Peace Hunter

In front of the academy's lobby building.

I was currently locked in combat with King Albert, who had transformed into a demon. We were trading blows at close range, each wielding our own swords. I managed to wound King Albert several times during the exchange, whereas he couldn't land a hit on me; I was quick enough to parry or dodge every one of his attacks. I had to be wary of his sword, as it was currently imbued with Dark Magic. I knew that taking a hit from it would be dangerous, even though I could heal myself from wounds caused by such magic.

After a prolonged close-quarters skirmish, I unleashed a powerful attack against King Albert.

~Glacier Strike~.

I launched the attack swiftly, but King Albert was fast enough to block it with his sword. Even so, the impact sent him flying backward, several meters toward the path leading to the academy gate. As I watched him get blown back in that direction, I caught sight of a massive tornado looming near the gate. I had actually noticed the tornado when the fight began, but my focus had been entirely on battling King Albert; only now was I able to truly observe it.

"That tornado... it seems to have been created by the magic of demons near the academy gate. I sense a familiar aura around it. And I can feel the auras of Miss Karina and Miss Violetta inside. It looks like they’re trapped in there, I have to save them," I said.

With that, I prepared to launch a long-range attack to slice through and shatter the tornado. But before I could launch a long-range attack, a swarm of demons suddenly darted in, attempting to strike me at close quarters. Realizing this, I instantly shifted my offensive, originally aimed at destroying the tornado to a strike meant to slaughter the demons.

~Secret Sword Art: Full Moon Slash~

I unleashed a full-circle slash. The demons surrounding me took the hit head-on; their limbs, heads, torsos, arms, and more were severed instantly by the strike. They collapsed, motionless, the moment the attack connected.

With the demons felled, I immediately prepared to strike at the tornado again. However, just as I was readying my attack, King Albert darted toward me and lunged with his sword. I managed to parry his blow with my own sword. We then engaged in a fierce close-quarters exchange that lasted several minutes before both of us stepped back. That was when I saw King Albert preparing to unleash a technique.

~San Fulgen Art Fire Technique: Blazing Flame Sword~

His sword was suddenly engulfed in roaring flames. Since the blade had already been imbued with Dark Magic, the magic and the fire fused together, transforming the flames into a blazing black fire.

"A fusion of dark magic and fire magic, huh," I remarked, looking at King Albert.

I wasn't surprised to see that, as I already knew ~Dark Magic~ could be combined with other elemental magic. It wasn't just ~Dark Magic~; ~Light Magic~ could be combined with other elemental magic as well.

Then, after King Albert had enveloped his sword in blazing black flames, he immediately swung it toward me. A slash of black fire shot in my direction following his swing. Seeing the attack hurtling toward me, I prepared to block it. I couldn't dodge the attack, as doing so might cause it to strike the academy's lobby building behind me and set it ablaze. Therefore, I had to block the attack and neutralize it.

~Secret Sword Art: Flame Slayer Slash~

I immediately slashed at the incoming wave of black fire. I managed to cut through the attack, splitting it in two; once severed, the flames slowly dissipated.

"It doesn't matter if it's ordinary fire, black fire, or fire of any other color—as long as it's fire, I can cut through it with this technique," I thought.

King Albert continued to launch ranged attacks with his black-flame-enveloped sword, while I kept blocking them using my own technique. I slowly closed the distance to King Albert while parrying his attacks. Once I was close enough, I darted toward him at high speed and unleashed a slash.

~Flame Sword Art: Great Flame Slash~

King Albert took the full force of my attack, setting his body ablaze. Furthermore, he was sent flying by the impact of my flame slash. He was hurled toward the right side of the academy's lobby building, flying a great distance until he slammed into the boundary wall near the staff and faculty residence.

*BOOM*

As King Albert slammed into the barrier wall, a deafening explosion rang out, accompanied by a fierce blaze that erupted at the point of impact. Fortunately, despite the intensity of the flames, the fire did not spread to the surrounding area. After sending King Albert flying, I glanced toward the spot where he had hit.

"Since demons have already attacked the academy and destroyed several buildings and structures, it shouldn't be a problem if I’ve demolished a section of the wall with that attack. Besides, fortunately I had already ordered Charles and Chloe to help out elsewhere. If they had come here, I don't know what would have happened to them after seeing their father transformed into a demon. And I also don't know what they would have done to me upon seeing me attacking their father," I said.

With that, I turned my gaze back toward the academy gates, preparing to destroy the tornado swirling there.

"I’ve wanted to help Miss Karina and Miss Violetta for a while now, but something always stood in my way. Now is the time to help them, since nothing is blocking me anymore," I said.

~Secret Sword Art: Wind Slayer Slash~

I unleashed a long-range attack toward the tornado. The strike shot rapidly at the vortex, slicing it clean in two. Once split, the tornado began to lose its power and slowly dissipated.

Meanwhile, Duchess Claret and Duchess Harriet, who were nearby, realized that someone had attacked and destroyed the tornado. They immediately dashed toward the person responsible—Rid.

Having just launched the attack, I sensed two demonic figures speeding toward me. I recognized them instantly: Duchess Harriet and Duchess Claret. They were rushing right at me, poised to strike. Yet, I remained still, realizing that two other figures were also closing in—or rather, they were racing to intercept Duchess Harriet and Duchess Claret. Just as the two Duchesses drew near and were about to strike me, the other two figures launched their own attacks against them with their respective swords.

~Flower Sword Art: Chaenomeles Thorn Thrust~

~Plant Sword Art: Bridelia Retusa Thorn Thrust~

Focused entirely on attacking me, Duchess Claret and Duchess Harriet failed to notice the incoming assault. Both took direct hits, sending them flying in opposite directions; Duchess Claret was thrown to my right, while Duchess Harriet was sent flying to my left. After Duchess Claret and Duchess Harriet were sent flying, the two individuals who had attacked them were now standing beside me, swords in hand. These two were Miss Karina and Miss Violetta—the very ones I had just rescued from the tornado that had trapped them.

"Thank you for saving me, Miss Karina, Miss Violetta," I said.

"There is no need for thanks, Rid. Even if we hadn't attacked them, you surely could have handled them easily. If anything, we are the ones who should be thanking you, Rid. Thank you for saving us from that tornado," Miss Karina said.

"Yes, that's right. Thank you, Rid," Miss Violetta added.

"You're welcome, miss," I replied.

Afterward, the three of us turned our gaze toward the academy gates, sensing a presence there. Sure enough, a large number of demons were marching through the gates and into the academy grounds.

"It seems we aren't being given even a moment's rest," Miss Violetta remarked.

"There is no time to rest until we defeat every demon attacking this academy, Violetta. Let's take them all down," Miss Karina declared.

-To be continued

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