Chapter 153: Chapter 153

Laven and Laficel headed towards the pile of rubble. It was one of the many hallways in the auditorium that Demphis had crushed.

They turned their backs without hesitation and began to clear the stones.

“One, two, three—heave!”

Karnak, Baros, and Serati moved in the opposite direction.

On the other side of the auditorium, they glared at Demphis, drawing their swords infused with battle aura and preparing their magic.

Their stances clearly indicated their intent: attack the moment he turned his back.

“Ah, these fools… what is this…”

With a perplexed look, Hugot glanced around nervously.

No matter which side he focused on, it was a situation where his concentration would inevitably be broken.

Demphis raised his skeletal finger.

“What pathetic little tricks you’re trying.”

Thinking that such tactics would work against an Arch Lich was a grave mistake.

Did they think he was alone?

Too bad for them, summoning a powerful servant isn’t a difficult task, whether you’re a mage or a necromancer.

“Why don’t I just summon my servants as well?”

Woooong!

The mana vibrated, and a red magic circle began to form beneath Demphis’ feet.

At this sight, Karnak inwardly rejoiced.

‘Good!’

If Demphis summoned undead or demons from hell, Karnak could immediately unleash the Redeemer of Necromancy. Even if he summoned golems or spirits, magic infiltration would be possible.

The worst-case scenario was if Demphis used powerful magic to incapacitate Laven’s group all at once…

‘As expected, this guy’s overly cautious, huh?’

He wasn’t using any destructive magic, likely out of fear that he might cause some serious injury.

This was a plan Karnak could only attempt because he knew Demphis’ personality.

‘Just finish the summoning. Then immediately…’

And then it happened.

Demphis twirled his bony finger.

“There’s no need to summon something new. I’ve already got one.”

The magic circle flared with light and began to swirl around Hugot, who was nearby.

“Lord Demphis?”

Hugot, shocked, struggled in vain. The light had already begun to seep into his entire body.

His limbs stretched, horns and tentacles sprouted from his body, and his size more than doubled as his human form gradually vanished.

Karnak’s face hardened.

“…What?”

If things continued like this, there would be no opening for him to exploit!

Baros, with a reluctant expression, said.

[Now that I think about it, didn’t Governor Demphis used to imitate the young master’s behavior?]

Exactly. Except for Baros, Karnak treated all his subordinates as disposable.

And Demphis was one of Karnak’s most loyal followers.

‘Ugh, I figured out his personality but didn’t catch on to his character.’

Like master, like servant.

Both were fundamentally underhanded.

“I’ll return you to normal after the battle, so don’t worry too much.”

Demphis casually pointed at Laven and Laficel.

“Capture them.”

The monstrous Hugot roared, shaking the entire auditorium.

“Graaaah!”

***

A 2.5-meter-tall monster charged through the auditorium.

Karnak’s group frantically tried to block its path, but it was no use.

“Where do you think you’re going?!”

Demphis intervened, firing off lightning magic spells.

With explosions all around them, they had no choice but to fall back.

Serati gritted his teeth.

“Damn it!”

In the brief moment of distraction, Hugot’s tentacles, which had grown from his back, lashed out like whips.

Sssshhh!

The tentacles shattered Millia’s divine shield, wrapping tightly around her arms and legs.

“Ugh!”

However, Laven and Laficel were different.

They skillfully maneuvered through the sound of tearing air.

Even though their movements were slower than the tentacles, they preemptively anticipated Hugot’s attacks and dodged them.

‘How do they know in advance?’

Hugot was stunned, while Demphis remained unimpressed.

“Of course, they should at least be capable of that.”

As Laven and Laficel leaped through the air, an invisible pressure suddenly pressed down on their shoulders.

It was the gravity spell Demphis had cast, Maximum Gravity.

“Ugh!”

“Argh!”

Crushed by the invisible force, both of them froze in place.

Hugot’s tentacles immediately wrapped tightly around their limbs as well.

“Sir Laven!”

“Laficel!”

Baros and Serati dashed along the perimeter of the auditorium.

However, Demphis’ magic was far too impregnable.

“Not a chance.”

He pointed his golden wand at their backs and began chanting.

“The howl of the mountain wolf echoes across the sky, Wild Thunder.”

A web of erratic lightning surged in all directions.

Barely dodging the attack, Serati sent a message to Karnak.

[What do we do now, Lord Karnak?]

The situation had turned into a mess. At this rate, they had only handed over hostages for no reason.

But even Karnak didn’t have any good ideas.

[First, let’s focus on getting through this immediate crisis!]

Baros’ chain sword whirled, and Serati’s red aura filled the room as they fiercely continued to battle.

Despite their efforts, the tide of the battle wasn’t turning in their favor.

“Now that there’s nothing else to worry about…”

Demphis leisurely launched spell after spell, pushing them further into a corner.

“I’ll take my time reaping your lives.”

His mana reserves were overwhelming, making it impossible to even think of a counterattack. Simply surviving was the best they could manage.

Sweat trickled down Karnak’s forehead.

‘This is bad…’

The only reason they had lasted this long was, ironically, because of Demphis—or rather, because Dallas was truly Karnak’s magic teacher.

The foundation for his Chaos Magic had come from Dallas’ magic.

In the first place, Chaos Magic wasn’t designed for power; it was for living a quiet, unnoticed life.

But the three Archmages had highly unique magic.

The more distinctive the magic, the harder it was to modify, and if used incorrectly, its true origin could be easily discovered.

On the other hand, Dallas’ magic was universal and relatively unknown. It was easy to manipulate, and no one could recognize it.

That’s why Karnak had used it, never expecting it would turn out to be a blessing in disguise.

But they couldn’t last much longer like this.

They were out of bait, the hostages had been taken, and the enemy had no qualms about killing them.

One miscalculation had put them in a highly unfavorable position.

‘What do I do? How do I get out of this?’

Karnak’s expression grew increasingly stiff.

***

Watching Karnak continuously block his attacks, Demphis felt puzzled.

‘Why does that guy seem to know my magic so well?’

He still hadn’t realized that Chaos Magic originated from him. Karnak had altered it so much that it wasn’t recognizable.

But that didn’t matter much.

In the end, the strong always have more options than the weak.

‘Even if he knows, I just have to change my approach so he can’t stop me.’

Countless brilliant lights began to appear around Demphis.

The magic lights swirled around the Arch Lich, tearing through the air with a deafening roar. Then, all at once, they shot out in all directions.

“Archon Beat Area.”

A barrage of light bullets flew through the air.

The attack was too wide to dodge or deflect.

To avoid the onslaught, Baros and Serati dove in opposite directions.

“Hup!”

“Tah!”

Baros went left, and Serati went right.

Both flew toward each other, landing at the same spot simultaneously.

Unfortunately, Karnak happened to be standing right there.

Baros’ face froze.

“Oops!”

Demphis had cleverly herded the three of them together.

‘We need to spread out…!’

But it was too late.

Arch Lich’s ultimate spell had already been cast through his golden wand.

“Disappear, you troublesome humans.”

A vast wave of darkness surged from the tip of the staff, rushing toward them like a tidal wave.

“Ultimate Dark.”

The darkness obliterated everything it touched.

It was a simple, wide-ranging, extremely inefficient, and mana-draining spell.

But for that reason, it was also unavoidable and impossible to block.

“Ughhhh!”

Facing imminent death, Baros thrust his sword forward with all his might.

“Ughhhh!”

At the same time, he focused his energy, refining his aura.

The concentrated aura shifted into a sharp flow, glowing brilliantly in a vivid blue light.

It was the Stage of Skill Over Strength, the mark of the Blue Knight.

The blue sword light cut through the darkness, flowing in all directions.

The merciless force of destruction surged through the auditorium, shattering walls, ceiling, and floor alike.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

Even Demphis muttered in surprise.

“How can a mere Blue knight block this magic?”

But that was all.

He could delay the attack briefly, but there was no way to fully block it. All he could do was buy a few more seconds.

‘I know, I know it, damn it!’

Nevertheless, Baros poured every ounce of strength into enduring the attack.

At least they wouldn’t die right this instant.

And after that…

‘That man, who’s so desperate not to die, will figure something out!’

Indeed, Karnak didn’t betray Baros’ expectations.

As he gazed into the darkness engulfing him, an idea flashed through his mind.

‘That’s it?’

He recognized the pattern. He had studied every detail of this particular spell.

As expected of the Death King, Karnak had scrutinized every death- and darkness-related spell when creating his Chaos Magic.

‘If it’s this…!’

Karnak immediately drew on his Chaos Power, casting a counter-spell.

“I summon forth a darkness more profound! Phantom of Darkness!”

A denser shadow enveloped the previous darkness, and a storm of pitch-black power swept through the entire auditorium.

The deafening roar echoed like it would tear the very air apart.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

The darkness receded. A cold wind blew through the wrecked auditorium.

The monstrous Hugot stood dumbfounded.

“…Huh?”

Karnak, Baros, and Serati were nowhere to be seen.

‘Did they leave no trace, not even a body?’

That seemed unlikely. No matter how thoroughly someone is obliterated, it’s rare for nothing to remain. At least some traces of blood or a scrap of flesh should have been left behind.

As expected, Demphis muttered indifferently.

“They escaped. I don’t know where they went.”

Hugot looked at him in disbelief.

“They fooled Lord Demphis?”

This was an Arch Lich, a 9th-circle master, and one of the most powerful undead. How could he have lost track of them?

“How could that be possible?”

“I don’t know. Apparently, it was possible for them.”

Surprisingly, Demphis didn’t seem too bothered by it.

“Anyway, the objective has been achieved.”

Demphis turned his gaze toward Laven, who was hanging from Hugot’s tentacles.

“Move the sacrifices.”

Hugot hesitated, glancing at Demphis.

“Before that, could you turn me back to normal…?”

“Oh, right.”

Demphis casually waved his golden wand.

First, he cast Paralyze on Laven, Laficel, and Millia, immobilizing them. He then tossed them beside the unconscious Edia and restored Hugot to his human form.

“Phew…”

Only after returning to his human shape did Hugot breathe a sigh of relief.

“We should set up maximum defenses using the priests.”

“…..Set up defenses?”

“Yes. Won’t the ones who escaped try to return and rescue their comrades?”

“Hm, you have a point. Yes, you’re right.”

Hugot felt a bit confused.

He had simply made an obvious suggestion, but Demphis’ response was strangely measured.

But Demphis didn’t bother explaining. Instead, he issued a command, sliding a skeletal finger into his robe.

“Reinforce the defenses and prepare the altar.”

He retrieved something from subspace.

“When all preparations are complete…”

It was a pitch-black cube with strange markings swirling on its surface.

“…we will commence the Descent Ritual.”