Chapter 638

Book 1 Chapter 638

638

Crunch— Crunch—

Moving cautiously through the gloomy woods, a group of second-year students bore anxious expressions.

“Ugh, the shadows here are incredibly deep.”

Positioned right in the middle of the formation, Shasha collapsed her fan with a sharp click and exhaled a heavy sigh.

The path the second-year group traveled was utterly devoid of light, resembling the dead of night.

In fact, it surpassed nighttime darkness.

After all, nocturnes usually offered the faint glow of stars and the moon.

In contrast, this suffocating, dense canopy blocked every single ray of daytime sun.

Thus, the squad had to navigate entirely by utilizing the Light sorcery cast by their magic users.

Prior to venturing into the woods, several pupils had proposed chopping down branches to improve visibility. However, those suggestions were instantly shut down by members of the Summoning Department.

“Foolish actions like that will force us to contend with the Great Spirit of Darkness before we even locate Senior Shiya.”

Situated on Island No. 6, this particular woodland—frequently called the Forest of Darkness—served as a sacred refuge for entities of shadow. Furthermore, right before the current second-year class arrived at the academy, the Abyssal Spirit known as Ignite took up residence in Lumern. Brought to Lumern to bolster the institution’s defensive wards, Ignite chose this specific Forest of Darkness as a personal domain.

While walking through the area was permitted, causing wanton destruction to this spiritual sanctuary would undoubtedly provoke Ignite’s absolute fury. Consequently, the second-year students had no alternative but to press on using spellcraft alone.

“Aina, do you sense anything unusual nearby?”

“Not yet.”

Following Aina’s terse reply from her position at the vanguard, Shasha reopened her fan and began swaying it gently. At present, the second-year contingent had split into four distinct squads, with Aina and Shasha operating in the exact same unit.

Suddenly, El Jane emerged from the surrounding gloom after conducting reconnaissance.

“What did you discover out there?”

“Not a single trace.”

“This search is going to drag on for ages, isn’t it?”

Shasha muttered, letting out a weary breath. Plonking her hands on her waist, El Jane mirrored the sentiment with her own soft sigh.

“Locating the Princess is bound to be a monumental challenge.”

“Alright, alright, we’ve heard that repeatedly,” Shasha remarked with a touch of haughtiness. “Tracking down Senior Shiya is obviously tough, but it’s not like she will just hide forever, right?”

“I suppose, but…” El Jane trailed off, shaking her head in doubt.

Aina slightly cocked her head, observing El Jane intently. Right at that moment, an urgent voice broke the silence.

“Everyone, over here!”

Another scout affiliated with the Shadow faction emerged from the dark, wearing an incredibly grim expression.

“A clash occurred nearby.”

“What did you say?”

The second-year pupils stared in shock.

An eerie stillness filled the woods, though it did not completely muffle noises. Even through the dense gloom, echoes of a distant skirmish should have carried. In fact, the quieter the environment, the sharper those sounds would typically ring out. Yet, a battle had occurred in total secrecy?

Led toward the location of the engagement, the second-year group fell into a stunned silence. Strands of thin line, suspended across various tree branches, shimmered brightly under the glow of the Light spellcraft. Recognizing the scene, a pupil from the Magic Department swallowed nervously.

“Could that be the ‘Thread Knife’ technique that Senior Chen Shiya deployed during the midterms in the first semester last year?”

It was a specialized weapon comprised of razor-sharp filaments. Chen Shiya had previously demonstrated how she mapped out her own lethal domain using the Thread Knife to ensnare her targets like an arachnid. The memory of Emio, who was a top-tier prodigy within the Magic Department back then, being subdued so effortlessly remained deeply etched in the minds of the underclassmen.

“Does this mean an entire group was decimated instantly?”

“Incredible… how did they manage to do that without making any noise?”

The second-year trainees trembled as they surveyed the remnants of the conflict.

“Spellcasters, initiate your Search magic immediately,” Shasha directed swiftly. “El Jane, stick close and protect me just to be safe.”

“You can count on me!”

Even under the illumination of Light sorcery, it was entirely possible for Chen Shiya to sneak close to Shasha. Because Shasha served as the primary offensive powerhouse for this unit, keeping her safeguarded was paramount. Furthermore, Shasha functioned as the strategic leader. While Aina possessed incredible solo combat capabilities, she lacked tactical leadership skills. If Shasha fell, their command hierarchy would disintegrate into utter disorder. Therefore, El Jane took up a defensive stance right behind Shasha.

The second-year students kept their eyes peeled, monitoring the perimeter. The precise instant El Jane began lifting her hand behind Shasha’s back—

Blaze—!

A blinding golden beam erupted. A magnificent surge of golden aura tore straight toward El Jane.

Boom-boom-crash—!

“Yikes!”

Shasha let out an involuntary gasp as the blade sliced so incredibly close to her that it nearly shaved her skin. Dodging frantically to avoid Aina’s sudden strike, El Jane screamed out.

“Are you out of your mind, Aina?!”

The remaining members of the squad stood frozen in utter bewilderment.

As the group struggled to comprehend what was happening, Aina calmly offered a concise remark.

“Your trick is useless, Senior.”

“What absolute nonsense are you spouting?!” El Jane snapped, her voice rising in anger.

Shasha glanced between them and interjected, “Aina, are you suggesting that Jane is actually Senior in disguise?”

“Exactly.”

“Wait, that makes no sense!” a student called out. “To begin with, El Jane and Senior Shiya possess completely distinct body shapes.”

“Precisely! To replicate someone’s appearance so flawlessly, you’d need high-level transformation magic or summoning techniques.”

“But I don’t detect even a trace of mana or spirit energy from her?”

It was well known that El Jane deeply admired Chen Shiya and frequently modeled her own style after her, mimicking everything from her haircut to her outfit. Because of this, it was remarkably easy for Chen Shiya to impersonate her. Nevertheless, El Jane stood noticeably taller than Chen Shiya. The figure standing before them matched El Jane’s exact proportions perfectly, defying simple explanation.

Even so, the second-year trainees immediately grew suspicious and raised their guard against El Jane, knowing Aina wouldn’t make such an accusation without reason.

“What exactly tipped you off?” Shasha inquired, keeping a watchful eye on the suspected imposter. By all appearances, nothing seemed out of place.

In response, Aina pointed out bluntly, “Her bust.”

“What?”

“The measurements are wrong. It is significantly more prominent than El Jane’s.”

“…”

“…”

Following that blunt observation, everyone’s eyes instinctively dropped downward.

“My, my. And here I thought I did an excellent job compressing it,” El Jane—or rather, Chen Shiya—sighed, abandoning her act with an amused expression. Looking toward the boys in the crowd, she teased with a grin, “Are you boys going to keep gawking forever?”

Flustered, the male students instantly averted their eyes, looking anywhere else.

Observing their lapse in focus, Shasha yelled in sheer exasperation.

“You absolute morons! Why are you looking away?!”

In that split second, throwing knives flew from Chen Shiya’s fingers like high-velocity rounds.

Thud-thud-thud-thud-boom—!

With a sequence of booming impacts, the projectiles shot outward, embedding themselves deeply into the surroundings. A heavy vibration rang out, a sound far too intense to be a mere deflection of light blades.

Whirrrr—

The apex of Aina’s blade quivered from the impact. Aina steadied her wrist to absorb the shock. The daggers were not merely swift; the kinetic force packed into each throw was staggering. The male trainees who had momentarily looked away swallowed hard in fear. Had Aina not intervened, they would have been instantly eliminated from the exercise.

As the boys stood trembling—

Zing—!

Closing the gap in the blink of an eye, Aina swept her blade ruthlessly toward Chen Shiya’s throat.

“My, you really don’t hold back, Aina,” Chen Shiya observed.

Most underclassmen would feel some trepidation facing a senior, but Aina exhibited zero hesitation. The moment she identified a target as an adversary, she struck with absolute focus—the ideal mindset for a knight and a practitioner of the blade. This unwavering resolve was precisely why Aina remained the undisputed apex of her peer group.

Chen Shiya deftly adjusted her palm, shifting the trajectory of Aina’s blade. Yet, Aina’s weapon pivoted with fluid agility, tracking Chen Shiya like a striking viper.

‘Luke might still hold the title of class representative, but…’ Chen Shiya pondered.

In truth, Aina had never truly relinquished her status as the top combatant among the second-years since the previous term. During the final exams of the first semester, Luke had closed the gap with staggering momentum, temporarily breaking through his thresholds to gain a slight advantage during their match. However, Luke had not permanently eclipsed her. Luke’s unique gift allowed him to surpass his boundaries in critical moments, enabling him to match Aina briefly, but he couldn’t maintain that superiority.

The primary reason Luke kept the class representative title was due to a shift in Aina’s demeanor.

‘To be precise, her underlying malice had faded.’

Influenced by Luke, Aina had spent the second semester integrating with her peers rather than single-mindedly dominating them. The lineage holder of the Sword Saint, who once walked a solitary path, had gradually blended into the student body. Yet, this change yielded a different kind of strength.

‘She has undeniably evolved.’

While the rest of the second-year students failed to perceive it, Chen Shiya saw it crystal clear. Aina had recaptured the raw essence of her first year, but her capabilities now operated on a completely higher plane compared to her classmates. Though her expression remained detached, a fierce determination burned in her gaze—a steadfast intent to soon reclaim her rightful peak. Far from slackening against Luke, she had been refining her techniques to ensure an indisputable victory next time.

Chen Shiya tracked the confusing, erratic arc of the incoming blade. The velocity was frightening.

‘Yet, it isn’t merely quick.’

Among the current third-year elite, the ones renowned for high-speed martial arts are Duran and Iliana. The hallmark of both Duran and Iliana’s styles relied purely on utilizing raw momentum to generate overwhelming force. Aina’s blade craft, however, possessed a wholly unique quality. It was rapid, unpredictable, and profoundly intricate—the hallmark of the illustrious Sword Saint lineage.

Swoosh—

The edge of Aina’s weapon lightly grazed past Chen Shiya’s cheek.

Touch—

Gently tapping her left cheek with a finger, Chen Shiya offered a charming smile.

“Incredible!”

“Aina is amazing!”

“She’s holding her ground perfectly against Senior Chen Shiya!”

Exclamations of admiration rose from the surrounding crowd. However, Aina simply bit her lip in frustration.

“Don’t celebrate.”

“What?”

“Senior Shiya… hasn’t even begun to fight seriously.”

Aina braced every muscle in her frame, recognizing that this brief window was her solitary opportunity to overcome Chen Shiya.

Snap- Pop—

Audible pops resonated from Chen Shiya’s joints. Following that rhythmic snapping, her physical frame gradually contracted. Brushing her hand across her face, her features shifted back to their authentic appearance. El Jane’s academy uniform now hung loosely on her true form.

Chen Shiya rolled her shoulders and let out a soft sigh. “This particular skill is incredibly useful, but it leaves my muscles terribly stiff.”

Furthermore, altering one’s skeletal framework disrupted the smooth circulation of aura, preventing the user from unleashing their genuine power.

“Phew!”

Chen Shiya extended her arms in a wide stretch.

Crack-crack-crack—

As her bones settled back into place with a series of satisfying pops, she kicked off the oversized footwear and casually slipped out of El Jane’s baggy uniform. The discarded jacket and skirt fluttered to the forest floor.

Catching sight of this, the panicked male students hurriedly averted their eyes once more.

Witnessing their reaction, Shasha smacked her own chest in frustration.

“Oh, for heaven’s sake! How many times do I need to explain this to you brainless idiots?! Keep your eyes on the target! She’s wearing her own clothes underneath, so stop acting so ridiculously flustered!”

Shasha screamed, her usual poised demeanor completely vanishing. She normally carried herself with refined grace, but whenever her patience snapped, her vocabulary became notably blunt and aggressive.

“One, two, three, four…”

Now clad perfectly in her own tailored uniform, Chen Shiya performed a few light stretches to loosen up, standing barefoot on the forest floor. The second-year group watched, utterly bewildered by her unbothered posture. Since the clock was ticking in favor of the underclassmen, they anticipated that Chen Shiya would make a hasty offensive move. Yet, she completely defied those assumptions.

Chen Shiya was entirely relaxed, acting as though she was deliberately biding her time for reinforcements to arrive.

“Senior Shiya is over here!”

“Encircle her immediately!”

With the arrival of the remaining squads, Chen Shiya found herself completely hemmed in by the second-year coalition. Setting aside the initial group she had already incapacitated, roughly three-quarters of the entire second-year cohort had converged on this single location.

“Senior Shiya, aren’t you treating this situation a bit too lightly?” Shasha questioned, masking her mouth behind her fan as her eyebrows knitted together. It was painfully obvious that Chen Shiya had waited for the second-years to pool their numbers.

‘Is she planning some sort of trap?’ Shasha wondered.

“There are no hidden traps,” Chen Shiya replied with an endearing grin. “I am simply entirely certain of my victory.”

Hearing this, Haviden’s brow twitched with irritation.

“Senior, we hold you in high regard. However, regardless of your status, this level of arrogance is insulting to all of us.”

“It might certainly come across that way if you view me strictly as Hero Candidate Chen Shiya,” she replied smoothly.

“What do you mean by that?”

Chen Shiya nodded in acknowledgment. “Tell me, are you all aware? Within the shadows…”

She offered a pleasant smile. Right then, a wave of sheer dread washed over the faces of the frontline knight trainees surrounding her.

Fading smoothly—

Chen Shiya’s physical form began dissolving into the murky air.

“Excluding a single individual…”

Chen Shiya gave a parting smirk.

“…I happen to be the absolute strongest among the third-year ranks.”

As the final syllable left her lips, Chen Shiya dissolved completely into the dark.