Tadashi’s eyes flickered open, his cheek throbbing with pain. Blinking, he realized he was lodged inside a dead tree, his body awkwardly embedded in its trunk.

What… the… hell?

He groaned as a splitting headache hit, but memories quickly resurfaced. He’d been on the verge of slicing Tsukune to shreds when something struck his face at blinding speed. Rubbing his jaw, he pried himself free from the tree.

Once he stumbled out, he saw that a powerful force had torn a path through the lizardman army—his fellow students, seniors, alumni, and even a few faculty among them.

Turning toward the source, he spotted Yukari, alone and vulnerable. For a moment, he considered attacking her but he noticed Tsukune.

The young man, bloodied and covered in deep gashes, was charging straight through the gap in the lizardman ranks.

What the hell is he doing?!

Tadashi’s heart pounded as he dashed into the breach, eyes fixed on Tsukune and Moka running toward each other. A sudden panic gripped him; some primal instinct warned him that disaster would strike if those two reached each other.

Trusting his instincts over any rational thought, he bellowed, “Everyone! Focus on tearing Tsukune and Moka apart! They are the true threats!”

As the original leader of this lizardman army, Tadashi’s command was instantly obeyed. The horde shifted focus, abandoning all other targets to charge at Tsukune and Moka, determined to tear apart the separated young man and woman.

The lizardmen swarmed them, and Tadashi let out a triumphant roar—only for it to be cut short by an overwhelming sense of dread. His eyes widened as he watched the chaos unfolding within his own ranks.

“W-What’s going on—?” he stammered.

His question was answered in a flash. Dozens of his kin were hurled into the air like ragdolls, scattered by a powerful force. A silver-haired figure burst upward from the midst of the army, carrying both Tsukune and Kurumu.

S-So much power?!

Tadashi stood frozen, watching as Moka, now transformed and radiating strength, effortlessly maneuvered herself away from the mass of lizardmen. At that moment, a crushing realization set in—he had lost.

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Gin watched as Moka glided toward him and Sakari, her silver hair gleaming.

Ah, still as beautiful as ever.

He glanced at the sun, still high in the sky. Dismissing any idea of challenging her, he knew it wouldn’t be a fight he could win.

Yukari, who already held Moka in high esteem, was captivated by the unsealed Moka’s approach.

Moka… Moka has fangs… A-A true vampire!

Moka landed before Gin and Sakari, her expression fierce as she spoke in a low, commanding tone. “Take care of these two.”

Yukari’s thoughts spiraled, I love her!!

Without waiting for a response, Moka turned to face the lizardman army, now regrouping. They hissed and growled, their voices forming an angry chorus.

“She’s just one monster.”

“We’re still many times their number.”

“We should overwhelm her.”

Tadashi caught Moka’s crimson gaze locking onto him, a maddening, hypnotic stare that made him feel exposed and vulnerable.

W-What is this??

He turned to his kin, nearly a hundred lizardmen poised to strike. Surely, he thought, one vampire couldn’t overcome all of us, r-right?

Moka gave him his answer.

Her aura flared, a wave of power so intense that the lizardman army recoiled in response. With murderous intent, Moka charged, crashing into the lizardmen like a force of nature, scattering them on impact.

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Charging toward nearly a hundred lizardmen, Moka seethed with fury.

How dare these cowards attempt to harm me and a child?

Channeling her youki, Moka’s already superhuman abilities surged to an even higher level. At full speed, she reached the army’s front line and launched herself into the air, delivering a powerful full-body roundhouse kick.

The impact sent not one, but three lizardmen sprawling, knocked out cold from the sheer force. She made sure to pull her punches, wanting to avoid lethal blows. While she wasn’t particularly bound to the academy’s laws, she didn’t wish to complicate life for her other self, who was already struggling in this world.

Landing gracefully, Moka dropped into a split, her movements seamless and precise. In an instant, she raised both legs and spun in a powerful rotation, using her arms as a pivot. The motion struck down nearby lizardmen with devastating force, the impact shattering bones in one fluid, calculated sweep.

With just two decisive moves, she took nearly a dozen lizardmen out of the fight—and she was far from finished.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

Moka rose swiftly, delivering rapid jabs to the charging lizardmen. The impact of her punches left their jaws shattered, her flawless knuckles unaffected by their flimsy scales. With a sharp twist, she launched a powerful kick behind her, breaking bones and leaving the enemy stunned.

Seeing her brutal efficiency, some lizardmen began to lose hope. A few even turned and fled, unwilling to face the academy's strongest student.

Gin and Sakari exchanged grins.

"Looks like our academy’s princess could use a hand," Gin said, noticing the deserters.

Sakari smirked. “Now I see why you lost to her. She’s raw power incarnate with the skill to back it.”

Gin nodded and glanced at Tsukune and Kurumu, who focused on catching their breath. Kurumu watched the scene in silence while Tsukune rested, clearly exhausted.

“You two should go to Yukari and…” Gin glanced at Hermann, whose face he didn’t recognize, “and your friend over there. They can help keep you safe while we assist Moka.”

Sakari had already joined the fight. After seeing Tsukune’s faint nod, Gin rushed after her.

Hermann approached Tsukune, extending a hand. “Yukari mentioned she can heal you. Let’s go.”

Grimacing in pain, Tsukune accepted the help, then turned to assist Kurumu. He shrugged off the remaining piece of his shirt, draping it over her. She gave him a grateful smile, thanking him softly.

Watching their exchange, Hermann rolled his eyes internally. He saw how Kurumu tried to be sneaky and sniff Tsukune’s shirt, causing him to be even more annoyed.

I guess a guy like you is bound to have admirers… and despite being so clueless, you’re a natural flirt.

Hermann shook off his irritation with Tsukune’s casual playboy vibe and helped him up, guiding both him and Kurumu to Yukari.

“Tsukune, are you completely out of your mind?” Yukari scolded immediately, her voice laced with frustration.

Tsukune gave a sheepish smile. “I just thought... those lizardmen were about to reach us, so I had to act.”

“You didn’t have to! Our seniors came to help us!” Yukari huffed.

“I don’t think she’s technically a senior,” Hermann added, talking about Sakari, earning a sharp glare from Yukari. He quickly looked away.

Putting aside the issue, Yukari then touched Tsukune’s wounds, casting a low-circle healing spell. He winced as torn flesh began to stitch itself back together.

“Oh, stop being so fussy,” Yukari said, still annoyed with him.

Kurumu pointed to a few bruises on her arms. “Hey, what about me?”

Yukari glanced at her dismissively. “What about you?”

“You little brat!” Kurumu shouted, her hand dropping momentarily. She quickly covers herself again, barely avoiding an embarrassing slip, thanks to Tsukune’s tattered uniform covering her body.

As Yukari and Kurumu’s bickering escalated, Tsukune’s attention drifted back to the fight. The fear he’d felt before was gone, replaced by calm certainty that Moka had everything under control.

Because he’d been exposed to youki numerous times throughout the year, Tsukune’s sense of it had grown. He couldn’t detect the passive energy all monsters radiated, but he was starting to notice when it was actively released.

With Moka, he could feel a surge every time she tapped into her strength. From this distance, her power was clear, a wave of youki that resonated even where he stood. Between Moka, Gin, and Sakari—all radiating powerful energy—Tsukune knew the lizardmen stood no chance. Their victory was already assured.

Tadashi watched in horror as Moka cut through his kin like a relentless hurricane, leaving a trail of defeated lizardmen in her wake.

“No... No!” he gasped, terror mounting. My brethren... we're so helpless!

Driven by fury and desperation, Tadashi charged forward. Summoning the dregs of his youki, he sharpened his claws, hoping this enhanced strength would somehow pierce Moka’s defenses.

As he reached the center of the fray, he suddenly froze when he felt a power beyond him. Moka, even while in the thick of battle, had never let him out of her sight. She then charges, her crimson eyes locked onto him, a terrifying speed accompanying her approach. His body, paralyzed with fear, reacted too late.

“What... what are you?!” Tadashi roared, charging toward her blur-like figure and swinging his claws with all his might. But against Moka’s might, desperation alone was never going to be enough.

Moka leaped into the air, twisting her body mid-flight, her youki quickening and guiding her movement as she delivered a spinning roundhouse kick directly to his lower jaw. The force obliterated his teeth and tore into muscle. His instincts drove him to bite down, but his upper jaw’s fangs shattered against her leg, and mercifully, darkness took him.

But Moka wasn’t finished. As Tadashi’s limp unconscious form flew back, Moka launched herself downward, channeling her youki in a powerful dash, as swift as an arrow released from a bow.

In moments, she was upon him again, her indifference chilling to those who witnessed it. To some, she was nothing more than a blur, while others caught glimpses of her expression—a look of detached authority, like a goddess dispensing judgment on those who dared defy her.

She struck him repeatedly as he hovered, each blow precise, shattering bones and ensuring he stayed suspended, his body a mere vessel for punishment. Then, with one final kick, she sent Tadashi hurtling into a nearby tree, splintering it upon impact.

Looking down at her handiwork, Moka muttered, “Coward. You dare to use such force against a child.”

The surrounding lizardmen, paralyzed by the sight of Moka’s ruthless assault, stood frozen, terrified that any movement might draw her wrath. The edges of the battlefield showed signs of panic as some contemplated escape, only to see Gin and Sakari blocking their retreat, each stationed at opposite ends to contain them.

Moka took a brief moment to catch her breath, a glimmer of satisfaction flickering in her eyes as she began to gather her youki once more. She wasn’t done, and the opportunity to release her pent-up frustration was one she wouldn’t let slip easily.

But before she could resume her onslaught, a loud voice from within the crowd cut through the silence: “WAIT!!”

Moka turned toward the voice, spotting a bruised and battered lizardman clutching what looked to be a broken arm.

“Please,” he began, the tone in his voice signaling clear surrender. “With Tadashi knocked out, we have no chance of winning.” Looking around as if searching for confirmation, Nihebi noticed the others shared his sentiment, their expressions exhausted and defeated. “There’s no one left to resist. Please, no more.”

Hearing this, Moka slowly eased her stance. “Hmph, if you fools planned to form an army to challenge me, at least have the guts to finish what you started.” She clicked her tongue and turned, striding toward one side of the crowd. The nearby lizardmen flinched as she approached, fear stiffening their bodies.

Reaching the crowd, Moka commanded, “Move,” and the lizardmen obeyed without question, clearing a path as if making way for a goddess among mortals. Nihebi, still clutching his arm, followed her, his gaze pleading as he clung to any hope of negotiating their survival.

As Moka emerged from the encirclement of lizardmen, she found Gin waiting at the end, his watchful stance blocking any attempted escape. The two S-Class monsters exchanged a look, both assessing the situation. While Gin continued to study Moka, she looked past him, her focus shifting to a more important sight—Tsukune, standing nearby with Kurumu, Hermann, and Yukari.

Turning to Nihebi, she spoke with a sharp edge, “Stay here and wait for me, unless you’d like to end up in the same state as your leader.”

Nihebi swallowed a large lump in his throat, nodding fervently in response to her command.

“You there, guard these fools,” Moka directed at Gin.

With a chuckle, Gin nodded. “As you wish, Moka.”

Ignoring him, Moka walked past her senior and approached Tsukune and the others.

Seeing Moka unharmed, Kurumu rolled her eyes, still wearing Tsukune’s borrowed shirt. She stepped forward. “So…how are you? Everything okay?”

Moka, momentarily surprised by the question, replied confidently, “Yes. And how are Tsukune and Yukari?”

Kurumu shrugged. “They’re fine. Yukari’s just worn out—her tiny youki pool is pretty much tapped out.”

Moka nodded, her expression calm and composed, though a flicker of softness briefly touched her eyes. She glanced at Kurumu, assessing her for a moment, before saying quietly, “You did well protecting the other me. Thank you.”

Kurumu’s lips curled into a slightly smug smile, pride evident in her tone as she replied, “Of course. You’re welcome.”

At this, Yukari couldn’t help but tremble slightly. Her gaze fell to the wound across Tsukune’s back, and anger surfaced in her voice. “Why…”

Moka turned her attention to Yukari, observing the younger girl as she looked toward Tsukune, her expression conflicted.

“Why did you help me?” Yukari asked, her voice breaking slightly.

Tsukune started to reply, but Yukari continued, “Especially after what I did... After everything.”

Looking away, Yukari used her oversized witch hat to shield her face. “Why would you risk yourself for me, even care about me at all?”

Moka crossed her arms, her gaze drifting, an almost disinterested expression taking hold.

Kurumu and Tsukune shared a look before turning back to Yukari. Hermann scratched his head awkwardly, finding himself equally at a loss for words; after all, he had come here to help Tsukune, not to untangle a conflict he didn’t fully understand.

Tsukune breaks the silence once more, “Why don’t we just say we’re friends? How does that sound?”

Yukari looks up, her tear-filled eyes meeting Tsukune’s. She glances at Moka, hoping for her approval, but Moka looks away, staring off into the distance. Shifting her gaze to Kurumu, she finds the annoying Succubus offering a thumbs-up and a warm smile.

With the tension easing, the weight of everything Yukari has faced at the academy comes crashing down. Struggling to keep it together, she chokes out, “…I… I…”

But the tears come uncontrollably, and Yukari starts to cry openly. Tsukune and Kurumu exchange smiles, feeling that, at last, Yukari is allowing herself to feel like the child she still is.

The two comfort her while Moka steps closer maintaining a silent presence.