<i>So
slow</i><i>…
</i>Stark
thought as the knight’s
blade whistled past his neck.
He
saw their movements in slow motion. His mind overflowed with
sensations—every step, every breath, every shift in the air around
him. The sharp edge of their killing intent pressed against his skin
like a blade.
<i>Is
this the result of the spell</i><i>…?</i>
Another
knight lunged. Stark sidestepped effortlessly, parrying the strike
and with a flick of the wrist sent the blade off-center opening up a
gap. Quickly, Stark stepped in and drove his knee into the knight’s
gut, denting his armor with a metallic crunch.
A
second knight stabbed toward his face. Stark’s
sensed the attack. He closed in, allowing the blade to whistle past
his cheek. In the same motion, he coiled his arm around the knight’s
joint and—snap.
A
bloodcurdling scream tore through the battlefield.
“NOOO!!!”
The
knight staggered back, clutching his now-crippled arm.
Stark
didn’t
hesitate. Pivoting on his heel, he drove a powerful kick right at the
knight’s head. The knight’s neck bent to the side as he crumpled
to the ground—unconscious.
The
world felt surreal. His heart pounded. Adrenaline coursed through his
veins like wildfire.
<i>This
is real.</i>
Stark
stared at the fallen knight, his breathing heavy.
<i>I</i><i>…
I just defeated a knight.</i>
“Alert!” a knight barked. “The
devil did something to him—he’s more powerful!”
The knights quickly put distance
between themselves and regrouped.
Stark picked up a dagger from the
fallen knight. He had no shield, no proper armor—only his trusty
sword and the worn leather gear he used for hunting monsters. Though
Krul had enhanced his physical prowess, Stark still felt a knot of
unease in his chest.
He had never killed a human before.
Never faced such overwhelming killing intent. Even with his new
strength, his mind remained the same.
<i>I
have to adapt. I can</i><i>’t
be a burden to Krul.</i>
<i>Let</i><i>’s
do this… </i>He
took a deep breath.
“You’re risking your life for a
filthy slave,” Zarius sneered. “Even using <b>Bond</b>
and <b>Transfer</b>
just for him?”
“You still haven’t learned your
lesson, huh?” Krul shrugged. “Even in my weakened state, you’re
struggling to capture me.”
Zarius’s
expression darkened. “That doesn’t matter. How long can you even
keep up this facade
of strength with
your mana burning away?”
“Knights, attack. Magus, provide
support!” Zarius ordered. Then, turning to Vivy, he added, “You,
child—prepare that thing.”
“Yes, Lord Zarius,” Vivy nodded.
<i>I
was right to call him. They aren</i><i>’t
enough to take Krul down. </i>Zarius
smirked.
<b>BOOM!</b>
The ground split apart as Drek
and Thalia
attacked in unison, leaving the devil little room to dodge. Magus
from behind launched a barrage of spells—jagged rocks and roaring
flames hurtling straight toward Krul.
He barely managed to defend himself
against the relentless onslaught.
<i>Fuck</i><i>…</i>
Krul cursed.
Krul
blocked Thalia’s
war hammer with his sword and Drek’s staff with a barrier at the
same time. Sweat began to form on his brow.
<b>Forsaken
Arts, Second Form: Amplification.</b>
A
surge of power coursed through his body as the second form activated.
His mana would burn away much faster, but the spell strength it
granted was necessary to handle the threats before him.
Vivy
Kolbrone cast a disorientation spell, distorting Krul’s
senses. For a brief moment, the battlefield blurred—his vision
wavered, his balance shifted.
But
Krul had faced such magic before. With a sharp breath, he dispelled
it instantly. Then, he charged at Drek—his movements now even
faster, his spells even deadlier and precise.
His
blade whistled past Drek’s
shoulder. The sheer force of the swing sent a shockwave through the
knight’s armor, cracking it.
Thalia
lunged at him from behind. Krul dodged smoothly to the side, placing
his palm against her ribs before unleashing a searing purple beam .
A
sickening crack echoed as her thick, black armor shattered from the
impact.
“ARGH!!
FUCK!! YOU DEVIL!!” she screamed, coughing up blood as she clutched
her side.
From
a distance, Zarius clicked his tongue and cast <b>Blast.</b>
The
ground beneath Krul erupted into a storm of fire and debris.
Despite
being blind, the old man relied on his spatial detection spell to
track the battlefield. He could feel it—Krul had fully unleashed
his second form.
<i>To
think he could wield it even under this much suppression</i><i>…
He truly is a monster.</i>
Krul
emerged from the flames, minor burns searing his side.
Zarius’s
expression twisted in frustration. “You—what are you waiting
for?! Attack him before he kills that girl!” he barked at Drek.
Snapping
out, He charged. Drek aimed for the devil’s
heart, Unfortunately the devil stepped to the side and grabbed his
arm mid strike and drove his sword right into Drek’s shoulder. The
armor shattered almost instantly, the blood sprayed out.
Drek
let out a bloodcurdling scream.
Krul
placed his palm against his gut and unleashed <b>Zor.</b>
A
blinding purple beam tore through the air, blasting the knight square
in the stomach. The sheer force sent him flying, his body launching
violently midair—leaving his arm severed m in the devil’s
grasp.
Even
after coating himself in Aura as a last-ditch defense, the knight’s
internal organs were completely ruptured by the impact.
“Useless.”
Zarius spat as Drek fell unconscious.
<b>Earth</b><b>’s
Cage.</b>
The
old man carved a glyph into the air. The ground beneath Krul
shuddered violently before jagged stone erupted around him, enclosing
him in a massive rock prison.
Layer
upon layer stacked over the cage, reinforcing the trap—stalling the
devil for a few seconds.
“Cast
illusions and disorientation spells!” Zarius barked at Vivy.
For
a brief moment, she stood frozen, dumbfounded.
She
trusted him the most—her bodyguard, her strongest aide—yet he
lost his arm in an instant.
Vivy
had underestimated the devil. Even in his weakened state, he was
still this powerful.
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Snapping
out of her daze, Vivy quickly cast Illusion Smoke and Disorientation
spells.
From
inside the cage, she could feel the ground tremble as Krul bashed the
rock walls with bombardment spells, trying to break free.
“Cast
another cage over him!” Zarius roared at the Magus unit.
Then,
turning to Vivy, he commanded, “You—child.
Use it. NOW.”
Vivy
nodded quickly and reached into her robes, pulling out a relic of her
noble lineage—
Chains
of Submission.
A
relic passed down through the Kolbrone family for generations.
It
was said to be powerful enough to completely suppress one’s
strength and bind the target’s will, placing them under an
inescapable mind-control spell.
The
Chains of Submission appeared like ordinary metal links, but once
activated, they would lash onto the target, sealing them within a
crimson, pyramidal prison.
Despite
its overwhelming power, the relic had a fatal flaw.
However,
it took thirty seconds to fully activate.
And
most importantly—the target had to remain inside the structure for
the spell to take effect.
<b>BOOM.</b>
The
stone cage erupted into debris as Vivy began the activation sequence.
Krul
hovered midair, glaring down at his enemies with a deadly expression.
“You…”
In
a blink, he charged toward the priests.
Thalia,
battered and barely standing, threw herself into his path. Despite
her injuries, she gritted her teeth, tightening her core as she
braced for impact.
Krul
stabbed her through the gut.
The
blade lodged deep, but she clamped her muscles down, trying to trap
the weapon and disarm him.
“Filth,
get out of my way.” His voice was as cold as death itself.
<b>Evil
Blade.</b>
"N—!!"
Thalia
barely had time to react. A burst of dark energy slammed her chest,
sending her soaring into the air.
Before
she could land, Krul appeared above her in an instant, using <b>Speed.</b>
<b>CRACK.</b>
His
strike sent her slamming into the ground, her limbs twisting
unnaturally upon impact. Blood sprayed from the wound in her abdomen.
Krul
didn’t
stop.
In
a blur, he reappeared in front of Wez.
The
priest barely had time to utter a word—
“You
heretic, Z—”
Krul
grabbed his face.
"Die."
<b>Explode.</b>
Wez’s
head burst apart, spraying blood, brain matter, and shattered bone
across the battlefield. His lifeless body collapsed, twitching before
it finally stilled.
The
remaining priests stood paralyzed in horror, staring at the grotesque
remains of their leader.
Krul
turned to them, eyes gleaming with pure malice.
“You
cursed bootlickers of that dog Zaras’th… also die.”
In
an instant, they did.
The
priests exploded into fountains of gore, their bodies reduced into
blood and shredded flesh.
Krul
stood in the center of the carnage, his body drenched in the crimson
rain of his enemies.
The
red shackles around his wrists faded back to their original color.
His
gaze shifted to Zarius.
The
old man stood frozen, sweat beading on his brow as he felt the
devil’s
true terror
“Zarius,
I will send you off nicely this time.”
Vivy
shook violently, paralyzed by the sheer grotesque, destructive power
of the devil. Her hands trembled uncontrollably, gripping the Chains
of Submission so tightly that her knuckles turned white.
She
couldn’t
move.
She
couldn’t
even speak.
The
Ancient Devil’s
presence was suffocating.
Krul
carved a dark glyph into the air.
<b>Death.</b>
“NO!!
I BEG OF YOU, PLEA—” Zarius screamed hysterically.
“Too
late, you dog.” Krul’s voice was cold, absolute. He raised his
hand to activate the glyph.
“Oh?
I think I’m just on time.”
A
amused voice echoed across the battlefield
Krul
froze.
“And
you… Devil. I suggest you don’t activate that, unless you want
this slave boy to lose his head.”
Krul
turned his gaze toward the speaker.
A
young man in full armor stood confidently, his sword’s
edge pressed against Stark’s neck.
A
sinister aura seeped from him, unlike anyone else on the battlefield.
He
reeked of death.
Krul’s
eyes caught Stark trembling, his legs shaking uncontrollably. Sweat
dripped from the boy’s brow, his eyes wide with pure terror.
“Grandmaster
Arlen… Finally, you are here.” Zarius gasped, his shoulders
sagging with relief.
“Arlen…”
Krul murmured, his mind racing.
<i>A
Grandmaster</i><i>…
so young. Did he undergo body reconstruction?</i>
But
speculation didn’t
matter.
Krul
could tell instantly—this man was the strongest one on the
battlefield. Stronger than Zarius.
A
Grandmaster was a kingdom’s
ultimate weapon. A single Grandmaster could level cities, alter
landscapes, and annihilate armies. They were the harbingers of
destruction
And
now, such a monster had come to hunt the Devil of Kastar.
Krul’s
voice was calm.
“Unhand
the child.”
“No.”
Arlen’s reply was flat.
Krul’s
eyes narrowed.
“Do
you want to die?”
Arlen
smiled and pressed the blade harder against Stark’s
throat, drawing a thin line of blood.
“Let’s
test it, then.” His voice was almost amused. “Which is
faster—your attack, or my blade?”
Krul’s
expression remained unreadable, but he could tell Arlen was serious.
There
wasn’t
a single speck of emotion in those scarlet eyes of his.
One
wrong move, and Stark would die.
Silence
stretched between them as they stared each other down.
Then—
Arlen
sighed.
“Man…
let’s make a deal.”
Krul’s
brow lifted slightly. “A deal?”
“You
surrender right now, and I’ll let this child leave the battlefield
alive.”
Krul
said nothing.
Stark’s
sharp voice cut through the battlefield.
“Don’t
listen to them, Teacher!” He yelled.
Arlen
chuckled. “Oh,
what a cute bond.” His smile widened as he turned to Stark. “But
it’s not up to you, slave child.”
His
scarlet eyes locked onto Krul’s
once more.
“So?
What’s your answer, Devil?”
Krul
wiped the blood from his face, eyes cold. “I
don’t trust you. How can I be sure?”
Arlen
smirked. “We’ll
do a Life Pact.”
Krul’s
gaze darkened.
He
knew what that meant.
A
Life Pact was a contract sealed with one’s
very existence. Break it, and death was instant. There was taking
back from a Life Pact.
“Grandmaster
Arlen!!” Zarius interrupted, aghast. “What are you doing? Making
a deal with such filth?”
Arlen’s
voice turned ice-cold.
“Shut
it, Zarius.”
The
old man stiffened, then shrank back.
“Teacher,
don—”
Before
Stark could finish, Arlen’s
hand clamped over his mouth.
Krul
exhaled softly.
“Sorry,
child. I don’t want another regret.” Krul muttered under his
breath.
Then,
he met Arlen’s
gaze.
“I
agree to a Life Pact.”
Arlen’s
face lit up brightly.
“Really?
Nice. Let’s do it<b>.</b><b>”</b>
“I,
Arlen Regia, swear on my life not to harm the slave boy and to let
him leave the battlefield alive and safe.”
A
chain materialized in the air, its twin daggers gleaming. One dagger
shot forward, piercing Arlen’s
chest, wrapping around his heart—the unmistakable mark of a Life
Pact.
“Your
turn, dear Devil.” Arlen smirked.
Krul
glanced at Stark.
Tears
streamed down the boy’s
red-rimmed eyes.
Krul
sighed, looking away.
“I,
Krul Ashborn, swear on my life to surrender and comply with Arlen
Regia’s demands.”
The
second dagger impaled his chest, its chain wrapping around his heart
like a cursed serpent.
Arlen
clapped his hands. “You
did well.”
Then,
with a smile—“Now,
use the Chains of Submission on him. And, Devil, I demand you to stay
still.”
He
released Stark from his grasp and steppedback as Vivy activated the
relic.
The
Chains of Submission enveloped Krul in a pyramidal prison. The air
grew thick with mana suppression, and after thirty seconds, a collar
snapped around his neck, sealing his power.
Krul
tested his strength, but his mana refused to answer. This was unlike
the Anti-Magic barrier. The mana in him was jumbled so badly, he
couldn’t
materialize. It was the effect of the relic.
“A
relic, huh?” he mused.
“What?!
Why isn’t the mind control working?” Vivy gasped.
Krul
shrugged. “Doesn’t
work on me.”
Even
so, his power had been stripped away. With the chains binding him, he
was but a husk of his former self.
Arlen
chuckled. “Good
job, Vivy Kolbrone. You played your part well.”
Then,
turning to Stark—“As
promised, I release the slave boy.”
His
scarlet eyes gleamed coldly. “You’re
free to go, slave boy. No one will stop you.”
Stark
froze.
Krul…
had sacrificed himself. The cold, ruthless Devil… had given up his
life to save Stark’s.
Tears
spilled from the boy’s
eyes.
“Go,
child.” Krul’s voice was gentle. “Live your life.”
Stark’s
lips quivered, but he knew—refusing meant throwing Krul’s
sacrifice away.
With
one last look, he turned and ran.
The
battlefield watched in silence.
“He
finally left.” Arlen smirked.
Zarius
stepped forward, his face twisted in confusion. “Grandmaster
Arlen, what is the meaning of this? Why did you let the boy live?”
“Oh,
Zarius.” Arlen sighed, patting his shoulder. “Poor you… I
didn’t think you’d have to leave the world this early.”
Zarius
blinked. “Huh?
What are you saying?”
Arlen’s
smile widened. “The High Council has determined that <i>Grand
Magus Zarius</i>
is responsible for stalling Project Nyx.”
Zarius
staggered back. “WHAT?!
That’s impossible! Those three were just as responsible as me!”
“Well…”
Arlen tilted his head mockingly. “The Council decided to strip you
of your title… and send you off to the afterlife—safely.”
“No!
WAIT—”
Zarius
never finished his plea.
In
an instant, his body exploded into a million pieces, diced into a mix
of flesh and bone.
Blood
rained down in front of Arlen.
Arlen
sighed with a mocking expression at the cubed remains of the former
Grand Magus. “Oh
dear, didn’t I <i>warn</i>
you not to get on his bad side, little Zarius?”
Silence.
The
others—knights, magus—stood frozen, horrified.
Then
Arlen smiled cruelly. “Ah,
right. I forgot we had an audience.”
Before
anyone could react, they all died.
The
battlefield was wiped clean.
The
knights and Magus collapsed in unison, their bodies shredded apart by
an invisible force. Blood soaked the sand in an instant.
Only
three remained—Vivy, Thalia, and Drek.
Vivy
stumbled back, falling to the ground. Her eyes widened in horror as
her knights’
mutilated corpses surrounded her, the acrid stench of blood and
fluids reached her nose. Breath hitched. Chest heaved. She was
hyperventilating.
Arlen
crouched beside her, his voice soft and gentle
“I
trust you’ll keep this our little secret, Miss Kolbrone?” He
patted her shoulder, smiling coldly.
Vivy
couldn’t
answer. She just stared at him with sweat and tears streaming down
her face.
“Good
girl.” Arlen stood, dusting off his hands. “My unit will be here
soon. Gather your little friends. We leave for the Capital.”
Then,
he turned to Krul.
The
Devil’s
gaze remained nonchalant as Arlen killed his own comrades.
“Oh,
and before I forget.” Arlen leaned in, amusingly. “That Life
Pact? It only guaranteed your little slave
boy
would leave the battlefield safely and that <i>I</i>
wouldn’t
harm him.”
Krul’s
stomach dropped. “…You didn’t—”
Arlen’s
grin widened. “Oh, I did.”
He
laughed.
“I
already sent a knight to finish him off.”
“YOU
FUCKING VERMIN!!!” Krul’s roar shook the battlefield.
Arlen
only laughed harder at his reaction.
The
man wasn’t
just a Grandmaster.
He
was a monster in human skin.