Chapter 106: Flames of Annihilation

Noa and Vionette left the private room Sinia had given them, descended the stairs to the first floor, stepped out of the building, and headed for another one, built specifically for practical training.

Behind them, a black owl alighted on the edge of a tree branch, watching them go.

Noa glanced at Vionette, who had her arms wrapped around his left arm, her body pressed close to his.

“Why are you… holding onto me like that?” he asked, concern in his voice. “This is a school.”

She looked at him, then swept her gaze across their surroundings with a fierce glare, a shadow falling over her eyes.

She tightened her grip around his arm and replied, “So these little bitches in the school won’t try to hit on you.”

He smiled, an incredulous look on his face. “I think I should be the one doing that… do you see how those boys react when they see you?”

She spat on the ground. “Fuck those losers.”

Eventually, they reached the building and stepped into its first floor, which was reserved for magic training. The second floor was for physical training, the third for spirit bonding practice, and the fourth for individual training.

Today, right after the interval, Classes B-1 and A-2 had been paired into the same period: Combat and Physical Training’s magic training, on the first floor.

While the students slowly gathered along the waiting sides of the training ground, Noa and Vionette turned towards the stairs leading to the upper floor. Just then, Elina crossed their path, coming from the direction of the cafeteria. 

Noa and Vionette halted and looked at her.

“Hey,” Noa called out.

Hearing the sound, Elina turned to the side. “Oh… you two are here as well?”

Vionette looked at the path she had come from and asked, her face weary, “...Did you just come from the cafeteria?”

Elina rested a finger on her cheek. “Yeah, why?”

“Don’t you have enough food in the castle already?! You even go to the markets here to buy stuff from time to time!” Vionette shouted.

Elina purred. “Those three have different styles, so why not just try them all? Besides, they didn’t say I can’t eat—” She paused as her eyes fell upon the gathered students. “What’s going on over there?”

“I think they’re gonna do some stuff over here.” Noa gestured towards the stairs behind him. “We were going to go up there and watch. Wanna come?”

Elina waved her hand dismissively. “You two go. I can’t stand your lovey-dovey stuff.” She turned towards the students, a childish, mischievous smile blooming on her lips. “Instead, I’m gonna go down there and see for myself.”

Noa and Vionette turned around and climbed the stairs.

“Yeah, yeah. Just don’t destroy too much stuff,” Noa said.

Reaching the second floor, they stepped out onto a balcony overlooking the middle of the first floor.

Placing both hands on the balustrade, Vionette gazed down at the students below. Noa stepped behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. Resting his chin on her shoulder, he surveyed the scene as well.

“Damn… 250 students per class is crazy. My class only had 30 students,” Noa muttered, genuinely impressed. “How the hell can a professor even handle 250 of these little shits?”

“This place is as big as a royal castle, after all. Besides, students in this world are serious—too serious, actually—about this academy stuff. They behave much more seriously than students on Earth.” She turned her face over her shoulder and looked at him with a teasing smile. “Why? Was babe a naughty boy in school?”

Noa looked at her, a faint blush on his face. “You talk like you’re older than me.”

She turned back around. “Well, in a sense, I am~”

“Huh?! How?!”

She raised a finger and answered with a prideful look. “I lived till 20 back in Korea, and I’m 21 here. So even if you’re about to turn 22, I’m almost double your age.”

“Fuck…” Noa muttered, nearly defeated. “Well, it’s actually good. I like older women the most.”

Vionette’s eyes snapped wide open. “So I wasn’t the best until you found out I’m older than you!?”

Noa rubbed his cheek against hers, a fond smile on his face. “I did not say that. You will always be the best.”

Down below, Lucion and Adrian entered the first floor, gazing around at the vast interior and the sea of students.

Such a coincidence… I was planning to meet Riven today anyway, but it seems we would’ve crossed paths in this period whether I liked it or not.

As he walked, his eye was caught by Edel, standing ahead of them. Lucion thought of quietly slipping past and going forward, but the grave look on Edel’s face as he stared up at something piqued his curiosity.

Lucion turned and followed his line of sight, finding Vionette and Noa up there, looking down at them. His eyes widened, and he gritted his teeth, both annoyed and afraid.

This is the worst time for them to appear… Just when I thought everything bad had already happened.

“Everyone, gather up!” Professor Alicia’s voice, amplified by sound magic, rolled throughout the building.

Tearing his gaze away from the Crimvane rulers, Lucion hurried to the middle with Adrian to join the others. Edel turned forward and stared at Lucion’s back, his eyes narrowing.

…

“You all may call me Professor Alicia, got it?” Alicia strode between the gathered students, a staff in her hand. In a louder voice, she said, “I said: got it?”

“Yes, Professor!” the students answered, eyeing her skeptically.

Standing among the crowd, Lucion looked around, searching for someone. And he found him.

There he is.

His gaze landed on a blond boy with green eyes, a decent build, and an average face. The distance between them seemed to vanish, the others around them fading into a blur, as Lucion stared at the person whose entire life he had watched through a computer screen.

A strained smile tugged at Lucion’s lips. Finally, we’ve met face to face, you bastard.

In Fragments of the Fallen Crown, there wasn’t just one Main Character—there were five. Players had to choose one of the five at the very start, on the game’s loading screen, without knowing anything.

Every main character had different abilities, and out of all of them, everyone ranked Riven the worst. Since it was on the loading screen, I picked him without knowing anything before my stream started that day. Only after the stream began and I saw my chat did I realize it.

Though there are five main characters, they can’t coexist. When the player selects one, the story stays the same; only the dialogues and the overall abilities they use change. Naturally, since I selected Riven, I thought Riven would be here. A bemused expression crossed his face. There were two female MCs too… which led to a yuri story.

He looked at a girl three students behind Riven, with dark hair and black eyes.

The second main heroine I’ve met, Seris—a commoner, just like me. He turned to the second person in the row next to theirs, locking onto a girl with dark-grey hair and grey eyes, wearing her black insignia. And… Seris’s sister, Heyla—the one ranked first in the survival event, and a villain in the game.

Vionette looked at Lucion, then turned her gaze to each of the three people his eyes had lingered on, one by one.

“Gotcha,” she muttered with an amused smile.

“Before all of you boast about how good you are at magic like mindless fools,” Alicia turned towards a set of magic training dummies, “we will see for ourselves instead of relying on your words.”

“Excuse me,” a voice began from the side, pulling Alicia’s attention. “Can I join too?”

Alicia’s eyes widened slightly. “You are… Crimvane’s dragon?”

Elina walked towards them with one hand raised, an innocent smile on her face.

Alicia shook her head lightly. “My apologies, but I cannot allow you to—”

“Hey! Let her join!” A female voice rang out.

Alicia, along with all the students, turned towards it and found Noa and Vionette standing there.

“C-Crimvane’s rulers? They were watching us?”

“Stand straight!”

“Hey, didn’t I say it, even from afar, Her Majesty is too beautiful!”

“Shut the hell up! Want to die?!” the girl shifted her weight from foot to foot, blushing slightly. “Though… His Majesty looks better than that bitch.”

Vionette’s eyes flared, and with her fist clenched tight, she nearly leapt off the balcony, held back only by Noa.

She bared her teeth. “See?! Didn’t I tell you?! I’m going to kill them! Let me go!”

Noa effortlessly held her still with one hand. “Hold it in, hold it in… find La Peace.”

“Uhhh!”

Alicia turned to face them fully and bowed. “I apologize for not recognizing your presence earlier, Your Majesties!” She straightened and added, her face pale with fear, “But even at your word, we cannot break the rules.”

Vionette’s rage subsided, and she looked at the professor. “Don’t worry, just let her in. I got Sinia’s permission.”

“...The Headmaster approved?” Alicia eyed Elina uncertainly. “Well… it’s fine then, I suppose…?”

This two-faced woman! Adrian screamed inside his mind. She treats them so well compared to us!

Elina strode forward and stood beside Alicia, surveying the students with a smug smile, basking in the familiar pride of superiority.

“Okay then, everyone, divide into seven lines in front of these seven dolls already!” Alicia shouted, visibly irritated.

“Yes, Professor!”

Seven by seven, the students lined up before the practice dolls. Alicia walked to one and told them to use the best spell they could chant, of any element, before repeating the same to the next student.

“Here I go!” A noble shouted, shooting a wind spell at the doll.

The spell was strong enough to shatter wood, and the doll was made of wood, but thanks to its magical enhancements, it didn’t even budge under the wind pressure.

“Not bad, kid…” Alicia muttered. “Alright, that row is over. Another seven of you, come forward!”

This time, at the far left of the row, where Alicia stood, was Shimu. She reached out with both hands and unsheathed her swords.

“Hey, professor!” A student called out. “She’s using her swords! Isn’t this only for magic?”

“Yeah… is she going to cut them?”

Alicia turned towards them with a face full of irritation and, flinging her hand in their direction, shouted, “Shut up and watch, you ignorant fools!”

Closing her eyes for a brief second, Shimu activated two dark spells, each laid upon one of her twin blades.

“Dark magic…?! Isn’t that a rare element?” a girl muttered.

Opening her eyes, Shimu unleashed the spells and swung both swords at the doll at once, crossing them in an X. A crescent of dark energy sliced through the air and struck the target dead center, carving a half-cut into the doll.

“Very good.” Alicia smiled as Shimu sheathed her blades. “A unique way to use it, but it works.”

She moved on to the next person in the row.

“That must be the girl Edel hired from the Blackwake Consortium…” Vionette observed Shimu from the second floor, a neutral smile crossing her features. “She’s a little more capable than those idiots. I like her.”

“Hey, it’s that guy’s turn.” Noa’s voice came close to her ear.

“Mmm?”

Lucion was next. He looked at the doll Shimu had faced, and then at his own. That’s a huge difference.

“Alright, off you go, young man,” Alicia said, giving him the go-ahead to fire.

Lucion brought both hands to the front, fingers stretched towards the doll.

Since I learned it not long ago, I’d better test it here anyway.

[Vein Lock]

A blue circle bloomed before his hands, and Aether slowly converged into electricity.

— Tier 2 Magic: Lightning Bolt —

The shot was fired, and for a brief second, the veins in his fingers darkened, unnoticed by most. Astris, who had been observing Lucion, widened his eyes at the faint flash he caught.

The lightning bolt struck the target and, like most spells, simply vanished without leaving any damage on the doll.

“Get back in line,” Alicia ordered.

Lucion turned to her with an awkward smile. “So, how was I?”

“Just get in line! You’re not that praiseworthy!”

“Y-yes, ma’am!”

As he walked towards the line, a clap rang out. He turned towards it, and sure enough, it was Neiscris. Looking in the opposite direction as if he didn’t know her, he walked back to his spot. The other students just stared at her, confused.

After Lucion came Adrian, who got the same treatment from Alicia, but not the same treatment from Neiscris, only silence and a defeated face.

Above them, on the lone tree planted in the middle of the building, a black owl clung upside down to a branch, watching the scene with its brown eyes.

After a few rows had passed, Noa pointed out a student in the current row. “That’s the guy who tried to get Lina’s sword.”

Vionette looked at Fois too, who was sweating bullets, knowing the two of them were staring straight at him.

“Lina will take care of her own stuff, we don’t have to interfere.” Vionette moved her gaze from Fois to Riven. “What I’m curious about is that guy…”

Riven began chanting a fire spell, his palm extended towards the doll. At the professor’s command, he fired it forward, pouring in every bit of power he could muster.

— Tier 2 Magic: Burning Spear —

The fire condensed into the shape of a spear as it shot forward, hitting the doll’s head and setting it ablaze, though only the head.

“Excellent!” Alicia clapped lightly with a smile. “Riven Aedeth, was it? You may go back to the line.”

After Riven came Seris, standing before the doll, twiddling her fingers nervously. She glanced over her shoulder at Riven. Noticing her expression, he gave her a thumbs-up and a smile.

She turned back, drew a long breath, and began casting at Alicia’s command.

Seems they got to know each other a little, just like in the game, Lucion thought. At least it’s going accordingly.

“T-that’s light?!” Adrian shouted, surprised.

A pure white light gathered in front of her palms, condensing into a sphere. It shot forward, but, in contrast to its breathtaking glow, it only left a scratch on the doll, barely visible. 

“Not bad either.” Alicia nodded. “You can go back.”

‘What the fuck do you mean, not bad?!’ Vionette gritted her teeth in irritation, whispering to herself. ‘That is bad!’

Alicia moved on to the second-to-last person in the row. “You’re… that girl’s sister, aren’t you?”

She was able to rank first in this academy full of geniuses, while still being a commoner. Alicia studied Heyla. I’m interested to see what she can do.

Heyla extended her staff towards the doll, her expression neutral as always, and began casting. Aether gathered and turned to light faster than it did for the others, and before even six seconds of chanting had passed, the spell was fired.

— Tier 2 Magic: Purging Rays —

It was the same tier and the same element, but the outcome was entirely different. The light struck the doll and obliterated it, wooden debris scattering across the ground until nothing remained.

“W-what the—!?” a girl clutched her staff tightly. “She’s a monster!”

“Damn…”

Watching from above, an amused smile curled across Vionette’s lips, her eyes filled with desire. That’s… not purely light magic.

There it is—the power of a villain. Lucion narrowed his eyes and looked at the blonde boy. This is the power you will have to defeat someday, Riven. So get ready. But still, even that, he turned towards the last student in the row—Astris. won’t compare to what comes next.

Alicia walked towards Astris, unsure. I’ve heard a lot about him… the genius from Asgrid.

“You may begin n—”

“Hey! Hey! I’m here as well!” Elina called out, raising her hand and jumping. “I wanna go next!”

Alicia turned around, even more unsure. “...You want to test it out too?”

A boy in the crowd smirked at Elina. “Let her go, professor! Even if she’s a dragon, what does it matter when magic is equal for everyone?”

“What the hell did you say, you punk?!” Elina shouted, searching for the boy.

“Yeah, it can’t be that much, right?” Another voice came, calmer.

“Go ahead and try!”

Elina’s brows twitched in pure rage, her fist clenched tight.

Oh boy… Vionette sighed. It is true that unlike skills, magic is equal to most people, but not to everyone. The more you understand, the more you can use. Even if Elina is dumb, she’s more than a genius when it comes to fire.

“Just you wait, you losers!” Elina turned to the dolls and drew her elbow back, flames coiling around her fist.

“W-wait—wai—” Alicia lunged towards her, hand outstretched.

“H-hey, that’s not ‘little’!” Noa’s eyes widened, and he activated [Nihility Decree], his fist coated in purple energy.

Vionette slid behind Noa, using him as a shield, and peered down over his shoulder. Noa, using Null Essence, raised a circular wall around the students, leaving only Elina outside it.

Elina punched forward. “Flames of Annihilation!”

— Tier 3 Magic: Flames of Annihilation —

A thunderous explosion tore through the academy, snatching the attention of every student inside every class.

***

“So let’s rewind again.” Sinia placed her interlaced fingers in front of her face, her eyes dead serious. “You told Professor Alicia that I gave you permission to let a literal dragon into kids’ training?!”

Standing in front of her, Vionette nodded happily. “Yep!”

Sinia lifted her head and slammed it back onto the desk, cracking the wood.