The minions of Marbas began to swarm in, a chilling sound that sent shivers down my spine. How many were there? Dozens? Hundreds? Perhaps even thousands, as all I could see were the black, monstrous forms filling my vision.
Disgusting.
Each creature spewed decay from its mouth like venom, a horde of poisonous insects and snakes. Some even took to the air.
“First, we need to defend.”
Jaesang Lee and the three spirits formed a multi-layered barrier around themselves. A wall of fire, earth, and water—strong enough, in theory, to withstand even a dragon’s breath without a scratch. Yet, the spirits behind the shield trembled with unease. Watching the monsters fill the cave walls, it was hard to envision anything but a bleak future.
As the creatures closed in, Cynthia asked, “What should we do, Contractor?”
But Jaesang had no immediate solution. Should he team up with Rox to unleash a massive attack and sweep them away? No, that was impossible. Using that much mana would leave them defenseless against future assaults. After all, they were dealing with a demon. Marbas could easily summon more of these creatures. If these insects and snakes were mere summons, it would be even more horrifying—they would keep coming until the demon’s mana was exhausted.
‘Trying to outlast Marbas’s mana by wiping out these creatures? I’d collapse long before that.’
Marbas was cunning. Despite having the power to crush them easily, he chose a war of attrition for a guaranteed victory.
A disturbing sound echoed as the creatures slammed their heads against the mana shield, leaking decay. Thud, thud. The barrier, layered as it was, wouldn’t break from such weak attacks. The real threat was the decay magic they released upon death, slowly but surely eating away at the shield.
[Human, how long do you think you can hold out?]
A sneer appeared on the snake’s face as Marbas looked down at Jaesang.
[No one would blame you for compromising in the face of a horrible death. Make a pact with me. Become my servant, and you can continue to live.]
Jaesang didn’t bother to respond. It wasn’t even worth considering.
“Rox, your flames can burn away decay, right?”
“Of course! My flames won’t lose to something like decay.”
“Good. Then…”
As the mana shield thinned, Jaesang cast a wind spell on the ground, carving a magic circle into the earth. Cynthia immediately recognized it.
“You’re going to make Rox a Great Spirit?”
“Yes.”
“But Contractor, can you handle having two Great Spirits?”
Cynthia’s concern was valid. Jaesang didn’t have the mana to sustain two Great Spirits. If the World Tree grew, he could expand his mana reserves, but that was a distant future. However, he didn’t need to make Rox a full Great Spirit to drive out the decay.
“It’ll be a temporary transformation. Just once, to purify this place with powerful flames.”
Light magic was most effective against decay, but intense flames could sometimes consume it even more thoroughly. If Rox could temporarily become a Great Spirit, her immense fire could sweep away these poisonous creatures in an instant. Marbas might summon more minions afterward, but at least they’d have a chance to strike back.
“I’m ready whenever you are!”
Rox was eager.
“Gemut, Cynthia, focus on defense.”
At Jaesang’s command, the two spirits concentrated on fortifying the barrier. Gemut seemed disappointed not to be chosen second, but he didn’t show it. As a Great Spirit, Cynthia repaired the barrier faster than the decay could erode it.
Having successfully performed the spell once before, Jaesang only needed a brief moment.
‘Marbas is overconfident right now.’
The demon had summoned his minions but made no further moves, perhaps hoping Jaesang would despair and make a pact with him. If so, that arrogance was Jaesang’s opening.
“Let’s begin.”
Jaesang channeled mana, and the magic circle and Rox’s hair began to glow. Unlike with Cynthia, the blue mana now burned red with the attribute of fire. The spell unfolded smoothly, and in mere seconds, it would be complete.
That’s why he didn’t notice Marbas’s preparations.
“Con-Contractor?”
Cynthia’s alarmed voice made Jaesang turn. The giant snake was grinning, black mana flowing from its head.
[Did you think I was careless? You’re not the only one with tricks, human.]
Jaesang’s eyes widened in shock. The black mana from the snake spread like a living thing, engulfing everything with malevolent magic. The darkness that began from the snake’s body swallowed its own minions whole.
‘Were the minions just a disposable ploy?’
In hindsight, it was strange. They were numerous but individually weak, easy to withstand for a while. Not what you’d expect from the fifth-ranked demon’s minions.
‘I should have realized.’
Watching the darkness slowly envelop the entire cave, Jaesang bit his lip. Why hadn’t he noticed? Lack of experience. He hadn’t fought demons enough to know what magic they could wield. If he had known, he would have chosen a different approach.
…No, there was no other way.
Jaesang had to admit, as much as it pained him, that he wasn’t strong enough to kill that snake. His anger clouded his judgment, leading to reckless decisions, and this was the result.
The darkness spread, consuming everything one by one. It was like a theme of darkness, an ominous magic no human had ever wielded. As it swallowed the minions, the darkness slowly but surely approached Jaesang and his companions.
The darkness, as if possessing physical force, pressed against the mana barrier, which had withstood so much decay. The barrier shattered in an instant.
”…Everyone, go back.”
Cynthia’s eyes widened at Jaesang’s words. Rox glared angrily, and Gemut bit his lip. But for Jaesang, this was the best option. He couldn’t let his mistake lead to their deaths. Even if it meant they had to endure the pain of losing a contractor again, it was better to live. To live meant there was a future.
‘I’m sorry.’
Jaesang sighed. He had always known a day like this might come. As the spirits’ summons were released one by one, only a thin layer of mana shield remained in front of Jaesang. The darkness mercilessly crushed it.
In the end, Jaesang stood alone before the vast darkness.
‘I can’t let even one more get caught up in this.’
Facing the slowly advancing darkness, Jaesang quickly opened a portal. In the demon realm, the portal was so unstable that its destination was unknown. It seemed it could barely allow one person to escape before closing.
Without hesitation, Jaesang pushed one through. Only then could he feel at ease. At least today, he thought, he should be the only one to die.
‘Damn it. If I knew I’d die like this, I should have just indulged in studying black magic.’
Jaesang chuckled to himself. With no mana shield left, he stood alone before the darkness. The darkness filled the space, and Jaesang’s vision was completely consumed.
After being swallowed by the darkness, Jaesang felt nothing. He couldn’t see anything, not even his own body. All his senses were numb, leaving him with only his thoughts.
‘I should have been more cautious fighting a demon. Was I too reckless?’
Had he been drunk on his own power? No. When he declared he would kill Marbas, he genuinely believed he could. It wasn’t baseless confidence. He had prepared many weapons, including the Great Spirit transformations of Rox and Gemut, and other spells he had developed.
But he couldn’t use any of them. His opponent was Marbas, the fifth-ranked demon of the demon realm. It was only natural that human magic wouldn’t work on him.
’…Wait a minute.’
A sense of unease crept in. Human magic doesn’t work on demons? ‘Why did I think that?’ Why hadn’t he even considered resisting? He had prepared spells but didn’t think to use them, didn’t even struggle before giving up. That wasn’t like him.
But as the unease settled in, ’…Was I overwhelmed?’
Jaesang found himself thinking that. Isn’t it normal to be unable to make sound judgments when paralyzed by fear? After all, he was just a human…
‘That’s strange.’
Even that thought felt off. It was as if his thoughts were being manipulated, drifting only towards negativity.
“Your thoughts will flow strangely.”
A voice suddenly broke through. Even when he turned his head, all he saw was darkness.
“That’s because he made it that way.”
The voice was familiar.
Was it Hana?
But it didn’t have the usual hesitation that Hana’s voice carried.
“Another personality of Hana?”
“That’s right.”
She confirmed it.
“Even you have fallen under the demon’s spell.”
“Spell?”
“Yes, a spell. You’re seeing an illusion right now. And it’s not just that. Your thoughts aren’t your own at the moment.”
Soon, her figure appeared before him.
Black hair and red eyes.
She had Hana’s face, but her entire body emitted a soft glow.
“I don’t mind if you sink into unconsciousness. If that happens, I’ll just take over your consciousness.”
“Take over my consciousness? How is that even possible?”
“Who knows? Maybe the one who created me knows better.”
“Are you talking about Min Haejin?”
“Correct.”
“What did he do to you?”
“Is that really what’s important right now? Are you going to let the spirits die like this?”
She was right.
The priority was to kill Marbas and survive.
Questions could wait.
“Since you seem to understand the situation, I’ll pass on what she said.”
She leaned in closer.
Close enough that he could feel her faint breath, she whispered.
“Wake up, teacher.”
Her voice echoed, gradually fading away.
As her voice receded, so did her image.
In the end, all that remained was an endless, oppressive darkness.
But it was different from before.
“Submit to a demon? Never.”
He couldn’t allow it.
His thoughts kept trying to spiral into negativity.
That he couldn’t win.
That it would be better to just fall asleep.
An unknown voice spewed weak words.
But Jaesang bit his lip.
The faint taste of blood sharpened his mind a little.
“This is an illusion.”
The demon had merely interfered with his mind, blocking his senses.
First, he needed to remember what he had been doing.
“I was turning Rox into a grand spirit.”
Perhaps that was why the demon resorted to such tricks.
If Rox became a grand spirit, the demon might feel threatened.
To a demon that spewed corruption, the flames of a grand spirit would be nothing short of terrifying.
“If Rox becomes a grand spirit, we might be able to kill it.”
He still couldn’t see.
His senses hadn’t returned.
But he remembered exactly what he had been doing.
Even with his senses blocked, it didn’t matter.
He focused on feeling the mana and recalled the magic circle he had been preparing.
He channeled the mana and completed the spell.
It was something he had done countless times, so it wasn’t difficult.
He couldn’t confirm if it was complete, but that didn’t matter either.
He just needed to snap his fingers to activate the magic.
In the darkness, a faint blue light began to flow.
The blue light followed its path, becoming part of the magic.
The theme was set, and the magic activated.
A small flame flickered to life.
His senses were still dull, but he could feel the warmth of the flame.
That small warmth was enough to confirm the magic had worked.
“Phew.”
He had almost lost himself to the demon’s spell.
It wasn’t a pleasant experience, but Jaesang decided to consider it a valuable lesson.
He wouldn’t be swayed by a demon again.
“I can’t see it clearly, but the magic should have worked.”
Jaesang murmured as he gazed at the faintly flickering flame.
“Burn it all down, Rox.”