Grand Return System

The Fury of Celestis Academy

"Kill them!"

Yaman’s furious roar echoed across the battlefield like rolling thunder.

There was no longer any path of retreat.

The communication talisman had already been crushed.

Reinforcements had been summoned.

Now...

Only blood and steel would decide the outcome.

With blazing determination burning in his eyes, Yaman gripped his spear tightly and charged forward. His footsteps shattered the cracked earth as he thrust the spear behind him, severing his own escape route.

There would be no retreat.

Only battle.

Only victory...

Or death.

Beside him, Aldric suddenly burst into hearty laughter.

"Haha... Senior Brother Yaman, let’s have a good time today. I haven’t experienced such an exciting battle in hundreds of years. My blood is really boiling."

His old eyes sparkled with youthful excitement.

For countless years he had cultivated quietly within Celestis Academy.

Battles like this...

Battles where life and death hung upon every breath...

They had become incredibly rare.

The fire sleeping inside his heart had finally awakened once more.

Without another word, Aldric lifted his treasured staff.

"Longtaitou!"

A deafening dragon’s roar erupted across the heavens.

The weapon transformed into a colossal dragon-shaped phantom that smashed straight into the elder from Sky Breaker Academy standing before him.

Boom!

The elder didn’t even have time to defend himself.

His protective Mana shattered instantly before the overwhelming force.

Blood sprayed across the air as his body was blasted backward.

Before anyone could react—

Aldric had already rushed into the center of the enemy formation.

His figure darted like a streak of lightning.

The dragon-shaped phantom swept through the battlefield, throwing enemy experts into complete chaos.

One strike.

Another strike.

Then another.

Every attack carried the momentum of someone who had completely abandoned thoughts of survival.

It was no longer the calm composure of an experienced elder.

Instead...

It was the blazing passion of a warrior who had rediscovered his youthful spirit.

The battlefield erupted once again.

Not far away...

Selena and Rias returned almost simultaneously.

The two young women exchanged a single glance.

Neither spoke.

There was no need.

Years spent cultivating together under Leon had given them a silent understanding that words could never express.

They both nodded.

Then...

Without hesitation—

They charged back into battle.

Students from the other Six Divisions were already risking their lives on the battlefield.

How could Amethyst Summit Division remain behind?

That...

Would never happen.

Selena’s long silver-white hair fluttered wildly in the violent wind.

Blood stained her snow-white robes until patches of crimson spread across the fabric like blooming flowers.

Her beautiful blue eyes remained calm.

Steady.

Determined.

She raised the Red Abyss Sword.

The blade released a brilliant flash of sword light.

Swish!

An enemy student’s weapon shattered instantly.

Another slash followed.

A second opponent collapsed.

Her sword danced gracefully through the battlefield, elegant as drifting snow yet merciless as winter frost.

Every movement was clean.

Every strike precise.

She advanced step by step, cutting through the enemy ranks without falling into disorder.

Around her, countless students from Sky Breaker Academy rushed forward together.

Yet she showed no sign of being overwhelmed.

The Red Abyss Sword carved brilliant arcs through the air.

One enemy after another fell beneath its edge.

Before long...

The once pristine white robes she wore had been completely dyed crimson with blood.

Not all of it belonged to her enemies.

Some belonged to herself.

Tiny wounds covered her arms and shoulders.

Yet she never slowed.

Not even once.

Nearby...

Rias fought with equal determination.

Her crimson robes fluttered brilliantly as flames of Mana surged around her body.

Her long red hair danced behind her like blazing fire.

Together...

The two students of Amethyst Summit Division fought back-to-back, forcing back wave after wave of enemies.

For a brief moment...

The collapsing battlefield actually began to stabilize.

Hope flickered once more.

Yet everyone understood one painful truth.

Everything happening now...

Everything they had managed to regain...

Had only been possible because Shera had risked his own life.

He alone had forcefully changed the course of fate.

If he fell...

Everything would collapse again.

Far above...

The greatest pressure rested upon Shera’s shoulders.

He glanced across the battlefield.

He saw Yaman refusing to retreat.

He saw Aldric laughing as he fought.

He saw Maya desperately holding back countless powerful enemies.

He saw Selena and Rias covered in blood yet refusing to take even a single step backward.

He saw countless students of Celestis Academy still fighting despite despair.

For the first time...

The stern elder smiled.

He slowly raised his head.

Then—

"Haha..."

His laughter echoed through the sky.

It was wild.

Fearless.

Filled with absolute resolve.

His gaze locked firmly onto Dario.

"Haha... Dario, even if I die today, I will skin you alive first."

The moment his words fell...

Shera slowly lowered his sword.

Its brilliance faded.

Its killing intent disappeared.

Even his presence seemed to vanish completely.

It was as though...

The sword itself had ceased to exist.

Dario narrowed his eyes.

A strange feeling suddenly rose within his heart.

He stared carefully at Shera.

Nothing.

He could sense absolutely nothing.

No killing intent.

No sword intent.

No Mana fluctuations.

Only silence.

His instincts screamed that something was wrong.

"What trick is this?"

Before he could understand—

Shera moved.

No...

It was faster than movement itself.

His hidden sword flashed from its sheath.

A single dazzling streak of light tore through the heavens.

Everything happened within an instant.

Slash!

The sword energy that had been concealed for so long exploded with terrifying force.

It was like the opening of a dam after countless years.

Its accumulated power erupted all at once.

Dario’s pupils shrank.

Too fast!

There wasn’t even enough time to react.

The hidden strike sliced across his body before his defensive Mana could fully form.

Blood erupted into the air.

Several deep wounds instantly appeared across his chest, shoulders, and waist.

Then—

A sharp pain shot through his right arm.

His severed arm spun through the air before crashing heavily onto the ground below.

For the first time since obtaining the Strange Origin...

Dario had been seriously wounded.