The oppressive, familiar aura made Luca feel a chill running through his blood.
Transcendent level!
A Transcendent-level monster had actually descended!
He struggled to look back, only to see that the previously closed Demon Box had somehow opened, and thick, foul black liquid was oozing from within.
A blinding black light surged skyward, as if seeking to engulf the entire world in darkness.
This darkness wasn’t like the night—it was absolute, suffocating darkness.
No light, no sound, just dead silence.
Golden threads glinted in Luca’s eyes, allowing him to make out a graceful silhouette amidst the shadows.
A delicate veil covered her face, her skin pale as porcelain, her form draped in a black gauzy dress, her bare feet visible as her enticing figure flickered in and out of the darkness.
She looked like a flawless work of art, beautiful beyond words, and a mere glance stirred a flood of chaotic desires, luring one into a sea of insatiable longing.
Almost as soon as Luca noticed her, she seemed to sense his gaze. She turned slightly, her eyes, brilliant like stars, locking onto him.
In that instant, as their eyes met, Luca felt as though he was being swallowed by the darkness. Unchecked desires surged from deep within, crashing over him like a massive wave, threatening to consume him entirely.
“Don’t look back!” Orf’s voice boomed like thunder in his ears, snapping him out of the whirlpool of desire. Luca jolted, drenched in a cold sweat.
What a terrifying power!
So this was the Witch of Desire, Pandora?
He had only heard rumors of her dreadfulness before, but experiencing it firsthand, he understood just how insignificant and feeble human will was against such a presence.
Had he not been someone who had lived through two lifetimes, he might have had no chance of resisting her influence.
Without a moment’s pause, Bronte and the others led everyone away from the Outer District.
Pandora didn’t pursue them, seeming to consider them beneath her notice.
With her eyes closed, she floated high in the sky, veiled in black light. The black box in her hand continuously poured forth foul black water, spreading outward from the meat factory, creeping into every corner of the Outer District.
The sudden shift left many with no time to react.
Anyone who came into contact with the black liquid was consumed almost instantly. When the liquid receded, those individuals stood again, transformed into red-eyed Abyss Crawlers, moving on all fours.
“Roar! Roar! Roar!”
Countless monsters lunged at the civilians in the Outer District. Agile and fierce, they leaped from rooftops to streets, their razor-sharp claws like blades, tearing people apart with ease.
The monsters’ roars and the screams of the victims echoed throughout the Outer District, filling it with endless agony.
By the time Luca and the others made it back to the Inner District, the Outer District had become a living hell.
The group stared in disbelief.
In just moments, Southwind City had fallen into utter chaos!
“Is this what Pure River Town went through back then?!”
“But the blood sacrifice was stopped! How did that monster still manage to reach our world?!” Bronte’s eyes were bloodshot as he punched the wall, leaving a deep dent.
As the Lord of Southwind City and Marquis of the Southern Territory, he felt an overwhelming mix of emotions, watching his people suffer without fully understanding why.
The others, equally shaken, also struggled to understand Pandora’s sudden appearance.
Luca took a deep breath, trying to calm himself.
He’d witnessed scenes like this many times before, so he regained his composure faster than the others.
After a moment’s thought, he realized something and spoke with resolve: “Everyone, don’t lose hope. We did disrupt the Mora family’s blood sacrifice—Pandora’s arrival wasn’t due to that ritual!”
“What do you mean?” Medel asked, perplexed.
Orf’s eyes widened with sudden understanding. “Are you suggesting that Pandora was already here but just hadn’t made her move?”
Luca nodded. “The Blood Sacrifice Array was actually meant by the Mora family to summon a different King-level monster. But because we disrupted the ritual, Pandora had no choice but to emerge from the Demon Box and act herself.”
He knew far more about these events than anyone else present, so his deduction came easily.
Luca also suspected that Finn had played a role in Pandora’s appearance. If the Mora family’s plan had gone smoothly, Finn wouldn’t have shown up, let alone killed them.
With the Mora family’s failure, Finn had forced Pandora to awaken.
Hearing this theory, everyone felt a glimmer of clarity.
It made sense. They could tell that, although Pandora radiated a Transcendent-level aura, she didn’t seem as powerful as they’d expected.
In other words, this was not Pandora in her full strength!
With this thought, a spark of confidence rekindled among the group.
If they were facing a fully-powered Transcendent-level monster, they wouldn’t stand a chance. But if it was a weakened King-level monster, they could at least hold it off long enough for others to escape.
Bronte immediately turned to Luna, his tone firm. “Luna, issue the order: gather the city’s defense forces and hold back the monsters!
“No matter the cost, ensure that every citizen evacuates Southwind City safely!”
After a pause, he added, “We’ll do our best to stall the King-level monster. You should lead everyone else far from Southwind City, as far as possible.”
Bronte’s tone was calm, but his words left no room for doubt.
Southwind City was beyond saving.
At his words, Luna’s eyes flashed with defiance, and she refused outright, “No! Southwind City is my home. I’ll stay here and fight. I’ll send someone else to lead the soldiers!”
Bronte was silent for a moment, then spoke quietly but firmly. “When I tell you to leave, you listen.”
His voice wasn’t loud, but it cut through the noisy street with clarity.
For the first time, Luca saw this usually carefree marquis display such stern authority.
Luna bit her lip, her eyes shining with unshed tears.
As she cast a long, lingering look at Bronte.
Without another word, she turned and headed for the city lord’s manor.
Growing up in the marquis’ household came with responsibilities.
It was a lesson their late father had instilled in them from a young age.
“You should go with them too,” Orf said, placing a hand on Luca’s shoulder. He slipped a ring off his finger, pressing it into Luca’s hand with a gentle smile. “I’m an old man. Staying behind doesn’t matter for me, but you’re my last student, Luca. You have to live.”
Luca opened his mouth to respond, but Medel cut him off with a gruff, “What, are you planning to stay here as monster chow? Get moving!”
“Oh, and one more thing…”
Medel tossed him another ring, a Storage Ring, and cleared his throat. “It’s got a bit of my savings over the years. I never had a student in my life.”
“If you don’t mind… how about calling me ‘teacher’ just once?”
Looking down at the two rings in his hand, Luca swallowed.
Then gave a respectful bow. “Thank you, teachers.”
A warm smile spread across Orf’s and Medel’s faces.
With such a student, they could die without regrets.
As Luca’s figure faded into the distance, they turned their gazes skyward toward the looming figure.
Bronte’s expression grew grim, and he said solemnly, “Are you both certain? Once the fight begins, survival is nearly impossible.”
This was a Transcendent-level foe.
Even if weakened, the thought alone made him shudder to his core.
“We’ve seen more battles than you’ve eaten salt, kid; no need for your reminders,” Medel scoffed, rolling his eyes as magic runes flickered across his body.
Stretching his limbs, he chuckled, “One last good fight before this body gives out—that’s something worth looking forward to, right, Orf? Orf?!”
Orf ignored them, frowning as he rummaged through his Storage Ring. Finally, his expression relaxed.
He pulled out a dusty pack of cigarettes, probably stashed away decades ago, and carefully lit one, exhaling smoke with a look of contentment. “You all talk like we’re doomed. It’s just a King-level monster. Luca managed to break the Superclass Dark River Array; maybe we’ve got a shot.”
Medel snorted, “Then why’d you take out that picture of your late wife?”
…
After parting with Orf and the others, Luca returned straight to Red Maple Academy.
Fred and Vice Dean Kruse had already gathered the students and faculty. Everyone was preparing to escort the civilians safely out of Southwind City.
Fratis, Melissa, Kassna, and others were there as well. Seeing Luca’s return, they looked momentarily surprised but not entirely shocked.
Fratis approached, casting a worried glance toward where Orf and the others were, murmuring, “The Dean and the others… they’ll be alright, won’t they?”
A look of concern spread across the faces of everyone nearby.
It spoke volumes that so many Superclass fighters had joined forces—it meant the woman in the sky was beyond formidable.
“They’ll be fine,” Luca said with a faint shake of his head, not elaborating further.
Without pausing, he continued heading into Red Maple Academy.
“Luca, where are you going? We’re preparing to leave!” Melissa called out, bewildered.
“Go on ahead. I’m just going back to get something,” Luca replied.
“What is it? Tell me, I’ll grab it for you!” Fred shouted.
But Luca’s figure had already disappeared through the doors of Red Maple Academy
His voice drifting back faintly.
“It’s something you wouldn’t be able to retrieve.”