Journey to Become the Zenith

The Two Holy Maidens

When Videl heard what Ruby said, she couldn’t understand what she meant.

The chosen hero of a goddess?

For a moment, she simply stood there staring.

The morning sunlight filtering through the office windows illuminated the room in soft golden rays. Dust motes drifted lazily through the air while silence settled over the office.

Videl’s sapphire eyes blinked several times.

A hero?

Her?

The words felt absurd.

She wasn’t Victor.

Victor was the one who always accomplished the impossible.

Victor was the one who always seemed to know things before anyone else.

Victor was the one who solved problems that left everyone else helpless.

Compared to him, she often felt like she was merely trying to catch up.

Yet this strange woman was looking at her as though she were some legendary figure.

When Ruby saw the confused look on Videl’s face she wanted to explain the situation to her, but then someone interrupted her.

”Oh my, please don’t listen to that barbarian dear hero. Becoming the hero of such a barbarian will bring you nothing but grief.”

A gentle voice suddenly drifted through the room.

Everyone turned.

A beautiful blonde woman stood near the doorway.

Nobody had sensed her arrival.

Not Videl.

Not Max.

Not even Aria waiting outside.

The newcomer wore elegant yellow-and-silver robes embroidered with intricate patterns resembling scales of justice. Long blonde hair flowed down her back like liquid gold while calm blue eyes surveyed the room.

Unlike Ruby’s energetic and imposing presence, this woman’s beauty carried a refined elegance.

A graceful smile rested upon her lips.

Even though both women were beautiful the two have one major difference, the newcomer had a smaller chest than Ruby.

Still, the looks didn’t really matter to Videl what mattered to her was that she was unable to sense this girl’s arrival which shocked her.

How?

Even after all her recent growth she hadn’t noticed a single thing.

The woman smiled pleasantly.

Ruby’s eyebrow twitched.

A dangerous vein appeared on her forehead.

”Natalia! Who the hell are you calling a barbarian! I’m going to kill you, you flat-chested loser!”

The room instantly became colder.

You could practically hear something snap within Natalia.

Her smile somehow became even brighter.

Which only made it more terrifying.

”Ara, ara, ara, it seems like all the nutrients that should go to your brain headed straight for your lump of meat. As expected of a barbarian there’s nothing up there.”

Natalia casually stepped forward and tapped Ruby’s forehead.

The office became completely silent.

Max slowly rubbed his temples.

Videl could feel a headache forming.

Why did every powerful person she met seem completely insane?

Now this time it was Ruby who snapped.

A terrifying pressure erupted from her body.

”You little—!”

Ruby lifted her arm.

Golden light exploded around her.

A weapon instantly materialized in her grasp.

This was the same style of weapon summoning that Videl heard from Victor that heroes usually use.

The summoned weapon was a magnificent halberd adorned with jewels and gold.

Ancient runes glowed across its shaft.

The crimson blade at its tip radiated intense power.

The moment it appeared the surrounding mana trembled.

Even Videl instinctively took notice.

Strong.

Very strong.

Seeing Ruby summoning her weapon, Natalia responded in kind.

The cheerful smile never left her face.

Silver threads appeared around her fingertips.

A second later a strange weapon emerged.

Unlike Ruby’s flashy halberd, Natalia’s weapon looked simple.

Deadly.

Elegant.

A massive guillotine blade connected to countless metallic wires.

The blade floated behind her like a silent executioner waiting for judgment.

The atmosphere inside the office immediately became tense.

Videl felt her instincts screaming.

These two women weren’t joking.

They were actually preparing to fight.

Max stood up so quickly his chair nearly fell.

”Wait—”

Too late.

”You want to fight?!”

Ruby grinned.

”Gladly!”

Natalia’s smile sharpened.

”I shall educate you once more.”

”Try it!”

Mana exploded.

The room shook.

Bookshelves rattled violently.

The windows trembled.

Outside the office several students passing through the academy corridor suddenly froze.

”What was that?”

”Did something explode?”

”Is the principal fighting someone?”

Meanwhile inside the office—

The two women vanished.

A crimson streak.

A silver flash.

The halberd descended.

The guillotine blade shot forward.

The two girls were about to attack each other, but before their blades clashed Videl got between them.

Her body moved on instinct.

The moment danger appeared she reacted.

Golden mana erupted from her body.

A brilliant flash illuminated the office.

The Long Sword appeared in her right hand.

The shorter blade appeared in her left.

Inside her mind, Amura’s voice echoed.

”Master!”

At the same time Rika cried out.

”Be careful!”

Using Amura to block the halberd, and using Rika to block the guillotine’s blade.

BOOM!

A thunderous shockwave erupted.

The floor cracked beneath Videl’s feet.

Wind exploded outward.

Curtains whipped violently.

Several pieces of furniture were blown backwards.

Max instantly erected a barrier around the room before the entire office collapsed.

Videl’s eyes widened.

The impact travelled through both arms.

Her muscles tensed.

Her boots dug into the stone floor.

For a brief moment she thought she might actually be pushed back.

The pressure was unbelievable.

Ruby stared.

Natalia blinked.

Neither had expected Videl to stop them.

Much less stop both attacks simultaneously.

Ruby’s emerald eyes sparkled.

”Not bad!”

Natalia tilted her head.

”Interesting.”

Videl gritted her teeth.

”Could both of you calm down for one second?!”

Neither woman looked ashamed.

Not even slightly.

In fact they seemed impressed.

Which somehow made things worse.

Inside her mind Amura huffed.

”They’re troublesome.”

Rika immediately agreed.

”Very troublesome.”

Videl couldn’t help but agree.

Victor always seemed to attract strange people.

Now somehow she had become trapped between two of them.

The pressure from both weapons continued to increase.

Mana collided.

The room groaned.

Even the protective barrier around the office shook.

Videl was surprised by how powerful their attacks were, and was even forced to use his full strength. The power of their strike wasn’t proportional to the power they were emitting