Chapter 49: Ridiculous Absolute Defense! A Coward Who Isn't Even Qualified!
The bustling department store, usually filled with noise, was now as silent as a tomb.
Terrorists were spread out like ghosts, and the hostages, huddled on the floor with their heads in their hands, desperately covered their mouths, terrified that even a whisper would lead to their demise.
Stella's gaze swept over the increasing number of hostages. She leaned closer to Shizuku on her left and whispered,
"Targeting only women and children, these guys are truly despicable to the extreme."
Kurogane Shizuku subtly observed her surroundings, confirming that the terrorists' attention was not yet focused on them, and lowered her voice.
"I have a plan, but it requires time to prepare."
"Before that, please bear with it and don't let them notice us."
Apparently, Kurogane's younger sister was unaware of the existence of Murphy's Law.
If nothing unexpected happened, then something unexpected was about to happen.
A woman suddenly rushed out from the group of hostages, clinging tightly to a terrorist's leg, crying and begging him to spare her child.
But the desperado, brainwashed by the New World theory, grinned savagely and kicked the woman away.
Seeing this, the child cried out and lunged at the terrorist.
The increasingly impatient desperado kicked the charging child away again, then raised his gun and fired.
Stella, unable to bear it any longer, acted decisively. Flames surged, melting all the bullets, and she shouted for their leader.
However, it was her overly reckless action that made the Rebel Army's leader realize that a big fish had already taken the bait.
…
"Oh ho ~ isn't this Princess Stella of the Vermillion Kingdom?"
A man in a pitch-black cloak with twisted tattoos on his face slowly emerged from the shadows.
He spread his hands, adorned with expensive rings, and performed a clumsy, aristocratic bow.
"It is an honor to meet you, Apostle 'Smile' salutes you."
Stella stared at the pretentious Smile in front of her, frowning and coldly rebuking him.
"Are you their leader? Release the hostages immediately, or I will roast all of you right now!"
At this moment, the two were less than twenty meters apart, and she was confident she could sever his head in an instant.
Smile, on the other hand, completely disregarded Stella's threat, and with a mouth full of twisted logic, he raised his pistol and aimed it at the woman from before.
On the verge of life and death, Stella had no time to think. With a flick of her hand, Hiryū Zai Ken was in her grasp, and she charged towards him like lightning!
She never expected this to be the trap Smile had meticulously set for her.
He raised his left hand, and a circular shield instantly unfolded. Stella's fierce, flame-clad slash was completely absorbed by it!
Immediately after, the ring on Smile's right hand glowed menacingly, and a shockwave containing immense flame Magic Conduction power slammed directly into Stella's abdomen!
"How's that? This is my Device, the Archon's Ring."
"Its characteristic is sin and punishment. My left hand absorbs all 'sins' directed at me, and my right hand transforms this power into 'punishment,' returning it all."
Smile perfectly demonstrated what it means to be a standard villain during his self-revelation, utterly smug.
Stella clutched her agonizing abdomen, struggling to look up.
"You mean… I was defeated by my own full power?"
"Yes, that's right. I hope this lesson teaches you to think calmly, Vermillion student."
Arthur appeared beside Stella, holding the Radiant Dragon Holy Sword upside down. He reached out, pulled her up from where she was slumped on the ground, and gently admonished her.
Stella's face was full of surprise: "Wait! How did you just come out like that? Isn't that even more reckless than me?"
"So you know you were being reckless."
Arthur raised his hand, gesturing for her to look around.
"Don't get excited, it's all taken care of. And thank you, you made a good decoy."
Only then did Stella and Smile both look around with surprise and suspicion.
To their horror, they found that the previously arrogant terrorists were now all collapsed on the ground, with a swirling, pitch-black void beneath each of them.
Smile turned to Arthur in disbelief, unable to understand how this person had accomplished such a feat.
Such a powerful, restrictive Blazer skill?
What boring Blazer would specifically develop something like that!
"Ha… haha! What a dramatic turn of events."
"I never thought Hagun Academy would hide a Magic Conduction genius like you, besides the princess of Vermillion."
Smile tried his best to maintain his affected elegance, raising his hand to display his ring-shaped Device, his eyes full of mockery.
"Too bad, no matter how strong you are, you'll never break through the Archon's Ring's absolute defense!"
Thunder Style: Light Fang!
A flash of lightning instantly pierced the gloom, illuminating the entire hall. Arthur appeared before Smile like a ghost and chuckled.
"What defense are you talking about?"
Smile, still reveling in his self-satisfaction, only then belatedly heard the thunderous roar in his ears. He slowly looked down at his arm, severed at the root.
His hand… was gone?
"Ah—!!! My hand!"
"Why? Why is this happening!?"
Arthur looked down at Smile, who was writhing on the ground in pain, with a look of distaste. He raised his hand and snapped his fingers.
The black hole spell quietly unfolded, and silence returned to the hall.
…
Witnessing even the leader of the terrorists being easily subdued by Arthur, the previously terrified tourists finally dared to shakily stand up.
Those who still had their wits about them stepped forward to express their gratitude, but more people frantically rushed towards the department store exit.
Stella clutched her abdomen, took two steps back, and watched Arthur, who was surrounded by tourists.
Her usually spirited head now hung limply, and she murmured softly,
"I lost…"
"Vermillion student! Shizuku! Are you two alright?"
Kurogane Ikki rushed down from upstairs. Seeing that they were both safe, he let out a sigh of relief.
Kurogane Shizuku and Arisouin Nagi walked side by side. She first glanced at Stella, then spoke in a calm, unruffled tone.
"Please rest assured, Brother, Alice and I are both unharmed. And—"
"Thanks to a certain cow's unauthorized actions, my original plan is also ruined."
Stella's eyebrows twitched, and she retorted,
"What are you talking about, you washboard!"
Seeing this, Kurogane Ikki and Arisouin Nagi quickly stepped between the two, acting as peacemakers.
"Speaking of which, why hasn't the Academy sent anyone for support yet?"
"No, they already sent someone."
Arthur, having shaken off the tourists, walked over to the group and gestured for them to look towards the staircase in the hall.
A student in a long Hagun Academy uniform, with a casual expression and a playful grin on his face, dispelled his invisibility and sauntered towards them.
"Oh my, oh my ~ As expected of the A-rank Radiant Dragon Holy Sword, it truly is an eye-opener."
Arthur gave him an indifferent glance and spoke coolly.
"Second-year Kiriya Shizuya, you arrived on the scene before Stella even stepped forward, why didn't you act?"
Hearing this, Kiriya Shizuya slapped his thigh and laughed heartily.
"Isn't that obvious?"
"What would happen if I rashly acted in that situation? That princess has already personally demonstrated it. I was merely waiting for the best moment."
Stella's face instantly darkened upon hearing this assessment.
Arthur, however, narrowed his eyes, staring at Kiriya Shizuya, and scoffed.
"Leaving aside the fact that you could have easily created a forest large enough to cover all the hostages."
"The reason you chose to stand by and do nothing is simply because you can't afford to lose, isn't it?"
Kiriya Shizuya's face stiffened. He raised his head and coldly snorted.
"Boring provocation! I am a representative student of Hagun Academy, how could I possibly lose…"
"Correction, you were only last year's representative student."
Arthur raised his hand, interrupting Kiriya Shizuya's bragging, and stared sharply at this timid, injury-fearing waste.
"And this year's selection roster is my responsibility. And you, you are not qualified to be chosen."