Villainess X Villain: They are obsessed with each other!-Chapter 52 -: 51 Soul nullification barrier.[Bonus Chapter]
Back in the Royal Arcane Academy, inside Dean Orin Belebright’s cozy (and slightly messy) office cabin.
The dean sat behind his big wooden desk, stroking his wild, untamed beard while staring at the letter in his hands.
In front of him, two chairs held two very different people:
Lucian Duskwood, calm and sharp-eyed as always, and Jaya Balan, leaning forward with her usual no-nonsense energy.
Dean Orin finished reading, folded the fancy paper neatly, and looked up.
The playful twinkle that usually danced in his eyes was gone. His voice came out low and serious.
"They’re inviting the three of us to the Saint Trial."
Lucian let out a slow, thoughtful hum. "Hmm..."
He turned his head slightly toward Jaya. "What do you think?"
Jaya rubbed her chin, a small frown creasing her forehead.
She stared at the floor for a second, thinking hard.
"Well..." she started, then nodded firmly. "We have to go. No...we ’must’ go."
Both Dean Orin and Lucian leaned forward a little, waiting.
"It’s not just because we owe the Church a favor," Jaya continued. "It’s bigger than that. Way bigger."
She met their eyes, one after the other. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖
"As we all know, humans are always walking a tightrope because of those Zlycons."
"Even here on the three floating continents, there are hundreds of them, hiding, spying, waiting for any chance to strike."
She tapped the arm of her chair once for emphasis.
"So if this new Saint candidate actually passes the trial... if we get a real, powerful Saint again..." Her voice softened, almost hopeful.
"It would be huge for every human alive. The Saint has the strongest divination ability in the world."
Jaya let out a slow, heavy breath, her frown deepening as she leaned forward in her chair.
"But that’s exactly the problem, as you both know," she continued.
"Except for the Paladins, no devotee in the Church is allowed to lift a finger during the Saint Trial."
"No weapons, no spells, no fighting at all. And in the meantime, the spies and the underground lords, the real dangerous ones, have grown ’much’ stronger over these past centuries."
"They’ve had time to build networks, hoard power. Relying only on the Paladins to defend the trial site... it’s going to be tough. Really tough."
She met their eyes one by one.
"And that’s precisely why they’re inviting us so urgently. They’re scared. They know they need outside help, strong help, that isn’t bound by the Church’s sacred rules."
Dean Orin listened to every word.
When she finished, he let out a long, tired sigh and rubbed the bridge of his nose.
"You’re right, Jaya," he admitted quietly. Worry clouded his usually bright eyes.
"Completely right. But... what about the academy? If the three of us leave at the same time, even for a short while..."
Lucian waved a hand through the air like he was brushing away a fly.
"Oh, come on, Dean," he said with a small, easy grin.
"Who would ’dare’ attack the academy? Even the Zlycons aren’t that stupid. There’s a limit to how reckless anyone can be."
He leaned back comfortably in his chair.
"Besides, to even think about hitting us here, they’d have to get past the city of Agarta first."
"And you know how that barrier works. Even their strongest Spell casters can’t step inside. The formation simply won’t allow it."
Lucian ticked off points on his fingers.
"Only Spirit Core cultivators, can slip through. And those kinds? Our remaining professors can handle them in their sleep."
"Honestly... you don’t even need the professors."
"Our star class students could probably mop the floor with them all by themselves and still have time to complain about homework afterward."
He chuckled softly.
"So don’t worry so much, Dean. The academy will be fine. Safer than the Saint Trial itself, if we’re being honest."
Dean Orin Belebright let out a long, tired sigh and finally nodded.
"You’re right," he said, looking straight at Lucian.
Lucian sat there radiating pure confidence, shoulders relaxed, small smirk in place. And honestly? The dean completely understood why.
The barrier they were talking about wasn’t just some fancy wall.
It was the ’Spirit Nullification Barrier.’
And it wasn’t any ordinary formation.
Seven hundred years ago, when the long, brutal war against the Zlycons finally ended and both sides were forced to sign a peace treaty, the human heroes weren’t happy. Not even close.
They had wanted to wipe the Zlycons out once and for all. They had the power to do it too.
In all of human history, it was almost unheard of: ’three Infinite Core spellcasters’ appearing at the exact same time, beings so strong they could bend reality itself.
And on top of that, there was a living Saint with divine-level divination and holy power backing them up.
It felt like the perfect moment. The stars had aligned. Victory seemed certain.
But politics, exhaustion, and the sheer cost of more bloodshed forced their hand. They signed the treaty.
Still... the heroes couldn’t shake the fear. What would happen after they were gone?
After the Infinite Core casters passed away? After the Saint returned to the heavens?
They refused to leave future generations defenseless.
So, in a final act of defiance and sacrifice, the heroes poured everything they had left into one massive, unbreakable formation.
They volunteered their own souls, pieces of them, at least, to fuel it forever.
That was how the ’Spirit Nullification Barrier’ was born.
Anyone trying to enter the neutral city of Agarta, would have their core suppressed.
Only warriors below the ’Void Core stage’ could pass through without being torn apart by the barrier’s power.
Anything stronger, Void Core and up, would be completely blocked, their energy shredded before they even touched the edge.
It was one of the greatest defensive formations in recorded history.
A living monument to desperation, sacrifice, and stubborn hope.
Dean Orin snapped out of his memories with another quiet sigh. His eyes cleared.
"Very well then," he said, voice steady again. He pushed back from his desk and stood up.
"Prepare for departure. We leave tomorrow morning."
