In the pitch-black night, the imperial mages lit up the castle as if it were daytime with their magic.

Noah Diaz writhed in the darkness. His body twisted in pain and despair, and screams and gasps flowed from his lips.

As the power of the Demon King seeped into his soul, he was losing his sanity. The powerful magic burned his body and clouded his mind.

“Are you alright?”

Ariel flew towards Leopold and Hyle.

Even after Leopold’s decisive strike, Ariel continued to launch attacks at Noah Diaz. However, the darkness surrounding his body swallowed all her attacks.

Not knowing what might happen next, they could only watch quietly.

“Is he awakening as the Demon King?”

“Judging by this unsettling sensation, it seems highly likely.”

Hyle nodded in response to Leopold’s words.

He thought he would spend a tedious old age in endless years without aging or dying. Thanks to a good disciple, his curse was broken. He became part of a grand epic that would be remembered in history.

‘Where is the end of this story heading…….’

Lost in thought, Hyle quietly stared at the mass of darkness.

“We’ve hunted demonic beasts for quite some time and recently faced Diaton and Bill. But I’ve never seen darkness that swallows even the surrounding light.”

Ariel said to Leopold and Noah. They felt the same. They had participated in many wars and fought against demonic beasts and dark mages, but had never seen such a bizarre phenomenon.

“Aaaahhhhh-!”

Noah Diaz’s scream echoed through the air.

Though those outside the darkness couldn’t see it, his skin turned pale, and sweat poured out incessantly, soaking his body.

Noah was engulfed by waves of pain emanating from his entire body, unable to move freely. His face contorted with indescribable agony, and his eyes were filled with void as if he had lost consciousness.

But soon, the pain disappeared from his face. His violently trembling body suddenly stilled. His twisted limbs relaxed. His pupils did not react to the light absorbed by the darkness.

Even Noah Diaz’s screams ceased. A heavy silence fell.

“……!”

Ariel, Leopold, and Hyle stared at the darkness with puzzled faces, not knowing what had happened.

Then suddenly, the black smoke covering Noah’s entire body was sucked into him.

Noah Diaz had finally fully awakened the power of the Demon King.

“At last, Noah Diaz is about to reveal himself.”

Ariel quickly surrounded herself with a mana shield. She then extended the mana shield to Hyle and Leopold.

As all traces of darkness disappeared, Noah Diaz, now covered in black wings, appeared.

“Are those wings?”

“They look like wings to me too.”

Before Leopold’s words even finished, Noah Diaz spread his wings. Then he opened his eyes wide. His pitch-black eyes locked onto Leopold.

Eyes filled with darkness moved emptily from side to side, unresponsive to any light. He advanced mercilessly.

He flew rapidly towards Ariel and Leopold to attack them. Noah Diaz teleported right in front of Leopold and breathed fire from his mouth.

“Dodge-!”

Leopold used mana to leap into the air. The flame, missing its target, fell to the ground. The ground he avoided crumbled under the pressure of the fire.

“Noah Diaz’s target is me. Move Hyle to a safe place, El!”

He had to lure Noah away to buy time for Ariel and Hyle to escape to safety.

“Master, get on my back.”

Ariel offered her back. But Hyle waved his hand firmly.

“Ariel. I’m not that weak. I can use mana.”

“Then let’s run to the protective barrier where Evan is. I’ll cover you.”

“Thank you.”

The ground was cracked from numerous attacks, with giant fragments scattered everywhere. Hyle gathered mana into his body and started running.

The barrier where Evan and Liese were located was under a tree, quite far from the palace building.

“Master-! Watch your step.”

Ariel shouted as she followed behind Hyle. She glanced back while running.

Leopold was fighting against Noah’s attacks, and Noah was attacking Leopold like a madman, making strange noises.

‘Something’s strange.’

Ariel tilted her head in confusion and then looked ahead again, putting more strength into her legs to increase her speed.

Noah Diaz, who had fully absorbed the Demon King’s power, seemed uncomfortable. His bizarre expression and limp limbs.

Attacks being unleashed recklessly without any strategy.

It seemed as if the Demon King’s power had consumed Noah Diaz, rather than Noah Diaz absorbing the Demon King’s power.

‘Could it be that his body cannot withstand the power?’

According to the mages, to seal the Demon King’s power within a human body, that body must reach the point of death.

If so, what if they let the Demon King’s power run rampant, causing Noah Diaz to self-destruct?

‘Theoretically, it’s possible……. But can it really be done?’

Ah. The presence of the knights waiting outside the castle. The citizens trembling in fear as they see the palace shining in the night.

For their safety, Noah’s dark magic must not cross the palace walls.

‘That acidic slime must especially not go beyond.’

A foul smell and thick smoke stung her nose. Ariel grimaced. She didn’t need to see it to know that Noah Diaz was spewing sticky acidic liquid.

Ariel slightly turned her head and enveloped Leopold’s body with a mana shield.

Fortunately, Leopold was dodging Noah’s attacks well. She sighed in relief and fixed her gaze on Hyle’s back as he ran ahead.

She felt deeply grateful for her master’s presence.

Just when she desperately wished for everything to be settled and for them to return to their daily lives.

“Ariel.”

Hyle called her name in a low voice. Ariel quickened her pace to run beside him.

“Yes, Master. Are you feeling unwell?”

“No. I’m fine. The barrier is just ahead, so I can go alone. Go and help Emperor Leopold.”

“Are you sure you’ll be alright?”

Ariel looked at Hyle with worried eyes. Hyle laughed softly and fixed his gaze on her.

“Go on. It seems the overlapping sword energy isn’t perfect. It will be tough to face Noah Diaz.”

Ariel slowed down to match Hyle’s pace, placed her hand on his back, and infused him with mana. So that her master could muster more strength.

As the pure and clean mana flowed into Hyle’s body, he gained new vigor. His body started moving swiftly, as if he were young again before the curse was lifted.

“Thank you, Ariel.”

“I’ll be back, Master.”

With her hand full of mana, she gently pushed him forward. Hyle glided forward at a fast speed.

Feeling reassured, Ariel ran towards Leopold, who was in a fierce battle with Noah Diaz.

‘Leo……. I’m coming. Just hold on a little longer.’

Ariel fixed her gaze on him and sprinted. Leopold jumped to dodge Noah Diaz’s attacks, then landed and swung his sword.

A sharp red sword energy flew towards Noah in a large arc. But Noah dodged Leopold’s attack with quick movements.

Noah, whose face had turned into a grotesque expression with eyes and mouth twisted upwards, glared at Leopold, seemingly furious at his attack.

Flames erupted from Noah Diaz’s hand. The fire grew larger and finally flew towards Leopold. Following that, dozens of fireballs rained down on him.

One of them grazed Leopold’s arm.

‘Of all places, it had to be the right hand that holds the sword-!’

Ariel bit her lip, her face showing clear signs of anxiety.

“Ugh…….”

The spot where the fire grazed burned his clothes, revealing red, scorched flesh. Noah continued his relentless attacks.

Leopold, unable to tend to his wound, groaned and dodged Noah’s attacks with difficulty.

Taking advantage of Leopold’s inability to counterattack, Noah created a sword with his magic. A sword glowing with pitch-black darkness. He gripped the sword and swung it towards Leopold.