It was truly pitiful.

Before overwhelming power, all resistance was futile.

Not a single student could match him. Theos had lasted slightly longer, but the outcome remained unchanged.

Xiejit wielded Military Magic—an advantage that dominated the entire battlefield.

Theos lay unconscious on the ground. Caina, arriving soon after to fight, fared no better, merely becoming his training dummy.

Wensidia stood right before her, yet she couldn’t even save her.

"Just go home quietly. How could you possibly defeat me?"

Xiejit’s expression was utterly indifferent.

Even against an unbeatable foe, one must still fight with everything they have.

Blue light flared beneath Caina’s feet. A raging flood surged toward him—but under his piercing rays, it dissolved into lifeless puddles.

"Stop fighting, junior Caina," Wensidia pleaded. "You’re no match for him."

*Of course I know that…*

But sometimes, people have no choice but to retreat.

Caina steadied herself, gazing at everything inside the cave.

*(“I will save the princess. So… will you lend me your strength, Caina, Saria?”)*

That day, Lunorette’s expression had been so earnest—it was hard to imagine her ever asking for help.

*(“If we leave her, she’ll accomplish nothing. So I’ll help her.”)*

That confident Lunorette, the one who vowed to rescue the princess…

Undoubtedly, this was Lunorette Orpheus—her friend, the Lunorette she’d always known.

But…

Her friend Lunorette wasn’t the Lunorette she knew. An unknown soul now occupied her body; she was no longer the genius honor student.

Caina didn’t know whose spirit resided within Lunorette. The only certainty was that this imposter meant them no harm—a small mercy in misfortune.

Yet even so, it didn’t change the other’s abrasive nature.

"Little girl, daydreaming again? If you won’t attack, I’m coming."

Xiejit’s warning snapped her back.

She’d come to Xin for her friend. For that lingering request, she had to fight.

"Water Tornado!"

Mana circuits flared. Water surged, twisting into a spiraling vortex that charged at him.

Xiejit dodged nimbly. Magic circuits glowed beneath his feet. A razor-sharp beam slashed down—missing Caina by inches. Shattered rocks rained as the girl scrambled away.

*Whoosh!*

A devastating beam pierced through, exploding deep inside the cave. Stones tumbled like thunder.

"*Cough… cough…*"

Caina choked on dust, watching his calm face. A wave of helplessness spread through her chest.

She was no match for him. As much as she hated to admit it, this man existed on another level entirely.

Suddenly, footsteps echoed. Caina lifted her head. A flash of white appeared behind her.

"Eh? Why…"

Seeing the unexpected figure, even Caina couldn’t hide her shock.

A silver-haired girl stepped into the cave. Though her heart had wrestled with fear, she chose to move forward.

She reached Caina’s side, glanced at her, then walked past her stunned gaze toward Xiejit.

"Oh? You’re next?"

Xiejit sounded bored, barely glancing at the newcomer.

"Lun—why are you here, classmate Lunorette?!" Wensidia’s reaction was fierce, as if trying to drive her away.

"You… why come back…" Caina pointed at her, voice trembling with disbelief.

"That’s none of your business."

Moyu Manatsu didn’t know how to answer. Ten minutes ago, she’d been paralyzed by terror. Now here she stood, in the enemy’s den.

Caina was right—she was no better than a coward. But even cowards deserved to live with dignity.

"I stand here in Lunorette’s place," Moyu declared.

"So I’ll finish what she must do."

She advanced, drawing the sword at her waist. Step by step, she closed the distance to Xiejit.

Moyu Manatsu was just an ordinary girl from the mundane world. Yet even ordinary people could find the courage to raise a sword.

Xiejit laughed. Military Magic flared. A destructive beam shot past Moyu’s feet, exploding. The girl ignored it, swinging her sword down. Light struck the blade—*boom!*

Borrowing Lunorette’s physical prowess, Moyu’s reflexes were sharp. In moments, she closed the gap and slashed down.

Xiejit’s palm glowed with mana. A point-blank explosion hurled the girl backward.

Moyu Manatsu rose, gripping her sword, and charged again.

Even knowing victory was impossible, she fought desperately.

This was unthinkable for Moyu. Maybe she’d lost her mind—why make such a reckless move?

Perhaps to defy Caina’s "coward." Or to stand in for Lunorette, who wasn’t in this world. She had no clear answer.

"With your half-baked skills, you dare challenge me? Go home and drink your mother’s milk!"

Destructive light erupted. Beams sliced through dust and stone. The cave shuddered violently.

Moyu’s hands pulsed with mana. Instinctively, she hurled an energy sphere.

"Do you even realize how weak you are?"

A kick sent her flying. She crashed into the wall.

"Why…"

Caina couldn’t fathom the thoughts of the person wearing her friend’s face. But one thing was clear: she stood with them.

Moments ago, she’d claimed she wouldn’t fight. Now she stood here. Caina’s mind couldn’t grasp why.

She wasn’t Lunorette, yet vowed to fight in her stead. Why? She could have fled. Why return?

Moyu Manatsu slowly rose from the dust. Her body screamed in pain, yet strangely, fear had vanished—replaced by unexpected joy.

She’d made the stupidest decision… yet felt happier than ever.

"Little girl, are you laughing? At your own stupidity?"

"Now I finally know what feels right."

"You’re spouting nonsense."

"I don’t expect you to understand."

For some reason, the girl truly believed this choice was the best she’d ever made.

She hadn’t run. She’d faced it. For the first time.

"Interesting. Show me something worthwhile! Can’t even cast a proper spell—are you really from Rockefeller Academy?!"

Rays filled the sky, converging on her. Moyu swung her sword. Explosions swallowed the cave in smoke.

"Oh right—the princess!"

Caina seized the chance, rushing to untie the princess. But before she could loosen the ropes, Xiejit kicked her away.

"Still too green."

Moyu Manatsu crawled up from the ground, body aching fiercely.

She remembered the woman in her dream—the woman’s expression.

In that dream, she’d been powerless to resist or speak. But…

In reality, she refused to be that girl.

*(“What good are you here? You’re useless! Why bother coming? You’re just dead weight!”)*

Yuki’s words echoed in her mind.

*(“Coward.”)*

Caina’s voice reverberated.

Honestly, her short seventeen years had achieved nothing important.

Just an ordinary life, following the routine. Grand dreams, but an ordinary fate.

Since childhood, her life had been a mess. If possible, she’d want to live it all over again…

But…

Even a useless person wants to stand tall like a man and say: *I will rise.*

Leaning on the wall, she pushed herself up. Ignoring the pain, she walked toward Xiejit.

*Lunorette… what would you do?*

*Would you give everything for them?*

*Would you throw your life away on foolishness like me?*

*Answer me…*

*Though we’ve never met, I want to know your heart.*

The girl seemed to enter a strange space, flooded with endless information.

"Mana fluctuation?"

Xiejit’s surprise flickered, then vanished. To him, the power radiating from her was trivial.

Moyu’s hands glowed with mana. An energy sphere formed—then dissolved.

*Lunorette…*

*Thank you.*

*I know your answer now.*

"Galaxy Flame!"

Scorching fire rained from the sky, engulfing him.

"O gods, hear my voice—the cry from the Milky Way!"

Chanting the incantation, her mana blazed into light. A river of stars formed overhead, crashing down to earth.

"That’s Lunorette’s magic… why can she…" Caina stared at the girl as if seeing a monster.

"Winglight!"

Dazzling radiance flooded the cave. Moyu’s mana saturated the air. Her sword slashed down.

"These flashy moves are tiresome! Do you think they work on me?!"

Magic circuits flared beneath Xiejit’s feet. Razor-sharp radiation sliced toward her.

His legs cut like blades—her sword struck him as if hitting stone.

Moyu raised one hand. Thunderbolts crashed down, searing every nerve.

Lightning gathered, turning golden. It shaped into a spear. She hurled it.

Xiejit clapped his hands—deflecting it. A destructive beam pierced through, striking her left arm.

"*Aah!*"

Agony ripped a scream from her throat.

Indeed, they weren’t on the same level. Even with seventy percent of Lunorette’s power, Moyu couldn’t turn the tide.

"You fight well. Pity you’re still too green."

Xiejit smirked, stepping closer. His stamina, however, was fading.

Moyu clutched her wound, rose, gripped her sword, and charged. Flames traced her path as she sprinted.

Xiejit waved his hand. Beams shot wildly. Explosions bloomed.

Her sword thrust forward—