Chapter 51: Secret Realm
"Coming to think of it this child is blind this is truly terrifying, handicapped yet showing terrifying understanding in his battle arts." he watched Liam from afar his intention's shifting to deep greed
"It's good things turned out like this" the demon envoy said within himself his face showing a wicked grin.
"What is your name, child?" the Envoy asked, his piercing gaze delving deep into Liam as though trying to peel back every layer of his soul.
Liam snorted, irritation flashing across his feral grin. "What's with everyone and knowing my name? You can call me whatever the hell you want." The words had barely left his lips when the figure appeared right in front of him like a ghost.
"Fine then. Looks like I need to break that ego of yours."
Like a speeding jet, the Envoy's fist slammed into Liam's gut with devastating force over eight times. The impact lifted Liam clean off his feet and sent him hurtling backward through the air. He couldn't believe the speed. No matter how he twisted, he couldn't adjust his trajectory before crashing hard.
The Envoy drew in a deep breath, then moved in a blur of ancient, refined motion. He seized Liam by the head and brutally dragged him across the ground, carving a trench through stone and rubble.
Dust and debris exploded around them.
"He doesn't want to give me the slightest chance to catch my breath", Liam thought, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. Fine. Hold me as long as you want, bastard.
"Talent: Lightning Manipulation!"
Lightning erupted across Liam's body like a living electric eel. Crackling bolts surged through every vein and muscle. The Envoy's form lit up in a brilliant, terrifying enigma of electricity, yet his iron grip never faltered.
"Decay Mode."
The lightning shifted instantly, from bright white to a sinister, devouring black flow of continuous voltage. The Envoy's hand began to erode. Flesh blackened and rotted away at visible speed. With a hiss of pain, he finally released Liam and flung him violently into a nearby building.
Liam smashed through the wall in a shower of stone and mortar. He struggled to his feet as bones audibly snapped back into place, healing far slower than usual due to the active Decay energy now infecting the Envoy.
"Argh! What have you done?!" the Envoy screamed, frantically scratching at his palm where the rot spread like living poison. His voice dripped with agony.
Liam laughed wildly, a feral, unhinged sound that echoed through the ruins. "Haha! I'd advise you to cut it off before it spreads, old man." His bones continued knitting together, slower but relentless.
"I swear I will kill you!" The Envoy's tone shifted suddenly, honey-smooth malice now coating every word. What began as curious amusement curdled into cold, personal fury.
This wasn't mere duty anymore. The boy had wounded him. The boy had dared. A dark smile twisted his lips, eyes gleaming with murderous intent. "No… I will do the world a favor and erase you myself, little demon."
The sudden switch sent a chill through the watching students, but Liam only laughed harder, eyes bright with savage joy. He didn't care about consequences. He never did.
The Envoy rang a small bell once. The sound exploded outward like a sonic hammer, bursting Liam's eardrums. Blood poured from his ears.
Liam stood up slowly, shaking his head as if clearing water from his ear. He remained eerily calm, then beat the side of his head casually. "Just perfect. Why do you curse me with even more of this endless pleasure?" His grin widened, feral and wild. Anki floated obediently into his hand as he dropped into a ready battle stance, radiating pure, untamed violence.
From afar, a huge figure came running, smooth, firm fur rippling under the night wind, eyes sharp and deadly. Dabara leaped down from atop his mount, landing between the Envoy and Liam.
On seeing Liam, Dabara's eyes widened in genuine shock, as if beholding a myth returned from the grave. "Haha… how did you do it?" he muttered, staring at the bloodied but regenerating boy.
He quickly assessed the situation and offered a polite bow. "Greetings, Demon Lord Saul. I hope your travels were pleasant."
"Step aside, Dabara," Saul growled, lightning still flickering through his veins. He had dispelled most of it, but everyone knew how stubborn foreign lightning was to purge completely.
"I am taking that one with me. I will do the world a favor and dispose of this pest."
"I am afraid I cannot do that," Dabara answered calmly, eyes steady.
"Are you disobeying my orders?" Saul's voice dropped dangerously.
"This is not disobedience, but simple logic," Dabara replied. "He was protecting his territory, not causing havoc."
Liam laughed loudly from behind, a wild, reckless sound. "Hahaha! You two are hilarious. What if I was causing havoc? What if I really am the devil's spawn? At the end of the day, I'm exactly what you all made me. I spit on humanity!"
Saul's expression darkened further. "Don't you see it? He will bring endless trouble to the entire Demon Country. His talent cannot be allowed to exist."
Dabara remained unmoved. Surprise still lingered in his eyes at Liam's escape from the Punishment Hall's depths, yet his voice carried quiet wisdom.
"Lord Saul, I know your true intentions. You wish to harvest the boy's extraordinary talents for yourself, his regeneration, his mental attacks, and many more dangarous secrets he hides. You want to claim them, then pin him as an enemy of the people of Fortserling to justify your greed.
Do not mistake my silence for ignorance."
Liam's feral grin sharpened. "Haha! That's if any of you can actually hold me." He turned to Dabara with a charming yet dangerous smile. "And honestly, I have to thank you and Lady Vera for sending me in there. Don't think too much about it okay just know I am glad."
Dabara blinked, momentarily puzzled by the gratitude, but said nothing.
"Tell me, Demon Lord Saul," Dabara continued smoothly, "why didn't you inform me of your arrival?"
Saul responded with a deep, evil glare that promised violence toward both of them.
He pulled out a scroll and began reading its contents aloud. "Greetings, people of Demon Blade Academy. We applaud your performance this year. To cut the story short, each academy will select five representatives from their outer students. In two months, there will be a gathering at the country of Thetford,"
Liam's expression filled with visible shock.
"My home country…"
"Why that place?" he snarled. "What are we demons looking for on those filthy people's land?" Dabara spoke in rage.
Saul continued, "In two months, a secret realm will open. Both the righteous superhumans and our kind will battle for hidden treasures within."
Dabara nodded. "Is there some sort of restriction?"
"Yes. Only those below certain thresholds, Silver and Bronze ranks, avoid the harshest limitations of the realm."
After finishing, Saul stretched out his hand. "Now hand that boy over," he demanded, rage boiling over.
"Lord Saul, I am sorry, but that will not be happening," Dabara replied, never breaking eye contact.
Liam stood calmly behind his protector. From his unique vision of life paths, he could still see faint traces of his Decay technique lingering deep inside Saul's body like a hidden cancer now just a single layer of Liam's energy holding it from erupting . He laughed silently to himself.
Suddenly, another overwhelming presence descended. Heavy, potent energy flooded the area, making the entire Demon Blade Academy tremble. "Saul, do not act arrogantly while you stand in my domain."
Lady Vera appeared, her voice calm yet dominating, radiating pure Diamond-rank terror. Students and teachers alike froze in fear. The air itself seemed to bow.
Liam looked up at her with empty, hollow eyes, void of warmth, yet strangely respectful.
Vera gave Liam a sweet, almost seductive smile before announcing loudly enough for every student and teacher to hear clearly:
"This one has stolen something that belongs to Demon Blade Academy. Therefore, no, I cannot let you take him."
Dabara and several other instructors stared at Liam in fresh shock, their eyes piercing into him with a mix of disbelief and dawning realization.
"That is none of my business! Hand him over!" Saul raged, lightning crackling violently around him.
"Saul, do not anger me." Vera's face turned ice-cold. She activated her talent. "Building Talent."
From the ground, something massive and stiff erupted. Liam leaped backward several times, empty eyes widening. "Her talent is just like Zorans"
Before them stood a colossal golem wielding an enormous broadsword over its shoulder. Without hesitation, it brought the blade crashing down toward Saul.
"Do you think you can intimidate me with such parlor tricks?" Saul snarled. He slashed his own blade forward. "Cut for me."
The weight of the clash pushed him downward. Then he felt it, deep in his chest. A creeping rot traveled through his system like venom, the lingering "gift" Liam had left him earlier now fully awakened by the strain of battle.
Saul's face twisted in renewed agony as Vera, Dabara, stood against him.