In the dark cave, a massive bed quietly stood guard.
On the luxurious bed, which didn’t match the surrounding environment, a woman slept soundly.
Her breathing was so faint it seemed she might be dead.
Kuuuung-
“…”
The loud noise from outside the cave made the woman open her eyes.
Her blood-red irises were filled with irritation.
“What the f*ck is this s**t now?”
Her name was Esphina Ferreira.
Once known worldwide as the Thorn Princess, a notorious criminal,
she’s currently the High Priestess of Sloth.
“Ahhh…is it already time?”
Esphina glanced at the empty space beside her in the dim cave.
There lay a shattered egg.
Whatever had broken out of it was already gone.
“Hmmmm… quite an interesting result.”
As Esphina began whistling casually, demonic energy started flowing from her body.
The bed absorbing the overflowing energy floated gently into the air.
“Will it come out…?”
With an intrigued expression, Esphina watched as the fancy bed flew up into the dark night sky.
***
“Huff…”
I took a deep breath to calm my emotions.
I nearly lost one of my precious students – it shook me to the core.
“Mu, wasn’t that reckless…?”
Concern filled Ariana’s voice. I quickly composed my expression.
“This is nothing. Rather, are you hurt anywhere?”
Only now did I notice how tattered her owl robe had become.
“Mm, thanks to Senna.”
Indeed, despite the state of her clothes, there were no visible wounds.
To heal injuries from a demon beast so cleanly – impressive work for a Holy Maiden.
“That’s good. Great job, Senna.”
Quickly scanning Senna and Lux, they seemed fine aside from some dirt.
Thanks to Ariana’s protection, it seems.
“Woo!”
“…Why?”
Senna, who had gotten right in my face, puffed out her cheeks.
She grabbed my hesitating hand and placed it on top of her head while saying:
“I want praise too! Lots of it!”
“Did her brain get corrupted by demonic energy or something?”
“Stop complaining and pet me already! Why do you discriminate against me but not Ariana?!”
Well… though I shouldn’t talk since I started it, isn’t it usually true women don’t like their heads touched?
But her intense gaze left me without the courage to say so.
Reluctantly stroking her hair, Senna grinned broadly like an overly energetic retriever.
“…”
A strong gaze from beside made me turn – Lux was staring intently at my hand.
“Could it be…you too…?”
Lux calmly approached and tilted her head forward without expression.
Though hard to tell from her usual blank face, she seemed to be asking for the same treatment.
So I moved my remaining hand to stroke her silver moonlit hair.
“…”
Even while looking exhausted, Lux managed a faint smile.
This one… more like a cat?
After sufficiently petting both, I pointed to the taxi Amy had arrived in.
“Get in first. It’s dangerous here, we need to move to the safe zone.”
“Wow… how did you tame such a thing?”
Ariana asked curiously.
Is it really that rare?
Ah, seeing a wolf big enough to carry several people probably isn’t common.
“There’s always a way. I’ll get on last…”
At that moment, goosebumps ran down my neck.
The familiar sensation of mortal danger from the battlefield.
When your body needs to react before your mind, I twisted mine accordingly.
“!”
An attack powerful enough to pierce my robe came flying.
Simultaneously evading and pinpointing the enemy’s location,
a scream pierced my ears.
“Ariana!!!”
Turning toward the scream,
“…”
I saw Ariana bleeding from her abdomen.
“Aaah! What should we do, Professor!”
It was clearly a serious wound.
“Stay calm! You’re the Holy Maiden! Divine Magic!! Hurry up!!!”
Though only about the size of an adult’s fist…
It was far too large a wound for Ariana’s slim frame.
“J-Ju… If I die… can’t die… Ariana… Zebal…!”
Senna’s divine magic illuminated the area, making Ariana’s injury even more apparent.
Despite having seen this countless times…
“Kiik! Kiik!”
Shifting my gaze to the unpleasant sound, I met the eyes of a creature about the size of a child.
Resembling a monkey, its face was covered in demonic energy, black except for glowing red eyes and mouth.
“Kiik? Kiik kiik!”
The creature stared straight into my eyes then grinned wickedly.
A beast capable of understanding my condition and expressing emotion.
Definitely not just a demon beast.
“Kill… Kiik…”
Capable of basic communication and emitting such a steady stream of demonic energy.
This was no ordinary demon beast.
It was a true monstrosity.
One fully summoned into our world.
But so what?
“This damn brat…”
Daring to attack my student.
Whether monster, devil, high priest, or demon king – irrelevant.
“Let’s grind you into powder.”
[Divine Power: Forced Harmony]
Hyunwon Ilgi Gong
The energy of tyranny surged through my entire body.
Gripping my fist, dark energy shot out like lightning.
Just as I was about to move,
“Vanguards must always remain calm.”
A tearful voice reached my ears.
Turning with sunken eyes, I saw Lux shedding a single tear.
“Professor wouldn’t break his principles… right?”
The always cool and composed Lux was trembling slightly.
Not just her.
The pale-faced Amy and Senna desperately casting divine magic on Ariana all trembled with fear.
“…”
It wasn’t the mysterious monstrosity.
My own rage-driven loss of control was
instilling fear in my precious students.
“…Got it.”
It felt like being drenched in water colder than the northern gale.
I am not a monster.
I must always present a reliable figure to my students.
That is the role of a teacher.
“Don’t worry. This will end quickly. And Ariana absolutely won’t die.”
From my pocket, I pulled out three short rods – “Blood Wind” used previously against Alba.
Chulgeuk-
While assembling them into a spear, the creature didn’t move.
Out of caution? Or fear?
Either way, time to find out.
“No time to play around. Full power from the start…”
The moment I stepped forward, I had already positioned myself behind it.
“Kiik?!”
“Let me put you out of your misery.”
Blood Wind pierced through its shoulder.
Aiming for the head, but it reacted in time.
“Kiik! Kill you!”
Swinging its fist, the small creature delivered an attack disproportionate to its size, forcing me to step back.
Regaining my stance, I immediately charged again.
This time piercing its leg.
Ignoring my attacks completely, it spun around and kicked.
Despite the torn foot, it continued attacking aggressively.
I maintained distance instead of countering.
“Kiik!”
The damaged foot instantly regenerated.
Naturally expected.
Even normal demon beasts possess strong regenerative abilities, let alone monstrosities that can easily restore their bodies.
What puzzled me was how its body was gradually growing larger.
“Allen! Die!”
Its language ability was improving as well.
At this point, I confirmed my suspicions.
“You’re growing.”
A growing monstrosity.
An unprecedented existence beyond comprehension in my knowledge base…
Yet undeniable when right before my eyes.
“Kiik? Kiik!”
If it could potentially evolve into a devil, it must be eliminated here no matter what.
“Kiikkkk!”
Tired of waiting, the creature charged.
Taking its stronger attacks while moving, I called out to Amy.
“Amy! Retreat to the safe zone!”
“Yes, yes?! No way!”
Damn, no time for this.
I looked for openings between its relentless attacks.
Hyunwon Bungju
“Kiik?!”
Kwaang!
Caught off guard by the surprise attack, half of the monstrosity’s body flew off.
Seemed it reacted in time.
My goal was simply to buy some time, so I immediately created distance.
“Listen carefully. That monstrosity is still growing. It must be destroyed here.”
Quickly removing my robe, I draped it over Ariana.
This would allow teleportation.
Realizing the meaning of my actions, the three girls’ eyes widened.
“Pr-Professor?”
“Take care of Ariana and retreat to safety. Inform the Headmaster.”
“But…”
“No excuses!”
My firm shout made Amy’s eyes widen in surprise.
I took a deep breath to calm my emotions.
“You know requesting reinforcements is the best course of action, right? Top student.”
“…”
“If you don’t want your professor to die, go now!”
Pushing the hesitant Amy and Senna was none other than Lux.
[Light Magic: Radiant Spear of Glory]
“…”
“Lux?!”
She had forcibly ejected the two using magic at close range.
Surrounded by an opaque sphere, Amy and Senna looked bewildered at Lux before being
teleported to the safe zone.
“We have to survive.”
“Of course.”
Lux, who had been staring directly into my eyes, turned away and teleported away with Ariana.
Finally able to sigh in relief, a voice from behind reached my ears.
“Kiik… gonna die anyway.”
“Words have consequences…”
“Nah.”
You’re right.
You’re going to die anyway.
Just not you.
“Kiik?”
Holding up Blood Wind toward the tilting its head in confusion,
“Let me leave a mark worth remembering even in death.”
A battlefield with no allies.
The most familiar scenery and situation to me.
And also
The perfect scenario to unleash my full potential.
“Kiikikik… kill you!”
With clearly increased speed, the monstrosity charged.
Watching it approach, I quietly muttered.
[Divine Power: Forced Harmony]
Blood Demon Body
Sinister energy surged.
Reptilian scales covered my left arm,
deep green skin spread across my right,
and various characteristics of different races infused my entire body.
And then…
“You’re the one dying.”
Vertically slit pupils glared at the monstrosity.
An army of one on the battlefield.
The scene most familiar to me.
The situation where I can truly unleash my full strength.
