[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-academy-s-weakest-became-a-demon-limited-hun":3,"chapter-the-academy-s-weakest-became-a-demon-limited-hun-the-academy-s-weakest-became-a-demon-limited-hun-chapter-319":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","The Academy’s Weakest Became A Demon-Limited Hunter",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1373864,1817,"Chapter 319: Winged Heavenly Being Subjugation (7)","the-academy-s-weakest-became-a-demon-limited-hun-chapter-319",319,"\u003Cp>A flash filled the entire area, followed by an ear-splitting roar and a massive explosion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ice spikes covered the Icy Lake, and the ice masses violently erupted from its surface.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Concealing myself within the radiant glow, I darted toward Veronica, swinging my Frostscythe in a sweeping arc.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ssshhk!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sensing my presence, Veronica leaped back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I saw the Frostscythe in her grasp. No, to be exact, it was a scythe similar to mine but slightly different in shape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was most likely a replica based on memories of the past.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swoosh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Veronica defended against or dodged my attacks, using ice magic or unfolding the wings of [Ice Sovereign] to retreat swiftly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is the scythe too heavy for her to swing?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Given her body, which looked as frail as if only bones were left, it made sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if we had agreed beforehand, we both deployed ice magic circles simultaneously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her magic circle unleashed a vast [Frostfire]. I countered with a [Frostfire] of my own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fwoooosh!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Our destructive ice magic competed for hegemony, relentlessly crashing into each other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the midst of it, I used magic to speak into Veronica’s mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Why were you positioned here as a gatekeeper?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[…]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[You said you would follow the stars. What did that mean?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[…]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[And what was the falsehood you wanted to cast aside?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boooom!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[If I go beyond this door, will I know everything? The stars, the falsehoods!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[…]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Booom!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only answer I received from Veronica was silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her mind was already broken. She merely unleashed a series of graceful and dazzling ice magic attacks, aiming for my life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, I wanted to help Veronica regain even a shred of her reason.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Answer me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I shouted outright.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The one who first sealed the Evil God was the monster within me, right?! That wasn’t recorded in history! But how did you know that?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The final boss, the Evil god Nephid, in ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱, was sealed in the abyss and later “resurrected”.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why is such an expression used?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the Primordial Kings from the dawn of time only foretold the resurrection of the Evil God; they took no part in sealing it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who sealed the Evil God had remained unknown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, in Düpfendorf, Veronica left me a note when I came seeking the Cloak of the Radiant Wolf, allowing me to guess who sealed the Evil God.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The one who sealed the Evil God and the being I must not trust if I wish to survive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ozma!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That being must be the first kin of the Star Fairy Stella, Ozma.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Booom!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A series of ice magic colliding, erupting into a fierce cold blast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swoosh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I broke through the swirling extreme cold, reaching Veronica.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Veronica swung her Frostscythe with her ice magic, I swung mine, wrapped in absolute zero.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My target was not Veronica, but the scythe she held.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Veronica’s Frostscythe was knocked away. The advantage of power leaned towards me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grasping her head, I forcefully headbutted her forehead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dull sound of skulls cracking echoed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Veronica staggered, and ignoring the blood dripping from my head, I grabbed her by the collar. No matter how much ice magic she poured out, I retaliated with my own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I glared into Veronica’s lifeless eyes from up close and spoke, “You were waiting for me here, weren’t you? Why did you do it…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[…]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Veronica’s bloodless lips moved as if she had just realized something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her eyes finally focused on me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Star…]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At last, Veronica uttered a word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her voice cracked as if she hadn’t spoken for countless years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[…Bey… ond… the… star…]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beyond the star.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is she answering my question? Or is this merely the last remnants of her obsession escaping her lips?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whatever the case, it was clear that going beyond the gate would reveal the truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I blinked slowly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why did Veronica come here to become the gatekeeper?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had told me to destroy her with peace in my heart, so she must have already known her fate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Veronica. Why are you… serving as the gatekeeper here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I asked, Veronica’s eyes widened gradually.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, I couldn’t help but be shocked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her mummified face, devoid of any vitality, cracked and splintered apart like an ice sculpture…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…From a barely formed smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sharp flash swept by, and an immense wave of mana spread outward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One after another, the strange whistling of the wind could be heard from the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t afford to take my eyes off Veronica or let down my guard, so I activated [Clairvoyance] to check what had appeared in the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What is that…?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A pale blue crescent, filled with countless magic circles, cast a dazzling light below the blood-colored clouds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An ice crescent connected to Veronica by mana.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was an ice magic I had never seen before, but it wasn’t difficult to realize that the mana consumed to create it surpassed that of [Cocytus].\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Plop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Plop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gradually, something rose above the surface of the icy lake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Various creatures, naked and carrying heavy burdens.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All were shivering, frostbitten across their bodies from dwelling in the fierce cold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sounds of coughing, pleas for help, and sobbing rang out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They all knelt, weeping uncontrollably as they gazed at the ice crescent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a bizarre sight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did I understand the condition to be submerged in the Icy Lake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Death… Only the dead can fall into the Icy Lake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because I was alive, I couldn’t fall into the Icy Lake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because I was alive, the Icy Lake expelled countless creatures to reject me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rock rod I had created in the elevator must have also been rejected by the Icy Lake because it was made with the mana of the living.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was at that moment I realized that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A tremendous force crashed just next to my face, and my body went flying like a ball.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What…?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I tumbled mercilessly across the icy lake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I nearly lost consciousness. Fortunately, I was able to use [Ice Generation] to raise an ice block and stop my body from rolling further.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Please… die!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Die…!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[I want to live…!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Let me get out of here!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Give me that body…!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dead rushed at me in a frenzy. They were all weak. I could even sense the fear they held.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I immediately looked up. A barrage of ice magic was raining down on me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Gah!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Mom, mom…!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Save… me…!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I extended the wings of [Ice Sovereign] and flew upwards, evading all of Veronica’s attacks, but dozens of the dead who were charging toward me were caught in the ice magic and turned to ashen dust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I assessed the battle situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Cough…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood gushed out of my mouth. Bruises covered my entire body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My cheek stung the most. It felt as if someone had struck me hard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Ah, no…!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[The blood, the blood of the living…!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They wailed in despair as my blood seeped into the icy lake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, Veronica stood still in front of the massive gate, picking up her Frostscythe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just before I took the heavy blow, Veronica had vanished from my sight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was undoubtedly in the stance of throwing a punch at me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And it was so fast that even describing it as an unbelievable speed felt inadequate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt as if I was watching a video being fast-forwarded…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why did I get that feeling? And why only now?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Earlier, when our Frostscythes clashed, I had already gauged how weak she was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was hard to believe that someone as feeble as her could deliver such a powerful blow to me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could it be related to the ice crescent hovering above her head?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Cloak of the Radiant Wolf failed to activate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Cloak of the Radiant Wolf usually deployed an ice barrier when it sensed danger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it failed to respond to Veronica’s mysterious attack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A speed that even this cloak couldn’t react to…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whooooosh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the distance between us increased, Veronica raised her arm again and conjured a cold sun. It was the 9-star ice spell [Cocytusl].\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the dead were struck with fear, they sank back beneath the Icy Lake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You told me to destroy you to earn the right to pass through this gate, didn’t you? So the next words must be, “Prove it,” right?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I recalled the meaning that Veronica had barely conveyed to me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I gathered my wits. There was something I needed to confirm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I, too, constructed [Cocytus]. Once again, we hurled cold suns at each other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boooooom!!!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I enveloped my entire body with an ice barrier and tried to cut through the massive freezing explosion, swinging my Frostscythe toward Veronica.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment I reached her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Thud!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ugh!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I slid across the Icy Lake once again. The dead crawled back to the surface, screaming as they lunged at me like a horde of zombies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crash!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Veronica’s ice magic rained down relentlessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I barely held onto my consciousness and soared into the air, dodging all the attacks. Only the dead were caught in Veronica’s magic and disintegrated one by one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, I recalled when I fought the Floating Island. Back then, the creatures of the Nether attacked, believing they could revive if they devoured my body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These ones were no different. They must be desperately trying to grab hold of me, hoping to escape this hell, even if it meant clinging to straws.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the distance grew, Veronica once again constructed [Cocytus].\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dead returned to the Icy Lake. Or rather… it felt as if they were forcibly sucked back in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Haah, haah…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wiped the blood streaming from my mouth and observed Veronica.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The size of [Cocytus] has become slightly smaller…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I first sensed Veronica’s mana, I deduced that she could handle using [Cocytus] up to three times without issue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This meant she had expended a significant amount of mana on that ice crescent to the point of straining herself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, that crescent hadn’t harmed me at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why is she maintaining something like that?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I understand it now…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Force was the product of mass and acceleration, with acceleration being the change in velocity over a given time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the target’s time slowed, the impact force from the attacker increased due to time, the denominator in calculating acceleration, shortening compared to the “attacker’s time” during the strike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if Veronica was weak, she was able to deliver a tremendous blow to me because my time had slowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, I only noticed Veronica’s movement after I had already been hit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At first, she stopped time and moved alone… And then time gradually returned to its normal state…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment when Veronica teleported and struck me, appearing as if she were in a fast-forwarded video.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fact that Cloak of the Radiant Wolf failed to respond.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It all explained how she managed to inflict significant damage with her frail strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Is it a time-stopping ability?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Stopping time in an absolute, all-encompassing manner was implausible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, if the power of that mighty ice crescent was confined to this place, it made sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was difficult to say that only my time stopped. The background remained unchanged, and only Veronica had disappeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But assuming time stopped initially raised many issues.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Air would fail to produce convection currents, creating an environment of absolute defense. Even if one managed to force their body to move, it would disintegrate at the particle level.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even without the air issue, gravity and various physical forces would still pose problems.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, if Veronica hadn’t moved immediately after stopping time, my reflexes would have definitely caught sight of her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s not simply a time-freezing ability.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although the exact nature of the effect was hard to determine, one thing was clear, there was no way to defeat Veronica in close combat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could what I’m suffering through right now be the limit of the power possessed by that crescent?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, I was convinced it was more than that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps, that power… is the ultimate ice magic I need to master.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seems Veronica’s patterns are settling into a predictable form.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After experiencing it twice, I realized she seemed to be testing me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I approached, she unleashed attacks I couldn’t counter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I was thrown far away, she cast ice magic and used [Cocytus].\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt as though she was challenging me to surpass her, wielding the mysterious ice crescent, to prove I had the right to pass through the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How do I break through?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had already expended a significant portion of my mana fighting the Nether King.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I kept repeating this with Veronica, I would ultimately lose the battle of attrition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Close combat had to be avoided at all costs, and even if I dragged it out with long-range attacks, I would run out of mana first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt like an inescapable checkmate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Guh!Cough! Haa…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood splattered as I let out a weak cough, saliva dripping uncontrollably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My body was in shambles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No… I’m going to die before my mana runs out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What should I do?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How can I defeat Veronica?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, I looked around and realized something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rain of blood had transformed into crimson snow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I looked up at the vast expanse of reddish clouds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed that my battle with Veronica had greatly influenced the blood clouds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What hadn’t frozen even with the chill emanating from the Icy Lake…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had now frozen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The snow was the proof.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, memories of my life flashed through my mind like a panorama.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking ahead, the simple, ignorant, and relentless life I had lived, always running forward, seemed to be reflected in my ice magic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swoosh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I extended my Frostscythe upward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A surge of extreme cold swept the sky as a white radiance poured down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Divine Authority-White Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I claimed the sky as my own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Master?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t answer Hilde’s call echoing in my mind. I wanted to maintain focus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clatter!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ultimate elemental efficiency. The range in which I could channel my mana transcended imagination itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I flooded the sky with ice mana, rapidly freezing the blood clouds with ease through [Divine Authority-White Night].\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An intense cold filled the clouds. The combined effect of the chill of the [Ice Sovereign], [Frost Wave], and [Ice Generation] multiplied together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The spells overlapped, again and again, compounding to exponentially increase the difficulty of the calculation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ignorant, yet upright. This was the profound truth my life had attained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blood clouds, unable to withstand my mana, froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Elemental Synergy]. The interaction where elemental magics combined to amplify their effects.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the gaps between the components of the clouds, I expanded the area of ice, linking and continuing it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cloud made of the blood of others sublimated into a tremendously large mass of ice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A shadow that filled the entire Icy Lake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There is nowhere to escape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I lowered my Frostscythe, ceasing to channel mana.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[The sky…]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sky falls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kuuuuuuuuuu!!!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A deep, thunderous crash echoed throughout the heavens and earth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ice spell I had created on my own. It oppressed and consumed everything in the vicinity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I had to name it, this technique would be called [Heaven’s Collaspe].\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Veronica looked up at the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Realizing that unleashing [Cocytus] on me would be futile, she hurled the cold sun at the descending mass of ice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boooom!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A massive explosion erupted, but the area only transformed into a new, hellish scene filled with fierce cold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The falling ice sky remained unscathed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An immeasurable weight and its consequent gravitational acceleration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The intense cold mana building in concentration, and the towering mana density that formed the ice mass.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This… is something that even Veronica would find difficult to withstand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boooom!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The immense, falling chunk of ice shattered the mysterious power, the ice crescent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A scene of overwhelming power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The way to avoid that immense pressure that suppressed everything without discrimination was simple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crackle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I cast [Ice Barrier] around myself and Hilde, the Frost Dragon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We were immune to the effects of my magic, but that massive ice chunk was created by freezing the blood clouds. We weren’t immune to its physical force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, if I cast [Ice Barrier], it would devour and nullify only the part of the ice it came into contact with. Even if the blood cloud splashed on me, it wouldn’t cause any harm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Veronica transformed herself into an elemental form. A storm of icy wind hurtled toward me at great speed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With no place to evade, I could feel her determination to take me down first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If she gets too close, I’ll lose. I won’t let her approach.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I stretched my arm toward her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crash!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I pushed Veronica back with an intense cold. It was the 6-star ice spell [Frost Wave].\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That much was manageable. I, too, used ice magic to block the attack or counterattack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s over. You can’t reach me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Veronica stopped advancing toward me. She seemed to realize it was already too late.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the shadow cast by the falling sky, we extended our wings of [Ice Sovereign] and silently gazed at each other, both glowing with a dignified brilliance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For some reason, her face seemed to reveal a myriad of emotions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Be at peace.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At last, the massive ice chunk bypassed Hilde and me, protected by the [Ice Barrier], and swept over Veronica.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And soon, it engulfed the entire area.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boooooom!!!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The overwhelming impact descended, and a deafening roar echoed as if to tear my eardrums apart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The massive ice chunk crumbled, and the Icy Lake spouted upward through the cracks like a geyser.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ssshhh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I defrosted the ice mass.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The massive ice chunk turned into a pale blue powder and scattered beautifully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no trace of Veronica Aslius’ form.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only a singularly beautiful, ashen powder was drifting away from one spot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Veronica…]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hilde’s sorrowful emotions resonated with me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I descended to the spot where Veronica had perished and retracted my three pairs of cold wings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I calmly reflected in silence and made my way toward the massive gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I still didn’t know the exact reason why Veronica had been there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The truth would be revealed beyond the gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hilde, take a rest for now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Master?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m nearly out of mana.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[…Understood.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I finished the brief conversation with Hilde and reverse-summoned her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My remaining mana was nearly depleted. I was in poor condition due to the significant damage I had sustained in my battle against Veronica.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My vision wavered. I felt dizzy. The relief of the battle being over made me feel as if I might pass out at any moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had to endure. Soon, I would be able to see Dorothy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I sensed numerous presences behind me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I turned my head back. The many monsters and the dead of the Icy Lake were staring at me silently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I read their emotions, I sensed reverence. It seemed they had been watching the battle between Veronica and me from beneath the lake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And they felt envy toward me for being able to cross beyond the gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was nothing I could say.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I simply moved forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hoooom!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The massive gate began to swing open to either side, and light poured through the gap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I turned my head forward to face the light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Creak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The doors opened wide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I squinted my eyes and stepped into the radiance without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I passed through the light, I felt a warm sensation in my chest despite the intense cold. For a moment, it almost felt like I had arrived in heaven.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I quickened my pace, the light gradually dimmed, and I heard the sound of the door closing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, a new landscape appeared in my blurred vision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This place was still hell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is beyond the gate…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A scene as if day and night were split dramatically in half.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The place where I stood was bright, and in the distance lied the scenery of a starry sky and a lake reflecting said beautiful sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the distance, I saw a black sphere floating in the sky. It held many stars and galaxies within, as if reflecting the universe like a mirror.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I felt a familiar mana. It was Dorothy’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Haah, haah…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I trudged forward, dragging my exhausted body as I caught my breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the silence, even with my blurry vision, the distant, sublime Icy Lake overwhelmed me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I advanced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With each step, the chilling air of the Icy Lake gnawed at my resolve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ignoring the pain of broken bones and the wailing of twisted muscles, I kept moving forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how much I staggered, I kept steady.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…I’m here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I stopped at the boundary between light and darkness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sphere floating in the sky noticed me and opened its many eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, the sphere cracked like clay, revealing a woman who had been curled up asleep inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A being that embodied the beautiful starry sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I see you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon noticing me, she slowly opened her eyes and raised her body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A cosmic halo adorned with countless eyes settled behind her. All those eyes gazed at me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My heart felt as if it would collapse. My eyes moistened with overwhelming emotion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But I managed to smile and said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s been a while, Dorothy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’m here.\u003C\u002Fp>",3542,"2026-06-05T21:55:37.926Z",1,"novelbin.me","5fd56379461a0b891a2074650de69749093915ea9db7f8ac22b41537d59fa963","the-academy-s-weakest-became-a-demon-limited-hun-chapter-320","the-academy-s-weakest-became-a-demon-limited-hun-chapter-318",377,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-academy-s-weakest-became-a-demon-limited-hun-cover.jpg"]