The Mysterious Black Magician

"Two days huh," he was surprised after he heard it from Cinder. The last time he passed out was when he was in the academy's morning training.

The accumulation of fatigue from the training of elemental magic and creating [Fire Dolls] got the better of him —plus activating his Black Miasma for several times, it was so strenuous.

In addition, in order to activate his Black Miasma he had to maintain his stamina at a certain level. He had to skip sleep for consecutive nights.

Anyhow, "I had my 'looooooong' good sleep!" He yelped as he was stretching his arms while letting his back fall on a bedrock where He was currently sitting.

Contemplating.

Cinder was currently in front of him, grilling the meat jerky in the bonfire. She told him that they successfully entered the second barrier. Actually, she was arduously dragging him the entire time.. He felt bad that he'd become a piece of useless luggage to her these two days.

Though it was weird that she didn't end up finishing him while he was so vulnerable, He didn't know her reason but he thinks it's natural to kill a potential rival for the future rounds.

In any case, that's her decision. He had no idea for her real reason though. Perhaps she merely wanted to return the favor back then when he didn't finish her that time when they fought near the river in the search for the first barrier.

Regardless,

Time to check the surroundings. Closing his eyes, He heightened his perception. This cave wasn't so deep. And an entrance could be found nearby.

In a 100 diameter area around him, He could not sense signs of life outside the cave except for the low ranking beasts that were sheltering inside.

"Uhmmp!" A groan escaped from his mouth when he pulled his body up.

When she noticed him about to take a step, "Where are you going?" She asked him with a tone of worry.

He wondered what she was worried about.

Subconsciously when his mouth extended into a smile, "I'm going to check outside," He replied.

"Wait. I'm coming with you," she told him.

"Ah, no need, I will take a quick peek only. Aside from that, you have to grill that meat," he replied to her while pointing to the meat jerkies.

She darted her eyes towards him and the meat jerkies.

Hah~~ Then she sighed. "Okay, come back fast. Though be careful not to wander far away from here, outside was littered with eerie mist," she said in defeat.

"Eerie… mist?" He repeated her words, unaware of the curious look on his face that he was wearing at the moment.

"Mhm. You will find out anyway when you go outside." She said.

"Okay." After he nodded his head, he continued with his action.

(Tap tap tap tap tap tap…) He walked outside to see it for himself.

Just like what Cinder told him, the outside was full of mist. The sky was so red and it transpired the mist with its reddish color, turning it into a red mist. The world seems like the Apocalyptic World.

The mist even has the smell of blood. It seemed like a scene from a horror movie. Not just that, bloodlust and strong killing intent were oozing from it.

'Is it a horror movie? What that mad lass beautiful artist put in this world of hers? She's a silent wicked person indeed.'

But at the moment, the girl Yman was talking bad from her back was leisurely sipping a milk tea in the castle.

'Gosh, this makes my body hairs to stand upright, the rigidness that the mist brought and the apocalyptic setting!'

He could not even see what was in front of him because of how thick the mist was. Although on Outerworld the world also was covered with mist, it wasn't as thick as the mist here. Hard to perceived the path through normal senses.

One needs a high perception ability to wander around or to advance.

Out of habit when his mouth extended into both sides.

"Sistela, is your radar useful here?" He had to make sure about it.

<Partner, that is a problem. This mist is not an ordinary mist. It has high radioactivity that hindered the radar's ability. Not only the radar, but even Miss Cinder could not use her keen smell. It was also the reason that we decide to mull inside the cave.> Her worry transmitted into me.

"...I see."

<You are not worried about it?>

"I am. But there is nothing we can do anyway."

<Right. But based on the expression you are wearing, Partner, your perception is unaffected by it right?>

"Fufu, let's see…"

It was 8:00 am in the morning inside the painting, but the world was dark red.

In different areas,

Clang clang clang! Whoosh whoosh whoosh!

Shing!

A claw brandished to one of the soldiers.

"Arrgh!" Groaned one of the soldiers when a claw made a long line of wounds on his shoulder. Tearing the metallic shoulder pad that he was wearing. "Ugh, sorry I can't hold on any longer, Captain Leon, Young Master Hilion!" Shouted one of them.

These people who currently fighting these bloodthirsty monsters at the moment were the group of Hilion and his White Leo Knights.

[Auxiliary Heal]! One of his men cast a healing spell to the wounded teammate.

This type of magic although could not fully heal the wounds, could at least clot the wound and prevent it from further blood loss.

"Thanks, Anthony!" shouted one of the soldiers wearing silver armor, and in his hands were a sword and shield.

"No problem, don't give up, Senior!"

Anthony was the youngest and the most recent member of their group.

He had a high affinity with healing and wood-type spells.

GWARR!

(Slash! Slash! Slash...!)The monster sent multiple frenzy attacks using its razor-sharp claws. (Ting ting ting ting…!) Its attack landed on the shield of one of the Soldiers.

"Damn these demons! They're so resilient!" Cried out the soldier while making a huge swing with his sword.

Ting!

However, it was met by claws. "Damn it!" He cursed with a grimace when he noticed another claw was coming from above them.

(Hum hum hum...!)

(Bang bang bang…!)

GWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRR!

The demon cried in pain when suddenly, the flashes of strong waves of energies were shot to it. The demon was hit in the face.

The sword wielder soldier glanced at the person who helped. "Thank you, Young Master!"

"Don't stop!" Hilion replied, then he condensed another wave of dazzling energy on his hand and shot it to the other demon who was frenziedly slashing its claws to the shield-user member of White Leo Knight.

Although the shield-user was using strengthening on his shield together with medium tier durability skills, it wasn't enough to block the demon's onslaught for a longer.

At this time, one silhouette rapidly shot forward.

"Captain Leon!" Shouted the shield-user.

[Infinity Slash]! After muttering this, Leon, the Captain of White Leo Knights shot himself forward towards the demon who received the attack from Hilion.

(Shing shing shing shing…!)

Leon did a consecutive slash using his katana sword in hand. The slashing of his sword was so fast that it's hard to perceive using the naked eyes.

GWAAAAAAAAAAAARRR! The demon roared in pain while its body was being skewered by his katana.

But Leon immediately retreated. (Bang!) A burst of reddish energy exploded from the demon's body.

"Ugh!" The surrounding soldiers groaned in when and tried to fight back the pressure that tried to press them on their feet.

It was the [Intimidation] ability that most of the demon had. Although it wasn't as strong as the [Intimidation] coming from a Civilized Demon, this ability was able to slow them.

"A-As expected of a demon, it's hard to kill even it was only a copy!" Leon whimpered.

The demon stood in 7 feet tall. With grotesque figures and with hairs that look like hoses. Its body was in a dark reddish color and a swirling fire was visible on its chest area. It has a long tail, and horns were protruding from every part of its body.

These two demons were part of Uncivilized Demon. They were weaker than Civilized but these demons have a resilient body, they were impossible to kill using ordinary attacks.

"Anthony!" Called out Leon.

"Yes, Captain!"

[Wood Quadra - Binding Pillars]!  Anthony cast a spell.

Four gigantic pillars jutted out from the ground and surrounded the demon.

From their trunk, spikes appeared and nailed the demon's body inside. Both legs were pierced and even its two hands, down to its stomach.

The demons tried to retaliate, but its body couldn't move because of the bind.

"Good job, Anthony!"

"Yes, Captain!"

Seeing the entangled enemy, Hilion shouted, "Leon, Let's finish it before the others arrive!"

"Yes, Young Master!" 

The most troubling about these Uncivilized Demons was that they could attract Demonic Beasts.

That's why if one encountered it, either to kill it fast or escape sooner.

Both Hilion and Leon activated their Artefact. In Leon's case, it was his sword.

Now it was covered with purplish energy around it and a dark blue ring was visible near the hilt. He jumped higher into the air towards the demon who was in a bind.

[Mega Slash]! Leon shouted. From the air, he lifted his sword above his head while holding the hilt with both hands. Then he made a sudden dive towards the demon.

(SHIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNG!)

The attack made a long purplish slash mark in the air towards the demon.

(BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANG!)

(GWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRR!)

It was followed by a loud explosion then a loud wailing cry.

Not far from them, Hilion activated his earring Artefact as well.

Now a small emerald pillar of light appeared from his back. And his right hand was exuding powerful emerald energies.

Looking at him, the demon rushed towards him. But Hilion didn't escape, he was calm and walking slowly towards the approaching demon.

He lifted his right hand to the side. A moment after the collision, no expected explosion happened. The demon stopped 10 meters away from Hilion's back. Then it staggered and limped on the ground.

In Hilion's right hand, the swirling fire that supposedly was in the chest of the demon was now on his hand. He crushed it and crumble in his hand.

The two demons turned into light particles.

"Haha, as expected of the Young Master and also the Captain. They were truly a real beast in the battlefield," praised Anthony.

The group immediately advanced towards the last barrier. Killing all the demons that would come on their way.

However, the search wasn't easy because of the mist.

In the other area, the other participants were fighting with the demons as well.