I Became a Murderer in the Academy.-Chapter 110

This was only the second time I’d drawn this blade. I rarely used it because the red mana wasn’t truly mine—it was power that flowed from the Demon Lord’s fragments.

But this was Serthia—the greatest mage in the Empire's long history.

I couldn’t afford to hold back. For the first time, I felt a sense of tension before a battle.

"..."

I steadied the sword in my hand. The crimson mana spread outward, exuding a dark, foreboding aura.

No matter how powerful she was, she was still a mage.

If I could close the distance, she wouldn’t stand a chance. After all, as a human, she couldn’t keep up with my speed.

I gripped my sword and leaped forward.

Everything around me seemed to slow down. This was the hyperspeed realm, accessible only by those whose reflexes exceeded human limitations.

It wouldn’t take long to reach Serthia.

A second was an eternity.

I was faster than the blink of an eye.

As I reached her, I swung my sword without hesitation.

A speed no one had ever reacted to. Any ordinary human wouldn’t even see me coming.

And then—

BANG!!!

My sword, aimed at Serthia, collided with an invisible barrier.

The thick mana shield cracked under the force.

I pressed forward, channeling crimson mana through my sword.

I expected the barrier to break soon.

'It won’t break?'

I frowned.

I couldn’t pierce through Serthia’s barrier.

In this hyperspeed world where everything else was slowed down, she managed to track my movements.

Her blue eyes locked onto mine. This was the same sword that had cut down a high-ranking officer of the Demon Lord’s army in one strike, yet Serthia’s calm expression didn’t waver.

For a brief moment, she looked more composed than anyone I’d ever faced.

Then Serthia’s attack spell ignited with a flash.

A searing pain erupted in my abdomen.

It felt as if my insides were twisting. My breathing grew ragged, and my body felt heavy.

One spell had torn through me, leaving a gaping wound and severe blood loss.

And worst of all—

'My regeneration... it’s slower.'

Residual mana from her spell gnawed at my flesh, disrupting my regenerative abilities.

I’d felt this sensation once before.

Mana blood.

A rare trait in certain humans, where their blood contains a high concentration of mana.

Unlike Sera, who struggled to control her power, Serthia wielded it with precise mastery.

Several more spells flew toward me as I lay on the ground. Each one would be fatal, so I rolled away, dodging them as they struck the floor.

But the spells didn’t just follow a straight path.

They curved, tracking me.

"Ugh...!"

Once again, the pain lanced through me as chunks of flesh were ripped away. The air filled with a spray of my blood.

I thought I’d grown used to pain, but it seemed that wasn’t the case.

I gritted my teeth as the mana blood continued to dissolve my flesh, hindering my movements.

"Hah... Hah..."

I wiped the blood from my mouth with my hand.

It was becoming clear why the Demon Lord’s army feared going to war with humanity—because of Serthia. Her strength surpassed that of the entire Empire combined.

I had known she was powerful, but she exceeded my expectations.

Even in her past-her-prime state, she was overwhelming me.

Holding my wound, I looked up. Serthia still stood there, completely unscathed, her expression as composed as ever.

She was stronger than me, at least for now. I needed another tactic.

I reached into my pocket, retrieved another fragment of the Demon Lord, and swallowed it.

"..."

I forced myself to my feet, recreating my crimson sword in my hand.

Then I drew even more power from the fragment.

Until my mind blurred and my consciousness wavered.

My awareness intermingled with the fragment’s essence. I glimpsed memories embedded within it.

The Demon Lord who had once faced off against the hero Elion alone.

A mage with red hair and blue eyes stood against her.

She looked different now, but it was clearly the same person.

The red mana surged forth.

As my wounds healed, my hair turned crimson under its influence.

"Alright, Serthia..."

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I gripped my sword.

"Let’s finish this—after twenty years."

I launched forward.

**

I took a deep breath, and slowly swung my sword.

With refined crimson mana, I sliced through the incoming spells.

They were fast and lethal, but not beyond my ability to cut down. I deflected every single one that came my way.

I cut through them and faced Serthia.

My crimson mana spread out, encircling the area. It wrapped around Serthia, binding her.

This would be her grave.

I thought as much, swinging my sword with the intent to break through her barrier.

Serthia reached out, trying to block it, but it wouldn’t be enough.

CRACK, CRACK!

The massive barrier before me splintered. This time, the cracks were larger than before.

I poured more strength into my sword.

SHATTER!

As the barrier finally broke, Serthia’s expression shifted for the first time.

The crimson blade shot forward, bending unnaturally to close the gap as it aimed for her.

In that instant, Serthia summoned powerful elemental magic to her hand.

Just before my sword could strike her.

FWOOSH!

Flames erupted from Serthia’s left hand, engulfing the area.

My blade grazed her forehead, while the flames forced me back.

A strong wind—likely wind magic mixed with the fire—blew me away.

It didn’t matter. With her barrier down, I had plenty of opportunities.

As I staggered back, I steadied my breathing, struggling to control the overwhelming crimson mana pouring from me.

Blood trickled down Serthia’s forehead from her wound.

"..."

"..."

Here, in Serthia’s burning library.

She wiped the blood from her forehead, her expression unfazed.

But then things took a turn.

Serthia amplified her presence, channeling mana through her blood.

Using her own blood to enhance her mana. As expected, she could do that too.

"Step back, Albert."

"Serthia, that’s enough!"

"This is my fight. It might very well be the last."

Serthia turned to Albert.

"Or do you plan on holding me back? I don’t know what you think of this creature, Albert, but the Demon Lord’s remnant must be eradicated."

"..."

"It’s my duty to see it done. I’ve lived my entire life for this."

With those words, she turned her gaze back to me.

Shrouded in flames, Serthia seemed slightly unstable.

Maybe she wasn’t entirely well.

That instability could be the key to winning this fight.

Serthia’s raw power far exceeded mine.

How a human could wield such strength, I didn’t know, but if we kept clashing head-on, it would be my loss.

But sheer strength alone doesn’t always determine victory.

I looked at Serthia. Maybe the crimson mana would reveal her weaknesses.

"That was a fragment of the Demon Lord you just swallowed, wasn’t it? Fascinating. Normally, consuming one would turn you into a mindless beast. I’ve never seen anyone wield that power like you do."

"..."

"Perhaps it’s because you share a genetic link to the Demon Lord. All the more reason you must be destroyed here. I can’t let the Demon Lord’s remnant evolve into a new threat."

She extinguished the flames in her hand.

Serthia ignited several spells at once, from elemental magic to piercing mana attacks.

A display of magic only she could pull off, rising behind her in a terrifying array.

Then she spoke.

"Your name was Iria, wasn’t it? I hold no personal grudge against you."

"Neither do I."

She aimed all her magic at me.

I, in turn, aimed my crimson sword at her.

It was time to prove who was stronger.

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TL note:

Hello, dear readers! Thank you for following along with I Became a Murderer in the Academy. I hope you’re enjoying the thrilling journey of Iria and her complex world. Your support means everything, so if you like the translation, please don’t forget to hit that like button and share your thoughts in the comments! Your feedback helps improve the translations and keeps me motivated to bring you more chapters. Happy reading, and I look forward to hearing from you all!