The Arrival of the Frost Snow Sovereign

‘Forced sealing.’ This was a rather euphemistic way of putting it. To prevent further losses, some sacrifices had to be made. Saint Lily understood the reasoning behind this. However, such measures should only be taken as a last resort. As a Sovereign, shouldn’t there be a more suitable approach, a way to achieve more? As the pinnacle of espers, they certainly possessed the capability, didn’t they?

“Saint Lily.”

A considerable commotion erupted outside, signaling White Rose’s arrival. As expected, suppressed by the rules, they were forced to fight the monkey-headed security guards on the ground.

White Rose possessed excellent combat skills, but after their flight abilities were restricted, Hyacinth and Redbud struggled. Hyacinth managed a meager resistance, avoiding becoming a burden, but Redbud completely panicked.

Clutching her staff, she swung it aimlessly, only to be seized by a flanking vine. Its barbed tendrils ensnared her, leaving her utterly helpless.

“Don’t worry~”

Saint Lily clutched her staff, and with a burst of sacred light, white lily petals drifted on the wind as her Flower Domain unfurled.

Blessings, previously acquired from battling the monkey-headed security guards, now settled upon the Flower Seed Maidens. The oppressive weight on their bodies instantly lifted, and a profound sense of peace settled in their hearts.

White Rose’s floral emblem expanded, and with a single punch, a colossal fist of light materialized. Like a powerful bulldozer, it sent the monkey-headed security guard before her flying a considerable distance.

Behind her, Hyacinth and Redbud, empowered by the blessings of Stone Wall and Parry, and further augmented with protective enchantments, found their struggle easing. While not as formidable as White Rose, they transitioned from a difficult fight to a manageable one.

“Hyacinth, Redbud, try to fly back into the sky.”

Saint Lily bestowed more blessings upon them, and Dandelion’s voice echoed in their minds.

[Believe in yourselves, you can do it.]

“Yes, Saint Lily!”

“Alright, Sister Lily…”

Saint Lily smiled as she watched the two maidens slowly float upwards.

“Well done! You are amazing!”

‘Blessing of Flight’

This blessing exempted them from the ‘Flight Restriction’ status and granted them ‘Levitation’.

Saint Lily’s staff spun rapidly, and a lily emblem emerged, casting its light across the entire area.

Several children, including Bai Ruoruo, began to float.

“Alright, everyone, rescue has arrived! Once you rush out of the school gates, you’ll be safe!”

“Ruoruo, why don’t you lead the way~”

“Huh? Oh!”

Bai Ruoruo, singled out, rubbed her face, a hint of embarrassment coloring her cheeks. She quickly composed herself, saluting crisply.

“Mission accomplished, guaranteed!”

“But Sister Lily, Su Su hasn’t returned yet.”

“Hmm… I’ll be right here. If that child comes back, I’ll make sure to safely send her home~” Saint Lily offered a gentle smile.

“Oh~ I trust Sister Lily!”

Bai Ruoruo beamed, then turned to face those behind her, patting her chest.

“Everyone, don’t be afraid! Sister Lily is protecting us! Everyone, follow me, let’s go!”

Striking a Superman-like flying pose, Bai Ruoruo soared out of the Wentai Building.

One by one, the children followed.

Gentle breezes guided them, and Stone Wall protected them.

Saint Lily maintained an excellent vantage point, constantly vigilant. With the monkey-headed security guards engaged, the floating children wouldn’t be significantly hampered by the terrain over several hundred meters.

Soon, the first group of students successfully escaped.

“Everyone, line up! Don’t be scared! This will be over soon! Your classmates and friends are with you, and we will protect you, letting you fly free like birds! Let’s leave this place~”

****

Su Mo, hands calmly tucked into her pockets, stepped into the principal’s office.

“Hehehe~”

“Hehehe~”

The monkey-headed principal sat at a wide, red-lacquered table, from which countless monkey dolls emerged, all laughing in unison.

“Hehehe~ The principal’s orders are absolute…”

The monkey-headed principal chuckled, pointing a finger at the uninvited guest. Then, behind Su Mo, a fiery python materialized, followed by another, and then a third.

Their towering forms loomed, their cold yet scorching serpentine eyes fixed on the principal from every angle, flicking their tongues as if contemplating the best place to strike.

‘So, she’s a summoner too?’

“…”

The monkey-headed principal’s mouth clicked open and shut. Its previously gathered imposing aura instantly disintegrated, yet it refused to end things here. As if making a final, desperate effort, it mustered every ounce of courage.

“I command you…”

A fiery python shot forward, clamping its jaws around the principal’s monkey head, tearing it from the body and incinerating it into ash.

Countless monkey dolls leaped forth, launching suicidal attacks. However, the pythons merely needed to interpose their bodies, effortlessly nullifying the ‘attacks’ and transforming them into pure fuel.

“Hey! Come out!”

“I’m only giving you one chance. You should know, if you truly possess intelligence, you’d understand that to destroy you, I don’t even need to find you!”

“Three!”

“Screech~”

Su Mo watched calmly as the fiery pythons thrashed menacingly.

Just as the countdown ended, a small, light yellow glowing monkey squeezed its head out from the eight-character framed school motto, ‘Success comes naturally when conditions are ripe, and great achievements result from long accumulation,’ which hung in the principal’s office. Tears streamed down its face, looking utterly wronged.

“Is this a rule-type disaster beast?”

“And now it’s acting wronged? You don’t actually think you’re deserving of sympathy, do you?” Su Mo furrowed her brow.

“Squeak!”

It landed on the red-lacquered table, bowing repeatedly to Su Mo.

“Little Su Mo~”

A small bird landed on Su Mo’s shoulder, revealing its single eye.

“Leave the rest to your big sister~”

“…”

Su Mo paused, then nodded.

“You promised to help, so you won’t go back on your word.”

“Mm, I know, Little Su Mo is a good child~”

****

White Rose once again repelled a monkey-headed security guard, feeling utterly vexed. That steel-skinned foe constantly blocked her path, absorbing the brunt of her attacks.

Her Purifying Fist, usually infallible against disaster beasts, was proving utterly ineffective, a fact that deeply irritated her.

Even if she managed to detonate a monkey’s head, new monkey dolls would simply emerge, burrow into its body, and revive it anew.

“They’re unkillable!”

[White Rose, our mission is rescue. Containing them is enough. That’s how rule-type disaster beasts work; as long as the main body isn’t hit, the clones will constantly revive. This isn’t your fault.]

“Then let’s go defeat the main body!”

[The rescue isn’t over yet.]

“Defeating the disaster beast is the *real* rescue! This isn’t what I want at all!”

White Rose grew increasingly frustrated, unleashing several more punches.

[Don’t lose focus!] Miss Dandelion stated plainly.

“Ah!”

This time, the monkey-headed security guards weren’t pushed back. Seizing on White Rose’s singular attack rhythm, they instantly surged forward, launching a coordinated assault.

White Rose couldn’t parry them all, momentarily unable to discern which were the ‘human’ and which were the ‘machine’ aspects.

Her Rose Shield activated, but White Rose was still knocked to the ground.

Despite the numerous blessings protecting her, she hadn’t sustained any actual damage.

Nevertheless, *she*, White Rose, had been knocked down like this.

“White Rose, are you alright? Can you get up?” This was Saint Lily’s concerned voice, relayed through their communication.

“Saint Lily, you just stood there watching! Where were your blessings? You deliberately wanted to see me embarrassed, didn’t you?”

“Eh? I… I apologize. I was focused on the children and didn’t notice right away.”

“I’m clearly the protagonist! You should always be watching me! Helping the children, you must be so proud, getting another chance to put on a show, right?”

“…”

Saint Lily was momentarily speechless, contemplating a reply. Suddenly, an extremely ominous sensation arose within her.

Her staff spun rapidly, and almost instantly, a barrier enveloped the Flower Seed Maidens, repelling the monkey-headed security guards. Blessings and protective enchantments continuously piled upon them.

A Frost Snow Spear like a bolt of lightning struck directly before White Rose. Still on the ground, she watched as the monkey-headed security guard’s body was rapidly coated in layers of frost, shattering into oblivion.

Then, the delayed sound and the aftershocks of the attack exploded in an instant.

*Crack~*

Saint Lily’s barrier shattered instantly, and the three maidens were blown aside by the chilling wind.

Fortunately, thanks to Saint Lily’s full power, everyone was merely startled and suffered no additional harm.

“Is everyone alright?”

“We’re fine.”

“I’m fine too.”

“White Rose, how are you?”

White Rose’s gaze was fixed intently on the sky.

A woman, cloaked in a blue and white mantle, had appeared out of thin air. She merely surveyed her surroundings with a casual air; her gaze, when it occasionally fell upon them, showed no intention of lingering.

She seemed to treat them as insignificant, despite their current predicament being a direct consequence of her presence.

Cold and powerful.

White Rose’s eyes were captivated. She recognized the newcomer: one of the Seven Sovereigns, the pinnacle of espers—the Frost Snow Sovereign.

Saint Lily’s concerned voice, echoing in her ears, suddenly seemed utterly trivial and unimportant.

“She… she’s truly powerful!”

White Rose stared, mesmerized.

– Su Mo: What’s that noise?

– Su Xiaoqian: Let me see. Oh, Host, don’t worry, it’s nothing major. It’s just the Frost Snow Sovereign who’s arrived!

– Su Mo: I see, so that’s it, the Frost Snow Sovereign, no wonder…

– Su Mo: Who? The Frost Snow Sovereign!!