Chapter 91: An Unexpected Turn
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 91: An Unexpected Turn
"Senior... is actually this strong?"
Watching that graceful, moving figure in the air, flitting about like a dancer, Muen couldn't help but stare, mesmerized.
He had known for a long time that Anna was a standout even among the fifth-years, but he hadn't expected that the seemingly fragile girl would be powerful enough to easily suppress—and even defeat—the terrifying High Priest.
"Hmph. If I hadn't been eating so poorly lately and could actually use my full strength, I could do that too."
Seeing Muen staring blankly at Anna, Ariel pursed her lips and spoke with a hint of dissatisfaction.
"..."
Muen’s mouth twitched violently at her words. No, no, no, you’re already scary enough as it is, okay? You’re only a second-year!
The other second-years were currently trembling behind the crowd below; those brave enough to pop out and fire off a spell or two were considered courageous. Who else but her would charge straight up to go toe-to-toe with the boss? Give them some face, would you!
"Speaking of which..."
Ariel suddenly leaned in close. The overbearing protagonist aura around her vanished, replaced by a rare, girlish bashfulness.
"Hey, beauty, could I get your Voice Transmission Stone frequency?"
"Huh?"
Muen froze.
A Voice Transmission Stone frequency? Was that something he could just give out? If he gave it to her, wouldn't that mean...
Ariel swung her greatsword, swatting a muscular man who was trying to sneak up for an ambush into a state of semi-paralysis. She asked with a smile:
"Can I?"
"Yes, yes, yes. Of course you can."
Muen nodded like a woodpecker, hurriedly pulling out his Voice Transmission Stone.
As the stones tapped together and the frequency was registered, Ariel couldn't help but flash a blissful smile.
"Keep in touch, beauty."
"..."
A chill ran down Muen’s spine. He forced a smile, then quickly turned to call out to his senior.
"Senior, let's get out of here."
Ariel was too terrifying. He felt like if he stayed around her too long, he’d eventually lose something very important.
"Alright," Anna replied. "Let me just finish him off first."
She held a uniquely shaped dagger and closed in rapidly on the heavily injured High Priest.
That was a Holy Prayer Dagger blessed by the Life Church. It could deal fatal damage even to those corrupted by an Evil God.
Sensing the threat from the dagger, the High Priest let out a savage roar, his remaining left hand lunging toward Anna.
Anna’s eyes flickered.
Even at full strength, the High Priest couldn't keep up with her speed, let alone in his current mangled state.
Wasting no time, she transformed into a fleeting shadow, dodging the High Priest’s final struggle and plunging the Holy Prayer Dagger straight into his heart.
Unerring accuracy.
The moment the dagger pierced his heart, the High Priest’s face contorted as if he were experiencing unbearable agony. His eyes rolled back, and following a series of violent convulsions, his life force dissipated from his body at a visible rate.
"It’s over."
After confirming that the High Priest’s pulse and heartbeat had stopped, Anna breathed a sigh of relief. She turned back toward Muen with a charming smile.
"So, Junior, what do you think of your—"
Before she could finish her sentence, disaster struck.
Under the stunned gazes of Muen and Ariel, the flesh at the High Priest’s mangled shoulder suddenly began to writhe violently.
"This is..."
Watching this nauseating scene, Muen was suddenly reminded of certain vivid, unpleasant memories.
A sense of foreboding flooded his heart, and Muen couldn't help but scream:
"Senior, look out!"
But the accident happened faster than he could speak.
From the gruesome wound on the High Priest’s shoulder, a thick, newborn arm—covered in blood and foul-smelling membranes—burst forth from the writhing flesh.
It caught the rusted greatsword falling from the dead limb's hand.
It gripped the hilt.
And it swung downward with explosive force.
Anna turned, but it was too late. No matter how agile she was, she couldn't dodge an attack from such close range without preparation.
She could only raise her arm in a subconscious, instinctive block.
"Senior!"
Muen’s eyes nearly burst from their sockets, and his body moved of its own accord.
"Tsk."
But as his body felt a sudden weight, Ariel pressed him back down.
"A delicate beauty like you shouldn't be moving at a time like this. Leave it to me."
Ariel coolly brushed back her bangs again and charged forward with her greatsword without looking back.
She was fast.
Incredibly fast.
Ariel’s current speed actually surpassed Muen’s Shadow Step to a certain degree.
However...
It was still too late.
The blade had already fallen.
The moment the edge made contact with Anna’s arm, Muen could already see the heavy sword severing her limb before leaving a gruesome gash across her tender body.
His heart seemed to stop.
His breath hitched.
There was only the shadow of the blade falling toward a young girl’s flesh and blood.
But the scene Muen expected did not happen.
The moment the blade struck Anna’s arm, Muen thought he heard the sound of clashing metal.
Eh?
Metal clashing?
Muen’s eyes widened.
The dappled light wavered.
In the instant the fabric of her sleeve was torn by the blade, Muen caught a faint glimpse of a glimmer reflecting off something dense and smooth on Anna’s arm.
They looked like scales.
Snake scales.
But the image was only a momentary flash. Before Muen could confirm it, Anna jerked her hand back and retreated.
Ariel finally arrived, her flaming greatsword plunging into the High Priest’s body, the massive force driving him backward.
Anna reached Muen’s side, grabbing his arm with her other hand and moving quickly in the opposite direction.
"Let’s go."
"Eh? We’re just leaving? What about Ariel?"
"It’s fine. Even if that monster is still alive, it’s heavily wounded. Junior Ariel can handle it. Besides..."
Anna suddenly tilted her head as if listening to something. "Didn't you notice? People are already coming up."
"Really?"
Muen frowned and listened intently, but the surroundings were too noisy; he couldn't hear a thing.
"Let’s go."
Anna pulled Muen along, leaping down from the shadows on the other side of the dormitory building. Her long whip unfurled, wrapping around the rooftop railing, and they swung through the air, crashing into someone’s dormitory room.
With their skills, this wasn't a difficult maneuver, and they landed steadily.
Upon landing, before he could even take in their surroundings, Muen asked anxiously, "Senior, are you okay?"
"I’m fine."
"Really? But your arm..."
Anna pulled her sleeve down to cover her arm and smiled. "I’m really fine. You don't need to worry, Junior."
"I see."
Muen stared at Anna’s face.
She was indeed smiling, and that smile was as enchanting as ever, yet Muen felt he could read a coldness in her beautiful face that pushed people a thousand miles away.
I can't ask any more, Muen thought.
"So, what do we do now?"
The vibrations from upstairs were becoming more pronounced. It seemed that, just as Anna had said, new and powerful combatants had joined the fray.
"It looks like we don't need to worry about what's happening up there anymore."
Anna stroked her cheek and glanced up at the ceiling.
"So, since my first goal of rescuing my junior has been achieved, it’s time to complete my second goal."
"Second... goal?"
Looking at Anna’s increasingly radiant smile, Muen suddenly had a very bad feeling.