Burning Towards the Academy
I blaze toward the academy. Amid the blue flames flickering fiercely, I face a colossal being. Whoosh. A massive blue inferno dominates the entire space. Its form resembles a gigantic blue bird, easily over 50 meters tall. I stand alone against this monstrous entity.
My mana-forged body has burned away completely, and every weapon I've wielded lies shattered as smoldering embers. All that's left is my will. I've challenged and fallen countless times, yet I haven't died for good.
A voice echoes in my ear—dry and emotionless, laced with concern, or perhaps suggesting it's time to quit. Emotions swirl within it.
'Gamers don't give up.'
Even after tens, hundreds, thousands of defeats, victory in the end means clear.
'You grind tries like a maniac, and if you quit, you're forever stuck. But clear it, and no matter if it takes hours or days, you're the one who cleared it.'
Ahead looms the SS-rank boss, Phoenix. In-game, it game-overed me dozens, hundreds of times—this massive mana beast now fixates solely on me.
The instant I twitch a hand, it launches flame feathers to scorch my body. Lift my head, and it sprays fire into my eyes, blinding me.
But I clasp my hands together. No matter how pristine Phoenix appears, it's a facade—the reality is different.
'Phoenix Mode.' First form: Solar. Cleared. Second form: Divine Dragon. Cleared. And its final, third form: Phoenix.
The roaring blaze itself morphs into a bird of flame, incinerating the entire battlefield in Blue Flame Array. Against such a being, I've drawn out its ultimate form—and the final technique it unleashes.
'Getting this far is a first.'
In-game patterns are mere references; they hinder more than help in real combat. Phoenix builds new patterns knowing I 'know' them. I've seen patterns I've never encountered before, attacks veering off expected trajectories, even other bosses' moves repurposed by Phoenix.
I've dismantled every assault, dealt damage, and now it's down to the last tick. That final tick is our mutual 'ultimate'—the attack from the last pattern.
Whoosh. It soars skyward, rocketing beyond visual pursuit until the comet trail halts as a single blue point.
It ascends to the heavens' zenith, then plummets at full power—a suicidal dive smashing all its mana into the foe. Leveraging its revival ability, it's the ultimate finisher: death together.
What's the counter? 'It's set in stone.' Only one choice.
I bring my palms together. My mana body has lost both arms, but willpower forms the prayer seal. I tilt my head to the skies.
The point wedges toward me like a spike. The bird becomes a meteor, crashing down.
'Do I need anything else against Meteor magic? That's Meteor.'
Phoenix's ultimate is becoming Meteor itself. I'm likely the only one who's seen it, but if comparing its destructive power on a community forum—
Not nation or continent—power to pierce the planet itself.
'Survive? No.'
I raise a finger to the heavens. No form remains, but I hook my index like on a trigger, aiming an invisible barrel at the approaching dot.
'I fight back.'
In countless clashes with Phoenix, the sole solution I've found.
'Firepower with firepower.'
It wields every flame technique, but at root, it's fire attribute: raw power. Thus, the answer is my strongest firepower technique.
"Blue Flame Array."
Click. All mana and will forge the bullet. I pull the trigger full-force.
The outcome rests not on fate—but on my countless deaths and lessons, and the time with Chang Yeom that shaped me most.
"Ah."
The blue blaze plummets where I stand. The searing familiarity of death engulfs me.
And from behind, a warm embrace.
I surrender body and soul to the arms hugging me tight, stroking my hair. In consciousness whitening beyond blue, familiar words sparkle in blue flame.
How many deaths does an ordinary human need to reach world-top-tier in a magic-filled isekai? It varies, but I can say exactly for myself.
"At least as many as the kids I killed across a thousand playthroughs."
"Pretty close. You played Lunatic from the seventh run."
Chang Yeom hands me fruit juice. A summer event beach drink: strawberry ade packed with strawberry juice and shaved ice.
"Ahh."
The straw's heart-shaped weave; Chang Yeom and I sip simultaneously.
"Now we just cross to the middle realm. So, thoughts?"
"Makes you see why Hell's Archduke earns the title."
"Pardon?"
"Harder than bagging other 'dukes'—your avatar was toughest."
Sincere.
"Did I even die to other dukes' avatars?"
"One-shot clears, right?"
"Then how many times did Phoenix kill me?"
"...Won't count for your honor. Puhuhu."
"Thanks a ton."
A lot. Suspiciously so.
"Be careful in the middle realm. Can't connect or help directly."
"Angels incoming."
I extend my hand.
"Use your power, and the goddess dispatches angels instantly."
Whoosh.
"Especially as a 'Demon King'-grade being wielding Chang Yeom."
A blue-flame orb spins with six multicolored flames in a hexagon. Not true flames, but I accept them as such.
Seven attributes fused: mana as one. Or 'divinity.'
"Now I get it. Demon King invaded the middle realm not as king, but as 'god.'"
"Well... us too."
Chang Yeom smiles faintly.
"Not peeking?"
"Mom says watch from below."
Mom. Aka 'Demon King,' true 'mother' against Hell's seven dukes.
'Who knew she was originally female.'
Always faced male persona—turns out she's the goddess. The other side... anyway.
"I'll seize all angel power per plan, then rip open a hell-to-middle portal."
"...Yes. You're our hope, 'exiled gods.'"
"No game spoilers, right?"
"Of course not. That's my privilege alone—as the one who knows all of you."
Chang Yeom winks, rising from the beach lounger.
"Okay. Last hurrah: virtual Esdinas Academy summer camp."
"Last, huh."
"Yeah. 'Old School Building Passage' stays as emergency return."
Hell-to-middle sole path.
"Mom—Demon King—stakes eternal slumber sending you earthward."
Not quite.
"Mom launches you into space. Fly through to crash middle realm. Goddess won't suspect physical atmospheric breach 'descent.'"
"Not prior exiled demon gods, but a middle-born soul enslaved by archduke."
Simply: shatter the magic barrier O-Zone between hell and middle physically.
"Learn of your—Demon King's—absence, and every demon you crushed post-landing boils over."
"Dukes on our side?"
"Their cores transferred to you— they'll think weakened. Do those devils fear that? All believe they'll win."
Splash. Waves lap the sand—not real, mana-simulated memory data brushing Chang Yeom's feet.
"Me, Chang Yeom? Blue flames? Awful water matchup, but meeting you changed that."
She adjusts her white hat, settling on the sand.
"Looking forward to water play."
Splash.
"Never dipped in earthly seas."
"Plenty of time."
The contract is sealed.
[Imperial Year 997, Continental Transatron Train KTS 088, Car 4.]
Toot— The mana-engine train's whistle blares.
"...What?"
Car 4 passengers peer out windows, tilting heads in confusion.
"Huh?"
"The sky..."
"......?"
A golden-haired, green-eyed bob-cut woman gazes outward.
"Blue... comet?"
Whoosh.
A blue comet streaks the night sky.
"Wow."
The girl clasps hands, eyes on the comet.
"Please let me pass the academy entrance...!"
Wish thrice on a shooting star, they say.
"Please, academy admission...!"
She prays fervently, mid-final plea—
"Please, acade—"
A black-yellow light arrow slams the straight-falling comet, twisting its path.
"...Huh?"
The plummeting comet veers off from the mystery shot. Toward...
"...Here?"
The wobbling blue comet hurtles toward the academy-bound train.
"......?"
As all evacuate,
the girl spots something odd amid the comet.
"A... person?"
Whoosh.