Chapter 52 (continued)

Suddenly, Mel reached out and grabbed Lusien's sword—the blade. Blood spurted out, startling Lusien and me into screaming.

After waiting for so long, Luolan finally had a chance to prove himself. Just as he was about to cast a healing spell, Mel suddenly stopped them and drew a magic circle in the air with his blood.

He said, "You all need to evacuate immediately. I'll teleport you out by force. Since it requires breaking through their magical shield, I'm not sure if the location will be accurate. Be careful when you land; I might just throw you into someone's pot."

I was amused by Mel. Even if his position is terrible, I wouldn't throw him into the pot unless I turn Reynold into a lamb first. Otherwise, it would have to be a cannibal's pot to hold a human!

Lusien immediately frowned. "No! You mean we have to go first? That's an insult to my chivalry!"

Mel wanted to roll his eyes at him. All knights are like that, so straightforward. They don't care if staying behind is causing trouble; they just want to stay and die, that's the spirit of chivalry.

So Mel said, "Get out of here and make some room, otherwise I'll have to protect you all while fighting, which is too much to ask! Don't worry, this matter is very serious, I know what I'm doing, and I'll definitely complete the mission."

"No!" Lusien and Angela shouted together.

Luolan added, "At least you have to leave the priest here. I can still heal your hand. Otherwise, are you prepared to bleed all the way?"

Even Reynold said, "How could we possibly abandon our teammates and run away!"

Hmm... you're a cameraman, don't be so impassioned. If the battle gets even more intense and the Absolute Protection can't hold on, are you going to smash the demon with your camera lens?

Ugh... this is so troublesome.

Mel and I both frowned, advising our less-than-stellar teammates to retreat. It was more troublesome than fighting the ultimate boss.

Even Reynold picked up a gun, Luolan drew the scimitar commonly used by the dark elves. Lusien said, "We must kill these enemies here. If ordinary Federation sheriffs and police officers were to face these enemies, they would face a one-sided massacre. With great power comes great responsibility. We are the elite force, so it is our duty to step forward!"

Seeing his resolute posture, stern expression, and impassioned words, Ms. Angela burst into laughter. "The mage just finished reciting an epic tale, and now you're launching into a knightly hymn? That's so cheesy! I want to take a picture of you and post it on social media; you'll definitely be the headline of the year!"

In the critical moment, Lusien blushed and turned around, grinning sheepishly, "Sorry, I was doing a morale-boosting session at Shield of the New Star, and I got used to speaking in official jargon."

But they really didn't want to run away. Luolan had already cast a healing spell on Mel's hand, which made Mel so angry that she wanted to yell at him, "A mage's blood is a very powerful spell-casting material. You healed me, but I have to suffer the pain again!"

I couldn't help but laugh and shake my head, because Lusien clearly had a problem with mages using their own blood as a spellcasting material. He said, "Won't that cause too much blood loss?"

In a fit of anger, Mel unleashed a blizzard that covered the entire space, and the sudden drop in temperature made Reynold, who was determined not to evacuate, shiver slightly.

However, I think even if they weren't here, Mel... might not be able to successfully deal with these enemies. He himself said that he could only cast two and a half forbidden spells, which is far from enough. Artificial Demon are the most dangerous of magical creations. I think perhaps our opponents already know who is here, which is why they sent so many at once. There are at least dozens here, and the entire mine tunnel is packed like a tin can. This must be a considerable investment for a private military company.

Moreover, I know that Mel doesn't actually know any malicious or dangerous spells; he is a noble and kind mage.

Now, those spells I haven't used in a long time tremble on my tongue. Every incantation is clear and distinct. I remember their optimal casting state, their combined effects, their spell effects, and their durations, accurate to the second.

Therefore, I say that the Dark Wizard Ciprins never gave up his evil power, as if he had always been waiting for a killing, just like when he plotted step by step in the bunker and finally killed his teacher.

And what I'm most reluctant to admit is that the Dark Mage Ciprins enjoys the feeling of killing enemies.

"Mel," I suddenly said, "Stop cutting your hands, we don't need to run."

In the next second, I entered a state of focus.

Space froze, and the rubble shaken off by the Electronic Demon's brutal movements hovered above us. I saw a moment of astonishment in Mel's eyes, but the next second, he perfectly took my place, using Absolute Protection to firmly shield me. Standing within Mel's Absolute Protection, I didn't need to worry about my chanting being interrupted, nor did I think the Electronic Demon had the ability to determine that a mage chanting a spell needed to be killed first.

Hellfire burned beneath my feet, black and cold, silent and without temperature. My memory finally reached its clear end. That period of time ended with a Hellfire. With one fire, I burned down the entire bunker, burned to death the teacher who had raised me for seven years, and burned to death my wicked fellow disciples. That was a perfect and traditional ending to their dark mage careers.

It's really strange. I don't think I just went through anything that would give me a profound realization, but suddenly I feel like...

I am no longer afraid of my own strength.

Perhaps this is the first time I've realized that even such power can be used to make everyday life better. For example, I can use it to protect Mel. If I can kill these demons, Mel won't have to cut his own hands anymore; his hands are so beautiful... Lusien and the others won't have to fall into the pot, even though they might only be able to fit one of their butts in... Even if I get wanted after doing all this, who's afraid? I've never been wanted before. Doesn't that sound exciting?

More importantly, I know that even though I love the pleasure of wielding evil magic and wantonly taking lives, I still have the confidence to do this: I will not lose control again, I won't!

Besides, I have Mel to shield me, right?

The curse began to spread from my heart. I felt pain, and I felt pleasure, but whatever it was, I chose not to restrain myself. I saw black patterns crawl up my wrists, the ground beneath my feet sank, the walls rose, and rubble transformed into pillars supporting the ceiling at my will, with Hellfire coiling around each pillar.

I have released all the spirits of the dead that I enslaved.

For the first time, resentment filled the entire space, the entire space I could perceive—they gained a brief release from the chains of my consciousness, and they let out frantic, distorted cries—

Those were my deceased fellow disciples. Some died from my teacher's sacrificial spells, and some from the Hellfire I ignited. No matter how they died, these souls could not leave peacefully. No dark mage who is obsessed with evil magic will have a good end, not to mention that too many of my fellow disciples were seduced by power and became slaves to Black Magic.

They lingered near the bunker, casting a shadow over the area.

The undead began to devour the consciousness of the Electronic Demon —even a fluffy, silly, fat hamster has consciousness, you can't say its consciousness is weak just because it has low intelligence. So the long-starved evil spirits rejoiced; it was practically a carnival feast. The Electronic Demon were like vending machines selling snacks, and the evil spirits pounced on them, entwining them—but this is where the benefits of the upgrade appeared, because even if they lost consciousness, the mechanical parts could still allow the Electronic Demon to continue fighting.

That's quite a formidable enemy.

Then I raised my hand again, and I heard myself recite the incantation perfectly—

A summoning spell.

A purplish-black magical portal opened in the air, and my long-lost black mage teacher slowly emerged from it. I looked at him, he looked at my enemy, and then I gave the order: