Meanwhile, back at the academy, Flora patrolled the garden maze where Arthur and Elaine had stumbled into on their very first day.
"Strange… I tightened the academy’s barrier even further, yet I can still feel a faint demonic residue bleeding through," Flora muttered. She walked slowly, meticulously double-checking every corner for anything she might have missed.
Her tracking came to a sudden halt when she discovered a cluster of dead flies lying in a secluded corner of the maze.
Tilting her head, she crouched down to examine them. She gently picked one up, noticing a microscopic droplet of dark liquid sitting neatly on its back.
Her eyes widened in realization.
No… Is that how Beelzebub smuggled his minions inside without triggering the barrier? she thought, her grip tightening. That must be why I caught his signature so quickly days ago—his corrupted demon blood is actively leaking traces into the environment.
Dropping the fly, she stood up. The moment the click of her brown heels left the ground, small, emerald vines emerged from the ground, wrapping tightly around the dead insects and dragging them deep into the soil to be dissolved.
I have to report this to the Headmistress immediately, Flora thought, turning on her heel and moving swiftly out of the maze.
Back in the stadium, Alice quietly observed James, who was leaking malicious power while clutching his head in agony.
Suddenly, a timid, feminine voice echoed in her mind—a telepathic transmission that only Alice could hear.
“Headmistress! Do you hear me?”
Alice focused her thoughts to respond. “What is it, Flora?”
“Headmistress, I apologize for not realizing this sooner,” Flora said apologetically. “The reason Beelzebub could sneak his minions inside and bypass our magic barrier was because of his demon blood. He used ordinary flies to carry the contaminated droplets into the garden maze, planting them there to ambush Arthur on his first day.”
Alice clicked her tongue. “Good work, Flora. Don’t apologize. None of us, even as high-ranking mages, figured it out until now. Don't forget, we are dealing with Demon Lords.”
Alice paused, looking down at the crackling black energy surrounding the prince. “Flora, do you know how much demon blood a Demon Lord would need to manifest themselves inside a fortified magic barrier? For example, the magic barrier of the Sideropyr kingdom.”
“Based on the residue I found in the maze, a few drops are enough to summon a horde of lesser demons,” Flora responded. “I estimate that just one or two small vials filled with concentrated demon blood would be enough for a Demon Lord to manifest themselves directly inside a fortified barrier.”
Alice’s eyes suddenly landed on the two small, broken vials lying on the sand near James’s leg.
But before she could telepathically warn Arthur, James let out an agonizing scream. A thick, dark sludge erupted from his mouth, pooling onto the dirt beside him just before the prince collapsed into unconsciousness.
The dark sludge gradually began to expand, rising into a towering, pitch-black silhouette that cast a long shadow over Arthur. The shadow solidified until Asmodeus’s true form manifested right in the center of the arena.
Asmodeus smiled down at him. “Hello, Arthur~”
She walked slowly toward him, her massive demonic frame shifting and shrinking until she was the size of an ordinary adult woman.
“It’s nice to finally meet you in person. I’ve heard so many stories about you from the other Demon Lords,” she added, her voice dripping with artificial warmth.
“Who are you?” Arthur asked, immediately dropping into a combat stance.
“Such a hostile welcome, Arthur. That’s no way to greet a lady, you know?” she chided before letting out a soft laugh.
“Oh? Where are my manners?” She offered a slow, elegant curtsy before straightening back up. “I am Asmodeus, the Sin of Lust, one of the commanders of Hell, and the right hand of Lucifer.”
Arthur shook his head, completely unfazed. “I take it you’re not here as a tourist?”
Asmodeus laughed again. “Silly Arthur~” She swayed slightly, her playful eyes locking onto his. “I’m here to ensure you don’t interfere with our hunt for the Omniscient Codex.”
“Omniscient Codex?” he asked.
“Yes. It is an extremely important artifact,” she replied, her smile widening. “One that contains everything there is to know in all of existence.”
A man and a woman suddenly appeared in the royal stands, kneeling instantly in front of the sovereigns. The man had dark hair and green eyes, while the woman possessed neon blue hair and ocean eyes. Both wore deep red cloaks with the hoods pulled back to reveal their faces.
“Your Majesty—” the man started, but he was cut off without warning.
“Connor…? Matilda…? What the hell is happening!?” King Blackwood demanded, his voice echoing over the mounting chaos. “Why in the world is there a demon inside my arena!?”
“We are still investigating, Your Majesty. We still don’t know how a demon managed to bypass our magic barrier,” Matilda replied rapidly.
“Then do it!” King Blackwood shouted. He cast a disgusted glare at James’s unconscious form, clicking his tongue in rage before muttering, “Useless brat.”
“We have to get you all to safety first, Your Majesty. That is our top priority,” Matilda responded.
King Sinclair and the rest of the royals stood up in unison. “We have to evacuate, now.”
King Blackwood scoffed before turning to follow Matilda. The rest of the royals followed closely behind, rushing toward the staircase, while Connor dove straight over the edge into the center of the arena, moving swiftly toward James’s body.
Up in the stands, the entire crowd suddenly erupted into absolute panic, making a frantic run for the narrow exits.
“How did a demon get inside here!?” someone screamed.
“I don’t know! Just run!” another voice shrieked.
Frederick and Owen froze in place, completely paralyzed as the rest of the crowd trampled past them in a blind frenzy.
Before Alice could leap down to intervene, Asmodeus suddenly shifted her gaze directly toward the Headmistress and smirked.
Asmodeus chuckled softly. “Unlike Ba’al, who is far too proud and arrogant, and Beelzebub, who has a microscopic brain, I didn't come here empty-handed or without a plan.”
She snapped her fingers. Within the blink of an eye, dozens of demons of various sizes erupted onto the sands—lesser fiends, muscle-bound brutes, and spell-casting horrors. Without a moment's hesitation, the horde leaped straight toward the grandstands, targeting the fleeing royals and nobles.
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“No!” Arthur roared. He turned toward the stands, his muscles tensing as he prepared to launch himself into the crowd to intercept them, but Asmodeus’s voice instantly halted his momentum.
“Not so fast, Arthur~” she cooed. “Let your companions entertain my minions while you play with me.”
Arthur shot a frantic gaze across the arena toward Alice. The Headmistress met his eyes, giving him a firm, quiet nod.
“Go, Arthur. I’ll handle these demons,” Alice’s voice echoed directly into his mind.
Arthur gave a single nod in return. Thank you, Aunt Alice. Leave the rest to me.
The moment he turned his attention back to Asmodeus, the Demon Lord violently whirled her hand. A massive, pitch-black dome materialized out of nowhere, engulfing the two of them in an instant before they vanished into thin air.
The moment the two vanished, Alice closed her eyes. Blocking out the deafening roar of the crowd, she visualized the entire arena—mapping the exact locations of every royal, noble, and lurking demon.
When her eyes snapped open, they blazed a bright, neon purple. Her hands moved in a flurry of sharp gestures, instantly conjuring neon-purple forcefields that engulfed every single royal and noble in the stadium.
King Blackwood jumped back, startled. “What the hell is this, Matilda!?”
Matilda poked the translucent barrier, a smirk playing on her lips. Big Sister Alice is the only one who could possibly cast this many high-tier forcefields at once, she thought.
“Don’t worry, Your Majesty. Another high-ranking mage is protecting us,” Matilda responded smoothly.
The moment the words left her mouth, dozens upon dozens of portals ruptured open directly beneath the encased spectators, swallowing them whole. Demons lunged from the shadows, desperately scratching, slashing, and blasting spells against the barriers, but the magic wouldn't crack. One by one, the nobles descended into safety, and the portals snapped shut behind them.
Alice breathed a sigh of relief. Standing at the top of the stadium, she looked down at the arena floor. Dozens of stranded demons stood completely dumbfounded, their gazes shifting toward her, Connor, and Matilda as she emerged from the staircase.
Alice leaped toward James's unconscious body, landing gracefully on her heels. Crouching down, she pressed her index finger against his neck to check for a pulse.
“Big Sister Alice…” Connor muttered anxiously.
“There’s no time. Can you extract the demon blood from his body?” she asked.
Connor nodded frantically. “Yes! I’ll do my best!”
Kneeling beside James, he placed his right hand over the prince's head and closed his eyes, a vibrant green light erupting from his palm.
The demon horde immediately roared and charged toward them, but Alice swiftly erected a shimmering forcefield to shield Connor and the unconscious prince. Stepping outside the barrier, she closed her eyes and wove her hands through a series of intricate gestures. Just as the monsters closed the distance, thousands of burning meteors suddenly rained down from above. The catastrophic bombardment crushed the frontline of the horde instantly, causing the entire stadium to shake violently under the impact.
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As the massive rocks dissipated moments later, a line of spell-casting demons emerged from the dust, unleashing a barrage of elemental magic straight at Alice. But before the spells could reach her, Matilda plummeted into the center of the arena. With a flick of her wrist, she manifested a towering wall of water that resembled a massive tsunami, violently swallowing the remaining horde and crushing them under intense water pressure.
But the moment that frontline was wiped out, several dozen more demons materialized, charging straight toward them without a second thought.
Alice chuckled softly. “It seems they plan on keeping us distracted for a while.”
Matilda looked at Alice, her eyes full of adoration. “I’m just glad to be fighting by your side again, Big Sister Alice!”
Alice smiled, though her eyes remained locked on the threat ahead. “I’m glad to see you too, Matilda. But let’s focus on these monsters first. We can catch up later.”
“Of course!” Matilda nodded, tightening her stance.
Side by side, the two mages braced themselves as the demonic army continued to flood the arena, arriving wave after relentless wave until the sands were completely obscured by the black tide.
Meanwhile, Arthur floated weightlessly in a pitch-black void.
Where am I…? he thought, trying to ground himself.
He attempted to open his eyes, but his eyelids felt like lead. His entire body was completely paralyzed, trapped in a heavy numbness. Am I dreaming…?
A few moments later, the paralysis snapped. His eyes flew open, only to be instantly blinded by the horrific sight of a burning village. Crimson flames roared into the night sky as desperate people ran and screamed, chased down by snarling demons that tore them apart the moment they caught up.
What… What is happening?!
Horrified, he looked down at his own hands, only to freeze. He was trapped inside the tiny body of a child. His small, trembling fingers were tightly clutching a worn teddy bear.
What is this…? Where am I?
He looked around in a daze of utter confusion, his mind spinning as the world collapsed into absolute chaos. Then, a sickening jolt of recognition hit him. This is… this is my old village.
Screams of terror and moans of agony filled the air. One by one, the familiar faces of the villagers were brutally torn to shreds or blasted into ash by the surrounding demonic army, leaving nowhere left to run.
No! Stop it! he screamed internally.
He desperately tried to open his mouth to shout, but he couldn't force out a single syllable. It felt as if all the oxygen had been violently sucked from his lungs, leaving him completely suffocated by his own helplessness.
Stop! Stop hurting them!
But his silent pleas did nothing to stop the slaughter. The chaos raged on until, one by one, the screams and agonized moans finally died away, leaving the village in total, suffocating silence.
Everything was gone. The only things left of his childhood home were burning rubble, rotting trees, shattered wells, and the overwhelming, metallic stench of blood rising from the mangled corpses strewn across the earth. The demons had vanished, leaving nothing but a graveyard behind.
Then, a soft, chillingly feminine voice sliced through the absolute silence.
“Why did you just stand there and watch them die, Arthur? You could have saved them.”
Arthur shook his head in frantic disbelief, his heart hammering against his ribs.
“Why aren’t you answering me? Cat got your tongue?" the voice purred, mocking his silence. "Or did you actually enjoy watching them die?”
The horrific memory shattered. The world dissolved back into a pitch-black void, leaving Arthur floating weightlessly in the suffocating dark once again.
“You know it, don't you?” the voice whispered, tracing the contours of his mind. “It was entirely your fault that your village was attacked.”
Arthur's body remained completely locked, paralyzed by the darkness. He couldn't scream, managing only to let out a small, pathetic whimper.
“If you had never been born, your beautiful little village would still be standing,” the voice continued, dripping with mock sympathy.
Beneath his closed eyelids, Arthur’s eyes strained. His fists balled up so tightly his knuckles turned white.
“Your mother would still be alive... and your father would have lived a long, happy life. But look at him now. He is a broken, crippled old man, and it is all because of you.”
A single, burning tear slipped from Arthur’s tightly shut left eye, cutting a path through the darkness.
Suddenly, a blinding flash of white light shattered the darkness. Arthur winced as the glare subsided, but the sight waiting for him on the other side made his blood run cold.
No… No… No… This is just an illusion. It has to be, he told himself frantically. Yet, his eyes widened in sheer, paralyzing disbelief.
Before him lay the ruins of the Phoenix Academy. The structures were crumbling, engulfed in roaring, uncontrollable flames, while the mangled corpses of students were scattered carelessly across the blood-stained grass.
Then, his gaze dropped to the ground right in front of him, locking onto four horrific shapes.
No… He shook his head, his mind violently rejecting the scene before him.
Alice lay flat on her back, her elegant clothes soaked in her own blood, her wide eyes completely glassy and lifeless. Nearby, Eleanor’s broken body hung limply from a charred tree branch, swinging slightly in the hot wind. Flora lay face down in the ash, her head tilted to the side, her face frozen in an empty, emotionless mask.
And standing right over them, grinning menacingly from ear to ear, was Asmodeus. Clutching a handful of silken hair, she casually held up Elaine’s decapitated head for him to see.
No...
Arthur's teeth ground together so hard they threatened to shatter. A low, primal tremor of fury began to vibrate deep within his chest.
“This is your doing, Arthur. They will all meet the exact same fate as the dead friends from your old village—” Asmodeus sneered, but her mocking words were violently swallowed as Arthur’s intense golden aura flared outward from his body.
The raw pressure of his mana shattered the ground beneath him. Arthur’s crimson hair suddenly burst into vibrant, roaring golden flames, matched by his eyes glowing with a blinding, celestial brilliance. He gripped his right hand tightly, and with a hiss of pure heat, a grand, golden flaming sword manifested in his palm.
Asmodeus’s eyes widened in sheer terror, the color draining from her face. “Chrysaor…”
“ENOUGH!” Arthur roared.
With a swift, blinding arc, he slashed the air with his golden sword. The strike created a violent ripple that tore through the illusion, plunging them right back into the center of the arena.
A stunned silence gripped the stadium. Alice, Matilda, and Connor’s gazes instantly landed on Arthur, their eyes widening in utter shock at his transformed appearance.
"Arthur..." Alice whispered.
Golden Phoenix...? How...? Matilda and Connor thought in unison.
Arthur stood in the middle of the arena, staring at Asmodeus with absolute fury. He gripped the hilt tightly, his sword pointing down toward the dirt as his blazing eyes locked onto the Demon Lord, refusing to break contact for even a second.
To Be Continued…