Kurenai to the Rescue!

Don!

Looking at Gideon, I could see something vile and twisted forming from within his body.

What is he doing!? Is he chanting something?

Akira dropped to her knees, staring at Gideon, her face filled with pure despair.

“Ancient... war... demons...”

She muttered.

What even are ancient war demons!?

Shudder!

It’s getting worse... that mumbling has to be some kind of chant!

Charging forward, I aimed right for him, throwing a few wind slashes.

Thud, thud, thud.

Blocked!?

Yet, I didn’t stop, jumping up, I covered my fist in a layer of water, strengthening it before slamming it right into him.

Baaam-

“...thy great power shall annihilate my enemies, bringing forth divine...”

How is that possible!?

-zzzzzzz-krrrrrrkkkkk!

Strengthening the water layer further, as well as covering it with a wind layer, I tried to force my way through whatever was blocking me.

-zzzzzzz-krrrrrrkkkkk!

Still not budging!?

Covering my other fist, I tried punching it over and over and over and over... to no avail.

Jumping backward, I put distance between us as he continued chanting, that mana within him continued growing and spreading.

Any more and I might blow my cover! Argh! But... I don’t have a choice.

Whirlpool.

Reaching my hand out toward him, I materialized a pool of water underneath him.

Controlling it with my fingertips, I shot it upward, engulfing him entirely before spinning it at a high velocity.

I see, so it’s a barrier surrounding him entirely... absolutely no openings... Mmmmm.

Let’s see how you deal with this!

Blizzard!

The entire whirlpool froze solid.

Inferno!

Summoning fire all around the ice, I closed my hand.

Condensing and strengthening the flame beyond normal heat levels and instantly crushing the entire ice ball with it.

Those massive temperature changes must have done... something.

Once the vapor dispersed, I was shocked beyond belief...

He still stood there, unbothered, chanting away.

“That’s pointless, Kurenai... He’s offering his life force for power...”

Saki informed me.

“Meaning!?”

How does she even know that!? I’d love to ask her... but that’ll have to wait until this is over!

“Currently, he is negotiating with one of the ancient demons of war, who all have a blessing that stops any interruptions... until the pact is finalized.”

Ugh. Seriously!? Can he be any more of a pain in the ass!?

Just as I was about to ask Saki how long those usually take... the mana disappeared.

Eh?

Is it... over? Did he fail?

Gideon fell silent, his face lost all emotion, staring blankly ahead with lifeless eyes.

“He...”

Saki spoke.

Snapping my head around, I stared at Saki for answers.

“... he actually did it successfully!”

Just as she finished saying that... I felt a massive danger approaching us from way above.

Staring at the sky, we watched a colossal dark red magical circle appear.

That doesn’t look good...

“That might be... the end for the capital.”

Saki announced bluntly.

...I kind of figured... but the end? Is it that bad!?

“May this hell rain upon you all! Covering everything in fire and destruction!”

Gideon shouted before collapsing onto the ground.

Just then, the magic circle slowly opened like a gate, summoning dozens of smaller circles around itself.

The entire sky turned dark gray, lightning cracking left and right.

Is he trying to eradicate the entire capital!?

“Kurenai! We need to run! That thing feels super dangerous!”

Hikari shouted, carrying a despairing Akira on her back.

Honestly... she’s not wrong, we could just run away...

Looking around, I saw all the other students either scramming to save themselves or just standing there frozen in place.

... They sided with Gideon anyway.

Fuuuuuu.

Deeply sighing, I calmed myself, channeling my inner hero.

Even if they sided with Gideon... I still have to protect them! Just like with Asako, everyone deserves a second chance!... Even... Gideon... Though, that thought alone pains me!

“Hahahaha.”

Out of nowhere, a small, blue, glowing fairy appeared above me. Joyfully laughing and flying around me.

Gently, I lifted my palm toward the fairy, letting her land on it.

I missed you, Cecil.

“Hihihihi.”

As she started dancing on my palm, more and more fairies appeared, circling and laughing above Cecil.

It’s been a while... huh.

The fairies started glowing brighter, and with that a flock of blue, glowing butterflies followed, joining in.

In the background, the countless smaller magic circles summoned fire lances.

Crack!

The sky reacted as well, creating a sea of lightning and a strong downpour.

Then the magic circles fired off volley after volley of fire lances that vaporized just as quickly as they appeared.

I truly love you all... You are doing such an amazing job.

While everyone wondered what was going on... I was standing there with my feet planted, creating small barriers under each and every single magic circle.

Luckily for me, they are only firing off fire lances, which I can block off quite effortlessly.

At least, if there weren’t so many... That’s where my friends come in. They are water spirits that I raised with my mana, it’s apparently super risky, but I just couldn’t hold myself back!

They are just the cutest! And they looked so sad and lonely at first... so I just had to create more! Though, Hikari has, for some reason, always feared them... I wonder why.

Hehe. I’m proud of you all... seems like you are now creating your own spirits. Those butterflies are just as cute as you all!

With that taken care of. Only one thing’s left... That colossal gate!

Prepared for just about anything, I stared right at it, waiting in anticipation.

That’s when something shot out at super high velocity, barely missing me, crashing into the ground with a small explosion.

Huh?

Super high-speed meteors!?

Looking back up at the gate, a volley of high-speed meteors shot towards us.

Here I thought it’d be a colossal meteor that would come out!

Running and jumping around, I narrowly dodged one after another.

They are so fast, I can barely make out their trajectory!

“Hyaaaa!”

One of the girls standing around screamed after nearly getting hit by one of the meteors.

I bit my lip.

It just fires them relentlessly at this courtyard!? Argh! How evil!

Sensing the next one, I create a dense waterball, firing it and intercepting the meteor mid-air.

Another!? And another, and another. I intercepted three more, while even more flew straight towards other students.

“At least don’t run around like that! It’s already difficult enough with how fast they are.”

Shouting, I tried to get them under control, but they were too panicked... scrambling around, while some just gave up altogether.

I need to change my strategy!

So while intercepting one after another meteor, I placed water barriers on the students, using them to remotely fire off water streams that blocked the meteors.

One, two, three...

I kept on dodging countless meteors.

...Seven, eight, nine...

How long will this barrage last!? At least I’m making steady progress...

Kzt!

It felt like an electric shock hit my head.

That girl! Three meteors clumped together!?

Taking the risk, I stopped for a second, instantly channeling a massive water sphere and firing it at her, absorbing her entirely and protecting her from the clump of meteors.

Phew! Just in time.

Jumping backward, I narrowly dodged another one.

I don’t even have time to breathe properly!

...Thirteen, fourteen, fifteen...

I jumped from one student’s head to the next.

At least thanks to the courtyard now being riddled with craters, it’s easier to predict where the students will run.

...Twenty-two, twenty-three, twenty-four...

Breathing heavily, I continued.

Finally, some have realized that they are protected and they’ve gathered together.

Only a few more... then I’ll be able to focus entirely on that gate...

Just for a split second everything turned dark mid-dash before I snapped my eyes back open.

“Kyaaaaaaaaaaaa!”

A blood-curdling scream echoed through the courtyard.

Did I miss one!?

My eyes snapped to the girl that screamed, who stood among the group, covered by my water sphere.

Wait, but she’s safe? Why is she staring at me like that?

My pupils snapped left and right, scanning the entire crowd.

Why are they all staring at me like that?

Oh. They aren’t staring at me...

I turned my head around, finding a large meteor heading straight for me, already super close.

It seems I... messed up, yet again. At this range I won’t be able to dodge such a big one...

Staring right at the flaming ball, even my eyes reflected its beautiful flame.

I was so tunnel visioned, I forgot to protect myself... Hehe... he...

“Nyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!”

“Kurenaiiiiiiiii!”

Another blood-curdling scream echoed everywhere... this time, it was Akira’s, followed by Hikari’s horrified scream.