Chapter 357: I’m glad I did what I did.

"No!!!!!" The demon Eimo burst his energy, holding both his hands on the sword that was stuck in his chest."BAM! BANG!"

Kael was blown hard into the wall, breaking it down where he landed.

The impact was so strong that Kael spit blood from his mouth.

"Uhhhh…" he coughed, and Kael wiped the blood from his lips.

The demon Eimo looked back toward Kael… taking the sword out from his chest. "You filthy… man… attacking from the back…" As he drew the sword, blood slid down it, pouring to the ground.

Kael stood up, his hair, face, and clothes covered with dust… his feet barely holding him. He fell down to his knees.

Before Kael completely fell—

The demon Eimo threw his sword toward Kael. The sword split the air, showing the force behind it. It went above his head, piercing through the wall.

"If I didn't fall on my knees…" Kael looked at the wall, destroyed by the sword. "What if I was hit by that… directly!" His heart pounded violently in his chest. "That would've been my head."

At that moment, Professor Sylvia shouted, "Now!"

Sylvia, Elysia, Edwin, and the other students attacked at that moment, striking hard and leaving the demon unable to dodge in time.

Boom…Boom….Boooooommmm!!!

The impact hit the demon hard, cracking the air and blasting out magic everywhere.

When the smoke cleared, the demon was on the ground, on his knees.

"How... how?" he whispered, disbelief breaking through his mind. "I am Eimo, Lord of Blood Fang, General of the Dreadbane Legion... How can I be defeated by... a mere human?" His voice broke. He muttered under his breath, each word heavy with shock, "...If I had been serious from the beginning... this outcome... would not exist."

Eimo looked across at everyone. "It is not over..." he growled in a low voice. He stopped his gaze on Kael and said, "And you... I will remember your face."

The demon's body began to turn into ash. "I will return. Be ready... when that day comes."

Everyone was silent, watching the demon fade, then...

"We... we did it?" one student whispered.

Relief and joy erupted. Students fell to their knees, some jumping and spinning, the hall ringing with shouts of victory.

"Finally," they laughed breathlessly. "Yes! We won!" throwing their arms into the air. Others hugged tightly, tears falling from their faces, cheering, "We survived! We won!" Every cheer, every embrace, every raised fist was a testament to their fight, their courage... and their triumph.

Finally, Elysia looked at Cecilia. Tears fell from her eyes, she was too happy to see Cecilia okay. She lowered her sword, a tearful and trembling smile breaking through. "It's... really over... she's safe..."

Professor Sylvia stepped forward, raising her voice, "All healers, heal the injured students!"

Elysia knew the real danger wasn't over. More challenges, more threats were waiting in the future, but "things that should happen in the future are happening too soon?" her own mind was telling her. Her gaze flicked to Kael.

He was barely on his feet, each hand on his knees supporting himself to stand up. A few students were there offering help.

Elysia bit her own thin lips. "What an act. I know it was all his doing... just a desperate attempt to clean up his own mess."

(If the demon had the upper hand, he would not have even shown up, but when he knew the demon had no chance... that's why he destroyed his own schemes. What a clever, twisted mind he has.)

Thinking that, Elysia's anger grew like a fire. (Why don't I just kill him right now?) The thought was running through her mind, but (no! It won't be that easy and it's not the solution. If I strike him here, in front of everyone, I'll be just another murderer in their eyes.)

"Of course for now, everyone would believe Kael had saved them, the hero, the savior," but only I know the truth, she thought, clenching her teeth.

"Elysia," a voice called to her from behind, she knew the voice.

"Yes, Professor," she said without even looking back.

Professor Sylvia stood there. "Thank you... for what you have done. If you weren't there at that time, I..."

Elysia cut in. She knew what the professor was going to say, so she shook her head. "No, Professor, you would have done the same." Elysia paused for a second. "Professor, if you were not here, the outcome would have been different, so thank you, Professor." Elysia bowed her head.

Professor Sylvia moved closer toward her, placing a comforting hand on Elysia's shoulder and wiping gently. "You did great today, truly."

Then Sylvia walked toward the demon who had turned into ash. She picked up the ash and looked at it carefully, as if she were examining it.

Elysia just stood there. For the first time, something inside her felt a sense of relief—a happiness she hadn't expected. She looked around at the faces of her classmates. When she saw their relieved faces, she allowed herself a moment of peace.

(No one died...) The thought echoed in her mind. "If I don't want to vanquish this feeling... I have to be stronger."

She looked back toward Kael, but then she noticed Cecilia was already there.

"No..." she muttered. She rushed over, thinking, (Who knows what could happen with someone like her near that evil Kael?)

"Ufff… at least no one gets killed," he muttered, just laying his butt on the ground. For a moment, he simply stared at the sky, which was blue again.

He tried to stand, but no matter how hard he tried, it was hard to stand. His arms trembled as he pushed himself up, both hands on his knees, forcing his body upright inch by inch.

"Wow… Abyss-Touched Vessel is too strong," he muttered under his breath. "If I remember correctly, in the novel it even regenerates wounds… I just wish it helped with mana too."

Every last drop of mana potion had been drained in that dungeon. He hadn't even bought a single recovery potion. "Damn me," he whispered.

"Kael, are you alright?"

Kael looked up. It was Cecilia, standing in front of him, and she continued, "Do you need any help, Kael?"

The concern on her face made Kael think…

(I'm glad I did what I did today.)

"No! I'm alright," Kael lied. His mana was completely drained. He had been thrown into a wall hard enough to leave cracks in the stone. He was absolutely not alright.

But that was the only response that came to his mind. Back on Earth, he had never been good with girls. Conversations like this had always made him stiff.

Cecilia crossed her arms and said, "From what I'm seeing," she stepped closer, "I think you do need my help."

Kael swallowed. She moved even closer, crouching slightly so she could look at him properly. Now for Kael, it became even harder to move. If Kael even moved an inch forward, it would be a kiss. He knew she only wanted to check his injuries—that was all. But being too close made Kael nervous.

"I… I'm fine," his voice broke. "I'm just resting, that's all," he continued. "But if you really want to help me, then—"

"Cecilia, I need your help."

The voice came from behind.

Elysia stood about three meters away.

"Oh… okay," Cecilia said.

She looked back at Kael. "Just wait a minute, okay? I will come back right after I help my best friend."

"Coming, Elysia," she called out as she walked toward her.

Halfway there, she glanced back at Kael. "Don't move too much, and tell me where it hurts the most when I get back."

"heh-heh"

Kael couldn't help it, he chuckled.