How to Live the Life of a Demon

  

Light purple clouds flowed leisurely in the red sky that looked like dusk.

 

The leaves fluttering in the wind danced happily, and the birds flapped their wings vigorously, soaring along the wind.

 

When was the last time he looked at the sky quietly like this?

 

Lucius sat atop the largest tree in the Warren Forest, his mood light.

 

After a while of observing the sky, his gaze shifted downward towards the forest. Through the plants he had summoned and scattered throughout, he already knew everything about the other students’ situation.

 

‘Let’s move slowly.’

 

He stood up from his spot and descended from the tree.

 

The students had gathered their strength and prepared themselves to welcome him, so it was only fitting for him to go and meet them.

 

It was his intention to see how well Rayel could command the inexperienced, but talented, group of students.

 

Lucius couldn’t help but anticipate how well Rayel and the others had prepared for the attack.

 

As he approached the base, he heard a small voice in the distance.

 

“He’s coming. 200m ahead.”

 

When he deliberately made his presence known, students who were good at detection were reporting his location.

 

Lucius smiled slightly and increased his speed a little.

 

“Approaching fast! He will become visible soon. 150m!”

 

The students held their breath.

 

However, perhaps due to tension, the demonic energy was shaking slightly, so it did not take much effort to find out their location.

 

As he cut through the dense tree shadows of the forest, Lucius heard Rayel’s voice from a slightly distant spot.

 

Lucius finally came face to face with Rayel.

 

“…Lucius.”

 

“Why did I come… I think you already know, Rayel.”

 

“I can’t hand over the cards.”

 

Rayel stared at him with a determined expression.

 

Fear of failure, apprehension towards a formidable enemy.

 

However, even amid such negative emotions, his winning spirit and confidence could be clearly felt.

 

Lucius was very satisfied with Rayel’s attitude.

 

‘You have a talent worth nurturing.’

 

He was satisfied and looked around.

 

Three people in front of him, two in the sky, five underground, and four in the forest.

 

There were five people quite far away from here.

 

‘Is it a medical squad?’

 

There were several students who relentlessly fought without admitting defeat.

 

Lucius purposely exerted a bit more effort in dealing with such students, wanting to see how they handled injured comrades.

 

‘They indeed have potential.’

 

As expected, Rayel’s organizational leadership skills are shining.

 

Lucius tapped his foot lightly to check the ground.

 

‘Anyway, it looks like they dug a cavity underground. Is this a dwarf’s work?’

 

When Lucius examined the resonance of the demonic energy, he found that the cavity covered a fairly large area. However, seeing that it was not collapsing, it seemed like it was being supported by something.

 

If you were thinking of collapsing the ground, it was likely that you would use something that was hard but easily broken.

 

Since there was a Yeti in the class, they must have made an ice pillar.

 

Rumble! Rumble!

 

Just as Lucius had that thought, the ground beneath his feet began to shake and crumble.

 

As Lucius leapt, a harpy and an incubus appeared before his eyes.

 

A kick aimed at his abdomen made him chuckle.

 

The students’ idea was pretty cute and simple.

 

‘How far should I go?’

 

Should I give them a taste of how well I control my strength?

 

‘It’s quite naive to assume I’ll be weak in close combat just because I manipulate plants.’

 

While evading their attacks, Lucius smoothly descended underground. Then, with a sharp sound, spikes shot up from the walls and pillars.

 

Countless arrows followed suit, pouring down relentlessly.

 

Lucius, protected by a light shield, briefly turned his gaze towards the direction he was falling. A beautifully crafted marsh had been formed.

 

Within the marsh were circular platforms scattered like arenas, and students stood on each of them.

 

Lucius immediately summoned winged plants, resembling butterflies with large, slender leaves unfolding behind him.

 

His falling body swiftly soared through the air.

 

A disappointed sigh flowed from the students who had expected Lucius to fall.

 

“Wow, what is this guy really?”

 

“He doesn’t even flinch.”

 

“Because it’s not his own wings, his movements will be sluggish! Focus!”

 

When their expectations of gaining an upper hand in the air turned out to be wrong, their confusion was evident.

 

Lucius did not miss the opportunity.

 

As they had correctly guessed, since it was a winged plant, Lucius’s movements were somewhat sluggish. However, he had more than enough leeway to engage with them one by one.

 

He immediately approached the most powerful force in this area, the Yeti tribe.

 

“…!”

 

The girl’s breath caught, stopped by the unexpectedly swift speed. However, as she quickly regained her stance, a chilling cold emanated from her, and frost settled on her cheek.

 

In an instant, she wielded her sword and swung it.

 

However, Lucius, who had no intention of showing mercy, easily blocked her strikes and countered, targeting her abdomen.

 

‘The power was distributed appropriately, so she will be a bit dizzy.’

 

“Heh! Kugh!”

 

She was sent flying, tumbling across the ground.

 

Doo doo doo doo!

 

As soon as his opponent was clear, the harpy’s feathers poured out of the sky.

 

Lucius turned his gaze back. The spikes that had been used to obstruct his path and attack him shattered into pieces and fell all at once.

 

‘It’s a pretty catchy attack.’

 

After getting hit once, she felt dizzy and lost control of her demonic energy, but she managed to control the ice even from a distance.

 

Lucius’ wings folded to protect him.

 

As the rain-like sound subsided and he spread his wings again, he saw another student flying in the sky, looking at him.

 

“Have you been practicing? Your attacks are quite precise.”

 

“Of course.”

 

The student’s golden eyes twinkled.

 

His gaze was a skill that restricts the opponent’s movements, but Lucius did not avoid it and just stared back.

 

Not long after, his own body became so stiff that he could not move.

 

“Un, un…believable.”

 

His eyes widened in disbelief.

 

Binding can be easily avoided by understanding the magic pattern. Furthermore, reverse use was also possible.

 

Lucius grinned, said that he still had a long way to go, and easily suppressed other students who were running towards him.

 

Then, this time, a student spread his wings and soared from the swamp.

 

“Kendriiiiik!”

 

Swoosh.

 

Lucius swiftly evaded him, stepping completely out of the marsh.

 

Immediately, he checked on Rayel and listened intently.

 

Phaaaa!

 

From beneath the ground, a griffin unleashed an Acid Breath.

 

Using it as a signal, the students initiated a coordinated attack.

 

‘The attack patterns are well designed, but lacking in power. They haven’t received proper training, so the efficiency of their coordination is also lacking.’

 

Lucius slowly moved the plant towards Rayel, who was assisting his allies by falling back while coordinating with the students.

 

It wasn’t that difficult. Because just a short break was enough.

 

‘Should I finish it soon?’

 

Lucius grabbed Kian’s arm as it dug deep into the ground and effortlessly threw him away.

 

When he threw him as if he were a blunt weapon, the students who could not dodge Kian’s huge physique were knocked down.

 

However, Kian paid no heed, quickly adjusted his stance and charged.

 

There was just one thing about him that disappointed Lucius.

 

He has good reaction speed, muscle elasticity, strength, and perseverance.

 

“Don’t rely solely on instincts.”

 

He needed to be able to read his opponent’s movements.

 

If he couldn’t read and evade the movements, he would be unable to utilize his strength when faced with unexpectedly strong attacks.

 

Lucius tightly clenched his fist and lunged forward, delivering a powerful strike.

 

Thwack!! Clank!!

 

Although Kian managed to block it quickly, he received a blow strong enough to prevent him from immediately getting back up.

 

The students who witnessed the scene muttered in disbelief.

 

“What kind of strength is that?”

 

“I don’t even know what I just saw.”

 

In their bewildered state, the students hesitated to launch another attack, creating a momentary lull.

 

Lucius approached Rayel in that instant.

 

“Gasp! Ugh, this is…!”

 

Momentarily speechless as Kian fell, Rayel finally noticed a thin vine coiling around his ankle.

 

As he hastily tried to withdraw his foot, the vine tightened around his ankle and burrowed into the ground in an instant.

 

“Wait, Lucius…!”

 

“I enjoyed the welcome ceremony, Rayel.”

 

He took the last cards from Rayel’s arms.

 

Rayel’s expression turned bewildered, but soon a faint smile tinged with resignation appeared on his face.

 

“That makes it 50 cards. You’ve worked hard.”

 

Lucius took out a stack of cards from his pocket, created a complete set of cards, and began to infuse them with his magic.

 

“Damn it! In the end, only he finished the class!”

 

A sigh of resignation echoed from behind as the unexpected development unfolded in the blink of an eye.

 

Lucius watched as the cards, which consumed his magic, melted, formed a sphere, and gradually expanded in shape, then he threw it upwards.

 

Squishy. Squishy.

 

The substance did not fall and slowly began to form as if it were kneading clay to form a mold.

 

It had a long and massive body resembling a lizard, with sharp claws and shiny black scales. Its wings were reminiscent of a giant bat, covered in a membrane. Sinister red eyes gleamed within the shadows.

 

“D-Dragon… ”

 

Kuooooh!

 

Lucius had seen a dragon that looked exactly like that one.

 

Eight years ago, it was the owner of the forest where Hamel was subjugated.

 

“Demon Dragon Kerensta.”

 

To be exact, it was the shadow created by Arnold.

 

A majestic roar reverberated through the forest.

 

Rayel, who had been staring at the dragon’s shadow in a daze, fell to his knees and slumped to the ground.

 

The magnificence of the dragon, encountered for the first time in his life, was so awe-inspiring that it sent shivers down his spine.

 

The students all forgot about Lucius’ existence and just stared up at the giant dragon.

 

‘To replicate Kerensta…’

 

Lucius admired the exquisitely well-made shadow several times.

 

It was an outstanding and detailed work that maximized the innate characteristics of the doppelganger.

 

‘I wonder how much that thing can move.’

 

Even if you succeed in creating the shadow of another demon, the shadow will not move unless you have sufficient skills.

 

Considering the intention to use it for class, it should be capable of engaging in light combat at least.

 

Just how well could he replicate Kerensta’s prowess?

 

“Krrrrung.”

 

The dragon let out a low growl as it slowly scanned its surroundings, seemingly searching for something.

 

Lucius thought that peculiar reaction was odd, but before he could ponder further, the dragon flapped its wings and took to the air.

 

Swiftly flying through the air, the dragon descended and unleashed a powerful breath attack.

 

Amidst the students’ flustered commotion, a magic circle emerged above the outspread wings.

 

“Is that what the mark is meant for?”

 

Lucius confirmed who the magic was aimed at and immediately summoned broad leaves to block the attack.

 

The Demon Dragon’s shadow did not stop at magic, but continued to threaten the students with the ‘mark’ by swiping at them with its claws.

 

The other students were busy dodging the attacks.

 

There was no time to worry about who was being targeted.

 

Except for Lucius, the students with the mark were Ratmen and Spriggan, races with weak or no combat power.

 

‘They are the first race to be marginalized in battle.’

 

He looked down at Rayel and lifted his arm, forcing him to stand up.

 

To properly conclude the class, it seemed necessary to deal with that dragon.

 

“It wasn’t the best teamwork, but I’ll give you another chance.”

 

Rayel looked at Lucius with disbelieving eyes.

 

“If you come to your senses, you will be able to take it down.”