40 – Breaking Out of the Egg
Durahan stared at the board-shaped artifact remote projection device.
An artifact that allowed one to see events from a distance.
It had been lying on one side of the desk.
“Why is this ringing?”
It must have been set to ring only in emergencies. It would only ring when something significant happened at the mansion.
In the moment Durahan was about to check the screen.
Boom!
The sound of an explosion came from the direction of the warehouse outside the mansion.
‘An accident?’
That couldn’t be the case.
The mansion was thoroughly protected by Durahan’s magic.
Even a formidable expert would be unable to inflict any harm on the mansion.
Durahan focused on the screen.
It was difficult to see due to the smoke, but he was certain.
‘Demons!’
Those who slit human throats, claim their corpses, and pretend to be human. They have reappeared!
#
Durahan knew he was a respected wizard. He had been mentored by Daraan since childhood, learning more and seeing more than others under Daraan’s direct guidance.
Once, Daraan hinted that it would be great if Durahan studied artifact magic.
Durahan found pleasure in handling equipment as well.
Following Daraan’s guidance through his clairvoyance, Durahan also attempted to create artifacts.
An artifact for real-time monitoring of events happening far away, a remote projection device.
The artifact monitoring Durahan’s room was also created by Durahan, strategically placed in various locations, including his own room.
Ultimately, he considered this invention the best thing he had done. With just the remote projector, he believed he could expose and eliminate the identities of the murderers—demons—lurking in Panahtia.
The first time he saw the Sekera was about three years ago when he entered the forest for training with Panahtia’s knights.
There was only one.
Suddenly appearing, the eagle ray beheaded the knight standing at the forefront.
The strongest knight.
Durahan immediately tried to cast defensive magic, but the creature moved through shadows, evading Durahan’s magic. Later investigations revealed it could swiftly move by riding on the ground, nothing more.
All the knights were dead.
However, it did not attack Durahan.
It clung to the decapitated knight’s body, then proceeded to create a head.
In the exact appearance and voice of the deceased knight, it spoke.
“You damned wizard,” it said.
That ridicule remained as a trauma for Durahan.
It would be fortunate to be alive.
The demons, who took the bodies of the knights, then created other demons that looked identical to themselves.
The demons with the form of stingrays flew around, flapping their wings, and went to find their own corpses to possess.
And all those knights regained the exact appearance they had before they died.
Except for the fact that they now had black cloaks that didn’t exist before.
Durahan fainted and collapsed on the spot.
#
After returning to the village, Durahan tried to inform the people about what happened in the forest.
However, everyone he met was wearing black cloaks.
Even Durahan’s parents.
What should he do?
He tried sending a secret letter to the Lord of Panachia, explaining what he had witnessed, but it was his own parents who came to see Durahan.
Durahan couldn’t speak the truth.
Perhaps he had lost trust since then.
He searched for those without cloaks.
And he explained what he had seen, but people didn’t believe Durahan’s words. At first, it seemed like they did, but as time went on, the number of people with black cloaks increased.
Instead, Durahan’s warning that those wearing black cloaks were dangerous was considered the ramblings of a madman.
“The demons are multiplying.”
And they all agreed.
The mansion was not safe either.
Durahan was trapped in the room. Trusting only those not wearing black cloaks, he delved into research to find a way to banish demons.
Once again, he wanted DaRahan’s help, but DaRahan had evacuated to the tower.
There is significant research, he said.
Durahan thought DaRahan’s research was often more important than his own. People dying was none of DaRahan’s concern.
One of only ten archmages in the kingdom.
Durahan’s young heart did not tolerate being in DaRahan’s shadow.
Above all.
‘DaRahan too, wears a black cloak.’
It was not a situation to trust.
#
The reason for not leaving the room.
First, not leaving meant survival, but
the bigger reason was that outside the room was dangerous.
However, now even the room didn’t seem safe.
“What on earth…?”
Beyond the screen of the remote projection device, hundreds of demons were visible. Revealing their true forms, they circled the mansion’s airspace.
Thud.
The artifact dropped from his hand.
He might die.
Placed in a situation where death was not unusual, and despite the dark circles under their eyes, a considerable amount of time had passed as they ran to find a way to eradicate them.
Perhaps they were already mentally prepared. Maybe they no longer wanted to endure such hardships.
It had been over two years since they began their research in the room. Even their parents couldn’t believe it.
Now, it was okay to no longer observe demons through magic.
Because right outside Durahan’s room window, a flock of black hawks was swirling.
The whirlwind of the demons seemed to be saying to Durahan,
“I’ve come to take your life.”
Durahan seriously contemplated whether this was truly the end of the human era. Well, what was the use of such thoughts when facing death?
Durahan suddenly stood up from their seat when they saw a blond man outside the window effortlessly slashing the demons with a sword.
His expression looked incredibly joyful.
#
Lucion forcefully bound the approaching Shebat.
Then, he pierced through her body.
Shebat’s body had long been dead, only being sustained by magic. Her original soul had already departed to the goddess’s world years ago.
Of course, stabbing her wouldn’t kill Shebat.
Because she could make an emergency escape.
Shekera released the fusion with her host’s body. Then, she flew higher into the sky.
Due to the forcibly broken fusion, Shebat’s putrid blood stuck to Shekera’s body and fell down in drops.
But Lucion’s sword was still embedded in Shekera’s body.
“Throwing a tantrum, huh.”
The body is already pierced. Deliberately penetrated through the body, reaching the back. The real body of Sekaera is on the back.
Thanks to that, Lucion could still cling to Sekaera soaring through the air.
For an ordinary Sekaera, they would die the moment they are pierced by a blade coated with sanctity.
But Lucion managed to survive longer. There’s only one case like this. The one playing the role of Sekaera’s mother. Only in the case of the boss.
‘Is the anti-air defense not working?’
Lucion realized that the defense system of the mansion that had blocked his attacks was no longer functioning.
Glancing behind, Lucion saw Lucia staring at the sky with worried eyes. After the explosion, many people had come out onto the terrace, perhaps because of the sound.
Some were shouting, but it wasn’t a wise choice.
“A surprise attack—”
He lost his voice right there.
The Sekaera lingering in the mansion seemed quite numerous. As soon as the leader’s crisis arose, one after another began to reveal their forms.
Sekaera has intelligence.
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If the leader dies, they can simply choose the next leader. However, as long as the leader is alive, they cannot abandon the leader.
Because of the characteristics of the demon race.
If the superior orders, the subordinates must follow. Even when self-destruction is demanded, it’s the same.
Sekaera also has a survival instinct. If this guy orders, “Save me,” countless Sekaeras will rush here like moths to a flame.
He deliberately targeted this guy.
A place where magical energy is explosively generated. The first to appear there is the leader of Sekaera.
It was already a well-verified strategy for Sera Cara, after many trials.
“As expected, you’re the leader.”
“What a cunning bastard.”
One wonders if someone pretending to be human is even more cunning.
Lucion decided to ignore Sera Cara’s words and wait.
“If I let them live like this…”
He would never assassinate the leader. Because then all the hidden Sera Caras would come out to save their superior beings. Not a single one would be left behind.
They might be a species overflowing with loyalty, more than humans.
But they only move mechanically.
To gather more magic.
“They must be annihilated.”
One surviving individual could strangle the necks of dozens of humans.
They rise higher and higher into the sky.
They climbed twice as high as the top floor of the mansion.
Sera Cara continued to propose a deal to Lucion, raising the altitude even more. From this height, even if Lucion fell, Lucion wouldn’t be unharmed.
“If you kill me here, you won’t survive.”
Such a human-like tone. Those who have absorbed humans even once learn to act like this. Those beings who perfectly copy even the personality models of humans.
Devils who even feast on those who yearn for the dead.
There is a Sera Cara who killed the child of a grand sorcerer in a previous life and took their place.
Thanks to Sera Cara, who was completely deceived by the grand sorcerer, Lucion created an opportunity to obtain all the information about Sera Cara and exterminate the entire species.
Anyway, they were those kinds of guys.
“Let’s make a deal.”
Lucion smirked.
The altitude continued to rise.
Black wings soared up into the sky, following the Cerulean River. Dozens of Ceruleans took flight from the ground, trailing behind.
Since the ascending speed wasn’t particularly fast, I could see every sight around me.
The bustling downtown in the distance. With enhanced vision, I could see that the knights’ heads disappeared, leaving only their black cloaks flying into the sky.
From the guild’s direction, several windows shattered as Ceruleans took flight.
“They were hiding quite a lot.”
Not a single Cerulean flew from the tallest building, the Matop. Instead, hundreds of them took flight only around it.
“They must have been preparing for a surprise attack on the Matop, or maybe they were surrounding it because they couldn’t get in.”
One thing was for sure.
In the small town of Fanachia with barely 300,000 inhabitants, the fact that there were nearly a thousand Ceruleans was enough.
Their headquarters was none other than the mansion of the Archmage.
The most dangerous enemy,
and the place with the most wealth.
They intentionally positioned themselves there.
The Ceruleans were intelligent enough to collect information slowly and devise a plan to take over the village.
“Well, they’re just living creatures after all.”
There were many flaws.
A superior species is more important than hundreds of lower individuals.
Lucion drew the sword he had embedded in Sycera.
It didn’t fall to the ground.
The compulsion of the sacred power could be bestowed upon oneself as well.
Adjusting his posture, he sheathed the sword into its scabbard.
“It’s not the sharpness of the blade that’s needed.”
In the distance, a black rabbit and a white rabbit leaped towards him.
“Late.”
But it’s perfect timing.
He sensed the gaze from the tower.
Also, it’s good.
The magic he’s about to reveal is meant to be shown.
Sycera’s group formed an ellipse centered around Lucion. No one was getting closer.
It only served to corner them more effectively, leaving no escape.
“hehehe. There’s no escape here, you all. You can’t run away.”
Lucion didn’t bother to reply. He was gathering sacred power.
The sphere of the vultures surrounding Lucion completely blocked both inside and outside light.
Absolute darkness.
In that darkness, Shavat’s voice echoed.
“Well then, quietly surrender that body of yours.”
Lucion chose to close his eyes. After all, he couldn’t see anything in front of him.
Shaping light within the heart.
“Huh. A priest, not an inspector.”
When he opened his eyes, a white light sphere had formed in the palm of his hand.
Inside the nearly impervious sphere of light.
In the abyssal darkness, flames of sanctity blossomed.
【Light】
Merely a one-dimensional magic to illuminate, spreading pure sanctity in all directions by setting its output to the maximum.
“Surrender your body….”
Lucion chuckled.
How much magic the Seracera had gathered was unknown.
However, in the explosion of sanctity, magic was bound to be pushed away.
“Who’s making noise.”
The Seracera would soon experience all the magic within their bodies being swept away. Deprived of magic, they would cease to function like an engine without fuel.
Excessive brightness could blind people. However, what happened within the tightly woven sphere of intense darkness would remain unknown to those outside.
#
Lusia was wielding her staff.
Lucion, accompanied by a Seracera, soared into the air. Inside the mansion, he was surrounded by the Seraceras who had taken flight behind him, and from a distance, a flock of stingrays approaching completely enveloped him.
He wanted to use Explosion right away, but his hands trembled, and the magic wouldn’t activate.
Because Explosion would undoubtedly attack Lucion within its range.
‘Why is he just letting himself be captured?’
—
He hoped to break through right away.
However, there was no sign of movement in the darkness.
If he could break through one side, how well could he control and annihilate those Serkayla?
Though his chest was pounding, and he couldn’t lower the staff, fortunately, the protective barrier cast by Lucion remained unscathed.
“Lucion, please!”
He hoped and hoped to break through.
Whether that feeling was conveyed or not, he couldn’t tell.
Perhaps it hadn’t been conveyed.
The black and white rabbits came to Lucía’s side, examining her complexion, confirming Lucía’s staff pointing towards the sky.
“I’ll rescue you right away.”
The moment the black rabbit said that, as he was about to leap into the air, a black sphere vibrated once in Lucía’s golden eyes.
Thump.
With a single thump, a crack appeared in the black sphere.
Following that, through the slightly opened gap, a whispering voice was heard.
“A bit lacking, huh… Well then…【Bright】.”
That’s what it said.
The sphere was completely enveloped in light. Like a self-illuminating star, it emitted light in the dark night sky.
Due to the star that emerged so close, the world became as bright as broad daylight.
In the center of the light, Lucion was simply looking down at the ground with a relaxed expression.