Grand Return System

The Arrival of Reinforcements

Shera’s life force had already begun to fade.

It meant only one thing.

He was dying.

"Father!"

Shan forced his way through the battlefield.

His eyes had lost all focus.

His face was pale as ash.

Looking at Shera lying motionless in the crater, it felt as though the entire sky had collapsed upon him.

He rushed forward desperately.

Before he could reach him—

Yaman grabbed him firmly by the shoulder.

"Let me go!"

Shan struggled wildly.

"Father!"

His heartbreaking cries echoed across the battlefield.

Yaman clenched his jaw until blood seeped from his lips.

He wanted nothing more than to rush over himself.

But he couldn’t.

Shera was already at death’s door.

Dario was still standing there.

If Shan charged over now...

He would only die alongside his father.

Yaman could not allow Shera’s only son to throw his life away.

High above the battlefield, Dario slowly withdrew his sword.

Blood dripped steadily from its edge.

"Haha..."

His laughter echoed across the heavens.

"Let’s see who can stop me now!"

The black aura surrounding him had completely swallowed his reason.

The Strange Origin had devoured the last remnants of his humanity.

Only madness remained.

Only slaughter.

With Shera defeated...

No one remained capable of stopping him.

His crimson eyes slowly swept across the battlefield.

Finally...

They settled upon two familiar figures.

Selena...

And Rias.

Selena’s expression grew pale.

She understood immediately.

They were his next targets.

Yet...

Not a trace of fear appeared in her clear blue eyes.

Her once snow-white robes had long since been dyed crimson with blood.

Looking at Shera’s motionless body, pain filled her heart.

She had never imagined...

The Guardian Elder who had always been so strict toward Amethyst Summit Division...

Would one day lay down his life to protect them.

That debt...

Could never be repaid.

She slowly turned toward Rias.

"Fellow Sister..."

"Are you afraid?"

Rias smiled gently.

Even surrounded by death, her smile remained warm.

"With Fellow Sister by my side..."

"I’m not afraid of anything."

Selena smiled in return.

Without another word...

The two young women clasped each other’s hands.

Side by side...

They stepped out from the protection of the crowd.

They both understood.

Dario’s target had always been them.

If they continued hiding...

More elders would sacrifice themselves.

They could not allow that to happen.

Not after Shera had already given his life.

Maya’s expression changed dramatically.

"Selena! Rias!"

She desperately tried to break free.

Unfortunately, Vargos continued pressing his attack relentlessly, refusing to give her even a moment to escape.

She could only watch helplessly as the two girls walked toward certain death.

Dario sneered.

"Very good."

"It saves me the trouble of searching for you one by one."

"The teacher and students of Amethyst Summit Division have ruined my plans time and time again."

"Today..."

"I’ll use both of you as sacrifices to wash away my humiliation."

Selena raised the Red Abyss Sword without hesitation.

"If you want to kill or torture me..."

"Come."

"Cut the nonsense."

"Arrogant!"

Dario’s patience finally snapped.

His palm struck forward.

The terrifying pressure of a pinnacle expert descended like the collapse of the heavens.

Against such overwhelming power...

Neither Selena nor Rias possessed the strength to resist.

Everyone watching shared the same thought.

What a tragedy...

Two extraordinary young geniuses...

Were about to fall here.

Just as the massive palm was about to descend—

A brilliant sword light suddenly tore through the heavens.

Boom!

The enormous palm shattered instantly.

The force of the strike sent Dario several steps backward.

His pupils contracted sharply.

"Who?"

A calm, ancient voice answered before anyone else could.

"You’ve gone far enough."

From beyond the clouds...

An elderly Daoist in spotless white robes slowly descended from the heavens, his immortal bearing making him seem detached from the mortal world.

Maya and the others’ hearts trembled the instant they saw the white-robed elder descending from the heavens.

Their weary eyes, once clouded with despair, suddenly lit up with disbelief.

"Guardian Elder Smith..."

Their voices quivered with surprise and relief.

The newcomer was none other than Guardian Elder Smith, the Grand Elder of Celestis Academy, a legendary figure from the same generation as Guardian Elder Zeon. Having stepped into the 1-Star Pinnacle Realm many years ago, he had long secluded himself within the Grand Ancestors Hall, dedicating every waking moment to cultivation.

Since Headmaster Mike inherited leadership of Celestis Academy, Guardian Elder Smith had remained in isolation, acting as the academy’s final guardian. Unless the academy faced a catastrophe threatening its very existence, he would never personally appear.

No one had expected him to leave his seclusion today.

Not even Yaman.

His exhausted face froze for a moment before bitter relief spread across it.

"So... Headmaster really invited him out."

Before anyone could recover from the shock—

Whoosh!

Whoosh!

Whoosh!

The sky erupted with streams of brilliant light.

One...

Ten...

Fifty...

Hundreds of radiant figures tore through the clouds like meteors.

Their robes fluttered proudly in the wind, every sleeve embroidered with the unmistakable crest of Celestis Academy.

In an instant, the once-empty sky became densely packed with powerful cultivators.

Their overwhelming Mana surged together like an endless ocean.

Every one of them glared coldly toward the experts of Sky Breaker Academy, their murderous intent shaking the very heavens.

"Gasp..."

"So... so many Sage Realm experts?"

The spectators gasped collectively.

Disbelief filled every face.

For countless years, Celestis Academy had remained humble, rarely showing its true strength to the outside world.

Who could have imagined...

That beneath its peaceful appearance lay such terrifying foundations?

Among the hundreds of arriving experts were dozens upon dozens of Sage Realm powerhouses.

Behind them stood an even greater number of Half-Step Pinnacle Realm experts, each radiating extraordinary pressure.

Such a force...

It was enough to crush nearly any powerful sect in existence.

The morale of Sky Breaker Academy instantly plummeted.

Their expressions stiffened.

Their confidence disappeared.

Another streak of light suddenly pierced through the clouds.

Everyone instinctively looked upward.

The moment they recognized the figure—