Chapter 155
The Saint's arm was blown off.
Had his aim been just a little better, he might have been able to kill her. But honestly, even hitting her when she was no more than a speck in the distance was already a miracle.
Simon, feeling his consciousness begin to fade, reached out his right arm.
'Restoration.'
A flash of light sparkled in the distance, and Feer's greatsword, which had been suspended in midair, snapped into Simon's hand.
[…Hey, kid! It's not time to lose consciousness yet!]
Simon's body was falling into the hole torn through the mountain range.
Thwip. Flap.
Right on cue, two of Serne's feathers flew in and stuck to Simon's shoulders. His body, which had been falling backwards, flipped over and shifted into proper flight posture.
With the power of the feathers, Simon entered the massive hole in the mountain range.
He could see feathers flying to and attaching themselves to various parts of the cliff walls. After Simon passed through, the feathers decomposed into the shape of a magic circle, moving the earth and rock to fill in the gaping hole seamlessly.
By the time Simon descended into the command center, the huge hole was completely sealed.
"This really feels like deja vu from last time. To think that the successor of the Ivory Tower is stuck playing support for someone else."
Serne walked over to Simon with a tired smile.
"And after helping you through all that chaos, you only managed to take one arm? From now on, you support me."
Feer's skull rang out with boisterous, rattling laughter.
Simon sat down on the floor and let out a weak chuckle, while Kajan let out a hollow laugh, his hair a tangled mess.
'…Lunatics.'
Two students from Keyzen had teamed up and cornered the Saint, even taking off her arm.
Anyone hearing this would scoff in disbelief. It was so unrealistic it wouldn't even sell as information.
"Ugh."
Simon's consciousness started slipping away as he sat collapsed on the floor. Just then, Serne jabbed a few feathers into Simon's body, and his mind snapped back to clarity.
"Get a grip. I don't think it's time to pass out yet."
"…?"
Rumbleeeeeeeee!
The moment her words ended, the entire command center shook violently. Everyone's eyes shot upward.
"So persistent."
Kajan muttered. The ceiling, rock and all, was crumbling.
Clicking her tongue, Serne sent more feathers upward, forming a defensive magic circle over their heads.
KA-KA-KA-KA-BOOM!
The ceiling shattered again. Creating a hole five times larger than before, the Saint descended from the sky.
Thud.
Her feet touched the ground. The empty space where her right arm used to be gave her an eerie aura.
[Finally.]
She lifted her head.
[I understand the will of the Goddess.]
As her robes fluttered, a colossal, indescribable energy surged from her body. The three stepped back with wary eyes.
[The existence of a Legion Commander that holiness does not affect,]
Her gaze locked onto Simon.
[A being outside of all standards. An Irregular. This is a grave calamity. I've confirmed that even the undead he controls are immune to holiness. If he fully matures, Efnelle will gain its worst enemy. The reason the Goddess guided me to Keyzen was not to commit terrorism against the school, but…]
FWOOOOOOOSH!
Her entire body began to be enveloped in dazzling white flames.
[Simon Follentia. It was solely to eliminate you.]
Plema began to recite a prayer. Serne gave a bitter smile and gestured behind her.
"Let's just run for now?"
Simon nodded and turned to flee, but a massive wall of white flames surged up, blocking their escape route.
[Please forgive the blasphemy of this lowly species.]
Plema knelt to the floor.
[That your mighty power did not reach him, I now realize, was to awaken this fool to the truth that he is a target that must be judged.]
"Ah, this is bad. Looks like she's getting her mentality back in order."
Serne commented.
"Nothing about the situation has changed, but she's convinced herself with simple rationalization."
Kajan also clicked his tongue.
At that moment, Plema's body, engulfed in white flames, began to enlarge and transform.
It was no longer human. Her body became like smooth, divine metal, her waist narrowing to a line, only to widen again at the chest into the same white material.
Curved wings were attached to her back, and her face had no features, covered in a metallic mask that only glowed blue at the eyes. Above her head, a disc of the same material floated in the air.
[In accordance with the will of the great Goddess, I shall risk everything to eradicate the seed of evil.]
This was Executor Mode, maintained by burning her own life force with the white flames. She was truly putting everything into this battle.
Clink.
A sword of white flame burst forth from Plema's wrist. Her metallic body, composed of white flame, radiated heat and shimmered with mirages.
The three didn't even need to fight to realize it.
They couldn't win this.
[Now.]
She raised her right arm high. The flaming sword shot up dozens of meters, exploding in massive fire.
[Be annihilated.]
The blazing sword came crashing down toward Simon's head. He hastily raised Feer's greatsword.
'In this condition, I can't block it…!'
CLAAAAANG!
With a clear, sharp ring, Plema's sword was blocked.
Simon's eyes widened. He hadn't blocked it himself. A foreign golden magic circle had unfolded in front of him.
'Could it be…!'
[Already, so soon!]
Plema's gaze shifted.
A golden portal was opening in the sky.
* * *
20 Minutes Earlier.
"His true strength lies in madness! The ability to truly go crazy over something, that's talent!"
Bahil shouted in excitement.
Aron, listening to him, furrowed his brow in dismay.
"…You're just projecting yourself onto him."
"Madness is also a virtue of geniuses."
Bahil shrugged.
"Let me share something from experience. During Class A's Katarology class, I briefly interfered with Simon's body to assist him with his practical exercise. I cast a sensory curse to maximize his concentration. But…"
The corners of his mouth curled upward.
"In every battle, every critical moment, especially during Professor Jane's cyclops assessment, Simon was mimicking the exact state I created with that curse. He only sees it as 'reproducing an image', but that's not what it is."
He opened his mouth to say the word.
"Compéllo."
At that, Aron, Hongpeng, and Sillage all widened their eyes.
"He's triggering the very Compéllo that only the greatest necromancers experience. Yes! That 17-year-old kid! Just trying to recreate that focused state from class, and he's invoking Compéllo! Can you believe it?"
Looking at the stunned faces of the three, Bahil smiled with smug superiority.
"Without a doubt."
Hongpeng stroked her chin.
"He did learn Internal Darkness Divergence in just two tries, even though another student helped him. I think it's real, he's unlocked the gate of Compéllo."
"Oh-ho, that's new information to me."
Bahil nodded and continued.
"Anyway, the reason I'm sharing this info is because, as fellow educators teaching Simon, we shouldn't negatively affect his concentration…"
"I oppose it."
Sillage interrupted with a cough.
"If he keeps opening Compéllo, his mind will break. He's only 17. You know what happens to necromancers addicted to Compéllo, they all died young."
"But,"
Bahil added with a smirk,
"They accomplished great feats and left their names in history."
"…Professor Bahil!"
"Don't misunderstand. I assure you, no faculty member cares more about Simon's health than I do. Those who broke down from frequently opening Compéllo were just not up to the task. But Simon, he's built differently."
"What you're describing is called exploitation."
At Sillage's words, Bahil's eyes turned cold.
"Professor Sillage, no offense, but are you really a necromancer?"
"If you know it's offensive, don't run your mouth. As professors, it's our job to teach him to minimize his use of Compéllo and build stable skills that don't rely on such force. That boy can climb high even without doing such things."
Bahil's expression twisted with irritation.
"His potential is limitless! Using 'management' as an excuse to clip a genius' wings is disqualifying as an educator, and a sin as a necromancer…"
"Enough."
Clap clap.
Hongpeng clapped her hands to mediate.
"You'll end up fighting at this rate. Today's the funeral of Professor Lang. This isn't the time or place."
"..."
Sillage shut his mouth, his face flushed red. But Bahil still looked like he was itching to say more.
Just then, Aron's gaze shifted.
"...It's noisy outside."
Sniff sniff.
Sillage sniffed the air, then hurriedly ran off. The other professors followed behind him.
Murmur, murmur, murmur.
The guests at the entrance of the Necropolis were murmuring in confusion. The professors pushed through the crowd and moved to the front.
"Kamibarez!"
Sillage ran forward.
A female Keyzen student, covered in blood, was entering the Necropolis. Blood was streaming endlessly from her eyes and mouth, and the large wings on her back drooped lifelessly.
"...Ah."
The moment she saw the professors, tears welled up in Kamibarez's eyes.
"Professors! Please!"
"Calm yourself. Your body is in terrible shape."
Sillage caught her as she nearly collapsed.
"...Please save Simon, save the others!"
"Save them? What are you talking about?"
At that moment, with a flash of light, a small girl appeared beside Kamibarez.
"Looks like something's gone wrong."
Neftis Arkbold.
At her appearance, all the professors and mourners simultaneously bowed their heads.
"You're..."
Kamibarez's pupils shook. She was definitely the little girl who had once wandered into the lecture hall and been given snacks.
"Hiiiii! Can I see that?"
The girl pointed to the diary of Lang that Kamibarez was clutching tightly to her chest.
Kamibarez hesitated, her eyes darting around, but then, upon seeing Hongpeng nod, she handed the diary to Neftis.
Rustle.
Neftis opened Lang's diary. The other professors gathered and peeked over her shoulder to read.
The professors' eyes widened as if they were about to pop out.
"That's Lang's handwriting."
Neftis muttered, flipping to the next page.
The professors' expressions changed moment by moment—shock, horror, confusion, and finally, extreme rage.
"Yeah. No need to read further."
Neftis murmured calmly and handed the diary back to Kamibarez.
As Kamibarez hugged the diary tightly to her chest again, Neftis gave a gentle smile and softly stroked her hair.
"You're safe now."
Kamibarez, who had been tense and wary, felt her heart inexplicably calm at the sound of her voice.
"Leave the rest to us."
Was it because that single phrase brought her such relief?
The tension finally drained from Kamibarez's face, her eyes lost focus, and she slowly closed them.
Neftis let out a sigh, sounding exhausted, and slowly rose to her feet.
"Ah, really~"
Her voice, which had been giggling softly, suddenly turned icy cold.
[They all deserve to be torn to pieces.]
KRRRRRRRRAAAK!
Suddenly, what had been bright midday was swallowed by pitch-black darkness, and black lightning began to flash relentlessly.
The mourners trembled in fear. The weather had changed in an instant.
Neftis turned her body.
"Sillage, I'll leave this child's treatment to you."
"Yes."
"And."
Neftis looked back over her shoulder and said,
"Those who are coming with me…"
Clack! Clack! Clack!
Before she could even finish her sentence, Aron, Bahil, and Hongpeng raised their hands with fierce determination.
Others among the necromancers and mourners raised their hands too, but at the overwhelming presence of the three, they quietly lowered them again.
"Good."
She nodded and snapped her fingers. A ripple shimmered in the air, and Jane appeared, bowing her head.
"Prepare, Jane."
"Yes."
As Jane used black magic, she and Aron, Bahil, and Hongpeng were engulfed in Darkness and transformed into small cubes. The cubes entered Neftis' hand.
This time, Neftis held the cubes to her chest and reached into the air.
Tick! Tick! Tick!
A golden clock spun in the air, forming a magic circle, which then transformed into a massive gate.
"Let's go."
The Witch of Death began to walk forward.
* * *
5 Minutes Later.
CLAAAAANG!
With a clear, sharp sound, Plema's sword was blocked.
Simon's eyes widened. A foreign golden magic circle had unfolded in front of his body.
'Could it be…!'
[Already, so soon!]
Plema's gaze turned.
A golden portal was opening in the air.
And from within it emerged a girl with silver hair fluttering in the wind.
"It's been a while."
Neftis smirked crookedly.
"Saint of Purification."