The dormitory doors of the students are shattered, and their inhabitants are dragged out. But Carlos and Raymond's rooms, bound by a working magical ward, resist forced entry. The two remain inside, awaiting the spell's cessation. Of course, Headmaster knows this well, displaying no hint of advantage. His performance is so seamless that not a single eye catches a flicker.
Even with his hands bound cruelly behind his back, he can twitch a few fingers, murmuring an incantation to unlock something.
Something that will be the school's ultimate weapon.
The old man in white robes walks alone into the dormitory building, fearless. His eyes glow with a bright, unsettling blue, yet are filled with a hopeful light as he faces the dark ones. The minions of evil falter, their hands trembling at the sight of him.
"Good evening, Demon Emperor. I trust you still conceal your old name beneath that ridiculous title of honor," the aged headmaster begins the conversation with a barbed remark. "Headmaster Connor, the Grand Mage of Caronia and founder of Escuria," the Demon Emperor states, his voice cold and level as he confronts him. "My teacher." "You've twisted all the magic I taught you, consumed by a bottomless greed for this and that!" the old man's voice is powerful and chilling, his brow furrowed. "I will not let that child fall into your hands."
That child...? Which child...?
"The system you've built for this world is pathetic. Like an online game that dies out within days of its launch," the Demon Emperor engages in verbal combat with the other. "It is you who taints this beautiful white world. I desire a world like a game, free of all evil!" Headmaster Connor retorts. What they are arguing about seems incomprehensible to the students. Indeed, what they are discussing exists not in the world of Caronia, but in the human world I came from!
I rush to Anya, who bleeds from the corner of her mouth. The fair, clear skin of her angelic cheek bears a stark red mark. I examine her body to ensure there are no more significant wounds or signs of assault. The promise made to Sola to care for her daughter remains deeply ingrained. Even though my magical power is no match for the Demon Emperor now, the appearance of the creator in this dire situation feels like a beacon of hope amidst a dark dimension. "Never mind," the Demon Emperor says, his gaze fixed on the old man. "Either way, it seems we two must fight to the death." He flicks his wand, unleashing a violent beam of magic at Headmaster Connor.
A powerful wave of magic shakes the very earth. I watch the bright purple light flash, a sense of despair settling in my heart. Anya is now so terrified of the Demon Emperor that her knees buckle, unable to support her. The demon's stolen wand remains in its leather sheath. Immense magical power surges forth from the Demon Emperor's wand, threatening to end a life with a single strike. If I were standing there, I would surely be reborn in another life.
But this is not the case for the system's creator, Headmaster Connor.
He flicks his wand, instantly creating seven layers of protective shields. The destructive beam pierces through to the sixth layer before dissipating. Then, the silent magic duel begins, like in the movies I watched as a child, filled with dazzling effects. I never imagined witnessing such a spectacle up close. The Demon Emperor unleashes a relentless barrage of magical orbs at the headmaster. He, however, moves with unbelievable speed, dodging each attack while spinning and swinging his wand to fire red spells like homing missiles, only to be blocked by the Demon Emperor's invisible shield. The magical combat intensifies with each passing second. Light projectiles erupt from the wands like gunfire, perhaps even more so, as there's no need to reload at certain intervals. Both attack and defend with precision. The speed of the light projectiles is so swift that the eye cannot follow. If I were in that situation, I would be easily paralyzed. Headmaster Connor swings his wand again. A beam of light shoots from its tip towards his opponent.
Seeing this, the Demon Emperor unleashes a purple beam, colliding with the other, resulting in a power struggle. The magical energy of both is pushed beyond their limits, their teeth gritted in concentration. The sound of the two beams clashing is deafening, like static electricity. They step towards each other, inch by inch, until their wand tips almost touch. Headmaster Connor clenches his jaw, his hard gaze locked deep into the horrifying red eyes.
"You are too kind, Creator. And that is your weakness, the only flaw I will exploit to destroy you," the Demon Emperor declares before blasting a concentrated beam of energy at Headmaster Connor, sending him flying to the ground, shocking the watching students. As he struggles to rise, the helmeted figure unleashes another purple beam, but this time, the headmaster reflects the spell back at its caster. "Let's test if what I said is true."
The Demon Emperor uses magic to levitate Anya, then casts a spell to make her unconscious. I try to pull her away with all my might, forgetting to use magic, allowing her to fall easily into the enemy's grasp.
"Anya!" I roar with all my strength, lunging forward without thinking. "Give Anya back!"
The Demon Emperor barely uses any magic to stop me. A single tap of his foot to my midsection is enough to send my weakened body sprawling on the ground. The situation grows increasingly chaotic. The students cheer for me to get up. At the same time, the destructive purple beam reflected by Headmaster Connor hurtles towards the Demon Emperor, with Anya as a shield.
In that moment, the world seems to slow down. Adrenaline surges through my body. Beams of red and green light shoot from above, colliding with the purple beam until it dissipates. It's a hair's breadth escape, arriving with the last hope of Escuria. The school's strongest magic students appear amidst the miniature battlefield. Without hesitation, they charge at the Demon Emperor, snatching Anya back.
"Just in time," Carlos says, gently placing his master's limp body before him, then affectionately ruffles my hair. Even though I dislike this guy, he saved my beloved master, so I allow the gesture. "Take good care of the master, you mutt. I need to go help that idiot."
"Who are you calling an idiot?!" Raymond charges at the Demon Emperor, his fists enlarged and enveloped in a red aura, striking the helmet, but leaving no scratch.
"Just how strong is this helmet?!"
"Insolent brat," the Demon Emperor enlarges his hand with a spell, grabs Raymond's hand, and crushes it, the bones snapping audibly like crushed potato chips, causing immense pain to the large youth.
"Aghhh!" Raymond screams in agony. His right hand is shattered, unusable. "Hey, Raymond! You couldn't even stall for a minute?" Carlos clicks his tongue in annoyance before lunging forward, firing spells at the Demon Emperor.
He deflects the attacks instantly, but his body stumbles slightly. Seeing an opportunity, the youth choose to cast a spell of holy light spears.
"I beseech thee, Father, Son, and Spirit, deliver purest power to dispel all evil... Urk!" Before Carlos can finish the incantation, a sharp object pierces through his body from behind. The magic circles around him vanish. It's a swift opening and closing act, at the hands of a demon minion. It yanks out a short knife, the red blood coating the sharp metal like a bloodthirsty demon.
"A mere child, yet you can cast such powerful magic already?" The Demon Emperor teleports to Carlos, a strange glint in his crimson eyes.
"Truly fascinating. If I take him back, he could replace a grand mage like that Connor." Amidst the despair, the helmeted man hoists the youth onto his shoulder, then casts a spell to levitate Anya. In that moment, my mind is blank. What spell should I cast? Any spell that can stop the Demon Emperor!?
"Hey, Tom," the creator appears behind me, calling out a name I should have forgotten. "Creator?" I frown as a green aura envelops my body. The wounds, the pain, vanish instantly, replaced by renewed strength. "He's taking Anya! Do something! Don't heal me, go save Anya!"
The system creator clamps his hand over my mouth, preventing me from moving my jaw.
"I've used all the power I have. In this old man's body, this is all I can do. I'm a truly useless creator," he laments softly, his voice deep. The last glimmer of hope in his eyes reignites something within me. "But my last card is you."
"Me...?"
The creator nods.
"Go after the Demon Emperor with your human form."
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To Be Continue Ep.19