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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Yuziro
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“Interesting- is that the ‘Singularity’-?” Espina, the Archbishop of Sloth, lay prone on her floating bed, peering down with half-closed eyes.
Below, the “Singularity,” the subject of the Heretics’ interest, and the “result” of her research clashed in a fierce battle.
However, since the Singularity’s grotesque transformation, the result had been taking a beating, likely to be completely destroyed if left alone.
“At this rate… I’ll have to intervene- though it’s a bit bothersome-”
While the research had begun long ago, it was the support she received after becoming the Archbishop of Sloth that allowed her to achieve these results.
It was no longer solely her research.
Not that she would have abandoned it easily regardless…
“Still, I’ll observe a little longer-”
With each movement of the Singularity, the aura surrounding it pulsed. Its appearance was far from human. The aura, darker than black, seemed to absorb even light. It felt like what she imagined a “Devil” to be.
Espina felt herself torn between curiosity and a sense of danger.
The Singularity’s gaze was slowly shifting towards her. It hadn’t pinpointed her location yet, but it was only a matter of time.
“Pride had her reasons for being so expectant-”
The image of the Archbishop of Pride, with her irritatingly smug smile, flashed through Espina’s mind.
She had accidentally shattered her crystal ball after seeing Pride’s flushed face. What kind of man could turn that disgusting woman into such a lovesick fool?
She was dying to know.
Was this intense, life-risking curiosity the fate of all researchers? Espina decided to observe more cautiously.
“Show me- your specialness-”
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“My ear’s itching. And my face feels hot…” I scratched my ear after bisecting the demon with Bloodstorm.
Whimper…
The demon whimpered, its regeneration significantly slower. A few more strikes would likely obliterate it, but…
“I wonder if that thing up there is just watching.”
I had sensed a presence for a while, but couldn’t locate its source.
Anyone capable of eluding a Master’s senses was likely an Archbishop. Why did I always attract these kinds of people?
“I wonder how long they’ll stay put.”
I was nearing my limit.
The Blood Demon Body combined the traits of every race I could access.
I might even be able to defeat my master in this state, but every enhancement had its drawbacks.
Maintaining the Blood Demon Body for too long would eventually break my sanity.
It was a last resort, but seeing Ariana lying there, seemingly lifeless, had erased all reason.
“You shouldn’t have touched my people.”
Perhaps due to being repeatedly disintegrated, the red glow in the demon’s eyes flickered. Did even a mindless beast know fear? To an outsider, we probably looked like monsters.
“Let’s finish this.” I didn’t want anyone else to see me like this.
Screech! As if sensing my intent, the demon charged. But it lacked the blinding speed it had used against Ariana. I could hit it with my eyes closed.
Secret Technique: Evil Annihilation. Usable only in the Blood Demon Body state, it was a technique developed to eradicate Magi. It should be enough for a demon.
I masked my presence with the stealth of the Shadow Serpent Tribe, channeled the agility of the Snow Mountain Cliff Thunderbird and the brute strength of the Azure Forest Giant into the spear’s tip, and grounded myself with the steadfastness of the Rock Swamp Lizard.
All that remained was to wait for the right moment.
Screech!
I thrust Bloodstorm into the charging demon’s face.
Silence.
Then, a deafening roar and an explosion.
The already ravaged earth screamed.
The surrounding vegetation vanished in a flash of dark light.
A mushroom cloud, reminiscent of a nuclear detonation, dispersed, leaving only me, holding the broken Bloodstorm, and a suspicious woman in a black dress.
She was the Archbishop who had been watching me. Long, straight black hair, dark, empty eyes, and pale skin.
Her elegant appearance contrasted sharply with the stench of blood and Magi emanating from her.
She frowned. “You almost lost my precious result.”
I glanced down.
Black thorns, laced with Magi, had shielded the demon. Only half of its face remained. It had been a close call.
Left alone, it would soon perish.
The Archbishop knew this, her eyes burning with murderous intent.
“Why don’t we stop here? You’re pretty banged up, and that strange technique of yours has worn off.”
I realized the Blood Demon Body had deactivated. Pain and exhaustion washed over me. I fought to hide my weakened state.
“Or should we see this through to the end? If we part ways now, your life will be in danger next time.” I forced a smile, looking at the Archbishop and the demon.
“True… it seems like this might be my only chance to kill you…” She paused, then shook her head. “I’ll withdraw. After all… you’d sacrifice your life to kill this, if I attacked, wouldn’t you?”
My gamble had paid off. An Archbishop wouldn’t risk her precious “result” for my life.
“Damn… I was read like a book.”
I swallowed, the pain making me salivate.
Now that I had a moment to think, the demon bothered me more than the Archbishop. I was a valuable asset.
A demon important enough to warrant foregoing the chance to eliminate a hostile Master…
“Don’t tell me… that thing can become a Devil?”
The Archbishop hummed in response. “You can look forward to it. We’ll meet again soon.”
Magi enveloped the Archbishop and the demon.
“Until next time-”
I seized the opportunity, gathering my remaining aura and throwing Bloodstorm.
The Archbishop reacted, manipulating the Magi, but it wasn’t enough to stop Bloodstorm, a branch of the World Tree, imbued with holy water. Even an Archbishop couldn’t deflect it unprepared.
“Aagh!”
The spear, aimed for her head, was deflected by the Magi and struck her chest. Blood sprayed into the air, a fitting end for a weapon called Bloodstorm.
“You… bastard-!”
I twisted away from her attack, but my body, drained from the previous assault, wouldn’t cooperate.
“Ugh…!” A sharp pain pierced my side.
“Next time, I’ll tear your face off! I swear!!!” Unable to cancel the already activated magic, the Archbishop screamed her resentment as she was pulled into the darkness.
I breathed deeply as her Magi dissipated. “Damn… who are you to talk, you bitch…”
The aftermath wasn’t pretty, but I had done my duty as a professor. The memory of her contorted face brought a grim smile to my lips.
And a renewed determination to grow stronger. If I had been more powerful, Ariana wouldn’t have been hurt. It was a pessimistic thought, but I couldn’t shake it.
“Sigh… I thought I could live peacefully after the war.” It seemed my peaceful retirement was impossible until I eradicated these damned heretics. How could I become stronger?
The thought made me dizzy, and my strength gave way.
“Professor?!”
A soft sensation met the back of my head as I collapsed. A familiar voice seemed to call out, but I was too disoriented to focus.
“Sena…! Hurry…!”
I surrendered to the soft, bed-like cushion, closing my eyes.
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“What in the world…”
Hines stared at the scene in disbelief. The ground was stained crimson with blood and Magi. The vegetation was mangled, as if devoured.
And Allen lay lifeless in Amy’s arms.
His body was covered in wounds, the one on his side so deep that his organs were visible. Miraculously, the Magi remained contained within the wound, preventing his immediate death.
“
”
Sena’s exhausted divine magic slowly began to mend Allen’s wounds.
“Please…” Blood trickled from Sena’s nose, a sign that her mental strength was at its limit, chipping away at her lifespan.
But Hines couldn’t stop her. It was the first time he had seen the usually optimistic Sena pray so desperately.
“How did things come to this…?” He looked up at the sky in despair.
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Just thirty minutes earlier, he had been optimistic. Professor Cain had returned with the remaining students, all exhausted but safe.
“Rest well. You’ve worked hard,” he had said, guiding them to their quarters and allowing Cain to rest.
Then he realized a few were still missing: Amy, Sena, Ariana, Lux… and Allen.
“They’ll be fine…” he had murmured, stroking his beard.
Just then, three of them had appeared. Sena, weeping and casting healing magic, Amy, desperately looking towards something, and Ariana, unconscious with a grievous wound on her abdomen.
“What… what happened?!”
Despite his shock, Hines acted quickly, consuming a magic potion.
“
”
Crack!
The high-purity magic stone embedded in his staff shattered as the spell activated. Blood trickled from his lips.
Casting another transcendental spell while already maintaining one was impossible. He lacked both the magic and the mental fortitude.
He had used the potion and the magic stone to supplement his depleted magic, and borrowed from his lifespan to bolster his willpower.
Thanks to his efforts, Ariana’s wound stabilized.
“It’s… alright now. If we can get her back to the mainland without disturbing her, she’ll live,” Sena had said.
A Saintess could heal any wound. Even internal injuries were no match for their power. The reason Sena couldn’t heal Ariana was the Magi festering in the wound.
“What happened? What kind of enemy did you encounter…?” Hines had asked, grimacing at the potent Magi.
“We have to save Professor Allen!” Lux’s sharp voice cut through Sena’s mumbled reply.
Hines looked at the Imperial Princess, surprised by her sudden appearance. “What is it?”
“There’s no time to explain. We have to move. First…” Lux fumbled through her pockets.
“That’s the Imperial…”
Hines’s eyes widened as he saw the orb bearing the Imperial crest.
“Why didn’t you use this sooner…! You idiot…!”
Ignoring him, Lux slammed the orb onto the ground.
Whoosh!
Smoke, sparkling with gold flecks, shot into the air, then spread sideways as if blocked by something.
“What?!” Lux exclaimed.
“My magic,” Hines explained quickly. “Preventing external intrusion is the top priority, but it also blocks magic emanating outwards…”
“Dispel it. Now.”
“But it’s too dangerous to lower the barrier in this situation.”
“Just dispel it!” Lux grabbed Hines by the collar, her eyes bloodshot. “It’s a tool to summon Imperial reinforcements… dispel it. And go save Allen. If he dies, I won’t forgive anyone.”
What had happened to make the Princess so fixated on Allen? Overpowered by her unexpected strength, Hines dispelled the magic.
Lux released him, watching the smoke dissipate.
Hines sighed, feeling his magic return. Before he could catch his breath, two students lunged at him.
“We have to save Allen!”
“We have to save Professor…!”
Lux and Amy’s combined assault left Hines reeling.
“C-calm down! Both of you!”
As the sun began to rise, chaos reigned.
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