The Mysterious Black Magician

In the castle, Jura and his friends were successful in killing the Flesh-Eating Monster Plant. They were now proceeded to the next room to where the direction of the light for the last barrier could be seen.

For some reason, this barrier's size sunk so much. Last time it was inside the walls at the first line of defense. But as they move forward towards it, the barrier seemingly avoiding them as its size continued sinking like it was luring them inside the castle.

Jura and his friends met some monsters on the way, but with the help of their full transformation, the following fights seemed so easy for them. They dispatched most of the enemies who came to blocked their way.

The only problem that they encountered was the Possessed Knight Statues. Since they were not easy to kill. Even if they broke them, the statues broken bodies came back to normal a second later.

Jura gnashed his teeth while knitting his brows.. It wasn't good if they stay longer in this place. After the last statue killed by Nicholas restored its broken body, he decided, "no, Nicholas! let them be! We can't waste our time together with this unkillable piece of crap!"

Jura shouted to Nicholas and the others.

"Eh?! Okay!" Nicholas agreed.

"Let's go!" The others also shouted.

The group decided to continue to the next room without minding the chasing statues.

After they left, another group entered. It was the group of Harou and Mus.

But being that they have several participants with them, the statues broke into dust until they lost the ability to restore.

But the battle wasted too much time for their group. Then they immediately went to the next room to where Jura and the others went.

 After they left, another group followed. It was the united group of Hilion, Roman, Gath, Gilion, and the other participants.

Some statues respawned in front of them, but with the power of Roman and the others, it was easily defeated.

Outside the painting, everyone was cheering like wild drunkards.

The race of whoever is the first to enter the last barrier came into the climax.

In the audience podium, the student council members were cheering for the group of Jura and Nicholas.

Especially that they were the first people who entered the castle.

Everyone already forgot what happened to those people who fell in the ridge. They didn't have any ideas about what was happening to them as their focus was inside the castle. Also, all of the Monitoring Devices had gone to the castle for live coverage to all the experts.

Inside the house of the Lupine family, a beautiful lady of about 30 years old was sighing heavily. She was excited at first because her son and daughter managed to enter the second barrier. But they fell into someone's scheme and were thrown into the ridge.

On top of that, the one who threw them was from the other family of the same Canine Sect.

Her long red hair fluttered gently when the slight wind from the opened window passed through it.

She looked into the distance with a can't be helped face. A moment later, the door of the room was pushed open and some elderly came in.

She slightly frowned.

At the same time, inside the palace balcony, when the empress saw that all of the participants had managed to enter the castle, a grin happened on the empress's face.

In the throne room. The last surprise was waiting for all of them.

Jura, Nicholas, and the other two people from their group excitedly opened the towering well-polish wooden door with exquisite design. In the middle of it, the statue of the gaping lion's head was stuck from it.

Based on their informant, in the throne room, they could obtain additional rewards from the empress.

The reason why they rushed over here was that behind this door was where the treasure could be found and the last barrier was located!

After a very long battle, in the end, only the one who had the brain to outwit everyone would be the winner.

Jura thought so.

"Hehehehe!" Each of them grinned.

Without wasting any more time, using their joint strengths, (HUFFFF!!!) they pushed the door.

CREEEAAAAAAAAAKKKKKKK!!!

The door made a long creaking noise as the gap of the door became bigger.

When the gap was big enough for them to enter, they did not waste another time. They entered immediately.

"Woohoo!" One of their friends screamed in elation. After this, they would not only earn treasures, they would also become popular. Especially in the academy. No, not only in the academy. But also in the whole empire.

The girls from the student council chuckled at their childish action. But most of them were proud of Jura's group. Some of them were even whispering. To have a crush with— (No spoiler!)

Jura and the others immediately rolled his eyes. Scanning the whole room.

The walls were decorated with expensive-looking fabric of red and black colors. On the ceiling, a seemingly alive painting was eye-catching.

It was a painting of a demon with long horns. Hacking every Humans, Demihumans, Fishmen, etc.

On the floor, a red carpet was connected from the door towards the podium with 5 steps high.

And on top of the podium, a big golden chair could be seen.

On the chair, a huge entity was sitting. It had long horns and big protruding tusks from its mouth.

It had well-built arms and legs muscles. Its eyes were close. But Jura and the others could feel an eerie feeling towards it.

Golden knuckle and wristband on its hands and arms.

And golden boots on its legs. He was clad with heavy-looking red breastplate armor. And a long red cloak was hung loosely from its back. His two arms were resting on the golden armchair. They also noticed a big sword inside the black scabbard.

Everyone gasped upon seeing it and fell silent. Even the people outside the painting were no exception.

But fortunately, it was only a statue.

"A demon lord?" Mumbled Jura.

"H-Huge!" Nicholas added.

At the moment, Nicholas and the others were in their full transformation mode.

Nicholas' transformation was like that of a golden humanoid bird. Jura on the other hand, nothing much changed in his appearance. There was only a pair of wings growing from his back. And he was clad in shining silver armor while wielding a longsword in his hand.

They noticed that they were only as tall as the statue's knee.

While Jura and the others were staring at the statue, one of his friends ran towards the podium to where the huge figure was sitting in the chair.

"There! The treasures! Hahaha!" He shouted while fast approaching towards where the treasures were lying.

Jura and the glanced and saw 3 golden chests at the foot of the huge figure. 

"!!"

However, before their friend could get near it, Jura noticed a slight twitch in the figure's eye.

Before his warning came out from his mouth. His friend suddenly went to a stop.

(Thud thud thud…) Then something flew and rolled to the room's floor.

Everyone fell silent…

"A head?"

"....."