The Academy’s Weapon Replicator

'Could Frondier block the 'One Flash'?'

Frondier needed several steps to unleash his maximum output. Elodie knew this because she had seen it firsthand.

Swallowing the Dragon Heart, activating Menosorpo, creating weapons in both hands with Obsidian, and emitting aura.

On the other hand, Aster's 'One Flash' only required him to take a middle stance.

Moreover, even in terms of swordsmanship, Aster would be superior now. Mastering the 'One Flash' didn't just mean learning one technique. It meant overcoming all the prerequisites to execute it.

Aster's 'One Flash' couldn't be countered just by being a bit far away, so it was extremely difficult to lead him into Frondier's specialty, mid-range combat.

In other words, if Frondier and Aster fought, Aster's attack would definitely come first.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

So, the outcome of the battle depended on whether Frondier could deal with the One Flash.

Could Frondier block that blow that even the abyssal monster Minotaur couldn't follow with its eyes and died from in one strike?

'...Well, even putting that aside, I don't think Frondier would lose.'

That was it in the end. Frondier would somehow defeat Aster in a way that Elodie couldn't imagine. There was no evidence, but that's what she thought.

And that was probably the same for Aster.

Frondier knew that Aster was aiming for him. He knew and let it be. Because that was what made Aster grow.

He was provoking the hope of the Empire, telling him to come after him.

'Is he brave, or incredibly insensitive?'

While Elodie was thinking that, Aster said to everyone.

"Even though the enemy's leader is absent, don't let your guard down. The enemy has a history of fighting us one-on-one. So they know our strength to some extent now."

"I guess that means they won't be careless anymore, since they know that the information from the past has changed a lot."

Aten said, and Aster nodded.

"We all won, but it's dangerous to be surrounded by several of them. After all, we were held back while Lunia was being kidnapped."

"It's best to be prepared to face tougher opponents than the ones we faced in Constel."

This time, Sybil spoke.

Sybil pointed her finger at someone.

"Especially you two."

It was Pielott and Dier.

"Don't think you can go around alone just because you beat a devil once."

A stern warning tone. Everyone nodded in agreement.

Elodie also added to that.

"Pielott, this time, you have to put aside your pride and cooperate with Dier."

The Pielott that Elodie knew was someone with considerable pride. He had been compared to Aster since his admission.

But Pielott calmly nodded and said.

"Of course."

There was no humiliation or displeasure in his words, only calmness.

"I'll only hold everyone back if I'm alone."

"......."

Everyone's eyes momentarily turned to him.

Was Pielott always like this? Everyone had similar thoughts.

Soon, Aster smiled with satisfaction and nodded.

"Good. Let's go."

* * *

Inside the building where Lunia was imprisoned.

30 minutes after Selena appeared and disappeared.

Knock knock.

There was a sound from the front door.

Someone knocked. The sound was simple, like a guest arriving.

Naturally, the devils inside turned their eyes towards the door.

Suddenly,

Kwaaang!

Without giving the devil a chance to answer the knock, the door was smashed open with a loud bang.

Clang!

Along with that, the windows on both sides shattered.

'Reinforcement magic...!'

The devils had cast enough reinforcement magic on the building to prevent intrusion, but it wasn't enough at all.

Figures simultaneously entered through the multiple entry points that had suddenly opened.

Through the front door: Aster and Aten.

Through the windows on both sides: Sybil, Dier, and Pielott.

One of the devils, flustered by the sudden intrusion of humans, shouted.

"What the hell! You can't not know that we have a hostage here,"

As the devil turned around to threaten Lunia.

Puk-

Thud.

"I don't know. Where the hostage is."

Selena was beside Lunia.

As she lightly pricked the devil with a needle, the devil collapsed like a puppet with its strings cut.

"What the hell, where did this bitch come from!"

The eyes of the surrounding devils turned towards Selena. Their auras, gleaming with murderous intent, stabbed at Selena.

──One Flash.

One of them, head severed.

In an instant, Aster reached Lunia and sliced off the devil's head. At the same time, Selena moved.

Clang! Clang!

The needles in both her hands blocked the devils' weapons, deflecting them lightly as she stretched her right leg out long. Her posture lowered accordingly, and the devils' weapons, which had clashed with Selena's needles, momentarily swung through the air.

Puk! Puk!

Selena turned her body and reached back with both hands, stabbing the needles into the abdomens of the two devils and pulling them out.

In the past, she would have thrown the needles to hit them, but this time, she still held them in her hands. The battle with Hagley had taught her the hard way that the remaining needles could become scarce.

"This bitch...!"

The remaining devil nearby. He tried to attack Selena, but,

Crack, crack-!

Only after the ominous sound reached his ears did he look down at his feet.

"I, ice?"

His feet were already stuck to the ground. He could hardly feel anything anymore.

As he turned his head in confusion, the devil

Slash-!

Was split in two, with his mouth as the dividing line.

"That's rude. To my colleague."

Aster spoke as if the two words 'this bitch' were the reason he had cut down the devil.

Meanwhile, Aten, expanding her domain of ice, slowly walked forward.

Around them, Sybil, Pielott, and Dier stood facing the devils, and the devils were surrounded both inside and out. Despite their greater numbers.

And, Aster looked at Lunia.

"......."

"......."

Lunia just blinked her eyes, feeling somewhat awkward.

She had some expectations in her heart. Aster coming all the way here to see her was cool enough, but she wondered if he wouldn't say something cool, like in a novel.

Just a simple 'I came to save you' would have satisfied her.

"......."

But Aster just scanned Lunia's face without saying anything, then leaned back to check if she was hurt anywhere.

Seeing that Lunia had no major injuries, Aster let out a small sigh of relief.

Finally, Aster's voice, which Lunia had been waiting and waiting for, flowed out.

"Let's go home."

"...This unromantic guy."

Pfft, Lunia's laughter leaked out.