Editor : Amethyst00



Chen Xia was dashing swiftly through the forest.

Srrk—tak—

She naturally drew a throwing dagger from her sleeve and grasped it in her hand.

The sharply honed blade gleamed coldly.

Chen Xia's specialty was martial arts.

Her body, trained to the extreme, was a fearsome weapon in and of itself.

But that didn't mean she couldn't handle weapons.

On the contrary, she knew how to handle an extremely wide variety.

Of course, in pure swordsmanship, she couldn't match Celia or Duran.

And her proficiency in handling other weapons couldn't compare to students who had mastered just one.

To handle every weapon like a master—that was truly a dreamlike realm.

In this world, only Leo had achieved that.

That was why her strongest power was still martial arts.

However, the fact that she could wield a wide range of weapons in the midst of her martial technique made her a threat.

As long as she had weapons, she could freely control the most critical element of close combat—distance.

Among them, her most confident skill—throwing—was enough to make even Celia and Duran stay on guard.

Chen Xia glanced behind her.

When her eyes met Chloe's, her instincts told her—

That wasn't Chloe.

'For now, it seems like I'm the target.'

Because of that, she distanced herself as much as possible from the students of the Department of Magic.

She was sure it would come after her.

And just as she had predicted, Lysinas was pursuing Chen Xia.

Chen Xia, aware that Lysinas was after her, moved even more stealthily.

This place, filled with places to hide, was like her battlefield.

'How should I deal with her? The body is still Chloe's…'

Chen Xia began to feel a sense of unease.

Up until yesterday, there was nothing unusual about Chloe.

Someone who could, in just one night, infiltrate Lumene and take over the body of Chloe—one of the academy's top hero candidates.

'Tartaros.'

Judging so, Chen Xia sent a request to halt the mock battle while on the move.

If an emergency occurred, a stop request could be made at any time.

But the communication item with the professors wasn't working.

Chen Xia clenched her fist tightly.

"I have to take her down."

"How admirable. Thinking of defeating me instead of trembling in fear."

At the voice coming from the side, Chen Xia slashed her dagger without hesitation.

Sgak—!

A sharp sound rang out.

But Chen Xia's dagger cut through empty air.

Lysinas, who had crouched down to dodge the attack, opened her palm and struck Chen Xia squarely in the chest.

Zzzezezezech—!

Chen Xia was flung backward.

At the same time, her body began to freeze rapidly at terrifying speed.

'…Amazing. She reacted to that?'

Lysinas looked down at her palm with surprised eyes.

She thought she had landed a solid blow, but in that instant, Chen Xia's water aura had blocked the attack.

Given the attribute compatibility between water and ice, Chloe, who used the power of ice, had an overwhelming advantage.

And Lysinas had brought out Chloe's current power to the extreme.

Under normal circumstances, she should have been taken down in the blink of an eye.

But Chen Xia had overcome it through experience.

What had frozen was only the water aura—not her actual body.

'She really is a descendant of Bihar.'

Lysinas lowered her hand, her eyes growing calm.

'Was it "Shadow" they called them?'

Like the black dragons of the Age of the Gods.

Like Kyle and Bihar during the Age of Calamity.

Those who protect the order of the world from within the shadows.

Someone had to do it.

Someone had to bear that burden.

The noblest of beings.

Yet just as black dragons were seen as fearsome and ominous,

Shadows must also have been treated as such in this era.

That left a bitter taste.

'Even after light returned to the world, that child must have lived in the darkness.'

Even without seeing or hearing, it wasn't hard to imagine what kind of life Bihar had lived.

And just from that brief exchange earlier, she could tell—

The girl before her was living in the darkness, too.

That she had survived fiercely, gaining experiences far beyond her years in that shadow.

'Admirable and remarkable.'

But unlike the other hero candidates, she couldn't simply feel happy for her.

Just seeing her aura made it clear she was a descendant of Bihar, regardless of the atmosphere.

She had inherited the will of her ancestor for 5,000 years.

'It was what I was supposed to do.'

5,000 years ago, it had been Kyle who took on that task in her place.

Then Bihar after him… and after that, Bihar's descendants.

'They've lived on through the generations, in solitude, within the dark.'

Lysinas knew that darkness well.

"You…"

Just as Lysinas was about to speak—

Pababababak—!

Zzzezezezech—

Chen Xia swung her hand, and sharp throwing daggers scattered into the air.

Fwoosh—!

She vanished into the darkness.

'Shadow Step.'

A different form, but the technique was based on something she herself had once taught Bihar.

A sharp killing intent was felt.

But in an instant, it vanished completely into the dark.

Fwah—!

From all directions came the sound of Chen Xia moving swiftly.

Lysinas's eyes darted, chasing after Chen Xia.

Huak! Kwak—! Zzzech! Puk!

Circling stealthily and rapidly, Chen Xia's relentless assault began.

Ice magic blocked her fists, kicks, and dagger slashes.

Zzzezezezech—

The area around Lysinas began to freeze.

'Water is flow.'

Normally, it flows gently.

But the more it flows,

The rougher and faster it becomes.

If the flow isn't broken, it grows even more turbulent and swift.

Which meant, if Chen Xia were left alone, her attacks would only grow fiercer.

Chloe possessed the power to efficiently break that flow.

'Freeze.'

Kwak—!

In that instant, it was as if time itself froze.

Everything came to a halt.

Lysinas instantly drew out Chloe's magic to its limit and froze her surroundings.

"Well done."

Lysinas spoke as she looked at Chen Xia, now caught with her feet frozen in place.

Her body was entirely encased in ice.

"But the game of tag is over."

bl

Kwagagagagak—!

"…Chloe could use summoning magic too?"

"No."

"Then what the hell is that ice dragon?"

"It's probably made from magic."

"Yeah, like that makes any sense!"

Students from the Department of Magic were frantically dodging the ice dragon flying through the air and breathing frost down on them.

"Is it like golem magic?!"

"Kyaaah!"

Screams erupted from all directions.

Watching this, Chelsea spoke up.

"That's not summoning magic or golem magic! That's Chloe herself!"

"What kind of nonsense—?!"

"It's a magic Lady Luna once created for Chloe!"

[Absolute Freeze].

A unique spell created by Luna after witnessing Chloe's magical traits when she descended. It was a gift meant solely for Chloe.

Though the magic's creator was Luna, it was a spell for Chloe and only for Chloe.

Chelsea also received [Song of the Wind].

"It's a spell that interferes with the spirit realm and temporarily transforms the caster into a spirit! That's Chloe's body, spiritized and turned into an ice dragon!"

"What?! That's completely broken!"

"Because it's a spell made by Lady Luna!"

As everyone shuddered anew at the terrifying might of the Poet of the Star—

Abad sank deep into thought.

"Is that truly an evil being?"

"What? What're you saying?"

"No matter how you look at it, that's still Chloe."

He gazed at the ice dragon.

"Even if it's taken over her body… there's no trace of dark magic. And the power it's using is purely Chloe's."

"So what! The important thing is, that unknown thing is attacking us like it wants us dead!"

"Just saying."

Abad smiled faintly.

A student nearby stared at him in disbelief.

"You're really calm for someone in this situation."

"Maintaining composure no matter where or when! That's my big brother's strong point!"

"Why are you the one bragging about it?"

The magic students wore looks of disbelief.

At that moment—

Abad opened his mouth.

"Chelsea."

"Yes, brother."

"Can you handle that alone?"

"…."

After a moment of hesitation, Chelsea nodded.

"Yes."

"What?! That's reckless!"

"We'll help too!"

"No, you guys protect me."

"What? Why?"

"Because from now on, I won't be able to move a muscle."

Abad let out a bitter smile and closed his eyes.

Seeing this, Chelsea spoke.

"Chloe isn't the only one who received a spell from Lady Luna."

"Ah…"

Chelsea had received [Song of the Wind].

Abad had received [Silent Cast].

But neither of them had mastered theirs.

They had not overcome the weakness of being unable to move while casting.

That was their current limitation.

However—

"Even if it's a limit, I can't just sit here."

Even if they shattered against the wall called limitation—

They couldn't overcome or break through it without trying.

Chelsea flew into the sky alone.

The magic students swallowed nervously and covered Abad's surroundings.

The ice clone watched this with a look of amusement.

'Looks like they've come up with a plan.'

The ice clone looked at Chelsea flying toward her.

"That's awfully reckless."

"Hmph. Looks like you don't know our school motto."

"Motto?"

"Go beyond your limits. We've heard it so often since first year that we're sick of it."

"…."

The ice clone widened her eyes.

Then smiled faintly.

"A good motto. Then shall we see you go beyond your limits?"

With that, large-scale wind spells began to pour down nonstop.

The ice clone tried to subdue Chelsea and strike at Abad, but Chelsea didn't go down easily—and even managed to block the clone.

Long-range attacks were blocked by the other magic students.

Kwak—!

Eventually, a wind spear pierced the ice clone's chest.

Zzzech—

Ice shards fell to the ground.

The ice clone, now revealing her true form, touched the gaping hole in her chest and smiled.

"Well done."

With that, she melted away and vanished.

"We have to pursue the real body! But let's join the Knights Department first!"

Abad gave swift orders and led the students into the forest.

bl

While the magic students were fighting the ice clone—an incarnation of Chloe's power drawn to its limit—

The Knights Department students were facing Lysinas, who wielded light and darkness magic through Chloe's power.

Flash—!

A blinding flash erupted in the sky.

Fragments of light rained down on the Sword Department students.

Flash! Crackle!

Duran, sparks in his eyes, ducked and charged toward the light fragments.

Crackle! Boom boom boom boom!

Swinging his sword at blinding speed, the fragments of light exploded.

"Guh!"

Duran winced.

The shockwave hit his body full on.

At that moment—

Wuuuuung—!

A radiant light burst from Duran's body.

It was Nella's healing aura.

Meanwhile, from the ground, blades of darkness rose to strike the students.

But those dark blades were severed by Celia's flaming aura.

"Hm?"

From afar, the ice clone, arms crossed, smirked.

"Nice teamwork."

"An opening!"

Eliana dashed at incredible speed, aiming for the clone's neck.

Kwak—!

The clone blocked Eliana's spear.

"Isn't that attack a little too simple?"

"I've got a sword too!"

Eliana, flustered, drew a sword with her free hand and slashed at the clone's neck.

But that was blocked too.

"Ugh!"

Eliana flinched.

Then grinned smugly.

"Even if you're a class rep version of Chloe, you're still weaker than our actual class rep!"

"Class rep?"

"Leo Plov! Our class rep!"

Fwoosh!

Crackle!

Breaking through the light and darkness magic, Celia and Duran slashed at the ice clone from above.

The Sword Department students had opened a path for them at great risk.

Eliana, using her speed, moved in close to bind the clone's movements.

"No matter how amazing you are, unless you shoot lasers from your eyes, you can't block this!"

Eliana smirked meaningfully, and the clone smiled back.

Seeing that smile, Eliana suddenly felt a sense of dread.

"No way…?"

Ziiiiing—

The ice clone's eyes began to glow. Eliana grimaced.

"So cool… No, wait! That's cheating!"

As Eliana panicked—

Beams of light shot from the clone's eyes at Celia and Duran.

"Guh!"

"What the—?!"

Celia and Duran barely blocked the beams but were flung backward.

"Now then."

"Eek!"

Eliana screamed as her eyes met the clone's.

But she didn't retreat.

Instead, she drew a backup dagger and charged.

The ice clone smiled at that.

"Brave. But reckless."

Just as the clone was about to cast magic—

"Haaah!"

"Hm?"

A sudden shout from behind made her turn in surprise.

There was Nella, swinging her morning star with all her might.

Her body was riddled with wounds—cut and pierced by light and dark magic, bleeding heavily.

With a fierce expression, Nella smashed the morning star into the clone.

Kwak—

The shattered clone glanced at Eliana.

"Well done. You trusted your comrade and kept my eyes on you till the end."

Smiling, the clone shattered into pieces and melted away.

Thud—!

Nella collapsed.

"Nella! Are you okay?!"

Celia rushed over.

"I'm fine. I healed the worst injuries with my healing aura while running…"

She'd literally tanked all those terrifying spells with her body to charge through.

Even the clone hadn't expected someone to do that and was caught off guard.

"That was way too reckless!"

"…We couldn't bring it down unless we faced our limits."

Nella gave a bitter smile.

Her aura depleted, she was still bleeding.

"Eliana's plan was good. Even though it failed, she didn't back down and drew its gaze. I guess she saw me coming."

At her words, Eliana scratched her head and smiled bashfully.

"We've been syncing up for years now."

"I see. I misjudged you. I thought you just charged in without thinking."

As Celia admired her, Eliana whistled and stared off into the distance.

Watching her, Nella chuckled.

'So she really wasn't thinking.'

The Sword Department students began tending to the injured.

Nella was the only one near total incapacitation, but everyone had sustained various wounds.

A while later—

The Magic Department students joined them.

Unsurprisingly, Chelsea had been rendered unable to fight due to severe frostbite.

With two of their core fighters out of commission, the students grew tense.

"What about Xia? Wasn't she with your group?"

"…We thought she joined yours… if she's not here, then she's probably fighting the main body alone."

At Celia's question, Abad answered gravely.

"Then we can't waste any time! All who can still fight—let's go help Xia!"

At Celia's command, the students moved out.