Mistress Of The Evil Forest

*****

Astra Academy, exam day.

Instead of the competitive yet vibrant atmosphere one might expect, the hall is filled with uncomfortable silence. Under the purple sky, a 'game' is taking place.

A game of death and violence.

The audience's gazes are on the one entity behind it all—Nuf, the amalgamation of demonic energy manifesting in the shape of jester masks. No, they are, in fact, forced to look at it.

Even as Claire's painful groans and Skylar's trembling voice of concern spread, no ordinary folk can divert their eyes. The more one stares into those red pupils behind the masks, the more they will lose their sanity.

The view from the right wing's highest seat is no different from a scene in a well-crafted thriller.

Amidst that, a few people have already been working on a plan.

Without being able to talk, the only way to communicate is through eye contact. Although strainful, it is the only way for a chance of retaliation.

[Child of light, was it?]

''Ugh...''

[Beyond your stupidity for disrupting everybody's fun... well? You'll die here anyway!]

''Shut... your trap!''

While Nuf is busy engaging with Claire, the professors and staff members, together with Alice herself, exchange a knowing gaze. In this situation, it is best that they alert the palace nearby. In the case that Graham still hasn't noticed this anomaly, they need to let him know.

The process is surprisingly simple—to collectively disrupt Nuf's control and get someone out. This can be done by simultaneously discharging a significant amount of mana, thus pushing the demon's aura back.

With a master like Alice present, the success rate is high.

At the same time, the top students in the first year also have a strategy.

Somewhere as they are gathered close to Nuf, Sierra's silvery pupils meet with Scarlett's red ones. Then, both of them turn to Aaron Apollo and the transfer student, Ryuji. Later, even the newly admitted Miko, Kanna joins in.

As if knowing what to do, they simultaneously nod at each other.

''...''

However, Luxia, upon witnessing all of it and reading their thoughts...

'...We're screwed.'

Their plans don't match at all.

One wants to find a moment to attack Nuf; one wants to pretend to fight each other, and one wants to send a signal requesting help... after all, they aren't trained personnel who have extensively worked with each other for years, so this is only normal.

As for the last member of the first-year students, Chloe remains relatively calm. She, who has exhausted herself as she fought Balnok, is slowly observing the situation unfold. Rather than fear, the emotion she carries is relief.

Fortunately, the opponent can be handled this time. Not by her, but by 'Silaerob.'

As the seconds go by, Claire and Nuf seem to have finished arguing with each other.

[Enough. Disrupters are going to receive the death penalty, and you... you deserve to die the most.]

Clenching her teeth, Claire once again plunges forward, carrying a more concentrated, dense, light sword. Since her attempt at nuking this demon has been countered, she figures she can 'pierce' through that layer of deflection.

''Ugh...!''

Still, despite her best efforts, the light on the Moon Devourer still dissipates.

[Hihahahahah!]

A faint purple stream of energy chokes Claire. As she is lifted into the air, the heroine desperately tries to struggle, but to no avail. With her elemental advantage nullified, there is simply no way she can break through the barrier of level.

A moment of panic.

Everybody is bound to feel frightened at the thought of losing Claire, their only hope of getting through the changing era. In the observation room, Alice and the other members finally agree on a time to explode their mana, allowing a few exceptionally agile members to escape the hall.

Then, seizing the chance, Alice herself burns a large amount of her mana to conjure a plasma beam, pointing it at Nuf. A brief moment later, a phoenix of flame also joins from another direction.

[Pesky.]

And indeed, those otherwise powerful attacks are also useless. With a single tick, the screens now show both Alice and Claudia struggling to move under a new, more powerful restraint.

[So? How many little flies still want to fight back?]

At the sight of the two, who are regarded as the strongest in Astra Academy, easily being overwhelmed, hope begins to slip out.

But right then—

[?!]

Sensing a sudden signal, one that triggers its survival instinct, Nuf radiates a massive wave of [Nullification], blowing every student standing nearby backward together with every essence of magic present.

Then, its six pupils begin to jump around incessantly, finding the cause of the earlier sensation.

In the space of absolute silence.

A faint, creaking sound of metal lightly grazing a hard, bumpy surface resonates. For some reason, it fuels Nuf's anxiety. Being in its own territory, it should have complete control over everything, yet... 

[...]

Eventually, something emerges from the dark.

A figure whose presence can only be described as 'blurry.' Dragging a long, pitch-black sword in her hand, she turns to Nuf, letting the stars of that certain galaxy in her mask gleam under the moonlight.

''What's wrong? Why don't you resume that 'game' of yours?''

An unnecessarily provocative tone. Equally distorted and unrecognizable as Nuf's own voice—it is as though the demon has finally met its equal.

[Indeed. It's just like what that guy said. This one is much more dangerous.]

''That guy?''

[You're going to die anyway. Don't bother.]

Mockingly, Nuf follows up by radiating an uncomfortable amount of dark mana, and amidst the demon's laughter, hundreds of figures manifest around Aurora. 

Tall, skinny-looking humanoids with jester and clown masks, each holding a type of bloodied weapon.

A rough estimation tells her that these minions are as strong as an ordinary second-year student in the academy.

[An exciting course change! Tonight, we shall witness the complete dismantling of the beloved 'Silaerob'!]

Slowly, Nuf floats into the air, shining a spotlight on the hooded figure.

As her enemies begin to move, Aurora quietly taps her sword on the hard ground. She is thinking of a suitable way to dominate this battle.

Even back on Earth, Aurora has always hated this kind of 'deadly clown' character template. More often, these characters enjoy inflicting pain on others without a particular reason, and that has struck her weirdly.

Most importantly, Chloe has been excited about this event for a while. Now, instead of getting the spotlight that she wants, everybody will talk about Nuf instead.

Aurora is, in short, angry.

With everything she has, she wants to demolish this existence.

'So, a way to establish myself...'

A domain.

Inherently, creating a territory in battles is not tied to skills. As Aurora understands it, it has more to do with one's innate talents and bodily properties. Those who can do it are mostly talented individuals with some sort of connection to a deity.

At this point, it has been very clear that whoever is behind Aurora's transmigration... is a god of sorts.

So, as soon as she finishes pondering, she gets to action.

'To turn this battlefield into my battlefield...'

To turn this battlefield into her battlefield, Aurora begins to run her mana. Cold, silvery lines trace across her body, converging at her right wrist.

With the same mentality of make-believe, one she has learned during her quest to find nihility, she shoots a significant amount of mana into her sword, the Black Dawn, and precisely punctures the ground with it.

CRACK—!

[...!!]

The next moment, the world is plunged into a blinding explosion.

Once again, winter has arrived.