“Senior… is she really this strong?”

Watching the figure move gracefully in the air, as elegant and captivating as a dancer, Moen couldn't help but stare in awe.

Although Moen had long known that Senior Anna stood out even among the fifth-years, he never imagined that someone who appeared so delicate could be powerful enough to easily suppress, and even defeat, the terrifyingly skilled High Priest.

"Hmph, if it weren’t for the fact that I’ve been eating poorly lately and unable to fully unleash my strength, I could pull off something like this too."

Watching Moen, who was staring at Senior Anna in a daze, Ariel pursed her lips with a hint of dissatisfaction and said.

"…"

Moen’s mouth twitched violently upon hearing this. No, no, no—you're already intimidating enough, okay? After all, you’re only a second-year!

The other second-years are still hiding in the crowds below, trembling in fear. To occasionally step out and cast a couple of spells is considered bold among them. Who would dare do what you're doing—charging head-on to stand and fight the boss? Can't you spare them some dignity?!

“Speaking of…”

Ariel suddenly leaned closer, the domineering aura characteristic of a protagonist fading, revealing a rare girlish shyness.

“Pretty lady, could you give me your stone number?”

“Huh?”

Moen froze.

My stone number? Is that something you should be giving away? If you hand it over, won’t it…

Swinging her greatsword, Ariel effortlessly smacked a beefy man trying to sneak up into a state halfway to paralysis. Smiling, she asked again, “Could you give it to me?”

“Of course, of course!”

Moen nodded like a bobblehead, quickly pulling out his communication stone.

With a soft clink, the stones connected frequencies, and Ariel revealed a beaming, blissful smile.

“Let’s keep in touch, pretty lady.”

“…”

Feeling a chill run down his spine, Moen forced a smile and quickly turned to call out to his senior.

“Senior, let’s leave now.”

Ariel was frightening. Staying around her felt like losing something important would be inevitable sooner or later.

“Alright.”

Anna responded gently.

“Let me finish this first.”

With a uniquely designed dagger, she swiftly approached the heavily injured High Priest.

It was a holy dagger blessed by the Life Church, capable of inflicting fatal harm on beings corrupted by the Dark God.

Having perceived the danger from Anna’s dagger, the High Priest, his face contorted in rage, made one final desperate move, reaching out with his remaining left hand to grab at Anna.

Anna’s gaze flickered.

Even at full strength, the High Priest struggled to match her speed—how could he possibly compete now in his severely wounded state?

Without hesitation, Anna transformed into a fleeting shadow and dodged the High Priest’s final struggle, then plunged the sacred dagger into his heart.

Precise and unerring.

As the dagger pierced his heart, the High Priest let out a twisted gasp, his face contorted in unbearable torment. His eyes turned white as his body convulsed violently, his vitality visibly dissipating from his flesh.

“It’s over.”

Confirming the cessation of the High Priest’s pulse and heartbeat, Anna exhaled in relief and turned to Moen with a radiant smile.

“Well, junior, how was I…”

Before she could finish her sentence—

Chaos ensued.

As Moen and Ariel stared in mild dismay, the wound on the High Priest’s shoulder began wriggling grotesquely.

“What is…”

Watching this revolting spectacle, Moen was suddenly reminded of certain unpleasant images burned into his memory.

An ominous feeling settled over him, and Moen couldn’t help but shout, “Senior, be careful!”

But misfortune always strikes quicker than one anticipates.

From the grotesque wound on the High Priest’s shoulder, a newly grown, muscular arm—covered in blood and stinking mucus—burst forth violently from the writhing flesh.

The hand reached out, grabbing the fallen blade of the severed limb.

Gripping it firmly,

It swung downward forcefully.

Anna turned back, but it was too late. No matter how agile she was, unprepared and at such close range, it was impossible to evade such an attack.

Instinctively, she raised her arm to block.

“Senior!”

Moen gritted his teeth, his body moving instinctively.

“Tsk.”

But before he could move far, Ariel pressed him back down.

“Delicate beauties like you shouldn’t get involved at times like this. Leave it to me.”

With a stylish flick of her hair, Ariel wielded her blazing greatsword and charged forward without hesitation.

Fast.

Astoundingly fast.

At this moment, Ariel’s speed even surpassed Moen’s Shadow Step to a certain extent.

Yet,

It was still too late.

The blade had already fallen.

As the blade made contact with Anna's arm, Moen felt as if he’d already seen the sword sever her limb, leaving horrific damage on her delicate body.

His heart seemed to stop.

His breathing ceased.

All that remained was the image of the blade descending upon a young girl’s vulnerable flesh.

But,

The scene Moen envisioned never came to pass.

When the blade touched Anna’s arm, Moen seemed to hear the sound of metal clashing.

Huh?

The sound of metal clashing?

Moen’s eyes widened in astonishment.

Amidst the flickering light, just as the fabric of Anna’s sleeve was torn apart by the blade, Moen caught a fleeting glimpse of a smooth, dense surface on her arm reflecting faint light.

It looked like scales.

Snake scales.

But the glimpse only lasted a fleeting moment. Before Moen could verify it, Anna withdrew her arm hastily and retreated.

At the same time, Ariel arrived, thrusting her flaming sword into the High Priest's body. With immense force, she drove him back.

Anna quickly returned to Moen’s side, grabbing his arm with her other hand and moving rapidly in another direction.

“Let’s get out of here.”

“Huh? Leaving like this? What about Ariel?”

“Don’t worry. That creature may still be alive, but it’s severely weakened. Ariel can handle it.”

Moreover…”

Anna suddenly tilted her head slightly, as if listening for something, and said, “Haven’t you noticed? More reinforcements have arrived.”

“Really?”

Moen frowned and listened carefully, but the noise around made it impossible to discern anything.

“Let’s go.”

Anna grabbed Moen and leapt into the shadow of the dormitory building, unfurling her whip to anchor it to the railing above. With a gentle swing, they crashed into someone’s room.

With their skills, the maneuver was effortless, and they landed smoothly.

Without stopping to assess the room they’d entered, Moen, still anxious, asked hastily, “Senior, are you alright?”

“I’m fine.”

“Really? But your arm…”

Anna pulled her sleeve down, concealing her arm, and smiled.

“I’m really okay, Junior. Don’t worry.”

“Is that so…”

Moen gazed at Anna’s face.

She was smiling—still as alluring as ever. Yet Moen felt a distinct coldness about her expression, as though an invisible barrier kept others at bay.

He decided not to ask further.

“So what’s next?”

The tremors from above grew stronger. As Anna had suggested, it seemed that reinforcements had indeed joined the fray.

“Looks like things upstairs are under control now.”

Anna brushed her cheek and glanced upward.

“So, since I’ve accomplished my first goal of saving you, next we’ll move on to my second goal.”

“Second… goal?”

Looking at the senior’s increasingly radiant smile, Moen suddenly felt an ominous foreboding.