Chapter 12 — Underworld Fire
The underground chamber shook violently.
Cracks spread across the stone walls. Dust rained from the ceiling.
The massive monster roared, its claws tearing through the ground as it charged forward.
Kashihero stood in front of it, eyes cold.
Behind him, the remaining members of the Hollow Sigil surrounded the battlefield—thirty-two elites and two elders.
Arin clenched his fists. “This pressure… what is that monster?”
Lucas stared at the creature for a moment. His eyes narrowed. “...I see.” Black energy flickered in his pupils. “That monster was summoned from the Underworld.”
Arin’s face paled. “Underworld…?!”
The monster swung one massive arm.
The chamber trembled again.
Kashihero stepped back slightly and looked up at the ceiling. Stone fragments fell. If the fight continued here, the academy above would collapse.
He spoke calmly. “Lucas.”
Lucas appeared beside him instantly. “Yes, Master.”
“Teleport everyone outside the capital.”
Lucas nodded. A large magic circle formed beneath the battlefield. Blue light expanded rapidly.
The Hollow Sigil members realized too late. “What—?!”
The teleportation activated.
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Everyone vanished in a flash of light.
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A massive field outside the capital.
The sky flickered as a pillar of light appeared.
Kashihero, Lucas, Arin, the monster, and the entire Hollow Sigil force landed on the ground.
Wind blew across the empty land.
The monster roared again.
Kashihero stepped forward. “Lucas.”
“Yes, Master.”
“Kill them.”
Lucas disappeared.
Before the Hollow Sigil members could react, he moved like a shadow.
One moment he stood still—the next, a body split in half, blood spraying across the grass. Another head rolled. Screams echoed.
Within seconds, fifteen Hollow Sigil members lay dead. Blood soaked the battlefield.
At the same time, the monster attacked Kashihero.
Its claws slammed into the ground.
Kashihero dodged to the side and countered with a powerful strike. The impact shook the earth.
Black energy gathered around him. “Carnivorous.”
Dark tendrils erupted from the ground. They pierced the corpses nearby.
Ten of the dead Hollow Sigil members were pulled into the darkness. Their bodies dissolved—power, mana, spirit energy flowing into Kashihero.
Arin stared in shock. “He’s… devouring them…?!”
But then Kashihero’s body trembled. “...Tch.”
Too much energy flooded in at once.
His vision blurred. Pain exploded in his head.
“Ugh…!”
His legs gave out.
He collapsed to the ground.
“Master!”
Lucas appeared beside him instantly.
Kashihero lay unconscious.
The monster roared again.
Lucas glanced at Arin. Without hesitation, he grabbed the boy.
A teleportation circle appeared.
Arin found himself inside the capital walls.
Lucas looked at him one last time. “Stay here.”
Before Arin could respond, Lucas vanished.
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Back on the battlefield.
The monster roared loudly.
Around it stood the remaining enemies: two Hollow Sigil Elders and fifteen elite members.
Lucas stood alone between them and the unconscious Kashihero.
The wind grew heavy.
Lucas slowly lifted his head. “...You dared attack my master.”
Dark markings spread across his skin. His aura exploded outward.
“100 percent.”
The ground cracked beneath his feet.
The Demonic Contract Mark fully activated.
Black flames appeared in his hand—Underworld Fire.
Lucas looked at the monster again. “...As expected. It came from the Underworld.”
The monster charged toward him.
Lucas calmly raised his hand.
The black flames gathered, growing larger and larger until a massive sphere of dark fire floated above the battlefield.
The sky darkened.
Even the Hollow Sigil Elders froze.
Lucas’ voice echoed across the field.
“Wake up… Master.”
The fireball trembled with terrifying power.
The battlefield shook.
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End of Chapter 12
