Chapter 31: Hypersonic Strikes: Lenas’s Overwhelming Powe

A proper fight.

If it can even be called a fight.

How many exchanges should there be?

The answer is meaningless.

Evenly matched opponents can be separated by a single mistake or stroke of luck.

A superior fighter can be defeated by a surprise attack, inferior equipment, or any number of factors.

But Teacher Lenas right now…

No. Is that Teacher Lenas?

I don’t know why,

but something’s different.

His presence is overwhelming.

The strength that used to make me tense is now palpable, bone-chilling.

And his current performance…

“Kyaaa!”

“That’s four.”

A single stroke.

Regardless of what lies in his sword’s path,

he cuts through it as if it were nothing, maintaining the same speed.

Hypersonic, unstoppable.

Overwhelming strength, rendering any action by the demons meaningless.

Teacher Lenas was undoubtedly strong,

but not this strong.

He was just below Teacher Raven’s level.

With a simple sword, he’s unmatched.

How could he power up this much in such a short time?

Awe.

Respect.

Curiosity.

Incomprehension.

Slice!

A single stroke bisects two demons.

A precise, unwavering, clean cut.

‘Arthur, that’s…’

Yes. That can’t be acquired in a short time.

A simple increase in physical strength is understandable.

An artifact, or a contract…though hard to believe, it’s possible.

But his stance, the refinement of his technique,

has clearly improved. That’s not something that can be simply acquired.

The only possibility is…

“He regained his power…?”

The hypothesis that the teacher originally possessed power comparable to a Transcendent.

The absurd physical enhancement, the heightened presence…it certainly explains it, but…

“Then…”

Why, when Teacher Raven was the Saintess,

during the battle that led to her death…why didn’t he unleash this power?

With that level of strength, no, even half of that power…

He could have effortlessly slaughtered those demons.

“No, stay calm.”

Teacher Lenas is an ally.

He came to help me, he’s saving me.

Without him, I would have died after the first demon, if not the second.

I shouldn’t doubt an ally.

Nothing is more absurd than being ruined by doubting your allies.

“Arthur, it seems we need to talk.”

Teacher Lenas, having cleared the area, approaches.

His sword, unable to withstand his merciless strikes, is torn and tattered.

He’s…

strong.

“Yes, we need a very long talk.”

“Indeed. A long talk. Listen carefully.”

Thud.

Teacher Lenas drops his sword.

The brittle blade shatters like ash as it hits the ground.

“First, it would be appropriate to call me…senior from now on.”

“…Senior?”

“Haha. Yes, I’m sure it’s hard to believe.”

Teacher Lenas approaches, a smile playing on his lips.

Beside him, a pure white space tears open, revealing a gleaming white blade.

Intricate runes.

Characters used by the Hero who came from another world, characters only a Hero can learn.

Without realizing it, I speak,

“A single flame blossoms in the barren sky.”

“Indeed. Hangeul.”

The sword bearing these characters

can only be summoned and wielded by a Hero.

“The Holy Sword of White Flame? This is clearly the previous Hero’s…”

“Arthur, my name isn’t Lenas. My true name is…”

“Revan. Revan, the Hero of Flame.”

Revan.

The most diligent and fastest Hero in history.

The one who defeated the Demon King directly, ignoring his subordinates,

leaving them in utter shock…

The reason for defeating the Demon King is due to demon tradition.

When the Demon King dies, the demons hold a fighting festival for a hundred years.

It’s partly to commemorate the Demon King’s death, but also because the victor of the festival becomes the next Demon King.

Simply put, it’s a hundred-year truce.

Defeating the Demon King is a very rational and economical activity.

Anyway, to think he’s my Hero senior…

With that level of strength, it makes sense…

“Senior Revan. I never dreamed I’d call someone from a hundred years ago ‘senior.’”

“I never thought I’d reveal myself to you. I have to join your journey now…”

Senior…Revan. Senior Revan chuckled, scratching the back of his head.

Transcendents who remain on the continent instead of becoming constellations lose most of their power to the night sky.

Because if they stay on earth and abuse their power, it would surely cause a great disaster.

“At first, I tried to live as Lenas. Well, I was excited when I remembered the day I started my adventure, but I was also afraid.”

Click.

Senior Revan smiled and held out the Holy Sword of White Flame towards the ground.

The Holy Sword remains silent.

“Now that the god who helped me is gone, any god who wants to kill me can try anytime, if they just present this proof that I’m the previous Hero.”

“Ah, because you’re still mortal…”

“Yes. If a true constellation comes to get me, who didn’t receive any ascension or sublimation when I became a constellation, it would be difficult. What worries me more is that if two Constellation-level beings fight, the aftermath…”

“How bad would it be?”

“About the level of the academy this morning?”

The academy this morning was hell.

Countless scars remained despite the magic teachers’ frantic restoration efforts.

Massive flames that wouldn’t be extinguished no matter how much water was poured on them.

Distorted space that would twist your arm if you entered.

…?

So, there are two Constellation-level or higher beings near the academy?

“Who caused that mess?”

The question, barely uttered through my tense body, was easily answered in a single sentence.

“Ah, I only know one side. Teacher Raven.”

“Aha. I understand.”

Teacher Raven, huh.

Hmm. Now I don’t think I’ll be surprised by any information about Teacher Raven.

Sensing my thoughts, Senior Revan exclaimed,

“Wow. He’s truly… unbelievable. I don’t even know if he’s human.”

Senior Revan slowly turned his head and looked towards the academy.

Several sticky yellow lumps were being thrown from inside the building.

Some were on fire, others were in pieces.

Senior Re… this is getting tedious.

Revan said with a hesitant expression,

“Anyway, I brought the original’s core. She might revive if all the clone remnants gather.”

“What’s the probability?”

“About thirty, forty percent. It’ll be troublesome if the original appears again. The clones will move systematically, and the original will run around dodging.”

“Hmm, so it was a clone after all…”

Well, if I could put up such a fight against such a high-ranking demon…

But…I was hoping, just in case, by some miracle, that I had become stronger.

…What is this?

The Hero, the former Hero, barely survived with help.

And Teacher Raven is fighting monsters that could crush me instantly, risking his life.

Others are steadily growing stronger.

I can’t even beat Ao without the Holy Sword.

“…Revan.”

“Yeah?”

“Please teach me.”

Thud.

I knelt and pleaded with Revan.

Our relationship soured when he was Teacher Lenas, but seeing him here now, he must want to reconcile.

If I receive training from him, even more intense than before,

couldn’t I protect the people precious to me?

“I was already planning on that, you foolish junior.”

Revan smiled playfully and patted my shoulder.

“…Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it. Consider yourself dead from now on.”

…Because I need to become stronger.

So I never lose anyone precious to me again.

Meanwhile, Alex’s perspective

Clang!

Sparks fly as steel clashes against steel.

But we’re clearly being pushed back.

By a single opponent with a single dagger!

“Ethan! Left!”

“Damn it! I know!”

Clang!

Ethan’s flame-imbued sword blocks the demon’s attack from the side.

But even with our continuous combined assault,

“Is this all? I’m not even envious.”

“Shut…up…”

Even after pushing with all our might until we were exhausted,

even after sacrificing the durability of our weapons,

he’s still standing.

“Heheh. That teacher will be so~ happy if I kill you.”

The demon in front of us licked his dagger, a cruel smile twisting his lips.

A long, crimson tongue spreads saliva across the blade.

That’s poison.

My body has been moving a fraction of a second too slow.

I’ve almost died several times because my mind and body weren’t in sync.

If it weren’t for Ethan, I would have died, and if it weren’t for me, Ethan would have died.

This is nothing short of despair.

Even those who were supporting us from behind have run away.

I don’t blame them. It’s amazing they even helped a little.

Ethan, with his professional training, and I, who’ve always lived on the edge of life and death, are just brave for students.

“Then…farewell, students.”

Crack…

The demon bends his knees, preparing to pounce.

I was cut in the side by that technique before.

I can’t think of a way to block it.

He’s too fast, and the poison is too potent.

Whoosh!

The demon vanishes from sight.

Is this the end?

“Fck…motherfcker…!”

“Huh. You have quite the mouth, Alex.”

Ethan chuckled from beside me, as if he’d seen something unexpected.

A noble crown prince, born with a different fate than mine.

It’s a bit funny that he treats me like a friend.

“Well, it was fun while it lasted, Ethan.”

“Same here. Other nobles always tried to accommodate me…but there was no one I could open up to like you.”

“That’s an honor. But…isn’t he…not coming? The attack.”

“Now that you mention it…”

I cautiously opened my eyes.

The same battlefield. The destroyed buildings.

And the demon, embedded in the left wall, battered and broken.

“Huh?”

“You would have been in trouble if I were any later, my dear students.”

A familiar voice from behind made me turn my head.

The familiar coat…is half-burnt, and the mask is covered in ash and dust, but

it’s the teacher.

“Teacher!””

“Haha. Yes, it is true that I am capable of hunting down and killing dozens of clones one by one.”