Chapter 201: Silverleaf Academy (XLIX)

“Aestrea… is this the place?” Maria asked, breathing hard as she wiped sweat from her forehead.

“It should be…”

A giant, broken castle stood in front of them. Its black stone walls were cracked and scorched, with towers half-collapsed.

The front gate was massive, easily twice as tall as any normal building, and glowing faintly with pulsing magic. Sharp lines of red light ran across the doors like veins.

And just outside that gate… people were already waiting.

The Hero’s Group.

Eira’s Group.

And his own group of friends.

The other students were nowhere to be seen.

Some were sitting on broken rocks or leaning on their weapons.

Others stood tall, tense, with swords or staves in hand. Every single one of them was watching the gate, ready for what was coming.

“Aestrea!” Derek shouted, raising a hand.

He jogged over with a relieved smile.

“You’re finally here,” he said with a heavy sigh.

James followed right after him, frowning.

“Yo, bro, what happened to you?” he asked.

Obviously, Aestrea couldn’t tell them the truth.

“…I nearly tore a mana meridian. Had to fix it first,” he lied calmly.

But right away, he felt it—a soft pressure, like eyes piercing through his skin.

He glanced to the side.

Violet.

Her [Seven Colors Eyes] glowed faintly as she stared straight at him.

She knew he was lying.

But why would he care about that?

“I see,” James muttered, not questioning further.

“Heeh~”

A soft sound came from his right, and before he could react, Mia slipped beside him and grabbed his arm, squishing it against her chest.

“I missed you~” she whispered, her voice like silk, warm breath brushing against his ear.

Aestrea blinked and gently pulled his arm back.

But before he could say anything, he felt another presence.

A sharp, burning gaze almost pierced through his body.

It was easy to notice that it was his official girlfriend, Ella.

She didn’t say a word, but her eyes—icy and locked on Mia—said everything. He didn’t even need to look directly at her to feel it.

He ignored it… for now.

“Aestrea.”

A gentle voice called out to him, making him turn his head.

Eira was walking toward him, her steps light, her body fully healed. Her long hair swayed behind her, and her eyes were clear.

She stopped in front of him and bowed her head slightly.

“Thank you… for healing me and my group,” she said softly.

Aestrea simply nodded.

“We were in bad shape. I thought… we weren’t going to make it. But you came and saved us.”

Eira lifted her head slowly, looking him in the eyes.

“I owe you a reward. I’ll make sure you’re properly repaid for what you did.”

Aestrea shook his head.

“There’s no need,” he said plainly. “Ulgar and Rayn… they already gave me a pretty hefty amount. That’s more than enough.”

Eira’s brows lowered a bit.

She took another step closer, her hand lightly touching her chest.

“No,” she said firmly, voice still soft but now more serious.

“That wasn’t a proper thank-you.”

Aestrea met her eyes.

But she didn’t back down.

“I don’t know what you think of me, but I always pay my debts,” she added, her hand now resting gently on her bow.

There was a small silence between them.

Eira’s gaze didn’t waver.

Finally, Aestrea sighed, just a little.

“…Fine. I’ll accept something.”

Eira gave a light yet relieved smile.

“That’s enough,” she said.

“Thank you.”

But as soon as she said those words…

THOOM!

The ground trembled under their feet as dust scattered across the stone.

Everyone turned toward the gate.

It was glowing brighter now, red lines pulsing across the surface like veins about to burst. A deep growl echoed from behind the doors, heavy and hungry.

“…It’s starting,” Aestrea muttered.

CRRRRAAAACK!

The castle gates split open with a loud crack, magic spilling through the seams.

A gust of wind blasted outward, hot and thick, reeking of blood, decay, and complete hunger.

A huge shadow stepped through the smoke.

Beelzebub.

Twisted and absolutely massive.

His body looked like it was stitched together from different creatures—rotten flesh, twitching muscle, and thick black scales.

Dozens of mouths covered his arms and shoulders, all of them drooling. His eyes burned with hunger, wide and unblinking.

He lifted one foot and slammed it down.

BOOM!

The floor cracked.

Nobody waited.

“Let’s go!” Lucas shouted.

They charged.

Lucas dashed ahead, golden light glowing from his body. He leapt and brought Excalibur down, aiming straight for Beelzebub’s head.

CLANG!

The sword smashed against Beelzebub’s claw, sparks flying.

“HAAHH!” Derek roared and rushed from the left, his axes swinging fast.

THUNK!

He chopped one into Beelzebub’s side, then twisted and slammed the second axe into the demon’s thigh.

James came in right after, his spear spinning. He stabbed at Beelzebub’s ribs, the tip piercing through the dark skin.

SPLAT!

Black blood sprayed across the stones.

『 Fire Series: Flame Burst! (✦ 5th-level Spell ✦) 』

Rose threw both arms forward, her red hair whipping around her face. A huge ball of fire exploded against Beelzebub’s chest.

BOOOOM!

The flames burned through his flesh, and the demon screamed.

Iris stepped up behind her, raising her staff high. Light poured from her arms.

『 Holy Series: Divine Light! (✦ 6th-level Spell ✦) 』

A ray of pure white magic struck the burnt spot on Beelzebub’s chest, digging deeper into the wound.

SHHHRRRRIP!

The smell of burning demon flesh filled the air.

『 Wind & Ice Series: Ice Tornado Arrow! (✦ 6th-level Spell ✦) 』

『 Crystal Series: Crystal Javelins! (✦ 5th-Level Spell ✦)』

Eira’s bowstring snapped, her arrow spinning like a drill as it flew, leaving a trail of forest behind as it slammed into Beelzebub’s right arm and twisted through the muscle.

Along with it, five giant crystal javelins snapped through the air, heading towards Beelzebu’s left arm.

CRACK!

Both of the limbs jerked violently.

Then, Telmo grinned and raised both hands.

『 Wind Series: Gale Bind! (✦ 4th-level Spell ✦) 』

A violent wind wrapped around Beelzebub’s legs, locking them in place with roaring pressure.

Ulgar let out a beast-like shout and charged in bare-handed.

BAM!

He landed a solid punch to Beelzebub’s gut. The force echoed with a dull shockwave. He ducked under a swinging claw and sent another punch into the demon’s jaw.

THWACK!

『 Fire Series: Fire Knuckles! (✦ 4th-Level Spell ✦) 』

Maya jumped in next, her gauntlets glowing red-hot. She spun once and punched Beelzebub across the face.

CRACK!

His head twisted sideways, teeth flying out of one of his smaller mouths.

Maria danced to the side, wind swirling around her hands.

『 Wind Series: Cutting Tempest! (✦ 5th-level Spell ✦) 』

A storm of wind blades shot forward, slicing across Beelzebub’s chest and shoulders.

SWISH!

SWISH!

SWISH!

Flesh was torn, blood spraying out like black rain.

Mia stood beside her, flames gathering in her palms.

『 Fire Series: Inferno Dance! (✦ 5th-level Spell ✦) 』

She spun once and sent five fireballs shooting out in a wide arc.

BOOOOOOOM!

Each one hit a different spot on the demon, staggering him backward with loud blasts.

Ella and Leon moved in together—two flashes of silver.

Their swords danced like lightning.

『 Royal Swordsmanship: King’s Guillotine! (✦ SS-Level Swordsmanship ✦) 』

『 Royal Swordsmanship: Queen’s Guillotine! (✦ SS-Level Swordsmanship ✦) 』

CLANG!

SHING!

Ella struck at Beelzebub’s right arm while Leon stabbed toward the left side of his chest. Every swing was clean and controlled, cutting through gaps in the demon’s defenses.

And then—

Aestrea moved.

He dashed forward, ice forming around his feet.

『 Ice Series: Glacial Dash! (✦ 5th-level Spell ✦) 』

He slipped through a narrow space between Beelzebub’s claws, spinning once.

『 Ice Series: Ice Fang Barrage! (✦ 3rd-Level Spell ✦)』

A swarm of sharp ice spears shot from his hand, piercing into Beelzebub’s wounds.

SHHHHCK!

SHHHHCK!

Beelzebub roared, turning wild. His body slammed against the ground, claws swiping everywhere.

One mouth on his shoulder opened wide and fired a blast of dark energy.

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

Aestrea raised his hand, and a thick shield of ice rose in time.

BOOOOM!

The energy crashed against it, cracking it but not breaking through. But just as they thought they were gaining the upper hand…

THOOM!

Beelzebub stomped his foot again, this time harder, and his whole body pulsed with a sick, red light.

The mouths across his body opened wide, grinning. His eyes rolled back, and a deep laugh poured out of every mouth all at once.

『 Gluttony Series: Devour the World! (✦ Forbidden Magic ✦) 』

WHHHHOOOOM!

The air twisted.

A huge wave of invisible pressure shot out from Beelzebub’s body like a shockwave, knocking everyone off their feet.

“GAH—!” Lucas grunted as he hit the stone wall hard, his back scraping along the surface.

BAM!

Ella crashed beside him, blood dripping from her mouth as she struggled to stand.

Leon flipped in midair and landed on his feet—barely—but a second pulse hit him and threw him back again.

CRACK!

“Kaghh!… Cough, kaugff!”

He hit the ground, coughing.

“W-What is this…?” Maria gasped, trying to cast a spell. Her wind magic scattered before it even formed.

The red aura spreading from Beelzebub’s body started pulling everything in—air, light, even the magic itself. It felt like the world was being sucked away.

Mia tried to hold her ground, her feet sliding backward. She pushed both hands forward and shouted:

『 Fire Series: Fire Bomb! (✦ 4th-level Spell ✦) 』

BOOOOM!

A fireball exploded against Beelzebub’s chest.

But the fire got… eaten.

The red aura swallowed the magic like it was nothing.

The flames vanished mid-blast.

“H-He ate it…?” Mia’s voice cracked.

Beelzebub grinned widely—every mouth on his body laughing.

“I DON’T CARE WHAT HE EATS!” Derek ran in, axes raised, yelling.

Thud, thud!

He swung both weapons at the demon’s side, but they only bounced off now, like hitting metal.

A wave of that red energy slammed into him a second later, sending him flying into the rocks.

CRASH!

“Derek!” James shouted, rage in his voice. He dashed forward, spear in hand.

He leapt up, spinning midair, and aimed the tip right at Beelzebub’s neck.

STAB!

It pierced—barely.

Beelzebub grabbed the spear with one hand and threw James like a toy.

SMASH!

He slammed into a broken pillar, groaning.

『 Lightning Series: Thunder Edge! (✦ 5th-level Spell ✦) 』

Rayn rushed from the right, blades covered in crackling lightning. He slashed across Beelzebub’s stomach.

ZAP-ZZZZT!

But the lightning fizzled out on contact.

BOOM!

Beelzebub’s body pulsed again, and a mouth on his chest opened wide, sucking in all nearby mana.

Even the holy light around Iris flickered.

“I-I can’t… I can’t feel the goddess’ power!” Iris gasped, falling to one knee.

『 Fire Series: Flame Spear! (✦ 4th-level Spell ✦) 』

Rose tried to back her up, sending a fire lance at Beelzebub’s face.

SHHHRRRK!

It struck him, but once again, the flames vanished.

Beelzebub raised one hand, and it stretched unnaturally, like melting flesh.

SPLAT!

The hand slammed into the ground, and giant red tendrils shot out, grabbing Ulgar and slamming him against the floor over and over.

BAM! BAM! BAM!

“URGH—!!”

『 Ice Series: Freezing Rain! (✦ 5th-level Spell ✦) 』

Eira fired a dozen ice arrows into the air—each one splitting into shards, falling like frozen knives.

SHUNK!

SHUNK!

SHUNK!

They hit Beelzebub’s back, but the demon didn’t even flinch.

“Haagh… ah!”

Lucas pushed himself up, panting as blood dripped down his forehead.

“We need to break through that aura!”

『 Void Breaker! (✦ SS-level Swordsmanship ✦) 』

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