Episode 23: Shed the Cocoon
The faculty of the Continental Academy steadily expanded the restored zones even amidst extreme chaos.
At first, they had a hard time because of internal traitors. From freshmen to current students—and even a small number of staff members—some had been tainted by that twisted ideology.
However, the faculty were all seasoned individuals who had even experienced real wars. Despite the enemy’s efforts to sow confusion through surprise attacks, they overcame everything.
Their method was quintessentially ability-user-like: heightening their senses to the extreme and preemptively striking before even a hint of aggression could form.
They eventually identified the attackers as Supremacists—those warped extremists drunk on a dangerous ideology.
They finally understood why some students had been killed, and others abducted. Everything made sense now.
“We’ve acquired the essential intel. From now on, we won’t go out of our way to subdue them.”
Three or four trustworthy faculty members grouped up and secured a safe zone.
There were attacks from the Supremacists along the way, but all were repelled. Sometimes the enemy was subdued, and sometimes killed—as they tried to extinguish the flames spreading through the academy.
What made their progress relatively smoother was the help of the students.
Fellow ability users. Though inexperienced, they were in their prime—brimming with raw power.
Thanks to the resistance and counterattacks from the students, even the Supremacists were struggling considerably.
It was during this time that they discovered a student who was holding off two Supremacists on his own.
“Hey, student!”
“Stay put! I’ll help right away!”
While the student kept the Supremacists occupied, the faculty flanked them from the sides.
In the end, the enemies were defeated, and they could finally face the brave student who had played such a pivotal role.
“What’s your name?”
“First year, Rel Karhan.”
“Rel Karhan… Wait, are you the son of the Republic’s Prime Minister from the south?”
“…Yes, that’s correct.”
Rel’s expression darkened for a moment before quickly returning to normal.
He didn’t want to be remembered as the Prime Minister’s son, or the child of some influential politician—he wanted to be recognized as a strong warrior and a fellow ability user. But it seemed he still had a long way to go.
“Ah, that reminds me. I heard there’s a powerful enemy in the annex. A female student requested help and then ran back there.”
“She went back? That could be a trap.”
“It didn’t seem that way to me. More than anything, she looked really desperate.”
“Hmm…”
Though they briefly discussed it, the faculty had already made up their minds.
As professors of the Academy, they could not ignore a student’s call for help. Even if it turned out to be a trap, they’d rather break through it than turn their backs.
“Let’s go, everyone.”
“I’d like to come along.”
“Rel, you should head to a safe zone.”
“I can be of help.”
Steel emerged from Rel’s arms. He used his powers effortlessly—he wasn’t exhausted.
They were short on manpower. Now wasn’t the time for pride—they needed to end this quickly.
The faculty gave reluctant nods.
“Fine, Rel. But if things get dangerous, we’ll prioritize your safety…”
It seemed like it would take more time to reach the annex.
New Supremacists launched an attack just after they joined up with Rel.
And now they could see clearly who the enemy was after—Rel himself.
Of course, the Prime Minister’s son would be a high-value hostage. They’d naturally want to capture him alive.
In that case, it might be safer to keep him close rather than send him away.
“Rel, take the flank.”
“Yes, Professor!”
Fire and water, lightning and ice. Blinding speed and massive bodies.
All sorts of powers clashed in a massive battle once more.
***
Julien could not hide his confusion at the unfamiliar situation.
Had his nullification ability worn off? Was his stamina depleted?
No. The enemy’s powers still didn’t work within his domain.
His physical enhancements were still active. His strength remained intact.
He had personally killed dozens of ability users with these two hands.
He didn’t make mistakes. When he intended to kill, he did it.
And his opponent now wasn’t even a veteran ability user—just a mere student.
He shouldn’t be able to withstand this. He mustn’t be able to.
A few clean hits.
Wham! Thud! Smash!!
Indeed, under Julien’s overwhelming power, the male student had taken several direct blows.
He had blocked or dodged some, sure. But the accumulated damage to his body had to be substantial.
‘And yet… why isn’t he going down?’
When he was pushed back a step, he came forward two more.
Even when his body bent under a heavy strike, it didn’t break.
Even when torn and battered, he simply spat out some blood and kept talking.
At this point, Julien wasn’t just impressed—he was rattled. Nearly overwhelmed.
He had fought many before… but never someone like this.
“What’s your name?”
In the end, Julien paused his assault and attempted conversation.
The time for persuasion had long passed, but he felt this boy deserved a little more.
“Abel Rotensilt.”
Abel introduced himself plainly and reached for his shoulder.
Then—with a crack—he popped his dislocated joint back in place.
Even Julien winced at the sound, feeling a phantom pang of pain.
But Abel himself looked unfazed, casually rolling his shoulder like it was nothing.
“Abel Rotensilt. Rotensilt… could it be, from the Kingdom of Ascal?”
“That’s correct.”
“I heard your family has produced powerful ability users for generations. But I’ve never heard of a remarkable young talent like you.”
“Now you have.”
He didn’t act arrogant or show excessive hostility. Even now, Abel maintained a respectful tone.
That fact only made Julien more regretful. To remain composed and rational in the middle of such a fierce battle—it spoke volumes.
If someone like him were to join their side and stand at the front lines, they could break through any opponent. With a bit of refinement, he could even hold his own against not only troublesome ability users from other nations but perhaps even those deemed the strongest.
“Abel. Why must someone like you live in a world built for non-ability users? Come, help us build a world for ability users.”
“…”
“There, you won’t be some noble of a mere kingdom—you’ll be a great force in a new world. You won’t need to beg others to understand your power.”
When Julien finished speaking, Abel slowly took his stance again.
Knowing exactly what that meant, Julien bit his lip.
“If you’re done talking, let’s start over.”
“Do you, by any chance, have a self-healing ability besides body enhancement?”
“As far as I know, I don’t.”
“Then how are you still fighting like this…?”
Blood trickled from Abel’s torn eyelid and streaked down his face again.
“To become an ability user—to achieve awakening—I endured years of pain, sweat, and perseverance. Maybe because of that, I’ve gotten used to pain. Does that answer your question?”
“What a waste to kill someone like you.”
Muttering to himself, Julien now unleashed every ounce of his remaining stamina.
Five minutes. After that, even he wouldn’t be able to use his powers anymore.
He didn’t care if he failed to capture the others—but Abel, he was determined to eliminate no matter what.
Abel, in turn, finally drew the sword he hadn’t used until now.
It meant he hadn’t been recklessly fighting unarmed—he had been holding back, waiting for the perfect opening to strike.
Now that he had pushed Julien to his limits, it was time to go all in.
***
“We must retreat now! Hurry!”
“What do you mean, Lord Caligo?!”
“Abel’s buying us time! Lady Seria, Flam and Portus can’t fight anymore! Look at them—they can barely move!”
Flam was already half-unconscious. Like the fire he embodied, he had burned too brightly and was now reduced to ash.
Portus was no better. He had poured everything out—now dry as a drought.
Only Caligo and Seria remained. And in terms of power, Seria might as well not even be counted. That meant Caligo was effectively alone.
And Caligo made the cold, rational judgment:
There’s no hope. The best course of action is for someone to escape.
Abel understood that—he was fighting with such intensity because he knew.
“We have to go, Lady Seria! Will you let Abel’s sacrifice be in vain?!”
Supporting Flam and Portus over his shoulders, Caligo began to move.
From both a power perspective and their importance, losing those two would be devastating.
Leaving Abel behind to retreat was, sadly, the logical decision.
“…”
But from Seria’s perspective, it was unthinkable.
Even if Abel wanted this—how could she, as a person, run away while someone else fought alone?
They were all ability users. All humans who feared death equally.
So why should some run while others stay and fight to the bitter end?
“I want to fight too. I want to help. I want to be useful. Please, I want to be useful!”
But despite her desperate plea, her flame was now weaker than ever.
The spark that once flickered within her had turned black and brittle, no longer showing any sign of heat.
It was despairing. Why? Why was she always the one being saved? Why couldn’t she help anyone?
Was this her fate? Born into a noble house by luck. Blessed with good parents, good people, and even a special power—by luck.
Had all her luck come at the cost of being powerless in every other way?
“…No.”
Seria shook her head.
“That’s not true. Lord Abel told me—I’m an ability user too. That I’d shine like a star one day. That I shouldn’t doubt it and should keep moving forward!”
…crack
She remembered Abel’s words during their training.
That if she approached it in her own way—with desperate determination—she could do it. That humanity, as a species, could achieve anything it truly desired.
“Please. Please.”
Anything was fine. She just wanted to help the person fighting so hard up ahead.
So please—no more sparks.
Let me become a star.
“Please!!”
…Fssssh!
The hardened cocoon finally reached its end. Wings that had been trapped inside unfurled at last.
From burnt, blackened fragments—from the ashes that had lost all flame—glowing crimson butterflies began to emerge, one by one.