The Rebirth of Evelyn Knox

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Before the matter could escalate further, however, the headmaster immediately waved his hands with an apologetic expression. "This matter is my fault, which led to a misunderstanding. Please forgive me, Lady Aurora, King Rochester."

Aurora just looked at the bowing brown-haired man indifferently, while the Terran King snorted in displeasure. "Misunderstanding?"

The headmaster coughed. "Right. Due to the presence of the sentinels, it's not practical to take the Terran army in through the valley, and there's no need to do so, either. I'm sure they would be happier to go home sooner, and whether you come to negotiate with me or I go to negotiate with you, isn't it all the same?"

Rochester grimaced. "Hoh? Although I agreed to listen, you better give me a good explanation. Especially about this attitude."

The headmaster smiled. "Isn't it just a small matter to clear such a misunderstanding? It's already escalated more than it should have, so I'm more than happy to resolve it right away."

Not to mention Kaizen and Kaling, even Hyperion frowned as the new headmaster agreed to get on the flying sword to 'provide an explanation'.

Although they couldn't be considered particularly good friends, Hyperion had already had a frank discussion with the man over tea, and found his attitude quite pleasing. 

At least, compared to the other pillars — and especially Aurora — he was a million times more amicable.

Watching such a man walk into danger alone, Hyperion couldn't help but frown. "Is this really fine?"

In his opinion, although it was always better to settle things peacefully when possible, they really didn't need to bow their heads like this.

It's true that the academy wasn't as strong a force as it used to be, and the Terran Kingdom had grown a lot since the ancient times, but the disparity between them was still there, and perhaps always will be.

They may not be able to completely annihilate the army in front of them, but defending against them wasn't that big of a deal.

Kaizen hesitated. "Although there's no real risk as long as we stay here, going over there all alone… should we follow?"

Kaling frowned. "But then we might be walking into a trap, who knows if they have formations already set up there to disadvantage us? It's too risky, isn't it?"

Although they didn't believe they would lose against this level of strength, none of the pillars felt like it was worth it to joke around with their lives.

After all, even if they had managed to repel the Terran invasion hundreds of times, it hadn't always been without a loss. Otherwise, there wouldn't be just the four of them among the top-tier strength in the academy.

Compared to them, the army behind the Terran King was even more confused. 

They came all the way to the Wonderland of Doom, just to see a few people arguing? They weren't going to fight? What about all those who got sacrificed on the way, then?

If the King had only wanted to talk, couldn't he have come along with a small elite division? An army of this size was only useful for deploying grand formations in great battles against powerhouses, after all.

Meanwhile, Aurora didn't participate in their discussion, and simply stared at the departing Harlan with a frown.

Just as the other pillars wished to get her input on whether or not they should take the chance and follow, a magnificent aura burst from Aurora's body, and the pillars felt their minds turning numb immediately.

Because Aurora's eyes weren't fixed on Rochester, or the flying sword… but their new headmaster!

Before Hyperion even realized it, he had already smashed towards the platinum blonde. "What are you doing?!"

Was she going to kill their new headmaster for no reason? How can someone be so unreasonable?!

Although he was still a little too late to stop her from attacking, his disruption did slightly alter the trajectory of the attack as Aurora hurriedly formed a barrier to prevent their collision.

"WHAT!"

"Defensive formation!"

"Prepare for battle!"

Amidst the chaos, Harlan stared at his missing arm in disbelief. It was only then that he realized that Aurora had attacked him. 

Had the attack not 'missed'… maybe he would be dead without even realizing what happened.

The thought sent a chill up his spine. 'All my scheming and planning for so long… it would all have gone to waste!'

Even though the beam of light had only brushed him slightly in the end, not only did it completely obliterate his arm, but his entire spirit circulation was also ruined!

Hundreds of years of cultivation, gone in an instant!

Blood burst freely from the wound on his shoulder as well as his mouth, but he still used the other hand to quickly grab Rochester before he could rush off to fight. "NO! Retreat, immediately retreat!"

The Terran King grit his teeth furiously, but still waved his hand to issue the order. "Retreat immediately! Defensive formations! Deploy the barrier!"

Meanwhile, although Kaizen and Kaling had already taken out their natal artifacts for battle, Hyperion was still pointing a finger at the gloomy Aurora in rage. "Have you gone completely insane?! I kept trying to justify all your actions so far, somehow convincing myself that there had to be a reason for everything, no matter how small—!"

The platinum blonde waved her hand to push him away further from her before once again gathering spirit power in her hand. "Argue later. Because of you, he's still alive. We must kill him. Kaizen, Kaling—"

Both of the black robed pillars held a crystal sphere in their hands, and gave Aurora a nod. Right now, they could only grit their teeth and start mobilizing their spirit power. 

Whatever reason Aurora had, even if it was utter nonsense, they didn't want to argue with her on the battlefield while being right in front of Eruniel. It was fine to joke around, but getting hit by it full force… even Aurora would likely die if caught off-guard!

"The darkness binds you!"

"The light shall be your release!"

"No! I refuse to follow this nonsense! You must give me an explanation!" Hyperion felt like he was going crazy. "Give me an explanation!"

Aurora didn't bother with him as a blue long spear of water formed in her hand and Hyperion's eyes turned red as his fist smashed against the barrier that the platinum blonde had created around herself. 

It wobbled, but didn't break.

"Step back, if you do not wish to perish first."

Hyperion gaped in disbelief as the platinum blonde still aimed for Harlan's life. "You've gone crazy!"

Had he not known better, he would think that there must be some deep, irreconcilable vendetta between Aurora and Harlan. 

It was as if the man had not only slaughtered her loved ones, but also consumed their flesh and blood. Aurora wouldn't give up until she'd taken his life.

But he knew! He knew that not only was there no such thing, the platinum blonde hadn't even cared about the man until just a while ago! 

Until he was nominated for the position of headmaster, the two of them could be considered complete strangers, even!

A massive golden shield came into existence around Eruniel before Aurora's attack was even halfway through, but two great spheres of spirit power smashed into it right as it appeared — one white and one black — and a momentous explosion immediately obscured everyone's vision and senses.

The blue long spear swished past the smoke, and a thunderous crack echoed in everyone's ears.

The soldiers in the Terran army felt their hearts collectively shudder in terror. 

The sound definitely came from Eruniel's barrier!

The great barrier took a hundred years to ready, and could only be deployed once before requiring a long period of cooldown again. It hadn't even been used when the three hegemons attacked, how could it be broken right away?!

The King had issued an order to retreat, and they weren't being protected by any formation at the moment either. Whoever got hit by an attack that could break Eruniel's great barrier was sure to perish!

Many had already sent their prayers to the King, wishing he would be more fortunate in the afterlife.

Although their optimism needed work, their loyalty was top-notch.

By the time the smoke cleared, Eruniel was already shooting off back to Terra, and small bits of flesh and blood covered the disbelieving face the Terran King.

Instantly, massive cheers erupted from the army as they saw that their king was alive, and they were also able to get away safely.

"The King is alive!"

"Hurrah!"

Rochester's face immediately turned dark as the bottom of a wok. "SILENCE!"

The King's roar immediately silenced the cheering soldiers, and they finally noticed that a very important individual had gone missing.

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Meanwhile, Aurora's expression was full of regret as she watched the flying sword vanish into the distance at almost ten times the speed with which it had arrived.

The black robed couple looked at each other awkwardly before turning to Aurora. "Shall we give chase?"

Aurora sighed. "It's pointless… we're too slow."

Hyperion's hysteria had already turned into disbelief as he watched the Terrans run away. "What? They left just like that?"

He couldn't comprehend what had happened at all.

Aurora finally turned to look at him, her expression grim.

Hyperion flinched a little before righteous indignation took over his mind. "What? Are you going to kill me now too? Because I dared to question your nonsensical decision?"

Immediately after saying so, he started laughing hysterically. "Oh wait, I forgot, you don't need a reason at all, do you?"

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