Gozine

At the time when Leon was active on the southern frontline.
The war in the east had already been concluded.
Although the offensive here was the fiercest except for the central, considering that Ru was an out of norms in terms of strength, it was only to be expected.
Moreover, after wrapping up the battle here, everyone went to rescue the youngest son of Reinhaver.

Nox is currently fighting against Amdusias in the central.

At the very least, he is fighting against the most overwhelmingly powerful being among those that have manifested
It would probably be difficult to guarantee victory.

Anyone would have thought so.
Because they didn’t know that Nox possessed the power of devilization and had been hiding it.
But in the end, this worked in his favor for victory.
Even if they were allies, if information had been leaked and the hidden dagger he concealed from the demon’s ears had been revealed, Nox might not have ultimately emerged victorious.
Because Amdusias would have either attacked after becoming stronger or adopted another method.

Amdusias is not stupid.

Pushing Nox into the black fog and cleverly leaking information to prevent resistance were all part of a scheme.
But before overwhelming martial prowess, everything becomes useless.

Nox was like that, and here, Ru was like that.
Many demons lie dead, rolling on the ground.

‘……I cut down a lot, but in the end, I’ve reached my limit too.’

Ru looked at his battered body and thought.
It was the price for leading this hopeless war to victory.

His entire body was soaked in blood, and there were sporadic deep blue bruises. If his wife were to see this, it would surely be a horrifying sight.

‘I won’t be able to go help that guy. Well, I’m not even sure if I could be of any help anyway.’

He is already one who knows the future.
Even if he intervened, it would be difficult to create a variable.

Moreover……
Nox had peculiarities beyond just possessing talent that out of norms.
For instance, there were times when it seemed like his film would cut out intermittently.
Along with that, he would also unleash explosive power.

Honestly the reason is unknown, so it’s still too early to judge the cause, but this meant that Nox had something else advantageous to himself.
It wasn’t bad for Ru either.

Either way, Nox would die because of this war.
A fleeting path.
His master Glint described death like this.
Nothing remains, and one only struggles in someone’s memory.
Returning to nothingness.

He himself would one day die like that on the battlefield, but it seemed not now.
Personally, Ru hoped that Nox wouldn’t die now either.

Whether demon or something else, it honestly didn’t hold much significance.

Ru was merely following his master’s words as always, he still didn’t understand why he should help humans.
Why demons must be eradicated, he honestly didn’t know.
It might be a question of whether a reason is needed.
This too was an important question for Ru.

Especially because he couldn’t feel emotions.
To speak, this was how it was .

His own side.
If demons act annoyingly, it’s irritating, so he cuts them down.

That’s about the extent of the emotions Ru feels.

— Try helping someone who is in a difficult situation like you.
— You will realize something.

Glint von Zehard.
His master’s voice seemed to ring in his ears.

“I did as you said today. However, I still don’t understand……”

Why did you choose to save someone?
Why did you sacrifice yourself for me?

Barely supporting his wounded body, Ru collapsed in front of his log house.

After sleeping a bit and waking up, will something come to me then?
I still don’t know.
While thinking that.

**********

Zitri von Rovelia was astonished when she saw Nox upon his return.

This should be a moment to be proud of the young master who didn’t die by Amdusias’ hand, a point where the situation should have developed such that Baal did not awaken.
What in the world is this situation?

Four horizontal pupils.
Redder than anything, gleaming like jewels, filled Zitri’s pupils.
No matter what she thinks, it’s a dangerous situation.

Why was such power hidden within her young master?
Since she had no way of knowing the reason, she even felt worried.
She could sense mana even if faintly.
Even though Zitri had no combat ability, this was certain.

But what she felt from her young master Nox was precisely darkness.
Among them, it was exactly identical to that of a demon.

‘Could it be that his body has been taken over? Did Amdusias use some trick…!’

Having had such an experience from Cell before, Zitri immediately tried to rush out.
At that moment, it was Eleanor who quickly jumped forward and stopped her.
She was assessing the situation and slowly opened her mouth.

“I know what you’re thinking. But it will probably be alright.”

“Pardon? What do you mean……”

“I’ve heard about the Dark family. Powerhouses who occasionally push themselves to the extreme. They are said to draw out malice or twisted beliefs within themselves to achieve devilization. That’s probably what it is. That is also Nox. And… I have been helped by Nox in that form before.”

Of course, Eleanor isn’t just optimistically viewing the situation either.

“……Whether that means the current Nox is maintaining his ego is still an unknown even to me.”

“How can that be…!”

It was a shocking story
No matter how familiar the scene, it’s a difficult appearance to adapt to.
Demon.
Nox in the form of a demon takes a step.
Along with that, the enemies blocking his path are slaughtered en masse.
Even Ulysses muttered as if shocked.

“To anyone who sees it, it’s a form like a demon… Do those of the Dark family have to live harboring such things inside?”

“Probably so……”

It was Iana von Sader who interjected.
Iana gulped and was focusing on the current situation.
She had heard from her mother.
Her family head said.

— In the end, devilization cannot be resisted.
— Only those who accept it become stronger. Especially if they are a family head, they must use it.
— But… you must not fall too deep. You must not become intoxicated just because you gained power. Because…

“It seems like staying in that state for too long will be dangerous for Nox.”

“Do you know something about it, Miss Sader?”

At Penelope’s question, she nodded and answered.

“I heard from my mother. That state. In other words, if you continue to maintain devilization, you will lose your ego and truly become a demon… Probably, Nox is also suppressing some impulse.”

“Certainly, leaving it for too long would be dangerous. It seems Amdusias has been dealt with… but the momentum of the demon army hasn’t been broken yet. Protraction is dangerous.”

“Ah, everyone, look there!”

It was rare for Christopher to shout briefly.

Where he pointed, the scene of Nox fighting was eerily revealed.
At the forefront, he is slaughtering Amdusias along with the demons.

But, why?

Nox was showing a combat completely different from what he had shown before.
Although he uses a sword, after indiscriminately cutting down enemies, he arbitrarily mutilates the killed enemies several times over.
What’s more dangerous is that he is swinging his sword so perilously that it’s difficult for others to even approach him.
It’s a situation where allies could be hit by his blind sword strikes, but he seemed unconcerned.

Also.

He seemed to be searching for something, but no one knew what it was.

‘Young Master Nox knows the future. Then, whatever he is searching for now is likely the key to stopping Baal! Even if I don’t know, it must certainly be related.’

Christopher pleaded to Ulysses.

“Sword Emperor Ulysses, could you ask him about the situation? I will open a path.”

“Of course.”

Ulysses rushed out and swung her sword.
The unique blue energy waves of the Heaven-Breaking Sword repeatedly connected and collided, creating a path.
Even amidst the sea of blood, she arrived by Nox’s side through the opened path and asked.

“Nox von Reinhaver! What is the situation? Have you dealt with Amdusias?”

“Please don’t. Come near me.”

Nox only spat out briefly, divided into two parts.

Why?
Ulysses felt a sense of incongruity.

It wasn’t the warm energy he had felt from Nox when he was stopping her.
Not a darkness embracing the light. A black energy like ink enveloped him.
After Ulysses quickly regained her composure, she continued.

“What are you looking for? I’ll help!”

“Please don’t touch. You shouldn’t even show familiarity with me. Please also tell the Emperor. From now on, keep a distance from me and be careful. There isn’t much time left.”

Ulysses, feeling an inexplicable sense of incongruity from Nox who let out a breath, asked again without fully grasping the situation.

“What do you mean?”

“Behind.”

At Nox’s abruptly cut-off words, Ulysses looked back at the devastation he had created.
Beyond that, allies were trembling in fear.

Precisely because of Nox’s transformation.

Since he effectively looked no different from a demon, the soldiers couldn’t help but be bewildered.

No matter what they thought, that is not Nox.

They concluded.

That’s a demon, and Nox is already dead.
Moreover, even if it were said that in this war situation he merely used his power as an ally, would anyone believe it?

In fact, there is none.

That’s why he is saying.
Rather, don’t come near, keep a distance from me.
Ulysses couldn’t help but be shocked.

Of course, the change in him with whom she had crossed swords was shocking, but in an instant….

“Either way, I am a dead man.”

Nox added as if emphasizing.
As he did so, he continued to sadistically cut down enemies.
Ulysses rather told him to leave his position.

“It would be better to return to the ally camp for now. I heard from Miss Sader. If this continues, you will be destroyed due to devilization……”

“Please give up. Otherwise, this time you will have to face me who has become stronger. Baal is not an opponent that can be stopped without any sacrifice. Of course, the same goes for the previous Amdusias. And the Former Emperor whom Her Majesty the Emperor is facing.”

Nox said indifferently.
As if it were nothing.
Then he continued.

“Rather, go help Her Majesty the Emperor.”

Ulysses ultimately decided to move towards Penelope rather than persuade him.

It was something that couldn’t be helped.

The current Nox was clearly surpassing a Sword Emperor’s strength.
Devilization. Even Ulysses didn’t know it was this powerful.

‘No… this is possible because Reinhaver’s youngest son is strong.’

She organized her thoughts and moved.

No matter how much the soldiers in the back feared him, she had a small hope that if they saw Nox cutting down demons, they might believe in him, but that soon crumbled.

The soldiers lost their will to fight.
Because they were those who felt skepticism about Nox cutting down demons with a sword, the fact that Nox whom they had trusted was becoming a demon painted the worst possible outcome for them.

For a long while, Ulysses repeatedly cut down demons while opening a path to Emperor Penelope. In the background, a powerful thunderstorm rages. One of the most important scenes on a grand scale, where the Emperor and the Emperor powers clash is unfolding.

Behind them, professors and students from Eldain all participate in the battle as well.

Because they too understood deeply that this was not a simple battle.

Sschk!

Blood splatters.

Sskk!

Blood splatters again.

Chwaat!

The sword leaves a trail, and the enemy’s body is severed in two.

In this process, Nox’s sword continues to become sharper and at the same time, rougher.
As if he’s enjoying it.

And then, finally.
Nox found it.

A small statue guarded by four Grand duke-level demons.
Made of stone, it resembled a human figure, similar to other statues.

But Nox knew.
That it was an object to summon Baal, and that five of the six-layered magic circles below were lit.

‘I expected it.’

But Nox knew.
Black smoke seeped into the statue floating in the air, and eight pieces of the philosopher’s stone which dyed bright red emitted darkness.
At this moment, intense pain even stimulated Paracelsus.

Paradoxically, although he was trying to purify his stone in the safest place behind Nox, it was ultimately difficult to resist the Archduke’s power.

Paracelsus tried to cut off his arm to remove the philosopher’s stone on the back of his hand, but Nox stopped him and shouted.

“Commoner, don’t do unnecessary things. Cutting off your arm won’t stop him from resurrecting.”

“Dammit…! But with my current power, I can’t suppress it any longer! Sir, isn’t there any other way?! Are we really only left to watch as that bastard resurrects?!”

Ultimately, a dizzying sensation and pain right before fainting overwhelmed Paracelsus. But there was no other way. This was something that couldn’t be helped.

One fragment of Baal’s soul found the other.
Paracelsus ultimately had no choice but to have this power taken from him.

Blood spurted from the back of his hand, and it soon seeped into the statue, successfully creating a total of nine miracle stones. The Philosopher’s Stones.

Now it was the final phase.
Nox was certain of it.

Gugugugugu!

Thus, the clustered black form creates a human, a very ordinary human.
That being.

The beginning of all evil, a primordial being who turned his back on Arden.

Baal.
He has manifested on earth.