“It should be fine,” I reassured myself with a nod, trying to push away any lingering doubts.
In my true form, my demon heritage seemed evident with my pointed ears except my stark white hair, reminiscent of Khione’s. I tied my hair back tightly and concealed it beneath a hood. To complete my disguise, I donned a black mask that covered my face, leaving only my icy blue eyes visible.
Under my clothes, I wore black armor similar to what demons typically wore, ensuring I blended seamlessly among them.
My mission was straightforward yet daunting: to fight my classmates and keep Radakel at bay. It would be incredibly challenging, but I wasn’t alone. Catnys was there and she could help a lot since she was a great mage.
As I stepped out of the house where I had hidden Courtney and where I was supposed to be imprisoned, I prepared to leave. But then…
I glanced to my right and noticed someone approaching.
The sound of armor clattering echoed in the air as the figure drew nearer. Clad in white armor that covered his entire body, his eyes gleamed gold through his helmet. It was Elias.
Level 110.
I couldn’t help but wonder how many formidable warriors like him Radakel had hidden. It was likely he had many and had only brought one along.
Radakel had underestimated us.
He thought a single warrior would be enough to annihilate Uteska. But he was wrong.
First, Catnys was a Level 122 mage.
And second, I was Level 105.
I could handle Elias.
“Filthy demon. Answer my question if you don’t want to die,” Elias spat out with disgust, his voice dripping with contempt.
I could clearly see the effects of Radakel’s brainwashing on him.
But even if I answered his question, I was certain he would kill me regardless.
“Where is Hero Nathan?” he asked coldly, his voice devoid of any warmth or empathy.
Ah, now I understood. Radakel had sent his lackey to find me—or more accurately, to kill me—before any of my classmates could. Elias’s question was unnecessary, as he should have sensed my presence in the area earlier. The only reason he asked again was because my presence had suddenly vanished when I revealed my true form.
“So, you’re Radakel’s lapdog? Where is he hiding, outside like a coward?” I sneered, letting my disdain drip from every word.
My taunt had the desired effect. Elias’s face twisted in a grotesque mask of anger and hatred before he vanished from sight.
Swish!
BADOOOM!
I dodged to the side just as a golden slash cleaved through the space where I had been standing, the force of it slicing through several houses nearby with surgical precision. If I hadn’t moved, my head would have been split in two.
“You!” Elias’s voice was filled with shock as he realized I had evaded his attack so easily.
I stretched out my hand and waved, summoning a wave of ice that surged forward and instantly encased Elias’s body.
“What?” he exclaimed, quickly gathering light in his sword as cracks began to form in the ice.
Smirking, I rushed toward him, channeling a massive amount of pure mana into my legs. The ground beneath me trembled as I surged forward, intent on closing the distance before he could break free.
BAAAANG!!!
“GUAH!” Elias’s body was flung away, crashing into a distant house at bullet speed.
I kicked off the ground once more, rushing toward him. I couldn’t let him get up.
“Who are you?!” He asked, already on his feet, his body glowing gold.
I didn’t bother answering. Instead, I raised my hand. “Higher Rank Ice Magic: Ice Lance.”
A long ice lance formed above my head. With a flick of my wrist, it shot toward Elias’s head.
“Don’t underestimate a knight of Lord Radakel!” he shouted, swinging his glowing sword to cut my ice lance in half.
I waved my hand again, and the two halves of the lance changed direction, aiming to stab him.
But…
Crack!
The lances shattered upon contact with his armor. Quite the troublesome armor he had.
I drew my sword and rushed toward him.
BADOOM!
Our swords clashed, the impact resonating around us.
“Freeze,” I muttered.
Elias looked shocked as his arm began to freeze, forcing him to jump back.
“Impale him,” I commanded, waving my sword upward. An icy spike jutted out of the ground, aiming for him.
“Fifth Rank Light Magic: Barrier of Light!” he shouted, a barrier of light shielding him from the ice spike.
But when he raised his head, I was already upon him. Pulling back my arm, now entirely covered in ice, I punched him in the cheek.
BADOOOOM!
CREAK!
I could feel his jaw breaking as my fist embedded in his cheek. The force was too much for his body to resist, and he crashed violently into the ground.
“BUAGGH!!” Elias coughed violently, blood spurting from his mouth.
Landing on the ground, I sighed deeply. Using Khione’s mana was taking a toll on me. My level wasn’t appropriate for the immense power I had appropriated from Khione. While it had somewhat evolved to fit my body, it was still incredibly taxing to wield.
“You bastard!” Elias struggled to stand, still coughing blood.
“Stay on the ground and die if you don’t want to feel more pain, Elias,” I said with a smile, taunting him.
“L… Lord Radakel… apologies, I will use it,” Elias muttered suddenly. Removing his armor, he placed his hand on his bare chest and laughed at me.
What is he doing?
“RELEASE LIGHT! I GIVE YOU MY BODY! OH GODS OF LIGHT!” he yelled. His body burst into a brilliant light that erupted and reached the sky.
I narrowed my gaze, watching intently. He was growing stronger by the second.
A pillar of light engulfed his entire body for a moment. When the light receded, Elias stood there, transformed. He no longer seemed pained. His face radiated gold, and strange golden marks glowed on his skin.
This was the secret of the Divine Knights.
“I will answer your call,” he muttered lowly, his voice resonating with a newfound power.
They had never been faithful to the gods of Olympus, but to other ancient gods. Born in the Light and bathed in Darkness. The Gods of Light.
When he turned his eyes toward me, a shiver ran down my spine. Goosebumps rose on my skin as I felt the intensity of his gaze.
I focused all my senses and raised my sword.
Was I really about to face a god now?