"Woah~ calm down,dy, you''re going to kill this kid at this rate, fufu~"


    "Please—help me…!"


    niel snickered, her amusement evident as she observed the agitated Siena. As the only grandmaster of this world, Siena''s released aura reached an unprecedented level, engulfing most of the entire academy in its oppressive grasp.


    Having felt Siena''s power before, niel couldn''t help but notice the stark difference this time. Animosity emanated from Siena''s eyes, adding a lethal edge to her already formidable aura.


    The intensity of her gaze made the air feel charged, as if a wrong move could cut through it like a de. niel, although ustomed to the grandmaster''s power, couldn''t shake the feeling that the situation had escted to an entirely different level.


    Yet, even amid the tension, niel found herself hoping to incite an attack. She sensed that Siena, despite the fury in her eyes, might restrain herself enough to avoid harming the young girl still ensnared in niel''s tentacles.


    Meeting Siena''s gaze directly, niel continued to smile, her demeanor seemingly unaffected by the escting confrontation.


    With a deliberate motion, niel removed the white mask covering her face, revealing features that were as enigmatic as they were alluring. The smirk on her lips persisted, undeterred by the escting tension.


    Her thought wondered how much she would adapt if she ever survives an attack from grandmaster like her.


    "Much better~" niel remarked, her fingers gently touching her face as she assessed her condition, feeling a slight stiffness.


    She then gracefully seated herself in the chair, her demeanorposed and seemingly unfazed by the escting tension in the room.


    Siena, her hands still firmly gripping the handles of her sword.


    "You—what exactly do you want?" Her hands trembled slightly as she sought any potential openings that niel might inadvertently reveal.


    Siena had carefully calcted the power of her attack to ensure it would only st niel away without causing any harm to the young girl still ensnared in the tentacles.


    Now, her focus shifted to identifying a gap in niel''s defenses to press forward with her strategy.


    Despite the brewing conflict, Siena refused to let go or lighten the aura she released.


    niel had warned her about the potential danger to the kid due to the immense pressure, but Siena''s precise control over her aura demonstrated her mastery.


    She ensured that the child would only experience a minimal fraction of the overwhelming force she exuded.


    This level of control showcased Siena''s unparalleled skill, proving her dominance over the maniption of aura.


    "Again, with that useless question… I told you already I''m here to cause chaos~! What about you, what are you doing here? I never thought a master such as you would have any reasons to visit this academy. Are you nning to be a professor?"


    niel replied, a hint of annoyance in her tone. She then casually reached out with one of her tentacles, effortlessly grabbing a teapot and two tea cups.


    As the two women locked eyes, a silent battle of wits and strength unfolded. The tension between them remained palpable, never dissipating, even though niel adopted a nonchnt demeanor.


    Her gaze held a certain amusement, and she made slight, calcted stares at Siena''s face, her impable smile never wavering. It was a game, a waiting game for Siena to make a move.


    ''If she makes even one mistake, just one opening…. She''s dead!''


    Siena, however, was equallyposed. Her eyes were sharp, actively seeking opportunities to gain an advantage over her enigmatic adversary.


    …..


    Emerging from the dungeon, I couldn''t help but whistle at the horrifying scene unfolding before me.


    Houses and buildings were engulfed in mes, blood rained from the sky like a macabre shower, and the desperate cries of people filled the air.


    Monsters attacked relentlessly, and battles erupted in every conceivable corner. Inside and outside buildings, shes were born from the chaos that gripped the entire area.


    Gazing upward at the bloody sky, I noticed high-ranking magic andbat professors engaging in fierce battles against niel''s demons.


    Despite being outnumbered, the professors seemed to be holding their ground.


    As I observed more closely, I sensed a subtle yet dense divine energy emanating from them. Following its source, my eyes caught a group of priests and pdins in the distance.


    "Are they blessing them?"


    I wondered aloud. It made the most sense—leveraging the demons'' weakness against divine energy.


    Among the divine protectors, there was someone at the center, guarded by a formation of pdins.


    He appeared to be a man in histe 40s to early 50s, his aged countenance betraying the wisdom of years.


    Judging by his appearance, the amount of divine energy he wielded was almost equal to Elena.


    ''He must be the bishop…''


    As I observed the bishop from afar, the conflicting thoughts swirled in my mind. He was undoubtedly a hindrance at the moment, but his importance couldn''t be overlooked.


    I couldn''t risk causing any more distress to Elena, who regarded him as a father figure. Despite the urge to eliminate him, I had to exercise restraint for now.


    My focus shifted to finding Euphemia. ording to Loki, she was trapped in herboratory at Estelle Hall, along with several students.


    It was unusual for her to allow anyone besides me into herb, but desperate times called for desperate measures. The escting situation left no room for objections or preferences. Besides, most of those students were likely from the alchemy department, ustomed to handling vtile situations.


    Considering the evacuation ofbat-oriented students from the dungeon, it was probable that others had been left behind. Professors could only do so much to manage the chaos.


    However, it was heartening to know that some students, particrly the fourth-years, had chosen to stay and assist in the rescue efforts. Their experience in perilous situations had evidently equipped them with a sense ofposure amidst the turmoil.


    Shifting my focus away from the ongoing events, I nced at my status screen. Unsurprisingly, I found that I couldn''t activate Hero''s Will.


    [Hero''s Will] [Inactive/(Locked)]


    [Notice…!]


    [Conditions haven''t been met to evoke Hero''s Will, User efficiency with divine power low, User level is too low, User efficiency with divine synergy too low, Emergency conditions can''t be applied User situation normal]


    As expected, circumstances required to trigger Hero''s Will were not currently met. My efficiency with divine power, user level, and divine synergy all fell short of the necessary criteria. The emergency conditions, which had prompted the activation of Hero''s Will back in the forest, were absent, as my current situation was deemed normal.


    Afterall it was only by chance – when three formidable entities pushed me to the brink of death through their overwhelming presence – that my system initiated emergency measures, allowing the evocation of Hero''s Will.


    Being cautious about potential confusion, I decided to im the holy sword for myself.


    I wanted to avoid any conflicting situations where people might mistakenly associate Tristan as the hero, considering that he possessed the qualifications while I held the authorities.


    The possession of the sword by him could lead to unnecessary confusion, as he and I each had distinct roles in this intricate cosmic y.


    Retrieving the holy sword from my sister''s domain, I sensed the immediate reaction of the authority Sword of Light within me.


    Even the simple act of touching the sword initiated a synergy, causing the beautiful silvery-white glow of the de to gradually transform into a resplendent golden hue.


    If fully activated, the authority within me would turn the sword into a radiant golden beacon.


    As I opened a portal adjacent to me, linking it to Estelle Hall, an overwhelming pressure suddenly descended upon me. It wasn''t just me; the sensation seemed to affect everyone in the vicinity.


    This feeling, was it Siena? What happened?


    I thought I told niel to make sure to keep her at bay….


    "Did they fight? Now, that would be troublesome" I mused, contemting the potential consequences of a sh between them.


    Siena possessed the power to annihte everyone present if she unleashed her full might.


    The thought sent a shiver down my spine—niel needed to control her impulses. Knowing her penchant for provocation, it was likely she had goaded Siena in some way.


    Despite my desire to assess the situation and intervene, if necessary, I reminded myself of my priorities.


    I needed to go to Euphemia first and ensure that Aunt''s spell would activate as nned.


    It was imperative that the n proceeded smoothly, even though the thought of whaty ahead filled me with apprehension.


    "It would be quite painful for me though…"


    …..


    "What should we do?"


    "Shouldn''t we also help out?"


    "Ahh, I want to go home!"


    "Why aren''t the professors back yet?"


    As the students voiced their concerns and frustration, Euphemia could only sigh in response.


    She looked at the group with a mixture of annoyance and understanding as she continued to work on brewing a series of potions.


    The scarred faces of the students grated on her nerves, and she couldn''t help but feel irritated by their constantints.


    Initially engrossed in her usual experiments in her personalb, Euphemia''s peaceful day had taken an unexpected turn.


    A slew of events unfolded, thrusting the academy into a state of emergency.


    Estelle Hall, being the most magically defended structure, had be a temporary shelter for random individuals from themercial district and students alike.


    The academy''s training facilities now served as temporary bunkers, with every avable room upied, including Euphemia''s privateb.


    Despite the inconvenience, she had no room toin. Even with her average magical skills, she sensed the unfolding events outside, detecting a demonic presence just beyond the doors.


    As the students grumbled and yearned for normalcy, Euphemia worked diligently on her potions.


    The urgency of the situation required her to set aside personal grievances and focus on aiding those around her.


    The distant sounds of chaos reached her ears, a constant reminder of the perilous circumstances surrounding Estelle Hall.


    Euphemia''s irritation with the students was overshadowed by a sense of responsibility.


    While the desire to return to her usual experiments tugged at her, she knew that she needed to contribute to the collective effort to weather the storm.


    Although she didn''t want to believe it, the reality was undeniable—demons had invaded the academy, the very heart of the continent.


    Suppressing her fear, Euphemia tried to calm herself, desperately hoping for the return of the professors. However, her brief respite was shattered by a sudden, blood-curdling scream that echoed through the halls, sending shivers down her spine.


    "Graaagh…!!!" The dying scream just outside the door intensified the panic among the students inside. Some cast reinforcement magic on the already strengthened door in a desperate attempt to fortify their sanctuary.


    Amidst the chaos, loud steps approached, growing louder until they were just outside the door.


    A collective shiver ran down the spines of everyone as they waited in fearful anticipation. The steps came to a halt, and a tense silence enveloped the room.


    "...."


    Then, a sudden knock shattered the silence.


    "Knock…! Knock…!"


    The sound interrupted their confused thoughts, freezing them in ce. An uneasy hush filled the room before a familiar voice called out, breaking the tension.


    "Euphemia, are you here?"


    All eyes turned to Euphemia as the voice outside identified her. Despite the fear that had gripped her moments ago, a smile formed on her lips.


    "Adrian...?" she whispered, disbelief mingling with relief.


    "Yes, can you let me in? We need to get out of here"