“Senior... is actually that strong?”

Watching the elegant figure dancing through the air like a ballerina, Muen couldn’t help but be slightly entranced.

He’d known for a while that Senior Anna was one of the elites among the fifth-years, but he hadn’t expected someone who looked so delicate to be powerful enough to suppress—even defeat—a terrifying figure like the High Priest with such ease.

“Hmph. If I hadn’t been eating so poorly lately and couldn’t bring out my full strength, I could’ve done that too.”

Noticing Muen staring blankly at Anna, Ariel pouted slightly, clearly displeased.

“...”

Muen’s lips twitched hard.

No no no—Lady, you’re already terrifying enough, okay? You’re only a second-year! All the other second-years are still cowering at the back of the crowd downstairs. The few who dare poke their heads out to cast a couple of spells are already considered brave, and here you are charging up to the boss and trading blows like it’s nothing. Could you maybe give them a little dignity?!

“Speaking of which...”

Ariel suddenly leaned in close, the overwhelming aura of a protagonist fading from her face, replaced by an unexpectedly girlish shyness.

“Hey, gorgeous, would you mind giving me your transmission stone frequency?”

“Huh?”

Muen froze.

A transmission stone frequency? That’s not something you just... give to people. If you hand that over—

Swinging her greatsword, Ariel smashed a muscle-bound man who had been sneaking up behind her into a crippled heap, then turned back with a smile and asked:

“So, can I?”

“Y-yes, of course.”

Muen nodded furiously like a pecking chicken, quickly pulling out his own transmission stone.

The stones clinked together softly as they synced frequencies. Ariel’s face broke into a blissful smile.

“Let’s keep in touch, gorgeous.”

“...”

A chill ran down Muen’s spine. He forced out a smile, then quickly turned away toward Senior Anna.

“Senior, let’s go.”

Ariel was too much. He couldn’t shake the feeling that if he stayed near her too long, he’d lose something important.

“Alright.”

Anna replied softly.

“But let me finish this off first.”

In her hand was a strangely shaped dagger as she swiftly approached the severely wounded High Priest.

It was a Sanctified Dagger blessed by the Church of Life. Even against beings corrupted by Evil Gods, it could deal fatal damage.

Sensing the threat emanating from the dagger, the High Priest roared with a twisted expression and lunged at Anna with his only remaining left hand.

Anna’s eyes flashed.

He couldn’t keep up with her speed even at full strength. What could he possibly do now, in his current state?

Wasting no time, she vanished into a flickering shadow and dodged his final desperate strike. Then, with a sudden motion, she plunged the dagger into his heart.

A perfect hit.

The instant the Sanctified Dagger pierced his heart, the High Priest’s face twisted in agony. His eyes rolled back, and his body convulsed violently as the last traces of life visibly drained from his form.

“It’s over.”

After confirming that both the High Priest’s pulse and heartbeat had ceased, Anna exhaled softly and turned toward Muen with a radiant smile.

“What do you think, junior? Your senpai, I—”

Before she could finish, something went wrong.

Muen and Ariel both stood frozen.

From the grotesque wound in the High Priest’s shoulder, the mangled flesh began to writhe violently.

“What the...”

The sickening sight reminded Muen of certain disturbing memories best left buried.

A heavy sense of dread settled over him. He shouted instinctively:

“Senior, watch out!”

But accidents always come faster than warnings.

From that writhing mess of bloody flesh, a thick, newly grown arm suddenly burst forth, dripping with blood and reeking of foul mucus.

It snatched up the massive blade that had fallen from the High Priest’s original body.

Gripped it.

And slashed.

Anna turned her head—but it was already too late. No matter how agile she was, with no time to prepare, she couldn’t dodge an attack from this close range.

All she could do was instinctively raise her arm to block.

“Senior!”

Muen’s heart nearly ripped apart. His body moved on its own.

“Tch.”

But just as he was about to act, Ariel forced him back down with a firm push.

“A fragile beauty like you shouldn’t be moving in times like this. Leave it to me.”

With a dramatic flick of her bangs, Ariel grinned and charged forward, greatsword in hand.

Fast.

Unbelievably fast.

At this moment, Ariel was—if only slightly—faster than Muen’s ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) Shadow Step.

But—

She was still too late.

The blade had already come down.

The moment it touched Anna’s arm, Muen could practically see it cleaving through her limb, continuing to carve a hideous gash into her delicate body.

His heartbeat seemed to stop.

His breath froze.

All he could see was the shadow of a blade crashing down onto the flesh of a girl.

But—

What he expected didn’t happen.

The moment the blade struck Anna’s arm, Muen heard something strange.

A metallic clang.

Huh?

A metal-on-metal clash?

Muen’s eyes widened.

Shimmering light flickered across his vision.

And as the blade tore through the sleeve of her uniform, Muen caught a fleeting glimmer of something on Anna’s arm—something smooth, tightly packed, and reflecting light.

It looked like scales.

Serpent scales.

But it was gone in a flash—Muen had no time to confirm it before Anna yanked her arm back and leapt away.

At that same instant, Ariel arrived, her flame-wreathed greatsword plunging into the High Priest’s body, the sheer force driving him backward.

Anna reappeared beside Muen, grabbing his arm with her other hand and swiftly pulling him in the opposite direction.

“We’re leaving.”

“Huh? Just like that? What about Ariel?”

“It’s fine. Even if that monster’s still alive, it’s already fatally wounded. Junior Ariel can handle it.

Besides...”

Anna tilted her head slightly, as if listening to something.

“You didn’t notice? Someone else just arrived.”

“Really?”

Muen furrowed his brow and tried to listen, but the surrounding noise was far too chaotic. He couldn’t hear a thing.

“Let’s go.”

Pulling Muen with her, Anna leapt from the other side of the dormitory rooftop. Her whip unfurled in her hand, wrapping around the railing. With a gentle swing, they slipped into someone’s unknown dorm room.

For the two of them, this wasn’t exactly difficult. They landed smoothly.

Before he could even get a look at the room, Muen turned to her in a rush.

“Senior, are you okay?”

“I’m fine.”

“Really? But your arm...”

Anna tugged her sleeve back down, covering her arm with a smile.

“I’m really fine, junior. No need to worry.”

“Is that so...”

Muen stared at her face.

She was smiling—still beautiful, still enchanting—but to Muen, it felt cold. Distant. Like something important was locked away behind that smile.

I can’t ask anymore, Muen thought.

“So what do we do next?”

The tremors upstairs were growing stronger. Maybe Anna really was right. Maybe someone new—and powerful—had joined the fight.

“Seems like things up there are handled now.”

Anna brushed her cheek, glancing upward.

“So, since the first objective—saving you—is done, now it’s time for my second goal.”

“Second... goal?”

Seeing her ever-brightening smile, Muen suddenly felt a very bad premonition.