Boom!!!
Flames twisted the very space around them.
Edelweiss, at the center of the arena, narrowed her eyes. In that moment, she felt as if some supreme, transcendent being were now targeting her.
"This is"
Stella's form was swallowed in crimson flames. Everyone present felt as though their very souls were being scorched in a blazing inferno.
"Hey, hey, your student is acting way off!"
Saikyo Nene's eyes widened. Originally, she'd thought this girl was just some early-blooming teen in heat. But the power Stella was unleashing right now made even Nene's real body tremble with primal fear. More alarming, Edelweiss below seemed to be getting serious?
" "
Shinguuji Kurono hadn't imagined Stella would push things this far. She immediately used the intercom:
[All students evacuate the dueling area at once!]
And then, she promptly sent a trade request to Rei Ao.
This power Stella was drawing upon was something Hagun Academy couldn't handle if left alone.
[Ding! Shinguuji Kurono has initiated a Trade request with you!]
[Trade Contents]: Stabilize the crisis at Hagun Academy!
[Ding! Please choose your Trade Conditions!]
"Stella's gone out of control again?"
The moment Stella tapped into the True Crimson Dragon God, Rei Ao sensed it even across worlds. He wasted no time selecting his conditions. Soon:
[Ding! Trade has begun!]
[Trade Target]: Shinguuji Kurono
[Trade Contents]: Stabilize the crisis at Hagun Academy!
[Trade Condition]: "Unlimited Body Usage Rights"
[Duration]: 24 hours
Boom!!!
The instant Rei Ao arrived at Hagun Academy, waves of heat burst out. Beneath him, the duelerupted. Pillars of flame surged skyward, shattering glass everywhere.
"Eek!!!"
Students who'd heeded Kurono's order to flee clapped their hands over their ears, screaming.
But that wasn't all.
Clang!!!
A sword. Its razor-edged aura split the arena, slicing through the raging flames in one blow. Floating in midair, clad in Valkyrie-like white attire, was Edelweiss. Holding twin swords, she now wore a grave expression, facing the flame-clad "dragon girl": Stella.
Looking closer, Edelweiss's armor was damaged, and her hands trembled around her blades. Clearly, Stella in her current state posed an enormous threat.
But Stella was also nearing her limit. She herself wasn't strong enough to handle that much of Rei Ao's power. In just seconds, her body felt unbearably heavy. Even so, she wouldn't yield.
She was about to attack again when a hand settled on her shoulder.
"That's enough. My power isn't something to just throw around, and your body can't handle it."
"Whawhy are you here?"
Stella glanced sideways in shock, astounded that Rei Ao had appeared.
"Because of the commotion you caused. Kurono called for me via a trade to come fix things."
Rei Ao pointed downward.
"Look below. If you keep fighting, Hagun Academy won't survive."
Stella lowered her gaze. Seeing how the arena was nearly in ruins, she realized that she'd been recklessly overdoing it, and hurriedly dismissed her power.
"Ugh!"
As the True Crimson Dragon God Desperado receded, a crushing fatigue overtook her. She wobbled, about to fall from midair, but Rei Ao grabbed her by the waist. Seeing how her eyelids drooped in weakness, he whispered reassuringly, "Rest. I'll handle the rest."
"Mm"
Stella nodded weakly, leaning against his chest. In a few breaths, she wore a look of peace and slipped into unconsciousness it showed just how much that Crimson Dragon God power had drained her, as well as how deeply she trusted Rei Ao.
Letting her remain in a comfortable position, Rei Ao finally turned toward the woman opposite him.
[Name]: Edelweiss
[Level]: 35
[Abilities]: "Swordsmanship," "Inherent Device: Testament"
~~~
300 Powerstone Bonus Chapter!
Chapter 382: One Move and Almost got Killed...
Edelweiss.
Rei Ao had to admit that she was a swordsmanship prodigy by swordsmanship alone, she had become the strongest in the world. Her talent was truly extraordinary.
He was sizing up Edelweiss; Edelweiss was likewise sizing him up.
She couldn't see any weaknesses in him... a true powerhouse. That was her assessment.
Eyes flashing, she lifted her sword and pointed it at Rei Ao.
"You. You interrupted our fight. Therefore, face me in battle."
"Tch, does everyone in this world love to fight or something?"
Rei Ao snorted with laughter. No wonder this world had so many duels; maybe they all just had too much strength and nowhere else to use it, so they dueled day in and day out.
"All right," he replied.
Though he didn't know exactly why this duel had started, he had, in fact, intercede and broken it off. Rei Ao didn't mind giving her a small answer.
"But there's no need for an actual fight," he said. "Take a single move from me, see if you can handle it."
"Huh?"
Such light and casual words almost smug caused Edelweiss's gaze to tighten in displeasure. She didn't like being looked down on.
However
When she saw Rei Ao's movement, her eyes instantly widened in alarm.
He didn't even draw a weapon; it seemed as if he were just casually raising a finger. A simple, no-frills motion.
But Edelweiss, who had fought countless life-and-death battles, felt a primordial dread tense her muscles. Yet even so, she couldn't react in time.
Rei Ao's finger swept through the air.
Clang!
That was a sword's cry.
What was unleashed was sword energy.
Edelweiss could see a genuine blade right then.
Her eyes went wide in shock as she stared at the sword-ki shooting skyward. A primal terror in her body made it impossible to lift her hands; she was overwhelmed by a sense of death she had never felt before. For a moment, it was as though the entire world had gone completely silent.
Like lightning, the sword-ki tore through the air in an instant, carrying an immeasurable force directly at her. Edelweiss wanted to dodge but found herself as though pinned in place, unable to move. Her breathing seized up for the briefest moment, the sword-ki already in her face.
She's going to die!
That's what Edelweiss's body told her in that moment.
Yet Rei Ao had never intended to kill her.
At the instant the sword-ki reached her, it carved through space itself, vanishing and then reappearing behind her bursting through a rift in the air and shooting up into the sky. Everywhere that sword-ki passed, space was rent apart, opening jagged black fissures. Even the sky was cleaved, revealing a deep, dark void.
"Wh-What is that?!"
Many of the students below raised their heads in horror to see the sky literally split in two. One thought ran through their minds: the end of the world.
""
Edelweiss simply stood there, staring blankly while strands of her pale hair drifted down. She was still alive. She looked toward Rei Ao.
"Why?" she asked.
Rei Ao shrugged.
"It was just a duel, right? I wouldn't go so far as to kill you over that."
"We'll leave it at that for today. Hagun Academy belongs to my women, so try not to do more damage here."
Having said that, he vanished with Stella in tow.
""
Edelweiss remained where she was, dazed. For the first time, she had encountered a peak she couldn't conquer true power. Rather than making her feel defeated, it actually sparked a certain fervor in the lonely heart of a top-level fighter.
"Kurono, I'm taking Stella back to rest first. I'll come find you in a bit."
Elsewhere, Rei Ao now stood beside Kurono, speaking so suddenly that Saikyo Nene nearly jumped.
"!!!"
She realized that the man before her was the one who'd nearly cut Edelweiss down and split the sky. What shocked her more was that this incredibly dangerous individual and Kurono apparently knew each other quite well.
No wonder Kurono had been calm while facing Edelweiss she had this man in reserve.
Studying him in detail, she thought, He's so young.
Saikyo Nene found it unbelievable: maybe he was some ancient monster who merely looked young.
"Thanks," Kurono said, relieved. "If you hadn't come, I really wouldn't have known how to end all this."
Rei Ao responded, "Let me bring Stella back to the dorm first. I'll see you in your office once you've handled things here."
"Got it."
Rei Ao then gave Saikyo Nene a quick once-over.
""
Her heart clenched. She had no idea why this strong, mysterious man was looking at her, but she didn't want to end up like Edelweiss, so she stayed silent.
Seeing that, Rei Ao said nothing either, and left.
Only once he was gone did Saikyo Nene exhale and relax her tense shoulders.
"Phew Kurono, who on earth is that? Hurry up and tell me!"
A being of such catastrophic power showing up out of nowhere how could she not be curious? Curiosity was natural. In her eyes, Rei Ao was like a meteor that could shake the entire world's power balance, far more terrifying than any meteor she could personally summon.
Kurono gave her an oddly knowing look.
"You want to know about Rei Ao?"
"Uh"
Saikyo Nene hesitated under the weight of that gaze, as if finding out more about this unknown super-strong man might cost her her life. Carefully, she ventured,
"Uh, maybe... maybe it's that everyone who discovers his identity ends up killed off?"
He might be Kurono's trump card. Even if they had a decent relationship, it was still pretty scary.
"No, not at all," said Kurono, "I promise that won't happen."
"Oh, that's a relief."
She trusted Kurono's words, at least.
After a moment's thought, Saikyo Nene spoke earnestly,
"Kurono, I want to learn more about that person. If he's someone capable of throwing the world into chaos, well, we both know about picking sides."
The world really wasn't at peace; conflict could break out any time. Originally Saikyo Nene had felt confident that she wouldn't be dragged in, being strong enough herself, but seeing that slash from Rei Ao almost kill the planet's strongest swordswoman and split the sky, her perspective changed.
This world was far from safe!
That man could tear the sky with just a finger, no blade at all. Who knew whether the world held other similarly hidden monsters? If it came down to global war, the first to die would be those surface-level strong people like her. She had no intention of dying.
"Later on, I'll talk with him," Kurono said, a small smile on her lips. "Hope we can all become very good friends."
She had her own small calculation. Noticing how Rei Ao had examined both Edelweiss and Saikyo Nene, she'd guessed he was interested in them. Enough to want them both, perhaps. Once that happened, her school would count them all as allies who then would the academy have to fear?
""
That look and Kurono's words made Saikyo Nene shudder.
"Am I just going to fall into some kind of trap?" she wondered to herself.
~~~
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Chapter 383: Stella's Confession...
After Rei Ao left, Kurono swiftly calmed the students, who had been thrown into disarray.
"Wowhe's so powerful"
Among them was a blackhaired girl whose right eye was covered by her bangs. Recalling the scene where Rei Ao had cleaved the sky with a single sword strike, her gaze sparkled with admiration.
Stella's Dorm Room
Rei Ao gently laid Stella on the bed.
Watching her peacefully sleeping face, he pulled the covers up for her, then headed for the door.
Click!
The door opened, then closed.
Her eyelashes fluttered slightly. Under the cover of her bangs, her right eye discreetly peeked toward the door. Confirming that Rei Ao was gone, Stella finally opened both eyes.
She had only been pretending to sleep.
Rubbing the blanket Rei Ao had placed over her, Stella couldn't stifle an embarrassed little noise.
"Hmph, Stella, what on earth are you doing? Are you that happy just from being carried? Why is your heart pounding so fast!"
Indeed, having been in his arms, she found it impossible to sleep. Her heart was drumming like crazy, and it felt as if her whole body was cheering with delight. How could she possibly sleep in such a state?
Now that there was no one else in the dorm
Should she or shouldn't she?
Some things become addictive once you've done them even once. Stella was no exception.
Gritting her teeth, she was really about to deal with that "craving" of hers.
"What are you doing?"
Unfortunately, just as her excitement soared, a voice crashed in like a thunderbolt.
It was Rei Ao's voice.
"Huh? Am I hearing things?"
Startled, Stella looked around, only to discover that behind her bed, Rei Ao was watching her with amused interest.
"Yaaah!!!"
She let out a shriek.
Rei Ao merely waited it out. A moment later, still huddling under her blanket with a brightred face, Stella stammered:
"Youyou said you were leaving!"
"Oh? You didn't honestly think faking sleep would fool me, did you?" Rei Ao said with a wry smile.
"Lucky I stayed; otherwise I'd never have seen this'uninhibited' side of Stella."
He joked, bringing up a certain point:
"I recall you even set up an Anti-R18 Alliance in my group. As the Alliance's leader, pulling a stunt like thisif I posted it in the group, I bet it would spark quite the uproar, hmm?"
"Ugh!"
Stella's body trembled violently.
She could practically imagine what a catastrophic social death scenario that would be.
"D-Don't!!!"
Tearful, Stella pleaded, "Please don't do that!"
She absolutely did not want to face social annihilation! Her carefully maintained image mustn't collapse!
"Beg me," Rei Ao teased, seeing Stella like this and starting to find it entertaining.
"Please!"
But Stella's plea came out so swiftly and sincerely that it gave him no time to savor the moment. Her pitiful face stirred sympathy in anyone's heart.
""
Originally, he'd never planned on broadcasting her predicament to the group. So he let it go at that.
"All right, I won't post anything. But get some proper rest, don't be worrying over silly stuff."
With that, Rei Ao turned to leave. However, a slightly damp hand latched onto his.
"You'rewiping that on me?"
Rei Ao gave a puzzled look at the faintly sticky threads on her fingertip.
"Uuh"
But Stella started crying.
"???"
Rei Ao was taken aback. Did she really burst into tears over just a couple lines? Was she truly the same Stella?
"What's all this about?"
Biting her lip resentfully, Stella sniffled, "You already saw me like that Don't you have any reaction at all? Or is itam I totally unappealing?"
