Chapter 257 Killing The Archdemon

Alaric coughed, a spray of crimson blood erupting from his lips, staining the pristine snow. The world spun. His vision blurred at the edges, and the pain in his chest was a raw, burning agony. He tried to push himself up from Maelis’s soft, yielding body, but his muscles screamed in protest. He slumped back down, groaning.

‘Damn. That Archdemon hit harder than I thought. Sovereign’s Iron Body needs more work.’

He felt Maelis stir beneath him, her breath hitching.

“Alaric! Are you…?” she gasped, her voice laced with genuine concern.

He forced a weak grin. “A little… winded, Professor.” He coughed again, more blood. “Just… give me a moment. Five minutes. Ten, tops.” His voice was raspy. “I need you to… buy me some time.”

Maelis didn’t hesitate. Not for a second. Her face, usually so composed, hardened with grim determination. Her Archmage senses had already registered the Archdemon outside the barrier, its power radiating malice. She saw Alaric’s pale face, the blood, and knew he was seriously hurt.

‘Buy him time? No. I’ll slaughter it.’

“Understood,” Maelis said, her voice sharp, devoid of the earlier surprise or intimacy. “Stay down, Alaric. You’re no good to me injured.” She pushed lightly, her own formidable strength easily shifting his weight.

Alaric, despite the pain, managed a small, satisfied smirk. ‘Feisty as ever, Professor. And protective. Just as I remember.’ He didn’t protest. He knew she wouldn’t leave him exposed. He knew her capabilities better than anyone.

Maelis scrambled to her feet, her eyes burning with fierce resolve. She glanced at the Archdemon, which was now beginning to batter Alaric’s temporary barrier with massive, shadowy fists, the air shimmering with raw power.

“Professor! The barrier!” Noah yelled from the relative safety of the palace entrance, his voice trembling.

Maelis ignored him. She knew Alaric wouldn’t let her damage his barrier. She just needed him to open a path. She looked at Alaric, who nodded, a faint blue shimmer rippling through the energy shield.

“Don’t worry, Noah!” Maelis shouted back, already moving. “Just keep those alchemists safe!”

She darted forward, her body a blur of motion. The moment Alaric created a shimmering, narrow breach in his ‘Arctic Warden’ barrier, just enough for one person, Maelis shot through it. She landed lightly on the ice-covered courtyard outside, facing the hulking Archdemon. The barrier snapped shut behind her.

‘Good,’ Alaric thought, watching her move. ‘She’s as agile as ever. And that Archdemon has no idea what it’s in for.’

The Archdemon, seeing the smaller human woman emerge, let out a guttural, mocking laugh. Its voice was like grinding stone. “Foolish mortal! You think to face me alone?”

Maelis didn’t reply. Her eyes narrowed, assessing the Archdemon. Its colossal greatsword, wreathed in black flames, was an immediate threat. Its movements, for its size, were surprisingly agile.

‘A warrior type. And a nasty one at that. Good. A challenge.’

Maelis’s stance shifted, her body radiating an aura of contained power. Her gauntlets, gleaming faintly with arcane energy, were her only weapons. She launched herself forward, not with brute force, but with the deceptive speed and grace of a coiled viper.

“Arcane Flurry!” Her hands, glowing with pure magical energy, unleashed a rapid-fire succession of strikes, aiming for the Archdemon’s joints and less armored sections. Each blow carried the force of a battering ram, infused with Archmage-level power.

The Archdemon roared, surprised by her speed. It swung its flaming greatsword in a wide, sweeping arc, but Maelis was already dancing away, weaving under its arm, a human whirlwind of motion.

‘Damn this creature! It’s faster than it looks!’ she thought, pressing her attack.

Her Phoenix Wing Block deflected a backhand from the demon, the impact jarring her arm but not breaking her posture. She retaliated with a lightning-fast Dragon Talon Kick, aiming for its knee.

The Archdemon, however, was quicker than she anticipated. It spun, its massive bulk surprisingly fluid, dodging her kick by a hair’s breadth. Its greatsword came down in a crushing overhead strike.

“Savage Inferno Slash!”

Maelis flowed backwards, transforming her dodge into a retreat. She wasn’t running, she was repositioning. The fiery sword slammed into the ice where she had stood a heartbeat before, sending up a shower of crystalline shards and molten rock.

‘Witty. And its sword is dangerous,’ Maelis acknowledged, her mind racing. ‘It’s not just a brawler. It has a tactical mind.’

She charged again, her movements a mesmerizing blend of martial arts and raw arcane power. Her fists hammered at its legs, her feet striking its torso. Each impact sent shockwaves through the Archdemon, but it shrugged them off with surprising resilience.

‘It’s dodging my vital hits too well,’ she mused, adjusting her attack pattern. ‘And it’s waiting for an opening.’

The Archdemon suddenly lunged, its massive frame blurring, attempting to trap her against a wall of ice. Its greatsword became a whirlwind of black fire, forcing Maelis to defend relentlessly.

“Shadow Reaper!” The Archdemon hissed, its sword becoming a living shadow, attempting to bypass her defenses and strike directly at her arcane core.

Maelis parried with a rapid series of Arcane Deflection strikes, her gauntlets absorbing the shadow energy. She felt the chill, the draining sensation, but her Archmage essence held firm. She broke free, creating a small distance.

Alaric watched from within his barrier, a faint smile playing on his lips. ‘Just as I remember. Professor Maelis doesn’t just fight; she dances. She dissects her opponent’s movements, finds their rhythm, then shatters it.’

He had sparred with her extensively in his past life, before his System. Even then, as a Grandmaster, he had rarely managed to land a clean hit on her. Her control over Magic Martial Arts was peerless.

‘A regular Archmage might struggle against a Master-level Demon Commander in close combat, but Professor Maelis… she’s a force of nature. An Archmage who truly embodies the ‘Martial’ in Magic Martial Arts. This Archdemon might be powerful, but it’s outmatched in terms of sheer combat artistry against her.’

He closed his eyes, focusing. The internal damage from the Archdemon’s blast was severe. His Sovereign’s Iron Body, while powerful, was only temporary, and the Archdemon’s attack had pushed it beyond its limits. He needed potent healing.

‘No beautiful women of the Mystic Ice Sect nearby to activate the Divine Harem God System’s healing passive,’ he thought with a flicker of annoyance. ‘And no time to go fetch one. My own healing reserves are too low for this kind of damage. Royal family healing spells it is, then.’

He began to chant, the words ancient and powerful, resonating deep within his mana channels. “By the grace of ancient kings, by the light of the Sovereign’s heart… Sovereign’s Great Restoration!”

Golden light enveloped him, warm and invigorating. His torn flesh began to knit, bruised organs to repair. The excruciating pain in his chest slowly receded, replaced by a dull ache, then nothing but a tingling warmth. This was top-tier Royal Family healing, passed down through generations. It didn’t just heal; it reinvigorated.

Meanwhile, Maelis continued her relentless assault. She wasn’t trying to finish the Archdemon quickly; she was methodically testing its defenses, probing its weaknesses, her attacks becoming more precise, more targeted. The Archdemon snarled, frustrated by her elusiveness.

“Accursed wretch! Stand still and die!” it roared, unleashing a wave of shadowy tendrils.

“Shadow Binding!”

Maelis dodged, her movements fluid, almost liquid. She parried with her gauntlets, striking back with an Arcane Storm Kick that sent a shockwave of energy through the demon’s arm.

‘It’s getting desperate,’ she observed. ‘Good. Time to increase the pressure.’

Her attacks intensified. Dragon Talon Kick aimed directly at its groin. Phoenix Fist uppercuts against its jaw. She hammered at its joints, its eyes, any vulnerable point she could find.

Alaric finished his healing spell, the golden light fading. He stood up, testing his recovered body. No lingering pain. His mana reserves were still low, but his physical wounds were completely gone. He gave a mental nod. ‘Perfect. Now, time to join the party.’

He glanced at Professor Maelis, who was now engaged in a fierce exchange of blows with the Archdemon, forcing it back with her relentless assault. He saw the sweat beading on her brow, the slight strain in her movements, but also the fierce exhilaration in her eyes.

‘She could probably take it down eventually,’ Alaric mused. ‘But it would exhaust her completely. And she’s already done enough for me. Time to go and help her out.’

He stepped forward, the azure light of his Azure Spirit Lion beast essence flaring around him, a magnificent, ethereal lion construct solidifying for a moment behind him, its sapphire eyes burning with ancient power. He didn’t bother opening the barrier, he simply dissolved through it, reappearing instantly beside Maelis.

“Having fun without me, Professor?” Alaric’s voice was calm, almost playful, completely unlike the injured rasp from moments before.

Maelis whirled, startled. Her eyes widened, not just at his sudden appearance, but at the radiant, leonine aura that pulsed around him. Her Archmage senses reeled; she had never encountered anything like it. It felt… ancient. Primal. And terrifyingly powerful.

‘What in the… what is that?’ she thought, completely mystified by the Azure Spirit Lion construct that shimmered around him. ‘He’s glowing! And that… that beast-like energy! What is he doing?’

“Alaric! What are you doing?!” Maelis exclaimed, a flicker of genuine alarm in her voice. “Get back! You’re injured! I had it handled!” She pushed him gently, trying to put herself between him and the Archdemon. She was still under the impression he was weak.

Alaric didn’t budge. His smile was confident, almost predatory. “Professor, I assure you, my injuries are a thing of the past. And this Archdemon is far too resilient for you to waste all your energy on alone. I believe this calls for… a joint effort.”

He took a step forward, his aura intensifying. The Archdemon roared, sensing the sudden surge of power. It had just been focused on Maelis, barely registering the injured human within the barrier. Now, this second human, radiating a primal, untamed strength, was a completely different story.

“Another fool to fall before me!” the Archdemon bellowed, bringing its greatsword down in a wide, flaming arc.

Alaric didn’t dodge. He moved, but not away. His body became a conduit for elemental fury. Fire crackled around his right fist, ice enveloped his left, wind streamed from his feet, and lightning sparked from his eyes. He met the Archdemon’s attack head-on.

“Elemental Fusion: Lion’s Roar Impact!”

His twin fists, wreathed in fused fire and ice, slammed into the flat of the Archdemon’s greatsword. The impact was deafening. A shockwave of elemental energy erupted, throwing both Alaric and the Archdemon backward. The sword, despite being a demonic artifact, screeched in protest, black flame sputtering.

Maelis watched, utterly stunned. ‘Elemental fusion?! He can do that? And that raw power… it’s a terrifying amount of magical power! How can a grandmaster mage have so much powerful magic energy?’

She regained her composure quickly, her worry for Alaric giving way to pure, unadulterated awe and a renewed surge of fighting spirit. ‘If he’s going to be foolish, I’ll just have to back him up!’

“Fine, Alaric!” Maelis yelled, a fierce grin stretching across her face. “Let’s remind this beast what happens when it messes with the wrong humans!”

The battle intensified dramatically. It was no longer a one-sided dance of evasion and precise strikes. Now, it was a maelstrom of elemental fury and arcane martial arts.

Alaric, channeling the Azure Spirit Lion’s essence, moved with a devastating combination of power and speed. His attacks were brutal, each blow infused with fused elemental energies. He slammed a Lightning-infused kick into the Archdemon’s flank, making it roar. He followed up with a piercing Ice Shard Barrage, forcing it to shield itself.

Maelis, invigorated by Alaric’s presence, unleashed her full Archmage might. Her Arcane Fist strikes became concussive blasts, her Phoenix Wing Blocks deflected even the Archdemon’s most powerful blows. She flowed around its massive frame, seeking openings, while Alaric hammered it with raw elemental force.

Kai, sensing the shift in battle, let out a triumphant shriek. It soared above, raining down Tempest Wing Gusts and Feather Vortex Darts, distracting the Archdemon, forcing it to divide its attention.

The Archdemon was furious. It was accustomed to dominating, to crushing its foes. But these two humans, especially the young male with his bizarre, powerful energy, were relentless.

“Accursed insects! Shadow Nova!” It slammed its greatsword into the ground, causing a localized explosion of dark energy that rippled outwards.

Alaric and Maelis leaped back, barely avoiding the blast.

“Arcane Shield!” Maelis conjured a swirling shield of pure arcane energy to deflect residual fragments.

“Azure Gale Deflection!” Alaric spun, creating a vortex of wind that dispersed the lingering dark energy.

Noah and the other alchemists huddled behind Alaric’s barrier, their eyes wide with disbelief. They watched the swirling chaos of the battle. The Archdemon, a creature of nightmare, was actually being driven back.

“He’s… he’s fighting it! On equal footing!” Noah whispered, his voice hoarse with shock and a growing sense of inferiority. He had seen Maelis fight, but Alaric… this was beyond anything he could have imagined. This wasn’t the academy student he remembered. This was a force of nature.

The Archdemon, seeing it was being cornered, decided on a desperate measure. It focused all its power into its greatsword, its black flames intensifying, swirling with malevolent intent.

“Ultimate Annihilation Slash!” It roared, preparing a single, devastating blow aimed directly at Alaric and Maelis.

“Professor! Get back!” Alaric yelled, pushing Maelis behind him. His eyes burned with an unyielding resolve. ‘This is it. Time for the finisher. All or nothing.’

He gathered every ounce of his remaining mana, every shred of the Azure Spirit Lion’s essence, and channeled it into his hands. Fire erupted around his right, ice around his left. Wind swirled, and lightning crackled, weaving into the torrent of energy.

“Professor, watch closely,” Alaric said, a faint, almost mad grin on his face. “This is how you put down a big bad demon.”

He focused his will. The four elements twisted, coalesced, and then erupted from his outstretched hands in a single, blinding torrent of power. It wasn’t just a fusion; it was a devastating Elemental Fusion: Emperor’s Wrath Barrage!

A spiraling vortex of azure flame, chilling ice, razor wind, and crackling lightning shot towards the Archdemon. It was an attack of such concentrated, raw power that it ripped through the air itself, tearing at the very fabric of reality.

The Archdemon’s eyes widened in pure terror. It recognized the destructive power, the raw, unadulterated force. It tried to bring its greatsword to bear, but it was too slow.

The Emperor’s Wrath Barrage struck the Archdemon squarely in the chest.

There was no explosion, no grand spectacle, just a horrifying implosion. The Archdemon’s obsidian skin cracked, then shattered. Its black flames extinguished. Its massive body was vaporized, annihilated into nothingness by the overwhelming, multi-elemental force. Only a few wisps of black smoke remained, quickly dispersed by the biting wind.

Silence. Absolute silence descended upon the courtyard.

Maelis stared, her jaw slack. She had seen powerful spells, but nothing like that. The sheer raw power, the perfect fusion of four disparate elements into a single, cohesive, destructive force… it was beyond anything she had witnessed from a Grandmaster Mage. It was beyond anything she, an Archmage, could conjure with such effortless precision.

‘He… he just disintegrated an Archdemon,’ she thought, stunned. ‘An Archdemon! With one spell! How…?!’

Alaric, the moment the spell dissipated, felt his mana reserves completely empty. He swayed, his legs giving out. He stumbled backwards, a deep, bone-wearying exhaustion washing over him.

Maelis, still reeling from the spectacle, instinctively reached out, her arms wrapping around him. Alaric fell into her embrace, his head coming to rest on her shoulder, his face pressed against the soft, ample curve of her breast. His hands, tired from the immense magical output, found purchase around her slender waist, holding on.

His head was spinning, but his senses, now fully restored, were keenly aware of her body. The softness of her breasts against his face, their lushness, the subtle scent of sweat and something uniquely feminine clinging to her. His hands, gripping her waist, felt the subtle curve of her hips, the firmness of her stomach. He leaned into her, enjoying the cushioning embrace, the unexpected intimacy of her body.

‘This is a good place to recover,’ he thought, a satisfied, albeit exhausted, smirk on his lips. ‘Very good.’

Maelis, still dazed by the Archdemon’s instantaneous demise and Alaric’s impossible display of power, barely registered his proximity, his intimate embrace. Her heart was hammering, not from fear, but from a mixture of profound relief and utter, bewildered adoration.

‘He did it,’ she thought, her mind racing. ‘He killed an Archdemon. A Grandmaster Mage… killed an Archdemon. This is… unprecedented. What even is he?’

She looked down at him, her dark eyes wide with awe, her arms instinctively tightening around him, holding him close. Her former star student, who had just surpassed every expectation she ever had. He was no longer just Alaric. He was… something more. A hero. A terrifyingly powerful, magnificent, utterly captivating force of nature.