Episode 495: Return of the Demon Instructor
“This is impossible…!”
Aranius was still frozen, unable to move.
The words that Sabikang had uttered were secrets known only to the demons.
No, even among the demons, only a select few were privy to such knowledge.
It was the kind of information that only a bookworm like himself might know.
Yet Sabikang knew.
He knew about the ancient evil god, Noizerun!
Could it be true that this human had returned from the future?
Had he really reversed the wheel of time?
Was such a thing even possible?
In theory, he knew it was, but he had always thought it was as close to impossible as one could get—no, absolutely impossible.
And yet, this man claimed to have done it?
Could it be because he was human and not a demon?
These thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant, like a lantern flickering in the dark.
It was hard to believe, but it was the only explanation that made sense of everything happening now.
‘If he really has returned from the future…’
What on earth had happened in that future?
Why had he revealed such monumental truths to such a seemingly insignificant human?
In the end, was it he who had created this monstrous being?
His thoughts began to spin, clicking into place like the gears of a well-oiled machine.
‘If that’s the case, this guy is truly dangerous…!’
He had to return to the Black Star and inform the Demon King of this.
Whatever this man had experienced in the future, if he was indeed a true returnee, even the Demon King could not take him lightly.
The claim that he had been beneath this man’s feet was not an empty boast.
‘He knows my full name! That alone gives his words some credibility!’
It was then that Sabikang’s voice cut through the air, cold and sharp.
“First, let’s get rid of this cumbersome thing.”
In the next moment,
Thud!
Bertas lightly tapped the back of Aranius’s neck.
Crack…! Crack, crack…!
It was as if Aranius’s body was cracking, like thin metal shattering.
And then,
Crash!
Light particles exploded outward in all directions.
Simultaneously,
Shing!
Sabikang’s Bertas flashed brilliantly.
“Argh!”
Aranius screamed as his back was torn open, clenching his teeth in pain.
‘Damn it! If this guy is truly a returnee, there’s only one way to take Bertas from him!’
Aranius kicked off the ground and sprinted away.
His gaze was fixed on the distant main hall as he moved swiftly across the roof.
Meanwhile, Sabikang, who was chasing him, looked at the wound on Aranius’s back with a calm, steady gaze.
**
Javelin stared up at the sky, his eyes wide with disbelief.
He no longer blinked. No, he couldn’t blink.
His head had been completely severed from his body.
While his head lay on the ground, his body remained kneeling in the courtyard, riddled with finger-sized holes, as if tiny creatures had devoured him from the inside out.
And standing before Javelin, shoulders heaving, was Jo Muntak.
Small, black spikes whirled around him, and his trembling legs looked as if they might give out at any moment.
“It’s over… finally.”
Jo Muntak turned with a weary smile.
Eun Giryung and the other instructors, including Cheon Saemyung, looked at him with eyes full of admiration.
When everyone was drowning in despair, Jo Muntak had appeared like a miracle and dealt with Javelin.
In truth, he had been an unremarkable student during his academy days.
Who could have predicted he would grow to be so formidable?
The surrounding battles were also nearing their end.
With Javelin’s fall, the monsters lost their coordination and ran amok, while the instructors of Yongcheon Hall calmly used their martial arts to counter them.
As a result, nearly all the monsters were now lifeless corpses strewn about.
Of course, Yongcheon Hall had suffered significant losses as well.
Many students who hadn’t made it to the main hall in time were sacrificed, and a considerable number of instructors had lost their lives.
“You’ve grown remarkably.”
Cheon Saemyung approached with genuine admiration.
At that moment!
Rumble!
The ground behind Cheon Saemyung suddenly erupted.
Jo Muntak tried to rush over, but his body wouldn’t respond.
He had exhausted a tremendous amount of mana using the black hive.
“Instructor!”
Moments later, Jo Muntak realized a shadowy figure was rising behind him as well.
As he tried to turn, a heavy arm wrapped around his neck.
“Ugh!”
Panicked, Jo Muntak sent his spikes flying.
Clang, clang, clang!
The spikes clashed, sparking wildly, but they were useless against the mana-formed golem.
Though shattered stone dust scattered everywhere, the golem continued to choke Jo Muntak without flinching.
Having poured out his last ounce of mana, Jo Muntak hung limp, barely clinging to consciousness.
Not only him, but all the instructors guarding the main gate were captured by the golems, unable to move.
Finally, Aranius descended among them.
He glanced at Javelin’s corpse with a cold, indifferent gaze.
“Tsk, tsk… pathetic…!”
There wasn’t a hint of sympathy in his eyes.
He clicked his tongue as he looked at the instructors captured by the golems.
“You’re as persistent as cockroaches. Destined to die, yet you struggle to the bitter end.”
Just then, Sabikang landed on the opposite side.
“Master…!”
Jo Muntak called out to Sabikang with a regretful expression.
He had followed, hoping to be of help, only to end up as a hostage.
Meanwhile, Aranius smirked coldly and spoke.
“I appreciate you enlightening me. It seems everything you’ve said is true. Otherwise, none of this would make sense.”
“Doesn’t sound like gratitude to me.”
Sabikang replied with a frosty expression, and Aranius shook his head.
“No, it is gratitude. That’s why I’m willing to resolve this here and now.”
“Go ahead, talk all you want.”
Sabikang chuckled, and Aranius grinned in response.
“My purpose here is simple.”
He pointed at Bertas.
Sabikang raised Bertas for him to see.
“You want this?”
“Yes. I was curious how a mere human could wield Bertas without consequence… If you’re a returnee, it might be possible. Truly impressive. I’m glad I came to see for myself.”
Aranius glanced around before continuing.
“I’ll postpone our showdown. But… I need your cooperation. Otherwise…”
He flicked his fingers, and a golem swiftly twisted the neck of an instructor it held hostage.
Crack!
“Ugh!”
The instructor fell with a final cry, never to move again.
Instant death.
“You bastard…!”
Several instructors shouted in anger, but there was nothing they could do.
Aranius shrugged and spoke.
“I don’t need to say more. I’ll count to three. Hand it over, and there will be no more casualties. I promise.”
Sabikang stared at Aranius.
Aranius smirked and began counting.
“One.”
”…”
“Two.”
“Wait.”
Aranius narrowed his eyes as Sabikang slowly raised Bertas.
“If you want it that badly, take it.”
As he finished speaking, Sabikang hurled Bertas.
‘Bertas, feast on the blood you’ve longed for!’
Whoosh!
Bertas sliced through the air like a bullet.
Slash!
Bertas pierced through Javelin’s body, and in that instant, Javelin withered like a dried-up tree.
Caught off guard by Bertas flying at his face, Aranius twisted his body to dodge.
Swish!
Bertas grazed his cheek and soared into the night sky.
Aranius gritted his teeth and glared at Sabikang.
“You’ll pay for this!”
With that, Aranius leaped into the air, chasing after Bertas, and the golems holding the instructors began to crumble.
“I’ll thank you later.”
Sabikang spoke to Eun Giryung before launching himself after Aranius.
**
Zonya, who had been watching a large orb, spoke quietly.
“Aranius and Sabikang had quite the conversation.”
“That’s typical of Aranius. He’s always been talkative. But I’m curious why he didn’t wear the Divine Armor.”
The ‘Divine Armor’ was the name of the flawless armor Aranius had once worn.
The owl connected to the crystal orb had been observing the main hall from afar.
Moving the owl carelessly could sever the connection.
Moreover, Aranius mustn’t notice.
Fortunately, with Aranius returning to the main hall at the last moment, Baritan was able to witness the entire process.
The only downside was that the crystal orb couldn’t transmit their voices.
While it had the advantage of spying from a considerable distance compared to the Observer spell, it came with the drawback of being unable to hear anything.
As a result, he had no idea what conversation transpired between Sabikang and Aranius.
Jonya spoke cautiously.
“So, the Duke Aranius has finally claimed Vertas.”
“Is that what you think?”
Baritan waved his hand, and the image in the crystal orb vanished.
“Isn’t it likely?”
“True, he will claim it. But…”
”…?”
“That Vertas is different somehow. It didn’t always look like that.”
“Does it matter?”
“Who knows… We’ll see how it matters. Now, shall we prepare to greet them?”
A cryptic smile played on Baritan’s lips.
Vrrrr. Vrrrrr…!
Vertas, embedded deep in the rock face, occasionally shuddered and vibrated.
Hovering in mid-air, Aranius swallowed dryly as he gazed at Vertas.
‘Vertas…!’
Demon King Tarant was more furious about not retrieving Vertas than anything else.
If he returned with it, receiving the title of Grand Duke would be just a matter of time.
Vrrrr… Vrrr… Vrrr…!
“Yes, you’ve wandered for so long without finding your master. Now, return to your true owner.”
Aranius reached out with a smile bordering on madness.
Swoosh!
Vertas slid smoothly out of the rock.
Its crimson blade gleamed coldly in the moonlight.
Finally, he bent over, clutching it, and burst into laughter.
“Hahaha!”
Though he had lost his trusted aide, Javelin, he had gained Vertas.
Not a bad trade-off after all.
As he was reveling in his triumph, a voice suddenly cut through from below.
“Enjoying yourself?”
Startled, Aranius looked down to see Sabikang standing with arms crossed, looking up with a smug expression.
‘That time traveler… again!’
In his excitement, he had momentarily forgotten about Sabikang.
Aranius smiled coldly.
“Following me here, you’ve dug your own grave.”
“Yeah, I’ve heard that a few times.”
In an instant, a whirlwind of magic and killing intent surged from Aranius.
Sabikang smirked.
“Didn’t you say you’d leave quietly if you got that?”
Aranius chuckled, a hint of madness in his laughter.
“Ha. I did… But just now… I changed my mind. Heh heh!”
Veins began to bulge along the back of Aranius’s hand.