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Chapter XVI.V - the end of acadmy arc
The Awakening of the Underworld Beast
The battlefield had fallen into an uneasy silence.
The bodies of the fifteen elite Hollow Sigil members were scattered across the destroyed field.
Lucas stood in the middle of them.
His blade dripped with dark blood.
The black demonic markings on his skin glowed faintly before slowly calming down.
Across the battlefield, the two elders watched the scene unfold.
Seraphel Vayden narrowed his eyes.
"…All fifteen elites."
His voice carried disbelief.
"Dead."
Varkul Nocthra's shadow-covered face remained calm, but his eyes had grown colder.
"That servant is far stronger than our intelligence suggested."
Seraphel looked toward Kashihero.
"And the master… might be even worse."
At that moment—
A terrifying roar exploded across the battlefield.
The underworld monster moved.
The creature slowly stood up from the massive crater created by the previous explosions.
Its enormous body was covered in wounds.
Black flames still burned across its skin from Lucas's earlier attacks.
But instead of weakening…
The monster was evolving.
Dark energy erupted from its body like smoke.
The chains hanging from its limbs shattered one by one.
Its muscles expanded.
Spikes formed along its spine.
The creature's eyes burned with crimson light.
Seraphel smiled slowly.
"…Perfect."
"That is the creature's awakened state."
The monster roared again.
The ground trembled beneath its weight.
Lucas turned toward it.
His expression did not change.
But his crimson eyes sharpened slightly.
"…So it finally awakened."
Behind him, Kashihero spoke calmly.
"Lucas."
"Yes, Master."
"The monster is yours."
Lucas nodded once.
"Understood."
The demonic markings across his body slowly spread again.
At the same time—
Kashihero stepped forward.
And his eyes locked onto the two elders.
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Kashihero vs the Two Elders
Seraphel floated slightly above the ground as violent wind gathered around him.
Varkul remained on the ground, surrounded by swirling shadows.
Seraphel smiled.
"So the servant fights the beast."
"And the master fights us."
Kashihero answered calmly.
"That's correct."
Seraphel laughed.
"You're confident."
His hand slowly lifted.
A powerful storm instantly formed around him.
"Storm Dominion."
The sky darkened.
Massive currents of wind spiraled downward.
Invisible blades filled the storm.
Each one capable of slicing through stone.
Varkul raised his own hand.
Dark mist spread across the battlefield.
"Abyss Domain."
The shadows beneath the ground began to move like living creatures.
Black chains slowly rose from the darkness.
The two elders had activated their full combat domains.
Seraphel spoke again.
"Let's see if you can survive both at once."
Thousands of wind blades descended.
At the same time—
Shadow chains erupted from below.
Kashihero stood between two deadly attacks.
But he did not move.
Instead—
His spirit energy exploded outward.
The ground shattered beneath him.
A massive pressure wave erupted across the battlefield.
The wind blades shattered.
The shadow chains broke instantly.
Seraphel's eyes widened.
"…What?"
Kashihero appeared in front of him.
Too fast.
Seraphel barely raised his wind barrier before Kashihero's punch collided with it.
The impact sent the elder flying across the battlefield.
Meanwhile—
Varkul attacked from behind.
Dark spears shot toward Kashihero like arrows.
But Kashihero turned slightly.
His hand caught one.
The spear shattered instantly.
Then Kashihero looked directly at him.
"You should have stayed hidden."
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Lucas vs the Awakened Monster
Meanwhile—
Lucas faced the awakened monster alone.
The creature roared and charged forward.
Each step cracked the earth beneath it.
Its massive claw slammed downward.
Lucas vanished.
The claw struck empty ground and created a huge crater.
Lucas appeared above the monster.
"Abyssal Blade."
His blade slashed across the creature's shoulder.
Dark blood erupted.
The monster roared in fury and swung again.
But Lucas moved like a shadow.
Every attack missed.
Every counterattack cut deeper wounds into the creature's body.
But even so—
The monster refused to fall.
Its regeneration was terrifying.
The wounds began closing slowly.
Lucas stopped moving.
"…I see."
He raised his hand.
"Master."
Inside his mind, Kashihero answered immediately.
"Yes."
"Permission to use full power."
Kashihero's response came instantly.
"Granted."
The Soul Door opened wider.
A portion of Kashihero's massive spirit energy flowed into Lucas.
The demonic markings across Lucas's body expanded.
His aura erupted violently.
Even the elders felt the pressure.
Seraphel whispered from the distance.
"…What kind of monster is that servant?"
Lucas raised both hands.
Black flames gathered in the sky.
"Hellfire Cataclysm."
A massive sphere of underworld fire formed above the battlefield.
The sky itself seemed to darken.
Lucas lowered his hand.
The sphere descended.
The explosion shook the entire battlefield.
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The Final Moment
When the flames cleared—
The monster still stood.
Burned.
Broken.
But alive.
Lucas exhaled slowly.
"…Impressive."
At that moment—
Kashihero appeared beside him.
Both elders lay defeated behind him.
Lucas glanced back briefly.
"…Finished already?"
Kashihero nodded.
"Yes."
The monster roared again and charged toward them.
Kashihero looked at Lucas.
"…Let's finish this."
Lucas smiled faintly.
"Yes, Master."
Both of them moved at the same time.
Lucas struck first.
Kashihero followed.
Their combined power exploded across the battlefield.
And the awakened monster finally collapsed.
The battlefield became silent.
The Academy Arc had finally ended.
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