Grand Return System

The Fury of Celestis Academy [Part -3]

He saw Selena and Rias continuing to protect the younger students with blood-soaked robes and unwavering resolve.

A faint smile appeared on his face.

"So..."

"They’re still fighting."

"Good."

Very good.

No matter what happened today...

The spirit of Celestis Academy had not broken.

That alone...

Made everything worthwhile.

Shera slowly lifted his sword again.

Its tip pointed steadily toward Dario.

His voice was calm.

"If I still have one breath left..."

"You won’t take another step."

Those simple words echoed across the battlefield.

Every member of Celestis Academy felt their hearts tremble.

Dario’s expression darkened.

"Stubborn fool."

Dark Mana exploded from his body once again.

The Strange Origin pulsed violently, feeding him an endless stream of sinister power.

His killing intent soared.

"Then die with your precious academy!"

With a furious roar, Dario gathered all of his strength into one devastating strike.

The black sword descended from the heavens like the judgment of a demon.

The surrounding space distorted violently.

Even the distant mountains shook beneath its terrifying might.

Shera inhaled deeply.

He silently gathered the last remnants of Mana within his exhausted body.

This...

Would be his final exchange.

He tightened his grip.

His sword slowly rose.

The battlefield fell into absolute silence.

Then—

The two swords met once more.

The instant the two swords met, heaven and earth seemed to lose their color.

Boom!

A blinding pillar of light burst into the sky.

The collision of their Mana shattered the surrounding clouds, and countless cracks spread across the barren wasteland beneath them. Mountains collapsed one after another as violent shockwaves rolled endlessly across the battlefield.

Everyone instinctively stopped fighting.

Every eye turned toward the sky.

This clash...

Would decide the fate of the battle.

Shera’s entire body trembled violently.

The Blood Drinking Art had already exhausted every last drop of strength hidden within him. His skin split apart under the unbearable strain, and streams of blood flowed down his arms, staining the hilt of his sword crimson.

Still...

He refused to let go.

His sword remained firmly raised.

His gaze never left Dario.

"Break!"

Dario roared, his face twisted with madness.

The Strange Origin erupted once more, flooding his body with endless dark Mana. His strength surged again, overwhelming Shera’s already failing defense.

Crack...

A faint fracture appeared along Shera’s sword.

Another followed.

Then another.

The pressure became unbearable.

Boom!

Shera was thrown backward like a falling meteor, crashing through several rocky cliffs before finally slamming into the ground.

Dust billowed into the sky.

The earth shook violently.

A deep crater spread beneath his body.

For several breaths...

Nothing moved.

"Guardian Elder Shera!"

The cries of countless students echoed across the battlefield.

Yaman’s eyes widened.

Aldric’s expression froze.

Even Maya’s graceful face lost all color.

Slowly...

Very slowly...

Shera pushed himself up.

His breathing was shallow.

His robes had long since been soaked completely in blood.

Even standing had become difficult.

Yet somehow...

He still stood.

His sword remained in his hand.

Dario looked down at him from the sky, his expression dark and murderous.

"I’ll admit it."

"You’ve exceeded my expectations."

"But..."

His voice turned colder.

"This ends now."

Dark Mana gathered around his sword once again.

Its terrifying pressure spread across the battlefield like a tidal wave.

Everyone felt despair rising in their hearts.

Shera quietly raised his eyes to meet Dario’s gaze.

Black mist rolled through the heavens like an endless sea, and its terrifying pressure spread across the battlefield like a tidal wave.

Everyone felt despair settle deep inside their hearts.

Shera quietly raised his eyes to meet Dario’s gaze.

His body had already reached its absolute limit.

Every bone felt shattered.

Every meridian burned as though molten iron had been poured through it.

The Blood Drinking Art had long exhausted his life force. There was no Mana left to circulate, no strength left to unleash another technique.

His fingers barely maintained their grip on the sword.

Even standing had become a miracle.

"So... this is the end..."

A bitter smile appeared on his bloodstained face.

He had done everything he could.

He had bought enough time.

If his death could allow even one more student of Celestis Academy to survive...

Then it was worth it.

Dario no longer intended to waste another word.

His sword descended.

The black blade tore through the sky, carrying enough power to split mountains apart.

Shera tried to raise his sword.

His arm trembled violently.

It refused to move.

His body had finally betrayed him.

The terrifying sword reached him in an instant.

Without hesitation—

Dario drove his sword straight into Shera’s Spiritual Core.

"Pfft!"

Shera’s body trembled violently.

A mouthful of blood burst from his lips, staining the air crimson.

The violent Mana instantly shattered his cultivation foundation.

Every remaining trace of power within him collapsed.

Pain unlike anything he had ever experienced spread through his body.

Yet...

He still refused to surrender.

His vision blurred.

His breathing became shallow.

Using the last fragment of strength remaining inside him, Shera slowly raised his flying sword.

Swish!

The blade flashed through the air, leaving several deep wounds across Dario’s body.

Blood splattered once again.

Dario’s expression instantly twisted with fury.

"You stubborn old fool!"

Ignoring every wound carved into his body, he stepped forward once more.

His sword pierced through Shera’s chest without mercy.

Boom!

The impact sent Shera crashing onto the barren ground below.

The earth exploded beneath him.

Dust filled the sky.

As Dario’s final sword descended...

Shera’s aura gradually faded.

The brilliant light surrounding his body dimmed little by little until only a faint flicker remained.

Everyone sensed it immediately.

Shera’s life force was disappearing.

The battlefield fell silent.

"Senior Brother..."

Maya’s beautiful face was already soaked with tears.

Her voice trembled uncontrollably.

The Guardian Elder who had always appeared strict...

The man who never spoke gentle words...

Had ultimately sacrificed everything to protect them.

"Guardian Elder..."

The students of Celestis Academy cried out one after another.

Many could no longer hold back their tears.

Shera’s life force had already begun to fade.

It meant only one thing.

He was dying.

"Father!"