Ch.160160. 10 Minutes

A deep-seated chill hung in the air.

The Salvation Corps members slowly tightened their encirclement, ready to respond if Findenai made even the slightest movement.

But the one who moved faster than anyone else was none other than Findenai herself.

Her leap didn’t produce even the faintest sound. The two axes she wielded left no afterimage as they suddenly came crashing down on the superhuman’s head.

KWANG!

“…!”

Even Oscorp, called a superhuman, had to hastily raise his greatsword in panic—Findenai’s speed was too difficult to follow with the naked eye.

“Keuugh!”

Clearly, despite wearing specially manufactured protective gear that should have given him the advantage in strength…

He couldn’t push back the axes that were bearing down with full force.

WEEEEEING!

Humiliated, Oscorp had no choice but to use his full power. Yellow energy surged through his greatsword as its saw blade began to rotate.

But Findenai, already familiar with the greatsword’s function, had swiftly pulled her body back.

The moment she landed on the ground, she charged toward the Salvation Corps members without a moment’s hesitation.

The protective gear worn by the Salvation Corps members couldn’t be destroyed by axes, but…

She had already faced countless Salvation Corps members and their protective gear.

CRACK!

As the axe blade struck a member’s head with tremendous force, his neck twisted unnaturally.

Though the protective gear remained unmarked, the Salvation Corps member inside couldn’t withstand the impact, and his neck bone simply broke.

“…!”

The Salvation Corps members were shocked by her brutally rough strength and fighting style.

Fear began to rise within them as the protective gear they thought invincible was so easily penetrated with a single blow.

Not missing this opportunity, the woman’s blood-red eyes quickly sought her next prey.

BANG!

BANG!

BANG!

It was truly strength beyond human limits. She was hunting them down, breaking the necks of enemies armored in protective gear as sturdy as a knight’s heavy armor with a single blow.

“HUUUU!”

Each time her tattered coat fluttered, another Salvation Corps member fell.

Even when they tried to respond, the members fell into panic as they had never faced such a situation before.

They had only ever hidden behind their overwhelmingly defensive protective gear, carrying out one-sided massacres.

That’s why they were called the Salvation Corps—exterminators of vermin.

But she was no vermin.

If anything, she was a wolf.

One that had crossed mountain ranges.

Eventually, the Salvation Corps members had no choice but to draw their rifles instead of their suppression batons.

Even if they shot their allies, the protective gear would shield them. So they pulled their triggers toward Findenai without hesitation, but…

“Come at me, you bastards!”

The last of her mana explosively erupted from beneath Findenai’s feet, creating a storm.

The bullets were swept up and scattered into the sky like violently swirling snowflakes.

In that gap, Findenai once again dove between her enemies, swinging her axes.

Through the gloves she wore, she felt strength being injected into her each time she took down an enemy.

‘It’s called the Blood Tide Glove. If you inject blood while using it, you’ll feel your strength gradually increasing.’

‘You’re giving this to me?’

‘Yes, it suits you well.’

Remembering that conversation, Findenai’s lips curled up slightly, sentimental despite herself.

Findenai grew stronger the longer a battle lasted.

However, for her, life itself was a struggle.

Twenty-seven years.

She had been fighting for a full twenty-seven years. Without a moment’s rest, fighting for freedom from unjust oppression and tyranny.

“KUAAAAA!”

The essence of that struggle was now being unleashed in this very place.

Everything that made up the woman called Findenai was pouring out.

She could no longer be called a wolf.

Ferocious beast.

Findenai had now become a monstrous calamity raging solely against the Republic, but…

WEEEEEING!

“That’s enough rampaging, you beast.”

With a chilling rotational sound, the saw-bladed greatsword heavily pushed into her side.

Simultaneously, bullets flew toward her.

She instinctively realized they weren’t aiming at her, but at the spaces where she might dodge.

Finally.

CRUNCH!

Findenai blocked Oscorp’s saw-bladed greatsword with her worn-out axes in both hands.

In the end, her axes were completely shattered, and the saw blade tore into her flesh as it struck.

BANG!

Findenai was sent flying toward the main gate of the Kid Zone. She tried to force herself up, straining her trembling legs, but…

BANG! BANG!

Precisely aimed bullets pierced her shoulder and thigh.

She didn’t even have the strength to scream.

Steam rose where the heat from her body, having given everything, met the cold air outside.

“Ha, ah…”

Exhaling, Findenai made one last desperate attempt to reach inside her coat with her trembling hand, but…

BANG! BANG! BANG!

More bullets pierced her, unwilling to allow any foolish gestures, and Findenai’s hand went limp.

With that, the items in her possession spilled out.

A cigarette case and lighter.

And.

A photograph.

A picture of Deus Verdi looking stoically at the camera in front of a wall painted with wings.

Blood was pouring from her entire body, but somehow, not a single drop had stained that photograph.

“Heh.”

Findenai let out a hollow breath at the absurdity.

“Damn, you’re still handsome even at a time like this.”

Finding her own sentiment ridiculous, Findenai slowly raised her head.

Beyond the grounds of the detention camp, past the Salvation Corps members and Oscorp surrounding her, she saw a pure white sky that looked ready to pour down heavy snow at any moment.

Would that man be looking at the same sky?

He must be looking at the same sky as her, right?

Though they were so far apart, the feeling of connection somehow made her feel not so bad.

For him, death wasn’t the end, so she hoped he wouldn’t regret her demise too much.

She hoped he would be proud of her, becoming the foundation for freedom that would someday come to this land.

‘Because I can die as the person you loved.’

Though she didn’t know when…

‘Just… thank you.’

Surely, they would meet again.

“No! Hey! I told you I have an appointment with the professor!”

A girl’s irritated voice could be heard. The black-haired girl had something against her ear, apparently in the middle of a communication.

The person on the other end was arguing back, just as annoyed as the girl.

– Who says I don’t? I also promised Deus I’d go back to Greyford and behave!

“You and I are different, okay? I have my own reasons that I can’t explain to you! Ugh, if it weren’t for the princess…”

– What? Really what! You’re facing execution as soon as this is over! No, wait! Quickly place the warp marker so Tairn and I can come execute you right away!

“That’s ridiculous! That old man got beaten up by me at the royal palace last time, is he doing better now?!”

– He said he only used one arm because watching you act up was pathetic! Right, Tairn?

– P-Princess! You must maintain your dignity! There are people around…!

It was absurd.

Just moments ago, she had been saying her final farewell to this world.

Yet now, the black-haired girl standing before her was throwing a tantrum just like she used to during their academy days.

– Come on, place it quickly! That thing takes time!

“I got it! Let me say this one more time—you have to keep this secret from the professor! Don’t try to score points on your own!”

– …

“Why aren’t you answering?!”

KWANG!

The black-haired girl, full of irritation, thrust a sharp-ended pillar she was holding into the ground.

The golden mana contained within spread brilliantly as if it had been waiting for this moment.

Soon after, the golden mana formed a massive pillar that shot high into the sky.

“Done.”

– Yeah, I can detect it from here too. Good job. Just hold out for 10 minutes. Can you do that?

“What? You said 5 minutes earlier!”

– What? Crackle! Can’t hear you well. Crackle! Is something wrong with the communication?

“I can see you making those sounds with your mouth. Sigh, the kingdom really needs to be overthrown.”

– I just heard that, you rebel! I’m telling my brother and you’re getting executed right away!

“You were the one trying to rebel in the first timeline, idiot!”

CRACK!

The girl, Aria Rius, threw the communication device to the ground, smashing it.

After her tantrum, she naturally made eye contact with Findenai who was behind her.

“Kid…?”

“My goodness, you’re in terrible shape. Take these and help yourself.”

Aria pulled out several rare items from her possession. These were precious medicines and remedies she had carefully selected after nearly dying multiple times in the first timeline.

Among them was even the highest-grade recovery potion exclusively supplied to the royal family.

“Help yourself to these. I need to buy some time.”

With those words, Aria tightened the robe she was wearing and turned her attention to the Salvation Corps members and Oscorp who were staring blankly behind her.

“Who are you?”

Oscorp asked Aria, who had suddenly appeared in an instant. He felt a strange unease about her, as if she had performed some kind of magic to appear in the blink of an eye.

To Oscorp’s question, Aria responded with a cheerful wink.

“Just an ordinary schoolgirl who’s about to become a second-year student.”

“School…girl?”

It sounded like the answer of a mentally disturbed person, but what followed was anything but.

“Yes! But for 10 minutes.”

KUUNG!

A massive greatsword appeared in her hand from nowhere and struck the ground.

The ominous jet-black greatsword, which by its very existence suggested it was no ordinary weapon, sent deep reverberations throughout the entire detention camp.

An eerie wind blew in, heralding something sinister.

“For exactly 10 minutes.”

Overflowing fighting spirit.

Rising mana.

A tsunami of mana swirled within the girl, so powerful that bullets couldn’t even leave their barrels.

With a relaxed smile before Oscorp Baltan, the superhuman of the Republic who had taken countless lives…

The girl declared:

“I’ll become a hero.”

For exactly 10 minutes.

Aria Rius abandoned her status as a ‘student.’

And returned as a ‘hero.’