The Mysterious Black Magician

The two [Fire Dolls] directly went into a suicide mode. They explode in the demon's face.

No need for reservation, either way, the flame inside it was almost empty.

The explosion caused the demon to stagger a little. But it didn't kill it. But it caused the other demon to stop their attacks and glances around them.

(Hiff huff Hoff! Gorrrrr!)

A groaning sound from the familiar mount. Everyone saw a silhouette who came out of the mist. It hopped into the air, (Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!) it shot a three consecutive [Fireball].

(BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!)

Three demon's heads immediately turned to cinders. Until their whole body was eaten by fire and sooner became light particles.

(Rank A ^('x_x')^ Pawn Demon was killed!)

'Pawn?' Yman was surprised to see the notification.

(You obtained 500 share points for killing Rank A Pawn Demon.)

(Rank A ^('x_x')^ Pawn Demon was killed!)

(You obtained 500 share points for killing Rank A Pawn Demon.)

(Rank A ^('x_x')^ Pawn Demon was killed!)

(You obtained 500 share points for killing Rank A Pawn Demon.)

(Thump! Thump!)

The Dino landed in front of them.

(Hiff hoff! Gorrrrr!)

Now what?! A new type of Doll again!? And it even produced a groan?! Tiafel, Taflas, and Aegor didn't want to feel surprised again. But this guy just keeps bringing things that could drop down their jaws on the ground.

This time it was a Dino, a speed-type mount Spirit Beast. Most curious about it, the skin was colored in black.

'Isn't his [Fire Dolls] supposedly crimson colors?' They thought.

(As expected it's Crimson and Miss Cinder!) Everyone beamed inwardly.

Seeing Crimson and Cinder here, all of them have their faces lighten up.

Without wasting time, Cinder jumped, "!!" But used his shoulder as the stepping stone.

['_']

Surrounded by several demons wasn't a joke!

She fired [Shapeless Flames] around and killed 5 demons. Yman just remained on the Dino.

After killing some of the demons, her foot gracefully landed on his head.

[-_-] Yman thought, 'What the heck is this bold perverted girl who likes showing her underwear doing? Do I look like a stepping stone to her? Or a doormat?'

Cinder, on the other hand, was having a satisfied face. While using the back of her hand to brush her chin.

But sooner, Yman's attention was caught the monster's visage. All of them were having identical features and only their sizes differed from each other.

They look so grotesque. Like in a horror movie. Not the like of animal looks of mutated beasts.

(Whoosh! Thump!)

She jumped down and her feet landed on the ground.

"Ember, everyone, are you okay?" Cinder screamed and asked.

"We are not!" Ember replied fast.

"What an honest reply," Crimson chimed.

However, there were still 2 enemies left.

(Woosh!) from the mouth of the Dino, it fired a [Fireball] again to the nearest demon from Tiafel.

(BOOM! AAAAAARRGGH!!)

The demon cried as its face started to burn. Seeing the Dino did a [Fireball], everyone's mouth agape.

One person brightened his eyes.

"Bwahaha-haha-hahaha! That one looks interesting. However, I'm afraid that [Fireball] can't kill i— ehhhhhh?!" Ember laughed at Dino's unexpected shot but he thought that it was futile to shoot fire at the demon. Yet, he ate his words when the [Fireball] the Dino shot disintegrated the demon's face.

Everyone was dumbfounded, (It was this mount who helped them?!) They initially thought it was Miss Cinder who fired those first [Fireballs] just a moment ago.

"Damn it! Even that Dino's [Fireball] is stronger than mine?! Is this a curse?!" Ember didn't want to cry but seeing the Dino killing demons on the spot.

A dramatic tear fell from his eye.

"No way! I can't lose!" He shouted. Then resolved himself. He canceled his Artefact power and his right arm to hand which partially transformed returned to normal. He wanted to challenge the Dino for whoever can kill the last demon.

The last demon tried to escape when he noticed the [Holy Flame] wielded by a human girl and by the mount.

However, Ember already summoned fire from both hands and, (FIRE FIRE FIRE FIRE FIRE FIRE FIRE FIRE FIRE FIRE FIRE FIRE FIRE!!!) He fired a barrage of [Fireballs] to the last demon.

Yet, his fireball, although strong, could not kill the demon. Seeing his sister here, he could not shame himself for being useless. Cinder on the other hand shook her head at her brother's childish act.

The multiple [Fireballs] chased after the escaping demon, (BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG!!!) But the demon had high resistance to fire. In this regard, his [Fireballs] dealt a little to no damage to it.

"!!"

The demon glanced and wondered why this fire so ticklish to him and not painful. It was bearable.

"Dammit! Why can't I kill it?!!" Ember screamed.

Cinder shook her head. Seemingly having a headache.

Yman on the other hand chuckled. The others stared at the escaping demon with dot faces.

At this time, one [Fireball] made its way to the barrage of [Fireballs]. When it landed on the demon's back.

(BOOM!)

(AAAAAAAAAARRRRGGGGH!!) The demon cried and turned to cinder right away after its loud cry.

Ember had a crying face while hugging his knee and writing something on the ground. His pride was shattered by a Dino mount!

In front of him was Aegor, out of exhaustion, he was currently lying on the ground with his plump stomach facing the sky and heaving deeply. Fortunately, he was able to avoid death. Thanks to Crimson and Miss Cinder's appearance.

(GORRRRRRFF!!)

The Dino arrogantly groaned while raising its head slightly. It seemed to say, "easy-peasy…" while looking down at Ember.

Dramatic tears fell from Ember's eyes. Even a Dino mount was looking down at him. (Cries!)

"Pufffft!" Cinder giggled.

(Patapatapatapata!)

Tiafel hurried towards Cinder and Crimson. Behind her, Taflas followed closely.

"Miss Cinder, Crimson, thank you for helping!" Tiafel was the first one who said thanks. Then others followed after her.

"No biggie! Good thing we made it on time! If not, perhaps this useless brother of mine was already skewered by the demons!" Cinder replied, and asked, "What happened to you guys these past two days?"

"Hah~~~!" Tiafel made a long sigh. "We fought with monsters nonstop until we arrived here. Good thing that you arrived. If not, certainly, we will die," said Tiafel in relief. Both of them were already exhausted. Especially Ember who made the most contribution in the fight.

"Yes, Tia is right. In any case, how are you Miss Cinder, Crimson? We saw you guys fell into the ocean that time," Taflas asked. But they noticed the change on her face. Cinder suddenly turned red. She remembered cuddling on top of him this morning.

(SUSPICIOUS!!!) Tiafel and Taflas thought.

"Well, on my part, I passed out for two days and just this morning I woke up in the dark under the two mountains..." Yman said innocently.

"Eh?" They wondered what Crimson meant by it. But they noticed Miss Cinder boiled in heat again. As more fumes came out from her head and her face was already red in a half crying state. 'This guy is so bad!' She thought.

Tiafel and Taflas suspicion from these two's relationship grew stronger.

"Regardless, is that the barrier?" Yman right away changed the topic as he noticed Cinder's embarrassment.

He pointed to the towering shadow ahead.

"We think it is!" Taflas was the one who answered.

Yman narrowed his eyes, this last barrier he could see it was smaller than what he expected.

Without wasting more time, the group continued their advance towards the barrier which was only in their sight.

Just a few minutes had passed when they arrived a few hundred meters away from it. But what they saw stunned them.

"I-Is that a cas—tle?" Cinder muttered a question.

Outside the painting,

"Chuchuchu! Most of our participants had finally reached the last barrier! But—

BUUUUUUUUUT~~~! Everyone, look at the last phase of our elimination round! A towering wall which is heavily guarded by UNDEEEEAAAAAAAAD!!!"

WOOOOOOOOOOOOHHH!

The people yelled in excitement, seeing the towering wall surrounded by thousands of undead, from below to the top.

Not only undead but also demons and different kinds of monsters.

"Chuchuchuchu! This is… the last surprise! The last phase of the elimination round! The CASTLE SEIGE in the APOCALYPSE WOOOOORLD!"

Mr. Faye The Trickster shouted from the top of his lungs. It was followed by loud cheers from the crowd.

Everyone who was watching it from the different cities and kingdoms was wondering if this was the last phase of the elimination round or the last round of the competition.

Who can survive with that many monsters? Did the Empress Elleanna design this competition? Who can survive that?

Everyone thought the same. Especially people from different cities or kingdoms.

However, Empress Elleanna was having leisure time at the moment.

"Aunt, do you think it's alright? Isn't it a bit too extreme?" Beside her, Ella was worried as she asked.

"Fufu, I won't lie that it's a little bit too extreme, but It's fine I guess, it all depends on them," said the empress.

But her eyes were fixed at the screen where the image of a specific person was being shown.

She wondered if this person was capable. 

A pair of beautiful eyes was also staring at the same person in the Human City Zone 7, inside the room of the Academy's Ace.

For some weird reason, whenever she saw that person in black armor, the image of him, the guy she had a crush on, always came to her mind.

Almina bit her lower lip when she noticed another person besides that person on the screen. A beautiful red-haired girl with wolf ears.

In the eyes of Yman and the other participants, the canopy of towering walls reflected on it. Countless undead and monsters were waiting on the ground and top of the wall.

While the others frowned and grimaced at the sight, he on the hand grinned.

"This is exciting…" he muttered. "Hehe, come, my soldiers," after saying it, something came out from nowhere. They were all uniformed in black colors, and their bodies were trailing with lines that looked like streams of lava, forming like veins. Their eyes were on fire exuding with power. And Black Miasma was oozing from their bodies.

"WHAT THE HECK WAS THAT!!!?"

All the people who were watching asked in their minds.