-1084- [ Rododaktylos ]

"————"

In Saikai Academy, a chilling atmosphere of death spread out.

Since the appearance of the Apostle, such an oppressive atmosphere emerged, as if the opponent were not a compassionate saint, but a valiant warrior, causing Avrora and Nagisa to keep retreating.

"Who... who is he? What does he want?"

Nagisa and Avrora clung to each other, expressing their timid words.

And Nagisa's words seemed to catch the attention of the Apostle, who turned his head and looked over.

"Irrelevant commoners?"

The Apostle spoke emotionlessly.

"I didn't expect to see ordinary citizens mixed with No. 12. Should I say, this Demon Sanctuary is truly unexpected?"

The Apostle's tone didn't sound like he was reflecting; instead, it sounded disdainful.

"Well, even though it's an unexpected situation, since mingling with the demon kind, one must be prepared for the consequences."

With these self-spoken words, the Apostle halted his steps.

"...!"

However, seeing the Apostle stop, Avrora felt stimulated instead.

"Nagisa!"

Avrora forcefully pushed Nagisa away.

"Ah!"

Caught off guard, Nagisa let out a cry.

But Nagisa should be grateful.

Because...

"Boom!"

Almost simultaneously, the burly Apostle shattered the ground beneath his feet, unleashing a powerful gust of wind, rushing out like a fierce cannon fire at an astonishing speed.

In the blink of an eye, he reached Avrora.

"Thud!"

In the next moment, blood splattered.

It was the Apostle swinging his blood-stained battle axe, ruthlessly splitting open Avrora's body, causing a large amount of blood to gush out from the horrifying wound on her shoulder to flank.

"Gu...! Ah...!"

Avrora couldn't help but yell in anguish, her petite body cleaved open, a gruesome wound from her shoulder to her side, gushing out copious amounts of blood.

"Avrora!"

Seeing this scene, Nagisa, who had narrowly escaped being pushed away by Avrora, screamed.

And the culprit behind all this...

"Hmm?"

Seeming surprised, the Apostle held up his bloodied axe, showing a hint of astonishment.

"Gu... Ahhh...!"

Just as the wounded Avrora, whose injuries would be fatal to ordinary people, staggered backward, the blood flowing from her body suddenly defied the laws of physics, flowing back into Avrora's body like time reversing, rapidly healing the gruesome wound on her fair skin, leaving no trace behind.

That was the regeneration ability of a vampire.

However, it was a level that ordinary vampires could never reach.

"That level of injury completely healed in an instant. Even third-generation elders and second-generation royalty cannot do this."

The Apostle evaluated Avrora's value, still devoid of any emotion.

"I see, even if it's only one-twelfth of a primogenitor, it still surpasses ordinary bloodlines. This cursed power will now be purified by me."

Saying so, the Apostle once again displayed unimaginable speed for a normal person, rushing to Avrora's front, like a merciless killer, swinging down his battle axe.

Seeing the axe approaching at astonishing speed, Avrora's fear finally erupted.

So...

"Boom————!"

A terrifying magic power rose from Avrora's body, expanding like an explosion.

"...!"

The ruthless Apostle's face changed, unable to stop, his whole person was engulfed by the erupting torrent of magic power, blown away like trash.

But this was just the beginning.

As the Apostle involuntarily rolled on the ground, bathed in the raging wind of magic power, when he rolled all the way out, a beast vassal appeared behind Avrora.

The crystalline ice bird, the embodiment of natural disaster capable of freezing even the ocean.

"The twelfth Beast Vassal of the Fourth Primogenitor — Alrescha Glacies!"

The Apostle instantly recognized the true identity of this Beast Vassal.

However, it was already too late.

"Crackle, crackle, crackle...!"

The moment Alrescha Glacies was summoned, the atmosphere, the earth, and the surrounding school buildings began to freeze into ice.

The surrounding area quickly turned into a frozen wasteland.

Naturally, the Apostle was the first to bear the brunt, as the bone-chilling cold deprived him of his body heat in an instant.

Under his robes, a set of armor emitted light, attempting to repel the cold.

But even the radiance of that armor seemed to be frozen, gradually dimming, causing the Apostle's entire body to start icing over.

"My Enchanted Augmented Armour's protective barrier can't even resist...!?"

The Apostle's expression changed rapidly as he finally realized the terrifying nature of his enemy.

But...

"Very well."

The Apostle began to show a pleased expression, speaking joyfully.

"To reach this level, you can finally become our sacrifice."

With that said, the Apostle shouted loudly.

"Come forth, Astarte!"

The Apostle's shout immediately summoned a figure.

It was a girl wearing only a knee-length cloak, lacking much presence, but with a dreamlike appearance similar to Avrora Florestina, with waist-length straight blue hair and light blue eyes, and a doll-like face devoid of any expression.

Seeing this girl, Avrora Florestina showed a surprised expression.

And the Apostle wasted no time in giving orders.

"Show her mercy, Astarte."

As soon as the command was given...

"Accept."

The girl named Astarte spoke expressionlessly, her voice mechanical.

"Execute — Rododaktylos."

With these words, Astarte's petite body shattered her clothes behind her.

From Astarte's overly fragile back, an astonishing magical power was unleashed, manifesting into an arm.

Yes.

It was an arm.

An extremely huge one, resembling a giant, many times larger than the girl's body, with a clear rainbow-like color and a colossal size compared to the girl's body.

Seeing this arm, Avrora Florestina widened her eyes.

"A Beast Vassal...!"

That was the girl's Beast Vassal.

And it was one that Avrora Florestina had heard of in front of Rozen — the "Giant White Rainbow Arm."

At this point, Avrora Florestina finally understood.

The person attacking her was the Magic Criminal who was wantonly slaughtering demons on Itogami Island.

The Beast Vassal that appeared from behind the girl named Astarte opened its palm and reached out to the deadly chill approaching.

Then, those chills were all absorbed by the enormous hand.

"It's devouring my magic...!?"

Avrora Florestina was frightened.

And the arm that devoured Avrora Florestina's magic trembled violently, as if unable to withstand the immense power, causing Astarte's expressionless face to also show signs of pain.

However, the Apostle paid no attention to this.

"Keep devouring her, Astarte."

At the command, Astarte lowered her eyelids.

"Accept."

With that, Astarte manipulated the Beast Vassal to continue devouring Avrora Florestina's magic.

The two sides were locked in a stalemate.

Completely unaware, on the side, Nagisa tremblingly took out her phone, found the first name at the top of her contacts list, and dialed it with a helpless and tearful heart.