Morgan was still holding my hand. As his life slipped away, I felt a surge of power flowing into . I had acquired his unique skill: [Eclipse Eye], and without warning, it activated.
This skill granted sight beyond dinsions, allowing to perceive supernatural beings and energies. It also significantly enhanced my control over combat auras. Moreover, it let see the life force within people, distinguishing it from the dark aura of demons. Through this skill, I could now identify demons hiding within humans with ease.
The life energy I saw took the form of a soft golden light, centered in a person’s chest.
I turned my gaze to Morgan. His life energy was faint and flickering—a clear sign that his ti was almost up.
"Be careful of the demons, Naoki... They’ll continue to manipulate humans and do whatever it takes to break the Demon King’s seal," Morgan said with what little strength he had left.
"Naoki... I always thought you’d beco an official hero of Braveheart Kingdom. But I... I won’t be able to see it. It’s a sha... Please, take care of Nyssa for ," he whispered, his voice growing weaker with every word.
"I will honor that wish," I replied firmly. "Nyssa will be under my protection."
"And I will beco the greatest hero and slay the Demon King. Watch over from above, Morgan... No, Instructor Morgan. Now, rest in peace."
With my words, Instructor Morgan took his final breath, a faint smile gracing his face as he passed. Slowly, I reached out and closed his eyes.
Nyssa clung to her father’s lifeless body, sobbing uncontrollably.
"Instructor Morgan was a great father. At least ten tis better than mine ever was. Be proud of him, Nyssa." I tried to console her, though the mory of my own father—a worthless man who abandoned my family for another woman—burned fresh in my mind.
Nyssa only nodded through her tears, still holding onto her father.
The somber mont was shattered by Norx’s enraged scream. Her body was shrinking, reverting to her original form. Her true appearance resembled a small girl, with dark blue skin, glowing red eyes, long black hair cascading to her feet, there is a demon elixir crystal symbol co from her chest, and floating demonic eyes on top of her head, massive demonic wings, and hold two enormous scythes.
I was ready to go all out against her, but I couldn’t let Nyssa and Morgan’s body remain here. The battle would undoubtedly put them in danger.
Using my authority over the [Eternal Nightfall] spell, I activated a teleportation circle beneath Nyssa’s feet, preparing to send her and Morgan’s body back to the Solara Academy’s underground arena.
"Nyssa, I’m sending you back. Tell my friends that you have my protection—that will keep the mobs there from harming you."
Nyssa hesitated, clearly worried about . I reassured her with a soft smile. "Don’t worry. I’ll defeat Norx and co back to you."
The circle activated, and Nyssa vanished with Morgan’s body. Her tearful, worried expression was the last thing I saw before she disappeared.
...
Now, within the spell’s realm of [Eternal Nightfall], it was just and Norx—the Warlord of the Dreaming Void.
"Naoki, if you push yourself any further with Dark Magic, you’ll lose your sanity and fall into Berserk status!" Envi warned, his tone sharp and urgent.
"I have a way to deal with that. Just watch. I’ll unleash everything I’ve got to take this demon down!" I replied, steeling myself.
Norx regained her composure and glared at , her rage palpable. "YOU DAMN HUMAN! I’LL KILL YOU! THEN YOUR FRIENDS, YOUR FAMILY, AND EVERY LAST CITIZEN OF THIS KINGDOM! KUHAHAHAHA!"
Her maniacal laughter filled the air as she launched herself at .
"You’re welco to try," I taunted, aiming my katana at her. "But rember—you’re just a bottom-ranked demon in the Warlords. A parasite clinging to humans. SO DON’T ACT TOUGH! This is where you die!"
"INSOLENT MORTAL!" she shrieked, charging at with her scythes ready.
We clashed relentlessly, her twin scythes colliding with my katana as waves of Dark Magic erupted with each strike.
Suddenly, Norx unleashed a devastating spell.
"KUHAHA! TAKE THIS! [Ultimate Dark Magic: Endless Void Dream]!"
"Naoki! That’s her ultimate magic! Get out of there now!" Envi shouted.
Before I could react, Norx’s spell engulfed everything. The battlefield transford into a surreal realm between reality and illusion—a void of absolute darkness designed to consu everything.
Her magic was overwhelming my [Eternal Nightfall] spell, and before long, the two of us returned to the underground arena.
I quickly surveyed the area with [Eclipse Eye]. Most of the kidnapped students had been evacuated, the match arena on the surface is also empty, but my friends were still here, waiting for .
Lyra and Aisha were tending to Nyssa and Milly, while Sander, Windy, Freya, Luna, Kael, and Marius stood guard. Alia knelt in prayer, her face full of worry.
"RUN! ALL OF YOU!" I shouted, but they were immobilized by the vast range of Norx’s spell.
"KUHAHA! FOOLS! YOU CAN’T ESCAPE! MY ULTIMATE MAGIC WILL PLUNGE YOU INTO NIGHTMARES, DRAIN YOUR SOULS, AND FEED MY POWER! YOU WILL ALL DIE HERE!"
My friends began to collapse, crying out as they fell victim to her spell. Even I was overwheld—visions of my worst fear, Canis in his strongest form, lood before .
"This... can’t be..." I whispered, trembling.
"NAOKI! WAKE UP, YOU IDIOT! YOU’LL DIE LIKE THIS!" Envi shouted desperately.
Just then, warmth enveloped . Soone had wrapped their arms around .
"Naoki... wake up!" It was Alia.
"[High Divine Magic: Aurora Sanctum]!" she intoned, summoning a radiant do of multicolored light. Her magic drove away the darkness, nullifying Norx’s ultimate spell within its range.
The illusions vanished, and clarity returned to my mind.
"Good job, Alia. Now, stay behind . I’ll end this." I gently reassured her. She nodded and retreated to safety behind .
"UGH! DAMN DIVINE MAGIC USERS!" Norx snarled, charging at Alia.
I gave Lyra a subtle signal to use her magic to protect the others. Without hesitation, she conjured a barrier, shielding everyone, including Alia, who stayed close to .
Norx leaped toward us, her scythe swinging wildly in a fury. I imdiately activated [Power of Incarnation].
My katana, now cloaked in a mix of dark energy and shadowy aura, seed almost alive. The blade shimred ominously, exuding an overwhelming presence.
"Feel the power that once defeated Canis! Take this—[Blackmore Katana Style: Yami Gui no Giri, Full Burst]!"
With a swift slash, I unleashed a dark shadowy wave that cleaved through Norx vertically. The devastating attack tore through the underground chamber, cutting into the arena above and stretching into the heavens, leaving a massive chasm.
The dinsional rift created by my strike began to devour everything—Norx’s body, her dark magic, and even fragnts of the shattered chamber.
"YOU WRETCHED HUMAN! YOU MAY HAVE WON TODAY, BUT WHEN THE DEMON KING RISES, THIS WORLD SHALL FALL!" Norx’s voice echoed in defiance, her laughter chilling and maniacal.
"If the demon king breaks free from his seal then I, Naoki von Blackmore, will defeat him!" I said coldly.
Norx looked at in annoyance, and slowly she was swallowed by my skill.
Norx’s Ultimate Magic slowly disappeared from this academy.
[Congratulations! You have defeated Norx the Dreaming Void, Demon Warlords Rank 5th!]
[Your deeds will be immortalized in history!]
[LEVEL UP!]
[LEVEL UP!]
[LEVEL UP!]
[LEVEL UP!]
[LEVEL UP!]
[LEVEL UP!]
[LEVEL UP!]
[LEVEL UP!]
[TRAIT UNLOCKED: PHANTOM EXORCIST]Increases damage against demons and dark elent monsters by 50%.
"You did it, Nao! You protected everyone and leveled up eight tis! That’s insane!" Envi’s voice rang out jubilantly.
I smiled faintly, but my body trembled under the weight of exhaustion and the overuse of dark magic. Looking upward, I saw the evening sky through the newly created opening. It was beautiful—a stark contrast to the devastation below. Thankfully, the grimoire collection along the walls remained intact.
Around , my friends were cheering, their faces brimming with relief and joy. Milly, now fully healed, stood among them with a bright, hopeful expression. Seeing their happiness made all my sacrifices feel worthwhile.
But then—
[WARNING!!! Excessive use of Dark Magic detected!]
[WARNING!!! Abyssal Wrath Mode has exceeded its limit!]
[WARNING!!! You will enter a [Berserk] state and destroy everything in sight!]
"Ah... no..." The notifications blurred my vision, and an overwhelming surge of dark energy erupted from within . My hair turned snow-white, my eyes gleaming violet with an insatiable bloodlust. My fangs grew sharper. I had lost control.
"Damn it, this is the backlash of using too much dark magic! NAO, SNAP OUT OF IT!" Envi’s voice was desperate, but his words couldn’t reach . He tried to take control of my body but couldn’t.
Even as my mind sank into chaos, I could still see my friends. The oppressive aura I exuded caused them to falter, their faces etched with fear and despair.
Milly, Aisha, Lyra, and Freya tried to approach , tears streaming down their faces. Before they could co closer, Alia stepped forward, determination radiating from her.
"That’s enough, Alia. Do what I asked," I thought, my faint consciousness clinging to a shred of hope.
"Lyra, help ! We have to stop Naoki!" Alia’s plea startled Lyra, but she nodded resolutely.
Lyra cast [High Support Magic: Sanctuary], forming a glowing barrier that trapped within. As I thrashed against its walls, Alia began her incantation, pouring all her strength into a powerful spell.
[High Divine Magic: Judgnt Warden]. A celestial prison of radiant energy surrounded , nullifying my dark magic and restricting my movents.
The pain was unbearable, and I roared in anguish. Alia and Lyra wept as they maintained their spells, refusing to give in.
Finally, I collapsed to my knees, silent and motionless. They rushed to , thinking the battle was over.
But then—
[Abyssal Dark Wrath cannot be suppressed!]
I erupted again, this ti with even more devastating force. My friends were thrown back, struggling to withstand the surge of malevolence. One by one, they tried to hold back. Sander, Windy, Luna, Kael, and Marius all gave everything they had, but I sent them sprawling with ease.
Only Freya stood between and Alia and Lyra, her shattered sword trembling in her hands.
"Stop this, Naoki-dono..." she whispered before I struck her down.
As I raised my katana, ready to deliver the final blow to Alia, Lyra, and Freya, voices rang out.
"NAOKI, WAKE UP!" Alia scread, her voice cracking.
"Naoki-sama... please!" Lyra sobbed.
"Stupid big bro, STOP IT!" Milly’s horrified scream cut through the chaos, I also saw Aisha crying next to her.
Their voices all knocked on the door of my heart and broke through the madness that clouded my mind.
In that mont, my consciousness surged back. I seized control of my body and drove my katana into my own stomach.
Blood spilled as I stumbled back, the pain grounding . They all seed to be screaming seeing my actions, trying to approach .
...
...
"I won’t hurt you all... Stay away from ..." I shouted hoarsely, distancing myself from them.
As despair threatened to consu again, a voice echoed in my mind. It was ancient and commanding.
"Calm yourself, kid. I will help you to master this power."
From the shadows of the arena, a black grimoire descended, its pages glowing faintly. I felt a resonance with it, as though it was an extension of my soul.
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