Volume 3 Chapter 196

Volume 3 + Chapter 196: The Whirlpool

The Witch Saphia, as the core of the calamity beast, absorbed all the lingering calamity aura within the entire Laurel Tree Academy into herself, in order to evolve even further.

Perhaps by coincidence, within this vast calamity aura, she sensed a trace belonging to the Calamity Beast Trio. Among that trace were the memories they had seen in the moment before their death.

A silver-haired dragon girl effortlessly defeated the Calamity Beast Trio, displaying power beyond that of humans.

That was Xia Yi. She had hidden her dragon identity through some means, infiltrating Laurel Tree Academy, unwilling to let other humans know.

This was Xia Yi’s secret.

Xia Yi possessed such overwhelming strength that she could easily defeat even calamity beasts…

Upon realizing this, the witch suddenly understood, and she began to laugh.

The witch intended to tear away the veil of disguise covering Xia Yi before everyone’s eyes.

“Xia Yi, you are actually—”

Everyone’s gaze turned toward Xia Yi. None of them understood why the witch, a calamity being, shared such a strange and mysterious connection with Xia Yi.

But just as the truth was about to be revealed, the witch’s words abruptly stopped.

She heard a voice she had never heard before—a voice she had always longed to hear—

“Saphia, bring Xia Yi to me.”

The witch’s eyes widened, her pupils trembling violently. She even wondered if she were dreaming.

But without a doubt, that voice resounded within her mind.

Its source was none other than the master she served—Samael of Wrath.

This voice did not come from any language of this land, nor did it belong to any linguistic system of any race. But because she had already linked herself to the great will of calamity, she could understand it.

An overwhelming flood of joy and bliss surged within her, drowning her completely.

From the moment she first approached calamity, embraced its aura, to becoming a mutated beast, evolving into a calamity beast, and miraculously becoming an Apostle of Calamity…

Throughout this entire process, Saphia had always been influenced by the will of calamity.

Everything she had done from then until now had been to dedicate her death to the will of calamity, to earn its favor.

And now, the will of calamity had not only actively spoken to her, but had even bestowed upon her the voice of greatness.

How could this not fill her with rapture?

For the first time, she truly felt that all her efforts had borne fruit. To hear Samael’s command was the highest blessing.

She had gained the recognition of Lord Samael!

What’s more, she could now feel the most direct essence of calamity pouring into the core of her calamity beast body.

It was the purest gift of power from Wrathful Samael!

“My efforts… were not in vain…!”

A fanatical smile bloomed on Saphia’s face as tears of ecstatic joy streamed down her cheeks.

“I’ve never felt such happiness before—ah, ah!!”

“She… what’s happening to her?”

Xia Yi was utterly baffled.

Just a second ago, the witch seemed intent on exposing her identity as a dragon, yet suddenly began speaking incomprehensible words, laughing and crying like a mad zealot.

The Knight Princess was still channeling the Holy Spear’s power, bathing the witch in holy light within the sealing array. Half of the witch’s body had already vanished, now only her head remained, while the flesh-mountain calamity beast was being continually purified under the sacred radiance.

“Lady Knight Princess, what’s wrong with that witch?” Albert asked in confusion. “Why can’t we understand what she’s saying at all?”

“…I don’t know. This is the first time I’ve seen something like this.” The Knight Princess also felt perplexed.

“Heeheehee, hahaha! Heeheeheehee!! Wahahaha!”

The witch laughed maniacally, deranged from sheer elation.

After receiving the command, she could now sense where her master, the one she worshipped, resided.

Normally, powerful calamity beasts were nearly impossible to annihilate. As long as the will of calamity existed, even if their cores were destroyed, they could still be reborn upon this land.

But if she released every last trace of calamity aura within herself, sacrificing her own core and forsaking resurrection forever, she could unleash a catastrophic energy surge—

One strong enough to rend even space itself.

The witch’s crazed gaze locked onto Xia Yi. She had resolved herself—resolved to offer up everything.

Because of Samael’s bestowed power, her previously damaged calamity beast core had now been repaired.

And now, there was only one thing left to do.

“For Lord Samael, my sacrifice is nothing!!!!”

The witch let out a twisted, hysterical laugh.

In that moment, she cast everything aside, absorbing every last remnant of calamity aura from the flesh-mountain beast—and detonated it all at once.

BOOM!!!

The sealing array created by the Holy Spear shattered with cracks.

“Everyone falls back! She’s chosen self-destruction!” the Knight Princess shouted. “Do NOT get close!!”

Amid the explosion, the calamity beast core known as Witch Saphia fractured and dissolved. Her existence vanished forever, and the flesh-mountain beast was obliterated as well, its remains turning into a pure surge of calamity energy that smashed through the sealing array.

The pure calamity energy formed into a swirling vortex, distorting space. At its center lay a shattered rift connecting to an unknown realm.

“Ahhh!”

Panic-stricken cries rang out. Though no one knew what it was, instinct drove them to retreat for survival.

Xia Yi also intended to retreat, but then something bizarre occurred.

The vortex of calamity expanded toward her, dragging her in.

“W-What is this…?!”

Xia Yi wasn’t sure if she was hallucinating, but at that moment, she saw a vague and indistinct silhouette.

The mental shock of it was as overwhelming as when she had once gazed upon Leviathan and Belial.

That was… the mythical beast—Samael of Wrath.

It was as if the legendary beast itself bore down upon her, crushing her with its aura, rendering her immobile. Her consciousness was invaded, blurred, and she was gradually dragged toward the heart of the vortex.

“Xia Yi!”

Hill saw this and panicked, rushing to pull Xia Yi out—but the moment she touched the swirling gas, her body froze.

A colossal psychic shock struck her. In her human body, she could not withstand it—she collapsed unconscious.

“Get back here!!”

Biden, alarmed by the scene, chanted quickly and used magic. Perhaps because Hill was still near the edge, he managed to pull her out.

“Idiot! Don’t you dare die on me—wake up!”

After rescuing Hill, Biden tried to use magic to reach Xia Yi near the center, but his spells could not penetrate—completely futile.

“How can this be…?”

Seeing this, the others dared not approach.

Because the vortex of calamity seemed to target only Xia Yi. As long as they kept their distance, they would not be dragged in.

“In this situation, we can only keep our distance—wait, Lady Knight Princess, what are you doing?!”

The crowd cried out in shock.

The Knight Princess made an astonishing choice. Though she stood in safety, she leapt of her own accord—straight into the calamity vortex, attempting a rescue.

Swoosh!

Space fractured a second time. Expanding cracks spread beneath the Knight Princess and Xia Yi.

Just before they fell in, the Knight Princess seized Xia Yi’s hand and pulled her into her arms.

And then—before everyone’s eyes—the two of them plunged together into the unknown realm, vanishing without a trace.