Eternal Freedom's Ascension

Chapter 255: Kaiser is dead

After the oppressive aura completely disappeared, Apollo lunged at Sebastian again, swinging his scythe at the goldeb-haired youth.

"Don’t you learn?"

Sebastian grinned and effortlessly blocked the attack with his greatsword, even pushing him back with the recoil.

Apollo’s expression hardened. "You’re really annoying. But your stamina isn’t infinite, right? Soon, I will wear you dow—"

He was interrupted by a mechanical voice that was heard by all the students.

[Class-E has secured first position]

The battle paused, and Apollo’s eyes widened slowly.

"What?"

His smile disappeared, and he looked straight at Liam who was facing Thyla and Alexander.

"What shady deal did you have with Class-A that allowed you to get their flag?"

Liam pushed back against his two opponents and smiled proudly.

"You’re misunderstanding it. Hazel is very impressive and has a strategic mind."

Sebastian nodded and added his own spice. "... unlike you."

Apollo glared at him for the taunt, then ordered his classmates to stop fighting. Instead, he decided to retreat and concentrate his force in defending against Class-D.

As they retreated, he saw Mordica with Hazel, carrying Kaiser in an embarrassing manner.

"You two..."

He looked at the unconscious boy, then decided to ignore them all.

As Hazel and Mordica returned to the city, the entirety of Class-E was immediately transported back into the real world.

...........

Sometime later, Kaiser woke up in the school infirmary, feeling weak.

’Haa...’

He exhaled, bringing a hand up to rub his face. He completely understood what had happened to him, and it made him sigh.

It had been months since he had killed on a large scale, which meant his killing intent had been completely unused.

However, Adela had triggered it by trying to corner him. Sadly, he couldn’t just kill her and the others.

’It’s not worth it.’

He could have also decided with a coin, but Maya had told him not to use it too often.

’Wait...’

Feeling a numbing sensation on his other arm, he turned slightly.

There, he saw a head with bright pink hair laying on his arm while sitting on a stool at the side of the bed.

"Maya?"

The girl was fast asleep, so he gently nudged her.

"Hm...?"

She stirred slowly, rising from the bed and raising her hands to stretch.

Her school uniform tightened, but Kaiser wasn’t even looking. Instead, he was looking at her beautiful face that carried a bit of drowsiness.

He slowly cracked a smile. "Good morning, Maya."

His voice jolted the girl awake, and her eyes cleared.

"Ehhh? Kai!"

She immediately hugged him, pressing her face to his chest.

He blinked, slightly astonished by her enthusiasm.

"How long was I asleep?"

Maya immediately released him and looked at his face.

"You’ve been unconscious for..."

"...six months."

Hazel answered as she entered the room, her brown eyes settling on him.

Kaiser deadpanned. "Why don’t I believe you?"

She glared at him for a moment, then took another chair and sat beside Maya.

"Whatever. You’ve been out cold for three days. It’s Sunday currently."

Kaiser sighed, then sat up. "Oh well, looking at your dark expression, Class-E didn’t win?"

Hazel’s glare intensified, but Maya quickly explained.

"No. Actually, Class-E took first place. She has just been worried about you."

Kaiser blinked, looking at the black-haired in surprise.

"Hazel? Worried? That’s new."

He rubbed his chin as he studied her.

Somehow, her glare became so intense that he could feel heat on his face.

’She’s awakening Heat Vision?’

Chuckling, he lowered his head and smiled. "I’m fine now. Instead, I should be asking you if you’re fine."

Hazel’s gaze softened, and she looked away. "I am. So is Mordica. You protected us anyway."

He was slightly astonished. "Oh? I thought my whole consciousness was consumed. I didn’t think I’d do that."

Maya looked at the two of them, slightly confused. "Am I... missing something?"

Hazel glanced at her but said nothing.

Kaiser lay back on the bed and answered. "I don’t know if you felt it, but that killing intent belonged to me."

She blinked, her green eyes narrowing in confusion.

"Killing intent? Wasn’t it a beast’s oppressive might?"

Hazel shook her head and answered. "That’s what the instructors and the students believe. But it’s not like that. It was... killing intent."

Maya’s lips parted softly, and she turned to Kaiser. "That... was you? Why?"

He closed his eyes and said to her. "You know my background. Something like that is natural for us. I’ve simply been suppressing it for too long."

Now, it was Hazel’s turn to be confused. "Your background? I didn’t know you were this close with her. No wonder she remained adamant about staying with you."

Kaiser chuckled and waved his hand. "That aside. Aren’t you happy with your results?"

Hazel turned away with a snort, then smiled faintly. "I am. We did it."

Kaiser smiled faintly, then fell unconscious again.

"Hey! This jerk!"

The two girls were about to panic, but soon realized that his breathing was stable and there was no disturbance.

The door opened softly, and Ariel stepped inside, holding a bouquet of flowers.

"?"

Both girls were confused, while he remained nonchalant.

He walked up to Kaiser, placed the flower on his chest, then said a short prayer.

"Rest in peace."

Hazel immediately glared at him. "What nonsense are you saying?!"

He turned to her, his expression solemn. "When a person remains inactive for long, they are said to be on their journey to the spirit realm."

Hazel was dumbfounded, while Maya seemed amused.

Taking their silence as a gesture to continue, he said. "Kaiser has been inactive for three days with no signs of waking up. Although there were a few difficulties between both of us, it is still a bit sad that he is leaving."

Maya suppressed a smile and asked. "So... he isn’t dead yet, but will soon die?"

Ariel nodded. "The human soul is strange, and the process of dying is rarely instant. Someone like him should have risen hours after that happened. But since he’s still inactive, I have to say..."

"Kaiser is dead."