Strongest Existence Becomes Teacher-Chapter 248: Selene’s Trouble

Selene's breath grew heavier as she continued fighting. The bots kept closing in from all directions, forcing her to constantly move while maintaining her spells. Even then, she didn't stop. Her mind was fixed on one thing.

Zone.

The concept still felt strange to her. She had never heard of something like that before—something that could increase learning speed and push a person beyond their limits. But if it existed, then she would reach it.

She had to.

I'll save Lia and Ron…

A brief pause in her thoughts.

…and Jax too.

Mana surged through her body as multiple orange runes formed around her. They quickly reshaped into blades, knives, and sharp constructs, all aimed toward the incoming bots. With a flick of her wand, she released them.

At the same time, another set of runes appeared.

She was now using dual casting. With parallel thinking, she constructed binding runes that shot forward and wrapped around the bots, chaining them in pairs and restricting their movement. That brief opening made it easier for her to attack. Explosive runes followed, detonating and pushing several bots back.

For a moment, she gained control.

Selene moved swiftly, activating speed runes on her legs while using healing runes to close her wounds. But the pressure didn't ease. Slowly, the bots began to overwhelm her again.

They adapted.

They pushed forward.

Her breathing became uneven, and the wounds on her body started increasing faster than her healing could handle.

Still, she continued.

Casting. Moving. Calculating.

But something was wrong.

Her thoughts weren't steady anymore.

Why am I not reaching the zone…?

She kept fighting, but the question stayed in her mind.

I'm doing everything right…

Another attack came. She defended.

Professor wouldn't lie… right?

The bots closed in further.

Her focus started to crack—not completely, but enough to disturb her flow. The thoughts in her mind didn't stop anymore; instead, they began stacking over each other. Frustration crept in, followed by doubt, and soon pressure started building inside her.

She tried to refocus, but her mind was no longer clear.

She couldn't see Maera.

She couldn't find Drevin.

The bots didn't give her time to think either. She kept calculating, planning, and casting, but her thoughts were scattered.

And that—

Was enough.

She sensed something behind her.

Too late.

A heavy kick landed on her neck.

A sharp pain shot through her body, and her vision went dark instantly.

Selene collapsed.

.

.

.

.

Selene's vision was dark.

For a moment, there was nothing.

No sound. No movement. No pain.

Just silence.

Then slowly, faint awareness returned.

A soft sensation brushed against her mind, like something pulling her back. Her consciousness stirred, and she felt the ground beneath her again.

When she opened her eyes—

She wasn't on the battlefield anymore.

The endless grassland was still there, but it was quiet now. No bots. No attacks. No pressure.

Only one person stood in front of her.

Zane.

Selene blinked, still trying to process what happened. Her body felt light, strangely free from pain.

"…Professor…?"

Zane looked at her calmly. "You lost."

There was no harshness in his tone.

Just a simple statement.

Selene lowered her gaze slightly, her fingers tightening around her wand.

"…I was trying," she said quietly. "I was doing everything… I used dual casting… I kept control… why...can't I do it.. I–"

Zane raised a hand, stopping her.

"That's the problem."

Selene froze.

Zane stepped a little closer, his gaze steady.

"You were trying too hard."

She frowned. "…What?"

"You weren't fighting," he continued. "You were forcing yourself to enter the zone while fighting."

Selene's expression stiffened.

Zane continued calmly, "Your focus wasn't on defeating your opponent. It was split. Half on the fight… and half on reaching the zone."

He shook his head slightly.

"That's why you failed."

Selene fell silent.

The words hit deeper than she expected.

Zane looked at her for a moment, then spoke again.

"Zone isn't something you chase."

"It's something that happens when you stop chasing everything else."

Selene's eyes slowly lifted toward him.

Zane pointed toward the empty grassland.

"When you were fighting, your mind wasn't clear. You were worrying, thinking about saving others… even doubting."

A small pause.

"That noise is what kept you out."

Selene clenched her wand tighter.

"…Then what should I do?"

Zane smiled..

Zane's answer was simple.

"Forget the zone."

She blinked.

"A great warrior legend whom I respect once said the power comes in response to a need not a desire you have that need...to save your friend."

His gaze sharpened slightly.

"Use it don't think about anything else just fight so you can save your friend...."

Selene stayed quiet yet mesmerised by her professor word.

Zane added,

"Don't think about entering the zone. Don't think about results."

"Focus only on what's in front of you."

"Fight Selene."

Selene's frustration felt like it vanished.

she nodded.

"Yes Sir."

Zane watched her for a brief moment, then gave a small nod.

"Good."

He turned slightly, raising his hand.

"Eira."

A faint shimmer passed through the air.

Eira's holographic form appeared beside him, arms crossed, watching Selene with interest.

"Reset field."

At her command, the quiet grassland shifted again. The ground trembled lightly as space distorted, and one by one, the E.I.R.A bots began to reappear in the distance.

They wer not rushing or attacking.

They were standing still.

Just… waiting.

Selene looked ahead at them.

This time, her grip on the wand was different.

It was

steady.

This she was not overthinking or doubting.

Zane's voice came from behind her.

"Remember… what I've tolde Use your need."

Selene took a slow breath.

The thoughts that had been crowding her mind earlier… the worry, the frustration, the constant questioning—

They were still there.

But quieter now.

She stepped forward.

The bots moved.

The first one dashed toward her.

Selene raised her wand instinctively, a rune forming—but this time, she didn't stack multiple spells. No over-calculation. No excess.

Just one.

A simple, clean strike.

The rune shot forward and hit the bot directly, pushing it back.

Another came from the side.

She moved.

There were no hesitation in her moves.

No unnecessary thought.

Her body responded with her mind.

More bots closed in.

Selene moved between them, casting, adjusting, reacting. Not perfectly—but naturally.

There were no pressure.

She was just fighting.

A bot swung at her.

She ducked, countered with a short-range rune burst, and stepped back into position with speed rune she already prepared before...

For the first time—

She wasn't thinking about the zone.

She wasn't thinking about whether she was improving.

She wasn't thinking about anything beyond the fight itself.

And slowly…

Something began to change.

Her movements became smoother.

Her casting faster.

Her mana flow steadier.

From a distance, Eira tilted her head slightly.

"…There."

Zane didn't respond.

But a faint smile appeared on his face.

Selene moved again, weaving through the bots as if the gaps between them were clearer than before. The runes she formed were sharper, more efficient, each one placed exactly where it needed to be.

There was no doubt that

without even realizing it—

She had entered it.

The zone.

Selene didn't notice.

She didn't need to.

Because for her—

Right now, there was only two thing.

Fight.

And win.