The cold settled low.

With the thought of responding to even the slightest movement caused by Findenai, the extermination units slowly began encircling her.

However, Findenai reacted faster than anyone else.

Her sudden leap made no sound, not even a trace was left behind as the two axes moved swiftly, striking down upon the head of the Superhuman.

Kwaang!

"…!"

Even Oskov, known as the Superhuman, was left bewildered as he hastily raised his greatsword. Such was the speed of Findenai; almost impossible to follow with one’s eyes.

"Ugh!"

Since the Protection he was wearing was specially crafted for him, there was no lag in his strength.

Yet, he still found himself unable to repel the axe that was coming down upon him with its full weight and force.

Wheeeeeeng!

Consequently, though it felt humiliating, Oskov had no choice but to exert all his strength. He infused the yellow force into his greatsword, causing its saw blade to start rotating.

However, Findenai, already aware of the greatsword's capabilities, swiftly leaped backwards.

After landing on the ground, Findenai once again rushed towards the extermination units without a moment's hesitation.

Though she knew that her axes would not be able to break the Protection worn by the extermination units, she was someone who had already fought against countless extermination units equipped with Protection.

Crack!

The neck of a member of the extermination unit twisted unnaturally as she aggressively struck them with the axe blade.

Although the Protection showed no signs of damage, the member of the extermination unit inside it was unable to withstand the impact, causing their neck to break

"…!"

Unaccustomed to such a combat style and brute display of strength , the remaining members of the extermination unit were startled.

Just one blow was enough to pierce through the Protection which they previously thought to be invincible. The unbelievable sight struck them with fear.

Without missing a beat, the woman's blood-red eyes swiftly landed on her next prey.

Bam!

Bam!

Bam!

It was truly a display of power beyond human limits. Even though they were equipped with the Protection akin to a knights' plate armor ,she was easily able to break the necks of enemies she preyed on.

"Hoooo!"

Each time her tattered coat fluttered, a member of the extermination unit fell.

Even if they wanted to fight back, this was something the extermination units were facing for the first time. They couldn’t help but panic.

All this time, they had always been confident in the overwhelming defense of their equipment, hiding behind it while engaging in nothing but a one-sided slaughter.

Hence, they were called the extermination units; their purpose was to exterminate ‘bugs’.

However, this woman was no bug.

If anything, she was a wolf.

On top of that, she was a wolf who had crossed the mountain range.

In the end, having no other choice, the extermination units drew their rifles instead of the batons they had held.

After all, even if they shot their allies, the Protection would shield them. So, without any hesitation, they pulled the triggers in the direction of Findenai.

"You motherfuckerrrrssss! Come at meeeeeeee!"

Findenai’s last remaining mana burst out explosively from her feet, forming a storm.

Swirling about like snow flurries, the bullets flew into the sky as they were swept away by it.

Swinging her axe, Findenai once again plunged into the midst of her enemies.

Every time she brought down an enemy, she could feel the energy coursing through her through the gloves she was wearing.

It is an item called the Hand of Hemomancy. If you inject blood into it while in use, you will gradually feel your health increase.

You're really giving this to me?

Yes, it is a fitting item for you.

Remembering the conversation they had when he had given her this, Findenai couldn't help it as a small smile crept onto her lips.

The longer the battle prolonged, the stronger Findenai grew.

For her, life was a constant struggle.

Twenty-seven years.

Striving for freedom from unjust oppression and dictatorship, she fought relentlessly for almost twenty-seven years, never resting for a single moment.

"Kaaaack!"

And at this very moment, the essence of that struggle had finally erupted now.

Every aspect of the woman named Findenai was now pouring out.

It was no longer fitting to call her a wolf now, for she had transformed into a brutal beast.

Findenai had now become a monster of calamity, with her fangs aimed solely at the Republic as she went on a rampage.

Wheeeeeng!

"Go rampage moderately, you beast."

Along with a chilling whirring sound, the sawtooth greatsword was thrust heavily into her side.

Bullets also flew in simultaneously.

It was not that they were aiming for Findenai, but rather, they were shot in the direction she was about to dodge.

In the end…

Crasssh!

Findenai blocked Oskov's sawtooth greatsword with the badly worn-out axes in her hands.

However, the axes eventually shattered completely, and the sawtooth greatsword tore into her flesh.

Bam!

Findenai was sent flying towards the main gate of Kids Zone. As she tried to stand up again with her wobbly legs…

Bang! Bang!

Bullets pierced into her shoulders and thighs.

She was completely drained, unable to even muster the strength to scream.

Steam enveloped her as the heat from her body clashed with the cold outside.

"Pant, pant…"

Breathing heavily, Findenai slipped her trembling hand inside her coat in a final struggle.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

However, as if denying any futile actions, another bullet struck her, causing Findenai's hand to go limp again.

Along with it, the items scattered out of her pocket.

A lighter and a pack of cigarettes.

And…

A single picture.

It was a picture of Deus Verdi standing stoically in front of a wall with wings painted on it, looking in her direction.

Despite her entire body being covered in blood, strangely enough, not a drop of blood was on the picture.

"Huh."

Feeling somewhat incredulous, Findenai let out a forced laughter.

"Damn, even at the very end, you’re still looking good."

Finding that expressing such sentiments felt absurd, Findenai slowly raised her head.

As she looked past the grounds of the detention center, beyond the extermination units surrounding her and Oskov, a pure white sky, seemingly ready to unleash a heavy snowfall at any moment, unfolded before her eyes.

Was he also looking at this sky?

He probably was looking at the same sky as her, right?

Even though they were so far apart, there was a strange sense of connection, making her feel a little less bad.

After all, death wasn't the end for him, so she hoped that he wouldn't feel too sorry for her demise.

Instead, she hoped that he would be proud of her for having laid the foundation for the freedom that would one day come upon this land.

n n

I am really thankful…

nn

She didn’t know when that would happen. However...

n n

That I’m able to die as the me you love.

nn

They would surely be able to meet again, right?

"No! Hey! I told you that I made a promise with Professor!"

She heard the irritated voice of a girl. Holding something to her ear, the black-haired girl seemed to be communicating with someone.

The person on the other end seemed equally annoyed as they were arguing back.

- Who didn’t? I also told Deus that I’d return to Graypond and stay there obediently!

"I told you already, your circumstances and mine are different! I have reasons that I can’t really explain to you! Ugh, if it weren’t for the fact that you’re the princess, really..."

- What? What about me? You’ll be getting the death penalty as soon as this is over! No, wait! Set up the warp marker quickly, and I’ll come over with Tyren to execute you!

"That’s funny! I beat up that old man at the Royal Palace last time. Is he doing any better now?!"

- Huh!He said he only used one arm because he found your show-off attitude unsightly! Right, Tyren?

- P-Princess! You must maintain your dignity! There are people around…!

It was ridiculous.

Just moments ago, Findenai had bid this world her final farewell

And now, just like when she was living at the academy, the black-haired girl standing in front of her was as temperamental as ever.

- Hurry up and set it up! It takes time, you know!

"I said I got it! I'm telling you this again, as we agreed, we should keep this a secret from Professor! Don't try to score points on your own!"

- …

"Why aren't you answering meeee!"

BAAAM!

The extremely annoyed black-haired girl drove the double-ended sharp pillar she was holding straight into the ground.

As if it was waiting, the golden mana from within seemed to pour out brilliantly.

Soon, it shot up high into the sky as it grew into a superhuman pillar of golden mana.

"Done."

- Ah, I can sense it here as well. Well done! Just hold on for another 10 minutes. You can at least do that, right?

"What? You said 5 minutes earlier!"

- What? What did you say? Crackle! I can't hear you well. Crackle! Is the communication device faulty?

"Tsk, just listen to this girl talking. Sigh, it seems like the entire kingdom needs to be turned upside down.”

- Hey!I heard what you said just now. You rebel! I'll inform my brother about this, and you'll be executed immediately!

"You idiot, a rebellion is what you started in the first round!"

Crash!

Aria Rias threw the communication device to the ground and smashed it.

The girl, who was throwing a fit, naturally locked eyes with Findenai behind her.

"Brat...?"

"Oh my, you look absolutely terrible. Here, have some of this."

Aria started pulling out various rare and precious items from her pocket. As someone who had been on the brink of death several times in the first round, all these potions were carefully selected by her.

Additionally, even the highest-quality recovery potion supplied exclusively to the Royal Palace was present among them.

"Just choose any of these and take it. I need to buy us some time."

With those words, Aria tightened her robe as she glanced back at the extermination units and Oskov, who were watching her with astonishment from behind.

"Who are you?"

Oskov asked, facing Aria who had suddenly appeared out of nowhere. Her sudden appearance, almost as if she had appeared using magic, made him feel a strange sense of unease.

At Oskov's question, Aria winked playfully in response.

"I'm just an ordinary soon-to-be second-year female student."

"A-a student?"

The answer seemed like something from a lunatic, but what followed after was anything but.

"Yes! But for the next 10 minutes…"

Kwoong!

She clenched the massive greatsword that appeared out of nowhere and slammed it to the ground

The ominous, pitch-black greatsword, whose mere presence implied its extraordinary nature, reverberated deeply throughout the entire detention center.

And almost as if it were signaling an ominous foreboding, a chilly wind blew in.

"Just for 10 minutes."

Her fighting spirit surged forth.

Gushing mana.

A colossal tsunami of mana violently gushed forth from within the girl, that bullets didn’t even dare to leave the barrel.

Even in the presence of Oskov, the man known as the Superhuman of the Republic, the man who had claimed countless lives, she wore a relaxed smile.

The girl then declared.

"I’ll return to being a hero."

Casting aside her identity as a 'student'...

Aria Rias would return to being a 'hero.’

For exactly 10 minutes.

***