[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-strongest-student-of-the-weakest-academy":3,"chapter-the-strongest-student-of-the-weakest-academy-the-strongest-student-of-the-weakest-academy-chapter-427":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","The Strongest Student of the Weakest Academy",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},1026983,1339,"Chapter 427: The Beginning Of The End [LXXXIX]","the-strongest-student-of-the-weakest-academy-chapter-427",427,"\u003Cp>Putting Vivian down, Aestrea approached the massive double door in front of him and slowly pushed it, causing an increasingly loud creaking sound to echo through the halls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fwip!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then, a sword suddenly shot towards him at an extremely fast speed, just to be blocked by a flick of his fingers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A-Aestrea...?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clink!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In front of him, many more flying swords could be seen, and as soon as those reached his ears, they started falling onto the ground, making metal sounds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I-Is t-that you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Isabella spoke in an incredibly expectant voice, tears swelling up in her eyes as she looked deeply at Aestrea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Am I dreaming?\" she pondered, rubbing her red eyes for a moment, and then, blinking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And seeing Aestrea smiling, and then shaking his head, caused her reddened eyes to widen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without wasting any more time, she enveloped her legs with mana and shot towards Aestrea at full force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aestrea instantly caught her, feeling her arms tighten around his body hard, and in response, he planted a small kiss on her forehead and kept stroking her back in circles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m back, Isabella,\" he muttered lightly, closing his eyes as he felt Isabella’s body quivering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At those words, Isabella froze in his arms, and just after... she broke down instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"H-hic... ngh...!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sound tore out of her chest as her breath stuttered and collapsed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her fingers clawed into his clothes, gripping so hard her knuckles almost turned pale, as if letting go for even a second would make him disappear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"S-snff... ahh...!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her body shook, in harsh waves that ran through her back and shoulders. Tears poured down without pause, soaking into his chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I thought...\" she tried to speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her voice cracked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I thought you weren’t coming back...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her words dissolved into sobs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ahh... h-hic...!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aestrea tightened his arms around her and said nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He simply stayed still, letting her lean fully on him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I waited, and waited...\" she cried.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Every day... sniff... every single day. I told myself to be patient. To be strong. To act like a queen.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her breath hitched again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But I was so tired... so tired...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She pressed her face harder against him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I ruled our kingdom for nine years! Nine years of blood, fear, and choices where someone always died.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her hands trembled violently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I smiled in front of them. I stayed calm. I stayed cold.\" She let out a broken laugh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I had to. If I cried, everything would fall apart.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Snff... ngh...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But I cried anyway. Every night.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aestrea closed his eyes, letting her pour down everything she had suffered into him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I wanted to ascend,\" Isabella whispered softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I wanted to reach you so badly. But there was always something stopping me. Another threat. Another duty.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She pulled back just enough to look at him. Her eyes were swollen and red, tears dripping from her lashes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And then they came,\" she said, panic flashing across her face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Those gods. They attacked this world. Your world.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her voice dropped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I thought this was the end.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her lips trembled as she bit down on them nervously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I thought I would die here... without seeing you again.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"H-hic... ahh...!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aestrea lowered his forehead to hers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I know,\" he said softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was all it took.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"AAHH—!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Isabella sobbed openly now, her shoulders shaking hard as she buried her face against him again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sound was ugly and real, full of years of pain finally breaking free.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m sorry!\" she cried.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sniff... I’m sorry, I wasn’t strong enough! I’m sorry I couldn’t protect everyone!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her fists hit his chest weakly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m sorry I doubted you...!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aestrea shook his head and kissed her hair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You did enough. Protecting the world is no easy feat, especially when much stronger beings were attacking it...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her sobs slowly lost strength, turning into shaking breaths.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Haa... h-hic...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I hate you,\" she muttered weakly, her voice was already hoarse from crying so much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You always show up when everything is already broken.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A faint smile appeared on his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And you are always standing when I do.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She let out a broken laugh that turned into another quiet cry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Heh... ngh...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, little by little, her breathing slowed down. Her grip loosened, though she still held onto him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You’re here... You’re really here.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She repeated in a relieved tone, searching even more for his warmth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Indeed,\" Aestrea smiled softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Ahem.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dry cough echoed a little too loudly in the suddenly quiet hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Isabella stiffened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her eyes widened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slowly... very slowly... she lifted her head from Aestrea’s chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Ah.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did she remember.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucas stood a few steps away, one hand awkwardly covering his mouth, his face turned sharply to the side as if the wall had suddenly become the most interesting thing in existence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Iris was frozen in place, her eyes wide and her hands half-raised, as if she had been caught sneaking into a room she should not be in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maya... had both hands over her eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With her fingers slightly spread.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...So,\" Lucas said carefully, not looking at either of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I don’t want to interrupt. Truly. This is... very touching.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He cleared his throat again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But uh... we are still here.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Isabella’s face went from red... to deeper red... to something close to glowing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She stepped back instantly, wiping her face with both hands in a rush.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I— I—!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She straightened her posture so fast it was almost military.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"T-this was not— what you think—!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course. Of course. Clearly. A professional... emotional check.\" Lucas nodded rapidly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Iris finally lowered her hands, blinking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I-Isabella... you were crying really loud...\" she uttered innocently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yeah. Like, the kind where your soul leaves your body,\" Maya nodded along.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Isabella covered her face again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Stop. Please stop.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, a soft chuckle came from the side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vivian leaned against a cracked pillar, her arms crossed, with her wings folded behind her back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was dried blood on her armor, but she didn’t notice as she warmly smiled at them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Well, guess that answers the question of whether he was worth waiting nine years for,\" she smirked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Isabella’s ears turned red.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A-Ahem!\" she snapped, regaining a bit of her usual sharp tone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Vivian! You are not helping!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vivian laughed openly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh, come on. I also jumped him too!\" she giggled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucas finally dared to glance over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...She did jump him,\" he muttered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I did not jump!\" Isabella protested.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You accelerated with mana... At full force,\" Maya said helpfully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Isabella froze, but soon, she was reawakened as Aestrea softly touched her cheek and glanced down at her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Feeling better?\" he asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She hesitated, then nodded, her expression softening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Yes,\" she said quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Much.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucas exhaled in relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Good! Because if this turned into a romantic reunion any longer, I was about to activate my own survival instinct and leave.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone decided to ignore that comment. Aestrea then parted away from Isabella’s embrace and turned to Vivian, asking:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you know the exact coordinates of where the portal leads them?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vivian thought for a while, and then nodded:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...Yeah. I watched the array finish forming. The anchor point was not random.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She lifted her head and looked straight at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It should be at sector 7-Delta, outer void layer, about three thousand units above the Nether Portal’s gravity well. Spatial depth 42.9. The flow felt stable, so they should have arrived safely.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aestrea nodded once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That is enough.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wait, you understand that?\" Lucas blinked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...It seems so?\" Maya exclaimed, tilting her head in confusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The words that Vivian had spoken sounded like complete gibberish to her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fwoom!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aestrea raised his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The space in front of him bent inward like soft glass being pressed from the outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Light twisted, colors stretching into thin lines as a deep hum filled the hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vivian stepped closer to the others. \"Hold steady. The pull is going to feel strange.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Isabella felt it first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her stomach lurched as gravity lost meaning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The floor vanished beneath her feet, replaced by a rushing sensation, like falling and standing still at the same time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fwuuuum...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The world folded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a brief moment, they didn’t feel anything at all except a small pressure sliding across their skin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Snap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then, they reappeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fwoo~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cold, void wind rushed past them as they stood on a broken ring of floating stone suspended in space.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Far below, a massive, swirling rift pulsed slowly, dark and heavy, like a breathing wound in reality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Nether Portal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dark clouds of warped energy rotated around it, but the space here still remained extremely calm, untouched even.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Woahh... so this is the Nether Portal?\" Maya exclaimed in delightful surprise, taking the chance to get closer to it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Iris... she simply took a few steps back, because as a Holy Priest, she truly hated demonic things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The same was for Lucas, who kept a relatively far distance from it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...But that wasn’t what mattered right now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clink, clatter...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sounds of multiple weapons dropping to the ground reached Aestrea’s ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned around and instantly saw a bunch of familiar faces, looking at him with extremely loving eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"AEEEEEESTREAAAAAAAAAAAA!\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1529,"2026-06-03T09:18:17.304Z","2026-06-03T09:18:22.613Z",1,"novelbin.me","1c49c25bdadce82e2ff3225c492af7e42241beea5ae561fe7726326e5b14b3a6","the-strongest-student-of-the-weakest-academy-chapter-428","the-strongest-student-of-the-weakest-academy-chapter-426",547,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-strongest-student-of-the-weakest-academy-cover.jpg"]