The Strongest Student of the Weakest Academy

"Ella, wait!"

I called out, watching her sprint toward Aestrea without hesitation.

"That demon's still active!"

Ella slowed down her steps, having her sword in a defensive grip. Worry was written all over her face, her knuckles white from gripping her blade so tightly.

"You idiot! What were you thinking, taking on a named demon beast alone?!"

Aestrea, leaning against a crumbling wall, raised an eyebrow and smiled faintly. Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth, but his red eyes held that same calm glow.

"A-ah... what a surprise, princess."

Ella's lips pressed into a thin line.

She didn't even blush at the nickname this time.

"Besides," Aestrea continued, wiping blood from his chin with the back of his hand.

"I was just buying time. The Royal Guards should be on their way, right?"

He glanced at Ella, then at the rest of us, his gaze lingering briefly before narrowing slightly.

"And... it seems you have a whole party made to hunt the demon, huh?"

Exactly."

Ella nodded, stepping closer to him.

Her voice softened ever slightly as their eyes met.

"So let us handle this. Stay down, Iris will heal you."

She turned to the demon beast, gripping her sword tightly as she issued orders.

"Iris, heal him now! Everyone else, get ready!"

Iris, the team's priest, nodded and rushed forward. Her staff began to glow with a soft, golden light as she chanted a healing spell.

"Hang on, Aestrea. This might sting a little."

However, upon hearing her words, Aestrea frowned as his eyes narrowed.

"How do you know my name? I never met any of you."

"A-ah... w-what?" Rose stammered upon hearing his words.

After all, except for the Demon Hunter and the Moonlight Swordsman, who was Aestrea, they were the most popular characters on the student news.

But, Iris still didn't reply to Aestrea's question. The corner of Aestrea's mouth twitched upward, but he said nothing more.

"Ah... thanks." 

As soon as the light on Aestrea's body diminished he thanked Iris with a small smile.

At this time, everyone was ready so it was time to attack the demon beast.

KURAAAAAH!

The Bulking Demon roared, slamming its axes into the ground and creating a shockwave that shook the area.

Debris flew everywhere, forcing us to shield ourselves.

"Alright... everyone takes their positions in the formation! Ella, take the lead. Rose, focus your magic on slowing it down and dealing burn damage. Maya, stay mobile and look for openings. Iris, keep healing. I'll take the front with Ella."

Everyone nodded, moving into their positions while Aestrea only looked at us with seeming interest.

Looking his murderous gaze onto us, the Bulking Demon roared again, charging toward us with surprising speed for its size.

Clang!

Ella and I met it head-on, our weapons clashing against each one its massive axes. Sparks flew as the sound of metal meeting metal echoed through the battlefield.

"Rose!" I shouted.

"Got it!" Rose's hands glowed with fiery energy as she cast her spell.

『 Blazing Chains (✦ 4th-Level Fire Magic ✦)』

Flaming chains shot up from the ground, wrapping around the demon's limbs. It struggled against them, but the flame chains held them firm, at least for now.

"Maya, go!" Ella shouted.

Maya dashed in, her movements a blur as she landed a powerful punch against the demon's side.

The impact echoed like a cannon blast, and the demon staggered back slightly.

Bang!

A bullet suddenly rang out and hit the demon square in the chest, leaving a frosty patch where it struck.

"Mhm... not shabby."

I turned back and saw Aestrea holding a gun with a calm expression. A faint smoke came out of the gun, meaning that he had been the one who had shot the bullet.

'If he wants to help... that's great. I can't reveal much of my power here.'

But suddenly, the demon roared again, this time shaking off the fiery chains.

Despite its size, it moved with surprising speed, swinging one of its axes wide, catching Maya mid-dash and sending her flying into the rubble.

BAM!

"Kugh!"

"Maya! Iris go help her!"

Iris nodded, rushing to our fallen teammate while Ella and I pressed the attack.I ordered before turning towards the Bulking Demon who was fighting against Ella alone.

They exchanged blows and Ella was successfully getting small cuts on its body.

Seeing that opportunity, I leaped into the air and warned Ella.

"Ella, dodge!"

Immediately, Ella jumped to the right side, giving me a full view of the Bulking Demon.

"Demon Slaying Sword Art..."

『 Corrupted Sword! (✦ Advanced-Level Swordsmanship ✦)』

A black flame engulfed my weapon as I slashed downward with all my might.

CLANG!

My sword clashed against its axes, the sheer force sending tremors through my arms.

I increased my strength and successfully won the contest, making the demon beast lose his composure.

So, I took the opportunity and swung my sword again directly at his right arm.

Splurt!

The blade made a clean cut, snapping off his right arm, and leaving a fountain of disgusting black blood behind.

"Ella!"

Upon hearing my voice, Ella appeared in the sky as her sword gained a golden aura and it increased in size.

The Royal Swordsmanship...

Truly beautiful.

『 Royal Swordsmanship: Heavenly Strike (✦ SS-Level Technique ✦)』

Swing!

A blade of energy was sent downward, carving through the ground until it eventually reached the demon beast.

However, before it could meet the demon beast's body...

KURAAAAGGH!

A malicious purple aura came out of the Bulking Demon's body.

"Dark Order...!"

Gritting my teeth, I rushed towards the Bulking Demon not giving a single fuck about what would happen.

『 Corrupted Sword! (✦ Advanced-Level Swordsmanship ✦)』

"Die, you damned beast!"

Swing!

A barrage of energy was created as my sword met the intense purple aura.

BAM!

"Kaugh...!"

The aftermath caused an explosion of energy to send me flying.

"A-agh!"

Crumble...

The shockwave sent both me and Ella crashing into a nearby building, the structure crumbling around us.

The building snapped into debris.

"U-ugh..." a mouthful of blood escaped my mouth.

And before I knew it, the Bulking Demon was madly surging at us.

"GUYS!" Iris shouted loudly.

A wave of green mana appeared around us, enveloping us, but it couldn't do anything.

'F-fuck... I'll need to reveal my identity...'

I gritted my teeth.

'If it wasn't for the Dark Order...'

And that was when I heard a familiar voice.

"You guys did well."

"Now, it's my time to play around a bit."

He smiled faintly, his bloodied face and glowing red eyes making him look both terrifying and captivating under the dim light of the sun.

...

The battlefield was quiet except for the growls of the Bulking Demon.

It stood tall, its massive form radiating an ominous, purple aura that made the air feel heavy. Its single remaining axe rested in its hand, dripping with black blood.

In front of it stood the figure of a man wearing a faint smile on his face. His clothes were torn, blood streaked down his side, and his breathing was ragged.

He held a sword in one hand, the blade faintly glowing in the moonlight. Behind him, four figures watched; all were heavily injured, but not as badly as the figure in front of them.

And then it started...

KURAAAAGH!

The Bulking Demon roared, as his purple aura flared up wildly as it turned its bloodshot eyes toward Aestrea.

It snarled, raising one massive axe and slamming it into the ground with a deafening crash.

BOOM!

The ground cracked beneath Aestrea's feet, but he didn't flinch. He tilted his head slightly, his crimson eyes locking onto the demon with the same calm expression.

"You're a noisy one, huh?" 

He gripped his Taichi sword tighter.

"Aestrea! What the fuck are you doing?! You're barely standing!" Lucas, still recovering from the shockwave, shouted.

"Get back!" Ella added, her golden sword glowing faintly in her grip.

"You're injured! You'll get yourself killed!"

But this time was Aestrea's time to keep silent as he only added a few words.

"What do you guys know about me?"

He stepped towards the demon, before the demon beast suddenly lunged forward, swinging its remaining axe in a wide arc.

Swish!

Aestrea ducked just in time, the blade of the axe whistling past his head and slicing through a crumbling pillar behind him.

He retaliated with a quick, upward slash, the edge of his sword trailing faint frost as it grazed the demon's side.

SLASH!

Black blood sprayed from the wound, hissing as it hit the ground. The demon howled in pain but didn't stop.

Instead of using the axe, a massive fist came crashing down, aiming straight for Aestrea's torso.

BAM!

The impact was brutal.

Aestrea flew backward, slamming into the jagged remains of a wall.

"A-Aestrea!" Iris screamed in panic.

"He's gonna get himself killed...!" Maya staggered to her feet, her own injuries evident as she gritted her teeth.

Dust and debris clouded the area where Aestrea had landed, but before anyone could rush to his aid, a shadow emerged from the haze.

Aestrea stood up, his body swaying slightly.

His lips were stained with blood, but that faint smile still hadn't left his face.

"Is that all?"

KURAAAAGGH!

As if the Bulking Demon understood his words, he roared once again, this time charging directly at him.

Its massive body crushed the rubble beneath its feet as it swung its axes in a relentless barrage of attacks.

Clang!

Clang!

Each strike was like thunder, and Aestrea deflected as many as he could. He parried one blow after another, but it was clear the strain was getting to him.

Until the axe managed to slip past his guard, slamming into his shoulder.

Splurt!

"......"

It penetrated his shoulder, getting stuck on Aestrea's skin. However, despite the pain, Aestrea didn't let out a single shout.

Instead, he smiled, quite widely.

"I can't just stand here without helping!"

Iris's hands glowed as she prepared another healing spell.

But before she could finish her spell, she saw Aestrea taking down the axe from his shoulder before throwing it at the bulking demon who dodged the flying axe.

Blood dripped from the corner of Aestrea's mouth, pooling beneath him, but his red eyes never wavered.

"That was a good one..." he added with a grin.

The demon snarled, raising his foot for another strike.

THUD!

One of its massive feet came crashing down, aiming to crush Aestrea where he knelt.

Aestrea moved at the last second, rolling out of the way and retaliating with a horizontal slash aimed at the demon's leg.

SLASH!

The blade cut deep, frost spreading from the wound as the demon stumbled, its movements starting to slow down.

"It should be enough now..." 

Aestrea muttered as he leaped a few meters back.

He staggered to his feet, gripping his sword with both hands now. His body was trembling, his breaths ragged, but the light in his eyes remained sharp.

KURAAAGH!

Ella stepped immediately forward, gripping her sword tightly.

"He can't handle this alone! Lucas, we need to hel—"

"Wait... this power..."

Aestrea's stance shifted, and his sword began to glow faintly. A pale, silvery light enveloped the sword, flickering like moonlight reflected on a frozen lake.

KURAAAGH!

The Bulking Demon, sensing the danger, charged once more, with its horns raised high.

"Fuuu..."

Aestrea exhaled slowly, his body relaxing as he took a single step forward.

The world seemed to fall silent for a brief moment.

"Moonlit Ice Lotus Art..."

『 Third Move! (✦ Moonlight's One Flash ✦)』

Then he moved.