Hagun Academy.
"..."
Inside the dueling arena, everything was so silent you could hear a pin drop.
It wasn't for no reason. Simply put, almost everyone who went up to challenge that woman would see just one glance of hers and freeze, unable to speak or move – surrendering on the spot. She didn't even draw her weapon.
Up to now, only three people had forced her to draw her sword: Ikki Kurogane, Shizuku Kurogane, and Touka Toudou. Even then, they all lost to her.
Edelweiss gave them all the same assessment:
"I won't kill you. Your futures don't end here."
Although it sounded like praise, it was also the lofty gaze of a strong person looking down on those weaker. Naturally, it left them frustrated, but there was nothing they could do. This woman's strength was terrifying. Her level of swordsmanship far surpassed anything people understood.
She moved as silently as the wind, meaning every movement was so precise that she never wasted any force or made any noise. Moreover, her every action operated well beyond normal human limits.
She could go from "zero to one hundred" in an instant, extremes of stillness and motion. To achieve such an immediate release of strength, ordinary human neural signals wouldn't suffice. One would have to fundamentally modify the brain's neural signaling to send a denser, more compressed "combat signal." That was the root of Edelweiss's power.
"Hmph, let me challenge you!"
Stella summoned the Lævateinn Sword. Ever since losing to Touka Toudou, she'd been honing her sword skills night and day. One might say she'd been completely reborn, going several levels up.
"Come,"
Edelweiss said blandly, as though nothing could so much as stir the calm in her gaze.
And indeed, things played out just like that. Stella launched her attack. Whether controlling flame or wielding her sword, she was far stronger than before. Yet even so, Edelweiss shattered it all with a single slash.
"That's enough."
Having gauged Stella's skill, Edelweiss halted her sword. She felt no need to continue. It was the same verdict as for Touka and the rest.
But Stella couldn't stand giving up so easily. She took a deep breath. Her eyes turned razor-sharp.
"It's not over yet!"
She was about to use that power:
True Crimson Dragon God!
Roar!!!
A dragon's roar shook the skies.
Boom!!!
Flames twisted the very space around them.
Edelweiss, at the center of the arena, narrowed her eyes. In that moment, she felt as if some supreme, transcendent being were now targeting her.
"This is…"
Stella's form was swallowed in crimson flames. Everyone present felt as though their very souls were being scorched in a blazing inferno.
"Hey, hey, your student is acting way off!"
Saikyo Nene's eyes widened. Originally, she'd thought this girl was just some early-blooming teen in heat. But the power Stella was unleashing right now made even Nene's real body tremble with primal fear. More alarming, Edelweiss below seemed to be getting serious…?
"… …"
Shinguuji Kurono hadn't imagined Stella would push things this far. She immediately used the intercom:
[All students evacuate the dueling area at once!]
And then, she promptly sent a trade request to Rei Ao.
This power Stella was drawing upon was something Hagun Academy couldn't handle if left alone.
[Ding! Shinguuji Kurono has initiated a Trade request with you!]
[Trade Contents]: Stabilize the crisis at Hagun Academy!
[Ding! Please choose your Trade Conditions!]
"Stella's gone out of control again?"
The moment Stella tapped into the True Crimson Dragon God, Rei Ao sensed it – even across worlds. He wasted no time selecting his conditions. Soon:
[Ding! Trade has begun!]
[Trade Target]: Shinguuji Kurono
[Trade Contents]: Stabilize the crisis at Hagun Academy!
[Trade Condition]: "Unlimited Body Usage Rights"
[Duration]: 24 hours
Boom!!!
The instant Rei Ao arrived at Hagun Academy, waves of heat burst out. Beneath him, the duel…erupted. Pillars of flame surged skyward, shattering glass everywhere.
"Eek!!!"
Students who'd heeded Kurono's order to flee clapped their hands over their ears, screaming.
But that wasn't all.
Clang!!!
A sword. Its razor-edged aura split the arena, slicing through the raging flames in one blow. Floating in midair, clad in Valkyrie-like white attire, was Edelweiss. Holding twin swords, she now wore a grave expression, facing the flame-clad "dragon girl": Stella.
Looking closer, Edelweiss's armor was damaged, and her hands trembled around her blades. Clearly, Stella in her current state posed an enormous threat.
But Stella was also nearing her limit. She herself wasn't strong enough to handle that much of Rei Ao's power. In just seconds, her body felt unbearably heavy. Even so, she wouldn't yield.
She was about to attack again when a hand settled on her shoulder.
"That's enough. My power isn't something to just throw around, and your body can't handle it."
"Wha—why are you here…?"
Stella glanced sideways in shock, astounded that Rei Ao had appeared.
"Because of the commotion you caused. Kurono called for me via a trade to come fix things."
Rei Ao pointed downward.
"Look below. If you keep fighting, Hagun Academy won't survive."
Stella lowered her gaze. Seeing how the arena was nearly in ruins, she realized that she'd been recklessly overdoing it, and hurriedly dismissed her power.
"Ugh!"
As the True Crimson Dragon God Desperado receded, a crushing fatigue overtook her. She wobbled, about to fall from midair, but Rei Ao grabbed her by the waist. Seeing how her eyelids drooped in weakness, he whispered reassuringly, "Rest. I'll handle the rest."
"Mm…"
Stella nodded weakly, leaning against his chest. In a few breaths, she wore a look of peace and slipped into unconsciousness – it showed just how much that Crimson Dragon God power had drained her, as well as how deeply she trusted Rei Ao.
Letting her remain in a comfortable position, Rei Ao finally turned toward the woman opposite him.
[Name]: Edelweiss
[Level]: 35
[Abilities]: "Swordsmanship," "Inherent Device: Testament"
~~~
300 Powerstone Bonus Chapter!