The Survival of the Third-rate Villain

In the outdoor training grounds—

There were ten demons that invaded the tournament.

One noble demon, four high-ranks, two mid-ranks, and three low-ranks.

Bryan, the headmaster of Zion Academy, was facing the noble-rank demon.

The four high-ranks, scattered throughout the area, were being handled by Sariel, Ramiel, and Charles.

Allen and Devin were fighting one of the mid-rank demons, while Leon and Lycus were facing the other one.

And the three low-rank demons...

"[Water Spear!]"

FWOOOSH—

BAAAM—

"[Lightning Bolt!]"

FWOOOZZZT—

BOOOM—!

Jerusha and Lena were currently clashing with them.

The two of them launched a spell.

FWISH—

-...

But the three demons just swiftly avoided them!

The demons were trying to close the distance between themselves and the two—

But Jerusha and Lena were doing their best to maintain the distance and keep their advantage in reach.

They’re both doing fine against the demons using magic, but the situation will worsen if close combat gets involved.

So, seeing the demons rush at them—

"[Wind Barrier!]"

S W O O O S H—!

Jerusha cast a spell, creating a small wind dome around her and Lena.

It’s meant to separate them from the demons.

Fwish—

And looking at Lena—

"Buy me just a second."

Jerusha said that.

"Huh?"

Lena was surprised by her sudden request.

And at that moment—

Tap—

One of the demons reached the barrier!

And with a crazed smile on its face—

-[VOID PUNCH!]

FWOOOSH—

He exclaimed that and threw a straight punch with his right fist!

And when it hit the barrier—

FWOOP—

The violent wind in the area the demon punched disappeared, his hand slipping through effortlessly!

-Hah!

The demon laughed, thinking he had Jerusha and Lena cornered now.

But when he looked at them—

"..."

He saw Jerusha calmly staring at him, not even remotely surprised that her spell had been pierced through.

And in the next moment—

"[Paralyze]"

The demon heard that.

And before he could even turn to the source—Lena—

BOOOM!

A straight line of electricity shot through the air and struck his arm, the one that had slipped through the barrier!

SWIIISZZZT—!

The electricity surged through his body, paralyzing him!

-GURGH...?!

The demon groaned, his body locking up, unable to move.

He twitched as Lena’s magic coursed through him!

(He was shocked lol)

Lena’s spell, [Paralyze], could completely stop someone’s movement for hours if they were a normal opponent.

But because demons have high magic resistance... the effect would last only five seconds at most.

Yet Lena didn’t care.

After all—

’Jerusha said I only need to stop him from moving for a second.’

She thought.

And just then—

"[Wind Cleave!]"

Jerusha shouted that.

F W I S H—!

Then the winds that had been protecting them shifted!

They shot toward the paralyzed demon!

SWISH—

Each gust became as sharp as a blade, their speed like bullets tearing through the air.

And before the demon could even recover from paralysis—

-Shit—!

Jerusha’s magic hit him.

S L A S H—!

Each of the wind blades carved through his flesh!

His body was torn apart in an instant!

And soon—

Thud- thud- thud—

Chunks of meat fell onto the ground.

It was the demon.

He had been turned into minced meat!

"Wha..."

Lena was shocked at the sight of it, she hadn’t expected a demon to be killed so easily—so brutally.

’It’s a low-rank, but it’s still a demon.’

She thought, dumbfounded.

And it wasn’t just her—

-...?!

-Huh?!

The other two demons froze in their places.

Their blood ran cold.

They had just witnessed one of their own get torn to shreds—reduced to nothing but minced flesh.

They thought Jerusha and Lena were just kids.

The demons were surprised, that’s why they stopped moving instinctively.

And not missing such an opportunity—

"[Verdant Chains!]"

Jerusha exclaimed that!

Her voice cut through the battlefield like a blade.

FWOOOM—!

The ground beneath the nearest demon erupted violently!

And after that—

FWOOOOOSH—!

A massive vine, reinforced with pure mana, burst forth like a coiling serpent—!

-W-WHAT THE HELL—?!

W H I P—!

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The demon’s surprised voice barely left his throat before the vine lashed around him—

SQUEEZING.

CRUSHING.

-KIEEEEK...?!!

Crack—

His bones creaked, his muscles tensed, his claws slashed wildly—

The demon spasmed, trying to escape the vine.

But it was useless...

He was trapped.

-GET ME OFF THIS!!

The demon shouted in rage.

And following him—

"LENA!"

Jerusha roared.

"...!"

Lena flinched—her heart pounded—

She was surprised by the sudden call.

But knowing exactly what she had to do—

"Urgh...!"

Lena gritted her teeth—her hands moved on instinct.

And opening her mouth—

"[DIVINE PUNISHMENT]!"

She chanted that!

FWOOOOOOOOOM—!!!

A blinding surge of mana burst from her body.

Fwoosh~

A massive golden magic circle appeared into existence above the restrained demon—

Crackling. Roaring. Pulsating with overwhelming power—!

And seeing that—

-?!!

The demon’s eyes widened.

A feeling he had never experienced before—pure, suffocating fear—seized him.

-N-NO! WAI—

The demon tried to plead for his life.

But it was too late.

FWOOOOOOOOOOOOSH—!!!

A titanic column of lightning—two meters wide—came crashing down from the magic circle!

B O O O O O O O O O M—!!!

And it hit the trapped demon directly!

C R A C K—!

The entire area erupted!

The earth shattered!

SWOOOOSH—!

A violent shockwave tore through the air, ripping the ground apart!

"UGH—!!"

Jerusha and Lena staggered back, shielding themselves from the sheer force of destruction.

A blinding white light engulfed the battlefield.

A deafening roar of thunder shook their very bones.

And then—

Fwish~

"..."

Silence.

The dust settled.

The light faded.

And what remained—

Was nothing.

The demon, once trapped in the vine earlier, was gone.

No body.

No flesh.

No bones.

Only ashes drifting into the wind.

And seeing that—

-...

The last remaining low-rank demon became speechless.

Hjs crimson eyes widened, his breath hitched.

-...!

His companions—massacred in mere moments.

Demons aren’t exactly compassionate creatures, they don’t care much about each other or about demons weaker than themselves.

But now that he stood alone...

A chill crawled down the demon’s spine.

-’What... WHAT THE FUCK ARE THESE BRATS?!’

Panic surged through his mind.

His instincts screamed—

RUN!

And immediately disregarding his pride—

FWOOOSH—!

The demon turned around without hesitation and bolted!

He pushed his demonic energy to its limit!

FWISH—

His body blurred, dashing away at full speed!

In the demon’s head, he wasn’t running away.

Instead—

-’I need reinforcement!’

He was making a tactical retreat!

He plans to call for help from the higher-ranked demons in the area!

He refused to fight alone!

But as he had his back turned—

"You’re not getting away."

Jerusha’s voice rang out behind him.

It was cold.

Unforgiving.

And the moment she spoke—

FWIP—!

A razor-sharp gust of wind shot toward the demon’s legs!

SHING—!

The air itself became a blade!

And in the next moment—

-...?!

SPLURT—!

-GAHHHHHH!!!

The demon screamed.

His right foot—

It was severed.

The demon’s balance crumbled.

THUD!

He crashed to the ground, rolling in agony.

He couldn’t use his deformed, small wings to fly and support himself.

Blood gushed out like a fountain from his severed foot.

-’The hell...?!’

Fwoosh—

The demon’s hands trembled as he clutched the bloody stump where his foot used to be.

His breathing was ragged, desperate.

And just then—

Fwaaaah—

A shadow loomed over his.

And looking up—

"...It’s over."

The demon saw Lena standing in front of him.

Her expression was blank.

Her blue eyes glowed with raw mana.

Fwip—

Lena raised her hand.

Fwooosh~

Then a massive light-blue magic circle formed beneath the demon.

And opening her mouth—

"[Crimson Judgment]"

She muttered that.

And at that moment—

F W O O O Z Z Z S H—!!!

The air crackled.

The temperature skyrocketed.

A pillar of crimson lightning erupted from the ground!

-WAIT—!!!

The demon shrieked in horror—

BOOOOOOOOOOOM—!!!

But an explosion shattered the ground, drowning his voice.

And after that—

SWAAAAA—

Flames engulfed his entire body.

-GAAAAAAAHH!!! STOOOP!!!

The demon’s screams echoed in pure agony.

His flesh melted.

His body disintegrated.

The heat was unbearable—

"...?!"

Even Jerusha and Lena had to shield themselves.

SWAAAAAAAAA—!

The flames raged for several more seconds.

And then—

"..."

Silence.

The flames died down.

And the demon—

He was gone.

Not even ash remained.

Only scorched earth.

And confirming his defeat—

"Fuuuuu..."

Jerusha exhaled, lowering her hands.

"Haaaaaa..."

Lena let out a slow breath, her heart still pounding.

"...It’s done."

They mumbled in unison.

And their enemies—

Are now annihilated.

So with that finished...

Tap- tap- tap—

Jerusha started walking away.

"Hmm, where are you headed?"

Lena turned to her and asked that.

Fwish—

"..."

Jerusha looked back at her, silent for a second.

Then, with a bright but shy smile—

"I’ll go and follow after Raye."

She mumbled that.

"Oh, okay..."

Lena nodded her head at her words.

"But your condition? How about your mana and stamina?"

Then she asked that.

"Ehh, I can handle this much."

Jerusha replied, waving her hands casually.

Though in reality, she’s a bit tired and wants to rest.

(Lena is the same.)

Jerusha just really wants to go after Raye.

Then, suddenly—

"H-Here..."

Jerusha and Lena heard a voice not far from them.

"Huh?"

"Hm?"

They both turned their heads toward the source of it.

And there—

"Ah..."

They saw Sofia, standing shyly with her head bowed while holding vials of what appears to be healing portions!

"I-I can’t fight... This is all I can do... I’m sorry."

Sofia weakly muttered, tears threatening to fall from her eyes.

She was embarrassed that she couldn’t help more because she was so weak.

But then—

"Ah, just right on time!"

"You’re a lifesaver!"

Jerusha and Lena exclaimed, their voices filled with relief and genuine happiness.

"Huh?"

Sofia was surprised.

She raised her head—

"..."

Then she saw Jerusha and Lena looking at her with warm smiles.

"Thank you."

They said in unison.

And hearing their words—

"..."

A small smile appeared on Sofia’s face.