Noctis stood atop the tallest tower of the academy, his breath ragged, blending into the cold night air. Sephera remained unconscious beside him, her pale face reflecting the dim moonlight. Below, the twisted face of the Tiger-Headed, Goat-Horned Leader convulsed violently, its body swelling like a mass of writhing flesh.
But at this moment, something stirred within Noctis’s soul.
A voice echoed—not the usual chaotic whispers, but a deep, abyssal voice, as if resonating from an infinite void.
"Do you seek power?"
Noctis stiffened at the voice from nowhere, his brows furrowing as a chill ran down his spine.
"Who are you?"
"A watcher who has observed you for a long time," the voice replied, devoid of emotion yet carrying an undeniable presence. "I can lend you power for 24 hours. But in return, a part of me will be born within you. What do you say?"
Noctis knew that any deal with an entity from the Chaos had its price. But right now, he had no other choice. The academy was on the brink of destruction—if he did nothing, everything would end.
Although he had no idea what this being’s true intentions were, he responded without hesitation.
"Fine."
Immediately, a searing pain surged through Noctis’s body. He felt his very cells being altered, his muscles reshaped, and a dark energy coursing violently through his veins. His body grew stronger, his physical abilities surged, and most importantly—[Living Nightmare] gained a new ability: {Tentacles of Death}.
Rain drizzled onto the stone ground, each drop like a death knell. Noctis lowered his gaze, his demonic eyes flickering with a crimson glow, illuminating the monster’s weaknesses.
Below, the creature crushed a building beneath its weight, unleashing a deafening roar. Noctis teleported to the ground, his eyes gleaming with icy determination. From his body, black and red tentacles burst forth, extending up to ten meters, writhing as if they possessed a will of their own.
The battle ignited.
The Tiger-Headed, Goat-Horned Leader swung its razor-sharp claws, the air itself rupturing from its immense force. But Noctis swiftly dodged, his tentacles intercepting the attack before striking back in an instant. One of them pierced through the creature’s shoulder, dragging it down, but the beast immediately retaliated with a monstrous bite.
Noctis activated [Assimilate into Darkness] just in time—his body dissolved into shadows, evading the lethal attack. He reappeared behind the creature, unleashing a flurry of tentacle strikes aimed at the weak points revealed by [Demonic Eye].
But the beast was no simple foe. It roared, its body erupting with a surge of crimson energy, blasting Noctis away. He tumbled across the ground, blood trickling from the corner of his lips, yet his eyes remained as sharp as ever.
Just as Noctis managed to stand, a surge of overwhelming pressure erupted.
Boom!
A massive force crashed down, crushing the air around them. At the same time, a brilliant golden sword aura sliced through the night sky like an enraged bolt of lightning. Noctis gritted his teeth and instinctively stepped back.
Before him, a figure slowly approached.
Jin.
His long cloak billowed in the wind, and his platinum hair gleamed under the radiant glow of his silver sword. His sharp blue eyes scanned the battlefield before locking onto the grotesque, mutated form of the Tiger-Headed, Goat-Horned Leader.
"Who are you?" Jin’s voice rang out, low yet commanding, his gaze filled with hostility.
Noctis remained silent, clenching his fists as he turned his attention back to the monster. Jin understood that now wasn’t the time for interrogation, but he still issued a warning to the masked stranger.
"Don’t get in my way. If you’re smart, you should run while I’m busy exterminating this insect."
Then, without hesitation, he charged at the Leader at breakneck speed.
As Jin rushed into battle, Noctis stood still, feeling the newfound power coursing through his body. The pact with the unknown entity had granted him enhanced physique, abundant Vitae, and a new ability—{Tentacles of Death}. Beneath his cloak, the writhing black tendrils twitched, eager to end the fight quickly. Noctis responded by leaping into battle as well.
Seeing that the masked figure ignored his warning, Jin didn’t bother wasting another thought on him. His priority was to eliminate the Leader and rescue the students and faculty. Though he had just advanced to Rank 6 yesterday and wasn’t yet fully accustomed to his new power, he knew that this mutated Rank 7 creature was far stronger than an ordinary one. Still, if he remained cautious, victory was within reach.
The Tiger-Headed, Goat-Horned Leader let out a deafening roar, its grotesque flesh pulsing violently. The horns on its head began to glow, releasing streaks of pitch-black energy toward Jin. He could have dodged with a single step, but he chose not to.
Standing firm, a surge of golden sword aura erupted from his blade. With a single swing, Jin slashed through the incoming dark energy, scattering it like dust.
He didn’t hesitate.
Jin dashed forward like a lightning bolt, bringing his sword down.
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Boom!
The ground cracked apart, dust and debris billowing into the air. The Leader shrieked in agony as one of its arms was severed, black blood gushing like a fountain. But instead of retreating, it let out a sinister grin.
Its body immediately began to regenerate. Flesh twisted and coiled around the wound, forming a new arm—even larger and more monstrous than before.
Noctis seized the opportunity. With the Leader momentarily distracted, he sprang forward.
The tendrils from {Tentacles of Death} lashed out, coiling tightly around the creature’s legs. Another tendril shot forward, piercing its chest and ripping through its steel-like flesh.
ROAR!
The Leader thrashed violently, but Noctis’s [Living Nightmare] had nearly caught up in strength. With a powerful yank, he tore open the creature’s chest, exposing its weakly pulsating, pitch-black heart.
Jin recognized the opportunity.
His sword flared with blinding golden light. In an instant, he appeared right before the Leader, raising his sword high. A colossal arc of sword aura formed as he prepared to strike.
But just as Jin swung his blade—
Noctis didn’t hesitate.
With swift precision, his hands, clad in [Living Nightmare], transformed into an armored gauntlet with razor-sharp claws.
His black-clad fist plunged through the monster’s ribcage, gripping its heart tightly.
"It’s over."
The cold words echoed. With a decisive motion, Noctis crushed the Leader’s heart.
BOOM!
A small explosion erupted. The monster’s body convulsed violently before crumbling into ashes.
Noctis didn’t linger. The moment victory was secured, he immediately teleported away.
Jin remained standing, his grip tightening around the hilt of his sword. His eyes flashed with anger, but he quickly regained his composure.
"He’s gone. Whatever. There’s still work to do." He muttered, shaking off his frustration as he turned toward the academy grounds, where other Corrupted creatures were still attacking students.
Yes, his job wasn’t finished yet.
Over the next hour, Jin eradicated every remaining Corrupted creature, rescuing all students and faculty members. Sacred light swept through every corner, purging the last traces of corruption.
---
Noctis, though exhausted, felt a surge of exhilaration. He sat down on his bed, staring at his hands.
[Blood Gauntlet] quietly manifested, its crimson-black veins spreading across the surface of the armor, exuding an eerie aura.
An hour earlier, after returning home, he had washed up and lay on his bed, reflecting on the shortcomings of his battle. Strength and judgment—those were his primary weaknesses.
But something far more pressing occupied his mind: the pact he had made with the unknown entity. His {Soul Perception} from [Chaos Sensory] had suddenly activated.
Venturing deep into his soul ocean, Noctis found no trace of the entity within.
This discovery left him both unsettled and relieved. It meant that the being had yet to touch his soul ocean or his Blessing Seed.
Going further, Noctis checked his status.
At first, he was mildly pleased to see that [Living Nightmare] had gained a new ability—{Tentacles of Death}—though it would only last for the next 24 hours.
But what truly stunned him—what filled him with disbelief and exhilaration—was the fact that his Relics were no longer empty.
"Relic: [Blood Gauntlet].
Rank: IV."
"A mid-tier rank… Amazing."
His eyes lit up as he read the ranking.
Relics were categorized into eight ranks, with Rank I being the weakest. To possess a Rank IV item as a mere Rank 9 wielder—this was an incredible advantage.
---
Description: The Blood Emperor—a being of immense power born in the Age of Gods—was said to have participated in a divine war known as the ‘Chaos Battle.’ Defeated, he was forced into slumber, and from the blood spilled during that battle, this gauntlet was formed. However, it was later stolen.
---
Noctis reread the description, his eyes gleaming with shock.
A Relic connected to a figure called ‘The Blood Emperor’? The ‘Chaos Battle’? A war and a person he had never heard of before?
---
Relic Ability: {Hand of Blood}
The Blood Gauntlet can absorb the blood of any living creature.
It utilizes the absorbed blood to unleash devastating blood-energy slashes.
There is no limit to the length of these slashes, provided there are no obstructions.
Limitation: The user must provide the Blood Gauntlet with 5 liters of blood per use.
---
His breath grew heavy.
If this was only a part of the full set… how powerful would the complete armor be?
Noctis couldn’t resist activating the Relic to understand it better.
A surge of crimson light erupted, engulfing his right arm.
The gauntlet materialized—a deep, dried-blood red, exuding an oppressive aura. Yet, despite its appearance, it was surprisingly light and flexible.
The fingers were sharp, like the talons of a predator, and two 30 cm spikes protruded from the elbow, adding to its ominous presence.
Noctis clenched his fist, feeling the strange energy pulsating through the gauntlet.
If this artifact was truly connected to the Blood Emperor and the Chaos Battle, then it was far from an ordinary Relic.
Could it be?
Could the mysterious entity he had made a pact with have some connection to the Blood Emperor?
And why had this Relic appeared at precisely this moment?
The night was silent, yet within Noctis, a storm was brewing.
At the church, Jin was reporting the entire incident to Archbishop Edward. His expression was gentle and warm as he saw that his niece, Sephera, was safe and unharmed. However, once he finished listening to everything about Sephera, that gentleness disappeared, replaced by a frightening seriousness.
"A masked man with a demonic face, a black cloak, using powers related to darkness?" Edward frowned. "How interesting."
He knew he had to report this to his superior, Cardinal Harter. Harter was only one rank above him, but in just a few years, Edward would be promoted to Rank 4 and become a Cardinal himself. The thought of this future filled him with joy. His desire to become a Cardinal wasn't for power—it was because the workload would decrease, giving him more time to spend with his family. That was what he truly wanted.
So now, he wouldn't let anyone stand in his way of promotion. He ordered Jin to quickly compile a report on the events at Solaris Arcanum Academy: "Make a separate report about that mysterious figure." Jin wasn’t too surprised that Archbishop Edward took this matter so seriously. After all, a stranger had appeared out of nowhere, stalling for time and helping the academy in an unusually dedicated manner.
Jin already knew everything the masked figure had done. He had interviewed the only person present who was strong enough to delay the monstrous leader—the Vice Principal. After hearing the Vice Principal's account, Jin was also curious about the masked man’s identity and motives.
"So, sir, what should we call this person in the report?" Jin asked.
Edward thought for a moment before replying, "The Stranger from the Void."
---
Under the soft yellow light of the dormitory room, Sephera sat on her bed, hugging a small pillow to her chest. Her eyes were distant, lost in the chaotic memories before she fainted. In front of her, Helena, Roselie, and Celia listened attentively, waiting for her response.
Helena was the first to speak, her voice filled with curiosity.
"So… you're saying that before you lost consciousness, someone saved you? A figure with long hair?"
Sephera nodded slightly, furrowing her brows as she tried to recall the details. She vividly remembered the sheer panic of nearly being swallowed by the darkness, the helplessness she felt when facing that grotesque monster… But then, at the most critical moment, a silent figure appeared.
"I couldn't see their face clearly," Sephera said slowly, "but I remember… they had long hair, very long, flowing in the air. And I remember their eyes… a gaze with a flicker of pure black energy."
"Pure black energy?" Roselie repeated, somewhat shaken. "That sounds more like a dangerous creature than a human."
"No," Sephera shook her head firmly. "That person saved me. If it weren’t for them, I don’t know what would have happened."
Celia rested her chin on her hand, deep in thought. "Do you remember any other details? A symbol, a voice, maybe even a scent?"
Sephera closed her eyes, trying to piece together the hazy fragments of her memory. And then…
"A mask," she whispered. "That's right! They were wearing a mask—shaped like a demon’s face."
The three girls exchanged glances, their curiosity only growing stronger.
"So they didn’t want to be recognized," Helena concluded. "Could be someone from the academy… or an outsider we know nothing about."
"But why did they save Sephera?" Roselie questioned, her gaze sharp. "If they were strong enough to fight that monster, why didn’t they reveal themselves? It feels like they’re hiding something."
Helena nodded in agreement, but then she smiled lightly and patted Sephera’s shoulder. "But no matter what, you’re safe. That’s the most important thing."
Sephera smiled softly, but deep inside, countless questions remained.
Who was that person? Why did they help her? And… would they appear again?
