In fact, from the very beginning, Shi-en was not alone in confronting the enemy.
Among the group, the one that could be firmly called the weakest was none other than the Imperial Princess. Neither the Great Witch nor Elsi could have expected Shi-en to play a significant role in battle.
They only hoped that she would be able to use the ‘Dragon’s Eye’ to explore the core of the barrier.
However, the world does not flow according to one’s wishes. Just as water splits when it crashes against rock, there are always unforeseen variables one must face.
For example, there might be some unknown figure that suddenly attacks while walking along a path.
At that moment, while searching for the place where the core of the barrier was likely located, a silver whirlwind charged toward them from the direction of the Southern Forest, where they had previously discovered a core.
It was a surprise attack without any noise or warning. It was so stealthy that the phrase “a formless wind racing” would fit better.
The first to notice this was, of course, the Great Witch.
“Get down!”
It was an abrupt command.
An untrained soldier might have hesitated for a moment, but those present had all experienced real combat.
Even the most inexperienced Imperial Princess had crossed the front lines in the Northern Region. It took no time for the two girls to flatten themselves on the ground, driven by survival instinct.
It was instantaneous.
At the same time, geometric shapes were drawn in the void, and something that struck the translucent barrier created a heavy noise.
Bang!
The collision was quick and intense.
The shockwave that burst forth swept indiscriminately around, creating a gust of wind. The flattened Imperial Princess nearly screamed at the torrent of dust pouring down.
Above all, the shimmering fragments of light scattering like powder.
Surprisingly, it meant that the unidentified impact had dealt a valid blow to the Great Witch’s magic.
No matter how much she couldn’t use the body’s power and had no time to chant a spell, a Master is still a Master.
It could be said that beings capable of shaking even that magic are exceedingly rare. And one of them had just attacked the group.
The feet of the woman, who had been spinning a few times in the air, lightly touched the ground.
It was a tranquil landing, as if she had no mass at all.
The woman left an intense first impression, yet her complexion was surprisingly pale—almost reminiscent of a seriously ill patient.
“It’s been a while since we last met, sister.”
She appeared to be in her early to mid-twenties.
As soon as the Imperial Princess caught a glimpse of her face, she narrowed her brows. Despite it being their first meeting, there was a strange feeling as if she had seen this person somewhere before.
Someone’s face flickered as if it were within reach.
In contrast, the reactions of the Great Witch and Elsi were straightforward. The Great Witch sighed, covering her face as if she recognized her, while Elsi simply clenched her fists and expressed her anger as usual.
“No, who do you think you are to dare to disrespect our Master…!”
“I never had a little sister like you.”
Though that statement was instantly cut off by the Great Witch’s sigh, Elsi, who sensed that there was something deeper going on, hesitantly adjusted her hood which had slipped askew when she hastily crouched down.
In the Great Witch’s hand, a new magic circle had already formed.
While they would greet each other, it was a clear signal that there would be no long conversation.
“I heard you ran away. Are you back now?”
“I experienced a fever of love. Because of that, I had to leave my big sister’s side for a time… But how could I pass up such a great opportunity?”
It was all family drama that was heard for the first time.
Yet amid the Imperial Princess’s contemplation of the newly appeared woman’s identity, she realized one undeniable truth: the other’s power could not be compared to others of her bloodline.
Just the presence of that being left her breathless.
It was a day that had already been sweltering hot. Along with the heat of the sun-baked dirt road, a unique sense of oppression that only the strong could emit pressed down upon the Imperial Princess’s chest.
Yet as the heat rippled like mirage, a form began to emerge from it.
At the moment when her vision blurred from overbreathing, the Imperial Princess suddenly fixed her gaze on a figure she recalled.
She looked so similar.
To the senior she knew well, ‘Ceria Yuridina.’
Regardless of everything, the conversation between the Great Witch and the woman continued.
Accompanied by the woman’s painfully cold smile.
“The neck of the enemy who trapped us in that hot Great Forest is about to be bitten off.”
“Today, I must truly see it through…”
The Great Witch said this as she slowly raised her finger. Her slender finger pointed at the silver-haired woman, yet the density of the magic gathered at its tip was far from fragile.
If she didn’t avoid it, she would die.
This vivid sensation coursed down the Imperial Princess’s spine, but the woman facing it was utterly nonchalant.
“Oh my, is my sister going to face me herself?”
“Our kids have their own things to do.”
At the same time, the Great Witch shot a glance at Elsi.
Elsi, who was not oblivious to that gesture, immediately shot up and ran toward the Imperial Princess’s side. After all, it was only a few steps away.
It didn’t take long for the girl’s whisper to reach the dazed Imperial Princess’s ears.
“Get up, we’re looking for the core of the barrier.”
“B-but that person… she looks too much like Senior Yuridina…”
“Is that really important right now?”
The Imperial Princess had no response to that irritating retort.
She hesitated and slowly began to rise.
Elsi was right. They were on the verge of a battle that could decide not only the Academy’s fate but possibly the future of the continent itself.
It was right to ignore trivial matters.
With the rapid flow of events beginning to unfold, it was too overwhelming to address every concern that weighed on her mind.
There was plenty of evidence to support this reasoning.
Just look at what was happening right now.
Bang!
With a deafening sound, a blood-red beam shattered the Great Witch’s magic circle.
It was an attack whose origins were unknown, but its power was truly horrifying. The impact alone caused the Imperial Princess, who had barely risen to her feet, to topple over once more.
“Ahhh!”
The Imperial Princess, whose head had once again slammed into the dirt, was in total confusion. She had no idea how the situation had unfolded or why a blood-red beam had appeared without the silver-haired woman doing anything at all.
All that remained was the chaotic cries that conveyed the unfolding events.
“Vampire?! Master, chase her now!”
“But what about that girl…?”
“I will take care of it… No, is this insane?!”
Amid the chaos, loud explosions, and swirling dust, shadows flickered.
A shadow presumed to be the Great Witch rushed somewhere in a hurry. The figure wearing the hooded hat collided with the suddenly charging shadow of the woman.
In the end, only the Imperial Princess was left behind.
In an instant, the Imperial Princess was left trembling on her own. Though she had experienced real combat in the Northern Region, she was still just a fledgling. It was difficult to maintain her composure in such a sudden development.
Moreover, wasn’t ‘Sir Ian’ also absent from this place?
Shi-en, covered in dust, shivered in fear.
“Should I return now?”
After all, it seemed like she wouldn’t be of any help.
She thought she had stubbornly insisted on wanting to be of assistance to Ian. Given the current situation, it would be fortunate if she could avoid being a nuisance.
But Shi-en’s worries didn’t continue for long.
Step, step.
The quiet footsteps struck Shi-en’s heart like thunder. As her gaze darted in surprise, she caught sight of familiar silver hair flowing gently.
The woman moved forward without hesitation, leaving a straight line of footsteps toward the Imperial Princess; the latter had already known her name.
Ceria Yuridina.
Now an enemy-turned-former companion.
This was the unfolding truth of the incident.
And now, the Imperial Princess was sprinting through the lush forest full of shrubs.
Bang! Crash!
“Ah, ahhh!”
With the explosive sound, mounds of dirt erupted.
The purple aura, soaring as high as a giant tree, struck the ground like a whip. The earth exploded, trees were uprooted, and the unfortunate girl’s screams only grew louder.
Falling trees scattered fibrous fragments and dirt.
It was a single blow.
Even without her skills, Ceria was always impeccable with a sword. Now awakened by the blood of a vampire, she possessed ferocity along with her previous mastery; even if the finesse of her skills had lessened, the multiplied output made up for all weaknesses.
Who would believe that such devastation could be wrought by a mere sword?
It would be more believable if several skilled mages unleashed a barrage instead. The sheer pressure of the aura bombarding the forest was overwhelming, even sapping any will to resist.
Even though the Imperial Princess was a mage herself.
Unless there was a reliable frontline, she was undoubtedly at a disadvantage in a duel against a swordsman. There was simply no time to chant spells—countering was out of the question.
So, she had no choice but to run for her life.
The fact that she had thus far managed to dodge Ceria’s attacks felt like a miracle. Had Ceria’s rampage caused her to lose the expertise she previously held, Shi-en would have already been turned into a pile of meat lying on the ground.
Even amid all this, Ceria continued to speak to Shi-en.
“Why are you running away, Your Highness?”
“Please put that sword down and talk!”
“Just a little… just a bit of blood is all I need!”
And then, with a single slash.
The world split apart.
