Chapter 210: Silverleaf Academy (LVIII)

“H-he just… one-handed her—”

Maria’s voice trembled out the words as her lips parted in disbelief. Her eyes stayed wide, stuck on the spot where the Executor had once stood.

The others also looked at him with countless shocked gazes, but Aestrea didn’t look at them, not at all.

His gaze remained locked on the sky, more specifically on the divine symbol that was still flickering, barely holding.

His fingers twitched slightly.

And then—

He raised his hand slowly, an ice sword forming on it.

And in that moment, the sigils engraved across his body blazed to life, like constellations awakening on his skin, golden and white and burning.

A sudden gust exploded outward—no…

A storm, a shockwave that bent reality itself. Swords of air and shadow carved through the courtyard like wild spirits, dancing and howling in reverence.

His lips parted.

“Moonlit Ice Lotus Sword Art…”

Swing!

『 Third Move! (✦ Moonlight’s One Flash ✦) 』

FWOOM!

The sky didn’t just split.

It screamed as it tore.

A jagged crack of pure, glowing space ripped upward, climbing into the heavens like a sword that refused to stop. Violet, silver, and white colors bled into the stars.

The divine symbol above began to collapse in on itself, light bleeding from every edge.

Then… it dissipated into countless wisps.

No one spoke.

No one moved.

Even the remaining Executors, trained killers without emotion, creatures that had no fear, stood still, staring at the boy who had just erased an eighth-grade spell with a swing of his sword.

Aestrea’s gaze lowered.

His eyes were calm… but far too calm, almost detached.

It was the eyes of someone who wasn’t looking at people, but at mere obstacles. His voice came like a whisper, yet it reached every corner of the broken courtyard.

“Divine Correction…”

His fingers curled slightly, the sigils on his arms brightening, tightening, constricting like serpents ready to strike.

“…what a ridiculous name.”

The closest Executor finally moved, perhaps out of pride, perhaps because he thought his holy spear could reach the boy faster than his death could.

He didn’t make it a single step.

Without so much as a gesture, the air behind the Executor folded, and a sword of violet light pierced through his back, exiting through his chest.

SCHLNK.

The man gasped, looked down at the blade… then collapsed, lifeless.

That was all it took.

A storm followed.

In a single breath, Aestrea’s body blurred into motion.

He crossed the space between him and the next cluster of Agents, his form phasing like a mirage.

The first swung a blessed mace at his head, and Aestrea ducked under it.

Crash!

The mace shattered stone behind him, but his foot rose in a clean, perfect arc.

It struck the man’s chin—

CRACK.

His neck snapped clean, and his body flew into the sky, limp before it even landed.

Another came from behind with a holy seal in his hand.

Aestrea twisted mid-step, caught the man’s wrist with one hand, and with the other, he drove his fist into the Agent’s sternum.

BOOM.

The sound was sickening.

The man’s chest caved inward, ribs breaking like dry twigs. Blood sprayed from his mouth before he collapsed.

Still more came, Cardinals, Inquisitors, even Red Fang now moved, daggers spinning toward the silver-haired boy.

Aestrea didn’t blink.

His sigils surged, and the shadows on the battlefield twisted.

“Moonlit Ice Lotus Sword Art Variants…”

『 Frost Reversal (✦ Counter Technique ✦)』

The air around him dropped in temperature instantly. The blades that came toward him were stopped midair, frozen in motion.

Even the daggers were suspended like decorations, as if time itself had bowed to him.

Red Fang’s eyes widened for the first time.

He moved back fast, but it was still too late.

Aestrea pointed toward him.

『 Ice Series: Frost Crash! (✦ 6th-level Spell ✦) 』

KRAAAAAAAAASH!

A massive block of glacial ice fell from above like a meteor. It crashed where Red Fang had been standing a second before.

He barely escaped, but one arm was caught.

He screamed, a horrible, wet sound, as the ice devoured the limb in seconds, flesh freezing and shattering into dust.

The Executors finally panicked.

They charged from all sides, divine magic lighting up the sky. Holy chains, blessed arrows, radiant spears… everything they had, they threw it.

Aestrea didn’t dodge as he didn’t need to.

『 Shield Series: Winter’s Barrier! (✦ 6th-level Spell ✦) 』

An enormous crystalline shield formed around him.

The divine spells struck it—

BANG!

BANG!

BANG!

CRACK!!

But none broke through.

Every impact only fed the swirling energy surrounding him. His expression hadn’t changed once; the rage from a few minutes ago had completely disappeared.

And then, he raised his sword again, whispering:

“Moonlit Ice Lotus Sword Art…”

Swing!

『 Second Move! (✦ Ice Lotus Barrage ✦) 』

Behind him, hundreds of lotus-shaped glyphs formed midair, each one pulsing with beautiful, lethal magic.

They exploded forward in a synchronized bloom.

SWOOOOM!!

Each petal was a spear, each flower a bomb of frost and death.

The Agents and Executors screamed, their holy shields crumbling. Bodies froze mid-run, weapons turned brittle, and limbs shattered like porcelain.

Blood painted the snow.

Screams were muffled by the storm of ice.

Still, a final Cardinal remained. His robes were torn, his face pale, but he raised a trembling staff and chanted a desperate prayer.

“P-please… deliver us, Father… Please, bless your children—!”

Aestrea stared at him.

Then he moved.

He didn’t run, he appeared.

Right before the man.

The Cardinal didn’t even react in time.

Aestrea placed two fingers on the man’s forehead.

And whispered.

“…This world doesn’t need gods like yours.”

FLASH.

A blinding light surged from his hand.

The man didn’t scream.

He simply vanished, erased, like dust scattered on the wind.

And just like that…

It was over.

Bodies covered the courtyard.

The church’s army, Agents, Cardinals, Executors, even the divine Corrector, were gone. No holy light or hymns, only blood, frost, and silence.

Aestrea stood in the middle of it all.

On his forehead, a faint crescent moon mark could be seen, his right eye shone with a strange icy light, and his left eye was marked with a strange black and white symbol.

His silver hair fell gently around his shoulders.

His eyes were half-lidded now, as though what he had just done didn’t even matter. As though killing a dozen S-rank warriors was just another spell.

Behind him, the others had fallen silent. Selene stared at him, not with shock, but with delight. Her eyes shimmered, her lips parted slightly, her voice a purr.

“…The prophecy…” She licked her lips.

“Luntheris.”

Mia’s hands were trembling, not from fear… but awe.

Maria knelt, swallowing hard, unable to speak.

Eira stood frozen, the frost around her feet slowly fading, as she stared at the boy who had once walked through the Academy halls like any other student.

Beside her, both Ulgar and Rayn also stood in awe, but unlike before, their eyes were full of appreciation for him.

Derek and James exchanged glances with a wry smile, shaking their heads as they noticed that Aestrea had saved them once again.

“…Should we offer our bodies to him now?” Derek nudged his twin brother and asked curiously.

“At this point? We probably should.” James nodded solemnly.

Aestrea looked their way.

And then—

Step.

He vanished.

Gone in a single movement.

James blinked.

“Wait! Did he hear us?”

Derek just sighed, crossing his arms.

“The fight’s not over yet.”

.

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.

.

.

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BOOOOOOOM!!!

Flames exploded across the eastern section of the academy, bathing the temple garden in red and gold.

Rubble smoldered underfoot. Marble statues melted into pools of white-hot slag. The smell of scorched air and blood clung to everything.

Ruby, the headmistress, stood amidst the wreckage—bloodied, one eye nearly swollen shut, her left arm hanging limp. Her crimson uniform was torn and burned, yet her stance never wavered.

Across from her floated a woman in white robes trimmed with ash-gray patterns.

She hovered above the shattered chapel altar, barefoot, eyes closed, skin pale as snow. Her lips never moved, but flames coiled around her like snakes.

The Saintess of Ashes.

One of the church’s most feared weapons.

“You’re holding back,” the Saintess said, her voice distant, calm, yet somehow hollow.

“Why?”

Ruby spat to the side, blood mixing with dust. “Because if I don’t… this whole damn city burns with us.”

The Saintess tilted her head, unmoved.

“And that would be… a problem?”

Before Ruby could reply—

THRUMMMMMMMMMMM.

A divine presence descended.

The sky itself shimmered.

And from above, cloaked in gold light and flanked by seraphic symbols, descended the Pope.

His robes were pure white.

His staff was encrusted with divine gems, each humming with ancient hymns. His eyes were closed, yet his every step seemed watched by heaven.

It seems that he was going to finally step up.

When he spoke, it echoed like a choir.

“Ruby Corvenia. You have defied sacred law. You have harbored heresy. And now, you draw your blade against God’s chosen?”

Ruby raised her chin defiantly. “If God sent her to kill my students… then maybe I’ll burn heaven down myself.”

The Pope’s eyes opened, and for the first time, his gaze was deadly.

“So be it.”

But before the Saintess could unleash another wave of burning faith—

FWOOOOOOM!!

A massive pillar of red fire exploded near the treeline.

A woman with long, wild crimson hair walked out from the smoke, her cloak dancing like a living flame.

“Looks like I came just in time.”

It was none other than Vivian.

The so-called Red Devil.

“Vivian…!” Ruby exhaled sharply, almost surprised.

Behind her came one more

It was Miss Helena.

Her silver eyes sparkled with intellect, and her fingers were already glowing with psychic threads.

“Headmistress,” Helene said calmly, nodding.

“We’ll handle this with you.”

Ruby’s shoulders relaxed just a little.

But—

CHIME.

The Pope lifted his staff.

“I see. Two professors.”

He looked toward the Saintess.

“Delay the headmistress. I will deal with these… reinforcements.”

Vivian’s grin only widened.

“Oh? Coming for me personally, Your Holiness?”

But he didn’t look at her.

He looked through her.

His gaze lingered on her body, her aura.

And for a brief second, his divine senses wavered.

“…You. You’re not normal.”

“Pfft. Took you this long to notice? You must be slipping, old man.” Vivian chuckled.

But the Pope didn’t smile.

He narrowed his eyes.

“There is… something wrong with you.”

Vivian grinned darkly.

“Oh, there’s a lot wrong with me. Wanna find out how much?”

She raised both hands.

『 Inferno Art: Crimson Starfall! (✯ 7th-Level Spell ✯) 』

KRA-KOOOOOOM!!

A barrage of fireballs rained from the sky like meteors, each one trailing smoke and heat. But the Pope lifted a single finger.

『 Divine Order: Radiant Silence! (✯ 8th-Level Holy Spell ✯) 』

PING—!!

Every single fireball froze midair, then disintegrated into light.

Vivian’s eyes lit up.

“Tch. Annoying.”

And suddenly, he moved.

BOOM!!

He closed the distance between them, swinging his staff with divine force. Helene stepped between them instantly.

『 Psychic Veil! (✦ 6th-Level Spell ✦) 』

The Pope’s strike hit an invisible wall, but the veil cracked instantly.

Then, Helena’s hand twitched again.

『 Telekinetic Grip! (✦ 6th-Level Spell ✦) 』

WHAM!!

A column of psychic force slammed into the Pope, trying to hurl him backward.

He didn’t budge.

“I see… You’re both S-rank.”

He raised his staff.

『 Divine Mandate: Judgment Cross! (✯ 8th-Level Holy Spell ✯) 』

BOOOOOOOOOOM!!!

A massive golden cross burst from the ground, splitting the battlefield in half. It shattered Helene’s barrier, sending her flying into the trees, and forced Vivian to leap back, cursing.

“Shit! He’s way above us—!”

Helene landed with a hard grunt, blood running down her chin.

The Pope stepped forward, robes untouched.

“You were wise to come as two. But not wise enough.”

Meanwhile—

The Saintess walked through a river of fire, untouched by the heat. Her arms opened wide as ashes rose to greet her.

“Ruby. Shall we continue?”

Ruby raised her right hand, her entire body trembling now.

“Not yet. Not done. Not ever.”

And from across the field, Vivian, watching the Pope carefully, grinned again, though something shifted behind her eyes.

Something… ancient.

The Pope’s brow twitched.

“…That aura again…”

He stared at Vivian for one more heartbeat, his eyes narrowing.

“I’ve seen that before.”

“Huh? What the fuck are you even talking about?” Vivian sharply replied.

But in that moment, a low, distant hum began to pulse from her chest.

The Pope’s eyes widened slightly.

His lips curled up.

“I see!”

He started laughing loudly, causing both Vivian and Helene to exchange puzzled gazes.

“…No wonder…”

“You’re the daughter of the Demon God!”