CHAPTER 298: THE MASS FIGHT.

Kael felt it instantly. That cold, piercing focus.

(He’s after the shard... after me.)

"I’m wasting too much time here," Kael muttered under his breath. "I should leave it to them... and get out while I still can."

He turned to slip away quietly — but then, shouts erupted from the forest.

"RUN! RUN—!!"

Everyone turned.

Dozens of students came stumbling through the trees, eyes wide with terror, some bleeding, some covered in dirt and ash.

"What the—?" Jin muttered, wiping blood from his mouth.

One of the students tripped and fell, crawling on the ground. "There’s—there’s a madman! He’s killing us!"

Cecelia’s face went pale. "What?! Who?"

A deep, guttural rumble echoed, trees cracking, birds scattering into the sky.

And then it appeared.

From between the shattered trunks, a giant demon stepped out. Its skin was gray and molten, its arms dragging across the ground, claws sharp enough to carve stone.

Two massive horns curled from its skull, and black flames burned from its eyes.

Jin’s jaw dropped. "What the actual hell is that?!"

Zereth turned his head slightly, annoyed. "That idiot... creating a mess again."

The air grew hot as the giant demon let out a deafening roar that shook the valley.

The ground split open beneath its feet, molten veins glowing underneath.

The frightened students panicked.

"TEAR THE EMERGENCY TALISMANS!" one of them shouted.

Papers flashed in the air — glowing crimson before bursting into sparks.

Each talisman connected to the academy’s staff system, alerting instructors of danger.

Meanwhile, back at the Academy, Sylvia and Myra were sitting in the staff lounge, discussing combat reports.

Until Sylvia’s talisman lit up in midair, glowing bright red.

Myra frowned. "What is that light?"

Sylvia’s expression darkened instantly. "That’s my emergency talisman."

Then another one flared.

And another.

And another.

Myra’s eyes widened. "There’s more than twenty being torn at once!"

Sylvia stood abruptly. "That means—my students are in danger."

They both bolted out of the room, rushing toward the Headmaster’s office as the alarms began to echo through the academy.

Back at Crystal Hollow Valley, chaos reigned.

The students scattered as the Giant Demon stomped closer, its breath thick with ash and decay.

Each step it took made the ground quake, rocks tumbling from cliffsides.

Kael clenched his fists.

He could feel the shard pulsing violently in his chest again — the same dark energy as the creature’s.

(It’s drawn to me...)

"Kael!" Elysia shouted, parrying another strike from Zereth.

"Don’t just stand there—go!"

Kael exhaled sharply. "I’ll handle that. You deal with him!"

Elysia blinked. "Handle—what?! You can’t—"

But Kael was already sprinting toward the Giant Demon, sword drawn.

A few of the surviving students — still shaken but desperate — followed him. "We’ll help!"

Kael skidded to a stop before the towering beast, staring up at it. Its eyes glowed molten red, drool hissing as it dripped onto the rocks.

He took a stance. "Come on, then..."

The creature bellowed, swinging a massive claw.

Kael dodged to the side, the wind of the blow throwing him off balance.

He slashed upward, cutting deep into its forearm — but the wound sealed instantly with black fire.

"Tch—damn it!"

One of the students behind him shouted, "We’ll back you up!"

They unleashed spells — fireballs, lightning, wind blades — crashing against the demon’s skin.

The blasts exploded, sending smoke high into the air, but when it cleared... the monster still stood.

Barely signed.

"Did that even hurt it?" another student cried.

Kael didn’t answer.

He rushed forward again, sliding under another massive swing.

He stabbed his sword into the creature’s leg, channeling mana through the blade.

"Burst—!"

The sword detonated with a flash of crimson light, tearing through flesh and muscle.

The demon roared in fury, staggering slightly — then kicked Kael back like a doll.

He hit the ground hard, rolling several meters. Blood filled his mouth.

"Kael!" Cecelia screamed from a distance, but she couldn’t leave the others — Zereth’s attacks hadn’t stopped.

Zereth turned his head toward the Giant Demon and sighed in annoyance. "This is tiresome. You’re interfering with my hunt."

He extended his hand, and chains of dark mana erupted from his palm, latching onto the Giant Demon’s limbs.

"You belong to the lower abyss, not here."

The beast struggled, roaring wildly, but the chains tightened, glowing red-hot.

Edwin, already half-healed by Cecelia, gritted his teeth and stood up. "Not... done yet."

He lifted his sword, "Let’s see if you can block this!"

He leapt again, bringing his sword down on Zereth’s chains, shattering two of them. The backlash made the air explode like thunder.

Zereth looked mildly impressed. "You mortals really don’t know when to quit."

He appeared in front of Edwin in a flash — faster than anyone could react — and slammed his palm into Edwin’s chest.

The ground cracked open beneath them.

Edwin coughed blood and dropped to one knee, still gripping his sword.

Cecelia screamed, "EDWIN!"

Her magic surged, green light enveloping him again. She tried to reach him — but the demonic heat in the air scorched her skin.

Jin rejoined her, spinning his twin blades. "He’s not going down alone."

He rushed Zereth. "Try dodging this!"

Their blades clashed — sparks flying in every direction. Jin struck from the left, then the right, but Zereth caught both blades between his hands, twisting them aside effortlessly.

"You seem fast," Zereth said. "But speed without intent is just noise."

He kneed Jin in the gut, sending him sprawling.

Cecelia’s tears spilled as she pushed her mana to the limit, healing them all at once.

"Please—don’t die..."

Zereth watched her for a moment. "You... you heal without greed. A rare soul."

Then his smile faded, replaced by something colder. "Pity you’re in my way."

He raised his blade — but Elysia crashed into him again, knocking him back with a glowing kick of holy energy.

She stood panting, sword raised. "I told you — you’re not touching them!"

Zereth laughed softly, "And I told you... this isn’t about them. It’s about him."

His eyes met Kael’s again — who was still facing off against the wounded but raging Giant Demon.

Kael’s breath came in short, harsh bursts. His sword trembled, but he tightened his grip.

The shard under his chest pulsed violently, glowing bright enough to pierce through his torn uniform.

(If I don’t end this... we all die.)

He stepped forward, eyes narrowing.

The Giant Demon reared back, ready to crush him —

And Kael’s shard flared like a red sun, filling the valley with crimson light.

The giant demon roared again, shaking the entire Crystal Hollow. Kael braced himself, blood dripping from his chin, his sword trembling in his grip.

His classmates behind him — three of them — gathered their remaining courage.

"We’ll help you!" one shouted.

Kael didn’t take his eyes off the giant beast. "Stay back... you’ll die."

Before they could argue—

A new pressure dropped onto the battlefield.

Five shadows fell from the sky like falling comets.

Boom!

Boom!

Boom!

Boom!

Boom!

Dust blew everywhere, the shockwaves knocking several students off their feet.

When the smoke cleared, five human-like demons stood in formation. Their presence felt sharper, cleaner, deadlier than the chaotic giant demon.

Zereth clicked his tongue when he saw them. "Tch. So the Five Sins finally decided to show up."

The one in front raised his chin.

"Orders are orders," he said bluntly.

"If someone touched the Abyssal Code, we must retrieve it."

The students around them stiffened.

One whispered, "A-Are they... demons?"

Another shook his head. "They look human..."

Elysia’s grip tightened. "No... they’re worse. They’re the Five Deadly Sins."

Kael’s breath hitched. (The five sins of the novel... they really came.)

The leader stepped forward.

Varrun — Mage of Envy

His voice was smooth, snake-like. "Varrun," he introduced. "Mage of Envy."

The second cracked his knuckles.

Kaelthor — Demon Swordsman

"Kaelthor," he said with a grin.

"Remember the name when I carve it into your bones."

The third, a huge muscular creature wearing heavy armor, stomped the ground.

Grathun — Tank of Demons

"Grathun. Don’t run. I hate chasing weaklings."

A lean young demon spun his fists playfully.

Rylik — Fighter

"Rylik! Let’s have some fun!"

The last one tightened the string of his crimson bow.

Serath — Marksman

"Serath. If you run, don’t bother. I will never miss it."

A chill spread among the students.

Then—

The Five Sins charged.

"Spread out!" Elysia shouted.

But the demons were already upon them.

Students grouped in desperate teams of two or three — blades clashing against demonic power.

The Students’ Desperate Struggle

Kaelthor’s blade sliced through the air, forcing two students back.

"Block this if you can!" he smirked.

The students raised their shields.

CRACK!

The shields shattered instantly, sending them crashing to the ground.

"Too easy," Kaelthor said, preparing another swing.

"Do you students really think you can stand against me?"

Three mages cast fireballs at him.

Varrun sighed. "Mimic."

Their fireballs were absorbed into his hand — then fired back at triple the size.

"RUN!" one student screamed.

The blast consumed them in green flames, sending them to the ground unconscious.

Grathun stomped forward, shrugging off spells like raindrops.

"Hit him harder!" a girl screamed.

Two sword students slashed his arm.

Their blades bent on contact.

Grathun laughed. "Tickles."

He swung an elbow — the shockwave alone sent all three flying into boulders.

Rylik danced among four students, fists moving like rapid shadows.

"Left—LEFT!" someone yelled.

Too slow.

Rylik’s kick spun like a tornado, knocking all four flats.

"Hahaha! Come on! Keep fighting!"