CHAPTER 302: THE COMBINED SKILL OF KAEL AND ELYSIA.

"Now... shall we begin?" Zereth asked.

He tilted his head slightly.

Kael didn’t answer. He simply tightened his grip around the heavy sword—his only weapon, dented, cracked, and stained with dried blood.

His breathing was ragged. But his stance never wavered.

Zereth continued, as if studying him like an amusing creature.

"You are exceptionally strong."

He stepped forward.

"You use the power of the abyss... Are you, by any chance, one of our clan?"

Kael’s jaw clenched.

He raised his sword and pointed it right at Zereth’s forehead.

"Shut up."

Zereth blinked, surprised that such a battered, bleeding boy still dared to talk back.

"Interesting."

The corner of his mouth rose into a grin.

Kael’s arms trembled—not out of fear, but because his body was about to collapse.

His knees had buckled more than once already. Twice he blacked out and regained consciousness only because Zereth kicked him awake.

Behind them, the students trembled, some praying, some crying.

"Kael... Kael is going to die..."

"Somebody stop him..."

"Elysia... please... help him..."

Elysia stepped forward, hands clenched, eyes sharp like a blade.

But the clash started before she could move.

"How annoying!" Zereth roared and dashed forward, leaving afterimages behind.

Kael barely raised his sword in time—

BOOM!!!

The force sent Kael flying. His back slammed against a shattered wall, stone collapsing around him.

He spat blood, wiped his mouth, and pushed himself up with trembling arms.

Zereth appeared before him before he could even stand.

"Why do you keep getting back up?" Zereth asked. "You’re a mere human with an abyss stain.

You should fall like the others."

Kael coughed. "Because... you talk too much."

Zereth’s grin sharpened.

"Bold tongue."

He struck again.

Kael lifted his sword—

CRACK!!

His blade bent slightly from the impact. Kael staggered, vision blurry.

Zereth spoke almost casually as they exchanged blows:

"Tell me your name, human."

"Kael."

"Kael..." Zereth repeated thoughtfully. "You do not belong to this world’s weakness."

Kael swung his sword with everything he had, ignoring the pain.

"Didn’t I say... shut up!?"

The blade grazed Zereth’s cheek, leaving the first wound Kael had managed to inflict.

Zereth touched the blood with interest.

"...You managed to cut me."

Kael collapsed to one knee, breathing heavily. Sweat and blood dripped down his face.

Zereth’s eyes narrowed.

"You’re reaching your limit. Shall I break your bones, one by one?"

Before Kael could answer—

"Kael is going to die! Help him!"

The desperate voices of the students cut through the battlefield like thunder.

Elysia’s eyes trembled.

Elysia Steps In

Without hesitation, she pushed off the ground—

"Elysia—don’t!" a student cried.

Her feet hit the battlefield.

Zereth paused and looked at her slowly.

"Don’t meddle in a fight between two men."

A strange pressure pushed outward, like an invisible storm.

Elysia didn’t care.

She pointed her hand at him, mana flaring violently.

"Shut your mouth," she said coldly.

Zereth chuckled. "You two... are amusing."

Then he lunged.

CLANG!!!

Elysia’s blade—glowing blue—met Zereth’s clawed hand.

Sparks exploded.

She slid back several meters, boots carving lines in the dirt.

Zereth raised an eyebrow. "You are strong too. Your mana... is not normal."

"Shut up and fight," Elysia spat.

Zereth obliged.

He vanished.

Elysia’s eyes widened—

WHOOOM

A kick to her ribs sent her spinning.

She hit the ground hard, gasping.

Zereth appeared above her mid-air.

"Your speed is impressive, but predictable."

Elysia lifted one palm and released an explosion of her sword

BOOOOSHHHH!!

Zereth blocked with one arm, landing lightly even as smoke rose from his skin.

He grinned.

"A rare skill. You must be special."

"Shut. Up," Elysia hissed.

They clashed again—

Elysia’s blade slashing, Zereth’s claws tearing the air.

Every strike echoed like thunder.

Every movement shattered stone.

The students watching trembled silently.

Kael pushed himself up again, forcing his exhausted legs to obey.

He staggered toward the fight.

"Elysia!" Kael shouted.

She glanced at him, sweat dripping down her chin.

Zereth responded instantly.

"Distracted."

He kicked Elysia’s stomach—

"Ugh!"

Then he elbowed Kael in the face—

THUD!!

Kael fell to the ground hard, tasting dirt and blood.

Elysia crawled toward him, coughing.

"Kael... are you okay?"

Kael gripped the sword, using it to stand.

"No."

Zereth walked toward them, hands in his pockets, bored.

"You two fight well together. But this battle is meaningless. None of you can defeat me."

Kael wiped the blood from his lips.

Elysia pulled herself up beside him.

Kael spoke softly:

"Elysia. I will try."

Her eyes widened. "What do you mean? Do you have another skill?"

Kael nodded.

Elysia bit her lip. "We don’t know if it will work."

"It will."

Zereth tilted his head, amused.

"Oh? Planning something? Please—try it. I could use more entertainment."

Kael and Elysia stood side by side.

Kael’s heavy sword trembled as he raised it.

Elysia placed one hand on his back, sending her mana through him.

Their energy surged and intertwined.

Blue flames.

Dark abyssal smoke.

Light and shadow wrapped around Kael’s body, spiraling around the blade.

Zereth’s eyes widened for the first time.

"...Oh? That’s unusual."

Kael screamed as the energy burned his arms.

"Elysia—now!!"

Elysia shouted:

"Astral—"

Kael roared:

"BREAK!!!"

Together—

"ASTRAL NOVA BREAK!!!"

They swung.

BOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!

The massive spiral of light and darkness shot forward like a meteor crashing to earth.

Zereth stood with his arms crossed—

The blast hit him straight in the chest.

For the first time, Zereth was pushed back, forced to slam his feet into the ground to regain balance.

His coat ripped.

His chest scorched.

His eyes went wide with shock.

"Impossible..."

The students gasped loudly.

Elysia fell to her knees, panting.

Kael dropped his sword, nearly fainting again.

Smoke cleared.

Zereth stood in the crater, wounded but alive.

He touched the burnt skin on his chest.

"...That hurt."

Kael forced a weak smile.

"Good."

Zereth glared sharply—no more amusement in his expression.

"You two... actually damaged me. You should be proud."

Kael collapsed fully, but Elysia caught him before he hit the ground.

Far in the distance, on top, five silhouettes watched silently.

One of them clicked his tongue.

"Tsk... What a shame. Zereth got hit."

Another laughed coldly.

"He’s being too playful. Those kids nearly cracked his ribs."

A third one crossed his arms.

"That human boy... Kael. He carries abyss remnants. Interesting."

A fourth demon leaned forward.

"Should we intervene?"

The fifth one—taller than the rest, wearing a horned crown—shook his head.

"No. Let Zereth finish his entertainment. We will join when the time is right."

Their eyes glowed faintly in unison as they stared at the battlefield.

Zereth’s Rage Ignites

Zereth lifted his head, hair messy, breathing heavier than before.

"Kael and you, thin lady."

He cracked his neck.

"I was having fun... but now I’m irritated."

Elysia tensed, pulling Kael closer.

Kael still tried to stand, despite his arms barely obeying.

"Elysia... stay back."

Zereth vanished.

Elysia’s eyes dilated—

Kael only saw a blur—

WHOOM!!

They jumped aside as Zereth’s foot crashed into the ground where they stood.

Stone shattered.

Wind pressure blasted outward.

Zereth turned slowly, expression dark.

"Let’s continue."

Elysia thrust out her hand—

Zereth grabbed her wrist.

CRACK!

She screamed.

Kael roared and swung his sword, though his arms trembled.

Zereth caught the blade with two fingers.

"Still not enough."

He flicked the sword—

Kael flew back like a ragdoll, smashing through a broken pillar.

Blood splattered across the ground.

"KAEL!!"

Elysia tried to punch Zereth, but he twisted her arm behind her back.

"I praised you both. But praise is not strength."

He shoved her to the ground.

Kael coughed, crawling forward again.

His vision shook.

His ears rang.

His body refused to move.

But still—

He crawled.

Step by step.

Zereth noticed and sighed.

"Why do you keep standing...? You’re just a human."

Kael spat blood and whispered:

"Because I’m not... losing here."

Zereth kicked him down.

Elysia screamed, struggling to rise.

Zereth raised one hand—

Dark energy gathered, swirling violently.

"This ends—"

The Sky Shakes

A loud tear echoed from above.

Everyone froze.

Even Zereth turned his head.

Far above, the clouds split open—

Two figures descended through a spiraling vortex of light and shadow.

Falling like comets.

Crashing like judgment.

BOOOOOOOMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!

Dust erupted everywhere.

Wind blasted the surroundings.

Students screamed and shielded their faces.

"W-Who came now!?"

"What is happening!?"

"Another enemy!?"

"No... no more... please..."

The dust slowly cleared.

Zereth narrowed his eyes.

Kael lifted his head weakly.

Elysia wiped her face with her trembling arm.

Two silhouettes rose from the crater.

Radiating energy far beyond Zereth’s.

Zereth whispered under his breath:

"Who are they anddd...Why are they here?"

The two figures stepped out—

The students could only tremble.

Kael’s heartbeat pounded in his ears.

Elysia swallowed hard, "oh..no".

Myra and Sylvia stepped out of the settling dust, their silhouettes finally becoming clear.

A wave of relief swept through the students the moment they recognized the two figures.

"It’s Professor Sylvia!"

"Professor Myra is here too!"

"Yayyy... we’re saved! We’re saved!"

Some students even dropped to their knees, trembling with joy and exhaustion. Hope had returned to the battlefield like sunlight breaking through storm clouds.

Zereth’s eyes narrowed the instant they landed on Sylvia.

"The Ice Goddess...?" he whispered.

"So you came down personally."

"Zereth," she said quietly, "you are still alive?"

But Myra wasn’t listening to anything around her.

The moment she saw Kael lying on the ground—bloodied, barely conscious, struggling even to breathe—her heart froze.