In an instant, the admiration of the crowd gazing up at the beautiful fireworks display in the sky turned into screams.
"Kyaaaaaa!"
"What is that?! R-Run! R-Run away!"
Tanya, who had been standing at the podium and watching the fireworks with the crowd in the student square, also began to tremble.
In the sky above Silvenia Academy, beyond the clouds, the fireworks illuminated a strange sight… Anyone could tell at a glance that it was clearly the head of a giant dragon.
The festival's fireworks were still lighting up the sky, and just one minute earlier, everyone had been laughing and enjoying the peaceful atmosphere.
However, in that single minute, a dragon appeared—declaring the end of the world with its roar.
I was well aware that it was a disaster with the power to obliterate the entire island.
The Holy Blue Dragon Velbrok.
The final boss of
According to the original story, it was a catastrophe meant to destroy Silvenia. It appeared in the summer of the same year the protagonist, Taylee McLaure, was scheduled to graduate.
"Kyaah! Kyaaaah! Monster! It's a monster!"
"Everyone, run!"
"My son! Bellain! Son! Where did you go?! I have to find my son!"
"Everyone, run! We need to get out of here!"
"Mexes Bridge! Run to Mexes Bridge! That's the fastest way to leave the island!"
"Aaaaaah! My foot! My foot!"
The student square was thrown into complete chaos, filled with screams as people fled in every direction.
Caught in the middle of the fleeing crowd, I stood amidst the turmoil and quietly looked up at the sky.
It was unexpected.
Fortunately, I was able to remain calm, because it was something I had always expected to happen eventually.
Glasskan Subjugation, Glast Subjugation, Lucy Subjugation, Krepin Subjugation…
Nothing had ever gone as expected. So, I had never once believed that Velbrok would appear exactly on time as it did in the original storyline.
That was why I had always tried to stimulate Taylee's growth and train my magical abilities, even if it meant going overboard.
Still… this was a problem…
"Ed!"
I heard a familiar voice rise above the chaos.
It was Yennekar, who had rushed out of the crowd while dragging her parents along. She, too, had been watching the closing ceremony with them in the student square.
Orte and Saila, who were running alongside her, burst into tears upon seeing me.
"Young Master Ed! You need to run away! In the sky… There was—"
"Ed."
Yennekar quickly cut Orte off, speaking in a calm, composed manner.
"Is that the Holy Blue Dragon you told me about…?"
"Yeah… It came a lot sooner than I expected, but… it's him."
Yennekar's expression stiffened, leaving her unable to respond.
I took a deep breath before speaking again.
"Evacuate with your parents. If you try to cross Mexes Bridge now, there will be too many people for it to be safe."
"Th-Then…"
"I know this situation is difficult to grasp, but you are extremely valuable when it comes to evacuating people from this island. How many can you move using your flying spirits?"
"If I summon a mid-ranking wind spirit… I can probably take ten people at once. But after several long-distance trips, the spirit will become exhausted…"
"Then evacuate the most important people first. Saving your parents is your top priority right now."
I checked the equipment on my body, choosing my words carefully and keeping them brief.
This was an emergency. There was no time for hesitation.
Kyaaaaaaaah!
Velbrok's roar sounded like two slabs of iron scraping against one another, filling the sky above Silvenia.
Surrounded by bursting fireworks, its appearance was strangely different from the Velbrok I remembered. Massive magic chains were wrapped tightly around its enormous body.
It could only lift its upper body from the sea, as the chains strained to drag it back down.
The seal binding Velbrok had not fully broken yet.
Was it because it appeared too early? Or was there another variable at play?
From my memories, Velbrok had been completely released from its seal. But the one before me was still struggling against it.
Its roar sounded less like a cry of rampage and more like a scream of resistance against the seal.
It hadn't fully broken free.
The shockwave from its roar sent people in the square tumbling to the ground.
A roar infused with magic power was an attack in itself. Naturally, its effect diminished with distance—but even so, seeing only its head was enough for the roar to knock people off their feet.
It made the sheer magnitude of Velbrok's magic power painfully clear.
"Kyaaaaah!"
"S-Save me…!"
The screams continued unabated.
Yennekar clutched her parents and looked at me with a grave expression.
"What about you, Ed?"
"Take care of everyone you think is important. But put your parents first."
"I'm asking what you are going to do, Ed."
Her voice was firm.
Orte and Saila exchanged wide-eyed looks, but there was no time to dwell on her words.
"I…"
I lifted my gaze toward Velbrok, which was still struggling against the chains dragging it back into the sea.
"I need to stop it."
I said it as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
So naturally, Yennekar didn't question it. She could only laugh weakly.
Come to think of it, I had always been like this—making absurd declarations without hesitation.
And Yennekar had always been swept up by them.
She steadied herself and spoke slowly.
"If I use that ring you gave me… I could evacuate hundreds of people at once."
The phoenix ring I had received from Professor Glast.
Its power allowed the user to draw magic from the future and use it immediately—an absurdly powerful artifact that anyone could wield, not just me.
The greater the user's natural magic power, the more dramatically its effect increased.
"If I summon the ultimate water spirit, Friede, I could evacuate nearly all the visitors in just a few trips. Then… you could also 'run away.'"
The resurrection of the Holy Blue Dragon Velbrok was not a catastrophe that a single person could prevent.
The most rational choice would be to flee.
"Of course," she continued, smiling faintly, "you'd never do that."
"That's right."
As if reading my thoughts, she dispersed the tension with a smile.
"Ed… are you really planning to take it down?"
It sounded impossible.
The Holy Dragon Velbrok was a monster capable of destroying the entire commercial district with a single step.
Even if the seal prevented it from using its full strength, once it broke free, evacuation would become meaningless.
There was no safe place anywhere in the empire.
"Alright, Ed. If I use the ring now, we won't have it when things truly become critical. And I wouldn't be able to fight alongside you. If anyone uses it, it should be someone strong—like Lucy or Headmaster Obel. That would be the most effective choice."
"Young Master Ed, we need to evacuate right now. Please come with us—"
"No. This is probably your only chance to leave the island. Please escape with Yennekar immediately."
I looked Orte straight in the eyes as I spoke.
People bumped into us as they fled past, but no one stopped. Everyone was in a state of panic.
"Young Master Ed—"
"Don't make me repeat myself. This is an emergency, and I don't have time to convince you."
After that, Yennekar firmly grabbed Orte's hand.
"Dad, let's go. Arguing any longer is just wasting time."
She held both Saila's and Orte's hands and looked back at me with resolve.
"I'll come back as soon as I can. Where are you going, Ed?"
What was the first thing I needed to do in this situation?
The answer was already clear.
"I'm going to find Taylee."
I began gathering magic power to summon Merilda.
The most important task was locating Taylee—the one capable of delivering the final blow to the Holy Blue Dragon.
This was happening earlier than expected. Taylee's abilities hadn't fully matured yet.
Still, he knew enough sword techniques to damage Velbrok, and he possessed the Dragon Slaying Sword—capable of piercing its heart.
It wasn't ideal, but he met the minimum requirements.
With enough support and an opening to reach Velbrok's heart, it would be enough.
And once Velbrok fell…
Once that monstrous dragon filling the sky crashed down…
My journey would finally come to an end.
The journey that began with being thrown into a forest. Crawling through dirt, suffering, surviving, standing up again and again.
That cruel journey would finally conclude.
I clenched my teeth as I continued gathering magic.
"Ed! Do you know where Taylee is?!"
To bring him to Velbrok's heart, I first needed to find him.
Most students had been in the square for the ceremony, but—
"He's probably in Trix Hall…!"
Before the ceremony, Taylee's lover, Ayla, had told me her plan.
She intended to use the ceremony as cover to sneak into Trix Hall and read the Sage's Seal.
If she told me, she likely told Taylee as well—and there was no chance he wouldn't help her.
That meant there was a very high chance he had gone to Trix Hall.
The fact that he wasn't in the student square all but confirmed it.
I completed the summoning, manifesting a massive wolf formed of wind.
The high-ranking wind spirit Merilda towered over the student square. Even fleeing visitors couldn't help but turn back in awe.
Without a word, Merilda lowered her head. I leapt onto her back.
***
Mexes Bridge—the only land route off Acken Island—was blocked.
The news spread quickly.
Naturally, Lortel Kehelland, who kept herself informed of nearly everything happening on the island, learned of it immediately.
Mexes Bridge was vital to trade and one of the Elte Company's major investments.
Because the Elte Company had funded its construction, many merchants operating there belonged to them.
"Th-Thirty-one merchants at Mexes Bridge are confirmed dead or missing. I-I'm only reporting what we could verify quickly. Th-The number may change after further investigation… It may even increase…"
"Calm yourself, Secretary Lienna. We are at the head of this company. We must remain composed, no matter the circumstances."
Receiving the report in the commercial district's square, Lortel looked up at the sky.
There, wrapped in chains, the Holy Blue Dragon roared.
Nearly ten minutes had passed since the monster revealed itself.
Velbrok continued struggling, releasing roars infused with magic power—as if proclaiming the world's end.
Fear was a natural response. This was not a disaster human strength alone could stop.
Yet Lortel was a master of composure and rationality.
Taking a steady breath, she quickly regained control.
Her calm presence helped the panicking employees around her steady themselves.
"Anything else?"
Dozens had already died within the commercial district—many of them veteran merchants.
Under normal circumstances, such losses would demand her immediate resignation.
But this was Velbrok.
She set her priorities without hesitation.
"The commercial district is in disarray as residents and visitors attempt to flee. The pier is especially chaotic."
"That's expected. Anything unusual?"
"Those with influence are acting independently. Since Emperor Kroel is in the royal residence, people close to the Imperial Household are gathering there."
An informant from the palace rushed over and bowed.
"In the education district, Student Council President Tanya Rothstaylor is working to calm the chaos. Princess Selah is also exerting control. Headmaster Obel and the faculty are preparing to act."
"And the commercial district?"
"Saint Clarice is urging believers to gather in prayer at the cathedral. But without an escape route, the unrest remains."
Thankfully, many influential figures were present.
Headmaster Obel in Trix Hall.
Emperor Kroel and Princess Penia in the royal residence.
Tanya Rothstaylor in the student square.
Princess Selah in the education district.
Saint Clarice in the cathedral.
Head Maid Bell Maya protecting Ophelis Hall.
And Lortel Kehelland herself in the commercial district.
They acted as pillars of order.
But leadership alone couldn't solve the core issue.
There was no escape.
Velbrok continued struggling in the sky. No one knew when it would break free—or when evacuation ships might arrive.
Scales falling from its body shattered coastlines and cliffs.
Unless Velbrok was dealt with—or the island evacuated—only catastrophe awaited.
"How many can escape using other methods?"
"Spatial magic consumes too much mana. Only flying magic or large spirits are viable, but too few can use them effectively…"
"The imperial fleet has been mobilized, but it won't arrive in time."
Checkmate.
Acken Island had become a graveyard.
"I heard plans are forming to evacuate Emperor Kroel and the nobility first."
Naturally.
Yet Lortel knew the emperor well.
"With his personality… he'll try to calm the chaos before fleeing."
His greatest flaw.
He always placed the people before himself.
If the emperor fell, chaos would only worsen.
That truth was often overlooked.
Lortel quickened her pace.
What must she do first?
Set priorities.
"What about using our own ships?"
"We have several small merchant vessels, but crowds are trying to force their way aboard…"
"..."
Booooom—! Boom—!
Kyaaaaaaaaaa!
Velbrok roared again.
It slammed its massive feet into the land near the commercial district.
The shock was earth-shattering.
Half the western coastline was obliterated.
Magic gathered around its mouth.
Dozens of magic circles formed.
Dragon's Breath.
An attack rivaling ultimate magic—nothing more than an exhale for Velbrok.
If it struck a crowd, casualties would number in the hundreds of thousands.
Lortel held her breath.
Whoooooosh!
At that moment, a figure flew into the sky.
A girl soared from atop Trix Hall, clutching her witch hat.
A trail of magic power streaked across the heavens.
Lucy Mayreel.
The irreplaceable genius of Silvenia Academy.
Her eyes were sharp with focus.
She faced Velbrok head-on.
Clenching her teeth, she intercepted the Dragon's Breath.
Eighty-one layers of advanced defensive magic.
Three layers of ultimate defense.
A miracle.
Yet even she had limits.
Some of the attack broke through.
Buildings collapsed. Fires erupted. Mountains crumbled.
Lucy was hurled into the student square, carving a massive crater.
She stood, dust-covered, retrieved her hat, and looked back to the sky.
The disaster was still coming.
***
An official notice summoned the faculty to the Trix Hall conference room.
Yet Headmaster Obel Forsyth was absent.
Instead, Deputy Headmistress Rachel Thyslin sat in his seat.
"Headmaster Obel Forsyth is currently missing."
In a moment demanding leadership, only she remained.
"Until he returns… I will lead the school's response."
She inhaled deeply.
"Bring me all reports."
-x-X-x-
"Your Majesty, you must evacuate first! Your advisors are currently in contact with the academy to determine a method of escape from the island! They have informed us that they have secured a way for a small number of people to evacuate!"
Claire spoke urgently, her head lowered as she knelt.
As a member of the Imperial Guards, her highest priority was the evacuation of the Kroel Imperial Family. They needed to escape as quickly as possible before the massive dragon in the sky launched another attack.
Kyaaaaahk!
The dragon's roar was powerful enough to destroy Acken Island at any moment.
Crash! Shatter!
The roar intensified, shattering the windows of the royal residence.
Glass cracked and burst throughout the corridors. Servants running through the halls struggled desperately to suppress their screams of terror.
Little by little, the amount of magic power emanating from Velbrok's roar increased.
Slowly but surely, it was beginning to break free from the chains wrapped around its body. There was no way to know who was still forcibly maintaining Velbrok's seal, but one thing was certain—if this continued, the entire island would be devastated.
Kyaaah!
Through the shattered window of the royal residence, the Holy Blue Dragon's massive forelegs swept past.
It slammed into Right Mountain, leaving behind a violent gust of wind as a massive landslide and dust storm erupted.
A petite magician flew through the cloud of dust.
With the Holy Blue Dragon Velbrok's enormous head looming before her, she hovered calmly in the air, brushing dirt from her skirt.
Lucy Mayreel—the top student of the magic department.
Emperor Kroel frowned as he stared out the window.
"We must first bring the situation under control. Gather all military officers who are still capable of moving within the royal residence."
"Your Majesty! You must evacuate the island first!"
"Enough. That single student is standing against that calamity right now. How could I flee and bring shame upon the imperial family?"
Emperor Kroel's voice was firm as he addressed Claire.
"Do you truly believe that is what an emperor should do? If the academy falls further into chaos, the only way to calm it is through authority. If the school cannot stabilize the situation, then the imperial family must step forward."
"But if you remain here, your life will be in danger!"
"Father, please leave the island…! What solution could you possibly find here?! If you escape, you can at least mobilize the empire's forces!"
"If the highest authority in the empire flees in fear, Acken Island will descend into complete chaos. Do you think that will help anyone?"
Emperor Kroel turned away from the window, clenching his teeth in thought.
"Penia, being emperor means that I cannot run from a situation like this."
Penia's eyes widened.
There were countless visitors, merchants, students, and faculty members gathered on the small island of Acken.
Among them, the most important was Emperor Kroel himself.
If he fled first, the nobles would scramble to escape in order of rank, tearing each other apart in the process.
That was why he refused to leave.
As long as he stood firm, no noble would dare act selfishly.
"How could an emperor who abandons his people ever sleep at night?"
Emperor Kroel then shouted at Claire, ordering her to summon everyone still inside the royal residence.
No matter how dire the circumstances, she could not disobey a royal command. Claire bowed deeply and rushed out into the hallway.
Chaos reigned everywhere.
Emperor Kroel continued monitoring the situation from the window.
Velbrok and Lucy Mayreel exchanged relentless attacks. It was a spectacle that left even imperial magicians awestruck.
Velbrok, still partially restrained by its seal, attempted to overwhelm Lucy. The aftermath of their battle scarred the island with widespread destruction.
Lucy deflected another blast of Velbrok's magic power, sending it toward the cliffs.
The resulting shockwave—
—slammed into the towering spire at the center of Silvenia Academy.
Boooom.
***
From far away, the sight forced one to squeeze their eyes shut.
The central spire of Silvenia Academy had collapsed.
The massive structure, visible from anywhere on Acken Island, shattered at its upper levels. Brick and debris rained down across the plaza below.
The central square had been crowded with outsiders.
Hundreds were injured. Dozens were dead.
Given the chaos, proper medical aid was impossible. Most of the wounded would not survive.
Emperor Kroel shut his eyes tightly and clenched his teeth, but he could not afford to lose composure.
"Where are the men I summoned?!"
With no other choice, he began issuing orders to servants, instructing them to assist survivors in the central and student squares and guide them to the safest locations on the island.
Places protected by large-scale defensive magic, underground shelters, or—
Grrrrrrrrrrr.
"Wh-What is that…?"
The situation deteriorated further.
A massive magic circle spread across the sky above Acken Island. It was not Lucy Mayreel's elemental magic—it was unmistakably Velbrok's dragon-type magic.
A sickening dark-red aura filled the heavens.
Then, the unimaginable occurred.
Boooooom!
Boooooooom!
It was like the gates of hell had opened.
Historically, dragons were followed by countless monsters.
Normally, this would not have been possible for Velbrok, which had remained sealed for centuries. It had only just begun to awaken and should not have had time to command followers.
However, monsters poured forth from the dark fog engulfing the island.
The reason was clear.
Velbrok had been sealed by Celestial Magic.
The monsters it once commanded had been sealed as well.
Now, after hundreds of years, they were free.
They rampaged across Acken Island.
They were buying time for Velbrok to completely break its seal. Once freed, it would not need monsters at all—the island would be annihilated in a single strike.
Until then, it used its followers to spread chaos.
Monsters descended from the sky. Some cushioned their falls with magic. Others survived through sheer physical resilience. Some died on impact—only to rise again as undead.
Giant bats. Cyclopes. Gremlins. Undead wolves. Monstrous beasts.
Some hunted in packs. Others required dozens of knights to defeat.
"Th-This… is unbelievable…!"
"Kyaaaaaak!"
Clang!
"Kaaaahk! My arm! My arm!"
Screams echoed through the royal residence as monsters crashed inside.
"…What… is happening…? Out of my way…!"
Emperor Kroel pushed Penia aside and burst into the hallway.
Through the shattered window, he saw the inner garden.
And then—
—he made eye contact.
Even from the third floor, he did not need to look down.
It had only one eye.
The massive cyclops grinned grotesquely at the emperor.
Emperor Kroel felt his skin crawl.
Before he could speak, an imperial knight smashed through the window and plunged his blade into the giant's eye.
Stab!
Eeeeeghk!
The cyclops screamed and toppled backward, crashing into the servants' annex and destroying it completely.
The knight who made the attack would not survive the fall.
But the crisis continued.
Another window shattered as four gremlins burst inside, followed by two giant bats.
Crash!
Kaaaaaw!
Before they could advance, Princess Penia unleashed her magic.
Water Ball. Water Prison.
Water encircled the monsters, attempting to drown them—but her magic power was insufficient to restrain so many at once.
Cold sweat drenched her as she cried out.
"Father! I can't hold them much longer!"
"Your Majesty! Please return to your room!"
Claire returned with troops and cut down the gremlins alongside the soldiers. Blood splattered as she issued rapid orders.
She escorted the emperor and princess back into their room, barricading the door with furniture.
"The entire area is overrun. Until reinforcements arrive, you must remain here."
"The royal residence is on the outskirts. If even this place has fallen into chaos, then the academy itself must be a massacre."
"The professors, combat students, Elte Company mercenaries, and Telos guards will hold the line. For now, you must stay here."
"But the damage…"
Claire pointed toward the window.
Monsters swarmed the grounds, tearing humans apart.
"Why… is this happening…?"
"The Imperial Guards' priority is your safety. Please—make it your priority as well."
She extinguished the lights and covered the windows.
Emperor Kroel broke into a cold sweat. Penia's fingers trembled.
Then—
"Selah…!"
There were three princesses on Acken Island.
Selah had gone to the student square.
Unprotected.
"My daughter Selah… She went to the education district…!"
Claire's expression hardened.
"I will form a recovery unit and retrieve Princess Selah."
She began to leave—
Splatter!
A tentacle pierced her chest.
"K-Keuk…!"
A lone giant bat had slaughtered seven soldiers.
Claire collapsed as it peered through the door.
Princess Penia bit her lip.
The bat was already forcing its way in.
Crash!!
The door shattered.
***
Two magic-infused arrows pierced the Undead Wolf's chest.
Keeeek!
It collapsed, shrieking as blood sprayed across the marble floor.
Awooooo!
Merilda unleashed Tempest Blade.
The advanced wind magic shredded the undead wolves along the road.
[There are too many! At this rate, when will we reach Trix Hall?!]
I checked her magic reserves—strong, but inefficient.
We pressed onward.
"Keep clearing the way. We need to reach Trix Hall quickly."
[Understood! More incoming!]
Gremlins surged forward—
Bang.
They were launched away by a single punch.
Daike Elpelan stood there, fists dripping with blood.
"What are you doing here, Ed Rothstaylor?"
"I'm heading to Trix Hall."
"Then go."
He looked at the sky.
"If you're going to fix this… don't die."
"Of course."
I mounted Merilda.
The road ahead was still long.
-x-X-x-
Keeeeeeek!
The problem wouldn't stop unless it was cut off at its source.
In the first place, the summoning of Velbrok's monsters wasn't something I could stop directly. When Taylee McLaure tried to climb up its scales and drive his sword through its heart… that had been a defensive attack pattern meant to stop him from doing so.
There was only one way to stop the monsters from being summoned.
Rather than killing them all off, we had to defeat Velbrok itself. Only then would it fall and bring all of the monsters down with it.
In other words, killing the monsters was an endless task that would not stop the calamity.
The calamity would only end once Velbrok—flying through the sky and straining against its chains—was defeated.
Whoosh!
Wind Blade cut through the monsters on our way to Trix Hall.
I was worried, since I was using more magic power than I had anticipated, but the most important thing was to clear the path.
The hill leading to Trix Hall. As we proceeded up the road, cutting down all of the gremlins that stood in our way, my school uniform became completely stained with the monsters' dark red blood.
However, there weren't any injuries on my body. Since my combat abilities weren't impaired, it was manageable.
After climbing the small hill, I got off Merilda's back and ran up the wooden stairs. It didn't take long to reach Trix Hall.
[…It seems there was a major battle here as well.]
Merilda returned to human form as she landed on the ground, frowning as she looked at Trix Hall.
Trix Hall had always stood tall, looking prestigious and imposing. Now, however, the right side of the building and the roof were destroyed.
The road leading to the lobby was completely covered in monster blood and corpses.
No matter how many monsters there were, it should have been impossible for them to make their way into Trix Hall and past all of the core faculty members of Silvenia Academy.
I sprinted past the corpses and entered through the large glass doors.
I'd been to the massive lobby on the first floor of Trix Hall several times. However, it was completely different from the usual scene of faculty members and visitors busily walking around.
Broken glass was scattered everywhere. Shattered chairs and other pieces of furniture lay across the floor, making the place look like a ruin.
By the counter, several faculty members lay unconscious. Some appeared to have lost their lives due to severe bleeding.
They must have been unable to escape when the monsters swarmed in. Even if the place was guarded by Silvenia's core faculty, that didn't mean they were immune to casualties. The monster attack had been too sudden.
[…It's quiet.]
"Ayla and Taylee went to look for the Sage's Seal, so they're probably on a higher floor."
I continued moving quickly while examining the traces of battle.
Along the wall were marks left by a massive sword attack. It was clearly a swordmaster's technique. That meant Taylee had been there, fighting the monsters.
However, something felt off.
Where did all of the faculty members go?
Trix Hall was the main faculty building, yet I hadn't seen a single active faculty member. At most, there were a few corpses bearing signs of monster attacks.
I quickly climbed the stairs, ran through the second-floor hallway, then searched the third floor. Still, there wasn't a single person in sight.
It was unnatural for there to be no one left in Silvenia Academy's main faculty building.
However, when I reached the fourth floor—
Boom!
I finally found someone.
The fourth floor of Trix Hall housed the offices and conference rooms. Near the main conference room, someone had stumbled out into the hallway.
They were staggering while clutching their side, clearly gravely injured. Blood seeped through their fingers.
Was it Velbrok's magic? Or a monster attack?
I ran down the hallway to help. Either way, I had many questions about what had happened.
"K-Keuk… A student? What are you doing here… in this situation…?"
When I got closer, I immediately recognized her.
Her white hair was neatly tied, wrinkles lined her forehead, and her sharp eyes reflected both age and authority.
It was Deputy Headmistress Rachel Thyslin.
"Deputy Headmistress. How did you get hurt this badly?"
"You're… the third-year top student, Ed Rothstaylor… Keuk…"
She recognized me immediately, then glanced behind me as if something were chasing her.
"The situation outside… can you report it to me?"
"There's not much to say. It's exactly as you think. Right now, they're forming several safe areas centered around influential students."
"I see… The supply room… We need to go there now… immediately…!"
Deputy Headmistress Rachel quickened her pace. There was no way she would recklessly push herself, so I supported her as we hurried toward the supply room at the corner of the fourth floor.
It wasn't far.
"What happened in Trix Hall? Without orders from the heads of the school, the students and faculty outside don't know what to do."
"We were in a meeting in the conference room, trying to establish a course of action. But… in the middle of it… they broke in…"
"They? Who are you talking about?"
"I… I could hardly believe it myself…"
Was it a monster?
No matter how powerful a monster was, it should have been killed immediately if it broke into a conference room filled with Silvenia Academy's top executives and faculty.
After all, the senior faculty were among the strongest individuals in the academy.
"We were all defeated. Head Dean McDowell, Combat Department Dean Stan, Alchemy Department Dean Edelweiss, Senior Professor of Monster Ecology Flubin, Senior Swordsman Instructor Floun, Senior Spiritual Studies Professor Melina… none of them can move. And Headmaster Obel… he was probably the first…"
"Even Headmaster Obel… was defeated?"
At that moment, an enormous surge of magic power erupted from the conference room she had fled from.
The magic behind us was not only overwhelming in quantity but also unique in nature.
Dark red magic power flooded the area.
It wasn't the kind used for ordinary magic. It was a special type—known as Celestial Magic Power.
And the amount was abnormal.
Even Professor Glast, who was said to have reached the furthest depths of Celestial Magic, had never exerted such a vast, concentrated quantity. It exceeded what was needed even for advanced spells and spread across the entirety of Trix Hall's fourth floor.
Before I could react, Deputy Headmistress Rachel grabbed my arm and pulled me aside.
She flung open the door to the storage room and shoved me inside.
Caught off guard, I turned to ask what she was doing, but she slammed the door shut and engraved a magic circle onto the handle, locking it in place.
She then layered camouflage magic over the door, making it blend seamlessly with the surrounding wall.
Inside the storage room was a small glass window that allowed a view of the hallway. Deputy Headmistress Rachel concentrated as she gathered her magic power. From the outside, the door became completely invisible.
At first, I wondered why she had locked me inside. If I wanted to, I could easily break through a door like that.
But as I watched her cast camouflage magic, I realized that doing so would be a mistake.
She hadn't locked me in.
She was hiding me.
But hiding me from what?
"What the hell is—"
"Shh…!"
There were other people inside the storage room.
As my eyes adjusted to the darkness, I took in the scene and swallowed hard.
Between the dusty shelves filled with school supplies were multiple students in uniform, hiding.
They must have been student assistants assigned to Trix Hall. It seemed the faculty had hidden them here first.
About a dozen students were trembling or crying quietly. One of them raised her index finger to her lips, signaling me to stay silent.
I knew her.
"Ayla…!"
"You have to hide, Ed."
She pulled me into a corner of the room.
Ayla was clutching the Sage's Seal she had been desperate to read. I didn't know how she managed it, but she had taken advantage of the chaos to steal it from within Trix Hall.
And at the very back of the storage room—
Taylee, whom I had been searching for, was leaning against the wall.
He had been here the whole time.
The key to ending this calmly—Swordmaster Taylee McLaure.
"Taylee McLaure."
"Ed Rothstaylor… what… are you doing here…?"
He was breathing heavily, his back pressed against the wall. He looked seriously injured.
Had he been wounded while fighting the monsters?
Ayla was tending to him, frowning as she covered his wounds.
"You're injured…"
That was bad.
Taylee should have been cutting out Velbrok's heart at that moment. Seeing him in this condition was a serious problem.
"A wound like this… is nothing… but…"
Boom!
Another explosion echoed through the building.
Explosions had been constant across Acken Island due to Velbrok's rampage, but this one was dangerously close—definitely from the same building, on the same floor.
"Right now, in Trix Hall… there's a monster. It's different from normal ones… something… impossible to deal with…"
"A monster?"
"Ed."
Before Taylee could continue, Ayla raised her head and called my name.
She lifted the Sage's Seal and said, "There's something I need to ask you."
***
In front of the storage room, Deputy Headmistress Rachel finished casting her camouflage magic and took a deep breath.
After carefully confirming that it was functioning properly, she slowly closed her eyes.
A monster was emerging from the conference room.
Although it looked human, it was a beast devoid of intellect—incapable of communication and devoid of reason.
And worst of all, it was incredibly strong.
Rachel prayed to God.
She prayed that, at the very least, the monster wouldn't notice the camouflage magic on the storage room door.
Everything had happened too quickly.
From Velbrok's sudden resurgence to the collapse of Mexes Bridge, an unprecedented calamity had struck Silvenia. The senior faculty had rushed to the conference room to determine a response.
Then, a blinding light filled the room.
When their vision returned, a human stood in the center of the conference room.
They had landed elegantly, like a fairy descending from the sky.
Their face was hidden beneath a robe and hood engraved with magnificent patterns. The robe, however, was frayed in several places, as if it had been worn for a long time.
They were smaller than expected, holding a massive wooden wand nearly as tall as their body.
From the pale skin visible beneath the hood and the slender hand gripping the wand, it was clear—
It was a young girl.
The staff froze, unable to react to her sudden appearance.
Then she spoke, her voice elegant and graceful.
"Oh my goodness."
Her tone was as casual as if she had discovered pests that needed extermination.
"There are quite a few 'variables' here."
An indescribable fear spread through the room.
The girl waved her hand lightly, as if brushing away a mosquito.
In an instant, half the people in the room began to bleed.
There had been no warning. The speed of her attack was beyond what anyone could respond to.
By the time they realized she had used curse magic, half of their manpower was already incapacitated.
The girl stood calmly in the center of the conference room. Her eyes, hidden beneath the hood's shadow, were empty.
Rachel, who met her gaze, understood instinctively.
Those were the eyes of a madwoman.
The eyes of someone who had been trapped for an unbearably long time—and had finally lost her mind.
Rachel stood up at once, demanding to know who she was.
Kaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!
Velbrok's scream tore through the skies above Acken Island once more, like metal scraping against metal.
The girl turned her head toward the window, gazing upon the unfolding disaster.
The Holy Blue Dragon roared through the sky. Monsters swarmed the ground. People were being massacred. Forests burned, and school buildings collapsed.
At the sight—
The girl raised her voice.
"Kaha."
"Kahaha! Kahahaha! Kahahahaha!"
She burst into grotesque, unsettling laughter.
Her body twisted unnaturally as she bent over laughing, the sight alone enough to paralyze anyone with fear.
Rachel gathered her magic power, frowning.
Then, as the remaining uninjured professors stood to subdue the girl—
…in the blink of an eye, the conference room was drenched in blood.
The girl took less than ten seconds to annihilate every veteran professor in the empire.
***
Ayla turned to the final page of the Sage's Seal.
She lifted the book and showed it to Ed.
Unlike the other neatly written passages, a hastily added message was written there.
It had been scribbled with a quill, but the handwriting was unmistakably Silvenia's.
If it were simply related to her research, she could have added it later.
But this message felt different.
As if she had suddenly thought of the distant future, Silvenia had hurriedly written one final note—one not related to the book's contents, but seemingly addressed to someone in particular.
No one knew why she wrote it, or to whom it was addressed.
Ayla had no way of knowing why Silvenia felt compelled to leave such a message.
After all, Ayla couldn't decipher the book itself.
Still, for Silvenia—who worked with careful logic and efficiency—it was strange to leave such an emotional message at the end.
It might have been connected to the Holy Blue Dragon now throwing Acken Island into chaos.
That was why, despite the urgency of the situation, Ayla asked Ed—since he could use Celestial Magic, perhaps he knew something.
"Can you read this?" Ayla asked.
Ed was left speechless.
"This…"
Silvenia Robester had begun her life as a linguist, born into a family of translators.
Ancient runes, non-human languages, the Empire's official tongues, northern and eastern continental languages, even minor tribal dialects—to her, learning a language was no different from redefining a set of rules.
No matter how unfamiliar it was at first, her exceptional mind allowed her to master it quickly.
So for someone who had reached the pinnacle of Celestial Magic—magic that twisted the world's providence—
Just how much had she seen?
By increasing the amount of magic she wielded, what kinds of worlds had she observed?
The answer lay in the language she had chosen for the final message in the Sage's Seal.
"This… is Korean…"
"What?"
The Sage's Seal was a legendary magic book that had yet to be fully deciphered.
So the obscure message on its final page hadn't drawn much attention—it seemed no different from the many passages that remained untranslated.
Ed took the book from Ayla and began to read Silvenia's message.
***
[To you who survived.
Your life of solitude and death—I know it better than anyone.
I know your dark past, where you turned away from reality, lived under the starlight, drank alone, and remembered comrades who have already left.
I know that my arbitrary actions will cause you great pain and hardship.
And yet, I have no choice but to bow my head and ask this of you.
The deeper I reach into Celestial Magic Power, which erodes my mind, the more clearly I see the truth.
There are many days when I feel madness gnawing at my heart, whispering darkness into my ears.
Still, I cannot abandon Celestial Magic… because I cannot accept a future of endless darkness.
I believe there is a future beyond the cliff.
I believe that as long as we continue to survive, we can overcome it.
However, if I cannot endure until that end…
If I am consumed by madness and become someone who can no longer see the future…]
Boom!
Through the storage room's window, Deputy Headmistress Rachel was sent flying by Celestial Magic. She bled profusely before collapsing.
Then, a girl in a robe appeared in the hallway.
White hair spilled over her shoulders, her hood lowered.
In portraits, her hair was always neatly tied. Now, it was completely disheveled.
She laughed strangely, the corners of her lips stretching up her bloodstained cheeks. Her empty gaze made one's skin crawl.
[If that happens, please kill me. For the sake of your survival.]
After reading the final line, I slowly turned my head toward the storage room window.
The girl standing there…
Looked exactly like Merilda.
Kaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!
The Holy Blue Dragon roared once more over Acken Island.
The disaster was still ongoing, but—
It was very different from anything I had experienced before.
-x-X-x-
I was expecting things not to go as planned.
That was why, even when Velbrok suddenly began descending and plunged the entire island into chaos, I was still able to move quickly and make rational judgments.
The fact that the flow of
I had always managed to overcome it.
When Yennekar Palerover was taken over by Velosper a month early. When Lortel Kehelland was nearly ruined by Elte Kehelland. When Lucy Mayreel didn't fall into darkness and despair, and Saint Clarice didn't fall into distrust as planned. Even when Krepin unexpectedly summoned Mebula during the gathering at the Rothstaylor Estate…
Each time, I somehow survived by making the optimal decisions for the situation.
However, the reason I had been able to deal with every sudden crisis… was because the enemy itself hadn't changed.
Because I knew what target needed to be defeated and how to do it, I could make proper preparations in advance.
But the enemy before me, visible through the storage room window… transcended such rules.
The Great Sage Silvenia Robester.
Said to be the greatest genius in all of human history, she had left behind countless research papers on magic and an extraordinary list of achievements. She was the founder of Silvenia Academy and a master of Celestial Magic.
And… a person from the distant past.
She was someone who should not have existed in the present.
According to
And… she was also the one who had maintained Velbrok's seal deep beneath the sea below Acken Island.
I checked the message written with a quill once more. Though it had clearly been written in haste, it was unmistakably addressed to me and no one else.
Silvenia Robester was aware of my existence.
Not only that… it was Silvenia Robester herself who had summoned me to this world.
Why would she go out of her way to leave a message on the Sage's Seal?
If she had summoned me herself, shouldn't she have appeared before me and given an explanation directly?
"Could… she not find me…?"
Several possibilities came to mind.
"Or… did something major happen to her… for example…"
I looked out at Silvenia through the storage room window.
She wore a glamorous robe, her hair loose, standing in a hallway lined with shattered windows.
Outside, the scene resembled the end of the world—Velbrok rampaging while Lucy bombarded it with advanced magic.
Against that backdrop, Silvenia let out a bizarre laugh.
At a glance, it was obvious that she was completely different from the image of the Great Sage Silvenia passed down through history.
As she laughed in a state of madness, Deputy Headmistress Rachel—who had been thrown against the wall—looked up at her with wide eyes.
At that moment, the identity of the girl who had suddenly invaded Trix Hall and subdued the administration and senior professors was beginning to surface.
It wasn't easy to recognize her at first glance.
She looked nothing like the historical depictions, and given that she came from the distant past, it would have been unreasonable to expect immediate recognition.
"You are…"
As her consciousness faded, Rachel tried to speak—but Silvenia's expression suddenly darkened.
She had been laughing hysterically only moments ago, yet now her face was eerily devoid of emotion.
"You've struggled enough."
She spoke without a smile, and the abrupt shift made Rachel's skin crawl.
"You can rest now."
Silvenia cast the intermediate ice spell Ice Spear, sending two spears straight through Rachel's heart.
With that, the last person who held authority over all final decisions within Silvenia Academy died.
Silence filled the hallway.
Only Velbrok's distant roars, the sounds of battle throughout the campus, and the monsters pouring from magic circles could be heard.
In the middle of the hallway, Silvenia burst into mad laughter. When it finally subsided, her solemn expression returned.
She slowly scanned her surroundings, as though considering whether Trix Hall had been fully cleared.
All the students hiding in the storage room held their breath.
One student crouched beneath a shelf, dust clinging to their body, their mouth tightly covered to stifle their screams.
Even Taylee, leaning against the wall and pressing on his wound, endured the pain in silence. Ayla stayed close to him, repeatedly swallowing her dry saliva.
Other students from the combat and alchemy departments were also hiding, watching Silvenia through the storage room window.
Silvenia… began walking slowly down the hallway.
She glanced out a window before abruptly turning her head toward the storage room door.
Thanks to Rachel's last-minute camouflage magic, the door appeared to be nothing more than a solid wall.
However… Silvenia Robester was someone who had reached heights in magic unmatched in all of history.
Lowering her head, she twisted her body grotesquely as she approached the door.
Staggering closer, she pressed her forehead against the glass window.
As the cold surface touched her skin, the corners of her lips curled upward.
Her eerie gaze, visible through her disheveled bangs and bulging veins, sent chills down my spine.
She had become the Great Sage of Madness, an embodiment of death itself.
Smiling at the wall, she spoke.
"What do we have here?"
"Everyone, get down!!!"
Boom!!
Before Silvenia could act, I raised my hand and gathered my magic, casting the intermediate spell Point Explosion at the entrance.
The other students were within range since I had to cast it at close proximity, but there was no time to hesitate. If I did nothing, we would all die.
"Kyaaaaak!!"
Ayla screamed, covering her head, while Taylee gripped her shoulders tightly.
The other students braced themselves, preparing to be caught in the blast.
Yet… there was no explosion.
Whoosh!
The spell was instantly devoured by Celestial Magic, vanishing as though swallowed by a black hole.
Advanced Celestial Magic—Extinction.
A spell that erased the very existence of anything containing magic.
Celestial Magic did not physically exist, could not be intercepted, and had no means of neutralization.
According to the laws of the world, the area should have been engulfed in heat and devastation—but Silvenia's magic completely eliminated my attack.
Still, the impact shattered the entrance, creating an opening for her to enter—though she could have destroyed it herself regardless.
"There you are."
The students in the room recoiled, swallowing their breath.
"You little rats… running off and hiding from me. Just in case… I suppose I should remove these 'variables' as well."
The magic radiating from Silvenia was overwhelming.
Her lips curled upward as though she were savoring some twisted ecstasy.
Before she could act, I gathered my magic again and cast Point Explosion—this time toward the inner wall on the opposite side.
Boom!!!
The wall collapsed, opening a massive hole leading outside. Wind rushed in, flapping my collar.
"Everyone, jump!"
I shouted, grabbing Taylee by the collar. He grimaced in pain, but I threw him through the opening regardless.
We were four stories up. Serious injury would have been expected, but I cast wind magic, allowing him to land safely.
The other students screamed as they followed.
Fear made them hesitate—jumping from the fourth floor was no simple task—but Silvenia approaching them was far worse.
I cast wind magic on each of them as they jumped. They landed roughly, but none suffered fatal injuries.
"..."
Silvenia, of course, did not stand idle.
With a single sweep of her arm, a wave of magic filled the storage room.
Protecting Ayla, who had yet to escape, I leapt through the hole.
Boom!!!
A massive explosion consumed the storage room behind us.
It took Silvenia less than a second to cast.
It was absurd—such power, unleashed in an instant.
The entire fourth floor of Trix Hall was obliterated. Debris rained down onto the front courtyard.
Crash! Crash!
"Kyaaaaaaak!"
Several students were struck, suffering severe injuries, though most managed to dodge or defend themselves.
Everyone fled from Trix Hall, looking up in terror.
Trix Hall was in ruins.
Debris floated in the air, suspended by Silvenia's magic.
Countless magic circles filled the sky—most belonging to Velbrok, continuously releasing monsters.
Standing atop what had once been the fourth floor, now a rooftop, Silvenia gazed down upon the world as battle and explosions echoed across the academy.
***
"Kyaaak!"
"Save me…! I don't want to die! Please, I don't want to die…!"
"Run! Everyone, run! You'll die if you stay here!"
The students who escaped the storage room fled down the hill. Some sprinted; others limped, wounded but desperate.
Even injured, running was the only option. Encountering a monster would mean death.
Their best chance would have been to flee together, but chaos ruled.
They scattered in every direction.
"K-Keuk…! Th-That…!"
Taylee stood, clutching his wound, staring up at Trix Hall.
Anyone with sense could tell.
That was not an opponent to fight—it was something to flee from.
Yet Taylee McLaure drew his sword. Injured, trembling, he still prepared to face her.
That was who he was. No matter the trial, he always charged forward.
But there was a line between courage and foolishness.
I might not have the right to stop someone from choosing such a death—but I at least had to save Taylee.
I gathered magic from my entire body and manifested Merilda. Summoning a high-ranking spirit strained me heavily, but there was no time to worry about that.
Whoooooosh…!
Yet despite pouring magic into it, Merilda resisted.
I frowned, looking at her incomplete form.
She wasn't a wolf. She stood in her usual human shape, neat white hair flowing as she stared at Trix Hall.
"Hey, Merilda!"
I rushed to her, grabbed her shoulder, and forced her gaze to meet mine.
"Get a hold of yourself! We'll die if you hesitate even for a moment!"
[U-Uhm… B-But… that's…]
I knew Silvenia had once been her closest friend. Merilda, who had lived for ages and observed the world carefree, couldn't help but panic.
But there was no time.
"Look at her, Merilda. Does she look sane to you?"
I tightened my grip, breathing deeply as I tried to stay calm.
Students fled in disarray. If they continued like this, they would be slaughtered by monsters. Those who tried to fight Silvenia stood no chance either.
[I want to talk to her.]
Merilda spoke quietly, her tone calmer.
[I need to know what happened to her…]
It made no sense.
Even if they had once been close, Silvenia didn't appear to recognize Merilda at all.
There was no way she wouldn't sense Merilda's magic if she were still herself.
An ominous feeling settled in my chest.
"If you act recklessly, she'll kill you instantly. She has that power."
Regardless of recognition, Silvenia would react to any sudden movement.
Merilda met my gaze, closed her eyes, and nodded.
I understood how she felt—but this was an emergency.
Silvenia gently raised her massive staff.
A torrent of magic surged skyward, covering all of Acken Island. I had no idea what she intended to do. There was no precedent, no information to rely on.
The only certainty was that we couldn't stay still.
"Run."
My arm was scraped, my wrist stained with blood, but I could still move.
Taylee stared at me, eyes wide.
"What did you say…?"
"I'll find a way to buy time against that thing. You go to the education district and figure out how to destroy that dragon in the sky. Gather your allies and make a plan."
"But… that magician… how are you going to—? Do you have a plan?"
"I don't."
She wasn't an enemy anyone could defeat alone.
Even with every force on Acken Island, victory was uncertain.
But Taylee could defeat Velbrok.
And the fortunate thing was… Velbrok hadn't fully broken free yet.
I didn't know why it was still partially sealed while Silvenia ran rampant—but that delay was our chance.
Taylee had learned the sword technique needed to cut through Velbrok's heart. By my calculations, he had the necessary specs.
While Velbrok was partially sealed, it was possible.
Meanwhile, I had to face Silvenia.
I had no idea how.
From this point on, everything recorded in
Everything beyond that was unknown—including why the Great Sage had returned.
And that was only natural.
Life was full of the unknown.
Until now, knowing the future had allowed me to survive—but that wasn't how life truly worked.
No matter how high the wall, you had to break through it yourself.
That was life.
"Gather as many party members as you can and subjugate Velbrok."
"Ed Rothstaylor…"
Taylee lowered his sword, staring at me.
"No. That's not something you can handle alone. We may not get along, but this isn't right."
"Stop talking and go. We don't have time to argue."
Of course, Taylee wasn't going to run.
So… I turned to Ayla instead.
She understood immediately.
When I glared at her, she shut her eyes tightly, grabbed Taylee's arm, and pulled him away.
"Taylee! You have to go!"
"A-Ayla…!"
"Hurry! Defeating Velbrok… you're the only one who can do it!"
"But how can I leave him with that monster?! Rival or not, I can't leave him to die!"
"You're not leaving him to die!"
Ayla yanked him forward.
"Ed is doing his best to survive too! You need to trust that!"
"What…?"
"Stop hesitating and go! There's no time!"
As Ayla dragged Taylee away, he glanced back at me.
I understood his hesitation—but he had to go.
Magic surged through my body.
Activating various magic tools, I waved my hand, forcing them away.
"..."
Taylee clenched his teeth and ran.
Ayla nodded to me before chasing after him toward the education district.
At least with her there, he wouldn't lose his way.
That alone gave me some comfort.
I pressed my palms to my face, inhaled deeply, swept my bangs back, and looked up at Trix Hall.
Silvenia stood alone, unfazed by the fleeing crowd.
She lowered her staff, gathering immense magic.
My chances of winning were nonexistent.
Still, I stood my ground.
Because I had to fight.
And that was reason enough.
-x-X-x-
"I don't know why I have to live."
The boy was named Glockt.
A boy barely over ten years old had been able to meet and speak with the Great Sage Silvenia Robester… all because he had inherited the blood of the adventurer Dalex Elderbane.
The emperor had allowed Silvenia to meet people from all walks of life across the empire. He was convinced that if he could broaden Silvenia's perspective, she would go on to create even more magical innovations that would benefit the world.
The emperor was right. Compared to when she had remained in her laboratory at the Lily Palace, her knowledge expanded more rapidly than ever.
In the process, she met Glockt—a boy with messy hair and hollow eyes.
Silvenia could never forget the empty gaze of the boy who sat quietly, staring back at her without expression.
His father, the adventurer Dalex, had died just a month earlier while exploring the far eastern lands. Glockt's mother had died on the day he was born. As a result, he was, by all accounts, an orphan.
Glockt, now without family, requested a private conversation with the famous Great Sage Silvenia.
In honor of his father, Dalex Elderbane, the emperor granted his wish. On the day he finally met Silvenia, the words spoken by that absent-minded boy were far too heavy for someone his age.
"I was born with a horrendously weak body. I obviously have no talent in magic that would allow me into the magic towers. I'm not particularly smart, either. I'm not sociable and have trouble talking with other people. I have no close friends, and my family has all passed away."
"..."
"If I continue to live, I doubt I'll ever see any light at the end of the tunnel. There are no clear goals for me. I don't think I have anything I can call a dream, either. Nor do I think I ever will. I'm convinced that my life will never get any better."
There was certainty in the boy's eyes. Because he was the one living his own life, he understood its value—or lack thereof—better than anyone else.
"I don't know what happiness is."
"What are you saying?"
"You never know. Even though I am stupid and incapable of doing anything, if I continue to live… I might somehow make it through. If I'm lucky, I might even become successful. But… even so… in the end, I'm just going to die alone. In an empty place, with nothing by my side, I'll sit there alone and die. After all of that… in the end, I'll be just as I started… empty and alone…"
It was a feeling everyone experienced at some point.
There came a moment when a person realized that if their life continued as it was, there was no point in going on—because it would never get any better.
To some, the peak of one's life might seem clearly defined. But when you began to realize that even such a peak might not be high enough to deserve that name…
That was when you truly began to understand emptiness.
What was the point of continuing to live such a miserable life?
A life where something extraordinary happened and everything miraculously turned around—that was nothing more than a fairytale.
Ninety-nine percent of those who lived such miserable lives were destined to meet miserable ends.
In fairytales, misfortune was merely an ordeal meant to be overcome.
In such stories, misfortune existed solely to be conquered. The protagonist always overcame it and moved toward the bright future awaiting them.
But in reality, misfortune was simply misfortune.
That was reality. Just as hands and feet were attached to the body, misfortune clung to people throughout their entire lives.
It was not an ordeal that guaranteed a happy ending once overcome, nor was it nourishment for the soul that would help one grow.
In reality, no one was the protagonist.
For those who were not protagonists, misfortune was nothing more than misfortune.
"Since I heard you are the wisest person in the world, I wanted to ask you."
Then he asked Silvenia, his eyes hollow.
"Do I really have to live such a life until the very end, even when I can't see a bright future ahead of me? Just… what is the point?"
When life was nothing but an endless struggle, was there any point in living?
It was a completely unexpected question to come from the mouth of a ten-year-old boy.
As for how Silvenia responded… she could no longer remember.
***
To deal with an opponent who held an absolute advantage, you had to use any means available.
The first thing I needed to do was move to another location. Remaining in an open area against such overwhelming power was suicidal. I needed to shift the battlefield to somewhere I could use the terrain to my advantage.
After deciding on that course of action, I pulled several smokescreen generators from my pocket and scattered them across the ground.
Whoosh!
Boooooooom!
Velbrok's breath tore through the night sky. While its massive roar, filled with overwhelming magic power, echoed across the island, I sprinted through the smokescreen.
I ran back toward Trix Hall, which I had vacated only moments earlier. If I remained in the wide-open front yard, I would be forced to endure every attack directly. Inside Trix Hall, I could use the walls and doors as blind spots.
As if Silvenia had anticipated my movement, she fired dozens of magic bullets at me with a single swipe of her hand.
From her perspective, it was nothing more than a casual, disposable attack—utterly insignificant.
Yet those dozens of bullets, each powerful enough to obliterate a human body, came hurtling toward me with that single motion. I narrowly avoided the ones aimed directly at me and leapt into the lobby of Trix Hall.
Boom! Crash! Smash!
The entrance collapsed behind me.
Rubble poured down onto the floor where I had been standing moments earlier.
The lobby of Trix Hall was wide and exposed. It would be better to escape into a hallway on the second or third floor, draw her attention, and buy time.
However, just as I was about to run toward the stairs—
Boom!
The roof was sliced apart like tofu.
Silvenia, who had been on the rooftop, smashed straight through the ceiling to the first floor with a single stomp.
Her robe fluttered as dust filled the air, yet the girl standing at the center of it all erased the aftermath instantly with one sweep of her massive wand.
Her movements suggested that the laws of physics simply did not apply to her.
Emerging from the dust, she bent forward like a corpse risen from the dead, grinning as she fixed me with an eerie stare.
"Brave. Brave. How brave."
Had she completely lost her reason?
"You didn't run away. Brave. Oh, so brave. Incredible. Even with the Holy Blue Dragon rampaging in the sky. Even as you watch me destroy buildings as if they are nothing, you still chose to face me head-on instead of running. Incredible. Incredibly brave. Amazing."
Her voice cracked and warped, yet she continued speaking without pause.
"When people like you gather, you can overcome any ordeal, no matter how great—even the Holy Blue Dragon that is being resurrected right now. Incredible. Because of people like you, with such incredible courage, the future continues. Yes. That's right. Incredible. Amazing. Brave. I'm surprised by brave individuals like you."
"..."
"That's why you must die."
The corners of her lips sank unnaturally, making it hard to believe she had been smiling just moments before.
"You need to die. Die. You can't exist. You're a variable. If you live, you will stop the Holy Blue Dragon from ending this useless world. You need to get out of our way. I will kill you quickly. Without pain. Like falling asleep… I will lay you to rest. So don't move. Don't resist. Listen to me. If you resist and fight back, I will have to kill you painfully."
"..."
"I will twist your neck. Crush your heart. Rip out your veins. Tear your intestines apart. Peel away your nails. Strip the skin from your face and burn the flesh. Sever your tongue, fingers, and ankles. Light a fire in your mouth until you beg me to kill you. Blood will flow like a river. Your exposed organs will spill onto the floor. It will hurt. It will hurt terribly. Kahah. Kahahaha."
She laughed eerily for a long moment before returning to that unsettlingly blank expression.
"That's why you should die peacefully. Let's all die peacefully together. Don't do anything unnecessary. Rather than falling into an endless void—wandering through infinite futures, consumed by endless fear—let's die here. Together. I will help you. I can help you."
"Silvenia Robester."
When I softly called her name, the girl who had been brushing dust from her robe twisted her neck grotesquely to look at me.
"What did you see?"
"I didn't see anything."
At that moment, blood dripped from her lips.
Looking closer, I realized she was biting them.
"I didn't see anything. There was nothing. The only thing I saw was endless darkness, stretching on forever."
"..."
"Hey. Have you ever absentmindedly stared at a dark mountain at night? Or looked out over a black sea? Have you ever gazed into an endless darkness with no end in sight? Have you?"
Silvenia spoke as if mad, her blood boiling. She was not someone who could be reasoned with.
Still, I managed to buy time to gather magic power. I focused, drawing together more than half of what remained.
"Fear of the dark is natural for humans. Having to traverse endless darkness forever… is far more painful than dying. More painful than having your fingers severed or your guts spilled out."
"..."
"But we can die far more comfortably than that."
Booooom!
Her Celestial Magic Power flooded the area once again. Though Trix Hall's lobby was large, the density of magic within it made breathing difficult.
Before Silvenia could act, I launched several magic power arrows toward her.
I never expected them to deal damage. I only hoped to distract her long enough to sprint for the stairs.
Silvenia didn't even attempt to defend herself. She cast no defensive spell at all.
The overwhelming magic power filling the space erased my arrows as if they had never existed.
All of that power then converged on me. Silvenia extended her hand and clenched her fist.
In that instant, I realized what spell she was casting.
Advanced Celestial Magic: Instant Death.
A close-range spell so irrational it would instantly kill any human.
The only requirement was that the target be human. Nothing more.
The spell had no physical form, and defensive magic was meaningless. If one was within range and the spell was cast properly, death was unavoidable.
It required a long casting time and an absurd amount of Celestial Magic Power—but for Silvenia, a pioneer of Celestial Magic, those requirements were trivial.
Even so, casting advanced Celestial Magic was no simple task. But ending everything with a single spell made it worthwhile.
She had too much to do. Too many variables existed in the world, all trying to stop Velbrok. She had no time for a prolonged battle with me.
However, I resisted.
The only way to oppose Celestial Magic was with Celestial Magic itself.
Given how rare it was, it was normally unthinkable. Unfortunately for her, I had learned it.
Clenching my teeth, I gathered Celestial Magic Power from within my body. It was pitiful compared to Silvenia's vast reserves, but it was enough to resist.
Intermediate Celestial Magic: Death Immunity.
I had not mastered it completely, but I could still invoke its basic effect.
Silvenia's overwhelming power made my veins bulge, blood stream from my nose, and my bones tremble as if they might shatter… but enduring it, I managed to survive.
Clang!
As my consciousness wavered, I poured the rest of my magic into a Wind Blade.
While Silvenia was focused on casting her advanced spell, my Wind Blade shot toward her.
She easily deflected it with a casual flick of her wand—but her pupils expanded.
"You aren't dead?"
Seizing that moment of shock, I sprinted up the stairs to the second floor of Trix Hall. My entire body felt on the verge of collapse.
"You aren't dead? How? How are you not dead? Why? You should have died peacefully… You could have died peacefully… You should have died! Why? Why? Why aren't you dead? You could have died peacefully, so why didn't you? Why? Why? Why?"
She repeated the same words again and again in her warped voice, twisting her head as she stared at me fleeing upward.
"It's fine. I will definitely kill you."
Another magic circle began to glow—
And Trix Hall was obliterated in an instant.
***
"Save me! Please save me! If we don't do something, we're all going to die! There are too many monsters falling from the sky!"
"President! What should we do now?! Should we escape to Obel Hall?! M-Mexes Bridge collapsed, so we can't escape…!"
"Everyone, calm down!"
In the student square, where the closing ceremony had been held, the remaining student council members worked desperately to gather survivors.
They had descended from the podium and constructed a temporary garrison using shattered stage equipment as barricades. Terror filled the air.
Fortunately, the student council president, Tanya Rothstaylor, still appeared composed.
"There's been no contact from the school, correct?"
"Yes. I believe Trix Hall was attacked. It will likely be difficult to receive any communication from them."
Ziggs, who had just returned from fighting at the northern entrance of the garrison, sat beside Tanya while wiping blood from his sword.
Since the chaos began, he had not stopped fighting even once. He was exhausted—but still dependable.
"This area isn't ideal. It would be better to take shelter in a building than to face monsters in an open space where they can attack from every direction. Of course, there's a risk of collapse, but it's still preferable to being surrounded."
"Considering all the students and visitors here, there are over two hundred people. Are there any buildings nearby that could house that many and still be defensible?"
"Obel Hall won't work. Glockt Hall seemed viable, but it collapsed earlier from a monster attack. It may be better to move toward the classrooms."
"Wouldn't moving toward the classrooms inevitably result in injuries?"
"It would. But even so, it's the correct decision."
Ziggs analyzed the situation calmly as he spoke.
The circumstances were desperate. Any hope of escaping without casualties had to be abandoned.
Everyone in the garrison was placing their lives in Tanya's hands.
The weight pressed heavily on her shoulders, yet she swallowed and forced herself to decide.
"If we move toward the classrooms while protecting as many as we can…"
"At least half will die. But if we stay here and wait to be surrounded, we'll all die."
Ziggs' sharp gaze never wavered. He was certain.
Kwaaaaaaang!
Velbrok roared again, its cry tearing through the sky. The light of magic pouring from its maw threatened to devour the world, but Lucy Mayreel deployed hundreds of magic circles, deflecting the attack toward the sea.
A colossal explosion erupted where the attack struck. Seawater surged upward and crashed across Acken Island like a storm.
Splash!
Tanya raised her arms to shield herself from the rain of seawater, gritting her teeth.
"Then tell everyone in the garrison to gather their belongings! Anyone who refuses will die! We're heading straight to the classrooms! They're close to the commercial district—if we're lucky, we might be able to join forces with Saint Clarice's garrison!"
"Should I alert the students near the combat department's training grounds? It'll take time, but I can take the risk."
"Over there… I'm sure Daike is handling it. We can't spare you right now. The combat department should be fine—let's move to the classrooms. Even if it's not safe, it's better than here."
"I understand."
Just as Ziggs replied and began to stand—
"President! Another survivor has arrived from the east entrance…!"
"We don't have time to meet them! Explain the situation while we evacuate! Right now, we need to prepare to leave—!"
Before the report could finish, Ziggs froze.
From a distance, he recognized the figures approaching.
"That's… Taylee? It's Taylee… Taylee's alive!"
"Z-Ziggs…"
Supported by Ayla, Taylee staggered forward, blood soaking his clothes.
Ziggs rushed over, supporting Taylee's collapsing body.
"Taylee! What happened?!"
"Trix Hall! Trix Hall has fallen, President!"
Tanya felt the air leave her lungs.
Trix Hall was effectively the heart of Silvenia Academy—the center from which all emergency measures were coordinated.
"Fallen? What do you mean? Was it attacked by monsters?"
"The Great Sage Silvenia… has returned. I know it sounds insane. I don't even understand it myself."
Ziggs' eyes widened. Nearby students stared in confusion.
"I know it sounds ridiculous! But the situation is desperate! You have to believe me! With that monster in the sky rampaging, nothing makes sense anymore! There's no time to convince you properly!"
"Then… Trix Hall…"
"She destroyed all of it. Ayla and I saw everything. And Ed Rothstaylor… he's there alone, stopping her… cough… cough…"
The surrounding students stared in disbelief.
Had Taylee McLaure lost his sanity? Was he hallucinating from stress?
"Please believe me. Right now… it's not just that monster in the sky. At Trix Hall… there's another one. I don't know why, but the Great Sage has gone mad and is slaughtering everyone she sees! If we can't stop them, it's over!"
Regardless of the truth, what Taylee said was devastating.
Whether delusion or reality, one fact remained—Trix Hall had fallen.
And Ed Rothstaylor was there alone.
"My older brother is at Trix Hall?"
"If we don't help him soon, he'll die! It's not something he can defeat! Even if we gathered all the power on the island, it wouldn't be enough!"
"But…"
Tanya hesitated.
Hundreds of lives rested on her shoulders. Abandoning the garrison to rush to Trix Hall would be tantamount to condemning them all.
If the student council president left, the consequences would be fatal.
Even a moment's hesitation risked dozens of deaths.
Tanya clenched her fists, trembling.
"More importantly, we have to deal with the Holy Blue Dragon, Taylee!"
Ayla raised her voice.
She had heard the full truth from Ed. She understood the gravity of the situation better than anyone.
"We have to gather every bit of strength we can and defeat Velbrok!"
"I-Is that even possible…?"
"Wh-What are they saying?!"
"How are we supposed to defeat that thing?! We need to escape!"
The garrison erupted in fearful voices. Still, Ayla stared straight at Tanya.
"President. We have to kill Velbrok now. If we can get Taylee close to its heart… he can cut it down."
Tanya swallowed hard as she looked at Taylee. He was injured, exhausted, barely standing.
Even as the pride of the combat department, it was difficult to believe he could defeat such a monster—especially when even Lucy Mayreel was struggling against it.
"Once the seal fully breaks, it's truly over. But right now, we might be able to reach its heart! If we just run away, people will keep dying!"
Ayla spoke desperately, fully aware of how reckless she sounded.
But she couldn't stay still. Taylee was the only one who could end the calamity.
Reason urged Tanya to reject the idea.
The rational choice was to bring Taylee and Ayla to the classrooms. Every capable fighter was precious. Having Taylee nearby would significantly increase their survival chances.
Yet the thought of Ed Rothstaylor troubled her.
He would never act without purpose.
To go to such lengths to save Taylee… it was as if her instincts were warning her.
Reason and intuition.
There came a time when a leader had to weigh both.
Neither could always be followed blindly.
The situation was dire.
A single mistake would cost lives.
Tanya closed her eyes tightly, then spoke.
"Ziggs. Go help Taylee."
"Wh-What…?"
Ziggs was the strongest fighter in the garrison. Sending him away endangered everyone—including Tanya herself.
"Join them and help find a way to resolve this. I'll stay here and lead the garrison."
"President, I can't agree. I need to stay here and—"
"I swear on House Rothstaylor that I will risk my life to protect Elka."
Tanya understood Ziggs' priorities.
Though a student council member, he was here primarily to protect Elka.
"I'm trusting my brother's judgment. That's why I need you to help them."
She said nothing more, meeting his gaze steadily.
There was no time to hesitate.
Ziggs exhaled, wiped his blade clean, and sheathed it.
He turned to Taylee.
"To get close to Velbrok, we need to withstand the magic surrounding its body. The closer you get, the stronger it becomes. Even reaching its heart won't matter if you can't endure that pressure."
Ayla felt a surge of relief hearing Ziggs speak calmly.
"Which is why we need a countermeasure. The most common solution… is a resistance reagent."
"The alchemy professors should be able to make one!"
"Unfortunately, we've lost contact with most of them, and Trix Hall has been destroyed."
Ziggs remained composed as he supported Taylee.
"But there are students—not just professors—who can make reagents. Elvira, for one. In fact, all top alchemy students should be capable."
"But… we don't know where she is…"
"Whether it's Elvira or another top student, we need to find them."
Ziggs turned to Tanya.
"I'll head to Ophelis Hall. It's under the management of Head Maid Bell Maya."
As dependable as ever, he spoke simply.
"Please survive."
Tanya nodded.
Ziggs ran.
***
People continued to die. By that point, counting the dead was impossible.
Velbrok roared endlessly in the sky, its presence plunging Acken Island into deeper chaos.
Its magic power was so immense that even Lucy Mayreel was struggling. Casting countless advanced spells simultaneously—something that would exhaust an ordinary mage after a single attempt—was astounding.
Floating above Acken Island, Lucy's clothes were torn and battered.
She pressed her hat down firmly as she faced Velbrok, which remained bound in chains.
A calamity rampaging as if determined to destroy the world.
The Holy Blue Dragon—the so-called god-eater—lived up to its name. It was an existence no human could handle alone.
No matter how powerful Lucy's magic was, it could not pierce Velbrok's scales. She clicked her tongue softly.
She was exhausted.
How many times had Lucy Mayreel ever felt exhausted in battle? Even against Mebula, she had only been mildly tired.
This was the first time in her life she had truly felt exhaustion.
Even so, she continued to gather magic power. Despite everything, her voice remained characteristically sleepy.
Kaaaaaaaaang!
The Holy Blue Dragon roared again, attempting to instill the fear of death.
"You seem rather angry."
She raised her arms, preparing to intercept its next attack. Brilliant magic power—like starlight drawn from the Milky Way—filled her vision.
"Come."
Because of Ed Rothstaylor's existence, the original story had twisted beyond recognition.
Yet among all the changes, the greatest variable—the one with the most overwhelming influence—
Was Lucy Mayreel.
The girl who faced the calamity alone, gazing down at the raging Holy Blue Dragon with a detached expression.
Amid the storm of magic and destruction, only the sound of her collar fluttering in the wind remained.