CHAPTER 297: ZERETH, FIVE DEADLY SINS OF DEMON AND KAEL.

His voice echoed as his body vanished completely, leaving only the faint scent of ash.

Jin dropped to the ground, exhausted. "Please tell me that was the last one."

Edwin groaned. "If it’s not, I quit the academy."

Cecelia sank to her knees. "That... thing... was it only Rank B?"

Kael stood still, breathing heavily. He didn’t answer. His eyes were fixed on the spot where Zereth had disappeared.

Elysia wiped blood from her lip. "Kael."

He looked at her.

She hesitated, then said quietly, "Whatever that shard is... it’s calling them. You know that, don’t you?"

Kael didn’t reply.

He just stared into the crimson mist, the words of Zereth Kaine echoing in his mind.

The seals have begun to break.

The ground trembled beneath Kael’s boots, shaking dust loose from the shattered ruins.

Kael turned slightly, his red shard pulsing faintly within his chest. (I’m wasting too much time here...) he thought.

(They can handle this. If I stay, I’ll draw more of them... I should leave—)

He stepped back into the shadows of the collapsed wall, ready to vanish.

But before he could move, a scream cut through the chaos.

"Run! Run!"

Kael’s head snapped up. From the forest trail beyond the ridge, a group of students—about thirty of them—came rushing down the path.

Their faces were pale, their uniforms torn, their breathing frantic.

"What—" Cecelia turned, eyes widening. "Why are you running?!"

The nearest student nearly tripped as he shouted, "There’s a madman! He’s—he’s trying to kill everyone!"

"The who—?!" Jin shouted, gripping his twin swords tighter.

The sound of cracking wood and crumbling earth silenced them all.

From far across the valley, the trees groaned, their roots tearing from the ground as something massive moved between them.

Kael’s heart dropped.

A deafening roar split the air—so loud the ground itself quivered.

And then it appeared.

A giant demon, twice the height of the academy tower, crawled from the shadows.

Its skin was black and molten red, veins of fire glowing beneath its cracked surface.

Its jaw was split into four parts, drooling embers that hissed against the ground. Each step left a crater of molten rock.

Jin’s mouth fell open. "What the fuck is even that?!" he shouted, pointing his swords at the creature.

Zereth, clicked his tongue in annoyance. "This idiot is creating a mess..." he muttered.

His eyes flicked toward the beast with visible irritation.

"Tear the emergency talisman!" one of the students cried, voice cracking.

In panic, several students pulled glowing slips of parchment from their belts and ripped them apart.

Light burst into the air, forming faint golden circles that flared high above the forest like distress signals.

Kael looked up. "Shit... now everyone will know."

At the Academy — Faculty Wing

Professor Sylvia was in the middle of a quiet discussion with Myra, their teacups still steaming.

They had been talking about student performance in the last combat exam when Sylvia suddenly froze.

A faint pulse of mana rippled through the air, like a heartbeat of light.

Myra blinked. "What’s that?"

Sylvia frowned. "That’s... my emergency talisman."

Before either could react, another pulse appeared—then another.

One... two... five... ten... then twenty.

Sylvia slammed her hands on the desk. "No... no, this isn’t possible."

Myra stood, alarmed. "What’s happening?"

"More than twenty emergency talismans just activated simultaneously!" Sylvia’s voice trembled as she turned toward the window.

"That means... my students—our first years—are in danger!"

"We need to report this—now!" Myra said.

They rushed out of the faculty hall, the sound of alarms echoing across the academy as golden flares continued to appear in the sky, each one signaling distress from somewhere in the valley.

(first year... Kael) Myra thought.

Back at Crystal Hollow Valley

Some students had collapsed to their knees, shivering uncontrollably.

"We’re all going to die..." one of them sobbed.

"I should’ve never joined this academy!" another muttered through tears.

Kael grit his teeth. "Pull yourselves together!" he barked, though his own hands were shaking slightly.

But before anyone could respond, a low hum filled the air.

A spiral of dark mist gathered high above, twisting into a black vortex.

Then — five shapes descended slowly from the sky, landing lightly on the ground.

Each figure looked human.

The students fell silent.

"Are... are we saved?" one whispered, stepping back.

Another whispered, "Did they come from the academy?"

The five stood in perfect formation.

Then, as one, they spoke — their voices overlapping, echoing unnaturally:

"Who is the one who touched the Abyssal’s sacred code?"

The students exchanged terrified looks.

Kael’s breath caught. (The Abyssal’s code...? That’s what the novel mentioned—the seal of the Abyss... then... these five...)

His red shard pulsed violently, as if reacting to their presence.

(No way... are they the Five Deadly Sins?)

Elysia’s gaze shot toward him. "Kael," she whispered under her breath, "their mana... it’s the same as those demons from before."

Before Kael could answer, a cold voice cut through the air.

"What are you five doing here?"

Zereth Kaine stepped out from the shadows, brushing dust from his coat.

The five figures turned toward him slowly.

"Zereth Kaine, rank-B demon..." one of them said.

"You were not summoned here. The Abyss calls only those worthy."

A faint grin crept across Zereth’s lips. "Worthy? Heh. You really think five half-formed husks can question me?"

One of the five tilted its head. "The seal is broken. The shards have awakened. The bearer must be reclaimed."

The students froze.

"What are they talking about?" Cecelia whispered.

Kael didn’t answer. His heart pounded violently as he tried to suppress the glow of his red shard.

Zereth’s eyes flicked toward Kael for a moment, his smile deepening slightly—as if he knew.

"You’re after him, aren’t you?" Zereth said casually, resting a hand on his blade.

"Too bad. He’s mine."

Elysia’s eyes narrowed. "Yours?"

"He’s marked, just like I was. But I won’t let him die here." Zereth grinned, revealing faint fangs.

The ground cracked underfoot as the five figures raised their hands, black energy swirling around them.

Zereth sighed, rolling his shoulders. "You’re really going to make me do this, huh?"

Before anyone could move, the air exploded in a shockwave of mana.

The valley erupted into chaos.

(He’s not just strong... he’s a monster in human form.) Kael thought about Zereth.

Before Kael could speak, Edwin drew his sword.

"Enough standing around!" he shouted, fire igniting along his blade. "We can’t just let him walk over us!"

"Edwin—wait!" Elysia tried to stop him, but he was already charging ahead.

Jin darted after him, twin blades flashing like silver streaks. "Tch, can’t let that idiot steal the glory!"

"Don’t be reckless!" Cecelia shouted, her hands glowing with emerald light as she summoned mana barriers around them.

"I’ll support you from behind!"

A few brave students — trembling but determined — followed the trio, pulling out their weapons and magic staves.

Zereth tilted his head slightly, an amused smirk curling on his lips. "Mortals with courage. How... quaint."

Then Edwin roared, leaping high. His sword came down in a blazing arc of golden flame.

The strike hit the ground near Zereth, exploding into a wave of fire that lit up the night.

A cloud of smoke engulfed the area.

"Did we get him?" one of the students whispered.

But before the words even finished —

Zereth stepped through the flames.

Completely unscathed.

The air shimmered around him, his coat rippling from the heat but untouched.

"That was adorable."

He raised his hand.

A surge of black lightning erupted from his palm, striking the ground like wrath.

The blast sent Edwin flying, his sword spinning out of his grip.

"EDWIN!" Cecelia screamed, dashing forward. Her healing magic poured into his chest as she knelt beside him.

But Zereth didn’t stop. His voice carried through the chaos, low and calm — the kind of calm that froze blood.

"You think strength comes from defiance... You’ve never tasted true despair."

He snapped his fingers.

The shadows around the ruins shifted — rising like liquid smoke, coiling into sharp blades that struck out toward the students.

"Barrier!" Cecelia cried.

Her hands glowed bright green. A shimmering wall of mana spread out, blocking the first wave — but cracks splintered instantly under the impact.

Jin appeared beside her, slashing at the tendrils. "Go heal Edwin! I’ll handle this freak!"

"Handle me?" Zereth chuckled, stepping forward. "You can’t even comprehend me."

He vanished.

Jin’s eyes widened. "What—?!"

Zereth appeared behind him in a flash — his movements smooth, almost elegant — and drove his fist into Jin’s side.

The air exploded with the impact, sending Jin skidding across the dirt.

He groaned, coughing blood. "Damn it..."

Cecelia turned toward him, panic rising. "Jin!"

"Focus on Edwin!" Jin coughed, trying to stand. "I’m not dead yet!"

Zereth smiled faintly. "Good. Stay alive a little longer. I like to see the light fade slowly."

He lifted his sword, its edge glowing with crimson light.

But before he could strike again — Elysia appeared, intercepting his blow with a flash of silver steel.

Sparks exploded as their blades met.

"Get away from them!" she yelled, pushing forward.

Zereth’s gaze softened. "Ah, the holy knight... I was wondering when you’d join."

Elysia gritted her teeth. "You’re not walking out of here."

Her sword shone energy.

For a moment, light and shadow clashed in a perfect storm — golden arcs against crimson waves.

The ground beneath them fractured, throwing up shards of rock.

Zereth grinned. "You have spirit. But you’re not the one I came for."