"Get lost!"
Lucia gripped the Sun Scepter tightly and swung it straight at the Witch of the Night's face.
Her speed was so overwhelming that the witch didn't even have time to react. The golden staff struck her squarely, blasting her body several meters through the air before she slammed heavily onto the ground.
"Lucia!"
Seeing Lucia move again after being frozen in place instantly eased the tension in Kurose Akira's chest.
Lucia cast him a brief glance, her voice cold and composed.
"When you suddenly stopped moving, we suspected that your mind had been invaded. It seems our guess was correct."
Akira frowned and asked, "What exactly is going on? Is she really the Witch of the Night?"
Deep down, he knew that what he had encountered wasn't something as simple as an illusion.
The moment the witch had been struck, he had also regained control of his body.
Lucia explained calmly, "That is a Magic Spirit—a vessel that houses most of the Witch of the Night's power from when she was alive. It resembles a remnant soul, but it is a power unique to witches."
She paused briefly before continuing.
"In a certain sense, witches are immortal beings… so long as the Truth they represent continues to exist."
"Immortal?" Akira's heart sank slightly at those words.
If witches truly possessed immortality, then their existence would be absurdly overpowered.
Lucia continued her explanation.
"Although they are immortal, recovering their magical power still requires time. Furthermore, if a new witch inherits that same Truth, the original witch will lose its protection. At that point, she will eventually fade away."
"I see."
Akira nodded thoughtfully.
Then his gaze shifted toward the Witch of the Night, who was slowly rising from the ground.
That eerie smile still lingered on her face—as if pain itself were a reward.
"You rejected me again. How unfortunate~"
The witch chuckled darkly. At that moment, her eyes glowed with brilliant golden light.
Only then did Akira realize what had been bothering him earlier.
Those eyes—
They were the true magic eyes of the Witch of the Night.
At the same time, the witch's aura suddenly surged. The background behind her was swallowed by the darkness of a starless night.
"How could you reject me again and again~"
Her voice carried a cold, playful mockery.
The next moment—
Countless jet-black hands stretched out from the darkness behind her, lunging toward Akira.
Faced with the Witch of the Night's violent assault, Lucia stepped forward.
The Sun Scepter in her hand burst forth with dazzling golden light.
"You dare covet someone under my protection? You're courting death!"
Lucia snorted coldly.
Behind her, a majestic golden angelic phantom suddenly appeared.
The angel radiated solemn holiness, gripping a golden spear in its hand.
In the next instant—
The angel hurled the spear.
It shot through the darkness like a meteor, tearing apart the black mist hands with unstoppable force.
Then—
The spear pierced straight through the Witch of the Night's heart, pinning her entire body to the wall of the king's bedchamber.
"Is it over?"
Akira stared at the witch nailed to the wall.
Fresh blood spilled from the corner of her lips, staining her originally black robe a shocking crimson.
"Not yet."
Lucia shook her head slightly, her golden-red eyes fixed intently on the motionless witch.
And in the next second—
The Witch of the Night's body dissolved into black mist.
Moments later, the mist gathered again.
Her figure reappeared before them.
Lucia's eyes flashed with vigilance. She swung the Sun Scepter swiftly, and a golden cage instantly materialized, trapping the newly formed witch inside.
Immediately afterward—
Countless golden thorns sprouted from the cage, their sharp spikes piercing through the witch's body and pinning her firmly in place.
The Witch of the Night glanced down at the thorns skewering her body.
Yet she still smiled strangely.
"As expected of the Holy Magic of the Church of Light. Truly impressive."
Then she lifted her head and looked directly at Akira.
Her voice turned soft—yet eerily chilling.
"We will meet again."
"Next time… I won't give you the chance to reject me."
Before her words had even finished—
Her body once again dissolved into black mist and vanished into the air.
With the Witch of the Night's disappearance, the space she had created collapsed like a shattered dream.
It disintegrated into countless black magical particles.
Yet strangely—
These particles didn't disperse into the air.
Instead, as if drawn by an invisible force, they all surged toward Akira's left eye.
A burning sensation spread through his eye.
Then those magical particles were completely absorbed.
At the same time, his left eye emitted a brilliant golden glow.
Akira's expression instantly became serious.
Could everything that just happened… have been created by the Counter Demon Eye in my left eye?
If that were true—
Then he was certain of one thing.
There must be something inside the king's bedchamber that had triggered his Counter Demon Eye.
"Guildmaster! Are you alright?"
At that moment, the elf sisters hurried over and asked anxiously.
"I'm fine."
Akira shook his head lightly and looked around.
The monsters pouring from the portals had already been completely eliminated by Roselyn and the others.
Meanwhile, the battle between Idis and Bluekai was reaching its conclusion.
Countless rose petals surged like waves toward Bluekai, gradually eroding his soul and weakening the remnants of his magic.
"Idis! Stop!"
Bluekai shouted desperately.
"I am the Demon King of the Abyss of Lust! My death will throw the entire Abyss of Lust into chaos!"
"I know my decision back then was wrong! I can apologize! I'll make amends!"
Realizing he was no match for Idis, Bluekai immediately changed tactics and attempted to negotiate.
"Apologize?"
Idis sneered disdainfully.
"The moment you lusted after my body and tried to turn me into your demon slave… you already deserved to die."
Her eyes were filled with cold indifference.
She showed him no mercy whatsoever.
Enraged by her words, Bluekai roared through clenched teeth.
"Idis! Don't push me!"
Yet beneath his fury lurked deep terror.
Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined that the young succubus girl from decades ago would grow powerful enough to rival him—
Powerful enough to threaten his life.
"You forced my hand!"
Bluekai roared.
He began burning his own soul, unleashing terrifying power.
But in Idis's eyes—
It was insignificant.
She lifted her delicate hand lightly.
The rose petals surged forward like a tidal wave, surrounding Bluekai completely.
Under their erosion, Bluekai suddenly realized that his magical power was draining away like water from a broken dam.
"What!? This power—damn it! Why is it even higher-tier than the Lust magic I possess!?"
His eyes widened in disbelief.
He had inherited the Throne of the Lust Demon King.
Even if he couldn't wield the throne's full power, it was still enough to dominate any creature within the Abyss of Lust.
Yet Idis's Lust magic was even higher-ranked than his.
How could that be possible?!
At that moment—
Bluekai truly panicked.
"Die."
Idis spoke coldly.
As her voice fell, countless brilliant roses bloomed instantly, enveloping Bluekai's soul completely.
"No—!"
When the rose petals faded away—
Bluekai's soul had vanished without a trace.
At the same moment, a bright system prompt appeared before Akira's eyes.
[Bluekai has been slain. Obtained ultra-rare additional trait — Demon King!]
"…!?"
Akira blinked in shock.
Idis killed him…
So why is the system counting it as my kill?