The Demon King is unfathomable

Chapter 406 Pride and Fire
The tense atmosphere gradually heated up, flowing silently between the two opposing magicians.

Ophia held her breath, her eyes sparkling with a unique light as she looked at Prince Colin—a mixture of surprise, relief, and dependence beyond mere admiration.

This was the first time she had ever seen His Highness with such an expression.

Ilana is the same.

Even Had and Bane, who were standing next to him, had no idea that they would see the esteemed Prince Colin in the maze.

Looking at Prince Colin, who stood calmly before the magic apprentices, Arist suddenly smiled, and a wand silently appeared at his fingertips.

Dealing with a group of magic apprentices wouldn't warrant him using his wand, but dealing with a platinum-level prince would be worth it.

"This is truly...unexpected. I was wondering how those fools from the Castellion family managed to get down to the third level so quickly. It makes sense if you were secretly helping them."

According to his original plan, Rastina would become the "Arrogant One" he chose after opening the Pandora's Box, descending into the labyrinth as the Chosen One of Chaos, becoming the ruler of the labyrinth, and then carrying out his plan.

To this end, he also did some tricks in the maze, clearing away many obstacles that Rastina's group couldn't solve.

This is easy for a diamond-level mage; he can do it silently.

However, no one expected that Ophelia's early appearance would disrupt his plans, directly frightening his puppet Rastina and disqualifying her from becoming a "Pride".

Since Ophia, the only one qualified to be corrupted, remained unaffected, he had no choice but to settle for a sufficiently stupid fat pig from near the Gate of Chaos to serve as his chosen one and carry out his scheme.

Upon hearing Alistair mock her family, a hint of anger rose on Ophia's pale face, but she was quickly shocked by the even more astonishing truth he revealed.

Is Colin helping himself?

but--

when?
Suddenly, she remembered the butterfly that she could never catch, which appeared before her when she was lost, and disappeared when she met Ilana again.

Speaking of which, when His Highness Colin appeared just now, it seems that a butterfly also suddenly appeared in front of everyone!

Ophelia's mind suddenly opened up, and she turned her astonished gaze to Colin, a hint of confusion about "why" appearing in her eyes.

As if guessing her confusion, Prince Colin, with his back to her, slowly explained his purpose in a gentle tone.

"...I have always believed that mentors should guide their apprentices patiently and persuasively, rather than rudely interfering with every decision they make. Someone should tell them what color the sky is, what everything is made of, and what rules govern its operation. In this colorful world, what choices can they make, and what responsibilities and consequences will they bear?"

"In any case, the final choice should be in their hands. After all, we will all grow old one day, and they will have to learn to solve their own problems sooner or later."

If Alistair doesn't personally intervene, he won't personally appear after providing the necessary guidance, even if he is the mentor.

However, since Alistair has chosen to abandon his dignity, he will not stand idly by any longer.

Because this is no longer a feud between two chosen ones, but a duel between one god and another.

Having answered Ophia's question, Luo Yan turned his gaze to Alistair and amiably posed the question to him.

“What do you think, Professor Arist? I’ve heard that you’ve recently become very interested in the education of apprentices. As someone who also does this work, I’d like to hear your insights as a senior colleague.”

Alistair gave a forced, insincere laugh.

"My opinion? I have no opinion. If I had to say something, I'd say that fools should just listen carefully and keep their heads down, or they won't even know how they died."

Luo Yan nodded thoughtfully.

"It seems that's how your mentor taught you."

Alistair's expression turned cold, and a mocking smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

"As expected of a prince of the empire, a mere platinum-level mage dares to speak so presumptuously about a demigod-level sage. Truly remarkable."

“No, I was just feeling sorry for you. You reminded me of someone… his name is Milos, the first magic apprentice I met after arriving in this snowfield.” Luo Yan looked at Alistair, his amiable expression suddenly turning into concern. “I thought it was your problem, but perhaps… it’s not entirely your problem.”

The tower's shadow doesn't fall from the top tile; it just happens to be at the very top of the tower.

A tower built on lies and death will inevitably reflect lies and death itself.

Before his corrosion spread to this place, the tower had already been completely corroded.

Seeing that caring expression, Alistair was stunned.

A nameless fire suddenly ignited in his chest, scorching every inch of his reason, and even the faint gray mist around him was distorted along with it.

On what grounds—

How dare a mere platinum-level mage look down on me like that!
Even comparing him, who was of incomparably noble status, to a mere magic apprentice!
How dare this guy!

The frantic whispers that had been gone for so long reappeared in his mind.

'Don't waste your breath on him, that's the whisper of a madman, kill him!'

Enraged, Alistair's expression twisted as he burst into an unprecedentedly shrill laugh.

Ophia and the others stared at him in astonishment, watching as this usually gentle and refined professor suddenly tore off his approachable mask, revealing a face more ferocious than a wild beast!
That was no ordinary wild beast—

Instead, they are wild beasts that, through bloody battles, finally rise to the top of the food chain in the primitive jungle where there is no order or mercy!

That piercing gaze of Colin was like a blizzard howling across the northern wastelands, bringing only the most biting cold.

“Roxey Collin, I must admit! You are the true arrogance! In terms of understanding the talent of 'arrogance,' my shallow experience is less than one ten-thousandth of yours. You only need to make a slight move to provoke me with your arrogance and conceit, hahaha!”

Seeing Alistair suddenly burst into laughter, Luo Yan sighed regretfully.

“If that’s how you want to think, there’s nothing I can do. I don’t think even a god can save every soul.”

“Indeed, that is not the work of the gods… Our job is to destroy the ‘old order’ and then define the ‘new order’.”

Arist's lips curled into a wide grin, but he suddenly stopped smiling and resumed his polite expression.

"Today! It must be a sorrowful day for this decaying empire, for a duchess and a prince will fall! But do not grieve, for I will weave a tragic tale for you as your epitaphs!"

Watching the fearful magic apprentices retreat and the indifferent prince, Arist sighed softly with feigned compassion, then gracefully raised his right hand holding the wand, like a conductor signaling the start of a movement.

There were no incantations, no light, yet the spell was complete!
Ilana, Ophia, and the others felt the air around them suddenly become viscous like mercury, and an invisible force came from all directions, squeezing their bodies!
It made it difficult for them to even breathe!
"This is... spatial magic?"

Hader said with difficulty that he felt as if he were encased in transparent amber, with every inch of his bones groaning.

"No, it's even more advanced than that..."

Alistair reveled in the fear on everyone's faces and explained slowly, "This is the application of 'Source Power,' directly adjusting the rules of the world."

“You can think of me as the world’s tuner, and you are the ‘errors’ that violate the rules and should be corrected.”

Unfortunately, he hasn't reached the demigod level yet.

Otherwise, he could integrate his understanding of the rules into his "domain" to redefine the rules of the world more thoroughly!
Countless invisible "lines of law" emerged from the void, like the sharpest scalpel, silently cutting towards Luo Yan's limbs and throat.

Faced with that power that is close to the origin of the world, both physical and magical barriers will be shattered like sandcastles!
However, Prince Colin remained completely unfazed by this deadly situation that would leave even a platinum-level mage helpless.

He didn't even dodge; he simply waved the wand that had somehow landed on his fingertips, and then the thousands of barely perceptible threads disintegrated like a spiderweb being teased by flames.

Alistair's eyes widened slightly as he watched in disbelief as his deadly attack was so easily neutralized.

How can this be? !
"...I don't know where you get your confidence from, that you think your power is close to the so-called 'origin of the world'."

Luo Yan smiled and looked at Alistair, whose eyes were wide open, and said softly.

"The so-called source force is nothing more than the origin you define. No matter what you call that force, even if you name it 'truth,' it is still far from the true origin. It is perfectly acceptable to use it to study the essence of the world, but don't deceive yourself."

At the same time, the pressure exerted on Ophia and the others also suddenly decreased.

The immense pressure, enough to crush steel, dissipated, the viscous air resumed its flow, and those deadly "lines of law" broke apart inch by inch in mid-air, turning into harmless magical specks of light that drifted away like fireflies on a summer night.

The group gasped for breath, like drowning people surfacing.

Ophelia looked up, about to refute Professor Arist's impolite declaration, but met a pair of deep purple eyes that winked at her playfully.

Just like the butterflies she chased all the way.

"Take my students away from here, I'm leaving them to you."

Ophia's cheeks flushed slightly, but her eyes quickly hardened and sharpened. She nodded vigorously, responding silently.

"Ok!"

After their eye contact ended, she took Ilana's hand and gave Had and Bane a look, signaling them to take the unconscious Rastina and the others and quietly leave.

However, their actions eventually caught the attention of Professor Arist, who, with a twisted expression, once again brandished his wand, attempting to keep the hostages there and force Prince Colin to hesitate.

“You were not allowed to escape.”

"I approve."

Luo Yan naturally wouldn't let this guy succeed.

With a gentle wave of his wand, a dazzling red light instantly formed a large net, blocking the countless transparent threads that Professor Alistair released from the tip of his wand.

If one instance could be explained by coincidence, then at this moment, Alistair could be certain—

"You're not platinum! Diamond?! No, that's impossible... How did you do that at your age?!"

Alistair roared in astonishment, momentarily forgetting about the apprentices.

Without hesitation, he swiftly waved his wand, injecting chaotic energy once more into the already unconscious flesh giant.

"With your soul as a sacrifice, I will grant you the power of madness!"

The corruption of chaos is not irresistible, but the corrupted fanatic had already sold his soul to madness and had never been willing to face it or reconcile with it.

Looking at the soul that surrendered to chaos, Youyou beside Luo Yan silently mourned for a second.

poor child.

Pity.

The gods' control over their chosen ones is absolute, and this influence cannot be interfered with even by another god.

With her mouth and eyes crooked and lying on the ground, Anjie, filled with regret and resentment, finally breathed her last in despair.

But soon, it opened its eyes again, waking from its eternal slumber with all its anger and madness.

"Roar--!"

Reborn in the name of chaos, it transformed into a true monster, its flesh and blood expanding at an incredible speed, just like a zombie controlled by necromancy, shakily rising from the ground.

kill!

Driven by its urge to kill, it took heavy steps and chased after Ilana and the others in the direction they had fled. Just then, a flash of silver light streaked through the darkness and struck its neck without warning.

I've been aiming at that sword for a long time.

It instinctively raised its fat arm to block, but the silver light was like an unstoppable thunderbolt, severing half of its arm without any hindrance, and continued forward like a fluttering leaf, severing its head from its shoulder with one stroke!
"puff--!"

Thick blood plasma splattered everywhere!
The headless giant of flesh and blood, like a puppet with its strings cut, slowly knelt down and fell into a pool of blood.

Its body rotted at a visible rate, leaving only a shriveled corpse, without even a trace of its soul remaining.

A lithe figure stood beside the corpse, expressionlessly flicking his blood-stained short sword, like a silent assassin.

The corruption of chaos could not shake her mind in the slightest; in fact, it was overwhelmed by the calm and ruthless aura emanating from her!
And unlike the tyranny and bloodlust proclaimed by "Flame of Destruction" Kalmandes, the sword in her hand is wielded only for one person—

That is the sword of a knight who is loyal to only one person!

The howler approached her with faltering steps, his movements tinged with fear.

Sarah stared expressionlessly at the monsters pouring out of the Gate of Chaos, a dagger dangling from her left hand, forming an offensive and defensive stance with the sword held in front of her.

Her eyes became the third dagger, aimed at Alistair's eyes.

The sharp killing intent made Alistair catch his breath, though the offensive gaze quickly fueled his anger.

When did even ants dare to look him in the eye?
“Very good…very good! You…have truly given me a tremendous surprise, Your Highness Prince Colin.”

His voice became hoarse and distorted, and his gaze returned to Colin.

He already knew that if he didn't resolve this problem first, he probably wouldn't be able to handle the aftermath of this farce with ease.

"It seems that without using some 'real' power, I can't make you understand the gap between yourself and me."

The moment he finished speaking, a chilling dark red aura erupted from his body!
The space above his head began to distort, and a crown made of dark light and gray smoke appeared and disappeared.

That aura of absolute dominance was like arrogance itself. At this moment, Alistair's entire demeanor changed. His eyes turned completely golden, looking down upon all living beings, filled with godlike indifference and contempt, burning every pupil that dared to look him in the eye.

"I'll show you what I'm made of."

"Even between gods, there exists a chasm as deep as an abyss!"

He practically roared out the last syllable.

As he roared hysterically, the dark red mist swirled around him even more violently!

Countless chains wrapped in chaotic energy shot out from the shadows, their target not Luo Yan's body, but his soul!

Each chain seemed to be attached to whispers from the abyss, mocking his overestimation of his abilities, belittling all his achievements, and attempting to undermine his will at its root.

Simply put, it's "PUA".

Faced with the overwhelming mental attacks, Luo Yan simply smiled faintly, as if the vicious curse did not exist.

The true gods would never care about the clown's slander. How could a guy who sold his soul to the evil spirits of chaos possibly evaluate the legend he left behind in this world?

"What cheap 'arrogance'! Is that all you've got?"

After speaking, Luo Yan raised his right hand, and a flame as black as night quietly rose from his palm.

The flames had no heat, yet they seemed capable of burning light and soul to ashes, tearing apart the surrounding crumbling space.

That was a combination of necromancy and fire magic.

It doesn't burn the physical body, but the evil soul!
Luo Yan flicked his wrist, and the black flames instantly transformed into a deadly whip, lashing out at the oncoming chaotic chains!

"Bah—!"

The moment the black flame whip collided with the chaotic chains, it produced a terrifying sound like a branding iron piercing flesh!
The two forces intertwined and tore at each other, like giant dragons wrestling together!
Unfortunately—

Luo Yan's "dragon" seemed to be thicker, clearly suppressing the "Chaos Chains" that Alistair had not yet mastered!
Seeing his prized divine power suppressed, Alistair's face turned ashen, his scholarly demeanor shattered, leaving only a frenzied killing intent.

If he had left himself some leeway before in order to cover up the truth, he no longer cares about that now.

He just wanted this guy dead!

"go to hell!"

In an instant, a surging, chaotic power erupted from the arrogant crown, transforming into a tangible nightmare within the pitch-black labyrinth!

Hundreds of dark red chaotic rays were no longer simple beams of light, but twisted into howling tentacles, emitting a tooth-grinding shriek, and biting at Luo Yan from all directions!
At the same time, the dark red stones on the ground also came to life, turning into ferocious spikes that rose up from the ground and blocked all his escape routes!
The maze's corridors have been completely distorted!
That deadly cage was like a gaping maw, determined to tear apart, chew up, and swallow that rebellious soul whole!
The moment that annoying figure disappeared, a triumphant laugh spread across Alistair's face. But before he could gloat for even two seconds, a butterfly fluttering against the wind caught his eye, drifting through the dust like a petal carried by the current.

Space was distorted in an instant!
The flapping wings transformed into shoe heels landing on the stone slab, and a tall figure replaced the butterfly's position. The cloak that was billowing in the wind was not covered by a single speck of dust.

Alistair's pupils contracted sharply.

what is that? !

The butterfly has reappeared.

At that moment, the distorted gray mist emerged from Alistair's shadow and floated beside him, who was wearing a crown.

“I can smell the scent of Novell inside… Hmm… It’s delicious… and it’s so nostalgic…” Little Wa murmured to herself, her frantic whispers calming down at the same time, and even unconsciously taking on a hint of appreciation.

"I asked through gritted teeth," Alistair asked.

"What the hell is that?"

Xiao Wa said with a smile.

"Simply put, it is an existence that is closer to the origin of the world than the source force, although it is only close. It calls this power that goes straight to the root... Aether."

ether?

A fleeting look of confusion crossed Alistair's face before he fell into deep thought. However, his contemplation didn't last long, as it was quickly interrupted by a sound drifting from nearby.

“Interesting magic,” Luo Yan smiled slightly, offering a fair assessment, before changing the subject, “Well then, it’s my turn next.”

The moment he finished speaking, he vanished again.

Arist was startled and almost instinctively reacted defensively, gathering the released chaotic energy in front of him to form a set of all-around, flawless armor!

Almost at the same time, Luo Yan appeared beside him, exchanging positions with a "Butterfly of Myriad Phenomena" that had flown there at some unknown time.

At the same time, the black flame in his hand was no longer a long whip, but transformed into a rapidly spinning, jet-black crescent moon.

The crescent moon, like a blazing sun burning in the night sky, with the outline of death, roared as it slashed toward Alistair's neck!
"boom--!"

The defensive magic array constructed from source energy was shattered instantly, along with Alistair's dark blue robes that fluttered behind him.

The burning black flames penetrated all the way to his skin and hair before being barely stopped by the armor constructed from the power of chaos!
Alistair broke out in a cold sweat and rolled on the ground in a sorry state, barely managing to dodge the second attack that followed.

This time, the Black Flame Crescent Moon struck the ruins behind him. There was no explosion, no sound, but it left a horrifying, smooth, mirror-like cut!

And this is just the beginning!
Luo Yan's attack did not stop. Instead, to Alist's horrified gaze, he released hundreds of butterflies constructed from the power of ether!
Those butterflies can be seen with the naked eye and can be shot down by the simplest magic, but they cannot be locked onto with mental power!
What drove Alistair even crazier was that shooting down these butterflies didn't seem to cause any damage to Colin's body!

He had to be distracted by dealing with these seemingly weak troubles.

Because once he takes his eyes off them, the real threat will silently appear beside him!
"You damned rat! Bat! Bedbug! What can you do besides hide?! Are you even a magician? If you've got the guts, stand up and fight me head-on!"

Arist roared furiously, continuing to feign composure as he painstakingly wove incantations, trying to fuse the source energy with the still-unfamiliar chaotic power in order to reduce energy consumption.

Luo Yan, however, is different.

Instead of randomly casting AOE spells, he used precise positioning to ensure that each spell was used at the right moment.

Although Alistair blocked the vast majority of the attacks, in the clash between spear and shield, the side that is struggling to cope always suffers.

Even with the labyrinth's continuous supply of chaotic energy, Alistair was gradually finding it difficult to keep up.

He was, after all, just a professor. Although he possessed extraordinary power that ordinary people could not match, he had never actually been on the battlefield.

The last time I fought someone to a standstill was several years ago.

That opponent posed no threat to him whatsoever; he simply cast a spell and turned the guy into a corpse!
But the prince in front of him was different.

This guy has clearly been to the battlefield and has faced the threat of death more than once!
even--

The vast majority of the medals he wears come from stronger individuals who are far more powerful than him!
Alistair felt fear, but even more so, he felt rage!
This guy actually dared to make me, a god, look so pathetic—

He vowed to crush that smug face under his feet and make that guy pay for his rudeness and ignorance!

Arist stared intently at the prince who strolled leisurely across the battlefield, his bloodshot eyes frantically searching for any opportunity.

Just then, he saw it!
After casting "Phase Shift" more than ten times in succession, Prince Colin's figure suddenly froze for a moment, almost imperceptibly.

His usually steady breathing seemed to momentarily become disordered at this moment.

It's now!

A flicker of ecstasy flashed in Alistair's eyes, like a drowning man spotting a straw floating on a lake.

obviously.

The jump between spaces was not without limits. Although he pretended very well, he eventually exposed his lack of magic power!

"caught you!"

Arist let out an excited roar, and at the same time, the illusory "Crown of Pride" on his head also shone with unprecedented light, gathering the vast, tidal wave of energy at his fingertips, which then transformed into a cannonball that could pierce through everything and shot towards Colin, who had once again completed a "phase shift"!

That beam of light, capable of destroying everything, contained unprecedented energy. Not to mention diamond-level experts, even amethyst-level or grandmaster-level experts would not be able to withstand it!
Xiao Wa once revealed to him—

Over the past millennium, the power of faith in Saint Sith has been repeatedly depleted to satisfy the unrealistic ambitions of mortals.

The extraordinary beings bestowed by Him, those so-called "noble souls," are unable to defeat the Chaos Chosen of the same level!

of course.

A demigod with the power of a domain is an exception, after all, the power of a domain is too heaven-defying, it is an existence between the power of the extraordinary and the power of faith!
Just as the beam of light was about to pierce through the "exhausted" Colin, an unbelievable scene unfolded at that moment.

The prince's figure, like a reflection in the water, with a mocking smile, quietly shattered in the light that destroyed everything.

That wasn't Colin's true form at all, nor was it a butterfly constructed from etheric power; it seemed to be merely a mirror image created from light and shadow...

"what?!"

Alistair's eyes widened, almost popping out of their sockets. He had poured nearly eighty percent of his power into that desperate attack, and the spell he had already cast was clearly irreversible.

The destructive beam slammed into the distant labyrinth wall, leaving behind a bottomless abyss and a violent collapse!
He himself swayed due to the loss of strength, staggered back two steps, and the crown on his head almost fell to the ground.

"This is a 'trick' I came up with while teaching my apprentices. Although it wasn't my original intention, I just wanted to show them how to break down light..." Luo Yan said in a teasing voice, his figure, with his clothes still in perfect order, standing beside Alistair.

Seeing that Colin seemed to have won the duel, Alistair did not show any regret for his defeat. Instead, he laughed maniacally again.

"Hahaha... Hahahaha!"

A blade formed of black flame pierced through his chest, but no blood spurted out; instead, it passed right through the ethereal figure.

Luo Yan frowned slightly.

Although he finished off the enemy quite quickly, it was clear that this Chosen One of Chaos, like himself, had other trump cards up his sleeve.

At the same time, Alistair's body began to become transparent.

His body slowly sank into the dark red ground beneath his feet, which had been completely corroded by chaos and was writhing like a living thing.

He admitted that he couldn't beat them.

But he can hide.

Anyway, being a coward is only temporary.

After the labyrinth was completely integrated, a chaotic realm was formed. Until the outcome of the battle between the two was completely determined, neither of them could leave this cage!

Once the army pouring out of the Gate of Chaos has slaughtered all the mages in the labyrinth, he will naturally be able to absorb their soul fire and thus achieve a breakthrough!
By then, even if the sages from the other mage towers arrived, he was confident he could put those old fogies to the test!

As long as they don't attack together.

Luo Yan stood in the corridor amidst the ruins, quietly pondering a solution, while his gaze moved along the scarlet wall, searching for any flaws.

At this moment, Alistair's voice came from all directions, filled with resentment and smugness, as well as a hint of petty mockery.

"You can't beat me, Colin!"

"Just now, my corruption has devoured the entire labyrinth! Soon, I will digest the three thousand apprentices and nearly a hundred teaching assistants here, refining their pure souls into nourishment for my advancement to the Amethyst level..."

The roars of the wrathful ones echoed faintly from within the labyrinth. Sarah, standing amidst the mountain of corpses and sea of ​​bones, frowned slightly; these chaotic servants seemed endless.

Meanwhile, Professor Alistair's roar echoed deep within the half-collapsed fourth level of the labyrinth...

That voice was filled with a thirst for power!
"I was so close! So close to breaking through! It's all your fault! I didn't want to use such a cruel ritual! I actually planned to take it slowly from the beginning!"

"You know what? All I wanted was for you to get off this snowfield! Why couldn't you just walk away on your own? Why did you have to force me to this point!"

"But it's too late to say anything now. Since it was your choice, then you may taste the bitter fruit of failure in your regret... Although you who die in this maze will not have any afterlife, hahahaha!"

This guy is quite good at making excuses for his greed.

If you've already decided to become a god, don't you even have the basic awareness to accept the consequences of your gamble?

Faced with that blustering but cowardly clamor, Luo Yan remained unmoved and simply smiled faintly.

“As I said from the beginning, all I did was provide necessary guidance and show those interested in my teachings another possibility for the world. As for the right to choose, it has always been in your hands; no one will choose for you.”

"You got here on your own, step by step."

Whether it was Milos, Hecagerin, Angel, or even Alistair himself, they all had opportunities to look away from the abyss.

Of course, it's too late to say all this now.

Sensing the indifferent silence, Luo Yan sighed softly, removed the mask that belonged to a prince, and the majesty and coldness that belonged to a demon king reappeared in his eyes.

"Since you're so confident that a mere maze can trap me, I'll show you what a true 'master of the maze' really is."

"You counterfeit."

(End of this chapter)