After Jason's brutal class finally ended, the students began slowly filing out toward the hallways, many of them limping or rubbing their bruises.
Zara, still massaging the bump on her head, was quietly talking to Fluff in her mind.
"Fluff, I have to get stronger — fast. You know what's coming after the academy's fifth year... All those powerful enemies will invade. Even though the heroine and her team eventually drive them back, a lot of people still die."She clenched her fists tightly, her eyes burning with determination."I don't want to be one of them."
Fluff, floating lazily beside her, was nodding seriously as he listened to Zara's words.But suddenly, his fluffy little body stiffened, and a look of sheer horror crossed his cute face.
[Host!Behind you—dodge!Quick!]
The sharp panic in Fluff's voice made Zara's heart lurch. She instinctively twisted her body to turn around — just in time to see a figure charging straight toward her.
The figure was fast — unnaturally fast — and on his forehead, a single sharp horn jutted out. In his hands gleamed a sword, already pulled back, ready to strike.
Without thinking, Zara's body reacted, her swordsmanship instincts kicking in.As the blade whistled toward her, she ducked and sidestepped at the last second, feeling the wind of the attack brush past her.
Her heart pounded wildly against her chest.
That was close!
The figure, seeing his sword miss its mark, skidded to a halt.Slowly, he turned toward Zara, his movements deliberate and full of menace.
As he faced her fully, Zara finally got a clear look at him.
His hair was jet-black, messy and wild, framing a pale, sharp-featured face. His eyes — deep, cold, and pitch black — held a chilling intensity, like a bottomless abyss.And right in the middle of his forehead, a blood-red horn protruded, gleaming ominously under the hallway lights.
Zara tensed, tightening her grip on the wooden sword still in her hand,
The figure stared at Zara, his expression twisted with anger as he began walking toward her.With each step, his voice grew louder and more manic.
"How dare you dodge that?!" he snarled. "If you hadn't moved, it would've been a slow, sweet death... but now—"He paused, chuckling darkly as he dragged one hand across his face, covering one of his wild, gothic eyes."Now, I'll make sure you die in agony. Slowly. Ha... haha... hahahaha!"
His crazed laughter echoed through the hallway, making the nearby students freeze in fear and back away.
Zara tightened her grip on her sword, muscles coiling, ready to strike first.
But just as she was about to move, the figure suddenly froze.A bead of cold sweat rolled down his cheek. His body tensed unnaturally.
Then, with a stiff, almost mechanical motion, he turned his head to look behind him—
Standing behind him was Selena.Her face was twisted in cold fury, golden aura leaking from her body like waves of pure, suffocating pressure.
The air itself seemed to crackle around her.Each step she took forward made the floor beneath her feet tremble slightly.
The figure — who moments ago had been laughing maniacally — now stood frozen, his face pale, sweat pouring down his temples.
He dared a shaky glance at Selena, but the golden light reflecting in her eyes rooted him to the spot like a hunted animal facing a predator.
"When Zara looked at Selena, her tense posture eased slightly — but her eyes stayed sharp, still full of vigilance."
Selena clenched her fist and, with a burst of rage, drove it into the figure's face. His terrified eyes widened just before the blow landed. The impact sent him crashing through a pillar, his body tumbling into the garden beyond.
Without pause, Selena began marching toward him, her whole body radiating pure fury.
Seeing her approach, the figure scrambled back, fear twisting his face. He began to beg, his voice trembling.
"D-Do not come near me! I said, do not come!"
As Selena marched toward the figure, she began speaking coldly.
"You pathetic demons... How dare you appear before me?"
Without waiting for a reply, she unleashed a storm of punches, hammering his face relentlessly. Each blow twisted and deformed his features until he barely resembled anything human.
Watching this brutal beatdown, Zara reflexively placed a hand on her chin. Beside her, Fluff mirrored her action, his mouth hanging open in shock.
Zara muttered, half to herself and half to Fluff,
"Fluff... Lira's memories were correct, right?"
Fluff quickly shut his mouth with his paw and answered nervously,
[Host! Why would you say that? Of course they're correct!]
Zara frowned, her eyes narrowing.
"But in my memory... Selena wasn't this brutal. And why is almost half of Lira's memories covered in fog?"
[Host, you can't expect full memories. Lira's soul was destroyed before she even entered your body. You should be happy you have any memories at all.]
Zara paused for a moment, taking in Fluff's words. Then, her expression softened as she quickly replied,
"I think you're right... huh."