A Villain's Way of Taming Heroines

The Etheric Academy's once tranquil lecture hall was abruptly transformed into a battlefield, where even one of the esteemed Supreme Nine Seats fell victim to a cunning ambush, a clear slap in the face resonating with humiliation.

This was undoubtedly one of Conrad's objectives; had his sole desire been to avenge himself against the Tower of Babel, he would not have chosen this precise moment to strike a lethal blow against Ravenna.

The demise of the Duke of Luminaris was, to a certain extent, inextricably linked to the Etheric Academy, especially considering their subsequent division of the Luminaris family's legacy, a deed that could only fuel enmity… perhaps even more so than the hatred directed towards the Tower of Babel.

Regardless of the current circumstances, the Etheric Academy was now in no position to retaliate, as Conrad had predicted—the young and carefree Hydral evidently regarded this conflict as a whetstone to sharpen his subordinate, the ferocious wolf under his command.

Those who should have intervened to prevent this clash remained silent, their eyes fixed upon the chaotic and disordered battlefield.

After all, if one disregards that recording, this was the first true appearance of Seraphina Marlowe, the enigmatic being capable of harnessing the power of two pact heads.

Conrad, clad in his mysterious steel armor, slowly raised his longsword, its iron blade beginning to shimmer with a pure and intense light.

Seraphina, with eager anticipation, exhaled, her dark crimson eyes reflecting the image of her prey.

Even if it were forged from indestructible steel, the wolf would tear it asunder as effortlessly as it would rend flesh.

"Hum!"

The light on the blade surged, and in that instant, Seraphina vanished from sight.

Her afterimage, like a bolt of lightning, left a trail of sonic booms in the air—a brutal roar, a cry of raw power. The floor was shattered by the violent rush of air as Seraphina, now in earnest pursuit, left behind a wake resembling a ravenous beast poised to devour everything in its path!

"Crash!!"

Seraphina, like a fierce wolf descending from a hilltop, delivered a knee strike to the chest of the steel armor—a blow so powerful that it could only be described as explosive.

From the point of impact, a tumultuous wave of energy burst forth, instantly shredding chairs and tables to pieces and blasting a huge crater into the floor.

"Could she truly cause such destruction even after the reinforcement spells have been activated?"

Now, the Etheric Academy was filled with sorcerers, observing this extraordinary battle that defied all logic.

"This Miss Marlowe, bearing Her Majesty's oppressive might and facing a reinforced battlefield that not even explosive spells could dent, has managed to produce such an effect with merely third-stage strength?"

"Damn it... This is why I detest these cursed warriors; they're good for nothing but brawling and killing. Are we living in an age of war to witness such a breed of people?"

"No warrior has ever been cursed to this extent! Without the reinforcement, she might have demolished this entire floor! If this is what a third-stage can do, what havoc could a fourth-stage wreak, twist off a dragon's head with bare hands?"

Unconcerned about and unable to hear the outside world's opinions, Seraphina's sole focus was to dismantle her metallic adversary, a task that seemed increasingly challenging.

Despite the ferocity of her assault, which was more terrifying than any previous attack, the massive steel golem did not budge, suggesting that Conrad had redirected some energy to his defenses.

In such close quarters, conventional weapons like firearms and energy blasts were...

Precise and swift!

Conrad, with his casting medium in hand, was evidently capable of instantaneously unleashing an energy blast far more lethal than the one that had carbonized Seraphina's arms moments before. The light flickering on his blade shot straight towards Seraphina's back, carrying a sense of desperate finality!

However, the intense beam of light struck the armor's chest and dissipated into nothingness.

"Too fast," the onlookers whispered.

Not just the ordinary sorcerers, but even the fifth-stage extraordinary beings watching the scene discussed among themselves, "Such speed that surpasses even the casting time... Without other strategies, Conrad is undoubtedly doomed."

"But as it stands... Miss Marlowe may not necessarily gain the upper hand."

His companion lazily commented, "That suit of armor must be one of Nasema's clandestine creations, likely inspired by mechanical armors. The spells attached to it are beyond her ability to counter."

"Her regenerative abilities are equally remarkable."

"But a direct hit to a vital area would be just as fatal."

"After all... she is only third-stage. Under normal circumstances, a third-stage extraordinary being would have been annihilated by Conrad in a single encounter."

If not for Ravenna's emphasis on the sanctity of life, she too would have been vaporized by Conrad in an instant.

"And yet, as things currently stand... she seems unable to penetrate the armor's defenses. Each offensive move results in severe injury, and despite her regenerative capabilities... wait, what's happening now?"

Indeed, the steel armor was exceedingly cumbersome, but this bulk also afforded it unparalleled defense. Even as Seraphina's unleashed violence could easily disrupt the battlefield's reinforced spells under the empress's suppression, she could not easily breach Conrad's defenses.

"Miss Marlowe, by me concentrating most of the ether on defense, you can't do much to me, can you?"

Conrad's voice emanated from his armor, "You shouldn't want such a fight. How about this... let me kill Ziegler, and I will fight you in the purest way, how does that sound?"

"Insane."

Seraphina's fist slammed into the armor she had dented, unflinchingly taking the beam of light Conrad shot at her, letting it pierce her side, while continuously landing another punch. The continuous booming echoed in the lecture hall, the sound waves and aftershocks ravaging the already dilapidated hall. To be honest...

the current situation was indeed uninteresting, Seraphina was simply beating up a stubborn mule.

Because Conrad concentrated the ether on defense, Seraphina didn't even bother to dodge his light cannon, unless the intuition upgraded by the head of wind gave a high-risk warning.

"You want to negotiate with me? Are you still half asleep?"

Seraphina scoffed, "Do you really think I can't crack this iron shell? Hmm?"

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