Chapter 142: Reencounter with Bahadur

After passing through the broken stone gate.

They followed the green bloodstains on the ground as they advanced.

Not long after.

They once again spotted the same stone gate ahead.

At this moment, the gate hung half-open, its surface still stained with blood.

Luo De could sense the demon was just beyond the gate.

Too lazy to deal with possible magical traps, he swung his sword directly, cleaving the stone gate clean off its hinges.

The heavy gate crashed to the ground with a thunderous boom.

As the dust settled, the demon's form appeared.

Yet what surprised them was.

Beside it stood a black-robed figure whose face could not be seen.

At that moment, the black-robed figure gently stroked the demon's lowered head.

"Could someone really be teaching the demon?"

Prula said in disbelief.

The wing-crystal boy Siti voiced another question:

"Is there a human deep inside the demon's nest? How did he get in?"

The black-robed figure turned her head toward them.

And even gave a polite, slight nod.

"Sir, what are you doing here?" Falshad asked first.

"Experiment."

The black-robed figure uttered a single word—her voice soft, unmistakably a woman's.

"What kind of experiment? Teaching the demon magic?"

Prula, unable to contain himself, sneered.

But the black-robed figure showed no anger, only shaking her head gently.

She bowed with perfect poise.

"My name is Selina Kobers, a first-year student of Bahadur Magic Academy. My research topic is 'Study and Exploration of Cosmic Lifeforms' Assimilation by Continental Vitality.'"

Bahadur

Luo De silently placed his hand on his sword hilt.

Most of these academy students are insane—better to stay wary.

As for the others.

One doesn't strike a smiling face; this woman had been courteous enough, so he showed no overt hostility.

"Bahadur?"

Falshad's expression softened slightly.

He had, of course, heard of this famed human magic academy—but the elf's upbringing had always taught him that no race's education could rival nature's, so he'd never truly cared.

But this was a mage with formal training—at least someone he could speak with.

So he introduced himself, explaining their mission: invited by the Flawless Crystal Ground to cleanse the demon's nest.

"I see."

Selina paused. "Might I ask what year it is now?"

". ebelon 865."

"865? So twenty years have passed…"

She sighed.

"You're the mage who vanished here twenty years ago?" Siti exclaimed.

At his companions' puzzled glances,

he added: "Twenty years ago, the Flawless Crystal Ground was one of the continent's popular study-travel destinations for magic academies. But one day, a Bahadur student went missing inside the demon's nest. The academy later declared him dead, and as the crystal ground's instability grew more frequent, they shut down the site entirely—and paid a huge compensation."

How could this continent turn everything into a tourist attraction?

Luo De thought wearily.

Selina nodded.

"That was me."

"So, what's your relationship with this thing now? Living together? Hmm… could I ask what that's like?"

Tally asked curiously.

A succubus's mind worked this way—everything led back to that.

Selina ignored her.

She gently stroked the demon's head, unconcerned by the sticky slime coating her fingers.

"Do you know? Cosmic lifeforms assimilate into a continent's vitality, eventually becoming new native species found everywhere."

"I've heard whispers, but it seems limited to creatures within the demon's nest—things like Dread Beasts don't change." Falshad said.

"Precisely. It's like an Ethelon city residency permit: cosmic lifeforms in the nest are legal new residents, while Dread Beasts are vile smugglers."

"I don't buy it," Prula said. "By the way, could you move aside? We need to deal with this demon."

The moment he spoke,

Selina raised a finger toward him.

A thread of magical energy shot into his body at lightning speed.

When they looked again, Prula's lips had vanished—his mouth sealed into a smooth patch of skin.

"Mmm! Mmm!"

He panicked, flailing.

Falshad steadied him instantly.

"Ms. Selina!"

"Don't worry—it's only a temporary 【Mute Spell】. It'll wear off in half an hour. I just didn't want anyone interrupting me."

"I insist."

Selina froze, seeing Luo De draw his sword and step forward.

"All this rambling, pointless chatter—I've no patience for Bahadur folk."

Luo De was a man of decorum.

Seeing her polite, gentle demeanor, he'd assumed he could avoid conflict—he had no intention of striking first.

But her casual use of magic was too arrogant—he refused to tolerate it.

The atmosphere snapped taut.

Selina repeated her move, raising a finger.

Hum!

Luo De vanished from his spot.

His blade, now glowing golden, slashed toward her.

But there was no flesh beneath the blade.

The black robe split cleanly in two.

And Selina floated above the ground.

"The sky is the mage's right."

Her finger pointed at Luo De on the ground; powerful magic surged rapidly into formation.

Boom!

A torrent of cyan-black magical energy erupted like a comet.

Instantly, crushing magical pressure enveloped the surroundings.

"【Comet Torrent】? Seventh-rank?!"

Falshad cried out.

"So?"

Luo De snapped his head up.

His throat felt like a red-hot iron bar.

【Dragon's Breath (Basic)】!!

He opened his mouth and unleashed a pillar of orange-red flame, forged from wild fire.

With a deafening roar,

the orange-red flame met the cyan-black torrent in midair!

In an instant, blinding light exploded—like two stars colliding—releasing annihilating energy that shook the very fabric of space.

Vast heat and pressure kicked up a storm of dust, instantly swallowing them all.

Within the glare, the two forces clashed and writhed fiercely.

In the end, the cyan-black 【Comet Torrent】 prevailed, crushing the dragon's breath entirely.

"Mr. Luo De!"

Saixier screamed in anguish.

When all the energy dissipated into nothingness, they found nothing on the ground but a deep crater.

Selina did not lower her guard, but suddenly froze for a moment.

Against her will, she turned her head backward, as if she had seen something.

"Mother? No—it's an illusion."

She cast a dispelling spell upon herself, removing the 【Mirage Net】 status.

But in battle, there is no room for even a moment of distraction.

Selina snapped her gaze downward.

There, five meters outward from the man, a circle of purple gravitational essence had already formed the 【Gravity Well】.

"Come down."

The immense pull instantly shattered the magic of her 【Levitation Spell】.

She was yanked from the sky like a magnetized object.

Ping!

The outer layer of her magical shield shattered violently.

"Six Flash."

The sword's speed, invisible to the naked eye, cracked the second shield with a massive fissure.

"Then… Seven Flash."

A faster, stronger strike followed, instantly destroying the shield.

"Wrathfire."

Purplish-pink wrathfire erupted with a burst upon the golden sword, and the noble all-attribute offensive pierced through the third magical shield in less than a second.

The man before her showed no pause, casting energy-draining spiritual arts as effortlessly as eating or drinking.

Only then did Selina's movements betray clear panic.

(End of Chapter)