I Became the Academy’s Pink Airhead

The faint essence contained in the World Tree’s sap.

The dragon twisted its body due to the vitality contained within.

It was an incomplete awakening that normally wouldn’t be attempted.

But the dragon responded to that incomplete awakening.

『…』

Bubbles boiling up from the depths of the abyss.

Eyeballs that sprang up like sticky black tar.

Eyelids formed by thousands of eyeballs gathering and dispersing opened.

『…』

The silver woman, [Priest of Illusion], approached the giant bubble-like body. And she raised her hand respectfully. Her silver-shining eyes turned black.

『How sad. Even borrowing this body’s power could not change it. You who were once an enemy.』

“…”

What came from her mouth was the dragon’s voice. He spoke to the prophet who, like himself, had sought to save the world.

『I glimpsed the end of this world countless times in dreams. No matter how much you struggle, no matter how different a path you try to walk. In the end, you return again.』

“…”

『Even after thousands of repetitions, hundreds of rebirths… in the end, this world repeats the same fate. Because even death is not the end, even I cannot stop it.』

The sleeping beast gods awaken again.

The hawk of order weakens.

The snake of cycles loses reason.

The wolf of vengeance only rages.

The dragon of death cannot stop fate.

At the end, a girl returns due to an empty miracle.

Even if everything flows differently, it will return again.

“…”

Hearing those words, the prophet answered.

“Then… we’ll stop it.”

I, who do not belong to this world.

I, whose fate the World Tree cannot shape.

I will become the heart of the World Tree directly.

“I will revive everyone, and stop this world’s history here.”

Stop the flow of time.

Past

Present

Future

Trap everyone in their happiest moment.

-Jinsu, I love you.

‘I… love you too, Ymir.’

There were still so many things I wanted to tell her.

The stars twinkling in the night sky,

The unknown lands beyond the academy city, and the countless stories from the star I crossed over from.

I want to tell you all of them.

“…”

I want to save everyone living in this twisted universe.

『…』

Hearing those words, Death answered.

『Truly the thoughts of a madman.』

“…”

『That’s why it may not head towards the predetermined ending… I will bet on you one last time. You who were once an enemy, but have become a comrade suffering together.』

Please…

Save this endlessly repeating world.

Save the dragon tribe that must fight endlessly to survive.

* * *

A wolf large enough that you’d need a ladder truck just to reach its back height was sprinting across the foggy plains.

Within the wolf’s howl was contained a girl’s mournful cry.

『Die, die—!! I’ll kill you—!!』

Though repeating the same words like a child, the words heard along with the chilling wolf howl were filled with killing intent tangled like a spider’s web.

——!!

Is this what it would feel like if a giant passenger ship sprinted across land at hundreds of kilometers per hour? Though it was just moving forward, it was an overwhelming sight.

‘It’s really fast because of its huge size…’

Without even time to take care of Kara and Peepeep, I was chasing after the wolf that suddenly popped out of the fog.

‘Now the real events will start unfolding…’

Fortunately Helina was loitering around there. So it should be fine even if something unusual happens.

“…”

Anxiety gradually built up. But the bit of ‘Kang Jinsu’ still remaining in my heart seemed to encourage me.

-It’ll be okay.

I used my ether skill and pursued the wolf.

“[Bifrost]—☆”

I chased after it, repeatedly using spatial movement in midair. And I could faintly see Astrid pursuing as yellow fog in the distance.

Astrid exclaimed in shock while chasing through the fog:

“Whaaat?! Why is that thing so fast?!”

Even for Astrid, a vampire who could become one with the fog and a powerhouse with [Unique Ether] ability, it seemed hard to keep up with its speed.

Rota was riding on my back. Unable to bear the chaotic view in [Bifrost] appearing and advancing in midair with a poof, she had her eyes closed.

“Ugh…!”

‘At this speed, we’ll soon reach Golden Street…!’

Before the prophet appears in earnest. But if the wolf reaches the World Tree first, things will get difficult.

The one running far ahead opened its mouth that looked like it could swallow the moon and howled.

——!!!

The fog rippled from the killing intent contained in that howl.

‘If the power of the wolf controlled by Moin is similar to the snake controlled by Ofnir…’

Back then Hilde, who had achieved true name release, was able to land an effective hit. And now I was the only one here who could land an effective hit.

‘If that happens, there’ll be no one left to deal with the prophet…’

While earthquakes and echoes reverberated, I had scattered bait to other schools, so they should be responding quickly to the anomalies. But it’ll be tough if this guy barges in.

The beast god of vengeance – [Wolf Seeking Revenge].

I thought the prophet would use this power he favored until the end, but I didn’t expect him to hand it over to the sister of the [Twin Priests].

‘Did he give it to someone who truly gained the fate of vengeance…?!’

If so, the place the revenge-seeking wolf is heading towards… is probably the building in front of the World Tree where Alvit is.

“…”

I must stop it. Only Alvit’s flash can land an effective hit on the ‘dragon’.

Boom!

Boom!

As the giant body over several dozen meters tall sprints with both feet, craters form and storms rage wherever it passes.

The ground caves in as the giant wolf takes a running start. And rocks that were underneath fly out like arrows. They approach instantly despite flying from hundreds of meters ahead.

Whoosh—!

A threatening wind sound is heard.

“…!”

I can’t waste ether.

I need a weapon.

But all my friends are holding their own positions.

I turned my head and shouted to Rota.

“Rota, weapon!!”

“Nyaa—!”

Along with a deflating spell sound, a heavy orange greatsword appears in my hand. I swung it to smash the threateningly flying rocks.

Craaash—!!

Rocks split in two along with pink ether. I entered through that gap and instantly moved next to the wolf.

My eyes met its burning eyes. Though blazing like the sun, the light inside was utterly dark.

Looking at those eyes, I swung the greatsword horizontally. Then I felt a heavy impact in my hand along with the sound of cutting wind.

“Pink airhead’s attack comes twice—☆”

Swish— Thunk!

——!!

The wolf’s head, as large as a container, turned and it let out a whale-like roar as it bit. Its legs that suddenly stopped got tangled, unable to overcome the speed.

Rumble—!!

And I moved to a place that wouldn’t be swept up by its body size and landed on the ground. Rota and Astrid held their weapons resolutely beside me, watching that sight.

Amidst the dust clouds swirling, two blazing eyes glared at me from within.

The girl’s mournful cry is heard.

『I’ll kill you… I’ll kill everyone!!』

And the ground began to shake.

“Oh my—☆”

Surely it’s not a mob pattern?

Or a sudden power-up pattern?

I didn’t say anything like ‘Is it finished?’!

‘I hope nothing has changed…’

Unfortunately, the answer was both.

Grooooar—!!

Grotesquely patched together chaos insects rose from the ground.

Grrr…!

Black energy leaked out over the wolf’s fur as it crawled out of the dust clouds. Then countless echoes formed on the ground and scattered chaotically.

* * *

Rumble—!!

The ground rumbled and black energy leaked out. Like underground water gushing from a geyser, energy that had been sleeping underground burst out.

Rumble—!!

And ominous shadows poured out from cracks split like canyons. Ominous forms poured out like a disturbed spider’s nest.

Countless monstrous cries and wails tangled together, reverberating like a hair-raising scream.

…!!

Finally, the face of a ragged chaos insect revealed itself from the darkness.

An appearance like countless chaos insects stitched together.

A grotesque exterior transformed by the energy of death.

…!!

They advance while wailing.

Their destination was beyond the horizon. The World Tree’s branches rising above the land filled with thick fog were faintly visible.

Thud thud thud—

Countless chaos insects advance, writhing like a wave.

Due to the energy of death, even their instincts as living beings had disappeared. They just charge forward, craving the World Tree’s energy.

They advance, brushing past the foggy wind. Even before hundreds of flames visible beyond the fog, they were advancing mindlessly.

Those lighting flames in the fog chatted casually.

“Wow, chaos insects really do pop out when there’s an earthquake!”

The one who responded to those words was Eir.

“Phew, there sure are a lot. Haven’t we seen this somewhere before?”

“Oh! It’s exactly like what we saw at the start of the semester, boss!”

“Well, it was like this at the start of the semester, and during summer break… Even at the Combat Festival we were swarmed. Am I fated to only deal with things that swarm like a pack of dogs?”

Fiona with short red hair smiled brightly as she raised her spear. And she grinned while looking at the red flame pattern engraved on her black coat.

“That’s because you act crooked, so you get beaten up, boss!”

“…”

The black coat Eir glared at no longer had a red flame pattern. She was now wearing a simple coat like ordinary students.

“Shut up, Fiona. It’s natural to go through a rebellious phase when you become a 3rd year.”

“What are you saying, you who’s about to graduate. I heard people about to leave shouldn’t act up.”

“This brat has nothing she can’t say now.”

Ptooey.

Eir spat out the toothpick she had been chewing on. It was around when the grotesque appearance of chaos insects approaching beyond the fog became visible.

“…”

And she closed her eyes while holding her beloved sword.

What she recalled was her benefactor.

‘Thank you.’

For protecting us from the black priest.

For changing the student council president with love.

For making me the strongest, even if only for a while.

I cast aside all lingering attachments, and finally was able to reach it.

‘Now is the time to repay the favor.’

Eir opened her eyes and shouted.

“Blaze!! [Laevateinn]—!!”

A great flame is born on the ghastly sword that was like a spine.

Whoosh—!!

Overwhelming firepower that could even dispel the fog. Though clearly similar to the flames she had wielded until now, the clarity contained within was incomparable.

The primordial flame.

A flame that purifies even death.

A flame beast writhed atop the spine-like sword.

The flame that had become a clear white fired like a giant welding torch.

Kwaaaah—!!

Chaos insects within several hundred meters in front of Eir instantly turned to white ash. All the moisture in the damp plains evaporated and disappeared.

Seeing that, Fiona mounted her bike, raised her spear high and shouted.

“Hyaaaah!!! Let’s go play—!!”

And hundreds of students responded to those words.

-Hyaaaah—!!!

Vroom!

Vroom!

Hundreds of bikes rushed forward, creating a path of flames across the plains where white ash was fluttering.

Soon they shot flames towards the approaching monstrosities.