Chapter 209: Silverleaf Academy (LVII)

BOOOOOOM!

The academy grounds shook under the force of the explosion.

“Damn it!”

Ruby, the Headmistress of Silverleaf Academy, gritted her teeth as she raised both hands, water swirling violently around her.

『 Water Series: Prison of the Nine Seas! (✯ 8th-level Spell ✯) 』

Torrents of water crashed together, forming a massive barrier around her, but even that wasn’t enough.

Across from her, standing calmly in the center of the ruined courtyard, was a woman in ragged clothing.

Her eyes were covered by a black blindfold, and her feet were bare. Yet she moved like a ghost, silent and unstoppable.

And Ruby… was losing.

Badly.

No matter what spell Ruby cast, no matter how strong her magic was, it was all useless.

Each time she attacked, the woman raised a hand and waved it gently, like brushing away dust, and the spell dissolved before it even touched her.

“Fuck…!”

Ruby’s breaths grew short and sharp. Her chest rose and fell with each spell she cast, and each one that failed.

This was no ordinary enemy.

The woman’s energy pulsed strangely. At first, Ruby thought it was just dark magic… but then she felt it more clearly.

It was Holy Magic.

It made no sense.

Holy Magic wasn’t meant to feel like this.

But what chilled Ruby even more… was the man standing behind the blindfolded woman.

Clapping and cheering like a psychopath.

“Go, my Ash! Go, my Saintess!” His voice rang with twisted joy.

“Bring salvation to this cursed land!”

Ruby’s eyes widened as he finally saw his figure clearly, her mouth dry with disbelief.

Standing proudly with his golden staff raised, his white robes fluttering in the wind, was none other than—

The Pope.

Regulus.

One of the supreme leaders of the Empire.

The man who stood beside the Emperor himself.

“WHY?!” Ruby screamed, barely holding back another blast of power aimed at the Saintess.

“WHY ARE YOU ATTACKING SILVERLEAF?!”

The Pope’s lips curled into a sickening smile.

“Our Goddess has spoken,” he said calmly, as if explaining the weather. “She has declared this place… unholy. Corrupted. A nest of heretics and monsters.”

He slowly lifted his staff again.

“We are here to cleanse it. For the sake of the world.”

Ruby’s hands trembled in fury, but before she could respond, the Saintess moved again, faster than her eyes could follow.

SWOOSH!

Another blast of that strange, holy energy surged forward, forcing Ruby to raise a water barrier in front of her just in time.

CRAAACK!

The force split the shield down the middle, and Ruby stumbled back, barely able to breathe.

But she wasn’t the only one fighting for her life, as elsewhere in the academy grounds…

CRASH!

A huge section of the Silverleaf Academy’s main courtyard exploded into rubble.

“W-What the hell are these guys?!” James yelled, his eyes wide as he raised both hands.

『 Water Series: Tidal Hammer! (✦ 4th-Level Spell ✦) 』

BOOOOOOM!

A massive wave surged forward and crashed into a group of armored figures, sending them flying.

But the one leading them, a tall woman in a crimson cloak, eyes glowing under a helmet marked with a golden cross, stood firm.

“Executor No. 13… she’s not even flinching…!” Derek growled, stepping in front of James.

He slammed both fists into the ground.

『 Earth Series: Quake Burst! (✦ 5th-Level Spell ✦) 』

RUMMMMBLE!!

Spikes of stone shot upward, trying to pierce her.

But she raised her hand slowly—then SNAP!

A golden seal appeared midair.

『 Divine Correction: Absolute Weight! (✦ 6th-Level Holy Art ✦) 』

CRASH!!

The entire area dropped as if gravity multiplied.

Derek’s knees buckled while James coughed blood.

“She’s suppressing our spells…!” James shouted, trying to stand. “What kind of bullshit divine magic is this!?”

From the skies, a dozen winged figures descended like hawks. Robes flowing, holy light dancing around them.

“Agents of the High Synod,” Maria whispered, lips trembling. “Shit… they’re all at least S-rank…”

Behind her, Mia cracked her knuckles, smiling.

“Well, good. I’ve been itching to hit someone anyway.”

She vanished.

SWOOSH!!

And reappeared above one of the Agents midair. Her leg swung down like a blade.

『 Fire Step: Exploding Heel! (✦ 5th-Level Martial Technique ✦) 』

BAAAAAAAAAAAAM!!!

The Agent was sent flying like a meteor, crashing into the academy wall. The explosion blew out half the building.

“Huh?! Since when did you know Martial Techniques!?” Maria, fighting against one of the agents, shouted, asking Mia.

“Aestrea had taught me before! They really are useful, and besides, these guys don’t look that powerful no—” Mia replied, but her words were quickly interrupted at the moment she looked back.

FWIP—!

And something cut her cheek.

Her eyes widened.

A single thread of blood slid down.

Standing behind her now, holding a curved dagger that dripped black venom—

Was Red Fang, the strongest Inquisitor of the Empire.

He smiled.

“Fast reflexes… but I was only greeting you.”

SWISH—!!

He disappeared again.

“Behind you!” Maria screamed, her wind magic exploding outward—

『 Wind Series: Gale Wall! (✦ 5th-level Spell ✦) 』

WHOOSH!!

The wind barrier just barely blocked the incoming slash from Red Fang. But it cracked instantly.

“Shit! He’s faster than I thought!!” Maria stepped back, her arms bleeding now.

Students all around were panicking. Magic clashing with holy light. Bodies flying. Screams, explosions, steel, and fire mixing into chaos.

But then, one of the Cardinals of the Inquisition raised a staff.

The sky split open.

『 Divine Wrath: Rain of Chains! (✯ 7th-Level Holy Art ✯) 』

CLINK!

CLANK!

SHIIIIINK!

Hundreds of golden chains dropped from the heavens, binding students mid-spell, mid-dodge, mid-flight. Some screamed as the chains burned into their skin.

“No…!” Derek gasped.

“They’re trying to capture everyone alive!”

James wiped the blood from his mouth and stood beside his brother.

“Then we fight together.”

Their magic rose up as one.

『 Mixed Earth-Water Series: Cataclysmic Surge! (✯ 7th-level Spell ✯)』

KRAAAAAAAKOOOOOOM!!

A cyclone made of hardened mud and rotating water pillars spun through the courtyard, knocking back dozens of enemies.

One of the Executors was crushed into a wall, another smashed into the ground, unmoving.

But just as the twins caught their breath—

A red-robed figure landed in front of them.

Another Inquisitor of the Empire.

“You two are sinners.”

His spear extended like lightning—

STAB!!

It pierced straight toward Derek’s chest—!

CLANG!!

Fortunately, a sword blocked it just in time.

It was one of the professors.

Bloodied, injured, but still alive.

“Protect the students—!”

Splat!

And then he was stabbed through the gut.

“No—!!” James screamed.

Chaos was everywhere.

Fire, wind, lightning, and especially, holy magic.

Mia was now locked in a fast-paced clash with Red Fang, dodging his silent blades by mere inches.

Maria was floating, her wind lifting students out of danger while casting support spells as fast as she could.

“GET BACK TO THE DORMS!!” she shouted.

“EVERYONE WHO CAN’T FIGHT—LEAVEEE!!”

But more Inquisitors were arriving.

And overhead… a gigantic divine symbol started forming above the entire Academy.

Derek’s eyes widened.

“No… They’re trying to erase the whole campus!!”

“Then we stop them!” James roared.

『 Water Series: Leviathan Cannon!!  (✯ 7th-level Spell ✯)』

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!

A massive dragon made of water shot upward, striking the symbol, causing it to crack!

But it wasn’t enough.

And then…

A sudden pressure hit the entire battlefield.

THUUUUUMMMP—

Everyone froze.

Even the Cardinals turned.

From the edge of the battlefield…

Walked a single girl.

Long black coat, with scarlet eyes, while holding a simple book.

Behind her followed two silver-armored figures with blank expressions.

“Who’s… that?” James asked.

Derek’s voice dropped almost immediately.

“That’s… one of the Imperial ‘Correctors’… from the True Inquisition.”

And she smiled.

“Apostates. Heretics. Monsters. All of you will be cleansed.”

The girl simply raised her hand, and the pressure in the air increased.

『 Divine Correction: Revelation Field! (✯ 8th-Level Holy Art ✯) 』

ZUUUUUUUUM!!

Golden light erupted outward like a dome. Everything it touched, students, trees, spell constructs, started to dissolve.

Not exploding or anything… but simply…

Disappear.

James fell to one knee.

“This magic… what even is this?!”

Maria screamed, trying to shield a group of younger students. “It’s erasing existence! We need to get out—!”

But they couldn’t.

Dozens of white-armored Executors closed in.

Their spears raised.

“None will escape purification.”

One leapt at Mia.

She ducked—

SHING!

But another slashed her back.

She let out a sharp gasp, blood spraying out.

“Ghh…!” She turned and tried to prepare a spell, but they kept coming.

There were too many, and they were also fast, not giving her the chance to chant any spell.

And now, Red Fang was just watching, sitting calmly on the rubble while having a huge grin spread on his face.

“…This place is getting fun.”

But suddenly…

BOOM!!

The courtyard’s southern wall exploded inwards.

And stepping through the smoke, heels clicking on the cracked ground, was a woman with long cyan hair and fox ears that twitched like she was bored.

Selene Aoki.

“…Oh my. I leave you all alone for a single day.”

Behind her came three more figures.

They were none other than Eira, Rayn, and Ulgar.

It seemed like their debt to Aestrea was quite immense for them to protect the academy.

Maria’s eyes lit up.

“Selene?”

With her here, things would be much easier since she was said to be extremely powerful.

Selene stepped forward slowly, her tail flicking behind her like living blades.

“I hate uninvited guests,” she said sweetly, licking her lip.

“Especially the divine kind.”

The black-coated girl looked at her.

“You… You carry demonic corruption.”

Selene’s eyes narrowed.

“And you carry bad fashion sense.”

FWOOOOOSH!!

A giant vine burst from under her, wrapped in frost, and lashed toward the Executors. Five of them were ripped apart in an instant.

Rayn dashed forward, moving like a ghost.

『 Lightning Series: Flash Lightning Chains! (✦ 6th-Level Spell ✦) 』

CRACK!

CRACK!!

He bound three of the Agents midair, a lightning chain racing up their limbs, before they shattered.

“Rayn!” James shouted, stunned.

“Focus,” Rayn replied, tossing him a mana crystal.

“You’re bleeding mana.”

Ulgar jumped into the fray with a wild yell.

“COME ON, THEN!!”

He grabbed an Inquisitor by the face and slammed him into the ground—

BAAAAAM!!

Then spun and elbowed another in the gut, breaking his armor with a sickening crunch.

Eira’s hands moved like water.

『 Ice Series: Snowbind! (✦ 5th-Level Spell ✦) 』

FWOOOOOOSH!

A sudden blizzard exploded from her fingertips. Thousands of razor-thin snowflakes burst outward, spinning like blades in a storm, twisting around Red Fang in a spiral of white death.

He darted backward, slicing through them with his twin daggers—

CLANG!

SWISH!

SWISH!—

But several still grazed his arms, his legs, even his cheek.

Thin lines of blood spilled across his body.

“…Tch,” he clicked his tongue, his grin fading slightly.

“Not bad, ice girl…”

Selene walked up beside Maria and Mia as the others rought, her voice was like honey… laced with knives.

“Where… is my beloved~ Aestrea?”

Maria hesitated slightly.

“We aren’t sur—!”

—THRRRRUUUUUUM!

An unsettling dark pulse shook the air.

The very space trembled.

A suffocating pressure crushed down across the battlefield, like the world itself was afraid. Even the black-coated girl, the Corrector, stiffened, her eyes narrowing sharply.

And then—

GRIP!!

A hand closed around her neck.

Everyone froze.

A figure had appeared, right behind her, lifting her effortlessly off the ground with one hand.

“—?!”

The girl’s eyes widened for the first time.

Silver hair danced around his face, though parts of it were now streaked with black, like shadows threading through moonlight.

His body was covered in glowing sigils that pulsed like living tattoos, crawling over his arms, neck, chest, even his fingertips.

And on his forehead…

A clear, crescent moon-shaped mark blazed with radiant light.

His expression was unreadable.

Eyes glowing softly.

Voice cold as the void.

“…You’re in my way.”

The Corrector choked, flailing for just a moment.

But it was pointless.

Because the one holding her was—

Aestrea.

He tossed her to the side like trash.

CRAAAAAAASH!!

She smashed through the academy wall, vanishing in a cloud of smoke and rubble.

Silence fell.

Even the Executors… hesitated.

The wind stopped blowing.

Everyone’s hearts skipped a beat.

Selene’s lips curled into a slow, wicked smile.

“…There you are, darling.”