The forest fell unnaturally silent. The vibrant life within seemed to still, curiosity mingled with fear as if the trees themselves were straining to hear what would unfold next. Even the wind seemed to hold its breath, fearing it might disturb this dreadful moment.
Sora took a slow step forward, her white radiance sharpening into a focused, blade-like aura. Each pulse of light reflected her resolve, her spirit unyielding despite the magnitude of the threat before her.
"State your name," she said coolly. "And your intent."
The humanoid demon chuckled, placing one clawed hand over his chest in exaggerated courtesy, a gesture that felt both mocking and sinister.
"Mor'gan Urroreth," he replied. "A Greater Demon of the Primordial Demonic Bloodline."
Null's mind flashed instantly.
Fantasy Omniscience activated.
[Entity Identified: Mor'gan Urroreth – Greater Demon
Rank: (B-)
Threat Level: Very High
Recommended Action: Avoid Direct Confrontation]
Sora's gaze was unwavering, locked onto the demon's molten-gold eyes that seemed to flicker with amusement. "Mor'gan Urroreth," she repeated, her voice steady. "So you're the one who corrupted that demon beast."
The forest seemed to tense at her words, the very atmosphere thickening.
Mor'gan's lips curled into a sharp, arrogant grin.
"Oh?" he scoffed. "You make it sound so crude. 'Corrupted' implies carelessness. What I did was merely unleash its dark nature."
Sora's radiance pulsed once, slow and deliberate.
"You twisted a mana beast into a weapon," she said coolly. "Injected it with demonic essence. Overloaded its core and inverted its nature,"
Mor'gan laughed—loud, sharp, and full of disdain.
"Nature is inefficient. Weak. It needed guidance." He spread his arms theatrically. "And I was kind enough to provide it."
Null muttered under his breath, "Wow. Evil and pretentious."
Mor'gan's eyes flicked toward him for the briefest moment, his amusement shifting to irritation.
"Careful, insect," he said hotly, his voice poisonous. "You're breathing in the presence of a superior being."
Sora stepped forward, placing herself subtly between them.
"So you admit it," she said. "The demon beast was your doing."
Mor'gan's grin widened, fangs glinting.
"Admit it?" he echoed. "Saintess of Living Radiance, I'm proud of it."
"You know who I am?" she asked.
Mor'gan let out a low, mocking chuckle.
"Of course," he said, his amusement turning to something darker and more sinister. "Who isn't familiar with one of the Rising Stars of Eden Academy's freshman class? Especially when the one in question is the Successor to the Holy Throne?"
Sora's eyes narrowed slightly, though her expression remained composed.
"So the demons of Dystopia keep track of academy rankings now?" she asked coolly.
Mor'gan smirked. "When a mere human starts glowing like a divine relic, it tends to attract attention."
Sora took a measured step forward, her posture shifting into a combat-ready stance.
"Then answer me this, Mor'gan Urroreth," she said. "Why corrupt this forest? Why attack this village? What is your true objective?"
The demon's smile faltered, revealing something colder and more calculated. "Objective?" he repeated, his tone shifting from theatricality to cold pragmatism. "You make it sound so personal, Saintess."
He examined his clawed fingers casually, as if their conversation were merely trivial. "I'm afraid the truth is far more... mundane than you might hope."
Sora's radiance pulsed, ready to strike at any moment. "Explain."
Mor'gan shrugged with exaggerated nonchalance."I'm a mercenary," he said simply. "A contractor, if you prefer the civilized term. Someone paid me to corrupt this forest and gather sacrifices from the surrounding settlements."
Null asked. "You're... you're doing this for money?"
Mor'gan's gaze flicked to him, bemused."Of course. Did you expect some grand philosophical motivation? A vendetta against humanity? A desire to plunge the world into darkness?"
He laughed—sharp and mocking, echoing through the stillness of the forest. "Please. I'm a professional. I fulfill contracts. Nothing more, nothing less."
Sora's expression hardened, disgust flickering across her features.
"You murder innocent people for payment," she said coldly. "That makes you worse than a zealot. At least they believe in something."
Her white radiance flared brighter, her patience clearly wearing thin.
"Who hired you?" she demanded.
Mor'gan wagged a clawed finger mockingly."Now, now. A mercenary never reveals his clients. Professional ethics, you understand."
But then his expression shifted. For a fleeting moment, his eyes widened slightly, as if a sudden realization had struck him, and his grin spread slowly—wider, sharper, more dangerous than before.
"Although…" he said softly, molten-gold eyes locking onto Sora with predatory intensity. "Now that I think about it…"
He tilted his head, studying her like a merchant appraising valuable merchandise. "This is quite the fortuitous encounter, isn't it?"
Sora's stance tightened further, her senses heightened. "What are you talking about?"
Mor'gan began to laugh—low at first, then building into something genuinely delighted.
"Oh, this is perfect," he said, spreading his arms wide. "The Saintess of Living Radiance. One of Eden Academy's Rising Stars. The Successor to the Holy Throne herself."
His laughter echoed through the corrupted clearing.
"Here. In a rural backwater, without a single elite escort in sight?"
His eyes gleamed with malicious glee.
"Just you, one weak companion, and a forest full of corpses that will never tell what happened."
"Choose your next words carefully, demon," she said, her voice cold as winter steel.
Mor'gan's grin didn't falter. If anything, it widened.
"Do you have any idea," he said, his voice dripping with dark amusement, "how much your head is worth in Dystopia?"
He took a deliberate step forward, dark mana coalescing around his form like a living storm, swirling and crackling with chaotic energy. "The Rising Stars of Eden Academy—each of you has a bounty. Substantial rewards for anyone who can eliminate humanity's 'next generation of heroes' before they fully mature."
His clawed hand extended, dark energy crackling between his fingers. "And you, dear Saintess? You're one of the highest-value targets."
****
Meanwhile, in the midst of the conversation, a private channel opened between Sora and Null, pulsing with quiet urgency.
[A mana transmission is detected]
[Private Mana Channel – Sora → Null]
(Null-san).
Fantasy Omniscience informed him, cutting through the tension.
(Listen carefully and do not react.)
Null's breath caught. His eyes remained fixed forward, but his awareness shifted inward.
(I'm listening.) he replied silently.
(This demon is far beyond what we anticipated,) Sora's calm voice echoed in his mind.
(Even at my current level, my chances of defeating him are very low.)
Null's fingers tightened around his sword hilt.
(Low but not impossible, right?)
There was a brief pause on the mana channel.
Not hesitation—calculation.
(Possible,) Sora replied.
(But not optimistic.)
Null's jaw tightened.
So this will be a very hard fight.
(Then what's the plan?) he asked. (Because "stand here and hope" doesn't sound very Saintess-like.)
(I will erect a protective cocoon around you—stronger than the previous barrier. Once it is in place, I will engage Mor'gan directly.)
A pause. Just a fraction of a second.
(I will distract him)
(While I hold his attention, you must escape as far as possible)
(Alone?)
(Yes.)
Dark orange flames surged in the clearing as Mor'gan shifted his stance, sensing something was happening.
"Oh?" he purred, dark mana rippling around him like a predator preparing to strike. "Plotting your last prayers already, Saintess?"
Sora didn't flinch, every ounce of her resolve crystalizing in that moment.
Her chin lifted ready for battle, her white radiance sharpening into a lethal brilliance. "Just estimating how much effort it will take to bring you down," she replied coolly.
Behind her, the cocoon of light began to form around Null, the bright white radiance contrasting sharply against the encroaching shadows.
(Now,) Sora projected through their connection, (stay strong and trust in me.)
"I wonder if you are capable of it," Mor'gan taunted, his grin widening as he basked in their impending confrontation.
"We will find out," Sora responded defiantly.
In that instant, dark orange flames and bright white radiance collided
....