Leaving The Academy Ground

Once a monster, his basic instinct had been to survive. There were no thoughts on what, where, and how, no memory retention, nothing but a dark fog clouding his mind. That day when he had opened his eyes to a strange world that radiated light upon his eyes, it had been the beginning of his life.

And the first color that the Gozurak saw was a clear blue sky. A beautiful sunray, warm and enchanting, embraced his entire being in a strangely discomforting feeling. Patches of grass against his back that didn't feel all natural and the peaceful morning that triggered his instinct.

What he had wanted was unclear to himself at first. But, day changed into night and the darkness taught him what he was. What he was capable of and how there was only one path laid before him.

The bloody path of power. The top of the food chain was the goal.

Why?

Because he had come to know what he was. A Gozurak, they called him. A devil's spawn that was bred to be a demon's soldier. But, the moment he had gained his wits, he had also come to understand that there had been no master to serve when he had been a Gozurak.

No traces of demon aristocrats wandering the land. There were only mages. Thus, in order to live, he had to resist. In order to avoid enslavement by humans, he needed power. Yet, before he could get the chance to do so, the mages had got him first.

He didn't remember much since it had been too long, only they had captured him and did some experiments. After that, days turned to months and months turned to years as he sat inside that room, bearing the pain they had inflicted on him.

"Sanctus Torque."

He would never forget that spell. The holy chain that had tormented him countless times. The very one that had stripped his aristocratic bearing down to helpless trash. The spell that vanquished his darkness.

--------------

"Ugh…" The teacher felt herself losing strength and her breath becoming weak. The demon's grip on her neck tightened bit by bit as a murderous intent coloring his violet eyes grew thicker.

There was only one thing haunting the teacher's mind in the present. 'How the hell is he still standing up?"

She knew very well how painful the holy chain had been for the demon. But, what she had failed to realize was after almost a century long, even the most painful scar would eventually become numb. In addition, the demon whom she had once known was long gone.

Now, there was only a Count-level demon. And this holy magic, that none of them knew as the most basic demon restriction, was no longer capable of restraining him.

Yes, it was still painful but the level of pain was like a stab from a small dagger which was nothing to a demon like him. However, it was different to Kalliope who was merely a human witch. Besides, she had never been faced with such pain before and black magic was the opposite of holy magic.

"How dare you…" the demon narrowed his eyes maliciously. Every gaze was a death stare and vengeance radiated from his entire being.

"Umpgh…" The teacher remained defiant as she tired to peel his hands off. She glared venomously at him. Then, slowly, her lips curled derisively when she thought of the struggling Kalliope. "D...Die.."

Thereafter, a couple of giant roots smashed out from the ground beneath the devil and quickly entangled him. The roots bound him tighter and tighter in an attempt to crush his bones. But instead of pain, his face beamed with a primitive, savage chill.

And in the next moment, he merely raised his hand before a dense black aura burst out from his body, pouring out an explosion of concentrated dead mana. It took only a light contact with the black aura before the powerful roots wilted pathetically onto the ground, then dissolved into nothingness.

The teachers' eyes bulged as she witnessed his action. 'How could he summon the black aura?!'

She had thought since Kalliope couldn't summon it, then the demon could not as well since the holy chain would surely restrict the dead mana. He could strangle her because of his own physical strength.

But, the teacher would never know that Kalliope hadn't been able to since she was still a beginner in controlling the dead mana and the merging had yet to be completed. If it had not been for these reasons, Kalliope could've easily laid her to waste.

"Now, do you understand?" The demon asked in mockery, "The difference between your power and mine?"

Her heart started to beat erratically. Her breath turned ragged due to extreme fear and panic. If there hadn't been rain, she would've still been drenched in cold sweat.

The demon chuckled in contempt, "Yet, you dare to use the same spell? Such blatant disrespect makes me want to tear this throat apart and shred your body to pieces."

His violet hue intensified in bloodthirstiness. Its shade darkened. Meanwhile, faced with such a wild unbridled thirst to ravage, the teacher's body shook from head to toe. Her complexion grew pale and a desperate plea painted her misty eyes.

But, the demon sighed. He then spoke in helplessness, "I would've done that if only my lady was not in a hurry. Truly unfortunate."

Her heart dropped in that instance. Her pupils trembled as she looked at the freed Kalliope in the background. The girl slowly stood up from the ground and walked step by step towards her.

"Shouldn't we torture her a little, My Lady?" The demon turned to look at Kalliope in jolly eagerness. But, Kalliope shook her head.

She explained indifferently, "Although I wish for that, time does not allow it. For her to be able to find us only means that the other prisoners will soon be taken care of. We don't want to waste our energy on killing them. It's not the time yet."

The demon raised a brow and looked at the disgusting teacher. "Consider yourself lucky."

After that, he dropped her to the ground. The teacher immediately fell into a fit of cough but even then, she still watched them in fear as she dragged herself backwards.

"What was it again?" Kalliope lifted a brow, throwing her a disdainful gaze. "Oh...requisita naturae."

The same spell, however different caster, thus the change in power. Not just a few but hundreds of black roots smashed out of the ground and bound the teacher's body. Every part was strangled mercilessly as she was lifted off the ground.

"ARGHHHH!!!"

A blood-curdling cry echoed through the air. The teacher looked at Kalliope in hateful tears and bitterness, "Why? Why are you doing this?! Your parents--"

"Were left to die by the lot of you," Kalliope immediately cut her sentence and glowered through gritted teeth. Her eyes turned malevolent.

The teacher shook her head. "Wha...what are you talking about?! Your parents saved us! They volunteered and died honorably!"

Her words rang aloud, so clear even in the rain, and it struck Kalliope ruthlessly. With just words, she had successfully torn open Kalliope's weakness. At that very moment, Kalliope felt herself short on breath. Her chest heaved in violent rage and Kalliope immediately shouted.

"SHUT YOUR MOUTH!"

The plant roots instantly shut the teacher's mouth, wrapping her face in a deathly grip. Then, a series of laughter broke out of Kalliope's lips as she stared at the teacher with madness in her eyes. The demon was surprised by Kalliope's sudden outburst.

He noticed the atmosphere around her was the same as it was back in the dark room where she begged him to seal a contract with her. It was a silent painful cry like a lone boat floating by the sea endlessly and aimlessly without an island to strand on.

"Well then…" Kalliope giggled maniacally as she spread her arms. "If you believe volunteering to die for the sake of others is an honorable act, then you should do so as well."

The teacher's eyes open wide. A bad premonition came over her. Kalliope's lips curled widely and then, her voice turned gentle, "Teacher, please volunteer for the sake of me, okay?"

The teacher shuddered as Kalliope continued, "My parents have died for you. Don't you think you should return the favor?"

"Aid me, teacher."

There was only one way out of the academy, but even as you passed the gate, there would be a barrier waiting for you. That protective barrier was the work of Helliot and Kalliope was aware of how strong it was.

With the combination of her power and the demon, they could only create a considerable-size opening in the barrier. But then, the next thing to be concerned of was the speed of its self-repair. So, this was why they needed something to hold it off. What could be better than a human 'volunteer'?

A sinister grin split that lovely demonic face as Kalliope cast her hand forward.

"Enjoy."

The black roots swiftly shot towards the invisible barrier at a speed of light and using the momentum, it slammed the disciplinary teacher harshly against the barrier. A loud crack was heard by the teacher as her body convulsed. Even in pain, she couldn't shout it out due to the roots sealing her mouth. She could only suffer in silence till end freed her from the torment.

At the same time, the dead mana lingering within the black roots splashed out and struck the barrier. The demon summoned the black aura and joined the assault as well.

With the combination of their power and a 'volunteer', Kalliope successfully punctured a hole in the barrier. But as she thought, it tried to repair itself quickly by consuming the mana particle floating in the air. Fortunately, the teacher's body slowed down the process.

Hence, Kalliope didn't waste her time and pulled the demon's hand to escape the academy ground.