Sarah said uneasily, “Junior Issei, you should still stay with us.”
Issei said with a serious expression, “Senior Sarah, don’t worry. I’m quite confident in my ability to escape.”
There was a reason Issei chose to search for the other people from the Magic Academy alone.
First, staying away from the female lead, Sarah, could reduce a lot of unknown risks.
Second, by acting alone, he wouldn’t have to worry about exposing his true strength. It was much safer than going out with Luke, who was only at the third-tier level.
Looking at the unquestionable determination in his eyes and recalling his previous precise “observations” and decisive handling of situations, Sarah was worried but ultimately chose to trust his judgment.
“Alright, Junior Issei, safety is the priority. If anything goes wrong, withdraw immediately!” Sarah urged solemnly.
“Don’t worry, Senior. I’m very afraid of death. I promise that if I encounter danger, I’ll run faster than a startled rabbit,” Issei emphasized his “safety first” principle once again.
Emma stuffed several high-quality healing and mana potions into Issei’s hands. “Junior, take these. Be careful.”
Issei did not refuse. He took the potions and thanked her sincerely, “Thank you, Senior Emma.”
He knew that these potions weren’t much to him, but the sentiment was rare and appreciated.
Luke leaned in close to Issei, winking and saying in a voice only the two of them could hear, “Senior, do you really not have any ‘good stuff’ to give me for self-defense? I promise I won’t use it recklessly!”
Issei rolled his eyes at him. “How about a slap to the face? Do you want that?”
Luke immediately shrank back and gave a dry laugh. “Never mind then. Senior, please go and come back quickly.”
The one who made Issei feel the most warmth was the little girl named Linke.
She stepped forward, tilting up her dirty but clear-eyed face, and said seriously, “Big brother, you must be careful and come back safely.”
Issei’s heart stirred. He crouched down and gently patted her head. “Mm, I promise. Linke should also take good care of herself and the other children.”
He had already planned that once this matter was settled, he would test Linke’s aptitude. If she had talent, he would secretly sponsor her enrollment in an academy. If not, with his wealth, it wouldn’t be difficult to establish a shelter to settle these children.
—
After leaving the square and confirming he was out of everyone’s sight…
He completely unleashed his [Speed] attribute, which had been boosted to an absurd level by the system. His figure moved through the ruins of the Raymond territory like a phantom, moving so fast that he left only faint afterimages in the air.
The biggest advantage of acting alone was that there was no longer any need to pretend; he could go all out.
He first discovered Roger, Elsa, and their group from Laimon Academy.
They were trapped in a relatively narrow street, surrounded by roaring low-level Vampires.
Roger was commanding with composure, using Ice Magic to create obstacles and control the field, while Elsa and the other students carried out precise kills.
The rhythm of their attack had clearly slowed down. They seemed to be cautiously distinguishing between individuals who were completely demonized and those who might still have a trace of humanity left. Although their progress was slow, their formation was solid, and there was no immediate danger.
Issei only glanced from a distance before quietly leaving.
Next, he encountered the students from Siding Academy moving toward the square. There weren’t many of them, but they cooperated perfectly. They used various simple magic tools and preset miniature magic circles to efficiently clear the Vampires along the way. Their efficiency was even higher than that of Laimon Academy; clearly, their professional expertise was playing its part at this moment.
Now, only Rhea and Leon from Liyue Academy were left.
For some reason, the more he searched, the stronger the faint sense of unease in Issei’s heart grew, as if something extremely bad was happening.
Just as he passed through the ruins of what was once a noble estate, a massive surge of fire element suddenly erupted in the distance!
That energy was so fierce and condensed that it dyed nearly half the night sky over the Raymond territory a crimson red!
A giant fire dragon, composed entirely of pure flames, let out an earth-shaking roar. Carrying the power to burn everything, it soared into the sky and then dove down toward a central point! Issei would never mistake that familiar magic fluctuation—
“It’s Rhea!” His heart tightened. For Rhea to use such powerful magic without hesitation meant the enemy she faced was absolutely no small matter!
He immediately pushed his speed to the limit and galloped toward the direction where the fire dragon had descended.
—
At this moment, in a clearing in the center of a certain manor in the Raymond territory, the scene was tragic.
Rhea was down on one knee, her short silver hair matted to her forehead with sweat and dust.
Her usually meticulous uniform was torn in many places, revealing skin marked with bloodstains.
She was breathing heavily, her hand holding her sword trembling slightly. Those silver-gray eyes, which were always cold and clear, were now filled with unbelievable shock and a trace of… unavoidable powerlessness.
Standing in front of her was a figure that looked completely out of place on this tragic battlefield.
It was a silver-haired girl with hair reaching her waist who looked only eleven or twelve years old. She wore an exquisite black lace dress, and her porcelain-white, almost transparent bare feet floated a few inches off the ground. her features were as delicate as a doll’s, and her red eyes were like the finest rubies—pure and translucent, yet bottomless, carrying an indifference that looked down upon all living beings, completely contrary to her appearance.
However, it was this seemingly harmless “little girl” who had just taken a direct hit from Rhea’s full-power Fifth-tier Magic.
At this moment, around her, the ground had been melted into crystalline traces by the high temperature, and the air was distorted by the heat. But she herself, along with her magnificent dress, was untainted by a speck of dust. Not even a single strand of her hair was out of place.
That Fifth-tier Fire Magic, which was enough to heavily injure or even kill an ordinary Lord-level monster, had failed to harm her in the slightest!
“Hah… hah…” Rhea’s breathing was rapid and chaotic. Her worldview had suffered a massive blow.
The flames she was so proud of were actually completely ineffective?
Just what kind of monster was this?
“Decent flames,” the silver-haired girl spoke. Her voice was crisp and pleasant, yet it carried an ancient and lazy undertone. “The temperature and condensation are both acceptable. Among humans, you are considered somewhat talented.”
She tilted her head, her blood-red eyes sizing Rhea up with interest, specifically noting the short silver hair that was similar to her own. A flash of satisfaction appeared in her eyes.
“My name is Vivian Camilla,” she continued, her tone as if she were stating an obvious fact. “I appreciate your resilience, as well as this beautiful silver hair. It would be a pity for such a stubborn and beautiful soul to vanish in time.”
She floated forward a short distance, ignoring Rhea’s instantly tensed body and her raised sword. “Become my child. I shall grant you eternal life and power far exceeding what you have now. That silver hair of yours matches mine quite well. It is only right that you become my kin, my… daughter.”
“Don’t even think about it!” Rhea gritted her teeth and forced herself to stand. The residual mana in her body surged again, and an unyielding flame ignited on her sword. “I am a human. How could I ever become the child of a monster like you!”
“Quite a stubborn little thing,” Vivian Camilla shook her head gently, a smile on her face.
She simply raised a fair little hand and made a light grasping motion toward Rhea.
There was no earth-shattering commotion, but the air around Rhea seemed to freeze instantly!
An invisible, irresistible force crushed down from all sides. Not only did it instantly snuff out the flames on her sword, but it also pinned her entire body firmly in place, leaving her unable to move even a finger!
This was an absolute gap in power!
Rhea struggled desperately, the veins on her forehead bulging, but it was like an ant trying to shake a tree—futile.
She could only watch helplessly as Vivian Camilla floated slowly toward her, as if taking a stroll in a garden.
“Pointless struggling.” Vivian Camilla extended a slender finger and gently tilted Rhea’s chin up, forcing her to make eye contact. The icy touch made Rhea tremble. “Feel it, mortal. What true… noble power is.”
Before she finished speaking, Vivian Camilla leaned down slightly. That doll-like face approached Rhea’s neck, revealing two sharp, small fangs beneath her lips that emitted a deadly, cold light.
“No…!” A flash of panic finally appeared in Rhea’s eyes, but she couldn’t even turn her head away.
In the next moment, an icy stinging pain came from her carotid artery.
At the same time, an indescribable, strange energy—carrying extreme coldness and powerful vitality—was forcibly injected into Rhea’s body along with the loss of her blood!
This power was incredibly domineering. Everywhere it passed, her own mana was rapidly assimilated and eroded like melting snow.
Intense pain swept through her entire body, as if every cell was being torn apart and reorganized. Her consciousness began to blur, and control over her body was being stripped away…
Just as Rhea’s consciousness was on the brink of sinking completely, she used the last bit of her strength to turn her head with great difficulty toward the entrance of the manor. There, a figure she absolutely did not want to see at this moment was rushing through the smoke and dust at an incredible speed.
It was Issei!
What is this idiot doing here?
Issei’s figure was frozen in her gradually blurring vision. She saw the rare, undisguised shock on his face and… perhaps a trace of anxiety?
‘Run… quick…’ This was Rhea’s last thought before she lost consciousness.
Vivian Camilla released Rhea and watched with satisfaction as she slumped to the ground.
At this time, the wound on Rhea’s neck had already healed, but her skin had become exceptionally pale. Her breathing, which had been rapid from combat, became almost inaudible. Her life signs were shifting in a bizarre manner.
Vivian Camilla licked a non-existent bloodstain from the corner of her lips and looked at the newly arrived, grim-faced Issei. A hint of surprise flashed in her ruby-like eyes, followed quickly by that high-and-mighty laziness.
“Oh? Another interesting little fellow has arrived.” She tilted her head, sizing Issei up. “It seems I’ll have quite a bit of fun tonight.”
Issei looked at Rhea, who lay motionless on the ground, and felt the chilling aura identical to Vivian Camilla’s rapidly transforming within her. His heart sank to the bottom.
…Rhea, has she been given the First Embrace by the Blood Race member in front of him?