Thanks to the Basic Spell’s short cast time, Zakiel made it. He carried everyone on his mana platform and as soon as they were placed at a safe distance away from the Shadow Demon who merely watched, the mage boosted himself using Basic Wind Magic and flung his body into battle.

WHOOOOSHH

In an instant, he made a soft landing directly behind Kahn, dinning a disgusted glare at the Demon.

“[Intermediate Lightning Barrier]”

As soon as Zakiel finished his spell, the Lord and villager were surrounded by a beaming blue dome that crackled and sparked with electricity.

This was to protect them from any more of the spike attacks from earlier. Zakiel was strong, but everyone became weaker if they had to be distracted while protecting someone else. To be in top form, especially against an unpredictable Demon, he needed to have his absolute focus on the prize… the enemy!

The Shadow Demon—Kahn— turned sluggishly and looked behind him. The Mage was glaring at him, ready to fight. He twisted his body inhumanly, and in an instant, his back became his front.

The perks of being a Shadow Demon.

“I’ll be your opponent!” The man’s shout filled the air.

He now donned a brown wooden-like staff that appeared out of nowhere, same with a glimmering necklace and a charmed bracelet. His robe also seemed to give off some kind of aura. These were all magic items that Zakiel equipped just now.

There was no way he could go in blind against an unknown opponent, even if the said opponent was weak.

“Hm… Magic Items… humans still use those things…” Kahn made a mental assessment as he analyzed his foe.There wasn’t much to say about him. He had Mana and used Magic, something no other human he had seen since he arrived had done.

“Hm… should I use it too? Magic?”

No, that was probably not the best idea. The only way to recover his Demonic mana was to take in the miasma found in the Demon Realm. There was another way, but that could only happen after he killed the Mage in front of him.

“I better make it quick then…” Kahn watched as the mage, Zakiel Laquis brandished his staff and caused all the ornaments around him to shine.

‘Ideally, I would love to capture it, but… it’s best to just destroy it now and investigate the source later. There’s bound to be more of them. A top-tier intermediate Spell should do it!’

Amped by the Magic tools he wore, all having different effects, Zakiel was confident. Ranging from mana boosting properties, shortening of cast time, to even additional buffs on lightning-based spells—his specialty, Zakiel’s spell was going to pack a punch.

“[Double Lightning Descent]”

CRRRAAACKKKLLEEE!!!

Electricity filled the sky as sparks of blue light danced around it. The sparks were much larger than previously, and they appeared on two spots at once.

One look could tell anyone that this would be extremely dangerous.

With a single command, the spell was completed and the dual lightning attacks fell. Not even a Shadow Demon could evade two amped lightning attacks, one of the fastest elements available to a Mage.

BOOOOMMMMM!!!

The compound was filled with the rumblings caused by the lightning explosion. Like fireworks, except on the ground, the blue lightning sent glows dancing around as the destruction was wreaked.

A portion of the mansion was scarred and eaten away, but it was all worth it. Zakiel himself had confirmed it… the Shadow Demon could not evade the attack. It was as good as dead!

Or so everyone thought.They were mistaken, of course.

Their error lay in the assumption that the foe they faced was too slow to evade two lightning strikes, no, it was beyond that. It all stemmed from the fact that these humans assumed this was a simple Shadow Demon.

They weren’t aware of the dark and sinister truth of its existence…

“Hmmn… I thought that would hurt more, but… it doesn’t hurt at all…” The Shadow Demon murmured as he stepped out of the thick smoke that enveloped the area.

The smell of burnt earth and plants filled the air, but Kahn didn’t care. He simply appeared unscathed in front of those who thought he was dead.

“N-no way! H-How is that possible?!!” Zakiel shouted in shock.

He was extremely surprised. Of course, he had every right to be. The attack he used was enough to kill a Shadow Demon since they especially had a vulnerability to Magic Attacks. Considering the debuff, a top-tier intermediate spell like that should have been more than enough.

Yet…

“I thought your pain would make me forget the pain within me, so I decided to be patient and let you try. It appears I was wrong. Hm… time to kill you now.”

The Mage looked in horror, trying to calculate his next course of action. It would seem that Advanced Spells would be his only option. But, even he would need time to chant one. And time was something he didn’t have at the moment!

He only knew two Advanced Spells… both of which boasted incredible power, but also took a long time to cast. Even with his magic tools, it was hopeless to imagine he could make the cut. The Demon was already brandishing its arm, turning it into a sharp claw.

“Damnit! If only… I could use my ‘Familiar Magic’ to fight! If only I could use ‘Bond Magic!'” Whimpers escaped from the mage’s mouth.

This was his first time seeing a Demon. The only reason he hadn’t freaked out was that he thought he could win. Once that illusion escaped him, only fear and despondency remained.

If he could access his Familiar for Magic attacks, his abilities would skyrocket, that was for sure. ‘Bond’ Magic was also a very powerful game-changer.

However, Zakiel knew the reason he couldn’t resort to any of those things.

And now that would be what cost him his life!

“Shit! I need to… I need to…”

****