72 Demon Powers Taking Over?

They reached the academy, but the usual bustling streets of the academy were now completely devoid of life. Not a single person was in sight. It was like a old western movie where a tumbleweed would casually roll past the screen.

Ghost looked at him, "I thought this was the most prestigious academy in all of Idril. Isn't it abit vacant to have any of that prestige?"

Raikou sighed, "The streets were always filled with people before. It was like a miniature version of the royal city. I think this has to do with that principal."

He pulled out his sword in vigilance and took a look around the academy.

The darkness element was extremely thick in the academy right now, so it made it very clear to Raikou about what was going on right now. Severed was finally enacting whatever plan he had in place.

Upon making that realisation, he quickened his pace and went towards the principals building.

The building was covered in a thick miasma that suffocated Ghost, but was empowering Raikou. His affinity towards the darkness element felt like it was being pushed over the limit. The closer he got to the building, the more it surrounded him.

Suddenly, he heard a notification.

Ding! Darkness Affinity has upgraded to [Perfect]

Ding! Intelligence +50. Wisdom +50

It was a long time coming, as the constant absorption of darkness in the pocket dimension had made him reach a boiling point that needed something to topple it over the edge. The added stats were a pleasant surprise, as he didn't expect to get something other than a perfect affinity out of it. It seems that perfecting his affinities would give him other benefits, which he wasn't able to see with his basic elements, as they were perfect in affinity from the start.

He opened the doors to the building and saw a crowd of students and teachers alike, bound and gagged. Severed Rikman was stood in the middle of hundreds of students who were all looking at him with utter rage and fear in their eyes. There were two teachers standing with the principal, showing that there were others in affiliation with this hidden darkness of Albion.

"Hey stiff neck! Daddy's home!" Raikou shouted and walked in casually. It was the most badass entrance he could think of on the spot, but it seemed to have the desired effect. The captive students and teachers looked over with hopeful gazed that turned back into despair after seeing that it was just another student.

The two teachers with Severed were both archers and readied their bows. They didn't attack immediately, which gave Raikou a chance to inspect them.

Name: Hu Kares

Species: Human/? | Age : 3123

Cultivation: Rank 6 7th Level

Name: Duyu Kares

Species: Human/? | Age: 3178

Cultivation: Rank 6 7th Level

Both of them were related based on their surnames. However, what caught his eye was that they had two alarming similarities to Severed. All of them had a ? next to their species and their lifespan was reaching its end. Only an idiot wouldn't be able to piece together the fact that they're doing all this to live longer.

"You can't just go and kidnap all these people, because you're useless. If only you were talented enough to become a transcendent, then maybe you wouldn't be reaching the limit of your lifespan. It is unfortunate that I can't share my talent with others, as then even 0.1% of it would help you breakthrough with ease." His expression was one of sorrow and pity.

"You talk too much." Both of the teachers responded in unison and launched an arrow of darkness at his head.

Dodging it with ease, he threw his sword like a spear at Duyu. The fire and ice effect went into action upon making contact with him and it slowly attacked his insides. His pitiful screams were head as he slowly froze and burned simultaneously.

The captives all looked at the scene with amazement. Someone as young as a student was able to unleash such power! To them it was an unfathomable sight.

Hu looked on in horror and tried to save his sibling/cousin. His hand touched the hilt of the sword and he was jolted backwards into the principal. Severed pushed Hu off himself and stared at Raikou.

"Woah, even I did not know that my sword could do that. So, no one other than me can touch it? That is fucking amazing." Ignoring the steely gaze from the principal, he went and picked up the sword that had been flung back to him when Hu touched it.

Raikou also noticed that Severed hadn't moved a single step since he entered. Even when Hu jolted into him, he braced himself and ensured that he wouldn't get moved at all.

"Is the silly principal not able to move? What is it? Are you doing some type of demonic ritual to fix your 'oh i'm going to die' situation... I'm sorry, but it won't be your lifespan that kills you today." Raikou's eyes went serious, as the situation didn't allow for anymore jokes.

Looking down, he could see faint etchings for a ritual of some sort. The sword in his hand hummed, as if telling him to attack. A request to which he obliged.

His first sword strike killed Hu, who was still on the floor from the jolt and his second sword strike was aimed at Severed.

Moments before it reached him, he pulled out a metallic staff and blocked the strike.

"Oh, you want to play hardball, do you?" Activating aura, he launched his cloud slashes skill at the principal, which finally made him worry.

The attack made him move from the center of the circle, which effectively broke the ritual formation. Everyone that was bound was freed by Ghost, who was standing on the sidelines, due to his limited power that can only threaten weaker rank 5 cultivators.

Severed looked at all his would-be victims escaping with annoyance and a hint of despair.

"You! Did you have to butt your head into my matters? Now you will pay!" Words finally left his mouth, as miasma enveloped his body. It was like the rising of a demon overlord. Rings of darkness formed above Severed's head and shot towards him.

"Hmmm. Demon powers taking over? Not on my watch." He used his void skill to slash through the constant darkness magic attacks that were being sent his way.

(A/N: Cliffhangers, huehuehue.)