her eyes once again and jumped to the small pocket on my shirt, peeking her head out.


    And then closed her eyes once again.


    ''Weird...''


    I have to go back to the hotel, I''ll need a long shower...


    ...


    The room was dark and elegant, almost like a private club.


    Black velvet coated the walls, while golden lights hanging from the ceiling gave everything a warm, rich glow.


    A soft jazz tune played in the background, filling the air with a quiet rhythm.


    There, Yara Devereux sat in the middle on a sleek leather sofa, her face impassive and cold, her dark eyes impassive as she swirled the glass of red wine in her hand. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The deep color of the wine seemed almost bloody, like the scarlet of her lips, and gave her a beautiful yet dangerous air.


    Creak...!


    The door in front of her opened slightly, and one of her subordinates stepped inside. He was visibly nervous, fidgeting his hands as he stood before her.


    "Miss Devereux," he began with a quivering voice.


    "There''s been some sort of situation at the Ravenholm Laboratory."


    Yara raised her eyebrow with a cold gaze.


    "Go on."


    The underling shifted uneasily.


    "There was an intruder who got in earlier tonight. He¡­ killed Dr. Estermont and some of the guards. Not just killed¡ªtore through them like they were nothing. Reports say he used some sort of ice-based ability. It was fast, brutal."


    Yara set her wine glass down on the table in front of her, the sound of the glass meeting wood echoing in the room.


    "And the prototype?" she asked sharply.


    "It''s gone... he left with the slime girl."


    The room fell silent as Yara leaned back, placing her fingertips on the arm of the sofa. Her face didn''t change, but the weight of silence in the room took a darker turn.


    "And the guards?" she finally asked.


    The underling hesitated, then answered.


    "The intruder fought alone, Miss Devereux. He handled all the guards himself, even while protecting the slime girl. Witnesses say he took down several B-rank fighters without much trouble. Dr. Estermont didn''t stand a chance."


    Yara''s eyes narrowed slightly, but her face remained calm.


    "How did he manage to escape?"


    The underling''s hands clenched nervously.


    "He found the hidden vent system beneath the capsules. He used ice to block the others off and disappeared into the sewer system. We''re tracking him now, but he''s¡­ slippery. Skilled."


    Yara didn''t reply immediately.


    Her lips curved slightly as she picked up her glass again, her red nails lightly tapping the stem.


    "And the cameras?" she asked, her voice soft yet laced with such weight that it sent a shiver down the man''s spine.


    "We''re reviewing the footage now. We should have something soon," he stuttered, his head bowed.


    "Good. Bring it to me as soon as it''s ready."


    "Yes, Miss Devereux," the man quickly replied before practically running out, closing the door behind him.


    With him gone, Yara sat still, the glass in her hand as if lost in thought.


    Something sharp, something dangerous glinted in her eyes.


    Her lips curled into a faint smile, but it wasn''t warm; it was sharp and deadly, like the edge of a dagger.


    Her fingers tightened around the glass.


    CRACK!


    The wine glass shattered in her hand, shards tumbling to the floor, droplets of wine staining the expensive rug.


    She didn''t seem to care; her smile widened just a little as she muttered under her breath.


    "Interesting."

 Chapter 8 The Strongest Student And His Mischiefs (VII)

    "Ahh..."


    "So refreshing..."


    I exhaled, pushing my back against the cold wall of the shower.


    The steam rose around me, softening the bruises and cuts I had earned from tonight''s fight. I drank a few more potions to ease the pain, so it didn''t hurt as much.


    But, now I have a small problem.


    The slime girl.


    What was I supposed to do with her?


    I only saved her on a whim because I really didn''t want her to die or anything...


    And now, she was¡­ my responsibility?


    That wasn''t exactly my area of expertise.


    "What a mess..."


    I rubbed a hand over my face, groaning softly.


    After a while, the water began to cool down, so I drained the tub and stepped out, grabbing a towel to dry off.


    I put on a loose shirt and pants before leaving the bathroom...


    And there she was.


    The slime girl.


    The slime girl was standing by the window, wearing one of my white shirts and a pair of old pants I''d left for her.


    The shirt was far too big for her small frame, hanging loosely over her slimy body.


    She was staring at me.


    Not blinking, not moving¡ªjust staring.


    Her green eyes were wide, shimmering slightly in the dim light of the room.


    "Uh..."


    I really didn''t know what to say, especially since she didn''t say a word when we got back to my hotel room.


    She just stood still, and after I said to her to take a bath, she only tilted her head...


    Like she was doing right now...


    The slime girl didn''t reply, instead, she only tilted her head to the right and kept watching me with that same wide yet curious look.


    I ran a hand through my hair and then sighed.


    "Look, I don''t know if you can even understand me, but¡­ you''re safe now. Okay? No one''s going to hurt you."


    Her head tilted the other way, and for a moment, I thought I saw the corners of her mouth twitch upward, almost like a faint smile.


    ''Was she smiling...?''


    I wasn''t entirely sure.


    "Great..."


    I muttered under my breath, collapsing onto the bed.


    "Guess I''ve got a roommate now."


    She didn''t seem to mind the sarcasm¡ªor maybe she didn''t understand it.


    Either way, she turned her gaze back to the window, watching the city lights with that same quiet curiosity.


    I leaned down against the compy bed, staring at the ceiling.


    "Let''s just hope everything goes right..."


    I closed my eyes, drifting to sleep.


    "................"


    The room was quiet.


    The only thing that could be heard was Aestrea''s steady breathing as he slept without any worries in the world, his chest moved up and down, relaxed.


    The dim light from the window lit the room just enough to make everything visible.


    And next to the window, stood the slime girl, with her green shimmering eyes focused on Aestrea''s figure.


    At first, her face looked curious and blank, like before.


    But then...


    Fswip...


    Her green color started to shift, turning into a deep pink, and her body glowed slightly in the light while her cyan hair turned into a deeper shade of purple.


    Her lips curved into a small, mischievous smile.


    She stepped closer to Aestrea, her purple hair-like slime flowed behind her, and her shimmering form moved with an odd grace.


    Stopping beside the bed, she crouched slightly, her head tilting as she looked at Aestrea''s sleeping face.


    He looked peaceful, even if his face still wore its usual calm and motionless look.


    A small giggle slipped from her lips as she reached out with one slimy finger, tracing lightly along the edge of his jawline.


    Drip... drip...


    A faint sound came as a few drops of her slime fell to the floor.


    She didn''t seem to notice as her attention was completely drawn to him.


    Her hand slid down to his arm with a cool and light touch, leaving a faint trail of pink residue.


    She leaned in closer with her face hanging just above his. The mischievous smile on her face grew wider as she tilted her head.


    Then, without a word, she pressed her soft, slime-like lips against his cheek.


    Squelch.


    The faint, wet sound was barely audible as she pulled away, giggling quietly to herself again.


    Aestrea stirred slightly but didn''t wake.


    The slime girl tilted her head again, her pink eyes gleaming in the dim light. She leaned back, one finger pressed to her lips like she was savoring the moment.


    Then, as if satisfied, she stood up and turned back to the window, watching the city lights once more with that same strange smile on her face.


    Gradually, her pink skin transformed back to green, while her head changed to the cyan color it had been before.


    ...


    Drip...


    "Ugh... it''s hot..."


    Murmuring uncomfortably, I slowly opened my eyes.


    ''I thought the rooms had a cooling system, why is it so hot?''


    At first, I couldn''t tell what was happening, but then I felt it¡ªa small weight on my chest.


    "Ah... god dammit."


    The slime girl was sprawled across me, her small, slimy body rising and falling in sync with her calm breathing.


    Her head rested against my chest, and her green hair glowed faintly in the sunlight peeking through the curtains.


    "Did she climb up here while I was sleeping?"


    I muttered before shifting slightly.


    However, her grip seemed to have tightened as she murmured something incomprehensible, snuggling closer.


    My entire body tensed.


    Her cool skin was oddly soothing, but this situation was far from normal.


    "Oi..."


    I muttered.


    "Wake up."


    No response.


    I tried to move her off gently, but she held on like a clingy child.


    Her arms¡ªor rather, her slimy extensions¡ªwrapped around me in a way that made escape feel impossible without force.


    "Great... just great!"


    I furrowed my eyebrows.


    Her face shifted slightly, and for a second, I thought she was waking up.


    "Finally..."


    Instead, she let out a small hum, her lips curving into a faint smile, completely unaware of how awkward this was for me.


    "Dammit."


    Without any choice, I simply stood up and shifted her body to get her to hang on my back, and to my surprise, her legs immediately wrapped around my waist.


    "Agh..."


    My ribs still hurt.


    I should go and meet the saintess.


    This broken rib is still a deep problem even if it is sustainable with mana.


    After all, I got lucky to be able to meet the saintess.


    Normally, the saintess is deported to the strongest academy since there are located the most talented students, and their chances of getting injured are high.


    But, because of my highly dangerous actions and achievements, our academy was the one that had received the saintess.


    Which was useful.


    I would visit her three to two times a week because I ended up getting in trouble a lot.


    And it means a lot.


    From killing high-ranking demon beasts to fighting against an order of assassins.


    It was simply hell.


    "It''s just unfortunate that the saintess is going to Eternum''s Royal Academy after the competition... even if I win or not."


    That was because of the 177th hunting festival of the Eternum''s Royal Academy which was happening a month or two after the competition.


    I didn''t end up getting up to that part of the novel. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Unfortunately.


    Putting those thoughts aside, I did my morning routine.


    "But now... how am I supposed to go out with her clinging to me?"


    I turned to the slime girl who was now hugging from the front.


    Her eyes opened slightly before they got the same wide look from before.


    And of course...


    She tilted her head to the right.


    Sigh...


    "What am I going to do with you?"


    I let out a deep sigh.

 Chapter 9 The Strongest Student And His Mischiefs (VIII)

    "Aestrea! Do you want to go around the capital with us?"


    One of my classmates called out, their eyes bright with excitement.


    I shook my head.


    "Sorry, I''m busy today. Maybe next time."


    "Ah..."


    Their expressions fell, and they exchanged glances before sighing.


    "Alright... see you later then."


    "We''re gonna miss you!"


    One added dramatically, waving a hand.


    "Yeah, yeah... it''s not like I''m going on a long trip or anything."


    I sighed.


    Before meeting up with them earlier, I''d already dealt with enough for one day¡ªspecifically, trying to peel that slime girl off of me.


    She''d been clinging on since the morning, and somehow, I''d managed to convince her to stay put in the room before sneaking out.


    Anyway, I had plans for today.


    I needed to pick up some things at the capital.


    Merchant Street was my main destination¡ªfamous for its fair pricing system where everything was sold at a "performance-to-price" ratio.


    A perfect spot to get supplies. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    So, everything got the perfect price for their use.


    But more importantly, I had to meet someone today.


    The Saintess.


    If I''m not wrong, she should be at the cat8hedral right now, so I should pass by it later.


    "Aestrea?"


    A soft voice suddenly reached out to me.


    I turned around to see Vivian, one of my teachers.


    "Do you have time?"


    Her lips curled up as she said so, giving me a small smile.


    "I should have some time. I was planning to head to Merchant Street, but sure."


    "What''s up?"


    "Well..."


    She paused, looking almost sheepish as she scratched her cheek.


    "First, I want to apologize in advance..."


    She began, bowing slightly.


    "Uh... for what?"


    "You''ve been selected as our exchange student!"


    "After the competition, you''ll be attending Eternum''s Royal Academy for a semester."


    For a minute I thought I heard wrong.


    Did she really say that I was the exchange student?


    I mean, I''m the one who usually keeps the peace within our academy so that no other outside students threaten any of the students...


    And she really said that I''m the exchange student this time?


    I must be dreaming.


    "Can you... repeat that please?"


    "Ah..."


    As if expecting my reaction, she let out a sigh before parting her lips.


    "You''ve been chosen as the exchange student."


    She repeated, her smile faltering slightly.


    Me?


    An exchange student?


    "...You''re serious?"


    Vivian nodded at my words.


    Um...


    She really doesn''t seem to be joking.


    ...


    After that interaction...


    "Ugh¡­ just my luck."


    "This is the last thing I wanted to happen."


    I said so, running a hand through my silky hair.


    Not that it helped my mood.


    Normally, being chosen to attend the most prestigious academy would be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.


    Any student would kill for this chance.


    But for me, this is a huge problem.


    That academy is a demon-attracting rat!


    Every week there''s going to be at least one demon attack, not to mention that the whole plot of the novel revolves around it.


    Catastrophes are happening because of the protagonist.


    "Dammit... my idea of getting my academy into a higher rank so I could get a higher ranking job didn''t work that well..."


    Aestrea''s wish and mine were pretty much on the same path.


    He wanted to make his academy shine and get to the higher ranks so he could get the recognition he always wanted, and I just wanted to live a leisurely life.


    And for that same leisure life, I didn''t give a single fuck about the plot, and if I needed to ruin to live a relaxed life, I would do so.


    "It seems that the competition isn''t the only thing I''m going to prepare for..."


    I muttered, and at the same time, I had finally reached the merchant street.


    The place was packed with people¡ªshoppers and vendors all shouting over each other.


    The smell of fresh bread, grilled meat, and a faint tinge of magic filled the air.


    Every stall was stacked with colorful goods: enchanted tools, rare herbs, shiny trinkets¡ªyou name it, they had it.


    But, amongst all of them, one stood out the most, just like a king among peasants.


    There, a giant queue of people stretched out the front, all waiting their turn to enter.


    [Luxuria''s Commerce.]


    The store of the most prestigious merchant family, Luxuria.


    Just by the name, it already sounds extremely extravagant, and it isn''t exaggerated, since it was mentioned in the novel that their wealth is superior to the royal family.


    Crazy, isn''t it?


    And of course, the heiress of this business is none other than "Violet Von Luxuria".


    A heroine.


    Well, not really...


    She is a heroine... but also isn''t.


    She was one of the final villainesses which were mentioned by the novel''s author, but he also said that she was also one of the hidden heroines...


    A character that could potentially be seen as a heroine in the side stories.


    "She''s the last person I want to interact with..."


    Shooking my head, I passed right in front of the big shop and started walking around the merchant street.


    There were plenty of other shops to visit.


    And I had a long list of things to buy.


    That alone... took me a few hours.


    "Ahh... a spatial pouch is so useful..." I sighed with a smile.


    Nothing could be more useful than this little thing.


    So, after a while, I reached the cathedral.


    It''s huge.


    Its spires shot up into the sky like giant spears, their tips catching the sunlight and glowing faintly.


    The walls were made of smooth white stone, covered in intricate carvings of battles and blessings.


    Stained-glass windows lined the sides, each one was a masterpiece showing pictures of the many saints that once were alive.


    The entrance was grand¡ªa pair of tall, golden doors wide open, welcoming visitors.


    A steady flow of priests and priestesses in white robes moved in and out, keeping a quiet atmosphere.


    When I stepped inside, the cool air hit me, calming and refreshing at the same time. Rows of polished wooden pews stretched towards the altar, which sat bathed in golden light.


    Above the altar was the largest stained-glass window I had ever seen.


    It showed the figure of a very beautiful lady with golden locks and golden eyes, behind her, four wings stretched out giving her an ethereal grace.


    Our Heavenly God.


    It was truly beautiful...


    The cathedral of the capital.


    And somewhere inside was the saintess.


    Christina Solene.


    The one I needed to meet.


    "But where is she?"


    Before, she told me she was going to be at the cathedral, but where exactly?


    With a sigh, I turned toward the nearest hallway, prepared to start a tedious search.


    But just as I took a step, I felt a hand grip my shoulder.


    "Ah... John?"


    I exclaimed in surprise, turning around to see a familiar face.


    "Yo!"


    He smiled in response.


    This man right here was the bodyguard of the Saintess and a very skilled swordsman who could probably kill me with a single swing of his sword.


    "Hehe, you really came here as the Saintess mentioned."


    He chuckled, before then starting at my body from below to above.


    "Let me guess¡­ broken leg? No, maybe an arm? Or could it be¡ª"


    "Rib, a broken rib."


    I shortcutted his response.


    in response, John''s grin widened, clearly amused.


    "I know you can easily see my injuries, why pretend not to know?"


    "It''s just fun."


    He shrugged his shoulders, before then walking away and uttering to me.


    "Follow me, I''ll guide you to the Saintess."


    I nodded and started following him.


    We climbed a few stairs before t8hen reaching a hall that led to a single room.


    John stopped, placed a hand on the door, and glanced back at me with a wry smile.


    "Good luck."


    He smiled wryly before closing the door.


    And before I could respond, he shoved me inside.


    The door clicked shut behind me.


    "This fuc¡ª"


    "¡ªwhat did I say about cursing?"


    A familiar voice that had the tone of a seductress reached out to my ears, cutting off my words.


    My hand instinctively reached for the door handle.


    Locked.


    Of course.


    "Dammit..."


    I turned around.


    And there she was.


    Christina Solene.


    A tumble of gold, her hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall, glimmering faintly in the soft light streaming through colored-glass panes.


    Her pink eyes locked onto mine, full of amusement and something unreadable.


    She was in a bright, snowy white dress that clung to her form with golden patterns embroidered upon it and slightly glowing.


    The fall of the material was beautiful, but this was a poor camouflage for the utterly sensual form of her body


    Her arms held the dress up just so, taut over her generous curves.


    It was almost ironic.


    For a person with the title "Saintess," her body was anything but saintly.


    "It seems that you got injured again..."


    Her lips curled into a slow, dangerous smile as she took a single step forward. I stiffened as her eyes narrowed, gleaming with a sharper edge than before.


    "What''s this, Brother Aestrea?" she continued, her voice dropping just slightly.


    The way she said my name felt heavier, like the weight of a dagger next to my neck.


    "If I recall correctly¡­"


    Christina''s smile widened, though it didn''t reach her eyes.


    "This is the ninety-first time this month, isn''t it?"


    Her voice was calm¡ªtoo calm.


    The air in the room seemed to grow heavier as she tilted her head slightly, her golden hair cascading like liquid sunlight.


    Her eyes narrowed, and that smile¡­


    That smile somehow grew even more unsettling.

 Chapter 10 The Strongest Student And His Mischiefs (IX)

    "..."


    Rip!


    "FUC¡ª!"


    "¡ªno cursing!"


    Ripping the dead skin from my body, the saintess interrupted my words by putting her hand in my mouth, making sure no sound got out.


    "Who told you to get injured?"


    Her tone was soft, almost sweet, but her pink eyes glinted with something far less forgiving


    I winced as she dabbed a cold, cream onto the raw patch of my back.


    ".....Well, there was a special situation."


    "Like what?"


    Her words came out sharp.


    I kept silent.


    If I told her I had infiltrated the black market, taken on a group of B-Level rankers solo, and barely escaped with my life just to get a weapon, she''d probably strangle me with her bare hands.


    "Ahhhh..." she let out a heavy sigh.


    "What am I supposed to do with you?"


    Her fingers moved away, and she handed me my shirt without another word. I slipped it on quickly, hoping to avoid further lectures.


    But when I turned back to her, she was staring at me.


    Her dim pink eyes locked onto mine; the intensity was so high that it made a chill run down my spine.


    "Who did you save?"


    Her voice was low, but there was something in her question heavier than the air in the room.


    I froze.


    Of all the questions she could have asked me, this wasn''t one I was expecting.


    Lying to Christina wasn''t an option¡ªshe always saw through it.


    But telling her the truth?


    That felt even riskier.


    Deviants were a race that was truly hated by the Holy Nation.


    They were essentially a race that was created by the mass reproduction of demons beasts and actual demons or demonesses.


    For the Holy Nation, they truly deserved to die.


    Her pink eyes didn''t waver, and her expression softened slightly, though it did nothing to ease the tension.


    It was that kind of soft that said, I''ll be patient for now, but you''d better not test me.


    "Just¡­ someone who needed help."


    Truly, I didn''t actually mean to save her since I only wanted the weapon. But of course, I wouldn''t let her die.


    "Someone...?" she repeated my words.


    Her scent, soft and floral with a hint of something warm and intoxicating, wrapped around me.


    I was already used to it, so it didn''t affect me much, but for others, it might be quite deadly.


    "Was it a woman?"


    Her pink eyes narrowed ever so slightly, and though her lips carried the faintest hint of a smile, her tone was still quite sharp.


    "Why does that matter?"


    She didn''t answer right away.


    Instead, she leaned forward, just enough for her golden hair to spill over her shoulders. Her intoxicating scent grew stronger, wrapping around me like a warm, suffocating blanket.


    "Just curious... After all, in most the cases when you saved someone, at least ninety percent of them were women."


    "Uh...."


    "So, it really was a woman, huh?"


    Her lips seemed to have widened as she gauged my reaction.


    "It wasn''t like that... besides, I save mostly women because they usually get harassed by some dumb heir of a prestigious family."


    "So?"


    She took a step forward, making me take a step back.


    "It''s their business, why do you have to chime in?"


    "I mean..."


    Her voice turned sharper.


    "I don''t get it."


    I tried to take another step back, but the wall behind me put an end to that idea. Her gaze pinned me in place, and I could feel another chill running down my back.


    "Can''t you simply not help them? And stop being so selfless?"


    I''m not selfless.


    Well... this body might be, but I''m not.


    For a moment, we stood there, looking at each other.


    Her fingers tapped lightly against her arm as she stared at me, and then, with a soft sigh, she leaned back, giving me some much-needed space.


    "I''m done with you." she sighed.


    Immediately, I took the opportunity to go towards the exit.


    But, before leaving, I couldn''t help but glance at her...


    She gazed out the window, the light from the stained glass cast colorful patterns across her figure, making her look almost ethereal.


    "And Aestrea?"


    Her voice made my steps halt.


    "Yeah...?"


    Her voice was soft, almost too soft.


    "Next time, try not to get yourself killed. It would be¡­ inconvenient."


    The way she said inconvenient sent a shiver down my spine.


    "Noted."


    I would simply go to a priest next time, although their powers aren''t as good as the Saintess, they at least can help me for a fair price.


    Thinking about it, if I needed to actually pay for the Saintess''s services, how much debt would I have?


    Probably in tens of thousands...


    Gosh.


    I''m so lucky that I can use her services without paying.


    Then, Christina turned back to me, her smile back to its usual serene self, though her eyes still held that unsettling glint.


    "Good. Now, go on. I''m sure you have¡­ things to do."


    She didn''t have to tell me twice, I twisted the knob of the door and got out of that room. Being alone with the Saintess is much scarier than anything else.


    "Yo! How did it go?"


    John who was waiting at the door turned to me with a small smile.


    "I''m never coming back to meet her..."


    "That bad?" he raised an eyebrow in surprise.


    It wasn''t that bad, just your usual scary Saintess. When I''m alone with her, she always sounds scarier than normal.


    However, I probably won''t be seeing her as much, since I now live with a deviant. And even though, the Holy Nation can''t exactly kill them...


    It''s better to hide the slime girl from the Saintess.


    If she finds out, I could get in trouble.


    For that reason, I''ll need to meet the Saintess fewer times than normal. I only went to the Saintess because her services were free, and her power was stronger than the priest.


    But, I have quite a hefty amount of money, so I''ll use it for the priests.


    I can''t risk the opportunity of her getting to see that slime girl.


    "I''m kidding obviously."


    "Mhm..."


    He nodded, taking a deep look at me.


    "Anyway, you know she cares about you, right?"


    I blinked at him, caught off guard.


    "What?"


    "The Saintess..."


    He replied with a small smile.


    "She cares for you more than you think."


    Before I could respond, he gave me a small nod and walked off, leaving me standing there, staring after him.


    She cares about me?


    That is quite obvious considering her reaction when I get injured.


    However, the way he said it...


    Feels like...


    She likes me.


    "Ah... whatever."


    I left the cathedral and decided to go around the capital for a bit more. I really wanted to check the training range that was so popular around here.


    After all, instead of implementing a training zone for the Royal Academy, they decided to create a public one so they could maximize profits.


    This proposal was also made by Violet when she was a child.


    As a kid, she proposed making the training ground public to generate revenue for the kingdom, and it worked.


    Now, people from all over come here to hone their skills or show off.


    So yeah, this training zone was a huge success and anyone can pay to enter while students from the Royal Academy use their student''s points.


    When I arrived, the training range was as busy as I''d expected.


    Rows of targets, dummy stations, sparring areas¡ªit was packed with people of all skill levels.


    The clashing of swords, the sounds of arrows hitting targets, and the occasional boom of magic spells filled the air.


    I made my way to the shooting section.


    Unlike the more crowded areas, this one had fewer people.


    Guns weren''t as popular in the world as they were considered useless because no one could actually create a gun artifact.


    They could create it.. but it would be a pretty hefty amount.


    After all, a gun has too many components, and they need bullets to work.


    So, who would spend items that could create a powerful sword to create bullets or one of the few components of the gun?


    So yeah, the choice was always traditional weapons or a wand for magic.


    The clerk at the counter looked up as I approached.


    "A rental gun?" she asked.


    "Personal"


    "How long do you plan to train?"


    "An hour, for now, might stay longer."


    "10 silvers."


    Hearing her words, I handed over the coins.


    "Lane four."


    She added, pointing words the lane I was supposed to enter.


    I walked forward and then pulled the morph-weapon which was now similar to a modified desert eagle.


    Then, I reached out to the difficulty meter and put expert mode for handguns. And also tapped on the magic bullet options which made the targets gain a magic field around them.


    They were set up about two meters apart from each other, and one twenty meters away from me¡ªstandard for expert mode.


    Of course, this was just aim training, I didn''t want to spend more money for a simulation or advanced technology since I still had a few things in store to buy.


    And I might buy an artifact so... I don''t really know how much I''ll spend.


    "Alright... let''s warm up."


    I raised the gun.


    Bang!


    The first shot hit the outer ring of the target.


    "Mhm... not too bad. And I like I thought... I have infinite bullets."


    I smiled deeply.


    With this morph weapon, I didn''t have to worry about running out of ammo.


    Each shot fired from the gun drained a bit of my mana, but since the weapon was crafted as a whole artifact, it automatically reloaded itself when I reverted it to its original form.


    The bullets weren''t just regular ones either¡ªthey matched the weapon''s quality, a high-grade artifact.


    Ah, I almost forgot that this weapon is a high-grade artifact.


    "That means... I can make a blood contract with it."


    Bitting my finger, I let a drop of blood fall into the gun.


    As soon as it made contact, the weapon glowed with an intense red light. The glow spread quickly, wrapping around the gun before it vanished entirely.


    I glanced at my left hand, where a faint warmth lingered.


    A tattoo of a ring had appeared on my index finger.


    "Perfect..."


    I grinned, channeling a bit of mana into the tattoo. The gun materialized in my hand instantly, feeling even more natural now, as if it had become a part of me.


    With this blood contract, even if someone tried to take it away from me, I could simply summon it back to me.


    Now all I needed to do was train for the academy''s competition.


    I aimed the gun ahead, ready to start training again.


    "It''s not like there''s going to be a random demon beast attack while I''m here, right?" I muttered to myself.


    I''ll just train peacefully...


    The words had barely left my mouth when the ground shook beneath me.


    BOOOOM!


    A deafening roar echoed across the training zone, deep and guttural, vibrating through the air like thunder.


    "Of course..."


    I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose as another roar shattered the stillness. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    From the distance, I heard someone yell.


    "It''s a Bulking Demon! A named demon beast!"


    "Everyone, evacuate!"


    Bulking Demon.


    A beast so infamous even its name sent chills down people''s spines.


    I glanced at the gun in my hand, its faint red glow still present.


    "Peaceful training, huh?"


    I muttered to myself before stepping toward the sound.

 Chapter 11 The Strongest Student And His Mischiefs (X)

    Just like every living being, demon beasts had their own ranks. But compared to humans, they were absolute monsters¡ªthree to five times stronger at the same rank


    They''re divided into a few ranks ranging from low-level demon beasts to catastrophe-level demon beasts.


    The low-level demon beasts are equivalent to the F and E Rank, the intermediate ones to C and D Rank while the high-level ones are equal to the A and B Rank.


    And then, there were the Named Demon Beasts¡ªS-rank monsters.


    These creatures were rare, intelligent, and devastatingly powerful. From S- to S+, each could obliterate entire towns if left unchecked.


    As for the last two, they''re pretty much extinct since there hasn''t been a single one of those for hundreds of years.


    But they potentially reach the SS and SSS levels.


    Of course, there are very few humans at that level, but if one appear... it would probably lead to world destruction.


    Because demon beasts are normally three to five times stronger than the human''s rank.


    As for the Bulking Demon that had just interrupted Aestrea''s training?


    A strong S- rank demon beast.


    "Phew..."


    Whistling, Aestrea looked at the Bulking Demon as he threw his gun in the air.


    The ground cracked as the demon''s hulking form appeared in his view, standing over four meters tall.


    Its muscles rippled beneath obsidian-black skin, eyes glowing a malevolent red similar to Aestrea''s eyes.


    A pair of jagged horns twisted upward like cruel weapons, and its claws looked sharp enough to slice through steel.


    BOOOOOOOM!


    The beast slammed a massive fist into the ground, sending tremors that knocked several people off their feet.


    On his back, two giant axes could be seen, each one as sharp as a high-quality sword.


    "Alright, big guy..."


    He raised his gun and then fired.


    Bang!


    The shot rang out, slamming into the demon''s shoulder, leaving a small hole in its skin.


    The monster roared in pain, but it didn''t stumble or slow down. Instead, it let out another loud growl and started rushing towards Aestre with its horns pointed at him.


    BANG!


    Another bullet struck the demon''s side, and a small chunk of the monster''s flesh was torn away.


    "Too... little damage. This is going to be a problem..."


    Aestrea muttered to himself, jumping back, and getting on top of one random monument.


    The Bulking Demon was smart, though.


    As Aestrea shot one more time, the demon actually dodged the bullet and continued on its way towards him.


    "Not today."


    The bullet that came next wasn''t just a regular shot. A faint blue glow surrounded the projectile as it fired toward the beast.


    ¡º Magic Ice Bullet (?Gunslinger Ice Magic?)¡»


    The bullet streaked toward the beast and hit it squarely in the leg.


    The effect was immediate: a burst of freezing energy erupted on impact, forming jagged patches of ice that spread across the demon''s limb.


    KURAAAHHH!


    The Bulking Demon roared again, this time in frustration, as its body struggled against the sudden cold gripping its muscles.


    "Oh?"


    Aestrea raised an eyebrow.


    "Your weakness is ice, huh? Lucky."


    His gun morphed effortlessly into the shape of a Tachi sword in his hand.


    Aestrea''s hands moved as he swung the sword in the air, casting a wave of ice magic in the direction of the beast.


    The frost glimmered under the pale light as it streaked forward, creating a crescent-shaped wave of ice.


    "Moonlit Ice Lotus Art..."


    ¡º Second Move! (? Moonlit Frost Barrage ?)¡»


    The barrage of crescent-shaped waves of silver energy cut through the air and collided with the demon''s left arm, sending it skidding back slightly.


    The Bulking Demon growled, its fury growing with each passing second, but Aestrea could see the effects of his attack¡ªice was forming over the demon''s limbs, slowing its movements just slightly.


    But even so, Astrea didn''t waste any more time.


    He quickly morphed his sword back into a gun and pointed at the demon.


    Bang!


    Another shot rang out, hitting the demon squarely in the shoulder. He shifted into a crouch, shooting again and again, the sound of his gun ringing louder with each shot.


    The Bulking Demon staggered but was still very much alive, he roared again, pushing forward, not willing to retreat.


    And as the demon advanced, Aestrea also retracted a few steps.


    ''His skin is too hard for me to be able to cut through it... and if I use one of the advanced uses of my sword art, I might lose an arm... I can''t risk it.''


    ''The only thing I can do is to save as much time as possible...''


    Bang!


    Another shot rang out.


    However, the Bulking Demon seemed to have gotten used to the pain, and slowly, his speed started increasing.


    Seeing this, Aestrea raised his left hand while still shooting at the demon.


    Slowly, an ice liquid formed and it transformed into a magic circle that had exactly three stars, forming a triangle.


    ¡º Ice Series: Frost Explosion (? 3rd-level Spell ?)¡»


    A small liquid was thrown against the Bulking Demon. It didn''t look too much, but it suddenly increased in speed and got the shape of an arrow.


    BOOOM!


    As soon as it touched the Bulking Demon''s skin, it exploded, freezing everything around in a range of ten meters.


    Aestrea stopped shooting bullets.


    After all, this was just a spell to save more time while he waited for reinforcements to arrive. He couldn''t kill this demon beast alone.


    Crack...!


    The frozen statue of the bulking demon started showing cracks, and in just a few more seconds, it completely cracked.


    KURRRAAAGHHH!


    The demon beast roared and then dashed forward at an incredible speed. He pulled its massive double axes from its back in a single motion.


    The sound of steel scraping leather filled the air as the monster dashed toward Aestrea at full speed.


    "Fuck..."


    Aestrea''s eyes widened in surprise.


    He raised his gun as quickly as possible and shot it.


    ¡º Magic Ice Bullet (?Gunslinger Ice Magic?)¡»


    However, the demon dodged his bullet as it charged like a freight train, its massive body moving with surprising speed.


    Aestrea didn''t have much time to react, so he leaped high into the air, attempting to avoid its path.


    But... it wasn''t enough.


    Before Aestrea could react fully, the Bulking Demon slammed its body into the ground with devastating force.


    The collision sent a powerful shockwave through the air. Aestrea was sent flying backward, thrown through the air with tremendous force.


    Aestrea gasped as his body was flung toward a nearby building.


    "Ahhh¡ª"


    The building came into view as he hurtled toward it, and he braced himself for impact.


    CRASH!


    The sound was loud as Aestrea slammed into the side of the building. Bricks crumbled beneath his weight, the structure groaning as it held under the force of his impact.


    Pain shot through Aestrea''s body as his head hit the ground.


    He had broken quite a few bones.


    He coughed weakly, the sharp taste of blood filling his mouth. His body hurt from the impact, every bone feeling like it was on fire.


    "Fuck... it seems that I''ll need to meet the saintess again..."


    The words barely left his lips as he coughed, his vision swimming. Blood trickled from his mouth as he lay there, broken, battered, and gasping for breath.


    The last thing he thought before his vision started to blur was how much trouble he was going to have after this.


    "Well... damn."


    ...


    [Lucas''s POV]


    I could feel the tension in the air as our group arrived at the scene.


    We had been rushing here the moment word got to us about a named demon beast¡ªan S-Rank Bulking Demon, no less¡ªattacking the capital.


    Dammit...


    Why did the notification of the system arrive so late?


    I gritted my teeth.


    And then as I looked around, I was quite surprised. There were no signs of blood anywhere. It seems that everyone evacuated safely.


    But how?


    "Let''s go further..."


    I spoke to my group.


    They were none other than Ella, Maya, Rose, and Iris.


    Ella was our swordsman, Rose our mage, Maya was the physical attacker and finally, Iris was our priest who would heal our injuries.


    With me as their leader and main attacker, we could potentially kill this demon beast.


    However, as I reached the true battle scene...


    My heart sank.


    We found ourselves at the edge of a broken section of what looked like a residential district, the buildings shattered and broken as though some massive force had torn through them.


    There was snow and ice on the ground, frost-covered debris scattered everywhere.


    The moonlight shimmered ominously over all of it, giving the scene an ethereal glow.


    And at the center of the destruction?


    The giant form of the Bulking Demon.


    The demon was massive, its black skin glistening under the pale moonlight as it roared toward the sky, holding sharp axes in its hands.


    I could already feel the sheer power radiating from its body, it truly deserved to be a named demon beast.


    But then, I quickly noticed a few injuries on his body, and some of them were actually pretty deep.


    It was at that same time, I heard a familiar voice.


    "Dammit. Fucking bull..."


    He cursed in an annoyed voice.


    "Aestrea...?"


    Ella uttered as soon as she saw his figure, her face contorted in worry as she quickly started approaching him.


    "Aah... it''s time for round two..."


    He gave the bulking demon a bloodied smile, despite being bruised, having a few broken bones, and¡ªby the looks of it¡ªheavily injured.


    He had his weapon in his hand and kept a faint yet small smile against the bulking demon.


    His red eyes glowed in a terrific way as they held the silhouette of a moon.


    "Damn... he looks so cool..."


    Iris muttered. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    At that moment, even my pride couldn''t deny it.


    He looked damn cool.

 Chapter 12 The Strongest Student And His Mischiefs (XI)

    "Ella, wait!"


    I called out, watching her sprint toward Aestrea without hesitation.


    "That demon''s still active!"


    Ella slowed down her steps, having her sword in a defensive grip. Worry was written all over her face, her knuckles white from gripping her blade so tightly.


    "You idiot! What were you thinking, taking on a named demon beast alone?!"


    Aestrea, leaning against a crumbling wall, raised an eyebrow and smiled faintly. Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth, but his red eyes held that same calm glow.


    "A-ah... what a surprise, princess."


    Ella''s lips pressed into a thin line.


    She didn''t even blush at the nickname this time.


    "Besides," Aestrea continued, wiping blood from his chin with the back of his hand.


    "I was just buying time. The Royal Guards should be on their way, right?"


    He glanced at Ella, then at the rest of us, his gaze lingering briefly before narrowing slightly.


    "And... it seems you have a whole party made to hunt the demon, huh?"


    Exactly."


    Ella nodded, stepping closer to him.


    Her voice softened ever slightly as their eyes met.


    "So let us handle this. Stay down, Iris will heal you." sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She turned to the demon beast, gripping her sword tightly as she issued orders.


    "Iris, heal him now! Everyone else, get ready!"


    Iris, the team''s priest, nodded and rushed forward. Her staff began to glow with a soft, golden light as she chanted a healing spell.


    "Hang on, Aestrea. This might sting a little."


    However, upon hearing her words, Aestrea frowned as his eyes narrowed.


    "How do you know my name? I never met any of you."


    "A-ah... w-what?" Rose stammered upon hearing his words.


    After all, except for the Demon Hunter and the Moonlight Swordsman, who was Aestrea, they were the most popular characters on the student news.


    But, Iris still didn''t reply to Aestrea''s question. The corner of Aestrea''s mouth twitched upward, but he said nothing more.


    "Ah... thanks."


    As soon as the light on Aestrea''s body diminished he thanked Iris with a small smile.


    At this time, everyone was ready so it was time to attack the demon beast.


    KURAAAAAH!


    The Bulking Demon roared, slamming its axes into the ground and creating a shockwave that shook the area.


    Debris flew everywhere, forcing us to shield ourselves.


    "Alright... everyone takes their positions in the formation! Ella, take the lead. Rose, focus your magic on slowing it down and dealing burn damage. Maya, stay mobile and look for openings. Iris, keep healing. I''ll take the front with Ella."


    Everyone nodded, moving into their positions while Aestrea only looked at us with seeming interest.


    Looking his murderous gaze onto us, the Bulking Demon roared again, charging toward us with surprising speed for its size.


    Clang!


    Ella and I met it head-on, our weapons clashing against each one its massive axes. Sparks flew as the sound of metal meeting metal echoed through the battlefield.


    "Rose!" I shouted.


    "Got it!" Rose''s hands glowed with fiery energy as she cast her spell.


    ¡º Blazing Chains (? 4th-Level Fire Magic ?)¡»


    Flaming chains shot up from the ground, wrapping around the demon''s limbs. It struggled against them, but the flame chains held them firm, at least for now.


    "Maya, go!" Ella shouted.


    Maya dashed in, her movements a blur as she landed a powerful punch against the demon''s side.


    The impact echoed like a cannon blast, and the demon staggered back slightly.


    Bang!


    A bullet suddenly rang out and hit the demon square in the chest, leaving a frosty patch where it struck.


    "Mhm... not shabby."


    I turned back and saw Aestrea holding a gun with a calm expression. A faint smoke came out of the gun, meaning that he had been the one who had shot the bullet.


    ''If he wants to help... that''s great. I can''t reveal much of my power here.''


    But suddenly, the demon roared again, this time shaking off the fiery chains.


    Despite its size, it moved with surprising speed, swinging one of its axes wide, catching Maya mid-dash and sending her flying into the rubble.


    BAM!


    "Kugh!"


    "Maya! Iris go help her!"


    Iris nodded, rushing to our fallen teammate while Ella and I pressed the attack.I ordered before turning towards the Bulking Demon who was fighting against Ella alone.


    They exchanged blows and Ella was successfully getting small cuts on its body.


    Seeing that opportunity, I leaped into the air and warned Ella.


    "Ella, dodge!"


    Immediately, Ella jumped to the right side, giving me a full view of the Bulking Demon.


    "Demon Slaying Sword Art..."


    ¡º Corrupted Sword! (? Advanced-Level Swordsmanship ?)¡»


    A black flame engulfed my weapon as I slashed downward with all my might.


    CLANG!


    My sword clashed against its axes, the sheer force sending tremors through my arms.


    I increased my strength and successfully won the contest, making the demon beast lose his composure.


    So, I took the opportunity and swung my sword again directly at his right arm.


    Splurt!


    The blade made a clean cut, snapping off his right arm, and leaving a fountain of disgusting black blood behind.


    "Ella!"


    Upon hearing my voice, Ella appeared in the sky as her sword gained a golden aura and it increased in size.


    The Royal Swordsmanship...


    Truly beautiful.


    ¡º Royal Swordsmanship: Heavenly Strike (? SS-Level Technique ?)¡»


    Swing!


    A blade of energy was sent downward, carving through the ground until it eventually reached the demon beast.


    However, before it could meet the demon beast''s body...


    KURAAAAGGH!


    A malicious purple aura came out of the Bulking Demon''s body.


    "Dark Order...!"


    Gritting my teeth, I rushed towards the Bulking Demon not giving a single fuck about what would happen.


    ¡º Corrupted Sword! (? Advanced-Level Swordsmanship ?)¡»


    "Die, you damned beast!"


    Swing!


    A barrage of energy was created as my sword met the intense purple aura.


    BAM!


    "Kaugh...!"


    The aftermath caused an explosion of energy to send me flying.


    "A-agh!"


    Crumble...


    The shockwave sent both me and Ella crashing into a nearby building, the structure crumbling around us.


    The building snapped into debris.


    "U-ugh..." a mouthful of blood escaped my mouth.


    And before I knew it, the Bulking Demon was madly surging at us.


    "GUYS!" Iris shouted loudly.


    A wave of green mana appeared around us, enveloping us, but it couldn''t do anything.


    ''F-fuck... I''ll need to reveal my identity...''


    I gritted my teeth.


    ''If it wasn''t for the Dark Order...''


    And that was when I heard a familiar voice.


    "You guys did well."


    "Now, it''s my time to play around a bit."


    He smiled faintly, his bloodied face and glowing red eyes making him look both terrifying and captivating under the dim light of the sun.


    ...


    The battlefield was quiet except for the growls of the Bulking Demon.


    It stood tall, its massive form radiating an ominous, purple aura that made the air feel heavy. Its single remaining axe rested in its hand, dripping with black blood.


    In front of it stood the figure of a man wearing a faint smile on his face. His clothes were torn, blood streaked down his side, and his breathing was ragged.


    He held a sword in one hand, the blade faintly glowing in the moonlight. Behind him, four figures watched; all were heavily injured, but not as badly as the figure in front of them.


    And then it started...


    KURAAAAGH!


    The Bulking Demon roared, as his purple aura flared up wildly as it turned its bloodshot eyes toward Aestrea.


    It snarled, raising one massive axe and slamming it into the ground with a deafening crash.


    BOOM!


    The ground cracked beneath Aestrea''s feet, but he didn''t flinch. He tilted his head slightly, his crimson eyes locking onto the demon with the same calm expression.


    "You''re a noisy one, huh?"


    He gripped his Taichi sword tighter.


    "Aestrea! What the fuck are you doing?! You''re barely standing!" Lucas, still recovering from the shockwave, shouted.


    "Get back!" Ella added, her golden sword glowing faintly in her grip.


    "You''re injured! You''ll get yourself killed!"


    But this time was Aestrea''s time to keep silent as he only added a few words.


    "What do you guys know about me?"


    He stepped towards the demon, before the demon beast suddenly lunged forward, swinging its remaining axe in a wide arc.


    Swish!


    Aestrea ducked just in time, the blade of the axe whistling past his head and slicing through a crumbling pillar behind him.


    He retaliated with a quick, upward slash, the edge of his sword trailing faint frost as it grazed the demon''s side.


    SLASH!


    Black blood sprayed from the wound, hissing as it hit the ground. The demon howled in pain but didn''t stop.


    Instead of using the axe, a massive fist came crashing down, aiming straight for Aestrea''s torso.


    BAM!


    The impact was brutal.


    Aestrea flew backward, slamming into the jagged remains of a wall.


    "A-Aestrea!" Iris screamed in panic.


    "He''s gonna get himself killed...!" Maya staggered to her feet, her own injuries evident as she gritted her teeth.


    Dust and debris clouded the area where Aestrea had landed, but before anyone could rush to his aid, a shadow emerged from the haze.


    Aestrea stood up, his body swaying slightly.


    His lips were stained with blood, but that faint smile still hadn''t left his face.


    "Is that all?"


    KURAAAAGGH!


    As if the Bulking Demon understood his words, he roared once again, this time charging directly at him.


    Its massive body crushed the rubble beneath its feet as it swung its axes in a relentless barrage of attacks.


    Clang!


    Clang!


    Each strike was like thunder, and Aestrea deflected as many as he could. He parried one blow after another, but it was clear the strain was getting to him.


    Until the axe managed to slip past his guard, slamming into his shoulder.


    Splurt!


    "......"


    It penetrated his shoulder, getting stuck on Aestrea''s skin. However, despite the pain, Aestrea didn''t let out a single shout.


    Instead, he smiled, quite widely.


    "I can''t just stand here without helping!"


    Iris''s hands glowed as she prepared another healing spell.


    But before she could finish her spell, she saw Aestrea taking down the axe from his shoulder before throwing it at the bulking demon who dodged the flying axe.


    Blood dripped from the corner of Aestrea''s mouth, pooling beneath him, but his red eyes never wavered.


    "That was a good one..." he added with a grin.


    The demon snarled, raising his foot for another strike.


    THUD!


    One of its massive feet came crashing down, aiming to crush Aestrea where he knelt.


    Aestrea moved at the last second, rolling out of the way and retaliating with a horizontal slash aimed at the demon''s leg.


    SLASH!


    The blade cut deep, frost spreading from the wound as the demon stumbled, its movements starting to slow down.


    "It should be enough now..."


    Aestrea muttered as he leaped a few meters back.


    He staggered to his feet, gripping his sword with both hands now. His body was trembling, his breaths ragged, but the light in his eyes remained sharp.


    KURAAAGH!


    Ella stepped immediately forward, gripping her sword tightly.


    "He can''t handle this alone! Lucas, we need to hel¡ª"


    "Wait... this power..."


    Aestrea''s stance shifted, and his sword began to glow faintly. A pale, silvery light enveloped the sword, flickering like moonlight reflected on a frozen lake.


    KURAAAGH!


    The Bulking Demon, sensing the danger, charged once more, with its horns raised high.


    "Fuuu..."


    Aestrea exhaled slowly, his body relaxing as he took a single step forward.


    The world seemed to fall silent for a brief moment.


    "Moonlit Ice Lotus Art..."


    ¡º Third Move! (? Moonlight''s One Flash ?)¡»


    Then he moved.

 Chapter 13 The Strongest Student And His Mischiefs (XII)

    The battlefield froze as if time itself had paused for a heartbeat. Aestrea''s form was a blur; the thin luster of the moon trailing behind him like a meteor across the night.


    KSHHHT!


    The sound was sharp, clean, and sudden.


    A flash of silvery light split through the air, so bright it seemed to cut the very darkness surrounding them.


    It was almost as if the moon had descended into that moment, lending its luster to Aestrea''s sword.


    SLASH!


    KURAAH...


    The Bulking Demon roared, jolting as it staggered at mid-charge, before freezing in place, staying in the same spot.


    His massive form quivered as if unsure of what had just happened.


    Step...


    Aestrea appeared a few steps behind it, his sword pointing to the ground, its edge sopping with an icy gleam that faintly shimmered as frosts began building up along it.


    He was standing still, only breathing heavily; blood was dripping down from both his arms and sides.


    For a moment, only silence remained.


    Then¡ª S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    CRACK!


    A deep fissure ran through the center of the demon''s body, splitting it from head to toe. The demon''s roaring turned into a choking gurgle as its form began to collapse on itself.


    Black blood gushed out, hissing as it touched the frozen ground beneath it.


    BOOM!


    The body of the demon fell onto the earth, cut neatly in half, and its purple aura flew away, scattering like smoke in the wind.


    It was over.


    The battlefield remained silent for a few seconds, everyone staring in disbelief at the fallen demon beast.


    "H-he... he killed it..." Iris muttered, holding her arm as she looked at Aestrea''s figure.


    "Aestrea..." Ella who had been ready to charge earlier murmured, gripping her sword tightly as she took a hesitant step forward.


    Nobody could believe that he had killed a named demon beast.


    "How did he... after everything, how did he still manage to..." Lucas gritted his teeth as he staggered to get up.


    He was beyond shocked to see that Aestrea had really killed the demon beast.


    ''I could also kill it... but he didn''t use any holy-type attack or weapon... he killed it with pure swordsmanship aura.''


    That was a level that Lucas had tried to pry into but couldn''t.


    At that moment, Aestrea turned slightly, his faint smile still in place. His crimson eyes glowed faintly under the moonlight, but his legs wobbled.


    "Ah... guess I overdid it a little¡­"


    THUD!


    He dropped to his knees, his sword clattering to the ground beside him. Blood pooled beneath him, staining the frost-covered earth.


    "Kaugh..."


    A mouthful of blood escaped his mouth as he clenched his chest with his hand.


    However, his efforts didn''t go to waste.


    ?Your Strength and Vitality attributes have been increased by 1.?


    After months, his attributes had finally increased.


    "Aestrea!"


    The group started approaching him, but unfortunately, Aestrea couldn''t exactly reply as his vision started getting blurrier.


    His eyelids slowly closed as lastly saw a hand reaching out to him.


    ...


    "Ugh..."


    The first thing I noticed when I woke up was the warmth.


    It wasn''t the kind of suffocating heat from a battlefield drenched in blood and flames, but a soft, soothing warmth that felt... quite comforting.


    The second thing I noticed was the ceiling. High, arched, and bathed in gentle colors from the sunlight filtering through stained glass windows.


    ''Am I inside the cathedral...?''


    I distinctly remember the ceiling when I was in the Saintess''s room.


    ''Wait...''


    Does this mean...?


    My body ached all over as I tried to move, yet, I couldn''t.


    Something¡ªno, someone¡ªwas holding me down.


    Slowly, I tilted my head down.


    There she was, the Saintess, fast asleep on my legs.


    Her golden hair spilled across me like soft threads of sunlight, and her peaceful face seemed to glow under the dim sunbeams streaming through the windows.


    Her breathing was steady, her delicate features relaxed in a way that made her look almost unreal.


    ''Schei?e...''


    I froze, cursing silently unsure of how to process what I was seeing.


    "Mhm..."


    Her fingers twitched slightly, brushing against the blanket covering me. She sighed softly, snuggling closer as if she didn''t want to wake up.


    Okay, calm down, I told myself, taking a slow, deep breath. My heart was racing¡ªwhy the hell was my heart racing?


    I searched around the room for answers. The cathedral was silent, that kind of silence which is almost holy.


    A washbasin of water sat on the little table beside him, bandages folded nicely in them. There was an almost imperceptible comfortable aroma of herbs in the air.


    Someone had treated me which was obvious.


    After all, she was here.


    My gaze drifted back to her, still sleeping soundly on my legs.


    She looked so... peaceful.


    Her light, golden robes were slightly wrinkled, probably from staying here all night. The golden sunlight kissed her face, making her look like some kind of angel.


    ''Ah... this completely ruined my plans.''


    My hand ached as I reached over to her head, caressing softly her golden locks.


    "What am I supposed to do now?" I muttered to myself, as I took my hand away.


    Moving felt like an impossibility.


    My entire body screamed in protest, and the last thing I wanted was to wake her.


    So I slowly let my head fall against the wall behind me and looked up at the vaulted ceiling: the intricately carved and depicted scenes of angels and holy symbols seemed to mock me as if asking what someone like me was doing in a place like this.


    I couldn''t even remember how I got here.


    The last thing I remembered was when I used the third move of my sword art¡ª¡ºThird Move: Moonlight''s One Flash¡».


    In my entire life, I had only used it a little over twenty times, and the four remaining moves even fewer times than that.


    All of them needed a large amount of mana and I couldn''t hold that much of mana. At least for now, and that''s probably the reason the grade of the sword art is S???.


    I didn''t sharpen it enough to reveal its true rank.


    But then, an image popped up in my mind; the Bulking Demon cleaved in two, then a sharp pain in my chest.


    Everything else after that was fuzzy.


    ''I guess I really overdid it, huh...''


    "You''re awake."


    A soft voice suddenly broke through my thoughts.


    I looked down, startled.


    Christina''s eyes were half-open, their usual radiant pink dulled by sleep.


    She blinked a few times, as if trying to shake off the remnants of her dream, then sat up slowly, rubbing her eyes with the back of her hand.


    "Sorry, I didn''t want you to see me like this."


    Christina gave me a faint smile that contained a hint of warmth.


    "I didn''t mean to fall asleep like that."


    Hearing her words, I also smiled in response.


    "It''s alright, and I''m sorry."


    I bent down my head.


    "The Bulking Demon suddenly appeared and I couldn''t simply let the civilians die, so I didn''t act only mind an¡ª!"


    "¡ªit''s okay. I understand."


    I felt a delicate hand brushing itself against my cheek. I looked forward and saw the most beautiful smile that I had ever seen.


    Her head was tilted to the right, and her lips were slightly parted from each other, with the perfect features of her face being framed by the dim sunlight.


    "You did great."


    As if talking to a child, she said those words in a really soft tone that could probably melt any living being in the entire world.


    Time seemed to have stopped as we stared at each other''s eyes...


    "Ahh-hem!"


    A voice suddenly broke the time as we immediately retracted back from each other.


    "I''m sorry for disturbing you love birds, but the Saintess is needed." John with his sarcastic smile uttered with a small smile.


    "Ah... right."


    Christina stood up, holding the hems of her robe before leaving the room in a rush.


    Then, John sat down at the edge of the bed, giving me a wry smile.


    "Did I interrupt your special moment?"


    His voice came out in a teasing tone.


    "Yes."


    I didn''t have to deny it.


    The atmosphere from a few moments ago was just perfect for me to lean in and kiss her reddish-pink lips.


    "Hahahaa... I''m sorry, but the Saintess was really needed."


    "Mhm? Why?"


    I couldn''t help but ask in curiosity.


    "One of the patients was infected by the Dark Order''s curse."


    "What?"


    His words completely caught me off guard.

 Chapter 14 The Strongest Student And His Mischiefs (XIII)

    Dark Order.


    Hearing that name was enough to send a shiver down anyone''s spine.


    It was the main evil organization across the entire world. Basically, a cult that preferred chaos and destruction over peace.


    While most people followed the Heavenly God, the Dark Order sought the opposite.


    They devoted themselves to the Evil God, the being that once destroyed the world.


    Their methods were just as terrifying as their beliefs.


    I have seen several horrible scenes in the novel that spread the horror of the organization; they did not just kill, they destroyed people from the inside out.


    Their curses were a dark magic that clung to a person''s soul, spreading like poison. It wasn''t something regular healing magic could fix.


    Once the curse took hold, it was like watching someone slowly unravel, their body and mind breaking down piece by piece.


    But even so, they didn''t stop just with people.


    For example, the Dark Order''s power also affected the Bulking Demon''s power since he had that same ominous purple aura around him.


    That''s probably why the Saintess was so urgently needed.


    Her connection to the Heavenly God meant she could purify things that others couldn''t, and until one found a cure, she''d be the only one able to heal those patients.


    "By the way..."


    John snapped me out of my thoughts.


    "Huh? Yeah?"


    "You''ll need to stay here for a week or so."


    "I see..."


    Wait, what?


    As if expecting my delayed reaction, John let out a deep sigh as he reached out to my right arm and suddenly started inserting mana into my veins.


    "Hold still..."


    He muttered before I even had a chance to ask what he was doing.


    Suddenly, I felt a surge of mana flooding into my veins.


    "Gahh!"


    I let out a cry of pain.


    Pain exploded in my arm, sharp and searing. I clenched my teeth, trying not to yell again. My eyes darted to my arm, then to John''s face, wide with confusion and a little panic.


    "You fractured one of your mana channels."


    He explained in an extremely calm manner that was kind of annoying.


    "It''ll take at least a week to heal properly. Normally, this would be a big problem, but with the Saintess here, it should be manageable."


    I nodded at his words, but despite that, I was still shocked.


    Fractured mana channel?


    That was bad.


    Really bad.


    Mana channels are like lifelines for a mage, and even though I''m a magic swordsman, it''s still one of my core points.


    Usually, a body contains a mana channel in each part of it. From head to toe, there are exactly fifteen total mana channels.


    They all are directed to a single part which is the heart. The heart is the one that absorbs mana and then spreads it through the mana channels.


    And all of that meant that I couldn''t transfer mana into my right arm. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But how did I get such a gruesome injury?


    "Also... I suggest that you avoid fighting against anyone before the academy''s competition. When you were in a coma for three days, the Saintess did a whole body analysis."


    John then added.


    "Three days?"


    "Yeah. And she was definitely not happy. She was mad and shocked after seeing the state you were in. Most of your mana channels were at their limit because you kept forcing more mana than your capacity allows."


    Ah.


    It was at that moment that I knew how my mana channel fractured.


    I really shouldn''t have used the Moonlight''s One Flash move.


    "But don''t worry."


    He winked at me with a small and annoying smirk.


    "It could be worse."


    John patted my shoulder before waving his hand and getting out of the room, leaving me completely alone with my thoughts.


    Four days had already passed since I arrived at the capital, and if I needed to stay here for a whole week...


    That left me with just three days to prepare for the competition once I got out.


    "Fuuuuuuck..."


    I groaned, letting out a long yet tired curse.


    And since I was stuck here in the cathedral, I might as well train mana.


    Of course, using my left arm and not the right one.


    It was the only thing I could do.


    Train my mana control.


    ...


    The week had been painfully slow.


    And finally, today is the day I''d get out of here.


    I spent the whole week training my mana control and it improved a tiny bit, but other than that, nothing happened.


    Except for the part where my classmates immediately visited me after knowing that I was highly injured, especially my professor who only teased me once she got here.


    And... no one from Lucas''s party visited me.


    I save their asses, but they didn''t even thank me. Well, I guess I should be thankful that they brought mere here.


    Whatever.


    The only thing that I''m worried about is that slime girl that I left at home. I totally forgot about her, and when I remembered, I tried to sneak out but the Saintess caught me.


    "Ah... it''s done, your mana channel has been healed."


    Saintess Christina said softly, snapping me out of my thoughts as she pulled her glowing hand away from my arm.


    A gentle warmth lingered where her magic had been.


    She then looked at me as her reddish-pink lips parted.


    "You''ll be the exchange student this time, right?"


    Mhm?


    "How do you know about that?"


    I asked in confusion.


    Usually, the information about the student exchange program is only known to professors or the headmasters of the academy.


    There was no way she could''ve known unless¡ª


    "So, it''s true, huh?"


    Dammit.


    I realized too late that I''d walked right into her trap.


    As if to rub it in, she let out a soft giggle, the kind that somehow made you feel both annoyed and charmed at the same time.


    "I had a hunch initially, but now... I''m sure~"


    Damned sly fox.


    "You''re thinking something bad about me, aren''t you?"


    She quickly added, narrowing her eyes playfully.


    Fuck.


    "No, of course not."


    She just stared at me, tilting her head slightly. The way her eyes locked onto mine made it hard to tell if she was serious or just playing around.


    Either way, I didn''t dare push my luck.


    After a bit of teasing from the Saintess, I finally convinced her to drop the joke. She gave me one last smirk before waving me off.


    "Take care of yourself, Brother Aestrea".


    She said with a tone that felt half-mocking, half-genuine.


    I didn''t even bother responding. I just gave her a slight nod and quickly left the cathedral before she found another reason to mess with me.


    Then, I headed towards the hotel, though my mind kept circling back to the slime girl I''d left behind.


    She was probably fine¡ªslimes didn''t need to eat regularly, right?


    Right...?


    She didn''t eat any of my clothes, did she?


    When I finally reached the hotel and stood outside the door. I was deeply contemplating whether to open the door or not.


    "Ah..."


    Inserting the key into the keyhole, I twisted the handle.


    Then, I pushed the door open.


    Swoosh!


    Before I could even take a step inside, something small and fast launched itself at me like a missile.


    "Whoa¡ª!"


    I barely had any time to react before the squishy figure of the slime girl latched onto me. Her body, soft and cool to the touch, clung to mine like super glue.


    Her arms¡ªor what passed for arms¡ªwrapped tightly around my torso, and her big, glossy eyes shimmered as she looked up at me.


    The translucent green of her body had a faint, happy glow, like she was practically vibrating with joy.


    "Alright, alright, calm down..."


    I said, trying to get her off gently, though it was like trying to separate two pieces of Velcro.


    "Master..."


    She whined, puffing her cheeks¡ªor at least making them look puffed.


    "What now?"


    I replied with a sigh, carefully closing the door behind me as she clung to my torso like a limpet.


    With her clung to me, I walked towards my bed while looking around the room.


    Thankfully, nothing got damaged.


    Now back to her...


    "Ah..."


    Now wait a second...


    Did she just... talk?


    "You can talk?"


    I asked in a weird manner, as I tried to push her back. In response, she did the same tilting her head from days ago before nodding enthusiastically.


    "How?"


    I raised an eyebrow in confusion.


    She didn''t answer with words right away. Instead, she pointed at my left hand, specifically at the faint tattoo on my ring finger.


    The mark I got when I made the blood contract with the morph-weapon.


    After that, she pointed at her belly¡ªor what I assumed was her belly¡ªwhere a similar tattoo glowed faintly.


    "Don''t tell me... you and the morph-weapon can be considered as one?"


    "Mhm!"


    This time, she made a noise to indicate her agreement and clung back to me.


    Seeing this, I needed to test something...


    Poof!


    She suddenly disappeared from my view and I saw the tattoo on my finger glowing faintly.


    Then I tried to summon her again, but instead, the weapon appeared.


    "How do I..."


    Before I could finish my words, the gun that was initially in my hand turned into the slime girl.


    "Ah..."


    "Master is so fun to play with!"


    She said, giggling as she wrapped her gooey arms around me again.


    Of course.

 Chapter 15 The Strongest Student And His Mischiefs (XIV)

    The morning sunlight streamed through the curtains, bathing the hotel room in a soft glow. I sat cross-legged on the hotel''s bed, focusing on the mana flow in my right arm.


    It stings, but I needed to get used to this small pain.


    And I shouldn''t use Moonlight''s One Flash for at least a month or so. If I used it again, I could actually rupture this mana channel of mine.


    As for the slime girl...


    She was sprawled across the couch, her translucent form shimmering slightly in the light.


    She looked oddly peaceful as if she hadn''t spent the whole day clinging to me like her life depended on it.


    "Master..."


    The slime girl suddenly turned towards me and muttered in a soft tone.


    "Yeah?"


    "Name..."


    Ah, right.


    Until now I''ve been calling her slime girl.


    "Can''t you simply choose it yourself?"


    I asked as if started forming a ball made of mana and started increasing its concentration. This could help me improve my mana control because I needed to keep it at a certain concentration so the mana ball wouldn''t explode.


    "It has to be Master giving me one."


    "Ah... sure."


    As soon as I said those words, she perked up instantly, her jelly-like form bouncing slightly as she stared at me with wide, expectant eyes.


    Stella... nah.


    Kiara... it doesn''t seem to fit her.


    Ah, I know.


    "How about Lumi?"


    I suggested after a few moments. It felt fitting, given her glowing, semi-transparent form.


    "Lumi..."


    She repeated slowly, then broke into a delighted smile.


    "Lumi!"


    "Glad you like it..."


    I leaned against the headboard.


    The mana ball in my hand flickered slightly, and I steadied it again.


    Training was pretty much all I had to do for now.


    That, and wait.


    And not to mention that I have a useless system. I mean, if you''re going to give me a system, at least make it useful instead of just showing a status window.


    For that, I can use the academy''s evaluation stone to measure my power.


    [Ding...!]


    Huh?


    What was that?


    A faint, translucent blue window suddenly appeared in front of me, its edges glowing softly.


    [Compatibility Calibration has reached 100%.]


    [The special feature... "Book Reading" has been activated.]


    "Book Reading...?"


    I muttered, my eyebrows furrowed.


    And before I could make sense of it¡ª


    ¡ªSWOOSH!


    The blue system window faded into nothingness as my surroundings changed in a flash.


    "Ah¡ª!"


    My vision blurred, and when it cleared, I was no longer in the hotel room.


    I stood right in the middle of a dense forest, with tall trees stretching up high, which seemed not to allow enough sunlight to break through.


    Their twisted roots sprawled across the dirty ground, making it hard to move without stumbling.


    A faint mist hung in the air, growing thicker the farther it stretched, and I could hear the distant sound of rushing water.


    "This...?"


    "Where am I?"


    The ground was a mess of broken branches and scorched patches of earth. The smell of burned wood was strong, mixed with something sharp and metallic.


    Blood.


    It was definitely blood...


    Clang!


    The clash of metal jolted me, snapping me out of my thoughts.


    My eyes darted around and then I saw them¡ªshadows slipping between the trees, with their red eyes glowing like flames in the ominous mist.


    A low growl rumbled somewhere ahead, followed by the grating sound of claws dragging across the ground.


    I immediately gripped my sword tightly, I didn''t even remember how it was in my hand, but I made sure to prepare myself for anything.


    The air felt heavy like something dangerous was watching over me.


    Something big.


    Until...


    They stepped into the open.


    One by one, demon beasts emerged from the shadows.


    I couldn''t exactly see their "faces", but...


    They were huge, at least five times my height, with jagged black fur and eyes that burned sharply.


    Their fangs gleamed, sharp and deadly, and their claws¡ªcoated in a sickly green venom¡ªscratched the ground as they moved closer.


    "High-ranking demon beasts..."


    And they weren''t only a handful.


    There were at least tens of them, possibly even hundreds.


    But then, an even bigger one came out. I couldn''t really see its form, but from the aura he was emitting, it was definitely a named demon beast.


    The only thing I could see was its horns that curled back from its head, and just as he took a step, it shook the earth beneath me.


    I took a small step back...


    And then glanced around, the trees formed a rough circle with their roots acting like natural walls.


    And behind me, was the river that I heard earlier.


    RAAAARGH!


    The beasts started crawling towards me, and their heavy bodies shook the ground at every movement.


    This was bad.


    Really bad.


    My hand gripped the hilt of my sword even more tightly than before. I started gathering mana around my body...


    But surprisingly...


    I couldn''t.


    I couldn''t manifest an ounce of mana.


    ''Shit.''


    Swish!


    The named demon beast suddenly lunged forward as its claws ripped through the earth.


    And in just a matter of seconds, it appeared right in front of me, raising its claw, aiming at my chest.


    Time seemed to slow as I raised my sword, ready to protect against the attack, but then¡ª


    SWOOSH!


    "GAH!"


    I gasped, my body jerking back to reality.


    The hotel room came back into view, and I found myself sitting on the bed, drenched in sweat.


    My chest heaved, and my hands trembled as I struggled to steady my breathing.


    What... was that? S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Master?!"


    I heard Lumi''s concerned voice as she wobbled over to me.


    "I''m... a-alright, hah..."


    I muttered though the pounding of my heart and the sweat dripping down my forehead told a completely different story.


    At that moment, I caught the faint glow of the system window lingering in the corner of my vision.


    [The feature "Book Reading" has been disabled.]


    [You have glimpsed at a potential outcome.]


    A potential outcome?


    Does that mean... there''s a chance of that scene happening?


    If that''s true...


    Fuck.


    That''s going to be a very large problem.


    My chest sank.


    If hordes of high-ranking demon beasts really appeared in the capital, it''s not just my problem¡ªit''s a disaster waiting to happen. I need to quickly contact the Sword Circle or the Holy Nation.


    Without thinking, I jumped out of bed, startling Lumi.


    "Master?"


    She asked, her head tilting in confusion as her form wobbled slightly.


    "I need to check something."


    I muttered the words quickly, grabbing for my student ID.


    It was the fastest way to contact my professor¡ªor anyone from the Sword Circle or the Holy Nation.


    However, before I could activate the ID, another interface appeared right in front of me, stopping me in my actions.


    [Aestrea.]


    "What...?"


    My eyes blinked in discomfort as I saw the system''s notification with my name.


    [Think well before you act.]


    [It showed you a potential outcome, not exactly the future.]


    [All actions lead to something.]


    [You just need to figure out what leads to "that".]


    [If the problem is successfully resolved, you''ll be granted a reward for your heroic actions.]


    [If not... there might be a disaster.]


    [Good luck.]


    [You''ll need it.]


    I froze at the horde of notifications.


    A potential outcome.


    Not guaranteed to happen, but not impossible either.


    "Fuu..."


    I let out a shaky breath and slowly sat back on the bed. Lumi, still perched on the couch, watched me with her wide, curious eyes, though she didn''t say anything.Dammit."


    Figure out what leads to that...


    "It sounded easier said than done. But what exactly could cause a horde of high-ranking demon beasts?"


    The Dark Order?


    If so...


    How could I exactly prevent this without warning the Dark Order of my actions?


    "Fuuuuuck..."


    It seems that I''ll need to be extra careful during the academy''s competition.


    "Fuck?" Lumi muttered aloud.


    Huh?


    "Fuck... fuck... fuck..."


    She started repeating those words, it looked cute with her soft innocent voice, but... the word she was saying...


    Gosh.


    Give me a break.

 Chapter 16 Interlude: Between A Student And A Professor (I)

    The morning breeze filtered through the open window, carrying the faint scent of flowers from the garden below.


    I leaned against the small table in my hotel room, staring at the system message still faintly glowing in my vision.


    "Think well before you act."


    What''s up with those cryptic messages?


    When I read novels, I always found these kind of messages annoying. Couldn''t you simply tell the main protagonist directly instead of pulling it around?


    "I should speak with my professor; after all, she is still one of the informants in the capital." I sighed, running a hand through my hand.


    The first thought that came to mind when I saw the message was Professor Vivian. She has a pretty high status in the capital, being one of the most ''popular'' informants.


    If I''m not entirely wrong, she was once the head of the Capital''s Intelligence Network, however, she did quit, don''t know why.


    Yeah, I should pay her a visit.


    "Lumi?"


    "Mhm~?"


    She stirred, her slimy body stretching lazily.


    "I''m heading out for a bit, alright?"


    Swoosh!


    As soon as those words left my mouth, a missile came directly at me, wrapping her legs around my waist and her arms around my neck.


    "Nooo...!"


    Lumi spoke in a muffled and reluctant tone, and as if expressing herself, her body wrapped even more tightly around me, coiling like a snake. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Lumi... This time, I''ll come back soon." I tapped her head a few times.


    It took a few seconds, but then, she finally looked up at me.


    "Promise...?"


    Her sparkling eyes stared right into mine


    "Promise."


    I nodded at her words, smiling softly at her.


    "Fine..."


    She unwrapped herself around me and went back to the sofa. She was somehow obsessed with the sofa, all she was doing was staring at the ceiling while sprawled on the sofa.


    I grabbed my coat and stepped out into the hallway before saying goodbye to Lumi.


    Which... she did not reply to me.


    ''She must be irritated that I didn''t spend much time with her. I should get her a small gift, but what exactly do slimes like?''


    Anyways...


    Professor Vivian''s room was a few floors up in the same hotel.


    It wasn''t unusual for instructors to be in the same hotel or even floor, because if there was an emergency the professors could act fast.


    So, I went to the elevator and tapped the last floor button.


    Gosh, she really needed to be extravagant.


    It took a few minutes, and I was lucky enough not to meet anyone on the way up.


    Then as the elevator opened, I walked down the hallway until I stood in front of her door before pressing the doorbell.


    A soft chime rang from inside.


    Moments later, the door opened, and there she was¡ªProfessor Vivian.


    Her long, silky red hair cascaded over her shoulders, glowing faintly in the light from the hallway. She wore a fitted blouse that accentuated her figure, paired with a high-waisted pencil skirt that hugged her curves.


    Her emerald-green tie rested neatly against her chest, with a name tag pinned to it. And surprisingly, she was wearing glasses.


    "Aestrea?"


    Her eyes seemed to have widened slightly in surprise, but a delighted smile quickly spreaded across her face.


    "Well, this is a pleasant surprise! Come in."


    She stepped aside, her hair swaying gently as she gestured for me to enter.


    "Thank you."


    I replied softly, entering her room.


    Her suite was much larger and cozier than mine. The living room had plush furniture arranged neatly around a small coffee table.


    A faint scent of jasmine lingered in the air, and soft sunlight streamed in through the half-drawn curtains, giving the space a warm, relaxing atmosphere.


    "Make yourself comfortable," she said, motioning to the couch.


    "I''ll make us some tea."


    She walked towards the kitchen area with small steps, so I sat on the sofa, leaning back slightly as I took a deeper look at her room.


    The space was immaculately organized, with a few books stacked neatly on the side table and a vase of fresh flowers on the windowsill.


    "It fits her."


    After a while, Vivian returned shortly, carrying a tray with two steaming cups of tea. She placed it on the coffee table and handed me a cup with a small smile.


    "Here you go," she said, sitting down across from me.


    She smoothed out her skirt and crossed her legs elegantly, the sunlight streaming in through the window catching the glossy red strands of her hair.


    Then she leaned forward slightly, resting her elbows on her knees as her smile widened.


    "It''s been a while since we''ve had a chance to talk. What brings you here, my dear Star Student?"


    Her voice carried a playful warmth, but the way she emphasized the last two words made me feel like she was teasing me.


    I stared into the swirling tea before taking a small sip. Then, I met her eyes as I put the tea back on the coffee table.


    "I need some help."


    Hearing my words, Vivian''s smile faltered for a moment.


    "I see...," she said softly, leaning back into the sofa.


    She crossed her legs again, her expression shifting into something more serious as she took a sip of her own tea.


    There was a brief pause, and then her gaze locked onto mine. Her voice was cooler this time, almost detached, as she asked:


    "Are you currently asking for Vivian or Professor Vivian?"


    "Vivian."


    "Very well."


    She raised an eyebrow, then nodded slowly.


    She reached up and removed her glasses, placing them neatly on the side table.


    The simple act seemed to strip away the professional barrier between us.


    She adjusted her posture slightly, crossing her legs the other way and resting one arm on the back of the sofa.


    "What exactly do you need?"


    "Information about every kind of demon that has been encountered in the capital." I went straight to the point.


    Tap... tap...


    As soon as she heard my words, her fingers started tapping lightly against her arm as she crossed them, her expression shifting into something more thoughtful.


    Her gaze lingered on me for a few moments, and her expression softened slightly.


    "May I ask the reason?"


    "I need Demon Beast''s Cores," I replied quickly, too quickly if you ask me.


    But it was all to make sure she didn''t suspect that I would be lying to her. Unlike the Saintess, Professor Vivian didn''t seem to have a special lie-detection ability.


    For a moment, she simply sat there, tapping her arm as her gaze grew distant. Then, with a small sigh, she uncrossed her legs and leaned forward again, resting her chin on her hand.


    "You''re not exactly giving me much to go on..." she let out a small sigh.


    "But if it''s Cores you''re after, the type of demon makes all the difference. There are low-level demons scattered around, but if you''re targeting something stronger¡­"


    She trailed off, her golden eyes staring deeply into mine.


    "Ahh... I really like that calm expression of yours."


    Vivian smiled lightly, before getting up from the sofa.


    "I''ll go and get the documents, I''ve been searching about myself."


    And just a few moments later, Vivian returned from her shelf with a slim notebook in hand, her lips curved into a faint smile.


    She sat back down across from me, flipping through the pages as her fingers delicately brushed over the handwritten notes.


    "Alright," she said, glancing up at me.


    "I''ve got plenty of information about the demon activity in the capital. But..."


    She trailed off as her eyes glinted mischievously.


    "But?"


    She closed the notebook with a soft thud and leaned forward, resting her chin on her palm. Her expression turned teasing, her lips curling into a playful smile.


    "But I''m not just going to hand it over for free."


    "That''s obvious."


    I nodded in response.


    Even if she was my professor, now I was talking with "Vivian" and not "Professor Vivian", if I wanted information, I needed to give something in return.


    Crossing my arms, I finally asked:


    "What exactly do you want?"


    At my words, Vivian''s smile widened, and she tapped a finger against her chin as if she were pondering something.


    Then, she leaned back, crossing her legs again.


    "A date."


    "A date...?" I repeated her words in a surprised tone.


    Was she joking or something?


    I don''t get it.


    But then, her next words confirmed my thoughts.


    "Exactly, a date between only us two. A proper one. Dinner, maybe a walk¡ªwhatever strikes our fancy. What do you say?" She tilted her head slightly as though it were the most natural thing in the world.


    I opened my mouth to respond, but no words came out.


    Was she serious?


    I couldn''t tell if this was one of her jokes or if she was genuinely asking.


    "Are you joking?"


    I couldn''t help but finally ask.


    She shook her head, her smile never faltering.


    "I''m completely serious. If you want this notebook, that''s my only condition. One date. Think of it as... an exchange of favors."


    "You''re my professor, though..."


    "Outside the academy, I''m just Vivian."


    She said smoothly, brushing a strand of her red hair behind her ear.


    "And don''t overthink it. It''s just one little date. Surely that''s not too much to ask, is it?"


    Sigh...


    "You really won''t give me the information unless I agree, will you?"


    "Bingo." she smiled.


    There was a moment of silence as I considered my options.


    On one hand, this felt... awkward, to say the least.


    But on the other hand, I needed that information


    "Sure, one date."


    Vivian''s smile grew, and there was a mischievous glint in her eyes.


    "I''ll hold you to that."


    She handed me the notebook, her fingers brushing against mine for a brief moment.


    "Here. This should give you what you need. And don''t forget¡ªthis means you owe me some quality time."


    I took the notebook, flipping it open briefly to glance at the notes.


    It was packed with details¡ªlocations, types of demons, and even a few theories on their patterns of behavior.


    This was exactly what I needed.


    "Thanks."


    "Don''t thank me yet," she said, standing up and smoothing her skirt.


    "I''ll be expecting you to deliver on your promise. Let''s say... tomorrow evening?"


    "Tomorrow?"


    "Yes, tomorrow," she said, her smile turning playful again.


    "I''ll text you the details. Now, off you go. I''ve got to prepare for our date."


    Before I could respond, she was already ushering me toward the door with a cheerful tone.


    As I stepped out into the hallway, notebook in hand, I couldn''t help but feel like I had just been dragged into something far more complicated than I anticipated.


    Still, a promise was a promise.


    And as the door clicked shut behind me, one thought remained in my mind:


    What have I gotten myself into this time?

 Chapter 17 Interlude: Between A Student And A Professor (II)

    "Damn..."


    "Why am I so nervous?"


    I muttered to myself.


    I wasn''t usually the type to fuss over my appearance, but this time felt... different.


    A date with Professor Vivian wasn''t exactly something I''d ever imagined.


    And yet here I was, dressing up for it.


    I wore a clean white dress shirt, paired with a black vest that hugged my torso just right.


    Over it, I threw on a navy blue coat, sharp and tailored, with silver buttons that ran down the side.


    My pants were dark, neatly ironed, and went perfectly with the polished black boots I''d slipped on earlier.


    "Is this too formal?"


    I couldn''t help but ask myself, turning around to check how the outfit fit from the back.


    I didn''t go on many dates honestly, and always wore what my assistant thought was fit for the occasion.


    "Lumi? How do I look?"


    From the couch, Lumi perked up. Her translucent green form rippled slightly as she hopped off and floated toward me.


    She stopped right beside me, her round eyes scanning me up and down.


    After a moment of silence, she let out an approving hum.


    "Master looks divine!"


    Lumi uttered with a big smile.


    I only chuckled at her words, taking one last glance at the mirror.


    My silver-bluish hair was neatly combed, and styled with a classic slickback, with a few strands falling on my eyes.


    Those looked quite messy, but yeah, I had already lost too much time.


    "Then, I''ll be going now, Lumi."


    I spoke to her, picking up my coat.


    Lumi waved as I grabbed the room key and left the hotel.


    The streets of the capital were still alive despite being quite late.


    Lanterns began to flicker on as the sunlight faded, and the city''s main street was filled with people finishing up their shopping or heading out to eat dinner.


    The air was cool, carrying the faint scent of baked bread and flowers from the nearby stalls.


    And surprisingly, I was getting quite the looks from the ladies around.


    Too many looks if you asked me.


    Besides, this silver bluish hair of mine is probably unique and Aestrea is already naturally handsome, so this seems quite natural.


    "Vivian told me to meet her on the fountain of the main street..."


    "Oh! Found it."


    I spotted the stone fountain at the center of the main street. The soft sound of running water reached my ears as I approached.


    And besides the fountain, there she was.


    Staying beside the fountain with her red hair catching the light of the lanterns like a cascade of fire.


    My steps faltered for a brief second as my eyes took her in.


    Vivian was dressed in an elegant black evening gown that hugged her figure perfectly.


    The gown''s off-shoulder design revealed her collarbones and a slit on the side of the dress ran up to her knee, showing just enough of her smooth, pale skin.


    A thin silver necklace rested around her neck, shimmering faintly as it caught the light.


    Her heels clicked softly against the stone as she shifted her weight, her eyes scanning the crowd before locking onto me.


    A soft smile appeared on her lips as she stood up straight.


    Damn...


    She looked absolutely stunning.


    Gorgeous, even.


    There really was no other word for it.


    Vivian must have noticed the slight pause in my step because she turned her head, with her golden eyes locking onto mine.


    A teasing smile immediately crept across her face as she tilted her head ever so slightly.


    "Did I leave you speechless already, my dear Aestrea?"


    This woman...


    I cleared my throat, forcing my expression to remain calm as I walked the rest of the way toward her.


    "You look... amazing."


    I smiled faintly, even tracing her whole body with my eyes, to emphasize my words.


    Vivian''s lips curled into a pleased smile upon hearing my words.


    "Mhm, certainly! I spent a few hours getting ready."


    Her voice was playful, but then her smile shifted into something far more mischievous.


    Leaning forward slightly, she added with a sly glint in her eyes.


    "Just for you, my dear Aestrea~"


    She winked.


    And before I could say anything, she continued, taking a step closer, her heels making soft click-clack sounds on the pavement.


    "And you look quite dashing yourself, my dear student," she said smoothly, her eyes flicking over my outfit.


    "I didn''t expect you to clean up so well."


    "Thank you."


    "Mhmm...!"


    After hearing my blunt response, her cheeks puffed a bit before breaking into a small smile.


    "Shall we go?"


    "Lead away."


    Vivian slipped her arm through mine before I could react, catching me off guard.


    She looked up at me with a sly smile.


    "What? Isn''t this what people do on dates?"


    "Sure, do you want me to hold your waist?"


    "We''re not there... yet." she shot back with a playful grin, shaking her head lightly.


    Her words lingered for a second, but I was already used to her teasing me, so I matched her small smile as we began walking down the lively street.


    "And where exactly are we going?"


    I asked after a while, which made her turn her gaze to me.


    "That''s for me to decide."


    She brushed her hand against my arm slightly, catching my attention,


    "Don''t worry. I''ve got the perfect place in mind."


    *Wink, wink*


    I gave her a sideways glance.


    "You planned this out?"


    To my words, she smirked as her chest puffed out.


    "Of course!"


    "A date with my star student deserves some effort, don''t you think?"


    I stared at her for a moment, unsure of how to respond.


    After a pause, I gave her a small nod.


    "I suppose so."


    Vivian laughed softly at my lackluster response as her fingers brushed against my arm again as if to tease me further.


    Mhm?


    The scent of freshly baked pastries, grilled meats, and sweet drinks suddenly reached out to my nostrils, and it seemed to have reached Vivian''s too.


    "Do you smell that?" Vivian suddenly asked, her eyes lighting up as her head turned toward a nearby food stall.


    Yeah, it really reached her.


    I glanced over and noticed the vendor flipping what looked like small, round cakes on a sizzling grill. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The sweet, buttery smell wafted over to us, and Vivian tugged me in that direction before I could utter a single word.


    "These are moon cakes," the vendor said with a cheerful grin when we approached.


    "Perfect for an evening stroll. Soft, sweet, and warm¡­ just like love, don''t you think?"


    He gave us a playful wink.


    Gosh.


    I guess we do kinda look like a couple.


    "How romantic... don''t you think so, Aestrea?" She laughed, before then looking at me with a teasing gaze.


    "I think you''re just hungry."


    I replied flatly, though I couldn''t stop the slight smirk tugging at my lips.


    She turned back to the vendor, ignoring my comment.


    "Two, please."


    "Coming right up!"


    While the vendor prepared the cakes, Vivian turned her attention to me, her arm still looped through mine.


    "You''re no fun, you know that?"


    "I''m plenty of fun," I replied, raising an eyebrow.


    "I just don''t see the need to pretend food is poetry."


    Besides, you''ll probably make me pay for these cakes.


    "Food is poetry if you enjoy it enough," she shot back with a small grin.


    "But don''t worry¡ªI''ll teach you to appreciate the finer things in life. You can start by paying for these cakes."


    I knew it.


    "So that was your plan?" I asked, making a look of betrayal as I handed the vendor a few coins, and also telling him to keep the change.


    "I get lured out on a date, and now I''m the one paying?"


    "Oh, don''t be so dramatic."


    Vivian smiled as she took the warm cake from the vendor, handing one to me.


    "Thank you, sir!" she said politely before turning back to me.


    "See? It''s worth it."


    I shook my head but took a bite of the cake anyway. It was soft, warm, and sweet with a slight honeyed flavor.


    I had to admit¡­ it was pretty good.


    "Not bad, right?" Vivian asked, looking at me with a victorious grin.


    "Sure."


    "I knew it!" she laughed sweetly.


    "But, let''s keep walking. I don''t want us to be late for dinner."


    "You made a reservation? It must be pretty fancy."


    "You know it~"


    By the time we reached the restaurant, the street had grown quieter, though the charm of the capital remained.


    The place Vivian had chosen was tucked away at the corner of a cobbled square, its golden lights shining warmly through tall glass windows.


    A few tables had been set outside under the soft glow of lanterns, where couples laughed quietly over plates of food.


    The smell of herbs, roasted meats, and fine wine lingered in the air.


    "It really is fancy."


    "Only the best for my dear Aestrea"


    She teased me once again, giving me yet another wink as we were shown to a table near the window.


    The inside of the restaurant was warm and elegant, with soft music playing in the background.


    Candles flickered gently at each table, and the soft hum of conversation created a comfortable atmosphere.


    As we sat down, Vivian looked across at me with a pleased smile splattered on her gorgeous face.


    "What?"


    "Oh, nothing..." She rested her head on her chin, looking at me with those shiny golden eyes.


    "I''m just enjoying the fact that my star student is on a date with me. It''s cute."


    "You''re strangely smug about this."


    I replied back, leaning against the chair.


    It was quite comfy.


    ''I should get one of these.''


    I noted in the back of my mind.


    "Of course I am! I worked hard for this, you know." She waved a hand dramatically before picking up the menu.


    "Now, what do you feel like eating?"


    "You''re actually letting me choose?" I raised an eyebrow.


    "Well no. I was just being polite."


    She smiled back before calling the waiter.


    This woman...


    After a few minutes, the food arrived soon after¡ªroasted meats glazed with spices, soft bread fresh from the oven, and bowls of fragrant soup.


    We started eating, and Vivian immediately started the conversation which soon led to her experiences teaching students.


    "And then he accidentally summoned a water spirit in the middle of class," Vivian was saying as she took a sip of her wine, taking breaks to let out a small laugh.


    "The entire classroom was soaked within minutes. I swear I''ll never forget the look on his face¡ªcompletely drenched but still trying to act like it was intentional."


    "Sounds like your students are a handful," I replied with a small smile.


    If that happened with any of my classmates we''d probably laugh out loud, but in the end, I would buy him or her a meal.


    "Oh, they are. But they''re good kids¡­ just like you." she smiled playfully.


    "Ah, really? Then should I consider you a predator for taking a kid on a date?" I replied back with an even wider smile.


    "You''re man enough for that." she avoided my gaze for a while.


    But soon enough, she started laughing as I did the same.


    We were having fun.


    Unfortunately, that fun was about to come to an end.


    We left the restaurant about an hour later, the night now fully settled over the capital.


    The streets had grown quieter, with only a few people wandering here and there.


    Vivian slipped her arm through mine again as we walked, her heels clicking softly on the stone pavement.


    "I told you I had the perfect place in mind."


    She smiled proudly.


    "Yeah, the food really was good."


    I smiled faintly, feeling the soft moonlight glowing on my face.


    Surprisingly, after seeing my smile, Vivian seemed to have frozen, her lips were slightly parted from each other as she stared deep into my eyes.


    Click...


    She took a step forward as her arm slipped away from mine, and reached out to the direction of my neck...


    This...


    I gulped down.


    Wait.


    Why does this look familiar?


    Tap, tap, tap...!


    The moment was broken by the sound of hurried footsteps.


    Of course...!


    Who the fuck ruined the kiss scene this time?!


    I glanced to the side and saw a group of men stepping out from the shadows of an alleyway.


    There were four of them, all wearing rough clothes and carrying poorly hidden knives. The man in front grinned wickedly, his eyes darting between Vivian and me.


    This guy... he''s a D-rank user, and thinks he can assault us?


    "Well, what do we have here?" he sneered arrogantly.


    "A couple out for a fancy night, huh? Looks like you''ve got plenty to spare. Why don''t you hand over your wallet and make this easy?"


    After hearing his words, my hand twitched toward where I normally kept my sword¡ªthough I hadn''t brought it with me tonight.


    Well, I guess I''ll need to beat him up instead of cutting him.


    But, before I could do anything, Vivian let out a soft sigh from behind me.


    "Really?" she muttered with a disappointed tone.


    In the next second, everything happened at once.


    Swish!


    Vivian stepped forward, raised her hand¡ªand with a quick flick of her wrist, an invisible force erupted from her fingertips.


    The robbers didn''t stand a chance.


    Crash!


    All four of them were sent flying backward as though struck by a hurricane, crashing into barrels and crates with pained yelps.


    The leader''s knife clattered uselessly to the ground as he groaned, sprawled out in a heap.


    I turned to Vivian, my mouth slightly open.


    She dusted off her hands with a satisfied smile and turned to me, having the most innocent expression ever on her face.


    "Where were we?"


    My lips twitched upon seeing her face.


    It''s no surprise that her prestigious title is...


    Red Devil.

 Chapter 18 Interlude: Between A Student And A Professor (III)

    Upon saying those words, Vivian''s lips curved into a playful smile as she tip-toed closer, her soft hands resting on my shoulders.


    Her head tilted naturally, and she leaned in, closing the distance between us.


    Her golden eyes glowed faintly under the soft moonlight, filled with amusement¡ªand something else I couldn''t quite place.


    For a moment, time seemed to slow, and all I could hear was the faint sound of my heartbeat pounding in my ears.


    Her face was so close now, her warm breath brushing against my cheek, and I could feel the atmosphere shift slightly.


    The teasing look in her eyes softened into something gentler, and my face instinctively grew warm.


    She was really going to do it.


    Vivian was actually going to kiss me.


    And yet...


    The mood was already ruined.


    Not to mention...


    I couldn''t ignore the thought of someone spotting us.


    The professor¡ªmy professor¡ªand me, her student, sharing a kiss in the middle of the capital''s main street?


    Just imagining the rumors that would spread made my head hurt.


    But the way she looked at me¡­ the faint glow in her golden eyes, the gentle curve of her lips, the warmth radiating from her¡ªit made it impossible to think clearly.


    Before things could escalate, I did the only thing I could think of.


    I gently but firmly placed my hands on her shoulders and pushed her back just enough to create some distance between us.


    "What are you¡ª?" Vivian blinked at me, startled, her playful expression faltering for a moment.


    Ah.


    Who am I kidding?


    From the tip of my fingers, a flow of mana was injected into the ground, raising an invisible barrier around us.


    It wasn''t a high-level barrier, but enough to make sure people wouldn''t pry into us.


    "Uh...?"


    Vivian''s brows furrowed slightly in confusion, but before she could question me, I acted again.


    Sliding my hands down to her slender waist, I pulled her closer.


    Rustle.


    The soft fabric of her dress brushed against my fingers as she stumbled forward, her body pressing lightly against mine.


    Her lips parted in surprise, but I didn''t hesitate.


    I leaned in, closing the distance, and pressed my lips to hers.


    Mmh~!


    The faintest sound escaped her, a soft noise of surprise and delight.


    Her lips were warm, soft, and tasted faintly sweet, like honey and the faint bitterness of wine.


    "Ahmn..."


    For a heartbeat, she tensed against me as her breath hitched audibly.


    Then she melted into me.


    Her hands slid up from my shoulders, fingertips brushing against my neck before settling into my hair.


    Her luscious red lips pressed back against mine, and I could directly feel her smile¡ªplayful, teasing, yet impossibly soft.


    Chuu~, smack, smack~


    The sound of our lips meeting and parting filled the quiet space of the barrier, mingling with the faint flowing sound of magic in the air.


    Vivian tilted her head slightly, deepening the kiss.


    Her breath mingled with mine, warm and uneven, and the sensation sent a shiver down my spine.


    My hands tightened on her waist instinctively, pulling her closer until there was no space left between us.


    She shifted against me, her lips moving body as her fingers tangled in my hair, tugging lightly as if to pull me even closer.


    Mmph...!


    A soft, breathy sound escaped her, and the warmth of it against my skin left me utterly undone.


    The kiss deepened naturally, growing bolder with every passing second.


    Her lips parted slightly, and I followed instinctively, the faint brush of her tongue against mine sending a jolt of heat through me.


    Shlick~


    The faint, wet sound of the kiss was intoxicating, amplified by the quiet that surrounded us.


    Her hands slid down to my chest, her fingers curling into the fabric of my shirt. With a soft rustle, she pushed me gently back, guiding me until my back pressed against the barrier.


    "Ah¡­"


    I let out a quiet gasp as the coldness of the barrier met my skin, but Vivian didn''t give me time to recover.


    She leaned in again, capturing my lips with a fierceness that made me lose my breath.


    Smack, churuu... chuu~~


    The sounds of our kiss grew louder, more urgent, as her body pressed fully against mine.


    Her lips left mine briefly, trailing soft, lingering kisses along my jawline.


    Nnh, churup~!


    I couldn''t stop the faint sound that escaped me as her lips brushed the sensitive spot just below my ear.


    "Professor... I guess you really are a predator..."


    Hearing my words, Vivian chuckled softly.


    "You only noticed that now?"


    And immediately, her lips returned to mine.


    Her body pressed closer, her curves molding perfectly against mine.


    Mmph!


    Her breath hitched again, her hands sliding down my chest before wrapping lightly around my waist.


    The faint sound of her humming in contentment as she kissed me made my chest tighten.


    Smack, mmph, shlick~~


    But unfortunately, as much as I wanted to continue kissing her, I had promised Lumi that I''d get back before midnight.


    "Gah..."


    Our lips parted away, leaving a small bridge of saliva between them. Her lust-filled eyes met mine as her hands slowly reached into my shirt and started unbuttoning it.


    "Vivian, let''s stop now."


    Instead of slapping her hand away or something like that, I decided to be direct.


    Her hand that was unbuttoning my shirt paused slightly before it was retracted. Her lustful smile had also faltered a lot as she kept her head low.


    "Why... Do you not like me after all this?"


    "Mhm? Did you say anything?"


    I was so focused on her actions that I didn''t catch her words.


    "Nothing!"


    Her eyes finally met mine as a soft smile splattered over her face. Then, she stepped back over to me, slipping her arm through mine once more before I could protest.


    But this time, none of us said anything.


    We started walking again, our pace was slow as we made our way back toward the more crowded parts of the capital.


    The streets were still quiet, but the lanterns burned warmly overhead, casting long shadows behind us.


    The night was calm, the air cool, and the earlier commotion or our hot moment felt like it had happened a lifetime ago.


    "Hey..."


    Vivian said softly, breaking the silence.


    Her voice was unusually gentle, almost hesitant.


    "Yeah?"


    "Did you have fun tonight?"


    I turned my head slightly, looking down at her.


    She wasn''t teasing this time.


    Her expression was sincere, her golden eyes watching me carefully as if waiting for my answer.


    I paused for a moment, but then quickly smiled.


    "Yeah, I definitely did."


    Vivian''s lips curved into a genuine smile.


    "Good."


    We walked in silence for a little longer, the quiet night settling comfortably between us.


    I didn''t mind it, though.


    For all her teasing, Vivian''s presence was¡­ easy.


    Warm, even.


    Eventually, she broke the quiet again.


    "Next time, though¡­"


    "Next time?"


    She grinned, back to her usual self.


    "Of course! You don''t think this is going to be our only date, do you?"


    "You''re already planning another?"


    "Naturally. A lady like me requires several dates to feel satisfied."


    "You''re unbelievable," I said again, though I couldn''t stop myself from smiling.


    Vivian only winked in response, her arm holding mine a little tighter as we continued walking through the moonlit streets of the capital.


    Somehow, I had a feeling this wouldn''t be the last time I let her drag me into something like this.


    And soon enough, we reached the hotel.


    As we reached the front of the hotel, Vivian let go of my arm, her usual playful smile returning as she turned to face me.


    "Well, here we are."


    Vivian spoke, brushing a strand of her red hair behind her ear.


    "Yeah. Tonight was really... fun." I licked my lips, emphasizing the last part.


    "Fun, huh? I''ll take that as a compliment," she teased, her golden eyes glinting under the warm glow of the lanterns.


    There was a pause, and I scratched the back of my neck, feeling a bit awkward now that the night was ending.


    Then, a thought crossed my mind.


    "Hey, Vivian?"


    "Mhm?" she tilted her head with a curious gaze.


    "What do slimes like?"


    Vivian blinked, caught off guard by the sudden question.


    "Slimes?"


    I nodded.


    She tapped her chin, pretending to think for a moment before responding swiftly.


    "Sweet things. Like sugar cubes. Or honey."


    Her answer came so quickly, so confidently, that I couldn''t help but chuckle.


    Without thinking, I leaned in and gave her a quick peck on the lips.


    Smack!


    Her eyes widened in shock, and for a moment, she stood there completely frozen. I stepped back, grinning as I waved over my shoulder.


    "Thanks. Have a good night, Vivian!"


    I turned and jogged into the hotel, leaving her standing there in stunned silence.


    "¡­What just happened?" she mumbled to herself, her hand brushing her lips.


    A moment later, the realization hit her, and her face turned bright red.


    "H-he caught me off guard!" she whispered, her voice rising slightly with embarrassment and disbelief.


    "He¡ª!"


    Vivian''s legs wobbled, and she staggered slightly before catching herself, her lips twitching between a pout and a smile.


    "Unbelievable¡­ That little¡ª!"


    Meanwhile, inside the hotel, I wasted no time. I went straight to a nearby vending machine and grabbed a small jar of honey and some sugar cubes.


    Then, I hurried up the stairs to my room.


    The moment I opened the door, Lumi came flying at me.


    Whoosh!


    "Master!"


    She squealed softly, her small slime body glowing faintly as she launched herself into my arms.


    "Kugh¡ª! Lumi!"


    I caught her, stumbling slightly from the impact.


    She giggled, her voice high and bubbly. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "You''re back! I missed you!"


    "Yeah, yeah, I''m back."


    I replied, patting her squishy surface.


    "And guess what I got for you?"


    As soon as she heard my words, her eyes widened, sparkling with excitement.


    "For me? What is it? What is it?!"


    I held up the jar of honey and the sugar cubes, and Lumi''s entire body jiggled with joy.


    "Yay! Sweets!"


    She immediately tried to grab the jar, but I held it just out of reach.


    "Hold on, Lumi. Let''s get you settled first," I said, setting her down on the table.


    Lumi bounced up and down with enthusiasm.


    "Hurry, Master! I''m so hungry!"


    I opened the jar of honey and poured a small amount onto a plate, placing a sugar cube next to it.


    Lumi didn''t hesitate.


    Slurp! Slurp!


    She devoured the honey and sugar with such delight that I couldn''t help but laugh.


    "This is so good!" Lumi chirped, her body glowing even brighter.


    "Thank you, Master! You''re the best!"


    "Yeah, yeah."


    I smiled, sitting down on the edge of the bed.


    The events of the night finally started to catch up with me, and I let out a tired sigh.


    Lumi noticed and hopped over, landing beside me with a small bounce.


    "Master, are you okay?"


    She asked, tilting her little slime head.


    "Yeah, just a little bit tired."


    I replied, giving her a small smile before adding:


    "It''s been a long day."


    She snuggled against my side, her soft, cool body pressing gently against me.


    "Don''t worry, Master. Lumi''s here!"


    I chuckled, resting a hand on her head.


    "Yeah, I know."


    As I sat there with Lumi happily glowing beside me, I couldn''t help but think back to Professor Vivian and her teasing smile.


    Tonight had been¡­ fun, to say the least.

 Chapter 19 The Academys Competition (I)

    The royal capital was full of life, the streets were buzzing with excitement, as the sweet chirp of the birds flowed naturally through the air.


    But today, there was a special event.


    The Academy''s Competition!


    This wasn''t just some small event¡ªit was the competition where the best students from the five biggest academies faced off to prove who was the strongest.


    And there were currently five academies facing against each other.


    The previous champion, Eternum''s Royal Academy, their students were the best of the best, mostly nobles from powerful families with talent and resources that seemed impossible to rival.


    Then, the Beastkin academy, whose students are only beast people from the Western continent where the law of the jungle rules.


    The Holy Academy, from which most priests and priestesses graduate, has significant power due to their divine energy, despite being primarily healing students.


    After that, there''s the Sword Academy where most of the sword users come from, having excellent swordsmanship.


    This was also where the first Sword Duke graduated from.


    Finally, there''s the Silverleaf Academy.


    There''s nothing much to say about it, except that it was the weakest academy for ten years straight, but this time there''s a horrendous talent coming from it.


    None other than the Moonlight Swordsman!


    "Ugh..."


    The sun filtered through the tall windows of the hotel lobby, casting warm light on polished marble floors.


    Students from all five academies filled the space, their distinctive uniforms making it easy to see who belonged where.


    The air was thick with tension, excitement, and just a little bit of arrogance¡ªmostly from Eternum''s group, who stood in their usual demeanor, looking down on everyone else.


    I mean, what would you expect from the academy that the novel follows?


    Silverleaf''s group wasn''t as large as the others, but I believed we could win¡ªor at least that''s what I wanted to tell myself.


    It was impossible to ignore the sideways glances from the other academies.


    Their whispers are just loud enough to catch the occasional "weakest school" or "do they even stand a chance?"


    I shrugged it off.


    Let them talk.


    I wasn''t here to entertain them.


    I walked into the lobby, the click of my boots on marble catching a few glances. The noise around me seemed to dim as I made my way toward my classmates.


    "Ah... Aestrea, you''re here." Professor Vivian''s voice pulled me out of my thoughts.


    She stood at the center of our group with her usual confident smile on the luscious red lips that I had recently kissed.


    "Yeah."


    I replied simply, taking my place among the group.


    Some of my classmates looked nervous, their eyes darting to the larger groups from the other academies.


    Vivian clapped her hands, silencing everyone.


    "Alright, listen up!"


    "This competition is our chance to show the world what Silverleaf can do. I don''t care what they say about us being the weakest. We''re here to prove them wrong. Every one of you has worked hard to get here, and I expect you to fight like it."


    Her gaze lingered on me for a split second, and I knew exactly what she meant without her needing to say it.


    I straightened up, my hand instinctively brushing against the hilt of my sword.


    The competition hadn''t even started yet, but I could feel the expectations, not just from Vivian but from my entire academy.


    "Head to the registration desk," she continued.


    "Aestrea, you''re with me. The rest of you, stick together and don''t get lost."


    I followed her as we moved towards the registration desk. The chatter in the lobby dissipated into the background, replaced by the sound of my own footsteps.


    This was it.


    The beginning of the Academy Competition.


    I''ll destroy everyone.


    ...


    After the registration was all wrapped up, Vivian handed me a neatly folded outfit¡ªa sleek black suit with silver embroidery.


    "This is the Leader''s Suit."


    She explained with an unusually serious tone.


    "You''ll need to wear it."


    Without waiting for me to respond, she guided me toward one of the changing rooms.


    The hotel we were staying at was relatively close to the grand stadium where the competition would happen.


    "Change your clothes."


    I nodded, not bothering to question her this time.


    She didn''t tease me this time, which was strange, but I got it. This competition is something serious, and even Vivian wouldn''t joke about it.


    I slipped into the changing room and put on the suit.


    The fabric was light yet sturdy, fitting perfectly like it was tailored just for me.


    The silver embroidery gleamed faintly in the light, giving off an air of quiet authority.


    When I stepped out, Vivian''s eyes scanned me from head to toe.


    "This fits just right..."


    I muttered, adjusting the sleeves slightly.


    Vivian stepped closer, a faint smile playing on her lips.


    "Almost. Here¡ªthis part should be like this."


    She reached out and adjusted a small silver chain that ran across the chest of the suit, carefully positioning it so it rested neatly.


    Her hands were quick, precise, and surprisingly gentle. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Perfect."


    Her lips curled into a satisfied smile as she stepped back to admire her handiwork.


    "Thanks."


    I replied, glancing down at myself.


    "Now", let''s go. It''s almost time."


    In a flash, we both disappeared from the hotel, arriving at a seemingly waiting room where the rest of the Silverleaf Academy was.


    "Aestrea! We''re almost entering the arena!"


    One of my classmates blurted out as soon as he saw me, his voice shaking a little.


    "Relax..." Another chimed in, clapping him on the back.


    "We''ve got Aestrea. If nothing else, he won''t embarrass us."


    Gosh...


    Good job bringing down everyone''s morale.


    I sighed, running a hand through my hair.


    "Don''t worry, everyone. I''ll do my best to make sure we get through this. Just stick to the plan, alright?"


    "Yes, Sir!"


    Damn.


    What''s up with that military greeting?


    "Anyway, the other academies have already entered. It should be our turn soon, right?" one of them suggested, and just as he expressed his words, the announcer''s voice reached us.


    "And now, last but not least, the Silverleaf Academy!"


    I took a deep breath and straightened up, running a hand through my hair to push it into a more comfortable position, just in front of my eyes, making sure it wasn''t in my way.


    The gates ahead of us creaked open, and we started walking toward the center of the stadium, where all the other academies were lined up with their flags.


    As we moved forward, the students in the back began waving our academy''s flag proudly.


    As we reached the center, I could feel every set of eyes on me.


    Normally, this was where the academy leader gave some kind of speech or rallying cry.


    But I had something different in mind.


    I could feel the eyes of the crowd on me.


    There were the emperor, the empress, dukes, duchesses¡ªeveryone watching, waiting.


    This was a very prestigious moment after all.


    Shing...!


    The sound of metal ringing through the air cut through the silence, sharp and clear.


    The sword gleamed in the sunlight, acting as a perfect mirror of the sky.


    I raised it high, pointing it toward the sky.


    The wind picked up around me, and I could feel the clouds shift.


    For a moment, everything was still, as if the world was holding its breath.


    Then, a silver thread of mana shot out from the tip of my sword, swirling in the air like smoke.


    It sparkled in the light.


    I pushed my hair back, focusing, and a crescent moon symbol appeared on my forehead, glowing just enough for everyone watching to notice.


    I swung my sword smoothly, and the mana wrapped around our group.


    Swoosh!


    The air felt heavier, charged with energy.


    The ground beneath me hummed with power.


    The wind picked up again, louder this time, almost like a storm was coming.


    The sky above seemed to darken a little.


    I swung my sword again, and the mana spread out, surrounding us.


    Voom!


    The energy pulsed in the air, but only around Silverleaf Academy.


    I stopped, holding the sword still.


    The mana hummed quietly around us, and the moon symbol in my eyes glowed faintly.


    The whole stadium went quiet.


    I let the pressure build for just a moment longer, and then I spoke...


    "The Silverleaf Academy has arrived."


    As soon as the words left my mouth, the pressure exploded.


    CRUSH!


    A heavy weight slammed down on every other academy except ours.


    Some students from the other schools dropped to their knees, their faces covered in sweat.


    Others struggled to stay standing, their bodies shaking.


    I let the pressure lift just as fast.


    The wind calmed down, and the sky lightened.


    The crowd murmured, but I stood calm, feeling their eyes still on me.


    Behind me, my classmates quietly, with their excited gazes full of appreciation stood.


    From the crowd, Vivian gave me a small, approving smile, not to mention the gazes full of interest coming from the high-order people.


    I could sense the intense emotions of the dukes, duchesses, barons, and even the empress; they were watching me with interest.


    Yeah.


    This should be enough...


    A small smirk tugged my lips.

 Chapter 20 The Academys Competition (II)

    In the VIP section of the grand stadium, high above the roaring crowd, the most influential figures in the empire had gathered.


    Dukes, duchesses, and even the emperor and empress were seated in lavish chairs, their expressions calm yet curious as they watched the competition.


    The air was filled with quiet murmurs and the occasional clink of fine glassware.


    Elandor, the Sword Duke, stroked his sharp beard as he leaned forward, his emerald cape catching the sunlight.


    "That boy from Silverleaf, Aestrea... Did you see the energy around his sword? He''s no ordinary student. Tell me, is he one of yours?"


    Beside him, the Northern Duchess, Evelyn, a poised woman with striking light blue hair and piercing blue eyes, stood with her arms crossed.


    "No, although his affinity is also ice like mine; it is the first time I have seen him. However. now I''m quite interested in him..." her lips curled into a small smile.


    "Haha! It''s really funny, this is the first time I have seen the Northern Duchess interested in someone!"


    A rough voice came behind them, and immediately, both of their expression changed slightly as they replied politely.


    "Your Highness."


    They greeted in unison, bowing their heads slightly.


    The man behind them chuckled warmly.


    "No need for courtesies. We''re here to enjoy the competition, aren''t we?"


    It was Francis Arthur Charles X, the current emperor of the empire.


    "But I''ll admit," he continued, stroking his chin thoughtfully, "without even the need to fight, that boy made sure to explain that he wasn''t here to play around."


    The emperor laughed softly.


    At his side, Empress Isabella leaned forward slightly, her eyes sparkling with quiet interest. Her gown, a masterpiece of midnight blue and silver threads, shimmered like starlight.


    "So this is the boy Ella mentioned," she murmured, almost to herself.


    "I like him."


    But, her words had reached the emperor, making him frown.


    "Ella is still too young!"


    "She''s of marriageable age, Francis!"


    Isabella replied with a sigh, her tone sharp but calm.


    "I don''t care. She''s my precious baby!"


    The emperor shot back.


    "Tsk. Overprotective as ever."


    Isabella clicked her tongue in annoyance.


    But deep down, she noted Aestrea''s name.


    Meanwhile, their quiet exchange didn''t go unnoticed.


    Whispers spread through the lower-ranked nobility seated nearby.


    A younger noble, perhaps a marquis, adjusted his glasses and glanced down at the arena.


    "To think a student from Silverleaf would earn the favor of such a crowd. It''s unheard of... who could have trained him, I wonder?"


    The nobles continued their murmurs, their eyes now frequently darting to Aestrea as if he were the only star in the night sky.


    This boy, the strongest from the "weakest" academy had become the center of their attention, even before the first match had begun.


    ...


    "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Academy Competition!"


    The crowd buzzed with excitement as the announcer''s voice echoed through the huge stadium.


    "Today, the top five academies will battle to prove who''s the best!"


    The crowd roared, cheering and clapping.


    "The rules for the first round!"


    The announcer continued as his voice gathered everyone''s attention.


    "Each academy leader will draw a number. These numbers will decide the match-ups. Since there are five academies, one will skip this round and advance straight to the next."


    "For the match-ups, each academy will send out a student for a one-on-one battle. Each win earns one point for the academy. The first to reach five points wins the round!"


    "Each academy will have five matches, except for the ones that get skipped, and after all match-ups are finished, the two academies with the lowest scores will be eliminated!"


    In the middle of the field, a table was brought in, draped in blue velvet. On it was a wooden box with a gold latch, simple yet elegant.


    "Academy leaders, step forward to draw your lots!"


    The announcer called out.


    Immediately, the leader from each academy stepped forward, wearing a different uniform from the rest of the students of their academy.


    The leader of Eternum Royal Academy was first.


    It was none other than Ella.


    With her long, wavy white hair and a navy-and-silver uniform that shimmered under the sunlight, she opened the box, selected a scroll with a flourish, and stepped back with a calm expression.


    Next, the leader of Beastkin Academy stepped forward.


    A massive lionkin with fiery red hair and sharp golden eyes, he grabbed his scroll without hesitation and returned to his spot, his tail swaying lazily.


    The Holy Academy''s representative...


    At that moment, everyone focused on her.


    Because it was none other than the Saintess Christina!


    Her golden hair swayed slowly in the wind as her dim pink eyes looked forward.


    She selected her scroll delicately, as though handling something precious, before stepping back with a soft smile.


    The Sword Academy''s leader came next, his tall frame and sharp, stoic features drawing a few murmurs from the crowd.


    His movements were mechanical and efficient, from picking the scroll to returning to his place without a word.


    Finally, it was Aestrea''s turn.


    He stepped forward, aware of the eyes watching his every move. His hand slipped into the box, brushing against the remaining scroll.


    Without a glance, he stepped back to join the others.


    "Leaders, reveal your lots!" the announcer said.


    One by one, the scrolls were unrolled.


    Ella held her up high, revealing a bold 1.


    Beastkin''s leader displayed a 2 as his grin turned sharp and confident.


    Christina revealed the number 1, glancing briefly at Ella with a faint smile.


    The Sword Academy leader revealed a 2.


    Finally, Aestrea opened his scroll.


    The number 3 looked back at him.


    At that moment, the announcer''s voice rang out once more, full of excitement.


    "Here are the match-ups! Eternum Royal Academy will face Holy Academy in the first match! Beastkin Academy will battle Sword Academy in the second match!" sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Finally, the Silverleaf Academy, with lot number three, will skip this round and automatically advance to the next one, earning one point in their total score!"


    Instantly, the whole stadium erupted in cheers as the results were announced. However, a few of them were thoroughly disappointed as Silverleaf had earned a free point.


    "Lucky bastards...!"


    The students from the other academies couldn''t but express their opinions, but as soon as Astrea heard those words, he stopped in his tracks.


    "Ah... you guys want to die so soon?"


    Shing...


    He slowly sheathed his sword, and immediately, the students who were talking about Silverleaf''s good luck retracted steadily.


    Letting out a scoff, Aestrea made his way back to his group.


    "That was so damn lucky!"


    The students cheered between themselves, trying not to be so loud.


    "Pfff..."


    Aestrea put his sword back into its scabbard as he let out a small chuckle.


    "Alright, everyone! Let''s calm down!" Vivian said as she clapped her hands, gathering everyone''s attention in her form.


    "Now that we got one point in advantage, we only need to win two more, or simply get lucky enough. But don''t relax! Take advantage of the time to watch the competition. Study them carefully and learn everything you can!"


    "Yes!"


    The students replied in unison.


    Aestrea nodded, his hand resting lightly on the hilt of his sword. He leaned against the railing as the first match was set to begin.


    Eternum Royal Academy and the Holy Academy sent their first fighters into the arena.


    Eternum''s first representative was a boy named Ren, clad in the academy''s elegant navy and silver uniform.


    His posture was perfect, his polished sword gleaming under the sunlight.


    On the other side was Holy Academy''s pick¡ªa petite girl named Mira.


    Dressed in the pristine white and gold of her school, she carried a staff adorned with an intricate crystal at the top.


    Her calm expression and the faint glow of divine energy around her hinted at immense power despite her unassuming appearance.


    The announcer''s voice broke the tension.


    "Let the first match... begin!"


    With a loud cheer from the crowd, the fight was on.


    Ren charged forward immediately, his sword cutting through the air in a precise arc.


    But Mira didn''t flinch.


    She twirled her staff, planting it firmly in the ground as a golden barrier flared to life around her.


    CLANG!


    Ren''s sword struck the barrier, sending out a ripple of energy.


    The crowd leaned forward, captivated by the clash.


    ''Mhm...''


    As the fight continued on, Aestrea was lost in his thoughts.


    He was very troubled as he continued reading the rules of the first round that had been granted to the professors in a scroll.


    And the thing that troubled him the most was the 7th article.


    [7th Article]: During one of the rounds, a student who had already been chosen to fight, cannot participate again until the next round.


    That means Aestrea cannot win the five points alone.


    He needs to defeat a student from the other academy, and then make sure four of his classmates win their match too, for the academy to be able to earn another point.


    So, Aestrea closed the scroll and looked at every student in their station.


    ¡º Judgement Eye (? S-Level Skill?)¡»


    At that moment, the symbol of a balance scale which is used in law, appeared on the pupils of his eyes.


    ''I''ll make sure to figure out the weakness of each one of them...''


    A red liquid flowed down his left eye.

 Chapter 21 The Academys Competition (III)

    The fight between the academies continued.


    And to everyone''s surprise, the Holy Academy won the contest against the Eternum''s Royal Academy.


    However, none of them had sent their leaders or even the named characters.


    I had to admit that the students from each academy were incredibly talented for their age.


    Compared to Silverleaf, only three or four of our students could match their level.


    But that was good enough for me¡ªour academy didn''t need to be the strongest, just smart enough to win.


    The next match between Beastkin Academy and Sword Academy was one-sided.


    The Beastkin Academy dominated all five battles without losing a single point.


    And now it was time to draw the lots once again.


    Like before, I was the last one getting the scroll.


    Ella''s number was 3.


    The huge tiger''s number was 2.


    The sword academy''s leader was 1.


    The Saintess''s number was 2.


    That means... my number is 1.


    "Tough luck."


    I muttered, stretching my arms casually before heading back to our station.


    My classmates were waiting nervously, all of their eyes fixed on me. I looked at Vivian and she nodded her head at me.


    "Don''t worry guys, I have a small plan in mind..."


    My smile deepened.


    Then, I started explaining my plan to them.


    It was simple.


    Each of our academy''s students specialized in a single attribute or skill, so I planned to use that to our advantage.


    The only problem is that everyone in the Sword Academy is a swordsman, so we needed someone who could keep a safe distance and counter them effectively.


    A wind user.


    "Students, get into the arena!"


    The announcer''s voice boomed, snapping everyone back to focus.


    Immediately, I turned my gaze towards the sword academy''s station and as I saw the student stepping it, I turned back.


    "You''re up. Just stick to the plan, and you''ll be fine."


    "Um!"


    Maria nodded, her green hair swaying slightly as she stepped into the arena. She was one of the strongest wind users in our academy, and I trusted her completely.


    We just needed four wins since I''ll guarantee the fifth one.


    With the two students in the arena, the announcer exclaimed loudly.


    "Let the match begin!"


    Swish!


    Immediately, the student from the sword academy charged, bringing out his sword and slicing it in Maria''s direction.


    He was quite fast, but it couldn''t compare to Maria who was a wind user.


    Fwoop!


    With a graceful wave of her hand, a gust of wind pushed her back just enough to dodge his opening strike.


    Clang!


    His blade struck the ground where she had been standing a moment before, sending sparks flying.


    And it continued like that.


    As the swordsman tried to strike Maria, she would use her wind magic to get away from him instantly.


    And soon enough, the swordsman was growing frustrated.


    Clang!


    Clink!


    Fwoop!


    Each swing of his sword sounded louder and heavier as he tried to corner her.


    Then came the moment we were waiting for.


    The swordsman overreached, lunging forward with a powerful strike.


    His blade cut through empty air as Maria sidestepped effortlessly, using her wind magic to push herself into the air.


    As he stumbled slightly from the missed attack, Maria raised her hands.


    Shhhhrrrrrr!


    A strong gust of wind swept across the arena, kicking up dust and forcing the swordsman to steady himself.


    He planted his feet and tried to push back, but Maria''s wind grew stronger.


    SWOOOP!


    The force was relentless, pushing him closer and closer to the edge.


    The crowd leaned forward in anticipation, holding their breath.


    Finally, with one final burst...


    BAAM!


    Maria''s magic sent the swordsman flying backward. His feet skidded across the ground before slipping off the edge of the arena.


    Thud!


    He landed outside the ring, defeated.


    The crowd erupted into cheers and applause.


    "The winner is Maria of Silverleaf Academy!" the announcer declared, his voice booming over the roar of the spectators.


    Maria turned to us, a small, proud smile on her face as she walked back to the station.


    "Great job."


    A smile creeped out to my face.


    She really followed my plan entirely.


    "Did you guys see? I easily won!" she raised her chin proudly, declaring to the rest of my classmates.


    I chuckled at her boast but was quite happy for her. Maria, in particular, didn''t have much confidence, so hopefully this victory elevates it.


    After a while, the announcer called out for the students again.


    Unfortunately, this time it was a stronger student, and I knew no one could beat him except me.


    So, I shook my head.


    One of my classmates stepped forward and went to the battle. He tried his best, but in the need, he easily got defeated.


    Such a pity.


    However, as the announcer called out and the student from the other academy stepped out, my eyes immediately lit up.


    It was going to be an easy win.


    "Derek."


    I patted his shoulder, and he turned to look at me.


    "It''s your time to shine." My lips curled into a faint smile.


    Derek''s eyes immediately shone as hurriedly went to the arena, waving at us.


    Soon enough, the announcer''s voice echoed through the arena:


    "Begin!"


    Ding!


    The swordsman dashed forward, his sword slashing towards Derek, but he was ready for his attack.


    Boom!


    A wall made of earth shot up from the ground, blocking the attack. The clash sent dust flying everywhere, making the crowd roar in excitement.


    The swordsman tried to break through Derek''s defenses, swinging his sword at the earth wall over and over.


    Clang!


    Thud!


    But Derek wasn''t just standing still.


    With a stomp of his foot,


    CRACK!


    The ground beneath his opponent shifted, throwing him off balance.


    Derek took the chance to send a wave of jagged rocks toward the swordsman.


    Rumble!


    The swordsman leaped into the air, narrowly avoiding the attack, but as he landed, Derek slammed his hands to the ground.


    BOOM!


    A massive pillar of earth shot up beneath the swordsman, launching him into the air. He landed outside the arena with a heavy thud!


    The crowd erupted into cheers.


    "The winner is Derek of Silverleaf Academy!" the announcer shouted.


    Derek walked back to us, wiping the sweat off his forehead.


    "Two wins down."


    I raised my hand, and he dapped me up.


    Finally, just like Maria, he also boasted.


    These kids...


    Since the round began, a smile didn''t leave my lips.


    However, the next three matches were a disaster.


    They sent really strong students and we couldn''t defeat them, unfortunately.


    It was 4-2, they just needed a single point to win while we needed three.


    So, we needed to send one of the strongest students of our academy, and after taking a deep look at the Sword Academy''s representative...


    I decided to go with Mia, our best fire mage.


    Unlike the others, Mia was quite confident as she stepped into the arena, her crimson hair was tied back in a ponytail and her fire-coated staff glinted under the sun.


    Her opponent was a swordswoman from the Sword Academy, clad in their academy''s uniform.


    They started at each other for a while, and then...


    The announcer''s voice rang out.


    "Begin!"


    Ding!


    The swordswoman wasted no time, charging forward with incredible speed.


    Whoosh!


    Clang!


    Her blade collided with Mia''s staff, sparks flying in all directions. Mia gritted her teeth, pushing back with a flare of fire from her staff.


    Fwoosh!


    The swordswoman leaped back, narrowed her eyes, and dashed to Mia''s side, her sword slicing through the air.


    Swish!


    Mia twisted her staff to block, the sound of steel and fire clashing filling the arena.


    Clang!


    Fwoom!


    Mia didn''t just defend, though.


    She counterattacked, spinning her staff and sending a wave of flames toward her opponent.


    Fwip!


    Crackle!


    The fire roared as it surged forward, forcing the swordswoman to roll to the side.


    Clang!


    Boom!


    The swordswoman tried to close the distance, however, Mia used her fire to keep her at bay, flames swirling around her in some kind of protective barrier.


    Shhhhhhh!


    The heat was intense, and the swordswoman''s movements slowed slightly, sweat dripping down her face.


    "Now!"


    Seeing an opening, Mia stepped forward and swung her staff, flames trailing behind it like some kind of fire comet.


    Fwoosh!


    BOOM!


    The swordswoman barely managed to deflect the attack, the force of it pushing her back several steps.


    The swordswoman gritted her teeth and charged again, this time aiming for Mia''s legs.


    Swish!


    Mia jumped, flipping in midair as her staff left a trail of fire behind her.


    She landed gracefully, her boots tapping lightly against the ground.


    "You''re good," Mia said with a smirk.


    "But I''m better."


    With a quick motion, Mia twirled her staff above her head, the flames growing brighter and hotter.


    Whoosh!


    CRACKLE!


    The swordswoman hesitated for just a moment, and that was all Mia needed.


    She slammed the end of her staff into the ground.


    BOOM!


    A wave of fire shot out in all directions, forcing her opponent to retreat once more.


    But the heat was too much.


    The swordswoman stumbled, losing her foot''s grip on the floor.


    And Mia took the opportunity with a smile.


    She thrust her staff forward, sending a focused blast of fire at her opponent''s feet.


    Fwoosh!


    BOOM!


    Thud...!


    The impact sent the swordswoman flying backward, landing just outside the arena.


    The crowd erupted into cheers as Mia raised her staff triumphantly with her flames dissipating away.


    "The winner is Mia of Silverleaf Academy!" the announcer declared.


    Mia walked back to us with a confident stride, her face flushed but victorious.


    "Three down," she said with a grin, twirling her staff.


    "Good job."


    "Anything for ya~"


    She winked at me with a charming smile.


    "Hah."


    I let out a small laugh.


    If there was anything peculiar about Mia, it was the part that she was quite obsessed with me. I didn''t mind her actions though.


    Her breasts were quite large after all, maybe an E-cup or larger than that.


    And like Isaac Newton once said:


    The greater the mass, the greater the force of attraction.


    Ahem.


    Anyway, now we just needed one more win.


    And then I would destroy whoever came against me in the final match.


    So, I looked towards the sword academy''s station, and to my surprise, there was one classmate of mine who could easily deal with him.


    James, who was Derek''s brother and was also an earth user.


    He faced a lean swordsman who was holding a rapier, which meant that his attack was focused on speed and not damage.


    However, James looked really confident.


    And soon enough, the announcer''s voice rang out.


    "Begin!"


    Swish!


    The swordsman darted forward with lightning speed and James responded immediately, stomping the ground with force.


    RUMBLE!


    A stone wall shot up, cutting off the swordsman''s path.


    CRACK!


    The swordsman slashed through the wall, sending chunks of stone flying.


    "Not bad..." James muttered as he leaped back to secure distance.


    He raised his hands, and the ground trembled slightly.


    BOOM!


    Sharp spikes erupted from the ground, forcing the swordsman to jump back.


    The arena was soon a maze of jagged rocks.


    But the swordsman remained firm.


    Tap, tap, tap!


    His light steps danced around the spikes as he closed the distance, slashing through James''s rocky defenses.


    Finally, his blade struck James'' side.


    CLANG!


    However, the attack bounced harmlessly as a layer of some kind of rock armor appeared in James''s body.


    "My turn," James said with a grin, before stomping his feet on the ground again.


    RUMBLE!


    The ground cracked beneath the swordsman, forcing him to leap back.


    But before he could regain his balance, a massive stone pillar shot up.


    WHAM!


    It struck him in the chest, knocking him into the air.


    James didn''t let up.


    He formed a boulder and hurled it with precision.


    WHOOSH!


    CRACK!


    The impact sent the swordsman tumbling out of the arena.


    "The winner is James of Silverleaf Academy!" the announcer declared.


    James returned to our station with a triumphant grin.


    He smiled at me as he made his way to his brother Derek.


    They really were brothers...


    The two of them defeated their opponents using the same attack as their key attack.


    It was quite funny.


    "Now, it''s 4-4," Vivian exclaimed, and everyone''s gaze turned to me.


    I only chuckled at their worried gazes.


    "Don''t worry. I''ll destroy whoever my opponent is."


    I waved my hand as I turned my back to them and stepped into the arena.


    The wind surged up as I did so.


    I looked forward and saw the Sword Academy''s leader.


    Honestly, it was obvious that he was going to be the one fighting against me unless they wanted to hide his abilities.


    Soon, the crowd grew louder, their cheers mixing with excited murmurs.


    "Looks like Silverleaf is putting out their leader!"


    "Finally, we get to see him fight!"


    Shing!


    He drew his sword, staring at me with the same mechanical cold look.


    Then, the announcer shouted. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "The first match between leaders shall begin!"


    Swoop!

 Chapter 22 The Academys Competition (IV)

    Swoop!


    In an instant, Leon, leader of the Sword Academy, dashed forward like a bolt of lightning. His sword gleamed as he aimed a piercing strike straight at Aestrea.


    Aestrea reacted instantly as he merely sidestepped to the right and swung his blade in a vertical arc, aiming to catch Leon''s back.


    Clang!


    Sparks exploded between their swords as Leon twisted to block the attack, teeth gritted, pushing back with all his strength.


    However, Aestrea merely kept a small smile as a silvery glow began to radiate from his sword, its light growing stronger by the second.


    Swoop!


    Aestrea''s sword slammed against the ground, creating a crater of a slash on the fortified ground.


    And immediately, the crowd started cheering even louder.


    It was the first time the arena had been broken by a student.


    "Damn it..." Leon gritted his teeth.


    Slowly, a red energy surged up, swirling and crackling before enveloping his entire body along with his sword.


    And then, he disappeared in a flash.


    Clang!


    Appearing right behind Aestrea, he swung his sword at his head, but Aestrea without even looking at him, blocked the sword with his own, only sticking out his arm backward.


    "Impossible!"


    Leon''s eyes widened in surprise, but suddenly, Aestrea let Leon''s sword slide across his, making him stumble, and took the opportunity to deliver a kick to his stomach.


    Thud!


    "Kugh!"


    Still blocking the blow with the sword''s blade, Leon still took damage from his kick. He held his stomach where Aestrea''s kick landed and glared at him.


    "Pfu!"


    He spat blood on the ground before wiping his lips and then facing his sword in Aestrea''s direction. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Sword Circle: First Move..."


    ¡º Revolving Swords! ¡»


    Around him, a bunch of swords appeared booming in the air before drifting towards Aestrea with a long speed.


    To this, Aestrea kept the same smile as he started running towards the sword.


    He leaped...


    Tap...!


    Jumping on top of one of the swords, a burst of mana surged from his body, strong enough to send the remaining swords flying across the arena.


    Then, he swung his sword...


    Zooom!


    A crescent-shaped slash of mana was sent towards Leon, who quickly dodged to the left and looked towards Aestrea...


    But, he had disappeared from his view, and Leon''s eyes widened as he sensed a presence behind him.


    Thud!


    This time he couldn''t dodge it and was sent rolling down the arena''s floor.


    "Is that all?" Come on, you should use your unique talent, this is too easy for me."


    Aestrea''s voice reached out to him, and hearing his words, Leon gritted his teeth in annoyance, the veins in his neck bulging.


    It was the first time someone had overpowered him so much, not to mention that he was also joking around with him.


    "Is that so?" Leon sneered coldly.


    "Let''s see if you''re still smiling after this!"


    A dense aura exploded from his body, and the floating swords around him multiplied, and he wasn''t even using the Sword Circle''s techniques.


    ¡º The talent "Sword Immortal" has been activated. ¡»


    "Go!"


    He sent the swarm of swords flying toward Aestrea in a deadly wave, but Aestrea''s smile only deepened as he saw this.


    He stopped in his tracks, and seeing the hundreds of swords coming towards him, he shifted his body slightly.


    "Moonlit Ice Lotus Sword Art..."


    ¡º First Move! (? Ice Lotus Bloom ?) ¡»


    Around his body, an ice lotus with moonlight''s light bloomed into dozens of petals, and slowly they started hurling toward the swords coming at him.


    Clang, clang!


    The sounds echoed through the arena, raising the crowd''s excitement by yet another level, and sure enough, even the higher-level nobles were interested.


    In the crowd, Evelyn''s eyes widened in surprise.


    "This... is a self-made sword art."


    And hearing her words, the others around were even shocked.


    "Northern Duchess, are you sure about your words? Just the power of the first move is already comparable to the A-rank!" Elandor frowned slightly.


    Normally, one would be happy to see such a talented student, but Leon was actually his grandson, and of course, he wanted Leon to win the match.


    "I can confirm that." Empress Isabella nodded her head.


    She had also been a swordsman, a higher rank at that, and from her experience, she had never seen swordsmanship as exquisite as Aestrea''s.


    It wasn''t just his swordsmanship; every move he made followed a precise line, each one perfectly aligned with the others, making his opponent follow his wishes.


    It was as if...


    "He fights like some kind of puppet master," Evelyn muttered loudly enough for everyone to hear.


    Empress Isabella nodded in agreement.


    "It''s true. I was thinking the same thing."


    "Ah... such a talented child," Emperor Francis muttered as his eyes started conveying greed, and as Isabella noticed this, a faint smile appeared on her lips.


    "If only he were my son-in-law," she nodded knowingly with a wry smile.


    Hearing her words, Emperor Francis frowned but began to contemplate the idea.


    However, his thoughts were abruptly interrupted by a loud noise.


    BAAM!


    Leon was sent flying across the arena, piercing his sword into the ground, just enough to save him from falling out of the arena.


    His whole body was bruised with cuts, blood slowly dripping down from every inch of his body, normally, one would forfeit.


    But Leon''s pride was quite immense, and he wouldn''t forfeit, even if he died.


    That was the pride of a swordsman.


    "Ah... This really is shameful, you couldn''t land a single hit in me despite using your talent. I''m quite disappointed."


    Aestrea''s voice reached Leon''s ears, who clenched his sword tightly.


    In front of him, Aestrea kept the same faint smile as he continued walking towards him. His body was unscathed, and his uniform didn''t even have a small cut or anything.


    "You..."


    "YOU BASTAAARD!"


    Leon screamed loudly, his voice echoing through the whole arena like some kind of roar.


    At that moment, fiery red energy exploded from his body, surging into the sky like a raging inferno, to the point of reaching the clouds, and seeing this, Aestrea took a step back.


    He looked at this, and the glow in his eyes intensified with excitement.


    If one saw this, they would call him a battle junkie.


    Crackle!


    From the stormy clouds, a giant glowing red sword began to materialize as a strange crimson lightning started crackling around it.


    Leon''s face was contorted with madness, his eyes wild as he raised a trembling hand. Then, with a sharp motion, he swung his arm downward.


    "DIE!"


    The sword slowly descended in Aestrea''s direction.


    "AESTREA!"


    Panicked shouts erupted from the crowd, but Aestrea didn''t flinch.


    Instead, he raised his thumb in the air, giving a casual thumbs-up as if to say...


    "I''ve got this."


    His stance shifted slightly as he pressed his upper body forward and reflected both of his legs a bit forward.


    "Moonlit Ice Lotus Sword Art..."


    ¡º 30% Strength: Third Move (? Moonlight''s One Flash ?) ¡»


    Shing!


    A blinding flash of light streaked through the arena, slicing upward towards the descending sword.


    For a brief moment, Aestrea''s figure vanished, reappearing a heartbeat later just a few meters from Leon.


    The crowd held her breath, and the higher noble''s mouths opened agape.


    Crack...!


    The massive red sword fractured, splintering into countless shards that rained down like crimson snow.


    Plop...


    Leon''s body crumpled to the ground, his face drenched in sweat. Blood trickled down his forehead as his breaths turned shallow and labored.


    Step...


    Aestrea approached slowly, each step echoing through the now-silent arena.


    His glowing red eyes flickered wildly and widened slightly, like a predator toying with its trapped prey.


    Leon''s body began to tremble uncontrollably.


    He bit his lip, trying to steady himself, but his voice came out in broken stutters.


    "W-w-what k-kind of m-monster a-are you?"


    He swallowed hard, loud enough for Aestrea to hear it.


    To his words, Aestrea tilted his head as his smile deepened.


    "Just a... moonlight lover."


    Then, Aestrea pressed the palm of his hand against Leon''s chest.


    His crimson gaze never wavered as he spoke a single word.


    "Impacto."


    ZOOOOOOM!


    "ARRRGHH!"


    An air explosion happened as shortly after, Leon''s body, like a lightning bolt was sent flying out of the arena.


    CRASH!


    "Kugh...!"


    His body splattered against the protective barrier of the crowd, his sword clattering uselessly to the ground.


    His body was battered and bruised, blood seeping from dozens of cuts, and everyone was completely speechless.


    "T-the... the winner is Silverleaf''s Leader, Aestrea!"


    The announcer''s voice rang out.


    And immediately...


    "OH MY GOD!"


    "HE''S SO STRONG!"


    "DID YOU SEE THAT MOVE?!"


    The crowd went crazy, spouting all kinds of compliments.


    Ignoring those shouts, Aestrea left the arena smiling, walking towards the Silverleaf''s Academy Station.


    "That was amazing!"


    "You completely crushed him!"


    One upon the other, his classmates started gathering around him, and with a smile, Aestrea tried to calm down the countless compliments from his classmates.


    Vivian merely looked at Aestrea with a more than satisfied smile, but her expression quickly soured when she heard a familiar voice.


    "Brother Aestrea~~," Mia whispered seductively, pressing her huge breast against Aestrea''s arm, clung to him like a desperate cat.


    "Ahem!"


    Immediately, Vivian''s voice rang out, and everyone turned their gaze to her.


    "Aestrea needs to rest, stop bothering him already!" her voice grew sharp and stern.


    In an instant, everyone scattered around, whistling as if they didn''t do anything.


    "Hah..." Aestrea let out a small laugh.


    And then, just to add more to his satisfaction, the announcer''s voice rang out once again.


    "The winner of this match is the Silverleaf Academy!"


    "OOOOOOHHH!"


    The crowd went crazy once more.


    Step...!


    Aestrea walked back onto the stage, this time carrying the Silverleaf Academy flag.


    Alone, with steady hands, he raised it high above his head, the academy''s emblem shining proudly in the light.


    In the crowd, students from Silverleaf who weren''t chosen for the competition watched with tears in their eyes


    Aestrea knew they were there, so he particularly made this gesture towards them, telling them indirectly that his victory wasn''t just his, it was theirs, too.


    At that moment, everyone knew.


    The Strongest Student of the Weakest Academy...


    Is a complete...


    Monster.

 Chapter 23 The Academys Competition (V)

    "What did I just witness?"


    I mumbled to myself, still staring at the arena.


    Leon, the so-called leader of the Sword Academy, was completely obliterated.


    He didn''t stand a chance.


    Not even for a single moment.


    Honestly, if I compared myself to Leon, I''d have a seventy percent chance of winning, but, just from the looks of it, Aestrea knew he was going to win since the beginning of the match.


    It looked like the kind of arrogance of an experienced hunter.


    Beside me, Ella tugged at my sleeve, her eyes wide in disbelief upon witnessing Aestrea''s fight.


    "Lucas... did you see that last move?" Ella asked me with a shaky voice.


    I nodded at her words. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Yeah... he used the density of his mana to create an air suppression explosion, resulting in a massive impact that sent Leon flying..."


    Rose, hearing our words, took a step forward before opening her mouth.


    "His mana level... is still lower than mine though."


    "What?"


    I turned my head towards her as my eyes widened in shock.


    Rose crossed her arms and spoke with her usual sharp tone.


    "His mana level should be around the B-rank, but somehow... its power reached the A rank or even higher than that during that single moment," she explained.


    "It''s weird... his density was very strong, but his mana capacity... it''s loose. The flow of his mana veins is all messed up, to the point of his right arm''s mana vein still being in recovery."


    Rose spoke, her eyes narrowing as she looked at Aestrea who was waving his academy''s flag at the crowd.


    "And not just only that!" Maya suddenly appeared, practically bouncing on her toes to grab our attention.


    "His physical capabilities are much stronger than mine! Besides, he didn''t even manifest his sword aura, he only relied on mana!"


    Right!


    I almost forgot about that!


    He didn''t use aura at all.


    Aestrea''s supposed to be a Magic Swordsman, the kind that combines both aura and mana, but this entire fight¡­ there wasn''t a trace of aura from him.


    With his strength, he should be able to use aura.


    So why didn''t he?


    I pondered over and over again, but couldn''t figure out the reason.


    "Ah¡­ right."


    Ella said suddenly, breaking the silence.


    "I saw Aestrea use his aura once... when he saved me."


    Her words caught all of our attention, even Iris, who had been unusually quiet until now.


    Ella placed a hand on the hilt of her sword, her expression thoughtful.


    "His Aura... is terrific. While his mana is a silver color, his aura is a deep violet color," she then looked at her sword.


    "My sword started trembling as he used his sword to cut down that monster. It was in a single swing of his sword, and the monster was cleanly split into two."


    "A violet color...?" Iris muttered, and suddenly, her eyes parted slightly.


    "Normally, a swordsman''s aura manifests in a color that represents one''s tendency, and Violet represents..."


    "Luxury and power..." Rose finished her words, looking over at her fire staff before gripping it slightly.


    "No one ever recorded had a violet color aura, No one has ever been able to embody ''power'' as their defining trait. So, it means that Aestrea..."


    "That freaking monster..." Ella muttered, however, her eyes seemed to shine even more than before.


    It was as if she had a new goal or she was proud of something.


    Even I was shocked, Luxury and Power were one of the seven strongest tendencies. And no one could ever get the violet color that represents them as their aura.


    Aura wasn''t like mana.


    It was a reflection of a person''s very essence, and the color represented their core tendencies.


    While there were thousands of aura colors, only seven stood at the peak, representing the purest, most dominant aspects of the human spirit.


    Violet was one of them.


    And Aestrea was the only swordsman who could use it.


    "Damn it..." I cursed under my breath, clenching my fists.


    "How are we supposed to beat someone like that?"


    But then I remembered.


    The promise I made.


    I swore I''d win this competition.


    And no matter how monstrous Aestrea is, I won''t let our headmistress down.


    Not now.


    Not ever.


    ...


    "Alright, everyone!" Vivian''s voice rang out as she addressed us.


    "We''ve got two points on the board and three matches left. If we can secure just one more win, we''ll have enough to advance to the next round!"


    Anyone could see that she was really happy with the result even though she had a stern and resolute tone in her voice.


    "The current score stands at: 2 points for the Holy Academy, 1 point for the Eternum Royal Academy, 1 point for the Beastkin Academy, and finally..."


    Vivian paused, glancing dramatically at her clipboard.


    "Zero points for the Sword Academy."


    A faint chuckle rippled through our classmates at her last remark, but she continued on.


    "So, like I said before, if we secure this match, we should have enough points to advance to the next round, we just need to be lucky enough!" she declared confidently.


    She was telling the truth.


    We just needed to be lucky enough and it should be fine.


    For example...


    If we were up against the Beastkin Academy and managed a win, we''d have three points.


    If both the Holy Academy and the Eternum Royal Academy also won their matches, the standings would align in our favor.


    From there, all we''d need was for the Beastkin Academy to lose one more match¡ªor for us to scrape out just one more win¡ªand we''d advance for sure.


    So, we really just needed to be lucky enough.


    And now it was time to draw the lots again.


    Like before, each one of us picked up, except Leon who didn''t come, and instead, a huge guy took his place.


    Ella''s number was 1.


    Christina''s number was 2.


    The huge tiger''s number was 1.


    The huge guy''s number was 2...


    "Hah... lucky." I grinned.


    My number was three, which meant another skip.


    "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"


    The crowd erupted and started booing at us the moment they realized.


    We got the free win once again, but I didn''t care.


    Luck is also a skill.


    So, I smiled at the crowd and walked back to my station.


    "Perfect!"


    "That''s great, our representatives can rest for a little bit more."


    He glanced toward the group who had fought in the last match¡ªDerek, Mia, James, and Maria.


    I was technically part of that group too, but I didn''t feel the need to rest.


    My fight against Leon was beyond easy difficulty.


    And the reason for that was that I found something special inside my body.


    This body of mine¡­ it was strange.


    Not mystically or supernaturally, but in how absurdly powerful it was.


    My mana veins were utterly chaotic¡ªcompletely messed up. And yet, because of that, the flow of mana in my body was five times faster than normal.


    It meant I could deploy mana at incredible speeds and absorb it just as quickly, however, controlling it was more difficult.


    But it wasn''t much of a challenge since I was already used to it.


    The only question is...


    How come ''I'' didn''t appear in the novel at all?


    Like I mentioned before, my nickname "Moonlight Swordsman" appeared, but it didn''t reveal my true identity.


    It was strange...


    ''So... it must related to that prophetic dream...''


    I thought.


    It was the only possibility, even ''I'' couldn''t defeat that huge amount of beasts, especially since their leader was a named beast.


    Even if I indeed used the combination of my aura and mana.


    It would be almost impossible to do it.


    Unless...


    ''Nope."


    I shook the thought from my mind.


    ''That''s too reckless. I''d probably break every bone in my body attempting something that stupid.''


    Anyway, I should simply watch and continue to analyze the representatives of each academy, even though we almost have a guaranteed pass to the next round.


    After an hour or so, the matches ended.


    To no one''s surprise, both the Eternum Royal Academy and the Holy Academy won their respective matches, granting a point for each of them.


    With two matches remaining, the Beastkin Academy could make its comeback, but it was very unlikely.


    Even if we did lose against it, it wouldn''t be a problem since we have three points.


    Because the Beastkin Academy would have a huge chance of losing either way if it met the Eternum Royal Academy or the Holy Academy.


    So yeah, the lots were drawn once again.


    And of course...


    The Silverleaf Academy was against the Beastkin Academy.


    Not to mention that the Holy Academy got a skip, and the Eternum Royal Academy easily won against the Sword Academy.


    Because of that, our match was declared as the ''possible'' last match of the first round of the academy''s competition.


    If Silverleaf Academy wins, the three academies are already chosen. However, if we lose, we will need to participate in another match to determine if we advance.


    After all, the current score is now...


    Our academy with three points, the Holy Academy with four points, the Eternum Royal Academy with three points, the Beastkin Academy with one point, and the Sword Academy with zero points.


    If the Beastkin Academy did win against us, we would have another match, since it could still end up in a draw with our academy.


    "Ahh... muscle-brained beasts."


    "These ones are going to be pretty annoying."


    I muttered to myself.


    And if that was just to confirm my thoughts, their first representative...


    Was the leader of the Beastkin Academy.


    That huge muscle-brained tiger.


    He was looking at me with a wide smirk, his eyes radiating a firm competitiveness. Out of all his matches, he had always won them even though his academy lost in the final part.


    So, in reality, the Beaskin Academy only lost because the other student''s levels were simply too low compared to other academies.


    "Two attributes at A-rank... of course, strength, and vitality."


    My eyes glowed intensely as a balance scale symbol appeared on them.


    "Still..."


    A faint smile appeared on my lips.


    "It won''t be enough to defeat me."

 Chapter 24 The Academys Competition (VI)

    "So, you''re the moonlight swordsman, huh?"


    As soon as I stepped into the center of the arena, the huge tiger murmured as he scrutinized me from head to toe, his piercing gaze landing on my eyes.


    He let out a small chuckle and extended a giant hand towards me.


    "I''m Agnar, it''s a pleasure to meet you."


    My gaze briefly met his hand before switching to his eyes.


    With a small smile, I also extended my hand and shook his.


    Clench...!


    "Haa..."


    At that moment, his lips curved into a wide smirk as his pupils enlarged, and then, a crushing force started smashing my hand.


    But to his surprise...


    "Muscle-brained animals are really easy to predict."


    I laughed before my expression turned cold.


    A faint layer of mana enveloped my entire hand and then, it was my time to squeeze his hand back.


    Even with two A-rank attributes¡ªstrength and vitality¡ªwhat good are they when your mana level is only D-rank?


    Pure strength alone is one of the worst investments in a fight.


    "Haagh!"


    A cry of pain reached my ears as his face contorted in pain, trying to shake my hand off his.


    "What did you expect?"


    I asked him as I increased my strength.


    "Did you really think you could win against me with only pure strength?"


    His face twisted in anger and a vein bulged on his forehead as he swung a massive fist at me, immediately, I twisted my body, dodging his punch, and used his momentum against him.


    With a sharp pivot, I threw him over my shoulder.


    Thud!


    Agnar''s massive body slammed against the ground, dust, and debris scattering on impact.


    "Student Aestrea... the match hasn''t begun yet."


    A loud voice reached us, and it was unmistakably the headmistress of the Eternum Royal Academy.


    She flew above the protective barrier on her magic broom, her long purple hair swaying in the wind, topped with her signature witch hat.


    Her name was Eleonora, and she was the current strongest mage as well as the headmistress of the Eternum Royal Academy.


    My information about her was very limited, but I knew that she could easily cast 9th-level spells which could be considered calamity spells since they could potentially destroy an entire country alone.


    However, she never appeared in her academy, even to help fight against the demons which was quite weird.


    "Alright, alright..."


    I held my hands up in the air, to which I received an even colder stare from her.


    Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, but she kind of hates me.


    Well, Aestrea or I rejected to be her disciple over three times already, leaving her completely mad over that matter.


    "Hmmph."


    She scoffed before disappearing from my view.


    It was at that time that the announcer''s voice finally rang out, breaking the silence of the arena, and officially starting our fight.


    "Let the first round... begin!"


    Swoop!


    The moment the words left the announcer''s mouth, Agnar dashed toward me.


    His claws extended, glinting like steel, as he swung a powerful strike at my chest.


    I immediately brought out my sword, and parried his claws, creating faint sparks that flew as his claws clashed against the blade, the sheer force driving me back slightly.


    Of course, I was being pushed back by him, his strength is thoroughly superior.


    But none of those mattered when it came to mana.


    So, it was almost impossible for him to win.


    Zooom!


    A layer of mana covered my sword, causing him to step back cautiously. Then, he dropped to all fours and dashed towards me again.


    Clang!


    Clang!


    He began to leap and attack, creating distance between us before swinging his claws at me and then jumping away to strike again.


    He repeated this tactic for a few seconds until I finally...


    "Caught it."


    Grabbed his tail without any hesitation.


    With a firm grip, I swung him down toward the ground.


    "GRRR!"


    Thud!


    He let out a growl as his face slammed against the earth.


    But it wasn''t over; still holding onto his tail, I started swinging him around, making his face hit the ground multiple times.


    Thud!


    Bam!


    However, he then escaped my hands.


    "C''mon, kitty."


    I let out a small smile, stepping closer to him.


    "This is getting boring for me."


    But this time, I was surprised by his actions.


    Instead of him getting irritated, Agnar''s furious expression melted into a wide, unnerving grin.


    "Seal!"


    He declared, and suddenly a bright magic pattern appeared beneath me.


    I felt the flow of my mana in my body stop.


    "Sealing my mana power, huh?"


    I glanced at the glowing circle and nodded, almost impressed.


    "Smart."


    He likely understood that he couldn''t win against me if I used mana, and despite having low-level mana, he still possessed enough quantity to cast this sealing spell.


    "Hahah~, now, do you think you can win?"


    His eyes turned murderous, and he looked at me like I was some kind of prey.


    "Actually... I''ve been holding back my power, and you''re the only strong enough opponent for me to use this form..."


    "You should be honored!" he declared loudly with a crazy smile.


    In that instant, his fur began to shift to a brighter shade of white, and his height increased by more than fifty centimeters.


    His claws became sharper as a deep white layer of mana enveloped his body.


    The Divine White Tiger''s bloodline.


    I couldn''t believe that I had met his bearer.


    This was indeed going to be a problem.


    ...


    Everyone was watching Aestrea''s battle from their respective station, and one could easily notice that things now had been complicated for him.


    He had his mana sealed, and his opponent was revealed to be the bearer of the Divine White Tiger''s bloodline, one of the four mythical beasts.


    Amongst them, was Ella, whose face changed repeatedly as Aestrea was about to be in danger but then dodged the tiger''s attack.


    "Come on, Aestrea..."


    Her heart was beating faster, but inside, she prayed that Aestrea would still win, well not really, if he was her opponent in the future, she doubted her chances of winning.


    Only if she used her ultimate move, might she have a chance.


    "Things got rough for Aestrea..."


    Beside her, Lucas muttered, his eyes narrowing as he watched the battle.


    He was also very interested in Aestrea, viewing him as a potential battle partner due to his strength; training with him would definitely enhance his combat skills.


    At that moment, the white tiger launched his body towards Aestrea, opening his mouth widely, and showing his sharp teeth.


    But, Aestrea quickly slid beneath him before using a cleaning spell.


    "Huh?"


    "What?"


    This moment made everyone confused.


    Why was he using a cleaning spell during the middle of a fight?


    And that''s when something hit them.


    "Did... he just use magic?"


    "Isn''t his mana supposed to be sealed?"


    Gasps spread like wildfire.


    The white tiger skidded to a halt, his claws digging into the dirt as he whipped his head around to glare at Aestrea.


    "What... the hell?"


    He growled, with disbelief splattered on his face.


    "What? Did you really think such a weak seal could contain my mana?"


    Aestrea casually said, arranging the sleeves of his leader''s suit.


    "While it may be difficult to break by simply locating its weak point, it can easily be destroyed if its mana sealing capacity is compromised due to an overload of mana."


    The tiger''s eyes widened in shock, his mouth slightly agape.


    "Y-you..."


    He gulped down hard.


    And just after he analyzed Aestrea''s body, he took a step back cautiously, before shouting in an annoyed tone.


    "How fast does your mana recover?!"


    What kind of monster is this?


    Even the crowd went crazy upon hearing Aestrea''s casual remark and the white tiger''s loud yet shaky words.


    Seeing this expression on his face, Aestrea smiled lightly, taking a step forward.


    "Enough talk, kitty. Ready for the fight you were so desperate for?"


    Aestrea casually dropped his sword to the ground and raised his fists, adopting a hand-to-hand stance.


    Seeing this, a huge vein popped in the white tiger''s forehead and his eyes burned red with rage.


    "YOU DAMNED BASTAARRDD!"


    He dashed towards Aetrea like a lightning bolt.


    "HOW DARE YOU DISRESPECT ME LIKE THIS?"


    His claws extended even larger than before he horizontally swung them at Aestrea''s chest.


    Whoosh!


    Aestrea ducked low, evading the strike by a hair''s breadth.


    And before the tiger could recover, Aestrea planted his feet and delivered a sharp uppercut to his chin.


    CRACK!


    "Gaaahk!"


    The tiger''s head snapped back, saliva and blood spraying from his mouth as he staggered.


    Not giving him a moment to recover, Aestrea surged forward, aiming a punch at his solar plexus, but the white tiger quickly crossed his arms in an ''X'' form, protecting himself from the blow.


    Unfortunately, it was a fake.


    He stopped in his tracks just before his punch cold land and pivoted on his heel, twisting his body like a coiled spring before delivering a spinning kick infused with mana.


    WHAM!


    The kick landed squarely on the tiger''s face, sending him tumbling across the ground like a ragdoll.


    Thud!


    Thud!


    Thud.....


    He finally came to a stop, blood pouring from his nose, his once-pristine white fur now colored in dust and crimson.


    "Ouch..."


    Even the crowd couldn''t help but exclaim seeing how he practically cleaned the dust off the ground.


    Then, Aestrea approached him.


    "Hey... what did you think of our battle?"


    "Did it go as you expected it to go?"


    Aestrea kept a small smile on his lips.


    The white tiger''s face twisted in rage, blood dripping from his mouth as he glared up at Aestrea and parted his lips.


    "Motherfu¡ª"


    BAAM!


    Before he could finish, Aestrea''s fist smashed into his jaw, sending him flying across the arena.


    CRASH!


    He slammed into the protective barrier with a sickening thud before crumpling to the ground, unmoving, blood pooling beneath him.


    The arena went silent for a moment before the announcer''s voice boomed.


    "T-the winner is the Silverleaf''s leader, AESTREA!!!"


    The crowd erupted into cheers, the stands shaking with excitement.


    Aestrea turned to face them, brushing off his sleeves as if the fight had been nothing more than a warm-up.


    However...


    ''Damn it.''


    ''I think I reached my limit for today.'' S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He wasn''t invincible.

 Chapter 25 The Academys Competition (VII)

    The cheers of the crowd filled the air as I walked off the arena stage.


    My victory over Agnar had secured another point for Silverleaf Academy, but the adrenaline that had kept me upright began to fade as I entered the quieter hallway leading to the resting area.


    Thump...


    A sharp, dull ache jolted through my chest.


    Thump... thump...!


    My breathing grew shallow and erratic.


    The world blurred for a second, and I stumbled, catching myself against the cold stone wall.


    "Ugh..."


    I gritted my teeth, trying to steady my trembling legs.


    Immediately, I ran to the outside of the arena, more precisely the forest, where no one could see me.


    I hadn''t warned my classmates or Vivian, but I couldn''t let anyone see me in this condition.


    Regarding their battles, I have already explained most of the abilities of the Beastkin representatives, so Vivian should know how to match them up.


    Reaching the forest, the trees stretched high above, their canopies casting a cool shade.


    The damp earth beneath my boots crunched softly as I leaned heavily against a tree.


    Thump!


    Another sharp pain shot through my chest, and a bitter metallic taste flooded my mouth.


    "Damn it..."


    And before I could suppress it, I coughed violently.


    Spurt!


    A mouthful of blood splattered onto the cold dirt floor, staining it crimson. My vision swayed, and my legs felt weak.


    My "constitution" or, the way my mana veins are tangled with each other, despite granting me a huge speed in the way mana manifests, comes with a huge cost.


    After all, I''m not really blessed like Lucas will be in the future.


    The cost of me using mana like this is something similar to losing my lifespan, it''s not really my lifespan, but my soul power.


    And that''s the main reason my [Spirit] attribute is Rank S, it''s something that came with this cursed "constitution".


    "Haaah..."


    So, I''m not really terminally ill, but I need to restore my soul power from while to while, and just this month, I had already used more than three times the necessary use for a month.


    And if that happens, I''ll need to start using Aura, which can complicate things for me, since my disposition is "Violet".


    I know that someday it will be revealed, but I need to make sure that I don''t turn into one of the targets of the Dark Order.


    At least, not now.


    "Gaagh!"


    Splurt!


    "Ugh... fucking hell."


    This time, the liquid that erupted from my mouth was dark and viscous, like tar which could be called the impurities of my body.


    This meant that my body had been strengthened once again, but unfortunately, none of my attributes had leveled up.


    "You''re so reckless."


    Suddenly, a voice cut through the silence.


    I glanced up to see Eleonora stepping out from behind a tree, her cold, piercing gaze fixed on the puddle of blood and impurities at my feet.


    I didn''t respond immediately, taking a moment to wipe the last traces of blood from my lips.


    "You know what happens if you keep this up, don''t you?" she said in a low voice but still sharp as a dagger.


    I met her gaze without flinching.


    "Our constitution wasn''t designed to handle this level of mana output. If you keep pushing it, you''ll destroy your mana veins." she continued, stepping closer to me.


    "Permanently."


    "Hah..."


    I let out a bitter laugh.


    This woman...


    She was so annoying.


    The only reason she wanted me as her disciple was to study this cursed condition.


    Because she had it too.


    She gave it the name...


    Twin Heart Mana Body.


    The reason she named it this is that the constitution allows the user to create an additional heart on their body.


    This grants them the ability to store mana in both of their "hearts," effectively doubling their output.


    Moreover, the constitution provides additional benefits, such as a five times faster input and output ability.


    Overall, this means the user can achieve up to ten times the normal mana power.


    However, one would need something similar to a Dragon''s Heart to fuse it with their body.


    When she first asked me to be her disciple, I was actually ecstatic, however, as soon as I realized something I immediately refused.


    The one who oversees the student''s applications is the headmistress herself, and I was rejected because they didn''t see ''talent'' in me.


    It was pretty dramatic, but yeah, after all at that time, my dream had been shattered by her herself, so I didn''t care about being polite anymore.


    I had a lot of friends during that time, and the bad rumors of the nobility disrespecting the commoners in the Royal Academy simply disgusted me.


    No way, I would accept her offer.


    But, she left a mysterious phrase before she left, saying something like...


    ''You will need me.''


    And something bad really happened, the first time I had this problem, I vomited a pool of blood a few times and my mana got in distress.


    Thankfully, I was able to solve it, but then she appeared in front of me as if teasing me.


    ''I told you. You''re going to need me in the future.''


    Which I replied coldly.


    "Hey, are you even listening to me?" She brought her hands to her waist, looking at me while she tilted her head slightly to the left.


    Her words made my thoughts break, so, I turned to face her and replied.


    "I know about my condition, I don''t need you to tell me about it."


    "Do you?"


    She pressed, stepping even closer, her brows knitting together.


    "Because if you did, you wouldn''t be burning your soul power like this."


    "Back off."


    I scoffed at her, but she continued on...


    "Lose your mana, and lose everything that makes you... you."


    Her words landed like a blow, and before I realized it, my back was pressed against the tree, her hand slamming against the bark beside my head.


    "I just need to find Lich Orb... or a Dragon Heart," I muttered slightly, meeting her eyes.


    I knew that there was one last Dragon Heart on the Luxuria''s Commerce Store. And I had been saving my money for that.


    The amount of money I owned was nowhere near it, but... I couldn''t simply let myself die.


    Not until my classmates had graduated safely, and got their dream job.


    "Hah! And you think you have enough money to afford that?"


    She raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into a cold smirk.


    "I''ve seen what you were doing in the few months. Even if you sell many high-ranking demon beasts''s cores, or even named demon beasts, it will take at least 10 to 15 years for you to gather enough money."


    That''s how expensive the Dragon''s Heart was; the Lich Orb was much cheaper, but it could only serve as a mana storage item and not as a heart, so it wasn''t worth it for me to buy.


    "That''s none of your business."


    I tried to push her back, but surprisingly, she didn''t budge at all.


    Her ocean eyes gazed back at me, and her lips parted slightly. In that moment, I knew exactly what she was about to do...


    "Be my dis¡ª"


    "¡ªno."


    I interrupted her words directly.


    "I have no plans to join your academy, or even become your disciple, besides, why would I accept such an irresponsible person as their Master?" I laughed.


    "You constantly let demons attack your academy, and let the students be the ones solving that, not to mention, that even the professors don''t do anyth..."


    My words paused slightly as I stopped speaking.


    Now that I noticed, she didn''t act to stop the demons, and the professors also didn''t, only appearing at the last moment.


    ''Don''t tell me...''


    "Y-you... are using demons to improve the abilities of your students?!"


    My eyes widened upon the realization; how come I didn''t think of that?


    She was silent upon hearing my words.


    "Only by experiencing a fight that they could potentially die, they can improve their abilities, and even if they were in true danger, one of the professors or even I would immediately act to save them."


    "Why do you think the students improve so fast in our academy? It''s mainly because of the demon constantly attacking it."


    "Hah..."


    I let out a chuckle.


    This bitch.


    As I thought, she really treats everyone as pawns.


    "Mhm, don''t worry," she said softly, her eyes locking onto mine with an unfamiliar warmth that felt strangely comforting.


    "If you truly become my disciple, I won''t treat you like that. On the contrary, I''ll spoil you as if you were my own son."


    "......"


    There was a few seconds of silence before I replied to her.


    "No."


    "Ah... this makes it... five times already?" she sighed.


    "But like I''ve said before..."


    "You''ll need me."


    She disappeared into mist, leaving me entirely alone in the forest.


    I didn''t say anything, there was nothing to say.


    Instead, I walked back to the arena where I could see Mia fighting against a tigress, and surprisingly, Mia was being pushed back by her.


    "How''s the score?"


    I asked Derek who was watching the battle.


    "Four-to-four, if Mia wins this match, we''re going to pass to the next round." His gaze switched to me before going towards the stage once again.


    Besides me, Vivian tapped my shoulder.


    "Where were you?"


    "I just went to take a breather."


    "Mhm... sure."


    Her hands brushed against my back, as her eyes turned into the arena.


    Our academy was depending on Mia right at that moment.


    Crack!


    The tip of Mia''s staff slammed against the tigress''s claws, creating a shockwave that rippled through the air.


    The impact forced both of them back, but Mia used the momentum to flip gracefully, landing in a crouch.


    "Agh..." she winced in pain.


    The force of the tigress''s attack had nearly dislocated her shoulder.


    "You''re stronger than you look."


    The tigress admitted as her orange eyes narrowed slightly.


    "And you''re slower than I thought."


    Mia shot back, a smirk tugging at her lips, and this time, she decided to switch her tactics.


    ¡º Fire Series: Barrage Barrier! (? 3rd-level Spell ?)¡»


    She twirled her staff, the crystal at its tip glowing brighter. Sparks of fiery red energy crackled around her, forming a protective barrier.


    The tigress lunged again, swinging her claws at the barrier.


    Clang!


    Her claws bounced off the shield, but the impact sent a ripple of hot energy shooting up her arm.


    The barrier was made of condensed flames after all.


    "Grrr..." S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The tigress growled in frustration.


    "Running out of steam, huh?" Mia taunted as her smirk widened.


    The tigress''s eyes flashed.


    She slammed her fists into the ground, causing the earth to tremble.


    Thram!


    The ground beneath Mia cracked and buckled, sending her sprawling.


    Thud!


    "Damn it!" Mia hissed, scrambling to her feet.


    The tigress saw her opening and charged.


    Swish!


    At the last second, Mia spun her staff, slamming it into the ground.


    ¡º Fire Series: Fire Nova! (? 4th-level Spell ?)¡»


    A burst of hot energy erupted from the crystal, spreading outward in a wave.


    Crack! Crack!


    The tigress''s legs were caught on fire, halting her mid-charge.


    The crowd erupted in cheers as Mia seized the moment.


    She channeled the last of her energy into her staff, the red crystal glowing so brightly it almost hurt to look at.


    ¡º Fire Series: Firelance Impact! (? 5th-level Spell ?)¡»


    With a loud cry, Mia hurled a massive lance of fire directly at the tigress.


    BOOM!


    The attack struck the tigress square in the chest, sending her flying backward, making her hit the ground hard, the air knocked out from her lungs.


    The tigress''s body had landed outside the arena...


    It was at that moment, that the announcer''s voice rang out.


    "The winner of the final match... is Mia, from the Silverleaf Academy!"


    She did it.


    For a split second, there was silence¡ªthen the crowd erupted.


    "YEEEAAAAH!"


    The applause and cheers rolled like thunder, shaking the very ground.


    Some spectators leaped to their feet, clapping and whistling, while others pounded the air with fists of celebration.


    "And with that, I proudly announce the three academies moving to the next round: The Holy Academy, the Eternum Royal Academy, and... surprisingly, the Silverleaf Academy!"


    "OOOOOOOHHH!"


    The cheers increased even more.


    Mia staggered off the stage, her legs wobbling beneath her.


    Her hair clung to her face, damp with sweat, and her breathing was labored, but her grin outshone it all¡ªa smile filled with pride.


    "That''s our girl!"


    One of our classmates yelled, their voices barely audible over the chaos.


    Cheers erupted among our group.


    "Hah.. she did it..." Vivian let out a relieved sigh, clapping enthusiastically.


    Finally reaching our station, Mia''s eyes scanned the crowd as she limped toward us as her grin gradually widened.


    "Mia, that was amazing!" Derek called out as she got closer.


    But Mia wasn''t listening.


    Her gaze locked onto me, and suddenly, she broke into a full sprint.


    "Mia?"


    I called out, confused as to why she was approaching me.


    And before I could react, she launched herself into the air.


    Puff!


    Her arms wrapped tightly around my neck, her body colliding with mine as her legs dangled off the ground.


    I stumbled back, barely staying upright, as her soft, large breasts pressed against my chest, making my face flush crimson.


    "You were amazi¡ª"


    I started, but my words caught in my throat as Mia leaned in, and her lips immediately found mine, pressing against them with a huge intensity.


    Muah!


    The world seemed to freeze.


    "W-what...?"


    Gasps rippled through our classmates, followed by stunned silence.


    Derek''s jaw dropped comically, his eyes bulging as if they might pop out of his head.


    "Wha¡ªshe¡ªWHAT?!"


    "Oh. My. God."


    The rest of our team, already high on adrenaline and joy, erupted in laughter and cheers.


    "GO MIA!" one of them yelled.


    When Mia finally pulled back, her cheeks were as pink as her grin was radiant. Her eyes sparkled with pure happiness, her hands still resting on my shoulders.


    "We''re going to the next round!"


    She exclaimed, bouncing in place like a child who''d just won the biggest prize.


    I blinked, trying to process what had just happened, but soon, my expression broke into a faint smile.


    "Hah... since you won, I''ll let you have this one."


    Hearing my words, she looked at me with a wide grin, sticking out her tongue.


    We had passed the first phase of the competition.


    Now, we were no longer...


    The Weakest Academy.

 Chapter 26 The Academys Competition (VIII)

    "Haah... the hotel''s bed really is comfortable."


    I muttered, collapsing onto the soft mattress. The plush fabric embraced me as I rolled onto my side, the exhaustion of the day melting away.


    "Master..."


    Lumi''s soft voice pulled me back from my drifting thoughts. She was lying beside me, her translucent form shimmering faintly in the dim light.


    Her large, innocent eyes were fixed on mine, but I could see the fatigue behind them.


    I had used her as a weapon earlier, and even though she always insisted she didn''t mind, I knew it took a toll on her.


    "Here, have some sugar cubes."


    I said, holding out my palm to her.


    "YAAY!"


    Her mood flipped instantly. Lumi practically launched herself at the sugar cubes, chomping down on them with audible enthusiasm.


    Her cheeks puffed slightly as she chewed, and I couldn''t help but smile at the sight.


    She looked cute, like a squirrel munching on his food.


    "Hah... thank god, it''s one day per round, if not... we wouldn''t have a chance of winning," I muttered to myself.


    The Academy''s Competition takes three whole days since they''ve decided that after each phase, the students would need to rest to recharge their energies.


    And I''m damn thankful for that.


    Slurp!


    I blinked.


    Mhm..? What is this feeling?


    I turned to Lumi once again, and I felt a shiver running down my spine as I suddenly saw her body changing into a pink color, and her pupils turning into a vertical slit.


    "Master~~"


    Her voice took on a sultry, unfamiliar tone, and before I could react, she reached out and grasped my hand.


    Her fingers were surprisingly firm as she brought my hand to her mouth, her tongue darting out to swirl around my fingertips, licking off the remnants of sugar.


    "Lumi, stop!" S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    I called out to her, taking my hand out of her mouth.


    But something was different... her tongue was different, it was...


    Longer?


    But then, she lunged forward, her sharp teeth grazing my finger.


    "Agh!"


    A sting shot through me as a few drops of blood welled up on my skin. Her unnaturally long tongue shot out, snatching the drops in one single movement.


    And that was when I truly saw her tongue.


    It was a long tongue, very reminiscent of a snake''s, having a split in the middle.


    "Don''t tell me...?"


    I gulped audibly, prompting her to look at me with curious, yet sharp eyes.


    In the novel, there was a mention of an ancient creature called the: "Gluttonous Slime".


    This rare type of slime could absorb the racial traits of creatures it devoured and replicate their abilities¡ªsometimes even their physical characteristics.


    "Was Lumi... one of them?"


    No wonder she had been targeted by that insane scientist. Not to mention, that she must be the reason the morph weapon she became was considered a high-grade artifact.


    So... if the Holy Nation truly saw me with her, I could potentially become their target of elimination.


    God damn it.


    My life is only getting more complicated with each passing second.


    "Now... how do I get you back to normal?"


    I muttered, rubbing my temples as she continued suckling my finger, her tongue savoring every drop of blood like it was the most exquisite treat in existence.


    But the moment I spoke, she stopped.


    Her tongue withdrew slowly, and her vertical pupils met mine.


    "Hey... what are you doing?"


    She crawled closer to me until her face was just a few centimeters away. Her tongue stuck out, and suddenly...


    Lick...


    She licked my neck, causing my body to quiver unnaturally.


    "Master... tasty~"


    Her voice dripped with delight, and a shiver ran through my body as her tongue glided down my neck.


    "Stop."


    I uttered coldly, making her tongue retract back almost immediately.


    Woah... this was more effective than I had thought.


    And if that wasn''t enough, the pink hue faded, her snake-like traits disappearing as quickly as they had come.


    In moments, she was back to her usual shimmering green form with her long cyan-tinted hair framing her small, innocent face.


    "Master?" she called out, tilting her head in her usual manner, full of curiosity.


    "Hah..."


    I let out a long sigh of relief and reached out to pat her head. She leaned into my touch, her eyes closing as a contented hum escaped her lips.


    "You''re too cute for your own good."


    However, if this cute thing is a gluttonous smile...


    It''s going to be a very, very big problem if someone finds out.


    "Damn it..."


    Leaning my back against the bed, Lumi snuggled into my chest and let out a small giggle right next to my ear.


    I hope this peaceful atmosphere doesn''t go away.


    .....


    The next day, after waking up and finishing my daily routine, I rushed out to the arena. My classmates were probably already there waiting for me.


    I was already late.


    ''Gosh, I hate mornings...!''


    Clang!


    The sharp clash of metal greeted me as I entered the arena. Two figures were sparring under the morning sun.


    Ella and Lucas.


    Seeing them locked in combat, I exhaled a sigh of relief. I wasn''t late after all. But... something felt off.


    The usually bustling arena was strangely empty.


    "Hah... A-Aestrea...?"


    Ella stammered, her voice faltering mid-swing as her eyes landed on me.


    "Mhm? Oh, hey!"


    I greeted her with a casual smile and nodded toward Lucas, who lowered his weapon slightly.


    "What are you doing here?" Lucas asked, his eyebrows furrowing slightly.


    I was confused but decided to ask nonetheless.


    "I thought the second phase was happening right now?"


    Lucas chuckled, shaking his head.


    "Let me guess¡ªyou''re not good with mornings?"


    "Not at all."


    He smirked faintly before explaining:


    "Today''s competition is postponed. It seems the Saintess had an issue and needed to take a day off to heal from some injuries."


    "Huh... no wonder."


    I muttered, stretching my arms until I heard a satisfying crack.


    "Well, thanks for letting me know. Guess I''ll leave you two lovebirds alone," I teased with a sly grin, turning on my heel to leave.


    "W-wait! We''re not lovebirds!"


    Ella shouted after me, her cheeks flushing a deep red.


    I chuckled at her reaction but didn''t stop walking. Lucas remained silent, though I caught the subtle twitch of his lips.


    Ella''s future is designed to be with Lucas, so in the future, she''ll probably turn into his wife.


    Although I teased her in Lavousier''s Cafe... that shouldn''t change their relationship, right?


    Well, it doesn''t really matter.


    If today is a free day, then I guess I''ll take a trip around the capital.


    But then, something struck me.


    Wait a second.


    Did Lucas say something about the Saintess having a problem?


    Immediately, I turned back and then approached Lucas again.


    "What... are you doing here again?"


    Lucas asked, exasperation creeping into his voice.


    "I just have a small question, I won''t bother you too much. What exactly happened to the Saintess?"


    Hearing my words, Lucas had a thoughtful expression as held his chin, but then, he finally seemed to have remembered something.


    "I think... it was something related to the attack of demon beasts."


    I froze entirely.


    "Demon beasts?"


    "It seems that more and more demon beasts seem to be appearing around the capital, more precisely around the forest zone."


    "And unfortunately... many people got injured because of that. Some people even..." His voice trailed off, and his expression turned somber.


    "...died."


    I went blank upon hearing his words.


    "Aestrea...?"


    Ella called out to me, seemingly staring at my face.


    What kind of expression was I making, I wondered.


    "You... okay?" She stepped closer, concern etched across her face.


    But, my lips quickly curled into a smile as I replied to her with the same tone.


    "I''m fine. Just thinking about something."


    "I''ll be going now..."


    I said leaving them alone.


    "His expression..." Ella murmured softly.


    Lucas glanced at her, then nodded.


    "He seemed a little bit off. As if something that shouldn''t have happened... actually happened."


    "Exactly..."


    Ella bit her lip, a flicker of unease crossing her features.


    "Fuck..."


    My mind was a whirlwind as I stormed through the corridors, heading straight for the forest.


    Swoop!


    CRASH!


    I slammed my fist into a tree, splintering it in half. The crack echoed through the stillness, but it did nothing to calm the rage boiling inside me.


    I gritted my teeth as I swung yet another punch at some other three.


    Why?


    WHY?!


    I was warned by the system.


    I could prevent people from being dead!


    And instead of investigating... damn it.


    I shouldn''t have gone to the academy competition when I knew that there was a fucking horde of demon beasts coming to attack.


    "DAMN IT!"


    THRASH!


    Another tree shattered, then another, as my fists tore through the forest. The gusts from my strikes toppled even those untouched.


    I bit down hard on my lip, tasting the faint metallic tang of blood.


    I should have investigated sooner. I should have taken the warnings seriously.


    "I can''t wait anymore."


    I growled through my gritted teeth.


    "I''ll leave a note for Vivian or something."


    Furrowing my eyebrows, I went back to the hotel where I met Lumi and made her transform back into a sword.


    Then, I walked to Vivian''s hotel room and left a small note before leaving for the forest.


    The note talked about how I would probably only appear during the last phase of the competition if they indeed passed without me.


    Along with that, it was the weakness and fighting ways of every opponent that I had seen fighting.


    I hope they can hold on without me and reach the last phase of the competition.


    Besides, if there''s a chance of that horde of monsters appearing, I need to make sure they die before it''s too late.


    Even if I told the Sword Circle or the Holy Nation, they probably wouldn''t believe it. So, I''ll need to make this my own way.


    I was still wearing my Leader''s Suit as I walked down the forest, and couldn''t see my expression, sometimes I couldn''t help but think...


    Was this an expression by Aestrea or me?


    Or both of us?


    I knew we had become a single entity, but still...


    It felt strange, this rage coming deeply from my heart. I was never infuriated like this before, but why was I so mad?


    I didn''t know.


    But soon enough...


    Something reached my nostrils.


    The disgusting smell of blood.

 Chapter 27 The Academys Competition (IX)

    "Shit..."


    Aestrea muttered under his breath as he stepped into the forest. The sight before him was like something out of a nightmare.


    The trees and bushes were drenched in blood, droplets running down their stem and leaves like crimson rain. The ground was littered with mangled bodies, twisted and broken in ways that made his stomach churn.


    Some were still twitching faintly, a grotesque reminder of the life they had lost moments ago.


    "Grrr..."


    Low growls filled the air as wolf-like creatures with glowing red eyes appeared in his vision.


    Their teeth, sharp and glistening, tore into the corpses with wet, crunching sounds, scattering bits of flesh and bone as they devoured their prey.


    The sight made his stomach turn.


    And suddenly, one of the creatures stopped eating. Its ears twitched, and it lifted its head, sniffing the air.


    Slowly, its glowing eyes turned toward him.


    "GRRRRR!"


    Immediately, the demon beast lunged towards Aestrea, its jaws snapping shut mere inches from Aestrea''s face.


    He quickly dodged its attack and enveloped his sword with mana before swinging it¡ªthe crescent wave of icy energy shot forward, slicing through the air with a chilling whistle.


    Splurt!


    The wave struck the demon beast, cleaving the wolf cleanly in half.


    Blood sprayed violently from the bisected beast, splattering across Aestrea''s clothes and face.


    He didn''t flinch, his eyes were cold as the now-lifeless halves of the beast hit the ground with a sickening thud.


    "Ah... wolf-type demon beasts. This is indeed a big problem. However, if they are only C+ rank demon beasts, it shouldn''t pose a problem for now."


    GROOOWLL!


    Emerging from the shadows were more wolves, their glowing red eyes piercing the darkness. Their mangy fur bristled as they bared their teeth, some with trails of blood already dripping from fresh wounds on their bodies.


    It was as if these beasts had fought their way through the forest, drawn to the scent of blood.


    "God damn it... just what I needed," Aestrea said sarcastically, gripping his sword tightly.


    Immediately, Lumi transformed into a handgun, and a bullet shot rang out.


    Splat!


    BAM!


    The moment the bullet pierced the wolf''s body, a few spikes of ice emerged, killing a group of wolves around him.


    Blood spattered the ground as the wolves yelped in agony. But more kept coming, their relentless hunger pushing them forward.


    GROWl!


    They lunged towards Aestrea; he immediately leaped back, gathering distance before two consecutive shots rang out.


    FREEZE!


    One of the wolves turned into a statue, and then, the second shot hit the frozen statue, making small shards spread across the forest, hitting more beasts.


    He gathered more distance and looked forward, seeing even more wolves approaching him with their ominous red eyes reminiscent of his own.


    "Huff..."


    He took a deep breath as his eyes started glowing even more.


    He planted his feet firmly on the ground, channeling his mana into Lumi, making her turn back into a sword.


    The sword began to glow with a silver light, frost forming along its edge.


    SLAM!


    ¡º Mixed Ice Series: Ice Lotus Explosion! (? 5th-level Spell ?)¡»


    He drove his sword into the earth, and an enormous ice lotus erupted from the ground. The crystalline petals expanded outward, sharp as blades, impaling the wolves that dared to come too close.


    Blood sprayed in every direction, splattering across the frozen ground and staining the pristine ice crimson.


    "Haah¡ªagh!"


    Aestrea winced as pain shot through his arm.


    Glancing down, he noticed the mana vein in his arm had ruptured again.


    "Damn it... not right now!"


    Having a plan in mind, he closed his eyes for a while as the wolves slowly approached him, with their mouths salivating.


    GROWWL!


    A group of four jumped into him, prompting Aestrea to shoot his eyes open and swiftly leap back.


    "I''ll need to try and create a suitable mana vessel for my arm... this can take a few hours." He muttered to himself, as his eyes scanned the forest around him.


    He was looking for something similar to a cave so that he could hide himself for a while to heal back his arm.


    ROAAR!


    With his mouth wide open, a wolf suddenly appeared catching Aestsrea off guard.


    In that instant, Aestrea twisted his body mid-air, delivering a sharp bicycle kick that landed squarely on the beast''s jaw.


    THAM!


    The wolf was sent flying, blood pouring from its mouth as it crashed into a tree, leaving a streak of red on the bark.


    It was at that moment, that a small cave appeared in his eyes. He immediately created a floating ice platform and pressed his foot firmly on it, enveloping it with mana.


    Swoop!


    He propelled himself toward the cave, rolling inside just as another pack of wolves lunged for him.


    CRASH!


    He slammed his hand against the ground, creating a thick ice barrier at the cave''s entrance that could protect him for a while.


    The snarling and clawing of the beasts echoed faintly from the other side.


    "Haah... huff... I can finally take a rest..." he sighed in relief, collapsing against the cave wall.


    He immediately settled into a lotus position and began gathering mana in his right arm to create a temporary mana vessel.


    This would allow him to use his arm as a mana vein without damaging his actual mana veins.


    "Haaah..."


    A cold breath escaped his mouth as a faint layer of ice started to envelop his body.


    This technique was what Aestrea called ¡º Crystallization ¡» which could make his body heal three times faster than normal.


    Due to his extremely high affinity with ice, the coldness from the ice would help heal his injuries.


    And so, he remained in that position, allowing himself to heal over time.


    This process would take over fifteen hours.


    .....


    The next day, the air was thick with tension as the three remaining academies gathered in the center of the grand arena while the eliminated academies watched from the crowded stands.


    All eyes were on the arena floor, where the next phase of the academy competition was about to begin.


    Yet, something felt off.


    The person who had stolen the spotlight in the first phase, the one who made others seem insignificant just by his presence, was nowhere to be seen.


    "Where is Silverleaf''s Leader...?"


    "Yeah, I was wondering the same thing."


    "How come he isn''t here?"


    A murmur of confusion rippled through the audience.


    Even the announcer hesitated, glancing at the Silverleaf Academy''s station before clearing his throat awkwardly. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Well¡­ uh, since everyone except one person seems to be here, I''ll go ahead and explain the rules for the second phase."


    The crowd quieted down, leaning in to hear him.


    "It''s pretty simple actually; each academy selects one student to enter the arena. Then, a student from another academy will step in to challenge them."


    "The winner stays in the arena and earns a point for their academy, but the loser is eliminated and cannot participate again."


    A buzz of excitement swept through the crowd.


    The competition had just gotten more intense.


    "Did everyone understand?"


    The announcer asked, gripping the microphone.


    "What if a student wins a match? Can they leave the arena after that?" Ella asked curiously. After all, one student could win a match and then rest.


    Hearing Ella''s questions, everyone was filled with curiosity, they had forgotten about that detail.


    "Good point! No, once a student enters the arena, they cannot leave until they lose or win the entire phase for their academy. Any other questions?"


    The crowd fell silent.


    Nobody else raised their hand nor asked any questions.


    "Alright then!"


    The announcer''s voice boomed, reigniting the energy in the arena.


    "Let the second phase of the academy''s competition¡­ begin!"


    At that moment, no one dared to enter, but everyone''s gaze instinctively turned towards the Silverleaf''s Station.


    If Aestrea had been present, he would likely have been the first to enter the arena.


    "Guess I''ll be the one to go," Lucas said, also looking at Silverleaf''s Station as he stepped into the arena.


    He was confident that he could earn at least five points for his academy.


    However, as soon as he stepped into the arena, the conversation between him and Aestrea from yesterday flashed on his mind.


    But he quickly shrugged it off as he saw the Saintess in the Holy Academy''s Station.


    Soon enough, another figure stepped into the arena.


    The crowd gasped as they recognized her that it was Christina, the Saintess.


    As she walked forward, her gaze locked onto Lucas.


    The tension in the air thickened.


    Slowly, she brought out her staff, and in an instant, a golden light erupted around her, cascading like sunlight breaking through a storm.


    Lucas''s eyes widened as his grip tightened around his sword.


    He could see that she was planning to go all out.


    Christina as a Saintess had a very good eye for people, and could easily measure everyone''s strength... except Aestrea''s.


    He was a mystery to her.


    Lucas was like an open book to her; she knew his power was comparable to A-rank awakeners, and that made him a threat.


    If she didn''t take him down, he could rack up enough points to put his academy in the lead. She couldn''t let that happen.


    "May the first match begin!" the announcer''s voice rang out across the arena.


    "After this, anyone who enters can jump straight into battle!"


    The moment the words ended, Lucas exploded into action.


    SWOOP!


    He lunged at Christina, faster than the crowd expected.


    Clang!


    Their weapons collided, the sound reverberating like a thunderclap, as a deep golden light erupted in every way.

 Chapter 28 The Academys Competition (X)

    Tshu!


    Lucas was pushed back, his shoes sinking into the ground as he struggled to withstand the impact of their exchange.


    Immediately, Christina didn''t give Lucas a chance, her golden staff glowed brightly as she raised it high, her mana surging in waves.


    ¡º Holy Academy Series: Holy Beam! (? 4th-level Spell ?) ¡»


    A golden beam shot towards Lucas, prompting him to leap to the side. However, Christina kept her aim steady, directing the beam to follow him as he dashed around the arena.


    Then, his stance shifted slightly as a black flame enveloped his sword.


    "Demon Slaying Sword Art..."


    ¡º Corrupted Sword! (? Advanced-level Swordsmanship (B+) ?) ¡»


    Clang!


    Their weapon met, each one trying to push the other pack, but slowly, the black flames on Lucas''s sword began to consume the golden light radiating from Christina''s staff.


    Seeing this, she immediately jumped back, grabbed daggers from her waist, and threw them at Lucas.


    Clang, clang!


    Lucas easily deflected them with his sword, but just in that instant, the daggers suddenly exploded.


    BOOOM!


    THRRRR!


    "Kugh!"


    Blood spurted from his lips as he was hurled backward like a ragdoll.


    He tumbled across the arena floor before slamming his sword into the ground to stop his momentum, coming to a halt just a meter away from the arena''s edge.


    "Huh... she''s really tricky," he said, panting.


    Wiping the blood from his mouth with the back of his hand, he got up.


    However, Christian didn''t waste any second, she thrust her staff forward. The air around her shimmered, glowing runes forming an intricate circle in front of her.


    ¡º Holy Academy Series: Holy Chains! (? 4th-level Spell ?) ¡»


    Golden chains shot out from the circle, twisting and writhing like serpents as they raced toward Lucas.


    He barely had time to react, swinging his sword to intercept them.


    The first few chains disintegrated on contact with the black flames, but more kept coming, relentless and unyielding.


    "Tch!"


    Lucas clicked his tongue and spun as his sword sliced through chain after chain.


    But they weren''t just aiming for his sword¡ªthey snaked around his legs and arms, pulling tight like a trap.


    Before he could fully counter, Christina was already moving.


    She raised her staff high, the air around her shimmering with heat.


    ¡º Holy Academy Series: Divine Smite! (? 5th-level Spell ?) ¡»


    BOOOM!


    The heavens themselves seemed to crack open as a column of blinding light descending with devastating force.


    Fwooosh!


    Lucas planted his sword into the ground, a protective barrier of dark flames roaring to life around him.


    The light clashed against his flames, the ground beneath him splitting.


    Lucas gritted his teeth, his muscles trembling under the pressure.


    "Come on¡­ come on!" he growled, his voice straining.


    He pushed upward, and the flames surged in response, shattering the light.


    "Hah..."


    Christina stumbled back, her breath hitching, but her sharp gaze never wavered as she raised her staff once again, floating orbs of light materializing around her.


    Each orb crackled ominously before Christina uttered:


    "Go!"


    Swoop!


    The orbs were sent towards Lucas, and he quickly ducked dodging one of the orbs, but immediately, his shoulder was met with one of the orbs.


    BOOM!


    It exploded, making him spin in mid-air, but he recovered, twisting into a counterstrike. His sword flashed, dark flames surging forward toward Christina.


    Their weapons met again, the impact resounding with a loud sound as sparks flew, and Christina''s grip faltered for the briefest moment.


    In that instant, Lucas''s eyes narrowed.


    "Demon Slaying Sword Art..."


    ¡º Devastation Sword! (? Advanced-level Swordsmanship (A) ?) ¡»


    The dark flames erupted into a massive vortex with a deafening sound, the energy crackling like thunder.


    Lucas swung his sword with all his might, the black fire cutting through Christina''s defenses.


    CLANG!


    Her staff flew from her hands, and she dropped to one knee, her breathing ragged.


    "Haah... huff... ah..."


    The arena went silent except for Lucas''s heavy breaths. His sword lowered, the flames dissipating with a quiet hiss.


    It was silent for a few seconds...


    "OOOWWWOOOOO!"


    "SO COOL!"


    The crowd erupted in cheers.


    Christina, still catching her breath, slowly pushed herself off the ground and walked back to her station.


    But just as the noise from the crowd began to settle, something shifted.


    One of the students from Silverleaf Academy stepped forward.


    It was Mia.


    As soon as she set foot on the arena floor, a soft glow of mana flickered around her, but then it thickened¡ªswirling and tightening as a cyclone of flames ignited in her hands.


    Lucas''s eyes widened, and he immediately tensed, preparing himself for the attack.


    Fwoosh!


    His instincts kicked in, and he quickly enveloped his sword in its usual dark flame and swung it vertically, aiming to split the cyclone in half.


    Whooooosh!


    The black flames cut through the fiery barrier, splitting the cyclone as he''d hoped. But before he could even take a breath, a flash of movement appeared right in front of him.


    Mia was there, in an instant¡ªher hands pressed against his chest.


    "Ah¡ª!"


    He barely had time to react.


    ¡ªBAAAM!


    A violent shockwave sent Lucas flying backward, the flames of the cyclone spinning around him, engulfing him in a fiery spiral.


    He couldn''t control his momentum, his body helpless as the flames continued to push him through the air.


    Thud!


    Lucas hit the cold, hard ground of the arena with a grunt, pain shooting through his body.


    The crowd, once alive with energy, fell into stunned silence as the crowd processed what had just happened.


    Lucas stood there for a moment, dazed, as the overwhelming sensation of defeat hit him.


    He had barely managed to win the first match, but now, he had already lost the second one in the blink of an eye.


    "Hah... it really worked as Aestrea said..."


    Mia muttered to herself as she smiled with quiet satisfaction.


    She turned and walked toward her next opponent as if she hadn''t just knocked out one of the strongest students.


    The small note Aestrea had left had multiple situations of how to deal with certain students.


    Vivian was firstly shocked and worried upon reading the note, but she quickly cleared her head and then explained to the others about Aestrea''s plan.


    None of them refused his plans.


    They all believed him.


    Never did he let them off.


    And soon, the rounds of the competition went on.


    Mia was a huge help for Silverleaf, winning a total of 3 matches in a row before losing because she didn''t have enough mana.


    The brothers Derek and James both won two matches, while Maria actually was a bit more undefeated as she won three matches like Mia.


    As for the other students, all of them had actually had a great performance thanks to Aestrea''s note that helped them, even though most of them didn''t win a single match.


    From them, it was crazy to think that Aestrea had formulated so many plans just from watching the students for a few hours or so.


    But, of course, they were thankful that he did so.


    In the end, Silverleaf Academy had managed to secure exactly 12 wins.


    The Royal Academy had dominated with 26 wins, and the Holy Academy...


    BAAM!


    The last student from the Holy Academy was sent flying out of the arena, crashing to the ground with a resounding thud.


    With that, the Royal Academy now had 27 wins, and the Holy Academy was left with only 11.


    The result was clear.


    "Alright everyone, with only one student left standing, I''m proud to announce the two academies that will be moving on to the final round¡­"


    The announcer''s voice rang out.


    There was a pause, the tension building as the crowd leaned in.


    "First, the academy everyone expected¡­ the prestigious Eternum Royal Academy!"


    The crowd went wild, cheers and shouts echoing all over the arena.


    Everyone had known the Royal Academy would make it to the finals.


    Their victory felt almost guaranteed, and the excitement felt a little more like relief than surprise.


    "And finally¡­" The announcer''s voice shifted, building the suspense, "the one that nobody expected, the true Dark Horse of this competition¡­"


    A hush fell over the crowd, followed by eager whispers.


    "...The Silverleaf Academy!"


    The reaction was immediate and loud¡ªcheers, whistles, claps¡ªbut even though the noise was huge, the students of Silverleaf couldn''t help but feel a little off.


    It wasn''t the celebration they had imagined.


    They stood there, looking around, but no one moved to run into the arena or wave a flag.


    It felt wrong.


    After all...


    Aestrea, their leader and the one who practically granted them this victory.


    Wasn''t present.


    .....


    "Master! The barrier is almost broken!"


    Lumi''s panicked voice reached my ears as I shot my eyes open.


    "Just in time..."


    A small smile tugged at my lips as I reached out to gently pat Lumi''s head.


    "Master...?" she asked, tilting her head to the side in that adorable way of hers. I couldn''t help but chuckle softly at the sight.


    "Lumi, it''s time for you to test your special abilities..."


    I softly caressed her cheek as I spoke, and though she looked a little confused, she nodded eagerly.


    "Mhm?"


    Without another word, she transformed back into a sword. I ran my fingers lightly over the blade before gripping the hilt firmly.


    Crack...!


    The ice barrier I had set up hours ago splintered apart with a sharp sound.


    I had spent the past few hours creating a mana vessel for my right arm, and it was holding up¡ªat least for now.


    It should last a solid three days.


    Even if I had to use the third move of my sword art.


    It wasn''t the cheapest thing to make, but I didn''t care.


    My life was more than worth it.


    "Lumi... activate the snake ability."


    I muttered slightly, and slowly, I felt a rush running up my spine¡ª


    "Agh..."


    A sharp pain hit my eyes, so intense that I immediately shut them.


    It wasn''t just the pain; something felt... off like something was changing inside me.


    From one of my wounds, a drop of blood slipped from my body and fell to the ground.


    Hisss.....


    I heard a faint, unsettling hiss.


    Opening my eyes carefully, I looked down at the spot where the blood had fallen.


    To my surprise, the blood wasn''t just lying there¡ªit started melting through the ground like acid, the stone beneath it dissolving strangely.


    And that it wasn''t the only thing.


    My vision...


    No, my entire perception was changing.


    The heat in the room stood out like a blazing fire, and I could see it. I could feel the cold temperature where the wolves were breaking down my ice barrier.


    Then, my reflection caught my eye in the blade of my sword.


    My pupils...


    They weren''t normal anymore.


    My eyes were like Lumi''s from before, with vertical pupils in a red shade that looked ominous.


    And my strength... my agility, both of them seemed to have increased by a lot.


    It had worked.


    Because I was in a blood contract with Lumi, I could use her unique abilities.


    And that meant...


    I had the power of a gluttonous smile.


    CRACK!


    The wolves finally broke through the ice barrier with a violent roar.


    But when they saw me standing there, staring at them, their momentum faltered.


    A few of them hesitated, eyes widening as they locked on to mine.


    I didn''t move, just stood there, looking at them.


    And then...


    A slow smile spread across my lips.


    "Gosh..." sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I don''t know if it''s because I''ve partly turned into a snake, but... I''m hungry."


    I licked my dry lips.


    The moment the words left my mouth, I shot forward, faster than I ever had before.


    Growwwl...


    The soft growls of the frightened wolves echoed through the cave.

 Chapter 29 The Academys Competition (XI)

    "Aha..."


    A soft sigh slipped from my lips as I settled down among the lifeless bodies of the demon beasts.


    The sight was both gruesome and oddly satisfying.


    "Gosh... there were hundreds of them. This should make some money."


    I smiled to myself as I imagined the amount of money I''d get for these corpses and cores.


    Unfortunately, I didn''t have any spatial ring to store their corpses, and my system was quite useless¡ªexcept for the part that could foresee a potential ''outcome''.


    ¡¼Oh, really...?¡½


    Suddenly, a panel popped up in front of my eyes, interrupting my thoughts.


    "Ah... you can also appear when you''re not needed," I muttered, not even bothering to take a second glance at the panel.


    ¡¼...¡½


    "Come on... I don''t even know your functions, besides, even though you helped me, I don''t really trust you."


    I had read enough novels to know how these systems usually worked.


    They often turned out to be some kind of power-granting machine for the main character, and I wasn''t about to fall into that clich¨¦.


    If anything, I shouldn''t rely too much on it.


    But I shrugged it off.


    It shouldn''t be a big deal. I could handle things on my own, and besides, this system was practically useless anyway.


    ¡¼Aestrea.¡½


    "Mhm?"


    ¡¼Why do you think you''ve transmigrated into this world?¡½


    I froze at the question.


    It was something I hadn''t really thought about until now.


    I mean, I had been so caught up in living Aestrea''s life that the idea of why I was here hadn''t crossed my mind.


    After all, with Aestrea''s memories flooding my mind, it felt like I belonged here, like this was my new world, my home.


    But honestly...


    "I don''t see the need to know the reason. I''m having fun in this world." I replied, trying to brush off the question.


    ¡¼I see...¡½


    In my past life, I was an award-winning actor, one of the most famous faces in the world.


    I had experienced the glitz and glamour, but I also had a front-row seat to the darker aspects of human nature.


    People can be incredibly selfish, driven by their desires and ambitions. I had seen friends turn into rivals and vice versa, hiding their gaze of envy and betrayal.


    The industry was filled with backstabbing and manipulation, where loyalty was often just a word thrown around to gain favor.


    It was a world where people would do anything for fame, even if it meant stepping on others to get there.


    Of course, this also applies in this world.


    But unlike my past world, this one is actually fun.


    I''m not a particularly important person, and I can live my life freely. Never had I imagined that I would be able to frequent school again, it''s more than refreshing.


    ¡¼Then, I hope that you can have fun here.¡½


    Another panel appeared in front of me as if trying to express empathy towards me.


    "Well, anyways... I have things to do."


    ¡ºJudgement Eye (? S-Level Skill ?)¡»


    I jumped out of the pile of corpses as a faint symbol of a balance scale appeared in my now returned-to-normal pupils.


    This pile of wolves wasn''t nothing compared to that vision I had.


    Not to mention, that named demon beast that I saw.


    From its ominous eyes and the most prominent feature that I saw... its horns that curled back.


    After that day, I spent quite a few hours in the library, trying to find a named demon beast that could fit that description.


    And the only one I found was the...


    Bloodclaw Spirit Wolf.


    A demon beast that was on the lower stages of the S Rank, but it was more than enough to destroy an entire country alone.


    If they didn''t have S-rank awakeners of course.


    Normally, someone like me, who wasn''t even an A-Rank awakened, wouldn''t stand a chance against such a beast.


    I had needed Lucas''s help just to take down the Bulking Demon.


    So why would I even think about challenging a Bloodclaw Spirit Wolf on my own?


    It was simple.


    Bloodclaw Spirit Wolfs, are a very, but very rare species. The kind that even in a hundred years, wouldn''t have a chance to appear.


    Because of that, their bodies are naturally resistant to any kind of danger, not to mention their bloodline ability.


    If I had to give a reason as to why I wanted to kill this demon beast so madly other than protecting my classmates...


    It was because of their bloodline ability, their blood claws could inflict damage, and open wounds with just the slightest touch.


    I wanted that ability, really badly.


    "Even you, Lumi... you''re excited to get stronger, right?" I said, glancing at the sword in my hand.


    To my surprise, it quivered slightly, as if nodding in agreement. I couldn''t help but chuckle at the thought.


    Even if I couldn''t kill it...


    No.


    I was going to kill it.


    I had to.


    And soon, I found myself in a strangely familiar place.


    The trees were tall, which didn''t allow sunlight to pass through.


    Their twisted roots sprawled across the ground, making it hard to move without falling.


    A faint mist hung in the air, growing thicker the farther it stretched, and in the distance, the sound of a running current of water could be heard.


    The ground was a mess, with broken branches and scorched patches of earth.


    The smell of burned wood was strong, mixed with the metallic smell of blood.


    "Ah..."


    I looked forward, and there, a group of red eyes emerged from the ominous mist as they came from the shadows of the trees.


    Growwll...


    Their low growls rumbled through the air as they formed a wide circle around me, leaving a massive space in the center.


    Then, from the mist, a creature stepped forward¡ªmore than five times the size of the other wolves.


    It had a blood-colored horn that curled back and diamond-shaped red pupils that seemed to pierce right through me.


    "Ahah... I found you..."


    I muttered coldly to myself, feeling my pupils shift into vertical slits. I tightened my grip on the sword''s handle as I noticed the weaker wolves surrounding me.


    The named demon beast was clever; it didn''t approach directly and instead sent its underlings to wear me down.


    But I wasn''t here to deal with those weaklings. I was going straight for the boss.


    Mana surged through my legs as I pulled my sword back, shifting into a stance that would allow me to slice through anything in my path.


    Then...


    Rumble!


    Like a bolt of lightning, I dashed toward the named demon beast.


    Clang!


    My sword met its blood-colored horn with a resounding clash, the impact sending vibrations up my arm.


    ROAARRRR!


    .....


    "Ladies, and gentlemen!"


    The announcer''s voice boomed across the entire arena, cutting through the chatter and excitement of the crowd.


    "Welcome to the final phase of our annual academy competition! This last phase will be quite simple, so listen closely."


    As everyone turned their attention to him, the announcer gestured toward a small portal that shimmered in the center of the arena.


    "Both academies will be entering an artificial dungeon, and the elimination process will work like a team battle royale."


    He paused for dramatic effect, letting the anticipation build.


    "Each student will wear a special bracelet that acts like a second life. If a student is killed, they will be teleported out of the dungeon, confirming their elimination."


    The crowd murmured in excitement, and the announcer continued, his voice rising with enthusiasm.


    "Finally, the last student or students standing will declare the winner for their academy!"


    Then, with enough built up energy, he continued:


    "From our left! We have the prestigious Eternum Royal Academy!"


    The crowd erupted into cheers, their excitement palpable.


    On the left side, Ella led her classmates in her Leader''s Suit, confidently striding toward the arena.


    The students behind her waved their flag high, their spirits clearly lifted.


    "And on our right, we have the dark horse of the competition, the Silverleaf Academy!"


    The cheers grew louder, but then they began to fade as the crowd noticed something unsettling.


    Aestrea, the leader of Silverleaf Academy, was missing.


    The students from the Silverleaf Academy walked slowly to the arena, their heads down, and they didn''t even bother to wave their flag.


    One would think that the way they were acting was pretty exaggerated, but no.


    For them, Aestrea was like their shining light, the one who took them out of a world full of darkness.


    Like a parental figure.


    Without him here...


    Would it really matter if they won the competition or not?


    Seeing the lack of enthusiasm, the announcer tried to rally their spirits.


    "Remember, any late student can still enter the competition as long as they step into the portal before all their classmates are eliminated!"


    But his words didn''t seem to have the desired effect, and he let out a resigned sigh.


    "Alright, everyone, please enter the portal. The crowd will be watching on the gigantic screens that will appear once each student steps inside."


    As the students began to enter the portal, multiple screens flickered to life, showcasing their faces.


    However, two much larger screens stood out from the rest.


    One displayed Ella, while the other... was completely blank.


    It was supposed to show Aestrea''s figure, but instead, it was just an empty space. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Without further ado, let''s begin the final battle to determine who is the strongest!"


    The crowd cheered, though the energy wasn''t quite as electric as before.


    It was astonishing to think that the absence of a single person could have such a profound impact on the atmosphere.

 Chapter 30 The Academys Competition (XII)

    ROAARRR!


    The moment Aestrea''s sword clashed against the Bloodclaw Wolf''s crimson horn, the beast let out a furious roar, swinging its massive paw toward him.


    Zing!


    A giant, clawed paw came hurtling at Aestrea, forcing him to sidestep to the left just in time.


    Splurt!


    But it was too late; the edge of the claw grazed his right shoulder, tearing through flesh and muscle.


    The Bloodclaw Wolf''s lips curled into a menacing snarl as its paw stretched out toward Aestrea once more.


    Shing!


    Splurt!


    "Arghhhhhh!"


    Aestrea screamed as the small wound on his shoulder ripped open wider, blood gushing out like a fountain, creating a dark stain on the ground beneath him.


    He gritted his teeth, a faint layer of mana enveloping his shoulder in a desperate attempt to stem the bleeding.


    He was about to retaliate when he noticed a pack of smaller wolves eyeing him hungrily.


    "God damn it..."


    He enveloped his sword in its usual silver color and swung at the wolves.


    But this time, it wasn''t the same as before.


    Instead of a crescent wave of mana, he unleashed a piercing shot that punched a hole straight through one of the wolves.


    Then, he turned to the big wolf and dashed towards him.


    Growl...!


    The small wolves together jumped in Aestrea''s direction upon seeing his intention to attack the big wolf, catching him off guard.


    He twisted his body mid-air, and then took the opportunity to increase the amount of mana in his sword, swinging it down.


    Splurt!


    Blood sprayed everywhere as he sliced through the smaller wolves, their bodies cleaved in half, leaving a gruesome scene behind.


    But what Aestrea didn''t notice, was the massive wolf charging at him from the side.


    THRAM!


    The big wolf swung his arm at him, giving a strong strike on Aestrea''s stomach region.


    "Kugh¡ª!"


    Aestrea''s eyes widened spontaneously, and blood gushed out of his mouth. This body was blown away and flung onto a tall tree.


    Crash!


    The tree cracked in half as Aestrea''s body passed through it before it landed on the river nearby splashing his whole body.


    "Ugh..."


    He stood up groaning faintly as he felt every part of his body aching in pain.


    Naturally, the big wolf didn''t give Aestrea time to rest before two attacks, in the form of a giant blood claw, came towards him.


    He bit his lip, dragging his battered body to the right just in time to avoid the attack.


    But he was still careless.


    Crunch!


    "KAAGH!"


    One of the nearby wolves successfully bit down on his injured shoulder, prompting him to let out a scream.


    He quickly grabbed the wolf''s body and threw it on the ground before stabbing it with a sword.


    "Kagh... haah... uhh..."


    His breath came down ragged as more and more wolves approached him. He wiped the blood from his lips, then, his eyes turned colder than before.


    "I didn''t think... I''d be using this so soon..." he muttered, exhaling a breath that came out in a misty cloud.


    THRRUUUM!


    ¡º Your Aura attribute has been successfully awakened. ¡»


    A panel popped in front of him.


    His body was suddenly enveloped in a silver light, trembling slightly as the color deepened into a metallic lavender¡ªa perfect mixture of violet and silver.


    And then, another papel appeared in front of him.


    ¡º Aura''s Rank: S+


    ? Disposition: Violet (Power & Luxury)¡»


    Ignoring the panel, he cracked his neck and gripped the handle of his sword tightly.


    "Moonlit Ice Lotus Sword Art..."


    ¡º Second Move! (? Ice Lotus Barrage ?) ¡»


    A flurry of crescent slashes erupted in all directions, cutting through the wolves like they were made of paper.


    In an instant, Aestrea''s figure vanished, reappearing right in front of the massive wolf. A small smile crept onto his face as his red eyes glowed with intensity.


    THRRUUM!


    Once again, his sword met the Bloodclaw Wolf''s horn, but this time, he felt no vibration in his arms.


    Instead, the impact sent the beast skidding back several meters.


    ROOAARRR!


    "Ah... shut up, will you?"


    Holding his neck, Aestrea muttered coldly as he swung his sword.


    A violet line sliced through the air, and a group of nearby wolves fell lifelessly to the ground, blood spraying out like a fountain.


    Then, his sword transformed into a gun, and Aestrea leaped into the air, a violet platform appearing beneath him to keep him aloft.


    "Die."


    He uttered the word with chilling calmness, and a series of shots rang out.


    ¡º Mixed Ice Series: Magic Ice Bullet! (? Upgraded 3th-level Spell ?) ¡»


    Bang!


    Bang!


    Bang!


    Each bullet found its way to the big wolf''s body, but soon enough, the big wolf got smarter as it started zig-zagging its way toward Aestrea.


    He finally reached close to Aestrea and opened its massive jaws wide, revealing rows of razor-sharp teeth that glinted menacingly in the light.


    To his surprise, Aestrea didn''t even flinch upon seeing that, instead, his finger pulled the trigger of the handgun.


    BANG!


    His mouth swallowed a significantly different bullet, and then, a chill filled his body as he froze before he could reach Aestrea. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Aestrea transformed his gun back into a sword, ready to deliver the final blow.


    Swoop!


    He swung with all his might, but the wolf managed to leap back just in time, narrowly avoiding the strike.


    Aestrea stopped his movements mid-air as he turned to look coldly at the wolf, now his red eyes were glowing more than ever.


    Combined with those vertical slits, the big wolf couldn''t help but feel a shiver running down its back.


    Creaak...


    A chilling sound echoed through the air as waves of violet energy surged from Aestrea''s body, rippling across the ground like a dark tide.


    His sword dragged behind him, carving a small fissure into the earth as he slowly walked towards the massive Bloodclaw Wolf.


    Thruumm!


    Growl...!


    The ground trembled beneath his feet, and the weak growls of the smaller wolves filled the air.


    Their desperate attempts to reach Aestrea were cut short by the deadly waves of mana that swept through them.


    However, he ignored them as his vertical slits blinked ominously as the smile on his face only seemed to increase.


    "Moonlit Ice Lotus Sword Art..."


    A faint murmur came out of his lips, and hearing those words, the Bloodclaw Wolf flinched in shock, instinctively taking a cautious step back.


    But it was too late.


    ¡º Third Move! (? Moonlight''s One Flash ?) ¡»


    The dim light of the moon seemed to focus on Aestrea, illuminating him in a silver glow.


    A silver line sliced through the air, and in the blink of an eye, Aestrea vanished, reappearing behind the massive wolf.


    Crack...!


    The red horn that the Bloodclaw Wolf was so proud of was severed cleanly in half, crashing to the ground with a depressing sound.


    The wolf''s eyes widened in shock, then narrowed into a furious glare as it leaped toward Aestrea, its rage boiling over.


    ROAAAAR!


    The beast roared, its voice echoing like thunder, as its blood claws expanded, becoming much larger than before.


    But Aestrea turned to face the beast, and in that moment, the wolf stared at his deep blood eyes, he felt a wave of pure...


    Fear.


    The emotion in Aestrea''s eyes had drained, leaving behind a cold void that seemed to suck the warmth from the air.


    And then...


    Swing!


    The wolf''s claws suddenly felt heavy and useless. They began to dissolve into blood crystals that fell to the ground with a sickening thud.


    Thud... thud... thud...


    The Bloodclaw Wolf trembled, its heart racing as it stared at the fallen crystals, realizing with horror that they were remnants of its own claws.


    "Ahh..."


    At that moment, the named demon beast heard a small sigh coming out of the man''s mouth.


    He pointed his sword at him, as he asked:


    "Who''s hunting who?"


    He tilted his head, a bloodied smile stretching across his face, and at that instant, another streak of light flashed before the wolf''s eyes.


    Growl...


    Accompanied by the fearful growl of the big wolf...


    .....


    BOOOM!


    Meanwhile, in the artificial dungeon, the Silverleaf Academy was being easily pushed back by the Eternum Royal Academy.


    The air crackled with energy, and the ground shook with the force of their spells.


    They had eliminated three students, but more than half of their classmates were already eliminated.


    "Dammit... Derek, dodge!"


    Mia shouted, her voice rising above the din as she spotted a streak of lightning hurtling toward him.


    "Ah...!" Derek''s eyes widened in panic.


    He quickly raised an earth wall behind him, the ground rumbling as it formed, and then he sprinted to the side, trying to evade the incoming attack.


    "James, prepare for the strike!"


    Mia added as two cyclones of flames appeared in her hands, and James nodded his head at her, stopping in his tracks.


    ¡º Earth Series: Iron Golem! (? 4th-level Spell ?) ¡»


    From the ground, a massive golem emerged, and then charged forward, aiming to intercept the multiple attackers closing in on them.


    Then Mia raised her hands, having lost her staff, and the flame cyclones became more chaotic as the increasing wind surged.


    ¡º Fire Series: Twin Flame Cyclones! (? 4th-level Spell ?) ¡»


    From her hands, she unleashed the spiraling flames toward the enemy students. But just as the fire surged forward, a sword flashed through the air.


    Swing!


    In an instant, the twin flame cyclones were sliced in half, the flames extinguished with a faint hiss.


    The sound of multiple thuds hitting the ground voiced out, and Mia''s heart sank.


    "Damn it..." she bit her lip aggrievedly, not able to think about how to escape that situation.


    In front of her stood five familiar figures¡ªthe strongest students of the Eternum Royal Academy.


    It was Ella, their leader, Lucas, Rose, and Maya... and Iris.


    She realized at that moment that she was going to lose, but she still held onto the hope that Aestrea would appear to save the day...


    Just like he always did.


    Because of that reason, she was determined to give it her all until the very end.


    Closing her eyes gently, she sent a warning to Derek and James, the only two remaining beside her.


    With that, she raised her hands into the air, and her eyes began to glow intensely.


    ¡º Fire Series: Hell''s Paradise! (? Upper 5th-level Spell ?) ¡»


    BOOOM!


    Suddenly, multiple currents of lava erupted from the ground, shooting toward the sky like fiery geysers.


    Rose''s eyes widened in shock as she witnessed the sheer power of Mia''s spell.


    "Ella, use your strongest blow immediately."


    Rose warned Ella directly, and upon hearing her words, Ella''s expression grew colder as she brought her sword close to her forehead.


    A golden light began to envelop her body, as golden flames erupted from it.


    ¡º Royal Swordsmanship: Flowing Golden Dragon! (? SS-Level Sword Art ?) ¡»


    The flames twisted and coiled, transforming into a magnificent golden dragon that soared toward Mia, roaring with ferocity.


    ROOAARRR!


    "Dammit!"


    Mia''s heart raced as she quickly turned the currents of lava into a protective barrier, desperately trying to shield herself from the impending attack.


    But just as she braced for impact, she felt a sudden force behind her.


    "Kaughk!"


    The blow struck her back with bone-crushing force, sending her flying forward. She gripped the ground, trying to slow her momentum, and turned to look behind her.


    Both Derek and James had been eliminated, with Maya and Lucas looking at her. In the other side, her spell had been completely shattered by the golden dragon.


    At this moment, her vision started blurring as she saw a magnificent wave of flames coming towards her.


    "Ah..."


    Mia fell to her knees.


    She closed her eyes, whispering to herself in a sad tone.


    "We''ve lost... even with Aestrea''s help, it''s not enough."


    The words felt like a stone in her throat. She had hoped so hard that he would come and save them, but now, it seemed like a distant dream.


    Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through her as the last attack hit her.


    "Aghh!"


    She gasped, feeling her body being pulled away from the battlefield.


    "No...!" she cried out, but it was too late.


    The world around her began to fade, and she felt herself being teleported out of the dungeon.


    "Why... If I endured just a little more, maybe he would..." She clenched her fists tightly and stood there, staring at the arena floor with a vacant gaze.


    But suddenly, the loud voice of the crowd reached out to her ears...


    The crowd was roaring loudly, their voices rising in a deafening chant.


    "AESTREA!"


    "AESTREA!"


    "AESTREA!"


    Mia''s heart skipped a beat. She blinked, and her eyes landed on the biggest screen in the arena.


    There, in the center of the chaos, stood a silver-haired young man.


    His glowing red eyes were sharp and focused, filled with a deep intensity that could send shivers down anyone''s spine.


    But what caught her attention the most were his clothes.


    They were torn and tattered, hanging off him like rags.


    Dark stains of blood soaked through the fabric, oozing from multiple scratches and wounds that marred his skin.


    Each cut looked deep, and the blood glistened in the light, a stark contrast against his pale skin.


    It dripped down his arms and pooled at his feet, painting the ground a dark crimson.


    The sight was both terrifying and awe-inspiring.


    At that moment, tears welled up in Mia''s eyes, blurring her vision.


    "I... I knew you would appear..."

 Chapter 31 The Academys Competition (XIII)

    "What...? Weren''t we supposed to get out now that Mia is eliminated?" one of the students from the Eternum Royal Academy asked, confusion etched on his face.


    A few minutes had passed and they still didn''t get teleported out of the practical dungeon.


    "I think so. She was the last student from Silverleaf, right?" another spoke, glancing around at the others.


    The remaining students began to murmur among themselves, and even Ella and her group couldn''t help but feel puzzled.


    "But isn''t it strange?" Rose suddenly spoke up, her voice cutting through the chatter and catching everyone''s attention.


    "The moment Mia was eliminated, the usual notification that tells us how many students are left from the other academy still showed one."


    "Right..." Ella nodded, her brow furrowing in thought.


    "After Lucas and Maya eliminated Derek, it said only one student was remaining. So we should have won, right?"


    As her words hung in the air, everyone fell silent, deep in thought.


    Then Lucas muttered:


    "Unless... Aestrea entered the dungeon just before Mia was eliminated..."


    BANG!


    "GAAAGHH!"


    Just as he finished speaking, a loud scream pierced the air, and in front of their eyes, one of the students disintegrated into wisps, their body vanishing as if it had never existed.


    They turned toward the sound of the gunshot, and there he was¡ªa familiar young man with silver hair and glowing red eyes stepping into view.


    His clothes were in tatters, hanging off him like rags, soaked with dark stains of blood that oozed from deep gashes and scratches covering his skin.


    Each wound looked agonizingly deep, blood gushing from them and pooling at his feet, creating a gruesome sight.


    "A-Aestrea..." Ella gasped, her hand flying to her mouth in shock.


    It was clear that those injuries hadn''t come from the practical dungeon.


    Just by looking at him, anyone could tell why Aestrea hadn''t appeared in the second phase and only showed up now in the third¡ªhe had been busy fighting a powerful opponent.


    However, it wasn''t time to worry about Aestrea, after all, they were still in the academy''s competition!


    Ella quickly shook her head and looked towards her teammates.


    "Prepare to atta¡ª!"


    ¡ªSPLURT!


    A violent spray of blood erupted as a silver line sliced through the air as if cutting through paper.


    In that instant, four students vanished into wisps, their screams echoing in the air before being silenced.


    "A-ah..." Ella stammered, shock washing over her.


    She wasn''t alone; Lucas, Rose, Maya, and Iris were equally stunned, their faces pale as they processed what had just happened.


    But each one of them quickly got out of their waze, and prepared to attack Aestrea.


    ¡º Fire Series: Phoenix Rush (? 6th-level Spell ?)¡»


    Immediately, Rose raised her stuff and started preparing her strongest spell. Just by seeing that attack from Aestrea, she knew that he wasn''t there to play around.


    "Maya, let''s go together!"


    Lucas spoke to Maya who nodded her head, her fists clenched tightly as they both dashed toward Aestrea like a bolt of lightning.


    At that moment, Aestrea, looking at the forming fire phoenix, slowly turned his head towards them and raised his sword.


    Shing!


    A silver crescent wave of mana shot toward them, but they didn''t stop as a golden barrier suddenly materialized around them.


    Aestrea didn''t seem surprised; he merely glanced at Iris, who had summoned the barrier.


    CRACK!


    "What?!"


    Lucas exclaimed, eyes wide with disbelief as the crescent wave pierced through Iris''s barrier like it was made of paper.


    Both Lucas and Maya instinctively tried to shield themselves from the incoming attack, panic flooding their senses.


    At that moment, from behind, a group of students tried to attack Aestrea, but he didn''t even glance at them as he diagonally swung his sword.


    SPLURT!


    A silver line cut through the air, and the students behind him were cleanly severed in half, their bodies collapsing to the ground before dissipating into wisps.


    Blood sprayed everywhere, painting the ground in a horrific crimson color.


    But it didn''t stop there.


    The silver light surrounding Aestrea intensified, glowing with a fierce energy that crackled in the air.


    ¡º First Move! (? Ice Lotus Bloom ?)¡»


    An ice lotus formed above him, delicate yet deadly, as Aestrea swung his sword downwards.


    The moment the lotus reached the center of the remaining students, he clenched his fist tightly.


    "Bloom."


    He uttered a single word, and then...


    FREEZE!


    A wave of bone-chilling cold surged through the forest, sweeping across the ground like a dark tide.


    It didn''t take long for the icy blast to reach the students, and when it did, the temperature plummeted.


    The remaining students were caught off guard, their bodies instantly encased in ice. They gasped in shock, but it was too late.


    The ice shattered with a sickening crunch, and blood gushed out in a gruesome spray.


    The only ones left standing were Ella and her group, their faces pale with horror as they witnessed the brutal elimination of their classmates.


    On the outside, the crowd erupted in cheers, but amongst them, the students of the Silverleaf Academy were the loudest.


    Not to mention the high nobility...


    "Did he get stronger in the span of a few days?" Evelyn, the northern Duchess, exclaimed in her same neutral expression.


    If she could manifest emotions, she probably would have a shocked face.


    "Yeah... it seems so." Elandor, the Sword Duke, nodded his head in confirmation.


    Unlike Evelyn, he had shock splattered over his face, but beneath that, there was an undeniable hate for Aestrea.


    He had eliminated his dear grandson after all.


    To their reactions, Empress Isabella couldn''t help but smile widely.


    "This little guy... seems like a perfect partner for Ella, no?" she said, turning to face Francis, the emperor.


    He frowned deeply, his expression darkening as he shot her a look that seemed to say, ''You''re still on that?''.


    "She''s my dear daughter, and this Aestrea is just a commoner," he replied, shaking his head in disapproval before glaring at Isabella.


    Then, he leaned closer to her and whispered.


    "Don''t forget your place, woman."


    Empress Isabella immediately clenched the hems of his dress as she heard his cold words.


    Although they appeared to be a perfect couple from the outside, the reality was quite different.


    The Emperor was a very lustful man, with countless mistresses, and he often neglected Isabella. She had been forced into marriage with him due to his obsession with her in their earlier years.


    However, right after their wedding ceremony, he suddenly lost interest in her.


    They never conceived even once during their marriage.


    Isabella was the daughter of the previous Empress, and Francis doted on her because he had loved his late wife very dearly.


    However, he also threatened Isabella, insisting that she act like the perfect wife so that his image as Emperor would not be tarnished.


    Despite this, Isabella genuinely treated Ella as her own daughter, but she received no recognition or appreciation from Francis.


    "Oh, would you look at that?" Evelyn muttered softly, and immediately, everyone''s eyes were drawn back to the big screen.


    BAAM!


    Both Lucas and Maya were sent flying through the air, their bodies crashing down before Ella caught them just in time.


    "Gah... this guy..." Lucas coughed, blood spilling from his lips as he clutched his chest, his breaths coming out in ragged gasps.


    "Agh...!" Maya groaned, holding her stomach as she limped on the ground, pain etched across her face.


    Immediately, Iris rushed over to them, her hands glowing with a soft light as she conjured a healing spell.


    "Hang in there, guys! I''m almost done!" Rose called out, but just then, Aestrea''s figure vanished from sight.


    And Ella''s eyes immediately traced it as she dashed towards Rose. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    CLANG!


    Ella''s sword clashed against Aestrea''s right in front of Rose, whose eyes went wide with shock.


    "Agh...!"


    Ella grunted, trying to push Aestrea back, but he stood firm, slowly forcing her to retreat.


    "Guys, help!" Rose shouted.


    She really couldn''t do anything because she was still preparing the spell, and needed to focus all of her mana on the spell.


    In other words, she was a living target.


    CLANG!


    Lucas swung his sword at Aestrea from the side, but Aestrea simply lowered his body and deflected the blow with the handle of his sword, handling both Ella''s and Lucas''s sword at the same time.


    However, there was still one missing person who had been buffed by Iris''s spell.


    "HAAAA!"


    Maya shouted as she threw a punch, her fist enveloped in a deep surge of mana.


    But at that moment, as soon as her punch met Aestrea''s body, his body turned into mist.


    "Oh... no...!"


    The force of Lucas''s sword swing sent Maya crashing into Ella, splitting her in half before she could react.


    Blood sprayed everywhere, gushing from her body as she fell to the ground before dissipating into wisps.


    "KUAAGHH!"


    Ella was sent flying backward, her body slamming into a tree with a sickening crack.


    The impact shattered the trunk, and she continued to fly through the air, breaking more trees in her path, blood trickling from her mouth.


    Fortunately, Rose wasn''t attacked or anything, and her spell was finally complete.


    "PHOENIX RUSH!"


    She screamed loudly as her staff glowed brighter than ever.


    Immediately, a fire phoenix erupted from her staff, soaring toward Aestrea like a blazing wind, making everything on its way catch on fire.


    But, Aestrea remained calm, and simply raised his sword.


    ¡º Second Move! (? Ice Lotus Barrage ?)¡»


    A barrage of crescent waves of mana shot toward the phoenix, each one being stronger than the last one.


    Initially, Rose thought that soon enough the crescent waves would stop because seemed to consume a lot of mana, but they didn''t.


    Each one struck the phoenix, weakening it further until, just a few meters from Aestrea, the fire phoenix completely dissipated into dust.


    "D-damn... h-how much mana, haah... do you have?!" Rose gritted her teeth, breathing heavily, frustration and fear mixing in her chest


    She had spent all of her mana on that same move, but surprisingly, it was easily taken down by Aestrea.


    To her words, Aestrea didn''t say anything, keeping the same sharp and cold expression.


    He looked towards Lucas, then to Ella, and finally to Rose again.


    ''This... are the ''heroes'' that eventually are going to save the world?''


    ''Do they have a hidden technique or something?''


    Aestrea pondered to himself.


    When he first arrived in this world, he believed he could challenge just one of them and perhaps be evenly matched with him or her.


    But now...


    All of them together didn''t muster a chance against him.


    ''But, I''m still going to keep my guard up... After all, both Ella and Lucas didn''t use a single of their techniques.''


    ''Maybe, their powers come more from their techniques, and not raw skill...''


    He took a step forward.


    ''They can''t be so weak.''

 Chapter 32 The Academys Competition (XIV)

    Meanwhile, outside the arena, a stunning woman with long purple hair and her signature purple witch hat gazed intently at the big screen.


    Her light blue eyes were fixed on the silver-haired young man.


    "Aestrea... he released his Aura, huh," she muttered to herself, her brow furrowing in concern as she bit her lip.


    "That guy... didn''t I tell him that if he kept his Aura sealed, the attacks wouldn''t come so frequently? Why did he choose to unleash it now?"


    She brought her hand to her mouth, biting her nails in anxiety.


    "Especially since his Aura contains two of the strongest dispositions... and his personality... it''s going to change under its influence."


    Her gaze remained locked on Aestrea''s figure, noting how his expression had shifted from his casual smile to something colder and more intense.


    "He''s not even smiling while fighting anymore..." she whispered, clutching her witch''s hat tightly, her heart heavy with concern.


    Then, she looked down at her legs, where a small piece of paper with Aestrea''s name marked on it could be seen.


    There, a particular detail stood out.


    ¡º Danger: World Destroying Level. ¡» S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "This little guy has an incredible affinity for both Mana and Aura; he truly is a monster. However, there''s still Lucas, the hero of our era."


    She tapped her legs lightly, her expression thoughtful.


    As the strongest mage, she could easily pry to wherever she wanted, so it was no surprise that she knew about Lucas''s true identity.


    "As soon as Lucas gets the holy sword, his power should skyrocket. Then, Aestrea won''t stand a chance against him, even with his incredible talent."


    A smile crept onto her lips as she imagined the scene of Aestrea being defeated by Lucas.


    "Ah~... that scene~..." she sighed dreamily, her cheeks flushing with excitement.


    "At that moment, he won''t have any choice but to come to me~" she let out a giggle, clutching her witch hat happily.


    If one saw her face in that state, they would their jaw dropped.


    After all...


    Eleonora, the strongest mage in the world and the headmistress of the Eternum Royal Academy was blushing deeply at the thought of a student.


    .....


    Taking a step forward, Aestrea''s silver mana began to convulse around him, sending clumps of dirt and debris flying into the air.


    At the four remaining students, his eyes immediately focused on Iris, the only supporter of their team.


    "Gah!" Iris gasped, jumping back in shock as Aestrea''s icy eyes bore into her.


    Without hesitation, Lucas stepped in front of Iris.


    "Demon Slaying Sword Art..."


    ¡º Devastation Sword! (? Advanced-level Swordsmanship (A) ?) ¡»


    Lucas knew that the weakest move of his technique wouldn''t do much damage to Aestrea, so he decided to use the second one directly.


    In that instant, Dark flames erupted from his body, swirling around him and forming a massive vortex that crackled with intensity.


    Then, he dashed towards Aestrea and swung his sword with all his might.


    CLANG!


    Their swords collided, and the dark flames clung to Aestrea''s blade, trying to consume his silver mana.


    But to Lucas''s shock, the flames didn''t eat his silver mana; instead, they began to freeze, transforming into a layer of ice that coated Aestrea''s sword.


    Lucas''s eyes widened in disbelief.


    His dark flames had always devoured everything in their path, but they couldn''t touch Aestrea''s mana.


    Slip!


    At that moment, Lucas''s sword slipped into the ground, piercing it, and before he could react, Aestrea pressed the palm of his hand into Lucas''s chest.


    "NO!"


    His face contorted in shock as he remembered the past scene of Aestrea doing the same thing to Leon.


    But just as Aestrea was about to strike, a massive golden light flashed before his eyes.


    ¡º Royal Swordsmanship: Heavenly Strike! (? SS-level Swordsmanship ?) ¡»


    Immediately, his instincts kicked in, and Aestrea pushed Lucas back slightly, raising his sword to block the incoming attack.


    CLANG!


    Their swords met with a deafening crash, sparks flying as Aestrea''s feet sank into the ground from the force of the impact.


    BAM!


    And as the golden light flickered, sending a shockwave that created a small crater beneath Aestrea, the ground cracking and splintering with each passing second.


    Taking the opportunity, Iris buffed both Lucas and Ella, making Lucas''s flames flare back to life, as his sword was now enveloped in dark flames once more.


    "Demon Slaying Sword Art..."


    ¡º Breaking the Sky! (? A+ level Swordsmanship ?) ¡»


    The third move of his technique!


    Now, the dark flames had a faint blue tint as Lucas swung them in Aestrea''s direction.


    Suddenly, a massive force surged toward Aestrea, and Ella seized the opportunity to use Aestrea''s blocking sword to jump on it, and leap away from there.


    THRRRUUUM!


    The attack came on his way, creating an incoming fissure on the ground.


    Seeing this, Aestrea''s stance shifted slightly, as he bent down his lower body...


    "Moonlit Ice Lotus Sword Art..."


    ¡º Third Move! (? Moonlight''s One Flash ?) ¡»


    As the enormous cyclone of dark flames charged at him, Aestrea''s body vanished from sight, and a silver line sliced through the air.


    Shing!


    In that instant, the silhouette of the moon emerged in the sky, illuminating Aestrea''s form as he reappeared behind the incoming attack.


    Hissss!


    The dark flames dissipated, being cleanly cut in half.


    "Ahh... that was a difficult one."


    For the first time, Aestrea spoke, as he waved his right arm slightly, feeling the mana vessel convulse slightly.


    It had broken, and now he couldn''t use his right arm if he wanted to avoid injuries.


    Looking ahead, he noticed the shocked expressions of the small group.


    It was no surprise, given that Lucas''s attack had been incredibly powerful, even capable of dealing great damage to a named demon beast.


    Though it might appear that Aestrea came out from the attack unscathed, that wasn''t entirely the truth.


    He had expended a significant amount of mana using the third move of his sword art.


    Additionally, he had broken the mana vessel, which was supposed to last for a day or so, even with the use of his third move.


    But suddenly...


    Beep!


    The five of them got teleported out of the practical dungeon.


    "Huh?" Aestrea muttered confused.


    And he wasn''t the only one.


    Iris, Ella, and Lucas were equally confused.


    Before they could gather their thoughts, the announcer''s voice boomed over the arena.


    "Aestrea, the leader of Silverleaf Academy, has been disqualified for using an unauthorized artificial mana vessel!"


    Gasps rippled through the crowd, and Aestrea''s heart sank.


    "Because of that, Silverleaf Academy is deemed last in the competition and declared the weakest academy once again!"


    "And of course, the Eternum Royal Academy is declared the strongest academy for the tenth consecutive year!"


    "WHAT?!"


    The crowd erupted in outrage and disbelief.


    "An artificial mana vessel? Did Aestrea get injured and have to use that?"


    "But how is it unauthorized? Did he get it on the black market or something?"


    The crowd started whispering to each other.


    This whole situation came as a shock, and Aestrea froze, shock coursing through him.


    Immediately, the students from Eternum Royal Academy began to celebrate, their cheers ringing in his ears.


    Ella''s group was quickly surrounded by their classmates, who hoisted them into the air, showering them with compliments and cheers.


    As for the Silverleaf Academy, the students gathered around Aestrea...


    "It''s okay; next year, we can still win!"


    "Yeah, don''t worry about it, Aestrea!"


    The students tried to cheer him, even Mia pressed her gigantic breasts against his back as she whispered softly in his ear.


    "Don''t worry about it~, I''ll give you a reward for still arriving in time. Even though we lost, everyone knows you''re the strongest here, which means our academy is the strongest."


    However, to her words, Aestrea remained silent, clenching his fists deeply.


    His wounds still had blood, and Mia had dirtied her clothes with blood, but she didn''t seem to mind at all.


    "Aestrea..." Vivian whispered his name in a soft voice.


    She was the only one who seemed to know how Aestrea was feeling.


    All his hard work, training, and everything...


    For him to be disqualified.


    And knowing Aestrea, Vivian was sure that the artificial mana vessel wasn''t from the black market, and was probably made by himself.


    "Hah..."


    He let out a bitter scoff, pushing his hair back into a messy slicked-back style, strands falling over his forehead and eyes.


    "Unauthorized artificial mana vessel?" His voice was sequentially amplified by mana as he uttered those words.


    "Who are you kidding?"


    In a sudden burst of anger, he drew his sword and traced a deep line across his right arm.


    "A-Aestrea!"


    His classmates called out, but he signaled them to stop.


    Then, he continued to cut into his skin until the line was deep and wide, blood gushing out and dripping to the ground.


    Gritting his teeth, he grabbed the broken mana vessel and snapped his fingers with his left hand, conjuring a massive screen in the air.


    The image of the mana vessel appeared, along with his full name written across it.


    It meant that the mana vessel had been created by him, therefore, it wasn''t unauthorized since he was the one who created it.


    At that moment, the crowd''s complaints only got louder.


    "SEEE! I KNEW IT, AESTREA WOULDN''T CHEAT LIKE THAT!"


    "YEAH, THAT''S RIGHT! REDO THE MATCH!"


    "REDO! REDO!"


    A cold sweat trickled down the announcer''s forehead as he glanced nervously at the emperor, who was watching with a stern expression.


    Then, the Emperor stood up, his voice booming over the crowd.


    "Even though the mana vessel was created by you, it''s still considered an unfair advantage, making you lose the round regardless."


    "Or do you have an opinion against me...?"


    The moment those words left his lips, a crushing pressure descended upon Aestrea, forcing him to his knees.


    "Ugh!"


    He coughed, blood spilling from his mouth, and splattering onto the ground.


    "Aestrea!"


    His classmates shouted his name in worry but decided not to act to avoid being targeted by the emperor.


    They knew that Aestrea wouldn''t like them getting hurt.


    "Haah..."


    In response to the Emperor''s words, Aestrea only seemed to let out a small laugh, as he formulated a small plan in mind.


    He had a way to make sure that the Emperor couldn''t act against him.


    So, he took the liberty to say his real thoughts.


    "Do you even know what a Mana Vessel is for?"


    A smile formed on his lips as he directly insulted the Emperor.

 Chapter 33 The Academys Competition (XV)

    The Emperor''s expression darkened the moment Aestrea''s words echoed across the arena.


    A visible vein pulsed on Franci''s forehead, his fingers gripping the armrest of his throne so tightly that the wood beneath her began to creak.


    "Such insolence..." he muttered, his voice brimming with rage.


    The air around him grew heavy, suffused with a suffocating pressure that made the crowd fall silent.


    Aestrea, still on his knees under the crushing force of her aura, raised his head slightly.


    Despite the blood dripping from his mouth and the visible strain on his body, a faint smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.


    "A Mana Vessel, as its name suggests, serves as a substitute for a mana channel or vein. It can be used when a mana vein is fractured or simply absent. However, the quality of a Mana Vessel cannot match that of a real mana vein."


    Aestrea began to explain, completely disregarding Francis''s comments.


    "Even if some of them may store high-level magical spells, it doesn''t apply to me because I utilized a swordsman ability, not a mage ability. Therefore, your Majesty..."


    He paused and gave Francis a smirking glance.


    "I cannot be eliminated for such reason, even if I need to say, that I DO have an opinion against you."


    But he wasn''t done, as he lifted his head and stared directly into the Emperor''s eyes.


    "Then, Your Majesty, could you explain why I was disqualified, aside from the blatant favoritism towards the Royal Academy?"


    The moment those words rang out, the atmosphere seemed to have turned even colder than before, the crowd started whispering to each other, having different opinions.


    But interestingly, both Evelyn and Empress Isabella seemed to be in accord with Aestrea''s opinion.


    They both looked at Aestrea with a look that was oddly approving, almost as if they understood exactly what he was doing.


    But no one dared to say anything out loud. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Emperor clenched his fists tightly as he noticed the public''s reaction.


    His image had just declined, and if a journalist were present, they would undoubtedly seize the opportunity to further tarnish his reputation.


    ''Ah... this useless Emperor. I had almost forgotten that he''s in a pact with Lilith, the Succubus Queen.''


    Aestrea sighed inwardly.


    Like in every "Hero against a Demon King" novel, the Demon King had seven demon generals, each representing one of the seven deadly sins.


    One of these generals was Lilith, who obviously embodied the sin of Lust.


    In the early chapters, the author revealed tons of hints for the future, and one of them was about the Emperor''s pact with Lith.


    This was also the reason why Emperor Francis did not have relations with the Empress, Isabella.


    Isabella possessed what was called a "Sanctified Soul," which could not be corrupted.


    So, if the Emperor were to engage in relations with her, he would suffer fatal consequences alongside Lilith.


    However, Lilith only discovered that the Emperor was about to have relations with Empress Isabella, on the night of their marriage.


    As for why the Emperor made a pact with Lilith, Aestrea hadn''t read that part yet.


    ''It seems that I''ll be the one taking the job of getting his head.''


    Aestrea declared inwardly; he didn''t know if in the novel, the Emperor was truly killed or his pact with Lilith was broken, but he honestly didn''t care.


    He had considered various ways to escape in case he was declared a traitor or something similar.


    Although Aestrea''s actions might have seemed reckless, he had already thought through all his options in case he truly offended the Emperor.


    Some of those options included fleeing to another kingdom or accepting the Headmistress of the Royal Academy''s proposal, among other possibilities.


    He felt confident based on the basic knowledge he had of the novel''s plot.


    ".........."


    As for the emperor, he remained silent while thoughtfully gazing at Aestrea. It seemed that he was seriously considering his words.


    "I''ll overlook this offense for now," Francis finally spoke, his voice booming across the arena with cold authority.


    "But if you challenge me again..."


    His eyes glinted with a dangerous, murderous intent.


    "I won''t show mercy."


    Aestrea couldn''t help but smirk inwardly at the Emperor''s threat.


    "As for the competition..." The Emperor''s gaze swept over the crowd.


    "The results will remain the same. Student Aestrea could have registered his Mana Vessel before entering the practical dungeon."


    ''This fucker...''


    "Is that clear?" The Emperor''s voice dropped to a cold, dangerous tone as he looked directly at Aestrea.


    The pressure in the air grew heavier, pressing down on him.


    At that moment, Aestrea was about to retaliate when he suddenly felt a pair of soft hands landing on his shoulders.


    "Aestrea..." Vivian called out his name in a soft tone.


    "You have no choice. Be thankful. His Majesty has already forgiven you."


    Aestrea froze for a moment, his anger still bubbling inside him, but Vivian''s words made him pause.


    He glanced at her and seeing the concern in her eyes.....


    Sigh...


    He sighed before nodding slightly, though his expression remained tense.


    ''I''ll make sure I''m the one getting your head.''


    But of course, he wouldn''t let this slide.


    .....


    "Master...?"


    Upon reaching my hotel room, I immediately lay down on the bed, staring at the ceiling. I honestly still had to go and meet up with the Saintess...


    But I was too mentally tired for that.


    I fought for I don''t know how many hours straight and even created a Mana Vessel for my right arm.


    Unfortunately, it''s broken.


    "Master...?"


    So, I need to meet the Saintess as soon as possible because I''ll need her aid in healing my mana vein once again.


    Not to mention, the student exchange program... will be happening in a week or so.


    And I''ll need to be attending the Eternum Royal Academy as one of their students.


    Gosh...


    Why did I have to be the one being picked?


    I''m too lazy to deal with those arrogant pricks.


    "MASTER!"


    "Ah, what?"


    Lumi''s voice was suddenly much louder, snapping me completely out of my thoughts.


    I blinked, then blinked again.


    Then, I turned to look at her, only to find her standing there... completely naked.


    "Ah...!" My face immediately flushed.


    "What the hell, Lumi?!"


    She glanced down at herself with an embarrassed look.


    "My clothes..." she said softly, realizing she was still in her usual naked state.


    She then quickly looked back at me, clearly unsure how to react.


    "Ah, right. I completely forgot," I muttered, rubbing my face in embarrassment.


    Every time I transformed Lumi into a sword, her clothes would get torn apart in the process. It was something I was used to by now, but it still slipped my mind from time to time.


    Because of that, I bought special mana strings for clothes, this way, the clothes wouldn''t shatter the moment Lumi was transformed into a sword or a gun.


    I just forgot to give them to Lumi...


    With a small sigh, I stood up and walked over to my drawer.


    "I''ve got something for you," I said, pulling out a set of clothes made from mana strings.


    I had even remembered to grab underwear, just in case.


    Lumi''s face lit up, and she nodded excitedly.


    "Thank you, Master!"


    She wasted no time, quickly starting to get dressed in her new clothes.


    Those mana strings were really useful; it just needed a basic spell to clean them completely, and if she wanted to have different clothes, she just needed to insert mana while thinking about an outfit.


    Unfortunately, they were really expensive.


    But of course, Lumi deserves the best.


    "Master~, do I look cute?" she asked, suddenly appearing right in front of me with a playful little jump.


    She spun around, showing off her new outfit with a huge smile.


    I couldn''t help but smile back.


    "Lumi looks adorable." I gave her head a soft pat, unable to hold back a smile.


    "Hehe~" She giggled happily, her eyes shining with joy.


    It was just at that moment that I forgot about taking a bath. My eyes immediately turned to the bed and...


    "Shit..."


    Without wasting a second, I immediately spammed clean magic on it.


    "Lumi, I''m going to take a bath. You can play for now," I said, tapping her head twice before making my way to the bathroom.


    "Yay~!"


    To my surprise, when I entered the bathroom, the bathtub was already filled with warm water, and a few scent flowers had been placed around it.


    It looked like someone had been thoughtful.


    Maybe Lumi had set it up?


    Or was it just the hotel staff?


    I shrugged and quickly undressed before stepping into the tub.


    "Ahh... this feels great."


    The water was really warm and felt thoroughly refreshing. The scent of the flowers seemed to ease my mind as I closed my eyes.


    "Eternum Royal Academy, huh..."


    It was divided into five years, with each year having multiple courses and countless classes. Thinking about it, I don''t know what kind of course I''m going to choose.


    Mana application, mana control, summoning classes, fighting classes...


    There were plenty to choose from.


    Even though it''s just going to be a semester there...


    I should have as much fun as I can, right?


    I mean, if I ''accidentally'' blew up one of the classrooms, they''d probably expel me from the student exchange program, right?


    "Mhm..."


    I''m going to be able to meet the other main characters, although they all are women.


    From that crazy sword instructor to that student council president.


    That Lucas, huh...


    He''s really lucky.


    Anyways...


    If I''m really going to attend the same academy as the main characters...


    I might as well have as much fun as I can.

 Chapter 34 Student Exchange Program

    [? Player Profile ?]


    Name: Aestrea Moon (20)


    Identity: Strongest Student of the Weakest Academy, The Moonlight Swordsman, The One Who Loves The Goddess Of The Moon, The Strongest Student (NEW), Exchange Student of the Eternum Royal Academy (NEW)


    Affinities: Ice


    ? Aura: S+


    ? Mana: B


    ? Strength: C+


    ? Vitality: C+


    ? Agility: A-


    ? Spirit: S


    ? [Skills & Talents] ?


    [1] Moonlit Ice Lotus Sword Art [S???] ? Active Self-Created Skill


    [2] Judgement Eye [S] ? Active Self-Created Skill


    [3] Perfect Memory [Unranked] ? Passive Talent


    [4] Combat Instinct [B-] ? Passive Talent


    [5] Sword & Gun Mastery (MUTATED!!!) [A] ? Passive Skill


    [6] Calm Mind [C] ? Passive Talent


    [7] Blood Eyes [Unranked] ? Your eyes ominously glow red.


    ¡ª¡ª+¡ª¡ª+¡ª¡ª+¡ª¡ª


    Damn it.


    To think that a month has already passed since I came here.


    Life really is... tough.


    ...


    The week before the student exchange program had already passed.


    During that time, I decided not to train, and instead spent most of the time hanging around with my classmates and actually having fun.


    We went to amusement parks, to the beast zoo, or even an aqua park.


    It was also my birthday a few days ago!


    And of course, I made sure to visit Saintess Christina.


    She made sure to visually abuse me.


    Her gaze...


    Too scary!


    That aside, my right arm''s mana vein was successfully healed by her.


    As expected of the Saintess, huh?


    So yeah, everything was alright.


    Except...


    "Are you... alright? Do you need a doctor or something?"


    "Ah, yeah."


    The person besides me. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Someone who was as significantly important as Lucas, the protagonist of the novel.


    Looking at the newspaper in front of me, I then glanced at her, who was leisurely drinking a cup of tea while keeping her gaze on the outside of the train.


    Violet Von Luxuria.


    People in the community often called her the "Final Villainess". I didn''t know why, but that nickname alone made me know that she was trouble.


    Not to mention... that she was the last person that I wanted to meet.


    ''How did I even end up traveling in the same cabin as her?''


    Why was this train bound to have two people cabins?


    Seriously... why did I buy the economic ticket?


    I knew it.


    I should have bought a first-class ticket.


    No, why is she even traveling in the economic class?


    She is the sole heir to the prestigious Luxuria Family, the richest family in the whole kingdom. Why would she ride economic?!


    I really don''t get rich people.


    Did I also mention that she is the Student Council President?


    Like... don''t you have enough authority already?


    I sighed inwardly.


    Well, not like I care about it.


    I''m only going to stay at their academy for a single semester, then I''d finally be free to return to my academy and meet up with my classmates.


    "Mhm... so you''re Aestrea Moon."


    Suddenly, I heard a voice calling out my name and glanced at my side.


    Having her cup of tea on the small table in front of her, she was now holding a pair of files, and one of them contained my name as well as my appearance.


    "I didn''t expect you to be the student from the exchange program," she muttered softly, bringing the cup of tea to her lips before taking a sip.


    "Neither did I."


    This was one of the things I expected to happen.


    "...Well, don''t worry about it."


    She put down the files on the table, turning to me with a small smile.


    "If you need anything, just talk with this big sister."


    "..."


    Why was this scene so familiar?


    I simply stared at her for a brief moment.


    "...sigh, and here I thought that I would get a cute junior."


    Furrowing her eyebrows, she sighed dramatically, before her expression softened into a smile.


    "I assume that you still don''t know which classes to take?"


    She started a conversation once again.


    "...Not really."


    "Really? Then, I''ll briefly explain the best ones for you, considering your file of course."


    The last part of her words seemed really... weird. Her casual tone had changed into a business tone as she uttered the last part of her words.


    "You''re pretty adept in swordsmanship, but you seem to be a Magic Swordsman... so the best choices for you should be professor''s Zeva classes, and..."


    With that, she started having a small conversation with me.


    She was basically explaining every one of the most important classes to me... considering my file of course.


    Amongst them, she firstly mentioned Professor Zeva... that goddamn crazy instructor.


    She was the swordsmanship instructor and also one of the heroines, albeit it was mentioned by the readers.


    In the chapter that I read, I didn''t see many ''lovely'' interactions between her and Lucas.


    Eh... it''s an academy novel, so she''s definitely a heroine.


    "That''s everything..."


    She finally stopped.


    "So? What class did you take an interest in?"


    Hearing her words, I had a quite thoughtful expression. Because I''m quite adept at getting into trouble, I should get a strong professor to protect me.


    My first thought was naturally Zeva.


    But I honestly don''t want to meet up with her. From the community, I saw plenty of comments that she easily fell in love with Lucas because of his extraordinary talent.


    Not to mention, that her scenes with Lucas were... spicy to say the least.


    She was an absolute ''S''.


    So yeah, I didn''t want to risk getting involved with her, one way or another.


    As for the other classes, there were a few more that I was interested in, but of course, the professor of that class was actually the Headmistress herself.


    Apparently, in the last week before the student exchange program, she decided to have a change of heart and appointed herself as the Magic Theory, Application, Control...


    And everything else related to magic, as the professor.


    That woman.....


    She must have decided that as soon as she received the news that I was the student chosen for the Student Exchange Program.


    Unfortunately, Zeva was a no-go, so yeah...


    "Probably magic application and control."


    I finally replied to the Student Council President.


    "Ah, really? That''s amazing! I''m also registered on those! I mean, who wouldn''t want to have classes from the strongest mace herself?"


    She spoke energetically, letting out a small smile.


    Yay, I''m so happy...


    ...she''s acting quite strange actually.


    Is it because I have a special color in me?


    Violet''s unique ability was called ¡º Seven Colors Eye ¡», which compared to my¡º Judgement Eye¡», was much better.


    Just like my eye''s ability, she could also discern if one was evil or not. But... it could also read emotions, very precisely.


    For example, if she detected a pink color in your body, it meant that you loved her.


    If you had a black color, it meant that you hated her.


    Things like that.


    I''m curious though.


    What kind of color does she see in me?


    Honestly, it should be a mixture of grey and light red.


    Neutral, but wary of.


    Although I do want to avoid her, my emotions towards her aren''t something like hate or things like that.


    She''s just someone... that I absolutely wouldn''t want to be close with.


    "...Ah, we''ve finally arrived."


    Looking out the window, the majestic view of the Eternum Royal Academy came to my eyes. An academy that was the same size as a city...


    It was more than fifty times the size of my academy, if not more.


    After getting off the train, Violet accompanied me to the entrance gate, but suddenly she stopped as the wind swept her long hair to the right.


    "Welcome to Eternum Royal Academy!"


    The Student Council President smiled brightly as she spread her arms wide.


    Gosh...


    That must be embarrassing.

 Chapter 35 The Moonlight Swordsman (I)

    "...really?"


    I muttered as I got the notice that there was an entrance ceremony at the beginning of the semester.


    That isn''t very pleasant.


    I made my way to the outdoor plaza and found a spot to sit among the other students.


    There were special seats set aside for the exchange students, but nah... I wasn''t in the mood to be singled out.


    I''m comfortable here.


    Well, the ceremony began with a small speech from the Headmistress, which was as boring as I expected.


    She kept meeting my gaze, but I had to get used to it.


    Not like I could hide from her, given that I was in a new place where everyone seemed to already know who I was.


    But it was her final words that caught me off guard.


    "...That''s everything. Now, as usual, we will conduct the mana evaluation test."


    She clapped her hands, and immediately, the space around us seemed to swirl as if the air itself was moving.


    Out of nowhere, several orbs appeared, floating above a table on the podium.


    Another set of orbs appeared on a second table beside it.


    "Alright..." the Headmistress smiled at the crowd.


    "Come out five at a time when your name is called."


    And just like that, the mana evaluation began.


    The first five students made their way to the podium as the Headmistress explained how the orbs worked.


    "This small orb is a device designed to measure the quality and quantity of mana within your body. All you need to do is hold it and allow the mana to flow into the orb. "


    "Once you do, your grade will be displayed for everyone to see, featuring both quality and quantity rankings."


    "As I''ve mentioned many times before, your rank will determine your current position in the academy. However, this only applies to Magicians. If you are a Swordsman or a Physical Warrior, there is another orb to my right, and you will follow the same procedure with that orb. "


    "For those of you who are Magic Swordsman, you have the option to choose one of the orbs or both. Your final grade will be based on the combined ranks."


    And with that, the mana evaluation began.


    Three lines of students were formed, the left one for magicians, the right one for swordsman, and the middle one for Magic Swordsman.


    As for me... I placed myself last in the magic category.


    I shouldn''t reveal my ''Aura'' for now.


    After getting into their proper positions, the first batch of students started to infuse their mana into the orbs.


    The orbs glowed with different colors depending on their element. If they had multiple elements, the second color would show up a few moments later.


    Thinking about it...


    ''I still didn''t awaken my second affinity...''


    Since I was primarily focused on swordsmanship, I never considered awakening another magic affinity.


    Most of the time, I simply used my ice attribute to enchant my sword or to conjure mana-infused bullets with a freezing effect.


    ''I should try to awaken another one... but that will be expensive, no?'' sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But that aside, as the students finished channeling their mana into the orb and released it, a large panel appeared displaying each student''s name alongside their respective grades.


    [Mike Ox - 19 Years Old.


    ? Mana Quantity: C-


    ? Mana Quality: B-


    ? Overall Grade: C+]


    Oh...


    It seems that they value quality over quantity.


    That meant that my rank would be much higher than I originally thought, since when I trained my mana, I didn''t focus on quantity, but quality.


    It had reached a terrifying level; one strand of mana for me should be worth more than fifty for an average mage.


    But yeah, I''ll still get a big drawback for my mana quantity being so low.


    The mana evaluation continued without interruption, and surprisingly, no student received an overall grade lower than C, whether they were magicians or swordsmen.


    As expected of the best academy, huh?


    Then, the moment I''d been waiting for arrived.


    Ella, Lucas, Maya, Iris, and Rose were called up to the podium.


    I wanted to see how much they evolved from the Academy''s Competition.


    It had only passed a week or so, but it was during this week, that all of them found an inheritance dungeon together.


    So, they overall ranks would be increased by a whole rank or more...


    The kind of opportunity that is reserved for the main characters, I''d say.


    Ella, Lucas, and Maya went to the Swordsman area, while Iris and Rose headed to the Magician''s side.


    They each placed their hands on the orbs, and before long, their results flashed across the screen.


    Both Maya and Iris got the same overall grade: B+.


    As for the other three.. their results were monstrous, to say the least.


    [Lucas Hearstone - 20 Years Old.


    ? Aura Quantity: B+


    ? Aura Quality: A++


    ? Overall Grade: A+]


    An A+ rank is something that normal students would only achieve in their final year, but Lucas achieved it in the third year, with only two more years remaining.


    But of course, against demons, Lucas was more than three times stronger, so his rank would be around S- or A++ in reality.


    And it seems that his other attribute other than Light is Lightning. One being a special element, and the other being a deviant...


    Truly a protagonist.


    But his second element... did he awaken it a few days ago? I didn''t see him use lightning against me in the competition.


    [Ella Rosewood - 20 Years Old.


    ? Aura Quantity: A-


    ? Aura Quality: A++


    ? Overall Grade: A+]


    The same grade as Lucas, but anyone could see that she was stronger in both quality and quantity.


    But, she does possess the Royal Swordsmanship, so like Lucas, her power should reach the lower grades of S.


    [Rose Firefly - 20 Years Old.


    ? Mana Quantity: A+


    ? Mana Quality: A++


    ? Overall Grade: A++]


    And then there was Rose, who blew everyone away.


    A++?


    She was ridiculously strong.


    But¡­ even with that, she didn''t quite make it to S- rank.


    Each one of them made the students from the fifth year pale in comparison, not to mention the shocked voices from the crowd.


    "Grades A+, and A++? Wow..."


    "Are they really third-year students?"


    "They really are monsters..."


    The whispers continued.


    Gosh...


    If there was a student like this in my academy, I would be more than happy.


    Ah, right¡­


    There''s Mia and Maria, although they still are much weaker than them.


    A few months ago, both of them were ranked B+, so they should be an A- by now.


    As for Derek and James... maybe in a few months or not, both of them have this innate competitiveness between each other.


    And from what I saw, both of them are already at the B+ rank for Mana, so yeah. It shouldn''t be much of a problem for them to reach the next rank.


    More and more students got their evaluation, and I couldn''t really... see a familiar face other than Lucas and his group.


    The middle section was almost empty now, especially since there were no more Magic Swordsmen left.


    And then, I finally noticed a familiar face.


    Violet... rose to the podium.


    She nodded towards the Headmistress and carefully placed her hands on the small orb, closing her eyes.


    Unlike the other students, her hair began to flutter as a bright purple glow illuminated her beautiful face.


    A purple-colored element...


    That''s her unique element, called: "Crystal".


    This element could be easily described; the hardness of the rock element and the sharpness of the ice element.


    Really unfair...


    The crystal element can be considered even more powerful than the Light element, especially since only Violet possesses it.


    While Angels possess the Light element, Lucas is the only human who has it.


    However, as I mentioned, Violet is the ONLY one with the crystal element.


    Aside from the Demon King and the Evil God, the author needed a more human-like villain, so it makes sense why she is so special.


    And her results... even I was shocked.


    [Violet Von Luxuria - 21 Years Old.


    ? Mana Quantity: S


    ? Mana Quality: S++


    ? Overall Grade: S+]


    A full-fledged S-rank magician, being only twenty-one years old.


    "Damn..."


    "As expected of the Student Council President!"


    "For sure, she easily is the strongest student in the academy."


    "Yeah... It''s strange how she didn''t participate in the competition. Aestrae would definitely be easily defeated by her."


    Nah.


    If I used my ''Aura'', I probably could beat her.


    The only problem that I do have in mind...


    Is how ''I'' died, or why did I disappear from the novel?


    Maybe I was too overpowered and the author simply let my character disappear...?


    That could be the cause actually.


    But, pushing that aside, it was finally my turn to step onto the podium.


    It was strange though. There was only one table, with just one orb on it. I looked around and realized... I was the last one left.


    Oh, the disappointment on their faces is going to be huge.


    "Aestrea, it''s your turn..." the Headmistress called my name, smiling gently.


    "I really want to see how far you''ve come..."


    She snapped her fingers, and in an instant, the orb on the table was swapped out for another one.


    A much bigger one.


    This woman...


    I guess she''s the strongest mage for a reason.


    I slowly placed my hands on the orb.


    A deep, icy blue light began to glow and shine on my face.


    But that wasn''t all.


    The light grew stronger and brighter with each passing second, and my hair started to flutter from the gust of wind created by the energy.


    Then, little by little...


    The results began to show up on the big screen.


    [Aestrea Moon - 20 Years Old.


    ? Mana Quantity: D+


    ...]


    "Pfff...!"


    The crowd burst into laughter when they saw my painfully low Mana level.


    It was as bad as I expected¡ªmaybe even worse.


    "HAAHAHAH!"


    "I can''t believe the so-called Moonlight Swordsman has only a D+ rank for his mana quantity!"


    "He''s worse than our weakest student..."


    "Typical of someone from the weakest academy, huh?"


    They started laughing aloud, and even Lucas and his group had a strange expression splattered all over their faces.


    They had fought against me after all, so they should be quite surprised.


    "Haah..."


    I let out a cold breath as I opened my eyes, and suddenly, a strange pressure started falling on the student''s shoulders.


    And it was at that moment...


    That my mana quality finally appeared.


    "T-this..."


    "H-how c-could he..."


    "Gulp... how c-could he have such high mana quality?!"


    "N-n-not even high-ranking mages have that kind monstrous quality!"


    The laughter died in their throats.


    They were speechless.


    None of them dared to laugh anymore.


    And that''s when I took a look at my own mana quality.


    [Aestrea Moon - 20 Years Old.


    ? Mana Quantity: D-


    ? Mana Quality: SS++


    ? Overall Grade: B]


    It was... terrifying.


    To say the least.

 Chapter 36 The Moonlight Swordsman (II)

    "...This battle suit is way too tight."


    "Right? I thought I was the only one who felt that way."


    "Why did the academy suddenly change the battle suits anyway?"


    A few students were talking amongst themselves as we all stood around.


    The mana evaluation test concluded with my unexpectedly high mana quality, and the dungeon experience test was next.


    Not going to lie, it had been a long time since I had entered a dungeon.


    I had been busy either protecting my classmates or earning more money, which left me little time to explore.


    Additionally, dungeons weren''t necessarily the best way to make money, so I focused on hunting high-ranking demon beasts instead.


    I even participated in a competition while hiding my face, all to obtain more high-ranking demon beast cores.


    Thinking back, it was during that time that I received the title of "Moonlight Swordsman."


    I don''t really get where they got the "Moonlight" part from, but I appreciated the title nonetheless. It''s a title that isn''t exactly important for me... but for someone else.


    Someone very special.


    "Ahem!"


    I snapped back to reality as Eleonora, the Headmistress, stepped forward to explain the dungeon test.


    "Now that everyone is here, let''s keep this simple. In front of you is a portal to a B-rank unexplored dungeon, which means its territory is unknown."


    "Your task will be to explore the dungeon and gather as much information as you can, including details about the monsters and strategies for clearing it."


    "The group of students, or the individual student, who collects the most vital information will receive a perfect grade. As for the others, grades will be assigned based on the information they provide."


    Eleonora finally finished explaining about the test.


    She also didn''t forget to steal a glance at me.


    "Before anyone enters, please register your group here," she announced, snapping her fingers to make a large board appear.


    With that, the first group of students wrote their names on the board, and their names shimmered lightly before a small device materialized in their hands.


    "This device is a recognition system designed to help you gather information about the specified monsters. Simply place a small amount of blood on it, and it will automatically identify the species. However, for the other details, you''ll need to write them down yourself."


    "Once you have registered your groups, you can enter the dungeon directly.


    "Good luck!"


    As soon as those words echoed, chaos erupted as the students rushed toward the board. They were clearly very competitive against each other.


    However, I wasn''t really waiting for anything.


    I couldn''t care less about this test, and I only participated in the mana evaluation because revealing my results would be more than enough for me to skip the remaining tests.


    As for my rank... I could simply switch my ranks with anyone during the dueling season.


    So, yeah...


    One by one, groups entered the dungeon, leaving me completely alone. Surprisingly, no one invited me to join their group.


    Quite stupid, right?


    Lucas''s group was among the first to enter the dungeon. Before stepping through the portal, he shot me a glance.


    "And you¡­ what are you doing here?"


    An unfamiliar voice reached my ears, causing me to turn my head to the right.


    There stood a beautiful woman with tanned skin and black hair, her menacing green eyes fixed on me.


    Two swords hung at her waist, and that was enough for me to know her identity.


    "Ah¡­ goddamn it."


    It was Zeva, the absolutely crazy instructor.


    Fucking hell.


    "Mhm?" she raised an eyebrow in surprise.


    ''Fuck.''


    Did I say that out loud?


    "Aren''t you entering the portal?" she asked casually, her hands resting on her hips near her sword, her head tilted slightly.


    I knew avoiding this conversation was impossible, so after a bit of hesitation, I answered.


    "...Not really."


    She tilted her head even more, a curious glint in her eyes.


    "May I ask why?"


    My eyes narrowed at her words.


    Do you have to be so curious about everything?


    "My mana evaluation went great enough that I don''t need to bother with this test."


    Her eyes widened in surprise at my words.


    "Mana evaluation...? How come?" she muttered to herself.


    I close my eyes and let out a deep sigh, ignoring her. I was thinking about how to spend my time before the next exam.


    But suddenly...


    My instincts kicked in.


    Clang!


    Tsshhhh!


    Before I knew it, I was sent sliding back a few meters as I barely managed to block her sudden strike.


    "As I thought so," she uttered with a thoughtful expression.


    She had her sword drawn now, pointing it directly at me with a smirk creeping onto her face.


    "How could a strong swordsman like you take the mana evaluation instead of the aura evaluation?"


    Her lips curled into a wicked smile.


    Oh... hell no.


    Not this.


    Anything but this.....


    "Interesting...!" she said with a strange gleam in her green eyes.


    And before I could react, she was already charging toward me.


    Fuck.


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    (Lucas''s POV)


    "Iris, did you register the remaining monsters?"


    "Yeah, looks like they''re a variant of the lizard species," Iris replied softly, looking at the device in her hands.


    "Mhm... Great," I nodded, feeling a little more at ease.


    Everything seemed to be going smoothly so far.


    We''d run into a few unusual monsters, but nothing that really posed a threat. Up until now, they''d all either been variations of lizards or snakes, nothing too strange.


    The dungeon itself, though, was another story.


    The entire place felt... off.


    The air was thick with humidity, and water droplets constantly splashed down from the shimmering crystals in the ceiling.


    It was definitely an unknown dungeon¡ªnone of these monsters were familiar to me, or to anyone in the group, for that matter.


    "Guys, look!" Maya suddenly shouted, pointing excitedly ahead.


    Our attention snapped to the spot she was pointing at¡ªa small lake in the distance, its waters sparkling under the light.


    Rose immediately rushed over, her curiosity piqued and knelt beside the water to dip her fingers in.


    "It''s potable water... strange," she spoke.


    "Potable water?" I asked, walking up beside her.


    I scooped up a handful of the water and brought it to my lips.


    "...It really is," I said in surprise, tasting the fresh, clean water.


    I had a pretty high resistance to poison, so I wasn''t worried about it being tainted or even poisoned, but still¡ªthis was unexpected.


    "I know!" Maya jumped in, grinning.


    "Let''s take a bath!"


    "A bath...?" Even Ella seemed to be seriously considering it.


    However, soon their gazes shifted to me, and I felt a shiver run down my spine...


    "Ah, I''ll continue exploring..."


    I quickly added, raising my hands defensively as I backed away.


    Before they could say anything more, I casually took a few steps back. But as soon as I was a few meters away, I felt a barrier spring up around the lake.


    These girls...


    I sighed with a deep smile.


    If only... I could take a small peek... Heh.


    "No! Control yourself!" I muttered to myself, tapping my cheek twice to knock myself out of those thoughts.


    "I should take a look around..."


    I started walking around the area, making sure there was no one around to disturb their bath time.


    I looked around for anything else of interest... and sure enough, I spotted something in the distance.


    "Oh... one of those lizard monsters."


    There, a small group of green creatures, each holding a spear and wearing light armor, were coming towards me.


    They had that same ugly, reptilian look, and their green eyes locked onto mine immediately.


    GWWWIISSSH!


    The group roared loudly as they started running toward me, their spears prepared to strike. Each step they took made a ''quack'' sound on the wet floor due to their scales.


    And so...


    Rumble!


    ¡º Lightning Series: Lightning Bolt! (? 2nd-Level Spell ?)¡»


    "Guaaghh..."


    They died in a single strike.


    Despite being B-rank monsters, they were surprisingly weak against lightning. I had tested this before, but at first, it was just a stroke of luck.


    Now, however, I''m completely certain of it.


    So, I entered the information into the device, noting that those lizard species were weak against lightning, along with a brief description that Iris had forgotten to include.


    "Great... if we keep going like this, we should be able to get the perfect score..."


    But then, my thoughts drifted.


    "I''m just not entirely sure about Aestrea, though."


    As I walked through the portal, I glanced over at him. Aestrea looked completely uninterested in the whole thing.


    He was just sitting off to the side, looking bored, almost as if he didn''t care about the test at all.


    The shock of his mana quality being revealed was immense. I never expected him to possess such a strong mana quality.


    Even Rose looked as if her jaw might drop to the floor when the results were announced.


    God, it was so funny!


    "Well, everything is fine for now, so let''s keep it that way," I thought.


    However, at that very moment, I felt my heart sink.


    "This feeling... it''s so familiar....."


    Whenever this sensation occurred, something terrible was always about to happen¡ª


    ¡ªBOOM!


    The dungeon began to crumble; debris fell to the ground, dust swirled around, and rocks shattered as they dropped.


    "Shit... is this really happening right now?"


    "A dungeon upgrade..." sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "That means..."


    "The other students are in danger!"


    "I need to act quickly!"

 Chapter 37 The Moonlight Swordsman (III)

    "Lucas?"


    As I retraced my steps through the dungeon, a familiar voice called out.


    Turning my head, I saw Ella and the rest of the group rushing toward me.


    "What''s going on?" Iris asked, squeezing water out of her hair, droplets streaming down her arms.


    "It looks like this dungeon is a red dungeon," Ella answered before I could speak.


    Iris''s brows furrowed. "So¡­ does that mean it''s going to rank up to A+?"


    "Most likely," Rose nodded thoughtfully.


    I glanced back toward the path we had taken.


    "We can''t waste time standing around. Some of our classmates are too weak to handle an A+ dungeon, even in groups. We need to find them before something happens."


    Iris nodded, already moving, as she replied to my words.


    "If I remember correctly, some of them went down that passage."


    We didn''t say anything and instead followed her, quickening our pace.


    It didn''t take long to reach our destination, but as soon as we arrived, our gazes sank almost immediately.


    "A-agh..."


    Scattered across the ground were the mutilated remains of several students.


    Blood painted the floor and walls, and standing in the center of the carnage was a strange purple creature.


    It had a strange appearance, its body was so thin you could see its bones despite having a slight amount of purple skin, and its terrifying black eyes that glowed sinisterly.


    Gulp...!


    We all couldn''t help but swallow hard when we saw it, but at the same time, we got into our fighting positions, ready to attack at any moment.


    "....Gragh....."


    The creature growled softly, and at that moment, I exchanged glances with Ella before she dashed forward.


    ¡º Royal Swordsmanship: Heavenly Strike! (? SS-Level Swordsmanship ?) ¡»


    Ella''s sword pulsed with a strong gold energy as she swung it downwards, in the direction of the strange purple creature.


    Crack!


    The creature''s head snapped unnaturally to the side, its neck twisting like a broken doll.


    He extended his clawed hand as a strange small black void formed on it.


    Fwip!


    The golden energy was suddenly swallowed by the black void.


    "WHA¡ª?!"


    Before she could finish her words, the creature''s other arm lashed out like a whip, striking her squarely in the chest with a bone-breaking force.


    She was thrown across the cave until her back slammed against the cave walls.


    But I ignored that, knowing that Iris was going to heal her. During the time she was flying, I was already behind the creature.


    "Demon Slaying Sword Art..."


    ¡º Corrupted Sword! (? Advanced-level Swordsmanship (B+) ?) ¡»


    Black flames engulfed my sword as I aimed for the creature''s head.


    Just like before, it formed a black void in its hand, but this time, my flames weren''t so easily extinguished.


    "....Guragh?"


    The creature let out a strange noise as the black flames devoured the void and started crawling across its body.


    "Die you fucking bastard!"


    Clang!


    "...Huh?"


    My blade struck its flesh¡ªor what I thought was flesh¡ªbut the sound was like metal clashing against metal.


    "...What the hell?" I muttered, pulling back slightly.


    The creature''s body was unnaturally tough.


    However, at that point, my black flames had already crawled to its body and were slowly burning him.


    "Is it dead?" Maya asked cautiously, tapping my shoulder.


    I kept my eyes on the creature.


    And moments later, its body crumbled to ash, leaving only scorched remains on the ground.


    "Finally¡­" Maya sighed in relief.


    "That thing was tougher than it looked."


    And then we both turned to the rest of the group... sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Uhh..."


    Maya hesitated, pointing toward the chaos.


    "I thought that thing was a mini-boss," she muttered.


    I nodded in agreement, but our attention snapped to Rose''s urgent shout.


    "Guys, what are you doing starting? Fucking helps us!" Rose yelled, launching two fire spells at a horde of similar creatures swarming toward her.


    There were at least twenty of them...


    "Lucas! Your flames are the only thing that works on them!" Ella shouted, blocking an attack with her sword but visibly struggling.


    "Quickly, do something!"


    "Got it!"


    I tightened my grip on my blade, black flames reigniting along its edge.


    Then, I dashed towards the small horde of those strange creatures.


    Except that this time, I was going to use a wide-range attack!


    "Demon Slaying Sword Art..."


    ¡º Devastation Sword! (? Advanced-level Swordsmanship (A) ?) ¡»


    The black flames surged, condensing into a massive crescent-shaped wave as I swung my blade in a wide arc.


    The fiery slash tore through the air, heading straight for the horde.


    Immediately, Ella grabbed Iris and jumped away while Rose did the same thing as her.


    "GUARAAGHHH!"


    The creatures let out a bunch of growls, their last cries echoing through the cave before they were engulfed by the black flames.


    Within moments, the entire horde crumbled to ashes, leaving nothing but silence and charred remains behind.


    "Thank god your weird black flames actually work on these things," Ella sighed, brushing dirt off her battle suit as she caught her breath.


    Then she approached one of the bodies and took a sample of the ashes before coming to me and placing it in the device.


    Beep!


    "It works!" she smiled faintly.


    We all gazed at the device.


    [Void Skeleton:


    Type: Undead / Void Species


    Description: A creature made out of void, usually found in extremely rare A+ ranked dungeons. Typically serves as a subordinate to a higher-ranked boss creature known as the "Void Lich.]


    "Ah... so this kind of creature already exists, huh?" Ella muttered, scrolling through the entry.


    "Yeah, but void species are extremely rare. If we can just acquire the body of this skeleton, it should be valued highly," Rose said as she began to look around.


    "Strangely¡­ they don''t have a core," she muttered in disappointment.


    "Or did your flames reduce the core to ashes?" Rose asked, raising an eyebrow as she looked at me.


    "No, that''s not the case¡­" I replied.


    I had tested that theory, and nothing happened to the cores.


    "Then these things just don''t have any." Rose looked more frustrated than surprised.


    Then as Iris looked at the device, she opened her mouth with a thoughtful expression.


    "If this dungeon really is void-type, then the boss has to be the Void Lich, like the description just like the device indicates."


    "A Void Lich!" Maya''s eyes immediately lit up.


    "That means¡­ a Lich Heart! And not just any Lich Heart¡ªa Void Lich Heart!"


    Her excitement was palpable, but I quickly brought her back to reality with a light smack on the head.


    "Ouch..." she pouted, rubbing the spot before glaring at me.


    Iris chuckled at my actions before explaining.


    "Maya, the chances of a Lich Heart dropping are less than 0.001%. For a Void Lich? It''s probably even lower."


    "Ugh, way to kill the mood," Maya pouted once again, crossing her arms with an annoyed face.


    "Guys..." Ella called out to us, covering her face as though she were looking at a group of clueless people.


    "How are we supposed to deal with Void Magic...?"


    "Ah..."


    All of us emitted a surprised sound in unison.


    We had completely forgotten about that detail.


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    Clang!


    Zeva''s smirk deepened as she slowly lowered her sword to her side, the tip barely grazing the ground.


    Her green eyes sparkled with a strange delight as she studied me like a cat playing with its mouse.


    "Don''t use mana," she declared, pointing her sword at me.


    "Or aura. Just swords. Pure skill. Let''s see how you measure up..."


    I didn''t respond.


    What was the point?


    If I refused, she''d only find some way to force me into it. Zeva wasn''t the type to take no for an answer.


    My grip tightened around the hilt of my sword.


    This was going to be hell.


    Her grin widened as if she could read my thoughts. "


    "Good. Let''s begin."


    Before I could even take a stance, she was on me.


    Shing!


    Her blade whistled through the air, moving faster than I had anticipated. I barely managed to sidestep, and her sword sliced clean through a strand of hair that had fallen into my face.


    "Damn it..."


    I cursed under my breath and quickly countered with a swift strike of my own.


    Clang!


    Our blades collided, the force of her block sending a jolt throughout both of my arms. She was strong¡ªway stronger than me.


    ''Perhaps... a S++ level strength... or more.''


    "Not bad," she mused, her voice almost teasing.


    "But you''re holding back. Come on, Aestrea, entertain me!"


    I gritted my teeth.


    Entertain her?


    She was crazy; absolutely insane.


    She lunged towards me again, and I parried, barely, but she shifted her weight mid-strike, twisting her body like a dancer and driving her knee into my gut.


    Thud!


    I stumbled back, gasping for air.


    The metallic taste of blood filled my mouth, but I refused to give her the satisfaction of seeing me falter in pain.


    "Oh? You''re still standing?" Zeva tilted her head, her grin never fading, if anything, it seemed to have widened even more.


    "Impressive. Most people would be on the ground crying by now."


    "You''re fucking insane," I spat, wiping the blood from my lip.


    "And you''re slow," she retorted, charging again.


    Clang! Clang! Clang!


    Her strikes came in rapid succession, each one heavier than the last. I was forced to retreat, with every step a desperate attempt to find an opening to attack her.


    But then, I saw it.


    A tiny misstep...


    Her left foot was just slightly off-balance.


    It was barely noticeable, but it was enough.


    I shifted my stance and swung low, aiming for her legs.


    Shiiing!


    To my shock, she jumped, flipping over my blade like it was child''s play. She landed gracefully a few feet away, laughing.


    "Smart move!" she said, her green eyes wide with excitement.


    "I didn''t think you''d catch that."


    Fuck, did this woman make that error to see if I could see it simply?


    ''She''s indeed fucking crazy.''


    I didn''t need to be told twice.


    This time, I went on the offensive, unleashing a flurry of strikes. She parried each one effortlessly, but I could tell I''d caught her off-guard.


    For a moment, she looked almost impressed.


    Clang! Clang! Shing!


    Our blades danced, sparks flying with every clash. Sweat dripped down my face, mixing with the blood that now seeped from a cut on my cheek.


    My arms ached from the effort, but I couldn''t stop.


    Not now.


    Not with her watching me like a hawk.


    "You''ve got enough spirit," she said, blocking another strike with ease.


    "But spirit won''t win this fight alone!"


    Thwack!


    She kicked me in the side, hard enough to send me sprawling. My sword slipped from my grasp, clattering to the ground a few feet away.


    Before I could recover, her blade was at my throat.


    "Dead" she said simply, her grin widening.


    "Again."


    "Ah... huff..."


    I glared up at her, my breath coming out in ragged gasps.


    "You''re a fucking lunatic."


    "And you''re sloppy." She stepped back, lowering her sword.


    She didn''t even care about me cursing at her.


    "Pick up your sword. We''re not done yet."


    I groaned, forcing myself to my feet. Blood trickled down my arm from a shallow cut, staining the hilt of my sword as I picked it up.


    This time, I didn''t wait for her to make the first move.


    I charged, swinging with everything I had.


    Clang!


    She blocked me, but I didn''t let up. I pressed forward, forcing her to take a step back.


    Then another.


    And another.


    For a moment, it felt like I might actually have the upper hand.


    But then she laughed¡ªa low, unsettling sound that sent a chill down my spine.


    "Oh, Aestrea," she said, almost pityingly.


    "You''re trying so hard."


    Before I could react, she twisted her blade, disarming me with a flick of her wrist. My sword flew from my hand, embedding itself in the ground several feet away.


    And then she was on me again, her strikes faster and more brutal than before.


    Shing! Clang! Thwack!


    I couldn''t keep up.


    Every block sent a shockwave through my arms, every hit driving me closer to the edge.


    Finally, I saw my chance.


    She overextended, just slightly, and I ducked under her swing, grabbing the hilt of her second sword.


    She didn''t see it coming. I spun, slashing at her side.


    Shiiiink!


    Blood sprayed as my blade found its mark, slicing through her armor and into her flesh.


    Her eyes widened, and for a moment, I thought that the fight would be over.


    But then she laughed.


    Not a normal laugh¡ªa full-blown, unhinged cackle.


    "That''s more like it!" she said, her voice filled with glee.


    "Now we''re having fun!"


    ''.....Crazy bitch.''


    She didn''t even flinch as she retaliated, her movements faster and more vicious than before.


    Clang! Shing!


    The fight became a blur of steel and blood. I didn''t know how long we fought¡ªseconds, minutes, hours?


    All I knew was that I couldn''t let her win.


    Finally, I saw it¡ªa shimmering light in the corner of my eye.


    The dungeon portal.


    We had fought and now we were back to the beginning where we started it. But the portal was different, instead of its usual blue color, it was red.


    Zeva saw it too.


    Her grin widened, and without a word, she began pushing me toward it.


    Clang!


    "You''re not serious," I said through gritted teeth, blocking another strike.


    "Oh, I''m very serious," she replied, her voice dripping with anticipation.


    "What better place to finish this?"


    Before I could protest, she delivered a powerful blow that sent me flying backward.


    Thud!


    I hit the ground hard, the world spinning around me.


    When I looked up, I realized where I was.


    Inside the portal.


    Zeva stood over me, her sword at the ready and her green eyes blazing with excitement as a deep grin stretched in her face.


    "Round two?"


    I groaned, dragging myself to my feet.


    "Goddamn it...."


    I muttered.


    And then the portal closed.

 Chapter 38 The Moonlight Swordsman (IV)

    "Hah..."


    I let out a tired breath, staring at the small camp we''d managed to set up. A few hours had passed, and at least we had found everyone.


    Except Aestrea...


    But someone like him wouldn''t die that easily.


    Around me, there was a mess of injured students.


    Iris and the rest of the healing team were working their butts off, rushing from one person to the next, trying to keep up-


    The wounds were bad. Really bad. It wasn''t like regular injuries.


    The skeletons we fought left more than just cuts and bruises. It was as if their magic had poisoned the wounds, making them hard to heal.


    I could see the exhaustion on Iris''s face as she tried to heal someone whose leg had been nearly shattered, but it wasn''t going well.


    The healing spells weren''t working like they should and that was probably due to their void attribute.


    "Lucas! Have you thought of a plan yet?" Maya''s voice cut through my thoughts as she plopped down beside me.


    I shook my head. "Not really... Void Magic is... tricky. It messes with everything." My voice came out a little more tense than I wanted it to.


    "Then hurry up! Everyone''s starving, and you know how slow the professors are to get here..." Maya sounded frustrated, but I could tell she was trying to hide it.


    She always did that when she was worried. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I know, I know..."


    I let out another sigh.


    She was right.


    We were running out of time, and everyone was on edge, not to mention, even I was starving.


    I couldn''t think straight on an empty stomach, but we had no choice.


    "Shit..." I bit my lip.


    But then, I felt someone tapping my shoulder.


    It was Ella.


    "I have a plan." she only said those words, and it was enough to warm up my worries.


    We quickly gathered all the students who were able to move, and Ella began explaining her plan. It was clear she had thought this through.


    We''d already located the boss room a while ago, so all that was left was to execute her plan.


    It wasn''t complicated, which was probably why it made so much sense.


    Ella laid it out for everyone in the simplest way possible:


    First, we''d need to divide the group. The students who were healed and still able to fight would be split into smaller teams. Each team would have a specific role. Some would be in charge of distracting the Void Lich, while others would target its weaker spots.


    The goal wasn''t to take it down completely just yet¡ªmore like wearing it down, keeping it busy while we figured out a way to finish it off.


    Then, we had the healing team¡ªour "healing squad," as I''d come to call them. They''d stay behind the fighters, ready to jump in when needed. Their job was to keep everyone patched up and ready for the next round, especially those on the frontlines. If someone got injured or too tired, the healers would be there to back them up.


    It was a simple plan, but it gave us something to work with.


    We just had to move fast.


    We all set off towards the boss room, the sound of our footsteps echoing through the dark cave.


    The air was cold, unnaturally cold, as though something was watching us from the shadows. As we neared the entrance, I could feel the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.


    The Void Lich was waiting for us.


    Ella motioned for everyone to spread out, and we formed up in our groups.


    Then, we pushed the door open...


    The Void Lich...


    It was as terrifying as it sounded.


    It stood tall, its bony body giving off an ominous energy that made the air feel strange.


    Its eyes were empty black holes that glowed eerily. Its robes were torn, and its sharp, claw-like hands oozed a dark mist.


    The air around it was cold and heavy as if the life in the room was being sucked away by its very presence.


    "Stay focused, we have to stick to the plan!" Ella warned us.


    Everyone nodded, and we all got into position. Maya was already itching for a fight, her fists clenched, ready to charge.


    Rose stepped back, her hands shining with fire magic, and Iris positioned herself near the back, keeping an eye on us, ready to heal if anything went wrong.


    However, one thing that we didn''t count was how terrifying the Lich''s pressure was. The other students that were injured couldn''t move their bodies at all!


    Ella''s plan had just been wasted...


    Seeing this Ella bit her lips, but she quickly made up a small plan just for us five.


    "On my count, we move," Ella said, and we all tensed, waiting for her signal.


    "Go!" Ella shouted, and we charged.


    I was the first to move.


    "Demon Slaying Sword Art..."


    ¡º Corrupted Sword! (? Advanced-level Swordsmanship (B+) ?) ¡»


    My sword ignited with black flames as I rushed forward, aiming straight for the Void Lich


    As I closed the distance, the Lich finally moved. It raised one of its bony hands and shot out a blast of void energy.


    The air around it warped and twisted as the magic flew toward me.


    "Shit!" I cursed, jumping to the side just in time.


    The blast exploded against the floor with a loud boom, sending chunks of stone flying in every direction.


    I barely dodged, feeling the heat from the blast on my back.


    Ella wasn''t wasting any time.


    ¡º Heavenly Strike: Consecutive Waves! (? SS-Level Swordsmanship ) ?) ¡»


    She was already in the thick of it, her sword enveloped with a bright golden glow moved in graceful arcs as she slashed at the Lich''s limbs.


    Her strikes were fast, too fast for the Lich to block, but it didn''t seem to feel anything.


    Clang!


    Each strike rang out against its dark armor, leaving no visible mark.


    Maya charged next, her body a blur of motion as she darted in and out of range, aiming for Lich''s chest.


    Her fists glinted in the dim light, swinging at its armor with lightning speed.


    Clang!


    Clang!


    The sound of metal hitting bone echoed through the room as Maya''s iron fists bounced off the Lich''s form.


    "Damn it!" Maya cursed, spinning out of the way as the Lich swiped at her with one of its claws, the sharp nails making a sharp sound as they cut through the air.


    Next, it was Rose.


    "Rain of Fireballs!"


    She stepped back, her hands glowing with fire magic. She flicked her fingers, and fireballs flew from her hands, aimed directly at the Lich''s chest.


    The fire crackled and popped in the air before slamming into the Lich''s dark form.


    Boom!


    The fire exploded on contact, lighting up the room for a split second. The Lich stumbled back, its form flickering slightly.


    It didn''t seem to be hurt, but it definitely noticed the attack.


    Then, all of us felt a washing sensation over our bodies.


    I glanced back and saw Iris, her hands glowing as she cast healing spells and buffs to keep us in perfect shape.


    The Lich raised both hands and void energy swirled around it.


    The air grew heavy, and suffocating, and I could feel my stomach twist. It was building up something.


    I could feel it.


    "Get ready!" Ella shouted, her voice cutting through the tension.


    "It''s going to attack!"


    BAAM!


    The Lich slammed its hands into the ground, causing the room to shake. A wave of void energy burst forth, cracking the ground under its force.


    The wave expanded, and I barely managed to roll out of the way, feeling the heat and pressure of the magic wash over me.


    Crack!


    The sound of the stone floor cracking beneath the force of the attack rang out.


    "We need to hit its weak spots!" Ella shouted, her sword glowing brightly as she moved in again.


    I nodded, knowing she was right.


    I gripped my sword tighter, making the black flames increase in size. Then as I increased the concentration of mana, I dashed forward once again.


    The Lich raised a hand and a black hole appeared in front of it, pulling in everything nearby. The air around it warped, and I felt the pull, like a vacuum, sucking at my body.


    "Get back!" Ella shouted, pushing me out of the way just as I almost got sucked into the hole.


    The others were scattered, doing their best to avoid the gravitational pull of the Lich''s magic.


    Whoosh!


    The air seemed to twist as everything was sucked toward the void. I saw Maya trying to hold her ground, her body tensing as the pull tried to drag her in.


    "Fight it!" Rose yelled, flinging another fireball toward the Lich''s chest.


    Boom!


    The fireball exploded on impact, but the Lich barely flinched.


    "It''s too strong!" Maya shouted, her voice strained as she dug her feet into the ground.


    Iris was doing everything she could to heal us, but even her magic seemed to be struggling against the void.


    "I can''t keep up with this!" she said, her face starting to pale from the effort.


    "Hold on!" Ella shouted, her voice carrying over the chaos.


    She was already making her way toward the Lich again, sword raised.


    I followed her, focusing all my energy on my sword. The black flames burned hotter than ever as I swung the blade at the Lich''s chest.


    ¡º Devastation Sword! (? Advanced-level Swordsmanship (A) ?) ¡»


    Slash!


    The sword connected with a sickening clang, but this time, something was different. The Lich staggered back, and I saw a crack appear in its chest.


    It was weak there, I could feel it!


    "Now!" Ella shouted, and we all attacked at once.


    Iris sent a healing spell to Maya, who charged in once more, her fists flashing with an intense blue aura as she struck at the crack in Lich''s chest.


    Clang!


    Clang!


    Her irons hit, but they didn''t penetrate.


    The Lich was too tough.


    But we couldn''t stop now.


    BOOM!


    The room shook again as the Lich roared, the force of its anger shaking the floor. A massive wave of void energy shot out from its body, expanding rapidly.


    "No!" Ella shouted, loudly, hanging on her sword.


    Before we could react, the Lich''s black hole grew bigger, pulling everything into it.


    "Shit!" I yelled, trying to resist the pull, but it was too much.


    I could feel my feet leaving the ground, my body being dragged toward the void.


    The others were in the same situation. I saw Maya struggling, her fists clenched as she tried to resist the pull, but she couldn''t.


    I snapped my attention toward the other students, my heart racing. There, standing in the middle of them, was Iris, surrounded by a brilliant golden barrier.


    Her face was twisted in concentration, teeth gritted, as she poured every ounce of mana she could muster into the barrier.


    It was a desperate move. She looked like she was barely holding on, her knees shaking, sweat streaming down her face.


    But even with all her strength, the barrier felt like it might crumble any second.


    It wasn''t looking good at all.


    ''Fuck... I''ll need to reveal my identity!''


    There was no more time to waste.


    I gripped my sword tightly, my knuckles turning white as the ominous aura began to swirl around me, coating the blade in black flam¡ª


    ¡ªBOOOOOOOOM!


    Everything around me shook violently.


    Debris flew in all directions, rocks, and rubble crashing down from the ceiling, and the ground beneath us trembled as if it was going to split apart.


    A blinding flash of light filled my vision, making me shield my eyes instinctively.


    When the dust cleared and my vision returned, I froze.


    There, standing in the middle of the wreckage, was a figure I knew all too well.


    Aestrea.


    But something was wrong...


    "Stop it, you crazy bitch!"


    CLANG!


    Aestrea cursed loudly as he reflected the sword from...


    ...our instructor Zeva?


    "Come on Aestrea! You''re still hiding your power, I can feel it!"


    CLANG!


    CLANG!


    CLANG!


    The two of them moved like shadows, their swords clashing in a blur motion.


    It was almost as if they were teleporting, vanishing, and reappearing in a split second, their weapons flashing in the air, creating sparks with every hit.


    They were so focused on their fight that they didn''t even notice us, not for a second.


    But then it hit me.


    The explosion had caught the Void Lich''s attention, causing him to release his spell.


    And somehow...


    Both of them had managed to save our lives.

 Chapter 39 The Moonlight Swordsman (V)

    "AESTREAA!"


    In the middle of his furious battle against Zeva, Aestrea froze. A voice rang out, pulling his attention away from the clash.


    He immediately leaped back, before looking around, and seeing everyone looking at them with confused expression.


    Then he turned to Lucas and saw a strange creature right in front of him.


    "A void lich... so it''s a void-type dungeon, huh," Aestrea muttered, darting his eyes towards Zeva.


    Now, she too, had noticed the situation.


    But instead of jumping into the fight, Zeva merely raised her voice, loud enough for everyone to hear.


    "Consider this boss fight as part of my class! Whoever performs well enough will at least get a B-level grade!" Her declaration rang out, and she casually stepped back from the fight, a smirk playing at the corners of her lips.


    But as she turned away, she shot a glance at Aestrea.


    "We''ll continue our fight later," she said, her smile widening mischievously as she winked at him.


    Aestrea clicked his tongue in response.


    "Crazy bitch..." he muttered under his breath.


    But his attention quickly shifted back to the Void Lich, the creature looming menacingly before them.


    ¡º Judgement Eye (? S-Level Skill ?) ¡»


    "Mhm... no weakness whatsoever. This kind of monster is really annoying. You can only defeat it with sheer strength." Aestrea crossed his arms in thought.


    He turned to look at the students. Even the ones who had been paralyzed by fear seemed to snap out of it the moment Zeva spoke.


    After all, in his perspective, now they could do their maximum because they knew that the professor would save them if they were in danger.


    And taking the chance, Ella shouted, "Let''s realize our old plan!".


    Immediately, the students moved. Groups formed, dividing the room into smaller teams. The healers stayed behind, and the fighters moved to the front, preparing for the battle.


    The groups split into two types of fighters: those who would distract the Void Lich, and those who would focus on dealing damage.


    "Rose!" Ella shouted and suddenly, Aestrea felt the heat of the room increasing.


    ¡º Fire Series: Hell Vulcano! (? 6th-Level Spell ?) ¡»


    From the ground, massive currents of lava erupted, swirling like an inferno. It was like Mia''s spell, but much stronger, more intense.


    Strangely, the currents of lava also divided the whole room into three parts, just enough for the three groups!


    It seemed like this was part of their plan.


    The first group, the ones tasked with distracting the Lich, began hurling spells at it. But the Void Lich''s magic was too powerful.


    Its void aura absorbed the attacks, negating them without much effort.


    But then, the second group took advantage of the situation, attacking all at once, landing several blows on the Lich''s exposed back.


    "¡­Grahfh¡­"


    The Lich let out a strange, growling sound, recoiling slightly as it swayed.


    In response, a small black ball began to form in the air, swirling with dark energy.


    Aestrea narrowed his eyes, as he reached out to his sword, but then he realized, that his help wasn''t needed.


    ¡º Devastation Sword! (? Advanced-level Swordsmanship (A) ?) ¡»


    "Die, you damned bastard!"


    Shouting loudly, Lucas swung his sword, which was wreathed in black flames, at the void ball.


    Shing!


    His sword sliced through the small black orb, splitting it cleanly in half, and then Lucas twisted his body, and spun, swinging his sword at the lich.


    CRACK!


    But before the attack could fully connect with the Lich, a void skeleton appeared in front of the creature, intercepting the blow and taking the hit.


    Then, the Lich raised his staff, and a swarm of void skeletons began to appear around them.


    "Shit!" Lucas cursed under his breath.


    He quickly spun on his heel, leaping back just as Maya surged forward, just like they had planned before.


    ¡º Corrupted Sword! (? Advanced-level Swordsmanship (B+) ?) ¡»


    Lucas twisted his body, dealing with the skeletons that were now swarming around him.


    Meanwhile, Maya charged straight at the Lich, her fists glowing with a blue aura. She threw a powerful punch directly at the Lich''s sturdy structure.


    CLANG!


    The impact of Maya''s punch sent a jolt up her arms, her teeth gritting from the force of the hit. But before she could throw another punch, the Lich swung its massive arm at her.


    Maya quickly crossed her arms in an ''X'' shape, blocking the blow.


    Puff!


    Maya was sent flying toward the wall, crashing into it with a painful thud. But before she could hit the ground, Iris was there, jumping into the air and catching her.


    "Iris!" Maya groaned, but Iris was already healing her, casting a spell to mend her injuries.


    As the battle continued, the other students formed a tight circle around the Void Lich, their teamwork growing more synchronized by the minute.


    They dealt small bits of damage here and there, but their combined efforts were enough to keep the pressure on the Lich.


    But even if the battle was going well, some things weren''t.


    "Ella, I can''t hold it anymore...!" Rose shouted as her mana reserves began to dwindle. She was almost at her limit and couldn''t hold the spell anymore.


    Before Ella could respond, there was a sudden flash in front of Rose''s eyes. A figure appeared, standing in front of her.


    A familiar white-haired boy.


    "A-Aestrea...?" Rose stammered, looking at him in surprise.


    Aestrea smirked, positioning himself behind her in an instant. He wrapped his arms around her waist, making a small blush creep out to her face.


    "Wha-wha-wha, w-what are you doing?!" Rose exploded, her voice rising as she started to fluster, her face starting to match the color of her red hair.


    Aestrea didn''t say a word because he didn''t need to. Rose immediately felt a warm surge of mana flowing into her, filling her to the brim with power.


    "A-ah..." She immediately understood the reason behind Aestrea''s actions.


    Aestrea was giving her his mana.


    The instant his mana infused her, the strength of her spell skyrocketed. Aestrea stood silently behind her, guiding her hands, and helping her manipulate the lava currents.


    From the swirling lava, small fish made of lava began to form, swimming through the air toward the Void Lich.


    It passed a while, and finally, when Rose could manipulate the spell alone, Aestrea slowly stepped back, releasing his hold on her.


    "Ah¡­ What''s up with your shy expression?" Aestrea teased with a grin, leaning in slightly.


    "Did you fall in love?"


    Rose''s face turned even redder, her cold expression had completely melted under Aestrea''s presence, in just a few minutes.


    She avoided his gaze, glancing down, too embarrassed to meet his eyes.


    "T-this..."


    "I''m just kidding, relax a little." Aestrea chuckled, flashing her one last mischievous smile.


    But then, he leaned even closer than before, his lips just a few centimeters away from her left ear.


    "Until later, cute redhead~"


    Before she could say anything, Aestrea vanished from her sight.


    Rose, left standing there, blinked several times, trying to recover from the sudden rush of emotions.


    Her knees wobbled slightly, and she bit her lip in frustration.


    "Bastard..." she muttered under her breath, swatting at her face with her hand in an attempt to cool down while still manipulating the spell.


    On the other side, Aestrea smiled lightly.


    "That was fun..."


    Clang!


    Afterward, his gaze locked on the Void Lich as his eyes narrowed slightly.


    Fwip!


    Suddenly, the entire room was bathed in a brilliant golden light, so bright it made everyone squint and instinctively step back, creating a little gap between them.


    Ella, glowing in that intense light, stepped forward, gripping the handle of her sword tightly.


    ¡º Royal Swordsmanship: Heaven''s Punishment! (? SS-level Swordsmanship ?) ¡»


    The golden light flared to life, almost blinding in its intensity. As she leaped high into the air, her sword expanded, becoming a massive beam of radiant energy.


    She swung it horizontally, the golden light trailing behind, slicing through the air like a comet.


    With a force that shook the very air around them, her sword slammed down against the void lich.


    The air around it vibrated, humming with power.


    "....GLUATHG!"


    The Void Lich lifted his staff just in time to try to block the blow.


    A huge, black rectangular barrier formed above his head, crackling with dark energy as it clashed with Ella''s strike.


    SHIISSSSZ!


    The sound of sparkles flying echoed loudly throughout the boss''s room.


    At that moment, black flames erupted toward the ceiling, and Lucas like a lightning bold, dashed forward, making a piercing pose.


    "Demon Slaying Sword Art..."


    ¡º Piercing Sword! (? S-level Swordsmanship ?) ¡»


    The temperature in the room skyrocketed the heat from the flames intensifying as Lucas plunged the blade straight into the Void Lich''s stomach.


    BOOOOM!


    An explosion shook the entire room, sending a shockwave that knocked everyone back.


    The force of the blast was so powerful, the room was instantly shrouded in a thick cloud of smoke.


    Debris flew everywhere, bits of stone and rubble hitting the walls, the floor trembling beneath their feet.


    For a moment, everything seemed frozen in time.


    No one moved.


    No one spoke.


    Only the sound of the debris falling into the ground remained.


    And then, from the smoke, two figures stepped out.


    Ella and Lucas.


    "YEAAAAHHHH!"


    "LET''S GOOO!"


    "WE DID IT!"


    The students, who had been holding their breath, erupted into cheers, their voices filling the room with pure joy.


    They clapped and shouted, the tension from the fight finally melting away.


    As the smoke began to clear, they saw the lifeless remains of the Void Lich on the ground.


    "Ahh... we really did it..." Ella let out a long breath, her body sagging slightly.


    "Yeah, we did... but I think I just burned through all my mana with that last hit." Lucas, panting heavily, couldn''t help but smile.


    "I''m stoned..." Ella declared, limping towards the rest of the group.


    Immediately, Maya, who had been waiting anxiously, rushed over to them, her eyes wide with excitement.


    "So? Did it drop the Lich Heart?" she asked, practically bouncing with energy, grabbing Lucas''s hands.


    "N-no?" Maya''s face instantly fell, the excitement vanishing in an instant.


    "Aw..." she groaned, her shoulders slumping.


    Behind her, Iris chuckled as she added:


    "Don''t worry, Maya," she said with a playful grin, "I''ll take you to that restaurant as a reward for your hard work."


    "Yay!" Maya jumped very high, making some kind of winning position, with her fist in the air.


    The group only chuckled at her actions.


    With the battle over, the students started heading toward the newly appeared exit gate. They''d earned their victory, and now it was time to leave. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But as the last of the students stepped through the gate, Aestrea, under Zeva''s approached the dead body of the Void Lich.


    "Hey... wake up you bastard."


    "I know that you''re still alive." he kicked its bones.


    Seeing this, Zeva''s smile only seemed to have widened as another good aspect of Aestrea had been noted in her head.


    Creack...


    As soon as Aestrea spoke those words, the bones of the Void Lich began to tremble.


    The skeleton shifted, and then¡ªcrack¡ªit reformed into a smaller, incomplete figure, its skull missing entirely.


    The Void Lich had a very hidden ability.


    Ressurection from the dead, or in other words, it had two lives. And apparently, the other students seemed to have forgotten that, but Aestrea didn''t.


    However, after being revived, the Void Lich were much weaker than before and it would take years before they could truly regain their true strength.


    Aestrea''s hand pressed against the Lich''s brittle ribcage, the bones cold and fragile under his touch.


    "So, tell me..."


    His eyes began to glow in a deep, unsettling red.


    The Lich shuddered violently, its form quivering as if trying to escape her grip.


    "What kind of curse did you put on the students?"


    The Lich''s skeletal body trembled, its empty eye sockets shaking in terror.


    The air around them grew thick, heavy with an unnatural chill, as if the very room itself feared Aestrea''s cold voice.


    The bones creaked, the Lich''s spirit trapped and trembling under his gaze.

 Chapter 40 The Moonlight Swordsman (VI)

    Crack...!


    Aestrea let out a soft grunt as he glanced down at the trembling remains of the Void Lich.


    "A curse that consumes mana, huh?" Aestrea muttered, looking down on the quivering remnants of the Void Lich.


    He brushed his fingers against its ribcage as if teasing the skeleton, and then, a cold whisper flew from his mouth.


    "Perish."


    SWOOOP!


    Mana began to gather in Aestrea''s palm, swirling in a concentrated ball as he gently pressed it against the skeleton''s ribs.


    Crack...!


    The moment his hand made contact, the bones cracked again, shattering into thousands of tiny pieces.


    And just as the last fragments shattered, a faint trickle of void energy slipped from the wreckage.


    Aestrea wasted no time¡ªhe summoned a small ball of high-density mana, trapping the tiny stream of void energy inside it.


    "This should be enough," he spoke calmly as he nodded to himself before turning away.


    Zeva appeared at his side, eyes wide with curiosity.


    She didn''t waste a second.


    "What do you need void energy for?" she asked with an excited tone.


    "Hey, hey, come on, tell me!" she urged, a playful grin on her face.


    "Come on, don''t be shy..."


    But, despite her consecutive questions, Aestrea ignored her completely as he stepped through the exit gate, emerging back into the academy''s plaza.


    "Ah... Aestrea!"


    A familiar voice called out, and Aestrea turned to see Lucas striding toward him, a mischievous smile splattered on his face.


    Before Aestrea could say anything, Lucas threw an arm over his shoulder with a grin.


    "Do you perhaps... like Rose?"


    "Huh?"


    Aestrea blinked as his eyebrows furrowed slightly.


    "What do you mean?" he asked straight away.


    "Hehe," Lucas grinned slightly, before leaning closer and then whispering to Aestrea, "Don''t think I didn''t see you wrapping your hands over her waist."


    ''Ah, that...'' Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Since Lucas had seen his actions, Aestrea sighed softly, then gave a faint, almost teasing smile to him.


    "Mayhaps."


    Lucas just grinned at his words.


    He withdrew his arm and extended his hand:


    "Alright, I didn''t really get a chance to introduce myself properly. I''m Lucas Heartstone. I hope we get along well."


    Looking at his stretched hand, Aestrea smiled lightly, before shooking it.


    "The name''s Aestrea Moon."


    Shaking his hands, Lucas couldn''t help but frown as Aestrea mentioned his name. It wasn''t a noble name or even a known name for commoners.


    However, looking at the small panel in front of him, Lucas kept a small smile on his lips.


    [Main Quest #7¡ª


    Make Aestrea ####''s favorability reach 50 points.


    ? Current Favorability: 23 [¡üUP]


    Kill more than 200 middle-ranking demon beasts. (Completed)


    Kill more than 50 high-ranking demon beasts. (Completed)


    Kill a single named Demon Beast. (Completed)


    Stop the awakening of one of the Seven Demon Generals.


    Time Remaining: 16 days, 22 hours, 17 minutes and 32 seconds.


    Rewards: ???]


    Lucas had no idea why the system insisted on increasing Aestrea''s favorability, but it was clear he had to do it nonetheless.


    However, the last part of the quest¡ªstopping one of the Seven Demon Generals¡ªwas probably the real reason Aestrea''s favorability needed to rise.


    With his strength, Aestrea would be a huge help for him.


    Flick!


    At that moment, the Headmistress, Eleonora, snapped her fingers, catching everyone''s attention.


    She smiled warmly as she addressed the students in the plaza.


    "Alright! Great job, everyone! Your results from today''s dungeon test are much better than I expected," Eleonora said, her eyes twinkling with pride.


    "I''ll be announcing the results now, from the lowest to the best." she smiled as her gaze swept through the students.


    A small sheet of paper appeared in her hand, and she scanned it briefly before continuing.


    "First up¡­ Violet didn''t participate due to her duties as Student Council President, so her grade will be postponed."


    The crowd shifted a little, waiting for the next announcement.


    "So, we have... Adrien''s Group, Rating: B-!"


    Eleonora announced, her eyes scanning Adrien''s team. "You all did a fantastic job healing the injured and supporting your teammates while battling the Void Skeletons. Well done!"


    Hearing their grade, everyone cheered up because it meant that the lowest grade was B-, so they all had excellent grades!


    "Then¡­ Marcus''s group! Rating: B-!" she continued.


    "Just like Adrien''s group, your teamwork was excellent, and you all did well keeping the Void Skeletons distracted while others dealt damage."


    The students in Marcus''s group high-fived each other, proud of their performance.


    "Now, Evan''s group! Rating: B+!" Eleonora said, nodding at Evan''s team.


    "You all worked very well together, having great team chemistry, especially when you all managed to grab the Void Lich''s attention. Not to mention, you took down quite a huge amount of monsters before the dungeon turned red."


    "Let''s go!"


    Unlike the other groups, Evan''s group started cheering loudly to themselves, full of enthusiasm and excitement due to their high grade.


    "Now for Ella''s group¡­ Rating: A+!" Eleonora smiled, a proud glint in her eyes.


    "You all wiped out a ton of monsters, and when the dungeon turned red, you led the other students to victory. Special shout-out to Ella and Lucas for delivering the final blow to the Void Lich, Iris for her amazing healing, and Maya for her heavy damage output. Great job, everyone!" she started clapping, and so did the other students.


    Ella and Lucas exchanged a quick, knowing look, while Iris tried to calm Maya, who was jumping with excitement.


    "And finally..." she continued, and everyone''s eyes suddenly widened.


    They had thought that Ella''s group had gotten the best grade, but it seemed that they didn''t.


    "Aestrea alone, Rating..." she paused, looking directly at Aestrea who was leaning against a marble-made pillar.


    Everyone''s gaze had turned to him.


    "Rating: S, Perfect Marks." she declared, her lips curving into a faint smile.


    Immediately, everyone exchanged glances and hurriedly turned to the Headmistress, trying to get the reason why Aestrea was the one who got perfect marks.


    "Alone, the student Aestrea gave Rose his mana reserves, and dealt invisible damages to the Void Lich so in the last moment, Lucas''s sword could pierce through its stomach."


    "Additionally, when everyone left the dungeon, Aestrea stayed, remembering the hidden ability of the Void Lich which was the ability to resurrect."


    "Along with that, the Void Lich had also placed a curse on every student, and Aestrea made sure to completely kill the Void Lich and also destroy the curse."


    "Therefore... he''s the only student that deserves perfect marks."


    As soon as she finished speaking, everyone turned their gazes toward Aestrea, and the looks on their faces completely changed to admiration.


    They were arrogant, yeah, but they knew that the only way to break a curse was to either use extremely expensive materials or kill its conjurer.


    But Aestrea had done it without asking for any credit, and instead, acted alone, looking out for everyone.


    "No wonder the classmates from his academy like him so much..."


    "Yeah... he seems like a scary guy, but inside, he seems soft."


    "And he doesn''t want attention for anything he does."


    They all started seeing him in a new light.


    Slowly but surely, Aestrea''s reputation within the academy was starting to change.


    "Aestrea..."


    A hand was placed on Aestrea''s shoulder, and hearing that familiar voice, Aestrea''s face twitched slightly.


    He slowly turned around, and Zeva''s close face came into his view.


    "Let''s fight." she declared, looking fiercely at him.


    She had already been quiet enough, letting the headmistress declare the student''s grade, but now, she couldn''t herself anymore.


    Aestrea had a monstrous talent, and just in a few hours of fighting against him, he had improved a ton, and now could even make her sweat!


    His fighting instinct had improved a lot just in that small amount of time!


    "Another time," he replied.


    But Zeva wasn''t having it.


    "No, it has to be now."


    "Why?" he raised an eyebrow.


    "Because I''m thoroughly excited."


    Zeva spoke aloud as if it was the normal thing to do.


    Aestrea instantly froze up at her words.


    Phewww...


    Seeing their interaction, the students that were a few meters away from them, couldn''t help but whistle at them, clearly making them seem like a couple.


    ''This bitc¡ª!''


    "COME ON!"


    Zeva grabbed Aestrea''s arm, swinging it directly at the sky, sending him upwards. Then, she jumped, unsheathed out her sword, and swung it directly at Aestrea''s black.


    But before her sword could even make contact...


    Flash!


    Aestrea vanished in the blink of an eye, disappearing from her line of sight entirely.


    "Huh?" Zeva''s eyes darted around, looking in the direction that Aestrea had disappeared.


    "Ugh...!"


    Suddenly, Aestrea found himself in a very different position.


    His head was now planted between the Headmistress''s breasts, and she was gently caressing his head with a soft smile on her face.


    "Not now Zeva, I need to talk with this cute boy."


    She winked at Zeva before both of them vanished, leaving the students completely speechless and shocked by her actions towards Aestrea.


    They knew that Eleonora was a battle junkie and easily gets interested in someone with a huge potential...


    But this... this was different.


    The Headmistress never acted like this, not in front of everyone.


    Immediately, the students started talking with each other, trying to figure out the reason why Eleonora acted that way towards Aestrea.


    However, between them...


    A white-haired lady, clenched her fists tightly, her deep blue eyes trembling as they locked on the spot where Aestrea had just been.


    ''Why...?'' Ella bit her lip in agony.


    She hadn''t even realized until now, but Aestrea had always surrounded himself with female friends¡ªlots of them, really.


    There was Mia and Maria from his academy, whom Aestrea seemed to have a really close relationship with.


    Then there was Zeva who despite meeting Aestrea just a few hours ago, had already got attached to him, or more precisely, to his talent.


    But what if those feelings of pure admiration for his talent, turned into something more? Ella couldn''t really compete with someone as straightforward as Zeva.


    Not to mention that dating professors isn''t something that the academy condemns.


    Well, Zeva was safe for now, even if her words proved otherwise.


    But even though there were these close friendships, none of them ever felt like that kind of relationship.


    None of them seemed to be something more than just friends.


    At least, that''s how it had seemed¡ªuntil today.


    But now...


    Now, seeing Eleonora, the Headmistress, of all people¡ªsomeone who was practically a legend in the academy¡ªacting the way she did with Aestrea, something clicked inside her, and she couldn''t shake the feeling that she was losing her grip on something she hadn''t even realized she wanted.


    Ella knew that she liked Aestrea, no, she loved him.


    From the first moment, they met when she was weaker and Aestrea, in his hidden identity, saved her without breaking a sweat, to when they finally faced each other in the academy''s competition.


    She already knew her true feelings towards him, but she didn''t know how to deal with them. When she approached Aestrea, she could feel her cheeks flushing slightly, and just by hearing his voice, her knees would start wobbling.


    The truth is... that he is her first-ever love.


    Just after he saved her, she immediately spent her resources as a princess to discover his true identity.


    And when she did so, her eyes brightened in sheer happiness. So, she started to try and learn more about him.


    By learning what he likes to do, what is his favorite food, and things like that!


    The only problem for her was his friendship with Mia and Maria. But now, even more people were starting to notice him.


    And that feeling threatened her; she could feel a knot in her stomach, the jealousy creeping up even though she didn''t want to admit it to herself.


    She was the first one to discover him, so why... why are other women starting to get interested in him after he truly revealed his power?


    ''WHY?!''


    Ella pondered.


    She had gripped her fists so tightly that even blood seeped out of them.


    "E-Ella... are you okay?" Iris stuttered, frowning as she noticed Ella''s darkened face.


    "I''m fine."


    An extremely cold tone was blurted out as Ella turned her back to Iris.


    "I''m going to my dorm." she added, walking away from them.


    Looking at her leaving back, Iris couldn''t help but mumble to herself.


    "What happened to her...?"

 Chapter 41 The Moonlight Swordsman (VII)

    "Here''s your coffee. No sugar, right?" Eleonora asked, slipping past before taking a seat on my left side.


    She took a sip of her tea, her eyes lighting up with satisfaction. A soft groan of pleasure escaped her as she savored the taste before she leaned back against the couch.


    I didn''t want to deal with her, not today.


    "What do you want?" So I cut straight to the point.


    "Hand me over the void energy," her eyes stared at me intently, not breaking away from my gaze as she put down her cup of tea.


    My eyes turned cold as soon as she uttered those words.


    "No."


    Obviously, I didn''t comply, I needed this void of energy after all.


    "I know what you''re trying to do, and I assure you that it isn''t going to work. Void Energy is more corrupted than you think," she spoke, resting her chin on her hand, as her eyes still didn''t break away from my gaze.


    Her lips curled into a slight smirk.


    "Trying to make "void" as your second element, is probably going to be the stupidest thing that you could ever do."


    "Void isn''t compatible with the human body after all."


    I raised an eyebrow, a little confused. Was she playing dumb? When did I ever say I wanted to make void my second element?


    I had never even thought about it.


    Seeing my confused reaction, she blinked in surprise, her lips biting down in hesitation as her eyes flickered with uncertainty.


    "Wait¡­ you''re not using it for that, are you?" She looked almost guilty asking.


    I shook my head.


    "No, I never thought about it. The only reason I need this void energy is to keep my body stable. That''s it."


    As soon as the words left my mouth, Eleonora''s eyes widened. a faint, glowing rune appearing in her gaze as she stared at my chest.


    "Oh my..." she exclaimed in surprise.


    "Your mana paths... they expanded?" Immediately, like a cat, she sidled closer to me and brushed her hand against my chest.


    Puff...!


    Suddenly, I felt a strange energy surge into me. Instantly on alert, I closed my eyes and focused, checking my internal mana flow.


    The energy from Eleonora drifted through my veins, but it didn''t seem to do anything.


    It was like it was just testing, feeling around my mana pathways, looking for something. After a few moments, the sensation faded away.


    Eleonora''s brow furrowed as she processed what she''d just felt.


    "I see... your mana paths were forcibly expanded, but I''m pretty sure that neither your mana quality nor capacity increased which is even weirder," she muttered to herself, before gazing back at me.


    "Tell me, what really happened?" her pale blue eyes, almost like tiny pears, reflected my face, and I couldn''t help but stare into them for a moment.


    Sigh...


    ''I guess I could tell her about this...''


    Even though I indeed despised her, she was still the strongest mage in the entire world, and only she probably could help me with this problem.


    Even though I knew that she wasn''t really going to help me.


    "After I broke the seal on my aura¡­ my Twin Heart Mana Body¡­ it sort of mutated," I began, seeing her face already scrunch up in confusion.


    "Since then, my output has shot up¡ªlike five to ten times more, maybe more than that. I haven''t tested the limits yet, but if I push it further, my mana pathways could expand even more."


    Eleonora bit her lip, her fingers trailing absentmindedly across my chest as she processed my words.


    I had almost forgotten her hand was still resting there.


    "Hey, Aestrea¡­" Her voice softened, containing a hint of concern in it. "Why not just accept my offer to become your master? You could fix this body issue easily."


    Her gaze softened as she leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a whisper.


    "The Twin Heart Mana Body is like a ticking time bomb. If you don''t fix it, it''ll eventually explode, and¡­ well, it could kill you."


    I clenched my jaw at her words, fighting the unease that bubbled up inside me. I knew exactly what she meant.


    I could solve this problem with one word, but¡­


    It essentially told me to leave everything behind and simply stay by her side.


    What about Silverleaf? If I accepted her conditions I needed to transfer to the Royal Academy, so what would happen to my friends and classmates if I left?


    Would they be okay without me?


    "Change... the last condition," I spoke in a softer tone.


    I could accept her offer, but not on those terms. She was asking me to drop everything and leave, including my friends.


    That was too much.


    "Aestrea..." Eleonora sighed, her eyes looking away briefly. "You know I can''t. How would it look if my only disciple came from another academy?"


    I felt a familiar frustration bubble up.


    I''d been there before, with her.


    Her words hit me harder than I expected.


    "If that''s the case¡­ why didn''t you accept my application to Eternum Royal Academy? That would''ve solved everything, wouldn''t it?" I couldn''t help the bitterness that slipped into my voice.


    My old dream of becoming the strongest, with its first phase being, entering the most prestigious academy...


    It was crushed by her.


    And suddenly, after months I spent at Silverleaf, she appeared asking me to be her disciple because she discovered that I had the same physique as her.


    So hateful.


    Eleonora''s face shifted slightly, guilt flickering across her expression.


    "If only I had¡­ met all the applicants," she muttered, clearly disappointed with herself.


    She leaned back against the couch, a heavy sigh escaping her lips.


    "We wouldn''t have this problem."


    I didn''t respond.


    I wasn''t in the mood to talk anymore.


    "I''m leaving," I said flatly.


    There was nothing left to say.


    And, honestly, I didn''t even want to look at her face anymore.


    ¡ª


    After leaving the Headmistress''s office, Aestrea found himself wandering aimlessly.


    Even though he had read about the academy''s layout in the novel, he still had no real sense of where he was going.


    But honestly, he didn''t care much.


    He was just looking for a way to clear his mind.


    He just wanted to refresh his mind and take a breather as his thoughts were fully occupied with how to solve his body''s problem without Eleonora''s help.


    But the more he thought about it, the more stressed he became. He didn''t have nearly enough money for a Lich Orb, let alone a Dragon''s Heart.


    He could potentially borrow enough money, but Aestrea was really intimidated by the idea of getting into a huge amount of debt.


    It didn''t feel worth the risk.


    Swooop!


    The sound of the wind caught his attention, pulling him out of his thoughts. He blinked and looked ahead, his gaze landing on a beautiful garden.


    The breeze felt refreshing, almost like a gentle invitation to step inside. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The garden was alive with color¡ªthe deep green grass seemed to stretch forever, dotted with a few stone paths that wove through the area, leading to different corners.


    There were flowers of every shape and size, their petals soft and vibrant.


    Tall, elegant structures stood in the garden too, statues of the Headmistress, intricately designed buildings, and little fountains that added to the peaceful atmosphere.


    It all fit together so perfectly.


    "......"


    Aestrea paused for a moment, just taking it all in.


    "Haaa..."


    He inhaled deeply, letting the sweet fragrance of the flowers fill his lungs, the calmness of the garden wrapping around him like a comforting blanket.


    He couldn''t help it¡ªhe sank down onto the soft grass, adjusting himself into a comfortable position.


    Lying there, he stared up at the clear, bright blue sky above, letting the cool breeze wash over him, slowly calming his mind.


    "Aestrea...?"


    Suddenly, Aestrea''s peaceful moment was abruptly interrupted by a familiar voice calling his name.


    But this time, he didn''t even bother to look up.


    He was too lost in his own thoughts as the calming atmosphere of the garden still lingered around him.


    But the voice didn''t stop.


    Instead, the person seemed to smile faintly, as if they were expecting this reaction. A moment later, they sat down in the grass beside him, the quiet rustling of the blades filling the air.


    "Aestrea... do you ever wonder if gods really exist?" the voice asked softly.


    There was a long pause, and then a quiet sigh:


    "I suppose you won''t answer, huh?"


    It wasn''t a question that truly demanded an answer, but then, the voice continued.


    "I used to think gods were just stories. Things people clung to when they needed something to believe in. You know, something to make sense of the chaos. Life''s messy, unpredictable¡­ and people need something bigger to blame or to hope for." the voice smiled lightly.


    "It''s easier that way, isn''t it? When you think someone''s out there watching over you, keeping you out of danger, being your guardian angel."


    The voice paused for a moment, letting the silence stretch out before continuing, its voice drifting like the breeze.


    "I always thought I didn''t need any god. I was fine on my own, or so I told myself. But then, something happens. Maybe you lose someone, or something goes terribly wrong, and suddenly, you''re standing there, feeling like the world''s caving in. And in that moment¡ªwhen you''re at your lowest point, feeling like there''s no way out¡ªyou find yourself whispering a prayer. Asking for something, anything. A miracle, even if you don''t believe in miracles."


    The voice softened, a slight sadness creeping in.


    "It''s funny how we don''t think we need a god until we really do, right? We push it all aside, dismiss it as nonsense, until the day comes when we''re desperate and we''re praying for something you never even thought existed. But you still pray, don''t you?"


    He looked over to Aestrea.


    "Maybe that''s when you realize¡­ gods do exist. Not in the way we imagined, but they''re there, in the places we never looked for them¡ªuntil we had to. That''s when you know they''re real. You just¡­ have to believe."


    "If you truly believe, our Goddess will reach out to us in our weakest moment, and make you revive, just like a soaring phoenix. Even I didn''t believe in our Goddess at first, but now..."


    There was a few seconds of silence, as the voice then uttered in the most sincere tone possible.


    "I do believe in our Goddess. She saved me at my weakest moments, and made me the person that I am today," he whispered softly, enough for Aestrea to hear.


    "That''s why... sometimes you just need to make a sacrifice."


    Aestrea listened quietly, still looking at the bright blue sky, his thoughts swirling around the last word that the voice had spoken to him.


    Finally, after a long pause, he turned his head slightly to look at the person next to him.


    "I do not believe in gods, Lucas."


    His eyes were terrifyingly calm as he said those words.


    Then, he added in a tone that was as calm as his eyes.


    "Gods don''t show up when you need them."


    "They don''t fix things or make life easier."


    "People have to fight for themselves, no one''s coming to do it for you."


    "I''ve learned that the hard way..."


    "Relying on gods is just waiting for something that may never come."


    He paused slightly, his eyes locked with Lucas''s.


    "You can believe in gods if it helps you, but I''ll never put my faith in something that''s never been there when I needed it, even though I prayed for years straight."


    "Because in the end, the only thing that I truly need, is none other than..."


    "...myself."


    As soon as he uttered those words, his red eyes seemed to have turned into a strange shade of blue, reminiscent of the glow of moonlight just before dawn.


    And in those beautiful blue pearls, the faint symbol of a crescent moon stood quietly.


    Shining dimly.

 Chapter 42 The Moonlight Swordsman (VIII)

    "Astra, wait for me!"


    A young girl with long, vibrant purple hair called out, her voice filled with excitement.


    She stood with her small hands stretched out, watching a small boy with short silver hair and deep, light blue eyes darting away from her, giggling uncontrollably.


    "Nooooo!"


    The boy''s laughter rang through the air as he sped up, his silver hair bouncing with every step. His light blue eyes twinkled with pure happiness, his small feet kicking up the soft green grass beneath him.


    The girl couldn''t help but smile at his playful antics, but then, a mischievous glint flickered in her eyes.


    Snap!


    She raised a hand and snapped her fingers.


    "Uhh¡­?" The boy suddenly stopped mid-run, his expression shifting from gleeful to confused.


    His feet hovered slightly above the ground, and he looked down, his eyes widening as he realized he wasn''t touching the grass anymore.


    "Ehh¡­! Big sis, that''s not fair!" He pouted as he crossed his arms, turning his face away from her.


    The girl approached him, a soft sigh escaping her lips. She reached out and gently tapped his pouted cheeks, puffing them up slightly.


    "Nihihi," she giggled, her voice playful as she cupped him in her arms.


    "Nooo¡ª!"


    Smack!


    The boy''s eyes widened in surprise as he felt her soft lips press gently against his cheek. His body squirmed, and he wiggled away, trying to break free from her grip.


    And then...


    Smack!


    She kissed his cheek again.


    "Nooo, stop!"


    "Hehe," She laughed mischievously, "If you stop moving, I''ll stop kissing you."


    His movements instantly stopped, making the young girl''s smile twitch slightly.


    "Aww¡­ you don''t like your Big Sister anymore?" she teased, pouting as she gently wiped an imaginary tear from her eye with her finger.


    The boy stared at her, his tiny brows knitting together. Then, without saying a word, he turned his head stubbornly to the side.


    "Hmpf! You can''t trick me again¡­!" he declared firmly.


    But as soon as her fake sniffles began, his small face softened in worry. His lips trembled as he nervously bit down on them.


    His gaze shifted back toward her, and he caught the slight smirk playing on her lips.


    "Ah! You tricked me again!" he huffed, pouting once more as he started squirming in her grip.


    Yet, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn''t break free.


    The girl''s smile grew wider as she gently rubbed her cheek against his.


    "I love you, my little brother," she murmured softly, tightening her hold on him.


    "I hate you too!" the boy retorted, clearly trying to sound tough.


    "Really?" She chuckled gently, ruffling his silver hair.


    "Well, I''ll still keep loving you, though."


    With a playful sigh, she finally set him back on the ground.


    "Happy now?" she asked with a teasing smile.


    "Mhmpf!" He swung his head stubbornly to the side, closing his eyes and crossing his arms.


    A short silence fell between them.


    The girl stood quietly, waiting expectantly for some response.


    But the boy refused to meet her gaze. Instead, he kept his arms crossed, a pout firmly planted on his face.


    Just when it seemed like he wouldn''t say anything, he opened one eye slightly, peeking at her through his lashes.


    "I love you too..." he muttered in a nonaudible voice.


    The girl''s eyes lit up instantly.


    "Awww, I knew it!" she giggled, swooping him into the air once again, this time with a charming, playful smile.


    But this time, the boy didn''t say anything.


    "Mhm..."


    Carefully shifting him into a more comfortable position, the girl lowered herself to the grass.


    She gently used a bit of magic to create a soft cushion beneath them, ensuring they didn''t hit the ground too roughly.


    Both of them lay side by side on the grass, gazing up at the clear, blue sky stretching above them.


    After a few moments, the girl finally spoke, breaking the silence between them.


    "Astra¡­ do you believe in our Heavenly God?"


    The boy tilted his head, looking at her with curiosity but nodded.


    "And why do you believe in her?" she asked softly.


    "Because¡­ she brought us to life?" His small voice trembled slightly.


    The girl nodded thoughtfully.


    "That is indeed true. But sometimes don''t you feel that someone is watching you, playing the role of your guardian angel?"


    The boy blinked at her words, having a thoughtful expression.


    "Actually... yeah. When I didn''t have any toys to play with, they magically appeared in my room, and that also happened with food when I was very hungry!"


    The boy''s eyes lit up.


    "Was it her?!" he asked excitedly.


    The girl chuckled at the boy''s naivety, despite keeping it hidden.


    "Yeah, it must have been her," she rubbed his small head.


    "Remember... Aestrea... she will always be watching over you as long as you keep believing in her," the young girl muttered softly, brushing his cheek with her thumb.


    "Mhmn! I''ll always believe in the Heavenly God!"


    As soon as he spoke those words, the faint silhouette of the moon seemed to have flickered in his precious sapphire eyes.


    Shining dimly.


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    Meeting his gaze, Lucas couldn''t help but freeze. His heart pounded in his chest, loud enough to drown out the world around him¡ªthump!


    Thump, thump, thump!


    A wave of warmth rushed over him, but at the same time, something strange seemed to press down on his chest, making beads of sweat form along his forehead.


    The air around him felt thick, heavy, like something unseen was pressing down on him.


    Time seemed to have been frozen.


    His eyes were locked with Aestrea''s, unable to look away.


    Faintly, he noticed the subtle symbol of the moon glowing ever so slightly, casting a strange light between them.


    The feeling was terrifying¡ªalmost dangerous.


    [LUCAS, WAKE UP!]


    "Ugh...?!"


    Lucas shook his head instinctively as he heard a sudden shout in his mind, breaking out of the strange trance.


    At the same moment, Aestrea finally stood, turning away from the grass and stepping upright, with his back to Lucas.


    "Let me ask you one thing, Lucas."


    Aestrea parted his lips, and his voice came, calm, almost indifferent


    "Would you rather destroy a whole country to save your loved ones, or let your loved one die?" His question was truly bizarre.


    It didn''t fit the actual situation, but Lucas felt that Aestra was really serious about the question he had just asked.


    Lucas frowned deeply, and yet, without hesitation, he answered.


    "Neither. If I believe enough in our Goddess, the Heavenly God, I will be able to make sure that none of the situations occur," he declared in a swift and decisive manner.


    "She will give me a sign when something like that is going to happen."


    Aestrea remained silent for a few seconds, but then, a small, subtle smile appeared at the corners of his lips. He chuckled softly, a sound that didn''t feel mocking but rather¡­ amused by Lucas''s words.


    "How naive," Aestrea murmured, shaking his head lightly before he walked away.


    But as he did so, his voice reached out to Lucas once again.


    "Don''t trust your eyes, Lucas."


    "Trust your heart."


    Fwoop...


    He vanished from his sight, leaving Lucas standing there, alone.


    [...]


    "What a strange guy¡­" Lucas muttered to himself, scratching his head, trying to make sense of it all.


    He glanced down at the soft green grass, feeling the lingering presence of Aestrea''s presence. Slowly, he pushed himself up, brushing the dirt off his pants.


    "System, check his favorability¡­"


    [Aestrea Moon¡ªFavorability: 49]


    "What? It''s already that high?" Lucas''s eyes widened in surprise.


    He hadn''t expected that at all.


    A small smirk crept onto his face as he realized something.


    "So it''s easier to build favor with him than I thought¡­" His brow furrowed slightly, deep in thought.


    "Then all I need is just a little nudge, right?"


    A faint smile tugged at his lips. All he had to do was be a little more friendly, a little more genuine¡­ and it would be enough. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Right?


    ¡ª


    "Arghh... d-did I pass out?"


    Aestrea''s voice was groggy, his eyes slowly fluttering open.


    His body felt heavy, really heavy as if he had run an entire marathon unstop with a normal human body.


    He could feel sweat sticking to his forehead as he slowly walked to the new dormitory given to him by the academy.


    Somehow, though, he knew exactly where it was.


    When he finally reached the dorm, he fumbled for the student keycard he had been given earlier.


    Beep!


    With a soft beep, the door unlocked, and he pushed it open.


    He stepped inside, feeling the cool air against his damp skin, and made his way to the bathroom.


    Shhhhhh¡­


    The sound of the shower coming to life echoed softly as warm water poured over him.


    The heat was soothing, a gentle cascade that melted away the sweat and eased the ache in his muscles.


    "Why did I pass out... and why am I so tired?" Aestrea pondered to himself, feeling the fresh warm water trickle down his body.


    He just remembered talking to Lucas, and when he uttered the word ''myself''¡­ and then¡ªeverything had gone blank.


    The next thing he knew, he was waking up here, by the dorm building.


    "Damn it¡­ is this part of the side effects of having this mana physique?" He frowned, shutting his eyes and focusing inward, feeling the subtle currents of his mana.


    But everything seemed normal¡­ at least for now.


    "...Sigh..."


    With a small sigh, Aestrea reached for the soap, scrubbing his body. He washed off the sweat, drying himself off quickly before pulling on a simple outfit.


    "Lumi?" he called out softly.


    And immediately, a small green light filled the room as Lumi appeared out of thin air.


    "Master~"


    She walked to him in small steps before pressing her tiny body against his waist and rubbing her cheek against his chest.


    Aestrea smiled faintly, his weariness easing slightly as he reached down, gently patting Lumi''s head.


    He lifted her up with both hands and settled into the soft new bed, cradling her in his arms.


    "It''s time Lumi..." He clutched his fist and then opened it, revealing a small ball made of high-density mana, containing a very small purple energy inside of it.


    Lumi tilted her head, her big green eyes watching him curiously, but she opened her mouth willingly as he extended his fingers toward her.


    Without hesitation, she swallowed the tiny ball and then licked her lips.


    "Now, it''s time to wait for a few minutes..." Aestrea muttered, collapsing down on his bed as his gaze was locked with Lumi''s figure.


    Leaning against his legs, she closed her eyes as a faint symbol appeared on her forehead. It had a ruby-shaped form, and it started to glow slightly.


    Slowly, the mana in the surroundings started being absorbed by Lumi, as the glow of the ruby started increasing slightly.


    Her body started floating into the air as the glow of the ruby enveloped her whole body and took the purple color.


    Crack, crack!


    Tiny fissures seemed to open in the space around her, and the light surged brighter. A faint pentagram formed briefly on Lumi''s back, glowing brightly before quickly fading away.


    Thud!


    Lumi''s body fell gently back onto the bed, the light fading alongside the ruby-shaped emblem on her forehead.


    "Agh!"


    At the same time, Aestrea felt a strange energy coursing throughout his whole body, making him clench his teeth tight.


    The pain lasted for a few minutes before it disappeared.


    [You now have a chance of awakening ''Void'' as your second element.]


    The system, who rarely appeared, decided to appear revealing quite the important information to Aestrea.


    "That''s possible...?" Aestrea''s eyes widened significantly.


    "Gosh, you''re my lucky star!" He scooped her up by the waist and lifted her into the air like she was the most precious thing in the world.


    "Master?"


    Lumi blinked, tilting her head in confusion, her big green eyes staring at him. But seeing the joy on her master''s face, she couldn''t help but giggle softly.


    Aestrea smiled gently at her reaction, before slowly setting her down once again.


    She didn''t hesitate¡ªimmediately, she cuddled into his chest, her small legs coiling around his, like a playful snake.


    "Hehe..."


    She let out a small chuckle as she nuzzled her face on his chest.


    As she did so, Aestrea blinked twice before yawning.


    He was still tired and now needed to sleep.

 Chapter 43 The Moonlight Swordsman (IX)

    Psst...


    "Did you hear?"


    "About what?"


    "The fifth-year students are finally returning!"


    "Wait, really?"


    "Yeah, they finally raided that s-level dungeon!"


    "Woah...!"


    The students were chatting excitedly, their voices loud enough for anyone within close range to catch.


    And as those words reached me, my mind couldn''t help but drift.


    Until the part of the novel that I had read, the fifth-year students of the academy didn''t appear a single time, however, from those reviews and casual chat between the community, I saw quite a few amount of information.


    Among the fifth-years, there are definitely a couple of troublemakers. One is the first prince, and the other is Ella''s so-called ''licking dog''¡ªa guy who follows her around like a devoted suitor.


    Thinking about it, it should be around this time that Ella''s identity as the princess should be revealed.


    Though, I''ve always wondered why she even kept it a secret in the first place.


    But nonetheless, she had told Lucas about it so the readers knew from the early chapters about her true identity.


    ''Oh... this should be Ella''s capture arc.''


    Or, as the novel likes to call it, the part where Lucas makes Ella fall in love with him.


    It all makes sense¡ªthe prince and her loyal dog are both coming back now, and they both know who she really is.


    But something feels a little¡­ strange.


    "Why are you sitting next to me?" I glanced over my shoulder, raising an eyebrow.


    "Why? Are you planning to be a loner for the whole semester?" A playful smile crept onto Lucas''s face as he gave me a strong slap on the back.


    "Oh? You wanna fight?" I quickly give him a backward slap on his chest, causing him to groan slightly in pain.


    "Agh... how high is your damn strength?!" he asked, glaring at me.


    "I don''t know, but I''m definitely stronger than you," I answered, shaking my head with a small grin.


    "Heh? Wanna put it to the test?" his hand casually reached toward the hilt of his sword, making me dumbfounded.


    "Bro, we''re in class!"


    Did this fucker really want to fight during class?


    "Oh, right¡­ totally forgot," he muttered, scratching the back of his head with a sheepish shrug.


    ''Is this seriously the hero that is going to save the world?''


    I thought, shaking my head.


    I knew from the novel that he was dumb sometimes, but seeing it in real person...


    Gosh.


    "Attention!"


    Eleonora clapped loudly, instantly silencing the chatter from the students. Since this was a magic class, she was, of course, the instructor.


    "I still can''t believe our Headmistress is teaching us classes..."


    "Right? I was wondering the same thing."


    "ATTENTION!"


    Eleonora''s voice rose sharply, and finally, everyone fell silent. Her irritated expression quickly transformed into a calm, composed smile.


    She really is a woman, huh...


    Changing expressions from one second to another.


    "Alright, now that I have your attention, I''ll go over a few important things about the school''s current happenings. As you all know, our academy operates on rankings. The higher your rank, the better privileges and treatment you''ll receive," she began in a calm voice.


    "Right now, the results of the entrance ceremony''s test are still being processed, and soon enough, you''ll each receive your official rank within the school," she added, tapping lightly on the board before turning to draw on a sheet of paper.


    "Not to mention¡ªfifth-year students are finally returning! Their rank has already been solidified at the upper levels because they successfully raided an S-level dungeon. If you want to raise your rank, it''s fairly straightforward. You have a couple of options. First, you can challenge students with a higher rank."


    "They can''t refuse your challenge, at least not for your first attempt. If you win, you''ll swap ranks with the student you defeated. But if you lose... you''ll lose the ability to challenge anyone for the next two weeks," she explained, drawing a small symbol on the board to emphasize her point.


    "Another way to improve your ranking is by breaking records in our various facilities. The school offers plenty of training settings, and all you need to do is finish the task in the shortest time possible to set a new record. Once you do, your rank will elevate based on your performance and the time you achieved it."


    She continued drawing on the board, adding more details.


    "And finally, the most obvious method¡ªgetting high grades in the upcoming midterms. The better you perform, the more you''ll be able to boost your rank."


    Once she finished her drawing, she turned back to face the students.


    "Any questions?"


    Almost immediately, a hand shot up¡ªLucas''s hand, to be exact. He was sitting right next to me.


    "About the first clause¡­ if one student challenges another and loses, can they still receive challenges from other students?" he asked, raising his eyebrows.


    Ah...


    Has he turned smart right now?


    I let out a soft sigh, furrowing my eyebrows slightly.


    Sometimes he''s dumb and sometimes he''s smart, quite a tricky situation.


    "Yes, they can. And all challenges must take place in the arena since there''s a ''no real damage'' barrier," Eleonora nodded.


    "Any more questions...?" she asked once again, her gaze sweeping across the students.


    This time, no hands went up.


    "Alright," she nodded slowly, but then, seemingly remembering something else, she added with a hint of intrigue, "Also, don''t forget that the Student Council is starting its hunt for new members soon¡­"


    She spoke those words in a way that made it sound more like they were going on a literal ''hunt''¡ªas if searching for prey.


    "The student council... is in need of members?"


    "Oh... hell no!"


    The students started whispering to each other in a scared manner, and I couldn''t help but frown in confusion.


    "Hey, Lucas."


    "Yeah?" he replied, turning to me.


    "Why are the students so scared of the Student Council?" Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Lucas let out a soft chuckle at my question: "Basically, it''s because the work in the Student Council is insane."


    "And how so?"


    "No¡­ it''s really insane. Sometimes, students spend three days straight working¡ªwithout sleeping. The people who''ve experienced those kinds of situations firsthand¡­" He let out a small sigh, rubbing his hands together.


    "They''re¡­ a bit traumatized."


    "Ah..." I was a bit speechless.


    Back at my old academy, I was the Student Council President, but I barely had to lift a finger because everything ran so smoothly.


    I organized everything correctly to make sure that everyone had the same amount of work, and even gave a little bit of incentives for the students to work hard.


    So... I couldn''t really understand why people would stay for three entire days without sleeping...


    Before I could ask any more, Lucas added:


    "Well, I get where they''re coming from. The Student Council is responsible for overseeing everything at Eternum Royal Academy¡ªmanaging the grounds, organizing events, keeping order¡­ you name it."


    I froze at his words.


    As I''d mentioned before, this academy was easily more than fifty times the size of my old school in Silverleaf.


    If students had to take care of all that¡­


    No wonder they barely get any rest.


    "So yeah," Lucas continued, "it can definitely be said that the Student Council is on a ''hunt'' for students."


    ".....How about simply refusing?" I asked curiously.


    "It doesn''t really work like that," Lucas shook his head with a wry smile. "Usually, potential members are challenged in a ranking battle. If the student council members win, they get to add the condition of joining."


    "They''re literally hunting for new recruits," he added, a bitter undertone in his voice.


    Gosh.


    No wonder some of them end up traumatized.


    "Well, don''t worry. Unless one of the fifth-year students or the Student Council President herself challenges you to a fight, I don''t think anyone will beat you." He slapped my back once again.


    This guy¡­


    I immediately raised my hand, about to retaliate, but then¡ª


    "My dear Ella~"


    A smooth, sunny male voice echoed from the classroom doorway as a handsome, brown-haired student entered, his eyes immediately scanning the room.


    Is this¡­ her suitor?


    Damn, he''s worse than I thought.


    "That bastard..." Lucas frowned and muttered darkly under his breath as soon as he heard his voice.


    So, I immediately took the chance and slapped his back.


    BAM!


    "Oops..."


    I accidentally put in too much strength, causing a loud noise to occur.


    "Damn it, Aestrea!" he groaned slightly, arching his back in pain.


    "That''s what you get."


    "Petty bastard," he scoffed, grinning in a way that I knew he was trying to brush off the pain.


    And it was right then that I noticed everyone in the classroom had turned to look at us. However, their attention on us quickly shifted as another cut through the chatter.


    "Well, isn''t this our Moonlight Swordsman?"


    A blonde-haired, even more strikingly handsome student appeared, walking into the room with an air of confidence.


    His golden eyes seemed to lock directly onto me, his lips curling into a small smile.


    "Ohhh! It''s the prince!"


    The girls in the classroom practically melted at the sight of him, their voices growing louder as they openly gushed.


    "Ahh, he''s so dreamy!"


    "Look at those eyes!"


    "Such elegance¡­ and he''s a prince! No wonder he''s so charming!"


    It didn''t take long for me to figure out why he was so popular.


    Naturally, one of the future heirs to the empire. If he ever ascended to the throne...


    Any girl would try to get closer to him, not to mention that he''s quite handsome.


    The prince slowly approached me, his expression calm yet confident, and extended his hand with a small smile.


    "Hello, Moonlight Swordsman," he said smoothly. "I''m Leon Von Arthur Charles. It''s a pleasure to finally meet you."


    I stared at his outstretched hand for a moment before my lips parted into a faint scoff. Without a second thought, I shook his hand.


    "The name''s Aestrea." I didn''t bother adding my surname.


    His smile twitched ever so slightly upon noticing my blatant disregard for formalities.


    "By the way..." I spoke in a faint, almost playful tone.


    "Yes?"


    His voice remained steady, though his patience seemed to thin.


    "You really seem to be as stupid as your father. I guess¡­ it runs in the bloodline, huh?" I added with a faint, almost mocking smile.


    The prince''s eyes quickly turned cold. His grip tightened as his knuckles whitened slightly, but I didn''t flinch.


    "...huh?"


    He was surprised.


    After all, I didn''t stumble back or groan in pain despite his intense strength.


    Even though my strength rank was only C+, when combined with Mana, it was easily on par with an A-rank.


    His grip was strong, but not strong enough.


    My mana flowed smoothly through my veins, instinctively enhancing my body with every passing second.


    It was a method that I came to learn after getting my mana quality in such a high level.


    "Hey¡­ aren''t you quite weak?" I sneered lightly, matching his increasing strength.


    "...Gah!"


    The prince winced, his eyes narrowing as he struggled to free his hand from mine. He attempted to twist and pull free, but I refused to relent.


    The longer I held him, the more frustrated he became.


    Swoop!


    However, it was short-lived as I saw the blur motion of the brown-haired guy, rushing towards me at full speed.


    I quickly let go of the prince''s hand as I noticed it.


    "!!!"


    His eyes widened in surprise as he stumbled, trying to stop himself from colliding with me. I swiftly twisted my body, executing a tornado kick sent to his head.


    Thud!


    Surprisingly, he was quick enough to block the blow using his arm, but the force still pushed him back slightly.


    "Agh¡­" he groaned, lowering his arm, his face slightly grim.


    "Telmo, stop," the prince uttered in a neutral tone.


    "But, Your Highness¡ª"


    "Enough," Leon interrupted firmly. "We didn''t come here to cause trouble." He shook his reddened hand, wincing slightly.


    "Though," he added darkly, his gaze fixed on me, "I''ll keep notice of your little stunt, Aestrea."


    His glare was intense, his fists clenched at his sides. He turned away, walking back toward the door with a calm demeanor despite probably burning inside.


    "I''ll be awaiting, Your Majesty," I said softly, lowering my voice into a mocking, almost playful tone just loud enough for him to hear.


    And right after, I noticed a vein pulse in his forehead.


    Serves him right.


    "Gosh..."


    I let out a sigh, shaking my head.


    I was already causing trouble on just the second day here.


    "Aestrea¡­ aren''t you scared of the prince?" Lucas couldn''t help but ask in a surprised tone.


    "Not really," I replied nonchalantly.


    I mean¡­


    I''m the one that''s going to take his father''s head.


    Along with that bitchy succubus.

 Chapter 44 The Moonlight Swordsman (X)

    Beep~


    "Huh? Sounds like someone''s calling you," Lucas said, raising an eyebrow as my phone buzzed loudly.


    Coming to think about it, I was still getting used to how things worked in this strange world¡ªa blend of modern and medieval vibes.


    It wasn''t like the high-tech world I came from.


    Sure, we had phones, cars, and motorbikes, but everything else?


    It was like stepping into a fantasy novel, complete with kings, nobles, and even the whole ''defeat the demon king'' trope.


    Except that the demon king isn''t really the final boss.


    "Yeah?" Picking up the phone, I replied.


    [Aestrea, I''ll need your help.]


    A familiar voice came through the phone.


    "The Saintess?" Lucas, standing beside me, blurted out in surprise as he recognized her voice.


    He wasn''t exactly subtle.


    "The Saintess is asking me for help, huh? That''s a first."


    I sighed and gave a dry chuckle.


    [Aestrea, I''m serious. I really need your help.]


    The tone of her voice caught me off guard¡ªit was unusually intense.


    My smile faded, and my brows furrowed as I asked, "What''s going on? What do you need help with?"


    [There''s a masked auction happening in the black market. I need you to go with me.]


    My frown deepened.


    "Why me? Can''t you ask John? He''s stronger than I am. Honestly, he''d make a much better partner for something like this."


    [...It has to be you.]


    "...Why though?"


    [...Only people with partners can attend the auction.]


    I froze at her words for a moment.


    Lucas, meanwhile, caught on faster than I expected.


    His eyes widened comically, and then he broke into a sly grin, giving me an exaggerated thumbs-up like he was rooting for us to get together.


    Before I could say anything, he turned and strolled off, shooting me a mischievous look over his shoulder.


    What the fuck?


    Just yesterday, he was teasing me about Rose, and now he''s shipping me with the Saintess.


    It doesn''t make sense... does he want me to build a harem or something?


    Fucking weird...


    "I still think John''s a better choice," I muttered, trying to wriggle my way out of this.


    The last thing I wanted was to step foot in the black market again, especially with my history.


    The lab''s owners¡ªthose lunatics¡ªwere still out there, and I wasn''t eager to cross paths with them anytime soon.


    [No. You''re the only one I can trust to play the role of my partner. If you help me with this, I''ll... I...]


    She paused for a moment.


    [I''ll g-give you anything you want...]


    "...Anything?" the words briefly escaped my mouth.


    [...Yes. Anything.]


    Her response came quickly, leaving no room for doubt.


    A slow grin crept across my face, despite the little voice in my head warning me that this could only lead to trouble.


    "In that case, I want..."


    .


    .


    .


    . S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    On the way to the masked auction, I met up with Saintess Christina. The moment her eyes landed on my outfit, her expression soured.


    She frowned so hard I thought her face might freeze that way.


    "This won''t do," she muttered, and before I could protest, she dragged me into a nearby boutique.


    One expensive shopping spree later, I found myself in a suit so fancy it practically sparkled. The price? Over 100 gold coins.


    Seriously, 100 gold coins?!


    That''s enough to live on for ten years if you use them wisely! But Christina didn''t even blink as she handed over her card.


    Just how loaded is she?


    "...It should be around here..." Christina muttered softly, grabbing my arm as we turned to one of the back alleys.


    We continued walking for a while before we were interrupted by a huge man. His skin was tanned, and he wore a detailed goat mask that gave him an ominous vibe.


    His eyes lingered on Christina for a moment, widening slightly as though he recognized her., but he quickly composed himself.


    "To attend the Masked Auction, you''ll need to select a mask from the table," he said, gesturing toward a small wooden table set to the side.


    "We''re familiar with the rules," I said with a polite smile, waving off the explanation.


    "...Oh, of course. Then, please choose one of the masks on the table," he said, stepping aside to give us room.


    There were quite a few, an oni demon mask, a bear mask, a wolf, and much more. The Saintess Christian ended up choosing the Oni demon mask...


    As for me...


    "...This..."


    I found a suitable mask for me; it was completely white, with oversized eyeholes and a wide, crescent-shaped grin that was just unsettling enough to make it intriguing.


    "This one," I said, picking it up.


    The goat-masked man nodded in approval and stepped aside, revealing a dimly lit corridor that stretched into the distance.


    I turned to Christina, smirking slightly as I offered her my hand.


    "Shall we, love?"


    Her eyes widened for just a heartbeat before a small smile graced her lips.


    Without missing a beat, she slipped her hand into mine.


    "Yes, darling," she replied, her voice smooth and sweet as honey, fluttering her eyelids in a seductive demeanor.


    Even the goat-masked man seemed a bit flustered by our actions, it seemed that our acting was thoroughly amazing.


    At the end of the dimly lit corridor, we were greeted by another attendant, also wearing an animal mask¡ªthis one resembling a fox.


    He bowed slightly, one hand over his chest in a formal gesture.


    "I''ll show you to your seats," he said in a calm and polite tone.


    We followed him silently, weaving through a series of hallways before arriving at one of the VIP seats.


    The elevated position gave us a clear view of the grand auction stage below.


    It seems like Christina had came prepared.


    Once the attendant left, I leaned back in my chair, crossing my legs casually.


    "So... what exactly are we doing here?" I asked, glancing at Christina.


    She hesitated for a moment with a conflicted expression, before finally sighing.


    "An elf is being auctioned off," she said softly.


    As I was about to cross my legs, I froze immediately after she said those words. My fists clenched tightly, as a faint mana pressure started leaving my body...


    "Aestrea, calm down...!" She gripped my shoulder tightly, just enough for me to wake up from my daze of rage.


    These bastards...!


    Huff...!


    Taking a deep breath, I slowly picked up the auction catalog lying on the small table in front of us and started flipping through the pages.


    And just like Christina said... as one of the highlights of the auction...


    A High Elf was being auctioned off as a slave.


    "She''s going to be sold as last, so... I should have enough money to buy her out," she muttered softly, looking at her phone.


    It seemed like she was checking her balance or something.


    And I also took the opportunity to look at mine.


    "...Shit."


    [Balance: 1 Platinum Coin, 211 Gold Coins, 77 Silver Coins and 13 Bronze Coins.]


    ''When did I get a platinum coin?''


    I pondered slightly.


    One platinum coin was worth 1,000 gold coins, which meant I had way more money than I thought.


    Still, I could''ve sworn I only had a little over 200 gold coins before this.


    "How many coins did you bring?" I asked curiously.


    "...A little over two hundred platinum coins...?" she tilted her head, thinking about it before replying softly.


    I blinked.


    That was an absurd amount of money, enough to buy an entire state directly!


    But yet, that amount of money was still dozens of times away from enough to buy a Dragon''s Heart.


    Before I could comment, the lights in the room dimmed, and the murmurs of the crowd quieted.


    A spotlight illuminated the stage below, and a woman stepped into view.


    "Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to our Masked Auction! I, Olivia, will be your host for this evening," she announced, her voice bright and confident.


    Applause rippled through the room, and then she continued.


    "Without further ado, let''s begin with our first item!"


    The auction began, item after item appearing on the stage. Paintings, rare artifacts, and elixirs were presented and sold for jaw-dropping amounts.


    The crowd was lively, bids flying back and forth at an almost dizzying pace.


    "Sold for number twelve!" Olivia declared after one of the items¡ªa stolen painting¡ªwas purchased for an obscene sum.


    She then turned her attention to the next item with an enthusiastic smile.


    "Now... Item number 16... A Unity Dragon-Phoenix Elixir!" she announced loudly, and immediately, the crowd went into a small uproar.


    This kind of elixir was very precious, especially for lovers, it could potentially increase their strength more than three times if used correctly with your lover.


    If you used it alone... it wouldn''t have as good as the normal effect, but your power would increase by at least two times.


    "The starting bid will be 10 gold coins!"


    The host declared, and as she did so, another bid came lightning fast.


    "100 Gold Coins!"


    "150 Gold Coins!"


    "300 Gold Coins...!"


    The number climbed rapidly, finally settling at 300 gold coins. The room fell silent as the auctioneer called out the final bid.


    "300 Gold Coins going once, twice... and sol¡ª"


    "500 Gold Coins." Another voice resounded, and everyone''s gaze turned to one of the VIP rooms where the silhouette of a woman could be seen.


    No one dared to increase the bid after knowing that it was one of the VIPs.


    "500 Gold Coins going once, twice... and sold!"


    The host smashed her little hammer against the podium.


    "Congratulations to our Vip #1 for purchasing the Unity Dragon-Phoenix Elixir!" she clapped frenetically.


    But then, her smile quickly turned into a story-telling face, as she announced the next item...


    "Now... the moment you were waiting for!"


    Immediately, Christina leaned forward as she heard those words.


    The highlight of the auction was about to appear.


    "We went through great lengths and difficulties to obtain this particular ''item'', and I believe anyone can see its value and rarity!"


    The host announced as the sound of chains grazing against the ground echoed loudly. I immediately clenched my fists...


    And Christian bit her lower lip tightly.


    With a beautiful, golden long hair, although it seemed lifeless. Skin as white as the purest snow was now, completely dry.


    But even in this state, her beauty seemed almost ethereal.


    Her long ears quivered softly, as she contained a hunched posture.


    It was obviously an elf, but not just a normal elf...


    A High Elf.


    "Because of the extreme rarity of this item, the bid will be starting with 1 platinum coin!" The host announced loudly.


    And just after a few moments...


    The biddings exploded.


    "2 platinum coins!"


    "3 platinum coins!"


    "4 platinum coins!"


    "10 platinum coins!"


    The bids climbed higher and higher, the excitement in the room palpable. By the time it reached 57 platinum coins, the crowd finally started hesitating.


    "57 platinum coins!"


    The crowd stopped bidding, and it was at this moment that Christian raised her bidding stick.


    "60 platinum coins," her voice echoed through the whole room, making everyone turn to her.


    "65 platinum coi¡ª!"


    "70 platinum coins," Christina cut in before the other bidder could finish, raising her paddle higher.


    The room went in full silence.


    No one raised their paddles, so, after swallowing hard, the host opened her mouth.


    "70 platinum coins going once, twice, and sol¡ª!"


    "¡ª300 platinum coins."


    A familiar and calm voice came out.


    It was the bidder from the #1 VIP room.


    And her bid had completely crashed Christina''s.


    Christina froze, her eyes wide, and her lips trembled as she bit down hard, trying to keep her composure. Her fists clenched on the armrests of her chair, knuckles turning white.


    I was shocked too, but more than that, I felt helpless.


    There was nothing either of us could do.


    "300 platinum coins going once, twice, and sold!"


    The host''s voice reached out to us as she declared loudly.


    "Congratulations to our Vip #1 for purchasing the rare High Elf!" she clapped loudly, and soon enough, the others followed.


    "And with that, we conclude this auction! Thank you all for attending!"


    The host bowed as the stage lights dimmed.


    I glanced over at Christina. She was staring down at her lap, fists still balled tightly, her whole body tense.


    "Christina..." I muttered softly.


    She seemed truly upset that she didn''t win that bid.


    I was about to try and comfort her until I heard a voice calling me.


    "Aestrea Moon, our lady invites you."


    A lady wearing a rabbit''s mask approached me.


    "If you come with us, our lady intends to diminish the value of the High Elf and sell her to you," the rabbit-masked woman continued smoothly.


    As soon as I heard those words, I frowned slightly.


    But, seeing the Saintess''s face gives a bit of hope...


    "Lead the way," I replied.


    The rabbit-masked woman bowed slightly.


    "Please follow me."


    Christina slowly followed me behind, as we reached the door of the VIP room.


    But before we could enter, the rabbit woman extended her arm, stopping Christina in her tracks.


    "Only he can enter..."


    I frowned even more knowing that it was something fishy. So, I took the opportunity and told the Saintess to get out.


    "No, I''ll wait for y¡ª!"


    "¡ªChristina." I interrupted her, brushing her cheek with my thumb while looking directly into her dim yet beautiful pink eyes.


    "I''ll get you quickly, don''t worry..."


    She blinked, her pink eyes quivering before she bit her lip and gave a reluctant nod.


    She was very hesitant as she slowly backed away, but not before glancing over her shoulder one last time.


    "Please, this way," the rabbit-masked woman said, gesturing toward the door.


    Gosh...


    Why did this only happen to me?


    I complained inwardly as I opened the door.


    And immediately froze...


    "Oh my~... look who''s here."


    Lounging on an ornate sofa, a glass of wine in her hand and a smug smile playing on her lips, was none other than...


    Yara Devereux.


    The Underground Queen herself.

 Chapter 45 The Moonlight Swordsman (XI)

    "..."


    A faint silence remained in the room.


    My eyes stayed locked on hers as she raised her glass of red wine and took a sip.


    The wine swirled gently in the glass as she set it down, the dim light catching the deep crimson hue.


    Her lips curved slightly before parting to speak, her black hair slipping down her shoulders and revealing a faint scar near the corner of her eyebrow.


    She didn''t seem to care if I noticed it.


    With an almost lazy motion, she reached for a single sheet of paper on the table in front of her.


    "Aestrea Moon. Twenty years old," she began. "Parents died the day he was born. He grew up in a small orphanage."


    She glanced at me briefly, then continued reading.


    "Showed exceptional intelligence, so he was selected for advanced education. Excelled in every class, highest grades possible¡ªuntil sixteen. That''s when the Royal Eternum Academy rejected him. Quite the tragedy, really."


    Her tone was quite playful as she seemed to have held back a laugh.


    She kept going.


    "After that, he joined Silverleaf Academy instead. A late bloomer, but one whose talents fully blossomed. The strongest student, they said. Raiding festivals for demon cores, selling them for who-knows-what... under the identity of the..."


    "Moonlight Swordsman."


    Her dark eyes flicked up to meet mine, a sly smile tugging at her lips.


    "But even with all that information, I couldn''t find a single good reason for you to break into our lab. Unless, of course..."


    Her voice dropped slightly as her gaze sharpened. "...you already knew about the weapon hidden there. Did you?"


    I didn''t answer.


    I was silent because I obviously knew how strong she was from the novel. She alone had defeated Zeva without breaking a sweat.


    It was mentioned in the first interlude of the novel since it was basically to introduce her character to future causes.


    And of course, she''s one of the very few SS-level awakeners.


    Before I could respond, she snapped her fingers.


    "By the way... your little spell? It won''t work here."


    The room''s lighting shifted instantly, the white glow replaced by a light red hue.


    My stomach dropped.


    "Fuck..." I muttered under my breath.


    I shook both of my hands as I felt a little heat on them, then, my gaze narrowed as I met her eyes and asked directly:


    "What do you want from me?"


    She tilted her head at my words.


    "Hmm..." She twirled her wine glass again.


    "The weapon. Hand it over, and in return, I''ll give you the high elf slave." Her voice was almost too casual like she was bargaining over a piece of fruit at a market.


    "Simple, no?" Her smile widened, teasing.


    I didn''t flinch.


    "Then give me a blood contract suppressor," I said flatly.


    Her brows lifted ever so slightly.


    "Oh? A blood contract? That is a bit of a hassle." She sighed but didn''t look too bothered. then, she snapped her fingers once again.


    Puff!


    A small glowing box appeared right in front of my eyes.


    At that moment, I already knew what kind of magic she was using, but I didn''t expect her to use it too casually.


    One of the strongest magics...


    Space magic.


    I grabbed the small box, and slowly summoned the sword, and at the same time, I reached out to Lumi.


    ''Don''t worry, Lumi.''


    I wasn''t about to give her up.


    Not now, not ever.


    Carefully, I slid the sword into the box. At the same time, Lumi, now in a miniature form, climbed up my arm and slipped into my pocket.


    "Bit..."


    I bit my thumb, letting a drop of blood bead up before flicking it into the pocket where Lumi had hidden.


    Then, with my bloodied finger, I pressed against the suppressor''s surface.


    The box flared to life, glowing softly before a sharp snap broke the silence¡ªthe sound of chains shattering.


    "...Done."


    I pulled the sword back out, its blade glowing faintly.


    Without a second thought, I tossed it to her. She caught it effortlessly, inspecting it for a moment before placing it neatly beside her.


    Now... the high elf," I demanded.


    Her eyes lifted to meet mine, and for the first time, she looked slightly amused. Adjusting herself on the sofa, she crossed her legs elegantly and studied me with renewed interest.


    "You know," she said with a faint smile, "you''re the first person who''s ever demanded something from me."


    Her tone was light, almost playful, but there was a strange... excitement in it.


    "Usually," she continued, "people hand over what I want and slink away without so much as a word. But you..."


    She leaned forward slightly, her eyes glowing dimly.


    "...you''re different. Not only did you hand me the item, but you had the audacity to make a demand."


    There was a strange excitement in her voice now, her smile widening as she spoke.


    "You''re clever. You must know how vastly more powerful I am than you. And yet, here you are, standing your ground..."


    Her smile grew mischievous.


    "So tell me¡ªwhat is it? Confidence? Or pure stupidity?"


    Her eyes sparkled, daring me to answer.


    Looking at her, I reached up and slowly removed the mask I had been wearing, letting her see the full weight of my glare.


    My voice was calm as I spoke.


    "The elf."


    She stared at me for a moment, her lips parting in surprise.


    Then she threw her head back and laughed:


    "Hahaha..."


    Her laugh filled the room, getting increasingly loud with each passing second before she finally covered her face with her hands.


    Peeking at me through her fingers, she let out a breathless chuckle.


    "You... are the most interesting person I''ve met in years."


    Her hands fell away, and she snapped her fingers.


    CRACK!


    A small, hidden cubicle of ice shattered nearby.


    "You even tried casting a spell in my presence," she said curiously, "Now I really want to know... what makes you so confident?"


    Her eyes began to widen, and a faint blush rose to her cheeks.


    ''...Damn it. Another crazy bitch...''


    She leaned back into the sofa, her smile turning almost predatory.


    "...What gives you such confidence?" She suddenly moved her arm.


    "...Shit!"


    I immediately leaped back as a small fissure of space appeared before me without warning.


    A razor-thin distortion in the air that could have sliced me in two if I hadn''t leaped back just in time.


    "Ahaah..." Yara took a deep breath, inhaling loudly as the blush on her face seemed to increase, "how did you dodge that? Not even SS-level awakeners can do that!"


    "Gosh, Aestrea. You''re just so... fascinating... amazing... capable." a faint cloud of lust seemed to hover over her as she kept adding more and more compliments to me.


    Damn it.


    This crazy bitch also got interested in me?


    I only dodged that move of hers because of Lumi which warned me. Void and Space are complimentary, so she immediately senses something.


    Lumi being a gluttonous slime is really useful, not only can she absorb the racial traits, but the elements of the things she eats.


    No wonder people back then wanted to desperately eliminate her.


    "...Fuck!"


    Clang!


    Crack!


    I made a sword made of reinforced ice as I met the daggers of the previous rabit-masked lady.


    The impact made the ice break into small cracks before falling in pieces to the ground, but I quickly made another one, with more than 20% of my mana implanted in it.


    "Gosh... Aestrea, I''m so damn interested in you...haaugh..." She let out a seemingly lustful breath as she opened the palm of her hand towards me and continued...


    "Let''s make a deal," she said sweetly, "one I won''t break."


    Her hand extended toward me as if offering a gift.


    "If you defeat her, I''ll let you leave with the elf." Her voice lowered, her smile turning wicked. "But if you lose..."


    She closed the palm of her hands, that probably had my figure on it.


    "...You''re going to be mine."


    Her blush deepened with a voice that was soft but dangerously enticing.


    What the fuck is she thinking about?


    "...Also, you can only accept the deal, if not...


    "I''ll take you mine directly," her black eyes glowed a faint black smoke seeped out of them.


    This bitch...


    She knows that I am a swordsman and don''t have a suitable sword--- S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    I bit my lips looking at the rabbit-masked lady holding two daggers in her hand.


    "Oh, and one more thing," she added, her smile growing sharper. "Neither of you can use Mana or Aura."


    The lights in the room changed color and I noticed a faint pressure in the air. I tried to generate some kind of ice magic, but I couldn''.t


    That made me turn to the lights and noticed a faint smoke getting out of them.


    There was some kind of high-grade magic implemented on those lights, but I really couldn''t decipher the exact spell.


    But... if it''s a battle without using mana or aura, I am at a bit of a disadvantage, since I couldn''t even use my¡ºJudgement Eye ¡» to gauge her power and movements.


    Not to mention that all of my active skills needed mana, so I needed to defeat her with pure swordsmanship and strength which wasn''t my forte.


    I glanced at the rabbit-masked woman, her daggers gleaming as she shifted into a fighting stance.


    This was going to be rough.


    She took a few steps forward, before she leaned down, and moved.


    Clang!


    Her daggers collided with my blade, the impact sending a jolt up my arms. She was fast¡ªtoo fast.


    Her strikes came in quick, fluid combinations, one dagger reaching towards my neck while the other aimed for my ribs.


    Clink, clink, clink!


    I barely managed to parry the blows, my footing shaky as I staggered backward.


    "Ahahahah!" Yara''s laugh rang out from behind her glass of wine. "Look at you, Aestrea! You''re barely keeping up!"


    This bitch...


    Taking opportunity of my small distraction, the rabbit-masked woman lunged forward, one blade slicing toward my shoulder.


    I twisted my body, but the blade caught the edge of my suit.


    Sizzle!


    A sharp, ripping sound echoed in the room as the fabric tore apart.


    My eyes widened in horror.


    "Fuck... that''s an expensive suit!" I yelled, momentarily distracted.


    The rabbit-masked woman didn''t care. Her other dagger swept low, catching me just below the ribs.


    Shnk!


    The pain was instant, hot, and searing. Blood spattered onto the ground as I stumbled back, clutching my side.


    "Oh my, oh my¡­" Yara''s voice dripped with seemingly delight.


    "You''re bleeding already? And after she ruined that expensive suit of yours. What a tragedy!" She giggled, leaning forward eagerly.


    Fucking hell, just shut up already...


    The rabbit-masked woman gave me no time to recover. She closed the distance in an instant, spinning low before driving her heel into my stomach.


    Thud!


    The air was knocked out of me as I was sent flying backward. My body crashed into the wall with a sickening crack!


    The impact left a crater on the surface, dust, and debris raining down around me.


    I coughed violently, blood splattering onto the floor. My vision blurred for a moment, but I forced myself to focus.


    "She''s going to kill me at this rate," I muttered, struggling to stand.


    The rabbit-masked woman tilted her head, her silent demeanor was somehow more menacing than words.


    She didn''t hesitate, rushing me again.


    Clang!


    I raised my sword just in time to block her downward strike, but the force of the blow drove me to my knees.


    Her other dagger came swinging toward my neck, and I barely managed to duck.


    "You''re really something," Yara purred from the sidelines, her voice thick with excitement. "Most people wouldn''t last this long against her since her power is a bit higher than an S-rank awakened."


    "But you¡­ You''re full of surprises, Aestrea... sooo fascinating," she moaned slightly.


    This fucking sadist, can''t you fucking shut up?


    I pushed back with all my strength, forcing the rabbit-masked woman to stumble slightly. Taking advantage of the brief opening, I slashed upward with my ice sword.


    The blade grazed her mask, cracking it slightly.


    Yara gasped dramatically, clapping her hands together many times: "Ohhh, you almost got her! Look at that, a crack in her cute rabbit mask!"


    But, this small victory was short-lived.


    The rabbit-masked woman''s movements became more aggressive, as she swung her daggers even faster than before.


    She ducked low, sweeping my legs out from under me.


    Thump!


    I hit the ground hard, my head snapping back against the floor. Stars danced in my vision as she drove a dagger straight into my shoulder.


    Shnk!


    I turned to bite my arm to make sure that I wouldn''t scream, the pain was white-hot as blood gushed from the wound.


    Yara let out a shuddering breath, her cheeks flushed even more than before. "Mmm, look at you bleed¡­ So beautiful, Aestrea. You''re so captivating when you''re struggling..."


    "Shut¡­ up¡­" I growled through clenched teeth, forcing myself to roll away from the rabbit-masked woman''s next attack.


    I managed to get back on my feet, my ice sword trembling in my grip. Blood dripped steadily from my shoulder, staining the ground beneath me.


    However, the rabbit-masked girl wouldn''t let me breathe even for a moment.


    She lunged forward, her blades a blur of motion. I parried as best as I could, but her strikes were relentless.


    Slash!


    One of her daggers cut across my thigh, nearly buckling my leg. Another grazed my cheek, a thin line of blood welling up instantly.


    "She''s carving you up like a feast," Yara said, her voice trembling with giddy excitement. "You poor thing¡­ Do you even have anything left to fight with?"


    I ignored her, focusing on the rabbit-masked woman''s movements. She was fast, yes, but there was a pattern to her strikes.


    I just needed to hold on long enough to exploit it.


    But my body was failing me.


    Each movement sent pain shooting through my injuries.


    My breaths were shallow, and my vision grew hazy.


    The room spun as blood loss began to take its toll.


    Thud!


    She caught me off guard with a brutal kick to my chest, sending me crashing into the ground again.


    Crack!


    The impact knocked the wind out of me, and I felt something in my ribs give way. I tried to push myself up, but she was already on me.


    Shnk!


    Her dagger pierced my side, and I let out a strangled cry. Blood pooled beneath me, the metallic scent thick in the air.


    Fuck...


    I was really going to die if this continued on.

 Chapter 46 The Moonlight Swordsman (XII)

    "Haah... gah... aha..."


    I struggled to my feet, my legs trembling beneath me. Blood dripped from the various gashes on my body, pooling beneath me as I stood.


    My ice sword hung loosely in my grip, the once-sharp blade chipped and dull from the relentless attacks at it.


    "Oh, look at you," Yara''s voice came, dripping with excitement.


    She clapped her hands together like a giddy child. "Barely standing, bleeding out, and yet still so¡­ defiant. How absolutely exquisite."


    Can''t she fucking shut up?


    Of course, I didn''t respond.


    I couldn''t waste my energy on her taunts.


    My focus was entirely on the rabbit-masked woman, who stood a few feet away and slowly walked towards me with her daggers.


    "Haa..." I steadied my breathing, though each inhale sent a sharp pain through my ribs.


    The rabbit-masked woman tilted her head, almost curiously, before she moved again.


    She was fast¡ªfaster than before.


    Her daggers glinted in the crimson light as she closed the distance between us in an instant.


    Clang!


    Our weapons collided, the sound echoing through the room. The impact sent another jolt of pain through my arms, even worse than before.


    My arms felt pretty weak as if I couldn''t muster any strength.


    Then, she continued, her daggers coming in rapid succession, each one aimed to wound or kill me.


    Clink, clink!


    I barely managed to parry them, my movements sluggish compared to hers.


    "You''re slowing down, Aestrea..." Yara spoke in a sultry voice, "At this rate, you are going to lose, and belong to me~"


    ''Ignore her.''


    I focused on the rabbit-masked woman''s movements to find an opening. But she gave me none.


    Ssssht!


    One of her daggers sliced across my thigh, the blade cutting deep. I hissed in pain, my leg nearly giving out beneath me.


    She didn''t stop.


    Another strike came for my shoulder, and I barely managed to twist out of the way.


    Clink, clink!


    Her blades scraped against my ice sword, sparks flying from the impact.


    "How long do you think you can keep this up, Aestrea?" Yara''s voice was practically a moan. "Your body''s breaking down, yet you refuse to fall. It''s¡­ intoxicating."


    My grip on the ice sword tightened as I blocked another flurry of strikes.


    But then¡­ she feinted.


    Her left dagger came low, slicing across my leg, while her right drove into my stomach.


    Shnk!


    The pain was blinding. I staggered back, clutching the wound as blood spilled over my hands.


    My vision blurred for a moment, and I nearly fell to my knees.


    The rabbit-masked woman didn''t give me time to recover. She lunged forward, her daggers aimed at my chest.


    Thud!


    I was thrown to the ground, the impact knocking the air out of me.


    Before I could move, she was on me.


    One dagger plunged into my thigh, pinning me in place.


    "Agh!" I bit back a scream, my hands clawing at the floor as pain radiated through my body.


    She didn''t stop. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Her other dagger came down, stabbing into my leg again and again.


    Shnk! Shnk! Shnk!


    Blood splattered across the floor, the metallic scent thick in the air.


    My vision darkened...


    "Oh, Aestrea¡­" Yara''s voice was soft, almost tender. "Look at you. Bleeding, broken, yet still¡­ alive. You''re magnificent."


    "However... it seems that you have lost..."


    She added although I couldn''t really register her words.


    My vision started getting blurrier, as I could only feel the heat from my blood.


    ''Fuck...''


    ''Not like this...''


    The rabbit-masked lady stood on top of me, with her buttocks on my chest as she then looked at Yara, to seek confirmation from her.


    My body felt weak.


    I couldn''t use magic.


    Or aura.


    There was nothing I could do.


    ''I''m really going to die...''


    Ahh...


    I wasn''t going to let that happen.


    Even if I lose a limb.


    I gripped my ice sword tightly and then stabbed into my thigh...


    "Uagh..."


    I groaned in pain as I saw Yara''s eyes widen slightly at my actions, even the rabbit-masked woman seemed surprised.


    Then, my eyes snapped wide as I felt a shot of adrenaline running down my spine. I grabbed her arm and threw her away from me.


    Tap...!


    She stumbled back, and I used the moment to get to my feet. My legs shook, and I could barely stand, but I refused to fall.


    "Ahaa..."


    My breaths came in ragged gasps as my red eyes started glowing slightly, and then, I started staggering forward.


    "Oh? What is this?" Yara leaned forward with excitement splattered in her eyes.


    The rabbit-masked woman hesitated, her daggers poised as she watched me.


    My steps were uneven, almost aimless, but something was unsettling about the way I moved.


    I raised my ice sword as I closed the distance between us.


    But, the rabbit-masked woman attacked first, her daggers slicing through the air.


    Clang! Clink! Clang!


    I deflected every strike, it was as if my body knew what to do, reacting without thought. Her attacks became more desperate, her strikes faster, but none of them landed.


    "Impossible," she muttered in deep frustration.


    For the first time, she spoke.


    But her words didn''t matter.


    I was already countering.


    My sword moved with almost eerie grace, slicing through her defenses.


    Shnk!


    The tip of my sword grazed her arm, drawing blood. She hissed in pain, her movements faltering.


    I didn''t stop.


    Another strike came, cutting across her chest and shattering the remains of her mask.


    Crack!


    The mask fell away, revealing her face.


    Blonde hair spilled out, framing sharp blue eyes that burned with determination.


    She was beautiful, but I didn''t care.


    "Damn it..." she muttered.


    The rabbit-masked woman¡ªno, the blonde-haired woman now¡ªstaggered back, her blue eyes glaring at me.


    Blood dripped from the shallow cuts I had left on her chest and arm, staining the floor beneath her.


    "Haa¡­ haa¡­" My breaths were ragged, my chest heaving, but I wasn''t done.


    I gripped my ice sword tightly, the cold blade steady in my hand as I took a step forward. Each movement sent jolts of pain through my battered body, but I didn''t care.


    She lunged at me, her daggers flashing in the crimson light.


    Clang! Clink!


    The first dagger came at my left side¡ªI deflected it easily, pushing her arm wide. The second followed immediately, aimed at my shoulder.


    Clink!


    I shifted my weight and parried, forcing her back.


    She growled, frustration etched across her face as her movements became faster, more erratic.


    She tried to overwhelm me with speed.


    Shing! Clang! Clink! Clink!


    Each attack was deflected, it was as if my body no longer hesitated, and every muscle started working in perfect sync.


    And that''s when I remember one time when this also happened.


    I entered the state called: "Unity of Sword and Man".


    When I was about to die, my mana reserves were at high time low. And as I felt a shot of adrenaline in my body, I simply let my body move itself, by instincts...


    ''Ah... this feels liberating.''


    I stepped in close, closing the gap between us. She slashed wildly, her daggers aiming for my throat.


    Swish!


    I ducked under the strike and drove the hilt of my sword into her stomach.


    Thud!


    She gasped, her body doubling over as the air was knocked from her lungs.


    I didn''t let up, feeling the wind caused by my fast movements hit my face.


    Raising my sword, I brought it down in a heavy arc.


    Shnk!


    She barely managed to block with one dagger, the force of the blow sending her stumbling back.


    Her other dagger darted forward, aiming for my chest.


    Clang!


    I twisted my wrist, redirecting the blade away from my body. My counterattack was swift¡ªa horizontal slash aimed at her midsection.


    Shhhk!


    She jumped back, but not fast enough. The edge of my sword caught her side, cutting through her clothes and drawing blood.


    "Tch!" She hissed, clutching at the wound.


    I advanced again and immediately, she tried to create distance, but I didn''t let her.


    Her dagger came up in a desperate thrust aimed at my heart.


    Swish!


    I sidestepped, letting the blade pass harmlessly by me, and brought my knee up into her ribs.


    Thud!


    She cried out, stumbling back. Her footing faltered, and I took the opening.


    My ice sword came down in a diagonal slash.


    Shhk!


    The blade bit into her shoulder, blood spraying from the wound. Her dagger clattered to the floor as her arm went limp.


    "Aghh!"


    She staggered, her blue eyes wide with pain and shock.


    I didn''t stop.


    Raising my sword, I struck again.


    Shnk! Shnk!


    Two quick slashes opened up more cuts on her arms and legs. She fell to one knee, her breathing ragged.


    Her remaining dagger trembled in her grip as she tried to raise it, but I kicked it from her hand.


    Clatter!


    The weapon skidded across the floor, leaving her defenseless.


    I could kill her directly, but somehow, I didn''t want to.


    I wanted her to feel pain, so I paused, and spoke coldly:


    "Get up."


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    The blonde-haired woman knelt on the bloodstained floor, her chest heaving as she struggled to catch her breath.


    Her body trembled, fresh cuts lining her arms and legs, blood pooling beneath her.


    "Get up."


    The voice was cold, cutting through the air like a sword.


    Aestrea stood over her, his blood-red eyes glowing with an unnatural intensity.


    His chipped ice sword rested at his side, blood dripping from its edge.


    Then, the woman''s head snapped up, her blue eyes locking with his.


    And then it hit her¡ªa crushing, suffocating fear.


    Her heart pounded wildly in her chest, her breath quickening as if the air itself was too heavy to inhale.


    Every nerve in her body screamed for her to run, but her legs wouldn''t move.


    Every muscle locked as his glowing eyes pierced her, cold and merciless. There was no anger in them¡ªjust a chilling hunger, the look of a predator.


    Her hands shook uncontrollably as she reached for the daggers she had dropped. Her fingers fumbled over the hilts, slick with blood and sweat.


    "Move," she whispered to herself, forcing her body to obey.


    She gripped her daggers tightly and pushed herself to her feet, swaying as her knees threatened to give out.


    Her fear bubbled over into desperation, and she lunged forward with a scream, her blades flashing in the dim light.


    Clang!


    Aestrea''s ice sword met her attack effortlessly, deflecting both of her daggers with a single movement.


    The woman spun, slashing low toward his legs.


    Swish!


    He stepped back, letting her blade slice through empty air.


    "Too slow," Aestrea said mockingly in boredom.


    Just a few moments ago, he was the one suffering, but now...


    The tables had turned.


    Hearing his words, the blonde-haired woman clenched her teeth tightly, throwing herself at him again.


    Clang! Shnk!


    Each strike was blocked or parried as her movements grew more frantic. Her left dagger aimed for his side.


    Clink!


    Aestrea caught her arm mid-swing and twisted it.


    "Ahh!" she cried out as the dagger fell from her hand.


    She tried to retaliate with her right blade, aiming for his neck.


    Swish!


    He ducked, closing the distance between them in an instant.


    Thud!


    His knee drove into her stomach for the second time, forcing the air from her lungs. She staggered back, clutching her abdomen, but Aestrea didn''t let up.


    Shnk!


    His sword slashed across her thigh, making her stumble.


    Shhk!


    Another strike landed on her shoulder, cutting deep.


    It looked like he was giving her the injuries that he had received, attacking the same position that she did earlier.


    And it was working.


    The woman''s movements became sluggish, her attacks grew weaker with each passing second. She swung her remaining dagger in a wide arc, desperate to keep him at bay.


    Clang!


    Aestrea''s sword shattered her last defense, the dagger flying from her hand.


    "Enough."


    He raised his ice sword high, bringing it down.


    Shnk!


    The blade stopped just short of her neck, the cold edge hovering against her skin. She froze, her entire body trembling as tears welled in her wide blue eyes.


    "...Pathetic," Aestrea muttered, his eyes glowing more intensely than ever.


    A faint drip of blood escaped the blonde woman''s neck, as her body quivered in deep fear; she couldn''t even meet his gaze.


    The room fell silent, save for the woman''s ragged breathing.


    But then, behind them, Yara clapped slowly with a faint smile on her lips.


    "Bravo!" she purred.


    "What a show... you were divine... fascinating." Her grin widened as she stepped forward, her eyes glowing with delight.


    She didn''t seem to care that her subordinate was injured.


    The blonde-haired woman collapsed to her knees, her strength finally giving out. Blood pooled beneath her as she stared blankly at the floor, her body trembling uncontrollably.


    Yara tilted her head, watching the defeated woman with mock pity.


    "Such a shame that she lost..." Yara muttered softly before her lips curled into a sly smile as she turned her attention to Aestrea.


    "It''s a pity that you won''t belo¡ª"


    "¡ªThe elf." Aestrea cut her off coldly.


    Yara''s grin widened at his words.


    She snapped her fingers, and then, one of the walls of the room suddenly opened, revealing the high elf which had a completely shocked expression on her face.


    "Oh my~," Yara softly whispered into Aestrea''s ear.


    Aestrea didn''t even notice her approaching him but kept quiet as he stared at the elf.


    "It seems that you made quite a self-presentation for the elf," she laughed softly.


    Aestrea ignored her and walked up to the elf, with blood dripping from his clothes.


    "Let''s go..." he extended his hand.


    The high elf''s gaze lingered on his outstretched hand, her lips parting as if to say something. After a brief hesitation, she nodded, reaching out to take it.


    Her delicate fingers closed around his bloodied hand, the sticky warmth staining her pale skin.


    Then, both of them walked away from there...


    "Don''t worry, my cute Aestrea!" Yara suddenly spoke from the distance.


    "I''ll come back for you!"


    Aestrea''s brow twitched, a vein pulsing in his forehead at her parting words.


    But he didn''t look back.


    He simply shook his head and kept walking, guiding the high elf out of the black market.


    The moment they stepped outside, a familiar voice called out.


    "AESTREA!"


    Christina came running toward them, her face pale with worry.


    Her eyes widened in horror at the sight of Aestrea''s torn and bloodied figure, his injuries far worse than she had imagined.


    "Aestrea¡­ You''re¡ª"


    Seeing Christina, Aestrea smiled softly, interrupting her words.


    "...Take care of me..."


    Before Christina could respond, his legs buckled. His body fell forward, and she caught him just in time, her arms wrapping around his battered form.


    "Aestrea? Aestrea!"


    Panic filled her voice as she shook him gently.


    "AESTREA!"


    But it was too late.


    His body went limp in her arms, his consciousness slipping away as the toll of his wounds finally overwhelmed him.

 Chapter 47 The Moonlight Swordsman (XIII)

    I woke up to the sound of faint chanting.


    The room smelled clean, like herbs and incense, with a hint of something sweet. My body felt heavy like I had been buried under a pile of stones.


    When I tried to move, a sharp pain shot through my chest, forcing me to stop.


    "Ah¡­" I groaned softly, my throat dry and my voice raspy.


    The ceiling above me was high and arched, made of polished stone, and intricately carved with angels and flowers.


    A faint golden glow came from the stained glass windows, casting soft patterns on the walls.


    It didn''t take long to realize where I was.


    "The cathedral¡­"


    It took a moment for my vision to adjust, and when it did, the sight of familiar golden hair greeted me.


    Christina was sitting by the bedside, her hands clasped tightly together as she stared at me with teary eyes.


    "Aestrea!" she exclaimed, her voice trembling with relief.


    Before I could even think, she leaned forward and wrapped her arms around me, pulling me into a gentle hug.


    Her embrace was warm, comforting¡­ but also painful.


    "Ugh¡­" I groaned softly, the sound escaping before I could stop it.


    The Saintess froze.


    Her grip loosened immediately, and she pulled back, her face pale with worry.


    "Oh no! Did I hurt you?"


    "A bit..."


    Despite the throbbing pain in my body, I couldn''t stop myself from sighing.


    Her expression softened, but her cheeks remained flushed, probably because of the tears welling up in her eyes.


    "You scared me, you know. When you collapsed like that, I thought¡­" She shook her head, biting her lip as if trying to hold back tears.


    I glanced down at myself.


    My torso was wrapped tightly in white bandages, and I could feel the faint hum of healing magic lingering in my body.


    The pain was dull now, more of a nagging ache than the sharp agony I remembered.


    Gosh...


    I really went over the limit...


    "...So I guess... you healed me once again?" I offered her a small smile.


    Christina nodded quickly.


    "Of course. You were¡­ you were in a terrible state, Aestrea." Her hands hovered uncertainly in the air before she clenched them into fists.


    "I did everything I could."


    "Thank you, Saintess..." I muttered softly.


    For a moment, silence hung between us. Then, she took a shaky breath and reached out again, this time more cautiously.


    "Does it hurt too much if I¡­" Her voice trailed off as her hand gently brushed against mine.


    I shook my head. "It''s fine."


    She smiled, though the worry didn''t quite leave her eyes. "Good. You should rest more. You''re not fully healed yet, and¡ª"


    "Christina," I interrupted softly, cutting through her fussing.


    She looked at me, startled.


    "I''m fine. Really."


    Her lips pressed into a thin line, clearly unconvinced. But instead of arguing, she simply nodded, leaning back in her chair.


    "...What about the elf?" I asked curiously.


    Christina tilted her head slightly, a soft smile playing on her lips.


    "Alaine? Oh, she''s fine. Actually¡­" She hesitated, her eyes darting toward the door before returning to me.


    "She slept here for three days, looking after you."


    "THREE DAYS?!" I exclaimed, the shock making me abruptly sit up.


    Terrible idea.


    Pain shot through my body like lightning, and I immediately regretted the movement.


    "Agh¡­!" I groaned, clutching my side as the ache flared up again.


    Christina gasped, her hands hovering over me in a panic. "Aestrea! Stop moving! You''re not healed yet!"


    I gritted my teeth, lying back against the pillows as carefully as I could.


    "I''m fine," I muttered, though the sweat on my brow probably said otherwise.


    Christina wasn''t having it.


    She pressed her hands gently against my chest, the warm glow of healing magic radiating from her fingertips.


    "You''re stubborn, you know that?" she said softly, her voice tinged with frustration.


    I mumbled, too tired to argue.


    "Also, I contacted the academy for you, so don''t worry about it," she added, her tone dipping into guilt. "I was the one who asked you for a favor, after all."


    "Ah¡­ Just repay what you owe me, and I''m fine." I closed my eyes, letting the heaviness of the moment settle over me.


    The room was silent for a moment, but then...


    The faint rustle of her robes made me crack one eye open. Saintess Christina was fidgeting in her seat, her face flushed.


    "...What is it?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.


    "C-Can''t we do it now¡­?" she stammered, a rush of heat creeping up to her cheeks.


    "What can we do now?" I tilted my head, puzzled.


    "You know¡­" Her voice grew softer, her face reddening further. "That favor."


    "Ah!" My eyes lit up.


    "You already prepared the money for me?"


    "Y-yea¡ªwait, money?" she spluttered, her expression switching to confusion.


    "Yeah¡­ Although I didn''t say it outright, I think it was pretty obvious it was money I wanted, no?" I tilted my head innocently.


    Christina froze, her lips slightly parted as her mind seemed to rewind to the conversation we had before our meetup at the black market.


    ...


    "Don''t worry, Saintess. I''ll handle it. But after this, you''ll owe me a proper reward. Something stacked... soft¡­ warm¡­ and nice to hold," Aestrea spoke through the phone.


    The memory of his words made her cheeks burn as her mind filled with all sorts of embarrassing thoughts.


    In the present, Christina''s eyes widened as her hand flew to cover her mouth.


    ...


    "I¡­" She blinked rapidly, her hands fidgeting in her lap.


    "You meant¡­ a check of money?"


    "Of course," I replied matter-of-factly.


    "What else would I have meant?"


    Christina let out a small squeak, her hands flying to her face to cover her deepening blush.


    "Y-You''re impossible!" she muttered, half embarrassed and half exasperated.


    What was she thinking about?


    But then, as soon as I recalled my words, my lips curled into a faint smile.


    "Did you perhaps think that I wanted to touch your breas¡ª!"


    "¡ªStop! Don''t say it!"


    Grabbing one of my pillows, she covered her reddened face, if this was an anime, there was probably smoke coming out of her head.


    I couldn''t help but chuckle softly, though the slight pain in my chest reminded me to keep it low.


    Her flustered state, though, was almost worth the trouble.


    The mature Saintess now seemed like a cute cat.


    Knock, knock...!


    Taking the chance, the Saintess abruptly stood up and went to get the door. She opened it, and immediately left the room, leaving me dumbfounded.


    Was she that embarrassed?


    As soon as Christina left, I let out a tired sigh and closed my eyes, hoping for some peace and quiet.


    But just as I was starting to relax, I heard the faint sound of the door closing.


    I opened my eyes.


    Swip.


    A figure stepped into the room, her golden hair swaying gently with each step as her emerald green eyes met mine.


    It was the high elf I had saved three days ago.


    She was no longer the disheveled, malnourished woman I had saved. She now wore a simple white one-piece dress that fit her form gracefully.


    Her once gaunt frame was now fuller, her curves subtle but noticeable, though not as prominent as Christina''s.


    Her skin was flawless, practically glowing with a healthy radiance, and her sharp features seemed to have been sculpted by the hands of a master artist.


    Her long, delicate ears twitched slightly, peeking out from beneath her hair.


    But despite her beauty, I wasn''t surprised at all.


    "Ah... it''s you," I muttered softly.


    She hesitated for a moment, standing there awkwardly. Her hands fidgeted with the hem of her dress as if she didn''t know what to do.


    Then, to my surprise, she walked closer, stopping just a few steps from the bed.


    Before I could say anything, she dropped to her knees.


    "T-Thank you for saving me¡­!" she said, her voice trembling.


    Her head lowered until her forehead touched the ground, her golden hair spilling over her shoulders and pooling on the floor.


    Her long ears stuck out, quivering slightly.


    "Ah..."


    I blinked, completely caught off guard.


    Then she spoke again, her words coming in a rushed manner.


    "T-The least I can do is become your servant! S-So please, p-please accept me!"


    I stared at her, dumbfounded.


    Was she serious?


    This was a high elf, a race known for their arrogance and pride. They were always looking down on humans, seeing themselves as superior beings.


    And yet here she was, bowing so low her forehead might as well be glued to the floor.


    "Are you... being serious?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.


    "Yes! I swear to serve you with my life!" Her reply came quickly, and she didn''t even move as well keeping the same kneeling posture.


    I sighed, leaning back against the pillows.


    My body was still aching, and dealing with this kind of drama was the last thing I wanted right now.


    "Look," I started, rubbing the bridge of my nose, "I don''t need a servant. I just did what anyone would do."


    ''Besides, Christina was the one that wanted to save you, and even invited me to the auction where you were held, why don''t you be her servant instead?''


    I wanted to say, but seeing her desperate expression made me swallow those words.


    "That''s not true!" she said, lifting her head slightly to look at me. Her emerald eyes shimmered with emotion.


    "No one else would''ve done what you did! You saved me when no one else would¡­ you risked your life for me!"


    "Yeah, and now I''m lying here with half my body wrapped in bandages," I muttered, gesturing vaguely at myself.


    Her face dropped lightly as guilt flashed in her eyes: "That''s why¡­ that''s why I have to repay you! I owe you my life!"


    I groaned softly, turning my head away: "Look, just take care of yourself and move on. You don''t owe me anything."


    "But I do!" she insisted, sitting up straight.


    Her voice seemed to only grow more desperate. "You saved me from a fate worse than death. I can''t just walk away and pretend that didn''t happen!"


    I glanced back at her, my eyebrows furrowing.


    "You don''t need to stick around and call yourself a servant or anything like that. Just¡­ live your life. That''s good enough for me."


    She immediately shook her head upon hearing my words, her golden hair swaying as she turned her head.


    "No! I won''t feel right unless I stay by your side! Please, let me serve you!"


    I let out another sigh, running a hand through my hair.


    This was going nowhere.


    "Do you even know what you''re asking for?" I said, my voice sharper this time. "Being a servant isn''t just some casual thing you can throw yourself into. It''s hard work, and honestly, it''s more of a pain than anything else."


    "I don''t care," she said firmly.


    "I''ll do anything! I''ll clean, cook, fight¡ªwhatever you need, I''ll do it!"


    Hearing her last remarks, I once again tried to make a line between us.


    "Even I asked you for sexual needs...?"


    Her face turned beef red in an instant, her emerald eyes widening in shock. Her lips parted slightly, but no sound came out for a moment. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I-I¡­" she stammered, her voice was barely above a whisper.


    She glanced away, her long ears twitching nervously.


    For a moment, I thought that would be enough to end her insistence, that she''d finally reconsider her bold declaration to be my servant.


    But to my surprise, she straightened her back, clenched her fists tightly, and looked me directly in the eyes.


    "I¡­ I would do that too," she said softly but firmly, her face still flushed. "If that''s what it takes to repay my debt to you, then¡­ then I''ll accept it."


    I stared at her, completely caught off guard.


    This woman was either incredibly stubborn, completely insane, or both.


    "Are you serious?"


    I couldn''t help but ask in complete disbelief.


    Was she really a high elf?


    She nodded, her gaze unwavering despite her obvious embarrassment. "Yes. I owe you my life, and I''ll do whatever it takes to repay you."


    I let out a long sigh, rubbing my temples.


    This wasn''t going at all how I''d expected.


    I stared at her, looking at her flushed face with a neutral expression.


    For a long moment, neither of us spoke.


    Then, with a heavy sigh, I closed my eyes.


    "Fine..."


    Her ears twitched, and she leaned forward slightly.


    "What¡­?"


    "I said fine," I repeated, opening my eyes to glare at her.


    "If you''re so determined to throw your pride away and follow me around, I won''t stop you. But don''t expect me to go easy on you."


    Her face lit up in immediate joy:


    "Thank you! Thank you so much!"


    I frowned, my eyebrows knitting together: "Don''t thank me yet. You''ll probably regret this decision sooner rather than later."


    She shook her head vigorously.


    "I won''t! I promise I won''t!"


    I sighed again, leaning back against the pillows.


    First, a gluttonous slime... and now...


    A high elf?


    What had I just gotten myself into?

 Chapter 48 The Moonlight Swordsman (XIV)

    "Haaa... huff.. agh..."


    Step, step, step...!


    "Hah... I''m done..."


    ¡º Cleanse (? Basic Magic ?)¡»


    A soft glow surrounded me as the spell activated, cleaning away the sweat and grime from my body.


    "I''m done for today¡­" I muttered, rolling my neck to ease the stiffness.


    Then, I cast the spell ¡ºCleanse¡» again, just to feel fresher.


    I''d been staying at the cathedral for a few days now, recovering. But even if I was still healing, I couldn''t slack off.


    I had already lost weeks of training, and I could feel it.


    My stamina wasn''t what it used to be¡ªnot bad, but not at my peak.


    This wasn''t "real" training, more like my daily routine to maintain what I had left.


    A simple run of 25 kilometers, followed by 500 push-ups, sit-ups, and squats. All while wearing 250 kilograms of weights strapped to my body.


    Thud!


    I unstrapped the weights and dropped them to the ground. The lightness that followed was a welcome relief, almost like I could fly.


    "Master, I brought you water."


    I turned to see Alaine approaching, carrying a bottle of water in her hands.


    "Ah¡­ thanks."


    Taking the bottle, I gulped down a mouthful and let out a refreshed sigh.


    But as I glanced at her again, my eyes widened.


    "W-why¡­ are you wearing a maid outfit?"


    Alaine smiled warmly, doing a little twirl as if showing off her attire.


    "Isn''t this what servants usually wear?" she asked, tilting her head, her expression innocent as she looked down at the outfit.


    "Good grief¡­" I sighed, rubbing my temples.


    "Fine, wear whatever you want."


    Knowing from previous experiences that she would probably convince me in some way, I didn''t even bother to tell her to stop wearing those clothes.


    "Also¡­ don''t you feel weird not having your long ears?" I asked, my gaze shifting to her hair, now a rich brown color instead of her usual golden locks.


    Her green eyes were now a dark brown.


    "Not really," she replied, tilting her head again and placing a finger to her lips as if in thought.


    The Eternum Royal Academy accepted a single servant for each student, and, of course, I could have one too.


    But since Alaine was a high elf, I couldn''t allow her to show up with her long ears and reveal her identity, so I spent my only platinum coin buying an artifact that changed her appearance.


    Unfortunately, the Saintess still didn''t give me my money, so it took a huge toll on me to buy it.


    "Master Aestrea, would you like a massage?" Alaine asked, stepping behind me as I sat on a bench in the academy''s training grounds.


    Her delicate hands rested lightly on my shoulders.


    "Sure¡­" I sighed, leaning back slightly.


    My body was still a bit heavy from the injuries despite Christina''s god-like healing abilities.


    Not to mention that even though she said for me to take a break, I simply denied her words and started training my body once again.


    I need to quickly advance my ranks and get stronger...


    Lucas and the heroines in this world had their easy power-ups handed to them, but me...? I don''t have any kind of luck.


    And my damned system doesn''t even show anything except my status windows, and that future prediction from a few weeks ago or a month...


    Time passes fast...


    "Is this enough strength?" she asked as she kept putting strength on her delicate hands to massage my shoulders.


    "Yeah, that''s perfect..." I muttered, feeling some of the tension ease slightly.


    In just a week or so, the first event of the Eternum Royal Academy is going to happen. The teacher reminded us earlier today.


    The Snow Festival!


    Yeah...


    I''m not really ready for that, especially since we''re obligated to participate.


    At the festival, we''re going to do plenty of activities, such as playing Mana Football, Mana Rugby, and even a love minigame.


    Students were required to participate in at least five activities, and while there were plenty of options, I wasn''t exactly thrilled about any of them.


    About them...


    I''ll probably choose Mana Volleyball, Football... and the other three...


    ...I wasn''t entirely sure.


    "Thanks, that felt great," I said, tapping her hand lightly as I rolled my shoulders.


    The stiffness had eased significantly.


    "Anything for you, Master."


    Alaine grabbed the hem of her maid outfit and bowed slightly, her movements graceful and elegant as always.


    Damn it¡­


    Her words and actions could easily lead to misunderstandings, the kind I didn''t have the patience to deal with.


    But then again, it was her choice to act this way, so who was I to stop her?


    "Now¡­" I began, stretching out my arms.


    "How about a sparring match?"


    Alaine blinked in surprise.


    After I removed the slave mark from her body, her sealed powers had been lifted. And now, she was nothing less than a high S-rank.


    As expected of a High Elf¡­


    "Mhm." She didn''t hesitate, giving me a prompt nod.


    With that, I moved a few meters away, ensuring there was enough distance between us for a proper spar.


    The training grounds at the academy were spacious, and designed for combat practice and magical exercises.


    There were also protective barriers around the area ensuring that even intense battles wouldn''t cause damage outside.


    "Don''t hold back, Alaine. I want to see what you''re really capable of now."


    "Understood, Master," she replied calmly.


    Her hands moved to her sides, summoning twin daggers with an elegant flourish. The faint glow of mana coated the blades, shimmering like moonlight.


    Alright... let''s see how rusty I am...


    "Ready?"


    "Always."


    Swoop!


    In the next breath, we launched ourselves at each other, the sound of clashing steel echoing across the training ground.


    Alaine was faster than I anticipated, her movements a blur as she struck with her twin daggers.


    I barely managed to parry her first blow, the impact sending a slight tremor through my arm.


    Damn, she''s fast.


    Sliding back a step, I channeled mana into my sword, the blade glowing faintly with an icy blue hue.


    With a sharp inhale, I slashed forward, sending a thin crescent of frost shooting toward her.


    ¡º Ice Wave (? 1st-Level Spell ?)¡»


    The wave of frost carved through the air, leaving a trail of cold mist.


    Alaine didn''t falter, with a graceful spin, she used her daggers to deflect the magic, the wind swirling around her in a protective barrier.


    Swish!


    The frost scattered harmlessly as she leaped back, landing softly on her feet. Her calm eyes narrowed slightly, the only indication she took me seriously.


    Then, Alaine raised her hand, and with a faint hum, her daggers disappeared, replaced by a sleek longbow that materialized out of thin air.


    "Let''s see how you handle this," she said, pulling back the string of her bow. An arrow formed, shimmering with green energy.


    She let it loose.


    Whoosh!


    The wind-imbued arrow sliced through the air, heading straight for me.


    I sidestepped quickly, but she was already firing another, her hands moving with impossible speed.


    Whoosh! Whoosh!


    The second arrow grazed my shoulder, a sting of pain searing through me as it cut through my shirt.


    ¡º Ice Barricade (? 2nd-Level Spell ?)¡»


    I raised my hand, and a thick wall of ice erupted in front of me, blocking her next volley of arrows. The sound of impact echoed as the projectiles shattered against the frozen barrier.


    This time, I was focusing on actually using magic since I had been too focused on my own sword art.


    I still needed to train magic after all.


    But Alaine wasn''t done.


    She dashed forward, her speed impressive, and vaulted over the ice wall with ease. As she descended, she nocked another arrow and fired it at point-blank range.


    Whoosh!


    I barely managed to duck, the arrow flying past my head. Taking advantage of her close range, I swung my sword upward in a wide arc.


    ¡º Second Move! (? Moonlit Frost Barrage ?)¡»


    Multiple crescent-shaped waves of ice shot from my blade, glowing faintly like the moonlight.


    Upon seeing it, Alaine''s eyes widened slightly, and she twisted her body mid-air, narrowly avoiding the attack.


    The icy wave hit the ground behind her, freezing a small section of the training ground in an instant.


    "Woah..." she looked surprised at my attack.


    "That technique... is quite powerful." she raised an eyebrow.


    I didn''t exactly reply to her words as I finally decided to use one of my trump cards.


    ¡º Judgement Eye (? S-Level Skill ?) ¡»


    The world around me sharpened, every movement of hers becoming crystal clear.


    Her breathing, the shift in her weight, even the faint hesitation before her next attack¡ªI saw it all.


    I dashed toward her, my sword trailing frost as I aimed a slash at her side. She blocked with her bow, the clash sending a shockwave through the air.


    Clang!


    Sliding my sword along her bow, I forced her to retreat a step. Using the opening, I thrust forward, aiming for her shoulder.


    But she wasn''t going to make it easy.


    With a quick burst of wind magic, she propelled herself backward, gaining distance.


    ¡º Wind Series: Wind Step (? 2nd-Level Spell ?) ¡»


    She murmured, and immediately, the spell amplified her speed.


    I clicked my tongue in frustration, watching as she nocked another arrow. This time, the energy swirling around it was more concentrated, crackling faintly with power.


    "Try dodging this, Master."


    She released the arrow, and as it flew toward me, it split into multiple smaller projectiles.


    Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!


    I swung my sword in a wide arc, deflecting as many as I could, but a few slipped through, grazing my arms and legs.


    The pain was sharp but manageable.


    Gritting my teeth, I raised my free hand.


    ¡º Mixed Ice Series: Ice Bind (? 3rd-Level Spell ?)¡»!


    The ground beneath her feet froze instantly, ice climbing up her legs in an attempt to lock her in place.


    But Alaine reacted quickly.


    ¡º Wind Series: Gale Burst (? 4th-Level Spell ?) ¡»


    A powerful gust of wind exploded around her, shattering the ice and pushing me back a few steps.


    I skidded to a stop, digging my heels into the ground to steady myself.


    "Haah..." I let out a cold breath, looking into her eyes.


    My eyes locked into her movements, and seeing the coursing flow of mana, I could see her next move before she made it.


    As expected, she jumped to the right, preparing to shoot another arrow. I dashed toward her, closing the gap before she could fire.


    Clang!


    She switched her bow back to daggers just in time to block my downward slash. The force of the impact pushed her back slightly, but she held her ground.


    I adjusted my grip on my sword and then swung it again.


    Clink!


    She parried with one dagger while slashing at my side with the other. I barely managed to twist my body and block her attack, but the force of it sent me sliding back a few steps.


    ''Fuck... daggers are so damned annoying. First I fought against that rabbit-masked lady, and now Alaine...''


    ''Let''s try another thing...''


    I muttered to myself before dashing forward.


    But as soon as I took the first step¡ª


    "AAGGH!"


    A sharp, searing pain shot through my body, like fire ripping through my muscles.


    My legs buckled, and I lost control of my footing. Staggering forward, I braced for impact with the ground.


    But instead of hitting the cold, hard dirt, I fell into something... incredibly soft.


    Squish.


    A strange, comforting warmth pressed against my face, enveloping me like a plush pillow. It was soft¡ªno, remarkably soft.


    The sensation was enough to make me freeze in place, my mind briefly blanking.


    "Master, are you okay?"


    The familiar, gentle voice of Alaine pulled me back to reality. I looked up to see her worried dark brown eyes staring down at me, her cheeks tinged with a faint pink.


    Oh no...


    It was then I realized where I''d landed. My face was buried deep into her chest¡ªher generously sized, undeniably squishy mellows.


    "I..." I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came out.


    "You''re still recovering, Master. You shouldn''t push yourself too hard," she said, her voice full of concern.


    Her hands gently rested on my shoulders as if to steady me, her warm, floral scent wafting into my nostrils.


    The faint fragrance was intoxicating, almost enough to make my already foggy mind lose its grip entirely.


    "Yeah, yeah," I muttered weakly, my voice muffled against her.


    "Let''s call it a day."


    I didn''t move right away.


    For some reason, staying there, resting my head against her soft, warm figure, felt... comforting.


    Even though every instinct screamed at me to pull away and act composed, my body betrayed me.


    Her chest rose and fell slightly with each breath she took, the motion noticeable against my cheek.


    I tried to focus on the distant sounds of the wind or the faint hum of mana in the air, but the softness and warmth against me were impossible to ignore.


    It was... almost too much.


    "Ah..."


    Her surprised gasp snapped me out of my trance.


    "Kyaa!"


    I''d instinctively grabbed her waist to push myself off her, but the sudden movement made her squeak in surprise.


    Her face instantly turned beet red, the color spreading all the way to her ears.


    "S-sorry," I muttered awkwardly, brushing the dust off my clothes as I stood.


    I averted my gaze, trying to ignore the growing heat in my own face.


    "It''s fine, Master," she replied softly, though her voice wavered.


    She adjusted her maid outfit with trembling hands, her eyes darting away from mine.


    I cleared my throat, trying to shake off the awkwardness.


    "Let''s go get something to eat..."


    I started walking towards the dining area.


    Alaine quickly nodded before following me. I could feel her gaze lingering on me, but I didn''t turn around.


    "Master?" her voice broke the silence behind me.


    "Yeah?" I replied without looking back.


    "N-nothing..."


    I was confused by her actions, but I thought that she simply might be embarrassed, so I shrugged it off.


    ''Haaa!''


    I suddenly felt a shiver running down my spine.


    ''Strange...''


    I didn''t feel cold at all.


    But unbeknownst to me, in the distance... Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    There was a peculiar shadow watching our interaction.

 Chapter 49 The Moonlight Swordsman (XV)

    The next day, I was attending Eleonora''s magic class.


    There was nothing special about it except the part where she explained flawlessly everything that she needed to explain.


    Her words were brief but consistent.


    And maybe because of the huge amount of questions that she would ask throughout the class, the students seemed to pay more attention to class.


    Turning back to the board, Eleonora parted her lips:


    "...Next is mana pathway stability. This requires you to understand the flow of mana within your body. If your pathways are obstructed or irregular, your incantations will reflect that. Does anyone know how to stabilize their mana pathways?"


    A girl sitting near the middle hesitated before raising her hand. "Um¡­ through consistent spellcasting and mana circulation exercises?"


    "Correct," Elenora said.


    "But there''s more to it. Mana stabilization also involves understanding your limits. Overloading your pathways can cause long-term damage, so don''t push yourself recklessly."


    Her gaze flickered over the class, pausing briefly on me as if to emphasize her point.


    Gosh...


    I know my limits, woman.


    I resisted the urge to roll my eyes.


    "Finally, consistent practice," she continued.


    "There''s no shortcut to mastering incantation speed. The more you practice, the more natural it becomes. It''s like muscle memory for mages."


    She paused, letting the information sink in before clapping her hands together.


    "Now... how about w¡ª!"


    ¡ªRIIIINGGG!


    My savior!


    The bell finally rang, signaling the end of class.


    It was lunchtime now.


    "Well... class dismissed," Elenora announced with a small sigh, her tone carrying a hint of reluctance.


    She looked like she was genuinely enjoying teaching today.


    I wasted no time reaching for my books and other belongings, but before I could grab them, another hand moved faster.


    "I''ll do it, Master," Alaine said softly, as she quickly gathered my things.


    In the blink of an eye, she tucked everything into her spatial ring.


    Having servants in class wasn''t unusual, but Alaine had little to do outside her role as my servant, so I brought her along.


    "Ah, Alaine!" I remembered something as I adjusted my coat. "Isn''t today your checkup with the Saintess?"


    She paused, blinking as if caught off guard. "Yes, but it''s not until 2 o''clock."


    "You should go now," I told her casually.


    "But, Master¡ª"


    "Just go," I cut her off, waving dismissively.


    "Also," I added, handing her my credit card, "buy yourself some food or clothes. I don''t mind. Just have fun, okay? You don''t need to come back right away."


    Her emerald eyes flickered with hesitation, and she opened her mouth to say something, but I didn''t give her the chance. Turning away, I started walking out of the classroom.


    "Master..." Alaine called after me softly.


    Yeah, ignoring her was the best way to get her to follow an order she didn''t like.


    I made my way toward the academy''s cafeteria. But the moment I stepped inside, my eyes widened in disbelief.


    It was surprisingly full.


    "Damn it..." I muttered under my breath, scratching my head in frustration.


    "Might as well get lunch outside."


    There was no way I was going to wait in line for who knows how long just to grab a meal. So, I turned back and headed for the exit.


    But as I made my way out, I wasn''t exactly paying attention to where I was going.


    Thud...!


    So, I bumped into someone.


    "Could this day get any worse?"


    I grumbled, glancing down at the person I''d accidentally bumped into.


    "Fuck..." A voice from the ground hissed angrily.


    I froze.


    Of all people...


    It had to be fucking him.


    "Who the fuck bumped into me?" he spat coldly.


    He pushed himself off the floor, his dark brown eyes narrowing into sharp slits filled with hatred as soon as he saw me.


    The moment his gaze met mine, I could almost feel the air around us heat up. His jaw clenched, his fists tightening at his sides as if he was holding himself back¡ªbarely.


    It was Telmo, Ella''s loyal little lapdog.


    "...It''s you..." he snarled.


    "Fucking BASTARD!!"


    Without warning, he spun around, aiming a surprise kick at my legs.


    I barely had time to react, leaping a few meters back to avoid the strike.


    "The fuck is your problem?!" I shouted, glaring at him.


    "You''re the damned problem!" he growled, his voice cold as ice but carrying the heat of his rage.


    And just like that, he charged at me.


    Fwoop!


    His fist shot forward, aiming for my face. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    I sidestepped, narrowly avoiding the blow, and countered with a quick jab toward his ribs.


    He twisted his torso, deflecting my punch with his forearm, and swung a heavy right hook toward my jaw.


    Thud!


    I ducked under it, feeling the wind of his punch graze my hair. This guy packed a lot of pure strength, but his movements were too obvious, too straightforward.


    "Are you this weak?" I taunted, stepping back to create some distance.


    "I''ll wipe that smug look off your face!" Telmo growled as his face turned red in anger.


    He lunged at me again, this time leading with a high kick aimed at my shoulder.


    I blocked it with my forearm, but the sheer force of it sent a dull ache through my arm.


    Thump!


    Using the momentum, he followed up with a spinning backfist aimed at my temple.


    I ducked low, letting the attack whiff over my head, and quickly retaliated with a sweeping kick to his legs.


    Whack!


    It connected, and Telmo stumbled, but he didn''t fall. Instead, he planted his foot firmly on the ground and countered with a powerful straight punch aimed at my chest.


    I twisted my body, letting the punch glance off my side, and used the opportunity to grab his wrist.


    With a quick pull, I used his own momentum to throw him off balance, sending him staggering forward.


    "Bastard...!"


    Telmo recovered quickly, as he rushed at me again, this time faking a left punch before throwing a right uppercut aimed at my stomach.


    Bam!


    I managed to block it with both arms, but the sheer force sent me sliding back a few feet. My arms tingled from the impact.


    Then, he aimed a heavy kick at my side.


    Swoop!


    I sidestepped and retaliated with a quick jab to his solar plexus.


    Thud!


    The hit connected, and Telmo grunted, doubling over slightly. I followed up with a spinning kick aimed at his shoulder, sending him staggering back.


    "Gah... your damned fucker!"


    His eyes went mad in rage as a faint layer of mana enveloped his body.


    Oh... he really wanted to get serious with me.


    I shook my right hand slightly, as I was enveloped with my silver-colored mana.


    Then, we both threw a punch at each other...


    But just before our fists could collide.


    Bam!


    A blur of motion appeared between us.


    A delicate hand caught my fist effortlessly, while the other stopped Telmo''s punch mid-swing.


    It was our instructor, Zeva.


    "That''s enough," she said, her voice firm but not loud.


    Her green eyes pierced through both of us, making it clear that she wasn''t here to negotiate.


    "Do you two have nothing better to do than fight like children?" she asked coldly, with a hint of disappointment in her voice.


    Telmo glared at her for a moment, his fiery rage flickering, but her gaze didn''t waver. It was like staring into the eyes of a predator that had already decided you weren''t worth the hunt.


    "Tch," he muttered, yanking his hand away from her grip.


    He mumbled something inaudible under his breath and turned to walk away, his shoulders stiff with unspent frustration.


    I sighed, rubbing the hand she had just released, and scoffed.


    "Who are you to lecture us about fighting like kids?" I said sharply. "When we first met, you literally attacked me like some madwoman and tried to force me int¡ª"


    "¡ªMHMM!"


    Before I could finish my words, her hand tapped my mouth, making me let out muffled noises.


    "That.. kind of thing shouldn''t be discussed in public," she leaned in closer, her breath brushing against my ear.


    From a different angle, the position she was holding me, could have been considered...


    Ambiguous...


    "Let go, you crazy bitch," I finally grumbled when I wriggled free of her grip.


    Her emerald-green eyes glinted, and a vein popped on her forehead.


    Clearly, she didn''t take the comment lightly.


    "You''ll pay for that, Aestrea," she said, her voice chillingly cold.


    Her gaze bore into mine like a predator toying with its prey.


    "After today''s classes, go to the training camp. I''ll give you a special training."


    Something about the way she said "special training" sent a faint chill down my spine.


    "...Ah, hell n¡ª"


    "¡ªIf you do, I''ll grant you a favor."


    "Deal." I immediately accepted.


    A favor from Zeva, a s-rank awakened?


    That was not something to pass up.


    Her lips curved into a small, almost triumphant smile.


    "Good. Have a nice meal," she said, her voice returning to a more neutral tone, before walking away.


    "Yeah, yeah..."


    Taking a look around, I finally noticed that everyone''s gaze was on me. It seemed that my little fight with Telmo had attracted quite the attention.


    Or was it my interaction with instructor Zeva...?


    Well, I didn''t actually care.


    So, I took the opportunity that everyone was distracted and talking to each other, to pass the crowd in the cafeteria.


    I got a tray and put a lot of food to my liking there before lifting it and taking a look around, hoping to find an empty table.


    But like I said before, it was pretty stacked, so I didn''t exactly find one.


    Then I spotted a hand waving at me from across the room.


    It was Lucas, smiling faintly as he gestured for me to join his table.


    Along with him, was his small party group.


    Gosh.


    I really don''t want to sit with them.


    But as I ignored it and took another look around...


    I realized that I had no choice but to sit beside Lucas.


    "Hah... You were injured just a day ago, and you''re already causing trouble?" Lucas asked as soon as I sat down in the chair, putting my tray on the table.


    "...I was the one causing trouble? Last time I checked, I wasn''t the one throwing punches first." I blinked innocently.


    "Fair enough." Lucas chuckled softly.


    "Well... it was satisfying enough to watch," Rose muttered softly, barely audible over the noise of the cafeteria.


    I turned my gaze to her, arching an eyebrow. Her cheeks immediately flushed, the red creeping up to her ears.


    She seemed to have remembered our little interaction in the dungeon.


    "Also, Aestrea! How about joining us for the Snow Festival?" Lucas interrupted me just as I was about to tease Rose, his cheerful tone cutting through the moment.


    "...Joining in what?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.


    "Well, isn''t it obvious? The activities!" Lucas replied, his grin as bright as ever.


    His words immediately brought the realization crashing down on me. The Snow Festival activities¡ªmost of them¡ªwere team games.


    And knowing Lucas, he''d already decided that I was their missing piece.


    I hesitated slightly.


    "Don''t worry! Everyone here doesn''t mind having you on the team!"


    "Of course not!" Maya chimed in, puffing out her chest like a proud rooster as Iris nodded gently with a small smile.


    Rose simply let out a low ''yes'', and then there was Ella.


    She just stared at me.


    Not for a moment, not for a few seconds, but for what felt like an eternity.


    Her eyes bore into me as if she were trying to uncover some mystery.


    Until she finally spoke:


    "Sure."


    Just at that moment, Lucas turned to me.


    "So, what do you think?" He asked eagerly.


    "Isn''t your team strong enough?" I raised an eyebrow.


    "Not really," Lucas admitted, scratching the back of his head sheepishly. "The fifth-year students are participating too, and let''s be honest, it''s going to be tough beating them."


    He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping just a bit.


    "But with someone like you¡ªstrong, experienced¡ªit''s the perfect addition to our team!"


    He looked at me, awaiting my response


    And of course, my reply was...


    "No."

 Chapter 50 The Moonlight Swordsman (XVI)

    "No."


    The word left my mouth before I could even think twice.


    Honestly, why would I want to join the same group as Lucas¡ªthe novel''s protagonist who''s practically a walking trouble magnet?


    My refusal seemed to catch them off guard, after all, their eyes widened slightly. Lucas''s cheerful face also faltered, and the others exchanged glances.


    "...Why?"


    Yet, surprisingly, it was Ella who asked me why I refused them.


    "Well... I''m better off alone." I took a bite of my food before replying.


    I wouldn''t tell them that the real reason I rejected Lucas''s offer was because he was a magnet for trouble.


    Ella wasn''t satisfied by my response though.


    Her brow furrowed slightly as she pressed on: "You do know there are limits to being alone, right?"


    To her words, I shrugged my shoulders.


    "I haven''t reached any yet. Besides, I already have a few partners."


    I was, of course, referring to Lumi and Alaine. They were more than enough.


    At my words, Ella''s eyes narrowed slightly before her lips parted:


    "...Really?"


    "Yeah," I replied, meeting her eyes.


    I don''t know why was she so persistent, but whatever. I lifted my head and locked my eyes with her for a moment.


    She kept the same straight face as she stared at me.


    Yeah...


    She doesn''t seem to like me in that ''way''.


    I cleared my throat and broke the eye contact.


    "Well, I''m done eating."


    "Huh? Already?" Lucas blurted, glancing at my plate.


    It was spotless¡ªcompletely cleared of food.


    ...It was so clean that I could see my own face reflected in it, which made me frown a little. But I wasn''t frowning because of the plate¡­ no, it was because of my eyes.


    Usually, my eyes had a deep blood-red color, with a faint glow that grew brighter when my emotions got stronger.


    But now¡­


    My left eye had changed.


    A soft blue glow mixed into the red, making it look more bluish, with hints of purple at certain angles.


    This had never happened before.


    Was it because I had broken the seal on my Aura?


    When could this have started?


    It felt... strange.


    "...When did you eat the whole thing?" He couldn''t help but ask in surprise, breaking my thoughts almost immediately.


    I raised an eyebrow at his words.


    "It had already passed more than ten minutes... what do you exactly mean by that?"


    Lucas blinked, looking genuinely confused.


    I was also confused as I looked at his puzzled expression.


    Was he so lost in his thoughts that he didn''t notice the time flying away?


    "Yeah... Lucas, are you okay?" Iris couldn''t help but ask in concern, looking at his face.


    "Yeah, you''re acting kinda weird."


    Maya also leaned in, waving a hand in front of his face.


    I also took a look at his face, and nothing seemed out of the ordinary.


    "I''m alright..." he replied.


    Whatever.


    Not my problem.


    So, I stood up, adjusting my chair as I did.


    "I''ll be going, thanks for the invite though," I said, giving them a casual nod before walking away.


    ''Around this time... I should have mana theory classes....''


    I thought to myself.


    I glanced at a clock on the wall. There were still about fifteen minutes left before class started.


    That gave me just enough time to kill some time in the library.


    For now, I had nothing to do except continue to read a book I had found earlier.


    ...


    As soon as Aestrea left...


    Lucas sat with his friends at the crowded cafeteria table, absentmindedly pushing food around on his plate.


    Maya was excitedly debating with Iris about which dessert stall they should visit during the Snow Festival, while Ella quietly interjected with her own sarcastic remarks.


    Rose, as usual, remained quiet, her focus on her own meal.


    "Seriously, Iris, you don''t understand! The chocolate lava cake at the main square is divine!" Maya declared, dramatically pressing a hand to her chest.


    "You said the same thing about the raspberry tart last year," Iris replied with a smirk. "Are you sure you''re not just obsessed with sugar?"


    "Hey! It''s not my fault the best part of any festival is the food!" Maya shot back.


    Hearing their conversation, Ella sighed deeply, rolling her eyes: "You''d probably survive a dungeon raid if the treasure at the end was cake."


    The others laughed, but Lucas found himself distracted.


    Something felt¡­ off.


    His thoughts drifted away from the conversation as a soft voice echoed in his head.


    <I''m here. Please, come get me.>


    His fork froze mid-air, his eyes narrowing slightly. He scanned the room, half-expecting to see someone standing behind him, whispering in his ear.


    "Lucas, are you okay?" Iris asked, noticing his sudden stillness.


    "Yeah, you''ve been zoning out a lot," Maya added, leaning closer to him before saying in a teasing manner.


    "Don''t tell me you''re still thinking about Aestrea refusing your offer?"


    "No, no. Just tired, I guess." Lucas shook his head quickly, forcing a smile.


    "You don''t look tired. What''s going on?" Ella asked with a slight frown.


    Before he could answer, the voice returned, clearer this time.


    <Come closer¡­ find me¡­>


    Lucas blinked, a bead of sweat forming on his forehead. The voice felt so real like it was coming from someone right beside him.


    "Lucas?" Rose''s quiet voice broke through his thoughts.


    He looked up, realizing they were all staring at him.


    "Uh, sorry. I think I just need some air."


    Maya raised an eyebrow: "Are you sure? You''re acting weird."


    "Yeah, seriously, if something''s up, just tell us," Iris chimed in, leaning forward.


    Lucas forced another smile upon hearing their words.


    "It''s nothing, really. I just need to clear my head."


    Ella''s frown deepened as her eyes narrowed slightly.


    "You''re hiding something...."


    Plop!


    Lucas stood up abruptly, grabbing his tray. "I''ll be fine. Don''t worry about it. I''ll see you all later."


    Before they could press him further, he turned and walked away, his steps quick and purposeful.


    "Jeez, what''s his deal?" Maya muttered, watching him leave.


    "He''s probably stressed." Iris sighed.


    Outside, the crisp air hit Lucas''s face as he stepped into the quiet courtyard. He took a deep breath, trying to calm the strange sensation building inside him.


    <To the right¡­ in the garden¡­>


    The voice returned, soft and melodic, like an angel''s whisper. Lucas hesitated, glancing back at the cafeteria.


    Should he tell the others?


    No, they''d think he was crazy.


    With no exact choice, he turned to the right, following the voice.


    The path led him to the large garden behind the main building, its flowers, and statues bathed in the soft afternoon light.


    <Closer¡­>


    Lucas''s footsteps slowed down as he approached the center of the garden. There, standing tall and proud, was a statue of a woman clad in ornate armor.


    Her expression was serene yet commanding, and in her hands, she held a sword that seemed to glow faintly, even in the daylight.


    "What is this¡­? How come I didn''t see this state before...?" Lucas muttered to himself, his gaze drawn to the statue.


    Lucas''s eyes lowered down, finding a small carved flower at the base. He hesitated, his fingers hovering over the intricate design.


    "This is crazy," he whispered to himself. "Why am I even listening to this?"


    But the voice was so soothing, so persuasive.


    It felt¡­ familiar. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    With a deep breath, Lucas pressed the flower.


    Immediately, a faint hum filled the air, and a glowing magic circle appeared beneath his feet.


    "Wait, what the¡ª"


    Before he could react, the light enveloped him, and the garden vanished.


    "Agh...!"


    When the light faded, Lucas found himself standing in a massive corridor. The air was heavy with an ancient yet powerful aura.


    The walls were lined with hundreds of statues, each one holding the same beautiful sword as the one in the garden.


    His footsteps echoed as he walked forward, his eyes darting around in awe.


    <These are your ancestors¡­ they can be called such.>


    Lucas stopped as his breath hitched.


    The voice was much clearer now.


    "Ancestors¡­?" he murmured.


    The statues seemed to watch him as he continued walking, making him feel strange.


    And then, up ahead, something caught his eye.


    A rock stood in the center of the corridor, its surface smooth and unyielding. Piercing through it was a beautiful sword, exactly the same as the statue''s sword.


    Lucas''s heart raced as he approached the rock.


    <Come get me¡­ let''s be partners¡­ once again¡­>


    The voice was filled with longing, almost pleading.


    Lucas hesitated, staring at the sword.


    "Partners¡­?"


    <Yes¡­ take me, and we will achieve greatness together.>


    Swallowing his doubt, Lucas reached out. His hand wrapped around the hilt, and an overwhelming warmth spread through his body.


    With a deep breath, he pulled.


    Swssh!


    The sword slid out effortlessly, as though it had been waiting just for him.


    Golden light burst from the blade, filling the entire corridor. Power surged through Lucas, brimming and vibrant, as if the sword was pouring its essence into him.


    He staggered slightly, overwhelmed by the sheer energy coursing through his veins.


    <Welcome back, my forever partner¡­>


    The voice was stronger now, filled with joy.


    <Let us be great again!>


    Upon hearing the sword''s voice, Lucas tightened his grip on it.


    "Excalibur..."


    He whispered softly.


    The name came to him naturally, as if he had always known it.


    At that moment, in many different locations, a handful amount of people seemed to feel something that made their hearts shudder.


    Amongst all of them, one particular stood quietly, already looking at Lucas''s figure.


    She was breathtaking.


    Her long, sparkling purple hair cascaded down her back like a shimmering waterfall, glowing faintly in the light.


    Her eyes, a piercing light blue, seemed to hold the secrets of the stars.


    On her head, she wore a tall, elegant witch hat in deep purple, decorated with silver embroidery and a single gemstone at its center, gleaming like a tiny star.


    Her outfit was just as striking as her appearance.


    She wore a fitted, sleeveless black dress that hugged her curvaceous figure, the neckline plunging just enough to reveal a teasing glimpse of her flawless skin.


    Her slender arms were adorned with elegant black gloves that reached her elbows, and she wore high-heeled boots that would click softly against the floor with every step she took.


    A dark purple corset accentuated her already voluptuous body, cinching her waist and highlighting her impossibly massive breasts, which were far larger than Christina''s.


    The fabric strained slightly, as if barely able to contain her chest.


    She stood in her room, surrounded by bookshelves filled with grimoires.


    On the table before her rested a small crystal orb, glowing faintly as it showed Lucas standing before the sword.


    "He''s finally found it," Eleonora murmured in a soft tone, her eyes slightly widened with curiosity.


    Her full lips curved into a faint smile as she tapped the table lightly with her gloved fingers.


    "And much earlier than I expected..."


    Through the crystal orb, she watched Lucas carefully as he slowly brushed his fingers along the edge of the blade.


    The Excalibur.


    What Lucas was experiencing now by brushing his finger along the sharp blade, was just one of the various effects of the Excalibur...


    The sword couldn''t damage its partner.


    "Now... I wonder how Aestrea is supposed to beat him," she thought aloud, leaning slightly closer to the orb.


    Her chest shifted with the motion, though she seemed oblivious to the effect it might have had on anyone nearby¡ªif there were anyone.


    "His identity is known now, not just to the other headmasters but to those old fools as well..."


    Her fingers stopped tapping, and a frown crossed her beautiful face.


    "Maybe... after being defeated for the first time, Aestrea will finally take my offer to be my disciple... if not..."


    A red malicious glint appeared in her light blue eyes, and her hand clenched into a tight fist.


    "...I wouldn''t know what to do."

 Chapter 51 The Moonlight Swordsman (XVII)

    RIINGGG!


    "Damn, finally!"


    "Man, I thought this class was never gonna end!"


    The students around me groaned and stretched, their voices echoing the universal relief that came with the end of the school day.


    Honestly, they weren''t wrong.


    That class had dragged on so long that I felt like I had aged a whole year sitting through it.


    Maybe it was just because it was the last class of the day. There''s something about knowing you''re almost free that makes every second feel like an eternity.


    "Aestrea, what are you doing later?" Lucas asked me, slipping his book into his spatial ring.


    Ahh...


    ...Right.


    This guy had decided to sit next to me for the rest of the classes, much to my annoyance. He spent most of the day pestering me to join his little group for the festival activities.


    But of course, I turned him down every time.


    "I''ll be¡ª"


    "¡ªIf you don''t have plans, how about we hit up a caf¨¦?" He cut me off mid-sentence, flashing a hopeful smile.


    "...I''m busy."


    Without waiting for a response, I turned on my heel and started walking toward the door. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Ah, come on! Why?!"


    I didn''t bother answering and continued walking, ignoring him completely, and just before Lucas could make another attempt at roping me into his plans, a soft voice called out to him.


    "Lucas."


    It wasn''t a voice I recognized, and I didn''t even bother to glance back. Probably one of the side heroines.


    There are a ton of them, after all¡ªeach one destined to orbit around Lucas like moths to a flame.


    Now, I had my own priorities.


    I had a meeting with Professor Zeva, and there was no way I was going to miss it.


    The promise of a favor from someone like her?


    It was too good to pass up.


    "Hah... probably more money!" I clenched my fists quietly, a grin tugging at the corners of my lips due to the sheer amount of happiness that I was feeling.


    Money really is the best thing ever.


    No questions asked.


    Sure, people always talk about how it corrupts or whatever, but they''re probably just broke.


    It took me a while to reach out to the training camp, but as I did so, I noticed a single figure on the camp, standing alone with two swords on her waist.


    Professor Zeva.


    She had long, dark hair tied back loosely, though a few strands framed her sharp, striking face.


    Her piercing green eyes stood out vividly against her tanned skin, their intensity giving her an air of authority and seriousness that made it hard to meet her gaze for too long.


    She wore a crisp white blouse with a high collar and neatly buttoned front, the fabric clung slightly to her figure, accentuating her full, well-endowed chest¡ªso large it made you wonder how she didn''t hear buttons screaming for mercy every time she moved.


    Gosh...


    Why did every heroine have a specially large chest?


    Well... probably the author''s fault.


    A slim black ribbon was tied elegantly around her neck, adding a touch of sophistication to her look. Over her blouse, she wore a corset-style outfit that cinched her thin waist, emphasizing her hourglass figure.


    The insignia of Eternum Royal Academy adorned her sleeve, a subtle reminder of her status.


    Her long legs were clad in tailored black pants, and her boots¡ªpolished to a shine¡ªclicked against the ground with every step she took.


    As I approached, her sharp eyes turned toward me, locking onto mine with an intensity that made me feel like a mouse under a hawk''s gaze.


    "You''re late."


    I held up my hands in mock surrender.


    "Only by a minute. Cut me some slack."


    She didn''t reply, but the slight arch of her brow told me she wasn''t impressed.


    "So, what do you want?" I got straight to the point.


    Instead of answering, she stepped closer, her boots clicking softly against the floor until she was standing right in front of me.


    Then, she rested her delicate hand on my shoulder.


    "Be my disciple."


    Another crazy bitch.


    Well, I already knew that she was like this.


    But unfortunately...


    The position is already reserved for Lucas.


    It''s not that I care about the plot or fate or whatever. But, Lucas still needs to get strong enough to kill the Demon King.


    Only his damned holy sword can cause damage to it apparently.


    Learned that from books.


    "Nah."


    Her hand left my shoulder as she crossed her arms and stared at me, her piercing green eyes narrowing slightly.


    "Give me a valid reason, then."


    "I don''t want to," I replied with a shrug.


    "I''ll let you touch my breasts."


    "N¡ªfuck, what did you just say?" My voice cracked as my eyes widened.


    Hearing my shocked words, she smirked slightly, uncrossing her arms and resting her left hand on her chest.


    "I have seen you looking at them during the little fight we had before, so I thought you would be interested in touching them," she explained, looking down at her chest.


    Her fingers pressed against the fabric of her blouse, emphasizing the impressive size of her chest.


    The buttons looked ready to burst at any second.


    By instinct, my eyes landed on her squishy mellows.


    "See?" she teased, her eyes locking onto mine with a knowing look.


    "Cough¡ªthat was pure instinct." I coughed and quickly turned my head away.


    I''m still a man after all.


    And honestly, it''s been quite a long time since I''ve had sexual relations with someone.


    Not to mention, none of the women I''ve been with were even close to the level of beauty these heroines seem to casually embody.


    "Still no. I''m not interested in being anyone''s disciple," I said firmly, refusing her offer even as my mind screamed at me for a brief second.


    "Is that so?" Her gaze dropped for a moment, her demeanor shifting slightly.


    She was acting strange though.


    I thought that she would probably force me into accepting it or something like that.


    "Then how about we make a deal?" she said, her head lifting as a faint smile returned to her face.


    "...What kind of deal?"


    Why does her words sound strangely enticing?


    "I''ll grant you one more favor on top of the one you already owe me. But..." Her smile widened ever so slightly. "...we''ll have a duel. If I win, I get something in return."


    "...And what, exactly, do you want in return?" I narrowed my eyes slightly.


    "...I''m only going to tell you if you do accept the duel," she smiled faintly, as her eyes widened faintly.


    Yup.


    She was back to normal.


    And considering her offer, it sounds strangely enticing, and I''m pretty sure that the thing that she gets in return for beating me is making me her disciple.


    But that extra favor was really... tempting.


    So, if I want it, I need to make the battle work in my favor.


    "Can I set conditions for the fight?" I asked.


    "Sure," she replied with a nod.


    So, with that already done, I could finally accept her deal.


    "Alright. I''ll accept the deal."


    "Good." Her smile grew wider as she stepped closer to me, her voice dropping slightly. "And as promised, I''ll tell you what I want if I win."


    I was a bit reluctant to let her approach me, but I stood still.


    And strangely, she got really close to me.


    She leaned in, her breath brushing against my ear as she whispered softly:


    "...If I win..."


    Her soft words made me shiver.


    "I want you to be my lover for a week."


    Huh.


    What did she say?


    Did I just hear it wrongly or something?


    I know you are crazy.


    But I didn''t think you were this fucking crazy.


    What kind of crap are you fucking talking about?


    Why would I be your lover for a week?


    What kind of winning reward is that?


    Multiple thoughts filled my head, but I nodded promptly.


    Of course, I wasn''t thinking of taking advantage of being her lover to successfully squeeze those marshmallows.


    Or maybe even more...


    But of course, I wasn''t going to lose though.


    I need that favor still.


    "Then let''s start," she said, stepping back to stretch her arms.


    "By the way, what are your conditions?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.


    I had already thought about it.


    I couldn''t reveal my aura yet, and my mana wouldn''t be sufficient to beat her. So, the only thing I could actually beat her in...


    "A pure swordsmanship duel, but... you need to lower your skills to B-rank." I said so.


    I was confident enough that I could deal with her in B-rank, even though her swordsmanship was much better than mine.


    "Alright..." she snapped her fingers, and suddenly, the threatening feeling coming from her diminished by a lot.


    But just to check, I also used my ¡ºJudgement Eye ¡»and sure enough, she had her powers in the b-rank level.


    Perfect.


    I pushed my sleeves back slightly, rolling them up to my elbows as I approached the weapons table.


    I picked up one and gave it a quick swing¡ªlight, balanced, but familiar.


    Still, something felt off.


    Without much thought, I grabbed another sword, holding one in each hand. Dual-wielding wasn''t my forte, but it wasn''t entirely unfamiliar either.


    Zeva''s green eyes locked onto me with sharp interest as I turned to face her.


    "Oh?" she murmured, one eyebrow arching. "Two swords? How bold."


    "Thought I''d try something new," I said casually, twirling both blades in my hands to get a feel for them.


    She chuckled softly, shaking her head.


    "I wonder if you''ll regret that decision."


    I didn''t reply to her words.


    Instead, I stepped into the center of the sparring circle, and Zeva followed.


    "....."


    There was a moment of pure silence as we started each other.


    The tension in the air was palpable, like a coiled spring waiting to snap.


    Then, with a fluid motion, she unsheathed her swords. The black steel of her dual blades shimmered faintly, their edges keen and polished.


    Her movements were precise, almost mechanical, as she took a ready stance. I mirrored her posture, crossing my swords in front of me.


    The camp fell silent.


    Then, without warning¡ª


    CLANG!


    Zeva lunged forward with startling speed, both her blades slashing in a precise X-formation aimed at my chest.


    I barely managed to intercept her strike, crossing my swords to block. The force of the impact reverberated through my arms, making them ache.


    "Tsk," I hissed, stepping back to absorb the blow.


    But she didn''t let up.


    Her next attack came immediately¡ªa downward strike from her right blade, followed by a sweeping horizontal slash from her left.


    I parried the first blow with my right sword, sparks flying as the metal clashed, and twisted to dodge the second, feeling the wind from her blade brush against my cheek.


    She was fast.


    Too damned fast.


    Swishh!


    CLANG!


    Her swords whirled like extensions of her body, each strike was calculated, relentless, and perfectly timed to exploit openings in my defense.


    I deflected what I could, and dodged where I had to, but her attacks were overwhelming.


    Then, a sudden feint caught me off guard.


    Her left blade arced low, slicing toward my thigh.


    I reacted just in time, pivoting to the side, but her right blade came down in a sharp diagonal slash toward my shoulder.


    THWACK!


    Pain exploded through my arm as her blade nicked my shoulder, tearing through the fabric of my shirt and grazing the skin beneath.


    Blood seeped out almost immediately, warm and sticky, staining my sleeve.


    Damn it...


    I wiped the sweat off my brow with the back of my wrist. My grip tightened around the hilts of my swords.


    My eyes locked forward, and then, she came at me again.


    Clink!


    Swish!


    I managed to hold my ground, blocking and dodging as best as I could. My swords clashed against hers repeatedly, the metallic ring echoing through the room.


    CLANG!


    Another strike slipped through my guard. Her blade grazed my side, leaving a shallow cut that burned as the air touched it.


    Blood trickled down my ribs, soaking into the waistband of my pants.


    However, despite the mounting injuries, I couldn''t stop the faint smile that tugged at my lips.


    Zeva''s eyes narrowed slightly as she noticed.


    "Why are you smiling?" she asked with a slightly confused expression.


    "No reason at all," I replied, my tone light even as my body screamed in protest.


    I shifted my stance, preparing for her next attack.


    She hesitated for a fraction of a second, her gaze flickering to the cuts on my body. Then, she shook her head and pressed forward.


    Her blades came down in a relentless flurry, each strike faster and more precise than the last. My movements became more desperate, my arms growing heavy from the repeated clashes.


    Sweat dripped down my face, stinging my eyes.


    Still, I refused to back down.


    CLANG!


    Swoop!


    I managed to catch her off guard with a quick counterattack, one of my swords grazing her upper arm.


    Splat...!


    A thin line of blood appeared, staining the sleeve of her blouse.


    Her expression didn''t falter, but I saw the briefest flicker of surprise in her eyes.


    "This is it..." Licking her lips, her eyes widened slightly and so did her lips.


    Even if my attack had the intention of making her weaker...


    She seemed to only get stronger and crazier because of it.


    Fwip!


    Splat!


    Another slash caught my thigh, the blade cutting deep enough to make me stumble.


    "Fuck...!"


    I grit my teeth against the pain, refusing to let it slow me down.


    Blood seeped from the numerous cuts on my body, dripping onto the floor. My breathing was ragged, my vision slightly blurred, but I kept moving.


    My faint smile never disappeared.


    And that seemed to have been bothering her.


    "Why do you keep smiling?" she asked again as she stopped her movements, leaping back, her voice more curious this time.


    "No reason..." I said the same thing I had said before.


    My eyes landed on the shallow cut that I had made in her upper arm.


    No reason at all.....

 Chapter 52 *The Moonlight Swordsman (XVIII)*

    Looking at me, Zeva''s lips curled into a grin that was anything but sane. Her eyes glinted with a strange unsettling excitement.


    ...she''s back to being insane.


    "You''re hiding something," she declared, gripping her dual swords tighter. "Come on, Aestrea! Show me what you''re keeping from me! Don''t disappoint me now!"


    I knew it...


    Fuck.


    She lunged forward, her swords whistling through the air.


    CLANG!


    I barely managed to block her twin blades, one aimed at my neck, the other at my ribs. The impact rattled my arms, but I held firm, twisting to parry the next strike aimed at my shoulder.


    Her left blade swept low toward my knees while her right arced toward my chest.


    SHING!


    I sidestepped, narrowly avoiding the low sweep, and raised my sword to deflect the high strike.


    Sparks flew as steel clashed, and I spun on my heel to counter with a quick horizontal slash aimed at her midsection.


    Zeva twisted her body unnaturally, bending backward to evade the strike with an unsettling grace.


    Her grin widened, and she leaned back in, bringing both swords down in a brutal overhead strike.


    BOOM!


    The impact jarred my entire body as I blocked, my knees buckling under the force, and that seemed to make Zeva laugh out loudly.


    "That''s it! Fight harder, Aestrea!" she exclaimed, her eyes widening with excitement, her breath coming in short gasps.


    "I know you''re not giving me everything yet!"


    Her blade slipped past my guard, slicing into my side.


    I hissed in pain as warm blood began to flow, staining my shirt and dripping to the ground. She didn''t pause, pressing the attack with a huge amount of ferocity.


    SWISH!


    Her next move was a quick upward slash that grazed my chin, leaving a shallow cut. Blood trickled down, but I barely noticed it.


    ''Damn it...''


    I cursed silently.


    I was already reaching my limit.


    My body screamed at me to stop, to rest, but my mind was focused on winning the battle. I adjusted my stance, gripping my swords tighter.


    I needed to keep her focused on her offense.


    "Still smiling, I see," she teased, her voice laced with a mock pout.


    Her crazy grin was back, her eyes showing a glint of pure enjoyment. "What are you plotting, hmm? Something special just for me~?"


    ''This crazy bitch...''


    Swish!


    CLANG!


    I parried her quick strike, but her second sword followed immediately, nicking my thigh.


    Pain shot through me, and before I could fully react, another blade grazed my forearm, leaving a stinging cut.


    Blood seeped from the wounds, soaking into my clothes.


    I gritted my teeth and retaliated with a swift horizontal slash, managing to land a glancing blow on her shoulder.


    A thin line of blood trickled down her sleeve.


    She didn''t flinch.


    If anything, her grin grew wider.


    "Yes! That''s it!" she yelled.


    "Make me feel alive, Aestrea!"


    Suddenly, her green eyes began glowing faintly, leaving a faint green tail from them, just like mine do when my emotions get intense.


    It seems that she has some useless skills like I have.


    Then, she lunged towards me once again.


    Clink, clang!


    I twisted and turned, deflecting what I could, but her speed was overwhelming.


    Her left blade skimmed past my ribs, tearing through my shirt and opening another shallow wound.


    Slash!


    Her right blade followed immediately, slicing a deep cut along my upper arm. Blood poured from the wound, dripping down my hand and staining the hilt of my sword.


    I stumbled back, barely managing to block her next strike aimed at my neck.


    "Come on, Aestrea! Don''t tell me that''s all you''ve got!" she laughed.


    I clenched my teeth, forcing myself to move despite the pain, and then, I counterattacked, delivering a rapid series of strikes.


    Clang, clang, CLANG!


    Our blades collided multiple times.


    I aimed a sharp thrust at her abdomen, but she sidestepped effortlessly, slashing at my side in retaliation.


    Shing!


    The blade bit deep, and I gasped as pain flared through me. My legs wavered, but I pushed forward, slashing at her exposed flank.


    Slash!


    My sword connected, leaving a jagged wound along her ribs. Blood seeped from the cut, but she only grinned wider.


    "Good!" she shouted. "But you''ll need more than that to take me down!"


    But she was wrong though.


    That was more than enough.


    I shifted my stance, focusing on the shallow cut I had inflicted on her earlier.


    "Haaa..."


    My blood-red eyes started glowing dimly.


    ¡º Bleed ¡»


    The technique activated silently, and the cut on her upper arm suddenly burst open. Blood gushed out, the wound tearing wider as if an unseen force had ripped it apart.


    Her eyes widened in shock.


    "What¡ª?!"


    She dropped her swords, clutching her arm as pain wracked her body. Her knees buckled, and she fell to the ground.


    "Bleed..." I mumbled to myself.


    The technique that I wanted so much from that damned Bloodclaw Wolf. Lumi had absorbed his abilities after all, so what I was using was Lumi''s abilities, not mine.


    So technically...


    I didn''t use mana or aura.


    I approached her slowly, blood dripping from my own wound, and hearing my steps, she looked at me with a confused expression.


    I knew why she was looking at me like that.


    That was because she noticed that I didn''t use mana or aura to damage her that way. It''s kind of a loophole, to be honest.


    After all, because of my blood contract with Lumi, no one can see or feel her powers when she is inside my tattoo.


    Step...!


    I raised my sword, resting the blade lightly against her neck.


    The faint smile that I had since the beginning of the fight never left.


    "Looks like I win," I said softly.


    As I said those words, the training camp was silent except for the sound of our labored breathing and the faint dripping of blood onto the floor.


    For a moment, Zeva said nothing. Her glowing green eyes dimmed slightly, and the wild grin she had worn throughout the fight faded into something softer¡ªalmost serene.


    Then, her lips curled into a small, tired smile.


    "Not bad. You win," she whispered in a tired tone.


    Her crazed expression had completely disappeared and so did the glow from her eyes.


    I stabbed both of my swords into the ground, straightened up, and extended a hand toward her, she hesitated only for a second before taking it.


    "Now... what kind of favor do you want?" she asked, dusting herself off and retrieving her swords from the ground to sheathe them at her waist.


    Hearing her words, I put on a thoughtful expression.


    I already had enough money from the Saintess, so asking for more seemed quite unnecessary. I still needed to save money for the Dragon''s Heart, but another favor from her could be invaluable.


    So, what could I ask from her...?


    I wasn''t sure yet.


    "I''ll tell you later." I ended up saying.


    She simply nodded her head expressionless, but then, a small barrier was summoned around us, glowing in a potent green mana.


    It was the kind of barrier that would hide our presence from other people''s eyes.


    "Now... here''s your other reward," she said mysteriously as I looked at the barrier.


    "What rewar¡ª"


    My mouth abruptly closed as I turned to look at her.


    Zeva''s hands moved to the lace of her blouse.


    She undid it slowly, her fingers deftly working the buttons as she pulled the fabric aside to reveal her collarbones.


    Then, she slid the blouse off her shoulders, letting it hang loosely around her arms.


    My eyes widened as she reached behind her back and unclasped her bra, her tanned skin contrasting beautifully with the dark fabric.


    The straps fell away, and her full, generous breasts spilled free.


    They were perfectly shaped, her soft, tanned skin glowing faintly in the light of the barrier. Her pink nipples stood out, taut against the chill air.


    "W-what the h-hell?!" I stammered, my face flushing as I took an involuntary step back.


    I didn''t fucking expect her to do something like this!


    Zeva glanced at me with a teasing smile, as her emerald green eyes curved in a crescent manner.


    "Isn''t this what you wanted?"


    She cupped her giant, squishy breasts in her hands, lifting them slightly and pressing them together, making them seem even fuller... bigger.


    Then, she gave them a playful jiggle.


    "Touch, squeeze, or do whatever you want. Didn''t you earn it?"


    "W-well... kinda?" I sighed, furrowing my eyebrows.


    Then, I glanced at them.


    Her tanned skin was flawless, the curve of her breasts smooth and inviting. The way they moved slightly with each breath, soft and supple, was almost hypnotizing.


    "Now... are you going to touch them or... not? she asked, tilting her head in mock innocence before starting to approach me.


    I was so focused on her breasts that I only noticed that she was approaching me after seeing them bouncing around.


    "Zeva, wait¡ª"


    Before I could finish, she grabbed my right hand, still slick with my own blood, and placed it on her left breast.


    The warmth of her skin against my palm sent a shock through me.


    "There."


    "Now, squeeze."


    She guided my hand with gentle pressure, and I felt the softness of her breast yield beneath my fingers.


    It was warm and plush, yet firm, an almost surreal sensation.


    "Ah..."


    She let out a soft, breathy moan as my hand remained pressed against her, fingers still feeling the plush, warm softness of her breasts.


    ''Isn''t she quite sensitive?''


    I couldn''t help but think.


    Unable to resist, I gave another gentle squeeze, feeling the pliant give of her flesh beneath my fingers once again.


    Her body responded immediately¡ªa small gasp slipping from her lips as she tilted her head back slightly, her breathing hitching.


    "~Oohhh..." she moaned softly, eyes half-lidded as she looked at me through heavy lashes.


    Hearing her seductive moan, my hand tightened, instinctively molding to the shape of her breast, feeling the warmth, the softness, and the gentle weight that only seemed to increase my desire to touch her.


    Her fingers, delicate and long, brushed lightly against my arm, trailing up to my wrist, guiding me.


    "Feel good?" she asked, her voice a husky purr, her lips curving into a sly smile.


    But despite her teasing words, I could easily see that she was also enjoying this through her flushed red face and quivering eyes.


    "Yeah... it feels... really good..."


    I replied softly, letting myself indulge in the sensation just a little longer.


    "Gaagh... ah~"


    She let out another soft moan¡ªlonger this time¡ªher breath catching as I kneaded her breasts once more.


    And slowly, her breathing started growing heavier as I continued to touch her, the warmth of her skin spreading through my fingers.


    My eyes lingered on her chest¡ªsoft, full, and perfectly inviting.


    I couldn''t resist any longer.


    Slowly, I let my fingers drift upward, lightly brushing over her taut nipples. A shiver ran down her spine, and she let out a soft gasp.


    "Mmm... yes... there," she murmured, eyes fluttering closed, leaning slightly into my touch.


    ''She really is sensitive in here...''


    I smirked, watching her reaction.


    Her breasts felt so soft, yet her nipples were firm beneath my fingertips. I teased them gently, slowly circling them, feeling the subtle bumps forming.


    "...You like that?"


    This time, I decided to tease her.


    But, to my surprise, she was thoroughly honest.


    "Y-yes... keep going..."


    She gave me a small nod, biting her lip as her chest heaved slightly.


    Without hesitation, I flicked my thumb lightly against one nipple¡ªjust enough to make it tighten beneath my touch.


    She gasped, a sharp intake of breath, and her body jerked slightly.


    "A-ahh!" she let out a small, surprised moan, arching her back slightly.


    Her eyes opened wide, watching me with a mix of pleasure and teasing hunger.


    Encouraged by her response, I did it again¡ªthis time pressing a bit harder, rolling my thumb over her nipple in slow, teasing circles.


    She let out another quiet moan, her head tilting back slightly, eyes half-lidded.


    "Mmm... more..." she whispered, shifting slightly to give me better access.


    I couldn''t resist anymore.


    My mind was already on cloud nine just because of the lust that I was feeling. From the previous teases from both the Saintess and Alaine...


    I needed to enjoy myself for a while...


    ''It''s okay if I indulge a little... right?''


    So, I leaned in slightly and pressed my lips to her collarbone, tasting her skin as my fingers continued to play around with her squishy mellows.


    My other hand slid down, grazing the soft curve of her waist, feeling the gentle jiggle beneath my touch.


    She moaned again¡ªa soft, throaty sound¡ªher body reacting to my every touch. My fingers teased, flicking and rolling against her nipples, making them stiffen further.


    The sounds of her pleasure¡ªthose quiet, breathy moans¡ªonly fueled my desire more.


    "Yes... just like that," she murmured, biting her lip as she arched toward me.


    Her skin was warm, and pliant beneath my fingers, and the way she melted into my touch was intoxicating.


    Then, my body trembled completely as I pinched her mountain peaks, feeling the subtle, hard texture.


    "Ohhh, y-yes¡­ more, please¡­" she murmured, her voice sweetly desperate, legs shifting slightly beneath her.


    "Ahh¡­," soft gasps escaping her lips.


    Then, seeing her red lips part slightly, as her mouth opened slightly, showing strings of saliva connecting to the top of her mouth...


    ''I really... want to kiss her.''


    And of course, since we had already skipped a few steps, I decided to start a not-so-advanced one.


    "Mhmph!"


    My lips pressed hers, melting into a slow, heated kiss.


    The soft wetness, the sound of our lips pressing together was intoxicating, pulling me deeper into the moment.


    Her lips parted slightly, allowing my tongue to trace gently against hers.


    The taste of her was sweet, intoxicating, and it drew me further into the kiss¡ªsoft, slow at first, but soon growing more eager, more hungry.


    "Chuu?, churup~"


    "Haaa..."


    Our breaths mingled as we kissed deeply, lost in the sensation.


    Her hands found my shoulders, pulling me closer, pressing her body into mine as our tongues played together.


    In between kisses, I let my hands continue¡ªteasing her breasts, playing with the soft flesh, letting my fingers glide over her squishy mellows, squeezing gently.


    The soft sound of my fingers pressing into her, the warmth spreading beneath my touch


    "Mhmm, y-yes~?" S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She gasped into my mouth, her breath hitching as she responded eagerly.


    "Ohhh¡­ right there¡­" she murmured breathlessly, breaking the kiss briefly, eyes half-lidded as she stared at me.


    Our gazes locked for a moment.


    My red eyes stared at her green ones.


    "Chu?!"


    Then, catching me off guard, she pressed her red lips against mine as her hands tucked under my shirt, before clinging to my back.

 Chapter 53 *The Moonlight Swordsman (XIX)*

    Zeva''s hands slid under my shirt, her fingers curling around the hem.


    Rustle...


    The fabric rustled as she pulled it up and over my head, tossing it aside without hesitation.


    Her emerald eyes locked on my bare chest, widening slightly in surprise at the sight of the countless scars that marked my torso.


    She said nothing, only let out a soft breath, her gaze lingering on the scars before she finally whispered softly to me.


    "Perfect..."


    Before I could respond, she leaned in, her lips pressing against mine.


    "Mmnh~," the sound escaped her as her hands settled firmly on my chest while she pulled me closer.


    The kiss deepened, and when she finally pulled back, she placed a hand on my chest and, with gentle strength, pushed me to the ground.


    Plop...


    I landed, watching her, eyes fixed on her movements as she looked down at me.


    "Ah~," she let out a soft breath, biting her lip in a way that sent a shiver down my spine.


    She reached behind her, deftly undoing the clasp of her bra.


    The straps fell off her shoulders, the fabric slipping away into the dirt ground.


    Then, she grabbed the hem of her blouse and pulled it off smoothly, revealing her bare upper body that looked fantastic under the moonlight.


    It was already late when I arrived at the training camp, and now, it was already nighttime.


    But, I ignored that, I simply stayed seated on the ground, looking at her.


    Zeva turned around, giving me a full view of her bubbly, shapely ass.


    She slowly started to ease down, pushing her leggings down one leg at a time, letting them slide past her curves and to the ground.


    The only thing left was the thin fabric of her black panties.


    With a teasing motion, she slid them to the side, revealing the glistening, wet folds of her pink dripping cavern.


    "Beautiful..." I couldn''t help but murmur.


    She smiled at my compliment as she approached me before sitting directly on my lap, just enough for me to feel the wetness of her cavern throughout my clothes.


    Then, leaned in once again, her lips meeting mine softly, her breasts pressing firmly against my chest.


    "Chuu, churuup!"


    Her tongue entwined with mine, twisting and curling as we kissed deeply.


    When she finally pulled back, she gave my lower lip a light bite before slipping her tongue back inside, teasing me once more.


    Her hips began to move¡ªslow at first, swaying gently against me, brushing lightly in circles. The rhythm grew gradually, deliberate until she was grinding softly against my lap.


    "Ah~," she exhaled softly, a small, satisfied sound escaping her lips as she rolled her hips again.


    My hands reached out, one sliding firmly over her soft, round backside, holding her tightly. My other hand rested on her waist, steadying her as she continued to move against me.


    Her body responded, shifting subtly, rocking forward and backward, the gentle friction between us growing.


    She moved steadily, slowly bucking her hips against mine, the heat building between us.


    "Mmnh~," she moaned softly, the sound muffled as she tilted her head slightly to the right, deepening the kiss further.


    When she finally pulled back, her emerald eyes locked with mine, and she gave me a sly smile.


    Her fingers moved to the waistband of my pants, tugging them loose with precise, eager motions.


    Click.


    The sound of my belt buckle echoed faintly as she slid it open, her hands working to undo the button and zipper next.


    Her hands didn''t stop, pulling the fabric down as she shifted off me slightly, making enough room to strip me of my pants.


    "¡­Oh~," she licked her lips, her eyes settling on my exposed crotch.


    A huge pole stood out, pressing firmly against her belly.


    "Agh... it''s cold," I teased, a playful smirk on my face.


    She caught my words immediately.


    She wrapped her hand around my penis before starting to stroke it slowly, creating small skin sounds as she did so.


    At that moment, I grabbed her waist and lifted her slightly, catching her off guard. I pulled her closer to me, pressing my chest into hers.


    My growing length now rested snugly against her soft, rounded buttocks.


    Then, I kissed her.


    "Chuuu, smack~, chrup?!"


    Our tongues mingled together, as we swallowed each other''s saliva, and at the same time, I slowly started moving my hips.


    My penis brushed lightly against her wet dripping pussy as I moved between her soft curves, creating friction without full penetration, but enough to deepen the pleasure.


    "Agh~," she moaned softly, a quiet gasp escaping her lips.


    She wrapped her arms around my neck, pulling me closer as our lips met again in a heated, hungry kiss.


    The liquid in her cave seemed to increase as I started feeling them cover my penis, creating wet noises.


    My right hand moved to one of her breasts, squeezing softly as I pulled back slightly, saliva sticking between us.


    I trailed my lips down to her neck, planting soft kisses there.


    "Ahhng~" she moaned, arching her back, giving me more access to her neck.


    My left hand moved further lower, and I gave a firm squeeze to her round buttocks as she continued letting out small moans.


    "Ngaha~... I love tha¡ªmhmm!"


    She whispered into my ear before pressing my head firmly into her neck.


    Taking my chance, I moved slightly, just enough to brush the tip of my penis against her entrance.


    But I didn''t push further.


    Instead, I rubbed it gently against her, letting the soft friction build as I felt her body quiver in response.


    She pushed me back slightly, her eyes dark with desire, biting her lips as she stared at me.


    But unfortunately...


    "Although, I''m really enjoying this... we cannot do more from here," she said so, causing a frown to form on my face.


    "So, let''s finish this quickly?" she added.


    ''Really?''


    I scoffed inwardly


    Her words made me so fucking angry.


    You decide to seduce me, and now I can''t even go all the way?


    Fucking hell.


    I pushed her off my lap, gently but firmly, setting her down on the ground.


    "Gosh..."


    I stood up, letting out a sharp breath, trying to contain my frustration.


    She looked at me in surprise at first, her expression shifting as if she slowly began to understand what I was about to do.


    "I see¡­ you want me to use my mouth?" she said, opening her mouth slightly.


    Her tongue peeked out, glistening with saliva, sticking to her teeth and the roof of her mouth.


    It looked erotic as hell.


    But I was fucking mad.


    Ignoring her, I simply turned away.


    ¡º Cleanse ¡»


    I used magic to clean myself and my clothes, a subtle light washing over me, leaving a refreshing sensation that eased some of the tension.


    The faint glow of energy dissipated, and as I finished, I noticed her eyes widen in pure surprise.


    Then, I began to get dressed.


    "A-Aestrea¡­ w-why are you getting dressed?" she asked, her brows furrowing, confusion etched on her face.


    "N-neither of us orgasmed even once!" she added, her voice rising slightly, a hint of frustration in her tone.


    Her cheeks were flushed, embarrassment coloring her expression. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As I finished pulling my shirt over my head, I turned toward her.


    "Deal with it yourself."


    My voice came out in a bitter-cold tone.


    Then, I started walking away.


    "W-wait, A-Aestrea!" she tried to call after me, even stumbling slightly as she tried to get up, only to fall back to her knees.


    But I ignored her.


    Her words had made me fucking terribly mad.


    A few minutes later, I reached my dorm room, and without a second thought, I stepped straight into the shower, turning the water to freezing cold.


    Drip!


    The freezing water bit at my skin as it ran down my back, making my muscles tense. I stood there, staring at my reflection in the bathroom mirror, watching the steam rise.


    My blood-red eyes were glowing unnaturally, leaving a scarlet smoke trail as I moved my head slowly.


    The blue color from before had completely dissipated away.


    However, as I continued staring at me, the glow in my eyes started flicking slightly, which didn''t surprise me at all.


    After all, the glow of my eyes is aligned with my emotions.


    "Fucking bitch..." I cursed bitterly under my breath.


    I raised my head to the ceiling, enough to make the water fall directly into my face before letting out a deep sigh.


    My partner had already softened up due to the sheer cold water, so I simply ended up finishing my bath before going to sleep.


    Alaine hadn''t arrived yet, and Lumi seemed to already be asleep peacefully in the tattoo, so I didn''t need to disturb either of them.


    "Haghh... dammit."


    ''Maybe I shouldn''t have left abruptly like that.''


    ''I mean... if she didn''t actually want to have sex, she could have at least told me, no? I wouldn''t indulge so much in that pleasure if she did so.''


    ''Fuck...! I don''t care anymore.''


    I closed my eyes, drifting off to sleep.


    It took an hour or so to fall asleep, but eventually, I did.


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    "H-he''s... leaving?"


    Zeva knelt there on the cold, hard dirt floor, her body trembling slightly as the last remnants of pleasure slowly seeped away.


    She had never been left like that¡ª


    abandoned


    ¡ªnot like this.


    Not like she was experienced in


    those things,


    but no one had ever dared to simply walk away¡ª


    especially not after what had almost happened.


    Zeva... is a pure virgin, someone who didn''t even lose her first kiss.


    But today, Aestrea almost took all of her first times.


    But then... he left?


    Just like that?


    He actually dared to leave?


    That made her speechless, stupidly mad.


    "Hah.. agh... ha..."


    Her breathing was erratic and uneven, and she clenched her fists on the ground, biting her lip to hold back the flood of emotions threatening to overwhelm her.


    Her emerald eyes darted up, following Aestrea''s retreating figure. He hadn''t even spared her a glance as he walked away as if what they had shared meant nothing.


    She clenched her teeth and let out a ragged breath, frustration bubbling up again.


    "How¡­ how can he just¡ªjust walk away like that?" she muttered, her voice trembling with disbelief.


    Her hands tightened into fists at her sides, her nails digging into her palms until they turned white.


    Her eyes widened in pure madness, her breathing hitched again, and for a moment, she leaned back against the wall, slumping against it.


    "He thinks he can just¡­ ignore me?" Her voice trembled, rising slightly in disbelief and anger.


    "I''m not just someone you can just fucking walk away from after almost having sex with her, Aestrea. I''m fucking more than those types of bitches¡­"


    "Once I''m interested in someone... I''ll make sure that fucking bastard is interested in me too, no matter what method I use."


    "Even if I need to give up my own virginity or body to achieve it."


    Zeva whispered to herself as her eyes burned with an undying flame before picking up her clothes and getting dressed.


    She hung the twin swords on her waist before undoing the barrier.


    "He thinks he can leave me behind after what we did?" she muttered again as she walked away from the training camp.


    "I won''t stop until I make him pay¡­ until I make him realize what he truly desires¡­ what we both want¡­"


    If Aestrea was here, he would probably wonder what she was talking about. Her words didn''t make sense after all.


    What he truly desires?


    He just wanted a quick fuck to lose his overwhelming lust, but she fucking refused him. Not to mention, that, from his perspective, she was the one that seduced him.


    So, she should be the one suffering the consequences.


    "Agh~... is this love?" she pondered aloud to herself.


    Thump, thump, thump!


    She placed her hand on her breasts, feeling the quick beating of her heart.


    "It''s beating fast... really fast," she uttered to herself.


    A faint blush crept out to her face as her lips curved into a faint smile.


    But what if he refuses me¡­ if he truly refuses¡­


    She would find a way¡ªsome way¡ªto make Aestrea realize that they were destined to be together¡­ no matter what.


    No matter what it took.


    No matter how much she had to take to make him see it¡­


    No matter what.


    She licked her red lips.


    He will see.


    He has to.


    ...


    [A/N: Crazy fucking bitch. This isn''t my made-up character anymore, I swear she wrote these words herself.]

 Chapter 54 *The Moonlight Swordsman (XX)*

    "Slurp~, chuu... slick?"


    Pop~


    "Gaghak... slurp! Haaa...?"


    "Agh..."


    Aestrea groaned softly, as he groggily tried to pry his eyes open. He shifted his legs slightly, but surprisingly, he couldn''t move them at all.


    It felt as if they were stuck, or chained by something.


    "Chu~, churup?"


    "Fuck!"


    Some weird noises reached out to him as he suddenly tightened his legs, feeling a deep suction on his penis, something tight, soft, and wet wrapped around it.


    Immediately, his eyes snapped open, and slowly the blurriness got clearer, and that''s when he noticed a familiar figure with her head lowered, close to his penis with her lips wrapped around it, making a duck face.


    Pop~


    "Phwaa~..." she finally pulled away, her red lips parting from him with a soft pop, leaving a glistening sheen behind.


    Her hand didn''t stop, though, lazily stroking him as her emerald-green eyes locked onto his.


    Her green eyes landed on Aestrea''s shocked one as her lips curved into a small sly smile.


    "Are you finally awake?" she asked in a strange seductive tone, before stopping stroking his penis and pressing the glistening head of his penis with the tip of her index finger.


    "Seems like this woke up long before you did," she purred, licking her red lips.


    Slowly, she pulled her finger away, a thread of his precum clinging to her fingertip, which she held up for him to see.


    "Zeva...?" Aestrea murmured as his eyelids fluttered.


    A sharp, pounding headache surged through him, and he squinted against the pain, his vision growing hazy, blurring more with each passing second.


    "Aestrea? Are you okay?"


    Zeva''s voice felt distant, like it was trying to cut through water, muffled and faint, slipping just out of reach.


    "Aestrea?"


    "...Aestrea!?"


    "Aes¡ª"


    ¡ªFuck!


    "Haagh... haaa... shit!"


    I cursed under my breath, clutching my head because of the incoming pain that made my whole body tingle in fucking pain.


    "Did I seriously have a wet dream?" I couldn''t help but murmur to myself in complete disbelief.


    Was it because I stopped with Zeva just when things were about to hit their peak?


    "Damn it..."


    I groaned as I staggered out of bed, my legs heavy, and shuffled toward the bathroom.


    Splash!


    I started splashing water on my face, trying to clear my thoughts.


    My mind was a mess, spinning like a freaking beyblade.


    I mean, wasn''t I past the age for this kind of thing?


    Like, what the fuck?


    Slip!


    As I was lost in thought, the sound of the shower curtain sliding open jolted me back to reality.


    "M-Master?!"


    My head snapped to the side, and there she was¡ªAlaine, standing before me. She wasn''t hiding her true appearance since she was at my dorm...


    But...


    There was only one single problem.


    Alaine was naked.


    She reached for a towel on the side, completely bare, her body glistening with droplets of water that slid slowly down her seductive body.


    Her lips were a soft, pale pink, perfectly complementing her flawless snow-white skin.


    Her long, delicate ears twitched slightly, and her light green eyes locked onto mine, glowing faintly in the bathroom''s dim light.


    Her chest was... also... amazingly beautiful.


    My gaze lowered a bit, her bare breasts were huge, even bigger than I had first thought. They had a perfect shape with two seductive light pink peaks etched on them.


    Lower down, her slender waist drew my attention next, its graceful curve flowing seamlessly into her hips and long, elegant legs, just like an Echidna''s lower body.


    Her thighs framed her most intimate place¡ªa small, white bud of a flower, the faint pink slit at its center hinting at the untouched depths within.


    She looked thoroughly beautiful...


    And yeah, my body instantly reacted.


    Instantly.


    Real hard.


    I was only wearing my underwear, so I immediately felt it¡ªmy cock hardening, straining against the fabric, until it began to push free, slipping out over the waistband.


    "Ahh..." Her gaze lowered, locking onto me, and a rush of hot embarrassment shot straight to my head.


    Her face flushed a deep red, but then, to my utter disbelief, she bit her lower lip¡ªslowly, seductively. My cock twitched in response, and I felt my composure slipping fast.


    "Fuck..." I muttered under my breath.


    Without another word, I turned on my heel, grabbed the door, and slammed it shut between us. My back hit the door as I leaned against it, my hand clutching my forehead.


    My heart was pounding.


    Like seriously?


    That had to fucking happen?


    Shaking my head, I forced myself to move.


    I crossed the room, yanked open my wardrobe, and grabbed the student uniform provided by the academy.


    ¡º Cleanse ¡»


    The spell freshened me up instantly.


    Without sparing another thought, I threw on my clothes and bolted out of the dorm, leaving Alaine behind.


    That scene was too embarrassing for me to be able to see her face again so soon.


    Although... she was having different thoughts from me.


    ...


    As soon as slid the shower curtain to the right, Alaine''s eyes widened as she saw Aestrea''s figure splashing water on his face.


    But then, after hearing her movements, he abruptly turned his head as his eyes immediately widened upon seeing her.


    Alaine was shocked.


    But from his reaction, Alaine immediately noticed that Aestrea didn''t know that she was there. Her face immediately started reddening, as her legs shifted slightly.


    But despite that, a small frown appeared on her face...


    ''...Why isn''t he getting hard?'' she pondered to herself.


    Normally, people with Aestrea''s age would almost immediately go hard as soon as they saw the naked body of a beautiful woman like her.


    After all, she was a high elf, her beauty enhanced far beyond that of ordinary women.


    Her flawless, snow-white skin, her perfectly proportioned figure, her delicate features¡ªthey were all designed to captivate.


    However, as soon as she saw Aestrea''s eyes go lower, she immediately felt her skin get redder, as she felt a strange feeling overwhelming her body.


    Squish...


    A faint, tingling sensation pulsed from her core, making her shudder instinctively. That was when it hit her¡ªshe was getting excited.


    Her breath hitched.


    ''...Am I aroused because he''s looking at me?''


    She quickly realized.


    Although she was still a virgin, she was more than one hundred years old, and her experience over her emotions and mental state was extremely great.


    So, she wasn''t like those na?ve little girls who would take weeks, months, or even years to realize their feelings.


    And upon realizing this...


    She licked her lips, a wicked smile creeping onto her face.


    ''Look at me more...''


    ''Turn my body into your personal movie screen...''


    ''Want me...''


    ''Ravage me with your eyes...''


    Her dirty thoughts started increasing more, as she felt her body responding to the attention that Aestrea gave to it.


    And then she saw it.


    Her eyes dropped to the hardened bulge in his underwear, growing until it slipped free, popping out of Aestrea''s pants.


    It was his cock¡ªthick, long, and undeniably aroused.


    It twitched slightly as soon as her gaze focused on it.


    Her lips parted as she bit down softly on the lower one.


    ''It''s... big, really big.''


    Her imagination started to run wild, visions flashing through her head.


    ''Ah... how good would it feel if that huge thing was put inside of me?''


    ''...What about its taste?''


    ''Would it be salty like my friends that told me...''''


    ''Would he shoot a huge load inside of me?''


    ''...Haaa?, I can''t wait for it...''


    Her thighs pressed together as a wave of heat surged through her.


    Her green eyes turned into his reddish ones, his face was as red as hers, and his hands hovered awkwardly, unsure whether to cover himself or not.


    ''Fufu~, he must be embarrassed~,'' she thought, giggling to herself.


    ''Don''t worry, I don''t mind...''


    ''If you want, you can stare at me, do whatever you want to me...''


    ''After all...''


    Slam!


    Aestrea left, slamming the door from the bathroom shut.


    ''I belong to you, my dear Master.''


    ...


    "Fuck, fuck, fuck...!" I muttered under my breath, running a hand through my hair.


    The memory of Alaine''s bare body wouldn''t leave me.


    It was burned into my brain¡ªher flawless curves, the way her long ears twitched, the heated look in her eyes when she bit her lip¡­


    And that wet, inviting cavern...


    "Ugh...!"


    I groaned, rubbing my temples, trying to push the image away from my mind. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Get a grip, Aestrea..." I scolded myself.


    ''Damn, I really need to release this lust of mine.''


    My eyes landed on the window as I was already halfway across the academy ground. The color of my eyes started flickering its light blue tone again.


    But this time, it was even more intense than before.


    "Aestrea...?"


    A familiar voice suddenly reached out to me, jolting me out of my thoughts.


    ''Another one?!''


    I exclaimed inwardly.


    I turned to the side, only to see Ella standing there, her face etched with concern. Her eyes locked onto mine, and for a moment, I froze.


    "Your eyes..." she uttered softly.


    "I don''t need to hear it," I interrupted her words quickly, squeezing my eyes shut as a dull ache throbbed in my head.


    Before I could step away, I felt something gentle¡ªa soft hand caressing my cheek.


    My eyes snapped open, and there she was, her face inches from mine, her fingers brushing against my skin with delicate care.


    Her brows furrowed, her expression filled with worry.


    "Are you okay?" she inquired softly, reaching out with her other hand to me.


    But at that moment, I pulled back instinctively, taking a step away.


    "I''m fine," I replied quickly.


    "So don''t worry, alright? Just need a bit of fresh air..."


    I scratched the back of my head awkwardly before turning around and walking off, putting as much distance between us as I could.


    As I moved further away, I thought I heard her whisper my name.


    But even if she did, I chose to ignore it.


    "Damn it... what classes do I even have today?" I muttered to myself, pulling out my phone to check the schedule.


    The first class was the Mana Application.


    I sighed and started walking toward the classroom.


    As I entered, I noticed Ella was already there. She glanced at me briefly, but I just shrugged it off and headed straight to my seat.


    Before I could settle in, a teasing voice cut through the air behind me.


    "Oh-ho... Student Aestrea, you''ve finally decided to grace us with your presence?"


    I turned to see Eleonora standing there, a smirk plastered across her face.


    ''Gosh. Just looking at her face made me annoyed...''


    However, I froze at her next words...


    "You''re twenty minutes late for class and don''t even bother to apologize?" she said, tapping her chin as if in thought.


    "You really are getting rebellious, aren''t you?"


    "Twenty minutes...?" I murmured under my breath, freezing in place.


    I had just walked over here.


    How could twenty minutes have passed?


    What the fuck is happening to me?


    "Agh!"


    A sharp pang shot through my head, and I winced, clutching it as the dull ache forced me to crouch down.


    My breathing quickened as I pressed a hand to my forehead just to touch beads of sweat.


    I was sweating...


    "Aestrea... are you okay?"


    Eleonora''s voice shifted from teasing to concerned as she knelt down beside me, her expression serious.


    Then her eyes widened in shock.


    "Your eyes...?!" she gasped.


    I blinked at her, confused.


    "My eyes?"


    Fumbling, I pulled out my phone and turned on the camera to see what she was talking about.


    The moment I saw my reflection, I froze.


    The headache was gone¡ªcompletely gone. In its place, a strange, refreshing sensation washed over me, like cool water flowing through my veins.


    But my eyes...


    They weren''t the same anymore.


    The dull red color had vanished entirely, replaced by a vibrant, glowing light blue.


    Beneath my pupils, a crescent moon shimmered faintly, resting as if cradled in my gaze.


    I barely had time to process what I was seeing before two thin streams of blood trickled down from the corners of my eyes, leaving crimson trails on my cheeks.


    "What... what is happening to me?"


    This wasn''t normal at all.

 Chapter 55 The Moonlight Swordsman (XXI)

    "Hayaa!"


    THRUM!


    A massive black beam tore through the air as Lucas swung the disguised Excalibur in his hand.


    The force of it reverberated through the battlefield.


    Rose''s eyes widened upon seeing the total strength of the beam, panic flashing across her face, and immediately, she raised her staff.


    ¡º Multiple Layer Barrier! (? 4th-level Spell ?)¡»


    CRACK!


    The moment the beam collided with Rose''s barrier, cracks shattered through it like fragile glass.


    The attack pushed forward without slowing.


    "Ella!" Rose shouted.


    "I''m on it!" Ella replied sharply.


    On the right side, Ella coated her sword in a powerful golden mana before stepping in front of Rose, swinging with all her might.


    ¡º Royal Swordsmanship! (? Heavenly Strike! ?)¡»


    BAAM!


    The impact of the two powers colliding with each other sent shockwaves rippling outward.


    And despite Ella''s effort, Lucas''s beam was too powerful, forcing both Ella and Rose to be thrown back several meters.


    Thud!


    Rose groaned, brushing off dirt from her clothes as she staggered to her feet.


    "Ugh¡­ that hurt," she muttered, wincing.


    Ella stood as well, shaking dust off her shoulders.


    "Same here," she said curtly.


    On the sidelines, Maya''s mouth dropped open in awe.


    "Whoa!" She jumped up, eyes sparkling with excitement.


    Without hesitation, she dashed toward Lucas, her enthusiasm bubbling over.


    "Lucas! How the heck did you get that strong?!" she demanded, bouncing on her toes. "Tell me, tell me!"


    Seeing Maya so close, Lucas stiffened slightly, and averted his eyes away from her, before replying in a low tone to Maya.


    "My parents''s inheritance had a special item for me. I''m not telling more than that," he lied through his teeth.


    It was obviously the Excalibur that had granted such power to him, and now, he was an S- ranker! A big jump indeed, in just the span of a few days.


    "Reaaalllly?" Maya narrowed her eyes slightly, looking at Lucas suspiciously.


    Before she could press further, Iris walked over, placing a hand on Maya''s shoulder.


    "Maya stop, if he wants to have some secrets, leave him with them," Iris winked at Lucas which made him smile lightly.


    "Ugh, not fair!" Maya pouted, puffing out her cheeks. "He gets to level up like crazy while the rest of us have to grind forever!"


    Ella, who had been watching from nearby, crossed her arms:


    "Didn''t we just clear an inheritance dungeon a few weeks ago?" she said, frowning. "We all got a huge power boost. What are you complaining about?"


    "Ahhh¡­ right. Forgot about that." Maya blinked, then let out a sheepish laugh.


    Hearing their conversation, Rose, dusting off her sleeves, tilted her head curiously.


    "Lucas, now that you''re so strong¡­ do you think you could beat Aestrea?" she asked softly.


    A faint blush crept across her cheeks as soon as she mentioned his name.


    Lucas paused, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.


    "Wait, wait, wait!" Maya suddenly burst out, pointing at Rose with wide eyes. "Are you blushing?! Oh my gosh!"


    ''Aestrea is ridiculously strong...''


    "N-no, I''m not!" Rose stammered, her face turning redder as she shook her head frantically.


    From the side, Iris smirked and gave Rose''s waist a playful pinch.


    "Kyaa!" Rose yelped, jumping.


    "Uh-huh. Don''t even try to deny it, Rose. You''re totally blushing," Iris teased, her grin mischievous.


    ''But, now that I have the Excalibur... I should be able to beat him, right? After all, I''m not a low S-rank awakened!'' Lucas pondered to himself.


    Grinning ear to ear, Maya leaned closer to Rose. "Ohhhh, do you have a thing for Aestrea now?" she teased, waggling her eyebrows.


    Rose took a step back, flustered. "N-no! Of course not!"


    "Oh please," Iris interjected, smirking. "Don''t lie. You''re totally into him."


    "And now.... our dear princess has some competition!" Iris winked at Ella who had a dark expression splattered all over her face.


    Hearing Iris''s words, Maya gasped dramatically, turning to her. "So who''s gonna win his heart first? Rose, or our princess here?"


    "Mhm... I don''t know...! My vote, though, it''s on our dear princess! I mean look at her, white hair and precious light blue eyes, not to mention her royal beauty!" Iris replied, nodding her head with confidence.


    "What?!" Maya gasped. "No way! Rose all the way! Go, Rose! You''ve got this!" She threw her hands in the air, cheering loudly.


    Ella''s brow twitched at their interaction, but she said nothing, though the corner of her mouth twitched in irritation.


    ''Mhm... I should be able to beat him!'' After thinking for a few minutes, Lucas finally confidently nodded to himself.


    He had completely ignored their conversation.


    <By the way, who is this Aestrea?>


    A faint glow pulsed from Excalibur as its voice appeared in Lucas''s mind.


    ''Aestrea? Well...'' Lucas clutched the hilt of the Excalibur tightly.


    The sword could feel his emotions entirely.


    ''He''s my rival, and the one I need to surpass currently!'' he declared inwardly.


    <Oh? He seems interesting...>


    ''Yeah. Oh¡ªspeaking of the devil¡­''


    Lucas''s eyes caught sight of a familiar figure entering the training camp. His silver-blue hair swayed in the wind, catching the sunlight.


    But what truly stood out were his eyes.


    His eyes instead of having the normal red color, now were completely light blue.


    <I-is that him...?>


    The Excalibur stammered slightly upon seeing Aestrea.


    ''Yeah. Why do you sound so freaked out?'' Lucas tilted his head slightly, confused by the sword''s strange reaction.


    <That boy... he has a goddamn monster inside of him...>


    ''Huh, what do you mean by that?''


    <Exactly what I said. He has a strange creature inside of him, even I cannot pry into it, and just looking at him, gives me a really dangerous feeling!>


    <You should be really careful of him!>


    At the sword''s words, Lucas narrowed his eyes lightly as he stared at Aestrea. At the same time, a panel from the system popped in front of him.


    [Main Quest #7¡ª


    Make Aestrea ####''s favorability reach $#%$# points?!?!?!?!!? (COMPLETED)


    ? Current Favorability: 25 (NEUTRAL)


    Kill more than 200 middle-ranking demon beasts. (Completed)


    Kill more than 50 high-ranking demon beasts. (Completed)


    Kill a single named Demon Beast. (Completed)


    Stop the awakening of one of the Seven Demon Generals.


    Time Remaining: 4 days, 11 hours, 52 minutes and 58 seconds.


    Rewards: ???]


    ''What the¡­?''


    Lucas''s eyes widened in disbelief.


    The mission to raise Aestrea''s favorability had been completed, and his favorability had even decreased by 24 points.


    <Lucas? What are you looking at?>


    ''Ah... nothing.'' Lucas muttered to himself, shaking his head.


    The system was a gift bestowed by the Goddess of Light herself.


    He couldn''t tell anyone about it, not even Excalibur.


    But then, the ground trembled.


    BOOOOM!


    CRUMBLE!


    Suddenly, as Lucas was lost in thought, a huge explosion occurred, and instantly, his eyes snapped to the source of the explosion.


    Ella, Maya, Iris, and Rose also did the same.


    They exchanged glances before starting to run towards the place...


    "P-p-please s-stop! I b-beg you!"


    A sudden yet desperate cry reached out to them as they arrived at the place.


    What they saw made their blood run cold.


    "Aestrea...?"


    Aestrea stood in the center of the destruction, his hand gripping Telmos''s face, holding the trembling man high in the air.


    Next to them was Leon, the prince, who looked at Aestrea with mortified eyes. His body quivered in sheer fear.


    "Hakguk..."


    Telmos choked out, saliva dripping from the corner of his mouth as he struggled to form words. But Aestrea''s grip tightened, cutting off his attempts.


    "Aestrea, stop!" Immediately, Ella''s voice rang out sharply as she stepped forward


    "Huh?!"


    Slowly turning his head, Aestrea''s eyes landed on her face.


    Not only Ella but even the group behind, felt almost paralyzed as his light blue eyes landed on them.


    Instead of the usual ominous red glow, his eyes were completely empty, without a shred of brilliance¡ªjust a pure, chilling light blue color.


    However, as his gaze landed on them, the brilliance gradually returned.


    Without a word, he released his grip.


    Thud! sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Telmos crumpled to the ground, gasping for air.


    "Augh!" Telmos groaned weakly, his body convulsing as he clutched his head.


    "What do you think you''re doing?!" Ella stormed up to Aestrea, her face flushed with anger.


    Without hesitation, she grabbed the collar of his blazer and gave it a hard shake, her frustration boiling over.


    But instead of replying, Aestrea met her eyes, without saying anything...


    Immediately, a vein popped in Ella''s forehead, as she gripped his collar tightly.


    "Why did you att¡ª!"


    "¡ªSecond Princess Ella," he uttered a single word.


    The way he addressed her made her freeze completely. Her hands were still clutching his collar when he calmly grabbed her wrists and peeled them off.


    "It''s none of your business."


    He turned back toward Telmo, but before he could take another step, Lucas appeared in front of him, pointing a sword at his neck.


    "I''m sorry Aestrea... but unless you explain what happened, I cannot let you touch him," Lucas said firmly, with a strange confidence.


    Seeing him, Aestrea''s lips curled into a mocking yet sly smile.


    "Why? Just because you got a bit stronger, you think you can beat me already?" his eyes narrowed slightly.


    All of them were surprised by his words.


    Aestrea had directly detected that Lucas had grown stronger, something even they couldn''t do.


    "Just let me tell you something... you''re far away from it," he pinched the blade of the Excalibur and tried to push it to the side.


    Immediately, he felt a slight heat on his finger as he tried to push the blade aside.


    He turned his eyes towards it, and saw a cut on his finger, just by touching the nonsharpened part of the blade.


    "This sword..." Aestrea mumbled, looking at the sword.


    He also felt that the sword was looking at him, which made him let out a small laugh.


    "Well, maybe you''re even stronger than me..." he said lightly, his eyes never backing away from the sword as if spitting that Lucas was only stronger than him because of the sword.


    "But... it still isn''t enough to beat me..."


    Before Lucas could respond, a powerful wave of silver energy burst out of Aestrea.


    THRUM!


    The energy pushed everyone back like a strong gust of wind, except for Telmo, who wasn''t touched by it at all.


    Aestrea had deliberately made it that way.


    He walked closer to him and took the sword out of his waist. Then, he lifted his finger slightly, and Telmo''s arm stretched out in the air.


    He raised his sword at it.


    "...Don''t you fucking dare talk about her ever again," Aestrea uttered coldly as he swung his sword.


    CLANG!


    Creack!


    "Agh... dammit!"


    Lucas appeared in front of Telmo, blocking the attack just in time. Sparks flew as their swords clashed, and Lucas''s arms trembled from the force of the blow.


    Aestrea frowned, his cold eyes narrowing as he pressed down harder.


    His silver energy grew stronger, but Lucas quickly surrounded Excalibur with his pitch-black mana.


    "HAAA!"


    Gathering enough strength, Lucas pushed Aestrea back and rushed forward.


    Fwip!


    To everyone''s surprise, Aestrea suddenly threw his sword at Lucas. Lucas dodged easily, but when he turned to strike back, he froze.


    Multiple weapons were pointed at him.


    Ella''s sword was at the back of his neck. Rose stood on his left, her blade steady. Iris had her staff aimed at his spine, glowing with mana.


    Maya''s fists, covered in blue energy, were inches from his stomach.


    "Stop Aestrea... you cannot win a battle against all of us together," Ella spoke in a cold tone, looking strangely at Aestrea.


    Her emotions were pretty messed up.


    For a moment, Aestrea looked at them, then let out a small laugh.


    "Ah... you guys really are too naive..." he let out a small laugh.


    "Even if I was alone, I could still win," he paused slightly.


    "But who said I''m alone?"


    FWOOP!


    "Huh?"


    Suddenly, everyone''s weapons flew out of their hands and into the air.


    Before they could react, Aestrea disappeared.


    They turned and saw him standing nearby with his maid, who was calm and composed, but her presence was overwhelming.


    "That maid..." Lucas''s eyes narrowed as he grabbed Excalibur back.


    "She''s a high S-rank awakened..." Ella nodded her head.


    Looking at them, Aestrea sneered slightly.


    "By the way, now there''s another reason for me not to join your group at the festival." He turned and walked away, his maid following behind him.


    But they didn''t react to his words.


    They were still stupefied by how strong his maid was.

 Chapter 56 The Moonlight Swordsman (XXII)

    [Aestrea''s POV]


    "Dammit..."


    I muttered under my breath, staring into the bathroom mirror.


    My reflection was almost unrecognizable.


    My eyes had completely changed color, and now I couldn''t even recognize myself.


    But even more frustrating? The status window wouldn''t open for me to figure out what the hell was going on.


    Instead, the same irritating message kept flashing.


    [The system is currently under a new update!]


    "This stupid update has got to have something to do with my eyes," I grumbled, dragging a hand down my face before letting out a deep sigh.


    After splashing some water on my face, I left the bathroom, before starting to walk through the academy grounds.


    The place was ridiculously massive¡ªso big, I felt like I needed a map just to keep track of where I''d been.


    And honestly, even if I explored every day, I''d probably still miss half of it by the time the semester ended.


    As I wandered aimlessly, a soft, familiar voice broke through my thoughts.


    "...Oh my."


    I turned my head, already recognizing the teasing tone.


    "...Violet."


    I unconsciously uttered her name directly.


    "Ara~? You''re calling this big sister by her name? How cute," she said, laughing lightly and covering her mouth with a perfectly manicured hand.


    "Haaa..." I frowned, my shoulders slumping a little.


    I really wasn''t in the mood for her today, but well...


    "What''s with that face? Aren''t you happy to see me?" she tilted her head to the right, giving me a mock-pout.


    "...Yeah, yeah, I''m very happy indeed," A small and forced smile appeared on my face as I said those words in the "happiest" tone possible.


    My tone was the absolute definition of sarcasm, but of course, she didn''t care.


    "That''s what I like to hear!" Violet said brightly as if I''d just handed her a compliment. She stood a little taller, clearly pleased with herself.


    Was she playing dumb, or did she seriously not notice my tone?


    Whatever it was, I didn''t have the energy to figure it out.


    "So, my cute Junior..." she started, her violet eyes glinting with amusement, "how about we go on a date during the festival?"


    "...A date?" My eyes narrowed slightly.


    Where the hell did that come from?


    "Exactly! A date! Just you and me," she said, clasping her hands together like she was proposing the greatest idea in the world.


    "It''ll be a chance for us to get to know each other better!" Her smile was warm, but the sparkle in her eyes told me she was up to something.


    I could already feel the gazes from the students around...


    Couldn''t they be quieter?


    "Ah... I''m sorry, but I''ll have to ref¡ª"


    "¡ªIt''s a promise, then!" she interrupted, suddenly closing the distance between us.


    Her pinky hooked onto mine before I could react, and she gave it a little shake.


    "A pinky promise is sacred, so don''t even think about breaking it," she said, winking mischievously.


    "I''ll see you at the central fountain when the festival starts! Don''t be late, Junior~!"


    And just like that, before I could argue or even process what had just happened, she disappeared.


    Vanished.


    Like smoke in the wind.


    "...Fuck," I muttered, running a hand through my hair.


    My gaze drifted upwards to the sky as I let out another deep sigh. The sunlight felt annoyingly bright as I tapped my cheek lightly, trying to pull myself together.


    The festival was only three days away.


    And of course, I wasn''t remotely ready for it.


    Not physically, not mentally¡ªnot anything.


    I hadn''t even bothered to make plans because, well, I''d been too lazy to care.


    And now, between Violet''s ridiculous antics and whatever was happening to my body, the festival was shaping up to be just amazing.


    And just when I thought today couldn''t get any worse...


    "Hey, commoner!"


    An obnoxiously familiar voice cut through the air, loud enough to make my blood boil.


    I didn''t need to look to know who it was¡ªTelmo, the arrogant brat who clung to Ella like a dog, strutting around like he owned the place.


    And, as usual, his "royal highness", Prince Leon, was trailing right behind him, wearing that smug little smirk he always had.


    I ignored them.


    I wasn''t in the mood to deal with them.


    Not today.


    "Fucking brat¡­ OI! AESTREA!" Telmo shouted, quickly rushing towards me.


    A hand suddenly clamped down on my shoulder, attempting to hold me in place.


    "Reply to me, you bastard!" he growled with an irritated voice.


    Gosh...


    I let out an exaggerated sigh and brushed his hand off me like it was nothing more than an annoying insect.


    "I''m really not in the mood for this, Telmo. Try again next time."


    I turned to walk away, but before I could take another step, Leon''s voice, or rather, the name he uttered, made me stop in my tracks.


    "Liliana..."


    That name.


    My chest tightened as I froze in place.


    "Is that name familiar to you?" Leon continued, a sly smile curling his lips.


    "Haha," he chuckled softly, crossing his arms like he had all the power in the world.


    "Wasn''t she your big sister? I did a little digging into your past, and wow, what a tragic story. A whole village burned to the ground¡­ such a pity."


    He shook his head, pretending to look sad, but his tone was full of mockery.


    Hearing Leon''s words, Telmo also laughed, as he added:


    "Come to think of it," he started, a disgusting grin spreading across his face, "wasn''t she supposed to be the most beautiful girl in that shitty little village of yours? Damn... if I''d been there earlier, maybe I could''ve been her knight in shining armor. Imagine all the fun we could''ve had..."


    He licked his lips provocatively, and that was it.


    That was enough.


    I turned to them slowly, my expression dark, and I could feel the light in my eyes vanish. It was like something deep inside me had turned off, leaving behind only cold fury.


    "Hey, losers..."


    Both of them bristled at the insult, their arrogance replaced by growing annoyance.


    "You little bastard!" Telmo barked. "Do you even know who¡ª"


    "¡ªDo me a favor," I interrupted coldly, "and clench your fucking teeth."


    Before either of them could react, I disappeared from their view, moving faster than their eyes could follow.


    THUD!


    "K-Kuhgh!"


    "Augh!"


    Both of them crumpled to the ground, clutching their stomachs where I''d landed two clean punches. They gasped for air, saliva, and even a trace of blood dripping from their mouths.


    Without wasting a moment, I grabbed Telmo by the head, my fingers gripping his skull tightly as I hoisted him off the ground like a ragdoll.


    "You little¡ªf-fuck! S-stop it, you bastard!" Telmo wheezed, his hands clawing at my wrist. His legs flailed uselessly, but nothing he did could loosen my grip.


    I could hear Leon behind me, muttering an incantation.


    Trying to cast a spell, huh?


    ¡º Fire Series: Fire Bomb! (? 5th-Tier Spell ?) ¡»


    BOOOOM!


    CRUMBLE!


    The explosion roared through the space, the ground trembling beneath us. Smoke filled the air, but as it cleared, Leon''s triumphant expression twisted into one of pure disbelief.


    "I... Impossible..." Leon''s eyes widened as he whispered, falling to his knees.


    I hadn''t suffered a single injury, as a small layer of silver mana coated my entire body before dissipating away.


    Well, the privilege of having such a dense and high mana quality was quite great.


    "Pathetic," I muttered to Leon coldly, turning my attention back to Telmo.


    "AHH!"


    Leon shrieked in fear upon hearing my words. It must have been his first time being so overpowered.


    "S-stop...!"


    I heard a small murmur and switched my gaze to Telmo, whose strength was slowly dissipating away.


    "...Beg."


    "W-what...? I-I¡ªAAAGH!" Telmo tried to resist, but a simple increase in pressure made him cry out in pain.


    He swallowed his saliva audibly, his body quivering as he finally spoke:


    "P-p-please s-stop! I b-beg you!"


    He cried out.


    But, that wasn''t enough for me.


    How dare he say those words about her?


    Did he truly have a fucking death wish?


    Or was he confident enough at the prince and the forces behind him?


    Doesn''t he fucking know that I literally offended the Emperor on the first day that I''ve ever seen him?


    "Hakguk..."


    Telmos choked out as saliva started dripping from the corner of his mouth as he struggled to form words.


    I was so fucking mad by their dumb attack that I couldn''t help but increase my strength unconsciously.


    "Aestrea, stop!"


    A sudden shout called out to me.


    "Huh?!"


    I turned my head towards the source of the voice just to see Ella, Lucas, Maya, Iris, and Rose, who had shocked expressions etched on their faces. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    They also seemed a bit scared upon seeing my eyes.


    I blinked, my grip on Telmo loosening slightly.


    Thud!


    His body depressingly fell into the ground, before he started gasping for air.


    "Augh!" He groaned weakly, his body convulsing as he clutched his head, probably still feeling the pain from me clutching it.


    "What do you think you''re doing?!" Ella yelled, storming up to me.


    She grabbed my collar and gave it a hard shake, her light blue eyes burning with anger.


    I didn''t reply to her words.


    Instead, I looked towards her light blue eyes, I could see her anger increase as a visible vein appeared on her forehead.


    "Why did you att¡ª!"


    "¡ªSecond Princess Ella," I immediately interrupted her.


    She froze completely at my words.


    Was it because I directly revealed her identity?


    I wasn''t really sure about it, but I didn''t care at all.


    I calmly took her wrists off my collar, before adjusting it slightly.


    "It''s none of your business."


    I said so before turning to Telmo.


    But, someone else was in front of me, Lucas, with his sword pointed at me.


    "I''m sorry Aestrea... but unless you explain what happened, I cannot let you touch him," Lucas said firmly, with a strong confidence that me almost laugh.


    This was getting more complicated than it needed to be.


    But even as they all stood against me, I didn''t feel regret.


    Instead, it was better for me.


    So, I smiled at him.


    "Why? Just because you got a bit stronger, you think you can beat me already?" I narrowed my eyes slightly.


    From my ¡ºJudgement Eye (? S-Level Skill ?)¡» I could easily see that his power had increased by a ton.


    But, he still wasn''t stronger than me.


    After all, I too had some cheat, which was my Twin Heart Mana Body.


    But somehow, my words shocked his group.


    "Just let me tell you something... you''re far away from it," I said coldly.


    I reached out, pinching the flat side of his blade between my fingers, intending to push it aside.


    But strangely...


    I couldn''t.


    And the moment my skin touched the sword, I froze.


    And instead, I felt a little heat on my fingers, making me look at them.


    A faint burning sensation crept up my fingers, and when I glanced down, two lines of bode streamed down my fingers.


    I was a bit confused...


    "This sword..." I mumbled.


    But as I suddenly saw the strange symbol on the handle of the sword, I instantly knew why that had happened.


    This bastard had finally gotten the holy sword.


    The Excalibur.

 Chapter 57 The Moonlight Swordsman (XXIII)

    "Well, maybe you''re even stronger than me..." I added, my voice trailing off as my eyes stayed fixed on the sword in his hand.


    It was the holy sword, and from its looks, it was pulsating with power. Even with my special mana constitution, I wasn''t entirely confident I could match that kind of strength.


    Not against a weapon like that.


    Especially because of what was hidden inside of it.


    I couldn''t fully see it, but I knew.


    I''m sure that the Excalibur has some kind of sword spirit.


    Normally, as the bond between sword and user increases, their power will increase exponentially, just like Lumi and I.


    But still¡­ even with Excalibur in his hands¡­


    "But... it still isn''t enough to beat me..." I added faintly.


    THRUM!


    A pulse of silver mana exploded outward from me, rippling through the space like a shockwave.


    The force slammed into Lucas and the others like a tidal wave.


    His eyes widened as he staggered back, barely managing to keep his footing by stabbing the tip of his sword into the ground for support.


    Ella, Maya, Iris, and Rose were flung backward, landing hard several feet away.


    Lucas gritted his teeth, steadying himself, but Telmo¡­ well, I''d made sure he wouldn''t be going anywhere.


    He was still crumpled on the ground, gasping for air.


    I wanted him to feel every bit of this.


    He still had to pay for his words.


    Calmly, I began to walk toward him, my hand moving to unsheathe the sword at my waist.


    With a flick of mana, I lifted my hand, forcing his arm to stretch out as if held by invisible chains.


    "...Don''t you fucking dare talk about her ever again," I spoke in the coldest tone I could ever mutter, there was even a hint of killing intent in my voice.


    My grip on the hilt tightened as I raised my sword, ready to strike¡ª


    CLANG!


    Creak!


    The blow never landed. Lucas appeared in front of him, blocking my attack at the last possible moment.


    His sword quivered under the force of my strike, his arms trembling as sparks flew from the collision.


    "Agh¡­ dammit!" he cursed, gritting his teeth as he pushed against me.


    I frowned, my eyes narrowing.


    He was stronger than I''d expected.


    He was a bit stronger than I thought.


    Is that so?


    I poured more power into my blade, the silver energy surrounding me intensifying as it pulsed in waves.


    Lucas responded in kind, coating Excalibur in black mana as he grunted and pushed harder.


    "HAAA!"


    With a strong force, he was able to push me back.


    At that moment, the time seemed to slow down as I noticed three shadows around me, trying to attack me or keep me in place.


    Even with my speed, I could dodge one¡ªmaybe even two¡ªbut the third strike would land no matter what.


    Fwip!


    So, instead of holding my ground, I did the unexpected¡ªI threw my sword straight at Lucas, marking it with a special talisman that Alaine had given me.


    It allowed me to conjure [Wind Steps] once.


    Lucas easily dodged my sword, and just as he approached me, I was already surrounded.


    Ella''s blade rested coldly against the back of my neck. Rose stood to my left, her weapon poised on the front side of my neck.


    Maya''s fists, glowing with blue energy, hovered inches from my stomach while Iris stood behind me, her staff brimming with magic aimed at my spine.


    If they attack at the same time, I''d suffer a lot of injuries.


    "Stop Aestrea... you cannot win a battle against all of us together," Ella spoke in a cold tone, looking at me with hesitant eyes.


    What are you so hesitant about?


    Is it because you''re attacking me, the man that you like?


    Fucking hell.


    If you were going to be like this, you could have simply stood aside.


    And what''s that face for Rose?


    Why are you biting your lip?


    If you and your group didn''t bother the things I was doing, this wouldn''t have happened a lot. There was a small amount of silence during this time...


    And someone needed to break it, so, shaking my head, a grin slowly spreading across my face.


    "Ah... you guys really are too naive..." I said, almost pitying them.


    "Even if I was alone, I could still win..."


    I took a step forward, and they tensed.


    "But who said I''m alone?"


    FWOOP!


    Under my eyes, a sudden gust of wind exploded outward as the talisman I''d planted on my sword activated.


    Their weapons were ripped from their hands, flying into the air as I vanished.


    Alaine had finally arrived.


    By the time they turned, I''d already reappeared beside my sword, snatching it from the ground.


    As soon as the smoke cleared, everyone was looking at Alaine who had arrived at my side in surprise.


    I mean, who wouldn''t?


    She''s still a high S-rank awakened.


    However, the way they froze made me smirk. They knew they couldn''t take both of us on, and the look on their faces was almost pitiful.


    They were very cautious of her, and at their expressions, I only sneered.


    "By the way, now there''s another reason for me not to join your group at the festival," I said before turning around and walking away from them.


    Alaine also followed behind.


    She didn''t glance back once, but I could feel her mana subtly spread around us, watching their movements like a hawk.


    If they tried anything, she''d know before I even had to ask.


    "...Master, do you want me to kill them?"


    After walking for a while, Alaine asked me in a neutral tone. I turned and looked at her, seeing her determined eyes to follow my every order.


    What kind of luck do I have to have such a loyal servant?


    But well...


    "...No need. At least..."


    I still needed Lucas to kill the demon king.


    If the Demon King was affected by normal blows instead of the Holy Sword, I wouldn''t mind being the one to kill him.


    But after the Demon King there''s that damned Demon God that I got spoiled off in one of the reviews.


    Gosh, if it weren''t for those reviews and comments, I wouldn''t know much about what to do to get stronger.


    But for now, I''ll take a look at him for now...


    And if he does not pass my requirements...


    "Not yet."


    I''ll kill Lucas myself.


    Alaine promptly nodded her head at my words.


    But still, this is a bit troublesome...


    I shook my right shoulder lightly.


    The impact from Lucas''s strength had dealt me quite the damage.


    He has grown quite strong after getting that damned holy sword.


    So, I guess... it''s my time to get a power-up no?


    I glanced at my phone slightly...


    It seems that I was going to be busy for those three days before the festival.


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    "Master¡­ do you really have to go alone?" Alaine asked hesitantly, her hands carefully adjusting Aestrea''s equipment as she spoke.


    Her voice was soft, but the concern in it was clear.


    "Yeah, I do," Aestrea replied with a small nod. "If a high S-rank came along with me, we''d draw too much attention. I''d turn into a target the second I step foot in that place"


    He was dressed in dark clothing from head to toe, a long black jacket trailing down to his legs. Two swords rested securely at his waist, their blades hidden beneath dark sheaths.


    Inside his jacket, tucked into one of the inner pockets, a sleek white gun was hidden away.


    And finally, on his right hand, the mask that he had worn during the masked auction he attended with Christina stood quietly.


    "I''ll be going now..." Aestrea spoke to Alaine softly.


    "...W-wait a second!" Alaine called out suddenly, stepping toward him with hurried steps.


    "Mhm?" Aestrea raised an eyebrow, a hint of curiosity appearing across his face as he paused to wait for her.


    When she reached him, she tiptoed up and leaned closer.


    Without warning, she pressed a gentle kiss to his cheek.


    "...Good luck," she whispered, her lips curling into a warm, genuine smile as her eyes closed briefly.


    But before she could pull away¡ª


    Smack~


    Something soft brushed against her lips.


    Alaine''s eyes snapped open in surprise, just in time to feel a firm hand rest on her waist, pulling her closer, while another hand gently cupped her cheek.


    Her breath caught in her throat as she realized what was happening.


    Her cheeks turned a deep red as her heart raced. Slowly, her sparkling green eyes locked with his.


    And at that moment, she noticed it¡ªAestrea''s usual crimson-red eyes had finally returned, glowing faintly with their intense hue.


    "Haaa..."


    Their lips parted, and Alaine let out a soft gasp, her gaze still locked on his. Aestrea looked at her sparkling green eyes for a moment before smiling softly.


    "I''ll be back soon."


    Alaine also smiled at him.


    "I''ll be waiting..."


    Fwoop!


    The air stirred around her as Aestrea leaped out of the dorm room window.


    The gust of wind made her hair sway, and she instinctively stepped forward, leaning on the windowsill to watch him.


    Her eyes followed his figure as he moved quickly across the academy grounds, his dark coat fluttering behind him as he headed toward the central district.


    Thump, thump, thump!


    Her heart started beating real fast, as she let out a shaky sigh.


    "I''ll be waiting for you..."


    With one last glance out the window, Alaine slowly closed it. She turned toward Aestrea''s bed, hesitating for a moment before walking over to it.


    The faint scent of him still lingered on the sheets, and she couldn''t help but breathe it in as she sank onto the bed.


    Her hands instinctively reached for his pillow.


    She pulled it close, hugging it tightly to her chest, her face partially buried in its softness. Her nose twitched as she caught his familiar scent, and a small smile crept onto her lips.


    "I''ll miss you..."


    She sighed deeply, resting her cheek against the pillow as her fingers clung to the fabric. Even though he''d just left, she was already missing his presence.


    Meanwhile...


    As soon as Aestrea reached the central district, he turned to the right, entering a dark alley. It was narrow and quiet, with flickering lights barely lighting the way.


    The whole place felt dangerous, but that didn''t bother him.


    He cautiously looked at his surroundings and continued walking, feeling multiple gazes from the people in the corner.


    The people in the alley didn''t look nice at all. Most of them had scars on their faces, crooked grins, or just an overall rough and mean appearance.


    Some looked like they had been through a lot of fights¡ªand probably caused plenty too.


    But Aestrea just ignored them, while still keeping an eye on his back.


    He didn''t know if one of them would attack him or not.


    After walking for a while, he stopped in front of a huge man who looked like a wall made of muscle. The guy''s arms were crossed, and his face was completely blank, but the size of him alone was intimidating.


    Aestrea recognized him right away. He was the same man from the auction.


    Without saying anything, Aestrea handed the man a letter.


    The man took it and stared at him like he was sizing him up. Then, he pressed his finger to his right ear, where a small communication device was tucked.


    A moment later, he stepped aside and said:


    "You can go in."


    Aestrea didn''t say a word. He walked past him, heading further down the alley until he reached a door.


    Instead of knocking, he pushed it open without hesitation.


    Inside, a familiar face greeted him.


    Longing on an ornate sofa, twirling a glass of red wine on her hand, while still having the same annoying smug smile on her face, she turned her intense gaze towards him.


    Yara Devereux.


    The underground queen.


    "Well, well," she said with a teasing tone, taking a sip of her wine. "You''re back already? Did you miss me so much that you couldn''t stay away?"


    Aestrea ignored her words, and instead spoke:


    "I need something from you."


    Straight to the point.


    Yara raised an eyebrow, clearly interested. "Oh?"


    She didn''t ask what he wanted, instead, her lips curled into a playful smile:


    "And what do you plan to offer me in return?"


    At that, Aestrea''s lips twisted into a cold smile.


    "I''ll be your challenger in the Death Tournament."


    "Oh?"


    Yara''s playful expression shifted into something sharper. She stood up, her eyes glinting with excitement as she set her wineglass down. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Now, that''s interesting," she said with a wide grin as she stepped closer to him.


    "Now we''re talking."

 Chapter 58 The Moonlight Swordsman (XXIV)

    [A/N: By the way, a little note for those who are confused by the fact that Aestrea is so strong. You should know that his Mana Quality, and density, are SS+, basically on top of the world, not to mention that he also has a special mana constitution that amplifies his mana output and input by ten times! S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    So even though his mana is classified as B-rank (because of his poor quantity), it''s much stronger than that! It could even rival that of a high ss-rank mage, but of course, Aestrea would lose against one because he doesn''t train magic spells and because the quantity of his mana is pitifully low. Not to mention, that he still didn''t use his Aura.


    So yeah, I hope that I clarified everything.]


    The Death Tournament is an underground fight competition that happens every three months, hidden from the public eye.


    It''s pretty simple, really: sixteen challengers are chosen by the powerful figures in the underground world.


    As the name suggests, every single person who steps into that arena is there to fight until someone dies, whether they want to or not.


    Once you enter the stage, there''s no way out. The only thing that matters is staying alive¡ªno one can just give up.


    When only four people are left standing, they''ll fight each other in a free-for-all. The last one standing gets to walk away as the winner.


    Simple as that.


    The reason this tournament exists is all about gambling and making money. Yara Devereux, unfortunately, has lost more times than I can count.


    In the underground world, no one plays by the rules. The big shots will do whatever it takes to make sure their chosen challenger wins. They''ll threaten other challengers or even kill them if they have to.


    Because the prize for the winner is huge¡ªsomething that can change a person''s life for good.


    The big shots want that prize, and they''ll do whatever it takes to get it.


    There are even stories of challengers who tried to walk away with the prize themselves... but they never made it.


    They always end up dead.


    But I was sure I could beat anyone she picked.


    I was a better challenger than all of them.


    "Mhm... very well, I accept your proposal," she said, her eyes locking with mine.


    "But you have to tell me what the item you want is, right now," she added with a small smile.


    I didn''t hesitate.


    There was no reason to keep it a secret.


    "Give me a Lich Heart."


    "A Lich Heart...?" she raised an eyebrow, confused.


    "Exactly." I nodded my head at her.


    The Lich Heart was the only thing, besides a Dragon Heart, that could support my mana constitution.


    It wouldn''t last long¡ªmaybe a few months, or if I was lucky, a year¡ªbut that was enough time for me.


    It would give me just enough time to get the money I needed to either buy or steal a Dragon''s Heart.


    "Alright, I''ll agree to those terms," she said after a moment of thinking.


    I let out a quiet sigh of relief.


    "But..." she paused, her smile turning sly, "you''re still going to owe me something... after all, a Lich Heart isn''t cheap~."


    "...What kind of ''owing'' are we talking about here?"


    I asked, unsure of what she really wanted from me-


    "You''ll find out~" she giggled, a playful glint in her eyes as she turned away from me.


    And before I could even say anything, she interrupted me.


    "The first match starts in about an hour," she continued, settling back into the sofa and picking up her glass of wine.


    "That gives me enough time to register you as my challenger."


    She glanced at me, then pointed to the door on her right:


    "There''s a room for you in there. You''ll be fighting last today, so you can prepare while the others are fighting."


    I nodded, but she wasn''t done.


    Her eyes scanned me from head to toe before she smiled again.


    "I''m guessing you''ll be staying here for the next three days, huh?" she said with a small smirk, sipping her wine as she studied me.


    I wasn''t sure if I liked the way she was looking at me, but I didn''t have much of a choice.


    I walked towards the room, but just as I was about to open the door, I heard her voice again.


    "By the way, what name do you want to go by during the tournament?" she asked, sounding quite curious about it.


    A small smile tugged at my lips as I pushed the door open.


    Without looking back, I answered her.


    "Isn''t that obvious?"


    I slowly closed the door behind me, and as it clicked shut, I said it one last time, my voice low but firm.


    "Moonlight Swordsman."


    Slam!


    The door slammed shut, leaving Yara staring at it for a moment. A smirk spread across her face as she lifted her glass of wine, taking a slow sip.


    "Moonlight Swordsman..."


    She whispered to herself, licking her red lips.


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    A few hours later...


    "Are you ready?"


    Yara stood with her arms crossed, watching Aestrea sitting on one of the benches in the long corridor leading to the death arena.


    Lifting up his head, Aestrea only replied with a small smile.


    "More than ready."


    Yara grinned, her eyes gleaming with a mix of confidence and amusement.


    "Good. I''ll make sure to bet big on you since your odds are 1 to 10."


    She flashed a wide smile as if saying that if he lost, he was going to lose a limb.


    "1 to 10? That low?" Aestrea raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised.


    "Of course. I''ve lost count of how many times I''ve seen challengers go down in the first round. None of my fighters get good odds," she replied with a shake of her head.


    At her words, Aestrea only smiled lightly.


    "Don''t worry about it. And also, bet a platinum coin for me," Aestrea reached into his pocket and pulled out a platinum coin, tossing it casually at Yara.


    She caught it effortlessly, her smirk growing.


    "Mhm... that confident, huh?" Yara''s smile lingered as she turned the coin over in her hand.


    "You do realize your opponent''s a low S-rank Awakened, right?"


    She seemed to like his confidence.


    "So?" he raised an eyebrow.


    "I''m just that special," he winked at her before walking away.


    Looking at his retracting back, Yara couldn''t help but bite her lip.


    "Was he flirting with me?" she muttered to herself. "Last time we met, he was way more cautious. How did he change so fast in just an entire week?"


    She shook her head, dismissing the thought, and walked toward her VIP seat, where she''d have the best view of the arena.


    Under her eyes, Aestrea slowly walked towards the arena as the multitude of people cheered for the other guy in the arena.


    "Iron Wrestler!"


    "KILL HIM! TURN HIM TO A METAL PIPE!"


    The cheers were annoying, to say the least.


    He raised his hand and slipped the mask over his face, hiding everything except his glowing red eyes. The smile on the mask was just a shadow, barely noticeable.


    It might''ve looked pointless to anyone watching, but to Aestrea, it was far from useless.


    The mask was a low-grade artifact, designed to help with mana overflow, and that was something Aestrea really needed.


    His mana constitution wasn''t exactly the best, so anything that helped him keep his mana in check was a bonus.


    "Ladies and gentlemen!" the announcer''s voice boomed over the speakers, "For the last fight of today, we have on our left, Iron Wrestler, the two-time winner!"


    The crowd erupted into cheers, chanting his name.


    "OOHOOOO!"


    They roared.


    "KILL HIM!"


    "TURN HIM INTO PIECES!"


    The cheers were quite loud.


    After all, he was a two-time champion...


    "And on our right," the announcer continued, "we have... the Moonlight Swordsman!"


    "...Who is that?"


    "Yeah, must be his first time here. But why''s he wearing that creepy mask? He had a handsome face, didn''t he?"


    "Is he scared to injure it?" someone joked.


    The crowd laughed, knowing full well that the punishment for losing was death, but then someone in the crowd shouted something that got everyone''s attention.


    "Wait... Isn''t the Moonlight Swordsman the guy who wiped out a bunch of high-ranking demon beasts during one of the hunting festivals?"


    "Wait... really?"


    The crowd seemed to have mixed replies. Some were doubtful, others were getting more curious.


    Slowly, the cheer for Aestrea grew just a little louder.


    "Heh, a little kid like you thinks you can take down the great Iron Wrestler?" The massive guy standing in front of Aestrea laughed.


    This guy was huge¡ªlike, seriously huge. He looked like someone who could go toe-to-toe with professional sumo wrestlers.


    He wasn''t wearing much armor, but the few pieces he had were covering his most vulnerable spots.


    Aestrea didn''t respond to his taunt. He just stood there, waiting for the referee to give the signal to start.


    "So, I think everyone''s ready..." the announcer said.


    "Let the battle begin!"


    Fwoop!


    The Iron Wrestler charged at Aestrea, swinging his giant battle-axe like it was nothing. The speed was shocking for someone his size.


    But Aestrea didn''t flinch.


    He just lifted his right index finger, coating it with a tiny shield of mana.


    Clang!


    The battle axe hit his finger with a sharp sound, but instead of cutting through, a shimmering silver barrier expanded around Aestrea''s body, taking the full force of the blow.


    The Iron Wrestler''s eyes widened in surprise. He tried to coat his own body in mana to defend, but before he could react...


    Aestrea''s hand was already pressed against his chest armor.


    "Impacto."


    THRUM!


    A dense wave of mana exploded from Aestrea''s palm, sending a shock through the Iron Wrestler''s body. Aestrea''s body quivered slightly as he released all that energy.


    "Gah..." The Iron Wrestler let out a small gasp.


    He slowly limped backward before he crashed to the ground with a heavy thud.


    The crowd was in stunned silence.


    Everyone was shocked by what happened.


    Crack...!


    Clink...


    As the Iron Wrestler hit the ground, pieces of his armor¡ªthose that had been covering his vital points¡ªshattered into tiny fragments.


    Everyone turned to Aestrea, who now stood with his fist clenched tightly.


    "Explode."


    SPLURT!


    The moment he spoke those words, the Iron Wrestler''s body exploded, sending pieces of him flying everywhere¡ªeven into the crowd.


    For a split second, there was absolute silence.


    Then, the announcer''s voice rang out, shaking the arena.


    "WE HAVE A WINNER!"


    The crowd erupted in wild cheers.


    "OOHOOOO!"


    "MOONLIGHT SWORDSMAN!"


    "MOONLIGHT SWORDSMAN!"


    "MOONLIGHT SWORDSMAN!"


    The chant grew louder and louder, everyone amazed by how easily Aestrea had defeated the two-time champion.


    But...


    Aestrea''s smile faded slightly as he stood there, still trying to catch his breath.


    ''Damn... I really pushed it over the limit this time.''


    ''Guess that''s what happens when you try to end the fight too quickly.''


    Removing the mask from his face, he slowly took a deep breath before walking away from the death arena.


    Behind, the countless cheers and looks of amazement reached out to him.

 Chapter 59 The Moonlight Swordsman (XXV)

    Walking down the hallway back to my room, I could feel the heat rising in my body as my eyebrows furrowed.


    Mana was surging through me, and I bit my lip, trying to hold it in, but the pressure was slowly getting unbearable.


    I had been casting a lot of spells, trying to burn through as much mana as I could, hoping to get some relief.


    But the problem was, when I used my mana to knock out the Iron Wrestler, I pushed myself past my limit.


    In other words, I used too much mana.


    And now, my body was paying for it.


    It was like I had broken through the "threshold" of how much mana I could utilize, and my body was falling apart because of it.


    "Fuck..." Sweat trickled down my forehead, and I cursed under my breath.


    I needed to take a bath, and then meditate for the rest of the night to get the mana under control.


    The problem was my mana pathways weren''t big enough to handle all the mana flooding my body.


    Normally, if you wanted to hold more mana, you''d need to expand those pathways, either through meditation or with special items.


    If you don''t, the mana will overflow, and your body will literally explode.


    Hence, the reason why I am basically spamming ice spells on my fingerprints.


    "Oh my~! Aren''t you full of surprises?" A sly voice interrupted my thoughts.


    It was Yara, standing in front of me with a mischievous grin. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Fuck.


    Not right now.


    I directly passed through her.


    "Don''t you want my help with that?" she said, stepping in front of me again, blocking my way.


    I paused for a second.


    I knew that she could easily see my condition¡ªafter all, she was an SS-rank awakened¡ªbut I really couldn''t trust her.


    Not for a second.


    "Actually, don''t bother responding," she said, cutting me off. "This is my gift to you for making me a ton of money."


    She smiled wider, stepping closer to me.


    Before I could even react, her whole body was covered in this beautiful grey mana.


    She placed her right hand on my chest, and I couldn''t stop the groan of discomfort that escaped my lips.


    "Ugh..." I winced, trying to pull away, but she didn''t let me.


    "Hold it in," she said calmly.


    The grey mana from her body seeped into mine, and I felt it spreading. It was like it was digging into my mana pathways, attacking them, breaking down the barriers.


    The pressure in my body started to lessen.


    The mana I couldn''t contain began to dissipate, thanks to that grey mana. It wasn''t long before a cool, soothing sensation swept over me, and the pain slowly faded.


    I felt the mana settle, leaving just about half of what my body could handle right now.


    "Now... as a temporary factor for my dear challenger..." Yara''s voice came from close by, and when I looked up, her eyes locked onto mine.


    She was grinning, but it looked... strange.


    "Hagh... w-what are you doing?!" I couldn''t help but ask in surprise as I felt the grey mana in my body starting to go berserk.


    "Shhh... don''t worry about it," she said, placing her left hand on my hair, stroking it softly, almost comforting me.


    "It''ll be fine..." she whispered.


    "Haagh...!"


    The grey mana in my body started convulsing slightly, and just as it reached my heart, it stopped, and instead, it moved a bit to the right side of my chest.


    And there... it stood, quietly...


    "This..."


    I closed my eyes, focusing on the strange feeling inside me, and followed the movement of the mana.


    There, on the right side of my chest, was a grey heart made entirely of that same grey mana. It was like a mini heart, pulsing softly.


    What was even stranger was how the mana around me that had been flooding into me now bypassed my heart and went straight to this grey heart.


    And as it did, the grey heart absorbed it all... and then it vanished. The mana was gone, completely, in less than a second.


    It was like the grey heart was devouring the overflow.


    It worked. I wouldn''t have to worry about my body exploding anymore.


    But, looking at it more closely, I realized it wouldn''t last long. Three days, maybe?


    Just enough time to get through the competition.


    "See? Not so bad, right?" Yara said, her voice sweet. She tilted her head to the side, a bright smile still on her face.


    Her hand continued to gently ruffle my hair, and I couldn''t help but feel a bit awkward.


    "Thanks..." I muttered, letting out a soft sigh.


    I really didn''t want to be in a position where I owed her anything, but what could I do?


    "Ah, don''t worry about it," she said casually, brushing my thanks away like it was nothing.


    I just nodded and turned to head back to my room, hoping that was the end of it.


    But then, her voice stopped me again.


    "You know... a Lich Heart will only last a few months, right? If you really want to fix your problem, you''ll need a Dragon''s Heart."


    I already knew that.


    The whole point of asking for a Lich Heart was to buy me a little more time. I was planning to save up enough to afford a Dragon''s Heart later on.


    "The last Dragon''s Heart for sale is going to be at the next big auction from the Luxuria Merchant Family¡­ Do you think you''ll have enough money by then?" she said, and something in her voice made me freeze.


    If I wasn''t wrong, that auction would be happening in two or three months... and I definitely wouldn''t have enough by then.


    Even a single Dragon''s Tear could cost tens of thousands of platinum coins, and although they were cheaper than a Dragon''s Heart, they were way more rare than a Dragon''s Heart.


    Dragons hardly ever shed tears, so you can imagine how hard it is to come by one.


    "...Thank you for the information."


    I could feel her eyes on me, but I didn''t turn back.


    I didn''t even bother responding to her question.


    Once I was inside, I let out a frustrated breath.


    "Hah... dammit."


    I lay down on the bed of the room, gazing at the ceiling while still thinking about her words.


    For now, the only possibility I have is turning into Eleonora''s disciple. Other than that, everything else seems impossible.


    Maybe I could steal it...


    "No, that would be me jumping into a rabbit hole." I shook my head at those thoughts.


    Especially when the auction was being held by the Luxuria Merchant Family, in other words, an auction held by Violet herself.


    "Fucking hell..."


    I whispered, blinking a couple of times as exhaustion began to hit me hard.


    "Ahhhh..."


    I yawned.


    I would take a bath after waking up...


    "Yeah... I''ll let my future self worry about that."


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    Meanwhile, in a small, dimly lit room, four figures stood gathered around a table, each wearing a distinct emblem on their chest.


    "So, what should we do about this ''Moonlight Swordsman''?" one of them asked, breaking the silence that hung heavy in the room.


    "I say we just kill him." another responded with a sharp tone.


    "The kind of power he showed is more than enough to win the tournament without breaking a sweat."


    "Yeah, no way we''re letting that damn woman get her hands on the prize," another added in a frustrated tone as he clenched his fists to show it.


    "Yeah sure, but who the hell can we hire to take him out? I don''t think there''s anyone strong enough to kill him," someone else murmured.


    "That is indeed true..." the figures mumbled between themselves.


    Then, one of them suddenly spoke up, a grin forming on his face.


    "How about... Thorn Rose?"


    There was a pause as soon as the others heard those words.


    "Thorn Rose? You mean the genetically modified perfect human?"


    "Exactly. Her power is currently in pair with a high s-rank awakened, it should be more than enough to deal with that brat, no?" the man said confidently.


    "But doesn''t she charge an insane amount of money for each job" One of them muttered low and hesitant voice.


    SLAM!


    One of the remaining figures slammed his hand onto the table, rattling everything.


    "The fuck are you thinking about?!" he yelled, his voice loud and angry. "We''ve been planning and winning all these tournaments just to get that damn item, and even with that, we''re still weaker than her!"


    "If she does get that item we will be fucked! Is either kill her challenger or all of us fucking die!"


    He stood up, fists clenched, and took a few heavy breaths.


    Sweat had already started to form on his forehead.


    "Haaa... haagh..." he sat down back in the chair, taking deep breaths.


    The room was turned tense, and the others exchanged looks before the angry figure spoke again, looking at the others like they were useless.


    "So... fucking call Thorn Rose before I get even more bad than I already am! And ask about what she wants, and we''ll directly pay in full, no fuckign questions asked!" he said so, wiping his forehead with a handkerchief.


    Gulp...!


    The man who had been questioning the cost sighed deeply, defeated.


    "A-Alright..."


    He pulled out his phone, dialed the number, and waited.


    Ring...


    Ring...


    Ring...


    Ring¡ª


    ¡ªBeep!


    Thorn Rose had picked up the call.


    [Thorn Rose, how may I be at your service?]


    Her voice was cold, completely emotionless. It sent a chill through the air as if the temperature had dropped by several degrees.


    "I want to hire you for a killing job," the man said quickly.


    [Who is the target?]


    Her response was direct, no hesitation in her voice.


    "¡­What was his name again?" The man quickly muted the phone, turning to ask the others.


    "Let me check... I had someone look into him earlier," the loud one said, rifling through a paper in his jacket pocket.


    He glanced at the paper and then spoke.


    "Aestrea... Moon."


    The man repeated the name into the phone.


    "His real name is ''Aestrea Moon,'' but he goes by the alias ''Moonlight Swordsman.'' He''s currently at the base of the underground queen, ''Yara Deveux,'' and is her challenger."


    [Oh? Another one of those cases? So annoying...]


    Thorn Rose sighed in boredom, her voice was as cold as ice, completely emotionless. No joy, expectation, excitement, or anything like that on it.


    The man who had been on the phone waited, holding his breath, before speaking again.


    "How much will this cost?"


    [What exactly is his battle power?]


    "¡­About a low-to-mid S-rank awakened," he answered after a beat.


    [Understood. That will be... one thousand platinum coins.]


    "One thousan¡ª?!"


    The others gasped, shocked by the amount.


    [Isn''t the price satisfactory for you? If not, you can always choose another assassin.]


    She directly checked them, putting them in place.


    The figure holding the phone looked at the others, exchanging glances at each other before they all nodded to him.


    After a long pause, he sighed.


    "It''s a deal."


    [Great.]


    Beep~


    The call ended with a click.


    "Haaa... now we just wait for the job to be done."

 Chapter 60 The Moonlight Swordsman (XXVI)

    After waking up, I went through my usual morning routine, even though I wasn''t in my dorm back at the academy.


    The place felt unfamiliar, but habits are habits.


    And just as soon as I left my room, I ran into Yara.


    "What...?"


    She had just told me some shocking information.


    "You heard me." Yara crossed her arms, repeating herself like she was talking to a clueless kid. "The match isn''t happening until 10 p.m."


    I stared at her, my surprise pretty obvious.


    Damn it.


    That was way later than I expected.


    "Do you have any training rooms around here?" I asked, trying to keep myself busy instead of wasting the whole day waiting.


    "Why? Bored already?" she smirked.


    "Yeah." I nodded, not even trying to deny it.


    I mean, what else was I supposed to do until the match started?


    I honestly can''t stay looking at my phone for a whole day.


    "Well, how about sparring with me?" Her tone contained amusement as she stood up from the sofa she always seemed glued to.


    ''Mhm...''


    I thought it over for a moment.


    That wasn''t a bad idea, actually. I could use this chance to test how much mana this gray ''heart'' of mine could handle.


    "Sure."


    "Sweet." She grinned, her eyes lighting up with excitement.


    "Follow me." And just like that, she snapped her fingers.


    Out of nowhere, a hidden passage opened up in the room.


    Come to think of it, why was her house in such an obvious spot? It was literally right next to the entrance of the black market.


    Who does that?


    I pushed the thought aside and followed her down the passage.


    After a short walk, we stepped into a massive room that looked like something out of a gladiator''s true dream.


    Weapons of all kinds were neatly displayed on small stands, and a glowing green barrier encased the battle arena in the center.


    "A no-damage barrier?" I muttered, raising an eyebrow.


    Those things were insanely expensive to make. But knowing Yara and her wealth, she could probably buy a hundred of them without blinking.


    "Go ahead, pick something." She waved toward the weapons like they were toys at a store. "They''re way better than what you''ve got."


    Her casual dismissal made me frown.


    ''If you hadn''t stolen back the morph weapon, I wouldn''t need any of this trash,'' I thought bitterly.


    Of course, I kept my mouth shut.


    Still, as I approached the stalls, my eyes widened. Every single one of those weapons was at least a low-grade artifact.


    The price tags on them must''ve been ridiculous.


    I didn''t think too hard about it.


    I grabbed a taichi sword and a handgun and stepped into the arena.


    The moment I passed through the barrier, a strange, refreshing sensation washed over me. It was like stepping into another world.


    "Are you ready, sweetie?" Yara called out, pointing her sword at me with a smug grin. Her tone was strangely sweet tone as she addressed me.


    Sweetie?


    Did she fucking think I''m a child or something?


    Ah... right.


    I almost forgot.


    She''s a crazy fucking bitch.


    ¡º Judgement Eye (? S-Level Skill ?) ¡»


    Of course, since I was fighting her, I was using everything I had.


    No holding back.


    "Moonlit Ice Lotus Sword Art..."


    ¡º First Move! (? Ice Lotus Bloom ?) ¡»


    A frozen lotus appeared in front of my sword, its petals twitching wildly. But instead of throwing them like I usually do, I kept them close, hovering around me like a shield.


    "Oh? That''s an interesting move..." she said, licking her lips and crouching down.


    Then, without warning...


    Fwoop!


    She vanished, reappearing right in front of me, swinging her sword straight at my head.


    Clink!


    The petals formed a shield just in time, blocking her attack. For a second, I felt the pressure, but I quickly swung my sword back at her.


    She jumped back, just out of reach, then charged at me again. This time, her sword was glowing with her grey mana.


    I leaped back to avoid her strike, seeing how she sliced through my protective petals with ease.


    Then, she raised her hand, and I could feel the ground tremble beneath me, so I jumped high in the air.


    Thack!


    Sharp earth spikes shot up from where I had been standing.


    If I was there for a single second more, my body would be pierced by then.


    "Come on! Use your full power!" she taunted, appearing beside me mid-air and sending a powerful punch towards my stomach.


    My eyes widened as I quickly coated my body in silver mana.


    Thud!


    I was sent flying towards the ground, but it didn''t make a crater or anything in that. Instead, I felt the whole pain of being thrown against a really strong floor.


    "Now we''re talking, Aestrea~" she grinned, disappearing again.


    Her speed was insane, and the only way I could track her was by seeing her after images, thanks to my Judgement Eye.


    ''Behind!''


    I spun around fast and crossed my arms in front of me, forming an ''X'' and then taking another punch that sent me sliding back, my feet digging into the ground.


    "Damn it..."


    I cursed under my breath, quickly wrapping my sword in more mana and focusing on her figure.


    ¡º Second Move! (? Ice Lotus Barrage ?) ¡»


    I unleashed a wave of crescent-shaped ice energy at her. But with a simple flick of her hand, she made them disappear into thin air.


    "Tsk, tsk, tsk..." she clicked her tongue continuously.


    "I thought you were stronger than that," she added as a disappointed expression appeared on her face. It was easy to know that she was provoking me.


    "It seems that I overestimated you." she shook her head.


    Her words didn''t affect me at all.


    After all, I didn''t have to prove myself to anyone.


    Instead, I rushed forward, swinging my sword toward her left shoulder.


    Fwip!


    She countered with a slash that sent my sword flying, then aimed a thrust straight at my chest.


    But... I was expecting that.


    BANG!


    The sound of a bullet rang out.


    My lips had slipped into a small smile.


    "Ah... that was a surprise. I didn''t expect you to press the trigger so fast... it''s a pity that guns are useless." she sighed with a sly grin.


    I looked at her chest, where the bullet should''ve hit, and saw a tiny crack in the shield of mana surrounding her.


    Thack!


    She disarmed me in a flash, taking my gun from my hand.


    But of course, I expected that too.


    There''s no way I''d win against her, so I need to make an impossibility turn possible.


    "Explode."


    I said it quietly, but the moment I spoke, I saw her eyes widen.


    BAAM!


    FREEZE!


    The explosion sent ice shards flying in all directions, covering the spot where she had been standing.


    I waited, watching the smoke rise, wondering if any of it had hurt her.


    "Phew... that was close. But, unfortunately, too weak..." her voice came from the other side of the smoke.


    I didn''t expect that move to defeat her, but at least to cause some damage.


    But unfortunately...


    It didn''t cause her any damage.


    Instead, her clothes were the only thing that took a hit. They disintegrated, leaving her outfit in tatters, for example, one of her breasts had some remnants of cloth while the other had a nipple out.


    Her whole body was undamaged, but her clothes were a mess.


    "...Such a pity," she sighed, glancing down at her ruined blouse.


    "That was my favorite one."


    And yeah...


    She didn''t seem to care that I was staring at her either.


    I quickly grabbed my sword again, leaving the gun on the ground. I just wanted to test how much damage it would cause, but it was downright useless.


    "Prepare yourself Aestrea... I''ll take this a bit more seriously..." she licked her lips.


    Fwoop!


    She disappeared into thin air, and suddenly, I saw the flash of her sword.


    It was slicing through the air so fast it created a high-pitched whistling sound as it cut toward me.


    Clang!


    My sword caught hers just in time, but the force pushed me back, my feet skidding against the ground.


    I barely kept my balance.


    Yara didn''t pause.


    She was already jumping in the air, flipping over me like a predator closing in on its prey.


    "Getting tired, Aestrea?" she teased, her voice smooth as silk, but was filled with mockery. "I thought you''d put up more of a fight."


    She landed behind me, spinning around to strike at my back. My eyes widened as I heard the sound of her sword slicing through the air again, this time aiming for my spine.


    Whoosh!


    I dove to the side just in time, feeling the wind of the blade rush past me. The ground where I had been standing exploded in a burst of dust as the force of her missed strike hit the earth.


    BOOM!


    I rolled back onto my feet, quickly recovering, but she was already there.


    This time, she was so fast I didn''t even see her move¡ªonly the faintest blur before a punch slammed into my side.


    Thud!


    The impact sent me flying sideways, crashing into a nearby stone pillar.


    The world spun for a moment.


    I could taste blood in my mouth.


    ''Fuck... wasn''t this supposed to be a spar?''


    I told myself, but knowing her character... S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She was going to try and damage my body as much as possible. She''s a crazy bitch and fucking sadist after all.


    "Is this really all you''ve got?" Yara''s voice came from above, her face still holding the same sly and mocking grin.


    I forced myself to stand, wiping the blood from my lip, but I didn''t speak.


    "Haaa...."


    Taking a deep breath, I shook the dizziness off and squared up again, clutching my sword tightly as my eyes landed on her figure.


    "Come on, don''t tell me you''re already out of tricks." She crouched low to the ground, then shot forward like a missile, moving so fast that I almost couldn''t track her.


    Before I could react, she was there, a blur of movement, her foot slamming into my stomach with a sickening crunch.


    Thwack!


    I gasped, my body bending forward from the sheer impact, but before I could catch my breath, she was already behind me again, her sword coming down toward my back in a deadly arc.


    I whipped around just in time to raise my sword to block. The sound of metal scraping against metal rang out in the air.


    She was really taking this more seriously!


    Clang!


    "You''re slow, Aestrea," Yara said, voice dripping with disdain.


    She wasn''t even breathing heavily.


    "Is that all the power you''ve got?" She circled around me, her eyes containing some kind of sadistic pleasure.


    "This is almost pathetic."


    Her sword came for me again, aiming for my neck, but I caught it at the last moment. The impact pushed me back, making my arms tremble from the effort, but I held on.


    She swung again, and this time, I couldn''t react fast enough. The blade cut across my side, leaving a deep gash.


    Shiiiing!


    Pain flared, but I gritted my teeth, ignoring it. I was losing ground, but I couldn''t give up.


    "Pathetic," Yara repeated, watching as I staggered back. "How did you even make it this far? Maybe you''re just lucky. I''ll give you that. But luck won''t save you now."


    I barely kept my footing. My thoughts were clear, my focus razor-sharp. But the pain was starting to get to me, dulling my reactions.


    "You really are weak..." she sighed deeply, furrowing her eyebrows.


    "I can see why your childhood lover died under your eyes," she shook her head in a disappointed yet mocking manner.


    Those words hit me like a blow to the chest.


    My breath caught, and my stomach twisted.


    I completely froze at her words.


    Immediately, my control over mana started turning erratic. I looked towards her as my posture completely changed, and a bitter cold tone escaped my mouth.


    "What did you just fucking say?"


    Slowly, a violet aura started leaking from my body...

 Chapter 61 The Moonlight Swordsman (XXVII)

    Aestrea Moon.


    He was one of the most mysterious people Yara had ever met.


    Their paths crossed not long ago, but he''d already made quite the impression.


    Not only had he stolen a weapon from one of her research labs¡ªa bold move in itself¡ªbut there was something about him that set him apart from everyone else.


    Something she couldn''t quite put her finger on.


    When they met face-to-face, she expected fear.


    Most people were at least intimidated by her presence.


    But not him.


    He wasn''t scared¡ªjust extremely cautious.


    He stood his ground, and when he demanded the High Elf in return for what he''d taken, it only intrigued her further.


    Yara decided to test him.


    She had one of her servants challenge him, forbidding him from using mana.


    She wanted to see what he was capable of, to see if he could live up to the nerve he showed her.


    Surprisingly, he held his ground quite well against.


    But suddenly, he directly overpowered her, to the point of even using her own moves against her, to inflict the same amount of pain he had received.


    As if to prove a point.


    Yara''s curiosity deepened.


    After the fight, he repeated his demand for the High Elf. This time, she gave in, something she''d never done before.


    He had earned it.


    But Yara wasn''t the kind to let things go. She had to know more about him¡ªwhat made him so fearless, so cold, so... different.


    And the more she uncovered about him, the more fascinated she became.


    He had defeated multiple high-ranking demon beasts¡ªand one of them was even a named demon beast, something that multiple S-rank awakeners would have trouble dealing with.


    Then, his sweet personality to his friends from his old academy, and finally...


    His dark past.


    His village had been destroyed by a horde of demon beasts.


    He had witnessed it all¡ªhis friends, his home, everything he knew turned to ash.


    But the worst of it was losing her.


    His childhood love.


    She had been strong, stronger than most her age, but when the beasts attacked, she gave her life to buy him time to escape.


    He had watched it happen.


    He had been powerless to stop it.


    From that day on, Aestrea was different.


    He became unshakably driven, throwing himself into harder training. Even when the most prestigious academy rejected him, he didn''t falter back.


    He pushed himself harder, training alone, and somehow became stronger than anyone could have expected.


    And now, here he was, standing before her.


    Yara couldn''t help but compare herself to him. She too had survived a demon beast attack, but her story wasn''t like his.


    She hadn''t lost anyone she loved.


    She had escaped without such scars, without such pain.


    Perhaps that was why she wanted to challenge him again. To push him, to remind him that he wasn''t invincible.


    To break down whatever pride or ego he had built around himself¡ªand to see if he could come back stronger.


    But strangely... it seemed like she had miscalculated.


    "What did you just fucking say?"


    His bitter cold tone reached out to ears, enough to make a whole forest freeze by just the sound of his voice


    .His mana surged uncontrollably, violet energy spilling from his body and mixing with his usual silver mana.


    The colors swirled together, creating a strange, beautiful lavender energy.


    But that wasn''t enough for her, even though he was furious, she couldn''t help but smirk, raising an eyebrow in mock curiosity.


    "Oh? Did I strike a nerve?" Yara said, clearly not expecting such a response from him since she was hitting his deepest points.


    "Aww..." she clicked her tongue, "such a pity..."


    Aestrea didn''t respond, but the rage in his eyes told her everything she needed to know.


    Clink...


    His sword fell to the ground.


    And then...


    Fwoop!


    He dashed forward at an abnormal speed.


    Yara barely had time to react before Aestrea lunged at her, his lavender-colored energy swirling violently around him.


    His fist shot forward, aimed directly at her chest. She sidestepped at the last moment, the force of the blow whipping the air beside her.


    "Not bad," she muttered, bringing her leg up in a high kick aimed at his ribs.


    Thud!


    Aestrea didn''t dodge, instead, he took the full force of the kick, his body jerking slightly from the impact.


    But instead of staggering back, he used the moment to grab her ankle with a lightning-fast motion.


    His grip tightened like a vice.


    "Got you," he said coldly.


    With a sudden twist, he swung her by the leg, throwing her toward a nearby pillar.


    Yara managed to flip mid-air, her feet slamming into the pillar to soften the blow before she launched herself back at him.


    "Don''t get cocky!"


    She came at him with a powerful right hook, her mana flaring around her fist.


    Crack!


    Aestrea raised his arm to block, the collision of their energies sending out a sharp sound that echoed like thunder.


    But he wasn''t done. He retaliated immediately, stepping in close and driving his knee toward her stomach.


    Bam!


    Yara twisted her body just in time, deflecting the knee with her forearm. The force still sent a shock through her arm, making it sting.


    She clicked her tongue in frustration, realizing that he was adapting to her fighting style faster than she expected.


    Then he did something that caught her off guard.


    Instead of keeping his distance, Aestrea took a wide swing at her¡ªan entirely reckless move. She saw it coming and didn''t hesitate to counter, aiming a palm strike at his exposed side.


    But he didn''t dodge.


    Thud!


    Her strike landed squarely on his ribs, the sound of impact reverberating through the air.


    Aestrea winced but used the moment to close the gap between them, his lavender energy flaring as he swung his other fist toward her shoulder.


    Crack!


    The punch connected, sending a shockwave through her body. Yara stumbled back, her clothes tearing from the sheer force of the blow.


    Her once-pristine outfit was now in tatters, exposing parts of her skin where his strikes had landed.


    "Pff..."


    Yara spat out a glob of blood, wiping her lips with the back of her hand. Her eyes gleamed with excitement, despite the wear on her body.


    "You''re finally using your full power, huh?" She reached out, her hand extending toward empty air.


    In an instant, her sword materialized in her grip with a faint hum. Grey mana surged down the sword, coating it in a mesmerizing, crackling glow.


    Then, with a snap of her fingers¡ª


    Fwoop!


    Crack...!


    A sudden distortion in the air appeared where Aestrea stood. A rift opened, like reality itself had been sliced apart, and the air around it vibrated violently.


    Aestrea''s instincts kicked in as he threw himself to the ground in a tight roll, narrowly avoiding the rift as it closed with a sharp snap.


    Dust scattered in the air as he came to a stop, his hand darting out to grab his sword lying nearby.


    But before his fingers could close around the hilt¡ª


    ¡ªClang!


    Yara was already in front of him, her sword arced down in a deadly swing aimed straight at his head.


    Aestrea''s hand shot up, his sword catching hers just in time with a loud metallic screech.


    Sparks flew, illuminating their faces for a brief moment as their gazes locked.


    Aestrea gritted his teeth and pushed her sword back with just one hand, then leaped backward, putting distance between them.


    Yara smirked, twirling her sword effortlessly in her hand.


    "Don''t tell me you''re already slowing down," she taunted.


    But deep down, she was extremely excited. Aestrea was making her use more than fifty percent of her whole power.


    That enough made her... delighted.


    "Haaa..."


    Aestrea didn''t respond as he let out a cold breath.


    His lavender energy pulsed around him, faint traces of frost forming in the air. His breaths were heavy, but his grip on his sword tightened.


    He raised it, holding it steady in front of him as the ice began to crawl along the sword, turning its steel into a jagged, frost-covered weapon.


    Yara''s smile widened.


    Without warning, she stepped forward, vanishing from sight in an instant.


    "Fuck...!"


    Fwoop!


    Aestrea''s eyes darted to the side, his instincts screaming at him to move. He spun around, just in time to block another swing from Yara''s sword.


    Clang!


    The impact sent a jarring vibration through his arms, and he stumbled back slightly.


    Yara didn''t let up, stepping through a shimmering portal that opened behind her and reappearing right next to him.


    Her sword came down in a brutal diagonal slash aimed at his chest. Aestrea raised his sword, the force of the collision sending sparks flying again.


    He pushed her back with a burst of strength, his lavender energy mixing with frost as a sharp chill filled the air around them.


    "You''re using your ice magic quite well, but it won''t save you," Yara said with a smirk, stepping through another portal that opened beside her.


    She reappeared behind him, her sword aimed for his spine in a precise thrust.


    Aestrea barely turned in time, twisting his body and deflecting the attack with the flat of his sword.


    Clang!


    The sharp sound of the swords meeting each other echoed again, and he swung his sword horizontally, forcing her to retreat.


    But Yara wasn''t done, she snapped her fingers once more, and multiple distortions appeared around him, like ripples in a still pond.


    Crack! Crack! Crack!


    One opened to his left, another to his right, and a third directly above him. Yara stepped out of the portal above, her sword raised high as she came down toward him.


    Thud!


    Aestrea raised his sword above his head, blocking her overhead swing, but the force drove him to one knee.


    "Agh...!" He grimaced, feeling the pressure of her strength bearing down on him.


    Without warning, a second portal opened behind her, and Yara twisted her body, stepping backward into it. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She reappeared at his side, her sword slashing at his ribs in a wide arc.


    Shhhk!


    Aestrea couldn''t fully block in time.


    The edge of her sword cut through his side, drawing blood and slicing through his coat. He hissed in pain but didn''t falter, thrusting his sword forward to force her back.


    "Huff... haaah...gah," he let out deep breaths.


    Aestrea''s breathing was heavy, his body trembling slightly from the strain.


    Blood dripped from multiple cuts on his arms and torso, staining his tattered clothes. But his lavender energy continued to pulse, flickering like a flame that refused to go out.


    He licked his dry lips as the hue in his eyes increased slightly.


    Swoosh!


    Both of them, as if thinking about the same thing, rushed at each other.


    Clang! Clang! Shhhk!


    Her sword cut across his shoulder, then his thigh, leaving deep gashes and making him grunt in pain but he didn''t back down.


    He retaliated with a swing aimed at her neck, which she ducked under, countering with a thrust toward his chest.


    He sidestepped, his frost-covered sword slashing toward her side. She twisted her body, the sword grazing her arm and tearing through her sleeve.


    Both of them were battered and bruised, their breathing labored.


    The ground around them was scarred from their battle¡ªcraters, frost, and the lingering traces of mana filled the battlefield.


    Yara raised her sword again, preparing to strike. But before she could move, Aestrea shifted his stance slightly.


    His lavender energy pulsed once more, stronger than before.


    Yara paused, her eyes narrowing.


    "What are you¡ª"


    Then, Aestrea muttered slightly...


    "Moonlit Ice Lotus Sword Art..."


    ¡º Third Move! (? Moonlight''s One Flash ?)¡»


    For a moment, everything went silent.


    Even Yara felt a chill run down her spine as his energy surged, sharper and more focused than ever before.


    The glow in his eyes intensified even more, leaving a small scarlet smoke trail.


    Then, he moved.

 Chapter 62 The Moonlight Swordsman (XXVIII)

    Swoosh!


    Aestrea''s figure blurred into nothingness, leaving only a faint lavender glow in the air where he once stood.


    Yara''s sharp eyes quickly looked around, scanning for any sign of him.


    The battlefield had gone completely silent...


    But then, it happened.


    A crack split through the space in front of her, jagged and raw like shattered glass, followed by an overwhelming lavender energy.


    Fwooooom!


    A fissure of space tore open a few meters behind her, the lavender mist swirling violently as Aestrea stepped out, his frost-covered sword raised high.


    His energy seemed to stretch beyond him, warping the air itself, distorting everything around them.


    The ground beneath his feet cracked, unable to handle the weight of his power.


    Yara whipped around, her instincts kicking in just a second too late.


    "Shi¡ª!"


    Before she could fully react, Aestrea swung his sword in a single, devastating arc. The motion was impossibly fast, almost elegant, but the impact was anything but.


    BOOM!


    The sheer force of the slash didn''t just hit the ground¡ªit ripped through it, sending a shockwave tearing through the arena.


    A massive fissure opened up, spreading outward like the earth itself was crying in pain.


    The surrounding air exploded into chaos, frost and mana clashing violently, shards of ice shooting in every direction.


    The blow missed Yara''s body¡ªbut just barely.


    She stumbled back, her feet skidding across the cracked earth as the shockwave pushed her away. Her heart pounded in her chest as she locked her gaze on Aestrea, now standing a few meters away.


    His head was lowered, his breaths ragged as his lavender energy started flickering just like some kind of dying flame.


    And then, he suddenly dropped.


    Thud!


    Aestrea fell to his knees, his sword slipping from his grasp and hitting the ground with a dull clang.


    His entire body was trembling, his face pale from exhaustion. Sweat dripped from his chin, and the frost around him began to fade, melting into the ground.


    Yara blinked twice, her eyes wide in disbelief. She had felt powerful opponents before¡ªhad fought people who pushed her to her limits¡ªbut this?


    This was... different.


    She opened her mouth to speak, but then¡ª


    "BLUEGH¡ª!"


    The sound tore through the silence like a blade.


    Yara doubled over, clutching her chest as a deep, crimson gash appeared across her torso. Blood poured from the wound, soaking her already tattered clothes.


    Her body convulsed, a whole mouthful of blood spilling from her lips as she began to cough uncontrollably.


    "What...?" she rasped, muttering to herself as she staggered. Her knees buckled, and she collapsed onto one hand, desperately trying to steady herself.


    The pain was unbearable¡ªbut it wasn''t just physical damage.


    It was the shock.


    She hadn''t even seen the final blow connect.


    How had he done it?


    When?


    Her vision blurred as she turned her head toward Aestrea, who was still kneeling on the ground, his shoulders rising and falling heavily.


    "Damn it...!" Yara gritted her teeth, forcing herself to move.


    She knew they couldn''t stay here.


    Not in the barrier.


    Not with injuries like this.


    She stumbled toward him, each step feeling heavier than the last. Reaching out, she grabbed his arm, her fingers trembling as they tightened around his sleeve. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Hold... on," she muttered to him-


    She used her mana, enveloping them both in a grey glow, as she walked to the exit of the barrier around them.


    Fwoosh!


    As soon as they got out, a strange warmth washed over them. Their wounds¡ªthe deep, agonizing cuts and bruises¡ªbegan to heal instantly.


    Skin stitched itself back together, blood vanished, and the pain evaporated as if it had never been there.


    But the fatigue on Aestrea''s mind didn''t disappear.


    Even as his physical injuries disappeared, he remained slumped over, his head hanging low. His breathing was shallow, his entire body seemed exhausted.


    The lavender-colored energy that had once pulsed so brightly around him was now barely alive, flicking ever slightly.


    Yara leaned against a nearby stall, her hand clutching her now-healed chest. She stared at him, her grey eyes still wide as her mind raced to process what had just happened.


    "Aestrea..." she whispered in a softer tone, quite strange coming from her.


    But he didn''t respond.


    He just sat there, motionless, with his sword lying beside him.


    For the first time in a long while, Yara felt something unfamiliar stir in her chest.


    Fear?


    No.


    Respect?


    Maybe.


    But it could also be something else.


    She wasn''t sure.


    All she knew was that, even in this moment of quiet, Aestrea remained strangely interesting¡ªsomething she couldn''t quite understand.


    "You''re... not fucking human," she muttered under her breath, her voice trembling slightly.


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    [Beep~]


    [Due to the body tempering caused by the space crack¡­ Your attributes have increased tremendously!]


    [Your physical attributes have been enhanced!]


    [Your Spirit has reached S+!]


    [Many of your talents and skills have evolved!]


    [Opening profile¡­]


    [? Player Profile ?]


    Name: Aestrea Moon (20)


    Identity: Strongest Student of the Weakest Academy, The Moonlight Swordsman, The One Who Loves The Goddess Of The Moon, The Strongest Student, Exchange Student of the Eternum Royal Academy, The One Loved By Dangerous Beings (NEW!!!)


    Affinities: Ice


    ? Aura: S+


    ? Mana: B


    ? Strength: B (¡üUP)


    ? Vitality: B (¡üUP)


    ? Agility: A+ (¡üUP)


    ? Spirit: S+ (¡üUP)


    ? [Skills & Talents] ?


    [1] Moonlit Ice Lotus Sword Art [S???] ? Active Self-Created Skill


    [2] Judgement Eye [S] ? Active Self-Created Skill


    [3] Perfect Memory [Unranked] ? Passive Talent


    [4] Extreme Combat Instinct [A+] (¡üUP) ? Passive Talent


    [5] Advanced Sword & Gun Mastery [A+] (¡üUP) ? Passive Skill


    [6] Calm Mind [B] (¡üUP) ? Passive Talent


    [7] Blood Eyes [Unranked] ? Your eyes ominously glow red.


    [8] Blood Contract [???] ? You can use Lumi''s Abilities.


    ¡ª¡ª+¡ª¡ª+¡ª¡ª+¡ª¡ª


    "Agh...."


    I groaned softly as I opened my eyes, only to be met by a flood of notifications. This time I had exaggerated a bit, but it seems like it strangely worked in my favor.


    I already knew that entering a space crack could temper the body, but I never imagined it would boost me this much.


    Sure, it had been dangerous¡ªlife-threatening, even¡ªbut the payoff was undeniable.


    I''ve never tried to use my third move with both Mana and Aura, so I didn''t really expect to open such a deep fissure in space.


    But well, it worked in my favor.


    Now, I should be considered an A-rank awakened... in attributes at least. If I measured up my battle power... I don''t know what rank it would reach.


    My talents were also upgraded, just perfect.


    But something bothers me.


    By a lot actually.


    That new identity that I''ve received.


    [The One Loved By Dangerous Beings]


    What exactly does it mean?


    Did Yara fall in love with me for me to receive such a title?


    I don''t know.


    Come to think of it, what time is it right now?


    I instinctively reached for my phone, patting my pockets¡ªonly to realize I wasn''t wearing pants.


    Or a shirt.


    In fact, I was in nothing but my underwear.


    I took a look around.


    The room I was in felt too grand to be mine.


    Luxurious.


    Deep blood-red walls with gold accents, velvet curtains draped elegantly along the windows, and plush rugs that screamed wealth.


    The bed I lay on was massive, with satin sheets that clung to my skin.


    It looked quite expensive.


    But seriously¡ªwhere the hell was I?


    Was this Yara''s bedroom?


    Only she could have such an expensive bedroom, no?


    Creack...


    Before I could think too much, the door creaked open.


    My head snapped toward the sound, and there she was¡ªYara.


    I almost froze at her figure.


    She stepped inside, wearing nothing but a black bra and matching panties. Her long, jet-black hair fell in sleek waves, stopping just below her waist.


    Her body was lean and strong, her figure well-proportioned with a slim waist and curvy hips.


    Her abs were lightly defined, with a faint scar running diagonally across her stomach. Scars marked her arms and thighs in a few places, faint but noticeable.


    Her gray eyes were sharkled michievously, framed by thick lashes. A thin scar ran through her left eyebrow, breaking the line slightly, but it didn''t take away from her striking features.


    She was stunning, no doubt about it, but there was something about her that could make anyone''s instincts scream trouble.


    She caught me staring, and her lips curved into a small, teasing smile.


    "You like what you see?" she asked, tilting her hips slightly to emphasize her curvy figure.


    I blinked.


    Did she really fall in love with me?


    I was confused by her sudden actions.


    "Your face is priceless," she chuckled, walking toward me.


    "You''re probably wondering why you''re here," she said casually. "Your clothes were completely destroyed during our little fight. Since I couldn''t exactly leave you lying around naked, I brought you here. No man''s clothes were available, so¡­"


    Yara gestured to me with a smirk. "You''ll have to stay like this for now. Don''t worry¡ªone of my servants will bring something appropriate soon."


    She sat down on the edge of the bed, crossing her legs gracefully.


    "And, well," she continued, licking her lips, "since you''re down to your underwear, I thought it''d be rude if I didn''t match the mood. Don''t you agree?"


    Her words... strangely made sense.


    ".....You really are a crazy bitch, aren''t you?" I couldn''t help but mutter.


    Her eyebrows shot up, but instead of being offended, she broke into laughter.


    "Oh? Did you just call me a crazy bitch?" she teased, leaning closer.


    Ah.


    I said that out loud.


    Shit.


    I instinctively backed away, but instead of being angry, she seemed¡­ entertained. Her eyes narrowed into crescent moons as her smile widened.


    "Honestly, I''ve never met someone like you," she spoke lightly.


    "So careless, fearless, and most importantly..." she leaned in, her hand brushing lightly against my chest.


    "So damned fascinating and interesting..." she bit her lower lip, looking into my eyes.


    Is she trying to seduce me or something?


    Her actions were really suggestive, but I remained quiet, staring at her. I needed to confirm it thoroughly, but I was also quite sure that she wasn''t in love with me.


    At least not yet.


    "By the way, what time is it right now?" I asked, my voice still groggy.


    "Hm?" Yara tilted her head slightly before reaching into her cleavage. She casually pulled out a phone like it was the most natural thing in the world and tapped the screen.


    "11 PM," she said, glancing at the screen before looking back at me. "You were out for quite a few hours."


    Her words made my eyes widen.


    "The matc¡ª"


    "¡ªRelax," she interrupted, waving a hand dismissively. "The other challenger died. Mysteriously." She emphasized the word with a sly smirk.


    "So, you won. Congratulations." She shrugged like it was no big deal. "Just take it easy for now. That last attack must''ve drained you completely, right?"


    She was right.


    I could feel it.


    Using that much mana and aura drained more than just my physical body¡ªit took a mental toll too.


    It always did, but my spirit was strong enough to handle it. After all, I went through too many difficult situations for me to be able to have such a strong spirit attribute.


    And after I tempered my body in the space crack, my spirit had even gone up a level. So, it didn''t damage me that much...


    Maybe a bit...


    Just a little bit.


    "By the way, Aestrea..." Yara''s voice pulled me out of my thoughts. She turned toward me, her hand casually resting on my right leg.


    I instantly felt uncomfortable. I started to reach for her hand to move it, but before I could, she spoke again.


    "How much time do you have left?"


    I froze.


    "I took a look at your body¡­" she said slowly, her fingers still lightly resting on my leg. "You don''t have more than a few months left. Honestly, you should have died about a month ago, just a few days before the academy''s competition."


    "How are you alive?" she asked curiously.


    I didn''t expect her to say those words.


    After all, I did find out the reason why Aestrea wasn''t in the competition just when I had a conversation with Elleonora.


    My soul from my old world, had completely fused with Aestrea''s, giving it enough life force for him to survive.


    Of course, that had side effects, and the life force of my own soul decreased by a lot.


    So, if I didn''t transmigrate here...


    Aestrea would have truly died.


    Because he didn''t have enough life force to live.

 Chapter 63 The Moonlight Swordsman (XXIX)

    Right now, I''ve got two big problems.


    First, my soul doesn''t have enough life force.


    And second... my constitution is missing something important¡ªa second "heart" to keep it running properly.


    I''m beyond fucked.


    But yeah, I guess I should be grateful I''m still breathing or whatever.


    "Aestrea...? Hello?"


    Yara waved a hand in front of my face, snapping me out of my thoughts.


    I blinked.


    "Huh? Did you say something?"


    "Not really. Just called your name," she said with a shrug. Then, without warning, her hand started moving along my leg¡ªslowly, deliberately.


    I sighed and reached down to push her hand away.


    I couldn''t.


    Fucking gorilla grip.


    "...Fufu~," she giggled, her eyes sparkling mischievously, "Looks like you''re not strong enough~."


    I frowned at her words.


    "...Tomorrow is the final match, so I need to rest..." I warned her, however, she didn''t seem bothered by my words.


    Instead, she rested her chin on her palm, still lazily stroking my leg.


    "So what? You can sleep here..." She gave me a slow, teasing smile before leaning in and whispering, "With me~."


    Then she blew softly against my ear as if to seal the deal.


    I scowled.


    But then, my eyes turned to her bed.


    Damn.


    That thing looked comfortable.


    "Sure."


    Her smirk instantly faltered.


    "Huh?"


    Before she could react, I grabbed her wrist, removed her hand from my leg, and climbed into her bed.


    Head on the pillow.


    Blanket over me.


    Done.


    "Ah...?"


    I glanced up at her frozen expression.


    "What?" I asked with a neutral yey confused expression.


    "Didn''t you want to sleep together?"


    I mean, she was the one who suggested it.


    Yara just stood there, staring at me like I was some kind of interesting creature.


    I raised an eyebrow.


    "What?"


    She blinked.


    "Uh¡­"


    Then, out of nowhere, she pouted: "You''re no fun, you know that?"


    I rolled onto my side, facing away from her.


    "Then stop messing with me."


    For a second, there was silence. I almost thought she had given up¡ªuntil I felt the bed dip beside me.


    I tensed.


    Then, warmth.


    She slid under the covers.


    I sighed. "Seriously?"


    "What? I said I wanted to sleep together," she said with a smug tone.


    "You agreed."


    I exhaled through my nose. "Yeah. To sleep. Not whatever you''re thinking."


    "Hmn..." She hummed in amusement, then shuffled closer.


    Too close.


    I felt her breath on the back of my neck.


    "Relax," she murmured, her voice soft. "I won''t do anything. Probably."


    "Probably?" I deadpaned.


    She laughed. "I''m kidding, I''m kidding~."


    I didn''t trust that for a second.


    But I was too tired to fight her on it. Tomorrow was the final match, and I needed every bit of rest I could get, especially when I was mentally tired.


    So I ignored her, shut my eyes, and let the warmth of the blankets pull me in.


    Then¡ª


    A hand.


    On my waist.


    I froze.


    "...What are you doing?"


    Yara''s voice was way too innocent. "Getting comfortable."


    "Go to sleep."


    She giggled but didn''t move her hand.


    I stayed still, pretending I didn''t care. Maybe if I ignored her, she''d get bored and actually go to sleep.


    But then¡ªshe started drawing circles on my waist with her fingers.


    Slow, lazy, teasing.


    I twitched.


    "Yara."


    "Hmm?"


    "Stop."


    She let out a soft hum, like she was thinking about it. And then¡ªyep.


    She kept going.


    "What part of ''I need to rest'' do you not understand?"


    "The part where I have to listen to you," she said, clearly smiling.


    I sighed, gripping the blanket tighter.


    Silence fell again. Just for a moment.


    Then she shifted.


    And suddenly, her whole leg was draped over mine.


    "Are you serious right now?"


    "Mhmm~."


    "...Why?"


    "Because I''m cold," she said, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.


    I stared at the wall. "Then use the blanket."


    "But you feel warmer," she whined, squeezing my waist just a little.


    I exhaled slowly.


    "Yara."


    "Yes~?"


    "Move your leg."


    "No~."


    I squeezed my eyes shut.


    Patience.


    I needed patience.


    "Tomorrow is the final match. I am the one fighting. I need sleep."


    Yara just snuggled closer, completely ignoring my words. "I am also fighting... in bets," she reminded me. "And yet, here I am, still full of energy~."


    I turned my head slightly. "Maybe because you keep stealing mine."


    She laughed. "Hmm. Maybe~."


    I glared at her.


    She just smiled back, looking way too pleased with herself.


    I wanted to argue. Maybe even push her off.


    But¡­ I was too damn tired.


    And annoyingly enough, her warmth was kinda nice.


    So I gave up.


    "Fine. Do whatever you want," I muttered.


    Her fingers, which had still been absentmindedly tracing over my skin, finally stopped.


    "...Really?" she asked, sounding almost surprised.


    I sighed. "Yes. Just let me sleep."


    She was quiet for a moment. Then, softly¡ª


    "Okay."


    And just like that, she stilled. No more teasing, no more messing around.


    Just warmth.


    I felt her breathing slow, her body relaxing against mine.


    And for the first time tonight¡ªso did I.


    Besides, I was too tired to even ask why she was acting so weirdly.


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    "Haagh..."


    I let out a long yawn, stretching my arms above my head until I heard a satisfying crack. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    My eyes drifted to the side.


    Yara was gone.


    I blinked, then shrugged.


    Not really surprising.


    Getting out of bed, I spotted a fresh set of clothes neatly placed on a small sofa in the corner of her room.


    On top of them sat a folded note.


    Curious, I picked it up.


    | There''s a bathroom on the right, you can use it to take a bath. I also made sure to also get some underwear for you.


    From your most precious, Yara.


    P.S: Sleeping with you was really comfortable. We should do it more often ?. |


    This woman...


    Shaking my head, I grabbed the clothes and made my way to the bathroom.


    The moment I stepped inside, I paused.


    Damn.


    The place looked like it belonged in a luxury resort¡ªpolished floors, spotless mirrors, and a massive bathtub that could probably fit three people.


    Everything sparkled like it had been cleaned just this morning.


    I turned on the water.


    Instantly, the scent of flowers filled the air, and the temperature was perfect.


    Not too hot, not too cold.


    Just warm enough to make my muscles relax the moment I stepped in.


    I sank into the water with a quiet sigh.


    ¡­I need to buy one of these someday.


    In the future.


    After a long, satisfying soak, I got out, dried off, and reached for the clothes Yara left me.


    They fit perfectly.


    Which made me pause.


    How the hell does she know my size?


    My original clothes had been ruined¡ªat least, that''s what she told me.


    I stared at myself in the mirror, adjusting the fabric.


    Should I be concerned?


    ¡­Probably.


    But I was too well-rested to care.


    "Mhn.. it''s only 11:51?" I checked the time.


    I had plenty of time to kill.


    Normally, I''d be training, but today?


    Nah.


    Today, I felt like having some fun.


    And since I was still in the black market, there was no way I was gonna waste this chance.


    Time to go clubbing!


    Shrrsk!


    But then, a sudden movement made me freeze.


    I looked down at my hand as my eyes widened slightly in deep surprise.


    "...Lumi?"


    A soft glow pulsed from the tattoo on my finger.


    That was unexpected. Lumi had been asleep for a while¡ªprobably because we needed to renew our contract or something.


    But now, she was waking up.


    Without wasting a second, I channeled mana into the mark, and¡ª


    Poof!


    A small figure appeared in front of me.


    "Master~"


    Before I could react, she launched herself at me, wrapping her tiny arms around my torso.


    I blinked, then instinctively patted her head.


    She let out a happy hum, pressing her face against my chest.


    "I miiiiiissssssseeeddd yoooouuu..." she whined groggily.


    Her head nuzzled against me, rubbing gently.


    Then¡ª


    "Haaaa..."


    She took a deep breath.


    I stiffened.


    Did she¡­ just sniff me?


    I glanced down at Lumi, who was still clinging to me like a sleepy kitten. Her face was buried against my chest, her soft breaths tickling my skin.


    "...Lumi?" I called, poking her cheek.


    She let out a slow, content sigh. "Mmm¡­ you smell nice, Master~"


    I blinked.


    "...Okay."


    That was weird.


    But at the same time, Lumi was always a bit weird, so I let it slide.


    Instead, I patted her head again. "You were asleep for a while. Feeling better now?"


    She gave a small nod, her slimy ears twitching. "Mhm¡­ but I still feel a little¡­ dizzy."


    "Probably because of the contract renewal," I muttered, gently prying her off me. She made a small noise of protest but didn''t resist when I set her down on the sofa.


    Her green eyes blinked up at me, still hazy with sleep.


    "Are we going somewhere?" she asked, rubbing her eyes.


    Ah.


    Now I cannot go to the club.


    Unfortunately.


    "Not really," I muttered to myself.


    Lumi let out a small, disappointed sound.


    "Ahhh..." Her voice dropped slightly, and I couldn''t help but smile faintly.


    She really wanted to go, huh?


    Then, a thought hit me.


    Didn''t she say she wanted to try human food before?


    The black market had to have those mysterious food stalls, right?


    I glanced down at her.


    "Actually... didn''t you say you wanted to try human food? Let''s go have lunch outside."


    I tapped her head lightly, and the moment my words sank in¡ª


    Her eyes lit up.


    Like, literally sparkled. It was like someone had set off fireworks inside them.


    Puh!


    In a flash, she launched herself at me, wrapping her tiny arms around my torso, practically vibrating with excitement.


    "Master, you''re the best! You''re the best, you''re the best¡­ You''re the best master ever!"


    She squeezed me tighter, her voice getting faster and more high-pitched with every repetition.


    "You''rethebestYou''rethebestYou''rethebestYou''rethebestYou''rethebestYou''rethebest!"


    I chuckled, patting her head. "Alright, alright, I get it."


    Still clinging to me, she let out a happy hum.


    I sighed playfully.


    "Okay, shrink down. I''m not walking around with you glued to me like this."


    Lumi huffed but obeyed, shifting into her smaller form. I carefully tucked her into the pocket of my shirt, leaving only her little green head peeking out.


    Before stepping out, I placed a presence-deleting spell on her. No way was I letting people notice the tiny creature hiding in my pocket.


    With everything set, I left Yara''s residence.


    And immediately ran into him again.


    The same burly man from before stood at his post.


    He glanced at me, gave a small nod, and silently stepped aside to let me pass.


    ¡­Huh.


    He seemed more respectful than last time.


    Somehow.


    I didn''t question it.


    Just kept walking, while taking a look around.


    The black market was as chaotic as ever.


    The streets had the same dark atmosphere¡ªdim lighting, hushed voices, people haggling over stolen goods, and rare items sold way below market price.


    And, of course, drugs.


    Plenty of them.


    The most popular kind?


    Fucking aphrodisiacs.


    That''s disgusting.


    Shaking off the thought, I kept walking.


    A few minutes later, the scent of sizzling meat and freshly baked bread hit me.


    I turned my head¡ª


    There.


    A food stall.


    Finally.


    I didn''t waste a second and walked straight toward it.


    The food stall was small, tucked between two sketchy-looking shops. A simple cart with a metal grill, sizzling meat, and a few baskets of fresh bread.


    The smell alone was enough to make my stomach growl.


    Lumi wiggled excitedly in my pocket.


    "Masteeer..." she whispered. "It smells so goood..."


    I chuckled.


    "Hold on, we haven''t even ordered yet."


    Stepping closer, I glanced at the vendor. He was an older man, probably in his late forties, with a scar running down his cheek and a cigarette hanging loosely from his lips.


    His apron was stained with grease, and his arms were covered in faded tattoos.


    He eyed me up and down, then exhaled a puff of smoke.


    "What''ll it be?"


    I glanced at the grill. There were skewers of marinated meat, some kind of grilled fish, and thick, fluffy bread that looked freshly baked. Simple, but it smelled amazing.


    I pointed. "Two skewers and a loaf of bread."


    The vendor nodded and started working.


    As I waited, Lumi fidgeted in my pocket again.


    "Masteeer... hurry up..." she whined softly. "I wanna eaaaat..."


    I smirked.


    "Patience."


    "But it smells too good to wait..." she pouted.


    The vendor chuckled.


    "Your girl getting hungry?"


    I blinked.


    Wait. Did he notice Lumi?


    I quickly glanced down, but my presence-deleting spell was still active. No way he could see her.


    He must''ve thought I was talking to myself.


    "...Something like that," I muttered, deciding not to explain.


    The man just shrugged and handed me the food wrapped in paper.


    "That''ll be fifteen bronze coins."


    I fished out the coins and passed them over.


    With the food in hand, I stepped aside and moved toward a quieter spot near an alleyway. Lumi immediately started squirming again.


    "Masteeer, pleaaase..."


    I sighed.


    "Alright, alright."


    I reached into my pocket and carefully pulled her out. She stretched, her tiny arms reaching up like she''d just woken up from a nap.


    Then, the moment she locked eyes on the food¡ª


    She pounced.


    In one smooth motion, she grabbed the skewer of meat with both hands and bit into it.


    Her whole body shivered.


    "...Mmmhhhnnn~!"


    I raised an eyebrow.


    "...Good?"


    She nodded furiously, eyes practically sparkling.


    "Soooo good...!"


    She took another bite, kicking her feet happily.


    I chuckled and tore off a piece of bread for myself, leaning back against the wall as I ate.


    The food really was good. The meat was juicy, perfectly seasoned, and had just the right amount of char. The bread was soft on the inside, crispy on the outside.


    Simple, but satisfying.


    Lumi, meanwhile, was absolutely devouring her food.


    At one point, she paused, cheeks stuffed, and pointed at my bread.


    "Can I try?"


    "You''re already eating my food."


    "Pleaseee?" she gave me the biggest, most innocent eyes possible.


    "Fine." I sighed.


    Tearing off another piece, I handed it to her. She took it with both hands and nibbled on it, her face lighting up like she''d just discovered the meaning of life.


    "Masteeer..." she whispered. "Human food is amazing..."


    "Told you."


    After finishing the skewers and bread, I dusted off my hands and glanced around. The black market had tons of food stalls¡ªthere had to be something else worth trying.


    Lumi, still perched in my pocket, licked her fingers clean, looking completely satisfied.


    "Masteer~" she hummed. "That was so good... Can we get more?"


    "Yeah, yeah. Let''s see what else is around." I replied, letting out a small laugh.


    We started walking again, weaving through the crowd. People were still haggling, whispering deals in dark corners, and exchanging goods that were definitely illegal.


    The usual black market stuff.


    Then, I spotted another food stall.


    It was smaller than the last one, tucked between a weapon vendor and some kind of potion shop.


    The setup was simple¡ªjust a wooden counter, a few trays of food, and a small grill in the back.


    A single girl stood behind the counter.


    She was young, maybe around my age, with dark hair tied into a loose ponytail.


    Her clothes were plain, but her eyes had a sharpness to them, like someone who''d seen their fair share of fights.


    I stepped forward.


    "Hey, what kind of food do you have here?"


    The girl''s expression didn''t change.


    For a second.


    Then¡ª


    Her eyes hardened.


    Like steel.


    Her fingers twitched slightly¡ªso fast I barely noticed.


    And then¡ª


    "Death."


    The word left her lips like ice.


    Before I could react, she moved.


    Two daggers flashed in the dim light, already slicing through the air¡ª


    Straight for my chest.


    ''Fuck...!''

 Chapter 64 The Moonlight Swordsman (XXX)

    I twisted my body just in time, feeling the wind of the blades barely misses my ribs.


    She''s fast.


    Her attack wasn''t reckless¡ªit was precise. Clean movements, no wasted energy. She wasn''t some random thug trying to make a scene.


    She was aiming to kill.


    Lumi yelped in my pocket.


    "M-Master¡ª!"


    I didn''t have time to reply.


    The girl didn''t stop.


    She adjusted her grip and lunged again, her daggers cutting through the space between us like a blur.


    I barely managed to dodge, leaning back as one blade zipped past my throat.


    Close. Too close.


    Still mid-dodge, I flicked my wrist, releasing a quick pulse of mana¡ª


    Boom!


    A shockwave burst between us, just enough to force her back.


    She landed smoothly, daggers still gripped tight, eyes locked onto me like a predator watching its prey.


    No hesitation.


    No fear.


    ''¡­Who the hell was this girl?''


    I exhaled slowly, keeping my stance ready.


    "So," I muttered. "I''m guessing you''re not here to sell food."


    She didn''t answer.


    Her eyes narrowed, and she moved again, fast as a snake.


    This time, she came at me low, one dagger aiming for my stomach. I jumped back, but she was already swinging the other blade toward my side.


    Swish!


    I twisted, feeling the mana-coated blade cut through my shirt but miss my skin.


    "Master, be careful!" Lumi squeaked in my pocket.


    "Trying!" I snapped, but I didn''t have time to say more.


    The girl didn''t stop.


    She stepped forward, her feet light and quick, and sent a sharp kick toward my knee. I shifted my weight just in time, her boot grazing my leg instead of cracking it.


    Thud.


    I stumbled but stayed on my feet. She didn''t give me a second to breathe. Her daggers came at me again, one high, one low.


    I ducked under the first and blocked the second with my forearm, the blade scraping against the leather guard I wore.


    Clang!


    The impact stung, but I pushed her arm away and swung my fist toward her ribs. She sidestepped, my punch barely missing her.


    Fwip!


    Before I could react, she spun, her elbow aiming for my face. I leaned back, but her foot followed, catching me in the chest.


    Thump!


    The kick sent me stumbling back, my breath knocked out of me. I coughed, trying to steady myself, but she was already coming again.


    This time, I was ready.


    As she lunged, I dropped low and swept my leg out, aiming for her ankles. She jumped, but I used the moment to roll to the side and get back on my feet.


    "Stay still," she finally uttered something, in a bitter cold tone.


    "Not a chance," I shot back, breathing hard.


    She came at me again, her daggers flashing. I dodged left, then right, her blades slicing the air so close I could hear them.


    Swish! Swish!


    One dagger grazed my arm, and I hissed at the sting. But I didn''t stop moving. I stepped in close, inside her reach, and drove my elbow toward her stomach.


    Thud!


    She grunted, stumbling back a step, but she recovered fast. Her knee came up, aiming for my gut. I blocked it with my hand, but the force still pushed me back.


    "Tsk..." I clicked my tongue, stepping back to put some distance between us.


    ''But if she wants to kill me... why isn''t she using mana?'' It didn''t make sense.


    Most fighters relied on mana for speed, strength, or even special attacks.


    But she wasn''t using any.


    I didn''t have time to figure it out. I quickly wrapped myself in a thin layer of mana, letting it coat my skin like a second layer of armor.


    It wasn''t much, but it would help if her daggers got too close.


    "Lumi... can you turn into a sword or something? Anything I can fight with?" I asked her, as I kept my eyes on the random girl.


    I wasn''t sure if Lumi could do what a morph weapon could, but if she could transform, it would give me a fighting chance.


    For a moment, there was silence.


    Then I felt a warm, green-gold glow coming from my shirt pocket. Lumi''s light grew brighter, and suddenly, my hand closed around something solid.


    But it wasn''t a sword, it was... a double-edged scythe.


    <I''m sorry Master, but this is the only thing I can transform into.>


    A voice echoed through my head, which I immediately recognized as Lumi.


    But yeah, this was more than enough, even though I didn''t know how to fight with a scythe, much less a double-edged one.


    Fwoop!


    She shot toward me, faster than before.


    This time, her daggers glowed with a faint aura, and the same light wrapped around her body.


    It was like she''d lit herself on fire but with energy instead of flames.


    I''d never seen anyone use aura like this. Most people used mana to boost their strength or speed because it was more effective.


    But she was different I guess.


    Her daggers came at me in a blur, one aimed at my chest, the other at my side. I swung the scythe awkwardly, trying to block it.


    Clang!


    The blades met, sparks flying as her dagger scraped against the scythe''s edge. The force of the impact rattled my arms, but I held my ground.


    Then, she spun, her foot snapping toward my ribs. I twisted, barely dodging the kick, and swung the scythe in a wide arc to keep her back.


    Whoosh!


    She barely avoided the scythe, forcing her to jump back.


    But as soon as she landed on the ground, she dashed forward, her daggers glowing with that strange aura.


    I swung the scythe, trying to keep her at bay, but she was too fast. She ducked under my swing and slashed at my legs.


    Swish!


    I jumped back, but the tip of her dagger caught my pants, slicing through the fabric. I could feel the cold metal graze my skin.


    She didn''t give me time to think. She came at me again, this time from the side. Her dagger aimed for my ribs, but I twisted, using the scythe to block.


    Clang!


    The impact sent a shock through my arms, but I pushed her blade away and swung the scythe in a wide arc.


    She leaned back, the scythe''s blade missing her by inches.


    Whoosh!


    Before I could recover, she flipped backward, putting some distance between us. Her eyes narrowed, and she raised one hand.


    Dark shadows began to swirl around her fingers, forming into small, sharp shards.


    "Shadow magic?"


    She flicked her wrist, and the shadow shards shot toward me like arrows.


    Zip! Zip! Zip!


    I dropped to the ground, rolling to the side as the shards slammed into the wall behind me, leaving deep cracks in the stone.


    ''Fucking hell...! How does she have a shadow affinity?!''


    I screamed inwardly.


    Just like how Lucas has a light affinity that is purely reserved for angels, shadow magic is purely reserved for shadow beasts!


    But my thoughts were quickly interrupted as I barely had time to breathe.


    The girl raised her hand, and the shadow shards flickered with dark energy.


    Then¡ª


    Whoosh!


    She swung her arm, sending them flying at me like arrows.


    I ducked, twisting my body as one shot past my ear. Another zipped by my leg, slicing through my pants.


    Crack!


    The last one slammed into the stone wall behind me, leaving deep cracks. If that had hit me, I would have a hole in my body!


    ''Fucking hell...''


    ''Is there any assassin this strong? Gosh, you could even create a guild yourself!'' I complained inwardly, keeping my eyes on her movements.


    She was really strong.


    But of course...


    I was stronger.


    "Fuuu..."


    I exhaled deeply, gripping Lumi as my eyes started glowing dimly.


    ¡º Judgement Eye (? S-Level Skill ?) ¡»


    The girl''s face widened in surprise, and that made me smile.


    Fwoop!


    Before I could move, she was already in front of me.


    She was really fast... huh.


    Swish!


    Her dagger sliced through the air, aiming for my neck.


    I jerked my head back, feeling the wind from the blade as it missed by inches.


    Then¡ª


    Thud!


    Her knee slammed into my stomach.


    I gasped, my body jolting from the impact. Pain shot through me, but I didn''t have time to recover. She spun, bringing her other dagger toward my ribs.


    I raised the scythe just in time¡ª


    Clang!


    The weapons clashed, sparks flying. My arms shook from the force.


    She pushed forward, trying to overpower me. I planted my feet, holding my ground, but she moved again¡ª


    Bam!


    She slammed her elbow into my chest.


    ''Haa... just a little bit more...'' I bit my lip tightly.


    I stumbled back, coughing.


    She quickly took the opportunity, dashing in, low to the ground, her daggers flashing under my eyes. One went for my side, the other for my thigh.


    I jumped back¡ª


    Swish! Swish!


    Both blades barely missed, cutting through the air where I had just been.


    I swung the scythe in a wide arc to keep her back¡ª


    Whoosh!


    She ducked under it, fast as lightning, and lunged again.


    This time, she was too close.


    Clang!


    Her dagger scraped against the scythe''s handle as I barely blocked it.


    Then¡ª


    Thud!


    Her foot shot into my shin, and I reacted just in time to block her blow.


    ''Alright... it''s over now.''


    The glow in my eyes intensified slightly.


    I didn''t know how I knew that, but I just knew it.


    At that moment, she rushed at me again.


    Swish!


    Her dagger cut through the air, going straight for my throat.


    I didn''t dodge this time.


    I stepped in.


    Her eyes widened¡ªjust for a second.


    I twisted my body, swinging Lumi in a sharp, curved motion.


    Whoosh¡ª!


    She barely had time to react.


    Slash!


    The blade cut across her side.


    She gasped, stumbling back.


    A thin, red line stretched across her waist.


    At first, it was just a scratch. Just a small, shallow wound.


    But then¡ª


    I exhaled.


    ¡º Bleed ¡»


    Lumi''s voice echoed with mine.


    And then¡ª


    Splurt!


    The wound ripped open.


    Blood sprayed out, spilling down her side like a fountain.


    She let out a sharp breath, eyes wide in shock.


    Her knees buckled slightly, her body jerking from the sudden pain. She grabbed her side, but the blood kept flowing, soaking through her clothes, and dripping onto the ground.


    Drip... Drip...


    Her breathing grew unsteady.


    She staggered back, her dagger trembling in her grip.


    For the first time¡ªshe hesitated.


    But only for a second.


    Her face twisted, pain mixing with anger.


    Then¡ª


    She charged.


    Blood loss? Pain? She didn''t seem to care.


    Her daggers flickered with dark light, her speed was even faster than before.


    Whoosh!


    She spun, her first dagger aiming for my stomach.


    I twisted my body¡ª


    Swish!


    The blade missed by an inch, but her second dagger was already coming.


    I raised the scythe¡ª


    Clang!


    The weapons clashed, metal screeching against metal.


    Then¡ª


    Thud!


    She slammed her forehead into my face.


    "Ugh¡ª!"


    Pain exploded in my skull.


    My head snapped back, my vision going blurry for a second.


    But I still moved.


    I spun the scythe, the blade slicing through the air toward her leg¡ª


    Shing!


    Another cut.


    Her thigh split open, another wave of blood gushing out.


    ¡º Bleed ¡»


    Lumi whispered along with me.


    The wound tore wider.


    Splurt!


    Blood splashed onto the ground.


    She gasped, her body trembling as her breathing turned ragged.


    But even now¡ª


    She didn''t stop.


    Her grip on the daggers tightened.


    She lunged again.


    This girl...


    She was insane.


    "...You''re still not worthy..."


    Her words suddenly reached my ears, although I didn''t quite got what she meant.


    She completely disappeared into thin air.


    ''Where... did she go?''


    I looked at my surroundings warily...


    <Master! Behind you!>


    My instincts quickly kicked in as I turned around, bringing my scythe to the front.


    Clang!


    It met both of her daggers, and that was when I noticed how she had disappeared...Her body''s shadow had completely disappeared which meant, that she had turned into it.


    ''Fucking hell...''


    "I should end this soon."


    I muttered to myself.


    The girl seemed to have heard my words, but I didn''t exactly care.


    "Assassin or not, you''re still a bit weak to kill me," I uttered coldly.


    A faint silver glow enveloped my scythe as the temperature around us seemed to have dropped.


    ¡º Frost Explosion! (? 6th-Level Spell ?)¡»


    A small ball of ice mana formed on the tip of my index finger.


    Then, I flicked it towards the girl.


    "Explode."


    Fwip!


    And then, the moment the small orb got close enough to the girl¡ª


    BOOM!


    A violent blast of ice erupted, frost and sharp shards of ice bursting out like a crashing wave. The air turned freezing, my breath visible in the sudden chill.


    The girl''s body disappeared into the explosion of frost.


    For a second, everything was silent.


    Then¡ª


    Crack!


    A loud sound of shattering ice echoed through the air. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Through the fog of frost, I saw movement.


    She was still standing.


    Her body trembled, her arms covered in thin layers of ice. Her legs wobbled, frozen in place for just a moment. Blood dripped from her wounds, the deep cuts from earlier now mixed with frostbite.


    Her daggers were covered in ice.


    Her lips were pale.


    Her breathing was heavy.


    But she was still alive.


    At her gaze, I frowned slightly.


    First, I let her hit me multiple times to measure her power. I mean, what if she had some skill that could be hidden by my Judgement Eye?


    But now... I''m quite curious.


    Her body... had an incredible defense.


    And why didn''t she use shadow magic to avoid the attack?


    She''s really strange, sometimes she uses magic, and then she stops using it, only relying on her daggers.


    But then, she smiled at me.


    Not like... a happy smile, but it also wasn''t a cold smile.


    It was more like a...


    ...crazy smile.


    She stretched out her right hand, passing the dagger to the other hand, making it hold both of them and then looked at me.


    A small black orb condensed at her fingertips...


    Wait a minute...


    Is she...


    ¡º Frost Explosion! (? 6th-Level Spell ?)¡»


    Replicating my spell?!


    ...I''m fucked.

 Chapter 65 The Moonlight Swordsman (XXXI)

    BAAAM!


    She flicked the black orb toward me, and I barely managed to jump out of the way. I looked back at the spot where it landed and froze.


    A wave of ice... but a dark-colored ice with purple outlines...


    ''...She also copied my attribute?''


    My eyes went wide in shock.


    I took a quick look at her again.


    She wasn''t exactly what I''d call beautiful, but the power she was throwing around was something special.


    I couldn''t quite place it, but it made me think she was probably either some kind of heroine or villainess.


    Either way, she was dangerous.


    ''An assassin, a heroine or villainess... and she can copy my attacks? This is seriously bad news¡­'' I rubbed my head, clicking my tongue.


    I watched her carefully.


    She was still panting, her eyes never leaving me. The air around her still felt charged, like she was ready to strike at any moment.


    She gripped her daggers tight, and I could see in her eyes¡ªit wasn''t just that she was cold... She had the desire to kill me.


    However...


    I only smiled faintly.


    I wanted to test something, so...


    I shifted my stance, then extended my hand out.


    "Moonlit Ice Lotus Sword Art..."


    ¡º First Move! (? Ice Lotus Bloom ?) ¡»


    An ice lotus blossomed in front of me, its delicate petals floating in the air around me, shimmering like little fragments of frost.


    I stopped and stared at her.


    Will she really copy this?


    And... to my surprise, she did.


    Coping my exact movements from before, a dark-colored mana started flowing out of her body and then an ice lotus slowly began to bloom from her.


    But then¡ª


    Crack!


    "Ahh...?" she gasped.


    SPLURT!


    A mouthful of blood splashed from her lips.


    She bent forward, clutching her chest, her breath ragged. Blood dripped from her mouth, staining the ground, as she groaned in pain.


    "...Hah." I couldn''t help but chuckle.


    "Did you really think you could copy my technique?"


    Did she actually believe she could pull that off?


    It''s a unique technique, and only one person can use it.


    Only I can use it.


    It was made for my body. Everything about me¡ªthe bone structure, the organs, the mana flow¡ªwas built for this technique.


    That''s how hard my predecessor worked.


    So...


    If someone really tried to copy or replicate it...


    They''ll suffer a high injury that could even break their mana flow.


    "Go."


    With a flick of my wrist, I sent the petals flying toward her.


    She reacted quickly, pressing a hand to her mouth as she jumped back. But I wasn''t about to let her off that easy. I controlled the petals, guiding them straight toward her.


    Bam!


    The petals slammed into her chest and a wave of cold spread through her body. Slowly, ice began to creep across her skin, coating her.


    She tried to use shadow magic, but it was useless. The petals glowed too brightly, cutting off all the shadows around us.


    Everything around us became clear, bright, and exposed.


    "Agh..." she groaned weakly.


    Somehow, she was still alive.


    Her body was really insanely sturdy.


    "Hah..." Letting out a deep sigh, I slowly walked toward her, eyes never leaving her battered form.


    Fwip!


    Before I could get too close, she hurled a dagger straight at my face. My instincts kicked in, and I tilted my head to the side, dodging it just in time.


    Drip...


    I felt the sharp sting of a scratch across my cheek, blood trickling down.


    I crouched down in front of her, staring at her plain, ordinary face. I lifted her chin gently, glancing just below it.


    "No face mask, huh..."


    I was a bit disappointed, but nonetheless...


    I''m going to kill her.


    I pressed my hand against her chest, the warmth of her body meeting my palm... her chest was bigger than it looked, but that wasn''t what mattered.


    I pushed those thoughts aside and began to channel mana into her body.


    "Hah....!" She gasped suddenly, and I saw her other hand moving.


    The dagger she was holding aimed straight at me.


    Thud!


    I was just waiting for this.


    Before the blade could even reach me, I grabbed her wrist in a flash, forcing the dagger from her hand. I pinned both of her hands above her head, holding them firmly with one hand.


    "...Die."


    I muttered coldly.


    I increased the pressure of my mana against her chest. The air around us grew colder, like the temperature was dropping fast.


    "W-wait...!" Her voice cracked as she looked at me, eyes wide with panic.


    Her voice trembled.


    "D-don''t kill me... P-please..." She wouldn''t even meet my gaze now.


    Her eyes darted away.


    "I-I''ll tell you who hired me to kill you... a-anything you want to know!" she stuttered, pleading, her body trembling beneath me.


    I looked at her coldly, before parting my lips:


    "...There are plenty of people who want me dead. No one in the black market would risk it unless they were someone big... So it''s got to be one of them."


    She didn''t seem surprised at my words.


    "B-but I know exactly who it is! D-don''t you want to know?" she begged, her voice looking quite desperate.


    She really wanted to stay alive.


    But if she really did, why would she be an assassin?


    Doesn''t she know how risky it is?


    "...Not really."


    Since this was an academic novel, there was a big shot that Lucas would get control of the underworld...


    Or maybe, I can take control of it myself...


    But yeah.


    "They are bound to die anyway."


    "However..." I paused slightly, brushing her cheek slowly...


    "I''m quite interested in something else..." I looked at her intently...


    Her body shuddered at my words.


    She bit her lower lip, her face flushing a soft pink. I could see her trying to control herself, but there was no hiding the quiver in her body.


    "I-I''ll let you do anything... with my body..." Her voice was so small now like she was ashamed of even speaking it.


    I frowned, irritated.


    "Fucking hell," I muttered loud enough for her to hear.


    She lifted her head, eyes widened in surprise, but I didn''t care.


    "Who gives a damn about your body? It''s nothing special¡ªjust above average at best. Besides... you''re not even that beautiful," I scoffed.


    Her face turned bright red.


    It was like her entire face was burning. Her eyes darted away, her mouth opening and closing in embarrassment.


    I could almost hear her heart pounding. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "A-aah..." she whimpered, looking utterly mortified.


    "T-then... what do you want?" she whispered, almost afraid to ask.


    I didn''t even hesitate.


    "Of course, it''s about your damn copying ability... your talent, or whatever the hell you want to call it." I scoffed again, looking at her like she was nothing.


    "...Ah... t-that''s an innate ability that I possess..."


    My eyes narrowed slightly.


    "...You were born with it?"


    She nodded lightly, looking away.


    "Y-yeah... I was one of the experiments from a black market lab... I was born with this ability... at least, that''s what they told me..." Her voice faltered.


    Those disgusting bastards...!


    This makes me hesitate to kill this girl.


    Fucking hell.


    "...Then you''re no use to me," I muttered, pushing myself off of her, my fingers leaving her skin.


    Her face fell. Her eyes clenched shut, and her whole body seemed to brace for the death blow. I held her there, her hands still pinned above her head.


    For a moment, she didn''t move.


    Then, I slowly loosened my grip. She didn''t expect it, but I let go.


    Her eyes fluttered open, just enough to glance up at me.


    "Fuck... just get away from my sight." I furrowed my eyebrows.


    "...But if you try to kill me again, you''ll really die," I added coldly.


    I turned to walk away, but then I heard a faint dripping sound...


    Drip... Drip...


    I froze.


    I turned around just in time to see the tears falling down her face, her eyes wide and glassy with emotion. She didn''t even try to hide them anymore, just letting them fall.


    Her lips were trembling, and I could see her shoulders shake with each breath she took.


    She was trying so hard to wipe them away, but her hands were shaking too much to do anything right.


    She looked so... vulnerable.


    So... fragile.


    The way her face scrunched up in that mix of relief and shame¡ªit felt like she was a kid like she had no control over herself anymore.


    "Sniff.... sniff.. wuu..." She sniffed, wiping at her eyes, but no matter how much she tried, the tears just kept coming.


    Her lip quivered as she glanced up at me, and then froze entirely, seeing how I was still looking at her and didn''t have left already.


    "A-aah..." she whimpered softly as soon as she met my eyes, her voice breaking as she wiped her cheek again, her hand moving shakily.


    It was like watching a child who couldn''t stop crying after they were caught doing something bad.


    What the hell?


    She looked like a damned child.


    Did those lab bastards create some sort of growth potion or something?


    <Master, you''re acting like the bad guy.>


    Lumi?!


    ''What am I supposed to do with her? I already spared her, isn''t that enough?'' I sighed inwardly, communicating with Lumi internally.


    <How about adopting her? I could have a friend to play with when you''re not around!>


    ''What? Is she even old enough to be adopt¡ª''


    My thoughts froze for a moment as I looked at the girl. She was crying even louder now, sobs shaking her whole body.


    <Besides... Master~, isn''t she a victim like me?>


    <She said she was part of some experiment... but who knows if she''s lying.>


    ''I used my eye skill. She''s not lying.''


    <Then why not? Why not adopt her? You could have a little sister or a daughter!>


    "Haaa..." I sighed, looking at the crying girl.


    ''Adopt her? A girl who just tried to kill me? Yeah, right. And even if I did, she looks older than eighteen, so I can''t legally do anything like that anyway.''


    <...I know a spell for that. It was lost in my memories, but there''s a magic spell called "Family Brand" that makes it so people in a family can''t betray each other.>


    ''...How do you even know that? Never mind, you are a gluttonous slime, so I''m guessing you absorbed someone who had that spell or something...''


    ''One day, I''ll have to check how many damn skills you''ve picked up over the years.''


    <Yesh~, anytime!>


    <So¡­ pretty, pleeeeeeeassseeeee?>


    Lumi''s voice suddenly turned sweet and whiny in my head.


    I could practically picture her, all cute and sparkly-eyed as she tilted her head to the right, like she usually does, asking me.


    "Damn it..." I muttered.


    ''Fine. If she''s younger than eighteen, maybe I''ll think about it.''


    <Mhm!>


    I stood up and walked toward the girl.


    She was still sobbing, trembling like a leaf. I crouched down in front of her, and in my cold, detached tone, I called out to her.


    "...Hey?"


    <Master...>


    Lumi instantly complained about my cold tone.


    "Hiik!"


    The girl jumped in fear when I spoke, her body shaking more than before.


    "S-so... y-you really wanted m-my b-body?" Her eyes were wild with panic, her voice trembling.


    I clicked my tongue in frustration. But, for some reason, I forced a smile¡ªa smile that was so sweet, it probably looked fake as hell.


    The kind of smile you give when you''re trying to soften a blow.


    "...How old are you?" I asked, the warmth in my voice fake enough to make even me cringe.


    Her eyes went wide with shock. The tears had stopped falling as quickly as they''d started, and she just stared at me, frozen.


    "A-a-ah... I-I..." She stuttered, biting her lip, her voice breaking as she tried to answer.


    She gulped so loudly that I could hear it, and then she answered in a small, shaky voice.


    "...I-I was born five years ago..."


    <Yaaayyyyy!>


    Fuck.


    Well... it''s not like I will really adopt her.


    She probably doesn''t even have an identity...


    And it''s not like anyone will believe that she is five years old...


    ...Right?

 Chapter 66 The Moonlight Swordsman (XXXII)

    Twitch...


    "Ah....."


    Aestrea stood in front of the receptionist''s desk, staring at the stack of papers before him. His fingers twitched slightly as he held the quill, hesitating to sign the last document.


    This was ridiculous.


    Completely insane.


    He had just fought this girl.


    Just nearly killed her.


    And now, here he was, about to officially adopt her like she was some lost kitten he found in an alley. Lumi had somehow convinced him¡ªno, forced him¡ªinto this madness.


    He sighed and finally put the pen to the paper, scribbling his signature with the grace of a man accepting his fate.


    The receptionist, a middle-aged woman with kind eyes and a gentle smile, took the document from him, scanning it over before nodding in approval.


    Then, she looked at the girl standing beside him.


    "Well then," she said in a warm voice, almost teasing. "Congratulations on having your first daughter, Mr. Moon."


    Aestrea''s face went completely lifeless.


    His brain short-circuited.


    He had never felt so much regret in his entire life.


    Meanwhile, the girl¡ªhis new daughter¡ªclutched the sleeve of his coat tightly.


    Her hands were trembling slightly, and her lips parted as if she wanted to say something but wasn''t sure if she should.


    Then, hesitantly, in the softest, most uncertain voice¡ª


    "¡­Dad¡­?"


    Aestrea felt an instant migraine.


    His temples throbbed.


    His body physically recoiled as if the word had physically punched him.


    No.


    No, no, no.


    Absolutely not.


    "Don''t," he said immediately, his voice cold.


    The girl flinched.


    Her grip loosened slightly, and for a second, she looked like she might cry again.


    "Not yet," Aestrea muttered, rubbing his forehead.


    "Just¡­ give me time."


    She didn''t say anything after that, but she still held onto his coat.


    He sighed.


    ''Lumi, you little devil, I hope you''re happy.''


    <Hehe!>


    Grabbing the girl''s hand, Aestrea led her back to the black market, where he brought her to his room, in Yara''s residence.


    It only took a few minutes to get there.


    And Yara wasn''t home.


    Aestrea pushed open the door to his room, stepping inside with the girl following closely behind.


    The girl stood awkwardly near the entrance, looking around like she wasn''t sure where she was allowed to step.


    "Just sit anywhere," Aestrea said, waving a hand lazily.


    She nodded and cautiously sat on the edge of the bed, keeping her back straight and hands on her lap like she was a guest.


    Aestrea sighed and ran a hand through his hair.


    This was exhausting.


    And then¡ª


    SPLAT!


    A green, jelly-like blob suddenly launched itself onto his face.


    "MASTER~!"


    Aestrea staggered back slightly as Lumi clung to his head like an overexcited child.


    The girl yelped, eyes wide with terror as she scrambled back on the bed.


    "W-WHAT IS THAT!?"


    Lumi peeled herself off Aestrea''s face and turned toward the girl, bouncing slightly in excitement. "Oooohhh~! So you''re the new little sister~?"


    "¡­Little¡­ sister¡­?" The girl looked confused, her eyes darting between Lumi and Aestrea.


    Aestrea groaned lightly.


    "Lumi, you''re scaring her."


    Lumi ignored him, bouncing closer to the girl, her slimy body jiggling as she tilted her head cutely.


    "Hi~! I''m Lumi! I''m Master''s partner and his first companion! But since he adopted you, that means you''re my little sister now, right~?"


    The girl still looked overwhelmed, staring at Lumi like she wasn''t sure if she should be scared or fascinated.


    "I-I''ve never seen a slime that can talk¡­" she muttered.


    "What?!" Lumi gasped dramatically.


    "You''ve been missing out, then! I''m one-of-a-kind, super cute, and¡ª"


    Aestrea picked her up by the top of her head and tossed her onto the bed.


    "Enough."


    Lumi just giggled as she bounced onto the mattress.


    Aestrea turned back to the girl, sighing deeply. "That''s Lumi. She''s an annoying little thing that follows me around."


    ''And also the one that wanted me to adopt you...'' he added inwardly.


    "Hey!" Lumi pouted.


    The girl blinked slowly, still processing. "¡­So, she''s not dangerous?"


    "Oh, I''m very dangerous," Lumi said proudly. "But only when Master says so~!"


    The girl didn''t seem reassured.


    Aestrea pinched the bridge of his nose. "Forget it. More importantly, we need to take care of the contract."


    "Here it is, Master~" Lumi jumped towards him, giving him a piece of parchment.


    Taking the paper, he slowly channeled a bit of mana into the paper, and then, a strange glowing symbol started forming on it.


    He looked at the girl who was sitting on the edge of the bed, her hands fidgeting in her lap, and then explained what that paper was.


    "This is a Family Brand contract," Aestrea explained. "It binds two people as family. Once signed, it prevents betrayal, meaning you won''t be able to attack me, and I won''t be able to harm you either."


    She looked up at him, wide-eyed.


    "So¡­ it''s a protection spell?"


    "More like a leash," Aestrea muttered.


    She hesitated for a long moment, then finally spoke. "And¡­ you''re sure you want to do this? Even though I tried to kill you?"


    Aestrea exhaled slowly.


    "I wouldn''t be doing this if I wasn''t sure."


    Her hands clenched into fists.


    She looked down at the table, her hair covering her eyes.


    "¡­Okay," she whispered.


    Aestrea pricked his finger and pressed it to the paper, his blood soaking into the parchment and causing the symbols to glow brighter.


    He passed the small dagger to her.


    She took it hesitantly, then pricked her own finger, letting a single drop of blood fall onto the contract.


    The moment her blood touched the parchment, the symbols flared with light. The contract lifted into the air, glowing with golden energy before it slowly faded and disappeared.


    A warm sensation spread through Aestrea''s body. It wasn''t overwhelming, just a soft, comforting presence¡ªlike something deep inside him recognized her now.


    The girl let out a quiet gasp, clutching her chest as she felt it too.


    Then, silence.


    Sitting on a chair close to his desk, Aestrea leaned back.


    "It''s done."


    The girl stared at her hands as if expecting something to change physically. When nothing happened, she looked back up at him.


    "¡­So that''s it?"


    "That''s it."


    "¡­I really can''t hurt you now?"


    "Nope."


    She let out a small, breathy laugh.


    "¡­That''s kinda amazing."


    "Woohoo~! Welcome to the family!" Lumi suddenly jumped onto the bed.


    The girl flinched but didn''t pull away when Lumi clung to her arm.


    Aestrea watched her carefully.


    "¡­You never told me your name."


    She hesitated, then lowered her gaze. "¡­I was never given one."


    "WHAT?!" Lumi gasped.


    Aestrea sighed again.


    This just kept getting worse and worse.


    "Well," he muttered, "I guess that means I have to name you too."


    Her head snapped up, eyes wide. "Y-you''re going to name me?"


    He stared at her, then glanced at Lumi. The slime was already bouncing excitedly, probably thinking up stupid names.


    Aestrea sighed.


    "Yeah. Can''t have my... daughter walking around without a name."


    She stiffened.


    A beat of silence passed.


    Then¡ª


    "¡­Dad¡­"


    Aestrea''s headache immediately returned.


    "Hehe~! Master, you really are a dad now!" Lumi just giggled.


    "Shut. Up."


    But then, Aestrea frowned.


    "Come to think about it¡­ how come they didn''t ask for your name when registering me as your parent¡­?"


    Now that he thought about it, the whole process had gone way too smoothly.


    The receptionist never asked for her name, never even checked if she had one.


    They just accepted everything and handed over the documents like it was completely normal.


    The girl tilted her head slightly, looking just as confused.


    "I¡­ I don''t know," she mumbled.


    Aestrea sighed, rubbing his temples. Something about this whole thing felt off, but he didn''t have the energy to dig into it right now.


    Then, he suddenly remembered¡ª


    "Wait."


    They also gave her an Awakener ID.


    That meant she must have something registered under her name. Even if she didn''t have one before, the system had to put something in there, right?


    "Give me your Awakener ID," Aestrea said, holding out his hand.


    The girl blinked, then hesitated before reaching into her pocket and pulling out a thin, metal-like card. She carefully placed it in his palm.


    Aestrea flipped it over and looked at the text displayed on its surface.


    His eyes narrowed.


    There, right where the name should have been, were the words:


    [Insert the new name.]


    "...Ah."


    Now everything made sense.


    She wasn''t ignored. She wasn''t forgotten. The system itself had left her name blank, waiting for someone¡ªher guardian¡ªto give her one.


    Aestrea exhaled through his nose, tapping the card against the table a few times as he thought.


    So, she really didn''t have a name.


    Not just in her own memory, but officially.


    Lumi, sitting on the desk, peeked over his shoulder. "Oooooh~! That means you really have to name her, Master!"


    Aestrea shot Lumi a look but didn''t argue. He glanced back at the girl, who was staring at the card with an unreadable expression.


    Naming her¡­


    He wasn''t the type to care about sentimental things like this, but¡­


    A name was still important. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It was what defined a person.


    Aestrea closed his eyes for a second, thinking.


    Then, he slowly exhaled and looked at the girl again.


    "Chaerin," he finally said.


    The girl flinched slightly, eyes widening.


    "That''s¡­ your name now." Aestrea placed the Awakener ID on the desk and tapped it twice.


    The system recognized his command, and the letters on the card changed, glowing softly as they rearranged themselves.


    [Name: Chaerin Moon]


    For a moment, there was silence.


    Then¡ª


    The girl¡ªno, Chaerin¡ªstared at the card, her hands trembling slightly as she reached out and picked it up.


    She ran her fingers over the newly written name, her lips parting as if she wanted to say something, but no words came out.


    Lumi wiggled excitedly. "Chaerin~! That''s such a cute name! Master, I didn''t know you had a good sense for names~!"


    "I was the one that gave you that name."


    Aestrea retorted while keeping his eyes on Chaerin.


    She was still staring at the ID, her fingers gripping it tightly.


    "...Chaerin," she whispered, almost testing how it felt on her tongue.


    Aestrea leaned back in his chair. "If you don''t like it, I can change it¡ª"


    "I like it!"


    Aestrea blinked.


    Chaerin clutched the ID close to her chest, her face slightly red as she lowered her head.


    "I¡­ I really like it," she said softly.


    "OH MY GOSH, SHE''S BLUSHIN¡ª" Lumi gasped dramatically.


    Aestrea flicked Lumi on the forehead.


    "Shut up."


    Lumi pouted but didn''t say anything else.


    Meanwhile, Chaerin sat there, looking down at her new name over and over again, as if she still couldn''t believe it was real.


    Aestrea watched her quietly, then sighed and leaned his cheek against his hand.


    This was exhausting.


    The room was completely quiet after that.


    Chaerin had calmed down, still holding her ID but no longer shaking. Lumi had finally stopped teasing, and Aestrea¡­ was just trying to process everything.


    He had fought this girl.


    He had nearly killed this girl.


    And now, he was responsible for her.


    For her name.


    For her future.


    The weight of that realization settled deep into his bones, but strangely, it didn''t feel as suffocating as he expected.


    It was¡­ annoying, sure.


    But not unbearable.


    Across from him, Chaerin carefully put the ID back in her pocket. Then, she glanced up at him, hesitant.


    "¡­Thank you," she said quietly.


    "Don''t mention it," Aestrea sighed, looking away.


    Chaerin smiled softly in a shy manner.


    Lumi grinned.


    Aestrea felt his headache return.


    Now, the whole party seemed to be completed.


    A slime, a high elf, and finally, a modified human of some sort.


    ''And... I still need to introduce her to Alaine. Thinking about it, isn''t she kind of late? She told me that she was simply going to get groceries...''


    Aestrea thought inwardly.


    Then, looking at the energetic Lumy, the shy Chaerin, and the mature Alaine that would be joining them soon...


    Aestrea couldn''t help but sigh for the 27th time today.


    This was going to be a long journey.

 Chapter 67 The Moonlight Swordsman (XXXIII)

    "Hah..."


    Taking a deep breath, I adjusted my gloves slightly.


    A full day had passed since I''d adopted Chaerin, and now it was finally time to end this damned Death Tournament.


    From the information that Yara gave them, all of them are low s-rank awakeners, which will be quite difficult to deal with.


    At least Chaerin was safe.


    I had made sure to hide her from Yara¡ªbecause honestly? I didn''t trust Yara not to take an interest in her.


    And knowing her, "interest" could mean anything.


    So for now, Chaerin was running around the black market with Lumi.


    She was strong enough to handle herself, and anyone dumb enough to mess with her was in for a very bad day.


    Besides, thanks to the Family Bond magic, I could sense her location and whether she was in danger.


    That was one less thing to worry about.


    "Are you ready~?"


    A familiar, sultry voice rang out from my right.


    I didn''t even have to turn my head.


    It was Yara.


    "Obviously," I replied, nodding.


    "Mhn~, is that so?"


    She stepped closer, grabbing the front of my jacket. I blinked, looking down at her.


    She was only a little shorter than me, her head reaching my nose, and from this distance, I could catch the faint scent of her perfume¡ªsomething sweet, almost intoxicating.


    Without saying anything, she adjusted my jacket slightly, straightening it.


    ¡­Which didn''t make any sense.


    I was about to walk into a fight to the death.


    For all I knew, I''d leave the arena without a jacket at all.


    "...Doesn''t this make us feel like newlyweds?" she asked out of nowhere.


    "...No?"


    "Really?"


    She lifted her head suddenly, her black eyes locking onto mine. Her lips parted slightly, the corner of her mouth curving up in a way that was just suggestive enough to be intentional.


    Then, she bit her lip.


    Slowly and seductively...


    Her gaze flickered from my lips, then back to my eyes, wordlessly inviting me to make a move.


    I sighed inwardly.


    ''Really?''


    This might have looked like a simple flirt, but it was a test.


    There were two possible outcomes:


    1 - I kiss her. That means I "admit"¡ªwithout actually saying it¡ªthat I like her.


    2 - I don''t kiss her. That means I''m "rejecting" her outright.


    Either way, it was going to get me fucked anyway...


    But instead of playing into her game, I simply continued staring at her with the same calm look.


    "...Tsk."


    She clicked her tongue, frowning slightly.


    "You''re no fun." Letting go of my jacket, she muttered with a small sigh.


    Finally, she let go of my jacket with a sigh.


    Yup.


    She really had changed.


    From a crazy bitch to... a mostly normal woman.


    "Well... make sure to win, okay?" Her voice was quieter now, more serious. "I wouldn''t like to see your dead body."


    She paused, looking me over one last time.


    Then, a smirk appeared on her face.


    "As for that favor... I''ve already got what I want in mind," she licked her lips, once again, giving me a suggestive look.


    "...What is it?" I asked curiously.


    "Nothing..."


    She winked.


    "You''ll know after the match."


    And with that, she turned and walked away, probably going to her VIP seat to watch the final match or something like that.


    Seeing her walk away, I turned to walk towards the corridor that would lead me toward the death arena, where the final showdown would happen.


    A free-for-all between the last four challengers...


    "MOONLIGHT SWORDSMAN!"


    "MASKED PUPPET!"


    As I stepped onto the last stretch before the arena, the cheers from the crowd exploded, shaking the walls around me.


    But something was... off.


    There were four challengers.


    Yet only two names were being shouted.


    I glanced around.


    The other two fighters were there, standing at the edges of the battlefield, but the crowd barely seemed to acknowledge them.


    it seems like both me and the "Masket Puppet" were more popular than both of them.


    Then, as I walked onto the arena¡ª


    "Ladies and gentlemen!"


    The announcer''s voice boomed from the speakers, filled with energy.


    "For the final match of our beloved tournament, we have, on the upper left¡ªTHE CHAINED BASTARD!"


    The crowd erupted¡ª


    With boos.


    "BOOOOOOOOOOOO!"


    Damn. That was loud.


    "And on the upper right, we have¡ªTHE BLOOD DRAINER!"


    Another wave of boos.


    "BOOOOOOOOO!"


    Okay... what the hell did these guys do to piss off the crowd this badly?


    The announcer barely let the negativity settle before continuing¡ª


    "On the lower left, we have... THE MASKED PUPPET!"


    And this time¡ª


    "MASKED PUPPET!"


    A wave of cheers. Loud. Intense.


    "SLICE THEM TO PIECES!"


    ...And completely insane.


    Then¡ª


    "And finally! As our last contestant..."


    The crowd was already roaring, waiting for my name.


    "We have the MOONLIGHT SWORDSMAN! The rookie who killed the two-time champion, Iron Wrestler!"


    "WOOOOOOOOOOO!"


    "EXPLODE THEM!"


    "MAKE THEIR BODY TURN INTO POOLS OF BLOOD!"


    Well...


    My cheers were insane as well.


    Not that I should''ve expected anything else from an underground death tournament.


    The announcer let the cheers carry for a few more seconds before finally¡ª


    "Now that everyone is ready..."


    I adjusted my stance immediately, my fingers tightening around the hilts of the two swords at my waist.


    "LET THE BATTLE BEGIN!"


    I instantly dashed forward, but before I could even react...


    Splurt!


    Blood sprayed into the air, two fountains of red cutting through the arena lights.


    Thud, thud...!


    Along with two heads, falling into the ground of the arena...


    I looked forward and saw the Masked Puppet...


    He was pale and lean, with slicked-back gray hair reaching the nape of his neck. His ears were sharp, his posture straight¡ªbut the most striking thing about him?


    His mask.


    A white, expressionless face, except for the eerie, mischievous smirk carved into it.


    The grin stretched from cheekbone to cheekbone, sharp and unnatural, curving just above the jawline before arching back up again.


    Two crescent-shaped slits ran down from where his eyes should be, giving him a haunting, almost inhuman look.


    And his outfit... was simply immaculate.


    A high-collared jacket with three silver buttons on each side.


    The collar was flipped, showing a plant-like pattern hidden on the inside.


    A long, split cape trailed behind him, brushing against his polished boots.


    Underneath, he wore a white button-up shirt, neatly tucked, paired with a small black bow tie.


    His pants had subtle, jagged lines running down them, and his hands were covered in white gloves.


    And the cherry on top...


    Atop his head, there was a magician''s top hat.


    The way he stood¡ªstill as a shadow, head tilted slightly to the side¡ªgave the unsettling impression that he was... grinning at me.


    "WOOOOO!"


    "THAT''S HOW IT''S DONE!"


    "PERFECTLY SLICED HEADS!"


    The crowd even got louder than before.


    I kept my eyes on him.


    This man was very strange...


    He was too fast...


    ¡º Judgement Eye (? S-Level Skill ?) ¡»


    I activated my skill¡ªand I saw...


    Thin mana threads.


    Almost invisible, running between his fingertips, stretching outward like a spider''s web.


    That''s how he did it.


    He sliced them apart with mana strings.


    Dealing with him was going to be... difficult.


    "Wait a minute, dear Moonlight Swordsman..."


    The man suddenly spoke before I could attack him.


    "My name is Kagetaro Kurohare," he said, placing one hand over his chest and the other behind his back in a flourished bow.


    "It''s an absolute pleasure to finally meet you."


    "...Aestrea Moon."


    "Hehe," the man chuckled at my response.


    "I''ve been watching you for a while now, and I must say..." His head tilted slightly, the mask unmoving¡ªbut somehow, I felt his excitement.


    "You''re really... truly... fascinatingly incredible."


    A chill ran down my spine.


    D¨¦j¨¤ vu.


    I had heard of this kind of expression before.


    "Your power... is so interesting," he continued, voice trembling slightly¡ªnot with fear, but excitement.


    "So little mana quantity, yet such superb mana quality... It''s... breathtaking!"


    His fingers twitched as if barely holding back some kind of urge.


    "So," he breathed, his voice dipping low. "I entered this tournament for one reason. A single, pure reason..."


    He lifted his arms, his white gloves practically glowing under the arena lights.


    "To meet you, my dear Aestrea..."


    "...Don''t call me that."


    The words left my mouth before I could stop them.


    The disgust was instant.


    Being called that by a woman?


    Fine.


    But by a man?


    Ew.


    Kagetaro simply chuckled again.


    "Join me."


    His arms spread wide as if presenting an offer¡ªa gift.


    "Join forces with me. With the Dark Order!"


    My blood ran cold.


    "Together, we could dominate the entire world and create something new! A brand new era!"


    I froze.


    Did he just say¡ª


    The Dark Order?


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    As soon as Aestrea heard those words...


    Thrum!


    A pulse of mana erupted from his body, rippling through the air.


    The sheer force sent a gust of wind blasting through the arena, kicking up dust and making the crowd go wild.


    "Did you just fucking say... Dark Order?"


    Aestrea spoke coldly, his voice cutting through the noise like a blade.


    His eyes, deep crimson, began to glow sinisterly¡ªleaving behind faint trails of scarlet smoke as his power stirred awake.


    Across from him, Kagetaro shuddered.


    "...Mhm!"


    A deep, shaky moan left his lips.


    His fingers twitched.


    Then¡ªhe hugged himself, his entire body trembling.


    "That''s it..." His breath hitched. "That superb mana...!"


    He let out a ragged sigh, his gloved hands gripping his arms as if trying to hold himself together.


    "...It makes me so excited!"


    Clang!


    A flash of steel.


    Aestrea vanished¡ªdisappearing into thin air¡ªonly to reappear right in front of Kagetaro, swords drawn.


    Tzzzt!


    A metallic snap rang out as Kagetaro reacted instantly, his near-invisible mana threads snapping into place like a web, blocking the strike.


    The impact sent a sharp, screeching echo through the arena.


    Aestrea''s crimson eyes narrowed.


    Kagetaro was fast, faster than expected¡ªbut more than that, those near-invisible threads made him dangerous. T


    hey were sharp, numerous, and nearly undetectable.


    Tzzzt!


    The moment their weapons connected, Aestrea felt the threads tightening around his blade like a snare.


    "Tsk¡ª!"


    With a sharp twist of his wrist, he jerked his sword free, slicing through a few strands before leaping back, just as thin, glinting threads shot past where his arms had been a split second ago.


    "Ooooh!" The crowd gasped.


    Kagetaro grinned beneath his mask, his head tilting slightly.


    "Hehe¡­ Careful now, dear Moonlight Swordsman."


    His gloved fingers twitched, and suddenly¡ª


    Shwip! Shwip! Shwip!


    A dozen razor-thin strings whipped forward like the fangs of a striking viper.


    Aestrea spun his sword in an arc, deflecting them with a sharp flick of his wrist.


    Cling! Cling! Clang!


    Every impact sent a sharp, metallic ping into the air, but the moment he stopped moving¡ª


    "Too slow."


    Kagetaro flicked his wrist, and from behind¡ª


    Shwik!


    A thread lashed across Aestrea''s shoulder, slicing clean through the fabric of his coat and drawing a thin line of blood.


    "...Damn it."


    Aestrea rolled forward, dodging another incoming whip of mana, then flipped back onto his feet. Blood trickled down his arm, warm against his skin.


    Kagetaro placed a hand over his chest and let out an exaggerated sigh.


    "Oh dear¡­ such beautiful, rich red¡­ It''s a shame to spill it all at once."


    The crowd cheered louder at the sight of blood.


    Aestrea exhaled slowly.


    He had to finish this quickly.


    His grip tightened around his sword.


    ''Let''s see if you can handle this.''


    Then¡ª


    He stepped forward.


    In a single fluid motion, he swung his blade upward¡ª


    "Moonlit Ice Lotus Sword Art¡­"


    A soft chill spread through the air.


    ¡º First Move! (? Ice Lotus Bloom ?) ¡»


    The ground rumbled.


    A massive lotus made of ice erupted from beneath Aestrea''s feet, its crystalline petals spiraling outward in every direction.


    The temperature dropped instantly, frost creeping across the stone arena floor.


    Each petal was razor-sharp, glowing with a faint, eerie blue light.


    Kagetaro''s masked face twitched.


    His strings lashed out in an attempt to slice through the ice¡ª


    "Go."


    Aestrea flicked his fingers.


    The ice petals detached¡ªand shot forward like a storm of flying blades.


    Shhhhk!


    Kagetaro leaped back, his strings forming a defensive web, but the petals were relentless.


    One grazed his sleeve, another slashed across his chest, and a third barely missed his throat.


    But even so, Aestrea wasn''t done.


    "Moonlit Ice Lotus Sword Art¡­"


    He swung his sword in a wide arc¡ªand suddenly, crescent-shaped waves of freezing blue mana exploded outward.


    ¡º Second Move! (? Ice Lotus Barrage ?) ¡»


    The ice crescents sliced through the air at lightning speed, freezing everything in their path.


    Kagetaro twisted midair, but¡ª


    Shhhhk!


    A crescent grazed his side, sending a chilling numbness through his body. Another sliced through his coat, tearing away fabric.


    The masked man landed on one knee, his breath coming in sharp gasps. Frost clung to his clothes, spreading along his arms.


    However, he still had the same confident smirk on his face.


    "...Fascinating."


    He lifted his hand.


    Then¡ªSNAP!


    Hundreds of strings burst outward like an exploding spiderweb.


    "Enough playing around!"


    Aestrea''s pupils shrank.


    "Here it comes¡ª!"


    The strings moved like vipers, twisting and curving unnaturally.


    Aestrea dodged left¡ª


    Too late.


    A string wrapped around his ankle¡ª


    THWIP!


    Kagetaro YANKED.


    Aestrea was ripped off his feet and slammed sideways against the cold ground.


    "Guh¡ª!"


    More strings coiled around his wrists, his legs¡ªhis neck.


    "Hehehe¡­ Caught you."


    Kagetaro''s voice was a delighted whisper. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He jerked his fingers.


    The strings tightened.


    "HRK¡ª!"


    Aestrea felt the sharp fibers digging into his skin, ready to slice him apart. The crowd screamed, half in thrill, half in horror.


    "It''s over, dear swordsman."


    Kagetaro pulled harder, but then¡ª


    Aestrea smiled.


    Fwoosh¡ª


    A sudden blast of icy air erupted from his body.


    The strings around him froze instantly.


    Kagetaro''s eyes widened.


    "What¡ª?"


    Aestrea''s fingers twitched.


    "Moonlit Ice Lotus Sword Art..."


    He vanished.


    Kagetaro stumbled back¡ªbut Aestrea was already behind him.


    His sword gleamed.


    ¡º Third Move! (? Moonlight''s One Flash ?) ¡»


    Aestrea sheathes his sword.


    Then¡ª


    "Shhk!"


    A single clean cut.


    A deep, jagged wound carved across Kagetaro''s torso.


    The masked man froze.


    His strings shattered.


    The crowd fell silent.


    Then¡ª


    Blood splattered across the ground.


    Kagetaro staggered, his breaths coming out ragged.


    His knees buckled.


    He reached for his chest, where the ice-laced wound burned into his flesh.


    "...Heh¡­"


    His mask tilted up, revealing a crooked smile.


    "...What a beautiful sword art."


    And then¡ªhe collapsed.


    The crowd erupted.


    "HE WON!"


    "MOONLIGHT SWORDSMAN!"


    "HOLY SHIT! HE SLICED THAT GUY UP!"


    Aestrea exhaled, his breath visible in the cold air. His sword still hummed from the energy of the final strike.


    He glanced down at Kagetaro''s fallen form.


    "...Fuck..."


    That was too close.


    He sheathed his sword fully, stepping back as the announcer''s voice boomed through the arena.


    "LADIES AND GENTLEMEN¡ªYOUR WINNER¡­!"


    The crowd roared.


    The Death Tournament had reached its bloody conclusion.


    However, instead of celebrating...


    Aestrea frowned.


    ''My sword didn''t cut him.''


    He looked towards the place where his body should''ve been...


    "Fuck..."


    "He escaped..."


    Aestrea clutched his fists tightly.

 Chapter 68 The Moonlight Swordsman (XXXIV)

    The crowd was still screaming.


    The energy in the underground arena was wild, almost chaotic.


    "Ahh... fuu..."


    Aestrea stood there, his breath coming out in short, cold puffs, his body still tense from the battle.


    His clothes were torn, and his shoulder was bleeding, but his hands were steady on the hilts of his swords.


    Kagetaro had escaped.


    That slippery bastard had slipped away right when Aestrea had landed the final blow.


    The cut had been deep¡ªit should''ve been fatal.


    But no body meant no kill, and that meant he was still out there somewhere.


    "Damn it..." Aestrea clicked his tongue, rolling his shoulder as he sheathed his swords.


    The announcer''s voice boomed across the arena, drowning out his thoughts.


    "LADIES AND GENTLEMEN¡ªTHE FINAL WINNER OF THE DEATH TOURNAMENT¡­ MOONLIGHT SWORDSMAN!"


    The roar of the crowd was loud.


    "WOOOOOOO!!!"


    "BLOOD! BLOOD! BLOOD!"


    "THAT WAS INSANE!!"


    Aestrea ignored them.


    His glowing crimson eyes swept across the arena, scanning for any lingering threats.


    But there was nothing left¡ªonly the wreckage of their battle, the frozen ground, and the bloodstains marking the arena''s floor.


    It was over.


    He had won.


    And yet¡­ something felt wrong.


    He turned his head slightly.


    His sharp gaze locked onto the VIP balcony.


    Up there, hidden behind the one-way glass, the big shots of this underground tournament were watching.


    The ones who had wanted him dead.


    The ones who had bet everything on his failure.


    Aestrea smirked slightly.


    ''They must be pissed...''


    He slowly started walking towards the VIP balcony.


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    Inside a lavish, dimly lit room above the arena, a group of powerful figures sat in silence.


    The air was thick with tension.


    No one spoke.


    No one moved...


    CRASH!!!


    A glass of expensive wine shattered against the wall, dark red liquid dripping down like blood.


    "WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED?!" a deep voice roared.


    The speaker was a tall, muscular man with sharp eyes and a scar running down his cheek.


    His suit was expensive, but the way he carried himself was more like a brute than a businessman.


    His name was Daimon Blackfang, one of the key sponsors of the Death Tournament.


    He wasn''t alone.


    At the large round table, several other dangerous figures sat, all dressed in expensive suits and robes, each one more furious than the last.


    An old man with golden rings on his fingers gritted his teeth.


    His name was Grandmaster Hui, the leader of one of the underground assassin''s guilds.


    "This wasn''t the plan," he muttered.


    "The Modified Human we sent was supposed to be perfect. She was made to kill people like Moonlight Swordsman. Yet he''s still alive."


    A woman in a crimson dress¡ªMadam Wei, the madam from the Wei Family¡ªcrossed her legs slowly.


    "This is a disgrace," she said coldly, her painted lips pressing into a thin line. "That assassin was one of our lab''s finest creations. She should have killed Aestrea easily"


    A man with sharp eyes and a mechanical hand, Lord Vance, scoffed. "Well, she didn''t. And now, that brat is walking away with our tournament victory."


    "Not to mention... that bitch is going to get the reward!" Madam Wei bit her lips tightly, clutching her fists.


    All of them usually distributed the reward between them, but now, they had completely lost it, and they even lost it to their worst enemy.


    A heavy silence followed.


    None of them had expected this outcome.


    None of them had planned for this.


    They had poured thousands of platinum coins into this bet.


    And now, the one man they wanted dead was still standing.


    Thud!


    "We need to fix this. Immediately." Daimon said angrily, slamming his fist onto the table.


    "Agreed. We can''t let him walk away." Grandmaster Hui nodded.


    "We should kill him before he leaves the arena," Lord Vance suggested, his metal fingers clicking against the wooden table.


    "Too late." Madam Wei sighed, swirling the wine in her glass.


    "By now, he''s already being escorted out. If we move against him now, it''ll be too obvious. Our reputation will go even lower, granting more chances for that bitch to rise."


    There was another heavy silence.


    But then...


    BOOM!


    The double doors to the room EXPLODED inward.


    The entire room shook as the wooden doors were blasted clean off their hinges, flying across the room like broken debris.


    They crashed into the wall with a loud noise, leaving behind a cloud of dust and splinters.


    And standing in the doorway¡­


    Was Yara.


    She stepped inside, her black high heels clicking against the polished floor. Her long, wavy hair cascaded down her back, her dark eyes burning with fury.


    The scent of her intoxicating perfume filled the air, but there was no trace of her usual playful smirk.


    This was not the usual teasing, seductive Yara.


    This was a monster in human form.


    Her cold, razor-sharp gaze swept across the room.


    And then...


    She spoke.


    "How dare you harm my baby?"


    Her voice was low, but high enough to reach their ears.


    Dangerous.


    Daimon''s breath hitched.


    Madam Wei''s fingers trembled slightly around her glass.


    Even Grandmaster Hui, who had faced countless assassins in his lifetime, felt a bead of sweat roll down his temple.


    Because they all knew¡ª


    Yara wasn''t just some woman.


    She was the most dangerous person in the underground world and one of the few SS-rank in the entire world.


    Not to mention, she was the "bitch" they wanted to get rid of.


    And right now?


    She was furious.


    After a few minutes, Daimon was the first to recover.


    He scowled, stepping forward.


    "Yara, he''s just another challenger, besides you know the rules of the underground, right?" he growled.


    "This has nothing to do with you. Back off," he warned her coldly.


    Yara''s eyes flickered slightly at his words.


    Then¡ª


    CRACK!


    Before anyone could react, Yara vanished from her spot.


    In an instant, she was right in front of Daimon¡ªher heel slamming into his knee.


    SNAP!


    "GAAAAAAAAAHH!"


    Daimon let out a bloodcurdling scream as his leg bent the wrong way.


    He collapsed to the floor, clutching his knee, his face twisted in agony.


    Yara didn''t even look at him.


    She turned to the others, her lips curling into a deadly smile.


    "You really thought you could try to kill my baby and get away with it?" she asked sweetly.


    Lord Vance''s metal hand clenched.


    "We had our reasons," he said stiffly. "The boy¡ª"


    BANG!


    Yara casually lifted her hand, making a gun gesture¡ªand shot him.


    The mana bullet pierced his mechanical hand, making sparks fly.


    "AGHH!"


    Lord Vance hissed, grabbing his damaged limb, but Yara was already moving.


    She stepped towards the table, placing her hands on the polished wood.


    Her nails tapped against the surface.


    Tap.


    Tap.


    Tap.


    "You see¡­ I don''t mind all of you plotting against me, but..." she began, her voice soft. "How dare you send someone to kill my dear baby?"


    Her eyes darkened completely.


    "I could kill all of you right now. It''d be so easy."


    "But my baby won. Fair and square."


    She tilted her head, her dark hair falling over her shoulder.


    "So here''s what''s going to happen."


    She pointed a delicate finger at each of them.


    "You will not lay a hand on him ever again."


    Her tone was final.


    Absolute.


    Madam Wei swallowed.


    Grandmaster Hui clenched his jaw.


    Daimon¡ªstill writhing on the floor¡ªwas too busy gasping in pain to respond.


    And then, with a smirk, Yara turned on her heel and walked towards the door.


    Just before she left¡ªshe glanced over her shoulder.


    Her eyes gleamed.


    "Oh, and one more thing¡­"


    She smiled.


    "If you even think about trying again¡­ I''ll rip your hearts out myself."


    Then, just like that, she was gone.


    And in the silence that followed, one thing was clear¡ª


    They had just made a very, very big mistake.


    "FUCK!"


    Daimon shouted.


    He was still on the floor, panting through clenched teeth, his leg twisted at a sickening angle. The pain was unbearable, but not nearly as bad as the fury boiling inside him.


    "Ahh..." S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Grandmaster Hui let out a slow, shaky breath. His fingers trembled slightly as he picked up his glass of wine¡ªhis grip tight enough to crack the crystal.


    He took a sip, trying to regain his composure.


    No one spoke for a long time.


    Then¡ª


    SMASH!


    Lord Vance slammed his damaged metal hand onto the table, his face twisted in barely contained rage.


    "THAT. BITCH." His voice was sharp, cutting through the silence.


    "We can''t let this stand."


    "She made a mockery of us," Madam Wei said quietly, her voice cold as ice.


    She was usually composed, but now, she was still gripping her wine glass so hard her knuckles had gone white.


    "She''s too strong," Grandmaster Hu admitted his voice even. "Much stronger than I expected. But strength doesn''t make someone untouchable."


    Grandmaster Hui leaned back in his chair, his golden rings glinting under the dim lights.


    Daimon finally managed to pull himself into a sitting position, his breaths ragged. His forehead was slick with sweat, but his eyes were filled with murderous intent.


    "I want her dead," he growled, his voice filled with killing intent.


    "And I want that brat Aestrea''s head on a pike."


    A deadly silence followed.


    Then, slowly, Madam Wei set down her glass and spoke.


    "You''re right."


    Her lips curled into a smirk, but there was no amusement in her eyes.


    "They both need to die."


    Lord Vance flexed his injured metal hand, sparks still flickering from where the bullet had hit.


    "We invested too much in this tournament to let that kid walk away alive. And Yara? She''s a problem we should''ve handled a long time ago."


    Daimon gritted his teeth at Vance''s words.


    "But we can''t take her head-on," he admitted, bitterly.


    Grandmaster Hui nodded.


    "No, we can''t." He tapped his fingers on the table, thinking. "She''s too strong, too fast. If we try to fight her directly, she''ll carve through us before we can even blink."


    Madam Wei sighed, swirling the last of her wine.


    "Then we don''t fight her directly."


    Daimon narrowed his eyes at her before asking:


    "What are you saying?"


    She glanced at him, her red-painted lips curling into a knowing smirk.


    "I''m saying¡­" she drawled, "we don''t need to fight her. We just need to make sure she''s not there when Aestrea dies."


    Lord Vance raised an eyebrow.


    "You have a plan?"


    Madam Wei''s eyes gleamed.


    "I do."


    She leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand.


    "We split them up. Isolate the boy. Make him vulnerable. And when the time is right¡­"


    Fwip!


    She mimicked a slicing motion across her neck.


    "Not bad. But how do we keep Yara occupied?" Grandmaster Hui nodded slowly.


    Madam Wei chuckled. "Oh, that part''s easy."


    She glanced at Daimon. "You still have contacts in the government, don''t you?"


    Daimon, still grimacing in pain, nodded stiffly.


    "I do."


    Madam Wei''s smirk widened.


    "Good. Then we''ll have them put out a bounty."


    A heavy silence followed.


    Then¡ª


    Lord Vance''s lips twisted into a wicked grin.


    "Oh¡­ now that''s interesting."


    Grandmaster Hui''s eyes flicked in interest


    "A bounty on Yara herself?"


    "No," Madam Wei said smoothly, her voice dripping with satisfaction.


    She tilted her head.


    "We put a bounty on Aestrea."


    Daimon''s eyes widened slightly¡ªthen a slow, cruel smile spread across his face.


    If they put out a high-profile bounty on Aestrea, the underground would erupt. Every assassin, every hunter, every desperate mercenary would be after him.


    And Yara?


    She''d be too busy fighting off an endless wave of killers to protect him.


    And when she was exhausted, weakened¡ªthat''s when they''d strike.


    Lord Vance leaned back in his chair, a smirk tugging at his lips. "And just to make it interesting¡­ let''s offer a reward they can''t refuse."


    Grandmaster Hui steepled his fingers, considering.


    "100 Platinum Coins...?"


    "Too low." Madam Wei chuckled.


    "10.000 Platinum Coins," Daimon rasped.


    Silence.


    Madam Wei grinned.


    "Now that," she said, "is a bounty worth chasing."


    Lord Vance let out a low whistle. "10.000 Platinum Coins for the head of Aestrea¡­ We won''t just get assassins. We''ll get the best."


    Daimon chuckled darkly, the pain in his leg now seemed like a distant memory.


    "We''re about to watch the whole world come for that brat."


    Madam Wei raised her glass.


    "Then let''s drink to his death."


    Grandmaster Hui smirked and lifted his own glass.


    Lord Vance followed.


    Even Daimon, gritting his teeth, managed to grab a drink.


    As their glasses clinked together, the air in the room turned dangerous.


    Their plan was set.


    But then...


    "Well, well... isn''t this such a beautiful scene to see?"


    A voice¡ªsmooth, mocking¡ªcut through the air like a sword.


    The room immediately froze.


    Slowly, their gazes snapped toward the ruined doorway¡ªthe place where the doors should have been.


    And there¡ªstanding just at the threshold¡ª


    Two glowing red eyes with a faint scarlet smoke seeping out of them, pierced through the dim light, looking at them sharply.


    The figure stepped forward, calm, almost lazy in his movements.


    Tap... tap... tap...


    His boots clicked softly against the floor.


    The shadows around him shifted, revealing a face half-lit by the flickering chandelier above.


    His lips curled into a small, knowing smile.


    And then, he spoke again.


    "Isn''t it better to finish the job directly?"


    His fingers moved with slow, deliberate ease¡ªgrasping the hilts of the two swords at his waist.


    Shing...!


    The sound of steel sliding free from its sheath filled the air, sharp and deadly.


    In that moment,


    A cold sweat formed on the foreheads of the big shots at the table.


    And for the first time that night¡ª


    The hunters felt like prey.

 Chapter 69 The Moonlight Swordsman (XXXV)

    Aestrea''s twin swords glinted under the dim light as he stared at the people in front of him.


    He didn''t flinch.


    He didn''t speak.


    His breath was steady, his feet spread slightly apart, ready to move at any moment.


    The air in the room felt heavier now, charged with tension and killing intent.


    "You''re out of your mind," Lord Vance growled, stepping forward.


    His mechanical hand whirred to life, glowing faintly from the beams of energy pulsing through his chest.


    His entire body seemed to vibrate with power despite his injury from Yara.


    "You think you can take all of us by yourself?"


    Aestrea''s glowing crimson eyes didn''t waver.


    Instead, his lips curled into a faint smirk.


    "I don''t think," he said softly.


    "I know."


    Then, he moved.


    BOOM!


    The floor cracked beneath Aestrea''s feet as he launched himself forward like a bullet, his twin swords flashing in the air.


    Lord Vance was the first to react, his mechanical arm swinging upward to block.


    CLANG!


    Metal met steel as Aestrea''s blade clashed with Vance''s arm.


    The impact sent a sharp, ringing sound through the room. Sparks flew as Vance pushed back with brute strength, forcing Aestrea to jump back.


    But Aestrea didn''t stop.


    The moment his feet hit the ground, he spun around, slashing his second sword in a wide arc toward Vance''s ribs.


    WHOOSH!


    Vance barely managed to step back, the blade missing him by inches. But before he could counter, Aestrea''s hand shot out toward the ground.


    "Freeze," Aestrea muttered, his breath visible as smoke in the suddenly cold air.


    CRACK!


    A thin layer of ice spread across the floor like lightning, creeping toward Vance''s feet.


    "What the¡ª?!" Vance shouted, stumbling back as his legs froze in place.


    Madam Wei hissed sharply, snapping her fingers.


    Thin, shimmering strings shot from her hands, slicing through the air like whips.


    SNAP!


    SNAP!


    Aestrea ducked, the strings narrowly missing his head. One of them slashed across the wall behind him, leaving a deep, clean cut in the wood.


    "Stay still, you little pest!" Madam Wei snarled, her fingers moving faster now. More strings shot toward him, glinting under the dim light.


    But Aestrea was already moving.


    WHOOSH!


    He sidestepped the first string, twisted his body to avoid the second, then slashed downward with his left-hand sword, severing the third mid-air.


    SNAP!


    The string fell to the ground, writhing like a living thing before disappearing.


    Aestrea''s gaze locked onto Madam Wei.


    "You talk too much," he said coldly.


    Madam Wei''s eyes narrowed.


    "You''ll regret that."


    She raised her hands, and a massive web exploded outward, covering half the room. The sticky strands glimmered like silk, but Aestrea could feel the danger radiating from them.


    Before he could react, the web shot toward him, wrapping around his arms and legs.


    SHHK!


    The strands tightened, locking him in place.


    Madam Wei smiled cruelly.


    "Let''s see how cocky you are when you can''t move," she purred, pulling the web tighter.


    Aestrea didn''t panic, his crimson eyes flickered lightly, and his swords began to glow with a faint silver light.


    "Bad i dea," he said quietly.


    CRACK!


    A surge of cold energy exploded from his body, freezing the web instantly. The ice spread up the strands, creeping toward Madam Wei''s hands.


    Her eyes widened.


    "Shit!"


    She severed the web just in time, the frozen strands shattering like glass.


    CRASH!


    Aestrea landed on his feet, his swords spinning in his hands. He launched himself toward her, his blades cutting through the air with deadly precision.


    SWISH!


    Madam Wei leaped back, narrowly avoiding the strikes. She raised her hands, sending a flurry of strings toward him, but Aestrea was too fast.


    CLANG!


    He deflected the strings with both of his swords, keeping his eyes on the incoming strings.


    Meanwhile, Grandmaster Hui stood calmly at the table, watching the battle.


    He hadn''t moved yet, but the air around him seemed to shift, growing heavier with each passing second.


    Finally, he raised his hand, his fingers forming a strange, runic symbol.


    "Enough."


    His voice was quiet but carried a strange weight, like a heavy bell tolling in the distance.


    The entire room seemed to shudder as a golden light erupted from his hand, forming a massive glowing symbol in the air.


    Aestrea froze mid-strike, his swords still raised.


    "What the¡ª?"


    Before he could react, the symbol shot toward him, slamming into his chest.


    BOOM!


    Thud!


    Aestrea was thrown backward, crashing into the wall.


    "Ugh¡­" He gritted his teeth, pushing himself to his feet.


    The symbol glowed faintly on his chest, binding him in place.


    Grandmaster Hui stepped forward with a calm and unbothered expression as if he had taken Aestrea as some kind of naughty child.


    "You are strong," Grandmaster Hui said lightly. "But strength without discipline is meaningless."


    At his words, Aestrea let out a cold chuckle.


    "Aren''t you quite... poetic? Just a few minutes ago, you were talking about setting a bounty on my head to kill me..." His crimson eyes burned brighter.


    He could feel the weight of the symbol pressing down on him, but he refused to back down.


    His fingers twitched slightly, still wrapped around the hilts of his swords.


    Suddenly¡ª


    WHOOSH!


    A wave of thin, glowing strings lashed toward him from the side.


    Madam Wei.


    "You''re a slippery one, I''ll give you that," she said smoothly, her fingers weaving in the air. The strings moved like living things, twisting toward Aestrea''s arms and legs.


    SHHHT!


    Aestrea twisted his body, trying to dodge¡ªbut the golden seal on his chest made his movements slow. The strings wrapped around his right arm, yanking it back with force.


    "Kh¡ª!"


    He gritted his teeth, his muscles straining.


    WHIP!


    More strings came flying, aiming for his legs.


    No choice.


    Aestrea clenched his left hand. His sword pulsed with icy energy.


    CRACK!


    A sudden burst of frost shot out from his blade, freezing the strings mid-air.


    Madam Wei''s eyes widened slightly.


    "Tch¡ªstill resisting?"


    Aestrea didn''t answer.


    He exhaled sharply, focusing all his strength on his legs.


    Then¡ª


    BOOM!


    The ground beneath him exploded as he launched himself forward, breaking free from the seal''s weight for just a moment.


    SHING!


    He swung his left sword, slicing through the frozen strings and shattering them into glittering shards.


    "Too slow!"


    Lord Vance was already moving.


    VMMMM!


    His mechanical body hummed with energy as his core pulsed, sending power through his limbs. His metal fist shot forward, aiming straight for Aestrea''s stomach.


    Aestrea''s eyes sharpened.


    He twisted mid-air, bringing his sword up¡ª


    CLANG!


    The impact was brutal. Sparks flew as metal met steel, the sheer force sending a shockwave through the room.


    "Not bad," Vance muttered, pressing forward with his mechanical strength.


    CREAK!


    CREEEAK!


    Aestrea grunted as he felt his feet sliding back against the floor.


    He needed to move¡ªnow.


    He ducked low, letting Vance''s metal arm swing past his head.


    Then¡ª


    THWACK!


    He drove his knee straight into Vance''s ribs.


    "GHK¡ª!"


    The hit connected, sending a shudder through Vance''s frame. But his robotic body barely budged.


    Instead, his metal arm whipped around in a backhand strike¡ª


    BAM!


    Aestrea barely blocked it with his swords, but the sheer force sent him flying backward.


    CRASH!


    He slammed against the far wall, coughing as dust filled the air.


    Before he could even recover¡ª


    SWISH!


    More web-strings came flying toward him.


    "Not this time!" Aestrea growled.


    He slashed downward¡ª


    SHING!


    ¡ªbut the strings were faster.


    SHHHH!


    They wrapped around his wrist, then his ankle, tightening like snakes.


    A sharp tug¡ª


    And suddenly, Aestrea was yanked off the ground.


    FWIP! SLAM!


    His body crashed into the ceiling.


    Then¡ª


    WHAM!


    He was slammed into the floor.


    "Gh¡ª!"


    Madam Wei smirked seeing Aestrea being slammed into the ground, tilting her head.


    "This is getting fun."


    Her fingers flicked, and the webbing tightened harder.


    "Let''s see how long you last."


    Aestrea''s body ached.


    His breath was uneven as he gripped his sword tighter.


    Focus...


    Ice energy swirled around him, creeping along the webbing.


    Madam Wei''s smile faltered.


    "No, you don''t¡ª!"


    CRACK!


    The ice spread fast, freezing the webbing in seconds.


    Then¡ª


    SHATTER!


    Aestrea ripped free, landing in a crouch. His swords glowed, cold mist rising from their blades.


    Madam Wei clicked her tongue.


    "Annoying."


    She raised her hand again¡ª


    But Aestrea was already in front of her.


    WHOOSH!


    His sword sliced toward her neck¡ª


    CLANG!


    A fan¡ªthin but strong¡ªblocked the strike.


    Grandmaster Hui.


    He stood calmly between them, his golden aura flickering.


    "You''re still resisting?" he murmured.


    Aestrea exhaled, gripping his swords.


    "Of course I am," he muttered. "You think I''m just gonna roll over and die?"


    Grandmaster Hui sighed.


    Then¡ª


    BOOM!


    A pulse of golden energy erupted from his palm, slamming into Aestrea''s chest.


    THUD!


    Aestrea skidded backward, his feet dragging across the floor. His vision blurred for a second from the force of the hit.


    "You are strong, but not invincible." Grandmaster Hui lowered his hand.


    Aestrea wiped blood from his mouth, breathing hard.


    But then¡ª


    A deep, rough chuckle echoed through the room.


    All eyes turned.


    Daimon.


    Still sitting, still holding his ruined knee.


    But now, he was grinning.


    "You''re all idiots," he muttered, shaking his head.


    Madam Wei frowned.


    "Excuse me?"


    Daimon''s grin widened.


    "You''re all underestimating him," he said, voice hoarse. "And that... is going to cost you."


    Madam Wei scoffed.


    "He''s one against four. What''s he gonna do?"


    Daimon chuckled again.


    Then¡ª


    Aestrea smiled.


    A slow, dangerous smirk.


    His crimson eyes gleamed.


    "You should''ve killed me when you had the chance."


    Then, the temperature in the room plunged.


    The floor beneath him turned white.


    Frost crawled up the walls. The air became thick with cold mist.


    And Aestrea¡ª


    Was gone.


    A flicker.


    A blur. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Then¡ª


    SLASH!


    Blood sprayed into the air.


    Madam Wei gasped, clutching her shoulder.


    Aestrea stood behind her, his sword dripping red.


    Lord Vance turned, his metal body humming¡ª


    But Aestrea was already gone.


    WHOOSH!


    A blur of white and silver.


    Then¡ª


    BOOM!


    Aestrea appeared above him, sword raised.


    Lord Vance barely had time to block.


    CLANG!


    The force cracked the floor beneath them.


    Aestrea''s swords gleamed as he vanished again.


    WHOOSH!


    Lord Vance''s eyes darted left¡ª


    Too slow.


    Aestrea reappeared behind him.


    SWISH!


    His blade sliced through the air, aiming for Vance''s exposed neck¡ª


    CLANG!


    Vance barely twisted in time, blocking with his mechanical forearm. Sparks erupted as steel clashed with metal.


    But Aestrea wasn''t done.


    His second sword was already moving¡ª


    THUNK!


    It crashed against Vance''s ribcage, denting the metal plating.


    "GHK¡ª!"


    Vance stumbled back, his core pulsating as his body absorbed the impact.


    VMMMM!


    A sudden energy pulse erupted from his chest¡ª


    BOOM!


    Aestrea barely had time to raise his swords before the blast sent him flying.


    THUD!


    He slammed into the stone pillar, cracks spreading around him.


    CRACK-CRACK-CRACK!


    Dust filled the air.


    "Haa..."


    Letting out a deep breath in the cold silence, the scarlet trail on Aestrea''s eyes became more evident.


    He kicked off the pillar, flipping in midair¡ª


    His swords whipped forward, sending two blades of ice hurtling toward Vance.


    SHHHHHT!


    Vance raised his arm¡ª


    BOOM!


    The ice exploded on impact, freezing part of his metal-plating solid.


    "Dammit!" Vance growled, ripping off the frozen chunks of armor.


    His core pulsed again, the glow intensifying.


    VMMMMMMMM!


    Aestrea landed in a crouch, watching him closely.


    Then¡ª


    A shadow.


    SHHHK!


    A thin, shimmering thread sliced through the air, aiming straight for Aestrea''s throat.


    Madam Wei.


    She hadn''t stopped her attacks.


    Aestrea tilted his head at the last second¡ª


    The thread barely missed, cutting a fine line across his cheek.


    TSSK!


    Blood dripped onto the cold floor.


    Madam Wei clicked her tongue, stepping forward, her hands weaving faster than before.


    "Not bad," she murmured.


    "But you can''t dodge forever."


    Aestrea barely had time to react before¡ª


    FWWWWWWP!


    A massive web erupted from her palms, covering the entire room.


    The strands glowed faintly, shifting like living silk.


    Aestrea''s eyes narrowed.


    This again.


    But this time¡ª


    The web moved on its own.


    WHOOSH!


    WHOOSH!


    WHOOSH!


    Strands lunged at him like whips, wrapping around his arms, legs, torso¡ª


    SHKK!


    Too fast.


    Too many.


    His body locked in place, the sticky strands tightening around his limbs.


    Madam Wei grinned.


    "Got you."


    Then, she yanked her hands.


    FWOOOOOM!


    The web pulled Aestrea into the air, his body suspended above the battlefield.


    He struggled, twisting against the bindings¡ª


    But they only tightened.


    Madam Wei tilted her head.


    "Struggling is useless," she whispered.


    Aestrea exhaled.


    His eyes gleamed.


    "...You don''t learn, do you?" he murmured.


    Then¡ª


    His swords began to glow.


    FROST CREEPING.


    The air froze around him.


    CRACK-CRACK-CRACK!


    Madam Wei''s smirk disappeared.


    Aestrea''s entire body became engulfed in ice, the frost spreading through the webbing like a wild infection.


    SHHHHHHH!


    The ice moved too fast¡ª


    Madam Wei''s eyes widened¡ª


    "Shit¡ª"


    She tried to sever the strands¡ª


    TOO LATE.


    CRACK!


    The webbing shattered like glass, frozen pieces scattering across the floor.


    Aestrea flipped mid-air, landing lightly.


    His swords spun in his hands.


    His breath fogged in the air.


    He took a slow step forward.


    Madam Wei''s body tensed.


    "You little¡ª"


    But before she could finish¡ª


    Aestrea was already in front of her.


    Her eyes widened¡ª


    SWISH!


    His sword sliced down.


    Madam Wei barely blocked with a shimmering thread¡ª


    SNAP!


    Her defense tore apart instantly.


    Then¡ª


    THUNK!


    Aestrea''s elbow crashed into her gut.


    "GHK¡ª!"


    Madam Wei stumbled back, her breath knocked out of her lungs.


    Before she could recover¡ª


    BOOM!


    A massive golden light exploded from the other side of the battlefield.


    Aestrea turned¡ª


    Grandmaster Hui was standing calmly, one hand raised.


    The golden seal that had been binding Aestrea earlier?


    It was glowing again.


    Stronger this time.


    Grandmaster Hui''s fingers moved in a slow, deliberate pattern.


    "You are reckless," he said quietly.


    Aestrea''s muscles tensed.


    Then¡ª


    The golden symbol shot toward him.


    BOOM!


    It hit like a meteor.


    The impact shook the entire room.


    Aestrea felt his body freeze, the weight ten times heavier than before.


    "KH¡ª!"


    His knees buckled.


    The golden seal burned against his skin, pressing him downward.


    But unlike before, Aestrea only smirked at his.


    The output of his mana started to increase, slowly leaking out of his body, beyond the normal capacity of S-rank awakened could muster.


    CRACK!


    The golden seal shattered in an instant.


    Seeing this, Grandmaster Hui stopped moving.


    Lord Vance''s core flickered.


    Madam Wei staggered slightly.


    Except for Daimon, all of them were completely surprised.


    "Haaa..."


    A cold breath came out of Aestrea''s mouth.


    Along with his familiar glowing red eyes.

 Chapter 70 The Moonlight Swordsman (XXXVI)

    "This brat..." Madam Wei bit her lips, looking at Aestrea who slowly approached them.


    With just a few scratches on his body, he was able to damage the three of them alone. And their injuries were much worse than his.


    Just the Grandmaster Hui didn''t suffer any injury, and Daemon wasn''t participating in the battle at all.


    Step...!


    Aestrea suddenly disappeared into thin air.


    OOM!


    He reappeared in front of Grandmaster Hui, swords whipping downward with blinding speed. Grandmaster Hui''s fingers flicked, forming another golden seal in midair¡ª


    CLANG!


    Aestrea''s blades smashed into it, the force shaking the entire room.


    Cracks spread across the glowing barrier.


    Grandmaster Hui''s eyes narrowed¡ª


    Aestrea was already moving again.


    WHOOSH!


    He twisted, flipping mid-air, his second sword stabbing toward Hui''s ribs.


    Hui raised his arm, blocking with his bare hand.


    THUD!


    A wave of golden energy erupted on impact¡ª


    Aestrea gritted his teeth, feeling the force push against him.


    But¡ª


    He didn''t stop.


    He kicked off the golden barrier, twisting again, his sword slashing toward Hui''s neck.


    SWISH!


    Hui tilted his head at the last second¡ª


    The blade barely missed, slicing through the air just beside his face.


    Aestrea''s feet hit the ground.


    He didn''t pause.


    His hand shot forward¡ª


    CRACK!


    A sudden wave of frost exploded from his palm, ice surging toward Hui''s legs.


    Hui stepped back¡ª


    TOO LATE.


    The ice clamped down, locking his feet in place.


    Aestrea''s smirk returned.


    But, Grandmaster Hui''s expression didn''t change.


    Instead¡ª


    He raised one hand.


    His fingers moved.


    A single golden rune formed in the air¡ª


    Then¡ª


    BOOM!


    Aestrea felt his body freeze.


    Gravity shifted.


    His limbs suddenly felt like they were dragged down by mountains of weight.


    His knees buckled¡ª


    His breath caught in his throat¡ª


    The air itself felt heavier, pressing against him from all sides.


    Grandmaster Hui''s voice was calm.


    "This is the power of Buddhist magic," he said simply.


    Aestrea gritted his teeth.


    The pressure was immense like he was being crushed by an invisible force.


    But¡ª


    His eyes burned brighter. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Yeah?" he rasped.


    "Well, here''s the power of mine."


    ''Mana output increased to five times!''


    A sudden shockwave of cold erupted from Aestrea''s body¡ª


    SHHHHHHHT!


    The temperature in the room plummeted, ice spreading instantly across the floor.


    Grandmaster Hui''s golden aura flickered¡ª


    Then¡ª


    CRACK!


    The frost shattered the rune causing a small wound to appear in Grandmaster Hui''s body, and Aestrea moved again.


    WHOOSH!


    He launched forward, his sword slamming into Hui''s chest¡ª


    BOOOOOM!


    Grandmaster Hui staggered back, his robes ripping from the force.


    Aestrea''s second blade spun, slashing toward his throat¡ª


    But before it could connect¡ª


    BOOM!


    A sudden blast of energy erupted from behind.


    Aestrea whirled¡ª


    Lord Vance after recovering a bit, was now charging straight at him.


    His energy core was pulsing, the light growing brighter.


    Aestrea''s eyes narrowed¡ª


    WHOOSH!


    Vance swung his metal fist, aiming for Aestrea''s skull¡ª


    Aestrea ducked.


    SWOOSH!


    The punch missed, but¡ª


    BOOM!


    It slammed into the ground, shattering the stone floor.


    Aestrea''s foot shot up¡ª


    THUNK!


    A brutal kick straight to Vance''s chin.


    Vance''s head snapped back, but he didn''t fall.


    Instead¡ª


    VMMMMMMMM!


    His energy core pulsed again, and¡ª


    BOOOOOOM!


    A massive shockwave erupted from his chest, sending Aestrea flying backward.


    THUD!


    He crashed into a pillar, stones crumbling around him.


    But¡ª


    Before he could even recover¡ª


    SHHHHK!


    A thread wrapped around his wrist.


    Madam Wei.


    "You''re getting annoying," she hissed.


    Aestrea''s eyes flashed.


    His hand gripped the string¡ª


    And froze it instantly.


    CRACK!


    The thread shattered, and Aestrea lunged forward.


    Madam Wei''s eyes widened¡ª


    SWISH!


    Aestrea''s sword sliced through her shoulder, blood spraying across the ground.


    "AHH¡ª!"


    She stumbled back, clutching her wound.


    Aestrea didn''t stop.


    His blade moved again¡ª


    THUNK!


    His foot slammed into her gut, sending her crashing against the wall.


    She slumped, breathing heavily.


    But¡ª


    The battle wasn''t over.


    Grandmaster Hui had recovered.


    Lord Vance was charging again.


    And¡ª


    Daemon.


    Daemon hadn''t moved yet.


    He was still standing at the back, watching the fight.


    His hand was clenching his side, his wound bleeding through his coat.


    But his eyes¡ª


    They were now glowing.


    Aestrea and Daemon''s gazes locked.


    For a second¡ª


    Everything else faded away.


    The air between them thickened.


    Daemon exhaled.


    Then¡ª


    He took a step forward.


    Aestrea''s grip tightened on his swords.


    Daemon''s fingers twitched.


    The others felt it immediately.


    Even Grandmaster Hui.


    Even Lord Vance.


    The energy shifted.


    Daemon was finally joining the fight.


    "I was wondering when you were going to join," Aestrea murmured.


    Daemon didn''t answer.


    Instead¡ª


    WHOOSH!


    He vanished.


    BOOM!


    Daemon appeared in front of Aestrea in a blink.


    His fist shot forward, aiming for Aestrea''s gut¡ª


    THUD!


    Aestrea barely twisted in time, but the punch grazed his ribs, sending a shockwave through his body.


    CRACK!


    The ground split apart beneath them from the force.


    Aestrea gritted his teeth.


    Then, the Demon''s knee came next, rocketing toward Aestrea''s chest¡ª


    Aestrea blocked with his forearm¡ª


    BAM!


    But, the impact sent him sliding backward, his boots scraping across the stone floor.


    WHOOSH!


    Daemon closed the distance instantly, his leg swinging in a brutal roundhouse kick.


    Aestrea ducked¡ª


    But¡ª


    SHHHHK!


    A sudden thread wrapped around his wrist¡ª


    Madam Wei.


    She was injured, but still in the fight.


    "Tsk."


    Aestrea yanked his arm, dragging her forward¡ª


    She stumbled¡ª


    SWISH!


    Aestrea''s sword slashed, aiming for her throat.


    But¡ª


    BOOM!


    Lord Vance rushed in, his metal fist colliding with Aestrea''s blade.


    SPARKS FLEW.


    The force sent both of them flying backward.


    CRASH!


    Aestrea landed on his feet, but Vance skidded, his robotic joints whining under the pressure.


    The moment Aestrea looked up¡ª


    WHOOSH!


    Daemon was already there.


    His palm struck Aestrea''s chest¡ª


    A sudden shockwave erupted¡ª


    BOOOOOOM!


    Crack!


    Splurgh!


    Aestrea felt his ribs crack, vomiting a whole mouthful of blood.


    He flew back, slamming into the far wall¡ª


    THUD!


    Blood dripped from his lips.


    He let out a rough exhale.


    Daemon stood in the center of the battlefield, not moving, his eyes cold as ice.


    "You''re strong," Daemon said quietly.


    "But not strong enough to deal with all of us."


    Aestrea chuckled, wiping the blood off his chin.


    "Nah."


    He grinned.


    "I''m more than enough."


    ''Mana Output increased by eight times out of ten times...''


    Then¡ª


    The temperature dropped.


    Ice spread from Aestrea''s feet, covering the ground in seconds.


    The air turned sharp, freezing.


    Daemon''s eyes narrowed.


    Aestrea vanished.


    WHOOSH!


    He reappeared above Daemon, swords slashing downward.


    Daemon blocked with his arm¡ª


    But¡ª


    SHHHHK!


    A thin layer of ice formed on his skin.


    Daemon''s eyes widened slightly.


    SWISH!


    Aestrea''s second sword sliced toward his ribs.


    Daemon twisted, barely avoiding it.


    But¡ª


    The ice spread faster.


    It climbed up his arm, locking his movements for a second.


    That second¡ª


    Was all Aestrea needed.


    BOOM!


    His knee slammed into Daemon''s jaw¡ª


    CRACK!


    Daemon staggered, his head snapping back.


    Aestrea pressed forward.


    Both swords spun in his hands, his attacks relentless.


    CLANG! SWISH! BAM!


    Daemon blocked, dodged, countered¡ª


    But he was on the defensive.


    Madam Wei jumped in again, her threads shooting toward Aestrea''s back.


    Aestrea sidestepped, barely avoiding them.


    Vance charged again, his energy core glowing brighter.


    Grandmaster Hui lifted his hand, forming another golden seal.


    Aestrea exhaled slowly.


    They were all attacking at once now. His eyes sharpened as he increased the amount of mana he was spending on his Judgement Eye.


    His grip on his swords tightened, his crimson eyes glowing faintly.


    He wasn''t using much mana yet.


    After all, because he has such a low mana quantity, he needs to preserve some for him to be able to use his sword art.


    And now... it was the time to do it.


    Aestrea shifted his stance, his breath steady. His feet slid across the frozen floor, adjusting to the terrain.


    The moment his heartbeat synced with the cold air around him¡ª


    "Moonlit Ice Lotus Sword Art...."


    ¡º First Move! (? Ice Lotus Bloom ?) ¡»


    WHOOSH!


    Aestrea vanished into thin air.


    Then reappeared between Daemon and Vance in a blink.


    His swords spun, slicing through the air with terrifying precision.


    The floor froze beneath him, sharp petals of ice forming outward¡ª


    Like a lotus blooming in the snow.


    BAAM!


    SHHHK!


    Daemon stepped back, narrowly avoiding a slash toward his neck.


    Vance slammed his mechanical fist down, trying to crush Aestrea¡ª


    CLANG!


    Aestrea''s left sword redirected the blow, deflecting the metal arm to the side.


    At the same time¡ª


    His right sword slashed upward¡ª


    SWISH!


    A thin arc of ice followed the blade, cutting toward Vance''s chest.


    BOOM!


    The ice exploded against Vance''s armor, forcing him back.


    Aestrea twisted¡ª


    Madam Wei''s threads shot toward him¡ª


    But it was too late.


    "Moonlit Ice Lotus Sword Art..."


    ¡º Second Move! (? Ice Lotus Barrage ?) ¡»


    Aestrea''s swords blurred.


    Each slash left behind a trailing crescent of ice, the movements so fast they looked like glowing arcs in the dim light.


    SWISH!


    SWISH!


    SWISH!


    The ice crescents exploded outward, cutting through Madam Wei''s threads before they could wrap around him.


    Her eyes widened.


    SNAP!


    The frozen threads shattered like glass, falling to the ground.


    Madam Wei stumbled back, her fingers twitching as she tried to summon more threads¡ª


    Aestrea was already there.


    WHOOSH!


    He appeared right in front of her, his sword raised.


    Her pupils shrunk.


    "Shi¡ª!"


    ¡º Third Move! (? Moonlight''s One Flash ?) ¡»


    A single motion.


    A single slash.


    SHING!


    The air shook.


    A thin glow of silver moonlight trailed from Aestrea''s sword¡ª


    For a moment, everything was silent.


    Then¡ª


    Madam Wei froze.


    Her eyes trembled.


    A thin, delicate cut appeared across her chest.


    ¡º Bleed ¡»


    Splurt!


    A huge wound opened, causing blood to splatter in all directions.


    Aestrea quickly turned away from her, but then¡ª


    ¡ª BOOOOOOM!


    A golden seal slammed into his back.


    "Gahn..." Aestrea gasped, his chest lurching forward as the weight of the Buddhist magic crushed him to the ground.


    "...Fucking Buddhist...!"


    Grandmaster Hui stepped forward, his expression calm.


    "You rely too much on your swordplay," Hui said softly.


    The golden seal glowed brighter, pressing down on Aestrea''s body.


    "Let''s see how you fight¡­ without them."


    The light intensified¡ª


    And Aestrea''s swords slipped from his hands.


    CLANG!


    They hit the ground.


    For the first time, Aestrea was unarmed.


    The golden seal burned against his back, pressing him down like a mountain.


    His swords were now gone.


    But of course, he wasn''t someone who only knew how to wield swords.


    He was a Magic Swordsman after all.


    Not a simple swordsman.


    A low chuckle left his lips.


    Grandmaster Hui''s eyes narrowed.


    "Something funny?"


    Aestrea exhaled, his crimson eyes flaring brighter.


    His mana was entirely unleashed.


    ''Mana output... increased to its maximum capacity. Ten times.''


    The grey heart made of Yara''s made dissipated almost immediately.


    FOOOOOM!


    A cold shockwave exploded outward, freezing the ground in an instant.


    The golden seal cracked¡ªthen shattered with a loud crack.


    Grandmaster Hui''s eyes widened.


    Aestrea stood up slowly, rolling his shoulders.


    His breath misted in the air, the temperature in the room dropping dangerously low.


    "You wanted me to fight¡­ without my swords?" Aestrea muttered, stretching his fingers.


    His knuckles cracked.


    A deep, heavy cold radiated from his body now, thick like a storm.


    "Fine."


    His feet slammed against the frozen floor, and then...


    BOOM!


    He dashed forward.


    WHOOSH!


    In the blink of an eye, Aestrea appeared above Grandmaster Hui, his fist drawn back.


    The air howled as his mana-infused punch crashed downward.


    BOOOOOOOM!


    The force splits the floor, sending ice and debris flying in all directions. Grandmaster Hui barely managed to raise his arm, a golden barrier forming just in time.


    CRACK!


    The impact shattered the first layer of his defense, pushing him back several feet.


    "That strength¡­!" Grandmaster Hui muttered, his robe fluttering.


    Aestrea didn''t stop.


    WHOOSH!


    He twisted mid-air, his foot slamming toward Hui''s ribs¡ª


    Grandmaster Hui blocked just in time, but the sheer force sent him skidding backward.


    Aestrea landed, his feet digging into the ice.


    CRACK!


    The moment he touched the ground¡ª


    He shot forward again.


    "Fuu..." A cold breath escaped his lips.


    Aestrea''s hand glowed, ice forming around his fingers like claws.


    His palm slammed toward Grandmaster Hui''s chest.


    BOOM!


    A pillar of ice erupted, threatening to freeze Hui solid.


    But Grandmaster Hui was already moving, his hand forming a mudra.


    "Break."


    BOOOOOM!


    A golden shockwave erupted from his body, shattering the ice instantly.


    Aestrea jumped back, dodging the blast¡ª


    Only for Lord Vance to suddenly appear beside him.


    WHIIIR!


    Vance''s mechanical arm glowed, charging up a devastating punch.


    FWOOOSH!


    Aestrea ducked, the fist barely missing his head¡ª


    But the air pressure alone sent him sliding backward.


    "You''re fast," Vance growled, dashing forward.


    "But not faster than me!"


    His energy core pulsed, and suddenly¡ª


    He was gone.


    Aestrea''s eyes widened.


    WHOOSH!


    Vance reappeared behind him, his metal fist slamming toward Aestrea''s spine.


    But just at the last second¡ª


    "Moonlit Ice Lotus Sword Combat Style Variant..."


    ¡º Frostbound Arcana! (? Flash Freeze Counter ?) ¡»


    Aestrea spun, grabbing Vance''s wrist mid-attack.


    CRACK!


    Ice exploded across the metal limb, freezing it instantly.


    Vance''s movements locked up.


    "Shit¡ª!"


    BOOOM!


    Aestrea drove his knee into Vance''s gut, sending him flying into the wall.


    CRASH!


    The stone shattered on impact.


    But before Aestrea could follow up¡ª


    A sharp string wrapped around his ankle.


    His head snapped to the side.


    Madam Wei.


    Her fingers twitched, and more threads shot toward him.


    "Extend!" He snapped.


    Aestrea''s eyes glowed brighter.


    FOOOOOM!


    A powerful wave of cold energy erupted from his body, freezing everything in its path.


    Madam Wei''s strings stiffened, turning brittle.


    SNAP!


    SNAP!


    SNAP!


    The frozen threads shattered instantly.


    Aestrea''s gaze locked onto her.


    "You''re annoying."


    He dashed towards her, and before she could react¡ª


    His hand grabbed her throat.


    CRACK!


    Frost crawled across her skin, locking her body in place.


    Madam Wei gasped, struggling.


    Her eyes widened in shock.


    "You¡­" she choked out.


    Aestrea leaned in slightly, his breath cold against her skin.


    "You talk too much," he said flatly.


    Then¡ª


    BOOOOOM!


    He slammed her into the ground, the ice exploding outward from the impact.


    The floor froze solid, and Madam Wei stopped moving.


    Aestrea stood up, exhaling.


    His breath misted in the air, his mana still surging through his body.


    Three down.


    One left.


    He turned slowly¡ª


    His eyes locked onto Grandmaster Hui.


    The old man stood calmly, watching him with an unreadable gaze.


    "Time to end this..." Grandmaster Hui spoke.


    His hand immediately started creating a strange symbol, but before he could do anything more...


    ¡º Bleed ¡»


    "GAAAAAAAAAGHHH!"


    The full force of the [Bleed] attack slammed into him, tearing open a deep gash across his body. He collapsed to his knees, the pain crashing through him like a wave.


    "Gosh¡­ you guys were a real pain."


    Aestrea took his time walking toward the old man, cracking his neck as he rolled his shoulders.


    "Say hello to the devil for me."


    Shing!


    The blade sliced through the air.


    The next moment, Grandmaster Hui''s head tumbled from his shoulders, landing with a soft thud on the ground, rolling slightly before coming to a stop.


    Fwip!


    Aestrea flicked his sword, sending a spray of blood splattering across the floor. Without another word, he turned and started walking towards the exit.


    And as he reached the door, he muttered under his breath.


    "Explode."


    BOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!


    The room behind him vanished in an instant.


    A violent blast tore everything apart, leaving nothing but dust and rubble in its wake.

 Chapter 71 *The Moonlight Swordsman (XXXVII)*

    Hisshh~


    The quiet crackle of the fireplace in Yara''s home barely filled the tense silence as Aestrea stepped through the door.


    His boots dragged slightly against the polished floor, leaving behind faint, dark smudges¡ªblood.


    His clothes were soaked in it, and not all of it was his.


    Cuts and tears ran down his coat and pants, but none of it seemed to bother him. His crimson eyes, glowing faintly, were as cold as ever.


    "You''re finally bac...?"


    Yara looked up from her chair by the fire, raising an eyebrow at him.


    She was sprawled lazily, a book resting open in her lap. Her ink hair shimmered under the firelight, and her sharp gaze flicked up and down his figure.


    "Where did you...?" Her voice trailed off, her tone was more curious than concerned.


    "You look like you just came back from slaughtering a whole army." Her fingers tapped the edge of her book lightly as her lips curled into a mischievous smile.


    At her words, Aestrea shrugged, brushing past her.


    "Nothing significant," he said calmly like he hadn''t just walked in dripping with blood.


    "Just had to... clean up some trash."


    Yara''s smirk deepened, and she shut her book with a soft snap. She set it down on the small table beside her, leaning forward as her sharp eyes stared at him.


    "Oh, really? ''Trash,'' huh?"


    "You''re bleeding all over my floor, you know."


    He glanced down briefly, noticing the faint red smears he was leaving in his wake.


    "It''s not mine," he muttered, brushing a hand over his teared-up coat as if that could clean it up. Then, he started heading towards the bathroom.


    Seeing him entering the bathroom, Yara sighed, before reciting a cleaning spell on the floor and directly barging into the bathroom.


    There, Aestrea had already taken off his shirt, showing countless scars on his body.


    Yara''s eyes widened significantly, as she stared at his well-defined body. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she slowly brushed her tongue past her lips.


    "...Can''t I have some privacy?" he asked.


    Yara crossed her arms at his words, her loose silk robes swaying slightly as she moved.


    "You can''t just walk in here looking like that and not tell me what happened, Aestrea," she said firmly, completely ignoring his question.


    Aestrea didn''t answer right away. Instead, he walked over to the tub and placed a waterstone inside the holder.


    With a small flow of mana, water began streaming down like a soft waterfall.


    "Haaa..." He watched it for a moment before letting out a deep sigh.


    Then, slowly, he turned to face her.


    ''I already got way too much involved with her, and by her eyes, I can feel that she won''t leave me alone, even if I try to run.''


    ''...I''ll simply accept where this relationship is going.''


    "I killed the VIPs from the Death Tournament," he said flatly.


    His crimson eyes stayed locked on hers.


    Yara blinked.


    For a moment, it looked like she hadn''t heard him.


    Then, her lips parted.


    "You¡­ what?" Her voice came out in a quiet gasp.


    "You heard me." He turned away again, rolling up his sleeves.


    "They''re dead."


    She stared at him, her mind racing.


    "You killed them all? All those stuck-up VIPs?" Slowly, a grin crept across her face.


    And then, before she could stop herself, she burst into laughter.


    "Haha¡­ HAHAHA!"


    Her laughter echoed through the room, growing louder and louder.


    She clutched her stomach as she doubled over, her voice rising into near-hysterics. It was the kind of laugh you''d hear from someone who was just a little mentally ill.


    He glanced back at her, raising a brow.


    ''Oh. She''s back to normal...''


    After a while, Yara finally managed to straighten up, wiping tears from her eyes as she caught her breath.


    "Ahaahaaa!" she gasped.


    "Those bastards. Those arrogant, self-important bastards. Those bastards died to you? She started laughing again but managed to keep it quieter this time.


    When she finally stopped, Aestrea asked curiously:


    "Did you get the reward for winning the tournament yet?"


    He really wanted to see what prize it was that those VIPs were so mad to get it.


    "Of course I did," she said, still grinning. "The owner handed it over himself right after you left."


    "And?" Aestrea asked, narrowing his eyes slightly.


    "And," she said, leaning against the wall, "he tried to make me an offer. Said I should hand you over to him. Apparently, he thinks you''d be useful to his little group."


    "Well, of course, I refused."


    Hearing her words, Aestrea looked at her for a moment.


    ''...Does that guy seriously think I belong to her?''


    He brushed the thought away quickly.


    "What exactly is the prize?" He couldn''t help but finally ask.


    At his question, Yara''s smirk widened. Without saying a word, she reached up to her left hand and tapped a small ring she wore.


    A luxurious-looking box appeared in her hand, shimmering slightly.


    Then, she knelt down, and then, slowly opened the small box...


    "Will you mar¡ª"


    "¡ªNo."


    And was flatly rejected.


    Yara rolled her eyes, chuckling softly.


    "Killjoy."


    She stood up, holding the box open for him to see.


    Inside, a small, glowing object sat nestled on a dark velvet lining. Aestrea''s eyes widened slightly as he stared at it.


    "...Is that... a Dragon''s Tear?!"


    "Not just any Dragon''s Tear," Yara said proudly.


    "It''s a Dragon''s Crystallized Tear. Pretty, isn''t it?"


    "No wonder those damned bastards wanted to win the tournament so much," Aestrea exclaimed softly, still shocked that the prize was this.


    A Dragon''s Tear was something extremely rare.


    Although it was much cheaper and less useful than a Dragon''s Bone or a Dragon''s Heart, it was rarer than both of them combined.


    After all, for the arrogant race of a Dragon to shed tears, it was almost impossible to happen.


    But of course, the Dragon''s Tear could be more useful than both of them, depending on who utilizes them.


    A Dragon''s Tear can work like the highest-grade kind of elixir, it can heal any hidden injury, poison, or even curse!


    Not to mention, that it improves your growth speed, expands your mana meridians, strengthens your heart, increases the absorption of mana, and even grants you resistance to things such as poison, curses, and many more!


    It is extremely useful!


    "Ahh..."


    Aestrea frowned slightly.


    His eyes narrowed slightly as he asked Yara...


    "...If the prize of this... shouldn''t Lich''s Heart be incredibly cheap?" he asked, and slowly, he started seeing beads of sweat forming on Yara''s forehead.


    "Well? Everyone wants to be my challenger, and because of that, I figured out that you still needed to owe me a favor!"


    "After all, winning that tournament, your reputation in the underworld sky-rocketed!"


    Aestrea''s frown deepened.


    He grabbed her shoulders, staring into her eyes, and asked:


    "Do I have the face of someone who wants to increase his reputation?"


    His glowing red eyes met hers dim black ones.


    Yara tried to open her mouth, but the intensity of his stare made her words falter.


    Her heart skipped a beat and started beating fast.


    Like really fast.


    Too damned fast for her liking.


    Her pulse quickened as she stared into his glowing eyes, and for some reason, she couldn''t stop herself from noticing how close he was. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She bit her lip, looking at those firm red eyes, and her gaze slowly switched between his lips and eyes...


    ''Damn... why does he have to look so damn good when he''s mad?'' she thought, gulping hard as she looked at his pale pink lips.


    ''Don''t stare at me like that....'' she shifted her legs slightly...


    ''If you don''t stop... I... I wi...''


    Chuu?


    Before she could even think about what she was doing, Aestrea leaned in.


    His lips brushed against hers¡ªsoft, quick, but enough to send a jolt of electricity through her body.


    Her eyes widened in shock, as she felt a hand grabbing her waist, slightly, pushing her closer to his chest.


    Her delicate hands instinctively pressed against his chest due to the sudden push, and a small blush started creeping out to her face.


    Smack~


    Yara stood frozen for a second, her face burning as she stared up at Aestrea.


    That soft, unexpected kiss left her breathless.


    But when her senses finally caught up to her, her lips curved into a sly smile.


    "Oh? What was that?" Yara tilted her head slightly, a teasing smile pulling at the corners of her lips.


    Aestrea didn''t hesitate.


    "Why? You don''t know what a kiss is?" His words came out smoothly, catching her off guard as he dodged her question.


    Her eyes narrowed.


    "¡­This bastard."


    Before he could say anything else, she moved quickly, her hands shooting up to grip his neck, pulling him toward her with a force that surprised even him.


    She locked her arms around him, staring deep into his glowing crimson eyes.


    The air between them felt charged, heavy.


    "...About the favor you owe me..." she whispered, her voice soft but with a sharp edge.


    Her tongue lightly traced her lower lip before she continued, her words lingering in the space between them.


    "If you sleep with me, you can clear that debt¡ª"


    Smack!


    "Mhm~"


    She didn''t need to say twice before Aestrea''s lips slammed against her, causing a small groan to escape her lips.


    He pulled her in tighter, his fingers digging into the back of her neck, forcing her closer to his chest.


    His lips were firm and demanding, and she couldn''t help but melt against him.


    The intensity of it made her pulse race.


    "Mmm, mmm...!"


    The kiss deepened, and she felt the heat of his breath on her lips as he slowly slid his tongue between them.


    Slicks...


    His tongue moved gently, teasingly, then with more urgency, running along her lower lip before finding its way into her mouth.


    Yara''s body shuddered, her heart pounding so hard, it almost hurt.


    "Mhmm~!!!"


    Her hands slid up to his chest, pressing against him, trying to anchor herself as their kiss continued.


    His tongue moved against hers, slow at first, then faster, more desperate if he was trying to taste every bit of her.


    His lips moved over hers with a hungry fervor, each kiss more intense than the last.


    Slurp!


    Yara gasped when his hand slid to her waist, pulling her even closer.


    Her chest pressed against his, and she could feel the steady beat of his heart¡ªthump-thump¡ªmatching her own.


    Yara moaned softly into his mouth, the sound escaping before she could stop it.


    "Pwa~ Mmm~!"


    Aestrea''s grip tightened, and his lips moved against hers, slower this time as if savoring the taste of her.


    He pulled back just enough for their lips to part, only to quickly press them together again, his tongue sliding in to reclaim her mouth.


    When he finally pulled away, their lips barely separated, and Yara''s breath came in soft, shaky gasps.


    Her pulse raced.


    Thump-thump!


    She stared up at him, stunned, her chest rising and falling quickly.


    Before she could even process her thoughts, Aestrea was lifting her up effortlessly, pulling her into his arms.


    Yara gasped, her arms instinctively wrapping around his neck as her legs wrapped around his waist.


    The movement was so smooth, so fluid, as though they''d done this a thousand times before.


    Smack?!


    Her lips found him again.


    Aestrea moved slowly, carefully carrying her toward the bathtub. It was already filled, the water swirling peacefully inside.


    With a flick of his fingers, he used his mana to stop the water from flowing in.


    But Yara''s hunger for him was growing.


    "Chuu, churup! Slurp, smack, lick~"


    Her lips moved over his, each kiss more eager than the last. Her nails dug into his back, her body pressing more weight into him, demanding more.


    It caught him by surprise.


    Splash!


    They both fell into the large tub, water splashing everywhere, drenching them completely.


    "Haaaa!"


    Gasping for air, they quickly pulled their heads out of the water, their breaths heavy and uneven from the intensity of their kisses.


    They stared at each other, eyes locking as they simultaneously licked their lips, feeling the heat between them.


    Yara couldn''t help but glance down at Aestrea''s chest.


    Aestrea, just as mesmerized, found his gaze drawn to her chest.


    Her robes were soaked, and her black bra was now clearly visible.


    They were both hungry for each other.

 Chapter 72 *The Moonlight Swordsman (XXXVIII)*

    Click...!


    Splash...


    The sound of a bra falling into the water could be heard.


    "Chuu?, smack~, smooch!"


    Along with multiple kissing noises.


    Splash!


    Aestrea grabbed her leg and pinned her against the wall of the tub.


    Water sloshed around them, spilling over the edge, but neither of them cared.


    Their lips crushed together, tongues tangling in a fierce battle as if both were fighting for dominance.


    Yara''s fingers gripped his silver-blue hair, tugging hard as her chest heaved. Her cheeks were flushed a deep red, her eyes hazy with need.


    "Haah..."


    "Fuu..."


    They broke apart just long enough to catch their breath, panting as their heavy breathing mingled in the air between them.


    A glistening string of saliva stretched between their parted tongues, breaking only when their lips closed.


    And then¡ª


    Smack~


    Their lips crashed together again.


    Aestrea''s hand slid up her wet, slippery body, finding its way to her chest. His fingers curled around her full breasts, squeezing them softly.


    "Mhm!" S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Yara gasped in surprise, her muffled groan vibrating against his mouth.


    She arched her back slightly, pressing her body closer to his, her hands sliding down to grip his shoulders.


    "Chuurup?, slurp, slick~"


    Aestrea''s hands slid from her chest to her buttocks, gripping her firmly before lifting her with ease.


    Their lips parted for a brief second, only for the space between them to ignite with need again.


    Smack!


    Yara immediately dove back in, pressing her lips to his with even more hunger, her arms locking tightly around his neck.


    Her legs wrapped around his waist like she couldn''t bear to let him go, holding herself against him as their kisses grew deeper, more desperate.


    Her giant breasts were pressed against his defined chest, as they continued kissing each other for quite a while.


    And then, Yara''s hand slid down.


    Without hesitation, her fingers closed around him, squeezing his crotch firmly.


    Aestrea''s eyelids twitched at the sudden touch, his body freezing for half a second.


    He opened his eyes, and when he saw her face¡ªthose mischievous, lustful eyes gazing at him¡ªhe didn''t hesitate to respond.


    Rustle...


    His hand traced a slow path down her back, his fingertips teasing her soaked skin as they moved lower.


    Adjusting his stance slightly, he shifted his right shoulder against the bathroom wall for support.


    Yara smirked at his actions, her right hand slipping into the waistband of his wet pants, her fingers wrapping around his hard penis.


    Aestrea''s breath hitched at her movements.


    He answered her with the same intensity, his hand sliding beneath her black panties. His fingers brushed against her pussy, moving with a teasing slowness that made her shiver.


    "Mmh! Aghn~!"


    Yara moaned softly against his lips, her body tensing and arching into his touch. Her grip on him tightened, her hand stroking him slightly, to match his movements.


    ".....?"


    They continued kissing each other while granting pleasure to each other.


    Their tongues tangled with each other, intertwining.


    Then, with a sly grin, she bit down softly on his lower lip, tugging it gently before her tongue moved to tease his teeth, tracing them with deliberate slowness.


    She leaned in further, her tongue wrapping around his like a serpent, slick and teasing, as her cheeks hollowed.


    She sucked on his tongue, drawing him deeper into her, savoring the moment as a soft hum escaped her lips.


    "Mhm~, ah!"


    Aestrea didn''t hold back, his hand sliding further beneath her panties. His finger was inserted into her wet folds, moving slowly at first, causing her body to tremble against him.


    The heat between them intensified, her skin flushing as her breaths grew heavier.


    Yara''s eyes widened for a moment, and a gasp caught in her throat as her lips broke away from his.


    Without a word, she grabbed his head and guided it down to her chest.


    Plop, plop, plop~


    "Ahhh! G-god, Aahnnn?!"


    Her head tilted back, her long hair falling in damp waves as she pressed his face into her soft, heaving chest.


    Her fingers tangled in his hair, holding him there as if she couldn''t get close enough.


    He slid a second finger inside her, and increased the movement of his fingers, working her up, as the wet, slick sounds of her arousal filled the steamy room.


    Yara''s moans grew louder, her body arching into his touch as waves of pleasure coursed through her.


    "A-ahhh! Aestrea, I¡ª"


    "AAAHHHNN?!"


    She moaned quite loudly, as Aestrea retracted his fingers from her pussy, making a lot of juice drip down her legs.


    Her voice echoed through the bathroom as she cried out, her body trembling uncontrollably.


    Aestrea finally withdrew his fingers, glistening with her juices.


    A small stream ran down her thighs, mixing with the water pooling at the bottom of the tub.


    Yara slumped slightly against him, her chest rising and falling rapidly. She buried her face in the crook of his neck, her arms wrapped tightly around him.


    "Y-you''re... too good at this," she murmured breathlessly.


    Aestrea chuckled softly, brushing her damp hair away from her flushed face.


    .


    .


    .


    .


    After a few moments, Yara lifted her head, her chest still rising and falling as she caught her breath.


    She gave Aestrea a small, tired smile, her cheeks still flushed.


    Aestrea returned her smile, his gaze soft but filled with desire.


    "Now..." Yara whispered softly, in a teasing manner as she licked her luscious red lips, "it''s my turn to take care of you."


    Fwoop!


    A gentle gust of wind swept through the room as Yara''s mana surged, lightly pushing Aestrea back into the bathtub.


    He leaned back, blinking in surprise, but the water beneath him didn''t move¡ªit stayed perfectly still, controlled by her magic.


    Then, Yara got on her knees and cat-walked towards Aestrea. Her red lips curled into a smirk as her fingers reached for his waistband.


    She tugged his wet pants down and tossed them aside, exposing him fully.


    "Ah~, it''s hot," she said teasingly, as she wrapped both of her hands around his penis.


    Slowly, she started moving her hands up and down, looking straight into his eyes.


    His breath was short, and his chest went up and down slowly, however, on his face, a cloud of lust could be seen along with his flushed face.


    "Hehe," she giggled.


    She leaned in, her lips just inches away from his penis, as Aestrea could already feel her warm breath ghosting over his skin.


    Her tongue flicked out, gliding across her lips before she finally touched his tip.


    Slick~


    Her tongue dragged slowly over the tip of his cock, the warmth of it making him shudder slightly.


    She flicked her tongue against him playfully, teasing him as her hands continued stroking his shaft.


    "Aha~"


    One hand slid lower, cupping his balls gently as her other hand continued stroking him. She kept her gaze locked on his, watching every reaction, every twitch of his body.


    Tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear, she leaned in closer.


    Her hand tightened slightly around his shaft as her lips parted.


    "Mhm!"


    She took just the tip into her mouth, her tongue pressing beneath it as her lips wrapped around him.


    Her cheeks hollowed slightly as she began to suck softly, teasing him with her pace.


    Slurp~


    "Haah..." Aestrea''s breath grew heavier, his chest rising and falling as a low groan escaped his lips.


    His head tilted back slightly, silver-blue hair falling into his flushed face as he tried to compose himself.


    Yara smirked to herself, clearly satisfied by his reaction.


    Slowly, she pulled her lips off his shaft, letting it slide out of her mouth with a wet pop.


    "Pwa~...?"


    She exhaled softly, her lips glistening as she licked them with deliberate slowness. Aestrea blinked, slightly dazed, wondering why she stopped.


    But before he could say anything, she saw Yara... adjusting herself.


    Yara opened her mouth wider, and tilted her head back, stretching her neck slightly, creating enough space on her esophagus.


    Then, she gripped Aestrea''s legs...


    "Gaahkah...?!"


    She lowered herself intensely, making his penis slide down her throat.


    "Ugh...!"


    Aestrea let out a strangled groan, his hands clutching at the sides of the tub as her warm, tight mouth surrounded him completely.


    His legs trembled involuntarily, his body tensing from the overwhelming sensation.


    Yara glanced up at him through her lashes, and seeing his flushed face, her eyes couldn''t help but curve in delight.


    "Gahgh..."


    She paused just long enough to let him feel the fullness of her throat around him before she began to move.


    "Gahgh?... slurp... awah~"


    The lewd noises caused by her sucking his penis so eagerly resounded in the room.


    She started slowly, her head bobbing up as she continuously swallowed the precum glistening from the tip of his penis.


    "Ugh..."


    Aestrea''s hand moved instinctively to her head, his fingers brushing through her damp hair before resting gently there.


    He softly patted her head as he quietly stared at the ceiling...


    Yara''s lips curled into a small smile around him as she picked up the pace, her cheeks hollowing with each downward motion.


    Her free hand reached to stroke the base of his shaft in time with her movements.


    "Haahh..." Aestrea shuddered slightly.


    "Mhm~"


    Her response was a muffled hum of satisfaction as she continued, her tongue swirling and pressing against him with every bob of her head.


    Her hand slid lower, cupping his balls gently, massaging them with the same care and precision she gave to everything else.


    Plop!


    "Pwa~?"


    She retracted her head back, teasing the tip with her stretched-out tongue as she looked into Aestrea''s eyes.


    Then, she wrapped her lips around the tip, causing Aestrea to shudder...


    "Sluurrrrppp!"


    Her cheeks hollowed intensely, creating a duck face as she greedily swallowed her own saliva mixed with his precum.


    Then, if that wasn''t enough, she took his penis on her throat once again, but this time, she became more forceful with herself.


    "Aghkahk~ Naghahkk~ Hagkhk~~"


    Her throat tightened around his penis as she started gagging non-stop.


    But to her actions, Aestrea quickly got onto his limit, and his penis started throbbing.


    And then...


    Yara pulled back slightly and started to suck on the tip once again...


    Immediately, a shot of milk violently erupted from his penis, and Yara accepted the liquid directly in her throat.


    Gulp, gulp... gulp?


    She swallowed every single bit of his milk, and as she retracted her head, she licked her upper lip, looking at Aestrea with a charming smile.


    "...Delicious."


    She put one of her fingers on her mouth as if reminiscing about the taste, and licking them slightly.


    "Now~," she approached Aestrea, sitting down on her lap, her big breasts pressing against his well-defined chest.


    "Shall we go onto the main course?" she whispered into his ear, before grasping both of his shoulders slightly.


    "...Sure," Aestrea nodded with a small smile.


    He grabbed her waist slightly, and adjusted his dick, putting it just beneath her dripping pussy.


    He could already feel her fluids dripping down on his cock, lubricating it.


    Ssshk...


    "Uk...?"


    Yara bit her lip and thrusted her hips down before he could do the job himself.


    "Haah..."


    Yara closed her eyes lightly, feeling her pussy quivering at the touch of their union.


    "...Amazing... ahh..."


    She narrowed her eyes, murmuring with a small yet wicked smile as she looked at the man beneath her, with eyes filled with lust.


    Her black eyes seemed to glow dimly as she looked at his glowing ones.

 Chapter 73 *The Moonlight Swordsman (XXXIX)*

    Squirm...


    "Haaa... aha?..."


    Yara''s black hair clung to her damp skin, her breaths uneven as she shifted her hips, feeling him fill her completely.


    Her lips parted slightly, her eyes fluttering up to meet his.


    "Is it growing even bigger...?"


    Her hips moved ever so slightly, testing the fullness of him, and she felt a jolt of pleasure ripple through her body.


    Her inner walls clenched instinctively around him, drawing a deep groan from his lips.


    "It''s making my vagina ache a little..." Yara admitted, her cheeks flushed red, her words seemed shy but undeniably sultry.


    The way she stared into his glowing red eyes made his chest tighten, her confession sent a wave of heat surging through him, and he struggled to control himself.


    His hands gripped her waist tightly, his fingers sinking into her soft flesh as he tried to steady himself.


    But then, something caught his eye.


    And he froze.


    "Wait¡­ you''re¡­"


    His voice faltered as his gaze shifted downward, to where their bodies were joined.


    There it was¡ªa thin streak of blood slipping down his shaft, mixing with the water beneath them.


    His glowing eyes widened in shock as realization hit him.


    "...You''re a virgin?!" Aestrea couldn''t help but ask in shock.


    He didn''t reach any of the sex scenes in the book, much less about Yara, but seeing how she acted like a complete vixen, he honestly thought that she had lost her first time.


    To his words, Yara''s cheeks burned a deeper red, but her lips curved into a small, teasing smile.


    "Of course," she said softly, tilting her head to meet his stunned expression. "Did you think I''d let just anyone have me like this?"


    Her fingers trailed up his chest, her touch soft yet deliberate.


    Her lips brushed against his jaw, her breath warm against his skin as she whispered, "Just because I gave myself to you easily¡­ doesn''t mean I''m some kind of whore."


    Her words carried a playful tone, but the look on her black eyes was completely different, it was something darker, something possessive.


    "You''re the only man who''s ever made my heart race like this... The only one I''ve ever wanted this badly..."


    Squirm...!


    Her gaze softened for a moment, but then, her tone shifted entirely, taking on a colder edge that sent a shiver down his spine.


    "So don''t even think about escaping from me," she warned, her voice laced with a dangerous sweetness.


    Her lips curled into a smile that didn''t quite reach her eyes, and as she looked up at him, he noticed something strange¡ªa faint heart shape flickering in her pupils.


    "Yara, I¡ª"


    "I''ve done my homework," she continued, cutting him off.


    Her nails traced circles against his chest, her touch almost tender, though her words were anything but.


    "I know you have someone¡ªor maybe a few¡ªin your heart. Don''t worry, I don''t mind sharing. But..."


    Her eyes curved into delighted crescents, her smile widening as she pressed herself closer to him.


    "You''re mine now."


    Before he could respond, she emphasized her word with actions, slapping her buttocks on his legs, causing the tip of his dick to kiss her womb, making her legs quiver slightly.


    The sound of wet, lewd squelching filled the air, and he groaned deeply as the tight warmth of her walls clenched around him.


    Splash, squelch!


    Squirm...


    Her hands pressed against his chest as she lifted her hips slightly, only to slam them back down again.


    "Ahhhn?!" she moaned, her head tilting back as the motion sent a bolt of pleasure through her.


    The impact drove him deeper inside her, the tip of his shaft brushing against her womb. Her legs trembled slightly, and her nails dug into his skin as her breath hitched.


    "See?" she murmured, burying her face in his chest. Her voice was muffled but dripping with satisfaction.


    Squelch... squirm...


    "Hmnh~... this feels much better than I originally thought... haa?" she moaned slightly, burying her head on his chest.


    Her hips began moving in earnest, a slow, grinding rhythm that made his restraint slip further and further.


    He groaned, his hands moving to grip her waist as he tried to keep her still.


    "Yara, you''re too¡ª"


    "Too what?" she interrupted, her lips curling into a smirk. "Too tight? Too good? Tell me, what is it~?"


    Slam!


    Splash!


    She pressed her hips down harder, making him gasp as her inner walls squeezed him mercilessly.


    "Damn it, Yara..." he growled, his voice strained as he fought the urge to lose control.


    Her giggle was soft but mischievous.


    "You can let go, you know. I''m already yours... body and soul~?"


    Her words sent a jolt of heat straight to his core, and he finally gave in, his hands gripping her waist as he began to move.


    "Ahh~! Yes, just like that~! More~! Baby, don''t stop~?"


    Her moans grew louder, her body trembling with each motion, her moans spilling from her lips like a sweet yet spicy melody.


    "Ahhhn~?... Baby? It''s so deep... you''re stretching me so muchhhhh... haa~?"


    Her hips moved on their own now, grinding against him as if her body had been made to fit him.


    The wet, sinful sounds of their connection echoed through the room.


    Splash, squelch, squish!


    His fingers dug into her soft thighs, holding her in place as he thrust upward to meet her movements.


    Every time he pushed into her, her walls squeezed him tightly, pulling him even deeper.


    "Yara..." he groaned, his voice low and rough, the strain evident in every word.


    "You''re driving me crazy... You''re so tight... so warm... haa..."


    Her legs quivered as she felt the tip of his shaft brush against her deepest spot again, sending sparks of pleasure shooting through her body.


    Her nails raked across his chest, leaving faint red marks as she gasped.


    "Ahhn~? There! Right there, Baby?! Keep hitting me there~! Haaa... I can''t take it... I''m going to go crazy... haaa~?"


    Pah~ Pah~ Pah~!


    The lewd sounds of their bodies slapping together filled the room, each impact sending ripples through the water around them.


    Yara''s black hair clung to her damp skin, her flushed cheeks glowing with heat as her body surrendered to him completely.


    Her hands slid up to his shoulders, gripping him tightly as she buried her face against his neck.


    Her hot breath tickled his skin, and the faint scent of her arousal only fueled his desire.


    "Darling~? You''re mine~ All mine~?" she whispered against his ear, her voice literally dripping with possessiveness.


    "No one else can have you... no one else can make me feel this good~?" S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Her lips found his neck, sucking softly at first, then harder, leaving small red marks in her wake.


    The sensation made him shudder, his control slipping further as his hips moved faster, harder.


    Pah~ Pah~ Pah~


    Squish~!


    The sound of her wetness grew louder, her body growing slicker with each thrust. Her moans became higher-pitched, her voice breaking into soft cries of pleasure.


    "Hnnngh~? Aestrea~? It''s too much~! You''re so big... I can feel you everywhere... haa~?"


    Her legs wrapped around his waist, locking him in place as if she couldn''t bear to let him go.


    Her walls clenched tighter around him, pulling him even deeper, and he groaned loudly at the sensation.


    "Damn it, Yara..."


    "You''re squeezing me so tight... haa... I can''t hold back if you keep doing that..."


    Her lips curved into a teasing smile, even as her breaths came in shallow pants.


    "Then don''t~? Give me everything, Baby?, I want it all... I want you~?"


    Her words were the final push he needed.


    With a low growl, he grabbed her waist firmly and began moving faster, each thrust harder than the last.


    Pah~ Pah~ Pah~!


    Squirm, squish!


    "Ahhhhhnnng~? Yes, baby?! Yes, yes, yes~? Right there~! Don''t stop~?"


    Her cries echoed around them, her body trembling as wave after wave of pleasure washed over her.


    The water splashed around them as his movements grew more erratic, his restraint all but gone.


    "Yara... I''m close," he groaned, his voice strained as his hands gripped her even tighter.


    Her eyes fluttered open, meeting his glowing red gaze with her own hazy, love-drunk expression.


    "Inside~?" she begged, her voice high-pitched and breathless.


    "Darling~? Fill me up... I want all of you inside me~? Pleaseeeeee~?"


    Her pleading words sent him over the edge.


    His hips slammed into hers one final time, his entire body tensing as he buried himself as deep as he could go.


    Squish...


    Splurt~ Splurt~!


    "Ahhhhhhnnn~?!" Yara''s cry of ecstasy filled the room as she felt him release inside her, his warmth spilling into her deepest parts.


    Her walls clenched tightly around him, milking him for every last drop. Her body trembled violently, her nails digging into his shoulders as she clung to him.


    "Aestrea? So warm... I can feel you filling me up... haa~?"


    His head fell forward, resting against her shoulder as he panted heavily.


    The room was filled with the sound of their ragged breaths, their bodies still joined as they calmed down from the rush of their climax.


    Yara''s fingers gently and slowly traced circles on his back-


    "You''re amazing, Baby...?" she whispered, her voice tender now, though her teasing smile hadn''t faded.


    "I think... I might love you even more now~?"


    He let out a soft chuckle, his arms wrapping around her waist as he pulled her closer.


    "You''re crazy, Yara... but you''re mine now too."


    Her smile widened, her eyes glowing with satisfaction.


    "Of course I''m yours! I told you, I belong to you... body and soul?"


    Chuu?!


    Her words made his chest tighten with emotion, and he couldn''t resist the urge to kiss her again.


    Their lips parted quickly after.


    "Mhm~" Yara let out a soft hum of satisfaction as she leaned against him, her head resting on his chest.


    Her fingers lazily traced patterns along his damp skin, her legs still wrapped snugly around his waist as she still could feel the warmth of their shared intimacy.


    But even as they basked in the afterglow, she could feel it ¡ª his shaft was still firm inside her, twitching slightly as if eager for more.


    "Hnn~? Darling..." she murmured, her voice dripping with sweetness. "You''re still so hard... haaa~? Are you not satisfied yet?"


    Her teasing words sent a jolt through him, his hands instinctively tightening on her waist. His eyes, still glowing faintly red, met hers with an intensity that made her heart skip a beat.


    "Yara... don''t tempt me."


    Her lips curved into a mischievous smile, her hips shifting slightly to emphasize how full she felt.


    "Haa~? But I do know... I want more of you, love..." she whispered, her voice sultry as she leaned closer, her lips brushing against his ear.


    "Don''t hold back. Use me... take me however you want~?"


    Her bold declaration made his restraint snap.


    Splash!


    With a growl, he rolled them over, pinning her beneath him on the water.


    Her ink hair fanned out around her, and her flushed cheeks and glowing eyes made her look like a goddess in the dim light.


    "...Don''t say I didn''t warn you."


    Smack!


    Before she could respond, his lips crashed against hers in a fiery kiss, their tongues tangling as his hands roamed her body.


    He gripped her thighs, spreading her legs wider as he began moving his hips again, pulling out just enough to thrust back into her fully.


    Squish...


    Pah~ Pah~ Pah~!


    "Ahhhhn? Y-Yes! Harder... give it to me harder~!" she cried out, her back arching as he drove into her with renewed vigor.


    Her nails raked down his back, her body trembling beneath him as waves of pleasure started building all over again.


    The sound of their connection was obscene, their wetness dripping down her thighs and onto the water below.


    His movements were relentless, his hips slamming against hers with a force that made her see stars.


    Pah~ Pah~ Squish~!


    "You''re so tight... haa... you feel even better this time, Yara," he groaned, his hands sliding up to cup her breasts, kneading them roughly.


    Her nipples were hard against his palms, and he pinched them lightly, drawing a sharp gasp from her.


    "Hyaa~? You''re driving me crazy!" she moaned, her legs wrapping around his waist again to pull him even closer.


    "It''s too much... haaa~? But I love it... I love you...?"


    Her words spurred him on, his thrusts growing faster and deeper.


    The lewd squelching sounds of their intimacy filled the room, mingling with her high-pitched cries and his deep groans.


    Pah~ Pah~ Pah~


    Squish!


    Squish!


    Squirm!


    "Yara... I can feel you tightening again..."


    "Are you going to cum already? Haa... you''re so greedy..."


    "Y-Yes~? I can''t help it~! You''re too good, Darling?! I''m going to cum... haaa~? I''m cumming~!" she screamed, her body convulsing beneath him as her walls clamped down on him, milking him relentlessly.


    But he didn''t stop.


    Even as she trembled and cried out, he kept moving, his pace unrelenting.


    "Hnnngh~? I-It''s too much! I can''t take it... haa~? You''re going to make me lose my mind~!" she whimpered, tears of pleasure streaming down her cheeks.


    "Then lose it," he growled, leaning down to capture her lips again.


    His kiss was rough and possessive, as if he wanted to claim every part of her.


    Pah~ Pah~ Pah~!


    Her body melted under him, completely at his mercy as he drove her into another climax.


    Her voice broke into soft, desperate cries, her nails digging into his shoulders as she clung to him.


    And yet, he still didn''t stop.


    "...?!


    "You''re so... so relentless... haa~? But it feels so good~!" she moaned, her body trembling as she felt him pushing her to yet another peak.


    "I told you not to tempt me."


    Her eyes widened slightly, her heart racing as his pace increased yet again.


    The force of his thrusts left her breathless, her body completely overwhelmed by the pleasure that consumed her.


    "Haa~? I-I''m yours, Aestrea? Only yours~?" she cried, her voice breaking as she reached her limit.


    "I''ll never let anyone else touch me until the day I die... haaa~? I''m yours forever~?"


    Pah~ Pah~ Pah~


    Squirm!


    Splash!


    His movements grew erratic, his breaths ragged as he felt his release building again.


    "Yara... I''m going to cum," he groaned.


    "Where do you want it?"


    "Inside~?" she gasped, her voice high-pitched and desperate.


    "Fill me up?! Give me everything~?, pleaseeeee?"


    Her plea sent him over the edge.


    Slam!


    With a low growl, he buried himself deep inside her, his body tensing as he released again.


    Squish...


    Splurt~


    Splurt~


    "Ahhhhn~? I can feel it~! You''re filling me up so much... haaa~? It''s so warm... I love it~?" she moaned, her body trembling as she milked him for every last drop.


    He collapsed on top of her, their bodies slick with sweat as they caught their breath.


    His arms wrapped around her tightly, holding her close as they basked in the warmth of their shared passion.


    "Yara... You''re incredible."


    Her lips curved into a lazy, satisfied smile as she nuzzled against him.


    "So are you, love..." she whispered, her voice full of love and affection.


    "Let''s stay like this... forever."


    However, unfortunately for Yara, Aestrea wasn''t done yet.


    "...Let''s do it all night," he muttered softly to her ear.


    "U-uh...?"


    Yara''s body seemed to have reacted to his words, twitching slightly.


    Seeing this, Aestrea couldn''t but smile lightly.


    "I did warn you, remember?"


    "L-love... I-I''m a b-bit tired... how about w r-rest up for a bit?" she said hesitantly, feeling that her legs were extremely tired.


    "Too bad."


    Pah~


    "Aaahhhh???!"

 Chapter 74 The Moonlight Swordsman (XL)

    The soft, golden light of the early morning filtered through the curtains, casting a gentle glow across the room...


    "Ugh..."


    I groaned slightly, fluttering my eyes open.


    My body felt quite warm, probably because of the aftermath of a night that felt like it lasted forever.


    "Fuuu... fuuu... fuuu..."


    A gentle breathing reached out to my ears, causing me to shiver.


    I looked to my side and saw Yara''s peaceful sleeping face. Her ink hair spread out across the pillow, as her chest slowly went up and down.


    Well, last night was quite intense...


    ''I did warn her, though.''


    I leaned in slowly, planting a soft kiss against her forehead, just to feel the warmth of her skin against mine.


    She stirred a little, mumbling something incoherent, but she didn''t wake.


    I let out a small laugh, feeling the urge to tease her, but I decided not to.


    With a sigh, I pulled myself away, careful not to wake her.


    My body was sore in places I hadn''t even realized I could feel, but it was a satisfying kind of pain.


    I got dressed in the clothes that she had given me before and picked up my things. It was time to get back to the academy.


    "Mhm... Still, I should warn her."


    I thought so.


    With that in mind, I scribbled a quick note, leaving it on the bedside table where she could see it when she woke up.


    [I''m heading back to the academy. See you soon. -A]


    Simple, but enough.


    I glanced at her one last time, a smile tugging at my lips, before heading out of the room.


    The halls of the house were quiet as I made my way to my own room.


    I wasn''t sure what I was expecting, but the sight that greeted me was... unexpected.


    Chaerin and Lumi were tangled up together on my bed, sleeping soundly, though the position was far from graceful.


    Lumi''s slimy green hair was a mess, half covering Chaerin''s face, and Chaerin herself looked almost serene, despite the disheveled state of their bodies.


    "Pffft..."


    I couldn''t help but chuckle quietly to myself.


    "Wake up," I nudged them both gently.


    Lumi blinked up at me sleepily, her bright eyes still half-closed.


    She stretched out like a cat, her body shifting fluidly, and before I knew it, she disappeared into the tattoo on my arm, leaving a small green trail.


    "Mhmmm...."


    Chaerin grumbled a little, adjusting herself as she slowly sat up, rubbing her eyes and glancing around in confusion.


    "...We''re leaving?" she asked, her voice husky from sleep.


    "Yeah, gotta head back to the academy," I replied back.


    I couldn''t help but notice the way she was squinting at me, still half asleep. She yawned, stretching her arms over her head.


    "...Alright, I''ll get my stuff..." she mumbled quietly, slowly standing up and grabbing her things.


    It didn''t take long before we were both ready to leave, walking out of Yara''s home together.


    The chill of the morning air hit me as we stepped outside, but it wasn''t unpleasant. We made our way down the quiet streets, finally leaving the black market.


    The bustling atmosphere of the streets felt strangely calm compared to the chaos of the black market.


    But, there was something about the steady rhythm of the crowds and the flickering lights that grounded me.


    As we walked through the streets, I felt something tugging at the back of my mind.


    Something... was different today.


    I couldn''t place it at first, but then it hit me like a brick to the face.


    "Shit..." I muttered under my breath.


    "I forgot that today is the start of the Snow Festival!"


    "What''s the Snow Festival?" Chaerin raised an eyebrow at me, tilting her head curiously.


    "I don''t have time to explain it. Let''s go! We''ve got to get to the academy. Now," I said, grabbing her hand without another word.


    We both picked up our pace, and I found myself rushing through the streets.


    After all, I had "promised" a date with Violet.


    And I''m already late!


    When we finally arrived at the academy gates, I was taken aback by what I saw.


    The entire campus was covered in a soft layer of snow, and the buildings were adorned with twinkling lights and colorful banners.


    It was even more beautiful than I had imagined.


    The trees lining the walkways were dusted with white, their branches heavy with snow, and the air was crisp and fresh.


    I could hear the laughter and chatter of students, and the distant sounds of music playing from somewhere.


    The whole place was alive, buzzing with the kind of energy only a festival could bring.


    But I didn''t have time to appreciate it fully.


    "Quick, follow me!" I called to Chaerin as I tugged her through the courtyard, dodging students and staff who were already in the middle of the festivities.


    I didn''t stop until we reached my dormitory, and opened the door, where I found a beautiful elf waiting for me.


    Alaine raised an eyebrow when she saw me, an amused smile tugging at the corner of her lips.


    "You''re in quite a hurry, aren''t you?" she teased, folding her arms.


    I couldn''t help but let out a sigh at her words.


    "Yeah, it''s... it''s the Snow Festival today. And I''m kind of in a rush."


    Her expression softened as she stepped forward, and asked me.


    "Why so hurried? You''re not running away for a while, are you?"


    I smirked and shook my head.


    "Of course not."


    She paused for a moment, her gaze shifting to Chaerin, who stood silently behind me. Alaine raised an eyebrow, giving Chaerin a surprised look.


    "Is she... your daughter?"


    I froze.


    "Wait... how did you know?"


    But before I could finish, Alaine''s face


    The teasing smile disappeared from her face, and she actually froze, her eyes widening slightly.


    Her gaze flickered between me and Chaerin, then back to me.


    Her posture went completely rigid, and for a moment, she didn''t say anything, clearly caught off guard by my response.


    The playful glint in her eyes seemed to dim, replaced with a flicker of genuine confusion.


    "I¡ªI was joking, Aestrea," she said slowly, her voice unsure for the first time I could remember.


    "You really... are a father?"


    I awkwardly nodded at her.


    "...Chaerin can explain it to you, but right now... I have some kind of date."


    "...A date? Then, you must change your clothes..."


    I nodded quickly, still feeling a little flustered.


    I quickly cast a cleaning spell on myself, making sure my appearance was up to standard. After all, I couldn''t show up looking like a mess.


    I grabbed my best clothes from the wardrobe¡ªa sharp, casual outfit that had the perfect balance of style and comfort¡ªand dressed quickly.


    "Oh my."


    Alaine''s voice reached out to me. Next to her, Chaerin also looked surprised.


    "When you dress up, the dangerous aura around you disappears entirely..." Alaine complimented me, also gaining a nod from Chaerin.


    Before I could respond, she reached out and adjusted my clothes, smoothing down the fabric of my shirt and tucking in a loose sleeve.


    She really had a way of making me feel both at ease and slightly guilty all at once.


    "Don''t keep her waiting," she said softly, giving me a look that said more than words ever could.


    "Thanks," I muttered, almost to myself, but she caught it and gave me a playful smile.


    "Always, just be careful, okay?"


    I nodded, giving her a quick smile before rushing out the door.


    I didn''t waste any time, practically running through the hallways, my heart racing with excitement.


    The cold air bit at my face as I ran toward the fountain, and as I neared it, I saw her.


    Violet Von Luxuria.


    She was standing by the fountain, her back slightly arched, her posture perfect, accentuating her long, slender legs.


    Her outfit today was simple but elegant¡ªa loose, flowing dress that seemed to shimmer in the morning light, a soft purple hue that matched her eyes perfectly.


    Her waist was impossibly tiny, the kind of waist that made you wonder how someone could have such a perfect, delicate frame, especially with the generous curve of her hips.


    Her long, toned legs were bare beneath the hem of her dress, leading to a pair of sandals that only added to her allure.


    But it was her chest that truly caught attention¡ªmassive, soft, and full, they looked like they could almost spill out of the low neckline of her dress, though they didn''t.


    "Ah... haaa..." Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    I panted, finally catching my breath as I slowed to a stop in front of her.


    Upon seeing me, she pursed her lips, puffing her cheeks as she looked me over, clearly unimpressed by my tardiness.


    "Junior... You''re late," she said in an annoyed tone.


    She crossed her arms over her chest, her breasts pressing against the fabric of her dress in a way that made me swallow hard.


    There was no hiding the curves of her body¡ªshe was practically sculpted to perfection.


    Fuck, why am I so horny?


    Is it because I fucked all night?


    I immediately cleared all those dirty thoughts away from my mind.


    "Thank you for waiting... haa... I had a bit of... a late-night hangover." I replied to her, taking the time to exhale deeply.


    She stared at me for a moment, but then, her eyes softened, and she gave a little sigh, a small puff of air that made her cheeks flush just a bit.


    "You''re lucky I like you, Junior," she said with a playful twinkle in her eyes.


    I rolled my eyes at her words.


    She raised a hand and flicked a strand of hair from her face, the motion graceful, almost hypnotic.


    "At least you made an effort to look presentable for me," she teased, her eyes scanning my outfit with a critical but approving look.


    My outfit was pretty casual, but I''d gone for something sharp¡ªdark jeans and a fitted shirt, a jacket that had just enough flair to be stylish without being too much.


    It wasn''t anything over-the-top, but I knew I had to at least put in the effort.


    "I do appreciate a well-dressed man." She grinned, looking a little satisfied.


    "I''m glad you think so."


    Violet smiled at my words, her face softening as she grabbed my arm, her massive breasts pressing against me as she pulled me toward the first spot of our date.


    "Let''s go!"

 Chapter 75 The Moonlight Swordsman (XLI)

    The Snow Festival was in full swing, and the academy grounds were bustling with activity.


    The crisp air carried the scent of roasted chestnuts, sweet chocolate, and spices that burned your tongue.


    Everywhere we looked, students were busy enjoying the festival. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Some were gathered around brightly lit stalls, laughing and chatting as they played games.


    Others were huddled over steaming cups of hot cocoa, the warm drinks leaving clouds of vapor in the air.


    The decorations were simple but magical¡ªtwinkling fairy lights wrapped around trees, colorful ribbons strung along the walkways, and snow sculptures carved by the art club scattered all over the campus.


    "Junior?" Violet called out to me.


    Her voice was soft, but there was a teasing lilt to it as she looked up at me with her purple eyes.


    "Are you planning to just stand here all day and admire the scenery, or are you going to show me a good time?"


    "Isn''t the man''s duty to decide the places to go on dates?" she added, blinking twice at me.


    I laughed at her words.


    "Where do you want to go first?" I replied with another question, not minding the annoyed look that she gave me.


    "Hmm¡­ Let''s start with something fun. I''m in the mood for a game." She tapped her chin, pretending to think hard.


    I nodded, leading her toward the row of game stalls set up along the main courtyard.


    The air buzzed with excitement as students cheered each other on, trying to win prizes ranging from tiny stuffed animals to oversized, ridiculous ones.


    "Alright, let''s see what we''ve got here...."


    My eyes landed on a "shoot the target" game, where you had to knock down a line of bottles with a toy crossbow.


    The biggest prize on display was a massive purple dragon plushie¡ªits soft fabric practically glowing in the sunlight.


    Violet noticed it at the same time I did, and I saw the tiniest flicker of interest in her eyes before she quickly hid it.


    "You like that one, don''t you?" I teased, nudging her gently. "Is it because it''s purple, just like your hair color and eyes?"


    "Me? Like a silly stuffed toy?" She raised an eyebrow, battling her eyelashes as her lips curled into a smirk.


    "Don''t be ridiculous."


    "You sure?" I raised an eyebrow.


    "Very sure."


    "Alright, then I''ll win it for myself." I grinned, stepping closer to the stall.


    The student running the stall handed me the toy crossbow, explaining the rules.


    "You''ve got five shots. Knock down all the bottles, and the big prize is yours. And of course, the use of mana isn''t allowed, we have a high-grade mana detector in case anything happens!"


    I nodded at these words.


    Thankfully, I had quite an experience with crossbows.


    As an actor, I needed to use plenty of weapons, depending on the movie I was filming, so I unconsciously learned how to use them.


    The bottles were lined up in two neat rows on a wooden platform, and while they didn''t look too hard to hit, I could tell the angles were tricky.


    The way the light reflected off the snow made it even harder to aim.


    "No pressure, Junior. Just remember, if you fail, this Big Sister will be disappointed with you," she giggled, hiding her mouth with her hands.


    I rolled my eyes at her words, focusing on the first shot...


    The string of the crossbow felt taut as I pulled it back, aiming carefully.


    Thwack!


    The bolt hit its mark, sending the first bottle tumbling to the ground.


    A small cheer erupted from the nearby students who had gathered to watch.


    "One down," I said, glancing at Violet with a small smile.


    Her expression was calm as always, with the same small smile on her lips.


    The second shot was trickier, but I managed to knock down another bottle.


    The third and fourth went down just as smoothly, and by this point, the small crowd was fully invested.


    Violet, however, stood perfectly still, her arms still crossed, though I noticed her lips twitch as if she was holding back a smile.


    The final bottle was the toughest¡ªit was smaller than the others and set slightly further back on the platform.


    I closed my left eye and started adjusting my aim. The world seemed to quiet for a moment as I released the bolt, watching it fly through the air.


    Clink.


    The bottle tipped, wobbled, and finally fell to the ground.


    The crowd burst into cheers upon witnessing that I was the first student to actually get down all five bottles.


    "Phew~"


    I let out a relieved breath.


    This seemed more intense than one of the battles I had recently.


    The student running the stall handed me the giant purple dragon, which I took at, and then looked at Violet for a moment.


    "Well? Still think it''s silly?" I said, holding out to her.


    She rolled her eyes, but I could see the corners of her mouth lift into a smile.


    "Just take it already, my arms are getting tired..." I said so, letting out a small sigh.


    Violet hesitated, her gaze switching between me and the plushie.


    For a moment, she looked almost shy¡ªsomething I wasn''t used to seeing from her. But then she took it, cradling it in her arms as if it were the most precious thing in the world.


    "¡­Thank you," she said softly.


    "Just doing my duty as your date."


    We moved on to other stalls, trying out many different games.


    At one, we threw rings onto bottles, and though Violet claimed she had no interest in "childish games," she ended up winning a small, fluffy bunny plushie after a few tries.


    At another, we tried fishing for little plastic ducks in a tub of water, and her competitive streak came out in full force when she beat my score by one duck.


    The games were fun, but soon, the smell of food caught our attention.


    We wandered toward the rows of food stalls, where students were serving everything from sweet crepes to savory dumplings.


    "What are you in the mood for?" I asked as we stopped in front of a stall selling skewers of grilled meat and vegetables.


    Violet glanced around, her eyes scanning the options.


    "Hmm¡­ Let''s start with this. It smells amazing."


    We ordered a couple of skewers, and the student behind the counter handed them to us with a cheerful smile.


    The meat was perfectly grilled, juicy, and tender, with just the right amount of seasoning.


    As we ate, Violet seemed to relax even more, the usual sharpness in her eyes softening as she enjoyed the food.


    "This is really good," she admitted, taking another bite.


    "Mhm..." I nodded in agreement.


    The students from the Food Club really made excellent grilled meat.


    After we finished eating, we headed further into the center of the festival.


    The sounds of laughter, music, and the occasional pop of a firework filled the air.


    Violet was still carrying the giant purple dragon I''d won for her, holding it close like it was her prized possession.


    "So," I said, glancing at her as we strolled along the snow-dusted pathway, "where to next? I feel like we''ve barely seen the surface of this festival."


    She looked around for a moment before her eyes caught on a group of students gathered around a stage.


    "What''s going on over there?"


    We walked closer to the commotion, and it turned out to be a talent show.


    Students were taking turns performing everything from singing and dancing to magic tricks.


    One student conjured a flurry of glowing snowflakes, making the children present in the crowd smile widely.


    Another played a soulful tune on a violin, their music echoing beautifully in the crisp air.


    "They''re really putting their hearts into it, aren''t they?" Violet watched with interest, a small smile appearing on her lips.


    I nodded.


    "It''s not every day they get to show off like this. It''s kind of nice, seeing everyone come together like this."


    Normally, everyone would try to fight against each other.


    Since I arrived at this academy, there has been at least a single fight every single day. The funny thing is that it would always be different students.


    For a while, we stood there, enjoying the performances.


    The snowflakes falling gently around us only added to the magic of the moment.


    When one student finished their act with a dramatic bow, Violet leaned over slightly and whispered in a teasing voice to me.


    "You should go up there."


    I was taken aback by her words.


    "Go up there? What, do you think I should start juggling or something? What would I even do?" I replied black, crossing my arms.


    Violet''s smirk widened.


    "Surprise me."


    Hearing her words, I wanted to deny, but...


    Looking at the children, smiling very widely, and the happy crowd in front of the small stage made me feel quite nostalgic.


    As an actor, I started in smaller places, like comedy shows and things like that until I finally joined the big industries.


    So, seeing this, really brought back memories...


    ''...It''s worth a try, isn''t it?''


    Looking at Violet, I smiled, tilting my head.


    "Sure, wait here."


    Violet blinked, looking a little surprised that I agreed so quickly, but she didn''t say anything.


    I handed her my half-finished skewer of grilled meat, which she took without protest, and even took a bite of it.


    Then, I made my way through the small crowd, approaching the host of the talent show¡ªa cheerful girl wearing a Santa hat¡ªwho looked at me curiously as I approached.


    "Hey," I said, gesturing toward the corner of the stage, where a battered acoustic guitar rested on a stand.


    "Mind if I borrow that for a quick performance?"


    Her eyes lit up at my words.


    It seemed like she recognized me.


    "Of course! Go ahead. The stage is all yours."


    I picked up the guitar, running my fingers over its strings to test its tuning.


    It wasn''t perfect, but it would do.


    The crowd quieted a little as I stepped onto the stage, the creak of the wooden planks under my boots cutting through the air.


    I could feel dozens of eyes on me¡ªsome curious, some expectant.


    A soft murmur rippled through the crowd, but I didn''t let it bother me.


    I pulled the strap of the guitar over my shoulder and adjusted the mic stand, tapping the mic gently to check the sound.


    "Hey, everyone," I smiled at the public.


    "I''m not really part of the talent show lineup, so I hope you don''t mind if I crash the party for a minute."


    That got a few chuckles from the audience, easing the tension.


    I glanced toward the back of the crowd, where Violet stood.


    Even from this distance, I could see her watching me closely, the giant purple dragon still clutched in her arms.


    "This song''s not anything fancy," I continued, fingers brushing over the guitar strings.


    "But it''s for someone who''s been making this festival¡­ interesting."


    A few "oohs" and teasing whistles rose from the crowd, but I ignored them.


    My fingers began strumming the guitar, a simple, soft melody filling the air. The sound was warm, like the crackle of a fire on a cold winter night.


    And then I started to sing.


    "?~There''s this beautiful girl..."


    The sound of my voice blended with the guitar in a way that felt natural.


    The notes were smooth but rough around the edges, like the soft crunch of footsteps in snow.


    The music itself was simple, gentle, a little melancholic, but warm all the same.


    I could feel the crowd quieting down as they listened.


    "Does she know the way she shines? In the snow, in these purple skies~??"


    Between the chorus of the song, I glanced at Violet for a moment.


    She wasn''t looking directly at me, but I could see her posture had softened, her usual slyness was replaced with something else.


    Her grip on the purple dragon had tightened as if she were holding onto something she didn''t want to let go of.


    Then, I finally reached the final verses.


    "She holds a purple dragon in her arms~?, but it''s her who casts the charm. She''ll roll her eyes, she''ll walk away, but I''d chase her down any day now."


    Thus, I repeated the chorus...


    "Does she know the way she shines, in the snow, in these purple skies? Does she see how her light''s my guide, Through the cold, through the night...?"


    The last note lingered for a moment, fading into the stillness.


    For a heartbeat, the crowd was silent, as if they were letting the song settle.


    Clap!


    And then the applause started¡ªfirst a few claps, then a wave of cheers that filled the air.


    "Woo! Go get her!" someone shouted from the back, making the crowd laugh.


    I gave a small bow, slinging the guitar off my shoulder and setting it back on its stand.


    It''s been a while since I''ve sung a song, but that should be satisfactory enough, no?


    The applause followed me as I made my way back to Violet. Her cheeks were dusted with a faint pink blush, causing me to smile wryly.


    "So? Did you like it? Did it surprise you?"


    For a moment, she just stared at me, her eyes searching mine. Then, slowly, a grin spread across her lips, one that was softer and more genuine than I''d seen all day.


    "I loved it," she said simply.


    I raised an eyebrow, pretending to look surprised.


    "Oh, really? Even though it was about a silly girl who clutches a purple dragon like it''s her life''s purpose?"


    She narrowed her eyes at me, though the smile didn''t leave her face.


    "Careful, Junior. You''re not as funny as you think."


    "Oh, I don''t know," I teased her.


    "The crowd seemed to like me."


    "They have low standards," she shot back, but the blush on her cheeks gave her away.


    She shifted the purple dragon in her arms, hugging it closer like it was some kind of shield. I ended up chuckling at her actions.


    But soon enough, she let out a bright smile.


    The purple dragon disappeared from my view as she then, grabbed my right arm and led me away from that place.


    "Hehe, not it''s my time to lead this date!" she announced brightly.


    She hurriedly brought me along with her.


    ''This ain''t so bad.''


    ''I just hope nothing ruins this sweet time.''

 Chapter 76 The Moonlight Swordsman (XLII)

    "Where are we going?"


    "You''ll see," she replied mischievously.


    "You''ve had your fun showing off, now it''s my turn to pick something."


    We passed through the large crowd, until, eventually we came to a quieter corner of the campus, where a large open field had been cleared.


    Students were scattered around, building snowmen of all shapes and sizes.


    Some were traditional, with button eyes and carrot noses, while others were¡­ less conventional.


    I spotted one that looked like a snow version of a giant robot and another that resembled a dragon.


    "We''re finally here!" Violet announced brightly with a wide grin.


    "You want us to build a snowman?"


    She raised an eyebrow at my words.


    "Why? Too complicated for you, Junior?"


    "Complicated, huh? Let''s just see."


    We got to work, rolling the snow into big, uneven balls.


    The first one was way too lumpy, and the second one fell apart before we even stacked it.


    By the time we managed to get a proper base, both of us were covered in snow.


    "This is looking¡­ uh¡­" I tilted my head, trying to find the right word.


    "Like it''s been stepped on by a herd of elephants?" Violet finished my words, laughing at our ''beautiful'' snowman.


    "Exactly," I chuckled.


    "But wait, we''re not done yet."


    Nearby, a small table had been set up with chisels and carving tools for people to add details to their snow creations.


    Violet grabbed one and twirled it in her hand, smiling mischievously.


    "Let''s see if we can save this masterpiece."


    We took turns carving into the snowman. At first, we tried to make it look like a knight with armor, but it quickly turned into¡­ something else.


    Its arms were too short, its face was crooked, and one of its "armor plates" looked suspiciously like a duck''s beak.


    "Is that supposed to be a sword?" Violet asked, pointing at the strange lump I''d carved into the snowman''s hand.


    "Yes," I said confidently.


    "A very abstract sword."


    She burst out laughing upon hearing my words.


    "It looks like a shovel, Junior. You''ve turned our snow knight into a snow gardener."


    "Hey, I''d like to see you do better," I shot back, grinning lightly.She held up her hands.


    "Oh no, I''m not taking credit for this disaster. This is all you."


    We stood there for a moment, admiring or maybe just laughing at our weird snowman.


    It didn''t look anything like what we had planned, but I couldn''t deny it was fun.


    Squeeze...


    Suddenly, Violet pressed against my arm, leaning into me with that playful smirk of hers.


    "So, where to next, Junior?"I raised a brow at her.


    "Weren''t you the one saying you''d lead this date just a few minutes ago?"


    "Mhm," she hummed, giggling softly.


    "Not anymore."


    I shook my head with a small smile.


    "Well, alright then," I said, glancing around and trying to remember all the places we had passed through.


    Then it hit me¡ªa perfect place!


    "I''ve got something. Follow me."


    Her eyes lit up, and she tapped a finger to her lips in mock thought.


    "Hmm¡­ Is it a motel?"


    I froze mid-step.


    And then turned to give her a deadpan stare.


    "Seriously?"


    "Nihihi~!"


    She leaned closer to my arm, her sparkling violet eyes full of mischief.


    "I''m joking, I''m joking! You''re so easy to mess with, Junior."


    "Haaa..."


    I let out a long sigh and started walking again, though I couldn''t help but notice the teasing grin on her face.


    And while looking at her, I got a closer view of her face.


    She had a sharp yet delicate face, with a small beauty mark under her left eye that only made her look more mature.


    Honestly, if I didn''t know her, I might''ve mistaken her for someone older¡ªlike a young milf with that kind of magnetic charm.Not that I was gonna say that out loud.


    It was the same case with Christina, but yeah, both of them had pretty big differences.


    While Christina does act like some kind of "older sister", Violet is more like a mischievous one.


    Well, the "mischievous" description definitely fits her.


    "Oh! Ice cream!" she suddenly squealed, letting go of my arm and dashing toward a nearby stall.


    Her smile practically sparkled as she handed the vendor some coins and walked away holding a triple-scoop cone, each flavor stacked neatly on top of the other.


    She took a slow, deliberate lick, her face lighting up like a kid in a candy store.


    "You like ice cream that much?"


    "I love it!"


    Her reply came instantly, her tone full of joy as she held the cone with both hands like it was some kind of treasure.


    However, just as I was about to joke about her demeanor...


    I felt a strange yet dangerous aura.


    "This..."


    And it seemed like Violet had noticed it too.


    THRUUUUMMM!


    SHAKE!


    The ground beneath us trembled, sending faint cracks through the ice and snow.


    A suffocating dark aura erupted out of nowhere, spiraling up into the sky like smoke from a fire as a foul stench filled the air.


    The cheerful festival lights flickered, then dimmed, and the once-bright sky was swallowed by swirling black clouds.


    A dark sphere of energy spread out, blanketing the entire academy. The weight of the aura was immediate, pressing down on everyone around us.


    Students stumbled, their knees buckling slightly as if gravity itself had gotten stronger.


    "...A Demon General..."


    Violet muttered quietly.


    ''Fuck?! Are you kidding?!''


    I cursed inwardly upon hearing her words.


    ''Are you telling me an Arch-Demon really appeared out of nowhere? This academy really is damned cursed!''


    The malicious aura kept growing stronger, suffocating in its intensity. My heart pounded against my ribs as I tried to process what was happening.


    But then, I noticed something that made my stomach drop.


    Plop!


    Violet''s ice cream fell to the ground, splattering in the snow.


    I turned to her, and my breath hitched.


    Her face was¡­ terrifying.


    The playful sparkle in her eyes was gone, replaced by a fury so intense it was like staring into a brewing storm.


    Her lips pressed into a thin line, and her whole body tensed as her purple eyes locked onto the source of the aura with killing intent.


    "...My precious first date...."


    Boom!


    A surge of violet energy exploded from her, wrapping around her like a living flame. The snow beneath her melted instantly, steam rising from where she stood.


    "Stay here, Junior."


    Fwoop!


    Before I could even reply, she vanished in a flash of purple light as my eyes darted in the direction she disappeared.


    "Fuck..."


    An Arch-Demon, a powerful existence under the Demon King. There are seven of them, each one representing one of the seven deadly sins.


    All of them have a power that can reach the limits of the SS rank, and even with that, their battle power is at least more than ten times stronger than a human.


    So, to put it into simpler words, it would need ten humans of the same rank to defeat him.


    But even with that, the Arch-Demon has its bloodline abilities, for example, Lilith, the Sin of Lust, has an enchanting ability that can "charm" anyone below her level.


    As for the others, I don''t really know about them.


    "Damn it..."


    I looked at my damned broken body and let out a sigh.


    I didn''t have time to fuse with the Lich''s Heart that Yara had given me during our make-out session, so I really can''t go to battle right now...


    "This damned physique."


    I shut my eyes tightly.


    "Just wait for a while, Violet..."


    I brought out the Lich''s Heart and immediately pressed him against my chest, causing it to phase through my skin and reach my heart area, eventually staying in the right side of my chest, just like a second heart.


    "Fuu..."


    I made a small symbol with my hands and then, pushed my Twin Heart Mana Body to its limit, forcing my power output to increase tenfold.


    It was risky¡ªstupid, even. My body couldn''t handle this strain for long. So, I needed to be quick.


    My Twin Heart Mana Body was a mutated version of Elleonora''s.


    While her body could only increase the overall mana power by five times, I could do it by ten.


    Normally, since the physique is always active, I let the output stay in one, which means that I''m not using the physique, and is my normal mana power.


    But then, I increase the output, or simply "the level" of my mana power when needed, but of course, I refrain from doing so because my body can''t handle it.


    With Yara''s mana, I was able to increase the output to the maximum for a few moments, but that disintegrated her made-up mana heart easily.


    But now, with a Lich''s Heart...


    I should be able to use it up to five times without really damaging my body.


    At least, I hope so...


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    Meanwhile...


    "Lucas?! Are you sure we can deal with him?" Ella asked nervously, her voice shaking a little as she stared at the dark, swirling energy coming from the demon ahead of them.


    It felt heavy, like the air itself was pressing down on them.


    "...It''s the only way to kill him. He''s currently weakened, we need to be able to do it right now, or we won''t get a better opportunity!" Lucas gripped the Excalibur tightly.


    <You need to hurry up!>


    The Excalibur said to Lucas, causing him to increase his grip strength.


    Currently, in the garden of the academy, stood more than two hundred students. All of them were warned by Lucas and were gathered just for this moment.


    After all, Lucas had found that the seed of the Arch-Demon of Pride was actually inside the academy, and because of that, he warned everyone, including the professors who were also present.


    The only ones who weren''t present... were Eleonora and the weaker students who didn''t dare to face off against an Arch Demon.


    Hell, even Alaine, Aestrea''s maid was present, holding her spirit bow hard. Next to her, was also a young black-haired girl, holding a pair of daggers.


    Fwip!


    A purple aura, like a flash of lightning, was slammed against the ground.


    "Senior Violet!"


    Many students exclaimed in delighted surprise to which she nodded to them, but she couldn''t hide her serious face.


    She looked towards the Arch Demon who had a strong barrier around his body, as he gradually came to "life".


    "Did everyone already try to destroy the barrier?" she asked.


    "We did," Lucas replied, taking a few steps forward, and standing next to her.


    "It seems like there''s the Demon King''s magic on that shield, and even if we gathered all of our powers, we really couldn''t destroy it," Lucas explained.


    He had even tried to use Light Magic along with the Excalibur, but it didn''t work against the barrier.


    "I see... Then, we should prepare."


    "The professors already created multiple barriers and divided the students into attack and defense squads... we just need to be careful enough."


    To his words, Violet nodded.


    "...Prepare your spells!"


    Suddenly, Zeva''s voice echoed throughout the whole academy.


    Fwip!


    Crackle!


    Swish!


    The garden erupted with energy.


    The sound of crackling magic filled the air as every student readied their strongest spell.


    The ground seemed to hum with power, and the sky above darkened as if the world itself was holding its breath.


    But just as the barrier around the demon began to fade...


    Snap!


    Everything stopped.


    No¡ªnot stopped.


    Their magic was gone.


    Every spell, every flicker of energy, just vanished into thin air.


    The students stared in shock, their hands still raised, but nothing happened.


    And then... he appeared. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A small, pale figure stepped out in front of the Arch-Demon.


    He was lean, with slicked-back gray hair that reached the back of his neck.


    But what caught everyone''s attention was his mask. It was white and completely blank, except for a creepy, wide grin carved into it.


    The smile stretched too far, almost like it didn''t belong on a human face.


    Two crescent-shaped slits where his eyes should be made him look even more unsettling, like something out of a nightmare.


    "Hello everyone!" he said cheerfully, waving his hand like he was greeting old friends.


    His voice was light, almost playful, but it sent chills down everyone''s spines.


    "My name is Kagetaro Kurohare," he announced, placing one hand over his chest and bowing dramatically like he was performing on a stage.


    "And I''m so sorry to interrupt, but... this just isn''t fair, is it? Over two hundred of you against one little demon? Tsk, tsk. That''s just not right."


    He straightened up, his mask''s grin seeming to grow wider.


    "My deepest condolences..."


    Kagetaro smirked darkly.


    "But you cannot pass from here."

 Chapter 77 The Moonlight Swordsman (XLIII)

    "This bastard...!"


    One of the professors growled, his rage boiling over.


    Zooom!


    In a flash of light, he vanished, reappearing right in front of Kagetaro with twin axes swinging straight for his head.


    But just as the axes were about to connect¡ª


    Click!


    Splurt!


    A big hole pierced through the professor''s body.


    Thud.


    The professor''s body fell coldly into the ground.


    The student''s eyes widened in horror.


    Fwip!


    Zeva immediately stepped in the front, swinging a wave of aura towards Kagetaro.


    "Oh?"


    He raised an eyebrow as he disappeared into thin air.


    Click!


    His mana strings shot towards Zeva who blocked with her swords and twisted them slightly, cutting off the strings with ease.


    "A twin sword artifact... huh,"


    "Quite interesting..."


    Kagetaro remarked, a faint smile curling his lips.


    He moved his arms, and the mana strings danced around him like deadly ribbons, weaving a tight, suffocating circle around Zeva.


    BOOM!


    A burst of energy exploded from Zeva, shattering the strings into ash.


    Kagetaro took a few quick steps back¡ª


    ¡ªBAM!


    Behind him, a fully covered mana sword strikes down, causing him to twist his body and use his mana strings to block the strike.


    At that moment, another professor appeared, and two daggers shot toward his waist and his neck.


    But even with multiple attacks, Kagetaro smiled.


    "Bang."


    He muttered slightly.


    Splurt!


    Two large projectiles shot straight towards both the attackers, slicing through the air with a sharp hiss.


    At the same time, another was aimed directly at Zeva.


    Fwip!


    She reacted instantly, swinging her weapon to deflect it.


    The force of the deflection sent the projectile veering off course, smashing into a building in the distance and punching a clean hole right through its walls.


    "Damn it..."


    Looking at the dead bodies of her colleagues, Zeva gripped his twin swords tightly, as the aura on her body got more deadly than before.


    She swung her left arm¡ª


    BAM!


    A crescent-shaped wave made out of aura ripped across the ground, carving through the air toward Kagetaro.


    His eyes widened, caught off guard by the sudden attack.


    He barely moved in time¡ª


    Splurt!


    The energy tore through his right arm, blood spraying like a fountain as the limb fell limp at his side.


    For the first time, Kagetaro''s calm demeanor cracked, a flicker of surprise flashing across his face, yet the small grin on his face remained.


    Tap. Tap.


    Footsteps echoed through the tense battlefield.


    "Step back," a calm voice cut through the silence.


    Zeva turned her head slightly to see a familiar figure walking forward.


    It was Lucas, his golden hair glinting under the dim light of the darkened sky, strode into the fray


    His sword, Excalibur, was glowing faintly, the holy energy pulsing slightly, causing small waves of energy.


    "I''ll take it from here, Professor Zeva. We''ll need you for the fight against the Arch Demon." Lucas said firmly, looking at Zeva for a while.


    Zeva hesitated for a moment but then nodded, stepping back to catch her breath.


    "Oh? Another one?" Kagetaro said lightly but his grin widened, his mask somehow looking even creepier.


    "And here I thought things were starting to get boring."


    Lucas didn''t reply.


    Instead, he raised Excalibur, gripping it tightly with both hands.


    The sword hummed with power, its blade almost blinding as golden light burst forth.


    BOOOOM!


    The ground beneath Lucas cracked as he launched himself forward, closing the distance between him and Kagetaro in an instant.


    CLANG!


    Kagetaro''s mana strings snapped out like a whip, blocking Excalibur''s strike.


    Sparks flew as the two forces collided, the sheer force of the impact shaking the ground.


    But Lucas didn''t stop.


    He pressed forward, swinging Excalibur in powerful, precise arcs, each strike aiming for Kagetaro''s vitals.


    CLANG!


    CLINK!


    Kagetaro moved like liquid, his body twisting unnaturally as he dodged and parried with his remaining hand and mana strings.


    "Not bad," Kagetaro said, his tone amused as he slid to the side, narrowly avoiding a downward slash that left a deep gash in the ground.


    "But, it isn''t enough!"


    Lucas didn''t respond.


    Instead, he stepped back and thrust Excalibur forward, releasing a wave of golden energy.


    BOOM!


    The energy tore through the battlefield, heading straight for Kagetaro.


    "Hmm," Kagetaro mused, raising his remaining hand.


    His mana strings formed a barrier in front of him, absorbing the impact. The explosion sent dust and debris flying, obscuring the view.


    Before the dust could settle, a loud roar echoed across the battlefield.


    "MOVE!"


    A figure shot out of the shadows, her fists glowing with a fiery aura. Maya charged straight at Kagetaro.


    BAM!


    Her punch connected with his mana barrier, shattering it like glass. The force sent shockwaves rippling through the air.


    Kagetaro staggered slightly, his grin faltering for the first time, leaping backwards to create some distance.


    Maya wasn''t about to let him off easy.


    "Come here, you freak!" she yelled, her fists blazing as she followed up with a barrage of punches.


    WHAM!


    BAM!


    CRACK!


    Each strike was aimed at his torso, her movements fluid and relentless.


    Kagetaro dodged most of them, but a few managed to land, cracking the ground beneath him with their sheer force.


    "Annoying," Kagetaro hissed, lashing out with his mana strings.


    FWIP!


    FWIP!


    The strings wrapped around Maya''s wrists, pulling her toward him.


    But before he could attack¡ª


    THWOOOM!


    A blast of fire shot through the air, forcing him to release her.


    "Back off!"


    Rose stood a few meters away, her hands glowing with flames. Her fiery red hair whipped around her face as she prepared another spell.


    ¡º Fire Series: Fire Pillar! (? 4th-Level Spell ?)¡»


    WHOOSH!


    A column of fire erupted from the ground, forcing Kagetaro to leap into the air.


    "Don''t get comfortable up there!"


    Maya was already waiting. She jumped high, her aura-empowered fist aiming for his chest.


    BAM!


    The punch connected, sending Kagetaro crashing back to the ground.


    "Nice hit!" Lucas called out, rushing in with Excalibur raised.


    Kagetaro rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the sword as it slammed into the ground where he had been moments ago.


    CRACK!


    The impact left a deep crater.


    "Enough of this!" Kagetaro snarled, his voice losing its playful tone.


    He raised his remaining hand, and a web of mana strings shot out, forming a deadly net that spread across the battlefield.


    "Get down!" Zeva yelled from behind, dashing forward, and then proceeding to slice through the strings near her with her twin swords.


    Lucas, Maya, and Rose ducked and dodged, avoiding the razor-sharp threads.


    But Kagetaro wasn''t done.


    BOOM!


    A wave of dark energy erupted from him, knocking everyone back.


    Iris, standing at the edge of the battlefield, raised her staff.


    "Hold still!" she shouted, golden light flowing from her hands. The healing magic washed over the group, mending their wounds and easing their pain.


    "Thanks, Iris!" Maya called out, getting back on her feet.


    Finally, Violet decided to step forward as a faint purple aura loomed over her.


    She raised her hands, and sharp crystal shards formed in the air around her.


    ¡º Crystal Shards! (? 1st-Level Spell ?)¡»


    FWOOOSH!


    The shards shot toward Kagetaro like a storm of daggers.


    Kagetaro dodged and weaved, but the crystals moved with him, homing in on his position.


    "Tch," he clicked his tongue, swinging his mana strings to deflect the shards.


    But Violet wasn''t done. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    CRACK!


    ¡º Crystal Spike! (? 3rd-Level Spell ?)¡»


    A massive crystal spike erupted from the ground beneath him, forcing him to jump.


    "Now!" Violet shouted.


    Lucas and Maya rushed in from opposite sides, their weapons aimed at his chest.


    SLASH!


    BAM!


    Excalibur sliced through his side, and Maya''s punch connected with his ribcage, sending him skidding across the battlefield.


    Blood dripped from his wounds, staining the ground.


    But Kagetaro was still grinning.


    "You''re better than I thought," he said, coughing slightly.


    However, at the same time, his smile slowly returned.


    He raised his remaining hand, snapping his fingers.


    CRACK!


    The aura behind him flared, growing darker and more oppressive. The ground trembled, and the air grew thick.


    "Wait... the Arch-Demon.." Violet muttered, her eyes widening.


    The oppressive aura grew stronger, signaling the Arch-Demon of Pride was awakening.


    Before anyone could react, Kagetaro''s severed limbs began to move.


    SWISH!


    The pieces of his body shot toward him, fusing back together in a grotesque display.


    The blood and flesh reassembled, and within seconds, his body was whole again.


    He rolled his shoulders, flexing his fingers as if nothing had happened.


    "Well," Kagetaro said with a sly grin.


    "I''d love to stay and chat, but I think it''s time for me to leave. Goodbye!"


    Fwoop!


    With a flourished bow, he disappeared from everyone''s sight.


    But then¡ª


    An enormous, dark aura exploded upward from the ground, blacker than the deepest shadow.


    The air grew heavy, and it felt as if the entire world was holding its breath.


    Crackle!


    Lightning shot across the sky, slicing through the dark clouds that had gathered out of nowhere.


    "What¡­ what is that?" Rose stammered, her voice trembling as she stared at the swirling mass of darkness.


    "It''s him," Violet said with a grim face.


    "The Arch-Demon of Pride¡­ He''s waking up."


    The ground began to shake violently.


    RUMBLE!


    Chunks of earth broke apart, forming cracks that glowed with a fiery red light. Lava-like energy oozed up from the cracks, filling the air with the smell of sulfur.


    "Everyone, get back!" Lucas shouted, raising Excalibur in front of him.


    The golden light from the blade flickered, struggling against the oppressive darkness.


    At this point, everyone already knew that Lucas had the Excalibur and was the Hero and because of that, they all trusted him.


    Immediately, all of them retreated, forming a defensive line.


    But the aura kept growing.


    It pulsed like a heartbeat, each throb making the ground quake even harder.


    Shine...!


    Iris, standing behind the group, raised her staff. A warm light spread from her hands, creating a protective barrier around them.


    "Stay close, I''ll shield us as long as I can."


    But even Iris''s magic was struggling against the darkness. The barrier flickered, the edges crumbling like paper burned by fire.


    Then, from within the swirling darkness, a low growl echoed.


    Grrrrrhhhhhh¡­


    It obviously wasn''t human.


    It was a growl that seemed to come from the depths of the earth itself.


    The group froze.


    And then¡ª


    BOOOOM!


    The center of the battlefield exploded.


    A massive clawed hand emerged from the ground, tearing through the lava-filled cracks.


    The hand was enormous, its blackened skin covered in cracks that glowed with fiery red light.


    Its claws were long and sharp, each one dripping with molten energy.


    THUD!


    The hand slammed into the ground, sending shockwaves rippling across the battlefield.


    "Get ready!" Lucas shouted, his grip on Excalibur tightening.


    From the darkness, a second clawed hand emerged, followed by two glowing red eyes. They burned like twin suns, filled with malice and pride.


    The creature''s head followed, its massive horns curving back like a crown. Its face was grotesque, a twisted mix of sharp edges and dark energy.


    And then, the rest of its body began to rise.


    The Arch-Demon was enormous, towering over the battlefield like a living mountain.


    Its chest was covered in jagged armor-like scales, and its wings stretched wide, blocking out what little light remained.


    ROOOOAAAAAR!


    The demon let out a loud roar, shaking the very sky.


    Lightning struck again, the bolts dancing around its massive frame.


    "We can''t let this thing fully awaken!" Zeva declared, gripping her swords.


    "If it does, we''re all dead!"


    Rose nodded, fire swirling around her hands.


    "Then let''s stop it now!"


    WHOOSH!


    Rose shot a stream of fire at the Arch-Demon, aiming for its face.


    The flames hit their target, but¡ª


    FIZZLE!


    The fire disappeared, snuffed out as if it were nothing.


    Rose''s eyes widened in disbelief.


    "What?!"


    The Arch-Demon''s glowing eyes flicked toward her, and it raised one massive claw.


    SWIPE!


    The claw slashed through the air, sending a wave of dark energy hurtling toward the group.


    "MOVE!" Lucas shouted.


    BOOOOM!


    The wave hit the ground where they had been standing, leaving a massive crater in its wake.


    Violet raised her hands, summoning a crystal barrier to block the next attack.


    CRASH!


    The barrier shattered instantly, the force sending Violet flying backward.


    "Senior Violet!" Maya yelled, rushing to her side.


    "I''m fine," Violet groaned, struggling to her feet.


    "But this thing¡­ it''s on a completely different level."


    Lucas gripped his Excalibur tightly and then charged toward the Arch-Demon, his sword blazing with holy energy.


    "Demon Slaying Sword Art...!"


    ¡º Corruption Sword! ¡»


    CLANG!


    Excalibur struck the demon''s arm, but the blade barely left a scratch.


    "Damn it¡­" Lucas muttered, jumping back to avoid a counterattack.


    Zeva joined the fray, her twin swords slicing through the air.


    SLASH!


    SLASH!


    Her blades struck the demon''s leg, but they, too, barely left a mark.


    "This isn''t working!" Zeva yelled, frustration in her voice.


    The Arch-Demon roared again, its massive wings spreading wide.


    With one powerful flap¡ª


    WHOOSH!


    A hurricane-like wind tore across the battlefield, knocking everyone off their feet, even the students who were too scared to move.


    Iris struggled to keep her barrier intact, the golden light flickering dangerously.


    "This¡­ isn''t good," she muttered, her hands trembling.


    But even as the group struggled, Lucas refused to give up.


    He planted his feet firmly on the ground, raising Excalibur high.


    "Everyone, focus your attacks on one spot!" he shouted. "We''ll break through its defenses together!"


    The others nodded, determination filling their faces.


    Maya charged forward, her fists glowing with a fiery aura.


    BAM!


    BAM!


    She landed two heavy punches on the same spot Lucas had struck earlier, small cracks forming on the demon''s armor.


    "Keep going!" Lucas yelled.


    Rose unleashed another stream of fire, aiming for the cracks.


    WHOOSH!


    The flames burned brighter this time, fueled by her determination.


    Violet followed up with a barrage of crystal spikes, each one slamming into the same spot.


    CRACK!


    CRACK!


    The cracks grew larger, the demon letting out an angry roar as it felt the pressure.


    Lucas seized the moment.


    "NOW!" he shouted, leaping high into the air.


    BOOOOM!


    He brought Excalibur down with all his strength, the golden blade piercing through the cracks and sinking deep into the demon''s armor.


    The Arch-Demon howled in pain, its massive body trembling.


    But then¡ª


    THUMP!


    THUMP!


    The dark aura around it flared again, stronger than before.


    "No¡­ it''s still getting stronger!"


    The cracks in the demon''s armor began to heal, the fiery red energy sealing them shut.


    And then, to the group''s horror, the demon began to laugh.


    "Hahaha¡­ HAHAHAHA!"


    Its deep, booming laughter echoed across the battlefield.


    "You... mere ants..." it growled, its voice shaking the earth.


    With a snap of its massive claws¡ª


    BOOM!


    A wave of darkness erupted outward, engulfing everything in its path.

 Chapter 78 The Moonlight Swordsman (XLIV)

    SHINEE!


    A massive wave of golden mana burst out, enveloping everyone on the battlefield.


    Instantly, the students snapped their heads back, and their eyes widened in relief.


    "Saintess!"


    Behind them, with a glowing golden staff, Christina had conjured a spell that allowed them to defend themselves against the attack of the archdemon of pride.


    "Keep focus! This barrier won''t last for long!" she warned them.


    Immediately, they composed themselves, and the mages started conjuring spells while the swordsmen and warriors prepared themselves for an attack.


    ¡º Fire Series: Fire Tornado! (? 4th-Level Spell ?)¡»


    ¡º Wood Series: Thorn of Spikes! (? 4th-Level Spell ?)¡»


    ¡º Water Series: Water Spears! (? 3rd-Level Spell ?)¡»


    The air crackled as powerful spells gathered, but none were as strong as the magic prepared by Rose and Violet.


    ¡º Fire Series: Phoenix Rush! (? 6th-Level Spell ?)¡»


    ¡º Crystal Meteor! (? 6th-Level Spell ?)¡»


    "The barrier is about to break!" Christian rang out, warning everyone.


    CRACK!


    The golden barrier shattered like glass, scattering shards of light.


    SWOOSH!


    Hundreds of spells flew through the air, roaring toward the Archdemon.


    Yet, the demon didn''t flinch.


    His dark mana surged as he raised a dense black barrier.


    But, just as the magic was about to collide¡ªTwo figures shot forward like bolts of lightning.


    "Demon Slaying Sword Art...!"


    "Royal Swordsmanship...!"


    ¡º Void Breaker! ¡»


    ¡º Divine Punishment! ¡»


    CRACK!


    The demon''s barrier splintered under their combined strikes, breaking apart.


    And of course, Ella and Lucas didn''t stop¡ªthey crushed a teleportation stone in their hands and vanished into thin air.


    BOOOOOOOOOM!


    FREEEEZEEE!


    CRACCKLEE!


    The students'' spells crashed into the demon, a cacophony of ice, fire, and thunder. Smoke rose high into the air, shrouding the battlefield.


    Fwip!


    Zeva slashed through the smoke with a wave of energy, cutting it apart.


    And to their surprise, there he was.


    The archdemon stood untouched, stepping out of the barrage of spells with a cruel grin.


    His wings stretched wide, casting an ominous shadow over the battlefield, looking down at the group of students as if they were mere ants.


    He had raised a single finger, effortlessly stopping Zeva''s attack in midair.


    "HAHAHAHA! Humans are truly fascinating creatures," the archdemon sneered, grinning widely, while its wings flapped.


    His gaze fell on Lucas, who clutched the glowing Excalibur in his hands."But most interesting of all¡­ our dear hero."


    Fwip!


    A mana arrow shot toward him, whistling through the air.


    The demon smirked and raised his hand, ready to swat it away¡ª


    Splurt!


    To his surprise, the arrow pierced clean through his palm.


    Blood splattered across the air as the demon''s grin twisted into a snarl.


    "AHH! WHO DARES?!" Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    His furious eyes scanned the battlefield, locking onto a brown-haired woman in a maid outfit. She was already nocking three more arrows onto her glowing bow.


    "A HIGH ELF?"


    "I KNEW I SHOULD HAVE ELIMINATED THE ELF RACE A LONG TIME AGO!" he clutched his tightly, looking at her with a terrifying rage in his eyes,


    At his words, Alaine only smiled coldly:


    "Then, try it, you fucking trash of a demon."


    Fwip!


    Three arrows soared toward him, but the Archdemon moved faster this time, his wings flapping with enough force to distort the space around him.


    But just as he dodged¡ªSLASH!


    A black-haired girl appeared right in front of him, holding a pair of daggers.


    "Omnislash."


    Chaerin uttered flatly.


    SPLURT!


    Blood erupted from a dozen cuts across the Archdemon''s body in an instant, and before he could recover, the three arrows Alaine had fired pierced him again.


    Splat!


    "AAAAARGH! YOU FILTHY WORMS!"


    The demon''s mana exploded outward in rage, a dark storm consuming the air.


    BAM!


    In the blink of an eye, he vanished.


    The sound of wings flapping was the only warning.


    WHOOSH!


    He reappeared right in front of Chaerin, his clawed hand snapping out like a vice.


    GRIP!


    He seized her neck, lifting her off the ground.


    "Let''s see how long you can last, little insect," the Archdemon sneered, tightening his grip around her little neck.


    "Chaerin!" Alaine screamed, already releasing two arrows.


    Fwoop!


    Lucas and Maya closed in from behind, while Rose and Violet began chanting their strongest spells again.


    Ella''s sword glowed blindingly bright, drawing in mana from the surroundings as she prepared her ultimate sword art.


    Even Zeva worked tirelessly, tending to the injured and bolstering the priests to keep them standing.


    But no matter how prepared they were, Chaerin''s time was slipping away¡ªnone of them could reach her fast enough to stop the Archdemon from crushing her completely.


    THUMP...


    ...THUMP!


    Her heartbeat echoed faintly in her ears as her hands struggled against his grip...


    "Ghh¡­ g-ga¡­ gah¡­" she choked, saliva slipping down her chin as her lips quivered.


    Tears blurred her vision, the world around her spinning as she struggled for air.


    The pain was unbearable.


    It burned her throat, crushed her chest, and sent waves of agony through her entire body.


    Her legs kicked weakly, but her strength was fading fast."D-dad¡­ s-save me¡­" she whimpered, her voice barely audible.


    Her body sagged, the fight leaving her as her eyelids drooped.


    CLANG!


    The desperate attacks of Lucas and Maya rang out, their blades deflected effortlessly with just a flick of the demon''s fingers.


    Fwoop!


    And of course, this time, he easily avoided the arrows sent by Alaine, as for the others, they wouldn''t be able to attack him for now, leaving Chaerin completely at his mercy.


    "Such an annoying ant," the Archdemon sneered, his grin widening as his fingers dug into her neck.


    "You''re tougher than I thought. But don''t worry¡­ no one will save you this time."


    His dark eyes gleamed with sadistic glee, his wings spreading wide as he imagined the pleasure of watching her lifeless body fall to the ground.


    "¡­P¡­p-papa¡­"


    She uttered her final words.


    Shing.


    A faint, almost insignificant noise broke through the chaos.


    It was very silent.


    The kind that you could easily ignore.


    But he, the archdemon, couldn''t ignore it.


    His ears twitched, his cruel grin faltering for a split second.


    SPLURT!


    The sound of tearing flesh followed as his arm¡ªstill gripping Chaerin''s neck¡ªwas severed cleanly at the elbow.


    Blood sprayed into the air, the dismembered limb falling heavily to the ground.


    Step...


    Along with the sound of boots falling into the ground.


    Chaerin''s half-closed eyes fluttered open slightly, her vision blurred but just enough to catch a familiar figure standing before her.


    "P¡­Papa¡­" she murmured weakly, a faint, tearful smile forming on her lips.


    "...."


    Aestrea didn''t speak at first.


    His expression was cold, his gaze locked on the Archdemon.


    He stepped forward and gently passed Chaerin to Alaine, who quickly caught her and nodded without hesitation.


    "...Protect her."


    He uttered simply which Alaine promptly nodded to.


    The Archdemon, now furious, roared with rage.


    "WHO DARES?! WHO DARES?! WHO DARES?! SHOW YOURSELF, YOU FILTHY RAT!"


    Dark mana spiraled around his severed arm, reconnecting it in a grotesque display.


    His eyes burned with madness as he glared in every direction, seeking the one who dared to challenge him.


    Aestrea finally turned, his eyes glowing dimly.


    He looked different...


    His right eye glowed red, with the symbol of a law scale.


    While his left eye glowed icy blue, with the faint outline of a crescent moon.


    "Moonlight Swordsman!"


    Many students exclaimed loudly.


    Aestrea, no, the Moonlight Swordsman ignored their words.


    "Fuu..."


    His body began to glow, but instead of his usual silver mana, a fierce violet aura erupted around him, shooting into the sky like a pillar of raw energy.


    BAAM!


    The dark clouds above split, the sky turning half-violet as if the world itself recognized the arrival of someone who could match the Archdemon.


    Shing.


    Another bland noise echoed, and in an instant, a long, menacing scythe appeared in Aestrea''s hand.


    SPLURT!


    A hundred meters away, the Archdemon froze, his body splitting cleanly in two before he could even register what had happened.


    "ARGHH! YOU¡­ YOU DAMN RAT!" he groaned loudly, his body stitching itself back together with dark energy.


    But before he could fully recover, Aestrea''s face suddenly appeared inches from his own, his scythe already swinging.


    ¡º Bleed ¡»


    SPLURT!


    SPLAT!


    Blood erupted from the Archdemon''s body. His ears, fingertips, chest¡ªevery inch of him began to bleed profusely.


    Then, another swing came, faster than the demon could react.


    Click!


    The Archdemon crossed his arms in an ''X'', blocking the scythe with all his strength.


    [Archdemon Authority!]


    A wave of crushing pressure exploded outward, forcing Aestrea back slightly.


    The demon grinned wickedly as his Authority took hold of the place, granting him complete control of his surroundings.


    The air grew heavier, the ground trembling under the overwhelming force of his power. Within this space, his strength multiplied exponentially.


    However, Aestrea''s cold voice cut through the oppressive air.


    Like he didn''t care about that all."You never learn, do you?"He raised his hand calmly.


    ¡º Bleed ¡»


    ¡º Bleed ¡»


    ¡º Bleed ¡»


    ¡º Bleed ¡»


    ¡º Bleed ¡»


    Five consecutive blees were activated, each one forcing blood to gush from the Archdemon''s body like a fountain.


    SPLURT!


    SPLAT!


    The demon''s form exploded in a rain of blood and gore, but even then, his body reformed, piecing itself back together like a twisted puzzle.


    "¡­This should be enough for now."


    Aestrea muttered under his breath, stepping back casually.


    BAAAAM!


    Behind him, two golden auras erupted, shooting into the heavens and turning the sky bright gold. Ella and Lucas stood tall, their swords radiating brilliant light as they prepared their ultimate attack.


    Aestrea glanced back briefly and nodded, stepping aside to give them a clear path.


    "HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"


    Both of them roared in unison, their voices ringing out like thunder as they swung their swords down.


    BOOOOOOOM!


    The combined attack from Ella and Lucas tore through the air, the sheer force shaking the battlefield.


    A wave of golden energy surged forward, ripping through the ground like an unstoppable tsunami.


    The Archdemon snarled, spreading his arms wide as a dark barrier formed around him.


    CRACKLE!


    BOOM!


    The golden attack collided with the barrier, the impact creating an explosion that lit up the sky itself.


    The ground beneath the Archdemon cracked and crumbled, forming a deep crater from the force of the collision.


    "IS THAT ALL?!" the Archdemon roared, his barrier holding strong despite visible cracks forming along its surface.


    His dark mana swirled violently, repairing the damage as fast as it came.


    Looking at this, both Ella''s and Lucas''s eyes widened in shock.


    On the other side, Aestrea didn''t look too surprised.


    [You have gained the trait¡ª"Cold Blooded (S-)"!]


    Instead, a small window popped in front of him.


    [Twin Heart Mana Body''s Ability Duration: 5 minutes, 23 seconds.]


    "I don''t have time for this."


    The reason why Aestrea was so powerful, was that after he fused with the Lich''s Heart, he awakened the special ability of his physique.


    An ability that would increase all of his attributes except mana by a short period, without any side effects at all.


    The only problem was that this ability could only be used once a month.


    But even with that, it was very overpowered.


    It was strong enough to actually surpass any kind of divine ability.


    "Let''s see..."


    Aestrea''s eyes narrowed as he increased the consumption of mana on his Judgement Eye.


    He looked at the students, and his eyes widened in surprise to see that all of them almost didn''t have any mana reserves.


    Along with that, Zeva was the one granting mana to the priests to heal the other students.


    "She should be on attack..."


    Then, he also found two familiar faces.


    Iris and Maya.


    Both of them had passed out.


    As for Rose, she was meditating, gathering as much mana as she could.


    And so was Violet.


    "...It seems that I''ll need to hold the demon for those five minutes..."


    "At least, until the Sword Duke and the rest get here."


    Aestrea cracked his head slightly.


    Although he couldn''t kill the archdemon.


    He still could give him the beating of his life.

 Chapter 79 The Moonlight Swordsman (XLV)

    "YOU DAMNED RATS!"


    The archdemon roared, his dark aura flaring wildly.


    Two long claws extended from his fingertips as he swung his arm in a wide arc, aiming straight for Ella and Lucas.


    Fwip!


    Looking at each other, Lucas and Ella nodded simultaneously.


    He planted his foot against hers, and with perfect coordination, they kicked off each other, launching themselves in opposite directions to dodge mid-air.


    But¡ª


    The claws were too long.


    The tips still reached out for them, slicing through the air with terrifying speed...


    ¡ªShing!


    Until they heard another bland noise.


    Thud!


    Aestrea appeared behind Lucas in a blur.


    His hand shot out, gripping Lucas''s wrist.


    Without hesitation, he spun in place and threw Lucas straight into Ella.


    BAM!


    "Gah!"


    The two of them collided hard, the force sending them tumbling across the ground, but in the end, they had avoided the archdemon''s claws.


    Swoosh!


    Before the demon could react, Aestrea had already stepped in front of him.


    "Hey... even though you aren''t in your full power, how does it feel to be so weak?"


    Appearing right before the archdemon, Aestrea asked.


    There was no arrogance or coldness in his voice.


    It was a completely neutral tone.


    But that made it so much worse.


    The archdemon''s eyes twitched, veins bulging in his forehead as his rage exploded. With a furious snarl, he lashed out, swinging his claws in a wild frenzy.


    "YOU DAAAMN RAAT!"


    Aestrea sighed.


    ¡º Bleed ¡»


    Splurt!


    "ARGGHHHH!"


    The archdemon screamed as deep gashes suddenly tore open across his arms and chest.


    BAAM!


    Aestrea stepped forward and drove his fist straight into the archdemon''s solar plexus.


    Zoooooooom!


    The impact sent a shockwave rippling through the battlefield, and the demon''s body shot backward like a cannonball, smashing into the academy''s fortified walls.


    "Phew."


    "That must''ve hurt."


    Across the battlefield, dust and debris settled.


    The archdemon groaned, his massive form rising from the rubble.


    His muscles bulged unnaturally as his dark aura flared up once more, growing heavier, denser.


    "A... mere human... how... how dare you?!"


    The air around him twisted as weapons¡ªdozens of swords, spears, and daggers¡ªmaterialized above him, glowing with dark energy.


    With a snap of his fingers, the weapons all shot toward Aestrea like homing missiles.


    Aestrea didn''t flinch.


    His scythe materialized in his hand¡ª


    Fwip!


    ¡ªAnd in a single motion, he hurled it into the air.


    The spinning scythe cut through the air like a boomerang, deflecting every incoming weapon as if they were nothing but leaves in the wind.


    The archdemon bared his fangs, his entire body wrapped in dark energy as he charged forward.


    Aestrea did the same.


    BOOM!


    The ground cracked beneath them as they clashed.


    But something was different now.


    The air around the archdemon shimmered with blood-red mana.


    Aestrea''s eyes narrowed slightly.


    "Blood Magic..."


    ''He''s going to use his own blood to attack me... that might get a bit troublesome.''


    Swip!


    The archdemon''s body suddenly burst open like a geyser, spraying blood in all directions.


    But it didn''t just fall¡ªit moved.


    The moment his blood hit the air, it twisted and solidified into countless spikes, forming a deadly cage around Aestrea.


    Seeing this, Aestrea stretched his left hand slightly.


    Shing.


    A bland noise.


    His scythe appeared on his hand as he pivoted on his feet, spinning around, cutting the blood spikes effortlessly.


    But even as he did that, the rest of the spikes transformed into smaller spikes hurling towards many parts of his body.


    The archdemon''s grin widened as he raised both hands, locked his fingers together, and slammed them down¡ª


    ¡ªRight where Aestrea stood.


    "AAAHH, I FINALLY GOT YOU, YOU SNEAKY ANT!"


    But just before the impact¡ª


    ¡º Ice Series: Ice Generation! (? 1st-Level Spell ?) ¡»


    A faint cluster of ice appeared on his right hand as he clenched his fist.


    ¡º Ice Series: Minor Frost Explosion (? 5th-Level Spell ?) ¡»


    BOOOM!


    A surge of freezing energy erupted outward, covering everything in ice.


    The battlefield turned white.


    The blood spikes froze mid-air.


    Aestrea''s entire body was covered in a thick layer of frost¡ª


    Crack.


    But it shattered instantly.


    It was his own spell. It wouldn''t hold him.


    Across from him, the archdemon was also frozen solid.


    For a second.


    Crack! Crack!


    CRASH!


    The ice around the archdemon shattered violently, and he let out a furious howl.


    "ARGHHH!"


    Aestrea rolled his shoulders, tilting his head.


    "Well¡­ I guess that wasn''t enough to cool you down."


    [3 Minutes... 19 seconds.]


    ''Just a little more I guess.''


    "HAAAAA!!!"


    The archdemon''s red eyes burned with rage as his dark aura pulsed like a living flame.


    His cracked skin oozed thick, black blood, mixing with the blood energy mana around him.


    His breath came in short, sharp bursts.


    His lips curled back into a snarl, revealing jagged fangs.


    "I''LL RIP YOU APART, HUMAN!"


    BOOM!


    The ground shattered beneath his feet as he launched himself forward. His claws slashed through the air, aiming straight for Aestrea''s throat.


    Aestrea''s body blurred¡ª


    Whoosh!


    ¡ªHe dodged left, twisting his upper body to avoid the deadly swipe.


    But the archdemon reacted quickly.


    And before Aestrea could land, the demon spun and swung his other claw¡ª


    Swish!


    Aestrea barely managed to duck, feeling the sharp wind from the strike pass over his head. He countered instantly, driving his knee into the demon''s ribs.


    BAM!


    The archdemon grunted but didn''t stop.


    He lashed out with his tail¡ª


    CRACK!


    It smashed into Aestrea''s side where Aestrea quickly created a small protection of ice, but the impact sent him skidding backward across the battlefield.


    His boots dug deep trenches in the dirt as he narrowed his eyes at the archdemon.


    The archdemon didn''t let up.


    He charged again, swinging both claws in a deadly cross-slash¡ª


    Shing!


    Aestrea raised his scythe just in time, blocking the attack. Sparks flew as metal clashed against demonic claws.


    But the impact was too strong¡ª


    CRACK!


    The force sent Aestrea sliding back once more.


    The archdemon grinned, his fangs gleaming.


    "WHERE''S THAT CONFIDENCE NOW?!"


    Aestrea exhaled through his nose, rolling his shoulder lightly.


    "Still here."


    The demon''s grin vanished.


    His aura flared up again, and the blood in the air twisted violently.


    "DIE!"


    FWOOOSH!


    A massive wave of bloodshot toward Aestrea like a tidal wave, forming sharp tendrils.


    Aestrea''s eyes flickered.


    Swoop!


    In the blink of an eye, his body vanished.


    SHLAAASH!


    The blood tendrils tore through empty air, cutting deep trenches into the ground.


    Before the archdemon could react¡ª


    WHOOSH!


    Aestrea reappeared above him.


    His scythe spun in his hand¡ª


    ¡º Moonlit Ice Lotus Sword Art: Reverse Moonlight''s One Flash! ¡»


    A single slash of air shot downward.


    SHING!


    The archdemon raised his arms in defense¡ª


    SLASH!


    The attack cut deep into his flesh, leaving a glowing green wound across his chest.


    "GRRRAAAHHH!"


    The demon stumbled back, his breathing ragged.


    But he wasn''t done.


    Not yet.


    His blood surged out of his wounds, forming into jagged red blades that floated in the air beside him.


    "YOU''RE DEAD!"


    With a flick of his hand¡ª


    FWOOOSH!


    The blades shot toward Aestrea at blinding speed.


    Aestrea twisted his body, ducking and weaving through the deadly storm of blood blades.


    One barely missed his cheek¡ª


    Another grazed his shoulder¡ª


    But he kept moving.


    His eyes locked onto the archdemon''s position.


    Aestrea sprinted forward¡ª


    BOOM!


    The ground cracked beneath his feet as he closed the distance.


    His scythe glowed with an intense violet aura before he swung with all his strength.


    SHIIIING!


    The scythe''s blade tore through the archdemon''s arm, severing it from his body.


    "GRAAAAAH!"


    Black blood sprayed into the air as the demon reeled back in agony.


    His severed arm twitched on the ground before dissolving into a red mist.


    Aestrea didn''t give him time to recover.


    He moved again, closing the gap¡ª


    WHOOSH!


    His knee smashed into the demon''s gut.


    BAM!


    The archdemon spit blood as he doubled over.


    Aestrea grabbed his head¡ª


    And drove his face straight into the ground.


    BOOOOM!


    The earth exploded from the impact, sending dust and debris flying.


    But Aestrea knew this wasn''t over.


    As the dust cleared, the archdemon''s body twitched.


    His aura flared even stronger.


    Aestrea''s eyes narrowed as he clicked his tongue.


    ''He''s still getting stronger¡­''


    The archdemon''s body began to change.


    His muscles bulged.


    His skin darkened.


    His single remaining arm morphed into a massive black claw.


    His blood blades floated around him, sharper than before.


    His lips curled into a wicked grin.


    "NOT BAD¡­ HUMAN, BUT THIS IS THE END FOR YOU!"


    BOOM!


    They charged at the same time.


    The archdemon swung his massive claw¡ª


    Aestrea ducked, pivoted, and slashed upward.


    SHING!


    The demon leaped back just in time, dodging the fatal strike.


    But¡ª


    Aestrea vanished.


    He reappeared behind the archdemon, scythe ready¡ª


    SWIPE!


    But the archdemon reacted fast, spinning and slamming his tail¡ª


    CRACK!


    Aestrea was sent flying.


    He twisted mid-air, landing on his feet.


    The demon roared and raised his claw¡ª


    A sphere of pure darkness formed in his palm.


    "DIE, INSECT!"


    FWOOOOOSH!


    The sphere shot toward Aestrea like a comet.


    He had seconds to react.


    ¡º Ice Series: Ice Barrier! (? 1st-Level Spell ?) ¡»


    A thick wall of ice formed in front of him¡ª


    BOOOOOM!


    The attack shattered the ice, but it gave Aestrea enough time to dodge. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He dashed forward¡ª


    His scythe glowed brighter.


    The archdemon raised his claw for another strike¡ª


    But he was too slow.


    Aestrea was already inside his guard.


    His eyes glowed intensely, leaving a faint light blue and red trail behind them...


    "Moonlit Ice Lotus Sword Art..."


    ¡º Fourth Move! (? Lunar Collapse ?) ¡»


    SHING!


    The scythe cut through the archdemon''s torso.


    A deep, glowing wound spread across his chest. Along with it, a large crack appeared in the air, spreading to at leas ten meters, as if Aestrea''s move had cut the space itself.


    The demon''s eyes widened.


    He stumbled back.


    His aura flickered.


    His blood weapons vanished.


    His breath shook.


    Aestrea stood behind him, his scythe resting on his shoulder.


    "¡­It''s over."


    ''For now...''


    The archdemon growled loudly.


    "NO... NO... I CAN''T LOSE TO YOU!"


    His aura flared one last time¡ª


    But then¡ª


    His body gave out.


    He collapsed to his knees.


    And then¡ª


    THUD.


    The archdemon''s body hit the ground.


    At the same time, Aestrea''s aura got much weaker than before.


    "...Fuuu..."


    But, Aestrea wasn''t done yet.


    His fourth move wasn''t really enough to defeat the archdemon; he was just temporarily knocked down and Aestrea himself wouldn''t be able to kill the demon.


    Why?


    Because of his [Demon Core]; something very indestructible that only the power of an actual SSS-Rank awakened could destroy.


    But other than that, Lucas''s Excalibur should be enough to crack it, but it didn''t seem like he had enough power to do it.


    ".....Damn it."


    "How come they didn''t arrive yet?"


    Aestrea bit his lower lip.


    He looked behind him and saw the multiple shocked expressions of the students and professors, but he wasn''t worried about that.


    Instead, he just wanted the Sword Duke and the other high awakeners to get there as soon as possible.


    He looked toward the demon''s body and saw the convulsing mana that was relentlessly forming in his heart made him freeze slightly.


    "...So soon?"


    Gurglee...


    The demon''s body grotesquely twisted and cracked open, before a more perfect form, that was much closer to a human form, came from inside his body.


    The demon''s red eyes landed on his figure, burning with eternal rage.


    "Fuck..."


    Aestrea''s left eye had turned red again.


    And this time, the law scale symbol appeared in both of his pupils.

 Chapter 80 The Moonlight Swordsman (XLVI)

    "Haaa... haaa... Fuuu..."


    Aestrea''s breathing was steady, but his body was very tense.


    His scythe rested on his shoulder as he stared at the new form of the archdemon.


    The creature''s body was more human-like now, but the pressure coming from him was even worse than before.


    His red eyes burned with endless fury, and the dark energy around him twisted like a living thing.


    Aestrea clicked his tongue.


    ''He got up much faster than I expected...''


    The archdemon''s lips curled into a slow grin.


    He flexed his fingers, and his claws grew longer.


    "Fucking annoying bastard..." Aestrea mumbled slightly.


    The air shook around them.


    The ground beneath the archdemon cracked as dark energy spiraled around his feet. The demon bent his knees slightly, preparing to launch forward.


    Aestrea''s legs tensed slightly.


    He could feel it¡ªthe next attack was going to be fast.


    BOOM!


    The archdemon vanished.


    "Shit¡ª!"


    WHOOSH!


    Aestrea barely turned his body before a black claw came swinging from the side.


    SLASH!


    Aestrea jumped backward, but the demon''s nails ripped through his coat, nearly slicing his ribs.


    Before he could land, the demon was already behind him.


    BAM!


    A solid kick slammed into Aestrea''s back, sending him flying like a bullet.


    Aestrea''s body spun mid-air, but he quickly flipped, planting his feet on the ground, and sliding backward, leaving deep marks in the dirt.


    His scythe glowed, and his eyes narrowed.


    "This bastard got faster¡­"


    The archdemon grinned, rolling his shoulders.


    "I''m not done."


    BOOM!


    He charged again, his claw raised, but¡ª


    CLANG!


    A sword blocked his attack.


    Aestrea only smiled in relief.


    Lucas stood beside him, his golden sword, Excalibur, glowing with bright light. However, the Excalibur seemed much stronger than before.


    "You took too long," Aestrea said, seeing Lucas pushing back against the archdemon''s claw.


    Lucas smirked only grinned at his words.


    "Had to make an entrance."


    Before the demon could push forward¡ª


    WHOOSH!


    Ella appeared behind him, clutching her sword rightly.


    "Don''t forget about me!"


    She swung her sword, aiming for the demon''s neck¡ª


    But the archdemon ducked, his tail whipping around.


    CRACK!


    Ella barely dodged, flipping backward.


    Lucas slashed his sword downward, aiming for the demon''s shoulder.


    ¡º Corruption Sword! ¡»


    SHING!


    A bright arc of light sliced through the air¡ª


    But the demon jumped back, avoiding the attack by a hair.


    "You''re all so annoying," he hissed.


    But¡ª


    BOOM!


    A fireball exploded beside him.


    The demon turned sharply, his eyes locking onto Rose.


    Her hands burned with red flames, her long red hair flowing behind her.


    "I was hoping you''d forget me," Rose grinned.


    She raised her hands¡ª


    ¡º Fire Series: Inferno Lance! (? 3rd-Level Spell ?) ¡»


    A massive spear of fire formed in her palm, spinning rapidly before she threw it straight at the demon''s chest.


    The archdemon growled, his hands glowing with dark energy as he swung both arms¡ª


    BOOM!


    The fire spear exploded, sending out a shockwave.


    But in that moment¡ª


    WHOOSH!


    Violet appeared above him, holding a crystal rapier that glowed with a white light.


    SHING!


    She twisted her body mid-air, her rapier slashing downward at blinding speed.


    The demon barely dodged, but Violet''s blade cut into his left shoulder.


    "Argh¡ª!"


    Black blood sprayed as he stumbled back, his body burning from Rose''s fire and Violet''s sword strike.


    And then¡ª


    THUD!


    A shadow landed behind him.


    Zeva.


    Their Sword Instructor and the so-called Twin Sword Maniac.


    Her long black hair blew in the wind, her two blades shining under the battlefield''s broken sky.


    The archdemon snarled, his aura flaring.


    "ENOUGH!"


    He raised his only remaining arm, blood, and dark energy twisting together.


    ¡º Blood Art: Crimson Reaper! (? Advanced Forbidden Spell ?) ¡»


    A massive red scythe appeared in his hand, the air crackling with violent energy.


    The moment he gripped it¡ª


    BOOM!


    The ground collapsed beneath him, the sky turning dark red.


    Aestrea''s eyes narrowed slightly.


    "This is bad¡­"


    Lucas clenched his sword. "We need to finish him."


    Ella spun her daggers. "Fast."


    Zeva smirked. "Then let''s go."


    Aestrea exhaled slowly, gripping his own scythe.


    "Fine."


    Then¡ª


    WHOOSH!


    All of them charged forward at the same time.


    Lucas swung Excalibur, sending a golden slash forward¡ª


    ¡º ? Void Breaker! ? ¡»


    SHIIIIING!


    The archdemon swung his scythe, clashing against the attack.


    Ella appeared from the side, her sword aimed for his ribs¡ª


    ¡º Wind Series: Gale Step! (? 2nd-Level Spell ?) ¡»


    Her body blurred, moving at high speed, but¡ª


    The demon twisted, his tail whipping around¡ª


    CRACK!


    Ella blocked with her arms, skidding backward.


    Rose raised her hands, her flames swirling around her¡ª


    ¡º Fire Series: Exploding Nova! (? 4th-Level Spell ?) ¡»


    BOOOOOOM!


    A massive firestorm erupted, engulfing the demon¡ª


    But¡ª


    The flames parted.


    The archdemon walked forward, his body regenerating instantly.


    His eyes glowed darker.


    "Useless."


    Aestrea clicked his tongue.


    Then¡ª


    ''Output increased to five.''


    His scythe spun in his hands.


    The temperature dropped.


    ¡º Ice Series: Frost Explosion! (? 6th-Level Spell ?) ¡»


    A surge of freezing energy exploded from Aestrea, the battlefield turning white in an instant.


    The demon''s body slowed, ice forming on his limbs.


    But Aestrea wasn''t done.


    His red eye glowed intensely.


    His scythe''s aura burned with silver and violet light.


    "Moonlit Ice Lotus Sword Art..."


    ¡º Third Move! (? Moonlight''s One Flash ?) ¡»


    He vanished.


    SHING!


    A deep, cracking sound echoed¡ª


    Aestrea appeared behind the demon, his scythe lowered.


    For a second, nothing happened.


    Then¡ª


    CRACK!


    The ice covering the demon''s body shattered, a deep, glowing wound appearing across his entire torso.


    "GAH¡ª!"


    The demon stumbled, black blood pouring from his mouth.


    Aestrea exhaled.


    "¡­Not enough."


    Lucas stepped forward, his sword shining brighter.


    "Then let''s finish it."


    ¡º (? Void Breaker ?) ¡»


    A golden slash shot forward¡ª


    Moving straight for the demon''s chest.


    The archdemon''s eyes widened¡ªhe was still off balance from Aestrea''s last attack.


    BOOM!


    The golden energy crashed into him, sending him flying backward, his body tearing through the ground like a meteor.


    CRASH!


    Dust and debris shot into the air, forming a huge crater where he landed.


    For a moment¡ªsilence.


    Everyone stood still, weapons raised.


    Then¡ª


    The ground trembled.


    The air turned heavy.


    A low, deep chuckle echoed from the crater.


    The dust slowly settled, revealing the archdemon still standing.


    His body was damaged¡ªblack blood dripped from multiple wounds, and his left arm twitched unnaturally.


    But his red eyes burned with even more killing intent.


    "...Pathetic."


    His voice was distorted, layered with something inhuman.


    Aestrea''s grip on his scythe tightened.


    "Damn it... This bastard just won''t stay down."


    The demon slowly cracked his neck, his smile stretching unnaturally wide.


    "Did you think¡­ that was enough to kill me?"


    Then¡ª


    BOOM!


    A massive wave of dark energy exploded from his body.


    The shockwave sent Lucas, Ella, Violet, Rose, and Zeva skidding backward, forcing them to dig their weapons into the ground to hold their positions.


    Aestrea gritted his teeth, pushing forward against the force.


    The archdemon raised his right hand, dark magic swirling around his palm.


    ¡º Forbidden Spell: Abyssal Devour (? Soul Extraction ?) ¡»


    The air turned black.


    A giant shadow claw formed above them, stretching down, trying to crush everything beneath it.


    Lucas gritted his teeth.


    "We can''t let that land¡ª!"


    Before anyone could react¡ª


    WHOOSH!


    Aestrea vanished.


    He reappeared above the archdemon, his scythe glowing with a silver and violet light.


    ¡º Twin Heart Mana Body Style: Lunar Collapse! ¡»


    SHIIIIING!


    A massive arc of frozen energy cut through the shadow claw, splitting it in half before it could reach them.


    The archdemon''s eyes flashed.


    "You¡­!"


    WHOOSH!


    He swung his crimson scythe upwards¡ª


    Aestrea twisted his body mid-air, barely dodging, but the blade scraped his shoulder, drawing blood.


    SLASH!


    Aestrea landed on the ground, skidding back as his coat fluttered in the wind.


    Lucas immediately stepped forward.


    "No more playing around."


    His golden aura surged, Excalibur glowing brightly.


    He charged forward, his sword moving at blinding speed.


    The archdemon raised his own scythe, trying to block¡ª


    But then¡ª


    WHOOSH!


    Ella appeared behind him, as her sword glowed with an intense golden color.


    "Royal Swordsmanship..."


    ¡º Divine Punishment ¡»


    She spun rapidly, swinging her sword directly at its back.


    "GAH¡ª!"


    The demon stumbled, his defense breaking¡ª


    And that''s when Lucas''s golden slash came down.


    SHIIIIING!


    It cut deep into the demon''s chest, blood spraying everywhere.


    "HRGHHH¡ª!"


    The archdemon roared, but before he could recover¡ª


    BOOOOOM!


    A giant explosion of fire engulfed him.


    Rose stood at a distance, both hands burning with flames.


    ¡º Fire Series: Scorching Rain! (? 4th-Level Spell ?) ¡»


    Flaming spears rained from the sky, impaling the demon''s body from all directions.


    Zeva''s golden twin swords flashed as she dashed forward, aiming for the demon''s legs.


    ¡º Twin Blade Art: Crescent Sever! (? SS-Level Sword Art ?) ¡»


    SLASH!


    SLASH!


    His swords cut through, severing the demon''s tendons¡ª


    The demon collapsed to one knee, his breath ragged.


    Aestrea exhaled sharply.


    "This¡­ is our chance."


    His red eye burned brighter.


    His scythe''s aura flared, silver and violet energy surging around him.


    At that moment...


    ''Output increased to ten!''


    He used his full power.


    ¡º Unique Ice Series: Absolute Zero! (? 7th-Level Spell ?) ¡»


    The temperature dropped to freezing levels.


    Frost spread across the battlefield, ice forming on the demon''s body, locking him in place.


    The archdemon''s eyes widened.


    "...No¡­!"


    Aestrea raised his scythe, the blade shining brighter than ever.


    Then¡ª


    WHOOSH!


    He vanished.


    And reappeared above the demon, his scythe already swinging down.


    ¡º DIE. ¡»


    SHIIIIIIING!


    The scythe sliced cleanly through the archdemon''s body.


    For a moment¡ªsilence.


    Then¡ª


    CRACK!


    A massive fissure split the battlefield, the shockwave blasting outward.


    The archdemon''s torso separated, his body turning into frozen shards, scattering like glass.


    For a brief moment¡ªthere was silence.


    Then¡ª


    Clap!


    A slow, deliberate clap echoed through the air.


    Aestrea''s eyes narrowed as he sharply turned his head¡ª


    And from the shadows, a faint figure emerged.


    The archdemon of Pride stood there.


    Completely intact.


    Not a single wound.


    His crimson eyes gleamed, his grin widening as he took a step forward.


    "This bitch¡­ When the hell are you gonna stop with that fucking drama?" Aestrea growled, gripping his scythe tighter.


    The demon chuckled, tilting his head slightly.


    "Ahhh¡­ Humans. You are especially interesting."


    His gaze locked onto Aestrea, his smile stretching wider.


    "What''s your name?" He asked, voice dripping with amusement.


    "I''ll make sure to remember it¡­ Since you''re the only human who''s ever managed to deal this much damage to me."


    Aestrea scoffed, his grip on his scythe tightening.


    His crimson eye glowed dimly as he rolled his shoulders, brushing off the exhaustion creeping into his muscles.


    "Tsk. Acting like you''re some kind of untouchable god? Just not so long ago, you just got the beating of your life." He tilted his head, cracking his neck.


    "And now you want my name? What the fuck is wrong with you?"


    The archdemon of pride let out a deep chuckle, his golden eyes gleaming with amusement. His posture was relaxed as if this battle was nothing but a mild inconvenience.


    "Don''t flatter yourself, human." He spread his arms, gesturing at the battlefield.


    "I merely allowed you to land those attacks. Consider it a gift¡ªfor entertainment."


    CRACK!


    The ground beneath the demon fractured as his aura surged, pressure crushing the air around them.


    Lucas immediately stepped forward, sword raised.


    "Damn it... he''s still messing with us?" His voice was low, but his grip on Excalibur tightened.


    Ella''s green eyes narrowed as she pulled her sword free, her stance ready.


    "This bastard¡­ that wasn''t even his real body, was it?"


    "Now you''re catching on." The demon''s grin widened.


    Aestrea clicked his tongue at his pride.


    "It was his real body. It''s just that his body regeneration is too annoyingly fast."


    The archdemon laughed at his words, the sound deep and mocking.


    "You amuse me, human." He gestured toward himself, tilting his head.


    "Tell me your name, and I might just spare you."


    Aestrea exhaled slowly.


    Then¡ª


    WHOOSH!


    He vanished.


    The archdemon barely had time to react before¡ª


    SHIIIIING!


    Aestrea''s scythe came down, slicing toward his neck.


    The demon smirked.


    CLANG!


    At the last second, he caught the blade with his bare hand.


    Aestrea''s red eye narrowed.


    The demon grinned, tightening his grip, stopping the scythe completely.


    "Impressive, but¡ª"


    WHOOSH!


    Aestrea vanished again, reappearing behind the demon, swinging his scythe horizontally.


    "Moonlit Ice Lotus Sword Art..."


    ¡º Second Move! (? Moonlit Frost Barrage ?) ¡»


    A wave of icy slashes exploded toward the demon''s back.


    SLASH!


    SLASH!


    SLASH!


    The attacks landed, sending a burst of cold energy across the battlefield.


    For a second, the demon''s body froze over, ice creeping along his skin¡ª


    But then¡ª


    CRACK!


    The ice shattered instantly as he simply walked forward, completely unharmed.


    Aestrea clicked his tongue, skidding back as the archdemon turned to face him.


    "You still haven''t answered me." The demon''s voice was smooth, almost amused.


    "What is your name?"


    Aestrea exhaled sharply.


    "...Aestrea."


    The archdemon chuckled, rolling his shoulders.


    "Aestrea¡­ I will remember that name." His red eyes shone.


    "Now¡ªlet me return the favor."


    Then¡ª


    BOOM!


    The demon vanished.


    In a blink, he reappeared in front of Aestrea, his clawed hand swinging at inhuman speed.


    WHOOSH!


    Aestrea barely had time to react before¡ª


    BAM!


    The punch landed on his stomach, sending him flying back like a cannonball.


    CRASH!


    His body smashed through three stone pillars, breaking them apart like glass before he finally skidded to a stop, leaving a deep trench in the ground.


    Aestrea coughed, wiping the blood from his lips. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "...Fuck...."


    Lucas''s eyes widened.


    "He actually landed a hit¡ª"


    Before he could finish¡ª


    The demon was already in front of him.


    WHOOSH!


    Lucas barely blocked in time as the archdemon''s clawed fingers slammed against Excalibur, sending him sliding back.


    "Shit¡ª!"


    Rose raised her hands, fire blazing in her palms.


    ¡º Fire Series: Hellstorm Nova! (? 5th-Level Spell ?) ¡»


    BOOOOOOOM!


    A massive explosion of flames erupted, engulfing the demon in fire.


    Smoke filled the battlefield, obscuring their vision.


    For a moment¡ªsilence.


    Then¡ª


    WHOOSH!


    The demon walked out of the flames, completely unscathed.


    Rose''s eyes widened.


    "The hell¡ª?!"


    The archdemon smiled, brushing imaginary dust off his shoulder.


    "You humans¡­ so weak. So fragile."


    He raised his hand, black lightning sparking around his fingers.


    ¡º Mixed Lightning Series: Dark Lightning! (? Ultimate Spell ?) ¡»


    CRACK! BOOM!


    The sky darkened, and in an instant¡ª


    A massive bolt of black lightning struck down, aimed directly at Aestrea.


    WHOOSH!


    But before it could land¡ª


    Aestrea raised his scythe, his voice steady.


    "Moonlit Ice Lotus Sword Art..."


    ¡º Third Move! (? Moonlight''s One Flash ?) ¡»


    SHIIIIIIIIING!


    A single slash of silver energy cut through the lightning, splitting it in half before it could touch him.


    The archdemon''s eyes narrowed slightly.


    "Oh?"


    Aestrea wiped his lip, stepping forward.


    "You talk too much." He spun his scythe once before pointing it straight at the demon.


    "Let''s settle this already."


    The demon smirked.


    "Very well, human."


    Then¡ª


    Both of them vanished at the same time.


    WHOOSH!


    But just as Aestrea''s scythe was about to meet the demon''s claws...


    Aestrea crushed a small rock on his hand, as his final words reached out to the demon.


    "Unfortunately, I''m not your adversary anymore."


    And in his place, a bearded man holding a great sword appeared.


    His voice was rough.


    ".....It''s time for you to die, Demon."


    THRRRUUUM!


    The demon was entirely smashed on the ground.


    The impact made a huge crater.


    Enough to be ten meters deep.


    Crack...!


    And the last sound was the small crack of the demon''s core.


    Caused by a single hit from that bearded man.

 Chapter 81 The Moonlight Swordsman (XLVII)

    The dust hadn''t even settled. The battlefield was still shaking from that last attack.


    But now¡ªnow everything had changed.


    Aestrea had teleported away


    And in his place stood a man.


    A giant of a man, broad-shouldered and rough-looking, with a thick, battle-worn beard. His armor was cracked and scratched, showing signs of many fights before this one.


    But his grip on his greatsword was firm, steady. His eyes, sharp like a predator''s, locked onto the archdemon with no fear.


    The archdemon, still half-buried in the crater from the impact, let out a deep growl. He dug his clawed hand into the ground and pushed himself up, his body trembling.


    CRACK.


    His bones snapped back into place. His deep wounds from the battle with Aestrea sealed shut, black blood sizzling as it vanished into the air.


    The broken pieces of his twisted horns regenerated, forming sharp new points.


    His red eyes burned even hotter, full of rage.


    "You..." The demon''s voice was deeper now, more monstrous.


    "Who the hell are you?"


    The bearded man cracked his neck, rolling his shoulders. He lifted his greatsword with one hand, resting it on his shoulder.


    His voice was calm but heavy, like a hammer striking steel.


    "The one who''s going to end you."


    The archdemon''s lips curled into a slow, hateful smile.


    "We''ll see about that."


    Then¡ª


    BOOM!


    The ground under the demon exploded as he launched forward, moving faster than a human eye could follow. His claw, sharp as a blade, swung straight for the bearded man''s neck.


    WHOOSH!


    But the man barely moved. He tilted his head just enough for the claw to miss, feeling the wind rush past his face.


    Then¡ª


    THUD!


    His knee slammed into the demon''s stomach.


    "GUH¡ª!"


    The archdemon''s eyes widened as spit and black blood flew from his mouth. His whole body bent forward from the impact.


    But the bearded man didn''t stop¡ª


    WHAM!


    A heavy fist crashed into the side of the demon''s face.


    CRACK!


    His jaw snapped to the side as he went flying, rolling across the battlefield like a ragdoll.


    The demon groaned, coughing up more blood, but before he could fully rise¡ª


    WHOOSH!


    The bearded man was already on top of him.


    His greatsword swung down like a falling mountain.


    "Shit¡ª!"


    The archdemon twisted his body, rolling away just in time.


    BOOM!


    The sword hit the ground, shattering the earth beneath it. A deep crack spread out in all directions.


    The demon snarled, rage burning in his veins.


    "You bastard...!"


    He jumped back, raising his claws. Black energy swirled around his hands.


    His aura pulsed, making the air twist with dark magic.


    A massive black claw formed in the air, large enough to crush a castle. It reached down, aiming to grab the bearded man and rip him apart.


    But¡ª


    WHOOSH!


    The man vanished.


    The next second¡ª


    BAM!


    A heavy boot slammed into the demon''s back, sending him face-first into the ground.


    BANG!


    The impact formed a deep crater.


    The bearded man landed a few feet away, lifting his sword again.


    "Is that all?"


    The archdemon''s fury boiled over. His aura exploded outward, shaking the entire battlefield. The sky turned black, swirling with storm clouds.


    CRACK!


    BOOM!


    Lightning struck down in random places. The air smelled like burnt metal. The demon rose from the crater, his body trembling with dark energy.


    His voice was a deep, inhuman snarl.


    "I AM PRIDE ITSELF!"


    His arms shot forward.


    ¡º Blood Series: Hellstorm Spears! (? 7th-Level Spell ?) ¡»


    Dozens of black spears, each covered in violet flames, blasted toward the bearded man.


    WHOOSH!


    WHOOSH!


    WHOOSH!


    They tore through the air, coming from all directions.


    But¡ª


    The bearded man didn''t move.


    Instead¡ª


    FWOOOOOSH!


    A brown aura flared around his body.


    His greatsword glowed with a burning light.


    And then¡ª


    SLASH!


    With one massive swing¡ª


    SHIIIIING!


    A single, brown arc of energy cut through everything.


    The black spears shattered.


    The flames disappeared.


    And the energy wave kept going¡ª


    SLASH!


    It hit the archdemon directly, slicing a deep wound across his chest.


    "GAHHH¡ª!"


    Black blood sprayed as the demon stumbled back, his body shaking from the raw power of that attack.


    But he refused to fall.


    He clenched his jaw, his eyes burning with pure hatred.


    ¡º Dark Lightning: ArchDemon''s Wrath! ¡»


    CRACK!


    A massive bolt of black lightning crashed down from the sky, straight toward the bearded man.


    BOOOOOOM!


    The ground exploded in a sea of sparks and dust. The shockwave sent everyone skidding backward.


    For a second¡ªnothing.


    The battlefield was silent.


    Then¡ª


    Step.


    A single step echoed through the smoke.


    And then¡ª


    WHOOSH!


    The bearded man walked out of the lightning storm.


    Completely unharmed.


    The demon''s eyes widened in shock.


    "Wha¡ª"


    Before he could react¡ª


    WHOOSH!


    The bearded man vanished again.


    The next thing the demon felt¡ª


    THWACK!


    A heavy punch to the gut.


    "GRUGH¡ª!"


    His body bent forward, but before he could even breathe¡ª


    BAM!


    An uppercut sent him flying into the air.


    The world spun around him.


    But the bearded man wasn''t done.


    WHOOSH!


    He appeared above the demon, his greatsword raised high.


    And then¡ª


    BOOOOOOM!


    A single, devastating slash sent the demon crashing back to the ground like a meteor.


    CRACK!


    The impact shattered the land, forming a ten-meter-deep crater.


    The archdemon gasped for air, his entire body trembling. His regeneration was failing. His power was fading.


    He tried to rise¡ª


    But then¡ª


    SHING!


    A sharp pain pierced through his chest.


    His eyes widened.


    He looked down.


    The bearded man''s greatsword was buried deep in his chest.


    Right where his core was.


    CRACK.


    A small fracture appeared on the demon''s core.


    His body froze.


    The bearded man exhaled. His grip on the sword tightened.


    And then¡ª


    SHIIIIIIIIING!


    He twisted the blade.


    CRACK!


    The demon''s core shattered.


    "GRUAAAAAAAAAAH¡ª!"


    A final, horrific scream tore through the battlefield.


    His body started breaking apart, dissolving into black dust. His red eyes, once filled with arrogance and rage, flickered¡ªthen dimmed.


    And then¡ª


    BOOM.


    The Archdemon of Pride was no longer alive.


    Silence fell.


    The battlefield was still.


    The bearded man pulled his sword free, letting the last bits of the demon scatter into nothingness.


    He exhaled.


    Then¡ª


    He turned to Aestrea.


    "You did well, boy," he said simply.


    Aestrea, still catching his breath, stared at him for a moment before scoffing.


    "Took you long enough, Sword Duke."


    The Sword Duke¡ªElandor¡ªjust nodded, his sharp eyes studying Aestrea.


    There was something conflicted in his gaze.


    After all, this was the same boy who had beaten up his grandson in the academy''s competition.


    But now, here he was¡ªfighting to protect that same academy, standing against an archdemon, and even winning most of the battle.


    Elandor let out a long sigh, furrowing his thick brows.


    "...Haaa¡­"


    Then his gaze shifted.


    "Where''s that purple-haired lady?"


    "You mean... the Headmistress?"


    Aestrea raised an eyebrow.


    "Exactly," Elandor scoffed, crossing his arms.


    "She always disappears the moment you need her the most."


    Aestrea just nodded in agreement.


    Because honestly?


    Facts.


    ''She''s letting demons into the academy just to make us stronger... This whole thing with the archdemon... what if she''s the one who¡ª''


    Aestrea shook his head, pushing those thoughts aside.


    ''Now''s not the time for that.''


    Before he could say anything else¡ª


    "AESTREA!"


    A familiar voice called out, making him turn.


    Lucas was sprinting toward him, his face still a little pale, but his eyes sharp. Behind him, the rest of their group was busy helping the priests heal injured students.


    And of course, Christina was the one doing most of the work.


    She was the Saintess for a reason.


    Lucas reached Aestrea, breathing hard.


    "Is he dead?"


    Before Aestrea could even open his mouth¡ª


    "He indeed is, boy," Elandor answered for him, his voice firm.


    Lucas blinked, noticing the bearded man for the first time.


    His eyes darted up and down, scanning Elandor''s massive frame, then settled on his sword. But Elandor was already doing the same¡ªexcept his gaze landed on the weapon strapped to Lucas''s back. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The Excalibur.


    For a split second, something flashed in Elandor''s eyes.


    "So, you''re the Hero, huh?" His lips curled into a grin.


    "Not too shabby."


    Lucas scratched the back of his head, a little caught off guard.


    "Uh... thanks?"


    But before he could say more¡ª


    SHING.


    Elandor suddenly stepped forward, raising his sword and pointing it straight at Lucas''s face.


    Lucas stiffened.


    Then¡ª


    The bearded man grinned.


    "What do you say, boy? How about becoming my disciple?" His deep voice boomed with amusement, a wide smile plastered across his old face.


    Aestrea sighed.


    ''Of course.''


    Who wouldn''t want to be the master of the Hero?


    This had probably happened in the novel too. Lucas must''ve received this same offer.


    But according to Lucas''s character, he must''ve had refused back in the novel¡ªbecause he already had Zeva as his master.


    But this time¡ª


    Lucas''s eyes lit up.


    "Disciple greets Master!" he declared, practically shouting as he clasped his hands together in excitement.


    Aestrea blinked.


    ''Huh?''


    He hadn''t even hesitated.


    Elandor chuckled, stroking his beard.


    "Perfect!"


    Aestrea just rubbed his temples.


    ''Since when did this turn into a xianxia novel? Last time I checked, this was supposed to be an academy-type story¡­''


    ''...Oops.''


    He exhaled slowly.


    ''Well¡­ whatever. The fight''s over, anyway¡­''


    His eyes drifted toward Christina.


    ''She still owes me money.''


    With that thought, Aestrea turned and started walking toward her.


    She was busy healing a group of injured students, golden light flowing from her hands. She looked exhausted, her face slightly pale from overusing mana.


    Aestrea was about to call out to her¡ª


    When¡ª


    THUD!


    Something slammed into his chest.


    Soft.


    Warm.


    And definitely squishy.


    He barely had time to react before a pair of arms wrapped around his waist. A head buried itself against the nape of his neck.


    A familiar scent.


    A trembling voice.


    "Junior... I''m so glad you''re okay..."


    Grip¡ª!


    "Agh¡ª!" Aestrea winced.


    "Senior, ease up a little. You''re crushing me¡­"


    Violet didn''t loosen her grip.


    If anything¡ªshe tightened it.


    Aestrea sighed, his hand moving on instinct. He patted her back gently, feeling the way her shoulders trembled.


    Her fingers dug into his clothes, like she was afraid he''d disappear if she let go.


    "¡­I''m fine, you know." His voice was softer than usual.


    Violet didn''t answer.


    "¡­Senior?" He leaned back a little to look at her face.


    She had her eyes closed, biting her lip as if she were trying to memorize the feeling of him being alive.


    Aestrea exhaled, bringing a hand up to ruffle her hair.


    "Alright, alright, I get it. You were worried." He chuckled. "But if you squeeze me any harder, I might actually die."


    Violet flinched, then finally loosened her grip¡ªbut only slightly.


    "¡­Idiot." She muttered under her breath.


    Aestrea just shook his head.


    His body was still buzzing from all the adrenaline. He could feel the tension in his shoulders, the exhaustion creeping in now that the fight was over.


    But then there was this.


    This quiet moment, where nothing was trying to kill him.


    It was¡­ nice.


    But before he could think too much about it¡ª


    He felt a sharp gaze pierce through him.


    Like a dagger straight to his soul.


    His body tensed.


    Slowly, cautiously¡ªhe turned his head.


    And that''s when he saw her.


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    [Christina''s POV]


    ''That. Little. Hussy.''


    Christina glared at the scene happening just a few feet away.


    Her hands were still glowing, mana flowing into the injured students around her, but her mind was not on healing anymore.


    No.


    It was stuck on that disgusting, horrible, shameful display of affection.


    Violet.


    Hugging.


    Aestrea.


    With her whole body.


    Right in front of her.


    ''Oh, sure. Go ahead. Throw yourself at him right after a battle, when he''s weak and too tired to push you away. Very clever, Senior Violet. Very clever.''


    Her lips twitched in irritation.


    She clenched her fists¡ªonly to realize she was still channeling mana.


    The student she was healing yelped as an unnecessary burst of magic surged into him.


    "Ack¡ª! Lady Christina, please¡ª!"


    Christina snapped out of her thoughts.


    "Oh. Sorry." She definitely wasn''t sorry.


    She sighed, pressing her fingers to her temples.


    ''Calm down. Calm down, Christina. You are a noble lady, the Saintess of the Holy Nation! You do not get jealous. You do not get angry over something so stupid. This is beneath you.''


    She took a deep breath.


    And then looked up again¡ª


    ¡ªonly to see Aestrea patting Violet''s head.


    Her eye twitched.


    ''OH, COME ON!''


    She groaned internally, quickly shifting her focus back to healing.


    ''Fine. Whatever. Be a pathetic little puppy, Violet. I don''t even care.''


    ¡­Except she did care.


    A lot.


    Way more than she was willing to admit.


    ''She''s so shameless! Throwing herself at him like that. Acting all cute and fragile. Hmph. I would never do something so cheap.''


    She scoffed, fixing her posture.


    And yet¡ª


    She couldn''t help but glance down at herself.


    A slow smirk crept onto her face.


    ''¡­Well. At least my assets are bigger than hers.''


    She straightened her back proudly, subtly pushing her chest forward.


    ''Not that it matters. But still. It''s important to acknowledge one''s strengths.''


    Her pride lasted all of five seconds before she accidentally glanced at Aestrea again.


    And saw that he was still letting Violet cling to him.


    She felt her jaw tighten.


    ''WHY ARE YOU JUST LETTING HER HOLD YOU LIKE THAT, YOU STUPID BLOCKHEAD?! PUSH HER AWAY! BE A MAN!''


    Her fingers twitched.


    She really wanted to throw something at them.


    Maybe a healing spell.


    Directly to Aestrea''s head.


    She took a deep breath.


    ''No. Be classy. Be elegant. Don''t let them see you seething.''


    She turned back to her patient.


    Smiled.


    And then shoved a little too much mana into his wound.


    "A-AGH¡ª! LADY CHRISTINA, MERCY¡ª!"


    Oops.


    She cleared her throat.


    "Stop whining. It''s good for you."


    The student whimpered.


    Christina, meanwhile, was still fuming.


    ''That should be me standing there.''


    She deserved a thank you from Aestrea.


    She deserved a hug for all the healing she did.


    Hell, she deserved a kiss on the hand, at the very least.


    But noooo, instead, he was over there, letting Violet rub her face into his neck like some lost kitten.


    Disgraceful.


    Absolutely disgraceful.


    She exhaled sharply, tilting her chin up.


    ''Whatever. I''m not jealous. I don''t need his attention. I am Christina Solera, the Saintess of the Holy Nation, the greatest healer in the kingdom. I have nothing to be jealous about.''


    And yet¡ª


    She found herself glaring at them again.


    Still hugging.


    Still standing close.


    Still too damn comfortable.


    Her fingers curled into a fist.


    ''¡­Stupid Aestrea. Just wait. I''ll make you regret ignoring me.''


    A slow, devious smirk crossed her lips.


    She had her ways.


    Besides, she knew that Aestrea would come to her sooner or later.


    After all...


    She still owed him money.

 Chapter 82 The Moonlight Swordsman (XLVIII)

    The past few days had been... busy.


    After the battle, the academy was in chaos.


    Professors and multiple engineers were running around fixing broken buildings, students were recovering from injuries, and priests had been working overtime.


    As for Aestrea?


    Well.


    Right now, he was sitting on a couch in his dormitory room, a book in his hands. He wasn''t really reading it¡ªhis eyes just moved over the words while his mind wandered.


    The dormitory was lively as usual.


    Across from him, Lumi was lying on the carpet, kicking her legs in the air as she played with a floating wisp of mana.


    Her slimy hair spread around her like a soft cloud, her bright eyes completely focused on the glowing orb in front of her.


    Chaerin sat near the window, quietly braiding her hair while humming to herself.


    Unlike her usual proper appearance, she was wearing comfortable home clothes¡ªa simple blouse and a long skirt.


    She looked relaxed, which was rare.


    And Alaine...


    "Aestrea," Alaine called, peeking out from the kitchen.


    "Tea or coffee?"


    "Tea."


    Alaine nodded and disappeared back inside.


    The scent of something warm and sweet filled the air, probably cookies or some other snack she was making.


    This was their routine.


    After everything that happened, the girls had been sticking to Aestrea like glue.


    Not in an obvious way, but in small things. Lumi would always be nearby to annoy him, Chaerin made sure to act like his daughter properly, and Alaine...


    Well, Alaine had taken over his schedule entirely.


    Like a proper servant, or in this case, a personal maid.


    He sighed, placing the book down.


    "Still thinking about today?" Chaerin asked without looking up.


    "A little."


    Lumi rolled over onto her back, staring at him upside-down.


    "You should be excited, you know," she said. "You''re meeting the Emperor and Empress!"


    "Yeah, I know."


    And honestly, he wasn''t nervous.


    Just... tired.


    Because today was the official ceremony.


    The Emperor himself had summoned them.


    Aestrea, Lucas, Violet, Christina, Rose, Maya, Iris, Zeva, and a few other key figures from the battle were all receiving awards.


    Titles, medals, gold¡ªwhatever the Empire thought was appropriate for their contributions.


    Lucas was, of course, being recognized as the Hero.


    Aestrea?


    Well.


    It was a surprise for him.


    And not just any Baron.


    Aestrea leaned back against the couch and sighed.


    "Don''t sigh like that, Master~" a teasing voice said from behind him.


    A pair of slimy arms wrapped around his shoulders, and he immediately knew who it was.


    "Lumi," he muttered.


    "Mmhm," she hummed, resting her chin on his head.


    "Nihihi, you''re sighing like an old man. Stop it~!"


    "Get off."


    "No."


    Lumi giggled.


    Chaerin sighed.


    "You''re going to wrinkle his clothes," Alaine said, walking back with a tray of tea and small cakes.


    Lumi ignored her, but she did let go¡ªonly to flop down onto the couch beside him.


    "So, what time are we leaving?" She asked curiously, rolling onto her stomach.


    "One hour," Alaine answered, setting down the tray. "Everyone should start getting ready soon."


    Aestrea sighed again, but this time, he actually moved.


    "Alright, alright," he muttered.


    No avoiding it.


    It was time.


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    The grand hall was massive, easily the size of a cathedral.


    White marble floors, golden chandeliers, and towering stained-glass windows made everything glow with elegance.


    Aestrea stood in line with the others, dressed in formal academy attire¡ªa crisp, dark uniform with silver accents.


    It was his leader''s uniform from Silverleaf Academy, because, even though he was attending the Royal Academy, he is originally from Silverleaf.


    Lucas stood beside him, wearing an actual formal suit, with golden ornaments climbing down the shirt, and along with that, he had a golden sash over both of his shoulders¡ªmarking him as the Hero.


    The hall was filled with nobles, military officials, and even high-ranking members of the church.


    The air was heavy with expectation.


    Then¡ª


    BOOM.


    The doors at the far end of the hall opened.


    The Imperial Guards marched in first, their golden armor gleaming under the chandeliers. Their movements were perfectly synchronized, their spears held high as they lined the path leading to the Throne.


    And then¡ª


    Two figures entered.


    The Emperor and Empress of the Empire.


    The Emperor, Francis Arthur Charles X, walked with slow, powerful steps. He was a tall man, with sharp features and cold golden eyes that held the weight of the entire nation.


    His long red-yellow robes, lined with golden embroidery, flowed as he moved, the heavy Imperial Crown resting on his head.


    Beside him, the Empress, Isabella von Eldoria, moved with grace. She had a quiet, observing presence¡ªlike the moon beside the sun.


    Her silver hair cascaded down her back in soft waves, and her piercing blue eyes swept over the gathered warriors with an unreadable expression.


    Honestly, Aestrea knew a bit about her.


    Unlike the Emperor, who actually ruled with cold efficiency, the Empress was the hidden strategist.


    Behind him, she was the one who handled diplomacy, military movements, and even some of the darker aspects of running an empire.


    But still, her actual relationship with the emperor didn''t seem to be so good.


    If anything, she seemed to want to overthrow him.


    The Emperor actually knew about her actions, and with the help of Lilith, he thought that he had her actions under his control...


    As for if that continued being the case...


    Aestrea doesn''t know.


    If, in the novel, she did overthrow him or not.


    Either way, she could be a potential helper when he kills the Emperor.


    And right now¡ª


    She was looking directly at him.


    She might seem innocent, but she clearly isn''t.


    It was even mentioned that she ''faked'' a lot of her actions a lot.


    Aestrea didn''t flinch, but he did straighten his back slightly.


    The Emperor sat down on his golden throne, and the Empress took her seat beside him.


    Then¡ª


    A royal official stepped forward, unrolling a long parchment.


    "The Imperial Court recognizes the brave warriors who stood against the forces of darkness during the Great Battle against the Archdemon of Pride. Their courage, strength, and loyalty to the Empire shall not go unrewarded."


    His voice echoed through the massive hall.


    The audience remained silent, their gazes locked onto the young warriors standing before them.


    Aestrea, Lucas, Violet, Christina, and a few others were standing at the very front, closest to the throne.


    Then¡ª


    The official continued.


    "First, we recognize Lucas HeartStone."


    Lucas stepped forward.


    He stood tall, his golden-blond hair shining under the light, his golden eyes filled with determination and pride.


    The official took a deep breath and then declared:


    "By decree of His Imperial Majesty, Francis Arthur Charles X, and by the will of the Divine Church, Lucas Reinhardt is hereby granted the official title of ''The Hero of Light.''"


    The audience erupted into murmurs.


    A Hero.


    The title wasn''t just symbolic¡ªit was an official status within the Empire.


    It meant he was recognized as the ''chosen'' warrior against the DemoN kING, a figure who would be sent to battle whenever the Empire needed him.


    Lucas bowed, his expression calm.


    Then¡ª


    The Emperor spoke.


    "You have proven your worth, Lucas HeartStone," his voice was quite deep and strong. "May your strength serve the Empire well."


    Lucas clenched his fist, then knelt before the throne.


    "It will, Your Majesty."


    Aestrea glanced at him out of the corner of his eye.


    Lucas''s voice was steady.


    He was accepting it, but¡­


    Aestrea knew.


    This was just the beginning of a very long road.


    The official then moved on.


    "The Imperial Court recognizes Violet Von Luxuria."


    Violet stepped forward, her usual playful expression replaced with a calm, serious one.


    "For her valiant efforts in battle, she is awarded the ''Silver Fang Medal."


    It was an elite military honor, given only to those who had demonstrated overwhelming skill in battle.


    Violet smirked.


    "Thank you, Your Majesty."


    Next¡ª


    "The Imperial Court recognizes Christina Solara."


    The Saintess walked forward gracefully, her blonde hair shimmering under the lights.


    "For her role in healing countless warriors and ensuring the survival of the academy''s forces, she is awarded the ''Divine Radiance Medal.''"


    Another powerful title.


    Christina curtsied elegantly.


    "It is my duty, Your Majesty," she said softly.


    Then¡ª


    The official cleared his throat.


    And Aestrea immediately knew it was his turn.


    "The Imperial Court recognizes Aestrea Moon."


    He took a slow step forward.


    Silence.


    The hall was utterly silent.


    It wasn''t like Lucas''s announcement, where everyone whispered in awe.


    This time¡ª


    The nobles, the military officials, everyone was just¡­ watching.


    Waiting.


    Aestrea felt their eyes.


    Some were curious.


    Some were judging.


    Some were even fearful.


    Because unlike Lucas¡ªwho was quite the known figure...


    Aestrea had come out of nowhere.


    Even though he had his "presumed" title, "Moonlight Swordsman", his origins were... null. No one knew where he came from.


    And now...


    He had stood against an Archdemon.


    He had won.


    The Emperor exhaled.


    His golden eyes locked onto Aestrea.


    Then¡ª


    He spoke.


    "For your actions on the battlefield, your strength, and your contributions to the safety of this nation, I grant you the title of ''Moonlight Swordsman.''"


    A wave of whispers swept through the hall.


    The Emperor''s lips twitched slightly like he was holding back irritation.


    Then¡ª


    He sighed.


    "And, as per Imperial decree, Aestrea Moon is granted the noble status of Baron."


    Silence.


    Then¡ª


    The murmurs grew louder.


    A noble.


    He was now a noble.


    Aestrea exhaled slowly.


    He stepped forward, then bowed before the Emperor.


    He didn''t kneel down like the others.


    Instead, he even sent a provocative glance at the Emperor.


    "¡­I accept, Your Majesty."


    Along with that, his voice also had a hint of teasing.


    Grip...!


    The Emperor clenched his fists, looking at him for a long moment.


    That made Aestrea hold back a smile.


    Then¡ª


    He leaned back on his throne.


    "¡­Rise, Baron Moon."


    Aestrea straightened himself.


    And just like that¡ª


    It was official.


    He was now Baron Aestrea Moon.


    Or¡ª


    Baron Moon.


    Touch¨¦.


    As the ceremony continued, more warriors were awarded, and more honors were given.


    By the time it ended, the Empire had new heroes.


    And Aestrea?


    He was now a noble.


    It wasn''t something he had ever wanted.


    But now¡­


    He would have to play the game.


    The game of power, nobility, and politics.


    As he stepped back, feeling the weight of his new title settle onto his shoulders¡ª


    He caught the Empress watching him.


    Her lips curled into a small smile.


    Aestrea exhaled.


    ''Great.''


    This was going to be a problem.


    A big problem.


    S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 83 The Imperial Banquet

    [? Player Profile ?]


    Name: Aestrea Moon (20)


    Identity: Strongest Student of the Weakest Academy, The Moonlight Swordsman, The One Who Loves The Goddess Of The Moon, The Strongest Student, Exchange Student of the Eternum Royal Academy, The One Loved By Dangerous Beings, Baron (NEW!!!)


    Affinities: Ice


    ? Aura: S+


    ? Mana: A (¡üUP)


    ? Strength: B+ (¡üUP)


    ? Vitality: B+ (¡üUP)


    ? Agility: S- (¡üUP)


    ? Spirit: S+


    ? [Skills & Talents] ?


    [1] Moonlit Ice Lotus Sword Art [S???] ? Active Self-Created Skill


    [2] Judgement Eye [S] ? Active Self-Created Skill


    [3] Perfect Memory [Unranked] ? Passive Talent


    [4] Extreme Combat Instinct [A+] (¡üUP) ? Passive Talent


    [5] Advanced Sword & Gun Mastery [A+] ? Passive Skill


    [6] Calm Mind [B+] (¡üUP) ? Passive Talent


    [7] Blood Eyes [Unranked] ? Your eyes ominously glow red.


    [8] Blood Contract [???] ? You can use Lumi''s Abilities.


    ¡ª¡ª+¡ª¡ª+¡ª¡ª+¡ª¡ª


    Well...


    At least, I am getting stronger.


    And now, I simply cannot live an ordinary life.


    So...


    I might as well get to the top, no?


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    The ceremony was over, but the night had only just begun.


    I stood near one of the tall, open windows of the grand banquet hall, letting the cool night breeze brush against my face.


    The scent of wine, roasted meats, and sweet pastries filled the air, mixing with the soft sounds of laughter and conversation.


    The hall itself was a masterpiece¡ªgolden chandeliers hanging from above, their candlelight flickering against the polished marble floors.


    Nobles in their finest silks and military officers in decorated uniforms moved about, their voices overlapping in a symphony of politics and pleasantries.


    At the center of it all was Lucas.


    He was dressed the part¡ªgolden sash, formal suit, the perfect image of a noble hero.


    A cluster of important figures surrounded him, speaking with admiration, expectations placed in their every word.


    The Hero of Light.


    A fitting title.


    Violet was off to the side, effortlessly engaging with noble heirs and military officers, her usual business smile never fading away from her face.


    Zeva stood among royal knights, silent but her eyes darted around, observing everyone.


    And me?


    I wasn''t in the mood for any of this.


    I leaned against the open window, eyes fixed on the city below.


    Eternum, the capital of the Empire.


    It stretched endlessly beneath the moonlight, the stone roads glowing silver under the stars.


    Even from here, I could see the distant towers of the palace, standing as a some kind of reminder of the power this Empire held.


    The moon hung high above it all, watching silently.


    Unchanging.


    Constant.


    I let out a slow breath, my mind finally finding some peace¡ª


    Until I heard footsteps approach.


    "Enjoying the view, Baron Moon?"


    I didn''t turn immediately.


    The voice was smooth, teasing, and containing amusement in her tone.


    I knew who it was before I even looked.


    Ella.


    The Second Princess of the Empire.


    Well, now everyone from the academy knew her true identity.


    She moved to stand beside me, her long silver hair catching the moonlight in a way that made it almost glow.


    Her royal gown¡ªdeep blue with silver embroidery¡ªflowed elegantly with each movement. She was the very image of imperial grace.


    Except for the smile.


    That was not the smile of a typical princess.


    She had a certain lightness to her expression as if she didn''t take this entire night as seriously as she should.


    "I see you''ve been avoiding the important people," she said, tilting her head. "That''s a little rude, don''t you think?"


    Her words were true.


    But, I only did that because I didn''t really know how to... communicate.


    I mean, back on Earth, I had plenty of good locations.


    But here... it feels extremely weird.


    Every single joke could be mistaken as an offense.


    And even if I had the past memories of Aestrea, even if he did not know how to deal with the nobility.


    He only knew how to beat them up...


    Ahem.


    "Haaaa..."


    I sighed, turning my head towards her.


    "I''m just enjoying the quiet." sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ella chuckled softly at my words.


    "That''s one way to put it. But you do realize that you''re the main attraction tonight, right?"


    Well, that was one way to put it.


    But everyone was a bit afraid to talk to me.


    So I guess they roamed towards Lucas, who seemed more approachable.


    After all, those glowing eyes of mine, are still a bit scary.


    "Lucas is the main attraction."


    She rolled her eyes.


    "Oh, please. The Hero of Light is nothing new. He fights, he wins, he gets praised. That''s how heroes are, but you?" She leaned slightly closer, lowering her voice.


    "You came out of nowhere. You''re a mystery. And the nobility hates mysteries."


    I didn''t respond.


    She wasn''t wrong.


    The nobles were already watching me like I was some kind of unexploded bomb¡ªdangerous, unpredictable, something they weren''t sure how to handle yet.


    And honestly.


    That was just perfect for me.


    Ella turned her gaze back to the sky.


    "The moon is beautiful, isn''t it?"


    I froze at her words.


    I already knew that she had feelings for me. However, I do not if that expression she just said also counts as a ''confession'' in this world.


    I don''t know if Soseki Natsume exists here.


    But yeah, I''ll ignore it for now.


    "You know... there''s something really beautiful about the moon." Ella continued, still gazing at the beautiful night sky.


    More precisely, at the moon.


    "It never changes," she murmured.


    "No matter what happens in the Empire, no matter how many wars, betrayals, or ceremonies happen¡­ it stays the same."


    I raised an eyebrow at her words.


    "That''s a strange thing for a princess to say."


    She smirked.


    "I guess I''m a strange princess."


    You are weird, you know?


    When I first met you, you were all blushy, and now...


    You''ve changed multiple times.


    In the academy, you were cold to me and now, you''re being all smiley and mysterious?


    What are you exactly trying to do?


    Then, just as quickly, the moment passed.


    "Well, Baron Moon," she said, emphasizing the title with a small laugh. "I should let you enjoy your solitude. But I''ll give you some advice."


    I crossed my arms.


    "Oh?"


    Ella''s blue eyes sparkled for a moment.


    "Stay away from my stepmother."


    I froze for a split second.


    "¡­The Empress?"


    She nodded, her gaze flickering toward the far end of the banquet hall.


    And that''s when I noticed her.


    Isabella von Eldoria.


    The Empress.


    She was seated beside the Emperor, dressed in a flowing white and gold gown, her silver hair cascading over her shoulders.


    Unlike the Emperor¡ªwho was actively speaking with officials¡ªshe wasn''t engaged in conversation.


    Because she was watching me.


    Directly.


    Our eyes met.


    And for a brief second¡ª


    Everything else faded.


    The noise of the banquet.


    The movement of the nobles.


    The flickering candlelight.


    None of it mattered.


    The Empress tilted her head, just slightly.


    A silent acknowledgment.


    Then, she smiled.


    A slow yet charming smile.


    I finally looked away, my expression unreadable.


    Ella scoffed immediately.


    "Too late, huh? That damned woman...!"


    She gritted her teeth.


    At her words, I couldn''t help but raise an eyebrow in surprise.


    She did seem to hate her stepmother.


    But thinking about it, where''s the First Princess?


    She should be here, no?


    "Well... Now that I warned you..."


    She walked away before uttering a few last words.


    "Be careful with her."


    I didn''t exactly answer her words.


    After all, she had already walked away.


    I let out a slow breath, rolling my shoulders as Ella disappeared into the crowd.


    Her warning still lingered in my mind.


    The Empress, huh?


    I could still feel her eyes on me, even though I wasn''t looking anymore. A presence like that wasn''t something you could just ignore.


    But before I could think about it too much¡ª


    I heard another pair of approaching footsteps.


    Lighter.


    More familiar.


    "Wow, look at you," a smooth, teasing voice purred from my side.


    "Already making waves at the highest level of nobility. My dear Junior really knows how to charm royalty, doesn''t he?"


    I sighed before even turning.


    Violet.


    I didn''t need to see her face to know she was grinning.


    I could hear it in her voice.


    When I finally glanced her way, my suspicions were confirmed.


    She stood there, her arms crossed, a knowing smirk tugging at her lips.


    Her violet dress¡ªfitting for her name¡ªclung to her figure just enough to show off her confidence, yet remained elegant enough for a noble gathering.


    A few loose strands of her dark hair framed her face, and her purple eyes shone with way too much enjoyment.


    "...I wasn''t ''charming'' anyone."


    Violet gasped dramatically, placing a hand over her chest.


    "Oh? Then what was that little moment between you and the Second Princess just now? Standing together under the moonlight, talking about how ''beautiful'' it is¡ª" She let out a fake sigh.


    "So romantic."


    Did she hear our conversation?


    Ah.


    I almost forgot that everyone here had heightened senses.


    I pinched the bridge of my nose.


    "It wasn''t like that."


    "Mm-hm."


    She didn''t believe me.


    Of course, she didn''t.


    I exhaled and turned back to the window, hoping she''d just drop it.


    She didn''t.


    In fact, she leaned on the windowsill beside me, her smirk widening.


    "You know, first it was the cute, mysterious exchange student thing. Then you became the strongest student of our academy. Now you''re a Baron, and the nobility is keeping an eye on you."


    "...The strongest student? That is new."


    "...Well, it was what appeared on the student forum. After all, you kept the Archdemon of Pride busy by yourself, what do you think was going to happen?" she smiled lightly.


    Then, her eyes suddenly flickered toward where the Empress sat.


    "And now, even the most dangerous woman in the Empire seems interested in you."


    Most dangerous woman in the Empire?


    There seems to be something about her that I don''t know.


    Even Violet''s voice contains respect towards her.


    Is there really something about her that I don''t know?


    ...I''ll need to investigate.


    So, I decided to start with Violet herself.


    "You think she''s dangerous too?"


    Violet scoffed at my words.


    "Oh, absolutely. Every noblewoman in that hall plays the game, but she is the one who wrote the rules."


    What''s up with those metaphors?


    What kind of game are we talking about?


    Chess?


    Go?


    Blackjack?


    Well, considering the subject, she''s probably talking about something related to the nobility, so it must be the power to be in "control" or something along that.


    After all, those nobles like to use expressions like, "chess pieces", and "chessboard".


    I hummed.


    I wasn''t sure if that made me feel better or worse.


    Then, without warning, Violet''s smirk returned.


    "But let''s not forget," she cooed, "you also have our dear instructor watching you closely~"


    I froze.


    Oh.


    She was talking about Zeva.


    "I¡ª"


    "Oh no, no excuses," Violet cut in, her grin sharpening.


    "People were already suspecting your relationship with her as soon as you appeared fighting against her in that red dungeon, but now..."


    She glanced at Zeva who was looking intently at me with a strange expression.


    "...It seems that she really fell for you."


    I opened my mouth.


    Then closed it.


    She hummed.


    "So, let''s see¡­ The Second Princess, the Empress, Zeva¡ªoh, and let''s not forget our dear mysterious maid!"


    I stiffened.


    "...Quite the competition, huh? If that continues, I won''t exactly have a chance, do I?" she giggled, covering her mouth.


    "....."


    I didn''t reply to her words.


    There wasn''t something to be really mentioned here.


    Besides, she hadn''t fallen in love with me.


    She was only teasing me.


    "Tsk... you''re no fun!" she puffed her cheeks, straightening herself.


    "It has been good talking to you!" She pushed off the windowsill and stretched, her teasing nature returning in full force.


    "Well, Baron Moon, I think I''ll go find some wine and pretend to be a proper noblewoman for a bit." she laughed.


    "You? Proper?"


    She gasped dramatically.


    "I''ll have you know, I can be very proper when I need to be."


    I just shook my head.


    There''s still a single month or so until the end of the semester.


    And then, I can finally go back to my academy.


    Til'' then...


    There is plenty of trouble coming ahead.


    I can just feel it.

 Chapter 84 Interlude: Snow Festival (I)

    A day had passed since the banquet, and things at Eternum Royal Academy had mostly gone back to normal.


    Well, almost.


    The Snow Festival was still going, which meant I had one more annoying thing left to do¡ª


    Choosing my five festival activities.


    Every student had to sign up for at least five events, with no exceptions.


    Didn''t matter if you were an exchange student, a noble, or even someone the royal prince.


    I''d already spent time thinking about it.


    Some events were just not an option.


    Too much noble politics, too much-forced interaction, or just flat-out embarrassing.


    After going through the list, I finally picked my five:


    Firstly, Mana Volleyball and Mana Football, these a very self-explanatory, the only thing that is different is that you can use mana to kick or spike the ball.


    Then, there was the "Magic Circles" ¨C A competition focused on drawing, deciphering, and activating magic circles.


    Speed, accuracy, and knowledge of runes were basically the win conditions.


    Next, I chose the Weight Throw, which is also very self-explanatory, but we cannot use mana in this particular activity.


    And finally...


    Snowy Love ¨C A¡­ special event. It was a winter-themed, partner-based challenge designed to "bring people closer".


    Honestly, I wasn''t thrilled about any of them¡ªespecially the last one¡ªbut compared to the other choices, these were the least annoying.


    Now, all I had to do was officially register.


    And just a few minutes later...


    I arrived at the student council building and immediately regretted it.


    The line was ridiculously long.


    Students stretched out the door, all waiting to sign up for their festival events.


    The energy in the air was buzzing¡ªexcited chatter, some laughter, and the occasional groan from someone impatient.


    I frowned. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "¡­I should come back later."


    I had patience, but I wasn''t about to stand in line, surrounded by excited students, just to write my name on a piece of paper.


    I turned to leave¡ª


    And then, a soft hand grabbed my arm.


    "Tee hee~! Hello, my dear Junior!"


    I didn''t even need to look.


    Violet.


    Before I could react, she was already dragging me away from the line.


    "Come, come~! No need to wait like everyone else when you have me, right?"


    I sighed but didn''t resist.


    It wasn''t worth the energy.


    She pulled me past the other students making me feel the gazes of pure rage, past the student council members handling registration, and straight into the office.


    With a playful smile, she guided me to her seat¡ªthe student council president''s chair¡ªbefore casually sitting down, crossing her legs, and giving me a smirk.


    "So~," she said, resting her chin on her palm.


    "You''re here to sign up for the festival events?"


    "Obviously."


    She chuckled.


    "Well, I am the president. I suppose I can handle that for you." She leaned forward slightly, blinking her eyelashes with the same playful smile.


    "What are your picks?"


    I listed them off.


    When I got to the fifth one¡ª


    Violet''s smirk widened.


    "The Snowy Love event?"


    She arched an eyebrow.


    "You sure about that one?"


    I shrugged.


    "The other choices were worse."


    Violet leaned back, tapping her fingers on the desk.


    "You do know what the Snowy Love event is about, right?"


    "Yeah. A partner-based event. Random pairing. Winter challenges."


    She giggled.


    "Mmm. That''s the basic explanation."


    Her smirk deepened, and she leaned forward, voice dropping to something more playful.


    "But it''s not just about teamwork. The event is designed to create ''special moments.'' Romantic challenges, bonding activities¡­ and let''s not forget, some tasks require a bit of physical closeness~."


    I blinked.


    I had read the event description, but I hadn''t thought too much about the details.


    Violet''s giggle turned into a laugh.


    "Ohoho~! Didn''t think that one through, huh?"


    I exhaled deeply.


    "I''ll deal with it."


    She laughed even harder.


    "Oh, I cannot wait to see who you get paired with!"


    She finalized my registration, stamping the document with the official student council seal.


    "Alright, Junior, you''re all set. But just so you know¡­" She leaned in slightly, her violet eyes glimmering with mischief.


    "If you get paired with me, I expect you to take responsibility~."


    I gave Violet a flat look.


    "¡­Responsibility for what exactly?"


    She giggled, leaning her chin on her hand.


    "Oh, my dear Junior, don''t play dumb~. The Snowy Love event is designed to create special, heartwarming moments. Imagine it: a peaceful winter setting, cozy little challenges, holding hands, sharing warmth¡­ maybe even¡ª"


    "¡ªNo."


    Violet gasped dramatically, placing a hand over her heart.


    "You didn''t even let me finish! What if I was going to say sharing a cup of hot cocoa?"


    "Then you should''ve led with that."


    She smirked.


    "But you know that''s not all there is to it. Some of the past challenges have been pretty bold, you know. There was one year where pairs had to hug for warmth inside an ice cave. And another where they had to feed each other a special festival dessert. With their hands."


    "¡­Still not that bad."


    "Ah, but last year¡ª" She leaned in closer, her violet eyes gleaming with mischief. "There was a mistletoe task."


    I stared at her.


    She grinned widely.


    "¡­No."


    "Oh yes~. The rules change every year, but the theme stays the same. ''Creating intimate winter memories~.''" She twirled a strand of her purple hair between her fingers.


    "Are you sure you want to do this event, Junior?"


    "I already signed up, didn''t I?"


    I reply before letting out a small sigh.


    "Ohoho~! That''s the spirit!" She clapped her hands together, looking far too amused by this.


    "Still, you''re a bit too relaxed about this. I mean, what if you get paired with someone dangerous?"


    I raised an eyebrow.


    "Like who?"


    "Oh, I don''t know¡­" She tilted her head playfully.


    "Maybe the Second Princess?"


    Mhm?


    That wasn''t a problem at all.


    It would simply feel weird.


    She smirked at my normal expression, and then continued:


    "Or how about Zeva? You know that professors can also participate in festivals, don''t you?"


    "¡­That''s not concerning."


    I''ll probably just run away from that place if I ever saw her.


    She would probably stab me with her swords the second I looked at her.


    "Then there''s Rose!" Violet continued, watching my reaction carefully.


    "That cutie... can you imagine her in a romance-themed event? How adorable would that be?" she giggled.


    "¡­You''re just listing all the people who would make this a problem, aren''t you?"


    "Oh, absolutely~." She rested her chin on her palm again. "But let''s not forget the best possibility¡­"


    She leaned in, her voice dropping to a teasing whisper.


    "What if¡­ you get paired with me?"


    I sighed.


    "And that''s the worst-case scenario?"


    "Oh, it''s the best case¡ªfor me." She giggled.


    "But for you? Who knows?~"


    I pinched the bridge of my nose.


    "You''re way too invested in this."


    She shrugged.


    "Can you blame me? You never join these kinds of things. And now you''re suddenly throwing yourself into the most entertaining event in the festival? How could I not be excited?"


    "¡­I''m already regretting this."


    "Nihihi! Too late, Junior~! No backing out now!" She gave me a wink. "Just remember¡ªif you do get paired with me, you''d better take responsibility."


    "Hmn..."


    I hummed in response.


    But as I looked at her giggling expression, my lips couldn''t help but curl up slightly.


    "Don''t worry... If I do get paired with you, Senior..."


    "I wouldn''t mind taking responsibility."


    Violet blinked.


    Her smirk vanished.


    "Wh¡ª"


    I walked out before she could respond.


    Click...!


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    [Violet''s POV]


    Click...!


    The door clicked shut.


    I sat there, frozen.


    For a good five seconds, my mind was completely blank.


    Then, slowly, I leaned back in my chair, my fingers gripping the edge of the desk as I processed what just happened.


    Did he just¡ª


    My face burned.


    It wasn''t often that I lost control of my emotions.


    I''m student council president, for goodness'' sake!


    I handled noble disputes, festival preparations, school policies¡­ I was calm, collected, and always one step ahead.


    But that damn Junior¡ª


    He actually said that.


    "If I do get paired with you, Senior... I wouldn''t mind taking responsibility."


    I felt a shiver crawl down my spine, my grip tightening against the polished wood of my desk.


    His words made me feel...


    Spinning.


    Burning.


    Overthinking every word.


    "...You wouldn''t mind, huh?"


    I muttered under my breath, my lips curling into a small smile.


    Was he teasing me?


    Was he serious?


    Did he say that just to mess with me?


    I slapped my hands against my cheeks, trying to snap myself out of it.


    No, no, no¡ªthis wasn''t fair!


    I was supposed to be the one making him flustered.


    I was supposed to be the one teasing him.


    Not the other way around!


    And yet¡ª


    I covered my mouth with one hand, biting down on my lower lip as another shiver ran through me.


    "Fufu~..."


    A dangerous giggle slipped out.


    I leaned forward, resting my chin against my palm, my fingers tapping against my cheek as my thoughts spiraled into dangerous places.


    "What if we actually got paired together?"


    A peaceful winter setting¡­ cozy little challenges¡­ the two of us, stuck together in the cold, forced to work side by side.


    Would he sigh in annoyance?


    Would he act like it was nothing?


    Or¡ª


    Maybe, the color that my eyes can see in his body would change?


    Would I finally get to see him panic?


    Oh, that would be delicious.


    I imagined it now¡ªAestrea, standing there in his usual composed way, only to slowly crack under the festival''s¡­ special circumstances.


    A shared blanket?


    A gentle, accidental touch?


    Hah.


    What if¡ªwhat if he was forced to hold my hand?


    A creepy little giggle slipped from my lips again.


    Oh, I liked that thought.


    I liked it a lot.


    My mind spun faster, crafting scenario after scenario.


    Scenario #1:


    We''d get paired together.


    He''d groan.


    I''d smile.


    Then, the festival tasks would force us into something ridiculously romantic.


    Maybe we''d have to feed each other a festival dessert.


    ¡­Oh no.


    Oh no.


    I imagined him, sitting across from me, staring blankly as he held out a spoonful of sweet, warm pudding.


    Would he sigh?


    Would he roll his eyes?


    Would he blush?


    My fingers twitched.


    Scenario #2:


    Maybe we''d end up in one of those "snowed-in" challenges.


    Just the two of us, trapped inside a winter cabin, a small fireplace flickering in the background.


    Oh, that would be perfect.


    He''d try to ignore me.


    But, I''d make that impossible.


    I could already see it.


    The slow, creeping realization on his face.


    The way he''d shift, uncomfortable, realizing there was only one blanket.


    The way I''d slowly, deliberately, scoot closer¡ª


    "Oops~ Junior, looks like there''s not enough space. Guess we''ll have to share~."


    Another giggle slipped from my lips.


    I curled my fingers against my cheek, my smile stretching wider.


    This was too much fun.


    I never thought I''d want to be paired with someone for the Snowy Love event.


    I mean, sure, I liked teasing people¡ªmessing with them, making them uncomfortable¡ªbut romance?


    Not really my thing.


    But this.


    Aestrea.


    He made it interesting.


    He made me want to push him.


    To see how far I could go before he finally snapped before he jumped on me...


    I could already image what I''d say at that time...


    Hehe.


    I bit my lip again.


    Ugh.


    But why did he have to say that?


    "If I do get paired with you, I wouldn''t mind taking responsibility."


    Those words.


    That tone.


    He really was teasing me directly.


    I love teasing people, but absolutely hate when someone teases me.


    It just didn''t feel right.


    I''m a genius, who alone, designed the entire Royal Academy''s Training Areas.


    ¡­And yet.


    His words made a heat rise in my chest, something unfamiliar, something annoying.


    Was it frustration?


    Excitement?


    I wasn''t sure.


    But it didn''t matter.


    What mattered now¡­


    Was the festival.


    I had to know.


    Would we actually get paired together?


    Would fate be kind to me just this once?


    I grabbed my festival registration list and skimmed through it, biting my thumb in thought.


    Pairings were random, sure¡­


    But.


    What if they weren''t entirely random?


    I was the student council president, after all.


    And the Snowy Love event was an internal school activity.


    And I did have access to the registration data.


    And, technically speaking, the pairings weren''t decided until tomorrow.


    So if someone were to, say¡­


    Subtly adjust the list?


    Gently nudge the results in a certain direction?


    Wouldn''t that just be¡­ fair?


    I grinned.


    A slow, creeping, dangerous grin.


    Fate could be so unreliable sometimes.


    So why not¡­ help it along?


    Just a little.


    "Mhm..."


    I hummed a small tune, flipping through the papers as my mind spun with possibilities.


    "Oh, Junior¡­ let''s see if you''re really ready to take responsibility."


    Tee hee~.

 Chapter 85 Interlude: Snow Festival (II)

    After stepping out of the student council room, I was immediately met with a wave of burning gazes.


    ...Right.


    Violet really does have a lot of admirers, huh?


    Some students in line had their mouths slightly open, their eyes darting between me and the closed office door like they had just witnessed a crime.


    Others were whispering to each other, their expressions ranging from confusion to jealousy.


    One guy near the front¡ªprobably a noble¡ªcrossed his arms, his brows furrowed.


    "Tch. Favoritism," he muttered under his breath.


    Another student, a girl with short blonde hair, gave me a long, suspicious stare.


    "...What exactly were you doing in there with the student council president?" she asked sharply, glaring at me.


    I sighed.


    "Signing up for festival events."


    That was it.


    That was all.


    Nothing more, nothing less.


    But judging by the way some of these students were looking at me, I might as well have walked out of there carrying Violet in my arms.


    Another girl, standing a few steps away, narrowed her eyes.


    "Then why did she personally pull you inside?"


    "Because she''s annoying," I said flatly.


    Gasps.


    Actual gasps.


    You''d think I had just insulted royalty.


    A red-haired boy standing nearby scoffed, his arms crossed.


    "You''re saying the great Violet Von Luxuria, the student council president, the genius of the academy, is just¡­ annoying?"


    "Yes."


    More gasps.


    A few of them looked at me like I had personally declared war.


    The blonde girl, still glaring at me, shook her head.


    "Unbelievable! You should consider yourself lucky!"


    I frowned.


    "Lucky for what?"


    "To even be in her presence! Violet Von Luxuria is admired by everyone. She''s beautiful, talented, and respected. And yet, she chose to drag you into her office!"


    A guy next to her nodded.


    "Yeah! Do you know how many people in this school would kill for that?"


    I blinked.


    ''Those are some hardcore fans...''


    "...That sounds excessive."


    "It isn''t!"


    I looked around at the crowd of students still waiting in line. Some of them were nodding. Others just kept staring at me, still clearly trying to process what they had just seen.


    This was a waste of time.


    I turned on my heel, planning to leave. I already finished what I came here for. There was no reason to stand around listening to these people go on about Violet.


    But as I walked past the crowd, I heard one last voice.


    A whisper.


    "...Do you think they''re secretly dating?"


    I kept walking.


    Not worth my time.


    Not worth my energy.


    Instead, I decided to head toward the Headmistress''s office.


    Yup.


    I was going to meet Eleonora.


    I had been holding back for a long time already. If I wanted to get stronger even faster than my current speed¡­


    I needed to awaken my second element.


    The moment I saw that my chances of getting the Void element had increased, I almost rushed to awaken it right then and there.


    But things kept getting in the way.


    But now?


    I had nothing to do except wait for the Snow Festival.


    No more delays.


    I was going to awaken my second element today.


    Step...


    Reaching the Headmistress''s door, I paused for a second. My hand hovered just above the wood, ready to knock.


    But I knew Eleonora too well.


    There was no point. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Click.


    I pushed the door open and stepped inside.


    Then, without missing a beat, I closed it shut behind me.


    A soft giggle immediately greeted me.


    "Oh my~... Did my dear Aestrea finally decide to visit his future Master?"


    Eleonora''s voice was playful like she had been waiting for this moment.


    She didn''t even seem surprised that I had entered her personal workroom without knocking.


    She didn''t scold me.


    She didn''t raise an eyebrow.


    Instead, she just smiled, resting her chin on her hand as if she had predicted this all along.


    Her long, purple hair cascaded over her shoulders, shining under the glow of the enchanted lamps in the room.


    Her bright blue eyes sparkled with amusement.


    "¡­Future Master?"


    Her smile widened.


    But, she kept her mouth shut nonetheless.


    I sighed, walking forward.


    "You didn''t even ask why I''m here."


    She smirked.


    "Do I need a reason to enjoy a visit from my favorite student?"


    I rolled my eyes at her.


    She just laughed.


    "So~? What brings my little moon to me today?" she asked, tilting her head slightly.


    Little moon...?


    Is that a new nickname for me?


    Gosh...


    I hesitated for a second, after all, I rejected being her disciple, but now, I was here to ask help from her to awaken my second element.


    Honestly, I could simply spend money and ask some other official mage to help me awaken it, but... if it was Eleonora...


    The chances of getting a stronger element were increased by a lot.


    Especially since our bodies were perfectly compatible with each other.


    Then, I finally met her gaze.


    "I need your help with something."


    Her brows lifted just a little as her lips curled up.


    "Oh?"


    I nodded.


    "I want you to help me awaken my second element."


    She gave me a slow, thoughtful look.


    Then, suddenly, she smiled.


    "Well, then~¡­ Shall we begin?"


    ¡ª


    Snap.


    The air trembled as Eleonora flicked her fingers.


    Behind her, one of the tall bookshelves rumbled, shifting backward.


    A soft, violet glow traced the edges of the wall as the bookshelf slid to the side, revealing a dark passageway hidden behind it.


    I narrowed my eyes.


    "¡­You had a secret passage behind your bookshelf?"


    Eleonora giggled.


    "Of course. What kind of Headmistress would I be if I didn''t have at least one hidden chamber?"


    Classic.


    She turned, stepping into the staircase.


    Without hesitation, I followed.


    The tunnel was lined with glowing blue runes, casting strange patterns along the stone walls. The air was thick with magic, almost humming with energy.


    We walked in silence for a few minutes before reaching the end¡ªa massive, reinforced door made of some kind of shimmering metal.


    Eleonora placed her palm on it, and the runes flickered, pulsing like a heartbeat.


    Creak.


    The door groaned as it slowly opened, revealing the chamber beyond.


    It was breathtaking.


    An enormous underground hall stretched before us, its ceiling high and arched like a cathedral.


    In the center of the room was a colossal magic circle, inscribed with symbols I barely recognized.


    At the very heart of the formation sat a massive, floating orb, swirling with pure magical energy.


    I exhaled deeply.


    "This is¡­"


    Eleonora stepped forward, gesturing grandly.


    "This, my little moon, is my own Awakening Chamber."


    The orb pulsed, casting a soft glow over the chamber. The magic circles beneath it shimmered, waiting.


    She turned to me, her smile turning almost mischievous.


    "So~ shall we get started?"


    I nodded.


    "Step into the center of that glowing circle over there," Eleonora pointed towards the circle, and I slowly walked towards it.


    Thrum...!


    The air itself seemed heavier, as if the very room was waiting for something to happen.


    I could feel the potent mana flowing through the magic circle.


    "Just relax," Eleonora said softly, standing at the edge of the magic formation.


    "Let the magic flow naturally. Don''t resist it."


    Easier said than done.


    The moment I stepped into the center, the giant orb above the circle pulsed with power.


    A low humming sound filled the air.


    Then, suddenly¡ª


    WHOOSH!


    The entire chamber was swallowed by a bright, white blinding glow.


    It was overwhelming, almost suffocating, as an unseen force pulled at every fiber of my being.


    I clenched my teeth, feeling the strange sensation of something deep within me being drawn out.


    It wasn''t painful, but it was... intense.


    Like something ancient was awakening inside me.


    BZZZT!


    CRACKLE!


    Strange, flickering lights surrounded me, shifting between deep purple, abyssal black, and bright silver streaks.


    The air felt electric, vibrating with an unusually strong mana.


    Eleonora''s eyes widened.


    Her usual teasing expression was gone, replaced by something serious, something almost... concerned.


    "This..." she muttered under her breath.


    "What is this...?"


    The light only grew stronger.


    FWOOOOSH!


    A huge surge of energy exploded outward.


    The magic circle beneath my feet trembled as sparks danced across the symbols.


    My whole body felt weightless for a second¡ªno, not weightless.


    As if I were somewhere else entirely.


    Like I had one foot in this world... and one foot outside of it.


    Then, just as suddenly as it started, the glow vanished.


    BAM.


    A sharp silence filled the room.


    I was still standing.


    The air was still thick with residual energy.


    And yet... something felt off.


    Eleonora was staring at me, her expression unreadable. I opened my mouth to ask her what happened, but before I could say anything, she spoke first.


    "Strange..."


    I blinked.


    "What?"


    She frowned slightly, tapping her chin in thought.


    "There''s no second element."


    Silence stretched between us.


    I stared at her, waiting for her to say something else. Anything else.


    "That light," she continued, glancing at the fading glow around us, "was most likely just a reaction from your high-quality mana."


    Just a reaction?


    I furrowed my brows.


    That... that couldn''t be right.


    I felt something awaken inside me.


    I knew something had changed.


    And yet, Eleonora, one of the strongest mages in the world, couldn''t identify it?


    "So I don''t have a second element?"


    I asked slowly, trying to process everything.


    Eleonora crossed her arms, watching me carefully.


    "Most likely not. But..." She trailed off, before shaking her head with a small smile. "Well, you''re still my adorable little moon. With or without a second element."


    ''...Why? Why don''t I have a second element?!''


    Before I could say anything else, Eleonora took a step forward, placing a gentle hand on my shoulder.


    "Say," she said, tilting her head.


    "Since you''re already coming to me for help... why not make it official?"


    I stiffened.


    "For the fourth time now," she continued with a teasing lilt, "become my disciple."


    I sighed.


    "You''re persistent."


    "Of course." She smiled playfully.


    "A talent like yours shouldn''t go to waste, after all."


    I was about to reject her again, just like the previous times.


    But this time...


    I hesitated.


    I wasn''t sure why, but something in me told me to think about it.


    To at least consider it.


    After a moment, I met her gaze.


    "I''ll... reconsider it. After a while."


    Eleonora blinked.


    Her mouth parted slightly.


    She seemed completely shocked by my words.


    Then, slowly, her smile widened.


    "Oh my, what a rare response. I was expecting a straight rejection." She chuckled softly.


    "Well then, I''ll be waiting, my little moon."


    I let out a breath, shaking my head before turning towards the door


    . "I''ll be going now."


    "Come visit me anytime~," Eleonora called out as I left.


    The second the door closed behind me, I let out a deep breath.


    Something was off.


    I could feel it in my bones.


    Then¡ª


    CRACK!


    A dark panel suddenly appeared in front of me, forming from thin air. Faint white cracks spread across its surface like veins of lightning.


    My breath hitched for a moment.


    In the center of the panel, glowing words slowly appeared one by one.


    ¡¼ ? New Element Awakened... ? ¡½


    ¡¼ ? Congratulations on obtaining the affinity... ? ¡½


    ¡¼ ? Time ? ¡½


    [Your mana has increased a small rank.]


    [Your spirit has successfully breakthrough into the SS- rank.]


    [Your mental fortitude has significantly increased.]


    [Judgement Eye has reached the S+ rank.]


    [You can now manipulate Time Magic.]


    I was beyond speechless.

 Chapter 86 Interlude: Snow Festival (III)

    Fwip!


    "Time Acceleration!"


    Puff¡ª


    "F¡ªFuck!"


    I barely managed to react as the sudden force of the backlash hit me, sending me stumbling back a few steps.


    My hands shook, my head ached, and my body felt like it had just run an entire marathon in a second.


    "God damn it... fuu..."


    Taking a deep breath, I furrowed my eyebrows, staring blankly at my hands. My fingers twitched slightly, but that was it.


    No glow.


    No lingering mana.


    No sign that I had successfully cast anything at all.


    Honestly, when I saw that my second affinity or element was Time, I was immediately ecstatic, however...


    But I didn''t think it would be this much of a problem.


    From the moment I awakened my second affinity, I had been training like a madman to use it.


    Every single day.


    Every single night.


    I barely even slept.


    I even used mana to ease my body so I didn''t need sleep.


    The only problem was mental fatigue...


    But it was all useless.


    No matter how hard I tried, I couldn''t properly activate Time Magic.


    I had scoured the entire academy library, looking for anything¡ªanything at all¡ªthat could help me understand how Time Magic worked.


    But there was nothing.


    Not a single book on Time Magic existed in the academy''s collection.


    It was almost as if it had been erased from history.


    Which meant that if I wanted to learn, I was on my own.


    A few days passed in complete frustration, I trained, failed, took a small break, and then tried again.


    Again and again.


    The cycle repeated itself over and over, but no matter what, I couldn''t even manage a simple first-rank spell.


    "Damn it..."


    I clicked my tongue in frustration.


    "One last try..."


    Taking a deep breath, I focused.


    This time, I wouldn''t just shout the spell''s name and hope for the best.


    I would control it.


    I would force it to work.


    Slowly, I closed my eyes, reaching deep into myself and searching for that elusive spark of Time Magic buried within me.


    It was there.


    Faint.


    Flickering.


    But undeniably present.


    I reached out, trying to grasp it¡ª


    And the moment I did, my entire body was slammed with overwhelming pressure.


    THUD!


    I collapsed to my knees, gasping for air as an invisible force crushed me from all sides.


    My vision blurred, my head pounded, and my limbs refused to move.


    It felt as if time itself was weighing down on me.


    "Wh... What the hell...?"


    My breathing turned ragged as I struggled to fight against the pressure, but it was useless.


    I couldn''t even lift a single finger.


    My surroundings distorted, warping like a rippling reflection on water.


    For a brief second, I thought I saw something¡ªa crack in space itself, dark and endless, with white, glowing threads stretching across it.


    Then, just as quickly as it came, it vanished.


    The pressure disappeared.


    I collapsed onto the floor, panting heavily as sweat dripped down my face.


    "....Fucking hell."


    Click!


    The door to the room suddenly opened.


    I groaned softly but didn''t bother looking up.


    A familiar voice reached my ears.


    "Master... are you done with your training?"


    Alaine.


    I glanced up slightly, still lying on the ground. Alaine stood at the entrance, holding a small basket in her hands.


    From the smell, it was clear she had brought food.


    I exhaled tiredly.


    "...For now..."


    Alaine smiled, stepping into the room before snapping her fingers, and casually casting a cleaning spell on me.


    A soft wave of magic washed over my body, wiping away the sweat and dust from my clothes.


    She then sat down next to me, placing the basket between us.


    "I brought food for you."


    I shifted slightly, sitting up properly.


    "You didn''t have to."


    She pouted.


    "But you barely eat during training. If I don''t bring you food, you''ll just forget."


    She wasn''t wrong.


    I sighed, rubbing my temples.


    "...Thanks."


    Alaine beamed, opening the basket. The aroma of warm bread, roasted meat, and fresh fruit filled the air.


    My stomach growled on instinct.


    I clicked my tongue.


    "Tsk. Betrayed by my own body."


    Alaine giggled, handing me a piece of bread.


    "Eat, Master. You need your strength."


    I took the bread, biting into it.


    The soft texture and buttery taste melted in my mouth.


    Damn.


    That was good.


    I gobbled it up in just a few minutes.


    "Mhm..."


    I hummed in satisfaction, setting the empty plate aside.


    As I leaned back, my gaze slowly drifted downward¡ªtoward Alaine''s thighs.


    Soft.


    Smooth.


    Comfortable-looking.


    The perfect pillow.


    Without hesitation, I shifted my position, resting my head right on her lap.


    "Ah..."


    Alaine let out a small, surprised sound, but she didn''t push me away. Instead, a gentle smile spread across her lips as she reached out and ran her fingers through my hair.


    She wasn''t exactly giving me a massage, but it felt good.


    Really good.


    Her touch was slow, careful, and oddly soothing¡ªlike she had done this a million times before.


    "Haaaa..."


    I exhaled softly, letting myself relax.


    But then¡­


    I frowned.


    Well...


    The view wasn''t bad, but there was a slight problem.


    I couldn''t exactly see her face.


    Her breasts were too massive.


    They completely blocked my line of sight.


    So, I simply turned my head to the side.


    Problem solved.


    And then, her voice broke the silence.


    "Master... why are you working so hard?"


    I blinked.


    Before I could even think of an answer, she continued.


    "From the day I met you, I could see that your ambitions were nothing but ordinary, but this past few days... you seemed to have changed a bit."


    Ah...


    She noticed it.


    Of course, she did.


    I let out a quiet sigh.


    At first, my goal was simple. I just wanted to fulfill Aestrea''s original wish¡ªto make this academy the best, graduate, and secure a good-paying job.


    But then¡­ I lost the competition.


    That was the starting point where I started to change.


    I mean...


    That moment¡ªwhen I stood there, helpless, because of my "artificial" mana vessel¡ªthat was the trigger.


    I didn''t realize it at the time, but Aestrea''s memories had already begun affecting me since the day I got here.


    Little by little.


    I was never the type to care about saving people.


    I lived for myself.


    That was how I survived in my old world.


    But now?


    I saved a girl who tried to kill me.


    I fought to protect the academy, not just for myself, but for the students.


    And even now, I was pushing myself beyond my limits¡ªstruggling to control a magic that I knew nothing about, all for the sake of becoming stronger.


    Those were small changes that I didn''t take notice. It was if, Aestrea was present here, but not really myself.


    Like... my instincts could talk, but my mind and body wouldn''t follow its orders.


    Something like that.


    I don''t know how to explain it.


    But why?


    Why was this happening?


    Because of him.


    Aestrea wasn''t a hero.


    Not really.


    But he dreamed of being one.


    Even though he knew he wasn''t the "chosen one," he still carried himself like a hero.


    And now, that same "heroic" personality of his¡­


    It was starting to change me.


    I didn''t realize it at first.


    But now?


    Now, I knew.


    I had been affected.


    Back in my world, I learned to live for myself.


    And then, the moment I stepped here, because of the future "sight" granted by the system, I decided to fight against that named demon beast myself.


    At that time, it just felt right.


    But thinking back...


    That simply wasn''t something that I would normally do.


    I don''t mind saving my loved one, but other people...?


    Since when did I care about them?


    I don''t mind saving them, but risking my life in order to do so...?


    Never.


    But I did.


    I went alone.


    Didn''t ask for help.


    Dealt with the beasts myself.


    But why?


    I thought that I hadn''t been affected by Aestrea''s memories, but now...


    ...Now...


    I was affected by them.


    But what could I do? Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Those sweet memories.


    His happy friends.


    Even his emotions...


    They weren''t just things I "remembered."


    I felt them.


    Lived them.


    And because of that, I couldn''t ignore them.


    How could I?


    How could I turn away when I knew what was coming?


    When I knew what they would face?


    Even though this wasn''t my world, even though these weren''t my people¡­


    I couldn''t just leave them to die.


    Even if I wanted to.


    Even if it wasn''t "me" who cared¡­


    I still cared.


    So...


    Aestrea¡­


    Just be a little selfish.


    Is that too much to ask?


    "Master...?"


    Alaine''s voice was soft, laced with worry.


    "Are you okay?"


    Her green eyes, bright and filled with concern, met mine.


    I stared at her for a second before a small smile tugged at my lips.


    "A-ah... I''m alr¡ª"


    My voice faltered.


    But then, looking at her¡ªreally looking at her¡ªI let out a breath.


    And smiled.


    "I''m better than ever."


    "!!!"


    The moment Alaine saw my soft smile, her face lit up like a sunrise.


    Her bright green eyes sparkled, and she tilted her head slightly to the side before flashing me an even brighter smile.


    "Master¡­ I¡­ I¡ª"


    ¡ªBEEP!


    ?Attention, students! The first festival activity¡ª''Mana Football'' of the Snow Festival is about to begin. Every student who has signed up, please proceed to the main arena.?


    ¡ªBOP!


    The sudden announcement cut through the air, and I felt my expression shift slightly as I frowned.


    I exhaled softly before slowly pushing myself up.


    "I guess it''s time¡­"


    I started making my way toward the exit, but before I could take more than a few steps¡ª


    Rustle.


    Alaine suddenly stepped in front of me, blocking my way.


    Then, like a diligent wife, she carefully adjusted my clothes, smoothing out any wrinkles before giving my shoulders a gentle pat.


    Her hands were soft, her movements slow and precise, as if she had done this countless times before.


    She smiled up at me.


    "Let''s go," she said lightly before turning around and walking ahead.


    I blinked.


    Then, with a small chuckle, I followed her.


    The main arena wasn''t far, so it only took us a few minutes to get there.


    The moment we arrived, I noticed two signs. One pointed toward the section for participants, and the other led to the spectators.


    It was time for us to separate.


    Alaine turned to face me.


    "Good luck, Master."


    Her voice was soft, carrying a warmth that made my chest tighten for a moment.


    She then started walking toward the left passage¡ªthe one that would teleport her to the spectator area.


    I watched her go.


    My eyes followed her small, delicate back as she walked further and further away.


    And I frowned.


    ''Just be a little selfish.''


    The thought seemed to haunt my mind.


    So...


    I moved before I could stop myself.


    I reached forward and softly grasped her wrist.


    "M-Master¡­?"


    Alaine stammered, turning around, her expression filled with confusion.


    ''...What was I doing?''


    I sighed inwardly.


    Her green, jewel-like eyes locked onto mine, glimmering with something I couldn''t quite describe.


    There was hesitation.


    Uncertainty.


    But also¡­ a faint hint of anticipation.


    Her brows furrowed slightly as a few loose strands of her silky, blonde blonde hair slipped onto her forehead, falling just above her lashes.


    She looked stunning.


    The soft glow of the arena''s lights highlighted her delicate features, casting a faint shadow beneath her eyes.


    Her lips¡ªpale pink, slightly parted in surprise¡ªlooked impossibly soft.


    Tempting.


    I felt my heartbeat slow for a moment.


    And then¡ª


    Fwoop.


    With a quick movement, I pulled her toward me.


    "Ah!"


    Her small gasp filled the air as I stepped back slightly, twisting my body just enough to catch her off balance.


    And then¡ª


    I caught her.


    My arm wrapped securely around her waist, holding her close.


    She barely had time to react before I tilted my head downward¡ª


    And closed the distance.


    "....?!"


    A soft, fleeting kiss.


    The warmth of her lips barely lingered before I slowly pulled away.


    Alaine''s eyes widened, her breath catching as her fingers trembled slightly against my chest.


    I smiled.


    "I''ll see you later."


    And without waiting for a response, I turned and stepped into the right passage.


    In an instant¡ª


    Fwoosh!


    I was teleported away.


    Leaving Alaine standing there, speechless.

 Chapter 87 Interlude: Snow Festival (IV)

    "Hello, ladies and gentlemen!"


    The announcer''s energetic voice boomed across the massive arena, instantly drawing the attention of everyone present.


    "And welcome to the first event of today''s Snow Festival¡ªMANA FOOTBAAAALL!"


    "YEEAAAHHHHHHHHH!"


    The crowd erupted in excitement, their cheers echoing through the air. Most of the loudest shouts came from the boys, hyped up beyond reason.


    The announcer grinned.


    "Now, for those of you who are new, let me explain the rules! It''s simple!"


    He cleared his throat before continuing.


    "The game is just like regular football, but with magic! Players can use mana or aura to boost their speed, strengthen their kicks, and defend their goal!"


    "However, flying magic and long-range spells are NOT allowed! Only body-enhancement magic is permitted due to the injuries from previous games!"


    "The first team to score FIVE goals wins!"


    "And remember¡ªno direct attacks on other players! If you injure someone on purpose, you''re out!"


    The crowd buzzed with excitement as they processed the rules.


    "Now¡­ it''s time to announce the teams!"


    The announcer''s voice grew even louder.


    "A total of 150 students have signed up, which means we have the perfect setup for a 75 versus 75 match!"


    "WOOOOOOOAAAAAHHHH!"


    The crowd roared once again.


    And then¡ª


    A figure suddenly soared into the sky.


    FWOOOSH!


    The moment the students and spectators saw who it was, they all reacted at once¡ª


    "HEADMISTRESS!!"


    Their voices rang out in admiration.


    High above, Eleonora floated effortlessly in the air, gazing down at the field with a small smile on her lips.


    Then, with a single graceful motion¡ª


    FWOOOP!


    The entire arena transformed.


    The flat, open space rippled as if reality itself was shifting. In the blink of an eye, an enormous football field materialized in the center of the arena.


    It was no ordinary field.


    It was MASSIVE¡ªat least five times the size of a regular one!


    The crowd gasped in awe.


    Eleonora lowered her hand, satisfied with the transformation.


    "Now that the field is ready..." the announcer continued, his voice filled with excitement.


    "All 150 players will now be teleported to a random team and given a random position!"


    FWIP!


    FWIP!


    One by one, students began appearing on the massive field, their expressions ranging from excited to nervous.


    The atmosphere grew tense as the announcer gave his final instructions.


    "Alright, players! The match will begin as soon as the whistle blows!"


    "Remember! If you hurt another player, you''ll be DISQUALIFIED!"


    "So play fair and give it your all!"


    With that, the announcer took a deep breath¡ª


    Then¡ª


    FWEEEEEEEEEEEET!!


    The sharp sound of the whistle echoed through the massive arena.


    In an instant, the game had begun!


    On the right side stood the White Team and on the left side stood the Gold Team.


    Fwip!


    The mana-enhanced ball shot into the air from the center of the field, glowing faintly with magic.


    Players from both teams immediately rushed forward, their bodies surging with mana as the match kicked off at a blistering pace.


    BOOM!


    Lucas was the first to react.


    His golden hair shimmered under the arena lights as he blasted forward, his legs glowing with golden mana.


    He leaped into the air with one smooth motion, his foot slamming into the ball with immense force.


    WHOOOOSH!


    The ball shot through the air like a cannonball, heading straight toward White Team''s side.


    ''Ah... already?''


    Stretching himself slightly, Aestrea who had been positioned as one of the defenders, focused his eyes on the ball.


    The impact of Lucas''s kick alone was enough to send weaker players tumbling.


    Aestrea braced himself slightly.


    He could hear the footsteps of his teammates shifting into position.


    "Left!" he called out sharply.


    But as he looked at the teammates around him, he noticed their hateful gazes, and amongst them, there was Telmo.


    Ella''s simp.


    And of course, instead of moving left, Telmo charged forward on his own, his blue mana flaring around him.


    "Tsk..." Aestrea clicked his tongue.


    ''Fucking idiot...''


    Lucas''s shot was coming in fast, and with Telmo out of position, the left flank was completely exposed!


    Aestrea had no choice.


    FWOOSH!


    With a burst of icy mana, he dashed left, snow kicking up beneath his feet.


    The ball was seconds away from breaking through.


    Aestrea didn''t hesitate¡ªhis right leg swung forward, intercepting the ball with an ice-infused kick.


    BANG!


    The ball shuddered mid-air, the impact sending a shockwave through the field.


    For a split second, the ball hung between Aestrea and Lucas''s energy¡ªa battle of strength.


    Then¡ª


    BOOM!


    The ball rebounded toward the midfield and redirected away from the goal.


    The crowd erupted.


    "WHOOOAAAAA!!"


    Aestrea landed smoothly, his breath visible in the cold air.


    But before he could relax¡ª


    BAM!


    A streak of red mana flashed past him.


    "Tch. You got lucky, Aestrea."


    Prince Leon.


    His golden eyes burned with hostility as he sprinted toward the ball, his movements sharp and aggressive.


    His golden jersey fluttered as his mana pulsed dangerously around him. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I won''t let you get past me."


    Leon smirked.


    "Hah..." Aestrea scoffed slightly.


    "You still haven''t learned anything, did you?"


    WHOOOSH!


    Ignoring Aestrea''s words, Leon exploded forward, his red mana surging around him like crackling fire.


    His foot met the ball in an instant, sending it racing down the field like a comet.


    Aestrea didn''t hesitate.


    With a sharp exhale, he sprinted alongside Leon, his ice mana swirling around his feet.


    His eyes locked onto the ball¡ªit was still bouncing, meaning he had a chance to intercept it before Leon could set up a clean shot!


    FWIP!


    Aestrea''s body tilted to the side as he lunged forward, his right foot stretching out to block the ball¡ª


    BAM!


    Leon saw it coming.


    He twisted his body mid-run, his knee coming up in a sharp feint before pushing the ball right with the outside of his foot.


    "Damn it¡ª!"


    Aestrea barely stopped himself from over-committing, his boots skidding against the icy field.


    Leon was quite fast


    The crowd roared as Leon''s dazzling footwork sent the ball closer to the White Team''s goal.


    "GO, LEON! BREAK THROUGH!!"


    Aestrea had no time to think.


    FWOOSH!


    Instead of chasing after Leon directly, he sidestepped, cutting off the most direct route to the goal.


    If Leon wanted to advance, he''d have to face him head-on.


    Leon grinned.


    "You think you can stop me, huh?"


    "Try me." Aestrea''s voice was cold.


    Leon accepted the challenge.


    BOOM!


    Mana exploded from his body as he kicked the ball forward, sending it straight toward Aestrea¡ª


    No¡ª


    It was a feint!


    At the last second, Leon dashed left, his body flickering like a mirage.


    Aestrea''s eyes sharpened slightly.


    He infused mana into his eyes.


    After all, this was also some kind of body enhancement.


    And if he couldn''t use his Judgement Eye because it was a skill, he could still use this kind of "Mana Vision".


    Everything slowed down for a moment.


    Aestrea saw it¡ªthe tiny shift in Leon''s balance, the subtle bend in his knees.


    He wasn''t shooting.


    He was planning to break past him.


    "Too slow, Little Leon."


    Aestrea moved first.


    FWOOOSH!


    The moment Leon attempted to cut past him, Aestrea''s right foot swung forward, tapping the ball just enough to make it roll away from Leon''s reach.


    "What¡ª?!"


    Leon''s movement was interrupted.


    Aestrea didn''t waste a second.


    With a flick of his ankle, he flicked the ball upward, then spun his body¡ª


    BOOM!


    He launched a long-range pass across the field.


    "Hah¡ª!"


    Alaine, watching from the spectator stands, gasped.


    Aestrea''s pass was perfect.


    The ball soared over the heads of several Gold Team players, cutting across the sky like a frozen meteor.


    On the other side of the field, a White Team forward jumped up, his mana blazing around him.


    BAM!


    He intercepted the pass with a powerful header, redirecting it toward the Gold Team''s goal¡ª


    "COUNTERATTACK!!!"


    The crowd erupted.


    The White Team''s forward, a bulky third-year named Grant, sprinted at full speed, his mana flaring around his legs.


    His eyes burned with determination¡ªthis was a chance to score!


    But then¡ª


    BANG!


    A golden blur rushed forward.


    Lucas.


    The "Hero of Light".


    "Not so fast."


    His voice rang with confidence as he launched himself forward, his entire body glowing with golden mana.


    The moment the ball bounced off the ground¡ª


    BOOM!


    Lucas intercepted it with a precise kick, stopping its momentum in an instant.


    "DAMN IT!" Grant cursed, trying to close the distance.


    But Lucas was already moving.


    His movements were smooth¡ªtoo smooth. He was like a professional, dribbling the ball effortlessly as if he were born for this game.


    "Hero Lucas takes the ball! Look at that flawless control!"


    The crowd roared.


    "GO, LUCAS!"


    "SHOW THEM WHY YOU''RE THE HERO!!"


    FWOOOSH!


    Lucas sped forward, weaving past two defenders in an instant. His golden mana made it almost impossible to see his feet.


    And now, he was directly heading towards Aestrea.


    "Ah... really?"


    Seeing the opportunity, Aestrea dashed forward.


    BOOM!


    Lucas grinned upon seeing him.


    "You''re in my way, Aestrea!"


    The moment Aestrea lunged at him¡ª


    Lucas faked left.


    ''A feint?''


    Aestrea didn''t fall for it.


    "Too obvious."


    Lucas tried to cut right¡ªbut Aestrea was already there.


    "What?!"


    Aestrea''s foot shot out, blocking Lucas''s dribble and knocking the ball loose.


    The crowd gasped!


    "AESTREA BLOCKED HIM?!"


    Lucas clicked his tongue.


    "Not bad."


    But he wasn''t done.


    In one fluid motion, he spun his body, his golden mana surging as he tried to pass the ball to one of his teammates¡ª


    BANG!


    Aestrea kicked it away first.


    The ball flew across the field again, heading toward the White Team''s strikers!


    "ANOTHER COUNTERATTACK!!"


    The stadium shook with excitement.


    The ball soared high into the sky, spinning rapidly as it arched toward the White Team''s forward.


    "I GOT IT!"


    A tall, muscular student from the White Team, Derek, jumped up, his body twisting mid-air.


    His eyes locked onto the ball as he prepared to smash it toward the goal¡ª


    But then¡ª


    BAM!


    A powerful force crashed into him.


    "GAAH¡ª!"


    He was blasted backward, tumbling across the field as the ball was stolen mid-air by a single figure.


    A golden-haired young man landed gracefully, the ball at his feet.


    Prince Leon.


    His sharp golden eyes burned with arrogance, and his lips curled in a smirk.


    "Weak."


    The crowd exploded with cheers.


    "PRINCE LEON!!!"


    "SHOW THEM WHO THE REAL KING IS!!"


    Leon flicked his hair back, his red aura shimmering in the cold air.


    He turned his gaze toward Aestrea who was very far from his.


    And his smirk widened.


    "What''s wrong, peasant?"


    Aestrea''s eye twitched.


    Fwoop!


    In just a matter of seconds, Leon slowly reached Aestrea, passing through the many white team''s players with ease.


    Then, he kicked the ball forward, so he could get a huge rundown.


    But Aestrea was faster.


    BOOM!


    The two collided.


    Aestrea''s foot slammed against the ball, stopping it.


    "Damn it!!" Leon clicked his tongue.


    "Annoying."


    Aestrea didn''t respond.


    He just pressed forward.


    "HAAAH!!"


    Leon sent a burst of mana into his legs, increasing his speed.


    He flicked the ball left¡ª


    Aestrea followed.


    He flicked right.


    Aestrea still followed.


    "DAMN YOU!"


    Leon gritted his teeth.


    With a snarl, he twisted his body, aiming for a powerful shot¡ª


    But Aestrea saw through it.


    FWOOSH!


    Just as Leon''s foot connected with the ball, Aestrea''s own foot intercepted it mid-kick¡ª


    "What?!"


    CRACK!


    A thin layer of ice suddenly spread from Aestrea''s foot, covering the ground beneath Leon.


    "Tch¡ª!"


    Leon''s balance wavered.


    "NO YOU DON''T!"


    Leon pushed off the ice, trying to recover¡ª


    But it was too late.


    Aestrea kicked the ball away, launching it toward the White Team''s forwards!


    The crowd erupted!


    "HE DID IT AGAIN!"


    Leon staggered backward, his face red with anger.


    His eyes burned with rage as he glared at Aestrea.


    "YOU¡­ DAMN¡­ PEASANT!"


    Aestrea smirked.


    "Try harder next time, Prince."


    Leon''s mana flared.


    Immediately, he turned on his heel and rushed towards the ball once again!


    The ball rocketed across the massive field, streaking like a comet toward the White Team''s forwards.


    The entire crowd was on the edge of their seats, their excited roars blending into the icy air.


    "Go! GO!!"


    But behind them¡ª


    Leon was seething.


    His fists clenched, veins bulging in his arms.


    His red aura flared, flickering like wildfire as he glared at Aestrea.


    This¡­ damn¡­ PEASANT.


    Not once. Not twice.


    But THREE TIMES.


    Three times Aestrea had humiliated him in front of thousands.


    And now?


    It was happening AGAIN.


    "Leon, focus!"


    Lucas, appearing right beside him, warned him.


    Leon gritted his teeth.


    "Shut up."


    Lucas frowned at him.


    "The match isn''t over. The White Team is pushing forward. If we let our guard down¡ª"


    "I SAID SHUT UP!"


    Leon''s aura flared violently.


    A crackle of red mana surged from his body, briefly distorting the air around him.


    Lucas''s expression hardened.


    "Leon." His tone was colder now.


    "Don''t let your emotions control you."


    Leon let out a slow breath.


    His eyes flickered toward Aestrea.


    His greatest rival.


    His greatest humiliation.


    Then toward Lucas.


    The one person he refused to lose against.


    A moment of silence passed.


    Then¡ª


    Leon let out a slow chuckle.


    A twisted, bitter one.


    "Fine."


    He rolled his shoulders, stretching his neck. His mana slowly settled.


    But his eyes still burned.


    "Let''s crush them."


    Lucas nodded, and both of them rushed towards the ball.

 Chapter 88 Interlude: Snow Festival (V)

    BAM!


    Aestrea dashed forward, his silver hair flowing behind him as he raced toward the ball.


    His teammate, Lance, had just barely managed to stop a Gold Team defender from stealing it.


    But now¡ª


    Lucas was approaching.


    Fast.


    "Pass it!"


    Lance didn''t hesitate.


    With a swift kick, he sent the ball flying toward Aestrea.


    And at the same time¡ª


    FWOOOSH!


    A gust of golden mana surged.


    Lucas closed the distance in an instant.


    His foot collided with Aestrea''s mid-air.


    "!!"


    BOOM!


    A shockwave exploded from the impact.


    The ball wobbled, thrown slightly off-course.


    Aestrea gritted his teeth, pushing harder¡ª


    But Lucas pushed back.


    Their eyes locked.


    For a brief moment, it was like the entire field disappeared.


    Nothing else mattered.


    Just them.


    A Dead Extra.


    A Protagonist.


    BAM!


    Lucas twisted his foot, forcing Aestrea backward.


    The ball rolled between them.


    A split second later¡ª


    Both of them charged.


    Their movements were a blur.


    Kicks, feints, rapid turns¡ªeach trying to outmaneuver the other.


    The crowd held their breath.


    Then¡ª


    FWOOSH!


    Lucas faked left.


    Aestrea reacted.


    And at that exact moment¡ª


    Lucas spun to the right, his foot slamming into the ball!


    "!!"


    The ball shot toward the White Team''s goal.


    It was a direct hit¡ª


    FWOOOOOP!


    The ball shot through the air, spinning like a bullet toward the White Team''s goal.


    The entire stadium tensed, eyes locked onto the blazing golden streak.


    Lucas''s kick wasn''t just powerful¡ªit was perfectly aimed.


    It was heading straight for the upper left corner¡ªa nearly impossible spot to block.


    The White Team''s goalkeeper, Rex, moved¡ª


    But it was too fast.


    Too strong.


    Too¡ª


    FWIP!


    A blur of silver suddenly rushed in.


    Aestrea.


    The moment Lucas kicked the ball, Aestrea had already moved.


    His body reacted before his mind did.


    Before he even realized it¡ª


    He was flying toward the ball.


    His legs bent, arms tensed, and with a single, desperate movement¡ª


    BAM!


    His foot connected.


    The impact rattled his entire leg, but¡ª


    The ball changed direction.


    The crowd exploded.


    "HE BLOCKED IT!!!"


    The ball went spinning toward the ground, bouncing wildly before rolling back onto the field.


    Lucas''s eyes widened.


    ''That was¡­ possible?!''


    But there was no time to think as Telmo, was the first to reach the ball.


    He clicked his tongue.


    Of course, it had to be Aestrea who stopped that shot.


    But whatever.


    There was no time to waste.


    With a sharp kick, Telmo sent the ball soaring down the field.


    And Rael, one of the forwards, dashed forward to meet it.


    But¡ª


    BOOOOM!


    Another explosion of mana.


    Leon.


    He wasn''t letting them pass.


    His red aura flared, and in an instant, he intercepted the ball.


    The White Team''s momentum shattered.


    Leon smirked.


    "Pathetic."


    He controlled the ball effortlessly, dodging a sliding tackle from one of the White Team''s midfielders.


    Then¡ª


    He kicked it straight up into the air.


    Lucas was already moving.


    The plan was clear.


    He would dribble through Aestrea, and pass the ball to Lucas.


    And then¡ª


    He would score.


    All to defeat Aestrea.


    At this moment, Leon''s smirk grew as he saw Aestrea approaching.


    "Finally. Took you long enough."


    Aestrea ignored him.


    His focus was on the ball.


    The ball descended fast, spinning with the weight of the game''s momentum.


    Leon was already in position, his red aura flaring as he pushed off the ground.


    FWOOSH!


    A burst of wind and mana surged as he leaped into the air, his foot rising to meet the ball before Aestrea could even reach it.


    Too slow!


    No¡ª


    Not yet.


    He didn''t hesitate.


    With an explosive step, he launched himself upward, slicing through the air like a silver comet.


    BOOM!


    Their legs clashed midair, sending out a shockwave that rippled through the field.


    The crowd erupted.


    "Aestrea and Leon are fighting for the ball in midair!" the announcer roared.


    Leon gritted his teeth, his muscles tensed as he pushed harder, trying to overpower Aestrea.


    "Give up."


    His voice was low, cold.


    But Aestrea wasn''t backing down.


    Instead of pushing back, he did something unexpected.


    He twisted his body, letting Leon''s force carry him just past the ball¡ª


    And then¡ª


    THWACK!


    With the inside of his foot, Aestrea redirected the ball toward the ground!


    Leon''s eyes widened.


    "What¡ª?!"


    The ball slammed into the grass below, bouncing away from Lucas''s reach where he would receive the pass.


    Aestrea landed with a roll, already sprinting after it.


    Lucas seeing how the plan failed, cursed and took off after him.


    Fwoop!


    The ball was just ahead.


    Lucas reached out, ready to steal it away¡ª


    But Aestrea flicked it sideways at the last second.


    Lucas missed. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He growled.


    Aestrea didn''t stop.


    With quick, precise touches, he controlled the ball, weaving through the defense like a shadow.


    One defender came from the left¡ª


    Aestrea sidestepped.


    Another lunged from the right¡ª


    He faked a pass and kept going towards the goalkeeper.


    BOOOM!


    The intensity of the mana enveloping him increased.


    His eyes narrowed, as the goal approached.


    The defenders were closing in, but he couldn''t afford to slow down.


    Ahead of him, ten defenders from the Gold Team formed an impenetrable line.


    The gap between them was almost nonexistent.


    And from his right side, Lucas and Leon positioned themselves, their eyes burning with intent as they ran after him.


    The forwards were too far away, giving him no option but to face the wave of defenders alone.


    THUD!


    Aestrea''s foot hit the ball with precision, sending it rolling forward.


    "I can''t stop now," he mumbled to himself.


    From the left, a huge defender lunged, his boots pounding the turf, aiming to block the ball.


    Aestrea''s reaction was instant.


    He dodged to the right in a fluid motion, spinning just enough to make the defender miss by a hair''s width.


    FWOOSH!


    The first tackle flew past him.


    But there was no time to rest.


    Another defender from the right side charged, aiming for his legs.


    Aestrea read it instantly. With a sharp feint, he shifted his body forward, twisting away from the attack and leaving the defender stumbling to the ground.


    THUD!


    He was free for a moment.


    But not for long.


    Two more defenders came at him, one from the front and one from the side. Clutching the ball tightly,


    Aestrea pivoted quickly, dribbling it backwards to keep the ball just out of their reach.


    The defenders slid toward him, sweeping the ground, but they only caught air.


    WHOOSH!


    Aestrea rolled the ball with the inside of his foot, sending it between their legs. He twisted his body, sidestepping the first defender before he dribbled past the second.


    "Just... a bit more..."


    He could already feel the sweat forming on his forehead.


    However...


    Just as Aestrea thought he had found a clear path to the goal, Lucas was already closing in.


    His golden mana surged upwards, as he rushed toward Aestrea from the left.


    Aestrea''s breath quickened.


    The space between them shrank in an instant.


    FWOOSH!


    Lucas''s foot shot out like a whip, aiming for Aestrea''s ball.


    But Aestrea was faster, shifting the ball forward just as Lucas''s foot swung past him.


    With a smirk, Aestrea dodged Lucas''s strike, his foot still controlling the ball like a master.


    "You''ll have to do better than that," Aestrea muttered under his breath, weaving around Lucas''s now-stumbling form.


    THWACK!


    Lucas growled in frustration, but Aestrea was already past him, pushing forward.


    BOOM!


    Leon, with his red aura, appeared like a flash of fire. His eyes narrowed, and his body exploded into motion.


    He was already in position, just ahead of the goal.


    But Aestrea didn''t flinch.


    Instead, he looked at the ball.


    ''Not yet.''


    The defenders were still coming.


    He dribbled the ball forward, his foot lightly tapping the ball to keep it close.


    But the Gold Team defenders were relentless.


    A defender from the right lunged at him, aiming for a brutal slide tackle.


    SHHHRRRIIPP!


    Aestrea flicked the ball with a quick flick of his foot to the left, dodging the tackle at the last second.


    The defender''s momentum carried him to the ground, but Aestrea was still on his feet, pushing forward.


    "Damn it!"


    The defender cursed, getting up as fast as possible.


    However, the time that the defender gathered was enough for both Lucas and Leon to get back into a defensive position.


    They closed in as Lucas surged forward, almost out of nowhere. His body shifted into an all-out sprint.


    ''Fuck... Just a bit more..''


    Aestrea, with the ball under his control, was running out of options.


    The goal was still a few steps away, but Lucas was closing in fast.


    THUD!


    Aestrea pushed the ball hard toward the goal.


    He glanced to his side.


    Leon was coming at him, eyes full of contempt.


    He had only one chance.


    With a burst of energy, Aestrea twisted his body, slipping past Lucas.


    But Leon was still there.


    FWOOSH!


    Aestrea pushed the ball in front of him, his foot in perfect synchronization with his movements.


    Then, he flung himself toward the ball, his foot lashing out with a thundering force.


    It was a full-bodied, unrelenting kick.


    BAM!


    The ball rocketed toward the goal, but Leon wasn''t going to let it happen.


    FWOOSH!


    He jumped.


    In the air, he reached for the ball, his hands outstretched like a predator about to claim its prey, to the point of committing a game foul.


    But Aestrea wasn''t finished.


    In mid-kick, Aestrea twisted his body, pulling off an incredible spin move that propelled the ball past Leon''s outstretched hands.


    No longer aiming for the center of the goal, Aestrea sent it with a sharp curve to the left corner¡ªa place that almost no one could reach.


    "!!!!"


    The goalkeeper, a hulking figure cloaked in gold, shifted his weight and raised his hands.


    The ball swerved slightly in midair, the mana-enforced energy making it unpredictable, but the goalkeeper was ready.


    He leaped forward, his arms outstretched, aiming to block the ball at the last second.


    THWAM!


    A loud, sickening smack echoed across the arena.


    The crowd gasped in shock as the goalkeeper missed.


    The ball soared like a flying arrow, passing through the goalkeeper and slamming into the net just as Leon landed with a defeated grunt.


    THWACK!


    WHOOSH!


    And soon after...


    "GOOOOOOAL!!!"


    The announcer screamed into the mic.


    The whole stadium exploded into loud cheers.


    "Ahh..."


    Aestrea exhaled in relief.


    "It got in..."


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    As the game wore on, the intensity only grew.


    The game''s score was 4-1.


    The White Team was winning by three points, all of them being scored by Aestrea himself, even though he was one of the defenders.


    And now, he had another opportunity to score, as the ball flew away from the rebound of hitting the mana-enhanced crossbar.


    "Agh... fuu...!"


    Aestrea''s legs were starting to feel like lead, his breath ragged, but he wasn''t about to give up now.


    "This is it."


    "Just one more..."


    He gripped the ball as it came to him, scanning the field.


    There was an opening.


    "Go!"


    With a powerful kick, he sent the ball flying.


    But this time¡ª


    THWACK!


    The sound was crisp, and as the ball hurtled toward the goal, Aestrea couldn''t help but hold his breath.


    "Come on..."


    He watched as the goalkeeper dove, but this time, the ball slipped past him.


    The goal was open.


    The ball rolled in.


    "Gooooooal!"


    The announcer''s voice boomed through the speakers, a sharp whistle cutting through the air, making everyone''s hearts race.


    "Haaa...!"


    Aestrea collapsed onto the grass, his breath coming in heavy, ragged gasps.


    His legs trembled beneath him, as the weight of the game finally caught to his body.


    The field was a blur around him, but he couldn''t quite process it yet.


    Everything hurt, but he had done it.


    Before he could even sit up, a wave of teammates surrounded him, lifting him off the ground in a massive pile of sweaty bodies.


    "Ah¡ª!"


    Aestrea barely had time to react as a mountain of students slammed into him from all sides.


    "WE WOOOONNN!"


    Someone shouted, a voice barely audible over the roar of the group.


    "YEAAHHH!"


    "ALL BECAUSE OF AESTREA!!!"


    Another teammate hollered, practically bouncing with joy.


    Laughter, high-fives, and wild celebration filled the air. It was pure, unfiltered joy.


    But the excitement wasn''t just coming from the players.


    Even the crowd was shouting.


    "MOONLIGHT SWORDSMAN!"


    "MOONLIGHT SWORDSMAN!"


    "MOONLIGHT SWORDSMAN!"


    On the other side, Leon grunted in frustration as he walked off.


    Lucas only wiped his sweat as he looked towards the sky; he also seemed a bit frustrated at their loss.


    As for Telmo, who was on Aestrea''s team...


    He scoffed and turned around as he saw his team celebrating.

 Chapter 89 Interlude: Snow Festival (VI)

    "Haaa..."


    Stepping off the field, Aestrea exhaled deeply, feeling the weight of exhaustion settling in.


    His entire body ached, his muscles sore from the intense match.


    Without wasting time, he quickly cast a few ¡ºClean¡» spells over himself, getting rid of the sweat and dirt clinging to his skin.


    A refreshing chill washed over him, making him feel at least a little lighter.


    Now cleaned up, he looked around, scanning the area for the teleporter that would take him out of the stadium.


    As he walked toward it, he pulled out his phone, unlocking it with a quick swipe. His eyes looked at the screen, searching through his schedule for the day.


    It took a moment to find his name, but once he did¡ª


    Two more events.


    ¡ºMana Volleyball¡» and ¡ºWeight Throw¡».


    Great.


    And as for tomorrow, the final day of the Snow Festival¡­


    He had two of the main events left.


    ¡ºMana Circles¡» and ¡ºSnowy Love¡».


    Normally, the Snow Festival would last around two weeks, but due to the whole Archdemon incident, the schedule had been drastically cut short.


    Not that anyone had really complained¡ªthe chaos from that fight still remained in the student''s minds.


    And the Headmistress?


    She conveniently returned only after the academy was fully repaired.


    ¡­How nice.


    Quite the coincidence, huh?


    Beep~


    The teleport gate hummed as it powered up, casting a soft blue glow around him.


    A second later, he stepped through, leaving the giant arena behind.


    "Master!"


    "...Papa..."


    A voice and a soft whisper immediately called out to him, making Aestrea turn his head.


    There, waving at him, were Alaine and Chaerin.


    Without hesitation, he walked toward them, a small smile appearing on his face.


    When he reached them, he gently cupped Chaerin''s cheek, his thumb brushing over her soft skin.


    She blinked up at him, her expression warm but shy.


    Then, he turned to Alaine, giving her a small, tired smile.


    But before he could say anything¡ª


    "You played really well, Master!"


    Alaine''s voice was bright, full of excitement.


    Right after her, Chaerin spoke as well.


    "Mhm! You were incredible, Papa!"


    Her voice was quiet, but the adoration in her tone was easily noticeable.


    Aestrea felt his chest tighten slightly.


    He could already feel Lumi wanting to come out, itching to play with Chaerin. But he couldn''t let her¡ªnot in public.


    Not where anyone could see her.


    But, putting that aside, he smiled at their compliments.


    "Papa, do you still have any more activities?" Tugging his sleeves, Chaerin looked Aestrea in the eyes and asked softly.


    Like, he had mentioned before, she had a perfectly average appearance...


    But, Aestrea didn''t know if it was because he was starting to see her as his daughter, but he felt like she was the cutest being in the entire world.


    "Unfortunately, yeah¡­" he admitted, brushing through her hair with slow movements.


    "So I''ll have to leave you with Alaine for a bit."


    Chaerin''s eyes flickered with something¡ªdisappointment, maybe¡ªbut she nodded slowly.


    "Mhm¡­ okay."


    A faint blush colored her cheeks as she leaned slightly into his touch.


    Aestrea felt a strange warmth in his chest.


    She was too cute.


    It was hard to believe that this quiet, soft-spoken girl was one of the most dangerous assassins in the world.


    For a brief moment, he almost forgot.


    Almost.


    But the reality wasn''t that kind.


    The organization that raised her¡ªwouldn''t let her go that easily.


    They''d come back.


    And when they did¡­


    They would definitely die at Aestrea''s hands.


    Vrum~


    His phone vibrated in his pocket.


    Pulling it out, he glanced at the screen.


    A new message.


    [Christina]


    ? [I have the money ready. Meet me at the Cathedral at 10 PM.]


    ? [¡­Sharp.]


    Aestrea stared at the text for a second.


    For some reason, a small shiver ran down his spine.


    Somehow, Christina''s words, even through the phone, could make him shiver.


    Still, he quickly typed out a [Sure.] before slipping his phone back into his pocket.


    "Master¡­ should we go to the cafeteria?" Alaine asked, tilting her head.


    Aestrea opened his mouth to agree¡ª


    But then his eyes turned towards Chaerin.


    For some reason¡­ the idea of bringing her to the academy''s cafeteria felt strange.


    The stares.


    The whispers.


    The inevitable questions.


    Yeah, maybe not.


    But before he could respond, Alaine suddenly clapped her hands.


    "Oh! I know a fantastic spot!"


    Her green eyes lit up with excitement.


    "Ah¡ª!"


    Before Aestrea could even react, she grabbed his wrist and dragged him along, practically bouncing as she led the way.


    Chaerin, caught off guard, let out a small "Eep!" as Aestrea quickly took her hand, making sure she wasn''t left behind.


    The three of them hurried through the campus, weaving past students and buildings, before finally arriving at¡ª


    [The Last Meal]


    Aestrea blinked.


    The restaurant''s exterior was simple, yet elegant. A cozy blend of warm lights and well-placed decor made it feel inviting.


    Alaine, clearly familiar with the place, quickly led them inside.


    The interior was just as nice¡ªclean, quiet, and peaceful.


    Not many people were around, which suited Aestrea just fine.


    He exhaled softly.


    ''Mhm¡­ if the food''s good, I''ll come back.''


    "Let''s sit there!" Alaine pointed to a small table by the window.


    Aestrea nodded, leading Chaerin by the hand as they settled into their seats.


    He let out a small breath, relaxing for the first time since the game.


    Alaine, meanwhile, was already flipping through the menu, her green eyes scanning the options.


    "What do you want to eat, Chaerin?" Aestrea asked, glancing at the small girl beside him.


    Chaerin looked at him hesitantly.


    "Um... I don''t know..."


    Aestrea chuckled, reaching out and tapping her nose lightly. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Then I''ll choose for you."


    Alaine observed the interaction in silence, her gaze softening just a little bit.


    There was something about the way Aestrea treated Chaerin that felt... different.


    He was always so terrifyingly calm with everything he did, but when it came to Chaerin, his actions were purely instinctual¡ªnatural in a way she wasn''t used to seeing from him.


    Aestrea waved at a nearby waiter, ordering three bowls of beef stew, fresh bread, and a small fruit parfait for dessert.


    When the food arrived, Chaerin''s eyes widened slightly at the steaming bowl in front of her.


    "Eat up," Aestrea said, placing a spoon in her small hands.


    Chaerin took a careful bite, her expression instantly melting into delight.


    "It''s good...!"


    Aestrea smiled.


    "Then eat as much as you want."


    As they ate, Alaine found herself watching the way Aestrea subtly spoiled Chaerin.


    He tore small pieces of bread for her, refilled her water before she even asked, and occasionally brushed stray strands of hair from her face when they fell into her food.


    He didn''t even seem to realize he was doing it¡ªhis focus was entirely on making sure Chaerin was comfortable.


    Alaine rested her chin on her hand, staring at him with an unreadable expression.


    ''He''s always been a little detached from people¡­ but when it comes to her, he''s so gentle.''


    Chaerin, unaware of Alaine''s thoughts, continued eating happily.


    "Papa, the stew is really good!"


    "I''m glad." Aestrea reached over and took a napkin, wiping the corner of her lips where a bit of broth had dripped.


    "Make sure to finish all of it."


    Alaine smirked.


    "You''re spoiling her too much, Master."


    Aestrea raised an eyebrow.


    "And?"


    Alaine opened her mouth to reply¡ªbut then stopped. She couldn''t think of a reason why he shouldn''t spoil her.


    ''Damn it. I''m actually jealous of a kid.''


    She sighed, shaking her head with an amused chuckle.


    "Nothing, nothing. Just keep going."


    After they finished their meal, Aestrea handed Chaerin the small parfait.


    "For dessert."


    Chaerin''s eyes sparkled.


    "Really?!"


    "Of course." He ruffled her hair.


    "You deserve a little treat."


    Alaine rolled her eyes, but the fond smile never left her face.


    ''Hopeless. Completely hopeless.''


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    After lunch, Aestrea made his way to the Mana Volleyball arena. The stadium was packed with students, the air buzzing with excitement.


    His chosen team was already waiting, stretching, and preparing for the match.


    "You''re finally here," one of his teammates said.


    "You ready?"


    Aestrea rolled his shoulders.


    "Yeah. Let''s just get this over with."


    ''I still have the Weight Throw activity after this....''


    ***


    The match started, and immediately, Aestrea dominated.


    The moment the ball was served, he moved like lightning, setting up perfect shots and sending powerful spikes that left the opposing team scrambling.


    The audience gasped every time he jumped¡ªhis agility made it look effortless.


    "HE''S LITERALLY FLYING! DIDN''T THE FIELD HAVE TEN TIMES THE PRESSURE OF THE NORMAL GRAVITY?!" someone shouted from the crowd.


    In the final set, with the score nearly tied, Aestrea leaped into the air, his eyes locking onto the ball as he charged mana into his hand.


    With one devastating strike, he sent the ball crashing into the opponent''s side with an explosion of force.


    The opponents didn''t even notice when the ball had hit the ground.


    "GAME OVER!" the announcer screamed.


    "THE WHITE TEAM WINS!"


    The crowd erupted into cheers, chanting his name once again.


    ***


    Next was Weight Throw.


    The event was simple: throw the enchanted iron sphere as far as possible.


    The best distance so far was 97 meters.


    Aestrea stepped up, gripping the heavy sphere in his hand. Without hesitation, he swung his arm back, gathering mana into his muscles, and hurled it forward.


    The ball soared through the air¡ªhigher, farther¡ªbefore finally crashing down at 177 meters.


    Silence.


    Then¡ª


    "WHAT THE HELL?!"


    "THAT''S ALMOST DOUBLE THE RECORD!!"


    Aestrea sighed, rubbing his temples.


    ''Too much?''


    ***


    After he was done with the activities, Aestrea headed towards the Cathedral.


    The Cathedral stood tall in the quiet night, its massive structure looming over the snow-covered streets.


    The cold air bit at Aestrea''s skin as he walked up the steps, his breath coming out in soft, white puffs.


    The grand wooden doors in front of him were carved with old symbols, their edges worn by time but still carrying a presence that made anyone think twice before stepping inside.


    For a moment, he just stood there, staring at them.


    Then, with a quiet sigh, he reached out and pushed.


    Creeeak¡ª


    The heavy doors groaned as they opened, revealing the vast interior of the Cathedral.


    A rush of warmth greeted him, the dim glow of countless candles dancing across the high stone walls.


    The smell of incense lingered in the air¡ªsoft, almost comforting.


    The place was silent.


    Except for her.


    There, beneath the statue of the Goddess of Light, Christina knelt in prayer.


    Her golden hair fell around her shoulders, glowing faintly under the candlelight. She was dressed in her usual refined saintess clothes, but something about her looked... different.


    The usual sharpness in her posture was softer, her hands clasped together like she was holding onto something invisible.


    Aestrea didn''t speak.


    He just watched.


    The flickering lights cast long shadows across the marble floor, and in that quiet space, he could hear the faintest sound of her breath¡ªslow, steady.


    Then¡ª


    She opened her eyes.


    The moment their gazes met, something shifted.


    Christina didn''t move right away.


    She stayed there for a second like she was measuring something in the air between them. Then, with smooth, deliberate movements, she rose to her feet.


    The soft click of her heels echoed in the empty Cathedral.


    Aestrea took a step forward.


    Christina did the same.


    "You finally arrived."


    Her words were unexpectedly soft for someone who had quite a sharp gaze.


    Seeing, this Aestrea gulped inwardly.


    ''...I just wanted my money back...''


    ''Why does it seem like she wants to kill me?''

 Chapter 90 Interlude: Snow Festival (VII)

    Crackle...


    The candlelight flickered, casting long, wavering shadows across the cold marble floor. The Cathedral was quiet¡ªso quiet that even the distant wind outside felt muffled.


    Christina stood there, her dim pink eyes locked onto Aestrea''s glowing red ones.


    Her hands, still clasped in front of her, tightened slightly. Her nails pressed into her palms, but her face remained composed.


    Elegant.


    Serene, even.


    "...The money."


    Aestrea went straight to the point.


    His voice was calm.


    Steady.


    Like he wanted to be done with this quickly.


    Like he wanted to leave.


    Christina felt something snap.


    Her lips curled into a small smile.


    And to her smile, Aestrea stiffened slightly.


    ''Oh?''


    ''Was he¡­ nervous?''


    ''Good.''


    She took a step forward.


    The soft click of her heels echoed in the empty Cathedral, each sound slow, deliberate. The warmth from the candles barely reached her, but it didn''t matter.


    Her head tilted slightly, her golden hair sliding over her shoulder.


    "My, my¡­" she murmured, her voice light, teasing.


    She took another step.


    Then another.


    Aestrea didn''t move.


    His eyes stayed on her, glowing, unreadable.


    "You finally arrived," she murmured, voice light, teasing, "and the first thing you ask for is¡­ money?"


    Another step.


    Another.


    She tilted her head, her golden hair sliding over her shoulder like liquid gold.


    "A bit cold, don''t you think?"


    She watched as his expression twitched¡ªjust a flicker, barely there.


    Then, he sighed.


    "...I do not have any reason to talk with you other than that. Besides, you said it yourse¡ª!"


    "¡ªShhhh..."


    Christina raised a finger and placed it against his lips.


    Aestrea froze.


    His eyes widened¡ªjust a little.


    And inside, she laughed.


    "...For someone who used to treat the Cathedral like a second home," she whispered in a soft voice, "you''re being quite the problem child."


    His eyebrows furrowed.


    "Well? Aren''t you happy?" he asked suddenly.


    Christina raised an eyebrow.


    "I mean, you were the one who wanted me to stop coming here with injuries from battle. Isn''t this what you wanted?"


    Her breath caught.


    Her fingers curled slightly.


    ''Hah.''


    ''How cute.''


    "I did say that," she admitted, tilting her head slightly, "because I care about you. But that doesn''t mean you couldn''t pay me a visit, no?"


    Her voice softened¡ªbut it was edged with something sharp.


    "It''s been quite a while since you''ve come here¡ªI even had to invite you myself, and the only reason you came was probably because of the money¡­"


    She let out a quiet laugh.


    Then, she turned around.


    The candlelight cast her shadow long across the floor.


    "I guess..."


    Her voice was barely above a whisper.


    "...For you, I was simply a tool."


    Aestrea stiffened.


    His mouth parted slightly.


    "...Christina, I nev¡ª"


    "¡ªSomeone you could ask for help, and I would do anything you wanted, right?"


    She turned back around.


    Her dim pink eyes locked onto his glowing red ones.


    Then, a slow, bitter smile formed on her lips.


    "A tool that could heal your constant injuries... right?"


    Her voice cracked.


    Aestrea''s frown deepened.


    "Christina, I never saw you as a¡ª"


    "Then what was I to you, Aestrea?"


    Her voice rose.


    Louder.


    Sharper.


    She took a step forward¡ªher body trembling slightly.


    Aestrea inhaled, his lips pressing together.


    "Christina¡ª"


    Then, suddenly¡ª


    She punched him.


    It wasn''t hard.


    Not enough to hurt.


    But enough to make him feel it.


    Her small fists hit his chest again.


    Then again.


    Then again.


    "Did you think of me as a tool?!"


    Her voice shook.


    "Something that you could use anytime you wanted?!"


    Aestrea didn''t stop her.


    He just stood there.


    Taking it.


    Her shoulders shook.


    Her hands balled into fists.


    She lifted her gaze¡ªher dim pink eyes shimmering with unshed tears.


    "...What about my feelings?"


    Silence.


    Aestrea exhaled slowly.


    Then¡ª


    "...I never saw you that way," he said, voice lower, softer.


    Christina stared at him.


    Her chest rose and fell, breath shaky.


    Then, she laughed.


    Soft.


    Bitter.


    "Then why?" she whispered.


    "Why do you keep running away from me?"


    Aestrea looked at her.


    Silent.


    Then¡ª


    He looked away.


    And that¡ª


    That hurt more than anything.


    The Cathedral was silent.


    Only the distant crackle of candlelight remained.


    Christina stared at him, her breath uneven. Her fists clenched by her sides, her nails digging into her palms.


    Why?


    Why wouldn''t he look at her?


    Why wouldn''t he face her?


    The lump in her throat tightened, her vision blurring for half a second.


    "...Hahaha..."


    Then, she laughed.


    Soft.


    Sharp.


    Bitter.


    "There it is," she whispered, shaking her head.


    "You always do this."


    Aestrea''s red eyes flickered toward her.


    She didn''t stop.


    "You always avoid things when they get too real."


    Her voice trembled slightly, but she forced herself to keep going.


    "You shut me out. You leave me behind. And then, when you finally come back, you act like nothing happened."


    She took a step forward.


    He didn''t move.


    "Do you know what it''s like?" she asked sharply, "To wait for you?"


    Her hands clenched tighter.


    "To pray, to beg for you to come back safe¡ªwhile you''re out there, fighting, throwing yourself into battle like your life means nothing?!"


    Aestrea''s jaw tightened.


    She saw it.


    That tiny flicker in his eyes.


    But he still didn''t say anything.


    And that infuriated her.


    Christina let out a sharp breath, her chest rising and falling rapidly.


    She wanted to hit him.


    She wanted to shake him.


    She wanted to scream.


    But instead¡ª


    She smiled.


    And that was probably more terrifying than anything else.


    "Tell me, Aestrea," she said, voice slow, dangerous.


    Aestrea stiffened.


    "...What?"


    Christina tilted her head slightly, golden hair falling over her shoulder.


    "Was she worth it?"


    Silence.


    His expression didn''t change.


    But oh, she saw the way his fingers curled slightly at his sides.


    Good.


    She took another step.


    "That girl."


    His eyes darkened.


    "The one who wouldn''t stop touching you after the battle against the Archdemon of Pride."


    Aestrea''s entire body tensed.


    Christina''s smile widened.


    "Oh? Do you remember now?" she whispered.


    "Or should I remind you?"


    She placed a delicate finger against her chin, pretending to think.


    "What was her name again? Ah¡­ right."


    She leaned in slightly.


    "Senior Violet, am I right?"


    His expression hardened.


    Christina let out a breathy laugh.


    "She was quite bold, wasn''t she?" she mused, "Touching your arm. Clinging to you. Looking up at you with those big, worried eyes¡ª"


    She made a mocking little gasp.


    "Oh, Aestrea, I''m so glad that you''re okay!"


    Aestrea''s eye twitched.


    He exhaled slowly, like he was trying to control his breathing.


    "Christina¡ª"


    "What?" she interrupted, stepping even closer.


    They were too close now.


    Her pink eyes glowed softly in the dim light.


    His red ones burned like embers.


    "Are you nervous?" she whispered.


    Aestrea''s lips pressed together into a thin line.


    Christina grinned.


    "You should be."


    He sighed, running a hand through his silver hair.


    "It wasn''t like that."


    Christina blinked slowly.


    "Oh?"


    "She was just¡ª"


    "Just what, Aestrea?"


    He hesitated.


    And that was all she needed.


    "She was just there? Just standing next to you? Just touching you for no reason?"


    She took another step, forcing him back slightly.


    "Are you trying to tell me that she just happened to drape herself over you like some lost kitten?"


    Aestrea inhaled sharply, looking away again.


    Christina''s expression darkened.


    "There you go again."


    Aestrea blinked.


    "Looking away."


    Her voice was quiet now.


    Hurt.


    "Always looking away."


    Aestrea''s shoulders tensed slightly.


    She hated that.


    She hated that he could fight demons, face death, stand on the battlefield without fear¡ª


    And yet, he couldn''t look at her.


    "Christina¡ª"


    "Say it."


    Aestrea froze.


    "Say it, Aestrea."


    She stepped even closer.


    "Tell me it meant nothing."


    His breath hitched.


    Her dim pink eyes glowed.


    "Tell me she meant nothing to you."


    Silence.


    The flickering candlelight cast shadows across his face, making his expression unreadable.


    Then¡ª


    Finally¡ª


    "...She meant nothing."


    Christina''s heart pounded.


    But she didn''t let it show.


    Instead, she let out a soft breath, tilting her head slightly.


    "Good."


    Aestrea stiffened.


    She smiled sweetly.


    Then¡ª


    She leaned in, lips barely an inch from his ear.


    "But just so we''re clear¡­"


    Her voice was barely a whisper now.


    "If she tries it again¡­"


    A pause.


    A small, innocent smile.


    "...I don''t know what I''ll do."


    Aestrea swallowed.


    Christina pulled back slightly, studying his expression.


    And oh¡ª


    His expression...?


    That was beautiful.


    She took a step back, finally giving him space.


    Then, with a soft hum, she reached into her cleavage and pulled out a small pouch.


    She tossed it toward him.


    Aestrea caught it without thinking.


    The weight of it was familiar¡ªhis money.


    "...That''s all you came here for, right?"


    Her voice was light.


    Almost playful.


    Aestrea exhaled.


    He didn''t say anything.


    He just looked at her.


    Like he was trying to figure her out.


    Like he couldn''t.


    And honestly?


    That was exactly how she wanted it.


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    Getting out of the cathedral...


    Aestrea sighed deeply.


    "...She really had to indirectly confess to me in the most insane way possible," he muttered under his breath.


    His eyebrows furrowed slightly.


    Honestly, he couldn''t really refuse Christina''s words.


    The hundreds of memories he had with Christina simply made him hesitant to do anything to actually hurt her.


    Although he did it unconciously.


    And well...


    Christina... she was Aestrea''s first love. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He didn''t even realize when it happened, but he fell for her so easily.


    She probably knew that already.


    Back then, he was a mess around her¡ªawkward, unsure of what to do or say.


    He never made any moves, never tried to make things happen between them.


    He just wanted to savor every second he spent with her, like time with her was something to be cherished.


    He wasn''t the type to fake an injury just to see her, but... every little thing she did made him fall harder.


    The way she healed him with her kindness, the worry in her eyes when she noticed something was off with him... she had a way of making him feel like he was the only person that mattered.


    Everything about Christina felt perfect to him.


    But he could never admit it.


    Not then.


    So, he avoided her.


    Every time she made a move, he pretended not to notice.


    He looked away.


    Pretending not to understand what she was saying.


    It was easier that way, right?


    But now...


    He couldn''t keep pretending anymore.


    Or neither he planned to.


    Christina''s seed of love had already overflowed through the jealousy that she felt when she saw Violet hugging Aestrea.


    If anything more goes on, Christina''s emotions could be getting erratic.


    The kind that could really be dangerous.


    "I mean... the way she expressed her emotions..." Aestrea frowned.


    From a normal guy''s perspective, it might seem that it was simply jealousy.


    But Aestrea knew...


    Christina really wanted to kill Violet.


    And she might even do it.


    And of course, the only reason she''s so confident should be because of the Holy Nation behind her, the faction that protects her.


    For them, Christina is like a gift from god.


    "...Well."


    He ran a hand through his hair, a tired chuckle escaping his lips.


    "It''s not like I''m living a normal life."


    He looked up at the sky, his smile turning bitter.


    "Besides...it''s just another crazy woman, right?"


    In the short time he''d been here, he had already met more than enough of them.

 Chapter 91 Interlude: Snow Festival (VIII)

    "Hello, dear contestants!"


    A loud, cheerful voice echoed across the grand examination hall, instantly grabbing everyone''s attention.


    "The rules of the game ''Magic Circles'' are simple!"


    "First, a magic circle will appear on the small table in front of you. It''ll stay there for exactly fifteen seconds. Your job is to identify it¡ªwrite down its name, attribute, and effect!"


    Alright. Sounds easy enough.


    "If you figure it out before time runs out, there will be a small green button on your table. Press it, and a piece of paper will appear. That''s where you''ll write your answer!"


    I glanced at the sleek little table before me. The surface was smooth, polished, almost glowing under the bright lights.


    "The sixty-four fastest students who answer correctly will move on to the second phase!"


    Sixty-four?


    That means there''ll be a huge elimination in the first round.


    "And without further ado¡­ let''s begin!"


    Glow...!


    A bright red magic circle flared to life on my table.


    My eyes locked onto it immediately.


    ¡ºFire-Type Magic Circle¡ª "Flame"¡»


    A basic one.


    This was used to invoke "Flame", a 1st-Level Fire spell.


    Too easy.


    Tap.


    I hit the green button almost instantly.


    And just after me¡ª


    Tap, tap, tap!


    Several other students followed, pressing their buttons in quick succession.


    A small parchment appeared before me.


    Without wasting a second, I wrote down:


    [Name: "Flame".


    Attribute: Fire


    Effect: Creates a small wisp of flames.]


    The moment I finished, the paper vanished¡ªand a green checkmark glowed on my table.


    Perfect.


    I leaned back slightly, watching as others scrambled to finish. None of them hesitated, staring at their circles, and immediately writing down the answer.


    It was going to be a question of speed for now.


    Beep!


    "Time''s up!" The announcer''s voice rang out.


    "If a red ''X'' appears on your table¡­ it means you failed. You''ll be teleported to the spectator''s area."


    A short pause.


    "And now¡­ elimination!"


    Vroop!


    In an instant, over a hundred students vanished from the room.


    That was brutal.


    But expected.


    "Now¡­ onto the second phase!"


    The announcer''s voice carried a playful tone as if he was enjoying watching students panic for a slight moment.


    "For this round, you''ll have thirty seconds instead of fifteen! But here''s the twist¡ª"


    I narrowed my eyes.


    "Now, the Magic Circles will be at 2nd-Level!"


    A small murmur spread through the remaining students.


    Still nothing too difficult.


    "It should still be easy for most of you, so¡ª"


    The announcer chuckled.


    "Fasten up those hands!"


    Glow¡­!


    Another magic circle flashed onto my table.


    ¡ºModified Wind-Type Magic Circle ¨C "Gale Shot"¡»


    This one was slightly more complex than the first round, but nothing difficult. It created a concentrated blast of wind, strong enough to push enemies back.


    Tap.


    I pressed the green button without hesitation.


    Just like before, a parchment appeared, and I quickly jotted down the answer.


    [Name: "Gale Shot"


    Attribute: Wind


    Effect: Creates a burst of wind, pushing enemies back. The modified version of the spell, "Wind Push".]


    The parchment disappeared¡ª


    Green checkmark.


    Done.


    I glanced to my side, watching how others were handling it. Some students pressed their buttons quickly, while others hesitated, frowning as they analyzed the symbols.


    I could understand them, since there were multiple alternatives to the "Gale Shot", just like the original version of this modified spell, "Wind Push".


    Thirty seconds passed quickly.


    Beep!


    "Time''s up!"


    The announcer let out a laugh.


    "And now¡­ elimination!"


    Vroop!


    Half of the remaining students vanished.


    I didn''t even blink.


    At this rate, by the next phase, we''d be down to sixteen people.


    "Now then!" The announcer''s voice carried an excited tone.


    "For the third phase, you''ll have one full minute. But! Now, the Magic Circles will be at 3rd-Level!"


    A murmur ran through the remaining students.


    That was where things would start getting tricky.


    But still, it wasn''t that difficult yet.


    Glow¡­!


    A new Magic Circle appeared printed on my table. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡ºEarth-Type Magic Circle ¨C Tremor Step¡»


    A movement-based magic circle. If used properly, it could create small quakes beneath the user''s feet, disrupting an enemy''s balance.


    Tap.


    I pressed the green button again, writing down my answer.


    [Name: "Tremor Step"


    Attribute: Earth


    Effect: Creates localized tremors beneath the user''s feet.]


    Green checkmark.


    Simple.


    I finished early, so I leaned back, watching others. Some people struggled¡ªtheir eyes darting across the glowing symbols, trying to recall what the magic did.


    Others pressed their buttons with confidence, finishing quickly.


    Beep!


    "Time''s up!" The announcer declared.


    "Now, let''s thin the herd again!"


    Vroop!


    Another half of the students disappeared.


    Now, only sixteen people remained.


    And with that¡ª


    Everything changed.


    ...Fwip!


    "My eyes..."


    A strange light filled the room.


    Before I could react, my vision warped¡ª


    Then¡ª


    Vwoooosh!


    I landed on solid ground.


    But this wasn''t the same place.


    Instead of the massive hall with countless tables, we were now in a smaller, enclosed space.


    The tables were smaller, closer together.


    And the air¡­ felt different.


    I blinked.


    Then, I noticed something.


    On my right¡ª


    Rose.


    On my left¡ª


    Violet.


    They noticed me at the same time.


    For a second, none of us spoke.


    Their eyes widened.


    Rose, as quiet as ever, seemed hesitant, shifting slightly as if she didn''t know whether to greet me or not.


    Meanwhile, Violet¡ª


    A smirk slowly crept onto her lips.


    "Well, well, well¡­" she hummed, turning toward me. "If it isn''t our dear Aestrea. What a coincidence~"


    I let out a small sigh.


    Not this again.


    "Didn''t think I''d see you two here..."


    Violet leaned in slightly, resting her elbow on the table.


    "You say that, but aren''t you the most surprising one here?" She tilted her head. "I mean, I knew Rose would choose this activity, but you? Aren''t you the ace of sports?"


    ...You were literally the one who helped me put my activities to paper.


    I glanced at Rose.


    Is it because of her?


    She was avoiding my gaze slightly, but I could tell she was listening closely.


    Nevertheless, I decided to comply with her words.


    "¡­This is an activity that is not that hard for me."


    Violet chuckled.


    "Right, right¡­ ''not that hard'', he says," she mocked playfully.


    Then, her eyes glinted mischievously.


    "Say, Aestrea~ Since we have a bit of time¡­ Mind explaining what that little display was earlier?"


    I frowned.


    "What are you talking about?"


    "Oh, you know~" She waved a hand dramatically.


    "During the fight against the Archdemon of Pride¡­"


    Her smirk widened.


    "I couldn''t help but notice a certain someone getting all buddy-buddy with a certain girl."


    I stared at her.


    She smiled wider.


    "Or should I say¡­" she paused, her voice dripping with fake sweetness¡ª


    "¡­A girl who even had the audacity to hug you?"


    I blinked.


    Then, the realization hit me.


    She was talking about herself.


    I sighed, furrowing my eyebrows.


    She can be really annoying.


    And at my expression, Violet grinned.


    "Ohh~ So you DO remember!" She giggled, resting her chin on her hands. "Come on, Aestrea, you don''t actually think I''d forget something like that, do you?"


    "¡­It was after a battle," I muttered.


    Violet gasped.


    "Oh no, don''t tell me¡­" Her voice turned exaggerated.


    "You weren''t moved by my embrace at all?"


    I rubbed my temple.


    Rose, on the other hand, looked¡­


    Uncomfortable.


    She wasn''t saying anything, but her posture was stiff.


    Violet, noticing this, smirked slightly.


    "Oh? What''s this?" She glanced between us.


    "Rose, you''ve been awfully quiet~"


    Rose flinched slightly.


    "¡­It''s nothing," she mumbled.


    Violet, of course, wasn''t letting go.


    "Aww, don''t be shy! I mean, you saw it too, right?" She turned back to me. "Honestly, Aestrea, I never pegged you as the type to let a girl cling to you like that."


    I sighed.


    "Violet."


    "Yes, dear?"


    "Shut up."


    She laughed.


    But before she could tease me further¡ª


    Glow¡­!


    The next Magic Circle appeared.


    Violet straightened immediately, all jokes disappearing.


    Rose did the same, focusing her gaze on the table.


    I turned my attention back to my own Magic Circle.


    ¡ºWater-Type Magic Circle ¨C Aqua Bind¡»


    And instantly, I recognized it.


    Even I was surprised.


    What kind of motivation did my predecessor have to study so many magic circles?


    This was a spell that formed whip-like tendrils of water, wrapping around a target to restrain them.


    Not particularly strong, but annoying if used correctly.


    Tap.


    I pressed the green button.


    The parchment appeared.


    [Name: "Aqua Bind"


    Attribute: Water


    Effect: Creates water tendrils that bind the opponent.]


    The moment I finished writing, the paper vanished, and a familiar green checkmark appeared on my table.


    Done.


    I leaned back slightly, observing my surroundings.


    Across from me, some students were struggling.


    One boy was sweating bullets, his hands shaking as he scribbled his answer.


    Another girl bit her lip, hesitating before pressing the green button.


    And beside me¡ª


    Violet and Rose were working at their own pace.


    Violet, of course, finished quickly.


    Tap.


    Her smirk barely wavered as she wrote her answer.


    Meanwhile, Rose was slightly slower, but just as focused.


    She pressed her button a second later and carefully wrote her response.


    Then¡ª


    Beep!


    "Time''s up!" the announcer called.


    I straightened slightly, waiting for the next wave of eliminations.


    "Now, let''s trim the numbers once more!"


    Vroop!


    Another half of the students vanished.


    I exhaled quietly.


    Only eight of us remained.


    A glance to my sides.


    Violet was still here.


    Rose was still here.


    The competition was getting serious now.


    The air felt heavier.


    But before I could fully process the situation¡ª


    Violet let out a soft chuckle.


    I turned my head slightly.


    She was grinning again.


    "Not bad, Aestrea~" she mused, twirling a strand of her purple hair between her fingers. "I thought maybe you''d start slipping by now."


    I gave her a flat look.


    "¡­I could say the same to you."


    She laughed.


    "Oh? Are you admitting that you''re impressed by me?"


    "That''s not what I said."


    "But that''s what you meant~"


    I didn''t bother responding.


    Instead, I turned to Rose.


    She had been quiet for a while now.


    Her red eyes were focused downward like she was deep in thought.


    "¡­Something wrong?" I asked.


    She blinked, startled, before shaking her head.


    "¡­No, I just¡­" She hesitated


    . "I didn''t expect to see you here."


    Violet hummed.


    "Ohhh? So it''s not just me who''s surprised~"


    Rose shot her a look but didn''t say anything.


    Violet just grinned.


    "Aestrea, be honest~" she leaned in slightly, lowering her voice. "You didn''t expect us to be here either, did you?"


    I exhaled.


    "Not really," I admitted.


    Violet laughed.


    "Hah! See, Rose? He thought we''d fail!"


    Rose sighed, rubbing her temples.


    "That''s not what he said¡­"


    Violet waved a hand dismissively.


    "Details, details."


    I shook my head.


    Before she could say anything else¡ª


    Glow¡­!


    The next Magic Circle started to appear.


    And just like that¡ª


    The teasing stopped.


    At this point, the competition was cutthroat.


    We only had four people left.


    And the time limit had doubled again.


    Two minutes.


    That meant one thing¡ª


    These Magic Circles were about to get difficult.


    Glow¡­!


    The Magic Circle on my table flashed.


    ¡ºDark-Type Magic Circle ¨C "Shadow Lock"¡»


    A high-tier binding spell that used shadows to immobilize the target''s movement.


    I didn''t hesitate.


    Tap.


    Green button.


    The parchment appeared.


    [Name: "Shadow Lock"


    Attribute: Darkness


    Effect: Uses shadows to bind and immobilize a target.]


    The second I finished writing¡ª


    Green checkmark.


    Done.


    I exhaled softly, shifting my gaze.


    Violet had already finished.


    Smirking, confident.


    Rose was still writing.


    Focused, careful.


    Across from me, the last remaining student was struggling. His face was tense, fingers shaking slightly.


    His hesitation was costing him time.


    Beep!


    "Time''s up!"


    The moment we heard that¡ª


    Vroop!


    The last student vanished.


    Huh?


    Weren''t two students supposed to disappear?


    "Ha, I see that you''re all surprised! But now, the rules have changed since the spells have reached the 7th level! You only have to get the magic circle right, and you''ll pass."


    "The students who get their answer wrong will be eliminated, and that will continue until only one student is remaining. But, if for example, in the final round, two students get the answer wrong, both will be considered as winners."


    "So..."


    The announcer''s voice rang out, excitement clear.


    "For this round, you''ll have four minutes¡ªbut the Magic Circles will be at the 7th level!" He repeated his words excitedly.


    A few gasps from the audience.


    These were quite difficult circles since they had a lot more details, and just a different line could form another spell.


    And neither of the two beside me actually had knowledge about them. Maybe Violet had some, but Rose... probably did not.


    Even my predecessor only knew a few 7th-level magics in theory, and I only manifested one through the knowledge that I gained from his constant studies.


    "So... good luck!"


    The announced shouted.


    And at the same time, a light appeared on my table.


    The magic circle that appeared right before me... was quite... exquisitely designed.


    From the intricate details, I could see that it was of the water attribute. However, the lines weren''t aligned, so it was probably a modified-type circle.


    "Tsk..."


    I clicked my tongue.


    Both Violet and Rose noticed it, but their eyes continued on the paper, trying to figure out what kind of magic circle they were.


    I looked at the magic circle for a whole minute...


    And suddenly, I had an epiphany.


    ''Gosh... I love you, my dear predecessor.''


    ''Wait... isn''t that the same as saying, I love myself?''


    ''Ehh... whatever.''


    Tap.


    I pressed the button.


    And then, started writing.


    [Name: Modified¡ª"Typhoon"


    Attribute: Water


    Effect: Creates giant typhoons that can cause an extraordinary amount of damage to the point of even killing multiple "Named" Demon Beasts with a single spell.]


    This was quite interesting since it was a modified version of the 6th-level magic, "Water Cyclones".


    It was a much stronger version, of course.


    I triple-checked my answer.


    Then¡ª


    The parchment disappeared.


    Green checkmark.


    I leaned back.


    Done.


    Now¡ª


    Violet and Rose were still working.


    Violet had her signature smirk, but her brows were furrowed slightly.


    Rose was biting her lip, her pen moving fast.


    Seconds passed.


    Then¡ª


    Violet finished.


    And a moment later¡ª


    Rose barely finished in time.


    Beep!


    "That''s it! The final round is over!"


    The audience erupted into cheers.


    And then¡ª


    The final results appeared.


    [Aestrea Moon ¨C Passed


    Violet ¨C Failed


    Rose ¨C Failed]


    I was the one who had won the competition.


    I exhaled.


    Then, before I could even react¡ª


    Violet leaned in, smiling.


    "Well, well, well¡­ looks like it was our dear Aestrea that won the activity, huh?"


    Violet...


    Honestly...


    Even though I quite like you.


    Just shut the fuck up.

 Chapter 92 Interlude: Snowy Love (IX)

    The moment the final results were announced, the tension finally settled.


    The audience cheered.


    Some students looked impressed while others looked defeated.


    But I barely paid attention.


    Because the moment I looked to my sides¡ª


    Violet and Rose were staring at me.


    Violet''s smirk was still there, but there was something more mischievous behind her eyes.


    Rose, on the other hand, was still quiet. Her lips parted slightly as if she wanted to say something¡ªbut the words never came.


    For a moment, none of us spoke.


    Then¡ª


    Clap, clap, clap!


    Violet started applauding.


    "Well, well, well," she hummed, tilting her head. "Look at us, Aestrea. Side by side again. Feels kinda nostalgic, doesn''t it?"


    "¡­Not really. I was the only one that won after all."


    Her grin widened at my words.


    "Oh? You''re telling me you don''t feel even a little sentimental?" She leaned in, lowering her voice slightly, to the point of even ignoring my comment.


    "I mean, after what happened before¡­ I figured we''d at least have a moment~"


    I gave her a flat look.


    "You mean the moment where you hugged me out of nowhere after I fought the Archdemon of Pride?"


    She chuckled.


    "Exactly~"


    I raised an eyebrow.


    "Do you want a hug then?"


    She froze.


    Well...


    It seems that she didn''t expect me to be so direct.


    For the first time in a while, Violet seemed caught off guard.


    Her smirk wavered¡ªjust for a split second¡ªbefore she quickly regained her usual playful expression.


    "Oh? Offering to hug me now, Aestrea?" She placed a hand dramatically over her chest. "I knew you''d come around eventually~"


    "I was joking."


    "Aww, what a shame." She pouted, then suddenly grinned again. "Unless¡­ you''re backing out now because you actually want to hug me?"


    I stared at her blankly.


    This woman...


    She might be more annoying than Andrea or Marissa, from "The Walking Dead".


    ''Maybe...''


    Ah...


    Nevermind.


    ...She isn''t there yet.


    I sighed and turned my attention to Rose.


    She let out a soft sigh, her gaze drifting toward the academy''s courtyard. The breeze was gentle, and the sun was starting to set, painting the sky in warm shades of orange and pink.


    And then¡ª


    I noticed something.


    A giant clock stood tall on one of the academy''s towers.


    And the time¡ª


    "Wait a second¡­ isn''t the last event starting soon?" I muttered.


    Rose blinked in surprise.


    "¡­The Snowy Love?" she asked, turning toward me.


    I nodded.


    "I think so¡­" she murmured, a thoughtful expression crossing her face.


    My stomach dropped.


    "Damn it¡­"


    Without wasting another second, I shot up from my seat and sprinted toward the academy''s central area¡ª


    The meetup spot for my previous date with Violet.


    "Hey, don''t miss me too much~!"


    Violet''s teasing voice rang from behind me.


    I barely glanced back¡ª


    But when I did, I caught her smirk.


    And I ignored it.


    Step, step, step!


    And instead, I just continued on my way, weaving between students, decorations, and staff preparing for the next event.


    The cold winter air brushed against my skin, but I barely noticed.


    As I got closer to the central area, I could hear the sound of excited chatter.


    And when I finally reached the event space¡ª


    There were way more people than I expected.


    Students were gathered in large groups, talking, laughing, and looking around at the beautifully decorated venue.


    Snowflakes drifted gently from the sky, covering the ground in a soft, white layer.


    The trees around us were decorated with small, glowing lights, giving everything a magical feel.


    I slowed down, catching my breath.


    "Made it," I muttered to myself.


    At the front of the crowd, a large wooden stage had been set up. A man in a fancy winter coat stood there, holding a microphone.


    He was clearly the announcer for this event.


    And just as I arrived¡ª


    He started speaking.


    "Welcome, welcome, dear students of the Royal Eternum Academy!" His voice boomed across the area, full of energy.


    "Tonight, we celebrate one of our most beloved traditions¡ªThe Snowy Love Event!"


    The crowd cheered.


    I stayed quiet, watching.


    "As many of you know, this event is all about bringing people together." The announcer continued, smiling warmly.


    "It''s a time to enjoy the beautiful winter scenery, participate in fun activities, and¡ªwho knows? Maybe even make some special memories with someone."


    A few students chuckled at his words, while others whispered excitedly.


    I glanced around.


    Some students looked nervous. Others were excited. And then there were people like me¡ªjust standing here, waiting for whatever was coming next.


    The announcer lifted a hand.


    "This event will include several fun activities! Some of these include:


    ? The Ice Skating Challenge! Work together with your partner to complete an obstacle course on ice!


    ? The Cozy Igloo! A quiet, warm space where you and your partner can talk and relax.


    ? The Snow Hunt! Solve clues and find hidden treasures in the snow!


    ? The Frost Dance! A beautiful dance under the snowfall, where you and your partner will move together under the moonlight.


    And many more!"


    Another round of cheers filled the air.


    I exhaled slowly.


    So¡­ just like Violet had mentioned, a bunch of activities designed for two people.


    ¡­Great.


    "And now," the announcer said, raising his voice slightly. "It''s time for the moment you''ve all been waiting for¡ªthe Choosing Machine!"


    The crowd buzzed with excitement.


    I frowned slightly.


    ¡­The what?


    I looked ahead, and suddenly¡ª


    A large, glowing structure appeared on the stage.


    It was a tall, crystal-like machine, shimmering with soft blue light. The inside was empty, like a doorway leading into nothingness.


    The announcer grinned.


    "This is where all of our registered participants will enter!" He gestured toward the glowing structure.


    "Once inside, the machine will randomly pair you with another participant. Then, you''ll be teleported to a different location where your Snowy Love journey will begin!"


    ¡­Random pairing?


    Hah.


    I hope I get an easy-going girl.


    I glanced around at the students who had signed up. Some looked excited, others nervous. A few were already whispering about who they hoped to be paired with.


    There were a few professors around, awaiting to enter the machine.


    I sighed.


    There was no point in overthinking it now.


    The announcer clapped his hands.


    "Alright! Registered participants, please step forward and prepare to enter the Choosing Machine!"


    A group of students immediately moved toward the stage, and I followed.


    As I walked, I felt the cold air against my skin.


    My breath came out in small puffs of white.


    One by one, students entered the glowing machine.


    The moment they stepped inside¡ª


    They disappeared.


    I narrowed my eyes.


    A teleportation system.


    Nothing too unusual.


    More students entered, vanishing into the blue light.


    Then¡ª


    It was my turn.


    I stepped forward, feeling the slight hum of magic in the air.


    The light surrounded me.


    And in the next second¡ª


    I was gone.


    Fwoooooooooop!


    The world around me shifted.


    For a split second, everything felt weightless.


    And then¡ª


    I landed somewhere else.


    The air was crisp and cold. Snow crunched softly under my boots. The sound of distant bells echoed through the space.


    I blinked.


    ''Where¡­ am I?''


    I looked around.


    This wasn''t the academy''s central area anymore.


    It was a different space, still covered in snow, but smaller and more enclosed. The trees were closer together, forming a natural barrier.


    There were fewer tables, and the students who had been teleported here were much closer to each other.


    I barely had time to process the change when I heard movement beside me.


    I turned my head.


    And¡ª


    My breath caught slightly.


    "...Tee-hee~"


    Fuck no.


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    "...Come on, I ain''t that bad~"


    A soft, teasing breath brushed against Aestrea''s ear.


    Her voice was smooth, light, and full of amusement.


    "...What are you doing here?"


    "What do you think?" she replied quickly.


    Before he could say anything else, he felt her hands on his shoulders¡ªlight at first, but pressing down just enough to make him notice.


    And then¡ª


    Plop!


    Something soft pressed against his back.


    No¡ªtwo soft things.


    His shoulders tensed slightly.


    "Hey~, are you embarrassed?"


    Her voice was almost a purr, warm and teasing as she leaned closer.


    She blew softly against his ear again.


    Aestrea exhaled slowly.


    "...Is the Headmistress even allowed to participate in events like this?" he muttered.


    "Why not?"


    Eleonora smiled sweetly, her fingers squeezing his shoulders a little more.


    "Besides, I was just too excited!" she continued, her tone playful but affectionate.


    "You finally decided to consider my proposal!"


    Aestrea froze.


    "...What?"


    "You never did that before!" Eleonora said, ignoring his reaction. "You always straight up rejected me. But this time~"


    Aestrea''s frown deepened.


    "...Why do you sound like I''ve been refusing to be your boyfriend or something?"


    Eleonora grinned.


    "Oh? Do you perhaps have interests in mil¡ª"


    "¡ªYup, but only in milfs though," Aestrea cut in without hesitation.


    "I don''t have any interest in gilfs."


    Silence.


    Eleonora''s smile twitched.


    For a moment, she just stood there, her fingers still on his shoulders.


    Then¡ª


    Her grip tightened.


    Aestrea felt the pressure increase slightly, as if she was expecting him to react.


    But he didn''t.


    Instead¡ª


    He just let out a small sigh.


    "...Tsk."


    Eleonora clicked her tongue before suddenly pulling him up.


    "Enough of that!" she said, brightening up again almost instantly.


    She grabbed his wrist, her grip firm but warm.


    "Let''s do our first event!"


    "...What?"


    "Ice skating!" she announced cheerfully.


    And then¡ª


    Snap!


    She snapped her fingers.


    Immediately, Aestrea felt a strange weight settle over his body.


    "...And of course," Eleonora added with a smirk, "none of us can use mana."


    Aestrea glanced at her.


    "Sure," he said simply.


    Eleonora blinked.


    She tilted her head slightly, as if surprised by his easy agreement.


    But then¡ª


    Her expression softened into a genuine smile.


    "...Good," she said softly, squeezing his hand just a little before tugging him forward.


    And with that¡ª


    She dragged him toward the ice skating field.


    It didn''t take much time for them to reach the place, and after they got the ice-skating shoes, they were ready to enter the field.


    The ice skating field stretched out before them, shimmering under the soft glow of the winter lights.


    It was vast¡ªwide enough to fit dozens of people at once, but right now, it was just the two of them.


    Aestrea exhaled slowly, watching as small puffs of white left his lips in the cold air.


    Eleonora, on the other hand, was practically bouncing with excitement.


    "Alright, let''s go!" she said, stepping forward¡ª


    SLIP¡ª!


    "Whoa¡ª!"


    Aestrea barely had time to react before she stumbled forward.


    Her arms flailed, her feet sliding helplessly across the ice.


    She looked like a baby deer trying to walk for the first time.


    Aestrea sighed.


    "...You don''t know how to ice skate, do you?"


    Eleonora pouted.


    "I thought it would be easy!" she muttered.


    Aestrea shook his head, stepping beside her with smooth, controlled movements.


    "...Here."


    He offered his hand.


    Eleonora stared at it for a moment before taking it, her fingers wrapping around his.


    It was warm.


    Aestrea adjusted his grip slightly.


    "Follow my movements," he instructed, his voice calm.


    "Keep your balance by bending your knees a little. Don''t lock them, or you''ll fall."


    Eleonora nodded.


    She took a slow step forward.


    Her skate touched the ice¡ª


    And immediately slid forward too fast. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Ack¡ª!"


    Aestrea steadied her, his other hand coming up to grip her waist.


    Her body tensed slightly.


    "...Relax," he murmured.


    Eleonora glanced at him.


    Her lips parted slightly, but she didn''t say anything.


    Instead, she just nodded again.


    Aestrea took the lead, pulling her along gently.


    At first, she was stiff¡ªher movements awkward, her fingers gripping his hand a little too tightly.


    But as they skated further, she started to ease into it.


    "Good," Aestrea said, his tone softer now.


    "Just keep your weight centered. Let your legs glide instead of forcing them."


    Eleonora huffed.


    "Easier said than done," she grumbled.


    He smirked slightly.


    "You''re doing better than before."


    Eleonora shot him a side glance.


    "You''re just saying that."


    Aestrea shrugged.


    "If you were bad, I would have already let go of your hand."


    Her eyes widened slightly.


    "...You wouldn''t."


    "I would."


    She gasped dramatically.


    "You monster."


    Aestrea chuckled.


    Eleonora''s personality was a bit far off from normal; she even seemed more childish and everything.


    However, Aestrea knew that she only acted like this with him.


    Well...


    She was trying to act like a young girl to... seduce him.


    It wasn''t the first time, really.


    Actually, she had tried multiple kinds of "personalities".


    The Big Sister type.


    The Mature Mommy type.


    And many more.


    Honestly, Aestrea didn''t mind at all, if anything he found it quite interesting.


    As long as she didn''t imitate the crazy girlfriend type, he would be fine.


    And then...


    They reached the final stretch of the skating field.


    Aestrea slowed down, expecting her to follow his pace.


    But then¡ª


    "Wait, what''s that¡ª?!"


    Eleonora suddenly pointed at something ahead.


    Aestrea turned just in time to see¡ª


    A ramp.


    A high ramp.


    It was meant for tricks and jumps¡ªdefinitely not for beginners.


    And yet¡ª


    Eleonora was already going straight toward it.


    "Eleonora¡ª!"


    Aestrea''s eyes widened.


    She wasn''t even moving that fast, but her balance was still off.


    And just before the ramp¡ª


    She panicked.


    Her legs tensed.


    Instead of stopping¡ª


    She jumped.


    WHOOSH!


    She was sent flying.


    Aestrea''s heart stopped.


    ''Idiot!''


    Before he even realized it¡ª


    His body moved on its own.


    He pushed forward, increasing his speed just enough¡ª


    His eyes locked onto her falling figure.


    The wind whipped past his ears.


    Time seemed to slow.


    And then¡ª


    THUD!


    Aestrea caught her.


    His arms wrapped around her waist, his body absorbing the impact as they crashed into the snow.


    THUMP¡ª!


    The cold spread through his back, but he barely noticed.


    Because at that moment¡ª


    Eleonora landed right on top of him.


    Her chest pressed firmly against his.


    Her left leg slipped between both of his.


    Her hands slammed into the snow on either side of his head¡ªpinning him down.


    It was¡ª


    A position far too intimate.


    For a second¡ª


    Neither of them moved.


    The only sound was the soft crunch of snow beneath them.


    Then¡ª


    Eleonora''s breath hitched.


    Aestrea felt it.


    Warm.


    Shaky.


    Her face was close.


    Too close.


    Her lips parted slightly.


    Her light blue eyes, shimmering with something unreadable¡ªstared down at him.


    Aestrea''s heartbeat drummed in his ears.


    He swallowed.


    "¡­You okay?"


    Eleonora didn''t answer.


    She just¡ª


    Kept looking at him.


    And at that moment¡ª


    The cold didn''t feel so cold anymore.

 Chapter 93 Interlude: Snowy Love (X)

    The world around them felt silent.


    The soft crunch of snow beneath them was the only sound.


    Aestrea could feel Eleonora''s breath against his skin¡ªwarm against the cold air.


    Her chest was pressed against his¡ªfirm, soft, and way too close.


    Her left leg was caught between both of his, their bodies entangled in a way that sent a strange feeling through him.


    She didn''t move.


    She just stared.


    Her lips were slightly parted, and her light blue eyes held an expression Aestrea couldn''t quite read.


    For the first time since he''d met her¡ª


    She looked speechless.


    Aestrea let out a breath.


    "¡­Are you going to get up?"


    His voice was steady, but inside, he wasn''t sure how to feel about this.


    Eleonora blinked.


    Then¡ª


    Her lips curled into a small smile.


    "Oh my," she murmured.


    Her voice was soft¡ªtoo soft.


    Her fingers, still planted in the snow beside his head, tightened slightly.


    "You caught me," she whispered.


    Aestrea frowned.


    "Of course I did. You were falling."


    She hummed.


    "And you jumped after me without thinking."


    Aestrea paused.


    ''¡­That was true.''


    The moment she went flying, his body had moved on its own.


    Eleonora''s smile widened.


    "How romantic."


    Aestrea sighed.


    "Get off me."


    "Hmm¡­"


    She tilted her head slightly, her light blue eyes glowing under the soft winter lights.


    "But I like this position."


    Aestrea''s eyebrow twitched.


    She was toying with him.


    Again.


    "Eleonora," he said, his voice flat.


    "Yes, dear?" she replied sweetly.


    "¡­Get. Off."


    She giggled.


    Then, finally, she pushed herself up slightly, but not before leaning in close¡ª


    Too close.


    Aestrea stiffened.


    For a second, he thought¡ª


    No.


    She wouldn''t.


    Right?


    But then¡ª


    Instead of doing anything else, Eleonora simply grazed her lips near his ear.


    Then, in a whisper just for him¡ª


    "You''re warm."


    Aestrea''s breath hitched.


    His hands, still gripping her waist from when he caught her, tightened slightly before he let go.


    "¡­Get off," he repeated, this time gritting his teeth.


    Eleonora laughed.


    A soft, melodic sound that sent a shiver down his spine.


    And finally¡ª


    She lifted herself off him.


    Aestrea exhaled sharply, pushing himself up as well.


    Snowflakes drifted around them, the cold air brushing against his skin now that her warmth was gone.


    Eleonora stretched her arms above her head, acting as if nothing happened.


    "That was fun~" she said cheerfully.


    Aestrea gave her a look.


    "You almost broke your neck."


    "But I didn''t," she winked.


    "If anything, I''d use mana last second... tehee~"


    ''...What did I expect?''


    Aestrea ran a hand through his hair.


    "You''re impossible."


    Eleonora only grinned.


    "Well," she sighed, dusting the snow off her coat. "That was only the first event. We still have more left, you know."


    Aestrea groaned.


    "You''re actually looking forward to this, aren''t you?"


    "Of course!"


    She beamed.


    Then, before he could respond¡ª


    She suddenly grabbed his arm.


    "Come on, come on!" she urged, pulling him forward.


    Aestrea stumbled slightly.


    "Hey¡ª!"


    Aestrea barely had time to think before Eleonora dragged him forward, her grip on his arm tight and firm.


    "Come on, come on!" she chirped, her excitement clear in her voice.


    Aestrea sighed, letting himself be pulled along.


    It was pointless to resist.


    The activity board ahead glowed with bright, icy letters:


    ? The Cozy Igloo!


    ?A quiet, warm space where you and your partner can talk and relax.


    Aestrea''s eyebrow twitched.


    "...This is the next event?"


    Eleonora nodded eagerly.


    "Yup! Sounds nice, right?" Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Aestrea exhaled.


    "Why do I feel like you planned this?"


    Eleonora put a hand over her chest, gasping dramatically.


    "Me? Planning to be alone with you in a cozy, warm place? Aestrea, how could you think so highly of me~?"


    He gave her a flat look.


    "Because you did."


    She only grinned.


    Before he could argue further, a staff member approached, dressed in a fluffy winter coat.


    "Welcome!" the woman greeted cheerfully. "Ah, it looks like you two are the next pair. Please, step this way!"


    She didn''t even seem surprised that the Headmistress was with Aestrea.


    Aestrea sighed, following as Eleonora practically skipped beside him.


    The staff guided them toward a small path lined with glowing lanterns. Snow crunched beneath their boots as the warmth of light contrasted with the cold air.


    Then, up ahead¡ª


    An igloo.


    Not just any igloo.


    It was beautiful.


    Soft golden lights glowed from inside, casting a cozy, welcoming hue. The entrance was slightly open, showing glimpses of thick, plush blankets and pillows inside.


    The whole place looked like something out of a fairytale.


    Eleonora gasped softly.


    "Ooooh~ It''s so pretty!"


    Aestrea hummed.


    It was nice.


    ...Too nice.


    Almost suspiciously romantic.


    The staff member smiled.


    "Inside, you''ll find warm blankets, a fireplace, and some sweet treats. This event is meant to give you and your partner a peaceful time together. Please, enjoy yourselves!"


    And with that, the staff walked off, leaving the two of them standing there.


    Aestrea hesitated.


    But before he could say anything¡ª


    Eleonora grabbed his wrist and pulled him inside.


    The moment they stepped in¡ª


    Warmth.


    It was like stepping into another world.


    The cold air was replaced with a gentle heat, coming from a small, magical fireplace set in the center.


    The walls of the igloo were made of thick, packed ice, but they didn''t let in any cold.


    Instead, they sparkled faintly, reflecting the warm glow inside.


    Soft blankets were spread across the floor, along with fluffy pillows.


    In one corner, a small tray of treats¡ªchocolate-covered strawberries, warm pastries, and a kettle of steaming hot cocoa.


    Aestrea blinked.


    This was¡­


    Way too nice.


    Eleonora, meanwhile, flopped onto the blankets.


    She stretched her arms up, letting out a happy sigh.


    "Aaaah~ This is perfect! Look at this place!"


    She patted the spot beside her.


    "Come on, sit down."


    Aestrea hesitated for a moment before finally sitting down¡ªbut not too close.


    Eleonora noticed.


    She smirked.


    "Why so far, Aestrea?"


    "Because I know you," he replied flatly.


    She pouted.


    "You make me sound so dangerous."


    "You are."


    She giggled, shifting to face him directly.


    A moment of silence settled.


    For the first time that night, Eleonora wasn''t teasing.


    She simply watched him, her light blue eyes reflecting the warm glow of the fireplace.


    "...You really jumped after me back there," she murmured.


    Aestrea looked at her calmly.


    "You were falling."


    She hummed, tilting her head slightly.


    "But you didn''t even hesitate."


    Aestrea didn''t respond.


    Because she was right.


    The moment she lost balance on that ramp, his body moved on its own.


    He hadn''t thought.


    He just jumped.


    "...You always act so cold to me," Eleonora continued softly, tracing a finger across one of the blankets.


    "But sometimes, you do things like that."


    She looked up, a small smile playing on her lips.


    "It makes me wonder how much you actually care about me."


    Aestrea stared at her.


    "...Don''t overthink it," he muttered.


    She laughed.


    "Hmm. Maybe I will."


    Another pause.


    Then¡ª


    Eleonora reached for the tray of sweets.


    She picked up a chocolate-covered strawberry and held it up.


    "Here."


    Aestrea raised an eyebrow.


    "...What?"


    "Open your mouth."


    His stare turned deadpan.


    "I can feed myself."


    "But this is the Cozy Igloo event! It''s all about bonding~" she grinned, wiggling the strawberry.


    Aestrea sighed.


    "...I''m not playing along with this."


    Eleonora huffed.


    "Fine, fine. Your loss."


    She popped the strawberry into her own mouth instead, chewing happily.


    Aestrea simply shook his head, reaching for his own cup of hot cocoa.


    The warmth spread through his fingers as he took a slow sip.


    For a moment¡ª


    It was quiet.


    Not awkward.


    Not uncomfortable.


    Just...


    Peaceful.


    Aestrea glanced at Eleonora again.


    She had leaned back slightly, watching the flickering firelight. Her expression was calm, her usual playful smirk nowhere in sight.


    For the first time tonight¡ª


    She looked...


    Relaxed.


    Aestrea found himself staring a little longer than he meant to.


    Then, before he could stop himself¡ª


    He spoke.


    "...Do you like it here?"


    Eleonora blinked, looking at him in surprise.


    Then, she smiled softly.


    "I do," she murmured. "It''s warm. Quiet. Feels nice."


    She turned her gaze back to the fire.


    "¡­Feels like something I never had before."


    Aestrea paused.


    Her voice had dropped slightly, losing its usual playful edge.


    Something about the way she said those words¡ª


    Made something in his chest tighten.


    "...What do you mean?" he asked quietly.


    Eleonora hesitated.


    Then, with a small chuckle, she shook her head.


    "Nothing," she said. "Just thinking out loud."


    But Aestrea knew.


    It wasn''t nothing.


    Still¡ª


    He didn''t press.


    Instead, he simply watched her.


    And in that moment¡ª


    For once¡ª


    Eleonora wasn''t just the teasing, playful Headmistress.


    She was just¡­


    A woman, sitting across from him.


    Wrapped in the warmth of the firelight.


    In a quiet, cozy space.


    Just the two of them.


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    After spending time in the cozy igloo, the warmth still lingering on their skin, Aestrea and Eleonora finally stepped back out into the chilly night air.


    The sudden cold made their breath visible in the air, little white clouds escaping their lips as they walked toward the next event.


    Eleonora stretched, her arms reaching toward the sky.


    "Aaaah~ That was nice! But now, it''s time for something fun!"


    Aestrea raised an eyebrow.


    "You''re acting like we weren''t just sitting in silence half the time."


    She grinned.


    "That was peaceful. Now we need excitement!"


    Aestrea sighed but didn''t argue.


    Ahead of them, a large open snowfield had been set up for the next event. Bright lanterns lined the area, casting a soft glow over the white landscape.


    Groups of students and even professors were already gathered, some chatting excitedly, others stretching as if they were preparing for battle.


    Above them, a floating board displayed the event''s name:


    ? The Snow Hunt!


    ?Solve clues and find hidden treasures in the snow!


    Aestrea glanced around.


    "Treasure hunt, huh¡­"


    Eleonora nodded eagerly.


    "Yup! We get clues, follow them, and find little treasures hidden all over the place! Some of them have prizes too~!"


    Aestrea hummed in thought.


    He wasn''t the type to care about "fun activities," but¡­


    A puzzle wasn''t bad.


    A few moments later, an event staff member stepped forward, raising a small bell.


    Ding ding!


    "Welcome, everyone!" the staff called.


    "The Snow Hunt is about to begin! This is a bonding game of teamwork, mystery-solving, and of course¡ªfun!"


    Aestrea''s eyebrow twitched.


    That word again.


    The staff continued.


    "You and your partner will receive a scroll with your first clue. Each clue will lead you to another location, where another scroll is hidden! Solve them all, and you''ll find the final treasure!"


    Eleonora nudged Aestrea.


    "Ooooh, we get to solve riddles together~! Isn''t that romantic?"


    "...It''s a treasure hunt."


    She pouted.


    "Where''s your sense of adventure, Aestrea?"


    "...I left it back in the igloo."


    Before she could argue, the staff members started handing out scrolls.


    Eleonora snatched theirs immediately.


    "Alright, let''s see our first clue!"


    She unrolled the scroll, clearing her throat dramatically.


    Then, she read aloud:


    "I stand tall but have no feet.


    My arms wave but make no sound.


    Though I sleep in winter''s white,


    My coat is always green year-round."


    Aestrea exhaled.


    "...It''s a tree."


    Eleonora blinked.


    "Eh?"


    "It''s obviously a tree."


    She pouted.


    "Come on! You could''ve let me think about it for a bit!"


    Aestrea crossed his arms.


    "...You were about to say ''a snowman,'' weren''t you?"


    "...I was considering it."


    "...Let''s go."

 Chapter 94 Interlude: Snowy Love (XI)

    With that, they made their way to the tall pine trees near the event area.


    The soft crunch of snow beneath their boots was the only sound for a moment¡ªuntil Eleonora suddenly looped her arm through his.


    Aestrea stiffened.


    "...What are you doing?"


    She leaned in slightly, her voice smooth and warm.


    "Oh my~ It''s cold, isn''t it?"


    "...You have mana. You don''t get cold."


    She laughed softly.


    "My, my~ You''re no fun, are you?"


    Aestrea sighed but didn''t push her away.


    When they reached the tree, Aestrea quickly spotted a rolled-up scroll tied with a red ribbon.


    He bent down, grabbing it from the snow.


    Eleonora clapped her hands lightly.


    "Oh my~ Such sharp eyes~ I do love a man who''s quick with his hands."


    Aestrea paused mid-motion.


    "...You''re doing this on purpose."


    She smiled sweetly.


    "Doing what, dear~?"


    Aestrea squinted at her before handing her the scroll.


    "...Read the next one."


    She giggled before unrolling it.


    "I sparkle in the night, cold and bright,


    You may catch me if I fall,


    But in the warmth of your hands,


    I will disappear to nothing at all."


    Aestrea sighed.


    "Snowflake."


    Eleonora tilted her head.


    "Oh my~ So fast again. You must really love snow, hmm~?"


    "...It''s obvious."


    She stepped closer, her breath warm against his ear.


    "Are you sure~? Or are you just trying to impress me~?"


    Aestrea stared ahead, ignoring her.


    "...Let''s go."


    With that, they headed toward the frozen lake where snowflakes were still lightly falling from the sky.


    The second scroll was hidden beneath a delicate layer of frost, sparkling like it had been placed by magic.


    But something changed.


    Eleonora''s teasing shifted.


    It became less playful, more... seductive.


    She started leading instead of following, her movements slower, smoother.


    When they reached the next spot, she turned to Aestrea with a knowing smile.


    "Oh my~ Would you like to open it for me, dear?"


    ''...She changed her personality...?''


    ''That... was fast.''


    Aestrea exhaled sharply.


    "You can do it yourself."


    She pouted, but there was something deliberate in the way she ran her fingers along the edge of the scroll before slowly unrolling it.


    "Though I am not alive, I wear a hat.


    My face may smile, but I do not laugh.


    Carrots are my nose, twigs are my arms,


    I last all winter, until I am gone."


    Aestrea closed his eyes.


    "¡­It''s a snowman."


    Eleonora giggled.


    "Oh my~ Always so quick, always so sharp~ I do wonder..."


    She stepped closer, pressing a single finger against his chest as her breasts pressed against his arm.


    "...Are you just this efficient in everything, dear?"


    Aestrea paused.


    And then...


    Something shifted in his gaze.


    "...You''re pushing it."


    Eleonora smiled.


    "Oh my~ Am I~?"


    Aestrea let out a slow breath.


    Then¡ª


    He stepped closer.


    Eleonora''s smile faltered slightly.


    Aestrea leaned in, lowering his voice just enough.


    "...If you keep pressing those breasts against my arm again," he murmured.


    "I won''t mind touching them, you know."


    Silence.


    Eleonora''s eyes widened slightly.


    For the first time, she froze.


    Aestrea tilted his head slightly, smirking.


    "Hmm? What''s wrong?"


    Eleonora blinked.


    And then¡ª


    Her face turned slightly red.


    Yet, she smiled again, but this time, there was a slight twitch at the corner of her lips.


    "Oh my~" she murmured, placing a hand on her hip.


    "How bold of you, dear~"


    Aestrea shrugged.


    "You started it."


    She chuckled softly, but there was a slight heat in her cheeks that she clearly tried to brush off.


    "Hmm~"


    "So, you don''t mind touching my¡ª"


    "¡ªMilkers?" Aestrea finished for her, tilting his head.


    Eleonora stiffened.


    Aestrea leaned in slightly, his voice dropping lower, smoother.


    "Didn''t expect that, did you?"


    Her fingers twitched.


    "Oh my~" she exhaled, regaining her composure.


    "What a dangerous young man I''ve paired up with~"


    Aestrea simply smirked.


    "Not dangerous. Just returning the favor."


    She narrowed her eyes slightly before turning away.


    "Fufufu~ Fine, fine. I''ll let you have this one~ But don''t get too cocky, dear~"


    Aestrea chuckled.


    "We''ll see."


    It took a few minutes, but, after regaining her composure (mostly), Eleonora unrolled the next scroll.


    "I have no legs, but I run fast,


    I have no arms, but I can lift you high,


    Some fear me, some love me,


    And with me, you''ll soar through the sky."


    Aestrea frowned.


    "...A ski lift?"


    Eleonora tilted her head.


    "Oh my~ Could be~ But don''t you think that''s a little too obvious?"


    Aestrea thought for a moment.


    "...A sled?"


    Eleonora giggled.


    "Let''s go find out, dear~"


    She grabbed his wrist, gently but firmly, and led him toward the sledding hill.


    Step~


    When they arrived, Aestrea quickly spotted the next scroll tied to a sled near the top of the hill.


    "Guess I was right," he murmured.


    Eleonora grinned.


    "Good job, dear~ Now, how about we test the sled while we''re here?"


    Aestrea raised an eyebrow.


    "You want to ride it down?"


    She tilted her head.


    "Oh my~ Are you scared, my little moon?"


    Aestrea sighed.


    "Fine."


    Without hesitation, he sat down on the sled.


    Eleonora happily positioned herself right behind him, pressing close¡ªtoo close.


    And of course, she had slammed her breasts against his back.


    He stiffened.


    "...You don''t have to sit this close."


    She giggled, wrapping her arms loosely around his waist.


    "Oh my~ But I need to hold on, don''t I?"


    Aestrea exhaled.


    "...Whatever. Let''s just go."


    ¡ªFwoop!


    The sled shot forward.


    Snow rushed past them, the wind whipping through their hair.


    Eleonora laughed as they sped down, holding onto Aestrea even tighter.


    But then¡ª


    The ramp.


    Aestrea''s eyes widened.


    "...Wait¡ª"


    Before he could react¡ª


    They launched into the air.


    Eleonora''s laugh turned into a surprised gasp as they soared, weightless for a moment¡ªbefore gravity pulled them down fast.


    Aestrea moved on instinct.


    He twisted midair, reaching out¡ª


    And caught her.


    THUD!


    Snow exploded around them as they landed.


    When the cold settled¡ª


    Eleonora was on top of him.


    Again.


    Her soft curves pressed against his chest, her left leg between his, her hands buried in the snow beside his head.


    She blinked.


    Then, parted her lips slightly.


    Aestrea stared up at her.


    Neither spoke.


    The world around them felt silent, except for the faint sound of the wind.


    Eleonora''s breath was warm, her purple hair falling gently around them like a curtain.


    Aestrea exhaled slowly.


    "...Are you gonna get off me?"


    Eleonora stared at him for a moment longer.


    Then, a small smile tugged at her lips.


    "Oh my~" she whispered.


    Aestrea felt his pulse quicken.


    "...What?"


    Her voice was low, teasing.


    "My, my~ You''re so quick to catch me every time I fall, dear~"


    Aestrea frowned slightly.


    "Not my fault you keep launching yourself into the air."


    She giggled softly.


    "...Or maybe~" she leaned in just a little closer¡ª"You just like having me in your arms, hmm~?"


    Aestrea held her gaze.


    Then, slowly¡ª


    He lifted a hand, brushing snow from her shoulder.


    "Maybe."


    Eleonora''s breath stilled for just a fraction of a second¡ªso quick, so subtle, yet Aestrea caught it.


    For once, she didn''t have a quick response.


    Her light blue eyes flickered, the teasing glint momentarily replaced by something softer, something deeper.


    But only for a heartbeat.


    Then¡ªher lips curled into a slow, knowing smile.


    "Oh my~" she murmured, tilting her head ever so slightly.


    "How bold, my dear moon~"


    Aestrea didn''t look away.


    Neither did she.


    Snowflakes drifted between them, melting the moment they touched her warm skin, vanishing just as swiftly as the space between their breaths.


    And then¡ª


    She moved.


    Just a little.


    Her fingers, buried in the snow beside his head, twitched¡ªbefore she lifted one, tracing the edge of his jaw with an excruciating slowness.


    "Maybe?" she uttered, her voice barely above a whisper, sweet and sultry like honey dripping from velvet.


    Aestrea''s fingers curled slightly against the snow, but his expression remained calm.


    Calm.


    Steady.


    Yet his pulse¡ªoh, that was a different story.


    Eleonora smiled, eyes half-lidded as she leaned closer, her lips hovering just above his ear.


    "You know, dear," she whispered, "if you wanted to hold me a little tighter... you could''ve just said so~"


    Aestrea exhaled through his nose.


    And then¡ª


    His arms, still loosely resting at his sides, moved.


    Quick.


    Fluid.


    Intentional.


    Before she could react, one strong arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her flush against him, her softness molding into his frame, her breath catching ever so slightly.


    He felt it.


    Oh, he definitely felt it.


    And from the way her lashes fluttered¡ªso did she.


    "...Like this?"


    His voice was smooth, deep¡ªalmost teasing.


    Eleonora blinked, just for a second, before her lips parted in a small, delighted laugh.


    "Oh my~" she breathed, tilting her head, her nose barely brushing against his.


    "Now, now, dear... if you hold me this close¡ª" she shifted, just enough to feel the heat between them, her voice lowering, softer, warmer¡ª"what ever shall I do with you~?"


    Aestrea stared at her, his glowing red eyes darkening just slightly.


    And then¡ª


    He smirked.


    "Surprise me."


    For the first time¡ªEleonora hesitated.


    Just for a second.


    Her pupils dilated.


    Her fingers gripped the snow beside him just a bit tighter. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Aestrea waited.


    And oh, how she hated to lose a game she started.


    So, she did what she did best.


    She leaned in.


    Closer.


    Close enough that her lips hovered just above his, the barest of distance between them, their shared breath mixing in the cold air.


    Close enough that the tension crackled, like the silent promise of a storm yet to break.


    And then¡ª


    A single finger trailed down his chest, slow, deliberate.


    "You," she whispered, "are playing a very, very dangerous game, dear moon~"


    Aestrea''s grip on her waist didn''t loosen.


    His voice was smooth, steady¡ª


    "So are you."


    Silence.


    Thump....


    Thump...


    Thump...


    Their heartbeats filled the quiet.


    For a fleeting moment, Eleonora wondered¡ªif she closed the distance, if she let the teasing slip into something real, something intoxicating¡ª


    Would he stop her?


    Would he kiss her back?


    Would he pull her even closer, taste the heat between them, let the snow melt against the fire they stirred in each other''s veins?


    The thought sent a thrill down her spine.


    But then¡ª


    A voice shouted in the distance.


    "HEY! WHOEVER''S UP THERE, GET A ROOM!"


    Aestrea blinked.


    Eleonora blinked.


    Silence.


    Then¡ª


    "Fucking bastard..."


    They muttered at the same time.


    For a moment, they just stared at each other.


    And then¡ª


    "Pfft¡ª"


    Eleonora couldn''t help it.


    Eleonora burst out laughing, her voice light, breathy, absolutely delighted.


    She tilted her head, covering her mouth with the back of her hand as soft giggles spilled from her lips.


    Aestrea exhaled sharply, shaking his head with a small smirk.


    Eleonora recovered just enough to lean in, placing a single finger against his lips, her light blue eyes practically glowing with amusement.


    "Oh my~" she hummed, tilting her head.


    "It seems¡­ our little moment was rudely interrupted~"


    Aestrea only sighed, glancing toward the direction of the voice before shaking his head again.


    "...Happens."


    Eleonora grinned, mischief clearly showing in her eyes.


    "Fufufu~ Don''t pout, dear~ There will be plenty more moments to come~"


    With that, she gracefully pushed herself up, brushing off the snow from her dress before extending her hand toward him.


    "Come now~ We still have a game to finish~"


    Aestrea glanced at her outstretched hand for a second before taking it, standing effortlessly.


    But even after he was up, he didn''t let go right away.


    Eleonora noticed.


    His fingers, warm against hers, lingered just a little longer than necessary.


    "...Right."


    Eleonora smiled, but this time, there was something softer in it.


    Something knowing.


    Oh my~


    She liked that look.


    As he finally released her hand, she turned on her heel, brushing a bit of snow off his shoulder with the back of her fingers, slow and deliberate.


    "Shall we, my dear little moon~?"


    Aestrea exhaled.


    "You''re really enjoying this, aren''t you?"


    Eleonora giggled.


    "Oh my~ Very much so~"


    With that, she took the lead, walking ahead with an elegant sway in her step, knowing full well he was watching.


    Aestrea sighed, rubbing his temple before following.


    ''This woman...''


    She was going to be the death of him.

 Chapter 95 Interlude: Snowy Love (XII)

    Aestrea sighed as he followed Eleonora, watching the way she swayed just a little too much with each step.


    ''She''s definitely doing that on purpose¡­''


    ''Not that I mind, though.''


    The snow crunched softly beneath their boots as they walked back to the event area, where the final clue awaited them.


    Small lanterns flickered in the night, casting a warm glow over the frost-covered trees.


    The air was crisp, cold¡ªbut neither of them really felt it.


    Because the real heat?


    That was between them.


    Eleonora hummed a little tune, glancing back at him with a knowing smile.


    "Oh my~ You''re awfully quiet, dear. Could it be... you''re still thinking about our little tumble in the snow~?"


    Aestrea didn''t even flinch.


    "I''m thinking about pushing you into another pile of snow, actually."


    Eleonora gasped, placing a hand over her chest dramatically.


    "My, my~ How cruel! And here I thought you were a gentleman."


    Aestrea raised an eyebrow.


    "You''re the one who keeps throwing yourself at me."


    She giggled, twirling a strand of her violet hair.


    "Well, dear~ If you keep catching me so perfectly, how can I resist?"


    Aestrea exhaled, shaking his head.


    ''This woman¡­''


    They finally reached the last location of their snow hunt¡ªa large, beautiful fountain frozen over, its icy surface glowing faintly under the moonlight.


    A single scroll was tied to the statue in the center.


    Eleonora tapped her chin.


    "Oh my~ How shall we retrieve it, dear?"


    Aestrea didn''t even hesitate.


    He stepped forward, jumped lightly onto the edge of the fountain, and¡ª


    ¡ªFwip!


    With one swift motion, he grabbed the scroll and landed back on the snow without a sound.


    Eleonora blinked.


    Then clapped her hands together.


    "Oh my~ Such quick movements~! My, my~ I do love a man who''s fast with his hands~"


    Aestrea turned to her, deadpan.


    "That sounded wrong."


    She giggled.


    "Did it~?"


    He sighed.


    Shaking his head, he handed her the final scroll.


    "Go on. Read it."


    Eleonora''s lips curled as she unrolled the parchment.


    "I twinkle like a diamond, yet I am cold.


    A gentle kiss from the heavens, or a storm so bold.


    Under the moon, I shimmer bright,


    A dance so pure, a silent white."


    Aestrea hummed.


    "¡­The Frost Dance."


    Eleonora''s eyes sparkled.


    "Oh my~ Looks like we have one last activity together, dear~"


    He glanced at her.


    "You planned this, didn''t you?"


    She gasped dramatically again.


    "My, my~ Do you really think so little of me?"


    Aestrea sighed.


    "Yes."


    Eleonora giggled, stepping closer until she was right in front of him.


    "Then I suppose..." She lifted a single finger, tracing an invisible line down his chest.


    "...I''ll just have to change your mind~"


    Aestrea exhaled sharply through his nose.


    "Come on. Let''s just go."


    Eleonora smirked but let him lead the way.


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    The event area had transformed.


    Silver lanterns swayed gently from the trees, their soft glow casting flickering patterns on the snow-covered ground.


    Delicate icicles dangled from the branches, shimmering under the moonlight like tiny frozen stars.


    The air was crisp but not harsh, carrying the fresh scent of winter.


    Snowflakes drifted lazily from the sky, dancing in the breeze before settling on the world below.


    It was quiet, peaceful¡ªlike something out of a dream.


    And at the center of it all¡ª


    A melody played.


    Soft, slow and...


    Elegant.


    It floated through the air like a whisper, passing between the couples who had already stepped onto the dance floor¡ªa wide-open space of untouched snow, glistening under the lanterns.


    Some pairs moved with practiced grace, gliding effortlessly as if they belonged in a fairy tale.


    Others were clumsy, stepping on each other''s toes with embarrassed laughter.


    But all of them swayed together, lost in the moment.


    Eleonora let out a dreamy sigh, clasping her hands together.


    "Oh my~ How romantic~"


    Aestrea, standing beside her, simply exhaled.


    "You really planned this, didn''t you?"


    "My, my~ You wound me, dear moon! Must you always assume I have ulterior motives?" She gasped dramatically, pressing a hand to her chest.


    Aestrea raised an eyebrow.


    "Do you?"


    Eleonora giggled, her light blue eyes sparkling mischievously.


    "Fufufu~ I suppose you''ll just have to dance with me and find out~"


    Then, without waiting, she turned to him and stretched out a hand.


    "Come now, dear~ Won''t you take my hand?"


    Aestrea looked at her outstretched hand for a moment.


    Then, with a slow sigh¡ª


    He took it.


    Eleonora smiled, her fingers curled around his, warm despite the cold air.


    She stepped closer, and Aestrea instinctively placed his free hand on her waist.


    "Oh my~" Eleonora purred.


    "So bold already, my little moon~"


    Aestrea sighed.


    "You''re the one who walked up to me."


    She giggled.


    "Mm~ But you''re the one holding me so firmly~"


    Aestrea didn''t respond.


    He simply guided them into the first step.


    And so¡ª


    They began to dance.


    The music was slow, steady.


    Their movements were careful at first, adjusting to each other''s rhythm.


    Eleonora followed his lead easily, her dress swaying with each graceful step. Aestrea''s grip was firm but gentle, his body steady as he moved with practiced ease.


    For a moment, neither of them spoke.


    The world around them was quiet, as if time itself had slowed.


    The soft melody of the orchestra wrapped around them like a delicate embrace, floating through the cold winter air.


    The snowflakes fell lazily from the sky, swirling like tiny dancers before settling onto Eleonora''s long, silky hair.


    The faint silver glow of the lanterns above made them sparkle, like little stars tangled in her violet locks.


    Her dress moved with the wind, the rich fabric flowing behind her with every step, every sway.


    It shimmered under the moonlight, catching the glow of the lanterns as if it had been woven from twilight itself.


    The only sounds were the soft crunch of snow beneath their feet, the faint rustle of fabric as they moved, and the gentle notes of the music weaving through the night.


    Then¡ª


    Eleonora let out a soft hum.


    "Hmm~ You''re quite good at this, dear moon~ Have you danced before?"


    Aestrea nodded.


    "Yeah."


    Eleonora smiled.


    "My, my~ I wonder... have you danced with many women before?"


    Aestrea glanced at her.


    "Why? Jealous?"


    "Oh my~ The audacity! You think I, the elegant Eleonora, would ever be jealous~?" She gasped dramatically, pressing a hand to her chest as if she had been deeply wounded.


    Aestrea exhaled, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.


    "You didn''t answer the question."


    Eleonora giggled, pressing just a little closer, letting the warmth between them grow. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Fufufu~ Who knows~?" she mused, eyes twinkling with mischief.


    Then, in a lower, softer tone¡ª


    "And here I thought¡­ that I would be your first~"


    Aestrea exhaled sharply.


    "You''re really good at making things sound weird."


    She giggled again, tilting her head ever so slightly, her breath brushing against his collarbone.


    "My, my~ Am I?"


    Aestrea didn''t reply, but his hand on her waist tightened just slightly.


    It was subtle, but she noticed.


    And she liked it.


    The music swelled, and they moved together more smoothly now, falling into a natural rhythm.


    Step.


    Turn.


    Sway.


    The cold barely registered anymore.


    Eleonora tilted her head, gazing up at him with those teasing light blue eyes.


    "Tell me, dear~ Am I a good partner?"


    Aestrea glanced down at her.


    "You''re not stepping on my feet, so I''d say you''re doing fine."


    She gasped, feigning offense.


    "My, my~ Such high praise~ My heart flutters~"


    Aestrea smirked.


    "Careful. If it flutters too much, you might trip."


    Eleonora giggled.


    "Fufufu~ And if I do?"


    Aestrea shrugged slightly.


    "I''d catch you."


    Eleonora blinked.


    Then, her expression softened just a little.


    "...Would you always?"


    Aestrea didn''t hesitate.


    "Yeah."


    Eleonora''s smile lingered, but there was something different in her gaze now.


    Something warmer.


    Softer.


    The music slowed.


    Their steps followed.


    Their movements became less about the dance and more about each other.


    Eleonora''s fingers curled slightly around his, and Aestrea found himself holding her just a little closer.


    The world around them faded¡ª


    There was only the music.


    Only the snowfall.


    Only them.


    Eleonora exhaled softly, tilting her head against his chest for just a second before looking up again.


    "You know, dear~"


    Aestrea hummed.


    "Hm?"


    She smiled.


    "I think... I quite enjoy being in your arms~"


    Aestrea didn''t respond right away.


    Instead¡ª


    He spun her.


    A single, smooth motion.


    A single, fluid motion.


    Her dress flared out like a violet blossom, the lantern light catching the shimmering fabric. She let out a small, surprised laugh, her hair fanning out around her before she turned back¡ª


    And he pulled her in again.


    Closer.


    This time, there was no space left between them.


    The warmth of her body pressed against his, the heat of their breath mixing in the cool night air.


    Their eyes locked.


    Neither of them moved.


    Neither of them spoke.


    For a moment¡ª


    The only thing between them was the quiet hum of their heartbeats.


    Eleonora''s lips parted slightly.


    Aestrea''s fingers curled slightly against the fabric of her dress.


    The snow continued to fall around them, the lanterns flickering gently overhead.


    The music played its final note¡ª


    And then¡ª


    Eleonora stepped forward.


    Slowly.


    She hooked her arms around his neck, her fingertips brushing the back of his hair.


    At the same time¡ªshe lifted one leg slightly, the hem of her dress skimming against the snow as she leaned in.


    Aestrea''s hand remained firm on her waist, steadying her as she tilted her head up¡ª


    It was the perfect position.


    The perfect moment.


    Her body molded against his, her breath warm against his lips.


    Aestrea could feel the soft rise and fall of her chest, the gentle press of her fingers at the nape of his neck.


    Eleonora''s lashes lowered.


    Would he?


    Would she?


    Would they cross that line?


    The world held its breath.


    And then¡ª

 Chapter 96 *Interlude: Snowy Love (XIII)*

    The snowflakes drifted lazily around them, caught in the silver glow of the lanterns.


    Their breaths mingled in the cold night air, a slow, intoxicating warmth growing between them.


    Eleonora''s light blue eyes glowed like liquid sapphire, her lips slightly parted, her body pressing just a little closer against Aestrea''s.


    His fingers curled against the fabric of her dress, feeling the soft, silky material under his hands.


    He could feel the gentle rise and fall of her chest, the warmth of her breath against his lips.


    Her lashes lowered, and she tilted her head just slightly¡ªher body molding perfectly against his.


    The world around them seemed to hold its breath.


    The music had ended, but their rhythm hadn''t stopped.


    The sound of their quiet breaths, the soft rustling of fabric, and the faint crunch of snow beneath their feet became the only things that existed.


    Then, she moved.


    Slowly.


    One of her arms slid up, fingers grazing along his shoulder before curling around the back of his neck.


    Her other hand traced the collar of his uniform, then teased at his tie, pulling him closer¡ªjust enough for their noses to almost touch.


    Aestrea swallowed hard, feeling the heat coil deep in his stomach.


    His grip on her waist tightened.


    Eleonora let out a soft hum, her lips curling in a playful smile.


    "Hm~ You''re not pulling away, my little moon," she purred, her voice smooth like honey, thick with something sultry.


    Aestrea breathed out sharply.


    "You''re the one holding onto me."


    "Oh my~"


    She giggled, her fingers trailing up into his hair, lightly tugging at the strands.


    "So defensive~ I wonder, dear¡­ do you want to let go?"


    Aestrea didn''t answer.


    Because he didn''t know.


    His heart pounded in his chest, his body heating despite the crisp night air. Her scent¡ªsoft, sweet, with a hint of something floral¡ªwrapped around him like a spell.


    Her body was so warm, pressed flush against his, her curves molding into him in ways that made it impossible to ignore.


    Eleonora tilted her head, her lips brushing his jawline, just barely.


    "You''re trembling, my little moon~" she whispered.


    "Is it the cold¡­ or is it me?"


    Aestrea exhaled, the sound almost like a growl. His hands twitched, and for a second, he considered it.


    Just for a second.


    Then¡ª


    A sharp clap broke the moment.


    "Ahem."


    They froze.


    Aestrea''s body tensed, and Eleonora blinked before slowly turning her head.


    A pair of students stood a few feet away, staring at them.


    One of them¡ªa young man with wide eyes¡ªlooked utterly scandalized, while the girl beside him covered her mouth, barely stifling a giggle.


    Eleonora stared at them for a moment.


    Then, with a soft sigh, she turned back to Aestrea.


    "How unfortunate," she murmured, tilting her head as if truly disappointed.


    "Just when things were getting heated~"


    Aestrea sighed, stepping back slightly.


    "We should go¡ª"


    But before he could finish, he noticed something.


    Eleonora was still staring at him.


    Her fingers, still curled around his tie, tightened.


    Her pupils dilated, her breath hitching slightly.


    Then¡ª


    Something snapped.


    Aestrea barely had a moment to react before the world around them blurred.


    ¡ªWhoosh!¡ª


    They vanished into thin air.


    For a brief moment, the cold disappeared, replaced by a rush of weightlessness. The sensation of wind brushing past his skin, the flicker of magic in the air¡ªbefore suddenly¡ª


    Thud!


    They landed.


    Not on snow.


    But on something soft.


    Aestrea''s vision refocused, and he realized where they were.


    A large, lavish canopy bed.


    Velvet sheets.


    Silk pillows.


    And Eleonora, now straddling him, her fingers still wrapped tightly around his tie.


    The warm glow of candlelight flickered around the grand office space.


    Dark wooden bookshelves lined the walls, and the scent of vanilla and something faintly spiced filled the air.


    The unmistakable elegance of her office¡ª


    Headmistress Eleonora''s personal chambers.


    Aestrea''s breath hitched.


    "Eleonora¡ª"


    But she didn''t let him finish.


    Her grip on his tie tightened, pulling him up to her.


    And then¡ª


    Her lips crashed onto his.


    Mn?!


    A deep, breathless sound escaped as their mouths met in a feverish kiss.


    She wasn''t gentle.


    She wasn''t teasing.


    She was hungry.


    Her body pressed against his, warm and soft, as her fingers tangled in his hair, pulling him closer.


    Her lips moved quickly against his, soft but demanding, each second urging him to give more.


    Aestrea''s mind blanked for a moment.


    The sudden heat. The way she kissed him as if starving for him.


    The way her breath quickened when his hands found her waist¡ª


    A low sound escaped from deep in his chest.


    And then¡ª


    He kissed her back.


    Hard.


    His hands slid to her waist, gripping her firmly, feeling the softness of her dress under his fingers.


    He could feel the steady rise and fall of her chest, the tremble in her body as she deepened the kiss, her head tilting to press even closer.


    "Mmnh~" she moaned softly against his lips, her grip tightening, her body pressing closer.


    She tasted sweet.


    Like spiced wine and honey.


    Simply intoxicating.


    His fingers trailed up her back, feeling the delicate lace of her dress, the way her skin heated under his touch.


    Eleonora''s breath hitched, and she shifted, pressing herself further against him.


    Her scent wrapped around him, a mix of lavender and something uniquely hers.


    It made his head spin, made his pulse quicken.


    She was warm, soft, pliant in his arms, yet every movement was filled with intent, with purpose.


    "Mmnh~ Aestrea¡­?!" she breathed against his lips, voice dripping with something dangerously sweet.


    Before he could respond, she took control again, nipping at his lower lip, her nails lightly scraping his neck.


    His breath shuddered out, his eyes darkening as he pushed her against the desk behind them.


    The wood creaked as she arched into him, her back pressing against the cool surface while the heat between them grew.


    Eleonora hummed softly, her breath warm against his ear, as his hand slid down, tracing the curve of her waist and gripping her thigh, pulling her closer.


    "Oh my~?" she purred, fingers curling into his shirt.


    "My little moon, you''re quite bold, aren''t you~?"


    Aestrea exhaled sharply, his lips ghosting along the curve of her jaw, down to the delicate skin of her neck.


    "You started this."


    Eleonora shivered, her breath hitching as his lips found a sensitive spot.


    She tilted her head to give him more room, a soft sigh escaping her lips.


    "Mm~ That I did, my dear¡­ but I wonder¡­"


    She pulled back just enough to look into his eyes, a teasing smirk curving her kiss-swollen lips.


    "Can you handle me~?"


    Aestrea''s grip tightened, his gaze locking onto hers.


    "Try me."


    Eleonora''s smirk deepened.


    In an instant, she hooked a leg around his waist, flipping their positions so he was the one against the desk now.


    "Fufufu~ My, my~? So strong, so eager~" she teased, her fingers dancing down his chest, feeling his muscles tense beneath her touch.


    "I do love a man who knows how to play along~"


    Aestrea watched her closely, his breath heavy in his chest, waiting.


    Then¡ª


    She leaned in, her lips brushing against his ear.


    "Let''s see how long you can last~?"


    The air crackled with tension, thick with heat, with anticipation.


    Then¡ª


    She kissed him again.


    Deeper.


    Wilder.


    More desperate.


    "Haaa...!"


    Aestrea''s breath caught as she kissed him harder, her hands pressing him back against the desk.


    "Mmm..."


    She hummed against his lips, pressing herself into him, feeling the heat of his chest against hers.


    Her lips traced down his neck, teasing and warm.


    Swish!


    Eleonora''s hand slipped to his tie, pulling it off, leaving his neck bare.


    Slurp!


    Then, she stuck out her tongue to his collar before gently nibbling on it, causing Aestrea to arch his neck a bit.


    His red eyes glowed dimly as he roamed out to her dress, and slowly, reached for the buttons.


    Click!


    With each soft click of a button undone, the fabric fell away slowly. The dress slipped off her shoulders, revealing her smooth, glowy skin underneath.


    "Phwa~"


    Her lips parted from his neck with a faint pop, leaving a tender mark on his collarbone. She gazed into his eyes, a dark glint of mischief there, and slowly licked her lips.


    Then, without warning, she ripped his shirt open!


    His body had countless scars, but one could not deny the masculine charm oozing out from his muscular physique.


    She reached out to his chest with her hand, feeling the hard texture as she gently traced the lines of his torso with her fingers.


    But then...


    Click!


    Her bra was undone, making her two massive breasts bounce as they eased up.


    Immediately, Aestrea''s hands moved to them, gently caressing them.


    "Ah~"


    He reached out to the part beneath her breasts, softly touching it before trying to cover her whole breasts with his hands, but they were too big for his hands.


    And he couldn''t exactly grasp them.


    "...Hooo~, like what you see~?" she smiled teasingly, and at the same time, her hands reached out to his zipper.


    They locked gazes in that moment, and just by their gazes, they adjusted their position.


    Thud!


    The objects on the desk scattered with a clatter as they shifted, Eleonora now straddling Aestrea, her body pressing flush against his.


    "Haaa~!"


    Her breath caught as he reached up to trace her peaks, his fingers pinching gently, drawing a surprised moan from her lips.


    Without hesitation, she retaliated, her hands sliding to his zipper, pulling it down.


    She didn''t exactly hesitate, and immediately pulled down his pants, grasping his cock with her soft and delicate hand.


    Fap~


    Then, she slowly started moving her hand up and down, stroking his cock as she stared at him directly on his red glowing eyes.


    Aestrea didn''t seem bothered by this, and instead, his hands slid to her waist, pulling her closer as he shifted, his lips parting¡ª


    Slurp!


    "Haaah~?"


    His mouth found one of her peaks, his lips wrapping around it with gentle suction.


    The sensation was electric, and his other hand slid to the other breast, kneading it gently, massaging the soft, pliant flesh as he molded it into various shapes.


    Between those movements, his thumb brushed her nipple, occasionally pinching it, drawing another quiver from her body.


    "Haaa~... my baby?"


    She smiled softly, pressing Aestrea''s head gently against her breasts, her fingers still moving up and down, stroking him slowly.


    It was a little disappointing that her breasts didn''t have milk, but she didn''t let that ruin the moment.


    "Ahhn~"


    As she continued to stroke him, feeling him suck on her breasts, her body started to feel the heat between her legs.


    The wetness began to spread, making her more sensitive.


    And if Aestrea had sense that, his hand left her breast and moved down to her pants.


    His fingers slipped under the waistband of her panties, and when they brushed against her folds, he felt the sticky wetness.


    Squish...


    His finger gently slid inside, sending a shiver through her body. She stopped stroking him for a moment, the sudden sensation making her gasp softly.


    "Nngh~... baby~" she murmured, barely able to hold back the moan that threatened to spill out.


    But then, to her surprise, Aestrea stopped.


    "Baby...?" she called out to him.


    Without answering, Aestrea pushed her gently aside, standing up and turning to face her.


    She looked up at him, ready to say something, but before she could¡ª


    Thud!


    He suddenly turned her around, pressing her front against the table with a surprising force.


    "B-baby?" she stammered, her voice breathless.


    Swish!


    He swiftly pulled her pants down, exposing her wet folds, the liquid already trailing down her legs.


    He paused for a moment, looking down at her.


    "It''s time for the main event, no?"


    He finally spoke, as he took his cock and positioned it just in front of her wet folds.


    At the sound of his words, Eleonora''s body shivered slightly and her face flushed.


    She rocked her hips, giving him more access, and then pulled a pillow into her hands, holding it gently, as though waiting for the next moment, her anticipation building.


    Squish...


    He pressed the tip of his cock to her entrance, grazing her soft labia, teasing her just a bit.


    And then...


    Thrust!


    "Mhhmmmmm¡­!" sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Her breath caught, a moan escaping as he entered her, her body trembling in response.


    "¡­?"


    He slid deep inside her, the warmth and wetness surrounding him.


    The movement left a small tear of blood, trickling down his shaft as he moved.


    ".....Haaa?"

 Chapter 97 *Interlude: Snowy Love (XIV)*

    Pah!


    Aestrea''s hips snapped forward again, driving his cock even deeper into Eleonora''s slick, trembling wet folds.


    "Nnghaa~?!"


    Eleonora''s voice broke into a high-pitched moan, her hands scrambling to grip the edge of the desk.


    Her nails dug into the wood, leaving faint marks as her body jolted with every thrust.


    "Ah¡­ ah¡­! Aestrea¡­?! You''re so deep¡­!"


    Her words were breathy, her voice trembling with pleasure as she arched her back, pressing her hips back against him.


    The sensation of him filling her completely made her toes curl, her legs shaking as she tried to keep herself steady.


    "Mmm¡­? My little moon¡­?" she purred, her voice dripping with teasing sweetness.


    "You''re not holding back anymore, are you~? Fuck me harder¡­?"


    Aestrea''s hands tightened on her hips, his fingers digging into her soft flesh as he pulled her back onto him with each thrust.


    The wet, squelching sounds of their bodies moving together grew louder, mingling with their heavy breaths and moans. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Squelch~, squelch¡­ squelch!


    Eleonora''s body quivered, her face flushed and her lips parted as soft, breathy moans spilled out.


    "Ah¡­ ah¡­? Mmm¡­! So good¡­? You''re filling me so completely, Aestrea¡­?"


    Her moans only made him more excited.


    He leaned forward, his chest pressing against her back as he reached around to cup one of her breasts.


    His fingers teased her nipple, pinching and rolling it gently, and the sensation made her gasp.


    "Ah! Nngh~! Y-you''re so bold tonight, my little moon~?" she moaned, her voice trembling with pleasure.


    Her body arched even more, pushing back against him as she tried to take him deeper.


    "So... gooood?, mhm! Do it harder~!"


    Pah!


    Squishh!


    Aestrea''s response was a sharp, powerful thrust, his cock sliding deep inside her before pulling out almost completely.


    Then, with a wet, slapping sound, he slammed back into her, the force of it making her cry out.


    "Ahhn~! Mmm¡­! Y-yes¡­! Just like that, my little moon¡­? Fuck me harder~!" she begged, her voice rising with every word.


    Her hands slipped on the desk, her body trembling as pleasure surged through her.


    Thud¡­!


    The sound of their bodies meeting echoed in the room, and Aestrea''s pace quickened.


    His grip on her hips tightened, his fingers leaving faint marks as he drove his cock into her wet folds again and again.


    Pah!


    Pah¡­ squelchh!


    Eleonora''s walls clenched around him, trying to pull him deeper, and the sensation made him groan..


    "Ah¡­ ah¡­? Mmm¡­! You feel so good inside me, Aestrea¡­?" she moaned, her voice trembling as she reached back to grip his thigh.


    Her nails dug into his skin, leaving faint red marks as she urged him on.


    "But¡­ ah¡­! Mnghh!? T-this~, isn''t enough to make me cuuuummmm???!"


    SLAM!


    Her teasing words were met with a strong, punishing thrust that made her entire body jolt forward.


    Her buttocks shook from the impact, and Aestrea''s hips started moving even faster, the wet sounds of their coupling growing louder.


    Squissh~


    "Haaa...."


    "MNNNN???! Ahhn~! Y-yes¡­! Just like that¡­?" she cried out, her voice breaking as she neared her peak.


    Her legs shook, her toes curling as she tried to keep herself steady, but the intensity of his thrusts was too much.


    "Ah¡­ ah¡­! Aestrea¡­! I''m getting close...?!¡ª"


    Then, Aestrea raised his hand before slapping her ass forcefully!


    ¡ªSMACK!


    Eleonora''s head arched back, her words cut off as a surprised yelp escaped her lips.


    The mix of pain and pleasure made her walls clench around him, her body trembling as she pushed back against him.


    "Ah! Nngh~! Mmm¡­! So rough, my dear¡­? But I love it~!" she purred, her voice breathless and trembling.


    Her body moved with his, urging him to go harder, deeper.


    Smack!


    Aestrea obliged, his hand coming down on her ass again.


    The sensation made her cry out, her walls tightening around him as pleasure surged through her.


    "Ahhn~! Mmm¡­! Y-yes¡­! Just like that¡­?" she moaned, her voice trembling as she reached back to grip his hand.


    Their fingers intertwined, her nails digging into his skin as she begged him.


    "Fuck me harder, Aestrea¡­? Make me cum¡­!"


    Her words were like a command, and Aestrea obeyed. His hips moved faster, harder, each thrust driving her closer to the edge.


    PAH!


    PAH!


    SMACK!


    "Ah¡­ ah¡­! Mmm¡­! I''m so close, Aestrea¡­?" she cried out, her body trembling as pleasure coursed through her.


    Her legs shook, her toes curling as she tried to keep herself steady, but the intensity of his thrusts was too much.


    "Ah¡­ ah¡­! I''m cumming¡­?"


    Her walls clenched around him, her body trembling as pleasure surged through her.


    "Fuck..."


    Aestrea groaned, his hips stuttering as he felt her cum around him, her tight walls milking his cock as he thrust into her one last time.


    Splurt...


    "Haaahn...?!"


    Eleonora moaned one last time, her body trembling as she collapsed onto the desk, her breath coming in short, sharp bursts.


    "Haaa..."


    "Fuuu..."


    Both of them breathed heavily, and then, after a while, Eleonora spoke.


    "That was¡­ amazing, my little moon¡­?"


    Her voice was full of satisfaction as she lifted her head slightly, to take a look at him.


    Aestrea didn''t respond, his hands gripping her hips tightly as he pulled out his cock slick with their juices.


    "Haah..."


    He let out a deep breath as he reached into his pants pockets.


    His fingers searched for something, but then, he paused and froze for a moment.


    ''Oh yeah... Since I came here, I stopped smoking...''


    ''I should go and buy a pack of cigarettes later.''


    He frowned slightly before sighing, wondering how much time had passed.


    It felt like it had only been a short while, yet something about the atmosphere around him made him feel like it had been longer.


    He picked up his phone from the desk, tapping the screen to check the time.


    "...An hour passed?"


    He was completely surprised as he muttered softly, staring at the time.


    It didn''t seem possible.


    How had an entire hour slipped away so quickly?


    He didn''t expect that he spent an hour having sex with Eleonora.


    ''My perception of time is getting worse...'' he sighed inwardly.


    "Huh? An hour passed?" Eleonora''s surprised voice cut through his thoughts, drawing his attention.


    He turned to look at her.


    She was sitting on the desk, her expression matching his own. Eyes wide, mouth slightly open, she seemed just as taken aback by the passing time.


    "I thought we spent like... twenty minutes here," she said, snapping her fingers.


    Fwoop!


    Everything in the room suddenly shifted, like someone had pressed play on a paused scene. Their clothes, which had been scattered around earlier, were now back in place.


    And so were the objects that were scattered around.


    "Same here..." Aestrea nodded.


    Nonetheless, he stretched his arms before walking towards the door of the office.


    "Fufu~... where do you think you''re going?"


    Eleonora''s teasing voice stopped him in his tracks. His body stiffened when he felt two arms wrap around his waist from behind.


    Before he could react, he felt her enormous chest press against his back, sending an unexpected shiver through him.


    "...What is it? The Snowy Love event should''ve ended by now, no?"


    He glanced over his shoulder, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.


    He couldn''t help but want to tease her.


    "Besides, didn''t I prove that I was efficient in everything, just like you wondered?"


    At his words, Eleonora''s smile twitched slightly, but instead of pulling away, she increased her grip on him, her arms tightening around his waist.


    "Oh my~... Don''t you know that a gentleman would spend the rest of the night with the lady~?" Her voice dropped to a soft, almost sultry whisper against his ear.


    At her words, Aestrea only smiled.


    "I never said I was a gentleman," he murmured, shaking his head with a smirk playing on his lips.


    "If anything..."


    Fwip!


    Without warning, he grabbed her wrist, spinning her around effortlessly. The sudden movement caught her off guard, and she stumbled slightly.


    Before she could recover, he bent her body, lifting her leg up to his waist in one smooth motion.


    Her eyes widened in shock, and before she could say anything, his lips pressed against hers, silencing whatever words she might have spoken.


    "!!!"


    "...?"


    Her body froze for a split second, her eyes wide, before the warmth of his lips made her melt.


    He kissed her deeply, passionately, his tongue pushing past her lips, diving into her mouth.


    There was a soft slurp as their lips parted briefly, just enough for him to slide his tongue against hers, teasing, exploring.


    Slurp¡­ slurp¡­


    The sounds of their kiss echoed in the quiet room, soft and messy.


    "Mmph?!"


    Eleonora''s breath hitched, her hands instinctively gripping his shoulders as she let out a muffled sound when he squeezed her leg a little, pulling her tighter against him.


    Smack... smooch...


    Their lips moved in sync, messy and wet, the sound of their kissing filling the space around them.


    His hands held her tightly as their tongues danced, slipping and sliding together. Every kiss seemed to last longer, more intense, more desperate.


    Smack... smooch... slurp...


    "Mhmm!"


    Eleonora moaned softly, her voice muffled by his lips as her leg rested firmly against his waist.


    He squeezed her leg gently, causing her to gasp and squirm slightly, but she didn''t pull away.


    Their lips finally parted, a thin strand of saliva connecting their mouths before breaking as they both gasped for air.


    "Phwaa...!" she breathed, her chest rising and falling with every quick, uneven breath.


    Aestrea looked at her for a moment, a sly grin on his face as he wiped his lips.


    "The word ''scumbag'' would probably fit me better," he chuckled.


    Eleonora''s face was flushed, her lips swollen, still tingling from the kiss.


    Her mind was spinning, trying to process what had just happened, but her heart was racing with excitement.


    She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. She was too shocked, still caught up in the whirlwind of emotions and sensations.


    Thud!


    Aestrea let go of her, and without another word, he stepped back and walked toward the door, leaving her standing there in a daze.


    Eleonora blinked, still a little wobbly from the intensity of the kiss.


    She stood there for a moment, staring at the door as if hoping he might come back.


    But no, he was already halfway out.


    "Wait...!"


    Her voice breathless, her cheeks burning red.


    She called out, but Aestrea didn''t turn around.


    He paused for a moment, as if considering whether or not to say something, but then just chuckled to himself.


    "Classic," he muttered under his breath, shaking his head as he left the office, the door clicking shut behind him.


    Eleonora stood there, still blushing.


    She looked down at her lips, still tingling from the kiss, and ran her fingers over them, trying to calm herself.


    She couldn''t help but smile, even if she was a little embarrassed.


    "You''re impossible..." she mumbled, though a small laugh escaped her lips.


    She shook her head, her cheeks still flushed as she sat back down on the desk.


    However...


    As Aestrea walked down the corridor, he suddenly stopped.


    "Wait a second..."


    "Did I use my Time Affinity while I was having sex?"

 Chapter 98 End Of Semester (I)

    A few days have passed since the Snow Festival.


    And honestly, I felt like I hadn''t even had a moment to breathe.


    Most of the time, I''d been focused on figuring out how my Time Affinity worked, but even so, I didn''t neglect my Ice Affinity.


    I had to keep improving, especially since I was still learning about the limits and possibilities of my abilities, especially about this damned physique of mine.


    ¡º Ice Generation (? 1st-Level Spell ?) ¡»


    Holding a chunk of ice in my right hand, I subtly looked at it for a moment.


    "Lumi... insert an ounce of void on it..."


    Hearing my words, she flashed a mischievous smile and nodded enthusiastically.


    "Yesh, Mastah~!" she giggled, fluttering her hands before blowing air into the ice I held.


    The moment the void element touched the ice, I felt the temperature drop even more, but it was different from what I expected.


    The ice darkened, almost like it was absorbing the void energy, becoming more unstable by the second.


    It didn''t take long before the entire chunk of ice cracked, splitting into a thousand tiny shards that scattered across the ground like confetti.


    "Mhm..."


    It was as I had thought.


    The Void element and Ice just didn''t mix with each other.


    Or maybe I was doing something wrong.


    I had been thinking a lot about what Eleonora had said in one of our classes, the one where she talked about "Elemental Chemistry" and how different affinities could "react" together.


    To put it simply, it was all about making an affinity stronger by mixing it with another.


    For example, combining "Wood" and "Fire" affinities could enhance the firepower of the fire, creating explosions more powerful than what Fire could do on its own.


    The energy would feed off of the wood, causing more intense bursts of flame.


    Another example that came to mind was "Earth" and "Metal."


    Earth could be used to make metal stronger and tougher, increasing the durability and sharpness of weapons.


    Similarly, combining "Water" with "Lightning" would increase the effectiveness of electrical shocks, making them faster and more lethal.


    It was quite fascinating, to be honest.


    And even my predecessor hadn''t thought about that because how busy he was in just making his Ice Affinity stronger than ever.


    But of course, certain affinities couldn''t mix because their elemental natures didn''t align, like how "Fire" and "Water" would just cancel each other out or "Light" and "Dark" would clash instead of complementing each other.


    When she had explained that in class, I became interested and decided to try something myself.


    My Ice Affinity felt like it could potentially work with other elements, and I thought that combining it with something like "Void" could produce some cool results.


    Void, after all, was the element of nothingness.


    It wasn''t tangible or solid.


    Void could eat away at physical forms, cause things to disappear, or distort space itself.


    Maybe if I could mix Ice and Void, I''d be able to create something entirely new, like an ice spell that could distort space or freeze things into nothingness.


    But of course, that didn''t work.


    The Void seemed to have consumed the ice, but instead of creating anything new or enhanced, it had just destroyed it.


    The ice had no way of holding onto the Void¡ªit was like trying to store water in a bucket with holes.


    There was nothing to keep the elements connected, and the Void ate away at the Ice, causing it to break apart.


    "Mhm... If I can''t use Ice with Void... how about with Time?"


    I didn''t really understand how to use it yet, but I had done something with it before while I was having sex with Eleonora.


    Which is weird.


    But how... did it happen?


    I didn''t necessarily have a clue, but one thing was certain...


    If I could somehow combine Time with Ice, that could definitely work.


    The idea of manipulating time around the ice¡ªmaking it freeze faster, maybe even more powerfully by speeding up the freezing process¡ªsounded like it had potential.


    Ice, as it was, was already pretty strong.


    But if I could manipulate how quickly it froze, or if I could control how it interacted with its surroundings¡ªwell, that could make it even better.


    Or maybe... even freeze time!


    But the problem was, I didn''t really know how to use my Time Affinity.


    It wasn''t like Ice, where I could just summon it and control it with my will.


    Time¡­ time felt like it was something that just moved.


    You couldn''t just grab hold of it, right?


    But I couldn''t quite figure out how to apply it.


    Nonetheless, I had to keep testing.


    After all, I wasn''t going to give up just because one experiment didn''t go as planned.


    I looked at the remaining pieces of ice on the ground.


    "Let''s try this again," I muttered to myself, cracking my knuckles.


    I closed my eyes slowly, trying to block everything else out.


    The atmosphere felt still, silent.


    I took a deep breath in¡ªinhale¡ªand let it out¡ªexhale.


    Focus.


    I couldn''t think about anything else.


    Not the cold air, not the way the ice made my fingers numb.


    I needed to feel time. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The moment I focused, I noticed it¡ªthe soft ticking of the clock on the wall of my imagination, the beat of my own heart.


    Tick...


    Tick...


    Each second felt so loud in the silence. It felt like the sound of time moving.


    Slowly.


    Relentlessly.


    I reached out, not physically, but with my mind.


    Time was like a current, like a stream that kept moving, no matter what.


    I focused on it, pulling it towards me.


    Whoosh.


    I could feel the seconds slipping past, the air shifting just slightly, the faintest tug like something was pulling me along.


    I thought back to the time with Eleonora.


    I may have felt time speed up back then.


    It was hard to say.


    But I knew it was possible.


    Now I had to make it work with the ice.


    I could feel the ice in front of me, sharp and cold.


    I imagined it in my mind, a block of ice, clear and frozen solid.


    But if I could change how time worked around it¡­


    Tick...


    Tick...


    My heart thudded in my chest as I tried to concentrate. I imagined time wrapping around the ice, bending it.


    I could feel the seconds stretch out, like they were moving just a bit slower.


    The ice should freeze faster, right?


    Should I speed up the time around it?


    I visualized it in my head.


    The ice, cracking under the pressure of time, freezing harder, faster.


    I could almost see it¡ªsnap.


    The moment the ice would become something stronger, sharper.


    But¡­


    Nothing.


    Silence.


    I opened my eyes, a bit frustrated.


    The ice didn''t change or anything.


    "Fuuu..."


    I took a deep breath.


    Maybe, I should try something more... principalistic.


    Freeze... time.


    I wasn''t sure if I could, but I had to try.


    I had to push the limits of what I could do.


    If I could have something like this, it would be very helpful for me.


    I closed my eyes again, focusing harder this time.


    "Fuuuuu..."


    I took a deep breath, feeling the cool air fill my lungs, calming my thoughts.


    I needed to feel time.


    Not just around me, but within me.


    Tick...


    Tick...


    Your next read awaits at My Virtual Library Empire


    Time moved on, like a clock that couldn''t stop.


    I could hear it in my mind, like the faint ticking of a watch.


    The pulse of time, slow, steady, always moving.


    I focused on that feeling, on the way time moved around everything.


    It wasn''t just about speeding it up.


    This time, I needed to stop it.


    Freeze it in place.


    "Fuuu...!"


    I took another deep breath.


    My hand hovered above the ice again.


    I felt the time, the seconds flowing around me like water, so constant, so relentless.


    But this time... I pulled on it.


    Gently at first, trying to feel the pressure.


    Tick...


    I could feel it slowing down, just a little, like the hands of a clock dragging.


    The seconds stretched.


    Tick...


    Tick...


    They slowed.


    The air around me felt still, almost too still.


    The ice in front of me shimmered slightly, but it wasn''t enough.


    I needed more.


    I had to push harder.


    Tick...


    I reached out with my mind, trying to wrap my hands around time, trying to hold it in place.


    Stop.


    Freeze.


    I whispered those words inside my head.


    The air around me grew colder.


    A faint breeze stirred, like the passing of time itself, but everything else was still.


    I felt the ice in front of me, the seconds slowly growing heavier.


    And then¡ª


    ¡º Time Freeze (? 9th-Level Spell ?) ¡»


    Nothing.


    The room was frozen.


    I opened my eyes, and the sight shocked me.


    Lumi was standing still, right there, in the middle of the room.


    Her eyes were wide, frozen in place.


    The tiny breath that had been rising and falling in her chest was gone.


    She was... completely still.


    Completely frozen.


    "...It worked?"


    I took a step forward, and then brought out my phone.


    And to my surprise, I really couldn''t turn it on.


    Then, I walked towards Lumi and reached out a hand, brushing a lock of her hair away from her face.


    She didn''t move.


    Not even a twitch.


    It was strange, seeing the world like this.


    However, it indeed worked.


    "Haah..."


    "Fuck..."


    Suddenly, I felt a strange feeling in my body, as if I was being "emptied".


    It was my mana.


    It was draining, fast.


    Thump.


    My heart skipped a beat.


    And immediately, I took a deep breath.


    I had already stopped time, now it''s the same principle, I just need to continue time.


    "Haaa...!"


    Tick...


    I could hear the ticking sound in my mind.


    I had to release it.


    I let the hold on time go, slowly, carefully.


    The pressure lifted, and I felt the stillness around me shatter like glass.


    Whoosh!


    The world snapped back into motion.


    "Ugh...!"


    Thud!


    My body fell into the hard ground.


    My vision slowly started getting blurrier.


    "Master..?! Master!"


    I could hear Lumi''s voice calling out to me.


    But, I truly couldn''t move my body.


    Even though I tried to cancel the spell as fast as possible...


    It seems that it wasn''t fast enough.


    And because of that I had spent almost every ounce of my mana.


    ''Fuck...''


    ''I''ll need to focus on increasing my mana quantity for now, since messing with Time seems more about the quantity I have instead of the quality...''


    "MASTER!"


    Well...


    I hope I don''t wake up at the cathedral.


    Anything but that.


    Oh...


    I just jinxed myself, didn''t I?


    "Fuck."

 Chapter 99 End Of Semester (II)

    "...Mana Exhaustion, huh... What the hell was he doing?"


    A voice echoed through my foggy mind.


    Everything felt blurry.


    My head was a mess.


    I couldn''t feel my body at all.


    Just a heavy weight, like I was floating in some kind of haze.


    Dammit...


    I really hated this feeling¡ªmana exhaustion always hit harder than I expected.


    It wasn''t just my body that felt drained; my mind was fuzzy, too.


    "Ugh..."


    I swore to myself, never again.


    I wasn''t touching that spell unless I had no other choice.


    "This is surprising... I never thought he''d actually get mana exhaustion," one voice said, sounding surprised.


    "From what I''ve seen, he''s really good at controlling his mana."


    "Right? I thought the same thing. Funny enough, it was a small bird that caught my attention and led me to the training field."


    "...If it wasn''t for that, I wouldn''t have been able to bring him here."


    "Wait, really? You think it was his pet or something?"


    "Hahaha, no way, right? He''s always so cold and distant. A cute little animal like that? Wasn''t it a Shima Enaga? One of those fluffy little birds?"


    ...A bird?


    Wait a second.


    Did Lumi turn into that bird?


    I have to do something nice for her later.


    Maybe take her out for a big meal.


    She''s a glutton after all.


    And, well... I guess I could invite Alaine and Chaerin, too.


    "Agh..."


    A small groan escaped my lips.


    "Oh? Is he waking up?"


    "Already? It hasn''t been that long since he passed out, has it?"


    "Well, he is the strongest student for a reason."


    I slowly opened my eyes, blinking a few times to clear my vision. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Two figures came into focus.


    Maya... and Iris.


    I guess Iris was the one who healed me.


    She was a priest, after all.


    "Fuck..."


    I mumbled, trying to lift my upper body, but the pain hit me like a freight train.


    "Wait, stay still!" Iris''s hand reached out to me and gently pressed me against the bed, by back was against.


    "Wait, stay still!" Iris said quickly, her hand gently pressing me back down.


    "You just experienced severe mana exhaustion. Don''t move too much."


    "Hmph, hmph!" Maya from her side nodded.


    I groaned but didn''t argue.


    "Thanks."


    "You''re very much welcome!"


    Maya replied cheerfully.


    "It''s okay," Iris added with a gentle smile. "I''m just glad you''re okay."


    They seemed a little too friendly, almost as if they were trying too hard to make sure I was okay.


    I blinked up at them.


    "How long was I out?"


    Maya thought for a moment before answering. "


    Maybe about four hours or so?"


    "Four hours..."


    I had been out for that long?


    That was... unexpected.


    "By the way, Aestrea..."


    Iris suddenly called out my name, pulling me out of my thoughts.


    "Yeah?"


    "We''re about to start the final exams of the semester... Have you already gathered enough people for the first exam group?"


    Huh.


    Final exams?


    When did that happen?


    Wait...


    Doesn''t that mean that the semester is about to end?


    That means...!


    I can finally go back to Silverleaf!


    GREAT!


    "Wait... group?"


    My brain finally caught up to what she was saying.


    "Yeah," Iris nodded.


    "The first exam is a ''Group Survival'' challenge. All of us will be transported to a deserted island, and we''ll have to survive there."


    My eyes widened as the words sank in.


    ''A deserted island?''


    "I think it was suggested by Instructor Zeva or something," she added, almost casually.


    That bitch...


    "That aside," Iris continued.


    "Each student has to be in a group of five or more. So, did you already gather enough members for your group?" She asked again, her voice a bit more serious now.


    Fuck.


    I hadn''t even known about this, and I was definitely not prepared for it.


    Besides, I''m literally a loner in this academy!


    "Can we bring our servants or something...?" I asked, already knowing the answer, but hoping there might be some loophole.


    "Nope," Iris shook her head. "Some servants specialize in survival, so they''re not allowed. Same goes for pets."


    Of course.


    I couldn''t bring Chaerin or Alaine with me, which meant...


    I''m fucked.


    Fuck, fuck, fuck...!


    Let''s see...


    Me, Violet and...


    And...


    Fuck.


    Christina?


    Maybe...


    She''s also an exchange student, so probably.


    There are three, now... two more.


    Damn it.


    "Shit...!"


    I cursed under my breath.


    This was going to be a mess.


    "Hahaha!" Maya giggled at the frustration written all over my face.


    "I''ll take that as a ''no,''" Iris said, smiling while covering her mouth.


    "So, instead..." She paused for a moment, then her smile turned a bit mischievous.


    "How about joining our group?"


    "Huh?"


    "You heard me," Iris said, still smiling.


    "You can join us. Maya and I already have enough people, but the more the merrier, right? So, how about it?"


    Joining their group, huh...


    I guess I don''t have a choice anyways.


    "Sure."


    Both Iris and Maya laughed, clearly relieved that I agreed.


    "Don''t worry," Maya said, grinning.


    "We''ll make sure you don''t do all the work."


    "Thanks... I guess."


    This was going to be interesting, that''s for sure.


    "Great!" Iris beamed.


    "You won''t regret it, Aestrea."


    Yeah, well...


    I hoped I wouldn''t.


    "Also, when exactly is the first exam happening, anyway?"


    I asked curiously.


    "Mhm?" Iris raised an eyebrow, clearly a bit surprised by my question.


    "I think... the day after tomorrow," she said after a pause.


    "Already?!" I practically shouted, completely caught off guard.


    I couldn''t believe it.


    How had I missed that?


    "Hah..." Iris chuckled softly.


    "You must''ve been so focused on your training that you lost track of time." Maya joined in, laughing too, but she looked at me a bit wryly.


    "...I guess..."


    It seems that I don''t have a lot of time.


    So, tomorrow, I might as well take time to make a small family trip.


    I sighed inwardly.


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    "Papa... where are we going?" Chaerin asked timidly, her little hand tugging at my sleeve as we walked through the busy streets of the capital.


    "Like I said before, we''re just going out to have a little fun today. Tomorrow, I''ll be gone for a few days," I said with a smile, gently patting her head.


    ''At least until that damn exam is over...''


    Chaerin''s eyes sparkled.


    "Hihihi, are we going to eat something?!" Lumi asked excitedly, practically hopping in place as she grabbed my left arm, pulling me along with her.


    "...Of course, we are."


    "Do you need me to prepare anything, Master?" Alaine asked quietly, walking behind us.


    She was wearing her usual maid outfit, and honestly, I had told her a few times that she didn''t need to wear it all the time.


    But no matter how many times I suggested it, she insisted on keeping it on.


    She seemed so comfortable in it... and I didn''t have the heart to argue.


    The capital was alive with energy as we strolled down the cobbled streets, the distant sound of chatter, the clink of coins, and the soft hum of busy market stalls all around us.


    It was a perfect day for a little break from everything¡ªno battles, no training, no stress.


    Just us, spending some time together.


    Chaerin tugged at my sleeve again, her small steps trying to match mine as she bounced along.


    "Papa, can we go to the park? I wanna play!"


    "Of course, Chaerin. We''ll head there in a bit. Don''t worry."


    I chuckled softly and nodded.


    Lumi, walking next to me on the other side, was practically glowing with excitement.


    Her voice bubbled out, cheerful as always.


    "Yay! We''re going to the park, right? Can we have a picnic too? Please please pleeease!" She gave me a little nudge with her shoulder, practically bursting with energy.


    I couldn''t help but laugh, shaking my head.


    "Yeah, yeah, we''ll have a picnic. You don''t need to beg. Just give me a moment."


    "Do you need any help, Master?" Alaine''s voice was calm and soft from behind us.


    I smiled at her.


    "Nah, I''ve got it. Just enjoy yourself today. No need to act like a servant today, okay?"


    She nodded, a small smile tugging at her lips, but I could tell she was still trying to be useful.


    Lumi, on the other hand, grabbed my arm again and bounced excitedly.


    "Are we gonna have a picnic with sandwiches? I love sandwiches!"


    "Sandwiches?! Are they gonna be big ones? With lots of stuff inside?" Chaerin from my other side, asked excitedly.


    I chuckled at the two of them.


    "Yeah, they''ll be big. With as many toppings as you want. But first, we''re heading to a nice spot. You''ll see."


    They truly were children at heart.


    It didn''t take us long to reach the park just outside the city, the green space sprawling out ahead of us.


    Trees swayed gently in the breeze, the soft sound of leaves rustling like whispers in the air.


    The sun was warm, but not too hot, casting everything in a soft, golden glow.


    It was the kind of day where everything felt right.


    Lumi and Chaerin didn''t waste a second.


    They ran off towards a patch of grass, giggling and chasing each other in circles.


    "Mhm..."


    The problem was...


    Where would I get the stuff to make a picnic?


    There should be a few stalls nearby, maybe I should check it out¡ª


    ¡ªWhooosh!


    I saw a blanket being spread out.


    "Uhhh..."


    I looked at Alaine speechlessly. Experience new tales on My Virtual Library Empire


    At my reaction, she only smiled.


    "A servant should be prepared for every occasion."


    I shook my head at her words, and then, I noticed a basket besides her.


    Huh... she really was prepared for everything.


    Then, we started unpacking the basket.


    It had a few sandwiches, some fruit, and even a little dessert¡ªcakes, cookies, and little pastries.


    The scent of fresh bread and fruit filled the air, making everything feel even more perfect.


    Fwoop!


    Lumi suddenly collapsed onto the blanket next to me, out of breath but smiling from ear to ear.


    "I''m starving! Let''s eat!"


    Chaerin followed shortly after, her tiny feet leaving prints in the soft grass as she plopped down beside Lumi.


    "Me too! Can I have the biggest sandwich?"


    ''...Why are you obsessed with the biggest sandwich?''


    I laughed inwardly.


    "Of course," I said, handing her a big sandwich stuffed with all sorts of fillings.


    "But you better eat it slowly, or you''ll get a stomach ache."


    "Okay, Papa," she said seriously, before taking a huge bite.


    Crunch!


    "Mmm! So gwooood!"


    I smiled at her, then turned to Lumi, who was already eyeing the cakes.


    "I guess we''ll save the sweet stuff for later, huh?"


    "Okayyy! I promise I won''t eat them all... Maybe," she teased, her eyes sparkling with mischief.


    Alaine sat next to me, folding her hands neatly in her lap.


    "It''s quite the lovely day," she murmured softly.


    "I''m glad we could all get out for a while."


    "Mhm..."


    I nodded at her words.


    My body was still aching in pain.


    God damn it, I hate mana exhaustion.


    That aside, it is truly nice to get out and have a small break.


    Things at the main academy are truly chaotic.


    The Archdemon and then we had the Snow Festival...


    And now, the final exams.


    It just feels that time is passing way too fast.


    Plop!


    Lumi suddenly bounced up, grabbing Chaerin''s hand.


    "Let''s go play by the pond! We can skip rocks!" she exclaimed, practically dragging the little girl along with her.


    Chaerin giggled.


    "Okay, okay! Let''s see who can skip the most rocks!"


    I watched them go, feeling my heart warming up at the sight of them running off together, laughing in that carefree way only kids could.


    "Haaa..."


    Letting out a sigh, I leaned back onto the blanket, my head resting against Alaine''s lap.


    She didn''t seem surprised, just shifted slightly to make me more comfortable.


    "Are you comfortable?" she asked me after a while, running her fingers through my hair in a gentle and tender motion.


    "Yeah."


    I mumbled, not even bothering to open my eyes.


    "Very."


    Her hand paused in my hair, and I could feel her looking down at me.


    I opened my eyes, and saw her sparkling brown eyes.


    She was already quite beautiful when disguised, but compared to her original beauty, she looked quite mediocre.


    And then, before I even realized it, Alaine leaned down, her lips brushing against mine in a soft, tender kiss.


    "...?~"


    I froze for a second, the surprise of it catching me off guard.


    But then, instinctively, I responded, my hand reaching up to rest against her cheek.


    "Hihihi...!"


    A faint giggle broke through the moment, and we both froze, pulling back just slightly.


    Lumi and Chaerin were standing by the pond, both of them watching us with wide, teasing grins on their faces.


    Lumi crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow.


    "Well, well... Looks like we have a lovebirds moment," she teased, a mischievous smile playing at the corners of her lips.


    Chaerin giggled, pointing at us.


    "Papa and Alaine are kissing! Eww!" she said, though it was clear she was more amused than disgusted.


    I groaned and sat up.


    "Alright, alright. Go play. You''re interrupting us," I said, trying to sound annoyed, but I couldn''t help the smile that tugged at my lips.


    Lumi gave a dramatic sigh.


    "Fine, fine. We''ll leave you two lovebirds alone... for now." She grabbed Chaerin''s hand and pulled her back towards the water.


    "Come on, Chaerin! Let''s see who can throw the most rocks!"


    As the two of them ran off, laughing, Alaine and I exchanged a quiet glance, both of us blushing just a little.


    Then, we both laughed.


    I looked at the bright blue sky for a moment...


    "Today... it really is perfect."

 Chapter 100 End Of Semester (III)

    The day had finally arrived.


    The first exam of the end of semester¡ªthe Group Survival exam.


    I walked into the exam area with Maya, Iris, Lucas, Ella, and Rose.


    Yup.


    The hero''s party, plus me, the Extra!


    Hooray!


    Around us, other students were talking quietly, forming last-moment groups, making last-minute plans, while some were just trying to get their heads in the game.


    We stood in front of a large open field, the setting sun casting long shadows across the ground.


    A few instructors were already gathered, including the one leading this exam¡ªInstructor Zeva.


    The bitchy instructor... ahem.


    Zeva stood at the front, her posture straight, with her arms crossed and her gaze sweeping across all of us.


    "Alright, listen up!" Instructor Zeva''s voice cut through the murmurs of the students.


    "This isn''t just some simple test. It''s a week-long survival challenge. You''ll be dropped off on a remote island, far from civilization. The goal is simple¡ªsurvive for a week. Work together. Use your wits, your skills, and your resourcefulness."


    I glanced at my group.


    Maya was already adjusting her equipment, her expression serious even though she was quite the airhead.


    Iris was quietly taking notes, and Lucas had that usual confident grin on his face, like he didn''t think there was anything he couldn''t handle.


    Ella and Rose stood off to the side; Rose was cautiously checking all her equipment while Ella stood with a calm face, sharpening her sword.


    I wasn''t worried about them.


    Then, Zeva continued:


    "There will be no outside help. You''re on your own. The only thing you''re allowed to bring are the supplies I''ll provide you, and your personal gear. No magic-based assistance or aura use, no pets or servants¡ªnothing that could give you an unfair advantage."


    ''...I can''t use magic? Fuck.''


    I was already crying inside.


    "Fair advantage?" Maya muttered under her breath, rolling her eyes.


    "It''s survival, not a game of fairness."


    ''Pff...''


    I almost laughed at her words, but kept my focus on Zeva.


    This is one of the exams after all.


    "You''ll be scored on various things," Zeva continued.


    "Your ability to find and purify water, create shelter, hunt or forage for food, and more. You''ll need to keep track of your resources. If you run out, there''s no getting more. There will also be challenges along the way¡ªsome that will test your mental fortitude, and others that will test your ability to work as a group. You''re not here to be a hero; you''re here to work together."


    Hearing her words, I unconsciously looked at Lucas, who also happened to meet my gaze.


    "No hero, huh?"


    I mouthed the words to him which made his smile twitch slightly.


    "And if you fail... Well, let''s just say, the consequences will be unpleasant." She didn''t need to elaborate.


    We all understood what that meant.


    There were no second chances in this test.


    This was essentially an exam that could result in a satisfactory grade or have your score recorded as zero.


    If you gave up, you''d be given zero marks directly.


    I let out a small sigh.


    Survival on an island, huh?


    I wasn''t completely clueless.


    I had some knowledge about island survival¡ªthings like building a basic shelter using natural resources and hunting animals for food wouldn''t be a problem.


    But the real challenge for me?


    Keeping the food from spoiling and purifying drinking water.


    I have no idea how to do that.


    Originally, I thought I could just melt my ice magic to get fresh water, but after hearing that we wouldn''t be able to use magic... well, that completely messed up my plans.


    Still, I wasn''t too worried.


    Among the six of us, someone had to know how to purify water or at least have some knowledge about food preservation.


    That was the benefit of working as a team.


    I adjusted my bag and took a deep breath.


    "Now... calling from the first to the last registered group, please enter the teleportation gate! Your mana will be temporarily sealed and will only activate in emergency situations detected by the island''s surveillance!"


    An announcement rang across the field, and soon after, Zeva''s voice followed.


    "Good luck to every group!"


    One by one, the groups were called. Students stepped forward, disappearing into the teleportation gate as their names were listed off.


    If I remembered correctly, we were the seventh group.


    "The Seventh Group, step forward!" Zeva''s sharp voice rang out.


    Lucas was the first to move, stepping forward and the rest of us followed right behind him.


    The teleportation gate shimmered with a bright blue glow as we stepped through it.


    Fwooop!


    The sensation was disorienting but brief.


    A rush of energy passed over me, and then¡ª


    The world around us changed.


    The moment I opened my eyes, I was met with a scene straight out of a survival movie.


    The sky stretched wide and open above us, a bright blue expanse with the sun hanging high, its rays beaming down mercilessly.


    A salty breeze brushed against my face, carrying the scent of the ocean.


    Beneath our feet, golden sand stretched out toward the waves that crashed gently against the shore.


    The water was a stunning turquoise, clear enough to see the coral and small fish swimming below.


    Behind us was a thick, dense jungle filled with towering palm trees, vines hanging lazily from branches, and the distant sounds of birds and rustling leaves.


    Some of the trees were heavy with coconuts, a lucky break for us.


    "Alright, everyone!" Lucas clapped his hands together, grinning.


    "Let''s get to work!"


    And just like that, our survival week had officially begun.


    Lucas didn''t waste any time.


    He quickly turned to face the rest of us, his expression growing a little more serious.


    "Alright... first things first, we need to divide the work. Everyone needs to have a role, or we won''t last long out here." He crossed his arms, glancing around.


    "The three main things we need to take care of are water, shelter, and food. There are six of us, so we can split into three teams¡ªtwo people for each task."


    I nodded at his words.


    "So, is there anyone who''s good at any of these?"


    Almost immediately, both Maya and Iris raised their hands.


    "We both know how to purify water!" Maya said with a bright smile.


    Iris nodded beside her.


    "We''ve studied water filtration methods before, so we should be able to handle it."


    Perfect.


    That was one major problem solved.


    I let out a small sigh of relief.


    "Alright, then you two will be in charge of water gathering and purification," Lucas confirmed.


    "That just leaves shelter construction and food hunting. Anyone want to volunteer?"


    No one spoke up right away.


    The rest of the group exchanged glances, but no one seemed particularly eager to claim a role.


    Seeing the silence drag on, I decided to step forward.


    "I don''t mind working on the shelter. I have some basic knowledge about building structures with natural materials."


    Lucas nodded.


    "Good, that''s one down. Who wants to team up with Aestrea?"


    A moment later, Rose raised her hand.


    "I''ll go with him."


    She didn''t seem particularly shy, and had the normal expressionless face that she usually had back in the novel.


    "Perfect," Lucas said.


    "That leaves me and Ella to handle food hunting."


    Ella gave a small shrug.


    "Sounds good to me."


    With that, we had our roles assigned.


    "Alright," Lucas clapped his hands again.


    "Let''s get moving. We need to set up camp before the sun goes down."


    ***


    Rose and I left the rest of the group behind and walked deeper into the forest.


    The sun was still high in the sky, but I could tell we didn''t have much time before evening.


    If we didn''t finish the shelter before dark, we''d have to sleep in the open, and that wasn''t something I wanted to experience.


    The trees here were thick and tall, perfect for gathering wood.


    Their branches swayed gently in the wind, making a soft rustling sound.


    I glanced at Rose.


    She had the same unreadable expression she always had, her eyes scanning the trees carefully.


    "We should find a good spot to chop these down," I said, gripping my sword.


    Rose gave a small nod.


    "I''ll gather leaves while you get the wood."


    "Alright."


    Without wasting time, I drew my sword.


    I might not have been able to use magic or aura, but that didn''t mean I couldn''t handle things the old-fashioned way.


    With a single, strong swing, I slashed through the base of a tree.


    CRACK!


    The tree groaned before slowly tipping over, crashing onto the forest floor.


    The sound echoed around us.


    Rose, who had already moved to another tree, barely reacted.


    She was carefully climbing one of the smaller trees, reaching for the broad, thick leaves near the top.


    "...That was fast," she commented as she pulled off a bunch of leaves.


    I shrugged.


    "I mean... we''re awakeners, so this job is quite easy."


    "Still. Cutting down a tree in one swing isn''t something just anyone can do, after all, these trees have some protection enchantment on them."


    "Really?"


    I raised an eyebrow.


    If there was an enchantment, I should''ve been able to notice quite easily, after all, my mana sensitivity is pretty high.


    "Well... it''s a barrier that uses runes instead of mana, so it really is impressive," she explained, pulling more leaves from the tree.


    "I see..."


    Rose really is quite knowledgeable. Enjoy exclusive chapters from My Virtual Library Empire


    Even my predecessor didn''t study runes. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But thinking of them... maybe, I should learn about them and maybe carve them onto a future sword... or even in my body.


    I should keep that in mind.


    I moved to the next tree and swung my sword again.


    CRACK!


    The tree fell to the side.


    Meanwhile, Rose moved swiftly from one tree to another, her hands quick and efficient as she gathered as many leaves as she could carry.


    "How many leaves do we need?" she asked.


    "Enough to cover the roof and make it waterproof," I replied.


    "And maybe some extra for bedding."


    Rose nodded and continued working.


    I kept chopping trees down, making sure to leave some space between them so we didn''t destroy the whole area.


    After I had a decent amount of logs, I started breaking them into smaller pieces, using my sword to carve them into more manageable sizes.


    As I worked, I glanced over at Rose.


    She was now using some vines to tie the leaves together into bundles, probably to make it easier to carry them back.


    "You''ve done this before?" I asked.


    "Once or twice," she replied simply.


    "I read a few survival books."


    "Huh. That''s useful."


    "You too," she said, looking at the wood I had already gathered and how carefully I had cut it into pieces.


    "You seem to know what you''re doing."


    I smirked slightly.


    "When I was a kid, I loved to watch survival movies, so... I kinda got the hang of it."


    Rose didn''t respond, just kept tying the leaves together.


    The wind picked up slightly, rustling the trees around us.


    Thud!


    It was quiet, aside from the sound of my sword striking wood and the occasional sound as another tree fell.


    After a while, Rose walked over, holding several bundles of leaves in her arms.


    "I think this is enough for now," she said.


    "Alright," I nodded.


    "Take them back to the others. I''ll keep chopping a bit more."


    She hesitated for a second, then gave a small nod before turning to leave.


    As she disappeared through the trees, I let out a small breath and tightened my grip on my sword.


    There was still more work to do.


    I raised my blade again and swung.


    CRACK.


    Another tree fell into the ground.


    The only reason I was gathering more wood was to make a fireplace.


    We also need to create a type of fence to make sure that the wind doesn''t blow away our shelters.


    After all, this isn''t a normal world.


    There''s a big chance of storms happening.


    And I had to be extra careful about it.

 Chapter 101 End Of Semester (IV)

    "Bastard..."


    Plucking the leaves of a daisy, a woman muttered to herself.


    "Do you love me...?" she asked softly, pulling off another petal.


    "Or not?"


    Another petal fell.


    She sighed, eyes narrowing as the last petal remained.


    "Damn it!"


    Plop!


    With a frustrated grunt, she tossed the daisy to the ground and stomped on it, glaring at the crushed flower beneath her feet.


    "Hmph! Damned Lucas!" she hissed, her light brown hair falling over her face. "Why are you so focused on Ella? Can''t you see me waiting for you?!"


    But then...


    A voice came from the distance making Maya flinch abruptly.


    "Maya? Are you done already?!"


    Maya snapped her head up, her face flushing in embarrassment.


    "Y-yeah! I''ll be with you in a few moments!" she shouted back, trying to shake off the embarrassment of her little outburst.


    "Alright, don''t take too long!" came the reply.


    Maya adjusted her dress, taking a deep breath to calm herself.


    It wasn''t like she was upset¡­ just a little frustrated.


    She hurried over to where Iris was waiting, the two of them having been tasked with gathering resources for the shelter.


    As she approached, Iris raised an eyebrow.


    "Why did you take so long?" she asked curiously.


    "We''ve already purified more than enough water for today."


    Maya flashed a bright smile, trying to cover up the tension from earlier.


    "It was nothing, hehe. I was just distracted with a hare!"


    "A hare?!" Iris''s eyes widened.


    "Why didn''t you catch it?!" She put her hands on Maya''s shoulders and began shaking her lightly.


    "That could have been our dinner!"


    "W-why?!" Maya protested, shaking her head frantically.


    "It''s just a cute little hare!"


    Iris scowled.


    "It''s food, Maya!"


    "No, it''s not!"


    They argued back and forth for a while, but neither of them could agree.


    "Haaaa..." Iris let out a long sigh, dropping her hands from Maya''s shoulders as she turned to walk back to the camp.


    "Let''s just go back to the camp. We''ve spent enough time here."


    "HEY! Wait for me!" Maya called, quickly catching up to Iris as they made their way back through the forest.


    But as soon as they arrived at the camp...


    "This..."


    Both of them were utterly speechless.


    Clang, clang!


    "Wait¡­ what?" Maya blinked in shock, her eyes darting between the small wooden cabin that had suddenly appeared and Aestrea, who was standing in front of it, looking quite pleased with himself.


    The sand, where there had been nothing but a few hours ago, was now occupied by a fully constructed shelter.


    Wooden beams, leaves, and logs were stacked together, forming a sturdy little cabin.


    Aestrea, shirtless, was carefully hammering away at the wood.


    Instead of a hammer, though, he was using the fuller of his sword to hit sharp stones, securing the pieces of wood together.


    The sound of wood striking stone echoed through the air.


    Clang, clang! Discover stories with My Virtual Library Empire


    "Fuuu...!"


    He let out a deep breath.


    Then, he jumped towards the sand and took a deep look at his work.


    "Mhmm... the right side still needs some adjustments," he muttered to himself, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.


    "I''m not entirely sure that those leaves will hold up in a storm, though."


    He tightened his grip on the sword, taking a moment to focus before swinging it horizontally.


    Fwip!


    The right wall of the cabin split in half with a clean cut, and Aestrea moved swiftly to the newly cut pieces, slicing them into perfect cubicles of wood.


    "Perfect..."


    Maya and Iris watched in awe as Aestrea then took the cubicles of wood and began placing them into the sand.


    He used some kind of mud¡ªlikely a makeshift cement he had found or created on the island¡ªto seal them in place, ensuring everything was tightly connected.


    Plop!


    "Ah...! I didn''t see you two there." Aestrea suddenly spoke, noticing the two women standing behind him.


    He didn''t sound surprised¡ªjust casually acknowledging their presence.


    Iris raised an eyebrow.


    "Is this your idea of a shelter...? Isn''t this a bit... too much?" She asked in a tone of surprise as she walked closer to him.


    "No...? I''m just making sure we have proper shelter in case a storm comes. So, not really."


    He replied before wiping the sweat on his forehead, eyeing the structure one last time before turning toward the two women.


    "Now, we just need to finish the roof and reinforce the walls. But we''re almost done."


    Maya blinked in disbelief.


    "We?"


    "Yeah," Aestrea replied nonchalantly, grabbing his sword again.


    "Rose was helping me earlier. She went to get more leaves for the roof, and she also found some coconuts. She might bring those back too."


    Maya raised an eyebrow.


    "Oh, I see."


    Iris just stared at Aestrea, a little surprised by how smoothly everything was going.


    "What about you two? Did you manage to purify the water?" Aestrea asked, his attention still on his work.


    Maya puffed out her chest and nodded proudly.


    "Of course!"


    Iris, however, only gave Maya a sideways glance before answering.


    "We found a small pond near the forest. The water seemed pretty clean already, but we made sure to purify it. There was a bit of salt in it, but nothing too serious."


    "Good job."


    Both Maya and Iris felt awkward hearing the praise.


    It was strange to hear Aestrea¡ªsomeone they weren''t that close to¡ªsay something like that.


    They both just nodded, unsure of how to respond.


    Aestrea seemed to notice the awkwardness but didn''t dwell on it.


    "Then, I guess you two can take a break for now. I''ll finish up the cabin."


    With that, he turned back to the shelter.


    But before he could start working again, a voice rang out from a distance.


    "Aestrea, I''m back!"


    It was Rose.


    She was carrying a bunch of coconuts in a makeshift leaf bag, and in her left hand, she had a vine that was dragging more leaves behind her.


    "Mhm."


    Aestrea nodded as he turned to face her.


    They started talking about the finishing touches for the shelter, and while they talked, Iris and Maya sat down on the sand, looked at them with weird gazes. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Maya tilted her head, her eyes narrowing as she studied the two of them.


    "Aren''t those two... a bit too close?" she murmured, unsure of what exactly she was feeling.


    Iris glanced at her, then at Aestrea and Rose, before answering.


    "Yeah... I thought the same thing. Does Rose... like Aestrea?"


    Maya blinked, suddenly looking serious.


    "I thought you were just teasing earlier, but now that I think about it... it does seem like it, doesn''t it?" She tapped her chin, as if realizing something that had been nagging her.


    Iris''s eyes widened at Maya''s sudden insight.


    "Wait, you actually figured that out on your own?" she asked, clearly impressed.


    Maya blinked and turned to Iris, puzzled.


    "Uh, yeah? What''s wrong?"


    Iris stared at her for a moment, clearly taken aback.


    "I didn''t think you had it in you to actually think about stuff like that," she said, half-amused and half-shocked.


    Maya blinked again, looking completely confused.


    "Huh?!"


    "Pffft!"


    Iris laughed directly at her expression.


    Maya was still the same airhead.


    "Guys, we''re back!"


    Lucas''s voice rang out.


    Maya and Iris turned around immediately, while Rose and Aestrea didn''t budge from their spots.


    Nehind Lucas, Ella was dragging a boar by its hind legs, looking a little tired. Lucas, on the other hand, had a bunch of hares draped over his shoulder.


    "Welcome back!" Maya cheered, bouncing a little on her feet.


    Both Iris and Rose nodded at him while Aestrea... kept his focus on the cabin he was working on.


    "Haa... this should be enough!"


    Plop!


    The cabin was expanded by a bit and the right wall of the cabin was reconstructed successfully.


    "Whoa! You built all of this in just a few hours?" Lucas exclaimed loudly, clearly impressed as he walked up beside Aestrea.


    "Yeah, but it''s not done yet. We still need a better roof than just these leaves," Aestrea replied, wiping sweat off his forehead before stretching his arms over his head, looking up at the makeshift shelter.


    "Well, how about we cook some of those hares for now?" Lucas suggested, shifting the topic as he grinned at the others.


    "Yes! I''m starving!" Maya exclaimed eagerly, her stomach growling audibly.


    Iris sighed but didn''t protest.


    "Sure."


    Aestrea nodded.


    "Do you need help making the campfire?" he asked, glancing at Lucas.


    Lucas waved him off with a grin.


    "Nah, I know how to do it. Don''t worry about it."


    Aestrea nodded again and decided to take a short walk toward the ocean.


    "Weird..."


    Iris spoke.


    "Well, anyways, let''s just build the campfire and cook the hares." Lucas ignored her words and then put his hands to work.


    Maya and Iris sat by the camp, watching as Lucas worked quickly to start a fire.


    A few minutes later, the crackling sound of burning wood filled the air, and they began cooking the hares, the scent of roasting meat making everyone''s stomach growl in anticipation.


    Just then, Aestrea returned.


    His hair slightly damp but his clothes completely dry.


    There wasn''t a trace of sweat on his body anymore, which made the others wonder how he managed that.


    "Here''s your food."


    Lucas said, handing him a stick with a roasted hare on it.


    Aestrea accepted it before taking a small bite.


    It wasn''t anything special¡ªthere was no seasoning or spice, but it was more than enough to fill the hunger gnawing at his stomach.


    Maya, still chewing on her own portion, looked up at the group.


    "So... why do you think Instructor Zeva made us do this? This whole survival thing. What''s the point?"


    Lucas scratched his head, looking thoughtful.


    "Yeah, it does sound kinda weird when you think about it. How is this supposed to help us with anything?"


    "Maybe it''s to prepare us for situations like this," Iris suggested, trying to make sense of it.


    "It could be," Lucas agreed, nodding.


    "But it''s still strange."


    Before anyone could say more, Ella, who had been quiet, spoke up.


    "It''s for war."


    And instantly, everyone except Aestrea froze at her words, their eyes snapping toward her.


    "War?"


    Maya asked, raising an eyebrow.


    She hadn''t expected that.


    Ella nodded.


    "Yes. Our empire is currently in a conflict with one of the opposing empires. The Elven Kingdom and the Dwarf Kingdom have allied, and they pose a real threat to us. If war breaks out, we''ll need skills like this to survive."


    The group fell silent, processing her words.


    Maya frowned, confused.


    "Wait, didn''t we always hear that our empire was the strongest? Why are the elves bothering us?"


    Ella sighed, sitting down near the fire.


    "Apparently, the organization called the ''Dark Order'', made up of humans who invaded the Elven Kingdom. They tried to corrupt the Elven Princess into a Dark Elf, which is forbidden in their culture."


    "And those actions, as some of you might have guessed, were ''allegedly'' carried out under my father''s orders."


    She sighed deeply.


    "As everyone knows, our world is divided into six different factions. The Human Empire, the Elven Kingdom, the Dwarf Kingdom, the Holy Nation, the Beastkin Kingdom, and finally, the Demon Kingdom where the future demon king would be reborn..."


    The air turned colder at the last sentence, but after taking a deep breath, Ella continued.


    "So, a direct attack of our empire towards the Elven Kingdom is a really big offense, and since the Elven Kingdom and the Dwarf Kingdom allied themselves, they could probably be thinking of attacking us."


    "Our empire is strong, yes, but if a war were to happen, we might lose. Even with all our power."


    "Oooohhh!" Maya nodded frantically, as if she had understood her words.


    Iris was also a bit shocked, and frowned.


    "It''s not just a training exercise. This is serious. If the Elven and Dwarf Kingdoms do decide to attack, we''ll need to know how to survive on our own¡ªwhether we''re on an island or somewhere in the wilderness." Ella finished her words.


    "That... makes sense," Lucas said slowly, his expression now sober.


    "If a war does break out and we end up stranded somewhere, we''d need to know how to survive. This academy really prepares us for everything, huh?"


    "No wonder this academy has been the best for so long. The professors really know what they''re doing." Lucas announced happily.


    But as soon as he uttered those words, everyone went silent.


    That was because...


    As soon as he spoke, Aestrea, who had been quiet the whole time, suddenly looked up, his red eyes glowing faintly in the firelight.


    "Huh? Is it really the strongest academy?"


    Aestrea, with his glowing red eyes, asked, looking at Lucas with an extremely cold expression.


    Immediately, Lucas felt sweat forming on his forehead.


    "Well, it is indeed the strong¡ª"


    "¡ªLucas, shut your damned mouth!" Ella interrupted him before he could say anything stupid.


    Aestrea only rolled his eyes at her actions.


    "I''m done eating."


    He said as he stood up and went back to the cabin.


    The sun was already descending, so it would be the perfect time to have a nap.


    "Tsk... why is he so grumpy?" Lucas mumbled.


    "Yeah..." Maya nodded.


    Iris only remained silent.


    "Agh... You guys are so freaking dumb!" Ella suddenly stood up, looking disgusted as she started walking away.


    Maya and Lucas exchanged glances, then turned their attention back to the fire.


    "She''s right."


    Iris, however, broke the silence.


    "You two really are lost causes."


    "What?!"


    Both of them exclaimed.

 Chapter 102 End Of Semester (V)

    "A war, huh?"


    I muttered to myself as I walked back toward the wooden cabin.


    "And it was the Dark Order again..."


    My eyebrows furrowed.


    Those bastards.


    Always showing up, always causing trouble.


    But for what?


    What the hell do they really want?


    Damn it.


    If only I had more time to read the novel¡­


    Maybe I''d know more.


    Maybe I''d understand what they were truly after.


    Reaching the cabin, I stepped through the empty doorway¡ªwhere a door should be but wasn''t.


    The inside was just as bare. No furniture, no decorations.


    I wasn''t planning on making any of that anyway.


    This place was nothing more than a shelter¡ªa spot to sleep and store food.


    Nothing more.


    As for the beds¡­


    I turned my head to the right side of the cabin, where I had gathered a thick pile of leaves.


    The leaves are more than enough.


    "Haaah..."


    I should take a nap, I''m a bit tired.


    Tling...


    The sharp sound of a string being pulled suddenly cut through the silence.


    I froze.


    My grip on my sword tightened, but I didn''t move. For a brief second, I wondered if I imagined it. The wind, maybe? A branch shifting?


    No.


    Slowly, I lifted my sword and angled it, using the reflective blade like a mirror to look behind me.


    And there it was.


    Thin, nearly invisible strings crisscrossed behind me like a spider''s web. If I had taken just one more step¡­


    "Damn it."


    Press...


    A sharp sting.


    The strings pressed against my skin, cutting into me.


    Warm blood trickled down my arms.


    "Kagetaro..."


    I didn''t need to guess.


    There was only one person I knew who fought with strings.


    Clap, clap, clap!


    A slow, mocking applause echoed through the air.


    "Hah~ Hello again, my dear Moonlight Swordsman."


    A figure stepped out from the shadows, wearing the same annoying mask as before. He made a grand, exaggerated bow, his tone dripping with amusement.


    "Did you miss me?"


    His fingers twitched, and suddenly¡ª


    Swish!


    The strings tightened around me, slicing through the air. I twisted my body, forcing a roll to the side just before they could cut any deeper.


    Snap!


    Some of the strings snapped as I moved, but more of them came flying toward me.


    I swung my sword.


    Clang!


    The blade cut through a few of them, but not all.


    One wrapped around my ankle¡ª


    "Tsk."


    I slammed my foot down, twisting sharply.


    Snap!


    The string broke, but the moment I freed myself, Kagetaro was already moving.


    Whoosh!


    A blur of motion¡ªhe lunged forward, aiming a dagger straight at my throat.


    Clang!


    I raised my sword just in time, deflecting the attack.


    Sparks flew as metal scraped against metal.


    But Kagetaro wasn''t done.


    With a flick of his wrist, more strings shot out, wrapping around my wrist, my shoulder¡ªtrying to restrict my movement.


    I yanked back hard.


    Snap!


    Snap!


    Some of the strings broke, but I could feel others tightening around me.


    "You''re struggling more than last time," Kagetaro mused, tilting his head.


    "What''s wrong? Tired?"


    I gritted my teeth.


    "Shut up."


    Using my free hand, I grabbed one of the strings and yanked him toward me instead.


    His eyes widened.


    THWACK!


    I drove my knee into his stomach.


    "Guh¡ª!"


    His body lurched forward, but he quickly regained balance, flipping backward and landing a few feet away.


    "Heh..."


    He wiped his mask with the back of his hand, sighing.


    "Still as brutal as ever, huh?"


    I clenched my sword, looking at him.


    "What do you want?"


    I kept my eyes locked on his every movement.


    I couldn''t let my guard down.


    Not with him.


    Kagetaro tilted his head slightly, his body relaxed¡ªtoo relaxed.


    "Well~, isn''t it obvious?" he said with a smirk, or at least I assumed so.


    That damn mask hid everything but the amusement dripping from his voice.


    I tightened my grip.


    "¡­I''m not joining the Dark Order. Not now. Not ever."


    Kagetaro let out a long, exaggerated sigh, shaking his head.


    "Oh¡­ That truly is a pity," he said in a dejected tone, as if I had just refused a friendly invitation.


    "But¡­" His voice took on a sharper edge.


    "What if what I offer you is¡­"


    He reached for the ring on his finger.


    Fwoosh!


    A burst of bright light filled the cabin, forcing me to squint.


    And then¡ª


    My breath caught.


    Hovering above his open palm was a massive, pulsing heart. Deep blue in color, with thick veins running across its surface.


    And it was still pumping.


    Ba-dump, ba-dump.


    Loud. Strong. Alive.


    "...That..."


    My chest tightened.


    My body stiffened.


    A Dragon''s Heart.


    Kagetaro slowly brushed his fingers against it, his tone dripping with amusement.


    "Don''t you need this~?"


    Yes.


    I needed it.


    Because¡ª


    A Dragon''s Heart meant life for me.


    "How do you kno¡ª"


    "¡ªOf course, I do."


    He cut me off before I could finish, his voice carrying a lazy smirk.


    "Why wouldn''t I? I''ve been investigating you for more than... twelve years now."


    Twelve years?


    My heart skipped a beat.


    "Wait¡­ Twelve years¡­?"


    Kagetaro let out a light chuckle, tilting his head like he had just let a secret slip.


    Twelve years ago¡­


    That was around the time my sister died.


    A sharp pain settled in my chest, but before I could speak, he continued.


    "And before you ask, no. The Dark Order wasn''t involved in your sister''s death. If anything..." He suddenly stopped, his fingers tapping against the Dragon''s Heart.


    "We were truly sad that one of our officials died in such a harsh way."


    His voice dropped lower, almost like he was reminiscing. He even wiped away imaginary tears as if he was mourning.


    I couldn''t tell if he was mocking me¡­ or if he was serious.


    But then¡ª


    His next words froze my blood.


    "We even tried to recover her body. Maybe turn her into a vampire so she could live again. But unfortunately..."


    He sighed.


    "We didn''t find her body."


    My mind went blank.


    What¡­?


    No.


    No, no, NO.


    There was no way my sister would ever be involved with an organization like that.


    My breathing turned uneven.


    My heart pounded against my ribs.


    "I must say¡­" Kagetaro''s voice softened.


    It was strangely warm.


    "Your sister was very protective of you."


    I took a step back.


    "She watched over you while you slept," he continued, his voice carrying something almost like fondness.


    "She even used her own life force to seal your physique, just so you wouldn''t die early."


    He shook his head as if in admiration.


    Ah¡­


    I wanted to deny his words.


    To scream at him that he was lying.


    But I couldn''t.


    Because deep down, I knew.


    With my cursed physique, I should have died over ten years ago. My body wasn''t meant to last. The amount of mana it absorbed should have torn me apart from the inside out.


    And her blood essence¡­


    I lifted my shirt slightly, my fingers trembling.


    There.


    On my sternum.


    A small, faded symbol of a decayed lotus.


    My sister loved lotus flowers.


    No wonder¡­


    This was hers.


    She must have used all her mana, her very life force, to forcefully seal my physique.


    So that I could live.


    I felt something sting my eyes.


    Kagetaro''s gaze flickered to the mark on my skin, and his posture shifted slightly.


    "Ah¡­ that lotus symbol," he muttered.


    "That is so like her." His voice was quiet, almost¡­ nostalgic.


    "She really did love lotuses."


    My stomach twisted.


    How does he know that?


    I swallowed hard.


    My hands clenched into fists.


    No.


    No, it couldn''t be true.


    She wasn''t one of them.


    She wasn''t.


    But¡­


    If she wasn''t, then how did they know so much about her?


    About me?


    For the first time, I felt like my glowing eyes had lost their light.


    Kagetaro suddenly spread his arms wide.


    "Moonlig¡ªno, Aestrea Moon," he corrected himself with a grin.


    "Join us!"


    His voice was smooth, enticing.


    "If you do, I''ll give you access to everything¡ªall the resources you need to find out who caused the Demon Beast tide that killed your sister."


    My breath hitched.


    I stared at him, frozen in place.


    Wait¡­


    Someone caused it?


    The demon beast tide¡­ wasn''t natural?


    A slow, burning rage bubbled inside my chest.


    I clenched my fists so hard my nails dug into my skin.


    Who?


    Who was the bastard that did it?!


    Glow...!


    For a brief moment, a lavender light flickered around my body, my mana surging.


    Kagetaro''s eyes gleamed with amusement.


    "Oh-ho~," he chuckled, licking his lips.


    "That''s a nice look you have there."


    I ignored him.


    I forced my emotions down, gritting my teeth.


    And then¡ª


    I met his gaze.


    "No."


    "I refuse your proposal."


    Kagetaro stilled.


    I would find out who killed my sister.


    But I''d do it my way.


    Even if it took years, even if it cost me everything¡ª


    I would never join such a rotten organization.


    "Ah¡­ that''s truly sad."


    Kagetaro clicked his tongue a few times, his tone dripping with mock pity.


    Then, with a casual air, he dusted off his hat and adjusted it slightly before turning back to look at me.


    "Well¡­ I''ll see you later." His voice was light, almost playful.


    "Once you have access to mana, that is."


    And then¡ªhe jumped.


    His body twisted midair as he soared toward the open window, moving like a shadow.


    But before he vanished¡ª


    He turned to me one last time.


    "Also¡­"


    His voice was soft, but it cut through the air like a knife.


    "Since I really appreciated your sister¡­ I''ll give you a little help."


    He tilted his head, a smirk behind that mask.


    "You should start with the Royalty."


    Then, with a wink¡ª


    Fwoosh!


    He disappeared into the night, swallowed by the darkness.


    I stood frozen, his words ringing in my head.


    Start with the Royalty.


    The Royalty¡­


    My mind raced. My body felt hot.


    My fists clenched so tightly that my nails dug into my skin.


    The king.


    Could it be that bastard?


    A sharp pain shot through my chest as I struggled to breathe.


    Was he¡­ the one behind my sister''s death?


    Was he the reason she died?! S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Did Lilith control him or something?


    I gritted my teeth, my shoulders trembling as anger and frustration twisted inside me like a storm.


    I forced myself to take a slow, shaky breath.


    "Calm down¡­"


    I muttered under my breath, trying to push back the overwhelming fury boiling in my veins.


    "First... you need to check carefully if it was him or not..."


    But the rage wouldn''t leave.


    Plop, plop.


    Footsteps.


    "So¡­ you were here."


    A soft voice spoke behind me.


    That voice only angered me even more.


    I slowly exhaled, forcing my emotions down.


    Then, I turned around.


    "Yeah."


    It was Ella.


    Her long white hair swayed slightly with the night breeze, and her bright aquamarine eyes shimmered under the moonlight as she looked at me.


    She had an innocent expression, but right now, I didn''t care.


    "Well¡­ I''m sorry about Lucas," she started, a little hesitant.


    "He doesn''t know how to control his words, and¡ª"


    "¡ªIt''s alright. I understand."


    I cut her off before she could finish.


    Ella blinked, looking slightly surprised by my tone, but she let it go.


    Instead, her eyes narrowed slightly as she glanced around.


    "¡­Who were you talking to?" she asked, her tone curious but firm.


    "I heard another voice aside from yours from here, but I couldn''t quite make it out."


    Fuck.


    I immediately started thinking about an excuse.


    "¡­Myself."


    I immediately regretted it.


    I must''ve sounded crazy as hell.


    Ella raised an eyebrow.


    "¡­Really?"


    "Yeah." I nodded quickly.


    "I was just reminiscing about some memories from twelve years ago, and¡­ my voice just kind of came out naturally, in a different tone as if it was the narrator."


    It was a weak excuse.


    But it was all I had.


    Ella hummed, tilting her head slightly.


    "Twelve years ago¡­?"


    Her expression changed slightly¡ªthoughtful, distant.


    "That''s¡­ a pretty precise date."


    I forced a shrug.


    "Why? Do you have memories from that time?"


    I was just trying to make the conversation feel natural.


    Trying to cover up the awkwardness.


    But then¡ª


    "Yeah¡­ I think my father met with some high-ranking figure of the kingdom around then."


    Her voice was casual.


    Like she was just recalling an old memory.


    "I think they were¡­ planning to kill someone."


    She frowned slightly, trying to remember.


    "But I don''t really recall much¡­"


    Crack.


    A sharp pain spread across my chest.


    My fingers twitched, my whole body tensing.


    She said it so easily.


    So casually.


    But to me¡ªit felt like a blade to the throat.


    Her father¡­ was involved in a meeting to kill someone.


    Twelve years ago.


    The same time my sister died.


    My mind went blank.


    A cold, dark rage wrapped around my heart, squeezing it tight.


    I could barely hear anything.


    I could barely think.


    The king.


    That bastard.


    He must have been involved.


    The person who stole my sister away from me¡ªwho ripped her from my life¡ª


    It was him.


    A sickening fury crawled up my throat, but I swallowed it down.


    I needed to be sure.


    I took a slow breath, forcing my voice to stay steady.


    I need to investigate her death thoroughly...


    But if it was indeed that fucking bastard...


    I need to check something.


    "By the way¡­ weird question."


    Ella blinked, snapping out of her thoughts.


    "Hm?" She tilted her head. Continue your saga on My Virtual Library Empire


    "What is it?"


    I looked her straight in the eyes.


    "If someone killed your father¡­ would you go after them for revenge?"


    She frowned, confused by the sudden question.


    But then¡ª


    Her eyes darkened slightly.


    "It really is a weird question¡­ but the answer is obvious."


    She nodded firmly.


    "Even if he''s not the best father¡­ he still cares about me. So anyone who killed him would immediately die by my hands."


    She didn''t hesitate.


    She didn''t even flinch.


    I stared at her.


    She would kill for her father.


    She would avenge him.


    "I see¡­"


    I murmured, nodding slowly.


    Ella gave me a small, confused look.


    "That was oddly specific."


    I forced a light chuckle.


    "Well¡­ just making conversation."


    But inside¡ª


    I had already made my decision.


    I looked into her bright aquamarine eyes.


    We...


    ...It seems that we truly don''t have any destiny together.


    Ella.

 Chapter 1 - 1: Strongest Student of the Weakest Academy

    [? Player Profile ?]


    Name: Aestrea Moon (19)


    Identity: Strongest Student of the Weakest Academy, The Moonlight Swordsman, The One Who Loves The Goddess Of The Moon


    Affinities: Ice


    ? Mana: B


    ? Strength: C


    ? Vitality: C


    ? Agility: A-


    ? Spirit: S


    ? [Skills & Talents] ?


    [1] Moonlit Ice Lotus Sword Art [S???] ? Active Self-Created Skill


    [2] Judgement Eye [S] ? Active Self-Created Skill


    [3] Perfect Memory [Unranked] ? Passive Talent


    [4] Combat Instinct [B-] ? Passive Talent


    [5] Sword Mastery [A-] ? Passive Skill


    [6] Gun Mastery [A-] ? Passive Skill


    [7] Calm Mind [C] ? Passive Talent


    [8] Blood Eyes [Unranked] ? Your eyes ominously glow red.


    ¡ª¡ª+¡ª¡ª+¡ª¡ª+¡ª¡ª


    Damn it.


    To think that I''d be transmigrated into some kind of academy novel...


    I sighed deeply.


    ...


    My name is Aestrea, just like the body I was transmigrated to.


    In my past life, I was a world-popular actor who had won a bunch of awards and even filmed five of the best hits in the entire world as the main character.


    I was praised as a genius actor by everyone and was living a life of dreams. Of course, besides acting, I also had some hobbies.


    Like playing poker or gambling, but my favorite hobby is reading books.


    From all kinds of genres; horror, fantasy, sci-fi, I didn''t care about it as long as it had a good and attractive synopse.


    And of course, I read plenty of academy novels.


    I mean, the concept was just fun enough to get me hooked on them. From main characters such as extras, and third-rate villains to even professors or instructors!


    There were plenty of them for me to read.


    However, just yesterday, I was reading one of those novels, and when I went to sleep...


    I woke up in this body!


    And was immediately met with the flying panel in front of me.


    Thankfully, I also got this body''s memories just after I arrived.


    His life was pitiful, to say the least.


    He messed up and couldn''t get into the academy he wanted, and ended up in the weakest academy of them all. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But, since he was what people call a late bloomer, he quickly grew and got a ton of new abilities and talents.


    And by the third year, he was considered the strongest student in the academy with only one remaining year at it.


    "Quite the hard worker..."


    "Haaah..."


    I couldn''t help but let out a deep sigh.


    After all...


    "I got transmigrated at the wrong time."


    At the moment where the academies were going to compete with each other to define who was actually the strongest.


    And I was the student most teachers had their hopes on.


    Currently, I am in one of the rooms of our academy''s flying ship, heading towards the capital city known as Eternum, in the Eternal Country.


    Yeah... pretty creative.


    Ahem.


    Tap, tap!


    The sound of someone knocking at the door reached out.


    "Mhm? Who is it?"


    "It''s me."


    The door opened, and a soft voice reached my ears.


    There, Vivian, my teacher appeared with a faint smile on her red luscious lips.


    "How are you feeling?"


    "Better now."


    "That''s great!" she sighed in relief, taking a seat on the bed, right next to me.


    "I was worried that our best student wouldn''t be able to participate in the academy''s competition."


    "Everyone started panicking after you passed out." she let out a small chuckle, meeting my eyes.


    "Oh! Also, I got what you wanted."


    She then proceeded to give me a few sheets of paper. I quickly took a look at it and couldn''t help but smile.


    ''This is just perfect...''


    It was the basic information of everyone I was going to fight.


    The worst part about it, it''s just that it''s going to be a team fight so I might get pushed back by my teammates.


    "Also, there is going to be one extra exam, but unfortunately, I don''t have the information about what kind of exam, they wanted to be secretive."


    "Thank you, teacher."


    I smiled brightly at her. This was really going to be useful.


    In response, she only patted my shoulder before parting her lips.


    "Anything for my star student." she smiled wryly before leaving my room.


    As soon as she left the room, my eyes landed on the sheets.


    [Lucas Heartstone¡ªRank: C+]


    [Ella C. Alastair¡ªRank: B-]


    [Rose Firefly¡ªRank: B]


    "Mhm... Of all of the academy novels, I transmigrated into this one, huh?"


    A sigh escaped my mouth.


    [The Academy''s True Hero.]


    A novel with the obvious academy concept, but instead, the main character doesn''t get transmigrated or anything, instead the novel it''s just about his adventure.


    The [Eternum Academy] located in the capital is the place where most of the events occur, and it''s flooded by thousands of demons.


    And Lucas, who awakened the Light Affinity, is the hidden hero of the academy who takes most of his time killing those demons.


    So, if it appears that his rank is simply located at C+, it''s a lie.


    His rank should be A- or even A due to the huge amount of demons that he already killed. Not to mention, that he has his own system.


    In other words, he''s a complete monster.


    Well, I at least can see my status window, but...


    "I''ll need to fight against him somehow..."


    To be honest, even with my monstrous stats, I''d say that I''d even lose against one of the heroines who are of lower rank than mine.


    They''re all special in their kind of way.


    E.g. Ella C. Alastair is the second princess of the country and has almost mastered the Royal Sword Art that is equivalent to an SS rank art.


    And Rose Firefly basically is a monster when it comes to fire magic, her rank should be on the higher ends of the A-Rank, and she should be able to manifest 5th-level spells if not 6th-level ones.


    "Yeah... I''ll need to avoid fighting them as much as I can."


    That was the only chance I had.


    Each academy is going to fight around five rounds, which means that if I want my academy to advance I''ll need to win three rounds at last.


    Two academies are going to be eliminated, and then there are going to be three remaining which is going to be a duel-based competition.


    That means that they will basically send a student to the arena, and the student will fight opponents from either of the other two academies.


    In the end, the two academies whose students have more wins will pass to the final round.


    And the final round is going to be none other than a showdown.


    An academy versus another academy; every chosen student will fight against the other academy and the last student standing will declare the winner.


    However...


    "I still have two weeks before the competition truly begins."


    "I''ll need to train hard, real hard."


    It''s a pity though.


    In this novel in particular, I didn''t reach many of the chapters since it was the most recent one that I had read.


    It had over 500 chapters, yeah, but I was suddenly transmigrated before I could read them all.


    Truly unfortunate.


    But...


    Thinking about it, how come I never heard about Aestrea in the novel?


    I mean, I did hear about his identity as the Moonlight Swordsman since it was as famous as Lucas''s hidden identity.


    Did something happen to him before the competition or something?


    It''s weird...


    Tap, tap!


    Someone had knocked on the door, and soon a voice reached out to me.


    "Aestrea, we''ve reached the capital city!"


    We had finally arrived at Eternum.

 Chapter 2 - 2: The Strongest Student And His Mischiefs (I)

    "Alright, everyone, now that we''ve arrived in the capital, you''re free to do whatever you like! Just make sure you''re back at the hotel after these two weeks!"


    Vivian sternly spoke, her sharp gaze swept over us, leaving no room for arguments.


    "Yes, Ma''am!"


    The students replied in unison, and I couldn''t help but chuckle at their enthusiasm.


    My laughter caught their attention, and a few of them glanced my way, smiling. No one said a word about it, but their smiles felt warm.


    ''It''s liberating...''


    At our academy, there wasn''t any of that nonsense about noble bloodlines or social classes. Whether you were a commoner or came from some high-ranking family, it didn''t matter here.


    Everyone treated each other with respect, like equals. Not to mention all those warm and kind gazes towards me.


    The students even looked up to me¡ªa lot, actually. I even became something like a big brother to them all.


    If anyone had a problem, they knew they could come to me, and somehow, this body would always find a way to help.


    Nothing like in the [Eternum Academy] where the novel revolves around.


    Most of the students hate each other, they create their groups and fight against themselves to the point of using various dirty tricks.


    So, seeing this kind of atmosphere...


    ''It''s really liberating...''


    At this point, I and Aestrea had already become one. I didn''t know how to feel about it, but since this is now my life...


    I''ll enjoy to the fullest while fulfilling Aestrea''s wish.


    "Aestrea! Let''s grab something to eat¡ªwe''re starving!"


    "Yeah, let''s check out that famous Lavousier''s Caf¨¦ everyone keeps talking about!"


    Before I knew it, a small crowd of students had gathered around me, their eyes bright with excitement.


    I couldn''t help but smile at their enthusiasm.


    "Alright, let''s go. I''m starving too¡ªlong trip and all."


    One of them smirked. "You''re paying, right?"


    "Me? You''re the ones dragging me along! Shouldn''t you be the ones paying?"


    "Ehhhh? That''s so unfair!" they groaned in unison, their playful complaints drawing out my laughter again.


    Moments like this made everything worth it.


    And just like that, we went to Lavousier''s Caf¨¦.


    ...


    "Welcome!"


    The moment we stepped inside, a lovely brown-haired woman in a maid outfit greeted us warmly.


    Her smile was soft and welcoming, but her eyes widened slightly when she noticed just how large our group was.


    "A table for sixteen please."


    She blinked for a second, then quickly collected herself, nodding back.


    "Of course. Just a moment, please."


    With a small bow, she walked off toward the counter.


    Taking the chance, I took a look around the caf¨¦.


    Honestly, the caf¨¦ was stunning, to say the least.


    Warm lighting, polished wood floors, and elegant decorations made it feel more like a luxurious lounge than a simple caf¨¦.


    "Whoa! This place is just like the rumors!"


    And I wasn''t the only one surprised.


    "Right? I heard they''ve got a Master-Level Pianist here who plays live for the customers. If you pay extra, you can even request a song!"


    "Seriously? Should we request one?"


    The students around me were already buzzing with excitement, but then all their gazes locked onto me.


    "Ah... really?"


    "You should decide!" they chimed in unison, clearly enjoying my discomfort.


    Damn.


    These guys were too good at this.


    "Fine," I replied with a small sigh, furrowing my brows before flashing a wry smile.


    "But if we''re doing this, you''re all paying for the song."


    "What?! That''s not fair! We''re already paying for the food!"


    I chuckled softly. "Alright, alright, I''m kidding." S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''Even though it''s quite unfair... ahem.''


    At that moment, the maid returned.


    "Your table is ready. Please follow me," she said with a graceful bow.


    "Um, sure."


    We trailed after her up a spiral staircase to one of the upper floors. She led us to a large table perfectly set for sixteen.


    It sat in a cozy, semi-private corner, surrounded by floor-to-ceiling windows offering a gorgeous view of the capital.


    But what caught my attention wasn''t exactly the view.


    Seated at a nearby table were five familiar faces: Lucas, Ella, and Rose.


    The other two... I didn''t know them at all. But, Lucas was with four girls¡ªit was safe to say they were either heroines or side ones.


    ''I didn''t expect to meet them so soon...''


    "Please have a seat and take your time with the menu," the maid said, bowing again.


    "Once you''re ready to order, just call for me."


    "Thank you," I replied, and with that, she left us alone.


    "Hehe, what should I eat?"


    "Mmm, so many choices! It''s hard to pick!"


    "Yeah, it''s what you''d expect from a place like this."


    The others were already diving into their menus, chatting excitedly about what to order.


    I flipped mine open but already had my choice in mind¡ªstrawberry pancakes.


    Simple, sweet, and perfect.


    And I might order a black coffee with that.


    "Alright, just let me know when you''re ready, and I''ll call the beautiful lady over."


    I said, putting the menu on the table.


    "Mhm!"


    "Sureeeee!"


    "Alrighty!"


    With that, I pulled out my phone and started looking at the news.


    It wasn''t really the news, but the student''s news. In other words, some kind of news but private to all the five academies''s students.


    [The Demon Hunter Reappears Again!]


    [The Demons Were Obliterated By The Demon Hunter Once Again!]


    Most of the articles were about the ''Demon Hunter'' which was none other than Lucas. He was the mystery that everyone wanted to solve.


    And even those four around him would probably not know his identity until next year.


    Not like I read the entire novel to know it.


    [Aestrea Moon, Who Is He?]


    "Oh?" My eyebrows raised in surprise.


    "Mhm, what is it?"


    "What you''re looking at?"


    The student sitting on my right leaned over curiously as te one on my left also joined in before I could react.


    "OH! Guys, look!" The one on my right snatched my phone, waving it around to grab everyone''s attention.


    "Aestrea has become one of the hot topics!"


    "What? Seriously?!"


    "What''s it about?!"


    They instantly became excited and started checking their phones.


    "Aestrea Moon, the Moonlight Swordsman..."


    One of them began reading the article dramatically.


    "In one of the hunting festivals, he disguised himself and single-handedly took down five high-ranking demon beasts, leaving behind their corpses¡ªwithout their cores!"


    "Wait, what?!"


    "It says they found out it was him because he dropped his identity card at the scene!"


    My stomach sank.


    "Oh..."


    "No wonder I couldn''t find my old ID and had to get a new one..."


    I muttered absentmindedly.


    Ah. That was a mistake.


    "IT REALLY WAS YOU?!"


    Immediately, they turned to me with excitement all splattered on their faces.


    "Well, yeah..."


    "That''s so cool!"


    "Yeah, you can be considered a celebrity!"


    "Right! The Moonlight Swordsman''s popularity was even in pair with the ''Demon Hunter''!"


    Damn it.


    This freaking canon event.


    Having a secret identity being discovered is more embarrassing than I thought.


    Gosh.


    ...


    Meanwhile, at the nearby table, Lucas leaned back in his chair, casually stirring the espresso in front of him.


    His sharp eyes flicked toward the group at Aestrea''s table.


    The cheerful chatter and laughter spilling from them weren''t exactly subtle¡ªit was impossible to ignore.


    "Seems like they''re having a good time," Ella remarked while also looking at the table next to them.


    She rested her chin on her hand, her long silver hair shimmering faintly in the warm caf¨¦ lighting.


    "They must''ve been friends for a while to laugh like that."


    "Friends or not, they''re loud," Rose muttered, adjusting her glasses with a small frown.


    Her tone wasn''t really harsh, just matter-of-fact.


    "Jealous, Rose? Maybe you want to join their party." Lucas smirked, tapping his spoon against the cup lightly.


    She shot him a glare. "As if. It''s just distracting."


    The other two girls at the table, Maya and Iris, exchanged glances.


    Maya, the livelier of the pair, chuckled softly. "I think it''s kind of nice. You don''t see big groups like that all getting along these days."


    "Yeah, but did you hear who''s with them?" Iris added.


    Lucas raised a brow. "Who? I wasn''t exactly paying attention to their conversation."


    "Aestrea Moon."


    That got everyone''s attention.


    Even Rose, who''d been busy flipping through the menu, looked up. Even she couldn''t help but ask with a surprised tone.


    "The Moonlight Swordsman who just got his identity discovered?"


    Iris nodded, brushing a strand of her ash-blonde hair behind her ear.


    "The very same."


    Hearing their words, Ella, who had been quiet until now, went completely still.


    A rosy flush crept up her cheeks, and her lips pressed together in a tight, wobbly smile. Her fingers twitched slightly against the table like she didn''t know what to do with her hands.


    "Oh?" Maya raised her eyebrows as her lips rose into a teasing smile.


    "What''s this, Ella? You''re looking a little¡­ flustered. Could it be... someone has a thing for the Moonlight Swordsman?"


    "A-ah... I-I d-don''t!" Ella stammered, her voice cracking as she shot up straight in her chair.


    Her hands flew to her cheeks, as though she could physically push the blush away.


    "Uh-huh," Maya said, clearly unconvinced.


    "You sure? Because I distinctly remember you going on and on about how he saved you that one time. What was it you said? ''So strong,'' ''so graceful''¡ª"


    "Maya, stop!" Ella''s voice rose as she waved her hands desperately, her embarrassment practically radiating off her.


    "Wait, he saved you? When was this?" Iris leaned forward curiously.


    "Last spring," Maya replied, her grin turning devilish. "She was surrounded by demon beasts, and guess who swooped in like a knight in shining armor?"


    "Ooooooh," Iris and Rose said in unison, both looking at Ella wryly.


    ''So... that''s why you''ve been rejecting my advances...'' Lucas frowned deeply.


    Ella buried her face in her hands.


    "I hate all of you," she mumbled in a muffled voice.


    "Should I go and get his autograph for you?" Iris giggled and asked Ella.


    "N-no!"


    "Shee, what''s the problem? If you aren''t fast enough, he may be grabbed by another vixen! By then, you aren''t going to have any chance with him!"


    Even Rose joined the fun.


    "I-I..." Ella''s face started rippling like a tomato.


    "Come on guys, you''ve already teased her too much." Lucan chimed in, trying to calm down those teasing maniacs.


    "Ugh... you''re such a fun killer." Maya pouted.


    "I-I hate you guys!" Ella, still flustered, pushed back her chair and shot to her feet.


    She spun around to storm off¡ªonly to collide into something solid.


    Thud!


    "Ow¡­" Ella stumbled back, clutching her forehead.


    And when she looked up, her heart stopped.


    In front of her, a familiar handsome man with glowing red eyes stood, with his hand extended towards her.


    "Are you okay?"


    He had a worried tone.


    She froze upon hearing his voice.


    Her face also seemed to have turned into a whole new shade of red.

 Chapter 3 - 3: The Strongest Student And His Mischiefs (II)

    "I''ll bring your table''s server right away."


    "Thanks."


    After ordering for all sixteen of us, I noticed the nearby table stealing non-stop glances at me.


    Their curiosity wasn''t that subtle, and I could practically feel their stares.


    ''They must have heard everything, huh...?''


    Anyway, everyone seems pretty excited about the competition.


    It was good to see, but my plans were a bit too complicated.


    I still needed to finish my preparations and two weeks wasn''t much time.


    I''d have to come up with an excuse to slip away and handle what needs to be prepared.


    I''ll need to get better equipment and probably will need to train my secondary weapon.


    Which is a gun, more precisely a model similar to a desert eagle.


    So, I''m thinking of stealing one of the protagonist''s opportunities which is the morph-weapon.


    A weapon that doesn''t have a necessary aspect. It could transform into any weapon¡ªsword, gun, axe, whatever you needed


    I''m sure it doesn''t really matter to Lucas, since in the future, he''ll receive an even more overpowered weapon.


    ''The only unfortunate thing is that past the academy''s competition, I don''t have much knowledge about the novel...''


    ''But, let''s not worry about that for now...''


    "Aestrea!"


    "Go request a song already!"


    "Yeah, pick something good! Nothing too boring!"


    These kids.


    "Alright, alright, I''m on it."


    A sigh escaped my mouth as I stood up.


    The pianist was playing something soft and soothing as I approached him. I requested a famous tune from our region¡ªsomething that could please my classmates.


    Thankfully, he knew the song.


    After sorting the payment with him and the maid, I started heading back to my table.


    And that''s when it happened...


    Thud!


    Something¡ªor rather, someone¡ªcrashed into me.


    A flash of silver filled my vision, and before I knew it, Ella was on the floor, mumbling softly.


    "Ow..."


    She looked up, her wide, startled eyes locking onto mine. Her silver hair shimmered in the caf¨¦''s lighting, and her face... well, it was the color of a tomato.


    She froze, her mouth opening and closing like she wanted to say something but couldn''t find the words.


    "Are you okay?"


    I asked with a soft tone. I really didn''t see her coming.


    "I-I''m fine!" she finally managed to squeak out, bowing her head so quickly I thought she would hit the table next.


    "That''s great..."


    I let out a relieved sigh.


    "Pfff...!"


    The sounds of laughter reached my ears.


    From the corner of my eye, I noticed her table watching us closely. One of the girls¡ªa lively-looking one with a sly grin¡ªwas barely hiding her laughter behind her hand.


    While Rose adjusted her glasses while smirking slightly.


    Lucas sitting with them didn''t look as entertained. His dark eyes narrowed slightly, his spoon pausing mid-stir in his coffee.


    ''Oh... I almost forgot that he has a crush on Ella...''


    ''Well... not like I care about it though.''


    "Sorry about that," Ella stammered embarrassingly, stepping back like she wasn''t sure if she should stay or bolt.


    "Don''t worry, princess; I didn''t see you coming either." I smiled back at her.


    "H-huh... p-princess?" her eyes widened significantly.


    Ah...


    I nearly forgot that her identity had not yet been made public.


    So, I need to quickly make an excuse.


    ''Think!''


    My lips quickly curled into a softer yet charming smile as I added.


    "With such beautiful and unique hair, if you''re not a princess, who is?"


    "I-I¡­ th-thank you¡­" Ella''s face, somehow, turned an even deeper shade of red.


    Her wide eyes blinked rapidly, and she stammered.


    It was quite funny, she didn''t know how to reply to my words.


    She bowed again, this time a little slower, clearly trying to regain her composure.


    Behind her, the lively girl from her table was practically in tears from holding back laughter, while the one with glasses, Rose, adjusted them yet again, her smirk widening.


    As for the other now, she had her head buried in the table, don''t know why.


    Lucas, though?


    He didn''t look happy.


    Not one bit.


    ''Ah¡­ guess I hit a nerve there.''


    Ella fidgeted on the spot, unsure of what to do next, so I decided to ease the tension.


    "Be careful next time, alright? We wouldn''t want you running into anyone else."


    "R-right!" she squeaked, stepping back.


    But then, realizing how awkward she looked, she dipped her head once more and hurried back to her table.


    As she plopped into her seat, her friends immediately leaned in, whispering and giggling like they''d just witnessed the juiciest gossip of the year.


    Lucas... only glared at me before averting his gaze from mine.


    Shaking my head with a small smile, I returned to my table.


    "Sorry for taking so long."


    "Ohhh, what happened?"


    One of my classmates asked, grinning like he''d just caught me doing something scandalous.


    "Yeah, who was that? She looked like she saw a ghost."


    "Nothing. She just bumped into me, that''s all."


    "Just bumped into you, huh?" A girl sitting across from me raised an eyebrow. "Didn''t look like ''just'' anything from where I was sitting."


    "Stop making it a thing." I rolled my eyes to the side.


    "Sure, sure," she teased, leaning back with a smug smile.


    These kids...


    ...


    As we left the caf¨¦, the streets were bathed in the soft, golden light of the setting sun, making the city feel alive in ways that made my quiet academy seem like a distant memory.


    Students scattered in all directions, laughing and chatting, as they decided where to go next.


    I stayed a few paces behind, letting the energy of the city wash over me.


    It was a far cry from the peacefulness of the academy.


    ''I''ll need to act as fast as possible... so, tonight should be a good time to start.''


    The morph-weapon is one of the underground labs, which means that I''ll need to go to the black market first.


    Lucas normally would get it a day before the competition because he ''accidentally'' meets a little girl who was running away from robbers and immediately beats them up.


    Then, he talks with the little girl and gets news about an experiment lab that focuses on making weapons using virgin blood.


    And children are the first target of them because they have the purest blood for this kind of thing.


    ''Of course, the first thing I''m doing is destroying the lab...''


    I''m no hero, but this kind of messed up thing needs to be obliterated of the face of the earth. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    However, getting into the black market isn''t necessarily an easy thing because I don''t have a pass or card for it.


    ''Mhm... It seems that I''ll have to do it the hard way.''


    A forced entry.


    The black market guards should be in the middle stages of B rank, so I should be able to deal with them.


    I only need to be lucky enough to not meet one of the black market''s bosses.


    More especially, Yara Devereux.


    She''s the person who holds the most shares of the black market, holding a perfect 51% that grants her authority over the entirety of the black market.


    Lucas meets her when he destroys the laboratory, and she has been interested in him since that point.


    And for their future relationship...


    ''I don''t know... Never go into that part...''


    So yeah, I just need to avoid them.


    "Oi, Aestrea, you coming or what?"


    One of my classmates called out, snapping me from my thoughts.


    "Yeah, I''m coming."


    For now, I''ll play along, and enjoy this moment of peace.


    But once everyone settled in for the night, I''d make my move.

 Chapter 4 - 4: The Strongest Student And His Mischiefs (III)

    [Lucas'' POV]


    Ella slid back into her seat, her cheeks still bright red from bumping into him.


    I felt bothered, really bothered.


    At least, now I know why she''s rejecting my advances.


    "Well, that looked interesting." Maya was the first to tease Ella, leaning in with a mischievous grin.


    That''s normal.


    Maya is quite a social butterfly and loves teasing people.


    "Sh-shut up!" Ella stammered, glaring at her, but her expression lacked real intensity.


    "Interesting is an understatement," Rose said, pushing up her glasses.


    I''m quite surprised.


    "You were frozen for at least three seconds. And don''t think I didn''t hear what he called you¡ª''princess.''"


    She doesn''t show smiles, but now she''s teasing Ella.


    "It was romantic though." Iris giggled.


    "Romantic?!" Ella squeaked before hiding her face with her hands.


    As for me, I didn''t join in.


    I stirred my coffee absently as my gaze turned toward him¡ªAestrea.


    The so-called "Moonlight Swordsman."


    He was quite the celebrity, after all, his identity was on par with mine.


    However, something about him rubbed me the wrong way.


    ''He''s too... how should I say it...? Calm, no... perfect.''


    ''Even his smile doesn''t even feel real... Like an actor.''


    After all, even a successful actor can''t fake emotions perfectly.


    ''And Aestrea seems just like that.''


    And then''s when a thought struck me.


    ''System, scan him.''


    [Ding!]


    A soft chime echoed in my head as the system activated.


    The familiar loading bar appeared in the corner of my vision, but then¡ª


    [Error!]


    [Data inaccessible.]


    "What?"


    I frowned deeply, my fingers tightening around the edge of the table.


    [Target classified under restricted parameters.]


    [Access denied.]


    Restricted?


    What kind of nonsense was that?


    I glanced at Aestrea again.


    He was smiling faintly, chatting casually with his group.


    ''Who are you, Aestrea?''


    "N-no!"


    Ella''s flustered protests suddenly snapped me out of my thoughts.


    "Ella, you should''ve asked for his number!"


    "I''m serious! Stop it!"


    "Relax~"


    They continued arguing.


    But I ignored it since my mind was occupied with something else.


    I could even scan the headmaster who is one of the strongest people in the world...


    But I cannot scan Aestrea?


    That''s weird.


    ...


    [Aestrea''s POV]


    The moon hung high in the sky, casting a pale glow over the quiet city streets.


    By now, my classmates had finally settled in for the night, which allowed me to sneakily get out by the window.


    ''Anyways...''


    The black market wasn''t far, but it wasn''t exactly easy to find, either.


    It was mentioned in the novel that it was buried beneath an abandoned warehouse located on the seventeenth street of the capital.


    And here I am.


    I did take a good look around and didn''t see anyone.


    ''Is it really here?''


    Slowly, I approached one of the abandoned buildings and slipped in through the window.


    The windows were shattered; the walls were covered with years of decay. A gentle rustle in the air made the old structure groan, but no other sounds reached my ears.


    ''Bingo.''


    Standing next to a swirly purple portal, held by two stone hands of giants, stood two men in black suits facing the portal.


    Each of them grasped a modified firearm, his eyes scanning the surroundings for any signs of potential danger.


    ¡º Judgement Eye (? S-Level Skill?)¡»


    Without thinking twice, I activated one of my skills.


    This one in particular could tell me if one person was evil or good as well as their weak points. And also, their rank and combat power couldn''t escape my eyes.


    "Two B-ranks... should be durable."


    I brought out my sword from my waist and silently channeled mana to my legs.


    Tzing!


    My body shot forward like a lightning bolt.


    "Moonlit Ice Lotus Sword Art..."


    ¡ºFirst Move! (? Ice Lotus Bloom?)¡»


    The sword in my hand shimmered with an icy glow as I swung it downwards.


    BAM!


    An ice lotus erupted at the center of the guards, its crystalline petals unfurling before shattering in an explosion of ice.


    Chill...!


    A wave of freezing cold swept across the floor, encasing everything in its path. The guards never even had time to move¡ªtheir bodies frozen mid-movement, their breaths mist.


    Satisfied, I stepped past their frozen forms and approached the portal. I pulled out a simple masquerade mask and slipped it on, adjusting my hood. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''Perfect.''


    Without another word, I stepped into the swirling purple portal.


    It felt unreal as if I''d been dunked in ice water without getting wet. I came out the other side; it was colder out, the atmosphere thicker.


    I found myself standing on a dark street with slick cold stones beneath my feet. Both sides of the road were lined by merchant stalls; their owners hawked their wares in hushed tones.


    The crowd here was unlike anything from the capital: hooded figures haggling over artifacts that shimmered with dangerous energy, others speaking about deals that would never see the light of day.


    This was the black market.


    Pulling my hoodie tighter, I followed the street, making myself aware of my surroundings.


    I made my way to a specific place where one could see the waters of the sewers falling into a polluted river.


    ''In the black market... anything can happen and I need to be prepared at all costs.''


    If I''m not entirely wrong, the lab was found in one of the highsky buildings. And Lucas escaped from the lab by the sewers.


    So, I decided to enter the sewers.


    Clamp!


    I entered one of the sewer''s giant pipes.


    "Disgusting..."


    The air was thick and rancid, the stench of rotting waste and stagnant water filling every breath.


    It felt like it clung to my skin, seeping into my clothes.


    The damp walls were coated with a slimy green mold that glistened under the faint light from my mana orb.


    The water beneath my feet was a slow-moving black sludge, and I had to step carefully on the narrow walkway along the edge to avoid slipping.


    "Could they have picked a worse hiding spot?"


    I mumbled in annoyance.


    Although this wasn''t the main entrance, it was the best I could use if I wanted to get out of the lab safely.


    I kept moving, the sounds of dripping water and distant scurrying filling the air, and after a while, I came across a section of the pipe that looked different.


    The walls here were newer, reinforced with metal plating.


    ''It should be around here...''


    Placing my hands on the metal pipes, I quickly channel mana into my hands before trying to twist them.


    "Great."


    I jumped in and found a vent where I immediately entered without making any noise.


    Crawling through the vents, the sound of some kind of machine running along with a chemical smell reached out to me, so I followed the noise.


    After a few minutes, I reached another vent


    ''Is this it?''


    I stopped, peering through the narrow slats into the room below.


    Ah.


    My breath hitched.


    It was a huge laboratory with gleaming, polished floors and walls lined with glowing screens displaying data streams that I couldn''t read.


    The room was dominated by a large capsule filled with a thick, glowing green fluid.


    Inside it was a girl with slimy, semi-transparent blue hair and unnaturally bright green eyes.


    What caught my attention next was the weapon resting on a platform beside her: sleek, and metallic, but the strangest part was the thick, pulsing string-like cable that connected it to the capsule and to her.


    ''Fuck.''


    My stomach twisted.


    They''re using deviants to make weapons?


    No wonder this morph weapon was so powerful in the novel¡ªit was made from the abilities of a slime-type deviant.


    Its ability to change forms at will made it the perfect source for a weapon that could adapt to anything.


    ''I need to act quickly...''


    But before I could plan my next move, a voice boomed through the room.


    "Hahahahaha! It''s done!"


    The voice was hoarse, filled with some kind of manic glee.


    I shifted slightly for a better view. An old man, hunched and draped in a long, stained lab coat, shuffled towards the capsule.


    His eyes were wild, and his thin gray hair stuck out at odd angles


    "My final project... the morph-weapon is complete!"


    He cackled, his bony hands shaking as he reached for a big red button on the control panel.


    ''Damn it!''


    The instant his hand struck the button, the room burst into a flurry of activity.


    The green fluid in the capsule drained quickly and the slime girl''s body jerked and contorted as the weapon pulsed with a sickly glow.


    I didn''t have time to think.


    BAM!


    I kicked the vent with all my strength, sending it flying straight for the old man.


    The metal panel crashed into him, knocking him backward into the control panel. Sparks flew as he stumbled, but he caught himself, his head snapping up to glare at me.


    "Oh. It seems we have an intruder..."


    His thin lips curled into a smile that sent a chill down my spine.


    I dropped into the room, drawing my sword in one smooth motion.


    My gaze locked with his...


    ¡ºJudgement Eye (? S-Level Skill?)¡»


    "An A+ ranker?"


    His mana signature was overwhelming, the kind that screamed trouble. Not to mention the ominous dark aura around him.


    Pure evil.


    This was about to be a damned problem.

 Chapter 5 - 5: The Strongest Student And His Mischiefs (IV)

    The air in the lab was heavy and thick, reeking of chemicals and burnt metal.


    It was strangely quiet now, except for the faint sound of machinery humming softly.


    Aestrea stood amidst the chaos, his frame tense and alert as he looked at the old man standing across from him.


    The man grinned, his crooked teeth yellowed with age. His wild gray hair framed a face that was half-mad with excitement.


    And in his hand was clasped around a staff, its head aglow with pulsating dark energy.


    "So," the old man said in a voice that was raspy yet steady, "a rat sneaks into my lab and thinks he can stop me?"


    Aestrea didn''t reply.


    His expression was calm, blank even, but his sword was already raised, glowing faintly as a silver mana pulsed through it.


    The old man tilted his head as his grin widened.


    "No words? Fine, let''s see how long you can stay silent."


    With a wave of his staff, a bolt of dark energy shot toward Aestrea.


    BOOM!


    The explosion rocked the lab, scattering debris across the floor as Aestrea dodged to the side, his movements fluid and precise.


    He didn''t waste a second, charging forward with mana-enhanced speed.


    SWISH!


    His blade sliced through the air, aiming straight for the old man''s chest.


    CLANG!


    The man blocked the strike with his staff, and the clash sent sparks flying.


    "You''re quite fast..."


    The man said with a small smile as he parried Aestrea''s sword back.


    "But, it still isn''t enough!" he grinned.


    Aestrea ignored his words, and instead, he pulled back his sword and swung again, this time aiming for the man''s legs.


    The old man jumped, avoiding his sword and retaliating with a downward strike of his staff.


    BANG!


    Aestrea ducked, narrowly avoiding the blow as the staff hit the floor, cracking the reinforced metal beneath it.


    ¡º First Move! (? Ice Lotus Bloom ?)¡»


    Aestrea''s sword glowed brighter as a faint silver aura enveloped it, and in a flash, he cut upwards.


    An ice lotus formed mid-air; its petals spun rapidly before shooting toward the old man.


    CRACK!


    The ice crashed into the hastily erected barrier, freezing it upon contact. Shards of frost scattered across the room, and the man stumbled back, his grin faltering for a moment.


    "Damn it... you fucking brat!"


    He raised his staff again, calling upon a wave of black spikes to erupt from the floor and go towards Aestrea.


    SHHHHKK!


    The spikes tore through the air, but Aestrea was faster. He leaped into the air, flipping nimbly and landing behind the old man.


    CLANG!


    Their weapons clashed once more, their sparks flying as Aestrea pressed on.


    The old man grunted, his movements were no longer fluid as struggled to keep up.


    "Damn you!"


    THUD!


    Aestrea''s shoe connected with the man''s stomach, sending him flying backward. He coughed, clutching his side as he stared daggers at Aestrea.


    "YOU FUCKING BRAT!"


    He insanely slammed his staff into the ground, and the dark energy surrounding it pulsed outward in a massive shockwave.


    ''Shit...!''


    This time, even Aestrea couldn''t dodge.


    BAM!


    The force sent Aestrea flying, his back hitting the wall with a sickening breaking bones sound.


    "A-agh... this... I broke a rib?"


    Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth as he staggered to his feet, one hand clutching his side.


    Pain radiated from his ribs, but he kept his calm.


    The old man laughed loudly, the sound echoing across the lab.


    "Hurts, doesn''t it? That is what happens when one goes up against a more powerful being!"


    Aestrea wiped the blood off his mouth and looked at the man. He clenched his sword tightly and then took a step forward.


    ''Alright, I got the hang of it now...''


    ''He''s only an A+ ranker because his mana is desperately powerful. So, it should be even easier than dealing with a C+ rank demon beast.''


    The old man''s laughter faltered.


    "What''s with that fucking look, you brat?!"


    Aestrea didn''t respond, instead, he lifted his sword once more, the blade shining brighter as his silver mana coursed through it.


    ¡º First Move! (? Ice Lotus Bloom ?)¡»


    "That move again? Do you think it will work once again?"


    The man scoffed as he quickly raised a dark barrier around himself.


    However, something changed...


    ¡º Reversal! (? Bloom of the Ice Lotus?)¡»


    The icy petals formed once again, spinning violently in mid-air.


    However, they didn''t shoot directly toward the man''s barrier this time. Instead, they split apart, circling the room like a whirlwind of frost.


    The old man''s confidence wavered.


    "What the¡ª?"


    CRACK!


    The frost began to creep up from beneath him, where his barrier didn''t cover. The swirling petals coalesced into sharp shards of ice, piercing through the weak spots in his defense.


    "ARGH!" he screamed, the ice slicing into his legs and forcing him to his knees.


    The attack didn''t stop.


    The ice crawled over the barrier, creeping inward as the petals closed in.


    Each shard shattered upon contact, releasing more frost and creating a web of cracks across the dark barrier.


    CRACK!


    The barrier broke, sending icy shards flying throughout the lab.


    "NO!"


    The old man roared angrily., his staff slamming into the ground once more to send another shockwave out.


    BOOM!


    The force sent the shards flying, but the strain was evident in the trembling of his hands. His breathing turned labored as he struggled to stand.


    Aestrea didn''t give him a moment to recover.


    His sword came down in an arc, aiming for the man''s exposed shoulder.


    CLANG!


    The staff met the sword, but the man''s grip faltered.


    "You''re just a child! How are you¡ª"


    THUD!


    Aestrea drove his knee to the man''s stomach, automatically cutting off his words and making him gasp in pain.


    The man stumbled back, coughing violently as he tried to raise his staff again.


    ¡º Judgement Eye (? S-Level Skill?)¡»


    A faint glow danced in Aestrea''s red eyes, analyzing the man''s weaknesses.


    ''Left side exposed. Weak point at the ribs.''


    He didn''t hesitate.


    Swing!


    The blade cut through the air, slicing deep into the man''s side. The blood spattered across the floor, and the man yelled in pain.


    "AGGGHH! You... you little bastard!"


    He screamed, desperation filtering in his voice.


    A whirlwind of dark mana surrounded him, making Aestrea take a few steps back.


    "I can''t lose to a brat like you," he muttered.


    His voice was trembling, his body was quivering.


    "I''ve worked too hard for this... I won''t let it end here!"


    He raised his staff one last time, the dark energy gathering into a massive orb at its tip. The air grew heavier, and the ground beneath them cracked under the pressure.


    However...


    Seeing this, Aestrea remaining calm expression, suddenly... smiled.


    He reached out to his waist and pulled something out of it.


    "T-this... I-I... n-no!"


    The man immediately tried to revert his spell which had quite a long time to be launched. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But, Aestrea only smiled.


    ¡º Ice Bullet (? Gunslinger Ice Magic?)¡»


    Tzing!


    A bullet was shot towards the old man, making a hole in his chest before his body started turning into an ice statue at the speed of the naked eye.


    The giant dark orb that he was about to launch disappeared into wisps, and those wisps quickly came back to him, unfreezing him.


    "Too late."


    Aestrea, who was now in front of him, muttered to him in a cold tone.


    "A-ah..."


    The man fell to his knees, blood dripping from his mouth as he clutched at the shards of ice embedded in his body.


    His staff clattered to the ground, the dark energy fading.


    "You... you monster...!"


    He muttered, trying to back away from Aestrea.


    With each meter he crawled back, Aestrea also took a step forward, his blood-red eyes glowing ominously in the dim light.


    The man''s breath hitched as he looked into those ominous eyes, his body trembling with nothing other than fear.


    "Stay back!"


    He cried, his voice breaking.


    "You''re not human... You''re a demon!"


    Aestrea raised his sword.


    Sweep!


    The blade came down in a quick, merciless arc, severing the man''s head from his body.


    SPLURT!


    THUD!


    The headless corpse slumped to the floor, with blood pooling beneath it. The only sound in the room now was the soft hum of machinery somewhere in the distance.


    Aestrea stood over the body, his chest rising and falling as he caught his breath.


    His blood-red eyes clouded slightly as he cleaned his blade and turned toward the capsule containing the slime girl.


    It still wasn''t over yet.

 Chapter 6 - 6: The Strongest Student And His Mischiefs (V)

    "Now... how do I solve this?"


    I pondered, looking at the slime girl floating inside the capsule.


    Her thin, slimy body glowed faintly in the dim red lights. The green of her eyes was lifeless, staring into nothing.


    Not knowing what to do with something like this sucks. Most especially when you are stuck in the middle of an enemy lab and alarms are probably just seconds from blaring.


    "Whatever... let''s be rough..."


    I cracked my knuckles.


    I moved closer to the capsule, gathering mana into my fist. It shimmered faintly, frost licking at my knuckles.


    Without hesitation, I swung.


    CRASH!


    The glass exploded outward, scattering shards across the lab floor. A thick blue liquid gushed from the capsule, splattering my boots and soaking the floor.


    I caught the slime girl as she slid out, her body was surprisingly light but strange.


    Gurglee.....


    Her form shifted a little in my arms, cool and slippery, like trying to hold a bag of jelly. For a second, I froze, weirdly uncomfortable.


    Gurglee...


    Her body is slimy indeed.


    Ahem.


    Setting her down gently, I moved to the other capsule, where the morph weapon rested


    I didn''t know if it would still be able to change its aspect because there was no slime girl when Lucas got this weapon.


    So, I don''t know if it will work.


    Gathering mana again, I punched the capsule.


    CRASH!


    The glass exploded as it had before, and I grasped the weapon. This time, it was a hatchet, but it vibrated in my hand with a faint hum, as if it were... alive.


    "Alright, that''s two for two."


    I glanced back at the girl.


    She looked fragile, unconscious but breathing, her form shifting slightly like a calm pool of water.


    I didn''t know how much time I had, but I was glad she was alive.


    RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIING!


    "Fuck..."


    Red lights flashed everywhere, bathing the lab in an angry glow.


    The high-pitched wail of the alarm echoed loudly.


    My gaze snapped to the capsule, where a small plaque blinked: Safety Measure Activated.


    I didn''t notice it.


    "Dammit!"


    The vents.


    I needed to get her out before whoever triggered the alarm showed up.


    Immediately, I moved back to the vent and gritted my teeth when I noticed that we couldn''t get out together.


    I would need to push her into the vent, and that would take quite a long time.


    ''Wait... when Lucas escaped there was a giant vent mentioned...''


    I took a deep look around, my eyes constantly flinching due to the flashing red lights, but I ignored it and searched fanatically.


    But the vent wasn''t anywhere.


    Not in the walls, not in the ceiling, not even hidden behind the equipment.


    "Shit... Nothing."


    I muttered in annoyance.


    "OI!"


    A sudden shout made me whip around.


    A group of people in black uniforms stormed into the lab with their weapons at the ready. Their gaze locked on me instantly, and I could easily feel their hostility towards me.


    ¡º Judgement Eye (? S-Level Skill?)¡»


    My vision distorted, glowing softly as their details snapped into view.


    ''All are B-level rankers...''


    Every single one of them.


    This was bad, really bad.


    And they didn''t waste any time.


    One of them barked an order, and the group advanced with their weapons pointed at me.


    "Put her down, now!"


    I didn''t respond.


    Talking wasn''t going to solve anything either way, I forced my entry here.


    With the slime girl cradled awkwardly in one arm, I tightened my grip on the morph weapon with the other.


    I didn''t have any experience with a hatchet, so I hung it on my waist and sheathed my sword since it was my main weapon.


    The first one lunged.


    CLANG!


    His sword clashed with mine, sparks flying as I parried his attack. Taking the opportunity, I ducked and then drove my knee into his gut.


    He crumpled to the floor with a grunt, but the others didn''t hesitate.


    Three more came at me simultaneously.


    SHING!


    I barely deflected the spear while twisting myself out of the way of a blade angled toward my neck. Then, the third swung an enormous mace, and I ducked at just the right moment.


    It slammed into the wall behind me with an earsplitting crash.


    "You''re dead meat!" one snarled, swinging at my legs.


    Sweep!


    I jumped back, narrowly avoiding the blade, but my footing faltered on the slick floor, and I had to adjust quickly to keep my balance.


    SLAM!


    One of them aimed a kick at my side, and I had no choice but to take the hit. Pain shot through my ribs as I staggered back, gritting my teeth to stay upright.


    "Damn it."


    I cursed, shifting the slime girl''s weight in my arm. Her unconscious form was making this way harder than normal.


    The guards didn''t let me rest; another one came from the left and swung a twin-headed axe directed at my waist.


    CLANG!


    I blocked the first but had to pivot to avoid the second. As I did so, I swung the sword in an upward manner.


    CRACK!


    It slammed into his shoulder and sent him sprawling, drawing out blood.


    But there was no time to catch my breath.


    Two more charged in, one wielding a dagger and the other a broadsword. The dagger-wielder went low, aiming for my legs, while the broadsword swung high.


    I gripped the slime girl''s body a bit more, ducking under the broadsword before taking the opportunity to deliver a strong kick at the dagger-wielder''s knee.


    Thud!


    He went down with a small cry of pain, but the broadsword user quickly recovered and swung directly at my head.


    I immediately raised the sword with just one hand, the force of the impact jolting my arm.


    "Hah...!"


    I pushed forward against his blade and twisted my sword to knock it out of his hands.


    CLANG!


    His sword hit the ground, and I drove my elbow into his jaw, sending him crashing into a nearby table.


    The other guards hesitated, re-evaluating. I could see it in their eyes¡ªthey hadn''t anticipated this much resistance or strength.


    But I was struggling too.


    My breaths were coming faster now, my ribs screaming in protest every time I moved.


    "Don''t let him escape!"


    The seeming leader of them stepped forward with a glaive in hand.


    ''Of course... Fucking bastard.''


    He lunged, the blade of his glaive cutting through the air in my direction.


    Swoop!


    I twisted, narrowly avoiding it, and struck back with my sword.


    CLANG!


    The blades clashed, and the concussion ran up my arm.


    I moved in, pushing him backward until another guard found an opening from behind.


    THWACK!


    "Kugh...!"


    A heavy weapon struck the back of my body and sent me stumbling forward, gasping as pain shot around my body.


    The leader grinned sinisterly and raised his glaive again.


    "You''re done!"


    But I wasn''t going to give up.


    Even if I couldn''t use my Sword Art because I needed to wield the sword with both of my hands, I still had a huge amount of experience in killing demon beasts.


    Much less humans.


    Gathering what strength I had left, I shifted the slime girl in my arm and swung my sword upwards.


    CRACK!


    It caught the glaive, knocking it off balance. Using the opening, I drove a mana-infused kick into his chest.


    THUD!


    He flew back, crashing into a control panel.


    The others hesitated for a moment, but their hesitation cost them.


    Since the battle began, I was also inserting a bit of mana into the morph-weapon, to see if it actually worked.


    And now I understand how it worked.


    Basically...


    ''I understand it now.''


    I put my sword to my waist, switching it with the morph weapon, and then channeled what little mana I had left into it.


    The weapon glowed weakly, its blade slightly shifting as it morphed into a long, hooked scythe.


    SWOOSH!


    I swung it in a wide arc, sending the guards scrambling.


    But the leader recovered quickly, his glaive glowing with dark energy as he charged at me once more.


    BANG!


    He brought the glaive down with a crushing force, which sent shockwaves around the lab. Equipment flew everywhere, and I...


    CRASH!


    Was sent flying.


    I slammed hard into the wall as my body protested with screams and went sliding down to the floor.


    "U-ugh... damn..."


    Everything went fuzzy for a moment as my mind commanded my legs to lift me off the ground, and through it all, I managed to spot something underneath the capsules.


    A huge vent.


    It had been hidden by the bulky equipment, but now, with everything thrown around, it was clear as day.


    "There you are..."


    I gritted my teeth in annoyance.


    The guards were regrouping, closing in on me fast.


    And I did not have the energy to fight anymore. Collecting the last of my mana, I slammed the morph weapon into the ground.


    CRACK! S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ice spread instantaneously, forming a thick, fortified wall between the guards and me.


    "He''s trying to escape!" one of them shouted.


    I ignored them, sprinting towards the vent with the slime girl still in my arms.


    The red lights were still flashing, the alarm still blaring, but I didn''t stop.


    Reaching the vent, I kicked it open and slid inside, the cold metal scraping against my back as I crawled forward as fast as I could.


    Behind me, the guards were pounding on the ice wall, their shouts growing fainter as I moved deeper into the vent.


    Finally, the noise faded, and I allowed myself to take a deep, shaky breath.


    "Made it... for now."


    I muttered, clutching my side as pain flared up again.


    Gurgleee.....


    The slime girl shifted slightly in my arm, her soft gurgle the only sound in the suffocating silence of the vent.


    "Ahh... how am I going to explain to the Saintess?"


    Looking at my gruesome injuries that would make an average joe limp if not pass out, I pondered, thinking of a familiar figure in my mind.


    The Saintess of the Holy Nation.


    Christina Solara.

 Chapter 7 - 7: The Strongest Student And His Mischiefs (VI)

    Although much bigger than normal, the vent was still quite tight for too many people, and I was having difficulty carrying the slime girl.


    Thwack!


    Behind me, I could hear the faint sound of those guards hitting against the ice wall.


    It wasn''t going to break that easily.


    I made sure to strengthen its fortitude.


    ''I brought a few potions, but they shouldn''t do much help to my condition...''


    Still, I ended up taking one of them, driving the liquid of the container to my throat.


    "Ugh..."


    A bland taste as always.


    This past body consumed a lot of potions since he always ended up getting injured one way or another.


    His training was hellish, and due to this care for his classmates, he ended up in a lot of trouble, especially against demon beasts.


    So, he would get a lot of injuries, and now I''m pretty much addicted to potions.


    "Ah..."


    As I kept crawling forward, the vent sloped downward suddenly, and I lost my grip for a moment, sliding a short distance before stopping myself with my foot.


    CLANG!


    The sound echoed loudly, and I froze.


    ''Shit...''


    I held my breath, straining to hear any noise behind me. But all I could hear was the faint hum of the machinery from the lab and the distant dripping of water.


    No one was following me yet.


    Eventually, I reached a junction where the vent split into three paths.


    "Great..."


    I took a look at each other.


    None of them had any clear markings, and the dim light made it nearly impossible to tell where they led.


    ''If only the author described this a bit more...''


    Instead, I closed my eyes and tried to feel the vibrations of the air. It was the only thing I could really do in this kind of situation.


    ''Left.''


    The left path had a slight draft, a subtle pull of air that insinuated an opening. It wasn''t much, but it was my best shot yet.


    I entered the left part, dragging myself through the narrow space.


    The vent grew colder as I moved, and the sound of rushing water became louder.


    ''Must be near the sewers again...''


    Finally, after what felt like an eternity, I saw a faint light ahead. A broken grate let in a soft, pale glow, probably due to the moonlight.


    "Almost there..."


    I reached the grate and then pushed it slightly.


    It wouldn''t budge at all.


    So, I gathered mana in the palm of my hand...


    CRACK!


    The grate broke loose, falling with a dull sound onto the ground below.


    Cool, damp air rushed in, and I leaned out, looking at where I ended up.


    A large drainage tunnel stretched out in front of me, water running constantly along the bottom.


    The smell was awful, but it smelled like freedom.


    Carefully, I lowered myself down, landing with a splash in the shallow water before then looking around.


    The tunnel was sparsely lit by some weak, flickering lights up along the ceiling. It was silent, except for the gentle rush of water.


    I began walking, each step creating ripples in the dirty water.


    Thankfully, after just a minute or so, the tunnel opened into a larger chamber. A rusted ladder led up to a hatch near the ceiling.


    "Hah... finally."


    I approached the ladder, shifting the slime girl in my arms once more. Climbing with one arm wasn''t going to be easy, but I didn''t have a choice.


    Taking a deep breath, I reached for the ladder and started climbing as my muscles tensed up with every small movement.


    ''It hurts... damn it.''


    I don''t usually groan in pain and things like that because of my [Calm Mind] talent, however, it still hurts a lot.


    It just means that I have a high pain tolerance.


    Gurglee...~


    After a few moments, I reached the top, and then I braced myself against the hatch and pushed.


    Creack!


    The hatch opened, and the night sky above greeted me. Cool, fresh air rushed in, washing away the stench of the sewers.


    I climbed out, pulling the slime girl with me.


    We were in an alley with tall buildings of the capital rising on either side. The streets were silent; only the hum of the city life came from some faraway distance.


    I leaned against the wall, getting my breath back. My ribs hurt, my whole body was smeared with mud, and I was sure I looked like hell.


    But we were safe.


    For the time being.


    I looked down at the slime girl in my arms. Her breath was steady as her chest rose up and down, but then, her eyelids quivered slightly.


    Her green eyes flickered open briefly, meeting mine before closing again.


    ''This... what was that?''


    I felt her arms suddenly enveloping my head more intimately, and then, her body''s size suddenly decreased until she was the size of my hand.


    Maybe even smaller than that. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "This..."


    She opened her eyes once again and jumped to the small pocket on my shirt, peeking her head out.


    And then closed her eyes once again.


    ''Weird...''


    I have to go back to the hotel, I''ll need a long shower...


    ...


    The room was dark and elegant, almost like a private club.


    Black velvet coated the walls, while golden lights hanging from the ceiling gave everything a warm, rich glow.


    A soft jazz tune played in the background, filling the air with a quiet rhythm.


    There, Yara Devereux sat in the middle on a sleek leather sofa, her face impassive and cold, her dark eyes impassive as she swirled the glass of red wine in her hand.


    The deep color of the wine seemed almost bloody, like the scarlet of her lips, and gave her a beautiful yet dangerous air.


    Creak...!


    The door in front of her opened slightly, and one of her subordinates stepped inside. He was visibly nervous, fidgeting his hands as he stood before her.


    "Miss Devereux," he began with a quivering voice.


    "There''s been some sort of situation at the Ravenholm Laboratory."


    Yara raised her eyebrow with a cold gaze.


    "Go on."


    The underling shifted uneasily.


    "There was an intruder who got in earlier tonight. He¡­ killed Dr. Estermont and some of the guards. Not just killed¡ªtore through them like they were nothing. Reports say he used some sort of ice-based ability. It was fast, brutal."


    Yara set her wine glass down on the table in front of her, the sound of the glass meeting wood echoing in the room.


    "And the prototype?" she asked sharply.


    "It''s gone... he left with the slime girl."


    The room fell silent as Yara leaned back, placing her fingertips on the arm of the sofa. Her face didn''t change, but the weight of silence in the room took a darker turn.


    "And the guards?" she finally asked.


    The underling hesitated, then answered.


    "The intruder fought alone, Miss Devereux. He handled all the guards himself, even while protecting the slime girl. Witnesses say he took down several B-rank fighters without much trouble. Dr. Estermont didn''t stand a chance."


    Yara''s eyes narrowed slightly, but her face remained calm.


    "How did he manage to escape?"


    The underling''s hands clenched nervously.


    "He found the hidden vent system beneath the capsules. He used ice to block the others off and disappeared into the sewer system. We''re tracking him now, but he''s¡­ slippery. Skilled."


    Yara didn''t reply immediately.


    Her lips curved slightly as she picked up her glass again, her red nails lightly tapping the stem.


    "And the cameras?" she asked, her voice soft yet laced with such weight that it sent a shiver down the man''s spine.


    "We''re reviewing the footage now. We should have something soon," he stuttered, his head bowed.


    "Good. Bring it to me as soon as it''s ready."


    "Yes, Miss Devereux," the man quickly replied before practically running out, closing the door behind him.


    With him gone, Yara sat still, the glass in her hand as if lost in thought.


    Something sharp, something dangerous glinted in her eyes.


    Her lips curled into a faint smile, but it wasn''t warm; it was sharp and deadly, like the edge of a dagger.


    Her fingers tightened around the glass.


    CRACK!


    The wine glass shattered in her hand, shards tumbling to the floor, droplets of wine staining the expensive rug.


    She didn''t seem to care; her smile widened just a little as she muttered under her breath.


    "Interesting."

 Chapter 8 - 8: The Strongest Student And His Mischiefs (VII)

    "Ahh..."


    "So refreshing..."


    I exhaled, pushing my back against the cold wall of the shower.


    The steam rose around me, softening the bruises and cuts I had earned from tonight''s fight. I drank a few more potions to ease the pain, so it didn''t hurt as much.


    But, now I have a small problem.


    The slime girl.


    What was I supposed to do with her?


    I only saved her on a whim because I really didn''t want her to die or anything...


    And now, she was¡­ my responsibility?


    That wasn''t exactly my area of expertise.


    "What a mess..."


    I rubbed a hand over my face, groaning softly.


    After a while, the water began to cool down, so I drained the tub and stepped out, grabbing a towel to dry off.


    I put on a loose shirt and pants before leaving the bathroom...


    And there she was.


    The slime girl.


    The slime girl was standing by the window, wearing one of my white shirts and a pair of old pants I''d left for her.


    The shirt was far too big for her small frame, hanging loosely over her slimy body.


    She was staring at me.


    Not blinking, not moving¡ªjust staring.


    Her green eyes were wide, shimmering slightly in the dim light of the room.


    "Uh..."


    I really didn''t know what to say, especially since she didn''t say a word when we got back to my hotel room.


    She just stood still, and after I said to her to take a bath, she only tilted her head...


    Like she was doing right now...


    The slime girl didn''t reply, instead, she only tilted her head to the right and kept watching me with that same wide yet curious look.


    I ran a hand through my hair and then sighed.


    "Look, I don''t know if you can even understand me, but¡­ you''re safe now. Okay? No one''s going to hurt you."


    Her head tilted the other way, and for a moment, I thought I saw the corners of her mouth twitch upward, almost like a faint smile.


    ''Was she smiling...?''


    I wasn''t entirely sure.


    "Great..."


    I muttered under my breath, collapsing onto the bed.


    "Guess I''ve got a roommate now."


    She didn''t seem to mind the sarcasm¡ªor maybe she didn''t understand it.


    Either way, she turned her gaze back to the window, watching the city lights with that same quiet curiosity.


    I leaned down against the compy bed, staring at the ceiling.


    "Let''s just hope everything goes right..."


    I closed my eyes, drifting to sleep.


    "................"


    The room was quiet.


    The only thing that could be heard was Aestrea''s steady breathing as he slept without any worries in the world, his chest moved up and down, relaxed.


    The dim light from the window lit the room just enough to make everything visible.


    And next to the window, stood the slime girl, with her green shimmering eyes focused on Aestrea''s figure.


    At first, her face looked curious and blank, like before.


    But then...


    Fswip... S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Her green color started to shift, turning into a deep pink, and her body glowed slightly in the light while her cyan hair turned into a deeper shade of purple.


    Her lips curved into a small, mischievous smile.


    She stepped closer to Aestrea, her purple hair-like slime flowed behind her, and her shimmering form moved with an odd grace.


    Stopping beside the bed, she crouched slightly, her head tilting as she looked at Aestrea''s sleeping face.


    He looked peaceful, even if his face still wore its usual calm and motionless look.


    A small giggle slipped from her lips as she reached out with one slimy finger, tracing lightly along the edge of his jawline.


    Drip... drip...


    A faint sound came as a few drops of her slime fell to the floor.


    She didn''t seem to notice as her attention was completely drawn to him.


    Her hand slid down to his arm with a cool and light touch, leaving a faint trail of pink residue.


    She leaned in closer with her face hanging just above his. The mischievous smile on her face grew wider as she tilted her head.


    Then, without a word, she pressed her soft, slime-like lips against his cheek.


    Squelch.


    The faint, wet sound was barely audible as she pulled away, giggling quietly to herself again.


    Aestrea stirred slightly but didn''t wake.


    The slime girl tilted her head again, her pink eyes gleaming in the dim light. She leaned back, one finger pressed to her lips like she was savoring the moment.


    Then, as if satisfied, she stood up and turned back to the window, watching the city lights once more with that same strange smile on her face.


    Gradually, her pink skin transformed back to green, while her head changed to the cyan color it had been before.


    ...


    Drip...


    "Ugh... it''s hot..."


    Murmuring uncomfortably, I slowly opened my eyes.


    ''I thought the rooms had a cooling system, why is it so hot?''


    At first, I couldn''t tell what was happening, but then I felt it¡ªa small weight on my chest.


    "Ah... god dammit."


    The slime girl was sprawled across me, her small, slimy body rising and falling in sync with her calm breathing.


    Her head rested against my chest, and her green hair glowed faintly in the sunlight peeking through the curtains.


    "Did she climb up here while I was sleeping?"


    I muttered before shifting slightly.


    However, her grip seemed to have tightened as she murmured something incomprehensible, snuggling closer.


    My entire body tensed.


    Her cool skin was oddly soothing, but this situation was far from normal.


    "Oi..."


    I muttered.


    "Wake up."


    No response.


    I tried to move her off gently, but she held on like a clingy child.


    Her arms¡ªor rather, her slimy extensions¡ªwrapped around me in a way that made escape feel impossible without force.


    "Great... just great!"


    I furrowed my eyebrows.


    Her face shifted slightly, and for a second, I thought she was waking up.


    "Finally..."


    Instead, she let out a small hum, her lips curving into a faint smile, completely unaware of how awkward this was for me.


    "Dammit."


    Without any choice, I simply stood up and shifted her body to get her to hang on my back, and to my surprise, her legs immediately wrapped around my waist.


    "Agh..."


    My ribs still hurt.


    I should go and meet the saintess.


    This broken rib is still a deep problem even if it is sustainable with mana.


    After all, I got lucky to be able to meet the saintess.


    Normally, the saintess is deported to the strongest academy since there are located the most talented students, and their chances of getting injured are high.


    But, because of my highly dangerous actions and achievements, our academy was the one that had received the saintess.


    Which was useful.


    I would visit her three to two times a week because I ended up getting in trouble a lot.


    And it means a lot.


    From killing high-ranking demon beasts to fighting against an order of assassins.


    It was simply hell.


    "It''s just unfortunate that the saintess is going to Eternum''s Royal Academy after the competition... even if I win or not."


    That was because of the 177th hunting festival of the Eternum''s Royal Academy which was happening a month or two after the competition.


    I didn''t end up getting up to that part of the novel.


    Unfortunately.


    Putting those thoughts aside, I did my morning routine.


    "But now... how am I supposed to go out with her clinging to me?"


    I turned to the slime girl who was now hugging from the front.


    Her eyes opened slightly before they got the same wide look from before.


    And of course...


    She tilted her head to the right.


    Sigh...


    "What am I going to do with you?"


    I let out a deep sigh.

 Chapter 9 - 9: The Strongest Student And His Mischiefs (VIII)

    "Aestrea! Do you want to go around the capital with us?"


    One of my classmates called out, their eyes bright with excitement.


    I shook my head.


    "Sorry, I''m busy today. Maybe next time."


    "Ah..."


    Their expressions fell, and they exchanged glances before sighing.


    "Alright... see you later then."


    "We''re gonna miss you!"


    One added dramatically, waving a hand.


    "Yeah, yeah... it''s not like I''m going on a long trip or anything."


    I sighed.


    Before meeting up with them earlier, I''d already dealt with enough for one day¡ªspecifically, trying to peel that slime girl off of me.


    She''d been clinging on since the morning, and somehow, I''d managed to convince her to stay put in the room before sneaking out.


    Anyway, I had plans for today.


    I needed to pick up some things at the capital.


    Merchant Street was my main destination¡ªfamous for its fair pricing system where everything was sold at a "performance-to-price" ratio.


    A perfect spot to get supplies.


    So, everything got the perfect price for their use.


    But more importantly, I had to meet someone today.


    The Saintess.


    If I''m not wrong, she should be at the cat8hedral right now, so I should pass by it later.


    "Aestrea?"


    A soft voice suddenly reached out to me.


    I turned around to see Vivian, one of my teachers.


    "Do you have time?"


    Her lips curled up as she said so, giving me a small smile. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I should have some time. I was planning to head to Merchant Street, but sure."


    "What''s up?"


    "Well..."


    She paused, looking almost sheepish as she scratched her cheek.


    "First, I want to apologize in advance..."


    She began, bowing slightly.


    "Uh... for what?"


    "You''ve been selected as our exchange student!"


    "After the competition, you''ll be attending Eternum''s Royal Academy for a semester."


    For a minute I thought I heard wrong.


    Did she really say that I was the exchange student?


    I mean, I''m the one who usually keeps the peace within our academy so that no other outside students threaten any of the students...


    And she really said that I''m the exchange student this time?


    I must be dreaming.


    "Can you... repeat that please?"


    "Ah..."


    As if expecting my reaction, she let out a sigh before parting her lips.


    "You''ve been chosen as the exchange student."


    She repeated, her smile faltering slightly.


    Me?


    An exchange student?


    "...You''re serious?"


    Vivian nodded at my words.


    Um...


    She really doesn''t seem to be joking.


    ...


    After that interaction...


    "Ugh¡­ just my luck."


    "This is the last thing I wanted to happen."


    I said so, running a hand through my silky hair.


    Not that it helped my mood.


    Normally, being chosen to attend the most prestigious academy would be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.


    Any student would kill for this chance.


    But for me, this is a huge problem.


    That academy is a demon-attracting rat!


    Every week there''s going to be at least one demon attack, not to mention that the whole plot of the novel revolves around it.


    Catastrophes are happening because of the protagonist.


    "Dammit... my idea of getting my academy into a higher rank so I could get a higher ranking job didn''t work that well..."


    Aestrea''s wish and mine were pretty much on the same path.


    He wanted to make his academy shine and get to the higher ranks so he could get the recognition he always wanted, and I just wanted to live a leisurely life.


    And for that same leisure life, I didn''t give a single fuck about the plot, and if I needed to ruin to live a relaxed life, I would do so.


    "It seems that the competition isn''t the only thing I''m going to prepare for..."


    I muttered, and at the same time, I had finally reached the merchant street.


    The place was packed with people¡ªshoppers and vendors all shouting over each other.


    The smell of fresh bread, grilled meat, and a faint tinge of magic filled the air.


    Every stall was stacked with colorful goods: enchanted tools, rare herbs, shiny trinkets¡ªyou name it, they had it.


    But, amongst all of them, one stood out the most, just like a king among peasants.


    There, a giant queue of people stretched out the front, all waiting their turn to enter.


    [Luxuria''s Commerce.]


    The store of the most prestigious merchant family, Luxuria.


    Just by the name, it already sounds extremely extravagant, and it isn''t exaggerated, since it was mentioned in the novel that their wealth is superior to the royal family.


    Crazy, isn''t it?


    And of course, the heiress of this business is none other than "Violet Von Luxuria".


    A heroine.


    Well, not really...


    She is a heroine... but also isn''t.


    She was one of the final villainesses which were mentioned by the novel''s author, but he also said that she was also one of the hidden heroines...


    A character that could potentially be seen as a heroine in the side stories.


    "She''s the last person I want to interact with..."


    Shooking my head, I passed right in front of the big shop and started walking around the merchant street.


    There were plenty of other shops to visit.


    And I had a long list of things to buy.


    That alone... took me a few hours.


    "Ahh... a spatial pouch is so useful..." I sighed with a smile.


    Nothing could be more useful than this little thing.


    So, after a while, I reached the cathedral.


    It''s huge.


    Its spires shot up into the sky like giant spears, their tips catching the sunlight and glowing faintly.


    The walls were made of smooth white stone, covered in intricate carvings of battles and blessings.


    Stained-glass windows lined the sides, each one was a masterpiece showing pictures of the many saints that once were alive.


    The entrance was grand¡ªa pair of tall, golden doors wide open, welcoming visitors.


    A steady flow of priests and priestesses in white robes moved in and out, keeping a quiet atmosphere.


    When I stepped inside, the cool air hit me, calming and refreshing at the same time. Rows of polished wooden pews stretched towards the altar, which sat bathed in golden light.


    Above the altar was the largest stained-glass window I had ever seen.


    It showed the figure of a very beautiful lady with golden locks and golden eyes, behind her, four wings stretched out giving her an ethereal grace.


    Our Heavenly God.


    It was truly beautiful...


    The cathedral of the capital.


    And somewhere inside was the saintess.


    Christina Solene.


    The one I needed to meet.


    "But where is she?"


    Before, she told me she was going to be at the cathedral, but where exactly?


    With a sigh, I turned toward the nearest hallway, prepared to start a tedious search.


    But just as I took a step, I felt a hand grip my shoulder.


    "Ah... John?"


    I exclaimed in surprise, turning around to see a familiar face.


    "Yo!"


    He smiled in response.


    This man right here was the bodyguard of the Saintess and a very skilled swordsman who could probably kill me with a single swing of his sword.


    "Hehe, you really came here as the Saintess mentioned."


    He chuckled, before then starting at my body from below to above.


    "Let me guess¡­ broken leg? No, maybe an arm? Or could it be¡ª"


    "Rib, a broken rib."


    I shortcutted his response.


    in response, John''s grin widened, clearly amused.


    "I know you can easily see my injuries, why pretend not to know?"


    "It''s just fun."


    He shrugged his shoulders, before then walking away and uttering to me.


    "Follow me, I''ll guide you to the Saintess."


    I nodded and started following him.


    We climbed a few stairs before t8hen reaching a hall that led to a single room.


    John stopped, placed a hand on the door, and glanced back at me with a wry smile.


    "Good luck."


    He smiled wryly before closing the door.


    And before I could respond, he shoved me inside.


    The door clicked shut behind me.


    "This fuc¡ª"


    "¡ªwhat did I say about cursing?"


    A familiar voice that had the tone of a seductress reached out to my ears, cutting off my words.


    My hand instinctively reached for the door handle.


    Locked.


    Of course.


    "Dammit..."


    I turned around.


    And there she was.


    Christina Solene.


    A tumble of gold, her hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall, glimmering faintly in the soft light streaming through colored-glass panes.


    Her pink eyes locked onto mine, full of amusement and something unreadable.


    She was in a bright, snowy white dress that clung to her form with golden patterns embroidered upon it and slightly glowing.


    The fall of the material was beautiful, but this was a poor camouflage for the utterly sensual form of her body


    Her arms held the dress up just so, taut over her generous curves.


    It was almost ironic.


    For a person with the title "Saintess," her body was anything but saintly.


    "It seems that you got injured again..."


    Her lips curled into a slow, dangerous smile as she took a single step forward. I stiffened as her eyes narrowed, gleaming with a sharper edge than before.


    "What''s this, Brother Aestrea?" she continued, her voice dropping just slightly.


    The way she said my name felt heavier, like the weight of a dagger next to my neck.


    "If I recall correctly¡­"


    Christina''s smile widened, though it didn''t reach her eyes.


    "This is the ninety-first time this month, isn''t it?"


    Her voice was calm¡ªtoo calm.


    The air in the room seemed to grow heavier as she tilted her head slightly, her golden hair cascading like liquid sunlight.


    Her eyes narrowed, and that smile¡­


    That smile somehow grew even more unsettling.

 Chapter 10 - 10: The Strongest Student And His Mischiefs (IX)

    "..."


    Rip!


    "FUC¡ª!"


    "¡ªno cursing!"


    Ripping the dead skin from my body, the saintess interrupted my words by putting her hand in my mouth, making sure no sound got out.


    "Who told you to get injured?"


    Her tone was soft, almost sweet, but her pink eyes glinted with something far less forgiving


    I winced as she dabbed a cold, cream onto the raw patch of my back.


    ".....Well, there was a special situation."


    "Like what?"


    Her words came out sharp.


    I kept silent.


    If I told her I had infiltrated the black market, taken on a group of B-Level rankers solo, and barely escaped with my life just to get a weapon, she''d probably strangle me with her bare hands.


    "Ahhhh..." she let out a heavy sigh.


    "What am I supposed to do with you?"


    Her fingers moved away, and she handed me my shirt without another word. I slipped it on quickly, hoping to avoid further lectures.


    But when I turned back to her, she was staring at me.


    Her dim pink eyes locked onto mine; the intensity was so high that it made a chill run down my spine.


    "Who did you save?"


    Her voice was low, but there was something in her question heavier than the air in the room.


    I froze.


    Of all the questions she could have asked me, this wasn''t one I was expecting.


    Lying to Christina wasn''t an option¡ªshe always saw through it.


    But telling her the truth?


    That felt even riskier.


    Deviants were a race that was truly hated by the Holy Nation.


    They were essentially a race that was created by the mass reproduction of demons beasts and actual demons or demonesses.


    For the Holy Nation, they truly deserved to die.


    Her pink eyes didn''t waver, and her expression softened slightly, though it did nothing to ease the tension.


    It was that kind of soft that said, I''ll be patient for now, but you''d better not test me.


    "Just¡­ someone who needed help."


    Truly, I didn''t actually mean to save her since I only wanted the weapon. But of course, I wouldn''t let her die.


    "Someone...?" she repeated my words.


    Her scent, soft and floral with a hint of something warm and intoxicating, wrapped around me.


    I was already used to it, so it didn''t affect me much, but for others, it might be quite deadly.


    "Was it a woman?"


    Her pink eyes narrowed ever so slightly, and though her lips carried the faintest hint of a smile, her tone was still quite sharp.


    "Why does that matter?"


    She didn''t answer right away.


    Instead, she leaned forward, just enough for her golden hair to spill over her shoulders. Her intoxicating scent grew stronger, wrapping around me like a warm, suffocating blanket.


    "Just curious... After all, in most the cases when you saved someone, at least ninety percent of them were women."


    "Uh...."


    "So, it really was a woman, huh?"


    Her lips seemed to have widened as she gauged my reaction.


    "It wasn''t like that... besides, I save mostly women because they usually get harassed by some dumb heir of a prestigious family."


    "So?"


    She took a step forward, making me take a step back.


    "It''s their business, why do you have to chime in?"


    "I mean..."


    Her voice turned sharper.


    "I don''t get it."


    I tried to take another step back, but the wall behind me put an end to that idea. Her gaze pinned me in place, and I could feel another chill running down my back.


    "Can''t you simply not help them? And stop being so selfless?"


    I''m not selfless.


    Well... this body might be, but I''m not.


    For a moment, we stood there, looking at each other.


    Her fingers tapped lightly against her arm as she stared at me, and then, with a soft sigh, she leaned back, giving me some much-needed space.


    "I''m done with you." she sighed.


    Immediately, I took the opportunity to go towards the exit.


    But, before leaving, I couldn''t help but glance at her...


    She gazed out the window, the light from the stained glass cast colorful patterns across her figure, making her look almost ethereal.


    "And Aestrea?"


    Her voice made my steps halt.


    "Yeah...?"


    Her voice was soft, almost too soft.


    "Next time, try not to get yourself killed. It would be¡­ inconvenient."


    The way she said inconvenient sent a shiver down my spine.


    "Noted."


    I would simply go to a priest next time, although their powers aren''t as good as the Saintess, they at least can help me for a fair price.


    Thinking about it, if I needed to actually pay for the Saintess''s services, how much debt would I have?


    Probably in tens of thousands...


    Gosh.


    I''m so lucky that I can use her services without paying.


    Then, Christina turned back to me, her smile back to its usual serene self, though her eyes still held that unsettling glint.


    "Good. Now, go on. I''m sure you have¡­ things to do."


    She didn''t have to tell me twice, I twisted the knob of the door and got out of that room. Being alone with the Saintess is much scarier than anything else.


    "Yo! How did it go?"


    John who was waiting at the door turned to me with a small smile.


    "I''m never coming back to meet her..."


    "That bad?" he raised an eyebrow in surprise.


    It wasn''t that bad, just your usual scary Saintess. When I''m alone with her, she always sounds scarier than normal.


    However, I probably won''t be seeing her as much, since I now live with a deviant. And even though, the Holy Nation can''t exactly kill them...


    It''s better to hide the slime girl from the Saintess.


    If she finds out, I could get in trouble.


    For that reason, I''ll need to meet the Saintess fewer times than normal. I only went to the Saintess because her services were free, and her power was stronger than the priest.


    But, I have quite a hefty amount of money, so I''ll use it for the priests.


    I can''t risk the opportunity of her getting to see that slime girl.


    "I''m kidding obviously."


    "Mhm..."


    He nodded, taking a deep look at me.


    "Anyway, you know she cares about you, right?"


    I blinked at him, caught off guard.


    "What?"


    "The Saintess..."


    He replied with a small smile.


    "She cares for you more than you think."


    Before I could respond, he gave me a small nod and walked off, leaving me standing there, staring after him.


    She cares about me? S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    That is quite obvious considering her reaction when I get injured.


    However, the way he said it...


    Feels like...


    She likes me.


    "Ah... whatever."


    I left the cathedral and decided to go around the capital for a bit more. I really wanted to check the training range that was so popular around here.


    After all, instead of implementing a training zone for the Royal Academy, they decided to create a public one so they could maximize profits.


    This proposal was also made by Violet when she was a child.


    As a kid, she proposed making the training ground public to generate revenue for the kingdom, and it worked.


    Now, people from all over come here to hone their skills or show off.


    So yeah, this training zone was a huge success and anyone can pay to enter while students from the Royal Academy use their student''s points.


    When I arrived, the training range was as busy as I''d expected.


    Rows of targets, dummy stations, sparring areas¡ªit was packed with people of all skill levels.


    The clashing of swords, the sounds of arrows hitting targets, and the occasional boom of magic spells filled the air.


    I made my way to the shooting section.


    Unlike the more crowded areas, this one had fewer people.


    Guns weren''t as popular in the world as they were considered useless because no one could actually create a gun artifact.


    They could create it.. but it would be a pretty hefty amount.


    After all, a gun has too many components, and they need bullets to work.


    So, who would spend items that could create a powerful sword to create bullets or one of the few components of the gun?


    So yeah, the choice was always traditional weapons or a wand for magic.


    The clerk at the counter looked up as I approached.


    "A rental gun?" she asked.


    "Personal"


    "How long do you plan to train?"


    "An hour, for now, might stay longer."


    "10 silvers."


    Hearing her words, I handed over the coins.


    "Lane four."


    She added, pointing words the lane I was supposed to enter.


    I walked forward and then pulled the morph-weapon which was now similar to a modified desert eagle.


    Then, I reached out to the difficulty meter and put expert mode for handguns. And also tapped on the magic bullet options which made the targets gain a magic field around them.


    They were set up about two meters apart from each other, and one twenty meters away from me¡ªstandard for expert mode.


    Of course, this was just aim training, I didn''t want to spend more money for a simulation or advanced technology since I still had a few things in store to buy.


    And I might buy an artifact so... I don''t really know how much I''ll spend.


    "Alright... let''s warm up."


    I raised the gun.


    Bang!


    The first shot hit the outer ring of the target.


    "Mhm... not too bad. And I like I thought... I have infinite bullets."


    I smiled deeply.


    With this morph weapon, I didn''t have to worry about running out of ammo.


    Each shot fired from the gun drained a bit of my mana, but since the weapon was crafted as a whole artifact, it automatically reloaded itself when I reverted it to its original form.


    The bullets weren''t just regular ones either¡ªthey matched the weapon''s quality, a high-grade artifact.


    Ah, I almost forgot that this weapon is a high-grade artifact.


    "That means... I can make a blood contract with it."


    Bitting my finger, I let a drop of blood fall into the gun.


    As soon as it made contact, the weapon glowed with an intense red light. The glow spread quickly, wrapping around the gun before it vanished entirely.


    I glanced at my left hand, where a faint warmth lingered.


    A tattoo of a ring had appeared on my index finger.


    "Perfect..."


    I grinned, channeling a bit of mana into the tattoo. The gun materialized in my hand instantly, feeling even more natural now, as if it had become a part of me.


    With this blood contract, even if someone tried to take it away from me, I could simply summon it back to me.


    Now all I needed to do was train for the academy''s competition.


    I aimed the gun ahead, ready to start training again.


    "It''s not like there''s going to be a random demon beast attack while I''m here, right?" I muttered to myself.


    I''ll just train peacefully...


    The words had barely left my mouth when the ground shook beneath me.


    BOOOOM!


    A deafening roar echoed across the training zone, deep and guttural, vibrating through the air like thunder.


    "Of course..."


    I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose as another roar shattered the stillness.


    From the distance, I heard someone yell.


    "It''s a Bulking Demon! A named demon beast!"


    "Everyone, evacuate!"


    Bulking Demon.


    A beast so infamous even its name sent chills down people''s spines.


    I glanced at the gun in my hand, its faint red glow still present.


    "Peaceful training, huh?"


    I muttered to myself before stepping toward the sound.

 Chapter 11 - 11: The Strongest Student And His Mischiefs (X)

    Just like every living being, demon beasts had their own ranks. But compared to humans, they were absolute monsters¡ªthree to five times stronger at the same rank


    They''re divided into a few ranks ranging from low-level demon beasts to catastrophe-level demon beasts.


    The low-level demon beasts are equivalent to the F and E Rank, the intermediate ones to C and D Rank while the high-level ones are equal to the A and B Rank.


    And then, there were the Named Demon Beasts¡ªS-rank monsters.


    These creatures were rare, intelligent, and devastatingly powerful. From S- to S+, each could obliterate entire towns if left unchecked.


    As for the last two, they''re pretty much extinct since there hasn''t been a single one of those for hundreds of years.


    But they potentially reach the SS and SSS levels.


    Of course, there are very few humans at that level, but if one appear... it would probably lead to world destruction.


    Because demon beasts are normally three to five times stronger than the human''s rank.


    As for the Bulking Demon that had just interrupted Aestrea''s training?


    A strong S- rank demon beast.


    "Phew..."


    Whistling, Aestrea looked at the Bulking Demon as he threw his gun in the air.


    The ground cracked as the demon''s hulking form appeared in his view, standing over four meters tall.


    Its muscles rippled beneath obsidian-black skin, eyes glowing a malevolent red similar to Aestrea''s eyes.


    A pair of jagged horns twisted upward like cruel weapons, and its claws looked sharp enough to slice through steel.


    BOOOOOOOM!


    The beast slammed a massive fist into the ground, sending tremors that knocked several people off their feet.


    On his back, two giant axes could be seen, each one as sharp as a high-quality sword.


    "Alright, big guy..."


    He raised his gun and then fired.


    Bang!


    The shot rang out, slamming into the demon''s shoulder, leaving a small hole in its skin.


    The monster roared in pain, but it didn''t stumble or slow down. Instead, it let out another loud growl and started rushing towards Aestre with its horns pointed at him.


    BANG!


    Another bullet struck the demon''s side, and a small chunk of the monster''s flesh was torn away.


    "Too... little damage. This is going to be a problem..."


    Aestrea muttered to himself, jumping back, and getting on top of one random monument.


    The Bulking Demon was smart, though.


    As Aestrea shot one more time, the demon actually dodged the bullet and continued on its way towards him.


    "Not today."


    The bullet that came next wasn''t just a regular shot. A faint blue glow surrounded the projectile as it fired toward the beast.


    ¡º Magic Ice Bullet (?Gunslinger Ice Magic?)¡»


    The bullet streaked toward the beast and hit it squarely in the leg.


    The effect was immediate: a burst of freezing energy erupted on impact, forming jagged patches of ice that spread across the demon''s limb.


    KURAAAHHH!


    The Bulking Demon roared again, this time in frustration, as its body struggled against the sudden cold gripping its muscles.


    "Oh?"


    Aestrea raised an eyebrow.


    "Your weakness is ice, huh? Lucky."


    His gun morphed effortlessly into the shape of a Tachi sword in his hand.


    Aestrea''s hands moved as he swung the sword in the air, casting a wave of ice magic in the direction of the beast.


    The frost glimmered under the pale light as it streaked forward, creating a crescent-shaped wave of ice.


    "Moonlit Ice Lotus Art..."


    ¡º Second Move! (? Moonlit Frost Barrage ?)¡»


    The barrage of crescent-shaped waves of silver energy cut through the air and collided with the demon''s left arm, sending it skidding back slightly.


    The Bulking Demon growled, its fury growing with each passing second, but Aestrea could see the effects of his attack¡ªice was forming over the demon''s limbs, slowing its movements just slightly.


    But even so, Astrea didn''t waste any more time.


    He quickly morphed his sword back into a gun and pointed at the demon.


    Bang!


    Another shot rang out, hitting the demon squarely in the shoulder. He shifted into a crouch, shooting again and again, the sound of his gun ringing louder with each shot.


    The Bulking Demon staggered but was still very much alive, he roared again, pushing forward, not willing to retreat.


    And as the demon advanced, Aestrea also retracted a few steps.


    ''His skin is too hard for me to be able to cut through it... and if I use one of the advanced uses of my sword art, I might lose an arm... I can''t risk it.''


    ''The only thing I can do is to save as much time as possible...''


    Bang!


    Another shot rang out.


    However, the Bulking Demon seemed to have gotten used to the pain, and slowly, his speed started increasing.


    Seeing this, Aestrea raised his left hand while still shooting at the demon.


    Slowly, an ice liquid formed and it transformed into a magic circle that had exactly three stars, forming a triangle.


    ¡º Ice Series: Frost Explosion (? 3rd-level Spell ?)¡»


    A small liquid was thrown against the Bulking Demon. It didn''t look too much, but it suddenly increased in speed and got the shape of an arrow.


    BOOOM!


    As soon as it touched the Bulking Demon''s skin, it exploded, freezing everything around in a range of ten meters.


    Aestrea stopped shooting bullets.


    After all, this was just a spell to save more time while he waited for reinforcements to arrive. He couldn''t kill this demon beast alone.


    Crack...!


    The frozen statue of the bulking demon started showing cracks, and in just a few more seconds, it completely cracked.


    KURRRAAAGHHH!


    The demon beast roared and then dashed forward at an incredible speed. He pulled its massive double axes from its back in a single motion.


    The sound of steel scraping leather filled the air as the monster dashed toward Aestrea at full speed.


    "Fuck..."


    Aestrea''s eyes widened in surprise.


    He raised his gun as quickly as possible and shot it.


    ¡º Magic Ice Bullet (?Gunslinger Ice Magic?)¡»


    However, the demon dodged his bullet as it charged like a freight train, its massive body moving with surprising speed.


    Aestrea didn''t have much time to react, so he leaped high into the air, attempting to avoid its path.


    But... it wasn''t enough.


    Before Aestrea could react fully, the Bulking Demon slammed its body into the ground with devastating force.


    The collision sent a powerful shockwave through the air. Aestrea was sent flying backward, thrown through the air with tremendous force.


    Aestrea gasped as his body was flung toward a nearby building.


    "Ahhh¡ª"


    The building came into view as he hurtled toward it, and he braced himself for impact.


    CRASH!


    The sound was loud as Aestrea slammed into the side of the building. Bricks crumbled beneath his weight, the structure groaning as it held under the force of his impact.


    Pain shot through Aestrea''s body as his head hit the ground.


    He had broken quite a few bones.


    He coughed weakly, the sharp taste of blood filling his mouth. His body hurt from the impact, every bone feeling like it was on fire.


    "Fuck... it seems that I''ll need to meet the saintess again..."


    The words barely left his lips as he coughed, his vision swimming. Blood trickled from his mouth as he lay there, broken, battered, and gasping for breath.


    The last thing he thought before his vision started to blur was how much trouble he was going to have after this.


    "Well... damn."


    ...


    [Lucas''s POV]


    I could feel the tension in the air as our group arrived at the scene.


    We had been rushing here the moment word got to us about a named demon beast¡ªan S-Rank Bulking Demon, no less¡ªattacking the capital.


    Dammit...


    Why did the notification of the system arrive so late?


    I gritted my teeth.


    And then as I looked around, I was quite surprised. There were no signs of blood anywhere. It seems that everyone evacuated safely.


    But how?


    "Let''s go further..."


    I spoke to my group.


    They were none other than Ella, Maya, Rose, and Iris.


    Ella was our swordsman, Rose our mage, Maya was the physical attacker and finally, Iris was our priest who would heal our injuries.


    With me as their leader and main attacker, we could potentially kill this demon beast. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    However, as I reached the true battle scene...


    My heart sank.


    We found ourselves at the edge of a broken section of what looked like a residential district, the buildings shattered and broken as though some massive force had torn through them.


    There was snow and ice on the ground, frost-covered debris scattered everywhere.


    The moonlight shimmered ominously over all of it, giving the scene an ethereal glow.


    And at the center of the destruction?


    The giant form of the Bulking Demon.


    The demon was massive, its black skin glistening under the pale moonlight as it roared toward the sky, holding sharp axes in its hands.


    I could already feel the sheer power radiating from its body, it truly deserved to be a named demon beast.


    But then, I quickly noticed a few injuries on his body, and some of them were actually pretty deep.


    It was at that same time, I heard a familiar voice.


    "Dammit. Fucking bull..."


    He cursed in an annoyed voice.


    "Aestrea...?"


    Ella uttered as soon as she saw his figure, her face contorted in worry as she quickly started approaching him.


    "Aah... it''s time for round two..."


    He gave the bulking demon a bloodied smile, despite being bruised, having a few broken bones, and¡ªby the looks of it¡ªheavily injured.


    He had his weapon in his hand and kept a faint yet small smile against the bulking demon.


    His red eyes glowed in a terrific way as they held the silhouette of a moon.


    "Damn... he looks so cool..."


    Iris muttered.


    At that moment, even my pride couldn''t deny it.


    He looked damn cool.

 Chapter 12 - 12: The Strongest Student And His Mischiefs (XI)

    "Ella, wait!"


    I called out, watching her sprint toward Aestrea without hesitation.


    "That demon''s still active!"


    Ella slowed down her steps, having her sword in a defensive grip. Worry was written all over her face, her knuckles white from gripping her blade so tightly.


    "You idiot! What were you thinking, taking on a named demon beast alone?!"


    Aestrea, leaning against a crumbling wall, raised an eyebrow and smiled faintly. Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth, but his red eyes held that same calm glow.


    "A-ah... what a surprise, princess."


    Ella''s lips pressed into a thin line. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She didn''t even blush at the nickname this time.


    "Besides," Aestrea continued, wiping blood from his chin with the back of his hand.


    "I was just buying time. The Royal Guards should be on their way, right?"


    He glanced at Ella, then at the rest of us, his gaze lingering briefly before narrowing slightly.


    "And... it seems you have a whole party made to hunt the demon, huh?"


    Exactly."


    Ella nodded, stepping closer to him.


    Her voice softened ever slightly as their eyes met.


    "So let us handle this. Stay down, Iris will heal you."


    She turned to the demon beast, gripping her sword tightly as she issued orders.


    "Iris, heal him now! Everyone else, get ready!"


    Iris, the team''s priest, nodded and rushed forward. Her staff began to glow with a soft, golden light as she chanted a healing spell.


    "Hang on, Aestrea. This might sting a little."


    However, upon hearing her words, Aestrea frowned as his eyes narrowed.


    "How do you know my name? I never met any of you."


    "A-ah... w-what?" Rose stammered upon hearing his words.


    After all, except for the Demon Hunter and the Moonlight Swordsman, who was Aestrea, they were the most popular characters on the student news.


    But, Iris still didn''t reply to Aestrea''s question. The corner of Aestrea''s mouth twitched upward, but he said nothing more.


    "Ah... thanks."


    As soon as the light on Aestrea''s body diminished he thanked Iris with a small smile.


    At this time, everyone was ready so it was time to attack the demon beast.


    KURAAAAAH!


    The Bulking Demon roared, slamming its axes into the ground and creating a shockwave that shook the area.


    Debris flew everywhere, forcing us to shield ourselves.


    "Alright... everyone takes their positions in the formation! Ella, take the lead. Rose, focus your magic on slowing it down and dealing burn damage. Maya, stay mobile and look for openings. Iris, keep healing. I''ll take the front with Ella."


    Everyone nodded, moving into their positions while Aestrea only looked at us with seeming interest.


    Looking his murderous gaze onto us, the Bulking Demon roared again, charging toward us with surprising speed for its size.


    Clang!


    Ella and I met it head-on, our weapons clashing against each one its massive axes. Sparks flew as the sound of metal meeting metal echoed through the battlefield.


    "Rose!" I shouted.


    "Got it!" Rose''s hands glowed with fiery energy as she cast her spell.


    ¡º Blazing Chains (? 4th-Level Fire Magic ?)¡»


    Flaming chains shot up from the ground, wrapping around the demon''s limbs. It struggled against them, but the flame chains held them firm, at least for now.


    "Maya, go!" Ella shouted.


    Maya dashed in, her movements a blur as she landed a powerful punch against the demon''s side.


    The impact echoed like a cannon blast, and the demon staggered back slightly.


    Bang!


    A bullet suddenly rang out and hit the demon square in the chest, leaving a frosty patch where it struck.


    "Mhm... not shabby."


    I turned back and saw Aestrea holding a gun with a calm expression. A faint smoke came out of the gun, meaning that he had been the one who had shot the bullet.


    ''If he wants to help... that''s great. I can''t reveal much of my power here.''


    But suddenly, the demon roared again, this time shaking off the fiery chains.


    Despite its size, it moved with surprising speed, swinging one of its axes wide, catching Maya mid-dash and sending her flying into the rubble.


    BAM!


    "Kugh!"


    "Maya! Iris go help her!"


    Iris nodded, rushing to our fallen teammate while Ella and I pressed the attack.I ordered before turning towards the Bulking Demon who was fighting against Ella alone.


    They exchanged blows and Ella was successfully getting small cuts on its body.


    Seeing that opportunity, I leaped into the air and warned Ella.


    "Ella, dodge!"


    Immediately, Ella jumped to the right side, giving me a full view of the Bulking Demon.


    "Demon Slaying Sword Art..."


    ¡º Corrupted Sword! (? Advanced-Level Swordsmanship ?)¡»


    A black flame engulfed my weapon as I slashed downward with all my might.


    CLANG!


    My sword clashed against its axes, the sheer force sending tremors through my arms.


    I increased my strength and successfully won the contest, making the demon beast lose his composure.


    So, I took the opportunity and swung my sword again directly at his right arm.


    Splurt!


    The blade made a clean cut, snapping off his right arm, and leaving a fountain of disgusting black blood behind.


    "Ella!"


    Upon hearing my voice, Ella appeared in the sky as her sword gained a golden aura and it increased in size.


    The Royal Swordsmanship...


    Truly beautiful.


    ¡º Royal Swordsmanship: Heavenly Strike (? SS-Level Technique ?)¡»


    Swing!


    A blade of energy was sent downward, carving through the ground until it eventually reached the demon beast.


    However, before it could meet the demon beast''s body...


    KURAAAAGGH!


    A malicious purple aura came out of the Bulking Demon''s body.


    "Dark Order...!"


    Gritting my teeth, I rushed towards the Bulking Demon not giving a single fuck about what would happen.


    ¡º Corrupted Sword! (? Advanced-Level Swordsmanship ?)¡»


    "Die, you damned beast!"


    Swing!


    A barrage of energy was created as my sword met the intense purple aura.


    BAM!


    "Kaugh...!"


    The aftermath caused an explosion of energy to send me flying.


    "A-agh!"


    Crumble...


    The shockwave sent both me and Ella crashing into a nearby building, the structure crumbling around us.


    The building snapped into debris.


    "U-ugh..." a mouthful of blood escaped my mouth.


    And before I knew it, the Bulking Demon was madly surging at us.


    "GUYS!" Iris shouted loudly.


    A wave of green mana appeared around us, enveloping us, but it couldn''t do anything.


    ''F-fuck... I''ll need to reveal my identity...''


    I gritted my teeth.


    ''If it wasn''t for the Dark Order...''


    And that was when I heard a familiar voice.


    "You guys did well."


    "Now, it''s my time to play around a bit."


    He smiled faintly, his bloodied face and glowing red eyes making him look both terrifying and captivating under the dim light of the sun.


    ...


    The battlefield was quiet except for the growls of the Bulking Demon.


    It stood tall, its massive form radiating an ominous, purple aura that made the air feel heavy. Its single remaining axe rested in its hand, dripping with black blood.


    In front of it stood the figure of a man wearing a faint smile on his face. His clothes were torn, blood streaked down his side, and his breathing was ragged.


    He held a sword in one hand, the blade faintly glowing in the moonlight. Behind him, four figures watched; all were heavily injured, but not as badly as the figure in front of them.


    And then it started...


    KURAAAAGH!


    The Bulking Demon roared, as his purple aura flared up wildly as it turned its bloodshot eyes toward Aestrea.


    It snarled, raising one massive axe and slamming it into the ground with a deafening crash.


    BOOM!


    The ground cracked beneath Aestrea''s feet, but he didn''t flinch. He tilted his head slightly, his crimson eyes locking onto the demon with the same calm expression.


    "You''re a noisy one, huh?"


    He gripped his Taichi sword tighter.


    "Aestrea! What the fuck are you doing?! You''re barely standing!" Lucas, still recovering from the shockwave, shouted.


    "Get back!" Ella added, her golden sword glowing faintly in her grip.


    "You''re injured! You''ll get yourself killed!"


    But this time was Aestrea''s time to keep silent as he only added a few words.


    "What do you guys know about me?"


    He stepped towards the demon, before the demon beast suddenly lunged forward, swinging its remaining axe in a wide arc.


    Swish!


    Aestrea ducked just in time, the blade of the axe whistling past his head and slicing through a crumbling pillar behind him.


    He retaliated with a quick, upward slash, the edge of his sword trailing faint frost as it grazed the demon''s side.


    SLASH!


    Black blood sprayed from the wound, hissing as it hit the ground. The demon howled in pain but didn''t stop.


    Instead of using the axe, a massive fist came crashing down, aiming straight for Aestrea''s torso.


    BAM!


    The impact was brutal.


    Aestrea flew backward, slamming into the jagged remains of a wall.


    "A-Aestrea!" Iris screamed in panic.


    "He''s gonna get himself killed...!" Maya staggered to her feet, her own injuries evident as she gritted her teeth.


    Dust and debris clouded the area where Aestrea had landed, but before anyone could rush to his aid, a shadow emerged from the haze.


    Aestrea stood up, his body swaying slightly.


    His lips were stained with blood, but that faint smile still hadn''t left his face.


    "Is that all?"


    KURAAAAGGH!


    As if the Bulking Demon understood his words, he roared once again, this time charging directly at him.


    Its massive body crushed the rubble beneath its feet as it swung its axes in a relentless barrage of attacks.


    Clang!


    Clang!


    Each strike was like thunder, and Aestrea deflected as many as he could. He parried one blow after another, but it was clear the strain was getting to him.


    Until the axe managed to slip past his guard, slamming into his shoulder.


    Splurt!


    "......"


    It penetrated his shoulder, getting stuck on Aestrea''s skin. However, despite the pain, Aestrea didn''t let out a single shout.


    Instead, he smiled, quite widely.


    "I can''t just stand here without helping!"


    Iris''s hands glowed as she prepared another healing spell.


    But before she could finish her spell, she saw Aestrea taking down the axe from his shoulder before throwing it at the bulking demon who dodged the flying axe.


    Blood dripped from the corner of Aestrea''s mouth, pooling beneath him, but his red eyes never wavered.


    "That was a good one..." he added with a grin.


    The demon snarled, raising his foot for another strike.


    THUD!


    One of its massive feet came crashing down, aiming to crush Aestrea where he knelt.


    Aestrea moved at the last second, rolling out of the way and retaliating with a horizontal slash aimed at the demon''s leg.


    SLASH!


    The blade cut deep, frost spreading from the wound as the demon stumbled, its movements starting to slow down.


    "It should be enough now..."


    Aestrea muttered as he leaped a few meters back.


    He staggered to his feet, gripping his sword with both hands now. His body was trembling, his breaths ragged, but the light in his eyes remained sharp.


    KURAAAGH!


    Ella stepped immediately forward, gripping her sword tightly.


    "He can''t handle this alone! Lucas, we need to hel¡ª"


    "Wait... this power..."


    Aestrea''s stance shifted, and his sword began to glow faintly. A pale, silvery light enveloped the sword, flickering like moonlight reflected on a frozen lake.


    KURAAAGH!


    The Bulking Demon, sensing the danger, charged once more, with its horns raised high.


    "Fuuu..."


    Aestrea exhaled slowly, his body relaxing as he took a single step forward.


    The world seemed to fall silent for a brief moment.


    "Moonlit Ice Lotus Art..."


    ¡º Third Move! (? Moonlight''s One Flash ?)¡»


    Then he moved.

 Chapter 13 - 13: The Strongest Student And His Mischiefs (XII)

    The battlefield froze as if time itself had paused for a heartbeat. Aestrea''s form was a blur; the thin luster of the moon trailing behind him like a meteor across the night.


    KSHHHT!


    The sound was sharp, clean, and sudden.


    A flash of silvery light split through the air, so bright it seemed to cut the very darkness surrounding them.


    It was almost as if the moon had descended into that moment, lending its luster to Aestrea''s sword.


    SLASH!


    KURAAH...


    The Bulking Demon roared, jolting as it staggered at mid-charge, before freezing in place, staying in the same spot.


    His massive form quivered as if unsure of what had just happened.


    Step...


    Aestrea appeared a few steps behind it, his sword pointing to the ground, its edge sopping with an icy gleam that faintly shimmered as frosts began building up along it.


    He was standing still, only breathing heavily; blood was dripping down from both his arms and sides.


    For a moment, only silence remained.


    Then¡ª


    CRACK!


    A deep fissure ran through the center of the demon''s body, splitting it from head to toe. The demon''s roaring turned into a choking gurgle as its form began to collapse on itself.


    Black blood gushed out, hissing as it touched the frozen ground beneath it.


    BOOM!


    The body of the demon fell onto the earth, cut neatly in half, and its purple aura flew away, scattering like smoke in the wind.


    It was over.


    The battlefield remained silent for a few seconds, everyone staring in disbelief at the fallen demon beast.


    "H-he... he killed it..." Iris muttered, holding her arm as she looked at Aestrea''s figure.


    "Aestrea..." Ella who had been ready to charge earlier murmured, gripping her sword tightly as she took a hesitant step forward.


    Nobody could believe that he had killed a named demon beast.


    "How did he... after everything, how did he still manage to..." Lucas gritted his teeth as he staggered to get up.


    He was beyond shocked to see that Aestrea had really killed the demon beast.


    ''I could also kill it... but he didn''t use any holy-type attack or weapon... he killed it with pure swordsmanship aura.''


    That was a level that Lucas had tried to pry into but couldn''t.


    At that moment, Aestrea turned slightly, his faint smile still in place. His crimson eyes glowed faintly under the moonlight, but his legs wobbled.


    "Ah... guess I overdid it a little¡­"


    THUD!


    He dropped to his knees, his sword clattering to the ground beside him. Blood pooled beneath him, staining the frost-covered earth.


    "Kaugh..."


    A mouthful of blood escaped his mouth as he clenched his chest with his hand.


    However, his efforts didn''t go to waste.


    ?Your Strength and Vitality attributes have been increased by 1.?


    After months, his attributes had finally increased.


    "Aestrea!"


    The group started approaching him, but unfortunately, Aestrea couldn''t exactly reply as his vision started getting blurrier.


    His eyelids slowly closed as lastly saw a hand reaching out to him.


    ...


    "Ugh..."


    The first thing I noticed when I woke up was the warmth.


    It wasn''t the kind of suffocating heat from a battlefield drenched in blood and flames, but a soft, soothing warmth that felt... quite comforting.


    The second thing I noticed was the ceiling. High, arched, and bathed in gentle colors from the sunlight filtering through stained glass windows.


    ''Am I inside the cathedral...?''


    I distinctly remember the ceiling when I was in the Saintess''s room.


    ''Wait...''


    Does this mean...? S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    My body ached all over as I tried to move, yet, I couldn''t.


    Something¡ªno, someone¡ªwas holding me down.


    Slowly, I tilted my head down.


    There she was, the Saintess, fast asleep on my legs.


    Her golden hair spilled across me like soft threads of sunlight, and her peaceful face seemed to glow under the dim sunbeams streaming through the windows.


    Her breathing was steady, her delicate features relaxed in a way that made her look almost unreal.


    ''Schei?e...''


    I froze, cursing silently unsure of how to process what I was seeing.


    "Mhm..."


    Her fingers twitched slightly, brushing against the blanket covering me. She sighed softly, snuggling closer as if she didn''t want to wake up.


    Okay, calm down, I told myself, taking a slow, deep breath. My heart was racing¡ªwhy the hell was my heart racing?


    I searched around the room for answers. The cathedral was silent, that kind of silence which is almost holy.


    A washbasin of water sat on the little table beside him, bandages folded nicely in them. There was an almost imperceptible comfortable aroma of herbs in the air.


    Someone had treated me which was obvious.


    After all, she was here.


    My gaze drifted back to her, still sleeping soundly on my legs.


    She looked so... peaceful.


    Her light, golden robes were slightly wrinkled, probably from staying here all night. The golden sunlight kissed her face, making her look like some kind of angel.


    ''Ah... this completely ruined my plans.''


    My hand ached as I reached over to her head, caressing softly her golden locks.


    "What am I supposed to do now?" I muttered to myself, as I took my hand away.


    Moving felt like an impossibility.


    My entire body screamed in protest, and the last thing I wanted was to wake her.


    So I slowly let my head fall against the wall behind me and looked up at the vaulted ceiling: the intricately carved and depicted scenes of angels and holy symbols seemed to mock me as if asking what someone like me was doing in a place like this.


    I couldn''t even remember how I got here.


    The last thing I remembered was when I used the third move of my sword art¡ª¡ºThird Move: Moonlight''s One Flash¡».


    In my entire life, I had only used it a little over twenty times, and the four remaining moves even fewer times than that.


    All of them needed a large amount of mana and I couldn''t hold that much of mana. At least for now, and that''s probably the reason the grade of the sword art is S???.


    I didn''t sharpen it enough to reveal its true rank.


    But then, an image popped up in my mind; the Bulking Demon cleaved in two, then a sharp pain in my chest.


    Everything else after that was fuzzy.


    ''I guess I really overdid it, huh...''


    "You''re awake."


    A soft voice suddenly broke through my thoughts.


    I looked down, startled.


    Christina''s eyes were half-open, their usual radiant pink dulled by sleep.


    She blinked a few times, as if trying to shake off the remnants of her dream, then sat up slowly, rubbing her eyes with the back of her hand.


    "Sorry, I didn''t want you to see me like this."


    Christina gave me a faint smile that contained a hint of warmth.


    "I didn''t mean to fall asleep like that."


    Hearing her words, I also smiled in response.


    "It''s alright, and I''m sorry."


    I bent down my head.


    "The Bulking Demon suddenly appeared and I couldn''t simply let the civilians die, so I didn''t act only mind an¡ª!"


    "¡ªit''s okay. I understand."


    I felt a delicate hand brushing itself against my cheek. I looked forward and saw the most beautiful smile that I had ever seen.


    Her head was tilted to the right, and her lips were slightly parted from each other, with the perfect features of her face being framed by the dim sunlight.


    "You did great."


    As if talking to a child, she said those words in a really soft tone that could probably melt any living being in the entire world.


    Time seemed to have stopped as we stared at each other''s eyes...


    "Ahh-hem!"


    A voice suddenly broke the time as we immediately retracted back from each other.


    "I''m sorry for disturbing you love birds, but the Saintess is needed." John with his sarcastic smile uttered with a small smile.


    "Ah... right."


    Christina stood up, holding the hems of her robe before leaving the room in a rush.


    Then, John sat down at the edge of the bed, giving me a wry smile.


    "Did I interrupt your special moment?"


    His voice came out in a teasing tone.


    "Yes."


    I didn''t have to deny it.


    The atmosphere from a few moments ago was just perfect for me to lean in and kiss her reddish-pink lips.


    "Hahahaa... I''m sorry, but the Saintess was really needed."


    "Mhm? Why?"


    I couldn''t help but ask in curiosity.


    "One of the patients was infected by the Dark Order''s curse."


    "What?"


    His words completely caught me off guard.

 Chapter 14 - 14: The Strongest Student And His Mischiefs (XIII)

    Dark Order.


    Hearing that name was enough to send a shiver down anyone''s spine.


    It was the main evil organization across the entire world. Basically, a cult that preferred chaos and destruction over peace.


    While most people followed the Heavenly God, the Dark Order sought the opposite.


    They devoted themselves to the Evil God, the being that once destroyed the world.


    Their methods were just as terrifying as their beliefs.


    I have seen several horrible scenes in the novel that spread the horror of the organization; they did not just kill, they destroyed people from the inside out.


    Their curses were a dark magic that clung to a person''s soul, spreading like poison. It wasn''t something regular healing magic could fix.


    Once the curse took hold, it was like watching someone slowly unravel, their body and mind breaking down piece by piece.


    But even so, they didn''t stop just with people.


    For example, the Dark Order''s power also affected the Bulking Demon''s power since he had that same ominous purple aura around him.


    That''s probably why the Saintess was so urgently needed.


    Her connection to the Heavenly God meant she could purify things that others couldn''t, and until one found a cure, she''d be the only one able to heal those patients.


    "By the way..."


    John snapped me out of my thoughts.


    "Huh? Yeah?"


    "You''ll need to stay here for a week or so."


    "I see..."


    Wait, what?


    As if expecting my delayed reaction, John let out a deep sigh as he reached out to my right arm and suddenly started inserting mana into my veins.


    "Hold still..."


    He muttered before I even had a chance to ask what he was doing.


    Suddenly, I felt a surge of mana flooding into my veins.


    "Gahh!"


    I let out a cry of pain.


    Pain exploded in my arm, sharp and searing. I clenched my teeth, trying not to yell again. My eyes darted to my arm, then to John''s face, wide with confusion and a little panic.


    "You fractured one of your mana channels."


    He explained in an extremely calm manner that was kind of annoying. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "It''ll take at least a week to heal properly. Normally, this would be a big problem, but with the Saintess here, it should be manageable."


    I nodded at his words, but despite that, I was still shocked.


    Fractured mana channel?


    That was bad.


    Really bad.


    Mana channels are like lifelines for a mage, and even though I''m a magic swordsman, it''s still one of my core points.


    Usually, a body contains a mana channel in each part of it. From head to toe, there are exactly fifteen total mana channels.


    They all are directed to a single part which is the heart. The heart is the one that absorbs mana and then spreads it through the mana channels.


    And all of that meant that I couldn''t transfer mana into my right arm.


    But how did I get such a gruesome injury?


    "Also... I suggest that you avoid fighting against anyone before the academy''s competition. When you were in a coma for three days, the Saintess did a whole body analysis."


    John then added.


    "Three days?"


    "Yeah. And she was definitely not happy. She was mad and shocked after seeing the state you were in. Most of your mana channels were at their limit because you kept forcing more mana than your capacity allows."


    Ah.


    It was at that moment that I knew how my mana channel fractured.


    I really shouldn''t have used the Moonlight''s One Flash move.


    "But don''t worry."


    He winked at me with a small and annoying smirk.


    "It could be worse."


    John patted my shoulder before waving his hand and getting out of the room, leaving me completely alone with my thoughts.


    Four days had already passed since I arrived at the capital, and if I needed to stay here for a whole week...


    That left me with just three days to prepare for the competition once I got out.


    "Fuuuuuuck..."


    I groaned, letting out a long yet tired curse.


    And since I was stuck here in the cathedral, I might as well train mana.


    Of course, using my left arm and not the right one.


    It was the only thing I could do.


    Train my mana control.


    ...


    The week had been painfully slow.


    And finally, today is the day I''d get out of here.


    I spent the whole week training my mana control and it improved a tiny bit, but other than that, nothing happened.


    Except for the part where my classmates immediately visited me after knowing that I was highly injured, especially my professor who only teased me once she got here.


    And... no one from Lucas''s party visited me.


    I save their asses, but they didn''t even thank me. Well, I guess I should be thankful that they brought mere here.


    Whatever.


    The only thing that I''m worried about is that slime girl that I left at home. I totally forgot about her, and when I remembered, I tried to sneak out but the Saintess caught me.


    "Ah... it''s done, your mana channel has been healed."


    Saintess Christina said softly, snapping me out of my thoughts as she pulled her glowing hand away from my arm.


    A gentle warmth lingered where her magic had been.


    She then looked at me as her reddish-pink lips parted.


    "You''ll be the exchange student this time, right?"


    Mhm?


    "How do you know about that?"


    I asked in confusion.


    Usually, the information about the student exchange program is only known to professors or the headmasters of the academy.


    There was no way she could''ve known unless¡ª


    "So, it''s true, huh?"


    Dammit.


    I realized too late that I''d walked right into her trap.


    As if to rub it in, she let out a soft giggle, the kind that somehow made you feel both annoyed and charmed at the same time.


    "I had a hunch initially, but now... I''m sure~"


    Damned sly fox.


    "You''re thinking something bad about me, aren''t you?"


    She quickly added, narrowing her eyes playfully.


    Fuck.


    "No, of course not."


    She just stared at me, tilting her head slightly. The way her eyes locked onto mine made it hard to tell if she was serious or just playing around.


    Either way, I didn''t dare push my luck.


    After a bit of teasing from the Saintess, I finally convinced her to drop the joke. She gave me one last smirk before waving me off.


    "Take care of yourself, Brother Aestrea".


    She said with a tone that felt half-mocking, half-genuine.


    I didn''t even bother responding. I just gave her a slight nod and quickly left the cathedral before she found another reason to mess with me.


    Then, I headed towards the hotel, though my mind kept circling back to the slime girl I''d left behind.


    She was probably fine¡ªslimes didn''t need to eat regularly, right?


    Right...?


    She didn''t eat any of my clothes, did she?


    When I finally reached the hotel and stood outside the door. I was deeply contemplating whether to open the door or not.


    "Ah..."


    Inserting the key into the keyhole, I twisted the handle.


    Then, I pushed the door open.


    Swoosh!


    Before I could even take a step inside, something small and fast launched itself at me like a missile.


    "Whoa¡ª!"


    I barely had any time to react before the squishy figure of the slime girl latched onto me. Her body, soft and cool to the touch, clung to mine like super glue.


    Her arms¡ªor what passed for arms¡ªwrapped tightly around my torso, and her big, glossy eyes shimmered as she looked up at me.


    The translucent green of her body had a faint, happy glow, like she was practically vibrating with joy.


    "Alright, alright, calm down..."


    I said, trying to get her off gently, though it was like trying to separate two pieces of Velcro.


    "Master..."


    She whined, puffing her cheeks¡ªor at least making them look puffed.


    "What now?"


    I replied with a sigh, carefully closing the door behind me as she clung to my torso like a limpet.


    With her clung to me, I walked towards my bed while looking around the room.


    Thankfully, nothing got damaged.


    Now back to her...


    "Ah..."


    Now wait a second...


    Did she just... talk?


    "You can talk?"


    I asked in a weird manner, as I tried to push her back. In response, she did the same tilting her head from days ago before nodding enthusiastically.


    "How?"


    I raised an eyebrow in confusion.


    She didn''t answer with words right away. Instead, she pointed at my left hand, specifically at the faint tattoo on my ring finger.


    The mark I got when I made the blood contract with the morph-weapon.


    After that, she pointed at her belly¡ªor what I assumed was her belly¡ªwhere a similar tattoo glowed faintly.


    "Don''t tell me... you and the morph-weapon can be considered as one?"


    "Mhm!"


    This time, she made a noise to indicate her agreement and clung back to me.


    Seeing this, I needed to test something...


    Poof!


    She suddenly disappeared from my view and I saw the tattoo on my finger glowing faintly.


    Then I tried to summon her again, but instead, the weapon appeared.


    "How do I..."


    Before I could finish my words, the gun that was initially in my hand turned into the slime girl.


    "Ah..."


    "Master is so fun to play with!"


    She said, giggling as she wrapped her gooey arms around me again.


    Of course.

 Chapter 15 - 15: The Strongest Student And His Mischiefs (XIV)

    The morning sunlight streamed through the curtains, bathing the hotel room in a soft glow. I sat cross-legged on the hotel''s bed, focusing on the mana flow in my right arm.


    It stings, but I needed to get used to this small pain. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    And I shouldn''t use Moonlight''s One Flash for at least a month or so. If I used it again, I could actually rupture this mana channel of mine.


    As for the slime girl...


    She was sprawled across the couch, her translucent form shimmering slightly in the light.


    She looked oddly peaceful as if she hadn''t spent the whole day clinging to me like her life depended on it.


    "Master..."


    The slime girl suddenly turned towards me and muttered in a soft tone.


    "Yeah?"


    "Name..."


    Ah, right.


    Until now I''ve been calling her slime girl.


    "Can''t you simply choose it yourself?"


    I asked as if started forming a ball made of mana and started increasing its concentration. This could help me improve my mana control because I needed to keep it at a certain concentration so the mana ball wouldn''t explode.


    "It has to be Master giving me one."


    "Ah... sure."


    As soon as I said those words, she perked up instantly, her jelly-like form bouncing slightly as she stared at me with wide, expectant eyes.


    Stella... nah.


    Kiara... it doesn''t seem to fit her.


    Ah, I know.


    "How about Lumi?"


    I suggested after a few moments. It felt fitting, given her glowing, semi-transparent form.


    "Lumi..."


    She repeated slowly, then broke into a delighted smile.


    "Lumi!"


    "Glad you like it..."


    I leaned against the headboard.


    The mana ball in my hand flickered slightly, and I steadied it again.


    Training was pretty much all I had to do for now.


    That, and wait.


    And not to mention that I have a useless system. I mean, if you''re going to give me a system, at least make it useful instead of just showing a status window.


    For that, I can use the academy''s evaluation stone to measure my power.


    [Ding...!]


    Huh?


    What was that?


    A faint, translucent blue window suddenly appeared in front of me, its edges glowing softly.


    [Compatibility Calibration has reached 100%.]


    [The special feature... "Book Reading" has been activated.]


    "Book Reading...?"


    I muttered, my eyebrows furrowed.


    And before I could make sense of it¡ª


    ¡ªSWOOSH!


    The blue system window faded into nothingness as my surroundings changed in a flash.


    "Ah¡ª!"


    My vision blurred, and when it cleared, I was no longer in the hotel room.


    I stood right in the middle of a dense forest, with tall trees stretching up high, which seemed not to allow enough sunlight to break through.


    Their twisted roots sprawled across the dirty ground, making it hard to move without stumbling.


    A faint mist hung in the air, growing thicker the farther it stretched, and I could hear the distant sound of rushing water.


    "This...?"


    "Where am I?"


    The ground was a mess of broken branches and scorched patches of earth. The smell of burned wood was strong, mixed with something sharp and metallic.


    Blood.


    It was definitely blood...


    Clang!


    The clash of metal jolted me, snapping me out of my thoughts.


    My eyes darted around and then I saw them¡ªshadows slipping between the trees, with their red eyes glowing like flames in the ominous mist.


    A low growl rumbled somewhere ahead, followed by the grating sound of claws dragging across the ground.


    I immediately gripped my sword tightly, I didn''t even remember how it was in my hand, but I made sure to prepare myself for anything.


    The air felt heavy like something dangerous was watching over me.


    Something big.


    Until...


    They stepped into the open.


    One by one, demon beasts emerged from the shadows.


    I couldn''t exactly see their "faces", but...


    They were huge, at least five times my height, with jagged black fur and eyes that burned sharply.


    Their fangs gleamed, sharp and deadly, and their claws¡ªcoated in a sickly green venom¡ªscratched the ground as they moved closer.


    "High-ranking demon beasts..."


    And they weren''t only a handful.


    There were at least tens of them, possibly even hundreds.


    But then, an even bigger one came out. I couldn''t really see its form, but from the aura he was emitting, it was definitely a named demon beast.


    The only thing I could see was its horns that curled back from its head, and just as he took a step, it shook the earth beneath me.


    I took a small step back...


    And then glanced around, the trees formed a rough circle with their roots acting like natural walls.


    And behind me, was the river that I heard earlier.


    RAAAARGH!


    The beasts started crawling towards me, and their heavy bodies shook the ground at every movement.


    This was bad.


    Really bad.


    My hand gripped the hilt of my sword even more tightly than before. I started gathering mana around my body...


    But surprisingly...


    I couldn''t.


    I couldn''t manifest an ounce of mana.


    ''Shit.''


    Swish!


    The named demon beast suddenly lunged forward as its claws ripped through the earth.


    And in just a matter of seconds, it appeared right in front of me, raising its claw, aiming at my chest.


    Time seemed to slow as I raised my sword, ready to protect against the attack, but then¡ª


    SWOOSH!


    "GAH!"


    I gasped, my body jerking back to reality.


    The hotel room came back into view, and I found myself sitting on the bed, drenched in sweat.


    My chest heaved, and my hands trembled as I struggled to steady my breathing.


    What... was that?


    "Master?!"


    I heard Lumi''s concerned voice as she wobbled over to me.


    "I''m... a-alright, hah..."


    I muttered though the pounding of my heart and the sweat dripping down my forehead told a completely different story.


    At that moment, I caught the faint glow of the system window lingering in the corner of my vision.


    [The feature "Book Reading" has been disabled.]


    [You have glimpsed at a potential outcome.]


    A potential outcome?


    Does that mean... there''s a chance of that scene happening?


    If that''s true...


    Fuck.


    That''s going to be a very large problem.


    My chest sank.


    If hordes of high-ranking demon beasts really appeared in the capital, it''s not just my problem¡ªit''s a disaster waiting to happen. I need to quickly contact the Sword Circle or the Holy Nation.


    Without thinking, I jumped out of bed, startling Lumi.


    "Master?"


    She asked, her head tilting in confusion as her form wobbled slightly.


    "I need to check something."


    I muttered the words quickly, grabbing for my student ID.


    It was the fastest way to contact my professor¡ªor anyone from the Sword Circle or the Holy Nation.


    However, before I could activate the ID, another interface appeared right in front of me, stopping me in my actions.


    [Aestrea.]


    "What...?"


    My eyes blinked in discomfort as I saw the system''s notification with my name.


    [Think well before you act.]


    [It showed you a potential outcome, not exactly the future.]


    [All actions lead to something.]


    [You just need to figure out what leads to "that".]


    [If the problem is successfully resolved, you''ll be granted a reward for your heroic actions.]


    [If not... there might be a disaster.]


    [Good luck.]


    [You''ll need it.]


    I froze at the horde of notifications.


    A potential outcome.


    Not guaranteed to happen, but not impossible either.


    "Fuu..."


    I let out a shaky breath and slowly sat back on the bed. Lumi, still perched on the couch, watched me with her wide, curious eyes, though she didn''t say anything.Dammit."


    Figure out what leads to that...


    "It sounded easier said than done. But what exactly could cause a horde of high-ranking demon beasts?"


    The Dark Order?


    If so...


    How could I exactly prevent this without warning the Dark Order of my actions?


    "Fuuuuuck..."


    It seems that I''ll need to be extra careful during the academy''s competition.


    "Fuck?" Lumi muttered aloud.


    Huh?


    "Fuck... fuck... fuck..."


    She started repeating those words, it looked cute with her soft innocent voice, but... the word she was saying...


    Gosh.


    Give me a break.

 Chapter 16 - 16: Interlude: Between A Student And A Professor (I)

    The morning breeze filtered through the open window, carrying the faint scent of flowers from the garden below.


    I leaned against the small table in my hotel room, staring at the system message still faintly glowing in my vision.


    "Think well before you act."


    What''s up with those cryptic messages?


    When I read novels, I always found these kind of messages annoying. Couldn''t you simply tell the main protagonist directly instead of pulling it around?


    "I should speak with my professor; after all, she is still one of the informants in the capital." I sighed, running a hand through my hand.


    The first thought that came to mind when I saw the message was Professor Vivian. She has a pretty high status in the capital, being one of the most ''popular'' informants.


    If I''m not entirely wrong, she was once the head of the Capital''s Intelligence Network, however, she did quit, don''t know why.


    Yeah, I should pay her a visit.


    "Lumi?"


    "Mhm~?"


    She stirred, her slimy body stretching lazily.


    "I''m heading out for a bit, alright?"


    Swoosh!


    As soon as those words left my mouth, a missile came directly at me, wrapping her legs around my waist and her arms around my neck.


    "Nooo...!"


    Lumi spoke in a muffled and reluctant tone, and as if expressing herself, her body wrapped even more tightly around me, coiling like a snake.


    "Lumi... This time, I''ll come back soon." I tapped her head a few times.


    It took a few seconds, but then, she finally looked up at me.


    "Promise...?"


    Her sparkling eyes stared right into mine


    "Promise."


    I nodded at her words, smiling softly at her.


    "Fine..."


    She unwrapped herself around me and went back to the sofa. She was somehow obsessed with the sofa, all she was doing was staring at the ceiling while sprawled on the sofa.


    I grabbed my coat and stepped out into the hallway before saying goodbye to Lumi.


    Which... she did not reply to me.


    ''She must be irritated that I didn''t spend much time with her. I should get her a small gift, but what exactly do slimes like?''


    Anyways...


    Professor Vivian''s room was a few floors up in the same hotel.


    It wasn''t unusual for instructors to be in the same hotel or even floor, because if there was an emergency the professors could act fast.


    So, I went to the elevator and tapped the last floor button.


    Gosh, she really needed to be extravagant. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It took a few minutes, and I was lucky enough not to meet anyone on the way up.


    Then as the elevator opened, I walked down the hallway until I stood in front of her door before pressing the doorbell.


    A soft chime rang from inside.


    Moments later, the door opened, and there she was¡ªProfessor Vivian.


    Her long, silky red hair cascaded over her shoulders, glowing faintly in the light from the hallway. She wore a fitted blouse that accentuated her figure, paired with a high-waisted pencil skirt that hugged her curves.


    Her emerald-green tie rested neatly against her chest, with a name tag pinned to it. And surprisingly, she was wearing glasses.


    "Aestrea?"


    Her eyes seemed to have widened slightly in surprise, but a delighted smile quickly spreaded across her face.


    "Well, this is a pleasant surprise! Come in."


    She stepped aside, her hair swaying gently as she gestured for me to enter.


    "Thank you."


    I replied softly, entering her room.


    Her suite was much larger and cozier than mine. The living room had plush furniture arranged neatly around a small coffee table.


    A faint scent of jasmine lingered in the air, and soft sunlight streamed in through the half-drawn curtains, giving the space a warm, relaxing atmosphere.


    "Make yourself comfortable," she said, motioning to the couch.


    "I''ll make us some tea."


    She walked towards the kitchen area with small steps, so I sat on the sofa, leaning back slightly as I took a deeper look at her room.


    The space was immaculately organized, with a few books stacked neatly on the side table and a vase of fresh flowers on the windowsill.


    "It fits her."


    After a while, Vivian returned shortly, carrying a tray with two steaming cups of tea. She placed it on the coffee table and handed me a cup with a small smile.


    "Here you go," she said, sitting down across from me.


    She smoothed out her skirt and crossed her legs elegantly, the sunlight streaming in through the window catching the glossy red strands of her hair.


    Then she leaned forward slightly, resting her elbows on her knees as her smile widened.


    "It''s been a while since we''ve had a chance to talk. What brings you here, my dear Star Student?"


    Her voice carried a playful warmth, but the way she emphasized the last two words made me feel like she was teasing me.


    I stared into the swirling tea before taking a small sip. Then, I met her eyes as I put the tea back on the coffee table.


    "I need some help."


    Hearing my words, Vivian''s smile faltered for a moment.


    "I see...," she said softly, leaning back into the sofa.


    She crossed her legs again, her expression shifting into something more serious as she took a sip of her own tea.


    There was a brief pause, and then her gaze locked onto mine. Her voice was cooler this time, almost detached, as she asked:


    "Are you currently asking for Vivian or Professor Vivian?"


    "Vivian."


    "Very well."


    She raised an eyebrow, then nodded slowly.


    She reached up and removed her glasses, placing them neatly on the side table.


    The simple act seemed to strip away the professional barrier between us.


    She adjusted her posture slightly, crossing her legs the other way and resting one arm on the back of the sofa.


    "What exactly do you need?"


    "Information about every kind of demon that has been encountered in the capital." I went straight to the point.


    Tap... tap...


    As soon as she heard my words, her fingers started tapping lightly against her arm as she crossed them, her expression shifting into something more thoughtful.


    Her gaze lingered on me for a few moments, and her expression softened slightly.


    "May I ask the reason?"


    "I need Demon Beast''s Cores," I replied quickly, too quickly if you ask me.


    But it was all to make sure she didn''t suspect that I would be lying to her. Unlike the Saintess, Professor Vivian didn''t seem to have a special lie-detection ability.


    For a moment, she simply sat there, tapping her arm as her gaze grew distant. Then, with a small sigh, she uncrossed her legs and leaned forward again, resting her chin on her hand.


    "You''re not exactly giving me much to go on..." she let out a small sigh.


    "But if it''s Cores you''re after, the type of demon makes all the difference. There are low-level demons scattered around, but if you''re targeting something stronger¡­"


    She trailed off, her golden eyes staring deeply into mine.


    "Ahh... I really like that calm expression of yours."


    Vivian smiled lightly, before getting up from the sofa.


    "I''ll go and get the documents, I''ve been searching about myself."


    And just a few moments later, Vivian returned from her shelf with a slim notebook in hand, her lips curved into a faint smile.


    She sat back down across from me, flipping through the pages as her fingers delicately brushed over the handwritten notes.


    "Alright," she said, glancing up at me.


    "I''ve got plenty of information about the demon activity in the capital. But..."


    She trailed off as her eyes glinted mischievously.


    "But?"


    She closed the notebook with a soft thud and leaned forward, resting her chin on her palm. Her expression turned teasing, her lips curling into a playful smile.


    "But I''m not just going to hand it over for free."


    "That''s obvious."


    I nodded in response.


    Even if she was my professor, now I was talking with "Vivian" and not "Professor Vivian", if I wanted information, I needed to give something in return.


    Crossing my arms, I finally asked:


    "What exactly do you want?"


    At my words, Vivian''s smile widened, and she tapped a finger against her chin as if she were pondering something.


    Then, she leaned back, crossing her legs again.


    "A date."


    "A date...?" I repeated her words in a surprised tone.


    Was she joking or something?


    I don''t get it.


    But then, her next words confirmed my thoughts.


    "Exactly, a date between only us two. A proper one. Dinner, maybe a walk¡ªwhatever strikes our fancy. What do you say?" She tilted her head slightly as though it were the most natural thing in the world.


    I opened my mouth to respond, but no words came out.


    Was she serious?


    I couldn''t tell if this was one of her jokes or if she was genuinely asking.


    "Are you joking?"


    I couldn''t help but finally ask.


    She shook her head, her smile never faltering.


    "I''m completely serious. If you want this notebook, that''s my only condition. One date. Think of it as... an exchange of favors."


    "You''re my professor, though..."


    "Outside the academy, I''m just Vivian."


    She said smoothly, brushing a strand of her red hair behind her ear.


    "And don''t overthink it. It''s just one little date. Surely that''s not too much to ask, is it?"


    Sigh...


    "You really won''t give me the information unless I agree, will you?"


    "Bingo." she smiled.


    There was a moment of silence as I considered my options.


    On one hand, this felt... awkward, to say the least.


    But on the other hand, I needed that information


    "Sure, one date."


    Vivian''s smile grew, and there was a mischievous glint in her eyes.


    "I''ll hold you to that."


    She handed me the notebook, her fingers brushing against mine for a brief moment.


    "Here. This should give you what you need. And don''t forget¡ªthis means you owe me some quality time."


    I took the notebook, flipping it open briefly to glance at the notes.


    It was packed with details¡ªlocations, types of demons, and even a few theories on their patterns of behavior.


    This was exactly what I needed.


    "Thanks."


    "Don''t thank me yet," she said, standing up and smoothing her skirt.


    "I''ll be expecting you to deliver on your promise. Let''s say... tomorrow evening?"


    "Tomorrow?"


    "Yes, tomorrow," she said, her smile turning playful again.


    "I''ll text you the details. Now, off you go. I''ve got to prepare for our date."


    Before I could respond, she was already ushering me toward the door with a cheerful tone.


    As I stepped out into the hallway, notebook in hand, I couldn''t help but feel like I had just been dragged into something far more complicated than I anticipated.


    Still, a promise was a promise.


    And as the door clicked shut behind me, one thought remained in my mind:


    What have I gotten myself into this time?

 Chapter 17 - 17: Interlude: Between A Student And A Professor (II)

    "Damn..."


    "Why am I so nervous?"


    I muttered to myself.


    I wasn''t usually the type to fuss over my appearance, but this time felt... different.


    A date with Professor Vivian wasn''t exactly something I''d ever imagined.


    And yet here I was, dressing up for it.


    I wore a clean white dress shirt, paired with a black vest that hugged my torso just right.


    Over it, I threw on a navy blue coat, sharp and tailored, with silver buttons that ran down the side.


    My pants were dark, neatly ironed, and went perfectly with the polished black boots I''d slipped on earlier.


    "Is this too formal?"


    I couldn''t help but ask myself, turning around to check how the outfit fit from the back.


    I didn''t go on many dates honestly, and always wore what my assistant thought was fit for the occasion.


    "Lumi? How do I look?"


    From the couch, Lumi perked up. Her translucent green form rippled slightly as she hopped off and floated toward me.


    She stopped right beside me, her round eyes scanning me up and down.


    After a moment of silence, she let out an approving hum.


    "Master looks divine!"


    Lumi uttered with a big smile.


    I only chuckled at her words, taking one last glance at the mirror.


    My silver-bluish hair was neatly combed, and styled with a classic slickback, with a few strands falling on my eyes.


    Those looked quite messy, but yeah, I had already lost too much time.


    "Then, I''ll be going now, Lumi."


    I spoke to her, picking up my coat.


    Lumi waved as I grabbed the room key and left the hotel.


    The streets of the capital were still alive despite being quite late.


    Lanterns began to flicker on as the sunlight faded, and the city''s main street was filled with people finishing up their shopping or heading out to eat dinner.


    The air was cool, carrying the faint scent of baked bread and flowers from the nearby stalls.


    And surprisingly, I was getting quite the looks from the ladies around.


    Too many looks if you asked me.


    Besides, this silver bluish hair of mine is probably unique and Aestrea is already naturally handsome, so this seems quite natural.


    "Vivian told me to meet her on the fountain of the main street..."


    "Oh! Found it."


    I spotted the stone fountain at the center of the main street. The soft sound of running water reached my ears as I approached.


    And besides the fountain, there she was.


    Staying beside the fountain with her red hair catching the light of the lanterns like a cascade of fire.


    My steps faltered for a brief second as my eyes took her in.


    Vivian was dressed in an elegant black evening gown that hugged her figure perfectly.


    The gown''s off-shoulder design revealed her collarbones and a slit on the side of the dress ran up to her knee, showing just enough of her smooth, pale skin.


    A thin silver necklace rested around her neck, shimmering faintly as it caught the light.


    Her heels clicked softly against the stone as she shifted her weight, her eyes scanning the crowd before locking onto me.


    A soft smile appeared on her lips as she stood up straight.


    Damn...


    She looked absolutely stunning.


    Gorgeous, even.


    There really was no other word for it.


    Vivian must have noticed the slight pause in my step because she turned her head, with her golden eyes locking onto mine.


    A teasing smile immediately crept across her face as she tilted her head ever so slightly.


    "Did I leave you speechless already, my dear Aestrea?"


    This woman...


    I cleared my throat, forcing my expression to remain calm as I walked the rest of the way toward her.


    "You look... amazing."


    I smiled faintly, even tracing her whole body with my eyes, to emphasize my words.


    Vivian''s lips curled into a pleased smile upon hearing my words.


    "Mhm, certainly! I spent a few hours getting ready."


    Her voice was playful, but then her smile shifted into something far more mischievous. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Leaning forward slightly, she added with a sly glint in her eyes.


    "Just for you, my dear Aestrea~"


    She winked.


    And before I could say anything, she continued, taking a step closer, her heels making soft click-clack sounds on the pavement.


    "And you look quite dashing yourself, my dear student," she said smoothly, her eyes flicking over my outfit.


    "I didn''t expect you to clean up so well."


    "Thank you."


    "Mhmm...!"


    After hearing my blunt response, her cheeks puffed a bit before breaking into a small smile.


    "Shall we go?"


    "Lead away."


    Vivian slipped her arm through mine before I could react, catching me off guard.


    She looked up at me with a sly smile.


    "What? Isn''t this what people do on dates?"


    "Sure, do you want me to hold your waist?"


    "We''re not there... yet." she shot back with a playful grin, shaking her head lightly.


    Her words lingered for a second, but I was already used to her teasing me, so I matched her small smile as we began walking down the lively street.


    "And where exactly are we going?"


    I asked after a while, which made her turn her gaze to me.


    "That''s for me to decide."


    She brushed her hand against my arm slightly, catching my attention,


    "Don''t worry. I''ve got the perfect place in mind."


    *Wink, wink*


    I gave her a sideways glance.


    "You planned this out?"


    To my words, she smirked as her chest puffed out.


    "Of course!"


    "A date with my star student deserves some effort, don''t you think?"


    I stared at her for a moment, unsure of how to respond.


    After a pause, I gave her a small nod.


    "I suppose so."


    Vivian laughed softly at my lackluster response as her fingers brushed against my arm again as if to tease me further.


    Mhm?


    The scent of freshly baked pastries, grilled meats, and sweet drinks suddenly reached out to my nostrils, and it seemed to have reached Vivian''s too.


    "Do you smell that?" Vivian suddenly asked, her eyes lighting up as her head turned toward a nearby food stall.


    Yeah, it really reached her.


    I glanced over and noticed the vendor flipping what looked like small, round cakes on a sizzling grill.


    The sweet, buttery smell wafted over to us, and Vivian tugged me in that direction before I could utter a single word.


    "These are moon cakes," the vendor said with a cheerful grin when we approached.


    "Perfect for an evening stroll. Soft, sweet, and warm¡­ just like love, don''t you think?"


    He gave us a playful wink.


    Gosh.


    I guess we do kinda look like a couple.


    "How romantic... don''t you think so, Aestrea?" She laughed, before then looking at me with a teasing gaze.


    "I think you''re just hungry."


    I replied flatly, though I couldn''t stop the slight smirk tugging at my lips.


    She turned back to the vendor, ignoring my comment.


    "Two, please."


    "Coming right up!"


    While the vendor prepared the cakes, Vivian turned her attention to me, her arm still looped through mine.


    "You''re no fun, you know that?"


    "I''m plenty of fun," I replied, raising an eyebrow.


    "I just don''t see the need to pretend food is poetry."


    Besides, you''ll probably make me pay for these cakes.


    "Food is poetry if you enjoy it enough," she shot back with a small grin.


    "But don''t worry¡ªI''ll teach you to appreciate the finer things in life. You can start by paying for these cakes."


    I knew it.


    "So that was your plan?" I asked, making a look of betrayal as I handed the vendor a few coins, and also telling him to keep the change.


    "I get lured out on a date, and now I''m the one paying?"


    "Oh, don''t be so dramatic."


    Vivian smiled as she took the warm cake from the vendor, handing one to me.


    "Thank you, sir!" she said politely before turning back to me.


    "See? It''s worth it."


    I shook my head but took a bite of the cake anyway. It was soft, warm, and sweet with a slight honeyed flavor.


    I had to admit¡­ it was pretty good.


    "Not bad, right?" Vivian asked, looking at me with a victorious grin.


    "Sure."


    "I knew it!" she laughed sweetly.


    "But, let''s keep walking. I don''t want us to be late for dinner."


    "You made a reservation? It must be pretty fancy."


    "You know it~"


    By the time we reached the restaurant, the street had grown quieter, though the charm of the capital remained.


    The place Vivian had chosen was tucked away at the corner of a cobbled square, its golden lights shining warmly through tall glass windows.


    A few tables had been set outside under the soft glow of lanterns, where couples laughed quietly over plates of food.


    The smell of herbs, roasted meats, and fine wine lingered in the air.


    "It really is fancy."


    "Only the best for my dear Aestrea"


    She teased me once again, giving me yet another wink as we were shown to a table near the window.


    The inside of the restaurant was warm and elegant, with soft music playing in the background.


    Candles flickered gently at each table, and the soft hum of conversation created a comfortable atmosphere.


    As we sat down, Vivian looked across at me with a pleased smile splattered on her gorgeous face.


    "What?"


    "Oh, nothing..." She rested her head on her chin, looking at me with those shiny golden eyes.


    "I''m just enjoying the fact that my star student is on a date with me. It''s cute."


    "You''re strangely smug about this."


    I replied back, leaning against the chair.


    It was quite comfy.


    ''I should get one of these.''


    I noted in the back of my mind.


    "Of course I am! I worked hard for this, you know." She waved a hand dramatically before picking up the menu.


    "Now, what do you feel like eating?"


    "You''re actually letting me choose?" I raised an eyebrow.


    "Well no. I was just being polite."


    She smiled back before calling the waiter.


    This woman...


    After a few minutes, the food arrived soon after¡ªroasted meats glazed with spices, soft bread fresh from the oven, and bowls of fragrant soup.


    We started eating, and Vivian immediately started the conversation which soon led to her experiences teaching students.


    "And then he accidentally summoned a water spirit in the middle of class," Vivian was saying as she took a sip of her wine, taking breaks to let out a small laugh.


    "The entire classroom was soaked within minutes. I swear I''ll never forget the look on his face¡ªcompletely drenched but still trying to act like it was intentional."


    "Sounds like your students are a handful," I replied with a small smile.


    If that happened with any of my classmates we''d probably laugh out loud, but in the end, I would buy him or her a meal.


    "Oh, they are. But they''re good kids¡­ just like you." she smiled playfully.


    "Ah, really? Then should I consider you a predator for taking a kid on a date?" I replied back with an even wider smile.


    "You''re man enough for that." she avoided my gaze for a while.


    But soon enough, she started laughing as I did the same.


    We were having fun.


    Unfortunately, that fun was about to come to an end.


    We left the restaurant about an hour later, the night now fully settled over the capital.


    The streets had grown quieter, with only a few people wandering here and there.


    Vivian slipped her arm through mine again as we walked, her heels clicking softly on the stone pavement.


    "I told you I had the perfect place in mind."


    She smiled proudly.


    "Yeah, the food really was good."


    I smiled faintly, feeling the soft moonlight glowing on my face.


    Surprisingly, after seeing my smile, Vivian seemed to have frozen, her lips were slightly parted from each other as she stared deep into my eyes.


    Click...


    She took a step forward as her arm slipped away from mine, and reached out to the direction of my neck...


    This...


    I gulped down.


    Wait.


    Why does this look familiar?


    Tap, tap, tap...!


    The moment was broken by the sound of hurried footsteps.


    Of course...!


    Who the fuck ruined the kiss scene this time?!


    I glanced to the side and saw a group of men stepping out from the shadows of an alleyway.


    There were four of them, all wearing rough clothes and carrying poorly hidden knives. The man in front grinned wickedly, his eyes darting between Vivian and me.


    This guy... he''s a D-rank user, and thinks he can assault us?


    "Well, what do we have here?" he sneered arrogantly.


    "A couple out for a fancy night, huh? Looks like you''ve got plenty to spare. Why don''t you hand over your wallet and make this easy?"


    After hearing his words, my hand twitched toward where I normally kept my sword¡ªthough I hadn''t brought it with me tonight.


    Well, I guess I''ll need to beat him up instead of cutting him.


    But, before I could do anything, Vivian let out a soft sigh from behind me.


    "Really?" she muttered with a disappointed tone.


    In the next second, everything happened at once.


    Swish!


    Vivian stepped forward, raised her hand¡ªand with a quick flick of her wrist, an invisible force erupted from her fingertips.


    The robbers didn''t stand a chance.


    Crash!


    All four of them were sent flying backward as though struck by a hurricane, crashing into barrels and crates with pained yelps.


    The leader''s knife clattered uselessly to the ground as he groaned, sprawled out in a heap.


    I turned to Vivian, my mouth slightly open.


    She dusted off her hands with a satisfied smile and turned to me, having the most innocent expression ever on her face.


    "Where were we?"


    My lips twitched upon seeing her face.


    It''s no surprise that her prestigious title is...


    Red Devil.

 Chapter 18 - 18: Interlude: Between A Student And A Professor (III)

    Upon saying those words, Vivian''s lips curved into a playful smile as she tip-toed closer, her soft hands resting on my shoulders.


    Her head tilted naturally, and she leaned in, closing the distance between us.


    Her golden eyes glowed faintly under the soft moonlight, filled with amusement¡ªand something else I couldn''t quite place.


    For a moment, time seemed to slow, and all I could hear was the faint sound of my heartbeat pounding in my ears.


    Her face was so close now, her warm breath brushing against my cheek, and I could feel the atmosphere shift slightly.


    The teasing look in her eyes softened into something gentler, and my face instinctively grew warm.


    She was really going to do it.


    Vivian was actually going to kiss me.


    And yet...


    The mood was already ruined.


    Not to mention...


    I couldn''t ignore the thought of someone spotting us.


    The professor¡ªmy professor¡ªand me, her student, sharing a kiss in the middle of the capital''s main street?


    Just imagining the rumors that would spread made my head hurt.


    But the way she looked at me¡­ the faint glow in her golden eyes, the gentle curve of her lips, the warmth radiating from her¡ªit made it impossible to think clearly.


    Before things could escalate, I did the only thing I could think of.


    I gently but firmly placed my hands on her shoulders and pushed her back just enough to create some distance between us.


    "What are you¡ª?" Vivian blinked at me, startled, her playful expression faltering for a moment.


    Ah.


    Who am I kidding?


    From the tip of my fingers, a flow of mana was injected into the ground, raising an invisible barrier around us.


    It wasn''t a high-level barrier, but enough to make sure people wouldn''t pry into us.


    "Uh...?"


    Vivian''s brows furrowed slightly in confusion, but before she could question me, I acted again.


    Sliding my hands down to her slender waist, I pulled her closer.


    Rustle.


    The soft fabric of her dress brushed against my fingers as she stumbled forward, her body pressing lightly against mine.


    Her lips parted in surprise, but I didn''t hesitate.


    I leaned in, closing the distance, and pressed my lips to hers.


    Mmh~!


    The faintest sound escaped her, a soft noise of surprise and delight.


    Her lips were warm, soft, and tasted faintly sweet, like honey and the faint bitterness of wine.


    "Ahmn..."


    For a heartbeat, she tensed against me as her breath hitched audibly.


    Then she melted into me.


    Her hands slid up from my shoulders, fingertips brushing against my neck before settling into my hair.


    Her luscious red lips pressed back against mine, and I could directly feel her smile¡ªplayful, teasing, yet impossibly soft. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Chuu~, smack, smack~


    The sound of our lips meeting and parting filled the quiet space of the barrier, mingling with the faint flowing sound of magic in the air.


    Vivian tilted her head slightly, deepening the kiss.


    Her breath mingled with mine, warm and uneven, and the sensation sent a shiver down my spine.


    My hands tightened on her waist instinctively, pulling her closer until there was no space left between us.


    She shifted against me, her lips moving body as her fingers tangled in my hair, tugging lightly as if to pull me even closer.


    Mmph...!


    A soft, breathy sound escaped her, and the warmth of it against my skin left me utterly undone.


    The kiss deepened naturally, growing bolder with every passing second.


    Her lips parted slightly, and I followed instinctively, the faint brush of her tongue against mine sending a jolt of heat through me.


    Shlick~


    The faint, wet sound of the kiss was intoxicating, amplified by the quiet that surrounded us.


    Her hands slid down to my chest, her fingers curling into the fabric of my shirt. With a soft rustle, she pushed me gently back, guiding me until my back pressed against the barrier.


    "Ah¡­"


    I let out a quiet gasp as the coldness of the barrier met my skin, but Vivian didn''t give me time to recover.


    She leaned in again, capturing my lips with a fierceness that made me lose my breath.


    Smack, churuu... chuu~~


    The sounds of our kiss grew louder, more urgent, as her body pressed fully against mine.


    Her lips left mine briefly, trailing soft, lingering kisses along my jawline.


    Nnh, churup~!


    I couldn''t stop the faint sound that escaped me as her lips brushed the sensitive spot just below my ear.


    "Professor... I guess you really are a predator..."


    Hearing my words, Vivian chuckled softly.


    "You only noticed that now?"


    And immediately, her lips returned to mine.


    Her body pressed closer, her curves molding perfectly against mine.


    Mmph!


    Her breath hitched again, her hands sliding down my chest before wrapping lightly around my waist.


    The faint sound of her humming in contentment as she kissed me made my chest tighten.


    Smack, mmph, shlick~~


    But unfortunately, as much as I wanted to continue kissing her, I had promised Lumi that I''d get back before midnight.


    "Gah..."


    Our lips parted away, leaving a small bridge of saliva between them. Her lust-filled eyes met mine as her hands slowly reached into my shirt and started unbuttoning it.


    "Vivian, let''s stop now."


    Instead of slapping her hand away or something like that, I decided to be direct.


    Her hand that was unbuttoning my shirt paused slightly before it was retracted. Her lustful smile had also faltered a lot as she kept her head low.


    "Why... Do you not like me after all this?"


    "Mhm? Did you say anything?"


    I was so focused on her actions that I didn''t catch her words.


    "Nothing!"


    Her eyes finally met mine as a soft smile splattered over her face. Then, she stepped back over to me, slipping her arm through mine once more before I could protest.


    But this time, none of us said anything.


    We started walking again, our pace was slow as we made our way back toward the more crowded parts of the capital.


    The streets were still quiet, but the lanterns burned warmly overhead, casting long shadows behind us.


    The night was calm, the air cool, and the earlier commotion or our hot moment felt like it had happened a lifetime ago.


    "Hey..."


    Vivian said softly, breaking the silence.


    Her voice was unusually gentle, almost hesitant.


    "Yeah?"


    "Did you have fun tonight?"


    I turned my head slightly, looking down at her.


    She wasn''t teasing this time.


    Her expression was sincere, her golden eyes watching me carefully as if waiting for my answer.


    I paused for a moment, but then quickly smiled.


    "Yeah, I definitely did."


    Vivian''s lips curved into a genuine smile.


    "Good."


    We walked in silence for a little longer, the quiet night settling comfortably between us.


    I didn''t mind it, though.


    For all her teasing, Vivian''s presence was¡­ easy.


    Warm, even.


    Eventually, she broke the quiet again.


    "Next time, though¡­"


    "Next time?"


    She grinned, back to her usual self.


    "Of course! You don''t think this is going to be our only date, do you?"


    "You''re already planning another?"


    "Naturally. A lady like me requires several dates to feel satisfied."


    "You''re unbelievable," I said again, though I couldn''t stop myself from smiling.


    Vivian only winked in response, her arm holding mine a little tighter as we continued walking through the moonlit streets of the capital.


    Somehow, I had a feeling this wouldn''t be the last time I let her drag me into something like this.


    And soon enough, we reached the hotel.


    As we reached the front of the hotel, Vivian let go of my arm, her usual playful smile returning as she turned to face me.


    "Well, here we are."


    Vivian spoke, brushing a strand of her red hair behind her ear.


    "Yeah. Tonight was really... fun." I licked my lips, emphasizing the last part.


    "Fun, huh? I''ll take that as a compliment," she teased, her golden eyes glinting under the warm glow of the lanterns.


    There was a pause, and I scratched the back of my neck, feeling a bit awkward now that the night was ending.


    Then, a thought crossed my mind.


    "Hey, Vivian?"


    "Mhm?" she tilted her head with a curious gaze.


    "What do slimes like?"


    Vivian blinked, caught off guard by the sudden question.


    "Slimes?"


    I nodded.


    She tapped her chin, pretending to think for a moment before responding swiftly.


    "Sweet things. Like sugar cubes. Or honey."


    Her answer came so quickly, so confidently, that I couldn''t help but chuckle.


    Without thinking, I leaned in and gave her a quick peck on the lips.


    Smack!


    Her eyes widened in shock, and for a moment, she stood there completely frozen. I stepped back, grinning as I waved over my shoulder.


    "Thanks. Have a good night, Vivian!"


    I turned and jogged into the hotel, leaving her standing there in stunned silence.


    "¡­What just happened?" she mumbled to herself, her hand brushing her lips.


    A moment later, the realization hit her, and her face turned bright red.


    "H-he caught me off guard!" she whispered, her voice rising slightly with embarrassment and disbelief.


    "He¡ª!"


    Vivian''s legs wobbled, and she staggered slightly before catching herself, her lips twitching between a pout and a smile.


    "Unbelievable¡­ That little¡ª!"


    Meanwhile, inside the hotel, I wasted no time. I went straight to a nearby vending machine and grabbed a small jar of honey and some sugar cubes.


    Then, I hurried up the stairs to my room.


    The moment I opened the door, Lumi came flying at me.


    Whoosh!


    "Master!"


    She squealed softly, her small slime body glowing faintly as she launched herself into my arms.


    "Kugh¡ª! Lumi!"


    I caught her, stumbling slightly from the impact.


    She giggled, her voice high and bubbly.


    "You''re back! I missed you!"


    "Yeah, yeah, I''m back."


    I replied, patting her squishy surface.


    "And guess what I got for you?"


    As soon as she heard my words, her eyes widened, sparkling with excitement.


    "For me? What is it? What is it?!"


    I held up the jar of honey and the sugar cubes, and Lumi''s entire body jiggled with joy.


    "Yay! Sweets!"


    She immediately tried to grab the jar, but I held it just out of reach.


    "Hold on, Lumi. Let''s get you settled first," I said, setting her down on the table.


    Lumi bounced up and down with enthusiasm.


    "Hurry, Master! I''m so hungry!"


    I opened the jar of honey and poured a small amount onto a plate, placing a sugar cube next to it.


    Lumi didn''t hesitate.


    Slurp! Slurp!


    She devoured the honey and sugar with such delight that I couldn''t help but laugh.


    "This is so good!" Lumi chirped, her body glowing even brighter.


    "Thank you, Master! You''re the best!"


    "Yeah, yeah."


    I smiled, sitting down on the edge of the bed.


    The events of the night finally started to catch up with me, and I let out a tired sigh.


    Lumi noticed and hopped over, landing beside me with a small bounce.


    "Master, are you okay?"


    She asked, tilting her little slime head.


    "Yeah, just a little bit tired."


    I replied, giving her a small smile before adding:


    "It''s been a long day."


    She snuggled against my side, her soft, cool body pressing gently against me.


    "Don''t worry, Master. Lumi''s here!"


    I chuckled, resting a hand on her head.


    "Yeah, I know."


    As I sat there with Lumi happily glowing beside me, I couldn''t help but think back to Professor Vivian and her teasing smile.


    Tonight had been¡­ fun, to say the least.

 Chapter 19 - 19: The Academys Competition (I)

    The royal capital was full of life, the streets were buzzing with excitement, as the sweet chirp of the birds flowed naturally through the air.


    But today, there was a special event.


    The Academy''s Competition!


    This wasn''t just some small event¡ªit was the competition where the best students from the five biggest academies faced off to prove who was the strongest.


    And there were currently five academies facing against each other.


    The previous champion, Eternum''s Royal Academy, their students were the best of the best, mostly nobles from powerful families with talent and resources that seemed impossible to rival.


    Then, the Beastkin academy, whose students are only beast people from the Western continent where the law of the jungle rules.


    The Holy Academy, from which most priests and priestesses graduate, has significant power due to their divine energy, despite being primarily healing students.


    After that, there''s the Sword Academy where most of the sword users come from, having excellent swordsmanship.


    This was also where the first Sword Duke graduated from.


    Finally, there''s the Silverleaf Academy.


    There''s nothing much to say about it, except that it was the weakest academy for ten years straight, but this time there''s a horrendous talent coming from it.


    None other than the Moonlight Swordsman!


    "Ugh..."


    The sun filtered through the tall windows of the hotel lobby, casting warm light on polished marble floors.


    Students from all five academies filled the space, their distinctive uniforms making it easy to see who belonged where.


    The air was thick with tension, excitement, and just a little bit of arrogance¡ªmostly from Eternum''s group, who stood in their usual demeanor, looking down on everyone else.


    I mean, what would you expect from the academy that the novel follows?


    Silverleaf''s group wasn''t as large as the others, but I believed we could win¡ªor at least that''s what I wanted to tell myself.


    It was impossible to ignore the sideways glances from the other academies.


    Their whispers are just loud enough to catch the occasional "weakest school" or "do they even stand a chance?"


    I shrugged it off.


    Let them talk.


    I wasn''t here to entertain them.


    I walked into the lobby, the click of my boots on marble catching a few glances. The noise around me seemed to dim as I made my way toward my classmates.


    "Ah... Aestrea, you''re here." Professor Vivian''s voice pulled me out of my thoughts.


    She stood at the center of our group with her usual confident smile on the luscious red lips that I had recently kissed.


    "Yeah."


    I replied simply, taking my place among the group.


    Some of my classmates looked nervous, their eyes darting to the larger groups from the other academies.


    Vivian clapped her hands, silencing everyone.


    "Alright, listen up!"


    "This competition is our chance to show the world what Silverleaf can do. I don''t care what they say about us being the weakest. We''re here to prove them wrong. Every one of you has worked hard to get here, and I expect you to fight like it."


    Her gaze lingered on me for a split second, and I knew exactly what she meant without her needing to say it.


    I straightened up, my hand instinctively brushing against the hilt of my sword.


    The competition hadn''t even started yet, but I could feel the expectations, not just from Vivian but from my entire academy.


    "Head to the registration desk," she continued.


    "Aestrea, you''re with me. The rest of you, stick together and don''t get lost."


    I followed her as we moved towards the registration desk. The chatter in the lobby dissipated into the background, replaced by the sound of my own footsteps.


    This was it.


    The beginning of the Academy Competition.


    I''ll destroy everyone.


    ...


    After the registration was all wrapped up, Vivian handed me a neatly folded outfit¡ªa sleek black suit with silver embroidery.


    "This is the Leader''s Suit."


    She explained with an unusually serious tone.


    "You''ll need to wear it."


    Without waiting for me to respond, she guided me toward one of the changing rooms.


    The hotel we were staying at was relatively close to the grand stadium where the competition would happen.


    "Change your clothes."


    I nodded, not bothering to question her this time.


    She didn''t tease me this time, which was strange, but I got it. This competition is something serious, and even Vivian wouldn''t joke about it.


    I slipped into the changing room and put on the suit.


    The fabric was light yet sturdy, fitting perfectly like it was tailored just for me.


    The silver embroidery gleamed faintly in the light, giving off an air of quiet authority.


    When I stepped out, Vivian''s eyes scanned me from head to toe.


    "This fits just right..."


    I muttered, adjusting the sleeves slightly.


    Vivian stepped closer, a faint smile playing on her lips.


    "Almost. Here¡ªthis part should be like this."


    She reached out and adjusted a small silver chain that ran across the chest of the suit, carefully positioning it so it rested neatly.


    Her hands were quick, precise, and surprisingly gentle.


    "Perfect."


    Her lips curled into a satisfied smile as she stepped back to admire her handiwork.


    "Thanks."


    I replied, glancing down at myself.


    "Now", let''s go. It''s almost time."


    In a flash, we both disappeared from the hotel, arriving at a seemingly waiting room where the rest of the Silverleaf Academy was.


    "Aestrea! We''re almost entering the arena!"


    One of my classmates blurted out as soon as he saw me, his voice shaking a little.


    "Relax..." Another chimed in, clapping him on the back.


    "We''ve got Aestrea. If nothing else, he won''t embarrass us."


    Gosh...


    Good job bringing down everyone''s morale.


    I sighed, running a hand through my hair.


    "Don''t worry, everyone. I''ll do my best to make sure we get through this. Just stick to the plan, alright?"


    "Yes, Sir!"


    Damn.


    What''s up with that military greeting?


    "Anyway, the other academies have already entered. It should be our turn soon, right?" one of them suggested, and just as he expressed his words, the announcer''s voice reached us.


    "And now, last but not least, the Silverleaf Academy!"


    I took a deep breath and straightened up, running a hand through my hair to push it into a more comfortable position, just in front of my eyes, making sure it wasn''t in my way.


    The gates ahead of us creaked open, and we started walking toward the center of the stadium, where all the other academies were lined up with their flags.


    As we moved forward, the students in the back began waving our academy''s flag proudly.


    As we reached the center, I could feel every set of eyes on me.


    Normally, this was where the academy leader gave some kind of speech or rallying cry.


    But I had something different in mind.


    I could feel the eyes of the crowd on me.


    There were the emperor, the empress, dukes, duchesses¡ªeveryone watching, waiting.


    This was a very prestigious moment after all.


    Shing...!


    The sound of metal ringing through the air cut through the silence, sharp and clear.


    The sword gleamed in the sunlight, acting as a perfect mirror of the sky.


    I raised it high, pointing it toward the sky.


    The wind picked up around me, and I could feel the clouds shift.


    For a moment, everything was still, as if the world was holding its breath.


    Then, a silver thread of mana shot out from the tip of my sword, swirling in the air like smoke.


    It sparkled in the light.


    I pushed my hair back, focusing, and a crescent moon symbol appeared on my forehead, glowing just enough for everyone watching to notice.


    I swung my sword smoothly, and the mana wrapped around our group.


    Swoosh!


    The air felt heavier, charged with energy.


    The ground beneath me hummed with power.


    The wind picked up again, louder this time, almost like a storm was coming.


    The sky above seemed to darken a little.


    I swung my sword again, and the mana spread out, surrounding us.


    Voom!


    The energy pulsed in the air, but only around Silverleaf Academy.


    I stopped, holding the sword still. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The mana hummed quietly around us, and the moon symbol in my eyes glowed faintly.


    The whole stadium went quiet.


    I let the pressure build for just a moment longer, and then I spoke...


    "The Silverleaf Academy has arrived."


    As soon as the words left my mouth, the pressure exploded.


    CRUSH!


    A heavy weight slammed down on every other academy except ours.


    Some students from the other schools dropped to their knees, their faces covered in sweat.


    Others struggled to stay standing, their bodies shaking.


    I let the pressure lift just as fast.


    The wind calmed down, and the sky lightened.


    The crowd murmured, but I stood calm, feeling their eyes still on me.


    Behind me, my classmates quietly, with their excited gazes full of appreciation stood.


    From the crowd, Vivian gave me a small, approving smile, not to mention the gazes full of interest coming from the high-order people.


    I could sense the intense emotions of the dukes, duchesses, barons, and even the empress; they were watching me with interest.


    Yeah.


    This should be enough...


    A small smirk tugged my lips.

 Chapter 20 - 20: The Academys Competition (II)

    In the VIP section of the grand stadium, high above the roaring crowd, the most influential figures in the empire had gathered.


    Dukes, duchesses, and even the emperor and empress were seated in lavish chairs, their expressions calm yet curious as they watched the competition.


    The air was filled with quiet murmurs and the occasional clink of fine glassware.


    Elandor, the Sword Duke, stroked his sharp beard as he leaned forward, his emerald cape catching the sunlight.


    "That boy from Silverleaf, Aestrea... Did you see the energy around his sword? He''s no ordinary student. Tell me, is he one of yours?"


    Beside him, the Northern Duchess, Evelyn, a poised woman with striking light blue hair and piercing blue eyes, stood with her arms crossed.


    "No, although his affinity is also ice like mine; it is the first time I have seen him. However. now I''m quite interested in him..." her lips curled into a small smile.


    "Haha! It''s really funny, this is the first time I have seen the Northern Duchess interested in someone!"


    A rough voice came behind them, and immediately, both of their expression changed slightly as they replied politely.


    "Your Highness."


    They greeted in unison, bowing their heads slightly.


    The man behind them chuckled warmly.


    "No need for courtesies. We''re here to enjoy the competition, aren''t we?"


    It was Francis Arthur Charles X, the current emperor of the empire.


    "But I''ll admit," he continued, stroking his chin thoughtfully, "without even the need to fight, that boy made sure to explain that he wasn''t here to play around."


    The emperor laughed softly.


    At his side, Empress Isabella leaned forward slightly, her eyes sparkling with quiet interest. Her gown, a masterpiece of midnight blue and silver threads, shimmered like starlight.


    "So this is the boy Ella mentioned," she murmured, almost to herself.


    "I like him."


    But, her words had reached the emperor, making him frown.


    "Ella is still too young!"


    "She''s of marriageable age, Francis!"


    Isabella replied with a sigh, her tone sharp but calm.


    "I don''t care. She''s my precious baby!"


    The emperor shot back.


    "Tsk. Overprotective as ever."


    Isabella clicked her tongue in annoyance.


    But deep down, she noted Aestrea''s name.


    Meanwhile, their quiet exchange didn''t go unnoticed.


    Whispers spread through the lower-ranked nobility seated nearby.


    A younger noble, perhaps a marquis, adjusted his glasses and glanced down at the arena.


    "To think a student from Silverleaf would earn the favor of such a crowd. It''s unheard of... who could have trained him, I wonder?"


    The nobles continued their murmurs, their eyes now frequently darting to Aestrea as if he were the only star in the night sky.


    This boy, the strongest from the "weakest" academy had become the center of their attention, even before the first match had begun.


    ...


    "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Academy Competition!"


    The crowd buzzed with excitement as the announcer''s voice echoed through the huge stadium.


    "Today, the top five academies will battle to prove who''s the best!"


    The crowd roared, cheering and clapping.


    "The rules for the first round!"


    The announcer continued as his voice gathered everyone''s attention.


    "Each academy leader will draw a number. These numbers will decide the match-ups. Since there are five academies, one will skip this round and advance straight to the next."


    "For the match-ups, each academy will send out a student for a one-on-one battle. Each win earns one point for the academy. The first to reach five points wins the round!"


    "Each academy will have five matches, except for the ones that get skipped, and after all match-ups are finished, the two academies with the lowest scores will be eliminated!"


    In the middle of the field, a table was brought in, draped in blue velvet. On it was a wooden box with a gold latch, simple yet elegant.


    "Academy leaders, step forward to draw your lots!"


    The announcer called out.


    Immediately, the leader from each academy stepped forward, wearing a different uniform from the rest of the students of their academy.


    The leader of Eternum Royal Academy was first.


    It was none other than Ella.


    With her long, wavy white hair and a navy-and-silver uniform that shimmered under the sunlight, she opened the box, selected a scroll with a flourish, and stepped back with a calm expression.


    Next, the leader of Beastkin Academy stepped forward.


    A massive lionkin with fiery red hair and sharp golden eyes, he grabbed his scroll without hesitation and returned to his spot, his tail swaying lazily.


    The Holy Academy''s representative...


    At that moment, everyone focused on her.


    Because it was none other than the Saintess Christina!


    Her golden hair swayed slowly in the wind as her dim pink eyes looked forward. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She selected her scroll delicately, as though handling something precious, before stepping back with a soft smile.


    The Sword Academy''s leader came next, his tall frame and sharp, stoic features drawing a few murmurs from the crowd.


    His movements were mechanical and efficient, from picking the scroll to returning to his place without a word.


    Finally, it was Aestrea''s turn.


    He stepped forward, aware of the eyes watching his every move. His hand slipped into the box, brushing against the remaining scroll.


    Without a glance, he stepped back to join the others.


    "Leaders, reveal your lots!" the announcer said.


    One by one, the scrolls were unrolled.


    Ella held her up high, revealing a bold 1.


    Beastkin''s leader displayed a 2 as his grin turned sharp and confident.


    Christina revealed the number 1, glancing briefly at Ella with a faint smile.


    The Sword Academy leader revealed a 2.


    Finally, Aestrea opened his scroll.


    The number 3 looked back at him.


    At that moment, the announcer''s voice rang out once more, full of excitement.


    "Here are the match-ups! Eternum Royal Academy will face Holy Academy in the first match! Beastkin Academy will battle Sword Academy in the second match!"


    "Finally, the Silverleaf Academy, with lot number three, will skip this round and automatically advance to the next one, earning one point in their total score!"


    Instantly, the whole stadium erupted in cheers as the results were announced. However, a few of them were thoroughly disappointed as Silverleaf had earned a free point.


    "Lucky bastards...!"


    The students from the other academies couldn''t but express their opinions, but as soon as Astrea heard those words, he stopped in his tracks.


    "Ah... you guys want to die so soon?"


    Shing...


    He slowly sheathed his sword, and immediately, the students who were talking about Silverleaf''s good luck retracted steadily.


    Letting out a scoff, Aestrea made his way back to his group.


    "That was so damn lucky!"


    The students cheered between themselves, trying not to be so loud.


    "Pfff..."


    Aestrea put his sword back into its scabbard as he let out a small chuckle.


    "Alright, everyone! Let''s calm down!" Vivian said as she clapped her hands, gathering everyone''s attention in her form.


    "Now that we got one point in advantage, we only need to win two more, or simply get lucky enough. But don''t relax! Take advantage of the time to watch the competition. Study them carefully and learn everything you can!"


    "Yes!"


    The students replied in unison.


    Aestrea nodded, his hand resting lightly on the hilt of his sword. He leaned against the railing as the first match was set to begin.


    Eternum Royal Academy and the Holy Academy sent their first fighters into the arena.


    Eternum''s first representative was a boy named Ren, clad in the academy''s elegant navy and silver uniform.


    His posture was perfect, his polished sword gleaming under the sunlight.


    On the other side was Holy Academy''s pick¡ªa petite girl named Mira.


    Dressed in the pristine white and gold of her school, she carried a staff adorned with an intricate crystal at the top.


    Her calm expression and the faint glow of divine energy around her hinted at immense power despite her unassuming appearance.


    The announcer''s voice broke the tension.


    "Let the first match... begin!"


    With a loud cheer from the crowd, the fight was on.


    Ren charged forward immediately, his sword cutting through the air in a precise arc.


    But Mira didn''t flinch.


    She twirled her staff, planting it firmly in the ground as a golden barrier flared to life around her.


    CLANG!


    Ren''s sword struck the barrier, sending out a ripple of energy.


    The crowd leaned forward, captivated by the clash.


    ''Mhm...''


    As the fight continued on, Aestrea was lost in his thoughts.


    He was very troubled as he continued reading the rules of the first round that had been granted to the professors in a scroll.


    And the thing that troubled him the most was the 7th article.


    [7th Article]: During one of the rounds, a student who had already been chosen to fight, cannot participate again until the next round.


    That means Aestrea cannot win the five points alone.


    He needs to defeat a student from the other academy, and then make sure four of his classmates win their match too, for the academy to be able to earn another point.


    So, Aestrea closed the scroll and looked at every student in their station.


    ¡º Judgement Eye (? S-Level Skill?)¡»


    At that moment, the symbol of a balance scale which is used in law, appeared on the pupils of his eyes.


    ''I''ll make sure to figure out the weakness of each one of them...''


    A red liquid flowed down his left eye.

 Chapter 21 - 21: The Academys Competition (III)

    The fight between the academies continued.


    And to everyone''s surprise, the Holy Academy won the contest against the Eternum''s Royal Academy.


    However, none of them had sent their leaders or even the named characters.


    I had to admit that the students from each academy were incredibly talented for their age.


    Compared to Silverleaf, only three or four of our students could match their level.


    But that was good enough for me¡ªour academy didn''t need to be the strongest, just smart enough to win.


    The next match between Beastkin Academy and Sword Academy was one-sided.


    The Beastkin Academy dominated all five battles without losing a single point.


    And now it was time to draw the lots once again.


    Like before, I was the last one getting the scroll.


    Ella''s number was 3.


    The huge tiger''s number was 2.


    The sword academy''s leader was 1.


    The Saintess''s number was 2.


    That means... my number is 1.


    "Tough luck."


    I muttered, stretching my arms casually before heading back to our station.


    My classmates were waiting nervously, all of their eyes fixed on me. I looked at Vivian and she nodded her head at me.


    "Don''t worry guys, I have a small plan in mind..."


    My smile deepened.


    Then, I started explaining my plan to them.


    It was simple.


    Each of our academy''s students specialized in a single attribute or skill, so I planned to use that to our advantage.


    The only problem is that everyone in the Sword Academy is a swordsman, so we needed someone who could keep a safe distance and counter them effectively.


    A wind user.


    "Students, get into the arena!"


    The announcer''s voice boomed, snapping everyone back to focus.


    Immediately, I turned my gaze towards the sword academy''s station and as I saw the student stepping it, I turned back.


    "You''re up. Just stick to the plan, and you''ll be fine."


    "Um!"


    Maria nodded, her green hair swaying slightly as she stepped into the arena. She was one of the strongest wind users in our academy, and I trusted her completely.


    We just needed four wins since I''ll guarantee the fifth one.


    With the two students in the arena, the announcer exclaimed loudly.


    "Let the match begin!"


    Swish!


    Immediately, the student from the sword academy charged, bringing out his sword and slicing it in Maria''s direction.


    He was quite fast, but it couldn''t compare to Maria who was a wind user.


    Fwoop!


    With a graceful wave of her hand, a gust of wind pushed her back just enough to dodge his opening strike.


    Clang!


    His blade struck the ground where she had been standing a moment before, sending sparks flying.


    And it continued like that.


    As the swordsman tried to strike Maria, she would use her wind magic to get away from him instantly.


    And soon enough, the swordsman was growing frustrated.


    Clang!


    Clink!


    Fwoop!


    Each swing of his sword sounded louder and heavier as he tried to corner her.


    Then came the moment we were waiting for.


    The swordsman overreached, lunging forward with a powerful strike.


    His blade cut through empty air as Maria sidestepped effortlessly, using her wind magic to push herself into the air.


    As he stumbled slightly from the missed attack, Maria raised her hands.


    Shhhhrrrrrr!


    A strong gust of wind swept across the arena, kicking up dust and forcing the swordsman to steady himself.


    He planted his feet and tried to push back, but Maria''s wind grew stronger.


    SWOOOP!


    The force was relentless, pushing him closer and closer to the edge.


    The crowd leaned forward in anticipation, holding their breath.


    Finally, with one final burst...


    BAAM!


    Maria''s magic sent the swordsman flying backward. His feet skidded across the ground before slipping off the edge of the arena.


    Thud!


    He landed outside the ring, defeated.


    The crowd erupted into cheers and applause.


    "The winner is Maria of Silverleaf Academy!" the announcer declared, his voice booming over the roar of the spectators.


    Maria turned to us, a small, proud smile on her face as she walked back to the station.


    "Great job."


    A smile creeped out to my face.


    She really followed my plan entirely.


    "Did you guys see? I easily won!" she raised her chin proudly, declaring to the rest of my classmates.


    I chuckled at her boast but was quite happy for her. Maria, in particular, didn''t have much confidence, so hopefully this victory elevates it.


    After a while, the announcer called out for the students again.


    Unfortunately, this time it was a stronger student, and I knew no one could beat him except me.


    So, I shook my head.


    One of my classmates stepped forward and went to the battle. He tried his best, but in the need, he easily got defeated.


    Such a pity.


    However, as the announcer called out and the student from the other academy stepped out, my eyes immediately lit up.


    It was going to be an easy win.


    "Derek."


    I patted his shoulder, and he turned to look at me.


    "It''s your time to shine." My lips curled into a faint smile.


    Derek''s eyes immediately shone as hurriedly went to the arena, waving at us.


    Soon enough, the announcer''s voice echoed through the arena:


    "Begin!"


    Ding!


    The swordsman dashed forward, his sword slashing towards Derek, but he was ready for his attack.


    Boom!


    A wall made of earth shot up from the ground, blocking the attack. The clash sent dust flying everywhere, making the crowd roar in excitement.


    The swordsman tried to break through Derek''s defenses, swinging his sword at the earth wall over and over.


    Clang!


    Thud!


    But Derek wasn''t just standing still.


    With a stomp of his foot,


    CRACK!


    The ground beneath his opponent shifted, throwing him off balance.


    Derek took the chance to send a wave of jagged rocks toward the swordsman.


    Rumble!


    The swordsman leaped into the air, narrowly avoiding the attack, but as he landed, Derek slammed his hands to the ground.


    BOOM!


    A massive pillar of earth shot up beneath the swordsman, launching him into the air. He landed outside the arena with a heavy thud!


    The crowd erupted into cheers.


    "The winner is Derek of Silverleaf Academy!" the announcer shouted.


    Derek walked back to us, wiping the sweat off his forehead.


    "Two wins down."


    I raised my hand, and he dapped me up.


    Finally, just like Maria, he also boasted.


    These kids...


    Since the round began, a smile didn''t leave my lips.


    However, the next three matches were a disaster.


    They sent really strong students and we couldn''t defeat them, unfortunately.


    It was 4-2, they just needed a single point to win while we needed three.


    So, we needed to send one of the strongest students of our academy, and after taking a deep look at the Sword Academy''s representative...


    I decided to go with Mia, our best fire mage.


    Unlike the others, Mia was quite confident as she stepped into the arena, her crimson hair was tied back in a ponytail and her fire-coated staff glinted under the sun.


    Her opponent was a swordswoman from the Sword Academy, clad in their academy''s uniform.


    They started at each other for a while, and then...


    The announcer''s voice rang out.


    "Begin!"


    Ding!


    The swordswoman wasted no time, charging forward with incredible speed.


    Whoosh!


    Clang!


    Her blade collided with Mia''s staff, sparks flying in all directions. Mia gritted her teeth, pushing back with a flare of fire from her staff.


    Fwoosh!


    The swordswoman leaped back, narrowed her eyes, and dashed to Mia''s side, her sword slicing through the air.


    Swish!


    Mia twisted her staff to block, the sound of steel and fire clashing filling the arena.


    Clang!


    Fwoom!


    Mia didn''t just defend, though.


    She counterattacked, spinning her staff and sending a wave of flames toward her opponent.


    Fwip!


    Crackle!


    The fire roared as it surged forward, forcing the swordswoman to roll to the side. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Clang!


    Boom!


    The swordswoman tried to close the distance, however, Mia used her fire to keep her at bay, flames swirling around her in some kind of protective barrier.


    Shhhhhhh!


    The heat was intense, and the swordswoman''s movements slowed slightly, sweat dripping down her face.


    "Now!"


    Seeing an opening, Mia stepped forward and swung her staff, flames trailing behind it like some kind of fire comet.


    Fwoosh!


    BOOM!


    The swordswoman barely managed to deflect the attack, the force of it pushing her back several steps.


    The swordswoman gritted her teeth and charged again, this time aiming for Mia''s legs.


    Swish!


    Mia jumped, flipping in midair as her staff left a trail of fire behind her.


    She landed gracefully, her boots tapping lightly against the ground.


    "You''re good," Mia said with a smirk.


    "But I''m better."


    With a quick motion, Mia twirled her staff above her head, the flames growing brighter and hotter.


    Whoosh!


    CRACKLE!


    The swordswoman hesitated for just a moment, and that was all Mia needed.


    She slammed the end of her staff into the ground.


    BOOM!


    A wave of fire shot out in all directions, forcing her opponent to retreat once more.


    But the heat was too much.


    The swordswoman stumbled, losing her foot''s grip on the floor.


    And Mia took the opportunity with a smile.


    She thrust her staff forward, sending a focused blast of fire at her opponent''s feet.


    Fwoosh!


    BOOM!


    Thud...!


    The impact sent the swordswoman flying backward, landing just outside the arena.


    The crowd erupted into cheers as Mia raised her staff triumphantly with her flames dissipating away.


    "The winner is Mia of Silverleaf Academy!" the announcer declared.


    Mia walked back to us with a confident stride, her face flushed but victorious.


    "Three down," she said with a grin, twirling her staff.


    "Good job."


    "Anything for ya~"


    She winked at me with a charming smile.


    "Hah."


    I let out a small laugh.


    If there was anything peculiar about Mia, it was the part that she was quite obsessed with me. I didn''t mind her actions though.


    Her breasts were quite large after all, maybe an E-cup or larger than that.


    And like Isaac Newton once said:


    The greater the mass, the greater the force of attraction.


    Ahem.


    Anyway, now we just needed one more win.


    And then I would destroy whoever came against me in the final match.


    So, I looked towards the sword academy''s station, and to my surprise, there was one classmate of mine who could easily deal with him.


    James, who was Derek''s brother and was also an earth user.


    He faced a lean swordsman who was holding a rapier, which meant that his attack was focused on speed and not damage.


    However, James looked really confident.


    And soon enough, the announcer''s voice rang out.


    "Begin!"


    Swish!


    The swordsman darted forward with lightning speed and James responded immediately, stomping the ground with force.


    RUMBLE!


    A stone wall shot up, cutting off the swordsman''s path.


    CRACK!


    The swordsman slashed through the wall, sending chunks of stone flying.


    "Not bad..." James muttered as he leaped back to secure distance.


    He raised his hands, and the ground trembled slightly.


    BOOM!


    Sharp spikes erupted from the ground, forcing the swordsman to jump back.


    The arena was soon a maze of jagged rocks.


    But the swordsman remained firm.


    Tap, tap, tap!


    His light steps danced around the spikes as he closed the distance, slashing through James''s rocky defenses.


    Finally, his blade struck James'' side.


    CLANG!


    However, the attack bounced harmlessly as a layer of some kind of rock armor appeared in James''s body.


    "My turn," James said with a grin, before stomping his feet on the ground again.


    RUMBLE!


    The ground cracked beneath the swordsman, forcing him to leap back.


    But before he could regain his balance, a massive stone pillar shot up.


    WHAM!


    It struck him in the chest, knocking him into the air.


    James didn''t let up.


    He formed a boulder and hurled it with precision.


    WHOOSH!


    CRACK!


    The impact sent the swordsman tumbling out of the arena.


    "The winner is James of Silverleaf Academy!" the announcer declared.


    James returned to our station with a triumphant grin.


    He smiled at me as he made his way to his brother Derek.


    They really were brothers...


    The two of them defeated their opponents using the same attack as their key attack.


    It was quite funny.


    "Now, it''s 4-4," Vivian exclaimed, and everyone''s gaze turned to me.


    I only chuckled at their worried gazes.


    "Don''t worry. I''ll destroy whoever my opponent is."


    I waved my hand as I turned my back to them and stepped into the arena.


    The wind surged up as I did so.


    I looked forward and saw the Sword Academy''s leader.


    Honestly, it was obvious that he was going to be the one fighting against me unless they wanted to hide his abilities.


    Soon, the crowd grew louder, their cheers mixing with excited murmurs.


    "Looks like Silverleaf is putting out their leader!"


    "Finally, we get to see him fight!"


    Shing!


    He drew his sword, staring at me with the same mechanical cold look.


    Then, the announcer shouted.


    "The first match between leaders shall begin!"


    Swoop!

 Chapter 22 - 22: The Academys Competition (IV)

    Swoop!


    In an instant, Leon, leader of the Sword Academy, dashed forward like a bolt of lightning. His sword gleamed as he aimed a piercing strike straight at Aestrea.


    Aestrea reacted instantly as he merely sidestepped to the right and swung his blade in a vertical arc, aiming to catch Leon''s back.


    Clang!


    Sparks exploded between their swords as Leon twisted to block the attack, teeth gritted, pushing back with all his strength.


    However, Aestrea merely kept a small smile as a silvery glow began to radiate from his sword, its light growing stronger by the second.


    Swoop!


    Aestrea''s sword slammed against the ground, creating a crater of a slash on the fortified ground.


    And immediately, the crowd started cheering even louder.


    It was the first time the arena had been broken by a student.


    "Damn it..." Leon gritted his teeth.


    Slowly, a red energy surged up, swirling and crackling before enveloping his entire body along with his sword.


    And then, he disappeared in a flash.


    Clang!


    Appearing right behind Aestrea, he swung his sword at his head, but Aestrea without even looking at him, blocked the sword with his own, only sticking out his arm backward.


    "Impossible!"


    Leon''s eyes widened in surprise, but suddenly, Aestrea let Leon''s sword slide across his, making him stumble, and took the opportunity to deliver a kick to his stomach.


    Thud!


    "Kugh!"


    Still blocking the blow with the sword''s blade, Leon still took damage from his kick. He held his stomach where Aestrea''s kick landed and glared at him.


    "Pfu!"


    He spat blood on the ground before wiping his lips and then facing his sword in Aestrea''s direction.


    "Sword Circle: First Move..."


    ¡º Revolving Swords! ¡»


    Around him, a bunch of swords appeared booming in the air before drifting towards Aestrea with a long speed.


    To this, Aestrea kept the same smile as he started running towards the sword.


    He leaped...


    Tap...!


    Jumping on top of one of the swords, a burst of mana surged from his body, strong enough to send the remaining swords flying across the arena.


    Then, he swung his sword...


    Zooom!


    A crescent-shaped slash of mana was sent towards Leon, who quickly dodged to the left and looked towards Aestrea...


    But, he had disappeared from his view, and Leon''s eyes widened as he sensed a presence behind him. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Thud!


    This time he couldn''t dodge it and was sent rolling down the arena''s floor.


    "Is that all?" Come on, you should use your unique talent, this is too easy for me."


    Aestrea''s voice reached out to him, and hearing his words, Leon gritted his teeth in annoyance, the veins in his neck bulging.


    It was the first time someone had overpowered him so much, not to mention that he was also joking around with him.


    "Is that so?" Leon sneered coldly.


    "Let''s see if you''re still smiling after this!"


    A dense aura exploded from his body, and the floating swords around him multiplied, and he wasn''t even using the Sword Circle''s techniques.


    ¡º The talent "Sword Immortal" has been activated. ¡»


    "Go!"


    He sent the swarm of swords flying toward Aestrea in a deadly wave, but Aestrea''s smile only deepened as he saw this.


    He stopped in his tracks, and seeing the hundreds of swords coming towards him, he shifted his body slightly.


    "Moonlit Ice Lotus Sword Art..."


    ¡º First Move! (? Ice Lotus Bloom ?) ¡»


    Around his body, an ice lotus with moonlight''s light bloomed into dozens of petals, and slowly they started hurling toward the swords coming at him.


    Clang, clang!


    The sounds echoed through the arena, raising the crowd''s excitement by yet another level, and sure enough, even the higher-level nobles were interested.


    In the crowd, Evelyn''s eyes widened in surprise.


    "This... is a self-made sword art."


    And hearing her words, the others around were even shocked.


    "Northern Duchess, are you sure about your words? Just the power of the first move is already comparable to the A-rank!" Elandor frowned slightly.


    Normally, one would be happy to see such a talented student, but Leon was actually his grandson, and of course, he wanted Leon to win the match.


    "I can confirm that." Empress Isabella nodded her head.


    She had also been a swordsman, a higher rank at that, and from her experience, she had never seen swordsmanship as exquisite as Aestrea''s.


    It wasn''t just his swordsmanship; every move he made followed a precise line, each one perfectly aligned with the others, making his opponent follow his wishes.


    It was as if...


    "He fights like some kind of puppet master," Evelyn muttered loudly enough for everyone to hear.


    Empress Isabella nodded in agreement.


    "It''s true. I was thinking the same thing."


    "Ah... such a talented child," Emperor Francis muttered as his eyes started conveying greed, and as Isabella noticed this, a faint smile appeared on her lips.


    "If only he were my son-in-law," she nodded knowingly with a wry smile.


    Hearing her words, Emperor Francis frowned but began to contemplate the idea.


    However, his thoughts were abruptly interrupted by a loud noise.


    BAAM!


    Leon was sent flying across the arena, piercing his sword into the ground, just enough to save him from falling out of the arena.


    His whole body was bruised with cuts, blood slowly dripping down from every inch of his body, normally, one would forfeit.


    But Leon''s pride was quite immense, and he wouldn''t forfeit, even if he died.


    That was the pride of a swordsman.


    "Ah... This really is shameful, you couldn''t land a single hit in me despite using your talent. I''m quite disappointed."


    Aestrea''s voice reached Leon''s ears, who clenched his sword tightly.


    In front of him, Aestrea kept the same faint smile as he continued walking towards him. His body was unscathed, and his uniform didn''t even have a small cut or anything.


    "You..."


    "YOU BASTAAARD!"


    Leon screamed loudly, his voice echoing through the whole arena like some kind of roar.


    At that moment, fiery red energy exploded from his body, surging into the sky like a raging inferno, to the point of reaching the clouds, and seeing this, Aestrea took a step back.


    He looked at this, and the glow in his eyes intensified with excitement.


    If one saw this, they would call him a battle junkie.


    Crackle!


    From the stormy clouds, a giant glowing red sword began to materialize as a strange crimson lightning started crackling around it.


    Leon''s face was contorted with madness, his eyes wild as he raised a trembling hand. Then, with a sharp motion, he swung his arm downward.


    "DIE!"


    The sword slowly descended in Aestrea''s direction.


    "AESTREA!"


    Panicked shouts erupted from the crowd, but Aestrea didn''t flinch.


    Instead, he raised his thumb in the air, giving a casual thumbs-up as if to say...


    "I''ve got this."


    His stance shifted slightly as he pressed his upper body forward and reflected both of his legs a bit forward.


    "Moonlit Ice Lotus Sword Art..."


    ¡º 30% Strength: Third Move (? Moonlight''s One Flash ?) ¡»


    Shing!


    A blinding flash of light streaked through the arena, slicing upward towards the descending sword.


    For a brief moment, Aestrea''s figure vanished, reappearing a heartbeat later just a few meters from Leon.


    The crowd held her breath, and the higher noble''s mouths opened agape.


    Crack...!


    The massive red sword fractured, splintering into countless shards that rained down like crimson snow.


    Plop...


    Leon''s body crumpled to the ground, his face drenched in sweat. Blood trickled down his forehead as his breaths turned shallow and labored.


    Step...


    Aestrea approached slowly, each step echoing through the now-silent arena.


    His glowing red eyes flickered wildly and widened slightly, like a predator toying with its trapped prey.


    Leon''s body began to tremble uncontrollably.


    He bit his lip, trying to steady himself, but his voice came out in broken stutters.


    "W-w-what k-kind of m-monster a-are you?"


    He swallowed hard, loud enough for Aestrea to hear it.


    To his words, Aestrea tilted his head as his smile deepened.


    "Just a... moonlight lover."


    Then, Aestrea pressed the palm of his hand against Leon''s chest.


    His crimson gaze never wavered as he spoke a single word.


    "Impacto."


    ZOOOOOOM!


    "ARRRGHH!"


    An air explosion happened as shortly after, Leon''s body, like a lightning bolt was sent flying out of the arena.


    CRASH!


    "Kugh...!"


    His body splattered against the protective barrier of the crowd, his sword clattering uselessly to the ground.


    His body was battered and bruised, blood seeping from dozens of cuts, and everyone was completely speechless.


    "T-the... the winner is Silverleaf''s Leader, Aestrea!"


    The announcer''s voice rang out.


    And immediately...


    "OH MY GOD!"


    "HE''S SO STRONG!"


    "DID YOU SEE THAT MOVE?!"


    The crowd went crazy, spouting all kinds of compliments.


    Ignoring those shouts, Aestrea left the arena smiling, walking towards the Silverleaf''s Academy Station.


    "That was amazing!"


    "You completely crushed him!"


    One upon the other, his classmates started gathering around him, and with a smile, Aestrea tried to calm down the countless compliments from his classmates.


    Vivian merely looked at Aestrea with a more than satisfied smile, but her expression quickly soured when she heard a familiar voice.


    "Brother Aestrea~~," Mia whispered seductively, pressing her huge breast against Aestrea''s arm, clung to him like a desperate cat.


    "Ahem!"


    Immediately, Vivian''s voice rang out, and everyone turned their gaze to her.


    "Aestrea needs to rest, stop bothering him already!" her voice grew sharp and stern.


    In an instant, everyone scattered around, whistling as if they didn''t do anything.


    "Hah..." Aestrea let out a small laugh.


    And then, just to add more to his satisfaction, the announcer''s voice rang out once again.


    "The winner of this match is the Silverleaf Academy!"


    "OOOOOOHHH!"


    The crowd went crazy once more.


    Step...!


    Aestrea walked back onto the stage, this time carrying the Silverleaf Academy flag.


    Alone, with steady hands, he raised it high above his head, the academy''s emblem shining proudly in the light.


    In the crowd, students from Silverleaf who weren''t chosen for the competition watched with tears in their eyes


    Aestrea knew they were there, so he particularly made this gesture towards them, telling them indirectly that his victory wasn''t just his, it was theirs, too.


    At that moment, everyone knew.


    The Strongest Student of the Weakest Academy...


    Is a complete...


    Monster.

 Chapter 23 - 23: The Academys Competition (V)

    "What did I just witness?"


    I mumbled to myself, still staring at the arena.


    Leon, the so-called leader of the Sword Academy, was completely obliterated.


    He didn''t stand a chance.


    Not even for a single moment.


    Honestly, if I compared myself to Leon, I''d have a seventy percent chance of winning, but, just from the looks of it, Aestrea knew he was going to win since the beginning of the match.


    It looked like the kind of arrogance of an experienced hunter.


    Beside me, Ella tugged at my sleeve, her eyes wide in disbelief upon witnessing Aestrea''s fight.


    "Lucas... did you see that last move?" Ella asked me with a shaky voice.


    I nodded at her words.


    "Yeah... he used the density of his mana to create an air suppression explosion, resulting in a massive impact that sent Leon flying..."


    Rose, hearing our words, took a step forward before opening her mouth.


    "His mana level... is still lower than mine though."


    "What?"


    I turned my head towards her as my eyes widened in shock.


    Rose crossed her arms and spoke with her usual sharp tone.


    "His mana level should be around the B-rank, but somehow... its power reached the A rank or even higher than that during that single moment," she explained.


    "It''s weird... his density was very strong, but his mana capacity... it''s loose. The flow of his mana veins is all messed up, to the point of his right arm''s mana vein still being in recovery."


    Rose spoke, her eyes narrowing as she looked at Aestrea who was waving his academy''s flag at the crowd.


    "And not just only that!" Maya suddenly appeared, practically bouncing on her toes to grab our attention.


    "His physical capabilities are much stronger than mine! Besides, he didn''t even manifest his sword aura, he only relied on mana!"


    Right!


    I almost forgot about that!


    He didn''t use aura at all.


    Aestrea''s supposed to be a Magic Swordsman, the kind that combines both aura and mana, but this entire fight¡­ there wasn''t a trace of aura from him.


    With his strength, he should be able to use aura.


    So why didn''t he?


    I pondered over and over again, but couldn''t figure out the reason.


    "Ah¡­ right."


    Ella said suddenly, breaking the silence.


    "I saw Aestrea use his aura once... when he saved me."


    Her words caught all of our attention, even Iris, who had been unusually quiet until now.


    Ella placed a hand on the hilt of her sword, her expression thoughtful.


    "His Aura... is terrific. While his mana is a silver color, his aura is a deep violet color," she then looked at her sword.


    "My sword started trembling as he used his sword to cut down that monster. It was in a single swing of his sword, and the monster was cleanly split into two."


    "A violet color...?" Iris muttered, and suddenly, her eyes parted slightly.


    "Normally, a swordsman''s aura manifests in a color that represents one''s tendency, and Violet represents..."


    "Luxury and power..." Rose finished her words, looking over at her fire staff before gripping it slightly.


    "No one ever recorded had a violet color aura, No one has ever been able to embody ''power'' as their defining trait. So, it means that Aestrea..."


    "That freaking monster..." Ella muttered, however, her eyes seemed to shine even more than before.


    It was as if she had a new goal or she was proud of something.


    Even I was shocked, Luxury and Power were one of the seven strongest tendencies. And no one could ever get the violet color that represents them as their aura.


    Aura wasn''t like mana.


    It was a reflection of a person''s very essence, and the color represented their core tendencies.


    While there were thousands of aura colors, only seven stood at the peak, representing the purest, most dominant aspects of the human spirit.


    Violet was one of them. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    And Aestrea was the only swordsman who could use it.


    "Damn it..." I cursed under my breath, clenching my fists.


    "How are we supposed to beat someone like that?"


    But then I remembered.


    The promise I made.


    I swore I''d win this competition.


    And no matter how monstrous Aestrea is, I won''t let our headmistress down.


    Not now.


    Not ever.


    ...


    "Alright, everyone!" Vivian''s voice rang out as she addressed us.


    "We''ve got two points on the board and three matches left. If we can secure just one more win, we''ll have enough to advance to the next round!"


    Anyone could see that she was really happy with the result even though she had a stern and resolute tone in her voice.


    "The current score stands at: 2 points for the Holy Academy, 1 point for the Eternum Royal Academy, 1 point for the Beastkin Academy, and finally..."


    Vivian paused, glancing dramatically at her clipboard.


    "Zero points for the Sword Academy."


    A faint chuckle rippled through our classmates at her last remark, but she continued on.


    "So, like I said before, if we secure this match, we should have enough points to advance to the next round, we just need to be lucky enough!" she declared confidently.


    She was telling the truth.


    We just needed to be lucky enough and it should be fine.


    For example...


    If we were up against the Beastkin Academy and managed a win, we''d have three points.


    If both the Holy Academy and the Eternum Royal Academy also won their matches, the standings would align in our favor.


    From there, all we''d need was for the Beastkin Academy to lose one more match¡ªor for us to scrape out just one more win¡ªand we''d advance for sure.


    So, we really just needed to be lucky enough.


    And now it was time to draw the lots again.


    Like before, each one of us picked up, except Leon who didn''t come, and instead, a huge guy took his place.


    Ella''s number was 1.


    Christina''s number was 2.


    The huge tiger''s number was 1.


    The huge guy''s number was 2...


    "Hah... lucky." I grinned.


    My number was three, which meant another skip.


    "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"


    The crowd erupted and started booing at us the moment they realized.


    We got the free win once again, but I didn''t care.


    Luck is also a skill.


    So, I smiled at the crowd and walked back to my station.


    "Perfect!"


    "That''s great, our representatives can rest for a little bit more."


    He glanced toward the group who had fought in the last match¡ªDerek, Mia, James, and Maria.


    I was technically part of that group too, but I didn''t feel the need to rest.


    My fight against Leon was beyond easy difficulty.


    And the reason for that was that I found something special inside my body.


    This body of mine¡­ it was strange.


    Not mystically or supernaturally, but in how absurdly powerful it was.


    My mana veins were utterly chaotic¡ªcompletely messed up. And yet, because of that, the flow of mana in my body was five times faster than normal.


    It meant I could deploy mana at incredible speeds and absorb it just as quickly, however, controlling it was more difficult.


    But it wasn''t much of a challenge since I was already used to it.


    The only question is...


    How come ''I'' didn''t appear in the novel at all?


    Like I mentioned before, my nickname "Moonlight Swordsman" appeared, but it didn''t reveal my true identity.


    It was strange...


    ''So... it must related to that prophetic dream...''


    I thought.


    It was the only possibility, even ''I'' couldn''t defeat that huge amount of beasts, especially since their leader was a named beast.


    Even if I indeed used the combination of my aura and mana.


    It would be almost impossible to do it.


    Unless...


    ''Nope."


    I shook the thought from my mind.


    ''That''s too reckless. I''d probably break every bone in my body attempting something that stupid.''


    Anyway, I should simply watch and continue to analyze the representatives of each academy, even though we almost have a guaranteed pass to the next round.


    After an hour or so, the matches ended.


    To no one''s surprise, both the Eternum Royal Academy and the Holy Academy won their respective matches, granting a point for each of them.


    With two matches remaining, the Beastkin Academy could make its comeback, but it was very unlikely.


    Even if we did lose against it, it wouldn''t be a problem since we have three points.


    Because the Beastkin Academy would have a huge chance of losing either way if it met the Eternum Royal Academy or the Holy Academy.


    So yeah, the lots were drawn once again.


    And of course...


    The Silverleaf Academy was against the Beastkin Academy.


    Not to mention that the Holy Academy got a skip, and the Eternum Royal Academy easily won against the Sword Academy.


    Because of that, our match was declared as the ''possible'' last match of the first round of the academy''s competition.


    If Silverleaf Academy wins, the three academies are already chosen. However, if we lose, we will need to participate in another match to determine if we advance.


    After all, the current score is now...


    Our academy with three points, the Holy Academy with four points, the Eternum Royal Academy with three points, the Beastkin Academy with one point, and the Sword Academy with zero points.


    If the Beastkin Academy did win against us, we would have another match, since it could still end up in a draw with our academy.


    "Ahh... muscle-brained beasts."


    "These ones are going to be pretty annoying."


    I muttered to myself.


    And if that was just to confirm my thoughts, their first representative...


    Was the leader of the Beastkin Academy.


    That huge muscle-brained tiger.


    He was looking at me with a wide smirk, his eyes radiating a firm competitiveness. Out of all his matches, he had always won them even though his academy lost in the final part.


    So, in reality, the Beaskin Academy only lost because the other student''s levels were simply too low compared to other academies.


    "Two attributes at A-rank... of course, strength, and vitality."


    My eyes glowed intensely as a balance scale symbol appeared on them.


    "Still..."


    A faint smile appeared on my lips.


    "It won''t be enough to defeat me."

 Chapter 24 - 24: The Academys Competition (VI)

    "So, you''re the moonlight swordsman, huh?"


    As soon as I stepped into the center of the arena, the huge tiger murmured as he scrutinized me from head to toe, his piercing gaze landing on my eyes.


    He let out a small chuckle and extended a giant hand towards me.


    "I''m Agnar, it''s a pleasure to meet you."


    My gaze briefly met his hand before switching to his eyes.


    With a small smile, I also extended my hand and shook his.


    Clench...!


    "Haa..."


    At that moment, his lips curved into a wide smirk as his pupils enlarged, and then, a crushing force started smashing my hand.


    But to his surprise...


    "Muscle-brained animals are really easy to predict."


    I laughed before my expression turned cold.


    A faint layer of mana enveloped my entire hand and then, it was my time to squeeze his hand back.


    Even with two A-rank attributes¡ªstrength and vitality¡ªwhat good are they when your mana level is only D-rank?


    Pure strength alone is one of the worst investments in a fight.


    "Haagh!"


    A cry of pain reached my ears as his face contorted in pain, trying to shake my hand off his.


    "What did you expect?"


    I asked him as I increased my strength.


    "Did you really think you could win against me with only pure strength?"


    His face twisted in anger and a vein bulged on his forehead as he swung a massive fist at me, immediately, I twisted my body, dodging his punch, and used his momentum against him.


    With a sharp pivot, I threw him over my shoulder.


    Thud!


    Agnar''s massive body slammed against the ground, dust, and debris scattering on impact.


    "Student Aestrea... the match hasn''t begun yet."


    A loud voice reached us, and it was unmistakably the headmistress of the Eternum Royal Academy.


    She flew above the protective barrier on her magic broom, her long purple hair swaying in the wind, topped with her signature witch hat.


    Her name was Eleonora, and she was the current strongest mage as well as the headmistress of the Eternum Royal Academy.


    My information about her was very limited, but I knew that she could easily cast 9th-level spells which could be considered calamity spells since they could potentially destroy an entire country alone.


    However, she never appeared in her academy, even to help fight against the demons which was quite weird.


    "Alright, alright..."


    I held my hands up in the air, to which I received an even colder stare from her.


    Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, but she kind of hates me.


    Well, Aestrea or I rejected to be her disciple over three times already, leaving her completely mad over that matter.


    "Hmmph."


    She scoffed before disappearing from my view.


    It was at that time that the announcer''s voice finally rang out, breaking the silence of the arena, and officially starting our fight.


    "Let the first round... begin!"


    Swoop!


    The moment the words left the announcer''s mouth, Agnar dashed toward me.


    His claws extended, glinting like steel, as he swung a powerful strike at my chest.


    I immediately brought out my sword, and parried his claws, creating faint sparks that flew as his claws clashed against the blade, the sheer force driving me back slightly.


    Of course, I was being pushed back by him, his strength is thoroughly superior.


    But none of those mattered when it came to mana.


    So, it was almost impossible for him to win.


    Zooom!


    A layer of mana covered my sword, causing him to step back cautiously. Then, he dropped to all fours and dashed towards me again.


    Clang!


    Clang!


    He began to leap and attack, creating distance between us before swinging his claws at me and then jumping away to strike again.


    He repeated this tactic for a few seconds until I finally...


    "Caught it."


    Grabbed his tail without any hesitation.


    With a firm grip, I swung him down toward the ground.


    "GRRR!"


    Thud!


    He let out a growl as his face slammed against the earth.


    But it wasn''t over; still holding onto his tail, I started swinging him around, making his face hit the ground multiple times.


    Thud!


    Bam!


    However, he then escaped my hands.


    "C''mon, kitty."


    I let out a small smile, stepping closer to him.


    "This is getting boring for me."


    But this time, I was surprised by his actions.


    Instead of him getting irritated, Agnar''s furious expression melted into a wide, unnerving grin.


    "Seal!"


    He declared, and suddenly a bright magic pattern appeared beneath me.


    I felt the flow of my mana in my body stop.


    "Sealing my mana power, huh?"


    I glanced at the glowing circle and nodded, almost impressed.


    "Smart."


    He likely understood that he couldn''t win against me if I used mana, and despite having low-level mana, he still possessed enough quantity to cast this sealing spell.


    "Hahah~, now, do you think you can win?"


    His eyes turned murderous, and he looked at me like I was some kind of prey.


    "Actually... I''ve been holding back my power, and you''re the only strong enough opponent for me to use this form..."


    "You should be honored!" he declared loudly with a crazy smile.


    In that instant, his fur began to shift to a brighter shade of white, and his height increased by more than fifty centimeters.


    His claws became sharper as a deep white layer of mana enveloped his body.


    The Divine White Tiger''s bloodline.


    I couldn''t believe that I had met his bearer.


    This was indeed going to be a problem.


    ...


    Everyone was watching Aestrea''s battle from their respective station, and one could easily notice that things now had been complicated for him.


    He had his mana sealed, and his opponent was revealed to be the bearer of the Divine White Tiger''s bloodline, one of the four mythical beasts.


    Amongst them, was Ella, whose face changed repeatedly as Aestrea was about to be in danger but then dodged the tiger''s attack.


    "Come on, Aestrea..."


    Her heart was beating faster, but inside, she prayed that Aestrea would still win, well not really, if he was her opponent in the future, she doubted her chances of winning.


    Only if she used her ultimate move, might she have a chance.


    "Things got rough for Aestrea..."


    Beside her, Lucas muttered, his eyes narrowing as he watched the battle.


    He was also very interested in Aestrea, viewing him as a potential battle partner due to his strength; training with him would definitely enhance his combat skills.


    At that moment, the white tiger launched his body towards Aestrea, opening his mouth widely, and showing his sharp teeth.


    But, Aestrea quickly slid beneath him before using a cleaning spell.


    "Huh?"


    "What?"


    This moment made everyone confused.


    Why was he using a cleaning spell during the middle of a fight?


    And that''s when something hit them.


    "Did... he just use magic?"


    "Isn''t his mana supposed to be sealed?"


    Gasps spread like wildfire.


    The white tiger skidded to a halt, his claws digging into the dirt as he whipped his head around to glare at Aestrea.


    "What... the hell?"


    He growled, with disbelief splattered on his face.


    "What? Did you really think such a weak seal could contain my mana?"


    Aestrea casually said, arranging the sleeves of his leader''s suit.


    "While it may be difficult to break by simply locating its weak point, it can easily be destroyed if its mana sealing capacity is compromised due to an overload of mana."


    The tiger''s eyes widened in shock, his mouth slightly agape.


    "Y-you..."


    He gulped down hard.


    And just after he analyzed Aestrea''s body, he took a step back cautiously, before shouting in an annoyed tone.


    "How fast does your mana recover?!"


    What kind of monster is this?


    Even the crowd went crazy upon hearing Aestrea''s casual remark and the white tiger''s loud yet shaky words.


    Seeing this expression on his face, Aestrea smiled lightly, taking a step forward.


    "Enough talk, kitty. Ready for the fight you were so desperate for?"


    Aestrea casually dropped his sword to the ground and raised his fists, adopting a hand-to-hand stance.


    Seeing this, a huge vein popped in the white tiger''s forehead and his eyes burned red with rage.


    "YOU DAMNED BASTAARRDD!"


    He dashed towards Aetrea like a lightning bolt.


    "HOW DARE YOU DISRESPECT ME LIKE THIS?"


    His claws extended even larger than before he horizontally swung them at Aestrea''s chest.


    Whoosh!


    Aestrea ducked low, evading the strike by a hair''s breadth.


    And before the tiger could recover, Aestrea planted his feet and delivered a sharp uppercut to his chin.


    CRACK!


    "Gaaahk!"


    The tiger''s head snapped back, saliva and blood spraying from his mouth as he staggered.


    Not giving him a moment to recover, Aestrea surged forward, aiming a punch at his solar plexus, but the white tiger quickly crossed his arms in an ''X'' form, protecting himself from the blow.


    Unfortunately, it was a fake.


    He stopped in his tracks just before his punch cold land and pivoted on his heel, twisting his body like a coiled spring before delivering a spinning kick infused with mana.


    WHAM!


    The kick landed squarely on the tiger''s face, sending him tumbling across the ground like a ragdoll.


    Thud!


    Thud!


    Thud.....


    He finally came to a stop, blood pouring from his nose, his once-pristine white fur now colored in dust and crimson.


    "Ouch..."


    Even the crowd couldn''t help but exclaim seeing how he practically cleaned the dust off the ground.


    Then, Aestrea approached him.


    "Hey... what did you think of our battle?"


    "Did it go as you expected it to go?"


    Aestrea kept a small smile on his lips.


    The white tiger''s face twisted in rage, blood dripping from his mouth as he glared up at Aestrea and parted his lips.


    "Motherfu¡ª"


    BAAM!


    Before he could finish, Aestrea''s fist smashed into his jaw, sending him flying across the arena.


    CRASH!


    He slammed into the protective barrier with a sickening thud before crumpling to the ground, unmoving, blood pooling beneath him.


    The arena went silent for a moment before the announcer''s voice boomed.


    "T-the winner is the Silverleaf''s leader, AESTREA!!!"


    The crowd erupted into cheers, the stands shaking with excitement.


    Aestrea turned to face them, brushing off his sleeves as if the fight had been nothing more than a warm-up.


    However...


    ''Damn it.''


    ''I think I reached my limit for today.''


    He wasn''t invincible.


    sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 25 - 25: The Academys Competition (VII)

    The cheers of the crowd filled the air as I walked off the arena stage.


    My victory over Agnar had secured another point for Silverleaf Academy, but the adrenaline that had kept me upright began to fade as I entered the quieter hallway leading to the resting area.


    Thump...


    A sharp, dull ache jolted through my chest.


    Thump... thump...!


    My breathing grew shallow and erratic.


    The world blurred for a second, and I stumbled, catching myself against the cold stone wall.


    "Ugh..."


    I gritted my teeth, trying to steady my trembling legs.


    Immediately, I ran to the outside of the arena, more precisely the forest, where no one could see me.


    I hadn''t warned my classmates or Vivian, but I couldn''t let anyone see me in this condition.


    Regarding their battles, I have already explained most of the abilities of the Beastkin representatives, so Vivian should know how to match them up.


    Reaching the forest, the trees stretched high above, their canopies casting a cool shade.


    The damp earth beneath my boots crunched softly as I leaned heavily against a tree.


    Thump!


    Another sharp pain shot through my chest, and a bitter metallic taste flooded my mouth.


    "Damn it..."


    And before I could suppress it, I coughed violently.


    Spurt!


    A mouthful of blood splattered onto the cold dirt floor, staining it crimson. My vision swayed, and my legs felt weak.


    My "constitution" or, the way my mana veins are tangled with each other, despite granting me a huge speed in the way mana manifests, comes with a huge cost.


    After all, I''m not really blessed like Lucas will be in the future.


    The cost of me using mana like this is something similar to losing my lifespan, it''s not really my lifespan, but my soul power.


    And that''s the main reason my [Spirit] attribute is Rank S, it''s something that came with this cursed "constitution".


    "Haaah..."


    So, I''m not really terminally ill, but I need to restore my soul power from while to while, and just this month, I had already used more than three times the necessary use for a month.


    And if that happens, I''ll need to start using Aura, which can complicate things for me, since my disposition is "Violet".


    I know that someday it will be revealed, but I need to make sure that I don''t turn into one of the targets of the Dark Order.


    At least, not now.


    "Gaagh!"


    Splurt!


    "Ugh... fucking hell."


    This time, the liquid that erupted from my mouth was dark and viscous, like tar which could be called the impurities of my body.


    This meant that my body had been strengthened once again, but unfortunately, none of my attributes had leveled up.


    "You''re so reckless."


    Suddenly, a voice cut through the silence.


    I glanced up to see Eleonora stepping out from behind a tree, her cold, piercing gaze fixed on the puddle of blood and impurities at my feet.


    I didn''t respond immediately, taking a moment to wipe the last traces of blood from my lips.


    "You know what happens if you keep this up, don''t you?" she said in a low voice but still sharp as a dagger.


    I met her gaze without flinching.


    "Our constitution wasn''t designed to handle this level of mana output. If you keep pushing it, you''ll destroy your mana veins." she continued, stepping closer to me.


    "Permanently."


    "Hah..."


    I let out a bitter laugh.


    This woman...


    She was so annoying.


    The only reason she wanted me as her disciple was to study this cursed condition.


    Because she had it too.


    She gave it the name...


    Twin Heart Mana Body.


    The reason she named it this is that the constitution allows the user to create an additional heart on their body.


    This grants them the ability to store mana in both of their "hearts," effectively doubling their output.


    Moreover, the constitution provides additional benefits, such as a five times faster input and output ability.


    Overall, this means the user can achieve up to ten times the normal mana power.


    However, one would need something similar to a Dragon''s Heart to fuse it with their body.


    When she first asked me to be her disciple, I was actually ecstatic, however, as soon as I realized something I immediately refused.


    The one who oversees the student''s applications is the headmistress herself, and I was rejected because they didn''t see ''talent'' in me.


    It was pretty dramatic, but yeah, after all at that time, my dream had been shattered by her herself, so I didn''t care about being polite anymore.


    I had a lot of friends during that time, and the bad rumors of the nobility disrespecting the commoners in the Royal Academy simply disgusted me.


    No way, I would accept her offer.


    But, she left a mysterious phrase before she left, saying something like...


    ''You will need me.''


    And something bad really happened, the first time I had this problem, I vomited a pool of blood a few times and my mana got in distress.


    Thankfully, I was able to solve it, but then she appeared in front of me as if teasing me.


    ''I told you. You''re going to need me in the future.''


    Which I replied coldly.


    "Hey, are you even listening to me?" She brought her hands to her waist, looking at me while she tilted her head slightly to the left.


    Her words made my thoughts break, so, I turned to face her and replied.


    "I know about my condition, I don''t need you to tell me about it."


    "Do you?"


    She pressed, stepping even closer, her brows knitting together.


    "Because if you did, you wouldn''t be burning your soul power like this."


    "Back off."


    I scoffed at her, but she continued on...


    "Lose your mana, and lose everything that makes you... you."


    Her words landed like a blow, and before I realized it, my back was pressed against the tree, her hand slamming against the bark beside my head.


    "I just need to find Lich Orb... or a Dragon Heart," I muttered slightly, meeting her eyes.


    I knew that there was one last Dragon Heart on the Luxuria''s Commerce Store. And I had been saving my money for that.


    The amount of money I owned was nowhere near it, but... I couldn''t simply let myself die.


    Not until my classmates had graduated safely, and got their dream job.


    "Hah! And you think you have enough money to afford that?"


    She raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into a cold smirk.


    "I''ve seen what you were doing in the few months. Even if you sell many high-ranking demon beasts''s cores, or even named demon beasts, it will take at least 10 to 15 years for you to gather enough money."


    That''s how expensive the Dragon''s Heart was; the Lich Orb was much cheaper, but it could only serve as a mana storage item and not as a heart, so it wasn''t worth it for me to buy.


    "That''s none of your business."


    I tried to push her back, but surprisingly, she didn''t budge at all.


    Her ocean eyes gazed back at me, and her lips parted slightly. In that moment, I knew exactly what she was about to do...


    "Be my dis¡ª"


    "¡ªno."


    I interrupted her words directly.


    "I have no plans to join your academy, or even become your disciple, besides, why would I accept such an irresponsible person as their Master?" I laughed.


    "You constantly let demons attack your academy, and let the students be the ones solving that, not to mention, that even the professors don''t do anyth..."


    My words paused slightly as I stopped speaking.


    Now that I noticed, she didn''t act to stop the demons, and the professors also didn''t, only appearing at the last moment.


    ''Don''t tell me...''


    "Y-you... are using demons to improve the abilities of your students?!"


    My eyes widened upon the realization; how come I didn''t think of that?


    She was silent upon hearing my words.


    "Only by experiencing a fight that they could potentially die, they can improve their abilities, and even if they were in true danger, one of the professors or even I would immediately act to save them."


    "Why do you think the students improve so fast in our academy? It''s mainly because of the demon constantly attacking it."


    "Hah..."


    I let out a chuckle.


    This bitch.


    As I thought, she really treats everyone as pawns.


    "Mhm, don''t worry," she said softly, her eyes locking onto mine with an unfamiliar warmth that felt strangely comforting.


    "If you truly become my disciple, I won''t treat you like that. On the contrary, I''ll spoil you as if you were my own son."


    "......"


    There was a few seconds of silence before I replied to her.


    "No."


    "Ah... this makes it... five times already?" she sighed.


    "But like I''ve said before..."


    "You''ll need me."


    She disappeared into mist, leaving me entirely alone in the forest.


    I didn''t say anything, there was nothing to say.


    Instead, I walked back to the arena where I could see Mia fighting against a tigress, and surprisingly, Mia was being pushed back by her.


    "How''s the score?"


    I asked Derek who was watching the battle.


    "Four-to-four, if Mia wins this match, we''re going to pass to the next round." His gaze switched to me before going towards the stage once again.


    Besides me, Vivian tapped my shoulder.


    "Where were you?"


    "I just went to take a breather."


    "Mhm... sure."


    Her hands brushed against my back, as her eyes turned into the arena.


    Our academy was depending on Mia right at that moment.


    Crack!


    The tip of Mia''s staff slammed against the tigress''s claws, creating a shockwave that rippled through the air.


    The impact forced both of them back, but Mia used the momentum to flip gracefully, landing in a crouch.


    "Agh..." she winced in pain.


    The force of the tigress''s attack had nearly dislocated her shoulder.


    "You''re stronger than you look."


    The tigress admitted as her orange eyes narrowed slightly.


    "And you''re slower than I thought."


    Mia shot back, a smirk tugging at her lips, and this time, she decided to switch her tactics.


    ¡º Fire Series: Barrage Barrier! (? 3rd-level Spell ?)¡»


    She twirled her staff, the crystal at its tip glowing brighter. Sparks of fiery red energy crackled around her, forming a protective barrier.


    The tigress lunged again, swinging her claws at the barrier.


    Clang!


    Her claws bounced off the shield, but the impact sent a ripple of hot energy shooting up her arm.


    The barrier was made of condensed flames after all.


    "Grrr..."


    The tigress growled in frustration.


    "Running out of steam, huh?" Mia taunted as her smirk widened.


    The tigress''s eyes flashed.


    She slammed her fists into the ground, causing the earth to tremble.


    Thram!


    The ground beneath Mia cracked and buckled, sending her sprawling.


    Thud!


    "Damn it!" Mia hissed, scrambling to her feet.


    The tigress saw her opening and charged.


    Swish!


    At the last second, Mia spun her staff, slamming it into the ground.


    ¡º Fire Series: Fire Nova! (? 4th-level Spell ?)¡»


    A burst of hot energy erupted from the crystal, spreading outward in a wave.


    Crack! Crack!


    The tigress''s legs were caught on fire, halting her mid-charge.


    The crowd erupted in cheers as Mia seized the moment.


    She channeled the last of her energy into her staff, the red crystal glowing so brightly it almost hurt to look at.


    ¡º Fire Series: Firelance Impact! (? 5th-level Spell ?)¡»


    With a loud cry, Mia hurled a massive lance of fire directly at the tigress.


    BOOM!


    The attack struck the tigress square in the chest, sending her flying backward, making her hit the ground hard, the air knocked out from her lungs.


    The tigress''s body had landed outside the arena...


    It was at that moment, that the announcer''s voice rang out.


    "The winner of the final match... is Mia, from the Silverleaf Academy!"


    She did it.


    For a split second, there was silence¡ªthen the crowd erupted.


    "YEEEAAAAH!"


    The applause and cheers rolled like thunder, shaking the very ground.


    Some spectators leaped to their feet, clapping and whistling, while others pounded the air with fists of celebration. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "And with that, I proudly announce the three academies moving to the next round: The Holy Academy, the Eternum Royal Academy, and... surprisingly, the Silverleaf Academy!"


    "OOOOOOOHHH!"


    The cheers increased even more.


    Mia staggered off the stage, her legs wobbling beneath her.


    Her hair clung to her face, damp with sweat, and her breathing was labored, but her grin outshone it all¡ªa smile filled with pride.


    "That''s our girl!"


    One of our classmates yelled, their voices barely audible over the chaos.


    Cheers erupted among our group.


    "Hah.. she did it..." Vivian let out a relieved sigh, clapping enthusiastically.


    Finally reaching our station, Mia''s eyes scanned the crowd as she limped toward us as her grin gradually widened.


    "Mia, that was amazing!" Derek called out as she got closer.


    But Mia wasn''t listening.


    Her gaze locked onto me, and suddenly, she broke into a full sprint.


    "Mia?"


    I called out, confused as to why she was approaching me.


    And before I could react, she launched herself into the air.


    Puff!


    Her arms wrapped tightly around my neck, her body colliding with mine as her legs dangled off the ground.


    I stumbled back, barely staying upright, as her soft, large breasts pressed against my chest, making my face flush crimson.


    "You were amazi¡ª"


    I started, but my words caught in my throat as Mia leaned in, and her lips immediately found mine, pressing against them with a huge intensity.


    Muah!


    The world seemed to freeze.


    "W-what...?"


    Gasps rippled through our classmates, followed by stunned silence.


    Derek''s jaw dropped comically, his eyes bulging as if they might pop out of his head.


    "Wha¡ªshe¡ªWHAT?!"


    "Oh. My. God."


    The rest of our team, already high on adrenaline and joy, erupted in laughter and cheers.


    "GO MIA!" one of them yelled.


    When Mia finally pulled back, her cheeks were as pink as her grin was radiant. Her eyes sparkled with pure happiness, her hands still resting on my shoulders.


    "We''re going to the next round!"


    She exclaimed, bouncing in place like a child who''d just won the biggest prize.


    I blinked, trying to process what had just happened, but soon, my expression broke into a faint smile.


    "Hah... since you won, I''ll let you have this one."


    Hearing my words, she looked at me with a wide grin, sticking out her tongue.


    We had passed the first phase of the competition.


    Now, we were no longer...


    The Weakest Academy.

 Chapter 26 - 26: The Academys Competition (VIII)

    "Haah... the hotel''s bed really is comfortable."


    I muttered, collapsing onto the soft mattress. The plush fabric embraced me as I rolled onto my side, the exhaustion of the day melting away.


    "Master..."


    Lumi''s soft voice pulled me back from my drifting thoughts. She was lying beside me, her translucent form shimmering faintly in the dim light.


    Her large, innocent eyes were fixed on mine, but I could see the fatigue behind them.


    I had used her as a weapon earlier, and even though she always insisted she didn''t mind, I knew it took a toll on her.


    "Here, have some sugar cubes."


    I said, holding out my palm to her.


    "YAAY!"


    Her mood flipped instantly. Lumi practically launched herself at the sugar cubes, chomping down on them with audible enthusiasm.


    Her cheeks puffed slightly as she chewed, and I couldn''t help but smile at the sight.


    She looked cute, like a squirrel munching on his food.


    "Hah... thank god, it''s one day per round, if not... we wouldn''t have a chance of winning," I muttered to myself.


    The Academy''s Competition takes three whole days since they''ve decided that after each phase, the students would need to rest to recharge their energies.


    And I''m damn thankful for that.


    Slurp!


    I blinked.


    Mhm..? What is this feeling?


    I turned to Lumi once again, and I felt a shiver running down my spine as I suddenly saw her body changing into a pink color, and her pupils turning into a vertical slit.


    "Master~~"


    Her voice took on a sultry, unfamiliar tone, and before I could react, she reached out and grasped my hand.


    Her fingers were surprisingly firm as she brought my hand to her mouth, her tongue darting out to swirl around my fingertips, licking off the remnants of sugar.


    "Lumi, stop!"


    I called out to her, taking my hand out of her mouth.


    But something was different... her tongue was different, it was...


    Longer?


    But then, she lunged forward, her sharp teeth grazing my finger.


    "Agh!"


    A sting shot through me as a few drops of blood welled up on my skin. Her unnaturally long tongue shot out, snatching the drops in one single movement.


    And that was when I truly saw her tongue.


    It was a long tongue, very reminiscent of a snake''s, having a split in the middle.


    "Don''t tell me...?"


    I gulped audibly, prompting her to look at me with curious, yet sharp eyes.


    In the novel, there was a mention of an ancient creature called the: "Gluttonous Slime".


    This rare type of slime could absorb the racial traits of creatures it devoured and replicate their abilities¡ªsometimes even their physical characteristics.


    "Was Lumi... one of them?"


    No wonder she had been targeted by that insane scientist. Not to mention, that she must be the reason the morph weapon she became was considered a high-grade artifact.


    So... if the Holy Nation truly saw me with her, I could potentially become their target of elimination.


    God damn it.


    My life is only getting more complicated with each passing second.


    "Now... how do I get you back to normal?"


    I muttered, rubbing my temples as she continued suckling my finger, her tongue savoring every drop of blood like it was the most exquisite treat in existence.


    But the moment I spoke, she stopped.


    Her tongue withdrew slowly, and her vertical pupils met mine.


    "Hey... what are you doing?"


    She crawled closer to me until her face was just a few centimeters away. Her tongue stuck out, and suddenly...


    Lick...


    She licked my neck, causing my body to quiver unnaturally.


    "Master... tasty~"


    Her voice dripped with delight, and a shiver ran through my body as her tongue glided down my neck.


    "Stop."


    I uttered coldly, making her tongue retract back almost immediately.


    Woah... this was more effective than I had thought.


    And if that wasn''t enough, the pink hue faded, her snake-like traits disappearing as quickly as they had come.


    In moments, she was back to her usual shimmering green form with her long cyan-tinted hair framing her small, innocent face.


    "Master?" she called out, tilting her head in her usual manner, full of curiosity.


    "Hah..."


    I let out a long sigh of relief and reached out to pat her head. She leaned into my touch, her eyes closing as a contented hum escaped her lips.


    "You''re too cute for your own good."


    However, if this cute thing is a gluttonous smile...


    It''s going to be a very, very big problem if someone finds out.


    "Damn it..."


    Leaning my back against the bed, Lumi snuggled into my chest and let out a small giggle right next to my ear.


    I hope this peaceful atmosphere doesn''t go away.


    .....


    The next day, after waking up and finishing my daily routine, I rushed out to the arena. My classmates were probably already there waiting for me.


    I was already late.


    ''Gosh, I hate mornings...!''


    Clang!


    The sharp clash of metal greeted me as I entered the arena. Two figures were sparring under the morning sun.


    Ella and Lucas.


    Seeing them locked in combat, I exhaled a sigh of relief. I wasn''t late after all. But... something felt off.


    The usually bustling arena was strangely empty.


    "Hah... A-Aestrea...?"


    Ella stammered, her voice faltering mid-swing as her eyes landed on me.


    "Mhm? Oh, hey!"


    I greeted her with a casual smile and nodded toward Lucas, who lowered his weapon slightly.


    "What are you doing here?" Lucas asked, his eyebrows furrowing slightly.


    I was confused but decided to ask nonetheless.


    "I thought the second phase was happening right now?"


    Lucas chuckled, shaking his head.


    "Let me guess¡ªyou''re not good with mornings?"


    "Not at all."


    He smirked faintly before explaining:


    "Today''s competition is postponed. It seems the Saintess had an issue and needed to take a day off to heal from some injuries."


    "Huh... no wonder."


    I muttered, stretching my arms until I heard a satisfying crack.


    "Well, thanks for letting me know. Guess I''ll leave you two lovebirds alone," I teased with a sly grin, turning on my heel to leave.


    "W-wait! We''re not lovebirds!"


    Ella shouted after me, her cheeks flushing a deep red.


    I chuckled at her reaction but didn''t stop walking. Lucas remained silent, though I caught the subtle twitch of his lips. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ella''s future is designed to be with Lucas, so in the future, she''ll probably turn into his wife.


    Although I teased her in Lavousier''s Cafe... that shouldn''t change their relationship, right?


    Well, it doesn''t really matter.


    If today is a free day, then I guess I''ll take a trip around the capital.


    But then, something struck me.


    Wait a second.


    Did Lucas say something about the Saintess having a problem?


    Immediately, I turned back and then approached Lucas again.


    "What... are you doing here again?"


    Lucas asked, exasperation creeping into his voice.


    "I just have a small question, I won''t bother you too much. What exactly happened to the Saintess?"


    Hearing my words, Lucas had a thoughtful expression as held his chin, but then, he finally seemed to have remembered something.


    "I think... it was something related to the attack of demon beasts."


    I froze entirely.


    "Demon beasts?"


    "It seems that more and more demon beasts seem to be appearing around the capital, more precisely around the forest zone."


    "And unfortunately... many people got injured because of that. Some people even..." His voice trailed off, and his expression turned somber.


    "...died."


    I went blank upon hearing his words.


    "Aestrea...?"


    Ella called out to me, seemingly staring at my face.


    What kind of expression was I making, I wondered.


    "You... okay?" She stepped closer, concern etched across her face.


    But, my lips quickly curled into a smile as I replied to her with the same tone.


    "I''m fine. Just thinking about something."


    "I''ll be going now..."


    I said leaving them alone.


    "His expression..." Ella murmured softly.


    Lucas glanced at her, then nodded.


    "He seemed a little bit off. As if something that shouldn''t have happened... actually happened."


    "Exactly..."


    Ella bit her lip, a flicker of unease crossing her features.


    "Fuck..."


    My mind was a whirlwind as I stormed through the corridors, heading straight for the forest.


    Swoop!


    CRASH!


    I slammed my fist into a tree, splintering it in half. The crack echoed through the stillness, but it did nothing to calm the rage boiling inside me.


    I gritted my teeth as I swung yet another punch at some other three.


    Why?


    WHY?!


    I was warned by the system.


    I could prevent people from being dead!


    And instead of investigating... damn it.


    I shouldn''t have gone to the academy competition when I knew that there was a fucking horde of demon beasts coming to attack.


    "DAMN IT!"


    THRASH!


    Another tree shattered, then another, as my fists tore through the forest. The gusts from my strikes toppled even those untouched.


    I bit down hard on my lip, tasting the faint metallic tang of blood.


    I should have investigated sooner. I should have taken the warnings seriously.


    "I can''t wait anymore."


    I growled through my gritted teeth.


    "I''ll leave a note for Vivian or something."


    Furrowing my eyebrows, I went back to the hotel where I met Lumi and made her transform back into a sword.


    Then, I walked to Vivian''s hotel room and left a small note before leaving for the forest.


    The note talked about how I would probably only appear during the last phase of the competition if they indeed passed without me.


    Along with that, it was the weakness and fighting ways of every opponent that I had seen fighting.


    I hope they can hold on without me and reach the last phase of the competition.


    Besides, if there''s a chance of that horde of monsters appearing, I need to make sure they die before it''s too late.


    Even if I told the Sword Circle or the Holy Nation, they probably wouldn''t believe it. So, I''ll need to make this my own way.


    I was still wearing my Leader''s Suit as I walked down the forest, and couldn''t see my expression, sometimes I couldn''t help but think...


    Was this an expression by Aestrea or me?


    Or both of us?


    I knew we had become a single entity, but still...


    It felt strange, this rage coming deeply from my heart. I was never infuriated like this before, but why was I so mad?


    I didn''t know.


    But soon enough...


    Something reached my nostrils.


    The disgusting smell of blood.

 Chapter 27 - 27: The Academys Competition (IX)

    "Shit..."


    Aestrea muttered under his breath as he stepped into the forest. The sight before him was like something out of a nightmare.


    The trees and bushes were drenched in blood, droplets running down their stem and leaves like crimson rain. The ground was littered with mangled bodies, twisted and broken in ways that made his stomach churn.


    Some were still twitching faintly, a grotesque reminder of the life they had lost moments ago.


    "Grrr..."


    Low growls filled the air as wolf-like creatures with glowing red eyes appeared in his vision.


    Their teeth, sharp and glistening, tore into the corpses with wet, crunching sounds, scattering bits of flesh and bone as they devoured their prey.


    The sight made his stomach turn.


    And suddenly, one of the creatures stopped eating. Its ears twitched, and it lifted its head, sniffing the air.


    Slowly, its glowing eyes turned toward him.


    "GRRRRR!"


    Immediately, the demon beast lunged towards Aestrea, its jaws snapping shut mere inches from Aestrea''s face.


    He quickly dodged its attack and enveloped his sword with mana before swinging it¡ªthe crescent wave of icy energy shot forward, slicing through the air with a chilling whistle.


    Splurt!


    The wave struck the demon beast, cleaving the wolf cleanly in half.


    Blood sprayed violently from the bisected beast, splattering across Aestrea''s clothes and face.


    He didn''t flinch, his eyes were cold as the now-lifeless halves of the beast hit the ground with a sickening thud.


    "Ah... wolf-type demon beasts. This is indeed a big problem. However, if they are only C+ rank demon beasts, it shouldn''t pose a problem for now."


    GROOOWLL!


    Emerging from the shadows were more wolves, their glowing red eyes piercing the darkness. Their mangy fur bristled as they bared their teeth, some with trails of blood already dripping from fresh wounds on their bodies.


    It was as if these beasts had fought their way through the forest, drawn to the scent of blood.


    "God damn it... just what I needed," Aestrea said sarcastically, gripping his sword tightly.


    Immediately, Lumi transformed into a handgun, and a bullet shot rang out.


    Splat!


    BAM!


    The moment the bullet pierced the wolf''s body, a few spikes of ice emerged, killing a group of wolves around him.


    Blood spattered the ground as the wolves yelped in agony. But more kept coming, their relentless hunger pushing them forward.


    GROWl!


    They lunged towards Aestrea; he immediately leaped back, gathering distance before two consecutive shots rang out.


    FREEZE!


    One of the wolves turned into a statue, and then, the second shot hit the frozen statue, making small shards spread across the forest, hitting more beasts.


    He gathered more distance and looked forward, seeing even more wolves approaching him with their ominous red eyes reminiscent of his own.


    "Huff..."


    He took a deep breath as his eyes started glowing even more.


    He planted his feet firmly on the ground, channeling his mana into Lumi, making her turn back into a sword.


    The sword began to glow with a silver light, frost forming along its edge.


    SLAM!


    ¡º Mixed Ice Series: Ice Lotus Explosion! (? 5th-level Spell ?)¡»


    He drove his sword into the earth, and an enormous ice lotus erupted from the ground. The crystalline petals expanded outward, sharp as blades, impaling the wolves that dared to come too close.


    Blood sprayed in every direction, splattering across the frozen ground and staining the pristine ice crimson.


    "Haah¡ªagh!"


    Aestrea winced as pain shot through his arm.


    Glancing down, he noticed the mana vein in his arm had ruptured again.


    "Damn it... not right now!"


    Having a plan in mind, he closed his eyes for a while as the wolves slowly approached him, with their mouths salivating.


    GROWWL!


    A group of four jumped into him, prompting Aestrea to shoot his eyes open and swiftly leap back.


    "I''ll need to try and create a suitable mana vessel for my arm... this can take a few hours." He muttered to himself, as his eyes scanned the forest around him.


    He was looking for something similar to a cave so that he could hide himself for a while to heal back his arm.


    ROAAR!


    With his mouth wide open, a wolf suddenly appeared catching Aestsrea off guard.


    In that instant, Aestrea twisted his body mid-air, delivering a sharp bicycle kick that landed squarely on the beast''s jaw.


    THAM!


    The wolf was sent flying, blood pouring from its mouth as it crashed into a tree, leaving a streak of red on the bark.


    It was at that moment, that a small cave appeared in his eyes. He immediately created a floating ice platform and pressed his foot firmly on it, enveloping it with mana.


    Swoop!


    He propelled himself toward the cave, rolling inside just as another pack of wolves lunged for him.


    CRASH!


    He slammed his hand against the ground, creating a thick ice barrier at the cave''s entrance that could protect him for a while.


    The snarling and clawing of the beasts echoed faintly from the other side.


    "Haah... huff... I can finally take a rest..." he sighed in relief, collapsing against the cave wall.


    He immediately settled into a lotus position and began gathering mana in his right arm to create a temporary mana vessel.


    This would allow him to use his arm as a mana vein without damaging his actual mana veins.


    "Haaah..."


    A cold breath escaped his mouth as a faint layer of ice started to envelop his body.


    This technique was what Aestrea called ¡º Crystallization ¡» which could make his body heal three times faster than normal.


    Due to his extremely high affinity with ice, the coldness from the ice would help heal his injuries.


    And so, he remained in that position, allowing himself to heal over time.


    This process would take over fifteen hours.


    .....


    The next day, the air was thick with tension as the three remaining academies gathered in the center of the grand arena while the eliminated academies watched from the crowded stands.


    All eyes were on the arena floor, where the next phase of the academy competition was about to begin.


    Yet, something felt off.


    The person who had stolen the spotlight in the first phase, the one who made others seem insignificant just by his presence, was nowhere to be seen.


    "Where is Silverleaf''s Leader...?"


    "Yeah, I was wondering the same thing."


    "How come he isn''t here?"


    A murmur of confusion rippled through the audience.


    Even the announcer hesitated, glancing at the Silverleaf Academy''s station before clearing his throat awkwardly.


    "Well¡­ uh, since everyone except one person seems to be here, I''ll go ahead and explain the rules for the second phase."


    The crowd quieted down, leaning in to hear him.


    "It''s pretty simple actually; each academy selects one student to enter the arena. Then, a student from another academy will step in to challenge them."


    "The winner stays in the arena and earns a point for their academy, but the loser is eliminated and cannot participate again."


    A buzz of excitement swept through the crowd.


    The competition had just gotten more intense.


    "Did everyone understand?"


    The announcer asked, gripping the microphone.


    "What if a student wins a match? Can they leave the arena after that?" Ella asked curiously. After all, one student could win a match and then rest.


    Hearing Ella''s questions, everyone was filled with curiosity, they had forgotten about that detail.


    "Good point! No, once a student enters the arena, they cannot leave until they lose or win the entire phase for their academy. Any other questions?"


    The crowd fell silent.


    Nobody else raised their hand nor asked any questions.


    "Alright then!"


    The announcer''s voice boomed, reigniting the energy in the arena.


    "Let the second phase of the academy''s competition¡­ begin!"


    At that moment, no one dared to enter, but everyone''s gaze instinctively turned towards the Silverleaf''s Station.


    If Aestrea had been present, he would likely have been the first to enter the arena.


    "Guess I''ll be the one to go," Lucas said, also looking at Silverleaf''s Station as he stepped into the arena.


    He was confident that he could earn at least five points for his academy.


    However, as soon as he stepped into the arena, the conversation between him and Aestrea from yesterday flashed on his mind.


    But he quickly shrugged it off as he saw the Saintess in the Holy Academy''s Station.


    Soon enough, another figure stepped into the arena.


    The crowd gasped as they recognized her that it was Christina, the Saintess.


    As she walked forward, her gaze locked onto Lucas.


    The tension in the air thickened.


    Slowly, she brought out her staff, and in an instant, a golden light erupted around her, cascading like sunlight breaking through a storm.


    Lucas''s eyes widened as his grip tightened around his sword.


    He could see that she was planning to go all out.


    Christina as a Saintess had a very good eye for people, and could easily measure everyone''s strength... except Aestrea''s.


    He was a mystery to her.


    Lucas was like an open book to her; she knew his power was comparable to A-rank awakeners, and that made him a threat.


    If she didn''t take him down, he could rack up enough points to put his academy in the lead. She couldn''t let that happen.


    "May the first match begin!" the announcer''s voice rang out across the arena.


    "After this, anyone who enters can jump straight into battle!"


    The moment the words ended, Lucas exploded into action.


    SWOOP! S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He lunged at Christina, faster than the crowd expected.


    Clang!


    Their weapons collided, the sound reverberating like a thunderclap, as a deep golden light erupted in every way.

 Chapter 28 - 28: The Academys Competition (X)

    Tshu!


    Lucas was pushed back, his shoes sinking into the ground as he struggled to withstand the impact of their exchange.


    Immediately, Christina didn''t give Lucas a chance, her golden staff glowed brightly as she raised it high, her mana surging in waves.


    ¡º Holy Academy Series: Holy Beam! (? 4th-level Spell ?) ¡»


    A golden beam shot towards Lucas, prompting him to leap to the side. However, Christina kept her aim steady, directing the beam to follow him as he dashed around the arena.


    Then, his stance shifted slightly as a black flame enveloped his sword.


    "Demon Slaying Sword Art..."


    ¡º Corrupted Sword! (? Advanced-level Swordsmanship (B+) ?) ¡»


    Clang!


    Their weapon met, each one trying to push the other pack, but slowly, the black flames on Lucas''s sword began to consume the golden light radiating from Christina''s staff.


    Seeing this, she immediately jumped back, grabbed daggers from her waist, and threw them at Lucas.


    Clang, clang!


    Lucas easily deflected them with his sword, but just in that instant, the daggers suddenly exploded.


    BOOOM!


    THRRRR!


    "Kugh!"


    Blood spurted from his lips as he was hurled backward like a ragdoll.


    He tumbled across the arena floor before slamming his sword into the ground to stop his momentum, coming to a halt just a meter away from the arena''s edge.


    "Huh... she''s really tricky," he said, panting.


    Wiping the blood from his mouth with the back of his hand, he got up.


    However, Christian didn''t waste any second, she thrust her staff forward. The air around her shimmered, glowing runes forming an intricate circle in front of her.


    ¡º Holy Academy Series: Holy Chains! (? 4th-level Spell ?) ¡»


    Golden chains shot out from the circle, twisting and writhing like serpents as they raced toward Lucas.


    He barely had time to react, swinging his sword to intercept them.


    The first few chains disintegrated on contact with the black flames, but more kept coming, relentless and unyielding.


    "Tch!"


    Lucas clicked his tongue and spun as his sword sliced through chain after chain.


    But they weren''t just aiming for his sword¡ªthey snaked around his legs and arms, pulling tight like a trap.


    Before he could fully counter, Christina was already moving.


    She raised her staff high, the air around her shimmering with heat.


    ¡º Holy Academy Series: Divine Smite! (? 5th-level Spell ?) ¡»


    BOOOM!


    The heavens themselves seemed to crack open as a column of blinding light descending with devastating force.


    Fwooosh!


    Lucas planted his sword into the ground, a protective barrier of dark flames roaring to life around him.


    The light clashed against his flames, the ground beneath him splitting.


    Lucas gritted his teeth, his muscles trembling under the pressure.


    "Come on¡­ come on!" he growled, his voice straining.


    He pushed upward, and the flames surged in response, shattering the light.


    "Hah..."


    Christina stumbled back, her breath hitching, but her sharp gaze never wavered as she raised her staff once again, floating orbs of light materializing around her.


    Each orb crackled ominously before Christina uttered:


    "Go!"


    Swoop!


    The orbs were sent towards Lucas, and he quickly ducked dodging one of the orbs, but immediately, his shoulder was met with one of the orbs.


    BOOM!


    It exploded, making him spin in mid-air, but he recovered, twisting into a counterstrike. His sword flashed, dark flames surging forward toward Christina.


    Their weapons met again, the impact resounding with a loud sound as sparks flew, and Christina''s grip faltered for the briefest moment.


    In that instant, Lucas''s eyes narrowed.


    "Demon Slaying Sword Art..."


    ¡º Devastation Sword! (? Advanced-level Swordsmanship (A) ?) ¡»


    The dark flames erupted into a massive vortex with a deafening sound, the energy crackling like thunder.


    Lucas swung his sword with all his might, the black fire cutting through Christina''s defenses.


    CLANG!


    Her staff flew from her hands, and she dropped to one knee, her breathing ragged.


    "Haah... huff... ah..."


    The arena went silent except for Lucas''s heavy breaths. His sword lowered, the flames dissipating with a quiet hiss.


    It was silent for a few seconds...


    "OOOWWWOOOOO!"


    "SO COOL!"


    The crowd erupted in cheers.


    Christina, still catching her breath, slowly pushed herself off the ground and walked back to her station.


    But just as the noise from the crowd began to settle, something shifted.


    One of the students from Silverleaf Academy stepped forward.


    It was Mia.


    As soon as she set foot on the arena floor, a soft glow of mana flickered around her, but then it thickened¡ªswirling and tightening as a cyclone of flames ignited in her hands.


    Lucas''s eyes widened, and he immediately tensed, preparing himself for the attack.


    Fwoosh!


    His instincts kicked in, and he quickly enveloped his sword in its usual dark flame and swung it vertically, aiming to split the cyclone in half.


    Whooooosh!


    The black flames cut through the fiery barrier, splitting the cyclone as he''d hoped. But before he could even take a breath, a flash of movement appeared right in front of him.


    Mia was there, in an instant¡ªher hands pressed against his chest.


    "Ah¡ª!"


    He barely had time to react.


    ¡ªBAAAM!


    A violent shockwave sent Lucas flying backward, the flames of the cyclone spinning around him, engulfing him in a fiery spiral.


    He couldn''t control his momentum, his body helpless as the flames continued to push him through the air.


    Thud!


    Lucas hit the cold, hard ground of the arena with a grunt, pain shooting through his body.


    The crowd, once alive with energy, fell into stunned silence as the crowd processed what had just happened.


    Lucas stood there for a moment, dazed, as the overwhelming sensation of defeat hit him.


    He had barely managed to win the first match, but now, he had already lost the second one in the blink of an eye.


    "Hah... it really worked as Aestrea said..."


    Mia muttered to herself as she smiled with quiet satisfaction.


    She turned and walked toward her next opponent as if she hadn''t just knocked out one of the strongest students.


    The small note Aestrea had left had multiple situations of how to deal with certain students.


    Vivian was firstly shocked and worried upon reading the note, but she quickly cleared her head and then explained to the others about Aestrea''s plan.


    None of them refused his plans.


    They all believed him.


    Never did he let them off.


    And soon, the rounds of the competition went on.


    Mia was a huge help for Silverleaf, winning a total of 3 matches in a row before losing because she didn''t have enough mana.


    The brothers Derek and James both won two matches, while Maria actually was a bit more undefeated as she won three matches like Mia.


    As for the other students, all of them had actually had a great performance thanks to Aestrea''s note that helped them, even though most of them didn''t win a single match.


    From them, it was crazy to think that Aestrea had formulated so many plans just from watching the students for a few hours or so.


    But, of course, they were thankful that he did so.


    In the end, Silverleaf Academy had managed to secure exactly 12 wins.


    The Royal Academy had dominated with 26 wins, and the Holy Academy...


    BAAM!


    The last student from the Holy Academy was sent flying out of the arena, crashing to the ground with a resounding thud.


    With that, the Royal Academy now had 27 wins, and the Holy Academy was left with only 11.


    The result was clear.


    "Alright everyone, with only one student left standing, I''m proud to announce the two academies that will be moving on to the final round¡­"


    The announcer''s voice rang out.


    There was a pause, the tension building as the crowd leaned in.


    "First, the academy everyone expected¡­ the prestigious Eternum Royal Academy!"


    The crowd went wild, cheers and shouts echoing all over the arena.


    Everyone had known the Royal Academy would make it to the finals.


    Their victory felt almost guaranteed, and the excitement felt a little more like relief than surprise.


    "And finally¡­" The announcer''s voice shifted, building the suspense, "the one that nobody expected, the true Dark Horse of this competition¡­" S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A hush fell over the crowd, followed by eager whispers.


    "...The Silverleaf Academy!"


    The reaction was immediate and loud¡ªcheers, whistles, claps¡ªbut even though the noise was huge, the students of Silverleaf couldn''t help but feel a little off.


    It wasn''t the celebration they had imagined.


    They stood there, looking around, but no one moved to run into the arena or wave a flag.


    It felt wrong.


    After all...


    Aestrea, their leader and the one who practically granted them this victory.


    Wasn''t present.


    .....


    "Master! The barrier is almost broken!"


    Lumi''s panicked voice reached my ears as I shot my eyes open.


    "Just in time..."


    A small smile tugged at my lips as I reached out to gently pat Lumi''s head.


    "Master...?" she asked, tilting her head to the side in that adorable way of hers. I couldn''t help but chuckle softly at the sight.


    "Lumi, it''s time for you to test your special abilities..."


    I softly caressed her cheek as I spoke, and though she looked a little confused, she nodded eagerly.


    "Mhm?"


    Without another word, she transformed back into a sword. I ran my fingers lightly over the blade before gripping the hilt firmly.


    Crack...!


    The ice barrier I had set up hours ago splintered apart with a sharp sound.


    I had spent the past few hours creating a mana vessel for my right arm, and it was holding up¡ªat least for now.


    It should last a solid three days.


    Even if I had to use the third move of my sword art.


    It wasn''t the cheapest thing to make, but I didn''t care.


    My life was more than worth it.


    "Lumi... activate the snake ability."


    I muttered slightly, and slowly, I felt a rush running up my spine¡ª


    "Agh..."


    A sharp pain hit my eyes, so intense that I immediately shut them.


    It wasn''t just the pain; something felt... off like something was changing inside me.


    From one of my wounds, a drop of blood slipped from my body and fell to the ground.


    Hisss.....


    I heard a faint, unsettling hiss.


    Opening my eyes carefully, I looked down at the spot where the blood had fallen.


    To my surprise, the blood wasn''t just lying there¡ªit started melting through the ground like acid, the stone beneath it dissolving strangely.


    And that it wasn''t the only thing.


    My vision...


    No, my entire perception was changing.


    The heat in the room stood out like a blazing fire, and I could see it. I could feel the cold temperature where the wolves were breaking down my ice barrier.


    Then, my reflection caught my eye in the blade of my sword.


    My pupils...


    They weren''t normal anymore.


    My eyes were like Lumi''s from before, with vertical pupils in a red shade that looked ominous.


    And my strength... my agility, both of them seemed to have increased by a lot.


    It had worked.


    Because I was in a blood contract with Lumi, I could use her unique abilities.


    And that meant...


    I had the power of a gluttonous smile.


    CRACK!


    The wolves finally broke through the ice barrier with a violent roar.


    But when they saw me standing there, staring at them, their momentum faltered.


    A few of them hesitated, eyes widening as they locked on to mine.


    I didn''t move, just stood there, looking at them.


    And then...


    A slow smile spread across my lips.


    "Gosh..."


    "I don''t know if it''s because I''ve partly turned into a snake, but... I''m hungry."


    I licked my dry lips.


    The moment the words left my mouth, I shot forward, faster than I ever had before.


    Growwwl...


    The soft growls of the frightened wolves echoed through the cave.

 Chapter 29 - 29: The Academys Competition (XI)

    "Aha..."


    A soft sigh slipped from my lips as I settled down among the lifeless bodies of the demon beasts.


    The sight was both gruesome and oddly satisfying.


    "Gosh... there were hundreds of them. This should make some money."


    I smiled to myself as I imagined the amount of money I''d get for these corpses and cores.


    Unfortunately, I didn''t have any spatial ring to store their corpses, and my system was quite useless¡ªexcept for the part that could foresee a potential ''outcome''.


    ¡¼Oh, really...?¡½


    Suddenly, a panel popped up in front of my eyes, interrupting my thoughts.


    "Ah... you can also appear when you''re not needed," I muttered, not even bothering to take a second glance at the panel.


    ¡¼...¡½


    "Come on... I don''t even know your functions, besides, even though you helped me, I don''t really trust you."


    I had read enough novels to know how these systems usually worked.


    They often turned out to be some kind of power-granting machine for the main character, and I wasn''t about to fall into that clich¨¦.


    If anything, I shouldn''t rely too much on it.


    But I shrugged it off.


    It shouldn''t be a big deal. I could handle things on my own, and besides, this system was practically useless anyway.


    ¡¼Aestrea.¡½


    "Mhm?"


    ¡¼Why do you think you''ve transmigrated into this world?¡½ sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    I froze at the question.


    It was something I hadn''t really thought about until now.


    I mean, I had been so caught up in living Aestrea''s life that the idea of why I was here hadn''t crossed my mind.


    After all, with Aestrea''s memories flooding my mind, it felt like I belonged here, like this was my new world, my home.


    But honestly...


    "I don''t see the need to know the reason. I''m having fun in this world." I replied, trying to brush off the question.


    ¡¼I see...¡½


    In my past life, I was an award-winning actor, one of the most famous faces in the world.


    I had experienced the glitz and glamour, but I also had a front-row seat to the darker aspects of human nature.


    People can be incredibly selfish, driven by their desires and ambitions. I had seen friends turn into rivals and vice versa, hiding their gaze of envy and betrayal.


    The industry was filled with backstabbing and manipulation, where loyalty was often just a word thrown around to gain favor.


    It was a world where people would do anything for fame, even if it meant stepping on others to get there.


    Of course, this also applies in this world.


    But unlike my past world, this one is actually fun.


    I''m not a particularly important person, and I can live my life freely. Never had I imagined that I would be able to frequent school again, it''s more than refreshing.


    ¡¼Then, I hope that you can have fun here.¡½


    Another panel appeared in front of me as if trying to express empathy towards me.


    "Well, anyways... I have things to do."


    ¡ºJudgement Eye (? S-Level Skill ?)¡»


    I jumped out of the pile of corpses as a faint symbol of a balance scale appeared in my now returned-to-normal pupils.


    This pile of wolves wasn''t nothing compared to that vision I had.


    Not to mention, that named demon beast that I saw.


    From its ominous eyes and the most prominent feature that I saw... its horns that curled back.


    After that day, I spent quite a few hours in the library, trying to find a named demon beast that could fit that description.


    And the only one I found was the...


    Bloodclaw Spirit Wolf.


    A demon beast that was on the lower stages of the S Rank, but it was more than enough to destroy an entire country alone.


    If they didn''t have S-rank awakeners of course.


    Normally, someone like me, who wasn''t even an A-Rank awakened, wouldn''t stand a chance against such a beast.


    I had needed Lucas''s help just to take down the Bulking Demon.


    So why would I even think about challenging a Bloodclaw Spirit Wolf on my own?


    It was simple.


    Bloodclaw Spirit Wolfs, are a very, but very rare species. The kind that even in a hundred years, wouldn''t have a chance to appear.


    Because of that, their bodies are naturally resistant to any kind of danger, not to mention their bloodline ability.


    If I had to give a reason as to why I wanted to kill this demon beast so madly other than protecting my classmates...


    It was because of their bloodline ability, their blood claws could inflict damage, and open wounds with just the slightest touch.


    I wanted that ability, really badly.


    "Even you, Lumi... you''re excited to get stronger, right?" I said, glancing at the sword in my hand.


    To my surprise, it quivered slightly, as if nodding in agreement. I couldn''t help but chuckle at the thought.


    Even if I couldn''t kill it...


    No.


    I was going to kill it.


    I had to.


    And soon, I found myself in a strangely familiar place.


    The trees were tall, which didn''t allow sunlight to pass through.


    Their twisted roots sprawled across the ground, making it hard to move without falling.


    A faint mist hung in the air, growing thicker the farther it stretched, and in the distance, the sound of a running current of water could be heard.


    The ground was a mess, with broken branches and scorched patches of earth.


    The smell of burned wood was strong, mixed with the metallic smell of blood.


    "Ah..."


    I looked forward, and there, a group of red eyes emerged from the ominous mist as they came from the shadows of the trees.


    Growwll...


    Their low growls rumbled through the air as they formed a wide circle around me, leaving a massive space in the center.


    Then, from the mist, a creature stepped forward¡ªmore than five times the size of the other wolves.


    It had a blood-colored horn that curled back and diamond-shaped red pupils that seemed to pierce right through me.


    "Ahah... I found you..."


    I muttered coldly to myself, feeling my pupils shift into vertical slits. I tightened my grip on the sword''s handle as I noticed the weaker wolves surrounding me.


    The named demon beast was clever; it didn''t approach directly and instead sent its underlings to wear me down.


    But I wasn''t here to deal with those weaklings. I was going straight for the boss.


    Mana surged through my legs as I pulled my sword back, shifting into a stance that would allow me to slice through anything in my path.


    Then...


    Rumble!


    Like a bolt of lightning, I dashed toward the named demon beast.


    Clang!


    My sword met its blood-colored horn with a resounding clash, the impact sending vibrations up my arm.


    ROAARRRR!


    .....


    "Ladies, and gentlemen!"


    The announcer''s voice boomed across the entire arena, cutting through the chatter and excitement of the crowd.


    "Welcome to the final phase of our annual academy competition! This last phase will be quite simple, so listen closely."


    As everyone turned their attention to him, the announcer gestured toward a small portal that shimmered in the center of the arena.


    "Both academies will be entering an artificial dungeon, and the elimination process will work like a team battle royale."


    He paused for dramatic effect, letting the anticipation build.


    "Each student will wear a special bracelet that acts like a second life. If a student is killed, they will be teleported out of the dungeon, confirming their elimination."


    The crowd murmured in excitement, and the announcer continued, his voice rising with enthusiasm.


    "Finally, the last student or students standing will declare the winner for their academy!"


    Then, with enough built up energy, he continued:


    "From our left! We have the prestigious Eternum Royal Academy!"


    The crowd erupted into cheers, their excitement palpable.


    On the left side, Ella led her classmates in her Leader''s Suit, confidently striding toward the arena.


    The students behind her waved their flag high, their spirits clearly lifted.


    "And on our right, we have the dark horse of the competition, the Silverleaf Academy!"


    The cheers grew louder, but then they began to fade as the crowd noticed something unsettling.


    Aestrea, the leader of Silverleaf Academy, was missing.


    The students from the Silverleaf Academy walked slowly to the arena, their heads down, and they didn''t even bother to wave their flag.


    One would think that the way they were acting was pretty exaggerated, but no.


    For them, Aestrea was like their shining light, the one who took them out of a world full of darkness.


    Like a parental figure.


    Without him here...


    Would it really matter if they won the competition or not?


    Seeing the lack of enthusiasm, the announcer tried to rally their spirits.


    "Remember, any late student can still enter the competition as long as they step into the portal before all their classmates are eliminated!"


    But his words didn''t seem to have the desired effect, and he let out a resigned sigh.


    "Alright, everyone, please enter the portal. The crowd will be watching on the gigantic screens that will appear once each student steps inside."


    As the students began to enter the portal, multiple screens flickered to life, showcasing their faces.


    However, two much larger screens stood out from the rest.


    One displayed Ella, while the other... was completely blank.


    It was supposed to show Aestrea''s figure, but instead, it was just an empty space.


    "Without further ado, let''s begin the final battle to determine who is the strongest!"


    The crowd cheered, though the energy wasn''t quite as electric as before.


    It was astonishing to think that the absence of a single person could have such a profound impact on the atmosphere.

 Chapter 30 - 30: The Academys Competition (XII)

    ROAARRR!


    The moment Aestrea''s sword clashed against the Bloodclaw Wolf''s crimson horn, the beast let out a furious roar, swinging its massive paw toward him.


    Zing!


    A giant, clawed paw came hurtling at Aestrea, forcing him to sidestep to the left just in time.


    Splurt!


    But it was too late; the edge of the claw grazed his right shoulder, tearing through flesh and muscle.


    The Bloodclaw Wolf''s lips curled into a menacing snarl as its paw stretched out toward Aestrea once more.


    Shing!


    Splurt!


    "Arghhhhhh!"


    Aestrea screamed as the small wound on his shoulder ripped open wider, blood gushing out like a fountain, creating a dark stain on the ground beneath him.


    He gritted his teeth, a faint layer of mana enveloping his shoulder in a desperate attempt to stem the bleeding.


    He was about to retaliate when he noticed a pack of smaller wolves eyeing him hungrily.


    "God damn it..."


    He enveloped his sword in its usual silver color and swung at the wolves.


    But this time, it wasn''t the same as before.


    Instead of a crescent wave of mana, he unleashed a piercing shot that punched a hole straight through one of the wolves.


    Then, he turned to the big wolf and dashed towards him.


    Growl...!


    The small wolves together jumped in Aestrea''s direction upon seeing his intention to attack the big wolf, catching him off guard.


    He twisted his body mid-air, and then took the opportunity to increase the amount of mana in his sword, swinging it down.


    Splurt!


    Blood sprayed everywhere as he sliced through the smaller wolves, their bodies cleaved in half, leaving a gruesome scene behind.


    But what Aestrea didn''t notice, was the massive wolf charging at him from the side.


    THRAM!


    The big wolf swung his arm at him, giving a strong strike on Aestrea''s stomach region.


    "Kugh¡ª!"


    Aestrea''s eyes widened spontaneously, and blood gushed out of his mouth. This body was blown away and flung onto a tall tree.


    Crash!


    The tree cracked in half as Aestrea''s body passed through it before it landed on the river nearby splashing his whole body.


    "Ugh..."


    He stood up groaning faintly as he felt every part of his body aching in pain.


    Naturally, the big wolf didn''t give Aestrea time to rest before two attacks, in the form of a giant blood claw, came towards him.


    He bit his lip, dragging his battered body to the right just in time to avoid the attack.


    But he was still careless.


    Crunch!


    "KAAGH!"


    One of the nearby wolves successfully bit down on his injured shoulder, prompting him to let out a scream.


    He quickly grabbed the wolf''s body and threw it on the ground before stabbing it with a sword.


    "Kagh... haah... uhh..."


    His breath came down ragged as more and more wolves approached him. He wiped the blood from his lips, then, his eyes turned colder than before.


    "I didn''t think... I''d be using this so soon..." he muttered, exhaling a breath that came out in a misty cloud.


    THRRUUUM!


    ¡º Your Aura attribute has been successfully awakened. ¡»


    A panel popped in front of him.


    His body was suddenly enveloped in a silver light, trembling slightly as the color deepened into a metallic lavender¡ªa perfect mixture of violet and silver.


    And then, another papel appeared in front of him.


    ¡º Aura''s Rank: S+


    ? Disposition: Violet (Power & Luxury)¡»


    Ignoring the panel, he cracked his neck and gripped the handle of his sword tightly.


    "Moonlit Ice Lotus Sword Art..." Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡º Second Move! (? Ice Lotus Barrage ?) ¡»


    A flurry of crescent slashes erupted in all directions, cutting through the wolves like they were made of paper.


    In an instant, Aestrea''s figure vanished, reappearing right in front of the massive wolf. A small smile crept onto his face as his red eyes glowed with intensity.


    THRRUUM!


    Once again, his sword met the Bloodclaw Wolf''s horn, but this time, he felt no vibration in his arms.


    Instead, the impact sent the beast skidding back several meters.


    ROOAARRR!


    "Ah... shut up, will you?"


    Holding his neck, Aestrea muttered coldly as he swung his sword.


    A violet line sliced through the air, and a group of nearby wolves fell lifelessly to the ground, blood spraying out like a fountain.


    Then, his sword transformed into a gun, and Aestrea leaped into the air, a violet platform appearing beneath him to keep him aloft.


    "Die."


    He uttered the word with chilling calmness, and a series of shots rang out.


    ¡º Mixed Ice Series: Magic Ice Bullet! (? Upgraded 3th-level Spell ?) ¡»


    Bang!


    Bang!


    Bang!


    Each bullet found its way to the big wolf''s body, but soon enough, the big wolf got smarter as it started zig-zagging its way toward Aestrea.


    He finally reached close to Aestrea and opened its massive jaws wide, revealing rows of razor-sharp teeth that glinted menacingly in the light.


    To his surprise, Aestrea didn''t even flinch upon seeing that, instead, his finger pulled the trigger of the handgun.


    BANG!


    His mouth swallowed a significantly different bullet, and then, a chill filled his body as he froze before he could reach Aestrea.


    Aestrea transformed his gun back into a sword, ready to deliver the final blow.


    Swoop!


    He swung with all his might, but the wolf managed to leap back just in time, narrowly avoiding the strike.


    Aestrea stopped his movements mid-air as he turned to look coldly at the wolf, now his red eyes were glowing more than ever.


    Combined with those vertical slits, the big wolf couldn''t help but feel a shiver running down its back.


    Creaak...


    A chilling sound echoed through the air as waves of violet energy surged from Aestrea''s body, rippling across the ground like a dark tide.


    His sword dragged behind him, carving a small fissure into the earth as he slowly walked towards the massive Bloodclaw Wolf.


    Thruumm!


    Growl...!


    The ground trembled beneath his feet, and the weak growls of the smaller wolves filled the air.


    Their desperate attempts to reach Aestrea were cut short by the deadly waves of mana that swept through them.


    However, he ignored them as his vertical slits blinked ominously as the smile on his face only seemed to increase.


    "Moonlit Ice Lotus Sword Art..."


    A faint murmur came out of his lips, and hearing those words, the Bloodclaw Wolf flinched in shock, instinctively taking a cautious step back.


    But it was too late.


    ¡º Third Move! (? Moonlight''s One Flash ?) ¡»


    The dim light of the moon seemed to focus on Aestrea, illuminating him in a silver glow.


    A silver line sliced through the air, and in the blink of an eye, Aestrea vanished, reappearing behind the massive wolf.


    Crack...!


    The red horn that the Bloodclaw Wolf was so proud of was severed cleanly in half, crashing to the ground with a depressing sound.


    The wolf''s eyes widened in shock, then narrowed into a furious glare as it leaped toward Aestrea, its rage boiling over.


    ROAAAAR!


    The beast roared, its voice echoing like thunder, as its blood claws expanded, becoming much larger than before.


    But Aestrea turned to face the beast, and in that moment, the wolf stared at his deep blood eyes, he felt a wave of pure...


    Fear.


    The emotion in Aestrea''s eyes had drained, leaving behind a cold void that seemed to suck the warmth from the air.


    And then...


    Swing!


    The wolf''s claws suddenly felt heavy and useless. They began to dissolve into blood crystals that fell to the ground with a sickening thud.


    Thud... thud... thud...


    The Bloodclaw Wolf trembled, its heart racing as it stared at the fallen crystals, realizing with horror that they were remnants of its own claws.


    "Ahh..."


    At that moment, the named demon beast heard a small sigh coming out of the man''s mouth.


    He pointed his sword at him, as he asked:


    "Who''s hunting who?"


    He tilted his head, a bloodied smile stretching across his face, and at that instant, another streak of light flashed before the wolf''s eyes.


    Growl...


    Accompanied by the fearful growl of the big wolf...


    .....


    BOOOM!


    Meanwhile, in the artificial dungeon, the Silverleaf Academy was being easily pushed back by the Eternum Royal Academy.


    The air crackled with energy, and the ground shook with the force of their spells.


    They had eliminated three students, but more than half of their classmates were already eliminated.


    "Dammit... Derek, dodge!"


    Mia shouted, her voice rising above the din as she spotted a streak of lightning hurtling toward him.


    "Ah...!" Derek''s eyes widened in panic.


    He quickly raised an earth wall behind him, the ground rumbling as it formed, and then he sprinted to the side, trying to evade the incoming attack.


    "James, prepare for the strike!"


    Mia added as two cyclones of flames appeared in her hands, and James nodded his head at her, stopping in his tracks.


    ¡º Earth Series: Iron Golem! (? 4th-level Spell ?) ¡»


    From the ground, a massive golem emerged, and then charged forward, aiming to intercept the multiple attackers closing in on them.


    Then Mia raised her hands, having lost her staff, and the flame cyclones became more chaotic as the increasing wind surged.


    ¡º Fire Series: Twin Flame Cyclones! (? 4th-level Spell ?) ¡»


    From her hands, she unleashed the spiraling flames toward the enemy students. But just as the fire surged forward, a sword flashed through the air.


    Swing!


    In an instant, the twin flame cyclones were sliced in half, the flames extinguished with a faint hiss.


    The sound of multiple thuds hitting the ground voiced out, and Mia''s heart sank.


    "Damn it..." she bit her lip aggrievedly, not able to think about how to escape that situation.


    In front of her stood five familiar figures¡ªthe strongest students of the Eternum Royal Academy.


    It was Ella, their leader, Lucas, Rose, and Maya... and Iris.


    She realized at that moment that she was going to lose, but she still held onto the hope that Aestrea would appear to save the day...


    Just like he always did.


    Because of that reason, she was determined to give it her all until the very end.


    Closing her eyes gently, she sent a warning to Derek and James, the only two remaining beside her.


    With that, she raised her hands into the air, and her eyes began to glow intensely.


    ¡º Fire Series: Hell''s Paradise! (? Upper 5th-level Spell ?) ¡»


    BOOOM!


    Suddenly, multiple currents of lava erupted from the ground, shooting toward the sky like fiery geysers.


    Rose''s eyes widened in shock as she witnessed the sheer power of Mia''s spell.


    "Ella, use your strongest blow immediately."


    Rose warned Ella directly, and upon hearing her words, Ella''s expression grew colder as she brought her sword close to her forehead.


    A golden light began to envelop her body, as golden flames erupted from it.


    ¡º Royal Swordsmanship: Flowing Golden Dragon! (? SS-Level Sword Art ?) ¡»


    The flames twisted and coiled, transforming into a magnificent golden dragon that soared toward Mia, roaring with ferocity.


    ROOAARRR!


    "Dammit!"


    Mia''s heart raced as she quickly turned the currents of lava into a protective barrier, desperately trying to shield herself from the impending attack.


    But just as she braced for impact, she felt a sudden force behind her.


    "Kaughk!"


    The blow struck her back with bone-crushing force, sending her flying forward. She gripped the ground, trying to slow her momentum, and turned to look behind her.


    Both Derek and James had been eliminated, with Maya and Lucas looking at her. In the other side, her spell had been completely shattered by the golden dragon.


    At this moment, her vision started blurring as she saw a magnificent wave of flames coming towards her.


    "Ah..."


    Mia fell to her knees.


    She closed her eyes, whispering to herself in a sad tone.


    "We''ve lost... even with Aestrea''s help, it''s not enough."


    The words felt like a stone in her throat. She had hoped so hard that he would come and save them, but now, it seemed like a distant dream.


    Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through her as the last attack hit her.


    "Aghh!"


    She gasped, feeling her body being pulled away from the battlefield.


    "No...!" she cried out, but it was too late.


    The world around her began to fade, and she felt herself being teleported out of the dungeon.


    "Why... If I endured just a little more, maybe he would..." She clenched her fists tightly and stood there, staring at the arena floor with a vacant gaze.


    But suddenly, the loud voice of the crowd reached out to her ears...


    The crowd was roaring loudly, their voices rising in a deafening chant.


    "AESTREA!"


    "AESTREA!"


    "AESTREA!"


    Mia''s heart skipped a beat. She blinked, and her eyes landed on the biggest screen in the arena.


    There, in the center of the chaos, stood a silver-haired young man.


    His glowing red eyes were sharp and focused, filled with a deep intensity that could send shivers down anyone''s spine.


    But what caught her attention the most were his clothes.


    They were torn and tattered, hanging off him like rags.


    Dark stains of blood soaked through the fabric, oozing from multiple scratches and wounds that marred his skin.


    Each cut looked deep, and the blood glistened in the light, a stark contrast against his pale skin.


    It dripped down his arms and pooled at his feet, painting the ground a dark crimson.


    The sight was both terrifying and awe-inspiring.


    At that moment, tears welled up in Mia''s eyes, blurring her vision.


    "I... I knew you would appear..."

 Chapter 31 - 31: The Academys Competition (XIII)

    "What...? Weren''t we supposed to get out now that Mia is eliminated?" one of the students from the Eternum Royal Academy asked, confusion etched on his face.


    A few minutes had passed and they still didn''t get teleported out of the practical dungeon.


    "I think so. She was the last student from Silverleaf, right?" another spoke, glancing around at the others.


    The remaining students began to murmur among themselves, and even Ella and her group couldn''t help but feel puzzled.


    "But isn''t it strange?" Rose suddenly spoke up, her voice cutting through the chatter and catching everyone''s attention.


    "The moment Mia was eliminated, the usual notification that tells us how many students are left from the other academy still showed one."


    "Right..." Ella nodded, her brow furrowing in thought.


    "After Lucas and Maya eliminated Derek, it said only one student was remaining. So we should have won, right?"


    As her words hung in the air, everyone fell silent, deep in thought.


    Then Lucas muttered:


    "Unless... Aestrea entered the dungeon just before Mia was eliminated..."


    BANG!


    "GAAAGHH!"


    Just as he finished speaking, a loud scream pierced the air, and in front of their eyes, one of the students disintegrated into wisps, their body vanishing as if it had never existed.


    They turned toward the sound of the gunshot, and there he was¡ªa familiar young man with silver hair and glowing red eyes stepping into view.


    His clothes were in tatters, hanging off him like rags, soaked with dark stains of blood that oozed from deep gashes and scratches covering his skin.


    Each wound looked agonizingly deep, blood gushing from them and pooling at his feet, creating a gruesome sight.


    "A-Aestrea..." Ella gasped, her hand flying to her mouth in shock.


    It was clear that those injuries hadn''t come from the practical dungeon.


    Just by looking at him, anyone could tell why Aestrea hadn''t appeared in the second phase and only showed up now in the third¡ªhe had been busy fighting a powerful opponent.


    However, it wasn''t time to worry about Aestrea, after all, they were still in the academy''s competition!


    Ella quickly shook her head and looked towards her teammates.


    "Prepare to atta¡ª!"


    ¡ªSPLURT!


    A violent spray of blood erupted as a silver line sliced through the air as if cutting through paper.


    In that instant, four students vanished into wisps, their screams echoing in the air before being silenced.


    "A-ah..." Ella stammered, shock washing over her.


    She wasn''t alone; Lucas, Rose, Maya, and Iris were equally stunned, their faces pale as they processed what had just happened.


    But each one of them quickly got out of their waze, and prepared to attack Aestrea.


    ¡º Fire Series: Phoenix Rush (? 6th-level Spell ?)¡» S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Immediately, Rose raised her stuff and started preparing her strongest spell. Just by seeing that attack from Aestrea, she knew that he wasn''t there to play around.


    "Maya, let''s go together!"


    Lucas spoke to Maya who nodded her head, her fists clenched tightly as they both dashed toward Aestrea like a bolt of lightning.


    At that moment, Aestrea, looking at the forming fire phoenix, slowly turned his head towards them and raised his sword.


    Shing!


    A silver crescent wave of mana shot toward them, but they didn''t stop as a golden barrier suddenly materialized around them.


    Aestrea didn''t seem surprised; he merely glanced at Iris, who had summoned the barrier.


    CRACK!


    "What?!"


    Lucas exclaimed, eyes wide with disbelief as the crescent wave pierced through Iris''s barrier like it was made of paper.


    Both Lucas and Maya instinctively tried to shield themselves from the incoming attack, panic flooding their senses.


    At that moment, from behind, a group of students tried to attack Aestrea, but he didn''t even glance at them as he diagonally swung his sword.


    SPLURT!


    A silver line cut through the air, and the students behind him were cleanly severed in half, their bodies collapsing to the ground before dissipating into wisps.


    Blood sprayed everywhere, painting the ground in a horrific crimson color.


    But it didn''t stop there.


    The silver light surrounding Aestrea intensified, glowing with a fierce energy that crackled in the air.


    ¡º First Move! (? Ice Lotus Bloom ?)¡»


    An ice lotus formed above him, delicate yet deadly, as Aestrea swung his sword downwards.


    The moment the lotus reached the center of the remaining students, he clenched his fist tightly.


    "Bloom."


    He uttered a single word, and then...


    FREEZE!


    A wave of bone-chilling cold surged through the forest, sweeping across the ground like a dark tide.


    It didn''t take long for the icy blast to reach the students, and when it did, the temperature plummeted.


    The remaining students were caught off guard, their bodies instantly encased in ice. They gasped in shock, but it was too late.


    The ice shattered with a sickening crunch, and blood gushed out in a gruesome spray.


    The only ones left standing were Ella and her group, their faces pale with horror as they witnessed the brutal elimination of their classmates.


    On the outside, the crowd erupted in cheers, but amongst them, the students of the Silverleaf Academy were the loudest.


    Not to mention the high nobility...


    "Did he get stronger in the span of a few days?" Evelyn, the northern Duchess, exclaimed in her same neutral expression.


    If she could manifest emotions, she probably would have a shocked face.


    "Yeah... it seems so." Elandor, the Sword Duke, nodded his head in confirmation.


    Unlike Evelyn, he had shock splattered over his face, but beneath that, there was an undeniable hate for Aestrea.


    He had eliminated his dear grandson after all.


    To their reactions, Empress Isabella couldn''t help but smile widely.


    "This little guy... seems like a perfect partner for Ella, no?" she said, turning to face Francis, the emperor.


    He frowned deeply, his expression darkening as he shot her a look that seemed to say, ''You''re still on that?''.


    "She''s my dear daughter, and this Aestrea is just a commoner," he replied, shaking his head in disapproval before glaring at Isabella.


    Then, he leaned closer to her and whispered.


    "Don''t forget your place, woman."


    Empress Isabella immediately clenched the hems of his dress as she heard his cold words.


    Although they appeared to be a perfect couple from the outside, the reality was quite different.


    The Emperor was a very lustful man, with countless mistresses, and he often neglected Isabella. She had been forced into marriage with him due to his obsession with her in their earlier years.


    However, right after their wedding ceremony, he suddenly lost interest in her.


    They never conceived even once during their marriage.


    Isabella was the daughter of the previous Empress, and Francis doted on her because he had loved his late wife very dearly.


    However, he also threatened Isabella, insisting that she act like the perfect wife so that his image as Emperor would not be tarnished.


    Despite this, Isabella genuinely treated Ella as her own daughter, but she received no recognition or appreciation from Francis.


    "Oh, would you look at that?" Evelyn muttered softly, and immediately, everyone''s eyes were drawn back to the big screen.


    BAAM!


    Both Lucas and Maya were sent flying through the air, their bodies crashing down before Ella caught them just in time.


    "Gah... this guy..." Lucas coughed, blood spilling from his lips as he clutched his chest, his breaths coming out in ragged gasps.


    "Agh...!" Maya groaned, holding her stomach as she limped on the ground, pain etched across her face.


    Immediately, Iris rushed over to them, her hands glowing with a soft light as she conjured a healing spell.


    "Hang in there, guys! I''m almost done!" Rose called out, but just then, Aestrea''s figure vanished from sight.


    And Ella''s eyes immediately traced it as she dashed towards Rose.


    CLANG!


    Ella''s sword clashed against Aestrea''s right in front of Rose, whose eyes went wide with shock.


    "Agh...!"


    Ella grunted, trying to push Aestrea back, but he stood firm, slowly forcing her to retreat.


    "Guys, help!" Rose shouted.


    She really couldn''t do anything because she was still preparing the spell, and needed to focus all of her mana on the spell.


    In other words, she was a living target.


    CLANG!


    Lucas swung his sword at Aestrea from the side, but Aestrea simply lowered his body and deflected the blow with the handle of his sword, handling both Ella''s and Lucas''s sword at the same time.


    However, there was still one missing person who had been buffed by Iris''s spell.


    "HAAAA!"


    Maya shouted as she threw a punch, her fist enveloped in a deep surge of mana.


    But at that moment, as soon as her punch met Aestrea''s body, his body turned into mist.


    "Oh... no...!"


    The force of Lucas''s sword swing sent Maya crashing into Ella, splitting her in half before she could react.


    Blood sprayed everywhere, gushing from her body as she fell to the ground before dissipating into wisps.


    "KUAAGHH!"


    Ella was sent flying backward, her body slamming into a tree with a sickening crack.


    The impact shattered the trunk, and she continued to fly through the air, breaking more trees in her path, blood trickling from her mouth.


    Fortunately, Rose wasn''t attacked or anything, and her spell was finally complete.


    "PHOENIX RUSH!"


    She screamed loudly as her staff glowed brighter than ever.


    Immediately, a fire phoenix erupted from her staff, soaring toward Aestrea like a blazing wind, making everything on its way catch on fire.


    But, Aestrea remained calm, and simply raised his sword.


    ¡º Second Move! (? Ice Lotus Barrage ?)¡»


    A barrage of crescent waves of mana shot toward the phoenix, each one being stronger than the last one.


    Initially, Rose thought that soon enough the crescent waves would stop because seemed to consume a lot of mana, but they didn''t.


    Each one struck the phoenix, weakening it further until, just a few meters from Aestrea, the fire phoenix completely dissipated into dust.


    "D-damn... h-how much mana, haah... do you have?!" Rose gritted her teeth, breathing heavily, frustration and fear mixing in her chest


    She had spent all of her mana on that same move, but surprisingly, it was easily taken down by Aestrea.


    To her words, Aestrea didn''t say anything, keeping the same sharp and cold expression.


    He looked towards Lucas, then to Ella, and finally to Rose again.


    ''This... are the ''heroes'' that eventually are going to save the world?''


    ''Do they have a hidden technique or something?''


    Aestrea pondered to himself.


    When he first arrived in this world, he believed he could challenge just one of them and perhaps be evenly matched with him or her.


    But now...


    All of them together didn''t muster a chance against him.


    ''But, I''m still going to keep my guard up... After all, both Ella and Lucas didn''t use a single of their techniques.''


    ''Maybe, their powers come more from their techniques, and not raw skill...''


    He took a step forward.


    ''They can''t be so weak.''

 Chapter 32 - 32: The Academys Competition (XIV)

    Meanwhile, outside the arena, a stunning woman with long purple hair and her signature purple witch hat gazed intently at the big screen.


    Her light blue eyes were fixed on the silver-haired young man.


    "Aestrea... he released his Aura, huh," she muttered to herself, her brow furrowing in concern as she bit her lip.


    "That guy... didn''t I tell him that if he kept his Aura sealed, the attacks wouldn''t come so frequently? Why did he choose to unleash it now?"


    She brought her hand to her mouth, biting her nails in anxiety.


    "Especially since his Aura contains two of the strongest dispositions... and his personality... it''s going to change under its influence."


    Her gaze remained locked on Aestrea''s figure, noting how his expression had shifted from his casual smile to something colder and more intense.


    "He''s not even smiling while fighting anymore..." she whispered, clutching her witch''s hat tightly, her heart heavy with concern.


    Then, she looked down at her legs, where a small piece of paper with Aestrea''s name marked on it could be seen.


    There, a particular detail stood out.


    ¡º Danger: World Destroying Level. ¡»


    "This little guy has an incredible affinity for both Mana and Aura; he truly is a monster. However, there''s still Lucas, the hero of our era."


    She tapped her legs lightly, her expression thoughtful.


    As the strongest mage, she could easily pry to wherever she wanted, so it was no surprise that she knew about Lucas''s true identity.


    "As soon as Lucas gets the holy sword, his power should skyrocket. Then, Aestrea won''t stand a chance against him, even with his incredible talent."


    A smile crept onto her lips as she imagined the scene of Aestrea being defeated by Lucas.


    "Ah~... that scene~..." she sighed dreamily, her cheeks flushing with excitement.


    "At that moment, he won''t have any choice but to come to me~" she let out a giggle, clutching her witch hat happily.


    If one saw her face in that state, they would their jaw dropped.


    After all...


    Eleonora, the strongest mage in the world and the headmistress of the Eternum Royal Academy was blushing deeply at the thought of a student.


    .....


    Taking a step forward, Aestrea''s silver mana began to convulse around him, sending clumps of dirt and debris flying into the air.


    At the four remaining students, his eyes immediately focused on Iris, the only supporter of their team.


    "Gah!" Iris gasped, jumping back in shock as Aestrea''s icy eyes bore into her.


    Without hesitation, Lucas stepped in front of Iris.


    "Demon Slaying Sword Art..."


    ¡º Devastation Sword! (? Advanced-level Swordsmanship (A) ?) ¡»


    Lucas knew that the weakest move of his technique wouldn''t do much damage to Aestrea, so he decided to use the second one directly.


    In that instant, Dark flames erupted from his body, swirling around him and forming a massive vortex that crackled with intensity.


    Then, he dashed towards Aestrea and swung his sword with all his might.


    CLANG!


    Their swords collided, and the dark flames clung to Aestrea''s blade, trying to consume his silver mana.


    But to Lucas''s shock, the flames didn''t eat his silver mana; instead, they began to freeze, transforming into a layer of ice that coated Aestrea''s sword.


    Lucas''s eyes widened in disbelief.


    His dark flames had always devoured everything in their path, but they couldn''t touch Aestrea''s mana.


    Slip!


    At that moment, Lucas''s sword slipped into the ground, piercing it, and before he could react, Aestrea pressed the palm of his hand into Lucas''s chest.


    "NO!"


    His face contorted in shock as he remembered the past scene of Aestrea doing the same thing to Leon.


    But just as Aestrea was about to strike, a massive golden light flashed before his eyes.


    ¡º Royal Swordsmanship: Heavenly Strike! (? SS-level Swordsmanship ?) ¡»


    Immediately, his instincts kicked in, and Aestrea pushed Lucas back slightly, raising his sword to block the incoming attack.


    CLANG!


    Their swords met with a deafening crash, sparks flying as Aestrea''s feet sank into the ground from the force of the impact.


    BAM!


    And as the golden light flickered, sending a shockwave that created a small crater beneath Aestrea, the ground cracking and splintering with each passing second.


    Taking the opportunity, Iris buffed both Lucas and Ella, making Lucas''s flames flare back to life, as his sword was now enveloped in dark flames once more.


    "Demon Slaying Sword Art..."


    ¡º Breaking the Sky! (? A+ level Swordsmanship ?) ¡»


    The third move of his technique!


    Now, the dark flames had a faint blue tint as Lucas swung them in Aestrea''s direction.


    Suddenly, a massive force surged toward Aestrea, and Ella seized the opportunity to use Aestrea''s blocking sword to jump on it, and leap away from there.


    THRRRUUUM!


    The attack came on his way, creating an incoming fissure on the ground.


    Seeing this, Aestrea''s stance shifted slightly, as he bent down his lower body...


    "Moonlit Ice Lotus Sword Art..."


    ¡º Third Move! (? Moonlight''s One Flash ?) ¡»


    As the enormous cyclone of dark flames charged at him, Aestrea''s body vanished from sight, and a silver line sliced through the air.


    Shing!


    In that instant, the silhouette of the moon emerged in the sky, illuminating Aestrea''s form as he reappeared behind the incoming attack.


    Hissss!


    The dark flames dissipated, being cleanly cut in half.


    "Ahh... that was a difficult one."


    For the first time, Aestrea spoke, as he waved his right arm slightly, feeling the mana vessel convulse slightly.


    It had broken, and now he couldn''t use his right arm if he wanted to avoid injuries.


    Looking ahead, he noticed the shocked expressions of the small group.


    It was no surprise, given that Lucas''s attack had been incredibly powerful, even capable of dealing great damage to a named demon beast.


    Though it might appear that Aestrea came out from the attack unscathed, that wasn''t entirely the truth.


    He had expended a significant amount of mana using the third move of his sword art.


    Additionally, he had broken the mana vessel, which was supposed to last for a day or so, even with the use of his third move.


    But suddenly...


    Beep!


    The five of them got teleported out of the practical dungeon.


    "Huh?" Aestrea muttered confused.


    And he wasn''t the only one.


    Iris, Ella, and Lucas were equally confused.


    Before they could gather their thoughts, the announcer''s voice boomed over the arena.


    "Aestrea, the leader of Silverleaf Academy, has been disqualified for using an unauthorized artificial mana vessel!"


    Gasps rippled through the crowd, and Aestrea''s heart sank. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Because of that, Silverleaf Academy is deemed last in the competition and declared the weakest academy once again!"


    "And of course, the Eternum Royal Academy is declared the strongest academy for the tenth consecutive year!"


    "WHAT?!"


    The crowd erupted in outrage and disbelief.


    "An artificial mana vessel? Did Aestrea get injured and have to use that?"


    "But how is it unauthorized? Did he get it on the black market or something?"


    The crowd started whispering to each other.


    This whole situation came as a shock, and Aestrea froze, shock coursing through him.


    Immediately, the students from Eternum Royal Academy began to celebrate, their cheers ringing in his ears.


    Ella''s group was quickly surrounded by their classmates, who hoisted them into the air, showering them with compliments and cheers.


    As for the Silverleaf Academy, the students gathered around Aestrea...


    "It''s okay; next year, we can still win!"


    "Yeah, don''t worry about it, Aestrea!"


    The students tried to cheer him, even Mia pressed her gigantic breasts against his back as she whispered softly in his ear.


    "Don''t worry about it~, I''ll give you a reward for still arriving in time. Even though we lost, everyone knows you''re the strongest here, which means our academy is the strongest."


    However, to her words, Aestrea remained silent, clenching his fists deeply.


    His wounds still had blood, and Mia had dirtied her clothes with blood, but she didn''t seem to mind at all.


    "Aestrea..." Vivian whispered his name in a soft voice.


    She was the only one who seemed to know how Aestrea was feeling.


    All his hard work, training, and everything...


    For him to be disqualified.


    And knowing Aestrea, Vivian was sure that the artificial mana vessel wasn''t from the black market, and was probably made by himself.


    "Hah..."


    He let out a bitter scoff, pushing his hair back into a messy slicked-back style, strands falling over his forehead and eyes.


    "Unauthorized artificial mana vessel?" His voice was sequentially amplified by mana as he uttered those words.


    "Who are you kidding?"


    In a sudden burst of anger, he drew his sword and traced a deep line across his right arm.


    "A-Aestrea!"


    His classmates called out, but he signaled them to stop.


    Then, he continued to cut into his skin until the line was deep and wide, blood gushing out and dripping to the ground.


    Gritting his teeth, he grabbed the broken mana vessel and snapped his fingers with his left hand, conjuring a massive screen in the air.


    The image of the mana vessel appeared, along with his full name written across it.


    It meant that the mana vessel had been created by him, therefore, it wasn''t unauthorized since he was the one who created it.


    At that moment, the crowd''s complaints only got louder.


    "SEEE! I KNEW IT, AESTREA WOULDN''T CHEAT LIKE THAT!"


    "YEAH, THAT''S RIGHT! REDO THE MATCH!"


    "REDO! REDO!"


    A cold sweat trickled down the announcer''s forehead as he glanced nervously at the emperor, who was watching with a stern expression.


    Then, the Emperor stood up, his voice booming over the crowd.


    "Even though the mana vessel was created by you, it''s still considered an unfair advantage, making you lose the round regardless."


    "Or do you have an opinion against me...?"


    The moment those words left his lips, a crushing pressure descended upon Aestrea, forcing him to his knees.


    "Ugh!"


    He coughed, blood spilling from his mouth, and splattering onto the ground.


    "Aestrea!"


    His classmates shouted his name in worry but decided not to act to avoid being targeted by the emperor.


    They knew that Aestrea wouldn''t like them getting hurt.


    "Haah..."


    In response to the Emperor''s words, Aestrea only seemed to let out a small laugh, as he formulated a small plan in mind.


    He had a way to make sure that the Emperor couldn''t act against him.


    So, he took the liberty to say his real thoughts.


    "Do you even know what a Mana Vessel is for?"


    A smile formed on his lips as he directly insulted the Emperor.

 Chapter 33 - 33: The Academys Competition (XV)

    The Emperor''s expression darkened the moment Aestrea''s words echoed across the arena.


    A visible vein pulsed on Franci''s forehead, his fingers gripping the armrest of his throne so tightly that the wood beneath her began to creak.


    "Such insolence..." he muttered, his voice brimming with rage.


    The air around him grew heavy, suffused with a suffocating pressure that made the crowd fall silent.


    Aestrea, still on his knees under the crushing force of her aura, raised his head slightly.


    Despite the blood dripping from his mouth and the visible strain on his body, a faint smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.


    "A Mana Vessel, as its name suggests, serves as a substitute for a mana channel or vein. It can be used when a mana vein is fractured or simply absent. However, the quality of a Mana Vessel cannot match that of a real mana vein."


    Aestrea began to explain, completely disregarding Francis''s comments.


    "Even if some of them may store high-level magical spells, it doesn''t apply to me because I utilized a swordsman ability, not a mage ability. Therefore, your Majesty..."


    He paused and gave Francis a smirking glance.


    "I cannot be eliminated for such reason, even if I need to say, that I DO have an opinion against you."


    But he wasn''t done, as he lifted his head and stared directly into the Emperor''s eyes.


    "Then, Your Majesty, could you explain why I was disqualified, aside from the blatant favoritism towards the Royal Academy?"


    The moment those words rang out, the atmosphere seemed to have turned even colder than before, the crowd started whispering to each other, having different opinions.


    But interestingly, both Evelyn and Empress Isabella seemed to be in accord with Aestrea''s opinion.


    They both looked at Aestrea with a look that was oddly approving, almost as if they understood exactly what he was doing.


    But no one dared to say anything out loud.


    The Emperor clenched his fists tightly as he noticed the public''s reaction.


    His image had just declined, and if a journalist were present, they would undoubtedly seize the opportunity to further tarnish his reputation.


    ''Ah... this useless Emperor. I had almost forgotten that he''s in a pact with Lilith, the Succubus Queen.''


    Aestrea sighed inwardly.


    Like in every "Hero against a Demon King" novel, the Demon King had seven demon generals, each representing one of the seven deadly sins.


    One of these generals was Lilith, who obviously embodied the sin of Lust.


    In the early chapters, the author revealed tons of hints for the future, and one of them was about the Emperor''s pact with Lith.


    This was also the reason why Emperor Francis did not have relations with the Empress, Isabella.


    Isabella possessed what was called a "Sanctified Soul," which could not be corrupted.


    So, if the Emperor were to engage in relations with her, he would suffer fatal consequences alongside Lilith.


    However, Lilith only discovered that the Emperor was about to have relations with Empress Isabella, on the night of their marriage.


    As for why the Emperor made a pact with Lilith, Aestrea hadn''t read that part yet.


    ''It seems that I''ll be the one taking the job of getting his head.''


    Aestrea declared inwardly; he didn''t know if in the novel, the Emperor was truly killed or his pact with Lilith was broken, but he honestly didn''t care.


    He had considered various ways to escape in case he was declared a traitor or something similar.


    Although Aestrea''s actions might have seemed reckless, he had already thought through all his options in case he truly offended the Emperor.


    Some of those options included fleeing to another kingdom or accepting the Headmistress of the Royal Academy''s proposal, among other possibilities.


    He felt confident based on the basic knowledge he had of the novel''s plot.


    ".........."


    As for the emperor, he remained silent while thoughtfully gazing at Aestrea. It seemed that he was seriously considering his words.


    "I''ll overlook this offense for now," Francis finally spoke, his voice booming across the arena with cold authority.


    "But if you challenge me again..."


    His eyes glinted with a dangerous, murderous intent.


    "I won''t show mercy."


    Aestrea couldn''t help but smirk inwardly at the Emperor''s threat.


    "As for the competition..." The Emperor''s gaze swept over the crowd.


    "The results will remain the same. Student Aestrea could have registered his Mana Vessel before entering the practical dungeon."


    ''This fucker...''


    "Is that clear?" The Emperor''s voice dropped to a cold, dangerous tone as he looked directly at Aestrea.


    The pressure in the air grew heavier, pressing down on him.


    At that moment, Aestrea was about to retaliate when he suddenly felt a pair of soft hands landing on his shoulders.


    "Aestrea..." Vivian called out his name in a soft tone. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "You have no choice. Be thankful. His Majesty has already forgiven you."


    Aestrea froze for a moment, his anger still bubbling inside him, but Vivian''s words made him pause.


    He glanced at her and seeing the concern in her eyes.....


    Sigh...


    He sighed before nodding slightly, though his expression remained tense.


    ''I''ll make sure I''m the one getting your head.''


    But of course, he wouldn''t let this slide.


    .....


    "Master...?"


    Upon reaching my hotel room, I immediately lay down on the bed, staring at the ceiling. I honestly still had to go and meet up with the Saintess...


    But I was too mentally tired for that.


    I fought for I don''t know how many hours straight and even created a Mana Vessel for my right arm.


    Unfortunately, it''s broken.


    "Master...?"


    So, I need to meet the Saintess as soon as possible because I''ll need her aid in healing my mana vein once again.


    Not to mention, the student exchange program... will be happening in a week or so.


    And I''ll need to be attending the Eternum Royal Academy as one of their students.


    Gosh...


    Why did I have to be the one being picked?


    I''m too lazy to deal with those arrogant pricks.


    "MASTER!"


    "Ah, what?"


    Lumi''s voice was suddenly much louder, snapping me completely out of my thoughts.


    I blinked, then blinked again.


    Then, I turned to look at her, only to find her standing there... completely naked.


    "Ah...!" My face immediately flushed.


    "What the hell, Lumi?!"


    She glanced down at herself with an embarrassed look.


    "My clothes..." she said softly, realizing she was still in her usual naked state.


    She then quickly looked back at me, clearly unsure how to react.


    "Ah, right. I completely forgot," I muttered, rubbing my face in embarrassment.


    Every time I transformed Lumi into a sword, her clothes would get torn apart in the process. It was something I was used to by now, but it still slipped my mind from time to time.


    Because of that, I bought special mana strings for clothes, this way, the clothes wouldn''t shatter the moment Lumi was transformed into a sword or a gun.


    I just forgot to give them to Lumi...


    With a small sigh, I stood up and walked over to my drawer.


    "I''ve got something for you," I said, pulling out a set of clothes made from mana strings.


    I had even remembered to grab underwear, just in case.


    Lumi''s face lit up, and she nodded excitedly.


    "Thank you, Master!"


    She wasted no time, quickly starting to get dressed in her new clothes.


    Those mana strings were really useful; it just needed a basic spell to clean them completely, and if she wanted to have different clothes, she just needed to insert mana while thinking about an outfit.


    Unfortunately, they were really expensive.


    But of course, Lumi deserves the best.


    "Master~, do I look cute?" she asked, suddenly appearing right in front of me with a playful little jump.


    She spun around, showing off her new outfit with a huge smile.


    I couldn''t help but smile back.


    "Lumi looks adorable." I gave her head a soft pat, unable to hold back a smile.


    "Hehe~" She giggled happily, her eyes shining with joy.


    It was just at that moment that I forgot about taking a bath. My eyes immediately turned to the bed and...


    "Shit..."


    Without wasting a second, I immediately spammed clean magic on it.


    "Lumi, I''m going to take a bath. You can play for now," I said, tapping her head twice before making my way to the bathroom.


    "Yay~!"


    To my surprise, when I entered the bathroom, the bathtub was already filled with warm water, and a few scent flowers had been placed around it.


    It looked like someone had been thoughtful.


    Maybe Lumi had set it up?


    Or was it just the hotel staff?


    I shrugged and quickly undressed before stepping into the tub.


    "Ahh... this feels great."


    The water was really warm and felt thoroughly refreshing. The scent of the flowers seemed to ease my mind as I closed my eyes.


    "Eternum Royal Academy, huh..."


    It was divided into five years, with each year having multiple courses and countless classes. Thinking about it, I don''t know what kind of course I''m going to choose.


    Mana application, mana control, summoning classes, fighting classes...


    There were plenty to choose from.


    Even though it''s just going to be a semester there...


    I should have as much fun as I can, right?


    I mean, if I ''accidentally'' blew up one of the classrooms, they''d probably expel me from the student exchange program, right?


    "Mhm..."


    I''m going to be able to meet the other main characters, although they all are women.


    From that crazy sword instructor to that student council president.


    That Lucas, huh...


    He''s really lucky.


    Anyways...


    If I''m really going to attend the same academy as the main characters...


    I might as well have as much fun as I can.

 Chapter 34 - 34: Student Exchange Program

    [? Player Profile ?]


    Name: Aestrea Moon (20)


    Identity: Strongest Student of the Weakest Academy, The Moonlight Swordsman, The One Who Loves The Goddess Of The Moon, The Strongest Student (NEW), Exchange Student of the Eternum Royal Academy (NEW)


    Affinities: Ice


    ? Aura: S+


    ? Mana: B


    ? Strength: C+


    ? Vitality: C+


    ? Agility: A-


    ? Spirit: S


    ? [Skills & Talents] ?


    [1] Moonlit Ice Lotus Sword Art [S???] ? Active Self-Created Skill


    [2] Judgement Eye [S] ? Active Self-Created Skill


    [3] Perfect Memory [Unranked] ? Passive Talent


    [4] Combat Instinct [B-] ? Passive Talent


    [5] Sword & Gun Mastery (MUTATED!!!) [A] ? Passive Skill


    [6] Calm Mind [C] ? Passive Talent


    [7] Blood Eyes [Unranked] ? Your eyes ominously glow red.


    ¡ª¡ª+¡ª¡ª+¡ª¡ª+¡ª¡ª


    Damn it.


    To think that a month has already passed since I came here.


    Life really is... tough.


    ...


    The week before the student exchange program had already passed.


    During that time, I decided not to train, and instead spent most of the time hanging around with my classmates and actually having fun.


    We went to amusement parks, to the beast zoo, or even an aqua park.


    It was also my birthday a few days ago!


    And of course, I made sure to visit Saintess Christina.


    She made sure to visually abuse me.


    Her gaze...


    Too scary!


    That aside, my right arm''s mana vein was successfully healed by her.


    As expected of the Saintess, huh?


    So yeah, everything was alright.


    Except...


    "Are you... alright? Do you need a doctor or something?"


    "Ah, yeah."


    The person besides me.


    Someone who was as significantly important as Lucas, the protagonist of the novel.


    Looking at the newspaper in front of me, I then glanced at her, who was leisurely drinking a cup of tea while keeping her gaze on the outside of the train.


    Violet Von Luxuria.


    People in the community often called her the "Final Villainess". I didn''t know why, but that nickname alone made me know that she was trouble.


    Not to mention... that she was the last person that I wanted to meet.


    ''How did I even end up traveling in the same cabin as her?''


    Why was this train bound to have two people cabins?


    Seriously... why did I buy the economic ticket?


    I knew it.


    I should have bought a first-class ticket.


    No, why is she even traveling in the economic class?


    She is the sole heir to the prestigious Luxuria Family, the richest family in the whole kingdom. Why would she ride economic?!


    I really don''t get rich people.


    Did I also mention that she is the Student Council President?


    Like... don''t you have enough authority already?


    I sighed inwardly.


    Well, not like I care about it.


    I''m only going to stay at their academy for a single semester, then I''d finally be free to return to my academy and meet up with my classmates.


    "Mhm... so you''re Aestrea Moon."


    Suddenly, I heard a voice calling out my name and glanced at my side.


    Having her cup of tea on the small table in front of her, she was now holding a pair of files, and one of them contained my name as well as my appearance.


    "I didn''t expect you to be the student from the exchange program," she muttered softly, bringing the cup of tea to her lips before taking a sip.


    "Neither did I."


    This was one of the things I expected to happen.


    "...Well, don''t worry about it."


    She put down the files on the table, turning to me with a small smile.


    "If you need anything, just talk with this big sister."


    "..."


    Why was this scene so familiar?


    I simply stared at her for a brief moment.


    "...sigh, and here I thought that I would get a cute junior."


    Furrowing her eyebrows, she sighed dramatically, before her expression softened into a smile.


    "I assume that you still don''t know which classes to take?"


    She started a conversation once again.


    "...Not really."


    "Really? Then, I''ll briefly explain the best ones for you, considering your file of course."


    The last part of her words seemed really... weird. Her casual tone had changed into a business tone as she uttered the last part of her words.


    "You''re pretty adept in swordsmanship, but you seem to be a Magic Swordsman... so the best choices for you should be professor''s Zeva classes, and..."


    With that, she started having a small conversation with me.


    She was basically explaining every one of the most important classes to me... considering my file of course.


    Amongst them, she firstly mentioned Professor Zeva... that goddamn crazy instructor.


    She was the swordsmanship instructor and also one of the heroines, albeit it was mentioned by the readers.


    In the chapter that I read, I didn''t see many ''lovely'' interactions between her and Lucas.


    Eh... it''s an academy novel, so she''s definitely a heroine.


    "That''s everything..."


    She finally stopped.


    "So? What class did you take an interest in?"


    Hearing her words, I had a quite thoughtful expression. Because I''m quite adept at getting into trouble, I should get a strong professor to protect me.


    My first thought was naturally Zeva.


    But I honestly don''t want to meet up with her. From the community, I saw plenty of comments that she easily fell in love with Lucas because of his extraordinary talent.


    Not to mention, that her scenes with Lucas were... spicy to say the least.


    She was an absolute ''S''.


    So yeah, I didn''t want to risk getting involved with her, one way or another.


    As for the other classes, there were a few more that I was interested in, but of course, the professor of that class was actually the Headmistress herself.


    Apparently, in the last week before the student exchange program, she decided to have a change of heart and appointed herself as the Magic Theory, Application, Control...


    And everything else related to magic, as the professor.


    That woman.....


    She must have decided that as soon as she received the news that I was the student chosen for the Student Exchange Program.


    Unfortunately, Zeva was a no-go, so yeah...


    "Probably magic application and control."


    I finally replied to the Student Council President.


    "Ah, really? That''s amazing! I''m also registered on those! I mean, who wouldn''t want to have classes from the strongest mace herself?"


    She spoke energetically, letting out a small smile.


    Yay, I''m so happy...


    ...she''s acting quite strange actually. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Is it because I have a special color in me?


    Violet''s unique ability was called ¡º Seven Colors Eye ¡», which compared to my¡º Judgement Eye¡», was much better.


    Just like my eye''s ability, she could also discern if one was evil or not. But... it could also read emotions, very precisely.


    For example, if she detected a pink color in your body, it meant that you loved her.


    If you had a black color, it meant that you hated her.


    Things like that.


    I''m curious though.


    What kind of color does she see in me?


    Honestly, it should be a mixture of grey and light red.


    Neutral, but wary of.


    Although I do want to avoid her, my emotions towards her aren''t something like hate or things like that.


    She''s just someone... that I absolutely wouldn''t want to be close with.


    "...Ah, we''ve finally arrived."


    Looking out the window, the majestic view of the Eternum Royal Academy came to my eyes. An academy that was the same size as a city...


    It was more than fifty times the size of my academy, if not more.


    After getting off the train, Violet accompanied me to the entrance gate, but suddenly she stopped as the wind swept her long hair to the right.


    "Welcome to Eternum Royal Academy!"


    The Student Council President smiled brightly as she spread her arms wide.


    Gosh...


    That must be embarrassing.

 Chapter 35 - 35: The Moonlight Swordsman (I)

    "...really?"


    I muttered as I got the notice that there was an entrance ceremony at the beginning of the semester.


    That isn''t very pleasant.


    I made my way to the outdoor plaza and found a spot to sit among the other students.


    There were special seats set aside for the exchange students, but nah... I wasn''t in the mood to be singled out.


    I''m comfortable here.


    Well, the ceremony began with a small speech from the Headmistress, which was as boring as I expected.


    She kept meeting my gaze, but I had to get used to it.


    Not like I could hide from her, given that I was in a new place where everyone seemed to already know who I was.


    But it was her final words that caught me off guard.


    "...That''s everything. Now, as usual, we will conduct the mana evaluation test."


    She clapped her hands, and immediately, the space around us seemed to swirl as if the air itself was moving.


    Out of nowhere, several orbs appeared, floating above a table on the podium.


    Another set of orbs appeared on a second table beside it.


    "Alright..." the Headmistress smiled at the crowd.


    "Come out five at a time when your name is called."


    And just like that, the mana evaluation began.


    The first five students made their way to the podium as the Headmistress explained how the orbs worked.


    "This small orb is a device designed to measure the quality and quantity of mana within your body. All you need to do is hold it and allow the mana to flow into the orb. "


    "Once you do, your grade will be displayed for everyone to see, featuring both quality and quantity rankings."


    "As I''ve mentioned many times before, your rank will determine your current position in the academy. However, this only applies to Magicians. If you are a Swordsman or a Physical Warrior, there is another orb to my right, and you will follow the same procedure with that orb. "


    "For those of you who are Magic Swordsman, you have the option to choose one of the orbs or both. Your final grade will be based on the combined ranks."


    And with that, the mana evaluation began.


    Three lines of students were formed, the left one for magicians, the right one for swordsman, and the middle one for Magic Swordsman.


    As for me... I placed myself last in the magic category.


    I shouldn''t reveal my ''Aura'' for now. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After getting into their proper positions, the first batch of students started to infuse their mana into the orbs.


    The orbs glowed with different colors depending on their element. If they had multiple elements, the second color would show up a few moments later.


    Thinking about it...


    ''I still didn''t awaken my second affinity...''


    Since I was primarily focused on swordsmanship, I never considered awakening another magic affinity.


    Most of the time, I simply used my ice attribute to enchant my sword or to conjure mana-infused bullets with a freezing effect.


    ''I should try to awaken another one... but that will be expensive, no?''


    But that aside, as the students finished channeling their mana into the orb and released it, a large panel appeared displaying each student''s name alongside their respective grades.


    [Mike Ox - 19 Years Old.


    ? Mana Quantity: C-


    ? Mana Quality: B-


    ? Overall Grade: C+]


    Oh...


    It seems that they value quality over quantity.


    That meant that my rank would be much higher than I originally thought, since when I trained my mana, I didn''t focus on quantity, but quality.


    It had reached a terrifying level; one strand of mana for me should be worth more than fifty for an average mage.


    But yeah, I''ll still get a big drawback for my mana quantity being so low.


    The mana evaluation continued without interruption, and surprisingly, no student received an overall grade lower than C, whether they were magicians or swordsmen.


    As expected of the best academy, huh?


    Then, the moment I''d been waiting for arrived.


    Ella, Lucas, Maya, Iris, and Rose were called up to the podium.


    I wanted to see how much they evolved from the Academy''s Competition.


    It had only passed a week or so, but it was during this week, that all of them found an inheritance dungeon together.


    So, they overall ranks would be increased by a whole rank or more...


    The kind of opportunity that is reserved for the main characters, I''d say.


    Ella, Lucas, and Maya went to the Swordsman area, while Iris and Rose headed to the Magician''s side.


    They each placed their hands on the orbs, and before long, their results flashed across the screen.


    Both Maya and Iris got the same overall grade: B+.


    As for the other three.. their results were monstrous, to say the least.


    [Lucas Hearstone - 20 Years Old.


    ? Aura Quantity: B+


    ? Aura Quality: A++


    ? Overall Grade: A+]


    An A+ rank is something that normal students would only achieve in their final year, but Lucas achieved it in the third year, with only two more years remaining.


    But of course, against demons, Lucas was more than three times stronger, so his rank would be around S- or A++ in reality.


    And it seems that his other attribute other than Light is Lightning. One being a special element, and the other being a deviant...


    Truly a protagonist.


    But his second element... did he awaken it a few days ago? I didn''t see him use lightning against me in the competition.


    [Ella Rosewood - 20 Years Old.


    ? Aura Quantity: A-


    ? Aura Quality: A++


    ? Overall Grade: A+]


    The same grade as Lucas, but anyone could see that she was stronger in both quality and quantity.


    But, she does possess the Royal Swordsmanship, so like Lucas, her power should reach the lower grades of S.


    [Rose Firefly - 20 Years Old.


    ? Mana Quantity: A+


    ? Mana Quality: A++


    ? Overall Grade: A++]


    And then there was Rose, who blew everyone away.


    A++?


    She was ridiculously strong.


    But¡­ even with that, she didn''t quite make it to S- rank.


    Each one of them made the students from the fifth year pale in comparison, not to mention the shocked voices from the crowd.


    "Grades A+, and A++? Wow..."


    "Are they really third-year students?"


    "They really are monsters..."


    The whispers continued.


    Gosh...


    If there was a student like this in my academy, I would be more than happy.


    Ah, right¡­


    There''s Mia and Maria, although they still are much weaker than them.


    A few months ago, both of them were ranked B+, so they should be an A- by now.


    As for Derek and James... maybe in a few months or not, both of them have this innate competitiveness between each other.


    And from what I saw, both of them are already at the B+ rank for Mana, so yeah. It shouldn''t be much of a problem for them to reach the next rank.


    More and more students got their evaluation, and I couldn''t really... see a familiar face other than Lucas and his group.


    The middle section was almost empty now, especially since there were no more Magic Swordsmen left.


    And then, I finally noticed a familiar face.


    Violet... rose to the podium.


    She nodded towards the Headmistress and carefully placed her hands on the small orb, closing her eyes.


    Unlike the other students, her hair began to flutter as a bright purple glow illuminated her beautiful face.


    A purple-colored element...


    That''s her unique element, called: "Crystal".


    This element could be easily described; the hardness of the rock element and the sharpness of the ice element.


    Really unfair...


    The crystal element can be considered even more powerful than the Light element, especially since only Violet possesses it.


    While Angels possess the Light element, Lucas is the only human who has it.


    However, as I mentioned, Violet is the ONLY one with the crystal element.


    Aside from the Demon King and the Evil God, the author needed a more human-like villain, so it makes sense why she is so special.


    And her results... even I was shocked.


    [Violet Von Luxuria - 21 Years Old.


    ? Mana Quantity: S


    ? Mana Quality: S++


    ? Overall Grade: S+]


    A full-fledged S-rank magician, being only twenty-one years old.


    "Damn..."


    "As expected of the Student Council President!"


    "For sure, she easily is the strongest student in the academy."


    "Yeah... It''s strange how she didn''t participate in the competition. Aestrae would definitely be easily defeated by her."


    Nah.


    If I used my ''Aura'', I probably could beat her.


    The only problem that I do have in mind...


    Is how ''I'' died, or why did I disappear from the novel?


    Maybe I was too overpowered and the author simply let my character disappear...?


    That could be the cause actually.


    But, pushing that aside, it was finally my turn to step onto the podium.


    It was strange though. There was only one table, with just one orb on it. I looked around and realized... I was the last one left.


    Oh, the disappointment on their faces is going to be huge.


    "Aestrea, it''s your turn..." the Headmistress called my name, smiling gently.


    "I really want to see how far you''ve come..."


    She snapped her fingers, and in an instant, the orb on the table was swapped out for another one.


    A much bigger one.


    This woman...


    I guess she''s the strongest mage for a reason.


    I slowly placed my hands on the orb.


    A deep, icy blue light began to glow and shine on my face.


    But that wasn''t all.


    The light grew stronger and brighter with each passing second, and my hair started to flutter from the gust of wind created by the energy.


    Then, little by little...


    The results began to show up on the big screen.


    [Aestrea Moon - 20 Years Old.


    ? Mana Quantity: D+


    ...]


    "Pfff...!"


    The crowd burst into laughter when they saw my painfully low Mana level.


    It was as bad as I expected¡ªmaybe even worse.


    "HAAHAHAH!"


    "I can''t believe the so-called Moonlight Swordsman has only a D+ rank for his mana quantity!"


    "He''s worse than our weakest student..."


    "Typical of someone from the weakest academy, huh?"


    They started laughing aloud, and even Lucas and his group had a strange expression splattered all over their faces.


    They had fought against me after all, so they should be quite surprised.


    "Haah..."


    I let out a cold breath as I opened my eyes, and suddenly, a strange pressure started falling on the student''s shoulders.


    And it was at that moment...


    That my mana quality finally appeared.


    "T-this..."


    "H-how c-could he..."


    "Gulp... how c-could he have such high mana quality?!"


    "N-n-not even high-ranking mages have that kind monstrous quality!"


    The laughter died in their throats.


    They were speechless.


    None of them dared to laugh anymore.


    And that''s when I took a look at my own mana quality.


    [Aestrea Moon - 20 Years Old.


    ? Mana Quantity: D-


    ? Mana Quality: SS++


    ? Overall Grade: B]


    It was... terrifying.


    To say the least.

 Chapter 36 - 36: The Moonlight Swordsman (II)

    "...This battle suit is way too tight."


    "Right? I thought I was the only one who felt that way."


    "Why did the academy suddenly change the battle suits anyway?"


    A few students were talking amongst themselves as we all stood around.


    The mana evaluation test concluded with my unexpectedly high mana quality, and the dungeon experience test was next.


    Not going to lie, it had been a long time since I had entered a dungeon.


    I had been busy either protecting my classmates or earning more money, which left me little time to explore.


    Additionally, dungeons weren''t necessarily the best way to make money, so I focused on hunting high-ranking demon beasts instead.


    I even participated in a competition while hiding my face, all to obtain more high-ranking demon beast cores.


    Thinking back, it was during that time that I received the title of "Moonlight Swordsman."


    I don''t really get where they got the "Moonlight" part from, but I appreciated the title nonetheless. It''s a title that isn''t exactly important for me... but for someone else. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Someone very special.


    "Ahem!"


    I snapped back to reality as Eleonora, the Headmistress, stepped forward to explain the dungeon test.


    "Now that everyone is here, let''s keep this simple. In front of you is a portal to a B-rank unexplored dungeon, which means its territory is unknown."


    "Your task will be to explore the dungeon and gather as much information as you can, including details about the monsters and strategies for clearing it."


    "The group of students, or the individual student, who collects the most vital information will receive a perfect grade. As for the others, grades will be assigned based on the information they provide."


    Eleonora finally finished explaining about the test.


    She also didn''t forget to steal a glance at me.


    "Before anyone enters, please register your group here," she announced, snapping her fingers to make a large board appear.


    With that, the first group of students wrote their names on the board, and their names shimmered lightly before a small device materialized in their hands.


    "This device is a recognition system designed to help you gather information about the specified monsters. Simply place a small amount of blood on it, and it will automatically identify the species. However, for the other details, you''ll need to write them down yourself."


    "Once you have registered your groups, you can enter the dungeon directly.


    "Good luck!"


    As soon as those words echoed, chaos erupted as the students rushed toward the board. They were clearly very competitive against each other.


    However, I wasn''t really waiting for anything.


    I couldn''t care less about this test, and I only participated in the mana evaluation because revealing my results would be more than enough for me to skip the remaining tests.


    As for my rank... I could simply switch my ranks with anyone during the dueling season.


    So, yeah...


    One by one, groups entered the dungeon, leaving me completely alone. Surprisingly, no one invited me to join their group.


    Quite stupid, right?


    Lucas''s group was among the first to enter the dungeon. Before stepping through the portal, he shot me a glance.


    "And you¡­ what are you doing here?"


    An unfamiliar voice reached my ears, causing me to turn my head to the right.


    There stood a beautiful woman with tanned skin and black hair, her menacing green eyes fixed on me.


    Two swords hung at her waist, and that was enough for me to know her identity.


    "Ah¡­ goddamn it."


    It was Zeva, the absolutely crazy instructor.


    Fucking hell.


    "Mhm?" she raised an eyebrow in surprise.


    ''Fuck.''


    Did I say that out loud?


    "Aren''t you entering the portal?" she asked casually, her hands resting on her hips near her sword, her head tilted slightly.


    I knew avoiding this conversation was impossible, so after a bit of hesitation, I answered.


    "...Not really."


    She tilted her head even more, a curious glint in her eyes.


    "May I ask why?"


    My eyes narrowed at her words.


    Do you have to be so curious about everything?


    "My mana evaluation went great enough that I don''t need to bother with this test."


    Her eyes widened in surprise at my words.


    "Mana evaluation...? How come?" she muttered to herself.


    I close my eyes and let out a deep sigh, ignoring her. I was thinking about how to spend my time before the next exam.


    But suddenly...


    My instincts kicked in.


    Clang!


    Tsshhhh!


    Before I knew it, I was sent sliding back a few meters as I barely managed to block her sudden strike.


    "As I thought so," she uttered with a thoughtful expression.


    She had her sword drawn now, pointing it directly at me with a smirk creeping onto her face.


    "How could a strong swordsman like you take the mana evaluation instead of the aura evaluation?"


    Her lips curled into a wicked smile.


    Oh... hell no.


    Not this.


    Anything but this.....


    "Interesting...!" she said with a strange gleam in her green eyes.


    And before I could react, she was already charging toward me.


    Fuck.


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    (Lucas''s POV)


    "Iris, did you register the remaining monsters?"


    "Yeah, looks like they''re a variant of the lizard species," Iris replied softly, looking at the device in her hands.


    "Mhm... Great," I nodded, feeling a little more at ease.


    Everything seemed to be going smoothly so far.


    We''d run into a few unusual monsters, but nothing that really posed a threat. Up until now, they''d all either been variations of lizards or snakes, nothing too strange.


    The dungeon itself, though, was another story.


    The entire place felt... off.


    The air was thick with humidity, and water droplets constantly splashed down from the shimmering crystals in the ceiling.


    It was definitely an unknown dungeon¡ªnone of these monsters were familiar to me, or to anyone in the group, for that matter.


    "Guys, look!" Maya suddenly shouted, pointing excitedly ahead.


    Our attention snapped to the spot she was pointing at¡ªa small lake in the distance, its waters sparkling under the light.


    Rose immediately rushed over, her curiosity piqued and knelt beside the water to dip her fingers in.


    "It''s potable water... strange," she spoke.


    "Potable water?" I asked, walking up beside her.


    I scooped up a handful of the water and brought it to my lips.


    "...It really is," I said in surprise, tasting the fresh, clean water.


    I had a pretty high resistance to poison, so I wasn''t worried about it being tainted or even poisoned, but still¡ªthis was unexpected.


    "I know!" Maya jumped in, grinning.


    "Let''s take a bath!"


    "A bath...?" Even Ella seemed to be seriously considering it.


    However, soon their gazes shifted to me, and I felt a shiver run down my spine...


    "Ah, I''ll continue exploring..."


    I quickly added, raising my hands defensively as I backed away.


    Before they could say anything more, I casually took a few steps back. But as soon as I was a few meters away, I felt a barrier spring up around the lake.


    These girls...


    I sighed with a deep smile.


    If only... I could take a small peek... Heh.


    "No! Control yourself!" I muttered to myself, tapping my cheek twice to knock myself out of those thoughts.


    "I should take a look around..."


    I started walking around the area, making sure there was no one around to disturb their bath time.


    I looked around for anything else of interest... and sure enough, I spotted something in the distance.


    "Oh... one of those lizard monsters."


    There, a small group of green creatures, each holding a spear and wearing light armor, were coming towards me.


    They had that same ugly, reptilian look, and their green eyes locked onto mine immediately.


    GWWWIISSSH!


    The group roared loudly as they started running toward me, their spears prepared to strike. Each step they took made a ''quack'' sound on the wet floor due to their scales.


    And so...


    Rumble!


    ¡º Lightning Series: Lightning Bolt! (? 2nd-Level Spell ?)¡»


    "Guaaghh..."


    They died in a single strike.


    Despite being B-rank monsters, they were surprisingly weak against lightning. I had tested this before, but at first, it was just a stroke of luck.


    Now, however, I''m completely certain of it.


    So, I entered the information into the device, noting that those lizard species were weak against lightning, along with a brief description that Iris had forgotten to include.


    "Great... if we keep going like this, we should be able to get the perfect score..."


    But then, my thoughts drifted.


    "I''m just not entirely sure about Aestrea, though."


    As I walked through the portal, I glanced over at him. Aestrea looked completely uninterested in the whole thing.


    He was just sitting off to the side, looking bored, almost as if he didn''t care about the test at all.


    The shock of his mana quality being revealed was immense. I never expected him to possess such a strong mana quality.


    Even Rose looked as if her jaw might drop to the floor when the results were announced.


    God, it was so funny!


    "Well, everything is fine for now, so let''s keep it that way," I thought.


    However, at that very moment, I felt my heart sink.


    "This feeling... it''s so familiar....."


    Whenever this sensation occurred, something terrible was always about to happen¡ª


    ¡ªBOOM!


    The dungeon began to crumble; debris fell to the ground, dust swirled around, and rocks shattered as they dropped.


    "Shit... is this really happening right now?"


    "A dungeon upgrade..."


    "That means..."


    "The other students are in danger!"


    "I need to act quickly!"

 Chapter 37 - 37: The Moonlight Swordsman (III)

    "Lucas?"


    As I retraced my steps through the dungeon, a familiar voice called out.


    Turning my head, I saw Ella and the rest of the group rushing toward me.


    "What''s going on?" Iris asked, squeezing water out of her hair, droplets streaming down her arms.


    "It looks like this dungeon is a red dungeon," Ella answered before I could speak.


    Iris''s brows furrowed. "So¡­ does that mean it''s going to rank up to A+?"


    "Most likely," Rose nodded thoughtfully.


    I glanced back toward the path we had taken.


    "We can''t waste time standing around. Some of our classmates are too weak to handle an A+ dungeon, even in groups. We need to find them before something happens."


    Iris nodded, already moving, as she replied to my words.


    "If I remember correctly, some of them went down that passage."


    We didn''t say anything and instead followed her, quickening our pace.


    It didn''t take long to reach our destination, but as soon as we arrived, our gazes sank almost immediately.


    "A-agh..."


    Scattered across the ground were the mutilated remains of several students.


    Blood painted the floor and walls, and standing in the center of the carnage was a strange purple creature.


    It had a strange appearance, its body was so thin you could see its bones despite having a slight amount of purple skin, and its terrifying black eyes that glowed sinisterly. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Gulp...!


    We all couldn''t help but swallow hard when we saw it, but at the same time, we got into our fighting positions, ready to attack at any moment.


    "....Gragh....."


    The creature growled softly, and at that moment, I exchanged glances with Ella before she dashed forward.


    ¡º Royal Swordsmanship: Heavenly Strike! (? SS-Level Swordsmanship ?) ¡»


    Ella''s sword pulsed with a strong gold energy as she swung it downwards, in the direction of the strange purple creature.


    Crack!


    The creature''s head snapped unnaturally to the side, its neck twisting like a broken doll.


    He extended his clawed hand as a strange small black void formed on it.


    Fwip!


    The golden energy was suddenly swallowed by the black void.


    "WHA¡ª?!"


    Before she could finish her words, the creature''s other arm lashed out like a whip, striking her squarely in the chest with a bone-breaking force.


    She was thrown across the cave until her back slammed against the cave walls.


    But I ignored that, knowing that Iris was going to heal her. During the time she was flying, I was already behind the creature.


    "Demon Slaying Sword Art..."


    ¡º Corrupted Sword! (? Advanced-level Swordsmanship (B+) ?) ¡»


    Black flames engulfed my sword as I aimed for the creature''s head.


    Just like before, it formed a black void in its hand, but this time, my flames weren''t so easily extinguished.


    "....Guragh?"


    The creature let out a strange noise as the black flames devoured the void and started crawling across its body.


    "Die you fucking bastard!"


    Clang!


    "...Huh?"


    My blade struck its flesh¡ªor what I thought was flesh¡ªbut the sound was like metal clashing against metal.


    "...What the hell?" I muttered, pulling back slightly.


    The creature''s body was unnaturally tough.


    However, at that point, my black flames had already crawled to its body and were slowly burning him.


    "Is it dead?" Maya asked cautiously, tapping my shoulder.


    I kept my eyes on the creature.


    And moments later, its body crumbled to ash, leaving only scorched remains on the ground.


    "Finally¡­" Maya sighed in relief.


    "That thing was tougher than it looked."


    And then we both turned to the rest of the group...


    "Uhh..."


    Maya hesitated, pointing toward the chaos.


    "I thought that thing was a mini-boss," she muttered.


    I nodded in agreement, but our attention snapped to Rose''s urgent shout.


    "Guys, what are you doing starting? Fucking helps us!" Rose yelled, launching two fire spells at a horde of similar creatures swarming toward her.


    There were at least twenty of them...


    "Lucas! Your flames are the only thing that works on them!" Ella shouted, blocking an attack with her sword but visibly struggling.


    "Quickly, do something!"


    "Got it!"


    I tightened my grip on my blade, black flames reigniting along its edge.


    Then, I dashed towards the small horde of those strange creatures.


    Except that this time, I was going to use a wide-range attack!


    "Demon Slaying Sword Art..."


    ¡º Devastation Sword! (? Advanced-level Swordsmanship (A) ?) ¡»


    The black flames surged, condensing into a massive crescent-shaped wave as I swung my blade in a wide arc.


    The fiery slash tore through the air, heading straight for the horde.


    Immediately, Ella grabbed Iris and jumped away while Rose did the same thing as her.


    "GUARAAGHHH!"


    The creatures let out a bunch of growls, their last cries echoing through the cave before they were engulfed by the black flames.


    Within moments, the entire horde crumbled to ashes, leaving nothing but silence and charred remains behind.


    "Thank god your weird black flames actually work on these things," Ella sighed, brushing dirt off her battle suit as she caught her breath.


    Then she approached one of the bodies and took a sample of the ashes before coming to me and placing it in the device.


    Beep!


    "It works!" she smiled faintly.


    We all gazed at the device.


    [Void Skeleton:


    Type: Undead / Void Species


    Description: A creature made out of void, usually found in extremely rare A+ ranked dungeons. Typically serves as a subordinate to a higher-ranked boss creature known as the "Void Lich.]


    "Ah... so this kind of creature already exists, huh?" Ella muttered, scrolling through the entry.


    "Yeah, but void species are extremely rare. If we can just acquire the body of this skeleton, it should be valued highly," Rose said as she began to look around.


    "Strangely¡­ they don''t have a core," she muttered in disappointment.


    "Or did your flames reduce the core to ashes?" Rose asked, raising an eyebrow as she looked at me.


    "No, that''s not the case¡­" I replied.


    I had tested that theory, and nothing happened to the cores.


    "Then these things just don''t have any." Rose looked more frustrated than surprised.


    Then as Iris looked at the device, she opened her mouth with a thoughtful expression.


    "If this dungeon really is void-type, then the boss has to be the Void Lich, like the description just like the device indicates."


    "A Void Lich!" Maya''s eyes immediately lit up.


    "That means¡­ a Lich Heart! And not just any Lich Heart¡ªa Void Lich Heart!"


    Her excitement was palpable, but I quickly brought her back to reality with a light smack on the head.


    "Ouch..." she pouted, rubbing the spot before glaring at me.


    Iris chuckled at my actions before explaining.


    "Maya, the chances of a Lich Heart dropping are less than 0.001%. For a Void Lich? It''s probably even lower."


    "Ugh, way to kill the mood," Maya pouted once again, crossing her arms with an annoyed face.


    "Guys..." Ella called out to us, covering her face as though she were looking at a group of clueless people.


    "How are we supposed to deal with Void Magic...?"


    "Ah..."


    All of us emitted a surprised sound in unison.


    We had completely forgotten about that detail.


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    Clang!


    Zeva''s smirk deepened as she slowly lowered her sword to her side, the tip barely grazing the ground.


    Her green eyes sparkled with a strange delight as she studied me like a cat playing with its mouse.


    "Don''t use mana," she declared, pointing her sword at me.


    "Or aura. Just swords. Pure skill. Let''s see how you measure up..."


    I didn''t respond.


    What was the point?


    If I refused, she''d only find some way to force me into it. Zeva wasn''t the type to take no for an answer.


    My grip tightened around the hilt of my sword.


    This was going to be hell.


    Her grin widened as if she could read my thoughts. "


    "Good. Let''s begin."


    Before I could even take a stance, she was on me.


    Shing!


    Her blade whistled through the air, moving faster than I had anticipated. I barely managed to sidestep, and her sword sliced clean through a strand of hair that had fallen into my face.


    "Damn it..."


    I cursed under my breath and quickly countered with a swift strike of my own.


    Clang!


    Our blades collided, the force of her block sending a jolt throughout both of my arms. She was strong¡ªway stronger than me.


    ''Perhaps... a S++ level strength... or more.''


    "Not bad," she mused, her voice almost teasing.


    "But you''re holding back. Come on, Aestrea, entertain me!"


    I gritted my teeth.


    Entertain her?


    She was crazy; absolutely insane.


    She lunged towards me again, and I parried, barely, but she shifted her weight mid-strike, twisting her body like a dancer and driving her knee into my gut.


    Thud!


    I stumbled back, gasping for air.


    The metallic taste of blood filled my mouth, but I refused to give her the satisfaction of seeing me falter in pain.


    "Oh? You''re still standing?" Zeva tilted her head, her grin never fading, if anything, it seemed to have widened even more.


    "Impressive. Most people would be on the ground crying by now."


    "You''re fucking insane," I spat, wiping the blood from my lip.


    "And you''re slow," she retorted, charging again.


    Clang! Clang! Clang!


    Her strikes came in rapid succession, each one heavier than the last. I was forced to retreat, with every step a desperate attempt to find an opening to attack her.


    But then, I saw it.


    A tiny misstep...


    Her left foot was just slightly off-balance.


    It was barely noticeable, but it was enough.


    I shifted my stance and swung low, aiming for her legs.


    Shiiing!


    To my shock, she jumped, flipping over my blade like it was child''s play. She landed gracefully a few feet away, laughing.


    "Smart move!" she said, her green eyes wide with excitement.


    "I didn''t think you''d catch that."


    Fuck, did this woman make that error to see if I could see it simply?


    ''She''s indeed fucking crazy.''


    I didn''t need to be told twice.


    This time, I went on the offensive, unleashing a flurry of strikes. She parried each one effortlessly, but I could tell I''d caught her off-guard.


    For a moment, she looked almost impressed.


    Clang! Clang! Shing!


    Our blades danced, sparks flying with every clash. Sweat dripped down my face, mixing with the blood that now seeped from a cut on my cheek.


    My arms ached from the effort, but I couldn''t stop.


    Not now.


    Not with her watching me like a hawk.


    "You''ve got enough spirit," she said, blocking another strike with ease.


    "But spirit won''t win this fight alone!"


    Thwack!


    She kicked me in the side, hard enough to send me sprawling. My sword slipped from my grasp, clattering to the ground a few feet away.


    Before I could recover, her blade was at my throat.


    "Dead" she said simply, her grin widening.


    "Again."


    "Ah... huff..."


    I glared up at her, my breath coming out in ragged gasps.


    "You''re a fucking lunatic."


    "And you''re sloppy." She stepped back, lowering her sword.


    She didn''t even care about me cursing at her.


    "Pick up your sword. We''re not done yet."


    I groaned, forcing myself to my feet. Blood trickled down my arm from a shallow cut, staining the hilt of my sword as I picked it up.


    This time, I didn''t wait for her to make the first move.


    I charged, swinging with everything I had.


    Clang!


    She blocked me, but I didn''t let up. I pressed forward, forcing her to take a step back.


    Then another.


    And another.


    For a moment, it felt like I might actually have the upper hand.


    But then she laughed¡ªa low, unsettling sound that sent a chill down my spine.


    "Oh, Aestrea," she said, almost pityingly.


    "You''re trying so hard."


    Before I could react, she twisted her blade, disarming me with a flick of her wrist. My sword flew from my hand, embedding itself in the ground several feet away.


    And then she was on me again, her strikes faster and more brutal than before.


    Shing! Clang! Thwack!


    I couldn''t keep up.


    Every block sent a shockwave through my arms, every hit driving me closer to the edge.


    Finally, I saw my chance.


    She overextended, just slightly, and I ducked under her swing, grabbing the hilt of her second sword.


    She didn''t see it coming. I spun, slashing at her side.


    Shiiiink!


    Blood sprayed as my blade found its mark, slicing through her armor and into her flesh.


    Her eyes widened, and for a moment, I thought that the fight would be over.


    But then she laughed.


    Not a normal laugh¡ªa full-blown, unhinged cackle.


    "That''s more like it!" she said, her voice filled with glee.


    "Now we''re having fun!"


    ''.....Crazy bitch.''


    She didn''t even flinch as she retaliated, her movements faster and more vicious than before.


    Clang! Shing!


    The fight became a blur of steel and blood. I didn''t know how long we fought¡ªseconds, minutes, hours?


    All I knew was that I couldn''t let her win.


    Finally, I saw it¡ªa shimmering light in the corner of my eye.


    The dungeon portal.


    We had fought and now we were back to the beginning where we started it. But the portal was different, instead of its usual blue color, it was red.


    Zeva saw it too.


    Her grin widened, and without a word, she began pushing me toward it.


    Clang!


    "You''re not serious," I said through gritted teeth, blocking another strike.


    "Oh, I''m very serious," she replied, her voice dripping with anticipation.


    "What better place to finish this?"


    Before I could protest, she delivered a powerful blow that sent me flying backward.


    Thud!


    I hit the ground hard, the world spinning around me.


    When I looked up, I realized where I was.


    Inside the portal.


    Zeva stood over me, her sword at the ready and her green eyes blazing with excitement as a deep grin stretched in her face.


    "Round two?"


    I groaned, dragging myself to my feet.


    "Goddamn it...."


    I muttered.


    And then the portal closed.

 Chapter 38 - 38: The Moonlight Swordsman (IV)

    "Hah..."


    I let out a tired breath, staring at the small camp we''d managed to set up. A few hours had passed, and at least we had found everyone.


    Except Aestrea...


    But someone like him wouldn''t die that easily.


    Around me, there was a mess of injured students.


    Iris and the rest of the healing team were working their butts off, rushing from one person to the next, trying to keep up-


    The wounds were bad. Really bad. It wasn''t like regular injuries.


    The skeletons we fought left more than just cuts and bruises. It was as if their magic had poisoned the wounds, making them hard to heal.


    I could see the exhaustion on Iris''s face as she tried to heal someone whose leg had been nearly shattered, but it wasn''t going well.


    The healing spells weren''t working like they should and that was probably due to their void attribute.


    "Lucas! Have you thought of a plan yet?" Maya''s voice cut through my thoughts as she plopped down beside me.


    I shook my head. "Not really... Void Magic is... tricky. It messes with everything." My voice came out a little more tense than I wanted it to.


    "Then hurry up! Everyone''s starving, and you know how slow the professors are to get here..." Maya sounded frustrated, but I could tell she was trying to hide it.


    She always did that when she was worried.


    "I know, I know..."


    I let out another sigh.


    She was right.


    We were running out of time, and everyone was on edge, not to mention, even I was starving.


    I couldn''t think straight on an empty stomach, but we had no choice.


    "Shit..." I bit my lip.


    But then, I felt someone tapping my shoulder.


    It was Ella.


    "I have a plan." she only said those words, and it was enough to warm up my worries.


    We quickly gathered all the students who were able to move, and Ella began explaining her plan. It was clear she had thought this through.


    We''d already located the boss room a while ago, so all that was left was to execute her plan.


    It wasn''t complicated, which was probably why it made so much sense.


    Ella laid it out for everyone in the simplest way possible:


    First, we''d need to divide the group. The students who were healed and still able to fight would be split into smaller teams. Each team would have a specific role. Some would be in charge of distracting the Void Lich, while others would target its weaker spots. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The goal wasn''t to take it down completely just yet¡ªmore like wearing it down, keeping it busy while we figured out a way to finish it off.


    Then, we had the healing team¡ªour "healing squad," as I''d come to call them. They''d stay behind the fighters, ready to jump in when needed. Their job was to keep everyone patched up and ready for the next round, especially those on the frontlines. If someone got injured or too tired, the healers would be there to back them up.


    It was a simple plan, but it gave us something to work with.


    We just had to move fast.


    We all set off towards the boss room, the sound of our footsteps echoing through the dark cave.


    The air was cold, unnaturally cold, as though something was watching us from the shadows. As we neared the entrance, I could feel the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.


    The Void Lich was waiting for us.


    Ella motioned for everyone to spread out, and we formed up in our groups.


    Then, we pushed the door open...


    The Void Lich...


    It was as terrifying as it sounded.


    It stood tall, its bony body giving off an ominous energy that made the air feel strange.


    Its eyes were empty black holes that glowed eerily. Its robes were torn, and its sharp, claw-like hands oozed a dark mist.


    The air around it was cold and heavy as if the life in the room was being sucked away by its very presence.


    "Stay focused, we have to stick to the plan!" Ella warned us.


    Everyone nodded, and we all got into position. Maya was already itching for a fight, her fists clenched, ready to charge.


    Rose stepped back, her hands shining with fire magic, and Iris positioned herself near the back, keeping an eye on us, ready to heal if anything went wrong.


    However, one thing that we didn''t count was how terrifying the Lich''s pressure was. The other students that were injured couldn''t move their bodies at all!


    Ella''s plan had just been wasted...


    Seeing this Ella bit her lips, but she quickly made up a small plan just for us five.


    "On my count, we move," Ella said, and we all tensed, waiting for her signal.


    "Go!" Ella shouted, and we charged.


    I was the first to move.


    "Demon Slaying Sword Art..."


    ¡º Corrupted Sword! (? Advanced-level Swordsmanship (B+) ?) ¡»


    My sword ignited with black flames as I rushed forward, aiming straight for the Void Lich


    As I closed the distance, the Lich finally moved. It raised one of its bony hands and shot out a blast of void energy.


    The air around it warped and twisted as the magic flew toward me.


    "Shit!" I cursed, jumping to the side just in time.


    The blast exploded against the floor with a loud boom, sending chunks of stone flying in every direction.


    I barely dodged, feeling the heat from the blast on my back.


    Ella wasn''t wasting any time.


    ¡º Heavenly Strike: Consecutive Waves! (? SS-Level Swordsmanship ) ?) ¡»


    She was already in the thick of it, her sword enveloped with a bright golden glow moved in graceful arcs as she slashed at the Lich''s limbs.


    Her strikes were fast, too fast for the Lich to block, but it didn''t seem to feel anything.


    Clang!


    Each strike rang out against its dark armor, leaving no visible mark.


    Maya charged next, her body a blur of motion as she darted in and out of range, aiming for Lich''s chest.


    Her fists glinted in the dim light, swinging at its armor with lightning speed.


    Clang!


    Clang!


    The sound of metal hitting bone echoed through the room as Maya''s iron fists bounced off the Lich''s form.


    "Damn it!" Maya cursed, spinning out of the way as the Lich swiped at her with one of its claws, the sharp nails making a sharp sound as they cut through the air.


    Next, it was Rose.


    "Rain of Fireballs!"


    She stepped back, her hands glowing with fire magic. She flicked her fingers, and fireballs flew from her hands, aimed directly at the Lich''s chest.


    The fire crackled and popped in the air before slamming into the Lich''s dark form.


    Boom!


    The fire exploded on contact, lighting up the room for a split second. The Lich stumbled back, its form flickering slightly.


    It didn''t seem to be hurt, but it definitely noticed the attack.


    Then, all of us felt a washing sensation over our bodies.


    I glanced back and saw Iris, her hands glowing as she cast healing spells and buffs to keep us in perfect shape.


    The Lich raised both hands and void energy swirled around it.


    The air grew heavy, and suffocating, and I could feel my stomach twist. It was building up something.


    I could feel it.


    "Get ready!" Ella shouted, her voice cutting through the tension.


    "It''s going to attack!"


    BAAM!


    The Lich slammed its hands into the ground, causing the room to shake. A wave of void energy burst forth, cracking the ground under its force.


    The wave expanded, and I barely managed to roll out of the way, feeling the heat and pressure of the magic wash over me.


    Crack!


    The sound of the stone floor cracking beneath the force of the attack rang out.


    "We need to hit its weak spots!" Ella shouted, her sword glowing brightly as she moved in again.


    I nodded, knowing she was right.


    I gripped my sword tighter, making the black flames increase in size. Then as I increased the concentration of mana, I dashed forward once again.


    The Lich raised a hand and a black hole appeared in front of it, pulling in everything nearby. The air around it warped, and I felt the pull, like a vacuum, sucking at my body.


    "Get back!" Ella shouted, pushing me out of the way just as I almost got sucked into the hole.


    The others were scattered, doing their best to avoid the gravitational pull of the Lich''s magic.


    Whoosh!


    The air seemed to twist as everything was sucked toward the void. I saw Maya trying to hold her ground, her body tensing as the pull tried to drag her in.


    "Fight it!" Rose yelled, flinging another fireball toward the Lich''s chest.


    Boom!


    The fireball exploded on impact, but the Lich barely flinched.


    "It''s too strong!" Maya shouted, her voice strained as she dug her feet into the ground.


    Iris was doing everything she could to heal us, but even her magic seemed to be struggling against the void.


    "I can''t keep up with this!" she said, her face starting to pale from the effort.


    "Hold on!" Ella shouted, her voice carrying over the chaos.


    She was already making her way toward the Lich again, sword raised.


    I followed her, focusing all my energy on my sword. The black flames burned hotter than ever as I swung the blade at the Lich''s chest.


    ¡º Devastation Sword! (? Advanced-level Swordsmanship (A) ?) ¡»


    Slash!


    The sword connected with a sickening clang, but this time, something was different. The Lich staggered back, and I saw a crack appear in its chest.


    It was weak there, I could feel it!


    "Now!" Ella shouted, and we all attacked at once.


    Iris sent a healing spell to Maya, who charged in once more, her fists flashing with an intense blue aura as she struck at the crack in Lich''s chest.


    Clang!


    Clang!


    Her irons hit, but they didn''t penetrate.


    The Lich was too tough.


    But we couldn''t stop now.


    BOOM!


    The room shook again as the Lich roared, the force of its anger shaking the floor. A massive wave of void energy shot out from its body, expanding rapidly.


    "No!" Ella shouted, loudly, hanging on her sword.


    Before we could react, the Lich''s black hole grew bigger, pulling everything into it.


    "Shit!" I yelled, trying to resist the pull, but it was too much.


    I could feel my feet leaving the ground, my body being dragged toward the void.


    The others were in the same situation. I saw Maya struggling, her fists clenched as she tried to resist the pull, but she couldn''t.


    I snapped my attention toward the other students, my heart racing. There, standing in the middle of them, was Iris, surrounded by a brilliant golden barrier.


    Her face was twisted in concentration, teeth gritted, as she poured every ounce of mana she could muster into the barrier.


    It was a desperate move. She looked like she was barely holding on, her knees shaking, sweat streaming down her face.


    But even with all her strength, the barrier felt like it might crumble any second.


    It wasn''t looking good at all.


    ''Fuck... I''ll need to reveal my identity!''


    There was no more time to waste.


    I gripped my sword tightly, my knuckles turning white as the ominous aura began to swirl around me, coating the blade in black flam¡ª


    ¡ªBOOOOOOOOM!


    Everything around me shook violently.


    Debris flew in all directions, rocks, and rubble crashing down from the ceiling, and the ground beneath us trembled as if it was going to split apart.


    A blinding flash of light filled my vision, making me shield my eyes instinctively.


    When the dust cleared and my vision returned, I froze.


    There, standing in the middle of the wreckage, was a figure I knew all too well.


    Aestrea.


    But something was wrong...


    "Stop it, you crazy bitch!"


    CLANG!


    Aestrea cursed loudly as he reflected the sword from...


    ...our instructor Zeva?


    "Come on Aestrea! You''re still hiding your power, I can feel it!"


    CLANG!


    CLANG!


    CLANG!


    The two of them moved like shadows, their swords clashing in a blur motion.


    It was almost as if they were teleporting, vanishing, and reappearing in a split second, their weapons flashing in the air, creating sparks with every hit.


    They were so focused on their fight that they didn''t even notice us, not for a second.


    But then it hit me.


    The explosion had caught the Void Lich''s attention, causing him to release his spell.


    And somehow...


    Both of them had managed to save our lives.

 Chapter 39 - 39: The Moonlight Swordsman (V)

    "AESTREAA!"


    In the middle of his furious battle against Zeva, Aestrea froze. A voice rang out, pulling his attention away from the clash.


    He immediately leaped back, before looking around, and seeing everyone looking at them with confused expression.


    Then he turned to Lucas and saw a strange creature right in front of him.


    "A void lich... so it''s a void-type dungeon, huh," Aestrea muttered, darting his eyes towards Zeva.


    Now, she too, had noticed the situation.


    But instead of jumping into the fight, Zeva merely raised her voice, loud enough for everyone to hear.


    "Consider this boss fight as part of my class! Whoever performs well enough will at least get a B-level grade!" Her declaration rang out, and she casually stepped back from the fight, a smirk playing at the corners of her lips.


    But as she turned away, she shot a glance at Aestrea.


    "We''ll continue our fight later," she said, her smile widening mischievously as she winked at him.


    Aestrea clicked his tongue in response.


    "Crazy bitch..." he muttered under his breath.


    But his attention quickly shifted back to the Void Lich, the creature looming menacingly before them.


    ¡º Judgement Eye (? S-Level Skill ?) ¡»


    "Mhm... no weakness whatsoever. This kind of monster is really annoying. You can only defeat it with sheer strength." Aestrea crossed his arms in thought.


    He turned to look at the students. Even the ones who had been paralyzed by fear seemed to snap out of it the moment Zeva spoke.


    After all, in his perspective, now they could do their maximum because they knew that the professor would save them if they were in danger.


    And taking the chance, Ella shouted, "Let''s realize our old plan!".


    Immediately, the students moved. Groups formed, dividing the room into smaller teams. The healers stayed behind, and the fighters moved to the front, preparing for the battle.


    The groups split into two types of fighters: those who would distract the Void Lich, and those who would focus on dealing damage.


    "Rose!" Ella shouted and suddenly, Aestrea felt the heat of the room increasing.


    ¡º Fire Series: Hell Vulcano! (? 6th-Level Spell ?) ¡»


    From the ground, massive currents of lava erupted, swirling like an inferno. It was like Mia''s spell, but much stronger, more intense.


    Strangely, the currents of lava also divided the whole room into three parts, just enough for the three groups!


    It seemed like this was part of their plan.


    The first group, the ones tasked with distracting the Lich, began hurling spells at it. But the Void Lich''s magic was too powerful.


    Its void aura absorbed the attacks, negating them without much effort.


    But then, the second group took advantage of the situation, attacking all at once, landing several blows on the Lich''s exposed back.


    "¡­Grahfh¡­"


    The Lich let out a strange, growling sound, recoiling slightly as it swayed.


    In response, a small black ball began to form in the air, swirling with dark energy.


    Aestrea narrowed his eyes, as he reached out to his sword, but then he realized, that his help wasn''t needed.


    ¡º Devastation Sword! (? Advanced-level Swordsmanship (A) ?) ¡»


    "Die, you damned bastard!"


    Shouting loudly, Lucas swung his sword, which was wreathed in black flames, at the void ball.


    Shing!


    His sword sliced through the small black orb, splitting it cleanly in half, and then Lucas twisted his body, and spun, swinging his sword at the lich.


    CRACK!


    But before the attack could fully connect with the Lich, a void skeleton appeared in front of the creature, intercepting the blow and taking the hit.


    Then, the Lich raised his staff, and a swarm of void skeletons began to appear around them.


    "Shit!" Lucas cursed under his breath.


    He quickly spun on his heel, leaping back just as Maya surged forward, just like they had planned before.


    ¡º Corrupted Sword! (? Advanced-level Swordsmanship (B+) ?) ¡»


    Lucas twisted his body, dealing with the skeletons that were now swarming around him.


    Meanwhile, Maya charged straight at the Lich, her fists glowing with a blue aura. She threw a powerful punch directly at the Lich''s sturdy structure.


    CLANG!


    The impact of Maya''s punch sent a jolt up her arms, her teeth gritting from the force of the hit. But before she could throw another punch, the Lich swung its massive arm at her.


    Maya quickly crossed her arms in an ''X'' shape, blocking the blow.


    Puff!


    Maya was sent flying toward the wall, crashing into it with a painful thud. But before she could hit the ground, Iris was there, jumping into the air and catching her.


    "Iris!" Maya groaned, but Iris was already healing her, casting a spell to mend her injuries.


    As the battle continued, the other students formed a tight circle around the Void Lich, their teamwork growing more synchronized by the minute.


    They dealt small bits of damage here and there, but their combined efforts were enough to keep the pressure on the Lich.


    But even if the battle was going well, some things weren''t.


    "Ella, I can''t hold it anymore...!" Rose shouted as her mana reserves began to dwindle. She was almost at her limit and couldn''t hold the spell anymore.


    Before Ella could respond, there was a sudden flash in front of Rose''s eyes. A figure appeared, standing in front of her.


    A familiar white-haired boy.


    "A-Aestrea...?" Rose stammered, looking at him in surprise.


    Aestrea smirked, positioning himself behind her in an instant. He wrapped his arms around her waist, making a small blush creep out to her face.


    "Wha-wha-wha, w-what are you doing?!" Rose exploded, her voice rising as she started to fluster, her face starting to match the color of her red hair.


    Aestrea didn''t say a word because he didn''t need to. Rose immediately felt a warm surge of mana flowing into her, filling her to the brim with power. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "A-ah..." She immediately understood the reason behind Aestrea''s actions.


    Aestrea was giving her his mana.


    The instant his mana infused her, the strength of her spell skyrocketed. Aestrea stood silently behind her, guiding her hands, and helping her manipulate the lava currents.


    From the swirling lava, small fish made of lava began to form, swimming through the air toward the Void Lich.


    It passed a while, and finally, when Rose could manipulate the spell alone, Aestrea slowly stepped back, releasing his hold on her.


    "Ah¡­ What''s up with your shy expression?" Aestrea teased with a grin, leaning in slightly.


    "Did you fall in love?"


    Rose''s face turned even redder, her cold expression had completely melted under Aestrea''s presence, in just a few minutes.


    She avoided his gaze, glancing down, too embarrassed to meet his eyes.


    "T-this..."


    "I''m just kidding, relax a little." Aestrea chuckled, flashing her one last mischievous smile.


    But then, he leaned even closer than before, his lips just a few centimeters away from her left ear.


    "Until later, cute redhead~"


    Before she could say anything, Aestrea vanished from her sight.


    Rose, left standing there, blinked several times, trying to recover from the sudden rush of emotions.


    Her knees wobbled slightly, and she bit her lip in frustration.


    "Bastard..." she muttered under her breath, swatting at her face with her hand in an attempt to cool down while still manipulating the spell.


    On the other side, Aestrea smiled lightly.


    "That was fun..."


    Clang!


    Afterward, his gaze locked on the Void Lich as his eyes narrowed slightly.


    Fwip!


    Suddenly, the entire room was bathed in a brilliant golden light, so bright it made everyone squint and instinctively step back, creating a little gap between them.


    Ella, glowing in that intense light, stepped forward, gripping the handle of her sword tightly.


    ¡º Royal Swordsmanship: Heaven''s Punishment! (? SS-level Swordsmanship ?) ¡»


    The golden light flared to life, almost blinding in its intensity. As she leaped high into the air, her sword expanded, becoming a massive beam of radiant energy.


    She swung it horizontally, the golden light trailing behind, slicing through the air like a comet.


    With a force that shook the very air around them, her sword slammed down against the void lich.


    The air around it vibrated, humming with power.


    "....GLUATHG!"


    The Void Lich lifted his staff just in time to try to block the blow.


    A huge, black rectangular barrier formed above his head, crackling with dark energy as it clashed with Ella''s strike.


    SHIISSSSZ!


    The sound of sparkles flying echoed loudly throughout the boss''s room.


    At that moment, black flames erupted toward the ceiling, and Lucas like a lightning bold, dashed forward, making a piercing pose.


    "Demon Slaying Sword Art..."


    ¡º Piercing Sword! (? S-level Swordsmanship ?) ¡»


    The temperature in the room skyrocketed the heat from the flames intensifying as Lucas plunged the blade straight into the Void Lich''s stomach.


    BOOOOM!


    An explosion shook the entire room, sending a shockwave that knocked everyone back.


    The force of the blast was so powerful, the room was instantly shrouded in a thick cloud of smoke.


    Debris flew everywhere, bits of stone and rubble hitting the walls, the floor trembling beneath their feet.


    For a moment, everything seemed frozen in time.


    No one moved.


    No one spoke.


    Only the sound of the debris falling into the ground remained.


    And then, from the smoke, two figures stepped out.


    Ella and Lucas.


    "YEAAAAHHHH!"


    "LET''S GOOO!"


    "WE DID IT!"


    The students, who had been holding their breath, erupted into cheers, their voices filling the room with pure joy.


    They clapped and shouted, the tension from the fight finally melting away.


    As the smoke began to clear, they saw the lifeless remains of the Void Lich on the ground.


    "Ahh... we really did it..." Ella let out a long breath, her body sagging slightly.


    "Yeah, we did... but I think I just burned through all my mana with that last hit." Lucas, panting heavily, couldn''t help but smile.


    "I''m stoned..." Ella declared, limping towards the rest of the group.


    Immediately, Maya, who had been waiting anxiously, rushed over to them, her eyes wide with excitement.


    "So? Did it drop the Lich Heart?" she asked, practically bouncing with energy, grabbing Lucas''s hands.


    "N-no?" Maya''s face instantly fell, the excitement vanishing in an instant.


    "Aw..." she groaned, her shoulders slumping.


    Behind her, Iris chuckled as she added:


    "Don''t worry, Maya," she said with a playful grin, "I''ll take you to that restaurant as a reward for your hard work."


    "Yay!" Maya jumped very high, making some kind of winning position, with her fist in the air.


    The group only chuckled at her actions.


    With the battle over, the students started heading toward the newly appeared exit gate. They''d earned their victory, and now it was time to leave.


    But as the last of the students stepped through the gate, Aestrea, under Zeva''s approached the dead body of the Void Lich.


    "Hey... wake up you bastard."


    "I know that you''re still alive." he kicked its bones.


    Seeing this, Zeva''s smile only seemed to have widened as another good aspect of Aestrea had been noted in her head.


    Creack...


    As soon as Aestrea spoke those words, the bones of the Void Lich began to tremble.


    The skeleton shifted, and then¡ªcrack¡ªit reformed into a smaller, incomplete figure, its skull missing entirely.


    The Void Lich had a very hidden ability.


    Ressurection from the dead, or in other words, it had two lives. And apparently, the other students seemed to have forgotten that, but Aestrea didn''t.


    However, after being revived, the Void Lich were much weaker than before and it would take years before they could truly regain their true strength.


    Aestrea''s hand pressed against the Lich''s brittle ribcage, the bones cold and fragile under his touch.


    "So, tell me..."


    His eyes began to glow in a deep, unsettling red.


    The Lich shuddered violently, its form quivering as if trying to escape her grip.


    "What kind of curse did you put on the students?"


    The Lich''s skeletal body trembled, its empty eye sockets shaking in terror.


    The air around them grew thick, heavy with an unnatural chill, as if the very room itself feared Aestrea''s cold voice.


    The bones creaked, the Lich''s spirit trapped and trembling under his gaze.

 Chapter 40 - 40: The Moonlight Swordsman (VI)

    Crack...!


    Aestrea let out a soft grunt as he glanced down at the trembling remains of the Void Lich.


    "A curse that consumes mana, huh?" Aestrea muttered, looking down on the quivering remnants of the Void Lich.


    He brushed his fingers against its ribcage as if teasing the skeleton, and then, a cold whisper flew from his mouth.


    "Perish."


    SWOOOP!


    Mana began to gather in Aestrea''s palm, swirling in a concentrated ball as he gently pressed it against the skeleton''s ribs.


    Crack...!


    The moment his hand made contact, the bones cracked again, shattering into thousands of tiny pieces.


    And just as the last fragments shattered, a faint trickle of void energy slipped from the wreckage.


    Aestrea wasted no time¡ªhe summoned a small ball of high-density mana, trapping the tiny stream of void energy inside it.


    "This should be enough," he spoke calmly as he nodded to himself before turning away.


    Zeva appeared at his side, eyes wide with curiosity.


    She didn''t waste a second.


    "What do you need void energy for?" she asked with an excited tone.


    "Hey, hey, come on, tell me!" she urged, a playful grin on her face.


    "Come on, don''t be shy..."


    But, despite her consecutive questions, Aestrea ignored her completely as he stepped through the exit gate, emerging back into the academy''s plaza.


    "Ah... Aestrea!"


    A familiar voice called out, and Aestrea turned to see Lucas striding toward him, a mischievous smile splattered on his face.


    Before Aestrea could say anything, Lucas threw an arm over his shoulder with a grin.


    "Do you perhaps... like Rose?"


    "Huh?"


    Aestrea blinked as his eyebrows furrowed slightly.


    "What do you mean?" he asked straight away.


    "Hehe," Lucas grinned slightly, before leaning closer and then whispering to Aestrea, "Don''t think I didn''t see you wrapping your hands over her waist."


    ''Ah, that...''


    Since Lucas had seen his actions, Aestrea sighed softly, then gave a faint, almost teasing smile to him.


    "Mayhaps."


    Lucas just grinned at his words.


    He withdrew his arm and extended his hand:


    "Alright, I didn''t really get a chance to introduce myself properly. I''m Lucas Heartstone. I hope we get along well."


    Looking at his stretched hand, Aestrea smiled lightly, before shooking it.


    "The name''s Aestrea Moon."


    Shaking his hands, Lucas couldn''t help but frown as Aestrea mentioned his name. It wasn''t a noble name or even a known name for commoners.


    However, looking at the small panel in front of him, Lucas kept a small smile on his lips.


    [Main Quest #7¡ª


    Make Aestrea ####''s favorability reach 50 points.


    ? Current Favorability: 23 [¡üUP]


    Kill more than 200 middle-ranking demon beasts. (Completed)


    Kill more than 50 high-ranking demon beasts. (Completed)


    Kill a single named Demon Beast. (Completed)


    Stop the awakening of one of the Seven Demon Generals.


    Time Remaining: 16 days, 22 hours, 17 minutes and 32 seconds.


    Rewards: ???]


    Lucas had no idea why the system insisted on increasing Aestrea''s favorability, but it was clear he had to do it nonetheless.


    However, the last part of the quest¡ªstopping one of the Seven Demon Generals¡ªwas probably the real reason Aestrea''s favorability needed to rise.


    With his strength, Aestrea would be a huge help for him.


    Flick!


    At that moment, the Headmistress, Eleonora, snapped her fingers, catching everyone''s attention.


    She smiled warmly as she addressed the students in the plaza.


    "Alright! Great job, everyone! Your results from today''s dungeon test are much better than I expected," Eleonora said, her eyes twinkling with pride.


    "I''ll be announcing the results now, from the lowest to the best." she smiled as her gaze swept through the students.


    A small sheet of paper appeared in her hand, and she scanned it briefly before continuing.


    "First up¡­ Violet didn''t participate due to her duties as Student Council President, so her grade will be postponed."


    The crowd shifted a little, waiting for the next announcement.


    "So, we have... Adrien''s Group, Rating: B-!"


    Eleonora announced, her eyes scanning Adrien''s team. "You all did a fantastic job healing the injured and supporting your teammates while battling the Void Skeletons. Well done!"


    Hearing their grade, everyone cheered up because it meant that the lowest grade was B-, so they all had excellent grades!


    "Then¡­ Marcus''s group! Rating: B-!" she continued.


    "Just like Adrien''s group, your teamwork was excellent, and you all did well keeping the Void Skeletons distracted while others dealt damage."


    The students in Marcus''s group high-fived each other, proud of their performance.


    "Now, Evan''s group! Rating: B+!" Eleonora said, nodding at Evan''s team.


    "You all worked very well together, having great team chemistry, especially when you all managed to grab the Void Lich''s attention. Not to mention, you took down quite a huge amount of monsters before the dungeon turned red."


    "Let''s go!"


    Unlike the other groups, Evan''s group started cheering loudly to themselves, full of enthusiasm and excitement due to their high grade.


    "Now for Ella''s group¡­ Rating: A+!" Eleonora smiled, a proud glint in her eyes.


    "You all wiped out a ton of monsters, and when the dungeon turned red, you led the other students to victory. Special shout-out to Ella and Lucas for delivering the final blow to the Void Lich, Iris for her amazing healing, and Maya for her heavy damage output. Great job, everyone!" she started clapping, and so did the other students.


    Ella and Lucas exchanged a quick, knowing look, while Iris tried to calm Maya, who was jumping with excitement.


    "And finally..." she continued, and everyone''s eyes suddenly widened.


    They had thought that Ella''s group had gotten the best grade, but it seemed that they didn''t.


    "Aestrea alone, Rating..." she paused, looking directly at Aestrea who was leaning against a marble-made pillar.


    Everyone''s gaze had turned to him.


    "Rating: S, Perfect Marks." she declared, her lips curving into a faint smile.


    Immediately, everyone exchanged glances and hurriedly turned to the Headmistress, trying to get the reason why Aestrea was the one who got perfect marks.


    "Alone, the student Aestrea gave Rose his mana reserves, and dealt invisible damages to the Void Lich so in the last moment, Lucas''s sword could pierce through its stomach."


    "Additionally, when everyone left the dungeon, Aestrea stayed, remembering the hidden ability of the Void Lich which was the ability to resurrect."


    "Along with that, the Void Lich had also placed a curse on every student, and Aestrea made sure to completely kill the Void Lich and also destroy the curse."


    "Therefore... he''s the only student that deserves perfect marks."


    As soon as she finished speaking, everyone turned their gazes toward Aestrea, and the looks on their faces completely changed to admiration.


    They were arrogant, yeah, but they knew that the only way to break a curse was to either use extremely expensive materials or kill its conjurer.


    But Aestrea had done it without asking for any credit, and instead, acted alone, looking out for everyone.


    "No wonder the classmates from his academy like him so much..."


    "Yeah... he seems like a scary guy, but inside, he seems soft."


    "And he doesn''t want attention for anything he does."


    They all started seeing him in a new light.


    Slowly but surely, Aestrea''s reputation within the academy was starting to change.


    "Aestrea..."


    A hand was placed on Aestrea''s shoulder, and hearing that familiar voice, Aestrea''s face twitched slightly.


    He slowly turned around, and Zeva''s close face came into his view.


    "Let''s fight." she declared, looking fiercely at him. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She had already been quiet enough, letting the headmistress declare the student''s grade, but now, she couldn''t herself anymore.


    Aestrea had a monstrous talent, and just in a few hours of fighting against him, he had improved a ton, and now could even make her sweat!


    His fighting instinct had improved a lot just in that small amount of time!


    "Another time," he replied.


    But Zeva wasn''t having it.


    "No, it has to be now."


    "Why?" he raised an eyebrow.


    "Because I''m thoroughly excited."


    Zeva spoke aloud as if it was the normal thing to do.


    Aestrea instantly froze up at her words.


    Phewww...


    Seeing their interaction, the students that were a few meters away from them, couldn''t help but whistle at them, clearly making them seem like a couple.


    ''This bitc¡ª!''


    "COME ON!"


    Zeva grabbed Aestrea''s arm, swinging it directly at the sky, sending him upwards. Then, she jumped, unsheathed out her sword, and swung it directly at Aestrea''s black.


    But before her sword could even make contact...


    Flash!


    Aestrea vanished in the blink of an eye, disappearing from her line of sight entirely.


    "Huh?" Zeva''s eyes darted around, looking in the direction that Aestrea had disappeared.


    "Ugh...!"


    Suddenly, Aestrea found himself in a very different position.


    His head was now planted between the Headmistress''s breasts, and she was gently caressing his head with a soft smile on her face.


    "Not now Zeva, I need to talk with this cute boy."


    She winked at Zeva before both of them vanished, leaving the students completely speechless and shocked by her actions towards Aestrea.


    They knew that Eleonora was a battle junkie and easily gets interested in someone with a huge potential...


    But this... this was different.


    The Headmistress never acted like this, not in front of everyone.


    Immediately, the students started talking with each other, trying to figure out the reason why Eleonora acted that way towards Aestrea.


    However, between them...


    A white-haired lady, clenched her fists tightly, her deep blue eyes trembling as they locked on the spot where Aestrea had just been.


    ''Why...?'' Ella bit her lip in agony.


    She hadn''t even realized until now, but Aestrea had always surrounded himself with female friends¡ªlots of them, really.


    There was Mia and Maria from his academy, whom Aestrea seemed to have a really close relationship with.


    Then there was Zeva who despite meeting Aestrea just a few hours ago, had already got attached to him, or more precisely, to his talent.


    But what if those feelings of pure admiration for his talent, turned into something more? Ella couldn''t really compete with someone as straightforward as Zeva.


    Not to mention that dating professors isn''t something that the academy condemns.


    Well, Zeva was safe for now, even if her words proved otherwise.


    But even though there were these close friendships, none of them ever felt like that kind of relationship.


    None of them seemed to be something more than just friends.


    At least, that''s how it had seemed¡ªuntil today.


    But now...


    Now, seeing Eleonora, the Headmistress, of all people¡ªsomeone who was practically a legend in the academy¡ªacting the way she did with Aestrea, something clicked inside her, and she couldn''t shake the feeling that she was losing her grip on something she hadn''t even realized she wanted.


    Ella knew that she liked Aestrea, no, she loved him.


    From the first moment, they met when she was weaker and Aestrea, in his hidden identity, saved her without breaking a sweat, to when they finally faced each other in the academy''s competition.


    She already knew her true feelings towards him, but she didn''t know how to deal with them. When she approached Aestrea, she could feel her cheeks flushing slightly, and just by hearing his voice, her knees would start wobbling.


    The truth is... that he is her first-ever love.


    Just after he saved her, she immediately spent her resources as a princess to discover his true identity.


    And when she did so, her eyes brightened in sheer happiness. So, she started to try and learn more about him.


    By learning what he likes to do, what is his favorite food, and things like that!


    The only problem for her was his friendship with Mia and Maria. But now, even more people were starting to notice him.


    And that feeling threatened her; she could feel a knot in her stomach, the jealousy creeping up even though she didn''t want to admit it to herself.


    She was the first one to discover him, so why... why are other women starting to get interested in him after he truly revealed his power?


    ''WHY?!''


    Ella pondered.


    She had gripped her fists so tightly that even blood seeped out of them.


    "E-Ella... are you okay?" Iris stuttered, frowning as she noticed Ella''s darkened face.


    "I''m fine."


    An extremely cold tone was blurted out as Ella turned her back to Iris.


    "I''m going to my dorm." she added, walking away from them.


    Looking at her leaving back, Iris couldn''t help but mumble to herself.


    "What happened to her...?"

 Chapter 41 - 41: The Moonlight Swordsman (VII)

    "Here''s your coffee. No sugar, right?" Eleonora asked, slipping past before taking a seat on my left side.


    She took a sip of her tea, her eyes lighting up with satisfaction. A soft groan of pleasure escaped her as she savored the taste before she leaned back against the couch.


    I didn''t want to deal with her, not today.


    "What do you want?" So I cut straight to the point.


    "Hand me over the void energy," her eyes stared at me intently, not breaking away from my gaze as she put down her cup of tea.


    My eyes turned cold as soon as she uttered those words.


    "No."


    Obviously, I didn''t comply, I needed this void of energy after all.


    "I know what you''re trying to do, and I assure you that it isn''t going to work. Void Energy is more corrupted than you think," she spoke, resting her chin on her hand, as her eyes still didn''t break away from my gaze.


    Her lips curled into a slight smirk.


    "Trying to make "void" as your second element, is probably going to be the stupidest thing that you could ever do."


    "Void isn''t compatible with the human body after all."


    I raised an eyebrow, a little confused. Was she playing dumb? When did I ever say I wanted to make void my second element?


    I had never even thought about it.


    Seeing my confused reaction, she blinked in surprise, her lips biting down in hesitation as her eyes flickered with uncertainty.


    "Wait¡­ you''re not using it for that, are you?" She looked almost guilty asking.


    I shook my head.


    "No, I never thought about it. The only reason I need this void energy is to keep my body stable. That''s it."


    As soon as the words left my mouth, Eleonora''s eyes widened. a faint, glowing rune appearing in her gaze as she stared at my chest.


    "Oh my..." she exclaimed in surprise.


    "Your mana paths... they expanded?" Immediately, like a cat, she sidled closer to me and brushed her hand against my chest.


    Puff...!


    Suddenly, I felt a strange energy surge into me. Instantly on alert, I closed my eyes and focused, checking my internal mana flow.


    The energy from Eleonora drifted through my veins, but it didn''t seem to do anything.


    It was like it was just testing, feeling around my mana pathways, looking for something. After a few moments, the sensation faded away.


    Eleonora''s brow furrowed as she processed what she''d just felt.


    "I see... your mana paths were forcibly expanded, but I''m pretty sure that neither your mana quality nor capacity increased which is even weirder," she muttered to herself, before gazing back at me.


    "Tell me, what really happened?" her pale blue eyes, almost like tiny pears, reflected my face, and I couldn''t help but stare into them for a moment.


    Sigh...


    ''I guess I could tell her about this...''


    Even though I indeed despised her, she was still the strongest mage in the entire world, and only she probably could help me with this problem.


    Even though I knew that she wasn''t really going to help me.


    "After I broke the seal on my aura¡­ my Twin Heart Mana Body¡­ it sort of mutated," I began, seeing her face already scrunch up in confusion.


    "Since then, my output has shot up¡ªlike five to ten times more, maybe more than that. I haven''t tested the limits yet, but if I push it further, my mana pathways could expand even more."


    Eleonora bit her lip, her fingers trailing absentmindedly across my chest as she processed my words.


    I had almost forgotten her hand was still resting there.


    "Hey, Aestrea¡­" Her voice softened, containing a hint of concern in it. "Why not just accept my offer to become your master? You could fix this body issue easily."


    Her gaze softened as she leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a whisper.


    "The Twin Heart Mana Body is like a ticking time bomb. If you don''t fix it, it''ll eventually explode, and¡­ well, it could kill you."


    I clenched my jaw at her words, fighting the unease that bubbled up inside me. I knew exactly what she meant.


    I could solve this problem with one word, but¡­


    It essentially told me to leave everything behind and simply stay by her side.


    What about Silverleaf? If I accepted her conditions I needed to transfer to the Royal Academy, so what would happen to my friends and classmates if I left?


    Would they be okay without me?


    "Change... the last condition," I spoke in a softer tone.


    I could accept her offer, but not on those terms. She was asking me to drop everything and leave, including my friends.


    That was too much.


    "Aestrea..." Eleonora sighed, her eyes looking away briefly. "You know I can''t. How would it look if my only disciple came from another academy?"


    I felt a familiar frustration bubble up.


    I''d been there before, with her.


    Her words hit me harder than I expected.


    "If that''s the case¡­ why didn''t you accept my application to Eternum Royal Academy? That would''ve solved everything, wouldn''t it?" I couldn''t help the bitterness that slipped into my voice.


    My old dream of becoming the strongest, with its first phase being, entering the most prestigious academy...


    It was crushed by her.


    And suddenly, after months I spent at Silverleaf, she appeared asking me to be her disciple because she discovered that I had the same physique as her.


    So hateful.


    Eleonora''s face shifted slightly, guilt flickering across her expression.


    "If only I had¡­ met all the applicants," she muttered, clearly disappointed with herself.


    She leaned back against the couch, a heavy sigh escaping her lips.


    "We wouldn''t have this problem."


    I didn''t respond.


    I wasn''t in the mood to talk anymore.


    "I''m leaving," I said flatly.


    There was nothing left to say.


    And, honestly, I didn''t even want to look at her face anymore.


    ¡ª


    After leaving the Headmistress''s office, Aestrea found himself wandering aimlessly.


    Even though he had read about the academy''s layout in the novel, he still had no real sense of where he was going.


    But honestly, he didn''t care much.


    He was just looking for a way to clear his mind.


    He just wanted to refresh his mind and take a breather as his thoughts were fully occupied with how to solve his body''s problem without Eleonora''s help.


    But the more he thought about it, the more stressed he became. He didn''t have nearly enough money for a Lich Orb, let alone a Dragon''s Heart.


    He could potentially borrow enough money, but Aestrea was really intimidated by the idea of getting into a huge amount of debt.


    It didn''t feel worth the risk.


    Swooop!


    The sound of the wind caught his attention, pulling him out of his thoughts. He blinked and looked ahead, his gaze landing on a beautiful garden.


    The breeze felt refreshing, almost like a gentle invitation to step inside.


    The garden was alive with color¡ªthe deep green grass seemed to stretch forever, dotted with a few stone paths that wove through the area, leading to different corners.


    There were flowers of every shape and size, their petals soft and vibrant.


    Tall, elegant structures stood in the garden too, statues of the Headmistress, intricately designed buildings, and little fountains that added to the peaceful atmosphere.


    It all fit together so perfectly.


    "......"


    Aestrea paused for a moment, just taking it all in.


    "Haaa..."


    He inhaled deeply, letting the sweet fragrance of the flowers fill his lungs, the calmness of the garden wrapping around him like a comforting blanket.


    He couldn''t help it¡ªhe sank down onto the soft grass, adjusting himself into a comfortable position.


    Lying there, he stared up at the clear, bright blue sky above, letting the cool breeze wash over him, slowly calming his mind.


    "Aestrea...?"


    Suddenly, Aestrea''s peaceful moment was abruptly interrupted by a familiar voice calling his name.


    But this time, he didn''t even bother to look up.


    He was too lost in his own thoughts as the calming atmosphere of the garden still lingered around him.


    But the voice didn''t stop.


    Instead, the person seemed to smile faintly, as if they were expecting this reaction. A moment later, they sat down in the grass beside him, the quiet rustling of the blades filling the air.


    "Aestrea... do you ever wonder if gods really exist?" the voice asked softly.


    There was a long pause, and then a quiet sigh:


    "I suppose you won''t answer, huh?"


    It wasn''t a question that truly demanded an answer, but then, the voice continued.


    "I used to think gods were just stories. Things people clung to when they needed something to believe in. You know, something to make sense of the chaos. Life''s messy, unpredictable¡­ and people need something bigger to blame or to hope for." the voice smiled lightly.


    "It''s easier that way, isn''t it? When you think someone''s out there watching over you, keeping you out of danger, being your guardian angel."


    The voice paused for a moment, letting the silence stretch out before continuing, its voice drifting like the breeze.


    "I always thought I didn''t need any god. I was fine on my own, or so I told myself. But then, something happens. Maybe you lose someone, or something goes terribly wrong, and suddenly, you''re standing there, feeling like the world''s caving in. And in that moment¡ªwhen you''re at your lowest point, feeling like there''s no way out¡ªyou find yourself whispering a prayer. Asking for something, anything. A miracle, even if you don''t believe in miracles."


    The voice softened, a slight sadness creeping in.


    "It''s funny how we don''t think we need a god until we really do, right? We push it all aside, dismiss it as nonsense, until the day comes when we''re desperate and we''re praying for something you never even thought existed. But you still pray, don''t you?"


    He looked over to Aestrea.


    "Maybe that''s when you realize¡­ gods do exist. Not in the way we imagined, but they''re there, in the places we never looked for them¡ªuntil we had to. That''s when you know they''re real. You just¡­ have to believe."


    "If you truly believe, our Goddess will reach out to us in our weakest moment, and make you revive, just like a soaring phoenix. Even I didn''t believe in our Goddess at first, but now..."


    There was a few seconds of silence, as the voice then uttered in the most sincere tone possible.


    "I do believe in our Goddess. She saved me at my weakest moments, and made me the person that I am today," he whispered softly, enough for Aestrea to hear.


    "That''s why... sometimes you just need to make a sacrifice."


    Aestrea listened quietly, still looking at the bright blue sky, his thoughts swirling around the last word that the voice had spoken to him.


    Finally, after a long pause, he turned his head slightly to look at the person next to him. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I do not believe in gods, Lucas."


    His eyes were terrifyingly calm as he said those words.


    Then, he added in a tone that was as calm as his eyes.


    "Gods don''t show up when you need them."


    "They don''t fix things or make life easier."


    "People have to fight for themselves, no one''s coming to do it for you."


    "I''ve learned that the hard way..."


    "Relying on gods is just waiting for something that may never come."


    He paused slightly, his eyes locked with Lucas''s.


    "You can believe in gods if it helps you, but I''ll never put my faith in something that''s never been there when I needed it, even though I prayed for years straight."


    "Because in the end, the only thing that I truly need, is none other than..."


    "...myself."


    As soon as he uttered those words, his red eyes seemed to have turned into a strange shade of blue, reminiscent of the glow of moonlight just before dawn.


    And in those beautiful blue pearls, the faint symbol of a crescent moon stood quietly.


    Shining dimly.

 Chapter 42 - 42: The Moonlight Swordsman (VIII)

    "Astra, wait for me!"


    A young girl with long, vibrant purple hair called out, her voice filled with excitement.


    She stood with her small hands stretched out, watching a small boy with short silver hair and deep, light blue eyes darting away from her, giggling uncontrollably.


    "Nooooo!"


    The boy''s laughter rang through the air as he sped up, his silver hair bouncing with every step. His light blue eyes twinkled with pure happiness, his small feet kicking up the soft green grass beneath him.


    The girl couldn''t help but smile at his playful antics, but then, a mischievous glint flickered in her eyes.


    Snap!


    She raised a hand and snapped her fingers.


    "Uhh¡­?" The boy suddenly stopped mid-run, his expression shifting from gleeful to confused.


    His feet hovered slightly above the ground, and he looked down, his eyes widening as he realized he wasn''t touching the grass anymore.


    "Ehh¡­! Big sis, that''s not fair!" He pouted as he crossed his arms, turning his face away from her.


    The girl approached him, a soft sigh escaping her lips. She reached out and gently tapped his pouted cheeks, puffing them up slightly.


    "Nihihi," she giggled, her voice playful as she cupped him in her arms.


    "Nooo¡ª!" sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Smack!


    The boy''s eyes widened in surprise as he felt her soft lips press gently against his cheek. His body squirmed, and he wiggled away, trying to break free from her grip.


    And then...


    Smack!


    She kissed his cheek again.


    "Nooo, stop!"


    "Hehe," She laughed mischievously, "If you stop moving, I''ll stop kissing you."


    His movements instantly stopped, making the young girl''s smile twitch slightly.


    "Aww¡­ you don''t like your Big Sister anymore?" she teased, pouting as she gently wiped an imaginary tear from her eye with her finger.


    The boy stared at her, his tiny brows knitting together. Then, without saying a word, he turned his head stubbornly to the side.


    "Hmpf! You can''t trick me again¡­!" he declared firmly.


    But as soon as her fake sniffles began, his small face softened in worry. His lips trembled as he nervously bit down on them.


    His gaze shifted back toward her, and he caught the slight smirk playing on her lips.


    "Ah! You tricked me again!" he huffed, pouting once more as he started squirming in her grip.


    Yet, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn''t break free.


    The girl''s smile grew wider as she gently rubbed her cheek against his.


    "I love you, my little brother," she murmured softly, tightening her hold on him.


    "I hate you too!" the boy retorted, clearly trying to sound tough.


    "Really?" She chuckled gently, ruffling his silver hair.


    "Well, I''ll still keep loving you, though."


    With a playful sigh, she finally set him back on the ground.


    "Happy now?" she asked with a teasing smile.


    "Mhmpf!" He swung his head stubbornly to the side, closing his eyes and crossing his arms.


    A short silence fell between them.


    The girl stood quietly, waiting expectantly for some response.


    But the boy refused to meet her gaze. Instead, he kept his arms crossed, a pout firmly planted on his face.


    Just when it seemed like he wouldn''t say anything, he opened one eye slightly, peeking at her through his lashes.


    "I love you too..." he muttered in a nonaudible voice.


    The girl''s eyes lit up instantly.


    "Awww, I knew it!" she giggled, swooping him into the air once again, this time with a charming, playful smile.


    But this time, the boy didn''t say anything.


    "Mhm..."


    Carefully shifting him into a more comfortable position, the girl lowered herself to the grass.


    She gently used a bit of magic to create a soft cushion beneath them, ensuring they didn''t hit the ground too roughly.


    Both of them lay side by side on the grass, gazing up at the clear, blue sky stretching above them.


    After a few moments, the girl finally spoke, breaking the silence between them.


    "Astra¡­ do you believe in our Heavenly God?"


    The boy tilted his head, looking at her with curiosity but nodded.


    "And why do you believe in her?" she asked softly.


    "Because¡­ she brought us to life?" His small voice trembled slightly.


    The girl nodded thoughtfully.


    "That is indeed true. But sometimes don''t you feel that someone is watching you, playing the role of your guardian angel?"


    The boy blinked at her words, having a thoughtful expression.


    "Actually... yeah. When I didn''t have any toys to play with, they magically appeared in my room, and that also happened with food when I was very hungry!"


    The boy''s eyes lit up.


    "Was it her?!" he asked excitedly.


    The girl chuckled at the boy''s naivety, despite keeping it hidden.


    "Yeah, it must have been her," she rubbed his small head.


    "Remember... Aestrea... she will always be watching over you as long as you keep believing in her," the young girl muttered softly, brushing his cheek with her thumb.


    "Mhmn! I''ll always believe in the Heavenly God!"


    As soon as he spoke those words, the faint silhouette of the moon seemed to have flickered in his precious sapphire eyes.


    Shining dimly.


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    Meeting his gaze, Lucas couldn''t help but freeze. His heart pounded in his chest, loud enough to drown out the world around him¡ªthump!


    Thump, thump, thump!


    A wave of warmth rushed over him, but at the same time, something strange seemed to press down on his chest, making beads of sweat form along his forehead.


    The air around him felt thick, heavy, like something unseen was pressing down on him.


    Time seemed to have been frozen.


    His eyes were locked with Aestrea''s, unable to look away.


    Faintly, he noticed the subtle symbol of the moon glowing ever so slightly, casting a strange light between them.


    The feeling was terrifying¡ªalmost dangerous.


    [LUCAS, WAKE UP!]


    "Ugh...?!"


    Lucas shook his head instinctively as he heard a sudden shout in his mind, breaking out of the strange trance.


    At the same moment, Aestrea finally stood, turning away from the grass and stepping upright, with his back to Lucas.


    "Let me ask you one thing, Lucas."


    Aestrea parted his lips, and his voice came, calm, almost indifferent


    "Would you rather destroy a whole country to save your loved ones, or let your loved one die?" His question was truly bizarre.


    It didn''t fit the actual situation, but Lucas felt that Aestra was really serious about the question he had just asked.


    Lucas frowned deeply, and yet, without hesitation, he answered.


    "Neither. If I believe enough in our Goddess, the Heavenly God, I will be able to make sure that none of the situations occur," he declared in a swift and decisive manner.


    "She will give me a sign when something like that is going to happen."


    Aestrea remained silent for a few seconds, but then, a small, subtle smile appeared at the corners of his lips. He chuckled softly, a sound that didn''t feel mocking but rather¡­ amused by Lucas''s words.


    "How naive," Aestrea murmured, shaking his head lightly before he walked away.


    But as he did so, his voice reached out to Lucas once again.


    "Don''t trust your eyes, Lucas."


    "Trust your heart."


    Fwoop...


    He vanished from his sight, leaving Lucas standing there, alone.


    [...]


    "What a strange guy¡­" Lucas muttered to himself, scratching his head, trying to make sense of it all.


    He glanced down at the soft green grass, feeling the lingering presence of Aestrea''s presence. Slowly, he pushed himself up, brushing the dirt off his pants.


    "System, check his favorability¡­"


    [Aestrea Moon¡ªFavorability: 49]


    "What? It''s already that high?" Lucas''s eyes widened in surprise.


    He hadn''t expected that at all.


    A small smirk crept onto his face as he realized something.


    "So it''s easier to build favor with him than I thought¡­" His brow furrowed slightly, deep in thought.


    "Then all I need is just a little nudge, right?"


    A faint smile tugged at his lips. All he had to do was be a little more friendly, a little more genuine¡­ and it would be enough.


    Right?


    ¡ª


    "Arghh... d-did I pass out?"


    Aestrea''s voice was groggy, his eyes slowly fluttering open.


    His body felt heavy, really heavy as if he had run an entire marathon unstop with a normal human body.


    He could feel sweat sticking to his forehead as he slowly walked to the new dormitory given to him by the academy.


    Somehow, though, he knew exactly where it was.


    When he finally reached the dorm, he fumbled for the student keycard he had been given earlier.


    Beep!


    With a soft beep, the door unlocked, and he pushed it open.


    He stepped inside, feeling the cool air against his damp skin, and made his way to the bathroom.


    Shhhhhh¡­


    The sound of the shower coming to life echoed softly as warm water poured over him.


    The heat was soothing, a gentle cascade that melted away the sweat and eased the ache in his muscles.


    "Why did I pass out... and why am I so tired?" Aestrea pondered to himself, feeling the fresh warm water trickle down his body.


    He just remembered talking to Lucas, and when he uttered the word ''myself''¡­ and then¡ªeverything had gone blank.


    The next thing he knew, he was waking up here, by the dorm building.


    "Damn it¡­ is this part of the side effects of having this mana physique?" He frowned, shutting his eyes and focusing inward, feeling the subtle currents of his mana.


    But everything seemed normal¡­ at least for now.


    "...Sigh..."


    With a small sigh, Aestrea reached for the soap, scrubbing his body. He washed off the sweat, drying himself off quickly before pulling on a simple outfit.


    "Lumi?" he called out softly.


    And immediately, a small green light filled the room as Lumi appeared out of thin air.


    "Master~"


    She walked to him in small steps before pressing her tiny body against his waist and rubbing her cheek against his chest.


    Aestrea smiled faintly, his weariness easing slightly as he reached down, gently patting Lumi''s head.


    He lifted her up with both hands and settled into the soft new bed, cradling her in his arms.


    "It''s time Lumi..." He clutched his fist and then opened it, revealing a small ball made of high-density mana, containing a very small purple energy inside of it.


    Lumi tilted her head, her big green eyes watching him curiously, but she opened her mouth willingly as he extended his fingers toward her.


    Without hesitation, she swallowed the tiny ball and then licked her lips.


    "Now, it''s time to wait for a few minutes..." Aestrea muttered, collapsing down on his bed as his gaze was locked with Lumi''s figure.


    Leaning against his legs, she closed her eyes as a faint symbol appeared on her forehead. It had a ruby-shaped form, and it started to glow slightly.


    Slowly, the mana in the surroundings started being absorbed by Lumi, as the glow of the ruby started increasing slightly.


    Her body started floating into the air as the glow of the ruby enveloped her whole body and took the purple color.


    Crack, crack!


    Tiny fissures seemed to open in the space around her, and the light surged brighter. A faint pentagram formed briefly on Lumi''s back, glowing brightly before quickly fading away.


    Thud!


    Lumi''s body fell gently back onto the bed, the light fading alongside the ruby-shaped emblem on her forehead.


    "Agh!"


    At the same time, Aestrea felt a strange energy coursing throughout his whole body, making him clench his teeth tight.


    The pain lasted for a few minutes before it disappeared.


    [You now have a chance of awakening ''Void'' as your second element.]


    The system, who rarely appeared, decided to appear revealing quite the important information to Aestrea.


    "That''s possible...?" Aestrea''s eyes widened significantly.


    "Gosh, you''re my lucky star!" He scooped her up by the waist and lifted her into the air like she was the most precious thing in the world.


    "Master?"


    Lumi blinked, tilting her head in confusion, her big green eyes staring at him. But seeing the joy on her master''s face, she couldn''t help but giggle softly.


    Aestrea smiled gently at her reaction, before slowly setting her down once again.


    She didn''t hesitate¡ªimmediately, she cuddled into his chest, her small legs coiling around his, like a playful snake.


    "Hehe..."


    She let out a small chuckle as she nuzzled her face on his chest.


    As she did so, Aestrea blinked twice before yawning.


    He was still tired and now needed to sleep.

 Chapter 43 - 43: The Moonlight Swordsman (IX)

    Psst...


    "Did you hear?"


    "About what?"


    "The fifth-year students are finally returning!"


    "Wait, really?"


    "Yeah, they finally raided that s-level dungeon!"


    "Woah...!"


    The students were chatting excitedly, their voices loud enough for anyone within close range to catch.


    And as those words reached me, my mind couldn''t help but drift.


    Until the part of the novel that I had read, the fifth-year students of the academy didn''t appear a single time, however, from those reviews and casual chat between the community, I saw quite a few amount of information.


    Among the fifth-years, there are definitely a couple of troublemakers. One is the first prince, and the other is Ella''s so-called ''licking dog''¡ªa guy who follows her around like a devoted suitor.


    Thinking about it, it should be around this time that Ella''s identity as the princess should be revealed.


    Though, I''ve always wondered why she even kept it a secret in the first place.


    But nonetheless, she had told Lucas about it so the readers knew from the early chapters about her true identity.


    ''Oh... this should be Ella''s capture arc.''


    Or, as the novel likes to call it, the part where Lucas makes Ella fall in love with him.


    It all makes sense¡ªthe prince and her loyal dog are both coming back now, and they both know who she really is.


    But something feels a little¡­ strange.


    "Why are you sitting next to me?" I glanced over my shoulder, raising an eyebrow.


    "Why? Are you planning to be a loner for the whole semester?" A playful smile crept onto Lucas''s face as he gave me a strong slap on the back.


    "Oh? You wanna fight?" I quickly give him a backward slap on his chest, causing him to groan slightly in pain.


    "Agh... how high is your damn strength?!" he asked, glaring at me.


    "I don''t know, but I''m definitely stronger than you," I answered, shaking my head with a small grin.


    "Heh? Wanna put it to the test?" his hand casually reached toward the hilt of his sword, making me dumbfounded.


    "Bro, we''re in class!"


    Did this fucker really want to fight during class?


    "Oh, right¡­ totally forgot," he muttered, scratching the back of his head with a sheepish shrug.


    ''Is this seriously the hero that is going to save the world?''


    I thought, shaking my head.


    I knew from the novel that he was dumb sometimes, but seeing it in real person...


    Gosh.


    "Attention!"


    Eleonora clapped loudly, instantly silencing the chatter from the students. Since this was a magic class, she was, of course, the instructor.


    "I still can''t believe our Headmistress is teaching us classes..."


    "Right? I was wondering the same thing."


    "ATTENTION!"


    Eleonora''s voice rose sharply, and finally, everyone fell silent. Her irritated expression quickly transformed into a calm, composed smile.


    She really is a woman, huh...


    Changing expressions from one second to another.


    "Alright, now that I have your attention, I''ll go over a few important things about the school''s current happenings. As you all know, our academy operates on rankings. The higher your rank, the better privileges and treatment you''ll receive," she began in a calm voice.


    "Right now, the results of the entrance ceremony''s test are still being processed, and soon enough, you''ll each receive your official rank within the school," she added, tapping lightly on the board before turning to draw on a sheet of paper.


    "Not to mention¡ªfifth-year students are finally returning! Their rank has already been solidified at the upper levels because they successfully raided an S-level dungeon. If you want to raise your rank, it''s fairly straightforward. You have a couple of options. First, you can challenge students with a higher rank."


    "They can''t refuse your challenge, at least not for your first attempt. If you win, you''ll swap ranks with the student you defeated. But if you lose... you''ll lose the ability to challenge anyone for the next two weeks," she explained, drawing a small symbol on the board to emphasize her point.


    "Another way to improve your ranking is by breaking records in our various facilities. The school offers plenty of training settings, and all you need to do is finish the task in the shortest time possible to set a new record. Once you do, your rank will elevate based on your performance and the time you achieved it."


    She continued drawing on the board, adding more details.


    "And finally, the most obvious method¡ªgetting high grades in the upcoming midterms. The better you perform, the more you''ll be able to boost your rank."


    Once she finished her drawing, she turned back to face the students.


    "Any questions?"


    Almost immediately, a hand shot up¡ªLucas''s hand, to be exact. He was sitting right next to me.


    "About the first clause¡­ if one student challenges another and loses, can they still receive challenges from other students?" he asked, raising his eyebrows.


    Ah...


    Has he turned smart right now?


    I let out a soft sigh, furrowing my eyebrows slightly.


    Sometimes he''s dumb and sometimes he''s smart, quite a tricky situation.


    "Yes, they can. And all challenges must take place in the arena since there''s a ''no real damage'' barrier," Eleonora nodded.


    "Any more questions...?" she asked once again, her gaze sweeping across the students.


    This time, no hands went up.


    "Alright," she nodded slowly, but then, seemingly remembering something else, she added with a hint of intrigue, "Also, don''t forget that the Student Council is starting its hunt for new members soon¡­"


    She spoke those words in a way that made it sound more like they were going on a literal ''hunt''¡ªas if searching for prey.


    "The student council... is in need of members?"


    "Oh... hell no!"


    The students started whispering to each other in a scared manner, and I couldn''t help but frown in confusion.


    "Hey, Lucas."


    "Yeah?" he replied, turning to me.


    "Why are the students so scared of the Student Council?"


    Lucas let out a soft chuckle at my question: "Basically, it''s because the work in the Student Council is insane."


    "And how so?"


    "No¡­ it''s really insane. Sometimes, students spend three days straight working¡ªwithout sleeping. The people who''ve experienced those kinds of situations firsthand¡­" He let out a small sigh, rubbing his hands together.


    "They''re¡­ a bit traumatized."


    "Ah..." I was a bit speechless.


    Back at my old academy, I was the Student Council President, but I barely had to lift a finger because everything ran so smoothly.


    I organized everything correctly to make sure that everyone had the same amount of work, and even gave a little bit of incentives for the students to work hard.


    So... I couldn''t really understand why people would stay for three entire days without sleeping...


    Before I could ask any more, Lucas added:


    "Well, I get where they''re coming from. The Student Council is responsible for overseeing everything at Eternum Royal Academy¡ªmanaging the grounds, organizing events, keeping order¡­ you name it."


    I froze at his words.


    As I''d mentioned before, this academy was easily more than fifty times the size of my old school in Silverleaf.


    If students had to take care of all that¡­


    No wonder they barely get any rest.


    "So yeah," Lucas continued, "it can definitely be said that the Student Council is on a ''hunt'' for students."


    ".....How about simply refusing?" I asked curiously.


    "It doesn''t really work like that," Lucas shook his head with a wry smile. "Usually, potential members are challenged in a ranking battle. If the student council members win, they get to add the condition of joining."


    "They''re literally hunting for new recruits," he added, a bitter undertone in his voice.


    Gosh.


    No wonder some of them end up traumatized.


    "Well, don''t worry. Unless one of the fifth-year students or the Student Council President herself challenges you to a fight, I don''t think anyone will beat you." He slapped my back once again.


    This guy¡­


    I immediately raised my hand, about to retaliate, but then¡ª


    "My dear Ella~"


    A smooth, sunny male voice echoed from the classroom doorway as a handsome, brown-haired student entered, his eyes immediately scanning the room.


    Is this¡­ her suitor?


    Damn, he''s worse than I thought.


    "That bastard..." Lucas frowned and muttered darkly under his breath as soon as he heard his voice.


    So, I immediately took the chance and slapped his back.


    BAM!


    "Oops..."


    I accidentally put in too much strength, causing a loud noise to occur.


    "Damn it, Aestrea!" he groaned slightly, arching his back in pain.


    "That''s what you get."


    "Petty bastard," he scoffed, grinning in a way that I knew he was trying to brush off the pain.


    And it was right then that I noticed everyone in the classroom had turned to look at us. However, their attention on us quickly shifted as another cut through the chatter.


    "Well, isn''t this our Moonlight Swordsman?"


    A blonde-haired, even more strikingly handsome student appeared, walking into the room with an air of confidence.


    His golden eyes seemed to lock directly onto me, his lips curling into a small smile.


    "Ohhh! It''s the prince!"


    The girls in the classroom practically melted at the sight of him, their voices growing louder as they openly gushed.


    "Ahh, he''s so dreamy!"


    "Look at those eyes!"


    "Such elegance¡­ and he''s a prince! No wonder he''s so charming!"


    It didn''t take long for me to figure out why he was so popular.


    Naturally, one of the future heirs to the empire. If he ever ascended to the throne...


    Any girl would try to get closer to him, not to mention that he''s quite handsome.


    The prince slowly approached me, his expression calm yet confident, and extended his hand with a small smile. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Hello, Moonlight Swordsman," he said smoothly. "I''m Leon Von Arthur Charles. It''s a pleasure to finally meet you."


    I stared at his outstretched hand for a moment before my lips parted into a faint scoff. Without a second thought, I shook his hand.


    "The name''s Aestrea." I didn''t bother adding my surname.


    His smile twitched ever so slightly upon noticing my blatant disregard for formalities.


    "By the way..." I spoke in a faint, almost playful tone.


    "Yes?"


    His voice remained steady, though his patience seemed to thin.


    "You really seem to be as stupid as your father. I guess¡­ it runs in the bloodline, huh?" I added with a faint, almost mocking smile.


    The prince''s eyes quickly turned cold. His grip tightened as his knuckles whitened slightly, but I didn''t flinch.


    "...huh?"


    He was surprised.


    After all, I didn''t stumble back or groan in pain despite his intense strength.


    Even though my strength rank was only C+, when combined with Mana, it was easily on par with an A-rank.


    His grip was strong, but not strong enough.


    My mana flowed smoothly through my veins, instinctively enhancing my body with every passing second.


    It was a method that I came to learn after getting my mana quality in such a high level.


    "Hey¡­ aren''t you quite weak?" I sneered lightly, matching his increasing strength.


    "...Gah!"


    The prince winced, his eyes narrowing as he struggled to free his hand from mine. He attempted to twist and pull free, but I refused to relent.


    The longer I held him, the more frustrated he became.


    Swoop!


    However, it was short-lived as I saw the blur motion of the brown-haired guy, rushing towards me at full speed.


    I quickly let go of the prince''s hand as I noticed it.


    "!!!"


    His eyes widened in surprise as he stumbled, trying to stop himself from colliding with me. I swiftly twisted my body, executing a tornado kick sent to his head.


    Thud!


    Surprisingly, he was quick enough to block the blow using his arm, but the force still pushed him back slightly.


    "Agh¡­" he groaned, lowering his arm, his face slightly grim.


    "Telmo, stop," the prince uttered in a neutral tone.


    "But, Your Highness¡ª"


    "Enough," Leon interrupted firmly. "We didn''t come here to cause trouble." He shook his reddened hand, wincing slightly.


    "Though," he added darkly, his gaze fixed on me, "I''ll keep notice of your little stunt, Aestrea."


    His glare was intense, his fists clenched at his sides. He turned away, walking back toward the door with a calm demeanor despite probably burning inside.


    "I''ll be awaiting, Your Majesty," I said softly, lowering my voice into a mocking, almost playful tone just loud enough for him to hear.


    And right after, I noticed a vein pulse in his forehead.


    Serves him right.


    "Gosh..."


    I let out a sigh, shaking my head.


    I was already causing trouble on just the second day here.


    "Aestrea¡­ aren''t you scared of the prince?" Lucas couldn''t help but ask in a surprised tone.


    "Not really," I replied nonchalantly.


    I mean¡­


    I''m the one that''s going to take his father''s head.


    Along with that bitchy succubus.

 Chapter 44 - 44: The Moonlight Swordsman (X)

    Beep~


    "Huh? Sounds like someone''s calling you," Lucas said, raising an eyebrow as my phone buzzed loudly.


    Coming to think about it, I was still getting used to how things worked in this strange world¡ªa blend of modern and medieval vibes.


    It wasn''t like the high-tech world I came from.


    Sure, we had phones, cars, and motorbikes, but everything else?


    It was like stepping into a fantasy novel, complete with kings, nobles, and even the whole ''defeat the demon king'' trope.


    Except that the demon king isn''t really the final boss.


    "Yeah?" Picking up the phone, I replied.


    [Aestrea, I''ll need your help.]


    A familiar voice came through the phone.


    "The Saintess?" Lucas, standing beside me, blurted out in surprise as he recognized her voice.


    He wasn''t exactly subtle.


    "The Saintess is asking me for help, huh? That''s a first."


    I sighed and gave a dry chuckle.


    [Aestrea, I''m serious. I really need your help.]


    The tone of her voice caught me off guard¡ªit was unusually intense.


    My smile faded, and my brows furrowed as I asked, "What''s going on? What do you need help with?"


    [There''s a masked auction happening in the black market. I need you to go with me.]


    My frown deepened.


    "Why me? Can''t you ask John? He''s stronger than I am. Honestly, he''d make a much better partner for something like this."


    [...It has to be you.]


    "...Why though?"


    [...Only people with partners can attend the auction.]


    I froze at her words for a moment.


    Lucas, meanwhile, caught on faster than I expected.


    His eyes widened comically, and then he broke into a sly grin, giving me an exaggerated thumbs-up like he was rooting for us to get together.


    Before I could say anything, he turned and strolled off, shooting me a mischievous look over his shoulder.


    What the fuck?


    Just yesterday, he was teasing me about Rose, and now he''s shipping me with the Saintess.


    It doesn''t make sense... does he want me to build a harem or something?


    Fucking weird...


    "I still think John''s a better choice," I muttered, trying to wriggle my way out of this.


    The last thing I wanted was to step foot in the black market again, especially with my history.


    The lab''s owners¡ªthose lunatics¡ªwere still out there, and I wasn''t eager to cross paths with them anytime soon.


    [No. You''re the only one I can trust to play the role of my partner. If you help me with this, I''ll... I...]


    She paused for a moment.


    [I''ll g-give you anything you want...]


    "...Anything?" the words briefly escaped my mouth.


    [...Yes. Anything.]


    Her response came quickly, leaving no room for doubt.


    A slow grin crept across my face, despite the little voice in my head warning me that this could only lead to trouble.


    "In that case, I want..."


    .


    .


    .


    .


    On the way to the masked auction, I met up with Saintess Christina. The moment her eyes landed on my outfit, her expression soured.


    She frowned so hard I thought her face might freeze that way.


    "This won''t do," she muttered, and before I could protest, she dragged me into a nearby boutique.


    One expensive shopping spree later, I found myself in a suit so fancy it practically sparkled. The price? Over 100 gold coins.


    Seriously, 100 gold coins?!


    That''s enough to live on for ten years if you use them wisely! But Christina didn''t even blink as she handed over her card.


    Just how loaded is she?


    "...It should be around here..." Christina muttered softly, grabbing my arm as we turned to one of the back alleys.


    We continued walking for a while before we were interrupted by a huge man. His skin was tanned, and he wore a detailed goat mask that gave him an ominous vibe.


    His eyes lingered on Christina for a moment, widening slightly as though he recognized her., but he quickly composed himself.


    "To attend the Masked Auction, you''ll need to select a mask from the table," he said, gesturing toward a small wooden table set to the side.


    "We''re familiar with the rules," I said with a polite smile, waving off the explanation.


    "...Oh, of course. Then, please choose one of the masks on the table," he said, stepping aside to give us room.


    There were quite a few, an oni demon mask, a bear mask, a wolf, and much more. The Saintess Christian ended up choosing the Oni demon mask...


    As for me...


    "...This..."


    I found a suitable mask for me; it was completely white, with oversized eyeholes and a wide, crescent-shaped grin that was just unsettling enough to make it intriguing.


    "This one," I said, picking it up.


    The goat-masked man nodded in approval and stepped aside, revealing a dimly lit corridor that stretched into the distance.


    I turned to Christina, smirking slightly as I offered her my hand.


    "Shall we, love?"


    Her eyes widened for just a heartbeat before a small smile graced her lips.


    Without missing a beat, she slipped her hand into mine.


    "Yes, darling," she replied, her voice smooth and sweet as honey, fluttering her eyelids in a seductive demeanor.


    Even the goat-masked man seemed a bit flustered by our actions, it seemed that our acting was thoroughly amazing.


    At the end of the dimly lit corridor, we were greeted by another attendant, also wearing an animal mask¡ªthis one resembling a fox.


    He bowed slightly, one hand over his chest in a formal gesture.


    "I''ll show you to your seats," he said in a calm and polite tone.


    We followed him silently, weaving through a series of hallways before arriving at one of the VIP seats.


    The elevated position gave us a clear view of the grand auction stage below.


    It seems like Christina had came prepared.


    Once the attendant left, I leaned back in my chair, crossing my legs casually.


    "So... what exactly are we doing here?" I asked, glancing at Christina.


    She hesitated for a moment with a conflicted expression, before finally sighing.


    "An elf is being auctioned off," she said softly.


    As I was about to cross my legs, I froze immediately after she said those words. My fists clenched tightly, as a faint mana pressure started leaving my body...


    "Aestrea, calm down...!" She gripped my shoulder tightly, just enough for me to wake up from my daze of rage.


    These bastards...!


    Huff...!


    Taking a deep breath, I slowly picked up the auction catalog lying on the small table in front of us and started flipping through the pages.


    And just like Christina said... as one of the highlights of the auction...


    A High Elf was being auctioned off as a slave.


    "She''s going to be sold as last, so... I should have enough money to buy her out," she muttered softly, looking at her phone.


    It seemed like she was checking her balance or something.


    And I also took the opportunity to look at mine.


    "...Shit."


    [Balance: 1 Platinum Coin, 211 Gold Coins, 77 Silver Coins and 13 Bronze Coins.]


    ''When did I get a platinum coin?''


    I pondered slightly.


    One platinum coin was worth 1,000 gold coins, which meant I had way more money than I thought.


    Still, I could''ve sworn I only had a little over 200 gold coins before this.


    "How many coins did you bring?" I asked curiously.


    "...A little over two hundred platinum coins...?" she tilted her head, thinking about it before replying softly.


    I blinked.


    That was an absurd amount of money, enough to buy an entire state directly!


    But yet, that amount of money was still dozens of times away from enough to buy a Dragon''s Heart.


    Before I could comment, the lights in the room dimmed, and the murmurs of the crowd quieted.


    A spotlight illuminated the stage below, and a woman stepped into view.


    "Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to our Masked Auction! I, Olivia, will be your host for this evening," she announced, her voice bright and confident.


    Applause rippled through the room, and then she continued.


    "Without further ado, let''s begin with our first item!"


    The auction began, item after item appearing on the stage. Paintings, rare artifacts, and elixirs were presented and sold for jaw-dropping amounts.


    The crowd was lively, bids flying back and forth at an almost dizzying pace.


    "Sold for number twelve!" Olivia declared after one of the items¡ªa stolen painting¡ªwas purchased for an obscene sum.


    She then turned her attention to the next item with an enthusiastic smile.


    "Now... Item number 16... A Unity Dragon-Phoenix Elixir!" she announced loudly, and immediately, the crowd went into a small uproar.


    This kind of elixir was very precious, especially for lovers, it could potentially increase their strength more than three times if used correctly with your lover.


    If you used it alone... it wouldn''t have as good as the normal effect, but your power would increase by at least two times.


    "The starting bid will be 10 gold coins!"


    The host declared, and as she did so, another bid came lightning fast.


    "100 Gold Coins!"


    "150 Gold Coins!"


    "300 Gold Coins...!" sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The number climbed rapidly, finally settling at 300 gold coins. The room fell silent as the auctioneer called out the final bid.


    "300 Gold Coins going once, twice... and sol¡ª"


    "500 Gold Coins." Another voice resounded, and everyone''s gaze turned to one of the VIP rooms where the silhouette of a woman could be seen.


    No one dared to increase the bid after knowing that it was one of the VIPs.


    "500 Gold Coins going once, twice... and sold!"


    The host smashed her little hammer against the podium.


    "Congratulations to our Vip #1 for purchasing the Unity Dragon-Phoenix Elixir!" she clapped frenetically.


    But then, her smile quickly turned into a story-telling face, as she announced the next item...


    "Now... the moment you were waiting for!"


    Immediately, Christina leaned forward as she heard those words.


    The highlight of the auction was about to appear.


    "We went through great lengths and difficulties to obtain this particular ''item'', and I believe anyone can see its value and rarity!"


    The host announced as the sound of chains grazing against the ground echoed loudly. I immediately clenched my fists...


    And Christian bit her lower lip tightly.


    With a beautiful, golden long hair, although it seemed lifeless. Skin as white as the purest snow was now, completely dry.


    But even in this state, her beauty seemed almost ethereal.


    Her long ears quivered softly, as she contained a hunched posture.


    It was obviously an elf, but not just a normal elf...


    A High Elf.


    "Because of the extreme rarity of this item, the bid will be starting with 1 platinum coin!" The host announced loudly.


    And just after a few moments...


    The biddings exploded.


    "2 platinum coins!"


    "3 platinum coins!"


    "4 platinum coins!"


    "10 platinum coins!"


    The bids climbed higher and higher, the excitement in the room palpable. By the time it reached 57 platinum coins, the crowd finally started hesitating.


    "57 platinum coins!"


    The crowd stopped bidding, and it was at this moment that Christian raised her bidding stick.


    "60 platinum coins," her voice echoed through the whole room, making everyone turn to her.


    "65 platinum coi¡ª!"


    "70 platinum coins," Christina cut in before the other bidder could finish, raising her paddle higher.


    The room went in full silence.


    No one raised their paddles, so, after swallowing hard, the host opened her mouth.


    "70 platinum coins going once, twice, and sol¡ª!"


    "¡ª300 platinum coins."


    A familiar and calm voice came out.


    It was the bidder from the #1 VIP room.


    And her bid had completely crashed Christina''s.


    Christina froze, her eyes wide, and her lips trembled as she bit down hard, trying to keep her composure. Her fists clenched on the armrests of her chair, knuckles turning white.


    I was shocked too, but more than that, I felt helpless.


    There was nothing either of us could do.


    "300 platinum coins going once, twice, and sold!"


    The host''s voice reached out to us as she declared loudly.


    "Congratulations to our Vip #1 for purchasing the rare High Elf!" she clapped loudly, and soon enough, the others followed.


    "And with that, we conclude this auction! Thank you all for attending!"


    The host bowed as the stage lights dimmed.


    I glanced over at Christina. She was staring down at her lap, fists still balled tightly, her whole body tense.


    "Christina..." I muttered softly.


    She seemed truly upset that she didn''t win that bid.


    I was about to try and comfort her until I heard a voice calling me.


    "Aestrea Moon, our lady invites you."


    A lady wearing a rabbit''s mask approached me.


    "If you come with us, our lady intends to diminish the value of the High Elf and sell her to you," the rabbit-masked woman continued smoothly.


    As soon as I heard those words, I frowned slightly.


    But, seeing the Saintess''s face gives a bit of hope...


    "Lead the way," I replied.


    The rabbit-masked woman bowed slightly.


    "Please follow me."


    Christina slowly followed me behind, as we reached the door of the VIP room.


    But before we could enter, the rabbit woman extended her arm, stopping Christina in her tracks.


    "Only he can enter..."


    I frowned even more knowing that it was something fishy. So, I took the opportunity and told the Saintess to get out.


    "No, I''ll wait for y¡ª!"


    "¡ªChristina." I interrupted her, brushing her cheek with my thumb while looking directly into her dim yet beautiful pink eyes.


    "I''ll get you quickly, don''t worry..."


    She blinked, her pink eyes quivering before she bit her lip and gave a reluctant nod.


    She was very hesitant as she slowly backed away, but not before glancing over her shoulder one last time.


    "Please, this way," the rabbit-masked woman said, gesturing toward the door.


    Gosh...


    Why did this only happen to me?


    I complained inwardly as I opened the door.


    And immediately froze...


    "Oh my~... look who''s here."


    Lounging on an ornate sofa, a glass of wine in her hand and a smug smile playing on her lips, was none other than...


    Yara Devereux.


    The Underground Queen herself.

 Chapter 45 - 45: The Moonlight Swordsman (XI)

    "..."


    A faint silence remained in the room.


    My eyes stayed locked on hers as she raised her glass of red wine and took a sip.


    The wine swirled gently in the glass as she set it down, the dim light catching the deep crimson hue.


    Her lips curved slightly before parting to speak, her black hair slipping down her shoulders and revealing a faint scar near the corner of her eyebrow.


    She didn''t seem to care if I noticed it.


    With an almost lazy motion, she reached for a single sheet of paper on the table in front of her.


    "Aestrea Moon. Twenty years old," she began. "Parents died the day he was born. He grew up in a small orphanage."


    She glanced at me briefly, then continued reading.


    "Showed exceptional intelligence, so he was selected for advanced education. Excelled in every class, highest grades possible¡ªuntil sixteen. That''s when the Royal Eternum Academy rejected him. Quite the tragedy, really."


    Her tone was quite playful as she seemed to have held back a laugh.


    She kept going.


    "After that, he joined Silverleaf Academy instead. A late bloomer, but one whose talents fully blossomed. The strongest student, they said. Raiding festivals for demon cores, selling them for who-knows-what... under the identity of the..."


    "Moonlight Swordsman."


    Her dark eyes flicked up to meet mine, a sly smile tugging at her lips.


    "But even with all that information, I couldn''t find a single good reason for you to break into our lab. Unless, of course..."


    Her voice dropped slightly as her gaze sharpened. "...you already knew about the weapon hidden there. Did you?"


    I didn''t answer.


    I was silent because I obviously knew how strong she was from the novel. She alone had defeated Zeva without breaking a sweat.


    It was mentioned in the first interlude of the novel since it was basically to introduce her character to future causes.


    And of course, she''s one of the very few SS-level awakeners.


    Before I could respond, she snapped her fingers.


    "By the way... your little spell? It won''t work here."


    The room''s lighting shifted instantly, the white glow replaced by a light red hue.


    My stomach dropped.


    "Fuck..." I muttered under my breath.


    I shook both of my hands as I felt a little heat on them, then, my gaze narrowed as I met her eyes and asked directly:


    "What do you want from me?"


    She tilted her head at my words.


    "Hmm..." She twirled her wine glass again.


    "The weapon. Hand it over, and in return, I''ll give you the high elf slave." Her voice was almost too casual like she was bargaining over a piece of fruit at a market.


    "Simple, no?" Her smile widened, teasing.


    I didn''t flinch.


    "Then give me a blood contract suppressor," I said flatly.


    Her brows lifted ever so slightly.


    "Oh? A blood contract? That is a bit of a hassle." She sighed but didn''t look too bothered. then, she snapped her fingers once again.


    Puff!


    A small glowing box appeared right in front of my eyes.


    At that moment, I already knew what kind of magic she was using, but I didn''t expect her to use it too casually.


    One of the strongest magics...


    Space magic.


    I grabbed the small box, and slowly summoned the sword, and at the same time, I reached out to Lumi.


    ''Don''t worry, Lumi.''


    I wasn''t about to give her up.


    Not now, not ever.


    Carefully, I slid the sword into the box. At the same time, Lumi, now in a miniature form, climbed up my arm and slipped into my pocket.


    "Bit..."


    I bit my thumb, letting a drop of blood bead up before flicking it into the pocket where Lumi had hidden.


    Then, with my bloodied finger, I pressed against the suppressor''s surface. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The box flared to life, glowing softly before a sharp snap broke the silence¡ªthe sound of chains shattering.


    "...Done."


    I pulled the sword back out, its blade glowing faintly.


    Without a second thought, I tossed it to her. She caught it effortlessly, inspecting it for a moment before placing it neatly beside her.


    Now... the high elf," I demanded.


    Her eyes lifted to meet mine, and for the first time, she looked slightly amused. Adjusting herself on the sofa, she crossed her legs elegantly and studied me with renewed interest.


    "You know," she said with a faint smile, "you''re the first person who''s ever demanded something from me."


    Her tone was light, almost playful, but there was a strange... excitement in it.


    "Usually," she continued, "people hand over what I want and slink away without so much as a word. But you..."


    She leaned forward slightly, her eyes glowing dimly.


    "...you''re different. Not only did you hand me the item, but you had the audacity to make a demand."


    There was a strange excitement in her voice now, her smile widening as she spoke.


    "You''re clever. You must know how vastly more powerful I am than you. And yet, here you are, standing your ground..."


    Her smile grew mischievous.


    "So tell me¡ªwhat is it? Confidence? Or pure stupidity?"


    Her eyes sparkled, daring me to answer.


    Looking at her, I reached up and slowly removed the mask I had been wearing, letting her see the full weight of my glare.


    My voice was calm as I spoke.


    "The elf."


    She stared at me for a moment, her lips parting in surprise.


    Then she threw her head back and laughed:


    "Hahaha..."


    Her laugh filled the room, getting increasingly loud with each passing second before she finally covered her face with her hands.


    Peeking at me through her fingers, she let out a breathless chuckle.


    "You... are the most interesting person I''ve met in years."


    Her hands fell away, and she snapped her fingers.


    CRACK!


    A small, hidden cubicle of ice shattered nearby.


    "You even tried casting a spell in my presence," she said curiously, "Now I really want to know... what makes you so confident?"


    Her eyes began to widen, and a faint blush rose to her cheeks.


    ''...Damn it. Another crazy bitch...''


    She leaned back into the sofa, her smile turning almost predatory.


    "...What gives you such confidence?" She suddenly moved her arm.


    "...Shit!"


    I immediately leaped back as a small fissure of space appeared before me without warning.


    A razor-thin distortion in the air that could have sliced me in two if I hadn''t leaped back just in time.


    "Ahaah..." Yara took a deep breath, inhaling loudly as the blush on her face seemed to increase, "how did you dodge that? Not even SS-level awakeners can do that!"


    "Gosh, Aestrea. You''re just so... fascinating... amazing... capable." a faint cloud of lust seemed to hover over her as she kept adding more and more compliments to me.


    Damn it.


    This crazy bitch also got interested in me?


    I only dodged that move of hers because of Lumi which warned me. Void and Space are complimentary, so she immediately senses something.


    Lumi being a gluttonous slime is really useful, not only can she absorb the racial traits, but the elements of the things she eats.


    No wonder people back then wanted to desperately eliminate her.


    "...Fuck!"


    Clang!


    Crack!


    I made a sword made of reinforced ice as I met the daggers of the previous rabit-masked lady.


    The impact made the ice break into small cracks before falling in pieces to the ground, but I quickly made another one, with more than 20% of my mana implanted in it.


    "Gosh... Aestrea, I''m so damn interested in you...haaugh..." She let out a seemingly lustful breath as she opened the palm of her hand towards me and continued...


    "Let''s make a deal," she said sweetly, "one I won''t break."


    Her hand extended toward me as if offering a gift.


    "If you defeat her, I''ll let you leave with the elf." Her voice lowered, her smile turning wicked. "But if you lose..."


    She closed the palm of her hands, that probably had my figure on it.


    "...You''re going to be mine."


    Her blush deepened with a voice that was soft but dangerously enticing.


    What the fuck is she thinking about?


    "...Also, you can only accept the deal, if not...


    "I''ll take you mine directly," her black eyes glowed a faint black smoke seeped out of them.


    This bitch...


    She knows that I am a swordsman and don''t have a suitable sword---


    I bit my lips looking at the rabbit-masked lady holding two daggers in her hand.


    "Oh, and one more thing," she added, her smile growing sharper. "Neither of you can use Mana or Aura."


    The lights in the room changed color and I noticed a faint pressure in the air. I tried to generate some kind of ice magic, but I couldn''.t


    That made me turn to the lights and noticed a faint smoke getting out of them.


    There was some kind of high-grade magic implemented on those lights, but I really couldn''t decipher the exact spell.


    But... if it''s a battle without using mana or aura, I am at a bit of a disadvantage, since I couldn''t even use my¡ºJudgement Eye ¡» to gauge her power and movements.


    Not to mention that all of my active skills needed mana, so I needed to defeat her with pure swordsmanship and strength which wasn''t my forte.


    I glanced at the rabbit-masked woman, her daggers gleaming as she shifted into a fighting stance.


    This was going to be rough.


    She took a few steps forward, before she leaned down, and moved.


    Clang!


    Her daggers collided with my blade, the impact sending a jolt up my arms. She was fast¡ªtoo fast.


    Her strikes came in quick, fluid combinations, one dagger reaching towards my neck while the other aimed for my ribs.


    Clink, clink, clink!


    I barely managed to parry the blows, my footing shaky as I staggered backward.


    "Ahahahah!" Yara''s laugh rang out from behind her glass of wine. "Look at you, Aestrea! You''re barely keeping up!"


    This bitch...


    Taking opportunity of my small distraction, the rabbit-masked woman lunged forward, one blade slicing toward my shoulder.


    I twisted my body, but the blade caught the edge of my suit.


    Sizzle!


    A sharp, ripping sound echoed in the room as the fabric tore apart.


    My eyes widened in horror.


    "Fuck... that''s an expensive suit!" I yelled, momentarily distracted.


    The rabbit-masked woman didn''t care. Her other dagger swept low, catching me just below the ribs.


    Shnk!


    The pain was instant, hot, and searing. Blood spattered onto the ground as I stumbled back, clutching my side.


    "Oh my, oh my¡­" Yara''s voice dripped with seemingly delight.


    "You''re bleeding already? And after she ruined that expensive suit of yours. What a tragedy!" She giggled, leaning forward eagerly.


    Fucking hell, just shut up already...


    The rabbit-masked woman gave me no time to recover. She closed the distance in an instant, spinning low before driving her heel into my stomach.


    Thud!


    The air was knocked out of me as I was sent flying backward. My body crashed into the wall with a sickening crack!


    The impact left a crater on the surface, dust, and debris raining down around me.


    I coughed violently, blood splattering onto the floor. My vision blurred for a moment, but I forced myself to focus.


    "She''s going to kill me at this rate," I muttered, struggling to stand.


    The rabbit-masked woman tilted her head, her silent demeanor was somehow more menacing than words.


    She didn''t hesitate, rushing me again.


    Clang!


    I raised my sword just in time to block her downward strike, but the force of the blow drove me to my knees.


    Her other dagger came swinging toward my neck, and I barely managed to duck.


    "You''re really something," Yara purred from the sidelines, her voice thick with excitement. "Most people wouldn''t last this long against her since her power is a bit higher than an S-rank awakened."


    "But you¡­ You''re full of surprises, Aestrea... sooo fascinating," she moaned slightly.


    This fucking sadist, can''t you fucking shut up?


    I pushed back with all my strength, forcing the rabbit-masked woman to stumble slightly. Taking advantage of the brief opening, I slashed upward with my ice sword.


    The blade grazed her mask, cracking it slightly.


    Yara gasped dramatically, clapping her hands together many times: "Ohhh, you almost got her! Look at that, a crack in her cute rabbit mask!"


    But, this small victory was short-lived.


    The rabbit-masked woman''s movements became more aggressive, as she swung her daggers even faster than before.


    She ducked low, sweeping my legs out from under me.


    Thump!


    I hit the ground hard, my head snapping back against the floor. Stars danced in my vision as she drove a dagger straight into my shoulder.


    Shnk!


    I turned to bite my arm to make sure that I wouldn''t scream, the pain was white-hot as blood gushed from the wound.


    Yara let out a shuddering breath, her cheeks flushed even more than before. "Mmm, look at you bleed¡­ So beautiful, Aestrea. You''re so captivating when you''re struggling..."


    "Shut¡­ up¡­" I growled through clenched teeth, forcing myself to roll away from the rabbit-masked woman''s next attack.


    I managed to get back on my feet, my ice sword trembling in my grip. Blood dripped steadily from my shoulder, staining the ground beneath me.


    However, the rabbit-masked girl wouldn''t let me breathe even for a moment.


    She lunged forward, her blades a blur of motion. I parried as best as I could, but her strikes were relentless.


    Slash!


    One of her daggers cut across my thigh, nearly buckling my leg. Another grazed my cheek, a thin line of blood welling up instantly.


    "She''s carving you up like a feast," Yara said, her voice trembling with giddy excitement. "You poor thing¡­ Do you even have anything left to fight with?"


    I ignored her, focusing on the rabbit-masked woman''s movements. She was fast, yes, but there was a pattern to her strikes.


    I just needed to hold on long enough to exploit it.


    But my body was failing me.


    Each movement sent pain shooting through my injuries.


    My breaths were shallow, and my vision grew hazy.


    The room spun as blood loss began to take its toll.


    Thud!


    She caught me off guard with a brutal kick to my chest, sending me crashing into the ground again.


    Crack!


    The impact knocked the wind out of me, and I felt something in my ribs give way. I tried to push myself up, but she was already on me.


    Shnk!


    Her dagger pierced my side, and I let out a strangled cry. Blood pooled beneath me, the metallic scent thick in the air.


    Fuck...


    I was really going to die if this continued on.

 Chapter 46 - 46: The Moonlight Swordsman (XII)

    "Haah... gah... aha..."


    I struggled to my feet, my legs trembling beneath me. Blood dripped from the various gashes on my body, pooling beneath me as I stood.


    My ice sword hung loosely in my grip, the once-sharp blade chipped and dull from the relentless attacks at it.


    "Oh, look at you," Yara''s voice came, dripping with excitement.


    She clapped her hands together like a giddy child. "Barely standing, bleeding out, and yet still so¡­ defiant. How absolutely exquisite."


    Can''t she fucking shut up?


    Of course, I didn''t respond.


    I couldn''t waste my energy on her taunts.


    My focus was entirely on the rabbit-masked woman, who stood a few feet away and slowly walked towards me with her daggers.


    "Haa..." I steadied my breathing, though each inhale sent a sharp pain through my ribs.


    The rabbit-masked woman tilted her head, almost curiously, before she moved again.


    She was fast¡ªfaster than before.


    Her daggers glinted in the crimson light as she closed the distance between us in an instant.


    Clang!


    Our weapons collided, the sound echoing through the room. The impact sent another jolt of pain through my arms, even worse than before.


    My arms felt pretty weak as if I couldn''t muster any strength.


    Then, she continued, her daggers coming in rapid succession, each one aimed to wound or kill me.


    Clink, clink!


    I barely managed to parry them, my movements sluggish compared to hers.


    "You''re slowing down, Aestrea..." Yara spoke in a sultry voice, "At this rate, you are going to lose, and belong to me~"


    ''Ignore her.''


    I focused on the rabbit-masked woman''s movements to find an opening. But she gave me none.


    Ssssht!


    One of her daggers sliced across my thigh, the blade cutting deep. I hissed in pain, my leg nearly giving out beneath me.


    She didn''t stop.


    Another strike came for my shoulder, and I barely managed to twist out of the way.


    Clink, clink!


    Her blades scraped against my ice sword, sparks flying from the impact.


    "How long do you think you can keep this up, Aestrea?" Yara''s voice was practically a moan. "Your body''s breaking down, yet you refuse to fall. It''s¡­ intoxicating."


    My grip on the ice sword tightened as I blocked another flurry of strikes.


    But then¡­ she feinted.


    Her left dagger came low, slicing across my leg, while her right drove into my stomach.


    Shnk!


    The pain was blinding. I staggered back, clutching the wound as blood spilled over my hands.


    My vision blurred for a moment, and I nearly fell to my knees.


    The rabbit-masked woman didn''t give me time to recover. She lunged forward, her daggers aimed at my chest.


    Thud!


    I was thrown to the ground, the impact knocking the air out of me.


    Before I could move, she was on me.


    One dagger plunged into my thigh, pinning me in place.


    "Agh!" I bit back a scream, my hands clawing at the floor as pain radiated through my body.


    She didn''t stop.


    Her other dagger came down, stabbing into my leg again and again.


    Shnk! Shnk! Shnk!


    Blood splattered across the floor, the metallic scent thick in the air.


    My vision darkened...


    "Oh, Aestrea¡­" Yara''s voice was soft, almost tender. "Look at you. Bleeding, broken, yet still¡­ alive. You''re magnificent."


    "However... it seems that you have lost..."


    She added although I couldn''t really register her words.


    My vision started getting blurrier, as I could only feel the heat from my blood.


    ''Fuck...''


    ''Not like this...''


    The rabbit-masked lady stood on top of me, with her buttocks on my chest as she then looked at Yara, to seek confirmation from her.


    My body felt weak.


    I couldn''t use magic.


    Or aura.


    There was nothing I could do.


    ''I''m really going to die...''


    Ahh...


    I wasn''t going to let that happen.


    Even if I lose a limb.


    I gripped my ice sword tightly and then stabbed into my thigh...


    "Uagh..."


    I groaned in pain as I saw Yara''s eyes widen slightly at my actions, even the rabbit-masked woman seemed surprised.


    Then, my eyes snapped wide as I felt a shot of adrenaline running down my spine. I grabbed her arm and threw her away from me.


    Tap...!


    She stumbled back, and I used the moment to get to my feet. My legs shook, and I could barely stand, but I refused to fall.


    "Ahaa..."


    My breaths came in ragged gasps as my red eyes started glowing slightly, and then, I started staggering forward.


    "Oh? What is this?" Yara leaned forward with excitement splattered in her eyes.


    The rabbit-masked woman hesitated, her daggers poised as she watched me.


    My steps were uneven, almost aimless, but something was unsettling about the way I moved.


    I raised my ice sword as I closed the distance between us.


    But, the rabbit-masked woman attacked first, her daggers slicing through the air.


    Clang! Clink! Clang!


    I deflected every strike, it was as if my body knew what to do, reacting without thought. Her attacks became more desperate, her strikes faster, but none of them landed.


    "Impossible," she muttered in deep frustration.


    For the first time, she spoke.


    But her words didn''t matter.


    I was already countering.


    My sword moved with almost eerie grace, slicing through her defenses.


    Shnk!


    The tip of my sword grazed her arm, drawing blood. She hissed in pain, her movements faltering.


    I didn''t stop.


    Another strike came, cutting across her chest and shattering the remains of her mask.


    Crack!


    The mask fell away, revealing her face.


    Blonde hair spilled out, framing sharp blue eyes that burned with determination.


    She was beautiful, but I didn''t care.


    "Damn it..." she muttered.


    The rabbit-masked woman¡ªno, the blonde-haired woman now¡ªstaggered back, her blue eyes glaring at me.


    Blood dripped from the shallow cuts I had left on her chest and arm, staining the floor beneath her.


    "Haa¡­ haa¡­" My breaths were ragged, my chest heaving, but I wasn''t done.


    I gripped my ice sword tightly, the cold blade steady in my hand as I took a step forward. Each movement sent jolts of pain through my battered body, but I didn''t care.


    She lunged at me, her daggers flashing in the crimson light.


    Clang! Clink!


    The first dagger came at my left side¡ªI deflected it easily, pushing her arm wide. The second followed immediately, aimed at my shoulder.


    Clink!


    I shifted my weight and parried, forcing her back.


    She growled, frustration etched across her face as her movements became faster, more erratic.


    She tried to overwhelm me with speed.


    Shing! Clang! Clink! Clink!


    Each attack was deflected, it was as if my body no longer hesitated, and every muscle started working in perfect sync.


    And that''s when I remember one time when this also happened.


    I entered the state called: "Unity of Sword and Man".


    When I was about to die, my mana reserves were at high time low. And as I felt a shot of adrenaline in my body, I simply let my body move itself, by instincts...


    ''Ah... this feels liberating.''


    I stepped in close, closing the gap between us. She slashed wildly, her daggers aiming for my throat.


    Swish!


    I ducked under the strike and drove the hilt of my sword into her stomach.


    Thud!


    She gasped, her body doubling over as the air was knocked from her lungs.


    I didn''t let up, feeling the wind caused by my fast movements hit my face.


    Raising my sword, I brought it down in a heavy arc.


    Shnk!


    She barely managed to block with one dagger, the force of the blow sending her stumbling back.


    Her other dagger darted forward, aiming for my chest.


    Clang!


    I twisted my wrist, redirecting the blade away from my body. My counterattack was swift¡ªa horizontal slash aimed at her midsection.


    Shhhk!


    She jumped back, but not fast enough. The edge of my sword caught her side, cutting through her clothes and drawing blood.


    "Tch!" She hissed, clutching at the wound.


    I advanced again and immediately, she tried to create distance, but I didn''t let her.


    Her dagger came up in a desperate thrust aimed at my heart.


    Swish!


    I sidestepped, letting the blade pass harmlessly by me, and brought my knee up into her ribs.


    Thud!


    She cried out, stumbling back. Her footing faltered, and I took the opening.


    My ice sword came down in a diagonal slash.


    Shhk!


    The blade bit into her shoulder, blood spraying from the wound. Her dagger clattered to the floor as her arm went limp.


    "Aghh!"


    She staggered, her blue eyes wide with pain and shock.


    I didn''t stop.


    Raising my sword, I struck again.


    Shnk! Shnk!


    Two quick slashes opened up more cuts on her arms and legs. She fell to one knee, her breathing ragged.


    Her remaining dagger trembled in her grip as she tried to raise it, but I kicked it from her hand.


    Clatter!


    The weapon skidded across the floor, leaving her defenseless.


    I could kill her directly, but somehow, I didn''t want to.


    I wanted her to feel pain, so I paused, and spoke coldly:


    "Get up."


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    The blonde-haired woman knelt on the bloodstained floor, her chest heaving as she struggled to catch her breath.


    Her body trembled, fresh cuts lining her arms and legs, blood pooling beneath her.


    "Get up."


    The voice was cold, cutting through the air like a sword.


    Aestrea stood over her, his blood-red eyes glowing with an unnatural intensity.


    His chipped ice sword rested at his side, blood dripping from its edge.


    Then, the woman''s head snapped up, her blue eyes locking with his.


    And then it hit her¡ªa crushing, suffocating fear.


    Her heart pounded wildly in her chest, her breath quickening as if the air itself was too heavy to inhale.


    Every nerve in her body screamed for her to run, but her legs wouldn''t move.


    Every muscle locked as his glowing eyes pierced her, cold and merciless. There was no anger in them¡ªjust a chilling hunger, the look of a predator.


    Her hands shook uncontrollably as she reached for the daggers she had dropped. Her fingers fumbled over the hilts, slick with blood and sweat.


    "Move," she whispered to herself, forcing her body to obey.


    She gripped her daggers tightly and pushed herself to her feet, swaying as her knees threatened to give out.


    Her fear bubbled over into desperation, and she lunged forward with a scream, her blades flashing in the dim light.


    Clang!


    Aestrea''s ice sword met her attack effortlessly, deflecting both of her daggers with a single movement.


    The woman spun, slashing low toward his legs.


    Swish!


    He stepped back, letting her blade slice through empty air.


    "Too slow," Aestrea said mockingly in boredom.


    Just a few moments ago, he was the one suffering, but now...


    The tables had turned.


    Hearing his words, the blonde-haired woman clenched her teeth tightly, throwing herself at him again.


    Clang! Shnk!


    Each strike was blocked or parried as her movements grew more frantic. Her left dagger aimed for his side.


    Clink!


    Aestrea caught her arm mid-swing and twisted it.


    "Ahh!" she cried out as the dagger fell from her hand.


    She tried to retaliate with her right blade, aiming for his neck.


    Swish!


    He ducked, closing the distance between them in an instant.


    Thud!


    His knee drove into her stomach for the second time, forcing the air from her lungs. She staggered back, clutching her abdomen, but Aestrea didn''t let up.


    Shnk!


    His sword slashed across her thigh, making her stumble.


    Shhk!


    Another strike landed on her shoulder, cutting deep.


    It looked like he was giving her the injuries that he had received, attacking the same position that she did earlier.


    And it was working. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The woman''s movements became sluggish, her attacks grew weaker with each passing second. She swung her remaining dagger in a wide arc, desperate to keep him at bay.


    Clang!


    Aestrea''s sword shattered her last defense, the dagger flying from her hand.


    "Enough."


    He raised his ice sword high, bringing it down.


    Shnk!


    The blade stopped just short of her neck, the cold edge hovering against her skin. She froze, her entire body trembling as tears welled in her wide blue eyes.


    "...Pathetic," Aestrea muttered, his eyes glowing more intensely than ever.


    A faint drip of blood escaped the blonde woman''s neck, as her body quivered in deep fear; she couldn''t even meet his gaze.


    The room fell silent, save for the woman''s ragged breathing.


    But then, behind them, Yara clapped slowly with a faint smile on her lips.


    "Bravo!" she purred.


    "What a show... you were divine... fascinating." Her grin widened as she stepped forward, her eyes glowing with delight.


    She didn''t seem to care that her subordinate was injured.


    The blonde-haired woman collapsed to her knees, her strength finally giving out. Blood pooled beneath her as she stared blankly at the floor, her body trembling uncontrollably.


    Yara tilted her head, watching the defeated woman with mock pity.


    "Such a shame that she lost..." Yara muttered softly before her lips curled into a sly smile as she turned her attention to Aestrea.


    "It''s a pity that you won''t belo¡ª"


    "¡ªThe elf." Aestrea cut her off coldly.


    Yara''s grin widened at his words.


    She snapped her fingers, and then, one of the walls of the room suddenly opened, revealing the high elf which had a completely shocked expression on her face.


    "Oh my~," Yara softly whispered into Aestrea''s ear.


    Aestrea didn''t even notice her approaching him but kept quiet as he stared at the elf.


    "It seems that you made quite a self-presentation for the elf," she laughed softly.


    Aestrea ignored her and walked up to the elf, with blood dripping from his clothes.


    "Let''s go..." he extended his hand.


    The high elf''s gaze lingered on his outstretched hand, her lips parting as if to say something. After a brief hesitation, she nodded, reaching out to take it.


    Her delicate fingers closed around his bloodied hand, the sticky warmth staining her pale skin.


    Then, both of them walked away from there...


    "Don''t worry, my cute Aestrea!" Yara suddenly spoke from the distance.


    "I''ll come back for you!"


    Aestrea''s brow twitched, a vein pulsing in his forehead at her parting words.


    But he didn''t look back.


    He simply shook his head and kept walking, guiding the high elf out of the black market.


    The moment they stepped outside, a familiar voice called out.


    "AESTREA!"


    Christina came running toward them, her face pale with worry.


    Her eyes widened in horror at the sight of Aestrea''s torn and bloodied figure, his injuries far worse than she had imagined.


    "Aestrea¡­ You''re¡ª"


    Seeing Christina, Aestrea smiled softly, interrupting her words.


    "...Take care of me..."


    Before Christina could respond, his legs buckled. His body fell forward, and she caught him just in time, her arms wrapping around his battered form.


    "Aestrea? Aestrea!"


    Panic filled her voice as she shook him gently.


    "AESTREA!"


    But it was too late.


    His body went limp in her arms, his consciousness slipping away as the toll of his wounds finally overwhelmed him.

 Chapter 47 - 47: The Moonlight Swordsman (XIII)

    I woke up to the sound of faint chanting.


    The room smelled clean, like herbs and incense, with a hint of something sweet. My body felt heavy like I had been buried under a pile of stones.


    When I tried to move, a sharp pain shot through my chest, forcing me to stop.


    "Ah¡­" I groaned softly, my throat dry and my voice raspy.


    The ceiling above me was high and arched, made of polished stone, and intricately carved with angels and flowers.


    A faint golden glow came from the stained glass windows, casting soft patterns on the walls.


    It didn''t take long to realize where I was.


    "The cathedral¡­"


    It took a moment for my vision to adjust, and when it did, the sight of familiar golden hair greeted me.


    Christina was sitting by the bedside, her hands clasped tightly together as she stared at me with teary eyes.


    "Aestrea!" she exclaimed, her voice trembling with relief.


    Before I could even think, she leaned forward and wrapped her arms around me, pulling me into a gentle hug.


    Her embrace was warm, comforting¡­ but also painful.


    "Ugh¡­" I groaned softly, the sound escaping before I could stop it.


    The Saintess froze.


    Her grip loosened immediately, and she pulled back, her face pale with worry.


    "Oh no! Did I hurt you?"


    "A bit..."


    Despite the throbbing pain in my body, I couldn''t stop myself from sighing.


    Her expression softened, but her cheeks remained flushed, probably because of the tears welling up in her eyes.


    "You scared me, you know. When you collapsed like that, I thought¡­" She shook her head, biting her lip as if trying to hold back tears.


    I glanced down at myself.


    My torso was wrapped tightly in white bandages, and I could feel the faint hum of healing magic lingering in my body.


    The pain was dull now, more of a nagging ache than the sharp agony I remembered.


    Gosh...


    I really went over the limit...


    "...So I guess... you healed me once again?" I offered her a small smile.


    Christina nodded quickly.


    "Of course. You were¡­ you were in a terrible state, Aestrea." Her hands hovered uncertainly in the air before she clenched them into fists.


    "I did everything I could."


    "Thank you, Saintess..." I muttered softly.


    For a moment, silence hung between us. Then, she took a shaky breath and reached out again, this time more cautiously.


    "Does it hurt too much if I¡­" Her voice trailed off as her hand gently brushed against mine.


    I shook my head. "It''s fine."


    She smiled, though the worry didn''t quite leave her eyes. "Good. You should rest more. You''re not fully healed yet, and¡ª"


    "Christina," I interrupted softly, cutting through her fussing.


    She looked at me, startled.


    "I''m fine. Really."


    Her lips pressed into a thin line, clearly unconvinced. But instead of arguing, she simply nodded, leaning back in her chair.


    "...What about the elf?" I asked curiously.


    Christina tilted her head slightly, a soft smile playing on her lips.


    "Alaine? Oh, she''s fine. Actually¡­" She hesitated, her eyes darting toward the door before returning to me.


    "She slept here for three days, looking after you."


    "THREE DAYS?!" I exclaimed, the shock making me abruptly sit up.


    Terrible idea.


    Pain shot through my body like lightning, and I immediately regretted the movement.


    "Agh¡­!" I groaned, clutching my side as the ache flared up again.


    Christina gasped, her hands hovering over me in a panic. "Aestrea! Stop moving! You''re not healed yet!"


    I gritted my teeth, lying back against the pillows as carefully as I could.


    "I''m fine," I muttered, though the sweat on my brow probably said otherwise.


    Christina wasn''t having it.


    She pressed her hands gently against my chest, the warm glow of healing magic radiating from her fingertips.


    "You''re stubborn, you know that?" she said softly, her voice tinged with frustration.


    I mumbled, too tired to argue.


    "Also, I contacted the academy for you, so don''t worry about it," she added, her tone dipping into guilt. "I was the one who asked you for a favor, after all."


    "Ah¡­ Just repay what you owe me, and I''m fine." I closed my eyes, letting the heaviness of the moment settle over me.


    The room was silent for a moment, but then...


    The faint rustle of her robes made me crack one eye open. Saintess Christina was fidgeting in her seat, her face flushed.


    "...What is it?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.


    "C-Can''t we do it now¡­?" she stammered, a rush of heat creeping up to her cheeks.


    "What can we do now?" I tilted my head, puzzled.


    "You know¡­" Her voice grew softer, her face reddening further. "That favor."


    "Ah!" My eyes lit up.


    "You already prepared the money for me?"


    "Y-yea¡ªwait, money?" she spluttered, her expression switching to confusion.


    "Yeah¡­ Although I didn''t say it outright, I think it was pretty obvious it was money I wanted, no?" I tilted my head innocently.


    Christina froze, her lips slightly parted as her mind seemed to rewind to the conversation we had before our meetup at the black market.


    ...


    "Don''t worry, Saintess. I''ll handle it. But after this, you''ll owe me a proper reward. Something stacked... soft¡­ warm¡­ and nice to hold," Aestrea spoke through the phone.


    The memory of his words made her cheeks burn as her mind filled with all sorts of embarrassing thoughts.


    In the present, Christina''s eyes widened as her hand flew to cover her mouth.


    ...


    "I¡­" She blinked rapidly, her hands fidgeting in her lap.


    "You meant¡­ a check of money?"


    "Of course," I replied matter-of-factly.


    "What else would I have meant?"


    Christina let out a small squeak, her hands flying to her face to cover her deepening blush.


    "Y-You''re impossible!" she muttered, half embarrassed and half exasperated.


    What was she thinking about?


    But then, as soon as I recalled my words, my lips curled into a faint smile.


    "Did you perhaps think that I wanted to touch your breas¡ª!"


    "¡ªStop! Don''t say it!"


    Grabbing one of my pillows, she covered her reddened face, if this was an anime, there was probably smoke coming out of her head.


    I couldn''t help but chuckle softly, though the slight pain in my chest reminded me to keep it low.


    Her flustered state, though, was almost worth the trouble.


    The mature Saintess now seemed like a cute cat.


    Knock, knock...!


    Taking the chance, the Saintess abruptly stood up and went to get the door. She opened it, and immediately left the room, leaving me dumbfounded.


    Was she that embarrassed?


    As soon as Christina left, I let out a tired sigh and closed my eyes, hoping for some peace and quiet.


    But just as I was starting to relax, I heard the faint sound of the door closing.


    I opened my eyes.


    Swip.


    A figure stepped into the room, her golden hair swaying gently with each step as her emerald green eyes met mine.


    It was the high elf I had saved three days ago.


    She was no longer the disheveled, malnourished woman I had saved. She now wore a simple white one-piece dress that fit her form gracefully.


    Her once gaunt frame was now fuller, her curves subtle but noticeable, though not as prominent as Christina''s.


    Her skin was flawless, practically glowing with a healthy radiance, and her sharp features seemed to have been sculpted by the hands of a master artist.


    Her long, delicate ears twitched slightly, peeking out from beneath her hair.


    But despite her beauty, I wasn''t surprised at all.


    "Ah... it''s you," I muttered softly.


    She hesitated for a moment, standing there awkwardly. Her hands fidgeted with the hem of her dress as if she didn''t know what to do.


    Then, to my surprise, she walked closer, stopping just a few steps from the bed.


    Before I could say anything, she dropped to her knees.


    "T-Thank you for saving me¡­!" she said, her voice trembling.


    Her head lowered until her forehead touched the ground, her golden hair spilling over her shoulders and pooling on the floor.


    Her long ears stuck out, quivering slightly. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Ah..."


    I blinked, completely caught off guard.


    Then she spoke again, her words coming in a rushed manner.


    "T-The least I can do is become your servant! S-So please, p-please accept me!"


    I stared at her, dumbfounded.


    Was she serious?


    This was a high elf, a race known for their arrogance and pride. They were always looking down on humans, seeing themselves as superior beings.


    And yet here she was, bowing so low her forehead might as well be glued to the floor.


    "Are you... being serious?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.


    "Yes! I swear to serve you with my life!" Her reply came quickly, and she didn''t even move as well keeping the same kneeling posture.


    I sighed, leaning back against the pillows.


    My body was still aching, and dealing with this kind of drama was the last thing I wanted right now.


    "Look," I started, rubbing the bridge of my nose, "I don''t need a servant. I just did what anyone would do."


    ''Besides, Christina was the one that wanted to save you, and even invited me to the auction where you were held, why don''t you be her servant instead?''


    I wanted to say, but seeing her desperate expression made me swallow those words.


    "That''s not true!" she said, lifting her head slightly to look at me. Her emerald eyes shimmered with emotion.


    "No one else would''ve done what you did! You saved me when no one else would¡­ you risked your life for me!"


    "Yeah, and now I''m lying here with half my body wrapped in bandages," I muttered, gesturing vaguely at myself.


    Her face dropped lightly as guilt flashed in her eyes: "That''s why¡­ that''s why I have to repay you! I owe you my life!"


    I groaned softly, turning my head away: "Look, just take care of yourself and move on. You don''t owe me anything."


    "But I do!" she insisted, sitting up straight.


    Her voice seemed to only grow more desperate. "You saved me from a fate worse than death. I can''t just walk away and pretend that didn''t happen!"


    I glanced back at her, my eyebrows furrowing.


    "You don''t need to stick around and call yourself a servant or anything like that. Just¡­ live your life. That''s good enough for me."


    She immediately shook her head upon hearing my words, her golden hair swaying as she turned her head.


    "No! I won''t feel right unless I stay by your side! Please, let me serve you!"


    I let out another sigh, running a hand through my hair.


    This was going nowhere.


    "Do you even know what you''re asking for?" I said, my voice sharper this time. "Being a servant isn''t just some casual thing you can throw yourself into. It''s hard work, and honestly, it''s more of a pain than anything else."


    "I don''t care," she said firmly.


    "I''ll do anything! I''ll clean, cook, fight¡ªwhatever you need, I''ll do it!"


    Hearing her last remarks, I once again tried to make a line between us.


    "Even I asked you for sexual needs...?"


    Her face turned beef red in an instant, her emerald eyes widening in shock. Her lips parted slightly, but no sound came out for a moment.


    "I-I¡­" she stammered, her voice was barely above a whisper.


    She glanced away, her long ears twitching nervously.


    For a moment, I thought that would be enough to end her insistence, that she''d finally reconsider her bold declaration to be my servant.


    But to my surprise, she straightened her back, clenched her fists tightly, and looked me directly in the eyes.


    "I¡­ I would do that too," she said softly but firmly, her face still flushed. "If that''s what it takes to repay my debt to you, then¡­ then I''ll accept it."


    I stared at her, completely caught off guard.


    This woman was either incredibly stubborn, completely insane, or both.


    "Are you serious?"


    I couldn''t help but ask in complete disbelief.


    Was she really a high elf?


    She nodded, her gaze unwavering despite her obvious embarrassment. "Yes. I owe you my life, and I''ll do whatever it takes to repay you."


    I let out a long sigh, rubbing my temples.


    This wasn''t going at all how I''d expected.


    I stared at her, looking at her flushed face with a neutral expression.


    For a long moment, neither of us spoke.


    Then, with a heavy sigh, I closed my eyes.


    "Fine..."


    Her ears twitched, and she leaned forward slightly.


    "What¡­?"


    "I said fine," I repeated, opening my eyes to glare at her.


    "If you''re so determined to throw your pride away and follow me around, I won''t stop you. But don''t expect me to go easy on you."


    Her face lit up in immediate joy:


    "Thank you! Thank you so much!"


    I frowned, my eyebrows knitting together: "Don''t thank me yet. You''ll probably regret this decision sooner rather than later."


    She shook her head vigorously.


    "I won''t! I promise I won''t!"


    I sighed again, leaning back against the pillows.


    First, a gluttonous slime... and now...


    A high elf?


    What had I just gotten myself into?

 Chapter 48 - 48: The Moonlight Swordsman (XIV)

    "Haaa... huff.. agh..."


    Step, step, step...!


    "Hah... I''m done..."


    ¡º Cleanse (? Basic Magic ?)¡»


    A soft glow surrounded me as the spell activated, cleaning away the sweat and grime from my body.


    "I''m done for today¡­" I muttered, rolling my neck to ease the stiffness.


    Then, I cast the spell ¡ºCleanse¡» again, just to feel fresher.


    I''d been staying at the cathedral for a few days now, recovering. But even if I was still healing, I couldn''t slack off.


    I had already lost weeks of training, and I could feel it.


    My stamina wasn''t what it used to be¡ªnot bad, but not at my peak.


    This wasn''t "real" training, more like my daily routine to maintain what I had left.


    A simple run of 25 kilometers, followed by 500 push-ups, sit-ups, and squats. All while wearing 250 kilograms of weights strapped to my body.


    Thud!


    I unstrapped the weights and dropped them to the ground. The lightness that followed was a welcome relief, almost like I could fly.


    "Master, I brought you water."


    I turned to see Alaine approaching, carrying a bottle of water in her hands.


    "Ah¡­ thanks."


    Taking the bottle, I gulped down a mouthful and let out a refreshed sigh.


    But as I glanced at her again, my eyes widened.


    "W-why¡­ are you wearing a maid outfit?"


    Alaine smiled warmly, doing a little twirl as if showing off her attire.


    "Isn''t this what servants usually wear?" she asked, tilting her head, her expression innocent as she looked down at the outfit.


    "Good grief¡­" I sighed, rubbing my temples.


    "Fine, wear whatever you want."


    Knowing from previous experiences that she would probably convince me in some way, I didn''t even bother to tell her to stop wearing those clothes.


    "Also¡­ don''t you feel weird not having your long ears?" I asked, my gaze shifting to her hair, now a rich brown color instead of her usual golden locks.


    Her green eyes were now a dark brown.


    "Not really," she replied, tilting her head again and placing a finger to her lips as if in thought.


    The Eternum Royal Academy accepted a single servant for each student, and, of course, I could have one too.


    But since Alaine was a high elf, I couldn''t allow her to show up with her long ears and reveal her identity, so I spent my only platinum coin buying an artifact that changed her appearance.


    Unfortunately, the Saintess still didn''t give me my money, so it took a huge toll on me to buy it.


    "Master Aestrea, would you like a massage?" Alaine asked, stepping behind me as I sat on a bench in the academy''s training grounds.


    Her delicate hands rested lightly on my shoulders.


    "Sure¡­" I sighed, leaning back slightly.


    My body was still a bit heavy from the injuries despite Christina''s god-like healing abilities.


    Not to mention that even though she said for me to take a break, I simply denied her words and started training my body once again.


    I need to quickly advance my ranks and get stronger...


    Lucas and the heroines in this world had their easy power-ups handed to them, but me...? I don''t have any kind of luck.


    And my damned system doesn''t even show anything except my status windows, and that future prediction from a few weeks ago or a month...


    Time passes fast...


    "Is this enough strength?" she asked as she kept putting strength on her delicate hands to massage my shoulders.


    "Yeah, that''s perfect..." I muttered, feeling some of the tension ease slightly.


    In just a week or so, the first event of the Eternum Royal Academy is going to happen. The teacher reminded us earlier today.


    The Snow Festival!


    Yeah...


    I''m not really ready for that, especially since we''re obligated to participate.


    At the festival, we''re going to do plenty of activities, such as playing Mana Football, Mana Rugby, and even a love minigame.


    Students were required to participate in at least five activities, and while there were plenty of options, I wasn''t exactly thrilled about any of them.


    About them...


    I''ll probably choose Mana Volleyball, Football... and the other three...


    ...I wasn''t entirely sure.


    "Thanks, that felt great," I said, tapping her hand lightly as I rolled my shoulders.


    The stiffness had eased significantly.


    "Anything for you, Master."


    Alaine grabbed the hem of her maid outfit and bowed slightly, her movements graceful and elegant as always.


    Damn it¡­


    Her words and actions could easily lead to misunderstandings, the kind I didn''t have the patience to deal with.


    But then again, it was her choice to act this way, so who was I to stop her?


    "Now¡­" I began, stretching out my arms.


    "How about a sparring match?"


    Alaine blinked in surprise.


    After I removed the slave mark from her body, her sealed powers had been lifted. And now, she was nothing less than a high S-rank.


    As expected of a High Elf¡­


    "Mhm." She didn''t hesitate, giving me a prompt nod.


    With that, I moved a few meters away, ensuring there was enough distance between us for a proper spar.


    The training grounds at the academy were spacious, and designed for combat practice and magical exercises.


    There were also protective barriers around the area ensuring that even intense battles wouldn''t cause damage outside.


    "Don''t hold back, Alaine. I want to see what you''re really capable of now."


    "Understood, Master," she replied calmly.


    Her hands moved to her sides, summoning twin daggers with an elegant flourish. The faint glow of mana coated the blades, shimmering like moonlight.


    Alright... let''s see how rusty I am...


    "Ready?"


    "Always."


    Swoop!


    In the next breath, we launched ourselves at each other, the sound of clashing steel echoing across the training ground.


    Alaine was faster than I anticipated, her movements a blur as she struck with her twin daggers.


    I barely managed to parry her first blow, the impact sending a slight tremor through my arm.


    Damn, she''s fast.


    Sliding back a step, I channeled mana into my sword, the blade glowing faintly with an icy blue hue.


    With a sharp inhale, I slashed forward, sending a thin crescent of frost shooting toward her.


    ¡º Ice Wave (? 1st-Level Spell ?)¡»


    The wave of frost carved through the air, leaving a trail of cold mist.


    Alaine didn''t falter, with a graceful spin, she used her daggers to deflect the magic, the wind swirling around her in a protective barrier.


    Swish!


    The frost scattered harmlessly as she leaped back, landing softly on her feet. Her calm eyes narrowed slightly, the only indication she took me seriously.


    Then, Alaine raised her hand, and with a faint hum, her daggers disappeared, replaced by a sleek longbow that materialized out of thin air.


    "Let''s see how you handle this," she said, pulling back the string of her bow. An arrow formed, shimmering with green energy.


    She let it loose.


    Whoosh!


    The wind-imbued arrow sliced through the air, heading straight for me.


    I sidestepped quickly, but she was already firing another, her hands moving with impossible speed.


    Whoosh! Whoosh!


    The second arrow grazed my shoulder, a sting of pain searing through me as it cut through my shirt.


    ¡º Ice Barricade (? 2nd-Level Spell ?)¡»


    I raised my hand, and a thick wall of ice erupted in front of me, blocking her next volley of arrows. The sound of impact echoed as the projectiles shattered against the frozen barrier.


    This time, I was focusing on actually using magic since I had been too focused on my own sword art.


    I still needed to train magic after all.


    But Alaine wasn''t done.


    She dashed forward, her speed impressive, and vaulted over the ice wall with ease. As she descended, she nocked another arrow and fired it at point-blank range.


    Whoosh!


    I barely managed to duck, the arrow flying past my head. Taking advantage of her close range, I swung my sword upward in a wide arc.


    ¡º Second Move! (? Moonlit Frost Barrage ?)¡»


    Multiple crescent-shaped waves of ice shot from my blade, glowing faintly like the moonlight.


    Upon seeing it, Alaine''s eyes widened slightly, and she twisted her body mid-air, narrowly avoiding the attack.


    The icy wave hit the ground behind her, freezing a small section of the training ground in an instant.


    "Woah..." she looked surprised at my attack.


    "That technique... is quite powerful." she raised an eyebrow.


    I didn''t exactly reply to her words as I finally decided to use one of my trump cards.


    ¡º Judgement Eye (? S-Level Skill ?) ¡»


    The world around me sharpened, every movement of hers becoming crystal clear.


    Her breathing, the shift in her weight, even the faint hesitation before her next attack¡ªI saw it all.


    I dashed toward her, my sword trailing frost as I aimed a slash at her side. She blocked with her bow, the clash sending a shockwave through the air.


    Clang!


    Sliding my sword along her bow, I forced her to retreat a step. Using the opening, I thrust forward, aiming for her shoulder.


    But she wasn''t going to make it easy.


    With a quick burst of wind magic, she propelled herself backward, gaining distance.


    ¡º Wind Series: Wind Step (? 2nd-Level Spell ?) ¡»


    She murmured, and immediately, the spell amplified her speed.


    I clicked my tongue in frustration, watching as she nocked another arrow. This time, the energy swirling around it was more concentrated, crackling faintly with power.


    "Try dodging this, Master."


    She released the arrow, and as it flew toward me, it split into multiple smaller projectiles.


    Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!


    I swung my sword in a wide arc, deflecting as many as I could, but a few slipped through, grazing my arms and legs.


    The pain was sharp but manageable.


    Gritting my teeth, I raised my free hand.


    ¡º Mixed Ice Series: Ice Bind (? 3rd-Level Spell ?)¡»!


    The ground beneath her feet froze instantly, ice climbing up her legs in an attempt to lock her in place.


    But Alaine reacted quickly.


    ¡º Wind Series: Gale Burst (? 4th-Level Spell ?) ¡»


    A powerful gust of wind exploded around her, shattering the ice and pushing me back a few steps.


    I skidded to a stop, digging my heels into the ground to steady myself.


    "Haah..." I let out a cold breath, looking into her eyes.


    My eyes locked into her movements, and seeing the coursing flow of mana, I could see her next move before she made it.


    As expected, she jumped to the right, preparing to shoot another arrow. I dashed toward her, closing the gap before she could fire.


    Clang!


    She switched her bow back to daggers just in time to block my downward slash. The force of the impact pushed her back slightly, but she held her ground.


    I adjusted my grip on my sword and then swung it again.


    Clink!


    She parried with one dagger while slashing at my side with the other. I barely managed to twist my body and block her attack, but the force of it sent me sliding back a few steps.


    ''Fuck... daggers are so damned annoying. First I fought against that rabbit-masked lady, and now Alaine...''


    ''Let''s try another thing...''


    I muttered to myself before dashing forward.


    But as soon as I took the first step¡ª


    "AAGGH!"


    A sharp, searing pain shot through my body, like fire ripping through my muscles.


    My legs buckled, and I lost control of my footing. Staggering forward, I braced for impact with the ground.


    But instead of hitting the cold, hard dirt, I fell into something... incredibly soft.


    Squish.


    A strange, comforting warmth pressed against my face, enveloping me like a plush pillow. It was soft¡ªno, remarkably soft.


    The sensation was enough to make me freeze in place, my mind briefly blanking.


    "Master, are you okay?"


    The familiar, gentle voice of Alaine pulled me back to reality. I looked up to see her worried dark brown eyes staring down at me, her cheeks tinged with a faint pink.


    Oh no...


    It was then I realized where I''d landed. My face was buried deep into her chest¡ªher generously sized, undeniably squishy mellows.


    "I..." I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came out.


    "You''re still recovering, Master. You shouldn''t push yourself too hard," she said, her voice full of concern.


    Her hands gently rested on my shoulders as if to steady me, her warm, floral scent wafting into my nostrils.


    The faint fragrance was intoxicating, almost enough to make my already foggy mind lose its grip entirely.


    "Yeah, yeah," I muttered weakly, my voice muffled against her.


    "Let''s call it a day."


    I didn''t move right away.


    For some reason, staying there, resting my head against her soft, warm figure, felt... comforting.


    Even though every instinct screamed at me to pull away and act composed, my body betrayed me.


    Her chest rose and fell slightly with each breath she took, the motion noticeable against my cheek.


    I tried to focus on the distant sounds of the wind or the faint hum of mana in the air, but the softness and warmth against me were impossible to ignore.


    It was... almost too much.


    "Ah..." S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Her surprised gasp snapped me out of my trance.


    "Kyaa!"


    I''d instinctively grabbed her waist to push myself off her, but the sudden movement made her squeak in surprise.


    Her face instantly turned beet red, the color spreading all the way to her ears.


    "S-sorry," I muttered awkwardly, brushing the dust off my clothes as I stood.


    I averted my gaze, trying to ignore the growing heat in my own face.


    "It''s fine, Master," she replied softly, though her voice wavered.


    She adjusted her maid outfit with trembling hands, her eyes darting away from mine.


    I cleared my throat, trying to shake off the awkwardness.


    "Let''s go get something to eat..."


    I started walking towards the dining area.


    Alaine quickly nodded before following me. I could feel her gaze lingering on me, but I didn''t turn around.


    "Master?" her voice broke the silence behind me.


    "Yeah?" I replied without looking back.


    "N-nothing..."


    I was confused by her actions, but I thought that she simply might be embarrassed, so I shrugged it off.


    ''Haaa!''


    I suddenly felt a shiver running down my spine.


    ''Strange...''


    I didn''t feel cold at all.


    But unbeknownst to me, in the distance...


    There was a peculiar shadow watching our interaction.

 Chapter 49 - 49: The Moonlight Swordsman (XV)

    The next day, I was attending Eleonora''s magic class.


    There was nothing special about it except the part where she explained flawlessly everything that she needed to explain.


    Her words were brief but consistent.


    And maybe because of the huge amount of questions that she would ask throughout the class, the students seemed to pay more attention to class.


    Turning back to the board, Eleonora parted her lips:


    "...Next is mana pathway stability. This requires you to understand the flow of mana within your body. If your pathways are obstructed or irregular, your incantations will reflect that. Does anyone know how to stabilize their mana pathways?"


    A girl sitting near the middle hesitated before raising her hand. "Um¡­ through consistent spellcasting and mana circulation exercises?"


    "Correct," Elenora said.


    "But there''s more to it. Mana stabilization also involves understanding your limits. Overloading your pathways can cause long-term damage, so don''t push yourself recklessly."


    Her gaze flickered over the class, pausing briefly on me as if to emphasize her point.


    Gosh...


    I know my limits, woman.


    I resisted the urge to roll my eyes.


    "Finally, consistent practice," she continued.


    "There''s no shortcut to mastering incantation speed. The more you practice, the more natural it becomes. It''s like muscle memory for mages."


    She paused, letting the information sink in before clapping her hands together.


    "Now... how about w¡ª!"


    ¡ªRIIIINGGG!


    My savior!


    The bell finally rang, signaling the end of class.


    It was lunchtime now.


    "Well... class dismissed," Elenora announced with a small sigh, her tone carrying a hint of reluctance.


    She looked like she was genuinely enjoying teaching today.


    I wasted no time reaching for my books and other belongings, but before I could grab them, another hand moved faster.


    "I''ll do it, Master," Alaine said softly, as she quickly gathered my things.


    In the blink of an eye, she tucked everything into her spatial ring.


    Having servants in class wasn''t unusual, but Alaine had little to do outside her role as my servant, so I brought her along.


    "Ah, Alaine!" I remembered something as I adjusted my coat. "Isn''t today your checkup with the Saintess?"


    She paused, blinking as if caught off guard. "Yes, but it''s not until 2 o''clock."


    "You should go now," I told her casually.


    "But, Master¡ª"


    "Just go," I cut her off, waving dismissively.


    "Also," I added, handing her my credit card, "buy yourself some food or clothes. I don''t mind. Just have fun, okay? You don''t need to come back right away."


    Her emerald eyes flickered with hesitation, and she opened her mouth to say something, but I didn''t give her the chance. Turning away, I started walking out of the classroom.


    "Master..." Alaine called after me softly.


    Yeah, ignoring her was the best way to get her to follow an order she didn''t like.


    I made my way toward the academy''s cafeteria. But the moment I stepped inside, my eyes widened in disbelief.


    It was surprisingly full.


    "Damn it..." I muttered under my breath, scratching my head in frustration.


    "Might as well get lunch outside."


    There was no way I was going to wait in line for who knows how long just to grab a meal. So, I turned back and headed for the exit.


    But as I made my way out, I wasn''t exactly paying attention to where I was going.


    Thud...!


    So, I bumped into someone.


    "Could this day get any worse?"


    I grumbled, glancing down at the person I''d accidentally bumped into.


    "Fuck..." A voice from the ground hissed angrily.


    I froze.


    Of all people...


    It had to be fucking him.


    "Who the fuck bumped into me?" he spat coldly.


    He pushed himself off the floor, his dark brown eyes narrowing into sharp slits filled with hatred as soon as he saw me.


    The moment his gaze met mine, I could almost feel the air around us heat up. His jaw clenched, his fists tightening at his sides as if he was holding himself back¡ªbarely.


    It was Telmo, Ella''s loyal little lapdog.


    "...It''s you..." he snarled.


    "Fucking BASTARD!!"


    Without warning, he spun around, aiming a surprise kick at my legs.


    I barely had time to react, leaping a few meters back to avoid the strike.


    "The fuck is your problem?!" I shouted, glaring at him.


    "You''re the damned problem!" he growled, his voice cold as ice but carrying the heat of his rage.


    And just like that, he charged at me.


    Fwoop!


    His fist shot forward, aiming for my face.


    I sidestepped, narrowly avoiding the blow, and countered with a quick jab toward his ribs.


    He twisted his torso, deflecting my punch with his forearm, and swung a heavy right hook toward my jaw.


    Thud!


    I ducked under it, feeling the wind of his punch graze my hair. This guy packed a lot of pure strength, but his movements were too obvious, too straightforward.


    "Are you this weak?" I taunted, stepping back to create some distance.


    "I''ll wipe that smug look off your face!" Telmo growled as his face turned red in anger.


    He lunged at me again, this time leading with a high kick aimed at my shoulder.


    I blocked it with my forearm, but the sheer force of it sent a dull ache through my arm.


    Thump!


    Using the momentum, he followed up with a spinning backfist aimed at my temple.


    I ducked low, letting the attack whiff over my head, and quickly retaliated with a sweeping kick to his legs.


    Whack!


    It connected, and Telmo stumbled, but he didn''t fall. Instead, he planted his foot firmly on the ground and countered with a powerful straight punch aimed at my chest.


    I twisted my body, letting the punch glance off my side, and used the opportunity to grab his wrist.


    With a quick pull, I used his own momentum to throw him off balance, sending him staggering forward.


    "Bastard...!"


    Telmo recovered quickly, as he rushed at me again, this time faking a left punch before throwing a right uppercut aimed at my stomach.


    Bam!


    I managed to block it with both arms, but the sheer force sent me sliding back a few feet. My arms tingled from the impact. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Then, he aimed a heavy kick at my side.


    Swoop!


    I sidestepped and retaliated with a quick jab to his solar plexus.


    Thud!


    The hit connected, and Telmo grunted, doubling over slightly. I followed up with a spinning kick aimed at his shoulder, sending him staggering back.


    "Gah... your damned fucker!"


    His eyes went mad in rage as a faint layer of mana enveloped his body.


    Oh... he really wanted to get serious with me.


    I shook my right hand slightly, as I was enveloped with my silver-colored mana.


    Then, we both threw a punch at each other...


    But just before our fists could collide.


    Bam!


    A blur of motion appeared between us.


    A delicate hand caught my fist effortlessly, while the other stopped Telmo''s punch mid-swing.


    It was our instructor, Zeva.


    "That''s enough," she said, her voice firm but not loud.


    Her green eyes pierced through both of us, making it clear that she wasn''t here to negotiate.


    "Do you two have nothing better to do than fight like children?" she asked coldly, with a hint of disappointment in her voice.


    Telmo glared at her for a moment, his fiery rage flickering, but her gaze didn''t waver. It was like staring into the eyes of a predator that had already decided you weren''t worth the hunt.


    "Tch," he muttered, yanking his hand away from her grip.


    He mumbled something inaudible under his breath and turned to walk away, his shoulders stiff with unspent frustration.


    I sighed, rubbing the hand she had just released, and scoffed.


    "Who are you to lecture us about fighting like kids?" I said sharply. "When we first met, you literally attacked me like some madwoman and tried to force me int¡ª"


    "¡ªMHMM!"


    Before I could finish my words, her hand tapped my mouth, making me let out muffled noises.


    "That.. kind of thing shouldn''t be discussed in public," she leaned in closer, her breath brushing against my ear.


    From a different angle, the position she was holding me, could have been considered...


    Ambiguous...


    "Let go, you crazy bitch," I finally grumbled when I wriggled free of her grip.


    Her emerald-green eyes glinted, and a vein popped on her forehead.


    Clearly, she didn''t take the comment lightly.


    "You''ll pay for that, Aestrea," she said, her voice chillingly cold.


    Her gaze bore into mine like a predator toying with its prey.


    "After today''s classes, go to the training camp. I''ll give you a special training."


    Something about the way she said "special training" sent a faint chill down my spine.


    "...Ah, hell n¡ª"


    "¡ªIf you do, I''ll grant you a favor."


    "Deal." I immediately accepted.


    A favor from Zeva, a s-rank awakened?


    That was not something to pass up.


    Her lips curved into a small, almost triumphant smile.


    "Good. Have a nice meal," she said, her voice returning to a more neutral tone, before walking away.


    "Yeah, yeah..."


    Taking a look around, I finally noticed that everyone''s gaze was on me. It seemed that my little fight with Telmo had attracted quite the attention.


    Or was it my interaction with instructor Zeva...?


    Well, I didn''t actually care.


    So, I took the opportunity that everyone was distracted and talking to each other, to pass the crowd in the cafeteria.


    I got a tray and put a lot of food to my liking there before lifting it and taking a look around, hoping to find an empty table.


    But like I said before, it was pretty stacked, so I didn''t exactly find one.


    Then I spotted a hand waving at me from across the room.


    It was Lucas, smiling faintly as he gestured for me to join his table.


    Along with him, was his small party group.


    Gosh.


    I really don''t want to sit with them.


    But as I ignored it and took another look around...


    I realized that I had no choice but to sit beside Lucas.


    "Hah... You were injured just a day ago, and you''re already causing trouble?" Lucas asked as soon as I sat down in the chair, putting my tray on the table.


    "...I was the one causing trouble? Last time I checked, I wasn''t the one throwing punches first." I blinked innocently.


    "Fair enough." Lucas chuckled softly.


    "Well... it was satisfying enough to watch," Rose muttered softly, barely audible over the noise of the cafeteria.


    I turned my gaze to her, arching an eyebrow. Her cheeks immediately flushed, the red creeping up to her ears.


    She seemed to have remembered our little interaction in the dungeon.


    "Also, Aestrea! How about joining us for the Snow Festival?" Lucas interrupted me just as I was about to tease Rose, his cheerful tone cutting through the moment.


    "...Joining in what?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.


    "Well, isn''t it obvious? The activities!" Lucas replied, his grin as bright as ever.


    His words immediately brought the realization crashing down on me. The Snow Festival activities¡ªmost of them¡ªwere team games.


    And knowing Lucas, he''d already decided that I was their missing piece.


    I hesitated slightly.


    "Don''t worry! Everyone here doesn''t mind having you on the team!"


    "Of course not!" Maya chimed in, puffing out her chest like a proud rooster as Iris nodded gently with a small smile.


    Rose simply let out a low ''yes'', and then there was Ella.


    She just stared at me.


    Not for a moment, not for a few seconds, but for what felt like an eternity.


    Her eyes bore into me as if she were trying to uncover some mystery.


    Until she finally spoke:


    "Sure."


    Just at that moment, Lucas turned to me.


    "So, what do you think?" He asked eagerly.


    "Isn''t your team strong enough?" I raised an eyebrow.


    "Not really," Lucas admitted, scratching the back of his head sheepishly. "The fifth-year students are participating too, and let''s be honest, it''s going to be tough beating them."


    He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping just a bit.


    "But with someone like you¡ªstrong, experienced¡ªit''s the perfect addition to our team!"


    He looked at me, awaiting my response


    And of course, my reply was...


    "No."

 Chapter 50 - 50: The Moonlight Swordsman (XVI)

    "No."


    The word left my mouth before I could even think twice.


    Honestly, why would I want to join the same group as Lucas¡ªthe novel''s protagonist who''s practically a walking trouble magnet?


    My refusal seemed to catch them off guard, after all, their eyes widened slightly. Lucas''s cheerful face also faltered, and the others exchanged glances.


    "...Why?"


    Yet, surprisingly, it was Ella who asked me why I refused them.


    "Well... I''m better off alone." I took a bite of my food before replying.


    I wouldn''t tell them that the real reason I rejected Lucas''s offer was because he was a magnet for trouble.


    Ella wasn''t satisfied by my response though.


    Her brow furrowed slightly as she pressed on: "You do know there are limits to being alone, right?"


    To her words, I shrugged my shoulders.


    "I haven''t reached any yet. Besides, I already have a few partners."


    I was, of course, referring to Lumi and Alaine. They were more than enough.


    At my words, Ella''s eyes narrowed slightly before her lips parted:


    "...Really?"


    "Yeah," I replied, meeting her eyes.


    I don''t know why was she so persistent, but whatever. I lifted my head and locked my eyes with her for a moment.


    She kept the same straight face as she stared at me.


    Yeah...


    She doesn''t seem to like me in that ''way''.


    I cleared my throat and broke the eye contact.


    "Well, I''m done eating."


    "Huh? Already?" Lucas blurted, glancing at my plate.


    It was spotless¡ªcompletely cleared of food.


    ...It was so clean that I could see my own face reflected in it, which made me frown a little. But I wasn''t frowning because of the plate¡­ no, it was because of my eyes.


    Usually, my eyes had a deep blood-red color, with a faint glow that grew brighter when my emotions got stronger.


    But now¡­


    My left eye had changed.


    A soft blue glow mixed into the red, making it look more bluish, with hints of purple at certain angles.


    This had never happened before.


    Was it because I had broken the seal on my Aura?


    When could this have started?


    It felt... strange.


    "...When did you eat the whole thing?" He couldn''t help but ask in surprise, breaking my thoughts almost immediately.


    I raised an eyebrow at his words.


    "It had already passed more than ten minutes... what do you exactly mean by that?"


    Lucas blinked, looking genuinely confused.


    I was also confused as I looked at his puzzled expression.


    Was he so lost in his thoughts that he didn''t notice the time flying away?


    "Yeah... Lucas, are you okay?" Iris couldn''t help but ask in concern, looking at his face.


    "Yeah, you''re acting kinda weird."


    Maya also leaned in, waving a hand in front of his face.


    I also took a look at his face, and nothing seemed out of the ordinary.


    "I''m alright..." he replied.


    Whatever.


    Not my problem.


    So, I stood up, adjusting my chair as I did.


    "I''ll be going, thanks for the invite though," I said, giving them a casual nod before walking away.


    ''Around this time... I should have mana theory classes....''


    I thought to myself.


    I glanced at a clock on the wall. There were still about fifteen minutes left before class started.


    That gave me just enough time to kill some time in the library.


    For now, I had nothing to do except continue to read a book I had found earlier.


    ...


    As soon as Aestrea left...


    Lucas sat with his friends at the crowded cafeteria table, absentmindedly pushing food around on his plate.


    Maya was excitedly debating with Iris about which dessert stall they should visit during the Snow Festival, while Ella quietly interjected with her own sarcastic remarks.


    Rose, as usual, remained quiet, her focus on her own meal.


    "Seriously, Iris, you don''t understand! The chocolate lava cake at the main square is divine!" Maya declared, dramatically pressing a hand to her chest.


    "You said the same thing about the raspberry tart last year," Iris replied with a smirk. "Are you sure you''re not just obsessed with sugar?"


    "Hey! It''s not my fault the best part of any festival is the food!" Maya shot back.


    Hearing their conversation, Ella sighed deeply, rolling her eyes: "You''d probably survive a dungeon raid if the treasure at the end was cake."


    The others laughed, but Lucas found himself distracted.


    Something felt¡­ off.


    His thoughts drifted away from the conversation as a soft voice echoed in his head.


    <I''m here. Please, come get me.>


    His fork froze mid-air, his eyes narrowing slightly. He scanned the room, half-expecting to see someone standing behind him, whispering in his ear.


    "Lucas, are you okay?" Iris asked, noticing his sudden stillness.


    "Yeah, you''ve been zoning out a lot," Maya added, leaning closer to him before saying in a teasing manner.


    "Don''t tell me you''re still thinking about Aestrea refusing your offer?"


    "No, no. Just tired, I guess." Lucas shook his head quickly, forcing a smile.


    "You don''t look tired. What''s going on?" Ella asked with a slight frown.


    Before he could answer, the voice returned, clearer this time.


    <Come closer¡­ find me¡­> S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Lucas blinked, a bead of sweat forming on his forehead. The voice felt so real like it was coming from someone right beside him.


    "Lucas?" Rose''s quiet voice broke through his thoughts.


    He looked up, realizing they were all staring at him.


    "Uh, sorry. I think I just need some air."


    Maya raised an eyebrow: "Are you sure? You''re acting weird."


    "Yeah, seriously, if something''s up, just tell us," Iris chimed in, leaning forward.


    Lucas forced another smile upon hearing their words.


    "It''s nothing, really. I just need to clear my head."


    Ella''s frown deepened as her eyes narrowed slightly.


    "You''re hiding something...."


    Plop!


    Lucas stood up abruptly, grabbing his tray. "I''ll be fine. Don''t worry about it. I''ll see you all later."


    Before they could press him further, he turned and walked away, his steps quick and purposeful.


    "Jeez, what''s his deal?" Maya muttered, watching him leave.


    "He''s probably stressed." Iris sighed.


    Outside, the crisp air hit Lucas''s face as he stepped into the quiet courtyard. He took a deep breath, trying to calm the strange sensation building inside him.


    <To the right¡­ in the garden¡­>


    The voice returned, soft and melodic, like an angel''s whisper. Lucas hesitated, glancing back at the cafeteria.


    Should he tell the others?


    No, they''d think he was crazy.


    With no exact choice, he turned to the right, following the voice.


    The path led him to the large garden behind the main building, its flowers, and statues bathed in the soft afternoon light.


    <Closer¡­>


    Lucas''s footsteps slowed down as he approached the center of the garden. There, standing tall and proud, was a statue of a woman clad in ornate armor.


    Her expression was serene yet commanding, and in her hands, she held a sword that seemed to glow faintly, even in the daylight.


    "What is this¡­? How come I didn''t see this state before...?" Lucas muttered to himself, his gaze drawn to the statue.


    Lucas''s eyes lowered down, finding a small carved flower at the base. He hesitated, his fingers hovering over the intricate design.


    "This is crazy," he whispered to himself. "Why am I even listening to this?"


    But the voice was so soothing, so persuasive.


    It felt¡­ familiar.


    With a deep breath, Lucas pressed the flower.


    Immediately, a faint hum filled the air, and a glowing magic circle appeared beneath his feet.


    "Wait, what the¡ª"


    Before he could react, the light enveloped him, and the garden vanished.


    "Agh...!"


    When the light faded, Lucas found himself standing in a massive corridor. The air was heavy with an ancient yet powerful aura.


    The walls were lined with hundreds of statues, each one holding the same beautiful sword as the one in the garden.


    His footsteps echoed as he walked forward, his eyes darting around in awe.


    <These are your ancestors¡­ they can be called such.>


    Lucas stopped as his breath hitched.


    The voice was much clearer now.


    "Ancestors¡­?" he murmured.


    The statues seemed to watch him as he continued walking, making him feel strange.


    And then, up ahead, something caught his eye.


    A rock stood in the center of the corridor, its surface smooth and unyielding. Piercing through it was a beautiful sword, exactly the same as the statue''s sword.


    Lucas''s heart raced as he approached the rock.


    <Come get me¡­ let''s be partners¡­ once again¡­>


    The voice was filled with longing, almost pleading.


    Lucas hesitated, staring at the sword.


    "Partners¡­?"


    <Yes¡­ take me, and we will achieve greatness together.>


    Swallowing his doubt, Lucas reached out. His hand wrapped around the hilt, and an overwhelming warmth spread through his body.


    With a deep breath, he pulled.


    Swssh!


    The sword slid out effortlessly, as though it had been waiting just for him.


    Golden light burst from the blade, filling the entire corridor. Power surged through Lucas, brimming and vibrant, as if the sword was pouring its essence into him.


    He staggered slightly, overwhelmed by the sheer energy coursing through his veins.


    <Welcome back, my forever partner¡­>


    The voice was stronger now, filled with joy.


    <Let us be great again!>


    Upon hearing the sword''s voice, Lucas tightened his grip on it.


    "Excalibur..."


    He whispered softly.


    The name came to him naturally, as if he had always known it.


    At that moment, in many different locations, a handful amount of people seemed to feel something that made their hearts shudder.


    Amongst all of them, one particular stood quietly, already looking at Lucas''s figure.


    She was breathtaking.


    Her long, sparkling purple hair cascaded down her back like a shimmering waterfall, glowing faintly in the light.


    Her eyes, a piercing light blue, seemed to hold the secrets of the stars.


    On her head, she wore a tall, elegant witch hat in deep purple, decorated with silver embroidery and a single gemstone at its center, gleaming like a tiny star.


    Her outfit was just as striking as her appearance.


    She wore a fitted, sleeveless black dress that hugged her curvaceous figure, the neckline plunging just enough to reveal a teasing glimpse of her flawless skin.


    Her slender arms were adorned with elegant black gloves that reached her elbows, and she wore high-heeled boots that would click softly against the floor with every step she took.


    A dark purple corset accentuated her already voluptuous body, cinching her waist and highlighting her impossibly massive breasts, which were far larger than Christina''s.


    The fabric strained slightly, as if barely able to contain her chest.


    She stood in her room, surrounded by bookshelves filled with grimoires.


    On the table before her rested a small crystal orb, glowing faintly as it showed Lucas standing before the sword.


    "He''s finally found it," Eleonora murmured in a soft tone, her eyes slightly widened with curiosity.


    Her full lips curved into a faint smile as she tapped the table lightly with her gloved fingers.


    "And much earlier than I expected..."


    Through the crystal orb, she watched Lucas carefully as he slowly brushed his fingers along the edge of the blade.


    The Excalibur.


    What Lucas was experiencing now by brushing his finger along the sharp blade, was just one of the various effects of the Excalibur...


    The sword couldn''t damage its partner.


    "Now... I wonder how Aestrea is supposed to beat him," she thought aloud, leaning slightly closer to the orb.


    Her chest shifted with the motion, though she seemed oblivious to the effect it might have had on anyone nearby¡ªif there were anyone.


    "His identity is known now, not just to the other headmasters but to those old fools as well..."


    Her fingers stopped tapping, and a frown crossed her beautiful face.


    "Maybe... after being defeated for the first time, Aestrea will finally take my offer to be my disciple... if not..."


    A red malicious glint appeared in her light blue eyes, and her hand clenched into a tight fist.


    "...I wouldn''t know what to do."

 Chapter 51 - 51: The Moonlight Swordsman (XVII)

    RIINGGG!


    "Damn, finally!"


    "Man, I thought this class was never gonna end!"


    The students around me groaned and stretched, their voices echoing the universal relief that came with the end of the school day.


    Honestly, they weren''t wrong.


    That class had dragged on so long that I felt like I had aged a whole year sitting through it.


    Maybe it was just because it was the last class of the day. There''s something about knowing you''re almost free that makes every second feel like an eternity.


    "Aestrea, what are you doing later?" Lucas asked me, slipping his book into his spatial ring.


    Ahh...


    ...Right.


    This guy had decided to sit next to me for the rest of the classes, much to my annoyance. He spent most of the day pestering me to join his little group for the festival activities.


    But of course, I turned him down every time.


    "I''ll be¡ª"


    "¡ªIf you don''t have plans, how about we hit up a caf¨¦?" He cut me off mid-sentence, flashing a hopeful smile.


    "...I''m busy."


    Without waiting for a response, I turned on my heel and started walking toward the door.


    "Ah, come on! Why?!"


    I didn''t bother answering and continued walking, ignoring him completely, and just before Lucas could make another attempt at roping me into his plans, a soft voice called out to him.


    "Lucas."


    It wasn''t a voice I recognized, and I didn''t even bother to glance back. Probably one of the side heroines.


    There are a ton of them, after all¡ªeach one destined to orbit around Lucas like moths to a flame.


    Now, I had my own priorities.


    I had a meeting with Professor Zeva, and there was no way I was going to miss it.


    The promise of a favor from someone like her?


    It was too good to pass up.


    "Hah... probably more money!" I clenched my fists quietly, a grin tugging at the corners of my lips due to the sheer amount of happiness that I was feeling.


    Money really is the best thing ever.


    No questions asked.


    Sure, people always talk about how it corrupts or whatever, but they''re probably just broke.


    It took me a while to reach out to the training camp, but as I did so, I noticed a single figure on the camp, standing alone with two swords on her waist.


    Professor Zeva.


    She had long, dark hair tied back loosely, though a few strands framed her sharp, striking face.


    Her piercing green eyes stood out vividly against her tanned skin, their intensity giving her an air of authority and seriousness that made it hard to meet her gaze for too long.


    She wore a crisp white blouse with a high collar and neatly buttoned front, the fabric clung slightly to her figure, accentuating her full, well-endowed chest¡ªso large it made you wonder how she didn''t hear buttons screaming for mercy every time she moved.


    Gosh...


    Why did every heroine have a specially large chest?


    Well... probably the author''s fault.


    A slim black ribbon was tied elegantly around her neck, adding a touch of sophistication to her look. Over her blouse, she wore a corset-style outfit that cinched her thin waist, emphasizing her hourglass figure.


    The insignia of Eternum Royal Academy adorned her sleeve, a subtle reminder of her status.


    Her long legs were clad in tailored black pants, and her boots¡ªpolished to a shine¡ªclicked against the ground with every step she took.


    As I approached, her sharp eyes turned toward me, locking onto mine with an intensity that made me feel like a mouse under a hawk''s gaze.


    "You''re late."


    I held up my hands in mock surrender.


    "Only by a minute. Cut me some slack."


    She didn''t reply, but the slight arch of her brow told me she wasn''t impressed.


    "So, what do you want?" I got straight to the point.


    Instead of answering, she stepped closer, her boots clicking softly against the floor until she was standing right in front of me.


    Then, she rested her delicate hand on my shoulder.


    "Be my disciple."


    Another crazy bitch.


    Well, I already knew that she was like this.


    But unfortunately...


    The position is already reserved for Lucas.


    It''s not that I care about the plot or fate or whatever. But, Lucas still needs to get strong enough to kill the Demon King.


    Only his damned holy sword can cause damage to it apparently.


    Learned that from books.


    "Nah."


    Her hand left my shoulder as she crossed her arms and stared at me, her piercing green eyes narrowing slightly.


    "Give me a valid reason, then."


    "I don''t want to," I replied with a shrug.


    "I''ll let you touch my breasts."


    "N¡ªfuck, what did you just say?" My voice cracked as my eyes widened.


    Hearing my shocked words, she smirked slightly, uncrossing her arms and resting her left hand on her chest.


    "I have seen you looking at them during the little fight we had before, so I thought you would be interested in touching them," she explained, looking down at her chest.


    Her fingers pressed against the fabric of her blouse, emphasizing the impressive size of her chest.


    The buttons looked ready to burst at any second.


    By instinct, my eyes landed on her squishy mellows.


    "See?" she teased, her eyes locking onto mine with a knowing look.


    "Cough¡ªthat was pure instinct." I coughed and quickly turned my head away.


    I''m still a man after all.


    And honestly, it''s been quite a long time since I''ve had sexual relations with someone.


    Not to mention, none of the women I''ve been with were even close to the level of beauty these heroines seem to casually embody.


    "Still no. I''m not interested in being anyone''s disciple," I said firmly, refusing her offer even as my mind screamed at me for a brief second.


    "Is that so?" Her gaze dropped for a moment, her demeanor shifting slightly.


    She was acting strange though.


    I thought that she would probably force me into accepting it or something like that.


    "Then how about we make a deal?" she said, her head lifting as a faint smile returned to her face.


    "...What kind of deal?"


    Why does her words sound strangely enticing?


    "I''ll grant you one more favor on top of the one you already owe me. But..." Her smile widened ever so slightly. "...we''ll have a duel. If I win, I get something in return."


    "...And what, exactly, do you want in return?" I narrowed my eyes slightly.


    "...I''m only going to tell you if you do accept the duel," she smiled faintly, as her eyes widened faintly.


    Yup.


    She was back to normal.


    And considering her offer, it sounds strangely enticing, and I''m pretty sure that the thing that she gets in return for beating me is making me her disciple.


    But that extra favor was really... tempting.


    So, if I want it, I need to make the battle work in my favor.


    "Can I set conditions for the fight?" I asked.


    "Sure," she replied with a nod.


    So, with that already done, I could finally accept her deal.


    "Alright. I''ll accept the deal."


    "Good." Her smile grew wider as she stepped closer to me, her voice dropping slightly. "And as promised, I''ll tell you what I want if I win."


    I was a bit reluctant to let her approach me, but I stood still.


    And strangely, she got really close to me.


    She leaned in, her breath brushing against my ear as she whispered softly:


    "...If I win..."


    Her soft words made me shiver.


    "I want you to be my lover for a week."


    Huh.


    What did she say?


    Did I just hear it wrongly or something?


    I know you are crazy.


    But I didn''t think you were this fucking crazy.


    What kind of crap are you fucking talking about?


    Why would I be your lover for a week?


    What kind of winning reward is that?


    Multiple thoughts filled my head, but I nodded promptly.


    Of course, I wasn''t thinking of taking advantage of being her lover to successfully squeeze those marshmallows.


    Or maybe even more...


    But of course, I wasn''t going to lose though.


    I need that favor still.


    "Then let''s start," she said, stepping back to stretch her arms.


    "By the way, what are your conditions?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.


    I had already thought about it.


    I couldn''t reveal my aura yet, and my mana wouldn''t be sufficient to beat her. So, the only thing I could actually beat her in...


    "A pure swordsmanship duel, but... you need to lower your skills to B-rank." I said so.


    I was confident enough that I could deal with her in B-rank, even though her swordsmanship was much better than mine.


    "Alright..." she snapped her fingers, and suddenly, the threatening feeling coming from her diminished by a lot.


    But just to check, I also used my ¡ºJudgement Eye ¡»and sure enough, she had her powers in the b-rank level.


    Perfect.


    I pushed my sleeves back slightly, rolling them up to my elbows as I approached the weapons table.


    I picked up one and gave it a quick swing¡ªlight, balanced, but familiar.


    Still, something felt off.


    Without much thought, I grabbed another sword, holding one in each hand. Dual-wielding wasn''t my forte, but it wasn''t entirely unfamiliar either.


    Zeva''s green eyes locked onto me with sharp interest as I turned to face her.


    "Oh?" she murmured, one eyebrow arching. "Two swords? How bold."


    "Thought I''d try something new," I said casually, twirling both blades in my hands to get a feel for them.


    She chuckled softly, shaking her head.


    "I wonder if you''ll regret that decision."


    I didn''t reply to her words.


    Instead, I stepped into the center of the sparring circle, and Zeva followed.


    "....."


    There was a moment of pure silence as we started each other.


    The tension in the air was palpable, like a coiled spring waiting to snap.


    Then, with a fluid motion, she unsheathed her swords. The black steel of her dual blades shimmered faintly, their edges keen and polished.


    Her movements were precise, almost mechanical, as she took a ready stance. I mirrored her posture, crossing my swords in front of me.


    The camp fell silent.


    Then, without warning¡ª


    CLANG!


    Zeva lunged forward with startling speed, both her blades slashing in a precise X-formation aimed at my chest.


    I barely managed to intercept her strike, crossing my swords to block. The force of the impact reverberated through my arms, making them ache.


    "Tsk," I hissed, stepping back to absorb the blow.


    But she didn''t let up.


    Her next attack came immediately¡ªa downward strike from her right blade, followed by a sweeping horizontal slash from her left.


    I parried the first blow with my right sword, sparks flying as the metal clashed, and twisted to dodge the second, feeling the wind from her blade brush against my cheek.


    She was fast.


    Too damned fast.


    Swishh!


    CLANG!


    Her swords whirled like extensions of her body, each strike was calculated, relentless, and perfectly timed to exploit openings in my defense.


    I deflected what I could, and dodged where I had to, but her attacks were overwhelming.


    Then, a sudden feint caught me off guard.


    Her left blade arced low, slicing toward my thigh.


    I reacted just in time, pivoting to the side, but her right blade came down in a sharp diagonal slash toward my shoulder.


    THWACK!


    Pain exploded through my arm as her blade nicked my shoulder, tearing through the fabric of my shirt and grazing the skin beneath.


    Blood seeped out almost immediately, warm and sticky, staining my sleeve.


    Damn it...


    I wiped the sweat off my brow with the back of my wrist. My grip tightened around the hilts of my swords.


    My eyes locked forward, and then, she came at me again.


    Clink!


    Swish!


    I managed to hold my ground, blocking and dodging as best as I could. My swords clashed against hers repeatedly, the metallic ring echoing through the room. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    CLANG!


    Another strike slipped through my guard. Her blade grazed my side, leaving a shallow cut that burned as the air touched it.


    Blood trickled down my ribs, soaking into the waistband of my pants.


    However, despite the mounting injuries, I couldn''t stop the faint smile that tugged at my lips.


    Zeva''s eyes narrowed slightly as she noticed.


    "Why are you smiling?" she asked with a slightly confused expression.


    "No reason at all," I replied, my tone light even as my body screamed in protest.


    I shifted my stance, preparing for her next attack.


    She hesitated for a fraction of a second, her gaze flickering to the cuts on my body. Then, she shook her head and pressed forward.


    Her blades came down in a relentless flurry, each strike faster and more precise than the last. My movements became more desperate, my arms growing heavy from the repeated clashes.


    Sweat dripped down my face, stinging my eyes.


    Still, I refused to back down.


    CLANG!


    Swoop!


    I managed to catch her off guard with a quick counterattack, one of my swords grazing her upper arm.


    Splat...!


    A thin line of blood appeared, staining the sleeve of her blouse.


    Her expression didn''t falter, but I saw the briefest flicker of surprise in her eyes.


    "This is it..." Licking her lips, her eyes widened slightly and so did her lips.


    Even if my attack had the intention of making her weaker...


    She seemed to only get stronger and crazier because of it.


    Fwip!


    Splat!


    Another slash caught my thigh, the blade cutting deep enough to make me stumble.


    "Fuck...!"


    I grit my teeth against the pain, refusing to let it slow me down.


    Blood seeped from the numerous cuts on my body, dripping onto the floor. My breathing was ragged, my vision slightly blurred, but I kept moving.


    My faint smile never disappeared.


    And that seemed to have been bothering her.


    "Why do you keep smiling?" she asked again as she stopped her movements, leaping back, her voice more curious this time.


    "No reason..." I said the same thing I had said before.


    My eyes landed on the shallow cut that I had made in her upper arm.


    No reason at all.....

 Chapter 52 - 52: *The Moonlight Swordsman (XVIII)*

    Looking at me, Zeva''s lips curled into a grin that was anything but sane. Her eyes glinted with a strange unsettling excitement.


    ...she''s back to being insane.


    "You''re hiding something," she declared, gripping her dual swords tighter. "Come on, Aestrea! Show me what you''re keeping from me! Don''t disappoint me now!"


    I knew it...


    Fuck.


    She lunged forward, her swords whistling through the air.


    CLANG!


    I barely managed to block her twin blades, one aimed at my neck, the other at my ribs. The impact rattled my arms, but I held firm, twisting to parry the next strike aimed at my shoulder.


    Her left blade swept low toward my knees while her right arced toward my chest.


    SHING!


    I sidestepped, narrowly avoiding the low sweep, and raised my sword to deflect the high strike.


    Sparks flew as steel clashed, and I spun on my heel to counter with a quick horizontal slash aimed at her midsection.


    Zeva twisted her body unnaturally, bending backward to evade the strike with an unsettling grace.


    Her grin widened, and she leaned back in, bringing both swords down in a brutal overhead strike.


    BOOM!


    The impact jarred my entire body as I blocked, my knees buckling under the force, and that seemed to make Zeva laugh out loudly.


    "That''s it! Fight harder, Aestrea!" she exclaimed, her eyes widening with excitement, her breath coming in short gasps.


    "I know you''re not giving me everything yet!"


    Her blade slipped past my guard, slicing into my side.


    I hissed in pain as warm blood began to flow, staining my shirt and dripping to the ground. She didn''t pause, pressing the attack with a huge amount of ferocity.


    SWISH!


    Her next move was a quick upward slash that grazed my chin, leaving a shallow cut. Blood trickled down, but I barely noticed it.


    ''Damn it...''


    I cursed silently.


    I was already reaching my limit.


    My body screamed at me to stop, to rest, but my mind was focused on winning the battle. I adjusted my stance, gripping my swords tighter.


    I needed to keep her focused on her offense.


    "Still smiling, I see," she teased, her voice laced with a mock pout.


    Her crazy grin was back, her eyes showing a glint of pure enjoyment. "What are you plotting, hmm? Something special just for me~?"


    ''This crazy bitch...''


    Swish!


    CLANG!


    I parried her quick strike, but her second sword followed immediately, nicking my thigh.


    Pain shot through me, and before I could fully react, another blade grazed my forearm, leaving a stinging cut.


    Blood seeped from the wounds, soaking into my clothes.


    I gritted my teeth and retaliated with a swift horizontal slash, managing to land a glancing blow on her shoulder.


    A thin line of blood trickled down her sleeve.


    She didn''t flinch.


    If anything, her grin grew wider.


    "Yes! That''s it!" she yelled.


    "Make me feel alive, Aestrea!"


    Suddenly, her green eyes began glowing faintly, leaving a faint green tail from them, just like mine do when my emotions get intense.


    It seems that she has some useless skills like I have.


    Then, she lunged towards me once again.


    Clink, clang!


    I twisted and turned, deflecting what I could, but her speed was overwhelming.


    Her left blade skimmed past my ribs, tearing through my shirt and opening another shallow wound.


    Slash!


    Her right blade followed immediately, slicing a deep cut along my upper arm. Blood poured from the wound, dripping down my hand and staining the hilt of my sword.


    I stumbled back, barely managing to block her next strike aimed at my neck.


    "Come on, Aestrea! Don''t tell me that''s all you''ve got!" she laughed.


    I clenched my teeth, forcing myself to move despite the pain, and then, I counterattacked, delivering a rapid series of strikes.


    Clang, clang, CLANG!


    Our blades collided multiple times.


    I aimed a sharp thrust at her abdomen, but she sidestepped effortlessly, slashing at my side in retaliation.


    Shing!


    The blade bit deep, and I gasped as pain flared through me. My legs wavered, but I pushed forward, slashing at her exposed flank.


    Slash!


    My sword connected, leaving a jagged wound along her ribs. Blood seeped from the cut, but she only grinned wider.


    "Good!" she shouted. "But you''ll need more than that to take me down!"


    But she was wrong though.


    That was more than enough.


    I shifted my stance, focusing on the shallow cut I had inflicted on her earlier.


    "Haaa..."


    My blood-red eyes started glowing dimly.


    ¡º Bleed ¡»


    The technique activated silently, and the cut on her upper arm suddenly burst open. Blood gushed out, the wound tearing wider as if an unseen force had ripped it apart.


    Her eyes widened in shock.


    "What¡ª?!"


    She dropped her swords, clutching her arm as pain wracked her body. Her knees buckled, and she fell to the ground.


    "Bleed..." I mumbled to myself.


    The technique that I wanted so much from that damned Bloodclaw Wolf. Lumi had absorbed his abilities after all, so what I was using was Lumi''s abilities, not mine.


    So technically...


    I didn''t use mana or aura.


    I approached her slowly, blood dripping from my own wound, and hearing my steps, she looked at me with a confused expression.


    I knew why she was looking at me like that.


    That was because she noticed that I didn''t use mana or aura to damage her that way. It''s kind of a loophole, to be honest.


    After all, because of my blood contract with Lumi, no one can see or feel her powers when she is inside my tattoo.


    Step...!


    I raised my sword, resting the blade lightly against her neck.


    The faint smile that I had since the beginning of the fight never left.


    "Looks like I win," I said softly.


    As I said those words, the training camp was silent except for the sound of our labored breathing and the faint dripping of blood onto the floor.


    For a moment, Zeva said nothing. Her glowing green eyes dimmed slightly, and the wild grin she had worn throughout the fight faded into something softer¡ªalmost serene.


    Then, her lips curled into a small, tired smile.


    "Not bad. You win," she whispered in a tired tone.


    Her crazed expression had completely disappeared and so did the glow from her eyes.


    I stabbed both of my swords into the ground, straightened up, and extended a hand toward her, she hesitated only for a second before taking it.


    "Now... what kind of favor do you want?" she asked, dusting herself off and retrieving her swords from the ground to sheathe them at her waist.


    Hearing her words, I put on a thoughtful expression.


    I already had enough money from the Saintess, so asking for more seemed quite unnecessary. I still needed to save money for the Dragon''s Heart, but another favor from her could be invaluable.


    So, what could I ask from her...?


    I wasn''t sure yet.


    "I''ll tell you later." I ended up saying.


    She simply nodded her head expressionless, but then, a small barrier was summoned around us, glowing in a potent green mana.


    It was the kind of barrier that would hide our presence from other people''s eyes.


    "Now... here''s your other reward," she said mysteriously as I looked at the barrier.


    "What rewar¡ª"


    My mouth abruptly closed as I turned to look at her.


    Zeva''s hands moved to the lace of her blouse.


    She undid it slowly, her fingers deftly working the buttons as she pulled the fabric aside to reveal her collarbones.


    Then, she slid the blouse off her shoulders, letting it hang loosely around her arms.


    My eyes widened as she reached behind her back and unclasped her bra, her tanned skin contrasting beautifully with the dark fabric.


    The straps fell away, and her full, generous breasts spilled free.


    They were perfectly shaped, her soft, tanned skin glowing faintly in the light of the barrier. Her pink nipples stood out, taut against the chill air.


    "W-what the h-hell?!" I stammered, my face flushing as I took an involuntary step back.


    I didn''t fucking expect her to do something like this!


    Zeva glanced at me with a teasing smile, as her emerald green eyes curved in a crescent manner.


    "Isn''t this what you wanted?"


    She cupped her giant, squishy breasts in her hands, lifting them slightly and pressing them together, making them seem even fuller... bigger.


    Then, she gave them a playful jiggle.


    "Touch, squeeze, or do whatever you want. Didn''t you earn it?"


    "W-well... kinda?" I sighed, furrowing my eyebrows.


    Then, I glanced at them.


    Her tanned skin was flawless, the curve of her breasts smooth and inviting. The way they moved slightly with each breath, soft and supple, was almost hypnotizing.


    "Now... are you going to touch them or... not? she asked, tilting her head in mock innocence before starting to approach me.


    I was so focused on her breasts that I only noticed that she was approaching me after seeing them bouncing around.


    "Zeva, wait¡ª"


    Before I could finish, she grabbed my right hand, still slick with my own blood, and placed it on her left breast.


    The warmth of her skin against my palm sent a shock through me.


    "There."


    "Now, squeeze."


    She guided my hand with gentle pressure, and I felt the softness of her breast yield beneath my fingers.


    It was warm and plush, yet firm, an almost surreal sensation.


    "Ah..."


    She let out a soft, breathy moan as my hand remained pressed against her, fingers still feeling the plush, warm softness of her breasts.


    ''Isn''t she quite sensitive?''


    I couldn''t help but think.


    Unable to resist, I gave another gentle squeeze, feeling the pliant give of her flesh beneath my fingers once again.


    Her body responded immediately¡ªa small gasp slipping from her lips as she tilted her head back slightly, her breathing hitching.


    "~Oohhh..." she moaned softly, eyes half-lidded as she looked at me through heavy lashes.


    Hearing her seductive moan, my hand tightened, instinctively molding to the shape of her breast, feeling the warmth, the softness, and the gentle weight that only seemed to increase my desire to touch her.


    Her fingers, delicate and long, brushed lightly against my arm, trailing up to my wrist, guiding me.


    "Feel good?" she asked, her voice a husky purr, her lips curving into a sly smile.


    But despite her teasing words, I could easily see that she was also enjoying this through her flushed red face and quivering eyes.


    "Yeah... it feels... really good..."


    I replied softly, letting myself indulge in the sensation just a little longer.


    "Gaagh... ah~"


    She let out another soft moan¡ªlonger this time¡ªher breath catching as I kneaded her breasts once more.


    And slowly, her breathing started growing heavier as I continued to touch her, the warmth of her skin spreading through my fingers.


    My eyes lingered on her chest¡ªsoft, full, and perfectly inviting.


    I couldn''t resist any longer.


    Slowly, I let my fingers drift upward, lightly brushing over her taut nipples. A shiver ran down her spine, and she let out a soft gasp.


    "Mmm... yes... there," she murmured, eyes fluttering closed, leaning slightly into my touch.


    ''She really is sensitive in here...''


    I smirked, watching her reaction.


    Her breasts felt so soft, yet her nipples were firm beneath my fingertips. I teased them gently, slowly circling them, feeling the subtle bumps forming.


    "...You like that?"


    This time, I decided to tease her.


    But, to my surprise, she was thoroughly honest.


    "Y-yes... keep going..."


    She gave me a small nod, biting her lip as her chest heaved slightly.


    Without hesitation, I flicked my thumb lightly against one nipple¡ªjust enough to make it tighten beneath my touch.


    She gasped, a sharp intake of breath, and her body jerked slightly.


    "A-ahh!" she let out a small, surprised moan, arching her back slightly.


    Her eyes opened wide, watching me with a mix of pleasure and teasing hunger.


    Encouraged by her response, I did it again¡ªthis time pressing a bit harder, rolling my thumb over her nipple in slow, teasing circles.


    She let out another quiet moan, her head tilting back slightly, eyes half-lidded.


    "Mmm... more..." she whispered, shifting slightly to give me better access.


    I couldn''t resist anymore.


    My mind was already on cloud nine just because of the lust that I was feeling. From the previous teases from both the Saintess and Alaine...


    I needed to enjoy myself for a while...


    ''It''s okay if I indulge a little... right?''


    So, I leaned in slightly and pressed my lips to her collarbone, tasting her skin as my fingers continued to play around with her squishy mellows.


    My other hand slid down, grazing the soft curve of her waist, feeling the gentle jiggle beneath my touch.


    She moaned again¡ªa soft, throaty sound¡ªher body reacting to my every touch. My fingers teased, flicking and rolling against her nipples, making them stiffen further.


    The sounds of her pleasure¡ªthose quiet, breathy moans¡ªonly fueled my desire more.


    "Yes... just like that," she murmured, biting her lip as she arched toward me.


    Her skin was warm, and pliant beneath my fingers, and the way she melted into my touch was intoxicating.


    Then, my body trembled completely as I pinched her mountain peaks, feeling the subtle, hard texture.


    "Ohhh, y-yes¡­ more, please¡­" she murmured, her voice sweetly desperate, legs shifting slightly beneath her.


    "Ahh¡­," soft gasps escaping her lips.


    Then, seeing her red lips part slightly, as her mouth opened slightly, showing strings of saliva connecting to the top of her mouth...


    ''I really... want to kiss her.''


    And of course, since we had already skipped a few steps, I decided to start a not-so-advanced one.


    "Mhmph!"


    My lips pressed hers, melting into a slow, heated kiss.


    The soft wetness, the sound of our lips pressing together was intoxicating, pulling me deeper into the moment.


    Her lips parted slightly, allowing my tongue to trace gently against hers.


    The taste of her was sweet, intoxicating, and it drew me further into the kiss¡ªsoft, slow at first, but soon growing more eager, more hungry.


    "Chuu?, churup~"


    "Haaa..."


    Our breaths mingled as we kissed deeply, lost in the sensation.


    Her hands found my shoulders, pulling me closer, pressing her body into mine as our tongues played together.


    In between kisses, I let my hands continue¡ªteasing her breasts, playing with the soft flesh, letting my fingers glide over her squishy mellows, squeezing gently.


    The soft sound of my fingers pressing into her, the warmth spreading beneath my touch


    "Mhmm, y-yes~?"


    She gasped into my mouth, her breath hitching as she responded eagerly.


    "Ohhh¡­ right there¡­" she murmured breathlessly, breaking the kiss briefly, eyes half-lidded as she stared at me.


    Our gazes locked for a moment. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    My red eyes stared at her green ones.


    "Chu?!"


    Then, catching me off guard, she pressed her red lips against mine as her hands tucked under my shirt, before clinging to my back.

 Chapter 53 - 53: *The Moonlight Swordsman (XIX)*

    Zeva''s hands slid under my shirt, her fingers curling around the hem.


    Rustle...


    The fabric rustled as she pulled it up and over my head, tossing it aside without hesitation.


    Her emerald eyes locked on my bare chest, widening slightly in surprise at the sight of the countless scars that marked my torso.


    She said nothing, only let out a soft breath, her gaze lingering on the scars before she finally whispered softly to me.


    "Perfect..."


    Before I could respond, she leaned in, her lips pressing against mine.


    "Mmnh~," the sound escaped her as her hands settled firmly on my chest while she pulled me closer.


    The kiss deepened, and when she finally pulled back, she placed a hand on my chest and, with gentle strength, pushed me to the ground.


    Plop...


    I landed, watching her, eyes fixed on her movements as she looked down at me.


    "Ah~," she let out a soft breath, biting her lip in a way that sent a shiver down my spine.


    She reached behind her, deftly undoing the clasp of her bra.


    The straps fell off her shoulders, the fabric slipping away into the dirt ground.


    Then, she grabbed the hem of her blouse and pulled it off smoothly, revealing her bare upper body that looked fantastic under the moonlight.


    It was already late when I arrived at the training camp, and now, it was already nighttime.


    But, I ignored that, I simply stayed seated on the ground, looking at her.


    Zeva turned around, giving me a full view of her bubbly, shapely ass.


    She slowly started to ease down, pushing her leggings down one leg at a time, letting them slide past her curves and to the ground.


    The only thing left was the thin fabric of her black panties. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    With a teasing motion, she slid them to the side, revealing the glistening, wet folds of her pink dripping cavern.


    "Beautiful..." I couldn''t help but murmur.


    She smiled at my compliment as she approached me before sitting directly on my lap, just enough for me to feel the wetness of her cavern throughout my clothes.


    Then, leaned in once again, her lips meeting mine softly, her breasts pressing firmly against my chest.


    "Chuu, churuup!"


    Her tongue entwined with mine, twisting and curling as we kissed deeply.


    When she finally pulled back, she gave my lower lip a light bite before slipping her tongue back inside, teasing me once more.


    Her hips began to move¡ªslow at first, swaying gently against me, brushing lightly in circles. The rhythm grew gradually, deliberate until she was grinding softly against my lap.


    "Ah~," she exhaled softly, a small, satisfied sound escaping her lips as she rolled her hips again.


    My hands reached out, one sliding firmly over her soft, round backside, holding her tightly. My other hand rested on her waist, steadying her as she continued to move against me.


    Her body responded, shifting subtly, rocking forward and backward, the gentle friction between us growing.


    She moved steadily, slowly bucking her hips against mine, the heat building between us.


    "Mmnh~," she moaned softly, the sound muffled as she tilted her head slightly to the right, deepening the kiss further.


    When she finally pulled back, her emerald eyes locked with mine, and she gave me a sly smile.


    Her fingers moved to the waistband of my pants, tugging them loose with precise, eager motions.


    Click.


    The sound of my belt buckle echoed faintly as she slid it open, her hands working to undo the button and zipper next.


    Her hands didn''t stop, pulling the fabric down as she shifted off me slightly, making enough room to strip me of my pants.


    "¡­Oh~," she licked her lips, her eyes settling on my exposed crotch.


    A huge pole stood out, pressing firmly against her belly.


    "Agh... it''s cold," I teased, a playful smirk on my face.


    She caught my words immediately.


    She wrapped her hand around my penis before starting to stroke it slowly, creating small skin sounds as she did so.


    At that moment, I grabbed her waist and lifted her slightly, catching her off guard. I pulled her closer to me, pressing my chest into hers.


    My growing length now rested snugly against her soft, rounded buttocks.


    Then, I kissed her.


    "Chuuu, smack~, chrup?!"


    Our tongues mingled together, as we swallowed each other''s saliva, and at the same time, I slowly started moving my hips.


    My penis brushed lightly against her wet dripping pussy as I moved between her soft curves, creating friction without full penetration, but enough to deepen the pleasure.


    "Agh~," she moaned softly, a quiet gasp escaping her lips.


    She wrapped her arms around my neck, pulling me closer as our lips met again in a heated, hungry kiss.


    The liquid in her cave seemed to increase as I started feeling them cover my penis, creating wet noises.


    My right hand moved to one of her breasts, squeezing softly as I pulled back slightly, saliva sticking between us.


    I trailed my lips down to her neck, planting soft kisses there.


    "Ahhng~" she moaned, arching her back, giving me more access to her neck.


    My left hand moved further lower, and I gave a firm squeeze to her round buttocks as she continued letting out small moans.


    "Ngaha~... I love tha¡ªmhmm!"


    She whispered into my ear before pressing my head firmly into her neck.


    Taking my chance, I moved slightly, just enough to brush the tip of my penis against her entrance.


    But I didn''t push further.


    Instead, I rubbed it gently against her, letting the soft friction build as I felt her body quiver in response.


    She pushed me back slightly, her eyes dark with desire, biting her lips as she stared at me.


    But unfortunately...


    "Although, I''m really enjoying this... we cannot do more from here," she said so, causing a frown to form on my face.


    "So, let''s finish this quickly?" she added.


    ''Really?''


    I scoffed inwardly


    Her words made me so fucking angry.


    You decide to seduce me, and now I can''t even go all the way?


    Fucking hell.


    I pushed her off my lap, gently but firmly, setting her down on the ground.


    "Gosh..."


    I stood up, letting out a sharp breath, trying to contain my frustration.


    She looked at me in surprise at first, her expression shifting as if she slowly began to understand what I was about to do.


    "I see¡­ you want me to use my mouth?" she said, opening her mouth slightly.


    Her tongue peeked out, glistening with saliva, sticking to her teeth and the roof of her mouth.


    It looked erotic as hell.


    But I was fucking mad.


    Ignoring her, I simply turned away.


    ¡º Cleanse ¡»


    I used magic to clean myself and my clothes, a subtle light washing over me, leaving a refreshing sensation that eased some of the tension.


    The faint glow of energy dissipated, and as I finished, I noticed her eyes widen in pure surprise.


    Then, I began to get dressed.


    "A-Aestrea¡­ w-why are you getting dressed?" she asked, her brows furrowing, confusion etched on her face.


    "N-neither of us orgasmed even once!" she added, her voice rising slightly, a hint of frustration in her tone.


    Her cheeks were flushed, embarrassment coloring her expression.


    As I finished pulling my shirt over my head, I turned toward her.


    "Deal with it yourself."


    My voice came out in a bitter-cold tone.


    Then, I started walking away.


    "W-wait, A-Aestrea!" she tried to call after me, even stumbling slightly as she tried to get up, only to fall back to her knees.


    But I ignored her.


    Her words had made me fucking terribly mad.


    A few minutes later, I reached my dorm room, and without a second thought, I stepped straight into the shower, turning the water to freezing cold.


    Drip!


    The freezing water bit at my skin as it ran down my back, making my muscles tense. I stood there, staring at my reflection in the bathroom mirror, watching the steam rise.


    My blood-red eyes were glowing unnaturally, leaving a scarlet smoke trail as I moved my head slowly.


    The blue color from before had completely dissipated away.


    However, as I continued staring at me, the glow in my eyes started flicking slightly, which didn''t surprise me at all.


    After all, the glow of my eyes is aligned with my emotions.


    "Fucking bitch..." I cursed bitterly under my breath.


    I raised my head to the ceiling, enough to make the water fall directly into my face before letting out a deep sigh.


    My partner had already softened up due to the sheer cold water, so I simply ended up finishing my bath before going to sleep.


    Alaine hadn''t arrived yet, and Lumi seemed to already be asleep peacefully in the tattoo, so I didn''t need to disturb either of them.


    "Haghh... dammit."


    ''Maybe I shouldn''t have left abruptly like that.''


    ''I mean... if she didn''t actually want to have sex, she could have at least told me, no? I wouldn''t indulge so much in that pleasure if she did so.''


    ''Fuck...! I don''t care anymore.''


    I closed my eyes, drifting off to sleep.


    It took an hour or so to fall asleep, but eventually, I did.


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    "H-he''s... leaving?"


    Zeva knelt there on the cold, hard dirt floor, her body trembling slightly as the last remnants of pleasure slowly seeped away.


    She had never been left like that¡ª


    abandoned


    ¡ªnot like this.


    Not like she was experienced in


    those things,


    but no one had ever dared to simply walk away¡ª


    especially not after what had almost happened.


    Zeva... is a pure virgin, someone who didn''t even lose her first kiss.


    But today, Aestrea almost took all of her first times.


    But then... he left?


    Just like that?


    He actually dared to leave?


    That made her speechless, stupidly mad.


    "Hah.. agh... ha..."


    Her breathing was erratic and uneven, and she clenched her fists on the ground, biting her lip to hold back the flood of emotions threatening to overwhelm her.


    Her emerald eyes darted up, following Aestrea''s retreating figure. He hadn''t even spared her a glance as he walked away as if what they had shared meant nothing.


    She clenched her teeth and let out a ragged breath, frustration bubbling up again.


    "How¡­ how can he just¡ªjust walk away like that?" she muttered, her voice trembling with disbelief.


    Her hands tightened into fists at her sides, her nails digging into her palms until they turned white.


    Her eyes widened in pure madness, her breathing hitched again, and for a moment, she leaned back against the wall, slumping against it.


    "He thinks he can just¡­ ignore me?" Her voice trembled, rising slightly in disbelief and anger.


    "I''m not just someone you can just fucking walk away from after almost having sex with her, Aestrea. I''m fucking more than those types of bitches¡­"


    "Once I''m interested in someone... I''ll make sure that fucking bastard is interested in me too, no matter what method I use."


    "Even if I need to give up my own virginity or body to achieve it."


    Zeva whispered to herself as her eyes burned with an undying flame before picking up her clothes and getting dressed.


    She hung the twin swords on her waist before undoing the barrier.


    "He thinks he can leave me behind after what we did?" she muttered again as she walked away from the training camp.


    "I won''t stop until I make him pay¡­ until I make him realize what he truly desires¡­ what we both want¡­"


    If Aestrea was here, he would probably wonder what she was talking about. Her words didn''t make sense after all.


    What he truly desires?


    He just wanted a quick fuck to lose his overwhelming lust, but she fucking refused him. Not to mention, that, from his perspective, she was the one that seduced him.


    So, she should be the one suffering the consequences.


    "Agh~... is this love?" she pondered aloud to herself.


    Thump, thump, thump!


    She placed her hand on her breasts, feeling the quick beating of her heart.


    "It''s beating fast... really fast," she uttered to herself.


    A faint blush crept out to her face as her lips curved into a faint smile.


    But what if he refuses me¡­ if he truly refuses¡­


    She would find a way¡ªsome way¡ªto make Aestrea realize that they were destined to be together¡­ no matter what.


    No matter what it took.


    No matter how much she had to take to make him see it¡­


    No matter what.


    She licked her red lips.


    He will see.


    He has to.


    ...


    [A/N: Crazy fucking bitch. This isn''t my made-up character anymore, I swear she wrote these words herself.]

 Chapter 54 - 54: *The Moonlight Swordsman (XX)*

    "Slurp~, chuu... slick?"


    Pop~


    "Gaghak... slurp! Haaa...?"


    "Agh..."


    Aestrea groaned softly, as he groggily tried to pry his eyes open. He shifted his legs slightly, but surprisingly, he couldn''t move them at all.


    It felt as if they were stuck, or chained by something.


    "Chu~, churup?"


    "Fuck!"


    Some weird noises reached out to him as he suddenly tightened his legs, feeling a deep suction on his penis, something tight, soft, and wet wrapped around it.


    Immediately, his eyes snapped open, and slowly the blurriness got clearer, and that''s when he noticed a familiar figure with her head lowered, close to his penis with her lips wrapped around it, making a duck face.


    Pop~


    "Phwaa~..." she finally pulled away, her red lips parting from him with a soft pop, leaving a glistening sheen behind.


    Her hand didn''t stop, though, lazily stroking him as her emerald-green eyes locked onto his.


    Her green eyes landed on Aestrea''s shocked one as her lips curved into a small sly smile.


    "Are you finally awake?" she asked in a strange seductive tone, before stopping stroking his penis and pressing the glistening head of his penis with the tip of her index finger.


    "Seems like this woke up long before you did," she purred, licking her red lips.


    Slowly, she pulled her finger away, a thread of his precum clinging to her fingertip, which she held up for him to see.


    "Zeva...?" Aestrea murmured as his eyelids fluttered.


    A sharp, pounding headache surged through him, and he squinted against the pain, his vision growing hazy, blurring more with each passing second.


    "Aestrea? Are you okay?"


    Zeva''s voice felt distant, like it was trying to cut through water, muffled and faint, slipping just out of reach.


    "Aestrea?"


    "...Aestrea!?"


    "Aes¡ª"


    ¡ªFuck!


    "Haagh... haaa... shit!"


    I cursed under my breath, clutching my head because of the incoming pain that made my whole body tingle in fucking pain.


    "Did I seriously have a wet dream?" I couldn''t help but murmur to myself in complete disbelief.


    Was it because I stopped with Zeva just when things were about to hit their peak?


    "Damn it..."


    I groaned as I staggered out of bed, my legs heavy, and shuffled toward the bathroom.


    Splash!


    I started splashing water on my face, trying to clear my thoughts.


    My mind was a mess, spinning like a freaking beyblade.


    I mean, wasn''t I past the age for this kind of thing?


    Like, what the fuck?


    Slip!


    As I was lost in thought, the sound of the shower curtain sliding open jolted me back to reality.


    "M-Master?!"


    My head snapped to the side, and there she was¡ªAlaine, standing before me. She wasn''t hiding her true appearance since she was at my dorm...


    But...


    There was only one single problem.


    Alaine was naked.


    She reached for a towel on the side, completely bare, her body glistening with droplets of water that slid slowly down her seductive body.


    Her lips were a soft, pale pink, perfectly complementing her flawless snow-white skin.


    Her long, delicate ears twitched slightly, and her light green eyes locked onto mine, glowing faintly in the bathroom''s dim light.


    Her chest was... also... amazingly beautiful.


    My gaze lowered a bit, her bare breasts were huge, even bigger than I had first thought. They had a perfect shape with two seductive light pink peaks etched on them.


    Lower down, her slender waist drew my attention next, its graceful curve flowing seamlessly into her hips and long, elegant legs, just like an Echidna''s lower body.


    Her thighs framed her most intimate place¡ªa small, white bud of a flower, the faint pink slit at its center hinting at the untouched depths within.


    She looked thoroughly beautiful...


    And yeah, my body instantly reacted.


    Instantly.


    Real hard.


    I was only wearing my underwear, so I immediately felt it¡ªmy cock hardening, straining against the fabric, until it began to push free, slipping out over the waistband.


    "Ahh..." Her gaze lowered, locking onto me, and a rush of hot embarrassment shot straight to my head.


    Her face flushed a deep red, but then, to my utter disbelief, she bit her lower lip¡ªslowly, seductively. My cock twitched in response, and I felt my composure slipping fast.


    "Fuck..." I muttered under my breath.


    Without another word, I turned on my heel, grabbed the door, and slammed it shut between us. My back hit the door as I leaned against it, my hand clutching my forehead.


    My heart was pounding.


    Like seriously?


    That had to fucking happen?


    Shaking my head, I forced myself to move.


    I crossed the room, yanked open my wardrobe, and grabbed the student uniform provided by the academy.


    ¡º Cleanse ¡»


    The spell freshened me up instantly.


    Without sparing another thought, I threw on my clothes and bolted out of the dorm, leaving Alaine behind.


    That scene was too embarrassing for me to be able to see her face again so soon.


    Although... she was having different thoughts from me.


    ...


    As soon as slid the shower curtain to the right, Alaine''s eyes widened as she saw Aestrea''s figure splashing water on his face.


    But then, after hearing her movements, he abruptly turned his head as his eyes immediately widened upon seeing her.


    Alaine was shocked.


    But from his reaction, Alaine immediately noticed that Aestrea didn''t know that she was there. Her face immediately started reddening, as her legs shifted slightly.


    But despite that, a small frown appeared on her face...


    ''...Why isn''t he getting hard?'' she pondered to herself.


    Normally, people with Aestrea''s age would almost immediately go hard as soon as they saw the naked body of a beautiful woman like her.


    After all, she was a high elf, her beauty enhanced far beyond that of ordinary women.


    Her flawless, snow-white skin, her perfectly proportioned figure, her delicate features¡ªthey were all designed to captivate.


    However, as soon as she saw Aestrea''s eyes go lower, she immediately felt her skin get redder, as she felt a strange feeling overwhelming her body.


    Squish...


    A faint, tingling sensation pulsed from her core, making her shudder instinctively. That was when it hit her¡ªshe was getting excited.


    Her breath hitched.


    ''...Am I aroused because he''s looking at me?''


    She quickly realized.


    Although she was still a virgin, she was more than one hundred years old, and her experience over her emotions and mental state was extremely great.


    So, she wasn''t like those na?ve little girls who would take weeks, months, or even years to realize their feelings.


    And upon realizing this...


    She licked her lips, a wicked smile creeping onto her face.


    ''Look at me more...''


    ''Turn my body into your personal movie screen...''


    ''Want me...''


    ''Ravage me with your eyes...''


    Her dirty thoughts started increasing more, as she felt her body responding to the attention that Aestrea gave to it.


    And then she saw it.


    Her eyes dropped to the hardened bulge in his underwear, growing until it slipped free, popping out of Aestrea''s pants.


    It was his cock¡ªthick, long, and undeniably aroused.


    It twitched slightly as soon as her gaze focused on it.


    Her lips parted as she bit down softly on the lower one.


    ''It''s... big, really big.''


    Her imagination started to run wild, visions flashing through her head.


    ''Ah... how good would it feel if that huge thing was put inside of me?''


    ''...What about its taste?''


    ''Would it be salty like my friends that told me...''''


    ''Would he shoot a huge load inside of me?''


    ''...Haaa?, I can''t wait for it...''


    Her thighs pressed together as a wave of heat surged through her.


    Her green eyes turned into his reddish ones, his face was as red as hers, and his hands hovered awkwardly, unsure whether to cover himself or not.


    ''Fufu~, he must be embarrassed~,'' she thought, giggling to herself.


    ''Don''t worry, I don''t mind...''


    ''If you want, you can stare at me, do whatever you want to me...''


    ''After all...''


    Slam!


    Aestrea left, slamming the door from the bathroom shut.


    ''I belong to you, my dear Master.''


    ...


    "Fuck, fuck, fuck...!" I muttered under my breath, running a hand through my hair.


    The memory of Alaine''s bare body wouldn''t leave me.


    It was burned into my brain¡ªher flawless curves, the way her long ears twitched, the heated look in her eyes when she bit her lip¡­


    And that wet, inviting cavern...


    "Ugh...!"


    I groaned, rubbing my temples, trying to push the image away from my mind.


    "Get a grip, Aestrea..." I scolded myself. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''Damn, I really need to release this lust of mine.''


    My eyes landed on the window as I was already halfway across the academy ground. The color of my eyes started flickering its light blue tone again.


    But this time, it was even more intense than before.


    "Aestrea...?"


    A familiar voice suddenly reached out to me, jolting me out of my thoughts.


    ''Another one?!''


    I exclaimed inwardly.


    I turned to the side, only to see Ella standing there, her face etched with concern. Her eyes locked onto mine, and for a moment, I froze.


    "Your eyes..." she uttered softly.


    "I don''t need to hear it," I interrupted her words quickly, squeezing my eyes shut as a dull ache throbbed in my head.


    Before I could step away, I felt something gentle¡ªa soft hand caressing my cheek.


    My eyes snapped open, and there she was, her face inches from mine, her fingers brushing against my skin with delicate care.


    Her brows furrowed, her expression filled with worry.


    "Are you okay?" she inquired softly, reaching out with her other hand to me.


    But at that moment, I pulled back instinctively, taking a step away.


    "I''m fine," I replied quickly.


    "So don''t worry, alright? Just need a bit of fresh air..."


    I scratched the back of my head awkwardly before turning around and walking off, putting as much distance between us as I could.


    As I moved further away, I thought I heard her whisper my name.


    But even if she did, I chose to ignore it.


    "Damn it... what classes do I even have today?" I muttered to myself, pulling out my phone to check the schedule.


    The first class was the Mana Application.


    I sighed and started walking toward the classroom.


    As I entered, I noticed Ella was already there. She glanced at me briefly, but I just shrugged it off and headed straight to my seat.


    Before I could settle in, a teasing voice cut through the air behind me.


    "Oh-ho... Student Aestrea, you''ve finally decided to grace us with your presence?"


    I turned to see Eleonora standing there, a smirk plastered across her face.


    ''Gosh. Just looking at her face made me annoyed...''


    However, I froze at her next words...


    "You''re twenty minutes late for class and don''t even bother to apologize?" she said, tapping her chin as if in thought.


    "You really are getting rebellious, aren''t you?"


    "Twenty minutes...?" I murmured under my breath, freezing in place.


    I had just walked over here.


    How could twenty minutes have passed?


    What the fuck is happening to me?


    "Agh!"


    A sharp pang shot through my head, and I winced, clutching it as the dull ache forced me to crouch down.


    My breathing quickened as I pressed a hand to my forehead just to touch beads of sweat.


    I was sweating...


    "Aestrea... are you okay?"


    Eleonora''s voice shifted from teasing to concerned as she knelt down beside me, her expression serious.


    Then her eyes widened in shock.


    "Your eyes...?!" she gasped.


    I blinked at her, confused.


    "My eyes?"


    Fumbling, I pulled out my phone and turned on the camera to see what she was talking about.


    The moment I saw my reflection, I froze.


    The headache was gone¡ªcompletely gone. In its place, a strange, refreshing sensation washed over me, like cool water flowing through my veins.


    But my eyes...


    They weren''t the same anymore.


    The dull red color had vanished entirely, replaced by a vibrant, glowing light blue.


    Beneath my pupils, a crescent moon shimmered faintly, resting as if cradled in my gaze.


    I barely had time to process what I was seeing before two thin streams of blood trickled down from the corners of my eyes, leaving crimson trails on my cheeks.


    "What... what is happening to me?"


    This wasn''t normal at all.

 Chapter 55 - 55: The Moonlight Swordsman (XXI)

    "Hayaa!"


    THRUM!


    A massive black beam tore through the air as Lucas swung the disguised Excalibur in his hand.


    The force of it reverberated through the battlefield.


    Rose''s eyes widened upon seeing the total strength of the beam, panic flashing across her face, and immediately, she raised her staff.


    ¡º Multiple Layer Barrier! (? 4th-level Spell ?)¡»


    CRACK!


    The moment the beam collided with Rose''s barrier, cracks shattered through it like fragile glass.


    The attack pushed forward without slowing.


    "Ella!" Rose shouted.


    "I''m on it!" Ella replied sharply.


    On the right side, Ella coated her sword in a powerful golden mana before stepping in front of Rose, swinging with all her might.


    ¡º Royal Swordsmanship! (? Heavenly Strike! ?)¡»


    BAAM!


    The impact of the two powers colliding with each other sent shockwaves rippling outward.


    And despite Ella''s effort, Lucas''s beam was too powerful, forcing both Ella and Rose to be thrown back several meters.


    Thud!


    Rose groaned, brushing off dirt from her clothes as she staggered to her feet.


    "Ugh¡­ that hurt," she muttered, wincing.


    Ella stood as well, shaking dust off her shoulders.


    "Same here," she said curtly.


    On the sidelines, Maya''s mouth dropped open in awe.


    "Whoa!" She jumped up, eyes sparkling with excitement.


    Without hesitation, she dashed toward Lucas, her enthusiasm bubbling over.


    "Lucas! How the heck did you get that strong?!" she demanded, bouncing on her toes. "Tell me, tell me!"


    Seeing Maya so close, Lucas stiffened slightly, and averted his eyes away from her, before replying in a low tone to Maya.


    "My parents''s inheritance had a special item for me. I''m not telling more than that," he lied through his teeth.


    It was obviously the Excalibur that had granted such power to him, and now, he was an S- ranker! A big jump indeed, in just the span of a few days.


    "Reaaalllly?" Maya narrowed her eyes slightly, looking at Lucas suspiciously.


    Before she could press further, Iris walked over, placing a hand on Maya''s shoulder.


    "Maya stop, if he wants to have some secrets, leave him with them," Iris winked at Lucas which made him smile lightly.


    "Ugh, not fair!" Maya pouted, puffing out her cheeks. "He gets to level up like crazy while the rest of us have to grind forever!"


    Ella, who had been watching from nearby, crossed her arms:


    "Didn''t we just clear an inheritance dungeon a few weeks ago?" she said, frowning. "We all got a huge power boost. What are you complaining about?"


    "Ahhh¡­ right. Forgot about that." Maya blinked, then let out a sheepish laugh.


    Hearing their conversation, Rose, dusting off her sleeves, tilted her head curiously.


    "Lucas, now that you''re so strong¡­ do you think you could beat Aestrea?" she asked softly.


    A faint blush crept across her cheeks as soon as she mentioned his name.


    Lucas paused, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.


    "Wait, wait, wait!" Maya suddenly burst out, pointing at Rose with wide eyes. "Are you blushing?! Oh my gosh!"


    ''Aestrea is ridiculously strong...''


    "N-no, I''m not!" Rose stammered, her face turning redder as she shook her head frantically.


    From the side, Iris smirked and gave Rose''s waist a playful pinch.


    "Kyaa!" Rose yelped, jumping.


    "Uh-huh. Don''t even try to deny it, Rose. You''re totally blushing," Iris teased, her grin mischievous.


    ''But, now that I have the Excalibur... I should be able to beat him, right? After all, I''m not a low S-rank awakened!'' Lucas pondered to himself.


    Grinning ear to ear, Maya leaned closer to Rose. "Ohhhh, do you have a thing for Aestrea now?" she teased, waggling her eyebrows.


    Rose took a step back, flustered. "N-no! Of course not!"


    "Oh please," Iris interjected, smirking. "Don''t lie. You''re totally into him."


    "And now.... our dear princess has some competition!" Iris winked at Ella who had a dark expression splattered all over her face.


    Hearing Iris''s words, Maya gasped dramatically, turning to her. "So who''s gonna win his heart first? Rose, or our princess here?"


    "Mhm... I don''t know...! My vote, though, it''s on our dear princess! I mean look at her, white hair and precious light blue eyes, not to mention her royal beauty!" Iris replied, nodding her head with confidence.


    "What?!" Maya gasped. "No way! Rose all the way! Go, Rose! You''ve got this!" She threw her hands in the air, cheering loudly.


    Ella''s brow twitched at their interaction, but she said nothing, though the corner of her mouth twitched in irritation.


    ''Mhm... I should be able to beat him!'' After thinking for a few minutes, Lucas finally confidently nodded to himself.


    He had completely ignored their conversation.


    <By the way, who is this Aestrea?>


    A faint glow pulsed from Excalibur as its voice appeared in Lucas''s mind.


    ''Aestrea? Well...'' Lucas clutched the hilt of the Excalibur tightly.


    The sword could feel his emotions entirely.


    ''He''s my rival, and the one I need to surpass currently!'' he declared inwardly.


    <Oh? He seems interesting...>


    ''Yeah. Oh¡ªspeaking of the devil¡­''


    Lucas''s eyes caught sight of a familiar figure entering the training camp. His silver-blue hair swayed in the wind, catching the sunlight.


    But what truly stood out were his eyes.


    His eyes instead of having the normal red color, now were completely light blue.


    <I-is that him...?>


    The Excalibur stammered slightly upon seeing Aestrea.


    ''Yeah. Why do you sound so freaked out?'' Lucas tilted his head slightly, confused by the sword''s strange reaction.


    <That boy... he has a goddamn monster inside of him...>


    ''Huh, what do you mean by that?''


    <Exactly what I said. He has a strange creature inside of him, even I cannot pry into it, and just looking at him, gives me a really dangerous feeling!>


    <You should be really careful of him!>


    At the sword''s words, Lucas narrowed his eyes lightly as he stared at Aestrea. At the same time, a panel from the system popped in front of him.


    [Main Quest #7¡ª


    Make Aestrea ####''s favorability reach $#%$# points?!?!?!?!!? (COMPLETED)


    ? Current Favorability: 25 (NEUTRAL)


    Kill more than 200 middle-ranking demon beasts. (Completed)


    Kill more than 50 high-ranking demon beasts. (Completed)


    Kill a single named Demon Beast. (Completed)


    Stop the awakening of one of the Seven Demon Generals.


    Time Remaining: 4 days, 11 hours, 52 minutes and 58 seconds.


    Rewards: ???]


    ''What the¡­?''


    Lucas''s eyes widened in disbelief.


    The mission to raise Aestrea''s favorability had been completed, and his favorability had even decreased by 24 points.


    <Lucas? What are you looking at?>


    ''Ah... nothing.'' Lucas muttered to himself, shaking his head.


    The system was a gift bestowed by the Goddess of Light herself.


    He couldn''t tell anyone about it, not even Excalibur.


    But then, the ground trembled.


    BOOOOM!


    CRUMBLE!


    Suddenly, as Lucas was lost in thought, a huge explosion occurred, and instantly, his eyes snapped to the source of the explosion.


    Ella, Maya, Iris, and Rose also did the same.


    They exchanged glances before starting to run towards the place...


    "P-p-please s-stop! I b-beg you!"


    A sudden yet desperate cry reached out to them as they arrived at the place.


    What they saw made their blood run cold.


    "Aestrea...?"


    Aestrea stood in the center of the destruction, his hand gripping Telmos''s face, holding the trembling man high in the air.


    Next to them was Leon, the prince, who looked at Aestrea with mortified eyes. His body quivered in sheer fear.


    "Hakguk..."


    Telmos choked out, saliva dripping from the corner of his mouth as he struggled to form words. But Aestrea''s grip tightened, cutting off his attempts.


    "Aestrea, stop!" Immediately, Ella''s voice rang out sharply as she stepped forward


    "Huh?!"


    Slowly turning his head, Aestrea''s eyes landed on her face.


    Not only Ella but even the group behind, felt almost paralyzed as his light blue eyes landed on them.


    Instead of the usual ominous red glow, his eyes were completely empty, without a shred of brilliance¡ªjust a pure, chilling light blue color.


    However, as his gaze landed on them, the brilliance gradually returned.


    Without a word, he released his grip.


    Thud!


    Telmos crumpled to the ground, gasping for air.


    "Augh!" Telmos groaned weakly, his body convulsing as he clutched his head.


    "What do you think you''re doing?!" Ella stormed up to Aestrea, her face flushed with anger.


    Without hesitation, she grabbed the collar of his blazer and gave it a hard shake, her frustration boiling over.


    But instead of replying, Aestrea met her eyes, without saying anything...


    Immediately, a vein popped in Ella''s forehead, as she gripped his collar tightly.


    "Why did you att¡ª!"


    "¡ªSecond Princess Ella," he uttered a single word.


    The way he addressed her made her freeze completely. Her hands were still clutching his collar when he calmly grabbed her wrists and peeled them off.


    "It''s none of your business."


    He turned back toward Telmo, but before he could take another step, Lucas appeared in front of him, pointing a sword at his neck.


    "I''m sorry Aestrea... but unless you explain what happened, I cannot let you touch him," Lucas said firmly, with a strange confidence.


    Seeing him, Aestrea''s lips curled into a mocking yet sly smile.


    "Why? Just because you got a bit stronger, you think you can beat me already?" his eyes narrowed slightly.


    All of them were surprised by his words.


    Aestrea had directly detected that Lucas had grown stronger, something even they couldn''t do.


    "Just let me tell you something... you''re far away from it," he pinched the blade of the Excalibur and tried to push it to the side.


    Immediately, he felt a slight heat on his finger as he tried to push the blade aside.


    He turned his eyes towards it, and saw a cut on his finger, just by touching the nonsharpened part of the blade.


    "This sword..." Aestrea mumbled, looking at the sword.


    He also felt that the sword was looking at him, which made him let out a small laugh.


    "Well, maybe you''re even stronger than me..." he said lightly, his eyes never backing away from the sword as if spitting that Lucas was only stronger than him because of the sword.


    "But... it still isn''t enough to beat me..."


    Before Lucas could respond, a powerful wave of silver energy burst out of Aestrea.


    THRUM!


    The energy pushed everyone back like a strong gust of wind, except for Telmo, who wasn''t touched by it at all.


    Aestrea had deliberately made it that way.


    He walked closer to him and took the sword out of his waist. Then, he lifted his finger slightly, and Telmo''s arm stretched out in the air.


    He raised his sword at it.


    "...Don''t you fucking dare talk about her ever again," Aestrea uttered coldly as he swung his sword.


    CLANG!


    Creack!


    "Agh... dammit!"


    Lucas appeared in front of Telmo, blocking the attack just in time. Sparks flew as their swords clashed, and Lucas''s arms trembled from the force of the blow.


    Aestrea frowned, his cold eyes narrowing as he pressed down harder.


    His silver energy grew stronger, but Lucas quickly surrounded Excalibur with his pitch-black mana.


    "HAAA!"


    Gathering enough strength, Lucas pushed Aestrea back and rushed forward.


    Fwip!


    To everyone''s surprise, Aestrea suddenly threw his sword at Lucas. Lucas dodged easily, but when he turned to strike back, he froze.


    Multiple weapons were pointed at him.


    Ella''s sword was at the back of his neck. Rose stood on his left, her blade steady. Iris had her staff aimed at his spine, glowing with mana.


    Maya''s fists, covered in blue energy, were inches from his stomach.


    "Stop Aestrea... you cannot win a battle against all of us together," Ella spoke in a cold tone, looking strangely at Aestrea.


    Her emotions were pretty messed up.


    For a moment, Aestrea looked at them, then let out a small laugh.


    "Ah... you guys really are too naive..." he let out a small laugh.


    "Even if I was alone, I could still win," he paused slightly.


    "But who said I''m alone?"


    FWOOP!


    "Huh?"


    Suddenly, everyone''s weapons flew out of their hands and into the air.


    Before they could react, Aestrea disappeared.


    They turned and saw him standing nearby with his maid, who was calm and composed, but her presence was overwhelming.


    "That maid..." Lucas''s eyes narrowed as he grabbed Excalibur back.


    "She''s a high S-rank awakened..." Ella nodded her head.


    Looking at them, Aestrea sneered slightly.


    "By the way, now there''s another reason for me not to join your group at the festival." He turned and walked away, his maid following behind him. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But they didn''t react to his words.


    They were still stupefied by how strong his maid was.

 Chapter 56 - 56: The Moonlight Swordsman (XXII)

    [Aestrea''s POV]


    "Dammit..."


    I muttered under my breath, staring into the bathroom mirror.


    My reflection was almost unrecognizable.


    My eyes had completely changed color, and now I couldn''t even recognize myself.


    But even more frustrating? The status window wouldn''t open for me to figure out what the hell was going on.


    Instead, the same irritating message kept flashing.


    [The system is currently under a new update!]


    "This stupid update has got to have something to do with my eyes," I grumbled, dragging a hand down my face before letting out a deep sigh.


    After splashing some water on my face, I left the bathroom, before starting to walk through the academy grounds.


    The place was ridiculously massive¡ªso big, I felt like I needed a map just to keep track of where I''d been.


    And honestly, even if I explored every day, I''d probably still miss half of it by the time the semester ended.


    As I wandered aimlessly, a soft, familiar voice broke through my thoughts.


    "...Oh my."


    I turned my head, already recognizing the teasing tone.


    "...Violet."


    I unconsciously uttered her name directly.


    "Ara~? You''re calling this big sister by her name? How cute," she said, laughing lightly and covering her mouth with a perfectly manicured hand.


    "Haaa..." I frowned, my shoulders slumping a little.


    I really wasn''t in the mood for her today, but well...


    "What''s with that face? Aren''t you happy to see me?" she tilted her head to the right, giving me a mock-pout.


    "...Yeah, yeah, I''m very happy indeed," A small and forced smile appeared on my face as I said those words in the "happiest" tone possible.


    My tone was the absolute definition of sarcasm, but of course, she didn''t care.


    "That''s what I like to hear!" Violet said brightly as if I''d just handed her a compliment. She stood a little taller, clearly pleased with herself.


    Was she playing dumb, or did she seriously not notice my tone?


    Whatever it was, I didn''t have the energy to figure it out.


    "So, my cute Junior..." she started, her violet eyes glinting with amusement, "how about we go on a date during the festival?"


    "...A date?" My eyes narrowed slightly.


    Where the hell did that come from?


    "Exactly! A date! Just you and me," she said, clasping her hands together like she was proposing the greatest idea in the world.


    "It''ll be a chance for us to get to know each other better!" Her smile was warm, but the sparkle in her eyes told me she was up to something.


    I could already feel the gazes from the students around...


    Couldn''t they be quieter?


    "Ah... I''m sorry, but I''ll have to ref¡ª"


    "¡ªIt''s a promise, then!" she interrupted, suddenly closing the distance between us.


    Her pinky hooked onto mine before I could react, and she gave it a little shake.


    "A pinky promise is sacred, so don''t even think about breaking it," she said, winking mischievously.


    "I''ll see you at the central fountain when the festival starts! Don''t be late, Junior~!"


    And just like that, before I could argue or even process what had just happened, she disappeared.


    Vanished.


    Like smoke in the wind.


    "...Fuck," I muttered, running a hand through my hair.


    My gaze drifted upwards to the sky as I let out another deep sigh. The sunlight felt annoyingly bright as I tapped my cheek lightly, trying to pull myself together.


    The festival was only three days away.


    And of course, I wasn''t remotely ready for it.


    Not physically, not mentally¡ªnot anything.


    I hadn''t even bothered to make plans because, well, I''d been too lazy to care.


    And now, between Violet''s ridiculous antics and whatever was happening to my body, the festival was shaping up to be just amazing.


    And just when I thought today couldn''t get any worse...


    "Hey, commoner!"


    An obnoxiously familiar voice cut through the air, loud enough to make my blood boil.


    I didn''t need to look to know who it was¡ªTelmo, the arrogant brat who clung to Ella like a dog, strutting around like he owned the place.


    And, as usual, his "royal highness", Prince Leon, was trailing right behind him, wearing that smug little smirk he always had.


    I ignored them.


    I wasn''t in the mood to deal with them.


    Not today.


    "Fucking brat¡­ OI! AESTREA!" Telmo shouted, quickly rushing towards me.


    A hand suddenly clamped down on my shoulder, attempting to hold me in place.


    "Reply to me, you bastard!" he growled with an irritated voice.


    Gosh...


    I let out an exaggerated sigh and brushed his hand off me like it was nothing more than an annoying insect.


    "I''m really not in the mood for this, Telmo. Try again next time."


    I turned to walk away, but before I could take another step, Leon''s voice, or rather, the name he uttered, made me stop in my tracks.


    "Liliana..."


    That name.


    My chest tightened as I froze in place.


    "Is that name familiar to you?" Leon continued, a sly smile curling his lips.


    "Haha," he chuckled softly, crossing his arms like he had all the power in the world.


    "Wasn''t she your big sister? I did a little digging into your past, and wow, what a tragic story. A whole village burned to the ground¡­ such a pity."


    He shook his head, pretending to look sad, but his tone was full of mockery.


    Hearing Leon''s words, Telmo also laughed, as he added:


    "Come to think of it," he started, a disgusting grin spreading across his face, "wasn''t she supposed to be the most beautiful girl in that shitty little village of yours? Damn... if I''d been there earlier, maybe I could''ve been her knight in shining armor. Imagine all the fun we could''ve had..."


    He licked his lips provocatively, and that was it.


    That was enough.


    I turned to them slowly, my expression dark, and I could feel the light in my eyes vanish. It was like something deep inside me had turned off, leaving behind only cold fury.


    "Hey, losers..."


    Both of them bristled at the insult, their arrogance replaced by growing annoyance.


    "You little bastard!" Telmo barked. "Do you even know who¡ª"


    "¡ªDo me a favor," I interrupted coldly, "and clench your fucking teeth."


    Before either of them could react, I disappeared from their view, moving faster than their eyes could follow.


    THUD!


    "K-Kuhgh!"


    "Augh!"


    Both of them crumpled to the ground, clutching their stomachs where I''d landed two clean punches. They gasped for air, saliva, and even a trace of blood dripping from their mouths.


    Without wasting a moment, I grabbed Telmo by the head, my fingers gripping his skull tightly as I hoisted him off the ground like a ragdoll.


    "You little¡ªf-fuck! S-stop it, you bastard!" Telmo wheezed, his hands clawing at my wrist. His legs flailed uselessly, but nothing he did could loosen my grip.


    I could hear Leon behind me, muttering an incantation.


    Trying to cast a spell, huh?


    ¡º Fire Series: Fire Bomb! (? 5th-Tier Spell ?) ¡»


    BOOOOM!


    CRUMBLE!


    The explosion roared through the space, the ground trembling beneath us. Smoke filled the air, but as it cleared, Leon''s triumphant expression twisted into one of pure disbelief.


    "I... Impossible..." Leon''s eyes widened as he whispered, falling to his knees.


    I hadn''t suffered a single injury, as a small layer of silver mana coated my entire body before dissipating away.


    Well, the privilege of having such a dense and high mana quality was quite great.


    "Pathetic," I muttered to Leon coldly, turning my attention back to Telmo.


    "AHH!"


    Leon shrieked in fear upon hearing my words. It must have been his first time being so overpowered.


    "S-stop...!"


    I heard a small murmur and switched my gaze to Telmo, whose strength was slowly dissipating away.


    "...Beg."


    "W-what...? I-I¡ªAAAGH!" Telmo tried to resist, but a simple increase in pressure made him cry out in pain.


    He swallowed his saliva audibly, his body quivering as he finally spoke:


    "P-p-please s-stop! I b-beg you!"


    He cried out.


    But, that wasn''t enough for me.


    How dare he say those words about her?


    Did he truly have a fucking death wish?


    Or was he confident enough at the prince and the forces behind him?


    Doesn''t he fucking know that I literally offended the Emperor on the first day that I''ve ever seen him?


    "Hakguk..."


    Telmos choked out as saliva started dripping from the corner of his mouth as he struggled to form words.


    I was so fucking mad by their dumb attack that I couldn''t help but increase my strength unconsciously.


    "Aestrea, stop!"


    A sudden shout called out to me.


    "Huh?!"


    I turned my head towards the source of the voice just to see Ella, Lucas, Maya, Iris, and Rose, who had shocked expressions etched on their faces.


    They also seemed a bit scared upon seeing my eyes.


    I blinked, my grip on Telmo loosening slightly.


    Thud!


    His body depressingly fell into the ground, before he started gasping for air.


    "Augh!" He groaned weakly, his body convulsing as he clutched his head, probably still feeling the pain from me clutching it.


    "What do you think you''re doing?!" Ella yelled, storming up to me.


    She grabbed my collar and gave it a hard shake, her light blue eyes burning with anger. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    I didn''t reply to her words.


    Instead, I looked towards her light blue eyes, I could see her anger increase as a visible vein appeared on her forehead.


    "Why did you att¡ª!"


    "¡ªSecond Princess Ella," I immediately interrupted her.


    She froze completely at my words.


    Was it because I directly revealed her identity?


    I wasn''t really sure about it, but I didn''t care at all.


    I calmly took her wrists off my collar, before adjusting it slightly.


    "It''s none of your business."


    I said so before turning to Telmo.


    But, someone else was in front of me, Lucas, with his sword pointed at me.


    "I''m sorry Aestrea... but unless you explain what happened, I cannot let you touch him," Lucas said firmly, with a strong confidence that me almost laugh.


    This was getting more complicated than it needed to be.


    But even as they all stood against me, I didn''t feel regret.


    Instead, it was better for me.


    So, I smiled at him.


    "Why? Just because you got a bit stronger, you think you can beat me already?" I narrowed my eyes slightly.


    From my ¡ºJudgement Eye (? S-Level Skill ?)¡» I could easily see that his power had increased by a ton.


    But, he still wasn''t stronger than me.


    After all, I too had some cheat, which was my Twin Heart Mana Body.


    But somehow, my words shocked his group.


    "Just let me tell you something... you''re far away from it," I said coldly.


    I reached out, pinching the flat side of his blade between my fingers, intending to push it aside.


    But strangely...


    I couldn''t.


    And the moment my skin touched the sword, I froze.


    And instead, I felt a little heat on my fingers, making me look at them.


    A faint burning sensation crept up my fingers, and when I glanced down, two lines of bode streamed down my fingers.


    I was a bit confused...


    "This sword..." I mumbled.


    But as I suddenly saw the strange symbol on the handle of the sword, I instantly knew why that had happened.


    This bastard had finally gotten the holy sword.


    The Excalibur.

 Chapter 57 - 57: The Moonlight Swordsman (XXIII)

    "Well, maybe you''re even stronger than me..." I added, my voice trailing off as my eyes stayed fixed on the sword in his hand.


    It was the holy sword, and from its looks, it was pulsating with power. Even with my special mana constitution, I wasn''t entirely confident I could match that kind of strength.


    Not against a weapon like that.


    Especially because of what was hidden inside of it.


    I couldn''t fully see it, but I knew.


    I''m sure that the Excalibur has some kind of sword spirit.


    Normally, as the bond between sword and user increases, their power will increase exponentially, just like Lumi and I.


    But still¡­ even with Excalibur in his hands¡­


    "But... it still isn''t enough to beat me..." I added faintly.


    THRUM!


    A pulse of silver mana exploded outward from me, rippling through the space like a shockwave.


    The force slammed into Lucas and the others like a tidal wave.


    His eyes widened as he staggered back, barely managing to keep his footing by stabbing the tip of his sword into the ground for support.


    Ella, Maya, Iris, and Rose were flung backward, landing hard several feet away.


    Lucas gritted his teeth, steadying himself, but Telmo¡­ well, I''d made sure he wouldn''t be going anywhere.


    He was still crumpled on the ground, gasping for air.


    I wanted him to feel every bit of this.


    He still had to pay for his words.


    Calmly, I began to walk toward him, my hand moving to unsheathe the sword at my waist.


    With a flick of mana, I lifted my hand, forcing his arm to stretch out as if held by invisible chains.


    "...Don''t you fucking dare talk about her ever again," I spoke in the coldest tone I could ever mutter, there was even a hint of killing intent in my voice.


    My grip on the hilt tightened as I raised my sword, ready to strike¡ª


    CLANG!


    Creak!


    The blow never landed. Lucas appeared in front of him, blocking my attack at the last possible moment.


    His sword quivered under the force of my strike, his arms trembling as sparks flew from the collision.


    "Agh¡­ dammit!" he cursed, gritting his teeth as he pushed against me.


    I frowned, my eyes narrowing.


    He was stronger than I''d expected.


    He was a bit stronger than I thought.


    Is that so?


    I poured more power into my blade, the silver energy surrounding me intensifying as it pulsed in waves.


    Lucas responded in kind, coating Excalibur in black mana as he grunted and pushed harder.


    "HAAA!"


    With a strong force, he was able to push me back.


    At that moment, the time seemed to slow down as I noticed three shadows around me, trying to attack me or keep me in place.


    Even with my speed, I could dodge one¡ªmaybe even two¡ªbut the third strike would land no matter what.


    Fwip!


    So, instead of holding my ground, I did the unexpected¡ªI threw my sword straight at Lucas, marking it with a special talisman that Alaine had given me.


    It allowed me to conjure [Wind Steps] once.


    Lucas easily dodged my sword, and just as he approached me, I was already surrounded.


    Ella''s blade rested coldly against the back of my neck. Rose stood to my left, her weapon poised on the front side of my neck.


    Maya''s fists, glowing with blue energy, hovered inches from my stomach while Iris stood behind me, her staff brimming with magic aimed at my spine.


    If they attack at the same time, I''d suffer a lot of injuries.


    "Stop Aestrea... you cannot win a battle against all of us together," Ella spoke in a cold tone, looking at me with hesitant eyes.


    What are you so hesitant about?


    Is it because you''re attacking me, the man that you like?


    Fucking hell.


    If you were going to be like this, you could have simply stood aside.


    And what''s that face for Rose?


    Why are you biting your lip?


    If you and your group didn''t bother the things I was doing, this wouldn''t have happened a lot. There was a small amount of silence during this time...


    And someone needed to break it, so, shaking my head, a grin slowly spreading across my face.


    "Ah... you guys really are too naive..." I said, almost pitying them.


    "Even if I was alone, I could still win..."


    I took a step forward, and they tensed.


    "But who said I''m alone?"


    FWOOP!


    Under my eyes, a sudden gust of wind exploded outward as the talisman I''d planted on my sword activated.


    Their weapons were ripped from their hands, flying into the air as I vanished.


    Alaine had finally arrived.


    By the time they turned, I''d already reappeared beside my sword, snatching it from the ground.


    As soon as the smoke cleared, everyone was looking at Alaine who had arrived at my side in surprise.


    I mean, who wouldn''t?


    She''s still a high S-rank awakened.


    However, the way they froze made me smirk. They knew they couldn''t take both of us on, and the look on their faces was almost pitiful.


    They were very cautious of her, and at their expressions, I only sneered.


    "By the way, now there''s another reason for me not to join your group at the festival," I said before turning around and walking away from them.


    Alaine also followed behind.


    She didn''t glance back once, but I could feel her mana subtly spread around us, watching their movements like a hawk.


    If they tried anything, she''d know before I even had to ask.


    "...Master, do you want me to kill them?"


    After walking for a while, Alaine asked me in a neutral tone. I turned and looked at her, seeing her determined eyes to follow my every order.


    What kind of luck do I have to have such a loyal servant?


    But well...


    "...No need. At least..."


    I still needed Lucas to kill the demon king.


    If the Demon King was affected by normal blows instead of the Holy Sword, I wouldn''t mind being the one to kill him.


    But after the Demon King there''s that damned Demon God that I got spoiled off in one of the reviews.


    Gosh, if it weren''t for those reviews and comments, I wouldn''t know much about what to do to get stronger.


    But for now, I''ll take a look at him for now...


    And if he does not pass my requirements...


    "Not yet."


    I''ll kill Lucas myself.


    Alaine promptly nodded her head at my words.


    But still, this is a bit troublesome...


    I shook my right shoulder lightly.


    The impact from Lucas''s strength had dealt me quite the damage.


    He has grown quite strong after getting that damned holy sword.


    So, I guess... it''s my time to get a power-up no?


    I glanced at my phone slightly...


    It seems that I was going to be busy for those three days before the festival.


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    "Master¡­ do you really have to go alone?" Alaine asked hesitantly, her hands carefully adjusting Aestrea''s equipment as she spoke.


    Her voice was soft, but the concern in it was clear.


    "Yeah, I do," Aestrea replied with a small nod. "If a high S-rank came along with me, we''d draw too much attention. I''d turn into a target the second I step foot in that place"


    He was dressed in dark clothing from head to toe, a long black jacket trailing down to his legs. Two swords rested securely at his waist, their blades hidden beneath dark sheaths.


    Inside his jacket, tucked into one of the inner pockets, a sleek white gun was hidden away.


    And finally, on his right hand, the mask that he had worn during the masked auction he attended with Christina stood quietly.


    "I''ll be going now..." Aestrea spoke to Alaine softly.


    "...W-wait a second!" Alaine called out suddenly, stepping toward him with hurried steps.


    "Mhm?" Aestrea raised an eyebrow, a hint of curiosity appearing across his face as he paused to wait for her.


    When she reached him, she tiptoed up and leaned closer.


    Without warning, she pressed a gentle kiss to his cheek.


    "...Good luck," she whispered, her lips curling into a warm, genuine smile as her eyes closed briefly.


    But before she could pull away¡ª


    Smack~


    Something soft brushed against her lips.


    Alaine''s eyes snapped open in surprise, just in time to feel a firm hand rest on her waist, pulling her closer, while another hand gently cupped her cheek.


    Her breath caught in her throat as she realized what was happening. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Her cheeks turned a deep red as her heart raced. Slowly, her sparkling green eyes locked with his.


    And at that moment, she noticed it¡ªAestrea''s usual crimson-red eyes had finally returned, glowing faintly with their intense hue.


    "Haaa..."


    Their lips parted, and Alaine let out a soft gasp, her gaze still locked on his. Aestrea looked at her sparkling green eyes for a moment before smiling softly.


    "I''ll be back soon."


    Alaine also smiled at him.


    "I''ll be waiting..."


    Fwoop!


    The air stirred around her as Aestrea leaped out of the dorm room window.


    The gust of wind made her hair sway, and she instinctively stepped forward, leaning on the windowsill to watch him.


    Her eyes followed his figure as he moved quickly across the academy grounds, his dark coat fluttering behind him as he headed toward the central district.


    Thump, thump, thump!


    Her heart started beating real fast, as she let out a shaky sigh.


    "I''ll be waiting for you..."


    With one last glance out the window, Alaine slowly closed it. She turned toward Aestrea''s bed, hesitating for a moment before walking over to it.


    The faint scent of him still lingered on the sheets, and she couldn''t help but breathe it in as she sank onto the bed.


    Her hands instinctively reached for his pillow.


    She pulled it close, hugging it tightly to her chest, her face partially buried in its softness. Her nose twitched as she caught his familiar scent, and a small smile crept onto her lips.


    "I''ll miss you..."


    She sighed deeply, resting her cheek against the pillow as her fingers clung to the fabric. Even though he''d just left, she was already missing his presence.


    Meanwhile...


    As soon as Aestrea reached the central district, he turned to the right, entering a dark alley. It was narrow and quiet, with flickering lights barely lighting the way.


    The whole place felt dangerous, but that didn''t bother him.


    He cautiously looked at his surroundings and continued walking, feeling multiple gazes from the people in the corner.


    The people in the alley didn''t look nice at all. Most of them had scars on their faces, crooked grins, or just an overall rough and mean appearance.


    Some looked like they had been through a lot of fights¡ªand probably caused plenty too.


    But Aestrea just ignored them, while still keeping an eye on his back.


    He didn''t know if one of them would attack him or not.


    After walking for a while, he stopped in front of a huge man who looked like a wall made of muscle. The guy''s arms were crossed, and his face was completely blank, but the size of him alone was intimidating.


    Aestrea recognized him right away. He was the same man from the auction.


    Without saying anything, Aestrea handed the man a letter.


    The man took it and stared at him like he was sizing him up. Then, he pressed his finger to his right ear, where a small communication device was tucked.


    A moment later, he stepped aside and said:


    "You can go in."


    Aestrea didn''t say a word. He walked past him, heading further down the alley until he reached a door.


    Instead of knocking, he pushed it open without hesitation.


    Inside, a familiar face greeted him.


    Longing on an ornate sofa, twirling a glass of red wine on her hand, while still having the same annoying smug smile on her face, she turned her intense gaze towards him.


    Yara Devereux.


    The underground queen.


    "Well, well," she said with a teasing tone, taking a sip of her wine. "You''re back already? Did you miss me so much that you couldn''t stay away?"


    Aestrea ignored her words, and instead spoke:


    "I need something from you."


    Straight to the point.


    Yara raised an eyebrow, clearly interested. "Oh?"


    She didn''t ask what he wanted, instead, her lips curled into a playful smile:


    "And what do you plan to offer me in return?"


    At that, Aestrea''s lips twisted into a cold smile.


    "I''ll be your challenger in the Death Tournament."


    "Oh?"


    Yara''s playful expression shifted into something sharper. She stood up, her eyes glinting with excitement as she set her wineglass down.


    "Now, that''s interesting," she said with a wide grin as she stepped closer to him.


    "Now we''re talking."

 Chapter 58 - 58: The Moonlight Swordsman (XXIV)

    [A/N: By the way, a little note for those who are confused by the fact that Aestrea is so strong. You should know that his Mana Quality, and density, are SS+, basically on top of the world, not to mention that he also has a special mana constitution that amplifies his mana output and input by ten times!


    So even though his mana is classified as B-rank (because of his poor quantity), it''s much stronger than that! It could even rival that of a high ss-rank mage, but of course, Aestrea would lose against one because he doesn''t train magic spells and because the quantity of his mana is pitifully low. Not to mention, that he still didn''t use his Aura.


    So yeah, I hope that I clarified everything.]


    The Death Tournament is an underground fight competition that happens every three months, hidden from the public eye.


    It''s pretty simple, really: sixteen challengers are chosen by the powerful figures in the underground world.


    As the name suggests, every single person who steps into that arena is there to fight until someone dies, whether they want to or not.


    Once you enter the stage, there''s no way out. The only thing that matters is staying alive¡ªno one can just give up.


    When only four people are left standing, they''ll fight each other in a free-for-all. The last one standing gets to walk away as the winner.


    Simple as that.


    The reason this tournament exists is all about gambling and making money. Yara Devereux, unfortunately, has lost more times than I can count.


    In the underground world, no one plays by the rules. The big shots will do whatever it takes to make sure their chosen challenger wins. They''ll threaten other challengers or even kill them if they have to.


    Because the prize for the winner is huge¡ªsomething that can change a person''s life for good.


    The big shots want that prize, and they''ll do whatever it takes to get it.


    There are even stories of challengers who tried to walk away with the prize themselves... but they never made it.


    They always end up dead.


    But I was sure I could beat anyone she picked.


    I was a better challenger than all of them.


    "Mhm... very well, I accept your proposal," she said, her eyes locking with mine.


    "But you have to tell me what the item you want is, right now," she added with a small smile.


    I didn''t hesitate.


    There was no reason to keep it a secret.


    "Give me a Lich Heart."


    "A Lich Heart...?" she raised an eyebrow, confused.


    "Exactly." I nodded my head at her.


    The Lich Heart was the only thing, besides a Dragon Heart, that could support my mana constitution.


    It wouldn''t last long¡ªmaybe a few months, or if I was lucky, a year¡ªbut that was enough time for me.


    It would give me just enough time to get the money I needed to either buy or steal a Dragon''s Heart.


    "Alright, I''ll agree to those terms," she said after a moment of thinking.


    I let out a quiet sigh of relief.


    "But..." she paused, her smile turning sly, "you''re still going to owe me something... after all, a Lich Heart isn''t cheap~."


    "...What kind of ''owing'' are we talking about here?"


    I asked, unsure of what she really wanted from me-


    "You''ll find out~" she giggled, a playful glint in her eyes as she turned away from me.


    And before I could even say anything, she interrupted me.


    "The first match starts in about an hour," she continued, settling back into the sofa and picking up her glass of wine.


    "That gives me enough time to register you as my challenger."


    She glanced at me, then pointed to the door on her right:


    "There''s a room for you in there. You''ll be fighting last today, so you can prepare while the others are fighting."


    I nodded, but she wasn''t done.


    Her eyes scanned me from head to toe before she smiled again.


    "I''m guessing you''ll be staying here for the next three days, huh?" she said with a small smirk, sipping her wine as she studied me.


    I wasn''t sure if I liked the way she was looking at me, but I didn''t have much of a choice.


    I walked towards the room, but just as I was about to open the door, I heard her voice again.


    "By the way, what name do you want to go by during the tournament?" she asked, sounding quite curious about it.


    A small smile tugged at my lips as I pushed the door open.


    Without looking back, I answered her.


    "Isn''t that obvious?"


    I slowly closed the door behind me, and as it clicked shut, I said it one last time, my voice low but firm.


    "Moonlight Swordsman."


    Slam!


    The door slammed shut, leaving Yara staring at it for a moment. A smirk spread across her face as she lifted her glass of wine, taking a slow sip.


    "Moonlight Swordsman..."


    She whispered to herself, licking her red lips.


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    A few hours later...


    "Are you ready?"


    Yara stood with her arms crossed, watching Aestrea sitting on one of the benches in the long corridor leading to the death arena.


    Lifting up his head, Aestrea only replied with a small smile.


    "More than ready."


    Yara grinned, her eyes gleaming with a mix of confidence and amusement.


    "Good. I''ll make sure to bet big on you since your odds are 1 to 10."


    She flashed a wide smile as if saying that if he lost, he was going to lose a limb.


    "1 to 10? That low?" Aestrea raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised.


    "Of course. I''ve lost count of how many times I''ve seen challengers go down in the first round. None of my fighters get good odds," she replied with a shake of her head.


    At her words, Aestrea only smiled lightly.


    "Don''t worry about it. And also, bet a platinum coin for me," Aestrea reached into his pocket and pulled out a platinum coin, tossing it casually at Yara.


    She caught it effortlessly, her smirk growing.


    "Mhm... that confident, huh?" Yara''s smile lingered as she turned the coin over in her hand.


    "You do realize your opponent''s a low S-rank Awakened, right?"


    She seemed to like his confidence.


    "So?" he raised an eyebrow.


    "I''m just that special," he winked at her before walking away.


    Looking at his retracting back, Yara couldn''t help but bite her lip.


    "Was he flirting with me?" she muttered to herself. "Last time we met, he was way more cautious. How did he change so fast in just an entire week?"


    She shook her head, dismissing the thought, and walked toward her VIP seat, where she''d have the best view of the arena.


    Under her eyes, Aestrea slowly walked towards the arena as the multitude of people cheered for the other guy in the arena.


    "Iron Wrestler!"


    "KILL HIM! TURN HIM TO A METAL PIPE!"


    The cheers were annoying, to say the least.


    He raised his hand and slipped the mask over his face, hiding everything except his glowing red eyes. The smile on the mask was just a shadow, barely noticeable.


    It might''ve looked pointless to anyone watching, but to Aestrea, it was far from useless.


    The mask was a low-grade artifact, designed to help with mana overflow, and that was something Aestrea really needed.


    His mana constitution wasn''t exactly the best, so anything that helped him keep his mana in check was a bonus.


    "Ladies and gentlemen!" the announcer''s voice boomed over the speakers, "For the last fight of today, we have on our left, Iron Wrestler, the two-time winner!"


    The crowd erupted into cheers, chanting his name.


    "OOHOOOO!"


    They roared. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "KILL HIM!"


    "TURN HIM INTO PIECES!"


    The cheers were quite loud.


    After all, he was a two-time champion...


    "And on our right," the announcer continued, "we have... the Moonlight Swordsman!"


    "...Who is that?"


    "Yeah, must be his first time here. But why''s he wearing that creepy mask? He had a handsome face, didn''t he?"


    "Is he scared to injure it?" someone joked.


    The crowd laughed, knowing full well that the punishment for losing was death, but then someone in the crowd shouted something that got everyone''s attention.


    "Wait... Isn''t the Moonlight Swordsman the guy who wiped out a bunch of high-ranking demon beasts during one of the hunting festivals?"


    "Wait... really?"


    The crowd seemed to have mixed replies. Some were doubtful, others were getting more curious.


    Slowly, the cheer for Aestrea grew just a little louder.


    "Heh, a little kid like you thinks you can take down the great Iron Wrestler?" The massive guy standing in front of Aestrea laughed.


    This guy was huge¡ªlike, seriously huge. He looked like someone who could go toe-to-toe with professional sumo wrestlers.


    He wasn''t wearing much armor, but the few pieces he had were covering his most vulnerable spots.


    Aestrea didn''t respond to his taunt. He just stood there, waiting for the referee to give the signal to start.


    "So, I think everyone''s ready..." the announcer said.


    "Let the battle begin!"


    Fwoop!


    The Iron Wrestler charged at Aestrea, swinging his giant battle-axe like it was nothing. The speed was shocking for someone his size.


    But Aestrea didn''t flinch.


    He just lifted his right index finger, coating it with a tiny shield of mana.


    Clang!


    The battle axe hit his finger with a sharp sound, but instead of cutting through, a shimmering silver barrier expanded around Aestrea''s body, taking the full force of the blow.


    The Iron Wrestler''s eyes widened in surprise. He tried to coat his own body in mana to defend, but before he could react...


    Aestrea''s hand was already pressed against his chest armor.


    "Impacto."


    THRUM!


    A dense wave of mana exploded from Aestrea''s palm, sending a shock through the Iron Wrestler''s body. Aestrea''s body quivered slightly as he released all that energy.


    "Gah..." The Iron Wrestler let out a small gasp.


    He slowly limped backward before he crashed to the ground with a heavy thud.


    The crowd was in stunned silence.


    Everyone was shocked by what happened.


    Crack...!


    Clink...


    As the Iron Wrestler hit the ground, pieces of his armor¡ªthose that had been covering his vital points¡ªshattered into tiny fragments.


    Everyone turned to Aestrea, who now stood with his fist clenched tightly.


    "Explode."


    SPLURT!


    The moment he spoke those words, the Iron Wrestler''s body exploded, sending pieces of him flying everywhere¡ªeven into the crowd.


    For a split second, there was absolute silence.


    Then, the announcer''s voice rang out, shaking the arena.


    "WE HAVE A WINNER!"


    The crowd erupted in wild cheers.


    "OOHOOOO!"


    "MOONLIGHT SWORDSMAN!"


    "MOONLIGHT SWORDSMAN!"


    "MOONLIGHT SWORDSMAN!"


    The chant grew louder and louder, everyone amazed by how easily Aestrea had defeated the two-time champion.


    But...


    Aestrea''s smile faded slightly as he stood there, still trying to catch his breath.


    ''Damn... I really pushed it over the limit this time.''


    ''Guess that''s what happens when you try to end the fight too quickly.''


    Removing the mask from his face, he slowly took a deep breath before walking away from the death arena.


    Behind, the countless cheers and looks of amazement reached out to him.

 Chapter 59 - 59: The Moonlight Swordsman (XXV)

    Walking down the hallway back to my room, I could feel the heat rising in my body as my eyebrows furrowed.


    Mana was surging through me, and I bit my lip, trying to hold it in, but the pressure was slowly getting unbearable.


    I had been casting a lot of spells, trying to burn through as much mana as I could, hoping to get some relief.


    But the problem was, when I used my mana to knock out the Iron Wrestler, I pushed myself past my limit.


    In other words, I used too much mana.


    And now, my body was paying for it.


    It was like I had broken through the "threshold" of how much mana I could utilize, and my body was falling apart because of it.


    "Fuck..." Sweat trickled down my forehead, and I cursed under my breath.


    I needed to take a bath, and then meditate for the rest of the night to get the mana under control.


    The problem was my mana pathways weren''t big enough to handle all the mana flooding my body.


    Normally, if you wanted to hold more mana, you''d need to expand those pathways, either through meditation or with special items.


    If you don''t, the mana will overflow, and your body will literally explode.


    Hence, the reason why I am basically spamming ice spells on my fingerprints.


    "Oh my~! Aren''t you full of surprises?" A sly voice interrupted my thoughts.


    It was Yara, standing in front of me with a mischievous grin.


    Fuck.


    Not right now.


    I directly passed through her.


    "Don''t you want my help with that?" she said, stepping in front of me again, blocking my way.


    I paused for a second.


    I knew that she could easily see my condition¡ªafter all, she was an SS-rank awakened¡ªbut I really couldn''t trust her.


    Not for a second.


    "Actually, don''t bother responding," she said, cutting me off. "This is my gift to you for making me a ton of money."


    She smiled wider, stepping closer to me.


    Before I could even react, her whole body was covered in this beautiful grey mana.


    She placed her right hand on my chest, and I couldn''t stop the groan of discomfort that escaped my lips.


    "Ugh..." I winced, trying to pull away, but she didn''t let me.


    "Hold it in," she said calmly.


    The grey mana from her body seeped into mine, and I felt it spreading. It was like it was digging into my mana pathways, attacking them, breaking down the barriers.


    The pressure in my body started to lessen.


    The mana I couldn''t contain began to dissipate, thanks to that grey mana. It wasn''t long before a cool, soothing sensation swept over me, and the pain slowly faded.


    I felt the mana settle, leaving just about half of what my body could handle right now.


    "Now... as a temporary factor for my dear challenger..." Yara''s voice came from close by, and when I looked up, her eyes locked onto mine.


    She was grinning, but it looked... strange.


    "Hagh... w-what are you doing?!" I couldn''t help but ask in surprise as I felt the grey mana in my body starting to go berserk.


    "Shhh... don''t worry about it," she said, placing her left hand on my hair, stroking it softly, almost comforting me.


    "It''ll be fine..." she whispered.


    "Haagh...!"


    The grey mana in my body started convulsing slightly, and just as it reached my heart, it stopped, and instead, it moved a bit to the right side of my chest.


    And there... it stood, quietly...


    "This..."


    I closed my eyes, focusing on the strange feeling inside me, and followed the movement of the mana.


    There, on the right side of my chest, was a grey heart made entirely of that same grey mana. It was like a mini heart, pulsing softly.


    What was even stranger was how the mana around me that had been flooding into me now bypassed my heart and went straight to this grey heart.


    And as it did, the grey heart absorbed it all... and then it vanished. The mana was gone, completely, in less than a second.


    It was like the grey heart was devouring the overflow.


    It worked. I wouldn''t have to worry about my body exploding anymore.


    But, looking at it more closely, I realized it wouldn''t last long. Three days, maybe?


    Just enough time to get through the competition.


    "See? Not so bad, right?" Yara said, her voice sweet. She tilted her head to the side, a bright smile still on her face.


    Her hand continued to gently ruffle my hair, and I couldn''t help but feel a bit awkward.


    "Thanks..." I muttered, letting out a soft sigh.


    I really didn''t want to be in a position where I owed her anything, but what could I do?


    "Ah, don''t worry about it," she said casually, brushing my thanks away like it was nothing.


    I just nodded and turned to head back to my room, hoping that was the end of it.


    But then, her voice stopped me again.


    "You know... a Lich Heart will only last a few months, right? If you really want to fix your problem, you''ll need a Dragon''s Heart."


    I already knew that.


    The whole point of asking for a Lich Heart was to buy me a little more time. I was planning to save up enough to afford a Dragon''s Heart later on.


    "The last Dragon''s Heart for sale is going to be at the next big auction from the Luxuria Merchant Family¡­ Do you think you''ll have enough money by then?" she said, and something in her voice made me freeze.


    If I wasn''t wrong, that auction would be happening in two or three months... and I definitely wouldn''t have enough by then.


    Even a single Dragon''s Tear could cost tens of thousands of platinum coins, and although they were cheaper than a Dragon''s Heart, they were way more rare than a Dragon''s Heart.


    Dragons hardly ever shed tears, so you can imagine how hard it is to come by one.


    "...Thank you for the information."


    I could feel her eyes on me, but I didn''t turn back.


    I didn''t even bother responding to her question.


    Once I was inside, I let out a frustrated breath.


    "Hah... dammit."


    I lay down on the bed of the room, gazing at the ceiling while still thinking about her words.


    For now, the only possibility I have is turning into Eleonora''s disciple. Other than that, everything else seems impossible.


    Maybe I could steal it...


    "No, that would be me jumping into a rabbit hole." I shook my head at those thoughts.


    Especially when the auction was being held by the Luxuria Merchant Family, in other words, an auction held by Violet herself.


    "Fucking hell..."


    I whispered, blinking a couple of times as exhaustion began to hit me hard.


    "Ahhhh..."


    I yawned.


    I would take a bath after waking up...


    "Yeah... I''ll let my future self worry about that."


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    Meanwhile, in a small, dimly lit room, four figures stood gathered around a table, each wearing a distinct emblem on their chest.


    "So, what should we do about this ''Moonlight Swordsman''?" one of them asked, breaking the silence that hung heavy in the room.


    "I say we just kill him." another responded with a sharp tone.


    "The kind of power he showed is more than enough to win the tournament without breaking a sweat."


    "Yeah, no way we''re letting that damn woman get her hands on the prize," another added in a frustrated tone as he clenched his fists to show it.


    "Yeah sure, but who the hell can we hire to take him out? I don''t think there''s anyone strong enough to kill him," someone else murmured.


    "That is indeed true..." the figures mumbled between themselves.


    Then, one of them suddenly spoke up, a grin forming on his face.


    "How about... Thorn Rose?"


    There was a pause as soon as the others heard those words.


    "Thorn Rose? You mean the genetically modified perfect human?"


    "Exactly. Her power is currently in pair with a high s-rank awakened, it should be more than enough to deal with that brat, no?" the man said confidently.


    "But doesn''t she charge an insane amount of money for each job" One of them muttered low and hesitant voice.


    SLAM!


    One of the remaining figures slammed his hand onto the table, rattling everything.


    "The fuck are you thinking about?!" he yelled, his voice loud and angry. "We''ve been planning and winning all these tournaments just to get that damn item, and even with that, we''re still weaker than her!"


    "If she does get that item we will be fucked! Is either kill her challenger or all of us fucking die!" sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He stood up, fists clenched, and took a few heavy breaths.


    Sweat had already started to form on his forehead.


    "Haaa... haagh..." he sat down back in the chair, taking deep breaths.


    The room was turned tense, and the others exchanged looks before the angry figure spoke again, looking at the others like they were useless.


    "So... fucking call Thorn Rose before I get even more bad than I already am! And ask about what she wants, and we''ll directly pay in full, no fuckign questions asked!" he said so, wiping his forehead with a handkerchief.


    Gulp...!


    The man who had been questioning the cost sighed deeply, defeated.


    "A-Alright..."


    He pulled out his phone, dialed the number, and waited.


    Ring...


    Ring...


    Ring...


    Ring¡ª


    ¡ªBeep!


    Thorn Rose had picked up the call.


    [Thorn Rose, how may I be at your service?]


    Her voice was cold, completely emotionless. It sent a chill through the air as if the temperature had dropped by several degrees.


    "I want to hire you for a killing job," the man said quickly.


    [Who is the target?]


    Her response was direct, no hesitation in her voice.


    "¡­What was his name again?" The man quickly muted the phone, turning to ask the others.


    "Let me check... I had someone look into him earlier," the loud one said, rifling through a paper in his jacket pocket.


    He glanced at the paper and then spoke.


    "Aestrea... Moon."


    The man repeated the name into the phone.


    "His real name is ''Aestrea Moon,'' but he goes by the alias ''Moonlight Swordsman.'' He''s currently at the base of the underground queen, ''Yara Deveux,'' and is her challenger."


    [Oh? Another one of those cases? So annoying...]


    Thorn Rose sighed in boredom, her voice was as cold as ice, completely emotionless. No joy, expectation, excitement, or anything like that on it.


    The man who had been on the phone waited, holding his breath, before speaking again.


    "How much will this cost?"


    [What exactly is his battle power?]


    "¡­About a low-to-mid S-rank awakened," he answered after a beat.


    [Understood. That will be... one thousand platinum coins.]


    "One thousan¡ª?!"


    The others gasped, shocked by the amount.


    [Isn''t the price satisfactory for you? If not, you can always choose another assassin.]


    She directly checked them, putting them in place.


    The figure holding the phone looked at the others, exchanging glances at each other before they all nodded to him.


    After a long pause, he sighed.


    "It''s a deal."


    [Great.]


    Beep~


    The call ended with a click.


    "Haaa... now we just wait for the job to be done."

 Chapter 60 - 60: The Moonlight Swordsman (XXVI)

    After waking up, I went through my usual morning routine, even though I wasn''t in my dorm back at the academy.


    The place felt unfamiliar, but habits are habits.


    And just as soon as I left my room, I ran into Yara.


    "What...?"


    She had just told me some shocking information.


    "You heard me." Yara crossed her arms, repeating herself like she was talking to a clueless kid. "The match isn''t happening until 10 p.m."


    I stared at her, my surprise pretty obvious.


    Damn it.


    That was way later than I expected.


    "Do you have any training rooms around here?" I asked, trying to keep myself busy instead of wasting the whole day waiting.


    "Why? Bored already?" she smirked.


    "Yeah." I nodded, not even trying to deny it.


    I mean, what else was I supposed to do until the match started?


    I honestly can''t stay looking at my phone for a whole day.


    "Well, how about sparring with me?" Her tone contained amusement as she stood up from the sofa she always seemed glued to.


    ''Mhm...''


    I thought it over for a moment.


    That wasn''t a bad idea, actually. I could use this chance to test how much mana this gray ''heart'' of mine could handle.


    "Sure."


    "Sweet." She grinned, her eyes lighting up with excitement.


    "Follow me." And just like that, she snapped her fingers.


    Out of nowhere, a hidden passage opened up in the room.


    Come to think of it, why was her house in such an obvious spot? It was literally right next to the entrance of the black market.


    Who does that?


    I pushed the thought aside and followed her down the passage.


    After a short walk, we stepped into a massive room that looked like something out of a gladiator''s true dream.


    Weapons of all kinds were neatly displayed on small stands, and a glowing green barrier encased the battle arena in the center.


    "A no-damage barrier?" I muttered, raising an eyebrow.


    Those things were insanely expensive to make. But knowing Yara and her wealth, she could probably buy a hundred of them without blinking.


    "Go ahead, pick something." She waved toward the weapons like they were toys at a store. "They''re way better than what you''ve got."


    Her casual dismissal made me frown.


    ''If you hadn''t stolen back the morph weapon, I wouldn''t need any of this trash,'' I thought bitterly.


    Of course, I kept my mouth shut.


    Still, as I approached the stalls, my eyes widened. Every single one of those weapons was at least a low-grade artifact.


    The price tags on them must''ve been ridiculous.


    I didn''t think too hard about it.


    I grabbed a taichi sword and a handgun and stepped into the arena.


    The moment I passed through the barrier, a strange, refreshing sensation washed over me. It was like stepping into another world.


    "Are you ready, sweetie?" Yara called out, pointing her sword at me with a smug grin. Her tone was strangely sweet tone as she addressed me.


    Sweetie?


    Did she fucking think I''m a child or something?


    Ah... right.


    I almost forgot.


    She''s a crazy fucking bitch.


    ¡º Judgement Eye (? S-Level Skill ?) ¡»


    Of course, since I was fighting her, I was using everything I had.


    No holding back.


    "Moonlit Ice Lotus Sword Art..."


    ¡º First Move! (? Ice Lotus Bloom ?) ¡»


    A frozen lotus appeared in front of my sword, its petals twitching wildly. But instead of throwing them like I usually do, I kept them close, hovering around me like a shield.


    "Oh? That''s an interesting move..." she said, licking her lips and crouching down.


    Then, without warning...


    Fwoop!


    She vanished, reappearing right in front of me, swinging her sword straight at my head.


    Clink!


    The petals formed a shield just in time, blocking her attack. For a second, I felt the pressure, but I quickly swung my sword back at her.


    She jumped back, just out of reach, then charged at me again. This time, her sword was glowing with her grey mana.


    I leaped back to avoid her strike, seeing how she sliced through my protective petals with ease.


    Then, she raised her hand, and I could feel the ground tremble beneath me, so I jumped high in the air.


    Thack!


    Sharp earth spikes shot up from where I had been standing.


    If I was there for a single second more, my body would be pierced by then.


    "Come on! Use your full power!" she taunted, appearing beside me mid-air and sending a powerful punch towards my stomach.


    My eyes widened as I quickly coated my body in silver mana.


    Thud!


    I was sent flying towards the ground, but it didn''t make a crater or anything in that. Instead, I felt the whole pain of being thrown against a really strong floor.


    "Now we''re talking, Aestrea~" she grinned, disappearing again.


    Her speed was insane, and the only way I could track her was by seeing her after images, thanks to my Judgement Eye.


    ''Behind!''


    I spun around fast and crossed my arms in front of me, forming an ''X'' and then taking another punch that sent me sliding back, my feet digging into the ground.


    "Damn it..."


    I cursed under my breath, quickly wrapping my sword in more mana and focusing on her figure.


    ¡º Second Move! (? Ice Lotus Barrage ?) ¡»


    I unleashed a wave of crescent-shaped ice energy at her. But with a simple flick of her hand, she made them disappear into thin air.


    "Tsk, tsk, tsk..." she clicked her tongue continuously.


    "I thought you were stronger than that," she added as a disappointed expression appeared on her face. It was easy to know that she was provoking me.


    "It seems that I overestimated you." she shook her head.


    Her words didn''t affect me at all.


    After all, I didn''t have to prove myself to anyone.


    Instead, I rushed forward, swinging my sword toward her left shoulder.


    Fwip!


    She countered with a slash that sent my sword flying, then aimed a thrust straight at my chest.


    But... I was expecting that.


    BANG!


    The sound of a bullet rang out.


    My lips had slipped into a small smile.


    "Ah... that was a surprise. I didn''t expect you to press the trigger so fast... it''s a pity that guns are useless." she sighed with a sly grin.


    I looked at her chest, where the bullet should''ve hit, and saw a tiny crack in the shield of mana surrounding her.


    Thack!


    She disarmed me in a flash, taking my gun from my hand.


    But of course, I expected that too.


    There''s no way I''d win against her, so I need to make an impossibility turn possible.


    "Explode."


    I said it quietly, but the moment I spoke, I saw her eyes widen.


    BAAM!


    FREEZE!


    The explosion sent ice shards flying in all directions, covering the spot where she had been standing.


    I waited, watching the smoke rise, wondering if any of it had hurt her.


    "Phew... that was close. But, unfortunately, too weak..." her voice came from the other side of the smoke.


    I didn''t expect that move to defeat her, but at least to cause some damage.


    But unfortunately...


    It didn''t cause her any damage.


    Instead, her clothes were the only thing that took a hit. They disintegrated, leaving her outfit in tatters, for example, one of her breasts had some remnants of cloth while the other had a nipple out.


    Her whole body was undamaged, but her clothes were a mess.


    "...Such a pity," she sighed, glancing down at her ruined blouse.


    "That was my favorite one."


    And yeah...


    She didn''t seem to care that I was staring at her either.


    I quickly grabbed my sword again, leaving the gun on the ground. I just wanted to test how much damage it would cause, but it was downright useless.


    "Prepare yourself Aestrea... I''ll take this a bit more seriously..." she licked her lips.


    Fwoop!


    She disappeared into thin air, and suddenly, I saw the flash of her sword. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It was slicing through the air so fast it created a high-pitched whistling sound as it cut toward me.


    Clang!


    My sword caught hers just in time, but the force pushed me back, my feet skidding against the ground.


    I barely kept my balance.


    Yara didn''t pause.


    She was already jumping in the air, flipping over me like a predator closing in on its prey.


    "Getting tired, Aestrea?" she teased, her voice smooth as silk, but was filled with mockery. "I thought you''d put up more of a fight."


    She landed behind me, spinning around to strike at my back. My eyes widened as I heard the sound of her sword slicing through the air again, this time aiming for my spine.


    Whoosh!


    I dove to the side just in time, feeling the wind of the blade rush past me. The ground where I had been standing exploded in a burst of dust as the force of her missed strike hit the earth.


    BOOM!


    I rolled back onto my feet, quickly recovering, but she was already there.


    This time, she was so fast I didn''t even see her move¡ªonly the faintest blur before a punch slammed into my side.


    Thud!


    The impact sent me flying sideways, crashing into a nearby stone pillar.


    The world spun for a moment.


    I could taste blood in my mouth.


    ''Fuck... wasn''t this supposed to be a spar?''


    I told myself, but knowing her character...


    She was going to try and damage my body as much as possible. She''s a crazy bitch and fucking sadist after all.


    "Is this really all you''ve got?" Yara''s voice came from above, her face still holding the same sly and mocking grin.


    I forced myself to stand, wiping the blood from my lip, but I didn''t speak.


    "Haaa...."


    Taking a deep breath, I shook the dizziness off and squared up again, clutching my sword tightly as my eyes landed on her figure.


    "Come on, don''t tell me you''re already out of tricks." She crouched low to the ground, then shot forward like a missile, moving so fast that I almost couldn''t track her.


    Before I could react, she was there, a blur of movement, her foot slamming into my stomach with a sickening crunch.


    Thwack!


    I gasped, my body bending forward from the sheer impact, but before I could catch my breath, she was already behind me again, her sword coming down toward my back in a deadly arc.


    I whipped around just in time to raise my sword to block. The sound of metal scraping against metal rang out in the air.


    She was really taking this more seriously!


    Clang!


    "You''re slow, Aestrea," Yara said, voice dripping with disdain.


    She wasn''t even breathing heavily.


    "Is that all the power you''ve got?" She circled around me, her eyes containing some kind of sadistic pleasure.


    "This is almost pathetic."


    Her sword came for me again, aiming for my neck, but I caught it at the last moment. The impact pushed me back, making my arms tremble from the effort, but I held on.


    She swung again, and this time, I couldn''t react fast enough. The blade cut across my side, leaving a deep gash.


    Shiiiing!


    Pain flared, but I gritted my teeth, ignoring it. I was losing ground, but I couldn''t give up.


    "Pathetic," Yara repeated, watching as I staggered back. "How did you even make it this far? Maybe you''re just lucky. I''ll give you that. But luck won''t save you now."


    I barely kept my footing. My thoughts were clear, my focus razor-sharp. But the pain was starting to get to me, dulling my reactions.


    "You really are weak..." she sighed deeply, furrowing her eyebrows.


    "I can see why your childhood lover died under your eyes," she shook her head in a disappointed yet mocking manner.


    Those words hit me like a blow to the chest.


    My breath caught, and my stomach twisted.


    I completely froze at her words.


    Immediately, my control over mana started turning erratic. I looked towards her as my posture completely changed, and a bitter cold tone escaped my mouth.


    "What did you just fucking say?"


    Slowly, a violet aura started leaking from my body...

 Chapter 61 - 61: The Moonlight Swordsman (XXVII)

    Aestrea Moon.


    He was one of the most mysterious people Yara had ever met.


    Their paths crossed not long ago, but he''d already made quite the impression.


    Not only had he stolen a weapon from one of her research labs¡ªa bold move in itself¡ªbut there was something about him that set him apart from everyone else.


    Something she couldn''t quite put her finger on.


    When they met face-to-face, she expected fear.


    Most people were at least intimidated by her presence.


    But not him.


    He wasn''t scared¡ªjust extremely cautious.


    He stood his ground, and when he demanded the High Elf in return for what he''d taken, it only intrigued her further.


    Yara decided to test him.


    She had one of her servants challenge him, forbidding him from using mana.


    She wanted to see what he was capable of, to see if he could live up to the nerve he showed her.


    Surprisingly, he held his ground quite well against.


    But suddenly, he directly overpowered her, to the point of even using her own moves against her, to inflict the same amount of pain he had received.


    As if to prove a point.


    Yara''s curiosity deepened.


    After the fight, he repeated his demand for the High Elf. This time, she gave in, something she''d never done before.


    He had earned it.


    But Yara wasn''t the kind to let things go. She had to know more about him¡ªwhat made him so fearless, so cold, so... different.


    And the more she uncovered about him, the more fascinated she became.


    He had defeated multiple high-ranking demon beasts¡ªand one of them was even a named demon beast, something that multiple S-rank awakeners would have trouble dealing with.


    Then, his sweet personality to his friends from his old academy, and finally...


    His dark past.


    His village had been destroyed by a horde of demon beasts.


    He had witnessed it all¡ªhis friends, his home, everything he knew turned to ash.


    But the worst of it was losing her.


    His childhood love.


    She had been strong, stronger than most her age, but when the beasts attacked, she gave her life to buy him time to escape.


    He had watched it happen.


    He had been powerless to stop it.


    From that day on, Aestrea was different.


    He became unshakably driven, throwing himself into harder training. Even when the most prestigious academy rejected him, he didn''t falter back.


    He pushed himself harder, training alone, and somehow became stronger than anyone could have expected.


    And now, here he was, standing before her.


    Yara couldn''t help but compare herself to him. She too had survived a demon beast attack, but her story wasn''t like his.


    She hadn''t lost anyone she loved.


    She had escaped without such scars, without such pain.


    Perhaps that was why she wanted to challenge him again. To push him, to remind him that he wasn''t invincible.


    To break down whatever pride or ego he had built around himself¡ªand to see if he could come back stronger.


    But strangely... it seemed like she had miscalculated.


    "What did you just fucking say?"


    His bitter cold tone reached out to ears, enough to make a whole forest freeze by just the sound of his voice


    .His mana surged uncontrollably, violet energy spilling from his body and mixing with his usual silver mana. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The colors swirled together, creating a strange, beautiful lavender energy.


    But that wasn''t enough for her, even though he was furious, she couldn''t help but smirk, raising an eyebrow in mock curiosity.


    "Oh? Did I strike a nerve?" Yara said, clearly not expecting such a response from him since she was hitting his deepest points.


    "Aww..." she clicked her tongue, "such a pity..."


    Aestrea didn''t respond, but the rage in his eyes told her everything she needed to know.


    Clink...


    His sword fell to the ground.


    And then...


    Fwoop!


    He dashed forward at an abnormal speed.


    Yara barely had time to react before Aestrea lunged at her, his lavender-colored energy swirling violently around him.


    His fist shot forward, aimed directly at her chest. She sidestepped at the last moment, the force of the blow whipping the air beside her.


    "Not bad," she muttered, bringing her leg up in a high kick aimed at his ribs.


    Thud!


    Aestrea didn''t dodge, instead, he took the full force of the kick, his body jerking slightly from the impact.


    But instead of staggering back, he used the moment to grab her ankle with a lightning-fast motion.


    His grip tightened like a vice.


    "Got you," he said coldly.


    With a sudden twist, he swung her by the leg, throwing her toward a nearby pillar.


    Yara managed to flip mid-air, her feet slamming into the pillar to soften the blow before she launched herself back at him.


    "Don''t get cocky!"


    She came at him with a powerful right hook, her mana flaring around her fist.


    Crack!


    Aestrea raised his arm to block, the collision of their energies sending out a sharp sound that echoed like thunder.


    But he wasn''t done. He retaliated immediately, stepping in close and driving his knee toward her stomach.


    Bam!


    Yara twisted her body just in time, deflecting the knee with her forearm. The force still sent a shock through her arm, making it sting.


    She clicked her tongue in frustration, realizing that he was adapting to her fighting style faster than she expected.


    Then he did something that caught her off guard.


    Instead of keeping his distance, Aestrea took a wide swing at her¡ªan entirely reckless move. She saw it coming and didn''t hesitate to counter, aiming a palm strike at his exposed side.


    But he didn''t dodge.


    Thud!


    Her strike landed squarely on his ribs, the sound of impact reverberating through the air.


    Aestrea winced but used the moment to close the gap between them, his lavender energy flaring as he swung his other fist toward her shoulder.


    Crack!


    The punch connected, sending a shockwave through her body. Yara stumbled back, her clothes tearing from the sheer force of the blow.


    Her once-pristine outfit was now in tatters, exposing parts of her skin where his strikes had landed.


    "Pff..."


    Yara spat out a glob of blood, wiping her lips with the back of her hand. Her eyes gleamed with excitement, despite the wear on her body.


    "You''re finally using your full power, huh?" She reached out, her hand extending toward empty air.


    In an instant, her sword materialized in her grip with a faint hum. Grey mana surged down the sword, coating it in a mesmerizing, crackling glow.


    Then, with a snap of her fingers¡ª


    Fwoop!


    Crack...!


    A sudden distortion in the air appeared where Aestrea stood. A rift opened, like reality itself had been sliced apart, and the air around it vibrated violently.


    Aestrea''s instincts kicked in as he threw himself to the ground in a tight roll, narrowly avoiding the rift as it closed with a sharp snap.


    Dust scattered in the air as he came to a stop, his hand darting out to grab his sword lying nearby.


    But before his fingers could close around the hilt¡ª


    ¡ªClang!


    Yara was already in front of him, her sword arced down in a deadly swing aimed straight at his head.


    Aestrea''s hand shot up, his sword catching hers just in time with a loud metallic screech.


    Sparks flew, illuminating their faces for a brief moment as their gazes locked.


    Aestrea gritted his teeth and pushed her sword back with just one hand, then leaped backward, putting distance between them.


    Yara smirked, twirling her sword effortlessly in her hand.


    "Don''t tell me you''re already slowing down," she taunted.


    But deep down, she was extremely excited. Aestrea was making her use more than fifty percent of her whole power.


    That enough made her... delighted.


    "Haaa..."


    Aestrea didn''t respond as he let out a cold breath.


    His lavender energy pulsed around him, faint traces of frost forming in the air. His breaths were heavy, but his grip on his sword tightened.


    He raised it, holding it steady in front of him as the ice began to crawl along the sword, turning its steel into a jagged, frost-covered weapon.


    Yara''s smile widened.


    Without warning, she stepped forward, vanishing from sight in an instant.


    "Fuck...!"


    Fwoop!


    Aestrea''s eyes darted to the side, his instincts screaming at him to move. He spun around, just in time to block another swing from Yara''s sword.


    Clang!


    The impact sent a jarring vibration through his arms, and he stumbled back slightly.


    Yara didn''t let up, stepping through a shimmering portal that opened behind her and reappearing right next to him.


    Her sword came down in a brutal diagonal slash aimed at his chest. Aestrea raised his sword, the force of the collision sending sparks flying again.


    He pushed her back with a burst of strength, his lavender energy mixing with frost as a sharp chill filled the air around them.


    "You''re using your ice magic quite well, but it won''t save you," Yara said with a smirk, stepping through another portal that opened beside her.


    She reappeared behind him, her sword aimed for his spine in a precise thrust.


    Aestrea barely turned in time, twisting his body and deflecting the attack with the flat of his sword.


    Clang!


    The sharp sound of the swords meeting each other echoed again, and he swung his sword horizontally, forcing her to retreat.


    But Yara wasn''t done, she snapped her fingers once more, and multiple distortions appeared around him, like ripples in a still pond.


    Crack! Crack! Crack!


    One opened to his left, another to his right, and a third directly above him. Yara stepped out of the portal above, her sword raised high as she came down toward him.


    Thud!


    Aestrea raised his sword above his head, blocking her overhead swing, but the force drove him to one knee.


    "Agh...!" He grimaced, feeling the pressure of her strength bearing down on him.


    Without warning, a second portal opened behind her, and Yara twisted her body, stepping backward into it.


    She reappeared at his side, her sword slashing at his ribs in a wide arc.


    Shhhk!


    Aestrea couldn''t fully block in time.


    The edge of her sword cut through his side, drawing blood and slicing through his coat. He hissed in pain but didn''t falter, thrusting his sword forward to force her back.


    "Huff... haaah...gah," he let out deep breaths.


    Aestrea''s breathing was heavy, his body trembling slightly from the strain.


    Blood dripped from multiple cuts on his arms and torso, staining his tattered clothes. But his lavender energy continued to pulse, flickering like a flame that refused to go out.


    He licked his dry lips as the hue in his eyes increased slightly.


    Swoosh!


    Both of them, as if thinking about the same thing, rushed at each other.


    Clang! Clang! Shhhk!


    Her sword cut across his shoulder, then his thigh, leaving deep gashes and making him grunt in pain but he didn''t back down.


    He retaliated with a swing aimed at her neck, which she ducked under, countering with a thrust toward his chest.


    He sidestepped, his frost-covered sword slashing toward her side. She twisted her body, the sword grazing her arm and tearing through her sleeve.


    Both of them were battered and bruised, their breathing labored.


    The ground around them was scarred from their battle¡ªcraters, frost, and the lingering traces of mana filled the battlefield.


    Yara raised her sword again, preparing to strike. But before she could move, Aestrea shifted his stance slightly.


    His lavender energy pulsed once more, stronger than before.


    Yara paused, her eyes narrowing.


    "What are you¡ª"


    Then, Aestrea muttered slightly...


    "Moonlit Ice Lotus Sword Art..."


    ¡º Third Move! (? Moonlight''s One Flash ?)¡»


    For a moment, everything went silent.


    Even Yara felt a chill run down her spine as his energy surged, sharper and more focused than ever before.


    The glow in his eyes intensified even more, leaving a small scarlet smoke trail.


    Then, he moved.

 Chapter 62 - 62: The Moonlight Swordsman (XXVIII)

    Swoosh!


    Aestrea''s figure blurred into nothingness, leaving only a faint lavender glow in the air where he once stood.


    Yara''s sharp eyes quickly looked around, scanning for any sign of him.


    The battlefield had gone completely silent...


    But then, it happened.


    A crack split through the space in front of her, jagged and raw like shattered glass, followed by an overwhelming lavender energy.


    Fwooooom!


    A fissure of space tore open a few meters behind her, the lavender mist swirling violently as Aestrea stepped out, his frost-covered sword raised high.


    His energy seemed to stretch beyond him, warping the air itself, distorting everything around them.


    The ground beneath his feet cracked, unable to handle the weight of his power.


    Yara whipped around, her instincts kicking in just a second too late.


    "Shi¡ª!"


    Before she could fully react, Aestrea swung his sword in a single, devastating arc. The motion was impossibly fast, almost elegant, but the impact was anything but. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    BOOM!


    The sheer force of the slash didn''t just hit the ground¡ªit ripped through it, sending a shockwave tearing through the arena.


    A massive fissure opened up, spreading outward like the earth itself was crying in pain.


    The surrounding air exploded into chaos, frost and mana clashing violently, shards of ice shooting in every direction.


    The blow missed Yara''s body¡ªbut just barely.


    She stumbled back, her feet skidding across the cracked earth as the shockwave pushed her away. Her heart pounded in her chest as she locked her gaze on Aestrea, now standing a few meters away.


    His head was lowered, his breaths ragged as his lavender energy started flickering just like some kind of dying flame.


    And then, he suddenly dropped.


    Thud!


    Aestrea fell to his knees, his sword slipping from his grasp and hitting the ground with a dull clang.


    His entire body was trembling, his face pale from exhaustion. Sweat dripped from his chin, and the frost around him began to fade, melting into the ground.


    Yara blinked twice, her eyes wide in disbelief. She had felt powerful opponents before¡ªhad fought people who pushed her to her limits¡ªbut this?


    This was... different.


    She opened her mouth to speak, but then¡ª


    "BLUEGH¡ª!"


    The sound tore through the silence like a blade.


    Yara doubled over, clutching her chest as a deep, crimson gash appeared across her torso. Blood poured from the wound, soaking her already tattered clothes.


    Her body convulsed, a whole mouthful of blood spilling from her lips as she began to cough uncontrollably.


    "What...?" she rasped, muttering to herself as she staggered. Her knees buckled, and she collapsed onto one hand, desperately trying to steady herself.


    The pain was unbearable¡ªbut it wasn''t just physical damage.


    It was the shock.


    She hadn''t even seen the final blow connect.


    How had he done it?


    When?


    Her vision blurred as she turned her head toward Aestrea, who was still kneeling on the ground, his shoulders rising and falling heavily.


    "Damn it...!" Yara gritted her teeth, forcing herself to move.


    She knew they couldn''t stay here.


    Not in the barrier.


    Not with injuries like this.


    She stumbled toward him, each step feeling heavier than the last. Reaching out, she grabbed his arm, her fingers trembling as they tightened around his sleeve.


    "Hold... on," she muttered to him-


    She used her mana, enveloping them both in a grey glow, as she walked to the exit of the barrier around them.


    Fwoosh!


    As soon as they got out, a strange warmth washed over them. Their wounds¡ªthe deep, agonizing cuts and bruises¡ªbegan to heal instantly.


    Skin stitched itself back together, blood vanished, and the pain evaporated as if it had never been there.


    But the fatigue on Aestrea''s mind didn''t disappear.


    Even as his physical injuries disappeared, he remained slumped over, his head hanging low. His breathing was shallow, his entire body seemed exhausted.


    The lavender-colored energy that had once pulsed so brightly around him was now barely alive, flicking ever slightly.


    Yara leaned against a nearby stall, her hand clutching her now-healed chest. She stared at him, her grey eyes still wide as her mind raced to process what had just happened.


    "Aestrea..." she whispered in a softer tone, quite strange coming from her.


    But he didn''t respond.


    He just sat there, motionless, with his sword lying beside him.


    For the first time in a long while, Yara felt something unfamiliar stir in her chest.


    Fear?


    No.


    Respect?


    Maybe.


    But it could also be something else.


    She wasn''t sure.


    All she knew was that, even in this moment of quiet, Aestrea remained strangely interesting¡ªsomething she couldn''t quite understand.


    "You''re... not fucking human," she muttered under her breath, her voice trembling slightly.


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    [Beep~]


    [Due to the body tempering caused by the space crack¡­ Your attributes have increased tremendously!]


    [Your physical attributes have been enhanced!]


    [Your Spirit has reached S+!]


    [Many of your talents and skills have evolved!]


    [Opening profile¡­]


    [? Player Profile ?]


    Name: Aestrea Moon (20)


    Identity: Strongest Student of the Weakest Academy, The Moonlight Swordsman, The One Who Loves The Goddess Of The Moon, The Strongest Student, Exchange Student of the Eternum Royal Academy, The One Loved By Dangerous Beings (NEW!!!)


    Affinities: Ice


    ? Aura: S+


    ? Mana: B


    ? Strength: B (¡üUP)


    ? Vitality: B (¡üUP)


    ? Agility: A+ (¡üUP)


    ? Spirit: S+ (¡üUP)


    ? [Skills & Talents] ?


    [1] Moonlit Ice Lotus Sword Art [S???] ? Active Self-Created Skill


    [2] Judgement Eye [S] ? Active Self-Created Skill


    [3] Perfect Memory [Unranked] ? Passive Talent


    [4] Extreme Combat Instinct [A+] (¡üUP) ? Passive Talent


    [5] Advanced Sword & Gun Mastery [A+] (¡üUP) ? Passive Skill


    [6] Calm Mind [B] (¡üUP) ? Passive Talent


    [7] Blood Eyes [Unranked] ? Your eyes ominously glow red.


    [8] Blood Contract [???] ? You can use Lumi''s Abilities.


    ¡ª¡ª+¡ª¡ª+¡ª¡ª+¡ª¡ª


    "Agh...."


    I groaned softly as I opened my eyes, only to be met by a flood of notifications. This time I had exaggerated a bit, but it seems like it strangely worked in my favor.


    I already knew that entering a space crack could temper the body, but I never imagined it would boost me this much.


    Sure, it had been dangerous¡ªlife-threatening, even¡ªbut the payoff was undeniable.


    I''ve never tried to use my third move with both Mana and Aura, so I didn''t really expect to open such a deep fissure in space.


    But well, it worked in my favor.


    Now, I should be considered an A-rank awakened... in attributes at least. If I measured up my battle power... I don''t know what rank it would reach.


    My talents were also upgraded, just perfect.


    But something bothers me.


    By a lot actually.


    That new identity that I''ve received.


    [The One Loved By Dangerous Beings]


    What exactly does it mean?


    Did Yara fall in love with me for me to receive such a title?


    I don''t know.


    Come to think of it, what time is it right now?


    I instinctively reached for my phone, patting my pockets¡ªonly to realize I wasn''t wearing pants.


    Or a shirt.


    In fact, I was in nothing but my underwear.


    I took a look around.


    The room I was in felt too grand to be mine.


    Luxurious.


    Deep blood-red walls with gold accents, velvet curtains draped elegantly along the windows, and plush rugs that screamed wealth.


    The bed I lay on was massive, with satin sheets that clung to my skin.


    It looked quite expensive.


    But seriously¡ªwhere the hell was I?


    Was this Yara''s bedroom?


    Only she could have such an expensive bedroom, no?


    Creack...


    Before I could think too much, the door creaked open.


    My head snapped toward the sound, and there she was¡ªYara.


    I almost froze at her figure.


    She stepped inside, wearing nothing but a black bra and matching panties. Her long, jet-black hair fell in sleek waves, stopping just below her waist.


    Her body was lean and strong, her figure well-proportioned with a slim waist and curvy hips.


    Her abs were lightly defined, with a faint scar running diagonally across her stomach. Scars marked her arms and thighs in a few places, faint but noticeable.


    Her gray eyes were sharkled michievously, framed by thick lashes. A thin scar ran through her left eyebrow, breaking the line slightly, but it didn''t take away from her striking features.


    She was stunning, no doubt about it, but there was something about her that could make anyone''s instincts scream trouble.


    She caught me staring, and her lips curved into a small, teasing smile.


    "You like what you see?" she asked, tilting her hips slightly to emphasize her curvy figure.


    I blinked.


    Did she really fall in love with me?


    I was confused by her sudden actions.


    "Your face is priceless," she chuckled, walking toward me.


    "You''re probably wondering why you''re here," she said casually. "Your clothes were completely destroyed during our little fight. Since I couldn''t exactly leave you lying around naked, I brought you here. No man''s clothes were available, so¡­"


    Yara gestured to me with a smirk. "You''ll have to stay like this for now. Don''t worry¡ªone of my servants will bring something appropriate soon."


    She sat down on the edge of the bed, crossing her legs gracefully.


    "And, well," she continued, licking her lips, "since you''re down to your underwear, I thought it''d be rude if I didn''t match the mood. Don''t you agree?"


    Her words... strangely made sense.


    ".....You really are a crazy bitch, aren''t you?" I couldn''t help but mutter.


    Her eyebrows shot up, but instead of being offended, she broke into laughter.


    "Oh? Did you just call me a crazy bitch?" she teased, leaning closer.


    Ah.


    I said that out loud.


    Shit.


    I instinctively backed away, but instead of being angry, she seemed¡­ entertained. Her eyes narrowed into crescent moons as her smile widened.


    "Honestly, I''ve never met someone like you," she spoke lightly.


    "So careless, fearless, and most importantly..." she leaned in, her hand brushing lightly against my chest.


    "So damned fascinating and interesting..." she bit her lower lip, looking into my eyes.


    Is she trying to seduce me or something?


    Her actions were really suggestive, but I remained quiet, staring at her. I needed to confirm it thoroughly, but I was also quite sure that she wasn''t in love with me.


    At least not yet.


    "By the way, what time is it right now?" I asked, my voice still groggy.


    "Hm?" Yara tilted her head slightly before reaching into her cleavage. She casually pulled out a phone like it was the most natural thing in the world and tapped the screen.


    "11 PM," she said, glancing at the screen before looking back at me. "You were out for quite a few hours."


    Her words made my eyes widen.


    "The matc¡ª"


    "¡ªRelax," she interrupted, waving a hand dismissively. "The other challenger died. Mysteriously." She emphasized the word with a sly smirk.


    "So, you won. Congratulations." She shrugged like it was no big deal. "Just take it easy for now. That last attack must''ve drained you completely, right?"


    She was right.


    I could feel it.


    Using that much mana and aura drained more than just my physical body¡ªit took a mental toll too.


    It always did, but my spirit was strong enough to handle it. After all, I went through too many difficult situations for me to be able to have such a strong spirit attribute.


    And after I tempered my body in the space crack, my spirit had even gone up a level. So, it didn''t damage me that much...


    Maybe a bit...


    Just a little bit.


    "By the way, Aestrea..." Yara''s voice pulled me out of my thoughts. She turned toward me, her hand casually resting on my right leg.


    I instantly felt uncomfortable. I started to reach for her hand to move it, but before I could, she spoke again.


    "How much time do you have left?"


    I froze.


    "I took a look at your body¡­" she said slowly, her fingers still lightly resting on my leg. "You don''t have more than a few months left. Honestly, you should have died about a month ago, just a few days before the academy''s competition."


    "How are you alive?" she asked curiously.


    I didn''t expect her to say those words.


    After all, I did find out the reason why Aestrea wasn''t in the competition just when I had a conversation with Elleonora.


    My soul from my old world, had completely fused with Aestrea''s, giving it enough life force for him to survive.


    Of course, that had side effects, and the life force of my own soul decreased by a lot.


    So, if I didn''t transmigrate here...


    Aestrea would have truly died.


    Because he didn''t have enough life force to live.

 Chapter 63 - 63: The Moonlight Swordsman (XXIX)

    Right now, I''ve got two big problems.


    First, my soul doesn''t have enough life force.


    And second... my constitution is missing something important¡ªa second "heart" to keep it running properly.


    I''m beyond fucked.


    But yeah, I guess I should be grateful I''m still breathing or whatever.


    "Aestrea...? Hello?"


    Yara waved a hand in front of my face, snapping me out of my thoughts.


    I blinked.


    "Huh? Did you say something?"


    "Not really. Just called your name," she said with a shrug. Then, without warning, her hand started moving along my leg¡ªslowly, deliberately.


    I sighed and reached down to push her hand away.


    I couldn''t.


    Fucking gorilla grip.


    "...Fufu~," she giggled, her eyes sparkling mischievously, "Looks like you''re not strong enough~."


    I frowned at her words.


    "...Tomorrow is the final match, so I need to rest..." I warned her, however, she didn''t seem bothered by my words.


    Instead, she rested her chin on her palm, still lazily stroking my leg.


    "So what? You can sleep here..." She gave me a slow, teasing smile before leaning in and whispering, "With me~."


    Then she blew softly against my ear as if to seal the deal.


    I scowled.


    But then, my eyes turned to her bed.


    Damn.


    That thing looked comfortable.


    "Sure."


    Her smirk instantly faltered.


    "Huh?"


    Before she could react, I grabbed her wrist, removed her hand from my leg, and climbed into her bed.


    Head on the pillow.


    Blanket over me.


    Done.


    "Ah...?"


    I glanced up at her frozen expression.


    "What?" I asked with a neutral yey confused expression.


    "Didn''t you want to sleep together?"


    I mean, she was the one who suggested it.


    Yara just stood there, staring at me like I was some kind of interesting creature.


    I raised an eyebrow.


    "What?"


    She blinked.


    "Uh¡­"


    Then, out of nowhere, she pouted: "You''re no fun, you know that?"


    I rolled onto my side, facing away from her.


    "Then stop messing with me."


    For a second, there was silence. I almost thought she had given up¡ªuntil I felt the bed dip beside me.


    I tensed.


    Then, warmth.


    She slid under the covers.


    I sighed. "Seriously?"


    "What? I said I wanted to sleep together," she said with a smug tone.


    "You agreed."


    I exhaled through my nose. "Yeah. To sleep. Not whatever you''re thinking."


    "Hmn..." She hummed in amusement, then shuffled closer.


    Too close.


    I felt her breath on the back of my neck.


    "Relax," she murmured, her voice soft. "I won''t do anything. Probably."


    "Probably?" I deadpaned.


    She laughed. "I''m kidding, I''m kidding~."


    I didn''t trust that for a second.


    But I was too tired to fight her on it. Tomorrow was the final match, and I needed every bit of rest I could get, especially when I was mentally tired.


    So I ignored her, shut my eyes, and let the warmth of the blankets pull me in.


    Then¡ª


    A hand.


    On my waist.


    I froze.


    "...What are you doing?"


    Yara''s voice was way too innocent. "Getting comfortable."


    "Go to sleep."


    She giggled but didn''t move her hand.


    I stayed still, pretending I didn''t care. Maybe if I ignored her, she''d get bored and actually go to sleep.


    But then¡ªshe started drawing circles on my waist with her fingers.


    Slow, lazy, teasing.


    I twitched.


    "Yara."


    "Hmm?"


    "Stop."


    She let out a soft hum, like she was thinking about it. And then¡ªyep.


    She kept going.


    "What part of ''I need to rest'' do you not understand?"


    "The part where I have to listen to you," she said, clearly smiling.


    I sighed, gripping the blanket tighter.


    Silence fell again. Just for a moment.


    Then she shifted.


    And suddenly, her whole leg was draped over mine.


    "Are you serious right now?"


    "Mhmm~."


    "...Why?"


    "Because I''m cold," she said, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.


    I stared at the wall. "Then use the blanket."


    "But you feel warmer," she whined, squeezing my waist just a little.


    I exhaled slowly.


    "Yara."


    "Yes~?"


    "Move your leg."


    "No~."


    I squeezed my eyes shut.


    Patience.


    I needed patience.


    "Tomorrow is the final match. I am the one fighting. I need sleep."


    Yara just snuggled closer, completely ignoring my words. "I am also fighting... in bets," she reminded me. "And yet, here I am, still full of energy~."


    I turned my head slightly. "Maybe because you keep stealing mine."


    She laughed. "Hmm. Maybe~."


    I glared at her.


    She just smiled back, looking way too pleased with herself.


    I wanted to argue. Maybe even push her off.


    But¡­ I was too damn tired.


    And annoyingly enough, her warmth was kinda nice.


    So I gave up.


    "Fine. Do whatever you want," I muttered.


    Her fingers, which had still been absentmindedly tracing over my skin, finally stopped.


    "...Really?" she asked, sounding almost surprised.


    I sighed. "Yes. Just let me sleep."


    She was quiet for a moment. Then, softly¡ª


    "Okay."


    And just like that, she stilled. No more teasing, no more messing around.


    Just warmth.


    I felt her breathing slow, her body relaxing against mine.


    And for the first time tonight¡ªso did I.


    Besides, I was too tired to even ask why she was acting so weirdly.


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    "Haagh..."


    I let out a long yawn, stretching my arms above my head until I heard a satisfying crack.


    My eyes drifted to the side.


    Yara was gone.


    I blinked, then shrugged.


    Not really surprising.


    Getting out of bed, I spotted a fresh set of clothes neatly placed on a small sofa in the corner of her room.


    On top of them sat a folded note.


    Curious, I picked it up.


    | There''s a bathroom on the right, you can use it to take a bath. I also made sure to also get some underwear for you.


    From your most precious, Yara.


    P.S: Sleeping with you was really comfortable. We should do it more often ?. |


    This woman...


    Shaking my head, I grabbed the clothes and made my way to the bathroom.


    The moment I stepped inside, I paused.


    Damn.


    The place looked like it belonged in a luxury resort¡ªpolished floors, spotless mirrors, and a massive bathtub that could probably fit three people.


    Everything sparkled like it had been cleaned just this morning.


    I turned on the water.


    Instantly, the scent of flowers filled the air, and the temperature was perfect.


    Not too hot, not too cold.


    Just warm enough to make my muscles relax the moment I stepped in.


    I sank into the water with a quiet sigh.


    ¡­I need to buy one of these someday.


    In the future.


    After a long, satisfying soak, I got out, dried off, and reached for the clothes Yara left me.


    They fit perfectly.


    Which made me pause.


    How the hell does she know my size?


    My original clothes had been ruined¡ªat least, that''s what she told me.


    I stared at myself in the mirror, adjusting the fabric.


    Should I be concerned?


    ¡­Probably.


    But I was too well-rested to care.


    "Mhn.. it''s only 11:51?" I checked the time.


    I had plenty of time to kill.


    Normally, I''d be training, but today?


    Nah.


    Today, I felt like having some fun.


    And since I was still in the black market, there was no way I was gonna waste this chance.


    Time to go clubbing!


    Shrrsk!


    But then, a sudden movement made me freeze.


    I looked down at my hand as my eyes widened slightly in deep surprise.


    "...Lumi?"


    A soft glow pulsed from the tattoo on my finger.


    That was unexpected. Lumi had been asleep for a while¡ªprobably because we needed to renew our contract or something.


    But now, she was waking up.


    Without wasting a second, I channeled mana into the mark, and¡ª


    Poof!


    A small figure appeared in front of me.


    "Master~"


    Before I could react, she launched herself at me, wrapping her tiny arms around my torso.


    I blinked, then instinctively patted her head.


    She let out a happy hum, pressing her face against my chest.


    "I miiiiiissssssseeeddd yoooouuu..." she whined groggily.


    Her head nuzzled against me, rubbing gently.


    Then¡ª


    "Haaaa..."


    She took a deep breath.


    I stiffened.


    Did she¡­ just sniff me?


    I glanced down at Lumi, who was still clinging to me like a sleepy kitten. Her face was buried against my chest, her soft breaths tickling my skin.


    "...Lumi?" I called, poking her cheek.


    She let out a slow, content sigh. "Mmm¡­ you smell nice, Master~"


    I blinked.


    "...Okay."


    That was weird.


    But at the same time, Lumi was always a bit weird, so I let it slide.


    Instead, I patted her head again. "You were asleep for a while. Feeling better now?"


    She gave a small nod, her slimy ears twitching. "Mhm¡­ but I still feel a little¡­ dizzy."


    "Probably because of the contract renewal," I muttered, gently prying her off me. She made a small noise of protest but didn''t resist when I set her down on the sofa.


    Her green eyes blinked up at me, still hazy with sleep.


    "Are we going somewhere?" she asked, rubbing her eyes.


    Ah.


    Now I cannot go to the club.


    Unfortunately.


    "Not really," I muttered to myself.


    Lumi let out a small, disappointed sound.


    "Ahhh..." Her voice dropped slightly, and I couldn''t help but smile faintly.


    She really wanted to go, huh?


    Then, a thought hit me.


    Didn''t she say she wanted to try human food before?


    The black market had to have those mysterious food stalls, right?


    I glanced down at her.


    "Actually... didn''t you say you wanted to try human food? Let''s go have lunch outside."


    I tapped her head lightly, and the moment my words sank in¡ª


    Her eyes lit up.


    Like, literally sparkled. It was like someone had set off fireworks inside them.


    Puh!


    In a flash, she launched herself at me, wrapping her tiny arms around my torso, practically vibrating with excitement.


    "Master, you''re the best! You''re the best, you''re the best¡­ You''re the best master ever!"


    She squeezed me tighter, her voice getting faster and more high-pitched with every repetition.


    "You''rethebestYou''rethebestYou''rethebestYou''rethebestYou''rethebestYou''rethebest!"


    I chuckled, patting her head. "Alright, alright, I get it."


    Still clinging to me, she let out a happy hum.


    I sighed playfully.


    "Okay, shrink down. I''m not walking around with you glued to me like this."


    Lumi huffed but obeyed, shifting into her smaller form. I carefully tucked her into the pocket of my shirt, leaving only her little green head peeking out.


    Before stepping out, I placed a presence-deleting spell on her. No way was I letting people notice the tiny creature hiding in my pocket.


    With everything set, I left Yara''s residence.


    And immediately ran into him again.


    The same burly man from before stood at his post.


    He glanced at me, gave a small nod, and silently stepped aside to let me pass.


    ¡­Huh.


    He seemed more respectful than last time.


    Somehow.


    I didn''t question it.


    Just kept walking, while taking a look around.


    The black market was as chaotic as ever.


    The streets had the same dark atmosphere¡ªdim lighting, hushed voices, people haggling over stolen goods, and rare items sold way below market price.


    And, of course, drugs.


    Plenty of them.


    The most popular kind?


    Fucking aphrodisiacs.


    That''s disgusting.


    Shaking off the thought, I kept walking.


    A few minutes later, the scent of sizzling meat and freshly baked bread hit me.


    I turned my head¡ª


    There.


    A food stall.


    Finally.


    I didn''t waste a second and walked straight toward it.


    The food stall was small, tucked between two sketchy-looking shops. A simple cart with a metal grill, sizzling meat, and a few baskets of fresh bread.


    The smell alone was enough to make my stomach growl.


    Lumi wiggled excitedly in my pocket.


    "Masteeer..." she whispered. "It smells so goood..."


    I chuckled.


    "Hold on, we haven''t even ordered yet."


    Stepping closer, I glanced at the vendor. He was an older man, probably in his late forties, with a scar running down his cheek and a cigarette hanging loosely from his lips.


    His apron was stained with grease, and his arms were covered in faded tattoos.


    He eyed me up and down, then exhaled a puff of smoke.


    "What''ll it be?"


    I glanced at the grill. There were skewers of marinated meat, some kind of grilled fish, and thick, fluffy bread that looked freshly baked. Simple, but it smelled amazing.


    I pointed. "Two skewers and a loaf of bread."


    The vendor nodded and started working.


    As I waited, Lumi fidgeted in my pocket again.


    "Masteeer... hurry up..." she whined softly. "I wanna eaaaat..."


    I smirked.


    "Patience."


    "But it smells too good to wait..." she pouted.


    The vendor chuckled.


    "Your girl getting hungry?"


    I blinked.


    Wait. Did he notice Lumi?


    I quickly glanced down, but my presence-deleting spell was still active. No way he could see her.


    He must''ve thought I was talking to myself.


    "...Something like that," I muttered, deciding not to explain.


    The man just shrugged and handed me the food wrapped in paper.


    "That''ll be fifteen bronze coins." sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    I fished out the coins and passed them over.


    With the food in hand, I stepped aside and moved toward a quieter spot near an alleyway. Lumi immediately started squirming again.


    "Masteeer, pleaaase..."


    I sighed.


    "Alright, alright."


    I reached into my pocket and carefully pulled her out. She stretched, her tiny arms reaching up like she''d just woken up from a nap.


    Then, the moment she locked eyes on the food¡ª


    She pounced.


    In one smooth motion, she grabbed the skewer of meat with both hands and bit into it.


    Her whole body shivered.


    "...Mmmhhhnnn~!"


    I raised an eyebrow.


    "...Good?"


    She nodded furiously, eyes practically sparkling.


    "Soooo good...!"


    She took another bite, kicking her feet happily.


    I chuckled and tore off a piece of bread for myself, leaning back against the wall as I ate.


    The food really was good. The meat was juicy, perfectly seasoned, and had just the right amount of char. The bread was soft on the inside, crispy on the outside.


    Simple, but satisfying.


    Lumi, meanwhile, was absolutely devouring her food.


    At one point, she paused, cheeks stuffed, and pointed at my bread.


    "Can I try?"


    "You''re already eating my food."


    "Pleaseee?" she gave me the biggest, most innocent eyes possible.


    "Fine." I sighed.


    Tearing off another piece, I handed it to her. She took it with both hands and nibbled on it, her face lighting up like she''d just discovered the meaning of life.


    "Masteeer..." she whispered. "Human food is amazing..."


    "Told you."


    After finishing the skewers and bread, I dusted off my hands and glanced around. The black market had tons of food stalls¡ªthere had to be something else worth trying.


    Lumi, still perched in my pocket, licked her fingers clean, looking completely satisfied.


    "Masteer~" she hummed. "That was so good... Can we get more?"


    "Yeah, yeah. Let''s see what else is around." I replied, letting out a small laugh.


    We started walking again, weaving through the crowd. People were still haggling, whispering deals in dark corners, and exchanging goods that were definitely illegal.


    The usual black market stuff.


    Then, I spotted another food stall.


    It was smaller than the last one, tucked between a weapon vendor and some kind of potion shop.


    The setup was simple¡ªjust a wooden counter, a few trays of food, and a small grill in the back.


    A single girl stood behind the counter.


    She was young, maybe around my age, with dark hair tied into a loose ponytail.


    Her clothes were plain, but her eyes had a sharpness to them, like someone who''d seen their fair share of fights.


    I stepped forward.


    "Hey, what kind of food do you have here?"


    The girl''s expression didn''t change.


    For a second.


    Then¡ª


    Her eyes hardened.


    Like steel.


    Her fingers twitched slightly¡ªso fast I barely noticed.


    And then¡ª


    "Death."


    The word left her lips like ice.


    Before I could react, she moved.


    Two daggers flashed in the dim light, already slicing through the air¡ª


    Straight for my chest.


    ''Fuck...!''

 Chapter 64 - 64: The Moonlight Swordsman (XXX)

    I twisted my body just in time, feeling the wind of the blades barely misses my ribs.


    She''s fast.


    Her attack wasn''t reckless¡ªit was precise. Clean movements, no wasted energy. She wasn''t some random thug trying to make a scene.


    She was aiming to kill.


    Lumi yelped in my pocket.


    "M-Master¡ª!"


    I didn''t have time to reply.


    The girl didn''t stop.


    She adjusted her grip and lunged again, her daggers cutting through the space between us like a blur.


    I barely managed to dodge, leaning back as one blade zipped past my throat.


    Close. Too close.


    Still mid-dodge, I flicked my wrist, releasing a quick pulse of mana¡ª


    Boom!


    A shockwave burst between us, just enough to force her back.


    She landed smoothly, daggers still gripped tight, eyes locked onto me like a predator watching its prey.


    No hesitation.


    No fear.


    ''¡­Who the hell was this girl?''


    I exhaled slowly, keeping my stance ready.


    "So," I muttered. "I''m guessing you''re not here to sell food."


    She didn''t answer.


    Her eyes narrowed, and she moved again, fast as a snake.


    This time, she came at me low, one dagger aiming for my stomach. I jumped back, but she was already swinging the other blade toward my side.


    Swish!


    I twisted, feeling the mana-coated blade cut through my shirt but miss my skin.


    "Master, be careful!" Lumi squeaked in my pocket.


    "Trying!" I snapped, but I didn''t have time to say more.


    The girl didn''t stop.


    She stepped forward, her feet light and quick, and sent a sharp kick toward my knee. I shifted my weight just in time, her boot grazing my leg instead of cracking it.


    Thud.


    I stumbled but stayed on my feet. She didn''t give me a second to breathe. Her daggers came at me again, one high, one low.


    I ducked under the first and blocked the second with my forearm, the blade scraping against the leather guard I wore.


    Clang!


    The impact stung, but I pushed her arm away and swung my fist toward her ribs. She sidestepped, my punch barely missing her.


    Fwip!


    Before I could react, she spun, her elbow aiming for my face. I leaned back, but her foot followed, catching me in the chest.


    Thump!


    The kick sent me stumbling back, my breath knocked out of me. I coughed, trying to steady myself, but she was already coming again.


    This time, I was ready.


    As she lunged, I dropped low and swept my leg out, aiming for her ankles. She jumped, but I used the moment to roll to the side and get back on my feet.


    "Stay still," she finally uttered something, in a bitter cold tone.


    "Not a chance," I shot back, breathing hard.


    She came at me again, her daggers flashing. I dodged left, then right, her blades slicing the air so close I could hear them.


    Swish! Swish!


    One dagger grazed my arm, and I hissed at the sting. But I didn''t stop moving. I stepped in close, inside her reach, and drove my elbow toward her stomach.


    Thud!


    She grunted, stumbling back a step, but she recovered fast. Her knee came up, aiming for my gut. I blocked it with my hand, but the force still pushed me back.


    "Tsk..." I clicked my tongue, stepping back to put some distance between us.


    ''But if she wants to kill me... why isn''t she using mana?'' It didn''t make sense.


    Most fighters relied on mana for speed, strength, or even special attacks.


    But she wasn''t using any.


    I didn''t have time to figure it out. I quickly wrapped myself in a thin layer of mana, letting it coat my skin like a second layer of armor.


    It wasn''t much, but it would help if her daggers got too close.


    "Lumi... can you turn into a sword or something? Anything I can fight with?" I asked her, as I kept my eyes on the random girl.


    I wasn''t sure if Lumi could do what a morph weapon could, but if she could transform, it would give me a fighting chance.


    For a moment, there was silence.


    Then I felt a warm, green-gold glow coming from my shirt pocket. Lumi''s light grew brighter, and suddenly, my hand closed around something solid.


    But it wasn''t a sword, it was... a double-edged scythe.


    <I''m sorry Master, but this is the only thing I can transform into.>


    A voice echoed through my head, which I immediately recognized as Lumi.


    But yeah, this was more than enough, even though I didn''t know how to fight with a scythe, much less a double-edged one.


    Fwoop!


    She shot toward me, faster than before.


    This time, her daggers glowed with a faint aura, and the same light wrapped around her body.


    It was like she''d lit herself on fire but with energy instead of flames.


    I''d never seen anyone use aura like this. Most people used mana to boost their strength or speed because it was more effective.


    But she was different I guess.


    Her daggers came at me in a blur, one aimed at my chest, the other at my side. I swung the scythe awkwardly, trying to block it.


    Clang!


    The blades met, sparks flying as her dagger scraped against the scythe''s edge. The force of the impact rattled my arms, but I held my ground.


    Then, she spun, her foot snapping toward my ribs. I twisted, barely dodging the kick, and swung the scythe in a wide arc to keep her back.


    Whoosh!


    She barely avoided the scythe, forcing her to jump back.


    But as soon as she landed on the ground, she dashed forward, her daggers glowing with that strange aura.


    I swung the scythe, trying to keep her at bay, but she was too fast. She ducked under my swing and slashed at my legs.


    Swish!


    I jumped back, but the tip of her dagger caught my pants, slicing through the fabric. I could feel the cold metal graze my skin.


    She didn''t give me time to think. She came at me again, this time from the side. Her dagger aimed for my ribs, but I twisted, using the scythe to block.


    Clang!


    The impact sent a shock through my arms, but I pushed her blade away and swung the scythe in a wide arc.


    She leaned back, the scythe''s blade missing her by inches.


    Whoosh!


    Before I could recover, she flipped backward, putting some distance between us. Her eyes narrowed, and she raised one hand.


    Dark shadows began to swirl around her fingers, forming into small, sharp shards.


    "Shadow magic?"


    She flicked her wrist, and the shadow shards shot toward me like arrows.


    Zip! Zip! Zip!


    I dropped to the ground, rolling to the side as the shards slammed into the wall behind me, leaving deep cracks in the stone.


    ''Fucking hell...! How does she have a shadow affinity?!''


    I screamed inwardly.


    Just like how Lucas has a light affinity that is purely reserved for angels, shadow magic is purely reserved for shadow beasts!


    But my thoughts were quickly interrupted as I barely had time to breathe.


    The girl raised her hand, and the shadow shards flickered with dark energy.


    Then¡ª


    Whoosh!


    She swung her arm, sending them flying at me like arrows.


    I ducked, twisting my body as one shot past my ear. Another zipped by my leg, slicing through my pants.


    Crack!


    The last one slammed into the stone wall behind me, leaving deep cracks. If that had hit me, I would have a hole in my body!


    ''Fucking hell...''


    ''Is there any assassin this strong? Gosh, you could even create a guild yourself!'' I complained inwardly, keeping my eyes on her movements.


    She was really strong.


    But of course...


    I was stronger.


    "Fuuu..."


    I exhaled deeply, gripping Lumi as my eyes started glowing dimly.


    ¡º Judgement Eye (? S-Level Skill ?) ¡»


    The girl''s face widened in surprise, and that made me smile.


    Fwoop!


    Before I could move, she was already in front of me.


    She was really fast... huh.


    Swish!


    Her dagger sliced through the air, aiming for my neck.


    I jerked my head back, feeling the wind from the blade as it missed by inches.


    Then¡ª


    Thud!


    Her knee slammed into my stomach.


    I gasped, my body jolting from the impact. Pain shot through me, but I didn''t have time to recover. She spun, bringing her other dagger toward my ribs.


    I raised the scythe just in time¡ª


    Clang!


    The weapons clashed, sparks flying. My arms shook from the force.


    She pushed forward, trying to overpower me. I planted my feet, holding my ground, but she moved again¡ª


    Bam!


    She slammed her elbow into my chest.


    ''Haa... just a little bit more...'' I bit my lip tightly.


    I stumbled back, coughing.


    She quickly took the opportunity, dashing in, low to the ground, her daggers flashing under my eyes. One went for my side, the other for my thigh.


    I jumped back¡ª


    Swish! Swish!


    Both blades barely missed, cutting through the air where I had just been.


    I swung the scythe in a wide arc to keep her back¡ª


    Whoosh!


    She ducked under it, fast as lightning, and lunged again.


    This time, she was too close.


    Clang!


    Her dagger scraped against the scythe''s handle as I barely blocked it.


    Then¡ª


    Thud!


    Her foot shot into my shin, and I reacted just in time to block her blow.


    ''Alright... it''s over now.''


    The glow in my eyes intensified slightly.


    I didn''t know how I knew that, but I just knew it.


    At that moment, she rushed at me again.


    Swish!


    Her dagger cut through the air, going straight for my throat.


    I didn''t dodge this time.


    I stepped in.


    Her eyes widened¡ªjust for a second.


    I twisted my body, swinging Lumi in a sharp, curved motion.


    Whoosh¡ª!


    She barely had time to react.


    Slash!


    The blade cut across her side.


    She gasped, stumbling back.


    A thin, red line stretched across her waist.


    At first, it was just a scratch. Just a small, shallow wound.


    But then¡ª


    I exhaled.


    ¡º Bleed ¡»


    Lumi''s voice echoed with mine.


    And then¡ª


    Splurt!


    The wound ripped open.


    Blood sprayed out, spilling down her side like a fountain.


    She let out a sharp breath, eyes wide in shock.


    Her knees buckled slightly, her body jerking from the sudden pain. She grabbed her side, but the blood kept flowing, soaking through her clothes, and dripping onto the ground.


    Drip... Drip...


    Her breathing grew unsteady.


    She staggered back, her dagger trembling in her grip.


    For the first time¡ªshe hesitated.


    But only for a second.


    Her face twisted, pain mixing with anger.


    Then¡ª


    She charged.


    Blood loss? Pain? She didn''t seem to care.


    Her daggers flickered with dark light, her speed was even faster than before.


    Whoosh!


    She spun, her first dagger aiming for my stomach.


    I twisted my body¡ª


    Swish!


    The blade missed by an inch, but her second dagger was already coming.


    I raised the scythe¡ª


    Clang!


    The weapons clashed, metal screeching against metal.


    Then¡ª


    Thud!


    She slammed her forehead into my face.


    "Ugh¡ª!"


    Pain exploded in my skull.


    My head snapped back, my vision going blurry for a second.


    But I still moved.


    I spun the scythe, the blade slicing through the air toward her leg¡ª


    Shing!


    Another cut.


    Her thigh split open, another wave of blood gushing out.


    ¡º Bleed ¡»


    Lumi whispered along with me.


    The wound tore wider.


    Splurt!


    Blood splashed onto the ground.


    She gasped, her body trembling as her breathing turned ragged.


    But even now¡ª


    She didn''t stop.


    Her grip on the daggers tightened.


    She lunged again.


    This girl...


    She was insane.


    "...You''re still not worthy..."


    Her words suddenly reached my ears, although I didn''t quite got what she meant.


    She completely disappeared into thin air.


    ''Where... did she go?''


    I looked at my surroundings warily...


    <Master! Behind you!>


    My instincts quickly kicked in as I turned around, bringing my scythe to the front.


    Clang!


    It met both of her daggers, and that was when I noticed how she had disappeared...Her body''s shadow had completely disappeared which meant, that she had turned into it.


    ''Fucking hell...''


    "I should end this soon."


    I muttered to myself.


    The girl seemed to have heard my words, but I didn''t exactly care.


    "Assassin or not, you''re still a bit weak to kill me," I uttered coldly.


    A faint silver glow enveloped my scythe as the temperature around us seemed to have dropped.


    ¡º Frost Explosion! (? 6th-Level Spell ?)¡»


    A small ball of ice mana formed on the tip of my index finger.


    Then, I flicked it towards the girl.


    "Explode."


    Fwip!


    And then, the moment the small orb got close enough to the girl¡ª


    BOOM!


    A violent blast of ice erupted, frost and sharp shards of ice bursting out like a crashing wave. The air turned freezing, my breath visible in the sudden chill.


    The girl''s body disappeared into the explosion of frost.


    For a second, everything was silent.


    Then¡ª


    Crack! Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A loud sound of shattering ice echoed through the air.


    Through the fog of frost, I saw movement.


    She was still standing.


    Her body trembled, her arms covered in thin layers of ice. Her legs wobbled, frozen in place for just a moment. Blood dripped from her wounds, the deep cuts from earlier now mixed with frostbite.


    Her daggers were covered in ice.


    Her lips were pale.


    Her breathing was heavy.


    But she was still alive.


    At her gaze, I frowned slightly.


    First, I let her hit me multiple times to measure her power. I mean, what if she had some skill that could be hidden by my Judgement Eye?


    But now... I''m quite curious.


    Her body... had an incredible defense.


    And why didn''t she use shadow magic to avoid the attack?


    She''s really strange, sometimes she uses magic, and then she stops using it, only relying on her daggers.


    But then, she smiled at me.


    Not like... a happy smile, but it also wasn''t a cold smile.


    It was more like a...


    ...crazy smile.


    She stretched out her right hand, passing the dagger to the other hand, making it hold both of them and then looked at me.


    A small black orb condensed at her fingertips...


    Wait a minute...


    Is she...


    ¡º Frost Explosion! (? 6th-Level Spell ?)¡»


    Replicating my spell?!


    ...I''m fucked.

 Chapter 65 - 65: The Moonlight Swordsman (XXXI)

    BAAAM!


    She flicked the black orb toward me, and I barely managed to jump out of the way. I looked back at the spot where it landed and froze.


    A wave of ice... but a dark-colored ice with purple outlines...


    ''...She also copied my attribute?''


    My eyes went wide in shock.


    I took a quick look at her again.


    She wasn''t exactly what I''d call beautiful, but the power she was throwing around was something special.


    I couldn''t quite place it, but it made me think she was probably either some kind of heroine or villainess.


    Either way, she was dangerous.


    ''An assassin, a heroine or villainess... and she can copy my attacks? This is seriously bad news¡­'' I rubbed my head, clicking my tongue.


    I watched her carefully.


    She was still panting, her eyes never leaving me. The air around her still felt charged, like she was ready to strike at any moment.


    She gripped her daggers tight, and I could see in her eyes¡ªit wasn''t just that she was cold... She had the desire to kill me.


    However...


    I only smiled faintly.


    I wanted to test something, so...


    I shifted my stance, then extended my hand out.


    "Moonlit Ice Lotus Sword Art..."


    ¡º First Move! (? Ice Lotus Bloom ?) ¡»


    An ice lotus blossomed in front of me, its delicate petals floating in the air around me, shimmering like little fragments of frost.


    I stopped and stared at her.


    Will she really copy this?


    And... to my surprise, she did.


    Coping my exact movements from before, a dark-colored mana started flowing out of her body and then an ice lotus slowly began to bloom from her.


    But then¡ª


    Crack!


    "Ahh...?" she gasped.


    SPLURT!


    A mouthful of blood splashed from her lips.


    She bent forward, clutching her chest, her breath ragged. Blood dripped from her mouth, staining the ground, as she groaned in pain.


    "...Hah." I couldn''t help but chuckle.


    "Did you really think you could copy my technique?"


    Did she actually believe she could pull that off?


    It''s a unique technique, and only one person can use it.


    Only I can use it.


    It was made for my body. Everything about me¡ªthe bone structure, the organs, the mana flow¡ªwas built for this technique.


    That''s how hard my predecessor worked.


    So...


    If someone really tried to copy or replicate it...


    They''ll suffer a high injury that could even break their mana flow.


    "Go."


    With a flick of my wrist, I sent the petals flying toward her.


    She reacted quickly, pressing a hand to her mouth as she jumped back. But I wasn''t about to let her off that easy. I controlled the petals, guiding them straight toward her.


    Bam!


    The petals slammed into her chest and a wave of cold spread through her body. Slowly, ice began to creep across her skin, coating her.


    She tried to use shadow magic, but it was useless. The petals glowed too brightly, cutting off all the shadows around us.


    Everything around us became clear, bright, and exposed.


    "Agh..." she groaned weakly.


    Somehow, she was still alive.


    Her body was really insanely sturdy.


    "Hah..." Letting out a deep sigh, I slowly walked toward her, eyes never leaving her battered form.


    Fwip!


    Before I could get too close, she hurled a dagger straight at my face. My instincts kicked in, and I tilted my head to the side, dodging it just in time.


    Drip...


    I felt the sharp sting of a scratch across my cheek, blood trickling down.


    I crouched down in front of her, staring at her plain, ordinary face. I lifted her chin gently, glancing just below it.


    "No face mask, huh..."


    I was a bit disappointed, but nonetheless...


    I''m going to kill her.


    I pressed my hand against her chest, the warmth of her body meeting my palm... her chest was bigger than it looked, but that wasn''t what mattered.


    I pushed those thoughts aside and began to channel mana into her body.


    "Hah....!" She gasped suddenly, and I saw her other hand moving.


    The dagger she was holding aimed straight at me.


    Thud!


    I was just waiting for this.


    Before the blade could even reach me, I grabbed her wrist in a flash, forcing the dagger from her hand. I pinned both of her hands above her head, holding them firmly with one hand.


    "...Die."


    I muttered coldly.


    I increased the pressure of my mana against her chest. The air around us grew colder, like the temperature was dropping fast.


    "W-wait...!" Her voice cracked as she looked at me, eyes wide with panic.


    Her voice trembled.


    "D-don''t kill me... P-please..." She wouldn''t even meet my gaze now.


    Her eyes darted away.


    "I-I''ll tell you who hired me to kill you... a-anything you want to know!" she stuttered, pleading, her body trembling beneath me.


    I looked at her coldly, before parting my lips:


    "...There are plenty of people who want me dead. No one in the black market would risk it unless they were someone big... So it''s got to be one of them."


    She didn''t seem surprised at my words.


    "B-but I know exactly who it is! D-don''t you want to know?" she begged, her voice looking quite desperate.


    She really wanted to stay alive.


    But if she really did, why would she be an assassin?


    Doesn''t she know how risky it is?


    "...Not really."


    Since this was an academic novel, there was a big shot that Lucas would get control of the underworld...


    Or maybe, I can take control of it myself...


    But yeah.


    "They are bound to die anyway."


    "However..." I paused slightly, brushing her cheek slowly...


    "I''m quite interested in something else..." I looked at her intently...


    Her body shuddered at my words.


    She bit her lower lip, her face flushing a soft pink. I could see her trying to control herself, but there was no hiding the quiver in her body.


    "I-I''ll let you do anything... with my body..." Her voice was so small now like she was ashamed of even speaking it.


    I frowned, irritated.


    "Fucking hell," I muttered loud enough for her to hear.


    She lifted her head, eyes widened in surprise, but I didn''t care.


    "Who gives a damn about your body? It''s nothing special¡ªjust above average at best. Besides... you''re not even that beautiful," I scoffed.


    Her face turned bright red.


    It was like her entire face was burning. Her eyes darted away, her mouth opening and closing in embarrassment.


    I could almost hear her heart pounding.


    "A-aah..." she whimpered, looking utterly mortified.


    "T-then... what do you want?" she whispered, almost afraid to ask.


    I didn''t even hesitate.


    "Of course, it''s about your damn copying ability... your talent, or whatever the hell you want to call it." I scoffed again, looking at her like she was nothing.


    "...Ah... t-that''s an innate ability that I possess..."


    My eyes narrowed slightly.


    "...You were born with it?"


    She nodded lightly, looking away.


    "Y-yeah... I was one of the experiments from a black market lab... I was born with this ability... at least, that''s what they told me..." Her voice faltered.


    Those disgusting bastards...!


    This makes me hesitate to kill this girl.


    Fucking hell.


    "...Then you''re no use to me," I muttered, pushing myself off of her, my fingers leaving her skin.


    Her face fell. Her eyes clenched shut, and her whole body seemed to brace for the death blow. I held her there, her hands still pinned above her head.


    For a moment, she didn''t move.


    Then, I slowly loosened my grip. She didn''t expect it, but I let go.


    Her eyes fluttered open, just enough to glance up at me.


    "Fuck... just get away from my sight." I furrowed my eyebrows.


    "...But if you try to kill me again, you''ll really die," I added coldly.


    I turned to walk away, but then I heard a faint dripping sound...


    Drip... Drip...


    I froze.


    I turned around just in time to see the tears falling down her face, her eyes wide and glassy with emotion. She didn''t even try to hide them anymore, just letting them fall.


    Her lips were trembling, and I could see her shoulders shake with each breath she took.


    She was trying so hard to wipe them away, but her hands were shaking too much to do anything right.


    She looked so... vulnerable.


    So... fragile.


    The way her face scrunched up in that mix of relief and shame¡ªit felt like she was a kid like she had no control over herself anymore.


    "Sniff.... sniff.. wuu..." She sniffed, wiping at her eyes, but no matter how much she tried, the tears just kept coming.


    Her lip quivered as she glanced up at me, and then froze entirely, seeing how I was still looking at her and didn''t have left already.


    "A-aah..." she whimpered softly as soon as she met my eyes, her voice breaking as she wiped her cheek again, her hand moving shakily.


    It was like watching a child who couldn''t stop crying after they were caught doing something bad.


    What the hell?


    She looked like a damned child.


    Did those lab bastards create some sort of growth potion or something?


    <Master, you''re acting like the bad guy.>


    Lumi?!


    ''What am I supposed to do with her? I already spared her, isn''t that enough?'' I sighed inwardly, communicating with Lumi internally.


    <How about adopting her? I could have a friend to play with when you''re not around!> Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ''What? Is she even old enough to be adopt¡ª''


    My thoughts froze for a moment as I looked at the girl. She was crying even louder now, sobs shaking her whole body.


    <Besides... Master~, isn''t she a victim like me?>


    <She said she was part of some experiment... but who knows if she''s lying.>


    ''I used my eye skill. She''s not lying.''


    <Then why not? Why not adopt her? You could have a little sister or a daughter!>


    "Haaa..." I sighed, looking at the crying girl.


    ''Adopt her? A girl who just tried to kill me? Yeah, right. And even if I did, she looks older than eighteen, so I can''t legally do anything like that anyway.''


    <...I know a spell for that. It was lost in my memories, but there''s a magic spell called "Family Brand" that makes it so people in a family can''t betray each other.>


    ''...How do you even know that? Never mind, you are a gluttonous slime, so I''m guessing you absorbed someone who had that spell or something...''


    ''One day, I''ll have to check how many damn skills you''ve picked up over the years.''


    <Yesh~, anytime!>


    <So¡­ pretty, pleeeeeeeassseeeee?>


    Lumi''s voice suddenly turned sweet and whiny in my head.


    I could practically picture her, all cute and sparkly-eyed as she tilted her head to the right, like she usually does, asking me.


    "Damn it..." I muttered.


    ''Fine. If she''s younger than eighteen, maybe I''ll think about it.''


    <Mhm!>


    I stood up and walked toward the girl.


    She was still sobbing, trembling like a leaf. I crouched down in front of her, and in my cold, detached tone, I called out to her.


    "...Hey?"


    <Master...>


    Lumi instantly complained about my cold tone.


    "Hiik!"


    The girl jumped in fear when I spoke, her body shaking more than before.


    "S-so... y-you really wanted m-my b-body?" Her eyes were wild with panic, her voice trembling.


    I clicked my tongue in frustration. But, for some reason, I forced a smile¡ªa smile that was so sweet, it probably looked fake as hell.


    The kind of smile you give when you''re trying to soften a blow.


    "...How old are you?" I asked, the warmth in my voice fake enough to make even me cringe.


    Her eyes went wide with shock. The tears had stopped falling as quickly as they''d started, and she just stared at me, frozen.


    "A-a-ah... I-I..." She stuttered, biting her lip, her voice breaking as she tried to answer.


    She gulped so loudly that I could hear it, and then she answered in a small, shaky voice.


    "...I-I was born five years ago..."


    <Yaaayyyyy!>


    Fuck.


    Well... it''s not like I will really adopt her.


    She probably doesn''t even have an identity...


    And it''s not like anyone will believe that she is five years old...


    ...Right?

 Chapter 66 - 66: The Moonlight Swordsman (XXXII)

    Twitch...


    "Ah....."


    Aestrea stood in front of the receptionist''s desk, staring at the stack of papers before him. His fingers twitched slightly as he held the quill, hesitating to sign the last document.


    This was ridiculous.


    Completely insane.


    He had just fought this girl.


    Just nearly killed her.


    And now, here he was, about to officially adopt her like she was some lost kitten he found in an alley. Lumi had somehow convinced him¡ªno, forced him¡ªinto this madness.


    He sighed and finally put the pen to the paper, scribbling his signature with the grace of a man accepting his fate.


    The receptionist, a middle-aged woman with kind eyes and a gentle smile, took the document from him, scanning it over before nodding in approval.


    Then, she looked at the girl standing beside him.


    "Well then," she said in a warm voice, almost teasing. "Congratulations on having your first daughter, Mr. Moon."


    Aestrea''s face went completely lifeless.


    His brain short-circuited.


    He had never felt so much regret in his entire life.


    Meanwhile, the girl¡ªhis new daughter¡ªclutched the sleeve of his coat tightly.


    Her hands were trembling slightly, and her lips parted as if she wanted to say something but wasn''t sure if she should.


    Then, hesitantly, in the softest, most uncertain voice¡ª


    "¡­Dad¡­?"


    Aestrea felt an instant migraine.


    His temples throbbed.


    His body physically recoiled as if the word had physically punched him.


    No.


    No, no, no.


    Absolutely not.


    "Don''t," he said immediately, his voice cold.


    The girl flinched.


    Her grip loosened slightly, and for a second, she looked like she might cry again.


    "Not yet," Aestrea muttered, rubbing his forehead.


    "Just¡­ give me time."


    She didn''t say anything after that, but she still held onto his coat.


    He sighed.


    ''Lumi, you little devil, I hope you''re happy.''


    <Hehe!>


    Grabbing the girl''s hand, Aestrea led her back to the black market, where he brought her to his room, in Yara''s residence.


    It only took a few minutes to get there.


    And Yara wasn''t home.


    Aestrea pushed open the door to his room, stepping inside with the girl following closely behind.


    The girl stood awkwardly near the entrance, looking around like she wasn''t sure where she was allowed to step.


    "Just sit anywhere," Aestrea said, waving a hand lazily.


    She nodded and cautiously sat on the edge of the bed, keeping her back straight and hands on her lap like she was a guest.


    Aestrea sighed and ran a hand through his hair. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    This was exhausting.


    And then¡ª


    SPLAT!


    A green, jelly-like blob suddenly launched itself onto his face.


    "MASTER~!"


    Aestrea staggered back slightly as Lumi clung to his head like an overexcited child.


    The girl yelped, eyes wide with terror as she scrambled back on the bed.


    "W-WHAT IS THAT!?"


    Lumi peeled herself off Aestrea''s face and turned toward the girl, bouncing slightly in excitement. "Oooohhh~! So you''re the new little sister~?"


    "¡­Little¡­ sister¡­?" The girl looked confused, her eyes darting between Lumi and Aestrea.


    Aestrea groaned lightly.


    "Lumi, you''re scaring her."


    Lumi ignored him, bouncing closer to the girl, her slimy body jiggling as she tilted her head cutely.


    "Hi~! I''m Lumi! I''m Master''s partner and his first companion! But since he adopted you, that means you''re my little sister now, right~?"


    The girl still looked overwhelmed, staring at Lumi like she wasn''t sure if she should be scared or fascinated.


    "I-I''ve never seen a slime that can talk¡­" she muttered.


    "What?!" Lumi gasped dramatically.


    "You''ve been missing out, then! I''m one-of-a-kind, super cute, and¡ª"


    Aestrea picked her up by the top of her head and tossed her onto the bed.


    "Enough."


    Lumi just giggled as she bounced onto the mattress.


    Aestrea turned back to the girl, sighing deeply. "That''s Lumi. She''s an annoying little thing that follows me around."


    ''And also the one that wanted me to adopt you...'' he added inwardly.


    "Hey!" Lumi pouted.


    The girl blinked slowly, still processing. "¡­So, she''s not dangerous?"


    "Oh, I''m very dangerous," Lumi said proudly. "But only when Master says so~!"


    The girl didn''t seem reassured.


    Aestrea pinched the bridge of his nose. "Forget it. More importantly, we need to take care of the contract."


    "Here it is, Master~" Lumi jumped towards him, giving him a piece of parchment.


    Taking the paper, he slowly channeled a bit of mana into the paper, and then, a strange glowing symbol started forming on it.


    He looked at the girl who was sitting on the edge of the bed, her hands fidgeting in her lap, and then explained what that paper was.


    "This is a Family Brand contract," Aestrea explained. "It binds two people as family. Once signed, it prevents betrayal, meaning you won''t be able to attack me, and I won''t be able to harm you either."


    She looked up at him, wide-eyed.


    "So¡­ it''s a protection spell?"


    "More like a leash," Aestrea muttered.


    She hesitated for a long moment, then finally spoke. "And¡­ you''re sure you want to do this? Even though I tried to kill you?"


    Aestrea exhaled slowly.


    "I wouldn''t be doing this if I wasn''t sure."


    Her hands clenched into fists.


    She looked down at the table, her hair covering her eyes.


    "¡­Okay," she whispered.


    Aestrea pricked his finger and pressed it to the paper, his blood soaking into the parchment and causing the symbols to glow brighter.


    He passed the small dagger to her.


    She took it hesitantly, then pricked her own finger, letting a single drop of blood fall onto the contract.


    The moment her blood touched the parchment, the symbols flared with light. The contract lifted into the air, glowing with golden energy before it slowly faded and disappeared.


    A warm sensation spread through Aestrea''s body. It wasn''t overwhelming, just a soft, comforting presence¡ªlike something deep inside him recognized her now.


    The girl let out a quiet gasp, clutching her chest as she felt it too.


    Then, silence.


    Sitting on a chair close to his desk, Aestrea leaned back.


    "It''s done."


    The girl stared at her hands as if expecting something to change physically. When nothing happened, she looked back up at him.


    "¡­So that''s it?"


    "That''s it."


    "¡­I really can''t hurt you now?"


    "Nope."


    She let out a small, breathy laugh.


    "¡­That''s kinda amazing."


    "Woohoo~! Welcome to the family!" Lumi suddenly jumped onto the bed.


    The girl flinched but didn''t pull away when Lumi clung to her arm.


    Aestrea watched her carefully.


    "¡­You never told me your name."


    She hesitated, then lowered her gaze. "¡­I was never given one."


    "WHAT?!" Lumi gasped.


    Aestrea sighed again.


    This just kept getting worse and worse.


    "Well," he muttered, "I guess that means I have to name you too."


    Her head snapped up, eyes wide. "Y-you''re going to name me?"


    He stared at her, then glanced at Lumi. The slime was already bouncing excitedly, probably thinking up stupid names.


    Aestrea sighed.


    "Yeah. Can''t have my... daughter walking around without a name."


    She stiffened.


    A beat of silence passed.


    Then¡ª


    "¡­Dad¡­"


    Aestrea''s headache immediately returned.


    "Hehe~! Master, you really are a dad now!" Lumi just giggled.


    "Shut. Up."


    But then, Aestrea frowned.


    "Come to think about it¡­ how come they didn''t ask for your name when registering me as your parent¡­?"


    Now that he thought about it, the whole process had gone way too smoothly.


    The receptionist never asked for her name, never even checked if she had one.


    They just accepted everything and handed over the documents like it was completely normal.


    The girl tilted her head slightly, looking just as confused.


    "I¡­ I don''t know," she mumbled.


    Aestrea sighed, rubbing his temples. Something about this whole thing felt off, but he didn''t have the energy to dig into it right now.


    Then, he suddenly remembered¡ª


    "Wait."


    They also gave her an Awakener ID.


    That meant she must have something registered under her name. Even if she didn''t have one before, the system had to put something in there, right?


    "Give me your Awakener ID," Aestrea said, holding out his hand.


    The girl blinked, then hesitated before reaching into her pocket and pulling out a thin, metal-like card. She carefully placed it in his palm.


    Aestrea flipped it over and looked at the text displayed on its surface.


    His eyes narrowed.


    There, right where the name should have been, were the words:


    [Insert the new name.]


    "...Ah."


    Now everything made sense.


    She wasn''t ignored. She wasn''t forgotten. The system itself had left her name blank, waiting for someone¡ªher guardian¡ªto give her one.


    Aestrea exhaled through his nose, tapping the card against the table a few times as he thought.


    So, she really didn''t have a name.


    Not just in her own memory, but officially.


    Lumi, sitting on the desk, peeked over his shoulder. "Oooooh~! That means you really have to name her, Master!"


    Aestrea shot Lumi a look but didn''t argue. He glanced back at the girl, who was staring at the card with an unreadable expression.


    Naming her¡­


    He wasn''t the type to care about sentimental things like this, but¡­


    A name was still important.


    It was what defined a person.


    Aestrea closed his eyes for a second, thinking.


    Then, he slowly exhaled and looked at the girl again.


    "Chaerin," he finally said.


    The girl flinched slightly, eyes widening.


    "That''s¡­ your name now." Aestrea placed the Awakener ID on the desk and tapped it twice.


    The system recognized his command, and the letters on the card changed, glowing softly as they rearranged themselves.


    [Name: Chaerin Moon]


    For a moment, there was silence.


    Then¡ª


    The girl¡ªno, Chaerin¡ªstared at the card, her hands trembling slightly as she reached out and picked it up.


    She ran her fingers over the newly written name, her lips parting as if she wanted to say something, but no words came out.


    Lumi wiggled excitedly. "Chaerin~! That''s such a cute name! Master, I didn''t know you had a good sense for names~!"


    "I was the one that gave you that name."


    Aestrea retorted while keeping his eyes on Chaerin.


    She was still staring at the ID, her fingers gripping it tightly.


    "...Chaerin," she whispered, almost testing how it felt on her tongue.


    Aestrea leaned back in his chair. "If you don''t like it, I can change it¡ª"


    "I like it!"


    Aestrea blinked.


    Chaerin clutched the ID close to her chest, her face slightly red as she lowered her head.


    "I¡­ I really like it," she said softly.


    "OH MY GOSH, SHE''S BLUSHIN¡ª" Lumi gasped dramatically.


    Aestrea flicked Lumi on the forehead.


    "Shut up."


    Lumi pouted but didn''t say anything else.


    Meanwhile, Chaerin sat there, looking down at her new name over and over again, as if she still couldn''t believe it was real.


    Aestrea watched her quietly, then sighed and leaned his cheek against his hand.


    This was exhausting.


    The room was completely quiet after that.


    Chaerin had calmed down, still holding her ID but no longer shaking. Lumi had finally stopped teasing, and Aestrea¡­ was just trying to process everything.


    He had fought this girl.


    He had nearly killed this girl.


    And now, he was responsible for her.


    For her name.


    For her future.


    The weight of that realization settled deep into his bones, but strangely, it didn''t feel as suffocating as he expected.


    It was¡­ annoying, sure.


    But not unbearable.


    Across from him, Chaerin carefully put the ID back in her pocket. Then, she glanced up at him, hesitant.


    "¡­Thank you," she said quietly.


    "Don''t mention it," Aestrea sighed, looking away.


    Chaerin smiled softly in a shy manner.


    Lumi grinned.


    Aestrea felt his headache return.


    Now, the whole party seemed to be completed.


    A slime, a high elf, and finally, a modified human of some sort.


    ''And... I still need to introduce her to Alaine. Thinking about it, isn''t she kind of late? She told me that she was simply going to get groceries...''


    Aestrea thought inwardly.


    Then, looking at the energetic Lumy, the shy Chaerin, and the mature Alaine that would be joining them soon...


    Aestrea couldn''t help but sigh for the 27th time today.


    This was going to be a long journey.

 Chapter 67 - 67: The Moonlight Swordsman (XXXIII)

    "Hah..."


    Taking a deep breath, I adjusted my gloves slightly.


    A full day had passed since I''d adopted Chaerin, and now it was finally time to end this damned Death Tournament.


    From the information that Yara gave them, all of them are low s-rank awakeners, which will be quite difficult to deal with.


    At least Chaerin was safe.


    I had made sure to hide her from Yara¡ªbecause honestly? I didn''t trust Yara not to take an interest in her. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    And knowing her, "interest" could mean anything.


    So for now, Chaerin was running around the black market with Lumi.


    She was strong enough to handle herself, and anyone dumb enough to mess with her was in for a very bad day.


    Besides, thanks to the Family Bond magic, I could sense her location and whether she was in danger.


    That was one less thing to worry about.


    "Are you ready~?"


    A familiar, sultry voice rang out from my right.


    I didn''t even have to turn my head.


    It was Yara.


    "Obviously," I replied, nodding.


    "Mhn~, is that so?"


    She stepped closer, grabbing the front of my jacket. I blinked, looking down at her.


    She was only a little shorter than me, her head reaching my nose, and from this distance, I could catch the faint scent of her perfume¡ªsomething sweet, almost intoxicating.


    Without saying anything, she adjusted my jacket slightly, straightening it.


    ¡­Which didn''t make any sense.


    I was about to walk into a fight to the death.


    For all I knew, I''d leave the arena without a jacket at all.


    "...Doesn''t this make us feel like newlyweds?" she asked out of nowhere.


    "...No?"


    "Really?"


    She lifted her head suddenly, her black eyes locking onto mine. Her lips parted slightly, the corner of her mouth curving up in a way that was just suggestive enough to be intentional.


    Then, she bit her lip.


    Slowly and seductively...


    Her gaze flickered from my lips, then back to my eyes, wordlessly inviting me to make a move.


    I sighed inwardly.


    ''Really?''


    This might have looked like a simple flirt, but it was a test.


    There were two possible outcomes:


    1 - I kiss her. That means I "admit"¡ªwithout actually saying it¡ªthat I like her.


    2 - I don''t kiss her. That means I''m "rejecting" her outright.


    Either way, it was going to get me fucked anyway...


    But instead of playing into her game, I simply continued staring at her with the same calm look.


    "...Tsk."


    She clicked her tongue, frowning slightly.


    "You''re no fun." Letting go of my jacket, she muttered with a small sigh.


    Finally, she let go of my jacket with a sigh.


    Yup.


    She really had changed.


    From a crazy bitch to... a mostly normal woman.


    "Well... make sure to win, okay?" Her voice was quieter now, more serious. "I wouldn''t like to see your dead body."


    She paused, looking me over one last time.


    Then, a smirk appeared on her face.


    "As for that favor... I''ve already got what I want in mind," she licked her lips, once again, giving me a suggestive look.


    "...What is it?" I asked curiously.


    "Nothing..."


    She winked.


    "You''ll know after the match."


    And with that, she turned and walked away, probably going to her VIP seat to watch the final match or something like that.


    Seeing her walk away, I turned to walk towards the corridor that would lead me toward the death arena, where the final showdown would happen.


    A free-for-all between the last four challengers...


    "MOONLIGHT SWORDSMAN!"


    "MASKED PUPPET!"


    As I stepped onto the last stretch before the arena, the cheers from the crowd exploded, shaking the walls around me.


    But something was... off.


    There were four challengers.


    Yet only two names were being shouted.


    I glanced around.


    The other two fighters were there, standing at the edges of the battlefield, but the crowd barely seemed to acknowledge them.


    it seems like both me and the "Masket Puppet" were more popular than both of them.


    Then, as I walked onto the arena¡ª


    "Ladies and gentlemen!"


    The announcer''s voice boomed from the speakers, filled with energy.


    "For the final match of our beloved tournament, we have, on the upper left¡ªTHE CHAINED BASTARD!"


    The crowd erupted¡ª


    With boos.


    "BOOOOOOOOOOOO!"


    Damn. That was loud.


    "And on the upper right, we have¡ªTHE BLOOD DRAINER!"


    Another wave of boos.


    "BOOOOOOOOO!"


    Okay... what the hell did these guys do to piss off the crowd this badly?


    The announcer barely let the negativity settle before continuing¡ª


    "On the lower left, we have... THE MASKED PUPPET!"


    And this time¡ª


    "MASKED PUPPET!"


    A wave of cheers. Loud. Intense.


    "SLICE THEM TO PIECES!"


    ...And completely insane.


    Then¡ª


    "And finally! As our last contestant..."


    The crowd was already roaring, waiting for my name.


    "We have the MOONLIGHT SWORDSMAN! The rookie who killed the two-time champion, Iron Wrestler!"


    "WOOOOOOOOOOO!"


    "EXPLODE THEM!"


    "MAKE THEIR BODY TURN INTO POOLS OF BLOOD!"


    Well...


    My cheers were insane as well.


    Not that I should''ve expected anything else from an underground death tournament.


    The announcer let the cheers carry for a few more seconds before finally¡ª


    "Now that everyone is ready..."


    I adjusted my stance immediately, my fingers tightening around the hilts of the two swords at my waist.


    "LET THE BATTLE BEGIN!"


    I instantly dashed forward, but before I could even react...


    Splurt!


    Blood sprayed into the air, two fountains of red cutting through the arena lights.


    Thud, thud...!


    Along with two heads, falling into the ground of the arena...


    I looked forward and saw the Masked Puppet...


    He was pale and lean, with slicked-back gray hair reaching the nape of his neck. His ears were sharp, his posture straight¡ªbut the most striking thing about him?


    His mask.


    A white, expressionless face, except for the eerie, mischievous smirk carved into it.


    The grin stretched from cheekbone to cheekbone, sharp and unnatural, curving just above the jawline before arching back up again.


    Two crescent-shaped slits ran down from where his eyes should be, giving him a haunting, almost inhuman look.


    And his outfit... was simply immaculate.


    A high-collared jacket with three silver buttons on each side.


    The collar was flipped, showing a plant-like pattern hidden on the inside.


    A long, split cape trailed behind him, brushing against his polished boots.


    Underneath, he wore a white button-up shirt, neatly tucked, paired with a small black bow tie.


    His pants had subtle, jagged lines running down them, and his hands were covered in white gloves.


    And the cherry on top...


    Atop his head, there was a magician''s top hat.


    The way he stood¡ªstill as a shadow, head tilted slightly to the side¡ªgave the unsettling impression that he was... grinning at me.


    "WOOOOO!"


    "THAT''S HOW IT''S DONE!"


    "PERFECTLY SLICED HEADS!"


    The crowd even got louder than before.


    I kept my eyes on him.


    This man was very strange...


    He was too fast...


    ¡º Judgement Eye (? S-Level Skill ?) ¡»


    I activated my skill¡ªand I saw...


    Thin mana threads.


    Almost invisible, running between his fingertips, stretching outward like a spider''s web.


    That''s how he did it.


    He sliced them apart with mana strings.


    Dealing with him was going to be... difficult.


    "Wait a minute, dear Moonlight Swordsman..."


    The man suddenly spoke before I could attack him.


    "My name is Kagetaro Kurohare," he said, placing one hand over his chest and the other behind his back in a flourished bow.


    "It''s an absolute pleasure to finally meet you."


    "...Aestrea Moon."


    "Hehe," the man chuckled at my response.


    "I''ve been watching you for a while now, and I must say..." His head tilted slightly, the mask unmoving¡ªbut somehow, I felt his excitement.


    "You''re really... truly... fascinatingly incredible."


    A chill ran down my spine.


    D¨¦j¨¤ vu.


    I had heard of this kind of expression before.


    "Your power... is so interesting," he continued, voice trembling slightly¡ªnot with fear, but excitement.


    "So little mana quantity, yet such superb mana quality... It''s... breathtaking!"


    His fingers twitched as if barely holding back some kind of urge.


    "So," he breathed, his voice dipping low. "I entered this tournament for one reason. A single, pure reason..."


    He lifted his arms, his white gloves practically glowing under the arena lights.


    "To meet you, my dear Aestrea..."


    "...Don''t call me that."


    The words left my mouth before I could stop them.


    The disgust was instant.


    Being called that by a woman?


    Fine.


    But by a man?


    Ew.


    Kagetaro simply chuckled again.


    "Join me."


    His arms spread wide as if presenting an offer¡ªa gift.


    "Join forces with me. With the Dark Order!"


    My blood ran cold.


    "Together, we could dominate the entire world and create something new! A brand new era!"


    I froze.


    Did he just say¡ª


    The Dark Order?


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    As soon as Aestrea heard those words...


    Thrum!


    A pulse of mana erupted from his body, rippling through the air.


    The sheer force sent a gust of wind blasting through the arena, kicking up dust and making the crowd go wild.


    "Did you just fucking say... Dark Order?"


    Aestrea spoke coldly, his voice cutting through the noise like a blade.


    His eyes, deep crimson, began to glow sinisterly¡ªleaving behind faint trails of scarlet smoke as his power stirred awake.


    Across from him, Kagetaro shuddered.


    "...Mhm!"


    A deep, shaky moan left his lips.


    His fingers twitched.


    Then¡ªhe hugged himself, his entire body trembling.


    "That''s it..." His breath hitched. "That superb mana...!"


    He let out a ragged sigh, his gloved hands gripping his arms as if trying to hold himself together.


    "...It makes me so excited!"


    Clang!


    A flash of steel.


    Aestrea vanished¡ªdisappearing into thin air¡ªonly to reappear right in front of Kagetaro, swords drawn.


    Tzzzt!


    A metallic snap rang out as Kagetaro reacted instantly, his near-invisible mana threads snapping into place like a web, blocking the strike.


    The impact sent a sharp, screeching echo through the arena.


    Aestrea''s crimson eyes narrowed.


    Kagetaro was fast, faster than expected¡ªbut more than that, those near-invisible threads made him dangerous. T


    hey were sharp, numerous, and nearly undetectable.


    Tzzzt!


    The moment their weapons connected, Aestrea felt the threads tightening around his blade like a snare.


    "Tsk¡ª!"


    With a sharp twist of his wrist, he jerked his sword free, slicing through a few strands before leaping back, just as thin, glinting threads shot past where his arms had been a split second ago.


    "Ooooh!" The crowd gasped.


    Kagetaro grinned beneath his mask, his head tilting slightly.


    "Hehe¡­ Careful now, dear Moonlight Swordsman."


    His gloved fingers twitched, and suddenly¡ª


    Shwip! Shwip! Shwip!


    A dozen razor-thin strings whipped forward like the fangs of a striking viper.


    Aestrea spun his sword in an arc, deflecting them with a sharp flick of his wrist.


    Cling! Cling! Clang!


    Every impact sent a sharp, metallic ping into the air, but the moment he stopped moving¡ª


    "Too slow."


    Kagetaro flicked his wrist, and from behind¡ª


    Shwik!


    A thread lashed across Aestrea''s shoulder, slicing clean through the fabric of his coat and drawing a thin line of blood.


    "...Damn it."


    Aestrea rolled forward, dodging another incoming whip of mana, then flipped back onto his feet. Blood trickled down his arm, warm against his skin.


    Kagetaro placed a hand over his chest and let out an exaggerated sigh.


    "Oh dear¡­ such beautiful, rich red¡­ It''s a shame to spill it all at once."


    The crowd cheered louder at the sight of blood.


    Aestrea exhaled slowly.


    He had to finish this quickly.


    His grip tightened around his sword.


    ''Let''s see if you can handle this.''


    Then¡ª


    He stepped forward.


    In a single fluid motion, he swung his blade upward¡ª


    "Moonlit Ice Lotus Sword Art¡­"


    A soft chill spread through the air.


    ¡º First Move! (? Ice Lotus Bloom ?) ¡»


    The ground rumbled.


    A massive lotus made of ice erupted from beneath Aestrea''s feet, its crystalline petals spiraling outward in every direction.


    The temperature dropped instantly, frost creeping across the stone arena floor.


    Each petal was razor-sharp, glowing with a faint, eerie blue light.


    Kagetaro''s masked face twitched.


    His strings lashed out in an attempt to slice through the ice¡ª


    "Go."


    Aestrea flicked his fingers.


    The ice petals detached¡ªand shot forward like a storm of flying blades.


    Shhhhk!


    Kagetaro leaped back, his strings forming a defensive web, but the petals were relentless.


    One grazed his sleeve, another slashed across his chest, and a third barely missed his throat.


    But even so, Aestrea wasn''t done.


    "Moonlit Ice Lotus Sword Art¡­"


    He swung his sword in a wide arc¡ªand suddenly, crescent-shaped waves of freezing blue mana exploded outward.


    ¡º Second Move! (? Ice Lotus Barrage ?) ¡»


    The ice crescents sliced through the air at lightning speed, freezing everything in their path.


    Kagetaro twisted midair, but¡ª


    Shhhhk!


    A crescent grazed his side, sending a chilling numbness through his body. Another sliced through his coat, tearing away fabric.


    The masked man landed on one knee, his breath coming in sharp gasps. Frost clung to his clothes, spreading along his arms.


    However, he still had the same confident smirk on his face.


    "...Fascinating."


    He lifted his hand.


    Then¡ªSNAP!


    Hundreds of strings burst outward like an exploding spiderweb.


    "Enough playing around!"


    Aestrea''s pupils shrank.


    "Here it comes¡ª!"


    The strings moved like vipers, twisting and curving unnaturally.


    Aestrea dodged left¡ª


    Too late.


    A string wrapped around his ankle¡ª


    THWIP!


    Kagetaro YANKED.


    Aestrea was ripped off his feet and slammed sideways against the cold ground.


    "Guh¡ª!"


    More strings coiled around his wrists, his legs¡ªhis neck.


    "Hehehe¡­ Caught you."


    Kagetaro''s voice was a delighted whisper.


    He jerked his fingers.


    The strings tightened.


    "HRK¡ª!"


    Aestrea felt the sharp fibers digging into his skin, ready to slice him apart. The crowd screamed, half in thrill, half in horror.


    "It''s over, dear swordsman."


    Kagetaro pulled harder, but then¡ª


    Aestrea smiled.


    Fwoosh¡ª


    A sudden blast of icy air erupted from his body.


    The strings around him froze instantly.


    Kagetaro''s eyes widened.


    "What¡ª?"


    Aestrea''s fingers twitched.


    "Moonlit Ice Lotus Sword Art..."


    He vanished.


    Kagetaro stumbled back¡ªbut Aestrea was already behind him.


    His sword gleamed.


    ¡º Third Move! (? Moonlight''s One Flash ?) ¡»


    Aestrea sheathes his sword.


    Then¡ª


    "Shhk!"


    A single clean cut.


    A deep, jagged wound carved across Kagetaro''s torso.


    The masked man froze.


    His strings shattered.


    The crowd fell silent.


    Then¡ª


    Blood splattered across the ground.


    Kagetaro staggered, his breaths coming out ragged.


    His knees buckled.


    He reached for his chest, where the ice-laced wound burned into his flesh.


    "...Heh¡­"


    His mask tilted up, revealing a crooked smile.


    "...What a beautiful sword art."


    And then¡ªhe collapsed.


    The crowd erupted.


    "HE WON!"


    "MOONLIGHT SWORDSMAN!"


    "HOLY SHIT! HE SLICED THAT GUY UP!"


    Aestrea exhaled, his breath visible in the cold air. His sword still hummed from the energy of the final strike.


    He glanced down at Kagetaro''s fallen form.


    "...Fuck..."


    That was too close.


    He sheathed his sword fully, stepping back as the announcer''s voice boomed through the arena.


    "LADIES AND GENTLEMEN¡ªYOUR WINNER¡­!"


    The crowd roared.


    The Death Tournament had reached its bloody conclusion.


    However, instead of celebrating...


    Aestrea frowned.


    ''My sword didn''t cut him.''


    He looked towards the place where his body should''ve been...


    "Fuck..."


    "He escaped..."


    Aestrea clutched his fists tightly.

 Chapter 68 - 68: The Moonlight Swordsman (XXXIV)

    The crowd was still screaming.


    The energy in the underground arena was wild, almost chaotic.


    "Ahh... fuu..."


    Aestrea stood there, his breath coming out in short, cold puffs, his body still tense from the battle.


    His clothes were torn, and his shoulder was bleeding, but his hands were steady on the hilts of his swords.


    Kagetaro had escaped.


    That slippery bastard had slipped away right when Aestrea had landed the final blow.


    The cut had been deep¡ªit should''ve been fatal.


    But no body meant no kill, and that meant he was still out there somewhere.


    "Damn it..." Aestrea clicked his tongue, rolling his shoulder as he sheathed his swords.


    The announcer''s voice boomed across the arena, drowning out his thoughts.


    "LADIES AND GENTLEMEN¡ªTHE FINAL WINNER OF THE DEATH TOURNAMENT¡­ MOONLIGHT SWORDSMAN!"


    The roar of the crowd was loud.


    "WOOOOOOO!!!"


    "BLOOD! BLOOD! BLOOD!"


    "THAT WAS INSANE!!"


    Aestrea ignored them.


    His glowing crimson eyes swept across the arena, scanning for any lingering threats.


    But there was nothing left¡ªonly the wreckage of their battle, the frozen ground, and the bloodstains marking the arena''s floor.


    It was over.


    He had won.


    And yet¡­ something felt wrong.


    He turned his head slightly.


    His sharp gaze locked onto the VIP balcony.


    Up there, hidden behind the one-way glass, the big shots of this underground tournament were watching.


    The ones who had wanted him dead.


    The ones who had bet everything on his failure.


    Aestrea smirked slightly.


    ''They must be pissed...''


    He slowly started walking towards the VIP balcony.


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    Inside a lavish, dimly lit room above the arena, a group of powerful figures sat in silence.


    The air was thick with tension.


    No one spoke.


    No one moved...


    CRASH!!!


    A glass of expensive wine shattered against the wall, dark red liquid dripping down like blood.


    "WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED?!" a deep voice roared.


    The speaker was a tall, muscular man with sharp eyes and a scar running down his cheek.


    His suit was expensive, but the way he carried himself was more like a brute than a businessman.


    His name was Daimon Blackfang, one of the key sponsors of the Death Tournament.


    He wasn''t alone.


    At the large round table, several other dangerous figures sat, all dressed in expensive suits and robes, each one more furious than the last.


    An old man with golden rings on his fingers gritted his teeth.


    His name was Grandmaster Hui, the leader of one of the underground assassin''s guilds.


    "This wasn''t the plan," he muttered.


    "The Modified Human we sent was supposed to be perfect. She was made to kill people like Moonlight Swordsman. Yet he''s still alive."


    A woman in a crimson dress¡ªMadam Wei, the madam from the Wei Family¡ªcrossed her legs slowly.


    "This is a disgrace," she said coldly, her painted lips pressing into a thin line. "That assassin was one of our lab''s finest creations. She should have killed Aestrea easily"


    A man with sharp eyes and a mechanical hand, Lord Vance, scoffed. "Well, she didn''t. And now, that brat is walking away with our tournament victory."


    "Not to mention... that bitch is going to get the reward!" Madam Wei bit her lips tightly, clutching her fists.


    All of them usually distributed the reward between them, but now, they had completely lost it, and they even lost it to their worst enemy.


    A heavy silence followed.


    None of them had expected this outcome.


    None of them had planned for this.


    They had poured thousands of platinum coins into this bet.


    And now, the one man they wanted dead was still standing.


    Thud!


    "We need to fix this. Immediately." Daimon said angrily, slamming his fist onto the table.


    "Agreed. We can''t let him walk away." Grandmaster Hui nodded.


    "We should kill him before he leaves the arena," Lord Vance suggested, his metal fingers clicking against the wooden table.


    "Too late." Madam Wei sighed, swirling the wine in her glass.


    "By now, he''s already being escorted out. If we move against him now, it''ll be too obvious. Our reputation will go even lower, granting more chances for that bitch to rise."


    There was another heavy silence.


    But then...


    BOOM!


    The double doors to the room EXPLODED inward.


    The entire room shook as the wooden doors were blasted clean off their hinges, flying across the room like broken debris.


    They crashed into the wall with a loud noise, leaving behind a cloud of dust and splinters.


    And standing in the doorway¡­


    Was Yara.


    She stepped inside, her black high heels clicking against the polished floor. Her long, wavy hair cascaded down her back, her dark eyes burning with fury.


    The scent of her intoxicating perfume filled the air, but there was no trace of her usual playful smirk.


    This was not the usual teasing, seductive Yara.


    This was a monster in human form.


    Her cold, razor-sharp gaze swept across the room.


    And then...


    She spoke.


    "How dare you harm my baby?"


    Her voice was low, but high enough to reach their ears.


    Dangerous.


    Daimon''s breath hitched.


    Madam Wei''s fingers trembled slightly around her glass.


    Even Grandmaster Hui, who had faced countless assassins in his lifetime, felt a bead of sweat roll down his temple.


    Because they all knew¡ª


    Yara wasn''t just some woman.


    She was the most dangerous person in the underground world and one of the few SS-rank in the entire world.


    Not to mention, she was the "bitch" they wanted to get rid of.


    And right now?


    She was furious.


    After a few minutes, Daimon was the first to recover.


    He scowled, stepping forward.


    "Yara, he''s just another challenger, besides you know the rules of the underground, right?" he growled.


    "This has nothing to do with you. Back off," he warned her coldly.


    Yara''s eyes flickered slightly at his words.


    Then¡ª


    CRACK!


    Before anyone could react, Yara vanished from her spot.


    In an instant, she was right in front of Daimon¡ªher heel slamming into his knee.


    SNAP!


    "GAAAAAAAAAHH!"


    Daimon let out a bloodcurdling scream as his leg bent the wrong way.


    He collapsed to the floor, clutching his knee, his face twisted in agony.


    Yara didn''t even look at him.


    She turned to the others, her lips curling into a deadly smile.


    "You really thought you could try to kill my baby and get away with it?" she asked sweetly.


    Lord Vance''s metal hand clenched.


    "We had our reasons," he said stiffly. "The boy¡ª"


    BANG!


    Yara casually lifted her hand, making a gun gesture¡ªand shot him.


    The mana bullet pierced his mechanical hand, making sparks fly.


    "AGHH!"


    Lord Vance hissed, grabbing his damaged limb, but Yara was already moving.


    She stepped towards the table, placing her hands on the polished wood.


    Her nails tapped against the surface.


    Tap.


    Tap.


    Tap.


    "You see¡­ I don''t mind all of you plotting against me, but..." she began, her voice soft. "How dare you send someone to kill my dear baby?"


    Her eyes darkened completely.


    "I could kill all of you right now. It''d be so easy."


    "But my baby won. Fair and square."


    She tilted her head, her dark hair falling over her shoulder.


    "So here''s what''s going to happen."


    She pointed a delicate finger at each of them.


    "You will not lay a hand on him ever again."


    Her tone was final.


    Absolute.


    Madam Wei swallowed.


    Grandmaster Hui clenched his jaw.


    Daimon¡ªstill writhing on the floor¡ªwas too busy gasping in pain to respond.


    And then, with a smirk, Yara turned on her heel and walked towards the door.


    Just before she left¡ªshe glanced over her shoulder.


    Her eyes gleamed.


    "Oh, and one more thing¡­"


    She smiled.


    "If you even think about trying again¡­ I''ll rip your hearts out myself."


    Then, just like that, she was gone.


    And in the silence that followed, one thing was clear¡ª


    They had just made a very, very big mistake.


    "FUCK!"


    Daimon shouted.


    He was still on the floor, panting through clenched teeth, his leg twisted at a sickening angle. The pain was unbearable, but not nearly as bad as the fury boiling inside him.


    "Ahh..."


    Grandmaster Hui let out a slow, shaky breath. His fingers trembled slightly as he picked up his glass of wine¡ªhis grip tight enough to crack the crystal.


    He took a sip, trying to regain his composure.


    No one spoke for a long time.


    Then¡ª


    SMASH!


    Lord Vance slammed his damaged metal hand onto the table, his face twisted in barely contained rage.


    "THAT. BITCH." His voice was sharp, cutting through the silence.


    "We can''t let this stand."


    "She made a mockery of us," Madam Wei said quietly, her voice cold as ice.


    She was usually composed, but now, she was still gripping her wine glass so hard her knuckles had gone white.


    "She''s too strong," Grandmaster Hu admitted his voice even. "Much stronger than I expected. But strength doesn''t make someone untouchable."


    Grandmaster Hui leaned back in his chair, his golden rings glinting under the dim lights.


    Daimon finally managed to pull himself into a sitting position, his breaths ragged. His forehead was slick with sweat, but his eyes were filled with murderous intent.


    "I want her dead," he growled, his voice filled with killing intent.


    "And I want that brat Aestrea''s head on a pike."


    A deadly silence followed.


    Then, slowly, Madam Wei set down her glass and spoke.


    "You''re right."


    Her lips curled into a smirk, but there was no amusement in her eyes.


    "They both need to die."


    Lord Vance flexed his injured metal hand, sparks still flickering from where the bullet had hit.


    "We invested too much in this tournament to let that kid walk away alive. And Yara? She''s a problem we should''ve handled a long time ago."


    Daimon gritted his teeth at Vance''s words.


    "But we can''t take her head-on," he admitted, bitterly.


    Grandmaster Hui nodded.


    "No, we can''t." He tapped his fingers on the table, thinking. "She''s too strong, too fast. If we try to fight her directly, she''ll carve through us before we can even blink."


    Madam Wei sighed, swirling the last of her wine.


    "Then we don''t fight her directly."


    Daimon narrowed his eyes at her before asking:


    "What are you saying?"


    She glanced at him, her red-painted lips curling into a knowing smirk.


    "I''m saying¡­" she drawled, "we don''t need to fight her. We just need to make sure she''s not there when Aestrea dies."


    Lord Vance raised an eyebrow.


    "You have a plan?"


    Madam Wei''s eyes gleamed.


    "I do."


    She leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand.


    "We split them up. Isolate the boy. Make him vulnerable. And when the time is right¡­"


    Fwip!


    She mimicked a slicing motion across her neck.


    "Not bad. But how do we keep Yara occupied?" Grandmaster Hui nodded slowly.


    Madam Wei chuckled. "Oh, that part''s easy."


    She glanced at Daimon. "You still have contacts in the government, don''t you?"


    Daimon, still grimacing in pain, nodded stiffly.


    "I do."


    Madam Wei''s smirk widened.


    "Good. Then we''ll have them put out a bounty."


    A heavy silence followed.


    Then¡ª


    Lord Vance''s lips twisted into a wicked grin.


    "Oh¡­ now that''s interesting."


    Grandmaster Hui''s eyes flicked in interest


    "A bounty on Yara herself?"


    "No," Madam Wei said smoothly, her voice dripping with satisfaction.


    She tilted her head.


    "We put a bounty on Aestrea."


    Daimon''s eyes widened slightly¡ªthen a slow, cruel smile spread across his face.


    If they put out a high-profile bounty on Aestrea, the underground would erupt. Every assassin, every hunter, every desperate mercenary would be after him.


    And Yara?


    She''d be too busy fighting off an endless wave of killers to protect him.


    And when she was exhausted, weakened¡ªthat''s when they''d strike.


    Lord Vance leaned back in his chair, a smirk tugging at his lips. "And just to make it interesting¡­ let''s offer a reward they can''t refuse."


    Grandmaster Hui steepled his fingers, considering.


    "100 Platinum Coins...?"


    "Too low." Madam Wei chuckled.


    "10.000 Platinum Coins," Daimon rasped.


    Silence.


    Madam Wei grinned.


    "Now that," she said, "is a bounty worth chasing."


    Lord Vance let out a low whistle. "10.000 Platinum Coins for the head of Aestrea¡­ We won''t just get assassins. We''ll get the best."


    Daimon chuckled darkly, the pain in his leg now seemed like a distant memory.


    "We''re about to watch the whole world come for that brat."


    Madam Wei raised her glass.


    "Then let''s drink to his death."


    Grandmaster Hui smirked and lifted his own glass.


    Lord Vance followed.


    Even Daimon, gritting his teeth, managed to grab a drink.


    As their glasses clinked together, the air in the room turned dangerous.


    Their plan was set.


    But then...


    "Well, well... isn''t this such a beautiful scene to see?"


    A voice¡ªsmooth, mocking¡ªcut through the air like a sword.


    The room immediately froze.


    Slowly, their gazes snapped toward the ruined doorway¡ªthe place where the doors should have been.


    And there¡ªstanding just at the threshold¡ª


    Two glowing red eyes with a faint scarlet smoke seeping out of them, pierced through the dim light, looking at them sharply.


    The figure stepped forward, calm, almost lazy in his movements. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tap... tap... tap...


    His boots clicked softly against the floor.


    The shadows around him shifted, revealing a face half-lit by the flickering chandelier above.


    His lips curled into a small, knowing smile.


    And then, he spoke again.


    "Isn''t it better to finish the job directly?"


    His fingers moved with slow, deliberate ease¡ªgrasping the hilts of the two swords at his waist.


    Shing...!


    The sound of steel sliding free from its sheath filled the air, sharp and deadly.


    In that moment,


    A cold sweat formed on the foreheads of the big shots at the table.


    And for the first time that night¡ª


    The hunters felt like prey.

 Chapter 69 - 69: The Moonlight Swordsman (XXXV)

    Aestrea''s twin swords glinted under the dim light as he stared at the people in front of him.


    He didn''t flinch.


    He didn''t speak.


    His breath was steady, his feet spread slightly apart, ready to move at any moment.


    The air in the room felt heavier now, charged with tension and killing intent.


    "You''re out of your mind," Lord Vance growled, stepping forward.


    His mechanical hand whirred to life, glowing faintly from the beams of energy pulsing through his chest.


    His entire body seemed to vibrate with power despite his injury from Yara.


    "You think you can take all of us by yourself?"


    Aestrea''s glowing crimson eyes didn''t waver.


    Instead, his lips curled into a faint smirk.


    "I don''t think," he said softly.


    "I know."


    Then, he moved.


    BOOM!


    The floor cracked beneath Aestrea''s feet as he launched himself forward like a bullet, his twin swords flashing in the air.


    Lord Vance was the first to react, his mechanical arm swinging upward to block.


    CLANG!


    Metal met steel as Aestrea''s blade clashed with Vance''s arm.


    The impact sent a sharp, ringing sound through the room. Sparks flew as Vance pushed back with brute strength, forcing Aestrea to jump back.


    But Aestrea didn''t stop.


    The moment his feet hit the ground, he spun around, slashing his second sword in a wide arc toward Vance''s ribs.


    WHOOSH!


    Vance barely managed to step back, the blade missing him by inches. But before he could counter, Aestrea''s hand shot out toward the ground.


    "Freeze," Aestrea muttered, his breath visible as smoke in the suddenly cold air.


    CRACK!


    A thin layer of ice spread across the floor like lightning, creeping toward Vance''s feet.


    "What the¡ª?!" Vance shouted, stumbling back as his legs froze in place.


    Madam Wei hissed sharply, snapping her fingers.


    Thin, shimmering strings shot from her hands, slicing through the air like whips.


    SNAP!


    SNAP!


    Aestrea ducked, the strings narrowly missing his head. One of them slashed across the wall behind him, leaving a deep, clean cut in the wood.


    "Stay still, you little pest!" Madam Wei snarled, her fingers moving faster now. More strings shot toward him, glinting under the dim light.


    But Aestrea was already moving.


    WHOOSH!


    He sidestepped the first string, twisted his body to avoid the second, then slashed downward with his left-hand sword, severing the third mid-air.


    SNAP!


    The string fell to the ground, writhing like a living thing before disappearing.


    Aestrea''s gaze locked onto Madam Wei.


    "You talk too much," he said coldly.


    Madam Wei''s eyes narrowed.


    "You''ll regret that."


    She raised her hands, and a massive web exploded outward, covering half the room. The sticky strands glimmered like silk, but Aestrea could feel the danger radiating from them.


    Before he could react, the web shot toward him, wrapping around his arms and legs.


    SHHK!


    The strands tightened, locking him in place.


    Madam Wei smiled cruelly.


    "Let''s see how cocky you are when you can''t move," she purred, pulling the web tighter.


    Aestrea didn''t panic, his crimson eyes flickered lightly, and his swords began to glow with a faint silver light.


    "Bad i dea," he said quietly.


    CRACK!


    A surge of cold energy exploded from his body, freezing the web instantly. The ice spread up the strands, creeping toward Madam Wei''s hands.


    Her eyes widened.


    "Shit!"


    She severed the web just in time, the frozen strands shattering like glass.


    CRASH!


    Aestrea landed on his feet, his swords spinning in his hands. He launched himself toward her, his blades cutting through the air with deadly precision.


    SWISH!


    Madam Wei leaped back, narrowly avoiding the strikes. She raised her hands, sending a flurry of strings toward him, but Aestrea was too fast.


    CLANG!


    He deflected the strings with both of his swords, keeping his eyes on the incoming strings.


    Meanwhile, Grandmaster Hui stood calmly at the table, watching the battle.


    He hadn''t moved yet, but the air around him seemed to shift, growing heavier with each passing second.


    Finally, he raised his hand, his fingers forming a strange, runic symbol.


    "Enough."


    His voice was quiet but carried a strange weight, like a heavy bell tolling in the distance.


    The entire room seemed to shudder as a golden light erupted from his hand, forming a massive glowing symbol in the air.


    Aestrea froze mid-strike, his swords still raised.


    "What the¡ª?"


    Before he could react, the symbol shot toward him, slamming into his chest.


    BOOM!


    Thud!


    Aestrea was thrown backward, crashing into the wall.


    "Ugh¡­" He gritted his teeth, pushing himself to his feet.


    The symbol glowed faintly on his chest, binding him in place.


    Grandmaster Hui stepped forward with a calm and unbothered expression as if he had taken Aestrea as some kind of naughty child.


    "You are strong," Grandmaster Hui said lightly. "But strength without discipline is meaningless."


    At his words, Aestrea let out a cold chuckle.


    "Aren''t you quite... poetic? Just a few minutes ago, you were talking about setting a bounty on my head to kill me..." His crimson eyes burned brighter.


    He could feel the weight of the symbol pressing down on him, but he refused to back down.


    His fingers twitched slightly, still wrapped around the hilts of his swords.


    Suddenly¡ª


    WHOOSH!


    A wave of thin, glowing strings lashed toward him from the side.


    Madam Wei.


    "You''re a slippery one, I''ll give you that," she said smoothly, her fingers weaving in the air. The strings moved like living things, twisting toward Aestrea''s arms and legs.


    SHHHT!


    Aestrea twisted his body, trying to dodge¡ªbut the golden seal on his chest made his movements slow. The strings wrapped around his right arm, yanking it back with force.


    "Kh¡ª!"


    He gritted his teeth, his muscles straining.


    WHIP!


    More strings came flying, aiming for his legs.


    No choice.


    Aestrea clenched his left hand. His sword pulsed with icy energy.


    CRACK!


    A sudden burst of frost shot out from his blade, freezing the strings mid-air.


    Madam Wei''s eyes widened slightly.


    "Tch¡ªstill resisting?"


    Aestrea didn''t answer.


    He exhaled sharply, focusing all his strength on his legs.


    Then¡ª


    BOOM!


    The ground beneath him exploded as he launched himself forward, breaking free from the seal''s weight for just a moment.


    SHING!


    He swung his left sword, slicing through the frozen strings and shattering them into glittering shards.


    "Too slow!"


    Lord Vance was already moving.


    VMMMM!


    His mechanical body hummed with energy as his core pulsed, sending power through his limbs. His metal fist shot forward, aiming straight for Aestrea''s stomach.


    Aestrea''s eyes sharpened.


    He twisted mid-air, bringing his sword up¡ª


    CLANG!


    The impact was brutal. Sparks flew as metal met steel, the sheer force sending a shockwave through the room.


    "Not bad," Vance muttered, pressing forward with his mechanical strength.


    CREAK!


    CREEEAK!


    Aestrea grunted as he felt his feet sliding back against the floor.


    He needed to move¡ªnow.


    He ducked low, letting Vance''s metal arm swing past his head.


    Then¡ª


    THWACK!


    He drove his knee straight into Vance''s ribs.


    "GHK¡ª!"


    The hit connected, sending a shudder through Vance''s frame. But his robotic body barely budged.


    Instead, his metal arm whipped around in a backhand strike¡ª


    BAM!


    Aestrea barely blocked it with his swords, but the sheer force sent him flying backward.


    CRASH! S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He slammed against the far wall, coughing as dust filled the air.


    Before he could even recover¡ª


    SWISH!


    More web-strings came flying toward him.


    "Not this time!" Aestrea growled.


    He slashed downward¡ª


    SHING!


    ¡ªbut the strings were faster.


    SHHHH!


    They wrapped around his wrist, then his ankle, tightening like snakes.


    A sharp tug¡ª


    And suddenly, Aestrea was yanked off the ground.


    FWIP! SLAM!


    His body crashed into the ceiling.


    Then¡ª


    WHAM!


    He was slammed into the floor.


    "Gh¡ª!"


    Madam Wei smirked seeing Aestrea being slammed into the ground, tilting her head.


    "This is getting fun."


    Her fingers flicked, and the webbing tightened harder.


    "Let''s see how long you last."


    Aestrea''s body ached.


    His breath was uneven as he gripped his sword tighter.


    Focus...


    Ice energy swirled around him, creeping along the webbing.


    Madam Wei''s smile faltered.


    "No, you don''t¡ª!"


    CRACK!


    The ice spread fast, freezing the webbing in seconds.


    Then¡ª


    SHATTER!


    Aestrea ripped free, landing in a crouch. His swords glowed, cold mist rising from their blades.


    Madam Wei clicked her tongue.


    "Annoying."


    She raised her hand again¡ª


    But Aestrea was already in front of her.


    WHOOSH!


    His sword sliced toward her neck¡ª


    CLANG!


    A fan¡ªthin but strong¡ªblocked the strike.


    Grandmaster Hui.


    He stood calmly between them, his golden aura flickering.


    "You''re still resisting?" he murmured.


    Aestrea exhaled, gripping his swords.


    "Of course I am," he muttered. "You think I''m just gonna roll over and die?"


    Grandmaster Hui sighed.


    Then¡ª


    BOOM!


    A pulse of golden energy erupted from his palm, slamming into Aestrea''s chest.


    THUD!


    Aestrea skidded backward, his feet dragging across the floor. His vision blurred for a second from the force of the hit.


    "You are strong, but not invincible." Grandmaster Hui lowered his hand.


    Aestrea wiped blood from his mouth, breathing hard.


    But then¡ª


    A deep, rough chuckle echoed through the room.


    All eyes turned.


    Daimon.


    Still sitting, still holding his ruined knee.


    But now, he was grinning.


    "You''re all idiots," he muttered, shaking his head.


    Madam Wei frowned.


    "Excuse me?"


    Daimon''s grin widened.


    "You''re all underestimating him," he said, voice hoarse. "And that... is going to cost you."


    Madam Wei scoffed.


    "He''s one against four. What''s he gonna do?"


    Daimon chuckled again.


    Then¡ª


    Aestrea smiled.


    A slow, dangerous smirk.


    His crimson eyes gleamed.


    "You should''ve killed me when you had the chance."


    Then, the temperature in the room plunged.


    The floor beneath him turned white.


    Frost crawled up the walls. The air became thick with cold mist.


    And Aestrea¡ª


    Was gone.


    A flicker.


    A blur.


    Then¡ª


    SLASH!


    Blood sprayed into the air.


    Madam Wei gasped, clutching her shoulder.


    Aestrea stood behind her, his sword dripping red.


    Lord Vance turned, his metal body humming¡ª


    But Aestrea was already gone.


    WHOOSH!


    A blur of white and silver.


    Then¡ª


    BOOM!


    Aestrea appeared above him, sword raised.


    Lord Vance barely had time to block.


    CLANG!


    The force cracked the floor beneath them.


    Aestrea''s swords gleamed as he vanished again.


    WHOOSH!


    Lord Vance''s eyes darted left¡ª


    Too slow.


    Aestrea reappeared behind him.


    SWISH!


    His blade sliced through the air, aiming for Vance''s exposed neck¡ª


    CLANG!


    Vance barely twisted in time, blocking with his mechanical forearm. Sparks erupted as steel clashed with metal.


    But Aestrea wasn''t done.


    His second sword was already moving¡ª


    THUNK!


    It crashed against Vance''s ribcage, denting the metal plating.


    "GHK¡ª!"


    Vance stumbled back, his core pulsating as his body absorbed the impact.


    VMMMM!


    A sudden energy pulse erupted from his chest¡ª


    BOOM!


    Aestrea barely had time to raise his swords before the blast sent him flying.


    THUD!


    He slammed into the stone pillar, cracks spreading around him.


    CRACK-CRACK-CRACK!


    Dust filled the air.


    "Haa..."


    Letting out a deep breath in the cold silence, the scarlet trail on Aestrea''s eyes became more evident.


    He kicked off the pillar, flipping in midair¡ª


    His swords whipped forward, sending two blades of ice hurtling toward Vance.


    SHHHHHT!


    Vance raised his arm¡ª


    BOOM!


    The ice exploded on impact, freezing part of his metal-plating solid.


    "Dammit!" Vance growled, ripping off the frozen chunks of armor.


    His core pulsed again, the glow intensifying.


    VMMMMMMMM!


    Aestrea landed in a crouch, watching him closely.


    Then¡ª


    A shadow.


    SHHHK!


    A thin, shimmering thread sliced through the air, aiming straight for Aestrea''s throat.


    Madam Wei.


    She hadn''t stopped her attacks.


    Aestrea tilted his head at the last second¡ª


    The thread barely missed, cutting a fine line across his cheek.


    TSSK!


    Blood dripped onto the cold floor.


    Madam Wei clicked her tongue, stepping forward, her hands weaving faster than before.


    "Not bad," she murmured.


    "But you can''t dodge forever."


    Aestrea barely had time to react before¡ª


    FWWWWWWP!


    A massive web erupted from her palms, covering the entire room.


    The strands glowed faintly, shifting like living silk.


    Aestrea''s eyes narrowed.


    This again.


    But this time¡ª


    The web moved on its own.


    WHOOSH!


    WHOOSH!


    WHOOSH!


    Strands lunged at him like whips, wrapping around his arms, legs, torso¡ª


    SHKK!


    Too fast.


    Too many.


    His body locked in place, the sticky strands tightening around his limbs.


    Madam Wei grinned.


    "Got you."


    Then, she yanked her hands.


    FWOOOOOM!


    The web pulled Aestrea into the air, his body suspended above the battlefield.


    He struggled, twisting against the bindings¡ª


    But they only tightened.


    Madam Wei tilted her head.


    "Struggling is useless," she whispered.


    Aestrea exhaled.


    His eyes gleamed.


    "...You don''t learn, do you?" he murmured.


    Then¡ª


    His swords began to glow.


    FROST CREEPING.


    The air froze around him.


    CRACK-CRACK-CRACK!


    Madam Wei''s smirk disappeared.


    Aestrea''s entire body became engulfed in ice, the frost spreading through the webbing like a wild infection.


    SHHHHHHH!


    The ice moved too fast¡ª


    Madam Wei''s eyes widened¡ª


    "Shit¡ª"


    She tried to sever the strands¡ª


    TOO LATE.


    CRACK!


    The webbing shattered like glass, frozen pieces scattering across the floor.


    Aestrea flipped mid-air, landing lightly.


    His swords spun in his hands.


    His breath fogged in the air.


    He took a slow step forward.


    Madam Wei''s body tensed.


    "You little¡ª"


    But before she could finish¡ª


    Aestrea was already in front of her.


    Her eyes widened¡ª


    SWISH!


    His sword sliced down.


    Madam Wei barely blocked with a shimmering thread¡ª


    SNAP!


    Her defense tore apart instantly.


    Then¡ª


    THUNK!


    Aestrea''s elbow crashed into her gut.


    "GHK¡ª!"


    Madam Wei stumbled back, her breath knocked out of her lungs.


    Before she could recover¡ª


    BOOM!


    A massive golden light exploded from the other side of the battlefield.


    Aestrea turned¡ª


    Grandmaster Hui was standing calmly, one hand raised.


    The golden seal that had been binding Aestrea earlier?


    It was glowing again.


    Stronger this time.


    Grandmaster Hui''s fingers moved in a slow, deliberate pattern.


    "You are reckless," he said quietly.


    Aestrea''s muscles tensed.


    Then¡ª


    The golden symbol shot toward him.


    BOOM!


    It hit like a meteor.


    The impact shook the entire room.


    Aestrea felt his body freeze, the weight ten times heavier than before.


    "KH¡ª!"


    His knees buckled.


    The golden seal burned against his skin, pressing him downward.


    But unlike before, Aestrea only smirked at his.


    The output of his mana started to increase, slowly leaking out of his body, beyond the normal capacity of S-rank awakened could muster.


    CRACK!


    The golden seal shattered in an instant.


    Seeing this, Grandmaster Hui stopped moving.


    Lord Vance''s core flickered.


    Madam Wei staggered slightly.


    Except for Daimon, all of them were completely surprised.


    "Haaa..."


    A cold breath came out of Aestrea''s mouth.


    Along with his familiar glowing red eyes.

 Chapter 70 - 70: The Moonlight Swordsman (XXXVI)

    "This brat..." Madam Wei bit her lips, looking at Aestrea who slowly approached them.


    With just a few scratches on his body, he was able to damage the three of them alone. And their injuries were much worse than his.


    Just the Grandmaster Hui didn''t suffer any injury, and Daemon wasn''t participating in the battle at all.


    Step...!


    Aestrea suddenly disappeared into thin air.


    OOM!


    He reappeared in front of Grandmaster Hui, swords whipping downward with blinding speed. Grandmaster Hui''s fingers flicked, forming another golden seal in midair¡ª


    CLANG!


    Aestrea''s blades smashed into it, the force shaking the entire room.


    Cracks spread across the glowing barrier.


    Grandmaster Hui''s eyes narrowed¡ª


    Aestrea was already moving again.


    WHOOSH!


    He twisted, flipping mid-air, his second sword stabbing toward Hui''s ribs.


    Hui raised his arm, blocking with his bare hand.


    THUD!


    A wave of golden energy erupted on impact¡ª


    Aestrea gritted his teeth, feeling the force push against him.


    But¡ª


    He didn''t stop.


    He kicked off the golden barrier, twisting again, his sword slashing toward Hui''s neck.


    SWISH!


    Hui tilted his head at the last second¡ª


    The blade barely missed, slicing through the air just beside his face.


    Aestrea''s feet hit the ground.


    He didn''t pause.


    His hand shot forward¡ª


    CRACK!


    A sudden wave of frost exploded from his palm, ice surging toward Hui''s legs.


    Hui stepped back¡ª


    TOO LATE.


    The ice clamped down, locking his feet in place.


    Aestrea''s smirk returned.


    But, Grandmaster Hui''s expression didn''t change.


    Instead¡ª


    He raised one hand.


    His fingers moved.


    A single golden rune formed in the air¡ª


    Then¡ª


    BOOM!


    Aestrea felt his body freeze.


    Gravity shifted.


    His limbs suddenly felt like they were dragged down by mountains of weight.


    His knees buckled¡ª


    His breath caught in his throat¡ª


    The air itself felt heavier, pressing against him from all sides.


    Grandmaster Hui''s voice was calm.


    "This is the power of Buddhist magic," he said simply.


    Aestrea gritted his teeth.


    The pressure was immense like he was being crushed by an invisible force.


    But¡ª


    His eyes burned brighter.


    "Yeah?" he rasped.


    "Well, here''s the power of mine."


    ''Mana output increased to five times!''


    A sudden shockwave of cold erupted from Aestrea''s body¡ª


    SHHHHHHHT!


    The temperature in the room plummeted, ice spreading instantly across the floor.


    Grandmaster Hui''s golden aura flickered¡ª


    Then¡ª


    CRACK!


    The frost shattered the rune causing a small wound to appear in Grandmaster Hui''s body, and Aestrea moved again.


    WHOOSH!


    He launched forward, his sword slamming into Hui''s chest¡ª


    BOOOOOM!


    Grandmaster Hui staggered back, his robes ripping from the force.


    Aestrea''s second blade spun, slashing toward his throat¡ª


    But before it could connect¡ª


    BOOM!


    A sudden blast of energy erupted from behind.


    Aestrea whirled¡ª


    Lord Vance after recovering a bit, was now charging straight at him.


    His energy core was pulsing, the light growing brighter.


    Aestrea''s eyes narrowed¡ª


    WHOOSH!


    Vance swung his metal fist, aiming for Aestrea''s skull¡ª


    Aestrea ducked.


    SWOOSH!


    The punch missed, but¡ª


    BOOM!


    It slammed into the ground, shattering the stone floor.


    Aestrea''s foot shot up¡ª


    THUNK!


    A brutal kick straight to Vance''s chin.


    Vance''s head snapped back, but he didn''t fall.


    Instead¡ª


    VMMMMMMMM!


    His energy core pulsed again, and¡ª


    BOOOOOOM!


    A massive shockwave erupted from his chest, sending Aestrea flying backward.


    THUD!


    He crashed into a pillar, stones crumbling around him.


    But¡ª


    Before he could even recover¡ª


    SHHHHK!


    A thread wrapped around his wrist.


    Madam Wei.


    "You''re getting annoying," she hissed.


    Aestrea''s eyes flashed.


    His hand gripped the string¡ª


    And froze it instantly.


    CRACK!


    The thread shattered, and Aestrea lunged forward.


    Madam Wei''s eyes widened¡ª


    SWISH!


    Aestrea''s sword sliced through her shoulder, blood spraying across the ground.


    "AHH¡ª!"


    She stumbled back, clutching her wound.


    Aestrea didn''t stop.


    His blade moved again¡ª


    THUNK!


    His foot slammed into her gut, sending her crashing against the wall.


    She slumped, breathing heavily.


    But¡ª


    The battle wasn''t over.


    Grandmaster Hui had recovered.


    Lord Vance was charging again.


    And¡ª


    Daemon.


    Daemon hadn''t moved yet.


    He was still standing at the back, watching the fight.


    His hand was clenching his side, his wound bleeding through his coat.


    But his eyes¡ª


    They were now glowing.


    Aestrea and Daemon''s gazes locked.


    For a second¡ª


    Everything else faded away.


    The air between them thickened.


    Daemon exhaled.


    Then¡ª


    He took a step forward.


    Aestrea''s grip tightened on his swords. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Daemon''s fingers twitched.


    The others felt it immediately.


    Even Grandmaster Hui.


    Even Lord Vance.


    The energy shifted.


    Daemon was finally joining the fight.


    "I was wondering when you were going to join," Aestrea murmured.


    Daemon didn''t answer.


    Instead¡ª


    WHOOSH!


    He vanished.


    BOOM!


    Daemon appeared in front of Aestrea in a blink.


    His fist shot forward, aiming for Aestrea''s gut¡ª


    THUD!


    Aestrea barely twisted in time, but the punch grazed his ribs, sending a shockwave through his body.


    CRACK!


    The ground split apart beneath them from the force.


    Aestrea gritted his teeth.


    Then, the Demon''s knee came next, rocketing toward Aestrea''s chest¡ª


    Aestrea blocked with his forearm¡ª


    BAM!


    But, the impact sent him sliding backward, his boots scraping across the stone floor.


    WHOOSH!


    Daemon closed the distance instantly, his leg swinging in a brutal roundhouse kick.


    Aestrea ducked¡ª


    But¡ª


    SHHHHK!


    A sudden thread wrapped around his wrist¡ª


    Madam Wei.


    She was injured, but still in the fight.


    "Tsk."


    Aestrea yanked his arm, dragging her forward¡ª


    She stumbled¡ª


    SWISH!


    Aestrea''s sword slashed, aiming for her throat.


    But¡ª


    BOOM!


    Lord Vance rushed in, his metal fist colliding with Aestrea''s blade.


    SPARKS FLEW.


    The force sent both of them flying backward.


    CRASH!


    Aestrea landed on his feet, but Vance skidded, his robotic joints whining under the pressure.


    The moment Aestrea looked up¡ª


    WHOOSH!


    Daemon was already there.


    His palm struck Aestrea''s chest¡ª


    A sudden shockwave erupted¡ª


    BOOOOOOM!


    Crack!


    Splurgh!


    Aestrea felt his ribs crack, vomiting a whole mouthful of blood.


    He flew back, slamming into the far wall¡ª


    THUD!


    Blood dripped from his lips.


    He let out a rough exhale.


    Daemon stood in the center of the battlefield, not moving, his eyes cold as ice.


    "You''re strong," Daemon said quietly.


    "But not strong enough to deal with all of us."


    Aestrea chuckled, wiping the blood off his chin.


    "Nah."


    He grinned.


    "I''m more than enough."


    ''Mana Output increased by eight times out of ten times...''


    Then¡ª


    The temperature dropped.


    Ice spread from Aestrea''s feet, covering the ground in seconds.


    The air turned sharp, freezing.


    Daemon''s eyes narrowed.


    Aestrea vanished.


    WHOOSH!


    He reappeared above Daemon, swords slashing downward.


    Daemon blocked with his arm¡ª


    But¡ª


    SHHHHK!


    A thin layer of ice formed on his skin.


    Daemon''s eyes widened slightly.


    SWISH!


    Aestrea''s second sword sliced toward his ribs.


    Daemon twisted, barely avoiding it.


    But¡ª


    The ice spread faster.


    It climbed up his arm, locking his movements for a second.


    That second¡ª


    Was all Aestrea needed.


    BOOM!


    His knee slammed into Daemon''s jaw¡ª


    CRACK!


    Daemon staggered, his head snapping back.


    Aestrea pressed forward.


    Both swords spun in his hands, his attacks relentless.


    CLANG! SWISH! BAM!


    Daemon blocked, dodged, countered¡ª


    But he was on the defensive.


    Madam Wei jumped in again, her threads shooting toward Aestrea''s back.


    Aestrea sidestepped, barely avoiding them.


    Vance charged again, his energy core glowing brighter.


    Grandmaster Hui lifted his hand, forming another golden seal.


    Aestrea exhaled slowly.


    They were all attacking at once now. His eyes sharpened as he increased the amount of mana he was spending on his Judgement Eye.


    His grip on his swords tightened, his crimson eyes glowing faintly.


    He wasn''t using much mana yet.


    After all, because he has such a low mana quantity, he needs to preserve some for him to be able to use his sword art.


    And now... it was the time to do it.


    Aestrea shifted his stance, his breath steady. His feet slid across the frozen floor, adjusting to the terrain.


    The moment his heartbeat synced with the cold air around him¡ª


    "Moonlit Ice Lotus Sword Art...."


    ¡º First Move! (? Ice Lotus Bloom ?) ¡»


    WHOOSH!


    Aestrea vanished into thin air.


    Then reappeared between Daemon and Vance in a blink.


    His swords spun, slicing through the air with terrifying precision.


    The floor froze beneath him, sharp petals of ice forming outward¡ª


    Like a lotus blooming in the snow.


    BAAM!


    SHHHK!


    Daemon stepped back, narrowly avoiding a slash toward his neck.


    Vance slammed his mechanical fist down, trying to crush Aestrea¡ª


    CLANG!


    Aestrea''s left sword redirected the blow, deflecting the metal arm to the side.


    At the same time¡ª


    His right sword slashed upward¡ª


    SWISH!


    A thin arc of ice followed the blade, cutting toward Vance''s chest.


    BOOM!


    The ice exploded against Vance''s armor, forcing him back.


    Aestrea twisted¡ª


    Madam Wei''s threads shot toward him¡ª


    But it was too late.


    "Moonlit Ice Lotus Sword Art..."


    ¡º Second Move! (? Ice Lotus Barrage ?) ¡»


    Aestrea''s swords blurred.


    Each slash left behind a trailing crescent of ice, the movements so fast they looked like glowing arcs in the dim light.


    SWISH!


    SWISH!


    SWISH!


    The ice crescents exploded outward, cutting through Madam Wei''s threads before they could wrap around him.


    Her eyes widened.


    SNAP!


    The frozen threads shattered like glass, falling to the ground.


    Madam Wei stumbled back, her fingers twitching as she tried to summon more threads¡ª


    Aestrea was already there.


    WHOOSH!


    He appeared right in front of her, his sword raised.


    Her pupils shrunk.


    "Shi¡ª!"


    ¡º Third Move! (? Moonlight''s One Flash ?) ¡»


    A single motion.


    A single slash.


    SHING!


    The air shook.


    A thin glow of silver moonlight trailed from Aestrea''s sword¡ª


    For a moment, everything was silent.


    Then¡ª


    Madam Wei froze.


    Her eyes trembled.


    A thin, delicate cut appeared across her chest.


    ¡º Bleed ¡»


    Splurt!


    A huge wound opened, causing blood to splatter in all directions.


    Aestrea quickly turned away from her, but then¡ª


    ¡ª BOOOOOOM!


    A golden seal slammed into his back.


    "Gahn..." Aestrea gasped, his chest lurching forward as the weight of the Buddhist magic crushed him to the ground.


    "...Fucking Buddhist...!"


    Grandmaster Hui stepped forward, his expression calm.


    "You rely too much on your swordplay," Hui said softly.


    The golden seal glowed brighter, pressing down on Aestrea''s body.


    "Let''s see how you fight¡­ without them."


    The light intensified¡ª


    And Aestrea''s swords slipped from his hands.


    CLANG!


    They hit the ground.


    For the first time, Aestrea was unarmed.


    The golden seal burned against his back, pressing him down like a mountain.


    His swords were now gone.


    But of course, he wasn''t someone who only knew how to wield swords.


    He was a Magic Swordsman after all.


    Not a simple swordsman.


    A low chuckle left his lips.


    Grandmaster Hui''s eyes narrowed.


    "Something funny?"


    Aestrea exhaled, his crimson eyes flaring brighter.


    His mana was entirely unleashed.


    ''Mana output... increased to its maximum capacity. Ten times.''


    The grey heart made of Yara''s made dissipated almost immediately.


    FOOOOOM!


    A cold shockwave exploded outward, freezing the ground in an instant.


    The golden seal cracked¡ªthen shattered with a loud crack.


    Grandmaster Hui''s eyes widened.


    Aestrea stood up slowly, rolling his shoulders.


    His breath misted in the air, the temperature in the room dropping dangerously low.


    "You wanted me to fight¡­ without my swords?" Aestrea muttered, stretching his fingers.


    His knuckles cracked.


    A deep, heavy cold radiated from his body now, thick like a storm.


    "Fine."


    His feet slammed against the frozen floor, and then...


    BOOM!


    He dashed forward.


    WHOOSH!


    In the blink of an eye, Aestrea appeared above Grandmaster Hui, his fist drawn back.


    The air howled as his mana-infused punch crashed downward.


    BOOOOOOOM!


    The force splits the floor, sending ice and debris flying in all directions. Grandmaster Hui barely managed to raise his arm, a golden barrier forming just in time.


    CRACK!


    The impact shattered the first layer of his defense, pushing him back several feet.


    "That strength¡­!" Grandmaster Hui muttered, his robe fluttering.


    Aestrea didn''t stop.


    WHOOSH!


    He twisted mid-air, his foot slamming toward Hui''s ribs¡ª


    Grandmaster Hui blocked just in time, but the sheer force sent him skidding backward.


    Aestrea landed, his feet digging into the ice.


    CRACK!


    The moment he touched the ground¡ª


    He shot forward again.


    "Fuu..." A cold breath escaped his lips.


    Aestrea''s hand glowed, ice forming around his fingers like claws.


    His palm slammed toward Grandmaster Hui''s chest.


    BOOM!


    A pillar of ice erupted, threatening to freeze Hui solid.


    But Grandmaster Hui was already moving, his hand forming a mudra.


    "Break."


    BOOOOOM!


    A golden shockwave erupted from his body, shattering the ice instantly.


    Aestrea jumped back, dodging the blast¡ª


    Only for Lord Vance to suddenly appear beside him.


    WHIIIR!


    Vance''s mechanical arm glowed, charging up a devastating punch.


    FWOOOSH!


    Aestrea ducked, the fist barely missing his head¡ª


    But the air pressure alone sent him sliding backward.


    "You''re fast," Vance growled, dashing forward.


    "But not faster than me!"


    His energy core pulsed, and suddenly¡ª


    He was gone.


    Aestrea''s eyes widened.


    WHOOSH!


    Vance reappeared behind him, his metal fist slamming toward Aestrea''s spine.


    But just at the last second¡ª


    "Moonlit Ice Lotus Sword Combat Style Variant..."


    ¡º Frostbound Arcana! (? Flash Freeze Counter ?) ¡»


    Aestrea spun, grabbing Vance''s wrist mid-attack.


    CRACK!


    Ice exploded across the metal limb, freezing it instantly.


    Vance''s movements locked up.


    "Shit¡ª!"


    BOOOM!


    Aestrea drove his knee into Vance''s gut, sending him flying into the wall.


    CRASH!


    The stone shattered on impact.


    But before Aestrea could follow up¡ª


    A sharp string wrapped around his ankle.


    His head snapped to the side.


    Madam Wei.


    Her fingers twitched, and more threads shot toward him.


    "Extend!" He snapped.


    Aestrea''s eyes glowed brighter.


    FOOOOOM!


    A powerful wave of cold energy erupted from his body, freezing everything in its path.


    Madam Wei''s strings stiffened, turning brittle.


    SNAP!


    SNAP!


    SNAP!


    The frozen threads shattered instantly.


    Aestrea''s gaze locked onto her.


    "You''re annoying."


    He dashed towards her, and before she could react¡ª


    His hand grabbed her throat.


    CRACK!


    Frost crawled across her skin, locking her body in place.


    Madam Wei gasped, struggling.


    Her eyes widened in shock.


    "You¡­" she choked out.


    Aestrea leaned in slightly, his breath cold against her skin.


    "You talk too much," he said flatly.


    Then¡ª


    BOOOOOM!


    He slammed her into the ground, the ice exploding outward from the impact.


    The floor froze solid, and Madam Wei stopped moving.


    Aestrea stood up, exhaling.


    His breath misted in the air, his mana still surging through his body.


    Three down.


    One left.


    He turned slowly¡ª


    His eyes locked onto Grandmaster Hui.


    The old man stood calmly, watching him with an unreadable gaze.


    "Time to end this..." Grandmaster Hui spoke.


    His hand immediately started creating a strange symbol, but before he could do anything more...


    ¡º Bleed ¡»


    "GAAAAAAAAAGHHH!"


    The full force of the [Bleed] attack slammed into him, tearing open a deep gash across his body. He collapsed to his knees, the pain crashing through him like a wave.


    "Gosh¡­ you guys were a real pain."


    Aestrea took his time walking toward the old man, cracking his neck as he rolled his shoulders.


    "Say hello to the devil for me."


    Shing!


    The blade sliced through the air.


    The next moment, Grandmaster Hui''s head tumbled from his shoulders, landing with a soft thud on the ground, rolling slightly before coming to a stop.


    Fwip!


    Aestrea flicked his sword, sending a spray of blood splattering across the floor. Without another word, he turned and started walking towards the exit.


    And as he reached the door, he muttered under his breath.


    "Explode."


    BOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!


    The room behind him vanished in an instant.


    A violent blast tore everything apart, leaving nothing but dust and rubble in its wake.

 Chapter 71 - 71: *The Moonlight Swordsman (XXXVII)*

    Hisshh~


    The quiet crackle of the fireplace in Yara''s home barely filled the tense silence as Aestrea stepped through the door.


    His boots dragged slightly against the polished floor, leaving behind faint, dark smudges¡ªblood.


    His clothes were soaked in it, and not all of it was his.


    Cuts and tears ran down his coat and pants, but none of it seemed to bother him. His crimson eyes, glowing faintly, were as cold as ever.


    "You''re finally bac...?"


    Yara looked up from her chair by the fire, raising an eyebrow at him.


    She was sprawled lazily, a book resting open in her lap. Her ink hair shimmered under the firelight, and her sharp gaze flicked up and down his figure.


    "Where did you...?" Her voice trailed off, her tone was more curious than concerned.


    "You look like you just came back from slaughtering a whole army." Her fingers tapped the edge of her book lightly as her lips curled into a mischievous smile.


    At her words, Aestrea shrugged, brushing past her.


    "Nothing significant," he said calmly like he hadn''t just walked in dripping with blood.


    "Just had to... clean up some trash."


    Yara''s smirk deepened, and she shut her book with a soft snap. She set it down on the small table beside her, leaning forward as her sharp eyes stared at him.


    "Oh, really? ''Trash,'' huh?"


    "You''re bleeding all over my floor, you know."


    He glanced down briefly, noticing the faint red smears he was leaving in his wake.


    "It''s not mine," he muttered, brushing a hand over his teared-up coat as if that could clean it up. Then, he started heading towards the bathroom.


    Seeing him entering the bathroom, Yara sighed, before reciting a cleaning spell on the floor and directly barging into the bathroom.


    There, Aestrea had already taken off his shirt, showing countless scars on his body.


    Yara''s eyes widened significantly, as she stared at his well-defined body. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she slowly brushed her tongue past her lips.


    "...Can''t I have some privacy?" he asked.


    Yara crossed her arms at his words, her loose silk robes swaying slightly as she moved.


    "You can''t just walk in here looking like that and not tell me what happened, Aestrea," she said firmly, completely ignoring his question.


    Aestrea didn''t answer right away. Instead, he walked over to the tub and placed a waterstone inside the holder.


    With a small flow of mana, water began streaming down like a soft waterfall.


    "Haaa..." He watched it for a moment before letting out a deep sigh.


    Then, slowly, he turned to face her.


    ''I already got way too much involved with her, and by her eyes, I can feel that she won''t leave me alone, even if I try to run.''


    ''...I''ll simply accept where this relationship is going.''


    "I killed the VIPs from the Death Tournament," he said flatly.


    His crimson eyes stayed locked on hers.


    Yara blinked.


    For a moment, it looked like she hadn''t heard him.


    Then, her lips parted.


    "You¡­ what?" Her voice came out in a quiet gasp.


    "You heard me." He turned away again, rolling up his sleeves.


    "They''re dead."


    She stared at him, her mind racing.


    "You killed them all? All those stuck-up VIPs?" Slowly, a grin crept across her face.


    And then, before she could stop herself, she burst into laughter.


    "Haha¡­ HAHAHA!"


    Her laughter echoed through the room, growing louder and louder.


    She clutched her stomach as she doubled over, her voice rising into near-hysterics. It was the kind of laugh you''d hear from someone who was just a little mentally ill.


    He glanced back at her, raising a brow.


    ''Oh. She''s back to normal...''


    After a while, Yara finally managed to straighten up, wiping tears from her eyes as she caught her breath.


    "Ahaahaaa!" she gasped.


    "Those bastards. Those arrogant, self-important bastards. Those bastards died to you? She started laughing again but managed to keep it quieter this time.


    When she finally stopped, Aestrea asked curiously:


    "Did you get the reward for winning the tournament yet?" S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He really wanted to see what prize it was that those VIPs were so mad to get it.


    "Of course I did," she said, still grinning. "The owner handed it over himself right after you left."


    "And?" Aestrea asked, narrowing his eyes slightly.


    "And," she said, leaning against the wall, "he tried to make me an offer. Said I should hand you over to him. Apparently, he thinks you''d be useful to his little group."


    "Well, of course, I refused."


    Hearing her words, Aestrea looked at her for a moment.


    ''...Does that guy seriously think I belong to her?''


    He brushed the thought away quickly.


    "What exactly is the prize?" He couldn''t help but finally ask.


    At his question, Yara''s smirk widened. Without saying a word, she reached up to her left hand and tapped a small ring she wore.


    A luxurious-looking box appeared in her hand, shimmering slightly.


    Then, she knelt down, and then, slowly opened the small box...


    "Will you mar¡ª"


    "¡ªNo."


    And was flatly rejected.


    Yara rolled her eyes, chuckling softly.


    "Killjoy."


    She stood up, holding the box open for him to see.


    Inside, a small, glowing object sat nestled on a dark velvet lining. Aestrea''s eyes widened slightly as he stared at it.


    "...Is that... a Dragon''s Tear?!"


    "Not just any Dragon''s Tear," Yara said proudly.


    "It''s a Dragon''s Crystallized Tear. Pretty, isn''t it?"


    "No wonder those damned bastards wanted to win the tournament so much," Aestrea exclaimed softly, still shocked that the prize was this.


    A Dragon''s Tear was something extremely rare.


    Although it was much cheaper and less useful than a Dragon''s Bone or a Dragon''s Heart, it was rarer than both of them combined.


    After all, for the arrogant race of a Dragon to shed tears, it was almost impossible to happen.


    But of course, the Dragon''s Tear could be more useful than both of them, depending on who utilizes them.


    A Dragon''s Tear can work like the highest-grade kind of elixir, it can heal any hidden injury, poison, or even curse!


    Not to mention, that it improves your growth speed, expands your mana meridians, strengthens your heart, increases the absorption of mana, and even grants you resistance to things such as poison, curses, and many more!


    It is extremely useful!


    "Ahh..."


    Aestrea frowned slightly.


    His eyes narrowed slightly as he asked Yara...


    "...If the prize of this... shouldn''t Lich''s Heart be incredibly cheap?" he asked, and slowly, he started seeing beads of sweat forming on Yara''s forehead.


    "Well? Everyone wants to be my challenger, and because of that, I figured out that you still needed to owe me a favor!"


    "After all, winning that tournament, your reputation in the underworld sky-rocketed!"


    Aestrea''s frown deepened.


    He grabbed her shoulders, staring into her eyes, and asked:


    "Do I have the face of someone who wants to increase his reputation?"


    His glowing red eyes met hers dim black ones.


    Yara tried to open her mouth, but the intensity of his stare made her words falter.


    Her heart skipped a beat and started beating fast.


    Like really fast.


    Too damned fast for her liking.


    Her pulse quickened as she stared into his glowing eyes, and for some reason, she couldn''t stop herself from noticing how close he was.


    She bit her lip, looking at those firm red eyes, and her gaze slowly switched between his lips and eyes...


    ''Damn... why does he have to look so damn good when he''s mad?'' she thought, gulping hard as she looked at his pale pink lips.


    ''Don''t stare at me like that....'' she shifted her legs slightly...


    ''If you don''t stop... I... I wi...''


    Chuu?


    Before she could even think about what she was doing, Aestrea leaned in.


    His lips brushed against hers¡ªsoft, quick, but enough to send a jolt of electricity through her body.


    Her eyes widened in shock, as she felt a hand grabbing her waist, slightly, pushing her closer to his chest.


    Her delicate hands instinctively pressed against his chest due to the sudden push, and a small blush started creeping out to her face.


    Smack~


    Yara stood frozen for a second, her face burning as she stared up at Aestrea.


    That soft, unexpected kiss left her breathless.


    But when her senses finally caught up to her, her lips curved into a sly smile.


    "Oh? What was that?" Yara tilted her head slightly, a teasing smile pulling at the corners of her lips.


    Aestrea didn''t hesitate.


    "Why? You don''t know what a kiss is?" His words came out smoothly, catching her off guard as he dodged her question.


    Her eyes narrowed.


    "¡­This bastard."


    Before he could say anything else, she moved quickly, her hands shooting up to grip his neck, pulling him toward her with a force that surprised even him.


    She locked her arms around him, staring deep into his glowing crimson eyes.


    The air between them felt charged, heavy.


    "...About the favor you owe me..." she whispered, her voice soft but with a sharp edge.


    Her tongue lightly traced her lower lip before she continued, her words lingering in the space between them.


    "If you sleep with me, you can clear that debt¡ª"


    Smack!


    "Mhm~"


    She didn''t need to say twice before Aestrea''s lips slammed against her, causing a small groan to escape her lips.


    He pulled her in tighter, his fingers digging into the back of her neck, forcing her closer to his chest.


    His lips were firm and demanding, and she couldn''t help but melt against him.


    The intensity of it made her pulse race.


    "Mmm, mmm...!"


    The kiss deepened, and she felt the heat of his breath on her lips as he slowly slid his tongue between them.


    Slicks...


    His tongue moved gently, teasingly, then with more urgency, running along her lower lip before finding its way into her mouth.


    Yara''s body shuddered, her heart pounding so hard, it almost hurt.


    "Mhmm~!!!"


    Her hands slid up to his chest, pressing against him, trying to anchor herself as their kiss continued.


    His tongue moved against hers, slow at first, then faster, more desperate if he was trying to taste every bit of her.


    His lips moved over hers with a hungry fervor, each kiss more intense than the last.


    Slurp!


    Yara gasped when his hand slid to her waist, pulling her even closer.


    Her chest pressed against his, and she could feel the steady beat of his heart¡ªthump-thump¡ªmatching her own.


    Yara moaned softly into his mouth, the sound escaping before she could stop it.


    "Pwa~ Mmm~!"


    Aestrea''s grip tightened, and his lips moved against hers, slower this time as if savoring the taste of her.


    He pulled back just enough for their lips to part, only to quickly press them together again, his tongue sliding in to reclaim her mouth.


    When he finally pulled away, their lips barely separated, and Yara''s breath came in soft, shaky gasps.


    Her pulse raced.


    Thump-thump!


    She stared up at him, stunned, her chest rising and falling quickly.


    Before she could even process her thoughts, Aestrea was lifting her up effortlessly, pulling her into his arms.


    Yara gasped, her arms instinctively wrapping around his neck as her legs wrapped around his waist.


    The movement was so smooth, so fluid, as though they''d done this a thousand times before.


    Smack?!


    Her lips found him again.


    Aestrea moved slowly, carefully carrying her toward the bathtub. It was already filled, the water swirling peacefully inside.


    With a flick of his fingers, he used his mana to stop the water from flowing in.


    But Yara''s hunger for him was growing.


    "Chuu, churup! Slurp, smack, lick~"


    Her lips moved over his, each kiss more eager than the last. Her nails dug into his back, her body pressing more weight into him, demanding more.


    It caught him by surprise.


    Splash!


    They both fell into the large tub, water splashing everywhere, drenching them completely.


    "Haaaa!"


    Gasping for air, they quickly pulled their heads out of the water, their breaths heavy and uneven from the intensity of their kisses.


    They stared at each other, eyes locking as they simultaneously licked their lips, feeling the heat between them.


    Yara couldn''t help but glance down at Aestrea''s chest.


    Aestrea, just as mesmerized, found his gaze drawn to her chest.


    Her robes were soaked, and her black bra was now clearly visible.


    They were both hungry for each other.

 Chapter 72 - 72: *The Moonlight Swordsman (XXXVIII)*

    Click...!


    Splash...


    The sound of a bra falling into the water could be heard.


    "Chuu?, smack~, smooch!"


    Along with multiple kissing noises.


    Splash!


    Aestrea grabbed her leg and pinned her against the wall of the tub.


    Water sloshed around them, spilling over the edge, but neither of them cared.


    Their lips crushed together, tongues tangling in a fierce battle as if both were fighting for dominance.


    Yara''s fingers gripped his silver-blue hair, tugging hard as her chest heaved. Her cheeks were flushed a deep red, her eyes hazy with need.


    "Haah..."


    "Fuu..."


    They broke apart just long enough to catch their breath, panting as their heavy breathing mingled in the air between them.


    A glistening string of saliva stretched between their parted tongues, breaking only when their lips closed.


    And then¡ª


    Smack~


    Their lips crashed together again.


    Aestrea''s hand slid up her wet, slippery body, finding its way to her chest. His fingers curled around her full breasts, squeezing them softly.


    "Mhm!"


    Yara gasped in surprise, her muffled groan vibrating against his mouth.


    She arched her back slightly, pressing her body closer to his, her hands sliding down to grip his shoulders.


    "Chuurup?, slurp, slick~"


    Aestrea''s hands slid from her chest to her buttocks, gripping her firmly before lifting her with ease.


    Their lips parted for a brief second, only for the space between them to ignite with need again.


    Smack!


    Yara immediately dove back in, pressing her lips to his with even more hunger, her arms locking tightly around his neck.


    Her legs wrapped around his waist like she couldn''t bear to let him go, holding herself against him as their kisses grew deeper, more desperate.


    Her giant breasts were pressed against his defined chest, as they continued kissing each other for quite a while.


    And then, Yara''s hand slid down.


    Without hesitation, her fingers closed around him, squeezing his crotch firmly.


    Aestrea''s eyelids twitched at the sudden touch, his body freezing for half a second.


    He opened his eyes, and when he saw her face¡ªthose mischievous, lustful eyes gazing at him¡ªhe didn''t hesitate to respond.


    Rustle...


    His hand traced a slow path down her back, his fingertips teasing her soaked skin as they moved lower.


    Adjusting his stance slightly, he shifted his right shoulder against the bathroom wall for support.


    Yara smirked at his actions, her right hand slipping into the waistband of his wet pants, her fingers wrapping around his hard penis.


    Aestrea''s breath hitched at her movements.


    He answered her with the same intensity, his hand sliding beneath her black panties. His fingers brushed against her pussy, moving with a teasing slowness that made her shiver.


    "Mmh! Aghn~!"


    Yara moaned softly against his lips, her body tensing and arching into his touch. Her grip on him tightened, her hand stroking him slightly, to match his movements.


    ".....?"


    They continued kissing each other while granting pleasure to each other.


    Their tongues tangled with each other, intertwining.


    Then, with a sly grin, she bit down softly on his lower lip, tugging it gently before her tongue moved to tease his teeth, tracing them with deliberate slowness.


    She leaned in further, her tongue wrapping around his like a serpent, slick and teasing, as her cheeks hollowed.


    She sucked on his tongue, drawing him deeper into her, savoring the moment as a soft hum escaped her lips.


    "Mhm~, ah!"


    Aestrea didn''t hold back, his hand sliding further beneath her panties. His finger was inserted into her wet folds, moving slowly at first, causing her body to tremble against him.


    The heat between them intensified, her skin flushing as her breaths grew heavier.


    Yara''s eyes widened for a moment, and a gasp caught in her throat as her lips broke away from his.


    Without a word, she grabbed his head and guided it down to her chest.


    Plop, plop, plop~


    "Ahhh! G-god, Aahnnn?!"


    Her head tilted back, her long hair falling in damp waves as she pressed his face into her soft, heaving chest.


    Her fingers tangled in his hair, holding him there as if she couldn''t get close enough.


    He slid a second finger inside her, and increased the movement of his fingers, working her up, as the wet, slick sounds of her arousal filled the steamy room.


    Yara''s moans grew louder, her body arching into his touch as waves of pleasure coursed through her.


    "A-ahhh! Aestrea, I¡ª"


    "AAAHHHNN?!"


    She moaned quite loudly, as Aestrea retracted his fingers from her pussy, making a lot of juice drip down her legs.


    Her voice echoed through the bathroom as she cried out, her body trembling uncontrollably.


    Aestrea finally withdrew his fingers, glistening with her juices.


    A small stream ran down her thighs, mixing with the water pooling at the bottom of the tub.


    Yara slumped slightly against him, her chest rising and falling rapidly. She buried her face in the crook of his neck, her arms wrapped tightly around him.


    "Y-you''re... too good at this," she murmured breathlessly.


    Aestrea chuckled softly, brushing her damp hair away from her flushed face.


    .


    .


    . S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    .


    After a few moments, Yara lifted her head, her chest still rising and falling as she caught her breath.


    She gave Aestrea a small, tired smile, her cheeks still flushed.


    Aestrea returned her smile, his gaze soft but filled with desire.


    "Now..." Yara whispered softly, in a teasing manner as she licked her luscious red lips, "it''s my turn to take care of you."


    Fwoop!


    A gentle gust of wind swept through the room as Yara''s mana surged, lightly pushing Aestrea back into the bathtub.


    He leaned back, blinking in surprise, but the water beneath him didn''t move¡ªit stayed perfectly still, controlled by her magic.


    Then, Yara got on her knees and cat-walked towards Aestrea. Her red lips curled into a smirk as her fingers reached for his waistband.


    She tugged his wet pants down and tossed them aside, exposing him fully.


    "Ah~, it''s hot," she said teasingly, as she wrapped both of her hands around his penis.


    Slowly, she started moving her hands up and down, looking straight into his eyes.


    His breath was short, and his chest went up and down slowly, however, on his face, a cloud of lust could be seen along with his flushed face.


    "Hehe," she giggled.


    She leaned in, her lips just inches away from his penis, as Aestrea could already feel her warm breath ghosting over his skin.


    Her tongue flicked out, gliding across her lips before she finally touched his tip.


    Slick~


    Her tongue dragged slowly over the tip of his cock, the warmth of it making him shudder slightly.


    She flicked her tongue against him playfully, teasing him as her hands continued stroking his shaft.


    "Aha~"


    One hand slid lower, cupping his balls gently as her other hand continued stroking him. She kept her gaze locked on his, watching every reaction, every twitch of his body.


    Tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear, she leaned in closer.


    Her hand tightened slightly around his shaft as her lips parted.


    "Mhm!"


    She took just the tip into her mouth, her tongue pressing beneath it as her lips wrapped around him.


    Her cheeks hollowed slightly as she began to suck softly, teasing him with her pace.


    Slurp~


    "Haah..." Aestrea''s breath grew heavier, his chest rising and falling as a low groan escaped his lips.


    His head tilted back slightly, silver-blue hair falling into his flushed face as he tried to compose himself.


    Yara smirked to herself, clearly satisfied by his reaction.


    Slowly, she pulled her lips off his shaft, letting it slide out of her mouth with a wet pop.


    "Pwa~...?"


    She exhaled softly, her lips glistening as she licked them with deliberate slowness. Aestrea blinked, slightly dazed, wondering why she stopped.


    But before he could say anything, she saw Yara... adjusting herself.


    Yara opened her mouth wider, and tilted her head back, stretching her neck slightly, creating enough space on her esophagus.


    Then, she gripped Aestrea''s legs...


    "Gaahkah...?!"


    She lowered herself intensely, making his penis slide down her throat.


    "Ugh...!"


    Aestrea let out a strangled groan, his hands clutching at the sides of the tub as her warm, tight mouth surrounded him completely.


    His legs trembled involuntarily, his body tensing from the overwhelming sensation.


    Yara glanced up at him through her lashes, and seeing his flushed face, her eyes couldn''t help but curve in delight.


    "Gahgh..."


    She paused just long enough to let him feel the fullness of her throat around him before she began to move.


    "Gahgh?... slurp... awah~"


    The lewd noises caused by her sucking his penis so eagerly resounded in the room.


    She started slowly, her head bobbing up as she continuously swallowed the precum glistening from the tip of his penis.


    "Ugh..."


    Aestrea''s hand moved instinctively to her head, his fingers brushing through her damp hair before resting gently there.


    He softly patted her head as he quietly stared at the ceiling...


    Yara''s lips curled into a small smile around him as she picked up the pace, her cheeks hollowing with each downward motion.


    Her free hand reached to stroke the base of his shaft in time with her movements.


    "Haahh..." Aestrea shuddered slightly.


    "Mhm~"


    Her response was a muffled hum of satisfaction as she continued, her tongue swirling and pressing against him with every bob of her head.


    Her hand slid lower, cupping his balls gently, massaging them with the same care and precision she gave to everything else.


    Plop!


    "Pwa~?"


    She retracted her head back, teasing the tip with her stretched-out tongue as she looked into Aestrea''s eyes.


    Then, she wrapped her lips around the tip, causing Aestrea to shudder...


    "Sluurrrrppp!"


    Her cheeks hollowed intensely, creating a duck face as she greedily swallowed her own saliva mixed with his precum.


    Then, if that wasn''t enough, she took his penis on her throat once again, but this time, she became more forceful with herself.


    "Aghkahk~ Naghahkk~ Hagkhk~~"


    Her throat tightened around his penis as she started gagging non-stop.


    But to her actions, Aestrea quickly got onto his limit, and his penis started throbbing.


    And then...


    Yara pulled back slightly and started to suck on the tip once again...


    Immediately, a shot of milk violently erupted from his penis, and Yara accepted the liquid directly in her throat.


    Gulp, gulp... gulp?


    She swallowed every single bit of his milk, and as she retracted her head, she licked her upper lip, looking at Aestrea with a charming smile.


    "...Delicious."


    She put one of her fingers on her mouth as if reminiscing about the taste, and licking them slightly.


    "Now~," she approached Aestrea, sitting down on her lap, her big breasts pressing against his well-defined chest.


    "Shall we go onto the main course?" she whispered into his ear, before grasping both of his shoulders slightly.


    "...Sure," Aestrea nodded with a small smile.


    He grabbed her waist slightly, and adjusted his dick, putting it just beneath her dripping pussy.


    He could already feel her fluids dripping down on his cock, lubricating it.


    Ssshk...


    "Uk...?"


    Yara bit her lip and thrusted her hips down before he could do the job himself.


    "Haah..."


    Yara closed her eyes lightly, feeling her pussy quivering at the touch of their union.


    "...Amazing... ahh..."


    She narrowed her eyes, murmuring with a small yet wicked smile as she looked at the man beneath her, with eyes filled with lust.


    Her black eyes seemed to glow dimly as she looked at his glowing ones.

 Chapter 73 - 73: *The Moonlight Swordsman (XXXIX)*

    Squirm...


    "Haaa... aha?..."


    Yara''s black hair clung to her damp skin, her breaths uneven as she shifted her hips, feeling him fill her completely.


    Her lips parted slightly, her eyes fluttering up to meet his.


    "Is it growing even bigger...?"


    Her hips moved ever so slightly, testing the fullness of him, and she felt a jolt of pleasure ripple through her body.


    Her inner walls clenched instinctively around him, drawing a deep groan from his lips.


    "It''s making my vagina ache a little..." Yara admitted, her cheeks flushed red, her words seemed shy but undeniably sultry.


    The way she stared into his glowing red eyes made his chest tighten, her confession sent a wave of heat surging through him, and he struggled to control himself.


    His hands gripped her waist tightly, his fingers sinking into her soft flesh as he tried to steady himself.


    But then, something caught his eye.


    And he froze.


    "Wait¡­ you''re¡­"


    His voice faltered as his gaze shifted downward, to where their bodies were joined.


    There it was¡ªa thin streak of blood slipping down his shaft, mixing with the water beneath them.


    His glowing eyes widened in shock as realization hit him.


    "...You''re a virgin?!" Aestrea couldn''t help but ask in shock.


    He didn''t reach any of the sex scenes in the book, much less about Yara, but seeing how she acted like a complete vixen, he honestly thought that she had lost her first time.


    To his words, Yara''s cheeks burned a deeper red, but her lips curved into a small, teasing smile.


    "Of course," she said softly, tilting her head to meet his stunned expression. "Did you think I''d let just anyone have me like this?"


    Her fingers trailed up his chest, her touch soft yet deliberate.


    Her lips brushed against his jaw, her breath warm against his skin as she whispered, "Just because I gave myself to you easily¡­ doesn''t mean I''m some kind of whore."


    Her words carried a playful tone, but the look on her black eyes was completely different, it was something darker, something possessive.


    "You''re the only man who''s ever made my heart race like this... The only one I''ve ever wanted this badly..."


    Squirm...!


    Her gaze softened for a moment, but then, her tone shifted entirely, taking on a colder edge that sent a shiver down his spine.


    "So don''t even think about escaping from me," she warned, her voice laced with a dangerous sweetness.


    Her lips curled into a smile that didn''t quite reach her eyes, and as she looked up at him, he noticed something strange¡ªa faint heart shape flickering in her pupils.


    "Yara, I¡ª"


    "I''ve done my homework," she continued, cutting him off.


    Her nails traced circles against his chest, her touch almost tender, though her words were anything but.


    "I know you have someone¡ªor maybe a few¡ªin your heart. Don''t worry, I don''t mind sharing. But..."


    Her eyes curved into delighted crescents, her smile widening as she pressed herself closer to him.


    "You''re mine now."


    Before he could respond, she emphasized her word with actions, slapping her buttocks on his legs, causing the tip of his dick to kiss her womb, making her legs quiver slightly.


    The sound of wet, lewd squelching filled the air, and he groaned deeply as the tight warmth of her walls clenched around him.


    Splash, squelch!


    Squirm...


    Her hands pressed against his chest as she lifted her hips slightly, only to slam them back down again.


    "Ahhhn?!" she moaned, her head tilting back as the motion sent a bolt of pleasure through her.


    The impact drove him deeper inside her, the tip of his shaft brushing against her womb. Her legs trembled slightly, and her nails dug into his skin as her breath hitched.


    "See?" she murmured, burying her face in his chest. Her voice was muffled but dripping with satisfaction.


    Squelch... squirm...


    "Hmnh~... this feels much better than I originally thought... haa?" she moaned slightly, burying her head on his chest.


    Her hips began moving in earnest, a slow, grinding rhythm that made his restraint slip further and further.


    He groaned, his hands moving to grip her waist as he tried to keep her still.


    "Yara, you''re too¡ª"


    "Too what?" she interrupted, her lips curling into a smirk. "Too tight? Too good? Tell me, what is it~?"


    Slam!


    Splash!


    She pressed her hips down harder, making him gasp as her inner walls squeezed him mercilessly.


    "Damn it, Yara..." he growled, his voice strained as he fought the urge to lose control.


    Her giggle was soft but mischievous.


    "You can let go, you know. I''m already yours... body and soul~?"


    Her words sent a jolt of heat straight to his core, and he finally gave in, his hands gripping her waist as he began to move.


    "Ahh~! Yes, just like that~! More~! Baby, don''t stop~?"


    Her moans grew louder, her body trembling with each motion, her moans spilling from her lips like a sweet yet spicy melody.


    "Ahhhn~?... Baby? It''s so deep... you''re stretching me so muchhhhh... haa~?"


    Her hips moved on their own now, grinding against him as if her body had been made to fit him.


    The wet, sinful sounds of their connection echoed through the room.


    Splash, squelch, squish!


    His fingers dug into her soft thighs, holding her in place as he thrust upward to meet her movements.


    Every time he pushed into her, her walls squeezed him tightly, pulling him even deeper.


    "Yara..." he groaned, his voice low and rough, the strain evident in every word.


    "You''re driving me crazy... You''re so tight... so warm... haa..."


    Her legs quivered as she felt the tip of his shaft brush against her deepest spot again, sending sparks of pleasure shooting through her body.


    Her nails raked across his chest, leaving faint red marks as she gasped.


    "Ahhn~? There! Right there, Baby?! Keep hitting me there~! Haaa... I can''t take it... I''m going to go crazy... haaa~?"


    Pah~ Pah~ Pah~!


    The lewd sounds of their bodies slapping together filled the room, each impact sending ripples through the water around them.


    Yara''s black hair clung to her damp skin, her flushed cheeks glowing with heat as her body surrendered to him completely.


    Her hands slid up to his shoulders, gripping him tightly as she buried her face against his neck.


    Her hot breath tickled his skin, and the faint scent of her arousal only fueled his desire.


    "Darling~? You''re mine~ All mine~?" she whispered against his ear, her voice literally dripping with possessiveness.


    "No one else can have you... no one else can make me feel this good~?"


    Her lips found his neck, sucking softly at first, then harder, leaving small red marks in her wake.


    The sensation made him shudder, his control slipping further as his hips moved faster, harder.


    Pah~ Pah~ Pah~


    Squish~!


    The sound of her wetness grew louder, her body growing slicker with each thrust. Her moans became higher-pitched, her voice breaking into soft cries of pleasure. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Hnnngh~? Aestrea~? It''s too much~! You''re so big... I can feel you everywhere... haa~?"


    Her legs wrapped around his waist, locking him in place as if she couldn''t bear to let him go.


    Her walls clenched tighter around him, pulling him even deeper, and he groaned loudly at the sensation.


    "Damn it, Yara..."


    "You''re squeezing me so tight... haa... I can''t hold back if you keep doing that..."


    Her lips curved into a teasing smile, even as her breaths came in shallow pants.


    "Then don''t~? Give me everything, Baby?, I want it all... I want you~?"


    Her words were the final push he needed.


    With a low growl, he grabbed her waist firmly and began moving faster, each thrust harder than the last.


    Pah~ Pah~ Pah~!


    Squirm, squish!


    "Ahhhhhnnng~? Yes, baby?! Yes, yes, yes~? Right there~! Don''t stop~?"


    Her cries echoed around them, her body trembling as wave after wave of pleasure washed over her.


    The water splashed around them as his movements grew more erratic, his restraint all but gone.


    "Yara... I''m close," he groaned, his voice strained as his hands gripped her even tighter.


    Her eyes fluttered open, meeting his glowing red gaze with her own hazy, love-drunk expression.


    "Inside~?" she begged, her voice high-pitched and breathless.


    "Darling~? Fill me up... I want all of you inside me~? Pleaseeeeee~?"


    Her pleading words sent him over the edge.


    His hips slammed into hers one final time, his entire body tensing as he buried himself as deep as he could go.


    Squish...


    Splurt~ Splurt~!


    "Ahhhhhhnnn~?!" Yara''s cry of ecstasy filled the room as she felt him release inside her, his warmth spilling into her deepest parts.


    Her walls clenched tightly around him, milking him for every last drop. Her body trembled violently, her nails digging into his shoulders as she clung to him.


    "Aestrea? So warm... I can feel you filling me up... haa~?"


    His head fell forward, resting against her shoulder as he panted heavily.


    The room was filled with the sound of their ragged breaths, their bodies still joined as they calmed down from the rush of their climax.


    Yara''s fingers gently and slowly traced circles on his back-


    "You''re amazing, Baby...?" she whispered, her voice tender now, though her teasing smile hadn''t faded.


    "I think... I might love you even more now~?"


    He let out a soft chuckle, his arms wrapping around her waist as he pulled her closer.


    "You''re crazy, Yara... but you''re mine now too."


    Her smile widened, her eyes glowing with satisfaction.


    "Of course I''m yours! I told you, I belong to you... body and soul?"


    Chuu?!


    Her words made his chest tighten with emotion, and he couldn''t resist the urge to kiss her again.


    Their lips parted quickly after.


    "Mhm~" Yara let out a soft hum of satisfaction as she leaned against him, her head resting on his chest.


    Her fingers lazily traced patterns along his damp skin, her legs still wrapped snugly around his waist as she still could feel the warmth of their shared intimacy.


    But even as they basked in the afterglow, she could feel it ¡ª his shaft was still firm inside her, twitching slightly as if eager for more.


    "Hnn~? Darling..." she murmured, her voice dripping with sweetness. "You''re still so hard... haaa~? Are you not satisfied yet?"


    Her teasing words sent a jolt through him, his hands instinctively tightening on her waist. His eyes, still glowing faintly red, met hers with an intensity that made her heart skip a beat.


    "Yara... don''t tempt me."


    Her lips curved into a mischievous smile, her hips shifting slightly to emphasize how full she felt.


    "Haa~? But I do know... I want more of you, love..." she whispered, her voice sultry as she leaned closer, her lips brushing against his ear.


    "Don''t hold back. Use me... take me however you want~?"


    Her bold declaration made his restraint snap.


    Splash!


    With a growl, he rolled them over, pinning her beneath him on the water.


    Her ink hair fanned out around her, and her flushed cheeks and glowing eyes made her look like a goddess in the dim light.


    "...Don''t say I didn''t warn you."


    Smack!


    Before she could respond, his lips crashed against hers in a fiery kiss, their tongues tangling as his hands roamed her body.


    He gripped her thighs, spreading her legs wider as he began moving his hips again, pulling out just enough to thrust back into her fully.


    Squish...


    Pah~ Pah~ Pah~!


    "Ahhhhn? Y-Yes! Harder... give it to me harder~!" she cried out, her back arching as he drove into her with renewed vigor.


    Her nails raked down his back, her body trembling beneath him as waves of pleasure started building all over again.


    The sound of their connection was obscene, their wetness dripping down her thighs and onto the water below.


    His movements were relentless, his hips slamming against hers with a force that made her see stars.


    Pah~ Pah~ Squish~!


    "You''re so tight... haa... you feel even better this time, Yara," he groaned, his hands sliding up to cup her breasts, kneading them roughly.


    Her nipples were hard against his palms, and he pinched them lightly, drawing a sharp gasp from her.


    "Hyaa~? You''re driving me crazy!" she moaned, her legs wrapping around his waist again to pull him even closer.


    "It''s too much... haaa~? But I love it... I love you...?"


    Her words spurred him on, his thrusts growing faster and deeper.


    The lewd squelching sounds of their intimacy filled the room, mingling with her high-pitched cries and his deep groans.


    Pah~ Pah~ Pah~


    Squish!


    Squish!


    Squirm!


    "Yara... I can feel you tightening again..."


    "Are you going to cum already? Haa... you''re so greedy..."


    "Y-Yes~? I can''t help it~! You''re too good, Darling?! I''m going to cum... haaa~? I''m cumming~!" she screamed, her body convulsing beneath him as her walls clamped down on him, milking him relentlessly.


    But he didn''t stop.


    Even as she trembled and cried out, he kept moving, his pace unrelenting.


    "Hnnngh~? I-It''s too much! I can''t take it... haa~? You''re going to make me lose my mind~!" she whimpered, tears of pleasure streaming down her cheeks.


    "Then lose it," he growled, leaning down to capture her lips again.


    His kiss was rough and possessive, as if he wanted to claim every part of her.


    Pah~ Pah~ Pah~!


    Her body melted under him, completely at his mercy as he drove her into another climax.


    Her voice broke into soft, desperate cries, her nails digging into his shoulders as she clung to him.


    And yet, he still didn''t stop.


    "...?!


    "You''re so... so relentless... haa~? But it feels so good~!" she moaned, her body trembling as she felt him pushing her to yet another peak.


    "I told you not to tempt me."


    Her eyes widened slightly, her heart racing as his pace increased yet again.


    The force of his thrusts left her breathless, her body completely overwhelmed by the pleasure that consumed her.


    "Haa~? I-I''m yours, Aestrea? Only yours~?" she cried, her voice breaking as she reached her limit.


    "I''ll never let anyone else touch me until the day I die... haaa~? I''m yours forever~?"


    Pah~ Pah~ Pah~


    Squirm!


    Splash!


    His movements grew erratic, his breaths ragged as he felt his release building again.


    "Yara... I''m going to cum," he groaned.


    "Where do you want it?"


    "Inside~?" she gasped, her voice high-pitched and desperate.


    "Fill me up?! Give me everything~?, pleaseeeee?"


    Her plea sent him over the edge.


    Slam!


    With a low growl, he buried himself deep inside her, his body tensing as he released again.


    Squish...


    Splurt~


    Splurt~


    "Ahhhhn~? I can feel it~! You''re filling me up so much... haaa~? It''s so warm... I love it~?" she moaned, her body trembling as she milked him for every last drop.


    He collapsed on top of her, their bodies slick with sweat as they caught their breath.


    His arms wrapped around her tightly, holding her close as they basked in the warmth of their shared passion.


    "Yara... You''re incredible."


    Her lips curved into a lazy, satisfied smile as she nuzzled against him.


    "So are you, love..." she whispered, her voice full of love and affection.


    "Let''s stay like this... forever."


    However, unfortunately for Yara, Aestrea wasn''t done yet.


    "...Let''s do it all night," he muttered softly to her ear.


    "U-uh...?"


    Yara''s body seemed to have reacted to his words, twitching slightly.


    Seeing this, Aestrea couldn''t but smile lightly.


    "I did warn you, remember?"


    "L-love... I-I''m a b-bit tired... how about w r-rest up for a bit?" she said hesitantly, feeling that her legs were extremely tired.


    "Too bad."


    Pah~


    "Aaahhhh???!"

 Chapter 74 - 74: The Moonlight Swordsman (XL)

    The soft, golden light of the early morning filtered through the curtains, casting a gentle glow across the room...


    "Ugh..."


    I groaned slightly, fluttering my eyes open.


    My body felt quite warm, probably because of the aftermath of a night that felt like it lasted forever.


    "Fuuu... fuuu... fuuu..."


    A gentle breathing reached out to my ears, causing me to shiver.


    I looked to my side and saw Yara''s peaceful sleeping face. Her ink hair spread out across the pillow, as her chest slowly went up and down.


    Well, last night was quite intense...


    ''I did warn her, though.''


    I leaned in slowly, planting a soft kiss against her forehead, just to feel the warmth of her skin against mine.


    She stirred a little, mumbling something incoherent, but she didn''t wake.


    I let out a small laugh, feeling the urge to tease her, but I decided not to.


    With a sigh, I pulled myself away, careful not to wake her.


    My body was sore in places I hadn''t even realized I could feel, but it was a satisfying kind of pain.


    I got dressed in the clothes that she had given me before and picked up my things. It was time to get back to the academy.


    "Mhm... Still, I should warn her."


    I thought so.


    With that in mind, I scribbled a quick note, leaving it on the bedside table where she could see it when she woke up.


    [I''m heading back to the academy. See you soon. -A]


    Simple, but enough.


    I glanced at her one last time, a smile tugging at my lips, before heading out of the room.


    The halls of the house were quiet as I made my way to my own room.


    I wasn''t sure what I was expecting, but the sight that greeted me was... unexpected.


    Chaerin and Lumi were tangled up together on my bed, sleeping soundly, though the position was far from graceful.


    Lumi''s slimy green hair was a mess, half covering Chaerin''s face, and Chaerin herself looked almost serene, despite the disheveled state of their bodies.


    "Pffft..."


    I couldn''t help but chuckle quietly to myself.


    "Wake up," I nudged them both gently.


    Lumi blinked up at me sleepily, her bright eyes still half-closed.


    She stretched out like a cat, her body shifting fluidly, and before I knew it, she disappeared into the tattoo on my arm, leaving a small green trail.


    "Mhmmm...."


    Chaerin grumbled a little, adjusting herself as she slowly sat up, rubbing her eyes and glancing around in confusion.


    "...We''re leaving?" she asked, her voice husky from sleep.


    "Yeah, gotta head back to the academy," I replied back.


    I couldn''t help but notice the way she was squinting at me, still half asleep. She yawned, stretching her arms over her head.


    "...Alright, I''ll get my stuff..." she mumbled quietly, slowly standing up and grabbing her things.


    It didn''t take long before we were both ready to leave, walking out of Yara''s home together.


    The chill of the morning air hit me as we stepped outside, but it wasn''t unpleasant. We made our way down the quiet streets, finally leaving the black market.


    The bustling atmosphere of the streets felt strangely calm compared to the chaos of the black market.


    But, there was something about the steady rhythm of the crowds and the flickering lights that grounded me.


    As we walked through the streets, I felt something tugging at the back of my mind.


    Something... was different today.


    I couldn''t place it at first, but then it hit me like a brick to the face.


    "Shit..." I muttered under my breath.


    "I forgot that today is the start of the Snow Festival!"


    "What''s the Snow Festival?" Chaerin raised an eyebrow at me, tilting her head curiously.


    "I don''t have time to explain it. Let''s go! We''ve got to get to the academy. Now," I said, grabbing her hand without another word. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    We both picked up our pace, and I found myself rushing through the streets.


    After all, I had "promised" a date with Violet.


    And I''m already late!


    When we finally arrived at the academy gates, I was taken aback by what I saw.


    The entire campus was covered in a soft layer of snow, and the buildings were adorned with twinkling lights and colorful banners.


    It was even more beautiful than I had imagined.


    The trees lining the walkways were dusted with white, their branches heavy with snow, and the air was crisp and fresh.


    I could hear the laughter and chatter of students, and the distant sounds of music playing from somewhere.


    The whole place was alive, buzzing with the kind of energy only a festival could bring.


    But I didn''t have time to appreciate it fully.


    "Quick, follow me!" I called to Chaerin as I tugged her through the courtyard, dodging students and staff who were already in the middle of the festivities.


    I didn''t stop until we reached my dormitory, and opened the door, where I found a beautiful elf waiting for me.


    Alaine raised an eyebrow when she saw me, an amused smile tugging at the corner of her lips.


    "You''re in quite a hurry, aren''t you?" she teased, folding her arms.


    I couldn''t help but let out a sigh at her words.


    "Yeah, it''s... it''s the Snow Festival today. And I''m kind of in a rush."


    Her expression softened as she stepped forward, and asked me.


    "Why so hurried? You''re not running away for a while, are you?"


    I smirked and shook my head.


    "Of course not."


    She paused for a moment, her gaze shifting to Chaerin, who stood silently behind me. Alaine raised an eyebrow, giving Chaerin a surprised look.


    "Is she... your daughter?"


    I froze.


    "Wait... how did you know?"


    But before I could finish, Alaine''s face


    The teasing smile disappeared from her face, and she actually froze, her eyes widening slightly.


    Her gaze flickered between me and Chaerin, then back to me.


    Her posture went completely rigid, and for a moment, she didn''t say anything, clearly caught off guard by my response.


    The playful glint in her eyes seemed to dim, replaced with a flicker of genuine confusion.


    "I¡ªI was joking, Aestrea," she said slowly, her voice unsure for the first time I could remember.


    "You really... are a father?"


    I awkwardly nodded at her.


    "...Chaerin can explain it to you, but right now... I have some kind of date."


    "...A date? Then, you must change your clothes..."


    I nodded quickly, still feeling a little flustered.


    I quickly cast a cleaning spell on myself, making sure my appearance was up to standard. After all, I couldn''t show up looking like a mess.


    I grabbed my best clothes from the wardrobe¡ªa sharp, casual outfit that had the perfect balance of style and comfort¡ªand dressed quickly.


    "Oh my."


    Alaine''s voice reached out to me. Next to her, Chaerin also looked surprised.


    "When you dress up, the dangerous aura around you disappears entirely..." Alaine complimented me, also gaining a nod from Chaerin.


    Before I could respond, she reached out and adjusted my clothes, smoothing down the fabric of my shirt and tucking in a loose sleeve.


    She really had a way of making me feel both at ease and slightly guilty all at once.


    "Don''t keep her waiting," she said softly, giving me a look that said more than words ever could.


    "Thanks," I muttered, almost to myself, but she caught it and gave me a playful smile.


    "Always, just be careful, okay?"


    I nodded, giving her a quick smile before rushing out the door.


    I didn''t waste any time, practically running through the hallways, my heart racing with excitement.


    The cold air bit at my face as I ran toward the fountain, and as I neared it, I saw her.


    Violet Von Luxuria.


    She was standing by the fountain, her back slightly arched, her posture perfect, accentuating her long, slender legs.


    Her outfit today was simple but elegant¡ªa loose, flowing dress that seemed to shimmer in the morning light, a soft purple hue that matched her eyes perfectly.


    Her waist was impossibly tiny, the kind of waist that made you wonder how someone could have such a perfect, delicate frame, especially with the generous curve of her hips.


    Her long, toned legs were bare beneath the hem of her dress, leading to a pair of sandals that only added to her allure.


    But it was her chest that truly caught attention¡ªmassive, soft, and full, they looked like they could almost spill out of the low neckline of her dress, though they didn''t.


    "Ah... haaa..."


    I panted, finally catching my breath as I slowed to a stop in front of her.


    Upon seeing me, she pursed her lips, puffing her cheeks as she looked me over, clearly unimpressed by my tardiness.


    "Junior... You''re late," she said in an annoyed tone.


    She crossed her arms over her chest, her breasts pressing against the fabric of her dress in a way that made me swallow hard.


    There was no hiding the curves of her body¡ªshe was practically sculpted to perfection.


    Fuck, why am I so horny?


    Is it because I fucked all night?


    I immediately cleared all those dirty thoughts away from my mind.


    "Thank you for waiting... haa... I had a bit of... a late-night hangover." I replied to her, taking the time to exhale deeply.


    She stared at me for a moment, but then, her eyes softened, and she gave a little sigh, a small puff of air that made her cheeks flush just a bit.


    "You''re lucky I like you, Junior," she said with a playful twinkle in her eyes.


    I rolled my eyes at her words.


    She raised a hand and flicked a strand of hair from her face, the motion graceful, almost hypnotic.


    "At least you made an effort to look presentable for me," she teased, her eyes scanning my outfit with a critical but approving look.


    My outfit was pretty casual, but I''d gone for something sharp¡ªdark jeans and a fitted shirt, a jacket that had just enough flair to be stylish without being too much.


    It wasn''t anything over-the-top, but I knew I had to at least put in the effort.


    "I do appreciate a well-dressed man." She grinned, looking a little satisfied.


    "I''m glad you think so."


    Violet smiled at my words, her face softening as she grabbed my arm, her massive breasts pressing against me as she pulled me toward the first spot of our date.


    "Let''s go!"

 Chapter 75 - 75: The Moonlight Swordsman (XLI)

    The Snow Festival was in full swing, and the academy grounds were bustling with activity.


    The crisp air carried the scent of roasted chestnuts, sweet chocolate, and spices that burned your tongue.


    Everywhere we looked, students were busy enjoying the festival.


    Some were gathered around brightly lit stalls, laughing and chatting as they played games.


    Others were huddled over steaming cups of hot cocoa, the warm drinks leaving clouds of vapor in the air.


    The decorations were simple but magical¡ªtwinkling fairy lights wrapped around trees, colorful ribbons strung along the walkways, and snow sculptures carved by the art club scattered all over the campus.


    "Junior?" Violet called out to me.


    Her voice was soft, but there was a teasing lilt to it as she looked up at me with her purple eyes.


    "Are you planning to just stand here all day and admire the scenery, or are you going to show me a good time?"


    "Isn''t the man''s duty to decide the places to go on dates?" she added, blinking twice at me.


    I laughed at her words.


    "Where do you want to go first?" I replied with another question, not minding the annoyed look that she gave me.


    "Hmm¡­ Let''s start with something fun. I''m in the mood for a game." She tapped her chin, pretending to think hard.


    I nodded, leading her toward the row of game stalls set up along the main courtyard.


    The air buzzed with excitement as students cheered each other on, trying to win prizes ranging from tiny stuffed animals to oversized, ridiculous ones.


    "Alright, let''s see what we''ve got here...."


    My eyes landed on a "shoot the target" game, where you had to knock down a line of bottles with a toy crossbow.


    The biggest prize on display was a massive purple dragon plushie¡ªits soft fabric practically glowing in the sunlight.


    Violet noticed it at the same time I did, and I saw the tiniest flicker of interest in her eyes before she quickly hid it.


    "You like that one, don''t you?" I teased, nudging her gently. "Is it because it''s purple, just like your hair color and eyes?"


    "Me? Like a silly stuffed toy?" She raised an eyebrow, battling her eyelashes as her lips curled into a smirk.


    "Don''t be ridiculous."


    "You sure?" I raised an eyebrow.


    "Very sure."


    "Alright, then I''ll win it for myself." I grinned, stepping closer to the stall.


    The student running the stall handed me the toy crossbow, explaining the rules.


    "You''ve got five shots. Knock down all the bottles, and the big prize is yours. And of course, the use of mana isn''t allowed, we have a high-grade mana detector in case anything happens!"


    I nodded at these words.


    Thankfully, I had quite an experience with crossbows.


    As an actor, I needed to use plenty of weapons, depending on the movie I was filming, so I unconsciously learned how to use them.


    The bottles were lined up in two neat rows on a wooden platform, and while they didn''t look too hard to hit, I could tell the angles were tricky.


    The way the light reflected off the snow made it even harder to aim.


    "No pressure, Junior. Just remember, if you fail, this Big Sister will be disappointed with you," she giggled, hiding her mouth with her hands.


    I rolled my eyes at her words, focusing on the first shot...


    The string of the crossbow felt taut as I pulled it back, aiming carefully.


    Thwack!


    The bolt hit its mark, sending the first bottle tumbling to the ground.


    A small cheer erupted from the nearby students who had gathered to watch.


    "One down," I said, glancing at Violet with a small smile.


    Her expression was calm as always, with the same small smile on her lips.


    The second shot was trickier, but I managed to knock down another bottle.


    The third and fourth went down just as smoothly, and by this point, the small crowd was fully invested.


    Violet, however, stood perfectly still, her arms still crossed, though I noticed her lips twitch as if she was holding back a smile.


    The final bottle was the toughest¡ªit was smaller than the others and set slightly further back on the platform.


    I closed my left eye and started adjusting my aim. The world seemed to quiet for a moment as I released the bolt, watching it fly through the air.


    Clink.


    The bottle tipped, wobbled, and finally fell to the ground.


    The crowd burst into cheers upon witnessing that I was the first student to actually get down all five bottles.


    "Phew~"


    I let out a relieved breath. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    This seemed more intense than one of the battles I had recently.


    The student running the stall handed me the giant purple dragon, which I took at, and then looked at Violet for a moment.


    "Well? Still think it''s silly?" I said, holding out to her.


    She rolled her eyes, but I could see the corners of her mouth lift into a smile.


    "Just take it already, my arms are getting tired..." I said so, letting out a small sigh.


    Violet hesitated, her gaze switching between me and the plushie.


    For a moment, she looked almost shy¡ªsomething I wasn''t used to seeing from her. But then she took it, cradling it in her arms as if it were the most precious thing in the world.


    "¡­Thank you," she said softly.


    "Just doing my duty as your date."


    We moved on to other stalls, trying out many different games.


    At one, we threw rings onto bottles, and though Violet claimed she had no interest in "childish games," she ended up winning a small, fluffy bunny plushie after a few tries.


    At another, we tried fishing for little plastic ducks in a tub of water, and her competitive streak came out in full force when she beat my score by one duck.


    The games were fun, but soon, the smell of food caught our attention.


    We wandered toward the rows of food stalls, where students were serving everything from sweet crepes to savory dumplings.


    "What are you in the mood for?" I asked as we stopped in front of a stall selling skewers of grilled meat and vegetables.


    Violet glanced around, her eyes scanning the options.


    "Hmm¡­ Let''s start with this. It smells amazing."


    We ordered a couple of skewers, and the student behind the counter handed them to us with a cheerful smile.


    The meat was perfectly grilled, juicy, and tender, with just the right amount of seasoning.


    As we ate, Violet seemed to relax even more, the usual sharpness in her eyes softening as she enjoyed the food.


    "This is really good," she admitted, taking another bite.


    "Mhm..." I nodded in agreement.


    The students from the Food Club really made excellent grilled meat.


    After we finished eating, we headed further into the center of the festival.


    The sounds of laughter, music, and the occasional pop of a firework filled the air.


    Violet was still carrying the giant purple dragon I''d won for her, holding it close like it was her prized possession.


    "So," I said, glancing at her as we strolled along the snow-dusted pathway, "where to next? I feel like we''ve barely seen the surface of this festival."


    She looked around for a moment before her eyes caught on a group of students gathered around a stage.


    "What''s going on over there?"


    We walked closer to the commotion, and it turned out to be a talent show.


    Students were taking turns performing everything from singing and dancing to magic tricks.


    One student conjured a flurry of glowing snowflakes, making the children present in the crowd smile widely.


    Another played a soulful tune on a violin, their music echoing beautifully in the crisp air.


    "They''re really putting their hearts into it, aren''t they?" Violet watched with interest, a small smile appearing on her lips.


    I nodded.


    "It''s not every day they get to show off like this. It''s kind of nice, seeing everyone come together like this."


    Normally, everyone would try to fight against each other.


    Since I arrived at this academy, there has been at least a single fight every single day. The funny thing is that it would always be different students.


    For a while, we stood there, enjoying the performances.


    The snowflakes falling gently around us only added to the magic of the moment.


    When one student finished their act with a dramatic bow, Violet leaned over slightly and whispered in a teasing voice to me.


    "You should go up there."


    I was taken aback by her words.


    "Go up there? What, do you think I should start juggling or something? What would I even do?" I replied black, crossing my arms.


    Violet''s smirk widened.


    "Surprise me."


    Hearing her words, I wanted to deny, but...


    Looking at the children, smiling very widely, and the happy crowd in front of the small stage made me feel quite nostalgic.


    As an actor, I started in smaller places, like comedy shows and things like that until I finally joined the big industries.


    So, seeing this, really brought back memories...


    ''...It''s worth a try, isn''t it?''


    Looking at Violet, I smiled, tilting my head.


    "Sure, wait here."


    Violet blinked, looking a little surprised that I agreed so quickly, but she didn''t say anything.


    I handed her my half-finished skewer of grilled meat, which she took without protest, and even took a bite of it.


    Then, I made my way through the small crowd, approaching the host of the talent show¡ªa cheerful girl wearing a Santa hat¡ªwho looked at me curiously as I approached.


    "Hey," I said, gesturing toward the corner of the stage, where a battered acoustic guitar rested on a stand.


    "Mind if I borrow that for a quick performance?"


    Her eyes lit up at my words.


    It seemed like she recognized me.


    "Of course! Go ahead. The stage is all yours."


    I picked up the guitar, running my fingers over its strings to test its tuning.


    It wasn''t perfect, but it would do.


    The crowd quieted a little as I stepped onto the stage, the creak of the wooden planks under my boots cutting through the air.


    I could feel dozens of eyes on me¡ªsome curious, some expectant.


    A soft murmur rippled through the crowd, but I didn''t let it bother me.


    I pulled the strap of the guitar over my shoulder and adjusted the mic stand, tapping the mic gently to check the sound.


    "Hey, everyone," I smiled at the public.


    "I''m not really part of the talent show lineup, so I hope you don''t mind if I crash the party for a minute."


    That got a few chuckles from the audience, easing the tension.


    I glanced toward the back of the crowd, where Violet stood.


    Even from this distance, I could see her watching me closely, the giant purple dragon still clutched in her arms.


    "This song''s not anything fancy," I continued, fingers brushing over the guitar strings.


    "But it''s for someone who''s been making this festival¡­ interesting."


    A few "oohs" and teasing whistles rose from the crowd, but I ignored them.


    My fingers began strumming the guitar, a simple, soft melody filling the air. The sound was warm, like the crackle of a fire on a cold winter night.


    And then I started to sing.


    "?~There''s this beautiful girl..."


    The sound of my voice blended with the guitar in a way that felt natural.


    The notes were smooth but rough around the edges, like the soft crunch of footsteps in snow.


    The music itself was simple, gentle, a little melancholic, but warm all the same.


    I could feel the crowd quieting down as they listened.


    "Does she know the way she shines? In the snow, in these purple skies~??"


    Between the chorus of the song, I glanced at Violet for a moment.


    She wasn''t looking directly at me, but I could see her posture had softened, her usual slyness was replaced with something else.


    Her grip on the purple dragon had tightened as if she were holding onto something she didn''t want to let go of.


    Then, I finally reached the final verses.


    "She holds a purple dragon in her arms~?, but it''s her who casts the charm. She''ll roll her eyes, she''ll walk away, but I''d chase her down any day now."


    Thus, I repeated the chorus...


    "Does she know the way she shines, in the snow, in these purple skies? Does she see how her light''s my guide, Through the cold, through the night...?"


    The last note lingered for a moment, fading into the stillness.


    For a heartbeat, the crowd was silent, as if they were letting the song settle.


    Clap!


    And then the applause started¡ªfirst a few claps, then a wave of cheers that filled the air.


    "Woo! Go get her!" someone shouted from the back, making the crowd laugh.


    I gave a small bow, slinging the guitar off my shoulder and setting it back on its stand.


    It''s been a while since I''ve sung a song, but that should be satisfactory enough, no?


    The applause followed me as I made my way back to Violet. Her cheeks were dusted with a faint pink blush, causing me to smile wryly.


    "So? Did you like it? Did it surprise you?"


    For a moment, she just stared at me, her eyes searching mine. Then, slowly, a grin spread across her lips, one that was softer and more genuine than I''d seen all day.


    "I loved it," she said simply.


    I raised an eyebrow, pretending to look surprised.


    "Oh, really? Even though it was about a silly girl who clutches a purple dragon like it''s her life''s purpose?"


    She narrowed her eyes at me, though the smile didn''t leave her face.


    "Careful, Junior. You''re not as funny as you think."


    "Oh, I don''t know," I teased her.


    "The crowd seemed to like me."


    "They have low standards," she shot back, but the blush on her cheeks gave her away.


    She shifted the purple dragon in her arms, hugging it closer like it was some kind of shield. I ended up chuckling at her actions.


    But soon enough, she let out a bright smile.


    The purple dragon disappeared from my view as she then, grabbed my right arm and led me away from that place.


    "Hehe, not it''s my time to lead this date!" she announced brightly.


    She hurriedly brought me along with her.


    ''This ain''t so bad.''


    ''I just hope nothing ruins this sweet time.''

 Chapter 76 - 76: The Moonlight Swordsman (XLII)

    "Where are we going?"


    "You''ll see," she replied mischievously.


    "You''ve had your fun showing off, now it''s my turn to pick something."


    We passed through the large crowd, until, eventually we came to a quieter corner of the campus, where a large open field had been cleared.


    Students were scattered around, building snowmen of all shapes and sizes.


    Some were traditional, with button eyes and carrot noses, while others were¡­ less conventional.


    I spotted one that looked like a snow version of a giant robot and another that resembled a dragon.


    "We''re finally here!" Violet announced brightly with a wide grin.


    "You want us to build a snowman?"


    She raised an eyebrow at my words.


    "Why? Too complicated for you, Junior?"


    "Complicated, huh? Let''s just see."


    We got to work, rolling the snow into big, uneven balls.


    The first one was way too lumpy, and the second one fell apart before we even stacked it.


    By the time we managed to get a proper base, both of us were covered in snow.


    "This is looking¡­ uh¡­" I tilted my head, trying to find the right word.


    "Like it''s been stepped on by a herd of elephants?" Violet finished my words, laughing at our ''beautiful'' snowman.


    "Exactly," I chuckled.


    "But wait, we''re not done yet."


    Nearby, a small table had been set up with chisels and carving tools for people to add details to their snow creations.


    Violet grabbed one and twirled it in her hand, smiling mischievously.


    "Let''s see if we can save this masterpiece."


    We took turns carving into the snowman. At first, we tried to make it look like a knight with armor, but it quickly turned into¡­ something else.


    Its arms were too short, its face was crooked, and one of its "armor plates" looked suspiciously like a duck''s beak.


    "Is that supposed to be a sword?" Violet asked, pointing at the strange lump I''d carved into the snowman''s hand.


    "Yes," I said confidently.


    "A very abstract sword."


    She burst out laughing upon hearing my words.


    "It looks like a shovel, Junior. You''ve turned our snow knight into a snow gardener."


    "Hey, I''d like to see you do better," I shot back, grinning lightly.She held up her hands.


    "Oh no, I''m not taking credit for this disaster. This is all you."


    We stood there for a moment, admiring or maybe just laughing at our weird snowman.


    It didn''t look anything like what we had planned, but I couldn''t deny it was fun.


    Squeeze...


    Suddenly, Violet pressed against my arm, leaning into me with that playful smirk of hers.


    "So, where to next, Junior?"I raised a brow at her.


    "Weren''t you the one saying you''d lead this date just a few minutes ago?"


    "Mhm," she hummed, giggling softly. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Not anymore."


    I shook my head with a small smile.


    "Well, alright then," I said, glancing around and trying to remember all the places we had passed through.


    Then it hit me¡ªa perfect place!


    "I''ve got something. Follow me."


    Her eyes lit up, and she tapped a finger to her lips in mock thought.


    "Hmm¡­ Is it a motel?"


    I froze mid-step.


    And then turned to give her a deadpan stare.


    "Seriously?"


    "Nihihi~!"


    She leaned closer to my arm, her sparkling violet eyes full of mischief.


    "I''m joking, I''m joking! You''re so easy to mess with, Junior."


    "Haaa..."


    I let out a long sigh and started walking again, though I couldn''t help but notice the teasing grin on her face.


    And while looking at her, I got a closer view of her face.


    She had a sharp yet delicate face, with a small beauty mark under her left eye that only made her look more mature.


    Honestly, if I didn''t know her, I might''ve mistaken her for someone older¡ªlike a young milf with that kind of magnetic charm.Not that I was gonna say that out loud.


    It was the same case with Christina, but yeah, both of them had pretty big differences.


    While Christina does act like some kind of "older sister", Violet is more like a mischievous one.


    Well, the "mischievous" description definitely fits her.


    "Oh! Ice cream!" she suddenly squealed, letting go of my arm and dashing toward a nearby stall.


    Her smile practically sparkled as she handed the vendor some coins and walked away holding a triple-scoop cone, each flavor stacked neatly on top of the other.


    She took a slow, deliberate lick, her face lighting up like a kid in a candy store.


    "You like ice cream that much?"


    "I love it!"


    Her reply came instantly, her tone full of joy as she held the cone with both hands like it was some kind of treasure.


    However, just as I was about to joke about her demeanor...


    I felt a strange yet dangerous aura.


    "This..."


    And it seemed like Violet had noticed it too.


    THRUUUUMMM!


    SHAKE!


    The ground beneath us trembled, sending faint cracks through the ice and snow.


    A suffocating dark aura erupted out of nowhere, spiraling up into the sky like smoke from a fire as a foul stench filled the air.


    The cheerful festival lights flickered, then dimmed, and the once-bright sky was swallowed by swirling black clouds.


    A dark sphere of energy spread out, blanketing the entire academy. The weight of the aura was immediate, pressing down on everyone around us.


    Students stumbled, their knees buckling slightly as if gravity itself had gotten stronger.


    "...A Demon General..."


    Violet muttered quietly.


    ''Fuck?! Are you kidding?!''


    I cursed inwardly upon hearing her words.


    ''Are you telling me an Arch-Demon really appeared out of nowhere? This academy really is damned cursed!''


    The malicious aura kept growing stronger, suffocating in its intensity. My heart pounded against my ribs as I tried to process what was happening.


    But then, I noticed something that made my stomach drop.


    Plop!


    Violet''s ice cream fell to the ground, splattering in the snow.


    I turned to her, and my breath hitched.


    Her face was¡­ terrifying.


    The playful sparkle in her eyes was gone, replaced by a fury so intense it was like staring into a brewing storm.


    Her lips pressed into a thin line, and her whole body tensed as her purple eyes locked onto the source of the aura with killing intent.


    "...My precious first date...."


    Boom!


    A surge of violet energy exploded from her, wrapping around her like a living flame. The snow beneath her melted instantly, steam rising from where she stood.


    "Stay here, Junior."


    Fwoop!


    Before I could even reply, she vanished in a flash of purple light as my eyes darted in the direction she disappeared.


    "Fuck..."


    An Arch-Demon, a powerful existence under the Demon King. There are seven of them, each one representing one of the seven deadly sins.


    All of them have a power that can reach the limits of the SS rank, and even with that, their battle power is at least more than ten times stronger than a human.


    So, to put it into simpler words, it would need ten humans of the same rank to defeat him.


    But even with that, the Arch-Demon has its bloodline abilities, for example, Lilith, the Sin of Lust, has an enchanting ability that can "charm" anyone below her level.


    As for the others, I don''t really know about them.


    "Damn it..."


    I looked at my damned broken body and let out a sigh.


    I didn''t have time to fuse with the Lich''s Heart that Yara had given me during our make-out session, so I really can''t go to battle right now...


    "This damned physique."


    I shut my eyes tightly.


    "Just wait for a while, Violet..."


    I brought out the Lich''s Heart and immediately pressed him against my chest, causing it to phase through my skin and reach my heart area, eventually staying in the right side of my chest, just like a second heart.


    "Fuu..."


    I made a small symbol with my hands and then, pushed my Twin Heart Mana Body to its limit, forcing my power output to increase tenfold.


    It was risky¡ªstupid, even. My body couldn''t handle this strain for long. So, I needed to be quick.


    My Twin Heart Mana Body was a mutated version of Elleonora''s.


    While her body could only increase the overall mana power by five times, I could do it by ten.


    Normally, since the physique is always active, I let the output stay in one, which means that I''m not using the physique, and is my normal mana power.


    But then, I increase the output, or simply "the level" of my mana power when needed, but of course, I refrain from doing so because my body can''t handle it.


    With Yara''s mana, I was able to increase the output to the maximum for a few moments, but that disintegrated her made-up mana heart easily.


    But now, with a Lich''s Heart...


    I should be able to use it up to five times without really damaging my body.


    At least, I hope so...


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    Meanwhile...


    "Lucas?! Are you sure we can deal with him?" Ella asked nervously, her voice shaking a little as she stared at the dark, swirling energy coming from the demon ahead of them.


    It felt heavy, like the air itself was pressing down on them.


    "...It''s the only way to kill him. He''s currently weakened, we need to be able to do it right now, or we won''t get a better opportunity!" Lucas gripped the Excalibur tightly.


    <You need to hurry up!>


    The Excalibur said to Lucas, causing him to increase his grip strength.


    Currently, in the garden of the academy, stood more than two hundred students. All of them were warned by Lucas and were gathered just for this moment.


    After all, Lucas had found that the seed of the Arch-Demon of Pride was actually inside the academy, and because of that, he warned everyone, including the professors who were also present.


    The only ones who weren''t present... were Eleonora and the weaker students who didn''t dare to face off against an Arch Demon.


    Hell, even Alaine, Aestrea''s maid was present, holding her spirit bow hard. Next to her, was also a young black-haired girl, holding a pair of daggers.


    Fwip!


    A purple aura, like a flash of lightning, was slammed against the ground.


    "Senior Violet!"


    Many students exclaimed in delighted surprise to which she nodded to them, but she couldn''t hide her serious face.


    She looked towards the Arch Demon who had a strong barrier around his body, as he gradually came to "life".


    "Did everyone already try to destroy the barrier?" she asked.


    "We did," Lucas replied, taking a few steps forward, and standing next to her.


    "It seems like there''s the Demon King''s magic on that shield, and even if we gathered all of our powers, we really couldn''t destroy it," Lucas explained.


    He had even tried to use Light Magic along with the Excalibur, but it didn''t work against the barrier.


    "I see... Then, we should prepare."


    "The professors already created multiple barriers and divided the students into attack and defense squads... we just need to be careful enough."


    To his words, Violet nodded.


    "...Prepare your spells!"


    Suddenly, Zeva''s voice echoed throughout the whole academy.


    Fwip!


    Crackle!


    Swish!


    The garden erupted with energy.


    The sound of crackling magic filled the air as every student readied their strongest spell.


    The ground seemed to hum with power, and the sky above darkened as if the world itself was holding its breath.


    But just as the barrier around the demon began to fade...


    Snap!


    Everything stopped.


    No¡ªnot stopped.


    Their magic was gone.


    Every spell, every flicker of energy, just vanished into thin air.


    The students stared in shock, their hands still raised, but nothing happened.


    And then... he appeared.


    A small, pale figure stepped out in front of the Arch-Demon.


    He was lean, with slicked-back gray hair that reached the back of his neck.


    But what caught everyone''s attention was his mask. It was white and completely blank, except for a creepy, wide grin carved into it.


    The smile stretched too far, almost like it didn''t belong on a human face.


    Two crescent-shaped slits where his eyes should be made him look even more unsettling, like something out of a nightmare.


    "Hello everyone!" he said cheerfully, waving his hand like he was greeting old friends.


    His voice was light, almost playful, but it sent chills down everyone''s spines.


    "My name is Kagetaro Kurohare," he announced, placing one hand over his chest and bowing dramatically like he was performing on a stage.


    "And I''m so sorry to interrupt, but... this just isn''t fair, is it? Over two hundred of you against one little demon? Tsk, tsk. That''s just not right."


    He straightened up, his mask''s grin seeming to grow wider.


    "My deepest condolences..."


    Kagetaro smirked darkly.


    "But you cannot pass from here."

 Chapter 77 - 77: The Moonlight Swordsman (XLIII)

    "This bastard...!"


    One of the professors growled, his rage boiling over.


    Zooom!


    In a flash of light, he vanished, reappearing right in front of Kagetaro with twin axes swinging straight for his head.


    But just as the axes were about to connect¡ª


    Click!


    Splurt!


    A big hole pierced through the professor''s body.


    Thud.


    The professor''s body fell coldly into the ground.


    The student''s eyes widened in horror.


    Fwip!


    Zeva immediately stepped in the front, swinging a wave of aura towards Kagetaro.


    "Oh?"


    He raised an eyebrow as he disappeared into thin air.


    Click!


    His mana strings shot towards Zeva who blocked with her swords and twisted them slightly, cutting off the strings with ease.


    "A twin sword artifact... huh,"


    "Quite interesting..."


    Kagetaro remarked, a faint smile curling his lips.


    He moved his arms, and the mana strings danced around him like deadly ribbons, weaving a tight, suffocating circle around Zeva.


    BOOM!


    A burst of energy exploded from Zeva, shattering the strings into ash.


    Kagetaro took a few quick steps back¡ª


    ¡ªBAM!


    Behind him, a fully covered mana sword strikes down, causing him to twist his body and use his mana strings to block the strike.


    At that moment, another professor appeared, and two daggers shot toward his waist and his neck.


    But even with multiple attacks, Kagetaro smiled.


    "Bang."


    He muttered slightly.


    Splurt!


    Two large projectiles shot straight towards both the attackers, slicing through the air with a sharp hiss.


    At the same time, another was aimed directly at Zeva.


    Fwip!


    She reacted instantly, swinging her weapon to deflect it.


    The force of the deflection sent the projectile veering off course, smashing into a building in the distance and punching a clean hole right through its walls.


    "Damn it..."


    Looking at the dead bodies of her colleagues, Zeva gripped his twin swords tightly, as the aura on her body got more deadly than before.


    She swung her left arm¡ª


    BAM!


    A crescent-shaped wave made out of aura ripped across the ground, carving through the air toward Kagetaro.


    His eyes widened, caught off guard by the sudden attack.


    He barely moved in time¡ª


    Splurt!


    The energy tore through his right arm, blood spraying like a fountain as the limb fell limp at his side.


    For the first time, Kagetaro''s calm demeanor cracked, a flicker of surprise flashing across his face, yet the small grin on his face remained.


    Tap. Tap.


    Footsteps echoed through the tense battlefield.


    "Step back," a calm voice cut through the silence.


    Zeva turned her head slightly to see a familiar figure walking forward.


    It was Lucas, his golden hair glinting under the dim light of the darkened sky, strode into the fray


    His sword, Excalibur, was glowing faintly, the holy energy pulsing slightly, causing small waves of energy.


    "I''ll take it from here, Professor Zeva. We''ll need you for the fight against the Arch Demon." Lucas said firmly, looking at Zeva for a while.


    Zeva hesitated for a moment but then nodded, stepping back to catch her breath.


    "Oh? Another one?" Kagetaro said lightly but his grin widened, his mask somehow looking even creepier.


    "And here I thought things were starting to get boring."


    Lucas didn''t reply.


    Instead, he raised Excalibur, gripping it tightly with both hands.


    The sword hummed with power, its blade almost blinding as golden light burst forth.


    BOOOOM!


    The ground beneath Lucas cracked as he launched himself forward, closing the distance between him and Kagetaro in an instant.


    CLANG!


    Kagetaro''s mana strings snapped out like a whip, blocking Excalibur''s strike.


    Sparks flew as the two forces collided, the sheer force of the impact shaking the ground.


    But Lucas didn''t stop.


    He pressed forward, swinging Excalibur in powerful, precise arcs, each strike aiming for Kagetaro''s vitals.


    CLANG!


    CLINK!


    Kagetaro moved like liquid, his body twisting unnaturally as he dodged and parried with his remaining hand and mana strings.


    "Not bad," Kagetaro said, his tone amused as he slid to the side, narrowly avoiding a downward slash that left a deep gash in the ground.


    "But, it isn''t enough!"


    Lucas didn''t respond.


    Instead, he stepped back and thrust Excalibur forward, releasing a wave of golden energy.


    BOOM!


    The energy tore through the battlefield, heading straight for Kagetaro.


    "Hmm," Kagetaro mused, raising his remaining hand.


    His mana strings formed a barrier in front of him, absorbing the impact. The explosion sent dust and debris flying, obscuring the view.


    Before the dust could settle, a loud roar echoed across the battlefield.


    "MOVE!"


    A figure shot out of the shadows, her fists glowing with a fiery aura. Maya charged straight at Kagetaro.


    BAM!


    Her punch connected with his mana barrier, shattering it like glass. The force sent shockwaves rippling through the air.


    Kagetaro staggered slightly, his grin faltering for the first time, leaping backwards to create some distance.


    Maya wasn''t about to let him off easy.


    "Come here, you freak!" she yelled, her fists blazing as she followed up with a barrage of punches.


    WHAM!


    BAM!


    CRACK!


    Each strike was aimed at his torso, her movements fluid and relentless.


    Kagetaro dodged most of them, but a few managed to land, cracking the ground beneath him with their sheer force.


    "Annoying," Kagetaro hissed, lashing out with his mana strings.


    FWIP!


    FWIP!


    The strings wrapped around Maya''s wrists, pulling her toward him.


    But before he could attack¡ª


    THWOOOM!


    A blast of fire shot through the air, forcing him to release her.


    "Back off!"


    Rose stood a few meters away, her hands glowing with flames. Her fiery red hair whipped around her face as she prepared another spell.


    ¡º Fire Series: Fire Pillar! (? 4th-Level Spell ?)¡»


    WHOOSH!


    A column of fire erupted from the ground, forcing Kagetaro to leap into the air. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Don''t get comfortable up there!"


    Maya was already waiting. She jumped high, her aura-empowered fist aiming for his chest.


    BAM!


    The punch connected, sending Kagetaro crashing back to the ground.


    "Nice hit!" Lucas called out, rushing in with Excalibur raised.


    Kagetaro rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the sword as it slammed into the ground where he had been moments ago.


    CRACK!


    The impact left a deep crater.


    "Enough of this!" Kagetaro snarled, his voice losing its playful tone.


    He raised his remaining hand, and a web of mana strings shot out, forming a deadly net that spread across the battlefield.


    "Get down!" Zeva yelled from behind, dashing forward, and then proceeding to slice through the strings near her with her twin swords.


    Lucas, Maya, and Rose ducked and dodged, avoiding the razor-sharp threads.


    But Kagetaro wasn''t done.


    BOOM!


    A wave of dark energy erupted from him, knocking everyone back.


    Iris, standing at the edge of the battlefield, raised her staff.


    "Hold still!" she shouted, golden light flowing from her hands. The healing magic washed over the group, mending their wounds and easing their pain.


    "Thanks, Iris!" Maya called out, getting back on her feet.


    Finally, Violet decided to step forward as a faint purple aura loomed over her.


    She raised her hands, and sharp crystal shards formed in the air around her.


    ¡º Crystal Shards! (? 1st-Level Spell ?)¡»


    FWOOOSH!


    The shards shot toward Kagetaro like a storm of daggers.


    Kagetaro dodged and weaved, but the crystals moved with him, homing in on his position.


    "Tch," he clicked his tongue, swinging his mana strings to deflect the shards.


    But Violet wasn''t done.


    CRACK!


    ¡º Crystal Spike! (? 3rd-Level Spell ?)¡»


    A massive crystal spike erupted from the ground beneath him, forcing him to jump.


    "Now!" Violet shouted.


    Lucas and Maya rushed in from opposite sides, their weapons aimed at his chest.


    SLASH!


    BAM!


    Excalibur sliced through his side, and Maya''s punch connected with his ribcage, sending him skidding across the battlefield.


    Blood dripped from his wounds, staining the ground.


    But Kagetaro was still grinning.


    "You''re better than I thought," he said, coughing slightly.


    However, at the same time, his smile slowly returned.


    He raised his remaining hand, snapping his fingers.


    CRACK!


    The aura behind him flared, growing darker and more oppressive. The ground trembled, and the air grew thick.


    "Wait... the Arch-Demon.." Violet muttered, her eyes widening.


    The oppressive aura grew stronger, signaling the Arch-Demon of Pride was awakening.


    Before anyone could react, Kagetaro''s severed limbs began to move.


    SWISH!


    The pieces of his body shot toward him, fusing back together in a grotesque display.


    The blood and flesh reassembled, and within seconds, his body was whole again.


    He rolled his shoulders, flexing his fingers as if nothing had happened.


    "Well," Kagetaro said with a sly grin.


    "I''d love to stay and chat, but I think it''s time for me to leave. Goodbye!"


    Fwoop!


    With a flourished bow, he disappeared from everyone''s sight.


    But then¡ª


    An enormous, dark aura exploded upward from the ground, blacker than the deepest shadow.


    The air grew heavy, and it felt as if the entire world was holding its breath.


    Crackle!


    Lightning shot across the sky, slicing through the dark clouds that had gathered out of nowhere.


    "What¡­ what is that?" Rose stammered, her voice trembling as she stared at the swirling mass of darkness.


    "It''s him," Violet said with a grim face.


    "The Arch-Demon of Pride¡­ He''s waking up."


    The ground began to shake violently.


    RUMBLE!


    Chunks of earth broke apart, forming cracks that glowed with a fiery red light. Lava-like energy oozed up from the cracks, filling the air with the smell of sulfur.


    "Everyone, get back!" Lucas shouted, raising Excalibur in front of him.


    The golden light from the blade flickered, struggling against the oppressive darkness.


    At this point, everyone already knew that Lucas had the Excalibur and was the Hero and because of that, they all trusted him.


    Immediately, all of them retreated, forming a defensive line.


    But the aura kept growing.


    It pulsed like a heartbeat, each throb making the ground quake even harder.


    Shine...!


    Iris, standing behind the group, raised her staff. A warm light spread from her hands, creating a protective barrier around them.


    "Stay close, I''ll shield us as long as I can."


    But even Iris''s magic was struggling against the darkness. The barrier flickered, the edges crumbling like paper burned by fire.


    Then, from within the swirling darkness, a low growl echoed.


    Grrrrrhhhhhh¡­


    It obviously wasn''t human.


    It was a growl that seemed to come from the depths of the earth itself.


    The group froze.


    And then¡ª


    BOOOOM!


    The center of the battlefield exploded.


    A massive clawed hand emerged from the ground, tearing through the lava-filled cracks.


    The hand was enormous, its blackened skin covered in cracks that glowed with fiery red light.


    Its claws were long and sharp, each one dripping with molten energy.


    THUD!


    The hand slammed into the ground, sending shockwaves rippling across the battlefield.


    "Get ready!" Lucas shouted, his grip on Excalibur tightening.


    From the darkness, a second clawed hand emerged, followed by two glowing red eyes. They burned like twin suns, filled with malice and pride.


    The creature''s head followed, its massive horns curving back like a crown. Its face was grotesque, a twisted mix of sharp edges and dark energy.


    And then, the rest of its body began to rise.


    The Arch-Demon was enormous, towering over the battlefield like a living mountain.


    Its chest was covered in jagged armor-like scales, and its wings stretched wide, blocking out what little light remained.


    ROOOOAAAAAR!


    The demon let out a loud roar, shaking the very sky.


    Lightning struck again, the bolts dancing around its massive frame.


    "We can''t let this thing fully awaken!" Zeva declared, gripping her swords.


    "If it does, we''re all dead!"


    Rose nodded, fire swirling around her hands.


    "Then let''s stop it now!"


    WHOOSH!


    Rose shot a stream of fire at the Arch-Demon, aiming for its face.


    The flames hit their target, but¡ª


    FIZZLE!


    The fire disappeared, snuffed out as if it were nothing.


    Rose''s eyes widened in disbelief.


    "What?!"


    The Arch-Demon''s glowing eyes flicked toward her, and it raised one massive claw.


    SWIPE!


    The claw slashed through the air, sending a wave of dark energy hurtling toward the group.


    "MOVE!" Lucas shouted.


    BOOOOM!


    The wave hit the ground where they had been standing, leaving a massive crater in its wake.


    Violet raised her hands, summoning a crystal barrier to block the next attack.


    CRASH!


    The barrier shattered instantly, the force sending Violet flying backward.


    "Senior Violet!" Maya yelled, rushing to her side.


    "I''m fine," Violet groaned, struggling to her feet.


    "But this thing¡­ it''s on a completely different level."


    Lucas gripped his Excalibur tightly and then charged toward the Arch-Demon, his sword blazing with holy energy.


    "Demon Slaying Sword Art...!"


    ¡º Corruption Sword! ¡»


    CLANG!


    Excalibur struck the demon''s arm, but the blade barely left a scratch.


    "Damn it¡­" Lucas muttered, jumping back to avoid a counterattack.


    Zeva joined the fray, her twin swords slicing through the air.


    SLASH!


    SLASH!


    Her blades struck the demon''s leg, but they, too, barely left a mark.


    "This isn''t working!" Zeva yelled, frustration in her voice.


    The Arch-Demon roared again, its massive wings spreading wide.


    With one powerful flap¡ª


    WHOOSH!


    A hurricane-like wind tore across the battlefield, knocking everyone off their feet, even the students who were too scared to move.


    Iris struggled to keep her barrier intact, the golden light flickering dangerously.


    "This¡­ isn''t good," she muttered, her hands trembling.


    But even as the group struggled, Lucas refused to give up.


    He planted his feet firmly on the ground, raising Excalibur high.


    "Everyone, focus your attacks on one spot!" he shouted. "We''ll break through its defenses together!"


    The others nodded, determination filling their faces.


    Maya charged forward, her fists glowing with a fiery aura.


    BAM!


    BAM!


    She landed two heavy punches on the same spot Lucas had struck earlier, small cracks forming on the demon''s armor.


    "Keep going!" Lucas yelled.


    Rose unleashed another stream of fire, aiming for the cracks.


    WHOOSH!


    The flames burned brighter this time, fueled by her determination.


    Violet followed up with a barrage of crystal spikes, each one slamming into the same spot.


    CRACK!


    CRACK!


    The cracks grew larger, the demon letting out an angry roar as it felt the pressure.


    Lucas seized the moment.


    "NOW!" he shouted, leaping high into the air.


    BOOOOM!


    He brought Excalibur down with all his strength, the golden blade piercing through the cracks and sinking deep into the demon''s armor.


    The Arch-Demon howled in pain, its massive body trembling.


    But then¡ª


    THUMP!


    THUMP!


    The dark aura around it flared again, stronger than before.


    "No¡­ it''s still getting stronger!"


    The cracks in the demon''s armor began to heal, the fiery red energy sealing them shut.


    And then, to the group''s horror, the demon began to laugh.


    "Hahaha¡­ HAHAHAHA!"


    Its deep, booming laughter echoed across the battlefield.


    "You... mere ants..." it growled, its voice shaking the earth.


    With a snap of its massive claws¡ª


    BOOM!


    A wave of darkness erupted outward, engulfing everything in its path.

 Chapter 78 - 78: The Moonlight Swordsman (XLIV)

    SHINEE!


    A massive wave of golden mana burst out, enveloping everyone on the battlefield.


    Instantly, the students snapped their heads back, and their eyes widened in relief.


    "Saintess!"


    Behind them, with a glowing golden staff, Christina had conjured a spell that allowed them to defend themselves against the attack of the archdemon of pride.


    "Keep focus! This barrier won''t last for long!" she warned them.


    Immediately, they composed themselves, and the mages started conjuring spells while the swordsmen and warriors prepared themselves for an attack.


    ¡º Fire Series: Fire Tornado! (? 4th-Level Spell ?)¡»


    ¡º Wood Series: Thorn of Spikes! (? 4th-Level Spell ?)¡»


    ¡º Water Series: Water Spears! (? 3rd-Level Spell ?)¡»


    The air crackled as powerful spells gathered, but none were as strong as the magic prepared by Rose and Violet.


    ¡º Fire Series: Phoenix Rush! (? 6th-Level Spell ?)¡»


    ¡º Crystal Meteor! (? 6th-Level Spell ?)¡»


    "The barrier is about to break!" Christian rang out, warning everyone.


    CRACK!


    The golden barrier shattered like glass, scattering shards of light.


    SWOOSH!


    Hundreds of spells flew through the air, roaring toward the Archdemon.


    Yet, the demon didn''t flinch.


    His dark mana surged as he raised a dense black barrier.


    But, just as the magic was about to collide¡ªTwo figures shot forward like bolts of lightning.


    "Demon Slaying Sword Art...!"


    "Royal Swordsmanship...!"


    ¡º Void Breaker! ¡»


    ¡º Divine Punishment! ¡»


    CRACK!


    The demon''s barrier splintered under their combined strikes, breaking apart.


    And of course, Ella and Lucas didn''t stop¡ªthey crushed a teleportation stone in their hands and vanished into thin air.


    BOOOOOOOOOM!


    FREEEEZEEE!


    CRACCKLEE!


    The students'' spells crashed into the demon, a cacophony of ice, fire, and thunder. Smoke rose high into the air, shrouding the battlefield.


    Fwip!


    Zeva slashed through the smoke with a wave of energy, cutting it apart.


    And to their surprise, there he was.


    The archdemon stood untouched, stepping out of the barrage of spells with a cruel grin.


    His wings stretched wide, casting an ominous shadow over the battlefield, looking down at the group of students as if they were mere ants.


    He had raised a single finger, effortlessly stopping Zeva''s attack in midair.


    "HAHAHAHA! Humans are truly fascinating creatures," the archdemon sneered, grinning widely, while its wings flapped.


    His gaze fell on Lucas, who clutched the glowing Excalibur in his hands."But most interesting of all¡­ our dear hero."


    Fwip!


    A mana arrow shot toward him, whistling through the air.


    The demon smirked and raised his hand, ready to swat it away¡ª


    Splurt!


    To his surprise, the arrow pierced clean through his palm.


    Blood splattered across the air as the demon''s grin twisted into a snarl.


    "AHH! WHO DARES?!"


    His furious eyes scanned the battlefield, locking onto a brown-haired woman in a maid outfit. She was already nocking three more arrows onto her glowing bow.


    "A HIGH ELF?"


    "I KNEW I SHOULD HAVE ELIMINATED THE ELF RACE A LONG TIME AGO!" he clutched his tightly, looking at her with a terrifying rage in his eyes,


    At his words, Alaine only smiled coldly:


    "Then, try it, you fucking trash of a demon."


    Fwip!


    Three arrows soared toward him, but the Archdemon moved faster this time, his wings flapping with enough force to distort the space around him.


    But just as he dodged¡ªSLASH!


    A black-haired girl appeared right in front of him, holding a pair of daggers.


    "Omnislash."


    Chaerin uttered flatly.


    SPLURT!


    Blood erupted from a dozen cuts across the Archdemon''s body in an instant, and before he could recover, the three arrows Alaine had fired pierced him again.


    Splat!


    "AAAAARGH! YOU FILTHY WORMS!"


    The demon''s mana exploded outward in rage, a dark storm consuming the air.


    BAM!


    In the blink of an eye, he vanished.


    The sound of wings flapping was the only warning.


    WHOOSH!


    He reappeared right in front of Chaerin, his clawed hand snapping out like a vice.


    GRIP!


    He seized her neck, lifting her off the ground.


    "Let''s see how long you can last, little insect," the Archdemon sneered, tightening his grip around her little neck.


    "Chaerin!" Alaine screamed, already releasing two arrows.


    Fwoop!


    Lucas and Maya closed in from behind, while Rose and Violet began chanting their strongest spells again.


    Ella''s sword glowed blindingly bright, drawing in mana from the surroundings as she prepared her ultimate sword art.


    Even Zeva worked tirelessly, tending to the injured and bolstering the priests to keep them standing.


    But no matter how prepared they were, Chaerin''s time was slipping away¡ªnone of them could reach her fast enough to stop the Archdemon from crushing her completely.


    THUMP...


    ...THUMP!


    Her heartbeat echoed faintly in her ears as her hands struggled against his grip...


    "Ghh¡­ g-ga¡­ gah¡­" she choked, saliva slipping down her chin as her lips quivered.


    Tears blurred her vision, the world around her spinning as she struggled for air.


    The pain was unbearable.


    It burned her throat, crushed her chest, and sent waves of agony through her entire body.


    Her legs kicked weakly, but her strength was fading fast."D-dad¡­ s-save me¡­" she whimpered, her voice barely audible.


    Her body sagged, the fight leaving her as her eyelids drooped.


    CLANG!


    The desperate attacks of Lucas and Maya rang out, their blades deflected effortlessly with just a flick of the demon''s fingers.


    Fwoop!


    And of course, this time, he easily avoided the arrows sent by Alaine, as for the others, they wouldn''t be able to attack him for now, leaving Chaerin completely at his mercy.


    "Such an annoying ant," the Archdemon sneered, his grin widening as his fingers dug into her neck.


    "You''re tougher than I thought. But don''t worry¡­ no one will save you this time."


    His dark eyes gleamed with sadistic glee, his wings spreading wide as he imagined the pleasure of watching her lifeless body fall to the ground.


    "¡­P¡­p-papa¡­"


    She uttered her final words.


    Shing.


    A faint, almost insignificant noise broke through the chaos.


    It was very silent.


    The kind that you could easily ignore.


    But he, the archdemon, couldn''t ignore it.


    His ears twitched, his cruel grin faltering for a split second.


    SPLURT!


    The sound of tearing flesh followed as his arm¡ªstill gripping Chaerin''s neck¡ªwas severed cleanly at the elbow.


    Blood sprayed into the air, the dismembered limb falling heavily to the ground.


    Step...


    Along with the sound of boots falling into the ground.


    Chaerin''s half-closed eyes fluttered open slightly, her vision blurred but just enough to catch a familiar figure standing before her.


    "P¡­Papa¡­" she murmured weakly, a faint, tearful smile forming on her lips.


    "...."


    Aestrea didn''t speak at first.


    His expression was cold, his gaze locked on the Archdemon.


    He stepped forward and gently passed Chaerin to Alaine, who quickly caught her and nodded without hesitation.


    "...Protect her."


    He uttered simply which Alaine promptly nodded to.


    The Archdemon, now furious, roared with rage.


    "WHO DARES?! WHO DARES?! WHO DARES?! SHOW YOURSELF, YOU FILTHY RAT!"


    Dark mana spiraled around his severed arm, reconnecting it in a grotesque display.


    His eyes burned with madness as he glared in every direction, seeking the one who dared to challenge him.


    Aestrea finally turned, his eyes glowing dimly.


    He looked different...


    His right eye glowed red, with the symbol of a law scale.


    While his left eye glowed icy blue, with the faint outline of a crescent moon.


    "Moonlight Swordsman!"


    Many students exclaimed loudly.


    Aestrea, no, the Moonlight Swordsman ignored their words.


    "Fuu..."


    His body began to glow, but instead of his usual silver mana, a fierce violet aura erupted around him, shooting into the sky like a pillar of raw energy.


    BAAM!


    The dark clouds above split, the sky turning half-violet as if the world itself recognized the arrival of someone who could match the Archdemon.


    Shing.


    Another bland noise echoed, and in an instant, a long, menacing scythe appeared in Aestrea''s hand.


    SPLURT!


    A hundred meters away, the Archdemon froze, his body splitting cleanly in two before he could even register what had happened.


    "ARGHH! YOU¡­ YOU DAMN RAT!" he groaned loudly, his body stitching itself back together with dark energy.


    But before he could fully recover, Aestrea''s face suddenly appeared inches from his own, his scythe already swinging.


    ¡º Bleed ¡»


    SPLURT!


    SPLAT!


    Blood erupted from the Archdemon''s body. His ears, fingertips, chest¡ªevery inch of him began to bleed profusely.


    Then, another swing came, faster than the demon could react. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Click!


    The Archdemon crossed his arms in an ''X'', blocking the scythe with all his strength.


    [Archdemon Authority!]


    A wave of crushing pressure exploded outward, forcing Aestrea back slightly.


    The demon grinned wickedly as his Authority took hold of the place, granting him complete control of his surroundings.


    The air grew heavier, the ground trembling under the overwhelming force of his power. Within this space, his strength multiplied exponentially.


    However, Aestrea''s cold voice cut through the oppressive air.


    Like he didn''t care about that all."You never learn, do you?"He raised his hand calmly.


    ¡º Bleed ¡»


    ¡º Bleed ¡»


    ¡º Bleed ¡»


    ¡º Bleed ¡»


    ¡º Bleed ¡»


    Five consecutive blees were activated, each one forcing blood to gush from the Archdemon''s body like a fountain.


    SPLURT!


    SPLAT!


    The demon''s form exploded in a rain of blood and gore, but even then, his body reformed, piecing itself back together like a twisted puzzle.


    "¡­This should be enough for now."


    Aestrea muttered under his breath, stepping back casually.


    BAAAAM!


    Behind him, two golden auras erupted, shooting into the heavens and turning the sky bright gold. Ella and Lucas stood tall, their swords radiating brilliant light as they prepared their ultimate attack.


    Aestrea glanced back briefly and nodded, stepping aside to give them a clear path.


    "HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"


    Both of them roared in unison, their voices ringing out like thunder as they swung their swords down.


    BOOOOOOOM!


    The combined attack from Ella and Lucas tore through the air, the sheer force shaking the battlefield.


    A wave of golden energy surged forward, ripping through the ground like an unstoppable tsunami.


    The Archdemon snarled, spreading his arms wide as a dark barrier formed around him.


    CRACKLE!


    BOOM!


    The golden attack collided with the barrier, the impact creating an explosion that lit up the sky itself.


    The ground beneath the Archdemon cracked and crumbled, forming a deep crater from the force of the collision.


    "IS THAT ALL?!" the Archdemon roared, his barrier holding strong despite visible cracks forming along its surface.


    His dark mana swirled violently, repairing the damage as fast as it came.


    Looking at this, both Ella''s and Lucas''s eyes widened in shock.


    On the other side, Aestrea didn''t look too surprised.


    [You have gained the trait¡ª"Cold Blooded (S-)"!]


    Instead, a small window popped in front of him.


    [Twin Heart Mana Body''s Ability Duration: 5 minutes, 23 seconds.]


    "I don''t have time for this."


    The reason why Aestrea was so powerful, was that after he fused with the Lich''s Heart, he awakened the special ability of his physique.


    An ability that would increase all of his attributes except mana by a short period, without any side effects at all.


    The only problem was that this ability could only be used once a month.


    But even with that, it was very overpowered.


    It was strong enough to actually surpass any kind of divine ability.


    "Let''s see..."


    Aestrea''s eyes narrowed as he increased the consumption of mana on his Judgement Eye.


    He looked at the students, and his eyes widened in surprise to see that all of them almost didn''t have any mana reserves.


    Along with that, Zeva was the one granting mana to the priests to heal the other students.


    "She should be on attack..."


    Then, he also found two familiar faces.


    Iris and Maya.


    Both of them had passed out.


    As for Rose, she was meditating, gathering as much mana as she could.


    And so was Violet.


    "...It seems that I''ll need to hold the demon for those five minutes..."


    "At least, until the Sword Duke and the rest get here."


    Aestrea cracked his head slightly.


    Although he couldn''t kill the archdemon.


    He still could give him the beating of his life.

 Chapter 79 - 79: The Moonlight Swordsman (XLV)

    "YOU DAMNED RATS!"


    The archdemon roared, his dark aura flaring wildly.


    Two long claws extended from his fingertips as he swung his arm in a wide arc, aiming straight for Ella and Lucas.


    Fwip!


    Looking at each other, Lucas and Ella nodded simultaneously.


    He planted his foot against hers, and with perfect coordination, they kicked off each other, launching themselves in opposite directions to dodge mid-air.


    But¡ª


    The claws were too long.


    The tips still reached out for them, slicing through the air with terrifying speed...


    ¡ªShing!


    Until they heard another bland noise.


    Thud!


    Aestrea appeared behind Lucas in a blur.


    His hand shot out, gripping Lucas''s wrist.


    Without hesitation, he spun in place and threw Lucas straight into Ella.


    BAM!


    "Gah!"


    The two of them collided hard, the force sending them tumbling across the ground, but in the end, they had avoided the archdemon''s claws. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Swoosh!


    Before the demon could react, Aestrea had already stepped in front of him.


    "Hey... even though you aren''t in your full power, how does it feel to be so weak?"


    Appearing right before the archdemon, Aestrea asked.


    There was no arrogance or coldness in his voice.


    It was a completely neutral tone.


    But that made it so much worse.


    The archdemon''s eyes twitched, veins bulging in his forehead as his rage exploded. With a furious snarl, he lashed out, swinging his claws in a wild frenzy.


    "YOU DAAAMN RAAT!"


    Aestrea sighed.


    ¡º Bleed ¡»


    Splurt!


    "ARGGHHHH!"


    The archdemon screamed as deep gashes suddenly tore open across his arms and chest.


    BAAM!


    Aestrea stepped forward and drove his fist straight into the archdemon''s solar plexus.


    Zoooooooom!


    The impact sent a shockwave rippling through the battlefield, and the demon''s body shot backward like a cannonball, smashing into the academy''s fortified walls.


    "Phew."


    "That must''ve hurt."


    Across the battlefield, dust and debris settled.


    The archdemon groaned, his massive form rising from the rubble.


    His muscles bulged unnaturally as his dark aura flared up once more, growing heavier, denser.


    "A... mere human... how... how dare you?!"


    The air around him twisted as weapons¡ªdozens of swords, spears, and daggers¡ªmaterialized above him, glowing with dark energy.


    With a snap of his fingers, the weapons all shot toward Aestrea like homing missiles.


    Aestrea didn''t flinch.


    His scythe materialized in his hand¡ª


    Fwip!


    ¡ªAnd in a single motion, he hurled it into the air.


    The spinning scythe cut through the air like a boomerang, deflecting every incoming weapon as if they were nothing but leaves in the wind.


    The archdemon bared his fangs, his entire body wrapped in dark energy as he charged forward.


    Aestrea did the same.


    BOOM!


    The ground cracked beneath them as they clashed.


    But something was different now.


    The air around the archdemon shimmered with blood-red mana.


    Aestrea''s eyes narrowed slightly.


    "Blood Magic..."


    ''He''s going to use his own blood to attack me... that might get a bit troublesome.''


    Swip!


    The archdemon''s body suddenly burst open like a geyser, spraying blood in all directions.


    But it didn''t just fall¡ªit moved.


    The moment his blood hit the air, it twisted and solidified into countless spikes, forming a deadly cage around Aestrea.


    Seeing this, Aestrea stretched his left hand slightly.


    Shing.


    A bland noise.


    His scythe appeared on his hand as he pivoted on his feet, spinning around, cutting the blood spikes effortlessly.


    But even as he did that, the rest of the spikes transformed into smaller spikes hurling towards many parts of his body.


    The archdemon''s grin widened as he raised both hands, locked his fingers together, and slammed them down¡ª


    ¡ªRight where Aestrea stood.


    "AAAHH, I FINALLY GOT YOU, YOU SNEAKY ANT!"


    But just before the impact¡ª


    ¡º Ice Series: Ice Generation! (? 1st-Level Spell ?) ¡»


    A faint cluster of ice appeared on his right hand as he clenched his fist.


    ¡º Ice Series: Minor Frost Explosion (? 5th-Level Spell ?) ¡»


    BOOOM!


    A surge of freezing energy erupted outward, covering everything in ice.


    The battlefield turned white.


    The blood spikes froze mid-air.


    Aestrea''s entire body was covered in a thick layer of frost¡ª


    Crack.


    But it shattered instantly.


    It was his own spell. It wouldn''t hold him.


    Across from him, the archdemon was also frozen solid.


    For a second.


    Crack! Crack!


    CRASH!


    The ice around the archdemon shattered violently, and he let out a furious howl.


    "ARGHHH!"


    Aestrea rolled his shoulders, tilting his head.


    "Well¡­ I guess that wasn''t enough to cool you down."


    [3 Minutes... 19 seconds.]


    ''Just a little more I guess.''


    "HAAAAA!!!"


    The archdemon''s red eyes burned with rage as his dark aura pulsed like a living flame.


    His cracked skin oozed thick, black blood, mixing with the blood energy mana around him.


    His breath came in short, sharp bursts.


    His lips curled back into a snarl, revealing jagged fangs.


    "I''LL RIP YOU APART, HUMAN!"


    BOOM!


    The ground shattered beneath his feet as he launched himself forward. His claws slashed through the air, aiming straight for Aestrea''s throat.


    Aestrea''s body blurred¡ª


    Whoosh!


    ¡ªHe dodged left, twisting his upper body to avoid the deadly swipe.


    But the archdemon reacted quickly.


    And before Aestrea could land, the demon spun and swung his other claw¡ª


    Swish!


    Aestrea barely managed to duck, feeling the sharp wind from the strike pass over his head. He countered instantly, driving his knee into the demon''s ribs.


    BAM!


    The archdemon grunted but didn''t stop.


    He lashed out with his tail¡ª


    CRACK!


    It smashed into Aestrea''s side where Aestrea quickly created a small protection of ice, but the impact sent him skidding backward across the battlefield.


    His boots dug deep trenches in the dirt as he narrowed his eyes at the archdemon.


    The archdemon didn''t let up.


    He charged again, swinging both claws in a deadly cross-slash¡ª


    Shing!


    Aestrea raised his scythe just in time, blocking the attack. Sparks flew as metal clashed against demonic claws.


    But the impact was too strong¡ª


    CRACK!


    The force sent Aestrea sliding back once more.


    The archdemon grinned, his fangs gleaming.


    "WHERE''S THAT CONFIDENCE NOW?!"


    Aestrea exhaled through his nose, rolling his shoulder lightly.


    "Still here."


    The demon''s grin vanished.


    His aura flared up again, and the blood in the air twisted violently.


    "DIE!"


    FWOOOSH!


    A massive wave of bloodshot toward Aestrea like a tidal wave, forming sharp tendrils.


    Aestrea''s eyes flickered.


    Swoop!


    In the blink of an eye, his body vanished.


    SHLAAASH!


    The blood tendrils tore through empty air, cutting deep trenches into the ground.


    Before the archdemon could react¡ª


    WHOOSH!


    Aestrea reappeared above him.


    His scythe spun in his hand¡ª


    ¡º Moonlit Ice Lotus Sword Art: Reverse Moonlight''s One Flash! ¡»


    A single slash of air shot downward.


    SHING!


    The archdemon raised his arms in defense¡ª


    SLASH!


    The attack cut deep into his flesh, leaving a glowing green wound across his chest.


    "GRRRAAAHHH!"


    The demon stumbled back, his breathing ragged.


    But he wasn''t done.


    Not yet.


    His blood surged out of his wounds, forming into jagged red blades that floated in the air beside him.


    "YOU''RE DEAD!"


    With a flick of his hand¡ª


    FWOOOSH!


    The blades shot toward Aestrea at blinding speed.


    Aestrea twisted his body, ducking and weaving through the deadly storm of blood blades.


    One barely missed his cheek¡ª


    Another grazed his shoulder¡ª


    But he kept moving.


    His eyes locked onto the archdemon''s position.


    Aestrea sprinted forward¡ª


    BOOM!


    The ground cracked beneath his feet as he closed the distance.


    His scythe glowed with an intense violet aura before he swung with all his strength.


    SHIIIING!


    The scythe''s blade tore through the archdemon''s arm, severing it from his body.


    "GRAAAAAH!"


    Black blood sprayed into the air as the demon reeled back in agony.


    His severed arm twitched on the ground before dissolving into a red mist.


    Aestrea didn''t give him time to recover.


    He moved again, closing the gap¡ª


    WHOOSH!


    His knee smashed into the demon''s gut.


    BAM!


    The archdemon spit blood as he doubled over.


    Aestrea grabbed his head¡ª


    And drove his face straight into the ground.


    BOOOOM!


    The earth exploded from the impact, sending dust and debris flying.


    But Aestrea knew this wasn''t over.


    As the dust cleared, the archdemon''s body twitched.


    His aura flared even stronger.


    Aestrea''s eyes narrowed as he clicked his tongue.


    ''He''s still getting stronger¡­''


    The archdemon''s body began to change.


    His muscles bulged.


    His skin darkened.


    His single remaining arm morphed into a massive black claw.


    His blood blades floated around him, sharper than before.


    His lips curled into a wicked grin.


    "NOT BAD¡­ HUMAN, BUT THIS IS THE END FOR YOU!"


    BOOM!


    They charged at the same time.


    The archdemon swung his massive claw¡ª


    Aestrea ducked, pivoted, and slashed upward.


    SHING!


    The demon leaped back just in time, dodging the fatal strike.


    But¡ª


    Aestrea vanished.


    He reappeared behind the archdemon, scythe ready¡ª


    SWIPE!


    But the archdemon reacted fast, spinning and slamming his tail¡ª


    CRACK!


    Aestrea was sent flying.


    He twisted mid-air, landing on his feet.


    The demon roared and raised his claw¡ª


    A sphere of pure darkness formed in his palm.


    "DIE, INSECT!"


    FWOOOOOSH!


    The sphere shot toward Aestrea like a comet.


    He had seconds to react.


    ¡º Ice Series: Ice Barrier! (? 1st-Level Spell ?) ¡»


    A thick wall of ice formed in front of him¡ª


    BOOOOOM!


    The attack shattered the ice, but it gave Aestrea enough time to dodge.


    He dashed forward¡ª


    His scythe glowed brighter.


    The archdemon raised his claw for another strike¡ª


    But he was too slow.


    Aestrea was already inside his guard.


    His eyes glowed intensely, leaving a faint light blue and red trail behind them...


    "Moonlit Ice Lotus Sword Art..."


    ¡º Fourth Move! (? Lunar Collapse ?) ¡»


    SHING!


    The scythe cut through the archdemon''s torso.


    A deep, glowing wound spread across his chest. Along with it, a large crack appeared in the air, spreading to at leas ten meters, as if Aestrea''s move had cut the space itself.


    The demon''s eyes widened.


    He stumbled back.


    His aura flickered.


    His blood weapons vanished.


    His breath shook.


    Aestrea stood behind him, his scythe resting on his shoulder.


    "¡­It''s over."


    ''For now...''


    The archdemon growled loudly.


    "NO... NO... I CAN''T LOSE TO YOU!"


    His aura flared one last time¡ª


    But then¡ª


    His body gave out.


    He collapsed to his knees.


    And then¡ª


    THUD.


    The archdemon''s body hit the ground.


    At the same time, Aestrea''s aura got much weaker than before.


    "...Fuuu..."


    But, Aestrea wasn''t done yet.


    His fourth move wasn''t really enough to defeat the archdemon; he was just temporarily knocked down and Aestrea himself wouldn''t be able to kill the demon.


    Why?


    Because of his [Demon Core]; something very indestructible that only the power of an actual SSS-Rank awakened could destroy.


    But other than that, Lucas''s Excalibur should be enough to crack it, but it didn''t seem like he had enough power to do it.


    ".....Damn it."


    "How come they didn''t arrive yet?"


    Aestrea bit his lower lip.


    He looked behind him and saw the multiple shocked expressions of the students and professors, but he wasn''t worried about that.


    Instead, he just wanted the Sword Duke and the other high awakeners to get there as soon as possible.


    He looked toward the demon''s body and saw the convulsing mana that was relentlessly forming in his heart made him freeze slightly.


    "...So soon?"


    Gurglee...


    The demon''s body grotesquely twisted and cracked open, before a more perfect form, that was much closer to a human form, came from inside his body.


    The demon''s red eyes landed on his figure, burning with eternal rage.


    "Fuck..."


    Aestrea''s left eye had turned red again.


    And this time, the law scale symbol appeared in both of his pupils.

 Chapter 80 - 80: The Moonlight Swordsman (XLVI)

    "Haaa... haaa... Fuuu..."


    Aestrea''s breathing was steady, but his body was very tense.


    His scythe rested on his shoulder as he stared at the new form of the archdemon.


    The creature''s body was more human-like now, but the pressure coming from him was even worse than before.


    His red eyes burned with endless fury, and the dark energy around him twisted like a living thing.


    Aestrea clicked his tongue.


    ''He got up much faster than I expected...''


    The archdemon''s lips curled into a slow grin.


    He flexed his fingers, and his claws grew longer.


    "Fucking annoying bastard..." Aestrea mumbled slightly.


    The air shook around them.


    The ground beneath the archdemon cracked as dark energy spiraled around his feet. The demon bent his knees slightly, preparing to launch forward.


    Aestrea''s legs tensed slightly.


    He could feel it¡ªthe next attack was going to be fast.


    BOOM!


    The archdemon vanished.


    "Shit¡ª!"


    WHOOSH!


    Aestrea barely turned his body before a black claw came swinging from the side.


    SLASH!


    Aestrea jumped backward, but the demon''s nails ripped through his coat, nearly slicing his ribs.


    Before he could land, the demon was already behind him.


    BAM!


    A solid kick slammed into Aestrea''s back, sending him flying like a bullet.


    Aestrea''s body spun mid-air, but he quickly flipped, planting his feet on the ground, and sliding backward, leaving deep marks in the dirt.


    His scythe glowed, and his eyes narrowed.


    "This bastard got faster¡­"


    The archdemon grinned, rolling his shoulders.


    "I''m not done."


    BOOM!


    He charged again, his claw raised, but¡ª


    CLANG!


    A sword blocked his attack.


    Aestrea only smiled in relief.


    Lucas stood beside him, his golden sword, Excalibur, glowing with bright light. However, the Excalibur seemed much stronger than before.


    "You took too long," Aestrea said, seeing Lucas pushing back against the archdemon''s claw.


    Lucas smirked only grinned at his words.


    "Had to make an entrance."


    Before the demon could push forward¡ª


    WHOOSH!


    Ella appeared behind him, clutching her sword rightly.


    "Don''t forget about me!"


    She swung her sword, aiming for the demon''s neck¡ª


    But the archdemon ducked, his tail whipping around.


    CRACK!


    Ella barely dodged, flipping backward.


    Lucas slashed his sword downward, aiming for the demon''s shoulder.


    ¡º Corruption Sword! ¡»


    SHING!


    A bright arc of light sliced through the air¡ª


    But the demon jumped back, avoiding the attack by a hair.


    "You''re all so annoying," he hissed.


    But¡ª


    BOOM!


    A fireball exploded beside him.


    The demon turned sharply, his eyes locking onto Rose.


    Her hands burned with red flames, her long red hair flowing behind her.


    "I was hoping you''d forget me," Rose grinned.


    She raised her hands¡ª


    ¡º Fire Series: Inferno Lance! (? 3rd-Level Spell ?) ¡»


    A massive spear of fire formed in her palm, spinning rapidly before she threw it straight at the demon''s chest.


    The archdemon growled, his hands glowing with dark energy as he swung both arms¡ª


    BOOM!


    The fire spear exploded, sending out a shockwave.


    But in that moment¡ª


    WHOOSH!


    Violet appeared above him, holding a crystal rapier that glowed with a white light.


    SHING!


    She twisted her body mid-air, her rapier slashing downward at blinding speed.


    The demon barely dodged, but Violet''s blade cut into his left shoulder.


    "Argh¡ª!"


    Black blood sprayed as he stumbled back, his body burning from Rose''s fire and Violet''s sword strike.


    And then¡ª


    THUD!


    A shadow landed behind him.


    Zeva.


    Their Sword Instructor and the so-called Twin Sword Maniac.


    Her long black hair blew in the wind, her two blades shining under the battlefield''s broken sky.


    The archdemon snarled, his aura flaring.


    "ENOUGH!"


    He raised his only remaining arm, blood, and dark energy twisting together.


    ¡º Blood Art: Crimson Reaper! (? Advanced Forbidden Spell ?) ¡»


    A massive red scythe appeared in his hand, the air crackling with violent energy.


    The moment he gripped it¡ª


    BOOM!


    The ground collapsed beneath him, the sky turning dark red.


    Aestrea''s eyes narrowed slightly.


    "This is bad¡­" sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Lucas clenched his sword. "We need to finish him."


    Ella spun her daggers. "Fast."


    Zeva smirked. "Then let''s go."


    Aestrea exhaled slowly, gripping his own scythe.


    "Fine."


    Then¡ª


    WHOOSH!


    All of them charged forward at the same time.


    Lucas swung Excalibur, sending a golden slash forward¡ª


    ¡º ? Void Breaker! ? ¡»


    SHIIIIING!


    The archdemon swung his scythe, clashing against the attack.


    Ella appeared from the side, her sword aimed for his ribs¡ª


    ¡º Wind Series: Gale Step! (? 2nd-Level Spell ?) ¡»


    Her body blurred, moving at high speed, but¡ª


    The demon twisted, his tail whipping around¡ª


    CRACK!


    Ella blocked with her arms, skidding backward.


    Rose raised her hands, her flames swirling around her¡ª


    ¡º Fire Series: Exploding Nova! (? 4th-Level Spell ?) ¡»


    BOOOOOOM!


    A massive firestorm erupted, engulfing the demon¡ª


    But¡ª


    The flames parted.


    The archdemon walked forward, his body regenerating instantly.


    His eyes glowed darker.


    "Useless."


    Aestrea clicked his tongue.


    Then¡ª


    ''Output increased to five.''


    His scythe spun in his hands.


    The temperature dropped.


    ¡º Ice Series: Frost Explosion! (? 6th-Level Spell ?) ¡»


    A surge of freezing energy exploded from Aestrea, the battlefield turning white in an instant.


    The demon''s body slowed, ice forming on his limbs.


    But Aestrea wasn''t done.


    His red eye glowed intensely.


    His scythe''s aura burned with silver and violet light.


    "Moonlit Ice Lotus Sword Art..."


    ¡º Third Move! (? Moonlight''s One Flash ?) ¡»


    He vanished.


    SHING!


    A deep, cracking sound echoed¡ª


    Aestrea appeared behind the demon, his scythe lowered.


    For a second, nothing happened.


    Then¡ª


    CRACK!


    The ice covering the demon''s body shattered, a deep, glowing wound appearing across his entire torso.


    "GAH¡ª!"


    The demon stumbled, black blood pouring from his mouth.


    Aestrea exhaled.


    "¡­Not enough."


    Lucas stepped forward, his sword shining brighter.


    "Then let''s finish it."


    ¡º (? Void Breaker ?) ¡»


    A golden slash shot forward¡ª


    Moving straight for the demon''s chest.


    The archdemon''s eyes widened¡ªhe was still off balance from Aestrea''s last attack.


    BOOM!


    The golden energy crashed into him, sending him flying backward, his body tearing through the ground like a meteor.


    CRASH!


    Dust and debris shot into the air, forming a huge crater where he landed.


    For a moment¡ªsilence.


    Everyone stood still, weapons raised.


    Then¡ª


    The ground trembled.


    The air turned heavy.


    A low, deep chuckle echoed from the crater.


    The dust slowly settled, revealing the archdemon still standing.


    His body was damaged¡ªblack blood dripped from multiple wounds, and his left arm twitched unnaturally.


    But his red eyes burned with even more killing intent.


    "...Pathetic."


    His voice was distorted, layered with something inhuman.


    Aestrea''s grip on his scythe tightened.


    "Damn it... This bastard just won''t stay down."


    The demon slowly cracked his neck, his smile stretching unnaturally wide.


    "Did you think¡­ that was enough to kill me?"


    Then¡ª


    BOOM!


    A massive wave of dark energy exploded from his body.


    The shockwave sent Lucas, Ella, Violet, Rose, and Zeva skidding backward, forcing them to dig their weapons into the ground to hold their positions.


    Aestrea gritted his teeth, pushing forward against the force.


    The archdemon raised his right hand, dark magic swirling around his palm.


    ¡º Forbidden Spell: Abyssal Devour (? Soul Extraction ?) ¡»


    The air turned black.


    A giant shadow claw formed above them, stretching down, trying to crush everything beneath it.


    Lucas gritted his teeth.


    "We can''t let that land¡ª!"


    Before anyone could react¡ª


    WHOOSH!


    Aestrea vanished.


    He reappeared above the archdemon, his scythe glowing with a silver and violet light.


    ¡º Twin Heart Mana Body Style: Lunar Collapse! ¡»


    SHIIIIING!


    A massive arc of frozen energy cut through the shadow claw, splitting it in half before it could reach them.


    The archdemon''s eyes flashed.


    "You¡­!"


    WHOOSH!


    He swung his crimson scythe upwards¡ª


    Aestrea twisted his body mid-air, barely dodging, but the blade scraped his shoulder, drawing blood.


    SLASH!


    Aestrea landed on the ground, skidding back as his coat fluttered in the wind.


    Lucas immediately stepped forward.


    "No more playing around."


    His golden aura surged, Excalibur glowing brightly.


    He charged forward, his sword moving at blinding speed.


    The archdemon raised his own scythe, trying to block¡ª


    But then¡ª


    WHOOSH!


    Ella appeared behind him, as her sword glowed with an intense golden color.


    "Royal Swordsmanship..."


    ¡º Divine Punishment ¡»


    She spun rapidly, swinging her sword directly at its back.


    "GAH¡ª!"


    The demon stumbled, his defense breaking¡ª


    And that''s when Lucas''s golden slash came down.


    SHIIIIING!


    It cut deep into the demon''s chest, blood spraying everywhere.


    "HRGHHH¡ª!"


    The archdemon roared, but before he could recover¡ª


    BOOOOOM!


    A giant explosion of fire engulfed him.


    Rose stood at a distance, both hands burning with flames.


    ¡º Fire Series: Scorching Rain! (? 4th-Level Spell ?) ¡»


    Flaming spears rained from the sky, impaling the demon''s body from all directions.


    Zeva''s golden twin swords flashed as she dashed forward, aiming for the demon''s legs.


    ¡º Twin Blade Art: Crescent Sever! (? SS-Level Sword Art ?) ¡»


    SLASH!


    SLASH!


    His swords cut through, severing the demon''s tendons¡ª


    The demon collapsed to one knee, his breath ragged.


    Aestrea exhaled sharply.


    "This¡­ is our chance."


    His red eye burned brighter.


    His scythe''s aura flared, silver and violet energy surging around him.


    At that moment...


    ''Output increased to ten!''


    He used his full power.


    ¡º Unique Ice Series: Absolute Zero! (? 7th-Level Spell ?) ¡»


    The temperature dropped to freezing levels.


    Frost spread across the battlefield, ice forming on the demon''s body, locking him in place.


    The archdemon''s eyes widened.


    "...No¡­!"


    Aestrea raised his scythe, the blade shining brighter than ever.


    Then¡ª


    WHOOSH!


    He vanished.


    And reappeared above the demon, his scythe already swinging down.


    ¡º DIE. ¡»


    SHIIIIIIING!


    The scythe sliced cleanly through the archdemon''s body.


    For a moment¡ªsilence.


    Then¡ª


    CRACK!


    A massive fissure split the battlefield, the shockwave blasting outward.


    The archdemon''s torso separated, his body turning into frozen shards, scattering like glass.


    For a brief moment¡ªthere was silence.


    Then¡ª


    Clap!


    A slow, deliberate clap echoed through the air.


    Aestrea''s eyes narrowed as he sharply turned his head¡ª


    And from the shadows, a faint figure emerged.


    The archdemon of Pride stood there.


    Completely intact.


    Not a single wound.


    His crimson eyes gleamed, his grin widening as he took a step forward.


    "This bitch¡­ When the hell are you gonna stop with that fucking drama?" Aestrea growled, gripping his scythe tighter.


    The demon chuckled, tilting his head slightly.


    "Ahhh¡­ Humans. You are especially interesting."


    His gaze locked onto Aestrea, his smile stretching wider.


    "What''s your name?" He asked, voice dripping with amusement.


    "I''ll make sure to remember it¡­ Since you''re the only human who''s ever managed to deal this much damage to me."


    Aestrea scoffed, his grip on his scythe tightening.


    His crimson eye glowed dimly as he rolled his shoulders, brushing off the exhaustion creeping into his muscles.


    "Tsk. Acting like you''re some kind of untouchable god? Just not so long ago, you just got the beating of your life." He tilted his head, cracking his neck.


    "And now you want my name? What the fuck is wrong with you?"


    The archdemon of pride let out a deep chuckle, his golden eyes gleaming with amusement. His posture was relaxed as if this battle was nothing but a mild inconvenience.


    "Don''t flatter yourself, human." He spread his arms, gesturing at the battlefield.


    "I merely allowed you to land those attacks. Consider it a gift¡ªfor entertainment."


    CRACK!


    The ground beneath the demon fractured as his aura surged, pressure crushing the air around them.


    Lucas immediately stepped forward, sword raised.


    "Damn it... he''s still messing with us?" His voice was low, but his grip on Excalibur tightened.


    Ella''s green eyes narrowed as she pulled her sword free, her stance ready.


    "This bastard¡­ that wasn''t even his real body, was it?"


    "Now you''re catching on." The demon''s grin widened.


    Aestrea clicked his tongue at his pride.


    "It was his real body. It''s just that his body regeneration is too annoyingly fast."


    The archdemon laughed at his words, the sound deep and mocking.


    "You amuse me, human." He gestured toward himself, tilting his head.


    "Tell me your name, and I might just spare you."


    Aestrea exhaled slowly.


    Then¡ª


    WHOOSH!


    He vanished.


    The archdemon barely had time to react before¡ª


    SHIIIIING!


    Aestrea''s scythe came down, slicing toward his neck.


    The demon smirked.


    CLANG!


    At the last second, he caught the blade with his bare hand.


    Aestrea''s red eye narrowed.


    The demon grinned, tightening his grip, stopping the scythe completely.


    "Impressive, but¡ª"


    WHOOSH!


    Aestrea vanished again, reappearing behind the demon, swinging his scythe horizontally.


    "Moonlit Ice Lotus Sword Art..."


    ¡º Second Move! (? Moonlit Frost Barrage ?) ¡»


    A wave of icy slashes exploded toward the demon''s back.


    SLASH!


    SLASH!


    SLASH!


    The attacks landed, sending a burst of cold energy across the battlefield.


    For a second, the demon''s body froze over, ice creeping along his skin¡ª


    But then¡ª


    CRACK!


    The ice shattered instantly as he simply walked forward, completely unharmed.


    Aestrea clicked his tongue, skidding back as the archdemon turned to face him.


    "You still haven''t answered me." The demon''s voice was smooth, almost amused.


    "What is your name?"


    Aestrea exhaled sharply.


    "...Aestrea."


    The archdemon chuckled, rolling his shoulders.


    "Aestrea¡­ I will remember that name." His red eyes shone.


    "Now¡ªlet me return the favor."


    Then¡ª


    BOOM!


    The demon vanished.


    In a blink, he reappeared in front of Aestrea, his clawed hand swinging at inhuman speed.


    WHOOSH!


    Aestrea barely had time to react before¡ª


    BAM!


    The punch landed on his stomach, sending him flying back like a cannonball.


    CRASH!


    His body smashed through three stone pillars, breaking them apart like glass before he finally skidded to a stop, leaving a deep trench in the ground.


    Aestrea coughed, wiping the blood from his lips.


    "...Fuck...."


    Lucas''s eyes widened.


    "He actually landed a hit¡ª"


    Before he could finish¡ª


    The demon was already in front of him.


    WHOOSH!


    Lucas barely blocked in time as the archdemon''s clawed fingers slammed against Excalibur, sending him sliding back.


    "Shit¡ª!"


    Rose raised her hands, fire blazing in her palms.


    ¡º Fire Series: Hellstorm Nova! (? 5th-Level Spell ?) ¡»


    BOOOOOOOM!


    A massive explosion of flames erupted, engulfing the demon in fire.


    Smoke filled the battlefield, obscuring their vision.


    For a moment¡ªsilence.


    Then¡ª


    WHOOSH!


    The demon walked out of the flames, completely unscathed.


    Rose''s eyes widened.


    "The hell¡ª?!"


    The archdemon smiled, brushing imaginary dust off his shoulder.


    "You humans¡­ so weak. So fragile."


    He raised his hand, black lightning sparking around his fingers.


    ¡º Mixed Lightning Series: Dark Lightning! (? Ultimate Spell ?) ¡»


    CRACK! BOOM!


    The sky darkened, and in an instant¡ª


    A massive bolt of black lightning struck down, aimed directly at Aestrea.


    WHOOSH!


    But before it could land¡ª


    Aestrea raised his scythe, his voice steady.


    "Moonlit Ice Lotus Sword Art..."


    ¡º Third Move! (? Moonlight''s One Flash ?) ¡»


    SHIIIIIIIIING!


    A single slash of silver energy cut through the lightning, splitting it in half before it could touch him.


    The archdemon''s eyes narrowed slightly.


    "Oh?"


    Aestrea wiped his lip, stepping forward.


    "You talk too much." He spun his scythe once before pointing it straight at the demon.


    "Let''s settle this already."


    The demon smirked.


    "Very well, human."


    Then¡ª


    Both of them vanished at the same time.


    WHOOSH!


    But just as Aestrea''s scythe was about to meet the demon''s claws...


    Aestrea crushed a small rock on his hand, as his final words reached out to the demon.


    "Unfortunately, I''m not your adversary anymore."


    And in his place, a bearded man holding a great sword appeared.


    His voice was rough.


    ".....It''s time for you to die, Demon."


    THRRRUUUM!


    The demon was entirely smashed on the ground.


    The impact made a huge crater.


    Enough to be ten meters deep.


    Crack...!


    And the last sound was the small crack of the demon''s core.


    Caused by a single hit from that bearded man.

 Chapter 81 - 81: The Moonlight Swordsman (XLVII)

    The dust hadn''t even settled. The battlefield was still shaking from that last attack.


    But now¡ªnow everything had changed.


    Aestrea had teleported away


    And in his place stood a man.


    A giant of a man, broad-shouldered and rough-looking, with a thick, battle-worn beard. His armor was cracked and scratched, showing signs of many fights before this one.


    But his grip on his greatsword was firm, steady. His eyes, sharp like a predator''s, locked onto the archdemon with no fear.


    The archdemon, still half-buried in the crater from the impact, let out a deep growl. He dug his clawed hand into the ground and pushed himself up, his body trembling.


    CRACK.


    His bones snapped back into place. His deep wounds from the battle with Aestrea sealed shut, black blood sizzling as it vanished into the air.


    The broken pieces of his twisted horns regenerated, forming sharp new points.


    His red eyes burned even hotter, full of rage.


    "You..." The demon''s voice was deeper now, more monstrous.


    "Who the hell are you?"


    The bearded man cracked his neck, rolling his shoulders. He lifted his greatsword with one hand, resting it on his shoulder.


    His voice was calm but heavy, like a hammer striking steel.


    "The one who''s going to end you."


    The archdemon''s lips curled into a slow, hateful smile.


    "We''ll see about that."


    Then¡ª


    BOOM!


    The ground under the demon exploded as he launched forward, moving faster than a human eye could follow. His claw, sharp as a blade, swung straight for the bearded man''s neck.


    WHOOSH!


    But the man barely moved. He tilted his head just enough for the claw to miss, feeling the wind rush past his face.


    Then¡ª


    THUD!


    His knee slammed into the demon''s stomach.


    "GUH¡ª!"


    The archdemon''s eyes widened as spit and black blood flew from his mouth. His whole body bent forward from the impact.


    But the bearded man didn''t stop¡ª


    WHAM!


    A heavy fist crashed into the side of the demon''s face.


    CRACK!


    His jaw snapped to the side as he went flying, rolling across the battlefield like a ragdoll.


    The demon groaned, coughing up more blood, but before he could fully rise¡ª


    WHOOSH!


    The bearded man was already on top of him.


    His greatsword swung down like a falling mountain.


    "Shit¡ª!"


    The archdemon twisted his body, rolling away just in time.


    BOOM!


    The sword hit the ground, shattering the earth beneath it. A deep crack spread out in all directions.


    The demon snarled, rage burning in his veins.


    "You bastard...!"


    He jumped back, raising his claws. Black energy swirled around his hands.


    His aura pulsed, making the air twist with dark magic.


    A massive black claw formed in the air, large enough to crush a castle. It reached down, aiming to grab the bearded man and rip him apart.


    But¡ª


    WHOOSH!


    The man vanished.


    The next second¡ª


    BAM!


    A heavy boot slammed into the demon''s back, sending him face-first into the ground.


    BANG!


    The impact formed a deep crater.


    The bearded man landed a few feet away, lifting his sword again.


    "Is that all?"


    The archdemon''s fury boiled over. His aura exploded outward, shaking the entire battlefield. The sky turned black, swirling with storm clouds.


    CRACK!


    BOOM!


    Lightning struck down in random places. The air smelled like burnt metal. The demon rose from the crater, his body trembling with dark energy.


    His voice was a deep, inhuman snarl.


    "I AM PRIDE ITSELF!"


    His arms shot forward.


    ¡º Blood Series: Hellstorm Spears! (? 7th-Level Spell ?) ¡»


    Dozens of black spears, each covered in violet flames, blasted toward the bearded man.


    WHOOSH!


    WHOOSH!


    WHOOSH!


    They tore through the air, coming from all directions.


    But¡ª


    The bearded man didn''t move.


    Instead¡ª


    FWOOOOOSH!


    A brown aura flared around his body.


    His greatsword glowed with a burning light.


    And then¡ª


    SLASH!


    With one massive swing¡ª


    SHIIIIING!


    A single, brown arc of energy cut through everything.


    The black spears shattered.


    The flames disappeared.


    And the energy wave kept going¡ª


    SLASH!


    It hit the archdemon directly, slicing a deep wound across his chest.


    "GAHHH¡ª!"


    Black blood sprayed as the demon stumbled back, his body shaking from the raw power of that attack.


    But he refused to fall.


    He clenched his jaw, his eyes burning with pure hatred.


    ¡º Dark Lightning: ArchDemon''s Wrath! ¡»


    CRACK!


    A massive bolt of black lightning crashed down from the sky, straight toward the bearded man.


    BOOOOOOM!


    The ground exploded in a sea of sparks and dust. The shockwave sent everyone skidding backward.


    For a second¡ªnothing.


    The battlefield was silent.


    Then¡ª


    Step.


    A single step echoed through the smoke.


    And then¡ª


    WHOOSH!


    The bearded man walked out of the lightning storm.


    Completely unharmed.


    The demon''s eyes widened in shock.


    "Wha¡ª"


    Before he could react¡ª


    WHOOSH!


    The bearded man vanished again.


    The next thing the demon felt¡ª


    THWACK!


    A heavy punch to the gut.


    "GRUGH¡ª!"


    His body bent forward, but before he could even breathe¡ª


    BAM!


    An uppercut sent him flying into the air.


    The world spun around him.


    But the bearded man wasn''t done.


    WHOOSH!


    He appeared above the demon, his greatsword raised high.


    And then¡ª


    BOOOOOOM!


    A single, devastating slash sent the demon crashing back to the ground like a meteor.


    CRACK!


    The impact shattered the land, forming a ten-meter-deep crater.


    The archdemon gasped for air, his entire body trembling. His regeneration was failing. His power was fading.


    He tried to rise¡ª


    But then¡ª


    SHING!


    A sharp pain pierced through his chest.


    His eyes widened.


    He looked down.


    The bearded man''s greatsword was buried deep in his chest.


    Right where his core was.


    CRACK.


    A small fracture appeared on the demon''s core.


    His body froze.


    The bearded man exhaled. His grip on the sword tightened.


    And then¡ª


    SHIIIIIIIIING!


    He twisted the blade.


    CRACK!


    The demon''s core shattered.


    "GRUAAAAAAAAAAH¡ª!"


    A final, horrific scream tore through the battlefield.


    His body started breaking apart, dissolving into black dust. His red eyes, once filled with arrogance and rage, flickered¡ªthen dimmed.


    And then¡ª


    BOOM.


    The Archdemon of Pride was no longer alive.


    Silence fell.


    The battlefield was still.


    The bearded man pulled his sword free, letting the last bits of the demon scatter into nothingness.


    He exhaled.


    Then¡ª


    He turned to Aestrea.


    "You did well, boy," he said simply.


    Aestrea, still catching his breath, stared at him for a moment before scoffing.


    "Took you long enough, Sword Duke."


    The Sword Duke¡ªElandor¡ªjust nodded, his sharp eyes studying Aestrea.


    There was something conflicted in his gaze.


    After all, this was the same boy who had beaten up his grandson in the academy''s competition.


    But now, here he was¡ªfighting to protect that same academy, standing against an archdemon, and even winning most of the battle.


    Elandor let out a long sigh, furrowing his thick brows.


    "...Haaa¡­"


    Then his gaze shifted.


    "Where''s that purple-haired lady?"


    "You mean... the Headmistress?"


    Aestrea raised an eyebrow.


    "Exactly," Elandor scoffed, crossing his arms.


    "She always disappears the moment you need her the most."


    Aestrea just nodded in agreement.


    Because honestly?


    Facts.


    ''She''s letting demons into the academy just to make us stronger... This whole thing with the archdemon... what if she''s the one who¡ª''


    Aestrea shook his head, pushing those thoughts aside.


    ''Now''s not the time for that.''


    Before he could say anything else¡ª


    "AESTREA!"


    A familiar voice called out, making him turn.


    Lucas was sprinting toward him, his face still a little pale, but his eyes sharp. Behind him, the rest of their group was busy helping the priests heal injured students.


    And of course, Christina was the one doing most of the work.


    She was the Saintess for a reason.


    Lucas reached Aestrea, breathing hard.


    "Is he dead?"


    Before Aestrea could even open his mouth¡ª


    "He indeed is, boy," Elandor answered for him, his voice firm.


    Lucas blinked, noticing the bearded man for the first time.


    His eyes darted up and down, scanning Elandor''s massive frame, then settled on his sword. But Elandor was already doing the same¡ªexcept his gaze landed on the weapon strapped to Lucas''s back.


    The Excalibur.


    For a split second, something flashed in Elandor''s eyes.


    "So, you''re the Hero, huh?" His lips curled into a grin.


    "Not too shabby."


    Lucas scratched the back of his head, a little caught off guard.


    "Uh... thanks?"


    But before he could say more¡ª


    SHING.


    Elandor suddenly stepped forward, raising his sword and pointing it straight at Lucas''s face.


    Lucas stiffened.


    Then¡ª


    The bearded man grinned.


    "What do you say, boy? How about becoming my disciple?" His deep voice boomed with amusement, a wide smile plastered across his old face.


    Aestrea sighed.


    ''Of course.''


    Who wouldn''t want to be the master of the Hero?


    This had probably happened in the novel too. Lucas must''ve received this same offer.


    But according to Lucas''s character, he must''ve had refused back in the novel¡ªbecause he already had Zeva as his master.


    But this time¡ª


    Lucas''s eyes lit up.


    "Disciple greets Master!" he declared, practically shouting as he clasped his hands together in excitement.


    Aestrea blinked.


    ''Huh?''


    He hadn''t even hesitated.


    Elandor chuckled, stroking his beard.


    "Perfect!"


    Aestrea just rubbed his temples.


    ''Since when did this turn into a xianxia novel? Last time I checked, this was supposed to be an academy-type story¡­''


    ''...Oops.''


    He exhaled slowly.


    ''Well¡­ whatever. The fight''s over, anyway¡­''


    His eyes drifted toward Christina.


    ''She still owes me money.''


    With that thought, Aestrea turned and started walking toward her.


    She was busy healing a group of injured students, golden light flowing from her hands. She looked exhausted, her face slightly pale from overusing mana.


    Aestrea was about to call out to her¡ª


    When¡ª


    THUD!


    Something slammed into his chest.


    Soft.


    Warm.


    And definitely squishy.


    He barely had time to react before a pair of arms wrapped around his waist. A head buried itself against the nape of his neck.


    A familiar scent.


    A trembling voice.


    "Junior... I''m so glad you''re okay..."


    Grip¡ª! S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Agh¡ª!" Aestrea winced.


    "Senior, ease up a little. You''re crushing me¡­"


    Violet didn''t loosen her grip.


    If anything¡ªshe tightened it.


    Aestrea sighed, his hand moving on instinct. He patted her back gently, feeling the way her shoulders trembled.


    Her fingers dug into his clothes, like she was afraid he''d disappear if she let go.


    "¡­I''m fine, you know." His voice was softer than usual.


    Violet didn''t answer.


    "¡­Senior?" He leaned back a little to look at her face.


    She had her eyes closed, biting her lip as if she were trying to memorize the feeling of him being alive.


    Aestrea exhaled, bringing a hand up to ruffle her hair.


    "Alright, alright, I get it. You were worried." He chuckled. "But if you squeeze me any harder, I might actually die."


    Violet flinched, then finally loosened her grip¡ªbut only slightly.


    "¡­Idiot." She muttered under her breath.


    Aestrea just shook his head.


    His body was still buzzing from all the adrenaline. He could feel the tension in his shoulders, the exhaustion creeping in now that the fight was over.


    But then there was this.


    This quiet moment, where nothing was trying to kill him.


    It was¡­ nice.


    But before he could think too much about it¡ª


    He felt a sharp gaze pierce through him.


    Like a dagger straight to his soul.


    His body tensed.


    Slowly, cautiously¡ªhe turned his head.


    And that''s when he saw her.


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    [Christina''s POV]


    ''That. Little. Hussy.''


    Christina glared at the scene happening just a few feet away.


    Her hands were still glowing, mana flowing into the injured students around her, but her mind was not on healing anymore.


    No.


    It was stuck on that disgusting, horrible, shameful display of affection.


    Violet.


    Hugging.


    Aestrea.


    With her whole body.


    Right in front of her.


    ''Oh, sure. Go ahead. Throw yourself at him right after a battle, when he''s weak and too tired to push you away. Very clever, Senior Violet. Very clever.''


    Her lips twitched in irritation.


    She clenched her fists¡ªonly to realize she was still channeling mana.


    The student she was healing yelped as an unnecessary burst of magic surged into him.


    "Ack¡ª! Lady Christina, please¡ª!"


    Christina snapped out of her thoughts.


    "Oh. Sorry." She definitely wasn''t sorry.


    She sighed, pressing her fingers to her temples.


    ''Calm down. Calm down, Christina. You are a noble lady, the Saintess of the Holy Nation! You do not get jealous. You do not get angry over something so stupid. This is beneath you.''


    She took a deep breath.


    And then looked up again¡ª


    ¡ªonly to see Aestrea patting Violet''s head.


    Her eye twitched.


    ''OH, COME ON!''


    She groaned internally, quickly shifting her focus back to healing.


    ''Fine. Whatever. Be a pathetic little puppy, Violet. I don''t even care.''


    ¡­Except she did care.


    A lot.


    Way more than she was willing to admit.


    ''She''s so shameless! Throwing herself at him like that. Acting all cute and fragile. Hmph. I would never do something so cheap.''


    She scoffed, fixing her posture.


    And yet¡ª


    She couldn''t help but glance down at herself.


    A slow smirk crept onto her face.


    ''¡­Well. At least my assets are bigger than hers.''


    She straightened her back proudly, subtly pushing her chest forward.


    ''Not that it matters. But still. It''s important to acknowledge one''s strengths.''


    Her pride lasted all of five seconds before she accidentally glanced at Aestrea again.


    And saw that he was still letting Violet cling to him.


    She felt her jaw tighten.


    ''WHY ARE YOU JUST LETTING HER HOLD YOU LIKE THAT, YOU STUPID BLOCKHEAD?! PUSH HER AWAY! BE A MAN!''


    Her fingers twitched.


    She really wanted to throw something at them.


    Maybe a healing spell.


    Directly to Aestrea''s head.


    She took a deep breath.


    ''No. Be classy. Be elegant. Don''t let them see you seething.''


    She turned back to her patient.


    Smiled.


    And then shoved a little too much mana into his wound.


    "A-AGH¡ª! LADY CHRISTINA, MERCY¡ª!"


    Oops.


    She cleared her throat.


    "Stop whining. It''s good for you."


    The student whimpered.


    Christina, meanwhile, was still fuming.


    ''That should be me standing there.''


    She deserved a thank you from Aestrea.


    She deserved a hug for all the healing she did.


    Hell, she deserved a kiss on the hand, at the very least.


    But noooo, instead, he was over there, letting Violet rub her face into his neck like some lost kitten.


    Disgraceful.


    Absolutely disgraceful.


    She exhaled sharply, tilting her chin up.


    ''Whatever. I''m not jealous. I don''t need his attention. I am Christina Solera, the Saintess of the Holy Nation, the greatest healer in the kingdom. I have nothing to be jealous about.''


    And yet¡ª


    She found herself glaring at them again.


    Still hugging.


    Still standing close.


    Still too damn comfortable.


    Her fingers curled into a fist.


    ''¡­Stupid Aestrea. Just wait. I''ll make you regret ignoring me.''


    A slow, devious smirk crossed her lips.


    She had her ways.


    Besides, she knew that Aestrea would come to her sooner or later.


    After all...


    She still owed him money.

 Chapter 82 - 82: The Moonlight Swordsman (XLVIII)

    The past few days had been... busy.


    After the battle, the academy was in chaos.


    Professors and multiple engineers were running around fixing broken buildings, students were recovering from injuries, and priests had been working overtime.


    As for Aestrea?


    Well.


    Right now, he was sitting on a couch in his dormitory room, a book in his hands. He wasn''t really reading it¡ªhis eyes just moved over the words while his mind wandered.


    The dormitory was lively as usual.


    Across from him, Lumi was lying on the carpet, kicking her legs in the air as she played with a floating wisp of mana.


    Her slimy hair spread around her like a soft cloud, her bright eyes completely focused on the glowing orb in front of her.


    Chaerin sat near the window, quietly braiding her hair while humming to herself.


    Unlike her usual proper appearance, she was wearing comfortable home clothes¡ªa simple blouse and a long skirt.


    She looked relaxed, which was rare.


    And Alaine...


    "Aestrea," Alaine called, peeking out from the kitchen.


    "Tea or coffee?"


    "Tea."


    Alaine nodded and disappeared back inside.


    The scent of something warm and sweet filled the air, probably cookies or some other snack she was making.


    This was their routine.


    After everything that happened, the girls had been sticking to Aestrea like glue.


    Not in an obvious way, but in small things. Lumi would always be nearby to annoy him, Chaerin made sure to act like his daughter properly, and Alaine...


    Well, Alaine had taken over his schedule entirely.


    Like a proper servant, or in this case, a personal maid.


    He sighed, placing the book down.


    "Still thinking about today?" Chaerin asked without looking up.


    "A little."


    Lumi rolled over onto her back, staring at him upside-down.


    "You should be excited, you know," she said. "You''re meeting the Emperor and Empress!"


    "Yeah, I know."


    And honestly, he wasn''t nervous.


    Just... tired.


    Because today was the official ceremony.


    The Emperor himself had summoned them.


    Aestrea, Lucas, Violet, Christina, Rose, Maya, Iris, Zeva, and a few other key figures from the battle were all receiving awards.


    Titles, medals, gold¡ªwhatever the Empire thought was appropriate for their contributions.


    Lucas was, of course, being recognized as the Hero.


    Aestrea?


    Well.


    It was a surprise for him.


    And not just any Baron. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Aestrea leaned back against the couch and sighed.


    "Don''t sigh like that, Master~" a teasing voice said from behind him.


    A pair of slimy arms wrapped around his shoulders, and he immediately knew who it was.


    "Lumi," he muttered.


    "Mmhm," she hummed, resting her chin on his head.


    "Nihihi, you''re sighing like an old man. Stop it~!"


    "Get off."


    "No."


    Lumi giggled.


    Chaerin sighed.


    "You''re going to wrinkle his clothes," Alaine said, walking back with a tray of tea and small cakes.


    Lumi ignored her, but she did let go¡ªonly to flop down onto the couch beside him.


    "So, what time are we leaving?" She asked curiously, rolling onto her stomach.


    "One hour," Alaine answered, setting down the tray. "Everyone should start getting ready soon."


    Aestrea sighed again, but this time, he actually moved.


    "Alright, alright," he muttered.


    No avoiding it.


    It was time.


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    The grand hall was massive, easily the size of a cathedral.


    White marble floors, golden chandeliers, and towering stained-glass windows made everything glow with elegance.


    Aestrea stood in line with the others, dressed in formal academy attire¡ªa crisp, dark uniform with silver accents.


    It was his leader''s uniform from Silverleaf Academy, because, even though he was attending the Royal Academy, he is originally from Silverleaf.


    Lucas stood beside him, wearing an actual formal suit, with golden ornaments climbing down the shirt, and along with that, he had a golden sash over both of his shoulders¡ªmarking him as the Hero.


    The hall was filled with nobles, military officials, and even high-ranking members of the church.


    The air was heavy with expectation.


    Then¡ª


    BOOM.


    The doors at the far end of the hall opened.


    The Imperial Guards marched in first, their golden armor gleaming under the chandeliers. Their movements were perfectly synchronized, their spears held high as they lined the path leading to the Throne.


    And then¡ª


    Two figures entered.


    The Emperor and Empress of the Empire.


    The Emperor, Francis Arthur Charles X, walked with slow, powerful steps. He was a tall man, with sharp features and cold golden eyes that held the weight of the entire nation.


    His long red-yellow robes, lined with golden embroidery, flowed as he moved, the heavy Imperial Crown resting on his head.


    Beside him, the Empress, Isabella von Eldoria, moved with grace. She had a quiet, observing presence¡ªlike the moon beside the sun.


    Her silver hair cascaded down her back in soft waves, and her piercing blue eyes swept over the gathered warriors with an unreadable expression.


    Honestly, Aestrea knew a bit about her.


    Unlike the Emperor, who actually ruled with cold efficiency, the Empress was the hidden strategist.


    Behind him, she was the one who handled diplomacy, military movements, and even some of the darker aspects of running an empire.


    But still, her actual relationship with the emperor didn''t seem to be so good.


    If anything, she seemed to want to overthrow him.


    The Emperor actually knew about her actions, and with the help of Lilith, he thought that he had her actions under his control...


    As for if that continued being the case...


    Aestrea doesn''t know.


    If, in the novel, she did overthrow him or not.


    Either way, she could be a potential helper when he kills the Emperor.


    And right now¡ª


    She was looking directly at him.


    She might seem innocent, but she clearly isn''t.


    It was even mentioned that she ''faked'' a lot of her actions a lot.


    Aestrea didn''t flinch, but he did straighten his back slightly.


    The Emperor sat down on his golden throne, and the Empress took her seat beside him.


    Then¡ª


    A royal official stepped forward, unrolling a long parchment.


    "The Imperial Court recognizes the brave warriors who stood against the forces of darkness during the Great Battle against the Archdemon of Pride. Their courage, strength, and loyalty to the Empire shall not go unrewarded."


    His voice echoed through the massive hall.


    The audience remained silent, their gazes locked onto the young warriors standing before them.


    Aestrea, Lucas, Violet, Christina, and a few others were standing at the very front, closest to the throne.


    Then¡ª


    The official continued.


    "First, we recognize Lucas HeartStone."


    Lucas stepped forward.


    He stood tall, his golden-blond hair shining under the light, his golden eyes filled with determination and pride.


    The official took a deep breath and then declared:


    "By decree of His Imperial Majesty, Francis Arthur Charles X, and by the will of the Divine Church, Lucas Reinhardt is hereby granted the official title of ''The Hero of Light.''"


    The audience erupted into murmurs.


    A Hero.


    The title wasn''t just symbolic¡ªit was an official status within the Empire.


    It meant he was recognized as the ''chosen'' warrior against the DemoN kING, a figure who would be sent to battle whenever the Empire needed him.


    Lucas bowed, his expression calm.


    Then¡ª


    The Emperor spoke.


    "You have proven your worth, Lucas HeartStone," his voice was quite deep and strong. "May your strength serve the Empire well."


    Lucas clenched his fist, then knelt before the throne.


    "It will, Your Majesty."


    Aestrea glanced at him out of the corner of his eye.


    Lucas''s voice was steady.


    He was accepting it, but¡­


    Aestrea knew.


    This was just the beginning of a very long road.


    The official then moved on.


    "The Imperial Court recognizes Violet Von Luxuria."


    Violet stepped forward, her usual playful expression replaced with a calm, serious one.


    "For her valiant efforts in battle, she is awarded the ''Silver Fang Medal."


    It was an elite military honor, given only to those who had demonstrated overwhelming skill in battle.


    Violet smirked.


    "Thank you, Your Majesty."


    Next¡ª


    "The Imperial Court recognizes Christina Solara."


    The Saintess walked forward gracefully, her blonde hair shimmering under the lights.


    "For her role in healing countless warriors and ensuring the survival of the academy''s forces, she is awarded the ''Divine Radiance Medal.''"


    Another powerful title.


    Christina curtsied elegantly.


    "It is my duty, Your Majesty," she said softly.


    Then¡ª


    The official cleared his throat.


    And Aestrea immediately knew it was his turn.


    "The Imperial Court recognizes Aestrea Moon."


    He took a slow step forward.


    Silence.


    The hall was utterly silent.


    It wasn''t like Lucas''s announcement, where everyone whispered in awe.


    This time¡ª


    The nobles, the military officials, everyone was just¡­ watching.


    Waiting.


    Aestrea felt their eyes.


    Some were curious.


    Some were judging.


    Some were even fearful.


    Because unlike Lucas¡ªwho was quite the known figure...


    Aestrea had come out of nowhere.


    Even though he had his "presumed" title, "Moonlight Swordsman", his origins were... null. No one knew where he came from.


    And now...


    He had stood against an Archdemon.


    He had won.


    The Emperor exhaled.


    His golden eyes locked onto Aestrea.


    Then¡ª


    He spoke.


    "For your actions on the battlefield, your strength, and your contributions to the safety of this nation, I grant you the title of ''Moonlight Swordsman.''"


    A wave of whispers swept through the hall.


    The Emperor''s lips twitched slightly like he was holding back irritation.


    Then¡ª


    He sighed.


    "And, as per Imperial decree, Aestrea Moon is granted the noble status of Baron."


    Silence.


    Then¡ª


    The murmurs grew louder.


    A noble.


    He was now a noble.


    Aestrea exhaled slowly.


    He stepped forward, then bowed before the Emperor.


    He didn''t kneel down like the others.


    Instead, he even sent a provocative glance at the Emperor.


    "¡­I accept, Your Majesty."


    Along with that, his voice also had a hint of teasing.


    Grip...!


    The Emperor clenched his fists, looking at him for a long moment.


    That made Aestrea hold back a smile.


    Then¡ª


    He leaned back on his throne.


    "¡­Rise, Baron Moon."


    Aestrea straightened himself.


    And just like that¡ª


    It was official.


    He was now Baron Aestrea Moon.


    Or¡ª


    Baron Moon.


    Touch¨¦.


    As the ceremony continued, more warriors were awarded, and more honors were given.


    By the time it ended, the Empire had new heroes.


    And Aestrea?


    He was now a noble.


    It wasn''t something he had ever wanted.


    But now¡­


    He would have to play the game.


    The game of power, nobility, and politics.


    As he stepped back, feeling the weight of his new title settle onto his shoulders¡ª


    He caught the Empress watching him.


    Her lips curled into a small smile.


    Aestrea exhaled.


    ''Great.''


    This was going to be a problem.


    A big problem.

 Chapter 83 - 83: The Imperial Banquet

    [? Player Profile ?]


    Name: Aestrea Moon (20)


    Identity: Strongest Student of the Weakest Academy, The Moonlight Swordsman, The One Who Loves The Goddess Of The Moon, The Strongest Student, Exchange Student of the Eternum Royal Academy, The One Loved By Dangerous Beings, Baron (NEW!!!)


    Affinities: Ice


    ? Aura: S+


    ? Mana: A (¡üUP)


    ? Strength: B+ (¡üUP)


    ? Vitality: B+ (¡üUP)


    ? Agility: S- (¡üUP)


    ? Spirit: S+


    ? [Skills & Talents] ?


    [1] Moonlit Ice Lotus Sword Art [S???] ? Active Self-Created Skill


    [2] Judgement Eye [S] ? Active Self-Created Skill


    [3] Perfect Memory [Unranked] ? Passive Talent


    [4] Extreme Combat Instinct [A+] (¡üUP) ? Passive Talent


    [5] Advanced Sword & Gun Mastery [A+] ? Passive Skill


    [6] Calm Mind [B+] (¡üUP) ? Passive Talent


    [7] Blood Eyes [Unranked] ? Your eyes ominously glow red.


    [8] Blood Contract [???] ? You can use Lumi''s Abilities.


    ¡ª¡ª+¡ª¡ª+¡ª¡ª+¡ª¡ª


    Well...


    At least, I am getting stronger.


    And now, I simply cannot live an ordinary life.


    So...


    I might as well get to the top, no?


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    The ceremony was over, but the night had only just begun.


    I stood near one of the tall, open windows of the grand banquet hall, letting the cool night breeze brush against my face.


    The scent of wine, roasted meats, and sweet pastries filled the air, mixing with the soft sounds of laughter and conversation.


    The hall itself was a masterpiece¡ªgolden chandeliers hanging from above, their candlelight flickering against the polished marble floors.


    Nobles in their finest silks and military officers in decorated uniforms moved about, their voices overlapping in a symphony of politics and pleasantries.


    At the center of it all was Lucas.


    He was dressed the part¡ªgolden sash, formal suit, the perfect image of a noble hero.


    A cluster of important figures surrounded him, speaking with admiration, expectations placed in their every word.


    The Hero of Light.


    A fitting title.


    Violet was off to the side, effortlessly engaging with noble heirs and military officers, her usual business smile never fading away from her face.


    Zeva stood among royal knights, silent but her eyes darted around, observing everyone.


    And me?


    I wasn''t in the mood for any of this.


    I leaned against the open window, eyes fixed on the city below.


    Eternum, the capital of the Empire.


    It stretched endlessly beneath the moonlight, the stone roads glowing silver under the stars.


    Even from here, I could see the distant towers of the palace, standing as a some kind of reminder of the power this Empire held.


    The moon hung high above it all, watching silently.


    Unchanging.


    Constant.


    I let out a slow breath, my mind finally finding some peace¡ª


    Until I heard footsteps approach.


    "Enjoying the view, Baron Moon?"


    I didn''t turn immediately.


    The voice was smooth, teasing, and containing amusement in her tone.


    I knew who it was before I even looked.


    Ella.


    The Second Princess of the Empire.


    Well, now everyone from the academy knew her true identity.


    She moved to stand beside me, her long silver hair catching the moonlight in a way that made it almost glow.


    Her royal gown¡ªdeep blue with silver embroidery¡ªflowed elegantly with each movement. She was the very image of imperial grace.


    Except for the smile.


    That was not the smile of a typical princess.


    She had a certain lightness to her expression as if she didn''t take this entire night as seriously as she should.


    "I see you''ve been avoiding the important people," she said, tilting her head. "That''s a little rude, don''t you think?"


    Her words were true.


    But, I only did that because I didn''t really know how to... communicate.


    I mean, back on Earth, I had plenty of good locations.


    But here... it feels extremely weird.


    Every single joke could be mistaken as an offense.


    And even if I had the past memories of Aestrea, even if he did not know how to deal with the nobility.


    He only knew how to beat them up...


    Ahem.


    "Haaaa..."


    I sighed, turning my head towards her.


    "I''m just enjoying the quiet."


    Ella chuckled softly at my words.


    "That''s one way to put it. But you do realize that you''re the main attraction tonight, right?"


    Well, that was one way to put it.


    But everyone was a bit afraid to talk to me.


    So I guess they roamed towards Lucas, who seemed more approachable.


    After all, those glowing eyes of mine, are still a bit scary.


    "Lucas is the main attraction."


    She rolled her eyes.


    "Oh, please. The Hero of Light is nothing new. He fights, he wins, he gets praised. That''s how heroes are, but you?" She leaned slightly closer, lowering her voice.


    "You came out of nowhere. You''re a mystery. And the nobility hates mysteries."


    I didn''t respond.


    She wasn''t wrong.


    The nobles were already watching me like I was some kind of unexploded bomb¡ªdangerous, unpredictable, something they weren''t sure how to handle yet.


    And honestly.


    That was just perfect for me.


    Ella turned her gaze back to the sky.


    "The moon is beautiful, isn''t it?"


    I froze at her words.


    I already knew that she had feelings for me. However, I do not if that expression she just said also counts as a ''confession'' in this world.


    I don''t know if Soseki Natsume exists here.


    But yeah, I''ll ignore it for now.


    "You know... there''s something really beautiful about the moon." Ella continued, still gazing at the beautiful night sky.


    More precisely, at the moon.


    "It never changes," she murmured.


    "No matter what happens in the Empire, no matter how many wars, betrayals, or ceremonies happen¡­ it stays the same."


    I raised an eyebrow at her words.


    "That''s a strange thing for a princess to say."


    She smirked.


    "I guess I''m a strange princess."


    You are weird, you know?


    When I first met you, you were all blushy, and now...


    You''ve changed multiple times.


    In the academy, you were cold to me and now, you''re being all smiley and mysterious?


    What are you exactly trying to do?


    Then, just as quickly, the moment passed.


    "Well, Baron Moon," she said, emphasizing the title with a small laugh. "I should let you enjoy your solitude. But I''ll give you some advice."


    I crossed my arms.


    "Oh?"


    Ella''s blue eyes sparkled for a moment.


    "Stay away from my stepmother."


    I froze for a split second.


    "¡­The Empress?"


    She nodded, her gaze flickering toward the far end of the banquet hall.


    And that''s when I noticed her.


    Isabella von Eldoria.


    The Empress.


    She was seated beside the Emperor, dressed in a flowing white and gold gown, her silver hair cascading over her shoulders.


    Unlike the Emperor¡ªwho was actively speaking with officials¡ªshe wasn''t engaged in conversation.


    Because she was watching me.


    Directly.


    Our eyes met.


    And for a brief second¡ª


    Everything else faded.


    The noise of the banquet.


    The movement of the nobles.


    The flickering candlelight.


    None of it mattered.


    The Empress tilted her head, just slightly.


    A silent acknowledgment.


    Then, she smiled.


    A slow yet charming smile.


    I finally looked away, my expression unreadable.


    Ella scoffed immediately.


    "Too late, huh? That damned woman...!"


    She gritted her teeth.


    At her words, I couldn''t help but raise an eyebrow in surprise.


    She did seem to hate her stepmother.


    But thinking about it, where''s the First Princess?


    She should be here, no?


    "Well... Now that I warned you..."


    She walked away before uttering a few last words.


    "Be careful with her."


    I didn''t exactly answer her words.


    After all, she had already walked away.


    I let out a slow breath, rolling my shoulders as Ella disappeared into the crowd.


    Her warning still lingered in my mind.


    The Empress, huh?


    I could still feel her eyes on me, even though I wasn''t looking anymore. A presence like that wasn''t something you could just ignore.


    But before I could think about it too much¡ª


    I heard another pair of approaching footsteps.


    Lighter.


    More familiar.


    "Wow, look at you," a smooth, teasing voice purred from my side.


    "Already making waves at the highest level of nobility. My dear Junior really knows how to charm royalty, doesn''t he?"


    I sighed before even turning.


    Violet.


    I didn''t need to see her face to know she was grinning.


    I could hear it in her voice.


    When I finally glanced her way, my suspicions were confirmed.


    She stood there, her arms crossed, a knowing smirk tugging at her lips.


    Her violet dress¡ªfitting for her name¡ªclung to her figure just enough to show off her confidence, yet remained elegant enough for a noble gathering.


    A few loose strands of her dark hair framed her face, and her purple eyes shone with way too much enjoyment.


    "...I wasn''t ''charming'' anyone."


    Violet gasped dramatically, placing a hand over her chest.


    "Oh? Then what was that little moment between you and the Second Princess just now? Standing together under the moonlight, talking about how ''beautiful'' it is¡ª" She let out a fake sigh.


    "So romantic."


    Did she hear our conversation?


    Ah.


    I almost forgot that everyone here had heightened senses.


    I pinched the bridge of my nose.


    "It wasn''t like that."


    "Mm-hm."


    She didn''t believe me.


    Of course, she didn''t.


    I exhaled and turned back to the window, hoping she''d just drop it.


    She didn''t.


    In fact, she leaned on the windowsill beside me, her smirk widening.


    "You know, first it was the cute, mysterious exchange student thing. Then you became the strongest student of our academy. Now you''re a Baron, and the nobility is keeping an eye on you."


    "...The strongest student? That is new."


    "...Well, it was what appeared on the student forum. After all, you kept the Archdemon of Pride busy by yourself, what do you think was going to happen?" she smiled lightly.


    Then, her eyes suddenly flickered toward where the Empress sat.


    "And now, even the most dangerous woman in the Empire seems interested in you."


    Most dangerous woman in the Empire?


    There seems to be something about her that I don''t know.


    Even Violet''s voice contains respect towards her.


    Is there really something about her that I don''t know?


    ...I''ll need to investigate.


    So, I decided to start with Violet herself.


    "You think she''s dangerous too?"


    Violet scoffed at my words.


    "Oh, absolutely. Every noblewoman in that hall plays the game, but she is the one who wrote the rules."


    What''s up with those metaphors?


    What kind of game are we talking about?


    Chess?


    Go?


    Blackjack?


    Well, considering the subject, she''s probably talking about something related to the nobility, so it must be the power to be in "control" or something along that.


    After all, those nobles like to use expressions like, "chess pieces", and "chessboard".


    I hummed.


    I wasn''t sure if that made me feel better or worse.


    Then, without warning, Violet''s smirk returned.


    "But let''s not forget," she cooed, "you also have our dear instructor watching you closely~"


    I froze.


    Oh.


    She was talking about Zeva.


    "I¡ª"


    "Oh no, no excuses," Violet cut in, her grin sharpening.


    "People were already suspecting your relationship with her as soon as you appeared fighting against her in that red dungeon, but now..."


    She glanced at Zeva who was looking intently at me with a strange expression.


    "...It seems that she really fell for you."


    I opened my mouth.


    Then closed it.


    She hummed.


    "So, let''s see¡­ The Second Princess, the Empress, Zeva¡ªoh, and let''s not forget our dear mysterious maid!" S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    I stiffened.


    "...Quite the competition, huh? If that continues, I won''t exactly have a chance, do I?" she giggled, covering her mouth.


    "....."


    I didn''t reply to her words.


    There wasn''t something to be really mentioned here.


    Besides, she hadn''t fallen in love with me.


    She was only teasing me.


    "Tsk... you''re no fun!" she puffed her cheeks, straightening herself.


    "It has been good talking to you!" She pushed off the windowsill and stretched, her teasing nature returning in full force.


    "Well, Baron Moon, I think I''ll go find some wine and pretend to be a proper noblewoman for a bit." she laughed.


    "You? Proper?"


    She gasped dramatically.


    "I''ll have you know, I can be very proper when I need to be."


    I just shook my head.


    There''s still a single month or so until the end of the semester.


    And then, I can finally go back to my academy.


    Til'' then...


    There is plenty of trouble coming ahead.


    I can just feel it.

 Chapter 84 - 84: Interlude: Snow Festival (I)

    A day had passed since the banquet, and things at Eternum Royal Academy had mostly gone back to normal.


    Well, almost.


    The Snow Festival was still going, which meant I had one more annoying thing left to do¡ª


    Choosing my five festival activities.


    Every student had to sign up for at least five events, with no exceptions.


    Didn''t matter if you were an exchange student, a noble, or even someone the royal prince.


    I''d already spent time thinking about it.


    Some events were just not an option.


    Too much noble politics, too much-forced interaction, or just flat-out embarrassing.


    After going through the list, I finally picked my five:


    Firstly, Mana Volleyball and Mana Football, these a very self-explanatory, the only thing that is different is that you can use mana to kick or spike the ball.


    Then, there was the "Magic Circles" ¨C A competition focused on drawing, deciphering, and activating magic circles.


    Speed, accuracy, and knowledge of runes were basically the win conditions.


    Next, I chose the Weight Throw, which is also very self-explanatory, but we cannot use mana in this particular activity.


    And finally...


    Snowy Love ¨C A¡­ special event. It was a winter-themed, partner-based challenge designed to "bring people closer". S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Honestly, I wasn''t thrilled about any of them¡ªespecially the last one¡ªbut compared to the other choices, these were the least annoying.


    Now, all I had to do was officially register.


    And just a few minutes later...


    I arrived at the student council building and immediately regretted it.


    The line was ridiculously long.


    Students stretched out the door, all waiting to sign up for their festival events.


    The energy in the air was buzzing¡ªexcited chatter, some laughter, and the occasional groan from someone impatient.


    I frowned.


    "¡­I should come back later."


    I had patience, but I wasn''t about to stand in line, surrounded by excited students, just to write my name on a piece of paper.


    I turned to leave¡ª


    And then, a soft hand grabbed my arm.


    "Tee hee~! Hello, my dear Junior!"


    I didn''t even need to look.


    Violet.


    Before I could react, she was already dragging me away from the line.


    "Come, come~! No need to wait like everyone else when you have me, right?"


    I sighed but didn''t resist.


    It wasn''t worth the energy.


    She pulled me past the other students making me feel the gazes of pure rage, past the student council members handling registration, and straight into the office.


    With a playful smile, she guided me to her seat¡ªthe student council president''s chair¡ªbefore casually sitting down, crossing her legs, and giving me a smirk.


    "So~," she said, resting her chin on her palm.


    "You''re here to sign up for the festival events?"


    "Obviously."


    She chuckled.


    "Well, I am the president. I suppose I can handle that for you." She leaned forward slightly, blinking her eyelashes with the same playful smile.


    "What are your picks?"


    I listed them off.


    When I got to the fifth one¡ª


    Violet''s smirk widened.


    "The Snowy Love event?"


    She arched an eyebrow.


    "You sure about that one?"


    I shrugged.


    "The other choices were worse."


    Violet leaned back, tapping her fingers on the desk.


    "You do know what the Snowy Love event is about, right?"


    "Yeah. A partner-based event. Random pairing. Winter challenges."


    She giggled.


    "Mmm. That''s the basic explanation."


    Her smirk deepened, and she leaned forward, voice dropping to something more playful.


    "But it''s not just about teamwork. The event is designed to create ''special moments.'' Romantic challenges, bonding activities¡­ and let''s not forget, some tasks require a bit of physical closeness~."


    I blinked.


    I had read the event description, but I hadn''t thought too much about the details.


    Violet''s giggle turned into a laugh.


    "Ohoho~! Didn''t think that one through, huh?"


    I exhaled deeply.


    "I''ll deal with it."


    She laughed even harder.


    "Oh, I cannot wait to see who you get paired with!"


    She finalized my registration, stamping the document with the official student council seal.


    "Alright, Junior, you''re all set. But just so you know¡­" She leaned in slightly, her violet eyes glimmering with mischief.


    "If you get paired with me, I expect you to take responsibility~."


    I gave Violet a flat look.


    "¡­Responsibility for what exactly?"


    She giggled, leaning her chin on her hand.


    "Oh, my dear Junior, don''t play dumb~. The Snowy Love event is designed to create special, heartwarming moments. Imagine it: a peaceful winter setting, cozy little challenges, holding hands, sharing warmth¡­ maybe even¡ª"


    "¡ªNo."


    Violet gasped dramatically, placing a hand over her heart.


    "You didn''t even let me finish! What if I was going to say sharing a cup of hot cocoa?"


    "Then you should''ve led with that."


    She smirked.


    "But you know that''s not all there is to it. Some of the past challenges have been pretty bold, you know. There was one year where pairs had to hug for warmth inside an ice cave. And another where they had to feed each other a special festival dessert. With their hands."


    "¡­Still not that bad."


    "Ah, but last year¡ª" She leaned in closer, her violet eyes gleaming with mischief. "There was a mistletoe task."


    I stared at her.


    She grinned widely.


    "¡­No."


    "Oh yes~. The rules change every year, but the theme stays the same. ''Creating intimate winter memories~.''" She twirled a strand of her purple hair between her fingers.


    "Are you sure you want to do this event, Junior?"


    "I already signed up, didn''t I?"


    I reply before letting out a small sigh.


    "Ohoho~! That''s the spirit!" She clapped her hands together, looking far too amused by this.


    "Still, you''re a bit too relaxed about this. I mean, what if you get paired with someone dangerous?"


    I raised an eyebrow.


    "Like who?"


    "Oh, I don''t know¡­" She tilted her head playfully.


    "Maybe the Second Princess?"


    Mhm?


    That wasn''t a problem at all.


    It would simply feel weird.


    She smirked at my normal expression, and then continued:


    "Or how about Zeva? You know that professors can also participate in festivals, don''t you?"


    "¡­That''s not concerning."


    I''ll probably just run away from that place if I ever saw her.


    She would probably stab me with her swords the second I looked at her.


    "Then there''s Rose!" Violet continued, watching my reaction carefully.


    "That cutie... can you imagine her in a romance-themed event? How adorable would that be?" she giggled.


    "¡­You''re just listing all the people who would make this a problem, aren''t you?"


    "Oh, absolutely~." She rested her chin on her palm again. "But let''s not forget the best possibility¡­"


    She leaned in, her voice dropping to a teasing whisper.


    "What if¡­ you get paired with me?"


    I sighed.


    "And that''s the worst-case scenario?"


    "Oh, it''s the best case¡ªfor me." She giggled.


    "But for you? Who knows?~"


    I pinched the bridge of my nose.


    "You''re way too invested in this."


    She shrugged.


    "Can you blame me? You never join these kinds of things. And now you''re suddenly throwing yourself into the most entertaining event in the festival? How could I not be excited?"


    "¡­I''m already regretting this."


    "Nihihi! Too late, Junior~! No backing out now!" She gave me a wink. "Just remember¡ªif you do get paired with me, you''d better take responsibility."


    "Hmn..."


    I hummed in response.


    But as I looked at her giggling expression, my lips couldn''t help but curl up slightly.


    "Don''t worry... If I do get paired with you, Senior..."


    "I wouldn''t mind taking responsibility."


    Violet blinked.


    Her smirk vanished.


    "Wh¡ª"


    I walked out before she could respond.


    Click...!


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    [Violet''s POV]


    Click...!


    The door clicked shut.


    I sat there, frozen.


    For a good five seconds, my mind was completely blank.


    Then, slowly, I leaned back in my chair, my fingers gripping the edge of the desk as I processed what just happened.


    Did he just¡ª


    My face burned.


    It wasn''t often that I lost control of my emotions.


    I''m student council president, for goodness'' sake!


    I handled noble disputes, festival preparations, school policies¡­ I was calm, collected, and always one step ahead.


    But that damn Junior¡ª


    He actually said that.


    "If I do get paired with you, Senior... I wouldn''t mind taking responsibility."


    I felt a shiver crawl down my spine, my grip tightening against the polished wood of my desk.


    His words made me feel...


    Spinning.


    Burning.


    Overthinking every word.


    "...You wouldn''t mind, huh?"


    I muttered under my breath, my lips curling into a small smile.


    Was he teasing me?


    Was he serious?


    Did he say that just to mess with me?


    I slapped my hands against my cheeks, trying to snap myself out of it.


    No, no, no¡ªthis wasn''t fair!


    I was supposed to be the one making him flustered.


    I was supposed to be the one teasing him.


    Not the other way around!


    And yet¡ª


    I covered my mouth with one hand, biting down on my lower lip as another shiver ran through me.


    "Fufu~..."


    A dangerous giggle slipped out.


    I leaned forward, resting my chin against my palm, my fingers tapping against my cheek as my thoughts spiraled into dangerous places.


    "What if we actually got paired together?"


    A peaceful winter setting¡­ cozy little challenges¡­ the two of us, stuck together in the cold, forced to work side by side.


    Would he sigh in annoyance?


    Would he act like it was nothing?


    Or¡ª


    Maybe, the color that my eyes can see in his body would change?


    Would I finally get to see him panic?


    Oh, that would be delicious.


    I imagined it now¡ªAestrea, standing there in his usual composed way, only to slowly crack under the festival''s¡­ special circumstances.


    A shared blanket?


    A gentle, accidental touch?


    Hah.


    What if¡ªwhat if he was forced to hold my hand?


    A creepy little giggle slipped from my lips again.


    Oh, I liked that thought.


    I liked it a lot.


    My mind spun faster, crafting scenario after scenario.


    Scenario #1:


    We''d get paired together.


    He''d groan.


    I''d smile.


    Then, the festival tasks would force us into something ridiculously romantic.


    Maybe we''d have to feed each other a festival dessert.


    ¡­Oh no.


    Oh no.


    I imagined him, sitting across from me, staring blankly as he held out a spoonful of sweet, warm pudding.


    Would he sigh?


    Would he roll his eyes?


    Would he blush?


    My fingers twitched.


    Scenario #2:


    Maybe we''d end up in one of those "snowed-in" challenges.


    Just the two of us, trapped inside a winter cabin, a small fireplace flickering in the background.


    Oh, that would be perfect.


    He''d try to ignore me.


    But, I''d make that impossible.


    I could already see it.


    The slow, creeping realization on his face.


    The way he''d shift, uncomfortable, realizing there was only one blanket.


    The way I''d slowly, deliberately, scoot closer¡ª


    "Oops~ Junior, looks like there''s not enough space. Guess we''ll have to share~."


    Another giggle slipped from my lips.


    I curled my fingers against my cheek, my smile stretching wider.


    This was too much fun.


    I never thought I''d want to be paired with someone for the Snowy Love event.


    I mean, sure, I liked teasing people¡ªmessing with them, making them uncomfortable¡ªbut romance?


    Not really my thing.


    But this.


    Aestrea.


    He made it interesting.


    He made me want to push him.


    To see how far I could go before he finally snapped before he jumped on me...


    I could already image what I''d say at that time...


    Hehe.


    I bit my lip again.


    Ugh.


    But why did he have to say that?


    "If I do get paired with you, I wouldn''t mind taking responsibility."


    Those words.


    That tone.


    He really was teasing me directly.


    I love teasing people, but absolutely hate when someone teases me.


    It just didn''t feel right.


    I''m a genius, who alone, designed the entire Royal Academy''s Training Areas.


    ¡­And yet.


    His words made a heat rise in my chest, something unfamiliar, something annoying.


    Was it frustration?


    Excitement?


    I wasn''t sure.


    But it didn''t matter.


    What mattered now¡­


    Was the festival.


    I had to know.


    Would we actually get paired together?


    Would fate be kind to me just this once?


    I grabbed my festival registration list and skimmed through it, biting my thumb in thought.


    Pairings were random, sure¡­


    But.


    What if they weren''t entirely random?


    I was the student council president, after all.


    And the Snowy Love event was an internal school activity.


    And I did have access to the registration data.


    And, technically speaking, the pairings weren''t decided until tomorrow.


    So if someone were to, say¡­


    Subtly adjust the list?


    Gently nudge the results in a certain direction?


    Wouldn''t that just be¡­ fair?


    I grinned.


    A slow, creeping, dangerous grin.


    Fate could be so unreliable sometimes.


    So why not¡­ help it along?


    Just a little.


    "Mhm..."


    I hummed a small tune, flipping through the papers as my mind spun with possibilities.


    "Oh, Junior¡­ let''s see if you''re really ready to take responsibility."


    Tee hee~.

 Chapter 85 - 85: Interlude: Snow Festival (II)

    After stepping out of the student council room, I was immediately met with a wave of burning gazes.


    ...Right.


    Violet really does have a lot of admirers, huh?


    Some students in line had their mouths slightly open, their eyes darting between me and the closed office door like they had just witnessed a crime.


    Others were whispering to each other, their expressions ranging from confusion to jealousy.


    One guy near the front¡ªprobably a noble¡ªcrossed his arms, his brows furrowed.


    "Tch. Favoritism," he muttered under his breath.


    Another student, a girl with short blonde hair, gave me a long, suspicious stare.


    "...What exactly were you doing in there with the student council president?" she asked sharply, glaring at me.


    I sighed.


    "Signing up for festival events."


    That was it.


    That was all.


    Nothing more, nothing less.


    But judging by the way some of these students were looking at me, I might as well have walked out of there carrying Violet in my arms.


    Another girl, standing a few steps away, narrowed her eyes.


    "Then why did she personally pull you inside?"


    "Because she''s annoying," I said flatly.


    Gasps.


    Actual gasps.


    You''d think I had just insulted royalty.


    A red-haired boy standing nearby scoffed, his arms crossed.


    "You''re saying the great Violet Von Luxuria, the student council president, the genius of the academy, is just¡­ annoying?"


    "Yes."


    More gasps.


    A few of them looked at me like I had personally declared war.


    The blonde girl, still glaring at me, shook her head.


    "Unbelievable! You should consider yourself lucky!"


    I frowned.


    "Lucky for what?"


    "To even be in her presence! Violet Von Luxuria is admired by everyone. She''s beautiful, talented, and respected. And yet, she chose to drag you into her office!"


    A guy next to her nodded.


    "Yeah! Do you know how many people in this school would kill for that?"


    I blinked.


    ''Those are some hardcore fans...''


    "...That sounds excessive."


    "It isn''t!"


    I looked around at the crowd of students still waiting in line. Some of them were nodding. Others just kept staring at me, still clearly trying to process what they had just seen.


    This was a waste of time.


    I turned on my heel, planning to leave. I already finished what I came here for. There was no reason to stand around listening to these people go on about Violet.


    But as I walked past the crowd, I heard one last voice.


    A whisper.


    "...Do you think they''re secretly dating?"


    I kept walking.


    Not worth my time.


    Not worth my energy.


    Instead, I decided to head toward the Headmistress''s office.


    Yup.


    I was going to meet Eleonora.


    I had been holding back for a long time already. If I wanted to get stronger even faster than my current speed¡­


    I needed to awaken my second element.


    The moment I saw that my chances of getting the Void element had increased, I almost rushed to awaken it right then and there.


    But things kept getting in the way.


    But now?


    I had nothing to do except wait for the Snow Festival.


    No more delays.


    I was going to awaken my second element today.


    Step...


    Reaching the Headmistress''s door, I paused for a second. My hand hovered just above the wood, ready to knock.


    But I knew Eleonora too well.


    There was no point.


    Click.


    I pushed the door open and stepped inside.


    Then, without missing a beat, I closed it shut behind me.


    A soft giggle immediately greeted me.


    "Oh my~... Did my dear Aestrea finally decide to visit his future Master?"


    Eleonora''s voice was playful like she had been waiting for this moment.


    She didn''t even seem surprised that I had entered her personal workroom without knocking.


    She didn''t scold me.


    She didn''t raise an eyebrow.


    Instead, she just smiled, resting her chin on her hand as if she had predicted this all along.


    Her long, purple hair cascaded over her shoulders, shining under the glow of the enchanted lamps in the room.


    Her bright blue eyes sparkled with amusement.


    "¡­Future Master?"


    Her smile widened.


    But, she kept her mouth shut nonetheless.


    I sighed, walking forward.


    "You didn''t even ask why I''m here."


    She smirked.


    "Do I need a reason to enjoy a visit from my favorite student?"


    I rolled my eyes at her.


    She just laughed.


    "So~? What brings my little moon to me today?" she asked, tilting her head slightly.


    Little moon...?


    Is that a new nickname for me?


    Gosh...


    I hesitated for a second, after all, I rejected being her disciple, but now, I was here to ask help from her to awaken my second element.


    Honestly, I could simply spend money and ask some other official mage to help me awaken it, but... if it was Eleonora...


    The chances of getting a stronger element were increased by a lot.


    Especially since our bodies were perfectly compatible with each other.


    Then, I finally met her gaze.


    "I need your help with something."


    Her brows lifted just a little as her lips curled up.


    "Oh?"


    I nodded.


    "I want you to help me awaken my second element."


    She gave me a slow, thoughtful look.


    Then, suddenly, she smiled.


    "Well, then~¡­ Shall we begin?"


    ¡ª


    Snap.


    The air trembled as Eleonora flicked her fingers.


    Behind her, one of the tall bookshelves rumbled, shifting backward.


    A soft, violet glow traced the edges of the wall as the bookshelf slid to the side, revealing a dark passageway hidden behind it.


    I narrowed my eyes.


    "¡­You had a secret passage behind your bookshelf?"


    Eleonora giggled.


    "Of course. What kind of Headmistress would I be if I didn''t have at least one hidden chamber?"


    Classic.


    She turned, stepping into the staircase.


    Without hesitation, I followed.


    The tunnel was lined with glowing blue runes, casting strange patterns along the stone walls. The air was thick with magic, almost humming with energy.


    We walked in silence for a few minutes before reaching the end¡ªa massive, reinforced door made of some kind of shimmering metal.


    Eleonora placed her palm on it, and the runes flickered, pulsing like a heartbeat.


    Creak.


    The door groaned as it slowly opened, revealing the chamber beyond.


    It was breathtaking.


    An enormous underground hall stretched before us, its ceiling high and arched like a cathedral.


    In the center of the room was a colossal magic circle, inscribed with symbols I barely recognized.


    At the very heart of the formation sat a massive, floating orb, swirling with pure magical energy.


    I exhaled deeply.


    "This is¡­"


    Eleonora stepped forward, gesturing grandly.


    "This, my little moon, is my own Awakening Chamber."


    The orb pulsed, casting a soft glow over the chamber. The magic circles beneath it shimmered, waiting.


    She turned to me, her smile turning almost mischievous.


    "So~ shall we get started?"


    I nodded.


    "Step into the center of that glowing circle over there," Eleonora pointed towards the circle, and I slowly walked towards it.


    Thrum...!


    The air itself seemed heavier, as if the very room was waiting for something to happen.


    I could feel the potent mana flowing through the magic circle.


    "Just relax," Eleonora said softly, standing at the edge of the magic formation.


    "Let the magic flow naturally. Don''t resist it."


    Easier said than done.


    The moment I stepped into the center, the giant orb above the circle pulsed with power.


    A low humming sound filled the air.


    Then, suddenly¡ª


    WHOOSH!


    The entire chamber was swallowed by a bright, white blinding glow.


    It was overwhelming, almost suffocating, as an unseen force pulled at every fiber of my being.


    I clenched my teeth, feeling the strange sensation of something deep within me being drawn out.


    It wasn''t painful, but it was... intense.


    Like something ancient was awakening inside me.


    BZZZT!


    CRACKLE!


    Strange, flickering lights surrounded me, shifting between deep purple, abyssal black, and bright silver streaks.


    The air felt electric, vibrating with an unusually strong mana.


    Eleonora''s eyes widened.


    Her usual teasing expression was gone, replaced by something serious, something almost... concerned.


    "This..." she muttered under her breath.


    "What is this...?"


    The light only grew stronger.


    FWOOOOSH!


    A huge surge of energy exploded outward.


    The magic circle beneath my feet trembled as sparks danced across the symbols.


    My whole body felt weightless for a second¡ªno, not weightless.


    As if I were somewhere else entirely.


    Like I had one foot in this world... and one foot outside of it.


    Then, just as suddenly as it started, the glow vanished.


    BAM. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A sharp silence filled the room.


    I was still standing.


    The air was still thick with residual energy.


    And yet... something felt off.


    Eleonora was staring at me, her expression unreadable. I opened my mouth to ask her what happened, but before I could say anything, she spoke first.


    "Strange..."


    I blinked.


    "What?"


    She frowned slightly, tapping her chin in thought.


    "There''s no second element."


    Silence stretched between us.


    I stared at her, waiting for her to say something else. Anything else.


    "That light," she continued, glancing at the fading glow around us, "was most likely just a reaction from your high-quality mana."


    Just a reaction?


    I furrowed my brows.


    That... that couldn''t be right.


    I felt something awaken inside me.


    I knew something had changed.


    And yet, Eleonora, one of the strongest mages in the world, couldn''t identify it?


    "So I don''t have a second element?"


    I asked slowly, trying to process everything.


    Eleonora crossed her arms, watching me carefully.


    "Most likely not. But..." She trailed off, before shaking her head with a small smile. "Well, you''re still my adorable little moon. With or without a second element."


    ''...Why? Why don''t I have a second element?!''


    Before I could say anything else, Eleonora took a step forward, placing a gentle hand on my shoulder.


    "Say," she said, tilting her head.


    "Since you''re already coming to me for help... why not make it official?"


    I stiffened.


    "For the fourth time now," she continued with a teasing lilt, "become my disciple."


    I sighed.


    "You''re persistent."


    "Of course." She smiled playfully.


    "A talent like yours shouldn''t go to waste, after all."


    I was about to reject her again, just like the previous times.


    But this time...


    I hesitated.


    I wasn''t sure why, but something in me told me to think about it.


    To at least consider it.


    After a moment, I met her gaze.


    "I''ll... reconsider it. After a while."


    Eleonora blinked.


    Her mouth parted slightly.


    She seemed completely shocked by my words.


    Then, slowly, her smile widened.


    "Oh my, what a rare response. I was expecting a straight rejection." She chuckled softly.


    "Well then, I''ll be waiting, my little moon."


    I let out a breath, shaking my head before turning towards the door


    . "I''ll be going now."


    "Come visit me anytime~," Eleonora called out as I left.


    The second the door closed behind me, I let out a deep breath.


    Something was off.


    I could feel it in my bones.


    Then¡ª


    CRACK!


    A dark panel suddenly appeared in front of me, forming from thin air. Faint white cracks spread across its surface like veins of lightning.


    My breath hitched for a moment.


    In the center of the panel, glowing words slowly appeared one by one.


    ¡¼ ? New Element Awakened... ? ¡½


    ¡¼ ? Congratulations on obtaining the affinity... ? ¡½


    ¡¼ ? Time ? ¡½


    [Your mana has increased a small rank.]


    [Your spirit has successfully breakthrough into the SS- rank.]


    [Your mental fortitude has significantly increased.]


    [Judgement Eye has reached the S+ rank.]


    [You can now manipulate Time Magic.]


    I was beyond speechless.

 Chapter 86 - 86: Interlude: Snow Festival (III)

    Fwip!


    "Time Acceleration!"


    Puff¡ª


    "F¡ªFuck!"


    I barely managed to react as the sudden force of the backlash hit me, sending me stumbling back a few steps.


    My hands shook, my head ached, and my body felt like it had just run an entire marathon in a second.


    "God damn it... fuu..."


    Taking a deep breath, I furrowed my eyebrows, staring blankly at my hands. My fingers twitched slightly, but that was it.


    No glow.


    No lingering mana.


    No sign that I had successfully cast anything at all.


    Honestly, when I saw that my second affinity or element was Time, I was immediately ecstatic, however...


    But I didn''t think it would be this much of a problem.


    From the moment I awakened my second affinity, I had been training like a madman to use it.


    Every single day.


    Every single night.


    I barely even slept.


    I even used mana to ease my body so I didn''t need sleep.


    The only problem was mental fatigue...


    But it was all useless.


    No matter how hard I tried, I couldn''t properly activate Time Magic.


    I had scoured the entire academy library, looking for anything¡ªanything at all¡ªthat could help me understand how Time Magic worked.


    But there was nothing.


    Not a single book on Time Magic existed in the academy''s collection.


    It was almost as if it had been erased from history.


    Which meant that if I wanted to learn, I was on my own.


    A few days passed in complete frustration, I trained, failed, took a small break, and then tried again.


    Again and again.


    The cycle repeated itself over and over, but no matter what, I couldn''t even manage a simple first-rank spell.


    "Damn it..."


    I clicked my tongue in frustration.


    "One last try..."


    Taking a deep breath, I focused.


    This time, I wouldn''t just shout the spell''s name and hope for the best.


    I would control it.


    I would force it to work.


    Slowly, I closed my eyes, reaching deep into myself and searching for that elusive spark of Time Magic buried within me.


    It was there.


    Faint.


    Flickering.


    But undeniably present.


    I reached out, trying to grasp it¡ª


    And the moment I did, my entire body was slammed with overwhelming pressure.


    THUD!


    I collapsed to my knees, gasping for air as an invisible force crushed me from all sides.


    My vision blurred, my head pounded, and my limbs refused to move.


    It felt as if time itself was weighing down on me.


    "Wh... What the hell...?"


    My breathing turned ragged as I struggled to fight against the pressure, but it was useless.


    I couldn''t even lift a single finger.


    My surroundings distorted, warping like a rippling reflection on water.


    For a brief second, I thought I saw something¡ªa crack in space itself, dark and endless, with white, glowing threads stretching across it.


    Then, just as quickly as it came, it vanished.


    The pressure disappeared.


    I collapsed onto the floor, panting heavily as sweat dripped down my face.


    "....Fucking hell."


    Click!


    The door to the room suddenly opened.


    I groaned softly but didn''t bother looking up.


    A familiar voice reached my ears.


    "Master... are you done with your training?"


    Alaine.


    I glanced up slightly, still lying on the ground. Alaine stood at the entrance, holding a small basket in her hands.


    From the smell, it was clear she had brought food.


    I exhaled tiredly.


    "...For now..."


    Alaine smiled, stepping into the room before snapping her fingers, and casually casting a cleaning spell on me.


    A soft wave of magic washed over my body, wiping away the sweat and dust from my clothes.


    She then sat down next to me, placing the basket between us.


    "I brought food for you."


    I shifted slightly, sitting up properly.


    "You didn''t have to."


    She pouted.


    "But you barely eat during training. If I don''t bring you food, you''ll just forget."


    She wasn''t wrong.


    I sighed, rubbing my temples.


    "...Thanks."


    Alaine beamed, opening the basket. The aroma of warm bread, roasted meat, and fresh fruit filled the air.


    My stomach growled on instinct.


    I clicked my tongue.


    "Tsk. Betrayed by my own body."


    Alaine giggled, handing me a piece of bread.


    "Eat, Master. You need your strength."


    I took the bread, biting into it.


    The soft texture and buttery taste melted in my mouth.


    Damn.


    That was good.


    I gobbled it up in just a few minutes.


    "Mhm..."


    I hummed in satisfaction, setting the empty plate aside.


    As I leaned back, my gaze slowly drifted downward¡ªtoward Alaine''s thighs.


    Soft.


    Smooth.


    Comfortable-looking.


    The perfect pillow.


    Without hesitation, I shifted my position, resting my head right on her lap.


    "Ah..."


    Alaine let out a small, surprised sound, but she didn''t push me away. Instead, a gentle smile spread across her lips as she reached out and ran her fingers through my hair.


    She wasn''t exactly giving me a massage, but it felt good.


    Really good.


    Her touch was slow, careful, and oddly soothing¡ªlike she had done this a million times before.


    "Haaaa..."


    I exhaled softly, letting myself relax.


    But then¡­


    I frowned.


    Well...


    The view wasn''t bad, but there was a slight problem.


    I couldn''t exactly see her face.


    Her breasts were too massive.


    They completely blocked my line of sight.


    So, I simply turned my head to the side. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Problem solved.


    And then, her voice broke the silence.


    "Master... why are you working so hard?"


    I blinked.


    Before I could even think of an answer, she continued.


    "From the day I met you, I could see that your ambitions were nothing but ordinary, but this past few days... you seemed to have changed a bit."


    Ah...


    She noticed it.


    Of course, she did.


    I let out a quiet sigh.


    At first, my goal was simple. I just wanted to fulfill Aestrea''s original wish¡ªto make this academy the best, graduate, and secure a good-paying job.


    But then¡­ I lost the competition.


    That was the starting point where I started to change.


    I mean...


    That moment¡ªwhen I stood there, helpless, because of my "artificial" mana vessel¡ªthat was the trigger.


    I didn''t realize it at the time, but Aestrea''s memories had already begun affecting me since the day I got here.


    Little by little.


    I was never the type to care about saving people.


    I lived for myself.


    That was how I survived in my old world.


    But now?


    I saved a girl who tried to kill me.


    I fought to protect the academy, not just for myself, but for the students.


    And even now, I was pushing myself beyond my limits¡ªstruggling to control a magic that I knew nothing about, all for the sake of becoming stronger.


    Those were small changes that I didn''t take notice. It was if, Aestrea was present here, but not really myself.


    Like... my instincts could talk, but my mind and body wouldn''t follow its orders.


    Something like that.


    I don''t know how to explain it.


    But why?


    Why was this happening?


    Because of him.


    Aestrea wasn''t a hero.


    Not really.


    But he dreamed of being one.


    Even though he knew he wasn''t the "chosen one," he still carried himself like a hero.


    And now, that same "heroic" personality of his¡­


    It was starting to change me.


    I didn''t realize it at first.


    But now?


    Now, I knew.


    I had been affected.


    Back in my world, I learned to live for myself.


    And then, the moment I stepped here, because of the future "sight" granted by the system, I decided to fight against that named demon beast myself.


    At that time, it just felt right.


    But thinking back...


    That simply wasn''t something that I would normally do.


    I don''t mind saving my loved one, but other people...?


    Since when did I care about them?


    I don''t mind saving them, but risking my life in order to do so...?


    Never.


    But I did.


    I went alone.


    Didn''t ask for help.


    Dealt with the beasts myself.


    But why?


    I thought that I hadn''t been affected by Aestrea''s memories, but now...


    ...Now...


    I was affected by them.


    But what could I do?


    Those sweet memories.


    His happy friends.


    Even his emotions...


    They weren''t just things I "remembered."


    I felt them.


    Lived them.


    And because of that, I couldn''t ignore them.


    How could I?


    How could I turn away when I knew what was coming?


    When I knew what they would face?


    Even though this wasn''t my world, even though these weren''t my people¡­


    I couldn''t just leave them to die.


    Even if I wanted to.


    Even if it wasn''t "me" who cared¡­


    I still cared.


    So...


    Aestrea¡­


    Just be a little selfish.


    Is that too much to ask?


    "Master...?"


    Alaine''s voice was soft, laced with worry.


    "Are you okay?"


    Her green eyes, bright and filled with concern, met mine.


    I stared at her for a second before a small smile tugged at my lips.


    "A-ah... I''m alr¡ª"


    My voice faltered.


    But then, looking at her¡ªreally looking at her¡ªI let out a breath.


    And smiled.


    "I''m better than ever."


    "!!!"


    The moment Alaine saw my soft smile, her face lit up like a sunrise.


    Her bright green eyes sparkled, and she tilted her head slightly to the side before flashing me an even brighter smile.


    "Master¡­ I¡­ I¡ª"


    ¡ªBEEP!


    ?Attention, students! The first festival activity¡ª''Mana Football'' of the Snow Festival is about to begin. Every student who has signed up, please proceed to the main arena.?


    ¡ªBOP!


    The sudden announcement cut through the air, and I felt my expression shift slightly as I frowned.


    I exhaled softly before slowly pushing myself up.


    "I guess it''s time¡­"


    I started making my way toward the exit, but before I could take more than a few steps¡ª


    Rustle.


    Alaine suddenly stepped in front of me, blocking my way.


    Then, like a diligent wife, she carefully adjusted my clothes, smoothing out any wrinkles before giving my shoulders a gentle pat.


    Her hands were soft, her movements slow and precise, as if she had done this countless times before.


    She smiled up at me.


    "Let''s go," she said lightly before turning around and walking ahead.


    I blinked.


    Then, with a small chuckle, I followed her.


    The main arena wasn''t far, so it only took us a few minutes to get there.


    The moment we arrived, I noticed two signs. One pointed toward the section for participants, and the other led to the spectators.


    It was time for us to separate.


    Alaine turned to face me.


    "Good luck, Master."


    Her voice was soft, carrying a warmth that made my chest tighten for a moment.


    She then started walking toward the left passage¡ªthe one that would teleport her to the spectator area.


    I watched her go.


    My eyes followed her small, delicate back as she walked further and further away.


    And I frowned.


    ''Just be a little selfish.''


    The thought seemed to haunt my mind.


    So...


    I moved before I could stop myself.


    I reached forward and softly grasped her wrist.


    "M-Master¡­?"


    Alaine stammered, turning around, her expression filled with confusion.


    ''...What was I doing?''


    I sighed inwardly.


    Her green, jewel-like eyes locked onto mine, glimmering with something I couldn''t quite describe.


    There was hesitation.


    Uncertainty.


    But also¡­ a faint hint of anticipation.


    Her brows furrowed slightly as a few loose strands of her silky, blonde blonde hair slipped onto her forehead, falling just above her lashes.


    She looked stunning.


    The soft glow of the arena''s lights highlighted her delicate features, casting a faint shadow beneath her eyes.


    Her lips¡ªpale pink, slightly parted in surprise¡ªlooked impossibly soft.


    Tempting.


    I felt my heartbeat slow for a moment.


    And then¡ª


    Fwoop.


    With a quick movement, I pulled her toward me.


    "Ah!"


    Her small gasp filled the air as I stepped back slightly, twisting my body just enough to catch her off balance.


    And then¡ª


    I caught her.


    My arm wrapped securely around her waist, holding her close.


    She barely had time to react before I tilted my head downward¡ª


    And closed the distance.


    "....?!"


    A soft, fleeting kiss.


    The warmth of her lips barely lingered before I slowly pulled away.


    Alaine''s eyes widened, her breath catching as her fingers trembled slightly against my chest.


    I smiled.


    "I''ll see you later."


    And without waiting for a response, I turned and stepped into the right passage.


    In an instant¡ª


    Fwoosh!


    I was teleported away.


    Leaving Alaine standing there, speechless.

 Chapter 87 - 87: Interlude: Snow Festival (IV)

    "Hello, ladies and gentlemen!"


    The announcer''s energetic voice boomed across the massive arena, instantly drawing the attention of everyone present.


    "And welcome to the first event of today''s Snow Festival¡ªMANA FOOTBAAAALL!"


    "YEEAAAHHHHHHHHH!"


    The crowd erupted in excitement, their cheers echoing through the air. Most of the loudest shouts came from the boys, hyped up beyond reason.


    The announcer grinned.


    "Now, for those of you who are new, let me explain the rules! It''s simple!"


    He cleared his throat before continuing.


    "The game is just like regular football, but with magic! Players can use mana or aura to boost their speed, strengthen their kicks, and defend their goal!"


    "However, flying magic and long-range spells are NOT allowed! Only body-enhancement magic is permitted due to the injuries from previous games!"


    "The first team to score FIVE goals wins!"


    "And remember¡ªno direct attacks on other players! If you injure someone on purpose, you''re out!"


    The crowd buzzed with excitement as they processed the rules.


    "Now¡­ it''s time to announce the teams!"


    The announcer''s voice grew even louder.


    "A total of 150 students have signed up, which means we have the perfect setup for a 75 versus 75 match!"


    "WOOOOOOOAAAAAHHHH!"


    The crowd roared once again.


    And then¡ª


    A figure suddenly soared into the sky.


    FWOOOSH!


    The moment the students and spectators saw who it was, they all reacted at once¡ª


    "HEADMISTRESS!!"


    Their voices rang out in admiration.


    High above, Eleonora floated effortlessly in the air, gazing down at the field with a small smile on her lips.


    Then, with a single graceful motion¡ª


    FWOOOP!


    The entire arena transformed.


    The flat, open space rippled as if reality itself was shifting. In the blink of an eye, an enormous football field materialized in the center of the arena.


    It was no ordinary field.


    It was MASSIVE¡ªat least five times the size of a regular one!


    The crowd gasped in awe. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Eleonora lowered her hand, satisfied with the transformation.


    "Now that the field is ready..." the announcer continued, his voice filled with excitement.


    "All 150 players will now be teleported to a random team and given a random position!"


    FWIP!


    FWIP!


    One by one, students began appearing on the massive field, their expressions ranging from excited to nervous.


    The atmosphere grew tense as the announcer gave his final instructions.


    "Alright, players! The match will begin as soon as the whistle blows!"


    "Remember! If you hurt another player, you''ll be DISQUALIFIED!"


    "So play fair and give it your all!"


    With that, the announcer took a deep breath¡ª


    Then¡ª


    FWEEEEEEEEEEEET!!


    The sharp sound of the whistle echoed through the massive arena.


    In an instant, the game had begun!


    On the right side stood the White Team and on the left side stood the Gold Team.


    Fwip!


    The mana-enhanced ball shot into the air from the center of the field, glowing faintly with magic.


    Players from both teams immediately rushed forward, their bodies surging with mana as the match kicked off at a blistering pace.


    BOOM!


    Lucas was the first to react.


    His golden hair shimmered under the arena lights as he blasted forward, his legs glowing with golden mana.


    He leaped into the air with one smooth motion, his foot slamming into the ball with immense force.


    WHOOOOSH!


    The ball shot through the air like a cannonball, heading straight toward White Team''s side.


    ''Ah... already?''


    Stretching himself slightly, Aestrea who had been positioned as one of the defenders, focused his eyes on the ball.


    The impact of Lucas''s kick alone was enough to send weaker players tumbling.


    Aestrea braced himself slightly.


    He could hear the footsteps of his teammates shifting into position.


    "Left!" he called out sharply.


    But as he looked at the teammates around him, he noticed their hateful gazes, and amongst them, there was Telmo.


    Ella''s simp.


    And of course, instead of moving left, Telmo charged forward on his own, his blue mana flaring around him.


    "Tsk..." Aestrea clicked his tongue.


    ''Fucking idiot...''


    Lucas''s shot was coming in fast, and with Telmo out of position, the left flank was completely exposed!


    Aestrea had no choice.


    FWOOSH!


    With a burst of icy mana, he dashed left, snow kicking up beneath his feet.


    The ball was seconds away from breaking through.


    Aestrea didn''t hesitate¡ªhis right leg swung forward, intercepting the ball with an ice-infused kick.


    BANG!


    The ball shuddered mid-air, the impact sending a shockwave through the field.


    For a split second, the ball hung between Aestrea and Lucas''s energy¡ªa battle of strength.


    Then¡ª


    BOOM!


    The ball rebounded toward the midfield and redirected away from the goal.


    The crowd erupted.


    "WHOOOAAAAA!!"


    Aestrea landed smoothly, his breath visible in the cold air.


    But before he could relax¡ª


    BAM!


    A streak of red mana flashed past him.


    "Tch. You got lucky, Aestrea."


    Prince Leon.


    His golden eyes burned with hostility as he sprinted toward the ball, his movements sharp and aggressive.


    His golden jersey fluttered as his mana pulsed dangerously around him.


    "I won''t let you get past me."


    Leon smirked.


    "Hah..." Aestrea scoffed slightly.


    "You still haven''t learned anything, did you?"


    WHOOOSH!


    Ignoring Aestrea''s words, Leon exploded forward, his red mana surging around him like crackling fire.


    His foot met the ball in an instant, sending it racing down the field like a comet.


    Aestrea didn''t hesitate.


    With a sharp exhale, he sprinted alongside Leon, his ice mana swirling around his feet.


    His eyes locked onto the ball¡ªit was still bouncing, meaning he had a chance to intercept it before Leon could set up a clean shot!


    FWIP!


    Aestrea''s body tilted to the side as he lunged forward, his right foot stretching out to block the ball¡ª


    BAM!


    Leon saw it coming.


    He twisted his body mid-run, his knee coming up in a sharp feint before pushing the ball right with the outside of his foot.


    "Damn it¡ª!"


    Aestrea barely stopped himself from over-committing, his boots skidding against the icy field.


    Leon was quite fast


    The crowd roared as Leon''s dazzling footwork sent the ball closer to the White Team''s goal.


    "GO, LEON! BREAK THROUGH!!"


    Aestrea had no time to think.


    FWOOSH!


    Instead of chasing after Leon directly, he sidestepped, cutting off the most direct route to the goal.


    If Leon wanted to advance, he''d have to face him head-on.


    Leon grinned.


    "You think you can stop me, huh?"


    "Try me." Aestrea''s voice was cold.


    Leon accepted the challenge.


    BOOM!


    Mana exploded from his body as he kicked the ball forward, sending it straight toward Aestrea¡ª


    No¡ª


    It was a feint!


    At the last second, Leon dashed left, his body flickering like a mirage.


    Aestrea''s eyes sharpened slightly.


    He infused mana into his eyes.


    After all, this was also some kind of body enhancement.


    And if he couldn''t use his Judgement Eye because it was a skill, he could still use this kind of "Mana Vision".


    Everything slowed down for a moment.


    Aestrea saw it¡ªthe tiny shift in Leon''s balance, the subtle bend in his knees.


    He wasn''t shooting.


    He was planning to break past him.


    "Too slow, Little Leon."


    Aestrea moved first.


    FWOOOSH!


    The moment Leon attempted to cut past him, Aestrea''s right foot swung forward, tapping the ball just enough to make it roll away from Leon''s reach.


    "What¡ª?!"


    Leon''s movement was interrupted.


    Aestrea didn''t waste a second.


    With a flick of his ankle, he flicked the ball upward, then spun his body¡ª


    BOOM!


    He launched a long-range pass across the field.


    "Hah¡ª!"


    Alaine, watching from the spectator stands, gasped.


    Aestrea''s pass was perfect.


    The ball soared over the heads of several Gold Team players, cutting across the sky like a frozen meteor.


    On the other side of the field, a White Team forward jumped up, his mana blazing around him.


    BAM!


    He intercepted the pass with a powerful header, redirecting it toward the Gold Team''s goal¡ª


    "COUNTERATTACK!!!"


    The crowd erupted.


    The White Team''s forward, a bulky third-year named Grant, sprinted at full speed, his mana flaring around his legs.


    His eyes burned with determination¡ªthis was a chance to score!


    But then¡ª


    BANG!


    A golden blur rushed forward.


    Lucas.


    The "Hero of Light".


    "Not so fast."


    His voice rang with confidence as he launched himself forward, his entire body glowing with golden mana.


    The moment the ball bounced off the ground¡ª


    BOOM!


    Lucas intercepted it with a precise kick, stopping its momentum in an instant.


    "DAMN IT!" Grant cursed, trying to close the distance.


    But Lucas was already moving.


    His movements were smooth¡ªtoo smooth. He was like a professional, dribbling the ball effortlessly as if he were born for this game.


    "Hero Lucas takes the ball! Look at that flawless control!"


    The crowd roared.


    "GO, LUCAS!"


    "SHOW THEM WHY YOU''RE THE HERO!!"


    FWOOOSH!


    Lucas sped forward, weaving past two defenders in an instant. His golden mana made it almost impossible to see his feet.


    And now, he was directly heading towards Aestrea.


    "Ah... really?"


    Seeing the opportunity, Aestrea dashed forward.


    BOOM!


    Lucas grinned upon seeing him.


    "You''re in my way, Aestrea!"


    The moment Aestrea lunged at him¡ª


    Lucas faked left.


    ''A feint?''


    Aestrea didn''t fall for it.


    "Too obvious."


    Lucas tried to cut right¡ªbut Aestrea was already there.


    "What?!"


    Aestrea''s foot shot out, blocking Lucas''s dribble and knocking the ball loose.


    The crowd gasped!


    "AESTREA BLOCKED HIM?!"


    Lucas clicked his tongue.


    "Not bad."


    But he wasn''t done.


    In one fluid motion, he spun his body, his golden mana surging as he tried to pass the ball to one of his teammates¡ª


    BANG!


    Aestrea kicked it away first.


    The ball flew across the field again, heading toward the White Team''s strikers!


    "ANOTHER COUNTERATTACK!!"


    The stadium shook with excitement.


    The ball soared high into the sky, spinning rapidly as it arched toward the White Team''s forward.


    "I GOT IT!"


    A tall, muscular student from the White Team, Derek, jumped up, his body twisting mid-air.


    His eyes locked onto the ball as he prepared to smash it toward the goal¡ª


    But then¡ª


    BAM!


    A powerful force crashed into him.


    "GAAH¡ª!"


    He was blasted backward, tumbling across the field as the ball was stolen mid-air by a single figure.


    A golden-haired young man landed gracefully, the ball at his feet.


    Prince Leon.


    His sharp golden eyes burned with arrogance, and his lips curled in a smirk.


    "Weak."


    The crowd exploded with cheers.


    "PRINCE LEON!!!"


    "SHOW THEM WHO THE REAL KING IS!!"


    Leon flicked his hair back, his red aura shimmering in the cold air.


    He turned his gaze toward Aestrea who was very far from his.


    And his smirk widened.


    "What''s wrong, peasant?"


    Aestrea''s eye twitched.


    Fwoop!


    In just a matter of seconds, Leon slowly reached Aestrea, passing through the many white team''s players with ease.


    Then, he kicked the ball forward, so he could get a huge rundown.


    But Aestrea was faster.


    BOOM!


    The two collided.


    Aestrea''s foot slammed against the ball, stopping it.


    "Damn it!!" Leon clicked his tongue.


    "Annoying."


    Aestrea didn''t respond.


    He just pressed forward.


    "HAAAH!!"


    Leon sent a burst of mana into his legs, increasing his speed.


    He flicked the ball left¡ª


    Aestrea followed.


    He flicked right.


    Aestrea still followed.


    "DAMN YOU!"


    Leon gritted his teeth.


    With a snarl, he twisted his body, aiming for a powerful shot¡ª


    But Aestrea saw through it.


    FWOOSH!


    Just as Leon''s foot connected with the ball, Aestrea''s own foot intercepted it mid-kick¡ª


    "What?!"


    CRACK!


    A thin layer of ice suddenly spread from Aestrea''s foot, covering the ground beneath Leon.


    "Tch¡ª!"


    Leon''s balance wavered.


    "NO YOU DON''T!"


    Leon pushed off the ice, trying to recover¡ª


    But it was too late.


    Aestrea kicked the ball away, launching it toward the White Team''s forwards!


    The crowd erupted!


    "HE DID IT AGAIN!"


    Leon staggered backward, his face red with anger.


    His eyes burned with rage as he glared at Aestrea.


    "YOU¡­ DAMN¡­ PEASANT!"


    Aestrea smirked.


    "Try harder next time, Prince."


    Leon''s mana flared.


    Immediately, he turned on his heel and rushed towards the ball once again!


    The ball rocketed across the massive field, streaking like a comet toward the White Team''s forwards.


    The entire crowd was on the edge of their seats, their excited roars blending into the icy air.


    "Go! GO!!"


    But behind them¡ª


    Leon was seething.


    His fists clenched, veins bulging in his arms.


    His red aura flared, flickering like wildfire as he glared at Aestrea.


    This¡­ damn¡­ PEASANT.


    Not once. Not twice.


    But THREE TIMES.


    Three times Aestrea had humiliated him in front of thousands.


    And now?


    It was happening AGAIN.


    "Leon, focus!"


    Lucas, appearing right beside him, warned him.


    Leon gritted his teeth.


    "Shut up."


    Lucas frowned at him.


    "The match isn''t over. The White Team is pushing forward. If we let our guard down¡ª"


    "I SAID SHUT UP!"


    Leon''s aura flared violently.


    A crackle of red mana surged from his body, briefly distorting the air around him.


    Lucas''s expression hardened.


    "Leon." His tone was colder now.


    "Don''t let your emotions control you."


    Leon let out a slow breath.


    His eyes flickered toward Aestrea.


    His greatest rival.


    His greatest humiliation.


    Then toward Lucas.


    The one person he refused to lose against.


    A moment of silence passed.


    Then¡ª


    Leon let out a slow chuckle.


    A twisted, bitter one.


    "Fine."


    He rolled his shoulders, stretching his neck. His mana slowly settled.


    But his eyes still burned.


    "Let''s crush them."


    Lucas nodded, and both of them rushed towards the ball.

 Chapter 88 - 88: Interlude: Snow Festival (V)

    BAM!


    Aestrea dashed forward, his silver hair flowing behind him as he raced toward the ball.


    His teammate, Lance, had just barely managed to stop a Gold Team defender from stealing it.


    But now¡ª


    Lucas was approaching.


    Fast.


    "Pass it!"


    Lance didn''t hesitate.


    With a swift kick, he sent the ball flying toward Aestrea.


    And at the same time¡ª


    FWOOOSH!


    A gust of golden mana surged.


    Lucas closed the distance in an instant.


    His foot collided with Aestrea''s mid-air.


    "!!"


    BOOM!


    A shockwave exploded from the impact.


    The ball wobbled, thrown slightly off-course.


    Aestrea gritted his teeth, pushing harder¡ª


    But Lucas pushed back.


    Their eyes locked.


    For a brief moment, it was like the entire field disappeared.


    Nothing else mattered.


    Just them.


    A Dead Extra.


    A Protagonist.


    BAM!


    Lucas twisted his foot, forcing Aestrea backward.


    The ball rolled between them.


    A split second later¡ª


    Both of them charged.


    Their movements were a blur.


    Kicks, feints, rapid turns¡ªeach trying to outmaneuver the other.


    The crowd held their breath.


    Then¡ª


    FWOOSH!


    Lucas faked left.


    Aestrea reacted.


    And at that exact moment¡ª


    Lucas spun to the right, his foot slamming into the ball!


    "!!"


    The ball shot toward the White Team''s goal.


    It was a direct hit¡ª


    FWOOOOOP!


    The ball shot through the air, spinning like a bullet toward the White Team''s goal.


    The entire stadium tensed, eyes locked onto the blazing golden streak.


    Lucas''s kick wasn''t just powerful¡ªit was perfectly aimed.


    It was heading straight for the upper left corner¡ªa nearly impossible spot to block.


    The White Team''s goalkeeper, Rex, moved¡ª


    But it was too fast.


    Too strong.


    Too¡ª


    FWIP!


    A blur of silver suddenly rushed in.


    Aestrea.


    The moment Lucas kicked the ball, Aestrea had already moved.


    His body reacted before his mind did.


    Before he even realized it¡ª


    He was flying toward the ball.


    His legs bent, arms tensed, and with a single, desperate movement¡ª


    BAM!


    His foot connected.


    The impact rattled his entire leg, but¡ª


    The ball changed direction.


    The crowd exploded.


    "HE BLOCKED IT!!!"


    The ball went spinning toward the ground, bouncing wildly before rolling back onto the field.


    Lucas''s eyes widened.


    ''That was¡­ possible?!''


    But there was no time to think as Telmo, was the first to reach the ball.


    He clicked his tongue.


    Of course, it had to be Aestrea who stopped that shot.


    But whatever.


    There was no time to waste.


    With a sharp kick, Telmo sent the ball soaring down the field.


    And Rael, one of the forwards, dashed forward to meet it.


    But¡ª


    BOOOOM!


    Another explosion of mana.


    Leon.


    He wasn''t letting them pass.


    His red aura flared, and in an instant, he intercepted the ball.


    The White Team''s momentum shattered.


    Leon smirked.


    "Pathetic."


    He controlled the ball effortlessly, dodging a sliding tackle from one of the White Team''s midfielders.


    Then¡ª


    He kicked it straight up into the air.


    Lucas was already moving.


    The plan was clear.


    He would dribble through Aestrea, and pass the ball to Lucas.


    And then¡ª


    He would score.


    All to defeat Aestrea.


    At this moment, Leon''s smirk grew as he saw Aestrea approaching.


    "Finally. Took you long enough."


    Aestrea ignored him.


    His focus was on the ball.


    The ball descended fast, spinning with the weight of the game''s momentum.


    Leon was already in position, his red aura flaring as he pushed off the ground.


    FWOOSH!


    A burst of wind and mana surged as he leaped into the air, his foot rising to meet the ball before Aestrea could even reach it.


    Too slow!


    No¡ª


    Not yet.


    He didn''t hesitate.


    With an explosive step, he launched himself upward, slicing through the air like a silver comet.


    BOOM!


    Their legs clashed midair, sending out a shockwave that rippled through the field.


    The crowd erupted.


    "Aestrea and Leon are fighting for the ball in midair!" the announcer roared.


    Leon gritted his teeth, his muscles tensed as he pushed harder, trying to overpower Aestrea.


    "Give up."


    His voice was low, cold.


    But Aestrea wasn''t backing down.


    Instead of pushing back, he did something unexpected.


    He twisted his body, letting Leon''s force carry him just past the ball¡ª


    And then¡ª


    THWACK!


    With the inside of his foot, Aestrea redirected the ball toward the ground!


    Leon''s eyes widened.


    "What¡ª?!"


    The ball slammed into the grass below, bouncing away from Lucas''s reach where he would receive the pass.


    Aestrea landed with a roll, already sprinting after it.


    Lucas seeing how the plan failed, cursed and took off after him.


    Fwoop!


    The ball was just ahead.


    Lucas reached out, ready to steal it away¡ª


    But Aestrea flicked it sideways at the last second.


    Lucas missed.


    He growled.


    Aestrea didn''t stop.


    With quick, precise touches, he controlled the ball, weaving through the defense like a shadow.


    One defender came from the left¡ª


    Aestrea sidestepped.


    Another lunged from the right¡ª


    He faked a pass and kept going towards the goalkeeper.


    BOOOM!


    The intensity of the mana enveloping him increased.


    His eyes narrowed, as the goal approached.


    The defenders were closing in, but he couldn''t afford to slow down.


    Ahead of him, ten defenders from the Gold Team formed an impenetrable line.


    The gap between them was almost nonexistent.


    And from his right side, Lucas and Leon positioned themselves, their eyes burning with intent as they ran after him.


    The forwards were too far away, giving him no option but to face the wave of defenders alone.


    THUD!


    Aestrea''s foot hit the ball with precision, sending it rolling forward.


    "I can''t stop now," he mumbled to himself.


    From the left, a huge defender lunged, his boots pounding the turf, aiming to block the ball.


    Aestrea''s reaction was instant.


    He dodged to the right in a fluid motion, spinning just enough to make the defender miss by a hair''s width.


    FWOOSH!


    The first tackle flew past him.


    But there was no time to rest.


    Another defender from the right side charged, aiming for his legs.


    Aestrea read it instantly. With a sharp feint, he shifted his body forward, twisting away from the attack and leaving the defender stumbling to the ground.


    THUD!


    He was free for a moment.


    But not for long.


    Two more defenders came at him, one from the front and one from the side. Clutching the ball tightly, Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Aestrea pivoted quickly, dribbling it backwards to keep the ball just out of their reach.


    The defenders slid toward him, sweeping the ground, but they only caught air.


    WHOOSH!


    Aestrea rolled the ball with the inside of his foot, sending it between their legs. He twisted his body, sidestepping the first defender before he dribbled past the second.


    "Just... a bit more..."


    He could already feel the sweat forming on his forehead.


    However...


    Just as Aestrea thought he had found a clear path to the goal, Lucas was already closing in.


    His golden mana surged upwards, as he rushed toward Aestrea from the left.


    Aestrea''s breath quickened.


    The space between them shrank in an instant.


    FWOOSH!


    Lucas''s foot shot out like a whip, aiming for Aestrea''s ball.


    But Aestrea was faster, shifting the ball forward just as Lucas''s foot swung past him.


    With a smirk, Aestrea dodged Lucas''s strike, his foot still controlling the ball like a master.


    "You''ll have to do better than that," Aestrea muttered under his breath, weaving around Lucas''s now-stumbling form.


    THWACK!


    Lucas growled in frustration, but Aestrea was already past him, pushing forward.


    BOOM!


    Leon, with his red aura, appeared like a flash of fire. His eyes narrowed, and his body exploded into motion.


    He was already in position, just ahead of the goal.


    But Aestrea didn''t flinch.


    Instead, he looked at the ball.


    ''Not yet.''


    The defenders were still coming.


    He dribbled the ball forward, his foot lightly tapping the ball to keep it close.


    But the Gold Team defenders were relentless.


    A defender from the right lunged at him, aiming for a brutal slide tackle.


    SHHHRRRIIPP!


    Aestrea flicked the ball with a quick flick of his foot to the left, dodging the tackle at the last second.


    The defender''s momentum carried him to the ground, but Aestrea was still on his feet, pushing forward.


    "Damn it!"


    The defender cursed, getting up as fast as possible.


    However, the time that the defender gathered was enough for both Lucas and Leon to get back into a defensive position.


    They closed in as Lucas surged forward, almost out of nowhere. His body shifted into an all-out sprint.


    ''Fuck... Just a bit more..''


    Aestrea, with the ball under his control, was running out of options.


    The goal was still a few steps away, but Lucas was closing in fast.


    THUD!


    Aestrea pushed the ball hard toward the goal.


    He glanced to his side.


    Leon was coming at him, eyes full of contempt.


    He had only one chance.


    With a burst of energy, Aestrea twisted his body, slipping past Lucas.


    But Leon was still there.


    FWOOSH!


    Aestrea pushed the ball in front of him, his foot in perfect synchronization with his movements.


    Then, he flung himself toward the ball, his foot lashing out with a thundering force.


    It was a full-bodied, unrelenting kick.


    BAM!


    The ball rocketed toward the goal, but Leon wasn''t going to let it happen.


    FWOOSH!


    He jumped.


    In the air, he reached for the ball, his hands outstretched like a predator about to claim its prey, to the point of committing a game foul.


    But Aestrea wasn''t finished.


    In mid-kick, Aestrea twisted his body, pulling off an incredible spin move that propelled the ball past Leon''s outstretched hands.


    No longer aiming for the center of the goal, Aestrea sent it with a sharp curve to the left corner¡ªa place that almost no one could reach.


    "!!!!"


    The goalkeeper, a hulking figure cloaked in gold, shifted his weight and raised his hands.


    The ball swerved slightly in midair, the mana-enforced energy making it unpredictable, but the goalkeeper was ready.


    He leaped forward, his arms outstretched, aiming to block the ball at the last second.


    THWAM!


    A loud, sickening smack echoed across the arena.


    The crowd gasped in shock as the goalkeeper missed.


    The ball soared like a flying arrow, passing through the goalkeeper and slamming into the net just as Leon landed with a defeated grunt.


    THWACK!


    WHOOSH!


    And soon after...


    "GOOOOOOAL!!!"


    The announcer screamed into the mic.


    The whole stadium exploded into loud cheers.


    "Ahh..."


    Aestrea exhaled in relief.


    "It got in..."


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    As the game wore on, the intensity only grew.


    The game''s score was 4-1.


    The White Team was winning by three points, all of them being scored by Aestrea himself, even though he was one of the defenders.


    And now, he had another opportunity to score, as the ball flew away from the rebound of hitting the mana-enhanced crossbar.


    "Agh... fuu...!"


    Aestrea''s legs were starting to feel like lead, his breath ragged, but he wasn''t about to give up now.


    "This is it."


    "Just one more..."


    He gripped the ball as it came to him, scanning the field.


    There was an opening.


    "Go!"


    With a powerful kick, he sent the ball flying.


    But this time¡ª


    THWACK!


    The sound was crisp, and as the ball hurtled toward the goal, Aestrea couldn''t help but hold his breath.


    "Come on..."


    He watched as the goalkeeper dove, but this time, the ball slipped past him.


    The goal was open.


    The ball rolled in.


    "Gooooooal!"


    The announcer''s voice boomed through the speakers, a sharp whistle cutting through the air, making everyone''s hearts race.


    "Haaa...!"


    Aestrea collapsed onto the grass, his breath coming in heavy, ragged gasps.


    His legs trembled beneath him, as the weight of the game finally caught to his body.


    The field was a blur around him, but he couldn''t quite process it yet.


    Everything hurt, but he had done it.


    Before he could even sit up, a wave of teammates surrounded him, lifting him off the ground in a massive pile of sweaty bodies.


    "Ah¡ª!"


    Aestrea barely had time to react as a mountain of students slammed into him from all sides.


    "WE WOOOONNN!"


    Someone shouted, a voice barely audible over the roar of the group.


    "YEAAHHH!"


    "ALL BECAUSE OF AESTREA!!!"


    Another teammate hollered, practically bouncing with joy.


    Laughter, high-fives, and wild celebration filled the air. It was pure, unfiltered joy.


    But the excitement wasn''t just coming from the players.


    Even the crowd was shouting.


    "MOONLIGHT SWORDSMAN!"


    "MOONLIGHT SWORDSMAN!"


    "MOONLIGHT SWORDSMAN!"


    On the other side, Leon grunted in frustration as he walked off.


    Lucas only wiped his sweat as he looked towards the sky; he also seemed a bit frustrated at their loss.


    As for Telmo, who was on Aestrea''s team...


    He scoffed and turned around as he saw his team celebrating.

 Chapter 89 - 89: Interlude: Snow Festival (VI)

    "Haaa..."


    Stepping off the field, Aestrea exhaled deeply, feeling the weight of exhaustion settling in.


    His entire body ached, his muscles sore from the intense match.


    Without wasting time, he quickly cast a few ¡ºClean¡» spells over himself, getting rid of the sweat and dirt clinging to his skin.


    A refreshing chill washed over him, making him feel at least a little lighter.


    Now cleaned up, he looked around, scanning the area for the teleporter that would take him out of the stadium.


    As he walked toward it, he pulled out his phone, unlocking it with a quick swipe. His eyes looked at the screen, searching through his schedule for the day.


    It took a moment to find his name, but once he did¡ª


    Two more events.


    ¡ºMana Volleyball¡» and ¡ºWeight Throw¡».


    Great.


    And as for tomorrow, the final day of the Snow Festival¡­


    He had two of the main events left.


    ¡ºMana Circles¡» and ¡ºSnowy Love¡».


    Normally, the Snow Festival would last around two weeks, but due to the whole Archdemon incident, the schedule had been drastically cut short.


    Not that anyone had really complained¡ªthe chaos from that fight still remained in the student''s minds.


    And the Headmistress?


    She conveniently returned only after the academy was fully repaired.


    ¡­How nice.


    Quite the coincidence, huh?


    Beep~


    The teleport gate hummed as it powered up, casting a soft blue glow around him.


    A second later, he stepped through, leaving the giant arena behind.


    "Master!" S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "...Papa..."


    A voice and a soft whisper immediately called out to him, making Aestrea turn his head.


    There, waving at him, were Alaine and Chaerin.


    Without hesitation, he walked toward them, a small smile appearing on his face.


    When he reached them, he gently cupped Chaerin''s cheek, his thumb brushing over her soft skin.


    She blinked up at him, her expression warm but shy.


    Then, he turned to Alaine, giving her a small, tired smile.


    But before he could say anything¡ª


    "You played really well, Master!"


    Alaine''s voice was bright, full of excitement.


    Right after her, Chaerin spoke as well.


    "Mhm! You were incredible, Papa!"


    Her voice was quiet, but the adoration in her tone was easily noticeable.


    Aestrea felt his chest tighten slightly.


    He could already feel Lumi wanting to come out, itching to play with Chaerin. But he couldn''t let her¡ªnot in public.


    Not where anyone could see her.


    But, putting that aside, he smiled at their compliments.


    "Papa, do you still have any more activities?" Tugging his sleeves, Chaerin looked Aestrea in the eyes and asked softly.


    Like, he had mentioned before, she had a perfectly average appearance...


    But, Aestrea didn''t know if it was because he was starting to see her as his daughter, but he felt like she was the cutest being in the entire world.


    "Unfortunately, yeah¡­" he admitted, brushing through her hair with slow movements.


    "So I''ll have to leave you with Alaine for a bit."


    Chaerin''s eyes flickered with something¡ªdisappointment, maybe¡ªbut she nodded slowly.


    "Mhm¡­ okay."


    A faint blush colored her cheeks as she leaned slightly into his touch.


    Aestrea felt a strange warmth in his chest.


    She was too cute.


    It was hard to believe that this quiet, soft-spoken girl was one of the most dangerous assassins in the world.


    For a brief moment, he almost forgot.


    Almost.


    But the reality wasn''t that kind.


    The organization that raised her¡ªwouldn''t let her go that easily.


    They''d come back.


    And when they did¡­


    They would definitely die at Aestrea''s hands.


    Vrum~


    His phone vibrated in his pocket.


    Pulling it out, he glanced at the screen.


    A new message.


    [Christina]


    ? [I have the money ready. Meet me at the Cathedral at 10 PM.]


    ? [¡­Sharp.]


    Aestrea stared at the text for a second.


    For some reason, a small shiver ran down his spine.


    Somehow, Christina''s words, even through the phone, could make him shiver.


    Still, he quickly typed out a [Sure.] before slipping his phone back into his pocket.


    "Master¡­ should we go to the cafeteria?" Alaine asked, tilting her head.


    Aestrea opened his mouth to agree¡ª


    But then his eyes turned towards Chaerin.


    For some reason¡­ the idea of bringing her to the academy''s cafeteria felt strange.


    The stares.


    The whispers.


    The inevitable questions.


    Yeah, maybe not.


    But before he could respond, Alaine suddenly clapped her hands.


    "Oh! I know a fantastic spot!"


    Her green eyes lit up with excitement.


    "Ah¡ª!"


    Before Aestrea could even react, she grabbed his wrist and dragged him along, practically bouncing as she led the way.


    Chaerin, caught off guard, let out a small "Eep!" as Aestrea quickly took her hand, making sure she wasn''t left behind.


    The three of them hurried through the campus, weaving past students and buildings, before finally arriving at¡ª


    [The Last Meal]


    Aestrea blinked.


    The restaurant''s exterior was simple, yet elegant. A cozy blend of warm lights and well-placed decor made it feel inviting.


    Alaine, clearly familiar with the place, quickly led them inside.


    The interior was just as nice¡ªclean, quiet, and peaceful.


    Not many people were around, which suited Aestrea just fine.


    He exhaled softly.


    ''Mhm¡­ if the food''s good, I''ll come back.''


    "Let''s sit there!" Alaine pointed to a small table by the window.


    Aestrea nodded, leading Chaerin by the hand as they settled into their seats.


    He let out a small breath, relaxing for the first time since the game.


    Alaine, meanwhile, was already flipping through the menu, her green eyes scanning the options.


    "What do you want to eat, Chaerin?" Aestrea asked, glancing at the small girl beside him.


    Chaerin looked at him hesitantly.


    "Um... I don''t know..."


    Aestrea chuckled, reaching out and tapping her nose lightly.


    "Then I''ll choose for you."


    Alaine observed the interaction in silence, her gaze softening just a little bit.


    There was something about the way Aestrea treated Chaerin that felt... different.


    He was always so terrifyingly calm with everything he did, but when it came to Chaerin, his actions were purely instinctual¡ªnatural in a way she wasn''t used to seeing from him.


    Aestrea waved at a nearby waiter, ordering three bowls of beef stew, fresh bread, and a small fruit parfait for dessert.


    When the food arrived, Chaerin''s eyes widened slightly at the steaming bowl in front of her.


    "Eat up," Aestrea said, placing a spoon in her small hands.


    Chaerin took a careful bite, her expression instantly melting into delight.


    "It''s good...!"


    Aestrea smiled.


    "Then eat as much as you want."


    As they ate, Alaine found herself watching the way Aestrea subtly spoiled Chaerin.


    He tore small pieces of bread for her, refilled her water before she even asked, and occasionally brushed stray strands of hair from her face when they fell into her food.


    He didn''t even seem to realize he was doing it¡ªhis focus was entirely on making sure Chaerin was comfortable.


    Alaine rested her chin on her hand, staring at him with an unreadable expression.


    ''He''s always been a little detached from people¡­ but when it comes to her, he''s so gentle.''


    Chaerin, unaware of Alaine''s thoughts, continued eating happily.


    "Papa, the stew is really good!"


    "I''m glad." Aestrea reached over and took a napkin, wiping the corner of her lips where a bit of broth had dripped.


    "Make sure to finish all of it."


    Alaine smirked.


    "You''re spoiling her too much, Master."


    Aestrea raised an eyebrow.


    "And?"


    Alaine opened her mouth to reply¡ªbut then stopped. She couldn''t think of a reason why he shouldn''t spoil her.


    ''Damn it. I''m actually jealous of a kid.''


    She sighed, shaking her head with an amused chuckle.


    "Nothing, nothing. Just keep going."


    After they finished their meal, Aestrea handed Chaerin the small parfait.


    "For dessert."


    Chaerin''s eyes sparkled.


    "Really?!"


    "Of course." He ruffled her hair.


    "You deserve a little treat."


    Alaine rolled her eyes, but the fond smile never left her face.


    ''Hopeless. Completely hopeless.''


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    After lunch, Aestrea made his way to the Mana Volleyball arena. The stadium was packed with students, the air buzzing with excitement.


    His chosen team was already waiting, stretching, and preparing for the match.


    "You''re finally here," one of his teammates said.


    "You ready?"


    Aestrea rolled his shoulders.


    "Yeah. Let''s just get this over with."


    ''I still have the Weight Throw activity after this....''


    ***


    The match started, and immediately, Aestrea dominated.


    The moment the ball was served, he moved like lightning, setting up perfect shots and sending powerful spikes that left the opposing team scrambling.


    The audience gasped every time he jumped¡ªhis agility made it look effortless.


    "HE''S LITERALLY FLYING! DIDN''T THE FIELD HAVE TEN TIMES THE PRESSURE OF THE NORMAL GRAVITY?!" someone shouted from the crowd.


    In the final set, with the score nearly tied, Aestrea leaped into the air, his eyes locking onto the ball as he charged mana into his hand.


    With one devastating strike, he sent the ball crashing into the opponent''s side with an explosion of force.


    The opponents didn''t even notice when the ball had hit the ground.


    "GAME OVER!" the announcer screamed.


    "THE WHITE TEAM WINS!"


    The crowd erupted into cheers, chanting his name once again.


    ***


    Next was Weight Throw.


    The event was simple: throw the enchanted iron sphere as far as possible.


    The best distance so far was 97 meters.


    Aestrea stepped up, gripping the heavy sphere in his hand. Without hesitation, he swung his arm back, gathering mana into his muscles, and hurled it forward.


    The ball soared through the air¡ªhigher, farther¡ªbefore finally crashing down at 177 meters.


    Silence.


    Then¡ª


    "WHAT THE HELL?!"


    "THAT''S ALMOST DOUBLE THE RECORD!!"


    Aestrea sighed, rubbing his temples.


    ''Too much?''


    ***


    After he was done with the activities, Aestrea headed towards the Cathedral.


    The Cathedral stood tall in the quiet night, its massive structure looming over the snow-covered streets.


    The cold air bit at Aestrea''s skin as he walked up the steps, his breath coming out in soft, white puffs.


    The grand wooden doors in front of him were carved with old symbols, their edges worn by time but still carrying a presence that made anyone think twice before stepping inside.


    For a moment, he just stood there, staring at them.


    Then, with a quiet sigh, he reached out and pushed.


    Creeeak¡ª


    The heavy doors groaned as they opened, revealing the vast interior of the Cathedral.


    A rush of warmth greeted him, the dim glow of countless candles dancing across the high stone walls.


    The smell of incense lingered in the air¡ªsoft, almost comforting.


    The place was silent.


    Except for her.


    There, beneath the statue of the Goddess of Light, Christina knelt in prayer.


    Her golden hair fell around her shoulders, glowing faintly under the candlelight. She was dressed in her usual refined saintess clothes, but something about her looked... different.


    The usual sharpness in her posture was softer, her hands clasped together like she was holding onto something invisible.


    Aestrea didn''t speak.


    He just watched.


    The flickering lights cast long shadows across the marble floor, and in that quiet space, he could hear the faintest sound of her breath¡ªslow, steady.


    Then¡ª


    She opened her eyes.


    The moment their gazes met, something shifted.


    Christina didn''t move right away.


    She stayed there for a second like she was measuring something in the air between them. Then, with smooth, deliberate movements, she rose to her feet.


    The soft click of her heels echoed in the empty Cathedral.


    Aestrea took a step forward.


    Christina did the same.


    "You finally arrived."


    Her words were unexpectedly soft for someone who had quite a sharp gaze.


    Seeing, this Aestrea gulped inwardly.


    ''...I just wanted my money back...''


    ''Why does it seem like she wants to kill me?''

 Chapter 90 - 90: Interlude: Snow Festival (VII)

    Crackle...


    The candlelight flickered, casting long, wavering shadows across the cold marble floor. The Cathedral was quiet¡ªso quiet that even the distant wind outside felt muffled.


    Christina stood there, her dim pink eyes locked onto Aestrea''s glowing red ones.


    Her hands, still clasped in front of her, tightened slightly. Her nails pressed into her palms, but her face remained composed.


    Elegant.


    Serene, even.


    "...The money."


    Aestrea went straight to the point.


    His voice was calm.


    Steady.


    Like he wanted to be done with this quickly.


    Like he wanted to leave.


    Christina felt something snap.


    Her lips curled into a small smile.


    And to her smile, Aestrea stiffened slightly.


    ''Oh?''


    ''Was he¡­ nervous?''


    ''Good.''


    She took a step forward.


    The soft click of her heels echoed in the empty Cathedral, each sound slow, deliberate. The warmth from the candles barely reached her, but it didn''t matter.


    Her head tilted slightly, her golden hair sliding over her shoulder.


    "My, my¡­" she murmured, her voice light, teasing.


    She took another step.


    Then another.


    Aestrea didn''t move.


    His eyes stayed on her, glowing, unreadable.


    "You finally arrived," she murmured, voice light, teasing, "and the first thing you ask for is¡­ money?"


    Another step.


    Another.


    She tilted her head, her golden hair sliding over her shoulder like liquid gold.


    "A bit cold, don''t you think?"


    She watched as his expression twitched¡ªjust a flicker, barely there.


    Then, he sighed.


    "...I do not have any reason to talk with you other than that. Besides, you said it yourse¡ª!"


    "¡ªShhhh..."


    Christina raised a finger and placed it against his lips.


    Aestrea froze.


    His eyes widened¡ªjust a little.


    And inside, she laughed.


    "...For someone who used to treat the Cathedral like a second home," she whispered in a soft voice, "you''re being quite the problem child."


    His eyebrows furrowed.


    "Well? Aren''t you happy?" he asked suddenly.


    Christina raised an eyebrow.


    "I mean, you were the one who wanted me to stop coming here with injuries from battle. Isn''t this what you wanted?"


    Her breath caught.


    Her fingers curled slightly.


    ''Hah.''


    ''How cute.''


    "I did say that," she admitted, tilting her head slightly, "because I care about you. But that doesn''t mean you couldn''t pay me a visit, no?"


    Her voice softened¡ªbut it was edged with something sharp.


    "It''s been quite a while since you''ve come here¡ªI even had to invite you myself, and the only reason you came was probably because of the money¡­"


    She let out a quiet laugh.


    Then, she turned around.


    The candlelight cast her shadow long across the floor.


    "I guess..."


    Her voice was barely above a whisper.


    "...For you, I was simply a tool."


    Aestrea stiffened.


    His mouth parted slightly.


    "...Christina, I nev¡ª"


    "¡ªSomeone you could ask for help, and I would do anything you wanted, right?"


    She turned back around.


    Her dim pink eyes locked onto his glowing red ones.


    Then, a slow, bitter smile formed on her lips.


    "A tool that could heal your constant injuries... right?"


    Her voice cracked.


    Aestrea''s frown deepened.


    "Christina, I never saw you as a¡ª"


    "Then what was I to you, Aestrea?"


    Her voice rose.


    Louder.


    Sharper.


    She took a step forward¡ªher body trembling slightly.


    Aestrea inhaled, his lips pressing together.


    "Christina¡ª"


    Then, suddenly¡ª


    She punched him.


    It wasn''t hard.


    Not enough to hurt.


    But enough to make him feel it.


    Her small fists hit his chest again.


    Then again.


    Then again.


    "Did you think of me as a tool?!"


    Her voice shook.


    "Something that you could use anytime you wanted?!"


    Aestrea didn''t stop her.


    He just stood there.


    Taking it.


    Her shoulders shook.


    Her hands balled into fists.


    She lifted her gaze¡ªher dim pink eyes shimmering with unshed tears.


    "...What about my feelings?"


    Silence.


    Aestrea exhaled slowly.


    Then¡ª


    "...I never saw you that way," he said, voice lower, softer.


    Christina stared at him.


    Her chest rose and fell, breath shaky.


    Then, she laughed.


    Soft.


    Bitter.


    "Then why?" she whispered.


    "Why do you keep running away from me?"


    Aestrea looked at her.


    Silent.


    Then¡ª


    He looked away.


    And that¡ª


    That hurt more than anything.


    The Cathedral was silent.


    Only the distant crackle of candlelight remained.


    Christina stared at him, her breath uneven. Her fists clenched by her sides, her nails digging into her palms.


    Why?


    Why wouldn''t he look at her?


    Why wouldn''t he face her?


    The lump in her throat tightened, her vision blurring for half a second.


    "...Hahaha..."


    Then, she laughed.


    Soft.


    Sharp.


    Bitter.


    "There it is," she whispered, shaking her head.


    "You always do this."


    Aestrea''s red eyes flickered toward her.


    She didn''t stop.


    "You always avoid things when they get too real."


    Her voice trembled slightly, but she forced herself to keep going.


    "You shut me out. You leave me behind. And then, when you finally come back, you act like nothing happened."


    She took a step forward.


    He didn''t move.


    "Do you know what it''s like?" she asked sharply, "To wait for you?"


    Her hands clenched tighter.


    "To pray, to beg for you to come back safe¡ªwhile you''re out there, fighting, throwing yourself into battle like your life means nothing?!"


    Aestrea''s jaw tightened.


    She saw it.


    That tiny flicker in his eyes.


    But he still didn''t say anything.


    And that infuriated her.


    Christina let out a sharp breath, her chest rising and falling rapidly.


    She wanted to hit him.


    She wanted to shake him.


    She wanted to scream.


    But instead¡ª


    She smiled.


    And that was probably more terrifying than anything else.


    "Tell me, Aestrea," she said, voice slow, dangerous.


    Aestrea stiffened.


    "...What?"


    Christina tilted her head slightly, golden hair falling over her shoulder.


    "Was she worth it?"


    Silence.


    His expression didn''t change.


    But oh, she saw the way his fingers curled slightly at his sides.


    Good.


    She took another step.


    "That girl."


    His eyes darkened.


    "The one who wouldn''t stop touching you after the battle against the Archdemon of Pride."


    Aestrea''s entire body tensed.


    Christina''s smile widened.


    "Oh? Do you remember now?" she whispered.


    "Or should I remind you?"


    She placed a delicate finger against her chin, pretending to think.


    "What was her name again? Ah¡­ right."


    She leaned in slightly.


    "Senior Violet, am I right?"


    His expression hardened.


    Christina let out a breathy laugh.


    "She was quite bold, wasn''t she?" she mused, "Touching your arm. Clinging to you. Looking up at you with those big, worried eyes¡ª"


    She made a mocking little gasp.


    "Oh, Aestrea, I''m so glad that you''re okay!"


    Aestrea''s eye twitched.


    He exhaled slowly, like he was trying to control his breathing.


    "Christina¡ª"


    "What?" she interrupted, stepping even closer.


    They were too close now.


    Her pink eyes glowed softly in the dim light.


    His red ones burned like embers.


    "Are you nervous?" she whispered.


    Aestrea''s lips pressed together into a thin line.


    Christina grinned.


    "You should be."


    He sighed, running a hand through his silver hair.


    "It wasn''t like that."


    Christina blinked slowly.


    "Oh?"


    "She was just¡ª"


    "Just what, Aestrea?"


    He hesitated.


    And that was all she needed.


    "She was just there? Just standing next to you? Just touching you for no reason?"


    She took another step, forcing him back slightly.


    "Are you trying to tell me that she just happened to drape herself over you like some lost kitten?"


    Aestrea inhaled sharply, looking away again.


    Christina''s expression darkened.


    "There you go again."


    Aestrea blinked.


    "Looking away."


    Her voice was quiet now.


    Hurt.


    "Always looking away."


    Aestrea''s shoulders tensed slightly.


    She hated that.


    She hated that he could fight demons, face death, stand on the battlefield without fear¡ª


    And yet, he couldn''t look at her.


    "Christina¡ª"


    "Say it."


    Aestrea froze.


    "Say it, Aestrea."


    She stepped even closer.


    "Tell me it meant nothing."


    His breath hitched.


    Her dim pink eyes glowed.


    "Tell me she meant nothing to you."


    Silence.


    The flickering candlelight cast shadows across his face, making his expression unreadable.


    Then¡ª


    Finally¡ª


    "...She meant nothing."


    Christina''s heart pounded.


    But she didn''t let it show.


    Instead, she let out a soft breath, tilting her head slightly.


    "Good." S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Aestrea stiffened.


    She smiled sweetly.


    Then¡ª


    She leaned in, lips barely an inch from his ear.


    "But just so we''re clear¡­"


    Her voice was barely a whisper now.


    "If she tries it again¡­"


    A pause.


    A small, innocent smile.


    "...I don''t know what I''ll do."


    Aestrea swallowed.


    Christina pulled back slightly, studying his expression.


    And oh¡ª


    His expression...?


    That was beautiful.


    She took a step back, finally giving him space.


    Then, with a soft hum, she reached into her cleavage and pulled out a small pouch.


    She tossed it toward him.


    Aestrea caught it without thinking.


    The weight of it was familiar¡ªhis money.


    "...That''s all you came here for, right?"


    Her voice was light.


    Almost playful.


    Aestrea exhaled.


    He didn''t say anything.


    He just looked at her.


    Like he was trying to figure her out.


    Like he couldn''t.


    And honestly?


    That was exactly how she wanted it.


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    Getting out of the cathedral...


    Aestrea sighed deeply.


    "...She really had to indirectly confess to me in the most insane way possible," he muttered under his breath.


    His eyebrows furrowed slightly.


    Honestly, he couldn''t really refuse Christina''s words.


    The hundreds of memories he had with Christina simply made him hesitant to do anything to actually hurt her.


    Although he did it unconciously.


    And well...


    Christina... she was Aestrea''s first love.


    He didn''t even realize when it happened, but he fell for her so easily.


    She probably knew that already.


    Back then, he was a mess around her¡ªawkward, unsure of what to do or say.


    He never made any moves, never tried to make things happen between them.


    He just wanted to savor every second he spent with her, like time with her was something to be cherished.


    He wasn''t the type to fake an injury just to see her, but... every little thing she did made him fall harder.


    The way she healed him with her kindness, the worry in her eyes when she noticed something was off with him... she had a way of making him feel like he was the only person that mattered.


    Everything about Christina felt perfect to him.


    But he could never admit it.


    Not then.


    So, he avoided her.


    Every time she made a move, he pretended not to notice.


    He looked away.


    Pretending not to understand what she was saying.


    It was easier that way, right?


    But now...


    He couldn''t keep pretending anymore.


    Or neither he planned to.


    Christina''s seed of love had already overflowed through the jealousy that she felt when she saw Violet hugging Aestrea.


    If anything more goes on, Christina''s emotions could be getting erratic.


    The kind that could really be dangerous.


    "I mean... the way she expressed her emotions..." Aestrea frowned.


    From a normal guy''s perspective, it might seem that it was simply jealousy.


    But Aestrea knew...


    Christina really wanted to kill Violet.


    And she might even do it.


    And of course, the only reason she''s so confident should be because of the Holy Nation behind her, the faction that protects her.


    For them, Christina is like a gift from god.


    "...Well."


    He ran a hand through his hair, a tired chuckle escaping his lips.


    "It''s not like I''m living a normal life."


    He looked up at the sky, his smile turning bitter.


    "Besides...it''s just another crazy woman, right?"


    In the short time he''d been here, he had already met more than enough of them.

 Chapter 91 - 91: Interlude: Snow Festival (VIII)

    "Hello, dear contestants!"


    A loud, cheerful voice echoed across the grand examination hall, instantly grabbing everyone''s attention.


    "The rules of the game ''Magic Circles'' are simple!"


    "First, a magic circle will appear on the small table in front of you. It''ll stay there for exactly fifteen seconds. Your job is to identify it¡ªwrite down its name, attribute, and effect!"


    Alright. Sounds easy enough.


    "If you figure it out before time runs out, there will be a small green button on your table. Press it, and a piece of paper will appear. That''s where you''ll write your answer!"


    I glanced at the sleek little table before me. The surface was smooth, polished, almost glowing under the bright lights.


    "The sixty-four fastest students who answer correctly will move on to the second phase!"


    Sixty-four?


    That means there''ll be a huge elimination in the first round.


    "And without further ado¡­ let''s begin!"


    Glow...!


    A bright red magic circle flared to life on my table.


    My eyes locked onto it immediately.


    ¡ºFire-Type Magic Circle¡ª "Flame"¡»


    A basic one.


    This was used to invoke "Flame", a 1st-Level Fire spell.


    Too easy.


    Tap.


    I hit the green button almost instantly.


    And just after me¡ª


    Tap, tap, tap!


    Several other students followed, pressing their buttons in quick succession.


    A small parchment appeared before me.


    Without wasting a second, I wrote down:


    [Name: "Flame".


    Attribute: Fire


    Effect: Creates a small wisp of flames.]


    The moment I finished, the paper vanished¡ªand a green checkmark glowed on my table.


    Perfect.


    I leaned back slightly, watching as others scrambled to finish. None of them hesitated, staring at their circles, and immediately writing down the answer.


    It was going to be a question of speed for now.


    Beep!


    "Time''s up!" The announcer''s voice rang out.


    "If a red ''X'' appears on your table¡­ it means you failed. You''ll be teleported to the spectator''s area."


    A short pause.


    "And now¡­ elimination!"


    Vroop!


    In an instant, over a hundred students vanished from the room.


    That was brutal.


    But expected.


    "Now¡­ onto the second phase!"


    The announcer''s voice carried a playful tone as if he was enjoying watching students panic for a slight moment.


    "For this round, you''ll have thirty seconds instead of fifteen! But here''s the twist¡ª"


    I narrowed my eyes.


    "Now, the Magic Circles will be at 2nd-Level!"


    A small murmur spread through the remaining students.


    Still nothing too difficult.


    "It should still be easy for most of you, so¡ª"


    The announcer chuckled.


    "Fasten up those hands!"


    Glow¡­!


    Another magic circle flashed onto my table.


    ¡ºModified Wind-Type Magic Circle ¨C "Gale Shot"¡»


    This one was slightly more complex than the first round, but nothing difficult. It created a concentrated blast of wind, strong enough to push enemies back.


    Tap.


    I pressed the green button without hesitation.


    Just like before, a parchment appeared, and I quickly jotted down the answer.


    [Name: "Gale Shot"


    Attribute: Wind


    Effect: Creates a burst of wind, pushing enemies back. The modified version of the spell, "Wind Push".]


    The parchment disappeared¡ª


    Green checkmark.


    Done.


    I glanced to my side, watching how others were handling it. Some students pressed their buttons quickly, while others hesitated, frowning as they analyzed the symbols.


    I could understand them, since there were multiple alternatives to the "Gale Shot", just like the original version of this modified spell, "Wind Push".


    Thirty seconds passed quickly.


    Beep!


    "Time''s up!"


    The announcer let out a laugh.


    "And now¡­ elimination!"


    Vroop!


    Half of the remaining students vanished.


    I didn''t even blink.


    At this rate, by the next phase, we''d be down to sixteen people.


    "Now then!" The announcer''s voice carried an excited tone.


    "For the third phase, you''ll have one full minute. But! Now, the Magic Circles will be at 3rd-Level!"


    A murmur ran through the remaining students.


    That was where things would start getting tricky.


    But still, it wasn''t that difficult yet.


    Glow¡­!


    A new Magic Circle appeared printed on my table.


    ¡ºEarth-Type Magic Circle ¨C Tremor Step¡»


    A movement-based magic circle. If used properly, it could create small quakes beneath the user''s feet, disrupting an enemy''s balance.


    Tap.


    I pressed the green button again, writing down my answer.


    [Name: "Tremor Step"


    Attribute: Earth


    Effect: Creates localized tremors beneath the user''s feet.]


    Green checkmark.


    Simple.


    I finished early, so I leaned back, watching others. Some people struggled¡ªtheir eyes darting across the glowing symbols, trying to recall what the magic did.


    Others pressed their buttons with confidence, finishing quickly.


    Beep!


    "Time''s up!" The announcer declared.


    "Now, let''s thin the herd again!"


    Vroop!


    Another half of the students disappeared.


    Now, only sixteen people remained.


    And with that¡ª


    Everything changed.


    ...Fwip!


    "My eyes..."


    A strange light filled the room.


    Before I could react, my vision warped¡ª


    Then¡ª


    Vwoooosh!


    I landed on solid ground.


    But this wasn''t the same place.


    Instead of the massive hall with countless tables, we were now in a smaller, enclosed space.


    The tables were smaller, closer together.


    And the air¡­ felt different.


    I blinked.


    Then, I noticed something.


    On my right¡ª


    Rose.


    On my left¡ª


    Violet.


    They noticed me at the same time.


    For a second, none of us spoke.


    Their eyes widened.


    Rose, as quiet as ever, seemed hesitant, shifting slightly as if she didn''t know whether to greet me or not.


    Meanwhile, Violet¡ª


    A smirk slowly crept onto her lips.


    "Well, well, well¡­" she hummed, turning toward me. "If it isn''t our dear Aestrea. What a coincidence~"


    I let out a small sigh.


    Not this again.


    "Didn''t think I''d see you two here..."


    Violet leaned in slightly, resting her elbow on the table.


    "You say that, but aren''t you the most surprising one here?" She tilted her head. "I mean, I knew Rose would choose this activity, but you? Aren''t you the ace of sports?"


    ...You were literally the one who helped me put my activities to paper.


    I glanced at Rose.


    Is it because of her?


    She was avoiding my gaze slightly, but I could tell she was listening closely.


    Nevertheless, I decided to comply with her words.


    "¡­This is an activity that is not that hard for me."


    Violet chuckled.


    "Right, right¡­ ''not that hard'', he says," she mocked playfully.


    Then, her eyes glinted mischievously.


    "Say, Aestrea~ Since we have a bit of time¡­ Mind explaining what that little display was earlier?"


    I frowned.


    "What are you talking about?"


    "Oh, you know~" She waved a hand dramatically.


    "During the fight against the Archdemon of Pride¡­"


    Her smirk widened.


    "I couldn''t help but notice a certain someone getting all buddy-buddy with a certain girl."


    I stared at her.


    She smiled wider.


    "Or should I say¡­" she paused, her voice dripping with fake sweetness¡ª


    "¡­A girl who even had the audacity to hug you?"


    I blinked.


    Then, the realization hit me.


    She was talking about herself.


    I sighed, furrowing my eyebrows.


    She can be really annoying.


    And at my expression, Violet grinned. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Ohh~ So you DO remember!" She giggled, resting her chin on her hands. "Come on, Aestrea, you don''t actually think I''d forget something like that, do you?"


    "¡­It was after a battle," I muttered.


    Violet gasped.


    "Oh no, don''t tell me¡­" Her voice turned exaggerated.


    "You weren''t moved by my embrace at all?"


    I rubbed my temple.


    Rose, on the other hand, looked¡­


    Uncomfortable.


    She wasn''t saying anything, but her posture was stiff.


    Violet, noticing this, smirked slightly.


    "Oh? What''s this?" She glanced between us.


    "Rose, you''ve been awfully quiet~"


    Rose flinched slightly.


    "¡­It''s nothing," she mumbled.


    Violet, of course, wasn''t letting go.


    "Aww, don''t be shy! I mean, you saw it too, right?" She turned back to me. "Honestly, Aestrea, I never pegged you as the type to let a girl cling to you like that."


    I sighed.


    "Violet."


    "Yes, dear?"


    "Shut up."


    She laughed.


    But before she could tease me further¡ª


    Glow¡­!


    The next Magic Circle appeared.


    Violet straightened immediately, all jokes disappearing.


    Rose did the same, focusing her gaze on the table.


    I turned my attention back to my own Magic Circle.


    ¡ºWater-Type Magic Circle ¨C Aqua Bind¡»


    And instantly, I recognized it.


    Even I was surprised.


    What kind of motivation did my predecessor have to study so many magic circles?


    This was a spell that formed whip-like tendrils of water, wrapping around a target to restrain them.


    Not particularly strong, but annoying if used correctly.


    Tap.


    I pressed the green button.


    The parchment appeared.


    [Name: "Aqua Bind"


    Attribute: Water


    Effect: Creates water tendrils that bind the opponent.]


    The moment I finished writing, the paper vanished, and a familiar green checkmark appeared on my table.


    Done.


    I leaned back slightly, observing my surroundings.


    Across from me, some students were struggling.


    One boy was sweating bullets, his hands shaking as he scribbled his answer.


    Another girl bit her lip, hesitating before pressing the green button.


    And beside me¡ª


    Violet and Rose were working at their own pace.


    Violet, of course, finished quickly.


    Tap.


    Her smirk barely wavered as she wrote her answer.


    Meanwhile, Rose was slightly slower, but just as focused.


    She pressed her button a second later and carefully wrote her response.


    Then¡ª


    Beep!


    "Time''s up!" the announcer called.


    I straightened slightly, waiting for the next wave of eliminations.


    "Now, let''s trim the numbers once more!"


    Vroop!


    Another half of the students vanished.


    I exhaled quietly.


    Only eight of us remained.


    A glance to my sides.


    Violet was still here.


    Rose was still here.


    The competition was getting serious now.


    The air felt heavier.


    But before I could fully process the situation¡ª


    Violet let out a soft chuckle.


    I turned my head slightly.


    She was grinning again.


    "Not bad, Aestrea~" she mused, twirling a strand of her purple hair between her fingers. "I thought maybe you''d start slipping by now."


    I gave her a flat look.


    "¡­I could say the same to you."


    She laughed.


    "Oh? Are you admitting that you''re impressed by me?"


    "That''s not what I said."


    "But that''s what you meant~"


    I didn''t bother responding.


    Instead, I turned to Rose.


    She had been quiet for a while now.


    Her red eyes were focused downward like she was deep in thought.


    "¡­Something wrong?" I asked.


    She blinked, startled, before shaking her head.


    "¡­No, I just¡­" She hesitated


    . "I didn''t expect to see you here."


    Violet hummed.


    "Ohhh? So it''s not just me who''s surprised~"


    Rose shot her a look but didn''t say anything.


    Violet just grinned.


    "Aestrea, be honest~" she leaned in slightly, lowering her voice. "You didn''t expect us to be here either, did you?"


    I exhaled.


    "Not really," I admitted.


    Violet laughed.


    "Hah! See, Rose? He thought we''d fail!"


    Rose sighed, rubbing her temples.


    "That''s not what he said¡­"


    Violet waved a hand dismissively.


    "Details, details."


    I shook my head.


    Before she could say anything else¡ª


    Glow¡­!


    The next Magic Circle started to appear.


    And just like that¡ª


    The teasing stopped.


    At this point, the competition was cutthroat.


    We only had four people left.


    And the time limit had doubled again.


    Two minutes.


    That meant one thing¡ª


    These Magic Circles were about to get difficult.


    Glow¡­!


    The Magic Circle on my table flashed.


    ¡ºDark-Type Magic Circle ¨C "Shadow Lock"¡»


    A high-tier binding spell that used shadows to immobilize the target''s movement.


    I didn''t hesitate.


    Tap.


    Green button.


    The parchment appeared.


    [Name: "Shadow Lock"


    Attribute: Darkness


    Effect: Uses shadows to bind and immobilize a target.]


    The second I finished writing¡ª


    Green checkmark.


    Done.


    I exhaled softly, shifting my gaze.


    Violet had already finished.


    Smirking, confident.


    Rose was still writing.


    Focused, careful.


    Across from me, the last remaining student was struggling. His face was tense, fingers shaking slightly.


    His hesitation was costing him time.


    Beep!


    "Time''s up!"


    The moment we heard that¡ª


    Vroop!


    The last student vanished.


    Huh?


    Weren''t two students supposed to disappear?


    "Ha, I see that you''re all surprised! But now, the rules have changed since the spells have reached the 7th level! You only have to get the magic circle right, and you''ll pass."


    "The students who get their answer wrong will be eliminated, and that will continue until only one student is remaining. But, if for example, in the final round, two students get the answer wrong, both will be considered as winners."


    "So..."


    The announcer''s voice rang out, excitement clear.


    "For this round, you''ll have four minutes¡ªbut the Magic Circles will be at the 7th level!" He repeated his words excitedly.


    A few gasps from the audience.


    These were quite difficult circles since they had a lot more details, and just a different line could form another spell.


    And neither of the two beside me actually had knowledge about them. Maybe Violet had some, but Rose... probably did not.


    Even my predecessor only knew a few 7th-level magics in theory, and I only manifested one through the knowledge that I gained from his constant studies.


    "So... good luck!"


    The announced shouted.


    And at the same time, a light appeared on my table.


    The magic circle that appeared right before me... was quite... exquisitely designed.


    From the intricate details, I could see that it was of the water attribute. However, the lines weren''t aligned, so it was probably a modified-type circle.


    "Tsk..."


    I clicked my tongue.


    Both Violet and Rose noticed it, but their eyes continued on the paper, trying to figure out what kind of magic circle they were.


    I looked at the magic circle for a whole minute...


    And suddenly, I had an epiphany.


    ''Gosh... I love you, my dear predecessor.''


    ''Wait... isn''t that the same as saying, I love myself?''


    ''Ehh... whatever.''


    Tap.


    I pressed the button.


    And then, started writing.


    [Name: Modified¡ª"Typhoon"


    Attribute: Water


    Effect: Creates giant typhoons that can cause an extraordinary amount of damage to the point of even killing multiple "Named" Demon Beasts with a single spell.]


    This was quite interesting since it was a modified version of the 6th-level magic, "Water Cyclones".


    It was a much stronger version, of course.


    I triple-checked my answer.


    Then¡ª


    The parchment disappeared.


    Green checkmark.


    I leaned back.


    Done.


    Now¡ª


    Violet and Rose were still working.


    Violet had her signature smirk, but her brows were furrowed slightly.


    Rose was biting her lip, her pen moving fast.


    Seconds passed.


    Then¡ª


    Violet finished.


    And a moment later¡ª


    Rose barely finished in time.


    Beep!


    "That''s it! The final round is over!"


    The audience erupted into cheers.


    And then¡ª


    The final results appeared.


    [Aestrea Moon ¨C Passed


    Violet ¨C Failed


    Rose ¨C Failed]


    I was the one who had won the competition.


    I exhaled.


    Then, before I could even react¡ª


    Violet leaned in, smiling.


    "Well, well, well¡­ looks like it was our dear Aestrea that won the activity, huh?"


    Violet...


    Honestly...


    Even though I quite like you.


    Just shut the fuck up.

 Chapter 92 - 92: Interlude: Snowy Love (IX)

    The moment the final results were announced, the tension finally settled.


    The audience cheered.


    Some students looked impressed while others looked defeated.


    But I barely paid attention.


    Because the moment I looked to my sides¡ª


    Violet and Rose were staring at me.


    Violet''s smirk was still there, but there was something more mischievous behind her eyes.


    Rose, on the other hand, was still quiet. Her lips parted slightly as if she wanted to say something¡ªbut the words never came.


    For a moment, none of us spoke.


    Then¡ª


    Clap, clap, clap!


    Violet started applauding.


    "Well, well, well," she hummed, tilting her head. "Look at us, Aestrea. Side by side again. Feels kinda nostalgic, doesn''t it?"


    "¡­Not really. I was the only one that won after all."


    Her grin widened at my words.


    "Oh? You''re telling me you don''t feel even a little sentimental?" She leaned in, lowering her voice slightly, to the point of even ignoring my comment.


    "I mean, after what happened before¡­ I figured we''d at least have a moment~"


    I gave her a flat look.


    "You mean the moment where you hugged me out of nowhere after I fought the Archdemon of Pride?"


    She chuckled.


    "Exactly~"


    I raised an eyebrow.


    "Do you want a hug then?"


    She froze.


    Well...


    It seems that she didn''t expect me to be so direct.


    For the first time in a while, Violet seemed caught off guard.


    Her smirk wavered¡ªjust for a split second¡ªbefore she quickly regained her usual playful expression.


    "Oh? Offering to hug me now, Aestrea?" She placed a hand dramatically over her chest. "I knew you''d come around eventually~"


    "I was joking."


    "Aww, what a shame." She pouted, then suddenly grinned again. "Unless¡­ you''re backing out now because you actually want to hug me?"


    I stared at her blankly.


    This woman...


    She might be more annoying than Andrea or Marissa, from "The Walking Dead".


    ''Maybe...''


    Ah...


    Nevermind.


    ...She isn''t there yet.


    I sighed and turned my attention to Rose.


    She let out a soft sigh, her gaze drifting toward the academy''s courtyard. The breeze was gentle, and the sun was starting to set, painting the sky in warm shades of orange and pink.


    And then¡ª


    I noticed something.


    A giant clock stood tall on one of the academy''s towers.


    And the time¡ª


    "Wait a second¡­ isn''t the last event starting soon?" I muttered.


    Rose blinked in surprise.


    "¡­The Snowy Love?" she asked, turning toward me.


    I nodded.


    "I think so¡­" she murmured, a thoughtful expression crossing her face.


    My stomach dropped.


    "Damn it¡­"


    Without wasting another second, I shot up from my seat and sprinted toward the academy''s central area¡ª


    The meetup spot for my previous date with Violet.


    "Hey, don''t miss me too much~!" S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Violet''s teasing voice rang from behind me.


    I barely glanced back¡ª


    But when I did, I caught her smirk.


    And I ignored it.


    Step, step, step!


    And instead, I just continued on my way, weaving between students, decorations, and staff preparing for the next event.


    The cold winter air brushed against my skin, but I barely noticed.


    As I got closer to the central area, I could hear the sound of excited chatter.


    And when I finally reached the event space¡ª


    There were way more people than I expected.


    Students were gathered in large groups, talking, laughing, and looking around at the beautifully decorated venue.


    Snowflakes drifted gently from the sky, covering the ground in a soft, white layer.


    The trees around us were decorated with small, glowing lights, giving everything a magical feel.


    I slowed down, catching my breath.


    "Made it," I muttered to myself.


    At the front of the crowd, a large wooden stage had been set up. A man in a fancy winter coat stood there, holding a microphone.


    He was clearly the announcer for this event.


    And just as I arrived¡ª


    He started speaking.


    "Welcome, welcome, dear students of the Royal Eternum Academy!" His voice boomed across the area, full of energy.


    "Tonight, we celebrate one of our most beloved traditions¡ªThe Snowy Love Event!"


    The crowd cheered.


    I stayed quiet, watching.


    "As many of you know, this event is all about bringing people together." The announcer continued, smiling warmly.


    "It''s a time to enjoy the beautiful winter scenery, participate in fun activities, and¡ªwho knows? Maybe even make some special memories with someone."


    A few students chuckled at his words, while others whispered excitedly.


    I glanced around.


    Some students looked nervous. Others were excited. And then there were people like me¡ªjust standing here, waiting for whatever was coming next.


    The announcer lifted a hand.


    "This event will include several fun activities! Some of these include:


    ? The Ice Skating Challenge! Work together with your partner to complete an obstacle course on ice!


    ? The Cozy Igloo! A quiet, warm space where you and your partner can talk and relax.


    ? The Snow Hunt! Solve clues and find hidden treasures in the snow!


    ? The Frost Dance! A beautiful dance under the snowfall, where you and your partner will move together under the moonlight.


    And many more!"


    Another round of cheers filled the air.


    I exhaled slowly.


    So¡­ just like Violet had mentioned, a bunch of activities designed for two people.


    ¡­Great.


    "And now," the announcer said, raising his voice slightly. "It''s time for the moment you''ve all been waiting for¡ªthe Choosing Machine!"


    The crowd buzzed with excitement.


    I frowned slightly.


    ¡­The what?


    I looked ahead, and suddenly¡ª


    A large, glowing structure appeared on the stage.


    It was a tall, crystal-like machine, shimmering with soft blue light. The inside was empty, like a doorway leading into nothingness.


    The announcer grinned.


    "This is where all of our registered participants will enter!" He gestured toward the glowing structure.


    "Once inside, the machine will randomly pair you with another participant. Then, you''ll be teleported to a different location where your Snowy Love journey will begin!"


    ¡­Random pairing?


    Hah.


    I hope I get an easy-going girl.


    I glanced around at the students who had signed up. Some looked excited, others nervous. A few were already whispering about who they hoped to be paired with.


    There were a few professors around, awaiting to enter the machine.


    I sighed.


    There was no point in overthinking it now.


    The announcer clapped his hands.


    "Alright! Registered participants, please step forward and prepare to enter the Choosing Machine!"


    A group of students immediately moved toward the stage, and I followed.


    As I walked, I felt the cold air against my skin.


    My breath came out in small puffs of white.


    One by one, students entered the glowing machine.


    The moment they stepped inside¡ª


    They disappeared.


    I narrowed my eyes.


    A teleportation system.


    Nothing too unusual.


    More students entered, vanishing into the blue light.


    Then¡ª


    It was my turn.


    I stepped forward, feeling the slight hum of magic in the air.


    The light surrounded me.


    And in the next second¡ª


    I was gone.


    Fwoooooooooop!


    The world around me shifted.


    For a split second, everything felt weightless.


    And then¡ª


    I landed somewhere else.


    The air was crisp and cold. Snow crunched softly under my boots. The sound of distant bells echoed through the space.


    I blinked.


    ''Where¡­ am I?''


    I looked around.


    This wasn''t the academy''s central area anymore.


    It was a different space, still covered in snow, but smaller and more enclosed. The trees were closer together, forming a natural barrier.


    There were fewer tables, and the students who had been teleported here were much closer to each other.


    I barely had time to process the change when I heard movement beside me.


    I turned my head.


    And¡ª


    My breath caught slightly.


    "...Tee-hee~"


    Fuck no.


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    "...Come on, I ain''t that bad~"


    A soft, teasing breath brushed against Aestrea''s ear.


    Her voice was smooth, light, and full of amusement.


    "...What are you doing here?"


    "What do you think?" she replied quickly.


    Before he could say anything else, he felt her hands on his shoulders¡ªlight at first, but pressing down just enough to make him notice.


    And then¡ª


    Plop!


    Something soft pressed against his back.


    No¡ªtwo soft things.


    His shoulders tensed slightly.


    "Hey~, are you embarrassed?"


    Her voice was almost a purr, warm and teasing as she leaned closer.


    She blew softly against his ear again.


    Aestrea exhaled slowly.


    "...Is the Headmistress even allowed to participate in events like this?" he muttered.


    "Why not?"


    Eleonora smiled sweetly, her fingers squeezing his shoulders a little more.


    "Besides, I was just too excited!" she continued, her tone playful but affectionate.


    "You finally decided to consider my proposal!"


    Aestrea froze.


    "...What?"


    "You never did that before!" Eleonora said, ignoring his reaction. "You always straight up rejected me. But this time~"


    Aestrea''s frown deepened.


    "...Why do you sound like I''ve been refusing to be your boyfriend or something?"


    Eleonora grinned.


    "Oh? Do you perhaps have interests in mil¡ª"


    "¡ªYup, but only in milfs though," Aestrea cut in without hesitation.


    "I don''t have any interest in gilfs."


    Silence.


    Eleonora''s smile twitched.


    For a moment, she just stood there, her fingers still on his shoulders.


    Then¡ª


    Her grip tightened.


    Aestrea felt the pressure increase slightly, as if she was expecting him to react.


    But he didn''t.


    Instead¡ª


    He just let out a small sigh.


    "...Tsk."


    Eleonora clicked her tongue before suddenly pulling him up.


    "Enough of that!" she said, brightening up again almost instantly.


    She grabbed his wrist, her grip firm but warm.


    "Let''s do our first event!"


    "...What?"


    "Ice skating!" she announced cheerfully.


    And then¡ª


    Snap!


    She snapped her fingers.


    Immediately, Aestrea felt a strange weight settle over his body.


    "...And of course," Eleonora added with a smirk, "none of us can use mana."


    Aestrea glanced at her.


    "Sure," he said simply.


    Eleonora blinked.


    She tilted her head slightly, as if surprised by his easy agreement.


    But then¡ª


    Her expression softened into a genuine smile.


    "...Good," she said softly, squeezing his hand just a little before tugging him forward.


    And with that¡ª


    She dragged him toward the ice skating field.


    It didn''t take much time for them to reach the place, and after they got the ice-skating shoes, they were ready to enter the field.


    The ice skating field stretched out before them, shimmering under the soft glow of the winter lights.


    It was vast¡ªwide enough to fit dozens of people at once, but right now, it was just the two of them.


    Aestrea exhaled slowly, watching as small puffs of white left his lips in the cold air.


    Eleonora, on the other hand, was practically bouncing with excitement.


    "Alright, let''s go!" she said, stepping forward¡ª


    SLIP¡ª!


    "Whoa¡ª!"


    Aestrea barely had time to react before she stumbled forward.


    Her arms flailed, her feet sliding helplessly across the ice.


    She looked like a baby deer trying to walk for the first time.


    Aestrea sighed.


    "...You don''t know how to ice skate, do you?"


    Eleonora pouted.


    "I thought it would be easy!" she muttered.


    Aestrea shook his head, stepping beside her with smooth, controlled movements.


    "...Here."


    He offered his hand.


    Eleonora stared at it for a moment before taking it, her fingers wrapping around his.


    It was warm.


    Aestrea adjusted his grip slightly.


    "Follow my movements," he instructed, his voice calm.


    "Keep your balance by bending your knees a little. Don''t lock them, or you''ll fall."


    Eleonora nodded.


    She took a slow step forward.


    Her skate touched the ice¡ª


    And immediately slid forward too fast.


    "Ack¡ª!"


    Aestrea steadied her, his other hand coming up to grip her waist.


    Her body tensed slightly.


    "...Relax," he murmured.


    Eleonora glanced at him.


    Her lips parted slightly, but she didn''t say anything.


    Instead, she just nodded again.


    Aestrea took the lead, pulling her along gently.


    At first, she was stiff¡ªher movements awkward, her fingers gripping his hand a little too tightly.


    But as they skated further, she started to ease into it.


    "Good," Aestrea said, his tone softer now.


    "Just keep your weight centered. Let your legs glide instead of forcing them."


    Eleonora huffed.


    "Easier said than done," she grumbled.


    He smirked slightly.


    "You''re doing better than before."


    Eleonora shot him a side glance.


    "You''re just saying that."


    Aestrea shrugged.


    "If you were bad, I would have already let go of your hand."


    Her eyes widened slightly.


    "...You wouldn''t."


    "I would."


    She gasped dramatically.


    "You monster."


    Aestrea chuckled.


    Eleonora''s personality was a bit far off from normal; she even seemed more childish and everything.


    However, Aestrea knew that she only acted like this with him.


    Well...


    She was trying to act like a young girl to... seduce him.


    It wasn''t the first time, really.


    Actually, she had tried multiple kinds of "personalities".


    The Big Sister type.


    The Mature Mommy type.


    And many more.


    Honestly, Aestrea didn''t mind at all, if anything he found it quite interesting.


    As long as she didn''t imitate the crazy girlfriend type, he would be fine.


    And then...


    They reached the final stretch of the skating field.


    Aestrea slowed down, expecting her to follow his pace.


    But then¡ª


    "Wait, what''s that¡ª?!"


    Eleonora suddenly pointed at something ahead.


    Aestrea turned just in time to see¡ª


    A ramp.


    A high ramp.


    It was meant for tricks and jumps¡ªdefinitely not for beginners.


    And yet¡ª


    Eleonora was already going straight toward it.


    "Eleonora¡ª!"


    Aestrea''s eyes widened.


    She wasn''t even moving that fast, but her balance was still off.


    And just before the ramp¡ª


    She panicked.


    Her legs tensed.


    Instead of stopping¡ª


    She jumped.


    WHOOSH!


    She was sent flying.


    Aestrea''s heart stopped.


    ''Idiot!''


    Before he even realized it¡ª


    His body moved on its own.


    He pushed forward, increasing his speed just enough¡ª


    His eyes locked onto her falling figure.


    The wind whipped past his ears.


    Time seemed to slow.


    And then¡ª


    THUD!


    Aestrea caught her.


    His arms wrapped around her waist, his body absorbing the impact as they crashed into the snow.


    THUMP¡ª!


    The cold spread through his back, but he barely noticed.


    Because at that moment¡ª


    Eleonora landed right on top of him.


    Her chest pressed firmly against his.


    Her left leg slipped between both of his.


    Her hands slammed into the snow on either side of his head¡ªpinning him down.


    It was¡ª


    A position far too intimate.


    For a second¡ª


    Neither of them moved.


    The only sound was the soft crunch of snow beneath them.


    Then¡ª


    Eleonora''s breath hitched.


    Aestrea felt it.


    Warm.


    Shaky.


    Her face was close.


    Too close.


    Her lips parted slightly.


    Her light blue eyes, shimmering with something unreadable¡ªstared down at him.


    Aestrea''s heartbeat drummed in his ears.


    He swallowed.


    "¡­You okay?"


    Eleonora didn''t answer.


    She just¡ª


    Kept looking at him.


    And at that moment¡ª


    The cold didn''t feel so cold anymore.

 Chapter 93 - 93: Interlude: Snowy Love (X)

    The world around them felt silent.


    The soft crunch of snow beneath them was the only sound.


    Aestrea could feel Eleonora''s breath against his skin¡ªwarm against the cold air.


    Her chest was pressed against his¡ªfirm, soft, and way too close.


    Her left leg was caught between both of his, their bodies entangled in a way that sent a strange feeling through him.


    She didn''t move.


    She just stared.


    Her lips were slightly parted, and her light blue eyes held an expression Aestrea couldn''t quite read.


    For the first time since he''d met her¡ª


    She looked speechless.


    Aestrea let out a breath.


    "¡­Are you going to get up?"


    His voice was steady, but inside, he wasn''t sure how to feel about this.


    Eleonora blinked.


    Then¡ª sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Her lips curled into a small smile.


    "Oh my," she murmured.


    Her voice was soft¡ªtoo soft.


    Her fingers, still planted in the snow beside his head, tightened slightly.


    "You caught me," she whispered.


    Aestrea frowned.


    "Of course I did. You were falling."


    She hummed.


    "And you jumped after me without thinking."


    Aestrea paused.


    ''¡­That was true.''


    The moment she went flying, his body had moved on its own.


    Eleonora''s smile widened.


    "How romantic."


    Aestrea sighed.


    "Get off me."


    "Hmm¡­"


    She tilted her head slightly, her light blue eyes glowing under the soft winter lights.


    "But I like this position."


    Aestrea''s eyebrow twitched.


    She was toying with him.


    Again.


    "Eleonora," he said, his voice flat.


    "Yes, dear?" she replied sweetly.


    "¡­Get. Off."


    She giggled.


    Then, finally, she pushed herself up slightly, but not before leaning in close¡ª


    Too close.


    Aestrea stiffened.


    For a second, he thought¡ª


    No.


    She wouldn''t.


    Right?


    But then¡ª


    Instead of doing anything else, Eleonora simply grazed her lips near his ear.


    Then, in a whisper just for him¡ª


    "You''re warm."


    Aestrea''s breath hitched.


    His hands, still gripping her waist from when he caught her, tightened slightly before he let go.


    "¡­Get off," he repeated, this time gritting his teeth.


    Eleonora laughed.


    A soft, melodic sound that sent a shiver down his spine.


    And finally¡ª


    She lifted herself off him.


    Aestrea exhaled sharply, pushing himself up as well.


    Snowflakes drifted around them, the cold air brushing against his skin now that her warmth was gone.


    Eleonora stretched her arms above her head, acting as if nothing happened.


    "That was fun~" she said cheerfully.


    Aestrea gave her a look.


    "You almost broke your neck."


    "But I didn''t," she winked.


    "If anything, I''d use mana last second... tehee~"


    ''...What did I expect?''


    Aestrea ran a hand through his hair.


    "You''re impossible."


    Eleonora only grinned.


    "Well," she sighed, dusting the snow off her coat. "That was only the first event. We still have more left, you know."


    Aestrea groaned.


    "You''re actually looking forward to this, aren''t you?"


    "Of course!"


    She beamed.


    Then, before he could respond¡ª


    She suddenly grabbed his arm.


    "Come on, come on!" she urged, pulling him forward.


    Aestrea stumbled slightly.


    "Hey¡ª!"


    Aestrea barely had time to think before Eleonora dragged him forward, her grip on his arm tight and firm.


    "Come on, come on!" she chirped, her excitement clear in her voice.


    Aestrea sighed, letting himself be pulled along.


    It was pointless to resist.


    The activity board ahead glowed with bright, icy letters:


    ? The Cozy Igloo!


    ?A quiet, warm space where you and your partner can talk and relax.


    Aestrea''s eyebrow twitched.


    "...This is the next event?"


    Eleonora nodded eagerly.


    "Yup! Sounds nice, right?"


    Aestrea exhaled.


    "Why do I feel like you planned this?"


    Eleonora put a hand over her chest, gasping dramatically.


    "Me? Planning to be alone with you in a cozy, warm place? Aestrea, how could you think so highly of me~?"


    He gave her a flat look.


    "Because you did."


    She only grinned.


    Before he could argue further, a staff member approached, dressed in a fluffy winter coat.


    "Welcome!" the woman greeted cheerfully. "Ah, it looks like you two are the next pair. Please, step this way!"


    She didn''t even seem surprised that the Headmistress was with Aestrea.


    Aestrea sighed, following as Eleonora practically skipped beside him.


    The staff guided them toward a small path lined with glowing lanterns. Snow crunched beneath their boots as the warmth of light contrasted with the cold air.


    Then, up ahead¡ª


    An igloo.


    Not just any igloo.


    It was beautiful.


    Soft golden lights glowed from inside, casting a cozy, welcoming hue. The entrance was slightly open, showing glimpses of thick, plush blankets and pillows inside.


    The whole place looked like something out of a fairytale.


    Eleonora gasped softly.


    "Ooooh~ It''s so pretty!"


    Aestrea hummed.


    It was nice.


    ...Too nice.


    Almost suspiciously romantic.


    The staff member smiled.


    "Inside, you''ll find warm blankets, a fireplace, and some sweet treats. This event is meant to give you and your partner a peaceful time together. Please, enjoy yourselves!"


    And with that, the staff walked off, leaving the two of them standing there.


    Aestrea hesitated.


    But before he could say anything¡ª


    Eleonora grabbed his wrist and pulled him inside.


    The moment they stepped in¡ª


    Warmth.


    It was like stepping into another world.


    The cold air was replaced with a gentle heat, coming from a small, magical fireplace set in the center.


    The walls of the igloo were made of thick, packed ice, but they didn''t let in any cold.


    Instead, they sparkled faintly, reflecting the warm glow inside.


    Soft blankets were spread across the floor, along with fluffy pillows.


    In one corner, a small tray of treats¡ªchocolate-covered strawberries, warm pastries, and a kettle of steaming hot cocoa.


    Aestrea blinked.


    This was¡­


    Way too nice.


    Eleonora, meanwhile, flopped onto the blankets.


    She stretched her arms up, letting out a happy sigh.


    "Aaaah~ This is perfect! Look at this place!"


    She patted the spot beside her.


    "Come on, sit down."


    Aestrea hesitated for a moment before finally sitting down¡ªbut not too close.


    Eleonora noticed.


    She smirked.


    "Why so far, Aestrea?"


    "Because I know you," he replied flatly.


    She pouted.


    "You make me sound so dangerous."


    "You are."


    She giggled, shifting to face him directly.


    A moment of silence settled.


    For the first time that night, Eleonora wasn''t teasing.


    She simply watched him, her light blue eyes reflecting the warm glow of the fireplace.


    "...You really jumped after me back there," she murmured.


    Aestrea looked at her calmly.


    "You were falling."


    She hummed, tilting her head slightly.


    "But you didn''t even hesitate."


    Aestrea didn''t respond.


    Because she was right.


    The moment she lost balance on that ramp, his body moved on its own.


    He hadn''t thought.


    He just jumped.


    "...You always act so cold to me," Eleonora continued softly, tracing a finger across one of the blankets.


    "But sometimes, you do things like that."


    She looked up, a small smile playing on her lips.


    "It makes me wonder how much you actually care about me."


    Aestrea stared at her.


    "...Don''t overthink it," he muttered.


    She laughed.


    "Hmm. Maybe I will."


    Another pause.


    Then¡ª


    Eleonora reached for the tray of sweets.


    She picked up a chocolate-covered strawberry and held it up.


    "Here."


    Aestrea raised an eyebrow.


    "...What?"


    "Open your mouth."


    His stare turned deadpan.


    "I can feed myself."


    "But this is the Cozy Igloo event! It''s all about bonding~" she grinned, wiggling the strawberry.


    Aestrea sighed.


    "...I''m not playing along with this."


    Eleonora huffed.


    "Fine, fine. Your loss."


    She popped the strawberry into her own mouth instead, chewing happily.


    Aestrea simply shook his head, reaching for his own cup of hot cocoa.


    The warmth spread through his fingers as he took a slow sip.


    For a moment¡ª


    It was quiet.


    Not awkward.


    Not uncomfortable.


    Just...


    Peaceful.


    Aestrea glanced at Eleonora again.


    She had leaned back slightly, watching the flickering firelight. Her expression was calm, her usual playful smirk nowhere in sight.


    For the first time tonight¡ª


    She looked...


    Relaxed.


    Aestrea found himself staring a little longer than he meant to.


    Then, before he could stop himself¡ª


    He spoke.


    "...Do you like it here?"


    Eleonora blinked, looking at him in surprise.


    Then, she smiled softly.


    "I do," she murmured. "It''s warm. Quiet. Feels nice."


    She turned her gaze back to the fire.


    "¡­Feels like something I never had before."


    Aestrea paused.


    Her voice had dropped slightly, losing its usual playful edge.


    Something about the way she said those words¡ª


    Made something in his chest tighten.


    "...What do you mean?" he asked quietly.


    Eleonora hesitated.


    Then, with a small chuckle, she shook her head.


    "Nothing," she said. "Just thinking out loud."


    But Aestrea knew.


    It wasn''t nothing.


    Still¡ª


    He didn''t press.


    Instead, he simply watched her.


    And in that moment¡ª


    For once¡ª


    Eleonora wasn''t just the teasing, playful Headmistress.


    She was just¡­


    A woman, sitting across from him.


    Wrapped in the warmth of the firelight.


    In a quiet, cozy space.


    Just the two of them.


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    After spending time in the cozy igloo, the warmth still lingering on their skin, Aestrea and Eleonora finally stepped back out into the chilly night air.


    The sudden cold made their breath visible in the air, little white clouds escaping their lips as they walked toward the next event.


    Eleonora stretched, her arms reaching toward the sky.


    "Aaaah~ That was nice! But now, it''s time for something fun!"


    Aestrea raised an eyebrow.


    "You''re acting like we weren''t just sitting in silence half the time."


    She grinned.


    "That was peaceful. Now we need excitement!"


    Aestrea sighed but didn''t argue.


    Ahead of them, a large open snowfield had been set up for the next event. Bright lanterns lined the area, casting a soft glow over the white landscape.


    Groups of students and even professors were already gathered, some chatting excitedly, others stretching as if they were preparing for battle.


    Above them, a floating board displayed the event''s name:


    ? The Snow Hunt!


    ?Solve clues and find hidden treasures in the snow!


    Aestrea glanced around.


    "Treasure hunt, huh¡­"


    Eleonora nodded eagerly.


    "Yup! We get clues, follow them, and find little treasures hidden all over the place! Some of them have prizes too~!"


    Aestrea hummed in thought.


    He wasn''t the type to care about "fun activities," but¡­


    A puzzle wasn''t bad.


    A few moments later, an event staff member stepped forward, raising a small bell.


    Ding ding!


    "Welcome, everyone!" the staff called.


    "The Snow Hunt is about to begin! This is a bonding game of teamwork, mystery-solving, and of course¡ªfun!"


    Aestrea''s eyebrow twitched.


    That word again.


    The staff continued.


    "You and your partner will receive a scroll with your first clue. Each clue will lead you to another location, where another scroll is hidden! Solve them all, and you''ll find the final treasure!"


    Eleonora nudged Aestrea.


    "Ooooh, we get to solve riddles together~! Isn''t that romantic?"


    "...It''s a treasure hunt."


    She pouted.


    "Where''s your sense of adventure, Aestrea?"


    "...I left it back in the igloo."


    Before she could argue, the staff members started handing out scrolls.


    Eleonora snatched theirs immediately.


    "Alright, let''s see our first clue!"


    She unrolled the scroll, clearing her throat dramatically.


    Then, she read aloud:


    "I stand tall but have no feet.


    My arms wave but make no sound.


    Though I sleep in winter''s white,


    My coat is always green year-round."


    Aestrea exhaled.


    "...It''s a tree."


    Eleonora blinked.


    "Eh?"


    "It''s obviously a tree."


    She pouted.


    "Come on! You could''ve let me think about it for a bit!"


    Aestrea crossed his arms.


    "...You were about to say ''a snowman,'' weren''t you?"


    "...I was considering it."


    "...Let''s go."

 Chapter 94 - 94: Interlude: Snowy Love (XI)

    With that, they made their way to the tall pine trees near the event area.


    The soft crunch of snow beneath their boots was the only sound for a moment¡ªuntil Eleonora suddenly looped her arm through his.


    Aestrea stiffened.


    "...What are you doing?"


    She leaned in slightly, her voice smooth and warm.


    "Oh my~ It''s cold, isn''t it?"


    "...You have mana. You don''t get cold."


    She laughed softly.


    "My, my~ You''re no fun, are you?"


    Aestrea sighed but didn''t push her away.


    When they reached the tree, Aestrea quickly spotted a rolled-up scroll tied with a red ribbon.


    He bent down, grabbing it from the snow.


    Eleonora clapped her hands lightly.


    "Oh my~ Such sharp eyes~ I do love a man who''s quick with his hands."


    Aestrea paused mid-motion.


    "...You''re doing this on purpose."


    She smiled sweetly.


    "Doing what, dear~?"


    Aestrea squinted at her before handing her the scroll.


    "...Read the next one."


    She giggled before unrolling it.


    "I sparkle in the night, cold and bright,


    You may catch me if I fall,


    But in the warmth of your hands,


    I will disappear to nothing at all."


    Aestrea sighed.


    "Snowflake."


    Eleonora tilted her head.


    "Oh my~ So fast again. You must really love snow, hmm~?"


    "...It''s obvious."


    She stepped closer, her breath warm against his ear.


    "Are you sure~? Or are you just trying to impress me~?"


    Aestrea stared ahead, ignoring her.


    "...Let''s go."


    With that, they headed toward the frozen lake where snowflakes were still lightly falling from the sky.


    The second scroll was hidden beneath a delicate layer of frost, sparkling like it had been placed by magic.


    But something changed.


    Eleonora''s teasing shifted.


    It became less playful, more... seductive.


    She started leading instead of following, her movements slower, smoother.


    When they reached the next spot, she turned to Aestrea with a knowing smile.


    "Oh my~ Would you like to open it for me, dear?"


    ''...She changed her personality...?''


    ''That... was fast.''


    Aestrea exhaled sharply.


    "You can do it yourself."


    She pouted, but there was something deliberate in the way she ran her fingers along the edge of the scroll before slowly unrolling it.


    "Though I am not alive, I wear a hat.


    My face may smile, but I do not laugh.


    Carrots are my nose, twigs are my arms,


    I last all winter, until I am gone."


    Aestrea closed his eyes.


    "¡­It''s a snowman."


    Eleonora giggled.


    "Oh my~ Always so quick, always so sharp~ I do wonder..."


    She stepped closer, pressing a single finger against his chest as her breasts pressed against his arm.


    "...Are you just this efficient in everything, dear?"


    Aestrea paused.


    And then...


    Something shifted in his gaze.


    "...You''re pushing it."


    Eleonora smiled.


    "Oh my~ Am I~?"


    Aestrea let out a slow breath.


    Then¡ª


    He stepped closer.


    Eleonora''s smile faltered slightly.


    Aestrea leaned in, lowering his voice just enough.


    "...If you keep pressing those breasts against my arm again," he murmured.


    "I won''t mind touching them, you know."


    Silence.


    Eleonora''s eyes widened slightly.


    For the first time, she froze.


    Aestrea tilted his head slightly, smirking.


    "Hmm? What''s wrong?"


    Eleonora blinked.


    And then¡ª


    Her face turned slightly red.


    Yet, she smiled again, but this time, there was a slight twitch at the corner of her lips.


    "Oh my~" she murmured, placing a hand on her hip.


    "How bold of you, dear~"


    Aestrea shrugged.


    "You started it."


    She chuckled softly, but there was a slight heat in her cheeks that she clearly tried to brush off.


    "Hmm~"


    "So, you don''t mind touching my¡ª"


    "¡ªMilkers?" Aestrea finished for her, tilting his head.


    Eleonora stiffened.


    Aestrea leaned in slightly, his voice dropping lower, smoother.


    "Didn''t expect that, did you?"


    Her fingers twitched.


    "Oh my~" she exhaled, regaining her composure.


    "What a dangerous young man I''ve paired up with~"


    Aestrea simply smirked.


    "Not dangerous. Just returning the favor."


    She narrowed her eyes slightly before turning away.


    "Fufufu~ Fine, fine. I''ll let you have this one~ But don''t get too cocky, dear~"


    Aestrea chuckled.


    "We''ll see."


    It took a few minutes, but, after regaining her composure (mostly), Eleonora unrolled the next scroll.


    "I have no legs, but I run fast,


    I have no arms, but I can lift you high,


    Some fear me, some love me,


    And with me, you''ll soar through the sky."


    Aestrea frowned.


    "...A ski lift?"


    Eleonora tilted her head.


    "Oh my~ Could be~ But don''t you think that''s a little too obvious?"


    Aestrea thought for a moment.


    "...A sled?"


    Eleonora giggled.


    "Let''s go find out, dear~"


    She grabbed his wrist, gently but firmly, and led him toward the sledding hill.


    Step~


    When they arrived, Aestrea quickly spotted the next scroll tied to a sled near the top of the hill.


    "Guess I was right," he murmured.


    Eleonora grinned.


    "Good job, dear~ Now, how about we test the sled while we''re here?"


    Aestrea raised an eyebrow.


    "You want to ride it down?"


    She tilted her head.


    "Oh my~ Are you scared, my little moon?"


    Aestrea sighed.


    "Fine."


    Without hesitation, he sat down on the sled.


    Eleonora happily positioned herself right behind him, pressing close¡ªtoo close.


    And of course, she had slammed her breasts against his back.


    He stiffened.


    "...You don''t have to sit this close."


    She giggled, wrapping her arms loosely around his waist.


    "Oh my~ But I need to hold on, don''t I?"


    Aestrea exhaled.


    "...Whatever. Let''s just go."


    ¡ªFwoop!


    The sled shot forward.


    Snow rushed past them, the wind whipping through their hair.


    Eleonora laughed as they sped down, holding onto Aestrea even tighter.


    But then¡ª


    The ramp.


    Aestrea''s eyes widened.


    "...Wait¡ª"


    Before he could react¡ª


    They launched into the air.


    Eleonora''s laugh turned into a surprised gasp as they soared, weightless for a moment¡ªbefore gravity pulled them down fast.


    Aestrea moved on instinct.


    He twisted midair, reaching out¡ª


    And caught her.


    THUD!


    Snow exploded around them as they landed.


    When the cold settled¡ª


    Eleonora was on top of him.


    Again.


    Her soft curves pressed against his chest, her left leg between his, her hands buried in the snow beside his head.


    She blinked.


    Then, parted her lips slightly.


    Aestrea stared up at her.


    Neither spoke.


    The world around them felt silent, except for the faint sound of the wind.


    Eleonora''s breath was warm, her purple hair falling gently around them like a curtain.


    Aestrea exhaled slowly.


    "...Are you gonna get off me?"


    Eleonora stared at him for a moment longer.


    Then, a small smile tugged at her lips.


    "Oh my~" she whispered.


    Aestrea felt his pulse quicken.


    "...What?"


    Her voice was low, teasing.


    "My, my~ You''re so quick to catch me every time I fall, dear~"


    Aestrea frowned slightly.


    "Not my fault you keep launching yourself into the air."


    She giggled softly.


    "...Or maybe~" she leaned in just a little closer¡ª"You just like having me in your arms, hmm~?"


    Aestrea held her gaze.


    Then, slowly¡ª


    He lifted a hand, brushing snow from her shoulder.


    "Maybe."


    Eleonora''s breath stilled for just a fraction of a second¡ªso quick, so subtle, yet Aestrea caught it.


    For once, she didn''t have a quick response.


    Her light blue eyes flickered, the teasing glint momentarily replaced by something softer, something deeper.


    But only for a heartbeat.


    Then¡ªher lips curled into a slow, knowing smile.


    "Oh my~" she murmured, tilting her head ever so slightly.


    "How bold, my dear moon~"


    Aestrea didn''t look away.


    Neither did she.


    Snowflakes drifted between them, melting the moment they touched her warm skin, vanishing just as swiftly as the space between their breaths.


    And then¡ª


    She moved.


    Just a little.


    Her fingers, buried in the snow beside his head, twitched¡ªbefore she lifted one, tracing the edge of his jaw with an excruciating slowness.


    "Maybe?" she uttered, her voice barely above a whisper, sweet and sultry like honey dripping from velvet.


    Aestrea''s fingers curled slightly against the snow, but his expression remained calm.


    Calm.


    Steady.


    Yet his pulse¡ªoh, that was a different story.


    Eleonora smiled, eyes half-lidded as she leaned closer, her lips hovering just above his ear.


    "You know, dear," she whispered, "if you wanted to hold me a little tighter... you could''ve just said so~"


    Aestrea exhaled through his nose.


    And then¡ª


    His arms, still loosely resting at his sides, moved. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Quick.


    Fluid.


    Intentional.


    Before she could react, one strong arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her flush against him, her softness molding into his frame, her breath catching ever so slightly.


    He felt it.


    Oh, he definitely felt it.


    And from the way her lashes fluttered¡ªso did she.


    "...Like this?"


    His voice was smooth, deep¡ªalmost teasing.


    Eleonora blinked, just for a second, before her lips parted in a small, delighted laugh.


    "Oh my~" she breathed, tilting her head, her nose barely brushing against his.


    "Now, now, dear... if you hold me this close¡ª" she shifted, just enough to feel the heat between them, her voice lowering, softer, warmer¡ª"what ever shall I do with you~?"


    Aestrea stared at her, his glowing red eyes darkening just slightly.


    And then¡ª


    He smirked.


    "Surprise me."


    For the first time¡ªEleonora hesitated.


    Just for a second.


    Her pupils dilated.


    Her fingers gripped the snow beside him just a bit tighter.


    Aestrea waited.


    And oh, how she hated to lose a game she started.


    So, she did what she did best.


    She leaned in.


    Closer.


    Close enough that her lips hovered just above his, the barest of distance between them, their shared breath mixing in the cold air.


    Close enough that the tension crackled, like the silent promise of a storm yet to break.


    And then¡ª


    A single finger trailed down his chest, slow, deliberate.


    "You," she whispered, "are playing a very, very dangerous game, dear moon~"


    Aestrea''s grip on her waist didn''t loosen.


    His voice was smooth, steady¡ª


    "So are you."


    Silence.


    Thump....


    Thump...


    Thump...


    Their heartbeats filled the quiet.


    For a fleeting moment, Eleonora wondered¡ªif she closed the distance, if she let the teasing slip into something real, something intoxicating¡ª


    Would he stop her?


    Would he kiss her back?


    Would he pull her even closer, taste the heat between them, let the snow melt against the fire they stirred in each other''s veins?


    The thought sent a thrill down her spine.


    But then¡ª


    A voice shouted in the distance.


    "HEY! WHOEVER''S UP THERE, GET A ROOM!"


    Aestrea blinked.


    Eleonora blinked.


    Silence.


    Then¡ª


    "Fucking bastard..."


    They muttered at the same time.


    For a moment, they just stared at each other.


    And then¡ª


    "Pfft¡ª"


    Eleonora couldn''t help it.


    Eleonora burst out laughing, her voice light, breathy, absolutely delighted.


    She tilted her head, covering her mouth with the back of her hand as soft giggles spilled from her lips.


    Aestrea exhaled sharply, shaking his head with a small smirk.


    Eleonora recovered just enough to lean in, placing a single finger against his lips, her light blue eyes practically glowing with amusement.


    "Oh my~" she hummed, tilting her head.


    "It seems¡­ our little moment was rudely interrupted~"


    Aestrea only sighed, glancing toward the direction of the voice before shaking his head again.


    "...Happens."


    Eleonora grinned, mischief clearly showing in her eyes.


    "Fufufu~ Don''t pout, dear~ There will be plenty more moments to come~"


    With that, she gracefully pushed herself up, brushing off the snow from her dress before extending her hand toward him.


    "Come now~ We still have a game to finish~"


    Aestrea glanced at her outstretched hand for a second before taking it, standing effortlessly.


    But even after he was up, he didn''t let go right away.


    Eleonora noticed.


    His fingers, warm against hers, lingered just a little longer than necessary.


    "...Right."


    Eleonora smiled, but this time, there was something softer in it.


    Something knowing.


    Oh my~


    She liked that look.


    As he finally released her hand, she turned on her heel, brushing a bit of snow off his shoulder with the back of her fingers, slow and deliberate.


    "Shall we, my dear little moon~?"


    Aestrea exhaled.


    "You''re really enjoying this, aren''t you?"


    Eleonora giggled.


    "Oh my~ Very much so~"


    With that, she took the lead, walking ahead with an elegant sway in her step, knowing full well he was watching.


    Aestrea sighed, rubbing his temple before following.


    ''This woman...''


    She was going to be the death of him.

 Chapter 95 - 95: Interlude: Snowy Love (XII)

    Aestrea sighed as he followed Eleonora, watching the way she swayed just a little too much with each step.


    ''She''s definitely doing that on purpose¡­''


    ''Not that I mind, though.''


    The snow crunched softly beneath their boots as they walked back to the event area, where the final clue awaited them.


    Small lanterns flickered in the night, casting a warm glow over the frost-covered trees.


    The air was crisp, cold¡ªbut neither of them really felt it.


    Because the real heat?


    That was between them.


    Eleonora hummed a little tune, glancing back at him with a knowing smile.


    "Oh my~ You''re awfully quiet, dear. Could it be... you''re still thinking about our little tumble in the snow~?"


    Aestrea didn''t even flinch.


    "I''m thinking about pushing you into another pile of snow, actually."


    Eleonora gasped, placing a hand over her chest dramatically.


    "My, my~ How cruel! And here I thought you were a gentleman."


    Aestrea raised an eyebrow.


    "You''re the one who keeps throwing yourself at me."


    She giggled, twirling a strand of her violet hair.


    "Well, dear~ If you keep catching me so perfectly, how can I resist?"


    Aestrea exhaled, shaking his head.


    ''This woman¡­''


    They finally reached the last location of their snow hunt¡ªa large, beautiful fountain frozen over, its icy surface glowing faintly under the moonlight.


    A single scroll was tied to the statue in the center.


    Eleonora tapped her chin.


    "Oh my~ How shall we retrieve it, dear?"


    Aestrea didn''t even hesitate.


    He stepped forward, jumped lightly onto the edge of the fountain, and¡ª


    ¡ªFwip!


    With one swift motion, he grabbed the scroll and landed back on the snow without a sound.


    Eleonora blinked.


    Then clapped her hands together.


    "Oh my~ Such quick movements~! My, my~ I do love a man who''s fast with his hands~"


    Aestrea turned to her, deadpan.


    "That sounded wrong."


    She giggled.


    "Did it~?"


    He sighed.


    Shaking his head, he handed her the final scroll.


    "Go on. Read it."


    Eleonora''s lips curled as she unrolled the parchment.


    "I twinkle like a diamond, yet I am cold.


    A gentle kiss from the heavens, or a storm so bold.


    Under the moon, I shimmer bright,


    A dance so pure, a silent white."


    Aestrea hummed.


    "¡­The Frost Dance."


    Eleonora''s eyes sparkled.


    "Oh my~ Looks like we have one last activity together, dear~"


    He glanced at her.


    "You planned this, didn''t you?"


    She gasped dramatically again.


    "My, my~ Do you really think so little of me?"


    Aestrea sighed.


    "Yes."


    Eleonora giggled, stepping closer until she was right in front of him.


    "Then I suppose..." She lifted a single finger, tracing an invisible line down his chest.


    "...I''ll just have to change your mind~"


    Aestrea exhaled sharply through his nose.


    "Come on. Let''s just go."


    Eleonora smirked but let him lead the way.


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    The event area had transformed.


    Silver lanterns swayed gently from the trees, their soft glow casting flickering patterns on the snow-covered ground.


    Delicate icicles dangled from the branches, shimmering under the moonlight like tiny frozen stars.


    The air was crisp but not harsh, carrying the fresh scent of winter.


    Snowflakes drifted lazily from the sky, dancing in the breeze before settling on the world below.


    It was quiet, peaceful¡ªlike something out of a dream.


    And at the center of it all¡ª


    A melody played.


    Soft, slow and...


    Elegant.


    It floated through the air like a whisper, passing between the couples who had already stepped onto the dance floor¡ªa wide-open space of untouched snow, glistening under the lanterns.


    Some pairs moved with practiced grace, gliding effortlessly as if they belonged in a fairy tale.


    Others were clumsy, stepping on each other''s toes with embarrassed laughter.


    But all of them swayed together, lost in the moment.


    Eleonora let out a dreamy sigh, clasping her hands together.


    "Oh my~ How romantic~"


    Aestrea, standing beside her, simply exhaled.


    "You really planned this, didn''t you?"


    "My, my~ You wound me, dear moon! Must you always assume I have ulterior motives?" She gasped dramatically, pressing a hand to her chest.


    Aestrea raised an eyebrow.


    "Do you?"


    Eleonora giggled, her light blue eyes sparkling mischievously.


    "Fufufu~ I suppose you''ll just have to dance with me and find out~"


    Then, without waiting, she turned to him and stretched out a hand.


    "Come now, dear~ Won''t you take my hand?"


    Aestrea looked at her outstretched hand for a moment.


    Then, with a slow sigh¡ª


    He took it.


    Eleonora smiled, her fingers curled around his, warm despite the cold air.


    She stepped closer, and Aestrea instinctively placed his free hand on her waist.


    "Oh my~" Eleonora purred.


    "So bold already, my little moon~"


    Aestrea sighed.


    "You''re the one who walked up to me."


    She giggled.


    "Mm~ But you''re the one holding me so firmly~"


    Aestrea didn''t respond.


    He simply guided them into the first step.


    And so¡ª


    They began to dance.


    The music was slow, steady.


    Their movements were careful at first, adjusting to each other''s rhythm.


    Eleonora followed his lead easily, her dress swaying with each graceful step. Aestrea''s grip was firm but gentle, his body steady as he moved with practiced ease.


    For a moment, neither of them spoke.


    The world around them was quiet, as if time itself had slowed.


    The soft melody of the orchestra wrapped around them like a delicate embrace, floating through the cold winter air.


    The snowflakes fell lazily from the sky, swirling like tiny dancers before settling onto Eleonora''s long, silky hair.


    The faint silver glow of the lanterns above made them sparkle, like little stars tangled in her violet locks.


    Her dress moved with the wind, the rich fabric flowing behind her with every step, every sway.


    It shimmered under the moonlight, catching the glow of the lanterns as if it had been woven from twilight itself.


    The only sounds were the soft crunch of snow beneath their feet, the faint rustle of fabric as they moved, and the gentle notes of the music weaving through the night.


    Then¡ª


    Eleonora let out a soft hum.


    "Hmm~ You''re quite good at this, dear moon~ Have you danced before?"


    Aestrea nodded.


    "Yeah."


    Eleonora smiled.


    "My, my~ I wonder... have you danced with many women before?"


    Aestrea glanced at her.


    "Why? Jealous?"


    "Oh my~ The audacity! You think I, the elegant Eleonora, would ever be jealous~?" She gasped dramatically, pressing a hand to her chest as if she had been deeply wounded.


    Aestrea exhaled, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.


    "You didn''t answer the question."


    Eleonora giggled, pressing just a little closer, letting the warmth between them grow.


    "Fufufu~ Who knows~?" she mused, eyes twinkling with mischief.


    Then, in a lower, softer tone¡ª


    "And here I thought¡­ that I would be your first~"


    Aestrea exhaled sharply.


    "You''re really good at making things sound weird."


    She giggled again, tilting her head ever so slightly, her breath brushing against his collarbone.


    "My, my~ Am I?"


    Aestrea didn''t reply, but his hand on her waist tightened just slightly.


    It was subtle, but she noticed.


    And she liked it.


    The music swelled, and they moved together more smoothly now, falling into a natural rhythm.


    Step.


    Turn.


    Sway.


    The cold barely registered anymore.


    Eleonora tilted her head, gazing up at him with those teasing light blue eyes.


    "Tell me, dear~ Am I a good partner?"


    Aestrea glanced down at her.


    "You''re not stepping on my feet, so I''d say you''re doing fine."


    She gasped, feigning offense. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "My, my~ Such high praise~ My heart flutters~"


    Aestrea smirked.


    "Careful. If it flutters too much, you might trip."


    Eleonora giggled.


    "Fufufu~ And if I do?"


    Aestrea shrugged slightly.


    "I''d catch you."


    Eleonora blinked.


    Then, her expression softened just a little.


    "...Would you always?"


    Aestrea didn''t hesitate.


    "Yeah."


    Eleonora''s smile lingered, but there was something different in her gaze now.


    Something warmer.


    Softer.


    The music slowed.


    Their steps followed.


    Their movements became less about the dance and more about each other.


    Eleonora''s fingers curled slightly around his, and Aestrea found himself holding her just a little closer.


    The world around them faded¡ª


    There was only the music.


    Only the snowfall.


    Only them.


    Eleonora exhaled softly, tilting her head against his chest for just a second before looking up again.


    "You know, dear~"


    Aestrea hummed.


    "Hm?"


    She smiled.


    "I think... I quite enjoy being in your arms~"


    Aestrea didn''t respond right away.


    Instead¡ª


    He spun her.


    A single, smooth motion.


    A single, fluid motion.


    Her dress flared out like a violet blossom, the lantern light catching the shimmering fabric. She let out a small, surprised laugh, her hair fanning out around her before she turned back¡ª


    And he pulled her in again.


    Closer.


    This time, there was no space left between them.


    The warmth of her body pressed against his, the heat of their breath mixing in the cool night air.


    Their eyes locked.


    Neither of them moved.


    Neither of them spoke.


    For a moment¡ª


    The only thing between them was the quiet hum of their heartbeats.


    Eleonora''s lips parted slightly.


    Aestrea''s fingers curled slightly against the fabric of her dress.


    The snow continued to fall around them, the lanterns flickering gently overhead.


    The music played its final note¡ª


    And then¡ª


    Eleonora stepped forward.


    Slowly.


    She hooked her arms around his neck, her fingertips brushing the back of his hair.


    At the same time¡ªshe lifted one leg slightly, the hem of her dress skimming against the snow as she leaned in.


    Aestrea''s hand remained firm on her waist, steadying her as she tilted her head up¡ª


    It was the perfect position.


    The perfect moment.


    Her body molded against his, her breath warm against his lips.


    Aestrea could feel the soft rise and fall of her chest, the gentle press of her fingers at the nape of his neck.


    Eleonora''s lashes lowered.


    Would he?


    Would she?


    Would they cross that line?


    The world held its breath.


    And then¡ª

 Chapter 96 - 96: *Interlude: Snowy Love (XIII)*

    The snowflakes drifted lazily around them, caught in the silver glow of the lanterns.


    Their breaths mingled in the cold night air, a slow, intoxicating warmth growing between them.


    Eleonora''s light blue eyes glowed like liquid sapphire, her lips slightly parted, her body pressing just a little closer against Aestrea''s.


    His fingers curled against the fabric of her dress, feeling the soft, silky material under his hands.


    He could feel the gentle rise and fall of her chest, the warmth of her breath against his lips.


    Her lashes lowered, and she tilted her head just slightly¡ªher body molding perfectly against his.


    The world around them seemed to hold its breath.


    The music had ended, but their rhythm hadn''t stopped.


    The sound of their quiet breaths, the soft rustling of fabric, and the faint crunch of snow beneath their feet became the only things that existed.


    Then, she moved.


    Slowly.


    One of her arms slid up, fingers grazing along his shoulder before curling around the back of his neck.


    Her other hand traced the collar of his uniform, then teased at his tie, pulling him closer¡ªjust enough for their noses to almost touch.


    Aestrea swallowed hard, feeling the heat coil deep in his stomach.


    His grip on her waist tightened.


    Eleonora let out a soft hum, her lips curling in a playful smile.


    "Hm~ You''re not pulling away, my little moon," she purred, her voice smooth like honey, thick with something sultry.


    Aestrea breathed out sharply.


    "You''re the one holding onto me."


    "Oh my~"


    She giggled, her fingers trailing up into his hair, lightly tugging at the strands.


    "So defensive~ I wonder, dear¡­ do you want to let go?"


    Aestrea didn''t answer.


    Because he didn''t know.


    His heart pounded in his chest, his body heating despite the crisp night air. Her scent¡ªsoft, sweet, with a hint of something floral¡ªwrapped around him like a spell.


    Her body was so warm, pressed flush against his, her curves molding into him in ways that made it impossible to ignore.


    Eleonora tilted her head, her lips brushing his jawline, just barely.


    "You''re trembling, my little moon~" she whispered.


    "Is it the cold¡­ or is it me?"


    Aestrea exhaled, the sound almost like a growl. His hands twitched, and for a second, he considered it.


    Just for a second.


    Then¡ª


    A sharp clap broke the moment.


    "Ahem."


    They froze.


    Aestrea''s body tensed, and Eleonora blinked before slowly turning her head.


    A pair of students stood a few feet away, staring at them.


    One of them¡ªa young man with wide eyes¡ªlooked utterly scandalized, while the girl beside him covered her mouth, barely stifling a giggle.


    Eleonora stared at them for a moment.


    Then, with a soft sigh, she turned back to Aestrea.


    "How unfortunate," she murmured, tilting her head as if truly disappointed.


    "Just when things were getting heated~"


    Aestrea sighed, stepping back slightly.


    "We should go¡ª"


    But before he could finish, he noticed something.


    Eleonora was still staring at him.


    Her fingers, still curled around his tie, tightened.


    Her pupils dilated, her breath hitching slightly.


    Then¡ª


    Something snapped.


    Aestrea barely had a moment to react before the world around them blurred.


    ¡ªWhoosh!¡ª


    They vanished into thin air.


    For a brief moment, the cold disappeared, replaced by a rush of weightlessness. The sensation of wind brushing past his skin, the flicker of magic in the air¡ªbefore suddenly¡ª


    Thud!


    They landed.


    Not on snow.


    But on something soft.


    Aestrea''s vision refocused, and he realized where they were.


    A large, lavish canopy bed.


    Velvet sheets.


    Silk pillows.


    And Eleonora, now straddling him, her fingers still wrapped tightly around his tie.


    The warm glow of candlelight flickered around the grand office space.


    Dark wooden bookshelves lined the walls, and the scent of vanilla and something faintly spiced filled the air.


    The unmistakable elegance of her office¡ª


    Headmistress Eleonora''s personal chambers.


    Aestrea''s breath hitched.


    "Eleonora¡ª"


    But she didn''t let him finish.


    Her grip on his tie tightened, pulling him up to her.


    And then¡ª


    Her lips crashed onto his.


    Mn?!


    A deep, breathless sound escaped as their mouths met in a feverish kiss.


    She wasn''t gentle.


    She wasn''t teasing.


    She was hungry.


    Her body pressed against his, warm and soft, as her fingers tangled in his hair, pulling him closer.


    Her lips moved quickly against his, soft but demanding, each second urging him to give more.


    Aestrea''s mind blanked for a moment.


    The sudden heat. The way she kissed him as if starving for him.


    The way her breath quickened when his hands found her waist¡ª


    A low sound escaped from deep in his chest.


    And then¡ª


    He kissed her back.


    Hard.


    His hands slid to her waist, gripping her firmly, feeling the softness of her dress under his fingers.


    He could feel the steady rise and fall of her chest, the tremble in her body as she deepened the kiss, her head tilting to press even closer.


    "Mmnh~" she moaned softly against his lips, her grip tightening, her body pressing closer.


    She tasted sweet.


    Like spiced wine and honey.


    Simply intoxicating.


    His fingers trailed up her back, feeling the delicate lace of her dress, the way her skin heated under his touch.


    Eleonora''s breath hitched, and she shifted, pressing herself further against him.


    Her scent wrapped around him, a mix of lavender and something uniquely hers.


    It made his head spin, made his pulse quicken.


    She was warm, soft, pliant in his arms, yet every movement was filled with intent, with purpose.


    "Mmnh~ Aestrea¡­?!" she breathed against his lips, voice dripping with something dangerously sweet.


    Before he could respond, she took control again, nipping at his lower lip, her nails lightly scraping his neck.


    His breath shuddered out, his eyes darkening as he pushed her against the desk behind them.


    The wood creaked as she arched into him, her back pressing against the cool surface while the heat between them grew.


    Eleonora hummed softly, her breath warm against his ear, as his hand slid down, tracing the curve of her waist and gripping her thigh, pulling her closer.


    "Oh my~?" she purred, fingers curling into his shirt.


    "My little moon, you''re quite bold, aren''t you~?"


    Aestrea exhaled sharply, his lips ghosting along the curve of her jaw, down to the delicate skin of her neck.


    "You started this."


    Eleonora shivered, her breath hitching as his lips found a sensitive spot.


    She tilted her head to give him more room, a soft sigh escaping her lips.


    "Mm~ That I did, my dear¡­ but I wonder¡­"


    She pulled back just enough to look into his eyes, a teasing smirk curving her kiss-swollen lips.


    "Can you handle me~?"


    Aestrea''s grip tightened, his gaze locking onto hers.


    "Try me."


    Eleonora''s smirk deepened.


    In an instant, she hooked a leg around his waist, flipping their positions so he was the one against the desk now.


    "Fufufu~ My, my~? So strong, so eager~" she teased, her fingers dancing down his chest, feeling his muscles tense beneath her touch.


    "I do love a man who knows how to play along~"


    Aestrea watched her closely, his breath heavy in his chest, waiting.


    Then¡ª


    She leaned in, her lips brushing against his ear.


    "Let''s see how long you can last~?"


    The air crackled with tension, thick with heat, with anticipation.


    Then¡ª


    She kissed him again.


    Deeper.


    Wilder.


    More desperate.


    "Haaa...!"


    Aestrea''s breath caught as she kissed him harder, her hands pressing him back against the desk.


    "Mmm..."


    She hummed against his lips, pressing herself into him, feeling the heat of his chest against hers.


    Her lips traced down his neck, teasing and warm.


    Swish!


    Eleonora''s hand slipped to his tie, pulling it off, leaving his neck bare.


    Slurp!


    Then, she stuck out her tongue to his collar before gently nibbling on it, causing Aestrea to arch his neck a bit.


    His red eyes glowed dimly as he roamed out to her dress, and slowly, reached for the buttons.


    Click!


    With each soft click of a button undone, the fabric fell away slowly. The dress slipped off her shoulders, revealing her smooth, glowy skin underneath.


    "Phwa~"


    Her lips parted from his neck with a faint pop, leaving a tender mark on his collarbone. She gazed into his eyes, a dark glint of mischief there, and slowly licked her lips.


    Then, without warning, she ripped his shirt open!


    His body had countless scars, but one could not deny the masculine charm oozing out from his muscular physique.


    She reached out to his chest with her hand, feeling the hard texture as she gently traced the lines of his torso with her fingers.


    But then...


    Click!


    Her bra was undone, making her two massive breasts bounce as they eased up.


    Immediately, Aestrea''s hands moved to them, gently caressing them.


    "Ah~"


    He reached out to the part beneath her breasts, softly touching it before trying to cover her whole breasts with his hands, but they were too big for his hands.


    And he couldn''t exactly grasp them.


    "...Hooo~, like what you see~?" she smiled teasingly, and at the same time, her hands reached out to his zipper.


    They locked gazes in that moment, and just by their gazes, they adjusted their position.


    Thud!


    The objects on the desk scattered with a clatter as they shifted, Eleonora now straddling Aestrea, her body pressing flush against his.


    "Haaa~!"


    Her breath caught as he reached up to trace her peaks, his fingers pinching gently, drawing a surprised moan from her lips.


    Without hesitation, she retaliated, her hands sliding to his zipper, pulling it down.


    She didn''t exactly hesitate, and immediately pulled down his pants, grasping his cock with her soft and delicate hand.


    Fap~


    Then, she slowly started moving her hand up and down, stroking his cock as she stared at him directly on his red glowing eyes.


    Aestrea didn''t seem bothered by this, and instead, his hands slid to her waist, pulling her closer as he shifted, his lips parting¡ª


    Slurp!


    "Haaah~?"


    His mouth found one of her peaks, his lips wrapping around it with gentle suction.


    The sensation was electric, and his other hand slid to the other breast, kneading it gently, massaging the soft, pliant flesh as he molded it into various shapes.


    Between those movements, his thumb brushed her nipple, occasionally pinching it, drawing another quiver from her body.


    "Haaa~... my baby?"


    She smiled softly, pressing Aestrea''s head gently against her breasts, her fingers still moving up and down, stroking him slowly.


    It was a little disappointing that her breasts didn''t have milk, but she didn''t let that ruin the moment.


    "Ahhn~"


    As she continued to stroke him, feeling him suck on her breasts, her body started to feel the heat between her legs.


    The wetness began to spread, making her more sensitive.


    And if Aestrea had sense that, his hand left her breast and moved down to her pants.


    His fingers slipped under the waistband of her panties, and when they brushed against her folds, he felt the sticky wetness.


    Squish...


    His finger gently slid inside, sending a shiver through her body. She stopped stroking him for a moment, the sudden sensation making her gasp softly.


    "Nngh~... baby~" she murmured, barely able to hold back the moan that threatened to spill out.


    But then, to her surprise, Aestrea stopped.


    "Baby...?" she called out to him.


    Without answering, Aestrea pushed her gently aside, standing up and turning to face her.


    She looked up at him, ready to say something, but before she could¡ª S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Thud!


    He suddenly turned her around, pressing her front against the table with a surprising force.


    "B-baby?" she stammered, her voice breathless.


    Swish!


    He swiftly pulled her pants down, exposing her wet folds, the liquid already trailing down her legs.


    He paused for a moment, looking down at her.


    "It''s time for the main event, no?"


    He finally spoke, as he took his cock and positioned it just in front of her wet folds.


    At the sound of his words, Eleonora''s body shivered slightly and her face flushed.


    She rocked her hips, giving him more access, and then pulled a pillow into her hands, holding it gently, as though waiting for the next moment, her anticipation building.


    Squish...


    He pressed the tip of his cock to her entrance, grazing her soft labia, teasing her just a bit.


    And then...


    Thrust!


    "Mhhmmmmm¡­!"


    Her breath caught, a moan escaping as he entered her, her body trembling in response.


    "¡­?"


    He slid deep inside her, the warmth and wetness surrounding him.


    The movement left a small tear of blood, trickling down his shaft as he moved.


    ".....Haaa?"

 Chapter 97 - 97: *Interlude: Snowy Love (XIV)*

    Pah!


    Aestrea''s hips snapped forward again, driving his cock even deeper into Eleonora''s slick, trembling wet folds.


    "Nnghaa~?!"


    Eleonora''s voice broke into a high-pitched moan, her hands scrambling to grip the edge of the desk.


    Her nails dug into the wood, leaving faint marks as her body jolted with every thrust.


    "Ah¡­ ah¡­! Aestrea¡­?! You''re so deep¡­!"


    Her words were breathy, her voice trembling with pleasure as she arched her back, pressing her hips back against him.


    The sensation of him filling her completely made her toes curl, her legs shaking as she tried to keep herself steady.


    "Mmm¡­? My little moon¡­?" she purred, her voice dripping with teasing sweetness.


    "You''re not holding back anymore, are you~? Fuck me harder¡­?"


    Aestrea''s hands tightened on her hips, his fingers digging into her soft flesh as he pulled her back onto him with each thrust.


    The wet, squelching sounds of their bodies moving together grew louder, mingling with their heavy breaths and moans.


    Squelch~, squelch¡­ squelch!


    Eleonora''s body quivered, her face flushed and her lips parted as soft, breathy moans spilled out.


    "Ah¡­ ah¡­? Mmm¡­! So good¡­? You''re filling me so completely, Aestrea¡­?"


    Her moans only made him more excited.


    He leaned forward, his chest pressing against her back as he reached around to cup one of her breasts.


    His fingers teased her nipple, pinching and rolling it gently, and the sensation made her gasp.


    "Ah! Nngh~! Y-you''re so bold tonight, my little moon~?" she moaned, her voice trembling with pleasure.


    Her body arched even more, pushing back against him as she tried to take him deeper.


    "So... gooood?, mhm! Do it harder~!"


    Pah!


    Squishh!


    Aestrea''s response was a sharp, powerful thrust, his cock sliding deep inside her before pulling out almost completely.


    Then, with a wet, slapping sound, he slammed back into her, the force of it making her cry out.


    "Ahhn~! Mmm¡­! Y-yes¡­! Just like that, my little moon¡­? Fuck me harder~!" she begged, her voice rising with every word.


    Her hands slipped on the desk, her body trembling as pleasure surged through her.


    Thud¡­!


    The sound of their bodies meeting echoed in the room, and Aestrea''s pace quickened.


    His grip on her hips tightened, his fingers leaving faint marks as he drove his cock into her wet folds again and again.


    Pah!


    Pah¡­ squelchh!


    Eleonora''s walls clenched around him, trying to pull him deeper, and the sensation made him groan..


    "Ah¡­ ah¡­? Mmm¡­! You feel so good inside me, Aestrea¡­?" she moaned, her voice trembling as she reached back to grip his thigh.


    Her nails dug into his skin, leaving faint red marks as she urged him on.


    "But¡­ ah¡­! Mnghh!? T-this~, isn''t enough to make me cuuuummmm???!"


    SLAM!


    Her teasing words were met with a strong, punishing thrust that made her entire body jolt forward.


    Her buttocks shook from the impact, and Aestrea''s hips started moving even faster, the wet sounds of their coupling growing louder.


    Squissh~


    "Haaa...."


    "MNNNN???! Ahhn~! Y-yes¡­! Just like that¡­?" she cried out, her voice breaking as she neared her peak.


    Her legs shook, her toes curling as she tried to keep herself steady, but the intensity of his thrusts was too much.


    "Ah¡­ ah¡­! Aestrea¡­! I''m getting close...?!¡ª"


    Then, Aestrea raised his hand before slapping her ass forcefully! Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡ªSMACK!


    Eleonora''s head arched back, her words cut off as a surprised yelp escaped her lips.


    The mix of pain and pleasure made her walls clench around him, her body trembling as she pushed back against him.


    "Ah! Nngh~! Mmm¡­! So rough, my dear¡­? But I love it~!" she purred, her voice breathless and trembling.


    Her body moved with his, urging him to go harder, deeper.


    Smack!


    Aestrea obliged, his hand coming down on her ass again.


    The sensation made her cry out, her walls tightening around him as pleasure surged through her.


    "Ahhn~! Mmm¡­! Y-yes¡­! Just like that¡­?" she moaned, her voice trembling as she reached back to grip his hand.


    Their fingers intertwined, her nails digging into his skin as she begged him.


    "Fuck me harder, Aestrea¡­? Make me cum¡­!"


    Her words were like a command, and Aestrea obeyed. His hips moved faster, harder, each thrust driving her closer to the edge.


    PAH!


    PAH!


    SMACK!


    "Ah¡­ ah¡­! Mmm¡­! I''m so close, Aestrea¡­?" she cried out, her body trembling as pleasure coursed through her.


    Her legs shook, her toes curling as she tried to keep herself steady, but the intensity of his thrusts was too much.


    "Ah¡­ ah¡­! I''m cumming¡­?"


    Her walls clenched around him, her body trembling as pleasure surged through her.


    "Fuck..."


    Aestrea groaned, his hips stuttering as he felt her cum around him, her tight walls milking his cock as he thrust into her one last time.


    Splurt...


    "Haaahn...?!"


    Eleonora moaned one last time, her body trembling as she collapsed onto the desk, her breath coming in short, sharp bursts.


    "Haaa..."


    "Fuuu..."


    Both of them breathed heavily, and then, after a while, Eleonora spoke.


    "That was¡­ amazing, my little moon¡­?"


    Her voice was full of satisfaction as she lifted her head slightly, to take a look at him.


    Aestrea didn''t respond, his hands gripping her hips tightly as he pulled out his cock slick with their juices.


    "Haah..."


    He let out a deep breath as he reached into his pants pockets.


    His fingers searched for something, but then, he paused and froze for a moment.


    ''Oh yeah... Since I came here, I stopped smoking...''


    ''I should go and buy a pack of cigarettes later.''


    He frowned slightly before sighing, wondering how much time had passed.


    It felt like it had only been a short while, yet something about the atmosphere around him made him feel like it had been longer.


    He picked up his phone from the desk, tapping the screen to check the time.


    "...An hour passed?"


    He was completely surprised as he muttered softly, staring at the time.


    It didn''t seem possible.


    How had an entire hour slipped away so quickly?


    He didn''t expect that he spent an hour having sex with Eleonora.


    ''My perception of time is getting worse...'' he sighed inwardly.


    "Huh? An hour passed?" Eleonora''s surprised voice cut through his thoughts, drawing his attention.


    He turned to look at her.


    She was sitting on the desk, her expression matching his own. Eyes wide, mouth slightly open, she seemed just as taken aback by the passing time.


    "I thought we spent like... twenty minutes here," she said, snapping her fingers.


    Fwoop!


    Everything in the room suddenly shifted, like someone had pressed play on a paused scene. Their clothes, which had been scattered around earlier, were now back in place.


    And so were the objects that were scattered around.


    "Same here..." Aestrea nodded.


    Nonetheless, he stretched his arms before walking towards the door of the office.


    "Fufu~... where do you think you''re going?"


    Eleonora''s teasing voice stopped him in his tracks. His body stiffened when he felt two arms wrap around his waist from behind.


    Before he could react, he felt her enormous chest press against his back, sending an unexpected shiver through him.


    "...What is it? The Snowy Love event should''ve ended by now, no?"


    He glanced over his shoulder, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.


    He couldn''t help but want to tease her.


    "Besides, didn''t I prove that I was efficient in everything, just like you wondered?"


    At his words, Eleonora''s smile twitched slightly, but instead of pulling away, she increased her grip on him, her arms tightening around his waist.


    "Oh my~... Don''t you know that a gentleman would spend the rest of the night with the lady~?" Her voice dropped to a soft, almost sultry whisper against his ear.


    At her words, Aestrea only smiled.


    "I never said I was a gentleman," he murmured, shaking his head with a smirk playing on his lips.


    "If anything..."


    Fwip!


    Without warning, he grabbed her wrist, spinning her around effortlessly. The sudden movement caught her off guard, and she stumbled slightly.


    Before she could recover, he bent her body, lifting her leg up to his waist in one smooth motion.


    Her eyes widened in shock, and before she could say anything, his lips pressed against hers, silencing whatever words she might have spoken.


    "!!!"


    "...?"


    Her body froze for a split second, her eyes wide, before the warmth of his lips made her melt.


    He kissed her deeply, passionately, his tongue pushing past her lips, diving into her mouth.


    There was a soft slurp as their lips parted briefly, just enough for him to slide his tongue against hers, teasing, exploring.


    Slurp¡­ slurp¡­


    The sounds of their kiss echoed in the quiet room, soft and messy.


    "Mmph?!"


    Eleonora''s breath hitched, her hands instinctively gripping his shoulders as she let out a muffled sound when he squeezed her leg a little, pulling her tighter against him.


    Smack... smooch...


    Their lips moved in sync, messy and wet, the sound of their kissing filling the space around them.


    His hands held her tightly as their tongues danced, slipping and sliding together. Every kiss seemed to last longer, more intense, more desperate.


    Smack... smooch... slurp...


    "Mhmm!"


    Eleonora moaned softly, her voice muffled by his lips as her leg rested firmly against his waist.


    He squeezed her leg gently, causing her to gasp and squirm slightly, but she didn''t pull away.


    Their lips finally parted, a thin strand of saliva connecting their mouths before breaking as they both gasped for air.


    "Phwaa...!" she breathed, her chest rising and falling with every quick, uneven breath.


    Aestrea looked at her for a moment, a sly grin on his face as he wiped his lips.


    "The word ''scumbag'' would probably fit me better," he chuckled.


    Eleonora''s face was flushed, her lips swollen, still tingling from the kiss.


    Her mind was spinning, trying to process what had just happened, but her heart was racing with excitement.


    She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. She was too shocked, still caught up in the whirlwind of emotions and sensations.


    Thud!


    Aestrea let go of her, and without another word, he stepped back and walked toward the door, leaving her standing there in a daze.


    Eleonora blinked, still a little wobbly from the intensity of the kiss.


    She stood there for a moment, staring at the door as if hoping he might come back.


    But no, he was already halfway out.


    "Wait...!"


    Her voice breathless, her cheeks burning red.


    She called out, but Aestrea didn''t turn around.


    He paused for a moment, as if considering whether or not to say something, but then just chuckled to himself.


    "Classic," he muttered under his breath, shaking his head as he left the office, the door clicking shut behind him.


    Eleonora stood there, still blushing.


    She looked down at her lips, still tingling from the kiss, and ran her fingers over them, trying to calm herself.


    She couldn''t help but smile, even if she was a little embarrassed.


    "You''re impossible..." she mumbled, though a small laugh escaped her lips.


    She shook her head, her cheeks still flushed as she sat back down on the desk.


    However...


    As Aestrea walked down the corridor, he suddenly stopped.


    "Wait a second..."


    "Did I use my Time Affinity while I was having sex?"

 Chapter 98 - 98: End Of Semester (I)

    A few days have passed since the Snow Festival.


    And honestly, I felt like I hadn''t even had a moment to breathe.


    Most of the time, I''d been focused on figuring out how my Time Affinity worked, but even so, I didn''t neglect my Ice Affinity.


    I had to keep improving, especially since I was still learning about the limits and possibilities of my abilities, especially about this damned physique of mine.


    ¡º Ice Generation (? 1st-Level Spell ?) ¡»


    Holding a chunk of ice in my right hand, I subtly looked at it for a moment.


    "Lumi... insert an ounce of void on it..."


    Hearing my words, she flashed a mischievous smile and nodded enthusiastically.


    "Yesh, Mastah~!" she giggled, fluttering her hands before blowing air into the ice I held.


    The moment the void element touched the ice, I felt the temperature drop even more, but it was different from what I expected.


    The ice darkened, almost like it was absorbing the void energy, becoming more unstable by the second.


    It didn''t take long before the entire chunk of ice cracked, splitting into a thousand tiny shards that scattered across the ground like confetti.


    "Mhm..."


    It was as I had thought.


    The Void element and Ice just didn''t mix with each other.


    Or maybe I was doing something wrong.


    I had been thinking a lot about what Eleonora had said in one of our classes, the one where she talked about "Elemental Chemistry" and how different affinities could "react" together.


    To put it simply, it was all about making an affinity stronger by mixing it with another.


    For example, combining "Wood" and "Fire" affinities could enhance the firepower of the fire, creating explosions more powerful than what Fire could do on its own.


    The energy would feed off of the wood, causing more intense bursts of flame.


    Another example that came to mind was "Earth" and "Metal."


    Earth could be used to make metal stronger and tougher, increasing the durability and sharpness of weapons.


    Similarly, combining "Water" with "Lightning" would increase the effectiveness of electrical shocks, making them faster and more lethal.


    It was quite fascinating, to be honest.


    And even my predecessor hadn''t thought about that because how busy he was in just making his Ice Affinity stronger than ever.


    But of course, certain affinities couldn''t mix because their elemental natures didn''t align, like how "Fire" and "Water" would just cancel each other out or "Light" and "Dark" would clash instead of complementing each other.


    When she had explained that in class, I became interested and decided to try something myself.


    My Ice Affinity felt like it could potentially work with other elements, and I thought that combining it with something like "Void" could produce some cool results.


    Void, after all, was the element of nothingness.


    It wasn''t tangible or solid.


    Void could eat away at physical forms, cause things to disappear, or distort space itself.


    Maybe if I could mix Ice and Void, I''d be able to create something entirely new, like an ice spell that could distort space or freeze things into nothingness.


    But of course, that didn''t work.


    The Void seemed to have consumed the ice, but instead of creating anything new or enhanced, it had just destroyed it.


    The ice had no way of holding onto the Void¡ªit was like trying to store water in a bucket with holes.


    There was nothing to keep the elements connected, and the Void ate away at the Ice, causing it to break apart.


    "Mhm... If I can''t use Ice with Void... how about with Time?"


    I didn''t really understand how to use it yet, but I had done something with it before while I was having sex with Eleonora.


    Which is weird.


    But how... did it happen?


    I didn''t necessarily have a clue, but one thing was certain...


    If I could somehow combine Time with Ice, that could definitely work.


    The idea of manipulating time around the ice¡ªmaking it freeze faster, maybe even more powerfully by speeding up the freezing process¡ªsounded like it had potential.


    Ice, as it was, was already pretty strong.


    But if I could manipulate how quickly it froze, or if I could control how it interacted with its surroundings¡ªwell, that could make it even better.


    Or maybe... even freeze time!


    But the problem was, I didn''t really know how to use my Time Affinity.


    It wasn''t like Ice, where I could just summon it and control it with my will.


    Time¡­ time felt like it was something that just moved.


    You couldn''t just grab hold of it, right?


    But I couldn''t quite figure out how to apply it.


    Nonetheless, I had to keep testing.


    After all, I wasn''t going to give up just because one experiment didn''t go as planned.


    I looked at the remaining pieces of ice on the ground.


    "Let''s try this again," I muttered to myself, cracking my knuckles.


    I closed my eyes slowly, trying to block everything else out.


    The atmosphere felt still, silent.


    I took a deep breath in¡ªinhale¡ªand let it out¡ªexhale.


    Focus.


    I couldn''t think about anything else.


    Not the cold air, not the way the ice made my fingers numb.


    I needed to feel time.


    The moment I focused, I noticed it¡ªthe soft ticking of the clock on the wall of my imagination, the beat of my own heart.


    Tick...


    Tick...


    Each second felt so loud in the silence. It felt like the sound of time moving.


    Slowly.


    Relentlessly.


    I reached out, not physically, but with my mind.


    Time was like a current, like a stream that kept moving, no matter what.


    I focused on it, pulling it towards me.


    Whoosh.


    I could feel the seconds slipping past, the air shifting just slightly, the faintest tug like something was pulling me along.


    I thought back to the time with Eleonora.


    I may have felt time speed up back then.


    It was hard to say.


    But I knew it was possible.


    Now I had to make it work with the ice.


    I could feel the ice in front of me, sharp and cold.


    I imagined it in my mind, a block of ice, clear and frozen solid.


    But if I could change how time worked around it¡­


    Tick...


    Tick...


    My heart thudded in my chest as I tried to concentrate. I imagined time wrapping around the ice, bending it.


    I could feel the seconds stretch out, like they were moving just a bit slower.


    The ice should freeze faster, right?


    Should I speed up the time around it?


    I visualized it in my head.


    The ice, cracking under the pressure of time, freezing harder, faster.


    I could almost see it¡ªsnap.


    The moment the ice would become something stronger, sharper.


    But¡­


    Nothing.


    Silence.


    I opened my eyes, a bit frustrated.


    The ice didn''t change or anything.


    "Fuuu..."


    I took a deep breath.


    Maybe, I should try something more... principalistic.


    Freeze... time.


    I wasn''t sure if I could, but I had to try.


    I had to push the limits of what I could do.


    If I could have something like this, it would be very helpful for me.


    I closed my eyes again, focusing harder this time.


    "Fuuuuu..."


    I took a deep breath, feeling the cool air fill my lungs, calming my thoughts.


    I needed to feel time.


    Not just around me, but within me.


    Tick...


    Tick...


    Time moved on, like a clock that couldn''t stop.


    I could hear it in my mind, like the faint ticking of a watch.


    The pulse of time, slow, steady, always moving.


    I focused on that feeling, on the way time moved around everything.


    It wasn''t just about speeding it up.


    This time, I needed to stop it.


    Freeze it in place.


    "Fuuu...!"


    I took another deep breath.


    My hand hovered above the ice again.


    I felt the time, the seconds flowing around me like water, so constant, so relentless.


    But this time... I pulled on it.


    Gently at first, trying to feel the pressure.


    Tick...


    I could feel it slowing down, just a little, like the hands of a clock dragging.


    The seconds stretched.


    Tick...


    Tick...


    They slowed.


    The air around me felt still, almost too still.


    The ice in front of me shimmered slightly, but it wasn''t enough.


    I needed more.


    I had to push harder.


    Tick...


    I reached out with my mind, trying to wrap my hands around time, trying to hold it in place.


    Stop.


    Freeze.


    I whispered those words inside my head.


    The air around me grew colder.


    A faint breeze stirred, like the passing of time itself, but everything else was still.


    I felt the ice in front of me, the seconds slowly growing heavier.


    And then¡ª


    ¡º Time Freeze (? 9th-Level Spell ?) ¡»


    Nothing.


    The room was frozen.


    I opened my eyes, and the sight shocked me.


    Lumi was standing still, right there, in the middle of the room.


    Her eyes were wide, frozen in place.


    The tiny breath that had been rising and falling in her chest was gone.


    She was... completely still.


    Completely frozen.


    "...It worked?"


    I took a step forward, and then brought out my phone.


    And to my surprise, I really couldn''t turn it on.


    Then, I walked towards Lumi and reached out a hand, brushing a lock of her hair away from her face.


    She didn''t move.


    Not even a twitch.


    It was strange, seeing the world like this.


    However, it indeed worked.


    "Haah..."


    "Fuck..."


    Suddenly, I felt a strange feeling in my body, as if I was being "emptied".


    It was my mana.


    It was draining, fast.


    Thump.


    My heart skipped a beat.


    And immediately, I took a deep breath.


    I had already stopped time, now it''s the same principle, I just need to continue time.


    "Haaa...!"


    Tick...


    I could hear the ticking sound in my mind.


    I had to release it.


    I let the hold on time go, slowly, carefully.


    The pressure lifted, and I felt the stillness around me shatter like glass.


    Whoosh!


    The world snapped back into motion.


    "Ugh...!"


    Thud!


    My body fell into the hard ground.


    My vision slowly started getting blurrier.


    "Master..?! Master!"


    I could hear Lumi''s voice calling out to me.


    But, I truly couldn''t move my body.


    Even though I tried to cancel the spell as fast as possible...


    It seems that it wasn''t fast enough.


    And because of that I had spent almost every ounce of my mana.


    ''Fuck...''


    ''I''ll need to focus on increasing my mana quantity for now, since messing with Time seems more about the quantity I have instead of the quality...''


    "MASTER!"


    Well...


    I hope I don''t wake up at the cathedral. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Anything but that.


    Oh...


    I just jinxed myself, didn''t I?


    "Fuck."

 Chapter 99 - 99: End Of Semester (II)

    "...Mana Exhaustion, huh... What the hell was he doing?"


    A voice echoed through my foggy mind.


    Everything felt blurry.


    My head was a mess.


    I couldn''t feel my body at all.


    Just a heavy weight, like I was floating in some kind of haze.


    Dammit...


    I really hated this feeling¡ªmana exhaustion always hit harder than I expected.


    It wasn''t just my body that felt drained; my mind was fuzzy, too.


    "Ugh..."


    I swore to myself, never again.


    I wasn''t touching that spell unless I had no other choice.


    "This is surprising... I never thought he''d actually get mana exhaustion," one voice said, sounding surprised.


    "From what I''ve seen, he''s really good at controlling his mana."


    "Right? I thought the same thing. Funny enough, it was a small bird that caught my attention and led me to the training field."


    "...If it wasn''t for that, I wouldn''t have been able to bring him here."


    "Wait, really? You think it was his pet or something?"


    "Hahaha, no way, right? He''s always so cold and distant. A cute little animal like that? Wasn''t it a Shima Enaga? One of those fluffy little birds?"


    ...A bird?


    Wait a second.


    Did Lumi turn into that bird?


    I have to do something nice for her later.


    Maybe take her out for a big meal.


    She''s a glutton after all.


    And, well... I guess I could invite Alaine and Chaerin, too.


    "Agh..."


    A small groan escaped my lips.


    "Oh? Is he waking up?"


    "Already? It hasn''t been that long since he passed out, has it?"


    "Well, he is the strongest student for a reason."


    I slowly opened my eyes, blinking a few times to clear my vision.


    Two figures came into focus.


    Maya... and Iris.


    I guess Iris was the one who healed me.


    She was a priest, after all.


    "Fuck..."


    I mumbled, trying to lift my upper body, but the pain hit me like a freight train.


    "Wait, stay still!" Iris''s hand reached out to me and gently pressed me against the bed, by back was against.


    "Wait, stay still!" Iris said quickly, her hand gently pressing me back down.


    "You just experienced severe mana exhaustion. Don''t move too much."


    "Hmph, hmph!" Maya from her side nodded.


    I groaned but didn''t argue.


    "Thanks."


    "You''re very much welcome!"


    Maya replied cheerfully.


    "It''s okay," Iris added with a gentle smile. "I''m just glad you''re okay."


    They seemed a little too friendly, almost as if they were trying too hard to make sure I was okay.


    I blinked up at them.


    "How long was I out?"


    Maya thought for a moment before answering. "


    Maybe about four hours or so?"


    "Four hours..."


    I had been out for that long?


    That was... unexpected.


    "By the way, Aestrea..."


    Iris suddenly called out my name, pulling me out of my thoughts.


    "Yeah?"


    "We''re about to start the final exams of the semester... Have you already gathered enough people for the first exam group?"


    Huh.


    Final exams?


    When did that happen?


    Wait...


    Doesn''t that mean that the semester is about to end?


    That means...!


    I can finally go back to Silverleaf!


    GREAT!


    "Wait... group?"


    My brain finally caught up to what she was saying.


    "Yeah," Iris nodded.


    "The first exam is a ''Group Survival'' challenge. All of us will be transported to a deserted island, and we''ll have to survive there."


    My eyes widened as the words sank in.


    ''A deserted island?''


    "I think it was suggested by Instructor Zeva or something," she added, almost casually.


    That bitch...


    "That aside," Iris continued.


    "Each student has to be in a group of five or more. So, did you already gather enough members for your group?" She asked again, her voice a bit more serious now.


    Fuck.


    I hadn''t even known about this, and I was definitely not prepared for it.


    Besides, I''m literally a loner in this academy!


    "Can we bring our servants or something...?" I asked, already knowing the answer, but hoping there might be some loophole.


    "Nope," Iris shook her head. "Some servants specialize in survival, so they''re not allowed. Same goes for pets."


    Of course.


    I couldn''t bring Chaerin or Alaine with me, which meant...


    I''m fucked.


    Fuck, fuck, fuck...!


    Let''s see...


    Me, Violet and...


    And...


    Fuck.


    Christina?


    Maybe...


    She''s also an exchange student, so probably.


    There are three, now... two more.


    Damn it.


    "Shit...!"


    I cursed under my breath.


    This was going to be a mess.


    "Hahaha!" Maya giggled at the frustration written all over my face.


    "I''ll take that as a ''no,''" Iris said, smiling while covering her mouth.


    "So, instead..." She paused for a moment, then her smile turned a bit mischievous.


    "How about joining our group?"


    "Huh?"


    "You heard me," Iris said, still smiling.


    "You can join us. Maya and I already have enough people, but the more the merrier, right? So, how about it?"


    Joining their group, huh...


    I guess I don''t have a choice anyways.


    "Sure."


    Both Iris and Maya laughed, clearly relieved that I agreed.


    "Don''t worry," Maya said, grinning.


    "We''ll make sure you don''t do all the work."


    "Thanks... I guess."


    This was going to be interesting, that''s for sure.


    "Great!" Iris beamed.


    "You won''t regret it, Aestrea."


    Yeah, well...


    I hoped I wouldn''t.


    "Also, when exactly is the first exam happening, anyway?"


    I asked curiously.


    "Mhm?" Iris raised an eyebrow, clearly a bit surprised by my question.


    "I think... the day after tomorrow," she said after a pause.


    "Already?!" I practically shouted, completely caught off guard.


    I couldn''t believe it.


    How had I missed that?


    "Hah..." Iris chuckled softly.


    "You must''ve been so focused on your training that you lost track of time." Maya joined in, laughing too, but she looked at me a bit wryly.


    "...I guess..."


    It seems that I don''t have a lot of time.


    So, tomorrow, I might as well take time to make a small family trip.


    I sighed inwardly.


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    "Papa... where are we going?" Chaerin asked timidly, her little hand tugging at my sleeve as we walked through the busy streets of the capital.


    "Like I said before, we''re just going out to have a little fun today. Tomorrow, I''ll be gone for a few days," I said with a smile, gently patting her head.


    ''At least until that damn exam is over...''


    Chaerin''s eyes sparkled.


    "Hihihi, are we going to eat something?!" Lumi asked excitedly, practically hopping in place as she grabbed my left arm, pulling me along with her.


    "...Of course, we are."


    "Do you need me to prepare anything, Master?" Alaine asked quietly, walking behind us.


    She was wearing her usual maid outfit, and honestly, I had told her a few times that she didn''t need to wear it all the time.


    But no matter how many times I suggested it, she insisted on keeping it on.


    She seemed so comfortable in it... and I didn''t have the heart to argue.


    The capital was alive with energy as we strolled down the cobbled streets, the distant sound of chatter, the clink of coins, and the soft hum of busy market stalls all around us.


    It was a perfect day for a little break from everything¡ªno battles, no training, no stress.


    Just us, spending some time together.


    Chaerin tugged at my sleeve again, her small steps trying to match mine as she bounced along.


    "Papa, can we go to the park? I wanna play!"


    "Of course, Chaerin. We''ll head there in a bit. Don''t worry."


    I chuckled softly and nodded.


    Lumi, walking next to me on the other side, was practically glowing with excitement.


    Her voice bubbled out, cheerful as always.


    "Yay! We''re going to the park, right? Can we have a picnic too? Please please pleeease!" She gave me a little nudge with her shoulder, practically bursting with energy.


    I couldn''t help but laugh, shaking my head.


    "Yeah, yeah, we''ll have a picnic. You don''t need to beg. Just give me a moment."


    "Do you need any help, Master?" Alaine''s voice was calm and soft from behind us.


    I smiled at her.


    "Nah, I''ve got it. Just enjoy yourself today. No need to act like a servant today, okay?"


    She nodded, a small smile tugging at her lips, but I could tell she was still trying to be useful.


    Lumi, on the other hand, grabbed my arm again and bounced excitedly.


    "Are we gonna have a picnic with sandwiches? I love sandwiches!"


    "Sandwiches?! Are they gonna be big ones? With lots of stuff inside?" Chaerin from my other side, asked excitedly.


    I chuckled at the two of them.


    "Yeah, they''ll be big. With as many toppings as you want. But first, we''re heading to a nice spot. You''ll see."


    They truly were children at heart.


    It didn''t take us long to reach the park just outside the city, the green space sprawling out ahead of us.


    Trees swayed gently in the breeze, the soft sound of leaves rustling like whispers in the air.


    The sun was warm, but not too hot, casting everything in a soft, golden glow.


    It was the kind of day where everything felt right.


    Lumi and Chaerin didn''t waste a second.


    They ran off towards a patch of grass, giggling and chasing each other in circles.


    "Mhm..."


    The problem was...


    Where would I get the stuff to make a picnic?


    There should be a few stalls nearby, maybe I should check it out¡ª


    ¡ªWhooosh!


    I saw a blanket being spread out.


    "Uhhh..."


    I looked at Alaine speechlessly.


    At my reaction, she only smiled.


    "A servant should be prepared for every occasion."


    I shook my head at her words, and then, I noticed a basket besides her.


    Huh... she really was prepared for everything.


    Then, we started unpacking the basket.


    It had a few sandwiches, some fruit, and even a little dessert¡ªcakes, cookies, and little pastries.


    The scent of fresh bread and fruit filled the air, making everything feel even more perfect.


    Fwoop!


    Lumi suddenly collapsed onto the blanket next to me, out of breath but smiling from ear to ear.


    "I''m starving! Let''s eat!"


    Chaerin followed shortly after, her tiny feet leaving prints in the soft grass as she plopped down beside Lumi.


    "Me too! Can I have the biggest sandwich?"


    ''...Why are you obsessed with the biggest sandwich?''


    I laughed inwardly.


    "Of course," I said, handing her a big sandwich stuffed with all sorts of fillings.


    "But you better eat it slowly, or you''ll get a stomach ache."


    "Okay, Papa," she said seriously, before taking a huge bite.


    Crunch!


    "Mmm! So gwooood!"


    I smiled at her, then turned to Lumi, who was already eyeing the cakes.


    "I guess we''ll save the sweet stuff for later, huh?" S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Okayyy! I promise I won''t eat them all... Maybe," she teased, her eyes sparkling with mischief.


    Alaine sat next to me, folding her hands neatly in her lap.


    "It''s quite the lovely day," she murmured softly.


    "I''m glad we could all get out for a while."


    "Mhm..."


    I nodded at her words.


    My body was still aching in pain.


    God damn it, I hate mana exhaustion.


    That aside, it is truly nice to get out and have a small break.


    Things at the main academy are truly chaotic.


    The Archdemon and then we had the Snow Festival...


    And now, the final exams.


    It just feels that time is passing way too fast.


    Plop!


    Lumi suddenly bounced up, grabbing Chaerin''s hand.


    "Let''s go play by the pond! We can skip rocks!" she exclaimed, practically dragging the little girl along with her.


    Chaerin giggled.


    "Okay, okay! Let''s see who can skip the most rocks!"


    I watched them go, feeling my heart warming up at the sight of them running off together, laughing in that carefree way only kids could.


    "Haaa..."


    Letting out a sigh, I leaned back onto the blanket, my head resting against Alaine''s lap.


    She didn''t seem surprised, just shifted slightly to make me more comfortable.


    "Are you comfortable?" she asked me after a while, running her fingers through my hair in a gentle and tender motion.


    "Yeah."


    I mumbled, not even bothering to open my eyes.


    "Very."


    Her hand paused in my hair, and I could feel her looking down at me.


    I opened my eyes, and saw her sparkling brown eyes.


    She was already quite beautiful when disguised, but compared to her original beauty, she looked quite mediocre.


    And then, before I even realized it, Alaine leaned down, her lips brushing against mine in a soft, tender kiss.


    "...?~"


    I froze for a second, the surprise of it catching me off guard.


    But then, instinctively, I responded, my hand reaching up to rest against her cheek.


    "Hihihi...!"


    A faint giggle broke through the moment, and we both froze, pulling back just slightly.


    Lumi and Chaerin were standing by the pond, both of them watching us with wide, teasing grins on their faces.


    Lumi crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow.


    "Well, well... Looks like we have a lovebirds moment," she teased, a mischievous smile playing at the corners of her lips.


    Chaerin giggled, pointing at us.


    "Papa and Alaine are kissing! Eww!" she said, though it was clear she was more amused than disgusted.


    I groaned and sat up.


    "Alright, alright. Go play. You''re interrupting us," I said, trying to sound annoyed, but I couldn''t help the smile that tugged at my lips.


    Lumi gave a dramatic sigh.


    "Fine, fine. We''ll leave you two lovebirds alone... for now." She grabbed Chaerin''s hand and pulled her back towards the water.


    "Come on, Chaerin! Let''s see who can throw the most rocks!"


    As the two of them ran off, laughing, Alaine and I exchanged a quiet glance, both of us blushing just a little.


    Then, we both laughed.


    I looked at the bright blue sky for a moment...


    "Today... it really is perfect."

 Chapter 100 - 100: End Of Semester (III)

    The day had finally arrived.


    The first exam of the end of semester¡ªthe Group Survival exam.


    I walked into the exam area with Maya, Iris, Lucas, Ella, and Rose.


    Yup.


    The hero''s party, plus me, the Extra!


    Hooray!


    Around us, other students were talking quietly, forming last-moment groups, making last-minute plans, while some were just trying to get their heads in the game.


    We stood in front of a large open field, the setting sun casting long shadows across the ground.


    A few instructors were already gathered, including the one leading this exam¡ªInstructor Zeva.


    The bitchy instructor... ahem.


    Zeva stood at the front, her posture straight, with her arms crossed and her gaze sweeping across all of us.


    "Alright, listen up!" Instructor Zeva''s voice cut through the murmurs of the students.


    "This isn''t just some simple test. It''s a week-long survival challenge. You''ll be dropped off on a remote island, far from civilization. The goal is simple¡ªsurvive for a week. Work together. Use your wits, your skills, and your resourcefulness."


    I glanced at my group.


    Maya was already adjusting her equipment, her expression serious even though she was quite the airhead.


    Iris was quietly taking notes, and Lucas had that usual confident grin on his face, like he didn''t think there was anything he couldn''t handle.


    Ella and Rose stood off to the side; Rose was cautiously checking all her equipment while Ella stood with a calm face, sharpening her sword.


    I wasn''t worried about them.


    Then, Zeva continued:


    "There will be no outside help. You''re on your own. The only thing you''re allowed to bring are the supplies I''ll provide you, and your personal gear. No magic-based assistance or aura use, no pets or servants¡ªnothing that could give you an unfair advantage."


    ''...I can''t use magic? Fuck.''


    I was already crying inside.


    "Fair advantage?" Maya muttered under her breath, rolling her eyes.


    "It''s survival, not a game of fairness."


    ''Pff...''


    I almost laughed at her words, but kept my focus on Zeva.


    This is one of the exams after all.


    "You''ll be scored on various things," Zeva continued.


    "Your ability to find and purify water, create shelter, hunt or forage for food, and more. You''ll need to keep track of your resources. If you run out, there''s no getting more. There will also be challenges along the way¡ªsome that will test your mental fortitude, and others that will test your ability to work as a group. You''re not here to be a hero; you''re here to work together."


    Hearing her words, I unconsciously looked at Lucas, who also happened to meet my gaze.


    "No hero, huh?"


    I mouthed the words to him which made his smile twitch slightly.


    "And if you fail... Well, let''s just say, the consequences will be unpleasant." She didn''t need to elaborate.


    We all understood what that meant.


    There were no second chances in this test.


    This was essentially an exam that could result in a satisfactory grade or have your score recorded as zero.


    If you gave up, you''d be given zero marks directly.


    I let out a small sigh.


    Survival on an island, huh?


    I wasn''t completely clueless.


    I had some knowledge about island survival¡ªthings like building a basic shelter using natural resources and hunting animals for food wouldn''t be a problem.


    But the real challenge for me?


    Keeping the food from spoiling and purifying drinking water.


    I have no idea how to do that.


    Originally, I thought I could just melt my ice magic to get fresh water, but after hearing that we wouldn''t be able to use magic... well, that completely messed up my plans.


    Still, I wasn''t too worried.


    Among the six of us, someone had to know how to purify water or at least have some knowledge about food preservation.


    That was the benefit of working as a team.


    I adjusted my bag and took a deep breath.


    "Now... calling from the first to the last registered group, please enter the teleportation gate! Your mana will be temporarily sealed and will only activate in emergency situations detected by the island''s surveillance!"


    An announcement rang across the field, and soon after, Zeva''s voice followed.


    "Good luck to every group!"


    One by one, the groups were called. Students stepped forward, disappearing into the teleportation gate as their names were listed off.


    If I remembered correctly, we were the seventh group.


    "The Seventh Group, step forward!" Zeva''s sharp voice rang out.


    Lucas was the first to move, stepping forward and the rest of us followed right behind him.


    The teleportation gate shimmered with a bright blue glow as we stepped through it.


    Fwooop!


    The sensation was disorienting but brief.


    A rush of energy passed over me, and then¡ª


    The world around us changed.


    The moment I opened my eyes, I was met with a scene straight out of a survival movie.


    The sky stretched wide and open above us, a bright blue expanse with the sun hanging high, its rays beaming down mercilessly.


    A salty breeze brushed against my face, carrying the scent of the ocean.


    Beneath our feet, golden sand stretched out toward the waves that crashed gently against the shore.


    The water was a stunning turquoise, clear enough to see the coral and small fish swimming below.


    Behind us was a thick, dense jungle filled with towering palm trees, vines hanging lazily from branches, and the distant sounds of birds and rustling leaves.


    Some of the trees were heavy with coconuts, a lucky break for us.


    "Alright, everyone!" Lucas clapped his hands together, grinning.


    "Let''s get to work!"


    And just like that, our survival week had officially begun.


    Lucas didn''t waste any time.


    He quickly turned to face the rest of us, his expression growing a little more serious.


    "Alright... first things first, we need to divide the work. Everyone needs to have a role, or we won''t last long out here." He crossed his arms, glancing around.


    "The three main things we need to take care of are water, shelter, and food. There are six of us, so we can split into three teams¡ªtwo people for each task."


    I nodded at his words.


    "So, is there anyone who''s good at any of these?"


    Almost immediately, both Maya and Iris raised their hands.


    "We both know how to purify water!" Maya said with a bright smile.


    Iris nodded beside her.


    "We''ve studied water filtration methods before, so we should be able to handle it."


    Perfect.


    That was one major problem solved.


    I let out a small sigh of relief.


    "Alright, then you two will be in charge of water gathering and purification," Lucas confirmed.


    "That just leaves shelter construction and food hunting. Anyone want to volunteer?"


    No one spoke up right away.


    The rest of the group exchanged glances, but no one seemed particularly eager to claim a role.


    Seeing the silence drag on, I decided to step forward.


    "I don''t mind working on the shelter. I have some basic knowledge about building structures with natural materials."


    Lucas nodded.


    "Good, that''s one down. Who wants to team up with Aestrea?"


    A moment later, Rose raised her hand.


    "I''ll go with him."


    She didn''t seem particularly shy, and had the normal expressionless face that she usually had back in the novel.


    "Perfect," Lucas said.


    "That leaves me and Ella to handle food hunting."


    Ella gave a small shrug.


    "Sounds good to me."


    With that, we had our roles assigned.


    "Alright," Lucas clapped his hands again.


    "Let''s get moving. We need to set up camp before the sun goes down."


    ***


    Rose and I left the rest of the group behind and walked deeper into the forest.


    The sun was still high in the sky, but I could tell we didn''t have much time before evening.


    If we didn''t finish the shelter before dark, we''d have to sleep in the open, and that wasn''t something I wanted to experience.


    The trees here were thick and tall, perfect for gathering wood.


    Their branches swayed gently in the wind, making a soft rustling sound.


    I glanced at Rose.


    She had the same unreadable expression she always had, her eyes scanning the trees carefully.


    "We should find a good spot to chop these down," I said, gripping my sword.


    Rose gave a small nod.


    "I''ll gather leaves while you get the wood."


    "Alright."


    Without wasting time, I drew my sword.


    I might not have been able to use magic or aura, but that didn''t mean I couldn''t handle things the old-fashioned way.


    With a single, strong swing, I slashed through the base of a tree.


    CRACK!


    The tree groaned before slowly tipping over, crashing onto the forest floor.


    The sound echoed around us.


    Rose, who had already moved to another tree, barely reacted.


    She was carefully climbing one of the smaller trees, reaching for the broad, thick leaves near the top.


    "...That was fast," she commented as she pulled off a bunch of leaves.


    I shrugged.


    "I mean... we''re awakeners, so this job is quite easy."


    "Still. Cutting down a tree in one swing isn''t something just anyone can do, after all, these trees have some protection enchantment on them."


    "Really?"


    I raised an eyebrow.


    If there was an enchantment, I should''ve been able to notice quite easily, after all, my mana sensitivity is pretty high.


    "Well... it''s a barrier that uses runes instead of mana, so it really is impressive," she explained, pulling more leaves from the tree.


    "I see..."


    Rose really is quite knowledgeable.


    Even my predecessor didn''t study runes. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But thinking of them... maybe, I should learn about them and maybe carve them onto a future sword... or even in my body.


    I should keep that in mind.


    I moved to the next tree and swung my sword again.


    CRACK!


    The tree fell to the side.


    Meanwhile, Rose moved swiftly from one tree to another, her hands quick and efficient as she gathered as many leaves as she could carry.


    "How many leaves do we need?" she asked.


    "Enough to cover the roof and make it waterproof," I replied.


    "And maybe some extra for bedding."


    Rose nodded and continued working.


    I kept chopping trees down, making sure to leave some space between them so we didn''t destroy the whole area.


    After I had a decent amount of logs, I started breaking them into smaller pieces, using my sword to carve them into more manageable sizes.


    As I worked, I glanced over at Rose.


    She was now using some vines to tie the leaves together into bundles, probably to make it easier to carry them back.


    "You''ve done this before?" I asked.


    "Once or twice," she replied simply.


    "I read a few survival books."


    "Huh. That''s useful."


    "You too," she said, looking at the wood I had already gathered and how carefully I had cut it into pieces.


    "You seem to know what you''re doing."


    I smirked slightly.


    "When I was a kid, I loved to watch survival movies, so... I kinda got the hang of it."


    Rose didn''t respond, just kept tying the leaves together.


    The wind picked up slightly, rustling the trees around us.


    Thud!


    It was quiet, aside from the sound of my sword striking wood and the occasional sound as another tree fell.


    After a while, Rose walked over, holding several bundles of leaves in her arms.


    "I think this is enough for now," she said.


    "Alright," I nodded.


    "Take them back to the others. I''ll keep chopping a bit more."


    She hesitated for a second, then gave a small nod before turning to leave.


    As she disappeared through the trees, I let out a small breath and tightened my grip on my sword.


    There was still more work to do.


    I raised my blade again and swung.


    CRACK.


    Another tree fell into the ground.


    The only reason I was gathering more wood was to make a fireplace.


    We also need to create a type of fence to make sure that the wind doesn''t blow away our shelters.


    After all, this isn''t a normal world.


    There''s a big chance of storms happening.


    And I had to be extra careful about it.

 Chapter 101 - 101: End Of Semester (IV)

    "Bastard..."


    Plucking the leaves of a daisy, a woman muttered to herself.


    "Do you love me...?" she asked softly, pulling off another petal.


    "Or not?"


    Another petal fell.


    She sighed, eyes narrowing as the last petal remained.


    "Damn it!"


    Plop!


    With a frustrated grunt, she tossed the daisy to the ground and stomped on it, glaring at the crushed flower beneath her feet.


    Continue your journey with My Virtual Library Empire


    "Hmph! Damned Lucas!" she hissed, her light brown hair falling over her face. "Why are you so focused on Ella? Can''t you see me waiting for you?!"


    But then...


    A voice came from the distance making Maya flinch abruptly.


    "Maya? Are you done already?!"


    Maya snapped her head up, her face flushing in embarrassment.


    "Y-yeah! I''ll be with you in a few moments!" she shouted back, trying to shake off the embarrassment of her little outburst.


    "Alright, don''t take too long!" came the reply.


    Maya adjusted her dress, taking a deep breath to calm herself.


    It wasn''t like she was upset¡­ just a little frustrated.


    She hurried over to where Iris was waiting, the two of them having been tasked with gathering resources for the shelter.


    As she approached, Iris raised an eyebrow.


    "Why did you take so long?" she asked curiously.


    "We''ve already purified more than enough water for today."


    Maya flashed a bright smile, trying to cover up the tension from earlier.


    "It was nothing, hehe. I was just distracted with a hare!"


    "A hare?!" Iris''s eyes widened.


    "Why didn''t you catch it?!" She put her hands on Maya''s shoulders and began shaking her lightly.


    "That could have been our dinner!"


    "W-why?!" Maya protested, shaking her head frantically.


    "It''s just a cute little hare!"


    Iris scowled.


    "It''s food, Maya!"


    "No, it''s not!"


    They argued back and forth for a while, but neither of them could agree.


    "Haaaa..." Iris let out a long sigh, dropping her hands from Maya''s shoulders as she turned to walk back to the camp.


    "Let''s just go back to the camp. We''ve spent enough time here."


    "HEY! Wait for me!" Maya called, quickly catching up to Iris as they made their way back through the forest.


    But as soon as they arrived at the camp...


    "This..."


    Both of them were utterly speechless.


    Clang, clang!


    "Wait¡­ what?" Maya blinked in shock, her eyes darting between the small wooden cabin that had suddenly appeared and Aestrea, who was standing in front of it, looking quite pleased with himself.


    The sand, where there had been nothing but a few hours ago, was now occupied by a fully constructed shelter.


    Wooden beams, leaves, and logs were stacked together, forming a sturdy little cabin.


    Aestrea, shirtless, was carefully hammering away at the wood.


    Instead of a hammer, though, he was using the fuller of his sword to hit sharp stones, securing the pieces of wood together.


    The sound of wood striking stone echoed through the air.


    Clang, clang!


    "Fuuu...!"


    He let out a deep breath.


    Then, he jumped towards the sand and took a deep look at his work.


    "Mhmm... the right side still needs some adjustments," he muttered to himself, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.


    "I''m not entirely sure that those leaves will hold up in a storm, though."


    He tightened his grip on the sword, taking a moment to focus before swinging it horizontally.


    Fwip!


    The right wall of the cabin split in half with a clean cut, and Aestrea moved swiftly to the newly cut pieces, slicing them into perfect cubicles of wood.


    "Perfect..."


    Maya and Iris watched in awe as Aestrea then took the cubicles of wood and began placing them into the sand.


    He used some kind of mud¡ªlikely a makeshift cement he had found or created on the island¡ªto seal them in place, ensuring everything was tightly connected.


    Plop!


    "Ah...! I didn''t see you two there." Aestrea suddenly spoke, noticing the two women standing behind him.


    He didn''t sound surprised¡ªjust casually acknowledging their presence.


    Iris raised an eyebrow.


    "Is this your idea of a shelter...? Isn''t this a bit... too much?" She asked in a tone of surprise as she walked closer to him.


    "No...? I''m just making sure we have proper shelter in case a storm comes. So, not really."


    He replied before wiping the sweat on his forehead, eyeing the structure one last time before turning toward the two women.


    "Now, we just need to finish the roof and reinforce the walls. But we''re almost done."


    Maya blinked in disbelief.


    "We?"


    "Yeah," Aestrea replied nonchalantly, grabbing his sword again.


    "Rose was helping me earlier. She went to get more leaves for the roof, and she also found some coconuts. She might bring those back too."


    Maya raised an eyebrow.


    "Oh, I see."


    Iris just stared at Aestrea, a little surprised by how smoothly everything was going.


    "What about you two? Did you manage to purify the water?" Aestrea asked, his attention still on his work. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Maya puffed out her chest and nodded proudly.


    "Of course!"


    Iris, however, only gave Maya a sideways glance before answering.


    "We found a small pond near the forest. The water seemed pretty clean already, but we made sure to purify it. There was a bit of salt in it, but nothing too serious."


    "Good job."


    Both Maya and Iris felt awkward hearing the praise.


    It was strange to hear Aestrea¡ªsomeone they weren''t that close to¡ªsay something like that.


    They both just nodded, unsure of how to respond.


    Aestrea seemed to notice the awkwardness but didn''t dwell on it.


    "Then, I guess you two can take a break for now. I''ll finish up the cabin."


    With that, he turned back to the shelter.


    But before he could start working again, a voice rang out from a distance.


    "Aestrea, I''m back!"


    It was Rose.


    She was carrying a bunch of coconuts in a makeshift leaf bag, and in her left hand, she had a vine that was dragging more leaves behind her.


    "Mhm."


    Aestrea nodded as he turned to face her.


    They started talking about the finishing touches for the shelter, and while they talked, Iris and Maya sat down on the sand, looked at them with weird gazes.


    Maya tilted her head, her eyes narrowing as she studied the two of them.


    "Aren''t those two... a bit too close?" she murmured, unsure of what exactly she was feeling.


    Iris glanced at her, then at Aestrea and Rose, before answering.


    "Yeah... I thought the same thing. Does Rose... like Aestrea?"


    Maya blinked, suddenly looking serious.


    "I thought you were just teasing earlier, but now that I think about it... it does seem like it, doesn''t it?" She tapped her chin, as if realizing something that had been nagging her.


    Iris''s eyes widened at Maya''s sudden insight.


    "Wait, you actually figured that out on your own?" she asked, clearly impressed.


    Maya blinked and turned to Iris, puzzled.


    "Uh, yeah? What''s wrong?"


    Iris stared at her for a moment, clearly taken aback.


    "I didn''t think you had it in you to actually think about stuff like that," she said, half-amused and half-shocked.


    Maya blinked again, looking completely confused.


    "Huh?!"


    "Pffft!"


    Iris laughed directly at her expression.


    Maya was still the same airhead.


    "Guys, we''re back!"


    Lucas''s voice rang out.


    Maya and Iris turned around immediately, while Rose and Aestrea didn''t budge from their spots.


    Nehind Lucas, Ella was dragging a boar by its hind legs, looking a little tired. Lucas, on the other hand, had a bunch of hares draped over his shoulder.


    "Welcome back!" Maya cheered, bouncing a little on her feet.


    Both Iris and Rose nodded at him while Aestrea... kept his focus on the cabin he was working on.


    "Haa... this should be enough!"


    Plop!


    The cabin was expanded by a bit and the right wall of the cabin was reconstructed successfully.


    "Whoa! You built all of this in just a few hours?" Lucas exclaimed loudly, clearly impressed as he walked up beside Aestrea.


    "Yeah, but it''s not done yet. We still need a better roof than just these leaves," Aestrea replied, wiping sweat off his forehead before stretching his arms over his head, looking up at the makeshift shelter.


    "Well, how about we cook some of those hares for now?" Lucas suggested, shifting the topic as he grinned at the others.


    "Yes! I''m starving!" Maya exclaimed eagerly, her stomach growling audibly.


    Iris sighed but didn''t protest.


    "Sure."


    Aestrea nodded.


    "Do you need help making the campfire?" he asked, glancing at Lucas.


    Lucas waved him off with a grin.


    "Nah, I know how to do it. Don''t worry about it."


    Aestrea nodded again and decided to take a short walk toward the ocean.


    "Weird..."


    Iris spoke.


    "Well, anyways, let''s just build the campfire and cook the hares." Lucas ignored her words and then put his hands to work.


    Maya and Iris sat by the camp, watching as Lucas worked quickly to start a fire.


    A few minutes later, the crackling sound of burning wood filled the air, and they began cooking the hares, the scent of roasting meat making everyone''s stomach growl in anticipation.


    Just then, Aestrea returned.


    His hair slightly damp but his clothes completely dry.


    There wasn''t a trace of sweat on his body anymore, which made the others wonder how he managed that.


    "Here''s your food."


    Lucas said, handing him a stick with a roasted hare on it.


    Aestrea accepted it before taking a small bite.


    It wasn''t anything special¡ªthere was no seasoning or spice, but it was more than enough to fill the hunger gnawing at his stomach.


    Maya, still chewing on her own portion, looked up at the group.


    "So... why do you think Instructor Zeva made us do this? This whole survival thing. What''s the point?"


    Lucas scratched his head, looking thoughtful.


    "Yeah, it does sound kinda weird when you think about it. How is this supposed to help us with anything?"


    "Maybe it''s to prepare us for situations like this," Iris suggested, trying to make sense of it.


    "It could be," Lucas agreed, nodding.


    "But it''s still strange."


    Before anyone could say more, Ella, who had been quiet, spoke up.


    "It''s for war."


    And instantly, everyone except Aestrea froze at her words, their eyes snapping toward her.


    "War?"


    Maya asked, raising an eyebrow.


    She hadn''t expected that.


    Ella nodded.


    "Yes. Our empire is currently in a conflict with one of the opposing empires. The Elven Kingdom and the Dwarf Kingdom have allied, and they pose a real threat to us. If war breaks out, we''ll need skills like this to survive."


    The group fell silent, processing her words.


    Maya frowned, confused.


    "Wait, didn''t we always hear that our empire was the strongest? Why are the elves bothering us?"


    Ella sighed, sitting down near the fire.


    "Apparently, the organization called the ''Dark Order'', made up of humans who invaded the Elven Kingdom. They tried to corrupt the Elven Princess into a Dark Elf, which is forbidden in their culture."


    "And those actions, as some of you might have guessed, were ''allegedly'' carried out under my father''s orders."


    She sighed deeply.


    "As everyone knows, our world is divided into six different factions. The Human Empire, the Elven Kingdom, the Dwarf Kingdom, the Holy Nation, the Beastkin Kingdom, and finally, the Demon Kingdom where the future demon king would be reborn..."


    The air turned colder at the last sentence, but after taking a deep breath, Ella continued.


    "So, a direct attack of our empire towards the Elven Kingdom is a really big offense, and since the Elven Kingdom and the Dwarf Kingdom allied themselves, they could probably be thinking of attacking us."


    "Our empire is strong, yes, but if a war were to happen, we might lose. Even with all our power."


    "Oooohhh!" Maya nodded frantically, as if she had understood her words.


    Iris was also a bit shocked, and frowned.


    "It''s not just a training exercise. This is serious. If the Elven and Dwarf Kingdoms do decide to attack, we''ll need to know how to survive on our own¡ªwhether we''re on an island or somewhere in the wilderness." Ella finished her words.


    "That... makes sense," Lucas said slowly, his expression now sober.


    "If a war does break out and we end up stranded somewhere, we''d need to know how to survive. This academy really prepares us for everything, huh?"


    "No wonder this academy has been the best for so long. The professors really know what they''re doing." Lucas announced happily.


    But as soon as he uttered those words, everyone went silent.


    That was because...


    As soon as he spoke, Aestrea, who had been quiet the whole time, suddenly looked up, his red eyes glowing faintly in the firelight.


    "Huh? Is it really the strongest academy?"


    Aestrea, with his glowing red eyes, asked, looking at Lucas with an extremely cold expression.


    Immediately, Lucas felt sweat forming on his forehead.


    "Well, it is indeed the strong¡ª"


    "¡ªLucas, shut your damned mouth!" Ella interrupted him before he could say anything stupid.


    Aestrea only rolled his eyes at her actions.


    "I''m done eating."


    He said as he stood up and went back to the cabin.


    The sun was already descending, so it would be the perfect time to have a nap.


    "Tsk... why is he so grumpy?" Lucas mumbled.


    "Yeah..." Maya nodded.


    Iris only remained silent.


    "Agh... You guys are so freaking dumb!" Ella suddenly stood up, looking disgusted as she started walking away.


    Maya and Lucas exchanged glances, then turned their attention back to the fire.


    "She''s right."


    Iris, however, broke the silence.


    "You two really are lost causes."


    "What?!"


    Both of them exclaimed.

 Chapter 102 - 102: End Of Semester (V)

    "A war, huh?"


    I muttered to myself as I walked back toward the wooden cabin.


    "And it was the Dark Order again..."


    My eyebrows furrowed.


    Those bastards.


    Always showing up, always causing trouble.


    But for what?


    What the hell do they really want?


    Damn it.


    If only I had more time to read the novel¡­


    Maybe I''d know more.


    Maybe I''d understand what they were truly after.


    Reaching the cabin, I stepped through the empty doorway¡ªwhere a door should be but wasn''t.


    The inside was just as bare. No furniture, no decorations.


    I wasn''t planning on making any of that anyway.


    This place was nothing more than a shelter¡ªa spot to sleep and store food.


    Nothing more.


    As for the beds¡­


    I turned my head to the right side of the cabin, where I had gathered a thick pile of leaves.


    The leaves are more than enough.


    "Haaah..."


    I should take a nap, I''m a bit tired.


    Tling...


    The sharp sound of a string being pulled suddenly cut through the silence.


    I froze.


    My grip on my sword tightened, but I didn''t move. For a brief second, I wondered if I imagined it. The wind, maybe? A branch shifting?


    No.


    Slowly, I lifted my sword and angled it, using the reflective blade like a mirror to look behind me.


    And there it was.


    Thin, nearly invisible strings crisscrossed behind me like a spider''s web. If I had taken just one more step¡­


    "Damn it."


    Press...


    A sharp sting.


    The strings pressed against my skin, cutting into me.


    Warm blood trickled down my arms.


    "Kagetaro..."


    I didn''t need to guess.


    There was only one person I knew who fought with strings.


    Clap, clap, clap!


    A slow, mocking applause echoed through the air.


    "Hah~ Hello again, my dear Moonlight Swordsman."


    A figure stepped out from the shadows, wearing the same annoying mask as before. He made a grand, exaggerated bow, his tone dripping with amusement.


    "Did you miss me?"


    His fingers twitched, and suddenly¡ª


    Swish!


    The strings tightened around me, slicing through the air. I twisted my body, forcing a roll to the side just before they could cut any deeper.


    Snap!


    Some of the strings snapped as I moved, but more of them came flying toward me.


    I swung my sword.


    Clang!


    The blade cut through a few of them, but not all.


    One wrapped around my ankle¡ª


    "Tsk."


    I slammed my foot down, twisting sharply.


    Snap!


    The string broke, but the moment I freed myself, Kagetaro was already moving.


    Whoosh!


    A blur of motion¡ªhe lunged forward, aiming a dagger straight at my throat.


    Clang!


    I raised my sword just in time, deflecting the attack.


    Sparks flew as metal scraped against metal.


    But Kagetaro wasn''t done.


    With a flick of his wrist, more strings shot out, wrapping around my wrist, my shoulder¡ªtrying to restrict my movement.


    I yanked back hard.


    Snap!


    Snap!


    Some of the strings broke, but I could feel others tightening around me.


    "You''re struggling more than last time," Kagetaro mused, tilting his head.


    "What''s wrong? Tired?"


    I gritted my teeth.


    "Shut up."


    Using my free hand, I grabbed one of the strings and yanked him toward me instead.


    His eyes widened.


    THWACK!


    I drove my knee into his stomach.


    "Guh¡ª!"


    His body lurched forward, but he quickly regained balance, flipping backward and landing a few feet away.


    "Heh..."


    He wiped his mask with the back of his hand, sighing.


    "Still as brutal as ever, huh?"


    I clenched my sword, looking at him.


    "What do you want?"


    I kept my eyes locked on his every movement.


    I couldn''t let my guard down.


    Not with him.


    Kagetaro tilted his head slightly, his body relaxed¡ªtoo relaxed.


    "Well~, isn''t it obvious?" he said with a smirk, or at least I assumed so.


    That damn mask hid everything but the amusement dripping from his voice.


    I tightened my grip.


    "¡­I''m not joining the Dark Order. Not now. Not ever."


    Kagetaro let out a long, exaggerated sigh, shaking his head.


    "Oh¡­ That truly is a pity," he said in a dejected tone, as if I had just refused a friendly invitation.


    "But¡­" His voice took on a sharper edge.


    "What if what I offer you is¡­"


    He reached for the ring on his finger.


    Fwoosh!


    A burst of bright light filled the cabin, forcing me to squint.


    And then¡ª


    My breath caught.


    Hovering above his open palm was a massive, pulsing heart. Deep blue in color, with thick veins running across its surface.


    And it was still pumping.


    Ba-dump, ba-dump.


    Loud. Strong. Alive.


    "...That..."


    My chest tightened.


    My body stiffened.


    A Dragon''s Heart.


    Kagetaro slowly brushed his fingers against it, his tone dripping with amusement.


    "Don''t you need this~?"


    Yes.


    I needed it.


    Because¡ª


    A Dragon''s Heart meant life for me.


    "How do you kno¡ª"


    "¡ªOf course, I do."


    He cut me off before I could finish, his voice carrying a lazy smirk.


    "Why wouldn''t I? I''ve been investigating you for more than... twelve years now."


    Twelve years?


    My heart skipped a beat.


    "Wait¡­ Twelve years¡­?"


    Kagetaro let out a light chuckle, tilting his head like he had just let a secret slip.


    Twelve years ago¡­


    That was around the time my sister died.


    A sharp pain settled in my chest, but before I could speak, he continued.


    "And before you ask, no. The Dark Order wasn''t involved in your sister''s death. If anything..." He suddenly stopped, his fingers tapping against the Dragon''s Heart.


    "We were truly sad that one of our officials died in such a harsh way."


    His voice dropped lower, almost like he was reminiscing. He even wiped away imaginary tears as if he was mourning.


    I couldn''t tell if he was mocking me¡­ or if he was serious.


    But then¡ª


    His next words froze my blood.


    "We even tried to recover her body. Maybe turn her into a vampire so she could live again. But unfortunately..."


    He sighed.


    "We didn''t find her body."


    My mind went blank. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    What¡­?


    No.


    No, no, NO.


    There was no way my sister would ever be involved with an organization like that.


    My breathing turned uneven.


    My heart pounded against my ribs.


    "I must say¡­" Kagetaro''s voice softened.


    It was strangely warm.


    "Your sister was very protective of you."


    I took a step back.


    "She watched over you while you slept," he continued, his voice carrying something almost like fondness.


    "She even used her own life force to seal your physique, just so you wouldn''t die early."


    He shook his head as if in admiration.


    Ah¡­


    I wanted to deny his words.


    To scream at him that he was lying.


    But I couldn''t.


    Because deep down, I knew.


    With my cursed physique, I should have died over ten years ago. My body wasn''t meant to last. The amount of mana it absorbed should have torn me apart from the inside out.


    And her blood essence¡­


    I lifted my shirt slightly, my fingers trembling.


    There.


    On my sternum.


    A small, faded symbol of a decayed lotus.


    My sister loved lotus flowers.


    No wonder¡­


    This was hers.


    She must have used all her mana, her very life force, to forcefully seal my physique.


    So that I could live.


    I felt something sting my eyes.


    Kagetaro''s gaze flickered to the mark on my skin, and his posture shifted slightly.


    "Ah¡­ that lotus symbol," he muttered.


    "That is so like her." His voice was quiet, almost¡­ nostalgic.


    "She really did love lotuses."


    My stomach twisted.


    How does he know that?


    I swallowed hard.


    My hands clenched into fists.


    No.


    No, it couldn''t be true.


    She wasn''t one of them.


    She wasn''t.


    But¡­


    If she wasn''t, then how did they know so much about her?


    About me?


    For the first time, I felt like my glowing eyes had lost their light.


    Kagetaro suddenly spread his arms wide.


    "Moonlig¡ªno, Aestrea Moon," he corrected himself with a grin.


    "Join us!"


    His voice was smooth, enticing.


    "If you do, I''ll give you access to everything¡ªall the resources you need to find out who caused the Demon Beast tide that killed your sister."


    My breath hitched.


    I stared at him, frozen in place.


    Wait¡­


    Someone caused it?


    The demon beast tide¡­ wasn''t natural?


    A slow, burning rage bubbled inside my chest.


    I clenched my fists so hard my nails dug into my skin.


    Who?


    Who was the bastard that did it?!


    Glow...!


    For a brief moment, a lavender light flickered around my body, my mana surging.


    Kagetaro''s eyes gleamed with amusement.


    "Oh-ho~," he chuckled, licking his lips.


    "That''s a nice look you have there."


    I ignored him.


    I forced my emotions down, gritting my teeth.


    And then¡ª


    I met his gaze.


    "No."


    "I refuse your proposal."


    Kagetaro stilled.


    I would find out who killed my sister.


    But I''d do it my way.


    Even if it took years, even if it cost me everything¡ª


    I would never join such a rotten organization.


    "Ah¡­ that''s truly sad."


    Kagetaro clicked his tongue a few times, his tone dripping with mock pity.


    Then, with a casual air, he dusted off his hat and adjusted it slightly before turning back to look at me.


    "Well¡­ I''ll see you later." His voice was light, almost playful.


    "Once you have access to mana, that is."


    And then¡ªhe jumped.


    His body twisted midair as he soared toward the open window, moving like a shadow.


    But before he vanished¡ª


    He turned to me one last time.


    "Also¡­"


    His voice was soft, but it cut through the air like a knife.


    "Since I really appreciated your sister¡­ I''ll give you a little help."


    He tilted his head, a smirk behind that mask.


    "You should start with the Royalty."


    Then, with a wink¡ª


    Fwoosh!


    He disappeared into the night, swallowed by the darkness.


    I stood frozen, his words ringing in my head.


    Start with the Royalty.


    The Royalty¡­


    My mind raced. My body felt hot.


    My fists clenched so tightly that my nails dug into my skin.


    The king.


    Could it be that bastard?


    A sharp pain shot through my chest as I struggled to breathe.


    Was he¡­ the one behind my sister''s death?


    Was he the reason she died?!


    Did Lilith control him or something?


    I gritted my teeth, my shoulders trembling as anger and frustration twisted inside me like a storm.


    I forced myself to take a slow, shaky breath.


    "Calm down¡­"


    I muttered under my breath, trying to push back the overwhelming fury boiling in my veins.


    "First... you need to check carefully if it was him or not..."


    But the rage wouldn''t leave.


    Plop, plop.


    Footsteps.


    "So¡­ you were here."


    A soft voice spoke behind me.


    That voice only angered me even more.


    I slowly exhaled, forcing my emotions down.


    Then, I turned around.


    "Yeah."


    It was Ella.


    Her long white hair swayed slightly with the night breeze, and her bright aquamarine eyes shimmered under the moonlight as she looked at me.


    She had an innocent expression, but right now, I didn''t care.


    "Well¡­ I''m sorry about Lucas," she started, a little hesitant.


    "He doesn''t know how to control his words, and¡ª"


    "¡ªIt''s alright. I understand."


    I cut her off before she could finish.


    Ella blinked, looking slightly surprised by my tone, but she let it go.


    Instead, her eyes narrowed slightly as she glanced around.


    "¡­Who were you talking to?" she asked, her tone curious but firm.


    "I heard another voice aside from yours from here, but I couldn''t quite make it out."


    Fuck.


    I immediately started thinking about an excuse.


    "¡­Myself."


    I immediately regretted it.


    I must''ve sounded crazy as hell.


    Ella raised an eyebrow.


    "¡­Really?"


    "Yeah." I nodded quickly.


    "I was just reminiscing about some memories from twelve years ago, and¡­ my voice just kind of came out naturally, in a different tone as if it was the narrator."


    It was a weak excuse.


    But it was all I had.


    Ella hummed, tilting her head slightly.


    "Twelve years ago¡­?"


    Her expression changed slightly¡ªthoughtful, distant.


    "That''s¡­ a pretty precise date."


    I forced a shrug.


    "Why? Do you have memories from that time?"


    I was just trying to make the conversation feel natural.


    Trying to cover up the awkwardness.


    But then¡ª


    "Yeah¡­ I think my father met with some high-ranking figure of the kingdom around then."


    Her voice was casual.


    Like she was just recalling an old memory.


    "I think they were¡­ planning to kill someone."


    She frowned slightly, trying to remember.


    "But I don''t really recall much¡­"


    Crack.


    A sharp pain spread across my chest.


    My fingers twitched, my whole body tensing.


    She said it so easily.


    So casually.


    But to me¡ªit felt like a blade to the throat.


    Her father¡­ was involved in a meeting to kill someone.


    Twelve years ago.


    The same time my sister died.


    My mind went blank.


    A cold, dark rage wrapped around my heart, squeezing it tight.


    I could barely hear anything.


    I could barely think.


    The king.


    That bastard.


    He must have been involved.


    The person who stole my sister away from me¡ªwho ripped her from my life¡ª


    It was him.


    A sickening fury crawled up my throat, but I swallowed it down.


    I needed to be sure.


    I took a slow breath, forcing my voice to stay steady.


    I need to investigate her death thoroughly...


    But if it was indeed that fucking bastard...


    I need to check something.


    "By the way¡­ weird question."


    Ella blinked, snapping out of her thoughts.


    "Hm?" She tilted her head. Continue your saga on My Virtual Library Empire


    "What is it?"


    I looked her straight in the eyes.


    "If someone killed your father¡­ would you go after them for revenge?"


    She frowned, confused by the sudden question.


    But then¡ª


    Her eyes darkened slightly.


    "It really is a weird question¡­ but the answer is obvious."


    She nodded firmly.


    "Even if he''s not the best father¡­ he still cares about me. So anyone who killed him would immediately die by my hands."


    She didn''t hesitate.


    She didn''t even flinch.


    I stared at her.


    She would kill for her father.


    She would avenge him.


    "I see¡­"


    I murmured, nodding slowly.


    Ella gave me a small, confused look.


    "That was oddly specific."


    I forced a light chuckle.


    "Well¡­ just making conversation."


    But inside¡ª


    I had already made my decision.


    I looked into her bright aquamarine eyes.


    We...


    ...It seems that we truly don''t have any destiny together.


    Ella.

 Chapter 103 - 103: End Of Semester (VI)

    Five days passed.


    We were now on the sixth day of the exam, and things were going too smoothly.


    There was no trouble.


    Everything was simply going... well.


    Which was pretty weird, considering that Lucas is basically a magnet for trouble. And yet, besides the encounter I had with Kagetaro, nothing else really happened.


    I just repeated the same process.


    Gathering resources, eating, training my swordsmanship, and then getting some sleep.


    I even did a few spars against Lucas.


    The first few spars, I always won them, but with every single one of them, Lucas got visually more adept at swordsmanship.


    As expected of the Hero, huh?


    "...Aestrea! Let''s spar again!"


    I looked up, sipping on my coconut water.


    It was Lucas, calling out to me with that excited voice of his.


    Gosh...


    Doesn''t he ever get tired of this?


    I sighed softly.


    But, well, I didn''t have anything better to do.


    "Sure."


    I stood up, putting my sword back into its sheath and walked toward the beach, where Lucas stood, waving his hand at me with his bashful smile.


    And surprisingly...


    This time we had quite the public.


    "Ehhh¡­ you''re sparring with him again?"


    Maya''s voice rang out from the side.


    "Of course! I''m learning a lot from him!"


    Lucas replied excitedly.


    "Do your best! I''ll always be here to heal any of you!" Iris cheered from the sidelines, giving us a thumbs-up.


    And Ella...


    She didn''t exactly say anything.


    And instead just kept her eyes on the ocean.


    I glanced at her for a moment, but then refocused on Lucas.


    "...Let''s start then!" Lucas declared, bouncing on his heels.


    "On the count of three!"


    I nodded in agreement.


    But before he could even speak, Maya jumped in, already counting.


    "One!"


    I felt the wind pick up, the salty air brushing across my skin.


    "Two!"


    A faint tension filled the air, the world seeming to slow just a little.


    "Three!"


    Fwoop!


    With a quick lunge, Lucas swung his sword at me, aiming for my midsection.


    The blade whistled through the air as it cut toward me, fast and sharp.


    Clang!


    I raised my sword just in time, blocking the strike with a sharp clash.


    The force of the blow sent a jolt through my arms, but I quickly stepped back, keeping my balance.


    "Phew..."


    Lucas didn''t waste a second.


    He followed up with a quick downward slash, trying to catch me off guard.


    I sidestepped, the blade missing me by inches, and before he could recover, I stepped in, swinging my sword at his side.


    Swish!


    He managed to twist his body just enough to deflect my strike with the flat of his sword, the sound of metal scraping against metal ringing in the air.


    He then pushed forward with a quick thrust, aiming at my chest.


    I blocked again, our swords meeting with a sharp sound that sent a vibration up my arm.


    I countered with a low sweep toward his legs, hoping to trip him up.


    Thud!


    Lucas jumped back just in time, avoiding the strike, but he didn''t stop moving.


    He pivoted, sending another wild swing at me, his sword coming from above.


    I raised my own blade to parry, but his strike was stronger than I expected.


    The impact forced me to take a step back, and my feet shifted in the sand.


    And just after, he charged again, this time with a series of rapid strikes aimed at my head.


    His sword moved like a blur, each attack faster than the last.


    Clang, clang, clang!


    I blocked each strike, but barely.


    My arms were starting to ache, and my breath was getting heavier.


    I needed to find an opening¡ªquickly.


    I leaned back, narrowly avoiding a slash to my face, then pivoted on my heel, stepping to the side.


    I swung my sword down in a quick arc, aiming for his shoulder.


    Whoosh!


    Lucas barely managed to bring his sword up to block the strike, the sound of metal ringing out as our swords met.


    The force of my blow pushed him back a few steps, but he recovered quickly.


    "Haha... this is fun!"


    He said, grinning while breathing heavy.


    "But I''m not done yet!"


    I raised an eyebrow at his words.


    Lucas didn''t wait for me to react this time as he rushed in, charging at me full force.


    His sword came down, aiming for my head, but I ducked just in time.


    Fwip!


    I could hear the sound of the sword cutting through the air above me, followed by a loud thud as it hit the sand where my head had been just a moment before.


    I didn''t waste any time.


    With a quick step forward, I slashed horizontally, aiming for his ribs.


    Swish!


    Lucas barely twisted away, his body twisting in mid-air, but the tip of my sword caught his side, grazing him lightly.


    "Agh!"


    He groaned in pain, but quickly composed himself.


    Plop...


    He took another step back, shifting into a defensive stance, his sword held high, waiting for me to make the next move.


    I stepped forward cautiously, testing him, trying to find the right opening.


    But his eyes never left me.


    "...Come on, Aestrea! Don''t hold back!" Lucas shouted, urging me on.


    This guy...


    I rolled my eyes.


    But as I did so, I saw Lucas flinching slightly.


    With that, I lunged forward, faster than before.


    Whoosh!


    Lucas barely managed to raise his sword to block the incoming strike, but this time, I wasn''t aiming for his sword.


    I aimed for his head.


    Clang!


    Our swords collided, and I twisted my blade to lock his in place. With a quick twist of my wrist, I forced his sword downward, leaving his side open.


    I swung my sword toward his torso, aiming for a clean hit.


    Thud!


    But just before the sword made contact, Lucas dropped to the ground, rolling to the side and narrowly avoiding my strike.


    "Close..."


    I muttered, taking a step back.


    Lucas stood up, a look of frustration crossing his face.


    "I''m not done yet!"


    He rushed at me again, this time with an overhead strike.


    Whoosh!


    I blocked, the force of the blow rattling my bones, but I didn''t back down.


    I met his next strike with equal force, our swords locking in a fierce struggle.


    "...HORAAAAHHH!"


    Lucas shouted, using more strength to push me back.


    And to his words, I didn''t exactly say anything, just adjusting my grip, eyes scanning for his next move.


    Suddenly, he broke the stalemate with a quick shift, stepping to the side and aiming a quick slash at my legs.


    Swish!


    I barely managed to jump back, but the tip of his sword grazed my ankle, leaving a small cut.


    Damn it...


    I got careless.


    And then, Lucas went for another overhead swing, but this time, I was ready.


    I twisted to the side, avoiding the strike and countering with a sharp slash aimed at his back.


    Swish!


    It landed, but Lucas spun around just in time to block with the side of his sword. He was breathing heavily now, sweat pouring down his face.


    ''An opportunity...!''


    Fwoop!


    I lunged forward aiming directly for his side, catching him completely off guard.


    He barely reacted in time.


    With a swift adjustment, he shifted his stance and swung his sword in a wide arc, aiming to slice me in half.


    Fwip!


    I raised my sword, the sound of the blade meeting his ringing in the air.


    It felt like the entire beach held its breath.


    But as soon as the swords clashed, I noticed him lose his footing on the soft sand.


    His stance was unstable, and in that moment, I twisted my blade, pushing his sword aside.


    THUD!


    The hilt of my sword slammed straight into Lucas''s chest.


    "KUGH¡ª!"


    He gasped, a grunt of pain slipping past his lips as his body stumbled backward, the breath knocked from his lungs.


    Thud!


    He fell hard into the sand, his sword falling from his grip as he lay there, staring up at the sky.


    "...Aestrea is the winner!" Maya announced cheerfully.


    Next to her was Iris, clapping with a small smile on her lips, as for Ella, she had her eyes on the ocean still.


    "Ahhhhh! I lost again! Shit...!" Lucas, splattered on the sand, grumbled in pure frustration.


    Pfft...


    I extended my hand to him, which he took, and then, I pulled him back up to his feet.


    "Damn it... I''ll win the next time!" he clenched his fist tightly.


    He was pretty determined.


    "Sur¡ª!"


    ¡ªBOOOOOOOM!


    A massive explosion rocked the outskirts of the forest, the sound of it echoing in the air like thunder.


    Thick, black smoke billowed up into the sky, swirling like a storm was brewing.


    And immediately...


    A loud voice rang out.


    {ATTENTION STUDENTS! A HUGE AMOUNT OF DEMON BEASTS HAVE BEEN DETECTED! YOUR SEALED MANA IS NOW UNSEALED, AND THE EXAM WILL CHANGE. THE STUDENTS WHO CONTRIBUTE MORE WILL RECEIVE A BETTER GRADE! THIS WILL BE A TEAM ASSESSMENT¡ªTHE GROUP THAT SLAYS THE MOST DEMON BEASTS WILL GET PERFECT MARKS, WHILE THE OTHERS WILL BE JUDGED BASED ON PERFORMANCE!}


    Zeva''s voice boomed from the distance.


    The moment I heard those words, my body didn''t wait.


    It just reacted.


    I shot forward without a second thought.


    Fwoosh!


    Mana surged from deep within me, rushing out like a flood.


    I could feel the heavy weight that had been pressing on me these past days lift from my body, leaving me much lighter than before.


    "Fuuuu...!"


    Fwoop!


    The speed increased. My feet barely touched the ground as I dashed, the wind cutting through my hair.


    In just a few minutes, I was there.


    The place where the explosion had come from.


    I skidded to a halt, scanning the area.


    The trees were completely obliterated, their trunks splintered and charred.


    The grass was gone, replaced by dark, charred soil.


    A strange silence hung in the air, broken only by the distant groans and growls.


    I took a deep breath before finding some unusual... demon beasts.


    They looked something similar to... zombies?


    In front of me... there were...


    Humanoid creatures with rotten, decayed flesh hanging from their bones.


    Their eyes were sunken, their mouths twisted into grotesque snarls.


    They made these low, guttural sounds, like something trying to grunt through a clogged throat.


    The air around them smelled rank, like death.


    ¡º Judgement Eye (? S+ Level Skill ?)¡»


    I narrowed my eyes.


    "B-rank?"


    That surprised me.


    These things looked weak¡ªreally weak.


    But their power¡­ it was high.


    How could something so ragged and disgusting hold such a dangerous level of strength?


    ¡º Ice Generation (? 1st-Level Spell ?)¡»


    I raised my hand, the familiar icy cold creeping up my arm.


    A sharp shard of ice appeared in my palm, sparkling in the light.


    Fwoop!


    I hurled it at the nearest zombie.


    The shard flew through the air and hit its chest.


    Splurt!


    Green, rotting blood sprayed everywhere, the stench hitting me like a slap to the face.


    But to my shock¡­


    "Graaahhh..."


    The thing didn''t even flinch.


    It just kept moving, staggering forward like nothing had happened.


    "Is it like the movies?"


    Without hesitation, I threw another ice shard¡ªthis time, aiming for its head.


    Splat!


    The zombie''s head cracked open, and its body crumpled into a pile of black wisps, dissolving into nothingness.


    I stared, stunned.


    "The fuck...?"


    It should have dropped dead. It should have fallen to the ground like any other demon beast I''ve fought.


    But no¡­ it just disappeared.


    Into thin air, like it was never even there.


    That... is indeed weird.


    I took another look around.


    And strangely, the other zombie-looking creatures had completely disappeared.


    "Where did they go?"


    I muttered under my breath, taking a cautious step forward.


    I reached out, extending my senses, trying to feel any sign of movement.


    "Fuck..!"


    A chill ran up my spine.


    Fwoop!


    I instantly jumped back, barely avoiding the shadow that crashed down where I''d just been standing.


    BAM!


    The ground shook violently as a massive figure rose from the earth.


    My eyes widened.


    A giant zombie.


    At least ten meters tall.


    "An S-level demon beast?"


    Once again, I was surprised. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    S-level demon beasts were rare.


    Really rare.


    And they were dangerous.


    So dangerous, they could destroy entire cities.


    One of them could easily lay waste to an entire nation, slowly and painfully.


    Even if they didn''t pack the power for instant destruction, given time, they could bring everything to ruin.


    But well...


    If it was a few months ago...


    I would''ve been terrified.


    An S-level beast would have been a serious problem.


    But now¡­


    After I beat down an Archdemon in a one-to-one...


    This demon beast could only be considered some kind of warm up.

 Chapter 104 - 104: End Of Semester (VII)

    "GRAAAHHH!"


    The big zombie roared loudly.


    And immediately, Aestrea jumped back, gathering enough distance.


    ¡º Frost Explosion (? 6th-Level Spell ?) ¡»


    A silver ball of mana formed in his palm, swirling with icy energy. Cold mist rose from it, making the air around him drop in temperature.


    But he didn''t throw it.


    Not yet.


    "C''mon, big guy..."


    He waited for the big zombie to lunge at him.


    And just as expected¡ª


    BOOM!


    The zombie lunged forward, its giant arms swinging down like hammers. Its speed was faster than it looked.


    "Now!"


    Aestrea hurled the Frost Explosion straight at its open chest.


    FWOOOOSH!


    The ball of ice magic shot through the air and collided against the beast''s decayed skin.


    BOOOOM!


    A powerful burst of frost exploded outward, sending ice shards flying in all directions.


    The giant zombie let out a howl as its torso was covered in thick layers of ice, freezing up to its neck. Its movements slowed, cracks spreading across its frozen flesh.


    "Hah... that should keep you still for a bit."


    But before Aestrea could celebrate, the zombie did something unexpected.


    CRACK!


    It flexed its massive arms, and with sheer brute force, shattered the ice encasing its body.


    "Tsk..."


    The zombie lunged again, swinging its arm sideways like a massive club.


    Fwip!


    Aestrea barely managed to jump over it. The air whistled past his ears as the massive limb swiped beneath him, narrowly missing his legs.


    BOOOOM!


    The force of the swing shattered a row of trees behind him.


    Aestrea landed on the zombie''s frozen shoulder and immediately reacted¡ªhis sword glowing with silver mana.


    ''Let''s... not spend much mana yet...''


    "Moonlit Ice Lotus Sword Art...!"


    ¡º First Move (? Ice Lotus Bloom ?) ¡»


    His sword slashed downward.


    FWOOSH!


    A sharp crescent of ice shot out from his blade, slicing across the zombie''s arm. The moment the attack landed, ice spread from the cut, forming the shape of a glowing lotus.


    CRACK!


    The zombie''s entire right arm was instantly frozen solid.


    Aestrea leaped back and swung his sword again.


    ¡º Second Move! (? Ice Lotus Barrage ?) ¡»


    Three quick slashes in the air sent multiple ice crescents flying toward the beast.


    The zombie roared as the attacks bombarded its body, each hit leaving glowing frost marks across its torso.


    Its movements became sluggish.


    "Haa... It''s working¡ª"


    Suddenly¡ª


    BOOOOM!


    The zombie stomped the ground, and a strange dark mist erupted from its body.


    Aestrea''s eyes narrowed.


    "...Regeneration?"


    He watched as the frozen parts of its body melted away, and the cuts on its chest sealed themselves.


    Aestrea clicked his tongue.


    "This thing just doesn''t know when to die."


    Before he could plan his next move, the zombie''s arm swung toward him again.


    FWOOSH!


    Aestrea ducked just in time, feeling the air pressure from the massive fist barely graze over his head.


    He jumped to the side, landing on the ground with his sword raised.


    ¡º Third Move! (? Moonlight''s One Flash ?) ¡»


    Aestrea''s blade glowed with a brilliant silver light.


    And in one swift motion¡ª


    SHWAAAK!


    A single, precise slash cut through the air, leaving behind a faint trail of shimmering ice.


    A sharp line appeared across the zombie''s chest.


    For a second, nothing happened.


    Then¡ª


    SPLUUURT!


    A deep, clean cut split open across its torso, spraying rotten blood into the air. The zombie let out a deafening SCREEEEECH!


    Its entire body wobbled¡ªbefore suddenly dropping to its knees.


    Aestrea took a deep breath.


    "...Did I get it?"


    Just then¡ª


    BAM!


    The zombie slammed both its fists into the ground, sending a shockwave of force in all directions.


    Aestrea was forced to jump back, but before he could regain his footing¡ª


    FWOOSH!


    A massive black shadow loomed over Aestrea, blocking out the light.


    His eyes widened.


    "What the¡ª?!"


    The giant zombie, despite its wounds, was still moving. Its massive, rotting body lunged forward, both arms raised high above its head.


    It was coming down like a hammer, ready to crush him into the ground.


    Aestrea had almost no time to react.


    Instead¡ª


    He simply uttered a single word.


    ¡º Bleed ¡»


    SPLURT!


    The wounds Aestrea had inflicted earlier suddenly burst open, spraying thick, darkish green blood in all directions.


    The force of the sudden rupture made the zombie''s body buckle.


    THUD!


    It collapsed onto its knees, its head bowing low as if forced into submission.


    "GRAAAAHHH!"


    The zombie roared loudly in deep pain.


    In that instant, Aestrea appeared in front of it.


    He moved so fast that his silhouette blurred for a moment before he was already there, standing just inches from the creature''s face.


    His palm pressed firmly against its forehead.


    "...Impacto."


    SPLAT!


    The air itself seemed to tremble.


    A sudden, concentrated pulse of mana exploded from Aestrea''s palm.


    The pressure built up for a mere fraction of a second¡ª


    Then¡ª


    BOOM!


    The zombie''s skull detonated like a crushed fruit, splattering blood and rotten flesh in all directions.


    A sickening mist of darkish green fluids sprayed through the air, covering the ground in filth.


    ¡º Clean ¡»


    Aestrea casually wiped the blood off his body with a simple spell, not even glancing at the mess he had made.


    "...That took longer than expected. But I should refrain from using a mana output higher than two for now."


    He exhaled slowly, rolling his shoulders.


    He then placed a hand on his chest.


    Thump!


    Thump!


    A strange sensation pulsed inside him¡ªtwo separate heartbeats, thudding in rhythm but slightly off from one another.


    It was something he had grown used to, but even now, the feeling was bizarre.


    However, before he could dwell on it¡ª


    "...AESTREA!"


    A sudden shout reached out to him.


    Aestrea turned his head, and his glowing red eyes locked onto a boy running toward him, panting, his body covered in green blood.


    Aestrea narrowed his eyes slightly.


    "...Who are you again?"


    The brown-haired boy froze for a second.


    Then, with a sheepish smile, he scratched the back of his head.


    "Ah... my name''s Ethan! I''m in the same class as you!" he said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.


    Aestrea frowned slightly.


    "Sorry," he said flatly.


    "Since I was only planning to stay for a single semester, I didn''t bother remembering most of our classmates'' names."


    Ethan laughed awkwardly.


    "Ah, that''s alright! Oh, actually¡ªdo you mind if I stick with you?"


    Aestrea raised an eyebrow.


    "I kind of... spent most of my mana fighting those things," Ethan admitted, looking a little embarrassed.


    Aestrea stared at him for a moment before nodding.


    "Really?! Great!" Ethan clenched his fist, looking visibly relieved.


    Aestrea let out a quiet chuckle at his enthusiasm.


    "Let''s go, then."


    With that, he dashed forward¡ªnot at full speed, but at a pace that Ethan could keep up with.


    FWOOSH!


    It didn''t take long before they reached another battlefield.


    A wide-open area, littered with dozens of demon beasts.


    Some looked like twisted animals with extra limbs and glowing eyes. Others resembled humanoid monsters, their rotten skin pulsing with strange energy.


    Aestrea stopped at the edge of the battlefield, scanning the situation.


    "Ethan," he called.


    Ethan, catching his breath, looked at him.


    "I''ll take the frontline," Aestrea said, sheathing his sword for a moment.


    "You cover my back."


    Ethan nodded instantly.


    "Got it!"


    With a quick motion, he pulled out a massive battle-axe.


    Aestrea glanced at it, raising an eyebrow.


    It was nearly as big as Ethan himself.


    Despite his lack of visible muscle, Ethan wielded it with ease.


    "Interesting," Aestrea muttered.


    Then¡ª


    "Let''s go."


    Aestrea unsheathed his sword, and the air instantly grew colder.


    ¡º Ice Generation (? 1st-Level Spell ?) ¡»


    Hisss...


    A thin layer of frost spread over his sword, glowing faintly.


    And just like that¡ª


    FWOOSH!


    Aestrea shot forward like a blur, his sword shimmering with cold light.


    The first demon beast¡ªa twisted, four-legged creature with sharp fangs¡ªlunged at him from the side, its claws slashing straight for his throat.


    CLANG!


    Aestrea twisted his body slightly, his sword meeting the creature''s claws mid-air. Sparks flew as metal clashed against its bone-like talons.


    He slid his foot forward and¡ª


    ¡º First Move! (? Ice Lotus Bloom ?) ¡»


    With a smooth, upward swing¡ª


    SWOOSH!


    A lotus-shaped frost bloomed in the air as his sword cut straight through the beast''s front legs.


    SLASH!


    The monster barely had time to scream before its body collapsed, the icy wound spreading fast and freezing it solid.


    Aestrea didn''t stop.


    Another demon beast¡ªthis one a hunched-over humanoid with glowing red eyes¡ªcharged at him from behind, its jagged fingers curled into claws.


    He spun around, ducking just in time to avoid its swipe.


    The monster swung again¡ªthis time aiming straight for his head.


    Aestrea stepped back.


    The claws missed him by a hair.


    He countered.


    ¡º Mixed Ice Series: Frost Mist! (? 4th-Level Spell ?) ¡»


    A thin smoke of ice shot forward, piercing the creature''s body.


    SPLURT!


    Dark blood splattered across the battlefield as the beast staggered backward, frozen wounds covering its chest.


    It let out a strangled growl before collapsing.


    "Fuuu...!"


    Aestrea exhaled lightly, shifting his grip.


    There were still more.


    Three demon beasts rushed at him at once.


    He moved.


    Dashing through them, he ducked under a claw, sidestepped another attack, and then¡ª


    ¡º Third Move! (? Moonlight''s One Flash ?) ¡»


    FWOOOOOSH!


    A single horizontal slash.


    It happened so fast that, for a moment, the monsters didn''t react.


    Then¡ª


    SPLAT!


    A clean cut sliced through all three of them.


    Their bodies split apart, frozen at the edges before they crumbled into icy shards.


    Thud, thud, thud!


    "Whoa!"


    A voice sounded from behind.


    Ethan, who had been fending off a group of beasts, turned to see the aftermath.


    "You just¡ªtook them all down in one move?! That''s insane!" he shouted.


    Aestrea ignored him, already moving toward the next wave of enemies.


    But¡ª


    BOOM!


    The ground trembled. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Something big was coming.


    Aestrea stopped, his eyes narrowing.


    A giant figure emerged from the shadows.


    It was another zombie-like beast¡ªexcept this one was bigger. At least fifteen meters tall, with thick, muscular arms that looked powerful enough to crush boulders.


    Its hollow eyes locked onto Aestrea.


    Then¡ª


    THUMP!


    It stomped forward, the impact sending cracks through the ground.


    "...Another S-rank monster..." Aestrea mumbled, exhaling deeply.


    "What is happening?"


    Aestrea''s grip on his sword tightened.


    The monster lifted one massive fist¡ª


    And swung it down.


    BOOOOOOM!


    Aestrea leaped back just in time.


    The ground where he stood seconds ago exploded, dust and debris flying everywhere.


    But before he could counter¡ª


    WHOOSH!


    The zombie''s other hand came from the side, aiming to swat him away like a fly.


    Aestrea reacted instantly.


    He raised his sword¡ªblocking the hit¡ª


    CLANG!


    But the impact was so strong it sent him skidding backward.


    "...Tsk."


    He steadied his footing, exhaling.


    Then¡ª


    He vanished.


    In an instant, he was right in front of the monster''s chest.


    ¡º 40% Strength: Fourth Move! (? Lunar Collapse ?) ¡»


    His sword glowed¡ª


    FWOOM!


    A heavy downward strike.


    The force behind it¡ª


    CRAAACK!


    The zombie''s entire torso caved in, its frozen flesh cracking under the immense pressure.


    Even the space seemed to shake due to the strength caused by the blow.


    Stay connected through My Virtual Library Empire


    BOOM!


    It fell backward, hitting the ground with a thunderous crash.


    Aestrea landed gracefully, standing over its motionless body.


    Silence filled the battlefield.


    Then¡ª


    Ethan whistled.


    "...Damn."


    Aestrea flicked his sword, shaking off the frost.


    "Alright," he muttered.


    "Next."


    He cracked his head, looking forward where more of those beasts could be seen.


    And without hesitation¡ª


    He dashed forward again.

 Chapter 105 - 105: End Of Semester (VIII)

    Meanwhile...


    ¡º Fire Series: Fire Cyclones! (? 4th-Level Spell ?)¡»


    Fwooosh!


    Three massive fire cyclones tore through the air, each spinning with ferocious speed, ripping the air around them.


    The monsters caught in the path were torn apart, their bodies disintegrating into wisps of black smoke.


    The ground trembled with each impact as the flames burned hot enough to melt everything in its path.


    "Six more down," Rose muttered to herself, wiping the sweat from her brow.


    She glanced over her shoulder at her team.


    They were fighting hard, but the monsters just kept coming.


    Beside her, Iris raised her hand.


    ¡º Holy Series: Light Halo! (? 5th-Level Spell ?)¡»


    Iris conjured, and immediately, a bunch of hovering golden halos appeared above everyone''s head, buffing their speed and strength.


    "Thanks, Iris!" Lucas grinned, feeling the effects almost instantly.


    His sword flashed as he swung it in a wide arc.


    Fwip!


    Splurt!


    The blade cut clean through three zombie heads, their decapitated bodies stumbling before collapsing into a heap.


    And just besides him, a flash of golden light shot forward.


    Splurt!


    Three more zombies'' heads flew out.


    "...These zombie creatures are endless!" Ella grumbled, wiping the sweat from her forehead.


    They had been killing these creatures for more than half an hour, but they didn''t seem to end at all.


    If anything, more would simply appear.


    "...Should we go further?" Iris, behind them, asked curiously.


    "I''m not sure," Lucas said, wiping his blade on the grass.


    "We''re still waiting on Maya. And... Aestrea''s off doing who knows what."


    {Be careful. Like I''ve said before, there''s a very malicious figure in this island...}


    The Excalibur spoke solemnly.


    ''I know...''


    "GUYS! I COULDN''T FIND AESTREAAA!"


    A not-so cheerful voice rang out, making everyone turn around.


    There, Maya stood, rushing towards them with her fists coated in green blood. It seemed that she also slaughtered some zombies on the way.


    "...Damn it." Rose scoffed.


    "...He really simply decided to go fight monsters by himself. How irresponsible... hmpf," Rose added in an annoyed voice.


    Maya stopped in front of them, still breathing heavily, looking a little out of breath but not giving up.


    "I swear, that guy..." she huffed, catching her breath.


    "I thought he''d be around here, but I''ve been all over and haven''t seen him."


    Hearing her words, Iris frowned.


    "Should we keep going?"


    "Mhm..."


    Lucas looked at Ella, considering the question.


    He took a quick glance at the others and then nodded slowly.


    "I''m sure Aestrea''s wherever the biggest mess is. Knowing him, that''s probably where the most chaos is happening."


    "Yeah, that sounds like him..." Maya added with a smirk, even though she was clearly irritated.


    Ella adjusted her sword, tightening her grip.


    "Then let''s go."


    However, just as they started moving toward the direction where the battle noise grew louder, Lucas suddenly shouted.


    "GUYS, STOP!"


    Lucas suddenly stopped.


    Immediately, all of them froze at his words.


    BAAAAM!


    A loud crash echoed, and in front of them, a strange zombie appeared. It was thin, with long, writhing tentacles protruding from its body.


    Its strange eyes gazed onto them, its head tilting as it stared.


    "Guraahh...?"


    The zombie made a low, gurgling sound, almost like it was trying to speak, but in a strange, distorted way.


    "...T-this..." Ella frowned.


    She could clearly feel that the zombie''s power was above hers.


    ''Is this the malicious thing you were talking about...?'' Lucas asked inwardly, looking at the creature warily.


    {No. The malicious figure is moving, and this creature isn''t. I can''t quite figure out its location, but it should be far from here.}


    The Excalibur replied.


    Iris, gripping her staff, stepped forward, unsure.


    "Ah... guys? Should we attack him?" she asked hesitantly.


    Rose took a step back, clearly not trusting the creature.


    "I don''t think so," she replied softly, her eyes narrowed.


    However, on the other hand, Ella gripped her sword tightly.


    "Ella...?" Lucas called out.


    "Royal Swordsmanship...!" she mumbled to herself, and immediately, a bright golden light enveloped her sword.


    "ELLA, NO!"


    Lucas shouted, but it was too late.


    ¡º Divine Punishment! ¡»


    With a mighty swing, Ella''s sword expanded in size, turning into a massive golden blade. The sword came down with incredible force, slamming directly into the tentacle zombie.


    BOOOOM!


    The impact was very destructive, a massive explosion of energy erupted from the strike, sending a shockwave through the ground.


    A deep crater formed, shaped like the blade of her sword.


    Ella stepped back, panting, as the smoke rose from the attack.


    "Did... it kill it?" she asked, looking uncertain.


    Fwip!


    She swung her sword, clearing out the rising smoke.


    And...


    "Gurahh."


    A weird noise reached her ears.


    The zombie was still standing, its tentacles wriggling.


    It had extended one of its hands, and a glowing green shield had formed around its body, protecting it from the attack.


    "Damn it..." Read exclusive adventures at My Virtual Library Empire


    Ella muttered under her breath, gritting her teeth.


    But before she could attack him again¡ª


    ¡ªLucas intervened.


    "Ella, stop! He doesn''t seem to want to hurt us!" Lucas warned, positioning himself between the monster and Ella.


    Then, he stepped forward, cautiously, and looked directly at the zombie.


    "...What do you want?" he asked cautiously.


    To his surprise, the zombie responded.


    It moved, its tentacles reaching out and pointing toward the north.


    "Gurah, gurah!"


    Lucas blinked, unsure.


    "You want us to go there?"


    "GURAH!"


    The zombie nodded vigorously, its tentacles shaking with excitement.


    Lucas turned to look at the north, where the trees of the forest stood tall. In the distance, he could see flashes of light shooting into the sky.


    But one of them stood among all of them.


    A silver-colored one.


    "Aestrea is there..." Lucas whispered.


    {That''s also the direction the malicious figure is in...}


    His heart skipped.


    "Is he in danger?!"


    {Maybe.}


    "Guys, let''s go to the forest then!"


    Maya raised an eyebrow.


    "Huh? Why? Don''t tell me, you''re actually going to trust a zombie?" She sounded both confused and annoyed.


    Iris was quiet, clearly unsure.


    She glanced at Rose, who didn''t say much but had a neutral expression on her face.


    "...I think we should go too." Ella glanced at the forest for a moment.


    She remembered Aestrea had headed that way before, and the fact that the zombie was pointing in the same direction couldn''t be a coincidence.


    "Ahhh... damn it! LET''S JUST GO!" Maya grumbled, stomping her feet toward the north side of the forest.


    She was still reluctant to trust the zombie, but seeing the others agree, she puffed out her cheeks in frustration.


    ¡ª


    It took them a while to reach the place where Lucas had sensed Aestrea''s mana signature.


    BOOOM!


    Another explosion echoed in the distance. Lucas narrowed his eyes and followed the sound, determined to find Aestrea.


    "...Gosh, we still haven''t found anything!" Maya complained, crossing her arms.


    "No monsters, no students... nothing!" she grumbled.


    "There should be students up ahead," Iris said, pointing toward the source of the explosions.


    "Yeah, but stilllll!!!!" Maya whined.


    Lucas chuckled at the banter between them.


    Both of them were always the two who kept the group alive.


    But then¡ª


    BAAAM!


    A figure was sent crashing toward them.


    Lucas''s instincts shot to life. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Thud!


    He stepped forward and caught the body before it hit the ground, the weight of the impact nearly knocking the air out of him.


    "Are you okay?!" Lucas asked, quickly turning to Iris.


    Iris nodded, and immediately, a golden light flowed from her staff and surrounded the brown-haired figure.


    ¡º Holy Series: Holy Heal (? 3rd-Level Spell ?)¡»


    In seconds, the figure gasped for air, his eyes snapping open.


    "Cough, cough!"


    He coughed, spitting over green blood into the ground.


    "A-ah... fuck...!"


    he groaned, trying to move but wincing in pain.


    "Hey! You okay?" Lucas repeated, kneeling beside him.


    The boy blinked, his gaze clearing.


    "Wait... a second... Lucas?" he mumbled, still dazed.


    Lucas frowned.


    "E-Ethan!? What happened?"


    "A-ah... I w-was with Aestrea... then a weird creature appeared... we fought it... until it threw me... hard¡ªcough, cough!"


    "Aestrea?" Ella''s voice snapped like a whip.


    "Where is he?!" she demanded, her eyes hardening.


    Ethan weakly pointed behind him.


    "Alright!"


    Fwoosh!


    Without another word, Ella shot forward like a streak of light.


    "ELLA, WAIT!" Lucas called, but Ella didn''t hesitate.


    Lucas shot a quick glance at Maya and Iris.


    "You two stay here and take care of Ethan. I''ll go with Ella."


    "Mhm!" Iris nodded.


    "Roger!" Maya added.


    Lucas didn''t waste another second.


    He sprinted forward, leaving a black trail behind him.


    And once he reached the scene, his eyes widened in disbelief.


    "...What the hell is that?"


    Before him stood a grotesque creature, its body easily over five meters tall.


    Tentacles writhed around its bloated, decaying form, and thick vines sprouted from its flesh, twisting like snakes.


    It was a nightmare come to life.


    "Fucking hell!" Ella''s voice rang out from the side.


    Fwip!


    She dodged one of the creature''s long, thick vines as it swung toward her.


    "Ella!" Lucas shouted, charging forward.


    He swung his sword in a clean, vertical slash.


    The vine sliced through with ease.


    Quickly, Lucas grabbed Ella''s wrist, pulling her out of range of the monster.


    "Huff...!" Ella gasped, steadying herself.


    "Where''s Aestrea?" Lucas asked, scanning the area.


    "He''s... there," Ella pointed.


    And in just a few meters away from them, three creatures just like the one in front of them, were fighting against Aestrea madly.


    His eyes were completely focused as he dodged its attack and tried to inflict damage.


    But the monsters were fast, and Aestrea didn''t have the time to cast spells or perform a sword art.


    "Shit... we need to help him," Lucas spoke, gripping his sword.


    "Yeah... let''s end this one quick!"


    Ella said, her eyes narrowing as she gripped the hilt of her sword.


    Fwoosh!


    She was the first to rush forward.


    The creature''s vine whipped through the air, aiming straight for her.


    With a quick step to the side¡ª


    SWOOSH!


    She barely avoided it, the vine slicing through the air where she had just been.


    Ella didn''t hesitate.


    She swung her sword downward.


    SHING!


    The blade cut deep into the creature''s vine, severing it with ease. The monster screeched, but it was only a moment''s delay before it swung another vine, this one aimed for her legs.


    Ella jumped back just in time.


    THUD!


    The vine slammed into the ground, cracking the earth beneath it.


    Lucas, right behind her, was already in motion.


    He sprinted past her, sword held tight. He leapt into the air, twisting his body.


    SLASH!


    His sword came down hard, slicing through one of the creature''s long, slithering tentacles. The creature let out a sharp hiss, its body writhing.


    But Lucas didn''t stop.


    He spun mid-air, landing with a heavy thud, and brought his sword up again, aiming straight for its core.


    "Demon Slaying Sword Art...!"


    ¡º Corrupted Sword ¡»


    With a swift, upward swing¡ª


    SWOOSH!


    A spray of black flames flew from his blade, forming an ''X'' in the air.


    It crashed into the creature''s chest with a loud CRACK, making its solid body catch on fire. It staggered back, roaring in pain as the flame spread across its decaying flesh.


    But the creature wasn''t done. It lashed out with more vines, trying to strike at Lucas.


    He sidestepped, dodging the attack.


    SWISH!


    The vine flew past him, grazing his shoulder, but Lucas ignored it.


    Instead, he took a step to the right, giving Ella access to attack.


    SHING!


    Ella''s sword met the creature''s thick hide, creating a loud clash, but the monster''s skin held. Ella gritted her teeth and swung again, aiming for the vine-covered limbs.


    With a powerful swing¡ª


    SLASH!


    This time, she sliced clean through one of its tentacles. The creature howled in rage, but Ella wasn''t finished.


    She ducked under another vine as it swung overhead and aimed a horizontal slash at the creature''s midsection.


    SWOOSH!


    The blow landed, but the monster twisted its body just in time, minimizing the damage. It then swung another vine directly at Ella''s head.


    CRACK!


    The vine slammed into her sword, pushing her back, but Ella held firm.


    She slid back a few feet, breathing heavily, her eyes fixed on the creature.


    Lucas was already moving again.


    He closed the distance, pushing forward with all his strength, enveloping his sword with his golden mana.


    SHING!


    SHING!


    SHING!


    His sword flashed in rapid succession, each one struck the creature''s hide, cutting deep into its body with a sickening crunch.


    SPLURT!


    Blood sprayed from the wounds, but the creature didn''t fall. It screeched, enraged, and swung its vines in every direction.


    But then¡ª


    ¡ªTHOOM!


    The ground shook as it lifted one massive tentacle, slamming it down toward them.


    BAM!


    Lucas barely had time to react.


    He jumped to the side just in time, but the shockwave from the hit sent him tumbling backward.


    "Dammit!" he growled, his chest heaving.


    But there was no time to rest.


    The creature was rearing back, preparing for another strike.


    "NOW!"


    Lucas suddenly shouted.


    And Ella from the side, raised her sword to the sky.


    "Royal Swordsmanship..."


    ¡º Divine Punishment ¡»


    In an instant, the sword grew in size, glowing with a fierce, golden light. Without a second thought, Ella swung it down with all her might.


    SCREEEECH!


    Sparks flew.


    The creature shrieked in pain as it tried to hold the giant blade back, its vines straining against the weight.


    But Ella gritted her teeth, pushing more power into her strike.


    "DIE!" she shouted.


    BAAM!


    The giant sword slammed into the ground, splitting the creature clean in half.


    Its body fell apart with a sickening SPLAT, pieces of rotten flesh scattering across the battlefield.


    "Ah... it''s finally dead..."


    Ella exhaled deeply.


    "Yeah..."


    But then¡ª


    A loud roar echoed in the distance.


    Their heads snapped toward it.


    "Aestrea!"


    Ella''s voice rang out, and without a second thought, she bolted forward.


    And seeing this...


    Lucas couldn''t help but bite his lip.


    But he followed her nonetheless.

 Chapter 106 - 106: End Of Semester (IX)

    Fwip!


    "These bastards...!"


    Aestrea clenched the hilt of his sword.


    He tightened his grip on the hilt of his sword, ready for whatever came next.


    With a quick jump back, he barely avoided the swipe of a vine¡ª Discover more stories at My Virtual Library Empire


    But another one shot out from behind him.


    Instinctively, he twisted his body, using a Fosbury flop move to dodge the attack.


    He landed hard on the ground, and then his eyes glowed intensely.


    "Moonlit Ice Lotus Sword Art..."


    He bent down his body...


    ¡º Third Move! (? Moonlight''s One Flash ?) ¡»


    FWOOP!


    In the blink of an eye, he vanished into thin air.


    Then¡ª


    SPLURT!


    "GURAARGGHHH!"


    The three grotesque creatures let out a howl of pain as a deep, diagonal cut appeared across their rotten chests.


    Aestrea''s eyes lit up.


    "A solid hit!"


    Snap!


    ¡º Bleed ¡»


    SPLURT!


    The wound deepened, tearing open as blood sprayed out in a violent gush, splattering the ground.


    "GRAAGH!"


    One of the creatures shrieked, stumbling backward as the blood flowed freely.


    However, Aestrea knew that this wasn''t enough, he needed to have a solid hit on their heads to kill them.


    His mana output had already increased from two to seven since he began this battle, but pushing further would be too dangerous.


    So, he needed to make it quick.


    "Fuuu..."


    He exhaled sharply, a faint mist of ice rising from his body as he extended his right hand toward the creatures.


    ¡º Ice Series: Soaring Ice Phoenix! (? 7th-Level Spell ?)¡»


    The mist swirled around his hand, forming the outline of a majestic, ice-blue phoenix. Aestrea''s mana drained rapidly as he channeled everything into the spell.


    "Fuuu..." he exhaled again, smoke swirling from his mouth.


    "Release."


    KRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!


    Fwoop!


    The phoenix screeched as it shot forward, its wings flapping wildly, freezing everything in its path.


    The moment it reached the creatures, the phoenix''s eyes blazed bright blue, and it opened its mouth in a chilling cry.


    KRIII!


    CHILL!


    BAAAM!


    The phoenix collided with the creatures, creating a massive silver-blue explosion that froze everything in a two hundred meter radius.


    "Agh..."


    Aestrea staggered, almost collapsing as the spell drained him.


    He clutched his right arm tightly, his breathing heavy.


    "Don''t tell me..."


    ¡ºJudgement Eye (? S+ Level Skill ?)¡»


    His gaze shifted to his arm, and his face twisted in frustration.


    "Gosh..." he muttered, glancing up at the sky as he bit his lip in anger.


    He had ruptured one of his mana pathways again.


    Sizzzlee!


    "...More monsters?"


    Aestrea quickly adjusted himself, jumping back in wariness.


    But to his surprise...


    "AESTREA!"


    It was Ella and Lucas.


    They were both covered in layers of ice.


    "Are you alright?" Ella inquired, looking at his body with a worried expression.


    Aestrea''s face twitched at the concern, but he quickly exhaled, forcing himself to calm down.


    "Yeah... just a bit of damage to my right arm," he replied calmly.


    At that moment, Ella''s eyes immediately snapped to his right arm, noticing the faint leak of mana trickling out.


    "Just a bit?! You ruptured one of your mana pathways again?! Didn''t that already happen once? If you rupture it again, you might lose that arm''s mana forever!" she scolded, her voice rising in panic.


    "...Thanks for worrying. But I know my limits."


    ''...I''ll need to visit Christina later. Only she could potentially heal my arm.'' Aestrea added inwardly.


    By saying, "I know my limits", he was indirectly saying that he needed to go visit his personal healer.


    "By the way... where are the others?" Aestrea asked, changing the topic.


    "Oh, we found Ethan along the way," Lucas answered, his eyes scanning the horizon. "He was badly hurt, so we left Maya and Iris to look after him."


    "Ah. I almost forgot about him." Aestrea cracked his neck, swinging his sword into his left hand with a smooth motion.


    Seeing this, Lucas raised an eyebrow.


    "Are you ambidextrous? You handle that sword like it''s your main hand," he asked, watching the effortless control Aestrea had with his left.


    "Not really..." Aestrea frowned for a moment, thinking. "I just train using both hands, in case I lose one."


    As soon as he said that, the atmosphere around them froze.


    Ella''s voice shot out like a whip.


    "Is that why you don''t care if one of your mana pathways is ruptured?!" Her words were laced with frustration, barely held back.


    Aestrea paused upon hearing her words, turning to her.


    "No, I do care. But in a fight like this, stuff like this happens. That''s why I prepare for it."


    Ella''s anger simmered for a moment before Lucas nodded, understanding where Aestrea was coming from.


    "Right," Lucas said quietly.


    Ella''s breath slowed, and she softened.


    "Fine," she muttered.


    "Let''s go find the others. We''ve got a group assignment to finish," Aestrea said, turning on his heel, heading back toward where they''d come from.


    Hearing that, both Lucas and Ella''s faces twitched.


    ''Weren''t you the one who ran off first?''


    They both grumbled inwardly but said nothing out loud.


    ¡ª


    It didn''t take a lot of time to reach them.


    "We''re back!"


    Lucas shouted.


    And immediately, two heads snapped towards him.


    "Finally!" Maya jumped up from her spot, a big grin on her face.


    "Ugh, I was getting tired of waiting..." Iris sighed, dropping her shoulders in relief.


    But then, her eyes widened as she noticed Aestrea behind them.


    "You guys found Aestrea?" she asked, unable to hide her surprise.


    "Yup. He was indeed in the place where there were more monsters." Lucas couldn''t help but laugh, shaking his head.


    "Pfff...!"


    Maya snorted, covering her mouth to stifle a laugh.


    Iris, though, just shook her head, trying not to laugh herself.


    "Where''s Rose?" Aestrea asked surprisingly.


    "Rose...? Oh, I think she''s by the river," Iris thought for a second, pointing off in the distance.


    "I see..."


    Aestrea nodded before heading in that direction.


    "Ooooohh... is he going to make a move?" Maya couldn''t help but whisper to Iris, her eyes lighting up.


    "Probably¡ªWait! Weren''t you cheering for our princess? What happened to that?!" Iris raised an eyebrow at Maya, clearly teasing her.


    "...Was I?" Maya blinked, suddenly unsure.


    "Yeah."


    "I forgot."


    "You''re so freaking stupid," Iris groaned, slapping her forehead.


    "Hehe," Maya chuckled, clearly enjoying teasing Iris right back.


    Lucas watched their interaction, frowning slightly but a smile tugging at his lips.


    "Where''s Ethan?" he asked, his voice shifting to something more serious.


    "Oh! He''s over there, healing himself." Iris pointed, and Lucas followed her gesture to see Ethan resting against a tree, sipping a potion.


    "That''s good."


    Lucas nodded.


    Meanwhile...


    The soft rush of water was the first thing Aestrea heard when he reached the riverside.


    His boots crunched softly against the wet ground as he walked closer, his eyes searching the area.


    And then, there she was.


    He saw Rose.


    Rose, sitting by the water''s edge, her velvet red hair loose and flowing down her back. The sunlight hit it just right, making it seem like it was glowing.


    She was carefully washing her hair, the strands twisting gently under her fingers, but the curls were gone.


    Instead, it hung straight and flat, dripping water down her back in steady streams.


    "Mhm... this..." Rose muttered to herself, sounding distracted as she ran her fingers through her hair.


    Her gaze remained fixed on the water, completely unaware of Aestrea approaching.


    Tsss!


    She squeezed the water from her hair, the droplets splashing on the ground.


    ''Pfff...''


    Aestrea couldn''t help but laugh inwardly.


    He stepped closer, his footsteps light, but it was hard to go unnoticed.


    The moment he was close enough, Aestrea reached out, gently grabbing her hair.


    "Ah! Who¡ª"


    Sniff...!


    Rose stopped mid-sentence, sniffing the air as if something familiar caught her attention.


    Her voice trailed off, and a soft frown crossed her face as she slowly turned her head toward him.


    "...Aestrea..." she whispered quietly


    He blinked, taken off guard.


    "Oh? How did you know it was me?" he asked, raising an eyebrow, genuinely curious.


    Rose shifted her gaze down for a moment, clearly embarrassed.


    She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and mumbled:


    "¡­You''re the only one who would actually dare to do something like that."


    Aestrea laughed at her words.


    "Haha... that does sound like me," he smiled as he released her hair, watching her face turn even more red.


    She crossed her arms, still blushing, but he could see the faint curve of a smile tugging at her lips.


    Without saying anything, Aestrea conjured a comb made of mana.


    The faint glow of blue light reflected off the water as he gently worked the comb through her hair, untangling the wet strands.


    His fingers moved carefully, as if he didn''t want to upset her but still needed to adjust her hair just right.


    Rose tilted her head slightly to the side, her eyes half-lidded, obviously trying to keep her cool despite the situation.


    "Don''t act like you''re doing me a favor," she muttered, her voice light but with a hint of annoyance.


    "Oh, I''m not." Aestrea grinned, his fingers still working through the strands.


    "I''m just trying to help you out. Don''t want you to look like a wild animal, do I?"


    Her eyes flicked to him, narrowing in playfulness.


    "I look fine."


    "Sure, sure," he teased, running the comb through her hair again.


    "But a little help never hurt anyone, right?"


    "Right," she grumbled.


    Despite her reaction, Aestrea could tell she didn''t mind the attention, even if she tried to act like it.


    After a moment, he used a little more of his mana, his fingers pulling at the strands and gathering them into a messy ponytail.


    A faint shimmer of magic surrounded his hands, as he worked to make the ponytail tight enough to stay but not so tight it would cause discomfort.


    "Here," he said, giving her a satisfied look as he finished the job.


    "All done."


    Rose reached up, her fingers running through the ponytail he''d made, checking the feel of it. She seemed satisfied with the result, but her face still carried a hint of her usual indifference. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Not bad," she muttered, still trying to act cool but failing slightly with the blush on her face.


    Aestrea leaned back slightly, watching her reaction.


    "I knew you''d like it."


    "Yeah, yeah," Rose muttered, brushing her hair back with a wave of her hand.


    "I''m not the type to care about these things."


    "Sure," he said, smirking.


    "That''s why you''ve been standing here for who knows how much time trying to make sure every strand is perfect, right?"


    Rose blinked, her expression faltering for a second before she crossed her arms, narrowing her eyes at him.


    "I wasn''t trying to make it perfect," she shot back, though there was an edge of uncertainty in her voice.


    "Right...pfft!"


    Aestrea laughed, not buying it for a second.


    "Tsk..."


    Rose clicked her tongue, turning her face away from him.


    However...


    In the distance, Ella''s eyes were completely locked on the scene before her, her fists clenched so tightly that blood dripped down her palms.


    She bit her lip hard, her aquamarine eyes trembling with fury.


    She couldn''t hear anything from where she stood, but the sight of them¡ªAestrea and Rose, standing so close¡ªsent a spike of rage shooting through her chest.


    The fire in her eyes flared up uncontrollably.

 Chapter 107 - 107: End Of Semester (X)

    After teasing Rose for a few minutes, we finally made our way back to the others.


    "Ah! You guys are back!" Lucas waved as soon as he saw us.


    We walked up to him, but I couldn''t help but notice the strange glances from Iris and Maya.


    They were probably thinking I''d made a move on Rose or something, especially with how much she''d been giggling.


    And yeah... that probably wasn''t far off from the truth.


    "What you guys are thinking of doing for now?" I asked almost immediately.


    Zeva had told us the group''s grades would be based on the number of monsters we killed, but she didn''t mention how long this would take.


    Besides, she should be in the frontline, fighting against the monsters.


    "...I think we should go to the Vulcan," Lucas said seriously.


    Everyone''s eyes went wide, including mine.


    I wasn''t expecting that.


    The Vulcan?


    That place was crawling with those undead creatures.


    Why would we go there?


    Did the Excalibur say something?


    The Excalibur, from what I knew, had a heroic spirit inside that could give its user guidance or warnings.


    Could it be that Lucas had some kind of sign to head there?


    "Absolutely not!" Iris immediately shot it down, shaking her head.


    Maya nodded quickly in agreement.


    "It''s too dangerous! Besides, you''ve already used up more than fifty percent of your mana!" Iris pointed straight at Lucas.


    "...I can use Aura..." Lucas muttered, clearly trying to push back.


    "So?!" Iris argued.


    "It''s still dangerous!"


    She put her hands on her hips, ready to scold him further. Lucas paused, probably trying to come up with a way to argue back, but before he could, Ella spoke up.


    "I agree with Lucas," she said firmly.


    "The faster we kill those monsters, the faster we can get out of here. Besides, the instructors should be there since the Vulcan is the source of the monsters," she added.


    "But¡ª!" Iris tried to interrupt, but Ella wasn''t having any of it.


    "No buts!" Ella cut her off, her tone leaving no room for argument.


    "Let''s just end this quickly, together!" she said, clenching her fist.


    Then, she glanced at me, her voice softer but still determined when she finished.


    "And together, we''ll make it through."


    As soon as she said that, every single one of the group members, even Ethan, turned their eyes toward me, as if waiting for me to make the final call.


    Damn it¡­


    "...Volcano it is."


    "Alright! Time to go kill some monsters!" Maya shouted, suddenly all hyped up.


    She threw a few punches in the air, practically bouncing on her heels.


    Her energy was quite contagious, and even though I didn''t share her enthusiasm about charging into a monster-infested volcano, it was hard not to feel a little fired up myself.


    "Let''s get this over with..."


    I sighed.


    Lucas grinned at me, clearly happy with the decision.


    "Right! Let''s move out, then."


    Without wasting any more time, we started walking toward the direction of the Vulcan.


    There were a bunch of zombies in the way, but we quickly cleared those since it was easy fighting as a team.


    We didn''t exactly have perfect chemistry, but it was more than enough to deal with those undead creatures.


    ¡º Ice Generation (? 1st-Level Spell ?)¡»


    As we got closer to the volcano, I summoned a bunch of ice shards hovering around me, cooling the air just a little.


    With my strong affinity for ice, the heat of the volcano made my body feel like it was on fire. The pressure was unbearable.


    "...It''s hot."


    Maya grumbled, wiping sweat off her brow.


    "...What did you expect from approaching a volcano?"


    I couldn''t help but reply back.


    "Pfff..."


    The others laughed at my response, and even Maya couldn''t help but grin.


    She rolled her eyes but didn''t argue.


    I took a deep breath and glanced around.


    The walls of the volcano loomed high over us, the heat radiating from them, but I noticed a large cave opening ahead. It looked like our path.


    "...There!" Ella suddenly pointed, her eyes locked on something further up.


    I turned and saw it too¡ªmultiple zombies were stumbling out of a cave entrance, just a few meters ahead of the one I had spotted earlier.


    Should we go in that one or the other?


    ''Hmm...''


    ¡º Judgement Eye (? S+ Level Skill ?)¡»


    I activated my skill, scanning the caves.


    The red glow surrounding the right cave made my stomach twist.


    That one was way too dangerous.


    The orange glow around the left cave was much safer.


    "...We should go to the cave on the left."


    "Why? Aren''t more undead creatures coming out of the right cave?" Maya frowned, scratching her head.


    My face twitched at her words.


    She was asking for the reason while saying the reason in the same sentence.


    Even Lucas face-palmed, clearly frustrated by the lack of logic in her question.


    "That''s exactly why." Rose sighed and then spoke.


    "Because there are more monsters coming from the right cave, we should go to the left. Fewer monsters, less risk."


    "Ooooooohh! I get it now!"


    Maya nodded twice in comprehension.


    "Let''s head out then," Ella spoke, taking the lead.


    We all followed her, moving quietly to avoid drawing attention from the creatures outside.


    It didn''t take long to reach the left cave entrance, and we crept inside, careful not to make a sound.


    Once we were inside, the darkness swallowed us whole.


    "...It''s dark," Lucas muttered, squinting.


    "Rose, can you use your flame magic?"


    Rose nodded.


    Sizzzle!


    With a flick of her wrist, floating fireballs appeared above her hand, lighting up the cave.


    But something didn''t feel right.


    "I dunno, this place is a bit weird..." Ethan couldn''t help but say.


    "I can''t hear the sound of lava... Shouldn''t we be able to?" he added with a frown.


    His words made me shiver, as I stretched my senses to their limits.


    Ethan was right.


    Despite getting closer to the heart of the volcano, I couldn''t hear the constant rumbling of molten rock or the hiss of lava.


    This cave was... unnatural.


    "It''s too quiet."


    I muttered under my breath, my hand instinctively tightening around my sword.


    Ella glanced back at me, her expression serious.


    "Stay alert, everyone. There might be something very dangerous in this cave!"


    We slowly moved forward, keeping an eye on every single thing in the cave.


    Yet, the further we went, the more the air seemed to thicken, as if something was watching us from the darkness.


    ''...How many mana do I have left again?''


    Suddenly, a question hit me.


    I had used a 7th-level spell, and that was not cheap for sure!


    Closing my eyes, I checked the amount of mana in my body.


    "Fuck..."


    I muttered under my breath.


    "Did something happen?" Ethan, who was at my side, asked curiously.


    "...Nothing... yet."


    I let out a low sigh.


    Only fifteen percent of my mana was left.


    That wasn''t good.


    ''...Lumi, can you hear me?''


    {Yesssh!}


    ''...Great. Do you sense anything dangerous around? Like, really dangerous?''


    {Mhm... One. There is a threatening presence around here! But, it''s quite far away!}


    ''...How far?''


    {...Like around two hundred meters or so.}


    ''Great, thanks.'' S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    {Yesh~, Masta~h!}


    "Guys, this is weird..." Ethan''s voice broke the silence.


    "We can''t hear lava, and we haven''t seen a single monster... this feels wrong, right?"


    Ella shot him a sharp look.


    "Shut it. Just stay wary and keep moving."


    We all nodded in agreement, but something about the quiet, oppressive air made me uneasy.


    Suddenly¡ª


    CLANG!


    A loud metallic sound echoed down the cave, making everyone freeze in place.


    "...What was that?" Lucas immediately dashed forward, his expression tense.


    Without thinking, I followed his lead, motioning for the others to stay close.


    The rest of the group quickly picked up the pace as we moved toward the source of the sound.


    As we rounded the corner, the sight before us made us freeze completely.


    A massive, humanoid figure¡ªmade entirely of molten lava¡ªwas clashing with Zeva and the other instructors.


    It was like a nightmare made flesh, its body flowing and shifting like liquid flame.


    Its eyes glowed an intense, fiery orange, and its arms swung like massive pillars of molten rock.


    The ground around it was scorched, cracks spreading like spider webs from the heat it radiated.


    Most of the instructors were already down, scattered across the floor, their bodies smoking from burns.


    Zeva, however, was still holding her ground, cutting through streams of lava with ease, her sword flashing through the air in elegant arcs.


    Torrents of lava shot out from the golem''s chest, hissing as they rocketed toward Zeva.


    But she didn''t flinch.


    Crack!


    She sliced through the waves of molten rock, the lava splitting in midair.


    Zeva wasn''t slowing down¡ªshe dove beneath the lava man''s body, aiming straight for its core, trying to strike at its weak spot.


    But as soon as she got close, the creature seemed to anticipate her move.


    Sizzle!


    More torrents of lava shot up from its limbs, reaching the ceiling and blocking her path.


    Zeva gritted her teeth, clearly struggling to get close enough to deal any real damage.


    The heat in the air was unbearable, and the overwhelming pressure made it harder to think clearly.


    "What the hell is that thing?" Maya gasped, her eyes wide as she took in the scene.


    I couldn''t speak for a moment.


    The thing in front of us wasn''t just a monster; it was a damned fire spirit!


    Of course, since this was an academy novel, the spirit always existed. But unfortunately, only elves had affinity to make a contract with them.


    Which is why, seeing spirits are pretty rare.


    And seeing the size of this one, it should be a Spirit King!


    Which has the strength of ten or more SS-level awakeners!


    It was a miracle that Zeva was holding on alone!


    "Stay back!" Zeva suddenly shouted, noticing us.


    "Get out of here! It''s too dangerous!"


    Her voice cracked with urgency, but she didn''t let up on her attack.


    I could see the sweat beading on her forehead, her energy rapidly draining as she continued to dodge and counter.


    The lava man was relentless, launching bursts of molten rock in every direction.


    "We have to help her!" Lucas growled, his fists clenched.


    Ella glanced at him, then back at the scene.


    "Stay in position. Let''s not get reckless." She turned to me.


    "Aestrea, do you have anything that could hit that thing?"


    I frowned, my hand resting on the hilt of my sword. I had a few spells left, but nothing strong enough to take down something like that.


    Not without risking it all.


    "Maybe..."


    I gritted my teeth.


    "But I''ll need an opening."


    We watched as Zeva dodged another wave of molten rock, her eyes narrowing.


    "Instructor, please create an opening for us to attack!" Lucas shouted.


    In the distance, Zeva wanted to retaliate, but then nodded her head.


    Then, she focused on the giant lava golem.


    She needed a distraction¡ªsomething to make the golem lose its focus.


    I glanced at the others for a moment.


    ''...Fuck.''


    ''...I can''t believe I''m going to use this.''


    I exhaled deeply.


    And then¡ª


    BOOM!


    The others looked at me in complete shock, their mouths opening slightly.


    After all...


    Around me, a thin yet tremblingly powerful violet aura swirled.


    ¡º Aura''s Rank: S+


    ? Disposition: Violet (Power & Luxury)¡»


    Crack...!


    My sword shattered into pieces.


    It couldn''t hold my aura.


    And instead, a freezing chill leaked out of my body as an ice sword appeared.


    Yet, it didn''t break.


    "Fuuuu..."


    I took a long breath.


    "Let''s play with fire."


    Fwoop!¡ª

 Chapter 108 - 108: End Of Semester (XI)

    Fwoop!¡ª


    A violent rumble shook the ground as the lava golem''s massive fist crashed down into the rocky floor.


    The impact sent cracks spidering out in all directions, the heat from the golem scorching the air.


    Aestrea''s violet aura flared, and his body moved instinctively.


    Fwoosh!


    He darted to the side, narrowly avoiding the molten strike, the heat biting at his skin.


    ''Damn it... I just joined the fight and this bastard is already focusing on me?!''


    Clang!


    Aestrea''s sword met the golem''s rocky skin, but the blow barely made a dent. The golem''s body rippled with molten energy, and its next swing was already coming.


    Zeva''s voice broke through the tension.


    "Move to the left!"


    Without hesitation, Aestrea rolled to the side, feeling the intense heat as he passed. His feet hit the ground, skidding slightly, but he quickly regained his footing.


    The golem roared, a sound like stone grinding against stone, as it swung both fists toward Zeva, who was already moving in for an attack.


    Swoosh!


    Zeva''s sword slashed through the air, striking the golem''s arm, but it barely slowed it down.


    The golem''s molten skin healed almost instantly.


    Aestrea''s eyes locked onto Zeva, and without a word, they moved together.


    Aestrea rushed in, sidestepping the golem''s massive fist and dashing toward its side.


    FWOOSH!


    He aimed his sword at the golem''s exposed side.


    His strike cut deep into the lava creature''s rocky surface, but it only caused a small spark of molten lava to drip onto the ground.


    His sword buzzed from the sheer power of the attack, but the golem barely reacted.


    BAM!


    A massive rock fist swung down at Aestrea, but Zeva was there. Her sword met the strike, her body a blur of heat and motion.


    CRASH!


    The golem''s arm was knocked back, but the heat was unbearable. The burn on Zeva''s shoulder was deep¡ªblood mixed with ash, but she barely flinched.


    "We need to wear it down!" Zeva gritted through clenched teeth, her eyes wild with focus.


    "I know!"


    Aestrea nodded, gripping his sword tightly.


    BOOM!


    The ground shook as the golem roared, bringing both fists down in a double strike.


    Aestrea''s body twisted, his violet aura flaring, and he jumped forward, a blur of motion, barely missing the attack as he went to strike the golem''s head.


    CLANG!


    His sword collided with its molten face, but again, it wasn''t enough. The golem''s skin melted away and hardened in the same instant, repairing itself.


    Zeva saw the opening, and without a word, she lunged.


    SIZZLE!


    Her blade slashed through the air, aiming for the creature''s chest.


    A gout of flame followed, erupting from her sword as she tried to force the lava golem back.


    But the golem was relentless.


    Its body moved, undeterred, as molten fists rained down.


    SLAM! sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Aestrea''s body slammed against the wall as he tried to avoid a crushing blow.


    His ribs groaned with the impact, and blood spurted from a fresh gash along his side.


    Zeva spun to avoid another swing, but this time, a rock splintered off the golem''s body, crashing into her leg.


    CRACK!


    Zeva grunted as she stumbled back. Blood oozed from her leg, but she gritted her teeth and took a step forward.


    She was wounded, but so was the golem.


    Aestrea dashed forward, his aura glowing brighter as he ignored the exhaustion.


    "Damn it... Should we do double-attack once again?"


    Zeva shot him a quick glance, nodding.


    The two of them moved together like a well-oiled machine, their movements fluid, striking in tandem.


    CRASH!


    Aestrea''s sword cut into the golem''s arm again, while Zeva followed through, her sharp blade slashing upward, forcing the golem to step back.


    The heat was unbearable, but Aestrea pushed forward.


    BANG!


    The golem swung its fist down, and Aestrea barely dodged, the heat from the blow making the air shimmer.


    His sword slashed again, this time catching the golem''s side and causing the lava to ripple, but the creature''s skin was already starting to repair itself.


    Zeva wasn''t giving up either.


    She closed the distance, her body moving faster than the golem could react.


    SIZZLE!


    Her sword tore through the molten skin, but the creature was relentless.


    BOOM!


    A molten boulder shot out from its chest, knocking Zeva backward.


    Her body was slammed against the ground, her breath escaping her lungs in a sharp grunt. A jagged rock shard, like a giant spike, had pierced her side.


    Blood poured from the wound, dark and slick, staining her clothes and mixing with the ash of the cave.


    "Fuck...!"


    He dashed to her side, his breath shallow, but before he could reach her¡ª


    Fwip!


    The golem''s molten fists rose again, ready to strike.


    Aestrea''s eyes widened before he flared up his violet aura to protect himself.


    CRASH!


    Aestrea collided with the golem''s outstretched arm, his sword cutting deep into its rocky skin.


    But instead of slicing through, the blade stuck momentarily, as the golem''s molten skin flowed like liquid, repairing itself in an instant.


    SNAP!


    Aestrea grunted as his sword was wrenched from his hands by the sheer force of the golem''s struggle.


    He barely managed to dodge the next punch, his body twisting and his feet skidding on the ground.


    His violet aura flared, sending out a shockwave of cold air that stung the back of his neck.


    But the golem''s molten fist slammed into him, and Aestrea was sent flying back, the impact hitting his ribs with a sickening crack.


    "Kaughh!"


    Blood sprayed from his mouth, dark red against his pale face as he struggled to rise. His body was battered, his limbs aching with every movement.


    CRUNCH!


    Aestrea''s body collided with the sharp rocks of the cave wall.


    Blood oozed from a gash on his forehead, drenching his hair, and his breathing came out in ragged gasps.


    The sensation of blood trickling down the side of his face felt like fire, hot and burning.


    But he didn''t stop.


    "...F-fucking... GET UP!"


    He roared to himself, forcing his battered body to stand.


    Zeva, still gasping from the earlier impact, managed to stagger to her feet, her leg buckling under her for a moment as blood poured from the gash in her thigh.


    Her breath was labored, but her eyes were full of defiance.


    "Fucking hell!" she snapped, shaking her head as she adjusted her stance.


    But even her voice wavered, and her steps were slower now, the blood staining her clothes as it continued to flow.


    SIZZLE!


    The golem roared again, launching a torrent of molten rocks in their direction.


    The ground beneath them cracked as the rocks hit, sending shards of lava shooting into the air like fireworks.


    Aestrea and Zeva didn''t have time to think¡ªthey just moved.


    SWISH!


    Zeva swung her sword, creating a barrier of wind that held back the rocks momentarily, but it wasn''t enough.


    Some of the molten fragments still flew through, the heat unbearable.


    One of them grazed Aestrea''s arm, and the searing pain made him hiss through clenched teeth.


    The wound was deep, blood trickling down his arm in a steady stream.


    His body trembled from the pain, but there was no time to stop.


    Crash!


    Aestrea jumped forward, rolling to the side just as another punch from the golem came crashing down.


    His body was bleeding, his energy slipping away with every second, but the violet aura surrounding him was all that kept him going.


    It crackled with power, freezing the air in a wide radius as he tried to steady his breath.


    WHOOSH!


    Zeva''s sword burst through the air once more, cutting the golem''s arm as it swung, but the molten rock immediately healed, shifting like liquid to fill the hole.


    Zeva staggered back, her face pale with exhaustion, her blood streaked down her skin, soaking into her clothes.


    Her wounds were severe, blood pooling at her feet as the burns and cuts ravaged her body.


    The fire around her flickered with less intensity, and her movements were sluggish, but she didn''t stop.


    She couldn''t.


    CRACK!


    The golem swung its other fist toward Zeva''s head, and just as it was about to land, Aestrea moved in front of her.


    SLASH!


    With a grunt, Aestrea threw his body forward, his sword cutting into the golem''s outstretched arm.


    The blade slid in deep, blood¡ªmolten lava¡ªdripped down the weapon, sizzling as it hit the floor.


    But the blow wasn''t enough to stop it.


    Aestrea''s side burned where the golem''s fist had slammed into him earlier, but he wasn''t about to give up.


    His hand, slick with blood, gripped his ice sword once more, and he lunged forward again, slashing at the golem''s chest.


    SIZZLE!


    A blast of molten rock erupted from the golem''s body, hitting Aestrea square in the chest.


    His armor cracked under the pressure, and his body was thrown backward, crashing into the rocks with a sickening thud.


    GROWL!


    The golem''s molten eyes flickered with fury, and it charged, fists raised, ready to finish them both off.


    But Zeva wasn''t finished yet.


    WHOOSH!


    Zeva''s sword flared with intense heat, and she dashed forward, ignoring the blood that drenched her body.


    Her eyes burned with determination, the wind around her pulsing like the heartbeat of a dying star.


    She leaped at the golem, aiming for its exposed chest.


    The heat was unbearable, but her movements were direct.


    CRACK!


    Her sword sank into the creature''s chest, and for a moment, the golem paused. Lava oozed from the wound, but it was too late.


    Aestrea was already behind it.


    SHING!


    With a single, swift motion, Aestrea plunged his ice sword into the golem''s back, and the impact caused a violent explosion of molten rock to erupt.


    BANG!


    The golem roared in agony, its body shuddering as the violet aura surrounding Aestrea and Zeva tore through it, freezing it from the inside.


    Sizzle!


    The golem suddenly started trembling.


    "Fuck!"


    Both Aestrea''s and Zeva''s eyes widened.


    The golem was about to explode!


    And unfortunately, they didn''t have enough time to dodge the attack.


    BOOM!


    The explosion of molten rock threw Aestrea like a ragdoll.


    His body crashed against the jagged walls of the cave, the impact vibrating through his bones.


    "AGGHH!"


    Pain shot through his skull as his head cracked against the stone.


    For a moment, everything went black¡ªhis world reduced to a haze of white noise.


    His body slumped to the floor, a pool of blood forming beneath him, mingling with the dirt and ash that now coated his face.


    His breathing was ragged, shallow, as he struggled to lift his head, the world spinning around him.


    Blood oozed from a deep gash on his forehead, dripping down his face and into his mouth, tasting metallic.


    CRUNCH!


    Zeva was right beside him, stumbling as she barely managed to stay upright.


    Her clothes were torn, her body covered in bruises and gashes.


    Blood ran freely from several cuts along her arms, and the burns on her legs were still sizzling.


    Her breathing was ragged, her chest rising and falling with a rhythm that spoke of exhaustion and pain.


    "H-hey... A-Aestrea..." she mumbled, her voice strained as she turned to him, trying to keep herself together.


    "W-what...?" Aestrea muttered, his vision blurred and his voice thick with exhaustion.


    Zeva''s lips were stained with blood, a dark red line smeared across her mouth.


    Despite the horror of the situation, she gave him a wicked grin, eyes flashing with a strange gleam.


    "W-what do you say... when we kill this fucking golem, we go up to a motel and hook up?" she purred, licking her bloodied lips and eyeing him with an intensity that bordered on madness.


    Aestrea blinked, trying to focus, his head throbbing like it was being crushed in a vice.


    He half-laughed, half-coughed through the pain.


    "H-ah... you crazy bitch, you''re thinking about that when we''re almost meeting the king of hell?"


    His voice was hoarse, the blood on his tongue making his words thick and slow.


    "...Is that a yes?" she pressed, her eyebrow quirking up as if this was the most natural thing to ask at that moment.


    Aestrea let out a dry laugh, wincing from the pain in his ribs.


    "Sure," he rasped, though his words were barely audible.


    Zeva''s grin widened, and she gave a satisfied nod.


    "That''s all I needed to hear."


    She gripped the hilt of her second sword, pulling it from her waist with a fluid motion.


    The blade gleamed, reflecting the dim light from the fiery surroundings.


    "That''s all I needed to hear," she took out her second sword from her waist.


    "F-fuck you..."


    Aestrea muttered under his breath, realizing she was only now pulling out her second sword.


    His hand trembled as he tried to sit up, his body shaking from the force of the blows he''d taken.


    Every movement sent pain shooting through him, but he gritted his teeth and forced himself to stay conscious.


    "What? I just wanted to feel the thrill of a battle!" Zeva replied, her eyes wild with excitement.


    Blood spattered her face, mixing with the ash, but there was a glint of madness in her eyes¡ªa hunger that couldn''t be ignored.


    Aestrea, still fighting to regain his balance, looked up at her and scoffed through clenched teeth.


    "Y-you really are a crazy bitch...!"


    Zeva just laughed, her voice echoing in the cavernous space as she took her stance.


    Her body was already covered in blood, but her eyes blazed with energy, and she was clearly ready for more.


    She swung her second sword with one fluid motion, testing the weight of the blade, her feet shifting in anticipation of the next move.


    Aestrea pushed himself up to his knees, blood dripping from his nose, and wiped it away with his hand.


    His whole body was bruised, his arms sore from the constant strain of the fight.


    But as he looked at Zeva, that fire in her eyes¡­ it gave him a moment of clarity.


    The golem was still out there, just beyond them, a giant monster of molten rock and rage.


    Its giant limbs swung like wrecking balls, crushing everything in its path.


    The heat from the creature''s body burned the air, making it harder to breathe with each passing second.


    CRASH!


    A massive rock hit the ground near them, sending debris scattering in every direction.


    Zeva was already moving, stepping lightly despite the blood coating her body, her eyes focused on the golem.


    "Let''s kill this thing, then we''ll talk."


    Aestrea nodded.


    His body screamed at him to stop, to rest, but there was no time for that now.


    Fwoop!


    Her two swords twirled in her hands as she leaped forward with a battle cry, her feet hitting the ground ferociously as she attacked.


    The first sword sliced through the air, leaving a trail of fire behind it, while the second followed, a flash of silver.


    The double strike was aimed directly at the golem''s chest.


    SHHHRRIIIING!


    Her first sword connected, digging deep into the golem''s stone-like skin.


    A fiery explosion erupted as the sword made contact, but the golem''s molten body healed almost instantly.


    It roared in rage, its molten fists swinging downward at Zeva.


    WHOOSH!


    Zeva ducked, her body twisting gracefully as she avoided the massive punch.


    The heat from the golem''s attack seared the air, but Zeva was quicker.


    She darted to the side, her second sword flashing out to cut through the golem''s arm, leaving a trail of molten rock in its wake.


    KRRSSHHH!


    Blood¡ªif it could even be called that¡ªsizzled from the wound, but the golem''s healing factor kicked in almost immediately.


    Zeva cursed under her breath, but she didn''t stop.


    She knew she wouldn''t defeat it with sheer power alone.


    She had to wear it down.


    Aestrea watched her movements, the way she flowed from one strike to the next, the way her two swords danced in perfect harmony.


    Despite his own injuries, he couldn''t help but feel a rush of adrenaline.


    This was the Zeva he was familiar with.


    A fucking crazy bitch.


    But the golem wasn''t done yet.


    SLAM!


    It threw both fists down in unison, the ground shattering with the impact. Zeva leapt back just in time, but Aestrea wasn''t so lucky.


    One of the golem''s fists collided with him, sending him sprawling backwards.


    CRACK!


    Aestrea''s body hit the ground with a sickening sound.


    His ribs felt like they''d been shattered under the force.


    He gasped for air, his breath ragged as blood spilled from his mouth, splattering the rocky ground beneath him.


    "F-fuck... cough, cough!"


    He struggled to sit up, his body screaming in protest.


    Zeva''s eyes narrowed in fury.


    "You son of a¡ª" she hissed, but before she could finish, she was already charging forward again.


    Her swords whistled through the air as she moved faster, more precise, her body almost a blur.


    Aestrea gritted his teeth and forced himself up, his bloodied hands gripping the ice sword.


    The chill that radiated from it made his skin tingle, but the pain was a constant reminder of how much he had left to endure.


    He couldn''t let Zeva handle this alone.


    Not now.


    SWOOSH!


    He threw himself into the battle again, using his aura to enhance his speed.


    He closed the gap between him and the golem in an instant, slashing at its legs.


    The ice sword hit hard, but the golem''s body healed quickly, the wound closing up as though it had never been there.


    "Come on!" Zeva suddenly yelled.


    "What are you waiting for, Aestrea?! Don''t tell me you''re backing down now!"


    Aestrea shot her a quick grin, though blood dripped from his lips.


    "You wish."


    He steadied his stance and moved alongside her, pushing forward with all the strength he could muster.


    The golem was relentless, its molten fists swinging wildly, the heat so intense that it felt like the very air around them was burning.


    Yet, Zeva and Aestrea danced around it, moving in a coordinated fashion, each blow and counter-blow coming faster than the last.


    And slowly, the damage was starting to show.


    Zeva''s clothes were tattered, her skin scorched and bleeding.


    One of her arms was barely usable, hanging limp at her side.


    But still, she fought with the same fire, her eyes burning with rage and determination.


    "You''re not getting away, you piece of shit!" she shouted, spinning in midair to strike at the golem''s chest.


    CRASH!


    A blow from the golem''s fist caught her in the stomach, sending her flying backward, blood spraying from her mouth as she hit the ground.


    But even as her body lay there, broken and battered, she didn''t stop.


    "Zeva!" Aestrea shouted, rushing to her side.


    "I''m fine," she spat, her voice weak but defiant.


    ''No, you''re not.''


    Aestrea thought inwardly.


    Even though he was much more injured than Zeva, he could hold on because of the constant mana his physique was absorbing.


    He was using that absorbed mana to gradually heal his body.


    But Zeva couldn''t do that.


    So, he quickly looked around, and then noticed his group.


    They too... were fighting.


    Against the miniature golems that had appeared.


    They have been holding them off so they didn''t ruin Aestrea''s and Zeva''s battle against the giant golem.


    ''Think, Aestrea! THINK!''


    He gritted his teeth.


    ''The [Bleed] attack doesn''t work in the golem since it only works in blood. Although, I do have a fair amount of mana right now, it''s still not enough to use one of my strong moves.''


    ''What exactly can... I do?!''


    He was starting to panic.


    The golem was simply too damned powerful.


    But, as soon as he was about to enter the depths of despair.


    A voice resounded in his ears.


    ''Do you wanna switch for a moment?''


    ''Although you did learn how to use my magic and body. You still didn''t use it to its full potential.''


    ''So, why don''t we switch?''


    ''I''ll defeat that golem for you.''


    That voice...


    ''...Aestrea?!''


    ''Hey...''


    ''I guess it''s the first time we''re talking to each other.''


    ''My soul didn''t entirely fuse with yours. But, don''t worry, after this fight, we''ll be completely fused.''


    ''You will be able to release the full potential of my body.''


    ''So? What will you do? Switch with me to win the battle, or simply let yourself die? I think the answer is obvious... isn''t it, Aestrea?''


    The original Aestrea spoke solemnly.


    ''...Let''s do it.''


    ''Good.''


    ''Now watch and learn...''


    Aestrea''s glowing red eyes completely turned light blue, and the silhouette of a crescent moon appeared on them, shining brightly.


    "How a real genius fights."

 Chapter 109 - 109: End Of Semester (XII)

    "Fuuu..."


    Aestrea exhaled slowly.


    The moment his breath left his lips, the air froze.


    Frost crackled beneath his feet, creeping outward, coating the blackened stone with a thin layer of ice.


    The molten heat of the cavern hissed against it, creating a sharp contrast¡ªthe frozen breath of death against the burning lungs of a monster.


    And yet, Aestrea stood still. Unmoving. As if the battle around him was nothing.


    His glowing, cold blue eyes locked onto the fire golem, and then¡ª


    Without turning his head, without even looking at her¡ª


    "Heal yourself for now."


    Zeva blinked.


    A moment of silence.


    Then, her lips twisted into a scowl.


    "Hah? The fuck are you saying, dumbass? We fight together!"


    Aestrea didn''t react.


    His face remained blank.


    His voice¡ªflat.


    "Just do it."


    Zeva clenched her fists, gritting her teeth at his cold tone.


    "Don''t fucking order me around, you¡ª"


    "Zeva."


    It was the first time he had ever said her name like that.


    A single word, sharp as a blade.


    Zeva''s breath caught in her throat.


    For the first time in this battle, her crazed, unhinged grin faltered.


    The air cracked between them.


    She felt it.


    Something had changed.


    And then¡ª


    A snort.


    A smirk.


    Then¡ªlaughter.


    "Fucking hell." Zeva wiped the blood from her lips, a mad glint returning to her eyes.


    "Fine, fine! I''ll do it. But you better not fucking die before I finish charging, or I swear I''ll drag your corpse back just to kill you again!"


    Aestrea still didn''t look at her.


    Instead¡ª


    He moved.


    A sudden flash. A blur of motion.


    In a single instant, he had vanished from Zeva''s side and reappeared in front of the golem.


    His breath¡ªcalm.


    His blade¡ªsteady.


    And then¡ª


    ¡º Ice Generation (? 1st-Level Spell ?) ¡»


    The temperature plummeted.


    A wave of frost burst from Aestrea''s feet, racing across the cavern floor, spreading in jagged, crystalline spikes.


    The fire golem lurched back, its molten body hissing, cracks forming along its lava-coated skin.


    Its core¡ªglowing bright¡ªshuddered at the sudden chill.


    BOOOM!


    Aestrea vanished.


    The golem''s fist¡ªa molten boulder of pure heat¡ªobliterated the space where he had stood just moments before.


    The ground shattered, magma splashing upward, melting the frozen patches Aestrea had created.


    But he was already behind the monster.


    His cold blue eyes glowed eerily in the darkness.


    ¡º Mixed Ice Series: Frost Step! (? 3rd-level Spell ?)¡»


    His body flickered¡ªanother instant shift, cutting across the battlefield like a ghost.


    Then¡ª


    ¡º Ice Series: Ice Fang! (? 2nd-Level Spell ?)¡»


    A burst of concentrated frost erupted from his hand, forming a jagged, serrated ice dagger.


    With a sharp inhale¡ª


    He threw it.


    SWOOSH!


    The ice dagger pierced through the air, cutting through the thick heat waves. It embedded itself into the golem''s exposed side, just beneath its shoulder.


    SSSHHHHZZZ!


    Steam exploded from the wound.


    The lava hissed, turning the ice blade into crackling shards, but¡ª


    Aestrea was already moving again.


    His boots scraped against the ground as he lunged, his sword gleaming with deadly intent.


    The golem twisted its monstrous form, molten cracks spreading like veins across its surface.


    Its massive arm swung¡ªa horizontal sweep, aiming to smash Aestrea like an insect.


    His pupils contracted.


    "Moonlit Ice Lotus Combat Technique...!"


    ¡º Frost Reversal (? Counter Technique ?)¡»


    Instead of dodging¡ª


    He met the attack head-on.


    With a precise step, he shifted his weight, twisting his blade just right¡ª


    And¡ª


    CLANG!


    The golem''s punch deflected, skidding off his blade in a shower of sparks and frost.


    BOOM!


    The impact sent Aestrea flying backward, his boots skidding against the stone floor.


    Blood dripped from his fingers.


    His arms burned, the heat from the golem''s strike searing through his skin even though he had blocked it.


    But his eyes never wavered.


    Instead¡ª


    He grinned.


    The golem recoiled slightly, its movements more sluggish than before.


    It was slowing down.


    The ice attacks were working.


    Even though lava continued to course through its body, the frozen cracks were making its movements stiffer.


    Aestrea adjusted his stance.


    His breath came out cold, forming a thin mist.


    His chest ached, the impact from earlier still fresh, but he didn''t stop.


    Instead, he rushed in again.


    A cold mist seeped out of his body¡ª


    ¡º Mixed Ice Series: Frozen Mirage! (? 4th-level Spell ?)¡»


    Aestrea''s body flickered.


    Then¡ª


    He split into three.


    Three identical figures¡ªall moving at the same time, all radiating the same violet aura.


    The golem roared, its molten body cracking further as it tried to find the real one.


    But before it could react¡ª


    SWOOSH!


    One of the Aestreas dashed to the left¡ª


    Another to the right¡ª


    And the last¡ªstraight ahead.


    The golem hesitated.


    And in that brief second¡ª


    ¡º Ice Fang Barrage! (? 3rd-Level Spell ?)¡»


    A storm of jagged ice spears erupted from the air¡ªeach one targeting the same weak point in its molten frame.


    CRACK!


    CRACK!


    CRACK!


    The ice stabbed deep, pushing through the lava-coated exterior, burying themselves into its body. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The golem lurched, its movements glitching as the frozen attacks locked up its limbs.


    It tried to move¡ª


    But couldn''t.


    For the first time in the fight¡ª


    It was stuck.


    Aestrea exhaled.


    Then¡ª


    "Moonlit Ice Lotus Sword Art..."


    ¡º Third Move! (? Moonlight''s One Flash ?) ¡»


    He launched himself forward.


    His blade arced downward¡ª


    A single, sharp, perfect slice¡ª


    Straight through the center of the golem''s chest.


    The air shook.


    The blade connected.


    And then¡ª


    SSSSHHHHRRKK!


    A violent crack formed¡ªsplitting the golem''s core open for the first time.


    "...Damn it. That was a shallow cut."


    Aestrea landed¡ªknees bent, sword dripping with frost and molten rock.


    For a brief moment, silence.


    Then¡ª


    "HAAAAARRRRGHHH!"


    The golem roared madly.


    Its body convulsed, magma boiling out of the wound Aestrea had just made.


    Aestrea''s pupils shrunk.


    It wasn''t slowing down¡ª


    It was going berserk.


    THUMP!


    THUMP!


    THUMP!


    The golem''s core pulsed.


    A blinding, white-hot light erupted from its chest¡ªits entire body igniting like a supernova.


    And then¡ª


    BOOOOOM!


    A shockwave tore through the cavern, throwing Aestrea like a ragdoll.


    CRASH!


    His body slammed into the cavern wall, a loud crunch echoing as his bones snapped from the impact.


    Blood burst from his lips.


    His vision blurred.


    His arms¡ªdislocated.


    His legs¡ªshattered.


    The pain¡ªunimaginable.


    But¡ª


    He wasn''t dead.


    He coughed, forcing himself up.


    His entire right side was burned black, the smell of his own cooked flesh filling the air.


    His breath ragged, his vision swimming¡ª


    But his eyes¡­


    His cold, glowing blue eyes¡­


    Never lost focus.


    "...You''re really pissing me off."


    Aestrea wiped the blood from his lips.


    The golem turned toward him, its massive body unstable, cracks webbing along its entire frame.


    It was breaking apart.


    But before it collapsed¡ª


    It wanted to take him with it.


    Aestrea slowly, painfully gripped his sword.


    Blood poured from his arms, his fingers barely able to hold the weapon.


    And yet¡ª


    He smirked.


    "Alright then, you big fucking bastard¡­"


    He forced himself forward.


    Limping¡ªbleeding¡ªhalf-dead¡ª


    Yet still standing.


    The golem roared, raising its massive, cracking arm.


    Then¡ª


    BOOM!


    It swung down, a boulder-sized fist of pure lava aiming to crush him.


    Aestrea''s mind raced.


    If he dodged, the impact alone would send another shockwave through the cavern. His body wouldn''t survive another full-force explosion.


    But if he stood still¡ªhe was dead.


    So¡ª


    ¡º Mixed Ice Series: Frost Step! (? 3rd-level Spell ?)¡»


    SWOOSH!


    He moved¡ªbut not backward.


    Instead, he rushed forward.


    Beneath the golem''s falling arm.


    The searing heat burned his skin, the very air scorching against his flesh.


    But¡ª


    He made it.


    He slid under, twisting mid-air, his sword raised.


    ¡º Third Move! (? Moonlight''s One Flash ?) ¡»


    SHRRKK!


    The blade ripped through the golem''s exposed core.


    A burst of cold energy detonated inside its body¡ª


    CRACK!


    CRACK!


    The ice expanded, freezing its molten insides, forming web-like fractures across its chest.


    The golem staggered, its molten form twitching violently.


    But it wasn''t enough.


    The golem''s core started pulsating violently.


    It was going to explode.


    Aestrea barely had time to react before¡ª


    BOOOOOM!!!


    The explosion erupted point-blank.


    Aestrea was sent flying, his body spinning through the air like a ragdoll.


    CRASH!


    His back slammed against a jagged rock formation¡ªSNAP!


    His ribs broke.


    Blood gushed from his mouth. His vision blurred, his thoughts scattering.


    His right arm¡ªgone.


    The explosion had ripped it clean off.


    SPLAT.


    The severed limb hit the ground, still twitching.


    Aestrea barely had the strength to groan.


    "Fuck..."


    He gritted his teeth, forcing his body to move.


    His left hand¡ªhis only remaining hand¡ªtrembled as he picked up his sword again.


    He looked up¡ª


    And saw the golem standing.


    Barely.


    Its entire torso was split, lava leaking out, its core flickering like a dying sun.


    Yet, it still stood.


    It raised its arm one last time.


    It was preparing a final, desperate attack¡ª


    To take Aestrea down with it.


    Aestrea chuckled, his vision spinning from blood loss.


    "Shit..." he whispered.


    His legs barely supported him. His lungs burned with every breath. His body¡ªa mess of broken bones, burned flesh, and missing limbs¡ªwas at its absolute limit.


    And yet¡ª


    His aura still flickered.


    Weak, unstable¡ªbut still there.


    He gripped his sword tighter, staggering into a stance.


    "One more, then..."


    His left hand trembled.


    One last attack.


    The golem swung down.


    Aestrea moved.


    ¡º Fourth Move! (? Lunar Collapse ?) ¡»


    His blade¡ª


    A blur of violet ice.


    The two clashed.


    BOOOOOOM!!!


    The impact sent shockwaves tearing through the cavern, cracks splitting across the stone floor.


    The force ripped through Aestrea''s body, his bones groaning under the pressure. His remaining arm shook violently, muscles screaming as the golem pressed down.


    But he didn''t let go.


    Instead, the ice spread.


    Ssshhhkkk!


    Cracks raced up the golem''s arm, crawling toward its core like veins of frost.


    The heat fought back.


    SIZZLE!


    Aestrea''s skin burned, his flesh melting under the intense heat radiating from the monster''s molten body. The smell of charred skin filled the air.


    But he gritted his teeth and kept pushing.


    "BREAK!"


    CRACK!


    The golem''s entire right arm shattered.


    Massive chunks of molten rock exploded outward, crashing against the cave walls like meteorites.


    But it wasn''t over.


    Aestrea forced his battered body to move.


    With a final step, he launched himself forward¡ªstraight at the golem''s exposed chest.


    ''Just one more time...''


    ¡º Fourth Move! (? Lunar Collapse ?) ¡»


    His sword blurred.


    A single, perfect strike.


    SHHRRRKKK!


    The blade pierced deep into the golem''s core.


    For a moment¡ªsilence.


    Then¡ª


    BOOOOOOOM!!!


    The explosion ripped through the cave, a pillar of violet ice shooting into the ceiling, freezing everything in its path.


    The golem let out a deafening screech, its body convulsing violently as ice devoured its insides.


    CRACK!


    CRACK!


    Its entire torso shattered, breaking apart in chunks of frozen magma.


    But Aestrea¡ª


    Didn''t move.


    He stood there, barely holding onto his sword, his legs trembling violently.


    His vision blurred.


    His body¡ªruined.


    Blood poured from his mouth, soaking his already-drenched clothes.


    And then¡ª


    He collapsed.


    His knees hit the stone floor.


    His breath rasped, barely escaping his throat.


    But his job¡ª


    Wasn''t finished.


    Because as the golem fell apart, its core¡ª


    Still glowed.


    Still burned.


    Still lived.


    And at that moment¡ª


    Aestrea knew.


    He couldn''t fight anymore.


    His body wouldn''t move.


    His fingers wouldn''t tighten around his sword.


    The golem''s core pulsed violently¡ª


    Preparing to detonate.


    ''...HEY, HEY! WE''RE GOING TO DIE!''


    Aestrea let out a weak, bitter laugh.


    "Hah... don''t worry about it.."


    ''What do you mean?!''


    The core''s light intensified¡ªa blinding, fiery glow ready to engulf him.


    And then¡ª


    FWOOOOSH!


    A wild gust of wind.


    A flash of silver and red.


    And a mad, crazed laugh.


    "OI, OI, OI¡ª!!"


    SLASH!


    A streak of blood-red energy tore through the core, slicing it clean in half.


    Aestrea''s tired eyes barely registered¡ª


    The woman standing before him.


    Her two swords gleamed, her wild grin stretching across her bloodied face.


    Her body¡ªjust as broken as his.


    And yet¡ª


    Her eyes burned with manic excitement.


    "CAN''T BELIEVE YOU ALMOST TOOK ALL THE FUN FOR YOURSELF, PARTNER~!"


    Zeva.


    She had arrived.


    Blood dripped down her arms, trailing from deep gashes across her stomach and legs. Her clothes¡ªtorn, burned, shredded.


    But her grin never faded.


    Her eyes burned, locked onto the still-pulsing remains of the golem''s core.


    It had been sliced, but not destroyed.


    Not yet.


    It pulsed. It burned. It fought to survive.


    FWOOSH!


    A sudden shockwave burst from the core, sending molten chunks exploding outward.


    Zeva moved.


    Her blades blurred.


    Fwip!


    She danced between the falling debris, her twin swords carving a path of destruction. Each slash left behind a trail of red light, cutting through the air with unnatural speed.


    CRASH!


    She landed in front of Aestrea, her bare feet skidding against the cracked stone.


    She flicked her blood-soaked blades.


    "Heh¡ª" Zeva exhaled sharply, her body trembling from the strain.


    Then, she tilted her head toward Aestrea.


    "You still breathing?"


    Aestrea forced himself to grin through the pain.


    "Barely..." he rasped.


    "Good," she whispered, licking the blood off her lips.


    Then, her eyes snapped back to the golem''s core.


    Her grin stretched wider.


    "I hope you''re watching, because this is gonna be fucking beautiful."


    The air around her shifted.


    Heat rose.


    The ground beneath her cracked.


    And then¡ª


    Her swords ignited.


    ¡º Dual Blade Art¡ªFinal Sequence! (? Blood Execution ?) ¡»


    FWOOOOOM!!!


    A scarlet vortex erupted around her, twisting into a cyclone of raw killing intent.


    Aestrea''s breath hitched.


    She''s serious.


    The cave shuddered as the pressure of her attack reached its peak.


    The golem''s core, sensing imminent annihilation, pulsed violently.


    A warning.


    A challenge.


    And Zeva¡ª


    Accepted it with a laugh.


    "Time to fucking die."


    FWOOOOOSH!


    She vanished into thin air.


    The molten air split apart, her presence warping the battlefield like a phantom of death.


    SHIIING!


    A scarlet arc tore through the cave, blindingly fast, slashing through the molten rock as she reappeared above the core.


    Her twin swords gleamed.


    Her body¡ªragged, torn, burned¡ªyet her stance unshaken.


    The golem reacted.


    BOOM!


    A volcanic surge of magma burst upward, trying to swallow her whole.


    But Zeva¡ª


    She was already gone.


    ¡º Second Rend¡ªEclipse Severance! ¡»


    SLASH!


    Her blades screamed through the air, carving through the molten surge in a flash of crimson light.


    The wave split.


    The flames shattered.


    The golem roared.


    It''s core pulsed¡ªpanicked.


    Aestrea, watching from below, felt a chill creep down his spine.


    "This crazy bitch... she''s actually overpowering it," he muttered, barely able to keep himself standing.


    The cave shook violently, the lava on the walls boiling over, reacting to Zeva''s monstrous presence.


    She wasn''t just fighting.


    She was dominating.


    And then¡ª


    She spoke.


    "Holy fuck, Aestrea..."


    Zeva twisted mid-air, avoiding another surge of lava, her swords slicing through falling debris like butter.


    "The damage you dealt to this golem... t-this...! You... you''re fucking perfect!"


    Her wild laughter echoed through the cave.


    "This! This is what I wanted! A partner who can actually keep up! A partner who doesn''t fucking drag me down!"


    SLASH!


    SLASH!


    She cut through the air, her movements too fast to follow.


    "You''re my type, Aestrea! And you know what that means?"


    Her grin stretched, blood dripping from her lips.


    "That means we''re gonna be fighting like this for a long, long fucking time."


    Aestrea groaned, dragging himself upright.


    "You''re insane..."


    "And you love it," she cackled.


    The golem lunged.


    A final attack.


    Its lava-coated arm crashed down, shaking the entire battlefield, cracks splitting the cave walls.


    But Zeva¡ª


    She was already there.


    A blur of red.


    A flash of steel.


    ¡º Final Rend¡ªEternal Decapitation! ¡»


    FWOOOOOM!


    She disappeared into a storm of slashes.


    Aestrea couldn''t even see her anymore¡ªonly dozens of crimson streaks tearing through the golem''s body.


    SPLURT!


    Chunks of molten flesh erupted in every direction.


    SPLAT!


    Blood¡ªher blood¡ªsplattered across the battlefield as she pushed her body beyond its limits.


    CRACK!


    The core split.


    The golem froze.


    Zeva landed, her back to the monster, her blades dripping molten gore.


    And then¡ª


    She turned her head slightly, whispering one final word.


    "Die."


    BOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!


    The golem exploded.


    A wave of pure force ripped through the cave, sending Aestrea skidding backward as molten debris rained down from above.


    The cave trembled.


    The flames flickered.


    And in the center of it all¡ª


    Zeva stood, her swords buried in the stone, blood covering every inch of her body.


    Her chest rose and fell heavily, her arms twitching, barely able to lift her weapons anymore.


    She turned her head, looking at Aestrea.


    And she smiled.


    "Told you it was gonna be fucking beautiful."


    "Haah..."


    Aestrea''s light blue eyes returned to their normal glowing red ones.


    "I guess it was..."


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    [Beep!]


    [The two souls have been successfully combined.]


    [All the limits implanted before are now broken.]


    [You have received a new title!]


    [The Moon''s Darling.]

 Chapter 110 - 110: End Of Semester (XIII)

    "...Fucking hell..."


    I mumbled under my breath.


    The first thing I saw when I opened my eyes was the ceiling of a place I was all too familiar with by now.


    I could even call it "home" by now.


    Yeah¡­


    It was the cathedral.


    Again.


    I let out a slow breath and moved my right arm¡ªexcept, I didn''t feel anything.


    My gaze froze for a second.


    "Damn it..."


    My hand was gone.


    My entire arm was wrapped in thick bandages.


    And even worse?


    My mana pathways were completely destroyed.


    I could feel it.


    My mana pool¡ªwhat little was left¡ªwas even smaller now.


    But at least I was still breathing.


    Better than being dead.


    Still, how the hell did I even get here?


    I tried to remember, but everything after that fight was just a blank.


    I must''ve blacked out.


    And now? I was completely screwed.


    Not only did I still need to gather enough money for the Dragon''s Heart, but now I had to find some kind of healing artifact¡ªone that could regrow my damn arm and fix my mana pathways.


    Just great.


    "Fuck¡­ I might need to rely on Yara to help me with money."


    I muttered the words without thinking.


    And then¡ª


    "Yara?"


    A cold voice cut through the air, making my whole body tense.


    "Who''s that?"


    Slowly¡ªvery slowly¡ªI turned my head to the left.


    There she was.


    Saintess Christina.


    Her dim pink eyes stared into me, void of emotion, yet somehow terrifying.


    I swallowed.


    "...A woman who owes me money."


    I lied through my teeth.


    She doesn''t.


    Christina hummed softly, clearly not buying it.


    And then, out of nowhere¡ª


    "Aestrea, do you remember that promise from a few months ago?"


    A promise?


    I frowned.


    What promise¡ª


    ¡­Oh.


    That one.


    A bead of sweat rolled down my temple.


    I tried to play it off, forcing a smile that probably looked more like a grimace. "Well¡­ it was a risk-it-or-die situation, sooo¡­ you know. At least I''m alive."


    Her eyes narrowed.


    "You lost your right hand. Your mana pathways in that arm are permanently damaged, meaning it''s basically useless now."


    She spoke slowly, deliberately.


    Then, her voice turned sharp.


    "Couldn''t you have just run away?"


    ¡­Well.


    Yeah.


    I could have.


    But I''m not some coward.


    Only when there are crazy women involved.


    Like you.


    "Did you just think something bad about me?"


    Her eyes darkened.


    Before I could react, she reached out and squeezed my left arm.


    "Agh! N-no, I didn''t!"


    I yelped, barely holding back a pained groan.


    Holy shit.


    Did she have a sixth sense or something?!


    A woman''s intuition is too damn scary.


    "Haaa..."


    Christina let out a slow sigh.


    Then, a small smile curled onto her lips.


    "I''m glad you''re alive. After all, if you were dead¡­"


    Her eyes darkened. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The warmth in them vanished in an instant.


    "It would be¡­ inconvenient."


    A cold shiver shot down my spine.


    Yikes.


    Why did I just get a d¨¦j¨¤ vu?


    Before I could react, she reached out and placed her hand on mine, her fingers tracing slow, lazy circles against my skin.


    I stiffened.


    Her touch was gentle¡ªtoo gentle.


    "Aestrea¡­ you know¡­" she murmured, voice low and oddly soft like she was trying to lull me into a false sense of security.


    At the same time, a faint glow spread from her palm. Healing magic.


    But for some reason, it didn''t feel comforting.


    "If you died¡­"


    She paused.


    And then¡ª


    "I would make sure to get your body, use some kind of forbidden magic to bring you back, and then I''d lock you away in a place where you''d only see me. Forever. That way, you wouldn''t be able to throw yourself into danger again."


    My entire body went rigid.


    FUCK!


    Stop.


    Stop scaring me, woman!


    I felt my stomach drop. Cold sweat prickled at the back of my neck.


    I could barely breathe, and it wasn''t because of my injuries.


    Besides¡ªwhy the hell was she talking so fast?! Was she not human? Did she not need to breathe?!


    "Sooo¡­"


    That smile.


    That peaceful¡ªyet absolutely terrifying¡ªsmile spread across her face.


    "Be careful not to die, okay?"


    Her fingers trailed up my chest, slow and deliberate, before reaching my collar.


    And then they just¡­ rested there.


    Not moving.


    Just there.


    I swallowed hard.


    "Y-yeah..."


    I barely managed to get out.


    The moment I spoke, her expression shifted.


    Bright.


    Cheerful.


    Like she hadn''t just threatened to lock me away for eternity.


    "Great!" she chirped.


    I exhaled shakily and shut my eyes for a second, praying she wouldn''t do anything else to make my soul leave my body.


    Inner peace.


    Rustle.


    Inner peac¡ª


    Wait.


    Why are the sheets moving?!


    My eyes snapped open.


    And immediately, they widened in horror.


    Christina was under the sheets!


    Clinging to my lower body.


    Her arms wrapped securely around my waist.


    Her face resting right on my abdomen.


    "Shhhh¡­"


    She put a finger to her lips, silencing me before I could scream.


    BAM!


    The door suddenly slammed open.


    FUCK!


    Why now?!


    Christina was still under the damn sheets!


    "Aestrea, are you okay?!"


    A familiar voice rang out.


    Ella.


    And behind her stood Rose, her usual emotionless expression barely concealing the worry in her eyes.


    I forced a stiff, twitching smile.


    "Ah¡­ not really."


    I shook my head.


    Not really at all.


    "A-ah...!"


    Rose''s eyes widened in pure horror.


    She hurried toward me, her movements stiff, hands shaking. Before I could react, she reached out and lifted my right arm¡ªwell, what was left of it.


    A sharp jolt ran up my shoulder, and I winced.


    "Y-Your right h-hand¡­"


    Her voice trembled, her gaze flickering between my missing hand and my face, as if she couldn''t believe what she was seeing.


    I let out a slow sigh.


    "Well¡­ at least I''m not dead, right?"


    I forced a smile.


    What else was I supposed to say?


    I knew she felt guilty. I knew she was blaming herself. But what could I do? I was missing a fucking hand.


    And to make things worse¡ª


    Christina was still under the sheets.


    Thud!


    Before I could process what was happening, Rose suddenly pulled me into her chest.


    My face crashed into pure softness.


    Squish.


    Oh.


    Oh no.


    This was bad.


    "I-I''m really sorry!" she blurted out, voice cracking.


    "This shouldn''t have happened! You were fighting that big golden golem, and w-we really tried to help, but smaller golems appeared and there were too many! W-We couldn''t even get close to you!"


    Her arms tightened around me, trembling.


    Her heartbeat pounded against my ear.


    She was really upset about this.


    And normally, I would have tried to reassure her.


    Maybe pat her back.


    But now was not the time.


    Because Christina was still fucking here.


    Under the sheets.


    Still holding onto me.


    And she did not like what was happening.


    "Agh¡­!"


    A sharp pain shot through my waist as Christina pinched me.


    Hard.


    I flinched, barely holding in a yelp.


    "A-Ah, sorry!"


    Rose panicked and immediately let go of me, pulling back in a flustered mess.


    "N-No¡­ problem."


    I barely choked out the words as Christina finally stopped pinching me.


    I swear she was like a territorial cat.


    If I wasn''t careful, she was going to bite me next.


    I tried to subtly shift my legs, hoping to shake her off¡ª


    But then¡ª


    Rustle.


    I felt her move.


    My stomach dropped.


    Her grip around my waist tightened.


    And before I could even react¡ª


    A slow, chilling whisper that only I could hear brushed against my stomach.


    "Aestrea¡­"


    FUCK.


    I froze.


    "Why is Rose touching you so freely¡­?"


    That voice.


    That calm, sweet, absolutely unhinged voice.


    My breath hitched.


    I didn''t dare move.


    Rose tilted her head, confused.


    "Huh?"


    Shit.


    Fuck.


    Fuck no!


    I had approximately two seconds before this turned into an actual disaster.


    Think, Aestrea, THINK.


    I''m so fucking dead!


    I could feel it¡ªChristina''s grip tightening, her nails lightly pressing into my waist like a silent warning.


    A cold sweat broke out on the back of my neck.


    Meanwhile, Rose was still looking at me with worried eyes, completely oblivious to the danger under the sheets.


    And Ella?


    She was right behind her.


    She hadn''t said a word since stepping in, but I didn''t need to hear anything to know what was going on inside her head.


    Her grip on her own sleeve was so tight that her knuckles were turning white. Her lips were pressed together, twitching slightly¡ªlike she was holding something back.


    Oh.


    Oh, she was furious.


    Not at my missing hand.


    Not at my injuries.


    But at the fact that Rose was the first one to rush in and hug me.


    Jesus Christ, I''m actually surrounded by dangerous women.


    I needed to handle this carefully.


    "Aestrea¡­"


    I tensed as Christina''s voice purred from under the sheets. Her fingers slowly trailed down my stomach¡ªlower, lower¡ª


    Oh, fuck.


    Fuck, not here!


    I clenched my thigh muscles, doing my absolute best not to react.


    Christina was playing dirty.


    "...You didn''t answer my question."


    I bit my lip.


    I could feel my body reacting in a way that would definitely make things a hundred times worse if I didn''t stop this now.


    But if I panicked, if I moved too much if I made any strange noises¡ª


    Rose and Ella would definitely notice.


    I forced a shaky breath, then¡ª


    "Rose."


    I spoke up, trying to sound normal.


    She perked up immediately.


    "Y-Yes?!"


    Christina''s hand gripped my waist.


    I internally screamed.


    "You don''t have to worry," I continued, my voice slightly strained. "I made it out alive, that''s what matters."


    Rose''s eyes glistened with emotion.


    "But¡ª"


    "I know you guys did your best," I cut in quickly, trying to distract myself from the soft hand dangerously close to forbidden territory.


    I could feel Christina''s breath against my stomach now.


    Dear God, have mercy on me.


    I''m not really catholic, but this time I really, but really need your help!


    "That''s why I''m still here, right?" I added with a forced chuckle.


    Ella''s sharp gaze flickered between me and Rose. She crossed her arms, her fingers tapping against her sleeve.


    "That doesn''t change the fact that you lost your hand."


    Oh, now she speaks.


    And her voice was ice cold.


    I was about to respond when¡ª


    Christina pressed her lips to my skin.


    FUCK.


    A jolt ran through my body.


    I barely held back a choked gasp.


    I need to stop her.


    Now.


    But I couldn''t just shove her away¡ªnot without making it obvious.


    So instead¡ª


    I gently placed my left hand over the sheets, pressing down just enough to signal her to stop.


    Her body tensed slightly beneath the covers.


    I waited.


    She didn''t move.


    I slowly stroked my fingers along the sheet, a silent, desperate plea.


    Please, Christina.


    Please don''t make this worse.


    For a moment, there was only silence.


    Then¡ª


    A soft exhale.


    And finally¡ªshe stopped.


    Thank fuck.


    I let out a quiet breath of relief.


    Meanwhile, Rose was still looking at me with tears in her eyes.


    "Is there anything we can do to help¡­?"


    Ella nodded slightly, her sharp gaze scanning me.


    "I''ll talk with my father about your contributions. I''ll try to get some kind of artifact that could heal you."


    "Or something to ease the pain for now," Rose added quickly.


    "Just say the word."


    I forced myself to relax, doing my best to ignore the lingering warmth under the sheets.


    "I''m fine," I lied through my teeth. "


    Just¡­ really tired."


    Ella''s frown deepened.


    "I don''t believe you."


    Well, fuck.


    I needed to get them out of here before Christina decided to start round two.


    "Guys."


    I sighed.


    "Seriously. I''m okay. Just let me rest for now, alright?"


    Rose hesitated, but after a moment, she nodded.


    "Okay¡­ but if you need anything, just call us!"


    Ella didn''t look convinced.


    She shot me one last hard look before sighing.


    "Fine. But we''re coming back later."


    God, please don''t.


    I forced a smile.


    "Got it."


    After another moment of hesitation, they finally turned to leave.


    The door shut behind them.


    Silence.


    For about two seconds.


    Then¡ª


    "Aestrea¡­"


    Christina''s smug voice purred from under the sheets.


    I felt another chill run down my spine.


    I was still not safe.

 Chapter 111 - 111: End Of Semester (XIV)

    I was still not safe.


    I didn''t even get a chance to breathe before I felt her fingers slowly trailing along my stomach again.


    It was so slow, so deliberate, that I almost jumped out of my own skin.


    "Tsk¡ª" I clenched my teeth, trying not to make any noise.


    "You did well keeping quiet." Her voice was too sweet like she was praising a pet that had just learned a new trick.


    "But you know, Aestrea¡­ I''m not quite done teasing you yet."


    Oh.


    Oh, fuck no.


    I slammed my hand down on the sheets, firmly this time.


    "Christina, stop!"


    For a second, there was nothing.


    Then I felt her laughing.


    I could feel the vibrations of her amused giggle against my skin. It made my body tense up even more.


    "You''re so fun to tease, you know that?" she whispered.


    Oh, I know.


    And that was exactly the problem.


    I squeezed my eyes shut, focusing on calming my heartbeat.


    I needed to end this¡ªnow.


    "You want to play games, Christina?" I muttered, forcing my voice to stay steady.


    "Fine. Let''s play a game."


    She stilled. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Oh?"


    I inhaled sharply and leaned in just a little.


    "Let''s see how fast I can get you to leave this bed."


    A pause.


    Then she chuckled.


    "You''re welcome to try."


    I didn''t hesitate.


    I suddenly pushed my weight forward, rolling my body just enough to press her down against the mattress.


    It was an awkward move, especially since she was still under the sheets, but it worked. She let out a small breath, momentarily pinned.


    I took advantage of that moment and brought my face closer to where her ear would be beneath the fabric.


    "Christina."


    "Get. Out. From. Under. The. Sheets."


    For the first time, I felt her falter.


    She shifted slightly beneath me, and for a moment, I thought I had actually won¡ª


    Then¡ª


    She giggled.


    Oh, shit.


    "Aestrea," she whispered back, and before I could react, I felt her lips press against my bare stomach.


    A shock ran through me like a jolt of lightning.


    I flinched so hard that I almost lost my balance.


    Damn it, woman!


    "You really do get flustered so easily¡­" she hummed, her warm breath dangerously close to my skin.


    Nope.


    NOPE.


    This is not happening.


    Not here!


    "Christina, I swear¡ª"


    "Shhh..." Her fingers grazed my side, and I almost let out a noise.


    "You''ll wake them up."


    Wake them up?!


    They literally just left!


    I gritted my teeth.


    Alright.


    Plan B.


    I grabbed the sheets and yanked them away from my body¡ª


    And there she was.


    Christina was lying on her side, her blonde hair slightly messy, her eyes glowing with amusement, and her lips curled into the most smug, infuriatingly beautiful smile I had ever seen.


    She tilted her head slightly.


    "Oh my, was I that much of a distraction?"


    I''M GOING TO LOSE IT.


    I sucked in a deep breath, trying¡ªdesperately trying¡ªto compose myself.


    "You are fucking insane."


    She beamed at my ''sweet'' words.


    "I know."


    I exhaled sharply, my patience running dangerously thin.


    "Are you done now?"


    She placed a delicate finger on her chin, pretending to think.


    "Hmmm¡­"


    Then she suddenly rolled over, pressing herself against me before I could react.


    "Christina¡ª"


    "Maybe just a little longer?"


    My soul left my body.


    I need to escape.


    Now.


    I grabbed her shoulders and firmly pushed her away.


    "Enough. Seriously. I need to rest."


    She pouted but didn''t resist. Instead, she finally sat up properly, stretching her arms over her head with a lazy yawn.


    "Fine, fine. I guess I''ll let you sleep."


    FINALLY!


    I flopped back against the pillows, exhausted.


    She watched me for a moment, her expression unreadable, before suddenly reaching out and placing her hand on my forehead.


    I stiffened.


    "What¡ª"


    "You''re warm," she murmured, her teasing tone finally gone.


    "You must be really tired."


    I blinked.


    For the first time since she crawled into my bed, she looked¡­ serious.


    "¡­Yeah," I muttered.


    "Kind of."


    She sighed softly and then gently ran her fingers through my hair.


    "Rest, Aestrea," she said quietly.


    "I''ll be here."


    I should tell her to leave.


    I should push her away.


    I should¡ª


    Rustle...


    But my eyes were already closing.


    And before I knew it¡­


    I was asleep.


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    "Haugh..."


    Blinking my eyes open, I stretched my arms slightly, feeling the stiffness in my muscles from lying in bed for so long.


    This was my second day at the cathedral.


    ...I think.


    Honestly, time felt strange when you spent most of it either sleeping or dealing with a certain terrifying saintess.


    Anyways...


    I glanced around the room.


    Thankfully, Christina wasn''t here right now. Just that thought alone made me relax a little.


    Instead, my eyes landed on something different¡ªsomething that hadn''t been there before.


    A small envelope sat neatly on the bedside table, standing out against the plain white sheets and wooden surface.


    "Oh? What''s this?"


    I mumbled, curiosity taking over as I reached for it.


    The envelope was made of thick, high-quality parchment, and the handwriting on the front was both elegant and familiar.


    "Haaa..."


    I couldn''t help but sigh with a smile.


    Vivian.


    A name I hadn''t seen in a long time.


    A name that brought back memories of lectures, training sessions, and the warm smile of my favorite teacher back at Silverleaf Academy.


    And also... the first person I had a close relationship within this world.


    A strange feeling settled in my chest as I carefully opened the envelope and pulled out the card inside.


    The letter began:


    | To my beloved Star Student,


    I can already imagine your face as you read this. Hopefully, you''re at least a little happy to hear from me, rather than groaning about having to read a letter. Knowing you, you probably sighed the moment you saw my name, didn''t you?


    I''ll keep this simple (or at least, I''ll try). When I heard what happened to you, I won''t lie¡ªI panicked. The news of your injuries spread fast, and for a moment, I truly feared the worst.


    But when I confirmed that you were alive, I felt something I hadn''t in a long time: relief so deep that it brought me to tears. Yes, you heard that right. I cried. You can laugh all you want, but I don''t regret it.


    Aestrea, do you even realize how much you mean to us? Not just me, but everyone back at Silverleaf?


    Mia, that fiery troublemaker, nearly set the training grounds on fire when she found out. She wouldn''t stop pacing for hours, talking about how unfair it was that she wasn''t there to help. Maria, the quiet one, actually yelled at the headmaster when he refused to give her any information at first. (You would have been proud. I was.)


    As for Derek and James? Oh, those two. They''ve been training like madmen. I think they''ve convinced themselves that if they get strong enough, they''ll be able to stand beside you next time¡ªthough I doubt they''ll ever admit it. They keep saying they''re "just making sure they don''t fall behind."


    We all miss you, Aestrea. The academy feels different without you.


    I know you have your own journey to walk, your own battles to fight, but don''t ever think for a second that you''re forgotten.


    Every student you left behind remembers you, looks up to you, and wants to see you again.


    Rest up well, Aestrea.


    We''re all waiting for you.


    P.S:


    Fun fact: they all tried to sneak out of Silverleaf Academy just to come see you. Yes, you read that right. Every single one of them, including the ever-so-rational Maria. They planned everything¡ªroutes, disguises, everything. Unfortunately for them, I caught them before they could leave. I''ve never seen a group of students look more guilty in my life.


    Still, if I''m being honest? I almost let them go. Because, truthfully, I wanted to come too.


    I miss you, Aestrea, and will probably dream of you tonight.


    From your favorite professor, Vivian. |


    "......."


    I stared at the letter for a long moment, feeling something tighten in my chest.


    Damn it.


    I really wanna go back already.


    Well, I just need to hold on for a while.


    Once the exams are over, I''ll finally be able to return to Silverleaf. Back to my old routine. Back to the people waiting for me.


    But¡­


    There''s a really small problem.


    What do I do about Yara and Eleonora?


    I never planned on sleeping with either of them.


    It just¡­ happened.


    Also, both of their "empires" are based right here in the capital.


    I don''t know what they''ll do when I try to leave.


    If I can leave, of course.


    They might kidnap me or something.


    There''s also Zeva...


    But nah...


    We haven''t gotten past the last step yet so¡ª


    BAM!


    A loud noise snapped me out of my thoughts.


    "Hey~"


    A smooth, sultry voice called out, sharp and playful.


    Speak of the devil.


    There she was.


    Wrapped in bandages from head to toe.


    Well, almost.


    She sauntered over and then slid into the chair beside my bed.


    Crossing her legs effortlessly, she smirked down at me.


    "How are you doing?"


    "Great."


    Her smirk widened.


    "And how''s that missing hand?" She tilted her head, a hint of amusement appearing in her green eyes.


    I rolled my eyes at her words.


    She chuckled, leaning back in the chair.


    "Relax. You''ve been given full credit for taking down that oversized rock, so you''ll get more than enough money to buy an artifact or potion to regrow it."


    Huh?


    Wait, what?!


    I sat up so fast my body screamed in protest.


    "AGH!"


    A wave of pain crashed through me.


    My vision blurred for a second.


    "Oi, calm down." Zeva clicked her tongue, gently pushing me back down against the bed.


    "Like I said," she continued, "you were the one who did most of the damage. I just stepped in to land the final hit. So, I gave you the credits for the kill."


    I licked my dry lips.


    "...So¡­ how much am I getting?"


    Her smirk deepened.


    "3,920 Platinum Coins."


    I blinked.


    My brain stalled.


    Oh.


    I''m rich.


    Not crazy rich, but rich.


    Still, not even close to enough for a Dragon''s Heart.


    In the last auction where a Dragon''s Heart appeared, his value was over 40.000 Platinum Coins, which was more than enough to buy a castle and even more!


    So, I was still very far off.


    "Oh... and how much does it cost a healing potion for this kind of injury?" I couldn''t help but ask curiously.


    Hearing my question, Zeva put on a thoughtful expression.


    "Depends. For your hand? Maybe 500 to 1,500 Gold Coins. But if you want to heal your mana pathways too¡­ at least 100 Platinum Coins."


    I swallowed hard.


    My money¡­


    Calm down.


    At least it''s not 1,000 Platinum Coins.


    "Ah¡­ great," I muttered under my breath.


    "Well, that''s all I wanted to tell you."


    Zeva stretched as she stood up, giving me one last glance before turning toward the door.


    But then, she stopped.


    Slowly, she turned back to me, her lips curling.


    "Next week. Saturday. 11 PM. Meet me at Eternum''s Hotel."


    She licked her lips, eyes gleaming with something dangerous.


    Then, with a wink, she was gone.


    Of course.


    She hadn''t forgotten our promise.

 Chapter 112 - 112: End Of Semester (XV)

    Gulp, gulp, gulp!


    I chugged the potion in one go, feeling the cool liquid rush down my throat.


    Almost immediately, a refreshing sensation spread through my body, like ice water flowing through my veins.


    My limbs felt lighter, the soreness easing away bit by bit.


    Instinctively, my eyes snapped to my right hand.


    "Phew..."


    I let out a breath of relief.


    It had grown back.


    Fingers, palm, everything¡ªperfectly restored.


    But something was off.


    Right in the center of my palm, a strange symbol had appeared.


    A black moon.


    Completely filled-in, like a solid shadow.


    Weird.


    Was this because my soul had finally fused with Aestrea''s?


    I wasn''t sure where exactly the whole Moon Goddess thing came from, but one thing was certain¡ªAestrea had always been obsessed with the moon. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Every night, without fail, before sleeping, he''d stare up at it.


    His gaze was warm, thoughtful, almost... longing. Then he''d close his eyes as if trying to feel something beyond what was visible.


    And now, after drinking the potion, I had finally regained the rest of his memories.


    Well, most of them.


    There were still gaps¡ªmissing pieces that I couldn''t quite grasp. And none of them explained why or how he was connected to the Goddess of the Moon.


    I sighed and flexed my fingers, testing my new hand.


    Physically, I was completely healed.


    Was it worth spending 152 Platinum Coins?


    ...Not sure.


    But at least I wasn''t walking around without a right hand anymore.


    Well.


    I still had some problems.


    Because even though my body was healed, I had overloaded my physique again during that fight with the Fire Spirit King.


    I was running on borrowed time.


    I needed more money.


    But that was easier said than done.


    Unlike some lucky bastards, I didn''t have knowledge of some god-tier inventions to revolutionize this world.


    I wasn''t some genius innovator who could casually create "modern technology" and sell it for mountains of gold.


    And I sure as hell didn''t have some overpowered system to carry me through.


    Honestly, my system was practically nonexistent.


    The only thing it ever gave me was a status window. Which, let''s be real, everyone had access to.


    Oh, and there was that one time it gave me future sight.


    But other than that?


    Nothing.


    Anyway, I should be happy with what I have right now.


    I exhaled and stretched my shoulders, rolling out some of the stiffness in my muscles.


    "...I should head back to the academy."


    I mumbled to myself.


    No point in staying here any longer.


    With that thought, I made my way toward the exit of the cathedral.


    But the moment I pushed the doors open¡ª


    FLASH!


    A blinding burst of light exploded in my face.


    "The... fuck?!"


    Before I could process what was happening, a swarm of reporters rushed forward, cameras flashing, microphones shoved in my face like a pack of hungry wolves.


    "Baron Moon! Is it true that you and Zeva defeated one of the Spirit Kings?!"


    "Baron Moon! What is your current rank?!"


    "Baron Moon! Rumors say you''re involved with multiple women, including your instructor Zeva! Can you confirm or deny these claims?"


    "Is it true that you have connections to the Holy Church''s higher-ups?"


    "Are you planning on joining the Royal Knights after graduation?"


    "Some say you used forbidden magic during your last battle! Can you comment on this?"


    I barely registered half the questions before my brain went into survival mode.


    NOPE.


    Without hesitation, I slammed the door shut.


    I stood there, blinking.


    "...The fuck did they come from?!"


    I muttered under my breath.


    "Watch your language."


    A familiar voice rang out behind me, sending a chill down my spine.


    Ah, damn it.


    My back straightened instinctively as I turned around.


    Christina was standing there, arms crossed, one eyebrow raised in amusement.


    "...Are you talking about those reporters?" she asked.


    I nodded.


    Her eyes narrowed before she let out a long sigh.


    "Ah... so they''re here for you. For a second, I thought they were here to accuse me of corruption again, like last time."


    Huh?


    I blinked at her.


    "...Wait, they actually go after you? The heir to the Holy Nation?"


    "Of course. They love to stir up trouble." Christina rolled her eyes.


    "They accused me of taking bribes to favor certain nobles in the church. Absolutely ridiculous."


    Damn.


    These reporters truly had balls of steel.


    "What about you?" she continued. "What are they accusing you of?"


    I flinched.


    A very particular question from earlier popped into my head.


    ''Is it true you''re dating two girls at the same time and have an improper relationship with Instructor Zeva?''


    My face twitched.


    Christina''s sharp gaze immediately caught onto it.


    "Why are you sweating?" she asked, narrowing her eyes.


    "No reason!" I answered way too fast.


    "Mhm¡­" She didn''t look convinced.


    Time for some expert-level bullshitting.


    "They were mostly asking about the Fire Spirit King, my current rank, and things like that," I said smoothly, very carefully avoiding the more problematic topics.


    Her expression remained skeptical for a moment before she finally sighed.


    "Ah, right. You made quite a bit of money from that, huh?" She smirked and elbowed me playfully.


    Then, her gaze landed on my right hand.


    Her eyes widened.


    "Your hand¡­ it grew back!" She reached forward, gently grasping my hand as if confirming it was real.


    Weird.


    She didn''t seem to notice the black moon symbol on it...


    "Ah, yeah."


    Pushing my thoughts aside, I nodded.


    "Cost me a small fortune, but it was worth it."


    At my words, Christina''s expression shifted.


    Her smile faded slightly.


    "...I still need to train more," she whispered under her breath.


    I paused.


    She¡­ was blaming herself?


    I tilted my head, watching her closely.


    Was it because she couldn''t heal my hand with her magic?


    Did she feel helpless back then?


    For all the times she scared the hell out of me, I knew one thing for sure¡ªshe cared.


    That was enough.


    Thump!


    Without thinking, I stepped forward and wrapped my arms around her.


    "Ah!"


    She let out a startled noise, completely caught off guard.


    For a split second, she froze.


    Then, almost immediately, she relaxed against me.


    Slowly, she buried her face in my chest, her arms moving up to hold onto my back.


    "...Idiot," she muttered.


    I just chuckled softly, resting my chin on her head.


    Christina didn''t move away.


    If anything, she pressed herself closer.


    Her fingers curled slightly against my back, gripping my shirt like she didn''t want to let go.


    "...You scared me, you know," she muttered softly, her breath warm against my chest.


    I blinked, looking down at her.


    "You? Scared?" I teased lightly, running my hand up and down her back.


    She scoffed but didn''t pull away.


    "Yeah. I was scared, idiot," she mumbled.


    "You almost died. When I saw you being dragged here, with your right hand gone, blood everywhere¡­ I panicked and almost couldn''t do anything."


    Her voice was quiet, but I could feel the emotion in every word.


    I let out a slow breath.


    "Hey¡­ I''m still here, aren''t I?" I whispered.


    Christina lifted her head slightly, her bright pink eyes locking onto mine.


    For a moment, we just stood there, inches apart, staring at each other.


    Then, before I could think¡ª


    "...?"


    She leaned up, closing the distance between us.


    Her lips pressed against mine.


    Soft and warm.


    I stiffened for a second, my brain short-circuiting.


    Then, instinct took over.


    I kissed her back, wrapping my arms tighter around her waist.


    "Mhm!"


    Her hands slid up my chest, one of them resting on my shoulder while the other tangled into my hair.


    The kiss was slow at first, gentle.


    But soon, it deepened.


    Christina tilted her head, pressing herself closer as her lips moved against mine, the heat between us rising.


    I could feel my heart pounding.


    I could feel her.


    Every breath.


    Every little movement.


    She sighed softly into the kiss, her fingers tightening in my hair as if she wanted more.


    I responded, pulling her even closer, feeling the shape of her body mold against mine.


    Damn.


    This was getting dangerous.


    We were still in the cathedral.


    I reluctantly pulled back just enough to catch my breath, resting my forehead against hers.


    Her cheeks were flushed, her breathing a little unsteady.


    "You okay?" I murmured.


    She licked her lips, looking at me through her half-lidded pink eyes.


    "...Shut up," she muttered, before pulling me into another kiss.


    I chuckled softly against her lips but didn''t complain.


    I kissed her again, slower this time, savoring the feeling.


    After a while, Christina finally pulled back, just enough to look up at me. But she didn''t go far¡ªher forehead rested lightly against my chest, her arms still wrapped around me.


    Her voice was barely above a whisper when she spoke.


    "...I missed you," she admitted.


    I smiled, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.


    "Yeah¡­ I missed you too."


    We stayed like that for a moment longer, just enjoying the warmth, the quiet, the closeness.


    But eventually, she let out a small sigh and stepped back, though her fingers lingered against my sleeve as if she didn''t want to completely let go.


    "Unfortunately¡­ you need to go now," she murmured, her eyes turning towards the cathedral doors.


    "The academy''s exams are starting in a week or so, and you need to prepare yourself."


    "Yeah, yeah."


    I waved a hand lazily.


    Christina narrowed her eyes.


    "I''m serious. You might''ve passed the combat exam after¡­ well, everything that happened, but don''t forget about the written exams. I heard they''re pretty tough."


    I smirked.


    "I should be fine. Sure, I make questionable life choices, but I''m actually pretty smart, you know."


    She sighed, shaking her head.


    "You''re in the Royal Academy, the hardest institute to get into. You might want to study at the library, just in case."


    I gave her a mock salute.


    "Yes, ma''am."


    Truthfully, I did have a few things to brush up on.


    I needed to start studying level seven ice spells¡ªespecially if I wanted to push my magic even further.


    Plus, if I could find any books related to time magic, that would be even better.


    And this week before the writing exams would be the perfect time to do it.


    "Alright, I''ll be going now," I said, stretching my arms.


    I turned toward the exit.


    And immediately frowned.


    ...The reporters were still out there.


    I could practically hear the nonstop chatter from behind the doors.


    Yeah, no.


    There was no way I was walking into that chaos.


    I glanced around the cathedral and spotted a large stained-glass window at the far end of the room.


    Perfect.


    With a quick step, I headed toward it.


    Christina followed me with a raised brow.


    "You''re not seriously thinking of¡ª"


    Before she could finish, I placed a hand against the window frame, preparing to jump out and make my escape.


    But just as I was about to leap¡ª


    "Wait!"


    Her voice rang through the air, sharp and sudden.


    I froze.


    Christina was standing there, staring at me.


    Her hands were clenched at her sides, her expression unreadable.


    And then, with a deep breath, she asked:


    "...Are we official now?"


    My whole body locked up.


    Shit.


    Shit.


    My brain immediately went into crisis mode.


    If I said yes, that would be admitting to a relationship. Which, under normal circumstances, wouldn''t be a problem.


    Except¡­


    Yara and Eleonora.


    If they found out?


    I was dead.


    Absolutely, 100% dead.


    At the same time, if I said no, Christina would not take it well.


    So I needed to be very, very careful about how I answered this.


    "...Uh," I started, stalling for time.


    "Define ''official''?"


    Her eyes narrowed.


    Shit!


    Wrong move.


    I swallowed.


    "I mean," I laughed nervously, "things are, uh, kinda complicated right now, you know? With the academy, exams, and all that¡ª"


    She took a step forward.


    Crap.


    "You''re avoiding the question."


    I opened my mouth. Closed it. Opened it again.


    Think. Think. THINK.


    "I¡ª"


    Suddenly¡ª


    BANG!


    The cathedral doors shook violently, the sound of reporters yelling from outside echoing through the halls.


    Saved by the chaos.


    I immediately took advantage of the distraction.


    "Oops, gotta go!" I said way too fast, leaping toward the window.


    "ASTREA¡ª!"


    I jumped.


    And as I landed smoothly on the ground below, sprinting away before anyone could spot me, I could still hear her frustrated shout from above.


    I''d definitely have to deal with this later.

 Chapter 113 - 113: End Of Semester (XVI)

    As soon as I reached the academy and started walking down the halls, I could feel everyone''s gaze on me.


    What was it now?


    I couldn''t help but wonder.


    Whispers.


    Low, hushed voices filled the air as I walked down the hall. It was like everyone was talking about me but not saying anything loud enough for me to hear.


    I didn''t need to hear it.


    I could guess.


    "Haaa..."


    I let out a deep sigh.


    This was getting old.


    I kept walking, heading towards the library, hoping to find a little peace and quiet, but as I passed one of the bulletin boards, something caught my eye.


    It was a piece of paper, clearly posted by the academy''s news committee.


    [EXTRA, EXTRA!


    Aestrea Moon Has Been Seen Hanging Out with Multiple Girls!


    Is He a Player? Come Find Out!]


    The headline jumped off the page, and I felt my stomach drop.


    "Ah..."


    Of course.


    It had to be something like this.


    I stood there for a moment, staring at the paper, trying to process it. No wonder those damn reporters had been all over me.


    But what made it worse was that they had pictures.


    I looked down, and my heart sank.


    There were more than three pictures, each one showing me hanging out with different girls.


    There was Ella, Rose, and even Christina, standing close to me with that look in her eyes.


    And Zeva¡ªof course, Zeva. A few other girls from my past academy days, like Maria and Mia, were there too.


    It wasn''t like any of them were anything too scandalous, but it was still a bad look.


    Fucking hell...


    It seems that I''ll need to stop by somewhere else before going to the library.


    I turned around, and based on my memory, I started walking towards the News Committee Club Room.


    I''d never cared about that club before, but now?


    It seemed like they were making me their target.


    They had already revealed me as the "Moonlight Swordsman" without my permission. Fine, whatever.


    But now?


    Now they were poking around in my personal life.


    I couldn''t let this go any further.


    But seriously¡­ attacking my relationships?


    With all these crazy women?


    Yeah, no. Not happening.


    It took me a lot longer to get to the News Committee Club Room than I''d expected.


    The academy was bigger than I gave it credit for, and the club room seemed to be in the farthest corner of the building.


    Eventually, I made it to the door.


    [News Committee Club Room]


    The plaque hung there, a little too smug for my taste.


    And of course, like a civilized person, I knocked on the door¡ª


    BAAM!


    The door flew off its hinges, crashing against the wall.


    Just kidding, I''m not fucking civilized.


    "HEY! Who the hell was the bastard who made the door fly¡ª?" One of the club members jumped up, his voice loud and pissed off.


    I peered into the room, and instantly, I could see his shirt''s emblem¡ªa fourth-year student.


    "A-Aestrea...?!"


    All of them looked at me in pure shock.


    "The fuck did you guys expect?" I grumbled, crossing my arms.


    "You already made my secret identity public, and now you''re attacking my personal life..."


    I conjured a small ball of ice in my hand, letting it float there in the air, the chill filling the room.


    "Do you seriously think I don''t have a backbone?"


    The temperature in the room dropped a few degrees, the cold pressing in from all sides.


    One of the students, trying to act tough, stepped forward.


    "Y-you can''t do things like this! You''ll have to pay for the damages, and injuring a fellow student can result in penalty points¡ª"


    ¡ªFwip!


    Before he could finish, I flicked my wrist, sending a sharp shard of ice slicing through the air. It grazed his cheek, leaving a thin line of blood that quickly turned into a small drop.


    "Do you seriously think I fucking care about that?" I sneered.


    "I''m an exchange student. Penalty points don''t bother me, especially since I''m about to leave this cursed academy anyway."


    The air in the room seemed to grow even colder, and the students exchanged wary looks.


    They were smart enough to realize that I wasn''t messing around.


    But, naturally, that didn''t stop them from reacting.


    Weapons started to appear in their hands, materializing out of thin air like they were ready for this kind of confrontation.


    Well, isn''t this fun?


    It seems that they were prepared in case something like this happened.


    Very well.


    ''Lumi.''


    {Yesh!}


    Lumi transformed into a scythe, materializing in my right hand, as the dark yet sharp blade glowed dimly with a violet aura.


    Yeah.


    I wasn''t going to hold back from using my Aura anymore.


    "By the way..." I said, almost casually, like I wasn''t standing in the middle of a room full of armed students.


    I suddenly remembered something.


    Something that appeared a shit load of times in the student''s news.


    And the students who were targeted were always asked the same thing...


    "What''s... 1000 minus 7?"


    Their faces froze, and they blinked at me in confusion, like they couldn''t quite understand what I was asking.


    Before they could even process it, I was already in motion.


    Fwoop!


    I shot forward with a speed that left them no time to react.


    The air crackled as I moved.


    The first student lunged at me, a wild swing aimed for my head.


    I didn''t need to dodge, I just stepped to the side, my body moving faster than his punch could track.


    With a soft swish of the air, his fist flew past me, just inches away from my face.


    Whoooosh!


    Before he could even react, my scythe was in motion, slicing through the air with a low, menacing hum.


    Slash!


    The student''s side was cut, the tip of my scythe grazing across his ribs, a thin spray of blood following in its wake.


    He staggered back, clutching his side as he gasped in pain, but the cut wasn''t deep¡ªjust enough to make him realize how much he was outmatched.


    His eyes widened with fear as he stumbled backward, realizing he was dealing with something much worse than he had anticipated.


    The second student, a tall guy with messy brown hair, tried to capitalize on my distracted stance.


    He extended both hands forward, murmuring under his breath.


    ¡º Earth-Series: Fortified Earth Barrier! (? 5th-Level Spell ?)¡»


    A sudden rumble shook the ground, and jagged rocks shot up from the floor, forming a solid, swirling barrier in front of him.


    He grinned, thinking he had me cornered, but I wasn''t about to be stopped by a wall of dirt and rock.


    Crash!


    I swung the scythe downward, and with a single, fluid motion, the blade cleaved through the stone like it was butter.


    "Don''t think so," I muttered, just before I darted forward.


    I moved fast, closing the distance before the guy could react.


    A swift flick of my wrist, and the scythe carved through the air, cutting through the final remnants of his earth magic and striking his shoulder.


    Slash!


    He screamed as the edge of my scythe nicked him, the blood dripping down from his wound. It wasn''t deep, but enough to show him I wasn''t playing around.


    The blood soaked through his shirt, and he stumbled backward, clearly unsure of how to fight me anymore.


    As the next club member tried to cast his spell, I felt a sudden shift in the air.


    ¡º Mixed Wind Series: Winds of the Storm! (? 5th-Level Spell ?)¡»


    A sharp gust of wind blasted through the room, tearing at the walls, and creating a loud whistle as the magic gathered.


    The winds rushed toward me like a violent whirlwind, aiming to toss me off my feet and push me into a corner.


    I narrowed my eyes.


    I wasn''t having that.


    Shh-woosh!


    With a single motion, I released a violet aura from my body, expanding outwards like a shockwave.


    The wind hit the aura, but instead of pushing me back, it just parted, like water around a rock.


    The student''s eyes went wide, his magic dissipating uselessly in the air.


    Before he could react, I was already on him, my scythe carving a path straight through the gusts.


    Slash!


    My blade hit his chest, leaving a trail of blood as it cut through his robes and into his flesh.


    His face twisted in pain, his hands clutching at the fresh wound as he stumbled back, unable to stop the bleeding.


    "You...!"


    The student gasped for air, his words strained as he fought to keep his composure.


    I smirked.


    "Is that all you''ve got?" I muttered, already turning my focus to the next opponent.


    A fourth student, a smaller, quicker-looking guy, attempted something different. He raised his hands, summoning a ball of blue magic.


    ¡º Mixed Water Series: Black Water Prison! (? 6th-Level Spell ?)¡»


    Before I could blink, a large orb of black-colored water surrounded me, attempting to trap me in its depths.


    The air was thick with the scent of wetness, and I could feel the water pressing in on all sides, heavy and oppressive.


    Splash!


    But my violet aura flared once more, pushing back the water like it was nothing. It hissed as it evaporated, steam rising from the ground as my aura burned through the magic.


    I turned, my blade already slicing through the air.


    The student never had a chance to dodge.


    Shhhck!


    The scythe cut across his side, the sharpness of the blade slicing through his robes and into his flesh.


    He gasped, blood splattering across the floor as he fell backward.


    The water surrounding me disappeared with a hissing sound, leaving him sprawled out on the ground in a heap of pain and defeat.


    I wiped the blood off my scythe with a flick of my wrist, watching as the remaining club members realized they were outmatched.


    They tried to regroup, all casting spells at once, throwing wind, earth, fire, and even lightning magic toward me.


    ¡º Wind Series: Storm Slash! (? 6th-Level Spell ?)¡»


    ¡º Eartg Series: Rocky Earth Spikes! (? 5th-Level Spell ?)¡»


    ¡º Fire Series: Fire Cyclone! (? 5th-Level Spell ?)¡»


    Each spell hit the air around me, crackling and flashing as they collided with the violet barrier of my aura.


    I didn''t even flinch.


    The fire cyclone exploded just inches away, but my violet aura absorbed the flames, the heat dissipating harmlessly into the air.


    The storm slash, a series of fast, slashing winds, was deflected by my barrier before it could even touch me.


    The earth spikes¡ªsharp rocks shooting up from the floor¡ªwere sliced in half as I moved, my scythe cutting through the incoming rocks with ease.


    Clang!


    Slash!


    I was a blur of motion, passing through their magic, cutting down their attacks as if they were nothing more than distractions.


    And I didn''t stop.


    I kept pushing forward.


    The next club member, a heavyset guy with a dark beard, raised both his hands and chanted something under his breath.


    ¡º Earth Series: Earthquake! (? 7th-Level Spell ?)¡»


    Oh?


    I raised an eyebrow in surprise.


    Didn''t expect him to know a 7th-level spell.


    The room shook violently, and the floor cracked, sending tremors through the building. Large chunks of stone flew up from the ground, crashing into the air like projectiles aimed at me.


    However...


    I didn''t even blink.


    This attack was still too weak against an S+ aura.


    I twisted my scythe in the air, and with one motion, I sliced through the incoming debris, cutting the large rocks into smaller, harmless pieces.


    Crack!


    Crash!


    As the last of the rocks fell to the ground, I moved forward, my blade gleaming with fresh blood.


    The man with the beard barely had time to react before my scythe cleaved through his shoulder.


    Slash! S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He screamed, the force of the blow knocking him off his feet. He fell backward, clutching at his wound in pain, but he didn''t get back up.


    One by one, they fell.


    Each of them was too slow, too weak to land a single hit on me.


    They kept throwing everything they had, magic after magic, attack after attack, but it didn''t matter.


    I was faster.


    I was stronger.


    And most of all, I had pure control of the situation.


    As I slashed through their ranks, the room was filled with the sound of magic colliding, ice cutting, and blood splattering across the floor.


    Whoosh!


    Clang!


    Slash!


    I dodged, blocked, and countered every move they made.


    Their attacks were getting sloppier, their faces growing paler as they bled from various wounds.


    But none of them could touch me.


    By the time I was finished, the entire room was littered with broken magic, broken bodies, and a thick, coppery smell of blood.


    The remaining club members lay sprawled out on the floor, too injured to even lift their heads.


    I looked down at them, feeling nothing.


    Just a bunch of fools who thought they could take me on.


    I turned to leave, not caring whether or not they had learned their lesson.


    They wouldn''t try to mess with me again.


    "Aestrea."


    But just as I was about to leave.


    I was met with a familiar face.


    "Where do you think you are going?" she asked coldly.


    Her eyes glowed with a purple color, leaving a trail behind them as she raised her hand, conjuring a purple-colored crystal on her hand, as if ready to attack me.


    Seeing her, I sighed.


    Who else could it be besides Violet?


    The Student Council President.

 Chapter 114 - 114: End Of Semester (XVII)

    ¡º Ice Generation (? 1st-Level Spell ?) ¡»


    In response, I summoned a cluster of ice shards in my right hand, just like she did. But there was a difference¡ª


    A faint violet glow traced their sharp edges.


    I was infusing them with my Aura.


    "Are you sure you want to do this?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.


    Honestly, I had held back enough.


    I tried to be careful. I tried to avoid unnecessary fights. I even spared people who deserved worse, just because they might have connections to some big shots.


    But not anymore.


    And definitely not now.


    "It is my duty as the Student Council President," she said coldly.


    ¡º Crystal Generation (? 1st-Level Spell ?)¡»


    Dozens of crystal shards materialized around her, hovering in the air like a deadly swarm. Their sharp edges reflected the dim glow of the hallway lights.


    Seeing her get serious, I slowly pushed back my sleeves, exposing the scars on my arms.


    I didn''t care if she saw them.


    "...You see, Violet," I said calmly.


    "If you actually fight me, I won''t hold back just because of our past interactions."


    I was giving her one last chance.


    It was her decision.


    She looked at me for a moment, as if searching for hesitation in my face.


    Then she tilted her head slightly and asked:


    "...Aren''t you getting a bit too angry? It was just a few photos."


    I blinked.


    Then¡ª


    I laughed.


    Like, really laughed.


    "Hahaha¡­"


    I wiped a tear from the corner of my eye, shaking my head.


    "Just some photos?" I repeated.


    Of course, she would see it that way.


    I mean, she didn''t appear in any of those photos.


    She had no idea what they had done to the people in them.


    The students who lost everything¡ªbanished from their homes, thrown away like garbage¡ªjust because of a few ''simple'' pictures.


    Some even took their own lives.


    But no one talks about that part.


    The author of this world¡ªthe one who wrote the ''story''¡ªdidn''t bother including those details. Why would they?


    Those students weren''t important.


    They were just extras.


    Background characters.


    NPCs.


    The kind of people no one notices, no one cares about. Just tools, meant to make the protagonist shine. Obstacles for them to step over.


    But this isn''t a story.


    This is real.


    And in reality, every life matters.


    Well¡­ maybe not to everyone.


    If I said this out loud, I''d probably get some bullshit argument about how "villains exist" or how "some people deserve what they get."


    But is anyone really born evil?


    No.


    It''s the world that turns them that way. The people around them. The system they''re forced to live under.


    And this academy?


    It''s just another rotten part of that system.


    A place where the strong thrive and the weak are left to rot.


    Where people like Violet¡ªthe Student Council President¡ªturn a blind eye, pretending they don''t see the corruption happening right under their noses.


    Not even the professors step in.


    No one lifts a damn finger to stop it.


    Sure, they sometimes take action.


    But only for those who actually ask for help.


    The world is full of selfish people.


    They take what they want. Use others however they please. As long as they get ahead, nothing else matters.


    The law of the jungle.


    The strong rule. The weak suffer.


    And people want me to believe the Demon King is the biggest threat?


    Please.


    The Dark Order? An organization made by a bunch of humans.


    The Emperor? A puppet that only thinks with his lower body, controlled by Lilith, one of the Demon King''s generals.


    The real monsters are sitting on golden thrones, wearing fake smiles, pretending they''re the ''good guys.''


    So no.


    I don''t care anymore.


    If the strong make the rules...


    Then I''ll become strong enough to break them.


    To rewrite them.


    To protect the people I care about.


    It''s quite funny, huh?


    Just completing my fusion with Aestrea''s soul, caused my way of thinking to completely change...


    "Fuuu..."


    I exhaled slowly, my violet aura crackling to life around me.


    "¡­I hope you don''t regret this."


    One last warning.


    "I won''t," she answered firmly, her purple mana leaking out of her body.


    Fine.


    I gave her a chance.


    She still doesn''t understand why I''m acting this way.


    But that''s not my problem.


    I''m not someone that needs to prove the way they act to someone. I don''t need that kind of validation for my puny thoughts.


    Violet didn''t hesitate.


    The moment she confirmed my intent, she launched her first attack.


    ¡º Crystal Blade (? 3rd-Level Spell ?) ¡»


    A longsword of crystal materialized in her grip.


    She lunged forward, slashing at my side.


    CLANG!


    I blocked it with my forearm, my aura hardening just in time. Sparks flew from the impact. She twisted, bringing the sword up for another swing¡ª


    I ducked.


    The blade whistled past my head.


    I spun low, sweeping my leg toward hers.


    SWOOSH!


    She jumped, avoiding the sweep, and countered with a downward slash aimed straight for my shoulder.


    This time, I didn''t block.


    I caught the blade between my aura-infused fingers.


    Her eyes widened in shock.


    CRACK!


    With a squeeze, I shattered the crystal sword into dust.


    Then, before she could react¡ª


    BAM!


    I drove the palm of my hand to her stomach.


    "Kagh!¡ª"


    She gasped, staggering back, but quickly regained her footing.


    Her hands glowed as she prepared another spell.


    ¡º Crystal Rain! (? 3rd-Level Spell ?) ¡»


    SHHHNK¡ª!


    The crystal shards exploded forward, streaking through the air like a storm of daggers. Each one aimed to pierce straight through me.


    SWOOSH¡ª!


    I stepped forward¡ªjust once.


    The shards should''ve torn through my skin, but instead¡ª


    CLANG!


    With the flick of my wrist, my scythe cut cleanly through the incoming projectiles. One swing and her spell shattered into useless shards, the fragments scattering across the floor.


    Violet''s eyes widened.


    "Damn it...!"


    ¡º Diamond Edge! (? 4th-Level Spell ?) ¡»


    A bigger blade of crystal than the one from before, formed in her grip, the transparent weapon glowing with a sharp light.


    She lunged, aiming to slice across my chest.


    Her foot slammed against the floor¡ª


    BOOM!


    It cracked the marble tiles as she launched herself forward at full speed.


    SWIPE¡ª!


    I leaned to the side.


    The blade passed right by my ribs, missing me by a hair''s width.


    Her reaction was quick.


    She spun on her heel, twisting her body as she slashed again, this time aiming for my neck¡ª


    CLANG!


    I raised my scythe, catching her weapon mid-strike. Sparks flew as our weapons clashed, the force sending a sharp tremor up her arms.


    "Haaa¡ª!"


    She gritted her teeth and pushed forward, trying to overpower me.


    I let out a small breath.


    Then, I lifted my foot¡ª


    CRACK!


    ¡ªAnd drove my knee straight into her gut.


    Her entire body jerked.


    Her breath hitched.


    "Guh¡ª!"


    And for a moment, her strength faltered.


    I didn''t hesitate.


    FWIP¡ª!


    I spun my scythe, the blade slicing forward in a vicious arc.


    SCHLK¡ª!


    The edge tore across her right shoulder, splitting through her uniform like paper.


    Blood sprayed.


    A deep gash ripped across her arm, flesh parting under the force of my attack.


    "AAAAAHHHHHHHH!"


    Her scream pierced through the air.


    She stumbled back, clutching her wound as crimson leaked between her fingers, dripping onto the cold floor.


    Her breath was ragged, her face twisted in pain.


    But she still wasn''t done.


    ¡º Crystal Armor! (? 4th-Level Spell ?) ¡»


    A thick layer of shimmering crystal coated her body, forming a protective barrier over her skin.


    It crawled up her arms, her chest, even the wound on her shoulder¡ªtrying to stop the bleeding.


    I exhaled through my nose.


    "Useless."


    I stepped forward.


    Violet''s eyes sharpened.


    She threw out her palm¡ª


    ¡º Crystal Spikes! (? 5th-Level Spell ?) ¡»


    BOOM!


    The floor beneath me erupted, massive crystal spears bursting upward to impale me.


    FWOOOSH¡ª!


    I moved before they could touch me.


    A blur of motion.


    The moment my feet left the ground¡ª


    ¡º Crystal Chains! (? 5th-Level Spell ?) ¡»


    Violet''s hands clenched into fists.


    The shattered shards around us suddenly came to life, twisting together into glowing chains that lunged for my limbs.


    SWOOSH¡ª!


    I spun mid-air, my scythe slicing through the chains before they could reach me.


    SNAP! CRACK!


    They shattered into dust.


    I landed a few steps away, completely unharmed.


    Violet''s breath hitched.


    Her face had gone pale.


    She was running out of options.


    I lifted my scythe again, its blade glinting under the light.


    Then, I moved.


    FWIP!


    I shot forward, faster than before.


    Violet barely had time to react before¡ª


    SLASH!


    The scythe ripped across her left arm.


    "AAAAAGGGHHHHHH!"


    A sickening CRUNCH echoed through the hall.


    Her bone snapped.


    Her left arm¡ªshattered.


    Blood gushed from the deep wound, her entire limb hanging limply at her side.


    She screamed.


    Her knees buckled, her body trembling violently.


    Her breath came in short, uneven gasps.


    "Haa...haa...haa..."


    Her vision swimming from the pain.


    Her uniform was ruined.


    Torn.


    Drenched in red.


    But I wasn''t done.


    I raised my scythe again.


    "VIOLET!"


    A voice shouted in the distance.


    Footsteps.


    Fast and they were rushing toward us.


    Looks like our time was up.


    I took a slow step back, twirling my scythe lazily.


    Honeslty, I first thought that it would be more difficult dealing with her...


    But... it was pretty easy.


    Did my strength increase after fusing my soul with Aestrea''s?


    I should check it later.


    Then, I took a glance at her.


    Violet collapsed onto her knees, her one good arm barely holding her up. She panted, her shoulders shaking, blood pooling beneath her.


    Her face was twisted in agony.


    "...You shouldn''t pick on fights you cannot win."


    My voice was cold, almost bored, as I pressed the blunt edge of my scythe against Violet''s face, lifting her chin slightly.


    She trembled. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Blood dripped from her torn uniform, pooling beneath her knees. Her breath was ragged, her body barely holding together after what I had done to her.


    My eyes glowed.


    "People like that die early."


    Fwoop!¡ª


    The air twisted.


    A presence rushed toward me at full speed.


    I stepped back.


    Just enough.


    Fwip!


    A blade slashed through the space I had just occupied, missing me by a hair''s width. The silver edge gleamed, stopping mid-air before retreating.


    I exhaled slowly.


    My gaze flicked to the side.


    A figure stood in front of Violet now, his sword raised defensively. His golden hair, his blue uniform, and the way his stance screamed chivalry¡ªit was obvious.


    Prince Leon.


    He turned to me, anger burning in his eyes.


    "Aestrea!"


    His grip on his sword tightened, his knuckles turning white.


    "How dare you attack the Student Council President?"


    I tilted my head.


    Huh.


    That was the first thing he said?


    Not "Why did this happen?"


    Not "What the hell is going on?"


    Just "How dare you?"


    Tsk...


    What did I expect?


    I turned my gaze toward the doorway.


    And¡ªwell. This was just getting annoying.


    More figures stood there.


    Ella''s little lapdog, Telmo, was at his side, looking down at me with some kind of disgust¡ªlike I was filth beneath his shoes.


    But that wasn''t all.


    The Hero''s Group was here too.


    "...Aestrea, you..." He started, but his words trailed off.


    He looked at me, at the blood-soaked floor, at Violet''s trembling form. His eyes flickered with something like doubt.


    Like he was trying to understand what had just happened.


    But he wouldn''t.


    Because if we were being honest, Lucas was a good hero.


    But only to those who asked for help.


    He helped the ones who reached out, the ones who cried loudly enough for the world to hear.


    But what about the ones who suffered in silence?


    The ones who were bullied, ridiculed, and broken apart for things beyond their control?


    The ones who had already fallen too deep into the abyss to even call for help?


    What about them?


    Would they ever be saved?


    No.


    Because they weren''t his problem.


    Tsk.


    I sighed, rolling my shoulders.


    ...I should stop with those monologues.


    I''m just racking my brain out.


    If anything, it just increases my stress.


    As I was lost in my thoughts, Prince Leon pointed his sword at me.


    "I won''t let you get away with this."


    ¡­Oh?


    A small smirk tugged at my lips.


    "And what exactly are you going to do about it?"


    Leon narrowed his eyes.


    "You''re a threat to the academy. I''ll¡ª"


    BOOM¡ª!


    Before he could finish his sentence, I moved.


    The floor cracked beneath my feet as I launched forward, closing the distance between us in an instant.


    FWIP!


    My scythe swung, a violet glow trailing behind its blade.


    Leon barely had time to react.


    CLANG¡ª!


    He raised his sword just in time, barely blocking my strike. The impact sent a shockwave through the air, forcing him back a step.


    His arms shook from the force.


    "Fuck...!"


    Telmo rushed forward, a spell already forming in his hands.


    ¡º Wind Cutter! (? 3rd-Level Spell ?) ¡»


    SWOOSH!


    A razor-sharp blade of wind shot toward me, slicing through the air at terrifying speed.


    I didn''t even bother dodging.


    I simply swung my aura-infused scythe down.


    SLASH!


    The spell was cut apart, its magic dispersing into nothing.


    Telmo''s face paled.


    The Hero''s Group sprang into action.


    ¡º Stone Spikes! (? 4th-Level Spell ?) ¡»


    BOOM!


    The ground shattered as massive stone spikes erupted from the floor, aiming straight for me.


    FWIP¡ª!


    I moved between them effortlessly, my body a blur of motion.


    ¡º Lightning Bolt! (? 4th-Level Spell ?) ¡»


    CRACKLE¡ª!


    A surge of lightning raced toward me.


    I lifted my hand.


    ¡º Ice Wall! (? 3rd-Level Spell ?) ¡»


    SHHHHHK¡ª!


    A massive wall of ice rose in front of me, absorbing the electricity before it could touch me.


    The Hero''s Group looked stunned.


    Lucas clenched his fists.


    "Aestrea... this isn''t right. You can''t beat up those students just because they made a little article about your personal life..."


    "Besides, you even injured Violet!"


    I tilted my head.


    "And?"


    His expression darkened.


    "...Then we''ll stop you by force."


    I sighed.


    "Alright then."


    I stepped forward.


    The temperature dropped instantly.


    The air turned heavy.


    A deep, violet glow began to spread around me.


    "...Come at me, then."

 Chapter 115 - 115: End Of Semester (XVIII)

    "...Come at me, then."


    No one moved.


    They just stood there, watching me, waiting¡ªhesitating.


    Well¡­ that''s fine.


    I''m not going to attack just yet.


    Not until I measure their strength.


    Once I do that, I can finally carry out Aestrea''s final wish.


    I owe him that much.


    Even though I''ve taken full control of this body, I can still feel his emotions.


    His thoughts, his ideals.


    And like I''ve mentioned many times, he has the so-called Hero Syndrome.


    But, since I''m not like that, I''ll need to put his final wish into the trust of others.


    And who''s a better target than Lucas?


    The hero itself.


    Aestrea''s final wish was quite simple actually.


    Kill the Demon King.


    That''s none other than the Hero''s job.


    So, I need to test Lucas.


    See if he''s strong enough.


    If he is, I can leave without worry.


    But if he''s not¡­ then I''ll push him to the edge.


    Break him.


    Put him in a life-or-death situation.


    Because only when people are faced with true despair do they awaken their hidden power.


    Especially the Hero itself.


    His potential is overflowing through his body, yet he cannot fully release it.


    And once that''s done¡­


    I can finally let go of Aestrea''s personality.


    No more of his foolish sense of justice.


    No more holding back.


    No more sparing my enemies.


    None of that.


    Just me.


    The real me.


    Someone who only cares about myself and the people I love.


    I won''t throw my life away for others anymore.


    I won''t act on impulse, trying to save people who aren''t even worth it.


    Never again.


    So¡­


    I''ll give them a scare.


    Make sure they understand the weight of what''s at stake.


    Because if Lucas isn''t strong enough, then Aestrea''s final wish will be wasted.


    Normally, I would just do it myself.


    But I can''t.


    Only the Hero can kill the Demon King.


    Only Excalibur has the authority to harm that monster.


    So, it''s simple.


    Lucas needs to prove himself.


    And if he fails¡­


    Then I''ll make sure he has no choice but to succeed.


    This is my goodbye to Aestrea.


    BAAAM!


    They finally decided to move.


    Maya was the first to reach me, her mana-coated fist rocketing toward my face.


    I tilted my head at the last second¡ª


    SWOOSH!


    Her punch barely grazed my cheek, the force of it splitting the air.


    I grabbed her wrist before she could pull away¡ª


    CRACK!


    "GHHHAAAAA¡ª!"


    I twisted her arm at a sickening angle. She screamed, her body jerking violently as I slammed my knee into her stomach.


    BAM!


    Her body lurched forward, spit flying from her mouth as her breath left her lungs.


    But before I could follow up¡ª


    ¡º Fire Series: Flame Spear! (? 3rd-Level Spell ?)¡»


    A roaring spear of fire came flying toward my head.


    FWOOOOSH!


    I let go of Maya and spun to the side¡ª


    BOOM!


    The fire spear struck the ground where I had just been, scorching the floor, and leaving behind a trail of blackened stone.


    I snapped my gaze toward Rose.


    She had already prepared another spell, fire swirling wildly around her arms.


    ¡º Fire Series: Flame Wave! (? 4th-Level Spell ?)¡»


    A massive wave of blazing fire rushed toward me, the heat warping the air.


    I slammed my foot down¡ª


    ¡º Mixed Ice Series: Fortified Ice Wall! (? 4th-Level Spell ?)¡»


    CRACK!


    A wall of solid ice burst from the ground, clashing against the fire.


    SSSSSSSSHHH¡ª!


    Steam exploded everywhere, filling the room with a thick white fog.


    But I could still hear them.


    Lucas''s footsteps¡ªfast.


    Ella and Leon''s movements¡ªclosing in.


    Telmo''s wind magic¡ªstirring the mist.


    I tightened my grip on my scythe.


    Here they come.


    FWIP!


    Through the mist, Lucas struck first.


    ¡º Demon Slaying Sword Art ¨C First Form: Corrupted Sword! ¡»


    SWISH!


    His sword flashed, black flames engulfing it.


    A swift, deadly arc aimed straight at my neck.


    Oh?


    I raised an eyebrow.


    He was finally using the full form of his sword art.


    I twisted my body¡ª


    CLANG!


    I blocked the blade with the handle of my scythe, sparks exploding from the impact.


    The scythe quickly caught on fire.


    ''Lumi.''


    {Yesh!}


    The black flames were swallowed by Lumi.


    And then, his blade went straight against the ground.


    BOOM!


    The sheer force of his swing cracked the ground beneath us.


    He was strong.


    But not enough.


    Before he could retract his blade, I moved.


    BAM!


    I drove my elbow into his ribs.


    "Gaahgk..."


    He coughed, but he still held on.


    His blade twisted, aiming for my throat.


    ¡º Demon Slaying Sword Art ¨C Second Form: Crescent Judgement ¡»


    SHIIING!


    A curved slash of black flames tore through the fog, racing toward me.


    I didn''t dodge.


    Instead, I swung my scythe¡ª


    CRASH!


    A violet aura burst outward, shattering the attack like glass.


    But that''s when Ella and Leon struck.


    ¡º Royal Swordsmanship ¨C Divine Punishment! ¡»


    Two huge golden slashes¡ªone from each side.


    I barely had time to react.


    CLANG!


    CLANG!


    I blocked Ella''s sword with my scythe, but Leon''s blade sliced across my shoulder.


    SHHHK!


    Blood splattered.


    I clicked my tongue.


    ¡º Ice Series: Frozen Space! (? 5th-Level Spell ?) ¡»


    FWOOOOOM!


    A wave of violet-tinged ice exploded from my body, freezing everything in its path.


    SNAP! CRACK!


    The air turned frigid.


    Leon and Ella''s swords froze mid-swing, a thick layer of frost climbing up their arms.


    "Ngh¡ª!" Ella gritted her teeth, struggling against the ice.


    Leon shivered, his breath turning white.


    But I wasn''t done.


    I kicked off the ground¡ª


    CRACK!


    The ice beneath my feet shattered as I lunged forward, aiming straight for Rose.


    Her eyes widened¡ª


    ¡º Fire Series: Flame Guard! (?4th-Level Spell?)¡»


    A barrier of fire erupted around her.


    I scoffed.


    Like that would help.


    I spun my scythe, violet aura surging¡ª


    FWOOOSH!


    I sliced straight through the flames.


    Her defense collapsed.


    She barely had time to react before my fist drove into her stomach.


    BAM!


    "AGH¡ª!"


    She crashed into the wall, blood splattering from her mouth.


    ¡º Crystal Lance! (? 5th-Level Spell ?) ¡»


    SHING!


    SHING!


    SHING!


    Dozens of razor-sharp crystal lances came flying toward me.


    Violet.


    Even after all that, she was still standing.


    Her arm hung limply at her side, blood dripping from her wounds, her breathing ragged¡ª


    Yet her eyes were still full of defiance.


    I sighed.


    Then, I ducked.


    The first crystal lance barely missed my head.


    I spun, dodging the next.


    And then¡ª


    SLASH!


    I sliced through the rest like they were nothing.


    Violet''s pupils shrank.


    She tried to cast another spell¡ª


    But I was already in front of her.


    BAM!


    I drove my knee into her stomach.


    "GAH¡ª!!"


    Her body jerked.


    I grabbed her by the collar before she could collapse¡ª


    And slammed her into the ground.


    CRASH!


    Blood pooled around her.


    She twitched.


    But she couldn''t move anymore.


    I stepped back.


    That was one down.


    I turned to the others.


    Lucas gripped his sword tighter, his breathing ragged. His knuckles were white, his stance uneven.


    His body was shaking¡ªnot from fear, but anger.


    He wasn''t the only one.


    Maya wiped the blood off her lips with the back of her hand. Her arm was still twisted from earlier, but her mana flared up around her fists.


    She wasn''t giving up.


    Prince Leon, Ella, and Telmo steadied themselves, their auras burning brighter. The cold air of my ice magic hadn''t stopped them completely.


    And Rose...


    She was leaning against the wall, her flames dim, her body trembling. But I could still see it¡ªthe fire in her eyes.


    They were beyond pissed.


    Good.


    So, I decided to provoke them even further.


    I smirked.


    "What? Is that all?" I lifted my scythe and rested it on my shoulder.


    "I thought you all came to stop me. But you can''t even touch me."


    Lucas gritted his teeth.


    And then¡ª


    He moved.


    ¡º Demon Slaying Sword Art ¨C Third Form: Abyssal Strike! ¡»


    Phew...


    That''s something I''ve never seen.


    BOOM!


    He vanished.


    And before I could blink¡ª


    SLASH!


    I barely twisted my body in time.


    His blade scraped against my ribs, cutting deep.


    Blood splattered.


    I hissed.


    "Tsk!"


    But I didn''t have time to recover.


    ¡º Royal Swordsmanship ¨C Divine Judgement! ¡»


    FWOOOSH!


    Leon and Ella struck at the same time.


    Two swords¡ªone from the left, one from the right.


    I planted my foot down¡ª


    ¡º Ice Series: Ice Shield! (? 3rd-Level Spell ?)¡»


    CRACK!


    A layer of thick ice formed around my arms, blocking both blades.


    But¡ª


    ¡º Wind Series: Wind Razor! (? 3rd-Level Spell ?) ¡»


    FWIP!


    A blade of wind shot from behind.


    Telmo.


    I barely managed to dodge, but¡ª


    ¡º Fire Series: Flame Blitz! (? 4th-Level Spell ?)¡»


    FWOOOOOSH!


    Rose''s flames erupted beneath my feet, exploding.


    BOOM!


    Heat scorched my skin.


    A burning pain crawled up my legs.


    They were getting better.


    But unfortunately, it still wasn''t enough.


    I swung my scythe violently, sending a wave of violet aura outward¡ª


    BAM!


    The shockwave knocked them back, forcing them to retreat.


    I exhaled.


    Pain spread through my ribs, my arms, my legs.


    Blood dripped from my wounds.


    They actually managed to injure me.


    But...


    They were worse.


    Lucas was clutching his side, blood seeping through his uniform.


    His stance was weaker.


    Ella and Leon were panting, their swords trembling in their grips.


    Rose could barely stand.


    Maya was still hunched over, holding her broken arm.


    Telmo was the only one who hadn''t been seriously injured, but I could see it¡ªhis breathing was ragged. He had used up too much mana.


    They were reaching their limits.


    But they wouldn''t stop.


    I tightened my grip on my scythe.


    "Alright," I muttered, stepping forward.


    The floor cracked beneath my feet.


    Their bodies tensed.


    It was time to use something I never dared to use before...


    I raised my free hand¡ª


    ¡º Minor Domain ¡»


    FWOOOOOM!


    A storm of ice erupted outward.


    The entire room froze over, the temperature dropping to below freezing.


    The walls were coated in frost.


    The ground turned to ice.


    Their breath turned white.


    Lucas shivered. Maya''s teeth chattered.


    Rose collapsed to one knee, the flames around her weakening.


    Even Telmo''s wind magic flickered, struggling against the cold.


    This was a minor version of my domain.


    It was very weak for now, but for them, it was more than enough.


    I dashed forward.


    BOOM!


    I reached Maya first.


    She threw a punch¡ªbut she was too slow.


    I ducked under it.


    And¡ª


    BAM!


    I drove my knee into her chin.


    Her head snapped back¡ª


    Her body flew across the room, crashing into the ice-covered wall.


    "GUH¡ª!!"


    Blood splattered from her mouth.


    She collapsed, twitching.


    I didn''t stop.


    Next.


    I turned to Telmo.


    ¡º Wind Series: Wind Barrier! (? 4th-Level Spell ?)¡»


    A cyclone erupted around him, trying to block me¡ª


    I scoffed. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡º Ice Series: Ice Lance! (? 3rd-Level Spell ?)¡»


    SHIIING!


    A spear of pure ice shot from my fingertips¡ª


    PIERCE!


    It stabbed straight through his shoulder.


    "AAAGHH¡ª!!"


    He stumbled, blood pouring from the wound.


    I appeared behind him¡ª


    And swung my scythe.


    SLASH!


    The blunt side of my blade crashed into his ribs, sending him flying.


    BOOM!


    He hit the ground hard, coughing up blood.


    Two down.


    I turned to Rose.


    She could barely move.


    "Don''t you dare!"


    Lucas charged at me.


    ¡º Demon Slaying Sword Art ¨C Fourth Form! ¡»


    His sword glowed.


    He swung¡ª


    A holy blade of light instead of black flames came slicing down.


    That surprised.


    I lifted my scythe¡ª


    CLAAANG!


    The impact rattled my bones.


    The force sent a shockwave through the room, the ice beneath us shattering.


    Lucas pressed forward, his blade burning with energy¡ª


    I could feel it.


    He was desperate.


    I grinned.


    "You''re wide open."


    ¡º Ice Series: Ice Spike! (? 3rd-Level Spell ?) ¡»


    SHUNK!


    A pillar of sharp ice erupted from the ground¡ª


    Impaling Lucas through the side.


    "GHHHAA¡ª!"


    Blood gushed from the wound.


    His sword fell from his hands¡ª


    His body trembled violently.


    I yanked the ice spike out.


    SPLURT!


    Blood splattered across the floor.


    Lucas collapsed to his knees, gasping for breath.


    His hands clutched at the wound, blood pooling beneath him.


    He wouldn''t be fighting anymore.


    Three down.


    Only Ella and Leon were left.


    They were shaking.


    But they still raised their swords.


    I tilted my head.


    "Still going?"


    Leon spat blood onto the ice.


    "You''re a fucking monster, you damn commoner," he whispered coldly.


    It was funny how he kept calling me a commoner even though now I was a noble.


    I smiled.


    "Thanks for the compliment."


    I vanished.


    Fwoop!


    I disappeared into thin air.

 Chapter 116 - 116: End Of Semester (XIX)

    I moved faster than their eyes could follow.


    Leon barely had time to react.


    ¡º Royal Swordsmanship ¨C Heavenly Strike! ¡»


    He swung his sword, aiming straight for my neck.


    CLANG!


    I blocked it with my scythe.


    The impact rattled my arms, but¡ª


    THWACK!


    I slammed my knee into his stomach.


    This always worked somehow.


    "GAH¡ª!!"


    Leon coughed up blood. His body bent forward, but I wasn''t done.


    CRACK!


    I elbowed him in the face.


    His nose snapped.


    Blood splattered as he staggered back, dazed.


    I spun my scythe¡ª


    Fwip!


    The blunt side smashed into his ribs.


    "AGHHH¡ª!!"


    He was sent flying, crashing against the frozen wall.


    He slumped to the ground, coughing violently.


    Four down.


    Only Ella remained.


    She was shaking.


    Her fingers gripped her sword so tight her knuckles turned white.


    She knew she stood no chance.


    But she refused to back down.


    Her breathing was uneven. Blood dripped from her forehead, her arms covered in cuts and bruises.


    Her legs shook.


    Yet, she still raised her sword.


    I exhaled.


    "Admirable."


    I rushed forward.


    BOOM!


    She barely had time to react¡ª


    "HAAAAGHHH!"


    She let out a battle cry and swung her sword with everything she had.


    CLANG!


    I blocked it¡ªbut damn, she was strong.


    The force sent a shockwave through the frozen ground, cracks forming beneath us.


    She pushed forward, screaming.


    She was putting everything into this one strike.


    But¡ª


    ¡º Ice Series: Ice Burst! (? 3rd-Level Spell ?)¡»


    SHATTER!


    Ice exploded beneath her feet.


    Her balance broke.


    And that was all I needed.


    I twisted my body¡ª


    And drove my fist into her stomach.


    BAM!


    "GHHH¡ª!!"


    Her eyes bulged. Blood sprayed from her mouth.


    She collapsed to her knees, gasping for breath.


    I towered over her.


    "You fought well."


    I lifted my scythe¡ª


    And slammed the blunt edge into her shoulder.


    CRACK!


    Her collarbone snapped.


    She screamed.


    Her body hit the ground, twitching violently.


    She tried to move¡ªbut she couldn''t.


    Her sword fell from her grip.


    Her breathing was shallow.


    She was done.


    I took a step back.


    And looked around.


    All of them¡ªLucas, Maya, Leon, Ella, Telmo, Rose, Violet¡ª


    All defeated.


    Blood covered the floor.


    Their bodies were broken, battered, twitching from the pain.


    And yet...


    None of them were dead.


    I could''ve killed them.


    But I didn''t.


    I never intended to.


    I let out a deep breath, my violet aura flickering around me.


    "Now you understand."


    My voice was calm.


    Cold.


    "You were never strong enough to stop me."


    Silence.


    None of them spoke.


    They couldn''t.


    I turned away.


    It was over.


    I had proven my point.


    Or so I thought.


    Until Lucas moved.


    "N-Not yet..."


    His voice was weak.


    Barely a whisper.


    But still...


    He was standing.


    His legs shook. His body was covered in blood. His arms hung limply at his sides.


    And yet¡ª


    He was still standing.


    I narrowed my eyes.


    "You don''t know when to quit, do you?"


    Lucas raised his head.


    His golden eyes burned.


    With determination.


    With rage.


    With hatred.


    "Even if you break my body..." He staggered forward.


    "Even if you shatter my bones..." He tightened his fists.


    "Even if you crush every last bit of me..."


    He looked me in the eyes.


    "I won''t stop fighting."


    The room fell silent.


    Even in their broken states¡ª


    They all looked at him.


    At their leader.


    Their hero.


    I finally smiled.


    Now, he finally had a passing grade.


    A bright golden aura leaked out of her body, enveloping the Excalibur as he looked at me with completely enraged eyes.


    At that moment, I decided to activate my skill¡ª


    ¡º Judgement Eye (? S+ Level Skill ?)¡»


    An overflowing holy power coming out of his body.


    His overall attributes increased by a ton.


    ¡º Limit Breaker ¡»


    That''s the only name that could be given to the form he was taking.


    Breaking all of his limits.


    Unleash all his potential.


    Opening all the seals.


    His power now...


    Had at least reached the margin of an SS+ ranker.


    From the S- level to the SS+ level, that was quite a big jump.


    Now, he really was more powerful than me.


    So...


    I couldn''t hold myself back any longer.


    But of course, under the safe circumstances.


    Mana Output increased to 5. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Crackle...!


    Lightning suddenly cracked around his body.


    Along with it, black flames completely engulfed his entire body mixing with the golden aura he was radiating.


    "Demon Slaying Sword Art...!"


    He whispered.


    ¡º Limit Breaker: Corrupted Sword! ¡»


    Fwoop!


    In the blink of an eye, he vanished from sight.


    Not even a blur.


    Just a sudden vacuum of space where he had been.


    Before I could even react¡ª


    CLANG!


    The sound of steel meeting steel shattered the silence of the room.


    I lifted my scythe just in time, blocking his sword as it appeared before me with the speed of lightning.


    Sparks flew from the contact, lighting up the room like a burst of fireworks.


    Fwip!


    I took a step back, gathering distance.


    But almost immediately¡ª


    "Demon Slaying Sword Art..."


    He charged at me once again.


    His sword was raised high, lightning and black flames swirling around the blade. The sheer power in the strike made the air feel heavy.


    I didn''t move.


    CRASH!


    His sword slammed against me, the force sending shockwaves through my body. I could feel the heat of the black flames and the sting of the lightning.


    Blood sprayed as I took the full hit, but I didn''t even flinch.


    I let it happen.


    But that was my plan.


    I smiled coldly as the pain surged through me. The moment Lucas''s sword made contact, I gripped my scythe tightly and swung it upward¡ª


    WHAM!


    THWACK!


    The blunt edge of my scythe hit Lucas square in the stomach, sending him flying back. He slammed into the ground with a sickening thud, but he didn''t stay down.


    Gritting his teeth, he stood up, blood dripping from his mouth, eyes filled with fire.


    "You think that will stop me?"


    I chuckled.


    "You''ll see."


    Then, I raised my scythe, twisting it as a cold violet aura enveloped me, swirling like a storm.


    I raised my hand, and the ground cracked beneath me.


    ¡º Ice Generation (? 1st-Level Spell ?)¡»


    WHOOSH!


    A burst of ice shot from my hand, freezing the ground beneath Lucas''s feet.


    He was forced to stop in his tracks.


    CRACK!


    I whipped my scythe toward him again, creating ice shards that shot through the air like daggers.


    Lucas barely dodged, his lightning crackling around him as he spun to avoid the ice, but I was already moving.


    THWACK!


    I sliced him with a wide arc of my scythe.


    The blade grazed his side, leaving a deep cut.


    "AGH!"


    He gritted his teeth, clutching the wound as he stepped back.


    But he didn''t back down.


    His eyes burned with unyielding resolve.


    CRACK!


    Lucas charged again, this time his sword crackling with lightning and holy fire.


    ¡º Mixed Lightning Series: Lightning Strike! (? Thunderbolt Slash! ?) ¡»


    WHOOSH!


    He swung the sword, and lightning exploded from the blade. The strike shattered the air around us.


    BAM!


    It hit me head-on, but I stood firm. The lightning burned through my body, but I kept my footing, enduring the pain.


    At that moment, I saw the opening.


    I stepped forward, ignoring the pain, and swung my scythe.


    WHAM!


    My blade cut through his side, and I could feel the deep gash as his body jerked back.


    "Ugh!"


    Lucas fell to his knees, blood pouring from his wound. He was struggling to keep his sword steady.


    But even then¡ª


    He gritted his teeth and rose again.


    "You''re... not the only one who can take a hit."


    The ground shook as Lucas''s body glowed brightly, the holy energy swirling around him.


    ...Not enough.


    I said inwardly, gazing at him.


    He still can''t release his full power of an SS+ ranker.


    So...


    Let''s give him a bit of a hard time.


    "Moonlit Ice Lotus Sword Art..."


    ¡º First Move! (? Ice Lotus Bloom ?)¡»


    I charged at him, my body surrounded by a swirl of ice and violet aura.


    I swung my scythe in a wide arc, and in that instant, the ground shattered.


    A massive bloom of ice exploded from my scythe, sending shards flying toward Lucas.


    CRASH!


    The ice clashed with his shield of black flames, exploding into a shower of sharp ice fragments.


    He was forced to dodge as the ice ripped through his defenses.


    CRACK!


    But I was already following through.


    SLASH!


    I cut through his guard, my scythe leaving a deep gash across his chest.


    Blood poured from the wound, but Lucas kept pushing forward. His sword crackled with more power, but¡ª


    I didn''t give him time.


    "Moonlit Ice Lotus Sword Art..."


    ¡º Second Move! (? Ice Lotus Barrage ?)¡»


    In an instant, I whipped my scythe, and a barrage of ice shards exploded from it, pelting Lucas from all sides.


    CLANG!


    He blocked some, but many pierced his flesh, leaving him covered in blood, stumbling under the force of my attacks.


    "UGH!"


    But Lucas wasn''t done.


    He charged at me with another flurry of attacks.


    Swoosh! Swoosh!


    His sword crackled with lightning, each swing leaving a trail of black flames in the air.


    But I was ready.


    "Moonlit Ice Lotus Sword Art..."


    ¡º Third Move! (? Moonlight''s One Flash ?)¡»


    I moved like lightning, dodging his attacks with ease. My scythe cut through the air with sharp precision as I countered.


    SLASH!


    Lucas was cut again across his chest, the wound deepening. His body shuddered, but he still fought.


    "Not... yet...!"


    The holy energy around him flared, and he swung¡ª


    But I was already there.


    "Moonlit Ice Lotus Sword Art¡ª"


    BAAAAM!


    His aura suddenly exploded, causing me to fly away.


    Plop!


    I landed on my feet, gazing at Lucas, whose aura only got stronger.


    He looked at me coldly, his golden eyes leaving a trail of black flames.


    ¡º Demon Slaying Sword Art¡ª ¡»


    He uttered in a fast voice.


    Fuck...!


    I braced myself. But I couldn''t move fast enough.


    CRACK!


    Before I even had a chance to react, Lucas disappeared in a blur. I barely had time to raise my scythe to defend myself.


    BAM!


    His fist slammed into my side with the force of a hammer.


    I was sent flying across the room, my body crashing into the ice-covered walls with a sickening crunch.


    SPURT!


    Blood poured from my mouth as I struggled to breathe.


    I forced myself to rise, my body shaking from the impact. My violet aura flared around me as I gathered my strength.


    "Haaah..."


    I breathed heavily.


    There it was.


    The strength of an SS+ ranker.


    "Pftt..."


    I spit blood into the ground before my eyes locked onto him.


    But Lucas was already on the move.


    He dashed toward me, the ground shaking under his feet.


    He was faster than me, his movements were too quick for my eyes to track.


    His sword came down in a blinding flash.


    CLANG!


    I blocked it, but the sheer force sent me skidding backward, my feet scraping against the ice.


    He wasn''t done.


    Lucas didn''t give me a chance to recover.


    With a scream of fury, he swung again. This time, his blade was accompanied by a torrent of lightning, crackling through the air.


    I could feel the heat from the black flames as they collided with my scythe.


    THWACK!


    My arms shook violently from the force, but I held my ground.


    Barely.


    CRACK!


    His fist slammed into my stomach with a sickening thud, driving the air from my lungs.


    BAM!


    Before I could react, another hit sent me spinning in the air, my body crashing into the frozen ground with brutal force.


    SPURT!


    More blood poured from my mouth as I coughed violently.


    I tried to rise, but Lucas was already on top of me. His eyes burned with golden light, rage radiating from every inch of him.


    "You wanted to prove something, Aestrea?" Lucas''s voice was cold but fierce.


    "Then let me show you what true strength looks like."


    He raised his sword high.


    "This is the end."


    In a flash, he was upon me again, his sword coming down with the speed of lightning.


    The air cracked under the weight of his power.


    SLASH!


    The blade cut through the air with terrifying precision. I barely managed to parry the strike with my scythe.


    But the impact was too much.


    I was sent flying backward, my body crashing into the ice-covered ground again.


    SPURT!


    More blood spilled from my body.


    Then, he stepped forward, his body glowing brighter than ever. His sword crackled with black flames and golden light.


    With a swift motion, Lucas swung his sword, cutting through the air like a bolt of lightning.


    CRASH!


    The force of his strike sent me flying across the room. My body slammed against the ground with a sickening thud.


    SPURT!


    I could taste blood in my mouth.


    My vision was blurring.


    Lucas stood above me, the golden aura around him radiating with power.


    His sword lowered.


    "You lost," Lucas said, his voice filled with certainty.


    "I''m stronger than you now."


    He raised his sword.


    "And you''ll never defeat me again."


    "Pfft..."


    I couldn''t help it.


    I laughed, even as blood dripped from my lips.


    "...Only in that temporary form, you''re stronger than me."


    A symbol of a judgment scale appeared in my eyes, glowing faintly.


    "And now... the time should be on its end."


    Fwoop!


    As soon as I said those words, the aura on his body diminished, and my instincts flared up.


    A violent amount of mana and aura gathered in my right hand.


    Lucas''s eyes went wide. He was too stunned to move.


    I didn''t waste time.


    BAAAM!


    With every ounce of strength I had left, I slammed my fist into his solar plexus.


    "KAUGHH!"


    The sound of his body hitting my fist was sickening. Blood and saliva shot from his mouth, his face contorting in pain as his body was sent flying backward.


    THUD!


    He slammed into the academy wall with such force that cracks spread across the reinforced stone.


    I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself as my bloodied lips curled into a small, almost mocking smile.


    "...You''re barely passable."


    I wiped my bloodied lips.


    "But, it should be enough."


    Even though I didn''t use Lumi''s abilities.


    He should be strong enough.


    At least, when he activates the Limit Breaker ability.


    I brushed my hair back, sighing softly.


    My eyes scanned the room, landing on the others who were still scattered on the floor, broken and barely conscious.


    Fear radiated from them like an invisible cloud.


    I stepped forward, slowly.


    And I saw them flinch, just a little.


    It was almost like I could feel their fear.


    Gosh...


    I did it again.

 Chapter 117 - 117: End Of Semester (XX)

    THUD!


    A powerful pressure filled the air.


    I stiffened.


    A new presence.


    No¡­ not just one.


    Multiple.


    I turned my head just as several figures stepped into the ruined hall.


    Professors. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Their robes fluttered as they entered, their expressions grim.


    The sheer force of their collective aura made the air feel heavier, pressing against my shoulders like an invisible weight.


    Among them, leading the group, was Zeva.


    Her piercing green eyes locked onto mine instantly, sharp and unreadable.


    Her long, black hair was tied back neatly, and her dark academy robes, lined with golden embroidery, barely swayed as she walked.


    She looked quite furious.


    She surveyed the scene with cold calculation, her eyes moving from the fallen students to me. Her lips thinned.


    "¡­Aestrea."


    She said my name evenly, with no anger in her tone or emotion. But somehow, that made it worse.


    Silence hung between us.


    More professors arrived, standing behind her¡ªeach one a master in their perspective field.


    Some had hands resting on their weapons, others had spells coiling at their fingertips, ready to restrain me if necessary.


    One of them, a tall man with a grizzled beard, stepped forward, his face twisted in rage. It was Professor Reinhardt, the professor of battle tactics.


    "You¡­" His voice was a low growl.


    "What have you done?"


    I didn''t answer.


    Another professor, our professor of alchemy, knelt beside Violet, pressing her fingers against the girl''s throat to check her pulse.


    Her expression darkened as she whispered a healing incantation.


    Zeva sighed.


    "Aestrea."


    I finally met her gaze again.


    She didn''t flinch.


    Her green eyes were sharp as ever, but there was something else in them.


    Disappointment.


    "The damage to the academy," she said, her voice cold.


    "The state of your fellow students."


    A pause.


    Then¡ª


    "What do you have to say for yourself?"


    I licked my bloodied lips. The taste of iron remained.


    "¡­They challenged me," I said simply.


    Some of the professors stiffened.


    "You expect us to believe this¡ª" Reinhardt gestured at the bodies littering the floor, "¡ªwas simply a challenge?"


    I didn''t respond.


    To be honest, I didn''t care.


    I was going to leave this academy anyways.


    Zeva closed her eyes briefly, as if trying to rein in her patience. When she opened them, her voice was quieter, but firm.


    "You''ve crossed a line."


    A flick of her wrist.


    In an instant, chains of golden light burst from the air, wrapping around my arms and legs before I could react.


    CLANK!


    What... type of magic is this?


    I never had seen Zeva using magic, so I was quite curious myself.


    The restraints tightened.


    I didn''t struggle.


    There was no point.


    Even if I wanted to resist, Zeva wasn''t someone I could take lightly¡ªnot when I was already exhausted. And even if I could break free, I wasn''t reckless enough to try.


    I simply stared at her as the weight of the chains tightened around my body,


    The other professors surrounded me now, their gazes filled with a mix of wariness and anger.


    "This time, you will face consequences," Zeva said.


    I exhaled.


    "¡­I figured."


    With a small nod to the other professors, Zeva turned sharply on her heel.


    "Take him."


    WHOOSH!


    The golden chains glowed brightly¡ª


    And in the blink of an eye¡ª


    I was being dragged to somewhere else.


    Some professors stood behind me, helping Lucas and the rest of the people heal themselves while I was taken away.


    Eventually, we reached a large set of doors at the end of the hallway. They were tall, decorated with intricate golden engravings, and radiated authority.


    Eleonora''s office?


    My face twitched slightly.


    But I guess it was better than dealing with those professors.


    Knock, knock...!


    One of the professors knocked twice before pushing the doors open.


    "Headmistress, we''ve brought him," the professor announced.


    Eleonora was sitting behind a grand mahogany desk, her piercing light blue eyes scanning a stack of documents before slowly lifting her gaze to me.


    She didn''t immediately speak.


    Instead, she set down her pen and leaned back in her chair, looking at me like I was a particularly interesting puzzle.


    "Leave us."


    The professors hesitated, exchanging uncertain glances, but a single glare from Eleonora was enough to send them out of the room without another word.


    The doors shut behind them with a dull thud.


    Now, it was just the two of us.


    She gestured to the chair in front of her desk.


    "Sit."


    I sat down without a word.


    She folded her hands together, resting them on the desk.


    "You made quite a mess," she finally said.


    I shrugged.


    "They shouldn''t have provoked me."


    Her lips twitched, almost like she wanted to smile. But whatever amusement she had disappeared as quickly as it came.


    "Aestrea," she sighed, rubbing her temples. "You know I run this academy, but that doesn''t mean I can just do whatever I want¡ª"


    "¡ªYou literally disappear every time the academy is in danger."


    I cut her off without hesitation.


    For a second, her smile twitched again.


    Then, she let out a deep sigh.


    "Just tell me why you acted that way."


    I leaned back in my chair, raising an eyebrow.


    "As I told you, they provoked me. I was already lenient when they exposed my identity as the Moonlight Swordsman."


    "As for the others..." I trailed off for a moment before continuing.


    "They wanted to play the hero. And in the end, they got completely destroyed."


    Eleonora exhaled slowly, shaking her head.


    "You really are a handful, you know that?" she muttered, rubbing her forehead.


    Then, her expression shifted. Her gaze sharpened.


    "Knowing you... you probably didn''t hold back because your time here is almost up, isn''t it?" She cut straight to the point.


    I didn''t even hesitate.


    I nodded.


    She didn''t look surprised.


    Instead, she just let out another sigh.


    "Figured as much," she murmured, scribbling something on a piece of paper before turning back to me.


    "I''ve decided your punishment."


    Her voice was firm, serious.


    I raised an eyebrow, waiting.


    "Twenty-four hours. Confined with me."


    Her expression remained completely neutral.


    For a moment, I thought I had misheard her.


    But no. She was serious.


    I frowned.


    "...What?"


    She didn''t repeat herself.


    She just smiled.


    "Why?" she raised an eyebrow at my surprised face.


    "Shouldn''t you be happy to spend time with your lover~?" she smiled mischievously, and before I noticed, she was already only lap.


    Her hands traced lazy patterns along the back of my neck, fingertips barely grazing my skin, and then, she tilted her head, her soft lips parting ever so slightly as she pouted.


    "And here I was, missing you~"


    Her fingers curled slightly, nails barely scraping against the nape of my neck, making my muscles tense.


    She leaned in closer, her breath warm against my lips.


    It was slow, deliberate¡ªthe way she looked at me, how her eyes switched between my mouth and my gaze.


    She was taking her time, savoring the moment, letting the tension build between us like a coiling spring.


    I exhaled, my hands instinctively resting on her waist.


    Her body molded against mine, her curves fitting perfectly as if she belonged there.


    She shifted slightly, and I could feel the heat radiating from her, the steady rise and fall of her chest pressing against me.


    Then, her lips brushed against mine.


    "...?"


    An almost light-feather touch.


    One could easily see that she was teasing me.


    Yet, I remained calm, staring at her.


    She exhaled, a soft hum escaping her lips as her fingers trailed down, brushing against my collarbone before resting on my chest.


    Her nails traced small circles, her touch sending heat through my veins.


    "I wonder," she murmured, her lips barely an inch away.


    "Do you even miss me?"


    My grip on her waist tightened slightly.


    "Maybe."


    Her eyes sparkled at my answer, her lips curving into a sly smile.


    "Maybe?"


    Before I could respond, she closed the distance.


    Smack...


    Her lips pressed against mine, soft and warm, molding perfectly as she kissed me slowly.


    The kiss was gentle at first, her mouth moving against mine with teasing slowness, coaxing me to follow her lead.


    She tilted her head, deepening the kiss, her tongue flicking lightly against my bottom lip.


    I parted my lips for her, and she took full advantage.


    Her tongue slipped inside, gliding against mine with a slow, deliberate motion.


    The warmth of her mouth, the way she tasted¡ªit was intoxicating.


    Slurp, mmm~


    She kissed me deeply, her tongue tangling with mine, exploring, tasting, savoring every second.


    A soft moan escaped her as my hands moved lower, gripping her hips and pulling her closer.


    Her fingers tangled in my hair, tugging slightly as she pressed herself against me, deepening the kiss further.


    She tasted sweet, and addicting.


    I could feel her breath hitch as I slid a hand up her back, my fingers tracing the curve of her spine.


    "Haaa...?"


    She arched slightly into my touch, her body reacting instinctively, a soft sigh slipping from her lips as she broke the kiss for just a second¡ªonly to dive back in, more eager, more desperate.


    The slow, and teasing rhythm was gone now.


    She wanted more.


    And so did I.


    I angled my head, taking control of the kiss, making her melt against me as my tongue stroked hers, my hands mapping every inch of her waist, her back, and her shoulders.


    She shivered, her nails digging into my shoulders as she let out a quiet gasp between kisses.


    I smirked against her lips.


    She was getting lost in it.


    I could feel it¡ªthe way her breathing grew uneven, the way her body pressed harder against me, the way her fingers clung to me like she didn''t want to let go.


    I deepened the kiss again, tilting her chin up as I devoured her mouth, tasting every inch of her.


    Her lips were softer than I remembered, warmer, and much more eager.


    Slurp, chuu?!


    "Mhmm!"


    She whimpered as I nipped at her lower lip, soothing the bite with my tongue.


    My fingers dug into her waist, holding her in place as I kissed back just as eagerly.


    Slk... Smuuch...


    The wet sounds of our kiss filled the quiet room, each movement sending another wave of heat through my body.


    Her hands weren''t still either.


    One stayed tangled in my hair, while the other trailed down my chest, her nails grazing lightly over the fabric.


    A small yet teasing touch.


    She pulled away just a little, our lips still barely touching.


    "You''re not stopping me this time?" she whispered, breathless.


    I smirked, tightening my grip on her waist.


    "You''d just do it again if I did."


    A sly grin crossed her lips before she kissed me again¡ªthis time slower, deeper, savoring every second.


    Our tongues danced together, gliding, pressing, pulling back, then coming together again.


    Mmhh... Slk...


    I felt her hips shift slightly on my lap, making my breath hitch.


    My hands moved instinctively, sliding up her back, feeling the curve of her body as I held her closer.


    "Mmn~"


    She sighed into my mouth, her fingers moving to cup my face, thumbs brushing lightly against my skin.


    Pha~


    Her lips left mine only to trail downward, ghosting along my jawline, pressing small, open-mouthed kisses down my neck.


    "You''re too addictive," she purred.


    I shivered as her lips brushed over a sensitive spot.


    "You''re one to talk," I replied, tilting my head slightly to give her more access.


    She hummed against my skin before biting down gently.


    I sucked in a breath¡ª


    Then exhaled in a low groan as she soothed the spot with her tongue.


    My grip on her tightened.


    She chuckled softly, pleased by my reaction.


    Our lips met again, and this time, it was messier, more desperate. Our breathing was uneven, the heat between us growing unbearable.


    I pulled her even closer, our bodies fully pressed together now.


    Smack...


    We finally broke apart, gasping, our lips red and swollen as a thin saliva bridge connecting our tongues broke apart.


    "Haaa..."


    "Fuuu..."


    Eleonora''s forehead rested against mine, her eyes dark, filled with something that made my stomach tighten.


    "Guess you missed me too," she whispered, smirking.


    I exhaled sharply, still catching my breath.


    "...Maybe."


    Her fingers traced my jawline lazily, her lips hovering just inches from mine.


    "Then," she murmured, pressing the softest kiss to my lips before smirking.


    "We still have 24 hours, don''t we?"

 Chapter 118 - 118: End Of Semester (XXI)

    "Mhm..."


    I stretched my legs, letting out a satisfied sound as my muscles loosened up.


    "So this is what you meant by spending 24 hours together?" I asked, this time stretching my arms instead.


    In front of me, Eleonora stood with a wry smile, her form-fitting latex suit hugging her curves. The glossy material reflected the dim light, emphasizing the way it clung to her body.


    She adjusted the collar, deliberately leaving her cleavage exposed.


    "Well... training is a way to pass the time, isn''t it?" she said smoothly, tilting her head.


    Then, with a slow, deliberate motion, she licked her lips.


    "Or were you hoping for... a sweatier kind of training?" Her voice came out seductively as she looked at me suggestively.


    I met her eyes.


    "Either one is fine."


    A small smirk tugged at her lips, but I wasn''t just saying that.


    I did want to get stronger.


    Sparring against the strongest mage alive was an opportunity I wasn''t going to pass up.


    Fwip!


    Without hesitation, I summoned Lumi¡ª


    But before I could even take my stance¡ª


    "Uh-uh."


    Eleonora wagged her finger, moving it slowly from left to right.


    "No weapons. I''m here to refine your mana control and battle instincts, not your swordplay. That''s not my area of expertise."


    I clicked my tongue but didn''t argue.


    With a flick of my wrist, Lumi vanished.


    Eleonora, now satisfied, removed her signature hat and pulled her hair into a high ponytail. As she did, her sharp light blue eyes never left mine.


    Then, she took her stance¡ª


    A fluid, grounded posture.


    Balanced, but with an undeniable sharpness to it.


    "...A Mana Art?"


    I muttered under my breath.


    I had my own, derived from my sword art, but I never expected her to use one.


    I had always thought of Eleonora as a mage who fought from a distance with her overwhelming power.


    Yet here she was, standing right in front of me¡ªher body language screaming close-combat expertise.


    She noticed my hesitation and grinned.


    "Come on~"


    With a teasing lilt, she curled her fingers toward herself, beckoning me forward.


    She wanted me to attack first.


    Sure.


    "Fuuuu..."


    I exhaled sharply, my body tensing.


    A silver mana enveloped my body as a purple one engulfed hers.


    Fwsh!


    I lunged forward, closing the distance in an instant. My right fist shot toward her stomach¡ªfast and direct.


    But¡ª


    Whoosh!


    Eleonora twisted her body slightly, making my punch skim past her side. Before I could react, she grabbed my wrist and¡ª


    BAM!


    A sharp knee drove into my ribs.


    "Tsk¡ª!"


    I gritted my teeth, barely managing to twist away before she could land a follow-up strike. The impact stung, but I ignored it.


    I planted my foot and spun, bringing my left elbow toward her head.


    But Eleonora only smirked.


    Swoosh!


    She ducked under my attack effortlessly, her body moving like liquid.


    Then¡ª


    CRACK!


    Her palm struck my exposed ribs again¡ªthis time with a more concentrated burst of mana.


    A heavy force slammed into my side, sending me stumbling backward.


    "You''re too stiff~" she teased, standing upright again, hands on her hips.


    I steadied myself, exhaling sharply.


    She was fast.


    Not just her movement, but her timing. Every motion flowed into the next like she was reading my mind.


    So, I need to act smarter if I can''t win against her in pure technique.


    Boom!


    I pushed off the ground, shooting toward her again.


    This time, I feinted a punch to the left¡ªthen shifted my weight and sent a powerful roundhouse kick toward her ribs.


    Her eyes flickered with recognition.


    She raised her arm to block¡ª


    BAM!


    The force made her slide back slightly, but she held her stance.


    "Hmm~ Better." She tilted her head, flexing her arm slightly.


    "But still not enough."


    Her hand moved in a blur.


    Before I could recover¡ª


    THWACK!


    Her open palm struck my jaw, snapping my head to the side.


    CRACK!


    I barely saw the next hit coming.


    Her leg shot out in a low, precise sweep, knocking my feet from under me.


    For a split second, I was weightless.


    Then¡ª


    THUD!


    I hit the ground hard, the impact shaking through my body.


    "Tsk tsk~" Eleonora clicked her tongue, stepping closer.


    "You rely too much on brute force, Aestrea. You need to be smarter."


    I groaned, lifting my head.


    I know that already!


    I pushed myself up, shaking off the dull ache spreading through my body.


    Eleonora stood a few steps away, arms folded, completely relaxed.


    Not a single bruise on her.


    This wasn''t going to work if I kept fighting her head-on.


    I exhaled sharply, then¡ª


    Crackle!


    ¡º Ice Generation (? 1st-Level Spell ?) ¡»


    A cold mist rose from my hands as icy blue mana surged through my veins. The air around me dropped in temperature instantly.


    Eleonora raised an eyebrow.


    "Hmm? Ice magic already?"


    I didn''t answer.


    Instead¡ª


    FWOOOSH!


    A jagged spear of ice burst from my palm, shooting toward her chest like a bullet.


    She didn''t move.


    BOOM!


    The spear shattered inches before touching her, crushed by an invisible force.


    I clicked my tongue.


    Mana pressure.


    Even before my attack reached her, she''d used sheer mana control to dissolve it.


    I wasn''t stopping there.


    I twisted my fingers, forming multiple sharp ice shards in the air around me.


    Crack! Crack! Crack!


    The shards floated, humming with power, then¡ª


    SWOOSH!


    I launched them all at once.


    Each one curved through the air, coming at her from different angles¡ªabove, below, the sides¡ªforcing her to react.


    But¡ª


    FWOOM!


    A wave of invisible pressure exploded from Eleonora''s body.


    CRACK! CRACK!


    Every single ice shard shattered mid-air, reduced to nothing.


    I barely had time to register it before she flicked her wrist.


    BOOM!


    An invisible force slammed into my chest.


    "Ugh¡ª!"


    I flew backward, skidding across the ground before catching myself.


    Damn it.


    She wasn''t even attacking me directly.


    Just pure mana pressure, and I couldn''t even get close.


    Eleonora sighed, placing a hand on her hip.


    "This is why I said you rely too much on brute force. You''re throwing everything at me without thinking."


    I gritted my teeth, flexing my fingers.


    If direct attacks wouldn''t work¡­


    I had to change my approach.


    ¡º Mixed Ice Series: Frost Mist! (? 4th-Level Spell ?)¡»


    I let out a slow breath, my mana shifting¡ª


    The temperature plummeted.


    Fwoooosh¡­


    A thick mist spread across the ground, covering the area in a cold, white fog. My breath came out in visible puffs of air.


    Eleonora''s expression remained amused, but I saw her glance around briefly.


    Good.


    I disappeared into the mist.


    Then¡ª


    SWOOSH!


    I lunged from the side, throwing a sharp punch toward her ribs.


    But¡ª


    THWACK!


    She caught my wrist in mid-air.


    I twisted immediately, spinning into a low kick¡ª


    But she was faster.


    CRACK!


    A precise knee to my stomach sent me staggering back.


    "Distracting me with mist? Not bad~ But you''ll need more than that." She smirked.


    I wiped my mouth.


    Then I''d really turn up the pressure.


    I clenched my fist¡ª


    CRACKLE!


    Ice burst from the ground, jagged spikes racing toward Eleonora''s feet.


    At the same time, I dashed forward, using the ice as cover¡ª


    She raised a hand¡ª


    BOOM!


    Another wave of mana shattered the ice instantly.


    But that was what I wanted.


    As the shards exploded outward, I twisted my body¡ª


    And vanished.


    For a brief moment, her eyes flickered.


    I reappeared right in front of her¡ª


    BAM!


    My knee slammed into her stomach.


    WHAM!


    She was forced back a step.


    My eyes widened.


    That was the first time I''d landed a solid hit.


    Eleonora exhaled slowly, brushing off her stomach.


    "Mmm¡­ Now that was better."


    But the smirk never left her face.


    Instead, her smirk only deepened.


    "That was a good hit, Aestrea. But¡­"


    Her fingers twitched.


    BOOM!


    A sudden force slammed into my chest, sending me flying backward before I could even react.


    I gritted my teeth, twisting mid-air to land on my feet.


    Skid!


    The ground cracked beneath me as I dug my heels in to stop myself.


    Damn it.


    Even when I managed to land a hit, she barely felt it.


    Eleonora flicked her wrist again¡ª


    FWOOOM!


    A powerful wave of mana surged toward me, an invisible force strong enough to crush my ribs if it hit directly.


    I reacted fast.


    FWOOSH!


    Ice formed under my feet, and I skated to the side, barely dodging as the force blasted past me. The ground where I''d been standing exploded, sending debris flying everywhere.


    I used the momentum, twisting my body¡ª


    Then¡ª


    SWOOSH!


    I launched forward, aiming a sharp punch at her side.


    But Eleonora simply stepped back, her movements graceful, effortless.


    Before my punch even finished swinging, she struck.


    WHAM!


    A sharp palm strike slammed into my stomach.


    I gasped.


    Her speed¡ª!


    I tried to move, but her follow-up was instant.


    BAM!


    An elbow to my ribs.


    THWACK!


    A precise kick to my thigh.


    CRACK!


    A final, brutal open-palm strike sent me crashing into the ground.


    "Ugh¡ª!"


    I rolled, gasping for air.


    She wasn''t even using spells. Just pure technique and mana pressure.


    I forced myself up, one hand gripping my side.


    Eleonora tilted her head.


    "Come on, Aestrea. You said you wanted to get stronger, didn''t you?"


    Her tone was teasing, but I could feel the weight behind it.


    She wasn''t going easy on me.


    And I wasn''t going to lose like this.


    I exhaled sharply.


    I needed to push past my limits.


    The cold around me thickened¡ª


    CRACKLE!


    Frost spread up my arms, coating my fists in jagged ice.


    Then¡ª


    SWOOSH!


    I moved.


    This time, faster than before.


    I appeared beside her in a blink¡ª


    BAM!


    My ice-coated fist swung for her ribs.


    She stepped back, but I was already a step ahead.


    I twisted, launching a spinning back kick¡ª


    THUD!


    She blocked it with her forearm, but I followed up immediately.


    A sweeping low kick.


    She jumped.


    I grinned.


    Right into my trap.


    FWOOOSH!


    A spike of ice shot up from the ground, aiming straight for her mid-air position.


    Eleonora''s eyes flickered.


    For the first time in this fight, she actually had to react.


    She twisted, barely dodging, and landing gracefully a few feet away.


    I didn''t let her breathe.


    SWOOSH!


    I was on her again, throwing a flurry of punches¡ª


    BAM! WHAM! THWACK!


    She blocked, dodged, and countered, but I wasn''t stopping. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    I poured everything into my speed, forcing her to stay on the defensive.


    For the first time¡ª


    She wasn''t playing with me.


    Eleonora''s expression shifted.


    "¡­Heh."


    Then, her mana flared.


    And suddenly¡ª


    I couldn''t move.


    FWOOOM!


    A crushing force slammed down on my shoulders.


    My knees buckled.


    I gasped, struggling to stay upright.


    It felt like the weight of an entire mountain was pressing down on me.


    Eleonora sighed.


    "Not bad, Aestrea. You actually made me take you seriously for a second."


    I clenched my fists.


    Damn it¡ª


    I had to move¡ª


    But my body wouldn''t listen.


    She took a step forward, reaching toward me.


    "You still have a long way to go."


    Her fingers touched my forehead¡ª


    And then¡ª


    BOOM!


    Everything went black.

 Chapter 119 - 119: End Of Semester (XXII)

    "Bam! You''re dead now."


    The moment I opened my eyes, Eleonora''s teasing voice greeted me.


    I groaned.


    "...Agh, that hurts."


    Blinking, I reached up, rubbing my aching forehead.


    A dull throb pulsed where she had flicked me.


    Eleonora stood above me, arms crossed, a smug grin on her lips.


    "You really thought you could break through my mana pressure just by pushing harder?" She clicked her tongue, shaking her head.


    "Aestrea, brute force isn''t always the answer. You were wasting energy the entire time."


    I exhaled sharply, sitting up.


    "I wasn''t just pushing harder¡ªI was trying to outmaneuver you."


    "And that''s the problem," she said, crouching beside me.


    "Your movement was predictable. You relied too much on speed and direct attacks, thinking you could overwhelm me. But I barely needed to move."


    I frowned.


    "You did move."


    "Only when I felt like it," she shot back.


    "I never needed to dodge seriously. Your attacks were strong, but they didn''t force me into a bad position. That''s why I could counter you so easily."


    She wasn''t entirely wrong.


    "You have talent, Aestrea, but talent alone won''t carry you." She tapped my forehead again¡ªgently this time.


    "Besides, now you''ve gotten used to fighting against weaker opponents, and because of that, your brute force always ends up working. But against a stronger opponent, that brute force won''t work at all, only technique and the way you use your brain."


    "You need to refine your instincts. Every attack should have a purpose. Every movement should put pressure on your opponent, not just throw punches and hope something lands."


    I thought I was doing pretty well.


    But thinking back, I always fought like how Aestrea used to fight.


    And every time, it was against a weaker opponent.


    Not to mention that my combat style is weapon-based, so I don''t exactly have much experience in hand-to-hand combat.


    "Haa..."


    I sighed, running a hand through my hair.


    "So what do I do?"


    She smirked.


    "You fight me again, of course."


    I blinked.


    "Already?"


    "Unless you''d rather sit there sulking?"


    I shot to my feet.


    "Like hell I would."


    Eleonora chuckled, stepping back and stretching her arms.


    "Good. But this time, don''t just attack blindly. Think. Watch my movements. Read my mana flow. And most importantly¡­"


    Her light blue eyes gleamed.


    "Surprise me."


    I took a deep breath, rolling my shoulders.


    If she wanted me to fight smarter, I''d fight smarter.


    I took my stance.


    Eleonora smirked, then¡ª


    FWOOOSH!


    She vanished.


    I barely had time to react before¡ª


    BANG!


    Something slammed into my side.


    "Kh¡ª!"


    The force sent me skidding across the floor, my feet struggling to find grip. I dug my heels in, stopping myself just before crashing into the far wall.


    My ribs ached where she struck me, but I didn''t have time to complain.


    She''s faster than before.


    I snapped my head up, scanning for her¡ª


    Too late.


    THWAP!


    A sharp blow landed on my shoulder from behind. My body twisted involuntarily from the impact, and I swung out with my arm, trying to hit her back¡ª


    Nothing.


    She was already gone.


    "Tsk, tsk~" Her voice echoed from somewhere above.


    "You''re still reacting too late, Aestrea. Just trust your instincts."


    I clenched my jaw.


    Calm yourself, Aestrea...


    Remember...


    Mana is the energy that flows through the entire planet...


    I exhaled, calming my mind.


    Instead of chasing her, I spread my mana outward, letting it flow through my body and sharpen my senses.


    Watch the mana.


    Feel the movement.


    There¡ª


    A flicker of energy to my left.


    I pivoted¡ªjust as she appeared, her fist already swinging toward my gut.


    WHAM!


    I barely managed to block with my forearm, but the impact sent a shockwave through my body. My feet scraped against the ground as I was pushed back.


    Her light blue eyes widened slightly.


    "Oho? You blocked that?"


    I smiled faintly.


    "Lucky."


    "Good."


    She stepped in again, twisting her body, aiming a high kick at my head.


    SWISH!


    I ducked just in time, feeling the wind from her leg as it passed inches above me. Without missing a beat, I countered¡ª


    BOOM!


    A burst of icy mana exploded from my palm, freezing the air around us instantly.


    Crystals of frost spread outward, coating the floor and walls in shimmering blue.


    Eleonora clicked her tongue, making me smirk.


    She exhaled sharply, her breath turning to mist in the sudden cold.


    Then, with nothing but a flick of her fingers¡ª


    CRACK!


    The ice shattered.


    My eyes widened.


    Shit, I almost forgot that her mana control is simply too terryfying.


    Before I could react, she moved¡ª


    FWOOOSH!


    I saw the flicker of mana¡ªher figure appearing just inches away.


    She''s fast¡ª!


    Her knee shot up¡ª


    BAM!


    A direct hit to my stomach.


    "Guh¡ª!"


    Air left my lungs as my body lifted off the ground from the impact. My vision blurred for a second, but I forced myself to recover.


    Don''t fall.


    I twisted midair, channeling ice beneath me¡ª


    FWIP!


    The moment my foot touched the ground, I reinforced it with mana, stopping my fall.


    Eleonora raised an eyebrow.


    "Oh?"


    I didn''t give her time to prepare.


    CRACK!


    Jagged ice spikes erupted from the ground, launching toward her.


    She clicked her tongue, raising her hand¡ª


    BOOM!


    A pulse of raw mana burst outward, shattering the spikes before they could reach her.


    I didn''t stop.


    I lunged forward, my fist encased in a swirling storm of frost.


    WHAM!


    I aimed straight for her chest¡ª


    But¡ª


    SWISH!


    She sidestepped effortlessly.


    Shit¡ª!


    I felt a presence behind me.


    I spun around¡ª


    TOO LATE.


    BAM!


    Her palm struck the back of my neck, and before I knew it¡ª


    THUD!


    I was on the ground, gasping for air.


    Eleonora stood over me, arms crossed, smirking.


    "Dead again."


    I groaned.


    "Dammit¡­"


    She crouched, resting her elbow on her knee, watching me struggle.


    "Better this time. But you''re still letting me control the flow of the fight."


    I clenched my fists.


    She was right.


    Again.


    "But," she continued, tilting her head, "you did manage to get me to move more than last time."


    I glanced up.


    There was a thin line of frost on her sleeve.


    A grin tugged at my lips.


    She noticed, following my gaze.


    Then, she chuckled.


    "Oh? You think that''s enough to count as a win?"


    I smirked.


    "Didn''t you say I needed to surprise you?"


    Eleonora smiled, shaking her head.


    "You really don''t give up, huh?"


    I pushed myself up, breathing hard but determined.


    "Not a chance."


    She laughed softly, standing up.


    Then, she stretched her arms, rolling her shoulders.


    "Good."


    She raised her fists again.


    "One more round."


    Alright.


    I lowered my center of gravity, keeping my weight balanced.


    No unnecessary movements.


    No wasted energy.


    I have to get a clean hit this time.


    Eleonora made the first move.


    FWOOOSH!


    She blurred toward me, her mana pressure slamming against my body like a tidal wave.


    I clenched my teeth¡ªignore it.


    She threw a lightning-fast jab at my ribs¡ª


    SWISH!


    I barely managed to twist my body out of the way, feeling the wind from her punch rush past me.


    She''s testing me.


    She followed up immediately, her knee snapping toward my stomach¡ª


    I stepped back just in time¡ª


    But she was already spinning.


    WHAM!


    Her elbow crashed into my shoulder, sending me stumbling back.


    "Fuck!"


    I barely kept my balance, but she wasn''t done.


    She dashed forward¡ªfaster than before.


    I saw her arm move¡ªanother strike aimed at my stomach.


    I see it.


    I inhaled sharply.


    NOW!


    I twisted my body at the last second¡ªjust enough to avoid the brunt of the impact.


    Her fist grazed past my ribs¡ª


    And in that instant¡ª


    "Moonlit Ice Lotus Sword Combat Style Variant..."


    ¡º Frost Bound Arcana! (? Flash Freeze Counter ?)¡»


    I countered.


    BOOM!


    My fist shot forward, aiming straight for her chest.


    I felt it¡ª


    A clean hit.


    Right against her¡ª


    ¡­


    Wait.


    Something felt off.


    Her light blue eyes widened slightly, and then¡ª


    FWOOM!


    Everything around me froze.


    Not physically¡ª


    But like it was time itself.


    I blinked.


    Or at least, I tried to blink.


    My body wouldn''t move.


    My mind raced¡ªwhat the hell just happened?


    And then¡ª


    THUMP.


    I felt warmth against my palm.


    The soft, undeniable sensation of¡ª


    ¡­


    Oh.


    My fingers were sinking into something warm.


    Something¡­ large.


    Something¡­ very, very soft.


    A cold chill ran down my spine.


    I didn''t dare look down.


    But I didn''t have to.


    I knew exactly what my hand was touching.


    Right in the center of Eleonora''s massive, barely-contained¡ª


    "Hoh¡­?"


    Her voice purred through the frozen time.


    I swallowed hard.


    Shit.


    The glow in her light blue eyes pulsed.


    Then, time resumed.


    BOOM!


    A sudden force blasted me backward, sending me flying through the air.


    "GAAAH¡ª!"


    I barely had time to react before I crashed¡ªTHUD!¡ªinto the far wall, cracking it from the impact.


    "Kh¡ª!"


    Dust and debris rained down around me as I gasped for air.


    My entire body ached.


    My nerves screamed.


    What the hell was that?!


    I looked up¡ª Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Eleonora stood where I had just been, arms crossed, an unreadable smirk on her lips.


    Her light blue eyes still glowed faintly, though they were slowly dimming.


    She let out a small hum.


    "Interesting counter," she mused, tilting her head.


    I quickly pushed myself up, wiping the dust from my face.


    As I did so, Eleonora tapped her chin thoughtfully.


    "You did manage to land a solid hit, so I suppose that counts as progress¡­"


    Her gaze lowered slightly¡ªto where my hand had been just moments ago.


    "Ahhh~" She let out a dramatic sigh, placing a hand on her hip.


    "That sensation was¡­ quite comfortable indeed~"


    Her tongue darted out, running along her lower lip, her narrowed eyes watching me like a predator eyeing wounded prey.


    I raised an eyebrow.


    "Do you want me to touch them again?"


    The second the words left my mouth, her smirk widened.


    "Hmm¡­ next time for sure." She waved a hand dismissively, but the mischievous gleam in her eyes told me she was far from uninterested.


    Then, her tone shifted.


    "But let''s talk about your actual mistakes."


    I nodded.


    She stepped forward, her posture shifting back into something more serious.


    "Your counter just now was good. You read my movements well and acted immediately. But¡­"


    Her eyes narrowed.


    "You hesitated just enough for me to hit you back."


    Listening to her words, I frowned.


    "...What you did to block my counter... what exactly was that?"


    Eleonora blinked.


    For the first time, a genuine look of surprise flickered across her face.


    "Y-you... actually saw that?"


    Her voice lost its usual confidence, turning into something more¡­ speechless.


    I tilted my head.


    "Yeah...? Wasn''t I supposed to see it?"


    I tilted my head.


    Her light blue eyes widened slightly.


    "N-no... not really." She shook her head quickly, composing herself.


    Then, she took a breath and explained:


    "What I did just now is something only I can do for now¡ªmanipulating the laws of time itself through mana."


    She crossed her arms.


    "I stopped time for a few seconds to dodge your blow. It was purely instinct, but..." Her gaze locked onto mine.


    "I can''t believe you actually felt me stopping time."


    I kept my expression neutral.


    "Huh¡­ really?" I faked a surprised tone.


    Of course, I wouldn''t tell her my second element was Time itself.


    Eleonora stared at me for a moment longer before shaking her head.


    "Not even a 9th-level mage has ever sensed it before¡­ but you did."


    Curiosity flashed in her eyes, but she didn''t press further.


    Instead, she furrowed her brows.


    "Anyways..."


    She took a step forward.


    "You''re relying too much on reading the fight instead of feeling it," she continued.


    "A good fighter reacts without thinking. You''re still caught in that split-second moment of decision-making. I told you to follow your instincts, remember?"


    Her words sunk in.


    I clenched my fists, but not out of frustration.


    Excitement burned in my veins.


    I had just felt something that was very useful to me.


    A clue about my Time element.


    And I wouldn''t waste this opportunity.


    I exhaled slowly, meeting Eleonora''s sharp gaze.


    "Let''s go again!"

 Chapter 120 - 120: End Of Semester (XXIII)

    "Let''s go again!"


    The words barely left my mouth before Eleonora''s lips curled up into a smirk.


    "That''s the kind of reaction I wanted to see!"


    Her eyes glittered with excitement. She immediately dropped into a fighting stance, hands poised in front of her, legs bent and ready to spring.


    But this time...


    I wasn''t going to fight like I usually did.


    I wasn''t going to follow any patterns or predictable movements. I was going to let my instincts take over.


    And instead, I''m going to use the strange movements I always used against stronger opponents.


    The most unpredictable way possible.


    A high-risk, high-reward style.


    I didn''t wait for her to make the first move.


    I lunged forward, taking an unexpected angle¡ªmy feet sliding across the floor in a smooth arc, aiming right for her left side.


    But then, without warning, I twisted my body mid-step, bam¡ªa hard jab aimed at her face, but she sidestepped, already prepared to counter.


    SWISH!


    Her hand was coming for me, but I let it happen.


    I let her strike.


    THUD!


    She landed a hit square on my chest, the force of her palm sending me stumbling backward. My chest burned, but I didn''t care.


    I didn''t even flinch.


    I let her think I was down.


    Let her think she had me.


    "HAH!"


    She followed up with a quick left hook aimed for my jaw, but this time, I was ready.


    I dropped low, sliding under her arm, my own fist shooting upward, landing solidly in her side with a sickening thud.


    "Kugh!"


    A solid hit!


    Eleonora grunted, stumbling back as I followed up with a kick to her midsection, driving her further off-balance.


    But she didn''t let herself fall.


    Instead, she spun, fast and sharp, throwing a roundhouse kick aimed directly at my head.


    I didn''t even bother dodging it.


    I let it hit me.


    THWACK!


    The impact rattled my skull.


    My body was momentarily stunned, but I didn''t stop.


    I didn''t let the pain slow me down. Instead, I leaned into the hit, using it to propel myself forward and grab hold of her leg.


    "Gotcha!"


    She struggled against my grip, but I wasn''t giving her a chance to break free.


    My body twisted with hers, and with a sharp tug, I spun her off balance. She hit the ground with a loud thud, but before she could react, I was already on top of her.


    SMACK


    I planted a fist into her side, hitting her with a flurry of punches, each one landing faster and harder than the last.


    But then, Eleonora surprised me.


    With a sharp movement, she caught my fist in mid-air, blocking the next punch with one hand while her other shot out, slamming into my stomach.


    "Hagh!"


    The air was knocked out of me, and I stumbled back, but I didn''t give up. I quickly lunged forward again, aiming a kick for her side.


    But she blocked it with her forearm, barely even flinching.


    My jaw tightened.


    Eleonora straightened up before a smirk ap?peared on her lips.


    "I''m starting to see through your tricks." She wiped a bit of dust off her sleeve as if completely unfazed by my earlier attacks.


    "And unfortunately, that''s not enough to win, Aestrea."


    Before I could react, she moved.


    Her body a blur of motion, she closed the distance between us, her fist crashing into my chest with a sickening CRACK.


    I staggered back, struggling to keep my balance.


    The blow felt like it had knocked the wind out of me again.


    "HAH!"


    I barely had time to recover before she was on me again. This time, her foot swept low, taking my legs out from under me with a quick and precise move.


    I hit the ground hard, a sharp pain running up my spine.


    "Ugh!"


    I rolled to my feet quickly, but Eleonora was already there, blocking my punch with a quick move before driving her knee into my ribs.


    I gasped for air, my body screaming at me for a break.


    But there was no time to stop.


    She wasn''t holding back anymore.


    "That was... too slow."


    Her voice was cool and detached as she threw another series of punches at me. I barely managed to deflect one, but the others landed¡ªhard.


    BAM! BAM!


    Each hit was harder than the last, and I could feel my body starting to ache.


    My thoughts raced as I tried to keep up with her, but it was harder now.


    She was blocking my strikes, countering with brutal efficiency.


    I threw another punch, but Eleonora ducked under it, spinning with a graceful motion and landing a sharp elbow into my back.


    CRACK!


    I grunted, my body jerking forward.


    Fwip!


    I immediately threw a quick jab, followed by a low kick aimed at her legs.


    Eleonora blocked the jab, but she didn''t expect the kick. It struck her side with a sharp THUD, and she stumbled slightly.


    I pushed forward, throwing a knee up toward her chest.


    THWACK!


    She gasped, and I seized the opportunity, going for a straight punch aimed at her face.


    But she was too fast, her arm shooting up to block the blow, and then her other hand struck with lightning speed, landing a clean shot to my ribs.


    CRACK!


    I coughed, feeling the impact deep in my chest.


    "Didn''t I tell you? I''ve got the hang of it now," she said, her tone calm, almost too calm, as she looked at me with her arms crossed.


    I took the chance to get distance away from here.


    Damn it.


    What could I do to hit her?!


    Her combat technique and mana control are better than mine.


    My unusual moves don''t work anymore.


    Fuck. Fuck. FUCK!


    What else can I do¡ª


    Thump!


    H-huh¡­?


    What is this... feeling?


    Tick...


    ...Tock.


    My body twitched slightly.


    I could hear my heartbeat, but it wasn''t just in my ears.


    It felt like it was reverberating through my entire body, vibrating through my ribs, my limbs, as though everything was in sync with that tock.


    That feeling¡­ it was like a switch was flipping inside me.


    I remembered Eleonora''s words, echoing in my head.


    "Trust your instincts."


    A sudden rush of clarity filled my mind.


    For the first time, I let go of everything I knew¡ªeverything I thought I knew about combat.


    This wasn''t about technique or thought-out movements anymore.


    It was about feeling, about reacting to the rhythm of the fight in my body.


    I let go.


    Fwoop!


    Without thinking, without hesitation, I dashed toward Eleonora. My feet moved faster than I could track, my body already in motion before my mind had time to question it.


    She reacted instantly.


    Fwip!


    A jab came flying at my face, but this time, I was ready for it.


    Thump!


    I ducked under it, my body moving on instinct, as if I had always known it would happen. It felt natural¡ªlike it was the most obvious thing to do.


    But in that same motion, she twisted her body, launching a powerful kick at my side.


    My right arm shot up, adjusting instinctively to meet it.


    Ssshhh!


    Her leg slid down my arm, the force of her kick gliding smoothly against my skin, but I didn''t let up.


    I didn''t think about what to do next¡ªI just did it.


    I threw a quick, forceful punch at her exposed stomach.


    Plop!


    She easily caught it, clenching it forcefully.


    Thump!


    But right now...


    Her movements seemed quite slow.


    ¡º Body''s Time Acceleration (? 8th-Level Spell ?) ¡»


    My movements felt¡­ different, almost like I was moving faster than the flow of time around me.


    In that instant, I twisted my body downward, bending low, diving toward the ground, my hand pressing against the floor for support.


    THUD!


    I spun my legs in the air, a fluid, fast movement aimed directly at Eleonora''s head.


    "Haagh!"


    I could hear her grunt as my feet connected with her head, knocking her backward slightly.


    But I wasn''t finished.


    I planted my other hand on the ground, pushing myself forward, using my legs to launch me back into the fray.


    Eleonora was still recovering, her movements sluggish from the blow.


    "H-how d-did you get so fast?"


    But I wasn''t listening to her.


    I was already moving again.


    BAAAM!


    I surged forward, but a burst of mana leaked from her body¡ªan uncontrolled release of energy.


    The pressure hit me like a wall.


    I had to retreat, jumping back a few paces.


    I could feel the energy rolling off of her, pushing against me, like a gust of wind that was just too powerful to ignore.


    She was using more of her power now.


    I could feel it.


    Eleonora smiled.


    Her stance shifted again, going from surprised to serious in the blink of an eye. She was ready to fight again, no hesitation.


    Thump!


    I lunged forward, throwing a quick jab aimed at her face, but she dodged to the side with a fluid movement.


    Swoosh!


    Her hand shot out to my side, fast and precise. I barely managed to twist my torso, blocking it with my forearm.


    The impact made my bones rattle, but I didn''t flinch.


    "Not bad."


    She murmured, her voice sharp and steady as she followed up with a low kick.


    Thud!


    Her foot connected with my knee, sending a shock through my leg, but I didn''t stop. My other leg shot forward, aiming for her midsection.


    Splat!


    She blocked it with her arm, pushing me back. I took a moment to step back, resetting, but my heart was already racing.


    It was almost like I could hear her movements before she made them.


    She smirked.


    "You''re getting better," Eleonora said, raising an eyebrow.


    "But you''re still predictable."


    I gritted my teeth, my muscles tense, and before I could think, I lunged again, more erratically this time.


    My movements weren''t clean; they were messy and disjointed, but that was the point.


    I wanted to throw her off.


    Swoosh!


    Eleonora easily dodged, her eyes catching my every move.


    ut then¡ª


    CRACK!


    I slammed my fist into her ribs, the sound of the punch ringing through the air. Her body jerked back, and for a moment, her expression flickered with surprise.


    "Got her!"


    But she recovered quickly.


    Her fist shot out, aimed at my chest, and this time, I didn''t have time to react.


    BAM!


    Her punch landed hard, sending me skidding backward across the ground. My chest burned from the impact, but I didn''t give her the satisfaction of seeing me wince.


    "That''s the kind of punch I''ve been waiting for," she said, a playful grin spreading across her face.


    "Let''s see if you can handle a few more."


    She was coming at me fast now, faster than before. I had to move, or I''d be hit again.


    Fwip!


    I slid to the side, narrowly avoiding her punch.


    Her other fist came down, and I caught it with both hands, but the force behind it made my knees bend. She was pushing harder now, testing my limits.


    Screech!


    Her foot swept at my legs, aiming to knock me off balance, and I barely managed to jump over it.


    Thud!


    I landed hard, but kept my footing.


    Fwip!


    I darted to the left, anticipating her next move, and when she aimed another punch, I dodged and twisted around her, sending an elbow straight into her back.


    Crack!


    Her body jerked forward, but she quickly regained her balance, spinning to face me.


    "You''re improving," she said, wiping a bit of sweat from her brow, but there was a fire in her eyes.


    Thump!


    I felt my heartbeat in my chest again, louder now. I was on the edge of something. I couldn''t think too much, couldn''t hesitate.


    Just react.


    Fwip!


    Before I knew it, I was right on top of her, throwing a series of quick punches to her face and chest.


    Thud!


    She blocked the first few, but one of my strikes slipped through, catching her cheek.


    "Ah," she grinned, wiping the blood from her lip.


    "That''s more like it."


    She stepped back, then closed the distance in an instant, throwing a lightning-fast roundhouse kick.


    I barely managed to duck under it, but the wind from her foot brushed my hair.


    Swoosh!


    I wasn''t fast enough to avoid her second strike, though. Her fist hit my shoulder, spinning me around.


    Thud!


    I stumbled but didn''t fall.


    I was out of breath, my body aching, but I refused to let up.


    Fwip!


    I charged at her again, my body moving before I even thought about it. This time, I didn''t throw punches.


    I faked left, then right, weaving unpredictably, hoping to throw her off.


    But Eleonora''s eyes locked onto mine.


    She wasn''t fooled.


    Swoosh!


    She sidestepped my attack and grabbed my wrist, twisting it behind my back. I gasped in pain as she yanked my arm, forcing me to the ground.


    Thud! Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    I landed hard, but before she could pin me, I kicked my legs out, sweeping her feet from under her.


    Plop!


    Eleonora fell with a surprised grunt, but in the blink of an eye, she was already up again, her eyes flashing with excitement.


    It''s not enough...


    I took a deep breath, steadying myself.


    Fwip!


    I moved again, pushing forward, throwing punch after punch, each one faster than the last. This time, I didn''t think¡ªno time for that.


    I just felt it.


    The flow of the fight, the rhythm of her movements. I knew what she was going to do before she even did it.


    She blocked my first few hits, but then I slipped one past her guard. My fist connected with her jaw with a sickening CRACK!


    She staggered back, her eyes narrowing.


    "Nice one," she muttered.


    "But you''ll have to do better than that."


    I could see it now. The small cracks in her defense. The way she hesitated ever so slightly. That''s all I needed.


    One mistake.


    Fwip!


    I moved again, faster, leaning into the fight, giving everything I had.


    But Eleonora was no slouch.


    Swoosh!


    Her kick came out of nowhere, hitting me square in the chest with a powerful BAM!


    I flew back, hitting the ground with a painful THUD!


    Everything around me felt distant for a moment as I gasped for air. The fight had become a blur. I didn''t know how much longer I could keep this up.


    But then I heard it again.


    Tick...


    ...Tock.


    And just like that, everything clicked again.


    I could feel it.


    The moment I''d been waiting for.


    A cold breath escaped my lips...


    ¡º Time Freeze (? 9th-Level Spell ?) ¡»


    Soon, a black-colored clock symbol appeared in both of my pupils.


    And in front me, Eleonora had frozen entirely.

 Chapter 121 - 121: End Of Semester (XXIV)

    Thump!


    I took a step forward.


    Immediately, a rush of mana drained from my body.


    I gritted my teeth.


    I had only a few seconds before my mana would run dry.


    I needed to act¡ªfast.


    Think, Aestrea.


    Think!


    I needed to create a spell!


    A spell¡­ something that could delay the damage Eleonora would take, something subtle enough so she wouldn''t notice.


    I needed to make sure the impact wouldn''t hit her right away...


    A damage-delay spell...


    Transferring the pain from now to later¡­


    My eyes fluttered shut.


    "Trust your instincts..." sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The instinct honed both me and past Aestrea.


    The instincts that saved our life on multiple occasions.


    "...Fuuu..."


    A cold breath escaped my lips.


    Fwoop!


    ¡º Damage Delay (? ???-Level Spell ?) ¡»


    I launched myself towards her.


    The pointers of the clock symbol on my pupils started running crazily.


    THUD!


    The first hit landed¡ªmy fist slamming into her stomach.


    Bam!


    A sharp kick connected with the side of her waist, sending a shock of pressure through her body.


    And finally...


    THWACK!


    My aura-infused, mana-coated fist drove straight into her solar plexus, the force behind it rattling her form.


    Thump!


    I jumped back, pushing myself out of range.


    And then¡­


    FWOOOP!


    A violent gust of wind swirled around me as Eleonora''s figure¡ªfrozen in time¡ªsuddenly rocketed toward me, her body a blur in my vision.


    She swung a punch at my head, but my body didn''t need to think. I ducked, just in time for her fist to whiz above me.


    SWISH!


    But unfortunately I was much slower than before.


    I didn''t have that acceleration anymore.


    Eleonora''s next strike came fast¡ªa sharp knee aimed at my chest. I barely managed to raise my arms to block it.


    THUD!


    The force hit like a sledgehammer, sending a wave of pain through my arms and chest.


    I staggered back but kept my balance.


    She didn''t give me a chance to breathe.


    She stepped forward, throwing another punch.


    WHAM!


    It crashed into my side, and I felt my ribs creak under the pressure.


    I gritted my teeth, but my arms moved before I could think¡ªjust like instinct told me.


    I raised my elbow in time to deflect the blow. It still hurt, but it wasn''t a direct hit.


    Then, she twisted, her foot snapping out for my legs.


    CRACK!


    Her heel hit my knee, sending a sharp pain up my leg. My body jolted, but I barely managed to stay on my feet.


    I couldn''t keep up with her anymore.


    Eleonora came at me again, her fist aimed for my jaw.


    SPLAT!


    I threw my arm up to block it, the shock from the impact making my arm feel like it was about to snap.


    But my body reacted without hesitation.


    I pivoted, ducking under the next blow aimed at my ribs, twisting my body to stay out of her reach.


    But she was so fast.


    Before I could recover, she was already spinning around, her fist catching me across the shoulder.


    BAM!


    My body jerked back, pain shot through my shoulder and down my arm. I stumbled, struggling to stay upright, but my body reacted again.


    My fist shot out, landing a weak punch to her midsection.


    THWACK!


    She didn''t even flinch.


    With a quick move, Eleonora gripped my wrist and yanked it down, twisting it behind me.


    SNAP!


    I gasped as the pressure on my arm made me feel like it might snap off. But my body didn''t give up. I kicked out with my legs, forcing her to stagger back.


    But Eleonora didn''t stop, and in the next second, she was already back on me.


    Her next strike was a fast, brutal elbow to my face.


    CRACK!


    I felt my nose break, the taste of blood in my mouth, but I didn''t flinch. I kept my hands up, trying to block the next blow.


    But I couldn''t react fast enough.


    She hit my stomach with a swift knee.


    THUD!


    I gasped for air, the force almost knocking the wind out of me.


    My body buckled, but I didn''t hit the ground.


    I just needed to wait for the perfect moment.


    My arms came up just in time to catch her next punch aimed at my head.


    SPLAT!


    I blocked it, but the force of the hit rattled my skull. My body rocked backward, and I stumbled, barely able to stay on my feet.


    Swoosh!


    She swung another punch. I tried to block it, but my arm didn''t react in time. It slammed into my face, sending me reeling.


    THWACK!


    Her knee smashed into my ribs with a sickening crunch.


    BAM!


    She followed with a fist to my stomach, knocking the air from my lungs.


    "Kafgh...!"


    A mouthful of blood escaped my mouth, causing my stomach to churn.


    I was stumbling now, barely holding it together, but still I moved¡ªmy body reacting on its own, driven by the instinct that had kept me alive.


    Eleonora took a step back, eyes narrowing as she watched me struggle.


    "...Is that all?"


    Eleonora raised an eyebrow.


    She must''ve thought I was done, that my body had finally given out.


    But I couldn''t let her think that. I forced a grin, blood dripping down from my lips.


    "...I just need a single hit."


    I raised a finger like it was the most important thing in the world.


    Her laugh echoed in the air.


    "Let''s see if you can last until then."


    I stepped back, trying to regain my balance.


    Eleonora tilted her head, eyes narrowing with curiosity.


    I had to create an opening.


    Fwoop!


    I darted in fast, feinting with a quick jab to her left side.


    She shifted to block it, just as I spun and aimed a fake punch to her face.


    SWISH!


    She blocked it easily, expecting me to go for another strike. But I wasn''t done. I stepped back again, pretending to stumble, and feinted a low kick at her shin.


    WHOOOSH!


    Eleonora''s foot lifted as she tried to dodge, thinking I was off balance.


    That''s when I struck¡ªmy palm flying straight for her chest.


    THWACK!


    The slap of my hand between her massive breasts wasn''t nearly enough to do any real damage.


    She stumbled back, blinking in surprise, before raising an eyebrow and smirking.


    "Oh my~? Is that what you were after?" she teased.


    I stayed silent, my chest rising and falling as I tried to catch my breath.


    It wasn''t the plan I''d hoped for, but I''d created a moment of distraction.


    I raised my eyes, locking them with hers.


    A cold smirk crept across my face.


    Thump!


    "Impacto."


    I whispered, and with a flick of my fingers, mana pressure coiled around my palm.


    Eleonora''s eyes widened, her smile faltering as she instinctively covered her body in thick layers of mana.


    She thought that would stop me.


    But it wouldn''t.


    I watched her for a second longer, then closed my eyes for a split second.


    My mind flashed, and the clock symbol appeared in my vision¡ªsuddenly, everything felt still.


    ¡º Damage Transfer (? ???-Level Spell ?) ¡»


    I focused hard, the mana surging through my body.


    CRACK!


    The air trembled as the damage I''d dealt to her when time had stopped, all that pain and force, exploded back to her.


    The sound of a huge impact shattered the air, like the cracking of space itself.


    KRRRAACK!


    A sharp, screeching sound split the air as her body was sent flying back with the force of the blast.


    SSSSZZZZZZZZ...


    The air sizzled as the wind exploded outward, a wave of pressure rippling through the air as her own mana couldn''t contain the damage that had been transferred.


    "Haaa... fuuu... f-fuck..."


    I collapsed to the ground, my chest heaving with every breath.


    My body felt like it was made of lead, too tired to move, too drained even to think straight.


    Eleonora''s body crashed into the ground with a deafening thud, the impact leaving a crater in the earth.


    For a long moment, she didn''t stir, just lying there as the dust settled.


    Everything was still.


    But then, slowly, she pushed herself up, shaking her head, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips.


    "T-that... was fucking impressive!" she shouted, her voice full of excitement, as if she was genuinely amazed.


    "That move actually broke through a layer of my mana! To do that... only someone with the power of a strong SS-ranker could! But you... you actually did it!"


    She threw her head back, laughing, clearly impressed.


    "I''m beyond speechless!"


    I could barely keep my eyes open, staring at her as my breath rattled in my chest.


    I exhaled deeply, letting my head fall back.


    "Haaa... haa..."


    I was done.


    My mana was nearly gone, and my body couldn''t take another second of this.


    Eleonora''s smile softened as she looked at me, the amusement in her eyes giving way to something gentler.


    "...I see. This should be enough for now."


    Her voice was quieter now, almost tender.


    Then, without warning, she knelt down beside me.


    She reached for my head and carefully placed it on her thighs,


    I could feel the softness of her legs beneath me, the slight pressure of her hand resting on my head.


    Sizzle...!


    Suddenly, I felt a faint pull, like a tug in the air around me.


    Her mana started to leak out, a soft, shimmering energy that wrapped around me, flowing through my tired muscles.


    It wasn''t much at first, but it kept coming, a steady stream of warmth that seeped into my body, slowly healing the bruises, mending the cuts, and replenishing the energy I had drained.


    My chest didn''t hurt as much anymore, and the ache in my ribs faded into a dull throb.


    I opened my eyes and looked up at her, still resting my head in her lap.


    "Thanks."


    She was silent for a moment.


    But then, her eyes brightened, like a spark of excitement had lit up behind them.


    Before I could say anything else, she leaned forward quickly,


    Muah~?


    Her lips met mine, warm and soft, the pressure gentle at first, then a little more insistent.


    I froze for a second.


    Her hands were on my shoulders now, holding me just a little tighter as her lips moved against mine, tasting me.


    Then, after a few seconds, she pulled back slightly, her lips hovering just above mine, her breath warm against my face.


    Her eyes were wide, full of something intense, like a spark of playfulness mixed with curiosity.


    "You''re welcome, my little moon~"


    She tilted her head, smiling brightly.

 Chapter 122 - 122: End Of Semester (XXV)

    After stepping out of Eleonora''s special training room, I headed straight for the bath. My body was drenched in sweat, muscles sore from the brutal training session.


    I could''ve just used a simple cleaning spell, sure.


    But after all that, I wanted to relax. To let the warm water wash everything away while I sorted my thoughts.


    I leaned back in the tub, letting the heat soak into my aching body.


    I had used my Time Affinity again.


    Not by thinking. Not by planning.


    Just by trusting my instincts.


    I clenched my fists, feeling the power in them.


    I got stronger¡­ didn''t I?


    A grin tugged at my lips as I flexed my fingers.


    "At least... a whole rank, no?"


    I couldn''t help but smile.


    Just by feeling the strength of my hands, I could see that I had successfully reached the [A-] rank in strength.


    And if my strength had increased, my Vitality had probably improved too.


    I should probably check my profile.


    "Status..."


    I uttered.


    But even after a while.


    The panel didn''t appear.


    "Uh?"


    I was confused.


    "Player Profile."


    I spoke in different terms.


    But even with that, my status didn''t actually appear.


    That was strange.


    Why couldn''t I see my status?


    "System...? Are you there?"


    I decided to ask.


    "..."


    But no response.


    "Tsk..."


    I clicked my tongue in frustration and ran a hand through my wet hair.


    Then, I turned on the shower.


    Ssssshh...


    Hot water cascaded down my back as I leaned against the wall, my head resting against the cool tile.


    "The... feeling of using Time... is really awesome."


    A slow smile spread across my face.


    It felt like I had absolute power and could do anything I wanted.


    ...I want to feel that kind of feeling again.


    To do that, I needed more mana.


    A lot more.


    And, of course, my main goal ever since I ended up in this body¡ª


    Get that damned dragon''s heart.


    But well...


    If I can''t see my status, I should check my mana quantity normally.


    I closed my eyes, focusing on my mana.


    I traced its flow, following it from my ears to my mana pathways, then through my organs, feeling how it circulated through me.


    The flow was fast.


    Faster than before.


    ¡­But there was a problem.


    A huge problem.


    My two hearts¡ª


    They weren''t beating at the same time.


    My mana wasn''t in sync.


    And because of that, my flow was slowly becoming unstable.


    It wasn''t something I had noticed before. If my status window had worked, I probably wouldn''t have realized it at all.


    Each of my organs was used to receiving mana surges every twenty seconds¡ªthey had adapted to that rhythm, built resistance to it.


    But now¡­


    Now, they were getting a surge every twelve seconds.


    It was too fast.


    And they weren''t ready for it.


    If this kept up, my organs could start taking damage.


    I let out a slow breath, my fingers gripping the edge of the bathtub.


    This is bad.


    Really bad.


    If my mana kept flowing out of sync, it could start damaging my body from the inside.


    Organs weren''t made to handle unstable mana flow.


    They were used to a steady rhythm, like a heartbeat. If the flow was too slow, my body wouldn''t get enough energy.


    If it was too fast, it could overload my pathways, causing them to crack or even rupture.


    And the worst part?


    I wouldn''t even notice at first. The damage would be gradual. Small tears, tiny fractures in my mana circuits.


    But over time, they''d add up.


    If I let this go on for too long¡ª


    I''d destroy myself.


    I clenched my fists.


    I had to fix this.


    Closing my eyes, I focused on the two separate pulses of mana¡ªone from my original heart, the other from the Lich''s Heart.


    I need to make them beat as one.


    I tried to slow one down and speed the other up.


    But it wasn''t that simple.


    Mana wasn''t just something you could push and pull freely¡ªit had a will of its own.


    And the Lich''s Heart?


    It resisted.


    "Tsk..."


    I gritted my teeth, pushing harder, trying to force it to sync up.


    Then, I felt it.


    Something wrong. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A presence.


    A lingering grief.


    Deep inside the Lich''s Heart¡ªsomething was still there.


    The Lich''s soul¡­


    It hadn''t fully disappeared.


    It was still clinging to the heart.


    Still fighting me.


    "¡­You''ve gotta be kidding me."


    I thought I had taken control of it.


    That the Lich''s will was gone.


    But it wasn''t.


    It was still here.


    And as long as it remained, I couldn''t control this heart completely.


    I let out a sharp breath, my hands curling into fists.


    Maybe because I had rushed the absorption of the heart¡ªsince there was a literal Archdemon awakening¡ªI messed up.


    And now, it was clinging to me.


    I needed to get rid of it.


    But how could I do that without damaging my body?


    I had almost no experience in dealing with curses¡ª


    Oh¡­


    I let out a small laugh.


    I almost forgot.


    I wasn''t rejecting someone''s advances anymore.


    "I''ll... ask Eleonora for help."


    Muttering to myself, I grabbed a towel, dried off, and got dressed.


    Then, I stepped out of the bathroom.


    The first thing I saw was Eleonora, lounging on the couch with a drink in hand, watching something on TV.


    She looked¡­ stunning.


    Her nightgown was a dark purple, the silky fabric hugging her curves perfectly. The deep neckline left little to the imagination, and her massive breasts strained against the material, threatening to spill out.


    Her long, smooth legs were completely bare, stretched lazily across the sofa.


    The way the dim lighting hit her skin made her look unreal¡ªlike a goddess. Her long, violet hair was draped over her shoulders, contrasting against the rich fabric of her gown.


    She was effortlessly sexy.


    A slow, teasing smile formed on her lips as she caught my gaze.


    "Oh my~!" she giggled, shifting slightly.


    Jiggle~


    "Appreciating the view~?" she purred, pressing her cleavage together, making her chest bounce just a little.


    "Yeah."


    I didn''t even hesitate to admit it.


    I walked over and sat beside her.


    Before she could throw another tease my way, I cut straight to the point.


    "I need your help with something."


    At that, she smirked, but it quickly turned into a knowing grin.


    "Is it perhaps something hard and long¡ª?"


    Plop!


    Before she could finish that sentence, I grabbed her wrist and pressed her palm against my chest.


    Right over the Lich''s Heart.


    Her playful expression shifted immediately.


    She arched a brow, her fingers lightly pressing against me.


    Then, I leaked out a small amount of mana.


    Her eyes narrowed.


    "...The Lich''s Heart?" she asked, her voice turning serious.


    "Yeah," I nodded.


    "The day we were fighting against the Archdemon, I tried to absorb the heart as fast as possible, and as a result of that, I didn''t completely eliminate the Lich''s soul. Now, it''s messing with my mana flow, and that could get really dangerous for me."


    For a second, she didn''t say anything.


    Shine...


    Then, her light blue eyes glowed.


    A warmth spread through my body¡ªnot the kind that burned, but something soothing. It started from my chest, flowing outward, syncing with my mana pathways.


    And then¡ª


    Everything clicked into place.


    The out-of-sync rhythm?


    Fixed.


    The unstable mana flow?


    Perfect.


    Flowing as naturally as the wind.


    "...Done," Eleonora sighed, leaning back.


    I let out a slow breath.


    "Thanks."


    She stretched her arms above her head, letting out a soft yawn.


    "Mhm~"


    I glanced at her.


    "Sleepy already?"


    "Yeahhhh... I''m tired," she mumbled, rubbing her eyes.


    I couldn''t help but chuckle.


    "...Then get some sleep, idiot."


    "But I don''t want toooo~"


    She flopped against me, her head landing on my lap as she stretched her arms out like a lazy cat.


    "I wanna spend time with you..." she mumbled, her voice soft and drowsy.


    It was hard to believe that this woman was over fifty years old.


    "Spoil me a little, will you?"


    Her words were playful, but there was a hint of genuine warmth in them.


    I let out a small chuckle, shaking my head.


    "Alright, alright..."


    I ran my fingers through her silky silver hair, gently caressing her scalp.


    She hummed in satisfaction, shifting slightly in my lap, getting even more comfortable.


    Her body felt warm against mine, and as she nuzzled a little closer, I could tell that she wasn''t planning to move anytime soon.


    "Haah..."


    Eleonora let out a small sigh, her body relaxing even more against me.


    "Mmm... you''re good at this..." she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.


    I chuckled.


    "You''re acting like a spoiled cat."


    "Maybe I am," she replied, tilting her head slightly so I could run my fingers through her hair more easily.


    "Not my fault your lap is comfy."


    I kept stroking her hair, feeling the way it slipped through my fingers like silk. Her breathing slowed, her chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm.


    Her legs shifted slightly, stretching out over the couch, her bare feet brushing against my side.


    "...You smell nice," she said out of nowhere, her voice lazy.


    I raised an eyebrow.


    "Didn''t you just have your face buried in my stomach during training?"


    She giggled, her shoulders shaking slightly.


    "Yeah, but now you''re all clean... so it''s different."


    I shook my head.


    "You''re ridiculous."


    She smirked but didn''t argue.


    Instead, she reached up, blindly grabbing at my free hand.


    I let her take it.


    Her fingers lazily traced over my palm, soft and slow.


    "Your hands are rough," she mused.


    "But warm."


    "Yours are soft," I said.


    "Of course," she grinned, her eyes half-lidded.


    "A lady needs to take care of herself."


    I rolled my eyes but kept holding her hand.


    For a while, neither of us spoke.


    The room was quiet, aside from the faint noise of the TV playing in the background.


    The soft glow from the screen casts shadows along the walls, giving the moment a strange sort of calmness.


    Her breathing got even slower.


    "...Are you falling asleep?" I asked, glancing down.


    She peeked up at me with tired eyes.


    "Maybe."


    I sighed.


    "You really are a spoiled cat."


    A small, sleepy smile spread across her lips.


    And before I knew it¡ª


    She was asleep.


    "Haah..."


    I chuckled lightly.


    For someone so strong, she sure let her guard down around me.


    Shaking my head, I slid one arm under her back and the other beneath her knees.


    "Hup¡ª"


    With one smooth motion, I lifted her up into a princess carry.


    She didn''t even stir, just nestled her head against my chest with a soft sigh.


    "...Heavy," I muttered, but not really.


    She was surprisingly light for someone who could punch through a mountain.


    I adjusted my grip and carried her through the dimly lit hallway.


    When I reached the bedroom, I nudged the door open with my foot and stepped inside.


    The bed was large, covered in soft sheets and pillows.


    I lowered her down gently, pulling the blanket over her.


    But the moment I let go¡ª


    "...Mmm..."


    She reached out, grabbing the front of my shirt.


    Her fingers curled around the fabric, holding me in place.


    "Stay..." she mumbled, barely awake.


    I sighed.


    "You''re really clingy when you''re tired, huh?"


    She didn''t answer.


    "It''s not like I was going to leave you alone..."


    I exhaled, shaking my head before crawling into bed next to her.


    The moment I did, she shifted closer, her body pressing against mine.


    She was warm.


    Without thinking, I wrapped an arm around her, pulling her even closer.


    Her breathing evened out again, soft and steady.


    For a while, I just stared at the ceiling, my mind still restless.


    But then...


    Her warmth.


    Her slow breathing.


    The steady rise and fall of her chest.


    Before I knew it¡ª


    My eyes drifted shut.


    And I fell asleep, too.

 Chapter 123 - 123: End Of Semester (XXVI)

    "Agh..."


    I woke up to a gentle warmth against my chest.


    The room was quiet, the kind of quiet that only comes in the early morning when the world hasn''t fully woken up yet.


    My eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the dim light seeping through the curtains.


    And then, the first thing I saw¡ª


    Eleonora.


    She was lying next to me, her body still close, her head resting on the same pillow.


    But more than that¡ª


    She was watching me.


    Her soft blue eyes held a warmth that made my chest feel strangely light.


    Her lips curled into a small, affectionate smile.


    "Morning~" she whispered.


    I blinked, still groggy.


    "...You''re staring."


    "Mhm," she hummed, not even trying to deny it.


    "I like looking at you."


    I let out a slow breath, rubbing the sleep from my eyes.


    "Creepy."


    "Romantic," she corrected, her smile widening.


    Before I could say anything else¡ª


    She leaned in.


    Chu?!


    Her soft lips pressed against my cheek, warm and lingering for just a second longer than necessary.


    A light, feathery touch.


    Then, she pulled back, her expression playful but still holding that soft warmth.


    "Good morning, Aestrea~" she murmured again, her voice a little lower this time.


    I stared at her for a moment, my brain catching up to reality.


    And for some reason¡ª


    I felt my heartbeat quicken.


    Did I already start to like her...?


    That was fast.


    I did have a good impression of her, but it was not at the stage of ''love''.


    But now...


    Looking at her is making my heartbeat faster.


    It''s been a long time since I felt this way.


    "Haah..."


    I let out a small breath.


    "...You''re acting really affectionate this morning," I muttered, my voice still rough from sleep.


    Eleonora giggled, her fingers lightly tracing circles on my chest.


    "Mmm~ I just feel like it."


    She stretched lazily, her body pressing against mine for a brief second before she settled back down.


    "You''re comfy."


    I blinked, trying to process everything while still half-asleep.


    She was so close.


    Her soft, violet hair spilled over the pillow, a few strands brushing against my skin. Her blue eyes, bright even in the dim light, watched me with something tender.


    "...Are you planning on moving anytime soon?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.


    "Nope~" she said simply, snuggling closer.


    I sighed, but I couldn''t help the small smile tugging at my lips.


    "Fine," I muttered, raising a hand and gently running my fingers through her hair.


    She let out a pleased hum, closing her eyes.


    "Mmm~ that feels nice¡­"


    For a while, we just stayed like that.


    The warmth, the silence, the steady sound of our breathing¡ªit was nice.


    Too nice.


    I never used to be the type of person to enjoy moments like this. I was always too busy, too focused on surviving, on getting stronger, on what came next.


    But now¡ª


    "...You''re really making me soft," I mumbled.


    Eleonora peeked one eye open and smirked.


    "Good. You could use a little softening."


    I clicked my tongue.


    "Tsk."


    She giggled again.


    Then, without warning, she suddenly rolled on top of me, straddling my waist and pinning me down with her weight.


    "¡ªOi."


    She grinned, leaning down until our faces were barely an inch apart.


    "What? You don''t like it?"


    I narrowed my eyes.


    "...What are you planning?"


    Her lips curled mischievously.


    "Oh, nothing~ I just like seeing you flustered."


    "I''m not flustered."


    "Sure you aren''t~" she sang teasingly.


    I sighed again, but instead of arguing, I reached up¡ª


    And flicked her forehead.


    "Ow!" she yelped, pouting as she rubbed the spot I flicked.


    "That''s what you get for messing with me," I said flatly.


    Eleonora huffed.


    "Meanie."


    I smirked.


    "You''ll live."


    She pouted for a second longer before finally rolling off of me, stretching her arms over her head.


    "Mmm~ I guess we should get up now¡­"


    "Yeah," I muttered, finally sitting up as well.


    Even though I didn''t want to admit it¡ª


    That was probably the most peaceful morning I''d had in a long, long time.


    I swung my legs over the edge of the bed, rubbing the sleep out of my eyes.


    The room was still dim, the only light coming from the gaps in the curtains. Eleonora stretched beside me, letting out a satisfied hum before flopping back down on the bed.


    "Ughhh... I don''t wanna move..." she mumbled, burying her face in the pillow.


    I smirked, standing up.


    "Then stay in bed. I''m getting up."


    She peeked up at me, her violet hair a mess.


    "You''re so heartless, leaving a poor woman all alone in bed like this..."


    I rolled my eyes but reached down anyway, ruffling her hair.


    "You''ll survive."


    She huffed but didn''t swat my hand away. Instead, she closed her eyes again, letting me run my fingers through her soft hair.


    "...Keep doing that, and I really won''t get up," she muttered.


    I smirked.


    "Exactly why I''m stopping."


    She groaned dramatically as I pulled my hand back, finally pushing herself up into a sitting position.


    She stretched her arms again, her nightgown slipping just enough to be dangerous.


    I immediately looked away.


    "Why so flustered~?" she teased, clearly noticing.


    I sighed.


    "I''m not flustered. I''m just trying to start my day without getting distracted."


    She giggled.


    "Too late for that~"


    Shaking my head, I made my way toward the bathroom.


    "I''m going to brush my teeth."


    "Mhm... sure."


    As I stepped into the bathroom, I grabbed my toothbrush and started brushing my teeth, staring at my reflection in the mirror.


    My hair was a mess, sticking out in all directions from sleep, and my eyes still looked a little tired.


    Swish, swish, swish...


    The sound of the toothbrush filled the quiet space as I rinsed my mouth.


    Just as I finished, I heard footsteps behind me.


    I glanced in the mirror¡ª


    Eleonora stood in the doorway, leaning against the frame with a lazy smirk.


    "...What?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.


    She pouted.


    "You left me alone in bed~"


    I rolled my eyes.


    "You were literally too lazy to get up."


    She hummed, stepping into the bathroom.


    "True, but I changed my mind."


    Then, without warning, she reached around me, grabbing her own toothbrush.


    "...You could''ve waited until I was done," I muttered.


    She grinned.


    "Where''s the fun in that?"


    I sighed, but I moved aside a little as she started brushing her teeth next to me.


    For a moment, we just stood there, side by side, brushing our teeth in silence.


    It was strangely... nice.


    Something about this felt peaceful¡ªnormal.


    Like waking up next to someone and going about your morning together was something I was supposed to do.


    Something I''d never had before.


    Eleonora caught my gaze in the mirror and raised an eyebrow.


    "What?" she asked, her words muffled by the toothbrush in her mouth. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "...Nothing," I muttered, looking away.


    She smirked but didn''t push it.


    After we finished, I grabbed a towel and wiped my face.


    Eleonora stretched, letting out a soft yawn.


    "So... what shall we do today?" she asked, leaning against the sink.


    I thought for a moment.


    "Wait... we?" I raised an eyebrow, a slow smirk forming on my lips.


    She blinked.


    "Huh?"


    I chuckled lightly.


    "The twenty-four hours are already over."


    Her expression froze.


    "HUHHH?!"


    With a snap of her fingers, a sleek black phone materialized in her hand.


    She glanced at the screen, and¡ª


    "It''s already 12 o''clock?!" she nearly shrieked.


    I couldn''t help but laugh at her reaction.


    "Did we really sleep for fourteen hours?!" she cried, her blue eyes wide with disbelief.


    Yeah¡­ we definitely slept a lot.


    Probably exhaustion from all that training.


    She turned to me, her gaze suddenly filled with something else¡ªsomething playful yet frustrated.


    "...I didn''t even get the chance to eat you!" she whined dramatically.


    "Haghh!"


    I choked on my own saliva, coughing as her words fully registered.


    Eleonora just grinned at me, amused.


    I sighed, shaking my head, before flashing her a lazy smile.


    "I guess that means we''ll have to do that another time."


    Then, I turned and walked out of the bathroom, stretching my arms.


    Now that I thought about it¡­ today was Saturday.


    No classes.


    Might as well enjoy the rest of the day.


    Fwoop!


    ¡­Wait.


    Why couldn''t I feel the floor?


    I looked down.


    I was floating.


    "...Eleonora?" I asked, my voice flat.


    I turned my head and found her standing there, a mischievous smile playing on her lips. Her index finger was slightly raised, a faint glow of magic swirling around it.


    "Why are you making me float?"


    Her smile deepened.


    "Like I said¡­" She took a slow step forward. "I didn''t get the chance to eat you."


    "...Huh?"


    Before I could process her words¡ª


    Plop!


    I was thrown onto the bed.


    Before I could even think about getting up¡ª


    Eleonora was already on top of me.


    She straddled my waist effortlessly, her hands grabbing my wrists and pinning them above my head.


    Her smirk widened.


    "Now¡­" She leaned down, her soft hair brushing against my skin.


    "I''m doing it."


    Eleonora''s smirk deepened as she leaned in closer, her face just inches from mine.


    Her violet hair tickled my skin as it fell over my shoulders, framing us in a curtain of soft strands.


    Her light blue eyes glowed with playful mischief, but there was something else there, too¡ªsomething warm, teasing, and just a little dangerous.


    I swallowed.


    "...You''re really going for it, huh?" I muttered.


    "Mhm~" She hummed, her voice sweet yet smug.


    "You always slip away before I can have my fun, Aestrea. But not this time~"


    I sighed, my wrists still pinned above my head.


    "You do realize this is unfair, right?"


    She tilted her head, pretending to think about it.


    "Hmm~ Nope. I call it strategy."


    I narrowed my eyes.


    "That''s just a fancy way of saying ''cheating.''"


    She giggled.


    "Maybe~ But who cares?"


    Before I could respond, she suddenly shifted, pressing herself a little closer, her body warm against mine.


    My heartbeat skipped¡ªjust for a second.


    "...You really don''t hold back, do you?" I muttered, trying to keep my expression neutral.


    Eleonora smirked.


    "Why should I?"


    I sighed again.


    "You''re too much sometimes."


    "And yet¡­" she purred, her lips barely an inch from my ear.


    "Now, you never push me away."


    I had no argument for that.


    After all, I had indeed accepted her.


    Instead of answering, I exhaled slowly.


    "...Are you done messing with me?" I finally asked.


    She pouted.


    "You make it sound like I''m being annoying."


    "That''s because you are annoying."


    She gasped dramatically.


    "Rude!"


    I smirked.


    "The truth hurts, doesn''t it?"


    She huffed.


    "Fine, fine. I''ll let you go."


    Then, she released my wrists and sat up, still straddling me.


    "Finally," I muttered, sitting up as well¡ª


    Or at least, I tried to.


    Because the second I moved, she pushed me right back down.


    "¡ªOi."


    Eleonora grinned, placing both hands on my chest, holding me there.


    "What? I changed my mind~" she said, her tone light and teasing.


    I groaned.


    "You''re impossible."


    She chuckled.


    "And yet, here you are, stuck with me~"


    I shook my head, finally giving in.


    At this point, fighting back was pointless.


    Besides, it''s not like I wouldn''t like what she was going to do.


    Rustle...


    However, as soon as she moved her hands, I saw my chance.


    With a little shift, I twisted my body, slipping out from under her.


    "A-ah!"


    Before Eleonora could react, I quickly shifted positions, pushing her back just enough to roll on top of her.


    Now, I was the one straddling her, my hands on either side of her head as I looked down at her.


    She blinked up at me in surprise, her lips parting slightly, probably not expecting me to turn the tables so quickly.


    A smirk tugged at the corner of my mouth.


    "Got you," I whispered softly, leaning down just a bit, our faces inches apart.


    Eleonora''s eyes widened for a second, and then that mischievous glint sparked back in them. However, before she could speak¡ª


    "Mhm!"


    I kissed her lips.

 Chapter 124 - 124: End Of Semester (XXVII)

    More than eight hours later...


    "Haaah..."


    I exhaled deeply.


    Glancing to my right, I saw Eleonora sleeping peacefully. Her breath was slow and even, her face relaxed in a way I hadn''t seen before.


    Her eyelids fluttered a little as she shifted, adjusting to find a more comfortable position.


    "I need a cigarette."


    The words slipped out before I could stop them.


    I hadn''t smoked since I got here, but after everything that had happened today...


    Yeah, I really wanted one. It was like a part of me missed the habit, the moment of peace it gave me after intense situations like this.


    What time is it?


    I turned my head to glance at the clock on the wall.


    11:21.


    "She was really in heat, damn."


    I couldn''t help but chuckle softly, my gaze drifting back to Eleonora, who was still lost in her dreams. I guess the lust of older women is something else, huh?


    Still, I couldn''t stay here forever.


    I could spend the night here, sure, but I knew Alaine and Chaerin would be missing me by now.


    They''d be wondering where I''d gone, and I''d feel bad if I just disappeared for more than a day without a word.


    With a quiet sigh, I decided to head back home.


    ¡º Clean ¡»


    I muttered the spell under my breath, cleaning my entire body thoroughly.


    Then, I picked up a set of clothes in the wardrobe, where Eleonora had conveniently kept extras for me.


    I grabbed them, slipping them on quickly.


    Then, without a second thought, I turned to the window.


    Yeah.


    The window.


    It was high¡ªabout forty meters¡ªbut it wasn''t anything that would cause me any real harm.


    If anything, it''d be kind of fun.


    ¡º Ice Generation! (? 1st-level Spell ?) ¡»


    I focused for a second, and with a flick of my hand, a smooth slide of ice formed in front of me, stretching down from the window like a slippery ramp.


    "Here it goes..."


    I didn''t waste any time.


    I jumped onto the ice, feeling the cold rush beneath me. For a moment, I felt weightless as I picked up speed, flying down the icy slide, the wind rushing past me.


    The ground came up fast, but my landing was soft¡ªthanks to the ice.


    "Phew~"


    I walked through the capital''s streets, taking in the sights. The city was alive, bustling with people, and the night was bright with the glow of lanterns and streetlights.


    The air had that familiar, fresh scent of the city, a mix of food stalls, the cool night breeze, and the hum of distant chatter.


    As I walked deeper into the streets, something caught my eye¡ªa small, slightly faded plaque attached to a building.


    [Red Light District]


    "Oh?"


    I stopped for a second, raising an eyebrow.


    "I guess it''s not surprising. Every big city has one."


    But the name...


    Well, it was pretty on-the-nose.


    I hadn''t expected the area to be labeled so bluntly.


    I took a moment to glance around, but there wasn''t much that caught my interest. I wasn''t looking to get mixed up in anything there. No point in sticking around.


    So, I shook my head and continued walking, deciding to just keep going.


    That was when I heard it.


    "HELP! SOMEONE HELP ME!"


    The scream cut through the air, and instinctively, I turned my head.


    A girl, her face covered by a blindfold and wearing a strange light blue dress, was running toward me. Her body was tense, and she looked frantic.


    I didn''t have time to process it fully before a group of rough-looking guys appeared behind her, shouting.


    "OI! COME BACK HERE, YOU DAMNED BITCH!"


    Without wasting any more time, I activated my skill.


    ¡º Judgement Eye (? S+ Level Skill ?) ¡»


    I quickly assessed their strength, and¡ª


    Ah.


    Hell nah.


    That woman....


    She was much stronger than those guys.


    Was this some kind of trap?


    A setup?


    I hesitated for just a second.


    I glanced at her again¡ªstill frantic, still running for her life.


    But then... something about the situation felt too off.


    I didn''t want to get tangled up in this.


    So, with a quick glance back at the girl and her pursuers, I shrugged and turned away. No need to get involved in someone else''s mess.


    Besides, someone else may be falling into their setup or something.


    I didn''t need to get involved.


    But then¡­


    "Ah!"


    A soft thud hit my back. I didn''t even flinch.


    I kept walking, thinking it was probably nothing.


    But then I felt a hand tugging on my sleeve.


    "A-ah... Sir!" The voice was shaky, desperate.


    "Please help, I beg of you!"


    I sighed and turned slightly, only to find the girl standing there, her face full of fear, her head bowed as she clutched at my sleeve with a trembling hand.


    Why me?


    There were so many people around.


    Why pick me, of all people?


    But before I could say anything, I heard them.


    The hooligans were getting closer, opening their dirty mouths. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Oi! What do we have here, boys? A nice little damsel in distress, huh?"


    One of them leered at the girl, his gaze not hiding the disgusting thoughts in his mind. Another one laughed.


    "Hey, pretty girl, why don''t you come with us? We''ll show you a good time."


    They were clearly getting closer, circling us like vultures.


    "I''m giving all of you five seconds to get out of here. If not, then we''re going to have a problem."


    My voice was calm, but the threat was there.


    One of the hooligans scoffed.


    "Why should we? You gonna do something about it, tough guy?"


    The rest of them snickered, taking a few steps closer. The girl stepped back, hiding behind me, looking up at me with wide, terrified eyes.


    I let out a deep sigh, irritated.


    "You''ve gotta be kidding me."


    I muttered to myself, pinching the bridge of my nose.


    Snap!


    With a quick snap of my fingers, a low hum of energy filled the air.


    BAM!


    BAM!


    BAM!


    Three pure mana balls, each one swirling with raw energy, formed above my head. I didn''t even look at them as I casually tossed them toward the group.


    The balls shot forward, each one hitting its target with an audible smack.


    The hooligans didn''t even have a chance to react before they were knocked out cold, collapsing to the ground one after the other.


    The girl behind me gasped.


    I turned slightly, glancing at her.


    "They''re not gonna be a problem anymore," I said with a shrug.


    She stared at the downed men, eyes wide, a little breathless.


    After a moment, she gathered herself, taking a step back.


    "Th-thank you," she stammered, looking up at me with gratitude.


    "I¡ªI don''t know what would''ve happened if you hadn''t¡ª"


    "Don''t mention it."


    I cut her off, already walking past her.


    I really didn''t want to deal with her. Especially when she could''ve easily handled those thugs on her own.


    Who knows what she''s hiding?


    But then...


    Tug...


    I felt a light pull on my sleeve, and I glanced back, annoyed.


    She wasn''t letting me go. Of course not.


    Then, out of nowhere¡ª


    Fwip!


    The air around me snapped. My instincts kicked in, and I dodged just in time to avoid whatever was coming at me.


    I shifted my body quickly, but not fast enough.


    Drip¡­


    I wiped my cheek, feeling the sting of a shallow cut.


    A thin line of blood traced down my skin.


    Damn, that was close.


    "So, you were an assassin, huh?" I muttered, rubbing the blood off with my thumb, looking at her now with a serious expression, no longer bored.


    Her eyes widened slightly, but she didn''t falter. Instead, she slowly pulled off the light blue dress she had been wearing.


    Beneath it, she wore a tight, form-fitting suit covered in hidden knives.


    An admission of what she really was.


    I should''ve guessed it sooner.


    "Aestrea Moon," she said coldly, pointing a dagger at me.


    "My boss ordered me to kill you after you took out our most precious asset. And unfortunately, now... you''re going to die."


    Her words sent a chill through the air.


    "Girls, now!" she shouted.


    Suddenly, the ground beneath us shimmered and cracked as a massive barrier formed around us.


    ZOOOOM!


    It was a mana and strength sealing barrier.


    I immediately frowned.


    The worst kind of barrier to deal with.


    "With more than thirty percent of your strength halved, we should be able to kill you," she said, her tone oddly calm, almost detached.


    "Next time, don''t offend the wrong organization."


    I narrowed my eyes.


    Plop!


    Suddenly, a dozen or more girls appeared around her, all wearing similar tight suits, just as dangerous.


    I quickly assessed them with a glance.


    ¡º Judgement Eye (? S+ Level Skill ?) ¡»


    Then, I frowned.


    Deeply.


    Most of them were skilled enough to pose a threat, but not a huge one.


    The real problem was the woman in front of me.


    Her strength alone could probably bring me trouble, but with the barrier in place, it made everything a hundred times worse.


    ...They really are skilled assassins.


    And they were saying something about their most precious asset, huh?


    They must be talking about Chaerin.


    But even then, I had no idea they would go this far to attack me, especially not in the middle of the capital.


    I glanced at the street around me. People were starting to gather, but no one was brave enough to step in.


    Great.


    Just fucking great.


    But well...


    After everything that happened with Eleonora, I was looking for a place to unload my anger.


    After all, I got beaten up a load shit of times.


    And...


    Looks like I found it.


    Without a second thought, I summoned Lumi to my hands, the scythe materializing in an instant.


    Fwoop!


    {Master... I''m sleepyyyy...}


    Lumi murmured in a lazy tone.


    "Just a few minutes and I''ll be done."


    I replied with a sigh, not taking my eyes off the group.


    {Okayy...}


    But before I could act first¡ª


    Swoosh!


    One of the girls lunged at me with a blinding speed, throwing a fist aimed straight at my chest.


    I barely had time to react before her fist collided with my torso, but I twisted my body just enough that it only grazed my side.


    The force of it still sent a shock through me.


    CLANG!


    ¡º Ice Wall! (? 3rd-level Spell ?) ¡»


    I raised my hand, summoning an ice wall between us.


    The girl smirked and charged forward again, only to be met with a shower of sharp ice shards that sliced through the air like blades.


    SWOOSH!


    She dodged, but one of the shards caught her shoulder, sending a spray of blood in all directions.


    She staggered back, clutching the wound, but her partners quickly closed the distance.


    SHING!


    A second girl¡ªthis one with a dagger in each hand¡ªdarted in from my left. I saw the flash of steel before she even moved.


    I spun around, bringing my scythe up in a wide arc to block the incoming attack.


    CLANG!


    The blades of her daggers met my scythe''s edge with a violent collision. The force of the strike shook my arms, but I immediately retaliated with a swift kick to her gut.


    THUD!


    She was knocked back, crashing into a nearby lamppost with a sickening crack. She slid down to the ground, groaning in pain, but she wasn''t out yet.


    They wouldn''t be that easy.


    "GRR!"


    Another woman came at me from behind, aiming a brutal elbow to the back of my head.


    I felt the wind rush by me as I ducked, narrowly avoiding the hit, but she was quick and relentless.


    Before I could recover, her knee slammed into my side with bone-crushing force.


    CRACK!


    "Agh!"


    I gasped for air, feeling a sharp sting, but I didn''t have time to waste.


    As my body twisted, I brought my scythe down in a deadly arc, slashing across her stomach.


    Splurt!


    Her stomach split open, and blood sprayed out, staining the pavement beneath us. She stumbled backward, clutching her wound, but she didn''t fall.


    "AHHH!" she screamed in pain, but her teammates were already moving in to cover her.


    They were relentless.


    Fwip!


    Two more girls closed in, one with a pair of brass knuckles and the other with a sharpened bone blade.


    They came at me from both sides, attacking in perfect unison.


    The girl with the brass knuckles swung first, aiming for my jaw.


    I leaned back, narrowly avoiding the punch, and the air whooshed past me.


    WHOOSH!


    I retaliated instantly, swinging my scythe towards her.


    She tried to block, but the force of my strike sent her flying backward, crashing into the ground.


    THUD!


    Before I could catch my breath, the second girl darted in, her bone blade aimed straight for my throat.


    I barely managed to deflect it with my scythe, but the force of the blow pushed me back, and her blade slid down, leaving a long gash on my forearm.


    "Shit!"


    I hissed in pain, blood dripping from the wound as I jumped back to gather distance.


    Then, I turned, my eyes scanning for the remaining threats.


    But it was then that I saw her¡ªthe woman who had attacked me first, the one who was in charge of all this.


    She was standing at the edge of the fight, watching me coldly.


    She wasn''t even trying to get involved.


    She was waiting.


    The rest of the women kept coming at me, but they were slowing down.


    So, I took the chance.


    SLASH!


    One of the girls dropped to the ground, clutching her throat as blood pooled around her.


    But before I could take a moment to assess the situation, one of the remaining girls rushed forward, aiming for my legs with a spinning kick.


    WHAM!


    The force of the kick hit me square in the knee, and I stumbled backward, but I quickly regained my footing.


    My eyes narrowed in on the attacker, and with a growl, I thrust my scythe forward in a violent jab.


    THRUST!


    The tip of the scythe pierced through her chest, and she froze for a moment, staring down at the blood pouring from the wound.


    She didn''t even scream.


    THUD!


    She crumpled to the ground, her body limp.


    "Ugh..."


    I could feel the weight of exhaustion beginning to settle in my bones.


    The blood loss, the constant attacks¡ªit was all starting to take its toll. But just as I thought I could maybe end this¡ª


    CRACK!


    A massive, brutal force slammed into my side, knocking me off balance.


    I glanced to the side just in time to see another girl charging in with a full-body tackle.


    She slammed me into the ground, and I felt the wind leave my lungs.


    THUD!


    "Fuck..."


    I was on my back now, struggling to breathe.


    I pushed her off of me with a grunt, and with a swift swipe of my scythe, I cut her leg off at the knee.


    SLASH!


    She screamed as she fell backward, clutching at the bloody stump of her leg. But before I could make my move¡ª


    "Stop."


    The voice was cold and commanding, cutting through the chaos.


    It stopped me in my tracks.


    She was stepping forward now.


    The woman¡ªthe one who had been watching from the sidelines.


    Her eyes locked onto me with a predatory shine.


    And then, I saw it.


    A dark aura surrounded her¡ªthick, black, and seething with an energy that felt wrong in every way.


    My eyes widened.


    She was¡­


    A fucking humanoid demon.

 Chapter 125 - 125: End Of Semester (XXVII)

    It seems those bastards actually found a way to put the dark energy of demon beasts¡ªor maybe even demons themselves¡ªinto humans.


    "Haaa..."


    This is going to be a problem.


    And because of that, I''ll have to use this move sooner than I wanted.


    Slowly, I raised my fingers.


    Snap!


    ¡º Bleed ¡»


    Splurt!


    A fresh wave of blood exploded from the wounded enemies, splattering across the battlefield in thick, red arcs.


    The humanoid woman''s eyes widened at the sudden eruption, a moment of hesitation flashing in her expression.


    Perfect.


    Fwoop!


    I immediately lunged forward, gripping my scythe tighter as both my mana and aura surged around the scythe''s blade.


    I swung at her head, the speed of my strike tearing through the air.


    Her eyes sharpened, and she reacted instantly, bringing both daggers up in a cross to block.


    Clang!


    Sparks erupted as metal clashed against metal, the force of my swing pushing her back a few inches. Her arms trembled from the impact, but she held firm.


    If I had my full strength¡­ she''d be dead already.


    Bam!


    I stomped the ground and spun, twisting my body to slash at her again with an upward arc.


    Fwip!


    My scythe met nothing but air.


    Her body dissolved into a swirling mass of dark smoke, vanishing from sight.


    "Damn it¡­"


    I scanned the area, my eyes darting across the battlefield. She was gone. Completely disappeared, leaving no trace behind.


    Where did she go?


    I wondered, but then I noticed a few bodies on the ground.


    The others were still lying on the ground, lifeless.


    That gave me an idea.


    Fwoop!


    In a flash, I dashed toward one of the fallen bodies and swung my scythe straight down.


    Splurt!


    A geyser of blood erupted as my blade cleaved through flesh and bone. But even as the body twitched in its final moments¡­ she didn''t appear.


    "Tsk¡­"


    So that wasn''t going to work.


    I turned toward the rest of the bodies, and my expression darkened.


    "...Fuck."


    Their corpses were completely dried out¡ªnothing but skeletal remains, their flesh and blood stripped away entirely.


    Did she absorb their power?


    But where the hell is she?


    ¡º Judgement Eye (? S+ Level Skill ?) ¡»


    Even with my skill active, I couldn''t see her.


    No presence.


    No mana leaks.


    It was as if she didn''t exist.


    "Damn... it!" I bit my lips.


    But wait a second...


    She can be invisible, but...


    ...She shouldn''t be able to hide the sound she makes.


    Like her breathing or her steps on the ground...


    Of course, since she''s an assassin, she must have trained in holding her breath and walking stealthily.


    However, even the most skilled one makes mistakes.


    "Fuuuu..."


    I closed my eyes and slowly spread out my mana.


    It was the same feeling that I had while using my instincts to fight against Eleonora. However, something was different.


    I could feel a looming dark energy coming out of one of the walls on my right side.


    ...She must be there.


    Did she get inside the building?


    No...


    She''s closer.


    And... she''s right there!


    "Moonlit Ice Lotus Sword Art..."


    ¡º Third Move! (? Moonlight''s One Flash ?) ¡»


    FWOOM!


    My body flickered, vanishing from my spot and reappearing on the opposite side of the street.


    A streak of lavender energy trailed behind me like a comet.


    BOOM!


    The entire building collapsed behind me in a storm of rubble and dust.


    I had checked with my mana sense, and there weren''t any people in that building besides that humanoid demon woman, so it should be fine.


    "...Did I miss, though?"


    I turned back toward the wreckage, narrowing my eyes at the ruins.


    And then, my lips curled.


    ¡º Bleed¡»


    SPLURT!


    Blood spouted violently from my left.


    There you are.


    ¡º Frost Explosion! (? 6th-level Spell ?) ¡»


    A small orb of white energy flickered at my fingertips before I flicked it toward the source of the blood.


    FREEEZE!


    A loud crack filled the air as ice erupted, spreading across the battlefield in thick, jagged layers.


    And then¡ªI saw it.


    The faintest wisp of breath.


    Thin, white vapor escaping from invisible lips.


    She was right there.


    "Found you."


    Fwoosh!


    I spun my scythe and swung, aiming to cleave her straight in half.


    Clang!


    At the last second, her daggers materialized out of thin air, blocking my attack.


    The force of the impact sent shockwaves through the frozen street, ice shattering beneath our feet.


    And then, she appeared.


    Her invisibility faded, and my eyes widened.


    Her once-human appearance was gone. Her skin had turned an unnatural shade of black, dark veins pulsing across her body.


    Her eyes glowed crimson, filled with something dark, something inhuman.


    Damn...


    She''s so fucking ugly.


    "...Done with the hide and seek?"


    I couldn''t help but ask mockingly.


    They used a barrier to weaken me, and she still had to rely on sneaky tricks to try and stab me in the back.


    Those assassins are really cheap, but well...


    They need to resort to those cheap tricks to be able to kill someone.


    And so do I.


    ¡º Bleed ¡»


    SPLURT!


    "ARGHHHHHHH!"


    Her right arm suddenly burst open, blood spraying out like a snapped pipe. She staggered back, clutching the wound, her face twisted in pain and rage.


    The only bad thing about this skill is that it consumes a lot of mana.


    Other than that...


    It''s really damned overpowered.


    "Also..." I muttered, cracking my neck.


    "Let''s test a few more skills from Lumi."


    ¡º Wound Aggravation ¡»


    If I''m wrong, this should make her healing stop.


    So, I looked at her right arm.


    The dark energy writhing around her wound, trying to stitch her flesh back together, suddenly flickered... and then stopped altogether.


    The gash remained wide open, blood seeping out sluggishly as her body failed to heal itself.


    As if it had given up.


    "Y-you... what did you do?!"


    The humanoid demon asked me in deep surprise, her eyes widening in complete horror.


    I raised an eyebrow, frowning.


    "Oh, hold on, I''m not done yet, experiment #1."


    Her expression darkened, but before she could react, I tested another skill.


    ¡º Curse Mark ¡»


    A faint, purple glow shimmered above her head, forming a spectral skull symbol.


    Oh...


    This is an interesting one.


    It suppresses the target''s physical attributes while keeping them tagged, making it impossible for them to hide from me.


    A tracking device and a debuff all in one?


    Pretty damn useful.


    "Gahh! Huff...!"


    Her breathing turned ragged. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She staggered a step back, trembling.


    "You... you bastard...!"


    I waved a dismissive hand.


    "Yeah, yeah, keep crying."


    I felt my mana reserves dipping slightly.


    The¡º Curse Mark ¡» was more of a slow drain¡ªgood for keeping tabs on an enemy but costly over time.


    I clicked my tongue and deactivated it.


    "Well... that''s enough experimenting for today."


    Time to finish this.


    She should be more weakened than I already am.


    Besides, the effect of that annoying barrier should end soon.


    "...Heal, dammit!"


    The humanoid demon clutched her arm, her fingers digging into the wound as dark energy flickered uselessly around it.


    Her breathing was ragged, her once-cunning eyes now wide with something close to fear.


    I rolled my shoulders.


    "You''re wasting time. That wound isn''t going to heal. And even if it did¡ª"


    Fwoosh!


    I vanished from my spot, reappearing in front of her in a blur of movement. My scythe carved through the air, aiming straight for her torso.


    Clang!


    She barely managed to lift her dagger in time, blocking the blade with both hands. Sparks flew between us, and I saw her muscles tremble under the force.


    "Tsk."


    I clicked my tongue.


    "You''re sturdy, I''ll give you that."


    BAM!


    I drove my knee straight into her stomach.


    She gasped, her body folding over as the impact sent a ripple through her frame. Blood spewed from her mouth, splattering onto my chest.


    Before she could even stumble back¡ª


    SPLURT!


    ¡º Bleed ¡»


    The deep wound on her arm pulsed violently, a fresh explosion of blood shooting out like a fountain.


    Her scream tore through the night, raw and agonized.


    Her legs buckled, and she dropped to one knee.


    "Damn... you really can''t handle pain, huh?" I smirked, twirling my scythe lazily.


    "For someone who thought they could kill me, you''re kinda pathetic."


    Her eyes flickered with desperation.


    She tightened her grip on her daggers, her dark aura twisting and curling around her body.


    "I-I''m not done yet...!"


    She lunged.


    SHWIK!


    Her blade cut through the air, slicing toward my throat.


    ¡º Ice Wall! (? 3rd-level Spell ?) ¡»


    CRACK!


    A thick wall of ice erupted between us at the last second. Her dagger slammed into it, getting stuck in the frozen surface.


    "Too slow."


    I swung my scythe upward.


    SPLAT!


    The curved blade hooked under her left arm and sliced clean through the flesh. The severed limb spiraled into the air, blood gushing from the stump.


    Her scream rang out again, echoing down the empty street.


    "A-arm... my arm¡ª!"


    I didn''t give her time to process the pain.


    BOOM!


    I stomped my foot, and the ground beneath her exploded into ice spikes. One of them pierced straight through her thigh, pinning her in place.


    She shrieked, thrashing against the frozen lance impaling her leg. Her remaining dagger slashed wildly in my direction, but she was too weak, too slow.


    ¡º Bleed ¡»


    SPLURT!


    The wound at her thigh burst open, her lifeblood spilling onto the frozen pavement. Her movements became sluggish.


    Her face paled, her breathing growing unsteady.


    I sighed, tilting my head.


    "You should''ve run when you had the chance."


    She lifted her gaze, her lips trembling.


    "P-please..."


    I frowned.


    "Please what? Show mercy?" I scoffed.


    "That''s funny, coming from an assassin."


    Fwoosh!


    I dashed forward, raising my scythe high.


    SWISH¡ª


    SPLURT!


    The blade cleaved straight through her neck.


    Her head tumbled to the ground, rolling a few feet before stopping near the remains of her severed arm.


    Blood spurted from her neck in a violent spray, painting the ice red.


    Her body wobbled, still twitching slightly¡ªthen collapsed with a dull thud.


    Silence.


    I exhaled, shaking off the lingering tension in my muscles.


    "Haaa..."


    Then, Lumi''s voice echoed in my mind.


    {Master... I''m sleeepy!}


    I chuckled, flicking the blood off my scythe before resting it on my shoulder, making it dissipate away.


    "Yeah, yeah. Go back to sleep. I''ll take it from here."


    With one last glance at the headless corpse, I turned on my heel and walked away, leaving the street soaked in crimson.


    There was nothing more to see here.


    However, now I know that I should be more careful.


    That assassin''s organization made their first move against me.


    I should be prepared to deal with more attacks against them.


    "Mhm..."


    Oh.


    I smiled deeply.


    "Maybe... I should go to the black-market again..."


    "Just to say hello to Yara."

 Chapter 126 - 126: End Of Semester (XXVIII)

    It took me a while to reach the academy.


    Eleonora''s house wasn''t that far, but I still had enough time to enjoy the quiet streets and the soft glow of the night sky.


    The air was cool, carrying the faint scent of flowers from the academy gardens. It was peaceful.


    When I arrived at the academy gates, I pulled out my ID card and swiped it.


    Beep!


    A small beep sounded, and the gates slid open automatically.


    Without a second thought, I stepped through and made my way toward my dormitory.


    As soon as I reached my door, I turned the knob and pushed it open.


    "¡­I''m back."


    I muttered softly, not wanting to wake anyone up if they were asleep.


    The dorm was quiet, just as I expected. I took off my jacket and hung it on the coat hook before slipping off my shoes with a tired sigh.


    "Phew..."


    The living room was empty.


    The faint glow of the night lamp cast long shadows across the walls. Everything was still, except for the soft ticking of the clock on the wall.


    "Mhm... should I check on Chaerin?"


    Nodding to myself, I walked over to the door on the right¡ªChaerin''s bedroom.


    Since I was an exchange student, my dorm was bigger than usual, with two bedrooms, each having its own bathroom.


    I carefully turned the doorknob and peeked inside.


    "Haaa... Papa... hm..."


    Chaerin was fast asleep, curled up with a pillow hugged tightly in her arms. She mumbled softly in her sleep, her face peaceful and relaxed.


    I held back a chuckle.


    Shaking my head with a small smile, I quietly shut the door and turned to head back to my own room.


    That''s when I heard a voice.


    "...You''re back?"


    I stopped mid-step and turned towards my bed.


    There, sitting up with drowsy eyes, was Alaine. She rubbed her face lazily, trying to shake off sleep.


    "Did I wake you up?"


    I couldn''t help but ask.


    "¡­Ah, no. I mean¡­" She trailed off, fumbling for words.


    I walked over and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead.


    "Give me a sec. I''m gonna change."


    I said with a small smile.


    She nodded sleepily, but I noticed how the tips of her long ears turned bright red. I almost laughed but decided to spare her this time.


    I quickly changed into more comfortable clothes and slipped into bed beside her.


    "¡­Where were you?" she murmured, her back facing me.


    I lay back against the pillows, staring at the ceiling with my hands behind my head.


    "¡­Training."


    I paused for a second before adding:


    "Sorry I didn''t tell you."


    "¡­Mhm¡­"


    She hummed softly, but I could tell she wasn''t completely satisfied with that answer.


    "Next time¡­ please let me know," she said after a long pause.


    "Whenever you''re even a little late, I start thinking something happened to you¡­ and I get really nervous."


    Rustle¡­


    She turned over, finally facing me.


    "So, please¡­ just warn me, alright?" she whispered, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.


    I felt my chest tighten at her words.


    Smiling gently, I reached out and pulled her close, pressing her head against my chest. My fingers ran through her soft hair as I whispered back:


    "Yeah¡­ I''ll start doing that."


    "Mhm¡­!"


    Even though I couldn''t see her face, I knew she was smiling.


    Her arms wrapped around me tightly, and she nuzzled her head against my chest, holding on as if she never wanted to let go.


    "Now, let''s go to sleep, shall we?"


    "Mm¡­ sure," Alaine mumbled sleepily.


    I turned over, letting her adjust herself however she wanted. She ended up wrapping an arm around mine, her other hand resting gently on my chest, her head nestled close to my neck.


    I could feel her warm breath against my skin.


    But I didn''t mind.


    Closing my eyes, I let the quiet of the room settle over me.


    And before I knew it, I drifted off to sleep.


    ¡ª


    "Papa!"


    "Wake up!"


    "Mmn¡­ just five more minutes¡­"


    "WAKE UP! BREAKFAST IS ALREADY ON THE TABLE!"


    A sudden shout rang in my ears.


    "Uhh¡­ breakfast?" I muttered groggily, blinking as my vision slowly came into focus.


    The first thing I saw was Chaerin''s face hovering above mine. Her big, bright black eyes were filled with cuteness.


    Seeing her up so close, I couldn''t resist.


    I reached up and pinched her soft cheeks.


    "Papa¡­" she whined, her face turning slightly red.


    I chuckled.


    "Give me five minutes, and I''ll be there."


    "Alright¡­!"


    With that, she bounced off the bed and ran toward the kitchen.


    I groaned as I sat up, stretching my arms until my back gave a satisfying pop.


    Mornings always suck¡­


    Wait.


    Am I being contradictory?


    When I woke up with Eleonora, I thought mornings weren''t that bad.


    Ah¡­ I''m too lazy to think about it.


    I quickly went through my morning routine, freshening up before heading toward the kitchen. Before stepping out, I made sure to let Lumi out.


    "Chaerin~"


    The moment Lumi appeared, she rushed straight toward Chaerin, who was already digging into her breakfast.


    "Lumi!" Chaerin''s eyes lit up with excitement as she jumped from her seat.


    The two of them grabbed each other''s hands and started spinning around in circles, giggling like little kids.


    I shook my head at their antics and took a seat at the table.


    There was a ridiculous amount of food spread across it¡ªlike a full-course meal instead of breakfast.


    My eyebrows lifted as I glanced at Alaine, who, for some reason, seemed to be glowing with satisfaction.


    "You must''ve slept really well."


    I commented.


    "Oh my, did I?" She smiled bashfully, pressing her fingers against her reddening cheeks.


    She walked over, sat beside me, and picked up a fork. Then, she lifted a bite of food and held it in front of my mouth.


    "Say ahh~"


    I deadpanned.


    "Hey¡­ you know I''m not a kid, right?"


    "Mhm¡­ considering an elf''s lifespan, you''re basically a newborn."


    I raised an eyebrow.


    "...Doesn''t that make you a pedophile?"


    Her entire body stiffened.


    "Well¡­ considering a human''s lifespan, you''re an adult, so it''s fine!" she corrected quickly.


    That logic still didn''t make sense, but I let it slide. With a sigh, I opened my mouth.


    Her eyes immediately brightened as she placed the fork in my mouth. I chewed, nodding slightly at the taste.


    "Well¡­ isn''t this a bit too much for breakfast?" I asked, looking at the feast before me.


    She had gone all out.


    "Hah, don''t worry about it. Just think of it as this sugar momma spoiling you!"


    I froze.


    What?


    Where the hell did she learn that term?


    I was pretty damn sure elves didn''t have "sugar momma" in their vocabulary.


    I stared at Alaine, my fork halfway to my mouth.


    Well¡­ let''s just ignore that.


    For now.


    After breakfast, I leaned back in my chair, letting out a satisfied sigh. The food was great¡ªmaybe a little too much, but I wasn''t complaining.


    Chaerin and Lumi were still chatting away, giggling like kids, while Alaine sipped her tea, looking pleased with herself.


    "Do you have anything to do today?" she asked, glancing at me.


    Today...?


    Not really.


    Ah¡ªwait.


    I need to check out the library.


    Tomorrow''s Monday, and I''ve got my first written exam.


    I''ll grab a few books, skim through them, and while I''m at it, I should start studying 7th-level ice magic. Maybe even see if there''s anything on time magic.


    "Yeah. I''ll stop by the library."


    "Want me to help you? The exam''s tomorrow, right?" she offered.


    "I don''t need help. I''m just researching ice magic."


    I said, waving my hand.


    "But if you want to come along, I wouldn''t mind."


    "Really?" Her eyes sparkled.


    "Then it''s settled!"


    She suddenly bolted towards our bedroom¡ªprobably to put on that maid outfit she''s been obsessed with.


    I let out a small sigh and got up to clean my dishes. After changing into my academy uniform, I met Alaine at the door, and we headed out together.


    Lumi and Chaerin decided to stay behind, probably playing around or something.


    By now, Alaine was already in her disguised form, so we didn''t attract too much attention as we walked through campus.


    When we reached the library, I took a quick glance inside.


    It was nearly empty.


    Nearly.


    The Hero''s Group was here.


    They sat in one of the corners, probably studying together.


    But what caught my eye wasn''t them¡ªit was the fact that their group had grown. Telmo and Leon were sitting with them now.


    And even more surprising¡­ Ella didn''t seem to mind Telmo''s presence anymore.


    Huh.


    "So, Master~," Alaine suddenly purred, giving me a teasing smile.


    "What are you searching for?"


    I sighed at the way she dragged out the word "Master" but answered anyway.


    "Get me some books on advanced ice magic."


    "From what level?"


    I thought about it for a moment.


    "Sixth to eighth."


    Alaine''s eyes widened slightly, but she quickly smiled and nodded.


    "Alright!"


    She turned on her heel and walked off toward the ice magic section.


    As for me, I made my way toward the "Irregular" section¡ªwhere all the weird, uncommon magic types were stored.


    Stuff like that Buddhist magic the monk from the black market used against me. That was fucking annoying.


    But right now, I wasn''t interested in that.


    I was searching for Time Magic.


    Something that probably shouldn''t exist. I scanned through the shelves, pulling out books, flipping through pages, looking for anything¡ª


    And yet...


    Nothing.


    Not a single thing.


    Not that I was surprised.


    The academy''s library probably wouldn''t have something like that anyway.


    Instead, I grabbed a book on advanced spirit magic and another on wind magic.


    They were for Alaine.


    She still needed to get stronger. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    There were plenty of dangerous situations coming my way. I needed to be prepared¡ªand so did she.


    After picking up the books, I headed toward the quietest corner of the library¡ªfar away from the Hero''s Group.


    Alaine was already sitting there, a small pile of books stacked in front of her.


    I took a seat beside her and slid the books toward her.


    "Here. These are on spirit and wind magic. They probably aren''t as good as the ones in the Elven Kingdom, but they should be useful for now."


    She blinked, then smiled softly.


    She picked up the books, pressing them against her chest like they were something precious.


    "Thank you, Master... I really do appreciate it."


    I smiled slightly.


    "Anytime."

 Chapter 127 - 127: End Of Semester (XXIX)

    ¡º Ice Series: Frost Crash! (? 6th-level Spell ?) ¡»


    I started with the sixth-level spells.


    And this was none other than the first spell I found.


    This spell... it''s not as fancy as some others, but damn, it''s quite effective.


    It creates a wave of ice that crashes down in a huge surge, freezing anything in its path. It''s perfect for wiping out groups of enemies in one go.


    You hit them with it, and it''s like a flood of ice, freezing them solid before they even have a chance to move.


    Good for crowd control.


    And the other I found was none other than a defense spell.


    ¡º Shield Series: Winter''s Barrier! (? 6th-level Spell ?) ¡»


    This one creates a thick, hard shield of ice that can protect you from just about anything¡ªarrows, magic, or even physical attacks.


    It''s tough and resistant, but it takes a lot of mana to maintain.


    The downside?


    Once the barrier''s broken, it shatters like glass. But when it''s up, it''s like a wall of ice, solid and unmovable.


    Basically, it''s an upgraded version of the third-level spell Ice Wall; however, you can manipulate it and move it to where you want it to go without casting another spell.


    And now...


    Only two spells were remaining.


    A seventh-level one and an eighth-level one.


    Alaine told me that the library didn''t have too many high-level ice magic spells since ice was a deviant element.


    Just like lightning or metal.


    "Oh...?"


    The seventh-level spell had quite the eye-catching name.


    ¡º Ice Dragon: Breath of Frost! (? 7th-level Spell ?) ¡»


    And it sounds cooler than it actually is.


    You summon the essence of an ice dragon, and it breathes a freezing blast of air that turns anything it touches into solid ice.


    I''d say it''s perfect for taking out a few strong targets in one blow.


    The power behind it is incredible, but the range is a bit limited. It''s all about getting close enough to hit your target.


    Finally, the eighth-level spell... the one that''s beyond anything I''ve seen before.


    "Ah... damn it."


    I sighed, furrowing my eyebrows.


    "Another spell that uses a lot of mana..."


    I really needed to increase my mana reserves. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡º Eternal Winter: Frozen Apocalypse! (? 8th-level Spell ?) ¡»


    Eternal Winter, huh?


    I didn''t expect to find a spell like that in the academy library.


    Normally, spells are divided into four main categories, each with its own rules and limitations.


    First, we''ve got Series Spells.


    These are your standard, go-to spells for each magic type. They''re what most people learn early on, and the downside is, they''re used by everyone.


    You can''t really evolve them beyond their basic form.


    For example: ¡º Ice Generation! (? 1st-level Spell ?) ¡».


    It''s simple, reliable, and gets the job done, but you can''t really force it to grow into something more powerful on its own.


    Next, we have Non-Series Spells. These are basically the same as the Series Spells but modified.


    They have more flexibility and can evolve depending on the mage''s strength and creativity.


    A good example would be something like ¡º Minor Frost Explosion! (? 5th-level Spell ?) ¡» evolving into ¡º Frost Explosion! (? 6th-level Spell ?) ¡».


    It''s the same concept, but now it packs much more power than before. These are the spells you see evolve over time as you grow stronger.


    Then, we have Mixed Series Spells.


    They''re normal spells, but they can interact with other elements to create a whole new effect. You mix the power of two different types of magic and combine them into one spell.


    For example, if you take ¡º Mixed Wind Series: Wind Tornado! (? 4th-level Spell ?) ¡» and add in ¡º Mixed Fire Series: Fire Tornado! (? 4th-level Spell ?) ¡», you''d get something like Fire Wind Tornado¡ªa massive storm of burning wind that tears through anything in its path.


    It''s a combination of both elements, and it can be much more powerful than the base versions of each spell.


    Finally, we''ve got the Unique Categories.


    These are the special ones.


    This is where a mage creates a completely new spell or series of spells, often unique to their own magic style. These are the rarest and most dangerous types of magic.


    You won''t find them in a typical spellbook.


    A great example of this is ¡º Ice Dragon: Breath of Frost! (? 7th-level Spell ?) ¡» or ¡º Eternal Winter: Frozen Apocalypse! (? 8th-level Spell ?) ¡».


    These are the kinds of spells that push the boundaries of magic¡ªcreated by only the most powerful mages.


    The reason I was so surprised by the series''s name, Eternal Winter, is that it was created by the Frost Empress hundreds of years ago.


    She was one of the most feared and respected mages in history, and her magic was as deadly as it was beautiful.


    So, finding this kind of spell book was really a great find!


    Well...


    Into the spell...


    It was more terrifying than I had ever thought.


    It''s the kind of spell that can wipe out a whole battlefield.


    You unleash an enormous blast of cold energy, and everything within range gets frozen instantly. Not just frozen like in a quick frostbite, but frozen solid¡ªeverything from the ground to the air.


    It''s powerful enough to freeze an entire city, making the ground and everything frozen as hard as a diamond.


    The downside?


    It takes a lot of mana to cast, and the backlash from it can be dangerous if you''re not careful. But if you nail it right, you''ll have the power to destroy anything.


    "Alright..."


    I closed the last book.


    I had memorized everything. Now, I just needed to put it into practice and build my proficiency.


    "Master, you''re already done?" Alaine looked up from her book, one eyebrow raised.


    "Yeah," I nodded casually.


    I didn''t bother mentioning that I had an almost perfect memory¡ªthere was no need.


    "What about you? Finished yet?" I asked, even though I already knew the answer.


    "Ah... almost!" She was still absorbed in her reading, her fingers lightly tracing the page.


    I chuckled softly.


    "No rush. Take your time."


    "Mhm!" She gave a small nod, her focus snapping right back to the book in front of her.


    That left me with nothing to do but watch her.


    Her brows furrowed slightly as she read, her ears twitching every so often.


    The way she bit her lip when she concentrated, the way her fingers danced across the paper like she was absorbing every word¡­


    It was kind of cute.


    I leaned my head on my hand, letting out a quiet sigh.


    Well¡­


    Guess I''d just sit here and admire the view for now.


    "Aestrea."


    Or not.


    I turned around and saw a red-haired girl standing there, looking hesitant.


    Rose.


    It was none other than Rose.


    Honestly, considering her vengeful character, I didn''t expect her to strike up a conversation with me.


    Maybe it was because she¡­ liked me?


    "Rose? Do you need something?" I asked, giving her a small smile.


    "Y-yeah... actually¡­" She shifted on her feet.


    "Could you help us with our studies?"


    "Us?"


    "Yeah¡­ our group. We''re struggling with the material for the upcoming exam." She rubbed her hands nervously, avoiding my gaze.


    I looked at her for a second before sighing lightly.


    "Sure."


    I turned to Alaine.


    "You can keep reading. I''ll be back."


    "Mhm." She simply nodded, flipping a page without looking up.


    With that, I followed Rose to her table.


    "Yo! Aestrea!"


    Lucas was the first to greet me, flashing a wide grin.


    I wasn''t sure how they were all so friendly after how badly I''d beaten them in a fight. If I got crushed that badly, I wouldn''t be smiling at the guy who did it.


    Telmo and Leon, though? Yeah, they weren''t smiling.


    Both shot me glares, but I ignored them.


    Ella didn''t seem to mind my presence, while Iris and Maya gave me small waves.


    "So, what do you need help with?" I asked, looking at Rose.


    She sat down and pointed at her notebook.


    "We''re all stuck on this problem¡­"


    I glanced at the page.


    The question was about advanced spell structures, specifically how to optimize mana flow when casting multi-layered fire magic.


    It was a tricky one¡ªfor them, at least.


    For me?


    I barely even had to think.


    "The answer''s twenty-eight percent mana efficiency with a triple-layered structure," I said it immediately.


    Silence.


    They all stared at me, blinking.


    Lucas''s jaw dropped slightly.


    Rose''s hand, which had been holding her pen, froze mid-air.


    Ella raised an eyebrow while Iris and Maya looked at each other in disbelief.


    "Wait¡­ what?" Lucas finally broke the silence.


    I sighed and leaned forward.


    "Alright, look. You guys are overcomplicating it. Here''s how it works¡­"


    I picked up a spare piece of paper and quickly sketched a simple diagram.


    "Mana flow is like water in a river, right?" I started.


    "If you want to make it flow smoothly, you have to guide it properly. If you just let it rush in randomly, it''ll scatter and lose efficiency. That''s what happens when you cast a spell without structure¡ªit wastes mana."


    They all nodded slowly, following along.


    "Now, spell layers are like bridges. A single-layer spell is like one simple bridge¡ªit lets the water cross, but it''s not the most efficient way. If you stack multiple bridges¡ªtriple layering the spell structure¡ªthe flow becomes more controlled, which increases efficiency."


    I pointed at my sketch, where I had drawn three layers guiding the ''mana river'' into a concentrated path.


    "But here''s the key: if you just stack the layers without connecting them properly, you create blockages, like logs getting stuck in a river. That''s why you need to optimize the transition between layers."


    I tapped my pen on the paper and continued.


    "First, you start with the base layer¡ªthe core structure of the spell. That''s where most of the mana flows in first. Normally, a single-layer spell has around fifteen percent efficiency because most of the mana gets lost when it stabilizes."


    I sketched a rough percentage next to the first layer.


    "Now, when you add a second layer, it redirects and recycles some of that lost mana. This pushes the efficiency up to twenty-one percent because instead of mana dispersing, it gets funneled back into the spell structure. But there''s still some waste."


    They all leaned in slightly.


    "So, the third layer is where things get interesting. Instead of just stacking them directly, you stagger their activation. That means you don''t activate all three at once¡ªyou let the first layer settle, then the second follows right after, and then the third kicks in at the last moment."


    I drew arrows showing the activation timing, with slight delays between each layer.


    "This staggered timing prevents the mana from clashing or overloading one area. The result? A smooth, controlled flow that minimizes waste, giving you twenty-eight percent efficiency instead of something lower."


    I put my pen down and stretched my fingers.


    "That''s how you get the answer. You don''t just stack layers, you control when and how they activate."


    I glanced up.


    Lucas was staring at the diagram, his mouth slightly open.


    Rose was furrowing her brows, pen tapping against the table.


    Ella nodded slightly, already seeming to get it.


    Iris and Maya exchanged looks of realization.


    Telmo and Leon¡­ well, they weren''t glaring at me anymore.


    "See? It''s not that hard."


    Lucas groaned, rubbing his temples.


    "Man¡­ you make it sound so easy."


    "Because it is easy." I shrugged.


    At that, they all frowned.


    Yeah.


    Probably not the best thing to say.

 Chapter 128 - 128: End Of Semester (XXX)

    Honestly...


    Teaching them was probably the worst idea ever.


    I leaned back in my chair, rubbing my temples.


    The others had started chatting amongst themselves, but I couldn''t stop thinking about how much time I was wasting.


    Especially with Lucas and Maya.


    I knew about Lucas''s dumb attribute, but Maya...?


    Gosh.


    They were almost at the same level!


    They were struggling with the most basic of concepts. I mean, seriously? How could they not understand something so simple?


    I let out a deep sigh, trying to keep my temper in check.


    "Alright..."


    I exhaled deeply.


    "Let''s go over it again. Slowly. For the... let''s say, third time."


    I glanced at Lucas and Maya, who were both staring at their notes with confused looks on their faces.


    I felt my eyebrow twitch.


    "We''re going to calculate the mana efficiency for a five-layer spell," I began, seeing their eyes widen at the mention of five layers.


    "Each layer is a different element: fire, water, wind, earth, and lightning. The goal is to find the total mana output while keeping the spell balanced for maximum efficiency. And¡ªthis is the important part¡ªyou need to consider how the elements synergize. No layer can just be slapped on top of the other without proper planning. Understand?"


    They both nodded, but it was obvious they didn''t get it.


    "Let me walk you through it step by step," I said, trying to stay patient.


    "First, you calculate the base mana for each spell. Fire costs 120 mana, water costs 90, wind costs 110, earth costs 100, and lightning costs 130. So far, so good?"


    Lucas scratched his head.


    "Uh¡­ yeah. I think so."


    I gave him a thin smile, trying not to sound condescending.


    "Great. Now, here''s the tricky part," I said, tapping the paper with my finger.


    "When you combine different elements, you need to account for how they interact. In this case, fire and wind synergize well, meaning you''ll get a 10% reduction in mana cost. Earth and water, however, will have a 15% increase in cost because they''re not exactly compatible."


    Both of them blinked at me.


    "Wait, what? So, how does that work?" Maya asked, her eyes wide with confusion.


    I felt my eyebrow twitch.


    "Okay, let me explain it again. The mana cost for fire and wind together is 120 plus 110, but you reduce the total by 10% because the elements work together. So, instead of 230 mana, it''s 207 mana."


    I scribbled it down on the paper as I spoke, making sure they could see it clearly.


    "Now, earth and water¡ªthose two don''t work as well together. So, you need to add 15% more to their total. Water''s 90 mana, and earth is 100 mana. You add them together¡ª190 mana¡ªthen you increase it by 15%. That brings the total to 218.5 mana."


    I watched their faces carefully, hoping that something was starting to click.


    "But wait," Maya said.


    "How do we combine all of this?"


    "Hold on, I''m getting to that," I replied.


    "So now, we have all the mana costs calculated:


    Fire + Wind = 207 mana


    Earth + Water = 218.5 mana


    Lightning... Lightning is 130 mana, and there''s no synergy with the other elements since it''s a deviant-type, so it stays the same."


    They both nodded slowly, looking at the numbers.


    "Now, the key to getting the best efficiency is figuring out how to layer the spells," I continued, my voice tighter than usual.


    "You can''t just put them in any order. Fire and wind need to be activated first, since they''re the most efficient combination. After that, you layer earth and water, and finally lightning. The trick is to stagger the activation of each element. You don''t want them all to go off at once because that''ll cause instability and waste mana."


    I could see that they were still lost.


    "Let me put it another way," I said, taking a deep breath.


    "The total mana cost of the spell is the sum of each layer''s mana. But, with the synergy, you have to adjust the activation time between each element to minimize the total waste. If you get the timing right, you can increase the overall mana efficiency. In this case, the final mana output is 794.5 mana."


    I could feel my frustration rising as I saw them still staring at me, wide-eyed.


    "Fuuu..."


    Take deep breaths, Aestrea...


    "But here''s the thing. The key to maximizing efficiency is optimizing the layers'' timing and ensuring that each element is balanced with the others. This is the only way you''re going to get the most out of the spell."


    Lucas opened his mouth to speak, but then closed it again. Maya just blinked at me, clearly overwhelmed.


    I rubbed my temples, trying to contain myself.


    "Honestly, how did you not get this? This is basic spell construction, you just need to plan the layers properly!"


    I tried to calm down, but my voice was tighter than I wanted it to be.


    "Let''s do the math. You start with 207 for fire and wind, then 218.5 for earth and water, plus 130 for lightning, and you end up with 794.5 mana. Now, the efficiency comes from how well you time the activation of each layer. If you do it right, the efficiency for this spell will be around 42%. But if you screw up the timing, your efficiency drops to around 28%. Understand?"


    Lucas and Maya exchanged a glance.


    "Okay¡­ but why does the efficiency go down if we don''t time it right?" Maya asked slowly.


    I rubbed my face, exasperated.


    "Because if the layers aren''t properly staggered, the mana isn''t used efficiently. The elements will fight against each other, and you''ll waste energy that could''ve been used to power up the spell. You need to control the flow of mana for each layer, and if you mess that up, your efficiency plummets."


    They both nodded, but I could see they were still struggling to follow.


    I let out a long, drawn-out sigh.


    "This is too easy for you guys to be getting stuck on. Come on, let''s just¡­ I''ll give you guys a minute to catch up, okay?"


    I stood up and walked away, feeling my anger slowly settle into frustration.


    I looked back at the group, who were all watching the scene unfold with varying degrees of amusement or concern.


    I could hear Lucas muttering...


    "Man, why is this so hard¡­"


    Yeah.


    Why indeed.


    ¡ª


    "Oh! I get it now!" Lucas suddenly shouted, his face lighting up.


    "And so do I!" Maya added, her tone a bit more cheerful this time.


    Finally.


    It took them about half an hour, but at least they were starting to get the hang of it.


    If this concept is now quite easy for them, I could only imagine how much easier the other exercises would be for them now.


    Just as I thought that, I heard a familiar voice calling out to me.


    "Master..."


    I turned, already knowing it was Alaine.


    "Yeah?"


    I replied, giving her a tired glance. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I''m done with the books. Should we go now?" she asked, her gaze flicking over to the study group I was still technically helping.


    "Yeah..." I rubbed my temple, letting out a quiet sigh.


    "I need something to drink. A fresh one."


    "Alright."


    Her voice was soft, and I could tell she was already making her way toward me, but I wasn''t in the mood for another round of pleasantries.


    Without saying anything else to the group, I started walking toward Alaine.


    "Bye, Aestrea! Thanks for the helppp!" Lucas''s voice rang out, loud as ever.


    I didn''t even bother to look back, knowing he was probably waving like a madman.


    As we walked out of the library, I glanced over at Alaine and asked quietly:


    "Are you hungry?"


    We''d been in the library for hours now, and I was feeling a little drained.


    "...A little," she replied, offering a small smile.


    "Then, let''s head to the cafeteria," I suggested.


    The cafeteria here wasn''t like the ones at normal schools.


    This place was huge and packed with options, and everything tasted incredible. It was one of the perks of going to such a prestigious academy.


    It was just a two-minute walk from the library, and when we entered, the place was packed. Students, professors, everyone was eating or just chatting.


    As I was about to grab a tray and start heading towards the food line, Alaine spoke up.


    "Shall I get food for you, Master?"


    Her offer came quickly, and it was clear she was determined.


    "...No, I can get it myself."


    I said, shaking my head slightly, trying to wave her off.


    But she wasn''t having it.


    "Helping you is my duty, Master," she said firmly, her eyes serious.


    Sometimes I wondered if she saw herself as my maid or¡­ my woman?


    Maybe both?


    "...Alright," I relented with a small smile.


    She seemed happy with that, and I didn''t mind. I looked around, easily finding an empty spot at a table in the corner, so I sat down and pulled out my phone.


    I figured I''d use the break to read a bit of one of the novels I was following.


    It was called...


    "Transmigrated As A Side Character In A Romance Game".


    However, before I could actually start to read one of the chapters.


    Clank!


    A tray of food was slammed against the table I was sitting.


    I raised an eyebrow, checking who it was...


    Zeva.


    "Hello... Aestrea."


    I froze slightly.


    Her gaze towards me was quite murderous, and she was tapping her fingers impatiently on the table.


    I froze for a second.


    I really didn''t know what her deal was, and honestly, I didn''t want to find out.


    I figured the best course of action was to just keep my head down and focus on my phone.


    But, of course, she had other plans.


    "What were you doing this Saturday? Anything special, huh?"


    Ah.


    My promise to her.


    Fuck.


    Anyways, since I''ve broken it, I should just act normal about it.


    "Nothing much? I guess I spent the whole day training..."


    With Eleonora.


    "Hmm..." she hummed, her gaze narrowing slightly. She leaned in, clearly trying to gauge if I was lying.


    "Really?" she asked, her voice dripping with suspicion.


    I raised an eyebrow, meeting her gaze.


    "Yeah, really."


    I nodded, giving her a small shrug.


    A flawless acting, indeed.


    I could see her eyes flicker with doubt, but she didn''t say anything more. Instead, she just gave me a long look, as if trying to decide whether or not I was being truthful.


    "...If you say so."


    She muttered.


    She pushed her tray slightly forward and stood up, not bothering to say anything else. Then, she simply walked away from me.


    Phew...


    That was a close one...


    But why do I have a bad feeling about this?

 Chapter 129 - 129: End Of Semester (XXXI)

    After a few minutes...


    Alaine set the tray in front of me with a quiet clink.


    "Here you go, Master," she said softly, taking her seat across from me.


    I looked down at the food¡ªsteamed rice, some grilled meat, vegetables, and a bowl of soup. Simple, but it smelled good.


    I picked up my spoon, stirring the soup absentmindedly.


    "Thanks."


    I muttered, my mind still halfway stuck on the little encounter with Zeva.


    Alaine tilted her head slightly, watching me.


    "Something wrong?"


    I sighed and shook my head.


    "Not really."


    She didn''t seem convinced, but she didn''t push. Instead, she just picked up her spoon and started eating quietly.


    She''s really thoughtful.


    Just my type.


    Ahem.


    For a few minutes, we both just focused on our food, enjoying the break.


    The cafeteria was lively, filled with the sound of chatter, the clinking of utensils, and the occasional bursts of laughter from groups of students.


    It was nice, in a way.


    Peaceful.


    Or at least, it was peaceful until I heard an all-too-familiar voice approaching from behind.


    "Yo, Aestrea! Mind if we join you?"


    I already knew who it was before I even looked up.


    Lucas.


    I sighed through my nose and took another bite of my food before answering.


    "Didn''t I just spend more than an hour teaching you? Why are you still following me?"


    Lucas laughed as if I had told a joke and pulled out a chair.


    "Come on, don''t be like that! We figured we''d eat together, you know? As thanks for your wisdom, oh great teacher."


    Behind him, the rest of the study group trailed in. Rose gave me an apologetic smile, Ella just nodded in greeting, and Maya waved cheerfully.


    Telmo and Leon¡­ well, at least they weren''t glaring this time.


    Alaine blinked, clearly not expecting company.


    I glanced at the empty seats around the table and sighed.


    "Whatever."


    Lucas grinned, dropping his tray onto the table. "


    Nice! Man, I''m starving."


    The group settled in, and just like that, the quiet meal I was enjoying was over.


    Lucas and Maya were chatting loudly about some duel they had watched earlier, while Rose was trying (and failing) to keep them focused on their upcoming exam.


    I focused on my food, ignoring most of the conversation, until Lucas turned to me.


    "By the way, Aestrea," he said, leaning forward slightly, "what were you doing during this Saturday? I didn''t see you in the academy."


    I paused, my spoon halfway to my mouth.


    I already didn''t like where this was going.


    "I was training?" I answered cautiously.


    Lucas smirked.


    "So what kind of training was it? Solo practice? Or, I dunno¡­ sparring?"


    My eyebrow twitched.


    Why did it sound like he was fishing for something?


    I glanced at Rose, who was suddenly paying a little too much attention to her food.


    Oh.


    I see what''s happening. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Zeva must have talked to her, and now they were trying to cross-check my story.


    I put my spoon down and gave Lucas a flat look.


    "Training is training," I said.


    "I don''t exactly take notes on how many swings I do per hour."


    Lucas chuckled, leaning back.


    "Man, you''re so secretive."


    "Or maybe you just ask too many questions," I countered.


    Maya giggled.


    "I think he''s just curious!"


    "Curious about things that don''t concern him," I muttered under my breath.


    Rose finally sighed.


    "Alright, enough, Lucas. If he doesn''t want to talk about it, let it go."


    Lucas held up his hands in surrender.


    "Fine, fine."


    I focused back on my food, taking another bite of the grilled meat.


    At least it was good.


    Alaine, as usual, was quietly eating, her expression calm, but I could tell she was listening carefully to everything being said.


    Her eyes flickered to Rose a few times, like she was reading something unspoken between the lines.


    Lucas and Maya, on the other hand, had already moved on to another topic¡ªthis time about some high-ranked duels coming up next month.


    "Did you hear? Some of the fifth-years are planning to spar against the professors!" Lucas said, eyes gleaming with excitement.


    Maya gasped.


    "What?! That''s insane! Who''d even try that?"


    "Some crazy strong upperclassmen. I heard they''re aiming to graduate early, so they need to prove they can handle top-tier fights."


    Ella hummed, finally speaking up.


    "It''s not uncommon. If they can win, it proves they''re already beyond student level."


    Lucas grinned.


    "Man, I''d love to watch that."


    I tuned them out again, finishing the last of my rice.


    Then, just as I was about to pick up my drink, I felt something.


    A gaze.


    I looked up.


    Zeva was still sitting at her table across the cafeteria, casually eating. But her eyes were locked onto me, sharp and unreadable.


    I held her stare for a moment.


    Then, slowly, she raised an eyebrow.


    I exhaled quietly and looked away, taking a sip of my drink.


    It seems that she is still mad.


    And would be for quite a while.


    Alaine must have noticed, because she suddenly spoke in a gentle tone.


    "Master, do you want to leave?"


    I glanced at her.


    She didn''t say it outright, but I knew what she meant.


    Did I want to avoid whatever was coming later?


    I thought about it.


    Then, I shook my head.


    "No. I''ll finish eating first."


    Alaine nodded, her eyes softening slightly.


    "Understood."


    I continued eating, trying to ignore Zeva''s piercing gaze.


    One bite, then another.


    Yet, Alaine occasionally glancing at me like she was silently checking if I was okay.


    Lucas and Maya were still going on about the duels. Rose had gone quiet, just sipping her juice and occasionally throwing glances my way.


    The moment I finished my meal, I sighed and stretched slightly.


    "Alright, I''m done." I stood up, grabbing my tray.


    Alaine immediately followed, standing up as well.


    "Leaving already?" Lucas asked, tilting his head.


    "Yeah. Got stuff to do." I didn''t exactly elaborate.


    Maya pouted.


    "Aww, come on! We finally got to hang out outside of class!"


    "You''ll survive." I gave her a small wave and walked off toward the tray return area.


    Alaine followed closely behind me as we placed our trays away and stepped out of the cafeteria.


    The cool afternoon breeze greeted us as we walked through the academy grounds.


    I stretched my arms above my head, letting out a small sigh.


    "...So, what should we do for the rest of Sunday?" I asked, glancing at her.


    Alaine placed a finger on her chin, deep in thought. Then, her brown eyes lit up with excitement.


    "How about we test the spells we studied?"


    Ah!


    Right!


    I had almost forgotten about that.


    It wasn''t a bad idea, though.


    Practicing now would help solidify everything we had learned. And besides, a little action would keep things from getting too dull.


    "Good idea," I said, nodding.


    Without wasting time, we made our way toward the academy''s sparring arena.


    The large training facility stood tall, filled with various rooms designed for practice duels and magic tests.


    Since we wanted privacy, we entered one of the isolated training chambers. The walls were reinforced with magic, ensuring they could withstand powerful spells.


    As soon as we stepped inside the spacious arena, Alaine rolled her shoulders, getting ready while I got one of the available swords.


    Then, I smirked at her.


    "Let''s see if all that reading actually paid off."


    She returned my smirk with a determined look.


    "Likewise, Master."


    And with that, both us got into a fighting stance, staring at each other cautiously.


    Pull...


    Swirl~


    Summoning her bow, Alaine nocked an arrow, her brown eyes locked onto me.


    A faint breeze swirled around her, rustling her long brown hair as the wind magic gathered at her fingertips.


    I tightened my grip on the training sword, ice coating the blade as I channeled my mana. The air around me chilled instantly.


    Then¡ª


    SWOOSH!


    She fired the first shot.


    The arrow cut through the air, spinning rapidly, but I twisted my body just in time¡ªWHOOSH!¡ªthe arrow grazed past my shoulder, missing by a hair.


    Before I could recover, she was already on the move.


    THUD!


    A sudden burst of wind launched her sideways, repositioning her instantly. In one smooth motion, she reloaded another arrow, the tip glowing faintly with spirit energy.


    She was faster than before.


    I needed to slow her down.


    CRACK!


    I slammed my foot against the ground, ice spreading outward in jagged lines beneath me.


    ...Perfect


    The glow of my red eyes increased slightly.


    ¡º Ice Series: Frost Crash! (? 6th-level Spell ?) ¡»


    BOOM!


    A massive wave of ice exploded forward, surging like a frozen tidal wave. The sheer force of it sent out a chilling mist, covering everything in its path with thick layers of ice.


    Alaine''s eyes widened.


    But she reacted instantly.


    TWANG!


    She fired straight down¡ª


    ¡º Wind Series: Gale Shot! (? 5th-level Spell ?) ¡»


    BOOM!


    A violent burst of wind rocketed her upwards, barely lifting her over the freezing wave just in time. She flipped mid-air, landing smoothly on a newly formed ice pillar.


    "Tsk."


    I clicked my tongue.


    She dodged.


    But I wasn''t done.


    I dashed forward, boots skidding against the icy floor, sword gripped tightly. If I could close the distance¡ª


    Alaine moved first.


    She drew another arrow, but this time, instead of aiming at me¡ª


    TWANG!


    She shot downward again.


    ¡º Spirit Series: Phantom Snare! (? 6th-level Spell ?) ¡»


    CRACK!


    From the ground, glowing spectral vines burst forth, rushing toward me like living creatures.


    I didn''t hesitate.


    SHHHHH!


    I stabbed my sword into the ice beneath me, channeling my mana. A frost wave spread outward, rapidly freezing the vines mid-motion.


    But I barely had time to react before she jumped again¡ª


    Her bow was drawn tight.


    And this time¡ª


    I could feel the mana building in the arrow''s tip.


    "Fuuu..."


    I raised my sword, preparing to counter.


    Swirl~


    Her arrow glowed a fierce green, the air around it twisting violently as wind mana surged. I could feel the pressure from where I stood.


    TWANG!


    She let it loose.


    ¡º Wind Series: Storm Piercer! (? 6th-level Spell ?) ¡»


    The arrow whistled through the air, leaving behind a sharp, cutting wind as it spun toward me like a drill.


    No time to dodge.


    I raised my sword¡ª


    ¡º Shield Series: Winter''s Barrier! (? 6th-level Spell ?) ¡»


    CRACK!


    A thick shield of ice erupted before me just as the arrow struck¡ª


    BOOM!


    The impact was like a cannon blast.


    A deafening roar filled the arena as wind and ice clashed violently, sending frozen shards flying in every direction.


    My barrier cracked, splintering under the force, but it held just long enough.


    I lunged forward, bursting through the ice cloud.


    Alaine had already moved.


    She landed smoothly on another ice platform she created from my previous attack, her bow already drawn with another arrow¡ªnot wind this time, but glowing with eerie blue energy.


    ¡º Spirit Series: Soul Hunter! (? 7th-level Spell ?) ¡»


    A seventh-level spell?


    My eyes widened.


    I didn''t expect her to learn it directly!


    TWANG!


    The arrow wasn''t fast like before, but I could feel something wrong about it. A chilling presence clung to the air as it flew toward me.


    Damn.


    A tracking-type spell.


    I twisted my body, letting the arrow sail past me¡ª


    But it curved mid-air.


    It was coming back.


    I gritted my teeth, gripping my sword tighter.


    Fine.


    If dodging wouldn''t work¡ª


    A violet aura enveloped my body.


    I turned into the arrow, my sword flashing upward.


    CLANG!


    I struck it in mid-air, shattering it into glowing fragments that dissolved into mist.


    ...Fuck!


    This is shit was much stronger than I thought.


    Alaine''s eyes widened slightly as she wasn''t expecting me to cut through it.


    I used that moment¡ª


    SWOOSH!


    I dashed forward, closing the gap in seconds while deactivating my aura; after all, I didn''t want to hurt Alaine.


    My sword was already swinging in a wide arc aiming for her side.


    She reacted fast¡ª


    THUD!


    A burst of wind exploded beneath her feet, launching her backward just in time to evade my strike.


    She landed smoothly, but I was already in pursuit.


    CLANK!


    Our attacks clashed.


    She swung her bow like a staff, deflecting my sword with surprising force. I pressed forward, aiming a downward slash¡ª


    She twisted, ducking low¡ª


    SWISH!


    Her bow whistled through the air, a counter-strike aimed at my ribs.


    I barely managed to block with the flat of my blade¡ª


    CLANG!


    Both of us skidded back.


    Then, we locked eyes.


    "Haaa..."


    "Fuu..."


    Our breaths came heavily.


    And then...


    Fwoop!


    Both of us still weren''t done.

 Chapter 130 - 130: End Of Semester (XXXII)

    I kicked off the ground, dashing toward her in a straight line.


    My grip tightened around the sword, ice mana surging through my veins.


    Alaine''s reaction was instant¡ªshe jumped backward, her feet barely touching the ground before another gust of wind sent her further away.


    ¡º Wind Series: Gale Step! (? 5th-level Spell ?) ¡»


    She was fast.


    Every time I closed in, she pushed herself further back with bursts of wind, keeping just out of my reach.


    But that was fine.


    I slashed the air¡ª


    ¡º Ice Series: Frost Crash! (? 6th-level Spell ?) ¡»


    CRACK¡ª!


    A massive surge of ice exploded forward in a sweeping wave, crashing toward her like a frozen tidal wave. The ground beneath it froze solid, spreading outward at insane speed.


    Alaine''s eyes narrowed.


    TWANG!


    She fired another arrow¡ª


    ¡º Wind Series: Piercing Tempest! (? 6th-level Spell ?) ¡»


    The arrow struck the ice wave¡ª


    BOOM!


    A violent gust tore through the frozen mass, shattering chunks of ice and sending them flying. But my attack had already done its job¡ª


    The ground was frozen.


    Alaine''s footing faltered the moment she landed.


    I was already moving.


    I lunged forward, my sword slashing low toward her legs.


    She twisted, barely avoiding the blade by a hair¡ª


    WHOOSH!


    She tried to jump back again¡ª


    But her feet slipped on the frozen ground.


    Her balance was off.


    I saw her eyes widen in that split-second mistake¡ª


    I took full advantage of it.


    I surged forward, using the ice beneath my feet to slide in smoothly¡ª


    SWISH!


    I swung my sword upward in a sharp, clean arc.


    She had no choice but to block¡ª


    CLANG!


    Her bow barely intercepted my blade, the force pushing her back. She landed in a crouch, breath slightly heavier.


    For the first time, she wasn''t able to keep her distance.


    "Looks like running won''t work anymore," I said, twirling my sword lightly.


    Alaine let out a small chuckle, standing back up.


    "Then I guess I''ll just have to stop running."


    She grabbed another arrow, this one pulsing with spirit magic.


    I readied my stance.


    Twang!


    She loosed the arrow¡ª


    ¡º Spirit Series: Phantom Shot! (? 6th-level Spell ?) ¡»


    The arrow vanished mid-air.


    My eyes narrowed.


    Not good.


    I pivoted, my instincts screaming at me¡ª


    SWISH!


    The arrow reappeared at my blind spot, aiming straight for my ribs.


    I reacted instantly.


    ¡º Shield Series: Winter''s Barrier! (? 6th-level Spell ?) ¡»


    CRACK!


    A thick layer of ice erupted around me, forming a shield-shaped barrier just in time.


    The arrow slammed into it, sending a web of cracks across the surface before shattering into nothing.


    No time to relax.


    I kicked off the frozen ground, closing the gap between us again.


    Alaine jumped backward, but her footing was still unstable on the ice.


    I took full advantage of it. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡º Ice Series: Frost Chains! (? 5th-level Spell ?) ¡»


    SHING!


    Thick chains of ice shot out from the frozen ground, lashing toward her ankles.


    She flipped backward, barely dodging¡ª


    But I wasn''t done.


    ¡º Ice Series: Frost Crash! (? 6th-level Spell ?) ¡»


    Another wave of ice surged forward, the sheer cold filling the air.


    Alaine twisted mid-air, her bow glowing with wind magic.


    ¡º Wind Series: Gale Shot! (? 5th-level Spell ?) ¡»


    BOOM!


    She fired an arrow straight downward, the force blasting her upward like a gust-propelled jump. She barely escaped the ice wave, landing smoothly a few meters away.


    I exhaled, mist forming from the cold surrounding us.


    "You''re really not making this easy, huh?" I muttered.


    Alaine smirked, nocking another arrow.


    "Wasn''t planning to."


    I shifted my stance, gripping my training sword tightly.


    The temperature around me dropped even further.


    Fine. If she wanted to keep her distance¡­


    I''d force her into close combat.


    ¡º Ice Series: Glacial Dash! (? 5th-level Spell ?) ¡»


    CRACK¡ª!


    The ice beneath me exploded, sending me forward in a blur of frozen mist¡ª


    I was already in front of her before she could even react.


    I swung my sword¡ª


    Alaine''s eyes widened as she barely raised her bow to block¡ª


    CLANG!


    The impact sent her sliding backward, her feet scraping against the ice.


    Alaine gritted her teeth, barely keeping her balance on the ice.


    I wasn''t going to let up.


    FWIP!


    I lunged forward again, my sword slicing through the cold air.


    She twisted her body just in time, dodging to the side, but I was already adjusting my grip¡ª


    I brought my sword around for a horizontal slash, aiming for her ribs.


    CLANG!


    She blocked with her bow, the impact making her arms tremble.


    But she didn''t just defend.


    A burst of wind magic exploded from beneath her boots¡ª


    ¡º Wind Series: Wind Step! (? 4th-level Spell ?) ¡»


    WHOOSH!


    She vanished from my sight, reappearing behind me in an instant.


    I turned¡ª


    TWANG!


    An arrow was already flying toward me.


    Too close to dodge.


    I raised my arm¡ª


    THUD!


    The blunt training arrow slammed into my shoulder, drawing out blood.


    "Ugh!"


    I hissed at the impact, but I didn''t stop moving.


    Instead of stepping back, I pushed forward.


    I spun, using the momentum to bring my sword down in a heavy vertical strike.


    Alaine jumped back¡ª


    ¡º Ice Series: Frost Chains! (? 5th-level Spell ?) ¡»


    SHING!


    The moment her foot touched the ground, chains of ice erupted around her ankles.


    Her eyes widened.


    Got her.


    I swung¡ª


    But at the last second¡ª


    ¡º Spirit Series: Mirage Step! (? 6th-level Spell ?) ¡»


    Alaine''s body flickered, and my sword sliced through nothing but air.


    She had left an afterimage in her place.


    "Seriously?"


    I muttered, already turning to find her¡ª


    THWIP!


    Another arrow was flying toward my head.


    I ducked just in time, the arrow barely grazing my hair.


    Enough of this.


    I slammed my foot into the ice, gathering a surge of mana.


    ¡º Ice Series: Frost Crash! (? 6th-level Spell ?) ¡»


    The entire arena shook as a massive wave of ice exploded forward, sweeping across the ground in an unstoppable surge.


    Alaine had nowhere to run.


    She raised her bow, wind swirling violently around it¡ª


    ¡º Wind Series: Tempest Barrier! (? 6th-level Spell ?) ¡»


    Fucking hell...


    How many spells had she learn in such a short time?!


    WHOOOOM!


    A fierce whirlwind erupted around her, clashing against my ice wave.


    For a second, both forces pushed against each other, the ice cracking, the wind roaring¡ª


    Then¡ª


    BOOM!


    The collision blasted us both backward.


    I dug my feet into the frozen ground, barely managing to stay standing.


    Alaine, however, had been forced into the air by the explosion.


    Her eyes widened as she realized¡ª


    She had no foothold.


    I wasn''t about to waste this chance.


    I dashed forward.


    Alaine twisted midair, already preparing another spell, but she wasn''t fast enough.


    I swung my sword¡ª


    THWACK!


    Alaine barely managed to raise her bow in time to block my strike, the impact sending a sharp vibration through her arms.


    She gritted her teeth, struggling to stay balanced midair.


    She tried to summon wind beneath her feet¡ª


    ¡º Wind Series: Wind Step! (? 4th-level Spell ?) ¡»


    But I wasn''t going to let her recover.


    I twisted my grip, bringing my sword down again in a brutal diagonal slash.


    CLANG!


    She deflected it, but her body was pushed back¡ªoff balance, vulnerable.


    I stepped forward.


    ¡º Ice Series: Frost Spikes! (? 3rd-level Spell ?) ¡»


    CRACK!


    Jagged ice spears erupted from the ground below, shooting toward her.


    She spun midair, using a burst of wind magic to shift her position¡ª


    But I was already in front of her.


    I slashed.


    She barely managed to block with her bow again, but¡ª


    CRACK!


    Her fingers slipped.


    Her weapon flew from her hands, clattering against the icy floor.


    Her eyes widened in shock.


    Too late.


    I was already moving.


    I slammed my foot into the ice and lunged forward, closing the distance instantly.


    Alaine raised her arms in a last-ditch effort to defend herself, but I was faster.


    I grabbed her wrist and twisted it behind her back, pulling her against me.


    She gasped, her body tensing.


    I lifted my sword, pressing the blunt edge lightly against her throat¡ª


    A clear checkmate.


    Her chest rose and fell rapidly as she stared up at me, her lips slightly parted, her face flushed from the intense battle.


    For a moment, neither of us spoke.


    The air was heavy.


    Our breaths mingled.


    Then¡ª


    Before she could react, before even I could second-guess it¡ª


    I leaned in.


    "Mhm!"


    And kissed her.


    Her entire body stiffened.


    Her breath caught in her throat.


    But she didn''t pull away.


    Instead, she melted into it, her fingers gripping the fabric of my shirt as if holding onto something fragile.


    The cold air around us no longer mattered.


    The battle didn''t matter.


    It was just us.


    After what felt like an eternity¡ªbut was probably just a few seconds¡ªI pulled back slightly, my forehead resting against hers.


    Her disguised brown eyes stared into mine, dazed, unsure.


    "Guess I win."


    Alaine blinked.


    Once. Twice.


    Then her face exploded into a deep shade of red.


    "W-What¡ª"


    She tried to say something, but her voice cracked.


    Her hands, still gripping my shirt, twitched slightly.


    For someone who was always quite calm and composed, this was the first time I had ever seen her so... nervous?


    She looked very cute.


    I chuckled, stepping back and letting go of her wrist.


    "That was unfair," she muttered, looking away.


    I shrugged, flipping the training sword in my grip before resting it on my shoulder.


    "All''s fair in love and war."


    She puffed out her cheeks in frustration, her ears still burning.


    For a second, it looked like she wanted to say something more, but instead, she let out a sigh and rubbed her temples before leaking out a small smile.


    "Come on."


    I said, offering her a hand.


    "Let''s head out now."


    She hesitated for a moment before taking it.


    Her fingers were warm against mine.


    And as we walked out of the training arena, I could feel her occasionally stealing glances at me, lips pressed together as if she was still processing what had just happened.


    Walking hand in hand, we made our way back to the dormitory.


    The halls were quiet, the afternoon light casting long shadows on the walls. Alaine still wasn''t saying much, her fingers fidgeting slightly at her sides.


    Every now and then, she''d glance at me, then quickly look away when I noticed.


    Why was she so embarrassed?


    I wasn''t entirely sure.


    After all, we''ve kissed multiple times; however, never did she act like this.


    When we reached the dorm and stepped inside, the sound of laughter filled the air.


    "Take this!"


    A pillow soared across the room.


    POOF!


    It smacked right into Chaerin''s face, making her stumble back.


    "Gah¡ªLumi, you little¡ª!"


    Chaerin grabbed a pillow of her own and launched it at Lumi, who ducked just in time. The pillow crashed into the couch instead, sending a small puff of feathers into the air.


    Lumi cackled, her green slimy hair bouncing as she jumped onto the couch to grab another pillow.


    "You missed! Try again!"


    Chaerin grinned, her black eyes gleaming slightly.


    "Oh, I will."


    They were completely lost in their little war, not even noticing Alaine and me standing in the doorway.


    "¡­Do we stop them?" Alaine asked, crossing her arms.


    I leaned against the doorframe, watching as Lumi used the couch as cover while Chaerin tried to ambush her from the side.


    "Nah, let''s see who wins."


    Alaine sighed but didn''t argue.


    WHAM!


    Lumi managed to hit Chaerin in the stomach, making her gasp dramatically and fall to her knees.


    "No¡­ I''ve been defeated¡­" she whispered, hand over her heart.


    Lumi stood over her, raising a pillow high like a sword.


    "Any last words?"


    Chaerin looked up, her eyes shining mischievously.


    "Yeah."


    She suddenly lunged, tackling Lumi to the floor.


    Both of them crashed onto the carpet, laughing as they wrestled for control over the pillows.


    I shook my head, chuckling.


    "Idiots."


    That''s when they finally noticed us.


    Chaerin spoke as soon as she spotted us.


    "Oh, you guys are back!"


    Lumi, still pinned under Chaerin, blinked before grinning.


    "Had a good date?"


    Alaine froze beside me.


    I could feel her staring at me, waiting for me to respond.


    I shrugged.


    "Depends. Does beating someone up count as a date?"


    Chaerin whistled.


    "Oof. Alaine, he''s calling you weak."


    Hearing her words, a vein popped in Alaine''s forehead slightly as she glared at Chaerin. Her look made Chaerin instantly back off.


    Lumi giggled, still lying on the floor.


    "Anyway, are you guys hungry? I was just thinking about ordering some food." I spoke, bringing my phone out.


    "Papa, I want pizza!"


    Chaerin beamed cheerfully, looking at me with shining eyes.


    I looked towards the others.


    Lumi sat up, clapping her hands.


    "Mhm!"


    Alaine only nodded slightly.


    "Pizza it is."

 Chapter 131 - 131: End Of Semester (XXXIII)

    It was finally exam day.


    The atmosphere in the academy was different¡ªquieter, heavier. Everyone was either rushing to their assigned rooms or standing around, muttering last-minute revisions under their breath.


    I had a total of four exams, based on the classes I had chosen:


    Magic Theory.


    Spellcraft Fundamentals.


    Complex Circuits & Mathematics.


    Combat Magic Tactics.


    According to the schedule I received, my first exam was Complex Circuits & Mathematics, held in Class Z-21.


    Great.


    The only problem?


    This academy was too damn big.


    Seriously.


    Whoever designed it must''ve had a personal grudge against students trying to be on time.


    I navigated through endless hallways, up two flights of stairs, down another corridor, and past at least three different classrooms that all looked the same.


    By the time I finally reached Z-21, I was already regretting my life choices.


    I stepped inside and immediately spotted a few familiar faces.


    Ella.


    Rose.


    ¡­And Telmo, though he was probably just here because of Ella.


    Ella glanced up when she saw me and gave a small nod before returning to her notes.


    Rose, on the other hand, was tapping her fingers against her desk, looking somewhat nervous.


    The moment her eyes met mine, she quickly looked away, pretending to be focused on her book.


    Telmo?


    He just glared at me.


    I ignored him.


    Instead, I walked over to an empty seat, stretching my arms as I sat down.


    After a few minutes, the instructor walked in, carrying a stack of exam papers.


    "Alright, settle down," he said calmly.


    "You have exactly two hours to complete the exam. No talking, no magic assistance, and no leaving early unless you finish. Once you receive your paper, begin."


    The room fell into complete silence.


    One by one, the papers were handed out. When mine landed on my desk, I gave it a quick scan.


    Complex Circuits & Mathematics Exam


    Question 1:


    A multi-layered mana circuit is designed to amplify spellcasting efficiency by 35%. The base circuit consists of three interwoven mana nodes, each transferring energy at a rate of ????? = 8????3 Joules/sec, ????? = 6????3 Joules/sec, and ????? = 5????3 Joules/sec. However, due to interference loss of 12% per node, the final efficiency drops. Calculate the optimized configuration for minimal loss and determine the adjusted amplification percentage.


    ¡­Yeah.


    This was the kind of stuff that made half the students in the academy cry at night.


    I picked up my pen and started writing.


    First, I calculated the total raw mana output, then I accounted for the loss per node.


    Each node loses 12%, so the total loss per node is exactly:


    2.28e3


    With three nodes, that''s a total energy loss of:


    2.28e3¡Á3=6.84e3


    Which means the final usable mana output is:


    19e3 ? 6.84e3 = 12.16e3 J/s


    Now, to calculate the adjusted amplification percentage with minimal loss, I restructured the mana circuit into a dual-phase configuration, splitting the highest-energy node and distributing the load.


    That reduced the total loss by about 4% per node, bringing the total efficiency up to 28.4% instead of 23%.


    Final amplification percentage:


    35%?6.6%= 28.4%


    I scribbled down the answer and moved on to the next question.


    Question 2:


    A spell matrix with an inverse exponential decay absorbs external mana interference at a rate proportional to the inverse square of distance from the core. Given an absorption rate of A(r) = 1200/(r2 + 4r + 3) and a decay constant of ¦Ë = 0.85, determine the total mana absorbed over a region spanning from r = 1 to r = 10 and optimize for peak spell efficiency.


    I sighed.


    These questions were getting ridiculous.


    Still, it wasn''t hard.


    I set up the integral and then factored the denominator before reaking it into partial fractions.


    Then I simply solved for A & B and found:


    A= 600 & B= ?600.


    So, I only needed to rewrite the integral.


    And after solving, I got a total mana absorption of 415.2 units.


    I quickly wrote my answer down, optimizing for peak efficiency by modifying the spell''s exponential decay rate to ¦Ë = 0.73, which increased overall absorption by 8%.


    I looked up.


    A few students were still stuck on the first question.


    A random student was chewing the end of his pen, looking like he was trying to decipher some kind of ancient language.


    Rose had her head buried in her hands, muttering something under her breath.


    Telmo was glaring at his paper like it had personally offended him.


    As for Ella...


    She actually seemed quite calm.


    Well, anyway, I should just finish the exam as soon as possible.


    There were only eight questions left.


    ¡ª


    "Ugh... that exam was so fucking hard!"


    "Yeah... why did I choose this class?! It''s frighteningly difficult and complex!"


    As soon as the bell rang and all the students got out of the class, they immediately started to complain about the difficulty of the exam.


    As for the reason why I was still here...


    I fell asleep.


    I solved the entire exam in about fifteen minutes, and instead of handing over the paper to the instructor, I decided to take a short nap.


    And, of course, the only reason I woke up was that annoying bell.


    "The next exam should be... Combat Magic Tactics."


    "Let''s just get it over with..."


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    RIIIIINGG!


    After some gruesome six hours, I was finally done with the rest of the exams.


    The exam''s questions were fairly simple. For example, in Combat Magic Tactis, one of the questions was:


    You are facing three enemies in an open field. They are armed and seem well-trained. You have limited mana reserves. How do you use your magic to neutralize them efficiently without exhausting your resources? Consider positioning, terrain, and spell efficiency in your response.


    There were plenty of ways to deal with this.


    But I opted for the most executive one while using my new spells.


    First off, I would use ¡º Ice Series: Frost Crash! (? 6th-level Spell ?) ¡»to create a massive ice wave, sweeping them all off their feet.


    It would freeze them solid before they could even react, and it wouldn''t take much mana.


    If there were any survivors, I could follow up with a ¡º Shield Series: Winter''s Barrier! (? 6th-level Spell ?) ¡» to protect myself and lock them down long enough to deal the finishing blow.


    The Winter''s Barrier spell would be perfect for blocking incoming attacks while I strategized my next move.


    I wrote down my strategy in the clearest terms possible, explaining my reasoning for each spell I would use and how I would conserve mana during the engagement.


    It was that simple.


    Not to mention about the Spellcraft Fundamentals and Magic Theory, they were damn easy. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    An example of a question was:


    You are given a basic spell structure with insufficient mana flow. How do you fix it? Provide at least two methods for improving mana efficiency and explain how they work.


    The answer was straightforward.


    First, I would adjust the spell''s mana flow using the principle of mana layering.


    By using multiple mana channels, I could split the mana load and spread it more evenly, allowing for better efficiency and reducing mana waste.


    I also wrote about casting sequence optimization¡ªif you cast multiple spells in quick succession, the residual mana from the first spell could be used to fuel the second, making the overall casting more efficient.


    Anyways, for me, at least, it was pretty easy.


    And all of that is thanks to my predecessor.


    I mean... everything I have currently is thanks to him.


    I walked down the long hallway of the academy, making my way to the garden, the place I always went to when I needed some peace and quiet.


    The garden was a welcome relief, the fragrant scent of flowers filling the air and the rustling of leaves in the breeze somehow soothing.


    I found a quiet corner near the stone fountain and leaned against the cool stone wall, closing my eyes for a moment.


    I just needed a few minutes of silence, but as soon as I relaxed, a voice broke through the calm.


    "Aestrea."


    I turned my head, instantly recognizing the voice.


    It was Zeva.


    She was standing near the entrance of the garden, her arms crossed, looking at me with an unreadable expression.


    There was something different about her today, something I couldn''t quite place.


    "Zeva?" I raised an eyebrow, standing up straight.


    "What are you doing here?"


    She didn''t answer immediately.


    Instead, her lips curved into a small smile, but there was something... strange in her eyes.


    And in that instant, I felt that bad feeling coming again.


    Fwoop!


    Then, before I could react, she dashed toward me with incredible speed, her body surrounded by a faint green aura that seemed to pulse with energy.


    My eyes widened, and my instincts kicked in.


    I tried to step back, but it was too late.


    She was already on me.


    I barely saw her move, but next thing I knew, I felt the weight of her energy slam into me.


    It wasn''t physical, but it felt like a pressure¡ªlike something deep inside me was being forced out.


    My body froze, and I couldn''t move as her hands gripped my shoulders.


    Then, her eyes¡ª


    Her eyes glowed.


    A deep, strange green light flooded her pupils, and they transformed into vertical slits, like a snake''s.


    The moment I saw them, a cold shiver ran down my spine, and I couldn''t pull my gaze away.


    It felt like her eyes were staring straight through me, reading everything I had ever done, every weakness I held.


    Before I could even process what was happening, the ground beneath me shifted.


    Zeva''s voice rang out, cold and almost haunting.


    "You shouldn''t have broken your promise."


    "If you didn''t, I wouldn''t need to resort to this."


    The world around me started to spin, my vision blurring as everything felt like it was slipping away.


    "Hagh... fuc¡ª!"


    The pressure from her green aura was too much.


    I almost couldn''t breathe.


    My chest tightened, and my body started to quiver.


    I tried to fight it, tried to raise my arms, but my body felt like it was made of stone.


    It was like having a snake wrapped around my body...


    And it was about to bite my neck.


    My limbs refused to obey, and the last thing I saw before everything went black was Zeva''s smirk, her eyes still glowing, the aura around her growing brighter.


    The next moment, there was nothing.


    No sound.


    No sight.


    Just complete darkness...

 Chapter 132 - 132: *End Of Semester (XXXIV)*

    "Slurp~, chuu... slick?"


    Pop~


    "Gaghak... slurp! Haaa...?"


    "Hah¡­ Ngh¡­"


    Aestrea groaned softly as he groggily tried to pry his eyes open. He shifted his legs slightly, but surprisingly, he couldn''t move them at all.


    It felt as if they were stuck or chained by something.


    "Chu~, churup?"


    "F-Fuck¡ª!"


    Some weird noises reached out to him as he suddenly tightened his legs, feeling a strong and deep suction on his penis.


    Immediately, his eyes snapped open, and slowly the blurriness got clearer, and that''s when he noticed a familiar figure with her head close to his penis.


    "Phwaa~..."


    She finally pulled away, her red lips parting from him with a soft pop, leaving a glistening sheen behind.


    Her hand didn''t stop, though, lazily stroking him as her emerald-green eyes locked onto his


    A sly smile curled her lips as she spoke, her voice laced with a seductive hum.


    "Are you finally awake?"


    She paused her teasing strokes to press the tip of her finger against his glistening head, her touch deliberate, almost playful.


    "Seems like this woke up long before you did," she purred, licking her lips.


    Slowly, she pulled her finger away, a thread of his precum clinging to her fingertip, which she held up for him to see.


    Then, without warning¡ª


    CRUSH.


    Her grip tightened, fingers clamping like a vice around his shaft.


    "Ghk¡ª! Agh¡ª!"


    Aestrea''s back arched off the bed, pain and pleasure twisting together in a white-hot knot. His muscles locked, but he couldn''t move¡ªcouldn''t fight. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Above him, Zeva''s eyes shifted.


    Her pupils slit into venomous green daggers, glowing faintly in the dim light.


    "Why..." she whispered in a voice colder than ice.


    "Did you break your promise?"


    Aestrea gritted his teeth, trying to summon his mana¡ªhis aura¡ªanything. But the room swallowed it all.


    The walls pulsed faintly with the same mysterious green as her eyes.


    A prison.


    Her prison.


    Zeva''s smile widened, her forked tongue flicking out to taste the air.


    "You can''t use energy here, my dear." Her nails traced a slow, threatening path down his length.


    "I made sure of it."


    Silence.


    Her grip moved lower, fingers coiling around his balls¡ªsqueezing.


    "Tell me."


    "I¡ª! I just forgot!" Aestrea snarled, breath ragged.


    He seriously didn''t want to have his balls crushed!


    "I was training! That''s all!"


    Zeva stilled.


    Then, slowly, her fingers loosened.


    "Is that so¡­?" Her voice dripped with mocking sweetness.


    "I thought you''d run away again."


    "I don''t break promises," he ground out.


    For a heartbeat, the room was silent.


    Then¡ª


    Zeva''s grin turned feral.


    "Well then," she crooned, her hands sliding up to her top.


    With a sharp tug, the fabric fell away, her full breasts spilling free.


    Before Aestrea could react, she leaned forward, pressing them snugly around his aching cock.


    "Since we missed Saturday¡­"


    Her tongue dragged over her lips.


    "Let''s just do it today."


    Her hips rocked forward, the heat of her body searing against him¡ª


    Squish~... schlick?"


    Zeva''s full, pillowy breasts pressed snugly around Aestrea''s throbbing length, her soft flesh molding to his shape as she began a slow, rhythmic glide.


    Her emerald eyes, still glowing with that green serpentine light, locked onto his face as she began moving¡ªslow, deliberate rolls of her hips that dragged her tits up and down his shaft.


    Squish~... schlick?


    The slick sound of her skin gliding over his cock filled the room, each motion sending waves of pleasure coursing through him.


    Precum leaked freely from his tip, smearing glistening streaks between her breasts.


    "Mmm¡­ You like this, don''t you?" she purred, her voice dripping with honeyed venom.


    Aestrea gritted his teeth, his fingers instinctively tangling in her hair¡ªnot to push her away, but to pull her closer.


    "Tsk¡­ You''re really not letting me go until you get what you want, huh?"


    Zeva''s laugh was a dark, velvety hum as she leaned down, her tongue flicking out to trace the swollen tip of his cock.


    "Chu~¡­ Of course not. You owe me."


    Then¡ª


    "Slurp~!"


    She took him deep, her throat flexing around him in one smooth, practiced motion.


    "Gh¡ª! Fuck!"


    Aestrea''s hips jerked upward, his grip tightening in her hair.


    Zeva didn''t stop.


    Her lips stretched obscenely around his girth as she bobbed her head.


    "Schlurp~¡­ gluck¡­ ngh?"


    Her tongue swirling along his underside with every pull.


    Her hands didn''t idle either¡ªone cupped his balls, rolling them gently in her palm while the other massaged the base of his shaft, matching the pace of her mouth.


    "Hah¡­ Zeva¡ª!"


    Aestrea''s breath came in ragged bursts, his thighs trembling.


    She pulled off with a lewd pop~!, a string of saliva still connecting her lips to his glistening tip.


    "Mmm¡­ You taste even better when you''re desperate," she teased, her thumb swiping over his slit, smearing precum down his length.


    Then, without warning, she pressed her breasts together again, trapping him in that sinful warmth.


    "Squelch~¡­ squish?"


    Her tits were slick now¡ªwhether from her spit or his arousal, it didn''t matter.


    The friction was maddening, each upward stroke of her hands making his cock twitch between her cleavage.


    "Ngh¡­ You''re enjoying this too much."


    Aestrea groaned slightly, his fingers flexing against her scalp.


    Zeva smirked, her tongue darting out to catch a stray drop of precum.


    "And you''re not?"


    Before he could retort, she ducked back down, taking him to the hilt again.


    "Gluck~! Hnng¡­?"


    Her nose pressed into his pelvis, her throat convulsing around him as she swallowed.


    Aestrea cursed under his breath, his hips bucking involuntarily.


    "Shit¡ª! Zeva, I''m not gonna last if you keep¡ª!"


    She ignored him, her pace only speeding up.


    "Schlorp~ slurp~! Ngh¡­ haah?"


    Her lips were relentless, her tongue a wicked tease against his frenulum every time she pulled back.


    Aestrea''s vision blurred at the edges, pleasure coiling tight in his gut.


    "Zeva¡ª! I''m close¡ª!"


    She didn''t stop.


    If anything, she took him deeper.


    "Gaghh~¡­ gluck!?"


    Her throat fluttered around him, milking him with every swallow.


    Aestrea saw white.


    "Fuck¡ª! Hnng¡ª!"


    His release hit him like a tidal wave, his cock pulsing as he spilled down her throat.


    Zeva drank every drop, her eyes fluttering shut in satisfaction.


    "Gulp~¡­ gulp~¡­?"


    When she finally pulled away, her lips were swollen, glistening with a mix of spit and cum.


    "Mmm¡­ Delicious," she murmured, licking her lips clean.


    Aestrea collapsed back onto the bed, chest heaving.


    "Damn¡­ You''re insatiable."


    Zeva crawled up his body, her breasts brushing against his abs as she leaned in, her breath hot against his ear.


    "And you''re not done yet."


    Aestrea''s breath was still ragged, his body thrumming from the aftershocks of his release. But something in her tone¡ªthat smug, victorious lilt¡ªignited a spark of annoyance in him.


    Enough.


    With a growl, his hand snapped up, fingers tangling in her hair.


    "You''re right," he muttered roughly.


    "I''m not."


    "Wha¡ª?!"


    Before Zeva could react, Aestrea yanked her down, rolling them both in one motion.


    The bed creaked in protest as their positions reversed¡ªher back hit the sheets, his body caging her in.


    Zeva''s eyes widened, her pupils dilating for a split second before narrowing back into predatory slits.


    "Oh?" She licked her lips, arching beneath him.


    "Feeling bold now, are we?"


    Aestrea didn''t answer.


    Instead, his free hand slid down her torso, fingers skimming the hem of her pants.


    Schlick~


    The sound of fabric sliding against damp skin was obscenely loud in the quiet room.


    "Haa¡ª!"


    Zeva''s breath hitched.


    Aestrea smirked.


    "You''re soaked," he murmured, dragging a fingertip along her clothed slit.


    "Nngh¡ª!"


    Her hips jerked involuntarily, a shudder racing through her.


    Squelch~


    He pressed harder, teasing with slow movements.


    "All this just from sucking me off?" His voice dropped to a whisper.


    "Or were you wet the moment you trapped me here?"


    Zeva''s nails dug into his shoulders, her usual composure cracking.


    "F-fuck¡­ Don''t flatter yourself¡ªah!?"


    Her retort dissolved into a moan as Aestrea''s fingers finally slipped beneath her waistband, finding her bare.


    Slick~


    Her folds were drenched, her clit swollen under his touch.


    "Liar," he breathed, circling it slowly.


    "You''re clearly dripping wet."


    Sqush~~


    Zeva''s back arched off the bed, a gasp tearing from her throat as he pushed two fingers inside without warning.


    "F-fuck!?"


    Her walls clenched around him, hot and greedy.


    Aestrea leaned down, his lips brushing her ear.


    "Tell me," he demanded, curling his fingers just so.


    Squish~


    "Nngh!?"


    Zeva''s thighs trembled, her breath coming in ragged bursts.


    "W-what¡­?"


    "Why really drag me here?" He added a third finger, stretching her ruthlessly.


    Squelch~ squelch~


    Zeva''s hips bucked, her nails raking down his back.


    "Hah¡­! B-because you¡ªah!¡ªowe me¡ª!"


    Aestrea chuckled lightly, his thumb pressing down on her clit.


    Schlick~


    "Try again."


    Zeva shrieked, her body bowing off the bed.


    "Ngh!? B-because I¡ª! Because I wanted¡ª!"


    ¡º Cleanse ¡»


    Surprisingly, as Zeva''s guard went down, Aestrea was finally able to use his magic and chose to clean her mouth.


    After that, her words shattered into a moan as Aestrea''s mouth crashed onto hers, swallowing her cries.


    His fingers never stopped moving, pumping in and out of her with relentless precision.


    Squelch~ squelch~ squelch~


    Zeva''s legs wrapped around his waist, her heels digging into his back as she ground against his hand.


    "Hah¡­ A-Aestrea¡­!?"


    He pulled back just enough to watch her unravel¡ªher flushed skin, her parted lips, the way her stomach muscles tensed with every thrust.


    "Say it."


    Zeva''s eyes locked onto his, her usual defiance burning away under the pleasure.


    "I¡­ I wanted you," she gasped.


    Aestrea''s smirk returned.


    "Good."


    In one swift motion, he yanked her pants the rest of the way off, tossing them aside.


    Then, Aestrea smirked, bringing his glistening fingers to his mouth.


    He sucked them clean slowly, his gaze locked onto hers.


    "Mmm¡­ Salty."


    Zeva''s thighs trembled, her nails digging into the sheets. "


    You¡ª!"


    Before she could finish, Aestrea leaned down, capturing her lips in a searing kiss.


    "Mmph¡ª!?"


    His tongue plunged into her mouth, tangling with hers in a slow, deliberate dance.


    Schlorp~¡­ Chu~?


    Zeva''s resistance melted instantly. Her hands flew to his hair, fingers twisting in the strands as she kissed him back with equal fervor.


    "Nn¡­ Hah¡­?"


    Aestrea pulled away just as she began to chase his lips, leaving her panting.


    "Bastard," she growled, her chest rising and falling rapidly.


    He ignored her, sitting back on his heels.


    His hands went to the hem of his shirt, dragging it up slowly to reveal the toned planes of his abdomen¡ªwith countless scars around it.


    Zeva''s gaze raked over him hungrily, her tongue darting out again.


    "Tsk... Showing off, you damn bastard?"


    Aestrea tossed the shirt aside.


    "Just giving you something to look at."


    His fingers hooked into the waistband of his pants, peeling them down inch by torturous inch.


    Schhh~¡­


    Zeva''s breath caught as his cock sprang free, already half-hard again, glistening with remnants of their earlier encounter.


    "Hah¡­ Pathetic," she muttered, though her thighs squeezed together reflexively.


    Aestrea chuckled, crawling back over her.


    His length brushed against her inner thigh, leaving a sticky trail.


    Squelch~


    Zeva shuddered.


    "You''re shaking," he murmured, dragging the tip of his cock through her soaked folds.


    Schlick~¡­ Squish~?


    "Ngh¡ª!?"


    Her hips jerked, but Aestrea held her down, his grip firm on her waist.


    "Tell me what you want," he demanded, circling her entrance but not pushing in.


    Zeva''s nails scraped down his arms.


    "Fuck you."


    Aestrea grinned.


    "That''s the idea."


    He applied the barest pressure, the head of his cock catching on her rim.


    "Ghk¡ª!?"


    Zeva''s back arched, her walls fluttering around nothing.


    "Y-You¡ª!"


    "Say it."


    He rolled his hips slightly, teasing her.


    Squish~¡­


    Zeva''s breath came in ragged gasps.


    "I¡ª! Ngh¡­!"


    Aestrea leaned down, his lips brushing her ear.


    "Or do I need to fuck it out of you?"


    Her resolve snapped.


    "F-Fine! I want it!" she snarled, her voice cracking.


    "I want your cock inside me¡ª! Now¡ª!"


    Aestrea''s lips curled up.


    "Good girl."


    In one brutal thrust, he finally slammed his penis inside of her wet folds.


    With a small tear of blood flowing out.

 Chapter 133 - 133: *End Of Semester (XXXV)*

    "Hah¡ª! Ngh¡­?"


    Zeva''s back arched violently as Aestrea buried himself to the hilt in one brutal thrust, her inner walls stretching around his girth.


    A thin trickle of blood mixed with her arousal, staining the sheets beneath them¡ªproof of how long she''d waited for this.


    Squelch~¡­ Gluck!?


    Her nails raked down his chest, leaving red trails as she gasped.


    "F-Fuck¡­! Y-You¡ª!?"


    Aestrea smirked, gripping her hips hard enough to bruise.


    "Me?" He pulled out slowly, savoring the way her slick clung to him.


    "You''re the one who trapped me here. Don''t complain now."


    Schlick~!


    He slammed back in, the wet slap of skin echoing through the room.


    "A-Ah!? Ngh¡­!?"


    Zeva''s head tossed back, her emerald-green hair fanning across the sheets.


    Her thighs trembled, but Aestrea didn''t let her adjust¡ªhe set a ruthless pace, each thrust punching the air from her lungs.


    Plap! Plap! Plap!?


    "Hah¡­! Y-You bastard¡ª!?"


    She choked out, her voice breaking as he angled his hips, grinding against her deepest spot.


    "Mmm¡­ You''re clenching so tight," Aestrea taunted, his fingers digging into her waist.


    "Like you can''t get enough."


    Zeva''s glowing serpentine eyes flickered, her pride warring with pleasure.


    "I''ll¡ª! Ngh¡­!? I''ll kill you¡ª!"


    "Try."


    He pistoned into her harder, the bedframe creaking under their weight.


    Plap! Plap! Plap!?


    Zeva''s moans climbed higher, her body betraying her as her walls fluttered around him.


    "Hah¡­! A-Aestrea¡ª!?"


    "Already close?" He chuckled darkly, slowing just enough to tease.


    Squelch~¡­


    Her hips jerked, desperate for friction.


    "D-Don''t stop¡ª!"


    Aestrea ignored her, pulling out completely.


    "Ghk¡ª!?"


    Zeva''s hands flew to his shoulders, her claws pricking his skin.


    "W-Why¡ª?!"


    He grabbed her wrists, pinning them above her head.


    "Because I decide when you cum."


    Then he thrust back in, deeper than before.


    Gluck!?


    "A-Ah!? F-Fuck!?" Zeva''s back arched off the bed, her toes curling as her body convulsed.


    Squelch~, squish~, pah!


    Aestrea didn''t let up, pounding into her with precision, his cock dragging against her swollen walls.


    "Ngh¡­! Y-You''re¡ª!?"


    "Say it." He nipped at her collarbone.


    "Say you''re mine."


    Zeva''s breath hitched, her resistance crumbling.


    "I-I''m¡ª!?"


    "Louder."


    Plap! Plap! Plap!?


    "I''M YOURS!?"


    Her scream shattered the air as her orgasm ripped through her, her body locking around him.


    Squirt~!?


    A flood of liquid gushed between them, soaking the sheets beneath her hips. Her eyes rolled back, her mouth hanging open in a lewd ahegao as pleasure overloaded her senses.


    Aestrea finally grinned.


    "Good girl."


    But then¡ª


    "G-Got you!"


    Zeva''s hand snapped up, gripping his wrist with surprising strength. Her glowing eyes burned into his, her lips curling into a feral smile despite her trembling limbs.


    "Tsk¡­!"


    Aestrea tried to pull back, but¡ª


    CRACK!


    With a swift twist, she flipped their positions, straddling him in a flash.


    Thud!


    Now on top, Zeva loomed over him, her sweat-slicked body gleaming in the dim light.


    Her vertical pupils dilated, her chest heaving as she ground her hips against his still-throbbing cock.


    Schlick~¡­


    "You really thought¡­" She panted, her voice husky.


    "That I''d let you win?"


    Aestrea''s glowing crimson eyes met hers, a smirk playing on his lips.


    "Knew you''d fight back."


    Zeva''s grin turned venomous.


    "Then let''s play."


    Without warning, she slammed down, taking his cock deep inside her.


    Gluck!?


    Plap! Plap! Plap!?


    Zeva''s hips pistoned up and down, her slick walls milking Aestrea''s cock with every brutal slam of her body.


    Squelch~! Pah!


    Her inner muscles clenched around him, desperate to wring out his release, but he remained frustratingly composed¡ªhis crimson eyes locked onto hers, his smirk never fading.


    "Ngh¡­!? Hah¡­! Why¡ª!? Why won''t you¡ª!?"


    Her voice was a broken moan, her emerald hair sticking to her sweat-slicked skin as she rode him with reckless abandon.


    "You''re getting sloppy."


    His hands slid up her trembling thighs, fingers digging into her soft flesh before suddenly¡ª


    Squish~!


    He groped her jiggling breasts, his thumbs flicking over her stiffened nipples.


    A-Ah!? Bastard¡ª!?"


    Her back arched, her hips stuttering as another wave of pleasure crashed through her.


    Squelch~! Gluck!?


    Her walls fluttered, her thighs shaking, but Aestrea didn''t let up.


    "Already close again?"


    He leaned forward, his tongue tracing the curve of her breast before¡ª


    Schlorp~!


    He sucked her nipple into his mouth, teeth grazing the sensitive peak.


    "F-Fuck!? Ngh¡­!?"


    Her nails raked down his shoulders, drawing blood as her body convulsed.


    Squirt~!?


    Another orgasm tore through her, her juices gushing around his cock, but still¡ªhe didn''t cum.


    "Hah¡­! Hah¡­! Y-You¡­!"


    Her glowing serpentine eyes burned with frustration, her pride refusing to let her admit defeat.


    Exhaling, she then leaned forward, her breasts pressing against his chest as she captured his lips in a feverish kiss.


    Mmmph~!?


    Aestrea''s hands slid up her trembling back, fingers tangling in her hair as he deepened the kiss, his tongue dominating hers.


    But just as she melted into him¡ª


    Slap!?


    He suddenly spanked her ass, the sharp sting making her jolt.


    "A-Ah!? You¡ª!?"


    Her protest dissolved into a whimper as his other hand groped her breast, pinching her nipple between his fingers.


    Squish~!?


    "Already so sensitive?" he taunted, his breath hot against her ear.


    "And here I thought you wanted to empty me."


    Zeva growled, her serpentine eyes glowing intently.


    "I''ll wring every last drop from you¡­?"


    With a sudden shift, she adjusted her position, her thighs squeezing around his waist as she lifted herself¡ª


    Schliiick~!


    Then slammed back down, taking him to the hilt.


    Plap!?


    Aestrea''s smirk faltered for the first time, a low groan escaping his lips as her inner muscles clenched like a vice.


    "Ngh¡­! Clever girl."


    Zeva''s grin widened.


    "Oh, you have no idea¡­?"


    Her eyes glowed brighter, a weird chill radiating from her core as her long, forked tongue flicked out, tracing his lips.


    Schlorp~!?


    Then¡ª


    Squueeeze~!?


    A sudden, icy tightness enveloped Aestrea''s cock, her serpentine walls coiling around his shaft like a frozen serpent.


    His breath hitched, his hips jerking upward involuntarily as the sensation overwhelmed him.


    "F-Fuck¡ª!?"


    Zeva''s laugh was a sultry purr as she watched his composure crack.


    "Mmm¡­ finally reacting??" S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She rolled her hips in slow, torturous circles, her walls milking him with every movement.


    Gluck~! Squelch~!?


    "Hah¡­! Y-You¡­!"


    Aestrea''s fingers dug into her hips, his nails leaving crescent marks on her skin. Zeva leaned down, her lips brushing his ear as she whispered, her voice dripping with madness¡ª


    "Cum inside me, Aestrea.?"


    Plap! Plap! Plap!?


    Her pace turned brutal, her ass slamming against his thighs with enough force to bruise.


    "Fill me up¡­? Breed me¡­?"


    Squelch~! Gluck~!?


    Her words sent a primal shudder through him, his cock twitching violently inside her.


    "You''re mine now¡­? MINE¡ª!?"


    Aestrea''s control had completely shattered.


    Throb~!?


    Groaning, he yanked her down, his hips pistoning upward as he spilled deep inside her.


    Splurt~! Splurt~!?


    Zeva''s back arched, a scream tearing from her throat as her own climax crashed over her.


    Squirt~!?


    Her juices gushed around him, her walls fluttering wildly as she milked him for every last drop.


    Drip~! Drip~!?


    Panting, she collapsed against his chest, her body trembling from the aftershocks. Aestrea''s arms wrapped around her, his breath ragged against her neck.


    For a moment, there was only silence¡ªbroken by the sound of their racing hearts.


    Then, Zeva lifted her head, her glowing eyes locking onto his.


    "¡­Again."


    Aestrea''s smirk returned.


    "Tsk... Greedy little serpent."


    Plap?!


    And the room was filled once more with the sounds of their sinful union.


    ¡ª


    [Aestrea''s POV]


    Our encounter lasted more than twelve hours.


    It didn''t matter how many times I made Zeva orgasm; instead of getting more sensitive, she only seemed to get wilder.


    But well...


    I guess I now have another crazy woman to deal with.


    It''s 5 AM, and I''m lying in bed, the kind of bed that''s been enchanted with the [Cleanse] spell more times than I can count¡ªat least fifty, if not more.


    I glance down, and there she is. Zeva.


    "...Mhm."


    She''s humming softly, her fingers lazily tracing circles on my chest. Her eyes have gone back to normal, the glow from earlier now faded.


    My body''s covered in marks¡ªhickeys, bite marks, and some of them are even bleeding. My chest stings from where she left her mark, but I guess that''s just part of the deal with her.


    I couldn''t help but sigh, glancing down at the mess she made.


    "...Honey."


    She called me out.


    During the fifth hour, she started calling me this.


    "Yeah?"


    I raised an eyebrow.


    "Are we official now?" she asked, looking at me with those reddened cheeks, her eyes softening as she waited for an answer.


    For someone who was like a wild serpent just a few minutes ago, she looked terrifyingly cute.


    However, this question always bothered me.


    This was something I wasn''t sure how to handle.


    But dodging it wasn''t going to work anymore.


    I shifted slightly, unsure of how to answer, but I had to be honest with her.


    This was important.


    "Should we make this public... so those vixens won''t approach you in the academy?" she mumbled as her fingers dug into my arm, a tight grip that felt possessive, but somehow... needy.


    I sighed softly.


    "Zeva."


    I called out her name.


    "Yes, Honey?"


    She looked at me with those wide eyes again, her lips slightly parted.


    "You know..." I started, swallowing hard.


    "You''re not the only person I have... ''feelings'' for."


    I chose my words carefully, hoping that I wouldn''t come off too blunt. But this was the truth, and there was no point in pretending otherwise.


    Saying something like "You''re not the only one I''m hooking up with" would have sounded too casual, and that wasn''t what I meant at all.


    This approach was necessarily better.


    Zeva froze for a moment, her body stiffening as she lowered her gaze.


    "...I know that." She said quietly, her fists clenching against the sheets.


    But then, her voice cracked.


    "But... I somehow still want you all to myself!"


    She looked up at me, her eyes glowing again, this time with a deeper intensity.


    Her voice rose, sharper now.


    "Is that wrong?!" she snapped, her eyes turning back into those vertical slits, like a snake''s, glowing and dangerous.


    I just sighed and reached out, gently caressing her head, trying to calm her down.


    "I know..."


    "It''s all my fault. But you do have a choice."


    This was probably the worst method to use in this kind of situation, but I decided to be honest with her.


    "I''m not going to ruin the other relationships just to be with you."


    Her body stiffened even more, and she bit her lower lip, holding her breath.


    I continued, trying to stay steady.


    "You can either accept the women around me... or you can leave me entirely."


    She froze.


    For a moment, there was nothing but silence, her whole body trembling slightly.


    Then, she let out a long, deep sigh.


    She took several slow breaths, trying to calm herself down.


    "...As long as I don''t have to meet them face-to-face, it should be fine."


    Her voice was softer, but I could still hear that dangerous edge in it.


    Her eyes glowed for a second, then widened in realization.


    "Because if I do..."


    She paused, her voice dropping to a dangerous, icy tone, full of murderous intent.


    "I don''t fucking know what I''ll do to them."


    I felt a chill run down my spine as I heard her words.


    My throat went completely dry.


    Fuck...


    Why am I so unlucky with women?


    Why can''t they all just be like Alaine?


    Fucking hell.

 Chapter 134 - 134: End Of Semester (XXXVI)

    "Fuuu..."


    I exhaled deeply, finally leaving Zeva''s home.


    After that conversation, I ended up staying a bit longer than I''d planned. But, strangely enough, she seemed much calmer this time¡ªway calmer than before.


    Now, I was heading back to my dorm.


    Only three more days until the end of the semester.


    And with that...


    I''d be done with this damn academy.


    I could already feel the relief.


    Gosh, how I miss Silverleaf. The city, the people... and especially those little guys.


    I couldn''t wait to see them again.


    I walked down the bustling streets, people chatting, shopping, or just enjoying their time. Small stalls lined the road, selling everything from trinkets to street food.


    Couples walked hand-in-hand, lost in their own world.


    ...Couples, huh?


    I couldn''t help but think of Vivian. I hope she''s doing alright.


    And there''s also Maria and Mia.


    My relationship with them isn''t as close as it is with Vivian, but Mia especially... she''s always been so forward with me.


    "...They must have gotten stronger."


    I mumbled to myself.


    "Who''s gotten stronger?"


    A voice suddenly interrupted my thoughts.


    "...Rose?"


    I turned around, surprised to hear her voice.


    But as soon as I saw her, I frowned.


    Her eyes were heavy, dark circles under them.


    She looked like someone who hadn''t slept in weeks.


    "You alright?"


    I couldn''t help but ask in concern.


    "...Yes."


    She answered, but there was a clear irritation in her tone.


    "You sure? You don''t look¡ª"


    "I''m fine, Aestrea." She cut me off sharply, her annoyance clear.


    What''s up with her today?


    Despite her sleepy eyes, there was something different about her. Her hair was styled, and her clothes... well, she wasn''t wearing the usual academy uniform.


    She was actually dressed... like she was out to do something.


    Is today a ''revolt day'' for her?


    We stood there for a moment in silence, and honestly?


    The whole thing felt weird.


    "...Do you need something?" I asked, trying to break the tension.


    "...Yeah."


    "What?"


    "...Kiss me."


    I blinked in surprise.


    "Huh?"


    My eyes widened.


    "W-what did you say?"


    I was actually surprised by her bold words.


    Every interaction I had with her made her shy, and now, she was asking me to kiss her directly, which was VERY unusual of her.


    "I said..."


    She took a step forward, her soft mountains slamming against my chest, as she hooked her arms around my neck, pulling me closer.


    "Kiss me."


    She looked up at me, her lips perked up as she tiptoed, closing her eyes.


    I stared at her in silence for a moment.


    Sigh...


    I could''ve kissed her, really.


    I wanted to.


    But...


    Plop!


    I flicked her forehead instead.


    "...What are you doing, Rose? Did you have a drink or something?" I smiled, looking at her with calm eyes.


    Rose winced, her hand shooting up to rub the spot where I flicked her. She shot me a glare, her eyes filled with frustration.


    "...I''m not talking to you anymore!"


    With that, she spun around and stormed off, leaving me standing there.


    I stared after her, the smile that had crept onto my face fading.


    "...Not this shit again..."


    My eyebrows furrowed.


    Mana Stress.


    That''s what it was called.


    It''s a kind of stress related to overusing mana, pushing it beyond its natural limit.


    When someone gets Mana Stress, their mental state starts to fracture. They become the exact opposite of themselves¡ªlike they''re switching personalities.


    And just looking at Rose... S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    I could tell that''s exactly what was going on with her.


    But it''s not a big deal. It''s not dangerous. She just needs to rest. Maybe take a break from using her mana for a while.


    That''s probably a problem for her since she''s a full-fledged mage, but still, if she wants to get better, she needs to do it.


    Anyway...


    This wind is quite nice.


    Maybe I should go to the black market and meet up with Yara.


    I can take the opportunity to tell her goodbye and talk about the assassin organization that attacked me.


    With that in mind, I turned down one of the narrow, shady alleys just off the main street.


    Funny thing is, every corner in this part of town seemed to have some kind of secret path leading into the black market.


    I dunno why.


    As I moved through the dim alley, I spread out my mana, carefully checking everything around me.


    I kept an eye on the people sitting or lying along the walls¡ªbeggars, drunks, shady types. Anyone could be a threat.


    Step...!


    And just as I expected.


    One of them tried to jump me.


    "Haaaa..."


    I let out a long, annoyed sigh.


    Fwip!


    I instantly turned around and grabbed the wrist of the guy who was going to attack me.


    Crack!


    I twisted it sharply.


    The sharp sound of bone snapping echoed off the walls.


    "AAARGHHHH!!"


    The guy screamed in pain, loud and broken.


    Before he could even try to cry out again¡ª


    Fwoop!


    CRASH!


    I threw him hard against the stone wall. He slammed into it with a thud, then crumpled to the ground. Blood started to pool around him, thick and dark.


    "...Anyone else?"


    I turned my head slowly, letting my eyes scan the others still lurking nearby.


    "N-no, no, of course not, sir..."


    They backed away quickly¡ªhands raised, eyes wide.


    I let out a soft sigh and shook my head.


    They were still harboring bad intentions towards me.


    ¡º Ice Generation! (? 1st-level Spell ?) ¡»


    A small shard of ice formed in my hand with a soft hum.


    Without hesitation¡ª


    Fwoop!


    Splurt!


    I sent it flying straight into the man on the ground.


    Blood sprayed as it hit him. He let out a weak, wet groan.


    "This is your only warning," I said plainly.


    "HAH!!"


    That did it¡ªthey all scattered like rats, running in every direction.


    With the path clear again, I kept walking deeper into the passage.


    The air got colder, the lights dimmer.


    Then, right at the end of the narrow tunnel, I saw a big man standing in front of a stone doorway.


    Something about his face looked familiar.


    ...Wait.


    Wasn''t he at Yara''s place?


    As soon as he saw me, the man stepped forward and bowed politely.


    "Ah, Mr. Moon. It''s a pleasure to see you."


    I stopped and narrowed my eyes.


    "...You know me?"


    He smiled gently, standing up straight.


    "Why, of course. You''re our mistress''s little husband, aren''t you? My brother made sure to let me know about you."


    My eyebrow twitched up.


    Little husband?


    Seriously?


    I stared at the guy for a second.


    "Little husband?" I repeated, my eyebrow twitching.


    The man grinned, completely unbothered. He had a thick build, taller than me by at least a head, with broad shoulders that made him look like a damn boulder.


    "That''s what my brother said," he nodded.


    "You''re the lover of our mistress, after all."


    I sighed, rubbing the bridge of my nose.


    "Just open the door."


    The guy chuckled but obeyed, stepping aside and pushing open the heavy stone door.


    Creeeak...


    The smell of smoke, alcohol, and something faintly metallic hit me immediately.


    The black market was always like this¡ªdim lights, people hunched over tables making shady deals, and merchants whispering about ''special products'' they had in stock.


    I stepped inside, walking past a few stalls selling everything from enchanted daggers to stolen spellbooks. Some eyes followed me, but no one dared to get too close.


    Smart.


    I made my way toward the deeper part of the market, where Yara usually stayed.


    Sure enough, I spotted her sitting in her usual spot¡ªa plush seat in a private booth, one leg crossed over the other, swirling a glass of red wine in her hand.


    She looked up as I approached, a sly smile curling on her lips.


    "Well, well, if it isn''t my dear Aestrea," she purred.


    "Finally coming to visit your wife?"


    I exhaled.


    "Since when are you my wife?"


    "Since you let me leave a mark on you," she teased, taking a slow sip of her drink.


    I ignored that.


    Instead, I pulled out a chair and sat down across from her, leaning forward with my arms crossed on the table.


    "We need to talk."


    Yara''s smile didn''t move. Calm, like always.


    "About what?"


    "An assassin group came after me not long ago. I want to know which group it was and their location."


    Her expression twitched.


    The playful look in her eyes disappeared. Her brow tightened.


    A small vein popped on her forehead.


    Crack!


    The glass in her hand shattered without warning, sharp shards falling to the floor.


    "They seriously tried to kill you?!" she snapped.


    Her voice was cold¡ªscary cold.


    And then¡­


    The air around us started shaking.


    The space around us began to crack.


    Like... literally crack.


    Crk¡­ crk...


    Lines appeared in the space itself, like cracks on glass, and beyond them, tiny stars shone through like we were looking into another dimension.


    "Yara! Hey¡ªcalm down!"


    I quickly reached out and grabbed her shoulders.


    As soon as she felt my touch, her wild, glowing eyes began to calm. The rage in them slowly faded. She let out a deep sigh, closing her eyes for a moment.


    "I''ll take care of them," she muttered.


    "I''ll wipe them out myself."


    I interrupted almost immediately.


    "No."


    I refused her proposal.


    There was no way I was leaving the job of destroying that organization to somebody else after they attacked it.


    She opened her eyes, confused.


    "There''s no way I''m letting anyone else handle this," I said.


    "They came for me. I''m going to finish this myself."


    Yara stared at me for a moment.


    Then¡­ she smiled.


    Not a teasing one this time.


    She walked over slowly, heels clicking against the stone floor with every step.


    Click¡­ click¡­ click...


    She stopped in front of me, then suddenly sat on my lap, her hands resting on my shoulders as she leaned in.


    I leaned back on the couch, one eyebrow raised.


    "Well¡­" she purred, tilting my chin up with one finger, her lips just inches away from mine.


    "What''s your plan then, my dear?"


    She gave a slow, sly grin, pressing her body just a little closer.


    I couldn''t help but chuckle softly, wrapping my arm around her waist, pulling her in just a little more.


    "First, I need information..."


    I slowly lowered my hands.


    "I need names, hideouts, anything. I''m going to tear this whole thing apart, one piece at a time."


    Upon hearing my words, she gave a playful sigh, like she was both annoyed and impressed.


    "That''s so like you¡­" she whispered.


    "Reckless. Stubborn... Sexy."


    I raised an eyebrow.


    This way she was speaking was quite familiar to me.


    I think it was when I met her that she gave me multiple adjectives, telling me how "awesome", perfect, and divine I was.


    It was something between those lines.


    "And so... what shall we do now?"


    She curled her lips.


    At that moment, my hands were now blatantly squeezing her peach-like ass.


    "Mhm~, I wonder..."

 Chapter 135 - 135: *End Of Semester (XXXVII)*

    "Ahh~... You''re being awfully bold today, Aestrea~," she purred, her lips brushing against my ear, sending shivers down my spine.


    I smirked, giving her another firm squeeze.


    Squish!


    Before sliding my hands up to her waist, gripping the silky material of her dress.


    "You started it."


    Her breath hitched as I tugged her closer, our bodies flush against each other. The heat between us was undeniable, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife.


    Yara''s fingers tangled in my hair, tugging lightly as she leaned in, her lips hovering just above mine.


    "Mmm¡­ Then finish it..." she whispered softly into my ear.


    I didn''t hesitate.


    "Mmph!?"


    Our lips crashed together, hot and demanding.


    She tasted like wine and something sweet, her tongue sliding against mine in a slow, teasing dance.


    My hands roamed lower again, gripping her thighs before lifting her effortlessly, her legs wrapping around my waist as I stood.


    "Ah!~"


    She gasped into the kiss, her nails digging into my shoulders as I carried her toward the back of the booth, where a plush lounge awaited.


    I laid her down, her body sinking into the cushions, her dress riding up just enough to reveal the smooth skin of her thighs.


    My fingers traced along the inside, teasing, before¡ª


    Slap!


    I gave her thigh a light smack, earning a sharp, breathless laugh from her.


    "Ngh¡ª! You¡ª!"


    I smirked, leaning down to capture her lips again, my hand sliding higher, fingers brushing against the damp fabric between her legs.


    "Hah¡­! You''re¡ªah?¡ªreally not wasting time, are you?" she panted, arching into my touch. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Why would I?" I murmured against her lips, my fingers pressing down.


    Squish~


    Eliciting a shuddering gasp from her.


    Her hips bucked, seeking more friction, her breath coming in short, needy pants.


    "Aestrea¡­" she whined, her voice trembling.


    I chuckled, my fingers hooking into the edge of her panties¡ª


    Riiip.


    "Eep!~"


    The flimsy fabric tore easily, leaving her bare under my touch.


    "W-Wait¡ª!"


    But I didn''t.


    My mouth descended, replacing my fingers, and¡ª


    "A-Ahhhn!~"


    Her back arched off the couch, her hands flying to my hair, gripping tightly as my tongue laved over her sensitive folds.


    "S-So¡­ good¡­!" she moaned, her thighs trembling around my head.


    I smirked against her, my fingers digging into her hips to hold her still as I teased her mercilessly, savoring every twitch, every gasp¡ª


    Until her breath hitched, her body tensing¡ª


    "I-I''m¡ª!"


    And then¡ª


    "Hah! Ahhngh! Haaa?!"


    She came with a shuddering cry, her legs clamping around me as she rode out the waves of pleasure.


    Her body went limp against the cushions, chest rising fast as she caught her breath.


    But before I could pull away, her fingers¡ªstill tangled in my hair¡ªyanked me up.


    "Heh¡ª! Not so fast," she breathed, her voice still shaky but grinning.


    Before I could react, her hands shoved at my shoulders¡ªthump!¡ªpinning me back against the couch.


    She swung a leg over my hips, straddling me, her dress bunched up around her waist.


    "My turn."


    Shk!


    Her nails dragged down my chest, making me hiss. Then her fingers hooked into the waistband of my pants, yanking them down just enough to free my cock.


    Snap!


    The elastic stung against my hips, and I groaned.


    "The hell¡ª?"


    Yara smirked, her fingers wrapping around my cock, her grip just tight enough to make my hips jerk.


    "Hah¡ª!"


    She laughed, low and wicked, her thumb swiping over the tip¡ªsmear¡ªspreading the wetness already there.


    "Someone''s eager."


    Slk... slk~


    I gritted my teeth as her hand started moving, slow at first, then faster, her wrist twisting just right on the upstroke.


    My hands flew to her thighs, fingers digging in.


    "Fuck, Yara¡ª"


    She leaned down, her lips brushing my ear.


    "Mm, say it again." Her free hand grabbed my wrist¡ªclamp¡ªand shoved it between her legs.


    "Feel how wet you made me?"


    Squish~


    My fingers slid against her, and she let out a shaky moan, her hips grinding down. But she didn''t stop stroking me, her pace relentless.


    Slk-slk-slk!


    Drip...


    Precum dripped down my length, her thumb catching it, smearing it in circles over the head.


    "Gonna come already?" she teased, squeezing tighter.


    My back arched, my toes curling.


    "Shit, slow down¡ª!"


    She didn''t.


    Plap, plap, plap!


    Instead, her hand sped up, flesh hitting flesh, her breath hot against my neck.


    "Come on," she panted.


    "Let me feel it."


    I choked out a curse, hips bucking as heat coiled low in my gut¡ª


    Then....


    "Fuck¡ª!"


    I came hard, stripes of white painting her fingers and my stomach.


    Drip¡­ drip¡­


    Squeeze...


    Yara slowed, milking the last pulses out of me before lifting her hand, licking a stripe off her fingers.


    "Mmm. Sweet."


    I slumped back, chest heaving, as she grinned down at me.


    "Now," she purred, shifting her hips until I could feel her heat pressed against me.


    "Shall we go to the main event?"


    She licked her red lips.


    Her nails dragged down my chest before she reached behind her, fingers hooking into the straps of her dress.


    Shhk.


    The fabric slid down her shoulders, pooling at her waist, leaving her bare except for the torn remains of her panties.


    My hands moved on their own, gripping her waist, pulling her closer.


    She laughed at my actions, breathless, her fingers wrapping around me again guiding me right where she wanted me.


    I didn''t wait.


    With one sharp thrust, I buried myself inside her.


    "Ah!~" Her back arched, nails digging into my shoulders.


    "F-Fuck¡ª!"


    I groaned, my hands gripping her hips as she sank down fully, taking every inch.


    "Tight," I gritted out.


    She rolled her hips, making us both shudder.


    "Mmm¡­ move," she breathed.


    So I did.


    My hands clamped onto her waist as I thrust up hard enough to make her gasp.


    "Ah!~"


    She rocked against me, her thighs trembling, her nails scraping down my back¡ªscratch!


    I hissed, my grip tightening as I drove into her again¡ªplap!¡ªand again¡ªplap! plap!


    The sound of skin slapping filled the room, her moans growing louder with every thrust.


    "A-Ahhn!~"


    Her fingers tangled in my hair, and she yanked my head back as she leaned down, her teeth sinking into my neck.


    "Ngh¡ª! Shit, Yara¡ª!"


    She licked the spot before whispering.


    "Harder."


    So I gave her what she wanted.


    My hands slid down to her ass lifting her slightly before slamming her back down.


    "Ah!~ Fuck!~" Her legs locked around me, her body shaking.


    I could feel her tightening around me, her breath coming in short, desperate pants.


    "Aestrea¡ªI''m¡ª!"


    I didn''t let up, pounding into her¡ªplap! plap! plap!¡ªuntil her whole body tensed.


    "Nngh¡ª! Hah¡­ haah¡­?!"


    She came with a cry, her back arching, her nails digging into my skin hard enough to leave marks.


    I wasn''t far behind.


    With a few more rough thrusts, I buried myself deep, my own release hitting me like a punch to the gut.


    "Fuck¡ª!"


    My grip on her hips turned bruising as I spilled inside her, my vision going white at the edges.


    For a second, neither of us moved.


    Then¡ª


    Thud.


    She collapsed against me, her chest heaving, her skin slick with sweat.


    "Haa..."


    She breathed heavily, but then she turned towards me.


    "Round two?" she asked with her signature smile.


    "Sure."


    ¡ª


    "Haah..."


    I exhaled deeply.


    "...Why are you sighing?" Yara asked me.


    Our session lasted a bit more than three hours.


    "Just... because." I stretched my arms slightly.


    Then, I leaned over and kissed Yara''s forehead.


    "I''ll go and take a shower."


    "Without me?"


    "...Can you even walk?" I looked at her trembling legs.


    "...I just need to use magic," Yara replied faintly.


    As soon as she uttered those words, a faint green light enveloped her entire body, and she quickly stood up.


    "Let''s go now~" she purred excitedly.


    I looked at her for a moment.


    Then, I smiled faintly.


    "Eup~!"


    I picked her up in a princess carry, making her yelp in surprise.


    "Let''s go then."


    I brought her to the bathroom, but as soon as we entered, I turned on the hot water before quickly leaning towards Yara.


    "Mhm?!"


    I kissed her lips, which she gladly reciprocated.


    Then, I slowly parted out my tongue, extending towards the insides of her mouth. It immediately met another slippery object and interlaced with it.


    "Chuu, churup, slup!"


    Our tongue met each other as we kissed and sucked on each other''s lips, creating a ton of wet sloppy noises.


    And as soon as our lips parted, a small bridge of saliva extended between our tongues before we dived right in.


    Then, I lifted her up even more than before putting my dick close to her wet entrance, before pushing it in.


    "MHMM!"


    Her eyes widened as a muffled moan came out of her mouth.


    Plap!


    I started moving my hips, slamming my cock against her wet dripping pussy continuously, making her breasts jiggle.


    They were too appetizing, so using my free hand, I grabbed one of them before pinching the nipple slightly.


    "Mmmnn?~ Ngh¡­ ah! Hah¡­!"


    Yara''s moans spilled into my mouth as our tongues tangled wetly, her hips twitching every time my cock bottomed out inside her.


    The hot water cascaded over us, steaming up the bathroom, but the heat between our bodies was far more overwhelming.


    Plap! Plap! Plap!


    The slick, rhythmic slaps of skin against skin echoed off the tiles, mingling with the shower''s spray.


    Her pussy clenched around me, dripping arousal down my shaft as I fucked her harder, her legs trembling even with the support of magic.


    "F-fuck¡­ you''re so tight¡­"


    I growled against her lips before trailing kisses down her jaw, nipping at her throat.


    "Aahn!? Y-yes¡­ more¡­!"


    Her fingers dug into my shoulders, nails leaving faint red marks as she arched into me.


    I smiled, squeezing her breast harder, rolling the stiffened nipple between my fingers.


    "You love this, don''t you?"


    "Mmmh!? I-I do¡­ ah!?"


    Her back pressed against the shower wall as I pinned her there, lifting her slightly to adjust the angle.


    The next thrust made her squeal, my cockhead grinding against that sweet, spongy spot deep inside her.


    "Nngh!? T-too much¡­ t-too deep¡ª!"


    "But you''re dripping all over me," I murmured, watching her juices coat my length with every pullback.


    "You want me to stop?"


    "N-no!? D-don''t you dare¡ªah!?"


    I chuckled before snapping my hips forward again, harder this time.


    Plap! Plap!


    SCHLICK!


    Her entire body jerked, her walls fluttering around me as a mini-orgasm ripped through her.


    "Hyaaah!? N-no, I''m¡ªI''m cumming!?"


    Her thighs clamped around my waist, her pussy milking me greedily as she shuddered.


    I didn''t let up, fucking her through it, the squelching sounds growing lewder as her arousal gushed out around my thrusts.


    "You look so fucking beautiful like this," I groaned, kissing her hungrily.


    "Mmmph!? S-shut up¡­ ngh!?"


    She whined, but her hips rolled to meet mine, craving more.


    I switched our positions, turning her around to brace against the wall. Her ass pressed against me, round and inviting, and I couldn''t resist giving it a sharp slap.


    "Eep!?"


    "Spread your legs wider," I ordered, guiding her hands to the tiles.


    She obeyed, trembling, and I didn''t waste time. With one hand gripping her hip, I shoved back inside in one smooth stroke.


    "GAH!? S-so f-full¡­!"


    "Good girl."


    Plap! Plap! Plap!


    The sound of our bodies colliding filled the room, her ass jiggling with every thrust.


    Her moans grew higher, more desperate.


    "Aah!? H-harder¡­!?"


    I obliged, slamming into her relentlessly, the water splashing around us as her tits bounced. My fingers found her clit, rubbing tight circles, and she nearly screamed.


    "I-I''m¡ª!?"


    "Do it."


    And she did.


    "NYAAAH!?"


    Her back arched violently as her climax tore through her, her pussy clamping down like a vice.


    The sensation pushed me over the edge, and with a final, deep thrust, I buried myself inside her, groaning as I came.


    "Hnng! Fuck¡­!"


    Pulse after pulse, I filled her up, our heavy breaths and the shower''s spray the only sounds left.


    Slowly, I pulled out, watching my spend drip from her used pussy.


    She slumped against the wall, legs finally giving out, but I caught her, holding her close.


    "Mmm¡­ you''re insatiable," she mumbled, nuzzling into my chest.


    "...I am? You''re the cat in heat here."


    I smiled, raising an eyebrow.


    "What do you mean?"


    "...You''re still holding my cock."


    "Oh."

 Chapter 136 - 136: End Of Semester (XXXVIII)

    "Oh! I finally got the info we needed."


    Yara suddenly spoke up while we were both relaxing in the warm bathtub. Her voice broke the calm silence, and I looked over at her.


    She moved her fingers in the air in a strange pattern, and then¡ªwhoosh!¡ªa big glowing screen popped up in front of us.


    My eyes instantly widened in surprise.


    "¡­Star Society?" I read out loud, raising an eyebrow.


    Yara''s smile dropped into a small frown.


    "Yeah¡­ this might be a problem," she muttered.


    "Huh? Why?" I asked, tilting my head.


    Instead of answering right away, Yara leaned in and kissed my neck gently, her lips feeling warm against my skin.


    Then she gave me a small nibble and sighed.


    "Even though I run most of the underworld, the Star Society isn''t a group I can mess with easily," she said, brushing her wet hair behind her ear.


    "They''ve got power, real power. One of the biggest organizations in the empire. And that dumb emperor? He''s not planning on wiping them out anytime soon."


    She sounded annoyed now, her eyebrows pulled together.


    "They''re into all kinds of twisted and disgusting stuff. Their main goal is to create new types of humans. They mix demon blood with regular people, try weird experiments, and see what happens. If it works, they plan to use those creations to take control of the world."


    I leaned back slightly, letting her words sink in.


    "That sounds truly messed up," I muttered.


    "Because it is," Yara said.


    "And to make things worse, they''re working with the Dark Order. You know them, right?"


    I nodded slowly.


    That name wasn''t one I could forget.


    "So yeah," she continued.


    "Even if I sent all my people after them, I doubt we''d be able to wipe them out quickly. We''d be lucky to scratch the surface. If we''re serious about taking them down, it could take months¡­ maybe even years."


    I let out a quiet sigh, watching the screen in front of us slowly shift through names and places.


    This was way bigger than I thought.


    "And¡­ there''s one more thing I''ve been wondering," Yara said, turning to look at me.


    "Yeah?" I replied.


    Her eyes narrowed a little, but not in an angry way.


    Just curious.


    "How did you even get a group like that to go after you?" she asked.


    "You don''t just end up on their radar by accident."


    I blinked.


    "Haah..."


    I let out a deep sigh and scratched the back of my head, feeling a bit awkward.


    "So... I kinda¡­ stole their most precious experiment."


    Yara blinked, not quite processing it yet.


    Then her eyes snapped wide open.


    "YOU WHAT?!"


    I flinched a little, feeling my ears ache from her scream.


    "I mean¡­ she was sent to kill me, alright? I fought her, I won, and¡­ well¡­ somehow, I ended up adopting her."


    "¡­What?" Yara stared at me, clearly confused.


    "How does someone adopt a person who literally tried to murder them?" she asked, giving me that look like I''d grown a second head.


    "It just¡­ happened, okay?" I said, throwing my hands up a little.


    The truth is that it all happened because Lumi felt a connection with Chaerin. She saw something in her¡­ something that connected both of them.


    Lumi asked me to take her in, and I just couldn''t say no.


    Not after seeing the girl cry like that.


    Honestly, if Lumi hadn''t said anything, I might''ve just let her go.


    Yeah... if it was the old me.


    I would probably kill her if it was the ''me'' from now.


    Yara looked at me for a moment longer, then let out a soft laugh and shook her head.


    "Ahh... you really are a box full of surprises," she said with a warm smile before wrapping her arms around me and pulling me close.


    She leaned in, gently nibbling on my neck again, making me shiver a little.


    I tilted my head back without thinking, giving her more space.


    "Yeah," I muttered.


    "Anyway, I know I''ll have to face them sooner or later. I just didn''t expect them to be this strong."


    She paused for a second, then ran her tongue slowly over the same spot on my neck, sending a small shiver down my spine.


    "Lick?... Don''t worry, Honey," she whispered sweetly.


    "I''ll do everything I can to help you."


    I sank a little deeper into the warm water, letting my arms rest on the edge of the tub.


    The steam floated around us, making everything feel soft and quiet.


    Yara leaned her head against my shoulder, her fingers slowly drawing circles on my chest, just like she always did when she was feeling close.


    The water gently sloshed every now and then when she shifted her legs or moved a little closer.


    "So¡­" she mumbled, lifting her head a little and resting her chin on my shoulder.


    "This girl you adopted¡­ what''s her name? What''s she like?"


    I thought about it for a while before replying.


    "Chaerin," I said at last.


    "At first, she was super shy, barely talked. But now¡­ she''s getting better. Still got the mind of a kid, though. The only reason she looks grown-up is ''cause of those damn experiments they did to her."


    "She''s really cute, though. Like¡­ innocent cute. The kind that makes you wanna protect her."


    "Mmm¡­" Yara hummed lightly, her breath warm on my shoulder.


    Then, out of nowhere¡ª


    "¡­I''m getting jealous," she said and suddenly bit down on my shoulder.


    "Ow¡ªhey!"


    "Oh! And she also¡ª"


    "Okay, okay, that''s enough," Yara cut in, rubbing her cheek against my neck and shutting me up before I could say another word.


    Her voice got quieter. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I don''t wanna hear about her anymore¡­"


    "But you aske¡ª"


    "I don''t care what I asked. I''m jealous now... Chu?"


    She gave my cheek a soft kiss right after, making me chuckle.


    "She''s my daughter, Yara. Why are you jealous of her?" I leaned my head back and looked at her with a raised brow.


    Yara narrowed her eyes and mumbled.


    "She still has an adult body¡­"


    "So what? She''s five years old."


    "Mhm. I don''t care," she huffed, puffing her cheeks slightly as she curled closer to me.


    "Stop talking about her. You''re with me right now, not her."


    I shook my head and smiled.


    Honestly, it was kinda funny.


    The Queen of the Underworld, this powerful, scary woman¡­ was getting jealous over a kid.


    "¡­By the way, Yara¡­"


    I finally spoke up after a little pause.


    Honestly, since Yara and I shared the same opinion about the Emperor, I thought maybe it was okay to tell her what was really going on¡­ about what was coming soon.


    "Yes, Honey?" she replied, looking at me with a soft smile and a faint blush on her cheeks.


    And seeing her like that¡ªlooking so gentle, so sweet¡­


    ¡­made me change my mind.


    Maybe it wasn''t such a good idea after all.


    If anyone found out she was involved, things could get really bad for her.


    People like Eleonora, Zeva, the Sword Duke¡­ they were all loyal to the Emperor.


    Powerful people. Ruthless when needed.


    Even if Yara was stronger than some of them, if they all joined forces against her, she''d be in serious danger.


    So no. I couldn''t risk it.


    Still, now that I''d already opened my mouth, I had to say something.


    And I knew exactly what.


    "In a few days, I''ll be heading back to Silverleaf," I said quietly.


    "So I probably won''t be able to see you that often for a while."


    "Silverleaf¡­?" she repeated, tilting her head a bit.


    "Yeah. I''ve been staying here as part of the Royal Academy''s exchange program. But now that the semester''s over, I have to go back to my original academy. It''s¡­ kind of far."


    Her smile faded just a little.


    "¡­How far?" she asked, her voice quieter now.


    "It''s way out near the border¡­ close to the Elven Kingdom."


    "¡­Ah," she let out this soft little noise, and then her body suddenly trembled slightly.


    "Yara? Are you alright?" I asked, leaning closer to check her face.


    "Am I alright¡­?" she repeated, almost like she was asking herself that question.


    Then she looked up at me.


    "¡­Why are you leaving me?"


    "Huh? I''m not leaving you," I said, confused by her strange words.


    "I''m just going back to where I came from. That''s all."


    "Where you came from?" she whispered and then laughed quietly.


    "¡­Hahaha¡­"


    Fwoop!


    SPLASH!


    All of a sudden, she moved fast¡ªtwisting my body and pinning me up against the edge of the tub.


    Water splashed everywhere.


    Her wet hair clung to her skin, covering most of her face, but through the strands, I could see her eyes staring straight into mine.


    Dark and serious.


    "...You belong to me, Aestrea."


    Her fingers dug gently into my chest, her breathing slow but heavy, her eyes burning with something¡ªpossessiveness?


    Fear?


    Both?


    I had a feeling something like this might happen.


    After all¡­ this was probably the first time Yara had ever truly fallen for someone.


    So, I wasn''t surprised.


    Not really.


    But still¡­


    So...


    "...?"


    I leaned in and kissed her softly.


    Her lips were warm and a little shaky¡ªlike she was trying not to cry. I held the kiss gently, letting it last a few seconds.


    Then, slowly, I reached up and brushed her wet hair away from her face.


    That''s when I saw it clearly¡ªher expression.


    She looked so heartbroken, biting her lower lip like she was trying to keep it together. Her eyes were a little glossy, and there was this look of quiet pain on her face.


    She didn''t say it, but I knew.


    She wanted to come with me.


    But she couldn''t.


    She had responsibilities here.


    The entire Underworld looked to her. She couldn''t just leave it all behind.


    Still¡­


    I had a way to fix that.


    Because truth be told¡­ I was going to miss her too.


    A lot.


    "...Create a space rift between your house and mine."


    I said softly, looking right into her eyes.


    Her eyebrows lifted, and her eyes widened with surprise.


    "¡­That''s possible, but¡­ I don''t have Void Energy. And even if I did¡ª"


    "Don''t worry about that," I interrupted gently.


    I raised my hand a little.


    A small, flickering wisp of void energy floated just above my palm, swirling in the air like a little shadowy flame.


    Her eyes lit up the moment she saw it¡ªlike someone had just told her the world wasn''t ending after all.


    Without saying another word, she grabbed the back of my neck and pulled me in, kissing me deeply.


    "...Mhm!?"


    Her lips crashed into mine with a passion that burned straight through the steam and warmth of the bath.


    It wasn''t soft or careful this time.


    It was full of need and fire and relief.


    Her fingers dug into my wet skin, and her whole body pressed close, like she never wanted to let go.


    I kissed her back just as deeply, wrapping one arm around her waist, the other hand still holding the wisp of Void Energy glowing faintly between us.


    Her breath hitched against my lips, and I could feel the pounding of her heart through her chest.


    After a few long seconds, our lips slowly parted.


    Yara''s forehead rested gently against mine, her breath a little shaky.


    Her eyes were still closed, and her arms stayed wrapped around me like she was afraid I''d vanish if she let go.


    "I love you, honey..."


    She whispered to me softly, in the most loving tone possible.


    "I love you too."


    She smiled at my words.

 Chapter 137 - 137: End Of Semester (XXXIX)

    "Agh... damn it, Yara!" I grumbled, trying to push her hands away.


    "Mhm..." Yara barely seemed to notice my distress, her fingers still tracing lazy patterns on my chest.


    "I''m going to be late!" I said, panic creeping into my voice.


    She just shrugged lazily.


    "So? Just miss your classes today..."


    "No way!" I snapped, frustrated.


    "Today''s the day the exam results come out! And it''s the last day of the semester!" I hurriedly shook off her hands, quickly glancing at the clock.


    "That also means it''s the last day I''ll see you," she mumbled quietly, a little sadness creeping into her voice.


    "You can visit me through the rift," I shot back quickly.


    "Until then, it''ll take weeks to finish it!" she argued, crossing her arms with a pout.


    I groaned.


    "Gosh...!"


    Without wasting any more time, I muttered under my breath.


    ¡º Cleanse ¡»


    I threw on my academy uniform in a flash, barely pausing to brush my teeth. The clock was ticking, and I couldn''t afford to miss the exam results, not today.


    "...I''ll see ya later!" I called over my shoulder as I bolted for the window.


    Before she could protest, I jumped right out of her bedroom window.


    In mid-air, I snapped my fingers.


    Then, in that instant...


    My red eyes glowed intensely.


    ¡º Time Freeze (? 9th-Level Spell ?) ¡»


    Fwoop!


    Time around me slowed to a halt as I pushed myself forward, sprinting at the highest speed my body could handle.


    The black market was pretty far from the academy, and I really didn''t want to be late for my final day.


    A few seconds later, I could feel the drain on my mana, so I quickly released the time freeze and felt the world rush back into full speed.


    Wind howled around me like a wave crashing against a cliff.


    Gritting my teeth, I pushed harder.


    ¡º Ice Wall! (? 3rd-level Spell ?) ¡»


    I slammed my hand down, and a thick wall of ice shot up behind me.


    I used the wall as leverage, channeling mana into my legs, then pushed off it with everything I had.


    CRACK!


    FWOOP!


    I shot forward, the force of it sending me flying much farther than I intended.


    I was flying.


    Like really flying.


    Fuck...!


    I had probably put too much mana into it, but at least I was going in the right direction now.


    Somehow.


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    Meanwhile, in the academy''s auditorium...


    Students from all years, from first-year to fifth-year, were packed into the large hall, each sitting in their designated seats.


    The air was buzzing with a mix of excitement and nervous energy. Everyone was eager to hear what the headmistress had to say.


    At the front, standing confidently on the podium, Eleonora smiled warmly at the crowd. Her voice, amplified by magic, echoed clearly across the room.


    "Hello, my dear students!" she called, her tone friendly but authoritative.


    The room fell silent as everyone turned their attention to her.


    "Today is a big day for all of you," she began softly.


    "The results of your exams are out. I know how hard you''ve all worked and how important these grades are, not just for your future here at the academy but for everything that comes after. Remember, these marks reflect your effort, but they don''t define you. It''s not the end of the world, no matter the outcome."


    The students shifted in their seats, some nervously adjusting their uniforms while others glanced at their friends.


    A few whispers filled the air as Eleonora paused for a moment.


    She raised her hand, and after waving it, the atmosphere in the room seemed to change.


    In an instant, glowing panels of light appeared in front of each student''s face. On them, their results were displayed for all to see.


    The auditorium erupted in reactions.


    "OOHOOOO!"


    "YES! I PASSED!"


    "LET''S GOOOOOO!"


    Some students let out loud cheers and high-fived each other, their faces lighting up with pride and relief.


    Others slumped in their seats, visibly disappointed, their shoulders sagging as they stared at their scores.


    A few quietly whispered to their friends, probably offering comfort or sharing their frustration.


    Eleonora let the reactions die down before raising her hand again, silencing the room.


    "Now," she continued, her voice booming with a hint of excitement.


    "Let''s move on to something even more special... the top five students from all years, those who have achieved the absolute best results!"


    A ripple of anticipation swept through the auditorium, and the students leaned forward in their seats, eager to find out who had made it to the top.


    "Now, from the fifth-year, John Alkey, please come up to the podium!" Eleonora''s voice rang out.


    The moment John''s name was called, a proud grin spread across his face. He stood up from his seat, his chest puffed out with pride, and made his way to the stage.


    The students erupted into cheers, clapping and shouting his name.


    "Go, John!"


    A few students whistled, and there was even a small group of them chanting his name.


    "John! John! John!"


    John couldn''t help but beam at the attention, clearly enjoying the moment. He stepped onto the stage with a big smile, his hands raised in a humble wave to the crowd.


    Eleonora, with a small smile, walked up to him as he reached the podium.


    "John Alkey, congratulations on making it to the top five in the entire academy!" Eleonora announced.


    "And with this honor, you will receive a special prize¡ªa recommendation ticket to the White Knights!"


    At those words, the crowd gasped in unison.


    A murmur of shock rippled through the students.


    Some of them whispered to each other, their eyes wide with disbelief.


    "THE WHITE KNIGHTS?"


    "THE STRONGEST KNIGHT ARMY UNDER THE EMPEROR?"


    "Doesn''t that mean he has a guaranteed future in the Empire?"


    John''s eyes widened in disbelief, and for a moment, he looked like he might faint from the sheer excitement.


    His hands trembled slightly as he bowed to Eleonora, his expression filled with gratitude.


    "Thank you for this incredible opportunity, Headmistress! I will not disappoint you!" he said, his voice full of determination and his hand over his heart as a sign of respect.


    "I hope so."


    John straightened up, his face flushed with pride, and returned to his seat.


    As he did, the murmurs and whispers among the students grew louder. Everyone looked at each other with a mix of envy and longing.


    "Did you hear that? The White Knights... that''s huge!"


    "Man, if fifth place gets a reward like that, imagine what the top spots will get."


    The room buzzed with excitement as the students anxiously waited to see who would be next.


    "Another student from the fifth-year, Harley Puffington, please come up to the stage!" Eleonora called out, her voice cutting through the noise.


    Harley stood up from her seat, her face flushed with both pride and nervousness.


    She slowly walked to the podium, as her blue eyes scanning the crowd as she made her way to the stage, and her blonde hair cascading in soft waves down her back.


    The students erupted into cheers once again, though this time, there was a sense of awe mixed with admiration.


    Harley was well-known across the academy, not only for her excellent grades but also for her beauty.


    A few students even whispered.


    "She''s one of the academy''s top beauties, no doubt about it."


    "Harley! Harley! Harley!" they chanted, their excitement growing by the second.


    Some students were practically leaning out of their seats just to get a better look at her.


    As she reached the stage, Eleonora smiled at her warmly.


    "Harley Puffington, congratulations on securing a spot in the top five!"


    "For your hard work, you''ll be receiving a recommendation letter to join the Royal Mage Court along with a check for 100 platinum coins!"


    At those words, the auditorium exploded with noise. Gasps of disbelief filled the air as students exchanged shocked looks.


    "THE ROYAL MAGE COURT?"


    "She''s going to the Royal Mage Court? That''s one of the most prestigious positions in the Empire!"


    "100 PLATINUM COINS?!"


    Harley''s face lit up, a wide smile spreading across her features.


    She quickly bowed to Eleonora, her eyes sparkling with gratitude.


    "Thank you so much, Headmistress! I''m honored!" she said, her voice full of excitement.


    Eleonora gave a small nod.


    "I''m sure you''ll make us proud."


    Harley stepped back and returned to her seat, but the crowd''s excitement didn''t die down.


    Instead, it only seemed to grow as students looked at each other with widened eyes, muttering excitedly.


    "She got 100 platinum coins... That''s more than enough to live like royalty!" one student whispered.


    "Royal Mage Court¡­ I''d do anything to be in her shoes," another student murmured, eyes filled with envy.


    Before the chatter could get too loud, Eleonora raised her hand, silencing the crowd.


    "Now," she began, her voice cutting through the noise with ease.


    "Next up is one of our brightest students. A third-year student who has already earned the title of the academy''s most promising mage. Please welcome¡­ Rose Firefly!"


    The moment Rose''s name was announced, the entire room seemed to hold its breath. A hush fell over the crowd, and then¡­ the cheers erupted louder than ever before.


    "ROSE! ROSE! ROSE!" students shouted, some of them even standing up to clap.


    Rose Firefly, known not only for her incredible talent but also her striking beauty, gracefully walked to the stage.


    Her fiery red hair flowed behind her like a living flame, and her bright red eyes glistened with confidence.


    She wore a calm expression as she approached the podium.


    The students couldn''t stop staring¡ªsome were entranced by her beauty, while others were simply in awe of her accomplishments.


    She had always been one of the top students in the academy, and her charm only added to her reputation.


    As Rose reached the podium, Eleonora smiled faintly, tapping her shoulder.


    "Rose Firefly, you''ve proven yourself to be an exceptional mage, both in skill and character. It is with great honor that I announce you as one of the top five students of the academy."


    The crowd grew silent in anticipation.


    Eleonora continued.


    "For your achievements, you will be receiving a check for 200 platinum coins, and more importantly, an incredible opportunity... You will have the chance to become the Fire Queen''s only disciple!"


    The announcement sent shockwaves through the crowd. Gasps, shouts of disbelief, and whispers filled the air. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "The Fire Queen''s disciple?" one student exclaimed. "Isn''t that one of the most prestigious honors a mage can receive?"


    "She''s going to become the Fire Queen''s disciple?" another voice asked in awe.


    "That''s unbelievable! She''s going to be one of the most powerful mages in the Empire!"


    Rose''s eyes widened for a split second, but then she quickly regained her composure.


    "Thank you so much, Headmistress! I will do my best to honor this opportunity."


    Eleonora smiled back.


    "I have no doubt you will."


    As Rose turned and walked back to her seat, the applause grew even louder. The students were completely amazed by the incredible rewards she had received.


    "200 platinum coins? And she gets to be the Fire Queen''s disciple?!"


    The excitement in the room was palpable.


    Everyone was on edge, eagerly waiting to see who would be next.


    What other incredible rewards would the top students receive?


    "Now¡­ Violet Von Luxuria, our dear Student Council President, and the second-place winner... please step forward."


    Eleonora announced, a smile playing on her lips.

 Chapter 138 - 138: End Of Semester (XL)

    As soon as Eleonora''s words echoed through the auditorium, a heavy silence fell over the room.


    The students, who had been chattering excitedly just moments before, suddenly stopped, like they were all frozen in place.


    Not a single sound. Just pure silence.


    Then, from the sea of students, a figure slowly stood up.


    Her long, violet hair shimmered in the light as if it were made of polished amethyst crystals. It flowed down her shoulders and back in soft waves.


    She walked with a grace and calmness that made everyone''s eyes follow her without a single blink.


    Step, step...


    Her face held a peaceful expression, with a small smile placed on her lips.


    As she reached the podium, the entire room erupted.


    A wave of shocked gasps filled the space.


    "Wow... It''s really her!"


    "She''s finally stepping up to get her reward!"


    "But still... I didn''t expect her to only get second place!"


    "Right? She always gets first place!"


    Violet Von Luxuria had just entered the spotlight, and every student in the room was in awe of her.


    She wasn''t just any student; she was the one who had been the Student Council President for four consecutive years, the one who always held the top spot, and the one who everyone looked up to.


    "She''s perfect... how does she do it?"


    "She''s the best, no doubt. No one could ever top her."


    As Violet stepped onto the podium and faced Eleonora, she bowed gracefully, her hands delicately holding the hem of her skirt.


    Her movements were refined, like a noblewoman from a royal court.


    Eleonora smiled at her.


    "Violet Von Luxuria."


    "You have been our Student Council President for four consecutive years. You have excelled in every field, held the first-place position in the academy, and maintained that title with unmatched dedication."


    The room was still, every student hanging on to Eleonora''s every word.


    "Your achievements are extraordinary, Violet. And as a reward for all of that, I offer you the opportunity to choose anything from the academy''s treasury."


    At those words, a collective gasp echoed through the room.


    The academy''s treasure was legendary¡ªfilled with weapons so powerful that they were said to have the ability to slay gods.


    Ancient artifacts, magical items of unimaginable power, and rare knowledge all lay within its vaults.


    The thought of someone being able to choose anything they wanted from there was beyond anything anyone could have imagined.


    "Anything?"


    "She gets to pick anything from the treasury?"


    "That''s... that''s insane!"


    Violet didn''t show the slightest sign of excitement or surprise.


    She simply smiled and bowed her head slightly.


    "Thank you for this honor, Headmistress."


    With that, she slowly turned and made her way back to her seat, the applause from the students ringing in her ears.


    Even as she sat down, her serene smile never left her face, and the students continued to stare at her with a mix of admiration and envy.


    Once she was seated, the focus of the room shifted back to Eleonora, who now had a slight grin on her face.


    The anticipation in the air was electric.


    The students were on edge, waiting to see who could possibly surpass Violet, the most talented student in the academy.


    "And finally..." Eleonora spoke slowly.


    "Our first place."


    The room held its breath.


    "The only student who has managed to score full marks in every exam they''ve taken. The student who has earned the highest honor, surpassing even the best of the best."


    The students were leaning forward in their seats, eyes wide with curiosity and excitement.


    Who could it be?


    "And..."


    Eleonora added with a hint of a smile.


    "This student is also an exchange student from a faraway land."


    At that moment, the students'' eyes widened as they figured out who it was.


    There was only one student that could fit that criteria.


    Eleonora''s eyes sparkled as she looked toward the back of the auditorium.


    "I''d like to welcome to the podium... the one and only, Moonlight Swordsman!"


    BAM!


    The giant double doors of the auditorium suddenly slammed open.


    There, a silver-haired man with glowing red eyes could be seen.


    A figure stood in the doorway, a silver-haired man with glowing red eyes.


    His face had a certain beauty to it, though there was no mistaking that he was a man, especially with the small diagonal scar under his left eye and the sharpness of his unusual glowing eyes.


    His clothes were a little disheveled¡ªsome buttons were missing, showing off the nape of his neck.


    A small collar with a crescent moon symbol was visible around his neck.


    But he didn''t seem to care much about the state of his attire.


    Then...


    He slowly walked forward, towards the podium.


    Despite his steps having almost no sound, everyone felt some kind of pressure coming from him.


    It wasn''t anything overt, but it was enough to make the air feel thicker.


    As he climbed onto the podium, he slowly lowered his gaze to meet Eleonora''s.


    She tilted her head slightly, her lips curling into a faint smile, as if she had been expecting him.


    "Aestrea Moon. Despite only being in this academy for a single semester, you''ve shown that you are the best at everything. From acing the written texts, to get the highest marks in the other exams."


    "Not to mention that you held the highest role against the Archdemon, fending him off single-handedly until the Sword Duke arrived."


    The crowd couldn''t help but react to that.


    The Archdemon was the biggest attack that the academy went through, and it also was the one that had the biggest damages.


    Eleonora continued.


    "Unfortunately, since you''re an exchange student, I cannot offer you the same reward I gave to Violet."


    There was a pause, the room quiet as Eleonora''s smile turned a little more teasing.


    "Instead... I''ll let you choose what you want. I''ll do everything in my power to do get from along as it is not something unnecessarily expensive, like..."


    Her eyes curled up a bit.


    "A Dragon''s Heart."


    As soon as those words left her mouth, Aestrea''s eyes turned cold.


    Eleonora''s tone softened, as though she was genuinely curious.


    "So, what is it that you need from me?"


    All eyes were on him now.


    Even Zeva, who had been ignoring everything around her, now watched him with a quiet interest from the corner of her eye.


    "...I want..."


    Everyone held its breath as Aestrea opened his mouth.


    "A pass to enter the ancient magic library."


    "...Huh?"


    Eleonora''s eyes widened completely.


    A confused murmur rippled through the students. No one knew what he meant. Even Violet, who had been at the top of the academy for so long, looked puzzled


    Not even she knew, nor did Zeva or the other instructors.


    "Why? Can you not grant it?"


    Aestrea smiled lightly, raising an eyebrow while looking at Eleonora.


    The only reason why he was smiling was because nobody except Eleonora should have known about that.


    The ancient magic library.


    It was a place no one outside the highest circles even knew about.


    It contained all the strongest magics, lost ancient knowledge¡ªthings that had been hidden away for centuries, if not milleniums.


    But there was more to it.


    Only Eleonora, the heir to that place, could grant access.


    So, only she could grant him that ''pass''.


    Eleonora''s body gave a small, almost imperceptible shiver as she took in his request.


    Then, after a long pause, she finally replied.


    "Sure."


    Aestrea''s lips curled up.


    "Great."


    Without another word, he turned, stepping off the podium and walking back toward the doors.


    He didn''t sit down like the others had.


    Instead, he simply left the auditorium, making everyone look at his back.


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    [Aestrea''s POV]


    "That''s it."


    I muttered to myself.


    "I guess this is the last time I''m going to see this beautiful view."


    In front of me was the view of the academy''s garden, the place where I had spent most of my time during my time at this academy.


    The wind rustled against my body as I lay down in the soft green grass.


    My attire was not even more messed up than it already was.


    But I didn''t clean it.


    Because it was the last time I would be hearing it.


    It''s incredible to think that three months have already gone by since I left Silverleaf City.


    And just like I thought, I really got into a lot of trouble in this place.


    From the first time I entered the capital, I dealt with a crazy scientiest and got a Gluttonous Slime as a reward.


    I found a horde of demonic beasts and defeated all of them on my own.


    Thinking back...


    It was kind of a dumb move, heh?


    Well, I still had Aestrea''s heroic spirit inside of me, but it still makes me embarrassed thinking about it.


    At least, I didn''t have any prophetic vision granted by the system until now.


    Maybe it was a one-time thing?


    Anyways...


    After the horde of beasts, I got the news that I was going to be an exchange student. I was really mad at that time.


    After all, the academy itself is cursed by Lucas''s attrocious hero''s luck.


    Well, at least I thought like that during that time, until I noticed that it was Eleonora''s way of nurturing her students.


    She''s really a crazy bitch, huh?


    ...Talking about crazy bitches, there''s also Zeva.


    Our first meeting was quite spicy.


    She swung her sword at me, and we had a battle during one of the exams. We still ended up saving quite a few students with that fight.


    It was kinda funny.


    A few days later, I had another fight with her. One that turned spicy, but because she didn''t want to go all the way, I got enraged.


    However, there''s still one more crazy bitch.


    Yara.


    My first meeting with her was messed up, to say the least.


    I met up with the Saintess to rescue an elf from a black market auction and ended up making a deal with Yara to get the elf back.


    Which...


    I''m thankful that I did that.


    Because I really... do love Alaine.


    She''s the sweetest lover that I''ll probably have.


    Other than that, I made a strangely close friendship with the hero and even made two people interested in me.


    One of them, I teased as a joke, and the other one... just came to me, somehow.


    Rose and Violet.


    A shy type and a teasing type.


    Now that I noticed, they really are opposites, and both of them even have the name of flowers.


    Both of the flowers even have a meaning related to "love".


    Quite a funny coincidence.


    And finally, the last person that kind of gave me a change of heart...


    Chaerin.


    My only daughter, even if she''s adopted.


    She''s really cute, and even though I didn''t feel it before, now I care deeply about her, just like a father would do for her daughter.


    So yeah, a lot of things happened...


    "...Quite an eventful semester, huh?"


    I laughed.


    But slowly, my laughter died out.


    "But now... I guess the time to play around is going to stop for a few months, if not years." I mumbled coldly.


    My eyes turned to the sky.


    In a single year...


    No.


    In six months...


    I''ll kill that fucking emperor.


    And bring down that fucking succubus with him.


    S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 139 - 139: Last Goodbyes

    [? Player Profile ?]


    Name: Aestrea Moon (20)


    Identity: The Moon''s Darling [NEW!!!], Number One Student [NEW], The Hero''s True Rival [NEW], Strongest Student of the Weakest Academy, The Moonlight Swordsman, The One Who Loves The Goddess Of The Moon, The Strongest Student, The One Loved By Dangerous Beings, Baron


    Affinities: Ice, ?Time?


    ? Aura: S++ (¡üUP)


    ? Mana: A+ (¡üUP)


    ? Strength: A- (¡üUP)


    ? Vitality: A- (¡üUP)


    ? Agility: S+ (¡üUP)


    ? Spirit: SS (¡üUP)


    ? [Skills & Talents] ?


    [1] Moonlit Ice Lotus Sword Art Variants [S???] ? Active Self-Created Skill


    [2] Judgement Eye [S+] ? Active Self-Created Skill


    [3] Perfect Memory [Unranked] ? Passive Talent


    [4] Extreme Combat Instinct [SS-] (¡üUP) ? Passive Talent


    [5] Proficient Sword & Gun Mastery [S-] (¡üUP) ? Passive Skill


    [6] Calm Mind [A-] (¡üUP) ? Passive Talent


    [7] Blood Eyes [Unranked] ? Your eyes ominously glow red.


    [8] Blood Contract [???] ? You can use Lumi''s Abilities.


    [9] ??? [???] ? You can use the ????''s ?????????.


    ¡ª¡ª+¡ª¡ª+¡ª¡ª+¡ª¡ª


    Ahh...


    The profile panel finally works.


    And it looks like it''s even more cursed than before.


    ...


    Just now, I''m busy preparing to leave the royal capital.


    I already said my goodbyes to everyone¡ªeven Lucas and his group. I mean, I''ll probably run into them again someday anyway.


    I also took the opportunity to have a small talk with Ethan.


    His talent was quite unusual, and he might be worth recruiting for the organization that I''ll need to build soon.


    At the moment, I was checking over my things and fixing my clothes, with Alaine helping me, of course.


    "Master, please rest a bit. I can handle the rest," Alaine said softly as she carefully folded a shirt and placed it into my bag.


    "...Thanks," I replied with a tired smile.


    I let out a small sigh and sat on the edge of the bed. It was soft and warm, and I didn''t hesitate to lie down and relax just for a moment.


    While I was lying there, I opened up my status window.


    My stats had gone way up.


    It honestly made me pretty happy to see the results.


    And I also received three new titles, two of which I can easily decipher the reason why I received them...


    But the first one...


    [The Moon''s Darling]


    I have no fucking idea how I got this title.


    Sure, my swordsmanship has always been moon-related, and my red eyes sometimes glow with a moon symbol, too.


    There''s even this black moon tattoo on the palm of my hand...


    ... Never mind...


    Those are enough of a reason, no?


    But still¡ª"Darling"?


    Why that word?


    Ugh...


    Now I really need to figure out what kind of connection this body has with the Moon Goddess.


    Also, about the ancient magic library...


    I had a small talk with Eleonora, and she told me the ancient magic library only opens during certain seasons, and even she doesn''t have full control of it.


    So, we decided to postpone my entrance to the library until it finally opens.


    That aside...


    There''s still one last person I haven''t said goodbye to.


    And that''s none other than...


    "Christina."


    I sat up from the bed, stood, and then headed for the door.


    "I''ll be going out for a bit," I said to Alaine as I pulled my coat on.


    She nodded quietly, not even pausing from her folding.


    Lumi and Chaerin were fast asleep, curled up on the couch like a pair of kittens, so I didn''t make any noise.


    I gently opened the door... and stepped outside the dormitory.


    Then, I quickly headed straight for the cathedral.


    It was the only place she could be right now.


    Even though Christina was technically called an "exchange student," I don''t think she ever went to a single class.


    She was always busy doing work for the church¡­ doing her duties as the Saintess.


    Well¡­ calling her an exchange student is honestly kind of a joke.


    They''re just using her like some kind of holy tool.


    It always made me a little mad, seeing her being used like that. But then again¡­ if things hadn''t happened that way, I probably would''ve never met her.


    So maybe I should be grateful in a weird way.


    Still, I know I won''t be seeing her again for a while.


    Silverleaf getting picked again for another exchange like this? Yeah¡­ that''s nearly impossible.


    Anyway, no point thinking too much about it now.


    After walking for a few minutes, I reached the big cathedral.


    It was quiet¡ªjust like the first time I came here.


    I slowly pushed open the heavy door and stepped inside.


    And right away¡­


    "Yo! Glad to see you again!"


    A warm, friendly voice greeted me.


    I blinked, a little surprised.


    Standing near the entrance was a tall man with messy brown hair and kind eyes. He wore the white-and-gold uniform of a Holy Knight, and he held his hand out with a grin.


    "Ah! John! It''s also nice to see you."


    I smiled back.


    "You finally back from that mission?" I asked in surprise.


    He groaned and scratched the back of his head.


    "Yeah¡­ finally. Ugh, it was rough. Had to live like a caveman for almost a whole month! And don''t even get me started on those damn Dark Order creeps. They just kept popping up everywhere!"


    His hands balled into fists, and a warm golden light flared around him for a second.


    I could tell¡ªhe''d gotten stronger.


    "The second I catch one of them, I swear¡ª" he muttered, letting out a breath.


    Then his eyes moved over to me¡­ and widened.


    "Wait a second¡­"


    He leaned forward.


    "What kind of drugs did you take?"


    "Excuse me?"


    I raised an eyebrow.


    "No, seriously! What the hell happened to you? You got crazy strong outta nowhere! I think you might even be stronger than me now!" He smacked my shoulder playfully.


    I caught his hand before it landed fully.


    "Heh. Getting cocky, huh?" He grinned.


    "Naturally."


    I said with a small shrug.


    "Gods, you and that calm face. It''s so annoying!" he laughed.


    "Also... when did you get so obsessed with the moon?" He suddenly asked, catching me off guard.


    "What do you mean?"


    I raised an eyebrow.


    "You seriously don''t know? You''ve got a whole moon tattoo going down your neck."


    "...My neck?"


    I blinked, confused.


    Then, without a word, I grabbed his sword and angled the shiny blade like a mirror.


    "Ah..."


    Right there, just under my hairline, was a black and blue tattoo¡ªshowing all the phases of the moon in a perfect line down the back of my neck.


    What the hell is this...?


    I already had moon symbols in my eyes, on my palm¡­ and now this?


    Fucking hell...


    Seeing John still staring, I quickly made something up.


    "Oh¡ªright. That thing? I totally forgot. It''s just to celebrate getting my first title, that''s all." I said with a small smile.


    "Ohhh!" John''s eyes lit up.


    He slapped my shoulder twice, grinning.


    "Congratulations on becoming a Baron, Mr. Moonlight Swordsman!"


    I rolled my eyes.


    It was time to change the subject.


    "By the way, where''s Christina? I need to say goodbye to her before I get back to Silverleaf." I asked curiously.


    John''s expression softened a little, and he nodded toward a familiar hallway.


    "She''s in the same room as always. Go on."


    "Thanks."


    I said, walking past him. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But just as I reached the door¡ª


    "Use protection!" he called out with a smirk.


    "Shut it."


    I groaned.


    "Hehehe!"


    His laugh echoed behind me as I pushed the door open.


    And stepped inside.


    And there she was.


    It hadn''t been that long since I last saw her¡­


    But somehow, she looked a little different now.


    Her blonde hair had grown longer¡ªit flowed all the way down to her waist in soft waves. It looked silky and neat, like she brushed it every morning with care.


    Her clothes were different too.


    They looked special, like they were made just for her. There was even her name sewn in fancy letters near the chest.


    Something about it made her seem more... official.


    Like a real Saintess.


    But her face¡­


    That hadn''t changed at all.


    Those soft pink lips, those gentle pink eyes.


    Her cheekbones were soft and delicate, but her jaw still had that sharp shape that made her look strong and elegant at the same time.


    "Oh my."


    Her calm, sweet voice broke the silence.


    "You finally made time to visit me?"


    She raised an eyebrow as she looked me up and down.


    I didn''t blame her for saying that.


    After all, I had been avoiding her lately. Especially when she asked if we should make our relationship public¡­


    I never gave her a real answer.


    So I just ignored the question now, and softly called her name.


    "Christina."


    She tilted her head slightly.


    "I came to say goodbye."


    I didn''t want to drag it out.


    I said it straight.


    She paused for a second, then gave a small nod.


    "Ah, that."


    Her voice was calm.


    "Alright then, you can leave."


    She even waved her hand a little, as if she was really telling me to go.


    Now¡­ if this were the old me¡­


    I probably would''ve just listened, turned around, and waited for her to stop me.


    But not this time.


    I didn''t say anything.


    Instead, I walked up behind her and gently wrapped my arms around her waist.


    "Ah!" she let out a soft sound, surprised.


    Her face turned a little pink as I sat down in one of the chairs and carefully pulled her onto my lap¡ªfacing me, so I could see her clearly.


    She looked straight into my eyes, stunned, not saying a word yet.


    But I could tell¡­ she wasn''t mad.


    Just surprised.


    And maybe a little flustered.


    I smiled gently, keeping my arms around her.


    She didn''t move away.


    Not even a little.


    She stayed still in my arms for a moment, just looking at me.


    Then slowly, she relaxed.


    Her hands reached up and rested lightly on my shoulders.


    "You''re really leaving, huh?" she whispered.


    I nodded, brushing a strand of her golden hair behind her ear.


    "Yeah¡­ I don''t know when we will be able to meet again."


    She looked down for a second, her lashes low like little golden fans. Then, she leaned her forehead gently against mine.


    "You always disappear like the moon behind clouds," she said softly, her voice almost like a breath.


    I smiled a little at that.


    "Then you should know¡­ the moon always comes back."


    She let out a small laugh.


    It was quiet, but warm.


    Then her hands cupped my face, and she looked me in the eyes.


    "Promise me something, Aestrea."


    "Anything."


    "Don''t lose yourself. I know how heavy the world can feel. Just¡­ stay you. Even if it hurts."


    I leaned in and kissed her forehead gently.


    "I promise."


    She smiled softly, then leaned forward and rested her head on my chest. I held her close, one hand stroking her back slowly.


    Neither of us said anything for a while.


    The cathedral was quiet.


    Only the sound of the wind brushing through the tall windows could be heard.


    It felt like time had slowed down just for us.


    Finally, she spoke again.


    "Will you write to me?"


    "I will," I nodded.


    "Even if I don''t know what to say¡­ I''ll still write."


    She pulled back just enough to look at me again, then reached into her pocket.


    She handed me a small silver pin, shaped like a cross wrapped in vines.


    "This is mine. You keep it. If you ever feel lost, hold it close."


    I took it gently, brushing my thumb over the smooth metal.


    "Thank you, Christina."


    And just like that, I knew it was time.


    I stood up, helping her back onto her feet.


    She didn''t try to stop me.


    Instead, she walked with me to the cathedral doors.


    Before stepping out, I turned to look at her one last time.


    The wind picked up, making her hair dance in the sunlight streaming through the stained glass.


    "Take care of yourself, Saintess."


    "You too, Moonlight Swordsman."


    Our eyes met, and then¡­


    I walked out.


    I didn''t look back.


    If I did, I wouldn''t be able to leave.

 Chapter 140 - 140: Trouble On The Way To Silverleaf Academy (I)

    "Phew..."


    I let out a long breath, stretching my arms above my head.


    "Master, do you need anything?" Alaine asked gently, her voice soft like always.


    "No... not really."


    I replied, leaning back into the seat.


    Right now, we are on the train heading back to Silverleaf City. We didn''t take a flying ship this time.


    Chaerin doesn''t really like flying¡ªshe gets nervous, and apparently has aerophobia, so we chose the train instead.


    I didn''t mind, honestly.


    The train gave us more privacy.


    I booked a full private cubicle just for the four of us.


    Cozy, quiet, and peaceful.


    I glanced across the cabin and raised an eyebrow.


    "...They fell asleep again?"


    Chaerin and Lumi were curled up on the cushioned seats, snoring softly. That made it the third time they''d dozed off today.


    "It seems so," Alaine replied with a small smile.


    I looked over at her¡ªand blinked.


    For once, she wasn''t wearing her usual maid uniform. Instead, she had on a pair of fitted dark jeans and a big, comfy hoodie.


    My hoodie, actually. It looked a little too big on her, the sleeves almost covering her hands.


    Somehow, that made me smile.


    "How long is the trip again?" she asked as she adjusted the hoodie sleeves.


    "Eighteen hours. Why?"


    As soon as I said that, her eyes lit up.


    Without saying another word, she waved her hand, and a fluffy blanket appeared out of thin air, floating gently down onto my lap.


    I gave her a strange look.


    "...What are you doing?"


    "I know there''s a bed in the back, Master," she said with a slight giggle.


    "But just wait¡ªyou''ll understand soon."


    She snapped her fingers again, and the next thing I knew, she was setting up a tiny tea table in the middle of our cubicle.


    She even summoned a little soft rug underneath.


    A proper little tea corner.


    The scent of soft herbs and dried flowers filled the air.


    "Now then, what kind of tea would you like?" she asked, turning to me with a smile that could melt ice.


    I blinked, still surprised.


    But I answered anyway.


    "Jasmine."


    "Perfect choice."


    She rolled up her sleeves and started brewing.


    First, she took out a glass kettle and filled it with water, making sure the temperature was just right.


    Not boiling, but hot enough to coax out the fragrance.


    Then she pulled out a small wooden box filled with dried jasmine flowers¡ªdelicate, pale, and still full of scent.


    She placed a small pinch into a glass teapot, then poured the hot water over it slowly. Steam rose into the air, carrying that soft, floral smell with it.


    After that, she covered it and let it steep.


    "Give it a few minutes," she said, sitting down across from me.


    Her cheeks had a light pink tint¡ªmaybe from the steam, or maybe just from wearing casual clothes for once.


    I smiled lightly.


    [Ding!]


    But soon I frowned.


    A system notification had suddenly appeared in front of me.


    Something that never happened before.


    [Detected a subtle change in the direction of the wordline...]


    [Attempting correction...]


    [Error! The change couldn''t be corrected or fixed.]


    [Attributing a new mission for a possible corrector...]


    What the fuck...?


    [Ding!]


    [You have received a new mission!]


    [If you do accept this mission, you''ll be granted the function¡ª¡ºScan¡»! This function allows the user to scan anything and receive any kind of information about the target.] sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [Would you like to accept the mission?]


    I stared at the glowing message in front of me, eyebrows furrowed.


    That function was one of the things that I needed the most since I couldn''t really rely on my [Judgement Eye] for all kinds of analyses since it can''t see through everything.


    However...


    A mission that subtly changed the plotline...


    Wait a minute.


    Then, why didn''t the plotline change when I simply existed?


    Or when I beat up Lucas.


    Or any other crazy feat I realized?


    [Countdown initiating...]


    [10...9...8]


    Fucking hell.


    I''ll let my future me deal with it.


    Then, I quickly moved my finger and tapped the [Yes] button lying in front of me.


    [Ding!¡ª]


    [¡ª Mission accepted successfully.]


    [Showing mission details...]


    [Quest: Intercept Violet''s Villain Awakening.]


    [Details: Violet is starting to become the Final Villainess several years earlier than expected. Prevent her from fully awakening as the Villainess. Completing this mission will stabilize the worldline.]


    [Current Location: On the same train as yours. Cublicle Z21.]


    [Rewards: Permanent ¡ºScan¡» Function, and a unique Grimorire about ¡ºFuture Sight¡».]


    I stared at the panel in silence.


    Violet... is going villain mode already?


    That wasn''t supposed to happen yet... I think.


    I''m not entirely sure, but she really seemed fine...


    I leaned back, sighing again.


    "And of course this happens on the day I''m going back to Silverleaf."


    Still, the ¡ºScan¡» function was now unlocked, so I figured I might as well try it.


    My eyes turned toward Alaine, who was gently pouring jasmine tea across the table.


    Let''s give it a go.


    [Target: Alaine Celebr¨ªan]


    [Race: High Elf]


    [Rank: S++ (On the verge of breakthrough)]


    [Talent: SSS]


    [Affinities: Wind & Spirit]


    [Sexual Preference: Aestrea Moon.]


    [Character Preference: Aestrea Moon.]


    [Character Type: Deredere]


    [Favorability: 89]


    [Sexual Desire: 00]


    [Thoughts: Mhm... I hope Master will enjoy the tea.]


    [Additional Options. (Here you can add more details to the [Scan] feature.]


    Huh.


    She was really thinking about the tea...


    I smiled again, softer this time.


    This function is really useful.


    I could even use it like a mind reader if I wanted¡ª


    [¡ªDing!]


    [The function "Scan" has entered a one-hour cooldown.]


    "......"


    What did I fucking expect?!


    Of course.


    Of course there''s a cooldown.


    Well¡­ no point crying about it now.


    "The tea''s ready~" Alaine''s sweet voice sang as she gently placed a small teacup in front of me.


    "Thanks," I said, giving her a smile as I picked it up and took a sip.


    My eyes went wide.


    "Wow...! This is really good."


    I honestly couldn''t help but say it out loud.


    It might''ve been the best tea I''d ever had.


    "Hehehe~" Alaine giggled softly, covering her mouth with her hand like the gentle lady she always is.


    I smiled at her.


    She looked really happy.


    But unfortunately, I knew I didn''t have time for this.


    We talked a bit while I quickly finished the tea, drinking faster than I normally would.


    Then, when I saw an opening¡ª


    "Ah¡­ I''m gonna use the bathroom real quick," I said, just as she was about to pour more tea into my cup.


    She looked up with a warm smile.


    "I''ll be waiting."


    I nodded, gave her a quick smile, then quietly opened the cubicle door and stepped out. I gently closed it behind me, then looked left and right.


    The lower-level cubicles were down the left hall.


    Perfect.


    I immediately started running, using mana to hide my steps and erase my presence.


    It took less than two minutes to reach Cubicle Z21.


    I peeked through the window carefully¡­


    And blinked.


    What?


    Violet was sitting there completely alone, just staring out the window.


    ¡­What kind of "villain awakening" is this?


    Then¡ª


    Step...!


    My instincts kicked in, and I instantly jumped up, pressing myself against the ceiling. I threw a thin mana barrier around myself to stay hidden.


    A moment later, I saw someone approaching.


    My eyes narrowed.


    That bald head¡­ that snobby walk¡­


    The Prime Minister.


    He was wearing those overly fancy noble clothes and had that smug face I hated already.


    He didn''t even knock.


    He just walked straight into Violet''s cubicle.


    Before the door could close¡ª


    ¡º Time Freeze (? 9th-Level Spell ?) ¡»


    I stopped time, slipped inside, and climbed onto the ceiling like a sneaky cat. I cast more invisibility spells on myself and then released the time freeze.


    Let''s see what this snake wanted.


    "¡­Heh. As expected, you were waiting for me," the Prime Minister said with a grin, sitting down across from Violet.


    She glanced at him coldly.


    "What do you want?"


    Her voice... it was icy.


    Colder than I''d ever heard before.


    It surprised me.


    "Nothing major¡­ just another favor," he said with a greedy smile, rubbing his hands together.


    Violet''s hands curled into fists in her lap.


    I could tell.


    I could feel it.


    Something was wrong.


    Really wrong.


    And I instantly understood¡ª


    Fuck!


    Why did I freaking use the [Scan] before meeting them!?


    I bit my lip tightly as I looked at them.


    "Remember," the Prime Minister sneered.


    "If you don''t do this favor for me¡­ your dear mother might find herself face-to-face with the God of Hell! Ahahaha!"


    Violet''s entire body trembled.


    Bam!


    A heavy wave of mana burst from her body.


    Her eyes darted wildly, full of rage.


    The Prime Minister waved his hand lazily.


    And just like that, the mana disappeared¡ªlike smoke.


    "¡­That annoying no-magic attribute of yours¡­" Violet hissed.


    Huh.


    ...An no-magic attribute?


    That''s a bit annoying to deal with.


    I kept the information in mind as I let them continue talking.


    The... favor was something... simple.


    She needed to act as a spy and gather information from Christina about the locations of the bishops and other important figures.


    They were likely planning to attack them.


    Soon enough, their conversation came to a close.


    Then, the prime minister got up to leave.


    "I''ll tell His Majesty all about your loyalty. I''m sure he''ll be very generous with your mother''s life," he said with a grin before walking out.


    Leaving Violet sitting there.


    Alone.


    Well¡­ not really alone.


    "Damn it!" she whispered, clutching her hair with both hands.


    Her whole body shook.


    She bit her lower lip tightly until blood flowed out of it.


    And by now, I had now understood...


    The reason why Violet had become the Final Villainess.


    She probably didn''t get help and couldn''t deal with the threats and these favors...


    She probably broke down because of it.


    Becoming essentially evil.


    But not this time.


    Not now.


    Because this time¡­


    I''ll be adding the Prime Minister to my little kill list.

 Chapter 141 - 141: Trouble On The Way To Silverleaf Academy (II)

    "Come out."


    Violet''s voice was calm, like she already knew I was there.


    I froze for a second, my eyes widening.


    "Aestrea, I know you''re up there." She glanced up at the ceiling where I had been hiding.


    She was totally calm now.


    Well, that makes one of us.


    Plop!


    I dropped down to the ground, the invisibility barrier around me disappearing.


    "How did you know?" I asked, still a little shocked.


    "My eyes." She pointed to her violet gems.


    Ah...


    I almost forgot about her damnly overpowered talent.


    "You are the only one who has a completely silver color. No one else was like that."


    And if that wasn''t enough, she also explained the reason why she knew that it was me and nobody else.


    Violet studied me for a moment, and then she gave me a tired, almost forced smile.


    "I didn''t expect you to be on the same train as me."


    "...I didn''t expect you to be so easily threatened."


    I replied back shortly.


    Her smile faltered, just for a second.


    "Ouch. That really hurts."


    I just shrugged, sitting down next to her.


    It wasn''t like I had the time to sugarcoat things.


    "So¡­ mind telling me what''s going on with your mom?" I asked, getting straight to the point.


    "Why is she in the Emperor''s hands?"


    Violet''s face darkened.


    She frowned deeply and let out a long sigh.


    "It''s all because of the Luxuria Family''s success. The Emperor couldn''t stand how much wealth we were making. He felt threatened by it, so he took my mom. Said he''d kill her unless we gave him 50% of everything we earned." She paused, looking away.


    "He''s been using her as leverage."


    Her voice sounded defeated.


    But she wasn''t done.


    "And of course, with him holding her, others jumped in to threaten us too. Just like the Prime Minister you saw earlier. They think they can get away with it because we''re vulnerable."


    "I see..."


    "So, you''re stuck. Can''t even deal with the Emperor without putting your mom at risk." I gave her a sidelong glance.


    "And no one''s strong enough to back you up."


    She gave a bitter laugh, but it didn''t reach her eyes.


    "Exactly. Even the Sword Duke is more powerful than my family. No one can stand up to him¡­ except Eleonora."


    Ah, right.


    That damned cheat code of a Headmistress.


    "Is that the reason you joined the Eternum Academy?" I raised an eyebrow, trying to keep my tone casual.


    "...Partly, yes. I was hoping to get closer to her, build a good relationship so I could ask for her help later." She shrugged, shaking her head.


    That made something click in my mind.


    And that immediately made something come to mind.


    The reason she also approached me.


    The way she''d been acting around me, all friendly and kind of flirtatious¡­ it was all part of her plan.


    "¡­Is that also the reason you came after me?" I asked quietly, already knowing the answer but wanting to hear her admit it.


    She didn''t say anything right away.


    Just stayed silent.


    In the end, she was trying to use me as some kind of tool.


    It made me sick to my stomach.


    I stared up at the ceiling and let out a frustrated sigh.


    I truly thought that she was interested in me, but no, she was interested in my power.


    It wasn''t much different than my old world.


    I should''ve known better.


    Why had I let myself be so naive?


    I was so stupid to believe in it.


    Fuck...


    "Anyway... How about we make a deal then?" I asked in a calm tone.


    She looked at me curiously.


    "What kind of deal?"


    "If I save your mother, you let me take one item from your auction house. How about that?" I asked faintly.


    Her eyes widened for a moment.


    "Save my mother? Do you even understand how impossible that is¡ª?"


    "Almost impossible," I interrupted her, giving her a pointed look.


    "But if there''s even the tiniest chance, I believe I can do it."


    I''m totally not putting all of my confidence in my Time Attribute.


    Still, I knew it would take time.


    More than I had at the moment.


    "But of course, to do it, it will take a few months."


    I still need to increase my mana to increase the time that I use Time Freeze.


    Her brow furrowed slightly, and she looked at me with a weird gaze.


    "The auction is in two months. Do you really think you can pull it off by then?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.


    "...Probably."


    I could try and get materials that might help me increase my mana, but they were ridiculously expensive.


    My measly 4,000 platinum coins wouldn''t even cover the cost of three.


    Wait a second...


    ''System, is there any way to use the Scan function on more than one thing at a time?''


    I asked, hoping there was a way around it.


    [Yes, but the selected information needs to be locked in order to do so.]


    ''...Alright then. For now, even though I can''t use it, lock the information¡ªEffects, Details, and Name.''


    [Done.]


    That''s a start.


    With that sorted, I realized I needed to make a quick stop.


    It was time to take care of a few things before moving forward.


    I turned to Violet.


    "One day before the auction, I''ll make sure to bring your mother to you."


    She brightened up instantly at my confidence.


    Probably cause she knew that I was telling the truth.


    "Deal."


    She smiled and shook my hand firmly, like she trusted me completely.


    I smiled back and nodded, then decided it was time to go.


    There were still other things I needed to take care of, so my trip to Silverleaf wasn''t going to be a short one.


    I glanced at the map and saw the next stop.


    "Hellbrick?" I muttered to myself.


    Weird name, but whatever.


    I shook my head and turned back towards my cubicle, deciding to take a little time to relax before we got there.


    There was still an hour left.


    Meditation seemed like the best way to kill the time and clear my head.


    I could think about everything later.


    For now, I needed to focus and prepare myself.


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    "Alright, let''s go and search for a hotel."


    I spoke solemnly.


    We had just gotten off the train and arrived in Hellbrick.


    And honestly...


    It looked like the kind of place where shady deals could happen right under the sun. It had this cowboy kind of vibe


    Like in Red Dead Redemption...


    Ahem.


    And yeah...


    The people were indeed wearing cowboy hats.


    It took a while, but we quickly found a hotel.


    "Alaine, go ahead and check us in. Just let me know the room number later. I''ve got a couple of things to take care of," I told her, crouching down to pat Chaerin''s head.


    "I''ll be back soon, okay?" I said with a smile.


    "Mhm!" she nodded, her eyes shining.


    I smiled back, then turned to leave.


    "We''ll be waiting, Master!" Alaine called out, and I waved my hand in response.


    Then, I started looking around.


    Hellbrick felt off.


    The place was close to a volcano, so I figured there might be fire-related mana items around here. That was probably where I should head.


    As I walked through the streets, I kept my eyes open for anything useful.


    "Yo, lad," a rough voice suddenly called out.


    I turned and saw a man with a cowboy hat, eyeing me up.


    "Your clothes seem pretty expensive. How much for a share?" he asked, a grin spreading across his face.


    I frowned.


    An A-ranker in a place like this?


    But soon, I noticed something on his neck.


    A moon tattoo...


    And that somehow...


    Bothered me.


    "Hey... what''s up with that moon tattoo on your neck?"


    The words slipped out of my mouth before I could realize it.


    "Hah?" The man raised an eyebrow before grinning.


    "It''s because I love the mo¡ª!"


    ¡ªBANG!


    A shot rang out, a giant hole was blasted through his chest, effectively killing him.


    Phew...


    I lowered my gun slowly, blowing on the barrel.


    "I''m sorry, but only I get to put moon tattoos on my body."


    (A/N: Aestrea''s way of saying... There can only be one of us in townnn...)


    I had bought a mana revolver just in case I needed to use my gunslinger abilities.


    "... Pathetic."


    I mumbled, scoffing at his dead body.


    I didn''t know why I didn''t like him having a moon tattoo...


    Agh!


    Fucking hell.


    I really needed to figure out my relationship with the Goddess of the Moon.


    Because that?


    That was pure possessiveness.


    After taking a deep breath, I continued walking, pushing the weird feeling to the back of my mind.


    And then... I saw something interesting.


    By the rocks, something caught my eye.


    I knelt down and saw a small, glowing object.


    [Name: Red Slayer''s Dungeon Key]


    [Effects: Opens the portal to the "Red Slayer Dungeon".]


    [Details: Transfer mana into this key to open the portal to the high-level "Red Slayer Dungeon".]


    High-level?


    What did that even mean?


    [It refers to system grading. Low-level is F~E rank, Intermediate-level is D~B, and High-level is A~S rank.] Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ah...


    So, this could potentially be an S-rank dungeon?


    ...There might be some good drops then.


    Without wasting any time, I grabbed the key and formed an invisibility barrier around myself.


    The radius stretched out to about ten meters.


    I pushed mana into the key...


    ¡ªWhoosh!


    A red swirling portal appeared in front of me.


    "Alright... let''s see what''s on the other side."


    I jumped into the red portal.

 Chapter 142 - 142: Trouble On The Way To Silverleaf Academy (III)

    Bang!


    Bang!


    Two consecutive shots rang out, tearing through a massive red orc''s chest.


    The orc let out a terrible roar as it staggered back, blood spraying from the wound, before it crashed to the ground with a heavy thud, sending dust flying up into the air.


    "Phew~, that''s the last one."


    Aestrea muttered under his breath, spinning his revolver in the air with a flick of his wrist before catching it smoothly.


    "But why are there red orcs here?" He glanced around, his brow furrowing.


    "These guys are only B-rank, and this is supposed to be an A to S rank dungeon..."


    "Weird..."


    He stood still for a moment, his eyes scanning the forest around him. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A massive forest stretched out before him, with trees taller than fifteen meters.


    Earlier, he had passed through a red orc tribe''s station, where he had wiped them all out easily, but other than that, he didn''t find anything interesting.


    Looking up at the trees, Aestrea gathered mana into his legs, feeling the power surge through him.


    Without warning, he shot forward, his feet leaving the ground.


    Swoop!


    He shot into the air, soaring high above the forest.


    The wind rushed past him as he got a clear view of everything below, including the dark silhouette of a volcano in the distance.


    His eyes narrowed as he took in the surroundings.


    "Maybe... there''s something there."


    Swip!


    He landed lightly on a thick branch before he dashed forward, effortlessly darting through the trees.


    Hiss!


    Out of nowhere, a sharp hiss echoed through the air.


    A massive, red-scaled snake, easily as big as a house, reared up from the underbrush. Its fangs glistened, dripping venom as it lunged toward him with lightning speed.


    Without hesitation, Aestrea snapped his fingers.


    ¡º Ice Wall! (? 3rd-level Spell ?) ¡»


    A thick, crystalline wall of ice erupted from the ground beneath him, forming in an instant.


    He barely had to move as the snake''s fangs struck the ice.


    Crack!


    The snake recoiled, hissing in frustration.


    But before Aestrea could even react, the snake''s tail whipped toward him, the force of the strike like a battering ram.


    "Tsk."


    He clicked his tongue and swiftly raised his hand.


    ¡º Ice Series: Frost Chains! (? 5th-level Spell ?) ¡»


    Chains of pure ice shot out from a glowing circle that appeared around him, wrapping tightly around the snake''s tail.


    They bound the creature''s tail to the ground with a sharp clink.


    But then, the snake twisted violently, opening its massive jaws, and lunged forward with terrifying speed, snapping at the chains.


    CRACK!


    Aestrea''s eyes widened in surprise as the snake''s fangs sank into the ice chains.


    A strange purple liquid began to ooze from the fangs, dripping over the chains. With a sickening hiss, the ice shattered, breaking apart as if it were made of glass.


    "Shit... I''ve never seen this fucking beast in my life!" Aestrea cursed as he landed lightly on top of a tree.


    He glanced at the massive red snake below, its scales gleaming like molten lava under the sun.


    His hands moved fast, grabbing both revolvers at his waist, subtly spinning them, and then, he quickly aimed at the snake and pulled the trigger.


    Bang!


    Bang!


    Two shots rang out, the mana-charged bullets speeding toward the snake''s head


    Clang!


    The bullets ricocheted, and the snake barely flinched.


    It recoiled, its eyes glowing with killing intent.


    "Even mana bullets won''t suffice?"


    Aestrea was a bit shocked.


    After all, the quality of his mana was no joke, and it was much stronger than almost every kind of material.


    Hiss!


    The sound of slithering grew louder, and within seconds, two more massive red snakes appeared, charging at him from the thick forest.


    Aestrea''s instincts kicked in, and he didn''t hesitate.


    Without even thinking, he raised his hand and cast a quick spell.


    ¡º Ice Wall! (? 3rd-level Spell ?) ¡»


    A wall of thick ice shot up from the ground, blocking the snakes'' path.


    Aestrea jumped backward, his boots barely touching the branches of the tree as he created another ice wall to rest behind.


    ¡º Judgement Eye (? S+ Level Skill ?) ¡»


    And then he saw a total of three red auras staring at him, deadly.


    "Two more snakes of those...?"


    Looking at the snakes, Aestrea''s eyes narrowed slightly before he decided to use the new [Scan] function on their scales.


    [Name: Red Diamond Scales]


    [Effects: Grants a very supportive and hard protection.]


    [Details: A very strong material that is more than one hundred times stronger than a regular diamond. Has an effect of absorbing mana to strengthen its texture.]


    "Fucking hell?! Who overpowered is that?!" Aestrea''s eyes widened in disbelief as he read the details.


    A material that powerful... no wonder his bullets didn''t even make a dent.


    However, with that, Aestrea now knew how to kill them.


    It was simple.


    Instead of using mana...


    He should use aura.


    Bam!


    The air around him vibrated as a violet aura tightened around his form, sending gusts of wind spiraling in all directions.


    The ground beneath his feet cracked slightly under the pressure.


    The snakes paused for a moment, sensing the difference in Aestrea''s body.


    They slithered closer, their eyes gleaming with hunger, their fangs out, letting drops of venom drop on the ground.


    "Lumi."


    He called out, and with a quick flick of his wrist, a violet-outlined scythe materialized in his hand.


    "I just need one hit for each of them..."


    His eyes glowed faintly as he dashed forward, a red trail flickering in his wake.


    ¡º Curse Mark ¡»


    The three snakes were marked with a skull symbol on top of their heads.


    HISSS!


    The snakes hissed, sensing his approach, and split in opposite directions to strike. Without a pause, Aestrea''s eyes locked on the middle one.


    He moved, fast¡ªblindingly so.


    "Moonlit Ice Lotus Sword Art Variant..."


    ¡º Fourth Move! (? Lunar Collapse ?) ¡»


    His scythe swept down in a deadly arc, and the instant the peak of the blade met the snake''s scales, a thunderous BOOM rang out.


    The shockwave of cold exploded outward, freezing the air in a sudden blast.


    SPLURT!


    A spurt of blood flew upwards as the snake crumpled, dead in an instant.


    Aestrea''s aura flared out, shaking the air, and his eyes tracked the other two snakes, their skull marks glowing faintly in his vision.


    They were already moving toward him, aiming for his blind spots.


    But he already knew that this was going to happen.


    He raised his left hand, and a faint glow swirled around his fingers.


    ¡º Frost Explosion! (? 6th-level Spell ?) ¡»


    A small blue ball of light pulsed on the tip of his fingers.


    He flicked his fingers.


    Snap!


    The ball shot forward like a dart.


    It zipped through the air, cutting past the trees with a soft whistle, and landed between the two snakes.


    "Explode."


    BOOOOM!


    A bunch of ice fragments spread out throughout the air, but the snakes didn''t get any injury from that attack.


    Except that a few ice fragments had successfully pierced their scales.


    "Hah..." Aestrea smiled lightly.


    It was time to use his favorite skill.


    ¡º Wound Aggravation ¡»


    ¡º Bleed ¡»


    Splurt!


    Blood sprayed from the spots where the ice had pierced, staining the air as the snakes writhed in pain, wrapping around the trees in frantic spasms.


    However, this wasn''t enough.


    So, Aestrea snapped his fingers once again.


    ¡º Bleed ¡»


    ¡º Bleed ¡»


    ¡º Bleed ¡»


    Each chant drained more mana from him, but the effect was devastating.


    The snakes'' bodies twisted violently, and with a final, powerful surge, they exploded in blood, dropping from the trees.


    The lifeless bodies hit the ground with a heavy thud, falling meters below.


    "Done..."


    Aestrea wiped the dust off his clothes.


    "Now, onto the volcano...!"


    Fwoop!


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    "Try to catch me!"


    Alaine teased both Chaerin and Lumi as she leaped from one tree branch to another.


    "You''re fast," Lumi said, grinning as she swung a scythe in an exaggerated arc.


    "But not fast enough!"


    She dashed after Alaine.


    Chaerin, who was behind both of them, also didn''t waste any time following them.


    "I''m going to get you both!" Her voice rang with lighthearted mischief.


    Alaine laughed, dodging Lumi''s swing and about to leap again¡ªbut then, in the blink of an eye, Lumi disappeared.


    The glowing violet scythe was gone too.


    Alaine stopped, mid-air, her eyes scanning the space around her.


    "Lumi?" she called, her voice full of confusion.


    She landed lightly on a nearby branch, a frown tugging at her lips.


    "Did Aestrea summon her?" She immediately concluded.


    "Is he in some kind of trouble?" Alaine bit her lip as Chaerin reached over to her.


    "Don''t worry! Papa is very strong!" Chaerin tried to cheer up Alaine, but she too was very worried about her dear papa.


    "Mhm..."


    Alaine nodded in response.


    But suddenly...


    Thrum!


    Alaine''s instincts kicked in, and her gaze flicked around the forest, the feeling of something off creeping over her.


    Suddenly, a wave of powerful energy hit her, at least the power of an S-rank awakener.


    More than one presence.


    At least three.


    Her body tensed.


    She crouched lower to the branch, trying to blend in as she peered through the trees. Chaerin also made sure to hide herself.


    And since she was an assassin, she was very experienced in these kinds of things.


    Then, they heard them before she saw them: deep voices, heavy footsteps.


    "We''re part of the Royal Knight commandment." They announced to the people nearby, exuding their mana to pressure them.


    "This is the man we''re looking for. Aestrea Moon. Have any of you seen him?" The knight spoke, holding a folded pamphlet.


    At that instant, both Alaine''s and Chaerin''s eyes narrowed.


    What could they want from Aestrea?


    "I haven''t seen anyone like that around here..."


    One of the nearby people replied.


    "I see..."


    The knight nodded his head.


    "If you do find any trace of him, inform us, effectively immediately." He turned his back before leaving with the rest of his group.


    Hearing this, Alaine frowned.


    What could they possibly want from Aestrea?


    If they were looking for Aestrea, it couldn''t be good.


    "Let''s go back, Chaerin."


    She let out a frustrated sigh.


    "When Aestrea gets back, we''ll warn him."


    "Mhm!"


    Chaerin nodded heavily.

 Chapter 143 - 143: Trouble On The Way To Silverleaf Academy (IV)

    When Aestrea finally reached the volcano, he didn''t see anything strange.


    It was already weird that a dungeon was this big¡ªit was the size of a whole island. But even after pushing his mana out as far as it could go, he still didn''t find anything.


    "Ugh... how am I supposed to clear this?" he muttered, sitting down on a big, black rock near the edge.


    He leaned forward, elbows on his knees, staring at the hot air rising from the volcano''s hole.


    "The name of the dungeon is Red Slayer... Red Slayer..." he repeated the name slowly, hoping it might help him figure something out.


    But unfortunately, it didn''t.


    "Well... the snakes were red, I guess," he mumbled, scratching the side of his head, saying the kind of random stuff you say when your brain''s stuck and you''re bored.


    After a long pause, he stood up and dusted off his hands.


    "There''s only one thing left to do, I guess."


    He turned to face the open mouth of the volcano. The heat coming from inside was strong, but he didn''t hesitate.


    Without a word, he jumped straight into it.


    FWOOOSH!


    In the air, he covered his whole body with mana and aura, wrapping himself in a glowing shield before he hit the lava.


    SPLASH!!


    Thick lava shot upward in every direction as his body crashed into the bubbling pool.


    It was boiling and heavy, but his protection held.


    He looked around.


    Everything was red, glowing, and slow-moving under the lava''s thick weight.


    "Alright... let''s go see what''s down here," he said, and started swimming.


    After swimming around for a few minutes...


    Nothing.


    Absolutely nothing.


    He blinked in disbelief.


    "Seriously?" he muttered.


    He pulled himself out of the lava pool, steam rising off his glowing shield as he climbed over the edge.


    Ssssssshhh...


    The heat hissed against the air as it slid off his body.


    He stood there, dripping lava and looking annoyed.


    "Hah..." He let out a long, tired sigh.


    "Did you really expect something dramatic to pop out of the lava?"


    He shook his head.


    "Damn it... If there''s nothing down there, then where are they?"


    He thought back to earlier...


    He had only seen monsters in the forest.


    That was the only clue.


    "Alright. Back to the trees then."


    He turned around and started walking.


    As he moved through the burnt stone and ash, he muttered to himself.


    "If only I had a skill that made enemies come to me..."


    He clicked his tongue.


    "Tsk."


    But then, something came to mind.


    A simple idea.


    He raised his arm, pulled out his scythe, and dragged the blade across his skin.


    SHHINK.


    Blood poured out, warm and red.


    "That should do it. Monsters love the smell of blood."


    And then, almost right away¡ª


    HISSSSS!!


    ROAAARRR!!


    From between the trees, two monsters appeared fast.


    One was a huge snake, covered in shiny red diamond-shaped scales. Its tongue flicked in and out as it moved, its eyes glowing yellow.


    The other was a gorilla¡ªbig and bulky, with thick iron armor on its arms and chest. Its eyes were bright red, and it pounded its fists into the ground.


    And if that wasn''t bad enough¡­ more monsters stepped out from behind the trees.


    Big ones.


    Small ones.


    Crawling, flying, slithering.


    All of them red.


    Dozens of them.


    Aestrea didn''t even flinch.


    Without waiting, he wrapped his body in a violet aura and silver mana. The two mixed together, turning into a soft, glowing lavender that shimmered across his skin like mist.


    He took one step forward.


    BOOM!!!


    The ground cracked under his foot.


    The monsters roared and rushed in all at once.


    ¡º Ice Generation! (? 1st-level Spell ?) ¡»


    The air around him turned cold in an instant.


    Frost crept along the grass and trees.


    The snake moved first. It slithered fast, aiming to bite into his side.


    Aestrea spun to the left, dodging it by inches, and slammed his fist right into the side of its jaw.


    CRACK!


    The snake''s head whipped sideways as it flew back, scales scattering like broken glass.


    But the gorilla didn''t wait, it immediately jumped high into the air, then came down with both arms raised to smash him.


    THUD!


    Aestrea crossed his arms and blocked, sliding back a few steps.


    "Damn it. You''re fucking heavy," he muttered, shaking off the impact.


    ¡º Ice Wall! (? 3rd-level Spell ?) ¡»


    With a quick motion of his hand, a thick wall of ice shot up in front of the gorilla just as it tried to charge again.


    CRASH!!


    The beast slammed into it headfirst, cracking the ice but not breaking through.


    ¡º Ice Series: Frost Spikes! (? 3rd-level Spell ?) ¡»


    Dozens of sharp ice spears burst out of the ground beneath the gorilla.


    STAB! STAB! STAB!


    They pierced through its legs and arms, pinning it in place as it screamed and thrashed.


    But from behind, other monsters charged toward him¡ªred wolves, flying bugs, and a lizard with lava dripping from its mouth.


    Aestrea dashed forward.


    ¡º Ice Series: Glacial Dash! (? 5th-level Spell ?) ¡»


    In a blink, he vanished into a blur of cold wind.


    WHOOSH!


    He reappeared behind the lizard, dragging his scythe across its back.


    SLASH!!


    Blood sprayed into the air as the monster howled and fell to the ground, twitching.


    "Too slow," he muttered.


    But of course, he wasn''t done.


    The snake he had punched was getting back up.


    He narrowed his eyes.


    "Moonlit Ice Lotus Sword Art Variant..."


    ¡º Fourth Move! (? Lunar Collapse ?) ¡»


    He raised the scythe above his head, then brought it crashing down onto the snake.


    BOOOOM!!


    A huge shockwave of ice burst outward as the blade struck.


    SPLURT!!


    Blood sprayed up in a fountain as the snake split open, frozen and broken in half.


    ROARRRR!!


    One of the red wolves suddenly leaped at him, jaws wide open, aiming for his throat.


    Aestrea immediately reacted, ducked low, and drove his elbow right into its chest.


    THUMP!


    The wolf''s body bent mid-air before slamming into the ground. It tried to get up, but Aestrea didn''t give it a chance.


    He brought his scythe down.


    Splurt!


    The blade cut clean through the wolf''s back.


    It stopped moving.


    Another came at him from the side.


    Aestrea turned, raised his hand, and¡ª


    ¡º Ice Series: Frost Chains! (? 5th-level Spell ?) ¡»


    CLANK!


    Icy chains burst out from the ground and wrapped around the wolf''s legs and neck, yanking it down with a loud snap.


    It growled and struggled, but the chains only pulled tighter.


    He walked toward it slowly, his scythe dragging behind him, scraping the ground.


    SHRRRK...


    He raised it, then swung in a clean arc.


    Swoop!


    Splurt!


    The wolf''s head dropped to the side.


    Then¡ªBOOM!¡ªsomething hit his back.


    He staggered forward a bit, turning to see the armored gorilla rushing at him again. Blood poured from its body, but it was still fighting.


    Aestrea clenched his teeth.


    "You''re still alive?"


    The gorilla raised a massive fist and threw a punch toward Aestrea''s face.


    He dodged to the right.


    The fist missed by inches.


    WHOOSH!!


    Aestrea countered with a punch of his own¡ªstraight to the gorilla''s stomach.


    THUD!


    It bent forward, breath knocked out.


    Aestrea grabbed its arm, twisted it, and slammed his knee into its jaw.


    CRACK!!


    The beast stumbled back, dazed.


    ¡º Ice Series: Frost Crash! (? 6th-level Spell ?) ¡»


    He raised his hand high.


    A ball of freezing light formed in his palm. Then he slammed it into the ground.


    BOOOOOOOM!!


    The entire area shook as a wave of ice exploded outward in a circle, freezing everything it touched.


    The ground turned white.


    Trees iced over.


    Monsters froze mid-step.


    The gorilla''s legs turned solid, stuck in place.


    "Time to finish it."


    Aestrea jumped forward, spun mid-air, and brought his scythe down right on the gorilla''s neck.


    SPLAT!!


    A spray of blood hit the air, and the monster''s body dropped, limp.


    Aestrea landed smoothly, breathing hard but steady.


    He looked around.


    The battlefield was quiet now.


    Frozen bodies, cracked ground, and blood everywhere.


    He exhaled slowly, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.


    "Still not the boss, huh...?" he said, glancing into the trees.


    Thump...


    Thump...


    THUMP.


    The ground suddenly started trembling.


    The trees ahead started to shake. Leaves fell. Branches snapped.


    Aestrea turned his head slowly.


    From between the trees, something massive stepped out.


    It looked like a giant lizard¡ªtaller than a house.


    Its scales were dark red, glowing like burning coal. Its eyes were gold and narrow, and steam puffed out from its nose with every breath.


    Its tail dragged behind it, long and heavy, smashing the ground with every step.


    Baam!


    Baam!


    Aestrea narrowed his eyes.


    "Is that an elite monster?"


    Without waiting, the monster opened its mouth.


    HISSSSS!!!


    A stream of fire burst out, straight at Aestrea.


    FWOOOOOSH!!


    He jumped to the side, rolled across the ground, then slid to a stop behind a rock. The fire swept past where he was standing just seconds ago.


    Chunks of trees turned to ash.


    The heat was intense.


    Aestrea stood up slowly, brushing ash off his shoulder.


    "Alright... This one I''ll need to take more seriously."!


    ¡º Curse Mark ¡»


    ¡º Wound Aggravation ¡»


    A black skull mark lit up on the monster''s forehead.


    It growled, shaking its head as if it felt it¡ªbut it was too late now.


    Aestrea charged. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ¡º Ice Series: Glacial Dash! (? 5th-level Spell ?) ¡»


    He shot forward like a blur, closing the distance between them fast.


    The boss raised a clawed arm and swiped down toward him.


    SWIPE!


    Aestrea jumped to the left and spun in mid-air, dodging the claws. As he passed the side of the monster, he dragged his scythe across its leg.


    SHHHHK!


    Fwip!


    Sparks flew as the blade scraped against the tough scales, drawing a thin line of blood.


    The monster roared in pain and swung its tail.


    WHOOM!


    It hit Aestrea square in the chest.


    THUD!!


    He flew back, rolling across the ground, dirt and dust flying everywhere.


    He coughed once but stood up, wiping a line of blood from his mouth.


    "Hah... that was a good one," he muttered.


    Then, Aestrea stabbed the blade of the scythe on the ground, before raising both of his hands, mana gathering around them.


    ¡º Ice Series: Frost Chains! (? 5th-level Spell ?) ¡»


    CLANK!!


    Icy chains shot out from the ground again, wrapping around the boss''s legs.


    It roared and pulled hard, trying to break free¡ªbut the chains held tight.


    "Now...!"


    ¡º Ice Series: Frost Crash! (? 6th-level Spell ?) ¡»


    He slammed his palm onto the ground again.


    BOOM!!


    Another explosion of ice burst out, hitting the monster from below. Ice climbed up its legs and belly, freezing skin and scales.


    The monster screamed.


    Snap!


    The monster only heard a snap of fingers.


    ¡º Bleed ¡»


    SPLURT!!!


    Blood exploded from every cut on its body. Red lines ran down its legs. The curse mark on its forehead glowed darker.


    It roared again, louder now¡ªbut its movements were slower.


    Aestrea stepped forward, gripping his scythe tightly.


    "Time for the finish this."


    He jumped high into the air.


    Wind and frost spun around him.


    "Moonlit Ice Lotus Sword Art..."


    ¡º Third Move! (? Moonlight''s One Flash ?) ¡»


    SWOOSH!!


    In one clean, glowing strike, his scythe cut through the monster''s neck.


    Swoop!


    SPLAT!


    Blood flew everywhere as the monster''s head hit the ground.


    Its giant body swayed... then dropped, shaking the ground one last time.


    Aestrea landed softly, his scythe resting on his shoulder.


    "Yep..."


    "Definitely only an elite boss. The portal didn''t spawn after all."


    Unfortunately, no one was here to witness this scene.


    Because if they were, they would have their mouths open because Aestrea had dealt with an S-rank Named Demon Beast alone.


    And didn''t even break a sweat while fighting against it.

 Chapter 144 - 144: Trouble On The Way To Silverleaf Academy (V)

    "Mhm... what is this?"


    Aestrea''s eyes flicked to the ground, spotting something shiny beneath the lizard''s massive body.


    His fingers twitched.


    Thud!


    He kicked the lizard''s carcass with a sharp snap of his boot, sending it flying a few meters to the side.


    The moment the body moved, he crouched down before picking up a small object, and as his hand closed around it, a slight shimmer caught his eye.


    It was a key.


    He raised an eyebrow.


    "A key?" he muttered, turning it over in his hand.


    He focused for a moment, activating his scan ability.


    "Scan."


    [Name: Red Slayer''s Boss Key]


    [Effects: Opens the door to the boss room of the "Red Slayer Dungeon".]


    [Details: If you throw this key into the lava in the volcano, a hidden stairway will appear, leading towards the boss''s room.]


    Aestrea let out a low chuckle.


    "Ah! So there was something about the volcano," he said, shaking his head in disbelief.


    He pocketed the key and glanced around.


    Without wasting a moment, he spun around and darted towards the volcano''s edge.


    Swoop!


    The ground shook slightly beneath his feet as he sprinted across the cracked earth, heading toward the giant hole in the mountain.


    As he reached the edge, he jumped forward, landing on the stone ledge just beside the volcano''s mouth.


    The heat hit him like a wall, but his aura shielded him.


    Then, he held the key in front of him before tossing it into the bubbling lava.


    SPLASH!


    The key sank into the lava, disappearing into the molten rock with a hiss.


    For a moment, nothing happened.


    Then, the ground trembled.


    RUMBLE...


    A loud grinding noise came from beneath the volcano, like gears shifting.


    A deep crack formed along the base of the mountain, and stone walls began to rise from the earth, slowly revealing a hidden stairway that led down into the dark.


    Aestrea grinned.


    "Perfect."


    He stepped forward and descended the staircase.


    The air grew hotter as he moved, but the small barrier around the stairs kept the lava from flowing up.


    At the bottom, he entered a strange cave.


    Red crystals sparkled everywhere, reflecting the dim light from the lava pools that dotted the space. The lava was held back by large rocks, barely contained but not spilling.


    "Scan."


    [Name: Red Magic Crystal]


    [Effects: Can be used as a mana recovering potion if you absorb mana from the crystal.]


    [Details: It''s an excellent material for weapon refining, and has the ability to absorb mana from its surroundings.]


    "Hah? This can be useful..."


    Upon seeing the abundance of the crystal inside the cave, Aestrea''s eyes immediately curled up like crescent moons.


    He smirked and then gripped his scythe tightly, swinging it at the nearest crystal.


    Crack!


    The crystal shattered into pieces, but to his surprise, it didn''t break apart completely. The large shard stayed mostly intact.


    Aestrea quickly used his magic.


    ¡º Storage ¡»


    A small purple portal opened in front of him, and with a flick of his wrist, he tossed the crystal inside.


    The portal snapped shut with a faint pop.


    He then glanced over at another crystal, and upon seeing it, his lips formed an extremely greedy smile.


    Swip!


    Another swing of his scythe.


    Crack!


    The crystal broke cleanly, and Aestrea tossed that one in too.


    ''Lumi''s skills really are useful...''


    He smiled inwardly as he continued swinging his scythe.


    It took him about twenty minutes to mine every single crystal, however, it was a fantastic harvest for Aestrea.


    Finally, he stood back, wiping his hands off and closing the storage portal.


    Aestrea turned around, eyes narrowing.


    At the far end of the cave were massive red doors, covered in glowing purple symbols.


    They pulsed softly, as if alive, the air around them humming with energy.


    "Mhm..." Aestrea hummed to himself, walking slowly toward the doors.


    He stretched out his mana, trying to feel through the barrier.


    But it didn''t work.


    "Tsk... this is going to be a bit of a problem."


    He clicked his tongue in frustration.


    His mana unfortunately couldn''t get through the door, so he couldn''t see what kind of demon beast was behind it..


    He paced back and forth for a moment, wondering what to do next.


    Then, a thought crossed his mind.


    "System, change the Scan''s setting to show the characteristics of a boss monster."


    [Done.]


    Aestrea let out a long breath, relieved.


    "Phew~... didn''t think that would work."


    Without further ado, Aestrea took a step closer to the door.


    Then¡ª


    BAAAM!


    He kicked the giant doors wide open. Dust swirled into the air as the massive doors slammed against the walls, revealing a gigantic room.


    The space was enormous, big enough to fit more than ten average-sized houses.


    "Dammit... what kind of boss monster needs a boss room this big?" Aestrea gripped his scythe tightly as he looked around cautiously.


    [Ding! Cold-Blooded [S-] trait found!]


    Aestrea froze slightly, glancing at the panel.


    "Huh...? Ah, the trait I gained when I was fighting against the Archdemon. Was it deactivated for some reason?"


    [Indeed. Because the user already possessed a similar talent, the trait was temporarily deactivated.]


    Aestrea tilted his head.


    "Huh. Didn''t know that could happen. After all, the Cold-Blooded trait''s rank is much higher than my Calm Mind talent."


    [Would you like to fuse the trait with your talent¡ªCalm Mind [A-]?]


    Aestrea''s eyes flicked back and forth as he glanced around the room, trying to stay aware of any movement.


    "Ah, you can do that?" he muttered, still wary, his grip on the scythe tightening as he continued scanning the area.


    "Why are you suddenly so chatty, anyway?" he asked suspiciously.


    The system had been strangely much more active than usual since the quest began.


    [...I am currently under the host''s service, as you are carrying out a quest that stabilizes the strings of fate.]


    Aestrea''s face twitched at his words.


    "So if I weren''t doing this quest, you''d be silent?"


    [...]


    Noticing the system''s silence, Aestrea clicked his tongue in frustration.


    "Tsk. Just fuse it."


    [Fusing...]


    [Fusion complete! You have gained the Passive Talent¡ª"Moon''s Serenity [SS]"!]


    [Moon''s Serenity [SS]: A state of perfect composure, where emotional distractions melt away and the mind remains as calm and focused as the still moon.]


    Immediately, Aestrea''s twitching face changed, turned a shade colder.


    He merely glanced at the panel, and despite wanting to frown, his facial muscles didn''t move a single inch.


    "Really...? Moon''s Serenity?"


    He asked the system.


    [...]


    However, the system remained silent.


    "I''m starting to think that this system was given to me by the Goddess of the Moon." He sighed and muttered under his breath.


    But before he could think further, something caught his attention.


    The boss still hadn''t appeared.


    Somehow.


    Seeing this, Aestrea raised his hand, pointing his fingers forward.


    ¡º Minor Frost Explosion! (? 5th-level Spell ?) ¡»


    A small, faint blue orb materialized at his fingertips.


    The moment it appeared, he flicked his fingers.


    BAAM!


    The air snapped cold as the ball of energy exploded. Ice shards sprayed in every direction, crashing against the floor with a sharp CRACK.


    For a split second, everything went still.


    Then¡ª


    RUMBLE!


    The ground beneath him shook violently, cracks splitting across the stone floor as the walls trembled.


    Aestrea''s eyes immediately narrowed, scanning for the source.


    BAAM!


    The rock walls on the far side of the room exploded outward, sending chunks of debris flying as a massive figure stepped through.


    "Who dares to invade my territory?!"


    A rough and terrifying voice escaped the monster''s mouth.


    Aestrea didn''t flinch.


    His eyes narrowed as he analyzed the boss.


    The figure was massive, standing tall with a humanoid shape. Its skin was a deep, blood-red, veins pulsing underneath like a living flame.


    Its body was covered in dark, intimidating armor, but the helmet was missing, revealing the blazing fury in its eyes.


    On its back, a massive red sword hung in its scabbard, gleaming with an ominous glow.


    "...Scan."


    The panel appeared instantly in his vision.


    [Name: Red Slayer


    Health: 100%


    Rank: S++


    Affinities: Azure Fire (Evolved Fire Element)


    ? [Skills] ?


    [1] Crimson Cleave [S++] ? Active Skill ¨C A devastating horizontal slash with his massive red sword, dealing heavy area-of-effect damage.


    [2] Inferno Strike [S] ? Active Skill ¨C Charges up a fiery attack, targeting multiple enemies in a straight line, dealing fire damage.


    [3] Crimson Armor [SS+] ? Passive Skill ¨C Grants a powerful defense boost, reducing incoming damage by 40%.


    [4] Titan''s Wrath [SS+] ? Ultimate Skill ¨C A final desperate attack that unleashes a massive explosion of fiery energy, dealing catastrophic damage to all enemies in range.


    ? [Weaknesses] ?


    Ice Magic ¨C Deals significantly more damage to Red Slayer, slowing his movements and reducing his attack speed.


    Mind Magic ¨C The Red Slayer is mentally weak, which causes Mind Magic to be extremely effective against him.]


    Seeing this, Aestrea''s eyes widened in curiosity.


    He had never seen a monster with an evolved element before, and now he was wondering what kind of evolution his ice element could have.


    "Shit... this is going to be tough."


    He grabbed the hilt of his scythe.


    ''Increase mana output to 9 times.''


    He immediately acted; the only reason he didn''t put it to the maximum was that he wouldn''t be able to hold it for a long time.


    ¡º Judgement Eye (? S+ Level Skill ?) ¡»


    ¡º Wound Aggravation ¡»


    ¡º Curse Mark ¡»


    Aestrea didn''t waste any time and quickly applied all the spells used to weaken or analyze the boss monster in front of him.


    Fwip!


    Suddenly, the Red Slayer lifted up his sword.


    At that instant, Aestrea was already in motion, a step to the side as the beast swung a devastating Crimson Cleave¡ªa massive horizontal slash.


    The blade tore through the air with a sharp whistle, the ground itself shaking as the blade crashed through the space where Aestrea had just been standing.


    SWOOSH!


    He ducked and rolled, narrowly missing the red-hot edge of the blade, feeling the heat singe the air around him.


    He didn''t wait for the monster to recover.


    Instead, he thrust his hand forward, mana gathering on it.


    ¡º Ice Series: Frost Spikes! (? 3rd-level Spell ?) ¡»


    In an instant, sharp, jagged spikes of ice shot from the ground beneath the Red Slayer''s feet. The spikes shot upward with deadly speed, aiming for his exposed legs.


    SHING!


    One spike pierced through the Red Slayer''s shin, causing him to grunt in pain.


    Blood sprayed from the wound, mixing with the ice shards.


    The Red Slayer growled slightly, while Aestrea darted to the side, maintaining his distance while keeping a close watch on his every move.


    Then, the massive figure took a step forward, raising his sword high, probably preparing for another Crimson Cleave.


    But Aestrea wasn''t waiting for it.


    ¡º Ice Wall! (? 3rd-level Spell ?) ¡»


    He clenched his fist and slammed it into the ground, summoning a thick, icy Ice Wall that shot up between them, blocking the incoming attack.


    The sword smashed into the wall, cracking the wall into countless pieces, the impact sending vibrations through the floor.


    Aestrea quickly followed up, raising his hand.


    ¡º Frost Explosion! (? 6th-level Spell ?) ¡»


    A small, blue sphere formed at his fingertips, and he flicked it toward the Red Slayer''s torso.


    BAAAM!


    The orb burst on impact, sending a shockwave of cold air.


    The Red Slayer staggered back, his armor cracking as the ice spread across his body, freezing a portion of his arm and part of his chest.


    SHRIEK!


    The beast roared in fury, his body glowing with a strange blue fiery energy as he swung his sword in retaliation.


    "Tsk."


    ¡º Ice Series: Glacial Dash! (? 5th-level Spell ?) ¡»


    Aestrea quickly moved to the side, evading the wide, fiery arc of the sword.


    SWOOSH!


    The blade scraped the ground, leaving a trail of molten rock as it missed by mere inches.


    Aestrea''s eyes glowed slightly as he looked at the boss.


    The Red Slayer was recovering fast, the flames surrounding his body intensifying.


    ¡º Inferno Strike! ¡»


    The Red Slayer''s sword began to glow with intense heat as he prepared a fiery line attack. Aestrea could feel the heat from here, and he acted instantly.


    With a quick step back, Aestrea slammed his palm into the ground once again.


    ¡º Ice Series: Frost Chains! (? 5th-level Spell ?) ¡»


    Chains of ice shot out from the ground, wrapping around the Red Slayer''s legs and arms. The chains tightened, pulling him down as he tried to break free. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He let out a roar of rage, thrashing against the ice, but it held firm.


    SNAP!


    The chains tightened once more, causing him to stagger.


    "...Perfect."


    However, before Aestrea could act again...


    ROAAARR!


    An azure flame enveloped the Red Slayer''s body, melting the ice chains in the fraction of a second.


    "Dammit!"


    Aestrea lifted his scythe,


    ¡º Ice Series: Frost Crash! (? 6th-level Spell ?) ¡»


    A massive chunk of ice materialized above the Red Slayer''s head and smashed down, shattering on impact.


    Ice shards exploded outward, cutting into the Red Slayer''s side. His blood splattered, a deep crimson against the white ice, but he didn''t slow down.


    He spun around, his sword raised high, and swung it downward, aiming to cleave Aestrea in two.


    CRASH!


    Swooosh!


    Aestrea dodged to the side just in time, feeling the wind of the massive swing brush against him.


    The force of the blow caused the ground beneath them to crack, pieces of stone flying in every direction.


    RUMBLE!


    Aestrea rolled to his feet, his chest heaving, but his eyes were locked on the Red Slayer.


    Another incoming attack!


    ¡º Shield Series: Winter''s Barrier! (? 6th-level Spell ?) ¡»


    BAAM!


    The huge sword was slammed against the pentagram barrier, however, it didn''t break in a single hit.


    Noticing this, the Red Slayer''s movements became more frenetic!


    BAAM!


    The Red Slayer''s next strike slammed into the barrier, but it held, the ice cracking slightly but staying intact.


    Seeing this, Aestrea took a moment to catch his breath, however, he knew that the next hit was probably going to break this barrier of his.


    ROAARRR!


    The Red Slayer''s sword was enveloped with blue flames as he swung down at Aestrea''s barrier with full force.


    Immediately, Aestrea''s instincts kicked in, as he jumped out of the way.


    BOOOM!


    CRACK!


    The shield shattered instantly, the impact causing the leaping Aestrea to fly a few meters away before rolling onto the ground.


    "Pftu¡ª!"


    Aestrea spat blood on the ground.


    Then, he stuck his scythe in the ground before looking at the boss monster.


    "I guess it''s finally time to test a new spell..."

 Chapter 145 - 145: Trouble On The Way To Silverleaf Academy (VI)

    BOOOM!


    A massive surge of mana exploded from Aestrea''s body, sending a shockwave through the air.


    The ground trembled beneath him as the energy rippled out in all directions.


    "Hah..."


    A cold breath escaped his lips as he raised both of his hands.


    Swiiisshhh!


    Mana from the surrounding air swirled around him, pulling together like a gathering storm.


    Behind him, a shadow began to take shape¡ªa massive ice dragon, its form growing more solid with each passing second.


    The temperature plummeted, frost creeping across the ground.


    The Red Slayer, sensing the danger, immediately tensed up.


    ROAARRR!


    His eyes locked on Aestrea, and with a roar, he dashed forward, his sword lifted high, ready to cleave through the ice dragon''s shadow.


    "Dammit..."


    Aestrea clicked his tongue.


    He had no choice but to react quickly. D


    ropping his right hand, he quickly prepared another spell.


    ¡º Shield Series: Winter''s Barrier! (? 6th-level Spell ?) ¡»


    A pentagram appeared above Aestrea''s head, glowing lightly.


    Within seconds, a barrier of solid ice formed in front of him just as the Red Slayer''s sword came crashing down.


    BAAM!


    The sword slammed into the shield with a deafening crack, sending chunks of ice flying in all directions.


    Dust and debris filled the air, the force of the strike shaking the very ground beneath their feet.


    The shield had lasted against the boss''s attack, but it wouldn''t last a second hit.


    Without a pause, the Red Slayer''s sword flared with blue flames, and he swung again.


    Fwoop!


    The heat from the attack rushed at Aestrea.


    His skin tingled with the burn, but he didn''t flinch; instead, he used the opening to jump backward, putting distance between them.


    BAM!


    He landed, his feet skidding slightly across the rocky floor, as mana continued to swirl around him.


    However, he also started using the mana from his body, causing it to grow chaotic.


    "...The mana from the surroundings is too impure." Aestrea bit his lip.


    But before he could prepare another attack, the Red Slayer was already charging at him again.


    His massive sword rose high, the flames around it burning even brighter.


    "Fuck!"


    Aestrea''s heart skipped a beat.


    Without thinking twice, Aestrea quickly snapped his fingers.


    ¡º Time Freeze (? 9th-Level Spell ?) ¡»


    The world around him went silent.


    The Red Slayer froze mid-step, his sword hanging above him like a frozen moment in time.


    Aestrea took a deep breath, then he backed away quickly.


    The freezing sensation of the spell enveloped him, but he didn''t dare waste time, as he started gathering mana once again.


    Just as quickly as the spell had begun, Aestrea snapped his fingers again.


    BOOOM!


    Time resumed, and the Red Slayer''s sword came crashing down where Aestrea had just stood, shaking the ground with a violent tremor.


    The blade tore through the earth, leaving a deep gouge in the stone floor.


    "Fuck... this should be more than enough."


    Seeing the incoming monster, Aestrea didn''t hesitate.


    He stretched his arm out, pointing his hands straight at the beast.


    Freeze...!


    At that moment, the shadow of the ice dragon had finally solidified, with its light blue eyes staring down at the Red Slayer


    The air around Aestrea grew colder, the temperature dropping even further as the ice particles began to swirl around Aestrea''s hands like a tornado.


    Then, the words slipped from his lips.


    ¡º Ice Dragon: Breath of Frost! (? 7th-level Spell ?) ¡»


    The ice dragon''s mouth opened wide.


    A blast of icy wind shot forward, cutting through the air like a freezing hurricane.


    Ice particles flew everywhere, as the dragon''s breath hit the Red Slayer, freezing the air around him.


    The Red Slayer''s flames flared as he tried to block the freezing air, but the ice tore through him, chipping away at his armor and burning his flesh.


    Blood spattered from the wounds as the freezing wind bit deeper.


    CRACK!


    The Red Slayer growled in pain, but he didn''t back down.


    His sword flared with more flames, and he charged through the freezing gale.


    SHHRRKK!


    "...This isn''t enough," Aestrea muttered.


    The spell faded from his hands as he jumped back.


    "YOU FUCKING BASTARD!"


    The Red Slayer finally opened his mouth, voice booming like thunder. The blue flames around him flared wildly, swallowing his whole body in raging fire.


    Swip!


    He drove his sword into the ground with a violent clang, stone cracking under the pressure. Then he raised both hands high above his head.


    Aestrea''s eyes locked onto the motion.


    "...This fucker¡ª" his voice dropped, breath catching in his throat.


    He was going to use his ultimate ability!


    Without wasting a second, Aestrea made Lumi vanish from his grip and bolted across the battlefield.


    ¡º Titan''s Wrath! ¡»


    "What?! He''s already finishe¡ª"


    BOOOOOOOOOM!


    The explosion was grand.


    A blinding wave of blue lava surged from the Red Slayer''s hands like a crashing tidal wave, swallowing everything in its path.


    The sheer heat warped the air, and the ground cracked and hissed beneath it.


    Hisss!


    The molten wave thundered toward Aestrea, fast¡ªtoo fast.


    "Shit¡­ I''m gonna run out of mana¡ª!"


    He had one shot.


    One.


    Aestrea''s heart slammed against his ribs.


    His chest burned.


    His vision blurred.


    "Fuck it..."


    He clenched his teeth¡ªhard enough to hurt¡ªand raised a trembling hand.


    Snap!


    The sound cracked like thunder through the cave.


    ¡º Time Freeze (? 9th-Level Spell ?) ¡»


    Silence.


    The roar of lava vanished.


    The monster''s scream froze on its tongue.


    The world was locked in place like a frozen frame of death.


    The wave of blue lava hung in the air, solid and still, like a frozen explosion¡ªlight trapped in heat, horror paused in beauty.


    But he felt it.


    The price.


    His mana didn''t just drop.


    It plunged.


    Fifty percent. Gone.


    Thirty percent...


    Ten percent...


    Nine...


    Eight¡ª


    "Fuck¡ª!"


    Aestrea launched upward, rock cracking beneath his feet.


    BOOM!


    His fist drove into the wall above¡ªBAM!¡ªdust rained down like ash from the sky.


    He dug his fingers in, blood smearing the stone as he pulled himself up, anchoring his body against the ceiling.


    Muscles burned.


    Every second was heavy.


    Then¡ª


    Snap!


    Time came crashing back.


    HISSSSSSSSSS!!


    The blue lava smashed into the walls below, splashing upward.


    Molten drops whistled through the air, hissing as they grazed the ceiling.


    One drop came inches from his face.


    It sizzled against the stone beside him.


    "HUH?! WHERE DID THE ANT GO?!"


    The Red Slayer''s voice echoed, angry and confused.


    And seeing this, Aestrea exhaled and then licked his dry lips.


    "Three percent..."


    He made the calculations...


    "That should be enough."


    He summoned Lumi again.


    The scythe dropped into his hands like it had always belonged there.


    His grip tightened.


    Blood soaked the handle.


    Then, his lips curved into a slow, cruel grin.


    "Alright¡­ Let''s end this."


    His red eyes glowed dimly...


    Aestrea let go.


    He fell.


    Swoooooosh...


    Back-first, he dropped from the ceiling. Wind roared past him. Silver hair whipped around his face.


    His body was still, almost peaceful.


    Eyes closed.


    Lips parted in a whisper.


    Mana flared around him like soft moonlight.


    Time seemed to slow again¡ªnaturally this time¡ªas he neared the ground.


    Five seconds until collision...


    Four...


    Three...


    Two...


    And right at this instant, he twisted mid-air, his red glowing eyes snapping open.


    "Moonlit Ice Lotus Sword Art...."


    ¡º 1% Strength¡ªFifth Move! (? Thousand-Lotus Guillotine ?) ¡»


    CLANG.


    A bland noise that echoed throughout the whole cave.


    Then¡ª


    SHHRRRRRK!!


    A sound like blades tearing silk as thousands of shimmering ice petals exploded from his scythe, rushing through the cave in a glittering storm.


    The Red Slayer turned, confused.


    CRACK!


    SPLURT!


    His body split open¡ªover and over¡ªas dozens, thousands of cuts slashed across him in a heartbeat. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Blood shot from his wounds like geysers, splattering the stone, the air, even the ice petals themselves.


    Each gash left behind a glowing lotus¡ªsmall, cold, deadly.


    "K-KAUGH!"


    A mouthful of blood spilled from his lips.


    His legs gave out.


    His arms dropped.


    And then¡ª


    SPLURT!


    His head tore free from his shoulders, flipping once in the air before crashing to the floor.


    A lotus bloomed where his neck used to be.


    Still.


    Glowing.


    Silent.


    Step...


    Aestrea landed gently on the ground, his boots hitting against the stone gently. He stepped toward the corpse slowly.


    The scythe vanished in a shimmer of light.


    He stared down at the remains¡ªbody still twitching, petals fading into frost.


    His voice was low.


    Tired and cold.


    "You better have a fucking great drop."


    If his mana pool could be shown in numbers...


    He would definitely have a single point of mana.


    Aestrea approached the fallen corpse without hesitation.


    Fwoop!


    His hand shot out, plunging into the mangled chest of the Red Slayer.


    With a swift jerk, he pulled his hand free.


    In his grip, a small, glowing red orb pulsed faintly.


    "...Change characteristics to identity items, and use the scan."


    [Done... proceeding...]


    [Name: Red Slayer''s Mana Core]


    [Rarity: SS+]


    [Effects: Allows the user to evolve their "Fire Element" to "Azure Fire". Restores 5% of mana for every single minute.]


    [Details: This core was torn from the heart of a fire demon by the infamous Red Slayer. If refined into an artifact, it could have incredible regenerating effects. However, the Red Diamond Crystal must be used as one of the reforging materials.]


    Aestrea''s eyes widened slightly.


    "...This could be useful," he murmured, turning the orb in his fingers.


    "I''ll need to find an artifact refiner..."


    He sighed, shaking his head.


    "Gosh... that''ll be fucking expensive."


    Then, he glanced over at the Red Slayer''s Sword.


    He activated another scan.


    [Name: Bloodbane, the Infernal Blade]


    [Rarity: SS+]


    [Effects:


    ? Infused with Bloodfire Essence¡ªevery strike channels a burst of flame magic, dealing additional fire damage based on the user''s health.


    ? Passive Effect: Absorbs the vitality of enemies slain with it, restoring 5% of health with each kill.


    ? Unique Skill: "Crimson Torrent" ¨C Unleashes a wave of blood-red flames that burns all enemies in a 15-meter radius. Can only be used once per day.]


    [Details: Forged from the molten steel of the Red Slayer''s Mana Core, this sword holds the power of a warrior who never feared death. It has claimed countless souls, growing stronger with each kill. Now, it thirsts for more. Even a drop of blood feeds its power.]


    Aestrea snorted, the corners of his lips curling into a dry smile.


    "And this... is fucking useless." He shrugged, rolling his eyes.


    "Might as well sell it. Could get a nice penny for it."


    He already had Lumi, so he didn''t need another weapon.


    ¡º Storage ¡»


    Throwing his new loot in the storage portal, Aestrea turned around.


    There was a red, swirling portal that had materialized after the Red Slayer''s defeat.


    He didn''t waste any time and stepped into it.


    A brief dizziness overtook him, the world spinning for a moment, before he opened his eyes again.


    But this time, a sharp voice rang out, cutting through the stillness.


    "Hold it!"


    The voice continued, cold and commanding.


    "Aestrea Moon, you''re under arrest for conspiring with the Dark Order! If you dare defy any of my orders, you''ll be branded a traitor and exiled from the country!"


    Aestrea was silent upon hearing those words.


    But the intensity of the glow in his eyes only increased as his lips parted, a dark laugh barely escaping.


    "Are you fucking kidding me?"

 Chapter 146 - 146: Trouble On The Way To Silverleaf Academy (VII)

    "Are you fucking kidding me?"


    Aestrea''s voice was low¡ªtoo calm.


    A slow grin crept across his lips, but there was no joy in it.


    Just pure rage.


    Crackle...!


    His violet aura snapped like a thunderstorm around his body, wrapping his fingers in lightning that hummed with killing intent.


    His eyes, a deep molten red, glared at the Royal Knight with a coldness that could kill gods.


    The knight flinched.


    "W-Whoa...!"


    They all did.


    The Royal Knights stumbled back a few steps, blades raised, hands shaking. The sheer pressure coming off him felt like a vice around their throats.


    The commander tried to hold firm, his face pale. "D-Don''t move!" he barked. "You so much as breathe wrong, and we''ll drop you where you stand!"


    Mana exploded from their bodies like a flare, but their swords still trembled.


    And Aestrea?


    He stood still.


    Didn''t even blink.


    His eyes slowly swept over them.


    He didn''t need to speak.


    They knew.


    He could kill them all before their hearts finished the next beat.


    And oh, he wanted to.


    Every muscle in his body begged for it.


    But no...


    Not yet.


    He didn''t want to mess with the Emperor for now, especially since he hadn''t prepared anything to kill him.


    The Emperor himself was an SS-rank warrior, not to mention that Lilith, the fucking succubus, was also present.


    And she was also an SS-rank demon.


    So, going off now would be suicide.


    A stupid, suicidal move.


    He clicked his tongue.


    "Gosh..."


    His eyes narrowed as they locked onto the commander.


    ''I''ll definitely kill you, you fucking son of a bitch...''


    But for now, he lifted his hands.


    "Ah... go cuff him!" the commander barked, trying to sound brave.


    One of the knights stepped forward hesitantly.


    His armor clanked with every trembling step.


    He met Aestrea''s red glowing eyes.


    And his soul screamed.


    His body locked up, cold sweat pouring down his back.


    His vision swam.


    It wasn''t just rage in those eyes.


    It was death.


    It was the abyss staring back.


    And it was smiling.


    The knight almost dropped the cuffs, his hands shook so badly they made a metallic rattle.


    "HEY! HURRY UP!" the commander shouted again.


    The knight jumped, nearly tripping, and fumbled the cuffs onto Aestrea''s wrists like a man putting chains on a loaded bomb.


    "Let''s go back. Move," the commander growled.


    They walked through the streets, the silence of the crowd pressing down around them.


    Dozens of eyes watched.


    "Aestrea!"


    Two voices called out.


    It was both Alaine and Chaerin.


    His eyes flicked to them¡ªjust for a second.


    Then, he winked at them with a small smile.


    As if saying...


    I''m fine. Just wait.


    Then, without a word, he summoned Lumi.


    She fluttered toward them in her miniature form.


    "Lumi?" Chaerin gasped softly, quickly catching and tucking her into her coat.


    The little scythe yawned, blinking sleepily.


    "¡­Master''s gonna use me to talk to you guys."


    Chaerin nodded.


    Her eyes, though, never left Aestrea''s back.


    Neither did Alaine''s.


    They stood there for a few minutes, silently looking at his back until it disappeared from their sight, reaching the imperial train''s stop.


    The royal knights led the Aestrea to enter the train.


    "¡­Go in," the knight commander growled, shoving Aestrea into a private cubicle of the imperial train.


    The door clicked shut.


    Cold silence followed.


    Aestrea calmly tested the cuffs, channeling his aura.


    Nothing.


    "Tsk..." he muttered.


    Reinforced with royal-issue nullstone.


    Temporary, but annoying.


    The train began moving.


    After a full inspection was done, the Royal Knights stepped in, locking the door behind them.


    They sat with swords on their laps.


    Eyes locked onto him.


    Every single one of them was sweating.


    But they did not blink.


    They couldn''t.


    Not with Aestrea sitting there, arms cuffed, like a monster in disguise.


    He leaned against the wall, legs crossed, smiling faintly.


    "So," he said softly.


    "Where are we going?"


    No one answered.


    Seeing this, Aestrea exhaled slowly and shut his eyes.


    Then, he started meditating, slowly regenerating his mana.


    For thirty whole minutes, he sat still.


    Like a statue.


    No twitch. No motion. Not even a breath.


    But even with that, the pressure didn''t ease for them.


    Instead, it grew.


    Like the air itself was folding in on the knights.


    And when he opened his eyes...


    ¡º Judgement Eye (? S+ Level Skill ?) ¡»


    CLINK.


    The knights flinched.


    A law scale symbol burned into his irises.


    He tilted his head lazily.


    "Are we going back to the capital?"


    The knights said nothing.


    But he saw the truth in their stiffened jaws.


    It was an obvious yes.


    "Mhm... maybe, prison?"


    No.


    "I see..."


    He nodded to himself.


    "The suburbs?"


    No.


    Then his voice dropped an octave.


    "...Demon Beast Forest?"


    He saw their hesitation.


    ...Yes.


    The corners of Aestrea''s lips lifted.


    There it is.


    "Mhm..." He hummed, looking at them with the same smile.


    "You''re planning to kill me where no one will find the body?"


    Nothing.


    But their auras trembled.


    He pressed harder.


    No.


    "No? How about taking me to a place in the forest where I''ll get tortured?"


    No.


    "Leaving the demon beasts to kill me, so in that way, my death has a natural cause?"


    Yes.


    "Does that mean that the notice that I was a traitor is nonexistent, and the emperor is planning to kill me quietly?"


    ...Yes.


    His expression darkened.


    And the glow in his eyes grew into a storm.


    "I see..."


    Then, his smile dropped completely.


    His voice¡ªcut-glass cold.


    "Then¡­"


    "You bastards have no more use for me."


    Crackle...!


    A pulse of energy exploded from his body like a living thunderclap. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "SHIT!" the commander roared¡ª


    But he never got to finish.


    FWOOP!


    Aestrea moved¡ªblurring across the cabin.


    His hand gripped the commander''s head like it was made of paper.


    SPLAT!


    He smashed it into the wall with brutal force.


    Blood exploded across the windows like paint.


    The commander''s body collapsed headless.


    SPLURT.


    SPLASH.


    The others screamed.


    One scrambled for a golden communication stone.


    But¡ª


    ¡º Ice Series: Frost Spikes! (? 3rd-level Spell ?) ¡»


    SHRRRKKKK!


    SPLURT!


    Spikes burst from the floor, impaling him mid-air¡ªhis scream cut off in a wet gurgle as his spine shattered.


    "Two more," Aestrea muttered.


    He turned, crimson eyes glowing like a devil in human skin.


    The last two knights broke.


    They screamed and charged.


    But¡ª


    SWOOSH¡ª


    THUNK!


    Their heads flew.


    SPLAT!


    SPLAT!


    Blood poured down the polished floor.


    The walls.


    The ceiling.


    Their decapitated bodies thudded to the ground in silence.


    "¡­So much blood," Aestrea said, shaking his hands like a cat flicking off water.


    ¡º Storage ¡»


    FWOOP!


    The corpses vanished into a black void.


    ¡º Cleanse ¡»


    A wave of white light erased the gore.


    Then, he sat down again, crossed his legs, and looked out the train window.


    "...So," he sighed softly, brushing his silver hair back.


    "Since the Emperor wants me dead¡­"


    His lips curled.


    "¡­Might as well pay the capital a small visit, right?"


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    .


    The train finally rolled into the capital after two long hours.


    Aestrea stepped off the platform, stretching his arms as the familiar skyline of the Imperial Capital unfolded before him¡ªtowers clawing at the sky, streets humming with mana-infused carriages, and banners of gold fluttering in the breeze.


    "Phew... I''m back. Earlier than I thought."


    He looked at the bustling city with a half-smile.


    "Time to gather some talents."


    Since he had gotten back to the capital, he decided that it was time to pick up some people for his new organization.


    Without wasting time, he headed toward the underbelly of the capital¡ªwhere broken souls lived like shadows, and filth ran thicker than rain.


    The beggar district.


    He activated his scan feature, but filtered it down¡ªno unnecessary details.


    Just nature, name, talent, and affinity.


    There were quite a few people with hidden high-level talents, but Aestrea didn''t bother to talk with them.


    Because he wasn''t looking for adults.


    He was searching for...


    Children.


    They were perfect¡ªsmall, overlooked, underestimated.


    After all, he wants people who can easily get information and even kill when someone doesn''t expect it to happen.


    And what job would be better than to children?


    Who would think that a child was a spy?


    Or even a killer?


    No one.


    After nearly an hour of searching...


    His eyes narrowed.


    Bingo.


    Two names glowed on his scan.


    [Target: Ruli]


    [Nature: Obedient]


    [Talent: SS+]


    [Affinities: Lightning]


    ¡ª


    [Target: Leaf]


    [Nature: Obedient]


    [Talent: SS]


    [Affinities: Water.]


    "Perfect... they should be enough for now."


    Aestrea didn''t have too many resources for more than two members, especially since he was going to make sure that each one of them had a truly high talent.


    Because of that, he could only get those two for now.


    Besides, their nature was truly perfect for him.


    His eyes followed the signature until he spotted them¡ªtwo tiny figures, no older than ten, being yanked through the filth-ridden streets by a rotund man with crooked teeth and greed in his eyes.


    The children were dirty, barefoot, and silent.


    Chains hung loosely from their wrists.


    "Move, brats!" the man barked aloud, jerking them toward a stall.


    Aestrea stepped in front of him.


    The man stopped abruptly, eyes darting up in annoyance¡ªuntil they landed on Aestrea''s clothes.


    Tailored black coat.


    Crimson embroidery.


    From his perspective, it was a high-ranking noble.


    His expression flipped instantly¡ªfrom annoyed to bootlicking.


    "Ah! Good sir!" he cackled, slapping his belly.


    "Fine eyes, eh? Lovely specimens, these two! Worth a fortune, I tell you¡ªrare affinities! Good behavior! Just look at them¡ª"


    "How much for both?" Aestrea cut him off coldly.


    The man blinked.


    Then his eyes gleamed with greed.


    "Oh-ho... for you, sir? I suppose... 100 gold should be fair, no? No less! After all, these two¡ª"


    ¡º Ice Generation! (? 1st-level Spell ?) ¡»


    CRACK!


    An ice shard whistled past his cheek and embedded into the wall behind him, freezing it solid in an instant.


    The man went dead silent.


    He turned slowly to look at the jagged spike of death lodged inches from his head.


    "I''ll pay twenty," Aestrea said coldly.


    "Take it. Or I freeze your tongue and your guts and feed them to the crows."


    "Y-YES! Of course! Twenty¡ªtwenty''s perfect! D-deal!" the man stammered, practically throwing the keys at him.


    Aestrea caught them without blinking.


    Then, he turned to the children.


    They flinched and closed their eyes, trembling as if expecting a beating or a collar.


    But instead...


    Aestrea gently placed his hands atop their heads.


    "...Don''t move," he said softly.


    They blinked, confused.


    Suddenly¡ªwarmth.


    A rush of pure mana flowed through their tiny bodies.


    The slave seals¡ªcarved deep into their flesh¡ªburned for a moment.


    And then¡ª


    Shatter.


    Gone.


    Their chains clinked to the ground. The invisible shackles wrapped around their souls crumbled into nothing.


    Their eyes¡ªwide, frightened, exhausted¡ªfilled with disbelief.


    And then¡ªhope.


    They looked up at him.


    Truly looked.


    For the first time in years, they saw someone who didn''t want to own them.


    And someone¡ªperhaps¡ªwho would make them strong.


    Tears welled at the corners of Ruli''s eyes.


    Leaf silently clutched his tattered sleeve.


    "¡­Master?" Ruli asked in a whisper.


    Aestrea just looked ahead.


    "Follow me," he said.


    They didn''t hesitate.


    They followed.

 Chapter 147 - 147: Trouble On The Way To Silverleaf Academy (VIII)

    The city of the capital sprawled around Aestrea as he walked through the bustling market streets before he reached a huge shopping center.


    Without a second thought, Aestrea reached down and took both children by the hands, catching them by surprise.


    They flinched but followed silently. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Ring~


    He marched straight into the nearest clothing store, the bell above the door chiming lightly as they entered.


    The clerk¡ªa young woman with meticulously styled hair and an apron pristine enough to blind¡ªlooked up at the sound of the door.


    Her face lit up at the sight of Aestrea, as he looked like some kind of high noble.


    Her eyes gleamed slightly, the kind of look reserved for customers of importance.


    "Good day, sir," she said with a bright, practiced smile, stepping toward him.


    "Welcome to our store. We have the finest silk and cashmere¡ªperfect for someone of your status."


    But as her gaze flickered downward to the two children¡ªfilthy, gaunt, and in rags¡ªher expression changed with barely concealed disdain.


    She straightened her back, her smile faltering as she eyed them, clearly put off by their unkempt appearance.


    "I''m looking for clothes... for them," he said, gesturing at the children.


    The clerk hesitated, her gaze switching between Aestrea and the children, and her smile faltered into something colder.


    "Sir, with all due respect, those children..." she started, trailing off.


    Her tone shifted, condescending.


    "I''m afraid their current... state would give our store a rather... poor outlook."


    She made a subtle but deliberate gesture toward the children, her eyes narrowing slightly, dismissing them.


    Aestrea''s eyes instantly narrowed.


    ¡º Cleanse ¡»


    A silver light enveloped the children.


    Their hair, tangled and dirty moments before, now fell neatly around their shoulders, clean and smooth. Even their skin seemed to glow with vitality, the grime and exhaustion melting away as if it had never been there.


    The children blinked, their wide eyes looking up at Aestrea in confusion.


    The clerk froze, her mouth hanging open.


    Then, Aestrea finally spoke again.


    "If you don''t want to sell clothes to these children. I''ll simply go to your rival down the street," he said simply.


    The clerk swallowed hard, a shiver running down her spine.


    It wasn''t exactly a suggestion¡ªit was a warning.


    She hesitated.


    But as Aestrea''s cold stare bore into her, she remained silent, unwilling to lose a high-paying customer, yet too proud to relent.


    Aestrea didn''t give her a second glance.


    Without another word, he turned and guided the children out of the store. The clerk''s face tightened upon seeing them walk away until they arrived at the rival store.


    The rival store was a small but upscale boutique, decorated in soft velvet and polished oak. As Aestrea entered, the air felt quite different.


    Instead of having an expensive ''air'', it had a more comfortable one.


    The shopkeeper, an older man with a polite smile, greeted them immediately.


    "Good day, sir. How may I assist you?"


    Aestrea nodded.


    "Clothes. For them," he gestured toward the children.


    The shopkeeper nodded immediately, his gaze softer as he saw the children.


    "Of course, right away. Let me show you something fitting for the children."


    The children, still processing the sudden shift in fortune, were hesitant as the shopkeeper gently guided them toward a series of exquisite tunics.


    Aestrea remained silent, observing them as they tried on the garments¡ªan intricate red and yellow jacket for Ruli, and a pale blue tunic for Leaf.


    They looked different now¡ªradiant, almost noble.


    Their delicate features were now framed by the rich fabrics, and for the first time, they looked like they belonged to the noble society.


    Aestrea barely blinked as he watched them, but his lips curled slightly.


    "Perfect."


    The shopkeeper, sensing the moment of approval, immediately began to gather more clothes.


    Aestrea didn''t hesitate, purchasing everything¡ªthe fine tunics, leather boots, and even ornate cloaks, the deep green velvet nearly matching the children''s eyes.


    The total cost was staggering.


    The clerk''s eyes widened at the price, but Aestrea didn''t flinch.


    "Card," he said flatly, handing over a black, luxurious credit card containing his name.


    The clerk''s smile was immediate.


    "Thank you, sir," he said, bowing.


    "Your transaction is complete. A most... generous purchase."


    Aestrea turned and walked toward the door without a second glance at the stunned clerk, the children following closely behind, their new clothes now shining under the dim light of the store.


    As they exited, Aestrea made sure to pass right in front of the other boutique.


    The clerk¡ªthe one who had scoffed at them¡ªlooked up just in time to see Aestrea, the children now radiant, walking in the finest clothes.


    Her jaw dropped.


    She blinked, staring in disbelief as they walked past her store.


    The image of the children¡ªonce dirty, now looked like the children of noble blood.


    She swallowed, but her throat felt dry.


    Aestrea smiled faintly.


    He glanced down at the two children walking quietly beside him.


    "You guys must be hungry, right?" he asked casually, not looking at them.


    Both children hesitated, eyes darting to the ground, unsure of how to respond.


    But then...


    Growl~


    A low growl echoed aloud.


    Leaf''s stomach rumbled loudly, an embarrassing reminder of how long it had been since they had eaten.


    Her face flushed a deep red as she quickly lowered her head, hands clasping nervously in front of her.


    Ruli, noticing the shift in her friend''s demeanor, instinctively stepped in to protect her, trying to cover her blushing face with a slight gesture of her hand.


    Aestrea''s lips twitched, and a soft chuckle escaped his throat.


    "Pfff..." he couldn''t help but laugh.


    "Let''s go to the street market," he added with a faint smile.


    It didn''t take long to reach it, since it was pretty much connected to the huge shopping center nearby.


    And upon reaching it, the children''s eyes lit up.


    The market was a feast for their eyes.


    Colorful stalls lined the streets, each offering a variety of fresh fruits, steaming meats, and sizzling treats.


    The air was thick with the scent of spices and cooked food, and the chatter of the crowd filled the atmosphere with energy.


    Ruli and Leaf''s eyes widened as they took in the endless array of delicious-looking food, almost salivating as they looked at it.


    The sight of skewers piled high with grilled meats, fruits dipped in sugary syrup, and golden fried pastries seemed to captivate them both.


    Ruli''s mouth watered as she peered longingly at a stall laden with skewers, while Leaf nervously walked along with her, her hands still tightly clasped.


    Seeing this, Aestre turned to the nearest food stall¡ªa modest little setup run by a young commoner girl, her hands busy as she turned skewers over a sizzling grill.


    Immediately, a kind smile appeared on Aestrea''s face.


    Hearing his steps, he girl looked up, her eyes brightening as she saw him.


    She straightened, though her expression was still that of a humble vendor.


    "Skewers for the little girls," Aestrea said with a small smile.


    "How much?"


    The girl blinked in surprise but quickly recovered.


    "Five bronze coins for each skewer, sir."


    Aestrea''s gaze softened briefly as he looked at the children standing behind him, their eyes filled with hunger and hesitation.


    He nodded once, reaching into his coin pouch.


    Without hesitation, he slid a gold coin across the counter.


    The girl''s eyes widened in disbelief.


    "S-Sir, this is too much..." she stammered, clearly overwhelmed by the generous gesture.


    But Aestrea only smiled faintly.


    "Keep the change."


    The girl was too stunned to argue, and with trembling hands, she passed him the skewers.


    "T-Thank you, sir."


    Aestrea nodded and turned away, offering the skewers to the children.


    He crouched down in front of them as he opened his mouth.


    "Here," he said quietly, handing them each a skewer.


    "It''s okay. You don''t need to be shy."


    For a moment, the children hesitated, looking at the food as though unsure if it was truly theirs.


    ''...Ah. This is more troublesome than I thought it would be. What did these two little children pass through to be like this?''


    Then, their gazes turned to Aestrea for a moment.


    With a small glance at each other, Ruli and Leaf slowly took the skewers, their hands shaking just slightly.


    As they bit into the warm, juicy meat, their eyes lit up with surprise and delight.


    The food was perfect for them¡ªsoft, tender, and bursting with flavor.


    It had been so long since they had tasted something like this, their weary bodies and empty stomachs finally being satisfied.


    The children ate the skewers eagerly, their eyes lighting up with every bite. Aestrea watched them for a moment, the small smile on his lips slowly fading as he let out a soft sigh.


    He reached out and gently patted their heads.


    "Eat slowly. No one''s going to take the food from you."


    The children didn''t say anything, but the way they looked up at him¡ªeyes filled with quiet gratitude¡ªspoke louder than words ever could.


    After a while, Aestrea led them through the market, letting them stop at the food stalls they''d been eyeing.


    He watched as their faces lit up with excitement every time they spotted something new. They wanted to try it all, and he let them.


    There was no hurry, no rush¡ªjust a peaceful walk as the children slowly began to open up.


    They didn''t talk much at first, but every now and then, they would glance at him with shy smiles or nod in approval when they found food they liked.


    It was small, but Aestrea could tell they were slowly starting to feel at ease.


    As the sun began to dip and the sky turned from blue to orange, Aestrea led them to a nearby hotel.


    He walked up to the counter and paid for a room with two beds¡ªone for him, and one for the kids.


    The clerk gave him a strange look but said nothing.


    "Here," he said to them as they stepped into the room.


    "You can sleep here tonight."


    Ruli and Leaf looked around, eyes wide.


    It wasn''t fancy, but it was safe and warm, and for the first time in a long while, it felt like they could relax.


    Aestrea sat on the edge of the bed, his eyes following them as they settled down.


    The children were still adjusting to everything, still a little nervous, but Aestrea could tell they were starting to trust him, just a little more.


    "Alright, time for bed," He said calmly.


    "I''ll tell you a story to help you sleep."


    He didn''t ask if they wanted one; instead, he simply started telling one from his planet.


    It was the little story about Hansel and Gretel.


    As he spoke, the children slowly lay down as their eyelids grew heavy.


    They didn''t need to say anything.


    They were already listening to his voice, soothing them into a peaceful sleep.


    Aestrea finished the story and, for a moment, just sat there, watching the children.


    He made sure they were comfortable before slowly lying down himself.


    "Hah..."


    He let out a deep sigh.


    Then, he closed his eyes for a moment, sending a quick message to Lumi.


    I''m fine. Things are going well. Might have added a few children to our group. I''ll be back in a day or two.


    After that, he lay back and closed his eyes.


    He wasn''t going to sleep.


    He was going to meditate all night to fully recuperate his mana.

 Chapter 148 - 148: Trouble On The Way To Silverleaf Academy (IX)

    It took about four hours for Aestrea to fully recover his mana.


    And as soon as he did, he directly opened his eyes.


    "Fuuu..."


    A long breath left his lips as he sat up, eyes turning toward the dark night sky through the hotel window.


    "¡­Alright. Let''s do this."


    ¡º Storage ¡»


    He took out a strange black mask from the storage, and put it on his face. Along with that, he also wore an entire black outfit.


    Without wasting time, he stepped up to the window, glanced once at the sleeping children, then¡ª


    Whoosh!


    He jumped out, landing on the empty street below.


    Then, he jumped toward the rooftops and started leaping from one to the next, disappearing into the deeper parts of the capital.


    It wasn''t long before he reached the long stone road that led to the Royal Palace. The place was huge, surrounded by heavy gates and shining golden guards.


    This was where the Emperor lived.


    Of course, Aestrea wasn''t foolish enough to think he could kill the Emperor with his meager strength.


    What he intended to do was measure the Emperor''s strength, and for that purpose, he specifically took out a Mana Elixir so he could use his Time Freeze as many times as needed.


    Then, he pulled out a weapon wrapped in cloth.


    ¡º Storage ¡»


    The Red Slayer''s sword.


    It was finally going to have a use.


    But before invading the palace¡ªAestrea took out a tiny pouch from his side pocket and shook red powder into his hands.


    Carefully, he rubbed it across his body. In seconds, his silver mana began to glow a dull red.


    "Good¡­ now I''m ready."


    His eyes glowed faintly beneath the mask.


    Then¡ª


    FWOOP!


    He vanished from where he stood, reappearing in front of the palace gates.


    BAAAM!!


    The heavy iron doors blasted open, flying off the hinges and crashing into the marble floor with a thunderous slam.


    That was the alarm.


    Inside, the royal knights jumped to their feet.


    "INTRUDER!"


    One of them quickly grabbed his communication stone.


    "This is Sector 3¡ªan unknown attacker has breached the front! Mana signature: red! Unknown identity!"


    But he didn''t get to finish.


    SHHHK¡ª!


    In a flash, Aestrea appeared in front of him, and the knight''s body twisted unnaturally before falling to the ground in pieces.


    His sword had sliced clean through armor, muscle, and bone.


    "Wh-what¡ª?!"


    The other knights rushed forward with blades drawn, but Aestrea was already moving. His figure flickered like a shadow, faster than their eyes could follow.


    CLANG!


    SWOOSH!


    SPLURT!


    Steel clashed.


    Blood sprayed across the white marble.


    One knight screamed as his legs were frozen mid-run, then shattered under the force of a clean kick.


    Another tried to block with a shield, but Aestrea''s sword spun through the air and¡ª


    THUNK!


    ¡ªSplit him down from the shoulder to the waist.


    More knights came rushing in, alerted by the sound and the calls through the communication stones, but by the time they arrived¡­


    Silence.


    Only the sound of dripping blood filled the hall.


    And in the middle of it all stood Aestrea, sword in hand, not a single scratch on him.


    He tilted his head up, his mask glowing faintly in the moonlight.


    ¡º Judgement Eye (? S+ Level Skill ?) ¡»


    This time, they weren''t just foot soldiers.


    Each one wore polished armor embedded with mana circuits, and they held their swords with practiced precision.


    Glowing runes lit up their blades as they activated Royal Knight Sword Arts, their eyes burning with magic.


    "Formation Four!"


    "Engage the intruder¡ªdo not let him near the main hall!"


    Spells started flying instantly.


    BOOM!


    SWOOSH!


    CRACKLE!


    Fireballs, lightning strikes, and waves of ice exploded in the air, tearing through stone and shattering walls as they surged toward Aestrea.


    But he didn''t stop.


    He blinked right through the first wave¡ªappearing above one knight mid-cast and slashing straight down.


    SPLURT!


    The knight''s head separated cleanly from his body.


    Another one tried to catch Aestrea with a wind binding spell, but¡ª


    THUNK!


    A throwing knife, coated in frost mana, pierced his throat before the words could finish.


    Aestrea landed in a roll, barely grazed by a fire spell that seared the edge of his cloak. His red-tinted mana flared violently, wrapping around his body like a shield.


    ¡º Red Ice Series: Frost Barrage! (? 3rd-level Spell ?) ¡»


    Dozens of jagged red-colored ice spears exploded outward from his body¡ª


    SHHRKK!


    SPLAT!


    CLANG!


    ¡ªTearing through knights, piercing through magic shields, sending limbs flying in every direction.


    "KEEP FORMATION!" one of the captains screamed.


    But the formation was already broken.


    They couldn''t stop him.


    And Aestrea¡ªhe didn''t hesitate.


    One slash turned into five.


    One blink became a blur.


    Every attack was deliberate, every step soaked in blood and precision.


    It wasn''t a fight.


    It was a massacre.


    Splurt!


    Finally, the last elite knight guarding the principal gates fell with a broken sword in his hands and fear still frozen on his face.


    Aestrea stood in front of the massive golden doors that led to the palace''s heart.


    He raised his sword.


    BOOOM!!


    With one violent strike, he shattered the gates open¡ªcracks splintered through the ancient walls like spiderwebs.


    The dust cleared slowly¡­


    And then, Aestrea saw them.


    The Main Hall of the Royal Palace.


    It was silent. Tense.


    At the far end, sitting on a throne made of obsidian and gold, sat the Emperor himself.


    His golden robes shimmered under the moonlight pouring through the glass ceiling, and his eyes burned like dying stars¡ªold and cruel.


    He rested his cheek on his fist as if bored.


    But watching closely.


    Next to him¡­


    A dozen figures.


    Each of them powerful.


    Commanders of the Royal Knight Legions, standing tall in ornate armor that pulsed with high-grade enchantments.


    And at the front of them all¡ªstood the Sword Duke.


    A man said to have reached the very peak of swordsmanship. His blade was sheathed, but his presence alone made the air feel heavier.


    Like it could slice your breath in half.


    None of them spoke.


    They just looked at Aestrea.


    And Aestrea looked right back.


    Blood dripping from his sword.


    ''This son of a bitch...''


    ''He really likes having a sense of security, huh?''


    The silence lingered for a few seconds longer.


    Then, the Emperor shifted in his throne ever so slightly.


    The light from the crystal chandeliers above flickered across his gold-trimmed robe as he raised his head, resting his chin on one hand.


    His voice, when it came, was calm¡­ but bored.


    So very bored.


    "Really now¡­" he exhaled, long and lazy, as if Aestrea''s bloodied intrusion had only mildly disrupted a nap.


    "¡­You storm my gates, slaughter my knights, paint my marble halls with their guts¡­" He let his voice trail off, gazing down at Aestrea with half-lidded eyes.


    "Was it personal? Political? Or did someone actually pay you for this nonsense?"


    Aestrea didn''t speak.


    He didn''t move.


    He simply stood there, his cloak still dripping blood onto the palace floor.


    The mask on his face hid his expression, but the tension rolling off him in waves made the mana in the room stir slightly.


    The Emperor waited.


    Then blinked, unimpressed.


    "¡­No answer?" he said, tilting his head slightly.


    Sigh...


    He leaned back into the throne, resting his head in his palm again like a tired teacher lecturing a hopeless student.


    "How dull. I thought you''d at least say something poetic. Maybe a speech about revenge or justice, mm? No?"


    His fingers lazily tapped the armrest.


    "¡­Kill him."


    The words dropped like lead.


    At that moment, the Royal Knight Commanders stepped forward, their armor clinking, magic surging through the hall.


    Each of them radiated intense pressure¡ªseasoned killers, wielders of mana arts passed down for generations.


    They didn''t hesitate.


    But the Sword Duke?


    He didn''t move an inch.


    He stood at the Emperor''s side, like a silent blade still resting in its sheath.


    Watching and measuring Aestrea''s strength.


    He didn''t need to step in yet.


    Not until it was interesting.


    And as the Commanders drew their weapons and charged, Aestrea still hadn''t spoken.


    Not a word.


    But the moment they crossed that invisible line¡ª


    His fingers twitched.


    And his red-stained sword rose once more.


    ''.....Five peak S-rank knights...''


    Aestrea thought inwardly, gripping his sword tightly as he looked at them.


    ''This is a bit troublesome... if I could use my power, I could defeat them, however, my identity would be revealed.''


    ''...Wait, there are a few skills from Lumi that I can use still, except [Bleed]. That''s the only known skill that I used from her.''


    ''I also have the Crimson Torrent skill from the sword itself... it should be enough.''


    Aestrea shifted his stance slightly, blood dripping from his cloak.


    His eyes locked on the knight commanders.


    "Formation B," one of the knights snapped.


    Without another word, all five surged forward¡ªfast.


    CLANG!


    Aestrea raised his blade just in time to block a heavy downward strike from the first Commander.


    Sparks exploded.


    The floor cracked beneath him.


    Another knight appeared behind.


    WHOOSH¡ªTHUD!


    Aestrea twisted, parrying, but the third knight''s flaming spear pierced his left thigh¡ª


    SPLURT!!


    He gasped sharply as blood gushed down, his leg nearly giving in.


    ''...Alright... It''s time to use the Demon Beast Series from Lumi...''


    Aestrea exhaled.


    ¡º Demon Beast Series: Shadowstep Claw ¡»


    WHOOM¡ªSLASH!


    Aestrea vanished into black mist, reappearing behind the fourth knight and slashing downward.


    A black claw of energy ripped into the knight''s shoulder¡ªhe screamed, armor splitting open.


    But the fifth knight was already mid-air.


    ¡º Royal Sword Art: Heaven''s Descent ¡»


    CRAAASH!!


    A wave of holy energy came crashing down on Aestrea like a meteor. He raised his sword, bracing himself¡ªtoo late.


    BOOM!


    He was sent flying, his body slamming through two stone pillars.


    Dust and blood exploded across the hall.


    He coughed hard, blood spilling from his lips.


    His arm¡ªhis right arm¡ªwas torn at the joint, barely hanging on by tendons.


    ''¡­Damn it¡­''


    The knights advanced again.


    "You''re done!" one of them shouted.


    But Aestrea''s eyes burned beneath the mask.


    ¡º Demon Beast Series: Mindveil Howl ¡»


    He let out a phantom scream¡ªnot from his mouth, but through mana itself.


    A piercing psychic shriek echoed through the minds of the knights, making them freeze, their vision shaking.


    Aestrea staggered to his feet.


    ¡º Crimson Torrent ¡»


    His blade glowed¡ªa sickening red mist rose from it.


    The cursed sword unleashed its power.


    SWISH¡ªCRACK¡ªSLASH!


    He charged, a blur of blood, speed, and flames surged.


    His mangled leg dragged slightly, but it didn''t stop him.


    SLICE!!


    One knight''s head flew¡ªhis body collapsing in a pool of red.


    The others barely reacted when a second slash spun through the air¡ª


    SPURT!!


    A chest was cleaved open.


    "AHHH!!"


    Another knight raised a barrier¡ª


    ¡º Frost Howl Blast ¡»


    Aestrea''s palm released a freezing roar of mana¡ªice exploded forward, trapping the knight''s legs.


    SHLUNK!!


    The Red Slayer Sword pierced his heart before he could move.


    Three down.


    Only two remained.


    Both backed up, panting, now hesitant¡ªuntil they launched a combined strike of wind and lightning magic.


    ¡º Dual Art: Storm Execution ¡»


    Aestrea raised his broken arm.


    ¡º Demon Beast Series: Core Overload ¡»


    His body flared with unnatural mana¡ªred, black, and violet.


    The spells collided with his energy¡ª


    KRAKOOOM!


    The whole hall shook, debris raining, the carpet catching fire.


    Smoke filled the space.


    Then¡­ silence.


    The two knights stared, weapons raised.


    From the smoke, a figure limped forward.


    Blood dripping.


    Mask cracked.


    Left arm dangling.


    Right hand dragging a cursed blade.


    Still alive.


    Still standing.


    Aestrea didn''t say a word.


    He simply raised the sword one final time¡ª sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    And in a blur, he was in front of them.


    SHHHING¡ªSLASH!!


    A straight, clean cut split both their torsos open in the shape of an X.


    Blood exploded from their mouths before they fell back.


    Dead.


    Five bodies.


    Five Commanders.


    Gone.


    The whole palace fell quiet.


    And from the throne, the Emperor slowly clapped his hands once, bored.


    Clap, clap!


    "Now that was a fight," he muttered lazily.


    "I must say, those beast skills¡­ you''re not just some rogue knight."


    A beat passed.


    Then, without looking away from Aestrea¡ª


    "Sword Duke."


    The man beside the Emperor¡ªtall, silent, clad in platinum armor¡ªstepped forward at last.


    "You may go now," the Emperor said simply.


    "Kill him."

 Chapter 149 - 149: Trouble On The Way To Silverleaf Academy (X)

    ''Alright... now, the biggest problem so far.''


    Aestrea gripped the sword tightly.


    ''Elandor, the Sword Duke...''


    His eyes locked onto his figure.


    Elandor slowly stepped towards him, holding a regular iron sword in his left hand, while his eyes kept analyzing himself.


    And then, in an instant, his figure vanished.


    Fwoop!


    Aestrea barely had time to blink before Elandor was standing directly before him.


    "Huh¡­ seems that you weren''t as strong as I thought."


    With a casual smirk, Elandor swung his sword¡ªa clean arc from left to right.


    The blade whistled through the air.


    Aestrea reacted instinctively¡ªhis instincts screamed at him¡ªbut it was too fast, too sudden.


    The sword grazed his ribs, CRACK¡ªa sickening sound as the bones fractured.


    "Tch!"


    He gritted his teeth, barely managing to stay on his feet. His left hand went to his side, where blood dripped from the wound, but there was no time to recover. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Before Aestrea could even blink, Elandor was already behind him.


    "You move too slowly," Elandor taunted, his sword flashing again.


    WHOOSH!


    Aestrea twisted, raising his sword in a desperate block, but the force of the strike threw him off balance.


    His sword slipped from his hand, clattering against the stone floor.


    He tried to step back¡ªhis vision blurry, his body screaming in pain¡ªbut Elandor didn''t allow it.


    With terrifying precision, Elandor delivered a low slash that cut through the side of Aestrea''s leg, deep enough to make him stumble, his knee buckling.


    "Pathetic," Elandor muttered as he effortlessly stepped forward, bringing his sword down with a deadly force.


    Aestrea tried to roll to the side, but the tip of the sword grazed his shoulder.


    Bone shattered as Elandor''s attack found its mark, and Aestrea cried out in agony, his body slamming into the cold floor.


    CRASH!


    Aestrea barely moved as Elandor stood over him, his sword raised once again.


    "You''re just like the others," Elandor said, almost disappointed.


    "Weak, pitiful."


    Screech!


    Aestrea''s breath was ragged, his vision blurred.


    He couldn''t keep up.


    His limbs felt like lead. Every time he tried to dodge or counter, Elandor was there, faster, more brutal.


    SMASH!


    Another powerful strike sent Aestrea flying back, his back crashing against the stone wall with a sickening thud.


    Pain shot through him, and he could feel his body losing its strength.


    His ribs¡ªbroken.


    His arm was fractured.


    His breath was coming in ragged gasps.


    Yet, despite the blood pooling on the floor beneath him, despite the cracks in his body, Aestrea didn''t stop.


    ''Just a little bit more...''


    ''Just enough to make the Emperor careless...''


    Aestrea thought inwardly, awaiting the perfect moment.


    He didn''t even use the beast series technique to make sure that he had enough mana.


    Then, Elandor took a step forward, his sword gleaming in the dim light, a smirk still plastered on his face.


    "This is where you die, little knight."


    Aestrea''s vision was fading.


    His head spun, and his mind grew foggy.


    He could feel his body giving in.


    The wall behind him felt cold.


    He could barely raise his head, his eyes dull beneath the dark mask, but his smile came nonetheless.


    "...Perfect."


    A grim smile that said everything.


    The Sword Duke''s gaze faltered for just a moment.


    "What¡­?"


    SLICE!


    Aestrea''s movements were barely noticeable to the human eye.


    But with the last shred of his will, he slashed out, his hand flicking in the air like a dart, a subtle gesture.


    Suddenly, time stopped.


    Aestrea''s body flickered, his broken body shifting as though it was never even there.


    The air froze.


    His pain was still there, but the world around him stood still.


    ¡º Time Freeze (? 9th-Level Spell ?) ¡»


    Time had come to a halt.


    "Now... It''s finally time to make you feel the damage I took."


    Aestrea''s eyes glowed intensely.


    His fingers twitched as he muttered under his breath, as the red mana crackled around his finger, just like lightning.


    ¡º Damage Delay (? ???-Level Spell ?) ¡»


    His hand hovered on the Sword Duke''s iron armor chest, as the very air seemed to pulse with a strange vibration as Aestrea''s mana swirled crazily.


    He pressed down on the armor, and a feeling of suffocating pressure grew, like the air itself was being sucked out of the room.


    "Impacto."


    In an instant, a pulse of mana exploded from his touch, surging into the iron armor, however, it didn''t react immediately.


    Then, without hesitation, Aestrea dashed towards the Emperor.


    He reached into his cloak and pulled out a Mana Elixir, popping the stopper and drinking it down immediately.


    Snap...!


    He snapped his fingers and...


    ¡º Damage Transfer (? ???-Level Spell ?) ¡»


    FWOOOP!


    BAAAM!


    Before anyone could react, the Sword Duke was thrown like a ragdoll.


    He slammed against the stone walls with a sickening thud, his body collapsing to the ground in a heap, blood spilling from his mouth.


    The Emperor''s eyes widened in pure panic, his body jerking as he stood in shock


    But as he stood up, he felt a shadow looming over him.


    "Sit down, motherfucker."


    Aestrea''s voice came in a cryptic tone, making it impossible to know that it was him.


    BAAM!


    Before the Emperor could comprehend what was happening, Aestrea''s boot crashed into his chest.


    The force sent him slamming back into his throne.


    The air was forced from his lungs, and the imprint of Aestrea''s boot stayed on his stomach like a brand.


    Then, Aestrea reached down and grabbed the Emperor by the neck.


    His fingers closed around the Emperor''s throat, tightening with such force that it was impossible to breathe.


    His mask, cracked but still in place, concealed most of his face, but the dark, twisted smirk was all too visible.


    The Emperor''s eyes darted around, panic rising in his chest.


    He could barely breathe, his voice trembling as he stammered.


    "W-what do you w-want?"


    He was extremely scary, but his eyes frantically darted behind Aestrea.


    Not to the Sword Duke...


    But to something... that only he could see.


    "...I want your life. But don''t worry, I won''t take it yet. I want to make sure you understand just how much pain you''ll feel before that."


    Aestrea''s eyes glowed intensely even though no one could see them.


    "...But first..." Aestrea''s voice dropped to a whisper.


    "I''ll leave a little mark."


    SPLURT!


    Aestrea''s sword pierced the Emperor''s leg.


    The blade sank into the flesh with a sickening squelch, and the Emperor''s scream ripped through the air.


    "ARGHHAA!"


    Aestrea twisted the blade slowly.


    Blood poured from the wound as the Emperor''s scream turned into a gurgled, desperate cry. Aestrea twisted the blade again, deepening the wound, pulling the flesh apart.


    The scream only grew louder, the sound of it echoing through the empty halls, ripping into the Emperor''s very soul.


    "AGGAAH!"


    The Emperor''s voice broke, his body shuddering in agony, his hands scrambling to push Aestrea away, but he was too weak, too terrified.


    ZOOOOM!


    Suddenly, a strong aura flared up behind Aestrea, the air vibrating with deadly intent.


    Aestrea turned his head, just in time to see the Sword Duke rising to his feet.


    "I admit, I underestimated you..." Elandor''s voice was strained, blood dripping from his mouth as he wiped his chin.


    His sword was now enveloped in a dark brown, swirling aura.


    His eyes glinted with a hunger to kill.


    "BUT THIS TIME... YOU''LL SURELY DIE!"


    FWOOP!


    Elandor shot forward, his speed terrifying.


    Unlike before, Aestrea could see him now¡ªhe was coming straight for him.


    Aestrea didn''t flinch.


    His attention was still on the Emperor.


    "I''ll be back for your life later..."


    Swoop!


    The Sword Duke materialized before Aestrea in an instant, his sword raised high, poised to cleave him in two.


    But, at that moment, Aestrea''s lips curled into a small, chilling smile.


    Then, he snapped his fingers.


    ¡º Time Freeze (? 9th-Level Spell ?) ¡»


    Time stopped once again.


    The world froze in place.


    Every movement, every breath, every beat of the heart halted in an instant.


    The Emperor, still holding his leg in agony, his face twisted in horror, was frozen in place.


    Elandor, too, was locked in time, his sword mid-strike, his body suspended in the air.


    "Haaah..."


    Aestrea let out a deep sigh.


    Then, he turned around and dashed away from that place, leaving both of them alone. Not that there were just two of them there...


    Fwoop!


    Time continued...


    SWOOP!


    Elandor''s sword, which had been moments away from cleaving Aestrea''s skull, came down¡ªempty air where his target had been.


    Elandor froze.


    Aestrea had disappeared.


    Suddenly, Elandor turned toward the Emperor.


    Heyes narrowed as he saw the Emperor''s body twitching in complete agony.


    It was the first time he had seen the Emperor so powerless, so weak.


    His chest rose and fell, but he still held onto his leg, eyes locked in a horrified stare.


    "MAKE SURE TO FIND THAT SON OF A BITCH AND BRING ME BACK HIS FUCKING HEAD!"


    His voice was loud like a broken command, dripping with rage and fear.


    His forehead bulged with veins, a stark reminder of his complete loss of control.


    Elandor didn''t waste a moment.


    His lips curled into a grim line as he simply nodded and vanished away.


    And as soon as he vanished, the Emperor''s scream tore through the room.


    "FUCK, FUCK, FUCKING HELL!"


    But as the Emperor continued screaming, a voice suddenly reached his ears.


    It was dangerous, yet oddly charming, dripping with a kind of sickly sweetness.


    "Why, calm down, dear Francis~"


    Then, from the air itself, she appeared.


    A woman with skin as pale as snow stepped forward, her red eyes glowing softly in the dim light.


    Her long, black hair shimmered as it cascaded down her back like a dark waterfall.


    Her outfit was revealing, hugging her figure tightly and leaving little to the imagination.


    The fabric clung to her curves, showing off her long, smooth legs and delicate arms.


    She wore a tight, dark dress that barely reached her thighs, with the edges of her clothes shimmering as if they were alive.


    Her face was perfect.


    Delicate eyebrows arched over her eyes, her cheeks soft and smooth.


    There was a small, seductive mark just beside her left eyebrow, adding to her seductive, alluring look.


    The Emperor''s breath caught in his throat.


    His mouth went dry as he stared at her, unable to speak for a moment.


    "L-Lilith..."


    She smiled.


    The smile was dangerous, yet impossibly charming, like a trap he couldn''t avoid.


    "I-I..." he stammered again, struggling to find words.


    Lilith''s finger raised, glowing with mana.


    She gently lifted his chin, forcing him to look into her piercing red eyes.


    The Emperor''s face flushed instantly, his cheeks turning a deep red.


    His heart pounded in his chest as he felt extremely weak under her gaze.


    "Shhh..."


    "Don''t speak. Just listen."


    The Emperor froze, his body trembling.


    Her voice was like velvet, and he found himself mesmerized by her presence.


    "You don''t need to worry, my dear." Her lips curled into a smirk, her eyes flashing with a dangerous light.


    "You''ll definitely kill him."


    Her words were like a promise, but the Emperor didn''t know if he was ready for it.


    "And when you do... I''ll reward you~" Lilith giggled softly, and the sound was like music to his ears, but it sent a shiver down his spine.


    The Emperor swallowed hard, his throat dry.


    He couldn''t stop himself from nodding, his mind clouded with desire and fear.


    "I''ll do anything for you!" he said, his voice now full of determination, as if he believed that would be enough.


    Lilith smirked, her eyes glowing with satisfaction.


    "Great..."

 Chapter 150 - 150: Trouble On The Way To Silverleaf Academy (XI)

    "BRGH!"


    A burst of black blood shot out from my mouth, splattering onto the ground.


    I wiped it off with the sleeve of my black coat, not caring that the fabric was soaked through with that foul taste.


    It didn''t matter.


    "F-fucking hell..."


    I muttered under my breath, feeling the poison still pulsing through my veins. It burned, a searing heat that made my limbs feel like lead, but I kept walking forward.


    Where was I going?


    The cathedral.


    I needed to meet Christina.


    Just one last time.


    I couldn''t believe it, though.


    The damn knights of the Royal Knights Order¡ªpoisoned attacks?


    That wasn''t part of the plan.


    But still... I wasn''t dead yet.


    "However... my plan did work. That''s what matters."


    I gritted my teeth, staggering a bit as I kept walking, forcing my body to push forward.


    The pain was unbearable, but it was worth it.


    I''d made an impact¡ªfear had been instilled in the Emperor''s mind.


    And Lilith... she was definitely interested in me.


    The demon mark on my shoulder was proof of that.


    If it wasn''t for my system being useful for once, I wasn''t going to find it, but I''m grateful that it warned me.


    Now, when I fully heal myself, I just need to have a one-on-one with Lilith.


    I already had a few plans in mind to kill her.


    And if those plans failed, well, I''d resort to the stupidest one.


    But I''d get it done.


    One way or another.


    "Finally... I''m here."


    Breathing heavily, I slowly walked up the stairs leading to the cathedral.


    However, as I rounded closer, a sudden wave of dizziness hit me. My knees buckled for a split second, but I forced myself to stay upright.


    "Fuuu..."


    "Come on... just a little bit more."


    Creaack...


    I pushed the door open with a grunt, my legs barely holding me up as I limped toward the room where Christina usually stayed.


    The mask, now useless, was torn from my face and tossed aside.


    But as I reached the door, a cold, sharp sensation pressed against my neck.


    "Who are you? What''s your purpose?!"


    A rough and full of killing intent voice reached my ears.


    "F-fucking hell... shut your fucking mouth and help me, John," I muttered weakly, spinning around to face him.


    But then...


    "Ugh...!"


    I fell forward.


    John''s eyes widened.


    Before I could even catch my breath, the sword was gone from my neck, tossed aside with a clink, and he was there, his arms catching me as I collapsed.


    "AAGH!"


    My body hit the floor, my legs buckling beneath me.


    Pain flashed through my chest, but it felt distant.


    "Hey, hey, dude!" John shouted, panicked.


    He quickly threw my arm over his shoulder, pulling me up. His hands were firm, but the world around me spun.


    Then he stopped, sniffing the air, and his eyes went wide.


    "This smell... are you poisoned? Shit!" he cursed.


    BAM!


    Without hesitation, John kicked the door open, the heavy wood slamming against the frame with a loud crash.


    "John? How many times do I have to tell you not to wreck into my room like¡ª"


    Christina''s voice trailed off, and her words caught in her throat as she saw me.


    "¡ªThis is urgent, Saintess! Your lover is poisoned!" John blurted, his voice filled with panic as he laid me down on the bed with a thud.


    "Lov¡ªAestrea?!" Christina gasped, her eyes instantly widening as they locked onto me.


    Horror flashed across her face.


    I barely had the strength to lift my head, but I could tell from the look on her face that things were much worse than I thought.


    My right arm felt like it was on fire, the purple veins that snaked through it ugly and swollen.


    I could barely feel it anymore, the pain numbed by everything else.


    I must''ve looked like a mess.


    Christina was already by my side in an instant, her hands pressing against my chest, her touch cool against the heat of my skin.


    "...This...?! Broken ribs... a fractured arm... and your organs are poisoned?!" Her voice trembled with worry as she frantically checked my injuries.


    "Who were you fighting against?"


    ''Poisoned organs¡­''


    I blinked, the words barely registering.


    ''Gosh.''


    It seems my situation was much worse than I had thought.


    Was it due to the adrenaline that I didn''t feel anything?


    ''Ah...''


    ''It''s probably because of that new skill.''


    "Actually, that doesn''t matter! John, bring me the blood orb from that demon beast!" Christina''s voice snapped me out of my thoughts.


    "Right!"


    John hurriedly shot out of the room.


    It took him about five seconds to come back and throw the orb at Christina.


    Zooom!


    A burst of bright, blinding energy filled the room, and in Christina''s hands, the blood orb appeared, pulsating with a strong red energy.


    Her lips pressed tight, and her eyebrows furrowed in concentration as she stared down at the orb, before she gritted her teeth.


    "Dammit..."


    THRUM!


    Without wasting any more time, she crushed the blood orb, and suddenly, the entire room flashed red.


    An extraordinary amount of blood energy surged through the room.


    Christina immediately raised her hand, a golden energy enveloping it, as she controlled the energy in the air and pressed it against my body.


    "Hagh...!"


    I gritted my teeth, trying to force my breath to stay steady as the pain coursed through every part of me.


    The pressure built, and everything around me began to blur.


    My head spun, my eyelids growing heavier and heavier.


    Then, suddenly, a cold sensation washed over me.


    I blinked rapidly, trying to clear my vision, but my eyelids were so heavy.


    This...


    The system...?


    [An unusual amount of blood energy detected...]


    [It''s detected that the user has a treasure that can evolve attributes...]


    I struggled to focus, but the words on the notification were blurry.


    I couldn''t make them out fully.


    My head felt foggy, too tired to think straight.


    ''I... I''m so sleepy...''


    .


    .


    .


    [All the requirements have been met.]


    .


    .


    .


    .


    [The element [Ice] has evolved to its second form.]


    .


    .


    .


    .


    "Agh..."


    I slowly opened my eyes, the world still a little blurry.


    My body ached, every muscle sore, but... I felt strangely light, like my body was actually as light as a feather.


    My head was fuzzy, but not as bad as before.


    I tried to move, to sit up, but then I felt something pressing against me.


    I froze.


    I looked to my left, and my eyes softened just a little.


    There she was.


    Christina.


    She was lying next to me, her arms wrapped around my waist.


    Her hair was a mess, sticking to her face, and she looked... well, disheveled, to say the least. Her breathing was steady, soft, like she was in a deep sleep.


    I couldn''t help but glance at her, but then my eyes moved up, staring at the ceiling.


    "Haaagh..."


    I let out a long, deep sigh.


    ''What happened?''


    I remembered everything¡ªfighting, poison, that damn orb... but now?


    Something about my body... felt very different.


    And I was here.


    With Christina.


    I wasn''t sure what to do.


    I didn''t want to wake her up.


    She shifted slightly, her grip tightening around me, and I just stayed still, not wanting to disturb her.


    ''...System?''


    [I''m busy.]


    ''...Fuck you.''


    [Gladly.]


    ''Shitty system...''


    Anyways, Christian didn''t find the demon mark.


    Is that a problem?


    Not for me.


    But if someone else found it... well, yeah. That could be a problem. If the Saintess couldn''t find it, who could?


    ''Ah.''


    Probably the hero.


    I almost forgot about his existence.


    Well...


    I stole most of his opportunities to show off.


    ...Is that going to bring down his confidence?


    Probably not... right?


    His ego was through the roof when he got that power boost against me. But, yeah... I crushed him once the power-up faded.


    That aside...


    When is Lilith going to come after me?


    I need to be extremely careful with her.


    She wasn''t the Succubus Queen for nothing.


    But honestly...


    But honestly... thinking about it, maybe she was one of those virgin succubus types. That''s a common trope, right?


    Authors really do like to create Succubus Heroines after all.


    Not that I care, though, since I''m going to kill her.


    Then again...


    ...I do have that [Slave Mark] skill from Lumi.


    And she''s practically an SS-rank awakened...


    ''Fuck.''


    Am I still being influenced by the old Aestrea?


    Is it because of the memories?


    No...


    I was pretty sure that I was back to being myself.


    Especially when I decimated those guys in the train, the old Aestrea would probably simply knock them out. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Haaah..."


    No use thinking about it.


    I needed to get moving. I had to meet up with Leaf and Ruli.


    With that thought, I quietly slipped out of bed without waking Christina. I glanced at her sleeping face, the peaceful look on her face made my chest tighten.


    I bit my lip and grabbed some paper and ink from around the cathedral, quickly writing her a short note.


    I set it on the desk, then left the room, heading toward the exit of the cathedral.


    "Leaving so soon?"


    I heard the familiar voice, and I couldn''t help but chuckle.


    "Unfortunately."


    "...I''ll miss ya, buddy," John spoke solemnly.


    "Hah..."


    I laughed softly.


    "Sure, I''ll miss Christina, too."


    "Bastard." John shook his head, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips.


    I pushed open the doors of the cathedral before returning to the hotel. Thankfully, both of them were still sleeping, so I seized the opportunity for a quick nap.


    Then, I would head back to Silverleaf.


    Finally.

 Chapter 151 - 151: Trouble On The Way To Silverleaf Academy (XII)

    Everything felt warm.


    Way too warm.


    I shifted slightly on the bed, my body feeling heavy... but also weirdly good.


    The sheets around me were soft, silky... and there was this sweet smell in the air. Like flowers and... something even sweeter.


    Then I felt it.


    A soft touch.Warm fingers brushing against my chest.


    "Haaagh..."


    I let out a shaky breath without meaning to.


    My eyes opened slowly.


    The room around me was covered in a soft, red light. It looked almost like a sunset had poured itself into the walls.


    And then¡ªI saw her.


    A woman.


    Sitting on top of me, her body barely covered by a thin, almost see-through black dress. Her skin looked soft and glowing.


    Her long black hair spilled down like a river, and her red eyes were staring right into mine... almost pulling me in.


    A little mole sat under her left eye, making her face even more sinful to look at. She was smiling¡ªno, smirking¡ªlike she knew every dirty thought in my head.


    "You look so tense, my dear..." she whispered, her voice like honey dripping into my ears.


    Her hands moved again, sliding up from my chest to my shoulders.


    Light touches.


    Barely there, but sending sparks through my body.


    Was this... a dream?


    A lucid one?


    Does this mean that... she''s my ideal type?


    My head felt heavy, like I was drunk on the air itself.


    My instincts screamed that something was wrong.


    But my body... my body wasn''t listening.


    Her fingers trailed down again, this time slower. Her lips curved into a deeper smile as she leaned closer, so close that her long hair brushed against my face.


    "Won''t you let me... take care of you?"


    Her voice was low, soft, and playful.


    It sounded almost like a command.


    And even though a part of me knew something was off¡ª


    ¡ªI still couldn''t move.


    I could only watch...


    As her red eyes started glowing faintly.


    Her hands slid down my chest, tracing every line of my muscles like she was memorizing them.


    "You''ve been working so hard..." she whispered, her breath warm against my ear.


    "Fighting... bleeding... hurting..." She kissed the side of my neck, feather-light, and a shiver ran through me.


    "You deserve a little reward... don''t you?"


    My body tensed, but not from fear.


    It was something else.


    Something dangerous. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    I could feel it now.


    Something dark was swirling in the air, mixing with that sweet smell.


    But even knowing that...


    It felt so good, I didn''t want to move.


    Her fingers traveled lower, slow and teasing, like she was testing how much I could take. Every time she touched me, it felt like sparks went off under my skin.


    Soft sighs left her lips, making the whole scene feel more real... heavier.


    I stared at her face.


    That perfect face.


    Her dark hair framed it perfectly, falling over her shoulders like black silk. Her red eyes were half-lidded, almost lazy, but full of a promise.


    A dangerous, wicked promise.


    "You trust me... don''t you?" she whispered, her fingers brushing over my heart.


    "Let go... just a little..."


    I felt her mana starting to slip into me.


    Soft, gentle... like it wanted to wrap around my soul.


    A part of me... almost gave in.


    Almost.


    But deep inside, a tiny spark of instinct flared up.


    Danger.


    Trap.


    I tried to move my arm.


    It twitched slightly, heavy like stone.


    Her smile grew wider, as if she could feel my struggle.


    "Shhh..." she cooed, leaning closer, her lips almost brushing mine now.


    "I''ll take care of everything... You just have to say yes."


    Her hand slipped behind my neck, pulling me up slightly towards her, so close that I could feel the heat of her body, her heart beating against mine.


    "Say it for me..." she whispered sweetly.


    "Say you belong to me."


    Her nails lightly scratched the back of my neck, sending goosebumps down my spine.


    The room spun slightly.


    My heartbeat pounded loudly in my ears.


    I opened my mouth, feeling the words almost fall out¡ª


    But somewhere deep inside, something wild and furious stirred.


    Not yet.


    Not so easy.


    Not me.


    My mouth continued open, the word right there on the tip of my tongue...


    "Good boy..." she whispered, her lips ghosting over mine.


    Her hand slid behind my head, fingers tangling into my hair, holding me in place gently ¡ª but firmly.


    Like she was afraid I''d pull away. Like she knew I might.


    Her other hand drifted across my chest, her nails lightly scratching me, leaving faint trails of heat behind.


    It felt good.


    Too good.


    The sweet smell around her grew thicker. It was like honey and roses and something sharper underneath ¡ª something like blood.


    Her eyes glowed brighter now.


    Red, alive, and practically... hungry.


    "You''re tired of fighting..." she whispered, her lips brushing my jawline.


    "You''ve fought enough..."


    Her words slipped into my ears like silk.


    "You deserve peace..."


    Another soft kiss on my skin.


    "Love..."


    Another kiss.


    "Pleasure..."


    Her tongue flicked against my neck.


    My body jerked slightly, a deep shudder running through me.


    I couldn''t help it.


    "You just have to say it," she breathed out, her voice trembling with excitement.


    "Say you belong to me."


    Her hand pressed against my heart now, right over where it beat hard and fast. I could feel her mana pulsing against mine ¡ª like a slow, powerful tide ¡ª trying to drown me.


    The bed beneath us shifted slightly, creaking as she pushed herself even closer. Her body molded against mine, hot and soft in all the right places.


    My vision blurred at the edges.


    It would be so easy...


    Just say yes.


    Just fall.


    But then...


    Something sharp pricked at the back of my mind.


    A memory.


    A feeling.


    No.


    This isn''t... fucking real.


    The air around her shimmered slightly.


    For a second, her pretty smile twitched ¡ª just a little too wide.


    Her nails were digging just a little too hard into my chest.


    Something in her...


    It wasn''t just lust.


    It was hunger.


    Real, terrifying hunger.


    She wanted more than my body.


    She wanted everything.


    And if I said yes...


    I would never wake up again.


    My fingers twitched again, stronger this time.


    Her smile faltered.


    She leaned down, her lips hovering over mine.


    "Don''t fight it, sweet boy..." she whispered, voice shaking with need.


    "I can give you everything you ever wanted."


    Her hips pressed against mine.


    "You just have to... say it."


    Her nails dug deeper.


    The room twisted around us, dark colors bleeding into the dream.


    The soft, sweet smell was choking now.


    My heart slammed against my ribs, fighting the pull.


    Fighting her.


    Not yet.


    Not like this.


    I gritted my teeth and finally managed to move my hand¡ª


    Grip!


    I grabbed her wrist.


    Tight.


    Her red eyes widened slightly, real surprise flashing through them.


    "You..." she breathed out, her voice still silky, but underneath ¡ª a snarl was starting to form.


    "You''re stronger than you look."


    I smirked up at her weakly, even as my body still shook.


    "Sorry, sweetheart..." I rasped out.


    "I''m not that fucking easy."


    For a second, there was silence.


    And I already figured out who it was.


    I mean...


    Only a truly powerful demon could invade my dreams and even nearly seduce me to the point of infatuation.


    However, I didn''t expect that she would act so soon.


    Lilith.


    "Shit..."


    I cursed before turning to Lilith.


    Lilith just stared at me, her pretty face frozen like a cracked doll.


    Her smile stayed, but her eyes...


    Her eyes darkened.


    The air grew colder.


    The warmth of the bed, her touch ¡ª it all started to rot at the edges. The smell of honey and roses twisted into something foul... something like burning flesh and wet soil.


    Lilith''s fingers twitched in my grip.


    Then, she smiled again.


    But this time... it wasn''t sweet.


    It was sharp.


    Predatory.


    "You could''ve had it easy, little boy..." she whispered, her voice no longer soft ¡ª it slithered against my skin, oily and cold.


    Her body shifted.


    She didn''t look like a perfect woman anymore.


    Her skin looked too tight over her bones, her hair twisted and floated unnaturally, and her mouth¡ªHer mouth was full of too many teeth.


    Still smiling.


    Still beautiful.


    But in the way a spider''s web is beautiful ¡ª right before it wraps you up and drains you dry.


    "You could''ve slept forever in my arms..." she cooed.


    A dark mist rose up around us.


    The bed beneath me melted into black nothingness.


    "You could''ve been my favorite little pet..."


    She leaned close, her breath icy against my ear.


    "But now..."


    Her fingers stabbed into my chest, right above my heart.


    Sharp and cold.


    I sucked in a harsh breath, pain snapping through me like lightning.


    "...I''ll have to break you properly."


    CRACK!


    A sound like breaking glass echoed in the dream.


    The dream world started crumbling.


    Chunks of black sky fell into the void.


    The ground split under us.


    Lilith''s hands wrapped around my throat, but she wasn''t choking me ¡ªNo, she was holding me still.


    Like she was trying to keep me trapped as the dream collapsed.


    "I''ll find you again..." Her voice was soft again, almost loving.


    "I''ll crawl into your dreams every night if I have to... until you give in."


    I glared at her, breathing heavily.


    "You''re gonna have to try harder than this... I''m not weak as that horny shit of an emperor." I growled back.


    Lilith laughed.


    A sweet, broken, haunting laugh.


    She didn''t even seem surprised that I knew that she was controlling the Emperor.


    The last thing I saw was her red, glowing eyes boring into mine¡ªbefore everything shattered into white.


    CRASH!


    I jolted awake, gasping for air, my body covered in cold sweat.


    The hotel room ceiling stared back at me.


    ...This time, it wasn''t a dream.


    It was real.


    My heart slammed against my ribs.


    I lifted a shaky hand to my chest where her nails had stabbed me in the dream.


    There ¡ª faint but real ¡ª were five tiny, red marks.


    My blood ran cold.


    She touched me.


    Even in the real world.


    "Haaagh..."


    I sat up slowly, wiping the sweat from my forehead.


    "Fuck... I really need to find a way to wipe this demon mark off my shoulder," I muttered, my hand moving up without thinking, massaging the back of my neck.


    It was sore.


    It felt like a brand, burning into my skin.


    I turned my head to the side.


    The kids were still sleeping soundly, their little faces peaceful.


    I let out a long breath of relief.


    At least they didn''t wake up.


    Turning my gaze to the window, I watched as the sun slowly climbed up into the sky.


    The soft golden light touched everything, making the whole room feel warmer, calmer.


    It was morning already.


    And today...


    Today, I could finally go back to Silverleaf.


    Back home.


    I leaned back against the wall, closing my eyes for a second.


    "I miss them..." I whispered to myself, smiling a little.


    I missed their noisy laughter.


    Their bright, curious eyes.


    Their stupid little fights over nothing.


    Their hugs.


    I missed... feeling like I belonged somewhere.


    I couldn''t wait to see them again.

 Chapter 152 - 152: Silverleaf City—The Place I Truly Belong.

    After a few minutes, I forced myself to move.


    I stood up slowly, careful not to make any noise.


    The kids were still curled up under the blankets, their little chests rising and falling with each breath.


    I smiled again, then I grabbed my coat and slung it over my shoulder, and then started packing our things into a small bag.


    It wasn''t much.


    A few clothes, some bread, water, and a few healing herbs just in case.


    Honestly, that was just a small cover since all the stuff was in the [Storage].


    So yeah, we didn''t need anything fancy.


    We just needed to get home.


    After everything was packed, I crouched down beside the bed.


    "Hey... time to wake up," I whispered softly, brushing the hair out of Leaf''s eyes.


    She stirred a little, rubbing her eyes with her tiny fists.


    "Mm... big brother...?" she mumbled, her voice still sleepy.


    "Yeah, it''s me," I chuckled quietly.


    "Get up, Leaf. We''re going back home."


    "Home...?" Her eyes lit up immediately, and she sat up quickly.


    Next to her, Ruli yawned loudly, waking up from the noise.


    "Are we really going to your academy?!" she asked, his voice full of excitement.


    "Yup," I said, ruffling her messy hair.


    "But first, we need to leave quietly, okay?"


    They both nodded hard, wiping the sleep from their faces.


    It didn''t take long before we were ready.


    I carried the bag over my shoulder, and the two of them held onto my coat tightly as we sneaked out of the hotel.


    The streets were still a little empty because it was early.


    Good.


    It took us a while to finally get onto the train.


    First, we had to buy the tickets.


    Now, we had to wait in line to get them checked.


    It was a bit annoying, but at least it gave me time to think.


    In the meantime, I took the chance to contact Lumi and the others.


    They had already arrived at Silverleaf City and were currently staying at a hotel, awaiting my return.


    That was good news.


    It made me feel a little better.


    Even so, a small part of me was still worried that the Emperor might have sent more people after me.


    But honestly, after the fear I shoved into him, he probably wasn''t thinking about me anymore.


    He was probably scared out of his mind, focused on that "masked guy" that had attacked him. He had no clue it was me.


    That thought made me chuckle a little.


    Still, there were some things I needed to handle once I got back.


    First, that sword.


    I needed to sell it.


    When I got back to my dormitory, I planned to open the gate to Yara''s house. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    I would ask her to help me sell the sword at the auction house.


    It would sell for a lot of money.


    Maybe around 20,000 platinum coins.


    A huge amount... but even then, it might not be enough.


    The Dragon''s Heart base price was 40,000 platinum coins. And it would probably get even more expensive as the auction went on.


    That was going to be a big problem.


    But luckily...


    I had made a deal with Violet.


    Thanks to that, I had a way to get it.


    I just had to be careful.


    And very patient.


    After we finally got our tickets checked, we walked into the train and found our seats.


    The kids were super excited.


    Ruli grabbed the seat by the window, her eyes sparkling as she stared outside.


    Leaf sat next to her, swinging her legs back and forth like a little kid full of energy.


    I sat across from them, watching them with a small smile.


    It felt... peaceful.


    "Look! Look! We''re moving!" Ruli shouted, pointing outside as the train started rolling forward with a soft clack-clack-clack sound.


    "Woahh!" Leaf leaned forward, pressing her nose against the glass.


    I chuckled lightly.


    "Hey, don''t smudge the window, kid," I said, ruffling her hair.


    She pouted but grinned.


    Ruli turned around and smiled at me too, her little hands tapping the window excitedly.


    I leaned back against my seat, closing my eyes for a moment.


    After everything that happened...


    This quiet, simple moment...


    It felt nice.


    Really nice.


    Time passed quickly after that.


    The train kept speeding up, the steady sound of the wheels and tracks making everything feel calm.


    I was half-asleep when suddenly¡ª


    Ding!


    A voice came from the speaker above us.


    "Dear passengers, we are now arriving at Silverleaf City. Please make sure to gather your belongings and prepare to exit the train."


    I opened my eyes slowly, feeling the train start to slow down.


    The kids were already up, grabbing their little bags, their faces filled with excitement.


    "We''re here! We''re finally here!" Leaf shouted, shaking Ruli a little.


    "Finally!" Ruli giggled, standing up on her seat for a second before I pulled her down gently.


    "Careful," I said with a small laugh.


    I wonder why they''re still so excited.


    The train trip was more than fifteen hours...


    With a small sigh, I stood up too, slinging my bag over my shoulder.


    The train gave a soft jerk as it fully stopped.


    The doors slid open with a soft hiss, and a fresh breeze rushed in.


    "Come on, you two," I said, waving my hand.


    Leaf and Ruli quickly followed behind me, their small hands grabbing onto my coat as we stepped off the train.


    The Silverleaf station looked just like I remembered ¡ª busy, a little noisy, but still full of that warm, small-town feeling.


    I took a deep breath.


    Home.


    I led the kids through the crowd, scanning the area.


    And then¡ª


    "ASTREA!!"


    I heard a loud, cheerful voice.


    I turned my head and smiled.


    Lumi was running toward us, waving her hands like crazy.


    She was also in her disguised form, which made her look like a normal human. All thanks to Alaine, of course, she was the one who had disguising magic.


    Behind her, I spotted Alaine and Chaerin also waving their hands.


    Step, step, step!


    When Lumi reached us, she didn''t even hesitate ¡ª she tackled me into a hug, making me stumble a little.


    "Master~, you''re finally back!" she said excitedly.


    I patted her head lightly.


    "Yeah... I''m back."


    Ruli and Leaf giggled beside us, and soon Elaine joined, gently pulling Lumi off me so I could actually breathe.


    Then, she picked up the bags I was carrying before smiling softly.


    "Come on. Let''s head back to the hotel."


    I promptly nodded my head.


    I had already briefly introduced Leaf and Ruli through my message to Lumi, so they didn''t seem to be bothered.


    And surprisingly, both Ruli and Leaf weren''t as shy as before.


    Was it because they were women?


    Maybe...


    The walk to the hotel wasn''t too long.


    The streets of Silverleaf were just as peaceful as I remembered¡ªstone roads, hanging lanterns swaying in the breeze, and the sound of people chatting, laughing, living.


    Ruli held my hand the whole way.


    Leaf stayed close to Lumi, pointing at things with wide eyes, quietly asking questions that Lumi happily answered.


    By the time we reached the hotel, the sun was starting to dip.


    The sky turned soft orange, casting long shadows across the ground.


    We stepped into the lobby.


    Warm lights, the smell of polished wood, and the gentle murmur of voices welcomed us inside.


    Alaine handled the room key with ease and led us up the stairs.


    Our rooms were right next to each other.


    When we entered, Ruli and Leaf looked around with curious eyes.


    The beds were soft, the room was clean, and the window gave a perfect view of the sun setting behind the trees.


    I sat down slowly on the bed, letting my tired legs rest for a moment.


    Lumi dropped a pillow onto my lap and flopped down next to me, sighing dramatically.


    "We missed you, you know," she said, eyes closed.


    I gently ran my hand through her disguised hair.


    "I missed you, too," I whispered.


    Chaerin helped the girls with their shoes, and Alaine started unpacking the bags.


    Ruli and Leaf were already curled up together near the window, whispering to each other while watching the fading light.


    Not long after we settled in, Alaine called us over for dinner.


    We sat around a small wooden table in the hotel''s private dining room.


    The lights were warm and soft, and the smell of stew and fresh bread filled the air.


    Alaine brought in plates stacked with food¡ªroasted chicken, buttered vegetables, soft rolls, and a big pot of thick, warm soup.


    Ruli''s eyes sparkled. Leaf stared at the food like it was treasure.


    "Eat as much as you want," I said with a soft smile, passing a bowl to Ruli.


    "Really?" she asked, her voice tiny but filled with hope.


    "Really."


    Lumi leaned her head on my shoulder, already chewing on a piece of bread.


    "This almost feels like a family dinner," she mumbled with her mouth full.


    I didn''t say anything, but I smiled to myself.


    For a while, everything was quiet.


    Just spoons clinking.


    Soft laughter.


    Chaerin even cracked a rare smile when Ruli accidentally got sauce on her cheek and Leaf tried to wipe it with her sleeve.


    Alaine sat beside me, sipping from her mug.


    "You''re good with them," she said quietly.


    I looked down at Ruli and Leaf, who were sitting across from me, both smiling softly, slowly starting to relax in this new world.


    "I''m trying," I replied.


    But, even while I''m treating them well...


    Their training is going to be a bit... messed up.


    I''ll need to make sure that they can kill without feeling a single ounce of emotion, and be ready to attack at all times.


    And also...


    I''ll need to a spend a shit load of money.


    That, of course, was the worst part.


    But well, I''ll save it to later...


    After all, I''m in...


    Silverleaf City¡ªThe Place I Truly Belong.