Mentee Magic Duel (7)
[Such immense power... overflowing through every inch of my body...]
Ruin smiled, reveling in the euphoria surging from his chest. Compared to his pathetic human days, his mana felt infinite, his stamina boundless. The regenerative power that healed every wound in an instant bordered on omnipotence.
The professors and students from the Magic Tower who had looked down on him as a commoner. Even Siel, the genius they praised to the skies—he could probably erase her with a flick of his wrist now. There were countless such fools scattered across the world who would tremble and kneel at his mere word or gesture.
It made sense now why the "Wish" demon he'd contracted with had been so arrogant. A titled demon wielded power rivaling the gods. If a mere overseer of human desires was this strong, he couldn't even fathom the might of the Seven Deadly Sins demons.
They'd all been waiting for the Demon King, hadn't they? Whatever.
But something else piqued his curiosity more.
[You...]
His blood-red vision locked onto the boy below, aiming his sniper rifle.
[What the hell are you...? Why aren't you afraid of me?]
The arena filled with a guttural roar like hundreds of spirits fused into one—the number of commoners Ruin had sacrificed. Yet Kyle held his ground, staring back unflinchingly from beneath the pitch-black crimson world.
"Because I know you're all bluff."
[Bluff? Do you not grasp the power I've gained?]
"I know. You've demonized yourself."
[And yet... you stand your ground. You've got guts when it comes to bravado, at least. Won't matter soon, though.]
Ruin glanced around. A jet-black barrier separated the arena from the stands.
[You're dead now. Utterly, miserably dead.]
Kyle and Ruin were about to clash in a duel to the death. This unbreakable blood membrane wouldn't shatter until one fulfilled its purpose.
Calling it a duel to the death was almost laughable. It would be a one-sided massacre.
Ruin gathered his corrupted mana in his hand, summoning hundreds of magic circles into the air.
[Any last words? I'll humor you.]
Hell itself was moments from unleashing. Kyle met the demon's gaze with sunken eyes. Then, he melted into the air.
As Ruin blinked in disbelief, a voice echoed through the entire space.
"That's rich, coming from you."
Pfft—
A faint gunshot pierced Ruin's ear—not just the sound, but the bullet itself.
Ruin clutched his ear. The wound wouldn't heal.
[What nonsense is this...?]
A deep unease settled in Ruin's mind. A demon's regeneration was unparalleled. Even priests could barely suppress it, yet this felt like pure light element had been hammered into him.
[What... what the hell are you?]
Now he noticed—no presence at all. Not mere stealth. Ruin scattered demonic energy around.
Bang—!
Despite the intense interference, only a fierce wind blew through the arena. Strangely, the voice still carried.
"You still don't get it."
Tssst—
Suddenly, a shot from the void struck Ruin's abdomen. A hole the size of a man's head exposed cold air.
Wind whispered in Ruin's ear.
"Who the prey is."
[Wha—! What—!]
Ruin clawed at his side, but his talons sliced only empty air.
He couldn't comprehend it. The opponent was Kyle, the academy's bottom-ranker. Losing to him?
Unless he was hiding his true nature...
...!
Intuition struck. Ruin's voice trembled.
[You... what the hell are you?!]
No answer. Just a declaration.
"The next four shots will pierce your heart."
A quiet harbinger of death. Chills crawled over Ruin's skin. He unleashed a barrage of magic in panic.
One hit would do it...!
[Die...!]
Boom—!
Kwaaaang—!
Craters shattered the ground. But silence followed—no sign Kyle had taken a hit.
Ruin recalled the earlier fight. Kyle had dodged his spells effortlessly. Magic spam was pointless.
[Damn... it...!]
Unpredictable shots tightened around Ruin's throat. At this rate, he'd be hunted. A transcendent being, surpassing all races—devoured by prey.
Not even prey. From the start, Kyle had intended to consume him.
His calm, unshaken demeanor amid the pressure clicked. Ruin pulled his final card.
[You think I'll die like this?!]
He erected layers of barriers, ready to demolish the terrain. Magic blanketing the entire space. He'd clash hundreds of spells into a suicide explosion.
The circles glowed.
[Kuhahaha! You can't dodge this!!!]
This would kill Kyle. No stealth could survive the blast. He'd failed to block even mid-tier spells before.
His last gambit to slaughter Kyle.
Dong, dong.
The ground quaked. Then the world blazed white.
Kwaaaaaaaaang—!
Explosion. Debris rained on Ruin's shoulder as the floor crumbled. Ringing filled his ears.
Flames engulfed everything ahead of his barriers.
Piiiiiiii—
But in the slowed world, a flash streaked in. It parted the inferno, annihilating every spell in a straight line.
At its end stood Kyle, blue optic sight gleaming.
"Enough."
Tzzzzzt—
The shot gnawed at space itself, slipping through the cleared path. The red bullet shattered every barrier and slammed into Ruin's heart.
He could only watch helplessly.
Crack—
[Kraaaaaaaa—!]
The void in his soul was vivid. Infinite power, mana, stamina—all drained in seconds.
Then Kyle's kick smashed him into the floor.
"Ruin, answer me. When does this barrier break?"
Kyle loomed over him. Ruin lacked even the strength to move, but he could speak.
[The moment I die...]
"I see. You said earlier to leave last words. Better do it now. You're dying here. I never leave demons alive."
[Kuhuhu...]
Ruin just laughed. Reflecting on his life, it had been that of a failure. Mana reserves and affinity barely F-rank trash talent. No regrets.
[I... just wanted to get stronger...]
"That's it? Fitting for a disposable extra villain."
But Kyle dismissing his life outright ignited fury.
[Then what about you...! Don't you have any desires?! It's easy for you with that power... You don't know how desperately some crave it...!]
He spewed his pent-up inferiority. Everyone had desires. But Kyle shook his head.
Wasn't he supposed to be an extra's perspective?
"Sorry, but who doesn't? Even I, living as a wild man, wouldn't mind some cash. You're too fixated."
[What... do you...?!]
"Now that the mental corruption's stopped, maybe it's different. Think. Do you still crave that power?"
[That's...]
Ruin faltered. Of course—those who contract demons aren't mentally sound. They sink into their gloom, yearning for something. Demons exploit that.
Starts small: from 350th to 349th. But once there, it changes. Effortless success robs the next stepping stone.
That's the demon's trap. They can't refuse.
Ruin was one of them. But not from the start. Just one taste of demonic power. Borrowing more wasn't hard.
He shook his head.
[No... I just wanted to scrape into Artina Academy...]
"Yeah, whatever. Good you realized now. Look behind you."
Hundreds of vengeful spirits clung to his back—the sacrifices he'd offered the demon, now materialized grudges.
Kyle felt no pity. Sympathizing with a villain like him was ridiculous anyway.
"Your doing."
[Yeah... I'll accept it. Guess I'll spend eternity with them.]
"Who knows."
Kyle didn't know about the afterlife. Ruin was crumbling to dust.
His death would drop the barrier—he needed to prepare.
"Ruin, one last request."
[What...?]
"Beat me up a bit."
[You're insane. Hiding your identity with that power.]
To Ruin, Kyle looked wrecked already. He'd only blocked the frontal blast; his back was a bloody mess.
Still, for waking him, Ruin mustered his final embers for a spell. Flame claws shredded Kyle—just shy of lethal.
"You... crazy... bastard..."
Kyle blacked out and collapsed.
Ruin awaited his end. Then, replaying the fight, it hit him.
[Definitely... light...]
Kyle's bullets carried light. An absurd application. Light attribute at range, "I never leave demons alive..."
A man flashed in Ruin's mind: entrance exam, ceremony, mana beast drill. The mystery man who slew every demon dispatched by the Wish demon.
[That was you...?]
He'd never suspected. Hiding in Artina Academy, of all places.
[Haha...]
Ruin closed his eyes with final words.
[Watch out for that "Wish" bastard...]
Then the sturdy blood membrane shattered. His death was the trigger.