Grand Return System

The Fury of Celestis Academy [Part -2]

Blood rained from the heavens.

For a heartbeat, the entire battlefield fell silent.

Even the experts locked in desperate combat instinctively turned toward the sky.

Dario staggered backward, disbelief flashing across his twisted face.

His severed arm tumbled through the air before crashing into the shattered earth below.

Fresh blood poured from the wound, staining his dark robes crimson.

He had been injured.

Actually injured.

No one had expected Shera’s seemingly ordinary sword to conceal such terrifying power.

The hidden edge that had remained dormant until the final instant had erupted with overwhelming force, catching even a pinnacle expert completely off guard.

The surrounding experts stared in stunned silence.

Shera floated in the sky, breathing heavily.

His face had become frighteningly pale after unleashing that strike.

The Blood Drinking Art was already consuming every drop of vitality within him.

Even so...

His eyes remained unwavering.

There wasn’t the slightest trace of regret.

"Damn it!"

Dario’s furious roar shook the heavens.

He had underestimated Shera.

He had believed the elder was merely delaying the inevitable.

Instead...

He had paid for his arrogance with an arm.

Dark Mana surged violently around him.

The Strange Origin pulsed like a living creature, its sinister aura swallowing everything nearby.

The severed arm on the ground suddenly trembled.

Black mist wrapped around it before dissolving into countless strands of dark energy.

At the same time...

New flesh rapidly emerged from Dario’s shoulder.

Bones formed.

Muscles intertwined.

Veins stretched outward.

Within only a few breaths, an entirely new arm had regenerated.

The horrifying recovery ability left countless spectators speechless.

"So that’s the power of the Strange Origin..."

Fear spread through the battlefield.

Such regenerative ability was enough to drive anyone into despair.

Shera narrowed his eyes.

His surprise lasted only a moment before calm determination returned.

He had expected no less.

Someone corrupted by the Strange Origin would never be easy to kill.

Dario slowly clenched his regenerated hand.

His fingers cracked loudly.

He lowered his head and glanced at the blood still staining his robes.

His expression became increasingly ferocious.

"You..."

His voice was low.

Cold.

Filled with endless hatred.

"You made me so pathetic. Just you did. I want you to do so because..." His eyes, completely lost in black darkness, landed on Shera, just like a desperate predator looking for his next prey.

Black aura that hovered him thickened.

Dark atmosphere grew more suffocating. Wild wind screamed. Each person on field was sure enough their heart was getting suffocated under a great number of unseen palms. Shera held tighter his sword.

Drops of blood constantly rolled down off the edge of his lip.

His body had reached its breaking point for along time ago. Even he was breathing fire and every beat was harder than ever. He won’t back down now.

Behind him...

Were his fellow elders.

His students.

His academy.

If he stepped back now...

Everything would be lost.

A faint smile appeared on his weathered face.

"So..."

"It wasn’t enough."

He whispered softly to himself before raising his sword once more.

Below, Yaman looked upward with bloodshot eyes.

"Senior Brother..."

His voice trembled.

He knew exactly what Shera’s current condition meant.

The Blood Drinking Art had already burned away nearly everything.

Even if Shera survived this battle...

His cultivation path would most likely end forever.

And yet...

He still stood.

Still blocking the enemy alone.

Dario slowly lifted his sword.

The killing intent surrounding him exploded once again.

"I’ve played with you long enough."

"This time..."

"I’ll crush every bone in your body."

The dark sword slowly pointed toward Shera.

The surrounding space distorted beneath its terrifying pressure.

Shera answered only by raising his own blade.

The two figures faced one another across the ruined battlefield.

One consumed by darkness.

The other sustained only by unwavering conviction.

The heavens themselves seemed to hold their breath.

The next clash...

Would decide everything.

Without another word, the two figures vanished.

Boom!

A deafening explosion echoed through the heavens as their swords collided once more.

The shockwave swept across the battlefield like a raging tempest. Countless boulders were reduced to dust, while cracks spread through the scorched earth for miles.

Shera’s robes fluttered violently as blood continued to drip from the corner of his lips.

His breathing had become ragged.

The Blood Drinking Art had already pushed his body beyond every limit.

Even so...

His sword never slowed.

Clang!

Another collision.

The force behind Dario’s strike was overwhelming.

Shera’s entire body trembled as he was sent flying backward. His feet carved two long trenches through the air before he barely managed to steady himself.

Before he could recover—

Dario appeared before him like a ghost.

"So slow."

His sinister grin widened.

"You’ve reached your limit."

Another sword descended.

Boom!

Shera raised his own blade just in time.

The impact shattered the clouds overhead.

His arms trembled violently under the terrifying pressure.

Crack...

Tiny fractures spread across the sword in his hands.

His muscles screamed.

His bones groaned.

Yet his grip never loosened.

Far below, every student of Celestis Academy watched with clenched fists.

No one spoke.

No one dared to blink.

They all knew...

Their Guardian Elder was using nothing but sheer willpower to remain standing.

Bang!

Another strike landed.

Shera was blasted backward once again.

This time, he could no longer suppress the blood surging within him.

"Pfft!"

A mouthful of blood sprayed across the sky.

His face became even paler.

Seeing this, Dario laughed wildly.

"Hahaha!"

"Is this all you’ve got?"

"You still think you can stop me?"

Shera slowly wiped the blood from his lips with the back of his hand.

His breathing remained uneven.

His vision had already begun to blur.

Yet the determination in his eyes had never faded.

He slowly straightened his back.

His gaze swept briefly across the battlefield.

He saw Yaman still fighting desperately.

He saw Aldric charging fearlessly through the enemy ranks.

He saw Maya refusing to retreat despite being surrounded.

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..."